***Somewhere in the Heavenly Realms, eons ago…***
The god of Chersea and the Other Realms, Gaius Julius Caesar, sat on one of heaven's thrones reserved for lesser deities. Attended to by the angels assigned to him, he never missed a moment watching over the worlds under his jurisdiction.
"…"
It was only been several eras since the creation of that universe, and yet, true to his favor and blessings, the children of Ava—also known as the humans—progressed faster than the other races. He surmised that the High King of the Gods really designed them to be adaptable, though at the cost of a shorter life span. Add to that his bestowing of magic abilities, and the humans could now conquer the land, Chersea, for their own. From their humble beginnings of just wearing animal hides and using stone tools for survival, the Children of Ava achieved the times where they cooperated to form kingdoms, and warred to expand their dominions.
Gaius thought it was good, and all was going according to his plan, and visions. Long before the Children of Ava came to Chersea, it was already inhabited by those horned people—what he came to call the 'demons', after the ones from his own world. The demon race, while long lived, were adventurous, and they had no qualms of violating the decrees of the heavens if it means they'd find the answers to their questions.
The god of Chersea hated that. The heavens, long been existing even before he became god, and before there were the first worlds, should always be given priority in all mortal affairs. What the heavens decreed, the mortals will follow. Those who defy them shall suffer the wrath of the gods, and their lands would be destroyed…or given to another.
"…"
And Chersea was a beautiful land. Forever illuminated by the light that the High King of the Gods created over its skies, it was a world of gentle, rolling hills, grassy plains, and temperate climate, similar to Gaius' country, in Earth's Italy during the Roman Republic. His romantic ideals of human supremacy over others, especially the demons, made him antagonistic towards them. In his heart, he had prepared himself to guide the Children of Ava to victory, once they realized they wanted Chersea for their own.
He is just waiting for the signal…
"!!!"
Indeed, the 'signal' came quickly than he expected. The humans, having established powerful kingdoms, soon coalesced to found the High Kingdom of Chersea. The High Kingdom conquered and united every human in the land, much to the growing consternation and concern of the demons, who co-existed with them. It was Gaius' moment; he had been waiting for them to do this, and planned that he would descend from the heavens to help the Children of Ava.
So began the first of the Human-Demon Wars of ancient days…
----------
A war filled with spite and hate, the human and demon armies clashed often, in an effort to annihilate the other. The Children of Ava's desire to conquer the mighty demons, known for their mastery of the arcane, was a source of pride for them. Likewise, the demons fought for their land and survival; viewing the humans as a perpetual threat, they sought to massacre every living Children of Ava to secure their future. Legendary battles and heroes appeared and rose from both sides, and Chersea's green plains transformed into a sea of blood and fire.
Nevertheless, it was in the war of attrition that the humans fell short. The High Kingdom of Chersea was led by a powerful ruler; however, his warriors, no matter how strong they were, would eventually succumb quickly to sickness, starvation, and worse…age. Their political structure was also a risk, for if there was a king willing to prosecute the war throughout his life, the same couldn't be said to his successor. Hence, the First Human-Demon War's nature of 'on-and-off' conflict clearly highlighted this weakness. In contrast, the demons could just sit out a human siege forever, having been granted long lives, and bodies that could go on for long without food, or sleep.
Soon, the High Kingdom of Chersea—the suzerain of all humans in Chersea—was on the defensive. Confined to a narrow strip of land in the Northern Wastelands (north of Nerfes) protected by mighty fortresses, the humans waited for their deaths there. The pockets of human resistance in other places were destroyed systematically and in the most brutal way possible; while the king of Chersea was never scared of falling in battle, he feared they would suffer a similar, gory, fate. The demons refused to negotiate; they were willing to see the conflict to its bitter end.
"!!!"
It was at that moment Gaius descended from the heavens, leading an army of angels that wiped out the demons besieging the humans. And he did so in the grandest manner; timing it just as the demons began their final assault on the human fortresses. The Chersean deity caused the skies to darken, complimented by flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, while the orcs pushing demon siege towers spearheaded the attack. Once the demons broke through the defensive walls of the humans…
"!!!"
Gaius made a bright spot in the middle of battlefield, illuminated by a hole from the skies. There, clad in his shiny, well-oiled, lorica segmentata armor and his gladius drawn, the Roman slowly made his way into Chersea. Behind him was an army of angels, marching down in perfect unison, much to the utter bewilderment of everyone present.
It didn't take long for the tide of battle to turn in favor of the Children of Ava…
From then on, Gaius led the humans in fighting the First Human-Demon War. While their population recovered, the Roman used the angelic armies to defend the territories of the High Kingdom, the battles of which became subjects of legends and myths. However, even with the heaven's help, Gaius had a difficult time defeating the demons. Bitter at their lost 'near-victory' siege, the demons stubbornly fought the human and heavenly forces. The intensity of the magic spells thrown by both sides were so high that it caused changes in the terrain of the Chersea.
Nevertheless, even with their mastery of the arcane magic, the demons couldn't hold their lines for long because of the incessant assaults of the combined human-angelic armies. Soon, they sued for peace, and laid down their arms before Gaius.
"We yield to you, mighty god of this land," the leader of the demons told the Roman. "Though this war has been full of hate and death, I beseech your mercy. Let us live in peace, co-existing with humans. Our people only did that because we are afraid of the Children of Ava, witnessing their bloodthirsty character in conquering their own kind."
Gaius, motivated by his disdain for the horned people, answered, "I will let you live, for I am a god full of mercy and kindness. However, you will leave this land, for I shall give it to the Children of Ava as rightful heirs."
"But, L-Lord!" the leader of the demons kowtowed in a last-ditch effort to ask for his mercy. "Where shall my people go? Chersea is the land of our forebears, and my father! And we lived with the humans since time immemorial until the most foolish of them declared war against us!"
The god of Chersea then opened a portal before everyone. "Here is a land, barren and hot. This is the place I bestow you; make it productive, or fertilize it with the blood your brethren, I will never care. And I shall decree—in the presence of all, humans and demons, that no human will cross here, and so shall be the demons!"
Faced with no other alternative than to accept the arrangement, the demons complied. And from then on, the horned people of Chersea started calling themselves 'demons,' to make them remember of the humiliation they suffered in the hands of Gaius and the humans.
----------
***Chersea, a few generations later…***
The humans who lived through the horror of the First Human-Demon War had long died out, and the history of the events were now relegated to oral traditions, passed from one chronicler to another. Likewise, the generation of demons who fought against Gaius and his angels were already dead, and their children were now the ones living in the land they call Cherflammen. Still, the bitterness lingered, for the sons and daughters of the demons were taught to hate the humans.
However, as for Gaius, their parents told them to respect the god.
Though not entirely respect because they 'love' him, it was more of a 'fearful' respect. The kind that one gives to someone to keep the latter from killing the former. Maybe it was because of the overwhelming strength the Roman displayed in the battles against their people, the younger demons didn't know. But, just to keep with their traditions—which required them to offer Gaius something valuable after five or more generations of humans, they made sure they have something to give to the god that defeated, and gave Cherflammen to, them.
"Milord, here is a beautiful maiden I found among the Usarveds," a demon messenger from the Orcs appeared before the court of the demon lord. And true enough, he presented a lovely lady, born with features that could bewitch any human king, and steal the heart of the Chersean god.
"An Usarved?" the demon lord asked. "That clan who sired human-demon halflings? I didn't know they can produce such lovely children! Tell me, lady, what is your name?"
"I am Arame, milord," the lady, with long flowing dark hair, and ivory black eyes, answered.
"Arame, huh? A beautiful name!" the demon lord quipped. "And a beauty to match that name! Hah! I'm sure that accursed god Gaius will fall for her!"
"A god?"
"Yes, Lady Arame. You're here because we plan to offer you to Gaius," he admitted. "And don't worry; that god is…well, reasonable."
"It is an honor, milord," there was a sinister smile that appeared on Arame's lips, though the demon lord didn't notice it. "However, I must tell you something…"
"What is it, milady?"
"I have a daughter."
"A daughter?" the demon lord raised an eyebrow, and his attention fell on the messenger. The demon panicked; he surely didn't expect that information from the Usarved lady he brought.
"However, I assure you; I am a virgin, if that god desires me as such," Arame added. "That daughter of mine isn't really from my womb, but someone I picked up."
"A kind and 'motherly' lady, huh? An interesting offering to that god," the demon lord chuckled. "Very well. Upon my word, I will take care of your daughter once you ascend the heavens."
"My gratitude for your promise," the Usarved lady bowed.
"But, before you go, did you give that daughter of yours a name?"
Arame, who was supposed to go with the messenger, turned back to the demon lord and smiled. "I named her 'Seirna,' which, in our tongue, meant 'steadfast.'"
----------
**Kuro, present day, city of Temun…**
I was still woozy after the transition of places, so I couldn't resist Seirna's iron grip on me. Having teleported me out of the hotel where we stayed, and into one of the highest points of the city, she never let me go, and forced my head to look at places where she wanted me to see.
"Do you understand now, otherworlder?" she said, forcing me to watch the ugly scenes before. "The die has been cast; look at the people!"
Indeed, Temun was engulfed in chaos and death than when we returned to earlier that day. There were several houses burning; dwarves up in arms, many of them raised different banners and makeshift weapons. Bodies mutilated hung on the church façade, and there were vandals that painted profanities on its walls. And I also saw people being dragged on the streets.
What the hell did just happen here?
"This is the reality, otherworlder! These dwarves, blinded by their greed, turned from the faith of the saints and worshipped a false god! And that led to their decadence, and moral decay! What you're looking at are these people, throwing off the yoke of that 'Golden Hammer', and reclaiming their place under the rule of the saints!"
"What do you want from me, Your Holiness?" I asked, trying to escape from her grip on me.
"It's futile escaping from your future! Witness heaven's punishment on them, through me!" Seirna declared. "And you'll be their god, whether you like it!
"You're wasting the efforts we poured in so the Seductress won't get a hold of us! What you're doing isn't going to fully change their hearts!"
"You really keep on disappointing me, otherworlder!" the Overseer Saint said. "Look, I'm only helping you, and this is how you repay me?"
"I'm not the person you look up to," I replied, referring to Gaius. "And if I'll ever be a god, I wouldn't be like what you want me to become!"
At that point, it seemed like something struck Seirna, and she relented from holding me. Nevertheless, she never averted her eyes.
"This is wrong on so many levels!" I could only click my tongue in frustration.
"And who are you to judge their sentiments?" she replied. "This is what they deserve!"
"Seirna, Your Holiness, with all due respect to your authority, you clearly fucked us up here!" I countered. "I thought we already talked about this; you didn't improve our situation! You established a cult, instead! A murderous cult! And you brazenly use my name!"
"You're really stupid, aren't you, Kuro?" Seirna bellowed. "These dwarves, they are only motivated by their greed! Look at them! These wouldn't happen if the Golden Hammer didn't impose those religious taxes! But he was equally an idiot! You will not convince them, otherworlder! Your kind ways will only delay us; I made my move to help you, and this is how you repay me?"
I returned her raised voice with my own, "That is not how I wanted to become a god!"
"And the Lord Gaius is much better than you!"
"Your stupid belief in Gaius' ways brought this shit in Chersea, Cherwind, Cherwoods, Cherflammen, and now, in this land as well!"
At that moment, Seirna never countered my words. She was fuming mad, and lunged at me, attempting to grab my neck. Of course, I had to defend myself, all the while trying not to fall from where we were. Though we were fighting, I noticed that there were tears in her eyes.
"I tried my best, Kuro! I tried my best!" she repeatedly said.
Well, damn…now I feel bad for what I told her.
'Damn it, Kuro! Let me talk sense to her!'
"!!!" Suddenly, a flash of white appeared and enveloped us. The chaotic scenery of Temun immediately changed to the blank whiteness of the place where Gaius lived…the deepest confines of my mind.
----------
Seirna literally froze when the image of her beloved 'god,' Gaius, appeared before her eyes. Her hands stopped strangling me, as her eyes focused only on the person she wished to see for so long. I immediately freed myself from her grasp and stood up.
"M-Milord…" the Overseer Saint quivered; she broke down completely. "Milord…I've always been waiting for you."
"Yo, Seirna, have you finally calmed down?" he asked her.
Reminded of her prior 'business' with me, the Overseer Saint threw me a glare and moved away, as if I was some sick person. Well, I had to admit, treating me that way was painful, but it was not uncommon for her, since she only sees Gaius as the one who was always up to her standards.
"You idiot!"
"Ow!"
That certainly rang across the white blankness of my mind. Even I was surprised; Gaius did hit Seirna, fair and square, on her head. As for the Overseer Saint, she was taken aback by the gesture, and remained silent while holding the part where she was hit.
"Hey, kid," he began. "Look, this place, do you even know where this is?"
The Overseer Saint sheepishly shook her head. Gaius pulled me to his side, and said, "This is the mind of this fellow. We're literally inside his consciousness right now, debating and arguing about stuff that, by common sense, we shouldn't be doing. I mean, I understand you want to help Kuro gain the god-powers of the Dwarf Saint, but to kill so many innocent people. Seirna, what has gotten into you?"
To be honest, it was the first time I saw the Overseer Saint looked like a child that was being dressed down by her parent. Her face's expression, that of confusion and pain as Gaius rebuked her, was clear. Nevertheless, she said nothing.
"Do you have any idea why we can come here?"
She shook her head again.
"This is my previous body…the glorified body I received from the heavens after my first death, and was acclaimed as a god!" the former deity revealed. "So, why are you so stubborn? Kuro will be your next master! Yet, you treat him like a slave!"
"Milord!" Seirna finally spoke. "If you are living in his mind, then you must have seen how weak he is! Milord, personally, I don't believe that Kuro—that otherworlder—can be a god! He was not even from this world!"
"And yet, he sacrificed a lot for this world!" Gaius reiterated. "And yes, I've seen how Kuro lived his life since the time we returned to this world six years ago. If you're going to tell me that he is weak because he prefers negotiation over might and power, then look at me! Who's the future god of Chersea? Who has lost his life because of his selfish and narrow pursuit of power? It is I, Seirna, Gaius Julius Caesar!"
The Overseer Saint had no words for that. The former god of Chersea drove his point home; while Seirna claimed that I was weak for trying to 'convince' people instead of forcing them, Gaius said the otherwise. And for her, it broke the idea that she had in her mind about being a god.
"Kuro will be a different god from me," he continued. "Even different from his other self, the Black God from six years ago! Yet, you're forcing your sick ideals of holiness and heavenly privilege to him! What are you doing Seirna? If you wish to be of use to this man, then you have to follow his words. Otherwise, you're just as useless as that accursed monster, the Seductress!"
Wow, I think Gaius was getting out of bounds when he said that. I immediately gave him a tap to remind him of his boundaries.
"I'm sorry, Kuro, but this has to be said!" the former god insisted. "And if it will hurt her, then all the better! She will wake from her delusions!"
My eyes went to Seirna, who was obviously offended by her former master's words. Being rebuked by the person you looked up to your whole life was one pain; being compared to the hated enemy by the same person was another level of hurt.
And honestly, I want to hold her at that moment. Even as I am just a bystander, hearing those still affected me.
Silence. Gaius ended his rebuke, and turned his back on his servant. However, I glimpsed at his face, and I could tell, it was heavy for him, too. And to Seirna, it was as if her entire world crashed down on her. She tried reaching out to him, but the former god did not even look to her after that. I don't know what I should do, really. I was afraid that the Overseer Saint would push me away if I tried to console her.
"There's no need for that, otherworlder," she suddenly spoke to me. "I…" Seirna's voice became gentle, "I appreciate your concern, but yes…I'm mistaken. I should've followed you. I'm sorry."
I was about to tell something to her, when the Overseer Saint teleported out. Only then that Gaius turned to our direction with an exasperated look on his face.
"Kuro…Seirna, though I know I treated her harshly, is like a daughter to me. I love her…"
"Yes, I know. That's why you said those words."
The former god nodded, "Can I entrust her to you? Even when I'm gone?"
I gave him a light tap on the shoulder. Even without words, Gaius knew that I would never fail him.
----------
When my consciousness returned, Seirna teleported me someplace away from Temun.
"You're awake now?" she asked, without looking at me. I surmised she never wanted me to see her face; receiving a stinging rebuke from the person she adored all her life was painful, even if I was not at her place.
"I guess so?" I answered with a joke, trying to lighten the mood. "Unless I'm already a spirit, and you killed me."
She just chuckled. "You really have a low opinion of me, huh?"
"Sorry; I draw from my experience," I flashed a wry smile, though I knew the Overseer Saint could see my thoughts. More than actually fearing her, I want to say that her 'pre-emptive' move was wrong, but helpful, in the long run. But I guess it was better to just not put it into words.
Seirna then stood up, and pointed towards the mountain peak. "Above there is the city of Temun. If I'm the villain you think I am, I can just leave you here, at the foot of the mountains. Climb up on your own, I don't care. Starve and die? Not my problem. But, I won't do that; I'm not like that. Deep beneath this façade of a 'scary saint,' I'm just a girl who wants love and appreciation."
"Yes, and I know you're more likely to do something because you think that it is the right thing to do, even if it is questionable. A true Machiavellian."
"Machiavellian, huh? Well, yes. I do what needs to be done," I heard the Overseer Saint sigh. Then, she said, "I…admire your ability to observe people, Kuro. Really, I do. Maybe it's also why I'm so antagonistic towards you; people love and trust you even as you're from another world. Meanwhile, I—in my duties to oversee my fellow saints—have to become the 'evil' many hated just to do my mandate."
I remained silent. Honestly, I had no words of consolation for Seirna; her pain was deeply-rooted, and as she told me her story, I could only admire her courage to hurt herself just to protect and guide the people entrusted to her.
"Kuro…"
"Yeah?"
"Let me tell you; you're a sweet, and nice, fellow," she admitted. "Really, if I'm not the saint, I may have already fallen for you. Heh, but then again, if I'm not the saint, I will never see your sincerity and concern for the people around you. Kind of ironic, isn't it?"
I felt my cheeks become warm; it was the first compliment I received from her in a while. "Th-Thanks!"
"But, yes, I do have some reservations about you."
"Which is?"
"You're too kind, Kuro," Seirna pointed out. "Yes, I'm aware that you're doing that because you already suffered a lot, and you're deliberately trying to smother the 'negative' by doing good, hoping that others will pass on what you did for them until it becomes a cycle. A beautiful ideal, but still, an ideal."
"Yes…and I choose to live that way. Living in perpetual anger and wallowing in my desires to take revenge against my offenders is stressful."
"Well, look, because of that kindness, we are abusing you," the Overseer Saint added. "Everyone's abusing you. We're pushing for things that we should've done and solve ourselves to you, even when you just wanted to live your life peace and in the company of your loved ones. Honestly, I did all those things, partly, to help you become 'god' faster, so you can put an end to this problem."
"True."
"But Kuro…erm…"
I felt like Seirna was trying to tell me something, though she was having her second-thoughts, hence the mincing of her words. So, I said, "Take a deep breath, Your Holiness. Then tell me straight what I needed to know."
"This whole affair is staged."
"What?"
The Overseer Saint paused, took a deep breath, and dropped the revelation. "You wouldn't be here if those dwarves in Maverny didn't attack you, right? Well, the truth is, those assassins are from the Prince Uhrian himself, under the auspices of the Human, Beastmen, Demon, Elf and Overseer Saints."
Honestly, that shocked me, though, I've been through a lot lately that, I guess, it didn't fully sink unto my thoughts. But Seirna wasn't done just yet…
"You know that we wanted to make you the god of Chersea as soon as possible, though with different motives. Lady Rubinforth, Lady Ruro, Lady Bellingsen and Lady Hinwe all believed that you deserve it, but I was the one different; you should become god because there's no one else but you. Six years ago, when you came back from Cherflammen, the Black God was 'born,' and he is the only one who can deal with the Seductress. The heavens believed you should succeed him. So, coinciding with my desire to bring the dwarves back into our 'worship,' I did all those things."
"I…understand."
"In behalf of my peers," Seirna bowed before me, "I ask for your forgiveness."
"W-Well, we're already here," I sighed. "I guess there's nothing we can do about it anymore."
"See?" she chuckled. "That's the kindness I'm talking about! Aren't you even angry?"
"I would be stupid if I say that I'm not shocked. I feel kind of betrayed, yes," I admitted. "But then again, I'm aware of our circumstances. And I know my friends, including you, Your Holiness. You guys did what you think is best."
The Overseer Saint, hearing my answer, shook her head and smiled. She muttered, "You're really a weirdo." Then, she took hold of my hand and teleported me to the hotel façade in Temun. Then, even as my visions still hadn't settled after the sudden change of sceneries, Seirna said,
"Goodbye, Kuro!" were the Overseer Saint's last words, along with, "I hope we'll meet again in the afterlife."
I was bewildered by her words, though she was already gone. But not before kissing me…