The setting sun painted the sky in warm reds, casting soft shadows on Selah's face. An hour had passed since they left the ravines, and now she rode uphill with Lucas while Eliana and Briar followed in the van. Selah tilted her face towards the fading light, letting its warmth seep into her closed eyelids.

A smile tugged at her lips as she recalled Eliana's dramatic escape to the van, complaining loudly about her aching back. Opening her eyes, Selah found herself staring at the back of Lucas's head. He'd insisted she ride with him, warning with a smirk that Eliana's horse would buck her off if she tried to mount it.

The memory of her earlier outburst made her cheeks burn. 'Should I apologize?' she wondered, the words catching in her throat. But what could she say? Selah sighed, closing her eyes again "This is hopeless.." she muttered to herself.

"Hey, stop that." She opened her eyes, startled. Lucas was still looking forward but was clearly talking to her. "I can feel your eyes boring into the back of my head," he muttered, shifting in his saddle.

He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice softer. "If you're thinking about apologizing for earlier, don't. Your reaction was normal. Anyone as new to combat as you are would've done the same. You'd be more suspicious if you hadn't reacted that way." Lucas said with a laugh, Selah mumbled "shut up" before closing her eyes again, smiling besides herself. She could feel the warmth of the sun slowly fade away, with only a shadow of it lingering on her face. They had ridden for almost three hours now, and the chill night wind had begun to pick up.

Just as impatience started to creep in, she felt Lucas elbowing her gently. "Look," he said. Selah opened her eyes and there, atop the hill stood a magnificent cathedral hewn from the very mountain itself, stood sentinel against the moonlit sky. Its towering spires stood strong, their peaks ablaze with fire that cast a warm, golden glow into the night. The flickering light danced across the mighty walls, high and thick, where a small contingent of vigilant troops stood guard.

The cathedral's entrance was guarded by enormous, sturdy gates. Yet, for all its formidable presence, the cathedral emitted an air of refined elegance. Intricate carvings adorned the mountain stone, telling tales of faith and valor in silent eloquence.

Selah looked upon the structure awestruck, she felt a curious sensation wash over her. The cathedral did not just radiate strength and safety, but also a profound sense of peace. It was as if its very sight had stilled a raging storm in her heart, replacing fear and uncertainty with a quiet, unwavering peace.

"Good, you like it, don't you?" Lucas mused, half to himself. "I had a feeling that you would. It's a good thing that you can not just see but also appreciate what you're looking at. Few outsiders have seen this place."

Curiosity overtaking her, Selah asked, "You mean to say that others can't see this place? Or that only a few are allowed by the..." she frowned, trying to recall the correct term, "...Vigiles Sancti to get this close?"

Lucas didn't answer for a while, then slowly said, "Well... yes and yes. You see, there's no magic here. We don't do magic; in fact, our order condemns it. But most men and women who walk upon the earth today can't see this place and many other things associated with the Vigiles Sancti simply because they don't want to. Their eyes are blinded by their own minds. And I said yes to the other statement because even if someone can see us and isn't one of us - for example, you - we can't just let them wander into a military installation." He chuckled. "So yeah, you'd need one of us to escort you in." It took them a short while to reach the towering gates, Selah could distinctly hear a sentry yell and moments later the gates began to grind forward slowly.

Selah's eyes widened as she took in the sight. The gateway opened into an elegant courtyard, its foundation made of sparkling marble now veiled by a layer of grime. At its center, a golden cross of liquid gold laid into the floor, thin lines sprawling from it towards every corner of the courtyard. Cool moonlight bounced off the gilded surface, casting a golden hue across the walls. Between these radiant lines, rivers of emerald green flowed in intricate spirals, all leading back to the cross.

The cathedral stood behind the courtyard, its walls hewn from mountain stone yet honed in such a manner that one could read tales worth centuries with a mere glance. Each carved detail whispered stories of faith and valor, yet somehow in the same breath expressed deep sorrow and grief. Selah tore her gaze from the stonework as Lucas, Eliana, and Briar rushed past her, heading towards a man standing near the cathedral's entrance. Their expressions seemed tense, but she noticed the way Lucas looked at the man - with nothing but respect in his eyes. The man was built like a giant, he wore a gentle smile but his massive frame and piercing eyes hinted at a strength that could make even the bravest warrior think twice.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You're back home safe and well? Good, good," the man said, his voice a deep rumble. His eyes twinkled as they fell on Selah. "Ah! You've brought a young woman back home? And here I thought something was wrong with you, Luca," he added with a bright chuckle.

Lucas's ears turned an alarming shade of red. "Yes, her name is Selah," he said quietly. "We found her near a Hellbound encounter. She can see us, so I thought..." Lucas's voice trailed off as he ran a hand through his hair, clearly flustered. "Well, here she is," he finished lamely, gesturing vaguely in Selah's direction.

The old man watched Lucas with a look of incredible curiosity. "Very well..." Bellator's eyes twinkled with mischief, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "No snarky remarks about my comments? Curious indeed." Then, turning to Selah, he continued, "How rude of me. I haven't properly introduced myself to the young maiden. Hello, I am Bellator Newman, the Sentinel Prelate of Cathedralis Custodum - the number one pilgrimage place for all of the order." He finished with a sarcastic laugh. "And who might you be?"

"I- I'm Selah Thorne!" she blurted out, wincing at her own volume. "Sorry, didn't mean to shout. It's been a... strange day." Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she continued, "I'm Selah. It's a bit of a long story, but it started with me following a suspicious white van..."

Hours later, as Selah finished recounting her tale, she noticed the sky had darkened considerably. Bellator, who had listened intently throughout, stood up with a stretch.

"Well, that's quite the adventure you've had, young lady," he said, his voice warm. "But it's late, and I'm sure you're all exhausted. Come, let me show you to your rooms."

As they followed Bellator into the cathedral, Selah couldn't help but gasp. The interior was just as awe-inspiring as the exterior. The nave stretched before them, adorned with floral engravings that climbed the massive pillars. These stone blooms guided her gaze upward to the vaulted ceiling, where a breathtaking scene was carved into the very stone.

There, in exquisite detail, a wounded knight stood amidst encroaching darkness. Foul creatures raced towards him, their forms twisted and menacing. Yet beside the knight stood a lamb, small but resolute, bleeding profusely. As Selah watched, the lamb's blood seemed to come alive, setting the darkened land ablaze with bursts of light and flame that pushed back the advancing evil.

Across this celestial battle, words shimmered in golden script: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

Selah's gaze followed the pillars down to the altar, crafted from a single, massive slab of marble. As they drew closer, she noticed an inscription glittering gently in the warm, golden glow of countless candles.

"קרבן אחד עבור הכל," Bellator's deep voice rumbled softly beside her. "One sacrifice for all. A reminder," he paused, his eyes reflecting the flickering light, "of the price that was paid."

Selah studied Bellator's face, noticing the ancient pain etched across his weathered features. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. "You looked like you were in pain," she murmured. "I hope whatever is grieving your heart doesn't bother you anymore."

Bellator gently set her back, surprise and warmth mingling in his eyes. "Little one, you have quite the courage to leap at me like that," he chuckled. "You're going to make Lucas jealous."

Lucas shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting between Selah and Bellator. "It's late," he mumbled, his words tumbling out in a rush. "We should... I mean, you must be tired. I'll show Selah her room. Briar and Eliana know the way."

Before anyone could protest, Lucas was dragging Selah up the stairs. She caught a glimpse of Bellator giving her a slight bow before she was whisked out of sight.

Five minutes later, in a deserted corridor, Selah yanked her arm free. "What is your deal!" she demanded, her voice echoing off the stone walls.

Lucas's eyes roved over her, taking in her altered dress. Once white, now dust-covered, its skirt modified to fit over navy blue jeans. Conflict raged in his eyes. 'Something about this girl pisses me off,' he thought. 'How can she switch from being rude and obnoxious to suddenly seeing Bellator's pain? Maybe she's a spy after all. What if Father sent her to keep an eye on Bellator?'

"Hello?" Selah waved her hand in front of his face. "Are you going to show me around or should I just sleep on the floor?"

Lucas glared at her, his unease growing. Suddenly, to Selah's shock, he slapped himself, the sound sharp in the quiet corridor.

"What are you doing?" she cried, alarmed. "If you don't stop, I'm going to call for help!"

"I'm sorry," Lucas mumbled, leaning against the wall. The torchlight danced across his face, shadows deepening the turmoil in his eyes.

The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable, before Lucas spoke again, his voice low and strained. "I can't explain why I acted this way. Maybe one day. As for Bellator... it's not my place to share what's his to tell. But yes, he's in pain. A lot of it. He's older than me, older than my father, probably the wisest among us. Yet he suffers the most, and in many ways, I'm the reason."

Lucas pushed himself off the wall, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Let's hold off on the tour. I'll show you to your room now so you can rest."

They walked in silence until they reached a heavy wooden door. "Here's your room," Lucas said, his voice flat. "Get some sleep."

Selah stepped inside, the scent of oak and rain enveloping her. She collapsed onto the bed, her mind whirling with the day's events. As she closed her eyes, questions bubbled up: What did Lucas mean? Why was Bellator so sad? Knights in 2024? Did Eliana like Lucas?

But exhaustion quickly overtook her curiosity. Her thoughts melted into each other like a film of pictures, and slowly she slid into slumber.