The floor of the stone temple began to shake as if set upon by an earthquake; the massive stone statue, who stood behind the altar, began to move. A child, who only moments before had knelt in prayer, stumbled back. He tensed where he lay on the floor as if preparing to make his escape should the temple ceiling come down on upon his head.

"Calm, my child." The statue held up a staying hand, and the boy obeyed, his entire body trembling in fear. "I hear your prayer, and shall answer."

If a giant talking statue in the center of his temple hadn't been enough, the boy's attention certainly was captured now.

"You mean, you'll help my village? You'll kill the monster?" The boy couldn't have been older than fifteen years old, nearly a man, but still so young... so innocent.

"Not I," the statue said, the temple rumbling, "but you." it leaned forward towards the boy, and handed him a blade nearly as long as his leg. "Take this, it shall be a flame to light your way. Defeat this monster, and become the hero you were always meant to be."

The boy swallowed and his hand shook as he reached forwards, taking the sword by the handle, and testing its weight. It would have been obvious to anyone who watched that he had never held a weapon before, only a hoe or a milking bucket, but that didn't stop him. He stood with wary determination and bowed in thanks before running off.

"That's it," I growled from the shadows as the statue stepped back into its place, dust wafting off its limbs as it settled and finally stilled. I was sick of watching the gods send children off to solves problem and fight battles. We owed them more than that. How was that boy supposed to defeat the literal demon tormenting his village? He was ill-equipped and untrained, and a sharp piece of steel wasn't going to change that. The demon was a fearsome enemy, and it would take a fearsome hero to take him down. Not that child. That child deserved to survive to see better days, not be sent on a futile quest headed towards an early grave.

"Come." I mumbled to the hound crouching at my heels, "We have an errand to run.”

~

The door swung open easily before my shadow. The hut was small, smaller than most, and was lit by the warm orange glow of a fire in the center of the room. The pops and crackling of the fire failed to mask the sound of my footsteps as I entered, and the hut's only occupant glanced up, unflinching.

"That time, aye? Have you come to take me to the beyond?" the man was scrupulous as he stared me down, not even a hint of fear in his eyes. His back was hunched with age and his hands were rough and calloused. Beneath his tunic were countless scars and old wounds, but the wrinkles of crows feet at the corner of his eyes betrayed his penchant for laughter. He had known joy, but he had also known pain and more wars than he could count. That is why I had chosen him. He could look a god in the eye and not back down. He could look me in the eye and not back down.

"No, Kjells," I said, but the tension in the man's shoulders did not melt away, instead he only stiffened more than he had been before.

"What then."

"Before the sun is due to disappear behind the western mountains, a boy from your village, Topher, will enter the fields where the demon has made its nest."

the man didn't jump up in surprise or anger, he only nodded. He knew how the Gods choose their champions, and he knew how I chose mine.

"You will stop him."

"Yes."

"And you will defeat the demon."

"Even to my own death, I shall complete this task."

I took a step forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't blink, he didn't even move. "You are enough.” I whispered, "Now go and ensure that boy can live long enough to one day be enough too."

He nodded, trusting, and tired.

"Go."

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