****(POV)

I can hear the faint footsteps of my loving wife behind me. I'd recognize her anywhere.

She comes closer and rests her head on my shoulder before murmuring: "You're here again. You truly miss him, don't you?" In front of me is a small statue of a very ordinary man. One that has died to protect the world.

I sigh. "Miss him? Yes, but there isn't only sadness or longing. Most importantly it is a way for me to remember the past so I never commit such mistakes again."

"It wasn't your fault. You know that, right? Either our ancestral teachings were wrong or the creatures somehow managed to invade sooner. But you did your task as perfectly as you were supposed to."

"*Sigh* That's the thing. If we had hurried up, he would still be alive today. Every time I remember that I caused the demise of the man Forgar chose as his direct champion my heart clenches in regret."

"Alright, as long as you don't let it destroy you then it's fine. I know how strong you can be. I'm not talking about just your hammering either. I'm talking true strength, the mental one."

"I'll be there soon, just a few more minutes," I reassure her. She nods, gently kissing me before hurrying out.

I still remember how everything felt like a nightmare when I was coming back home. He was gone and it was all my fault. Then we had to waste time on idiots because of that old acid mage. When I finally was done with the journey, I learned something crazy.

Apparently, Forgar sent a direct oracle. The message itself was a bit messed up, but it often happens with these sorts of things. It requested that we join The Unnamed God Sect and beg its owner to teach Forgar his fire technique.

Still, the intended meaning was obvious. Well for me. It was confusing the people back at home so much initially. They had never heard of that sect or its master. But I knew for I had traveled with him.

I was the one that had to break the news to them. For the first time in ages all the Dwarven people wept, and it was for a human. Yet none blamed me for my mistakes. They would have done the same after all.

The bards composed heroic songs about him. Many sung his praises comparing him to a divine being that graced the world with his presence, one shining light on a dark world facing imminent destruction.

I beat them up. I beat all of these bards. Every single to the last one of them. At first, people were confused and shocked even thinking that I had gone crazy. Soon they realized how wrong they had been.

I started talking about the man he had been. He was far from a divine being at all. He was a mortal. Nothing more than a mortal. But this mortal term was the highest praise for him. He was mortal and amazing. Simple but complex.

I barely spent time with him, but it was still enough for a few anecdotes. I spoke and spoke. At that point, I was lost in my thoughts. Really all I was doing was revisiting all my memories and sharing them. Every little moment we had shared. For me it was therapeutic.

But when I opened my eyes, an incredible scene appeared before me. I thought people would have left after hearing me just rambling. No. In front, I could see the entire dwarven population. There were youths and elders. There were males and females. All clans were there, sitting together.

One must know that in dwarven society one sits with their clan members. They were all mixing together without any qualm whatsoever. Something so simple was almost unseen. It had only happened under the leadership of the greatest heroes and only a few times in history.

Yet they had all congregated to listen to the ramblings of a fool. I couldn't help but stare at this sea of dwarves in amazement. That is when they themselves came to their senses. They could be seen looking all around, realizing the situation they were in.

Logic stated they should have quickly moved away from each other. No, they smiled wryly and simply shrugged. This scene somehow made my heart feel warm before the tingly sensation spread to my entire body.

I could feel the tears gushing rendering my whole vision blurry. Yet none of the dwarves assembled made any comment about it. They understood. I had perhaps completed my mission, but most importantly I had lost a friend.

They simply kept gazing at me, without judgment. They were all there and so was I. I only wished for him to have seen it too.

At that moment there was only one thing I wanted to do. I chuckled loudly amidst this heavy but comfortable atmosphere. Then I simply raised my head high up smiling brightly as he would have before declaring.

"Should we have a feast in his memory!"

The event lasted a week. During it, bards could be seen composing, artisans were making sculptures of things related to his life, painters tried their best to draw his portrait from memory, children were even trying their best to memorize his story. It was a merry time.

It took a while for things to return to normal and even what we considered normal was changed. After this event, our people were unified, completely so. They still are to this day.

"It's all thanks to you, my friend."

The small statue I am confiding in is a replica of one of the many that can be seen everywhere in the city. There is one where he is valiantly fighting abyss devourers, there is one where he is crushing a blade bare-handed, there is one having him swim in lava, there is one with him gently smiling wisely…

But this one is my favorite by far. It shows him smiling happily as he is drinking. I also added a finishing touch to it. My version of it includes him petting a small white wolf smiling in contentment. I wonder what the smart Wolfie is up to nowadays.

I did offer her to follow us here, but she was adamant about staying in the Village of the End. It's understandable too.

"Talk to you later, my friend. I'll make sure to keep your legacy alive." I vow as I leave the room.

Soon enough I am in a very simple strategy room with the other two clan leaders. As I enter, they greet me.

"Morning."

"Morning, my king." I frown deeply and he corrects himself. "Morning, interim king!"

I am only helping to the best of my abilities. The True King is a man far more deserving than I. For the first time in history, the dwarven king is human. He may be gone but he still has a sect somewhere out there. We will find it, no matter how reclusive it is.

Then we will turn this sickly continent upside down…