The following day, at the outskirts of the Cathedral of the First Saint…

Hypostyle pillars, adorned with golden runes of sacred wisdom and holy might, rise high above the trees. Within these hallowed halls… the First Saint awaits.

Traditionally, healers and paladins of the Order of Selene face this Dungeon and its trials after at least six months of rigorous training and study at the Chantry of Eternal Light. It’s the final test – an exam of might and magic to prove worthy of graduation, to become fully-fledged members of the Order and its holy purpose.

Anna and I did that in the previous timeline – six months of studying under Lady Iris and daily physical training and combat drills. This time? We’re diving in way ahead of schedule.

Not that I’m worried. I’m ready. We’re ready! It’s gonna be Anna’s first time. As for me… it’s a homecoming. We’ve been quiet since we left Light’s Hope, walking through the forest in silence… but I can sense it – she’s nervous. As am I, in my heart of hearts.

Yesterday, I spent the entire afternoon (and a good chunk of the evening!) telling Anna everything I remembered about the Trial of the First Saint from the previous timeline. Y’know, stuff like the monsters, the puzzles… and the dangers awaiting us. It’s nothing too serious – it’s all designed to test, not kill. If we fail, we’ll wake up outside the entrance with one mother of a headache. So, no pressure!

Rinnah willing, we’ll make it through quickly and easily. In and out, three-hour adventure! Tonight’s menu in the dining hall includes beef stew… and I fucking love beef stew! Just thinking about those tender chunks of beef, the rich, savoury broth, and the perfectly soft carrots and onions… makes my mouth water. But I digress!

“Umm… are you ready, Arisa?” Anna says softly, her voice breaking the silence. “Say the word, and I’ll lead the way inside.”

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” I answer with a smile, snapping my fingers to let my Mage Armour envelop me in a flash of teal light, hardening my flesh like stone. “What about you?”

“Well… I’m a little nervous.”

“Me too, Anna.”

“Wait, really?”

“Of course! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You just… you seem so calm,” Anna remarks, looking bashful as she places a hand on her cheek. “Sorry!”

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“Don’t apologise. Remember what you said about facing challenges?”

“Doing our best?”

“Exactly. And we’ll do it together, won’t we? No matter what’s inside.”

“Yes, we will!”

Her deep breath and determined smile are all the confirmation I need. Together, we step past the towering pillars and enter the Cathedral of the First Saint.

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Entering the Cathedral of the First Saint…

Torches fixed to ancient stone walls burn with eternal holy flames, casting flickering shades of molten gold and searing orange across the cloisters. The air carries the faint scent of aged stone and ash, the silence broken only by the distant hum of sacred wards. Our surroundings are immaculate… unnervingly so.

Anna moves ahead, her steps cautious but steady, while I follow close behind, eyes scanning every shadow. My pulse thrums in my ears, tension coiling tight in my chest. It’s been a while since I last walked through these halls with her, one timeline ago. And with every step, the promise we made to each other before entering repeats in my head like a mantra:

“We’ll do our best together. No matter what!”

The first trial begins when the cloisters open into a crumbling garden. It mirrors the Chantry’s courtyard, though the resemblance only makes it more disquieting. Broken paths stretch towards sealed rubble, forcing us down the only open route.

And then it appears.

From the shadows of the garden strides a hulking Dullahan – a hulking Monster comprised entirely of a massive, walking suit of holy armour that gleams beautifully with the golden aura of divine magic. In one mailed hand, it bears a massive square shield that slams into the ground with a thud reverberating uncomfortably through my bones. With its other hand, it wields a brutal warhammer, its blunt head glinting ominously.

The Dullahan’s faceless helm tilts with acknowledgement as Anna and I approach… and it shifts into a defensive stance, blocking the path forward. Beside me, Anna adjusts her stance, Ascalon’s blade balanced on her shoulder. Her knuckles are white around the hilt.

“Right on cue…” I mutter, tightening my grip on Elizabeth, the comforting weight of my staff steadying my nerves. “Let’s do this.”

I’ve faced this big guy before in the previous timeline; I know its tactics well. The Dullahan is a relentless sentinel, its massive shield an impenetrable bulwark against frontal assaults. It waits, patiently and calculatingly… using that massive shield to stagger its foes, wearing them down with bone-shaking bashes before bludgeoning them with the brutal swing of its warhammer.

Attrition is this Monster’s game – slow, steady, and merciless… and it’s a test of tactics and coordination between Paladin and Healer. The key to victory lies in precision and teamwork. Alone, its defences are nearly insurmountable. But together, we’ll outmanoeuvre it, flanking past its defences to strike where it’s most vulnerable – its rear.

But as we move into position… Anna gasps, pointing beyond the towering Dullahan standing in our way. “Arisa – look!”

“Ain’t no way…”

Behind the Dullahan, spectral figures begin to coalesce, their forms shimmering in a radiant blend of white and gold. Golden staves ignite with blazing Holy Fire, casting an eerie, flickering glow across the crumbling garden. Four Lightsworn emerge, their luminous bodies exuding an almost otherworldly menace.

As the Dullahan raises its shield, the atmosphere thickens... charged with the weight of impending combat. My pulse quickens, the tension coiling tighter within me with each heartbeat.

“Of course…” I sigh, my grin fading. “Never easy, is it?”