The doors leading deeper into the Cathedral creaked open as she stepped closer. Unlike the stinging smell of sulfur on the outside, a breeze blew a sweet aroma towards Raven, inviting her with the warmth that followed. The hallways were adorned with various trophies and paintings left haphazardly against the wall. Everything was covered by a thick layer of dust as if no one has visited in years, and the further she advanced the further she could see every decision made by the man she tried to protect.
Some paintings were well worn, and some outright torn apart, clawed diagonally from one side to the other. Their condition worsened the further Raven progressed down the hallway until reaching a wide, open space with thick pillars in eight points of the room. The ninth pillar was different from the rest. Compared to the rugged, baroque finish the others had, this one was entirely smooth and covered in webs all the way to the top.
A bright light shined from the top of the pillar, illuminating the area around the pillar where a tall figure stood, floating above the ground like all the others. Yet its aura was different. Its tendrils floated against the wind, towards the south. A sense of familiarity grew stronger the closer she would get to it. And it only stared back. Its head tilting ever so slightly to either side with every step. The whispers tormenting her mind slowly ceased, dominated by Its soft voices expressing themselves at unison.
"Welcome home."
"Test the sharpness of your sword against another. And when that is not enough, unsheathe your cunning as the hidden dagger that ends the fight."
![[Image: boueOSq.png?1]](https://i.imgur.com/boueOSq.png?1)