The meeting about the new religion was still going on, and after Toqlan's big speech about being a god-killer, the meeting room fell silent.

  Dyani, the orc storyteller, then spoke up.

  "Let us not include 'people' in the part about punishment. It might put unnecessary fear in the followers' hearts. Also, the less the story about Mafu speaks about people, the better."

  "Why?" asked Jod.

  "Well, from my experience writing and telling stories, mentioning normal people or happenings often removes a lot of the mystique. If you wish to call Mafu a god, it is best to shroud him in mysticism and do not mention details either."

  The meeting room took a minute or so to think it through. They talked for hours, as differing opinions were the norm when it came to faith and religion. Eventually, Jod started bringing the meeting to an end.

  "Well, Dyani and Hald, you both seem knowledgeable. As expected from the recommendations of the dukes, Dyani, I would like you to write together an origin story about what we talked about today. Any stories about Mafu you can submit to me or any of the dukes. Will you do that for us?"

  "I'd be happy to, my king." Dyani gave a smile, and she looked ready to start writing the stories in the very moment she answered.

  Jod then turned to Hald.

  "Hald, you have knowledge of history, and I have particularly liked your clever input on things to think about. You seem to be able to see things from many different perspectives. I would also like your help, although it would mainly be to set up the organization around the religion. In other words, decide what positions will be available and what they should be called, and how the religion will be run. Are you okay with that?"

  "More than okay. A dwarven historian really has no job out here, where there is no dwarven history to be found," Hald said, while nodding.'

  "Great, you can meet with me or any of the dukes anytime we are available to inform us of your progress."

  Jod then concluded the meeting, and everyone left the town hall except him.

  Jod slumped down in his chair and rubbed his forehead. He had a headache from thinking about and discussing something he really knew nothing about. His faith in Doloran had always been fake, and although he always believed Doloran to exist, he had thought of him as basically useless and evil.

  He felt almost sick, as his head was full of thoughts not just about religion but also about all the things that had been discussed and decided on just this day.

  "I will leave the decisions about the religion to you, but you need not have a hand in it. Hald and Dyani looked capable, and as a king, you can always delegate." Mafu spoke in Jod's head.

  "I know, but at least for the beginning I need to be present and take part. After all, this is quite the huge change."

  "Yes, it is. But there are other things that take your focus and your energy. If you cannot trust those beneath you, eventually you will lose your mind."

  Jod thought about it for a second and then nodded. He did trust the dukes and most of the people in the kingdom. For him it was not about trust, but rather he felt that this was part of his duty as king.

  But Mafu was right. He did not need to be a part of everything. He was already swamped with making decisions and work. During the day he trained, inspected the craftsmen's workshops, went into the dungeons, and made sure to check the stocks of meat and leather.

  And there was always something else that happened every day. Every day there was another thing to deal with, another decision to make. Jod realized that Mafu was right. He could not keep being so involved in everything.

  "What is your suggestion then, god of decay?" Jod asked in a sarcastic tone. He could feel Mafu shirk away from his mind slightly as he mentioned the title.

  "It will take some time before that title feels... normal to me. I suggest you leave the military training and decisions to Parek. Toqlan can decide about the new schools being built. Having the heads of the workshops turn in a weekly report might also help."

  Jod thought it through, smacked the table, and stood up. That is what he would do. He would need to change how he did things, but this was as good a place as any to start.

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  ---

  Mafu had decided to leave the religion to those who would be the worshippers. He might have some input, but overall it felt wrong to have a hand in how he would be perceived.

  He would just have to swallow a bit of the embarrassing names and titles and let it be. He had already realized that he was perceived as some sort of fearsome being because of his mental link.

  But one thing that would be needed was a better church. And a better central fire cap. The church building itself was an easy thing to put in order.

  After all, with ants basically being the equivalent of excavators and the dwarven builders being master architects, it would work out.

  But the central firecap, while objectively beautiful with its shifting red flames on its cap, was not enough. Especially not if "God of Decay" would be his title.

  A volcano existed in this world; he had learned that from Jormun. However, it was not anywhere nearby, so ranking up his central fire cap was not feasible.

  Then what could he do?

  He spent a few days pondering the question. And then he was reminded that he was once offered the choice to become a mobile mushroom.

  Could he make a mobile avatar that he could talk and see through? It seemed possible. He, of course, expected it to not be very useful for combat or any work.

  But just an avatar that could move, talk, and hear?

  He broached the subject with Athena, and she seemed to be of the same mind as Mafu. Well, technically she was the same mind as Mafu.

  Moving on.

  Then where would he place a church? The hall he currently resided in was church-like. The dwarves had made a beautiful building. But this hall could still be used. He just did not want his central fire cap to be inside of it.

  He also needed to rethink his safety. Everyone knew where his central firecap was. And the immigrants from Doloran's world settling down in the kingdom were steadily increasing.

  "My king, why not put it under the ground? I can make it in the middle of my nest, and it will be safe from all who wish you harm." Taressa cut in.

  It was a great idea. Why had he not thought of that? Mafu realized that he had talked very little with Taressa lately and chided himself.

  Taressa was his first friend in this world, even though she still frightened him sometimes. She had always been loyal. And as she said, any intruder in the queen's nest would quickly regret entering.

  "It is a wonderful idea. Can your ants dig out a grand hall in the middle of your nest? Will it be structurally possible?"

  "If we go deep enough, we cannot make much more space near the ground, as the town would fall in."

  Part of the town was placed on top of the ants' nest, as they had built the town on the old orc settlement.

  "Deeper is good. You also need to make space for a staircase to lead down to it. Make it large so that your soldiers can intervene if any intruder is noticed."

  "Understood. We will begin immediately."

  The next thing to do was then to contact the dwarven builders. Mafu had gotten to know the Lord of Stone quite well. It is what the dwarves called their best builder, who ordered all the other builders around.

  Of course, the Lord of Stone of Grend had stayed in Grend. It was a prestigious position.

  But Bundin, one of the Lord of Stones' apprentices, had come to the Amanita Kingdom with Tudain. He had then been chosen by his fellow dwarves to lead the builders, and after Mafu had heard about the title, he had bestowed it on Bundin.

  That was when he had realized how impactful that title was. Bundin had cried and had to sit down for quite a while before he could stand again. The other dwarves put together a feast of meat for him, and the entire dwarven population had joined for it.

  Mafu did not regret it, of course. It was good to keep some of the old traditions of where you came from. And frankly, having a position called "Lord of Stone" just made sense for the dwarven builders.

  So now he contacted Bundin.

  After the greetings, Mafu got to the point.

  "I want to build a very large church. Kind of a cathedral, to be honest."

  "Hmm. Where'd you want it?" Bundin stroked his large brown beard as he asked.

  "Well, it will need to be deep underground. In the queen's nest. Or rather, in its own area much deeper."

  Bundin's eyes opened wide, and his beard-stroking stopped.

  "In the nest? Hmm. You know we dwarves are friendly with the ants. But they still scare us."

  Bundin and his men were the masterminds behind the wall that stretched between the mountains. However, the first few days had been a struggle. Mafu had to coerce the dwarves to work with the ants. Most of them were scared to death of them, while the rest were just scared shitless.

  From that experience, though, the dwarves had gradually become familiar with the ants. And in the end, they had even shared some of their meat with them.

  However, entering the queen's nest seemed to be something else entirely.

  "You did learn they were not dangerous, and you are invited. The queen would not allow a single dwarf to even get a scratch inside her nest." Mafu tried to reason with Bundin.

  "Aye, I know that. And I can go in there just fine knowing that. But some of my men are afraid, and you can't reason with fear."

  "Bundin, you are in your forties now, right?"

  "Yes, how come?" Bundin looked confused.

  "In the next ten or twenty years, how many times do you think your men will have to work with the ants?"

  "Countless."

  "So this fear you speak of, it is something that then must be overcome. You can tell your men that it is an order from me, even though I am not ordering you. And tell them you gave me your word. With you in such a position, they would not want to make you break your word."

  After all, Mafu thought, the dwarves consider their word to be sacrosanct and unbreakable.

  "Hmmm. Then I will ask that you order for me. I will not lie to my men." Bundin said, but he was not agitated or angry. It was his agreement to the plan, and he had a small smile at the edges of his mouth.

  "Fine, then I order you to proceed with this construction, Bundin."

  "Understood. I give you my word that I and my men will accomplish this task." Bundin said and gave a small bow to no one.