This was the first time that I was going to be able to get out of here since I arrived, passing by the many graves, I was going to ask more about the citadel and about the graves; something inside me though told me that I shouldn't. If I were to ask now, especially now, how would Sel feel? Would he even answer? Thinking more about it, maybe that feeling that is telling me not to ask is to help myself. Maybe in fear of getting an answer that I wish I didn't hear. Maybe so, but nevertheless my curiosity still lingers. 

    We made it to the entrance of the cathedral. What once was the gateway into a place of beauty was now the exit from ruins and a perversion of a memory. The next steps that we took were the ones that led us to the harsh reality that rests outside these fallen decaying walls. These steps, Sel must have taken many times before now. Myself, these were the first of many moments like these yet to come. From ruin I stepped out into devastation. The air was light yet you sat heavy with each breath that followed. I must have been showing some signs of difficulty because I could see Sel look over at me as we were walking.

    "Breathe slowly friend." Sel says to me. "I don't know where you came from, but I can see you that whatever has happened before still holds tight onto your very spirit."

    "My world, where I came from… it was being destroyed by something; a darkness. I passed through a gate that brought me here. To there." I said looking back at the cathedral one last time before looking back at the world in front of me. "Everything that happened, I have not been able to get it out of my mind, and now seeing this…"

    "I understand." Sel replied. "The world wasn't like this. It's been years though since it happened. I don't remember exactly how it all happened, but I know when I woke up the world was dying or already dead. The pain you feel, I know all too well. It never gets easy but you learn to come to peace with the memories. Myself, I try to remember those that I love, the joys we shared together. Even though they are no longer here, they remain in my heart and I know they walk with me, watching over me. Their memories, their lives, I carry them with me and I live for them. It is up to us to live for them now, to not let them go into the darkness that claimed them, but to let them be that flame that lights the way and lights the spark of your very being." he finishes but I could sense anger, the anger from loss. 

When sorrow could no longer hold the power of the crashing waves of hurt and sadness. To feel the pain knowing there was nothing that you can do about it. He indeed understands this pain that I feel. I placed my hand upon his shoulder, a sign of friendship and condolences for what he must hold on to and for what he has lost. He looked at my hand before giving a slight nod. Time passed as the night was filling the sky, blanketing the world in its shade. The temperature seemed somewhat colder, but with what I was wearing it luckily is not cold enough to make my apparel useless. However, I hope that soon we reach the shelter Sel spoke of because even though the cold is not bothering him, I don't know how much colder it can get. 

He assured me that we were close though. Everything seemed to look gloomy. Everything looked like different shades of gray. From the homes we passed, to the businesses that would be filled with life; everything that had some color of lifelessness. Some of the buildings were falling apart, some already crumbled. Plant life wilted while some fight for another day. The trees are barren. However, there was some life in some areas where nature is reclaiming; leaving them with green vines, flowers of beautiful colors, and some patches of green grass. It seemed to be a war between decay and rebirth. The more I look at the surroundings, I hope life will return.

"Here we are." Sel said, breaking my attention to everything else.

The place where we are at is a large home made of brick and large stones with a wooden door, windows with shutters and a roof made with a material that I could not tell what it was because of the natural growth growing on it along with it being worn by time. The home itself looked structurally sound and a safe place to stay. The home itself looked to have three floors and with the land around it and how it was placed away from the other homes; it looked to be one of the more "high-class" homes. 

"Come in." Sel told me as he opened the door and walked in leaving me outside in hope I would follow. I walked and stood at the entrance feeling a little more at ease knowing that for now, I'm safe.