**Kuro**
In my old world, there were legends and myths that told of a legendary or heroic figure that slept somewhere deep beneath a cave, or a mountain, and that a prophecy foretold they would awaken once their country, or people, was in danger. Various versions of that story would say the figure would rise alone, or he would bring an army that would swept their enemies away, like the Byzantine one, where the last emperor of Constantinople, Constantine XI Palaiologos, was said to be swept by angels and turned into marble during the final hours of his rule in the Orthodox Christian city. Legends tell that he would rise again from some cave beneath Istanbul's (the Ottoman name for Constantinople) Golden Gate, along with an army, to save the Greeks and drive away the Turks.
Well, I don't know if it was just the people's way of coping from the loss of a popular figure. Honestly, I find the 'King Under the Mountain' trope cool and interesting, and even more so now, when the Lady Helgath brought an entire army of dwarves as she awakened.
"Oh, I forgot, Kuro…" the giant told me when I saw the statues start to move. "Those dwarf statues are real dwarves, turned into stone by magic to 'guard' me while I sleep. They are my warriors, by the way, similar to the Human Saint's Paladin Guards, the Beastman Saint's Fox Tribe Warriors, the Demon Saint's Biorno Clan Soldiers, and the Elf Saint's Life Guards."
"Wow…"
However, contrary to an ordinary, modern dwarf of Cherhom, these guys were rather 'solemn,' as if a loved one died recently. When Lily tried to catch their attention, there was no response. Not even a blink of their eyes. And they just stood there, motionlessly. I couldn't tell if the 'stone curse' was already lifted completely. If I could describe them in one phrase, 'living dead' would be appropriate for them.
"Don't be silly," the Lady Helgath chuckled. "Once I'm awake, so are these guys! It's just that…well, they were trained to be like that, like statues."
"Oh?"
"Well, you see, the Army of Stone are warriors sworn to defend the Dwarf Saint. And they were trained not to show emotion, or retreat in battles. A cool concept, if you ask me. But really, it's not my idea."
"Then whose concept is it?"
"Look, aside from the Lady Seirna, I did meet the other saints through my golem…especially whenever a new Human Saint is acclaimed until the last three. Your lives are pretty short, after all. And of course, in those 'meetings,' I would talk to the Lady Cassandra David…the newly-appointed Demon Saint."
"So, you and Cass did meet long ago?"
She nodded. "Aside from my own security needs, she advised me to establish a 'guard regiment' of dwarves to prepare for the coming of someone who will help Chersea and the Other Realms. She reasoned that they might come in handy in the future, see? Hmm…wait, now that I've thought about it, don't you think it's pretty similar to your fate, Kuro?"
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about! I was not there when you met with her."
"Well, you united the humans—who are warlike, along with the beastmen, the demons and elves. Not only that, there's the human 'peacekeeper armies,' the beastmen 'Royal Army,' the demon 'Jagers,' and the elvish 'Expeditionary forces' that defeated the villains in Cherwoods and restored the Lady Hinwe. And, what's remarkable in your exploits is that, no one ever did that before…not even the Lord Gaius. Don't you think the Lady Cassandra prepared these dwarves for your command? You did say that you're going to become a god to save us from some evil monster in a place called the Void."
"Beats me," I shrugged; I was not one to assume things. It was safe to remain oblivious instead of claiming outrageous stuff.
"Hmm…now it's coming to place!" Lily blurted out. "The Lady Cassandra David 'prepared the way' for you, because you'll be the god that will lead the armies of the Realms against the Seductress!"
"What will come, will come," I replied. I mean, while I was aware of the possibility, the mere thought that I'm a step closer to becoming a god was a dreadful idea to me. The pressure to live up to everyone's expectations was there, and my self-depreciation triggered again.
"Kuro…" the Lady Helgath offered her hand for me to step upon, to which I obliged. "Look, I know I'm not one to say this, but I believe there are no coincidences. Maybe the Lady Cassandra prepared these warriors for you, so you can have an easy victory in the future. And the saints, they schemed to have us meet, so I can learn how wonderful of a person you are."
"What are you saying?"
"You'll become a god, Kuro. I trust you with all my heart." Then, the giant Dwarf Saint drew me closer to her lips, and kissed me on my forehead. I could feel the god-power rush unto me, and for a moment, everyone in that chamber saw me glow in white—including myself, before the light eventually dissipated.
I was speechless. It was a pleasant feeling; as if all the hardships we endured was worth it, and the exhaustion in my body just 'flew' away.
"!!!"
And it was at that point that the dwarves, the Warriors of Stone, turned towards us in unison. Then, they kneeled in reverence…
"The god-powers, separated after the Lord Gaius gave up his divinity, is now united once again!" the Lady Helgath proclaimed. "Chersea and the Other Realms enters a new age! The world of the Saints is now over; the heavenly rule of the Black God has come!"