**Kuro**
Our journey to access the ancient giant roads network took us deeper into the mountains, passing several rivers—and even lakes—of lava. At these parts of Equality, there was not a single dwarf we encountered, and for obvious reasons: it gets incredibly hot as we passed the narrow dirt paths. I was just relieved to know that the possibility of sulfur dioxide poisoning hadn't happened to us just yet, though we still had to be careful navigating our paths. The dwarf lady would look for the 'stable' footing, while we followed along with our bags. Fortunately, to combat the exhausting heat, the god-powers of the Elf Saint came in handy. With her control over anything liquid, I could 'command' water to appear where we were, and drink to our hearts' content.
"Oi, we're still a long way to the roads, and yet you guys are already half-spent?" Lady Martelle mockingly asked.
"Compared to you, we humans have different body composition. There's a reason we do not build cities underground; we're simply creatures meant to enjoy the surface air and sun," I countered. "Besides, we're not being a liability! I can take care of our needs—particularly the water—just fine!"
"Tch," was the only reply of the dwarf lady. I guess I made my point; as she was pissed that I could stand against her mockery. Nevertheless, as Lady Martelle was with us, she stopped in her tracks and sat down to wait as Lily drank her fill of water.
"Ah, Kuro!" the Iron Princess happily quipped. "What is this drink? It feels so bubbly in my mouth!"
"Carbonated juice," I answered. "Or in my world, we call that 'soda.'"
"This is delicious!"
"Well, it's what we drink when we're in the middle of doing something exhausting, or if the temperature is too high," I explained to her. "Though, it's nice when we're taking a break. On the move, having soda can quickly make you thirsty."
"I want more!" Lily demanded. Naturally, I complied. The god-powers of the Saints were like the biblical ones I used to read when I was a kid; so, I thought, if our god made some wine out of ordinary water to augment the supply of wine during a wedding, why not I make a soda when I have the same abilities?
Yep, the thought of establishing a business empire using this beverage idea came to my mind, though I doubt I should be using the god-powers for such a silly and materialistic endeavor.
"Hey!"
I noticed that Lady Martelle glared at me. "What?"
"I want some of that soda thing, too!"
Somehow, the thought of industrious, greedy dwarves drinking soft drink didn't fit my stereotype, so I offered her something else. "How about some wine?"
"Wine? Are you fucking serious? How about you give me some ale instead?" she was sarcastic. "You think a hard-working dwarf like me would like a weak drink for human nobles?"
"Okay, done," I handed her a tankard of cold beer.
"What?!" the dwarf lady nearly jumped in surprise. I could tell she didn't expect that; though, I wondered if she's not that familiar with the Elf Saint's god-power.
"You asked for it, right?" I returned her sarcasm. "Why are you pulling out now? Are you just trying to play jokes on me when you can't actually drink alcohol?"
"You stupid human! I'm just surprised you have beer with you!" Though she may say that, there was a pleasant smile on Lady Martelle's lips. I guess, one couldn't resist the temptation of an ice-cold beer in the middle of a place filled with lava rivers and lakes.
"No, you Holy Dolt! Can't you tell I possess the god-powers of the Elf Saint? Now go figure why I got beer with me!" I showed her my hand, which had a faint blue glow, and where the drops of beer were dripping. Of course, it was clean; the Lady Hinwe's god-powers really come in handy—from refreshing beverages to cleaning stuff, including the production of ethyl alcohol (for cleaning myself), just like the healing powers of Maddie.
"Damn…I never thought of using such sacred power that way." Defeated, the dwarf lady muttered, as she sat by one of the outcrops and sipped on her drink. Lily and I were already tired from all the walking and climbing ever since our breakfast, and I guess, now's a good time to take a rest.
I was also thinking of producing some energy drinks later. I mean, if I could 'make' soda and beer out of nowhere with the Lady Hinwe's god-power, what's stopping me from creating that ultimate stuff to augment our energies for the journey ahead? And also, I just need to find a relatively cooler place. Staying here for too long felt like we're slowly getting baked, even with all the ice-cold drinks I produce. Not to mention, the risk of sulfur dioxide poisoning was great…should that thing turned out to be true in this world…
But I have no plans to prove it…so, I shall prioritize our safety.
----------
With Lady Martelle leading us in search of some place that could shield us from the scorching heat, soon we found a cave 'entrance' that led away from the lava rivers. I said that with quotation marks because it was not like the ordinary cave entrances I'd seen before. While partially buried beneath rocks, and dust, we could still make out the chiseled edges and artificially-made walls that were destroyed for some reason.
"These are old dwarf routes," the dwarf-lady explained, feeling her way across the walls with faded pigments of color. "Equality's deep underground is divided by the melted soil rivers, which leads from one mountain to another. Because of that, dwarves followed these rivers and built road networks for themselves, thus, even if it has been long since I last seen this place, I won't get lost if I just followed where the melted soil flow."
The knowledge sure comes in handy, I thought. Although, if I may say, the caverns from where these lava rivers flow were surely big. I think a giant would have no problems traversing these paths.
"They sure are," Lady Martelle confirmed. "I'd rather call these 'paths' the 'arterial roads' that led to the actual 'ancient giant roads' you saw in your dreams, or in other cases, mine shafts for the mining operations of the giants in the past. Unlike the dwarves, they never learned metallurgy and they were too big for the trees, so they used stones for their weapons and tools. And the sturdy boulders can be found deep in the mountains, especially the glass stones."
"Glass stones?" I asked, for I remembered something similar. "You mean, obsidian?"
"Is that how you call it?"
"Have a look inside my mind. Is that what you're talking about?"
"Ah, yes!" Lady Martelle confirmed. "So, you call that 'obsidian,' huh?"
Well, obsidian was a pretty sturdy resource. Even the ancient peoples in my world used those for their tools, and weapons, with some going as late as the 16th century, in Mesoamerica. And it was pretty obvious that these mountain ranges had those; the lava 'arteries' beneath would be a natural source.
While I admit I'm having a 'field day' learning this information, there is a question that still lies unanswered in my head…
"By the way, milady!"
"Hm?"
"I'm just puzzled as to why these 'dwarf roads' were constructed in this spot," I told her. "I mean, sure, the giants are huge people, and their size compared to dwarves can be a problem, like walking on the same road with the latter can cause accidents like stepping on them. But then, if we're avoiding such scenario, won't the dwarves build their roads where the giants can actually see them?"
Lily and Lady Martelle exchanged weird looks. The dwarf asked, "What are you implying?"
"I find it weird to find this dwarf tunnel road constructed in this corner of the cavern, obviously hidden from the main paths, since we have to uncover the debris that covered it," I pointed out. "Look, the risk of accidents for living with someone who's almost ten…no, hundred, times bigger than you is high. If one giant is careless, he can kill several dwarves in one misstep. Yet, the location of this 'tunnel road' seems like the builders meant for it not to be seen."
A moment of silence. Lady Martelle only looked at me, clueless of how to answer my question. And, the stillness of their reactions made me realize that I may be overthinking things.
"Ah, s-so this is why this place is so big!" Wishing to dissipate the awkwardness, Lily blurted out; her arms wide open, and marveling at the huge caverns illuminated by the molten rocks. "It is really made by the giants; I'd really love to see what it's like during its heyday! And Your Holiness, I think you'll have no problems using these places!"
"Mind you, Princess, I'm a sickly giant," the dwarf lady told her, grabbing the opportunity to escape my scrutiny. "That means, I really didn't get to the usual giant's size…my true body, I mean."
"Ooh, so you can grow taller if you are healthier?"
"Well, yes…though…" her voice suddenly trailed off. "Ah, in any case, let's continue removing the blockage. This is the route we'll use as well to access the ancient roads."
As I listened to their conversation, I couldn't help but think that Lady Martelle was holding something from us. Well, it's not like I find her doubtful; it just felt like she was keeping her answer from us until there was a good time to explain it. Anyway, Gaius did tell me about it, and the dwarf lady already hinted on that issue as well.
----------
Meanwhile, the physical prowess of the dwarves was really something. We already traversed the lava rivers, with varying terrain elevation and features. Not only did we have to contend with the heat, but also with the baggage we had, all the while minding our steps because, one loose footing could kill us. Lady Martelle and I carried stuff according to our capabilities; she was a dwarf, and they got physical strength comparable to Beastmen, so she gets the lion's share of it—which were mostly Lily's things. Of course, I'm human, and it didn't take long for my body to get tired of the climbing, the carrying, and enduring the heat.
"…"
However, Lady Martelle brushed those obstacles off like she was wiping sweat. And that's not all, she would just hurl boulders unto the lava river as if she was throwing pebbles on a stream.
"Kuro! Beer!"
"R-Right away!" In a sense, Lily and I were both relegated to watching and assisting her with light work. As Lady Martelle took upon herself the clearing of the entrance, we decided to 'lighten' her load by giving her what she needed. And yes, in a sense, I became the dwarf lady's beer barrel, using the god-powers of the Elf Saint to give her favorite drink, and the Iron Princess resuming her 'maid' role by serving the dwarf lady with food and drinks.
"Milady, don't get too drunk!" Lily was also worried on her alcohol intake, which could impede our journey. However, a drunk Lady Martelle was even worse than the sober one, if you didn't give what she asked. So, the Iron Princess had to contend herself with reminders that often went unheeded.
I don't think the dwarf will listen. Similar to the employees pressed hard to increase their 'productivity,' she will only comply when she deems the person stopping her went through the same hardship.
Soon, the blockage to the underground dwarven tunnel route was cleared, and we could now proceed. The dark, musty, and dusty road lay before us; I could still make out the faded remains of paint and chiseled figures on the walls, long worn-out by disuse and time.
Honestly, I can't keep myself from thinking that the debris we removed was something that was deliberately put in the entrance to seal it off, instead of natural cave collapses. I mean, now that I thought of it, Lady Martelle did say that these caverns were used and/or mined by the giants before…which meant that these places rarely had collapses, if ever. After all, common sense dictated that 'dangerous' tunnels should be abandoned once the signs that it was weak became clear.
"Hah! That's really goooooooood!" Meanwhile, the dwarf lady downed her…I think the final count was 25 tankards of beer? It was of no question that Lady Martelle was absolutely drunk after that. Nevertheless, as we couldn't stay in the lava river area for too long, Lily and I had to decide on who would carry her.
"I insist," the Iron Princess told me. "Look, you just focus on carrying your stuff. I'll take Her Holiness."
"But she's also carrying stuff behind her!" I pointed out.
"Kuro," she looked at me; at that moment, the colors of her eyes changed from the usual brown to bright red. "My 'Bloodbath' skill can take care of her baggage and herself. It's not only for killing people, and I've been treated as a dainty lady long enough, I'm afraid I'd lose my martial skills."
And completing her words with a wink, the Iron Princess move ahead of me…carrying the Lady Martelle and the baggage still attached to the dwarf.
----------
***The city of Montserrant…***
Having been identified as the enemy of the Church of the Golden Hammer, the city of Montserrant—and in particular, the members of the Cole Miners' Guild—was now the target of multiple cities faithful to their god. As such, Montserrant and its residents never experienced calm after the raid of their pilots in Hemelin, nary days prior. Dwarf settlements fanatically devoted to the Golden Hammer, and even cities who wish to only profess their 'loyalty' to the 'establishment' would send armadas of airships, and fighter planes, in an effort to invade and punish the 'faithless' Montserrant dwarves.
And so, the fighter pilots of the Cole Miners' Guild were stretched, trying to fend off the invasion forces. While their squadrons could take repeated missions to protect their city, the casualties they incurred in the dogfights—both injuries and deaths—were hard to replace, as their flying club made strict standards on who to accept. And even if they lighten the requirements, the training routine would still take time. Worse, their increasingly isolated situation meant that their pilots have to stay 'alert' all the time, contributing to the higher chances of casualties.
Seirna wasn't oblivious to the concerns of her 'new' worshippers. Like them, she shared their hardships, and kept herself in constant vigilance. While she was a saint, the fact remained that she was still mortal, bound to get exhausted.
Honestly, these are one of the times when she wished she had Umberto Benicci by her side. That man's espionage and networking skills can help her gather intelligence, and adapt their response accordingly.
"Airships to the north!" came another alert, and the sirens blared. That was the third one for today, and Seirna, while she thought that the random and uncoordinated attacks of the Church loyalists were easy pickings for the well-trained pilots of the guild, the frequency of it would be their undoing. While she could always repeat her feats for the amazement of the crowd, in the long run, such was impossible. The Overseer Saint knew she had to seize the initiative, instead of waiting for their enemies to come at them.
But that have to wait…
"Your Holiness," it was Queen Paula. "I don't think we can keep up with these attacks. While we're winning the battles, our casualties are irreplaceable. We need to do something about it."
Seirna glanced at a nearby hourglass. It was the third day, since they made that raid on Hemelin, and helping Kuro's group sneak into the Grand Temple. She wondered if they were successful, for there were no signs of them just yet. Still, there were two more days to wait, before she had to decide, so the Overseer Saint couldn't do much. Nevertheless, not wishing to lose the support of the Montserrant dwarves, Seirna had to appear like she was really doing something.
"Three consecutive days of uncoordinated attacks from the nearby loyalist cities," she commented, pointing to the table map. "And I suspect, we're just at the tip of the problem. If anything, I'm sure the city of Hemelin will not take our offensive lightly; I'm sure they're just assembling a mighty air fleet to deliver the 'decisive blow.' These attacks right now are just designed to weaken us through attrition."
The worried faces of the high leadership of the Miners' Guild was clear; they surely didn't expect that from the saint.
"How many squadrons you still have left, Your Majesty?"
"There are 12 who can still bring their full strength to battle," Paula replied. "As for the rest, we can disband those and regroup the pilots into new squadrons."
"Yes, do that," Seirna ordered. "The 12 squadrons will remain here as reserves, and for defense, in case another city will attack Montserrant. The 'new' squadrons will come with me."
"Y-Your Holiness?" a minister of Queen Paula asked. "W-What do you mean by 'will come with you?'"
"It is what it is, dwarf lord," the Overseer Saint answered. "I'll take the new squadrons and bring the fight to our enemies."
At that moment, there was alarm among the leaders, though they never dared to air their sentiments. However, Seirna saw their hearts, so she knew their issues. "Oh, you of little faith!" she began. "Of all the times to doubt the heavens' power, you dwarves will really do it now? Haven't I told you that I serve a living god, the Lord Kuro? Must I display his holy mandate once again to keep you from your disbelief?" The Overseer Saint paused for a bit, intending to let the 'rebuke' sink into the hearts of the dwarf leaders. But she continued with, "Tell me, Your Majesty, how many squadrons will come with me?"
"I-If we regrouped the battered ones, there will be three."
"And how many pilots?"
"At best, there will be 16 per squadron," the miner queen looked at her papers just to be sure. "However, it still depends on the recovery of some of the surviving pilots and their equipment."
"Very well then!" Seirna pulled her rapier out and spread her black wings. "Prepare those squadrons immediately. With the Lord Kuro's guidance, I'll lead you to a crushing victory over the fake god's army in Hemelin!"
----------
***The city of Hemelin***
The church's call for volunteers were overwhelmingly received by a vengeful population. Because of that, in just two days, the city boasted an aerial fleet of ten airships manned by the temple guards, hundreds of fighter squadrons at full strength, and a mighty invasion army of dwarves armed with their trusty steam-powered battleaxes and war hammers. True to the suspicions of the Overseer Saint, the Grand Armada of the Golden Hammer was gathering strength, before making the journey towards the 'heart of the rebellion', the city of Montserrant.
"…"
Still, even with the vast forces that nearly covered the skies above the temple district, Miss Farah Koh remained in a sour mood. For one, the search for the Golden Hammer yielded no fruit, and the people were getting restless. Of course, as they headed into a conflict with the blasphemers in the miners' guild, the loyalists of the church demanded blessings from their god himself. And as the head of his security, the blame for his disappearance would be focused on her, thus, her desire to find the Golden Hammer, or at least, the capture of those humans and the dwarf she knew that did it.
"Miss Koh!" one of her lieutenants called out to her. "I bring you a report from one of our agents on the field."
She never took the time to acknowledge the other dwarf; the security lady just grabbed the report, and read it. Her eyes were immediately pasted on the part that said, 'Several individuals from the outskirts deep inside Hemelin's mountains saw people matching the descriptions we gave.'
"And what did you do about this?" Farah asked, never hiding the alarm in her voice. "Did you immediately act on this report?"
"Y-Yes, Miss!" the lieutenant nodded. "We're sending teams after them as we speak."
"Good! Make sure that they search the melted soil rivers as well!"
"M-Miss?" the dwarf was surprised at her words. "I-I think those criminals won't get deeper than the outskirts!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Farah screamed. "You saw what happened here several days ago! Those humans and the traitorous dwarf have a giant fighting alongside them! I have no doubts that those weaklings will not last long if they are just themselves. But with that giant, traversing the rivers of melted soil will be easy! Get your dwarves moving with supplies, if that's your problem!"
The lieutenant just saluted, and hurried on his way. The security lady massaged her temples, as her problems accumulated. However…
"Miss Koh?"
"What now?"
Another dwarf came to her, and said, "There's a report from the radar room. A couple of unknown planes spotted on the skies near eastern Hemelin."
"Must be pilots from the neutral cities," she quipped. "Have you sent planes to intercept them? The skies above us is currently a no-fly zone."
"We already did, Miss, however…"
"What?"
"They haven't returned. It's been a while now."
Just as the head of security stood up, an explosion tore through the windows of the temple guards' headquarters, sending glasses and debris towards Miss Koh and the dwarf with her. Disoriented for a while, the security lady heard the blaring sirens, announcing the arrival of their enemies.
"What's going on?" was her question for the other dwarf, but he never answered her. It was then that she realized the poor guy was already dead, his head crushed by the flying debris. Miss Koh struggled to stand up, as she nearly lost her footing, but eventually managed to close the eyes of her killed subordinate. Then, as she slowly walked into the broken windows to see the events outside, it slowly dawned unto her that they were under attack once again…by the same aerial army that struck Hemelin days ago, and the feared 'black lady.'
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**Martelle/Helgath**
I remember the words the previous dwarf saint told me…
"Golems don't dream, for they are just artificial mortals, brought forth by our god-powers."
Yes, when I made Martelle from dirt and mud, she was really a golem designed for one purpose: to serve as my 'conduit' to the outside world, before I 'slumber.' And yet, for some reason, here we were…amidst a dream.
"…"
I knew this was a dream, for it's been too long since I last walked into the great halls of my own people, the giants of this land. This dream, though I knew it would be fleeting, felt too real that I nearly mistook it for the real thing…had it not for me knowing better. I could see the rustic furniture that was common with the giants' households, including my bed, down to its minute detail.
For a moment, the scene really brought me back home…
"…"
It was also been long since I last saw the beautiful skies—peeking from the windows of the hallway, now forever obscured by the cloud covers of the dwarf cities on mountain peaks. And lastly, it was long since I stood before my friends…who were already dead.
Haa…the passage of time really took its toll. This dream is so nostalgic, I don't want to wake up…
"Helgath!" a giant waved her hand at me, as she walked towards where I laid down. "How is your health?"
I only looked at her. Deep inside, I was searching for answers. Who is this person again? I already forgot her name, yet she felt so familiar to me.
"I see that your daughter is still affected by her recent sickness." Another giant came to the scene; compared to the first one, this person had an obviously older face. And the way she referred to me as the first giant's 'daughter' meant that the former must be my mother.
Still, what are their names again?
"Are you okay, Helgath?" the older giant put her hands on my forehead. "Say something if you can understand us."
"W-Who are you?" were my first words in this dream. And I knew they heard me, for the gentle and happy expression on their faces changed to anxious and confused.
"Helgath!" my mother called out to me, "I'm your mother, Lady Glenheim! And this is your grandmother and our tribe's medicine priest, Lady Animia! Have you forgotten about us?"
"Glenheim, the power of the magic I used must be too strong," my grandmother said, trying to calm and reassure my mother. "Helgath will surely recover, but give her more time."
"A-Alright," was her words, but I could tell that my mother was devastated when I forgot their names. Well, that was helpful to me as well, for in the real world, I couldn't remember them as well. At least, part of my memories—long hidden by the passage of time—had been returned.
Nevertheless, my mother never left my bedside. She stayed with me even after my grandmother disappeared, often telling me that she some soup cooked for me, so that I would recover as quickly as possible. Well, since this was a dream, I guess I could do anything I wanted here, so I indulged. Kuro and the Princess could wait in the real world while I enjoy myself a little.
"Milady," a servant came in with the food my mother ordered for me. "Here's the soup for the young lady."
"Thank you," my mother smiled and asked the servant to leave it on the table beside my bed. Then, once everything settled down, she took the bowl of soup and leaned towards me, intending to feed the dish that was served. "Here, Helgath, I know you've been through difficult times, but eat this, and you'll feel better."
As my mother scooped chunks of meat from the broth, my eyes stared at horror on the spoon. Is that a dwarf's head floating on the soup?
"What's the matter, Helgath?" she asked, "Don't you like it?"
"M-Mother, that's a dwarf's head, right?" was my question to her. I couldn't hide the shock at what I was witnessing.
"Why, yes?" she put back the spoon on the bowl. "Is there any problem with it?"
"Err…uh…" Goodness, I suddenly want to vomit.
"What's wrong, Helgath?"
Everything is wrong!
"Helgath? Helgath!" my mother's voice slowly faded away. And then, I suddenly remembered…the giants and the dwarves…those little people! They were actually food for us! And I'm trying to forget that part of my people's history!
"Helgath!"
"!!!"
I felt a strong slap on my face that eventually woke me up. I saw Kuro's face before me, with the Princess behind him, wearing the same worried expressions.