Nova Mesto, Great Cathedral 24.00 P.M
Midnight arrived in Nova Mesto, enveloped in a cold that was more piercing than usual. The atmosphere is tense, but if you listen carefully, you can hear the sound of moaning and dragging footsteps. Joshua, Isabel, and Robb are heading to the Great Cathedral. On their way they met some undead who were wandering around. From the North wall to the Great Cathedral, it wasn't that far but to them at this moment it seemed like the distance was further than usual and time was running very slowly. They walked around to avoid the path that contained the undead. They choose to avoid confrontation as much as possible. When they arrived at the front of the Great Cathedral, there seemed to be no sign of life and the door was tightly closed. There were several undead and corpses lying in front of them.
Joshua turned around to look at Isabel and Robb, "Looks like there's no other way except from the front. At least we are safe when we get to the door because normally Holy Water is available there."
"We don't know if the door is locked or not. How about if it's locked? " Robb replied anxiously.
"I'm going to lure them. I am the most agile among you. You guys try to open that door." Isabel got ready to go forward.
"Bring this" Joshua passed his crossbow to Isabel.
Isabel nodded and moved forward. She immediately took aim at the several undead. The other undead started moving swiftly towards him. Isabel ran towards the doorway of the Great Cathedral. Joshua and Robb approached the door trying to open it. As Robb feared, the door didn't budge.
"Shit!" shouted Joshua, hitting the door.
"Who's out there?" Suddenly a voice came from inside.
Joshua immediately replied, "We're from Vanguard Nova Mesto."
Several voices could be heard from inside, "What about the creatures on the outside? Is there still? "
"The three of us and our friend were fishing them away. Let us in and take cover. "
Several people heard talking, "OK, we will open the door."
An aged priest opened the door.
Joshua whistled loudly to signal Isabel. Isabel immediately finished her remaining arrows and threw the crossbow towards the undead. She was almost at the door when suddenly tripped on her foot. More precisely, the corpse that had been lying still on the ground suddenly moved and grabbed her feet. Isabel was frantically busy kicking her other leg, trying to escape.
Joshua moved quickly to scoop up the holy water near the door with both hands. It was thrown at the corpse that had turned into undead. There was a scream and the grip on Isabel's leg loosened. Joshua immediately grabbed Isabel and helped her up. They rushed inside and the doors of the Great Cathedral closed.
Isabel caught her breath and looked around. Inside, it turned out that the Priest was not alone. Several Nova Mesto residents and priests were inside. They looked scared.
The old priest introduced himself as Father Luso. It seemed that the Great Cathedral had become a refuge when the undead attacks occurred. All the survivors gathered inside the Cathedral.
Isabel headed to the corner of the room and sat down while Joshua and Robb were seen discussing with Father Luso. Isabel checked her feet to make sure it was okay. Then she thought of the book she had taken from Father Juan and flipped the pages hoping to find useful information. One of the pages records an early legend regarding Seraphine Aile.
Seraphine Aile is mentioned first in ancient fairy tales since the Babylonian civilization. At that time people-built towers so high that they reached Heaven where the Winged Race lived. At first, they didn't mind the arrival of the humans and lived peacefully side by side. But it did not last long as greedy humans tried to control all cultures and the advancement of the Winged Race. The Winged Race then expels the humans and collapses the tower to rubbles. Seraphine Aile is a Winged Race's parting treasure to humans as a sign that they have ever lived side by side.
At first glance it looks like a fairy tale where Seraphine Aile is never described; known to have a myth that can give eternal life, strength, and can also bring disaster to the surroundings. Isabel's mind recalled her conversation with Dumar when she first got the task of searching for Seraphine Aile. According to Dumar, the person who hired them to find Seraphine Aile, was very interested and willing to pay any price. When Isabel asked who their client was, Dumar just smiled mysteriously and said he was only helping his old friend. Isabel turned the next page and saw many symbols and illustrations related to Seraphine Aile. Some are presented like a cup or a crown. But the book doesn't confirm it's the original form. Isabel grumbles that there is no clear explanation as to what Seraphine Aile's exact form looks like and is also annoyed that Dumar gave her a task that dragged her into unknown peril. Isabel saw Joshua coming over to her, she hurriedly closed her book.
"Am I bothering you? "
"Does not matter. So, is there any information? "
"I told them about the undead as well as holy water. According to the stories of some residents. Some tried to open the city gates but the city gates did not move at all. It was as if there was some magic locking it in. It looks like we'll be trying to hang on here until morning to see how things turn out next. At least here we have holy water in case something happens. "
"Yes, we have no other choice." Isabel answered while sharpening her knife.
"Can I ask something?" Joshua asked curiously.
"What?" Isabel was still sharpening her knife.
"What really happened that you could be accused of murdering Father Juan?"
Isabel looked at Joshua and asked back, "Why? Do we need to discuss that now? "
"You are indeed a tough and capable woman. But somehow, I don't feel the aura of killing. Besides... I'm curious about the monster you said. I thought you were referring to someone but after the incident with the undead. I'm starting to think… that you really are referring to a monster."
"I only have business with Father Juan and I went to see him secretly. And when I was there suddenly there was a monster… shadow… or whatever is that attacked him brutally and disappeared without a trace. Like dark magic… the same dark magic related to this undead…." Isabel sheathed the knife.
Joshua nodded, "I see ... well now we have no other choice but to stay here until morning."
Isabel and Joshua looked for their respective spots and tried to rest even though it was hard with everything that happened. Several residents took turns on duty that night.
The atmosphere was tense that night even though the survivors tried to close their eyes, Isabel could not fall asleep. Her feelings had been uneasy and her mind was wandering around thinking about everything that was happening. The night was cooler than usual even though there was no wind at all. There was a faint moan and the sound of shuffling footsteps outside. At first it was slow but gradually got louder. And the loud voice drew closer. The doorman started screaming to wake the others. Father Luso went to the door and tried to peek out the door window. His face looked panicked. He immediately made an announcement while trying to calm the refugees.
"Calm down, brothers. Right now, outside the undead were gathering and heading this way. But our door here is still solid. If you guys aren't comfortable, there's still room back there. "
Joshua stood behind Isabel with a serious face, "There's no way we can survive here. Just now I saw the undead gather more and more. I have to tell him "
Joshua went straight to Father Luso and tried to explain the situation. Father Luso wiped his sweaty face, he looked very confused and panicked. They seemed to be discussing seriously until Father Luso returned to his room.
Joshua turned to Isabel, "Father Luso chose to stay here until morning because out there no one knows how bad things are. And here they had Holy Water in case the undead broke through. But he said that if you are pressed, behind the cathedral there is another exit."
Isabel grabbed her knife, "I'll try and check it. If it's safe, I'll be out of there. I've been feeling bad at all."
Joshua followed Isabel to the back. They try to peek out of the window. The external situation is not much different from the front of the cathedral. The undead masses began to gather.
"It's not that different. We can't just go out randomly because we have to break through the undead crowd as well." Isabel held her head dizzy.
The two of them were silent for a moment because they both knew that it was impossible to get out of the cathedral without careful preparation.
BANG!
Suddenly there was a sound from the front of the door being hit hard.
BANG!
Joshua and Iris looked at each other.
BANG!
CRASHED!
There was a sound of a door collapsing. Joshua and Isabel dashed forward. The Cathedral Chapel was filled with screams and the sound of weapons. Some of the villagers struggled with the Holy Water or tried to attack with weapons but it seemed that too many undead had invaded to make their efforts unsuccessful. The sound of screams of pain and fear was mixed with the sounds of people running around and around each other. The atmosphere was very chaotic. The massacre took place inside the chapel. In the midst of the chaos appeared an undead that was different from the others. With a fluttering dark robe and holding a staff. He walked towards the Holy Water. A resident tried to pour Holy Water on him but he was not affected by it. He then recited several incantations in the ancient language and then stuck his staff into the Holy Water. Instantly the Holy Water's well turned black.
All who saw it gasped in shock. The only weapon they knew could save them was now useless.
"Everyone! Retreats to the back. We will try to escape from there. " Shouted Father Luso.
Father Luso and the residents scrambled to get to the back.
"Don't!! There are undead there too." Joshua tried to prevent them but they didn't care about Joshua's voice because fear had taken over their minds.
The residents who managed to get out through the back door did not last long as they heard screams as a result of being attacked by the undead.
They are stuck in the cathedral with no way out.
"Get over here!" shouted Joshua, directing those who were still alive to the inside of the cathedral. They ran until they reached the end of the room. They rushed in and immediately closed the door.
Joshua looked around and saw that they were all in the great cathedral library and not many people survived. Himself, Isabel, Robb and several residents were seen holding their respective weapons with tense faces. It seems that Father Luso did not survive.
There was the groaning sound of the approaching undead. The library door was smashed easily by the undead mob and they slaughtered all of them until the three of them were left.
At a critical moment Isabel noticed that there was a crack on the floor. She put her ear together and heard the roar of the water below. "Help me to destroy this!"
Joshua and Robb immediately help Isabel and under the broken floor there is a very dark hole.
They got ready to jump but suddenly an undead grabbed Robb.
"Robb!" Joshua tries to save him but it's too late. Robb immediately sank into the sea of undead that attacked him. An undead grabbed Joshua's shoulder and tried to pull him away but Isabel immediately cut off the undead's arm.
Isabel immediately pushed Joshua into the hole and she immediately caught up with him. Joshua and Isabel disappeared into the darkness and they don't know how deep they fell.