**Kuro**
Seirna surely left a huge mess in Equality that I had to deal with. With the entire leadership of the Church of the Golden Hammer wiped from the face of the land, it was obvious who won the 'Montserrant Crusade.' And didn't take long for the dwarves to realize who was their 'god' now. The Cole Miners' Guild, elevated from a simple mining 'company,' became esteemed and sought after, as they prided themselves as the 'first of the faithful' of the Lord Kuro…
…which is, unfortunately, me.
I mean, it was not like I was avoiding the responsibility of being a god. However, not only was I 'not used' to the 'subject of worship' of the dwarves—or any other mortal race in general, there was also the part where Seirna's legacy left a lasting impression on her converts. Look, if I wanted to 'create' an army of loyal—no, make that 'fanatical'—dwarves, I would surely use the Overseer Saint's expertise. The way she 'founded' the religion based on me would give the paramilitary groups and neo-fascist clubs a run for their money.
She is just way too effective on brainwashing people…
And as a decent person, I never wanted to control others enough to offer their lives to me. Seirna converted the dwarves of Montserrant through violence and fear, building on their previous hate for the Church of the Golden Hammer. I would never agree to such way, though I couldn't deny the help she did in advancing our cause. I mean, the god-powers rely on the faith and support of the people so the wielder could effectively control it. But I decided not to rule with fear and force; I got plenty of examples from history that such way of governing didn't end nice.
So, once the smoke of conflict settled, I gathered the dwarf leaders of Equality and set my faith's tenets before them.
"I only got two simple rules, honored dwarves!" I began. "First, honor the decrees of the heavens. And second, do to your fellows what they want to do to you." Heh, of course, those 'rules' were not mine; but, since I was new to this stuff, it wouldn't hurt to copy some from my world.
However, my decrees were met with silence. The dwarves stared at me as if they were waiting for something else I would add. When they noticed I didn't take their cue, one of them put his question forward.
"We have no qualms of following those laws, but that is all, Your Most Holy Lord?"
"Yes. Unless you want to add your own rules, then we can talk if that is reasonable."
There were murmurs across the hall where I met them. Though I couldn't read their thoughts, I could hear a few of them. And the dwarves couldn't believe I was 'too lenient' on them.
"My friends," I sought to clear things up for everyone. "I may possess the god-powers of the saints, and is proclaimed to be the next god after the Lord Gaius, but I resolved to myself that I will be rational towards you, my faithful worshippers. Let us do away with forcing people to give their dues; instead, I want you to give if that is the desire of your heart!"
"But, Your Most Holy Lord, wouldn't that be an affront to you, should we decide not to give?"
"Well, again, I don't want to force you, my friends," I reiterated. "Tithing, or temple tax, should be for those in need, which should be the core tenet of churches. A few of it goes to the upkeep and salary of the religious workers. However, money is always a source of contention between religion and its faithful, as it can corrupt even the holiest of the temple priests. I understand your culture, and that is why I'll never impose on you. Nevertheless, I beseech your hearts to consider helping your fellows here and from the other races. In exchange, I will give you knowledge that will improve on the Golden Hammer's ideas, and take your prosperity to newer heights!"
I was thankful they couldn't read my mind, but yes…I've seen religious leaders—who should be models of simplicity and humility—having huge estates, multi-million bank accounts, private jets and living opulent lives. While I believe they have a right to do so, it was a matter of 'personal ethics'; your followers give tithe and offerings to your god, opting to live a poor life, yet you flaunt wealth everywhere you turn claiming it is 'blessing' and making your faithful think they were 'not giving enough' so they wouldn't have same privileges. Such hypocrisy eroded the image of god and faith in the eyes of many in my world, it enabled 'progressive' ideas that was leading Earth into decadence and conflict.
I'm hoping it won't go further here. Rights always have responsibilities; no one can take the former and remove the other.
Meanwhile, upon the mention of the words 'prosperity' and 'improve,' there were sparks in the dwarves' eyes. Building on their penchant for 'materialism,' I could continue on Seirna's foundation, though with a kinder and fair-minded approach to religion and its worshippers.
Combining the good parts of Seirna and the Golden Hammer's systems will benefit this place, and will let me harness the faith of the dwarves into the formidable god-power of the Dwarf Saint.
----------
Oh, and speaking of the Dwarf Saint…
"…"
With her god-power having 'authority' over all things 'on land,' Lady Martelle explained that the Dwarf Saint was given the responsibility to bless the harvests and multiply the crops. It was like that biblical story about bread and other foodstuffs being multiplied to feed thousands of people, hence the 'idea' of the dwarves that their saint was supposed to 'guide' them to prosperity.
Which the Lady Helgath—as she was just 'forced' to become the Saint—didn't do. That's why she was abandoned at the first sign that 'someone better' would take her place.
Louis never meant to 'replace' her, but like me with the Lady Hinwe, he tried to encourage the Dwarf Saint to assume her duties. And—being an American—taught the values he believed that would benefit her world. In doing so, he introduced concepts that pushed the dwarves away from the old, medieval days, and into modernity and progress. Industries developed, the economy became complex, and the dwarves—being 'greedy' as they were—sought to 'enshrine' the Lord Louis as the Golden Hammer…which later was elevated to 'godhood.' The result? A 'modern' Equality, though by the time we came, it was already decadent.
It goes on without saying that the Golden Hammer and the Lady Helgath were caught in events they can't control…
"…"
Hemelin, after the 'massacre' of its inhabitants by Seirna, was by now an 'abandoned' city. Contrary to the earlier reports that no one was found alive there, survivors came to the surface a few days after the tragic event. These were the poor dwarves, living deep underneath the mountains, and near the lava rivers. And they were lucky to avoid the Overseer Saint's power, as she only meant to kill those who were near the surface to put a stop on the ambush against them.
Or so as the Queen of the Miners' Guild, Lady Paula Cole, told me.
"…"
As Seirna kissed me the last time, I suspected it was because she passed her god-powers on me. Knowing her, and hearing what she told me back at the foot of the mountains, I find it impossible that she would really 'fall in-love' with me. Although, maybe, the trust was already there. I mean, we worked together many times before this, and it was unthinkable for her to cooperate without trusting us. In any case, I did check it; what I got instead was her black flames—a sign that I had the god-powers of the Overseer Saint. Lady Martelle confirmed it herself, for the black flame, in contrast to the other god-powers (they 'glow'), was the Overseer Saint's 'symbol.'
So yes, I now possess the 'authority over life and death.' And really, I did expect that she would be the last one to hand me her god-powers. The 'ball' was now in Lady Martelle/Helgath's hands to give me the god-power of the Dwarf Saint.
Nevertheless, it is the last time I saw Seirna. And honestly, it feels kind of lonely that the Overseer Saint was not with us…
"Oi, Kuro," it was Lady Martelle. "Did Princess Lily tell you not to think of other girls whenever you're with one?"
"Well, in my defense, did anyone tell you it's rude to peer into someone else's mind without their permission?" I countered, though it had been like that since I was summoned here, I was not offended anymore.
"Ah, give him a break, Your Holiness," Lily chuckled. "I've been with Kuro for long that I know he is only doing that out of concern. Her Holiness the Lady Seirna did disappear without even saying goodbye."
"It's her character," the dwarf replied. "That's why I find her scary. I can't seem to get along with her!"
Returning to the empty halls of the Grand Temple of the Golden Hammer sure brought a strange feeling to all of us. For one, seeing the destruction we did in the place before made us remember the Lord Louis in his dying moments. It was a bittersweet feeling; he did see the person he loved one last time, though it was also the last time they talked together. And to me, the fact I was just walking towards our 'goal'—the undercroft of the Grand Temple—instead of fighting our way inside felt weird. We did expect a lot of battles; the number of weapons and ammunitions we brought prove it. But really, all we did was sneak and run…
It goes to show that while her methods are questionable, Seirna did her job and made it easy for us.
"…"
I have to thank her next time I see her.
Lady Martelle led our group, for she knew the path to the chamber where her body slept, even if it was from ages long gone. And she guided us through the labyrinth of the 'upper' floors of the Grand Temple, full of opulent furnishings and gilded wall trimmings, to the 'bare' undercroft of the church, which resembled a torture dungeon of a European castle.
"Hey, watch your step," she warned us. "It's not like it's full of traps, but the tunnels can get slippery."
"This is the place where your real body lay, huh?"
"Not yet," the dwarf replied. "This is just the underground of the Grand Temple. It has nothing to do with the chamber where I sleep. But, the same with the underground of Hemelin, we'll use this to access the roads that lead to that place."
"So, uh, you're saying…"
"It'll take time, if that's what you want to ask," she chuckled.
And then, as we navigated through the underground tunnels, there was silence. I don't know how it came to be, but Lily just followed the dwarf lady, and I tailed them from a little distance. There was a sense of sadness, however. I was not exactly sure; well, Lady Martelle did say before that she was a 'golem,' an artificial 'body' made by Lady the Helgath as her 'surrogate' to the outside world. After all, the giant Dwarf Saint wanted to be 'free' and 'travel' around instead of ruling the dwarves.
Now, the question is, once we returned the god-powers to the Lady Helgath's real body, what will happen to 'Lady Martelle'?
"!!!"
My chain of thoughts was interrupted when I noticed that we stopped. Lily and the dwarf lady stared at me.
"Hm?" I asked. "Why did we stop? Are we going to rest?"
"No," Lady Martelle threw a quick glance at the Iron Princess. "We are just talking about the Lady Seirna was right in saying how 'weird' you are."
"Why did that topic surface again?"
"I mean, come on, Kuro," the dwarf lady smiled. "Look, it's the first time I saw someone care for a 'golem.' You do understand that this body is like a 'puppet,' right? It's meant to return to the soil once its use has ended."
Somehow, I felt my chest tighten when I learned that. It was not like I couldn't 'separate' Lady Helgath from the golem, but I couldn't 'unsee' Lady Martelle now…
We've been through a lot together, after all.
"…" Lady Martelle brought her face closer to mine as I wallowed in my thoughts, nearly startling me. "You're really weird."
"I-I always take pride in that."
"Yes, I know, which makes you really interesting…and lovable," she giggled, much to my bewilderment. "Anyway, Kuro, if you're really going to miss Lady Martelle, then by all means, become a god. Then, give her 'life,' so she can return to you."
Well, that makes sense…
----------
After spending quite some time underground, we finally reached the chamber that was keeping the Lady Helgath's body. True to the dwarf lady's words, it was far beyond the last walls that made up the undercroft of the Golden Hammer's Grand Temple. It was far deeper than the lava rivers that ran underneath the mountains. And, the most notable part in that place was that, it was full of crystals…blue crystals that give a faint, yet mesmerizing glow.
On the other end of the huge cavern was an equally-huge door. When we came near it, Lily and I realized that it was made of solid gold, encrusted with precious stones. Even Lady Martelle was surprised.
"That Louis!" she exclaimed. "I told him not to do this!"
"Proof how much he loves you," Lily quipped.
"Yes…" there was a poignant expression on the dwarf's face, as she touched the solid gold panels of the door. "I remember this chamber was covered by a plain stone door. I wanted it to be inconspicuous, for really…I don't want to 'wake up.' Yet, Louis…he made sure I was 'honored' in his own way."
We said nothing. The sadness of the Lady Helgath's memories emanated from her across the cavern. For her, this was the place where she last intimately saw and talked to the Lord Louis. And also, for Lily and I, the last part of our journey in Equality—no, in Cherhom—laid behind that door. Our adventure ends, I become a god…and fight the Seductress.
There is this mixed sense of accomplishment, joy, and melancholy, in our hearts. You know that part where you watch a long-ass movie, and you grow close to its characters that when their story ends, you're satisfied yet sad that it's over? That's how it feels…
Lady Martelle activated the runes written on the door, using her god-power. Then, with a huge thud, the locks unwound, and with slow movements, the entrance to the Dwarf Saint's chamber opened up to us.
"…"
And really, we didn't expect the scenery before us, as the dust settled and the inside became clear.
"What in the world…" I blurted out. This was because the Dwarf Saint's chamber was awfully reminiscent of China's 'Tomb of the First Emperor.' Aside from the obvious altar at the end of the long hallway, stone statues of dwarves in their armor and weapons stood on both sides of the passageway, as if 'guarding' the sleeping saint from any intruders. Time-preserving magic was thick in the air; proof of it were the banners held by some of the dwarf statues that were made of cloth. My experience with Earth physics told me that these flags should've rotten away long ago, but of course, the Lord Louis would never want that to happen.
Carefully letting ourselves in, there was this sense of 'someone' was watching us. It was kind of creepy, especially that I noticed the dwarf statues had incredible 'little' details on each individual. Maybe it was the atmosphere; a dark chamber illuminated only by the faint glow of blue crystals, long forgotten in the bowels of the mountain. Nevertheless, Lady Martelle went straight past the statues and into the altar's side.
"…"
And damn…it is different when you see the 'actual' thing personally. While we 'worked' with the 'giant' Lady Helgath before, her real body was still bigger…both in height, and in her…uh…
"Oi!"
"Whoaa!!!" I nearly jumped from the shock; good thing Lily was behind to catch me.
The dwarf lady laughed. "Hey, I'm still reading your thoughts, Kuro! So, you find my chest 'big,' huh?"
"N-Not in a perverted way," I reiterated. I mean, I was just surprised; I haven't seen a 'real' giant before. But yeah, there's still the perverted side, at least a little.
"Any case," Lady Martelle took a deep breath, and her hands started to glow emerald green. As it grew in intensity, the dwarf touched the giant's body, and we could see the god-power passed from the golem to the Dwarf Saint herself. Then, when the 'light' disappeared, 'Lady Martelle' was no more. Lily and I rushed to hold the golem as it fell lifeless on the floor.
Damn…this is heavy to watch.
"I hope you all the best in giving her life back, Kuro!"
I turned behind me, and there she was…the Dwarf Saint, the Lady Helgath, sitting on the stone table. Her warm smile took away the sadness in our hearts, as she 'scooped' us up and 'hugged' us, the giant way.
"Thank you, guys!" the Dwarf Saint told us. "Even if we come from different races, I never felt alone when I'm with you!"
----------
***Cherflammen…***
It had been a while since Seirna last stood in its shifting sands, but the feelings of yearning for this place was absent. If anything, the Overseer Saint could only feel disgust. Behind her, the dark miasma coalesced into a figure of a beautiful lady…the Seductress.
"So, after a long time, my daughter shows herself in my presence bearing a sword," the creature from the Void commented. "So much for 'saving' her life…"
"I can only wish that you didn't when the bandits killed my real mother," Seirna replied.
"Ah, stop with your ideals!" the Seductress countered. "You think you're the only one who can see through the hearts of mortals? I can see your thoughts as well! And I know that you've grown to love that otherworlder and his cohorts! That's so…ugh, it's not like you, Seirna Stephanie! You're the feared and respected Overseer Saint, and yet, you're willing to subordinate yourself to someone from another world? How pathetic have you become!"
"Yes, that's why I'm here," the Overseer Saint answered. "I'm aware that I've grown 'pathetic,' hence, I'll correct my ways!"
"Girl, don't pull me into your romantic fantasies! I'm here to devour gods, mortals, worlds! How dare you use me as an outlet of your frustration just because you think you can't fall in-love!"
"Shut up!" Seirna began her attack by charging at the Void monster. The Seductress was on guard, however, and she evaded the Overseer's initial thrust.
"!!!" Nevertheless, Seirna—determined to at least 'weaken' the creature—came in prepared as well. Her plan consisted of two-fold 'fail-safe' parts; first, she would whittle the monster's strength until she could deliver the killing blow. If she failed in that, the Overseer Saint would die 'weakening' the Seductress. And for that, she had some of Cassandra David's magic circles prepared to sap her foe's power.
Then, when Kuro comes, he would be sure of victory.
"I am not like you!" Seirna threw fast, consecutive thrusts of her rapier directed at the Seductress' weak points. Then, before the latter could 'heal' her injuries, the Overseer Saint would burn those with her holy flames, effectively 'cauterizing' the miasma limbs of the monster she was fighting. But, the creature from the Void kept up with her defenses well, blocking and evading Seirna's powerful strikes, or in some moments, counter-attacking the saint, and causing injuries.
Having failed to pierce her guard, the Overseer Saint tried flanking her enemy from the air. Deftly maneuvering to evade the miasma tentacles 'shooting up' in an attempt to impale her, Seirna rained holy flame against the Seductress that burned a significant part of her body. Then, when the creature from the Void was distracted enough, she closed in for the kill…
But the Seductress simply evaded once again. And when her enemy moved away from her blade, Seirna quickly followed up with a powerful magic spell she chanted before confronting her 'mother.' That caught the Seductress off her guard…
"Y-You…" the monster from the Void had to acknowledge her 'daughter's' skill. "You're still as sharp as ever, just like that accursed Cassandra David…"
"Don't underestimate me, 'mother,'" Seirna smirked. "You raised me, the Lord Gaius trained me, and that otherworlder, Kuro, gave me my vision. Hence, it's either we'll go down together, or I'll die here weakening you!"
"Nonsense!" the Seductress countered with her own attacks, summoning legions of 'shadow children' as well as hundreds of tentacles made of her miasma, rushing to overwhelm the Overseer Saint. "You've grown too arrogant for your own good, child! You're going to boast to me that proud Roman, Gaius? That fool; he's head-over-heels for me! And that otherworlder? Hah! I just ate his other self before! He will go down like the Black God!"
"Fuck you!"
"What—"
Much to the shock of the Seductress, however, Seirna never waited for her to finish her words. Recollecting herself and going on the offensive once more, the Overseer Saint met the allies of the Seductress head-on. The holy lady cut through the shadow children—easily dispersed by her holy flames, and charging the forest of tentacle miasma, wreaking havoc and disregarding her wounds along the way. In her mind, Seirna thought of only one thing: she was not a liability, and she would brave those miasma threats just to land a hit that eventually went straight into the creature of the Void's head. She quickly reinforced her breakthrough by chanting holy spells on her rapier, which burned the Seductress' flesh, much to the latter's chagrin. The creature of the Void lashed, as she tried to relieve the pain of Seirna's attack.
"I will kill you! I will destroy everything you put your hope in!"
Nevertheless, Seirna never let the Seductress go. Using her wings to push herself, she buried her rapier's blade deep into the monster's head, all the while feeding holy magic to it. The Seductress thrashed around in an attempt to shake her off, but the saint held on, even at the cost of injuries to her body and limbs.
"You tell me to stop with my ideals? Why yes! That's why I'm here! I can't live with such ideals that will make me weak! Yes, I can't fall in-love!" Seirna told her. "And because of that, I'm pissed! Your other 'daughter,' Madelaine, can do as she please! While I—because of what is expected of me—can't live a 'normal' life! You're one of the obstacles to it! I'll go down with you!"
"Gaaah!" the Seductress continued with her unearthly screams, as the smoke from her burning 'flesh' grew intense. Seirna never relented on pouring her mana reserves to her wound. Her wrath, and determination to weaken, or kill, the monster from the Void was stronger than her reason now.
"I will prove to that you and Gaius' expectations from me are wrong!" the Overseer Saint screamed; to her, this was her last chance to outwit the Seductress. Thus, she was willing to use up all her mana reserves, and give her life, if it means she would help in removing the monster's threat.
And that made her lower her guard…
"You're not the only one who has improved, Overseer!"
"!!!"
Seirna felt the miasma tentacles wrap her body, and pulled her closer to the Seductress. Realizing that the monster was still fighting back, she threw all her mana reserves in her blade, setting their bodies alight with her black flame. However…
"S-Seirna Stephanie!" the Seductress was defiant. "You're still leagues away from reaching my strength! You wanted to die, taking me with you? Well, I won't let you die; I'll use you to lure that otherworlder to me! After all, the weakness of the Black God are his loved ones! We will take them from him once again…starting from you!"
The Overseer Saint, exhausted by her struggle, could not even scream as the darkness overwhelmed her.