Soren dedicated himself to a life in service of mercy, compassion, generosity, and healing as both war healer and healer of the people of his land. His renown spread even amongst his enemies, and many spoke of him as a living saint. Then there were others who needed war, not peace.
Now, he awakens on soft grass under a sliver of light in a sea of darkness, memories fragmented. He remembers something like his death, something like Hell, something terrible and wrong, and yet, there is a distant light on the horizon. But the darkness does not wait.
Lost within this uncanny, ruined land, he is taken to the Cathedral, a massive, sprawling structure that is its own living world, always building or destroying new halls, rooms, memory spaces, sanctuaries, places lost to time. He meets Cybele, whose secrets and half-memories become tangled with Soren's own as they both seek to remember themselves, no matter the cost...
As they must do to escape a condemned land forgotten even by God.
Entry for the MAL x Honeyfeed 2026 writing contest, submitted under the "Tragic Hero" category.
Please expect chapter updates every 2-4 days.
Also note: While originally having the "Adventure" genre tag, I have decided to change that to "Horror" after some consideration. While I consider the "Adventure" to be exploring the massive Cathedral, which will include different types of surreal areas and environments, the novel has more of an overt horror tone than an adventure fantasy one, though it should not be considered a horror novel as that is not the intention. "Horror" is a supporting element, as this is definitely a dark fantasy story, and horror tends to be an element of dark fantasy. Still, the Cathedral will take you to many different places, so please appreciate it as an adventure nonetheless!
All other genre tags remain the same as when the novel first began publishing.
Entry for the MAL x Honeyfeed 2026 writing contest, submitted under the "Tragic Hero" category.
Please expect chapter updates every 2-4 days.
Also note: While originally having the "Adventure" genre tag, I have decided to change that to "Horror" after some cons...