"No, this can't end like this! Can it?" Max yelled out loud, gasping for air. "I didn't travel for 10 months just to die here, in this shitty town!" The streets of Brighthaven were covered in blood, smoke, fire, and pure destruction. Dead bodies were all around him, in every corner he turned, a body with severed limbs or empty eye sockets was facing his direction, it was as if they asked him "Aren't you the hero? Weren't you supposed to save us?" but Max couldn't save them, not now, not before, not ever.
"If there is a God, please, save me!" Max started praying when he hit a dead end.
"Funny how you humans always pray to your Gods when you need to die, and only then!"
"Well, that's not entirely true Mr. Demon, we also pray before exams," he didn't know why he said it, stuttering so much made him sound weak and pathetic.
"Keep praying, maybe your God will show up!" the demon rushed at him.
"We're finally here! The last town before our finish line!" Max stood tall, proud of his journey. After a very long 10 months on the road, he finally reached Brighthaven. Max stood at the gates of Brighthaven, enjoying the sight and taking it all in. Snickers stood beside him, while Lett hid in Max's backpack. "If they see me, chaos will erupt," Lett told him and Snickers when they reached the town. Max had to pay 4 silvers for a backpack that was covered in holes.
Tall, fortified walls surrounded the town, protecting everyone inside them, or trapping them, depending on the situation. Above the gate stood the town's crest - a sun rising over a silver shield. The streets were worn smooth by the steps of humans, non-humans, and animals over the years. Compared to the lonely road and the quiet landscape he got used to, the town was too loud for Max, he felt like his ears were bleeding.
"So many… everything!" Max said, looking at so many humans and non-humans talking and being friendly to each other like it was the most normal thing in the world. They weren't the same as down south, where seeing a non-human was a surprise on its own. "So many friendly faces and that asshole still has to hide," Snickers said. "Tells you more than enough if you ask me."
Max ignored that comment from Snickers, he became a little bored with them. "Lett this, Lett that," he only tried to find a way to offend the imp. He understood why he behaved like that, but they had been traveling with Lett for more than a month, if he wanted to kill them or possess them (Snickers' biggest fear) then he would've done so a long time ago.
"Wow, this place is something else," Max said, changing the subject and ignoring Snickers, he did that a lot in the past few days.
The trio made their way through the town, following the grand cathedral which covered the entire skyline. The cathedral's spires reached toward the heavens, and the stained glass windows gleamed in the sunlight. The central tower was particularly impressive, crowned with a golden dome.
"It's definitely a different scene from the swamps and forests we've been seeing for so long," Snickers bent his neck so far back it looked like it was broken, he looked at the golden dome.
"Let's find an inn," Max suggested, eyeing a sign that read "The Golden Law". "We could use a good meal first and then visit the cathedral!" Snickers nodded in agreement, the imp kept quiet.
Every inn in every town looked the same, felt the same, smelled the same, and looked the same. It wasn't anything special, but still, after a long time on the road, it felt refreshing to sit on a chair and rest your arms on the table. "Two plates of your best stew and some ale, please!" Max ordered while Snickers couldn't stop drooling.
The stew didn't stay long on the table, as Max and Snickers got right into it, Max fought to catch his breath, while Snickers wagged his tail in excitement.
"That was great!" Max pushed the plate away from him.
Snickers nodded, his mouth full of stew. "We've earned this, Max. Let's get one more plate!"
"Shouldn't we hurry to the chapel before it closes?" a sound emerged from a backpack that was now on the floor. The imp couldn't keep quiet for much longer, and he really grew impatient hearing Snicker's loud chewing, while he had to stay hidden in the backpack.
"No need to hurry," Snickers said, pushing the backpack with his foot further away. "I'll eat one portion for you as well my good friend."
"Hang in there a little bit longer, we'll get something for you when we get out," Max whispered. "Innkeeper! Two more!" he pointed his finger at the empty plates, waiting for a refill.
Max and Snickers, with Lett hidden in the backpack, left the inn after their meal and headed towards the grand cathedral. As they approached the tall structure, Max couldn't help but be impressed by it. He saw many bigger and larger buildings in his world, but this was something special. The stained glass windows glimmered in the evening sun, and many colorful patterns spread on the cobblestone streets.
In front of the cathedral, a religious man stood, giving a speech. "…and he swung the sword of light and made the darkness disappear! Let's not forget him brothers and sisters…"
"Sure he can talk a lot," Max said.
"That's nothing," Snickers said. "In Orbendorf they start beating you if you don't listen to them."
"Remind me not to go there, ever," Max laughed.
The big wooden door of the cathedral was wide open, welcoming everyone inside, but just like you it got ignored by everyone and was completely empty inside. Humans and non-humans walked by it like it didn't even exist, not even looking at it. Max found this behavior weird.
"It seems people don't really care about the cathedral."
"If you passed by it every single day for many years you wouldn't care either," Snickers said. He was right.
When they entered the cathedral, Snickers and Max stood in awe. The immense space was filled with a soft light that entered the cathedral through the high, stained glass windows, casting colorful patterns of color on the polished marble floor. The cathedral's architecture was breathtaking, with towering columns reaching up to the ceiling detailed with frescoes depicting scenes of a battle.
The air was cool, their footsteps echoed as they walked. The altar was at the far end of the room, it looked breathtaking, showered in sunlight it looked like an angel was going to get summoned any second now.
Max noticed carvings on the walls and pillars. Each one told a story of the people who had built this magnificent structure. The choir loft above was empty, but Max could imagine the beautiful music that must fill this sacred space during services. The acoustics of the cathedral were perfect, even the softest whisper bounced around the walls and spread through the cathedral so everyone could hear everything.
In the center of the cathedral, beneath the grand dome, stood a magnificent beam of light. It was as if the heavens themselves had opened up, pouring divine light into the sacred place.
"Wow," Snickers widened his eyes. "This place sure is… magical."
Max nodded, lost for words. Lett wiggled inside the backpack. "Let me take a peek!"
Max was never a religious person, he remembered God only in distress, but at that moment, he kneeled at the altar and prayed in silence. He didn't know what God was listening to his prayer, is the God from his world even here in this other world he got dropped into, but at that time it didn't even matter.
"… just keep me and my friends safe, and away from any trouble…"
"Get back inside before someone sees you," Snickers whispered and kept pushing Lett in the backpack.
"I just want to take a look," Lett tried to get out.
"There are rainbows here you don't want to see it, trust me!"
"Shh…" Max felt like he heard something. "I think someone just screamed there," he pointed his finger at a big side door.
"Maybe a priest dropped one of his huge books on his foot," Snickers laughed.
"No, it sounded more painful."
Max started walking towards the door.
"You sure you want to go and check it out?" Snickers stood in the same place.
"Maybe an old priest fell and needs help, we should check it out."
"Something smells bad," Lett said from the backpack.
"I couldn't hold it in, it got out on his own I swear, no disrespect Gods!" Snickers defended himself.
The door opened with a loud screech, if someone didn't want them there, definitely heard the door being opened. Max still took his time and moved slowly through the room. If someone needed help, it sucks because he took his time getting there, but if something dangerous lay ahead (and because of his past experiences he thinks of this being the more probable choice) it might save his life because he sneaked.
"I really need some invisibility spell…" Max thought.
The atmosphere changed dramatically as they entered the room. The room was small, more intimate than the cathedral, slender candles with their flames flickering softly lit the room. The walls were lined with dark, polished wood paneling, and wooden shelves that held numerous ancient tomes and scrolls, and the leather bindings were cracked and worn with age.
In the center of the room stood a large, ornately carved wooden desk, its surface cluttered with papers, quills, and ink pots. A few half-burned candles added to the soft light. The chair by the table faced a large glass window that was covered in a painting of angels and saints, they were watching the room.
Against one wall stood a tall wardrobe, one of the doors opened, and inside were clothes. In one corner of the room, there was a small, worn prayer bench with a cushion that helped the priest when kneeling. Max scanned the room, he couldn't see anyone in there, but he was sure that he heard a scream coming from there. He glanced at Snickers, who looked uneasy, while Lett remained hidden.
"This place gives me the creeps," Snickers whispered, his eyes jumping from one side of the room to another. "Let's just get out."
"I'm sure I heard a scream, maybe there is a secret passage here just like in the mayor's house?"
"You're going to be our downfall one day, I swear!" Snickers started looking around.
Max looked around the prayer bench when he heard a loud noise, something hitting the ground. He turned around, his eyes wide.
"Snickers! What are you doing?"
"Looking for the secret passage?" Snickers looked confused pulling books from the shelves and dropping them on the floor.
"A little bit with less noise please!"
Max stood in front of the wardrobe now, the opened door of the wardrobe that kept the priests' clothes hid a dim light behind them.
"Snickers! Look!" Max removed the clothes, revealing a hidden passage that led down an old staircase.
"That doesn't look good," Lett finally decided to peek out of his backpack.
"Should we go down there and check?" Max looked at Snickers. "I ain't going alone, you decide."
"Fuck it, let's go. But if we die, this is your fault!"