The cathedral's vastness was both awe-inspiring and intimidating. Towering arches stretched high above, their intricate stonework bathed in the soft, eerie light filtering through stained glass windows. The cold, hard floor beneath him was a stark contrast to the ornate surroundings, making the situation even more surreal.

The voice continued, breaking the spell of the dream and urging him to fully awaken from the strange and imposing surroundings. Sol’s groggy eyes darted around, trying to piece together the disorienting scene unfolding before him.

The man in the tuxedo stood nearby, while another man in a construction helmet and outfit, with a bushy beard, approached with an air of curiosity. The two men seemed out of place in this grand setting, their casual demeanor contrasting sharply with the cathedral’s ancient grandeur.

“Oh good, you’re awake. Hey guys, he’s awake!” the man in the tuxedo called out, his tone a mix of relief and impatience. His presence felt incongruous, as if he had stepped out of a different world entirely.

The construction worker adjusted his helmet and squinted at Sol, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. “Hey, kid, do you know where we are?”

Sol pushed himself up, rubbing his eyes and trying to clear the disorientation. His head ached slightly, the throbbing pain a reminder of how abruptly he had been wrenched from sleep. As he looked around at the cathedral's splendor, the sense of alienation grew stronger. He noticed about fifteen other people scattered throughout the space, each dressed differently—some in school uniforms, others in military suits, or long dresses, with casual jackets and more. They were talking amongst themselves, their voices a murmur of confusion and uncertainty.

Sol glanced down at himself and noticed he was dressed simply in a white T-shirt and black shorts. On his left wrist was a handmade bracelet, its origins as mysterious as the rest of his predicament.

“Where am I?” Sol’s voice was tinged with a mix of fear and frustration, the reality of his situation sinking in.

The tuxedoed man and the construction worker exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a shared sense of frustration. “Oh, I forgot…” the tuxedoed man said, breaking the silence. “We also want to know, but everyone here doesn’t remember anything from their past.”

The construction worker gave a nod of agreement. “I’m Jonah Whitaker. This guy behind me is Earl Blackwood. You can just call us by the first name.”

Sol’s confusion was palpable as he tried to grasp the enormity of the situation. He took a deep breath, his mind racing through fragments of memories, but they remained stubbornly out of reach.

“Sullivan…” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “Sullivan Astre... you can just cal me Sol.”

His head throbbed a bit more, the strain of trying to recall details of his past adding to his discomfort. The realization that he, too, was among those who couldn’t remember their past was unsettling.

“Yeah,” Jonah said with a sympathetic nod. “We felt that too in the beginning. It’s disorienting, but you’re not alone.”

Sol looked around, his emotions a swirl of confusion, fear, and a deep, gnawing anxiety. The cathedral, with its cold, imposing grandeur, seemed to mock his attempts to understand what was happening. He felt a sense of isolation amidst the crowd, each person grappling with their own confusion and fear.

Sol scanned the cathedral more thoroughly, taking in its vast and imposing features. The space was filled with tall, weathered pillars that rose towards the vaulted ceiling, their intricate carvings almost lost to time. The walls were lined with ancient tapestries and faded murals, hinting at a rich history now shrouded in mystery.

Several doors were set into the sides of the cathedral, their dark wooden surfaces etched with elaborate designs that seemed to whisper of secrets long forgotten. The air was heavy with a sense of age and neglect, as if the cathedral had been abandoned for centuries and was only now being disturbed by its unexpected visitors.

His gaze shifted to the far end of the cathedral, where a massive stone statue stood in solemn grandeur. The statue depicted a lady draped in a flowing cloak, her features partially obscured by the folds of the garment. Her head was adorned with a crown of thorns, and her eyes were carved shut, giving her an enigmatic, almost divine presence. The statue radiated an aura of something inexplicable and holy, casting a profound, eerie atmosphere over the space.

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Sol couldn’t help but feel a chill as he looked at the statue. There was something unsettling about its serene yet inscrutable expression, as if it held the weight of countless untold stories. The combination of the cathedral’s faded opulence and the statue’s imposing figure created an atmosphere that was both awe-inspiring and foreboding.

As Sol took in the scene, the strange and unfamiliar surroundings seemed to deepen his sense of confusion and unease. The grandeur of the cathedral, juxtaposed with its apparent abandonment, made it feel like a relic from another era, a place where time itself seemed to have stood still.

Sol’s eyes were drawn downward from the imposing statue to a figure kneeling in its shadow. The figure was clad in dark, ornate armor that seemed to blend with the shadows of the cathedral. The armor was intricately detailed, with patterns and symbols that caught the faint light filtering through the stained glass windows. Despite the armor’s elaborate design, it was evident that the figure's face was completely concealed by a full helmet, making it impossible to discern any expression.

The figure was hunched over, head bowed, and murmuring something in a low, rhythmic chant. The murmurings were barely audible, a soft and haunting sound that seemed to resonate through the cathedral’s vast emptiness. The figure’s posture and the repeated incantations gave an impression of deep reverence or possibly a desperate plea, adding to the cathedral's already thick atmosphere of mystery and ancient power.

Sol felt a shiver run down his spine. The kneeling figure, combined with the grandeur of the statue and the cathedral’s ancient surroundings, painted a picture of a place steeped in forgotten rituals and long-lost devotion. The scene felt like a living relic, a fragment of a bygone age that was now witnessing the arrival of a new, bewildered audience.

The murmuring grew fainter as Sol’s focus shifted back to the two men who had initially addressed him. Jonah, still in his tuxedo, and Earl, in his construction outfit, watched Sol with a mixture of curiosity and concern. The gravity of their situation seemed to settle heavily in the air, leaving Sol with more questions than answers.

As the murmuring of the kneeling figure continued, Sol glanced around at the group of people in the cathedral. They were huddled together in small clusters, their conversations punctuated by furtive glances toward the armored figure beneath the statue. The tension in the air was palpable, with a shared sense of unease about the mysterious knight.

Sol approached Jonah and Earl, his curiosity piqued. “What about him?” he asked, nodding toward the kneeling figure. “Does he know anything about this place?”

Jonah shook his head. “We haven’t asked him yet. He’s been engrossed in whatever he’s doing for as long as we’ve been here.”

Earl’s brow furrowed as he added, “Something about him feels…dangerous. I don’t know how to explain it, but there’s a sense of foreboding when you look at him.”

Sol’s gaze remained fixed on the knight, the feeling of unease growing stronger. The figure’s armor, with its dark and imposing design, seemed almost to resonate with the cathedral’s ancient and mysterious ambiance. The quiet murmurs of the knight, combined with the ominous presence of the statue, created a sense of unease that was difficult to shake off.

As the conversation between Sol and Mary continued, they both felt a deep sense of connection, their shared bracelet a tangible link to a past they couldn’t remember.

“My name’s Mary Selena, but just call me Mary,” she said, her smile brightening despite the confusion surrounding them.

“Sullivan Astre, but you can call me Sol,” he replied, feeling a bit more grounded with her friendly presence.

“We have the same bracelet... maybe we know each other or something?” Mary suggested, her eyes searching Sol’s face for any hint of recognition.

“Probably. It’s a weird feeling… It’s familiar and comforting,” Sol admitted, his voice filled with a blend of curiosity and relief.

“Yeah, same here,” Mary agreed, her gaze softening as she continued to look at Sol. Their shared sense of familiarity provided a small island of comfort amidst the sea of uncertainty.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a commotion on the far side of the cathedral. Sol and Mary turned to see a tall, bald man approaching the kneeling knight. The man was dressed in a shabby windbreaker and ripped pants, his disheveled appearance standing in stark contrast to the grandeur of the cathedral.

“Hey!! I’m talking to you here!” the man barked, his voice harsh and impatient. His demeanor was aggressive, and he continued to shout, “Are you deaf, stupid!?”

His words echoed through the cavernous space, drawing the attention of everyone present. The kneeling knight, who had been murmuring softly, suddenly stopped and slowly turned his head towards the source of the disturbance. The atmosphere grew tense as the knight’s movement was deliberate and imposing, a stark contrast to the man’s brash behavior.

The knight stood up, and the cathedral seemed to hold its breath. His armor clinked softly as he moved, and his voice, when he spoke, was clear and resonant, cutting through the murmur of the crowd.

“Mongrel intruders…” the knight intoned, his voice carrying an air of authority and menace. The words hung in the air, casting a shadow over the assembly as the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

The tall man’s bravado faltered slightly at the knight’s words, his earlier aggression now tempered by a hint of unease. The crowd shifted, murmurs rising as they waited to see how the situation would unfold. Sol and Mary exchanged glances, their earlier conversation forgotten as they focused on the unfolding drama.