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Chapter Text

Scarlet fog and scorched earth – this is what Natlan looked like, revealed to the Traveler when he and Paimon found themselves on the border of the two countries. The caravans of the sumerian merchants did not travel beyond the narrow strait that divided the sea into two parts. It was unsafe for pack yaks to cross this section, fearing a fast current, and therefore, having said goodbye to their escorts, the heroes set off on their own two feet.

The further they went into the lands of Natlan, the more the fog thickened, coloring the sky in shades of red and pink. The ledges of the rocks here and there showed their huge black sides only to disappear into the clouds the next second.

"Paimon is uneasy. Are you sure this is the right way? I'm afraid that even your strength might not be enough if something big and scary jumps out of the fog at us!" Paimon whined softly and clung to her companion even more tightly. She was too afraid to fly away from the Traveler. You never know what could grab her in the air.

"If my strength is not enough, then you will help me," Aether grinned. The blood-colored sky and earth did not inspire confidence, each step could be the last, which caused the Traveler to tremble with anticipation of a good battle. "Don't worry, we've been fighting all kinds of opponents, and unless we're attacked by a dragon sovereign or a Pyro Archon... I'm ready for anything".

"Paimon can't come to terms with your confidence in winning any fight! Maybe someone is watching us right now and... a-aaa-ah!!" Paimon screamed, which was always loud, and in the middle of the wasteland, where there was no sound except the distant howling of the wind... Well, it was almost deafening.

"Paimon..."

"The dragon! Look over there!!!!"

Indeed, in the distance the silhouette of a dragon was still faintly visible. It could be mistaken for a rock but still... Was it a dragon?

"It's just a mountain, Paimon. A real dragon would have been deafened by your screams, but this one didn't even move".

Paimon huffed indignantly and frightened.

"No! His eyes are glowing red! And what does "deafened by your screams" mean?! Paimon was screaming very softly! Hey! Wait!! Don't go to him!!!"

The familiar sword lay easily in his hand. If it really was a dragon, then the fight would be glorious – the size of the creature, as it approached, could be compared with a three-story house. If it's not a dragon... The battle could not be avoided, because Paimon's screams were guaranteed to attract hilichurls or other monsters inhabiting this fog.

And here are the first ones. There was a crash followed by hurried footsteps. Summoning the Anemo, the Traveler created a small vortex, and as soon as the fleeing opponent approached, he was hit in the stomach and flew back.

"What are you doing!!!! It's not a monster! Your habit of hitting first and then thinking and figuring it out will ruin us one day!"

Paimon was following him, and she was right. Coughing, the opponent got up and walked towards him. A face appeared out of the fog, swarthy and shocked, but it was a human. The Traveler froze. Before reaching civilization the hero could be in custody for attacking local residents.

"Who are you? What are you doing?! Walking around in this fog instead of following orders!"
The speaker walked up to Aether and Paimon and looked closely at their faces. He wore a hat shaped like the head of a baby geovishap, and in general, all his clothes were made in brown. Rough boots, trousers and a jacket made of thick fabric. And also the armor, which does not fit well and is not fully fastened, as if it was put on in a hurry.

"You're not from Natlan? Even worse, the commandant will be so angry that we didn't notice your caravan approaching and how it was apparently destroyed". The young warrior's eyes widened in realization. "Are you hurt? Oh, no, no, no, no!! Are you the only survivors!? What a scolding awaits us!"

Paimon and the Traveler exchanged glances.
"Hmm, I don't want to interrupt, but don't we have a more important problem? There's a huge dragon behind you! Can we deal with him?" Paimon grumbled the last words, incredulously shifting her gaze from the guy to the dragon from behind.

The young man laughed hysterically.

"It's not a dragon. This is what our outposts look like. A tribute to tradition or something like that". Suddenly he became serious. "Tell me, did someone die? Do I need to send a group for the bodies?"

Paimon pressed her hands to her mouth in shock, "No one died, we're the only ones who came. And we didn't have a caravan, we walked from Sumery".

Emotions were changing so quickly on the guy's face that it was hard to follow them. He opened and closed his mouth startled by Paimon's words. It would have been funny, but the circumstances weren't conducive to laughter, and Aether had never enjoyed the suffering of others.

"Maybe we should go to someone who will tell us about the situation and show us the way to the main city?" He suggested.

The Natlan nodded gratefully and beckoned them to follow.

"Come on in, I'll introduce you to the others. Well, with whom you have to..."

The outpost was made in the shape of a dragon. Carved right out of the rock, it towered over the group and looked majestic, even if it seemed as dead as the whole earth around it. The entrance to it was hidden behind the wings that the dragon hugged its body with. And his eyes really glowed with a scarlet flame, though pale and dim.

"Please wait, I need to talk to the boss". With these words the guy went inside the building, leaving the Traveler and Paimon standing outside under the weight of the bulk. This outpost must have been beautiful once, but now the dead land, the dead mountains, as if devoid of elemental energy, made a gloomy impression and oppressed.

"For some reason, Paimon is even more uncomfortable here than it was in the middle of the fog. Don't you also feel like everything here is drained?"

Aether nodded back. Staying here was uncomfortable with his sensitivity to elemental energy, but he would not lose consciousness from an overabundance of it, which was always welcome.

"Come on in,"– the young man called, and the heroes went inside the tower.

And it was a very grim sight. The torches could not completely disperse the shadows in the corners of the room with bare walls and floor. The stairs along the right wall went up, and along the left wall they went down to the basements. There were a couple of benches and several empty weapon racks. Climbing up, the Traveler noticed several loopholes, indistinguishable from the outside among the carved patterns on the stone.

They were already waiting for them on the second floor. A middle-aged man dressed in a uniform and covered with scars, as well as several warriors. The young man who accompanied them cleared his throat and solemnly introduced those present.

"Commandant of the outpost, Kreyol. And my colleagues – Libon, Smogau, and Chiwin. And my name is Jupeng. We are brave warriors, defenders of the borders of Natlan".

"Stop talking already," the commandant extended his hand for a handshake. "Travelers, where are you come from and why were you screaming in the fog like newborn saurians?"

Aether shook the outstretched hand and greeted everyone else, giving Paimon a long-awaited moment of glory.

"We are adventurers. Paimon is Paimon. And this is a famous Traveler. We have visited Mondstadt, Liyue and other regions, and now we have arrived in Natlan in search of adventure".

"And what is the name of this "famous Traveler"?" One of the people asked skeptically, probably Smogau.

"Just "Traveler", that's enough".

The commandant looked thoughtfully at the heroes. And then he exclaimed loudly.

"This is the great Traveler! And his companion! We've heard about you guys here, haven't we? Your exploits are being celebrated all over Natlan! Nice to meet you two!"

"Is it really celebrated?!" Paimon was surprised.

"Is it really celebrated?" Libon asked in a whisper.

Aether scratched his head awkwardly. Songs of praise in his honor are not new.

"I believe that what we have heard about your strength is only a fraction of what you can do. However, we do not require proof. Such power must be demonstrated to the Pyro Archon herself! We'll get you supplies for the trip, and we'll give you a couple of escorts. Good luck!" Kreyol officially finished his not a bit flattering speech. He smiled broadly as he sent his subordinates to collect provisions and other items in the cart.

"Paimon is surprised by your trust... You don't know us, but you're collecting as many supplies as if we've already defeated hundreds... By the way, who are you fighting against?"

The commandant sighed heavily.

"It's an Abyss. It was always just it".

Are the scarlet fog and the dead earth a manifestation of the toxic energy of the Abyss? Why did things go so far?

There are from one thousand to one and a half people serving at each outpost in Natlan. Many of them carry out missions, patrol the area, repel attacks from small opponents. That's what Kreyol said. That's why the outpost is so empty and quiet. Someone is sleeping, and someone is protecting their sleep. This is the local way of life. Such outposts are scattered throughout Natlan, but the main ones are located along the only road through the fog – the Ley Line along which fighters, merchants and ordinary residents move, running from the attacks of the Abyss. Kreyol explained all this until the cart was ready. Finally, Jupeng turned to him.

"Commandant, the cart has been assembled. Should I call him?"

"Yes. And, someone, go find Kachina".

Jupeng ran to the third floor and Kreyol sighed heavily.

"Kachina is my daughter and Jupeng followed the young master, who is the son of an elder of the People of the Springs, who is engaged in trade. By chance, the young master stopped here. And he was in a hurry to get back, but we couldn't spare people to protect him. And what a stroke of luck, the great hero himself came to our doorstep!"

Paimon crossed her arms over her chest and spoke suspiciously.

"And let me guess, do you want us to escort him somewhere he's in such a hurry? But what about asking our opinion?"

"Of course you have a choice. Escort a cart filled with supplies and a couple of defenseless people. Or walk. Empty-handed".

The choice was made for them, and the heroes understood it. In the end, the offer was reasonable and the Traveler did not mind helping ordinary people. Of course he agreed.

"Well, we're finally leaving," an arrogant voice rang out from the third floor. The door slammed, and soon a young master came downstairs. He was a man of average height, about twenty years old, in rich turquoise-colored clothes embroidered with patterns. He wore blue oval earrings, his hands were studded with bracelets and rings, and several necklaces hung from his neck. The young master's delicate skin was the color of coffee beans, his eyes were blue, and his fluffy bangs was warm white with sparse dark strands and loosely framed his neat face. The rest of his hair was dark and braided into pigtails gathered together with a carved hairpin. He was holding a bag full of things, wrinkling his nose and frowning his light eyebrows.

In general, he was an aristocrat, a precious stone among the pieces of iron ore. And he looked from under his brows, pursing his lips, showing his displeasure in all possible ways.

"Good night, young master. A Traveler from faraway lands has arrived. A famous hero, please note. And his white–haired companion is the most gifted guide and expert of many legends of Teyvat. They will escort you to the stronghold of civilization".

The young man looked at the commandant incredulously.

"The Traveler in this dump? Don't make it up, commandant. He looks pretty... Unconvincing. His face is too young to be the one you're talking about. Otherwise, he'll do fine, the main thing is to get out of here as soon as possible".

Aether held the young man's appraising gaze, fully confident that the trip would not be pleasant, and that Paimon had already come up with a thousand nasty nicknames for this man.

"It's nice to know who we're dealing with. Don't forget about the payment, the Traveler charges a lot".

Kreyol turned pale.

"Of course, everything is within reason! I'll pay my share for my daughter".

"Is your daughter coming with us?"

A young girl appeared in the room. She was dressed in coveralls, had a pair of ears, a tail, and looked at the young master as if she would rather walk than go with him. And she was also very small, about fourteen years old, no older. She was short and thin, with a similar firm posture and stubborn face, emphasizing her resemblance to her father.

"Dad?"

"It's okay, honey. Yes, she's coming with you. She's going to visit an old friend. Is there a problem with this?"

The young master just grinned.

"No, there are none".

And he went to where the cart was apparently located.

"It's time to go, or the nervous master will get really angry," Paimon rolled her eyes. "I don't mind annoying him, though".

"Don't waste time," Kreyol said quickly.

Everyone moved towards the exit. Except for Kachina and Kreyol. It looked like they needed a minute alone to say goodbye. The girl's eyes were filled with tears. At the exit from the outpost, the echo carried to the Traveler Kreyol’s words "Daddy is always with you. It's going to be okay, honey."

The fog on the street has not lifted. And the sky was still red, and the mountains around, and the earth. It's like everything is covered in blood. And Aether knew that the Abyss could very well play with human feelings in this way.

After getting into the carriage, Aether and Paimon found themselves next to the Kachina, while the young master sat with his back to the outpost, but facing everyone else. Of course, he had to take a separate bench. There was a small window behind him. Through which, if desired, it was possible to observe the receding structure. Kachina's eyes were full of tears, while the young man, whose name the Traveler hasn’t found out yet, looked with displeasure, which was probably his usual condition, because he had not changed his face since leaving.

Strangely enough, the only one accompanying him was the driver. The horses were trotting and the cart was barely shaking, although the ground beneath them was clearly still broken and dead. The dragon, paling in the fog, watched with his dull eyes as they rode further and further away from the safety of the stone walls.

"Paimon is a little worried. Both of you," she turned to Kachina and the young master, "look depressed. And I don't feel sorry for you, rascal. But, Kachina, why are you crying like that?"

The "rascal" chuckled.

"She's crying because this is the end. It was the last time she sees her father, that's all".

"That's all!!?" Paimon cried out indignantly. "Wait, what does the last time mean!?"

It could have been an unfortunate coincidence, but at that moment a huge black column of smoke appeared in the window, breaking through the curtain and undoubtedly coming from the outpost. It went up into the sky to a great height. Upon seeing this, Kachina burst into tears.

"What is this?"

"The outpost has been attacked by the Abyss," the young master replied phlegmatically. "What? Don't you seriously get it? They collected so much food for us because they knew they were going to die today. And besides, look at her," he pointed at Kachina. "Her father sent the girl away so she wouldn't go to the other world. The losses of this outpost amounted to about a thousand people. They were all killed by the fog, or rather, the monsters living in it. And there were only a few minutes left before the Abyss would come for the last of the remaining people in that area".

"Wait, but why didn't they do anything about it? We could have asked for reinforcements!" Paimon asked with wide eyes.

"There are no reinforcements. The fact that the most remote outpost lasted so long is the merit of the commandant, but his forces are not infinite either. Just like people. It was only a matter of time. They would have died anyway – you can't delay the inevitable".

"You can't be so cynical about people's deaths!" Aether stood up from his seat, and a sword materialized in his hand.

"We have to go back and help them. Innocent people are dying. And stop talking about those who are currently fighting the Abyss in that tone".

The young master looked at him in fright. Did he really expect the Traveler to pounce on him? Aether noticed that under all the layers of fabric of his clothes, the shiny rim of the Vision could be seen.

"Sit down, Traveler. We can't go back".

"But why? I am stronger than many warriors, I can control several elements, and you have a Vision. We have to help Kreyol and the others!"

"We can't! If we return – we'll die too. There is only one direction on this road. You can't turn back. Something from the idiotic rules of the Scions of the Canopy that should have been forgotten years ago. But for some reason, it is this rule that allows everyone who moves along the Ley Line to survive".

The sword dematerialized, and Aether returned to his place. This man gives him a difficult choice: return and help people, but endanger the lives of those he decided to protect, or not return and let all those people who remained to defend the outpost die.

"Me too..." Kachina sobbed. "I also have a Vision. If we come back, I'll help. I'm not afraid to die!"

Ignoring the young master's grumbling about the fact that Visions were now being distributed to everyone, Aether looked at Kachina. There was determination in her eyes. Her life had just begun, but she was bravely facing death.

"Traveler can overcome the prescribed laws and save you if monsters attack us," Paimon said hesitantly.

"And I really don't want to die, thank you! I'm not a fighter, and she's a child. No hero fights alone, no matter how powerful he is!"

But will he be able to protect them from the armies of monsters from the Abyss? It's one thing to fight on your own, but it's quite another to protect someone. A lot can go wrong. And when the decision was almost made... The black smoke dissipated and something appeared far, far away on the horizon. Even from this distance, it was clear that the size of this creature exceeded all the Traveler's ideas about the monsters of the Abyss.

"What's that?" Paimon asked cautiously.

Kachina screamed, and the young master groped for the Vision and grabbed it.

"The Abyss, it's always her. Summons some creature, and it eats people. And then it disappears. There will be no choice. Let's get out of here, and quickly!"

As if they had heard the order, the horses sped up. Perhaps they could feel the energy of the Abyss coming from where they were running from. All living things die upon contact with its toxic manifestations.

There were tears in Paimon's eyes too. Aether stared in shock at where the dark creature was hiding, swallowed up by the fog and distance.

"But why aren't they fighting this monster? Do you have a weapon that can destroy the Abyss? And why..." Here Aether stopped in amazement, remembering the faces of the soldiers defending the outpost. Jupeng, he doesn't look more than sixteen. "Why do you have children fighting? "

"Because their parents don't have the money to buy them security. Welcome to Natlan, heroes".

"Mualani!!! The Archons, damn you, where are you?!"

Sunlight flooded the rooms of the hot springs hotel, located in the very center of the settlement of the People of the Springs. Those residents of Natlan who still had money stayed here, and therefore the workers were briskly completing preparations. People with money will arrive soon.

"Mualani!" The scream came again. A couple of people shook their heads in disappointment – there was nothing new, Mualani had never been in place.

"I'm coming, I'm coming, Aunt Atea!"

Mualani was different from the rest of the Golden Dusk staff. In any case, that's what everyone who knew the girl thought. If she was asked to take care of the comfort of the guests, they received everything they asked for, whether it was exclusive meals or first-class entertainment. At twenty-two, she remained open and friendly, managing to retain her childish naivety, but gaining insight that helped her understand the desires of visitors. Each of the guests was her friend, as were the residents of the People of the Springs, as well as anyone in Natlan, and some of the girl's senior colleagues did not like this. But for Mualani everyone was equal.

Atea looked irritably at the girl who entered the room. Her disheveled hair, bright blush on her warm brown skin and sloppily dressed uniform: all indicated that Mualani was running away again. And Atea knew that she didn't leave because of her laziness or her affairs. Mualani was looking for trouble.

"Dear girl, you know, Elder Kortok has announced that his son will be returning soon with an important guest. We're all getting ready for his arrival, and where have you been?"

Mualani shrugged her shoulders in embarrassment.

"Here and there. I helped clean up the western springs, searched for the missing saurian..."

"And climbed the wall again," Atea interrupted."Mualani, please don't look for trouble".

Atea grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Owner Nui said that the guards are complaining about you. And she doesn't like it. She says that since you like the feeling of danger so much, you should go to war with the Abyss".

Atea released Mualani and sighed heavily. It wasn't the first time they had talked about it, but the older woman didn't give up trying to reach out.

"When your mentor went to the front, he asked me to take care of you. And while I'm alive, you will work here, fulfill all the whims of the guests and bow your head when required. Don't anger the owner and her family, I beg you!" Atea said in a loud whisper. No one should hear this.

"But, aunt! I'm tired of doing nothing. Every day people die fighting the Abyss, and I'm sitting here, protected by the Sacred Flame. Let me help them!"

"Help the others, the guests will arrive soon".

The conversation was over, and Mualani was left alone in the room. Of course, Atea was right. Fighting the Abyss is dangerous. Deadly, to be exact. But it was unbearable to expect victory in the rear. Losing people was unbearable.

The Nui family ran most of the hotels, vacation homes, and hot springs in the territory of the People of the Springs. Working for them meant stability and safety, and therefore all employees of their business knew not to anger their superiors. Kupo Nui was firm in her decisions. She raised prices for services every season, and just as calmly signed dismissals. So, one of the maids, whom Mualani liked for her sense of humor and easy disposition, was sent away from the hotel, and soon from the territory of the People of Springs, because she broke a couple of plates. Another time, owner whipped a cook for cooking too bland food, but fortunately for himself he got off with just that.

Why Mualani stayed at the hotel remained a mystery to everyone, because all employees knew that owner had a grudge against her. The girl herself believed that Kupo Nui recognizes that Mualani could run away and be in three places at the same time, but she performed her duties diligently, and the guests were delighted with her.

Nevertheless, Mualani could only sigh heavily as she wiped the vases, tables and shelves on the terrace. The warm wind brought the scent of the sea and fresh fruits, but the girl was locked in the building for the rest of the day. If possible, she would be able to swim with other Golden Dusk employees after sunset, but only if everyone did their job. Then they will be allowed to swim in the spring, not the best, but still... She missed the sea so much.

The walls surrounding the area cast shadows on some of the ornate houses in the distance. Things used to be different. Fifteen years ago, there were no walls, and from this place you could look at the endless expanse of water. Back then, the sunsets were soft pastel shades, and the sea water was transparent. Now, when Mualani managed to get up, the sea below was black and lifeless. And it hurt the girl's heart.

A horn sounded in the distance – the gates opened, which means that the long-awaited guests will arrive soon. From the terrace, Mualani could watch as a horse-drawn carriage approached the entrance to the hotel, where a crowd of people had already gathered. After all, the elder's son left two months ago.

"If you think about it," girl said softly, "everyone will be excited about the guests today, which means I can practice. Atea will be watching me like a kite, but even she needs to sleep".

The thing is, Auntie Atea was a warrior long before everything changed for the worse. The woman defended the Natlan lands from attacks, and was injured when the Abyss began to advance with rapid speed. Since then, the wound did not give her life, and therefore the woman, who was respected by the Nui family, remained on the lands of the People of the Springs when it was decided to build a protective structure – a ring of walls surrounding a part of Natlan and protecting those who had money to pay for a safe stay. And it was considered safe because, like the lands in the very heart of Natlan – the Stadium of the Sacred Flame and the City of the Sacred Flame, the territory of the People of the Springs was protected by the power of the Pyro Archon. Simply put, the Sacred Flame protected only two places in Natlan – the heart and the purse.

Mualani trained every day. During the breaks, she squatted, pumped her abs and practiced punches on especially dense pillows in the warehouse. It wasn't enough, but Atea was really serious about her mission to prevent Mualani from harming herself. At the same time, the owner was watching the behavior of all the employees, and being honest with herself, the girl did not want to catch her eye once again.

While she was thinking, she did not even notice how new guests entered the room. Which was strange, because they were arguing. With surprise, Mualani looked at the newcomers: the moody son of an elder, a flying creature, a golden–haired young man and...

"Kachina?!"

"Mualani!??!"

The girls ran to each other and hugged. Kachina, the last time we talked... They met when the younger girl came to the springs with her father. It was three years ago, and the acquaintance itself lasted three days, but Mualani was imbued with great love and sisterly feelings for the girl. Since then, they corresponded, and their letters were delivered by couriers during their movements between the outposts. However, the situation was getting worse, and the letters stopped reaching. And now they met again, and Mualani laughed happily.

"You've grown so much, Kachina! I'm so glad to see you! What brings you here?"

"Speaking of which," the elder's son's unpleasant voice cut in, reminding Mualani why she didn't like him.

In fact, it couldn't be said that the girl disliked Elder Kortok’s son named Rizok so much. If she was asked to make a list of people she didn't really like, that person wouldn't even be there. But his arrogance was unpleasant to Mualani, whom he had known since childhood. Before everything changed, they were neighbors and friends.

The travelers looked tired – the journey to the protected area had taken a week before. And it was hard to imagine how much it was borrowing now.

"Hello to you too, Mualani," Rizok brought her out of her thoughts. "So glad to see you!" The guy said mockingly. "And what about the little one?.. Her father died, and the outpost fell – that's the news".

Mualani looked at him in shock. How can you be like that...

"Such a nasty guy! Paimon is so glad that we finally got rid of you!! Yes, the Traveler should be paid extra for not throwing you out of the cart!!!"The flying creature screamed indignantly, and the young man behind her looked equally annoyed. Kachina's eyes filled with tears.

"Kachina!" Mualani exclaimed. "I'm so sorry!"

She hugged her younger sister even tighter. Rizok never minced words, but it was too rude even for him.

"Kachina, don't listen to this brute. He's not smart enough, so he says the words without thinking about their meaning!!" Paimon flew over and hugged the girl.

It was in this position that the owner of the hotel and the crowd of employees following her found them.

"And why am I not surprised by what I see in front of me?" The elderly woman asked haughtily. Owner Kupo looked sternly at Mualani. "Come on, get away from our dear guests, girl".

It turned out that the flying creature Paimon and her companion were famous travelers who had arrived in Natlan to explore and meet with Pyro Archon herself. But by the will of fate, they found themselves in the middle of a red fog, got into an outpost attacked by monsters from the Abyss and met Rizok there. He was supposed to leave that place a month and a half ago, but no one could escort such an important person to the safety. So he stayed there, waiting for his imminent death. But then, the great Traveler and not so great Paimon came to the rescue. Thanks to them all four, plus an insignificant character, the driver, successfully reached the People of the Springs, having blocked several attacks of monsters, but still arrived unharmed.

This is exactly how the elder's son told this story, and everyone in the room gasped in surprise – the great Traveler himself stays at the hotel until the Archon invites him to a meeting. Mualani, who was hugging Kachina, was slightly perplexed, because she did not know anything about this Traveler and his exploits.

"That's exactly what happened, and now let me retire for a long–awaited vacation," with these words, Rizok left the terrace, followed by all the hotel staff. The reason he stayed at the hotel rather than at home was because of the service and the sources themselves. in any case, his money allowed him to spend time wherever he wants.

The people remaining in the room let out an exasperated sigh, but if the travelers were angry at Rizok, then it was Ownere Kupo... She was angry at Mualani and the Kachina clinging to her.

"Now let's talk about a more serious problem, what it is..." She remembered that Paimon and the Traveler were still in the room. "Who is this girl, Mualani? Rizok said that she came with them, and that she was the daughter of the outpost chief. What is she doing here?"

"Let Paimon explain! Kachina will stay here, she has nowhere else to go, but her father gave her money for a room. We'll keep her company".

Kupo Nui grinned, and Mualani knew what that grin meant – the woman considered herself the smartest person in the room.

"Mualani, girl, could you explain a couple of things to your friend? Golden Dusk is not some kind of shelter or flophouse for the poor. How much money did her father give her?" Kachina hesitantly held out a bag of mora. The owner dumped it on the table and counted it. "There's not even enough for a day. And there won't be enough for a day in any hotel. Let her go".

Kachina started crying again. Mualani was ready to defend her, but then he intervened.

"I could pay for it, I have the money," said the Traveler. His voice was soft but confident, and Mualani understood why he was considered a hero if that was true.

"You have no idea how much one night costs. You are here for free because you are important people, guests of the Archon herself. But it's just a girl... We can't just let her stay here, because our hotel is for visitors of a certain level".

"Then we're leaving!" Paimon said indignantly. "Stay here with your level, and we'll tell everyone what your attitude towards the guests is!"

The owner’s face paled. Her reputation meant a little less to her than the mora in her stash. And it turns out that these travelers could really influence Kupo Nui's decision, because she made concessions.

"Well, she will stay here, but only until the moment when the Archon invites you. Then let her go wherever she wants, and you, Mualani, will make sure that she does it. Let her stay with you for now".

"Ha!" Paimon grinned with satisfaction. "It will take time for the Archon to find out about us and all that stuff".

Kachina and Mualani breathed a sigh of relief when the owner left.

"Well, will you show Paimon where you can have a delicious meal?"

That evening, they all known that Pyro Archon was expecting travelers in three days.

Rizok

Chapter Text

"Wha-a-at??" Paimon shouted. "But how did she find out about us so quickly? Of course, our fame precedes us, but by that much?!"

Aether sighed heavily. The news caught them relaxing at the spring – after a hearty lunch, the Travelers lay and basked in the rays of the warm sun. Finally, alone and in silence: even Paimon was tired of chatting. For more than a week, they endured Rizok's presence, and without him around, they felt relieved.

"What should we do? The owner says it will only take six hours to get to the City of the Sacred Flame, but by the time we get back, she will kick Kachina out onto the street. We can't leave her!"

Yes, it was wrong, so they needed a plan.

"I'm glad you think so," said a young woman dressed in a waitress's uniform. She quietly approached them, which brought Paimon to a scream.

"Don't scare us like that!!! Aren't you Mualani? Why can't anyone warn Paimon at least once before sneaking up!"

The girl laughed awkwardly. Aether raised his hand to his forehead.

"Traveler, Paimon, please help Kachina! Owner... She won't be happy if she sees Kachina on the street after the eviction. And I won't be able to hide her in my room. The owner is right; the prices here are so high that you will have to work for a month to rest for one night. That's why I had an idea, but I need your help."

"Paimon is always happy to help, but we could use some help too. Why is everything like this in Natlan... So dark and sad?"

Mualani smiled sadly.

"Let's take a walk".

It wasn't difficult to climb the wall. It is difficult to climb the stairs and not get caught. But if you climb up the small ledges of brick here and there, then everything is much easier. A Traveler has enough stamina and strength to overcome this path, if Mualani herself succeeds. And therefore – go ahead.

"Paimon still doesn't understand why we have to climb so high. It's hard for her to fly for so long and over such distances!"

The Traveler offered her to grab him by his back, and she agreed. Finally, the three of them went upstairs. This view was Natlan's favorite landscape for little Mualani. As an adult, she could only look at the dead sea, barely beating the waves on the shore on the other side of the wall.

"I remember Natlan differently," the young woman began. "When I was five, my parents took me swimming with saurians in the bay below. When I turned ten, the water in the bay became unsafe – sometimes Abyss monsters and infected saurians swim there. The wall blocked access to the sea for everyone except guards and warriors. They only go down there if there is a danger.

You, travelers, probably expected something different from Natlan. I guess in other countries they still talk about it as a land of war, but they also mention colorful holidays and excellent resorts. In fact, the resorts have remained here, on the lands of the People of the Springs, and holidays are sometimes held at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. But this is entertainment for those who have money. For the rest of the natlanians there is only war.

I've heard stories about the six tribes, which used to fight together, but now we're far from unity. And there are no tribes as such, only peoples and territories that are named after those to whom they used to belong.

The Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes are the territories along which the Lay Line runs. You must have seen that everything is covered with fog and an Abyss, but moving from the road to the mountains and the sea, you can find that there are relatively safe lands there. And people live on them, poor, ordinary warriors, people with average size wallets and others... It's still a part of Natlan, just more dangerous.

We are now among the People of the Springs, where all those who were lucky enough to be born with a golden spoon or build a factory in the territories of other tribes live. And there are also us here, bowing our heads for a peaceful existence! I know it sounded a little mocking, but it's not my words.

The Collective of Plenty is the region that suffers the least from the Abyss. Therefore, there are fields where food grows as well as military units and command.

As for the other two... There are not many Masters of the Night-Wind, and they are terribly secretive. And the Flower-Feather Clan betrayed Natlan.

"Why is it safer at the stadium and here than in the rest of Natlan?" Paimon asked.

"The fact is that we are under the protection of the Pyro Archon. The power of the Sacred Flame extends to the City of the Sacred Flame and to our lands.

"What about the others?"

"Paimon, it's obvious to me that the others are completely defenseless..." Said Traveler.

And the hard truth hit Mualani.

"Actually, I wanted to ask for your help to take Kachina to the territories of the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy, but now, I'm doubting it. What if Kachina gets hurt there? She can't put her in dangerous situation.

If someone harms Kachina or she dies, then Mualani will not be able to forgive herself. However, there is no safer place in all of Natlan than the People of the Springs, but she is being kicked out from here. And the road to the stadium is closed to everyone except those approved by the Archon. This means that taking Kachina to the only place left is the best option, even if not the safest one.

"So we need to get Kachina to a safe place in three days, and then come back to set off again?! But the one-way trip should take several days. How are we going to make it?" Paimon flew thoughtfully from side to side. "No horse can run faster than it’s strength, and we will not be able to slow down the time to meet three days".

"We'll figure something out, Paimon, Mualani." The Traveler promised this, and hope flickered in Mualani's heart.

In addition to the three days in which she needs to do the impossible, Mualani had other problems. First of all, she had no idea how to get to the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy, because a lot had changed outside since the last time she was there. Secondly, and even more frustrating, Atea hadn't let her out of her sight since morning. Mualani understood that she would need permission to leave, but her aunt did not look pleased with her. Most likely, the owner scolded Mualani again, this time for bringing the child to their hotel.

Therefore, Mualani decided to take a risk and ask the owner herself. If she tell her that she is going to take Kachina out, then Kupo Nui can let her go for a few days. At least Mualani will try. If it doesn't work out, she'll run away.

When she reached the room where Kupo Nui usually stayed at such an early hour, the young woman froze. After all, she was afraid of the owner. As she continued to stand hesitantly at the door, Mualani realized that she was not alone. It was Rizok, and he was looking at her suspiciously.

"Mualani, what are you doing here so early? It's not like you to spoil your owner's mood in the morning".

"Haha," the girl chuckled tightly. "And what about you? It's not like you to wake up at six o’clock at any mornings".

"I couldn't sleep," Rizok replied shortly.

"Probably all this mora under your mattress prevented it."

The young man laughed, and for a second it seemed to Mualani that nothing had changed between them. When they were neighbors, even before the guy's father was appointed an elder, and before he earned his millions of mora, their lifes were very similar. Two children splashed in the springs, played catch-up, taught the saurians human speech, and imagined themselves the Pyro Archon. This unity was justified by the fact that their parents were engaged in business and disappeared for work all day. The children went to school together, laughed and cried together, but one day they went their separate ways and never met again.

Mualani remembered that day. All the adults were gloomy and scared, it was raining, and the doors of the neighboring house were wide open. Since that day, Rizok did not live there, and Mualani lost her best friend, because the next time they met, he ignored her.

"But still, what do you want from the old woman? I’ll do you a favor and not tell her about it."

Mualani was doubtful. Is it worth telling? Could he reveal her plans to Atea? This is the scariest thing, because one way or another, she came to the owner to tell about these very plans.

"Okay, just show some respect for my words!" Mualani waited for a nod followed by an eye roll, and continued. "I'm going to take Kachina to the Children of Echoes or the Scions of the Canopy. I don't know where she would be better off or if anyone would be willing to help. Anyway, the Traveler and Paimon agreed to help. And I wanted to ask the owner for time off."

Rizok hummed thoughtfully to himself.

"Interesting. The old woman is not here, you can wait for her at least all day at the door – she's gone. Officially on business."

"Not officially?"

"She is with her paramour!"

Mualani's eyebrows shot up. And yet, if the owner is not here, then she can safely leave? Risky, but no worse than distracting her from... entertainment.

"Take my money."

"What? " Mualani asked in surprise.

"Money. Take. Another eye roll. "Or do you know where to go beyond two meters behind the wall? I don't think so. Hire some kind of guide."

Mualani looked at him perplexed. It's cute, of course, but it's still so different from Rizok as he is now. Taking the money, the girl nodded thankfully several times, and then there was an awkward pause. What should she do in this situation? Her former best friend suddenly remembered that they are friends. Or is he pursuing some goals of his own?

"Do you need something in return? Should I deliver something or bring you some souvenirs?"

"Thank you for the offer, Mualani. I did it from the bottom of my heart, remembering my childhood or whatever you like to think. But now I'll be waiting for souvenirs."

The girl waved him away. Something in his words, when he talked about the guide, hurt her. After all, she once studied with one of the best. And now she won't be able to take a step over the wall.

"If you remember your childhood, you might think about who was our mentor. I remember uncle Nuu, and you? Therefore, I will not let down his legacy!"

Mualani felt satisfied as she left. Maybe her problems aren't as bad as she thought. Now she is going to work, meet with the Traveler and Paimon, tell Kachina the news, and finally find a guide. After all these years, she had really forgotten the basics.

If Mualani thought it was easy to find a guide, she was wrong. The sun was high in the sky, and she and the Traveler were looking for someone who would be willing to go with them. The difficulty was that many guides were interested in large groups, had their own missions, or were just relaxing after completing assignments. The girl's main hope was for the couriers of the Scions of the Canopy – after all, they were experts in fast movement, which would be good for their small group. The couriers were distinguished by their green uniforms and caps shaped like the heads of yumkasaurs, so it was not difficult to spot them in the crowd on the square. However, only a few of them agreed to at least think about helping. Even for the obscene amount of mora that Mualani and Paimon counted inside the bag that Rizok gave them.

If they don't find someone, they'll have to postpone the issue until the next morning – all the couriers and guides will be drunk at night. And by postponing the question, they definitely won't be able to do everything in three days.

After gathering together, the four heaved a sigh. Kachina was optimistic – Mualani could definitely do it without a guide, I believe in her. Paimon was pessimistic – oh, no, we won't make it, nothing will work out, and the Pyro Archon will punish us for being late for the meeting. The Traveler and Mualani maintained a semblance of neutrality, but both were ready to give up, because after spending several hours searching and persuading, they did not make any progress.

"Paimon thinks the four of us should leave now. Let's just eat and go! The Traveler will defeat any opponent, and you, Mualani, will find the way. After all, there is no fog behind the wall, and you were born on this land, so you know every bush and hole."

"Paimon..." Traveler muttered. "Sooner or later we will enter the fog. As soon as we do this, we will lose our direction. We need to find someone who knows where to go."

"And Paimon doesn't see any of them here! They all are avoiding us!!"

"Paimon, don't be so dramatic – shouting won't help the cause."

"But lunch will," Kachina said carefully. "Let's have a snack!"

So the four of them moved to a table in one of the outdoor cafes on the square. The prices here were really outrageous, but Traveler was still rich. The dishes, fortunately, were deliciously cooked. Conversation was easier during the meal, which is why the group missed the start of the fight. What they definitely couldn't miss was a man thrown across several tables. He fell at the feet of a rich middle-aged man. A young man dressed in a courier uniform and surrounded by a murderous aura walked towards him from the crowd.

"Here's your thief. Now give me my fee," the courier said in a bored voice.

"Ye-eea-ah, fee-eee!" This has been said by a strange flying creature... Mualani felt a slight deja vu. "Or he'll throw you too!"

After receiving his money, the young man disappeared into the crowd, and the frenzied activity on the square resumed. The one who was called a thief was in custody. The rich man continued to have lunch, and the people were mind their own business.

"Well, Paimon doesn't remember this guy, so you can try to persuade him? We don't have many options."

Mualani and Traveler exchanged glances. It was a reasonable offer, but the person they were going to contact had just thrown a man and demanded money, as if he did it every day. And without feeling a single drop of emotion, he left. It felt a little psychopathic, even though it was wrong to blame a person without talking to them.

"Then I suppose the Traveler and I will talk to him?" Suggested Mualani uncertainly. Everyone agreed and set off in search.

The one they were looking for was standing near one of the shops, still indifferent, but now sipping a drink.

"He looks like he doesn't know he's beautiful," the Traveler commented.

This statement earned sidelong glances from Mualani and Paimon.

"Sometimes Paimon forgets that you're a great poet. And then you say things like that."

Mualani laughed lightly. After all, the Traveler wasn't wrong, and she could understand his admiration. Because the young man had piercing eyes of unnaturally green color. His facial features were beautiful, and his body was well-proportioned, despite his short stature. However, this was overshadowed by his general untidiness: light stubble, disheveled hair, and a worn jumpsuit. The young man looked slightly sickly, with large bags under his eyes and tension in his posture. But that was the courier's job – lack of sleep and constant movement.

"Good luck to you!" Kachina and Paimon stayed slightly behind as the Traveler and Mualani moved forward.

"Look, look, Kinich! They're impressed with your cast, and they're ready to hire you!!" The flying creature perked up when Mualani opened her mouth to talk to young man. "Come on, Our Majesty needs money to eat delicious food, agree, you fool!"

The enthusiasm of the creature, which on closer inspection turned out to be a dragon, was excessive. Even if Mualani and the Traveler did not have time to say a word.

"Um, hello?" Mualani greeted awkwardly. "We are looking for a guide to go beyond the wall, we need to escort a group of people to the lands of the Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes. We have a generous reward! Won't you help?!"

"Generous reward, Kinich!! Everything is clear to Our Majesty Kuhul Ajaw – we are taking up this job!! And anyway...!" With these words, he was sent to an unknown destination.

"Don't listen to him," the guy said calmly. "He perked up today, because we were here – among a lot of food and wealth. The dragon's essence makes itself felt."

The traveler and Mualani nodded in understanding.

"What about the mission? How much mora is in the bag?"

When he found out the amount, he was a little surprised. Probably. After all, his face was emotionless.

"Well... okay. When are we departing?"

"Wha-aat??!!!" Paimon shouted. "Just like that??!??"

After so many hours of unsuccessful searching for an escort, listening to their excuses and demands (all for the sake of safety, of course), this guy, Kinich, agreed without hesitation. So, was it possible?

Having arranged a meeting in half an hour, Kinich would find them a cart with horses and collect the necessary supplies in that time, the heroes set off in the direction of leaving the settlement. Their new guide left quickly, and seeing the determination in his eyes, there was no doubt that he would manage faster than they reached the gate. Probably, they should hurry up.

Carts rarely entered and left the gates of the wall surrounding the People of the Springs. They were mostly filled with fruits, vegetables and grain from the Collective of Plenty. Each passage through the gate was accompanied by the sound of a bugle, in order to avoid the inattention of the guards on duty. However, Mualani was sure that they had long ago become accustomed to the loud buzz, and were sleeping on the wall above and in any place hidden from the eyes of casual passers-by.

A covered carriage was waiting for them in one of these seemingly inconspicuous places. They only saw it because Ajaw startled Paimon by flying out from around the corner. He was a bad messenger. Mualani's own heart was still pounding in her chest.

Kinich was sitting in the driver's seat, drumming his fingers on his knees in boredom. Tatankasaurus was harnessed in place of the horses, which surprised travelers. Before that, they had only noticed other saurians out of the corner of their eyes, but they had not come so close to the creatures. Paimon gently stroked the tatankasaur, and it hummed.

An unpleasant surprise awaited them inside the carriage – Rizok was laying on one of the benches and eating grapes.

"What are you doing here?" Paimon exclaimed. "Paimon hoped that we had said goodbye to you for forever!!"

Rizok grinned and replied.

"Mualani," he nodded to the girl, "told me to honor Uncle Nuu's memory. He was a traveler and an excellent guide. And here I am, following in his footsteps."

"You don't have to mock me!" Mualani sighed in disappointment, jumping inside. Kachina followed her, shaking her head.

"No one wants to listen to your whining!!" Paimon huffed indignantly. "Paimon is already tired of you, and now you're forcing yourself into the company of Traveler again! Let's leave him here!!"

"Paimon, don't forget who paid for this trip."

So that's what his motives were when he gave her mora. Mualani really believed that Rizok did it from the bottom of his heart. But he only used her naivety and the responsiveness of Traveler so that they find a guide. But why would a man who has everything he could want go on a dangerous journey with them?

When everyone got into the carriage, Kinich got down and looked inside.

"Does anyone here have the Vision? I can't guarantee complete safety."

"For that amount of mora?" Rizok said sarcastically.

"If the monsters of the Abyss attack us, I promise I'll throw moras at them to keep them away." Kinich replied emotionlessly.

Kachina raised her hand, pointing at the Geo Vision on the bag. Rolling his eyes, Rizok himself raised his hand.

"The traveler is able to control the elements without the Vision. And this guy," Paimon said, pointing at Rizok, "won't lift a finger to help. But the traveler is stronger than everyone else, so don't worry."

Kinich nodded and slammed the door.

"It doesn't look like he's worried," Rizok drawled.
Everyone just sighed. The carriage started moving.

Mualani did not take her eyes off the window. After passing through the archway, they were free! For a long time, she had been watching the landscape, unable to reach it, but now she could see trees and rare animals. Through the half-open window, she breathed in air that was different from what was inside the walls. And she couldn't figure out if it was because they had moved out from under the protection of the Sacred Flame, or if it really smelled different here. The carriage was rushing rapidly through the rainforest, birds were chirping, and it seemed that there was no Abyss, everything remained the same as it was in her childhood.

A few hours later, Rizok, Paimon, and Kachina fell asleep. The Traveler was deep in thought, and Mualani herself could not stop thinking. What is happening in Natlan? There was a faint hope in her heart that things might not be as bad as the gossips in Golden Dusk said.

The carriage slowed down, and Aether woke up from the light slumber he had fallen into after so many hours of vigil. At dusk, the silhouette of the dragon, another outpost, still did not look as sinister as those on the Ley Line. According to Rizok, who nevertheless condescended to share his knowledge of geography, it was not long before they left the main road of Natlan. Therefore, it was important to rest in the last more or less safe place.

Kinich was taking the harness off tatankasaur so that he could relax. The guy himself looked tired, but as Aether suggested, this was his usual condition. The journey they had made was impressive, but there was a feeling that something was wrong.

"Paimon isn't the only one who thinks we've forgotten something, is she?" Paimon was warming up after a long nap. "Like for example... We forgot to tell Kinich that we need to go back in three days!!"

Ah-ha-ha. Damn it. Everything happened so quickly that the meeting with the Archon, which will take place in two days, completely flew out of their heads.

"What were you planning to do in three days?" Kinich silently approached Traveler and Paimon.

"Stop scaring Paimon!!!" Paimon flew around their group indignantly. "We were going to take the Kachina to the lands of the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy, and then return back. Also we wanted to do it in three days."

Kinich raised an eyebrow.

"That's impossible. Doesn't anyone from the native natlanians," he looked around the Kachina, Mualani and Rizok, "know that a one-way trip takes at least three days? Although I'm not surprised, it's unlikely that the People of the Springs have to go beyond the wall or travel."

"Not everyone is so lucky in this life," Rizok replied angrily.

"There's no need to fight," Kachina tried to intervene. "Even I didn't know that it wouldn't work. The Traveler and Paimon can return, after all, meeting the Archon is more important than me."

Kinich chuckled.

"A meeting... With the Archon? I didn't think this was possible."

"Well, of course!" Paimon proudly crossed her arms over her chest. "The Traveler is a hero. It's normal that everyone knows about us and wants to meet us."

Mualani exchanged glances with Kachina, who shook her head.

"Let me ask you one question that seems to interest all of us." Kinich turned to Paimon and Aether. "Tell us what you became famous for."

Paimon frowned.

"But everyone says they know us! We helped defeat Osial in Liyue..."

Kinich just raised second eyebrow.

"Maybe you've heard about how we stopped the Vision Hunting in Inadzuma?"

Mualani shrugged her shoulders in embarrassment.

"Well, what about how we saved the Dendro Archon and cleaned up the Sumeru Academy???"

Kachina shook her head.

"I don't even know what an Academy is..."

Paimon looked at Aether in shock.

"So, it turns out that no one knows about us??? Even you, nasty guy?"

All heads turned to Rizok. After all, he was the son of an elder... But even so, the guy staggered back and waved his arms.

"Well, I heard something... Here and there. But can't you see that the Traveler is a real hero. I knew it at a glance!"

"So you all pretended to know about us?" Aether said.

"It's not just us." Rizok replied. "I think that even the hag Kupo Nui, the one who greeted you with applause and fake joy, does not know about your exploits. Natlan is cut off from the rest of the world, but perhaps the Archon and her entourage know more."

"And now we're back to where we started! What should we do?!" Paimon clutched her head with her hands.

"Kachina offered you an option – just go back. We'll get the girl to the right place." Kinich replied. "Or else, we will continue on our way. The Archon has all the time in the world, she will wait for her heroes."

The way Kinich spoke about the Archon seemed too rude to Traveler. If Natlan turns out to be another country where the Archon and locals are in conflict... Then he'll solve it, because that's the way of the hero.

"Argh! Paimon can't think on an empty stomach!! Let's eat."

So, once in the dining room, they gathered at the same table and ate what Kinich had bought for them. The advantage of the Outpost system in Natlan was that they were a kind of fortified hotels. You pay for the night, eat your food, but you are protected from being attacked by a sudden Abyss. Therefore, they will stay here for a rest and will set off early in the morning.

However, the question remained open: what they should do. It's not good to leave Kachina when they've already promised to help her. In addition, Traveler was aware that something was wrong. And he needed to figure out what was going on before meeting the Archon.

Paimon decided to tell the others about the trials they had gone through. She enjoys doing it.

"Have you met with other Archons? " Rizok asked.

"Of course. We are familiar with each of them, except Cryo, but after Natlan we will go to Snezhnaya. Although Paimon likes the warmth of your country more than freezing cold."

"And what were they like? Other Archons? "

"Well, one of them is a dragon and..."

"A dragon?! Ajaw interrupted. "Was he strong?"

"Don't interrupt Paimon like this!!! Of course he was strong! And then he died. But we became friends anyway when we met him in human form!"

Mualani exclaimed in surprise.

"Can Traveler talk to the dead people?"

"Arggh, no! That is, yes! Ah, Paimon is confused! It's too complicated story!" Paimon caught herself. "This must remain a secret! Don't tell anyone!"

Paimon should write a book for not get confused about the huge number of things they went through together.

"Our Majesty doesn't understand how you can become a human when you were born a dragon? You're pathetic insects, but we are..." – Kinich locked Ajaw up again.

"But still, Paimon, what about talking to the dead?"

"Travele-ee-eeee-r, help me!!!"

Several hours flew by during the conversation, they were left alone in the dining room.

Everything was calm, Rizok did not provoke conflicts, and Paimon shine in the spotlight. The room was warm, and the dim light was soothing. Yawning, the Traveler realized that it was time to disperse and sleep.

"Kachina," Aether called, "we'll go with you, as promised."

And the girl, smiling, hugged the traveler.

"Thank you."

Chapter Text

Everything was gray. Rain was pouring through the windows of the carriage, and Mualani felt terribly sorry for Kinich, who remained outside. They left in the morning, as soon as the first rays of the sun rose above the horizon. But after a few hours the weather turned bad. The unfortunate saurian dragged their carriage through the sodden ground and slowed down seriously compared to how fast he ran yesterday.

They couldn't stop – the view was minimal, but they had to go to the Lay Line, along which there were many monsters of the Abyss. Stopping could have cost them their lives, so they drove through the incessant rain.

It was uncomfortably cold inside the carriage. It was unusual to wrap oneself in warm blankets for the warm Natlan climate. But Mualani hasn't been outside in so many years... Everything could have changed.

"Our Majesty is cold," muttered Ajaw, hiding in a cocoon of cloth. It seemed strange, because he was the only dragon capable of breathing fire among them. The nature of Ajaw remained a mystery even to Kinich. He said that he found him in the ruins, and now the creature longs for his death, but shares his powers. It's a very strange coexistence.

Ajaw was no ordinary dragon made of skin and flesh. It consisted of an unknown material, which Rizok identified as phlogiston, and Paimon as one hundred percent harmful material. Kinich sent him back inside the carriage to avoid listening to the creature's complaints, but condemned the others to these torments. Wrapped up, the dragon continued to curse the rain. However, everyone here understood that the cold accompanied the Abyss, which meant that enemies could attack at any second.

"I haven't seen rain in a long time," Kachina confessed. "At the out... where I lived, the rains stopped five years ago. There was a drought and fog. All the cultures were dying, and the saurians were suffering from thirst. We were looking after the tepetlisaurus family, but one day they left. I hope the poor lizards have reached a place where they live safely.

"Speaking of security, Paimon is interested in something. Why don't people of Natlan moved to other regions? We've never met anyone from here. But didn't anyone try to leave? It's dangerous here." 

"People have tried," Rizok replied. "It's not that some supernatural force won't let us out. We could easily have left, but once in a foreign land, natlanians suffer from headaches and distorted memories. This can be tolerated, but there is a high risk of going crazy. That's why we're living out our days in Natlan."

Mualani raised her head from her knees in frustration.

"Don't talk like Natlan's already dead. People fight every day. Everything is not lost yet."

"And besides," Kachina added, "as long as the Pyro Archon remains with us, Natlan will not fall."

Rizok just shook his head.

"It's strange that you, who lived dangerously close to the Abyss for so many years, still believe in the Archon and the best."

"That's because I still have hope. I know the natlanians who protect our lands. And their hearts are burning with a Sacred Flame."

Is Kachina right? Mualani didn't know. She just wants to help Natlan, but she doesn't know how.

The carriage began to slow down, but the rain outside had increased, so they couldn't see anything. Have they arrived at the outpost? Or they've already reached their destination.

"We're lost," Kinich answered the unasked questions, opening the door. He was soaked through, and his lips were blue from the cold and shaking.

"Archons!" Paimon exclaimed.

Mualani gasped.

"It looks like we've gone off the road and taken a wrong turn. I still think we're moving in the right direction, but..." He sighed in disappointment. "I can't see anything because of the rain. Anyway I have some news."

"Get inside!!" Mualani grabbed his arm. How can you bring yourself to such a state? He's shaking all over.

"Hey, move over," Paimon pointed at Rizok.

Having sat down, Kinich continued to shake. Mualani guessed that he was trying to say something, but couldn't because of his condition. How do they light a fire in the carriage??

"Well, you're finally going to die, Kinich." Ajaw growled. "It's really so stupid."

The Traveler came to the rescue. Mualani saw how Visions worked. She didn't have one of her own, but there were thousands of residents in Natlan. When someone used the elements, it was always beautiful and spectacular. But never like this – the Traveler controlled the Hydro power without using foreign devices. He literally commanded the elements, and used it to draw water out of Kinich's clothes and hair. Gathering it into a large ball, he threw it out of the carriage and slammed the door.

"Of course, your clothes will stay wet, but I rarely practice anything casual. I saw one of my friends using his Vision, and I decided to repeat after them," the Traveler confided shyly.

Mualani threw a blanket over Kinich's shoulders.

"Thank you, Traveler, Mualani."

"Stupid Kinich is alive again."

Kinich simply ignored Ajaw.

"Returning to the news. We're lost."

"This is not news as you have already said..." Rizok muttered.

"So that's it. The bad thing is that we are in the middle of nothing, where monsters can attack us at any second."

"Will someone explain to Paimon what good can be in this?"

Kinich looked sternly at Paimon.

"I noticed something that looked like buildings when I braked. There are hardly any people living here, but a roof would be nice. Saurian is having a hard time.

So they might try to find shelter? It sounded good, except for the monsters and the fog outside. However, Kinich was right: if people can sit in a carriage, then saurian has nowhere to go.

"Poor saurian," Kachina looked sadly at Mualani. "We need to get out of the rain."

"Have you decided to test the Archon's patience?" Rizok chuckled. "We'll wait here, there. I don't care, but it would be in your best interest to hurry up."

Paimon waved him away. Drag. And even though he was saying the right things, the decision had already been made. The Traveler will stay with them until the end.

"I think we should find a place to hide." Agreed the Traveler. "I can do it. I'll create a shield and not get wet, but Paimon will stay here. If something happens, she can find me."

"Do you have some kind of mysterious connection that directs Paimon to you?" Kachina was surprised.

"No. We're just best friends."

Everything went off without incident. Soon after his departure, the Traveler returned to take their carriage to a dilapidated house, which, fortunately, had a roof and four walls, as well as a covered annex where saurian and their vehicle could stay.

Ajaw, of course, complained. And Rizok too. Paimon didn't complain, but she screamed very loudly when she came across a spider web on the ceiling. It's a good thing there wasn't a spider sitting on it.

The house, built in the style of the Children of Echoes, was quite empty. Kinich explained this by saying that looters had most likely visited here, which greatly upset Kachina and frightened Paimon. However, in the living room, which was the best preserved, there was a fireplace. They managed to light it up. The light, weak because of the rain, fluttered and threatened to go out from the slightest increase in bad weather. But it was enough to warm their frozen hands.

The rain brought back longing and memories.

The rain stopped at the same time as the new day dawned. The sun was shining through the broken window that overlooked the road they had come down, and a light breeze was blowing, bringing freshness. Aether went outside and looked around. The ground around them was soaked, and the dead plants were crushed to the ground – it had been raining so hard yesterday.

Kinich wandered nearby, his trousers rolled up to his knees. He was peering at the houses, as if trying to determine the direction. Noticing the Traveler, he waved him.

"I know this place. When everyone else wakes up, we'll let them know."

"Have you been here before?" Aether asked.

Kinich waved his hand vaguely. He was a secretive person, he didn't like to talk. When they were sitting in the dining room at the outpost, the guy was silent almost all the time. Then the Traveler thought that this was due to general fatigue. But Kinich did not look healthier or more cheerful this morning. Out of respect, Aether didn't ask what was wrong with him. However, he was also interested in other things.

"Has this place been in ruins for a long time?"

"Last year, five thousand people lived here. Then they were attacked by that huge monster. Have you seen him yet?"

After waiting for the Traveler's nod, he continued.

"The Archon knows about this. What do you think she did?

Aetherer shrugged his shoulders.

"She didn't do anything, don't worry about it. She expressed her general condolences, and six months ago, the same village near the Collective of Plenty was attacked by this creature again. As you guessed, there aren't many survivors."

"But why are you... them... it doesn't matter. Why do natlanians stay in such settlements if it's so dangerous? Why don't they go where the Archon's protection extends?"

Kinich looked at him seriously. His eyes were tired.

"Everyone knows that Natlan is doomed. The Archon, the common people. All that remains for us is – to live." He sighed. "Previously, this creature attacked once every few years. And about thirty years ago it didn't exist at all. Small groups of Abyss monsters are not so scary if there is a group of trained warriors in the village. So people lived where they could. They couldn't abandon their homes when the Abyss launched a rapid offensive."

"Would you be able to?"

"Oh, as you can see, I'm still here."

Mualani pulled away from the window. Why are the People of the Springs so calm when the rest of the natlanians are in such danger? And why doesn't the Archon do anything?

"Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is wrong." Rizok said with a sneer.

As if he wasn't doing the same thing.

"Do you also believe that Natlan is doomed?"

"That's all I'm talking about."

Mualani glared at him.

"Then I'll save our land. Or I'll die trying."

"What? Mualani, why are you going to die?" Paimon flew into the room with Kachina following behind. They were preparing breakfast from the available supplies.

Mualani laughed awkwardly.

"Paimon, Kachina, it's just a saying. I'm going to save Natlan, no matter what it takes!"

"Oh, that's right!" Paimon remarked, stuffing sandwiches into her mouth. "The Traveler and Paimon will help! We can't stand aside when someone is facing difficulties!"

Rizok laughed venomously.

"Mualani, come to your senses. You're a simple natlanian girl, and even if the Archon can't do anything. What will you do?"

"Even if I start my journey alone, I'm sure there will be those who will support me! We will unite against a common enemy."

Rizok declined to comment, shaking his head.

When Kinich and the Traveler returned, the first one informed them that the village they found was actually located at a sufficient distance from the Lay Line, which guaranteed them relative safety from monsters. In addition, it is much closer to the lands of the Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes than it might seem. That means they'll get there within a few hours.

So, Mualani was looking out the window again. The village destroyed by the monster was deserted, but it seemed to her that they were not alone. Obviously, the Traveler suspected something, as he sat tensely and concentrated on his hands. Kinich was driving the cart again, but that was his job, although the girl preferred that they all get together. She was sad to leave Kinich alone, because Ajaw had again exchanged the young man for blankets and delicacies.

As they approached civilization, they began to come across abandoned houses, ruins and landfills. Everything spoke of desolation.

The settlement of the Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes was divided into two parts. The lower one was an endless string of houses, set up terribly crookedly, on different levels. Some houses smoothly flowed into others. This multi-level building was uncomfortable. Rizok called this place a ghetto, and Mualani regretted that he was right.

The houses were sometimes replaced by factory chimneys, but they stretched continuously all the way to the mountains on the horizon. After getting out of the carriage, the girl raised her head. The first houses were located on the slopes of the mountains, continuing to increase in number and size, located on flat sections of rocks and continuing at the top. Staircases stretched between the houses on the steep cliffs, and the entire sky within sight was covered with complex cable systems designed to move quickly on hooks.

Paimon let out a squeak of emotion when she saw a nest nearby, where about ten tepetlisaurus whelps were sitting. Kinich paid one of the men who looked after the saurians to take care of the tatankosaurus that brought them here. And the travelers moved on. Everyone except Kinich looked around in surprise. Warriors dressed in the likeness of the saurians passed by, loaders carrying crates rattling with iron inside. Some of the Scions of the Canopy flew from above, moving upward towards the mountains.

Everything was different from the usual sleek streets of the People of the Springs. From the stalls, randomly placed here and there, merchants invited to try their products. Several slightly undressed women playfully waved at their group, making everyone blush. It got worse when the guys joined them. Mualani could feel her face burning. And although she had seen this a thousand times, such vulgar things were happening here in the middle of the street.

However, upon closer inspection, Mualani noticed things that were even harder to look at. As they walked, she saw a man without a leg, a woman with a terrible scar on her face, dirty children playing in an alley. Crying could be heard over the noise, but it was not possible to identify the source.

Finally, Kinich stopped to the side of the crowd to discuss further actions.

"We passed a common shopping street, but then the territory of the Children of the Echoes begins. I'm not going in there."

"Why would that be?" Rizok asked, puzzled. "We'll get lost easily."

Mualani and Kachina nodded in agreement.

"Paimon thought you'd help us. How can we help Kachina if we don't know anything or anyone here?"

Kinich shrugged his shoulders indifferently.

"I brought you here. That's the end of my mission. If you need an escort, then pay more.

"Huh!??!!" Paimon asked indignantly. "But we thought you were a good guy!! The nasty gentleman will pay you more!!!!"

"However, I think that the price is incomparable. I refuse."

"But how?" We need the advice of someone who knows how things work here. " Mualani said sadly.

"If you need advice, here it is. If anyone asks you, tell them that you are one of the Masters of the Night-Wind." He pointed to the clothes of Mualani and Rizok. Fabrics of various shades of blue made them noticeable among the crowd of greens and browns.

With these words, Kinich left, grabbing his hook on the way. Clinging to a system of cables, he flew into the air and soon disappeared.

Mualani exchanged glances with the others. Even Rizok looked stressed. Only the Traveler seemed determined.

"Then let's move on. We'll find some hotel or an empty house where the Kachina can move in."

"Of course, all expenses are planned from my wallet." Rizok expressed his displeasure.

"Of course!" Paimon exclaimed.

However, their search turned out to be pointless again. If there was a place where Kachina could be accepted, it looked terribly suspicious. No one would stay in such establishments, and Kachina was fourteen, which made her an easy victim for various moral freaks. Mualani was already worried that she would have to leave her here alone. But the owner could get angry at Atea for the girl's disobedience. And she didn't want to fail aunty.

"Now you understand that you set us up when you gave us the money and stayed to rest at the hotel. It's a useless quest!!"

Paimon got tired of the endless monotony of their actions. It seemed that in recent days they were either looking for something or driving. And she got bored of it.

"And by the way, Paimon is wondering, why you're staying at the hotel at all? You have your own huge palace, so why not go there?"

But if Paimon was hoping to embarrass Rizok, she failed. He already had an answer.

"Because there are no hot springs with pretty waitresses in my house. I'm not talking about you, Mualani."

"What a brute!!!" Paimon was angry.

Mualani was offended. She knew that their hotel employed girls with perfect bodies and faces. But Mualani herself was fine too. Her pretty face was noticed by many guests, and her figure was slightly athletic, which, combined with her plump hips, made her a toned cutie with big cheeks. That's what some of the guests called her. However, like any romantic girl who grew up watching the passions in Golden Dusk, she wanted to love and be loved.

In any case, Rizok was getting on their nerves. And he had no right to talk about her like that. So, without a shred of regret, she turned around and slapped him in the face.

With a cry, Rizok sank to the ground, clutching his nose. Paimon and Kachina praised Mualani for her excellent punch, and the Traveler looked very pleased. Perhaps he had been holding back all this time. The Traveler was stronger than Mualani, and he’ll definitely was going to give Rizok a concussion if he tried.

"That's what you get when you insult my friend," Kachina said while kicking Rizok in the ass. Paimon whistled.

"What the Abyssal shit are you doing?" The guy was indignant.

"The next punch is for me," the Traveler said in a measured voice.

Rizok hurried to stand up. It seemed to Mualani that he wasn't the type to insult women and get into a fight, but that's where they ended up. Shaking her head, the girl moved forward. However, for some reason, people were running in the opposite direction.

"What's going on?" Paimon covered her mouth with her hands in fright.

"THE ABYSS! THE ABYSS!" There were screams.

But how? Were they attacked by the monsters of the Abyss or by that huge creature?? What should they do?

"We need to leave!" Kachina shouted.

"No," replied the Traveler. "I've had enough. I'll help people."

Kicking off the ground, he flew forward with incredible speed, leaving his companions behind.

"Wait!"

"Nepecha?" It sounded at the same time. "Come in quickly."

And their group was dragged out the door.

They found themselves in a small house, which was still quite cozy, although many things were in boxes here and there. The woman who pulled them inside looked around their group in panic. She was tall and beautiful, although the dark circles under her eyes emphasized that she didn't get much rest. Her curly blonde hair were tied up in a bun, and her soft ears and tail were alert. She had broad shoulders and skin slightly darker than Mualani's own. 

"You're not Nepecha!" She said to the Kachina, startled. "Who are you and where is she?"

"I don’t know her! Kachina exclaimed. "My name is Kachina!"

The woman turned to Rizok and Mualani.

"Have you seen a girl who looks like yours, but her hair is darker?"

"No, no one saw her!" Paimon answered for the whole group.

The woman pushed them away from the entrance and ran outside.

"Nepecha! Nepecha!"

There was still panic outside, but fortunately, Mualani, who came out after the woman, did not see the huge creature from the direction from which the people were running.

"They reported that the Abyss Gates have opened there," the woman looked stressed. "Nepecha was walking somewhere nearby, but she probably ran away when she saw the panicking crowd."

"But the Abyss is so far away, you can't even see the epicenter from here. Aren't you used to it’s attacks?" Rizok also went outside. Paimon and Kachina were peering out of the doorway.

The woman looked at Rizok suspiciously. She took a particularly close look at his clothes, and then she also studied Mualani closely.

"People can't help but be afraid," she said wearily. "You never know what might happen. The Abyss is unpredictable."

She was calmer, probably because the Abyss was really far away.

"Is Nepecha your daughter?" Kachina asked.

"My niece. I'm sorry I scared you, Kachina."

The girl smiled awkwardly.

"My name is Xilonen. Please help me find Nepecha."

"Paimon is Paimon, and the others are Rizok and Mualani."

There was a loud explosion, and everyone turned to where the sound was coming from. This place was far away, but still. Mualani remembered how many levels there were in these houses. If one collapses, the others nearby will just lie down.

Mualani must help them.

"Xilonen, people got hurt there! I can't stay away!"

Xilonen gave her another skeptical look.

"You have no weapon, no Vision. What are you going to do?"

But Mualani's determination was unstoppable.

"You don't need a sword or divine powers to help people. I'll try to evacuate the people!"

"Idiotic!"

"Mualani, stop!!!"

And she ran forward. There were still a few passers-by, but she was the only one running forward. Although she saw that people in green were descending along the communication routes to the epicenter. There were few of them, fewer than needed to deal with what had happened.

The Abyss Gates were disgusting. They could be seen from afar, and monsters were continuously coming out.

"We need to destroy the smaller ones!" Someone shouted.

Were there multiple gates?

Mualani understood that she shouldn't get into a place where she would really have to fight with enemies. No matter how much she wants to, she needs to act according to her capabilities. That's what Atea always said. Therefore, Mualani ran into the nearest door, which was open. There was no one inside the flat, and the girl ran upstairs. Elderly people or someone unable to leave on their own could stay in apartments and houses on the level above.

After checking several rooms, she climbed higher and higher. There was no one in sight, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be people even higher up. Indeed, when Mualani opened one of the locked doors, which she had learned when uncle Nuu was alive, she discovered that the room was not empty.

A woman and a child, a boy bursting into tears, and his mother... What... the fuck. Mualani sighed heavily. The boy's mother was dead, but that wasn't the worst of it. A creature unknown in nature was devouring her body. It was a monster from the Abyss.

"Ma-ma, ma-ma..." The child was sobbing.

The monster made squelching sounds as it tore chunks of flesh from woman’s body.

Mualani turned her gaze to the window and realized that she hadn't noticed at first glance – it was shattered. This creature jumped over it to them! And they were at least five floors high!!

Mualani tried to move. Her whole body froze, but the child was crying, and the monster was not distracted from his deal. With small steps, the girl approached the child and said:

"Kid, we need to leave." The girl's voice cracked. She felt sick.

The child shook his head. He was sitting on the floor, and if Mualani was fast enough, she could grab the boy, run out the door, and slam it. It turns out that this is the plan. She needs to gather her strength!

"Sorry, kid." Mualani said, and then hugged the child with both arms and ran. She heard a nasty slimy sound, but she wasn't going to check if the creature was following her. She slammed the door and ran for the stairs. The problem was that she needed her hands to get down. The child cried hysterically.

"Please hold on!" Said Mualani. After that, she grabbed him with one hand and crawled down. It was hard, but climbing the wall and doing a lot of training paid off. Without all this, Mualani would have fallen, but she was going down slowly. The monster did not follow them, but being at a height of three floors, the girl allowed herself to look down. It was a mistake – she felt dizzy, and monsters, people fighting them, and corpses were waiting for her below.

Swallowing, the girl continued her descent. Once on solid ground, she breathed a sigh of relief. But where should she take this baby? One of the Children of the Echoes warriors was running past, and Mualani shouted to him about the kid. The man looked at her, realized that she was not a local, and took pity on her. He took the child, finally telling her to get out of here.

But Mualani wasn't going to leave. After exploring a few more houses, this time more carefully, in order to avoid a sudden encounter with the monsters, she found no one. As she moved from house to house, she heard growling and screaming, but it was too far away from her, so Mualani stopped listening. While checking another house, the girl did not notice a silhouette approaching the window. Therefore, a hail of shards showered her as the someone flew through the window frame, landing at the far end of the room. And then the building folded inwards under the impact of the blast wave.

Mualani's eyes widened. The right one immediately hurt, and she hurried to close it back. Are her limbs still there? Her arms, legs, she could feel them, but her whole body was buzzing after the fall and the explosion. She was terribly lucky to be alive, but still something didn't feel right. Something heavy was lying on top of her, and then she remembered.

When the unknown person fell, she, being a kind soul, ran to them. Therefore, in those seconds when the floor stopped feeling under her feet and the ceiling came dangerously close to her face, she managed to pull them to her. And now, feeling the movements of someone else's chest, she realized that the thing lying on top of her was the same person.

She couldn't see in the dark, but still vague memories told her that the human's clothes were green, and physical sensations indicated that he was a man. His head was resting on her chest, and from her uncomfortable position, she could only feel his head, but not see his face. And although it was too intimate, in the girl's opinion, she hesitantly touched the man's hair. When she felt something wet, she took her hand away. Mualani remembered that he had hit his head against the wall when he was thrown.

Her left hand was pinned down by this man, but her right hand remained free. Therefore, Mualani tried to shake the man lying down. The girl understood that most likely he was unconscious even before they fell here. But still, she didn't know what else to do.

The man coughed, and Mualani was scared. If only her thrusts didn't hurt him!

"Are you okay?" She said carefully.

"Mualani?" The man exhaled.

"Kinich?" The girl asked in the same surprise.

Kinich moved, and the fact that it was him made the situation more uncomfortable.

"What happened?" The guy asked quietly. His voice sounded hoarse, and it was clear that it was hard for him to speak.

"An explosion. You were thrown into the house where I was, and then it collapsed because of the blast wave."

Kinich coughed. There was definitely not enough oxygen in the place where they were lying.

"Why are you here?" Kinich said hoarsely.

"Why are you here, you left?" The girl asked in response.

"The Abyss has attacked."

"That's not an answer. Let me tell you the same thing." Mualani grumbled. "We need to get out of here. Is anything broken?"

Kinich moved again.

"Stop! Don't move. Try moving your fingers and toes first. Check if you've lost your sensitivity. You could have broken your spine!"

There was a rustling sound. Kinich responded after a while.

"No, everything seems to be fine."

He managed to pull something out of his pocket. Rising slightly and freeing both hands, Kinich scrapped with this thing. He lit the fire using a flint and a piece of wooden furniture that happened to be at hand. The fire was still burning, which meant that the oxygen in the trap was not running out. However, by the light of the flames, it became clear where they were.

Two stone slabs hung above them, both propping each other up and were the reason why Kinich and Mualani were not covered with debris. Theoretically, they could have sat down, but the area was catastrophically small. Stones and pieces of broken furniture occupied a lot of space.

Mualani looked at Kinich, who tried to get up from the girl. He straightened both arms and lifted himself up, freeing Mualani from his weight. The girl backed away and was able to get out from under the guy. He regrouped with relief. They actually managed to sit down!

Kinich's hair and clothes were covered with crumbling plaster, and Mualani realized that she looked the same way. Kinich had cuts on his face from before the fall, and Mualani's face was burning from the glass embedded under her skin.

"We need to get out." Kinich said briefly. But he did not explain how to do it.

After looking around, they saw a small gap, thanks to which oxygen penetrated inside the trap. Kinich carefully touched several stones, removing those that were in the way. However, it would not have been possible to move the largest plates. Besides, it was dangerous, because they could flatten the people stuck between them.

"We need to put out the fire before we suffocate."

Kinich threw a charred piece of wood at his feet and pelted it with earth. It got darker. There wasn't much light coming from the hole the guy had dug. It seemed like several hours had passed while Mualani was unconscious. Or she was so busy checking houses that she lost track of time.

"I hope the battle is over," Mualani said.

"If that's the case, then Ajaw must be nearby. He knows I'm still alive, and he'll have to bring help. Maybe they'll find us when they'll be clearing the rubble. It shouldn't take long, don't worry." Kinich tried to reassure her.

They fell silent and listened. Nothing seemed to be happening outside. But a lull could mean either victory or defeat. The Abyss could continue the battle by opening a gate elsewhere.

In the silence, Mualani could only hear the boy's hoarse breathing, whose silhouette was faintly discernible in the darkness. He was holding his head, obviously in pain from a possible concussion. The entire right side of her body was burning from the shards, and her back was bled from the fall, even from a small height. After all, they were lucky to be at the very top of the building when it collapsed.

It was unbearably painful and wrong to remain silent.

"Kinich," she called the guy. "Do you remember what Natlan used to be like? I don't know how old you are, but I think you're my age."

"Why are we talking about this? I'm sure we remember Natlan in our own way. You and I were born in very different places."

"But still. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one who remembers anything at all." Mualani said sadly. "I'm sorting through my memories, but every year there are fewer of them. The details are forgotten, and no one wants to talk about it."

Kinich was silent. Mualani looked at where he was sitting. But the distance of a couple of dozen centimeters hid the silhouette of the guy in the shadows. She couldn't see his face.

"I'll tell you about my childhood, I hope you don't mind listening. However, silence is a sign of agreement, so I will continue."

My parents were engaged in trade. They were partners of Rizok's parents back then, so we spent all our time together. He wasn't so bad then, I promise. We could swim in the springs – then it was available to everyone, and then overeat berries and fruits.

But most of all, I loved my mentor, uncle Nuu. We looked at the waterfalls, he showed me the secret paths through the forest surrounding the lands of the People of the Springs. He taught me how to fish and read maps, distinguish plants and take care of all living things. When I collected shells, he glued various crafts from them, and I made necklaces. And then I was selling them, and every passerby laughed, saying that I was my parents' daughter.

One day, my uncle, Rizok, and I went to the bay. The current has thrown the blubberbeasts to the shore, and they only live in the Fountain! And we saved the poor animals, and then my parents...

"Mualani, stop it," Kinich said in a cracked voice.

"But why, I just wanted to share..." Mualani was confused. "Okay, will you tell me something about yourself?"

But Kinich did not answer. Only their breathing could be heard in the silence. The minutes seemed like an eternity.

Finally, screams rang out on the other side of the stone barrier.

"Stupid, annoying Kinich! Not even a thousand Abyss monsters can kill you! Our Majesty hoped so much that you were overwhelmed by debris, but no!"

Ajaw's muzzle appeared in the hole between the stones, glowing slightly in the dark, due to the unnatural origin of the creature.

"Maybe we should have left you here!"

"That's enough, Ajaw."

It was the Traveler! They both came to rescue.

"The Traveler!" Mualani exclaimed. "We are here, please help us!"

"Mualani?" The hero's surprised response rang out. "What are you doing there? I thought you were safe."

"I can't let people die!"

"Don't waste your strength, you stupid Mualani! Ajaw shouted. "Your death doesn't fit into our plans. Any ruler should have his despicable slaves. You and the Traveler are suitable."

"What about Paimon?" The Traveler replied with a laugh.

"Paimon is an even more despicable slave than you! Her filthy mouth doesn't allow her to extol Our Dragon Majesty!"

"Okay, stop it already. We need to get them out of the trap."

It took a while for that to happen. Judging by the sounds, the Traveler and Ajaw were removing the stones piled on top of the two slabs that still overhung Mualani and Kinich. Soon, other soldiers and volunteers joined in the dismantling of the rubble. They went to the battlefield to search for victims. When the two slabs were finally removed – it took the efforts of a group of people – the night sky opened up in front of Mualani. Climbing out of the trap, the girl realized with horror that she was standing in the middle of ruins – several houses nearby collapsed, others were significantly damaged. However, the Abyss Gate have disappeared. Several bodies of dead monsters were scattered here and there.

The Traveler looked battered, but still exuded confidence. It seemed that a good battle had only whetted his ardor. He really was a hero whose help proved indispensable.

"We need to get back to the others," the Traveler said. "I think Paimon and Kachina are terribly worried."

Their small group moved in the direction from which Mualani supposedly came. It was hard to find out, because the destroyed buildings blocked the road. Kinich walked behind the girl, and the Traveler walked in front of her. Ajaw hovered nearby in upset feelings.

On the way, Mualani explained the situation to the Traveler, telling him about Xilonen and Nepecha, which she confused with Kachina. Mualani hoped that the girl had been found, but the picture she had seen from above was still in front of her eyes: dead people and raging evil.

If she had been faster, stronger, and wiser, she would have saved more people! Mualani knew that people were buried somewhere under the rubble, she understood that she was incredibly lucky to get out of there alive and almost unharmed, but someone's life ended here today. It was wrong to blame herself, but she couldn't help it.

Mualani has not lost her abilities: She remembered the way to Xilonen's house. Paimon was on duty at the entrance, looking around. When she saw them, she rushed to meet them, whirling the Traveler in her arms.

"Traveler, Mualani! We were so worried about you! It's so good that everything is okay! Hey! They're back!" she shouted into the house.

"Come in quickly," Xilonen urged them.

The Traveler entered the building, but Mualani lingered. She wanted to turn around to take another look at the destruction. However, the night hid the tragedy that had happened: nothing could be seen from the place where Xilonen's house was located. Too far away. The only thing that reminded of what had happened was a dark spot among the streets illuminated by lanterns around the scene of the tragedy.

Kinich has already disappeared.

And Mualani remained to remember.

Chapter Text

"And then Paimon wanted to fly to the Abyss Gates, but Xilonen stopped Paimon. It turned out that we had been looking for Nepecha for so long that the battle was over. So we went inside hoping that she would come here too. And you should have come back too." Paimon finished her story and looked at everyone in the room. "And now that we're back together, we need to think about what we're going to do next!"

"Paimon, give them a break." Xilonen said sternly. "However, I can't help but ask: Traveler, Mualani, how was the battle?"

"Nothing I haven't experienced before," Traveler replied.

Of course, he got through the battle effortlessly. The Traveler had the strength of the elements, the speed and ingenuity achieved through years of training, and the fortitude that could not be broken. After all, he was a hero, and she was...

"Mualani? Are you okay?" 

"Huh?" Asked Mualani.

What was she thinking about? What were they talking about? Why couldn't she focus on what was happening?

"Mualani, you look lost. Are you hurt?" Kachina approached Mualani and gently took her hand.

Mualani didn't even notice that she was standing at the entrance while Paimon was emotionally talking about something... The girl couldn't remember a single word. What happened? Why is she so confused?

Mualani allowed Kachina to sit her down at a table in the middle of which stood a candlestick with many candles. In their light, everyone could see her scarred face.

"Mualani?" Paimon gasped. "You're covered in shards!"

"Traveler, why didn't you tell me she was in a state of shock?" Xilonen has already acted, bringing a wet towel, preparing tweezers and various medicines.

"Everything was fine when we came here." Traveler sounded worried.

"It doesn't matter anymore!" Xilonen pulled a chair over to Mualani and sat down opposite her. "Look at me, I will try to help."

And she started working. Removing the glass was terribly painful, but it helped Mualani recover. She could see the room and the people. Kachina and Paimon were unharmed but worried. The Traveler was also worried, but what surprised Mualani the most was Rizok, who was just sleeping with his head on the table. Regretfully, she noticed a bruise spreading across his face. Could she really only harm and not help? The girl shook her head.

"Mualani, don't move." Xilonen pulled out another fragment, and then cauterized the place with alcohol-soaked cotton wool. Mualani grimaced.

"Paimon doesn't understand. Why are you so calm, Xilonen? We still haven't found your niece!"
Xilonen frowned.

"Nepecha is not stupid at all. If she's hidden, we won't find her. When the danger subsides, the girl will come here by herself."

"Then why were we looking for her?" Paimon asked.

"And what if someone kidnaps her?" Kachina was horrified.

Xilonen sighed heavily.

"Don’t think that you are the only ones who come up with such thoughts. But running around the city like crazy will only exhaust us. Everything will be fine with Nepecha. There are more good people among the Children of Echoes than you might think. When I'm done with Mualani, I'll go to Pacal – he's our leader."
Xilonen pulled out the last piece of glass from Mualani's arm and began to bind it with bandages.

"But I couldn't help but be scared when the panic started, and my niece still hadn't returned. I was hoping to find her, but... She hides well from me when she runs away. It's so difficult with these teenagers," Xilonen lamented.

That's what auntie said, too. Over the years, Mualani became more intelligent, but her free spirit could not be subdued. Punishments didn't help, so Atea had to put up with it, and let her ward explore the walls and help others.

"It won't go away, but it will get easier," Mualani laughed lightly.

Her right eye throbbed uncomfortably. Before she knew it, Mualani had stopped covering him, but the pain hadn't returned until that second.

"Xilonen, there's something wrong with my eye. Please take a look.

"Okay," she replied. "Several vessels burst. Besides, you got dust in your eye. Fortunately, there was no glass. When I'm done with your back, go wash your face."

Xilonen continued her work.

"Paimon is interested: Xilonen, you know so much about medicine. Are you a doctor?"

The woman chuckled, "I'm a blacksmith, Paimon. My knowledge of medicine is very modest."

"And you just helped Mualani get rid of the shards. None of us, even Traveler, could have done it so quickly and efficiently." Paimon smiled slyly. "Come on, Xilonen, admit that you are well versed in how to treat people!"

"Paimon, you don't have to study for years to understand the basics of first aid," Rizok drawled.

"And Paimon was hoping you'd sleep until morning!" Paimon snapped. "Come on, say something offensive!"

"Well, since you're asking..."

"That's enough." The Traveler and Xilonen said at the same time.

"I thought we were working as a team," Kachina added. "You even helped us today, but you keep being mean. You and Paimon work well together."

"Absolutely not!" Paimon exclaimed.

When Xilonen finished treating the wounds, Mualani was able to go to the bathroom to rinse her eyes with running water. The dim room was lit only by a candle, which the girl took with her. However, there were lamps on the walls that were not working for unknown reasons. The dim light was still enough for Mualani to see her own reflection. Her hair, still braided, was disheveled and covered with dirt. The same went for the clothes – they were torn in several places, and the blue color seemed gray because of the dust that covered the girl from head to toe.

The face was the worst. The right side was covered with numerous patches, but they couldn't hide the redness of the cuts. In addition, the cheek began to swell, which made it increasingly difficult for the injured eye to open. She looked so different from herself in the mirror that for a second she really believed in it. 

Clutching her head with her hands, Mualani whispered, "What am I doing here?"

The girl's eyes watered and she sobbed. But now is not the time or the place to cry! She needs to get back to the others before they get worried.

After rinsing her face with cool water, the girl hurried to change into another outfit. Oh, how she would like to take a bath or swim in the springs! But Xilonen said that she has to wait and let the wounds heal. Therefore, she will have to do without "frills."

The house was lively. The Traveler volunteered to cook dinner from what he could find in the kitchen. But, obviously, he was a culinary genius – delicious smells were in the air. Paimon and Rizok were arguing in anticipation, and Kachina was listening to their conversation. Where did Xilonen go? Mualani wanted to thank the woman for her hospitality, but she did not stay with everyone. Was she worried about the Nepecha, or did she just dislike noisy companies?

Deciding not to speculate, Mualani knocked on the door of the room where Xilonen had disappeared – that's what those who were sitting in the living room said. It might be wrong to use someone else's kindness and goodwill, to enter closed rooms where you weren't invited, but Mualani couldn't leave someone in trouble. If Xilonen wants to go in search of Nepecha, then Mualani will go with her.

"Xilonen, it's me. May I come in?"

After waiting for permission, the girl went into the room, where she saw Xilonen bent over the drawings. She wrote quickly, sometimes crossing it out, and without distracting herself from her work, she asked.

"Do you need something? I'm a little busy here, but I'll help in any way I can."

"Can I see it?"  Mualani asked.

Nodding, Xilonen continued to draw. On the table were diagrams, tables containing data that the girl did not understand, as well as a huge number of written sheets. Nearby, including on the floor, there were scrolls that looked quite ancient, but the girl's attention was attracted by a repeating image. It was an oblong object, made in black, and looked like a dagger, but at the same time different from any weapon Mualani had ever seen.

"I'm working on a project," Xilonen replied to Mualani's unspoken question. "But it's not working. The Еraveler gave me an idea: when you left, we were talking about the Abyss. He said that he was able to purify objects from contamination. However, I'm stumped again."
The woman sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry I ran away," Mualani said. "I thought I could save people if I went to the Gates. But it turned out that my strength wasn't enough. I was useless on the battlefield when I could have helped you with the search."

"Mualani..."

"We are stronger when we are united. But I was selfish today, and I'm really sorry!"

Xilonen looked surprised.

"You're worried about my feelings, but I assure you, I have nothing to be angry about. I don't know why you're apologizing, but that makes you anything but selfish."

Mualani smiled gratefully "Don't sit here alone, Xilonen. Come on, let's go back to the living room."

Xilonen returned to her notes. But after running her eyes over what she had written, she irritably put the scroll aside. Xilonen walked around the table and headed for the exit.

But as soon as they left the room, there was a knock on the door of the house.

"Nepecha!" Xilonen exclaimed when she saw the girl standing in the doorway. She was tanned, with light brown hair, dressed in brown shorts and a casually tucked-in white shirt. She was unharmed.

"Aunt..." Nepecha muttered. "I'm fine, there's no need to shout like that."

The others looked at the girl with interest, and even the Traveler came out of the kitchen.

"You should have told her tomorrow when the mine workers brought your dead body."

Xilonen frowned and pulled Nepecha towards her. The woman took a defensive pose, cautiously looking at the man who entered after Nepecha. He wore a green jumpsuit, a hat that resembled the head of a yumkazaurus, and seemed formidable, but Mualani had already recognized him.

"Kinich..."

"Do you know each other?" Xilonen asked cautiously, not letting go of Nepecha.

"Has he condescended to us?" Rizok said sarcastically.

Mualani hurried to explain.

"He accompanied us here! So he's fine."

Xilonen relaxed slightly. She no longer squeezed her niece's shoulder as hard as before, but she also did not let down her guard.

"Nepecha, could you explain yourself? What did you forget at the mines? Why didn't you come back when the Abyss Gates closed?"

"Aunt..." Nepecha definitely didn't want to answer these questions, so she stared at the floor.

Xilonen looked annoyed. The silence dragged on.

"Oh, Pyro Archon! How long can you stand at the door?! Come on in, and we'll talk while we eat!"

Paimon hates to admit it, but she agrees with Rizok... The Traveler has set the table, and dinner is getting cold!

Nepecha pulled away from Xilonen's grip and walked over to the table.

"Then I'll go," Kinich turned to leave.

"You still owe me an explanation!" Xilonen exclaimed.

"And Our Dragonmight Lord won't forgive you if we leave a place that smells so delicious!" Ajaw, to everyone's surprise, has already flown around all kinds of dishes prepared by the Traveler. He wanted to take a bite of the pie, but was caught by the tail by Kinich.

"Ajaw, behave yourself."

Paimon crossed her arms in satisfaction.

"Kinich, have you decided to stay with us after all?" She asked with a slight irony in her voice.

Kinich froze uncomfortably.

Rizok was indignant "They offer you, so refuse if you don't want to! Either wash your hands and sit down at the table! Otherwise, I'll eat Paimon!"

"Hey!"

Rizok grabbed Paimon's hand and opened his mouth wide, pretending that he was about to bite her. Paimon screamed in fear.

There was a loud crash. The Traveler hit the pan next to Rizok's head with a ladle. He jumped up in fright.

"Stop shouting." Traveler said reproachfully. "Sit down to eat."

And the food he cooked... She was unforgettable! Mualani moaned blissfully. Paimon made sure that everyone was satisfied. She was proud that even Rizok seemed to be shocked. Ajaw was stuffing his belly and was unexpectedly generous with compliments for the cook. As for Kinich, who was sitting on the edge of the table... It seemed to Mualani that he was as close to tears as his emotionless face would allow.

"Paimon told you!" Paimon pointed at Rizok. "You've never eat anything so delicious! Ha! I should have made a bet with you to become my servant and address me as "Lady Paimon"!!"

"Dragonmight Lord and Lady Paimon – what a pair they would have made."  Rizok drawled.

"How dare you talk about Our Majesty like that!!" Ajaw exclaimed.

Paimon blushed with indignation. Mualani realized that she urgently needed to change the subject. The situation was tense enough as it was. Xilonen was watching Kinich closely, making him feel uncomfortable. The others were relaxed, but the quarrel between Ajaw, Paimon and Rizok would not lead to anything good. So the girl intervened.

"Is it always this dark here? Why?" she asked, turning to Xilonen. "You don't turn on the lights?"

"Candlelit dinner is very romantic!" Paimon remarked, deciding to ignore Rizok and Ajaw. "However, Paimon can't help but worry that the Abyss is hiding in one of the dark corners!"

She flew up to the Traveler.

"You'll feel it if something goes wrong, won't you? Paimon is so tired that she can no longer fly or run away from monsters."

"Don't worry, Paimon. The Abyss doesn't attack twice. You can exhale today!" Kachina promised.
And despite the fact that the girl seemed to sincerely believe in her words, others did not look convinced. Xilonen made a skeptical sound.

"The Abyss is unpredictable here. But don't think about it. It is important that all of you are not injured." She spoke calmly, trying not to scare Paimon and Kachina, but they shivered anyway.

Mualani couldn't help but worry. Xilonen was right – the main thing was that everyone here was fine. They were tired and wounded, but they were sitting in this room, they could talk and eat together. Basically, Mualani was relieved that they were now united by more and more unpleasant, but still common memories. This meant that in addition to the people who died today, whose bodies the girl saw in front of her eyes, if she squeezed her eyes shut for even a second, she could remember the living. Her new friends.

"Mualani, I was wondering," Xilonen began. "As soon as I saw your group, I realized that you came from far away. Not only the Traveler and Paimon, but also you two," she pointed at Rizok and Mualani, "seemed strange to me. Not just your clothes, the colors of which definitely do not belong to the Children of Echoes or the Scions of the Canopy. But also the way you two talk and think. You are different."

Oh no! Does Xilonen suspect something? But they didn't do anything wrong! Mualani felt a drop of sweat roll down her temple. The intense stares of the people in the room only made it worse – Mualani became nervous. Overcoming herself, the girl looked at Xilonen and was afraid – she was looking at her with her penetrating eyes, the pupils of which had narrowed to small dots. She looked like she didn't know if she wanted to scare them or if she thought they were dangerous.

"The lights in this area have been turned off for a long time. I understand that travelers from afar like you could not know this, but such ignorance raises suspicions. Do you both belong to the People of the Springs?"

Mualani's heart was pounding in her chest, blood rushed to her face. She shifted her frightened gaze to Rizok, who returned it. However, the guy remained silent. Was he really saying that she should be the one to get out of this situation?!

"No, Xilonen, you misunderstood everything!" Mualani wanted to slap herself in the face. She didn't know how to lie, and her excuses sounded pathetic even to her own ears. "We're from the Masters of the Night-Wind! We were coming here to... to establish trade relations, to find new business partners for our families! And on the way, we met Traveler, Paimon and Kachina, who were also on their way here."

Xilonen raised an eyebrow.

"Where did you pick this one up?" She pointed at Kinich.

"At the square... No, at the outpost!" Mualani clutched her burning cheeks with her hands. It was a failure.

Xilonen got up from the table.

"Nepecha, please go to your room. And let Kachina help you pack your things."

Nepecha rolled her eyes.

"Adult conversation time? We want to listen too!"
But Xilonen gave her a special look that only the two of them could understand. Rolling her eyes again. Nepecha took Kachina's hand, pulling her towards one of the rooms.

"Auntie, when you destroy the house by fighting with our guests, don't call me for help. Children are not allowed to interfere in the affairs of adults." Muttering this, Nepecha disappeared, slamming the door.

Xilonen's eye twitched.

"Paimon hopes that you won't fight with us, Xilonen!" Paimon was frightened by the anger of the calm and friendly Xilonen.

But the woman did not answer her. Xilonen's anger was directed at only one person in the room, Kinich, who also stood up and waited for the attack. Mualani realized with horror that this should have happened from the very beginning. Xilonen watched the guy, waiting for the first step. From the first minutes, she was wary of Kinich, and after that she was not happy with his presence, but she restrained herself. Mualani personally told her that he was not dangerous. And Xilonen let a man into the house, believing the words of a girl who had just lied to her so easily, albeit unsuccessfully!

"What do you want?" Xilonen spat out. "How did you find Nepecha? And why did you help her?"

"Xilonen! Kinich!" Paimon tried to intervene, but the Traveler shook his head. However, Mualani guessed that he would stop the fight himself if it started.

"I've heard people talking about you. You have a reputation. You don't do anything for nothing. And I have nothing to give you!"

"Believe it or not," Kinich said, not taking his eyes off Xilonen, "but I did it for nothing. Mualani told the Traveler that you had lost your niece. This house is one of those that the leader of the Children of Echoes has designated for mine managers. And you're packing up because you're moving out of here. I compared some facts: where would the girl, whose parents probably disappeared for days at work, go? And then I went and checked.

Kinich took a deep breath.

"But you're wrong about something, Xilonen. Your name is also known among the Scions of the Canopy. I could ask you to invent something for your own personal needs. But I won't." Kinich stared at Xilonen. "I didn't have to save her... But the girl's death would only bring suffering for you. Would that be a reasonable price to pay for my non-interference?"

Xilonen retreated.

"I don't wish you any harm," Kinich added.

"Let's sit down and talk," Traveler said.

"Let Paimon ask you a few things. The Traveler and I spent two weeks in Natlan, but so much happened! The Abyss here is different from what we have seen in other regions. It attacked twice, and we saw the most terrifying monsters that came with her. And so many natlanians are suffering! Why did things get to this point?"

That was a good question. Aether had been thinking about this since he had to leave the outpost so as not to endanger the lives of Kachina, Rizok, Paimon, and that unfortunate guy who steered the horses as they rode towards the People of the Springs. The energy of the Abyss in Natlan was indeed different from the one they had encountered before. The purple color, associated with the pollution of the Abyss, was mixed with red here. This mixture was everywhere.

The Ley Line was surrounded by dense fog, and the monsters that had to be fought off were infected in a particularly disgusting way. The mixture of corruption and the dark power that enveloped their bodies turned ordinary hilichurls into formidable opponents for ordinary warriors. And mostly such people fought on the side of Natlan.

Xilonen spoke first.

"Natlan differs from other countries, which is fully justified by the unique development of each region. But there is something that makes our land truly special and attractive to the Abyss. Natlan has always had two weaknesses: there are no Ley Lines here and our Archon is a human.

"It's ironic to call the main road a Ley Line," remarked Rizok.

Paimon frowned.

"But why not turn weaknesses into advantages?"

"It used to be like that. The war with the Abyss led to the loss of most of the scrolls and books, culture and customs. However, not all things can be so easily forgotten. So, there is a legend that once the Night Kingdom replaced the Ley Lines for us, gathering the souls of the natlanians and acting as a shield that protects this land from the attacks of our main enemy. And ordinary people became Pyro Archons and led Natlan to prosperity.

But Natlan is not prosperous today. Can we say that only ruins remain of the former greatness?
"Five hundred years ago, the situation with the Abyss could have gotten out of control, but the combined efforts of the natlanians led to an unexpected victory. Even if it wasn't for long, the Abyss was gone. Peace reigned."

"You know the history quite well, Rizok." Xilonen seemed thoughtful. "But it seems to me that the books of the People of the Springs miss a lot of details. They talk about unity and celebrate victory, but there is no soul in them. Not a single image of the hero, just generalizations."

So Xilonen had no doubt that Mualani and Rizok were from the People of the Springs. But the woman did not blame them, continuing her story about missed details in historical works.

"I can't say that I know much more than you do. I admit, I was looking for stories about the heroes of the past, rereading all the ancient scrolls that came into my hands. But I didn't learn much in my search. I think that by forgetting about the past, the people of Natlan have lost the protection of the Night Kingdom. In the end, it turned its back on us.

 But even so, life was bearable. The Abyss Gates appeared on the borders of Natlan, but this did not lead to major changes. Squads of warriors fought off attacks, after which it could take months, if not years, before the next one. Unfortunately, over time, the situation began to deteriorate until it reached the point of no return. And that happened..."

"Fifteen years ago," Mualani said softly.

"Yes," Xilonen agreed. "And the situation has never improved since that year. The Abyss became stronger, fiercer, and its attacks claimed more and more lives. And then people decided to build walls. And the guarantee of protection was the Sacred Flame, which has always protected the Stadium and the city around it. It was lit on the territory of the People of the Springs."

"And I've always been interested," Kinich said with a grin. "Why were they chosen? Didn't the Collective of Plenty, which provided food for the whole of Natlan, deserve to be protected? And what about the Children of Echoes?" He nodded towards Xilonen. "They mine metals and produce weapons for the army of Natlan. Doesn't that make them worthy?"

"Why are you asking us?" Rizok exclaimed. "Ask the Pyro Archon or those who were behind this decision. Mualani and I were seven! Have you achieved much by this age?!"

Paimon tried to intervene, but there was no stopping the quarrel.

"At least I didn't swim in the springs and didn't overeat on berries! Oh, and I almost forgot, I didn't have a kind uncle mentor who would take me by the hand to collect flowers and shells!" Mualani shuddered. "Do you know why? Back then, the Abyss did not approach the borders of the tribes' territory, but its monsters and all kinds of hilichurls were not afraid to visit our homes! Since childhood, we have been in suspense, waiting for a sudden attack."

Kinich was mad, and his face was glowing with anger. How deep was his resentment if it led to the fact that the always distant guy was shouting at those who were not even to blame for what happened to Natlan fifteen years ago. 
Rizok hit the table.

"And you think that not a single monster has come to our lands?! The fact that you had to face a couple of hilichurls only means that your parents didn't love you! Otherwise, they would have found a way to protect you!"

Kinich rushed towards him, intending to hit him. Aether grabbed his arm, restraining him. Xilonen wrapped her other arm around him.

"Kinich, don't be mad to the truth..." Ajaw didn't have time to finish his comment. And it would have been better if he had remained silent.

Kinich escaped from the grip of the Traveler and Xilonen. He moved swiftly, but the blow wasn't meant for Rizok. Ajaw got his way by intervening in a dispute between people. With a strong throw, he was sent flying, flew through the slightly open window and disappeared. He was locked up.

"Calm down," Xilonen said. "They just would never understand."

Kinich was breathing heavily, but he listened to the woman's words. Picking up one of the chairs, he dragged it to the edge of the room and sat down with his head down. The Traveler looked at the others. Paimon was scared, there were tears in Mualani's eyes, Xilonen looked sympathetic, and Rizok seemed to have mixed feelings. Triumph and something like guilt mixed into a grimace.

"Well," Paimon said hesitantly. "Let's talk about Pyro Archon. Paimon hopes it won't be so painful. Xilonen, the others already know, but the Archon invited us to a meeting. But Paimon doesn't know what we’re going to tell her! Natlan is going through a hard time, but she's helping it, isn't she? Even if there is no protection of the Sacred Flame here..."

Paimon's hesitant assumption distorted the faces of the audience with a mixture of disbelief and surprise.

"Well, how should I tell you... Pyro Archon is very far from ordinary people. Even we, the People of the Springs, have never met her. She became Archon five years ago, and nothing has changed in Natlan. Now the Archon can only be seen at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, but I haven't been there since I was a kid."

Rizok thoughtfully twirled a lock of hair around his finger.

"Does the Archon really not go outside the City of the Sacred Flame?" Xilonen asked.

"It turns out that it is," Rizok replied. "But you should know better. If the rumors are true, the Archon comes from the Scions of the Canopy. Maybe she visits her native lands on weekends."

"The rumors don't lie," Kinich muttered. "But you, People of the Springs, really don't know anything. You live in your own world, cut off from harsh reality. However, you couldn't help but notice what was happening around you and understand the situation we were in. The Archon doesn't care about Natlan."

The archons of other regions helped their people in one way or another. It can't be that the Archon of Natlan has given up her duties. But the country was in decline. The attacks of the Abyss seemed uncontrollable. Today's one has shown that the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy are lack of coordination and a clear plan of action in case the Gates open. Everything happened suddenly, people ran away from the epicenter, and the warriors headed towards danger. Then, after the battle, the fighters also quickly dispersed, and only a few remained to help with the rubble.

While defeating the monsters, Aether couldn't help but notice the details. The natlanians weapons were strange. Some fought with simple swords and spears. Someone got a weapon charged with elemental energy. It's not hard to guess that the first ones were the first to die. Huge rifthounds were biting through human limbs, and the lawachurls had no trouble crushing the skulls of several inattentive warriors.

Traveler tried to protect those who happened to be nearby, but even he could not be in a dozen places at the same time. Many lifeless bodies lay in the epicenter of the attack, and the monsters came and went to take even more lives.

And then there were explosions, and several buildings collapsed. They buried everyone who was unlucky enough to be around: monsters, living and dead people. Such explosion led to the fact that Kinich and Mualani were injured.
During his time in Natlan, both on the battlefield and in peaceful places, the Traveler noticed another oddity. There weren’t so many people who used Visions! And, if the blessing of the gods could not be noticed in the crowd on the squares or streets, then during the battle with the Abyss, only a few fought using the forces of the elements.

Aether noticed a strange attitude towards the Visions back when Rizok was trying his best to hide his own. At that time, Traveler considered this to be one of the characteristics of the young gentleman's character: he didn't want to fight, so he pretended to be completely helpless. But in other regions, Visions were a point of pride. There's no way that a vain man like Rizok would hide a precious object instead of wearing it for show. However, the man, whose wrists were covered with bracelets, his fingers were studded with rings, and his neck was hung with beads and chains, hid his Vision.

Among the other people in the house, only Kachina had Vision. She wore it on her bag, attached to the lock as a pendant. Mualani honestly admitted that she does not have Vision. But the other three... Can they act like Rizok and hide their own from outsiders?

He needs to figure everything out. It was as if Paimon had read his mind.

"Paimon is interested... When we were looking for a pharmacy, we heard the sounds of an explosion. And it seems that this led to the collapse of houses, and you," she pointed to Mualani and Kinich, "fell under the rubble. But the Traveler and Paimon have never before encountered such a shape of the Abyss that can explode! What kind of creature is this?"

Xilonen smiled maliciously.

"Oh, it's not the Abyss's fault. It's worth paying tribute to them," she pointed a finger at Kinich. "The Scions of the Canopy can't help us in a human way, so they came up with these exploding projectiles that can be activated remotely. The idea of such weapon came to their minds after they saw yumkasaurus picking up flame grenades and hurling them at enemies. Those, as you guessed it, explode. However, those who created the explosives were not smart enough to use them only in the open spaces. And that's what it led to."

"Just as the Children of Echoes did not realize that digging mines under the cliffs where our houses are located could lead to collapse." Kinich retorted.

"And you decided in retaliation not to let children and the elderly into your territories when the Abyss attacks especially close to your border. You just wait for her to get enough and leave, watching from above."

"Just like you do when the Abyss Gates open at our territory. How many people crashed when they were on the edge of a cliff, because they can't go down – your people will just kill them."

"That's enough!" Paimon exclaimed. "There's no need to quarrel again! Paimon understood everything! But... Kinich helped the Children of Echoes to repel the attack. And Xilonen allowed all of us to stay at her house! You see, it's not that bad! There are good people there, too!"

Xilonen sighed heavily.

"I think I need to explain to you what happens between the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy."

Once upon a time, the Children of Echoes lived among the mountains located near the border of Natlan with Sumeru. However, the Abyss and the red fog grew, displacing the people from their lands. The only safe places soon became the outposts located on the Ley Line. Those of the Children of Echoes who could not accept leaving their native lands remained in these Outposts, founding small villages nearby. Back then, there was only fog and rare monsters from the Abyss in those places.

The rest of my tribesmen went deep into Natlan in search of a safe place to live. Back then, as now, we were well versed in geology, which allowed us to settle in close to the Scions of the Canopy who lived on the rocks and plateaus south of the place where the Children of Echoes settled.

Over time, both nations grew, new houses were built, and we explored the mountains on the east side, where the main mines are still located. At some point, our houses came close to the border of the territory of the Scions of the Canopy, and then the union was born.

Today, we supply weapons to all the tribes of Natlan, except the Flower-Feather Clan, for obvious reasons. But then all six tribes got their way from us. However, we only made custom-made items for the Scions of the Canopy. That's how their signature hooks and the entire system they use to move around appeared. And the Scions of the Canopy provided us with meet and wildfold and accompanied our wagons to other tribes.

Even I've caught times when both nations were on fairly friendly terms. We competed in small tournaments and developed joint projects to protect our territories. These projects were then used to build walls around the People of the Springs and the City of the Sacred Flame. And the inventors and entrepreneurs went there, leaving their businesses here, which still bring them income.

This successful scheme has left us, ordinary residents, with nothing. The Abyss was advancing rapidly, and the red fog was almost upon us. People were suffering from attacks. It created fear. And fear became what led to hatred and malice. The old friends turned away from each other. Everyone wants to live, and not everyone is capable of risking their lives for the sake of others. Therefore, attacks on the Scions of the Canopy began to be regarded as a relief – they are dying today, not us. There is no question of any unity.

A superstition appeared among the people, which spread like wildfire. They began to believe that certain people were summoning the Abyss. And they do it unintentionally. However, those who happened to be near the Gates at the time of its appearance, survived and caught the eye of witnesses, began to be considered cursed and feared. That's why we know so little about the nature of the Abyss Gates. No one admits to being there when they first opened up.

"But this is utter nonsense!" Rizok was indignant. "If you think about it, then the Abyss appeared at the outpost, and now it's here. Does this mean that I can be the one who attracts it to me!?"

"And Paimon and the Traveler were with you all this time! And don't forget about Kachina!" Paimon gasped. "Any of us can attract it! But these are stupid superstitions!! Kachina is a sweet and kind girl, Traveler and Paimon are heroes. And even you don't look like someone who would deal with the Abyss!"

"Paimon, this is happening unintentionally!"

"But Paimon does not believe that it is possible to accidentally attract the Abyss!!"

"However, the natlanians believed." Xilonen said. "People are listening to all sorts of nonsense now, and fear controls their actions."

It got to the point where the natlanians refused to stay at the outposts. Then the previous Archon made military service mandatory. All healthy men and some women must fend off the attacks of monsters, based on outposts for nine months of each year with breaks between service. Only the Flower-Feather Clan is deprived of this duty. But they no longer consider themselves to be among the six tribes of Natlan.

"But you let strangers stay with you. And you don't talk about other nations with hatred." Mualani looked hopefully at Xilonen. "You haven't given up yet. Neither in relation among the Scions of the Canopy and your union with them, nor to the whole of Natlan. Do you believe that Natlan can be saved?"

Xilonen smiled sadly.

"The faith of one person will not solve anything. Natlan is doomed, but there is no point in living with hatred in your heart. If someone finds out my story in the distant future, I don't want to be the one whose words were soaked in poison and whose hands were soaked in the blood of innocents until the last day."

Xilonen could only be mistaken about one thing: how many people like her were there in Natlan? People who are ready to help others, even if they belong to another nations. Those who fought shoulder to shoulder with representatives of other tribes. Natlanians who have not lost hope of salvation."

"I promise to help," Aether said.

"Together we will save Natlan!" Mualani was inspired.

Paimon nodded in agreement, but Xilonen, Kinich, and Rizok weren't so sure.

"If the Archon has invited you to a meeting, then talk to her. Then it will become clear to you whether she will act as an ally or will interfere. I'll wait for the news." Xilonen stretched, yawning. "Are we done discussing serious topics? I'm so tired, and tomorrow is going to be a hard day. Another hard day..."

Aether still hadn't asked them about the Visions, but Xilonen looked tired, just like the others. It's been a long day, many questions have been answered, and he need to think about them.

"You can stay in the house – there is enough room for everyone. The Traveler can stay with Paimon in the back room, and Mualani can sleep with me. Rizok will be a gentleman and will stay in the living room. I'll get you a blanket and a pillow. And you?" She turned to Kinich. "Are you going to stay? I was suspicious of you, the warriors of your people are capable of vile deeds. But you're... okay, I guess..."

But Kinich refused.

"I'd like to get home." He pointed at himself. His clothes were the same as he had worn before, torn in places, stained with mud and blood. "Besides," he lifted his hat so that the edge of the bandage encircling his head was visible, "being in Rizok's company is harmful to my injury. See you later, I'll find you."

And he left.

"Well..." said Xilonen. "I think it's time for us to rest."

The bed in the room allocated to the Traveler and Paimon was small, but they were able to get comfortable. Paimon quickly fell asleep, but Aether couldn't do it. He was thinking about Natlan, his fate, the Archon. About the people he met and the flame burning in their hearts.

The dream into which he plunged was different from his usual dreams. Although, it could be said, that this dream was just so typical for Aether – someone else's. Scenes flashed past him, but he couldn't capture their contents.

The only thing he could remember after waking up were six lights arranged in the shape of a circle, and a dark silhouette whispering the following words all night, "I'll come and take them all."

In the middle of the next day, another guest appeared on the doorstep of the Xilonen house. The man was wearing dark glasses, and a comb was hopelessly tangled in his hair. But still, he had a respectable appearance: a broad figure, a confident pose and a friendly smile that could not hide under the thick beard. His name was Pacal, and he was the leader of the Children of Echoes.

When Pacal saw the Traveler, he hurried to greet him with a firm handshake. The man seemed genuinely pleased to see them, but Aether didn't know the reason for his delight. Soon, sitting down at the same table, Pacal explained himself.

"Traveler from a distant land, the warriors of Children of Echoes have told me about your contribution to the victory over the Abyss. There would have been more victims without you. On behalf of all my people, I say thank you."

The Traveler nodded, accepting the thanks. Pacal seemed to be a reliable person. He was the leader of his people. Although Aether did not fully understand the political system of Natlan. Pacal could become a good ally and endear the Children of Echoes to the Traveler and Paimon.

Only Kachina and Nepecha were absent from the house at that hour. Not wanting to get caught by Xilonen, Nepecha took her new friend for a walk. Upon waking up, Xilonen decided to look after Kachina, allowing her to stay at home. One more girl, one less – what's the difference? That's how the woman explained her decision. Xilonen could disappear for days at work, and in her absence, the girls would look after each other. The Traveler could exhale calmly – one less problem.

Mualani and Rizok felt slightly uncomfortable, but the leader of Children of Echoes did not comment on the colors of their clothes. He greeted the guests of Xilonen, treating them with friendliness. Perhaps the owner of the house had warned him.

"I have come for an important matter. Xilonen, I need your help at the hospital. Doctors don't know what to do. But I'm sure you've read about something like this, knowing about your interest in ancient texts. And, travelers, since you are her guests, you can come with us. You may know something that we don't."

"Of course I'll help, Pacal." Xilonen grumbled. "But who's going to help me pack my things?"

"Packing?" Paimon asked. "Are you really moving somewhere? Paimon noticed that there were a lot of boxes in the rooms, but it was a bit awkward to ask."

"As your friend correctly pointed out yesterday, this house belongs to the mine managers. But I'm just a simple worker. This is my aunt's house... Nepecha’s... mother. But she died, so I'm taking the girl home with me. We were delayed here because we need to complete a number of documents. But now everything is finished, and soon this house will be transferred to someone else."

That's how it is. This explained the boxes and the emptiness in the rooms, which was especially striking in the morning: the shadows no longer hid the bare walls.

"For your help, Xilonen, I will invite some strong guys to you. They will help load things onto the cart and deliver them to you."

"Great."

Having agreed, Xilonen and Pacal moved to the exit. The others followed them. The streets were full of people, most of whom wore clothes in yellowish-brown shades. Rare flashes of green floated over the heads of passersby, then swept past. There was no such intense tension between the two nations in peacetime.

However, as they approached the hospital, Aether felt guilt weigh heavily on his heart. There were also slightly injured people wearing bandages. However, there were more serious injuries. In some rooms, people were playing cards, and in others, they were moaning in pain. This contrast created an oppressive feeling.

The patient they were going to see was lying alone in the room. Several doctors were nearby, but seeing the injury, it became clear that they were powerless to help. There was a huge wound in the man's stomach, bleeding and capable of taking his life. But that didn't happen. This man was breathing. The reason was that the dark energy of the Abyss had dug into his body, preventing him from dying and prolonging his suffering. With squelching sounds, the Abyss moved in the center of the wound, as if it were alive.

But the Abyss was dead at its core. Some part of the dark matter had infected man’s wound.

Paimon screamed in horror, "What's that?!!!"

"Another type of infection of the Abyss. By injuring a human, monsters can inject this stuff into their victim's blood. And then, if the injury was not serious, it can be cured. But you can't heal completely. In cases like this, when the damage is too severe, the Abyss does not allow us to help, but we cannot stay away either."

One of the doctors explained this, looking tired and sad.

"And then what!?" Paimon put her hands to her mouth in fright.

"Paimon, they put the victim out of his misery." Mualani said this while there was a shadow of memories in her eyes. Had she seen something like this?

"However, this man is still alive," Rizok remarked.
Pacal frowned.

"Of course he's alive. Killing your comrades is not our style. This is an extreme measure. Besides, Yesol is one of the best warriors of our people. We can't let him die. He may lose the ability to fight, but he has defended our lands for so many years. I am obliged to provide him with a comfortable aging!"

Pacal's fiery speech amazed Traveler. This man was loyal to his people. Mualani and Rizok exchanged glances.

"This is completely different from how we deal with the infestations of the Abyss..." Rizok said thoughtfully.

"Rizok..." Mualani said warningly. "We're ready to put uninfected people out on the street, in case you didn't know."

It seems that both of them decided not to pretend to be one of the Masters of the Night-Wind, since they talked about their homeland so openly. Pacal looked at the two of them thoughtfully, but did not comment. He asked Xilonen for help, and she came closer, knelt on the floor and looked at the wound.

"The infection has seriously penetrated into the internal organs. But I think all is not lost... If I use that phlogiston engraving that is able to absorb some of the energy of the Abyss, then... But I'm afraid that..." Xilonen muttered to herself, leaning so close to the man that she almost touched his wound with the tips of her hair.

The Traveler also came closer. The energy of the Abyss mixed with the blood and dripped onto the floor. The sheets were already soaked through with this substance and looked black. The wounded man's face was distorted with agony, but he only wheezed and moaned. He had a cloth in his mouth to muffle his screams.

"If you can get rid of the energy of the Abyss, will it still be possible to save him?" Aether asked.

"We will try to heal his wounds. People with healing abilities gathered here. It's only a matter of minutes for a group of professionals like us to close a wound. But the longer the Abyss stays in Yesol's body, the less he has to live."

When the Traveler first arrived in Teyvat, his abilities were much more powerful than what is left with him now. But back in Mondstadt, Aether was able to purge Dvalin's tears from the pollution of the Abyss. This gift was rarely used in Teyvat, which was almost free from taint. But Natlan was not protected by the Ley Line system, which led to the spread of the cursed force throughout the territory. The Abyss did not spare nature and people.

It's time to show it a few tricks.

"I can help. I have an ability to purge the contamination of the Abyss. I'm going to suck her off this man's body."

"You're going to suck it off?" Rizok quipped.

"Are you having lack tact or intelligence!?" Paimon was indignant.

Aether concentrated the power in his hand. Nodding to the doctors, he pulled. And then the man started screaming. Even the cloth in his mouth couldn't muffle the shrill screams. The Abyss clung to the wound, but Traveler continued to cleanse. Several painfully long minutes were filled with screams, but finally, the last bits of the cursed energy disappeared into thin air.

The doctors quickly got to work, and the rest of the audience looked impressed. After finishing the treatment, one of the healers turned to the Traveler.

"This is amazing: his wound is completely cleared of infection! Perhaps his predictions will turn out to be more comforting than we thought. It will take a long time to recover, but the main damage has been repaired. I won't guess, but Yesol may well pick up a sword again one day."

Everyone exhaled reverently. Paimon assumed a confident pose, but her voice betrayed her shock, even if it was pleasant.

"You see, Traveler can do more than that! Even the Archon would be impressed if she saw it with her own eyes!"

"Traveler, if you are not tired yet," one of the healers addressed Aether, "could you repeat the cleansing procedure with other patients? Many continue to live with bits of defilement inside even after healing. We would like to relieve them of the constant pain caused by the Abyss."

Aether couldn't refuse. So, he and the hospital staff went to the patients affected by the Abyss attack. Some of them were injured a long time ago, while others received fresh scars yesterday. The cleansing of the filth was accompanied by a huge number of curious eyes, and after that – loud applause. When all the infected patients nearby were healed, everyone knew about the Traveler. A large group was waiting for him at the entrance to the hospital – these people had heard the rumors in the city and went to see the hero who could overcome the Abyss.

In addition, many have been living with infections for years. They wanted to try cure too, in case they could experience the cleansing ritual for themselves.

All this time, Aether was following a group of doctors, surrounded by onlookers and grateful natlanians. But his own companions were nowhere to be seen. The Traveler hoped that another conflict between the two nations had been avoided. Paimon would have found him if the situation had gotten out of control.

Doctors and healers tirelessly thanked Aether.
"Your help was invaluable. If you stay with us for a long time, we will compile lists of people who have been discharged with the remnants of infection. Your abilities have helped us save so many people! Thank you so much!"

"Long-term coexistence with the energy of the Abyss can lead to the fact that the body begins to fade. By bringing together people who have been living with it for years, we can make their lives easier. And it will be easier for someone to leave peacefully. After so many years, the pain finally recedes!"

The people who gathered to watch honored the Traveler, called him a hero. Someone remembered that he had helped them fight yesterday. Cheers rang out here and there.

Xilonen appeared on time, pulling Aether out of the crowd and taking him aside.

"Let's go. We told Pacal that the Archon has been waiting for you. He organized a carriage and provisions as a sign of gratitude."

In the company of Xilonen, the Traveler left the hospital, promising to help when he had an opportunity. It would take some time to find everyone who had suffered from the Abyss, which meant that he and Paimon would have time to return to the Children of Echoes in order to heal more people. Strangely, Aether did not feel very weak after having been cleansed so many times. He knew better than to overdo it, but he was glad of the ease. The old strength and fortitude were returning.

Xilonen took him to a place a few streets below. The Traveler vaguely saw that a familiar shopping street began a couple of blocks away, where the peoples of the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy maintained friendly neutrality. Mualani, Rizok and Paimon were waiting for him, relaxing on a small veranda of a cafe nearby. The area didn't seem to be afraid of the Abyss' attack. There was a lot of life there, but still people did not prevent Xilonen and the Traveler from approaching their companions. Perhaps Pacal's presence was telling others not to pry into other people's business.

Paimon waved happily when she saw Aether. The little girl's other hand was occupied with an exotic-looking fruit that resembled a sunsettia.

"Traveler, are you feeling well? Paimon was worried, but is really glad that you helped so many people today!"

After assuring Paimon that everything was fine, Aether turned to the others.

"Is it time to say goodbye? I'll be back when I talk to the Archon. I hope this meeting will finally clarify the situation in Natlan for me and Paimon."

"See you soon!" Mualani exclaimed, hugging Traveler. "It's a pity that Kachina is not with us. She stayed with Nepecha, helping her sort things out at Xilonen's house. Can you imagine, they took everything away so quickly! I'll definitely tell Kachina that you're okay – she was worried! And I will be waiting for your return!"

Rizok just nodded, raising his hand slightly. Paimon rolled her eyes. Finally, it was Pacal's turn.

"Thank you," he said simply. "Children of Echoes will not forget about your help. We will be waiting for good news from your meeting with the Archon."

He shook the Traveler's hand and stepped aside, gesturing for Xilonen to continue. The woman shook her head, pointing towards the carriage. Is she offering to talk inside?

The driver was holding a complicated harness, in which there were four tatankosaurus. This trip will be short, as fast as the four saurians can manage. Xilonen sat down, offering the Traveler and Paimon seats opposite. She closed the door, giving them privacy.

"I may be taking this too seriously, but I just wanted to warn you. I know that you've seen the horrors happening here with your own eyes. People are dying, suffering from the infection of the Abyss, the attacks of which are not controlled. But still..."

Xilonen steepled her fingers and tilted her head slightly, thinking about something. Finally, she gathered her thoughts and looked resolutely at the Traveler and Paimon.

"I'll trust you with a secret and a promise. One follows from the other. She told me, "The sun is destined to burn." And I replied: "First it must light up the sky with its light." When you reach the City of the Sacred Flame, please remind the Pyro Archon of these words. You won't have a better ally there than her."

Having uttered such mysterious words, Xilonen said goodbye and hurried away. And the carriage set off, once again taking the Traveler and Paimon away from civilization, through fog, ruined villages, forests. And then, having reached the Ley Line, they continued their journey towards the City of the Sacred Flame.

Chapter Text

"Doesn't only Paimon think it's weird?" Paimon frowned as another firecracker exploded, showering them with confetti.

Indeed, upon arriving at the City of the Sacred Flame, the travelers were greeted as honored guests. A large group gathered at the gate. The musicians solemnly played a loud and lively melody. A choir joined them. The natlanians offered Paimon and Traveler a taste of sumptuous dishes, and a group of children scattered flowers along the path along which the heroes were moving.

Flags of the five tribes were hung on the houses, as well as posters inaccurately depicting the Traveler. The painted Aether was tall, riding on a horse and holding a huge shining sword in his hands. Some of the posters showed only his face, but it also looked exaggeratedly beautiful.

It became clear that they were expected, but still the joy looked too fake. Even the greeting of the People of the Springs was not so large-scale, but then it seemed to the Traveler that the crowd that greeted them was too large. Passing by the jubilant natlanians, it felt like they were being greeted by residents from all over the city. There were both richly dressed people and those who wore simpler clothes. Adults, children, and the elderly. Could it be that they were all forced to come here? Traveler would not be surprised. Besides, he was sure that most of those gathered had not even heard of his exploits.

"It's strange, but I'm not surprised." Traveler muttered. "It's a good thing none of them know about us. Otherwise, by overplaying, they could start bowing at their feet and crawling on the ground, offering praises."

It was depressing, and Aether quickened his pace. The entrance to the Stadium was visible from afar, but people prevented him from getting to it, surrounding the Traveler and showering him with compliments, many of which did not even correspond to reality.

"Paimon doesn't understand!" Paimon said indignantly in the Traveler's ear. The crowd almost carried her away, so now the little girl was holding onto Aether's braid and shoulder. "Why do they need this performance?! There's too much going on, Paimon's eyes are running away!"

Paimon pointed to the right side. There, two saurians fought in the ring against each other. The crowd around them was shouting, cheering for the competitors. Paimon pulled the Traveler there, but after a moment she turned around – the musicians got closer to the small platform where the theater artists were performing. They wore dragon masks and long robes, bowing to the golden idol in the middle of the stage. To the sounds of bugles, flutes and guitars, these people danced and prayed to an unknown deity again. Paimon gasped in delight as several graceful girls ran out of the crowd and began climbing on each other's shoulders, juggling objects and maintaining their balance.

People were doing something exciting here and there. Elegant couples danced through the crowd. Aether did not even notice how he found himself in a dance that circled him along the streets. They put a crown of flowers and feathers on his head, and in each hand there was a snack wrapped in a flatbread. They tasted sweet and thirsty. Immediately, someone brought a mug with a sweet drink that tasted of alcohol to the Traveler's mouth. Paimon was stuffing her mouth with fruits, which were plentifully placed on the porcelain dishes on the tables that someone had placed along the road they were travelling on. Or they were not.

Dancing around, tasting food and drinks, enjoying the actors' performance and the music, it was easy to forget. Even after relaxing his attention, Traveler noticed how the crowd parted slightly to let someone pass. However, it only took a second, and soon it became impossible to track the movement of the unknown.

Aether froze when the hand of the girl he was dancing with reached for his cheek. Pulling the Traveler to her, she kissed him on the lips, pulled back and gave him a sly smile.

"Relax. Don't be so stiff. It's a celebration in honor of you."

Traveler felt the heat and reached for a glass. Picking it up, he gulped down its contents, feeling the strength burning his throat. Now it was one hundred percent alcohol, not covered by the sweetness of fruit juice. Before he knew it, Aether was dancing again. Clumsily repeating the movements of the others, Traveler got into a rhythm. After each dance, those who happened to be nearby gave him their kisses. On the cheeks, forehead and lips. Having gathered his resolve, Aether himself left a few kisses on other people's wrists: kissing on the lips meant looking at faces that were slightly blurred, but still etched into the memory.

The movement didn't stop for a second. People replaced each other, as well as dances, as well as melodies in the background. The abundance of colors and life around, the gushing wines, the tables bursting with food that the workers brought and brought – all this was dizzying. With difficulty, Traveler managed to get out of the dance and, staggering, moved towards the tables a little away from the main action of the celebration.

However, after catching his breath, he realized that he wasn't the only one who had chosen this place. He didn't even notice, but she was sitting next to him. Looking up, Aether exhaled. He was definitely lucky to meet the right people, because this woman was definitely a Pyro Archon.

What gave her away? It was worth starting with the hair. Luxurious fiery red, they spread over the shoulders and back of the woman, twisted into curls, the tips of which shone with gold. She wore a low-cut dress that exposed her cleavage and accentuated her ample bosom. Gold bracelets glittered on her arms and neck–thick hoops with small flecks of ruby. Inside the earrings and brooches in the shape of the sun, fixed on the chest and ears, there were also fist-sized gems shining. The graceful beauty of the woman's pale face was accentuated by makeup. Her lips were red like a scarlet fog, and her eyes shone with the light of the sun, which had left its mark on the Archon's iris.

It was hard not to guess.

The Archon smiled pleasantly.

"Do you like our celebration?" She spoke softly and tenderly, which matched her appearance.
Traveler nodded uncertainly.

"Thank you," Archon said, smiling. "We tried for the sake of one glorious hero, which is you. Welcome to Natlan. My name is Mavuika."

A hero? That's what he must have looked like. Aether could imagine his flushed face, disheveled hair, and intoxicated look. He adjusted the wreath on his head, but it was asleep again. Having given up, the traveler took it off and put it aside. Mavuika stared at him in silence. Going to the meeting with the Archon, Aether wanted to ask so many questions, but they all disappeared as soon as he gave in and joined the celebration.

"Well," Mavuika said. "I wanted to meet the hero that the whole Natlan is talking about. What is your name?"

"Just "Traveler" is enough." Aether recited a memorized phrase. Names in Teyvat had power over fate, so he did not introduce himself to anyone except those whom he truly trusted. And Pyro Archon was a stranger.

Mavuika chuckled. It seemed that she was not satisfied with this answer, but she did not continue to insist, as some did. Instead, she looked at the Traveler appraisingly. The silence dragged on. Paimon would have known what to ask. Then, Aether caught himself. Where is Paimon?

All this time it seemed to him that his friend was flying somewhere nearby... He need to find her! Aether turned away from the Archon and scanned the crowd. Paimon was nowhere to be seen.

"I'm sorry, but I need to step back. I don't see Paimon."

"Is Paimon your companion?" Mavuika frowned. "With white hair and flying, right?"

The traveler nodded. He stood up, his vision darkened, but still Aether moved in search of Paimon. It was embarrassing enough that the Archon saw him in such a state, but all these dances, food and entertainment made Traveler forget about his goal anyway. Losing Paimon was even worse.

Avoiding attempts to drag him into another dance, Aether moved along the tables where food and drinks were placed. You should look for Paimon where she can fill her belly. And it's true: Paimon was eating ice cream, and there were hundreds of empty plates and cups in front of her. The Traveler was once again amazed by her appetite. But even Paimon had her limits – she could barely break off pieces of ice cream and put them in her mouth. But it was too delicious for her to stop.

"Paimon!" Traveler called. She raised her head and waved at him. At that moment, a tall man appeared behind her.

He looked to be in his late forties, wrinkles already furrowing his stern face, but his black hair, cropped to his earlobes, was almost untouched by gray. He wore white clothes, similar to the actors' robes, but undoubtedly made of expensive and dense fabric, decorated with small jewels. This color made him stand out from the rest of the natlanians living in the City of the Sacred Flame. Although they lived in a neutral territory, they still dressed in the colors of their peoples. This man was different from them.

When he saw Traveler, he frowned. Aether responded in kind. When he approached Paimon, he was convinced that the girl could no longer eat. With watery eyes, she pushed away the half-eaten ice cream and sighed heavily.

"Welcome to Natlan." The man's gruff voice reminded Aether of Rizok with its intonation. "We didn't expect you to finally came. It's rude to be late. Even if you are heroes, don't forget about courtesy."

After giving Traveler and Paimon a stern look, the man continued. Even Paimon didn't have time to say a word.

"However, we are glad to see you in the City of the Sacred Flame. On behalf of the Archon and the common people, I express our sincere gratitude to you."

"Thanks..." Paimon sounded wary. "However, we did not expect such celebration..."

The man chuckled.

"We are not some kind of savages here. We know the rules of decency. The meeting of important guests should be held in this way."

Aether exchanged glances with Paimon. This man wasn't easy, they both realized that. Besides, he obviously liked to talk. Ignoring the lack of reaction from the guests, he talked about exactly what had been done, how, and what significance it had in the big picture.

"Uh... Paimon didn't want to interrupt, but..." She cringed under the man's stern gaze, but continued. "We wanted to visit the Pyro Archon ourselves. But she beat us to it by sending an invitation. We would like to see her and talk to her. Would you take us, please?"

The man was unhappy. He didn't seem to like being given so little importance. But still, he agreed and, pointing towards the Stadium, led their group inside. The Archon was waiting for them there.

Aether couldn't help but wonder: was his previous meeting with Mavuika not planned? All that remained was to get to the Archon and see her reaction. If she pretends to see them for the first time, then Traveler will play along.

It was cold inside the Stadium. The echo of the music was barely audible through the thick walls. A few guards bowed to the man as he led them through the halls and corridors. It seems like he was an important person.

Away from the noise and heat, Traveler was able to put his thoughts in order, that is, he sobered up. He wasn't a lightweight, but he couldn't be responsible for the amount of alcohol he'd drunk today. One of the obvious advantages of his nature was that any negative effects, be it the foulness of the Abyss or intoxication, passed faster than ordinary people. Finding himself in the company of this important man, who nevertheless did not bother to introduce himself, Aether preferred to keep his mind and body sober.

Finally, they came. Opening the heavy doors, the man led them into the hall where the Pyro Archon was located. The room was circular in shape, with a powerful fire burning in the center and smaller lights flickering on the walls. Behind the flame, a niche opened in the center, where there was a marble table, around which white leather chairs were arranged. There were animal furs on the floor, and there was a throne behind everything.

Mavuika was sitting on it, looking bored. Now it could be seen that the woman was wearing high-heeled shoes, and the dress ended in the middle of her thigh, exposing the slender and long legs of the Archon. On her ankles bracelets were also worn.

"Pyro Archon Haborym, after a long wait, the travelers have arrived."

Mavuika nodded, greeting Paimon and Aether.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Mavuika."

"Paimon is Paimon. And he's just Traveler." Paimon introduced them. "Archon, please forgive us for being late. We've been through so much, so we just couldn't get to the City of the Sacred Flame on time."

Mavuika nodded calmly. In turn, the man sighed irritably.

"No respect for the time of the Archon. And mine, too."

"This is Windosh. He holds the post of mayor, one of the commanders of the army of Natlan, as well as my secretary and deputy." Mavuika ignored her colleague's annoyance. He straightened his shoulders proudly. His whole appearance showed that he was not the last person in Natlan. But the Archon was more important. Therefore, he had to endure Paimon's tardiness and ease.

"If you're done with greetings, then I suggest we move on to more pressing matters." Windosh moved to the table. Having sat down in the center, opposite Mavuika, he left the seats in such a way that the heroes would be sandwiched between two of the most authoritative figures in the region. And even though there was plenty of room, Windosh made the atmosphere tense.

Paimon cleared her throat, "We arrived in Natlan about three weeks ago and have seen a lot during that time. And Paimon doesn't know how to describe her emotions! The Abyss attacked us twice! And Paimon saw so many horrors here: monsters, fog, destruction!! Why aren't you doing anything!?"

Aether was ready to put his hand to his forehead. Paimon decided to bombard the Archon and her deputy with uncomfortable questions from the doorway. Will they respond, or will they just send them away? Windosh sighed in exasperation, which seemed to be his habit.

"For some reason, anyone who does not understand politics and economics wants to teach me how to lead this country. Do you think that we in the City of the Sacred Flame are living in our own world, forgetting about the Abyss and its dangers? That we don't finance the rest of the people of Natlan, and we don't supply goods to trade with other countries? Is it not our achievement – stable maintenance of outposts, protection of the Ley Line?"

Paimon wanted to agree, but she refused. They really didn't know anything about how the political and economic systems of the region worked.

"But it's not working! We went to the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy. And the Abyss Gates opened in the middle of the city! And then..."

Traveler continued.

"The defense was uncoordinated. They didn't have any strategy, people just ran and attacked the monsters while there were still uninvited residents in the houses nearby. As a result, many were injured and died. And when we first arrived in Natlan, we were attacked by this huge monster – it just destroyed one of your outposts, which was defended by teenagers and a couple of trained warriors. Don't you think something's wrong?"

Mavuika was silent, staring at the table. But Windosh had something to say.

"And all this is the result of their own stupidity. When the Abyss attacks outposts under my control, this does not happen. If people are unable to follow tactics that have already been thought out for them, it remains on their conscience."

Traveler thought about it. He was partly right, but Windosh was thinking like a man who wasn't in the shoes of ordinary people running from hillchurls and rifthounds. What could they do against these creatures? The problem wasn't strategy, but the fact that people were defenseless. The Sacred Flame did not burn in most of the territory of Natlan.

"Ask the Pyro Archon: when she was an ordinary person, the Abyss was far from the borders of the Scions of the Canopy. But did they live in safety? No. They're the kind of people who can't follow the rules."

"But it's wrong not to help people because they can't follow your stupid rules!" Paimon was angry. "There are always situations that you cannot foresee! And people are dying there every day!! Let the Pyro Archon go and see for herself!"

Everyone looked at Mavuika. She smiled tightly.

"Well..." She drawled, looking at Windosh. "How often do Archons in other regions come to the aid of ordinary people?  When Traveler and Paimon shrugged, she continued. "There is no need for my presence when everyone is already coping. To protect them from the Abyss, they have an army, weapons, and Visions. Windosh can allocate people or go himself. My task is to maintain the Sacred Flame."

So that's what kind of Archon she was. She couldn't have been more than thirty. This age did not give her any relief in the form of the fact that she was a semi-ephemeral being detached from people, like other Archons were. Five years ago, she was a human being and lived among mere mortals! But right now, she didn't care.

"Since we're done with your questions, let's move on to ours." Paimon opened and closed her mouth indignantly, but Windosh showed that he had finished with the answers. Now he was asking. "I'll say it bluntly: if the rumors that have reached us from other regions are true, then your power, Traveler, is comparable to that of the Archon. Stay here. We'll give you anything you want. Women, jewelry, pestilence. Food for your companion."

"I have to refuse." Aether replied.

Windosh's face twisted.

"You shouldn't make a decision so hastily. We can give you anything you want. You don't even have to do anything, just fight sometimes. Very rarely."

"You are ready to give it all to Traveler so that he just sits locked up, but you don't offer anything to ordinary people who need it!!" Paimon exclaimed.

"Anything. You. Want." Windosh said.

"Paimon had no hope left for the man's sanity. But still, Mavuika, maybe you can step in. You're an Archon. The Traveler and I are going to save Natlan – we could team up with you."

Mavuika looked at them in surprise.

"Save Natlan? But why would you do that? You have nothing to do with this country, but you are ready to become its hope..."

"One person told me that the sun must light up the sky. But if sunrise is not expected, another star will rise over Natlan. That's my way."

Paimon grunted with satisfaction. Mavuika froze, and the spoon she was eating ice cream with fell out of her hand, clinking.

"Mavuika, don't overact." Windosh rolled his eyes and picked up the spoon from the floor. Putting the device on the table, he began to pace the room. Paimon's eye twitched.

"Is he going to wait for us to change our minds? And judging by his persistence, he's going to starve us out..."

The silence of the hall was broken by a knock on the door. Opening it, Windosh had to look down. A short woman confidently entered the room. Her white hair was cropped short, and her dark skin matched beautifully with the dark purple hues of her clothes. The woman's ears were surprisingly long, which, combined with her height, indicated the unusual origin of the newcomer.

"Windosh, we have a conversation."

"Commander Iansan... Do you have to do it now? We decide fates here." Windosh gestured at the Traveler and Paimon. Iansan looked at them both with interest.

"Are these the same heroes that we are honoring for the second time? It's nice to know that they exist!" She waved her hand, greeting new acquaintances. "Windosh, let's go. Let's discuss this without prying ears, you don't want to lose face in front of our guests. And they're not going anywhere."

Sighing, Windosh obeyed. As soon as the door closed behind him, Mavuika got up from the table. She looked more determined than before. There seemed to be a small light in her eyes.

"If you're going to save Natlan, you need to leave. Now. Windosh is not the main trouble. More unpleasant people may come here, and you can't get rid of them so easily."

This change of character interested Traveler. Is the Archon pretending and hiding something?

"And what do you suggest?" Paimon asked. "If we walk through the corridors, we'll definitely meet someone."

"Follow me." Archon answered briefly. And they went. There was a tapestry behind the throne that hid the door. Going up the spiral staircase, they passed several doors. These were Mavuika's private rooms. There was an almost empty room right under the roof. Just a tarp-covered object and nothing else. Pulling the fabric, Mavuika exposed the motorcycle in front of the travelers.

"Is this even possible? You have people there fighting with sticks and spears, and you ride on... This?"

"It's very dangerous! How do you ride it?! How will you get him down from the top of the tower?!"

Paimon's questions rained down on the Archon. She took out two helmets, handing one to the Traveler. For safety.

"Do you really think that this will save us!??!" Paimon was startled.

"I'm not offering it to you," Mavuika replied. "You can fly anyway."

"Will you fly!!!!!!?????"

Mavuika nodded and hopped onto the seat. Traveler sat down uncertainly behind her.

"Hold on tight. All questions later." With these words, the Archon started the motorcycle. He growled, and Paimon squealed.

"Paimon still doesn't understand! How are you going to get out of here?!"

"I would have found a safer option, but there is no time! Windosh will fix it. Paymon, get down!"

And the motorcycle crashed into the wall with a roar. In fact, there was a window that was wide enough for a person to climb in. But Mavuika went to ram, knocking out the bricks and flying out. Fortunately, the tower was located on the border of the wall surrounding the City of the Sacred Flame. Therefore, the debris did not hit anyone below.

With a shout, Paimon flew out after them and grabbed onto the Traveler. The motorcycle was rapidly gaining speed. After crossing the border, they landed on the ground with a bang. But the transport seemed to go even faster. Aether could only hold on to the handrail for the passengers of the motorcycle with all his might, hoping that Paimon would not be blown away by the wind. She was squeaking and screaming behind him.

"What was that!!!???!!!??? Paimon will never ride that thing again!!!!!!!!!!!"

The Traveler was breathing heavily himself. Taking off his helmet, he fell to the grass with relief. His head was spinning. They didn't drive for long, the walls of the City of the Sacred Flame had disappeared over the horizon, but the scarlet fog and the monsters of the Abyss weren't scurrying here and there yet. The grass was slightly withered, the trees were not dying, and, more importantly, they stopped near the Statue of the Archon.

Putting his hand on the monument, Aether felt nothing. He did not hear the voices, and the power of Pyro did not fill him. Mavuika looked at the Traveler with interest.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I can resonate with the seven elements without Vision. But to do this, you need to touch the statue of the Archon. This one doesn't work.

Mavuika looked thoughtfully at the monument. The statue hummed, but faintly, as if its strength had almost run out. At the top was a sculpture of the Pyro Archon.

"I'm afraid it's my fault. More precisely, there is a Gnosis in my chest. I think you have some questions for me? She smiled awkwardly. "Let's be honest. I hate to be polite, but Windosh... He has an influence on me. Here, in the middle of the wasteland, no one will bother us."

"Oh, Paimon has a lot of questions! You're talking like a bad person and a bad Archon! I'm sorry, but it's true! However, Paimon will give you a chance to explain yourself!"

"Who lives in the City of the Sacred Flame?" Traveler asked his question.

"Really?" Mavuika raised an eyebrow. "Is that the first thing you want to ask me? The city is home to ordinary people, many artisans and artists. You have seen for yourself the celebration that we have organized in your honor. And my home, my tower, is inside the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Windosh also lives there, and there are halls where meetings of ministers and politicians are held."

"And Paimon still thinks that a celebration of this magnitude was excessive! The food was delicious and the performance was impressive, but it almost made us forget about our goal! People are dying in Natlan, and you're not doing anything to prevent it!"

Mavuika crossed her arms over her chest. Paimon's accusations made her tense up.

"I know."

It was a simple answer, but it was nevertheless too cruel and indifferent. The Pyro Archon was ambiguous. A minute ago, it seemed to the Traveler that she was not so bad after all. Of course, Mavuika has her own reasons for doing so. But Aether could not understand her indifference to the suffering of her people. If nothing is more important to the Archon than his own life and safety, then their conversation will not be long.

Mavuika silently watched the sunset. Her face looked focused, as if she was lost in thought. The light wind lifted strands of her hair, sparkling in the rays of the setting sun. However, she looked like a candle. Mavuika's motorcycle could have been spitting flames, but she herself had already gone out.

"You're going to try, aren't you?" The Archon asked.

"Huh? Try to do what?  Paimon frowned.

"Save Natlan. With or without my help."

"Of course! We can't get past the injustice and the people in trouble!"

Aether nodded in agreement, holding the Archon's gaze.

"Then I'll tell you about what happened in Natlan five hundred years ago."

When Mavuika took her first step, she faltered. Her legs were buzzing from the strain of fighting the Abyss for days. She slept fitfully, sometimes ate, but she could never relax. Despite the warnings of her friends, she could not stand by, seeing how Natlan was being defeated. She knew that the ritual was going to take place today, she needed to conserve her strength to enter the Sacred Flame. But Mavuika did not want to stay away.

In the end, it caused her to be seriously injured. The Gnosis made her more resilient, but even Archons can't fight to the limit of their abilities day and night. And Mavuika was human.

Trying to get up from the throne located atop the stands at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, the woman almost fell. From this height, she noticed the fires burning everywhere. Gray smoke obscured the mountains and sky, so Mavuika couldn't see beyond a few dilapidated buildings adjacent to the Stadium.

But there was nothing to look at. The Archon knew that only death and terror awaited her below. The main battle was far away, because the Abyss had already been here. She was the only person in the Stadium.

Below, at the foot of the throne, Tupac, her loyal friend and ally, sat bowed in obeisance. The giant carried her unconscious body, sacrificing the remnants of his strength. He was dead. His mighty body will never move again. Mavuika's eyes filled with tears. Allowing herself a moment of grief, the woman resolutely straightened up. Somewhere out there, her friends were still fighting, buying time. How many of them have already fallen? The Archon could only hope that their exploits, immortalized in ancient names, would not be forgotten.

"Let Paimon ask you about something. Were you an Archon five hundred years ago and are you one again now? How is this possible?"

"My plan was that by dying prematurely, I put my life into the Sacred Flame. The day the ritual took place, I waited for the good news – the Abyss receded. In the decisive battle, the victory was on the side of the people, but they no longer wanted to fight. The endless deaths and general decline had exhausted the natlanians."

Hearing that the Abyss had been stopped, Mavuika breathed a sigh of relief. One of the couriers of the Scions of the Canopy, who delivered reports from the fields, arrived at the Stadium with the good news. Now it's up to her: by sacrificing herself, Mavuika will give Natlan a reprieve. She, along with her friends and scientists, calculated that the Night Kingdom would completely fall in five hundred years. The Archon's vital energy will create a kind of barrier that will delay the enemy's main force. During this years, Natlan will have time to recover, and than Mavuika will come out of the Sacred Flame to give the Abyss one last fight.

Her plan will be passed on from Archon to Archon when they receive a title and power for defeating the previous Archon in a tournament.

"We are holding these competitions now. They are needed to maintain the power of the Sacred Flame. It depends not only on me. The spirit of the natlanians nourished the Sacred Flame."

"But Paimon senses some kind of trick... It doesn't look like the Abyss is still being held back by anything other than the efforts of your people. Did something go wrong?"

"Paimon, you're very smart. Unfortunately, my plan didn't come true."

"But why?"

"When I came back to life... Natlan was different. The Abyss managed to break out of the Night Kingdom, almost destroying it. Over the years, the Abyss has attacked the borders of Natlan, sometimes opening its Gates in the interior of the country. However, this was not the only reason for the collapse of my plan. Once upon a time, the Night Kingdom immortalized the exploits of heroes in ancient names."

"Ancient names? You've mentioned them before. What is it?"

"In Teyvat, names and fate are deeply connected," Mavuika said. The Traveler already knew this. "You should know that children named after heroes of the past will suffer the same fate. In Natlan, there were special, ancient names. Thanks to them, descendants could inherit the intentions, aspirations, spirit and goals of their predecessors. The six tribes united forces against the Abyss, joining the six heroes. Their ancient names had to be inherited by someone from the peoples of Natlan, so that the new heroes would stand shoulder to shoulder with me when the time came."

However, the ancient names no longer exist. Over the years of battles, feuds, and careless attempts to rebuild Natlan, history began to be forgotten, and scrolls were lost. But the worst part is that people have lost touch with the Night Kingdom. The Wayob that used to watch the inhabitants of Natlan, choosing among them those who were worthy to inherit the ancient names, no longer responded to human pleas. In addition, the forging technology was lost.

"And as a result, I was faced with the fact that the ancient names of the heroes of Natlan were forgotten. No one inherited them."

"But why do you need other heroes so much? Isn't the power of the Archon and the people fighting with and without the Visions enough?" Asked Paimon.

"It will take dozens of people to defeat one group of hilichurls or a pack of rifthounds. But to fight against huge monsters with tentacles or the Gosoythoth himself, you need forces that exceed my own. However, I can only get them with the help of Natlan's six heroes."

"Paimon doesn't understand anyway. If you need heroes, why not find them yourself? Why rely on ancient names if there are people in Natlan today with their own unique destinies and aspirations?"

Mavuika sighed heavily. The sky was darkening before their eyes, hiding the woman's face in the semi-darkness.

"It's not just the name. The six new heroes were supposed to inherit the memories of their predecessors in order to stand by my side without a doubt, to help me fulfill the purpose for which I entered the Sacred Flame. But who would fight for me now? For the sake of a ghostly hope and an impossible plan..."

"And it's not like this attitude towards you wasn't your own fault." Paimon grumbled. "Don't try to make Paimon feel sorry for you! I mean, Paimon sympathizes with you, of course, but you could do something to protect your people. Can't you use a little bit of your strength to defeat a few monsters? So, you could show that you're still fighting for Natlan."

Mavuika lowered her head. Paimon was saying things that the Archon didn't want to admit. Or did she already understand this, and the reproachful remarks weighed on her conscience?

The Archon extended her hand to the Traveler. The neat palm of a person who has not held a weapon in his hands for a long time. Her painted nails were uncomfortably long, and her skin was delicate, but with traces of long–healed scars. Aether raised an eyebrow in confusion: What did she want to say?

"There is another problem. Take a closer look at my bracelet."

Traveler did what she said. A thick gold hoop encrusted with small rubies. However, up close, he noticed the thin seams separating the parts that held the bracelet together. The pieces fit snugly together – it felt like... The bracelet could not be removed. The location of the rubies connected them into runes, the meaning of which was unknown to the hero. But the purpose was becoming clear. To restrain.

He looked at Mavuika's necklace. Then down at her feet. The five golden hoops were nothing more than shackles and a collar!

"Can't you take them off?" Paimon came to the same conclusions. "But why are you wearing them!? Who did this to you and why??!"

Mavuika smiled mirthlessly.

"It turned out that the "cage" of divinity, in which I was "trapped" in my previous life, is more than real. About a century ago, when the pace of the Abyss offensive accelerated significantly, inventors began to come up with various defense mechanisms. The collar and shackles are designed to study creatures from the Abyss so that they cannot use their abilities. When the situation worsened, fifteen years ago, they found out that this tool could also be used to tame the Archon. So they can control how much power we use and guide us."

"So they just won't let you fight for Natlan? What are they trying to achieve?!"

"The Sacred Flame is almost extinguished. If it weren't for me, there wouldn't be a single place in Natlan that was safe from the Abyss. I may be a ruler, but I'm only a nominal one. There are important people who make decisions. They want to sleep peacefully, so preserving the Sacred Flame is their first priority. If this method worked, they would force people to fight in the tournament all year round. But we need the fighting spirit that Natlan lost many years ago."

Mavuika was honest, but still, Traveler got the feeling that she was not telling him something. The Archon's powers exceeded human ones. Could it be that Mavuika, possessing the Gnosis, was unable to oppose her captors to anything? Or else...

"And you are also happy to live in safety and prosperity. We are familiar with other Archons, so we know about their true power. You're still human, no matter the power you have... Although gods are not immune from self-indulgence."

Pyro Archon crossed her arms over her chest and pouted resentfully. Don't like hearing the truth?

"No! Of course, I like a peaceful life, but this is far from the main reason. In fact, there are many things that prevent me from joining the battles. For example, Windosh. He won't let me go, even though I beg him to let me fight with someone. At least at the tournament!"

"Okay, okay! Paimon understood!" Paimon waved her hands. "But the question still remains: what should we do!? We want to save Natlan. Not just us, by the way! Would you like to join?"

Mavuika looked ashamed. Her gaze darted from side to side.

"What? Seriously? Paimon didn't think you are so arrogant!"

"This is not pride or arrogance!" Mavuika exclaimed. "You don't know anything about me. I'm not a bad person. Maybe a bad Archon, but still!" She sat up, clutching her head in her hands. Her voice cracked. "But still... I do not know what to do. The people of Natlan are ready to bite each other's throats, the Abyss is taking more and more lives every day."

She jumped up again.

"No. I know what I have to do! And I will be the best Archon, I will stop the Abyss, even if it costs my life. We just have to wait..."

Paimon frowned at Traveler. He shrugged his shoulders. Mavuika's pride did not allow her to admit her mistakes and ask for help. Although was it worth thinking about pride when the world was falling apart?

"Mavuika," Aether called the woman's name, interrupting her pacing. "If you have any ideas, then tell us. We will help Natlan. No need to drag your time waiting for the right moment."

"Traveler, Paimon... Your generosity knows no bounds. If there's anything that can be done, it would be worth starting with exploring the Night Kingdom. People used to go on Pilgrimages after my death. This gave the winners a chance to go inside the Night Kingdom and fight the Abyss there."

"And what is needed for this Pilgrimage?" Asked Paimon.

Mavuika walked back and forth, thinking.

"First of all, we need all six tribes. Only the unity of nations will open the way to the Night Kingdom. The competition will support the fighting spirit, whose blessed significance is embedded in the history of Natlan. With dedication and strength, people will overcome the challenges. And then, we can assess the situation in the Night Kingdom by entering it."

"But isn't it too dangerous? Is there anything left of the Night Kingdom?"

"If you don't check, you won't know."

Paimon put her hands to her mouth in fright when Mavuika said those words. "Don't worry, we'll be rational. Let's assess the situation, see if the turnfire is still burning. And then, if there are too many monsters, we'll leave."

She sounded too optimistic about it.

"Mavuika, make yourself clear! What is turnfire? And why do you say "we"? Paimon doesn't want to assume, but are you suggesting that we go there too?!"

"The risk is too big for ordinary people. The Ode to Resurrection – don't think about it, it doesn't exist anymore – won't save anyone. Which means I need someone like you, Traveler. Together we will overcome all difficulties!"

Aether and Paimon exchanged glances, already knowing that the former would not be able to refuse, and the latter would follow him.

"So, when do we go to the negotiations?" Paimon’s voice was devoid of enthusiasm.

"I think that the Fertile Lands and the People of the Springs will obey the direct order of the Archon and the command... And the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy will come because they want to fight against each other..."
Mavuika reasoned.

Is she going to pit the nations against each other?

"But the Maters of the Night-Wind will refuse us, pretending to be weak and unable to hold a weapon in their hands. How can we persuade them? And the Flower-Feather Clan? They just won't let anyone from other tribes near them..."

"What happened between the Flower-Feather Clan and the others?" Paimon asked. But Mavuika didn't answer, continuing to talk about ways to get all six tribes to participate in the Pilgrimage.

"There is no other way out: Traveler, Paimon, you will have to go to the Masters of the Night Wind and persuade them to join. And then try to meet someone from the Flower-Feather Clan and..."

"Wait, Mavuika!!! Aren't you coming with us? But what about your worries that people won't follow an Archon like you!? Paimon feels like now is the time to do something."

Mavuika stopped. Twirling a strand of hair around her finger, she confessed.

"I'll stay in City and persuade Windosh and the others to arrange the tournament. Besides, I will make sure that the other four nations definitely participate in the competition. But I'm asking you to deal with... the most difficult cases. Your heroic abilities will definitely help you succeed."

And as always, they get the most difficult mission. Given the shrouded in mystery that has happened between the Flower-Feather Clan and the rest of the nations, it will not be easy to come to an agreement with them. And how to find the Masters of the Night Wind, who, according to Mualani, live very secretly?"

"Paimon is mad!" Paimon muttered. "How do we do this? Is Traveler almighty? He's very strong, but there are things that a sharp sword or a heavy fist can't affect. It turns out that the whole of Natlan quarreled with the Flower-Feather Clan, and we have to deal with it!"

"I am sure that you will succeed." Mavuika tried to cheer them up. But there was uncertainty in her own voice.

There was nothing to do but agree. Traveler hoped that Mualani would join them on this mission. Her kindness and openness will help establish contact with unfriendly nations. At least, that's what Aether hoped. Deep down, there was a nagging suspicion that things weren't going to be that simple.

"It's already dark, it's time to go." Mavuika picked up the helmet from the ground. "You came from the Children of Echoes, didn't you? Sit down, I'll take you there."

Mavuika jumped on the motorcycle. Paimon rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Noooo! Don't tell Paimon we're going to ride that thing again!!!!!"

"Won't anyone lose you? I got the impression that you're not allowed to leave the walls of the City of the Sacred Flame.

Mavuika chuckled.

"I don't care. Windosh will yell at me when I get back. Since I've managed to get away from there, I can finally ride for my own pleasure!"

But if she managed to escape so easily, does that mean she can just not come back? It didn't look like the Archon was going to rebel, so Aether decided that further questioning wouldn't lead to anything. With a heavy sigh, he put on his helmet and settled down behind Mavuika.

"How is it possible: people are fighting almost hand-to-hand, and you're riding a motorcycle?"

"These are the privileges of my position," Archon replied, grinning.

Traveler shook his head. With a crash that startled the birds nearby, Mavuika started the motorcycle. And they rode off into the night, accompanied by the cries of Paimon.

"You're doing it wrong," Kinich said, adjusting the girl's pose again. Mualani sighed.

Traveler and Paimon left yesterday. Mualani spent the rest of the day with Kachina and Nepecha, helping the girls sort things out in their new home. The place where Xilonen lived was filled with all kinds of junk. There were ancient scrolls, books, and blueprints in the drawers, on the floor, and on all surfaces. Several pieces of ore lay in the middle of the corridor, and the woman asked not to enter the room that served as Xilonen's workshop. There, the walls were covered from floor to ceiling with stacks of scrolls and materials used to create various unusual objects.

Xilonen's inventions were also randomly scattered throughout the house. In her spare time, which was sorely lacking in recent years, the woman was engaged in improving everything she could get her hands on. So, a device capable of sucking in air, a sewing machine that worked by pressing a pedal, and a kettle that automatically turned off when heated appeared in the house. These items were ahead of their time, and Xilonen was the genius who created them. However, Mualani did not know where she got the resources for all this.

In addition to household items, there were many weapons in the house. Elaborately forged swords, spears, bows with the finest engraving. Some of the weapons were figuratively carved, decorated with precious stones or inserts of what was called phlogiston. Mualani identified phlogiston only due to the fact that it glowed unnaturally, although outwardly it was indistinguishable from ore.

Among other things, there were also unfinished and therefore unidentifiable items. Nepecha, who remained in charge after Xilonen left for work, tried to explain the purpose of this or that thing as much as possible. But no one could accurately guess what was going on in the head of the master who created all these inventions.

So much junk could fit into the house only because it was huge. There were about six half-filled and cluttered rooms in it. It was quite far from the place where Nepecha’s mother Tlasoli house was located. But Xilonen's place of work was visible from the window, a gloomy gray building with smoke pouring out of its chimneys. The air here must have been very dirty. Longingly, Mualani recalled the fresh sea breeze that smelled of every street in the People of the Springs.

Not knowing what to do, and not wanting to join Rizok, who was reading one of the boring prehistoric scrolls, Mualani decided to take time for herself. After washing up and changing into clothes borrowed from Xilonen in the colors of the Children of Echoes, so as not to stand out among the crowd, Mualani went to the market in search of groceries. Kachina volunteered to help cook dinner and was put in charge of baking. Mualani herself, not daring to cook from local seafood, decided not to experiment and made soup. Together with the chicken envelopes baked by Kachina, the dinner turned out to be satisfying and received an overall score of "normal". Nepecha rated the dishes as "excellent", but Rizok only condescended to "better than nothing". Mualani would like to tip the pot over his head, but she regretted the food and money she spent.

Xilonen did not return until late at night. Actually, Mualani wanted to wait for the woman, but passed out on the couch in the living room. However, it was Xilonen who opened the doors when someone knocked, waking everyone in the house. After greeting Kinich grumpily, Xilonen asked him if the guy was engaged in stalking. He was amazingly successful in finding Nepecha, and then the Xilonen house, to which no one invited him. However, yielding, she allowed him to enter. And then she demanded that everyone must get out of the house as soon as possible and not disturb her sleep with their loud conversations or quarrels – she knew what the presence of Ajaw and Rizok near each other would lead to.

So, after morning routine, Mualani, accompanied by Kinich, Rizok and Kachina, went outside. Despite the early hour, the air was no longer fresh. It was going to be a muggy day.
Kinich came to invite them up to the place where the Scions of the Canopy lived. When he knew that Traveler had already left to his meeting with the Archon, he was not happy. But still he did not show it and did not cancel the offer. Therefore, their company went upstairs.

The trip there was... an adventure. After all, none of them knew how to use hooks. Therefore, Kinich had to pick them up one at a time. He jumped from rope to rope, pushing off with great force, even with one hand. Mualani couldn't help but envy this power.

Looking down, she saw dozens of houses rushing under their feet. Once at the top, the view only became better: it became clear how far away the border of the settlement of the Children of Echoes swings from here, and where the mountain ranges begin. Kachina, who was standing nearby, gasped in awe. They waited for Kinich to bring Rizok upstairs, who had to accept his fate. Mualani knew that he was afraid of heights. Kinich promised to let Rizok go into free fall if he twitched. The threat worked, and the pale-faced guy meekly pressed into the shoulder of Kinich, who wrapped his right arm around him.

Mualani noticed that Rizok didn't look like himself. His pigtails were loose, and his fluffy hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. The simple clothes – a pale peach shirt and dark trousers that Xilonen found for him – made him look like a normal guy, not an aloof rich boy. However, after calming down, he regained his former sarcasm, which reassured Mualani: something never changes. In addition, he ignored Xilonen's advice and put on gold chains and earrings in the shape of rings. The precious metal shone in the rays of the sun.

The houses of the Scions of the Canopy were different from those of the Children of Echoes. The general gloom remained, but at the same time there was a certain lightness. This was achieved due to the abundance of wooden parts in the houses. The facades remained stone, but the second and higher floors were often made of wood. In addition to the cable systems, sheets of emerald-green fabric fluttered above them, stretched in some places and creating a shadow.

The multilevel structure was preserved, but here due to the fact that the cliffs towered above them to the sky, and houses were crowded on each new plateau. There were even graffiti in some places, slightly diluting the landscape with their bright colors.

Rizok was having a nice conversation with Kachina. Kinich would occasionally insert a few words. And Mualani just walked forward, looking around without any purpose. Although an idea was slowly forming in her head.

"As you know," she began grandly, "I'm going to save Natlan along with the Traveler and Paimon. Will you join me?"

Kachina nodded enthusiastically.

"I know you won't let me go with you, but I'll help in any way I can! Just ask!"

However, Rizok skeptically rolled his eyes.

"Mualani, it seemed to me that you had already reached your limit. Remember what your unrestrained desire to help brought you to – you could have died. Let heroism to the Traveler."

Kinich didn't say anything, but Mualani already knew: he silently condemns her. Who was she in his eyes? A weak girl with no outstanding abilities or combat skills. To put it simply, she was useless. But still, Mualani couldn't stay away. If it's harder for her than for the others, then so be it! She can handle it.

"Don't even try to change my mind. I've already made my decision. You can go back home, and I'll go with the Traveler."

"If he comes back," Kinich said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mualani looked at him quizzically.

Looking into the guy's eyes, she couldn't help but think about his beauty again. Kinich looked much better today. His face was shaved, and the bags under his eyes were slightly smaller. He was wearing a short-sleeved, high-collared sweatshirt, tight but baggy trousers with multiple pockets, and rough boots. Behind his back was an oval bag, which was worn by all couriers of the Scions of the Canopy, but instead of a hat, Kinich put on a bandage that removed the hair from his forehead, revealing the piercing gaze of the guy.

It was quite strange to get so caught up in someone's eyes.

"It happens that strong and capable warriors who want to save Natlan so badly leave for the City of the Sacred Flame and do not return from there. Example number one: Pyro Archon. Example number two might be Traveler, but still, I believe in him."

"There is no need to be so pessimistic. I also believe in the Traveler. He won't even think about not fulfilling his promise. But what about you?" Mualani changed the subject. "Would you like to join me too?"

"Of course, no. If you want to play the hero, then I won't stop you. But I will not join in such a thing. If Rizok believes that Traveler can stop the Abyss, then let him stand his ground. I believe that Natlan is doomed, and any rescue efforts are a waste of time."

"Who offended you so much..." Rizok muttered.

"Since we're all here together anyway, can you help me learn a few techniques?" Mualani ignored Rizok and turned to Kinich. "I can fight a little, but with my fists. It would be nice to learn how to fight with a dagger." The girl said optimistically.

"Oh, that would be great!" Kachina shared her friend's delight. "Kinich, will you teach me a few tricks? Please, please!!"

That's why they ended up here: at a small training ground in the shade, where Kinich led them. After equipping the girls with daggers, he showed a few moves. Rizok was lounging under a tree, sipping a chilled drink. Ajaw, surprisingly silent that day, stayed nearby.

Kachina trained with a spear – her father taught her. Therefore, attacks with a dagger, which was lighter in weight, were easier for her than Mualani. Kinich was a patient teacher, but Mualani couldn't help but get upset that she was too clumsy to remember and do everything right on the first try.

Kinich corrected her position again. Mualani tried to repeat the combination of movements. She wanted to at least touch Kinich with a dagger, even though she understood that he would not have trusted her with a real weapon if he believed that she would be able to reach it. Mualani swung wide and made her first lunge. Kinich easily dodged. As well as from the second, and the third, and the following. With tenacity and anger, the girl swiftly waved the dagger, trying to perform the movements that Kinich showed her. But she couldn't get to him.

"Mualani," Kinich called. "Is your opponent currently at the same training ground with us?"

The girl stopped. What a shame: she didn't even notice how Kinich moved aside, continuing to attack the air. Her reddened cheeks were suffused with a big blush.

"I'm sorry," Mualani said. "I didn't notice."

Kinich shook his head. When Mualani started waving the dagger thoughtlessly, he decided to get away so that the girl wouldn't cut him, albeit completely by accident. But still, Kinich interrupted her so that she would not harm herself. Mualani would like to be angry at him: for mocking her uncle and her happy childhood, for being able to dodge all her attacks so easily. But she understood that her anger was directed only at herself.

"Mualani, who are you going to fight?" Kinich asked. "Do you want to defend yourself or attack? And what about the opponents: humans or monsters? The tactics will be different, and it will take you years to learn all the techniques. Maybe it's time to give up?"

"Don't push her!" Kachina was indignant. "Mualani may not be good with a dagger, but she has a punch." She pointed at Rizok, whose face was purple thanks to Mualani. "You could work with that, since you see that she can't repeat the techniques you show."

However, Kinich just spread his hands, as if saying: "It's pointless. Natlan is doomed" and other nonsense he believed in. Mualani got angry.

"It was stupid of me to ask you for help." She handed the dagger to the guy. "Take it. I can handle it without that."

"Do you want to be a damsel in distress? So that the Traveler will be distracted by your rescue?"

Why did Kinich keep saying such things when Mualani treated him with kindness? Was it really that hard for him to believe in her sincerity? She wasn't going to become a burden. If the Traveler had told her, she would have stayed in hiding, would not have gotten into trouble and would have helped in any way she could. She wanted to cry again, her eyes watered.

"Stop it," Rizok intervened this time. He came closer and stood protecting Mualani. It was unexpected. "Let her figure it out for herself. I'm not going to go into the unknown with the Traveler, but I can't help but admit that I'm on his side. I don't like the camping life, devoid of pleasures and comforts, but that doesn't mean I'll stay away. I have some connections, I will talk to the elders and the leader of our people. Knowing me, they will have to listen to everything I want to tell them."

Was Rizok serious? But there was no mannerism or mockery in his voice. He will really help them... Her? Gratitude fluttered in Mualani's heart. That was his motive, wasn't it? Rizok went with them to make sure of the correctness of his decision to help them save their country.

Kinich came close to Rizok. If they continue like this, there will be a fight. But there was no Xilonen and no Traveler. Who's going to stop them? The two guys looked at each other contemptuously. Rizok was a master of such views, and over the years he had honed the arrogance with which he addressed people around him. But Kinich looked with the danger in his eyes. Mualani remembered that at the first meeting, the guy threw the man across several tables. Rizok would be in trouble if they fought.

"Don't you think too highly of yourself?" Kinich asked sarcastically. "You can't say a sentence without insults. Besides, who would listen to a spoiled mama's boy like you?"

Rizok's face turned white with rage.

"You dirty monkey! Don't forget who pays you!"

"Thanks for the reminder," Kinich said through clenched teeth. "And since you haven't paid me, it's time to handle it on your own. Come down somehow, and I'll go."

"Well, go fuck yourself!" Rizok spat after the retreating figure. Ajaw flew dejectedly after his partner.

Mualani looked at Kachina, who was also shocked. What is it! Why can't they just talk? Mualani hoped so much that the idea that had accidentally appeared in her head would become a reality. If only there were representatives of the six tribes willing to unite for Natlan... And Kinich seemed like a good option to her. He was strong, had intelligence and patience: Mualani saw how much the guy restrained himself from hitting Rizok.

However, Kinich did not want to save Natlan. And he made that clear.

"Let's go," Rizok muttered. "There should probably be lifts there... I hope they'll let us go down."

And they wandered off... In fact, Mualani didn't know where they were going. Rizok led them, but he was lost in thought. It was hoped that sooner or later they would come to these lifts. And that they exist too...

Now that Kinich was gone, Mualani could feel the sharp glances that passersby cast at their group. Without their guide, they stood out strongly among the green colors of the clothes of the locals. Was Kinich's presence the reason why no one bothered them before? Most likely, it was.

"There's something like a lift over there," Kachina pointed out.

Indeed, the unreliable-looking structure was attached to the edge of the cliff. Unfriendly-looking guards were on duty near it. The men's stern faces did not soften at the sight of their small group.

"Wow, who do we have here?" One of the guards looked contemptuously at Mualani's face. "What are you doing here? Go down to the bottom the same way you came up here!"

Rolling his eyes, Rizok pulled Mora’s bag out of the subspace that all people with Visions could use. Mualani was insanely jealous of this feature.

"You don't have to count," Rizok drawled. "It's still more than your salary. Take us down."

Mualani shivered as the guard ran his gaze over her face again.

However, the man removed the pole blocking the way and said mockingly, "This way, kids." Did you rob a bank?"

Mualani put her hand over Rizok's mouth and thanked the men for the service. After going to the lift, which was slightly shaking from the gusts of wind, the group tried to get settled. This platform consisted of logs nailed crosswise to each other, through the gaps between which one could see the ground far, far below. Rizok squeezed his eyes shut, hiding his face in his lap. Kachina put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder. The trip seemed to take forever.

Once on solid ground, Mualani once again felt the bitterness of disappointment at how everything had turned out with Kinich.

"And why do you always ruin everything?" She complained, turning to Rizok. "What was it now, with the guards? They could have ripped open your stomach! Or just drop lift down!! And with Kinich: why did you get into trouble?"

Rizok stopped and glared at her.

"Are you accusing me? I was just trying to do the right thing for once in my life!" He exclaimed. In his blue eyes, Mualani saw a reflection of her own disappointment and anger.

Rizok had never been stable, so it wasn't surprising that the guy turned around and walked in the opposite direction from girls. Great, he was mad at her!

"Mualani, I'll talk to him!" Kachina looked at the girl with slight uncertainty. But she hurried after Rizok anyway, leaving Mualani in the middle of the street all alone.

Irritably kicking a stone, Mualani slowly walked towards Xilonen's house. But as soon as she cooled down slightly, she was faced with an unexpected find. Kinich's dagger was still in her pocket, wrapped in a battered sheath, but still heavy. And she definitely remembered that she had given it away!

It is worth trying to restore the order of events. Kachina returned her dagger when Kinich praised her for her successful combination. He even said that the girl should find a master in dagger fighting. And then Mualani failed once again. Then she handed the dagger to Kinich, the guys started arguing, and then? Did he take it, or did the girl forget herself, putting the weapon in her pocket when the situation escalated? But if Kinich took the blade, then why did he return it?

Mualani is tired of unnecessary difficulties. Was the blade left behind a subtle hint that she wasn't capable of defending herself? Or, on the contrary, did Kinich feel that Mualani would be safer this way? Do not dismiss the possibility that the girl could not return the dagger to the owner. She's been so forgetful these days.

Instead of getting lost in guesses, she will ask directly. But where can she find Kinich now, after he left in an unknown direction? If the guy has returned to his home, then the search is initially doomed to failure: she will not be able to climb back up. So it's worth checking out somewhere else... Right.

"Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the mines?" She asked the first woman she saw. Fortunately, she was dressed in the colors of the Children of Echoes. After giving Mualani a suspicious look, she pointed in the direction.Thanking her, the girl headed in that way.

A simple puzzle was gradually forming in her head. Mualani did not build false hopes: it is unlikely that Kinich is just walking in the mines. But something was bothering her. If Nepecha was looking for peace in that place, could the guy do the same? Mualani could not explain why it seemed to her that these two were similar in their aspirations. Something about exactly how Kinich found the girl felt like an understatement.

Was it the tone of his voice? Or is it that the mines were the first place Kinich went to help Xilonen find her niece? Or maybe Mualani was making it up for herself. Running street by street, the girl tried to convince herself that she was right. At the same time, she was thinking that she had overestimated herself once again.

What if Kinich gets rude again? Why did she need to clarify this misunderstanding between them? And where exactly to look for it: the mine that opened in front of her was huge. The mountains were arranged in a semicircle, in the center of which there was a excavation going down to a great depth. She could barely make out the opposite side. This excavation was so huge.

Musing, Mualani looked around carefully once more. Several roads led around the excavation, one went down inside. There were mine entrances in the mountains. Do they work on such a scale? Mualani had no idea how many people served the Children of Echoes mining industry.

And yet, in Kinich's place, she would not have gone further. If you want, you can climb the rocks, but risk your life for a view of the city? It's another matter if there is a point somewhere nearby that offers an excellent view of the mine. Turning, Mualani assessed the situation: hundreds of houses were rising up from where she stood. At some point, the houses of one nation were replaced by the houses of another. The highest ones should be checked.

And returning to the depths of the settlement of the Children of Echoes, the girl began to look for a way up. Climbing thousands of steps, she finally found herself where she was going. It couldn't be higher: sheer cliffs overhung her and several houses built in a common style. That is, once again, the buildings were nesting on top of each other. And she has to climb to the top.

Mualani was stubborn. As she climbed, she only remembered how she had done it hundreds of times before – at home. By rearranging her arms and legs, climbing ladders, and then climbing walls and roofs again, the girl reached her goal.

It really had a good view from here. Not only the mine, but all the houses below it, stretching for kilometers all the way to the horizon, could be seen from the left side. On the right, the mountains rose into the sky. The scenery was breathtaking. What was even more joyful was that Kinich was really waiting for her, dangling his legs from the roof.

More precisely, He wasn’t waiting. When he heard the rustle of footsteps, he turned around. And that's when his face radically changed its expression for the first time. He was shocked and maybe a little scared.

"Mualani, what are you doing here..?"

"It seems to me that we are starting to repeat ourselves."

The girl came closer. She sat down. Running around, she once again missed the sunset. Only a thin strip of light still remained near the horizon, like a reminder. And from above stretched the firmament, dark, pierced by dots of shining stars.

"I've come to return your dagger to you." Mualani handed the scabbard to Kinich. He accepted them hesitantly, but said nothing. In silence, they watched the lights come on in the houses. But their warm light could not compare with the cold shades of the stars, which were becoming more numerous.

"I hope you don't mind listening..." Mualani began uncertainly. "The reason I want to save Natlan so badly may seem silly to you. But I can't live in injustice. It's not fair that someone is doomed to suffer while others are enjoying every day. And even though I understand that it will not be possible to eradicate inequality and achieve universal prosperity, I would like to take the first step. And for that, we need to survive. But the people of Natlan are surviving anyway, you say. Yes. But they do it alone."

Kinich said nothing.

"Now you know me, Kachina, Xilonen. Yes, even Rizok... Are we so different from you? The path that each of us has traveled is certainly different. But we all belong to Natlan, the Sacred Flame burns in our hearts. We need to use it to eradicate evil. I hope that you will join me to achieve justice together."

Mualani looked hopefully at the guy sitting next to her. She saw reflections of lights in Kinich's eyes. Averting his gaze, he muttered:

"I don't understand. What is it that you see in me that makes you persuade me over and over again?"

"Well... You're strong and smart, and you know the lands of Natlan, and..."

But Kinich interrupted her with a surprised sigh. He was staring intently into the distance. Mualani tried to make out the object of the guy's attention. The only thing that stood out against the background of the familiar landscape was a glowing dot that approached the city from the main shopping street.

"What is it?" Mualani asked.

"Mavuika," Kinich breathed.

Who? However, the girl did not have time to ask. Kinich got up from his seat, obviously intending to leave once again. But Mualani stopped him with a shout.

"Hey! How am I going to get down from here?"

Doesn’t think for a long time, Kinich picked her up in his arms, and then jumped to another roof. It was as dangerous as it was deadly, but Mualani only experienced a surge of adrenaline. That's what she missed in life: the extreme.

Kinich quickly changed his position, sometimes hugging her with only one arm when it became necessary to use a hook. Mualani waited humbly for a stop at her destination. Obviously, they were following towards this shining dot, which was gradually increasing. Now it became clear that it was a motorcycle, with two figures sitting on it, rushing rapidly... or not anymore. Mualani realized that they had stopped and were standing on the roof of the building directly opposite... Is it Xilonen’s home??? And the passengers got off the motorcycle several floors below.

"What's going on? Who is it?"

Part of the question disappeared as soon as people took off their helmets. Light braided golden hair. A familiar face. The Traveler is back! Paimon flew nearby, colorfully berating the ride and the vehicle. The second person was a woman with red hair, dimly glowing with gold at the tips. She was beautiful, even if she wasn't wearing the right clothes for racing. And she had a ringing laugh when Paimon was furious.

"The Pyro Archon."

Kinich answered briefly, but his intonation was so strange and unlike his usual indifference that Mualani could not believe her ears. Wait. Pyro Archon!?!!?

Meanwhile, Mavuika. Paimon and Traveler ascended to the level where Xilonen lived. However, it wasn't her who opened the door for them, but Rizok, whose eyes widened in recognition. The Traveler and Paimon entered the house, but Mavuika remained outside. After asking Rizok about something, she left, briefly saying goodbye to everyone she had seen.

Once again, she rode a motorcycle, although there wasn't much point in doing so: her next destination was a couple of minutes away. Pyro Archon disappeared into the building where Xilonen worked! Well, it couldn't help but be surprising.

But Mualani was more worried about Kinich's mental state. He froze as soon as Mavuika disappeared from sight. The guy just stood there, silent, lost in thought. What could have happened?

Untangling the tangle, Mualani remembered the following: Kinich and Mavuika were representatives of the people of the Scions of the Canopy. Before that, the guy mentioned that the rumors about the origin of the Archon are true. Does this mean that they might have known each other? Such... intense reaction indicated that yes.

The current Pyro Archon ascended the throne five years ago. And Kinich couldn't be much more than Mualani. Subtracting five years, based on the pleased youthful appearance of the Archon, the girl could come to the conclusion that those two could have interacted earlier. This would explain Kinich's vehement denial of Mavuika's ability to rule, his unwillingness to save Natlan, and how the guy reacted to the Archon's appearance now.

Were they friends? Or? Oh, Archons, what if they were something more? Mualani turned her gaze back to Kinich, who was still in his own world. If he was related to the Archon, then it became clear that her departure had inflicted a deep emotional wound on the guy. He could regard this as a betrayal, and therefore lose all joy in life. But since Mavuika came here, all is not lost? Natlan or someone else's relationship: it wasn't hard for her to save both. Therefore, having plucked up the courage, Mualani asked a risky question:

"You and the Archon are exes or something, right?"

Chapter Text

When Mavuika took her first step, she staggered. And she fell, hitting her knees painfully on the stone floor. Tears welled up in her eyes. But after fighting so many battles with the Abyss, it was strange to cry over such a small thing. Mavuika staggered to her feet. Her small legs wouldn't obey her, and she felt disoriented among the seemingly huge furniture.

"Well done, Mavuika! Don't give up, go to your mom." Said an unfamiliar female voice, which sounded, however, soft.

A child's crying rang out, and a woman scurried past, hurrying to one of the dozens of cots in the room. Mavuika turned and wandered over to where her mother was currently comforting the baby, holding him in her arms. The tiny child's screams made Mavuika wince and cover her ears with her hands. But careless movement almost led to a fall again. This time Mavuika managed to grab a chair. The strength of her small arms was not enough to hold on. But how did she know what it was like to hold a sword and fight with her life?

Memories overwhelmed her. How she became a Pyro Archon, how she fought in the war, and then entered the Sacred Flame. This ritual was supposed to provide Natlan with a chance to defeat the Abyss, because the woman was going to come out of the fire and destroy the enemy. But why did she feel so small and weak?

Mavuika looked at her arms and legs with horror – short limbs, delicate skin without a single scar. She couldn't be sure without a mirror nearby, but she already knew the truth: something had gone wrong. The ritual led to her rebirth in a child's body!

How many years have passed? Mavuika couldn't remember anything except the endless journey through the wastelands. The days and years blurred together as she moved forward without purpose, forgetting who she was. Five hundred years later, Mavuika was supposed to come out of the Sacred Flame as an adult. But for some reason she was there, small, helpless, and lost.

What if she missed the deadline when Natlan could still be saved? Mavuika did not know how she ended up in her new body, nor did she remember the last day she spent inside the Sacred Flame. Thousands of years could have passed, and her soul was reborn, and at the same time, her memories returned to darken her new life. Natlan could have been destroyed by then! And it would be completely her fault!

The child's fragile psyche could not withstand such an overstrain. Therefore, as Mavuika later found out, she spent the next few days in hysterics. The healers couldn't help her, so they just had to wait. The girl spent these days suffering in delirium. But then it got easier.

So, Mavuika had to learn to live anew. She was just under a year old on the day she awakened her memories. But the most terrifying ordeal was that she couldn't do anything about it. It was so strange to be in her new body. She could not control her own emotions: what an adult would have experienced with calmness, Mavuika lived crying, with headaches and growing despair. For example, the pain of bruises, or worse, teething, caused uncontrollable tears. Subconsciously, Mavuika understood that she had been through more serious injuries, but the childish reactions of the body won.

She had to fight with herself every day. Trying to write at least something, the pencil trembled in her hand, producing gnarled sticks instead of words. But Mavuika could write! However, the muscle memory of the old body did not work in the new one. Even the drawings were so terrible that Mavuika stopped doing it for a long time.

When Mavuika ran, she fell. Objects heavier than a stuffed toy were impossible to lift off the ground. The jug of juice was smashed to smithereens. And constant fatigue, which led to the need to sleep, became a constant companion of a girl who was trying to grow up ahead of her time.

But five hundred years ago, she would not have become a Pyro Archon without her stubbornness. Therefore, with all her determination, Mavuika trained fine motor skills, learned to read and write, and played sports. She'll grow up before her peers anyway.

Everyone noted Mavuika's determination. Her mother especially praised her. But the girl could not fully accept the woman's care.

Her new mother worked in a maternity hospital. Therefore, on that first day, Mavuika found herself among a multitude of cribs with children sleeping in them. Her mother's name was Chiutl, and she was about thirty when she gave birth to her daughter. Mavuika didn't have a father, who died before she was born, fighting the monsters of the Abyss.

The new reality turned out to be too harsh to accept. When Mavuika sacrificed her life, there was hope in her heart. Natlan will be restored, the Abyss will be driven far under the Kingdom of Night. Besides, Mavuika herself had spent so many years in the Sacred Flame to create an extra layer of protection. But it seems that she failed.

After so many years, the Abyss attacked the borders, regularly claiming many lives. And the Night Kingdom has long been a myth among the inhabitants of the Scions of the Canopy, to which Mavuika once again belonged. But they counted! The Night Kingdom should have lasted for five hundred years! And it's only been four hundred and seventy-three, Mavuika breathed a sigh of relief upon learning this. She had a chance to grow up, take the place of the Archon and stop the Abyss.

But the chance of growing up in this tough world has always been low. Mavuika could get used to being so close to the Children of Echoes, but it was hard to get used to the endless deaths of people around her again. She hoped it would be a thing of the past. Back then, she even had the blasphemous thought that one of the Pyro Archons who inherited her title and memories would find a way to deal with the Abyss. And Natlan will be saved.

The miracle did not happen. Mavuika overcame herself every day to bring closer the day when Natlan would win. But over time, even more wrong thoughts entered her head: is this country really in need of salvation?

During the war that took place five hundred years ago, natlanians exposed their essence. Evil people committed heinous acts that could go unpunished. But now, the situation has only worsened. Mavuika felt old when she saw the changes that had taken place both inside her nation and in others. There was no more talk of unity and victory over a common enemy. The girl's hopes were dashed as she matured. Even their closest neighbors seemed to be spitting venom, forced to cooperate with the Scions of the Canopy. And they answered the Children of Echoes in the same way.

The Flower-Feather Clan betrayed Natlan. These words were said to Mavuika by her mother when the girl became interested in the history of her country. In fact, Mavuika started talking about it as soon as she mastered writing, and her mind matured enough to form complex thoughts and sentences and accept the bitter truth about Natlan. What happened between one nation and the others remained shrouded in darkness, but Mavuika could guess the causes of the conflict.

And five hundred years ago, the lands of the Flower-Feather Clan were in the most vulnerable position. Not so far away was Ochkanatlan, which was poisoned by filth. And the monsters from there were rushing to get to human flesh. Mavuika remembered with regret how thousands of natlanians had died there. In the present tense, the Abyss must have spread even further. Every year that the girl lived, the situation at the front only got worse...

However, the contradictions between the nations were nothing new to Mavuika, who had gotten used to it after so many years. The idea of brotherhood seemed remote and utopian to her. The worst disappointment was her own tribesmen. It would be wrong to judge everyone by individual incidents, but some cases of the horrific cruelty of the Scions of the Canopy towards their own made Mavuika, accustomed to violence, shudder.

In the years before the girl's rebirth, the elders of her people made a number of outrageous decisions that set an example for the whole of Natlan, which was soon followed by the People of the Springs. Children who show no promise or, worse, were poor should not be taught in schools. It is better to wait a few years until the strongest of them grow up, then send them to the war against the Abyss. Uneducated people are easier to manipulate, and who are better warriors than children who have spent their entire lives fighting for bread on the streets?

This decision led to serious damage to education: schools were closed, and the remaining ones were attended by really strong children and those whose parents had money. Others were left to wander, survive, and fight against the Abyss at an age when they should have enjoyed their childhood. Mavuika herself has shown excellent results. Her abilities were highly appreciated, so she was lucky to be in school. But this injustice burned the girl's heart.

At the age of four, Mavuika was already able to do many things that other children were not capable of. Mostly thanks to her persistent perfectionism and the hours spent by the girl behind books and scrolls. She loved coming to her mom's place for work, it always smelled like milk, it was warm and cozy. Even the children's screams did not prevent Mavuika from reading – for so many years she had acquired resistance to noise. The maternity hospital remained one of the few places where everyone was allowed: the wealthy and the poor. Chiutl treated everyone equally well.

The new mother loved her country, respected the people of Natlan and Pyro Archon. She told her daughter stories that had been passed down from generation to generation. Books and scrolls may have been lost, but not human memory. That's what she said when Mavuika became particularly persistent in her inquiries. But Chiutl remained a simple woman, so her knowledge was very limited.

The event that took place that year left its mark. Mavuika thought that if she were a real child, her psyche could have completely collapsed at that moment. If luck ever smiled on a girl, then she turned her back on her. Or vice versa. The fact is that the girl who came to the maternity hospital could not at all expect that the usual cozy room would greet her with bloodstained walls. Several babies were killed and stabbed.

However, Mavuika managed to miss the killer. Later, she found out that the blood on the walls and floor hadn't had time to cool down yet when the girl went inside. The reason for the attack was unknown, and they did not search for the killer for a long time. After weeks of searching, everyone just forgot about it. But Mavuika couldn't. Her mom was only grateful that her daughter wasn't hurt. Besides, her mom couldn't help but thank Celestia for not going under the knife herself, coming out of that room with her friend's baby in her arms when the killer entered there. Although Chiutl treated everyone with kindness, she protected that little boy with special trepidation. So, he was out of danger during the attack.

Mavuika only hoped that the people behind such brutality would be punished.

The good people among the Scions of the Canopy did not disappear anywhere. For example, Mavuika met one of the elders, who had only recently took office and was also known for his kindness and honesty. Their new leader, Wayna, a young man who was already so respected among his people, wasn't bad either.

Mavuika has never talked about her rebirth. She tried to explain this to her mother and mentor, but they did not believe her. She was lucky to be born with talents, and that's enough, there's no need to embellish her own story. But Mavuika knew that the day her mother decided to name her daughter Mavuika, the child's fate was sealed. The only thing the girl hoped for was that her new life would not end at an equally young age.

In her second life, Mavuika managed to make friends with someone only twice. It took her so many years to come to terms with her rebirth and get used to her body, she spent the same amount on self-improvement. As a child, she seemed to others to be too serious, too smart. Growing up, Mavuika herself became the reason why she had no close friends. She was strong and capable, easily engaged in conversation and was not shy about being herself. But as soon as she got close to someone, she began to have doubts. What if she dies again, leaving them? But what if they leave her? She had to remind herself that the people around her weren't Burkina, Wanjiru, or Tupac, her precious friends who had given their lives to save Natlan. But that was the main problem – Mavuika couldn't help but compare.

The memory of her old friends was lost along with the ancient names they bore, another disappointment experienced by the girl. She had already given up on her previous plan a long time ago. The ancient names no longer existed, as did the Night Kingdom, the Wayob, and half of Natlan's history and culture. The only thing left for the girl was to become an Archon. And that was her main goal.

The mentor had no doubt that she would succeed.

However, Mavuika was still worried. In early autumn, when she had just turned nineteen, she took part in a tournament that was held between the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy. Participation in it was supposed to be the next step on the way to the coveted throne. The victory she was hoping for was to strengthen her confidence in her own power. To put it simply, she participated only to amuse her ego, no matter how selfish it may sound.

On the other hand, she continued to be nervous. One truth has long been known to Mavuika. Everything that happens in Natlan. It was her fault. It took the girl years to realize that the situation in the region was getting worse because of her. When she was twelve, the Abyss began a rapid offensive. Then the walls appeared, the hostility between the nations reached its peak, and the current Pyro Archon distanced from the people, locking himself in the Stadium of the Sacred Flame.

It all fit, because Mavuika's life in the Sacred Flame maintained a barrier in the Night Kingdom. Even so, her strength was not enough, and the Abyss burst out. But from the moment she was born – she knew that she had been in this body from the very first seconds, even if she did not remember it – every day she lived brought disaster closer. And now the Abyss is not hiding underground and attacking only the borders. It's everywhere. And soon, a new endless war awaits Natlan.

If only the ritual had worked properly! Then people would have more time, and she wouldn't have to fight with herself to regain her former strength.

Her new life didn't do her any good. Her mom couldn't replace the real one. Mavuika was lonely without her sister and father. The people around became even more embittered, but the Abyss did not go away. Every day, the girl had to deal with the consequences of attacks or with hate from Children of Echoes. If fate wanted Mavuika to suffer, then she succeeded. It's pointless to give someone a second chance if that person is powerless to fix something.

Holding competitions between the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy served to let off steam. Such a close and forced neighborhood led to numerous skirmishes, so it was decided to direct this fervor in the right direction. Mavuika suspected that the fighting spirit of the natlanians during the real battles with the Abyss was significantly inferior to what was in the air when the Children of Echoes and the Scions of Canopy had the opportunity to punch each other in the face. Often, the competitors couldn't hold back, breaking each other's bones and bleeding each other. But these competitions still fed the Sacred Flame, and relations between the nations were no better than after these tournaments.

Of course, Mavuika was winning. She had not been a Pyro Archon for long, and all her life before that she had relied only on her own strength. Sometimes, achieving high results, people stopped improving. But Mavuika was different. Without daily training, skill development, and cultivation, she would not have been able to become an Archon for the first time. Therefore, in her new life, it was not difficult for her to cope with any opponents, regardless of whether they had Visions. Only on competition days these blessings were proudly displayed in the most prominent places.

Bored, the girl watched the endless duels in the arena, organized in one of the squares of the Children of Echoes. The venues alternated. Last year, the Scions of the Canopy were the host, and Mavuika was wondering how her people were allowed to come down and roam in foreign territories in the first place. The last tournament ended in a terrible massacre, several people "fell" from a height, which led to another conflict between the two nations. The Children of Echoes stopped supplying their neighbors with weapons, and they, in turn, rounded up the animals, preventing them from descending from the mountains. But prudence won out, and the next competition did take place.

"Does it also seem that this year's tournament has become even more violent than it was before?"

Mavuika turned around: she didn't even notice that a girl had been sitting on her right for some time. She had dark skin, blonde curly hair, green eyes, and soft inhuman ears. The girl was tall and wore the clothes of the Children of Echoes, but nevertheless looked at Mavuika without hostility.

"He's going to kill this guy now, but the judges won't stop the fight." Mavuika said gloomily. In a previous life, she would have been the one who would have run into the arena to help. But now Mavuika was humbly awaiting the results of the battle. She had never been so indifferent before.

The girl nodded in agreement.

"That's because you're guests. The judges from the Scions of the Canopy are fussing, but ours are silent. And last year it was the other way around."

"And you think that's okay?" Mavuika asked sharply.

"I think that these tournaments should be canceled," her interlocutor replied.

Then why did she come? The girl didn't look dangerous or strong. Mavuika knew that underestimating her opponent would be a big mistake. But was the girl going to compete?

"Don't look at me so appraisingly," she said reproachfully. "My name is Xilonen, and I've come to challenge you."

So she was going to fight. And she had the confidence to challenge Mavuika. Hadn't Xilonen seen all the fights Mavuika had won?

"I assume you already know my name?" Mavuika asked skeptically. She didn't want to fight anymore, but still, retreating had never been her option.

"Of course, Mavuika. You were named after one of the previous Pyro Archons."

Mavuika knew the story. Her mother was so inspired by the exploits of the Pyro Archon Mavuika, who lived about five hundred years ago, that she named her daughter after her. And all the tribesmen said that the girl's name determined her fate. Mavuika grew up strong, smart beyond her years, and learned faster than others. When they found out about her aspirations to become an Archon, they nodded approvingly: just like the one you were named after. And only Mavuika knew that she was the heroine of their stories.

It always seemed surprising to her that of the many stories about ancient heroes, only the one that told about one particular Pyro Archon survived in almost unchanged form. But Mavuika could only blame fate for this, while the truth remained unknown to her.

"Okay, let's fight," Mavuika grumbled. "But, keep in mind that I won't spare you."

Xilonen just grinned, radiating a strange confidence, as if saying that it wasn't her who needed to be pitied. So, two girls found themselves in the arena, standing opposite each other. It wasn't difficult to arrange a fight. Mavuika's fame preceded her, and although she fought fairly, her fights always attracted a lot of viewers. Mavuika was a flame, and the light of fire gathers all living things around itself.

"Attack first," Mavuika still didn't know what to expect from her opponent. It wasn't the first time the girl had been challenged, only today she had fought more than ten times. But Xilonen was a dark horse. The fight against Mavuika was her first.

Xilonen moved to meet Mavuika. Both girls chose swords for the battle. They spun around, not taking their eyes off each other. Xilonen's tail was darting from side to side. Finally, she launched her first attack, which Mavuika successfully deflected. Their blades crossed.

The opponent was obviously inferior to Mavuika. She managed to cut Xilonen several times, and blood trickled down from the girl's arms and legs in small streams. What was she trying to achieve if she knew Mavuika was stronger? Xilonen could fight, but she lacked the strength. She made up for it with speed, but she still couldn't outrun Mavuika. She received only one light cut on her forearm, which tingled unpleasantly, but was harmless.

To put it simply, Mavuika found the fight boring. The audience wasn't interested either, expressing their disappointment by buzzing and booing. Mavuika was tired of performing in front of so many people, as if she were some kind of doll or animal. It was time to end this fight.

Deciding to do it quickly, without unnecessary humiliation, Mavuika put too much force into the blow. Xilonen's sword flew out of her hand, landing on the side. Mavuika's next attack cut the girl from shoulder to chest. She didn't want to seriously injure her, but the pain of being wounded in such a sensitive spot should have forced Xilonen to give up. Indeed, the girl clutched at the wound, the fabric of the clothes around her darkened with blood. Hurrying, Mavuika put her sword to Xilonen's throat.

"Give up," Mavuika said loudly so that everyone could hear. But Xilonen was silent. Did her pride not allow her to admit defeat? Xilonen sank to the ground. Her posture was unnatural, as if she was about to pass out. Had Mavuika hurt her so badly? What if the cut was too deep and grazed vital organs?

Dropping the sword, Mavuika hurried to the weakened girl. She clenched her teeth tightly, and sweat broke out on her forehead.

"Take your hand away, I'll take a look!" Mavuika exclaimed. The audience continued to boo what was happening: they expected Mavuika to finish off at least someone today, leaving her principles and fairness aside. But the girl wasn't listening. Bending over to Xilonen, she tried to pull her hands away from the wound. But the girl's grip was surprisingly strong. With an equally strong kick to the stomach, she sent Mavuika flying.

What the fuck!?!!? Mavuika did not notice how Xilonen was preparing to attack. And having underestimated her, having shown sympathy and kindness, she was stabbed in the back – in the stomach! She showed respect, albeit pity, too, and Xilonen responded with meanness. Well, Mavuika can play dirty too.

Mavuika stood up and spat. Her stomach hurt, but she had long since learned how to overcome any pain. Xilonen also stood up, blood still streaming down her shoulder, but the girl held on resolutely. There was contempt in her gaze, but was it personal? Or did Mavuika manage to meet with another representative of the Children of Echoes, who hated all the Scions of the Canopy? She was so tired of this! Where is her sword?

The sword was on Xilonen's side. She was holding her own weapon in her hands. If that's the case, then Mavuika can handle it with her bare hands. Accelerating, she ran towards Xilonen. She held the sword, not allowing Mavuika to take hers, but also not allowing herself to be injured. She had a certain skill. Mavuika cursed herself for underestimating her opponents.

Okay, she'll try to get her sword out, otherwise Xilonen will cut off her arm. Having made a deceptive movement, Mavuika quickly tore off in the other direction. She managed to get ahead of Xilonen and reach the hilt of the sword stuck in the ground. But when she picked it up, she saw that the blade was broken! Only a small piece remained of it, shorter than the handle. Xilonen broke her sword while Mavuika was getting up after being hit!

This made the girl really angry. Sneaky moves weren't new to her, but in this fight, everything went wrong. She was initially inconsiderate and has already paid for it twice. The only thing that saved her from the third time was Xilonen's heavy breathing: having managed to turn around, Mavuika fended off a sword blow that was supposed to cut her shoulder in the same place where she had previously wounded her rival. The broken blade grated on the whole Xilonen sword, but it did its job. Mavuike managed to deflect the blow, causing Xilonen to stagger.

She quickly assumed a defensive stance. But Mavuika wasn't going to give her another chance. Approaching Xilonen, the girl was once again met with a sword thrust. But this time Mavuika grabbed the blade with her bare hands. She was lucky that the dueling weapons were still blunted. And yet, it was terribly painful!

Xilonen also did not expect her opponent to grab the blade with her bare hands. This surprise cost her everything: Mavuika punched her, right in the face. At the same time, she held onto the blade with all her might. After receiving the blow, Xilonen flew back slightly, which Mavuika took advantage of, pulling the sword out of her hand and throwing it to the other end of the court. Now they're both unarmed!

One of Xilonen's arms was still weakened as a result of Mavuika's cut. It would be an advantage if the girl's own were not cut. Part of Mavuika's right palm was torn off from the rest of her hand. Bones and meat were sticking out of the bleeding wound. But the girl ignored the pain: she had faced worse wounds in her previous life. And now she still had one more or less functioning hand, the knuckles of which were slightly aching from the blow.

Xilonen froze, staring in horror at Mavuika's hand. But the girl resolutely moved forward. She'll strangle her opponent if she doesn't give up!

"Mavuika, give up!" Xilonen shouted. It seemed like she wasn't sure what she was suggesting. Did she really feel so sorry for Mavuika because of the hand? Let her choke on her pity, she has no intention of giving up. Why would she want that?

After taking a couple of steps towards Xilonen, Mavuika stopped. What's going on with her!? She just couldn't move on. And then Mavuika realized that she had sunk knee-deep into the ground? But how is this possible: the arena was lined with stone slabs!

Xilonen came closer. The Geo Vision shone on her chest! What kind of skill the girl had just pulled off require?! No matter where she held the Vision, Mavuika did not notice the radiance of the object until she was trapped! But Xilonen definitely used Geo powers, because she managed to imperceptibly turn the ground under her feet into quicksand! And put everything back in place without failing herself. She now stood firmly, towering over Mavuika.

Their eyes met. Xilonen looked uncertain, and Mavuika was panting with rage. If she were a Pyro Archon, her hair would have caught fire. But in this life, Mavuika was a simple person. Twitching, she couldn't get out of the ground.

"Give up," Xilonen repeated.

"Bitch, no way!" Spat Mavuika angrily.

The ground around her feet tightened even more. Mavuika couldn't help but scream softly.

"I'll crush your legs, give up!" Said Xilonen, as if she was afraid of her own words.

Mavuika shook her head. It got even tighter, and tears came to her eyes. Mavuika spat and admitted defeat. Fortunately, Xilonen let her go. Rejecting the outstretched hand, Mavuika left the arena. So, she lost for the first time.

Remembering this, Mavuika smiled. Xilonen then hid the Vision in her bra, and clutched her chest to begin the transformation of the earth under the masonry of the arena. She actually mastered the elements with such precision that she was able to control the area under her own feet so as not to fall through with Mavuika. Such careful work still amazed the woman.

Thoughts of the past came to her mind as the territories of the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy grew closer. Her motorcycle roared through the fog, forests and wastelands, and her thoughts followed one another. The beginning of her journey was not easy, but the continuation... even more difficult. And Xilonen was one of the few who stayed close, even though they were so far apart.

It was just another coincidence written into the lives of the Teyvat residents, but Xilonen turned out to be an acquaintance of the Traveler and Paimon. She allowed them and their comrades to stay with her, and also helped to sort out the situation in Natlan. Mavuika's heart sank with gratitude: she even defended her, asking Traveler and Paimon to listen to the Archon. She didn't deserve a friend like Xilonen.

The familiar streets and houses around her evoked a sense of nostalgia. Mavuika slowed down and glided towards the Xilonen house in a bright flash. Traveler stayed behind, and Paimon flew exhausted next to him: she was tired of grabbing her companion's hair and was now coping on her own. Soon, they arrived.

One of Xilonen's guests opened the door for them: a guy with a huge bruise and frightened eyes that widened in recognition. It was embarrassing that the Archon's presence caused such emotions. Mavuika hoped to become a leader that her people would love. But that was not to be.

And Xilonen was still working. Therefore, Mavuika hurried to leave. Her friend's work was a short walk away, but that didn't stop Archon from getting there on a motorcycle. She swore she wasn't stalling, but it was so embarrassing to come in! She hasn't seen Xilonen in person for a long time.

She hadn't changed at all. Fatigue was common to everyone Mavuika knew. Otherwise, Xilonen remained the same. Her eyebrows rose in surprise when the Pyro Archon entered the door of the forge.

The two women stared at each other in silence.

"The sun has arrived," Mavuika joked awkwardly.

Xilonen rolled her eyes, not appreciating the Archon's humor.

"Mavuika, this is not the time to joke. I think I'm hallucinating. I need to see a doctor right away – Pyro Archon is in the middle of my smithy"

Haha! As if Xilonen herself was being serious! Hesitantly, Mavuika moved towards her, trying to take her friend in her arms. But Xilonen pulled away.

"Not now! I'm sweating all over."

It was only now that Mavuika noticed that Xilonen was actually working on something. A red-hot piece of iron lay on the anvil. And the room was terribly hot.

"It looks like I'm in a wrong time. However, Xilonen, can you spare some time for me? I'd like to talk..."

After putting out the fire, Xilonen showed Mavuika the direction. Actually, she told her to get out. Laughing, the woman went to where, as she knew, there was a kind of recreation room in the form that could be at the weapons factory where Xilonen worked. Not all production required hand forging, but her friend got special orders for special guests. This led to the fact that Xilonen could disappear from the anvil for days and nights, not caring about her health at all.

"How did you get here?" Xilonen asked from the doorway. She washed and changed her clothes, but she remained tired. One of the woman's forearms was wrapped in bandages.

"I've arrived. On a motorcycle," Mavuika replied optimistically.

"Have you arrived on what!!!??? Xilonen looked at her in horror. "It's so stupid, but it suits you so well!! I haven't had your motorcycle inspected in a thousand years! What if it's broken?!"

Mavuika laughed. Xilonen gave her this motorcycle shortly before the woman became Pyro Archon. Five years have passed, but Mavuika has not caught up with him, because numerous prohibitions have affected her within the walls of the City of the Sacred Flame.

"It's okay, let's not talk about it. We haven't seen each other for two years, and the letters won't let me get enough of your face! How are you?"
Xilonen smiled grimly.

"I'm fine. Now I'm going to live with Nepecha. And at the same time, I'll keep an eye on Kachina, who is one of the Traveler's and Paimon's friends."

"Nepecha? I thought her name was Nechca..." Mavuika looked at her friend uncertainly.

"Tlasoli is dead," Xilonen said sadly. "But it turned out that at the end of her life she went crazy. Doctors don't know if the infection of the Abyss is to blame or if her brain couldn't stand the despair of her daughter's death, but the fact is. Nechca was ill for a long time in childhood, and then passed away. Tlasoli found a similar girl in the mines and took her for herself. She told all of us that her daughter was getting better. And we, who did not know the face of a child who had spent her whole life in bed, believed her. But recently Tlasoli had an aggravation, she tried to arrange a sacrifice using children working in the mines. Pacal and the elders found out about it. They managed to stop Tlasoli, but she died due to the effects of this ritual. And I took custody of the girl."

Mavuika didn't know what to say. Xilonen loved her aunt, even if she was a little weird. Of the many mine managers, the woman was the kindest. But everyone goes crazy in their own way. That's how it happened with Tlasoli."

"I'm sorry," was all Mavuika could manage.

Xilonen shook her head. She doesn't need pity, it's always been that way.

"So what are you doing back in the City of the Sacred Flame? You must have run out of people you didn't challenge out of boredom. And the furniture is probably made of mora – they should spend it somewhere..."

"If only!" Mavuika exclaimed. "They won't let me go outside the wall, fight, or use the Archon's powers. I'm going to lose my mind from helplessness and boredom!"

"But you're here," Xilonen raised an eyebrow skeptically. "What prevented you from coming earlier?"

Mavuika grimaced.

"Let's not talk about it! Better tell me, how do you feel about the intentions of the Traveler? He really wants to save Natlan..."

"Mavuika, you should have something to do with his intentions!" Xilonen said irritably.

"But I'm asking for your opinion!" Mavuika exclaimed. "Let's not talk about me. You are welcome!"

"Mavuika! You can't just evade the question by hiding behind an interest in what I think. You need to be responsible for your actions."

But Mavuika wasn't going to answer. She stared into Xilonen's eyes, as if inviting her friend to share her thoughts. Or playing the fool – she was great at doing this when she was surrounded by various officials. Giving up, Xilonen turned away.

"The Traveler and his friends want to save Natlan. I don't see anything wrong with that, but it's still worth waiting for good results." Xilonen muttered. "Mavuika, how do you feel about their intentions?" That already sounded mocking.

"I suggested the Traveler and Paimon to hold a tournament. And we will call six tribes there. I'll make arrangements with the four of them, and they'll be left with the Masters of the Night-Wind and the Flower-Feather Clan." Mavuika said abruptly. "So I'm taking part, I haven't forgotten about my goal! Stop blaming me..."

Xilonen just sighed, and then went over to Mavuika to hug her. Mavuika buried her face in her friend's shoulder."

"You are our sun, Mavuika. Natlan can't do this without you." Xilonen stroked her friend's hair soothingly. "You know, I will always be on your side."

Mavuika was overwhelmed with gratitude. She could only fail, not meet expectations, but Xilonen continued to believe in her.

"Thank you," Mavuika sobbed. She rarely cried, but in the arms of the only friend she had left, a woman could afford to cry sincerely.

Xilonen continued stroking her head. They spent an eternity like that, until Mavuika felt better.

"You know, it's such a stupid coincidence that of all the people, you were the one the Traveler, Paimon, and their comrades encountered... We are all slaves of fate. I still feel sorry for the child that this girl could have become if the name given by her mother had not been "Mavuika". So is your meeting with them – it was scheduled by someone standing above us..."

Such thoughts increasingly overwhelmed Mavuika as the days dragged by one after another. Fate laughed at her, repeatedly depriving her of everything that was dear. And what was left was desecrated. Her friend knew that Mavuika had been reborn after five hundred years. And she believed in it, which was especially valuable for the Archon, who had almost lost the faith of his people.

Xilonen chuckled.

"That's funny... I finally met your other friend..."

"Other friend?" Asked Mavuika.

"Kinich. How many times have you tried to introduce us, but everything didn't work out. But fate did you a favor and brought us together."

Kinich... It was a separate difficult story, which Mavuika did not want to remember. Not now. Xilonen doesn't have the patience to calm her down after the second hysteria.

"That's how..."

"Yeah. What a coincidence, but he also met with the Traveler and Paimon, and then brought them here."

"I see."

Mavuika looked pointedly at her friend. She didn't want to talk about that either. Xilonen humbly changed the subject. And then they chatted until morning.

Chapter Text

He remembered those years well. The days were similar to each other, and they were filled only with suffering and hunger.

Kinich was five years old, but he couldn't worry about anything other than the maddening emptiness in his stomach. He hadn't eaten in days and wasn't sure if he was going to get anything anytime soon. Kinich was in the house with his mother. Although is it possible to call this devastated shack a home?

His father once was a courier. By delivering messages during attacks and parcels in peacetime, the man earned money, which was soon enough to purchase a small house. There, a man named Tsongku lived, soon acquiring a beautiful wife, Niet, and a son named Kinich. Such a happy life did not last long. Kinich himself suspected that the first problems began even before he was born. After all, his father always liked to drink.

Over time, the man's addiction has only intensified. To this was added an unhealthy fascination with betting and gambling. So, Tsongku gambled, betting all the money he had as soon as he got a day off. If he was lucky, he would bring home sweets for his son and flowers for his wife. But when he was losing, he borrowed money from friends to get drunk.

Soon, there were more days off in a man's life than there were days when he worked. Money could only appear in the family if it was given by Kinich's paternal grandmother or grandfather. But they weren't young, and life in Natlan was harsh on the elderly. After their death, Tsongku gambled away the entire inheritance. And then, the house where their family lived. Kinich's mother was an orphan. And they had nowhere to go.

They moved to the outskirts of the Scions of the Canopy’s territory. It was an abandoned house, blown by all the winds. With a leaky roof and no glass in the window frames. Fortunately, Natlan had a warm climate, but rainy days led to flooding and damaged the modest possessions that they managed to acquire. During periods of drought, all kinds of insects appeared in their house, sometimes small rodents hid. Kinich caught them so that his mother could cook food.

There was a small, unpaved area next to the house. Kinich's mother was an excellent gardener, but even she could hardly grow anything in an improvised vegetable garden. If the bad weather left the plants alive, then wild animals came to their souls. Nevertheless, Kinich learned a lot from watching the laconic Niet who worked to feed their family.

Only occasionally did his father go to work, bringing at least some mora to buy food. His mother rarely went out to work part–time – she always seemed lost to Kinich whenever they were away from home.

Tsongku couldn't live a day without alcohol, so there was nothing edible in their house except it. They had to almost literally drunk water from a puddle. If it was raining, the mother and son filled the containers with water, but during a drought the body remained dehydrated for a long time. There was no question of normal meat and fish, and bread appeared on the table only on holidays, which were not celebrated in the family. Kinich remembered the date of his birth only because at that time the weather worsened, his mother fell ill and modest money was spent on her treatment. He never dreamed of any gifts.

But the treatment could not help for a long time – the mother was always a sickly woman. Her condition was worsened by beatings from her husband. When Tsongku got drunk, he took it out on his family members. The mother's face and hands were covered with bruises. Kinich looked the same. Sometimes father dragged the woman by the hair while Kinich was trembling in the corner. He was next in line. Tsongku hit his son with a bottle or other heavy object, if one came to hand.

Father was often absent from the house for days – then the mother and son could relax and try to get on with their lives. Tsongku spent this time lying in doorways, but Kinich did not empathize with him. Anyway, the man returned, with red eyes and a terrible smell of alcohol, which soaked through.

Kinich and his mother were expecting his father. A week has passed, but he has not appeared on the doorstep. Neither did the people who carried death notices – such letters were received by those whose relatives were at the front, fighting against the Abyss. Therefore, the mother and son sat tensely, knowing that at any second the head of the family could knock on the door.

And so it turned out. But his father didn't knock: he stumbled through the flimsy door, almost knocking it off its hinges. It was possible to get rid of such excess (as door), but living in an abandoned house on the outskirts was scary in itself. His father and mother were afraid of wild animals, Kinich was afraid that people with ill intentions would come to them.

"Niet, please me!" His father demanded.

Kinich turned away in disgust. He knew that his mother would follow orders without question. Otherwise, she would have to "please" his father forcibly, after being beaten. Kinich would have liked to leave, but there was only one room in the house, and he could not go outside – his father considered this disrespectful. Therefore, Kinich had to become an unwitting witness to their pleasures. For many years, this inspired him with an aversion to touches, sex and relationships.

Years later, he received a photo from his mother's friend, which depicted his parents when Kinich was not yet born. Looking at the photo, the guy did not recognize these people. Life, as it was, has radically changed their appearance.

His father stopped looking after himself a long time ago. Their clothes were always torn and dirty, but Kinich's mother tried to wash them in the river and make herself and her child look normal. Tsongku, on the other hand, wore rags, walked the streets without shoes. An unkempt beard and matted hair completed the image, giving the man the appearance of a homeless psycho. Which is exactly what he was.

Kinich's mother still tried to lookafter herself. She sewed clothes and wove shoes. Her face was haggard, with sunken cheeks due to malnutrition and constant illnesses. Her hair turned gray early and were cropped short to create an appearance of neatness. The image of the woman was complemented by beatings that left their mark on her face and body parts hidden under her clothes.

While looking at that photo, Kinich saw completely different people. Young and happy. His mother was beaming in his father's arms. Niet had a beauty that many women could envy. And Tsongku looked so kind and his piercing gaze shone with love for a woman.

But Kinich's parents had not been the same for a long time. After finishing their caresses, the father still began to beat the mother. The woman screamed, trying to cover herself, but it was useless. Tsongku was only emboldened by this. When he was done with his wife, he began to work on his son. A blow, another one. Kinich lost almost all his baby teeth due to beatings. However, he rarely had to eat solid food. His mother mostly cooked chowder in which you could soak a piece of bread. Niet found bread in a landfill, and their family took most of their things from there. Only my father earned and spent the money.

Lying on the wooden floor, Kinich was breathing heavily. This smell is ingrained in the guy's memory. Their shack smelled of rotten boards and damp. The stench of things brought from the landfill was added to this. When father was in the house, the air was saturated with a unique mix of alcohol and sweat. But even without the Tsongku, the smell of their unwashed bodies combined with the rest into a terrible mixture.

"Mom, why is dad always angry?" Kinich didn't understand it yet, but at the age of two, a child shouldn't know the reasons.

Mother did not answer. She was always so distant. As soon as Kinich learned to walk and eat on his own, Niet stopped taking the child in her arms. She reluctantly taught him to talk when the boy was about six – to count, write and read. But the rest of the time, mother was kept to herself. Kinich watched her from the side, repeating, but not daring to ask her to teach him.

When Kinich was a baby, his mother protected him from his father. Holding her son in her arms, she argued with Tsongku. But, having reached a slightly more conscious age, Kinich faced the aggression of his father and was defenseless. He knew that everyone deserved their own punishment. It was a price, albeit an unfair one, for his father's failures. Therefore, Kinich also did not stand up for his mother.

There was nothing surprising in the fact that Niet had left. Kinich was seven, and a woman calling herself his mother went outside and did not return. Father was crying uncontrollably that evening, and boy did not know what to do. He couldn't remember if she had said goodbye. Probably not. When she drank, which was rare, it was only when her suffering seemed unbearable to a woman that she became different. Perhaps the drunk mother looked more like the woman in the photo – she was smiling, laughing and talking to her son. Secretly, Kinich rejoiced at such days.

However, on one of those days, his mother confessed that she regretted giving birth to him.
After Niet left, only Kinich and his father remained from the family. Tsongku still beat his son, but Kinich stopped being afraid to leave the house. He preferred to spend the night in a tree than to be beaten. Sometimes his father managed to catch him, and sometimes not. If Tsongku caught Kinich, the beatings were especially severe. But if Kinich managed to escape, he could enjoy his freedom. He prayed to the Pyro Archon for his release.

But his hopes were destined to be fulfilled in the most terrible way. On his eighth birthday, which came in mid-November, his father got drunk once again. Kinich did not know where Tsongku got the money – the last time his father went to work was almost a month ago, and family friends turned away from them a long time ago. However, the fact remained that father was drinking, plunging into delirium. Unfortunately, Kinich asked him a question about his mother. "Have you heard from her?"

His father's red eyes had not seen enlightenment for a long time, but still, having gathered himself. The man was able to focus their gaze on Kinich, who was sitting nearby sewing clothes. Tsongku did not say kind words to his son. So, instead of congratulations, Kinich received only a ton of insults. Bastard, son of a whore, filthy brat – these are just some of them. Kinich didn't want to hear it. He ran out and rushed away. It doesn't matter where, as long as it's away from his father.

Panting, the man ran after, shouting insults. If he catches up with the boy, he'll finish him off! Fate was cruel, and even after so many years, Kinich didn't know if it was a release or a curse. He didn't notice when his father's screams died down. But when he turned around, he didn't see the man who was running after him just a minute ago. Kinich's athletic abilities were particularly good, but he did not overestimate himself – his father could not fall behind so quickly.

Horrified, Kinich wandered back. The chase took place along the edge of the cliff, and a bad feeling came over the boy. As he got closer, he looked down. There, Kinich saw his father's body sprawled on the ground. The boy froze in a daze. Acrid bitterness rose in his throat, poisoning Kinich's heart. Was that what freedom tasted like?

Taking his father's hook, which was lying idle at home, Kinich decided to go down to the Children of Echoes. From afar, he saw that several locals had already surrounded the fallen man. It was the first time Kinich picked up a hook, but when he got to the place, he found that his father's body had already been removed. He was taken to the burning, but the boy did not have time to say goodbye.

Freedom was short-lived. Kinich could not return home: a dirty little child was not allowed on the lift, and he could not climb with the help of a hook. His arms were too weak to jump over, moving up instead of down. And a child who had lost both parents was forced to survive on the streets of a different nation. Although no one knew that he was an outsider. The street children wore the same rags as those that Kinich's meager clothes soon turned into.

The boy always kept to himself. But his reticence did not help him when a kind of hunting for strays began among the Children of Echoes. The orphans were offered to go to the mines – there would be a roof over their heads, food, and a small reward. A similar proposal was made as part of a social program run by Children of Echoes. This will help reduce the number of children on the streets and provide the mines with labor. Although it was wrong to use children, everything was attributed to hard times and a serious shortage of workers.

Kinich agreed when it was suggested to him. But he didn't expect that surviving in the mines would be even more difficult than before. They were really given a roof over their heads and food. They lived in barracks, and they were fed sparsely and according to what they had worked for. But even that was more than Kinich got at home, so he couldn't help but rejoice. However, the joy was short-lived, the hard physical labor exhausted the boy. They often carried buckets of sand from the quarry, but on the worst days they went to the mines. Both were traumatic. Some children fell off the narrow road when going up or down from the quarry. The so–called miner's disease has also developed among them – prolonged inhalation of dust has led to lung diseases and suffocation.

Kinich managed to avoid both thanks to his abilities. He rarely worked in the mines because they sent clumsy and slow-witted children there. The boy wasn't like that. He did his job faster than others, was agile and strong, and grew stronger over time. The managers responsible for the section where Kinich worked really liked this kind of attitude. He was in good standing.

However, the mines were dangerous. Over the years, Kinich had seen so many dead children and adults that his sensitivity to death had decreased. His mother and father rarely spoke to him, and Kinich was on his own for most of his childhood. He wasn't afraid of people, but he also couldn't fit into the friendly groups that had formed among the miners. His face was always serious, he rarely showed emotion, being unsure when it was appropriate. Therefore, Kinich grew up a very lonely child.

Another danger was the monsters of the Abyss that were constantly attacking. Fortunately, the Gates were never opened in the mines, but packs of hilichurls were frequent visitors. They were usually dealt with by the guards, but there was also a gap in their defenses. One evening, the pack crept past the people and went out into the gorge. Therefore, Kinich, who was walking there, was destined to encounter a group of monsters.

There were about twenty of them: almost all were ordinary hilichurls with clubs, but two used bows. Kinich assessed the situation: the monsters were rapidly approaching, and he was practically unarmed. He only had a dagger and a hook with him – he was going to practice using this device. Adult warriors could lose in this fight, and a twelve-year-old child, even more so. But Kinich wasn't going to meet his death like this.

First of all, he needs to get rid of the archers. And then, Kinich will lead the rest of the group to a ledge in the rock, where he will climb himself. He can reach the hilichurls from above, but they can't reach him. The plan was clear, it remained to implement it. Kinich ran forward, dodging the arrows. Skirting the group, he rushed towards the first archer. With a swift movement, the boy slit his throat. Immediately, he crouched down as an arrow whistled over his head, and then rolled over, dodging blows from clubs. The second one remained.

Kinich was about the same height as hilichurl, but he was smarter. Grabbing one of the monsters by the shield, the boy used it as a cover. Hilichurl was kicking in the air, but he didn't have the brain to let go of the shield. Therefore, hilichurl took several blows and arrows. This helped Kinich get closer to the archer. With the same hilichurl, he hit the monster's bow. It flew off to the side. Hilichurl grunted in confusion, but Kinich had already killed him.

All this time he was running, and the pack was following him. The hilichurl was heavy in his hands, but it served as an excellent shield. However, it was time to let him go – hilichurl's hands loosened, he released his weapon and shield, which means he died. By throwing the monster under the feet of others. Kinich ran to the very ledge. He was able to climb up, and hilichurls crowded below. The boy expected them to start climbing on each other's heads. And so it happened. But Kinich was ready.

As soon as hilichurl's head rose to the level of the ledge on which Kinich was sitting, he cut his throat. Monsters were falling down, and others were climbing on them. Soon, there were only a few hilichurls left, screeching below. They couldn't reach the boy, but Kinich wasn't going to keep them waiting. He would finish off these three with their own weapons – Kinich picked up a bow and a quiver of arrows that he had managed to pick up while circling around with the monster's body. Aiming, the boy shot one of the hilichurls right in the heart. The same thing happened with the other two, even if not on the first attempt. The monsters were defeated.

Kinich could be proud of himself – he had defeated twenty hilichurls and was not injured. He watched the wild animals as they approached their home or wandered into the mines. Not all the animals were large, but many were sly. The boy put this knowledge into practice.

As he went downstairs, he heard a surprised whistling. Kinich turned around and saw her. A young girl with fiery red hair, dressed in the colors of the Scions of the Canopy. She clapped, radiating approval. What was she doing at the mines at this hour? The girl was looking around, apparently assessing the number of monsters Kinich had killed. Her eyebrows rose when she noticed that the boy was holding only a blade in his hands, and on his shoulder hung an empty quiver of arrows, taken from someone else's (hilichurl’s) shoulder.

"This was impressive!" She said enthusiastically. "You have done something here alone that is not given to a whole group of our warriors."

Kinich silently glared at the girl. If she needs something, then let her tell and name her price. The boy knew that nothing in this world comes for free. He received food by completing his assignments efficiently. And compliments usually led to new tasks that a talanted boy like him would definitely be able to do. Therefore, Kinich waited to see what this stranger would ask of him.

"My name is Mavuika... I am from the Scions of the Canopy. You've killed twenty hilichurls and you're not injured. Such abilities should not be wasted in the mines! I suggest you come with me, I'll introduce you to my mentor, and he can teach you how to use this power."

Kinich frowned. What is she talking about? Why didn't she just offer him a job for her? No one will teach him for free. The time spent on classes can also be usefully spent here. You can’t eat knowledge.

Mavuika held out her hand to him and waited. Was she expecting him to agree? Kinich has nothing to offer as payment for the service. Shaking his head, boy turned around and walked towards the barracks. But Mavuika followed him.

"Hey, don't go away! What's your name? Why don't you want to come with me? Elder Leik is an excellent teacher. Wait a minute!!"

Mavuika caught up with him and grabbed his arm. Kinich jerked, startled. Mavuika released the boy in fright.

"Mavuika..." The name came hoarsely from Kinich's lips. He rarely talked. "What kind of teacher would take a student whose abilities he hasn't even seen? And I have nothing to give him in return..."

Mavuika, to his surprise, just laughed.

"Don't worry about the price. My mentor will listen to me, and when he sees what you're capable of, he won't have any doubts. I have a lot of experience, I see potential in you and it should not be missed!"

How much experience is she talking about? Kinich might look younger than his age, but Mavuika was not much older than him. However, her suggestion hung in the air, and the boy seriously thought about it. If the girl is lying, and the tuition fee still exists, then he will just turn around and leave. But if she's telling the truth... Did she see something in him? Potential?

"Kinich," the boy said hoarsely. "My name."

Mavuika smiled encouragingly and turned towards the city.

"Let's go quickly. We still have to go up!"

And she hurried forward, not letting go of Kinich's hand.

Kinich learned how to use a hook long time ago. But he had nowhere to go back to. Wherever his mother was, she wasn't looking to meet him. The lights in the windows of the houses they passed were not lit for him. Flying over the night city, Kinich could only dream that somewhere out there would be someone who would be glad to see him. The boy did not expect much from meeting Elder Leik. Mavuika was just a student whose opinion might not mean anything to the mentor. Kinich went with her only because the girl was the first to notice him after so many years of loneliness.

Elder Leik wasn’t old. Despite the lateness of the hour, he was surrounded by students. The whole group gathered in the open air and diligently sketched constellations in their albums. When they saw Mavuika, they joyfully ran towards her.

"Mavuika! You've come!"

"Mavuika, look, we were drawing a map of the starry sky!"

Kinich raised his head up. It really had a wonderful view of the stars from this place. The Rapperia pierced the sky directly above their heads. She was followed by a Grus Nivis with folded wings. The Vampyrum Spectrum just showed up. The boy only knew this because one of the few books his mother had saved was an astronomy textbook. For lack of a better alternative, Kinich spent hours studying maps and flipping through dirty pages. But now his path was not illuminated by the stars: the constellation under which Kinich was born, the Chimaera Alebriius, had yet to appear in the firmament.

When the students saw Kinich, they stared at him as if he were an animal. Boy ignored their whispers. Elder Leik also came over, gently putting his hand on Mavuika's shoulder. The girl smiled proudly.

"Hello everyone. Hello, Elder. I need to talk to you."

It was disrespectful to address the elder last, but the man just smiled. They moved aside. This was typical of Mavuika – she treated people as equals. She was sometimes insubordinate, but her good nature and openness endeared her to people.

Mavuika, meanwhile, was explaining the situation to Leik. She spoke in a low voice, but the rest of the students could make sense of the situation by hearing only fragments of their conversation. One of the boys, sturdy and arrogant, surrounded by two devoted companions, took a step forward and addressed Kinich.

"Look, the dirty monkey thinks it can study with us."

His entourage laughed, as did several other students who hesitantly supported their leader. Kinich silently measured the other boy with his gaze. There's nothing to talk about with fools.

"Why don't you wear shoes?" One of the girls asked.

Because he didn't have shoes? They were terribly economical at the mines, so children had to walk barefoot. Over time, the feet got used to it, the skin was no longer tender and vulnerable to stones and splinters. It's obvious that this girl hasn't worked a day in her life. Kinich stared at the student's neat shoes, mentally comparing them to his own dirty feet.

"Because he's a monkey." Another laugh rang out. "Why are you silent? Don't you understand human language? I can explain it in a language you can understand..."

With these words, he got down on all fours and jumped up and down, sometimes hitting his chest with his hands. This caused a group of students to laugh, but Kinich looked at the performance in disbelief. What a jerk...

"Hey! Stop it!" Hearing laughter, Mavuika turned around and saw what was happening."

"But, Mavuika, who did you bring with you? A dirty monkey belongs where you found it!" The boy exclaimed, offended.

"That's enough." Elder Leik said firmly. "Get back to work on the maps. It's going to rain soon – the clouds are starting to gather. But I won't take that as an excuse."

The students trudged back. Mavuika shook her head in disappointment as the elder and Kinich studied each other. Finally, Leik sighed.

"My name is Leik. I am an elder of the Scions of the Canopy. I am also a mentor for the younger generation. As you probably know, only those who show great promise or belong to well-off families have the right to study in the schools of the Scions of the Canopy. The first group invariably finds itself in the minority, because the talents of some children do not lie on the surface. Like precious stones, they can hide in the depths of mines or even in the bowels of the earth."

Elder spoke, giving examples of things that Kinich, who had spent so many years at the mines, understood. It was very... Nice of him?

"I do not approve of such an approach, but it is not in my power to influence the decisions of the majority. However, I am ready to give a chance to everyone who shows at least some potential. So, I met Mavuika. And she recommended you to me."

Leik put an approving hand on Kinich's shoulder. He gently pulled away, hoping that his body did not tremble from the touch.

"Come back tomorrow afternoon, Kinich. Show me what you can do."

He said goodbye to both of them, and then left to join the group of students. Mavuika and Kinich were left alone.

"Shall we go?" The girl asked, moving away from students.

Kinich followed. He still couldn't believe what had just happened. Will he go upstairs again tomorrow to show elder his abilities? But, what exactly should he show? Everything Kinich could do was related to survival. If the boy tries hard, he will have time to reach the foothills, where four years ago were many wild boars. He can catch a few so that the elder can see how he can do it.

Having pulled out the hook, Kinich was going to catch on one of the cables passing nearby. But Mavuika stopped him.

"Kinich, wait! Why are you in such a hurry all the time?!"

"I'm going to hunt a wild boar. If I manage, then several. Maybe a dozen, but even seven would be enough. By doing this, I'll show the elder what I'm capable of."

Mavuika stared at him in surprise.

"Hunting in the foothills was banned last year... But wait, why do you need wild boars!? The elder doesn't need a fee, he teaches his students for the sake of an idea! Those to whom he gives personal lessons, of course."

Then Kinich needs to get back to the mines. If hunting in the foothills is forbidden, then the boy will come up with something while he lies awake. And he'll have half a day left. Perhaps, if he makes it in time, he will go down to the mines for a beautiful stone. He reached for the hook again, only for Mavuika to stop him from escaping again.

"Where are you going?"

"To the mines? I have nowhere else to go."

Mavuika blocked his way.

"No need to go back there! What if you're not released tomorrow? Or what if you will hide from me? This is a bad idea: you have a chance, so you can't miss it!"

"But where can I stay?" Kinich asked uncertainly.

"At my place," Mavuika said, sounding overly optimistic.

It was as if she herself didn't believe that she would let a strange child stay with her... But Kinich had no other choice, so he agreed.

Mavuika's mother was shocked by the appearance of her daughter in the company of someone else's child. First of all, the woman asked if she kidnapped him. Listening to Mavuika's wordy explanations, the woman became more and more upset. The boy's name evoked something in the memories of Mavuika's mother, after which she cried and hugged him. It took a lot of patience for Kinich not to break free, but the tremor that went through his whole body was not missed by the woman.

"So you also belong to the Scions of the Canopy?" Mavuika asked. "It's unexpected, but it simplifies a lot. Elder Leik would have less headaches. I'll ask him to find information about your family."

Mavuica's mother Chiutl helped the boy to wash up. His entire body was covered in mud, after so many years of grueling work with earth and stones. His hands and feet were black, with calluses and old scars.

"And that's all, with a living mother!" The woman was going broke.

Kinich later found out that she was Niet's friend, but they stopped communicating years ago. Chuitl held the boy in her arms and took care of him in the maternity hospital. Therefore, it was painful for her to see her ex-friend's son in such a state. Enjoying the warmth, Kinich thought only for a second that his mother was alive.

They shaved off his hair, which was impossible to untangle after so many years of neglect. Tangles, lumps of dirt and lice – there was nothing to lose. That was the first time Kinich had worn clean and not torned clothes belonging to Mavuika, but still huge. His small body was drowning in his shirt and trousers, and his feet were warmed by warm socks.

The boy even managed to fall asleep. He was lying wrapped in a blanket on a real bed with a soft pillow and sheets. A hearty dinner prepared by Chiutl led to the fact that Kinich almost dozed off. Out of the corner of his ear, he could hear Mavuika calmed down her mother. Kinich hid his own tears, crying quietly into his pillow.

The new life was so different... He had to get used to everything. Chiutl was determined that the boy should stay with them, and she would personally make sure that he could adapt to the environment he found himself in. Kinich could hardly read, and writing in clumsy letters, he made so many mistakes that he himself felt ashamed. Therefore, the woman taught him literacy and other sciences in the evenings.

For the first time, Kinich realized that he knew so little about the world. At the same time, he realized that he was far from stupid. The boy was not interested in fairy tales, but serious books, whether adventure literature or textbooks, made an impression on him. Much of what was described there explained the things he was used to, as well as offered new ideas that Kinich adopted.

Kinich refused to attend classes along with other Leik students. But the lessons with the elder were always entertaining. The man was a philosopher, so between workouts Lake could talk about the nature of things, the structure of the world and the problems in Natlan. Kinich wanted to match his mentor, so he actively read to keep the conversation going. Sometimes he spent hours sitting on the roof of the house with a book in his hands. Kinich couldn't quell his thirst for knowledge.

When it came to battles and tactics, Mavuika and Lake divided their classes between them. No, Leik didn't dump part of his work on the student – Mavuika herself wanted to show Kinich the techniques that she had learned without anyone's help. The boy studied with the elder during the day, when mentor had free time. He showed Kinich the basics, taught him how to wield a sword, attack and defend. Mavuika was more interested in the practical part.

They could get out of the territory of the Scions of the Canopy, going down cables to the Children of Echoes or on gliders to where the bay began. Mavuika hunted down groups of monsters, and then both of them fought with them. Kinich brought to his fighting tactics something that Mavuika would never have thought of. The boy knew that nature was the best teacher after Leik, Chiutl and Mavuika. Therefore, he added animal behavioral traits, used the terrain to facilitate combat and camouflage.

Mavuika adored him. She liked that there was someone to whom she could pass on her wisdom without judgment. In addition, Kinich had enough abilities to repeat those crazy tricks and techniques that the girl loved so much. They couldn't be used in a show fight against a human, but monsters were always an affordable option. Mavuika held her own sword as if it weighed nothing, and attacked with it so quickly that it took her breath away. Kinich was aiming for the same results.

Mavuika became Kinich's close friend. He treated her like a sister, and he knew she thought the same of him. She took the boy everywhere with her when she wasn't busy on missions. In their free time, they could talk for hours – only Mavuika Kinich trusted his heart, telling about his childhood and the mines. In any case, he didn't trust anyone else. Mavuika too. They were both lonely, because they could not find a place for themselves in the company of children their own age. When Mavuika and Kinich crossed paths with the rest of Leik's students (the mediocre ones), they always called him a monkey. Maviuka covered their mouths, gaining authority among the tribe members with her strength and intelligence. But Kinich didn't pay attention to fools.

Mavuika always praised him for his restraint and ability to think before speaking. She could lose her temper and lose control of her tongue, but the girl told her main secret, being firmly convinced of her intentions.

Kinich was seventeen, and Mavuike was twenty–one. In a year, the girl would become a Pyro Archon, but they didn't know that at the time. Every representative of the Scions of the Canopy was sure that Mavuika would have a bright future. She will definitely be able to ascend the throne. But the girl herself became less optimistic every year. As the situation at the front was heating up, Mavuika was also getting gloomy. She still had her old optimism, but it was diluted by reasonable fears.

The guy himself has never been an optimist. Natlan may last for many more years, but will it be the life that poor people who are doomed to suffer so much dream of? If anyone can improve the situation, it's Mavuika. Kinich sincerely believed in this, because she was the sun that illuminated his dark path.

"Kinich, I need to tell you. Over the years, I've been desperate to find someone who will believe me, but not so long ago I shared it with Xilonen, and she didn't call me a liar."

"Is that Xilonen you want me to meet?" Kinich drawled with a friendly grin.

Mavuika nodded awkwardly, continuing.

"I'll be brief. I was a Pyro Archon once before."

And she told her story. It was hard to believe that such a thing was possible, but the power of fate woven into the constellations was beyond doubt. Kinich had read about it, and his friend was a living example. It turns out that Mavuika sacrificed herself, but her plan failed. And now she will ascend the throne again to try to achieve what she wants.

"Fine. Mavuika, I will be by your side and do everything in my power if you need my help. As if it could be any other way?"

The girl hugged him gratefully. Her eyes were filled with hope.

"Thank you, it means a lot to me." And then she quickly changed the subject. "Admit it, do you have a girlfriend?"

And they could talk until morning. Mavuika was the sun, so the day she became Archon was filled with bright colors. Kinich had already reached the age of majority, so he was sent to the fields. However, the news reached even the farthest corners of Natlan: Mavuika became the new Pyro Archon. And that summer night, the guy allowed himself to dream about the future.

Delivering messages from the fields, fighting monsters, and doing rare errands during vacations, Kinich continued to live, keeping in his heart the promise Mavuika had given him. But the days dragged on endlessly, hordes of monsters attacked the Ley Line, settlements, appeared in random places, setting up nests there. The faces of the comrades were gray with fatigue and the red blood was pouring from their wounds. Sooner or later, any campfire will go out if you don't add logs to it. That's what happened to the flame of hope that Mavuika lit in the guy's heart so many years ago.

Kinich was never a dreamer, but the sad reality of endless war finally turned him into a realist (and pessimist after all). When Mavuika went into battle, disappearing for months, the guy was looking forward to her return, enthusiastically imagining the day when he would be able to join her and show his capabilities. Kinich now knew that one man's abilities couldn't turn the tide of a battle. People were dying, the Abyss was triumphant, retreating and attacking again, playing with people. And there was no end to it.

Mavuika used to send letters if she managed to catch a courier heading in the direction of the Scions of the Canopy, but for two and a half years after she became Archon, not a single message came home. Returning briefly, Kinich saw all the same cruelty and longing that Mavuika was going to eradicate. But she did nothing. Kinich did not want to lose faith, but doubts overcame him. What happened to his friend? Had she been so indifferent and pretending all this time?

This happened in the same year, and Kinich himself, by a happy coincidence, was not at the front. He and Chiutl stayed in the house as the weather deteriorated and it was clear that a thunderstorm was about to begin. Mavuika's mother was upset by the lack of news from her daughter, but she tried to stay strong. She still worked in the maternity hospital, even though the birth rate was record low for the Scions of the Canopy. The first thunder was already sounding in the distance. His echo could be clearly heard in the mountains. With the same bang, someone knocked on the door.

Mavuika was standing in the doorway. Looking at her pale face, Kinich couldn't believe that she was real. The girl had changed a lot. She wore a layered dress, high boots, and gold jewelry. The clothes were black, which emphasized the lack of the usual tan and bright hair glowing with gold. She seemed like a princess, an aloof aristocrat, but it couldn't be true! After all, this was Mavuika – she would never trade a sword and training for a life of luxury.

Mavuika hugged him and Chiutl. Standing in their small house, the girl stood out even more. She seemed uncertain and scared, but she kept her painted lips firmly pressed together. Finally, she spoke, but this conversation was meaningless. How are they doing, how is work, how is Elder Lake? The girl didn't talk about the war, the Abyss, or the vows. Chiutl was happy to see her daughter safe and sound, but Kinich could not share her delight. Questions were spinning in his head, and a bad feeling was forming in his chest.

"Mavuika, why did you break your promise?"

The guy's question made the Archon flinch. She carefully avoided slippery topics and the suspicious gaze of her friend. But Kinich was patient, he could wait. And so they sat. Chiutl hugged her daughter, Mavuika hid her gaze, and Kinich burned her with his.

"Darling, would you like to eat?" Chiutl asked gently. Mavuika nodded in agreement, and then began to talk about the food she eats in the City of the Sacred Flame.

Well, Kinich was patient. While Mavuika ate, while the mother shared the latest news with her daughter, while the girl talked about the many officials she had to deal with, Kinich waited. It seemed that Mavuika had gone to a resort, where she had to communicate with unpleasant colleagues who insisted on obeying the rules and obedience. But she was an Archon! It was Mavuika's job to dictate the rules, to change Natlan for the better, just as she wanted. Kinich was patient, but still he tried to ask again.

"Mavuika, what about your stories? About escape from the Abyss and a better life for natlanians? You couldn't forget, so why don't you tell us about how you serve your land as an Archon?"

But Mavuika didn't say anything. Kinich knew, reading his friend's face, that she was ashamed.

She forgot, didn't she?

"Mavuika."

The girl stood up resolutely, slipping out of her mother's arms.

"It was nice to see you, mom, Kinich, but I have to go. I'm afraid my time is limited."

And she moved swiftly towards the exit.

"Mavuika!" Kinich exclaimed.

The girl ran out the door, Kinich ran after her. She couldn't just get up and leave! Outside, he only saw a flash of scarlet-gold hair flashing far ahead. Mavuika was walking down the cable, moving away from the house. Kinich hurried after her.

"Mavuika!!!!" He shouted when he caught up with the girl. She obviously wasn't expecting this, but Kinich spent hundreds of days honing his physical skills. He was getting stronger and faster until Mavuika... Enjoyed her life? "Why aren't you doing anything!?!??!!! You promised to save Natlan, even if your original plan failed! You swore on your honor, but people keep dying senselessly! Their efforts are not enough!"

They raced along parallel cables. Sooner or later they will have to jump to the next section, and then Kinich may try to capture Mavuika. But she got ahead of his plan, unhooking herself and rolling down the roof. Making a similar maneuver cost Kinich ten seconds, which gave Mavuika a head start. The girl ran through the streets of the Children of Echoes’ territory. Kinich chased her, but passersby prevented him from moving at maximum speed. He could climb onto the roof, but Mavuika would have time to escape. Therefore, the chase continued along houses and factories, along narrow streets, overhung by more and more new levels of buildings.

"Stop if your conscience is clear! If you have nothing to hide! Why did you betray us? Why didn't you write, didn't you come?! Is it so good for you to live there, under the protection of the Sacred Flame?! But here and all over Natlan, the innocents continued to suffer! When did you become so indifferent?!"

All this accumulated during their separation. Spitting out phrases, Kinich continued to chase Mavuika. Resentment consumed him from the inside out, motivating him to tell his friend everything he thinks about her. Passersby were already looking at them, barely managing to stagger away. For ordinary people, they both ran incredibly fast. But Kinich was still human, and Mavuika had not lost her former speed, adding to this the obvious advantage of having the Gnosis in her chest. But the decisive thing in her victory was the door that slammed right in Kinich's face.

Mavuika managed to run inside the house, but the guy stayed outside.

"Open the door!!" Kinich angrily hit the wooden surface. It trembled. He could have knocked the door out, but fate had other plans.

"Hey, you!" Several of the Children of Echoes patrolmen were already moving in his direction. "Frick, what are you doing?!"

Kinich hit the door, which almost gave way, but held in the opening. The patrolmen ran up, trying to pin the guy down. In blind rage and resentment, Kinich struggled out of their hands. But he was stopped by a few well-practiced punches to the stomach and nose. Many interested passersby gathered around. Some were already whispering, telling the new ones about what had happened.

"Are you completely stupid?" One of the patrolmen asked. "What's one of those Bastards of the Canopy like you doing here?"

Kinich glared at him. Blood was flowing from his broken nose, but the guy didn't feel any pain. His whole body was shaking with barely contained anger.

"He was chasing some girl," the crowd noticed.

"Exactly! Dirty pig!" The middle–aged woman exclaimed. "He got rejected and couldn't accept it!"

The crowd roared its disapproval. One of the patrolmen knocked on the door.

"Sorry to bother you. This man was following you. We would like to make sure that everything is fine with you."

The door opened slightly. Kinich jerked, but was stopped by the men holding him.

"Please don't come in. I'm scared." Mavuika said in a thin voice that didn't sound like her real one at all.

"Sure!" The guard looked worriedly at the crack through which he was talking to the victim. "Tell me, did he try to rape you?"

What? Kinich looked at the crowd in shock. But he didn't meet any sympathetic glances. The eyes of those gathered shone with condemnation and hatred.

Mavuika would never accused him of...

"Yes," came the reply from the other side of the door. "He tried. I was able to escape, but he continued to chase me all the way here. Please stop him."

Oh, forget it. Another wave of disappointment washed over the guy.

"Don't worry, we'll deal with him."

The patrolman looked at Kinich. It was a look of pure hatred. Making a sign to the other guards, the man tried to calm the crowd, promising that punishment would follow immediately. At this time, Kinich's hands were tied, as well as his legs. He was dragged to one of the doorways on the outskirts. The guy did not try to escape, staring numbly at one point – at the closed door of the house where the girl who betrayed everything he fought for disappeared.

The beating was long, and Kinich did not know how he managed to keep his teeth. The men beat him with their fists for a long time and consistently, and then kicked him. The only thing that was lucky for him was that they didn't have swords, and spared the bullets. The chief took out a dagger, but after much hesitation, he did not find a place worthy of an incision. He put the blade to his throat, poked them in his nose and eyes. It was a game, because every threat was so easy to bring to life, leaving a person crippled or disfigured.

A decision was never made. The man wanted to mark Kinich as a rapist, leaving him with a scar on his face. But the screams announced the opening of the Abyss Gates. The guy had never been more excited about it than he was that day. Twitching, the guard cut Kinich's forehead, but released him. Finally, he advised the guy to keep his dick in his pants, otherwise he would cut it off next time.

Lying in an alley, unable to move, Kinich hoped that the monsters would not find him. Or they will, because then his terrible life will finally end. The guy didn't see a happy ending for himself. The time spent with Mavuika and her mother seemed fleeting. In his darkest days, the memories of the people he considered family warmed him. But now there's nothing left. Acrid bitterness filled everything.

Hours later, he was able to escape from the endless delirium into which his inflamed consciousness had plunged. There was no more adrenaline, so the pain was fully felt, piercing every part of his body. He could barely see, and the blood continued to flow down his face, pooling next to where he was lying. Through the pain, he managed to bend over, and then unbutton the shoe with his teeth. There he hid a small blade. Holding it between his teeth, the guy cut the ropes on his legs. It was worse after that, when he plunged the handle of the knife into the ground to cut the bonds on his hands. Any careless move could have caused him to stab himself in the back.

Besides, there were already enough knives in his back.

Kinich did not remember how he got home. He made it all the way by willpower, almost falling, but still covering the distance. But when he got home, another unpleasant surprise awaited him. Chiutl was gone, and her belongings were gone with her. There was a note on the table saying that she would go to the City of the Sacred Flame to be near Mavuika. The woman also left without saying goodbye.

And Kinich was left alone again. He was never chosen. His mother left. Both Mavuika and Chiutl. His father chose alcohol, and the mentor chose a job in which he was immersed. But Kinich has long been accustomed to loneliness. His friend's betrayal hurt more. Once upon a time, the guy promised that he would always be on her side, would support the new Archon. Was it worth fulfilling this promise if it was devoid of value?

When one of the soldiers at the outposts talked about the uselessness of the Archon, Kinich shut him up. He was silent now. These people were right. Kinich's days were filled with bitter acceptance of a cruel truth. It had been a long time since they had been so gray and dreary. The sun did not appear from behind the clouds, and the guy's own spark of hope was completely extinguished.

Natlan is doomed. All that remains is to survive. What's the point of everything else if every path leads to certain death?

Kinich continued to fight, but now he took on more and more missions whenever he was given a day or a week off. There is no point in relaxing, he will be able to sleep well after death. His sleep was restless anyway. He hadn't slept well before, but his old life with Mavuika and her mom had been too comfortable. He could spend more than five hours in bed there, but now he could barely hold on for three.

He never took assignments related to killing people. Let those who have nowhere else to fall do it. The price offered didn't bother him, humanity was the only thing the guy could grab onto. However, some of the missions were very specific: killing saurians, tracking people, delivering suspicious goods. Kinich gained a reputation as an unscrupulous guy, which was added to the numerous list of reasons why he was shunned. There were still "smart" guys who insulted him. Someone gossiped about his relationship with Mavuika and their breakup, others were frightened by the murderous aura around the young man, the stories made him a maniac who killed for the sake of mora.

Whatever the difference, let them think what they want. There was no point in looking better in their eyes when Kinich's own conscience was relatively clear. It makes no sense to preen up for them, to smile tightly, trying to squeeze out at least some emotions. Attachment only leads to pain, and the guy was not ready to condemn himself to this. He was still wondering about Mavuika's behavior. What difference does it make what happens to others if Kinich himself is stuck in place, choking on the wrongness of what is happening, but continuing to go with the flow.

One day, he and his squad went on a reconnaissance mission. They were ambushed, and fog abruptly appeared around them, obscuring all landmarks. Only the ruins towered ahead. And the group moved inside.

Kinich looked at the bodies of the dead soldiers. If this story becomes public knowledge, their deaths will be pinned on him. It didn't matter that hordes of monsters were waiting for them inside the ruins. Those who were lucky enough to survive stumbled upon traps. And Kinich was left alone again. He carefully moved forward until he came across a cave. There he met Ajaw for the first time.

They spent many days in the ruins. Ajaw tested not only the guy's body, but also his nerves. But Kinich himself responded to the dragon in the same way, studying his abilities. They had to fight off the monsters that had built a nest in that place. And then they signed a contract. Ajaw shared his power with Kinich, who, in turn, took the dragon to freedom and promised to give his body after death.

Ajaw caused a lot of problems. He ate a lot, always complained and cursed. People didn't understand how Kinich could tolerate him. But, as was already stated, Kinich was patient. Ajaw's presence brightened up the monotonous days. And as soon as the dragon brought the guy to the boiling point, he went into a trap made of phlogiston. Kinich wore it around his neck. He found the item in the same ruins, along with several other artifacts that he had saved.

Kinich talked to Ajaw when he felt unbearably lonely. So, the dragon learned some facts from the guy's personal life. But Kinich never trusted him completely. Ajaw would use any weakness to frame his partner. Nevertheless, sometimes he became surprisingly wise, remembering his age. And then their dialogue could become really interesting for both sides.

The situation with the Abyss was getting worse, and Ajaw no longer had to come up with ways in which Kinich could die for the dragon. Every fight that Kinich entered could be his last. The battles became more dangerous, they could last for weeks. Fatigue took its toll, and people gave up one by one. Kinich couldn't back down. If they don't eliminate these monsters, they will advance further, taking even more lives.

At some point, there were only two of their squad left.

He and a short girl from the Collective of Plenty. Kinich suspected that they were quite similar – both fought beyond their capabilities, out of sheer stubbornness. While she had Vision, Kinich was helped by Ajaw. But the monsters were coming, and the forces were running out.

With a crunching and slurping sound, the rifthound pierced Kinich's chest. The guy managed to hit another hilichurl, after which he dropped his sword. The monster pulled out its paw and disappeared, heading towards the only survivor. And Kinich fell to the ground. He was secretly waiting for the day when he could be free. But now, at death's door, he was afraid. That was the price the guy had to pay for his desires. It was painful.

Every action had its price. Even though Mavuika was trying to prove the opposite, Kinich knew that the free reward goes only to those who were born in a better world. The guy caught a few wild boars anyway when he found places where there was no ban on hunting. He brought their carcasses to Leik to thank him for his training. The elder was flattered, and the taste of the roast boar was especially memorable.

However, Leik insisted that he would teach Kinich everything he knows. The price, he called the fact that one day the guy will become a hero, capable of receiving any reward. "But besides mora, which you value so much," he said, "you will gain other power. You are kind, and your heart know mercy. Nothing would be better for me than watching you use this to walk your own path."

And Kinich tried to listen to his heart. So, he basically refused to do tasks that he did not like. He rarely spent mora he earned on himself. He didn't need much. After he paid off his father's debts, the guy gave money to children who survived on the streets. If the Archon doesn't help them, then someone has to.

If the Archon isn't fighting the Abyss, then someone has to. Kinich tried to get up. He thought for a long time: What exactly should his heart tell him? At that moment, he understood. The reason he keeps fighting... Kinich knew the answer. Not for the sake of the reward, not because the price of stopping would be too high. No. Natlan was doomed, but Kinich still loved it. He wanted to save this country.

Not for Mavuika, her silly promises and sweet lies.

"I'm afraid that's all the power I can provide..." Ajaw said solemnly. "However, I promise that you will be revenged."

Kinich chuckled. No. He's still looking for answers and he can't die today.

A mysterious light enveloped his body. The weakness receded. But Mavuika said that the Night Kingdom was dead. Where will his soul go?

The glow disappeared, and Kinich looked at the ground again. But something was wrong – the ribs were no longer sticking out of his chest along with his internal organs. The Dendro Vision hung in place of the wound, pulsating in rhythm with his barely beating heart.

"Kinich..." Ajaw whined in disappointment.

The guy grinned, wiping the blood from his face. He picked up his claymore from the ground and rushed to help his ally. She was still fighting. Dendro element easily enveloped the guy's entire body. Even the blade was soaked with energy. As Kinich hacked through the monsters, he allowed himself a smile. The synergy of Electro and Dendro elements made the fight easier, but besides that, the guy found a purpose. He would deal with the monsters, and then take on more difficult questions.

Maybe he tricked fate that day. Kinich really tried to find answers, but he didn't have many opportunities to search. He questioned Ajaw, explored the ruins in search of ancient scrolls, even tried to get to the City of the Sacred Flame to talk to Mavuika again. But this did not lead to positive results. Kinich knew about the past, recognized the present. But the changes that happened to Mavuika remained a mystery. What could have influenced her? Could it be that she also admitted that Natlan was doomed?

If the Vision was given in response to a desire to learn the truth, then Kinich did not get very far in this. He didn't want to become a hero, but he was still interested in what it meant to be one. The days didn't get any brighter, and the dreams didn't get any easier. Kinich didn't have time to think properly. Although, sometimes, he thought: Could his father have faced a similar dilemma? Just like his son, he could dream of saving Natlan. But life was cruel, and the realization of hopelessness weighed heavily on his heart. Kinich could guess what was on his father's mind, but the guy didn't know him at all. Alcohol killed the man, so Kinich refrained from drinking, even if he really wanted to forget about everything. He didn't want to repeat his parent's fate.

He had enough problems without alcohol. Sometimes, exhausted, Kinich would fall on the bed, and after that he couldn't sleep for hours. He had learned how to deal with fatigue, but dying from lack of sleep seemed more and more a realistic to him. His body needed rest, which was reflected in his haggard appearance.

A hungry childhood and a hard life at the mines affected him. Kinich was short, and the eternal shadow of growing up in poor conditions was imprinted on his face. To add to this, there are huge bags under strained, reddened eyes, gray from fatigue skin and an empty blank stare. Unhealthy. That's what he looked like. His happy parents smiled at him from the photo, but Kinich got only what their grown-up unhappy versions could give.

Kinich, who had grown up and was unhappy, was the son of his parents.

Chapter Text

Mualani waited. They were moving again, this time in the opposite direction, towards the People of the Springs. Rizok wasn't going to join them, so there was one more stop waiting for the group before they set off into the unknown. 

Traveler and Paimon told them about the meeting with the Archon. Now they knew what to do next. Just need to go to the Masters of the Night-Wind to persuade them to join the tournament. It sounded acceptable, but even Kinich, who nevertheless agreed to help in the search, did not know the exact direction. Mualani was optimistic. The four of them plus Ajaw will definitely figure it out. There was Traveler with them. His amazing abilities and luck will help to find even the most secretive of the six tribes of Natlan.

Dealing with the Flower-Feather Clan was another matter. It won't be easy, but Mualani tried to believe in the best. She was much more worried about meeting her aunt. Atea will be angry. And she doesn't need the girl's excuses – saving Natlan was incredibly dangerous. And Atea wouldn't let her put her life at such risk.

Mualani wasn't going to obey. If her aunt or owner try to stop her, girl will act in her own way. The path she chose was tough and frightening, but the ultimate goal was worth any effort. When they’ll save Natlan, the Abyss will disappear, and people will start a new life. There will be no endless deaths, and cruelty will give way to humanity.

Familiar walls appeared on the horizon. Paimon perked up, tired of being on the road. Traveler and his companion preferred to get to the right place on foot, but the lands of Natlan were not merciful to travelers who strayed from the group.

"You can do whatever you want, but Paimon is going to eat!" Little girl declared.

"I hope Rizok will feed you," Traveler smiled. "I haven't taken commissions for a long time. I'm afraid my wallet is completely empty."

Paimon was horrified. Rizok shook his head.

"This cheap manipulation will not work with me. I won't believe you've suddenly become poor until I see for myself," he grumbled. "As a last resort, we can cook Paimon."

"Paimon is not food!!!"

Their argument lasted all the way to the gate, where they had to stop talking as a security check was carried out at the checkpoint. It is not so important who left the People of the Springs territory. But the monsters of the Abyss or people infected with the taint were not supposed to get inside. Rizok was displeased, but he didn't say anything. Even he understood the importance of such checks.

"Home, sweet home," the guy drawled mockingly.

Ordinary mortals were allowed inside, but the "royals" were allowed to drive all the way to the gates of the estates and mansions. So, harnessed tatankasaurs raced along the streets paved with tiles. People barely had time to get out of the way. But Rizok seemed to enjoy it. They reached the Golden Dusk. The guy wasn’t in a hurry to go home again.

Kupo Nui was already waiting for them on the porch. She was surrounded by the hotel staff. All those gathered put welcoming smiles on their faces. But the old woman glared at the newcomers with a contemptuous look, which only softened slightly at the sight of Rizok slipping out of the carriage. Mualani went first, followed by Traveler and Paimon. And it became clear to everyone that woman was angry at them.

"What a pleasant meeting!" Rizok chuckled. "Kupo, how are things at the hotel? Has your business collapsed yet? Weren't you kicked out of the wall when the precious travelers didn't come to an audience with the Pyro Archon?"

He spoke with obvious mockery, which couldn't help but anger the woman even more. Was it really difficult for him to remain silent? Kupo Nui could barely contain herself. Maybe Rizok have tried to make the mask of a benevolent owner fall off her face?

"What a pleasant meeting, son," plump but sturdy man came out of the doors of the Golden Dusk. "Dear Kupo Nui is doing well. Just like me. I was waiting for you to come and see me. But my son didn't even think about it – he went somewhere again. Would you like to tell us what kind of cases you solved with them?"

Elder Kortok was scaring Mualani? Even if she rarely met him. The man certainly had more important things to do than chill out at the springs. Rizok usually annoyed the Golden Dusk staff with his presence. The guy was always so proud and narcissistic, but being next to his father, he lowered his head down.

Kupo Nui dispersed the staff. They immediately went about their business. Someone picked up Rizok's belongings, which Kinich had managed to unload from their carriage. The guy himself was nowhere to be seen. He must have led saurians to a place where they could rest.

"Let's go inside," the owner suggested.

Grabbing Rizok by the shoulder, the elder led him inside the building. Kupo Nui followed, but turned the other way. Traveler and Mualani followed her. Paimon flew alongside.

They entered one of the meeting rooms. Sometimes elders or wealthy factory owners gathered there to discuss important issues while enjoying a rest at the springs. This room even had its own access to the water, the sound of which penetrated through the ajar windows.

"Mualani!" Kupo Nui shouted angrily. "You, naughty girl! I gave you shelter, I let you work in my hotel! And what are you doing instead?! Hanging around somewhere, forgetting about your duties!"

"Hey! Stop it!" Paimon exclaimed.

The owner ignored her.

"Your place is on the streets, but I mercifully picked you up, let you sleep in a soft bed and eat fresh food! All this is out of respect for Atea and your dead parents! But you don't care – how many times have we tried to hammer one simple truth into your brainless head!? Know your place, curb your pride and mind your own business!!!"

Mualani froze. Kupo Nui was angry, but maybe it was for the best? If the woman fires her, then Mualani will be free to choose her path.

"Do you really think we're going to listen to you screams?" Paimon asked.

"Calm down," Traveler added.

But the hostess was relentless. Mualani felt no remorse – she had done the right thing! If everyone continues to turn a blind eye to the tragedy unfolding in Natlan, then the country is definitely doomed. Mualani was ready to be the one who would try to prove to people that such indifference was wrong.

"But, owner," Mualani tried to begin. "I didn't just leave! People in Natlan are dying every day while we sit under the protection of the Sacred Flame! I just wanted to take Kachina to a safe place, but I saw so much destruction and pain that I only strengthened my resolve to save Natlan."

"Save Natlan?" Kupo Nui laughed. "The Archon will figure it out herself! I don't care what happens outside the walls. The main thing is that we are not there!"

"But that's not fair!" Mualani exclaimed.

"Life is always unfair."

The owner calmed down, returning to her usual expression of superiority over others. Traveler, Paimon, and Mualani looked at the woman expectantly. Was that all she wanted to say?

"You should have helped yourself before you promised to save the whole country," Kupo Nui drawled. "But you already could’t help Atea".

 Mualani exclaimed, "What happened to Atea?"

"She's dying."

Mualani exhaled in fright. No, no, no!!!! The girl knew that her aunt was ill. Many years ago, a woman was injured. The taint of the Abyss remained inside her body, preventing Atea from fighting and living. Therefore, the warrior became a simple hotel employee. She couldn't hold a sword: flashes of pain shot through her stomach, driving her crazy. And now it's only gotten worse!

Mualani took off and ran towards the numerous rooms where the staff lived. Atea has nowhere else to go. She used to be a neighbor of the Mualani’s family, but now there was a prison building on the site of their houses.

"By the way, you're fired!" The owner shouted after her.

Traveler and Paimon followed her as she ran past the doors. None of them led to Atea. Finally, Mualani reached the place. When she opened the door, she saw a woman lying on the bed. Atea's face was unnaturally pale, she squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips tightly together. The woman's short hair was disheveled, sticking to her skin. In tears, Mualani ran to the bed and brushed the strands from her aunt's forehead. Atea had fever.

Traveler and Paimon had already gone inside. Mualani turned around and looked hopefully at the hero.

"Traveler, please help her!"

He was ready. Stretching out his hand, Traveler began to pull the filth out of Atea's body. She moaned faintly. Mualani was crying.

A few hours later, the girl was sitting on the wall and looking at the ocean, almost completely hidden in the night. Atea regained consciousness, but doctor who examined her came to disappointing conclusions. The woman doesn't have much left. Hearing this, here aunt just laughed.

"Mualani," she said, "I can last two or three months. They underestimate my resilience."

But the girl knew that she was just bragging. When they were alone, her aunt hugged Mualani, wiping tears from her face. Girl did not expect Atea's illness to worsen during her absence. And she was going to leave again. What if this is their last meeting? Oddly enough, Atea did not dissuade her niece. The years spent together had taught her not to fight the girl's stubbornness. If Mualani made a decision, then she couldn't be stopped. But doubts crept into the girl's head. She wasn't going to give in to them, but she couldn't help but think about the correctness of the chosen path.

That's why she climbed the wall. Even though it was dark, the sound of waves calmed girl. She could imagine that all her loved ones were alive, healthy and happy. They were splashing in the bay together, laughing happily. Maybe Mualani would have thrown a party. She would invite Kachina, Amina and Rizok, and Traveler with Paimon, and Kinich with Ajaw, and Xilonen and many others – anyone who wants to come. Then they could play, compete in water sports or try something extreme.

In this perfect world, Mualani could run business, and her main concern would be unhappy customers and bad weather, which would not allow her to swim in the springs. The reality was different. Here, Mualani must reject doubts in order to do the right thing. Should she stay with Atea or save Natlan? The girl chose both options, but could not split into two parts.

"Mualani?" Kinich's voice came from behind her.

Now he crept up from behind while the girl was gazing thoughtfully into the distance. It was Kinich's turn to persuade her to join the rescue of Natlan. Of course, she wasn't going to back down.

Mualani wiped her tears and turned around.

"We took your stuff. It's time to leave."

"Then let's get down?" The girl suggested. "I hope you haven't been waiting too long for me."

Kinich shook his head.

"There's no need to go downstairs. Ajaw deigned to drive us."

Before Mualani could ask, a large dragon flew up from behind Kinich. He glowed in the dark, and his muzzle resembled Ajaw’s, but he was still completely unfamiliar to girl. She gasped in surprise.

"Our Dragon Majesty is not going to wait long for the despicable slaves. Get in, or we'll go back to our standard appearance."

But the voice hasn't changed. Ajaw's familiar grunt made Mualani smile. Traveler and Paimon were already sitting on the creature, holding onto the ridges on its back. Uncertainly, Mualani climbed up. Ajaw was warm, and the glow of his scales was soft.

She felt something wrap around her waist. Looking down, she saw that Kinich had used Dendro element to bind them to Ajaw's body. The ropes shone green, resembling vines. But their durability seemed to be much higher.

"Ajaw can't kill me with his own claws. But he tends to forget himself in flight." Kinich settled himself on his companion's back. "If Ajaw accelerates a lot, it will be very easy to fall off his back. I hope he doesn't forget about us. But still, I use some precautions."

"Are you done insulting your Dragonmight Lord, Kinich? We have lived for so many years, and we remember everything as if it happened yesterday! Our Dragon Majesty could never forget about anyone and about ourselves especially. Let's fly already!"

And Ajaw took off.

"There it is, somewhere nearby." Kinich pointed to a spot of light below. "It's hard to see from the ground, they use camouflage techniques, but the view from the air is great."

Below them was one of the settlements of the Masters of the Night-Wind. It wasn't the main city, but it was a miracle that they had found anything at all.

Paimon exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Great! Who would have thought that we would fly here in a couple of hours!? Ajaw, you did a great job!"

Ajaw puffed contentedly, enjoying the praise. Traveler hurried to grab the ridge.

"Our Dragon Majesty are tired," Ajaw said.

They began to descend smoothly. Dozens of houses surrounded by defensive structures became clearer.

"Don't you think we might be mistaken for monsters of the Abyss? Imagine for yourself: an unidentified flying object flies into your village..."

"Paimon would faint," Paimon agreed. "But what can we do?"

"You can wave a white flag."

"Or Ajaw could spit fire in the form of the word «peace»," Kinich grinned.

The dragon shook indignantly and accelerated.

"Well, then... We act according to circumstances," Paimon grumbled.

When Ajaw's claws touched the ground, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The dragon immediately began to shrink, returning to its standard size. He guessed to land near the entrance, deciding to abandon the epic appearance in the center of the settlement. However, this did not helped. A group of armed men had already surrounded their company.

Unlike other warriors they had met earlier, these wore clothes in cold blue shades, noticeably different from the uniforms worn by warriors from other regions. Their outfits were more traditional. There was something about them that reminded one of shamans – multiple layers of clothing made from animal skins, bound and decorated with tassels. Some wore more modern clothes, but retained the overall aesthetic. Each man was holding a weapon that was decorated with pendants and beads. On the belt of these people hung pouches, amulets and objects unknown to the Traveler. They probably were used for rituals.

During the flight, Kinich and Mualani tried to tell the others everything they knew about the Masters of the Night-Wind. Sometimes, Ajaw interrupted them to insert his very important remarks. But the three of them didn't know much. These people of Natlan lived in secrecy, in small settlements disguised with the help of secret techniques that they studied. The benefit of these techniques differed from person to person, so the Masters of the Night-Wind remained ambiguous allies in battle. Nevertheless, they went to the front like the others when the time of conscription came. The rest of the time, people spent at home, doing more important things for them and avoiding spending time with other tribes.

Masters of the Night-Wind kept to themselves. The serious Abyssal pollution had not spared their lands either, but it was different here. Along the Ley Line, in the east of Natlan, near the territories of the Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes, the main advantage of the monsters was their numbers. Where they have arrived now, these creatures were so tricky and cunning. In order to reach the camouflaged settlements of the Masters of the Night-Wind, the monsters of the Abyss took on human form. And it was almost impossible to tell them apart. Kinich avoided staying in these lands, so he almost did not take the missions offered by locals.

"Who are you!? How did you find us?" A man growled.

He stepped forward, pointing his spear at the Traveler. Paimon was hiding behind him, while Kinich and Mualani stood on either side.

"We are..." What is the correct name for their group? "We have arrived on behalf of the Pyro Archon."

The warriors' faces clouded over. Wrong words.

"Let Paimon explain!" Little girl flew forward. "Paimon is Paimon. And this is Traveler, Kinich and Mualani. We did meet with Pyro Archon, but we came here because we wanted to do it! In fact, we're looking for allies!"

Masters of the Night-Wind looked at each other with bewilderment and suspicion, not knowing what to do.

"If you, monsters of the Abyss, have come up with a new plan to deceive us...!" The man was still pointing the spear at the traveler, and his face was glowing with rage.

"Wait," an unarmed woman approached the warrior and put her hand on his shoulder. "Let me check them out."

With that, she took out several chains with rings on the ends from her pocket. After putting them on, the woman stretched out her arms and spread her fingers. The chains formed a V-shaped symbol framed by a circle. The figure lit up. Woman started checking.

"So bright... What is it?" She said, startled. "How is this possible?"

She looked at the Traveler, and he shrugged his shoulders in embarrassment. Paimon crossed her arms proudly.

"Traveler is a great hero. He and Paimon visited almost all the places of Teyvat and came to Natlan in search of adventure. Now we want to help you deal with the Abyss."

The warriors whispered. Now they were all shocked.

"Gold... The light of your aura outshines them," the woman pointed at Kinich and Mualani. "But I'm more inclined to believe that the Pyro Archon came here than that an extraordinary person like you would unite with the Abyss. They're fine," those words were meant for the others.

People lowered their weapons.

"Of course, even here, no one noticed how brightly the soul of Our Dragon Majesty shines," Ajaw grumbled.

"If only shit could shine..." Kinich muttered.

Ajaw shouted indignantly. The Masters of the Night-Wind looked at their group with interest. Ajaw and Paimon were unusual themselves, Traveler glowed with a golden light from within, Mualani and Kinich simply belonged to other tribes of Natlan. They all joined together for a good cause – saving the country from the Abyss.

The leader of warriors awkwardly interrupted their conversation. He seemed wary, but there was no rage in his gaze anymore.

"Let's go inside," he suggested. "Still, we can talk in a safer environment there."

It was pretty nice inside the settlement. Small streets, houses with tall steles on their roofs, lights floating in the air. Shrubs and flowers of a delicate purple color grew. Children and adults, disturbed by the alarm, looked at the guests with interest. The saurians, who looked like bats, – iktomisaurs tilted their heads, following the travelers with long thoughtful glances.

"If your saurian needs a nest and treats, then he can stay here," the man suggested.

Ajaw blushed with anger.

"Such an attitude deserves to be punished! Kinich, he insulted the Dragon Lord K’uhul Ajaw! Execute him!!"

Kinich shook his head.

"I don't see a problem, Ajaw." He said indifferently. "You're not young anymore, you've been carrying us on your back for so long. We'll have to face the truth. Even strangers can see that you're an old wreck."

"You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Paimon, maybe you need a nest and saurian treats, too?" Traveler asked with a laughter.

"Paimon, agree," Mualani added.

Paimon huffed resentfully.

"Paimon doesn't look like a saurian!"

"Really? But what about that qucusaur that Ajaw almost crashed into while we were flying? It's pink too, and it screams as loud as you..."

Mualani was laughing, while Paimon and Ajaw were grumbling. At this time, the warrior led their group to the main building. It was a little cramped inside – a large altar was located in the middle of the room. Several people stood muttering incantations to the blue flames. Large iktomisaurs sat on the rocks, hiding behind their wings. Only the muzzles stuck out, and the eyes were still attentive and smart.

They sat on small cushions laid out in the shape of a circle. Only two representatives of the Masters of the Night-Wind remained with them – the warriors’ leader named Marau and the woman who had previously studied the Traveler's soul. Her name was Katena.

"Please tell, what does the Pyro Archon want from us?" Katena asked.

Paimon was ready. She spoke enthusiastically about the tournament that was supposed to unite all six tribes. Traveler, Paimon, and their companions came here to invite the Masters of the Night-Wind to the City of the Sacred Flame. Marau and Katena looked at each other as if they could communicate telepathically. Finally, Paimon finished explaining. It's time to answer the next questions.

However, Marau and Katena were in no hurry to break the silence that arose after Paimon's speech. They looked at the guests quietly as they stared back at them. Mualani and Paimon exchanged awkward glances.

"Well," Mualani said, "Paimon told you about the Pyro Archon's plans. What do you think? Join us!"

"Young ladies, we have not believed in miracles for a long time, even though our people are known for being able to perform many of them. Besides, it's not in our power to determine the fate of the Masters of the Night-Wind. The decision remains with the leader and all the elders."

Katena smiled gently at Mualani and Paimon, but her eyes were watching the Traveler intently.
"So we need to get to the main city? But how are we going to find him?  Paimon asked."

"It's not hard to find a thing if you know where to look. But we will offer you an easier way."

Marau got up and motioned for them to follow him. The others agreed, and Katena was bringing up the rear. Once again, they passed the flames, the priests, and then entered a passage hidden behind the vines. The stone walls were hung with dim torches, and the tiles on the floor glowed from low-flying fireflies. The corridor seemed to be endless: in front and behind, it stretched without a visible gap.

Traveler did not understand when the environment had changed. He looked around carefully, following Marau as they stopped in a circular hall.

"But just a second ago there was only a corridor!" Paimon exclaimed.

Her scream reverberated off the walls, amplified. Everyone frowned, but returned to studying the room they had entered. The same torches, lights and stone from floor to ceiling. In the center was a structure shaped like a dreamcatcher. A round wooden frame, inside of which a cloth was stretched. It was dark purple, embroidered with patterns and symbols unfamiliar to the Traveler. But apart from the peculiar tapestry, the hall was empty.

However, Katena and Marau stopped on either side of the structure. They both solemnly bowed with their palms clasped.

"Now we will introduce you to one of the techniques of the Masters of the Night-Wind. You're not destined to master it, so you can watch." Marau grinned.

Paimon crossed her arms over her chest. But Masters of the Night-Wind ignored the gesture. Both of them were already focused on performing the ritual. Katena closed her eyes, stretched out her arms and froze in front of the tapestry. Marau took the torch off the wall and held it up to the cloth. It caught fire. At the same time, Katena directed the force into the center of the smoldering circle. And suddenly the fire stopped. A swirling energy appeared in place of the cloth.

"That's it," Marau said proudly, hanging the torch back up. "This is a portal that will take you directly to the main city. Come in one at a time and have a good trip."

Under the expectant gazes, the group approached the portal. Ajaw hastened to disappear, whirling into the jewel on Kinich's chest. Paimon looked at the Traveler anxiously. She wished she could do the same.

Mualani resolutely went first. Wasn't she afraid that it might be a trap? 

The girl took the first step by entering the energy field. She disappeared immediately. Kinich went next. And then Paimon flew into the portal. Traveler was the last one. A wave of energy swept through his body, and his vision went dark. Traveler felt that he was moving in space, but only short white flashes reminded him that he was not blind or trapped.

Finally, Aether felt a solid surface under his feet again. He staggered slightly, and felt the grip of several pairs of hands. His vision brightened, but still not enough to fully examine surroundings. But Paimon's indignant screams had already reached Traveler's ears.

"How could they! Paimon doesn't understand!!"

And it was true. The wind howled, blowing his hair into eyes. Their group was standing on top of a cliff. And behind it was a drawing that resembled the patterns on a canvas that had been turned into a portal. However, here and now it was just an image without a single speck of magic.

"It was the shortest diplomatic meeting in my memory," Kinich said.

They were still on the cliff. Mualani said that when she came here, she immediately tried to return. But the portal didn't work both ways. So she had to wait for the others.

"Just think!!! These scoundrels did not show Our Dragon Majesty the proper respect!! No food, no drinks! And after such a reception, they also sent us here!!"

Ajaw was angry. He was inflating and deflating as he flew around.

"To be fair, you were offered treats," Mualani remarked.

But Ajaw's grief was too great. He did not expect that he would have to ride pathetic people again. Kinich continued to insist. It doesn't look like they'll be able to get down from the mountains on their own. At this altitude, only rare qucusaurs and clouds were their company. The ground was not visible, because it was hidden behind layers of fog.

"Kinich, remember, you, greedy snake! You will owe us as much food as Our Dragonmight Lord desires!! And its number grows with each subsequent flight on our back!!"

Kinich shook his head irritably. But he had to accept the dragon's demands.

Ajaw increased again, and everything repeated itself. Masters of the Night-Wind had cast them to the cliffs, closer to the People of the Springs and the heart of Natlan than to their destination. And they'll have to go all the way from the beginning.

Ajaw should not participate in orienteering competitions. After several hours of flying, when their hands were already chilled from cold, despite the gloves, lights appeared below. It obviously wasn't the main city. Anyway the group decided to go down and try to negotiate with others.

The cold meating. Then Paimon once again explained the purpose of their arrival. They walked down the corridor for a long time to find themselves in the same room with a tapestry in a round frame. But was it worth making the same mistake and blindly trusting strangers?

They decided to try the teleportation method again. But if they are deceived again, then Ajaw will have to make an effort and find the main city on his own.

"Please don't send us to the top of the cliff," Paimon pleaded.

It wasn't the mountaintop that was waiting for them on the other side of the portal. It was the bottom of the gorge, towering over the Traveler and the others.

"That's to be expected," Paimon grumbled. "Next time they will take us to the volcano!!!"

"The volcano is located on the territory of the Collective of Plenty, so there are hardly any such portals. But I would also prefer not to try again, there are many magma lakes underground."

Kinich was already lighting a bonfire. Fortunately, the night mist was dissipating along with the fog. But they still needed a break. They will fly out later.

Ajaw lay exhausted on the ground.

"The pathetic bats," he grumbled, "think they're allowed to treat Our Dragon Majesty like this. We will burn down their houses, and we will force people to serve us. Despicable slaves, how stupid and naive they are that..."

"Ajaw is delusional again," Mualani said jokingly. "Maybe you should show him to the veterinarian?"

"The erosion corroded his brain," Kinich muttered.

Ajaw burst into curses. Nevertheless, after eating the stew cooked by the Traveler, he regained his determination to fly. Dragon Lords don't need rest, even if Kinich was skeptical about it. Proudly spreading his wings, Ajaw showed himself in all his glory. Finally, Traveler managed to see the patterns on its scales. He was still yellow-green, but there was no trace of the cuteness of his smaller form. The dragon was dangerous. However, he couldn't stay in this state for long, and he was doing it now only out of spite, so that he could then annoy Kinich.

His bravado didn't last long. This time, they were flying in the opposite direction, from the territories adjacent to the Flower-Feather Clan. The clouds did not hide the scenery below, nor did the groups of monsters roaming the plains and hiding in the gorges. Ajaw had to lower to avoid losing sight of any identifying marks. But actually, flying on the same level with birds and qucusaurs took too much effort.

"Well, if we don't find anything again, then we can leave this hopeless case," Paimon said pessimistically. "We might as well go to the Flower-Feather Clan."

"As long as we're allowed to fly within a mile of their territory. I'm sure we'll be greeted even more unfriendly. They fly on qucusaurs and are armed. They also hate all natlanians to the core."

Kinich did not improve the situation one bit. After all, he knew what he was talking about.

"No one knows why the Flower-Feather Clan betrayed Natlan. Maybe an Archon or important people ruling with her. But not ordinary people. However, these people are considered the most... unpredictable?" Mualani smiled uncertainly.

"Unpredictable because no one has ever met them?" Paimon chuckled.

"That's right..."

"It says that the people there are wild and live uncivilized. They can't read or write." Kinich said.

"Yeah, and they also wear animal skins and eat raw meat," Mualani laughed.

"That sounds great," Ajaw growled. "It reminds us of the old days."

"Delusional again," Paimon whispered. "However, Paimon think that you forgot to mention something else..."

"That's right, they eat people too." Mualani exclaimed.

Paimon squealed.

"Tell me it's a joke!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Your description fits our expectations of Natlan," Traveler said.

Under the surprised looks of Mualani and Kinich, he continued.

"We didn't know much when we came here. We've heard about hot springs and the war, but we couldn't put together a complete picture. There were thoughts that there was lava all around, and the people were really... wild. Now I see how things really are. It's possible that the rumors about the Flower-Feather Clan are really just rumors."

Mualani shrugged her shoulders, "I'm glad that our reality turned out to be better than you thought."

And Kinich added, "You're probably right, Traveler. The Flower-Feather Clan would not have been able to survive for so long without the help of the other five nations if it did not have certain resources, knowledge, and a management structure to repel the attacks of the Abyss. As for the whole of Natlan, it is not as far behind the rest of the world as it might seem. We have our own masters, like Xilonen. Natlan also trades with other regions. For this purpose, there is a special commission on economic issues inside the City of the Sacred Flame."

They continued flying. Traveler got a chance to see the monsters better. Packs of hilichurls roamed in search of prey. Hundreds of glowing eyes could be seen in the dark crevice of the mountain. A vile entity from the Abyss was crawling along a small river. But... How could they see the monsters so clearly while flying so high?

Sensing something was wrong, everyone became worried.

"Oh! Paimon feels like we're going down! To make matters worse, there's definitely nothing like the main city here!!!"

"The Dragon Lords doesn't need rest," Kinich chuckled. "And look where it's gotten us."

Ajaw beat his wings tiredly, but the ground was getting closer. On one side there were rocks devoid of protrusions. There was nothing on the other side. Only endless plains could be seen all the way to the horizon. Traveler tensed up.

"I can open the glider, but it's unlikely to hold three people," Aether said quickly.

"There's no need to hold three," Kinich stood up resolutely, balancing on Ajaw's back. "I'll use the hook and my powers to climb down the cliff. Ajaw, I advise you to decrease..."

But it all happened too fast. The speed of the fall increased noticeably at the same time when Kinich cancelled Dendro ropes that had been holding them all this time. At the same moment, they all lost their grip on Ajaw. Traveler opened the glider, holding Paimon with one hand. She needed to regain her balance in order to fly by herself. Kinich launched a hook with a rope attached to it towards the cliff. He saw a small ledge, which he grabbed. He held Mualani calmly with one hand. Having flown up to the rock, Kinich braced his feet against it, and then pushed off again, gradually descending. If mountaineering existed in Teyvat, then he could have become a champion.

After making sure that Mualani and Kinich were able to descend on their own, Traveler looked down. Ajaw had listened to Kinich's advice, so now his small body was rapidly approaching the ground. He tried to slow down, but he only accelerated harder. Before Traveler could figure out how to help him, there was a crash. A cloud of dust rose up. Help is no longer needed, Ajaw landed on his own.

"Cough, cough, Paimon can't see anything!" Coughing, Paimon waved her arms, trying to clear the air around her.

It was hopeless, there was no wind, so they had to wait for the dust to settle naturally. A crater formed at the site of Ajaw's landing, deep but small in diameter. Several trees lay broken. The dragon itself was flattened in the center of the hole.

"Oh, Paimon hopes he didn't die there..."

Fortunately, Ajaw was an immortal, omnipotent dragon, so he survived to continue pleasing his despicable slaves. After descending, Traveler looked into the crater. Ajaw was showing signs of life, although he was slightly flattened. Even this condition didn't stop him from cursing everyone around him. However, his indignation was drowned out by the depth of the pit in which he was lying.

"Alive?" Kinich asked. Mualani came running with him.

"He is," the Traveler replied affirmatively. "What could happen to him."

Looking indifferently into the pit, Kinich shook his head. Mualani anxiously asked if Ajaw would be able to return to his former condition.

The moment of idyll was interrupted by a surprised exclamation from behind them.

"My garden!"

Paimon screamed, while the others assumed defensive poses. The speaker approached them inaudibly. He wore dark clothes that included a hooded cape and boots despite the sun and hot weather. His skin (where it was visible) was fair, albeit tanned, and his bangs fell in disorderly strands over his face (already partially hidden by the hood). Therefore, it was difficult to see the eyes.

"My vegetables..." The guy said sadly. His voice was young, quite resonant, and filled with deep sadness.

He fell to his knees and grabbed the ground with his hands, ignoring the others.

"Poor tomatoes and turnips, I've been cultivating you for so long, and now you're back in the ground." The stranger said dramatically. "We'll all go back there one day." He turned to the Traveler and the others.

"We are very sorry..." Mualani said with an awkward smile. "We’re sorry that Ajaw destroyed your garden."

"If Paimon had known that you were growing food here, then Paimon would have personally made sure that Ajaw braked with muzzle on a rock!"

"Huh!? What are you saying?!" With a distinctive sound, Ajaw detached himself from the ground and flew out of the pit. His furious face was red, but his body had returned to its original dragon form. "Our Dragon Majesty didn't carry you on our back to listen to such insults!"

With a snap, Kinich locked Ajaw in.

"Let him sleep it off already."

Traveler did not even notice how he relaxed his vigilance. Kinich had long since removed his own claymore, and Mualani was watching the stranger's actions with interest. He wandered around the crater and examined the aftermath of the crash. The pitiful drooping branches and leaves were left from this young man's garden. The clods of earth scattered around finished off those plants that were lucky enough to survive after the dragon landed.

"There's nothing left. It looks like I'll have to go to the main city..."

"What a coincidence!" Paimon exclaimed. "We need to go there too!!"

Ororon was asleep when a roar shook the walls of his house. Before he could recover from his nap, he fell from the ceiling beam from which he was hanging upside down.

"What was that?"

It couldn't be the Abyss. An array was set up around the territory he lived in, reacting to the invasion of monsters. He would have sensed if one of them had burst in. But it wasn't the monsters that disturbed his sleep.

It was always dark in the house, with barely any light coming through the drawn curtains, but it seemed to Ororon that the sun was burning through his eyes. Something bright was nearby, and it was blocking out everything around it. The guy was used to the feeling of a million fragments of auras and energies tearing him apart. All living things had a soul that shone brightly for those who knew where to look. Even the monsters from the Abyss carried a light that poisoned the mind and nature.

Things also had their own energy. What was put into them when they were created. So, the Masters of the Night-Wind wove their scrolls, made amulets and totems. Everyday things were filled with the power of the desires and aspirations of their creators. Therefore, Ororon's house was quite empty. It's hard to shut out nature, and he didn't want to. But the sensory overload from the multitude of power-filled objects and creatures didn't do him any good.

How such awakenings did not benefit. A bright aura flooded everything around, warming but deafening. Throwing on his cloak, Ororon dared to look out. His house was built near the mountains, hidden in the shadow of an overhanging cliff. From here, the strangers standing on the remains of Ororon's beloved garden were clearly visible.

The golden aura belonged to one of them. He wasn't from Natlan. It became clear from the clothes and the hair. The other three... Four of them, counting the dragon, faded in the rays of their companion. However, Ororon was not just one of the Masters of the Night-Wind. His soul was split, which gave him hypersensitivity to other people's energy.

"I accept apologies, but you eat them. However, I can't take you to the main city either. Sorry."

The flying creature grunted indignantly.

"Hey! For Paimon it seems like you're contradicting yourself!"

Paimon's aura was pure silver, flowing into the sky along with the stars that the little girl dropped while flying.

"But why can't you take us with you?" The girl from the People of the Springs looked upset. Ororon looked away. Her aura was bright blue, radiating warmth and determination.

"Sorry, our main city has to remain a secret from the rest of the Natlan."

"What if we tell you that we need to get there for a good reason?" Paimon asked.

"The good reason is to save Natlan," the guy from the Scions of the Canopy added skeptically. His aura was green, sharp, but not evil.

"Save Natlan?" Ororon asked in surprise.

"Agrh, Paimon isn't ready to explain again! Traveler and Paimon exploring Teyvat. Now it's time to visit Natlan. Here we are faced with difficult situation and decided to help. And even the Pyro Archon agreed to participate. She organizes a tournament that requires the presence of each of the six nations of Natlan. That's why we went to negotiate with the Masters of the Night-Wind and the Flower-Feather Clan. And Mualani and Kinich are helping. By the way, Mualani, how did you convince him in the first place?" Paimon blurted it all out in one breath.

Mualani shrugged her shoulders.

"Paimon, I'm afraid I didn't understand," Ororon said with sadness in his voice. "Could you repeat your story one more time?"

Paimon stared at him in amazement.

"You're kidding, right?"

Ororon innocently blinked his eyes, and remembering that they were hard to see, he spread his arms to the sides. Paimon screamed.

"Was that a battle cry? Or do you seriously want to attract all the hilichurls in the area here?" Traveler grumbled. "Nevertheless, we need to get to leader. But your people sent us to the wrong place twice. Next time, we will use more aggressive methods."

Is this a threat or a warning? He didn't want to get into a fight with these people.

"I'm afraid that a lowly farmer like me won't be able to help you meet the leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind. My skills are only enough to use the portal passage, but I'm still not sure... Just think that I might be locked up in prison for violating the rules like that while you're enjoying your freedom. Have mercy!"

For greater effect, Ororon fell to his knees, clasping his hands in a prayer gesture. He didn't play – he didn’t want to face the wrath of the leader, the elders, or Granny Itztli even less.

"Paimon is very sorry for you, but this is your fate. Help us get to the main city, and we won't say a word about you. No one will know!"

It's not like he could handle them if he wanted to. And there was nowhere to run from here. Besides, vegetables were the main source of food, and without them, he would have to buy groceries or starve to death... The sad reality of adulthood.

Therefore, Ororon agreed. Moreover, he will enter the portal first to prevent fraud on his part. He could have tried, but Traveler and Kinich seemed too dangerous and suspicious. Come to think of it, saving Natlan isn't such a bad thing, is it?

He opened the portal and smiled sadly.

"See you later..."

And after that he disappeared.

To be on the other side, on one of the streets deep in the main city of the Masters of the Night-Wind. Ororon pulled his hood tighter. He must not be recognized.

"Wow," Mualani said, exiting the portal. She looked around while Ororon was sitting on one of the boxes nearby. The surface of one of them was used to create a portal right on it.

Paimon, Traveler, and Kinich were also here, looking with interest at the place they found themselves in. And there was a lot to see. The huge C-shaped building could be seen from anywhere in the city – it towered over the houses. At some point, the stone was replaced by metal, and the horns pointed their vents to the sky. The phlogiston burned, creating a shimmering smoke. Energy channels filled with elemental energy stretched from seven sides to the center.

In the semi-darkness that never dissipated inside the main city, one could get lost. But thousands of cold lights illuminated the signs on buildings, windows and doors, littered the ground and split the sky. All the houses looked like a building in the center, and smoke was coming from the pipes on the roofs, because they served as incense burners. So, the air was filled with the aromas of all kinds of herbs intended for different purposes. Their confusion made his head hurt.

"Hmm," Paimon drawled, "Paimon has never been to a place like this. It smells so unusual here, and the sky is so dark... Why can't anyone get in here except the Masters of the Night-Wind?"

Ororon shrugged his shoulders. Actually, he knew, but he wasn't going to tell. Paimon rolled her eyes.

"Sure, keep quiet when Paimon asks! Maybe Traveler should talk to you?"

Ororon paled.

"I think I forgot to turn off the aphid and feed the kettle... Sorry!" Ororon rushed away.

Paimon's indignant scream rang in his ears, but fortunately, no one tried to catch him.

Chapter Text

"Kinich, you just got a competitor." Paimon grumbled. "He ran away even faster than you do!"

Mualani and Traveler grinned.

"He walks so quietly," Kinich said thoughtfully. "I didn't hear his footsteps, and now he's gone, and we'll never find him in this maze."

The houses around were not just similar. They were the same, and the only difference between them was the smell of incense clogging the nose. It soon became suffocating. The streets were strange. Some houses stood in a circle, some in the shape of another figure, but never in straight rows. This building resembled what the Children of Echoes or the Scions of the Canopy preferred, but even there some order was preserved. Everything here was aimed at confusing everyone.

It wasn't just the houses of Masters of the Night-Wind that were strange. They themselves were also different from the other peoples of Natlan. Apart from the general shamanic style they favored, the people seemed to be talking to each other about completely meaningless things.

"The sun outside does not stop mercilessly burning the harvest of the Collective of Plenty lands."

"We should light more incense and pray for the continuation of sunny days."

A man and a woman were talking to each other, lighting a flame in one of the pipes.

"Fortune-telling has shown that Natlan will fall soon."

"Be more precise, we need to know for whose souls the Abyss will come this time."

The young guys were sitting on the porch with their maps spread out around them.

"If an apple falls on your head, will you finally remember the sequence of hand movements when exorcising the soul?"

"But, Mentor, I'm so afraid of ghosts that my hands are shaking!"

Several young students gathered next to a middle-aged woman.

Their group stood out. Only the Masters of the Night Wind lived inside the main city. The others weren't expected here. Therefore, the attentive glances of passers-by became their constant companions. Iktomisaurs hissed, continuing their silent observation.

"Girl, let me tell you a fortune."

Someone finally decided to approach the strangers. A young girl in a mask, with her hair gathered in braids and decorated with beads. She grabbed Mualani's hand and pulled her towards a small tent decorated with patterns. The girl obediently followed her. Mualani was interested.

"Here, sit down." The girl sat Mualani down on a chair.

Traveler, Kinich and Paimon looked around with interest. From behind the curtain in the corner, several pairs of wide eyes stared at them.

"Do I need to hold my breath or eat something?" Mualani asked.

The girl looked at her like she was a fool.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but we – Masters of the Night-Wind, guess on our own. We don't need you to do anything."

Shrugging her shoulders, Mualani agreed. The girl took the her hand again and looked at the lines that crisscrossed her palm.

"Hmm," she drawled meaningfully.

Mualani frowned, but said nothing. The girl didn't speak either, carefully examining every inch of her skin.

"Come on, Ellie, what did you see there?" Hissed one of those who were hiding earlier.

It turned out to be a boy of about thirteen, with protruding front teeth and a scattering of freckles on his tanned face. He wasn't wearing a mask, but his neck and arms were already covered with ornate tattoos.

"I see that you are..." Ellie hesitated. "Definitely not devoid of intelligence, and the heart is in place. But..."

"But?" Mualani asked.

"Death," Ellie gasped.

Paimon gave a startled squeak, "It can't be!!!"

"You're stupid, sis," the boy grumbled. "What kind of death is there if it's with us."

Ellie glanced at him irritably.

"Early death," she said. "The life line ends here."
Ellie pointed to the spot where the line actually ended. Mualani jerked her hand away.

"You're going to die. Maybe tomorrow. Or the day after tomorrow. But very soon." Ellie looked sadly at Mualani. "I'm sorry."

"Paimon feels like you're deceiving us. Come on, look at the palms of Paimon, Kinich, and Traveler! And you will definitely tell us that death awaits all of us, so that we turn around and run away from here in tears. No way!!"

The boy grinned.

"Silly sister," he said, "let me take a look."

He tilted his head in a gesture so similar to that of an iktomisaur. Kinich reluctantly pulled off his glove and extended his hand to the child. The guy's fingers were covered with small scars.

"Wow," the boy breathed. "I see it... Death!" He exclaimed.

"Paimon said it!!!! Come on, look at Paimon's palms too, you little rascal!"

While Ellie was examining the Traveler's hand, her brother was doing the same with Paimon. Mualani and Kinich exchanged worried glances.

"I see it..." Ellie began.

"Traveler is immortal," Paimon chuckled.

Ellie hesitated.

"He's going to be fine. His life line is so powerful and long that... Oh, well, he really is immortal."

Paimon put her hands on her hips in triumph. Her own life line was also fine.

"But what does that mean? I don't want to die!" Mualani exclaimed.

Before Ellie and her brother could answer, an old woman entered the tent. However, her gaze burned with rage when she saw what was happening.

"Ellie!! You and your stupid brother, what are you doing!!"

Ellie signed. Her brother hid behind the girl.

"Grandma... We were just guessing."

"Have you been guessing?" The old lady suddenly calmed down. "Well, that's really the first thing to do with a group of strangers who have entered the territory of the Masters of the Night-Wind.

"Grandma," the boy whined.

"Paimon is Paimon," the little girl interjected. "And this is Mualani, Kinich and the Traveler. Your grandchildren have just predicted the death of our friends! But that can't happen!"

The old woman shook her head.

"If Ellie saw death, then so be it. She's a master at it."

Paimon frowned.

"It was a pleasure talking to you," Kinich said irritably. "Goodbye."

He went to the exit. Mualani ran after him. Traveler and Paimon had no choice but to follow them. Inspired, after approval from her... mentor? Ellie called after them:

"Kinich, Mualani, you two also have very short love lines!"

"Ellie, stop being so tactless!"

"And there is no line of fate at all!"

"That's enough!"

Mualani walked, looking at her palms. Traveler caught up with her and walked beside her.

"Don't listen to them. I won't let any of you die."

Paimon exclaimed, "It's all nonsense, they just like Traveler’s aura and don't like other peoples of Natlan!"

Kinich just waved it off. They were approaching another turn, which was followed by... another turn. Yes, as much as possible!

"Paimon is tired of these endless riddles and mazes. Why does everything have to be so complicated," she whined.

"We still need to talk to the leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind," Mualani tried to sound positive, but there was a shadow of doubt in her eyes.

"Paimon didn't forget, but..."

She was interrupted by another one... No, it's not a turn. Conflict. People were crowding and arguing. Paimon listened enthusiastically.

"Come on, why did you steal these amulets?"

"We didn't steal!" A child's voice said defensively.

Paimon frowned, "What's going on here?" She asked politely of the people standing at the edge.

From their perspective, it was impossible to see the scene unfolding at the moment.

"We've got the little thieves," one of the onlookers said readily. "Who are you?" He eyed Paimon, Traveller, Mualani, and Kinich suspiciously.

"They didn't steal," a woman wearing a flute on her belt said sternly. "They wouldn't be smart enough."

"It wouldn't be enough for small children, but it would be enough for an adult child!" The plump man exclaimed indignantly.

Paimon and Traveler exchanged glances.

"And yet? Could there be more details?" Mualani encouraged those who participated in this dialogue.

Rolling his eyes, the plump man was generous with an explanation.

"See for yourself, a group of juvenile delinquents distracted the salesman with their tearful story about a sick saurian while this one..." He gestured towards the crowd with hatred. "He make a fuss. Everything exploded, and valuable amulets were stolen. We caught all the accomplices of this freak."

The crowd parted so that Traveler and the others could see what was happening. Three children were sitting on the ground with their hands tied, their eyes red from crying. And next to them... Their old pal, a lover of vegetables and a gardens, was already sitting without his cloak. His hands and feet were tied.

"Oh..." Paimon turned to her companions. "We are definitely lucky to get into such situations."

If Traveler had been a little more vain, he would have assumed that such situations themselves were attracted to him, like a magnet.

"What are we going to do?"

"Stop it!" Mualani exclaimed. "There are a lot of adults, and you behave worse than wild animals."

The girl resolutely went forward. People watched her with interest.

"You tied up three children like some kind of criminals. And you enjoy being humiliated, as if you have nothing else to do!"

"Who are you to tell us what to do?" One of the Masters of the Night-Wind, dressed as a warrior, tried to block the path of the Mualani.

But the girl calmly walked around him, looking accusingly at the man. He had to retreat, because a dangerous Traveler was following Mualani. And Paimon responded to the sidelong glances, making faces.

Mualani knelt down next to the children.

"Come on, tell them what you were doing here," she said softly.

With tears in her eyes, the girl who looked the oldest spoke up.

"My friends and I just wanted to buy medicine for my saurian Clep. He's not feeling well, and we don't have any extra money to visit the veterinarian. So we went to the market to buy herbs to try to cure it ourselves. And here we met him," she pointed to the bound guy next to them.

The other child continued.

"This young man told us the recipe for a cure for the disease that is tormenting Clep. He even agreed to mix it for us. And we went to buy everything we needed. And then several stalls exploded. And we ran away, but we didn't make it. We were captured and..." He sobbed.

"And tied up," the first girl finished. "But we didn't steal anything, we swear to the Pyro Archon! We've already emptied our pockets!"

No one dared to stop Aether when he reached for his sword, and then made a few neat cuts. The ropes fell. The children froze in each other's arms.

"What are you doing?" Another guard asked. "It seemed to me that we were the law here, and not some kind of strangers."

"You thought so," Paimon scoffed. "Look for the real criminals, and don't attack the children!"

"Well, they've already found him," the guard reminded.

He pointed at the bound guy. He humbly awaited his fate, without uttering a word in his own defense.

"Huh? Is it true that you arranged all this?" Paimon frowned.

The guy nodded.

"Blew up stalls and stole amulets?"

"Yes. And I'm really sorry."

The crowd erupted into disapproving grunts.

"And what are you waiting for? Return the amulets and go into custody!" The woman shouted.

"I can't... Sorry."

Traveler exchanged glances with Paimon again. It looks like it's time to threaten with a sword. Summoning his weapon, Aether approached the bound guy. He did not raise his head.

"Give me the amulets..." The Traveler said sternly.

Even the sword pointed in his direction did not shake the bound guy's determination to remain silent. Traveler did not know what to do next. But, fortunately, his comrades came to the rescue.

"Here's your thief," Kinich's bored tone and powerful throw.

The situation was repeated.

"And amulets," Kinich handed the bag to the guards. "We can disperse, the issue is resolved."

"But how did you know that?"

Kinich rolled his eyes.

"The clothes of these children are clean and tidy, even if they are not rich. And there, in the bushes, their saurian is hiding. You can check it out if you want. They don't need to steal amulets, because the first thing they would steal is food... However, they don't need to. And the criminal was hiding in one of the boxes. His suit is tattered and singed, too... What kind of idiot would hide in a drawer with stolen goods? A few steps from the crime scene."

People froze, and then... They really started to disperse. The guards took the criminal away, and the children hurried to get out of sight. Only the bound guy remained motionless.

"Crazy," the overweight man spat out.

"Why cover up for a real criminal? Are you a fool?" The stern woman asked.

"You're not little boy, but you can't say anything for yourself."

"And really, worse than a child. Listen, this is not a hero game."

Traveler exchanged glances with the others. Paimon hovered with her arms crossed over her chest while Mualani anxiously watched the humiliation. Kinich stood nearby, keeping his face empty.

"Paimon is really interesting... Why did you cover him up? And why weren't you taken into custody?"

"They didn't put him in custody just because he's crazy," said one of the people passing by.

Well. Traveler grimaced.

"We're waiting for an answer," he said.

And finally, the guy spoke.

"He told me that he needed the amulets in order to help his dying lover. Of course, I agreed to stall for time so that he could get to her.

"Are you an idiot?" Kinich asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You've been tricked!" Paimon exclaimed. "But Paimon still feels like the criminal is an even bigger idiot... He could have escaped a thousand times, but he kept hiding in the box."

"And the explosion?" Mualani asked.

"I didn't do it. He used the techniques of the Masters of the Night-Wind to create a haze, but this time he added gunpowder to it. And he blew everything up.

With a sigh, Kinich helped him by cutting the ropes on his arms and legs. The guy stood up. Slouching, he was still taller than each of them. Without the cloak, it was obvious that he was thin – a black undershirt and tight trousers made of thick fabric did not hide his physique.

"Thank you," he said carefully. "But I have to go. The kettle, aphid, remember..."

And he soared into the sky. Everyone watched his retreating silhouette.

"Look, Kinich, he's already run away from you twice," Paimon teased the guy.

"Let's go," Kinich said, ignoring the her mocking tone.

Their attempts to reach the center continued to be unsuccessful. They were circling. Paimon complained, and the others patiently walked beside her.

"Since we're among so many masters of divination and other such sciences," Paimon began. "Let's go at least to some fortune tellers. The real ones, not the scammers we got to then."

Kinich and Mualani reluctantly agreed. Still, it was better than wandering aimlessly around the streets. So, they went through the first door they saw, illuminated by pink lights. A few seconds later, they flew out with red faces. Great choice, Paimon, but next time we'll read the shop title before we go in.

"Why are there so many perverts around Paimon! Wherever we go, there is some kind of this stuff everywhere!!!"

"Are you saying that there is no such thing in other regions?" Kinich asked.

"Paimon shouldn't be interested in that," Traveler replied. "There are such places, but rarely like this – in the middle of the street."

Kinich shrugged his shoulders. Get used to the way things work here.

"Would you like to participate in the selection of the ideal partner?" A short dark–skinned girl appeared in front of the Traveler. "We will identify the ideal qualities that you are looking for in a companion! And all this for only five thousand mora."

"How much?" Paimon was indignant. "This is a robbery in the middle of the street!"

"If you don't shout like that, we'll give you a discount!" The girl said convincingly.

Out of boredom, they really decided to participate in this selection of partners. But the ideal victim would be Traveler. After all, his love line was so powerful and long.

The room was dim, and pink lights were flying around the visitors. Paimon. Mualani and Kinich relaxed in the armchairs, watching the selection of the ideal partner for the Traveler.

"Let's start by reading your fate by the stars!" The girl announced solemnly.

Her image was mysterious, but nevertheless collapsed overnight, as soon as she tried to read the Traveler's fate.

Paimon chuckled from her seat in the audience.

"Try to read the hand. Traveler is a kind of star himself. This method won't work with him."

"What do I see..."

"What?" Mualani asked.

"The Traveler really has a deep and intense love line. And I haven't seen such a piercing heart line for a long time! The soul of Traveler must be very pure and innocent!"

"Isn't Paimon the only one who thinks that we've run into a scammer again who doesn't understand what she's offering?"

Kinich and Mualani nodded in the affirmative. The fortune teller continued to praise the Traveler for his deep soul.

"Oh, look at those beautiful fingers! They're so long, but at the same time callused. What can such fingers do!"

"For example?" Traveler asked cautiously.

"You should try a massage!" The fortune teller exclaimed. She bared her shoulders, crouching down in front of Aether. "Here, try it yourself."

Aether hesitantly kneaded her shoulders. The girl burst into new sighs. Paimon grunted.

"I'm sure Traveler has many more hidden talents," Kinich said. "Perhaps you should talk about his tongue."

Aether cast a tense glance in their direction.

"Exactly. Traveler is not a talker, but his tongue is as firm and dense as the muscles that cover every inch of his body," the fortune teller said admiringly.

Mualani could barely hold back her tears.

"Can we return to the selection of a partner?" Aether frowned.

"For Paimon, it seems like you've already picked one up."

"Okay!" The fortune teller exclaimed. "Let's see what we have here."

She stopped talking.

"Why there are... So many people?" Her face shone with genuine sadness.

"Don't worry," Paimon said reassuringly. "You'll find a place in the corner of his heart. By the way, you must know a lot of people here."

The fortune teller nodded affirmatively.

"You see, Traveler recently became interested in one person..."

"Yes," Mualani picked up. "He's tall, with dark hair with a bluish tinge."

"And he's strange," Kinich finished. "Gloomy guy, loves parkour."

The fortune teller took the hint.

"So, this person has already appeared in your life!" She announced to the Traveler. "He has dark hair, he dresses in dark colors..."

Traveler tensed up even more. The description suited this girl.

"It's a man. Strange and... Wait," she turned to Mualani, Kinich, and Paimon. "Are you talking about Ororon?"

"You tell us," Paimon said.

"Preferably, add more details about how he and the Traveler will build their happy family." Kinich chuckled.

"And in essence, too," Mualani smiled.

The fortune teller pouted.

"Traveler definitely does not have refined taste. Any good man should have his flaws, I will accept him in any way."

"Don't get distracted!" Paimon exclaimed.

"Everyone thinks Ororon is crazy. He's really weird, he rarely talks to anyone, and when he comes to city, he gets into trouble all the time. They also say that he's worse than a child..."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I do not know, but maybe he is just mentally ill. However, people treat him with disapproval and cruelty. And he's in no hurry to dissuade them from what they think of him."

Paimon nodded wisely.

"But why does everyone know him? Is this guy some kind of local legend?"

"It might just be rumors, but they say he studied with Elder Itztli herself."

Kinich chuckled approvingly.

"With an Elder Itztli!?" Mualani exclaimed.

"Who's that?" Paimon asked.

"The strongest warrior of our tribe, a hermit, a genius. I would dare to call her the second most powerful after Pyro Archon. She's very cool, but she rarely comes to the main city. She really is a hermit. And one day, someone told everyone that Ororon was her student. However, it was taken as a joke. Another reason for hostility and ridicule. Although I think it's true."

"And why is that?"

"They have never tried to find out the fate of a person with a splited soul. And I did it. One day I was bored, and I invited him to find a partner. That's when I found out he was weird in every way."

The fortune teller grinned at her memories.

"I wish I could find the perfect partner for Elder Itztli... They would be able to live a long immortal life by practicing couple cultivation."

"Wo-o-ow," Paimon drawled insincerely. "You will succeed, believe in yourself and all that."

"Thank you for telling us about Ororon," Mualani smiled. "The Traveler is so happy."

Aether held up his fingers.

"Oh, he's excited," Kinich grinned. "Give him a piece of paper so that he can leave you a recommendation."

The fortune-teller's face lit up to an extent equal to the Traveler's disappointment.

"Next time, we'll do a partner selection for Ajaw," Paimon whispered.

"I thought Paimon was his perfect partner," Mualani whispered back.

"No-o-o-o!!!!"

Traveler paid two thousand mora for an autograph, a recommendation and a promise to return.

"Traveler seems so sad," Paimon remarked.

"I'm just... I don't really like that type of interactions."

Mualani immediately apologized profusely. Meanwhile, they continued walking. The fortune teller explained that the leader of their people must have known about the arrival of the guests from the moment they took their first step on their land. All that remained was to wait for the invitation. But it wasn't there, which meant no one was waiting for them. Besides, the longer they walked, the more it seemed that they would never get out of the maze of houses. The words of the fortune teller hinted at this: if the leader does not want to see you, then you will never meet him.

But Traveler did not agree with this.

Until it turned out that in this strange labyrinth city, his opinion was worthless.

Paimon sighed heavily.

"What are we going to do? We've been going in circles forever!"

"Paimon is turning into a second Ajaw," the Traveler grumbled. "I don’t know..."

"Look, it's him again!" Mualani pointed in the direction of a small market located in the shade.
And so almost a whole day passed. They wandered aimlessly through the streets, and then ran into Ororon. This was their sixth meeting, however, earlier, the guy managed to escape before Paimon could catch up with him. He always noticed them and ran away dramatically in his cloak, but now he was not up to it. It seemed that their company had witnessed an unpleasant scene again.

This time, he wasn't accused of stealing. The old lady loudly scolded the guy while he humbly listened to her every word. And fresh vegetables and fruits were on the counter nearby.

"Do you need help with math?" Paimon asked as she flew closer.

The older woman didn't react, but Ororon squinted at the little girl through his bangs.

"I know how to count, Paimon..." He muttered.

"... And anyway, what do you mean, you don't eat meat? Your body needs vitamins. That's how pale he is," the woman grabbed Ororon by the cheek.

"I'm sorry."

Traveler looked at the old woman with interest. She wore dark blue clothes with tassels and patterns. In addition, she was wearing an apron, and a small skull hung around her neck. She was a true representative of her people. And it seems that she treated Ororon well.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," Mualani said, "but it was interesting for us to talk to Ororon. It seems that he can give us answers to the endless questions that Paimon has bombarded us with."

"Paimon didn't bombard you with questions... She was just offering options to get to the leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind. No one appreciates Paimon's efforts!"

The old lady finally paid attention to the newcomers.

"If the leader wanted to see you, he would have informed you about it. But you're still here, which means you're not welcome, outsiders."

Well, that was honest, even if it was rude and didn't provide any new information.

"And anyway, who brought you here? Was that you, Ororon?" The woman asked suspiciously.

"No, not me." Ororon said hurriedly. "I'm sorry."

Rolling her eyes, the old lady spoke imperiously.

"Please take them back the way you brought them. And know that we will have a serious conversation afterwards."

Ororon bowed his head obediently.

"Come on... I'll take you to the nearest portal."

Without waiting for the others, he obediently walked away. Do they really need to follow him?

"And what about vegetables?" Mualani exclaimed.

"Here are your vegetables, give them to him," the old woman pushed a basket filled with fruits and vegetables into Mualani's hands. "And leave quickly, don't spoil your karma."

"What kind of karma?" Paimon shouted indignantly. "We didn't do anything wrong!"

Waving her arms and cursing, the little girl did not notice that the others had already left. Only Traveler was waiting for her a little further away. Flying forward, Paimon nearly knocked down several passersby. One of them was a craftsman updating paint on massive graffiti on one of the long walls. The curved line spread out, crossing out the rest of the drawing.

And suddenly there was silence. And then there was a crash.

"What's going on?" Paimon clung to the Traveler in fright.

The people froze, looking up at the sky. Mualani, Kinich, and Ororon were also looking up. Traveler saw a crack spreading across the sky. The sky was fake.

"Sorry, Paimon really didn't want to do any harm! But what happened!?"

The silence remained deafening. Only the breathing of the people indicated that they were still alive. And then the first fragment fell with a crash onto the roof of a building nearby. The pipes tilted, the smoke stopped coming. The people began to disperse. The master hurriedly tried to correct the drawing, but the paint on the wall surface could not be erased.

"Oh, no," Mualani gasped.

Traveler glanced at the girl, but she continued to stare at the sky. Aether raised his head again. An eye stared into the hole left in the fake sky.

"What is this? It can't be...?"

But Paimon's question was interrupted by a loud thud. It was coming from above. It was like someone was tapping on the glass, trying to get inside. The knock came again. More and more. New cracks began to form next to the previous one.

"Oh, no, no, no!!!" Paimon clapped her hands over her mouth.

The pounding accelerated. And in the next second, the heavens collapsed.

This happened in several places at once – remnants of the barrier remained somewhere, and in others there were gaping holes. People screamed as the debris flew to the ground. The panic began.

"Get people to safe places!" Someone exclaimed.

"Hurry up, civilians, follow the shamans!"

The crowd of people ran, and Traveler and his group followed. Suddenly, something crashed down on them from above, causing the heroes to recoil. A black shadow loomed over them, and then smoothly began to rise. With horror, Traveler saw a huge tentacle thrust through one of the holes in the sky. It curled up, lifting a group of people higher and higher, trapped in rings with no way out. And then, an ugly mouth appeared in the gap. Before anyone could react, the screaming people disappeared into the monster's throat.

And then the previous panic seemed like child's play to the Traveler.

Through the cracks in the sky, monsters from the Abyss thrust their tentacles, grabbing people from the ground and eating them. Panicked screams hurt ears. Traveler’s heart was pounding in my chest.

Traveler summoned his sword when he saw Kinich do the same. Apart from the monsters outside the barrier, their opponents were the rift hounds and the creatures from the Abyss descending towards the humans from the shallow holes.

"We have to leave!" Paimon exclaimed with tears.

"But we can't just let people to die," Traveler shouted, rapidly moving away from the rest of the group.

He made it in time: the monster stretched out a tentacle, grabbing defenseless people. Aether chopped off that part by jumping onto the monster's limb. The Traveler continued to climb up, cutting the tentacle into pieces. But new ones immediately grew in place of the old ones.

On the ground, Kinich fought with the rift hounds, binding and chopping the monsters that continued to advance. Mualani was not far away.

"I want to help," she said, as soon as the first entities attacked the humans.

But Kinich was adamant.

"You promised you'd step back and hide when the Traveler told you to."

"But he didn't say anything," the girl tried to object.

"Then listen to me. Hide or leave with the civilians!"

But Mualani resolutely refused.

"I won't fight, but I'm not going anywhere." She ran to the side. "Don't think about me, I can't just run away, but I promise you won't notice my presence. I'll hide somewhere, but I won't leave!"

The last words sounded like a promise.

Kinich shook his head, continuing the battle.

A group of people dressed in robes and numerous ornaments flew into the sky. They stayed in the air without any outside objects, probably using one of their secret techniques. Grouped together, the shamans began to cast a spell. They were trying to fix the barrier. But monsters outside couldn't help but get in the way, constantly destroying the formation in an attempt to capture one of the magicians.

Traveler flew like lightning between the greedily outstretched limbs, cutting off pieces, burning them with Electro breaking scales with Geo. This allowed the magicians to move forward – the cracks began to heal. With a roar, monsters raged outside, trying to break the barrier again. But they were stopped again and again by the Traveler. Monsters wanted to reach the people inside so badly that they didn't pay attention to the fact that part of their flesh was fusing with the barrier. So, they are stuck in the sky, unable to escape and disappear. But it was also impossible to get to them. The creatures stayed outside.

Also, suddenly, the attack ended. In the silence that followed, the scream "Who did this!?!??" was the only sound.

Mualani shivered. Paimon, who was hiding in her embrace, started crying again. They need to meet with the Traveler and Kinich, and then get out.

"Hey, we need to leave," Ororon sneaked up to the place where the girls were sitting. "I'll open the portal. Let's go."

Mualani and Paimon exchanged glances. It doesn't look like they have any other options. Besides, the Traveler and Kinich were already walking towards them. Both are battered, but unharmed.

"Where are they?" There was another loud shout.

Traveler brought up the rear, allowing the natlanians to go first. In the case of an attack from the back, Aether will be able to fend off even the most unexpected blow. Looking around and seeing the destruction caused by the Abyss in such a short time, the Traveler sighed.

Finally, they reached the nearest portal. There was no one near it.

"Okay, I've had enough of this place. I'll go first," Kinich said indifferently.

Ororon obediently began his rituals, restarting the mechanism.

"The portal will take you to the closest part of our lands, which is adjacent to the territory of the Flower-Feather Clan. No one was evacuated there."

Traveler nodded in agreement. As soon as the portal started working again, Kinich disappeared. He must have really disliked being among the Masters of the Night-Wind. Paimon went in next. Traveler looked at Mualani once more, making sure that she did not mind going after him. After waiting for an affirmative nod, he used the mechanism.

Only to discover that neither Mualani nor Ororon are in a hurry to join them.

"Then I'm next," Mualani said confidently.

Ororon nodded obediently. The girl moved towards the portal when a group of guards blocked her way.

"You are charged with attempting to destroy the Masters of the Night-Wind. We don't need a court to pass a sentence here and now: execution."

Mualani looked fearfully at the people standing with weapons at the ready.

"But I didn't do anything!"

"No need for excuses, you have already been identified as an accomplice."

The man at the head of the warriors pointed at an elderly woman who was selling them vegetables. Elder Biruu was determined.

"But I really didn't do anything..." Mualani took a few steps back in an attempt to defend herself.

She was standing so close to the place where Ororon had managed to hide.

He was going to do it anyway. Sighing, Ororon stepped out of the shadows.

"It's my fault. Sorry."

"What are you doing? Twice in a day, aren't you ashamed!?" One of the elders, who was present during the "theft" of the amulets, stepped forward. "Send him to the hospital or to jail! And you will see how peaceful the life of the Masters of the Night-Wind can be without him."

"Don't overdo it, Punko," Elder Biruu stood up for Ororon. "The boy is playing hero again."

"No, it's definitely my fault," Ororon insisted.

Biruu rolled her eyes.

"My boy, I know that evil tongues like to blame you for all the accidents that happen on our land. But I know it's not your fault. Just step aside and let us deal with the girl."

Biruu had always treated him better than the other elders, who preferred to ignore or publicly despise the boy they failed to sacrifice. However, Ororon wasn't going to just let them all kill an innocent Mualani. A dispute broke out between the elders.

"When I say three, hold your breath and run to the portal," Ororon whispered in Mualani's ear.

The girl looked at him warily.

"And you? They'll punish you. Or execute..."

"I'll follow you."

Mualani's gaze was filled with suspicion. But she didn't say anything, nodding in agreement.

Okay, now all that remains is to do it. Unnoticed by the others, Ororon pulled out of subspace a small bag of a mixture that creates a smoke screen in the air. Its only difference from the usual mixture was that its composition was invented by Ororon himself. And it included a component that freezes people's movement for a few seconds. Perfect for this situation.

"Ororon, enough of your nonsense. If you be a good boy, I won't tell Citlali about the incident this morning."

As if granny would let at least one of them on the doorstep.

"One," he whispered, feeling Mualani tense up. "Three," he breathed sharply.

"I thought you could count." Mualani hurriedly held her breath as a cloud of smoke exploded in the air.

Coughing, the elders and warriors bent over, frozen in uncomfortable positions. They could still see Mualani running towards the portal. And the way Ororon slowly followed, holding an empty bag of the mixture in his hands.

Mualani will make it, he thought, when he saw the guards begin to move. They all looked at Ororon with dislike, but he was willing to endure it. If that's the price for saving Natlan, including his tribe, then so be it.

"Are you seriously going to stay here?"

Mualani still hasn't left. But why?

"Come on!" The girl exclaimed, pulling on his arm.

Obeying, Ororon followed.

"Grab them!" There were shouts.

But Mualani abruptly pulled the guy towards her. Succumbing to inertia, they both fell, flying into the portal. And being out of space and time, Mualani continued to be there.

"What took you so long!" Paimon exclaimed, looking alarmed.

"They were trying to catch us," Mualani replied.

And speaking of which. Ororon turned around, but Traveler was already busy destroying the drawing on the rock behind them. He broke the stones with the help of Geo. And the fragments, similar to those that fell from the sky some time ago, fell at Ororon's feet.

No one will find them now.

"I know how to get into the Flower-Feather Clan," Ororon confessed, looking at the flames of the campfire in their small camp.

Upon hearing this, Traveler was distracted from slicing vegetables, kindly provided by Ororon.

"And you're going to take us there?" Traveler asked.

Ororon shrugged his shoulders.

"Yes. I have nothing to lose."

"But what about the dangerous, heavily armed warriors?" Paimon spoke, unusually quiet. "If there is any secret, now is the time to share it with us."

Her words were met with silence.

"Well?" Kinich hurried on. "Tell the truth, and then do whatever your heart desires. You can join the hopeless group of rescuers of Natlan, led by Mualani. Or go home. Just don't drag your time by being thoughtful, silent, or hiding something."

"Hey. This group is not hopeless," Mualani said wearily. "Why do you change your mind every day..."

"Because it wasn't just the Flower-Feather Clan that betrayed Natlan," Ororon said quickly.

"Wo-o-ow," Paimon drawled, raising an eyebrow. "Did you deliberately catch such a moment?"

Ignoring the little girl, Ororon continued.

"Now is not the time or place to talk about the history of my people, but you should have noticed for yourself... The sky inside the main city is fake."

"Paimon feels that now is the right time and place to talk about why there is literally a city under a dome inside Natlan. How did the Masters of the Night-Wind even come up with such a thing?"

"I guess they had a lot of outside inspiration," Traveler muttered.

Only Ororon's keen hearing allowed him to hear what was said.

"The main city is located in the Night Kingdom."

"But it was destroyed, wasn't it?" Mualani asked.

"Yes and no..."

"Agrh," Paimon protested. "You're not giving us any answers!"

The fact is that the Night Kingdom has indeed been destroyed. For five hundred years, it was destroyed by the influence of the Abyss. And the Masters of the Night-Wind were the ones who felt it for themselves.

"Ask someone else. I don't know how to explain such complicated things. Imagine that you grow vegetables and fruits, but the soil is saturated with the energy of the Abyss. In addition, the winds are constantly blowing and the sun is shining hot. The whole garden will die. But if you move it to a place where the land is fertile, cultivate it responsibly, and build a shelter from the weather... The garden can be saved. And the most "fertile" place in Natlan is in the Night Kingdom. Therefore, Masters of the Night-Wind have created a mechanism that protects our "garden" from pests. And no one can get there. Only those who know the truth."

"Then Paimon can't help but ask: why did you bring us there?"

It was a spontaneous idea that transformed into a seemingly reliable plan. And it failed because of him.

"I'm weird. I have weird ideas. Endangering everyone around them."

Paimon looked away.

"It's Paimon's fault," she said. "Paimon knocked down a graffiti artist. And he crossed out half of the image. And then the sky cracked! And the monsters came!! They killed so many innocent people!! It's all Paimon's fault!!!"

The girl’s eyes filled with tears.

"Paimon..." Mualani tried to comfort her, but she flew out of the girl's arms.

"Paimon can't close eyes so as not to see those monstrous images that arise in imagination! Why is Paimon deserved it...?! Traveler, answer me!"

"Paimon, let's go. You need to calm down."

Traveler caught Paimon. She was crying. Her aura was covered with small disturbances. It was interesting, but also sad. These things shouldn't have happened to children.

When the Traveler and Paimon disappeared, deciding to talk in private, the camp became really quiet. Ororon sat hiding in the shadows, but it did not help to hide from Kinich's gaze. Mualani looked at the ground under her feet with a sad smile.

"What you said earlier," Mualani turned to Ororon. "Thank you for inviting us to your secret city, despite the rules. We still haven't met the leader, but you can take us to the Flower-Feather Clan. Maybe we can do something there..."

Kinich chuckled, but said nothing. It seems that he was the only one of the traveler's group who joined the rescue operation against his will. However, he didn't object.

"Can't you go back to your own people now?" Kinich asked.

"Yes. They won't just put me in jail, they'll send me somewhere far away."

"To put it simply, will you return to this gorge and live here until your old age, despised by your tribesmen and blamed for all the disasters of the Masters of the Night-Wind?" Kinich asked, grinning with the tip of his mouth.

"Yes, yes, yes. Only I won't live to a ripe old age. Elder Itztli will kill me, or a pack of wild hilichurls will tear me to tiny pieces."

"How dramatic," Mualani said admiringly. "Don't think about the bad outcome. If you dig for a long time, you will reach the Night Kingdom, where you could plant your garden, which no one else will touch."

Ororon smiled.

"I'll start digging with my bare hands, and when you get back..."

"You'll put our dead bodies in the dug hole." Kinich finished. "Don't try to sneak out. How do you think the people from the Flower-Feather Clan will greet us?"

Ororon raised his hands.

"I wasn't serious. I'll go with you, and then Traveler will have to gig a hole for all of us."

"Mualani, I think it's time to look carefully at the criteria from your list, according to which you select people worthy of saving Natlan." A quick smile crossed Kinich's lips. "He is desperate, he is considered dangerous and crazy, but in fact he is kind and vulnerable. He's secretive and suspicious – normal people definitely wouldn't associate with such types."

Ororon exchanged glances with Mualani.

"Is he really talking about me? Then don't forget to add that I'm not known for being vindictive. I'll pretend I didn't hear everything you said."

Even if it was true.

"Will you join our hopeless group?" Mualani held out her hand to him.

And Ororon shook it.

Chapter Text

"Vultures," Chasca muttered, polishing the shiny barrel of the revolver.

The weapon reflected the rays of the sun despite the shadow in which the girl was hiding. It was a small hollow in the rock, located at a distance from the territory of the Flower-Feather Clan. Nevertheless, from here there was a beautiful view of thousands of bright air-balloons and banners fluttering in the sky above her house.

Red could be the color of blood, but here it signified the determination and indestructibility of the warriors who defended their native land until their last breath.

Sighing, Chasca put the revolver aside, where the other two were already lying, covered with small scratches, but still shiny. What a pity that she had to direct them at a human today. However, were those outcasts from outer Natlan human if they had hunted saurian whelps in the valley where their nests were located?

She might be considered a monster, but this was not a conflict that could be resolved peacefully.

There was almost no wind, which meant the calm before the storm. Chasca preferred noise to the sound of her own breathing. Back then, the monsters of the Abyss attacked, rather than hatching another insidious plan.

That's why the familiar trill that filled the silence misled Chasca. She strapped two revolvers to her sides, holstered the spare one in the waistband of her trousers, and whistled. There was a squawk, and her qucusaurus companion came down to her. Climbing onto the creature, Chasca flew in the direction from where the sounds that had made her alert had come earlier.

Tetor, her saurian, flew obediently while Chasca sat on his back, looking around. Tetor was surprisingly calm for a qucusaurus, but today he fought especially fiercely. Chasca saw a reflection of her own nature in saurian – they were both ready to fight for justice if necessary.

Flying over another gorge, Chasca heard voices. As she descended, she could make out a group of people moving in the direction... of her lands.

"Paimon still doesn't understand why we have to go through this gorge when we could have gone up. We're going to do it sooner or later anyway, and right now you're leaving a great chance for any monster that wants to swoop down on us from above. Just like this shadow that's hanging over our heads!" The flying creature raised its head and screamed. "AAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!"

Chasca jumped off the saurian and blocked the way. The revolvers fell into her hands as usual, filled with the power of Anemo. Tetor spread his wings and let out a battle cry.

The flying creature screamed again, even louder and shriller, hiding behind one of the people. Chasca took a close look at the group, determining who posed the greatest threat.

"A group of outsiders has no place on the lands of the Flower-Feather Clan," Chasca growled.

"It's okay, I take them with me."

Chasca felt her eye twitch. Of course, who else would try to sneak into the territory of the Flower-Feather Clan if not Ororon.

Chasca looked sideways at the guy dressed in a black cloak and smiling from under his long bangs. He took a couple of steps towards the girl.

"Chasca, they're not enemies. I whistled for you because we need your help."

"Yes," the flying creature cautiously declared from behind the blond guy. "Just stop pointing a gun at Paimon! Please," she added fearfully.

Chasca holstered one of the revolvers, continuing to fill the other with Anemo energy. In the next second, she tugged on Ororon's cloak, gripping it tightly in her fist. With her other hand, she held a revolver, which she pointed at the chest of the guy in front of her.

"Hey! When Paimon asked not to threaten her with a gun, Paimon didn't mean to do it with someone else! Look," she said to her companions, "she's taken him hostage!"

Chasca ignored her and stared at Ororon. His hood was off and his hair was disheveled, allowing her to look into her friend's eyes. Or the monster of the Abyss pretending to be him.

"You know the rules. You're going to have to answer my question. Something that only I can know about."

Ororon averted his multicolored eyes.

"Technically, the Abyss can hear every word we say. There's nothing it couldn't overhear and repeat... Isn't my whistle enough to make you believe?" He said pityingly.

"You said yourself that the Abyss can repeat any sound you make. However, we both know that it doesn’t understand some... intricacies of human relationships. I'm very angry right now, and I'm going to ask you the most humiliating question I can think of."

Chasca chuckled. She understood that them were most likely real people, but the check was mandatory. Besides, Ororon shouldn't have brought outsiders here.

Lost in thought, Chasca twirled the revolver slightly. Ororon cautiously looked down.

"I know you're strong enough to punch through my rib cage, but please don't do that..."

"Thought up," Chasca poked him with her revolver. "When you first met my sister, you..."

"I told her that she would turn gray early with a sister like you," Ororon said quickly. "She believed it, started looking for gray hair. And then I had to give her an amulet that promotes longevity and youth."

"Well, Chuychu was offended anyway, so she told you..."

"That Ifa was lucky that he was already gray–haired with a bro like me."

Chasca smiled briefly, putting the revolver away.

"So what? That is all? Paimon expected you to make him blush and cry, but you just remembered a silly childhood story... It's boring!"

"Paimon, the thing is, right now I'm going to have to humiliate myself terribly to convince Chasca to help you..." Ororon said in a fake whisper.

And speaking of which. Chasca looked at Ororon's companions again. Paimon relaxed slightly and introduced them all.

"Let Paimon speak!" The little girl covered the Traveler's mouth when he tried to say something. "You've already tried talking to the Masters of the Night-Wind, and they've sent us far away! Let Paimon explain the situation."

What happened to the Masters of the Night-Wind? Chasca cast a quick glance at Ororon, but he shrugged his shoulders briefly. It seems that he was not the first one to be attacked...? by these people. But, of course, the guy's kind heart could not stand it. Therefore, filled with, he allowed himself to be controlled and helped them.

Meanwhile, Paimon, gesticulating furiously, told the whole story of the Traveler and his companions.

"And that's how we decided to save Natlan. Traveler has his own scores to settle with the Abyss, and Paimon will always be there to help him. And so it turned out..." the little girl said carefully, "that we managed to convince the Pyro Archon to hold a tournament between all six tribes. That's why we came here – to convince your leader and the people to join. Not because the Archon wants it. No, for the sake of saving your country!"

Chasca raised an eyebrow, looking skeptically at Paimon.

"My answer is no. And our leader's answer is no. You can leave now."

Paimon let out an indignant exclamation.

"Why are you all so stubborn!!! Natlan is dying, but each tribe would rather stay away than unite for the common good."

"Unite?" Chasca asked harshly. "With them?" She pointed in the direction of Kinich and Mualani, if she remembered their names correctly. "As long as they consider my people traitors to Natlan? While the Archon remains indifferent? I don't care if no stone is left unturned from this country. Just like everyone else didn't care about the fall of the Flower-Feather Clan years ago."

Chasca chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"And I said it was hopeless," Kinich said in a voice devoid of emotion.

Then what's keeping you here?

"Hey, there's no need to be so radical," Mualani intervened. "We wouldn't have come here if we thought the Flower-Feather Clan were traitors. In fact, no one in Natlan knows why you're being called that at all, because you haven't done anything wrong. Well, as far as I know."

"Besides, the Traveler cause changes... The Archon is holding a tournament, and finally, I am officially forbidden to appear in the main city of my people. Positive changes, you see."

"Why aren't you allowed in the main city?" Chasca asked.

"And the tournament is also a legal opportunity to punch all the other tribes in the face," Kinich said sarcastically. "The Archon does not hide that she is going to pit the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy. Your people could come and get even with the offenders. This is the unity of the six tribes that we want to achieve."

Hah. Let him say it with obvious mockery, but Chasca allowed herself to think. Seeing her doubts, Paimon continued to push.

"No one is forcing you to make this decision. Just take us to your leader. Preferably so that no one kills us along the way. And we will come to an agreement with him ourselves." Paimon flew closer. "Please, Chasca."

Her eyes were pleading. Ororon joined Paimon, looking at Chasca with the look of a beaten dog.
"Just one conversation with Mutota and that's it. No one will even know about us. And these guys are very good. What could possibly go wrong?"

Kinich chuckled very suspiciously.

"Okay," Chasca muttered.

"Huh?" Paimon frowned.

"Okay," the girl repeated. "I'll let you through, but only because Ororon vouches for you. If you do anything dangerous, attack anyone from the tribe, or try to steal our secrets, I will kill you. Even if I can't, I assure you there are many sufferings worse than death."

Having reached agreement, Chasca turned to Tetor. She can fly alongside while the others walk. And even if it takes time, they have nowhere to hurry.

"Now you can call your saurian taxi," Ororon turned to Kinich.

He grinned, and then an unknown creature materialized nearby.

"For the pitiful slaves of Our Dragon Majesty, you allow yourself a lot! We don't have to carry you on our back, but we do it out of our inherent generosity! And what do we get in gratitude? Where is our feast?"

"What kind of scarecrow is this?" Chasca asked.

The phlogiston dragon turned red, shook violently, and puffed. Kinich had to send him flying, but he quickly returned.

"Treat us with respect! Kiss the ground we walk on! And..."

"Ajaw, you are flying..." Kinich said wearily. "And you'll have to carry us again. I promise, when we arrive, I'll feed you to the brim. It doesn't look like you can feast in the middle of the gorge."

And the dragon increased in size, looming over the people, flashing scales and fangs. Chasca did not expect this.

"That's the way you do it, Ajaw!" Ororon exclaimed. "But I managed to sincerely believe that you are not capable of taking on another form when you refused me last night..."

The dragon huffed irritably, blowing a cloud of smoke from his nostril.

"Our Dragonmight Lord can do more than that. It's just that pitiful slaves like you aren't allowed to push us around, and..."

"Less words, more action. Let's fly," Kinich urged the dragon.

And they flew. Chasca stayed close, pointing in the direction. Soon, bright balloons placed on the highest areas of the Flower-Feather Clan's territory appeared.

"You need to walk further. You will be allowed to come with me without any questions. Although suspicion cannot be avoided."

Chasca expected objections from the outsiders, but they nodded obediently. So, they sank down, and Ajaw shrank back to the size of a large cat. Kinich hurriedly locked him in so that he wouldn't show his face.

They must have been lucky. The guards indifferently let their group pass, as soon as Chasca passed the check with questions. Just as indifferently, the people of the Flower-Feather Clan watched them go while Chasca led the strangers to her house. It wasn't like her to trust strangers. But a plan had already formed in her head: she would arrange for them to meet with Mutota, and then commit to chasing them away. Regardless of the decision the leader makes, there is nothing good about a group of outsiders roaming her land.

"Here, you can use whatever you want," Chasca waved her hand at her modest house. "You must be used to luxury back home, but that's all I have. Don't go anywhere, and I'll come to an agreement with the leader."

And Chasca left her own house. It was familiar to her.

"For Paimon it seems that you know the lands of the Flower-Feather Clan better than your own," Paimon poked Ororon in the shoulder as they walked towards the Mutota’s house.

"I like it better here," the guy replied simply.

Paimon rolled her eyes.

"Paimon is not surprised. The air is fresh here, and there are no monsters watching you through the glass dome! Of course, Paimon wouldn't want to live among the Masters of the Night Wind! Not even for a million mora!!"

"Do you spend a lot of time here?" Mualani asked. "Shouldn't your tribes be enemies?"

Ororon shrugged his shoulders.

"I've known Chasca for a long time. I secretly ran here, and after that we spent our free time in the area. Besides, our tribes are not enemies."

And he fell silent.

"Another mysterious silence," Paimon grumbled. "You don't have to start talking about things if they're supposed to remain a secret!"

"But I'm a just a farmer who doesn't know anything except the rumors carried to me by the wind..."

Paimon rolled her eyes again and turned away from Ororon, preferring to talk to someone else. They were almost there and the leader's house appeared at the end of the street. The Traveler looked at surroundings and people with interest. No luxury – stone and wood, red cloth. Nevertheless, the clean streets and calmness are on the scarred faces of the locals. Even Chasca, their scowling escort, had a mark on her right cheekbone from a long-healed wound. Whatever peace was worth, it was achieved by nothing but the blood of these people.

"We're here," Chasca said shortly. "Mutota agrees to talk to you, so please try to do it quickly. The leader has other, more pressing problems that he must solve. And don't take out that thing, the Almighty Dragonscold or whatever his name is..."

Paimon giggled.

"Okay, shall we go then?"

The interior of the house was covered with wooden panels, and in the center of the room sat the leader of the Flower-Feather Clan himself. The man was wearing a leather vest that exposed his tanned, toned torso. Deep scars spread across his chest and stomach, arms, neck, and all visible parts of his body. And even his young face was distorted by ugly cuts. Paimon looked away at the Traveler. He nodded slightly.

"Hello, nice to meet you" Paimon began formally. "Paimon is Paimon. And the rest of Paimon's companions are the Traveler, Mualani, Kinich. And you must be familiar with Ororon... Did Chasca tell you about the purpose of our visit?"

Mutota pushed his gray hair off his face and smiled tightly.

"Hi," he said simply. "I've heard about what brought you here. The good news is that I am merciful enough to spare your lives."

Paimon asked warily, "What is the bad news?"

"The bad news is that there are a lot of people waiting for you outside that door, ready to tear you apart," Mutota became serious.

Paimon squeaked.

"Is it worth saying that we haven't done anything?" The Traveler summoned his sword and squinted at the door.

It slowly opened. Aether tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. And a couple of people actually entered.

"Hey, buddy, take it easy!" The guy exclaimed. "Don't wave your weapon, or you'll hurt someone."

The second one was a girl heading towards Chasca.

"I'm amazed, Chasca. More precisely, I'm not surprised that Ororon could come up with something like this, but you have to be the voice of reason in our absence. You can't trust strangers and bring them into the very heart of our home!"

"Chuychu..." Chasca said irritably.

"Huh!" Paimon exclaimed indignantly. "The leader tricked us!"

Deciding to make sure she was right, Paimon cautiously peeked out the door.

"There's no one there!"

Mutota chuckled, "Let this old man be the terrifying leader of the Flower-Feather Clan that the rest of the Natlan tribes are so afraid of."

"If you're not going to eat Paimon or any of Paimon's friends, then you're not that scary!"

"Where did you even get the idea that I could eat one of you?" Mutota asked.

But Chasca had already cast a suspicious glance in the direction of Kinich and Mualani, who continued to stand modestly. And be silent.

"You..." Chasca said suspiciously.

"Chasca!" Chuychu exclaimed reproachfully.

"It was a joke, Paimon..." Mualani said shyly.

"A joke based on your shitty stereotypes about our people." Chasca said angrily.

It seemed that she was really uncomfortable when some outsiders spoke unflatteringly about the Flower-Feather Clan.

"Come on, there's no need to quarrel, buddies!" The guy intervened. "My name is Ifa. I am a doctor and a sauroveterinarian of the Flower-Feather Clan. And I'm the best bro of my bro Ororon."

Ifa came over and patted the guy's hair.

"Nice to meet you!" Paimon exclaimed loudly. "There's no way Paimon thinks you could eat Paimon!!! You're very well-mannered and a good bro!" She emphasized. "By the way, did Paimon mention that Paimon's name is Paimon?"

After introducing them all, Paimon anxiously looked at Chasca. She seemed angry, but she didn't say anything.

"Well," Mutota said, "since you're all bro of my bro Ifa now, then you're my bro too. However, we have an important issue on the agenda. Are you seriously claiming that Pyro Archon is holding a tournament and inviting our people to participate in it?"

"How many years has it been since the last time the Flower-Feather Clan participated in joint events with other nations?" Chuychu said.

"It's enough that our gramps and grams couldn't remember those days." Mutota agreed.

"Is this due to the fact that the Flower-Feather Clan "betrayed"," the Traveler showed quotes with his fingers, "Natlan?"

Chasca bristled, but Chuychu slapped her on the arm. The girl rolled her eyes.

"Yes," Mutota said thoughtfully. "That's what you call it... I would like to point out that from our point of view, the other tribes have betrayed the Flower-Feather Clan. What do you even know about it?"

"Nothing?" Paimon replied. "Everyone talks about it as the most terrible secret in the history of Natlan. Did you eat someone after all?"

Traveler slapped himself in the face.

"The People of the Springs don't like to talk about the other tribes of Natlan at all," Mualani said carefully.

"You had something that you refused to share," Kinich said quickly. "That's why the rest of the nations have turned their backs on you. And then your tribe found itself face to face with the threat coming from Ochkanatlan. And no one came to help."

"I see that there is one expert on the history of Natlan here," Mutota nodded affirmatively. "That's just it... Even if there was something, I'm not going to tell you our secrets."

Paimon rolled her eyes again.

"Again..."

Mutota continued, "However... The fact is that no one knows the whole truth. Neither the Archon and her minions, nor the other tribes, nor us."

Paimon groaned in frustration.

"Instead of sharing such important and secret information to solve the mystery, you will prefer to conceal everything. Therefore, no one knows what happened between your people and the rest – everyone just forgot!!!"

The Traveler rubbed his temples. It couldn't be that the nations quarreled and then forgot the reason for the quarrel. However... Such stupidity is common to humans.

"Are you really going to save Natlan?" Chuychu asked. "And you, Chasca, are also involved in this? How wonderful!"

The girl clapped her hands. Chasca blushed and looked away. Traveler looked at his companions. He caught Kinich mouthing the word "list." Mualani smiled easily.

"Paimon feels like there's been a misunderstanding... We invite you to the tournament, but if Chasca would like to join our team, that would be good... great... wonderful!"

Chasca narrowed her eyes.

"And what is your team doing? So far, everything is being solved without your participation."

"That's the whole point of just being there. Strength is in numbers, you know," Kinich said sarcastically.

Paimon turned to Mutota.

"So what do you think? Mavuika, the Pyro Archon, has promised that no one will harm you. The power of the rivalry of the six tribes will help her open the way to the Night Kingdom to assess the situation inside it. And after this tour, we will convince her to take the next decisive step in the fight against the Abyss!"

Mutota seemed thoughtful to the Traveler. If the Flower-Feather Clan agrees to participate or at least will think about it, then they can send a message to Mavuika. With Ororon and other warriors of the Masters of the Night-Wind, serving in the outposts, all six tribes will be assembled. Then the plan can become a reality.

"I'll think about it," the leader said. "If I can contact Pyro Archon and arrange for the safety of my people, then we could join the tournament. The pain of the insult inflicted on us by other nations is great and stretches through the years. And the elders will be angry. But we've been cut off from the rest of Natlan for so many years. Perhaps it's time to take the first step towards reconciliation."

Chasca rolled her eyes and nodded. Ifa and Chuychu expressed their agreement with Mutota's words. Paimon smiled happily.

"Great, so we can count on you! If only other leaders were so accommodating!"

"Amina is a good person," Mualani said.

"And you haven't talked to Wayna," Kinich added.

Paimon waved them away.

"You are understanding that Paimon is talking about the leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind! He took us in circles instead of meeting and talking!"

Mutota nodded sympathetically.

"The leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind is an uncooperative person. You may have heard from Chasca or Ororon that our tribes are in a state of truce. In many ways, due to the fact that the threat of the Abyss is quite similar. Both here and there, the monsters are able to take on human form. Even if the leader not seek to make contact, the Masters of the Night-Wind shared with us tips on how to deal with doppelgangers."

"And would you be able to understand if one of us turned out to be one of them?" Mualani asked warily.

"Monsters from the Abyss can't hold back their bloodlust for long," Mutota replied calmly. "But at first we can distinguish some of them due to personal questions."

"That's why you need to join the other nations in the tournament!" Paimon exclaimed. "Then you will no longer have to be afraid that real people will be replaced by fakes!"

Mutota laughed amiably, "That sounds great. Nevertheless, Chasca seems to be madly eager to chat with you alone. I won't bother you."

Chasca stared at him, raising an eyebrow in silent question. The man waved his hand towards the exit.

"Thank you," Paimon bowed. "Paimon hopes that you will come to the tournament!"

Outside Mutota's house, Chasca stopped. Ifa and Chuychu were standing on either side of her. Frowning, the girl turned to the Traveler.

"So that's Natlan rescue team. I'm not saying that I want to join, I’m just interested..."

"It was Mualani who gathered us all!" Paimon exclaimed, pointing in the direction of the girl.

"Ah. If Mualani has gathered everyone, then I definitely refuse to participate."

"No one offered it to you," Kinich said calmly.

Mualani resolutely took a step forward, standing in front of Chasca. Chasca’s blue eyes were filled with suspicion.

"I asked the Traveler, Paimon, Kinich, and Ororon to join me to save Natlan. But that doesn't mean that someone in the group is more important than the rest. I'm not a leader. We all follow the Traveler, and we do everything within our power to help him. But first of all, we're doing this for Natlan."

"As if I would believe that someone from the other nations of Natlan is ready to unite with the Flower-Feather Clan not for their own benefit. And..."

"Chasca, stop it," Chuychu interrupted the girl. "You brought them to our lands, let them spend the night in your house, and now you're suddenly mad at them. You don't provoke conflicts, it's not like you."

"I don't know what came over me," Chasca muttered.

It wasn't clear which of Chuychu's statements she was responding to.

"Chasca, my friend, don't be so cruel. They are not our enemies," Ifa put his hand on the girl's shoulder.

"That's right, Ifa, bro!  Paimon agreed. "And can we have a delicious meal on this occasion?"

"Come on, I'll show you a good cafe," Ifa waved his hand invitingly.

"Let them eat, and then I'll escort them out," Chasca grumbled.

"Our Dragon Majesty didn't make a mistake in choosing a servant after all! Kinich, you really kept your word, you greedy snake!" Ajaw pounced on the food in front of him in one of the dozen plates.

They were all meant only for him.

"Yes, yes," Kinich replied sullenly. "If you don't explode with greed, I'll still take you to the vet."

"What’s wrong with him? Is this some kind of rare disease? A dragon who can talk freely."

"Don't let him bite you," Kinich chuckled. "I'm afraid he has rabies. Or tapeworms."

Ajaw was so busy eating that he ignored the slight. Meanwhile, Mualani ate in silence, lowering her head and not engaging in conversation. Aether cautiously leaned towards her and asked:

"Are you okay?"

"Yes," the girl smiled. "It's okay, I'm just..." She paused. "It's okay, don't think about it."

"Tell Paimon if Chasca offended you," Paimon whispered. "And Paimon will come up with a terrible nickname for her!"

Mualani laughed weakly. Chasca was eyeing them suspiciously from the other side of the large table occupied by their group. Her sister was sitting next to her, unsuccessfully trying to engage the girl in conversation. It seemed that each of their talks ended after a couple of sentences. Chasca continued to glare at the strangers, while Chuychu sighed heavily next to her.

When the meal was over, Chasca stood up decisively, slamming her palm on the table.

"Okay, you need to leave. Go tell the Archon the good news. At any moment, someone may notice your suspicious clothes and come here. Don't create any problems for Mutota."

"But it's too late to leave the safe territory," Paimon tried to argue.

"It's noon. It's a decent time to get out of here. The Dragon Lord Ahahaw can fly in the dark."

She was right, even if she was unfriendly. There is no choice – they will board Ajaw and fly to the City of the Sacred Flame. And yet...

"Can we send a letter to Pyro Archon?" The Traveler asked. "To say that everything worked out for us."

Chuychu took out a notebook from her bag and tore out a sheet. She handed it to Aether.

"Here, write it down. I'll give it to Mutota when we escort you out." Seeing Chasca's displeasure, she continued furiously. "Come on, Chasca, there's been a lull for three days now. Something is coming up. If you fly with them to show them the best and safest way, Ifa and I will not leave you alone. It's dangerous!"

"Yes, my friend, it's dangerous," agreed Ifa.

"Okay," Chasca said irritably. "So let's go quickly. It's in their best interest to get away before the monsters attack."

Paimon frowned, "But you might be in danger when you come back..."

Chasca just shrugged her shoulders.

"We can handle it."

Once outside the settlement, she whistled. A large qucusaurus landed nearby.

"Chuychu and I will fly on Tetor. As for Ifa..."

The guy didn't whistle. Instead, he was shouting loudly.

"Cacucu, bro, where are you?"

The pink ball was rapidly approaching them from the direction of the settlement.

"Cacucu!"

"Ifa, bro!" Qucusaurus exclaimed.

Paimon and Mualani let out a touching sigh.

"How cute he is!" Paimon exclaimed.

Cacucu really was a ball of feathers, with a round beady eye and tiny wings. The other eye was covered with a band-aid with a painting on it. Saurian looked like his companion, because Ifa's left eye was also crossed by two scars.

They didn't fly for long. Cacucu waved his enlarged wings, maintaining the pace of his kinsman and Ajaw. Ifa was clutching at his paws. At the Traveler's suggestion to fly on Ajaw, Cacucu jealously stated that Ifa was his bro. His and only his!!!

Finally, they landed in a familiar gorge. Chasca led them along a short path over the territories of the Flower-Feather Clan. Beyond was a gorge that flowed smoothly into the lands of the Masters of the Night-Wind. They stopped to give the saurians and Ajaw a break. And to say goodbye.

"Well, are you really going with them?" Chasca asked Ororon. "I know you're not welcome at home, but you can stay with us."

But Ororon smiled amiably, shaking his head from side to side.

"It's all right. I know what I want."

With a shrug, Chasca hugged him. While Ifa and Chuychu were saying goodbye to their friend, the others were exploring the gorge. The walls in that place were covered with moss, not typical of the arid lands of Natlan. In addition, the gorge diverged into several small ones. It was worth paying attention to the surroundings.

"Traveler, Paimon," Chuychu called. "I hope you will succeed. I'll talk to Chasca when she calms down. You can count on us as your allies. And we will try to fly to the tournament."

"You're so willing to work with outsiders," Paimon said.

"We have nothing to be angry about. The common people of the Flower-Feather Clan did not know life before the conflict with the rest of the Natlan. We are used to living at our own pace, and resisting the Abyss has become our routine."

"Oh," Paimon said thoughtfully.

A squeak interrupted her thoughts. Or it was a scream?

"What have you got there?" Irritably Chasca asked Mualani, who made the sound.

The girl looked scared. Kinich was standing nearby.

"I... I think I saw a huge spider. It was the size of two of my palms, I swear by the Pyro Archon!"

"Mmm," Chasca drawled. "No need to scream like this. You will attract a crowd of monsters to us."

"I'm sorry..."

It's strange that monsters were so rare on their way. Apart from the attack on the outpost and the Children of Echoes, the Abyss seemed to be hiding. Even what happened to the Masters of the Night-Wind couldn't be called a targeted attack. It happened by accident – neither the Abyss nor the locals expected this. However, the monsters really seemed to be up to something.

There was no wind, and a light mist was spreading over the ground.

"Okay, then I wish you a good trip," Chasca muttered.

She raised her hand to her mouth, intending to whistle, but froze. Tetor was gone.

"This damn fog," Chasca moaned. "Tetor. Where are you?"

She whistled anyway, but only the echo was her answer. The girl turned to her companions.

"Cacucu?" Ifa called out.

He exchanged a frightened glance with Chasca. Something was wrong. The Traveler wandered to the place where the saurians were supposed to be sitting. The fog was getting bigger, so Aether decided not to go too far. He had stumbled upon something.

After getting down, the Traveler touched the object. It was soft and fluffy. Cacucu? Or Tetor? Were they... But he felt that the animal was breathing. Was the breathing slow, as if the saurians had just fallen asleep?

It's not a fog!

"It's not a fog," Ororon shouted hoarsely.

And everything went dark.

The Traveler woke up and felt that his head was splitting, as if he had been drugged with some kind of substance. Recent events flashed through his mind. That's right, they were drugged with something.

But what's going on? Blinking, the Traveler tried to figure out where he was. It was dark all around, with only a small opening to illuminate... The room? Aether tried to turn his head.

"Oh, you're awake! Paimon was so worried!!" Paimon said in a loud whisper.

Awake? How much time has passed?

"You've been sleeping for about a day... Paimon woke up a long time ago, but you didn't regain consciousness! Paimon was worried that you had inhaled too much of that stuff and..." The little girl sobbed.

With a groan, the Traveler clutched his head. He made out several silhouettes opposite. Chasca, Chuychu, and Ifa...

"What happened?" Aether asked with difficulty.

"What happened, you ask!" Chasca exclaimed. "We've been kidnapped! And your friends betrayed us!"

What? Traveler fell back into a weird, disordered sleep. There, strange monsters from the Abyss distorted and laughed with fanged smiles. Loud voices and screams merged into a single noise. But one thing stood out the most – it seemed to consist of several at once, such was the echo. That voice was filled with cruelty and malice. He was laughing and shouting: "I'll take it! Everything is mine! You will only get death!"

He had heard it before! But as soon as the Traveler tried to make out the speaker, he disappeared. And the Traveler opened his eyes again.

This time, his head only hurt a little. Besides, it was daytime outside their cage – the sun was shining through a narrow window covered with a grate. So, the Traveler was able to see his companions more clearly. They all looked tired, and when they saw that he had woken up, they turned their heads in his direction.

"Traveler!!!" Paimon sobbed. "Please tell me you're not dying!!"

"It's okay," Aether replied hoarsely. "I lost consciousness last time, but still... What happened?"

"We were kidnapped, remember?" Chasca asked skeptically.

Traveler vaguely remembered that the first time she was madly angry. But now the girl was calm, with a shadow of fatigue on her face. Aether nodded obediently.

"We've been kidnapped," Paimon complained. "And Paimon still can't believe it, but..."

The cart... Were they in the cart? slowed down. Paimon fell silent.

"Does anyone need food, water, or a simple friendly walk?" A familiar, indifferent voice asked.

The Traveler's eyes widened when he encountered Kinich's piercing gaze on the other side of the door.

"And your friends sold us out," Chasca added quietly. "They agreed in advance, and a group of warriors was waiting for us in that gorge. These people used one of the Masters of the Night-Wind' smoke bombs to poison us. And now we are going to the Stadium as personal, almost foreign gifts for the Pyro Archon."

"Nothing personal," Kinich replied gloomily. "Business is business. I agreed with the price, and the result will suit both me and you. You wanted to save Natlan. And all six tribes are needed for this. There is no need to have meaningless negotiations when there is an easier way."

"Kidnapping is not the way!" Chuychu exclaimed.

Kinich gave her a skeptical look.

"And you're still here, unable to escape..."

What does he mean, unable? The Traveler tried to move, but couldn't do anything. He looked down at his hands, and then at his feet. With horror, he realized what he was looking at. The familiar shackle bracelets now encircled him.

And the same ones were worn by all those gathered. Even on Paimon. Only one person was missing.

"Where is Mualani?" The Traveler asked. "She would not agree with such methods."

Kinich chuckled slightly.

"She resisted, but then agreed. That was my condition for joining the Natlan rescue team. You always need to have a plan in case something goes wrong. And something went wrong with the Masters of the Night-Wind. It's good that I got ahead of this by inviting these people to follow us."

"You're talking like you're a villain from some light novel that Paimon likes to read so much!"

Kinich just shrugged his shoulders.

"You know best, Paimon. But I'm not a villain. Pyro Archon herself accepted this outcome of events. She sent a reply after receiving a letter from the warriors accompanying us. The tournament will take place in a week. And you're all invited." He looked at the Traveler indifferently. "So, does someone needs go to the toilet? I'll ask Mualani to bring you food and water. The next stop is the final one."

The Traveler looked away. He just couldn't believe what was happening. Had he trusted the wrong people? While his companions took turns leaving the cart, while Mualani hurriedly said something about the food she had brought, Aether looked at the floor. The bracelets glittered mockingly, reminding him that this time the Traveler had become a real prisoner.

"I didn't want you to be shackled, but Chasca promised to kill us... I'm sure Pyro Archon will take these things off you as soon as we get to the City of the Sacred Flame..." – Mualani tried to look into the eyes of the Traveler.

But he turned away. Betrayal burned his heart. He missed the moment when the cart started moving again.

"Don't you want to eat?" Paimon asked. "Paimon is worried about you, you're really pale..."

"I don’t understand..." The Traveler said in his feelings. "It’s so wrong."

Chasca chuckled.

"Well, that's how Natlan works. I told you they couldn't be trusted, but no one listened to me. Maybe I have a feeling for this kind of shit."

"Chasca..." Chuychu said accusingly.

"Could they be monsters of the Abyss who have assumed a human form?" This thought was the Traveler's only hope.

But Ororon told him some disappointing facts.

"I doubt it... I've checked, their auras are the same. Even if is difficult to make out at least something behind yours, Traveler."

"And can't you feel the energy of the Abyss?" Paimon asked. "Take a careful look?"

Aether followed Paimon's advice. Concentrating, he looked at his companions. The souls of Paimon, Ifa, and Chuychu shone with bright, pure energy. As for Ororon and Chasca, they were damaged, but the Traveler did not feel the miasm of the Abyss emanating from them. He turned to the space outside the cart. There were three of them, and the souls of the people inside were pure from the Abyss, even if they were not sinless. Kinich and Mualani remained themselves.

Although, the Traveler did not know if these two had ever been themselves.

When they arrived, the doors were opened by several warriors. Going outside, the Traveler winced at the sun's rays, blinding his eyes. Despite the shackles, he was still being held by several people. No matter how much the Traveler wanted to, he could not make a single unnecessary movement. As if something wouldn't let him.

Is this what Mavuika went through?

"Come on," one of the warriors pulled Aether towards the gate.

Mualani suddenly took the place of the second one. The girl's gaze was pleading as she clasped the Traveler's hand.

"Please forgive us. You're angry now, but it's for the best. I will do everything to save Natlan. Even if I have to go to extreme measures ..."

The Traveler remained silent. He tried to shake off the girl's hand, but she hugged him tightly. So they went through the gate.

"Traveler, I'm really sorry. But I'm sure Pyro Archon will remove your shackles and allow you to join the tournament in peace."

Ignoring her words, the Traveler turned his attention to the entrance. There, several warriors were dragging a fiercely standing Chasca inside. Chuychu and Ifa walked calmly, accompanied by one warrior each. Paimon was sitting resentfully in the arms of one of the soldiers – she couldn't fly. Ororon stumbled and landed on one knee.

"Get up," Kinich said irritably.

He abruptly tugged on Ororon's cloak and pulled him along. Ororon tried to pull away from the grip, but Kinich was stronger. So they entered the gate: Ororon was walking, holding Kinich by the hands with which he was clutching his cloak. It was unnecessarily rude, even for him. Although is it worth judging the rudeness of the person who lured them into a trap?

"If that's for the best, then I'd rather fight the monsters of the Abyss to the last drop of my blood to protect your country. If you prefer to sacrifice other people's blood instead of your own, then we are not going to share our ways anymore."

He managed to free his hand and strode forward under the watchful eyes of the warriors. Mualani remained standing, shockingly staring after him.

Chapter Text

"...And I am sure that you will be able to say all these lofty words and determine the winner in battle. Come on, Mavuika, have your years of seclusion in this dump turned you into a wimp?" Xilonen drawled, stretching out on a chair. "You're distracting me during my well–deserved break."

Mavuika clutched her hair as she paced along the hotel room where the representatives of the Children of Echoes who arrived for the tournament were staying. Xilonen was one of them. And even if the woman volunteered to participate just to be with her friend, she still couldn't postpone fulfilling her orders. Therefore, the whole room was littered with papers, and toolboxes stood around the desk.

"You don't understand, now that the Traveler and Paimon are relying on me, I can't let them down. The tournament will definitely take place, it's not for nothing that I spent hours negotiating with all my "bosses"... But I want everything to be perfect."

Mavuika pursed her lips and stared at Xilonen. She nodded sharply, expressing active agreement.

"Don't ignore me, Xilonen." Mavuika sounded offended.

"Mavuika," Xilonen moaned, "this isn't the first time we've talked about this. You come as soon as you have a free minute, wait outside the door until I'm free, and drive me crazy with your worries."

"But I still don't know if they will succeed... The previous Archons worsened a relationship with the Flower-Feather Clan, and the Masters of the Night-Wind shun the rest. If all efforts are in vain..."

Xilonen sighed wearily.

"Mavuika," the woman stood up and put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "It's not in vain. You are our Archon. And only you can deal with the Abyss. So pull yourself together, don't whine."

Mavuika turned her head with a shadow of sadness and fear in her eyes.

"You're right, this is not the time to panic."

A loud thud shook the walls of the room. Xilonen rolled her eyes, and Mavuika anxiously turned to the door.

"Lady Pyro Archon Haborym! Lady Pyro Archon!" Shouted a breathless voice.

After giving Xilonen a wary look, Mavuika opened the doors. Oh, Xilonen knew that she was madly angry that she was found even here.

"Lady Pyro Archon," the young man, who had not reached maturity, bowed down.

"Um," Mavuika said pointedly. "What’s happened?"

The guy jumped up and handed the scroll to the woman.

"Lady Pyro Archon, you have received a letter!"

A letter? Xilonen exchanged glances with Mavuika. Did the Traveler manage to come to an agreement with two tribes?

Mavuika opened the scroll and scanned the text. She jerked her head up and cast another startled glance at Xilonen. What was there?

"You can go," Xilonen waved her hand to the boy. "Thanks for bringing it..." She said weakly after the fleeing child.

"Xilonen..." Mavuika handed the letter to the woman. "When you asked about what else could go wrong... Well, I didn't expect that."

Taking the scroll in her hands, Xilonen frowned. Official seal and thick paper. She doubted it was sent by the Traveler. The message was short.

Pyro Archon Haborym, we are writing to you with good news. Your order has been fulfilled – the warriors of the Flower-Feather Clan have been captured to participate in the tournament. At the same time, we have sent an invitation obliging the warriors from the Masters of the Night-Wind to come to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame on the appointed date to participate in the tournament. Based on the above, everything is ready for a large–scale event.

As for the Traveler and his companion, they will come with us. Due to the disagreements that arose, we had to restrict their freedom, all with the permission of Commander Windosh.

The expected arrival time is three days from today's date (September 3rd).

I'm reporting on the execution of the order, Gorlush.

Xilonen finished reading and looked at Mavuika. She was anxious again, hugging herself and nervously fingering the folds of her clothes.

"Captured warriors of the Flower-Feather Clan," Xilonen said thoughtfully. "This is practically an open declaration of war."

"I know," Mavuika muttered in panic. "Who gave them that order? And most importantly, how did they catch the Traveler?"

The answer to this question became clear a day later. At sunset, Xilonen was polishing the sword hilt she had sharpened for a high-ranking commander from the Collective of Plenty when a flash of red-gold hair eclipsed the sunlight.

"No," Xilonen said sternly, without looking up. "I'm busy."

"Xilonen, you don't understand," Mavuika whispered quickly. "Windosh said our guests are almost here. We have to meet them!"

Xilonen looked at her friend skeptically.

"Do you want to go out into the city center and draw everyone's attention to yourself and what is happening under your nose? I mean, kidnapping."

But Mavuika narrowed her eyes slyly.

"We'll keep an eye on them," she grinned.

Xilonen cast another skeptical glance at her friend. She wore a white dress decorated with scarlet and gold flecks on the long hem. The wide neckline on the back revealed milky white shoulder blades. And the Archon's hair flowed in smooth waves, reflecting the light and shining in it. She was beautiful.

"Your outfit will give us away in the first five seconds."

"That's why I need you," Mavuika hugged Xilonen. "We're best friends who change clothes at a pajama party."

Mavuika refused to be serious. Xilonen agreed rolling her eyes. After a while, they climbed onto the roof of one of the buildings near the gate. There was a great view of the road leading towards the Stadium.

The bugle sounded, but quieter than usual. There were too many people trying to get inside the City of the Sacred Flame these days.

"Come on," Mavuika said impatiently, leaning out of their hiding place.

"Sit down, you're blocking my view," Xilonen whispered sternly, pushing Mavuika back down.

And finally, they appeared. A group of warriors walked in front, followed slowly by the Traveler in the company of a girl already familiar to Xilonen, Mualani. Several more warriors were carrying Paimon and another girl, who was desperately digging her feet into the ground. Xilonen looked away and squinted at Mavuika. She tried to see the Pyro Archon in her, but she couldn't. Even though a blatant crime was taking place before her eyes, she remained the same person she had always been to Xilonen.

Mavuika's eyes were filled with emotion. She squinted, and then her eyes, framed by long dark eyelashes, opened in alarm. The ground could open up around them, but Xilonen's gaze would always be focused on only one person. She vowed to stand by her side, to stand back to back against the world. But only Xilonen knew that she was ready to take any blow directed against her sun. And now, reunited with Mavuika, she will become a shadow in her radiance, a step by which she will ascend to the rightful throne, anything to keep her from burning out.

"Hm," Mavuika swallowed.

"What?" Xilonen whispered.

"I'll go there," Mavuika stood up resolutely and jumped down, performing several dizzying maneuvers.

Xilonen sighed wearily. What happened to being invisible?"

"Mavuika!" Paimon exclaimed in joy and surprise.

Xilonen slowly descended from the roof and wandered towards the loud sounds of their voices.

"Paimon!" Mavuika said with exaggerated joy. "The Traveler! And the rest!" She added after a short pause.

Xilonen chuckled.

"Mavuika," Kinich greeted briefly, nodding his head at the Archon.

Xilonen witnessed this interaction, catching up with Mavuika at the very moment when Kinich opened his mouth. The guy did not deign to greet her, glancing indifferently at her face.

"Hi," Mavuika said tensely, avoiding direct eye contact.

"Oh, of course you'll be in cahoots!" A girl, unknown to Xilonen, furiously spat out, with deep blue eyes full of hatred for... for everyone. "Pyro Archon will ensure your people's safety! Huh, the same Pyro Archon who makes friends with traitors and scum like them!"

Xilonen looked at Mavuika. She furrowed her brows in alarm, trying to piece the things together. Xilonen looked at the prisoners again. They all wore the familiar bracelets on their arms, legs, and necks. All but two, not counting the warriors. Everything became clear.

"Where are you going," Mavuika asked, suddenly becoming serious.

She had understood it too.

"We have been ordered to escort the prisoners to a cell under the Stadium and..." The soldier began to speak.

"They're not prisoners," Mavuika interrupted. "Please, find a proper home for our dear guests. And the Traveler and Paimon will stay with me."

She abruptly turned and walked away. Xilonen followed her, not deigning to glance at either Kinich or Mualani.

"Mavuika? Stop..." Xilonen followed her as Mavuika made her way to the Stadium through the remote streets of the City of the Sacred Flame.

She wasn't going to stop. The bitterness burned her throat, but her eyes remained dry. She didn't regret intervening. Mavuika wasn't going to lock people in cages to satisfy someone's perverted desires. Let Windosh or any other official responsible for this deal with her. Mavuika would tell them to their faces everything that had been accumulating in her for many years.

Does time change a person? She had changed herself, and anyone who knew her would say that it wasn't for the better. Five hundred years ago, Mavuika, who cared about people, burned down in the Sacred Flame. And when she became Pyro Archon for the second time, she was only once again convinced that she was born to be selfish. Only tiny flames smoldered in her heart when she thought about the people whose existence filled her second life with colors.

And she should have extinguished them long ago, extinguished any determination to protect people, because every time Mavuika indulged her own weaknesses, she only destroyed what she had built.

Her plan was simple – to wait for him to finally come, after so many promises of death, empty threats in her dreams. She couldn't wait for the day when they could cross blades. And then Mavuika will summon the power that will help her protect Natlan. And the price must be her life.

But Mavuika was selfish. If she was going to die, she wouldn't rush the time. Let the main enemy gain strength, sacrifice the natlanians and their tiny lives? It was so easy to do nothing. How was Mavuika better than the people who caged her? They just gave her an excuse for her own weakness, because a bird with clipped wings cannot fly.

"I won't run after you," Xilonen grumbled. "You always know where to find me if you want to."

Great. One by one, Mavuika will cut off all the threads that connect her to people. Then she will be able to complete her mission, filled with nobility and suffering endlessly-feeling sorry for herself, abandoned and betrayed by everyone.

Mavuika shook her head. She wanted to lose all her feelings, but she was taught to love this life, these people, this world. And her heart was still beating in her chest. It was so loud that it was deafening.

She was taught that people must not just think about themselves. All her life, Mavuika wanted to become selfish, turn away from people and live for herself. So why was it so disgusting now, when she could and should have done it?

She didn't notice when she returned to her rooms. After her escape, Windosh told her only one thing: don't go outside the City, this is a new condition. Now Mavuika could wander the streets, taking a break from the boring corridors. But now she wanted to blend in with those walls. They will stand for another thousand years, and she is mortal.

"Mavuika," Paimon's voice came from the lower floor of the tower. "Are you here yet?"

Sighing, Mavuika forced a smile on her face.

"Paimon, the Traveler, have you been shown the rooms where you can stay?"

The Traveler, with Paimon in his arms, went inside the living room where Mavuika was staying. She usually had tea here with her second mother when she was not busy at work.

"Mavuika, we have so much to tell you!"

And Paimon started talking, explaining how things had come to the point where they were chained up. When the little girl finished her story, Mavuika could only sigh heavily. So that's how...

"Paimon doesn't know why they did that, but is so angry about it! For a while, Paimon hoped that the monsters of the Abyss were disguised as Kinich and Mualani, but then Paimon thought – if the monsters are here, then our friends may be in great danger. And Paimon doesn't want them to be in danger at all! But Paimon can't believe that they betrayed us so easily!"

Mavuika looked at the Traveler. He was even more silent. His face was pale, with dark circles under his eyes, and his blond hair was untidily disheveled. He nodded at Paimon, but the Archon knew that the Traveler's thoughts were far away from here.

"I can't take the handcuffs off you, but I'll talk to Windosh about it. You shouldn't be locked up. Just like the guys they brought with you."

In fact, Mavuika was hiding one thing from them. Windosh is unlikely to take off their shackles, because he was going to put them on from the very beginning. Even at the feast in honor of the Traveler's arrival, the man wanted to catch Paimon to intimidate the Traveler. That's what they did to Mavuika, holding her mother back. And even though the woman didn't feel the same affection for her that she felt for her first mother, she still couldn't let anything happen to Chiutl.

The Traveler has nothing to do with Natlan, he should not be chained to a land that has never been his home.

"Besides, I understand if you don't want to help Natlan anymore. Everyone knows that we are doomed. People have long sold their souls to the darkness that thrives on our lands."

"They'll probably take them off after the tournament..." Mavuika added hesitantly. "You have time to think. Get some rest. And don't hesitate to call if you have any questions."

Paimon nodded and waved goodbye. The Traveler was lost in thought.

And Mavuika was left alone, surrounded by expensive gilded furniture. After a while, the moon joined her loneliness, filling the room with fake light.

Xilonen worked all night, taking out several cans of ink in an attempt to find the missing component for her main project. Mavuika had told her the truth years ago. Years ago, Xilonen promised to recreate the Ancient Name.

However, neither the books nor the ancient scrolls obtained by Mavuika helped to find what was missing in order for the Ancient Names to be revived from the past. They knew everything: the technology, the materials, and what time of day was best for forging. And even though the Wayob hadn't answered the prayers of the people of Natlan for a long time, Xilonen was sure it wasn't that easy.

Only two components were missing to create the Ancient Name. One of them, indeed, was the voice of the Lord of the Night, transmitted to the Wayob in the tribes. It was almost impossible to get it – the Lord of the Night was busy fighting the Abyss. Mavuika wanted to check the situation inside the Night Kingdom, and that's what the tournament was for.

But the second component was much more important. The Ancient Name contained the spirit, determination, goals and aspirations of the heroes of the past. Natlan had not honored its ancestors for a long time. For many generations, they remained eternal wanderers, having not found a way to return to the Night Kingdom. But the new natlanians were different.

Bitterly, Xilonen threw a pile of crumpled paper into another pile of crumpled paper. It was a mountain. And all in order to artificially recreate one of the two components, or both. It was hopeless, but Xilonen and Mavuika saw no other way out. During their separation, Xilonen tried everything she could think of. And it didn't work.

With annoyance, Xilonen saw the first rays of the sun and the sky brightening by the minute. She wanted to sleep, but the stuffy room, filled with work, caused even more irritation. And there was a huge sprawling tree a couple of streets away from her hotel...

Xilonen had been eyeing the tree since his arrival. It's time to try it out. The fresh morning air, the barely warm earth, the shadow cast by the leaves. Perfect. Carefully and quietly, Xilonen jumped onto a large branch. Perfect! Once settled, she drifted off to sleep. And let Mavuika continue to think that she neglects sleep and rest. Right now, Xilonen was getting everything out of life.

"This is my tree," someone said.

In her sleep, Xilonen heard these words and irritably opened one eye. Who in their right mind would want to claim a tree? There was no one in sight, either to the right or to the left. The speaker wasn't sitting in front of her, and he wasn't under the tree (Xilonen checked there too). Maybe she imagined it. This hope warmed the woman's heart as she drifted back to sleep.

After a while, the rustle of leaves nearby made Xilonen wake up again. This time, she met the gaze of the intruder. A man was hanging upside down in front of her.

"Hello," a man murmured.

And with a crash, a noise, a snap of branches and a pile of leaves, he fell. Xilonen jumped up herself, really scared. She looked down cautiously. There was a man lying there who seemed strangely familiar. That's right, he was one of those who were brought along with the Traveler.

Carefully descending, Xilonen did not take her eyes off this guy. He wore a dark cloak, shackles, and besides them, a huge metal ball chained to his leg.

"Are you okay?" Xilonen leaned against a tree, stretching.

Judging by the hot air and the shadows, it was already noon. Meanwhile, the guy got up and rubbed the back of his head.

"Yes... I'm fine," he said softly.

"It must hurt a lot. Can I check your head if you want?"

The guy started to shake his head, but stopped abruptly, staring at her ears.

"Oh," he breathed reverently. "You're a beast, too."

"Huh?" Xilonen asked, offended. "Thanks, but I'm not a beast. I am human."

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to offend you, it's just, you know," he pulled the hood off his head. "You're no more human than I am."

Indeed, a pair of pointed ears stuck out among the messy dark hair.

"Here, you see," the guy carefully put the hood back in place.

"Yes," Xilonen said skeptically. "But I see such ears every day in my own reflection. Don't make it so important."

The guy tilted his head in embarrassment, strands of his hair almost completely hide his face.

"I'm sorry. In other people, it's not the lack of perfection that annoys us, but the lack of resemblance to us. Although you're perfect, both your ears and your tail," Xilonen tucked her tail between her legs in fright, "and everything else, too. We're so much alike, but I'm the furthest thing from perfection."

Xilonen looked at him with round eyes.

"I'm sorry, I'm talking so confusing that I'm only making it worse. I wanted to say that your «beast» part – ears and tail– is beautiful."

He drooped completely, and pulled his hood deeper. Xilonen looked at him blankly. She wanted to say something. But such a compliment made her speechless. The situation was saved by the appearance of a third person. Commander Iansan called out to Xilonen as she passed by. They didn't know each other, but Xilonen had heard her name from Mavuika.

"Xilonen, glad to see you here. I've heard a lot about your works. Maybe you can do something for me while we're all stuck here waiting for the tournament? Speaking of which," she looked at the guy next to Xilonen. "Why is the prisoner walking free?"

There was irony in her voice, but the guy flinched slightly.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding!" Iansan exclaimed. "Come on, don't worry so much!"

She walked up to the guy and patted him on the back.

"Commander Iansan, are you participating in the tournament too?" Xilonen asked.

"Huh, of course. Strength is achieved through hard work, but it is shown by deeds."

"Yes, but you're too small to fight." The guy shared his opinion.

Iansan wasn't small. If Xilonen had guessed, she would have said that the commander's height was about five feet, but she was really short compared to the other members of her tribe. And yet her face and body belonged to an adult. This guy was weird, saying whatever came into his head, so Xilonen was waiting with interest for Iansan's reaction to such a comment.

"Ha-ha-ha," Iansan laughed merrily. "I assure you, I am older and more experienced than you. Not everyone is lucky enough to be born tall like you. But please..."

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," he muttered.

Iansan put both hands on his back and pressed down.

"Don't slouch."

Xilonen snorted when the guy straightened up in fright.

"Let's go. My companions still haven't arrived, so I'll show you around."

With that, she moved forward, picking up the metal ball along the way as if it weighed nothing. Xilonen grinned at the guy and went ahead. He had no choice but to follow them, as Iansan dragged the ball further and further away. Their company must have looked very strange.

"So that's it, Ororon," Iansan reasoned. "You urgently need to start training. Your shoulders are quite broad... Do you shoot arrows?"

Ororon nodded, obediently following behind.

"But your legs are as thin as two sticks."

"Nevertheless, he climbed a tree with this ball," Xilonen interjected.

The woman just walked along, occasionally adding something from herself. She didn't want to go back to useless work. Besides, she felt some responsibility. It was a pity to leave Ororon alone with Iansan – the guy felt uncomfortable. And Iansan herself seemed funny to Xilonen. No drama. It was fine.

"I always tell those of you, Masters of the Night-Wind, who come to my service that you underestimate physical fitness. Your tricks won't help if the enemy knocks you out with one blow. But using tricks as an element of surprise is a great idea."

Iansan continued to talk, Ororon continued to listen, and Xilonen looked around thoughtfully, hoping to avoid acquaintances. But fate had other plans, because Kinich, who was passing by, almost crashed into their group. Xilonen frowned, and Iansan looked away from the topic of training.

"Hi," she greeted the guy, who wanted to pass by, but was stopped by the attentive commander.

She blocked his path and tilted her head, examining the guy in front of her with interest.

"Hi," Kinich said gloomily.

"I've heard about your recent exploits," Iansan continued amiably. "Kidnapping... Is it really worth the money you were paid?"

"I don't have time to discuss the price of my services," Kinich replied stoically. "Besides, I'm not your subordinate to report to you."

He walked around Iansan and disappeared into the crowd. The woman chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"He doesn't like you," Xilonen said.

"And he doesn’t like you either," Iansan smiled. "It's a pity they hid under Windosh's wing. If I could, this conversation would have been completely different."

"You can always fight at the tournament," Ororon suggested. "It is interesting that such an unfriendly person as Kinich seems to be familiar with every high-ranking person in Natlan... Pyro Archon, several commanders."

Right. Xilonen turned to Iansan with interest.

"When did he have time to sharpen his grudge against you?" Xilonen asked.

Iansan thought for a moment before answering.

"I thought we were friends."

The situation was taking an interesting turn.

"Well, finally I see some smart faces!" Another familiar voice exclaimed.

Rizok, in all his peacock glory, strode towards them. He proudly wore the colors of his people and silver jewelry on all possible parts of his body.

"Xilonen, Commander Iansan and some guy, you won't believe it, but I'm sincerely glad to see you." Rizok smiled with snow–white teeth.

"This is Ororon..."

"Rizok!"  Iansan patted the guy on the back in a friendly way. "We haven't met for a long time."

"And you haven't been to the springs for a long time," the guy replied.

"Fair enough. So what happened?"

They spoke freely, like old acquaintances. Xilonen stood awkwardly next to him, exchanging glances with Ororon, who also looked lost. Xilonen even regretted that she didn't want to meet anyone she knew so much. Maybe she wouldn't feel so awkward standing next to them like a third or fourth wheel.

"The thing is, besides my other problems, I've bought myself a couple more." Rizok paused for dramatic effect. "Mualani is acting strangely," he added.

Strangely is not the right word. Xilonen wasn't close to her. But still, a short acquaintance was enough to realize that Mualani must have been an excellent actress. If she was acting, otherwise there was something terrible behind the betrayal. Xilonen might have expected this from Kinich, but Mualani seemed so bright and kind.

"What's she doing?" Iansan asked. "Apart from the obvious kidnapping."

Rizok chuckled, "I don't think she remembers me. Maybe it's the name and the fact that we were once friends, but no more. It was as if the Traveler and Paimon had left a bigger mark on her memories than I had."

Was he jealous? Friendly, as it seemed to Xilonen, but still, Rizok was jealous.

"It's really weird. If she has lost some of her memories, then this makes the situation even more difficult. Could amnesia have occurred during your journey?" Iansan turned to Ororon, who jumped slightly in surprise.

"Is it possible? She was quite silent while we were in the Flower-Feather Clan."

Ororon seemed to be thinking seriously. Iansan too. Rizok did not burden himself with silent thoughts. Instead, he decided to voice them.

"When I heard that Mualani had abducted a group of people, I couldn't believe my ears. Kinich was her accomplice... I wasn't surprised. I didn't trust him from the very beginning. This guy could have done something to her!"

"Hey," Iansan looked at Rizok reproachfully. "What if they both suffered from memory loss? Kinich probably didn't recognize me. Not counting the name and status," she added more confidently.

Why this day has turned into an intellectual game.

"We need to talk to them," Xilonen suggested. "Don’t think that I’m worry about them. I'm disgusted by what they did, but these people seem to matter to you. If they have suffered from some kind of dangerous memory erasure technique, then you need to stop whoever is behind it. And although I would have gone straight to Windosh, let's leave it for the Pyro Archon."

"I can help," Ororon said hesitantly.

"You don't have to," Iansan smiled at him sympathetically.

"Mualani wanted to save Natlan. And I want it too. And Chasca wants too, I'm sure. Although she's angry now and doesn't talk to anyone. I would like to be helpful."

"Okay," Ryzok urged. "Let's do something already. He's going to spy on Mualani with me. And you two can go and get hit by this inadequate psycho."

Shrugging their shoulders, everyone agreed with the distribution, even if not everyone agreed with the words he used. All that remains is to find their victims among the residents and visitors of the City of the Sacred Flame.

"The target is walking down the street a few blocks from here," Rizok put down the binoculars and frowned at Ororon. "Can you apply any hypnosis techniques to it, or just get into her head to understand what it is filled with?"

Ororon nodded.

"I can't hypnotize her, but I can monitor her aura fluctuations, pulse rate, and other body changes."

"To put it simply, you can see right through her. As my personal lie detector."

"Something like that..."

"Great," said Rizok and rushed to intercept Mualani, who was walking along the street and hovering in her thoughts.

"Mualani, hello again!" Rizok greeted her with exaggerated joy.

"Yeah, hello, Mualani," Ororon came out of the shadows and stood next to him, cutting off the escape route.

Rizok turned to him and mouthed, "Go away, the whole point is that you hide!"

But Ororon ignored the guy.

"Hi," Mualani said warily. "Did you want something?"

"We didn't come together," Rizok said hurriedly. "But I ran into this guy and learned something new about you... Who would have thought that one day you would organize a kidnapping?"

An impudent grin blossomed on Rizok's face as Mualani's face darkened.

"I'm so sorry!" The girl exclaimed. "That's..."

She crossed her fingers without looking up. Her cheeks were flushed.

"I'm not mad at you," Ororon said soothingly.

Rizok and Mualani immediately turned their heads, looking surprised.

"Yes," Ororon nodded. "Sometimes the best outcome awaits us for terrible actions... But I can't blame you. Falling in love is always hard."

Rizok frowned, but after a second, his face lit up with understanding.

"I would also fall in love with the Traveler if I were you. He's strong and brave. And his hair glitters in the sun like a mora..." He paused for a few seconds, then continued... "Or this is... Don't tell me you like Kinich. That brute..."

Mualani's flushed face became thoughtful. It was as if she was choosing between the two. Or had she just come to the realization of her feelings?

"Don't tease me..." Mualani muttered.

Rizok rolled his eyes.

"Don't be silent," he said impatiently. "You, women, are always like this: you bask in men's attention, and then you refuse them. It's good that I'm here. I see through the mercantile girls who want to get my father's money. Even Amina would give anything to touch me."

Mualani sighed in exasperation.

"Stop talking. There is no falling in love. I acted as I wanted. And I'm really sorry that I had to set you up," she said to Ororon. "I urged Kinich to change his mind, especially after seeing that you and Chasca were ready to fight at the tournament without coercion. But he was ruthless. And I agreed."

"To avoid being handcuffed yourself?" Rizok asked.

"Sort of... It's not for you to judge me."

Rolling his eyes, Rizok nodded. His suspicions seemed to have subsided. Still, he continued to talk, pouting and tapping his lips with his finger.

"Our dear old Nuu would be saddened to hear this," Rizok winked at the girl. "I'll tell him everything as soon as I get home."

"You bastard," muttered Mualani. "However, do whatever you want. I'm sure he'll understand."

Rizok laughed. Mualani and Ororon exchanged glances. The guy continued to giggle, attracting more and more attention from the people around him.

"Mualani!" A girl dressed in the colors of the Collective of Plenty ran forward. "So glad to see you! My parents and I came to the tournament. How are you doing?"

The girl cast a suspicious glance at the giggling Rizok, who had sunk to the ground and was wiping his tears.

"I have to go," Mualani said awkwardly. "I hope he doesn't suffocate..."

And she hurried away to where her friend's parents were standing. Rizok struggled stand up, leaned on Ororon's shoulder.

"What's going on with you?" Ororon asked.

"Let's go," Rizok walked away, gesturing actively. "Now I'm sure she doesn't remember anything. Mualani would kill me if she heard me talking about women like that. And Amina is our leader. She would never humiliate herself for me. Mualani knows this."

"It turns out that you yourself would not refuse to humiliate yourself for the sake of Amina," Ororon nodded understandingly.

"Yeah," muttered Rizok. "I'll happily lick her feet like a dog. Anyway, there's something else." He chuckled. "Old Nuu is dead. She obviously doesn't know what she's talking about!"

He laughed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was funny..." Ororon gently put his hand on Rizok's shoulder.

"It's hysetri... hystreti..." He laughed again.

Ororon directed a wave of energy that passed through the guy's body. Rizok's laughter died down.

"Something's happened!" He exclaimed. "Mualani was the victim of a curse. We need to take her to a doctor."

"Even her heart is not right. I was sure that sincere feelings cannot be forgotten."

Rizok shot him a suspicious look.

"I was just kidding... It can't be! Is she really in love with the Traveler?" Seeing Ororon shake his head lightly, he groaned. "Oh, noooo!"

"I expect it to happen." Ororon reassured him.

"But why can't it be the Traveler?"

"You worry about her like an older brother. You know. Chasca is also an older sister... And when someone wants to date Chuychu, they always talk to Chaska. Well, she's threatening them."

"You don't understand. Mualani is a disaster. And I'm afraid of her potential boyfriend! He almost beat me up. Twice!"

Having a casual conversation, the guys came to the meeting place. It was a small cafe, and both women were already waiting for them. Xilonen's head was resting on her folded arms as they sat at a table with Iansan. A slight smile never left Iansan’s face. When she saw them, she poked Xilonen. She woke up reluctantly.

"Is there any good news?" Iansan asked cheerfully.

"Complete amnesia!" Rizok said exaggeratedly tragically. "She doesn't remember the details, which brings us back to the question of what exactly happened!"

Xilonen tapped her fingers thoughtfully on the table.

"Kinich is also behaving strangely, although I do not know what is considered strange for him. Mavuika could have suggested it, but there is one problem... Kinich really wants to meet her."

"When we found him, he was trying to convince the guards to let him inside the Stadium."

"Doesn't he hate our Archon?" Rizok asked.

Xilonen's pupils narrowed decisively.

"Exactly. I don't want to put Mavuika in danger, so I sent her a note asking her not to go out alone. She has so many guards, and there is the Traveler nearby... Something's going on."

Right. And even if Kinich and Mualani have fallen under the curse, there is someone who has cast it. It could also be that they weren't supposed to be the final target. And the most likely option is Pyro Archon. The second would have been the Traveler himself, but Kinich and Mualani had every chance of killing him after poisoning.

"While you were traveling, did something strange happen to Kinich and Mualani?" Iansan asked.

All three of them looked at Ororon, confusing him.

"Well... We've always been there for each other. I didn't see anything suspicious."

"Unless you were the one who cursed them." Rizok pointed at him.

It was natural to suspect Ororon of all the troubles. But this time he didn't do anything! Could it be that being next to his fractured soul brought something bad upon Kinich and Mualani?

"That's why Natlan is doomed," Xilonen said sternly. "People continue to blame each other when our main opponent is the Abyss."

"Could the monsters of the Abyss have replaced them?" Iansan asked.

"I checked their auras – they remained the same. And Mualani's heart was beating like a human's when we talked to her. The Traveler did not notice the energy of the Abyss when he used his talents. And we couldn't come up with a personal enough question that the Abyss couldn't eavesdrop on."

"But now we've done it," Ryzok mused. "And it turned out that these two abruptly lost their memory."

"On the one hand, they may be clones. But your supernatural instinct doesn't show you that they are monsters. If they have lost their memory..." Xilonen frowned. "So there's someone behind this."

"But the monsters of the Abyss usually obey others with a higher rank." Iansan remarked. "The clones could also have been sent by someone intelligent enough to pull off this whole plan."

Xilonen's face shone with determination.

"We can't let them hurt Mavuika."

Iansan patted the woman's hand reassuringly.

"We will follow Kinich and Mualani before the tournament starts. Perhaps by asking them, we'll find out what was the last event they remembered."

"They're clones," Xilonen objected. "They won't say anything. Besides, the vile Kinich's dragon is nowhere to be seen."

"But no one felt the energy of the Abyss," Iansan tried to convince them.

"If these are clones, then the real people have suffered," said Rizok. "Mualani may be in danger."

They stared at Ororon again, waiting for his opinion.

"I'm also leaning towards memory loss..." Seeing Xilonen's displeasure, Ororon continued. "But still, don't dismiss the clone theory... The Abyss can be treacherous. You can't let your guard down."

They couldn't be clones, because that meant Ororon was the one who let them in here. He should have known better than to frame everyone. He must be able to distinguish the copy from the original.

If he screwed up, they were doomed.

They followed Mualani and Kinich every day leading up to the tournament. More and more people arrived in the City of the Sacred Flame, filling the streets and making the search more difficult.

"I've never seen Kinich interact with so many people," Iansan complained during one of their meetings.

That's right, they were shunned. After a few conversations, Mualani started running away as soon as Rizok appeared on the horizon. She was chatting with people she knew from somewhere and who didn't know what she had done. Or maybe they were happy with everything, because thanks to her, all six tribes would come together for the first time.

There was a sense of triumph in the air, but Rizok could only feel anxiety. Even though he hadn't talked to Mualani for so many years, he still considered her his friend. He didn't want her to get hurt.

But Mualani ran away while Rizok tried to catch up with her. In any case, the girl did not seek to get to the Archon, like Kinich. Iansan and Xilonen stopped his very creative attempts, while Ororon and Rizok must only monitor the movements of the Mualani. She never was alone.

"If she has nothing to hide, she would have stopped running away long ago!" Rizok complained. "But no, we're playing catch-up. What if she's being threatened?!"

Ororon shrugged his shoulders. He joined in every day, even though Rizok knew that the guy was doing it out of a perverted sense of duty. After all, Ororon's own friends were fine, even if they were prisoners (guests) like him.

Even after the first meeting with Mualani in the City of the Sacred Flame, Rizok wanted to talk to Amina, because she would listen to his suspicions. But the chief was busy organizing the tournament. In any case, she was the only option: the elders would have brushed him off, as they always did. Then Rizok decided to find the Traveler, but he was inside the Stadium. Fortunately, he met Xilonen and the others. So, their surveillance began.

Which ends tomorrow, along with the tournament. They couldn't figure out the plan, if there was one, which means they'll have to act on the circumstances of the tournament. It doesn't seem like Rizok will contribute much if the monsters attack.

There were quite a few participants, so the organizers were going to divide the competition into two days. Rizok knew he should rest, but he couldn’t. So he went outside.

If Mualani hid from him during the day, then she had to sleep at night. But earlier, the girl did not return to the hotel where she was staying. She knew that she would be called to account immediately.

Rizok rolled his eyes in annoyance. He'll try again. He'll come to her house and make her talk. It was unwise and put his life in potential danger, but Mualani was in trouble too. It's time to become an altruist.

The lights in the hotel windows were off, which was logical: it was the middle of the night. Grinning to himself, Rizok went inside.

"All the rooms are booked," the receptionist muttered sleepily.

Rizok remained silent, allowing her to believe that the guest was just a hallucination. And so it happened, the girl put her head in her hands and began to snore. Then Rizok passed by. Sixty rooms? It's nothing. He will bypass them all.

But he was lucky again, because there was a guest registration log next to the girl. Carefully picking it up, Rizok quickly flipped through the pages in search of Mualani's name. And he found it.

Climbing the stairs was depressing, but he was doing it for a good cause. In the semi-darkness of the long corridor, Rizok imagined himself as the hero of one of the horror films he got from Fontaine. The floorboards creaked under his footsteps as he searched for the right room.

The door was unlocked, opening quietly and closing just as silently behind him. After passing through the hallway, Rizok entered the room and froze. This picture was too familiar.

There was a body lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Rizok screamed and immediately covered his mouth with his hands. He had seen this before. When he returned home and saw the body of his own mother and the monster of the Abyss devouring it.

"You're not at the right time," Mualani smiled at him.

Her mouth was bloody, as were her hands. The ends of her hair were bathed in red, but the girl wasn't paying attention. Her predatory gaze was focused on Rizok, who was breathing heavily, trying to stand on his feet.

The monster bared its fangs and pulled its claws out of the victim's body with a squelch.

"I'm so sorry," the creature, pretending to be a Mualani, croaked mockingly.

And then, the monster rushed at Rizok.

Chapter Text

The earth filled his eyes, nose and mouth, collapsing around him in a rapid stream and dragging him into the depths of the underground tunnels. The roots clung to the clothes, and the sharp stones cut the skin. All this made it impossible to coordinate. His body was tossed around like a rag doll as he fell down in pitch darkness filled with fear and pain.

The fall took forever, but worse than the eternity spent blindly, unable to breathe properly, was that with each new turn it got warmer around. There were many magma lakes under the lands of the Masters of the Night-Wind. And the endless tunnel they were rolling through led to one of them.

It was getting lighter and lighter, the ground did not block the view, crumbling and settling in the air. At the last second, Kinich managed to use the Dendro Vision, and ropes of cloudy green color pierced the unstable walls of the tunnel in search of roots or stones strong enough to hold a person. The guy himself was flying towards the bright, almost blinding radiance below. A second later, he felt relieved, because the vines wrapped tightly around his leg, holding him up.

Another body flashed by, and Kinich directed the Dendro rope towards him, first tying it around his wrist. The last cloud of sand collapsed from above along with loose mud and dust. And then everything went quiet.

In the echoing silence, the splash made by the magma below made Kinich shudder. The heat coming from the lake was searing. The guy wiped his face with his elbow, regretfully noting the absence of a headband. It disappeared into the lava or flew off with the gloves in one of the many tunnels they rode through. But the worst part was that the necklace was also gone, just like Ajaw.

Kinich looked down again, but it wasn't the lava that held his gaze so fiercely. There, tied with a rope to his wrist, hung an unconscious Mualani.

She was covered in mud, but the girl's face seemed peaceful, as if she was asleep. The small tracks in the corners of her eyes were left by tears.

What if the earth clogged her airways? But upon closer inspection, Kinich saw the subtle fluctuations of her face created by breathing. The guy allowed himself a sigh of relief. Ршы throat hurt, and ршы eyes burned from the inability to rinse them with water. In addition, the heat became unbearable, beads of sweat rolled down Kinich's back and face, causing irritation.

But Mualani was even closer to the lake. If nothing is done, they will be doomed to dry up here, like insects trapped inside a lamp.

Kinich looked at the rope binding him and the girl again. One wrong move can cause it to fall down and pull him down with it. He would prefer not to pull her up, risking her balance. But for this, Mualani must wake up.

"Mualani," he called.

But the girl remained motionless. It didn't seem like his hoarse words could even be heard by anyone in a better situation.

Then he'll have to take a risk. About five Dendro ropes were holding his leg, and another was tying him to Mualani. Kinich could have created more, but he was not in the best condition. The blood rushed to his head, the heat squeezed his temples.

Concentrating, he formed another short rope. There was a small leaf at the tip of the vine. Concentrating, Kinich directed it to the girl below, tickling her nose. It really worked: Mualani sneezed and opened her eyes.

And their gazes meet each other. The brightness of the magma lake couldn't compare to the warm light that illuminated Mualani's eyes. The small pools of lava that had spread out in the lower part of the lilac iris must have been relatives of the lake that lay beneath them. That's how they burned.

A string of emotions flashed through the girl's gaze, ending in fear. She opened her mouth in fright, but coughed. The ropes shook.

"Don't look down," Kinich warned her.

Mualani listened, watching his face so intently that Kinich wanted to turn away. But apart from the two of them, there was only lava bubbling under them.

"Can you climb higher?" Kinich asked.

Mualani nodded uncertainly. She needs to grab the rope connecting them with both hands, and then pull herself up several times. The girl's trembling fingers gripped the vine tightly as she made the first small maneuver, lifting herself up slightly.

In small intervals, she crawled, closing the distance between them. Kinich held out his other hand, preparing to join their palms. A few more inches and they would finally meet.

"Just a little more," the guy said faintly.

And Mualani continued to climb the rope, swinging in different directions and breaking his wrist. Kinich clenched his teeth. He needs to gather his strength to pull off what he has in mind. Otherwise, they will die.

Mualani's hand was so small, with the skin burned from the rope and wet with blood and sweat. But she was holding on so tightly that it would have been impossible to unclench those fingers by force. Kinich smiled approvingly.

"Trust me for the next one," he said. "Just don't let go."

After waiting for Mualani's nod, Kinich began to sway. Mualani's grip became even stronger. For greater reliability, Kinich tied his other wrist to the girl's hand. But she didn't notice, swaying with Kinich in fright.

The vines holding his leg remained strong. The adrenaline gave him strength, allowing him to create more and more Dendro structures around them. With a strong movement, he threw Mualani up. Ropes immediately rushed to her feet, wrapping around her legs. After making sure that the girl was firmly holding on, Kinich dissolved the vines that bound the two of them. They were now hanging back to back.

"Pull yourself up and grab the rope with your hands. I'll pull us up."

"Okay," Mualani breathed softly.

Gathering himself, Kinich did as he was told, lifting his body and grabbing the ropes binding his legs with his hands. He met the gaze of Mualani, who was sitting in the same position so close that Kinich could make out the smallest details of her face. The magma below provided light, which was absorbed by the darkness of the overhanging tunnel. And yet Kinich could see her so clearly that the image must have been imprinted in his memory forever.

The girl's eyelashes fluttered, her gaze darted anxiously over his face, while her own was smeared with dirt. But she was still smiling at him.

"We need to get up somehow," Mualani said. "But I guess you've already thought it all out."

"I can pull us higher, but I do not know how deep we have fallen. In addition, these tunnels are a real maze."

"Then you're lucky, because I was once a student of Natlan's best guide." Her smile faded a little. "I'm sorry. I won't talk about it."

Kinich said nothing, looking away from the girl. Instead of talking, he resolutely continued to create a path to the top. The guy was summoning Dendro ropes that pulled them up like a hoist. And then they disappeared, replaced by more and more, gone into the endless darkness of the underground space.

They rose in slow spurts, leaving the magma lake far below. Kinich continued manipulating the element, despite the slight tremor in his fingers. The path to salvation required concentration and perseverance. And there was no one in Natlan, more stubborn, than him.

Finally, they came across a branch. The tunnel went off to the right, fortunately, being located almost horizontally. The last ropes dissolved when Kinich took a few steps on the ground. Mualani walked hesitantly beside him.

Kinich could hear the girl's ragged breathing. Perhaps she was crying, trying to do it unnoticeably. For a split second, he thought about taking her hand, but refused.

They moved forward, taking each step carefully. Sometimes Kinich lit a fire with a flint, examining the ground under his feet. But he quickly extinguished the flames. Oxygen is needed for breathing.

However, they couldn't be lucky for long: at some point, ten minutes or several hours later, they ran into a fork in the road.

"The ground is equally loose here," Kinich remarked gloomily, extinguishing the flames. "It's impossible to say where we came from."

Mualani sighed heavily as she sat down on the ground. Kinich joined her. And the silence seemed deafening. It was broken only by the sound of their breathing.

"Mualani..."

"I..."

They said at the same time.

"You're the first."

Mualani chuckled softly.

"I wanted to ask... What do you think happened? Are the others okay?"

"I haven't seen any other bodies besides you. If they didn't fall earlier, they must be continuing their journey."

"Don't make it sound like they betrayed us," Mualani said in frustration. "Even the Traveler can't dig through the entire land of Natlan to find us."

If he wanted to. Although the Traveler seemed sincerely determined to help Natlan, Kinich could not get rid of skeptical thoughts. After all, he knew Mavuika. She also wanted to save Natlan once.

"Thank you for saving me from falling," Mualani breathed.

"It's alright," Kinich replied awkwardly.

And the conversation stopped. But it allowed him to collect the thoughts that were running restlessly through his head.

It was obvious that someone had set up this trap. But who could have done this? If he tried remember their companions, then everyone could have their own motive. Although, whether it was one of them or the uninvited guests, they should have understood that the main threat was posed by the Traveler. And even though Kinich had many detractors, Mualani was an innocent soul.

So, most likely, the Traveler was the target. But what happened after their fall? To understand this, they need to get out. And there was a problem: Kinich didn't know how.

The situation wasn't hopeless as they sat across from the two, diverging in different directions tunnels. And if he were alone, he could have studied both. But Mualani was with him. Perhaps she was getting in the way. Or maybe she was the only reason he hadn't gone crazy with fear, focusing on saving her.

A rumble and a screech came from the darkness. The roar shook the walls of the tunnel, but it was unclear where the enemy was moving from. Then Kinich felt a touch on his arm. Mualani squeezed his hand as the growl came again, louder. No matter what was rushing towards them, Kinich could handle this creature.

Releasing his hand, he rekindled the flame and handed it to Mualani. Kinich summoned his claymore, preparing for battle. After a while, the tepetlisaurus' muzzle appeared out of the darkness, overgrown with plates reflecting dim light. Saurian growled, looking at the frozen people with small eyes.

"Put down your sword," Mualani tugged at his trouser leg.

Hesitantly, Kinich obeyed, waiting for the girl's further actions.

"We are not enemies," Mualani said softly. "I'm sorry we scared you."

After taking a close look, saurian stepped back. With a growl, it turned away and drilled into the wall, hiding in the depths of the earth.

"Okay, he turned out to be harmless," Kinich thoughtfully ran his hand over the hole that saurian had dug. "Besides, I have an idea. Tepetlisaurus do not live underground. They only cover short distances. So, by following the path that he dug before meeting us, we can find ourselves on the surface."

"Wow," Mualani said, impressed.

"Party if it works. Let's get out of here." Kinich pointed to the tunnel dug by tepetlisaurus.

Mualani nodded, extinguishing the flames as they entered a new hallway. It was deep enough for Kinich to stand without tilting his head. And also quite straight, without sharp loops and turns. But the length of the tunnel was huge. Kinich would not have been surprised to learn that they had been walking for several hours before a glimmer of light appeared ahead.

When they came out, it was the middle of the night. Mualani fell to her knees, touching her forehead to the ground.

"I will never take the solid ground under my feet and the sky above my head for granted again," she breathed, getting up.

Kinich grinned and looked around. The dim light made the area indistinguishable, but Kinich still had a rough idea of where they were. The tepetlisaurus’ tunnel brought them to a level higher than the gorge they had traveled through earlier. The mountains and forests belonging to the Flower-Feather Clan could be seen on the horizon. But they shouldn't have gone there. Not when they didn't figure out the situation. Kinich did not want to put their lives in danger.

"Do you still have my things?" Mualani asked awkwardly.

Kinich pulled out several bags from the subspace and handed them to the girl. She accepted.

"We're all covered in mud. I don't want to get my clothes dirty or waste water, given the unknown circumstances we find ourselves in. But still, I can't help but ask: do you know how far away a river or lake is from here, where we could wash away this awful shit?"

Mualani took out the water. Her face seemed so sincere that just looking at her caused a wrong burning in Kinich’s chest.

"We need to head towards the City of the Sacred Flame," Kinich replied in confusion. "Maybe we'll meet a river or two along the way."

"Don't you want to get rid of mud at all?" Mualani asked.

She was drinking from her own waterskin. Now he could clearly see that every inch of her body and hair was covered with a layer of dirt, smeared where she was trying to wipe off the sweat. And Mualani's clothes were not in the best condition. It's just dirty and torn in places where it caught on the rocks. Kinich knew he didn't look any better.

First of all, he needs to come up with a plan. It was a priority. And when they get to a safe place, they'll find out what happened... When he’ll had control of the situation... Then he'll think about himself.

"I can handle it," Kinich said indifferently.

"You, boys..." Mualani gasped in exasperation. "Still, I hope you'll remember the map and lead the two of us to any water source in the area. No matter where we go next, we shouldn't show up there like this. And we need to drink..."

"I don't care," Kinich repeated. "People like me were born to crawl in the mud." He shrugged and glanced at Mualani.

She looked at him with something melancholic in her eyes.

"Alright," Kinich conceded. "I'm sure we'll come across a river on our road to the City of the Sacred Flame. The shortest way there should be along one of the major rivers."

After eating some fruit, they set off. Kinich was ready to fight the monsters if they appeared. But the Abyss continued to remain suspiciously inactive. However, it was playing into their hands right now.

It would be nice to find Ajaw, if he hadn't drowned in the magma lake. A dragon made of phlogiston might not have died, but Kinich still felt uncomfortable without the usual weight of the necklace. Of course, he was taking it off sometimes, and he certainly didn't miss Ajaw's nagging. But the dragon gave him a power he didn't want to lose.

They walked, making short stops as the sun rose above the horizon, turning scorching. It was worth finding a source of water so that thirst would not have time to become their problem. However, at the moment when they were almost at the river, a noise unlike the sound of water reached them. It sounded more like the screams of the hilichurls and the howls of the small rifthounds.

And the closer they got, the louder the sounds became. Shouts of people were added to them. Could it have been the Traveler and the others? Kinich exchanged glances with Mualani, reading the same thoughts in the girl's eyes. They sped up, running out onto the shore where the carnage was taking place.

"Stay away," Kinich reminded Mualani, drawing his sword and imbuing it with Dendro's power.

A group of hilichurls surrounded the caravan of merchants while they stood back to back, powerless to do anything. Several warriors fought off the attacks of the rifthounds, giving in to the monsters. Kinich sighed and rushed into battle.

Blow after blow, blocking and slashing, Kinich dealt with the rifthounds. Seeing the ally, the remaining warriors hurried to attack the hilichurls, who were easier opponents. The fight was easy, the monsters were over before Kinich could get out of breath.

He was standing with his shoulders squared when Mualani came up from behind and gently patted him on the back. Kinich took a step to the side, pulling away.

"Great job!" She praised with a kind smile devoid of anger.

"Have you decided to come back?" A suspicious female voice rang out.

A woman in her forties with a beautiful face that was only enhanced by age came out of the group of merchants. Her thick dark curls fell over her shoulders, falling over her ample bosom. She wore layered eremite’s outfits decorated with patterns. But her swarthy face wasn't covered by a mask, unlike some of the people next to her. Kinich was now able to get a better look at the fact that in addition to the adults, there were also children there. It looks like a group of desert merchants came all the way from Sumeru to get stuck in the middle of the wastelands of Natlan.

"Ah," the crease between the woman's eyebrows smoothed out. "Forget it. It's just that your voice sounded familiar to me," she said to Mualani.

"Is it okay?" The girl replied cautiously. "Are you itinerant merchants?"

"And are you itinerant vagabonds?" A middle–aged man with a chest riddled with scars sneered impudently. "We have reached the point where we need protection from a group of pathetic hilichurls and puppies! And those who help us are people who need help themselves!"

"Don't listen to him," the woman interrupted. "This brute didn't mean to offend you."

"It's not like that," Mualani shook her head in embarrassment. "We just got into a... situation..."

"In a situation with your friend, I see," the same man grinned. "Don't be afraid to admit that you ran away and found yourself in trouble. You know," he spoke a little more softly, "we have a lot of guys like you here. Meet the Formidable Scarabs, merchants, and wanderers. "

"I'm Inessa," the woman introduced herself.

"And I’m," Mualani began, but Kinich stopped her.

"Let's talk about something before we trust strangers," he whispered in her ear.

Mualani nodded obediently.

"We'll go away for a while," the girl said. "You can just assess the damage while we're gone..."

The gazes of the eremites accompanied them as they moved out of their line of sight along the riverbank. Once far from the caravan, Kinich stopped.

"What do you think? Can we trust them?" He asked.

"Do you think this is one of the monsters of the Abyss? The ones, who are taking people's places?"

Kinich mumbled thoughtfully.

"Maybe. But it doesn't look like we'll be able to verify that. I'm more afraid that these caravan is just a cover. Children traffic or prohibited goods... I've heard and seen all kinds of things."

"But what are these people doing in such a sparsely populated area of Natlan?" Mualani frowned. "Besides, they're hardly setting a trap for us. Who would expect to meet someone so desperate to travel around Natlan alone or together?"

Her words sounded reasonable.

"Well, then we can try to establish contact with them. If these merchants are heading in the direction of the City of the Sacred Flame, then we're on our way. The more people there are, the less likely it is that the Abyss will kill us in our sleep," Kinich grinned, sitting down on one of the particularly large boulders.

Mualani laughed and looked at him expectantly.

"You wanted to wash up," Kinich reminded her. "I'll keep watch."

Mualani smiled shyly.

"Okay," she murmured.

Kinich looked at the horizon, where rare mountains could be seen. They came to a river, the road along which led to the City of the Sacred Flame. It was the most used route to the center from this part of Natlan. Following it, they should get there in a week. If Mavuika doesn't rush, they have a chance to make it to the tournament. And then Kinich will be able to talk to the Archon. Unless unknown enemies attack them again.

He could barely hear Mualani over the roar of the river. Kinich could only wonder how hard it was to wash such a volume of hair, which the girl possessed. She resolutely braided her hair into two braids, although other female warriors would have cut them off. But Mualani wasn't supposed to fight. She wasn't a warrior.

"Your turn," Mualani called, avoiding touch this time.

Kinich turned around. The girl's lips formed an unchanging smile, but there was a shadow of sadness in her eyes. She gathered her hair into one wet braid and nervously tugged at the hem of her tunic the color of the sea.

Faced with the lack of reaction, Mualani added half-jokingly.

"If you're afraid that monsters will attack, don't. I'll keep watch," she said with a laugh and fake confidence in her voice.

Kinich smiled out of the corner of his mouth. He couldn't look at Mualani for long, because she caught every glance and responded too emotionally, in a way he wasn't used to. Therefore, he bowed his head and gave up his post, heading towards the river. At least the stones under his feet didn't smile at him.

Dipping his hands into the water, he watched as some of the mud flaked off and floated away with the current. Kinich has observed this thousands of times, refreshing himself after battles in communal baths, when the happy and laughing faces of his comrades acquired a healthy blush. And when this blush faded, during the ablution of the bodies of the dead before burning. Kinich watched, trying to figure out if it was possible to purify the soul along with the body. And will his heart be covered with the black dirt of his sins if he tears open his chest, trying to destroy the darkness that devoured him every day?

Even though he was convinced that nothing could save his soul, he still hated the discomfort caused by dirt more than himself. His tangled hair sticking out in all directions, dirty and torn clothes – all this brought him back to his childhood, to any of the days before meeting Mavuika.

When he finished, he took a quick look at his reflection in the mirror, of which only a small fragment remained. A strange thought occurred to him. If Mualani so often looks for answers in his face, let it be a little more pleasant to look at. So he shaved and awkwardly combed his hair with his fingers, letting it fall over the spare bandage on his forehead.

He could hide the scars, but not the eyes, which made it easy to see that he was empty inside.

"Now we can go back," Mualani said with her usual smile. "While you were away, a very dangerous rabbit ran through here. But I protected us!"

Kinich nodded, smiling wryly. He paused for a moment, allowing Mualani to catch up with him. And they walked side by side.

"Well, you're finally back," the same scarred man said good–naturedly, chewing on a cigarette.

His good mood turned to suspicion as he looked at the two of them.

"Hey, Inessa, I take back my words!" He shouted.

Inessa flew out of one of the tents, and then stood next to the man, frowning.

"It wasn't my imagination," she said sternly. "So why did you come back? You have made it clear that you are not happy with eremites on your land."

Kinich glanced at Mualani. Oh, they definitely hadn't met these people before.

"There must have been a misunderstanding," Mualani tried to explain. "This is the first time we've seen you!"

The woman and the man stared at them with equally incredulous faces. If they had met with Kinich and Mualani before, then...

"When did you meet us?" Kinich asked.

"Last night."

They came out of the underground tunnels last night and couldn't possibly be here. Which means that someone else was in their place.

"Was there by any chance a blond guy and his flying companion with "us"?" Mualani seemed to get what he was thinking about.

Inessa exchanged glances with the man.

"Don't try to deceive us," the woman grumbled. "You were some kind of guards while these guys were in a cage on wheels."

Mualani exhaled in fright.

"What?" She exclaimed. "I swear by everything I know and have that we would never have captured the Traveler and Paimon. They are our friends!"

The man cleared his throat.

"You, guy, were definitely the one who led the group of warriors. And you," he pointed at Mualani, "were trying to earn forgiveness from your companions. No wonder that girl, Chasca I guess, seems to have almost scratched out your eyes."

They caught Chasca too... And if she was captured, then Ifa and Chuychu were there too. It was unlikely that two doctors would have been able to fend off a group of warriors led by himself. It sounded a little funny – somewhere in Natlan there was an evil copy of him. But what are they up to?

Mualani was breathing heavily, and the girl's eyes filled with tears.

"But we've never done that! It turns out that we were replaced by clones, and then we did everything you said! And if a group led by our copies is traveling somewhere there, it means that at least two monsters of the Abyss will soon enter the City of the Sacred Flame!"

Mualani put her hand over her mouth, holding back tears. Inessa exhaled in fright.

"We've heard about Abyss monsters that can take on other forms... And how we were afraid that this would happen to one of us! Wait," she said, "how can I be sure that you are not one of the monsters of the Abyss?"

Good question.

"What if you're the monsters of the Abyss?" Kinich raised an eyebrow slightly.

Inessa frowned.

"Guy, don't shirk. We are not monsters of the Abyss."

"So are we," Mualani said softly. "Besides, Kinich saved you today. And he saved me yesterday when we were in that situation. The monsters switched us to catch our friends. And now they were heading to the City of the Sacred Flame."

And if the monsters had been able to replace them so easily all this time, then the Traveler wasn't their target. But Mavuika was. Kinich clenched his fists, letting his anger subside.

"Well, they look kinder than the ones that passed through last night. The guy threw a cage with flying saurians, qucusaurs, leaving them to die. If these are the companions of your friends, then you will recognize them."

The man led them to one of the tents, casting uncertain glances at Inessa, who was following him. It smelled of herbs and was dim inside. A bandaged man lay on one of the mats, and in the corner was a hastily constructed nest where two familiar qucusaurs were sitting.

"Cacucu, Tetor!" Mualani has attracted the attention of the saurians.

Tetor let out a high-pitched scream, and Cacucu took off from his seat and skittered around.

"Bro! And a little more, Bro!" The creature screamed.

"Cacucu, it's so good that you're okay," Mualani smiled.

"Ifa! No way, bro! Help!" Cacucu squeaked.

"And we will deal with those who are to blame for this." Kinich said decisively.

Mualani looked at him.

"Are we going to the City of the Sacred Flame?"

"Yes," Kinich replied shortly.

"Great," the girl breathed. "The fact that my clone is out there somewhere is driving me crazy!"

Her voice was filled with rage for the first time.

"It sounds like you have your own scores to settle with these copying monsters," Kinich suggested melancholically.

Mualani froze.

"It's just an unpleasant story." She snapped.

"Have monsters entered the territory of the People of Springs?" Kinich asked. "You have walls, and monsters can't enter the territory unless a human leads them."

"Stop being so mean!" Mualani exclaimed. "I'm not going to talk about it!"

"But..." Kinich said hesitantly.

"Not with you! You don't tell me anything about yourself, you always stay silent when I try to talk about abstract topics, but once you condescend to me and become interested in something yourself, I have to tell you everything in detail! Sometimes I feel like you got involved in this whole Natlan rescue thing just to prove to me that I'm a stupid and naive girl!" She took a deep breath. "Stop making fun of me, and admit that there's nothing terrible about talking to people and doing it like a normal person!"

Kinich stared at the girl in shock.

"Inessa, I will be very happy if you show me the camp," Mualani turned away to Inessa, who witnessed her explosion.

The woman beckoned her outside. The scarred man chuckled.

"Troubles in paradise?" He chuckled.

"We aren't..." Kinich exhaled. "I wasn't even..."

Going to ask any further when he saw Mualani's reaction. And his ironically indifferent voice once again served its evil purpose. In his defense, he wasn't being sarcastic this time.

Kinich covered his face with his hands, feeling it burn with embarrassment.

"Oh, the youth," the man complained. "Love might be so dramatic."

"It's a fail, bro!" Cacucu piped up from behind.

Kinich groaned.

They didn't talk on the first day.

The Formidable Scarabs were traveling merchants who came from Sumeru. They traveled through Teyvat, not wanting to stay in one place for a long time. And their path led the Scarabs to Natlan.

There were many loners among the eremites, running away from something. There were also those who wanted to devote their lives to wandering and adventures. The Scarabs were like a family, different in blood, but with similar aspirations. And now they were heading to the City of the Sacred Flame to trade during the tournament. And they were so far from the center of Natlan only because they were traveling from the farthest corner of Natlan, the Collective of Plenty.

Inessa and her husband Isaac, the scarred man, were the main ones in the group. Elders recognized their authority, and the young people followed the path laid out by the couple. There were about twenty people in the Scarabs in total, and they were all minding their own business while the caravan was standing. Mostly, the men protected people and hunted, while the women looked after the household. Inessa allowed Mualani and Kinich to join their group if they were helpful.

And so, Mualani got involved in a lot of activities. It reminded her of working in a hotel, when she cleaned the rooms and then helped random people from the People of the Springs. Her hands were methodically doing the work, which would have allowed Mualani to immerse herself in her thoughts if Inessa and the other women had allowed her. Their chatter and light laughter surrounded the girl, inviting her to join in.

But when the conversations subsided, and only the ringing silence remained a companion of Mualani, she could not help but think. It all fell on her: first she went to save Natlan, leaving Atea behind. And it went sideways for her – her aunt almost died. Mualani still didn't know if she should have stayed.

And all the stress caused by the trip had an effect too. The girl couldn't understand Kinich. He protected her, said witty things, helped the children of the Masters of the Night-Wind and gave the opportunity to fly, shortening the journey time for their group. And yet, the guy never talked about himself, became cold, and obviously found Natlan's salvation and Mualani herself stupid. And the girl didn't know why he was acting like that.

Such a shame, she took her anger on him. The thought of copy-monsters taking her place, committing crimes on her behalf, burned. As soon as the girl was lost in her thoughts, bitterness and rage overshadowed everything warm and kind that was in her. She wanted to rush over and tear the monsters to shreds. But Mualani was weak.

She crossed paths with Kinich only once when the caravan set off along the river. The eremites moved out at sunset so as not to torment the yaks pulling carts and packs. Mualani was sitting in one of the carts next to two children. The three of them were making jewelry that they would sell later.

Kinich just walked past, intending to go to the front of the line. Mualani watched him go. Her heart was still restless.

On the second day, she woke up to one of the children poking her in the side. The sun had long since risen, and the caravan had stopped, setting up camp. Those who stayed awake all night will have the opportunity to rest while others take care of food and other things.

Stretching, Mualani looked around. It's the same river and wastelands all the way to the horizon. The girl wanted to believe that they would be able to get to the start of the tournament. If they were late, the monsters of the Abyss could cause much more damage than they had already managed. And all this will be done by the hands of Mualani. And if another one harms her loved ones, then the girl will never forgive herself. And...

"Mualani," Inessa called her, "let's get some water."

She and several women stood with buckets and waterskins, waiting for Mualani to join them. Picking up the container held out to her, the girl headed for the river. After that, they cooked food, mixed medicinal ointments, and repaired nets. It was so easy to get distracted that the anxiety left Mualani for a while. But as soon as she sat down in the shadow cast by the tent, disturbing thoughts filled her mind again.

She needs to talk to Kinich in case he has a plan. If there is no plan, they need to come up with one. The guy has to sleep, but Mualani will check the tent where he lived anyway. However, she didn't have to get inside – Kinich was sitting outside polishing throwing knives.

"Listen," Mualani said, making Kinich flinch. "I'm sorry I yelled at you. There are things I don't want to share, but it's better to talk than to remain silent." She said hesitantly.

She had to meet him halfway again, give in, apologize first. It was annoying, but the situation forced her to step on her pride's throat. Mualani stared at Kinich, who seemed to be in confusion.

"Mualani, there's no need to apologize..." He said quietly.

"I guess I can decide for myself," Mualani smiled wryly. "I need to talk to you about the plan. What are we going to do when we get to the city?"

Kinich shrugged his shoulders slightly. Mualani let out a heavy sigh.

"Then we can think about it," she suggested.

Kinich lowered his head. Mualani continued to stare at him, not expecting anything, but at the same time expecting a lot.

"I'm the one who should be apologizing," Kinich muttered.

"Huh?" Mualani asked, barely hearing the guy's words.

He looked at her with his piercing eyes, in which there were too many emotions this time.

"I'm sorry," Kinich said a little louder, sounding uncertain, as if he had never apologized or had long forgotten how to do it. "You're too kind to me when I don't deserve it at all. I've never mocked you, even though I consider the idea of saving Natlan a utopia. And I'm sorry that you thought I joined only to make fun of you..."

Mualani's jaw dropped in surprise. She hurried to close it, feeling a slight embarrassment spreading like heat across her cheeks. The girl did not expect that Kinich was really thinking about what she said.

"Then why did you join us..? Me?" She carefully sat down next to Kinich, without taking her confused gaze off the guy's face.

"Because of Mavuika..." Kinich said hoarsely.

He fell silent, opening and closing his mouth again, as if hesitating to continue. Mualani sighed.

"We could start from the beginning," she smiled. "Hi, I'm Mualani. I'm glad to know that there's a crazy person in the whole Natlan just like me. Now we are involved in this venture to save the whole country."

A slight smile passed over Kinich's lips.

"My name is Kinich. And I'm surprised we're still alive."

"How pessimistic," Mualani chuckled. "You know, we can try something... Since we don't know anything about each other at all, even though we have a long way to go together, then..." Mualani was gathering her resolve. "How about a story for a story? You tell me about yourself, and I'll tell you about myself. Well, if you don't mind listening..."

Mualani bitterly recalled that moment under the debris when Kinich asked her to shut up.

"Okay..." It seemed that Kinich himself did not believe what he said: his face looked so surprised. "Let's try it. But I don't have any good stories that you want to hear."

Mualani chuckled, "Any story will be good enough."

"I don't mind listening to you either!" Kinich blurted out.

He was mildly embarrassed.

Mualani laughed with relief.

"Still, you'll be the first. So why did you join the group?"

Kinich groaned in resignation.

"I said it was because of Mavuika, but that's only partially true. Mavuika... She used to be different, she wanted to save Natlan with more enthusiasm than you or the Traveler have. And it's passed on to me. She gave me hope, and then she left everything behind."

There was a shadow of sadness in the guy's eyes as he spoke, looking at the distant scenery.

"And yet," he turned to Mualani with a pleading look in his eyes, "when I got my Vision, I promised myself that I would find answers and do everything to save Natlan. Based on logical considerations, natlanians have nowhere to go. Everyone wants to live, not survive. And death will not bring relief to the thirsty. That's why I came with you – to make sure that my desire to live is not doomed to perish with Natlan."

Mualani was silent, listening intently, struck by Kinich's sudden openness. He looked like he was desperate to believe his own words.

Or he was looking for someone who would believe him.

"I..." Mualani hesitantly put her hand on the guy's shoulder. "I understand you. Now I understand..."

Kinich didn't pull away. And they sat like that until Isaac came out of the tent and distracted them.

On the third day, Mualani found herself splashing in the river with the rest of the eremite women. At first she was embarrassed, but Inessa was adamant.

"What's there to be shy about? We are all the same: blood, flesh and heart. What matters is what's inside. I'm talking about the soul."

And Mualani went into the water, enjoying the coolness while Inessa lathered her hair. And then, sitting in one of the tents, Mualani allowed herself to relax while Trisetra and Goluya gently massaged her scalp, rubbing delicious-smelling oils. Inessa was sitting next to them, playing an instrument the girl didn't recognize, which looked like a small guitar. The melancholy melody echoed around.

"Look how nicely this boar is baked!" Isaac opened the curtains covering the entrance.

The man was carrying a spit with meat exuding a delicious aroma. He went inside. The others followed him into the tent, carrying dishes and musical instruments. In the firelight, while eating meat, Mualani couldn't stop smiling. She shook her head to the beat of the music as the eremites sang the words of long-forgotten hymns.

Before eating, these people always prayed to their deity, King Deshret. Whether it was hunting, eating, or the melodies familiar to each of the Formidable Scarabs, it was all for the sake of the Scarlet King. However, they never sacrificed saurians.

"We understand that saurians are your sacred animals. Eremites respect foreign cultures," Inessa said.

Although sometimes Mualani couldn't help but notice how different the way of thinking of people from other nations was. No one in Natlan would be so friendly to strangers. And in such a short time, the Formidable Scarabs were able to give the girl a sense of peace and family warmth.

"No way, I'm not going to let you spend another night on your feet," Isaac ruffled Kinich's hair, brandishing a cup of rum. "Are you sleeping at all? You have such dark bags under your eyes... I will personally make sure that you sleep tonight! Have a drink and lie down to rest."

Kinich was embarrassed.

"I don't drink," he said calmly. "And dark circles under the eyes are hereditary. They can't be removed."

"Huh!" Isaac chuckled. "I've never heard of anyone inheriting such a downtrodden look as yours. Relax your guard. If the enemy comes, you won't miss Keridu's screams."

Keridu, the best hunter among the group, grinned.

"Isaac, everyone understands that your screams will be the loudest."

And the quiet swearing, the dreary melody, and the smell of a burning campfire lulled Kinich to sleep. He was sleeping on a pile of pillows and blankets, looking strangely peaceful. It was the first time Mualani had seen him sleeping.

She met the morning of the fourth day, walking next to the yak and carefully looking around. In the predawn haze, silhouettes of rocks and trees were outlined on the other side of the peacefully flowing river. And the Formidable Scarabs continued on their way.

After sleeping for half a day, Mualani opened her eyes when the dim light from a lighted lamp was held up to her face. Inessa immediately returned to mixing medicine for the bandaged man who lay in the tent that served as an infirmary.

This man was the only bearer of the Vision in the group, but shortly before meeting Kinich and Mualani, the Scarabs encountered one of the monsters of the Abyss. The man defeated it, but the price was terrible wounds and a coma from which he could not come out. Mualani guessed that he had been infected, just as it had happened to Atea and many others. And the Traveler wasn't there to ease his pain.

The Vision was faintly flickering, lying next to him. Mualani stared at it for a long time, mesmerized, feeling the usual envy mixed with deep respect.

"Mualani," Inessa called out to her. "Your friend and some of our people were on a reconnaissance mission. There is an abandoned village ahead of us, which we will have to pass through tonight. Go eat, we'll be leaving soon."

Another abandoned village. Mualani was afraid to imagine the destruction that the Abyss had brought there. Indeed, as they approached the coastal village, it became clear that the monsters were especially merciless.

"It looks like the creatures were attacking from the water," Kinich commented.

This time, they walked side by side in the middle of the formation. Mualani looked around anxiously. It seemed as if the huge claws were grabbing their victims, and then dragging them to the river, destroying buildings and leaving deep trenches in the ground.

"Let's take the road a little further from the shore," Isaac relayed the order to the other eremites.

The group obeyed, moving away from the shore deeper into the village. The houses were not sufficiently destroyed by time, which indicated that people had left this place several years ago. It was most likely one of the settlements of the Masters of the Night-Wind. This was indicated by the architecture, as well as the lopsided incense burners, of which there were too many.

"That's not a right suggestion, Mualani." Isaac's voice came from the front of the line.

Who is he talking to?

"Isaac," the girl shouted. "Who are you talking to?"

"Isaac, don't listen to her," her own voice came from somewhere behind her.

Mualani turned around in horror. Her copy looked at the girl, smiling.

"What the fuck!?!" one of the men shouted.

"We’re being surrounded!" Mualani said loudly.

Except she didn't do it.

"Don't listen to her!" Mualani exclaimed. "It's a fake!"

"Don't listen to her either!" Mimicked her doppelganger.

The eremites stopped, moving closer to each other.

"The real Mualani is here," Kinich said.

"Or here," his doppelganger mocked.

Now, as the creatures emerged from the mist, surrounding the group, it became clear that they were exact copies of the two of them. Identical grins froze on the faces of the clones, and about a dozen Mualani and the same number of Kinich rushed to the attack.

The monsters looked so much like them that it was creepy. They copied clothes, hairstyles, but besides that, the fake Kiniches used the energy of the Abyss disguised as a Dendro element. Only the dark sparks gave them away.

But Mualani didn't have time to look at the creatures. She tried to dodge the attack of one of Kinich's clones, while the original fought off five of them. Everything got mixed up. The eremites fought fiercely as their unarmed brethren fled. Mualani definitely saw the body, which means that one of these people got hurt because of her.

She had only one blade, the one in the worn scabbard that was too big for her hand. Kinich gave it back to her when they got out of the ground. And now only the dagger was separating the girl from death. She preferred to dodge, knowing that she would not be able to handle a direct blow from her opponent. While Kinich's clones used elemental energy with their hands and feet, her own fought with their claws.

Hearing the scream, Mualani turned around in horror. The oldest woman among the Scarabs, who was embroidering clothes with incredible patterns, fell, covering the child. The boy was supposed to be next, but Kinich managed to grab him and dodge. Watching what happened cost Mualani her own safety. She felt the blood before her brain had time to realize that she had been hit.

Fortunately, the blow that was supposed to pierce her chest went off at a tangent, shattering her right collarbone. Mualani held back a scream, and jumped aside. Just in time, because the enemy's next attack hit the place where she was standing before.

What is justice? Why is kindness mistaken for weakness? Why should compassionate and benevolent people suffer while cruelty rules the world? And how can she protect her loved ones?

The strong always devours the weak. Mualani knew this, but she couldn't give up. A memory of an Abyss monster eating a mother in front of a child surfaced in her mind. What has a woman done to deserve such a fate? There is nothing more valuable than human life, so why does the Abyss think it has the right to take it away?

Was fate fair, making Mualani so weak and giving her love for the world and people? If Mualani had been faster, stronger, more capable, she could have saved this old lady. She would kill the monsters of the Abyss, freeing people from their tentacles.

If she had been braver, she could have saved her parents.

Along with the terrible pictures, other memories came to the girl's mind. She was twelve, and uncle Nuu was still there. They sat side by side, watching the sea for the last time. Stone by stone, the workers finished building the wall.

"Mentor," Mualani called. "Why is there no justice? Evil people laugh at you because you are kind to everyone, always smiling and believing in the best. But no one laughs at them, even though their hearts are empty and their grins are ugly. This is wrong! They're laughing at you because you believe that the unity of the six tribes can save Natlan! Fools think that the wall will help, but I would tear it down. If only it allows other people to see that we are the same as them... We must be hated so much."

The uncle smiled at her tenderly.

"Mualani, your heart is burning so brightly... But even you won't be able to eradicate the evil."

Seeing the disappointment on her childish face, Nuu continued, gently stroking Mualani's head.

"I've changed my mind. Never give up, because someone has to keep faith in humanity. Only love for people will give you the strength you need to save them."

Mualani pouted, "I love you very much, uncle. Does that mean I can save you? If you let me, can I quarrel with your mockers with you?"

Uncle Nuu laughed, wiping away the tears that appeared in his eyes. Now Mualani knew that the power of her love was not enough to save her beloved mentor.

She resolutely dodged another attack, ignoring the pain. A few drops of water touched her palms. If it starts to rain, the battle will become difficult.

Mualani intends to survive, and then she will do everything to eradicate evil. The people of Natlan don't deserve to suffer. The Formidable Scarabs must not die because of her. She will subjugate justice and protect the people who are dear to her. If only Mualani was stronger..."

The girl felt the water before she saw its source. She got her feet wet as a wave swept past her, carrying her opponent away. Great, the Archons took pity on them by bringing help. Strong attacks overwhelmed the doppelgangers, making them vulnerable. It was fortunate that the water appeared when Mualani noticed the danger and rushed there.

She was standing in the middle of the stream, and several clones were trapped in bubbles. Kinich ran up and chopped everyone into several pieces. The buds burst when the two elements combined. All the power of the water belonged to her. Realizing this, Mualani felt her fingers tightly wrap around the Hydro Vision. Smiling, the girl rushed into battle. They won't lose to pathetic copies.

Smoke rose into the air in a light trickle. Formidable Scarabs were burying their fallen comrades. Just two people: an elderly woman and a young guy. One of them saw a lot, and the other did not have time to know life. Now they're just ashes.

Mualani stood next to Kinich, feeling uncomfortable in the company of other eremites. Their grief was immense, and the girl couldn't stop blaming herself. If it wasn't for them, no one would have died! She was lucky enough that the wound inflicted on her by the monster was healed.

"Mualani, no need to blame yourself..." Kinich said softly, not looking at her. "When the Scarabs encountered the first group of monsters, they could have died just like today. But we helped them."

We. As if Mualani wasn't standing by while Kinich risked his life to win.

"Fate cannot be deceived," Kinich said thoughtfully. "If it were possible, Mavuika would do it long ago."

"We will all return to the ground," Mualani repeated Ororon's words, which he said at the first meeting.

"Yes... It is predestined, and none of us can change the path laid out for us by someone from above." Kinich's eyes reflected flashes of flame.

"That's why they died... Is that why Natlan is doomed? And we... We're doomed too."

Mualani allowed herself to cry. All this time, Kinich stood silently by, looking at the fire. He put his hand on her shoulder.

Inessa wasn't angry. Instead, she raised her eyes filled with sadness, and then hugged them both tightly. Even Kinich, although, as usual, he froze, not knowing where to go.

"Poor children," the woman said bitterly. "I would suggest that you stay with us, but I see that you have another goal. We will reach the City of the Sacred Flame tomorrow. The journey took less time than expected."

"And how are you going to get in?" Kinich asked.

"A merchant caravan that arrived at such a grand event. And that shouldn't raise any questions."

"And what about us?" Mualani asked cautiously.

Isaac grinned broadly, "We have a couple of ideas."

The fifth day ended and smoothly flowed into the sixth as they moved towards the heart of Natlan. They stopped a few hours away from their destination.

"We'll take a break, and we'll get to the city quickly in the morning," Isaac decided. "Everyone go to sleep!" He said louder.

As she fell asleep, Mualani thought that it would all be over soon. And when she woke up, she realized that it was going to be a crazy day.

Chaos reigned among the Scarabs. They dressed up, distributed goods among the participants, and loudly discussed what they thought awaited them at the tournament.

"Wash up your face quickly," Inessa said sternly. "We have a lot to do."

A lot – it really was a lot. It turned out that the eremites were ready to offer the two of them the best disguise they could have. The guards would hardly haven’t recognized two people suspiciously similar to those who had recently arrived in the city with such a triumph. But no one would have suspected them if they had managed to make them look different from themselves.

They chose for her a medium-length hooded dress made of dark fabric that was translucent on the stomach, long sleeves that flared to the bottom, matching gloves and a lot of gilded jewelry sparkling in the sun. A heavy necklace with a scarlet stone in the middle was put around her neck. The exact same one was stuck inside the gold beads on her forehead.

Inessa gathered her hair into a braid, consisting of several others and thrown over one shoulder. And Trisetra applied makeup: dark eye shadows, mascara to accentuate her long eyelashes, and bright scarlet lipstick. Having fixed the Vision on her belt, wearing an eremite mask, Mualani did not recognize herself. And no one can do it.

After removing the mask again, the girl continued to turn around in the mirror, examining her new image. It was spectacular, which was confirmed by the gasp of surprise that Kinich made when he came to her. Mualani squeaked, pressing her hands to her face, embarrassed that someone had caught her admiring herself. Carefully spreading her fingers, the girl looked at the guy who was awkwardly standing at the entrance to the tent.

If they had met briefly, she would not have recognized him. Isaac did a good job, because Kinich didn't look like himself either. He wore the clothes of the eremites, consisting of wide light gray trousers and a cropped top that exposed his outstanding abs. A light scarf, gilded armor, and red cloth on his belt – all the clothes were embroidered with patterns and decorated with jewels.

And besides, Kinich's hairstyle has changed. He braided the traditional desert braids – two in front of the strands of bangs, and two behind, gathering the rest of the hair. Although one thing remained unchanged: he wore a scarlet headband.

Overcoming her awkwardness, Mualani spoke up.

"I'm a little scared."

"Yeah..." Kinich squeezed out.

He avoided the girl's gaze, looking at the floor.

"We’re doing everything according to the plan?" Mualani smiled. "Come on, what's the matter with you? Where did all the fuse go? We will stop the clones and save everyone!"

Kinich smiled out of the corner of his mouth.

"That's right..." He exhaled and added hesitantly, "I just didn't expect to see you here... so..."

How?

"Beautiful... It suits you," he finished.

And Mualani couldn't help herself: she rushed forward and took Kinich in her arms.

"Wow, you're making progress," she whispered with a wide amused smile. "I like the way you look too."

Kinich did not pull away. Surprising them both, he awkwardly returned the girl's hug. Standing so close, Mualani could feel his heart beating loudly and fast. And Kinich must have heard her.

She had never been so grateful to the dimness of the tent for hiding her bright red face.

Chapter Text

Screams. A lot of screams. Cheers mingled with her own forced wheezes as she punched helplessly. Was she punching the air, or was there a face under her fists? She couldn't tell.

Who is she? The Witch. The monster.

"A Death," a cold voice prompted her.

Right. She was a death.

In these unfair duels, only spilled blood would mean victory. And Natlan wanted her to lose.

"Keep fighting. You have to finish the job," her ears began to buzz.

An order was given by an unknown person. What right does he have to command her?!

"Maybe you should finish what you started as soon as possible," agreed the cold voice, which was nevertheless well known to the women. "Then we can take revenge and finish them all off, those filthy Natlan rats, the pathetic Archon!"

Their voice seemed to tremble at the thought of how her... their claws will sink into the flesh. And the blood would flow like a river...

Yes, she wanted it to. It's time to change tactics.

"Cha-Chasca..." It came to her from the depths.

Right. She had a name. With a cry of rage, she wrenched her arms out of someone else's grip. So she was really fighting... It would be ridiculous to lose when she had never accepted defeat before.

Defeat means death. And she will take the opponent's life with her own hands.

Somewhere out there, in the pall of rage, fog, flashes and sounds, Chasca could still make out her target. She had no weapons left. Therefore, the girl grabbed her opponent's neck with her hands and squeezed it tightly.

The resistance decreased, and Chasca felt satisfied.

"That's it," her lips stretched into a grin.

There was power in her hands. There was power in her body. She could not just strangle a man, but tear him apart, taking advantage of what was so generously poured inside her. The Abyss.

"Come on, that's enough!"

"Go on."

"Take what belongs to you."

"Unclench her fingers! Hold her legs!"

Screams pierced her ears. These disgusting bugs will never be able to stop her.

"THE WITCH! THE WITCH!" The crowd of spectators chanted.

"This witch is too strong!"

There were too many of them. They held her, grabbed her, tied her up. Rough hands tried to unclench her fingers. Then, there was a crunch.

"Agrrrh," Chasca growled.

They broke her fingers! But along with the pain, fragments of what was happening reached her. A crowd of warriors around, black and purple clouds of smoke belonging to the Abyss. Her broken fingers, covered in blood, tightly wrapped around someone's throat.

Ororon's familiar face froze in gasping horror.

"Kill him," the order came calmly.

The voice of the Abyss in her mind agreed with the voice of the invader who controlled the magic shackles.

Chasca closed her eyes and screamed. The energy of the Abyss flowed through her body.

*A few hours before*

"And that's why they let me leave," Ororon finished.

"Let's be honest, you didn't ask for permission," Ifa said, laughing.

Chasca chuckled briefly. The four of them, including Chuychu, were sitting on the beds in the house where they were placed. Natlanians might not have respect for the Flower-Feather Clan, but the Pyro Archon inspired fear in them. Therefore, instead of a dark and damp basement, their group was now located above – in a small apartment with small beds, worn furniture and faded paint on the walls. But it still wasn't a basement.

However, Chasca couldn't control her own anger. They were still prisoners! Her arms and legs were encased in bracelets, and the weight of the collar made her head bend. But she was too proud, so she resolutely resisted, proudly straightening up.

"I don't think we can leave like you did..." Chuychu smiled at the corners of her mouth, but her gaze remained gloomy. "These people are not happy to see us. And you're lucky you haven't heard what they're saying about us. About the Flower-Feather Clan."

Chasca clenched her fists angrily. Oh, she would have been able to leave, but Chuychu and Ifa were resisting her with all their might, begging her to stay and not cause unnecessary problems. After she broke the nose of the guard who brought their food, her friends forbade her to go outside. After all, natlanians had the power – the right to starve them or lock them behind bars. Chasca could have stood it, but her sister was softer. What if they break her?

"That's terrible, bro! At least Chasca smashed the face of the first one who tried to insult her parentage. But we shouldn't cause any problems."

So now, Chasca was forced to stay away while people came to them with food and water. Such nobility on the part of these bastards. They believed that Chasca and the others should be grateful that they were being fed, watered, and held captive in this musty room with a sewer system, rather than in a damp basement under the Stadium!

She was angry.

"The Traveler didn't come," Chuychu said.

"It's so strange," Ororon said thoughtfully, "it's been a long time since I've been tracking Mualani. I thought he'd want to know if you were okay."

Chasca snorted angrily. Everyone in the room immediately looked at her. But it was a meaningless conversation that already started more than once. They all knew not to trust outsiders. Chasca was the first to break the rules. And as a result, they were betrayed, trampled into the mud.

Still, Chuychu, Ifa, and Ororon remained kind to the rest of Natlan. It was as if their hearts did not let in malice, remaining pure while Chasca's heart ached with anger and hatred. She wasn't a pleasant companion these days, but her friends were around. And not only physically, they accepted her for who she was.

"Hey, you savages," someone shouted from behind the door.

Chasca grimaced, gnashing her teeth. Bastards.

"Chasca," Chuychu shot her a stern look.

"Get away from the door and raise your hands!" The man who entered held a spear at the ready. "Against the wall, come on, move away!"

Chasca chuckled, ignoring the guard's words. She was already sitting in the farthest corner of the room with large metal balls chained to her feet. Apart from the girl, only Ororon received such treatment. However, he had only one weight. Chasca had two.

"I told you to raise your hands, you savage!" The man pointed the spear at her face.

His nose was still wrapped in bandages, such a shame to him. There were several more guards following this man. Of course, they weren't idiots. If they had their way, they would have chained Chasca and the others to the walls, but the Archon's order was more important than the fear they felt of the savages, as they called them.

Although it was ridiculous to be afraid of your own prisoners. And they took away their Visions! However, Chasca understood. She knew how to inspire fear.

"She doesn't understand you," one of the guards grumbled. "Just get away before she bites you or something worse. Give them their food, and let's go."

Rolling his eyes, the head of the guards slammed the tray on the table. It cracked, but held.

"It would be great if you didn't throw food around," Ororon said amiably. "Are the fields here in the heartlands of Natlan teeming with crops? Maybe I should get some ground from here."

The guards stared at him in disbelief. But Ororon continued to think out loud. "Even if there is a lot of food here, you still can't treat it like that. Someone was working in the fields, picking fruits and vegetables... I won't mention the chefs, because they don't do their job well. You should respect your own people and..."

"Shut up already!" The guard exploded. "You're a sick psycho. Stop talking about plants and the garden. If I could, I'd stick this carrot down your throat. Maybe it'll make you stop talking."

"It would not," Ororon said innocently. "Actually, one day, I was able to stuff a radish as long as my forearm into my mouth."

The guards' eyes widened as the boss' face turned purple with rage. Ifa sighed heavily. He and Chuychu could forbid Chasca to keep calm and not talk with the guards, but they couldn't convince Ororon to heed that advice. And so no one could limit what came out of the guy's mouth. The guards were going crazy.

"Crazy..." One of them gasped.

"Not at all," Ororon said, slightly offended. "My bro Ifa was there. In fact, he also participated in the competition and lost."

"You didn't have to mention it," Ifa was embarrassed.

The boss, Chasca called him Puncher in her mind, slammed his fist on the table. Dishes rattled, and more food spilled.

"Eat dirt or don't eat anything!" Puncher shouted furiously.

He often banged on this table, cursing the existence of people like Chasca or Ororon.

"Calm down, Captain..." One of the guards tried to reason with the boss.

But Puncher was adamant. And the food that was brought to them became less. After all, it was no longer wasting on traitors and monsters like those from the Flower-Feather Clan.

The four of them were spending time waiting for the tournament to begin. But Ororon could leave at any minute, which he often used. And Chasca had to stay. And Chuychu's constant presence nearby led to several quarrels that started as typical lectures from her sister.

No, you can't go on a hunger strike. No, you can't fight with the guards. No, we're not going to sabotage ourselves.

During one of these arguments, her sister said, "You always have to ruin everything..."

Chuychu looked wistfully out the window, tired of Chasca's character. She viciously taunted her sister in response.

They, Ororon and Chasca, always ruin everything for Chuychu, who just wanted to live a happy, carefree life full of joys, surrounded by friends and family. Chasca didn't know what exactly her sister was talking about. Was everything ruined when Chasca trusted strangers? Or was Chuychu worried about the sparse and meager diet? They still weren't locked in the basement, and Chasca wasn't going to let that happen! But why was Chuychu blaming her for everything again?!

Maybe she was losing her mind. Chasca knew that her sister would always be there for her and would support her, but... It was getting harder by the hour. And the days dragged on in an endless chain. They only been three or four days, haven’t them? Chasca lost track of time, immersed in a conversation with her subconscious, which whispered to her different... things.

She wanted to be alone.

"Chasca. Chasca, wake up..." Someone shook her shoulder.

The girl jumped up on the bed in fright. Why was she sleeping so soundly? And why was there only Ororon in the room besides her, even though his absence, on the contrary, had become almost usual?

Where's Chuychu? Why did Ifa disappear too?

Chasca looked at Ororon in fright.

"Where's my sister?" She asked.

Ororon grimaced. "I don't know. I woke up and it was just you and me at the apartment."

"They drugged us," Chasca growled.

This is Chuychu with her "you need to drink, you can't ignore the water." And what is the result? Has she been kidnapped now?? Again?

Chasca rushed to the door and pounded on it, violently and deafeningly loudly.

"Where is my sister??!!!?? What did you do to her!!!?"

The answer was silence. Chasca picked up one of the chains that bound her shackles to the metal ball. It was stupid to leave it when the door was wooden. Swinging, Chasca punched through the boards. And again, and again. The roar and splinters flew in all directions. Finally, the hole became so big that a person could easily walk through it. Chasca resolutely stepped over the wreckage and went outside.

They were already waiting for her there.

"Now you've seen for yourself," a loud, falsely frightened voice carried through the crowd gathered in front of the entrance. "The Flower-Feather Clan are filthy savages. The door was open, but this savage woman didn't understand how the lock work. They are used to breaking and smashing everything they see."

Chasca bared her teeth.

"Where's my sister, you filthy bastards? Tell me," she said to the speaker, "or I'll beat you with this door."

The man in front of her grinned mockingly while the people in the crowd whispered warily.

"Your sister?" He asked mockingly. "She's safe."

Bastard. Chasca rushed forward and had already raised her hand to punch this man when an order rang in her head. Again. Before that, she heard the voice ordered her to obey when the girl tried to scratch out the eyes of the traitorous Mualani. 

"Stop it."

Chasca froze with her hand outstretched. This voice exactly matched the voice of the man in front of her.

"Now hit that woman behind me," the voice sneered.

Chasca clenched her fists. She's used to fighting with voices in her head. Even if she hated all these people, the rest of the Natlan, the girl still did not want to fight with civilians.

"No," she thought, resisting.

Her entire body was filled with an unrestrained desire to attack. But Chasca must be strong, she...

"Attack the woman," the voice repeated stubbornly. "She could have been the one who took your sister."

How dare he talk about Chuychu! What did they do to her? Chasca growled.

"Come on, just hit her. And your sister, Chueti, will be safe."

"Her name is Chuychu," Chasca growled.

"Whatever," the man grinned.

And at the same moment, her head exploded in pain. The pulsations were confusing, and her eyes were losing focus.

"That's what happens if you resist. Just do as you're told." The voice said indifferently.

Chasca clutched her head.

"Chasca? Are you okay?" Ororon's voice seemed to reach her through the water.

"Aggrh!" The girl exclaimed and struck.

She really did it. A woman dressed in the colors of the People of the Springs clutched her nose. It looks like Chasca broke it. The woman sank to the ground and sobbed weakly. The crowd hastily retreated.

"Get a doctor right away!" Someone exclaimed.

Chasca wasn't even trying... However, the force of her punch was enough to turn all these people against her.

"The Flower-Feather Clan's savages have no mercy even towards those who are clearly weaker than them." The man once again captured the attention of the crowd. "She hit an innocent woman. And any one of you can be next. Sounds pretty dangerous, don't you think?

"Kill her!" A faint cry was drowned out by hundreds of others: there really were a lot of people here.

Kill her, punish her, torture her, make her tell all the secrets of her people. Chasca could barely contain her rage. Are they idiots? Can't they see how this man is manipulating them?

"This is one of the four commanders of the Natlan’s army," Ororon said softly. "His name is Tsarce."

Who would doubt that the commanders of the army of Natlan have no honor. That bastard set her up.

"I know you didn't want to hit her," Ororon said quietly, "but no one here will believe us. Now we are the villains in their story. And none of these people will remember that you didn't want to be here, that we were captured. That our lives will also be in danger when the tournament starts."

Will their lives be in danger? Chasca guessed what her friend was thinking. Tsarce was pitting the Flower-Feather Clan against the rest of the Natlan peoples.

"Challenge these savages," the commander grinned. "Prove that we are stronger than a group of traitors trying to cause unrest on our lands."

"Yeah!" People shouted solemnly.

They were all fascinated by the words of this vulture Tsarce.

"How many were there?"

"I heard that three people were caught. They wanted to make a diversion!"

"Then who's the guy behind her back? A lover or a traitor of his people who defected to the side of the Flower-Feather Clan?"

Chasca could barely breathe, she wanted to attack these assholes so badly. But worse than anger, which deprived one of sobriety of thinking, was awareness. They want to put Chuychu in danger.

Yes, and Ifa too. But in Chasca's eyes, he had a much better chance than her sister. At least because he received the military training necessary to join the qucusaurus riders before he changed his mind and decided to become a doctor. Chuychu also received military training – you can't be from the Flower-Feather Clan and not do it, but she never intended to become a rider.

"Don't touch my sister and my friend!" Chasca exclaimed. "They're not even warriors. They are doctors!"

"Do you think your friends will help our people?" Tsarce asked.

"Do you think any of us would let the savages of your Clan touch us?" Shouted someone from the crowd.

The fact is that both sides will refuse. But Chasca couldn't let them challenge Chuychu!

"Don't touch them, please," Chasca muttered softly.

Tsarce gave her a quick glance.

"Will you fight for three people?" He asked with a grin.

"Yes," Chasca breathed. "For the entire Flower-Feather Clan, if it is necessary. I will protect our pride."

"Pride," said Tsarce thoughtfully. "Ask again, with great respect. And maybe I'll agree."

How can you show even more respect?! Chasca felt the blood start to collect in her palm. In anger, the girl pierced the skin with her nails: she was clenching her fists so hard.

"I'm waiting."

And the crowd was raging, but for Chasca, only the three of them existed at the moment.

"He wants you to get down on your knees," Ororon said softly.

"No way," Chasca growled.

Tsarce looked at her expectantly. The girl understood that her sister's life was in his hands, but still...

Ororon fell to his knees with a thud. He bent down in a bow and, without looking up from the ground, said:

"Commander Tsarce, please allow me to take on the challenges that Chasca, Ifa, and Chuychu will face on behalf of the Flower-Feather Clan."

He had voluntarily humiliated himself for her, for the sake of their friends. Chasca couldn't understand why Ororon treated his own honor and pride as if they were worthless.

With gnashing of teeth, Chasca knelt down too. She did not bow to the floor, but obediently bowed her head.

"Please," she growled. "I'll take all the challenges on myself. Just don't touch Chuychu and Ifa."

And the commander nodded lightly, and then turned away, as if Chasca and Ororon were no longer interesting to him. Tsarce explained the intricacies of dueling, inviting people to sign up for a fight, while Chasca sat on the ground, glaring at the man. Ororon patted the girl on the shoulder sympathetically.

But Chasca couldn't just forget and let go, like her friend did. She will kill Tsarce as soon as her chains would be removed.

"So where's my sister? And where is Ifa?" The girl asked furiously.

"Where you should have been from the very beginning," the commander didn't even turn around. "I locked them up. There is no place for outsiders during the tournament. You two are a different matter. Many people wish death to the Flower-Feather Clan. And now natlanians have the opportunity to see their enemy in person."

He again speaks to the people who were standing and watching what was happening.

"A witch from the Savage Clan," he saluted Chasca with his hand. "She's out for your blood, as are all her people."

"There's too much shit going on for the morning of the first day of the tournament," Xilonen complained.

Mavuika pursed her lips, watching the people from the balcony of one of the towers of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. Why weren't the people sleeping? Well, they were furious. Thousands of natlanians came here to watch or participate in the tournament. Mavuika was afraid that the stands would be empty, but with every day leading up to today, there were more and more people.

But such a crowd was not happy when, at dawn, bells rang through the streets of the City of the Sacred Flame. And when people woke up, they found that the streets were littered with thousands of leaflets containing compromising materials... For everyone.

It would be easy to blame the elders who make up the economic commission, but the secrets of each participant were revealed. Portraits of the commanders were more common, but the information on them differed from leaflet to leaflet. It seemed that every influential person in Natlan had just turned against everyone else, telling all the secrets.

Although Mavuika doubted that the information on the sheets corresponded to reality. In the end, she suffered the most. The houses along the main road were plastered with her images, but the words underneath were both false and true. Sadly, ordinary people didn't know which ones they should believe to.

"Pyro Archon, please keep your head down before the situation settles down," Windosh stormed past, slamming doors on his way.

As Mavuika understood, the information about him greatly offended the commander. One of the flyers that Xilonen brought (she managed to get inside the Stadium unnoticed) was written following:

Windosh, 41 years old. Commander of the army of Natlan. He is accused of abuse of power, as well as betrayal of Natlan.

And then, a mocking postscript:

His mother is still alive and lives in the Flower-Feather Clan. It's funny to know that she continues to communicate with her son, who was adopted by Natlan when he ran away.

However, it was better than what the other commanders were accused of. There was not enough paper for Tsarce to commit crimes, and the authors called Cardelia a whore through the word. In Iansan's case, it was difficult to come up with something – the commander was too honest, so she was simply called a mutant and accused of faking disability. They say she has both legs, but the woman pretends that she can fight with a prosthetic leg so that crippled natlanians can continue to be drafted into the army.

Mavuika was amazed at the nonsense that was written on these leaflets. But she realized with horror that some of them were surprisingly honest. For example, her own.

Even Kinich and his partner in crime Mualani were lucky to have two opposing points of view, which were pointed out by the authors of the leaflets. Some said they were heroes, while others rightly pointed out that they had committed a crime against people. But the Pyro Archon's flyers were mostly true, the truth burned her eyes. Mavuika screwed up and failed to handle the responsibility that was assigned to her. Having decided on a selfish act (she did not have to think long), she locked herself in the walls of the Stadium and condemned the people of Natlan to certain death.

Mavuika crumpled the piece of paper. Fine. What could have gone wrong? That's it!

"This is stupid!" Cardelia's voice echoed through the corridors of the Stadium long before she appeared in the hall where Mavuika was.

The Archon rolled her eyes.

"What's stupid?" Mavuika asked, turning to greet the guests.

Cardelia entered the hall with a brisk gait. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her clothes seemed perfectly tailored for a formal occasion, but the somber expression on her face made Mavuika sigh. Dealing with the commanders was difficult, and after the incident...

"They're blaming me for the fall of the outposts in eastern Natlan, even though every fool knows I'm in charge of the south!" Cardelia rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair, ignoring Xilonen's presence.

"You should calm down," Iansan said soothingly, hurrying inside and closing the door. "The more vividly you react, the clearer it will become to the villains that they were right."

Cardelia chuckled. "You are used to dirty rumors and failures, but I always do my job right."

Iansan just raised an eyebrow, ignoring the provocation. Mavuika sighed heavily again. Natlan's army had four commanders. And the relationship between them was very, very tense.

It would be worth starting with Iansan, who was the most pleasant of them. She was friendly and helpful, and valued human lives. But this affected the effectiveness of operations: Iansan would prefer to return and retreat if she saw that the threat was too great. But there were also reasons for this behavior. After all, yesterday's children went to the army.

Windosh was the one who owned the right to control the shackles of the Pyro Archon. However, Mavuika knew that he would not use his power to harm Natlan. The orders corresponded to the wishes of the commissions, that is, the elders. Windosh was a performer, responsible and stubborn, but not devoid of common sense.

The one who was devoid of common sense was the Tsarce. Mavuika enjoyed the days when they weren't meeting. If he could, he would chatter incessantly, gathering gossip from all over Teyvat. But his own efficiency bordered on ruthlessness, so Mavuika was careful around him. She did not want to make an enemy.

And finally, Cardelia. She was the arrogant daughter of one of the elders of the People of the Springs, but fortunately for all of Natlan, she really had brain. Her beauty was charming, and the words that came out of her mouth were poisonous. Cardelia wove intrigues, adhered to a rigid hierarchy within her troops. And, of course, she had lovers who were intoxicated by the beauty of a woman.

"These people have been messing around since early morning," Cardelia complained. "I suggest calming them down with brute force – simply and effectively. What would you say, Pyro Archon? This is your tournament, and it's up to you to decide what to do."

Cardelia stared expectantly at Mavuika with her blue eyes framed by thick dark eyelashes. It was clear from her look that they had already decided what they were going to do. However, by asking the Pyro Archon, they seemed to be giving a chance to suggest a better option.

"What are the other commanders doing? Did someone send their squads to collect the flyers?"

"The others, as usual, do not coordinate their actions with us." Cardelia said venomously.

"As if you don't know exactly what they're doing," Iansan said with a kind smile that didn't touch her eyes. "You expect me to keep quiet, but no. It's cruel."

Mavuika felt her head start to hurt. She looked expectantly at the commanders. All these games, intrigues, and distrust madly irritated the Archon. And maybe she could have influenced it, but five years ago Mavuika agreed to obey. This put the commanders' opinion above her own.

"Well, what's the plan? Or, it would be more accurate to say that you have already started acting..." Mavuika asked cheerlessly. "Will you just kill these people? Pit them against each other? We are organizing this tournament to unite the peoples of Natlan, and not bring everything to a civil war."

"Nobody's killing anyone," Cardelia said irritably. "And we don't need an enemy inside Natlan when there's a Flower-Feather Clan that's known for its betrayal. We'll just blame them for everything. They even have motivation – we kidnapped their people. Maybe the Flower-Feather Clan is actually behind all this."

This means that the commanders used a fairly simple plan – to blame an already known enemy and divert suspicion from themselves.

"I disagree, but the commanders don't agree on orders," Iansan said softly. "My people are collecting flyers, but they are not involved in spreading false rumors. However, Mavuika, think about the fate of those abducted people from the Flower-Feather Clan. The tournament will be used as an opportunity to take revenge on them. They will die, and it will be a cruel death."

Cardelia rolled her eyes.

"If the savages want revenge, then cruel deaths will affect many natlanians. Our actions will simply alert them."

"And all of this could have been avoided if you hadn't abducted these people!"  Mavuika exclaimed. "Who even agreed on this? It's not just stupid, it's..."

"A declaration of war," Iansan finished. "There are no idiots among us who would put Natlan at such risk. Resources are limited, and waging war against the Abyss and the Flower-Feather Clan with their secret weapons may exhaust us."

There are so many problems because of one rash act! If, by doing this, Kinich was taking revenge on her, then Mavuika fully felt how cold this dish was. Didn't the guy know what it would lead to?

"You did it," Cardelia said thoughtfully. "You sent the order to the Gorlush, he confirmed it during the interrogation. Is Pyro Archon suffering from memory loss? One of the organizers of the kidnapping is an old friend of yours."

"And yet, I didn't do it!" Mavuika exclaimed furiously. "Even if I wanted to sabotage you, I wouldn't put Natlan in such danger. I wanted to save this land."

Cardelia raised her hands in a defensive gesture and rolled her eyes.

"I know," she said irritably. "You're holding on too much to being a good person. Kidnapping or sabotage is contrary to your fictional principles. But if it's not your fault, Mavuika, then who did it?"

"We can focus on the threat posed by the Flower-Feather Clan, when in fact, our enemy is the Abyss." Iansan continued resolutely. "The tournament is a great chance to attack us. However, they would not have been able to get inside if they had not been led by real people. I have some suspicions, but I'm afraid that if we dig deeper, we'll be horrified by the situation we find ourselves in."

"Are you saying," Xilonen said, thinking about what she had heard all this time, "that the monsters of the Abyss have entered here? More than one or two? And no one noticed, not even the representatives of the Masters of the Night-Wind who live here permanently?

"They've learned to hide," Cardelia hissed. "How many of them are living among us now?"

"I do not know the answer..." Iansan frowned. "We need to arrest all those who arouse suspicion. I'm afraid it's dangerous to hold the tournament."

Mavuika pursed her lips. They've been working on this for so long! Efforts must not be allowed to fail. If she couldn't go to the Night Kingdom, she would lose her last chance to do something before it was too late.

"No," Mavuika gasped. "I need to get to the Night Kingdom..."

"Mavuika," Xilonen interrupted. "If you die, you will definitely enter the Night Kingdom. And the monsters of the Abyss will do anything to kill you. We need to cancel the tournament."

"But... All these people who came here... And the Traveler, and Paimon. We won't get another chance." Mavuika turned to the commanders, "You have already decided everything. I don't agree! Let me into the ring! Tell people that everything written about me in the flyers is true! Let them challenge me. I'm ready."

"Mavuika... It's dangerous. We can't do that. If you die, there will be even more chaos." Iansan tried to smile encouragingly, but gave up trying, seeing the despair of the Archon.

"As your Archon, I command," Mavuika began. "You can't cancel the tournament."

"Is someone going to cancel the tournament?" Another guest opened the doors of the hall where everyone was gathered.

It was Tsarce, spirited and strangely pleased. However, his joy turned to condemnation when he met the eyes of Iansan and Cardelia.

"While I was dealing with the crowds outside, you secretly went here!" The man shouted indignantly, making Mavuika wince. "Conspiring behind my back to gain the Archon's support? And why? To cancel the tournament? My men are deployed all over the city, and some warriors have left the outposts to participate in the competition. Do you want our efforts to be wasted?"

"No, you don't understand..." Iansan said carefully.

"Yes!" Said Cardelia loudly. "We all conspired to frame you, asshole. Not because suspicious bodies were found. And it's definitely not because holding the tournament in the current circumstances, which is a threat from the Abyss and the Flower-Feather Clan at the same time, could end in tragedy. Even I understand that."

Tsarce frowned. "Anyway, it's too late to cancel anything," he said sullenly. "Windosh gathers people at the stadium. Several thousand people have already come."

"Then I'll go out and tell them that the tournament is canceled." Cardelia got up from her seat and moved towards the exit.

"No!" Mavuika rushed to intercept her. "I won't let you."

"Mavuika..."

"Mavuika," Windosh opened the door, bumping into the Archon. "We didn't great each other earlier, so, good morning. The tournament will start earlier. People are almost here. And they're waiting for you to give the opening speech."

Mavuika smiled triumphantly.

"Keep an eye on security. Send your people to report any suspicious activity. You know what needs to be done."

And Mavuika resolutely left, slamming the door.

"Put this on," Tsarce threw the bag into Chasca’s hands. "You're finally going to trade your savage, stinky clothes for something decent."

Chasca bared her teeth.

"You could have made sure to give us a change of clothes earlier. It didn't look like we had time to pack up while we were being abducted."

Tsarce grinned, turning away. "I thought you were used to living in shit and smelling the same. Who would have known that savages could be so picky?"

Chasca clenched her fists. What did he know about her and her people!?

"Change your clothes and go outside," he spitted, leaving her alone with herself.

Chasca didn't know where Ororon was, where her sister was, or where Ifa was. And all this information was at the mercy of one pompous, arrogant psychopath who held them all captive.

The girl unwrapped the bag and pulled out the clothes. They were trousers and a vest of a bright scarlet color, with a tunic slightly more red in hue and armor that dimly shone scarlet. In fact, the armor consisted of bracers and knee pads, with small dents and scratches, but still usable. However, they will provide her with only minimal protection. Her chest will remain open to attack, and anyone can pierce her heart.

Just fine. Viciously clenching her teeth, Chasca took off her clothes and put on the offered ones. Strangely enough, it was the right size, and the armor fit snugly to the body. The shoes remained her own, as well as the scarf, which her heart would not allow her to take off. Her shackles remained visible, so it was nice to hide at least the collar.

The girl loosened her hair from the bun and ran her hand through it, trying to smooth it down. They were greasy and unpleasant. No matter what other natlanians thought of them, the Flower-Feather Clan were not savages. And Chasca, despite her character, remained a girl. Today she will wash away this filth by bathing in the blood of her captors.

Carefully gathering her hair, Chasca headed for the door. After taking one last look at the room, she stopped. In addition to other clothes, they brought her a cloak. It's short and just as red as everything else. This cloak would be a hindrance: she could be grabbed by it and then Chasca would be at a disadvantage. But still... She returned and put the cloak on. Let them think she's an idiot. As if Chasca would let anyone get that close to her back.

Tsarce was smoking, leaning against the wall of the house. He glanced at her from under a raised eyebrow and grinned.

"You look great," his words were full of venom.

Chasca ignored him.

"Take your dearest treasure," Tsarce handed her the Vision.

Chasca stared suspiciously at the man, hesitantly accepting what was hers.

"Don't you dare attack me, other commanders, or ordinary people while we're on our way to the Stadium. Don't you dare try to escape."

The order created an unpleasant echo in her ears.

"Yes, I get it," Chasca rolled her eyes.

"Very well," Tsarce smiled amiably. "Follow me."

The Stadium was huge, and the crowds flocking to it seemed endless. Did so many people come to the tournament? Will they all participate? Or did they come to watch? Chasca didn't know, but she felt threatened. Moreover, in all red, she stood out among them. It was Chasca who was the threat. However, the looks of hatred and suspicion cut her skin.

It was also crowded inside the Stadium, as Tsarce led her along a special path accessible only to him, and Chasca tried to memorize the details in order to escape. However, once at the height, looking at the arena and the endless rows of spectators, Chasca felt anxious.

Tsarce led her to the podium at the very top of the Stadium. However, these places were more like a lodge for an elite. There was a throne in the center, with three soft chairs on each side next to it.

"Let me introduce you to the heroine of today," Tsarce cleared his throat slightly theatrically. "I'm sorry, Pyro Archon Haborym, but you will not shine today."

Pyro Archon frowned, not taking her eyes off the commander.

"This wild woman from the Flower-Feather Clan, Chasca, is a Scarlet Witch. She's already been challenged a hundred times. And there are only more of them."

"Hello, Chasca," Paimon greeted.

She couldn't fly. Chasca looked down, seeing the little girl sitting on one of the chairs. She seemed so tiny when she wasn't floating.

Nodding to her and the Traveler sitting gloomily next to her, Chasca turned her attention back to the main threat. At the commanders and the Pyro Archon who had so easily lured her into a trap.

"Commander Windosh, Commander Cardelia, Commander Iansan," Tsarce introduced everyone. "So am I. Commander Tsarce. I introduced you to them because you're still doing us a favor by being a main character. Not everyone gets the honor to be able to meet the most important people in Natlan."

Chasca rolled her eyes. A handful of arrogant people ruling a doomed land.

"However, our time is limited. This is the end of the acquaintance. Follow me."

"Good luck," Paimon said hesitantly.

After a while, when the Tsarce had already returned to his place next to the Pyro Archon, she stood up. The crowd fell silent, looking at the woman whose appearance was only a legend.

"People of Natlan," Pyro Archon's voice echoed throughout the stadium. "Welcome to the tournament. It was decided to hold it in two days, each of which will consist of challenges and tournament matches. Simply put, the winner of the tournament will get everything. And anyone can challenge. A duel is a demonstration of honor. Prove that you are strong. Let's fight together so that the fighting spirit feeds the Sacred Flame. Let the first competition begin!"

The crowd roared, and Dendro structures popped out of the ground, dividing the arena into four parts.

This was done in order to reduce the time required for the first competitions of the tournament. The fighters went to each of the quarters of the field to fight. Then they will be replaced by other pairs. There were too many participants, which corresponded to the plans of the Pyro Archon.

Chasca watched the battles, waiting. These people did not show much skill, with rare exceptions. It was clear why the arena was divided into four parts. This will help to weed out the weak.

People were shouting and whistling, cheering for their comrades. Endless battles followed each other. The sun was almost up, but the temperature was already high. After a couple of hours, Chasca won't be able to hide from the scorching sun. She wished her hat was there.

"And finally, we can announce that the first half of the matches has come to an end!" Pyro Archon announced, "It's time for the challenges that promise to be spectacular! After all, many famous warriors will take part in them, as well as the commanders of the army of Natlan. Besides..." Pyro Archon hesitated, casting a sidelong glance at Cardelia.

Shaking her head, the Archon continued.

"Besides, a guest from the Flower-Feather Clan is participating in the competition today. Let's welcome her!"

Someone clapped, someone whistled. Chasca frowned, waiting for the first fight. She was sure that most of the challenges would be thrown at her.

Meanwhile, Cardelia stood up, replacing Pyro Archon.

"I love competitions!" The woman said enthusiastically. "Therefore, let me comment on this part of the fights."

Some men screamed with delight when they saw such a beauty. Cardelia's hair glistened in the sunlight, and she smiled, fanning herself. And this woman was one of the army commanders? Chasca couldn't believe her eyes, because she seemed like a pampered and arrogant aristocrat. What a mess was going on in the top leadership of Natlan. If Chasca manages to survive, she'll laugh about it with Mutota.

"The first battle is the Mountain Boar challenging the Scarlet Witch."

The applause grew louder as Chasca went downstairs. To where a tall, muscular man from the Scions of the Canopy was already standing.

"A savage," the Mountain Boar grinned. "Let's see how I'll beat you up!"

The crowd roared along with him as the man charged into battle, brandishing a huge mace. He was an idiot if he thought Chasca was fragile and weak.

The first fight ended with her victory. And the second, and the third. The challenges seemed to come one after the other. Only Chasca remained in the arena, while her opponents left, cowardly with their tails between their legs. Sometimes they were taken away – they had the audacity to insult her, threaten violence or try to pull something like that. Chasca would rather die than let someone abuse her. The blood of the opponents was spilled everywhere, but it was almost invisible on Chasca's clothes. The cloak had long been thrown aside.

At first, people whistled at her, but after a dozen or two wins in a row, their screams became enraged. Of course, not all the opponents were strong. Chasca could take down some of them with a single blow, but she fought a long battle with the others. The girl figured out the Tsarce's plan. They would simply starve her out, because she was starting to get tired, and the opponents did not end. Chasca preferred hand-to-hand combat, but sometimes she picked up long blades or a bow. Her opponents fought with everything. Some also used Visions, which made it harder to win. But hatred burned in her heart, fueling her, empowering her.

"The witch! The witch!" The stands chanted.

Chasca exhaled and spat out blood. The last battle almost ended in defeat. She was kicked hard before Chasca managed to escape and finish off her attacker. The tournament without rules led to a lot of senseless deaths. Was the Archon really looking at this and enjoying what she saw?

Chasca glanced briefly at the Archon's lodge and her entourage. The mood there was very mixed. The Traveler seemed angry, the Archon unhappy, and the others wary. Only Cardelia was smiling, enjoying the spectacle of the fights.

"Chasca..."

Chasca turned around. Ororon entered the ring and stood in front of her. He seemed worried.

"No," Chasca breathed angrily. "I won't fight him! Stop it!" She shouted, addressing Tsarce.

He shrugged his shoulders when he heard her screams from such a distance. Cardelia exclaimed enthusiastically,

"Another fight? You might think so, but it's not that simple. The Scarlet Witch made this challenge herself!"

But that's not true!

"Shut up," ordered Tsarce in her head.

Keep quiet while these bastards spin a web of lies about her, her people? Never!

Chasca tried to scream, but her mouth seemed to be taped shut. She couldn't make a sound as the commanders continued to carry out their nefarious plan.

"Friends? Family? There are no such words for the Flower-Feather Clan. They sent a group of spies to sabotage the tournament, but they were caught. And what is the outcome? The Scarlet Witch betrays her comrades. While they're locked in the jail, she's here, killing our people. She is ready to kill her own people..."

Natlanians still liked the poisonous lies. Chasca stared at Ororon in shock while people whispered and shouted insults, and Cardelia enjoyed the moment.

"The one hundred and thirteenth battle. The Scarlet Witch is against her friend. Don't mention his name. Tomorrow they will write it on the grave."

No. No!!! Chasca froze.

"Attack with all your fury," Tsarce ordered.

"No!" Chasca shouted.

"Don't resist! Attack!"

Chasca knelt down, clutching the ground with her hands. There's no way she's going to do that. For resisting the order came the reckoning. Her whole body shook, and her head was pierced by thousands of needles.

No way!

Chasca saw a few drops fall on the flagstones below. She couldn't cry now! But it seems that she was crying from the pain and hatred that burned through her heart.

"Attack. Take revenge on them." Another voice, the voice of the Abyss, rang in her head.

"Attack," the order was repeated.

Chasca clutched her head and fell, hitting her forehead, but feeling no pain. Her wrists burned, as did her ankles, even though her boots. Her neck hurt too. The pain was becoming unbearable.

"She's gone crazy!" She heard a shout from the crowd.

How dare he! Rage clouded Chasca's mind. She was stronger than anyone there. A growl escaped the girl's lips. Getting up, she ran towards the stands, as it seemed to her. But Chasca met resistance.

"Wake up!"

"Go on."

"Kill him."

Chasca screamed, waving her limbs in the air until she found flesh, which she grabbed with both hands. She could feel the energy of the Abyss spreading around her like a miasma, poisoning the earth and the air.

Screams. A lot of screaming. Despair. She was a death, she was strangling, she was growling. She was crying, she was trying to stop. In the flashes, she saw faces, felt how they were trying to grab her, how her fingers were breaking. Chasca growled and fought back, mentally begging to be stopped. She saw who she was strangling! Ororon had been her first friend, and now his life depended on her willpower.

Chasca felt the needle touch her neck. Falling asleep, she was relieved.

"They started earlier."

The Scarabs came to a conclusion as soon as they passed through the gate leading to the City of the Sacred Flame. According to the plan, their group was supposed to arrive by noon, just when the tournament was supposed to start. But the screams and applause echoed throughout the city, which meant only one thing: they were too late, the tournament had started too long ago to have a chance to stop it.

"We can still proceed as planned," Kinich said, looking around.

He wore an eremite mask over his eyes, but it didn't hide his anxiously pursed lips. If the tournament started earlier, it means that something went wrong. And although it would have been a reasonable decision to cancel it altogether, this did not happen.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Mualani replied quietly. "Something happened, I don't want to split up. No more than a couple of meters. If the monsters find out we're here, they'll replace us too. And we don't know if they've already replaced someone we know."

Mualani nervously twirled the beads woven into her braid as the Scarabs headed to the Stadium. The building was getting closer, and the noise was getting louder. The crowd seemed to be cheering.

"Then we'll have to act on the circumstances," Kinich looked serious, Mualani knew that he was frowning under the mask. "Let's go inside and try to figure out the situation."

Mualani nodded. Inessa handed them a couple of bags filled with tinctures and snacks.

"Sell as many as you can. And take care of yourself," the woman put her arm around their shoulders, and then walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

The other Scarabs also went their separate ways, leaving Kinich and Mualani alone, with trays and the crowd roaring in the stands.

"Well, I've always wanted to be a merchant!" Mualani smiled.

"I think it's more like being a courier," Kinich replied, amused.

And they went out to one of the stairs running along the side of the Stadium, up to the stands. Gradually, the two of them had a view of the sea of people, the spectacle in the arena. With each step, the picture became clearer.

"What the fuck is going on out there?" Mualani couldn't held cursing as she watched the scene below. It couldn't be otherwise, they came to the Stadium at the moment when Chasca was rolling on the ground, screaming, and then attacked Ororon. The crowd roared, the Pyro Archon, the Traveler and the rest from the lodge stood up. Someone was giving orders. A group of warriors tried to stop Chasca while she radiated the Abyss around her.

"Hey, you there! Eremites! I've heard that you make great alcohol. Show me what you have! It's too depressing to look at such a sight without cheering up with a drink!"

Mualani followed the call, averting her gaze from the arena. It was her fault. The girl turned out to be the weak link, stayed away, immersed in thoughts and memories. And what is the outcome? Chasca and Ororon were injured. What could have happened to Chuychu and Ifa?

"Mualani," Kinich put his hand on her shoulder.

His breath tickled the girl's neck as her companion bent down to whisper in her ear.

"It's not your fault. But we have to stop it."

Mualani nodded and, forcing a smile, turned to the man, offering him tinctures made with Scarabs.

The two of them continued to move, selling goods, looking around. There were many other merchants here. However, they were the only eremites. Several guards looked at them suspiciously. Mualani tried to smile.

"I'm sure we stand out a lot. Don't attract the guards' attention. Let them think that we are very unfriendly."

Mualani grinned at the guy's quiet words, but tried her best to look serious so as not to break out of the stereotypical image of eremites that had developed in Natlan. They moved through the stands, selling and haggling. Sometimes Mualani glanced at the arena, where a lot of people were still bustling. From this distance, it was difficult to understand what they were doing. But all the commanders, the Pyro Archon, and the Traveler with Paimon descended from their lodge. This break gave the merchants a great chance. After all, no one would dare to interrupt someone's observation of the fight.

"I wonder what they're arguing about?" Mualani stopped, staring intently at the arena.

They were standing in an alcove, not blocking the view of the audience. Another advantage of this place was that it perfectly hid the two of them from prying eyes.

"I want to believe that they are canceling the tournament," Kinich frowned. "Although Mavuika doesn't seem to want it."

"This is a simple assumption or..." Mualani asked.

"I can read her lips." Came the reply.

Mualani bit her lip. She felt that slight feeling of envy again. It's so great to have someone so close that the bond between you remains strong years later.

"That's great, but Our Dragon Majesty would be happy for our servant to read something on our lips as well!" A familiar voice rang out from behind them.

"Ajaw!" Mualani exclaimed. "We thought you'd drowned in a magma lake."

The dragon's muzzle swelled with indignation.

"You! How dare you?!" He choked on the unspeakable hurt inflicted on him. "If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, we would have taught you a couple of lessons! But there's something that can't wait that long."

Kinich looked at Ajaw skeptically. He didn't look happy, but Mualani saw a slight shadow of relief pass over the guy's face.

"Where have you been?" Kinich asked.

"We had to survive!" Ajaw replied resentfully. "A pathetic worm from the Abyss stole the jewelry we're trapped in. However, as soon as we showed ourselves outside, the monster tried to kill us! So we had to retreat."

"So you were hiding?"

Ajaw snorted, but did not deny it.

"Well, what's the situation there?" Mualani reminded him.

The expression on the dragon's muzzle became smug again.

"Our Dragon Majesty wasn't just hiding. We have found invaluable information. That is, we overheard a stupid copy of our servant trying to get to the Pyro Usurper, as well as plotting its dirty deeds. Making a fool of yourself so many times, Kinich, we've been laughing at you for so long. It's a pity that you weren't there to see your own shame."

Kinich sighed heavily.

"I can't lock you up, but I'm running out of patience. What have you learned?"

Ajaw laughed triumphantly. The noise of the crowd hid his screams, but Mualani looked around warily. They didn't attract anyone else's attention.

"We don't want to help stupid people, but without the help of the Dragon Lords, humanity is doomed," Ajaw said mysteriously. "If we hate anyone more than usurpers, it's the Abyss. There are hundreds of monsters disguised as humans gathered here. It is worth noting that this almost deceived us, but later we noticed how weakly the hearts of many of you were beating, barely imitating life. And then we realized that everything would come to an end soon."

Mualani frowned in alarm.

"Thank you for warning us, Ajaw. But why didn't you do it sooner? You should have told it to the Pyro Archon or the Traveler!"

"It's true... Why you haven’t done it?" Kinich looked at Ahab intently.

He looked away.

"Perhaps we wanted to mock the pathetic people. We were by no means scared when we saw the true appearance of the monsters of the Abyss..."

Kinich grimaced.

"Enough excuses. Go to the Archon and warn her. We need to stop the tournament."

Ajaw rolled his eyes, but he followed the order anyway. Kinich and Mualani watched him go down.

"Everything may go better than we expected," Mualani suggested optimistically. "If the Archon agrees to listen to us, then everything will be fine."

"If she agrees," Kinich grinned. "She doesn't seem to be listening to anyone. Mavuika can be a little selfish."

Mualani looked at him sadly.

"Let's go sell some more. The more we earn, the better we can thank the Scarabs for their help."

Kinich nodded and left the niche. Some kind of showdown continued in the arena, and people in the stands began to get indignant. The final decision will be made soon, but in the meantime...

"Would you like to purchase these wonderful karmaphala resin jewelry?" Putting on a rather mediocre smile, Mualani turned to one of the audience.

Well. She almost tripped over his feet while he was secretly sitting in the shadow cast by the thick walls of the Stadium.

"Mualani?" He asked in surprise.

"Oh, Archons," the girl gasped.

Ororon tilted his head slightly, hiding his face behind his hair. But Mualani saw it! These huge bruises. And it was all her fault.

"Mualani." Ororon sounded wary this time. "What are you doing here? Why are you dressed like..." Ororon shifted his gaze to Kinich, who came closer, seeing that Mualani remained in place for a long time.

"It's a long story! In a nutshell, our place here has been taken by coping monsters from the Abyss. Ajaw will warn the Archon, and hopefully she will stop the tournament. All these people are in danger! And yet, I'm so, so sorry!!"

"Mualani, stop it." Kinich squeezed her shoulder, awkwardly encouraging her. "Where are they?" This question has already been addressed to Ororon.

He seemed to be going through an existential crisis. Ororon stared stubbornly at the floor, clutching his ears with his hands.

"Do you believe us?" Mualani asked cautiously. "Ororon?" She called again, not getting an answer at first.

The guy turned his multicolored, shocked eyes on the two of them. He nodded weakly.

"Then maybe you know where our copies are? It would be nice to deal with them as soon as possible..."

Mualani exchanged worried glances with Kinich, who met her gaze with a frown.

"I understand that this may seem very shocking – it's not every day that people split into two and then fight with their evil halves, but..." Mualani said hesitantly. "It's not like you to overreact to things like that."

"It could look like you were worried about us," Kinich added absently.

Ororon exhaled and spoke decisively. "It's all my fault."

With that, his determination ran out, and he looked at Mualani and Kinich. The guy's eyes were overflowing with moisture, which the strands of tangled bangs could not hide.

"Great," Kinich said awkwardly. "Mualani blames herself for everything too. Now there are two of you."

Mualani raised an eyebrow in disapproval. Kinich was slightly embarrassed.

"You should get out of here while the Archon and the others are busy," Kinich suggested." He seemed to get completely lost when it came to someone's emotionality. "Here," he held out his hand. "Get up, breathe, and tell us where everyone else is."

Ororon recoiled from the outstretched hand. Kinich awkwardly lowered it. But Mualani guessed what caused this behavior of the guys. She herself had noticed how the maids shied away when someone waved their hand sharply next to them. That nasty old woman, Kupo Nui...

What did their copies do to their buddies? Mualani narrowed her eyes, thinking angrily, "Now there are three people here who will blame themselves for everything."

However, for Ororon, the sudden movement became something of a trigger. The guy got to his feet on his own and turned to Mualani, avoiding Kinich's gaze.

"If you really want to help, first you need to get Chuychu and Ifa out. They're trapped somewhere under the Stadium. And I even know where," he finished bleakly.

"Then let's go." Determination took over the girl's body again.

She's not afraid. Her Vision is a force to be reckoned with.

***

The rescue operation was surprisingly quick. As soon as one of the guards noticed Ororon, he was hurried away in an unknown direction. Kinich and Mualani could only follow him.

Kinich was right: his plan worked. In the dark cell where their comrade was taken, two more unfortunate people were trapped. And their guard was a copy of Mualani, sitting uncertainly on a chair next to the cell.

Kinich allowed himself to laugh at Mualani, seeing how she looked at herself in disbelief. It's pretty pathetic for a monster of the Abyss to hide in a damp basement while the others bask in the sun above.

"Huh?" The fake Mualani said absently. "Did it really rain outside?"

The water began to collect at her feet. And then it was just a matter of speed. With the help of Hydro's power, Mualani was able to create an excellent conductor for Electro, which was used by Ororon. He tactfully kept silent about the fact that the Vision was still with him after the tournament.

The electric shock was unexpected for the copy. Kinich's subsequent attack was even more unexpected. With a few quick movements, the guy laid the monster down and froze.

"Maybe you can help..."

Mualani furiously slit her own throat. Watching the monster spread out in black goo, the girl just frowned.

"You used to calmly kill our clones. What has changed?" When there was no answer, Mualani sighed. "In any case, this monster offered a minimum of resistance. This is strange."

"There are things much stranger," grumbled Ifa. "No one wants to explain?"

After explanations, apologies, and exclamations lavished by Mualani, they nevertheless went outside. A faint hope for Mavuika's sanity still lingered in Kinich's chest. It was destined to collapse: As soon as they slipped past the "put to sleep" guards, the noise and screams became deafening again. The competitions continued.

Ororon, Ifa, and Chuychu went in the opposite direction. Having picked up the bags of goods left nearby, Kinich and Mualani also did not stand still.

"It seems that the opinion of the Dragon Lord was worthless," Kinich said through gritted teeth. "Then I suggest we get the Archon's attention personally."

"Are we really going to climb on one of those torches?" Mualani studied the construction. "When we discussed it earlier, I didn't think it was that big."

"Then, we have to return to the top again..." Kinich resolutely moved to where he could start go up without attracting the attention of the guards and the Archon ahead of time.

"Wait," Mualani tugged on his clothes. "Look at the arena!"

The girl squinted in surprise, and then smiled in disbelief.

"We should take a look at this."

Kinich sighed. A truly phenomenal fight took place in the arena. Commander Iansan is against him. Now Kinich will be able to witness his own beating.

"It's dangerous... What the commander is thinking about..." There was hesitation in Kinich's voice.

"Yeah," Mualani drawled. "We should get closer. Well, to provide support in case of anything."

"You just want to get a better look at the details," he accused.

Mualani chuckled, however, quickly becoming serious.

"Don't get distracted. We have to stop the tournament."

Kinich nodded, but he didn't have time to take a step to the stairs again. Iansan's loud voice could be heard even through the noise around her.

"Really? Don't you think that's too unfair, even for you?"

Kinich immediately turned his attention to the fight. Down below... There was a lot of blood left over from the previous fights. But now, the destruction, pits, and holes created by this particular battle have been added to the blood.

Anxiety squeezed his heart: the fact is that Kinich, of course, knew that Iansan was insanely strong. She was the last survivor of that terrible battle when Kinich got his Vision. Since then, she has become a commander, gained combat experience. But with experience comes injuries. Everyone knew that Iansan had no leg.

She wasn't shy about it while wearing her prosthetic. And it would be so insanely unfair to try to weaken her by depriving a woman of a leg. Well, that's exactly what his clone did. Kinich clenched his fists.

The arena was pretty badly damaged, and the fake him was standing in the center of a small crater, mocking. Kinich himself did not notice how he moved down the stairs. They were in the middle of them, actually. They need to stop the duel too.

"Hey, wait!" Mualani hurried after him.

"It's so pathetic!" Iansan shouted. "I can beat you anyway, although there's little honor in defeating someone as low as you are!"

Kinich involuntarily shuddered. He slowed down again, looking at Mavuika. She was watching the fight intently. Her fingers dug into the stone.

"Kinich," Mualani made him turn to her. The girl's face was serious. "It's not you. I know..." The girl hesitated. "And she knows. I'm sure."

Kinich couldn't believe the sweet lie. He was exactly what this monster portrayed him to be. Of course, the guy was familiar with honor and conscience, but he was not sinless. He was also not naive. And Mavuika believed that Kinich was a monster too. This realization hurt.

"Let's go lower," Mualani took his hand, pulling him along.

And the battle in the arena continued. Iansan didn't lose her mobility or the fury with which she attacked the guy's clone. But the monster fighting the commander also seemed very capable.

"They sent the best," Kinich scoffed sarcastically. "I have to help her."

But Mualani tightened her grip on his hand.

"Can't Commander Iansan handle some pathetic monster? Think about it, wouldn't it be a shame for her if some guy from the crowd suddenly intervened in the duel?"

Mualani was right. Iansan can handle it. But will Kinich be able to handle the disappointment Mavuika must feel for him? He didn't know.

Shaking his head, Kinich turned his full attention to the fight. It continued with the same fury. Did Iansan know? Perhaps she wanted to expose the monster of the Abyss. Then Kinich wished defeat to himself, which had never happened to him before.

"You shouldn't have worried so much."

Kinich turned his gaze to Mualani, whose face was beaming and whose lips were stretched in an eternal kind smile.

"I didn't doubt it," Kinich said quickly, defending himself. "Are they going to lock him up?"

Iansan didn't kill the monster. However, she had to know, it couldn't be otherwise! Therefore, the guards put shackles on the fake Kinich, which was cut down by a powerful blow from the commander. She would have broken his neck if he had been human. But the monsters weren't afraid of fractures.

"Then it remains to get to the Archon. It seems that this was the last fight for today." Mualani gave him a beaming smile.

Why was she so nice to him... Kinich just nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Mavuika watched with interest as the guards led Kinich away in shackles. Or was it someone else? Iansan managed to share her suspicions before challenging the unknown. And the fight between them was really exciting. Mavuika thought wistfully that it would be great to channel the rage felt by the competitors to the benefit of Natlan. For example, against the Abyss.

However, her suspicions were confirmed. Natlanians will prefer a bruising battle against the Abyss. Why couldn't things be simpler...

The weather began to deteriorate, clouds on the horizon were approaching, while the commanders were saying their speeches, written with the aim of uniting peoples, increasing patriotic spirit and other things that are obviously not interesting to ordinary people.

It seems that the being who calls himself Ajaw has made a mistake. Although hundreds of monsters could be sitting in the stands, for some reason they remained invisible. Mavuika scanned the people, trying to pick out those who might be a monster in disguise.

Now would be a great chance to attack. What is their plan? Why are the monsters inactive?

Windosh's speech was interrupted by a desperately loud scream coming from the entrance to the Stadium.

"An attack! An attack! Run! Save yourself, who can!"

Mavuika immediately got to her feet, looking around. Where are the monsters? Where do they come from?

"Mavuika," the Traveler said warily. "It's not the monsters from the Abyss attacking the Stadium."

Everyone in the lodge turned around, looking at the Traveler. Paimon covered her mouth with her hands in fright.

"Those clouds on the horizon," the guy pointed out, "are flocks of qucusaurus. I've only just been able to make it out."

Mavuika felt her heart sink into her lower abdomen. Their worst fears were coming true.

"It's the Flower-Feather Clan! Traitors have come to take our lives!!"

Chapter Text

The screeching and flapping of wings sounded more and more distinct, at the same time bringing Mavuika's state closer to mild panic. There couldn't have been more than thirty of them, but the qucusaurus riders blocked out the sky, looming over the Stadium like a dark cloud.

"I will activate the barrier above the stands, and we will fight without putting ordinary people in danger." Mavuika peered into the sky, trying to anticipate the next actions of the Flower-Feather Clan.

"They'll get the advantage," Windosh said abruptly. "Inside the crater they will be able to fly, and we will have to wait for their attack. It is impossible to say that the riders will be stupid enough to put themselves under attack. They'll just fire at us from above."

"And you're so familiar with their tactics," Cardelia quipped. "We all understand why the Flower-Feather Clan invaded our lands. And I'm not going to participate in it. My people will take care of the evacuation of civilians to the city. Under the barrier or without it."

Cardelia turned around and left with a flick of her tail. Mavuika heard the orders the woman was giving to her men. Ordinary natlanians were running fussily in the direction of the Stadium exits. Squeezing between each other, they crowded on the stands, at the arches, on the steps of the stairs. All of this only caused more confusion.

"They must have come to rescue their people," Paimon commented. "Maybe instead of fighting, you should compromise and talk to them. Paimon knows that the Flower-Feather Clan is no different from other Natlan peoples."

"Paimon says the right things," Iansan supported the little girl. "Tsarce, just release your prisoners."

Tsarce shrugged his shoulders irritably.

"I could, but... See for yourself, not all people run away. They are furious and ready to fight to the death. What should we tell them?"

"You shouldn't have opened your mouth from the very beginning." Windosh looked at Tsarce contemptuously. "You've started a fire of hatred against the Flower-Feather Clan from one small spark."

"Don't protect them. You know I'm right. Otherwise, you wouldn't have run away from there!" Tsarce waved his hand furiously at Windosh.

The other commander didn't budge, glaring at him.

"This is not the time to fight!" Iansan intervened, stepping between the men. "I suggest starting by talking to them, but be prepared for battle. If the people in the stands are ready to fight, then there's no point in a barrier. Then we have a much better chance of winning."

"But still, maybe you can try to negotiate?" Said the Traveler, frowning. "If you kill those who have come to you now, the other members of the Flower-Feather Clan will want to take revenge. They calmly crossed the border of your territories. What's to stop them from doing it again? Only next time, these people will break into someone's house. There will be no place for honor and morality in war. Aren't there enough victims for you?" The Traveler stared into Mavuika's eyes.

The Archon quickly looked away. Of course, he was right. But what she should do? It took several hundred years to come up with a single plan, and it failed from the very beginning. Sitting in the tower, the woman tried her best to think of something else. Various scenarios came to her mind. But to be honest, she couldn't have thought of everything. The attack of the Flower-Feather Clan in the middle of the tournament was something unpredictable, a topic that Mavuika tried to avoid when thinking about the outcome of this day.

Fate continued to laugh in her face.

"They're coming!" Paimon exclaimed. "Come on, listen to the Traveler and come up with something! If you fight, it will give the Abyss a great chance to deal with both sides at once!"

Mavuika snorted angrily. She didn't know what to do. Did the commanders also expect a decision from her? This could be an opportunity...

"To begin with, you, Commander Tsarce, will release the prisoners. We will need the help of the Traveler if things take a disappointing turn." Mavuika looked sternly at the audience, not saying that the Traveler might not agree to help.

The Traveler, fortunately, did not refuse at the same second. He looked at Mavuika carefully, assessing and weighing her words.

Seeing that Tsarce was in no hurry to do her bidding, Mavuika spoke again.

"I'm waiting. Go and turn off the shackles. Then you'll go to the stands and coordinate the people. You won't be much use in negotiations."

Rolling his eyes, Tsarce obeyed. He also left, but unlike Cardelia, he went into the interior of the stadium. It remained to be hoped that he would nevertheless remove the shackles from the Traveler and the others.

"Well, we're not the best team to negotiate either," Iansan said. "But we don't have any others. It's not worth putting the elders at risk."

"And let's be honest," grinned Windosh, "what can they do compared to us? It's not for nothing that we make decisions. These old men would just destroy what was left of Natlan."

Mavuika shook her head slightly. Of course, it's only because of Windosh's great work that Natlan still hasn't fallen. However, let him think about himself whatever he wants, if it calms him down.

"By the way, Paimon is really interested. Did Windosh come from the Flower-Feather Clan? How did he end up here? Ouch!" Paimon's questions were interrupted when the click sound.

Mavuika watched enviously as the Traveler's and Paimon's shackles fell to the ground. Feeling free, Paimon was finally able to fly. She whirled and squeaked happily, and Mavuika froze. She couldn't take her eyes off the things that used to bind the heroes. Now they're free, but she's not. Will she ever be?

"They are descending," Iansan raised her eyes to the sky again.

There, a flock of qucusaurs was heading towards the ground. It became clear that the warriors on the backs of the saurians were armed. There were also blades, swords, and spears hanging from their belts and backs. And the warriors' clothes were red. A note of nostalgia pricked the Archon's heart. Five hundred years ago, Menilek became one of the heroes who united to save Natlan. And he belonged to the Flower-Feather Clan. But that wasn't so important now, his ancient name had disappeared like all the others.

Three men detached themselves from the group of riders and headed for their lodge. The rest just hovered in the sky above the arena high enough that no arrow or bullet could reach them.

"This is Mutota," the Traveler looked closely. "He's a leader."

The leader himself flew here. Wasn't it dangerous to come here, leaving the territories of the Flower-Feather Clan without their leader? Or were these warriors not the strongest of those who even lived in the last tribe of Natlan? It could have been like this: only a part of the capable fighters went here. But then Mavuika would like to see what a modern Clan is like, how much power is hiding on its lands.

Mutota went down to the lodge, followed by two more warriors. Mavuika looked at them with interest. The leader's face was covered with scars, and he stood in front of them fully armed. Mutota frowned and spoke. His voice was hoarse and suspicious.

"Pyro Archon," he greeted, nodding. "Traveler and Paimon... And you're here too."

It was hard to understand the feelings behind it. Did he suspect the Traveler of uniting with the kidnappers? What did the Flower-Feather Clan even know about the abduction?

"Chief Mutota," Mavuika also nodded, greeting the man.

Iansan and Windosh bowed their heads, but quickly returned to observing the situation. Everyone froze, waiting for the development of this meeting.

"Pyro Archon," Mutota began again. "I would like our meeting to take place under different circumstances. Some time ago, I allowed myself to think that we could find a compromise. The modern Flower-Feather Clan is no longer the same as it used to be." The man sighed. "But it seems that the other nations have not changed at all. Kidnappings, murders... The lives of my people are worthless to you, aren't they?"

Mavuika frowned and crossed her arms defensively.

"There must have been a big misunderstanding between us. You might have the impression that we planned ahead to kidnap your people for our own benefit. But we found out about it as suddenly as you did: one morning, prisoners appeared in front of our gates."

"And you decided to play with them, to use their lives as a bargaining chip." Mutota spoke evenly, without asking any questions.

That's what it looked like.

"Leader Mutota," Iansan said to the man. "This is a big mistake on the part of the rest of Natlan. On behalf of all our people, we apologize to your people. Ifa and Chuychu are fine."

"What happened to Chasca?" One of the warriors behind Mutota shouted.

"She suffered as a result of her own actions. Or it's more accurate to say that the girl suffered due to the influence of the energy of the Abyss." Windosh usually spoke with a neutral expression on his face, but now he allowed himself a smug grin. "Did the Flower-Feather Clan allow the monsters of the Abyss to roam freely through your streets? Can we be sure of your humanity? Or has your Clan joined forces with our main enemy long ago?"

"Chasca is just a human as all of us. Just like you, Commander Windosh. The same applies to the Pyro Archon and another commander, whose name I do not know. Chasca's connection to the Abyss is just an old wound, an infection."

"I've never seen the energy of the Abyss infect consciousness before," Windosh remarked thoughtfully. "If the Abyss affects the brain, people go crazy."

"And you calmly allowed the "crazy" girl to enter the arena?" Mutota chuckled. "Your morals are no better than ours."

A silent argument broke out between Windosh and Mutota, so much did they burn each other with their eyes. Something needs to be done to move the situation forward. Or else... They can continue to stall for time. Mavuika rubbed her temple, which did not escape the attentive gaze of the leader of the Flower-Feather Clan.

"Are you tired, Pyro Archon?" The man asked. "We flew here practically without resting. I will not pretend. I understand that your forces are superior to ours." Mutota waved away another warrior who tried to contradict the leader. "We will all fight to the last drop of blood. But if the battle can be avoided, I will gladly do it. The slaughter between the nations of Natlan is not a battle we should be fighting."

"That's right," Iansan agreed. "We must focus on defeating the Abyss. We'll just let you and those three go, and you'll fly away."

"That can be arranged," Windosh grumbled.

As if waiting for the right moment, Tsarce returned to the lodge. Next to him were Chuychu and Ifa, whose faces brightened when they saw Mutota and the rest of their people.

"Mutota, bro," Ifa started to wave his hand, but lowered it when he remembered that they were still prisoners.

"Go under the wing of your leader," Tsarce said sarcastically.

"And what about Chasca? Where is she?" Chuychu anxiously looked at each of them, searching for an answer in their faces.

"She's unconscious," Tsarce grumbled. "Get out as soon as possible, when the girl comes to her senses, I will personally throw her out. No one would keep a savage like her for longer than she was supposed to. She played her part and..."

"Shut your mouth," Mutota interrupted the Commander. The leader's gaze burned with malice.

"I'm not leaving without her." Chuychu looked stubbornly at the Tsarce. "Bring her here if she can't walk on her own. No one believes your lies."

"She won't want to leave here on her own," Tsarce grinned.

"Why?" Paimon asked warily. "Are you still ordering her to behave?"

"I told you to take the shackles off each of the prisoners!" Mavuika was indignant. "What kind of game are you playing?"

"A game?" The Tsarce's face glowed with contempt. "Yes, everything you do looks like baby talk! They are outnumbered, but instead of dealing a crushing blow to the enemy forces, you let them go! Go on, you, savages. You can loot a couple of our villages along the way. Although we will give you everything we have!"

"Don't call us savages!" Chuychu snapped.

"Have you felt freedom and are you not afraid to be rude to me?" Tsarce gave her a brief, contemptuous glance. "Don't you understand?" The commander turned to the Archon and his comrades. "The Flower-Feather Clan has flown here and is threatening Natlan. Let them go, and they will stop being afraid to trespass and start roaming freely on our lands. We can't let them be among us. This infection must be eradicated!"

"Commander Tsarce!" Mavuika exclaimed.

But before anyone could react, Tsarce pulled out a pistol and shot into the sky. That was the signal. A jet of red smoke flew up. And the people in the stands started attacking the qucusaurs. Tsarce mobilized the remaining warriors so that those who could reach would use their Visions and arrows. And the rest will just wait for the riders to get excited and drop lower to inflict more damage. Good tactics, but they were still fighting against humans!

"Stop it!" Mavuika's shout was drowned out by the sound of wings and blades.

The warriors who came with Mutota drew their swords. Tsarce took out his own. Windosh stood aside while Iansan tried to become a barrier between the two opponents again. The Traveler was inactive. Paimon hovered around him in fright. Catching Mavuika's gaze, the Traveler slightly jerked his chin, as if offering the Archon to do at least something. Mavuika clenched her fists.

"I'm using the power of the Gnosis." The ends of Mavuika's hair started to glow with flames, but it all stopped when Windosh looked at her.

"No." One order, and Mavuika froze helplessly.

"If only you'd let the Archon interfere," Iansan said accusingly to Windosh. "Maybe we should let her do whatever she wants."

"We can't," Windosh replied irritably. "The powers of the Pyro Gnosis are limited. If the Archon uses too much, irreparable things can happen."

"Then let's let the natlanians spill each other's blood!" Iansan exclaimed. She continued to stand between the two fires, holding the men with different hands.

Windosh turned away. Mavuika looked desperately at the Traveler, but he was watching the battle unfolding below. And really, which side could he take? There were people both there!

This Stadium has long been accustomed to the blood spilled in the arena. But it's been a long time since it's been this wild and cruel. Mutota also noticed what was happening below. He stepped back from Tsarce and shouted to his men to join the battle. Tsarce did not like this attitude. Pushing aside Iansan, he rushed at Mutota. He summoned his qucusaurus and jumped on it.

And the battle between two equal rivals has begun. It was as if they were pushing off the air, switching places and hurling insults at each other.

 Iansan waved her hand and ran downstairs. "I will try to stop those who agree to listen. My subordinates will help with this."

She disappeared, and Windosh continued to stand on the lodge.

"And you? Help her." Mavuika pressed her lips together stubbornly.

"And you?" Windosh repeated her question. "You're the Archon. Even the traitors, the Flower-Feather Clan, are your people. You can't choose a side, you can't stop them. And I just don't want to."

"Is it because the Flower-Feather Clan are your people too?" Mavuika snapped.

Windosh's silence was a fitting response.

"That's great, but it would be nice to get out of here as soon as possible." Ifa's voice sounded strained. "Since there was such an opportunity, Pyro Archon, Commander Windosh, when we were captured, were our qucusaurus companions not with us? One of them is quite small for its kind."

"I haven't seen them," Mavuika replied.

"There was no one," Windosh confirmed.

Ifa drooped, and Chuychu patted his shoulder sympathetically.

"Let's find Chasca," the girl suggested.

But as soon as the words left her lips, Mutota reappeared in their field of vision. He looked battered, and blood was flowing from a deep cut on his face, but he was still alive.

"Chuychu, Ifa, we're retreating. Jump on the qucusaurus who belongs to Niuchu and Oltoke when they arrive."

"But what about Chasca!" Chuychu screamed.

Mutota pursed his lips.

"Chasca will survive." He turned to Mavuika. "Help her if you want to prove to us that you have any decency."

"Mutota!" Chuychu struggled when one of the riders came down to pick her up.

Saurian, who flew up to Ifa, was alone. His rider was missing.

"Mutota, you, filthy savage! Son of a bitch! Brat of the Abyss!" Tsarce's screams came from somewhere below.

Mutota soared into the sky, followed by the others. There are noticeably fewer of them. A few seconds later, Tsarce ran into the lodge. His face was covered in blood, and his nose seemed to be broken. The man was followed by a group of angry warriors.

"That piece of savage shit!" Tsarce swore. "You can't hide from me! Equip the tatankasaurus! Let's catch up with them on the ground!" He gave orders and ran away, inside the stadium building. Windosh, the Traveler, Paimon, and Mavuika only watched the crowd follow the commander.

"Paimon hopes that the Tsarce will fall off saurian..."

Mavuika chuckled mirthlessly. Clouds, now real, continued to cover the horizon. It looks like it's going to rain soon. Some time passed, and there was silence.

The Archon surveyed the destruction below. Potholes in the stone, cracks, broken chairs, broken tiles, several fires. The bodies of humans and saurians. The air was filled with smoke, reminiscent of those distant days five hundred years ago. Back then, they almost lost Natlan to the Abyss. Now they are deliberately leading the country to fall. And she can't stop them.

"Paimon just realized!" Paimon exclaimed in fright. "There are almost no people left in the stands! Ajaw said it's full of monsters from the Abyss! And now they're everywhere!"

If earlier they could catch them all, given the concentration of those in the Stadium, now finding and killing each one will require a lot of effort. Mavuika leaned her elbows on the railing of their lodge and clutched her head.

"But how could the monsters of the Abyss deceive us all?! Paimon keeps thinking about it! It turns out that they could have replaced Kinich and Mualani! Oh, now Paimon is afraid that they might be..."

Paimon wasn't done, but it was enough. A wave of impotent anger shook Mavuika's body. She didn't want to think about it!

In five years, she had completely lost the habit of facing the harsh reality. She tried so hard to convince herself that she was okay, that it was fine for her not to be attached to anyone. But now... no. This is not the time to feel sorry for yourself.

Mavuika straightened up and took a deep breath.

"What's next? What else could go wrong, Xilonen?"

"You don't have to say my name like I was the one who brought all this trouble on us."

Xilonen climbed onto the lodge and watched Mavuika with narrowed eyes.

"Xilonen!" Paimon exclaimed happily.

"Isn't it a bit much of a shock for one day?" Xilonen said. "Save something for tomorrow."

"Will there be a tournament tomorrow?" Mavuika chuckled. "The Stadium was damaged, people fled in panic. I'm not sure if the Sacred Flame has absorbed enough fighting spirit."

"However, you won't get another chance," the Traveler said, frowning. "Go now, before the other commanders return, and with them a lot of problems return too."

"And you?" Mavuika asked hopefully. "Won't you come with me?"

The Traveler shook his head.

"I want to leave. Maybe I "need" to walk this path, but I doubt it will teach me anything."

Mavuika nodded understandingly. So be it.

"Xilonen, if anything, keep an eye on this girl from the Flower-Feather Clan. And, Windosh, I entrust you with my collection of relics from ancient times."

"Mavuika," Xilonen said tensely. "Don't talk like you're going to die."

Mavuika forced a smile and patted her friend on the shoulder.

"I'm just kidding. What could possibly go wrong, right?"

A loud, deafeningly loud ringing cut through the silence of the evening. Mavuika shuddered, and then moaned.

"This phrase should be your curse..." Xilonen sounded alarmed.

"FATUI!! IT’S THE FATUI!!!!" A young man dressed in the clothes of the Scions of the Canopy ran into one of the aisles, screaming.

He almost fell over, sweating and crying. Was what he saw really that creepy?

This man was alone. With every step, the ground rang, becoming covered with ice. The very air froze from the man's breathing. It was frightening: the face, swallowed by the darkness, belonged to a living person.

"Pyro Archon Haborym," he said evenly. "The Archon of Natlan."

The voice coming from behind the mask was clear, with a slight echo.

"Although, looking at the situation around me, I doubted that you exist. The secret of the Ley Lines is not a secret for everyone, including me. Like your own secrets," he said softly, "I know what you're afraid of."

Mavuika swallowed. The Traveler drew his blade, preparing to fight. Earlier, he had told her about the Tsaritsa's plan and what role the Fatui played in it. This man came for the Pyro Gnosis. That's just it... It belonged to her only nominally.

"Who are you?" She shouted.

The man looked at her, appraising her. At least that's what Mavuika thought. She could feel his gaze moving over her. It is the presence of a great power nearby. But what was worse was that the man in front of her had no eyes.

"Il Capitano, the first of the Fatui Harbingers," the man politely introduced himself. "And what name do you have?"

"My name is Mavuika."

Neither by sign nor gesture did Capitano let her know what he thought about it. The man stood in the middle of the arena, looking expectantly at the Archon.

"In the five hundred years that have passed since the disaster, the war in Natlan, nothing has changed. I can say that things have only gotten worse. And when the situation takes a such turn... Someone better must appear to correct the mistakes of the incapable."

Mavuika narrowed her eyes.

"Have you come to take the Pyro Gnosis? Or to turn Natlan into a Snezhnaya’s colony? Your words are too pompous for who you really are."

The cold intensified, as did the oppressive energy around them.

Mavuika spoke softly, "He can attack at any moment. I can feel on my skin how strong this man is. And who's going to fight back?" She turned to Windosh. "Let the Traveler fight for Natlan? What if he refuses?"

What if he loses?

Windosh was frowning at her.

"Take off my shackles. I will carefully use the powers of the Gnosis, I promise. There is no other way out. He can take Gnosis by force. And then all your restrictions will be meaningless."

"Fine." Windosh agreed, keeping a displeased expression on his face.

Mavuika raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"Don't you need to leave to disable the system somewhere else?"

"Unlike idiots, I always carry important things with me."

With that, Windosh took out a small device and activated it. The shackles fell off.

That feeling of freedom... Mavuika missed it so much. In that second, she realized: there was no way she was going to wear them again.

The Archon summoned her old sword, which habitually rested in her hand. It was lucky that she was wearing trousers, a vest and a tunic today, and not one of the luxurious dresses. The power of Pyro flowed through her body. Her hair shone, and flames burned on her fists.

Mavuika had to raise her head after jumping down. Capitano was taller than her. He stood there coldly, glaring at her with his invisible eyes.

"So you think a lot about yourself. Let's not pretend that either of us is interested in conversation. I see that we're the type of people whose blades are talking!"

And Mavuika rushed to the attack. Capitano deflected the blow, and the force with which he fought... It was huge. Mavuika had been Archon for five years, but she hadn't been in the best shape in all those years. Now she would have to do her best not to lose. Losing this battle would most likely lead to her death.

She tightened her grip on the sword. Blow after blow, fire and ice. They moved all over the arena, across the stands, pushing off the air. Mavuika had difficulty deflecting some of the blows. She was stubborn, and she also had a truly endless source of strength at her disposal. The Gnosis. She could take all, the fire burned in her veins, intoxicating.

But she can't use more than she's supposed to... As if someone had defined the borders! When Mavuika drew strength from the Gnosis, she felt a long-forgotten feeling. Something similar to... happiness? The excitement of a good battle was only encouraging. Capitano could have been stronger, but Mavuika never turned down a good challenge.

The Archon hacked through the ice blocks, feeling the temperature of the flames dancing on her blade cool down. Gritting her teeth, Mavuika turned up the power. Capitano was not far behind. They turned into flashes of light. At first, Mavuika pursued the Harbinger, and a second later she dodged the man's swift attacks.

She couldn't help but feel a strange pleasure. Her ego responded, filling woman with warmth at the thought that she could still put up something against such a strong and highly ranked opponent like Capitano. Being honest with herself, she was madly enjoying the hide-and-seek they set up in the arena.

She wished this fight would never end. Even a heavy blow to the stomach couldn't change Mavuika's mind. Sparks flew around her, and the flames danced, but not with rage. She felt strong, capable of changing at least something in her life. Perhaps she felt able to save Natlan.

Seeing her chance, Mavuika did not hesitate. Was Capitano a human under all that armor? For a split second, he opened up, and immediately received a blow from a fiery fist in his heart. Of course, Mavuika didn't pierce through his chest, but she was definitely close to it.

Capitano jumped away from her, landing on one knee. Mavuika looked at her hand, which was covered in blood, with a slight disgust. Nevertheless, the blow was quite strong: the flesh was pierced and burned. So the Harbinger was still a human. Or he was a monster of the Abyss: despite the smell of burnt flesh and blood on the woman's hand, the place of impact absorbed the light. It was as dark as the man's face.

Frowning, Mavuika walked forward. She managed to catch her breath and realized that Capitano had done it too. So be it. They can both continue the battle.

The Archon moved to meet the Harbinger, and he rose to his feet, clutching his sword tighter. But a cloud of smoke engulfed the man, hiding him from Mavuika. A trick? Coughing, the woman dispersed all smoke. The arena was empty.

"A coward. He just ran away!" Mavuika raised her head and addressed her audience, who were watching the fight from the lodge. "Did I scare him?"

She didn't believe it herself. Mavuika climbed the many steps, thinking. But it wasn't winning the battle that occupied her thoughts. Every step was filled with heaviness. Now she will rise up to be chained again. This fight was awfully short. And so refreshing.

Something needed to be thought out, but Mavuika wasn't good at making plans. She can escape... But she'll need a motorcycle for that. One way or another, the Archon is going to enter the Night Kingdom. It's better to travel to a place like this on a motorcycle than to walk.

That's settled. Mavuika turned around and ran down towards the nearest entrance to the Stadium building. Someone called out to her, but the woman ignored it. She needs to get to her tower and pick up her motorcycle.

Fortunately, no one followed Mavuika. She ran through the deserted corridors and halls to her tower, where, climbing the steps, she found herself at the top again. Windosh didn't take the motorcycle away, putting it back under the roof. And someone fixed the broken wall. It's a pity, but Mavuika rushed through it again, flying out. Half of the Stadium is in ruins – there will be someone who will repair her tower too.

She was lucky again: only Xilonen, the Traveler, and Paimon were waiting for her in the lodge. Jumping off the bike, Mavuika caught their attention.

"And where did Windosh go?" She glanced at Xilonen in disbelief. "I'm surprised he's not standing here with his handcuffs ready. What an unexpected freedom – I'm flattered."

Xilonen chuckled.

"He's gone," Paimon answered for her. "He was very unhappy, and then he went somewhere without saying anything. Your fight was great!"

"Yes," Xilonen agreed. "You set the heat on him."

Mavuika smiled contentedly and looked at the Traveler, waiting for his reaction. He returned her smile with his own, which looked quite sincere.

"It was cool," he said softly.

Mavuika laughed proudly, enjoying the praise and the feeling of the Sacred Flame coursing through her veins. Windosh ordered her to give all the power of the Gnosis to maintain the Flame, so it left the Archon's body almost immediately, as soon as she ascended the throne. Now, five hundred years later, this reunion was felt... long-awaited.

"I don't want to interrupt your happy moments, but Windosh is already running here." Iansan returned, looking tired but unharmed. "We sort of finished with the people, all the victims were sent to the doctor, I put up a guard. The monsters from the Abyss hid, as expected."

Mavuika sighed, running her hand through her hair. Now they were burning and warming. She couldn't part with them so quickly.

"And what about the Fatui?" Paimon asked.

"Oh, that's pretty funny. And this is one of the reasons for Windosh's rage." A bright smile blossomed on Iansan's face. "When Tsarce went in pursuit, he literally tore down the entrance gate. A huge herd of tatankasaurus swept through an archway not intended for such crowds. And it collapsed, along with part of the special protection that keeps monsters out. The guards scattered everywhere, and the Harbinger was able to enter without encountering obstacles."

"Was he alone?" Xilonen asked warily.

Iansan shrugged her shoulders.

"Perhaps? People were already panicking. We don't have any exact information yet."

"But the technique at the end of the battle..." Mavuika said thoughtfully. "It's similar to the abilities of the Masters of the Night-Wind."

"Oh, don't you dare tell anyone about this! Paimon can already see how everyone is starting to shout that the Masters of the Night-Wind have betrayed Natlan!"

Everyone let out a few nervous and confused laughs. But the fun didn't last long. Windosh's footsteps alerted everyone to the Commander's approach. Mavuika drooped and glanced at the Sacred Flame. Shouldn't it burn brighter? Quite a lot of battle rage was generated during the fight with Capitano...

"I'm not wearing them now!" Mavuika forestalled Windosh's outraged order by turning her whole body towards him. "First, my mission in the Night Kingdom. After that, I'll think about it, and then I'll decide if I'll agree to put on the shackles again. You tricked me for the first time!"

Windosh grimaced.

"Shackles are necessary, otherwise you will not notice how you will use up all the reserves of the power of the Sacred Flame. You've spent an unknown amount now. And what consequences it can lead to!"

"Has the Sacred Flame gone out? It's still burning brightly."

Mavuika kept silent about her earlier observation. Still, according to the idea, the tournament was supposed to help accumulate more energy. Windosh pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers, stifling an indignant protest.

"Don't worry," the Traveler suddenly said. "I've changed my mind. Paimon and I will join Mavuika in the Night Kingdom. Now I am wondering what this journey could teach me."

Mavuika smiled happily at the Traveler. She wondered why he had changed his mind.

"Paimon thinks the Traveler meant that we won't leave Mavuika in the lurch. And we'll make sure she doesn't play with fire."

Windosh raised an eyebrow at the pun.

"One question: what is your plan?" Windosh looked sternly at the Archon. Seeing the confused expression on her face, he continued irritably. "What are you going to find in the Night Kingdom? Alone or together, it's dangerous. There are hordes of monsters, endless darkness and Abyss. Has the Lord of the Night contacted you? Or are you just hoping that mindlessly following your desires will lead you to Wayob?"

Questions rained down on Mavuika, forcing her to look away. As usual, she had no plan. But Windosh won't be satisfied with that answer.

"I'll figure something out," Mavuika replied. "I need to assess the situation, to understand how strong the infection of the Abyss is. What if there's something left in the Night Kingdom that can still be saved?"

Windosh chuckled skeptically.

"It's like it's not clear from the surface that there's nothing left. Everything was destroyed long before you were born, Mavuika."

Mavuika got angry.

"Exactly! I thought it was the direct responsibility of the previous Archons! To keep! Natlan! Safe! And what's the result?! Almost five hundred years of wandering in the unknown! I come back and what I’m seeing?!" She waved her hand at the devastation around her. "That's it! They fucked up everything! Everything I was trying to save! My friends died for the future, which their descendants could not save even for a hundred years!"

"Mavuika, calm down a bit." Xilonen tried to calm her friend down by putting her hand on the Archon's shoulder.

She brushed Xilonen’s hand away and continued.

"Five hundred years of solitude to be reborn as a child! And I had to start all over again! I've reached the top, defeated you, Windosh! I became a Pyro Archon! And what did it give me?" Mavuika clenched her fists fiercely. "I was chained up like a criminal!" She pointed a finger in Windosh's direction.

"That was necessary..." He tried to justify himself.

"Betrayed!" She pointed at Iansan.

"When did I even manage...?" The Commander was surprised.

"People trampled on my hopes!" She pointed at Xilonen. "And left me alone!"

Her finger moved to... Mavuika groaned.

"Of course. You're the only one we've missed. You all owe me! Because it's only because of me that you're still alive. I've been holding back the Abyss for five hundred years! I'm going to the Night Kingdom to do at least something! So get off me!"

Everyone fell silent, watching her outburst. For so many years, she dreamed of expressing her thoughts out loud. She's trying to be a good Archon. Why doesn't everyone understand?

"Did we leave you?" Kinich, it was him, said softly and in surprise.

He looked older, he wore unusual clothes, he was not in prison, which is no less important! And he stood there, glaring at her. She might owe him an apology or two, but nothing should stop her from her goal of entering the Night Kingdom.

"Where have you been these five years, Mavuika? I heard it wasn't difficult for you to escape from here when the Traveler was in danger. You should have tried to rebel earlier," the guy said and his words were filled with poison. "Go to the battlefield," he continued. "To see how the people of Natlan "abandon" and "betray" their Archon. Trampling on her hopes, while dying in agony."

Oh, that guy. He could stab with words. But inaction was not her fault! The commanders and elders had weighty "arguments" to convince her to put on the shackles without resisting. And yet... The maximum of her abilities as an Archon is to maintain the Sacred Flame. She did everything that was required of her!

The Sacred Flame suddenly shuddered, but quickly returned to its original state.

"You would understand if you were in my situation," Mavuika said, frowning.

"However, I'm living my first life," Kinich replied fiercely. "Five hundred years!"

"For five hundred years, I didn't realize my own existence! You can't demand things from me that I can't control!"

"But after that, you had years to come up with something. And even if you were shackled, what happened to your so praised creativity? You can help ordinary people from underground. If you had contacted Xilonen, she would have helped you find the right people here, outside of the City of the Sacred Flame. Was it really easier for you to be offended and pretend to be a victim here than to pull yourself together and do something?" Kinich's voice was filled with disappointment.

Mavuika cast a frowning and wary glance at Xilonen. She shrugged her shoulders.

"I hate to say it, but he's right. I've spent years trying to recreate the Ancient Names, just like you asked. I talked to different people in search of information." Xilonen said with a serious expression on her face. "If you had said that you needed help or some connections with people... I would have done everything in my power."

"Ancient Names," Mavuika muttered disappointedly. "It's all useless."

"You're just devaluing my work right now..." 

"Before! I will! "Go to the Night Kingdom!" Mavuika interrupted her.

"But, Mavuika. You can't just rush into the unknown." Iansan frowned in alarm. "Instead of going alone or taking only one ally with you, wouldn't it be better to assemble a squad of experienced warriors? Or go with someone from... us," the woman finished hesitantly.

Mavuika pressed her lips together stubbornly. Her gaze ran over the faces of the people. Yes, the opportunity to take one of them with her was so tempting. And yet... They won't leave her alone. Doesn't anyone understand: Mavuika have no answers to their questions?

"I’m..."

"Look at this!" Paimon interrupted Mavuika, pointing her finger somewhere behind her back. "The Sacred Flame!"

Mavuika turned around. The flame danced on top of the torch, the wind threatened to extinguish it, then rekindled it to an incredible size. Could the Flame have gone out at any moment?

"I have to go," Mavuika resolutely headed for the motorcycle. "Traveler, Paimon, this may be our last chance."

The wind had picked up, and storm clouds were gathering over their heads. After the battle with Capitano, the air warmed up, lightning flashed in the distance.

"But if the Sacred Flame goes out, you won't be able to return!" Xilonen took a step forward, but froze, seeing Mavuika's determination.

The first drops of rain fell on the Archon's skin. They dried up instantly – her body was on fire.

The Traveler hesitantly jumped onto the motorcycle, and Paimon hugged him tighter. Thunder rumbled very close.

"If the Sacred Flame goes out while you're not around, what should we do?" Kinich shouted. "The power of the Gnosis is in your hands, and you just leave your people to figure it out for themselves if something goes wrong."

Mavuika felt the rage engulfing her body. The rain gradually became heavier, but it did not cool down.

"I'm the only one who knows what to do with the Night Kingdom! There are so many people left here, someone will find a solution if the Flame goes out!"

She headed for the motorcycle. No one tried to stop her. No one except Kinich. He grabbed her arm, holding her in place. Lightning struck very close to the stands nearby.

"Stop being selfish!" Kinich shouted, trying to shout over the sound of the rain. "Stop running away!"

Mavuika pulled her hand away and ran. She jumped on the bike and took off, not even making sure that the Traveler was firmly holding on behind her. Mavuika flew in the direction of the largest torch in the Stadium. The one on whom the Sacred Flame continued to go crazy. It shouldn't react like that to rain!

The strange behavior of the Flame will be a problem for another day. Without listening to the screams, without turning around, Mavuika flew into the fire. If she turned around now, she could see the light coming from the object in Kinich's hands. Maybe then she would have made a completely different decision. But the Scions of the Canopy were taught not to turn around, so as not to burn out. Mavuika broke into the Sacred Flame and let it consume them.

A second later, there was no trace of her motorcycle.

It was dark in the Night Kingdom, so Mavuika had to create a fiery sphere that hung in the air next to a motorcycle that was rapidly making its way through the black wastelands. It seemed like they were at least a little lucky: the monsters still hadn't sensed their arrival. Or they've masterfully disguised themselves again and will attack at any minute.

"Where are we going?" The Traveler asked.

If only she knew. According to her memories, the Night Kingdom was like a maze at the best of times. Now, in the pitch-blackness, they were moving at random. If they were lucky, they would soon come across an ancient palace where communication with the Lord of the Night had once taken place. It was symmetrically positioned above and below the earth's surface. But the upper part has long been destroyed by time. Mavuika hoped to hide in the lower one, as well as try to contact the Lord of the Night on her own.

"Paimon is uneasy about how dark it is in here," Paimon muttered.

"Yes, but it's not the scariest place we could go. Nevertheless, according to the observations of scientists and shamans from the Masters of the Night-Wind, the Abyss destroyed the border part of the Night Kingdom the most. Closer to Natlan's heart, it’s influence is waning."

The motorcycle continued to slide across the black sand along the monotonous black rocks. No one met them, and even when the outlines of the castle appeared in the distance, surrounded by a suspicious light, the monsters did not run out to meet them.

"Paimon doesn't want to scare anyone, but she's scared herself! This light ahead, it looks like... THE GHOSTS!" She screamed and immediately clapped her hand over her mouth, almost falling off the motorcycle.

"Well, now everyone knows about our arrival," the Traveler grumbled.

Mavuika couldn't disagree with him. But Paimon was right, too. The closer they got, slowing down, the clearer it became: the castle was surrounded by thousands of ghosts. They made way for them, followed the Archon and her companions with indifferent glances. How many people are there?

"Why are there so many ghosts here?" Paimon asked softly. "Paimon doesn't understand anything at all..."

"The Night Kingdom used to be a kind of purgatory. The souls here rested from worldly suffering, and then went on to rebirth. But now... Many restless souls wander outside the Night Kingdom, unable to get inside. And those who still end up here cannot be reborn. The monsters are chasing them. Besides, I'm sure that the place where they could have been reborn was blocked. But I do not know how."

Paimon hummed under her breath.

"Where was this place anyway? Was this castle used for other purposes?" The Traveler asked.

"As far as I know, the place is located somewhere in the territories of the Masters of the Night-Wind." Mavuika turned around when she heard Paimon sigh. "What is it?"

"It's just that Paimon isn't the least bit surprised why souls can't be reborn... Mavuika, what do you even know about how the Masters of the Night-Wind live?"

Mavuika shrugged her shoulders.

"Not much, but I thought I knew enough. What's the matter?"

Paimon sighed.

"It's not Paimon's secret, but... It's probably better to let you know. The fact is that the Masters of the Night-Wind live in the Night Kingdom! They submerged the capital underground to protect themselves from the Abyss."

"But how are the monsters underground better than those on the surface?" Mavuika frowned.

"We don't know," the Traveler replied. "However, this place is really well hidden from everyone. More precisely, it was hidden before our arrival... They live under a dome..."

"And it looks more like an aquarium with fish!" Paimon tried to keep her voice down. "Huge monsters with tentacles are stuck to the walls on the back of this aquarium and are watching people!"

Mavuika felt a slight tremor run through her body.

"Monsters of the black flow..."

"So they have a name!" Paimon protested in a whisper. "Why didn't anyone say that before!"

"I just remembered... Perhaps it was the power of the Sacred Flame, the power of the Gnosis, that gave me the answer."

Paimon squeaked when one of the ghosts passed especially close to their motorcycle.

"Mavuika, let's go faster! Let's get inside the castle as soon as possible!"

Mavuika sped up, but still fast enough to be able to talk.

"What are the chances that there's a trap waiting for us in the castle?" The Traveler said gloomily.

Mavuika could only shrug her shoulders. All that remains is to rush inside and check for themselves.

The castle doors, made of half-collapsed stone, swung open in front of them. Mavuika expected the ghosts to try to come inside, but they stayed outside. The doors shut behind them, and the Archon had no choice but to move forward. The motorcycle barely made a sound as it slid over the stonework, but strangely they weren't riding in total darkness. Torches were lit on the walls with otherworldly purple flames. Was it the flame of the Abyss?

When they entered a large circular hall, they had to stop and get off the motorcycle. In the center stood a figure dressed in a snow-white dress. Her blonde hair was decorated with white flowers unfamiliar to Mavuika, which added to the image of innocence. But when she turned around, the darkness of the Abyss was splashing in her eyes.

The Traveler sighed.

"Brother," the girl slightly stretched her lips in a smile, as if she had forgotten how to do it. "It's been a long time."

The Traveler took a step towards his own... sister, but stopped abruptly. A sword materialized in his hands, and the guy suspiciously stared at the girl who came out of the Abyss.

"What are you doing here?" The Traveler's voice cracked. "I thought you were busy with the Loom of Fate... Do you want to talk to me now? Or kill me?" He smiled with the pain. "Is my journey coming to an end? Have I learned everything I should have learned?"

The girl was silent. A smile blossomed on her lips, but it looked more like a snarl. She did it much more naturally. Could it be that this is...?

"Brother," the girl whispered. "I came to say goodbye to you. Your journey will really end here."

She held out her arms to embrace the Traveler. When did she get so close? The Traveler froze, unable to move and step aside, seeing his sister approaching.

Laughter echoed through the corridors of the castle. Before the girl could touch the Traveler, several flashes of the blade sliced her body apart. However, there was no blood. The dark energy of the Abyss flowed across the floor, and the laughter began again.

"You should have become more familiar with manners and honor," a familiar voice boomed. "The Princess would never do such a shameful thing."

A man's silhouette emerged from the shadows. But Mavuika already knew who it was. They met again – in an abandoned castle in the middle of the Night Kingdom stood Capitano, the first of the Fatui Harbingers.

Capitano delivered several pinpoint strikes at the Abyss energy swirling in his legs. Seeing that it wasn't working, he abruptly stamped his foot, freezing the room. The laughter and the abyssal energy were gone, though distant echoes still reached Mavuika's ears. The Archon frowned.

"So we meet again, Pyro Archon." Captaino's voice sounded calmer, as if meeting Mavuika wasn't so unpleasant for him.

Mavuika continued to watch the man, waiting for his next move. Was he an enemy? Did he serve the Abyss? Mavuika was unaware of the Harbinger's intentions.

"You called this girl a princess. Do you serve her? The Princess of the Abyss?"

"Not the Abyss," the Captaino replied hoarsely. " The Princess of Khaenri'ah."

There was silence in the hall.

Less than a day later, the bells rang in the City of the Sacred Flame. The sound was alarming, and the weather still hadn't improved. People were tensely waiting for the news.

A courier from the Scions of the Canopy was running through the streets of the city. It is worth noting that these tribesman almost always acted as messengers. Another exhausted young man barely moved his feet, but continued to move, as if driven by irrational fear.

After hearing about the arrival of a courier with disturbing news, Windosh had to leave his office to meet the messenger.

 "Stop," Windosh blocked the guy's path. "What happened and why didn't you give the letter to someone who can still stand on his feet?"

The guy gasped and turned pale with fear. Windosh sighed heavily. He wasn't going to scare him more than he already was. With shaking hands, the guy handed the letter to Windosh.

"P-Pyro Archon, where is she?" Windosh continued to stare at the guy while ripping the seal off the scroll. "PYRO ARCHON!"

He shouted, attracting more and more attention from the crowd. Windosh felt a mixture of annoyance and alarm.

"Don't shout like that," he scolded the guy. "I repeat my words, what happened?"

And the unfortunate courier, experiencing unbearable terror, screamed even louder.

"There is no barrier anymore! The wall has been breached! The Abyss has attacked! Thousands of dead people!" Barely able to stand, he raised his face to the sky, and tears rolled down his cheeks. "The People of the Springs have FALLEN!"

Commander Windosh

Chapter Text

"You and I will become the greatest warriors of our tribe one day! And then no one will be able to stop us! That’s right, Mavuika?" The boy turned around. "Mavuika?"

There was no one nearby – only darkness and the Abyss, flowing over the earth, thirsting for his death. The guy swallowed, frantically searching for something to lean on. His fingers became wet. Oh, yes, he was dying.

Torn apart by a loyal friend who was poisoned by the Abyss. However, he volunteered to stop Kongamato. Now, lying in a pool of his own blood, he couldn't help but ask the question: was it worth it? He became a hero at the cost of his own life. Natlan suffered a lot of losses in this war.

So maybe they shouldn't have fought at all? He immediately laughed, feeling the blood trickle down his chin and cheeks. Mavuika frowned at that question.

"Maybe we should stop fighting a battle when defeat seems inevitable." The Archon's hair was burning in the rays of the sun. "But this is my destiny. One day, the children will look up at the peaceful sky and offer a prayer to the deities of this world."

The guy nodded several times, agreeing.

"But still," there was still uncertainty in his voice. "Is the victory worth our lives?"

"You already know the answer."

Kinich found himself back in reality: on top of the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, soaked through in a rainfall. But nothing bothered him less. He felt rather than saw the stone in his pants pocket heat up and shine. Kinich found it in the ruins with Ajaw and carried it with him as a talisman. Now, the piece of obsidian in his hands shone and trembled. He had to let go of it, and it hovered in front of him.

Letters appeared on the stone, and the radiance grew brighter, eclipsing the Sacred Flame. All of them: he, Xilonen, Iansan, and Mualani, who was standing to the side, could not take their eyes off the ancient relic.

"It can't be," Xilonen gasped.

Another light source materialized next to the relic. It grew in size, gradually taking on human shapes. However, he was never able to become anything more than a silhouette.

"Hello!" He said cheerfully, waving his hand. "Hmm, hmm." The silhouette cleared his throat awkwardly. "Why I had to go first... Sundjatta or Tupac would have done a much better job than me." He added more quietly.

An awkward silence fell between them, punctuated only by thunder and the sound of raindrops.

"It can't be," Xilonen repeated. "Really, you are...

"I am!" The silhouette proudly pointed his finger at his chest. "My name is Burkina, and I bear the Ancient Name "Malipo". The price." Burkina put a translucent hand on Kinich's shoulder. "And now it's your name, too."

"My... Name?" Kinich said in disbelief.

"Yeah," Burkina confirmed cheerfully. "Your name. Now I need to tell you about Mavuika's plan for defeating the Abyss. How it was... There..." Burkina abruptly jumped away from Kinich and circled the girls with his finger. "They're not supposed to know. This is a secret shared between the six heroes of Natlan and Pyro Archon."

But no one moved. Burkina turned his head from Kinich to Xilonen, who was standing closest. There were so many emotions written on the woman's face...

"Has no one been honored with the names of great heroes in all these years?" Xilonen asked with genuine surprise.

Burkina scratched his head awkwardly.

"Does it look like that? From the Night Kingdom, it became more difficult to observe what was happening here." Burkina clasped his fingers together. "You seem too surprised. Has my name been erased from the pages of Natlan's history over time?" There was sadness in his young voice. "Burkina! Come on, do you remember anything?"

"I've been studying the scrolls," Xilonen said, puzzled. "Nevertheless, I heard your name from Mavuika."

"Mavuika! Where is she?" He looked around. "She couldn't have been reborn so early. It's been about two hundred years..."

"Five hundred," Kinich said sharply. "She was reborn, as it should be. But other than that, her plan was destined to fail."

"Five hundred years!" Burkina exclaimed. "Well, this is very unexpected... I thought that someone would inherit the names of the great heroes much earlier. Do you know why this happened?"

It seemed like he was supposed to be the one answering the questions. But Burkina looked lost.

"Natlan is going through hard times," Xilonen frowned, brushing her wet hair from her face. "The technology of forging Ancient Names has been lost, and the Wayob are busy fighting the Abyss in the Night Kingdom. The amazing thing is that the name "Malipo" was inherited after all." Kinich felt Xilonen burning him with a curious look.

"But now I'm here," Burkina said hopefully. "Let's follow the original plan. You girls stand back while I tell my heir everything in detail."

"There's no need," Kinich said. "I already know the plan."

"And me," Xilonen said quickly.

"I know it in general terms," Iansan added.

Burkina put his hands to his head.

"I do not know the plan," Mualani chuckled nervously, attracting everyone's attention. "You've been rehearsing this moment for a long time. Let's pretend that I'm a Kinich. And you'll tell us everything you know."

"Charming!" Burkina shouted so loudly that he could drown out the rain. "That's what I'm going to do. At the same time, we'll check Mavuika for attentiveness. Maybe she forgot something when she told you about the plan." Burkina frowned. "Where did she go? Do you, as friends of the Archon, know?"

Xilonen chuckled. She turned around and pointed her finger in the direction of the Sacred Flame.

"That way," Xilonen said. "Flew off into the sunset on a motorcycle."

Burkina chuckled.

"That's right," Kinich said thoughtfully. "She doesn't know that suddenly her plan has begun to come true. Instead, Mavuika fled into the unknown..."

"How like her," Burkina agreed. "It's all for the good of the people, isn't that what she said?"

"Well, something like that."

"Yeah."

"Almost."

Burkina raised his palm, catching the raindrops.

"I just noticed that you're all soaked through... Excuse me. I would suggest that we go to the shelter, but it seems to me that my strength is not enough. We wasted a lot of time talking. Although I will share new information with the rest of the ancient heroes, they will still want to see for themselves."

"Very good," Xilonen said enthusiastically. "Hurry them up. Natlan needs its heroes, even if..." She squinted at Kinich. "The rest must be brave and loyal."

It sounded like a hint. Kinich rolled his eyes. Xilonen returned to distrust and coldness. Iansan patted Kinich on the shoulder. In fact, she brought him and Mualani to the lodge. Iansan was giving orders when she ran into Kinich and Mualani outside the Stadium, who were escorting the Scarabs. Having figured out what was going on, the Commander took them with her. But instead of explaining talking to Mavuika, he just quarreled more with her.

"All six heroes are strong and unique in their own way," Burkina confirmed, not noticing the coldness of Xilonen's tone. "I would like to stand among them again... But the moment is not suitable to talk only about myself! We don't have much time. I'll try to talk about the plan briefly, but to the point."

Everyone froze in anticipation. Burkina wanted to take a deep breath, but remembered that he didn't need to breathe. Scratching his head awkwardly, he spoke.

"We have learned that the Night Kingdom has about five hundred years left to exist. And Mavuika decided to sacrifice herself – she would come out of the Flames five hundred years later, assemble a team of heroes, and this would give her the opportunity to gain power beyond the Abyss. Without the help of six heroes, she may not be able to cope. That's why it's so important to get together before it's too late." Burkina carefully looked into the eyes of the audience. "It's not too late yet, is it?"

He must have noticed the destruction at the Stadium. Everyone shook their heads negatively, reassuring the guy. He "exhaled" with relief.

"As far as I know, none of the heroes have shown themselves yet. Only my heir," Burkina proudly put his hand on Kinich's shoulder. "But if Ancient Names are no longer forged, where did you get yours?"

Kinich felt again how suspicious Xilonen had become. Was she offended that she didn't get the Ancient Name? Or suspect him of stealing the relic from someone?

"I found it in the ruins, where a creature calling itself the Dragon Lord was trapped. I didn't know what it was, so I just took it with me in the hope that it would help. Like a talisman," Kinich shrugged his shoulders. "Probably, the duels at the tournament today or Mavuika's penetration into the Night Kingdom created a resonance, and this stone responded to the call, sealing us with one Ancient Name."

"That sounds reasonable," Burkina agreed. He looked warily at his own hands. Those, if possible, became even more transparent. "Damn the Abyss. My time is running out." He looked resolutely at their group. "Please help Mavuika. Natlan needs heroes. And the price..."

But Burkina didn't have time to finish, turning into a glowing ball that quickly dissipated into the air. Xilonen dejectedly punched the nearest chair.

"We have to recreate the Ancient Names, but it's like I'm missing something!" Xilonen cast a sidelong glance at Kinich. "Let me look at yours."

Kinich crossed his arms over his chest, tightly clutching his Ancient Name in one of them. Xilonen frowned.

"Don't act like a child. This is about the well-being of the whole of Natlan, not your pettiness towards Mavuika."

Kinich chuckled.

"Pettiness," he said sullenly. "I’m upset that Mavuika didn't manage to introduce us to each other earlier. I would love to challenge you in the annual tournaments between our nations."

"There's no way you could have challenged me. You are much younger than me. Besides," Xilonen chuckled, amused. "Pettiness is not about the grudges that you harbor. I was talking about the height."

Kinich put his hand to his face, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"It's a pity that it doesn't bother me in any way. Are you seriously mad at me because I'm mad at Mavuika?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Guys," Iansan tried to intervene. "Really? You're standing here arguing, while looking like a wet cat and dog..."

Mualani giggled, brightening up. She turned the Vision in her hands, concentrated, and a barrier of Hydro energy appeared above their heads.

"Not bad," Iansan said. "Sadly, we're already soaked through."

"I just thought about it," Mualani admitted. "But the barrier will drown out the sound of the rain."

"So that the two of them can continue fighting?" Iansan narrowed her eyes. "Come on, guys, that's enough!" She called out to Xilonen and Kinich, who were standing too close to each other, which allowed them to hurl insults at the floor of their voices.

Kinich stepped back, rolling his eyes. Xilonen was petty herself. Judging by the displeased expression on the woman's face, she did not relent, but decided not to inflame the conflict. After all, only the two of them really understood Mavuika, and it annoyed both of them.

"What are you planning to do?" Iansan asked.

"Researching and going through papers," Xilonen replied.

They plunged into conversation while Kinich tried to grasp the thought that had appeared in his head during the meeting with Burkina. Price... Mavuika was going to use some kind of "great" power. But what will be the price for this?

"What is Mavuika going to sacrifice?" He said aloud. "Great power implies great sacrifice, don't you think?"

Iansan frowned.

"Are you saying that our Archon is going to die?" She said with disbelief. "Xilonen, what do you think?"

Xilonen looked guilty.

"Did you know that Mavuika is going to sacrifice her life?" Kinich asked.

"I suspected," Xilonen replied through clenched teeth. "What? She literally says that the sun is doomed to burn out. Do you have any other ideas on how to decipher this metaphor?"

"But she can't die... Natlan needs its Archon." Iansan said.

"That's why we need great heroes. Mavuika will definitely die using this power alone. With the help of the heroes, she can survive this." Xilonen exhaled and pursed her lips. Her tail moved restlessly from side to side, splashing drops of water. "She thinks she's the smartest. That no one would guess that she had been waiting so long for the Abyss to make its final attack. Then she uses this power, destroying the main forces of the enemy. And then he will proudly leave with a sense of accomplishment." The woman finished furiously.

"So the Archon is going to die?" Mualani said softly. She walked up to Kinich and stubbornly held his gaze. "Don't be mean. Give the Ancient Name to Xilonen. Think about it, if you refuse now, then there will be no question of any unity between the heroes. If Xilonen becomes one of them, she'll twist your head off. Besides..." Mualani hesitated. "If Mavuika dies, you'll blame yourself."

Clenching his teeth, Kinich gave the Ancient Name to Xilonen. Mualani was right: She understood him so well. A pleasant feeling rose in the guy's chest. He turned away and tried to calm his heartbeat. Why did he even like being publicly shamed...

"I'll do research immediately," Xilonen said decisively, grabbing the Ancient Name. "As long as we're all nearby, I'll figure it out. Then Kinich can go to serve, and you, Mualani, will also have your own things to do. That's where our paths will diverge."

Mualani nodded in agreement.

"Would you suggest that Xilonen and the esteemed Commander Iansan join your Natlan Rescue club and work together?" Kinich gently teased her.

Maybe he wouldn't mind joining forces himself.

"Hmm," Mualani drawled, carefully examining their group. "Well, yes, why not. Thank you for the idea, I always knew that you are the most brave and loyal hero this country has ever had."

Kinich liked the way she reminded Xilonen of her own words.

"We're all already involuntarily connected," Iansan said thoughtfully. "Are there many members of the rescue team?"

Mualani started counting off her fingers.

"I'm not sure if Chasca will agree to participate now. She didn't like me anyway, but after what happened..." Mualani made an awkward pause. "But if we still count her..." Mualani poked Kinich in the shoulder. "Is it worth considering the Traveler, Paimon and the Pyro Archon.. Mavuika?" The girl finished hesitantly.

"Count it both ways," Kinich shrugged.

"Then if Xilonen and Commander Iansan agree to team up, then there are... Six of us," Mualani grinned. "An impossible coincidence. One participant from each nation of Natlan. Sounds good, don't you think? I'm interested in seeing the rest of the heroes too."

"When I recreate the forging technology," Xilonen said confidently. "I will personally give the Ancient Name of the Children of Echoes to the most worthy member of my people."

"That means for yourself," Kinich grinned quietly.

"So you could challenge him to a fight," Xilonen added. "Then Mavuika will be rooting for you."

Kinich rolled his eyes. He noticed that the sky had lightened.

"Since we're working together, I have to start training you!" That's what Iansan said as she dragged her along.

She did not even allow Mualani to take off her wet clothes, explaining that the Commander's time was very limited. And Iansan wanted to test her hypothesis.

"We will not practice hand–to–hand combat," Iansan said confidently. "I see that you are not suitable for this. Besides, you're right. That's how we can rip your dress."

So, they ended up in one of the basement rooms of the Stadium, where the gyms were located. Here, Iansan confirmed her theory – Mualani was surprisingly good at throwing things.

"I knew it right away when I saw you. More precisely, your clone, but it only gave me time to think about it. You're well-built, with a strong shoulder girdle. You'll do a great job throwing knives or a boomerang."

They spent several hours practicing. Mualani still took off the eremite’s clothes, changing into her own. Training with Iansan was a real challenge. But as soon as the torment was over, Iansan suggested going to the springs.

The springs in the City of the Sacred Flame were different from her home. There was no real water here, but even the artificial pools were a real bliss. It was especially comforting because Iansan was so pleased with the outcome of their training that she decided to reward Mualani for her efforts. That was her prize.

Several hours flew by like one. It must be the morning of the next day. Mualani was desperately sleepy, which she was about to do when the blissful silence was broken by the ringing of bells.

"Not again," Iansan grimaced. In response to Mualani's uncomprehending look, the woman explained. "Yesterday, the bells woke everyone up too. And then there were thousands of leaflets with compromising materials on Mavuika, me, and Windosh on the streets... It was about you, too."

After letting out a few pleased laughs, Iansan came out of the water. She did it so gracefully, even without a leg, when Mualani almost fell, slipping. Of course, Iansan stopped the fall.

"Get dressed and let's go find out what's going on," Iansan was already putting on her own clothes. Mualani did the same.

People were looking out of the windows with varying degrees of discontent, interest, and fear on their faces. It is unknown what they expected. Iansan headed through the streets, leading them both towards the city center. There were a lot more people there. and it became clear what they were looking at. The courier from the Scions of the Canopy screamed.

"There is no barrier anymore! The wall has been breached! The Abyss has attacked! Thousands of dead people! The people of the Springs have FALLEN!"

Mualani's heart skipped a beat.

"What?" The girl looked at Iansan incredulously. "Tell them that this is another prank, like yesterday's flyers were!"

Iansan looked at Mualani with concern. The girl knew that tears had already gathered in her eyes when the Commander remained composed.

"I do not know," she said quickly. "And I'll figure it out."

Iansan resolutely went to the courier. Mualani saw that Windosh was already standing next to him. Yesterday, he missed all the events, turning around in disappointment and walking away as soon as Mavuika took off. But now he compensated for his absence by interrogating the unfortunate guy.

Iansan made her way through the people, and Mualani had no choice but to run after her, apologizing. But from this distance, she could see how exhausted the courier looked. And the look of horror on his face.

"Where are all the warriors? Who led the repulse of the attack? What kind of monsters attacked? How many were there?" Windosh's questions came one after another.

The guy was crying, unable to answer.

"Commander Windosh, don’t push him so much!" Iansan shouted. "Do not contribute to the general panic! We need to talk to this guy in silence, where there will be a lot fewer people."

"And leave the People of the Springs to die?" A woman dressed in the colors of the People of the Springs shouted. "Is that your plan? Get rid of us like ballast?"

"No, you misunderstood," Iansan tried to say, but her words were drowned out by the screams.

Someone supported a woman from the People of the Springs, others shouted that it served them right. There were those who panicked the most – they moaned that the Abyss would soon come for them.

Mualani was shaking with emotion. While Iansan and Windosh tried to calm people down, the girl's thoughts focused on only one thing: Atea was at home. Atea was among the People of the Springs at the time of the attack.

"Commander Iansan, Commander Windosh, what are your orders?" Several warriors made their way to the Commanders.

"Assemble squads of fifteen people each. And you," Windosh waved his hand to the other warriors who had just approached, – get busy collecting carriages and supplies."

"Windosh," Iansan said softly. "Tsarce took all the tatankasaurus with him."

Windosh's face turned red.

"So the carriages will be carried by horses." He said through clenched teeth. "They don't eat their oats for nothing." He muttered a few ornate curses under his breath.

"Cardelia's people are already here, they will calm the crowd while we deal with the forces. I'm going to the People of the Springs," Iansan said calmly.

"It would be great if there was someone more important here than the Cardelia’s people." Windosh growled. "For example, the Pyro Archon!"

The last sentence turned out to be too loud, and people started whispering to each other. Now everyone will know that Mavuika is gone.

"I'm going too!" Mualani got close to Iansan and looked into her eyes. "This is my home!"

Iansan nodded in agreement.

"In half an hour at the gates."

Mualani turned around and hurried away. She needs to find Kinich.

But why? Was she going to convince him to come with her again? Mualani wasn't that weak!

"Mualani?" She was called.

The girl shuddered. She didn't even notice that Kinich was already there. He also dressed in more familiar clothes, and he undid his braids. But no matter what the guy was doing all this time, he wasn't sleeping. The dark circles under his eyes became more noticeable again.

"I'm sorry," Mualani said quickly. "I didn't see you. You heard what happened, didn't you?" Kinich inclined his head. "Well, that's it..." Mualani smiled wryly. "I'm going with Iansan."

She did not invite him to come with her, secretly hoping that he would understand her without words. Kinich narrowed his eyes.

"Okay. When are we leaving?"

Mualani's heart started beating faster. He's really going with her!

"And what about the Ancient Name? Will you take it with you?"

Kinich sighed.

"No," he said abruptly. "Let's go quickly and came at Xilonen's house. I will please her with the news."

Xilonen was doing her usual thing – surrounded by drawings and immersed in her work, she did not even notice how uninvited guests came to her house. In their defense, Mualani knocked several times before entering.

"What?" Xilonen asked rudely. "I'm not done yet. Why do you need an Ancient Name?"

Kinich lost all desire to continue the conversation. He pursed his lips into a displeased line. Mualani took the initiative.

"We came by to warn you. The fact is that the People of the Springs..." She took a deep breath. "Have f-fallen. We'll go there. It's still my home, even if I'm not welcome."

Xilonen's gaze became worried.

"Mualani..." She called, but couldn't find the words. "Okay. Thanks for letting me know."

"You can explore as much as you want," Kinich muttered. "We will come back here as soon as we understand how things are going in the People of the Springs."

"No," Xilonen Said, frowning. "You're coming home."

"I don't have a home," Kinich grinned.

Xilonen rolled her eyes and said:

"You know what I mean. Home – to the Scions of the Canopy. I'm going back to my place. I don't like the atmosphere here." Xilonen raised an eyebrow, staring at Kinich. "And what do you mean, you don't have a home? Do you live on the street?"

"You know what I mean," Kinich mimicked her. "And if anything..." He hesitated. "I still live in Mavuika's old house. She won't mind if you come there."

"Since we're working together now," remained unspoken. But Mualani understood that Kinich was really making efforts for the functioning of their fragile union.

"See you later, Xilonen." Mualani said goodbye.

And she and Kinich left the Xilonen house, heading towards the main gates. More precisely, what's left of them. In the square in front of them, carts and carriages were being assembled, and horses were neighing anxiously. Iansan led the process.

"The big one over there will be ours. Consider that you have special attitude of me." Iansan said and went back to work.

As she approached the carriage, Mualani experienced a sense of deja vu. Someone were already waiting for them inside – Rizok looked worried, clenching his fingers and staring at them.

"Mualani!?" He raised his head and flashed his teeth. Apart from his snow-white smile, Rizok didn't look much like himself. He dressed more simply again, albeit in the colors of his people. And this time he even took off his jewelry, except for one ring on his index finger, which he twirled nervously. His Cryo Vision glowed in the dimness of the carriage.

"Rizok!" Mualani smiled. "It's been a long time."

Suddenly, he pulled her into his arms. Rizok was still sitting, and she was standing on the tile, but those hugs were terrifyingly tight.

"I'm glad you're okay," the guy breathed.

He tightened his embrace once more, and then released Mualani. He was looking at Kinich now, and his expression turned sour.

"Oh, and you're still here." He sighed. "However..." Rizok became serious. "Thank you. Mualani... She's still alive. Well, you know what I mean, and..."

"I also have the Vision now," Mualani interrupted him, not wanting to listen to Rizok's attempts to express gratitude for saving her life. "I'm sure that I'm already stronger than you."

"I have no doubts," Rizok rolled his eyes. "However, I was definitely stronger than your clone."

Mualani's face clouded.

"Let's talk about it another time" I can't do it now..." Mualani squeezed her eyes shut to keep from crying. "I hope that Atea is safe."

Rizok shot a brief warning glance at Kinich, and then looked back at Mualani. He motioned for them to get into the carriage. They waited in silence for the preparations to be completed. Iansan jumped in, closing the door. And they set off again.

"I still haven't decided where the best place for our carriage would be," the woman said, trying to break the silence. "As the Commander, I have to ride in the lead. But there's a special guest here," she elbowed Rizok.

"The concentration of the Visions in our carriage is at its maximum," Rizok muttered. "Even the guy on the horses has his own. What could go w-..." 

Iansan clamped her hand over his mouth.

"No," she said. "You won't say that. This phrase has become a curse."

Shrugging his shoulders, Rizok turned to the window. Obviously, he didn't want to look at Kinich and Mualani either. The long hours dragged by with infrequent conversations, sleeping and a smoothly changing landscape. They did not encounter the monsters of the Abyss, however, in one of the valleys surrounded by the forest, they saw a large group of people.

Refugees. People from the People of the Springs burned bonfires, sat huddled in heaps. Iansan ordered the driver to stop. The others froze after their carriage.

The Commander went outside and walked towards the refugees. Several subordinates followed her. The rest of the warriors were warming up or doing other things.

Mualani kicked Rizok lightly in the leg – the guy carefully averted his gaze from the window.

"What?" He asked rudely.

"I have to find out about Atea. Let's go and ask the refugees."

"Mualani," Rizok said irritably, nevertheless obediently getting out of the carriage. "There are thousands of people in the People of the Springs. How would they know about Atea?"

Rizok's pace was fast, and Mualani had to accelerate to keep up with him. She turned around, noticing that Kinich was watching them, standing next to the carriage. She knew he would have their backs if something happened. No matter how much she wanted to consider the refugees defenseless and harmless, Mualani understood that they could take extreme measures. After all, they had nothing now.

Iansan was already talking to a group of people, so Mualani decided to approach those who were closely following the conversation.

"Hi," she greeted, attracting the attention of those sitting around the campfire.

If Iansan interacted with the elders, then Mualani approached those who seemed much younger to her. Several women with children clinging to them, a couple of teenagers. All of them raised their heads, looking with interest at Rizok and Mualani who came up.

"Mualani?" One of the teenagers, a guy of about seventeen, covered in mud, but with no visible wounds, exclaimed in surprise. "Mualani, is it really you?"

"Oh, you worked at the springs!" The girl's eyes widened in recognition. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

The teenager chuckled.

"We all thought you were dead! And you're here, safe and sound!" He gave a thumbs up and looked at the other refugees, who seemed perplexed. "This is Mualani from the Golden Dusk. But she often helped us at the Shell Hotel. And then that old hug Kupo Nui kicked her out!"

"Well, but now," Rizok said gloatingly. "But now she's lost everything. And it serves her right."

"And this?" The teenager nodded questioningly at Rizok. He frowned.

"My name is Rizok. And I’m a..."

"He's a good friend of mine," Mualani interrupted the guy. "We went to watch the tournament together, but we heard the news... Do you happen to know what happened to Atea?"

Rizok wanted to open his mouth to object, but Mualani looked at him sternly. They don't know him here. And the refugees would rather believe an ordinary guy from the People of the Springs than the son of an elder.

"Atea? I know her." One of the women perked up. "But she hasn't been seen for a long time. There are rumors that she is seriously ill."

Mualani lowered her head. What if the monsters attacked the aunt, and she remained bedridden, unable to move? No. No. No. No. This couldn't happen. Atea is fine and waiting for her in the People of the Springs.

"I'm sure your aunt is fine." The teenager encouraged the girl. "Many managed to escape, even if... not everyone did it."

The guy clenched his fists and turned away. A tear rolled down his cheek. Mualani gently patted his shoulder.

"Tell me, are there any monsters left?" Rizok asked the women and children. There was no tact, although the question worried Mualani.

"In some areas," another woman with a hastily rewound hand replied thoughtfully. "Where there was no one to protect us."

"I see," Rizok clasped his fingers together. "Well, the Commander is calling us."

Without saying goodbye, he grabbed Mualani's hand and led her towards the carriage. Iansan was also heading there with a gloomy expression on her face.

"What's up?" Kinich asked warily. "What have you learned?"

"The situation in the People of the Springs remains tense. But the most powerful opponents, the tentacled monsters, have already had their fill. My warriors and I will clear out the rest of the monsters in a couple of days. But here are the losses and destruction..." Iansan glanced at Mualani, who was frozen in place. "They're pretty big. Chief Amina stayed there. She will consult us on the spot."

Iansan gave a few orders to her men who were waiting at the side and jumped into the carriage. The others followed her. The warriors had left some supplies behind, and Mualani realized that they had been taken with the expectation that they would encounter many refugees along the way.

"I'm sure Amina knows what to do," Rizok muttered as the carriage started moving. He probably wanted his words to go unheard, but it didn't work. Kinich chuckled, and Iansan just nodded, looking out the window distantly. Mualani, on the other hand, could not sit still – she was consumed by anxiety.

Therefore, as soon as the smoke, the ruins of the wall and the familiar forest appeared on the horizon, the girl had to put in much more effort in order to stay in place. Iansan jumped out of the carriage as she walked and jumped onto the driver. She needs to coordinate the offensive.

Visibility was difficult as smoke from fires in the center rose above them. But even that was enough to assess the consequences. There were barely any pieces of reinforcement left from many of the houses, the roofs had fallen in and were smoldering. Mualani swallowed hard. She had to try very hard to control herself when she saw the bodies of people lying along the road. It was obvious that they tried to escape, but could not.

"Well," Rizok said gloomily. "I think we should go there." He pointed out the window, through which the fire in the center was clearly visible. In response to Kinich's raised eyebrow, the guy explained. "The Golden Dusk is there."

When they met the first group of soldiers, Iansan slowed down. It was a sign that it was time to leave. One by one, Mualani, Rizok and Kinich got out of the carriage. Iansan nodded at them and immediately returned to the conversation.

"We'll probably suffocate there," Ryzok said with a doom in his voice.

Outside the carriage, the smell of burning became stronger. The ash particles flew in the air, ringing with the dark energy of the Abyss.

"Then let's find something to cover our faces." Kinich immediately began to look around.

But there was only devastation all around. It was clear that the other side of the People of the Springs, the one that was closer to the water, had not suffered as much. The main damage occurred in a part of the settlement near the main gates, as well as the center.

"Let's go there," Kinich pointed to a house that had previously stood a few blocks away. "We'll find some cloth there. If we tear our clothes, we risk getting burns."

Mualani and Rizok ran in the direction indicated by Kinich. He quickly caught up with them, overtook them and was already waiting at the house. This building was half intact, but it was possible to enter it. Which they did, looking around.

"Here's a thick cloth," Mualani handed Kinich several towels. He grabbed them and began to work with the blade, making cuts to make ties. "I'll wet them with my Vision," Mualani added persuasively.

Kinich was really good at doing unexpected things. He got three good masks with four ties – two tied in a knot at the back of the head, and two on top of the head. After soaking the masks with Hydro and putting hers on her face, Mualani felt ready. But it didn't last long. In front of the flame, which was still very far away, the girl became timid. Her heart was pounding insanely fast in her chest.

"We still need to move fast," Kinich said.

Rizok sighed, and then looked resolutely at Mualani.

"Then I suggest we do the following: Mualani will use Hydro, and I will freeze the water on our way. This way we will have a road made of ice, along which it will be convenient to move quickly."

"And I'm going to use it?" Kinich suggested.

"Yes."

"There is no better plan and there will never be. One request – don't twitch." Kinich grabbed Rizok in his right hand and threw him over his shoulder like a sack. He picked up Mualani with his left hand, much more carefully.

"I'll freeze your ass," Rizok said, offended.

But they all understood that Kinich would be able to move fast enough for them to reach the Golden Dusk without encountering monsters from the Abyss. Even if they appeared, their group would just fly by without engaging in battle.

Concentrating, Mualani applied Hydro. A strip of water appeared under their feet. Before it could evaporate due to the burning earth, Rizok used his abilities. The path began to become covered with ice, and Kinich took off.

It was exciting. Kinich was racing so fast that Mualani couldn't help but forget that they were in the middle of danger. But this speed made it impossible for her to see the destruction and the dead. 

However, Kinich had a truly amazing reaction. A couple of times, hilichurls and other creatures came around the bend, blocking the way. Kinich noticed them long before his approach and threw materialized Dendro-spears at the enemies without using his hands. The Hilichurls and monsters from the Abyss flew away, starting to disperse.

Kinich also memorized the exact route to Golden Dusk. Mualani looked closer, beginning to recognize familiar places, destroyed or burning. She'd lived here all her life, but the guy knew the way around the chaos much better than she did.

It doesn't really matter until they find Atea.

The Golden Dusk blazed. Part of the building had already collapsed, while the other was holding on. The remaining steps bore the marks of huge tentacles, claws, and scorch marks. The waters of the springs were not visible – they were covered with debris and sprinkled with ash. But the worst part is that part of the building where Mualani and Atea lived has already burned down.

Mualani wanted to rush forward, but she was grabbed by both hands at once. Both Kinich and Rizok showed by their looks that they would not allow her to commit another stupid thing.

"This building is going to collapse on your head!" Rizok exclaimed.

"So what!?" Mualani replied fiercely. "I have to find Atea!"

Mualani broke free of the hold, as Iansan showed her. After throwing knives, they switched to several self-defense techniques. Iansan really wanted to teach Mualani everything that was necessary in one night. The girl ran in the direction of the living quarters. Now that part of the building was missing, the girl could get inside by going through a hole in the wall. Which she did.

Mualani tried to stay away from the rubble of the roof hanging over her. Behind her, she could hear Rizok's muffled curses.

"Atea? Auntie? Are you here?" Mualani shouted.

But no one answered. And Atea's room no longer existed. There was only a gap, and there were pieces of furniture and ceiling below.

"No!" Mualani shouted.

Her scream caused a small echo, and a fragment broke off from the wall, threatening to pierce her head. Kinich summoned several Dendro ropes, which threw the stone towards the water, which gurgled faintly from the impact.

"Thanks..." Mualani clenched her hands into fists. "We need to go down and sort out the rubble. Atea may be down!"

Mualani carefully climbed down, crawling along the wall. The girl crouched down and began to move the stones with her hands. They wouldn't budge.

"Help me!" Mualani shouted.

She continued to remove the stones and planks, tearing her hands and breaking off her nails. Kinich and Rizok stood, but did not help her.

"Really!? Help me!" Mualani glared at the guys. "I won't move it myself!"

"But we won't move this slab either," Rizok tried to object.

"And what are you given the Visions for!?" Mualani shouted.

She gathered Hydro energy and a huge fist made of water began to lift the slab from the ground. It was hard and exhausting for the girl, as if she had done it with her own hands. Suddenly, it became easier. Rizok froze the water.

But looking under the slab, Mualani saw nothing but crumbs and debris. Kinich stepped aside and pulled the slab with the help of the powers of his Vision, wrapping it with vines. The slab fell the other way, raising a pile of dust. There was still nothing underneath.

"Where is she? Atea!" Mualani felt that tears were frozen in the corners of her eyes. She can't cry now.

It was her fault too! If Mualani hadn't left, Atea could have been saved. The girl would have dragged her out of the building when the attack started. But Mualani followed the dream of saving Natlan and lost her last loved one.

But maybe someone took pity on her. Mualani turned around when she heard shuffling footsteps. The woman was approaching them.

"Atea!" Mualani jumped up and rushed to meet her. The woman hugged her, hugging her tightly to her chest. Mualani felt her aunt's heart beating weakly.

"Darling," Atea gently cupped the girl's face in her hands. "I missed you so much."

Mualani began to cry, looking at the woman. Atea looked tired, but more importantly, she was standing on her feet. Atea dropped her blade when she hugged Mualani.

"Auntie, why are you... How? I thought you were sick!" Mualani exclaimed.

"Do you think your aunt is that weak!?" Atea stroked Mualani's head. "I've been waiting for you to come back. How can I die while my niece is risking her life somewhere far away... Don't be silly, Mualani. I'm more alive than anyone alive." Despite her words, Atea clutched at her side, where her old wound was. "It's nothing, it's nothing..."

"Aunt," Mualani picked up the woman when she started to fall. "Aunt!"

"Mualani..." Atea said hoarsely. "You've grown up so strong." She reached out and wiped the tears from the girl's face. "Don't cry for me, darling."

But how could she not cry!? Atea's breathing was weakening.

"We need to find a doctor!" Mualani turned to the guys, they nodded, but Atea abruptly held out her hand, asking them to stop.

"No need," she coughed. "I know it was my last hours. I defended my home, but the Abyss defeated me," Atea laughed regretfully. "It took everyone..."

"No, Auntie! The Abyss won't take you away from me! Find the doctor!" Mualani exclaimed, making Kinich and Rizok move.

"My girl," her aunt whispered. "The doctor won't help. Don't waste his time on me and mine on him. I need to tell you something..." Atea caught her breath, perspiration covered her forehead. "Dying, your mentor remembered you. He died without regrets. And the only way I can leave is if you also woldn't regret my death."

Mualani cried while her aunt stroked her hair, holding her other hand in her own.

"I can't do this... It's all my fault! I’m... I..." she sobbed.

"Don't you dare blame yourself," Atea said sternly. "You've grown up so beautiful and kind..." Her aunt's eyes shone with tenderness. "Your parents would be proud of you. Nuu, he'd be proud of you. And I'm proud... of you." Atea's hands dropped to her sides, but her eyes remained open.

"No. No!" Mualani pressed herself against the woman's chest, trying to feel her heartbeat. It wasn't there.

The girl hugged the woman tighter, sobbing helplessly. She didn't know how much time had passed, only waking up from her trance when she was gently shaken by the shoulder. The doctor, an emaciated middle-aged woman, stood behind her.

"She's dead," she said grimly, touching Atea's wrist. "Take her body to the others." Having said that, the doctor turned around and left, followed by the eyes of Kinich and Rizok. Mualani felt tears blurring her eyes again.

"Mualani, we need to get away from here. There's smoke everywhere." Rizok nervously clutched at his bangs with both hands.

"I will not leave Atea!" Mualani shouted.

"No need to." Kinich said. "Let's just go somewhere where there is not so much smoke. You will have... a chance... to say goodbye."

He gently pried Mualani's hands away from Atea's lifeless body, and then gently closed the woman's eyes. He took the body in his arms. Rizok bent down and picked up the mask that Mualani had dropped from the ground. After waiting for the girl to wet it again, he put the mask on Mualani's face and tied it. It became a little easier to breathe – she didn't even notice that the fire had intensified.

More slowly than before, they went back to where they came from. Everything was empty there – destruction and death. These were Mualani's constant companions.

"Right here," Kinich gently lowered Atea's body to the ground, her head on Mualani's lap. "We'll be monitoring the situation," the guy added.

He and Rizok moved to the side, where they sat down on one of the broken stones. They even had a conversation, but Mualani didn't care. She just hugged her aunt, remembering the time they spent together. Although Atea could be strict, she loved the girl so much that no threats prevented her from taking her for herself and getting her to work in the Golden Dusk.

If uncle Nuu taught her to love the world, then aunt Atea taught her to love herself. She replaced her mother, teaching her everything a young woman should know and be able to do. Atea always stood up for her, grumbled, but did not forbid her to help the inhabitants of the People of the Springs. Despite her illness, her aunt worked to feed and clothe Mualani. And how could a girl repay her with anything more than love in return?

She could!

Mualani was lost in time again. It must have been several hours while she was sitting in the middle of an empty and ruined street, holding onto her aunt's cold body. She was disturbed by an argument that arose between Rizok and a couple of large men in masks. They were holding stretchers in their hands, but they weren't looking for the wounded.

These people collected the bodies to burn.

"She's not finished yet!" Rizok exclaimed. "Give her time, we'll carry the body ourselves!"

But the men hardened.

"The bodies have been lying here for twenty-four hours. You can't let the infection start. These are general rules for everyone."

"But I'm Elder Kortok's son!" Rizok was indignant.

The man in the lead raised an eyebrow.

"Is it that important right now?" He chuckled.

"It seems chief Amina was looking for you," the second man added.

Rizok lowered his head, accepting defeat. Kinich wanted to continue the argument, but even he understood that the men were right. Mualani also knew this, but until the last moment she did not want to let go of Atea's hand when the woman's body was lifted off the ground and placed on a stretcher.

"I'm sorry," Mualani breathed softly, pressing her forehead against her aunt's stomach at the site of an old wound. "Goodbye... Auntie..."

The men left, leaving the three of them. Mualani turned to look at the boys.

"Shall we go and find Amina?" She tried to smile, but it didn't work. Without the eternal smile, Mualani must only be pitiful...

"Good," Rizok nodded. "Let's find Amina."

After wandering through the devastation and tragedy that had unfolded around them, they finally found her. Amina was not very tall, but now it was as if a huge burden had pinned her to the ground. The chief was making notes in a notebook while listening to a report from one of the warriors. Seeing the trio, the girl brightened up.

"You can go now," she sent the subordinate away. "Mualani, Rizok!" Amina smiled sincerely. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Amina!" Rizok gasped.

Amina came over and hugged them both. She smelled of burning. Amina stepped back and spread her arms wide.

"And here you are," she said sadly. "You are unharmed, but our home..." Amina sighed. "It happened so suddenly."

"How did the monsters get inside?" Kinich asked. In response to a searching look, he added. "Kinich. From the Scions of the Canopy."

Amina nodded, but her eyes avoided looking at Rizok. Then, the leader seemed to gather her strength and announced the terrible truth.

"Actually..." She looked at Rizok. "First, the barrier disappeared. Then the torches went out. We still had the wall, but... Your father opened the gate," Amina's hand immediately darted to Rizok's forearm, restraining him from... Whatever he was going to do. 

"What?" Mualani gasped.

Kinich also seemed surprised, which is not the case with Rizok. A strange look of humility flashed across the guy's face.

"Is there something you want to say?" Amina said warily.

"Well..." Rizok pursed his lips. "I wanted to discuss this before the tournament, but you were busy, and then you left here. The fact is that my father is not a human being."

"What?" There was no limit to Mualani's surprise. "What does that mean?"

Rizok sighed.

"You don't know?" His eyebrows twitched. "I thought you figured it out after your own parents were like..." He paused. "Anyway, my father has been dead for a long time. A monster from the Abyss pretending to be him took his place."

"What?" Mualani opened her mouth in amazement. "How long have you known? Why didn't you say anything?"

"For years," Ryzok replied irritably. "What was I supposed to tell, and to whom? My "father" knows that I know his secret. Being around him is unbearable! Besides that, no one would have believed me anyway."

"I would have believed it!" Mualani was indignant.

"And me," Amina added.

"I couldn't put you in danger! Besides, Amina, you were always listening to me when the other elders couldn't stand me. And it's not my fault, I don't even know what my father said to them! That I'm some kind of arrogant jerk who can only brag about his wealth, lead a debauched life with women, and, of course, shame his father with his mediocrity."

Rizok crossed his arms defensively. Mualani saw him often, even if the guy pretended not to notice her. And when Rizok wasn't pretending to be an asshole, he was just reading in the nooks and crannies of Golden Dusk and other similar establishments. Oh, he must have felt so lonely.

"I won't talk about it, but sooner or later people will find out the truth. About Elder Kortok's betrayal," Amina looked worriedly at Rizok, but he remained detached.

"Okay," he breathed.

"So the monsters that copy humans have entered here before?" Kinich asked. "We ran into a few of them," he explained to Amina.

"That's right," said the leader of the People of Springs. "And now they've paved the way for other beasts, too." Amina's face clouded. "By the way, Mualani, I'm sorry to say this, but..." Amina sighed. "Your aunt died three days ago. I’m sorry."

Atea died three days ago. Mualani couldn't believe her ears. But who did she see today?! A fierce realization hit the girl. It was the Abyss. It tricked her again.

"Amina, are you not confusing anything?" Rizok frowned. "We just met Ateaa. She died in Mualani's arms." Realization dawned on the guy's face.

"Fuck them all!" Mualani shouted angrily. "These creatures, whatever they are! Haven't they had enough of what they've already done to me? Here the do it again, laugh at me!" Angry tears flowed from the girl's eyes. "I hate them! I hate the Abyss! I hate everything!"

And she ran away.

They spent a few more days in the People of the Springs. Sometimes they dismantled the rubble and carried food to those who were left homeless. Mualani was lost in thought. After that breakdown, Kinich did not see her cry. But the girl wasn't laughing either. She barely reacted, and her face looked blank.

Kinich couldn't help but miss her smile.

Iansan met them while helping the locals. She seemed tired, but the gleam in the depths of her eyes betrayed her determination.

"Cardelia's people will be here soon. After that, I will go to the Collective of Plenty, visit my mother and my friends. I don't like where this is going," she confessed. "If I run into the Tsarce on the way, I'll twist his head off. But he's definitely up to something, he's going to have to be stopped – there are no good ideas in this head."

Kinich grinned in agreement. In fact, it was Tsarce who was once the Commander to whom the detachments at the outpost where their service took place were conditionally subordinated. Of course, the man did not send reinforcements when requested. Moreover, he personally summoned Iansan and chastised her for the loss of fighters and weapons.

When Iansan became the Commander, she probably showed the pathetic bastard his place. But Tsarce was not just unpleasant – he was dangerous.

"I'll see you later," Iansan promised. "I will contact Xilonen or you, Kinich, to find out where we will meet. And if Mavuika comes back."

Yes, the fact is that Mavuika never returned. News of the Archon's return had not reached Iansan. Kinich could only roll his eyes – Mavuika just ran away!

"Yes, I'll see you later," Mualani said quietly.

Iansan gave her a wary look, and then shifted it to Kinich. But he didn't know what to do. Mualani's feelings seemed too complicated.

The girl didn't even notice that Iansan had left. Mualani was lost in thought, unable to escape from her memories. She also didn't sleep well.

"How much longer do we plan to stay here?" Kinich asked. It's better to get straight to the important issues.

"I don't know," muttered Mualani. "I have nothing more to lose, nothing to protect. We can go wherever you want."

She fell silent, and a veil covered her eyes. Kinich's heart sank with uncharacteristic anxiety. But what was he supposed to do?

"Then say goodbye to everyone. I'll get a carriage for us and hire someone to take us to the Scions of the Canopy." Kinich gave her a quick, uncertain look. "Unless you want to stay here..."

For some reason, he was used to the fact that it was the two of them. Now "we" habitually fell on the tongue.

"I don't want to," Mualani replied. "It's like everything is here... It's pressing."

Kinich could understand her. When Mavuika and Chiutl left, he felt an emptiness in their place. The walls of their house pressed down on him. Therefore, the guy went on a lot of assignments, just not to linger in a place where everything reminded him of his loneliness.

"Then say goodbye to everyone you want," Kinich repeated, hurrying away. He was still barely coping with other people's emotional experiences.

Having made the necessary purchases at a justifiably high price, Kinich again went in search of Mualani. It wouldn't be difficult to find her: if she wasn't in Amina's house, where they lived, then she was somewhere on the wall ruins. But Mualani showed up in the house. She didn't want to look at the ocean.

"Everything is ready," Kinich called her. "We can go now."

Mualani followed him obediently. Neither Rizok nor Amina was around. The two of them were now working together, intending to rebuild the People of the Springs.

In the carriage, Kinich and Mualani rode in silence. Now the guy understood how Mualani felt about the absence of sounds. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.

With an effort, Kinich said, "Someone told me that any story would be enough." He smiled uncertainly at the girl. "And I understand that yours won't be good. But... I'd like to know." Kinich gently touched Mualani's hand with his fingertips.

Even though he was wearing gloves, he still felt awkward touching another person like that.

"If you talk about it, it will make you feel better."

"Have you ever tried?" There was skepticism in Mualani's voice.

Kinich chuckled.

"Don't ask, you know I'm not. Maybe one day..."

"And why should I tell you?" Mualani asked.

"Because you want to tell someone?" Kinich said, immediately regretting his choice of words. "No, I meant..." He frowned. "You want to be understood."

Mualani chuckled mirthlessly. However, she turned her palm over and squeezed Kinich's fingers in a firm grip.

"Promise you won't think any worse of me than you do now?" There was pain in her eyes.

Worse than he think of her... now? Kinich wanted to challenge this idea, but now was not the right time for that.

"I promise," he said softly.

Mualani sighed and began her story.

Mualani's parents were merchants. Together with the Rizok’s family, they were engaged in a joint business selling jewelry and clothing. Both families often went on business trips, leaving their children in each other's company and in the care of Atea, then a very young and healthy friend of her and Rizok’s parents. Uncle Nuu also came to them, Mualani did not understand then, but she felt that Atea and Nuu had warm romantic feelings for each other.

While Uncle Nuu was taking the children camping, Atea grumbled and went with them. But one day, the happy times ended. The influence of the Abyss intensified, and the construction of the wall began. The parents of Mualani and Rizok were hastily engaged in logistics, because their production was located on the territory of the Children of Echoes. They constantly went on business trips, one of which became the last one.

"We haven't heard from them for a long time, we were terribly worried. But soon our parents returned. I was left alone with them, happily asking them about the trip. And they answered me, hugged me, stroked my head." Mualani ran a hand through her hair in disgust.

"And when did you realize that something had gone wrong?"

"Rizok's mom died, and his dad moved away. Now I could only guess what happened, but earlier..." Mualani looked sadly at Kinich. "I found out another time. I just woke up in the middle of the night and was walking quietly to the kitchen when I heard strange noises."

The shadows cast by the creatures under the moon were too big for humans. Suspicions crept into little Mualani's head – monsters from the Abyss were in the house! Uncle Nuu has already taught them that monsters from the Abyss are incredibly dangerous. And now, seeing their silhouettes in her own kitchen, Mualani trembled.

But she couldn't give herself away. It got worse when she heard the monsters talking. It was her parents' voices. Did the monsters eat them? Or... Mualani started running, panicking and stifling a scream. Unfortunately, she tripped and fell, making a lot of noise.

"I do not know if they realized that I guessed... They ran out of the kitchen, looking like my parents. Mom hugged me, dad put a bandage over the cut." Mualani caught Kinich's other hand as well, holding on tightly to him. "And the worst part was that I let them. I let them keep pretending to be my family!"

Mualani let go of his hands and leaned back in her seat.

"I didn't tell my aunt, I didn't tell my uncle," tears streamed down the girl's cheeks. "Maybe these monsters ate people at night, after I fell asleep in their arms..."

"You did well for a child..." Kinich said. "You have a strong psyche..."

"No, you don't know what happened next!" Mualani slapped the seat violently. "I got home from school earlier than usual. I went into the living room, and there she was. Mother. It was an Abyss monster taller than a man, covered in purple veins, crystals, and other distorted shapes. His claws were insanely long, bigger than Ajaw's, and his head had a predatory snout... I'll never forget it. I prefer them to look like people."

"Mualani, it's still not..."

"The monster was caught off guard! It turned to me, and I started talking with it! With the monster frozen in the middle of the living room! Mom, let me tell you how my day went." Mualani squeezed her eyes shut. "Then I sat down in a chair, letting the monster run its claws through my hair, just like my mom did! And I haven’t say! Anything! To anyone!"

Mualani covered her face with her hands.

"However, someone found my parents' bodies. They were brought to the People of the Springs and informed Atea, as my father's sister. She found out, and then she grabbed me after class and didn't let go of my hand until it was late at night. And my "parents" were eliminated. However, my house collapsed along with it..." Mualani chuckled. "Atea took care of me. But then Uncle Nuu went to the front and did not return. And now Auntie is gone too..."

The girl fell silent, breathing heavily. Big tears rolled down her cheeks.

"I didn't say anything at the time, but the guilt still gnaws at me. And I feel so dirty because I let the monsters from the Abyss play family with me! It's like I betrayed Natlan. Maybe that's why I want to save it so badly."

Kinich froze, not knowing what to say. Mualani, seeing the lack of reaction, made a sniffling sound.

"I still don't understand why these monsters pretended to be my family. They didn't hurt me. Did they have a perverse feeling of affection for me?" Mualani sobbed. "And worse, I cried after they died!"

Mualani tried to wipe her tears. Giving up, she looked into Kinich's eyes.

"Don't forget, you promised you wouldn't think any worse of me. I'm such a pathetic and useless traitor."

"Don't say that," Kinich said quickly. "You're not pathetic, and you're not a traitor. You are very kind, always smiling even at me. You can easily communicate with people without spoiling everything with just one word. And only you would be able to unite such diverse people into your team to save Natlan. You have lit a flame of hope in our hearts. And I... I am immensely grateful that you..." Kinich put his hand on Mualani's shoulder. "Thank you for inviting me with you."

Obeying an impulsive desire, Kinich pulled Mualani towards him. He hugged her with both arms while the girl pressed her f into his shoulder and chest. Kinich could feel her shaking with sobs. The guy gently stroked her back.

"Mualani," Kinich said softly. "If you could see yourself through my eyes..."

He didn't finish

... you would understand that I couldn't help but fall in love with you.

Chapter Text

"If you call my sister the Princess of Khaenri'ah, does that mean you're from there yourself?" The Traveler asked.

"That’s right," Capitano flashed his blade, dematerializing the weapon.

"And do you know what she's doing now?" Aether said dreary.

"Yes, I do." There was a short reply. "However, my loyalty to the Princess does not extend to her new subjects."

The Traveler shook his head. Paimon hovered anxiously nearby.

"I'm the only one who doesn't understand what you're talking about." Mavuika frowned.

"My sister is the leader of the Abyss Order." The Traveler sighed.

"Does this mean that your sister is behind the destruction of Natlan!?" The woman exclaimed.

There was shock on Mavuika's face. She probably took it as a betrayal. But before the Traveler could say anything in his defense, The Captain intervened.

"Pyro Archon," he said with infinite weariness in his voice. "Don't jump to conclusions. The Abyss Order is just an organization within an endless stream of corruption."

"And the Traveler certainly has nothing to do with his sister's business!" Paimon added.

"Ahem," Mavuika said, confused. She nervously ran her fingers over the carving on the hilt of her sword.

Capitano studied the Archon in silence. Paimon and the Traveler exchanged glances.

"So what?" Paimon asked. "Are we just going to stand here? It seemed to Paimon that Mavuika was going to contact the Lord of the Night."

"True, but..." Mavuika met the Harbinger's gaze. "We have a certain obstacle. I'm not sure if the Lord of the Night will even answer me. And the presence of the Harbinger may affect her desire to talk to us."

"Paimon hopes you're not going to fight..." Paimon anxiously looked around at the people. "Paimon didn't give you the idea, did she..."

"The fight can wait for another time," Mavuika said doubtfully. "What are you doing here, Capitano?"

"Our goals coincide here." Capitano lifted his chin importantly. "I'm going to contact the Lord of the Night, too."

Mavuika chuckled.

"I wonder why you're doing this? And why do you think the Lord of the Night will answer? How did you get here in the first place?" The Archon's confused questions rained down on Capitano while he remained silent. "Although, I understand that you have allies from the Masters of the Night-Wind. It's pretty mean of them... At first they hide in the Night Kingdom, then they avoid the tournament and barely participate in the service at the outposts. And now they're betraying Natlan! What people are them!"

Paimon cast an incredulous glance at the Traveler.

"Uh... Mavuika. Paimon doesn't understand why you're angry at all. Everyone escapes as best they can. If the Archon doesn't help, then what can ordinary people do? Just wait for them all to be devoured?"

There was extraordinary wisdom and bitterness in Paimon's words. The Traveler knew that she was still blaming herself for the collapse of the barrier over the Masters of the Night-Wind.

Mavuika could barely contain her irritation.

"Paimon, this is not the time for your questions. I'm doing everything I can right now. So let's get back to business." Mavuika looked back at Capitano, the silent listener. "Why are you here, Harbinger?"

"Show some mercy," The Captain's voice was mocking. "I'm here to save Natlan, like I said before. When an incompetent leader is on the throne, the country is doomed to fail."

"What's your plan?" Mavuika asked.

"Do you have a plan?" Capitano said mockingly.

"It's certainly better than yours." Mavuika's hair began to glow at the tips again.

"So why did it take so many years? Are you at the final stage? Or have you just started implementing it?" The Captain's eyes flashed blue fire from all that darkness under the helmet.

Mavuika breathed furiously, trying to calm herself. The air around the Archon began to heat up.

"No, well, we're not going to get anywhere," Paimon crossed her arms over her chest and flew up to Mavuika. "Cool down! There is no need to be provoked!" "And you," Paimon said in a much more polite tone, addressing the Harbinger. "Why don't we just sit down, well, not literally sit down! and not discuss your ideas? Rather than arguing, we can work together. Or the Fatui are plotting some dirty plan again?

"This does not apply to Fatui's affairs," Capitano said coldly. "Saving Natlan is my personal wish."

"And that's where we have to come together in our interests," Paimon exclaimed happily. "After all, Mavuika also wants to save Natlan, and we're helping her.

"No," Capitano cut her off roughly. "If she wanted to save Natlan, she would have used the powers inherent in the Pyro Gnosis long ago."

"As if you know better than I do what I should do." Mavuika frowned. "Five hundred years ago, we considered this possibility. But it would take thousands of souls from the Night Kingdom to weave protection for the Ley Lines. Besides, our memories, our history... All this will be lost."

But is there much left to lose?

"Face it, Archon. Do your people value this history and memory as much as you think they do? These people want to live, not to survive."

"And the new Ley Lines would have been absorbed by corrosion in a matter of years. What then?"

"You can't think about the future until you can ensure your survival in the present." Capitano said stubbornly. "How many people must die for you to understand this idea?"

"Without the Night Kingdom, the new Ley Lines will be doomed. And if the Night Kingdom is holding back a huge enemy force now, then imagine what will happen when these monsters break out!"

Both Mavuika and Capitano may think that they are right. The fate of thousands of natlanians suffering now was on one side of the scale, and on the other... Well, these were the fates of thousands of natlanians who would suffer in a hundred years.

The Harbinger and the Archon glared at each other again, which gave the Traveler an opportunity to reflect. Each of them had their own plan, which few people knew about. And that's why Aether couldn't make a decision: which side should he take?

He almost lost faith in Mavuika when she remained indifferent during the tournament. But her fight with Capitano... It was a battle of ideologies, and now the Traveler understood it. However, then it lit a spark of hope in him: he needed to get to the end of this story with Natlan.

If the Ley Lines are restored at the cost of the Night Kingdom, then Natlan will be in an unstable position again in a hundred years. If they don't do something now, then Natlan will be finished soon. Capitano definitely had a plan that could help. Besides, he was originally from Khaenri'ah. People there also lived without the Ley Lines.

And Mavuika had a plan too. Something eerily similar to self–sacrifice at the cost of using ancient power – now Aether guessed it.

"If we don't come to a compromise, we'll just stand here until there will be no Natlan, which you want to save so much," the Traveler said wearily.

Everyone present turned to look at him. Mavuika pursed her lips.

"That's right, that's why I was going to contact the Lord of the Night. Just let the Harbinger go."

The Captain chuckled. That chuckle echoed through the corridors of the empty castle.

"He's not leaving, Mavuika... Why don't you just do what you want, and the Traveler and I will make sure that the Harbinger doesn't interfere?" Paimon cast a wary glance at Capitano, making sure that he ignored the rudeness of her tone.

Sighing, Mavuika forcefully stabbed her sword into the ground at an angle so that it reached the hilt while kneeling. The woman concentrated, and the energy of the Pyro flowed through her body, hair, and the ground. The Traveler watched with interest as the particles of fire spread out from the kneeling Archon.

"Lord of the Night, hear me." Mavuika spoke up. "It's me, Pyro Archon Haborym. I once bore the Ancient Name Kiongozi, which was lost over the years, but it is still important to me."

Energy pulsed, filling the hall. But there was no response to the Archon's call.

"I know it's been many years, but I need to talk to you, Lord of the Night. You once gave Natlan everything you had. Please, help us this last time."

It became a little darker in the hall, and the Traveler heard the clang of The Captain's sword.

"It's useless, Archon," the man said loudly, waking Mavuika from the trance she had fallen into.

Before she could protest, Capitano gestured upward, inviting her to raise her head. The Traveler shuddered at the familiar sight. Eyes with narrow pupils stared out of the tall, glassless windows. It looks like they were waiting for the audience to notice them. Because in the next second, the monsters of the black stream attacked the castle.

The walls were flattened by the blows, the Traveler grabbed Paimon, dodging the debris. He didn't have a chance to look at Mavuika or Capitano – everyone was busy saving their own lives. Well, the Traveler also saved Paimon. Now the two of them were running, Paimon shrieking and crying as the huge tentacles passed close by.

How many of these monsters are there?

"Paimon, just fly as high as possible and freeze there. I have to fight them, and then we'll get out of here."

Paimon whimpered, but rushed up. Aether covered her retreat, attacking the tentacles and hacking them apart. There were many monsters, significantly more than at the Masters’ of Night Wind back then. And smaller ones came, like scavengers hoping to get enough of the leftovers from the feast of the most dangerous predator in the Night Kingdom.

Fiery flashes, ice arrows – all this swept past the Traveler, destroying the enemy in its path. In this battle, Aether decided to take an unusual role for himself – instead of interfering with Mavuika and Capitano, trying to destroy as many monsters as possible, the Traveler covered them. The Archon and Harbinger were fighting with such force that they clearly didn't need a third extra.

But they were still human, and the Abyss was infinite. There seemed to be no fewer enemies. The Traveler had never seen so many monsters of the black stream, but at the same time, his fear completely disappeared, replaced by excitement. These creatures weren't the smartest opponents.

"Okay," Mavuika said, materializing next to the Traveler. "This is a battle of attrition, there is no serious enemy involved. It's time to get out of here."

"What about The Captain?" The Traveler asked, seeing the Harbinger destroying the monsters.

Mavuika chuckled.

"He'll see our retreat and follow. Or he'll be left to feed the monsters if he's not smart enough to escape."

Mavuika took off.

"Let's go," she returned already on a motorcycle.

"Okay, don't forget about Paimon."

The Traveler raised his head, but did not see the little girl behind the clouds.

"Paimon!" He shouted.

The motorcycle flew, gradually descending to the surface, and a small white dot forcefully rammed into Aether's side.

"Traveler! Mavuika!" Paimon was crying. "Let's get out of here as soon as possible!"

Mavuika stepped on the gas and they accelerated. The battle was left behind. Just like The Captain. But after a few seconds, he appeared next to them – his speed was amazing, it seemed that he was not running, but flying.

"Where are we retreating to?" The Traveler asked.

"Get out of the Night Kingdom," Mavuika shouted.

"Back to the Stadium?"

"Absolutely not! I'm not going to put shackles back on!"

"But your friends are worried about you!" Paimon exclaimed.

Mavuika shrugged her shoulders.

"I know, but Windosh won't give me a chance. We are still looking for a way to contact the Lord of the Night."

"Fortunately, I know one." Capitano intervened in the conversation. He was not out of breath at all, although he continued to run at the speed of a motorcycle.

"And you're not going to tell us?" Mavuika asked contemptuously, trying to accelerate enough to break away from the Harbinger. It didn't work out. He did not lag behind.

"Humph," Capitano made a mock-thoughtful sound.

Mavuika slammed on the brakes. When Capitano stopped with his arms crossed over his chest, the woman pointed a finger in his direction.

"I have no choice, I can't let such a dangerous man roam the lands of Natlan. So I'll go with him and make sure that every step of his plan fails."

The Traveler rolled his eyes while no one was looking. What an original way to escape from your duties as an Archon! But he guessed that Mavuika was pursuing one important goal for herself – she didn't want to die. If The Captain's plan turns out to be working, then the woman will hurry to use it.

Capitano and Mavuika continued to glare at each other. Harbinger gave up first, turning away and grunting.

"Do whatever you want," The Captain used Cryo energy to create a drawing on the ground. "You can't stop me anyway."

"The Traveler is on my side," Mavuika said confidently.

"He'll come to the same conclusions as me." Capitano activated the drawing.

Light flashed around them, and then the landscape of the Night Kingdom was replaced by a much more peaceful one – the dark plains of Natlan.

"Where are we?" Paimon tried to make out something around them. Mavuika created several fireballs to light the road.

"Not far from Fatui's camp," The Captain replied calmly. Paimon gave a startled squeak. "Come on."

Capitano went first, allowing the Traveler and Paimon to walk in the middle. Mavuika brought up the rear. Lights appeared in the distance.

"Paimon doesn't understand anything," Paimon whispered softly. "Why is the First Harbinger so polite and allows us to enter his territory?"

"Because I am convinced that you are familiar with honor, which means that you will not bring anyone here. Natlan doesn't have much time left, and I have a plan. I just want to convince you that this plan is the best decision you can make."

Mavuika chuckled, but said nothing. The Traveler took a quick glance at her – the woman was lost in thought.

Finally, they got so close to the camp that the tents and fencing became clearly visible. There must be a lot of people here. The camp was huge, and there were paintings of Fatui everywhere. There was also an entrance to a cave under a small rock. Guards were on duty near him, straightening up at the approach of the Harbinger.

"Captain? Are they prisoners? What are the orders?"

Capitano shook his head.

"These are the guests. Find a place for them." With that, Capitano turned to the Traveler, Paimon, and Mavuika. "I'm counting on your wisdom. There is no need to inform the Commanders about this place. Only your presence is enough."

"All right," Mavuika agreed.

It was a strange, obedient agreement for her. However, the Traveler heard Mavuika come out of the her tent at night.

Mavuika made her way through the camp, keeping escaping the guards on duty. She just needs to get into the main tent, a rather large that stood in the center of this Fatui base. She was going to have a face-to-face conversation with The Captain.

"It can be dangerous, but I'm not afraid." Someone was talking to the Harbinger inside the tent. 

Mavuika froze, listening.

"Commendable courage," said The Captain. "Not everyone will be brave enough to do such a thing."

"This is just a small part of what I should have done a long time ago. If that's my fate, then I'm ready."

"Fate..." The Captain's voice dripped with loathing. "Wouldn't you have chosen the same thing yourself?"

"That's right." Harbinger's companion laughed. "I'll do it because that's what my heart tells me..."

Mavuika resolutely opened the tent flap and went inside. She heard The Captain sigh heavily. His companion was a young man whom Mavuika had seen before. Of course, it was the guy who had previously worked with the Traveler and fought in the tournament.

The guy's face turned pale, and his eyes widened in fright.

"H-hello, Lady Pyro Archon," he hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"There's no need to be so formal," Mavuika shifted her gaze to The Captain, who was just watching (as usual).

"The Pyro Archon herself is here..." The young man turned to the Harbinger. "I won't bother you." He immediately ran away, leaving Mavuika alone with the Harbinger.

"Well..." the woman frowned. "We need to talk."

"With blades?" Mavuika could have sworn that Capitano was mockingly raising an eyebrow under that helmet.

"With words." Mavuika frowned. "Tell me about your plan."

The Captain chuckled.

"No? So that you can figure out how to stop me from implementing it?"

Exactly.

"But how are you going to convince the Traveler, Paimon and me if we don't know anything about your intentions?"

"My intentions are pure and clear – I'm going to save Natlan."

"Then about the methods!" Mavuika was indignant. "Are you just going to put your plan into action, leaving us to deal with the consequences?"

"My plan will be implemented without any "consequences". Capitano said sternly. "That's the best plan."

Mavuika rolled her eyes in annoyance. Then she carefully examined the room, finally settling on the Harbinger. The emptiness under his helmet was so... interesting. But still, Mavuika couldn't figure out where his eyes were. Only once did they burst into blue flames in the Night Kingdom. Now there was only darkness.

"Take off your helmet," Mavuika demanded. "I want to see the face of the one I'm trying to negotiate with. I don't want to do this, but we could work together. I really want to save Natlan." The woman grimaced in displeasure. "And I would like to know that there is no monster of the Abyss or a mocking villain hiding under the mask."

Capitano crossed his arms over his chest. He remained in his uniform, taking off only his fur coat.

"I will not take off my helmet, and you, Pyro Archon Haborym, will have to take my word for it. I am human. As for working together..." Capitano paused. "What can you offer me?"

She didn't have much. Even the Gnosis didn't belong to her, but still, the Archon would have to bargain.

"First, you're going to help me to deal with the Commanders and comissions. For this, I will connect you with Elder Itztli," The Captain slightly changed his position, listening with an interest. "You've been trying to find her, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"I know exactly where to find her. And she will help us find the exact place where the Lord of the Night sleeps."

"And then?"

"Then you'll have the opportunity to put your plan into action, if I approve it. If not, we'll fight. In full force."

"Hm," Capitano said thoughtfully.

Mavuika stared at the man intently, waiting for his verdict. Capitano ran his fingers in the sharp-claws gloves through his long hair. He seemed to be considering his options.

"And what about the Gnosis?" Harbinger asked.

"It's not inside me if you wanted to send a mercenary who'd happily pierce my rib cage. If Natlan would be saved... I'll think about giving it to you."

Of course, Mavuika lied. The Sacred Flame depended on the Gnosis. In addition, there were rules in old Natlan according to which the Night Kingdom functioned. If everything goes well, the previously destroyed lands can once again become a source of strength for the Wayob and Natlan himself.

She couldn't give away Gnosis. Mavuika also knew that Capitano would not believe her words. But still, he couldn't accuse her of lying now.

"Agreed," Capitano said sharply. "Everything you promised will remain on your conscience. I hope you have the honor to follow your own words."

He didn't know that for the past five years, Mavuika had been doing nothing but breaking her own promises, overstepping her vows. Kinich had every right to hate her.

"The Archon's word is law. And since we've agreed, we'll meet in the morning." Mavuika announced. "I will tell you in more detail about what I want to achieve in terms of taming arrogant officials."

With a wave of her hair, the woman left the tent, returning to her own. Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. It worked with Capitano too. Whether he would be loyal to his words remained to be seen, but it was better to be prepared.

Chapter Text

"I wonder what the monsters of the Abyss were trying to achieve by pretending to be my family?" Mualani said wistfully.

They were surrounded only by darkness. They stopped at the outpost to rest. There were a lot of people, so to be able to talk in private, they need to try to find a place where no one would hear them. It didn't become a problem.

Kinich simply invited girl to climb onto the roof, where the dragon's eyes shone in the semi-darkness. And the stars were shining overhead.
"I don't know," Kinich replied quietly.

How could he know? The monsters from the Abyss were the worst enemy of any natlanians, but never before had they pretended to be real people, hiding among the Scions of the Canopy.

"And this monster, who took the form of Atea..." Mualani absently stroked the head of the stone dragon on which she was sitting. "It seems to me that I made up too much for myself, but... What if this monster is the same one that once pretended to be my mother?!"

There was desperation in the girl's voice.

"I can't figure out if monsters have feelings or if they mimic human behavior perfectly."

"Just pretending," Kinich replied without hesitation. "Don't justify them, Mualani. Monsters don't have feelings."

Mualani sighed.

"Then who does that make me? If I was upset that the monsters died?"

"That makes you a human with a big heart, Mualani." Kinich was looking at the sky, trying not to make eye contact with the girl opposite.

His own heart was raging. It's a strange realization of falling in love... It couldn't be real. It's just that the guy himself once again met a human who shone with kindness and warmth. And Mualani boldly offered her warmth and friendship to everyone she met along the way.

Of course, someone like him, pitiful and thirsty, jumped at the slightest opportunity. But other than that, nothing.

Mualani was a good person, Kinich was a bad one. There was no question of feelings here, because the guy simply followed the instinct of any living being – he aspired to the sun.

And once he had already burned down, like a moth flying towards a flame. Back then, it was just friendship. Mavuika. Kinich was not so bad that he intentionally caused Mualani to feel guilty, which would definitely appear if the girl found out what feelings she caused him. Besides, the guy didn't want to put his broken heart back together.

So it wasn't a crush. It's thirst, intense and insane. Mualani must not find out, so Kinich will protect her from this truth. Then, he will be able to stay close, receiving everything that comes from a girl with the kindest and biggest heart he ever seen.

"The air is so clean here. So free..." Mualani let the wind lift strands of her hair, closing her eyes and swaying in place.

"Let's run away," Kinich jokingly suggested. He understood that Mualani would not leave Natlan until she fulfilled his self-appointed destiny.
The girl laughed weakly.

"It's time to sleep," she got up and stretched.

Kinich immediately rose to his feet in alarm. Mualani could have fallen... She smiled slyly, which was barely noticeable in the dim light.

"Kinich, promise that we will still run away together when the war is over!" Mualani took his hands in hers and squeezed.

"Uh, well..." Kinich was confused.

"Ah," Mualani said. "The great hero of Natlan, who you already are, won't have time for your good old friend Mualani!" The girl laughed.

"Mualani..." Kinich grumbled.

"Still, the offer hasn't been canceled. If you get tired of being a hero, then come to me."

Mualani let go of his hands and looked away.

"Let's get down."

Kinich scooped her up in his arms and jumped down, deftly using the Dendro ropes to grab on. Already on the ground, Mualani quickly said goodbye to him and went to bed. Kinich had a strong feeling that he had offended her in some way.

When they arrived, the landscape around them was not replaced by anything joyful or colorful. But the Scions of the Canopy and the Children of Echoes still looked much better than the exhausted People of the Springs.

Couriers scurried overhead, merchants did their business, and Kinich walked next to Mualani, shoulder to shoulder, but in silence. The silence shouldn't seem so awkward, everyone was thinking their own thoughts. But when Mualani started walking towards the lifts, Kinich had to stop her.

"Why do you need a lift?" He asked. "I can lift both of us..."

Mualani's eyes widened, "Oh. I just didn't think about it! I'm sorry and...!"

"Did I offend you in some way?" Kinich frowned.

"I'm sorry! Sorry! No, of course you didn't offend me!" Mualani was confused and waved her hands. "You can lift me up! There's nothing wrong with that!" The girl covered her face with her palm. "I don't know what's going on in my head..."

Right. Why did Kinich forget? Mualani had just returned from a home destroyed by the Abyss. And her aunt was dead.

"Don't worry, everything's fine," Kinich carefully lifted the girl into his arms, preparing the hook. "Hold on."

He jumped up and caught on the nearest cable. With habitual movements, Kinich climbed to the foothills where the Scions of the Canopy lived. Passing through the districts, climbing higher, flying around some rocks, behind which houses were also crowded, Kinich headed home.

Mavuika's house was located behind the cliffs, that is, in the part of the settlement where the descent to the ocean was closer than to the Children of Echoes. The building was still standing: however, no one would risk damaging the house where someone like Kinich lived. He was obviously disliked and feared.

"It might be dusty," Kinich warned, opening the locks. He then opened the door and motioned for Mualani to come inside. Although as soon as the girl took the first step, Kinich stopped her. "Wait, I wasn't thinking." He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "There might be a trap..."

"In your own house?" Mualani smiled nervously.

Kinich shrugged his shoulders. He looked inside, then entered, the surroundings seemed untouched. Gloomy and quiet.

"There's no need to be so paranoid," Mualani patted the guy on the shoulder, going inside. "It's just a house, dusty and empty."

After a cursory examination, Kinich agreed with the girl. She looked at the surroundings with interest. The door to Mavuika's room was closed. Kinich put all the things abandoned by Chiutl in the same place. The house seemed empty without the two of them.

"Do you ever come here?" Mualani asked, clearly understanding that he doesn’t do it.

"Rarely," Kinich replied shortly. "And... you can use whatever you want. But now I'm going to let Ajaw out."

Mualani made an indeterminate sound. Kinich himself was not happy about this necessity. Iansan returned the jewelry to him, where Kinich hurried to imprison Ajaw so that he would not interfere. And then he "forgot" to release him back. Although Ajaw went out for a walk among the People of the Springs, he quickly got tired of working – watching Kinich and Mualani work. Therefore, the dragon preferred to sleep inside the jewerly.

"Finally!" Ajaw's displeased face materialized along with his body. "Our Dragon Majesty is tired of waiting!" Ajaw looked around. "Although we would prefer to be somewhere where it is not so dusty and gloomy."

Kinich pointed to the door for Ajaw.

"No one's keeping you here. Go away."

But Ajaw refused to leave the room. He started swearing and threatening. Kinich was leaning on a small table that could accommodate four people. Mualani opened the windows, and then continued to inspect the house. The guy felt a sudden tiredness constricting his muscles.

"Mualani, be careful while you're here." Despite his feelings, Kinich got up from his seat. "I have some business to attend to. I'll be back soon. Ajaw remains as a watchdog. If necessary, he knows where to find me."

"I hope I won't have to look for you," Mualani laughed. "Please, come back."

Nodding, Kinich left. It was easier for him when he was hovering over all these houses. The last time he had to return here was because of the attack on the Children of Echoes, which he helped to repel.

Then Kinich himself did not expect that he simply would not be able to get up the next morning. And he spent the whole day in bed. And even though he forgot to let Ajaw out again, the guy lost the chance to dissuade the Traveler from talking to Mavuika. But maybe it's for the best?

Kinich was not going to join the Traveler's group at all, planning to simply accompany them for a fee, and then return to fulfilling missions and service, the rest from which had almost come to an end. And now Kinich has become the hero of Natlan – what a madness!

Now he needs to talk to Wayna and negotiate an extension of the postponement – he participated in the fighting anyway, only now in the team to rescue Natlan, and in the future – together with Mavuika and other heroes against the Abyss.

And the chief agreed, almost without asking any questions. He just asked him to explain the situation at the tournament – he had heard the rumors. Therefore, Kinich had to tell the chief about the clones and that circumstances had changed a lot. Now their Archon will have to act, not hide in the shadows.

It was another matter... Well, Kinich wanted to see Elder Leik. In fact, after Mavuika left, the guy avoided not only his own house with all his might, but everything that connected him with the Scions of the Canopy. He met with his mentor only a few times. At first, the guy didn't want to, but then he was ashamed to show himself in Leik's eyes.

But now he might feel a little better.

Leik did not change the places where he liked to conduct classes. He showed how to fight with a sword to several students. From afar, Kinich saw that the elder was actively gesticulating and swearing. It seemed that his new students were hopeless. Kinich allowed himself a grin. Somewhere, nothing has changed.

"Hello, mentor." Kinich greeted him. Leik noticed him from afar, but didn't show recognition until the guy took the first step towards him. Only the man's eyes warmed up.

"Take a break!" Leik announced loudly. The children dropped their weapons, but were in no hurry to leave. "Leave before I change my mind."

The children scattered, leaving them alone. Leik studied the guy in front of him, and Kinich did the same. The wrinkles on the mentor's face became slightly more noticeable, but otherwise he did not change.

"Good day, Kinich." His mentor narrowed his eyes slyly. "What is it? Repentance?"

Kinich snorted.

"Mentor," he drawled. "It's all the monsters of the Abyss. I've already explained it to Wayna. 

"But what about this old man?" Leik said with a smile.

"But you already knew it wasn't me," Kinich saw confirmation of his own words on the mentor's face, who continued to smile kindly. "Well, that's it."

"The Abyss is capable of dirty tricks. But it's so unlike you to get involved in its game." Leik pulled him into a hug and patted him on the back. "You've changed, Kinich."

"Circumstances forced it," Kinich spread his hands to the sides. "Someone has to try to reach out to the Archon."

Leik chuckled, then pulled away. The man looked thoughtfully at the mountains looming over them.

"Do you think I've changed?" Kinich said thoughtfully. "Why?"

"Time heals," Leik said mysteriously.

Kinich chuckled. In his case, time seemed to do just the opposite – the guy only became angrier and more offended.

"And besides," Leik continued. "Only the people we meet on our way can glue and fill a broken heart with warmth. Haven't you noticed it yourself?"

The mentor's words, as usual, made Kinich think. All the years after Mavuika left, he sank deeper and deeper into the dark abyss of hatred. And it didn't seem like something bad or wrong. The world was cruel, the guy just reacted in response.

And yet, endless regrets seemed to really not give him the opportunity to move on. Kinich had imagined meeting Mavuika a thousand times. And even if the conversation that took place led to nothing but a quarrel, it was still better than the countless insults that Kinich was ready to throw in the Archon's face a few months ago.

No self-pity, just Mavuika's own words, which she so bravely threw around on her way.

"See it?" Leik looked pleased. "So what are you doing now? I've heard that the Traveler has arrived in Natlan. Are you working together?"
Kinich shrugged, doubtful.

"We're on the same side. But the Traveler left with Mavuika – I hope you've heard the news. Now I am working... with other people."

Leik nodded and stared at the guy, waiting.

"We’re saving Natlan – a stupid and hopeless idea," Kinich added irritably. "Now I will definitely become the hero you wanted me to be, mentor?"

"How much did they pay you?" Leik asked. "That’s it. Aren't you doing this from the bottom of your heart?"

Kinich grimaced.

"I... got involved. And besides that, my involvement seems to have drawn the attention of the Lord of the Night to me." Seeing the interest that flashed in Leik's eyes, Kinich continued. "I got an Ancient Name. "Malipo" means the price. Do you remember Mavuika used to talk about it all the time? Well, they're real."

"My congratulations!" Leik said sincerely.

"Yeah," Kinich grinned. "Now I am in the status of one of the heroes of Natlan. Me of all people!" Kinich laughed sarcastically. "Our people will be thrilled when they find out."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Leik looked at his student reproachfully.

The break was coming to an end, and the students were returning to class.

"I'll stay here for a while," Kinich waved goodbye. "Let's meet for dinner if you have time to chat."

Leik saw his student off with a smile, watching Kinich soar into the sky and fly... The guy didn't know where he was going. Anything is better than a home. I want to believe that Mualani is okay. But Kinich needs time alone with himself.

So, he spent a few more hours watching the sun set over the horizon, hiding behind the houses of the Children of Echoes. Thoughts sluggishly appeared in his head – mostly bleak, but he was not one of those who saw the positive in everything. This role remained for Mualani. And speaking of her...

It's time to get back.

When Kinich finally returned home, he was surprised and ashamed. While he was gone, Mualani was cleaning up. Now the dust did not cover every object that was in the house.

"Hi," Mualani came out of the kitchen. Did she find something to cook? Or did she go to the market?

"Hi," Kinich greeted weakly. "You've done a great job here. But you shouldn't have."

"I didn't touch your stuff, just the dust!" Mualani defended herself.

"Yes, everything is fine with the cleaning!" Kinich hastened to convince her that there was nothing to worry about. "I'm just..."

"A nasty pig!" Ajaw stormed out of the kitchen, too pleased. "Mualani is the servant that once again proved to us that she is better than you. First of all, she fed us food! Secondly..."

Kinich looked at Mualani with resignation.

"Did he bother you much?"

"No, not really." Mualani smiled. "Mostly, he was just being mean when I was cleaning. Then I fed him, and Ajaw got kind. He started saying nasty things about you, but I said I didn't want to hear it. To be honest, he looks like a big fire-breathing cat."

"With a broomstick instead of a tongue."

Mualani laughed.

"Are you going to eat? I've made some food... Maybe it's not the best and most delicious dishes, but I tried."

A blush suffused the girl's cheeks.

"I'm... not fussy about food. If it's edible, then it's fine." Kinich inhaled the fragrance. "But judging by the smell, there's nothing to worry about."

"Yeah." Ajaw said shortly. "Why don't you eat rotten fruits and making..." He blushed indignantly. "MY JUICE OUT OF THEM!!!"

"Ajaw, don't scream," Kinich irritably waved away the dragon.

"There is no need to be so obvious in your favoritism! Our Dragon Majesty will not forgive such behavior!!!"

Kinich just walked past, into the kitchen.

"Don't do it! I'll put it for you myself!" Mualani tried to stop him.

"But you cooked it!" Kinich resolutely took out a plate and began to serve the roast cooked by the girl. "It's not difficult for me to do it myself."

"But I just wanted to thank you! You have saved my life so many times that I will never be able to repay this debt!"

"There is no debt, Mualani!" Kinich tried to sound convincing. It's just that the girl didn't realize that his joyless help had long since been replaced by a thirst to spend more time with her. With the light.

Mualani exhaled, yielding.

"I thought all guys were used to women serving them."

Kinich grunted, starting to eat. They were still standing in the kitchen, and Ajaw was swearing in the living room.

"You're not my wife or mother to do that," the guy pointed out. "And I think it's wrong. Should there be a king and his servants in a normal family?"

Mualani nodded. In the next second, her face lit up with the realization of an idea.

"Did you have a good example in childhood? Wait," she took off and ran into another room.

Kinich was able to finish his meal in peace. It was unclear what Mualani was worried about. Everything turned out very tasty. But what did the girl mean? A good example in childhood...

Mualani returned, holding something in her hands. Kinich set the empty plate aside, staring intently at the object in her hands.

"I didn't go through your stuff! I was just dusting the shelves and found this," she handed Kinich a photo. "Are these your parents?"

Kinich's heart sank. He nodded weakly.

"You look very much like your mother," Mualani smiled, comparing the face in the photo with the face of Kinich standing next to her. "She's so beautiful."

"No," Kinich grinned. "We don’t look alike."

Mualani pouted.

"Well, you two have the same oval face, noses, and lips. Your eyes probably look like your father's..." Mualani looked at Kinich with concern. "I'm being tactless again."

Kinich shook his head distantly.

"Did you know them?" Mualani hesitantly touched his hand with her own.

The guy's heart ached. Should he tell her the truth?

"I did," he replied shortly.

"I'm sorry," Mualani smiled at him sadly. "I understand that this is not a story that you want to share, but still... Maybe it's worth a try?"
Kinich sighed heavily.

"You might have the wrong idea about my life," Kinich came out of the kitchen, pulling Mualani with him. "Come on, I'll show you."

They went outside. It was already dark, but Kinich could accurately determine the direction in which he led Mualani. The journey took about fifteen minutes because they were almost running. After all, this place was located on the outskirts of the settlement of the Scions of the Canopy.

"Well..." Kinich drawled hesitantly. Only natural light illuminated the two of them here. The dim lanterns had long been left behind.

"Come on," Mualani squeezed his hand tighter.

"I won't go into details," Kinich made sure that his face didn't express anything. "But I've never had an example of a good family."

"Your parents, are they..?"

"Yes." Kinich frowned, resisting his own honesty. "My father drank and beat my mother and me." He chuckled mirthlessly.

Mualani looked worried. Now that their eyes have adjusted to the darkness, it has become even more important to hide his emotions from her.

"Look there," Kinich pointed in the direction of a dilapidated structure made of rotten wood.

The place has gotten worse over the years. Previously, tramps could still stay there. Now this parody of a house was completely uninhabitable.

"We lived here when my father lost all our money in gambling."

"The house has been badly damaged by time..." Mualani tried to sound reassuring to convince Kinich that he spent his childhood in a habitable home.

"It didn't look much better before," Kinich chuckled. "It was a miracle it didn't fall on our heads while we were living there."

He paused, swallowing.

"And then? Have you moved?" Mualani helped him as much as she could, asking leading questions.

"And then my mother left. My father almost went mad with anger and grief. And one day his anger was too great." Kinich spoke abruptly, not allowing the words to affect him. It is necessary to keep a sober mind. "And he followed me because I asked about my mother... And then, he fell."

"From a cliff?" Mualani gasped.

Kinich looked at her expressively, begging her to spare him the need to talk about it.

"I went down, but his body had already been removed. I never had a chance to say goodbye. And I couldn't get back up at my house." Kinich felt Mualani's grip on his wrists tighten. "It happened... on my birthday." Kinich's voice cracked in the middle of a sentence. The guy frowned.

"That’s so..."

"Yes. It sucks." Kinich grinned again. "Then I survived on the streets, got into the mines, where I worked until I was twelve years old, until I met Mavuika. So, technically, I met and defeated a pack of hilichurls first, which impressed her very much. And she took me to her place, where her mother and Elder Leik took care of me. And then Mavuika became an Archon and disappeared from my life forever." Kinich pulled out his arms, hugging himself by the shoulders. "And I’ve never moved on..." He ended in a whisper.

No, he can't let heavy thoughts win.

"So my actions aren’t based on a good example. In fact, on what exactly shouldn’t be done," Kinich waved his hand at the ruins of the house. "That's all."

"Kinich," Mualani's voice was filled with rage for some reason. "Do you know what else shouldn’t ever be done? Abandoning your child to the mercy of fate! Your mother was a victim, but she chose to run away and leave you with your father! What if he had killed you?!"

"She might well have wanted this outcome," Kinich almost whispered.

"What?"

"She hated me," Kinich explained. "I didn't know when I was a kid. She didn't talk to me except when she was drinking. And one day she told me that she tried to kill me when I was a newborn baby. But her friend, Mavuika's mom, was too worried about my fate, so she carried me with her, moving around the maternity hospital. This favoritism saved my life when someone snuck in and killed several innocent babies."

Mualani's eyes widened.

"Do you think SHE did it?"

Kinich shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't remember exactly what his mother had said. It could be that the children's blood was on her hands. Or maybe she just hired a killer – the family still had money back then.

"If your parents were that bad, then you're definitely not like them." Mualani said decisively. "You say that my heart is big and kind, while the weight of long-standing resentment and pain lies on yours. But still, you've never taken your anger out on us. I've been amazed at your patience over and over again..."

"My childhood is not a reason for gratuitous aggression," Kinich said lightly, as if his control did not require great efforts on himself. "If I hadn't learned patience, I would have become reckless. And recklessness in war leads to death."

"And you're just hiding everything, aren't you? Emotions and feelings... It's hard to live like this."

"I used to it," Kinich shrugged his shoulders. "I've never been particularly emotional or sensitive. And my heart is made of stone," the guy said mockingly."

"That's not true," Mualani said softly.

She pulled Kinich into a gentle embrace. The guy sighed, carefully resting his head on her shoulder. If he allowed a few tears to fall from his eyes, they were caused only by the dryness of the air around them.

Chapter Text

By the way, Ororon was going to die for the good of Natlan and become a hero.

At least that's what he told himself. The thought of becoming a hero warmed his heart. Otherwise, he felt pretty terrible.

No, The Captain's camp was pretty quiet and peaceful. The Fatui did not show aggression, and even the presence of the Archon and the Traveler did not make life difficult. In fact, the main problem was the fact that Ororon didn't want to die.

Capitano didn't like it when Ororon called it fate, but what was it if not fate? He was born with a fractured soul, which promised misfortune to all his people. And they had the opportunity to change everything – to perform a ritual that would help souls enter the Night Kingdom. But it didn't work. Was it Ororon's fault?

He still has some memories of the night when the ritual was performed. The shamans put him to sleep with special incense, but this effect did not last long. When the boy opened his eyes, he was scared: everything around him seemed to be covered with cracks, through which blinding light poured. And then a terrible pain overtook him, as if his bones were being broken, and his body was torn into pieces, which separated along with the fragments of the world.

And all this leads for the ritual to fail.

No wonder why many of the older members of the tribe despised him. So many resources were spent, such hopes were placed, but the result turned out to be zero.

He was often reminded of this when the child was wandering from house to house. Those who initially felt sorry for him quickly changed their attitude once they sheltered Ororon for a while. For some reason, misfortunes really were his constant companion, convincing everyone around him of the correctness of their suspicions. A split fractured soul is a sign of trouble. It couldn't have been any other way.

For many years, Ororon tried to change their minds, but it was a hopeless idea. Then he decided that he would achieve recognition in another way – he would become a hero. And what was the most heroic thing a person with a small mights could do? To give his life for the sake of saving people, hoping that this feat will not be forgotten.

When The Captain gets to the Secret Source, Ororon will activate it, no matter what the cost. And then he will finally find his place in this world.

And yet, it was scary to die. But it was his duty, his destiny! These contradictions tore apart Ororon's already sick soul. And for some reason, now that there were only a few days left before Capitano and Pyro Archon would take the first action, he could not get rid of a suffocating feeling of longing.

It was ridiculous and pathetic, as well as quite humiliating, but Ororon couldn't get rid of the obsessive thought that was spinning in his head. He left without saying goodbye. Not to Chasca, to Chuychu. Neither Ifa nor Granny... No one will know that he is no more there until they hear the stories about how Ororon became a hero. And maybe at least it will make them proud of him?

Chuychu, even though they weren't that close, would be upset. She'll even cry, and Chasca will stand next to her and stroke her sister on the back. Chasca, if she was going to cry, would be alone on the cliff, where they always met to chat. Granny would grumble and curse at him, but she would definitely be pleased that her only student had saved Natlan.

And Ifa... It would probably break his heart.

It just so happened that Ororon was lucky only a few times – he could count these cases on his fingers.

Number one, he met Citlali. Or she met him, a small and abandoned child who was shunned because he attracted misfortune to himself. She took him in and taught him a lot. However, the Granny's patience was not enough for many years, and it was hard for Ororon himself to be in the elder's house for a long time. Too much magic and aura filled everything around him, making his head heavy. So, Ororon moved to his small house even further from the territory of the tribe than Citlali herself lived.

The second time Ororon got lucky was when he was being chased by a qucusaurus. That is, at first he was being chased by angry teenagers. They were older, stronger, and angrier, and Ororon just caught their eye. They ran after him until they cornered him, where they pushed him into a teleporter that brought him to the top of a cliff.

Ororon barely made it down from there, only to find an enraged qucusaurus swooping down on him from above. The boy accidentally touched saurian's nest, but it didn't even fall! However, while running away from the qucusaurus, Ororon stumbled upon Chasca. She was running away then, too, and also from her tribe.

The third time, he got lucky again because of Chasca. Ororon came to chat with her. Two strange children, one barely spoke, and the other could not bring himself to be silent, having found a listener willing to tolerate his incoherent chatter. When Chasca regained control of her own speach, she rather rudely described his chatter as an endless stream of incoherent thoughts. But still, she didn't push him away.

Strangely enough, the next time he got lucky, it was thanks to Chasca. She invited him to visit her tribe. To the Flower-Feather Clan, which has not betrayed, (he knows, Chasca), Natlan. It was there that Ororon first met Ifa.

Ifa was so kind and smiling, even if he didn't immediately remember Ororon's face. But after several visits to the Flower-Feather Clan, the boys stuck to each other. While Chasca was training, Ororon followed Ifa around to watch his own training or studies. The older boy secretly read scrolls about veterinary care, and Ororon only admired him for being ready to help not only humans, but also saurians.

Ororon could not help anyone including himself.
He wasn't crazy, as many people liked to tell him. Just weird. Not like everyone else. Unique. Maybe he was crazy. But Ororon was fully aware of himself, his thoughts, his feelings.

And he was quite aware that he liked his best friend Ifa. Any success is followed by failure. It wasn't fun to admit it, but Ororon considered his crush at his best friend a complete failure.

It started a few years ago. It's just that one day he realized that he wanted to spend more time with his bro. Hug him, tired after working with patients, and don't let go. Of course, Ororon would never give in to this desire.

Many believed that Ifa wears his heart on his sleeve. But it wasn't like that – Ifa was friendly to everyone, devoted to his friends, but he was also... Completely indifferent to relationships and romance. He was always working, always busy for dates and stuff. And Ifa preferred to spend his free time in the company of his best friend Ororon, sometimes inviting Chasca, Chuychu or other rare friends to join.

Whoever wore a heart on his sleeve was Ororon. It's just that he didn't show that he was injured when it was happening more than constantly. That's how persistent he was.

He was lucky when Ajaw fell into his garden. So, Ororon met with the Traveler, which brought him together with Capitano. And now the guy can become a hero and help everyone.

Ifa might be glad that the monsters of the Abyss have retreated. Then there would be much fewer injured saurians, and he would finally be able to relax, go on a date, or just sleep.

Ororon was sure that he was doing the right thing, but deep down in his fragmented soul, he was still that boy who had barely survived the ritual. If dying a second time would also hurt, then he couldn't help but hope that this time everything would pass quickly. And yet his heart continued to pound madly from the anxiety he had felt during the days in the camp since he had made that fateful decision.

And his thoughts kept returning to his Granny, to Chasca, to Ifa. Ororon wanted to believe that they would find the strength to forgive him. And that they would be proud of their hero...

"Yeah!" His thoughts were interrupted by Paimon's shout right in his ear. Ororon jumped, startled.

"Paimon..." He exhaled softly.

"Yeah! That's the Paimon you can't escape from anymore!" Paimon crossed her arms triumphantly over her chest. "But actually, Paimon has a few questions for you."

"Okay?" Ororon's eyes widened in fright.

"Where should Paimon start?" Paimon circled him. The Traveler was not with her. "You're running away from Paimon, sneaking through the bushes here! But the Traveler and Paimon are wondering why you are helping Capitano?! He's considered an enemy of Natlan."

Ororon averted his eyes. Is it worth telling Paimon that he felt strange soul fluctuations when Mavuika injured Capitano? And after that, Ororon couldn't think for a second longer – he blamed himself long enough for not noticing how the monsters from the Abyss had replaced Kinich and Mualani. He can be useful if he does something. For example, he can eliminate the threat to the Stadium.

In addition, shortly before meeting with the Traveler, Ororon felt an unknown energy in the territory of the Masters of the Night-Wind. And he traced its source. It was the Harbinger, scouring the gorges and plains in search of someone. And Ororon couldn't help but assume that he was looking for Citlali.

So, by saving Harbinger, he was able to do several things at once. But the expected feeling of triumph did not come. On the contrary, Ororon only felt guilty for not warning his Granny, helping Natlan's enemy and running away like a criminal.

The contradictions that arose in his head made him want to disappear on the spot.

"Ororon?" Paimon waved her hand in front of his face. "Are you even here?"

"The Captain has a plan, and I'm helping him execute it." Ororon replied in confusion. "Are you and the Traveler helping The Captain too?"

Paimon chuckled.

"As if Paimon understands what they're doing. The Traveler met with The Captain only once, and then they discussed things unrelated to Natlan. Khaenri'ah and his sister, if you'll allow Paimon to clarify. And now the Traveler just reads the scrolls that contain the information. Capitano hopes that we will understand his plan, not wanting to explain it." Paimon narrowed her eyes slyly. "But you know the plan, don't you? Can you tell us?"

Ororon shook his head.

"Well, that's fine!" Paimon exclaimed, offended. "Paimon didn't really want to know!" Paimon turned away, but quickly gave up. "Well, please tell Paimon about The Captain's plan!"

Ororon stubbornly shook his head. Now he did it with more intense so that the little girl understands the rejection exactly. Paimon let out an indignant squeak.

"You're such a weird guy! Did you really run away here without saying a word to your friends?!"

"Yes," Ororon shot Paimon a stern look. "It's none of their business. I'm helping The Captain because I want to."

"Come on, let Paimon grumble at you!" Paimon pouted. "But still, can you tell Paimon at least something? Paimon is too bored to just sit in a camp where there are no delicious dishes or entertainment!"

"Paimon, you know we're not going to be here for long, right?" The Traveler has appeared. Ororon definitely won't be able to escape now.

"Paimon knows, but every day is filled with monotonous reading of scrolls and watching Fatui’s deals! Paymon is stressed! Paimon wants to gossip!" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I heard what you were talking about," the Traveler turned to Ororon. "You don't have to tell us about the plan. I've already realized that you and Capitano would never share information. But you could explain yourself. Mavuika and I are temporary allies of The Captain. What about you? What is the reason?"

Ororon rubbed his hand over his own ear in confusion. Soft and sensitive. The ears immediately twitched as Paimon let out a squeak.

"Oh, Paimon didn't notice how cute your ears are before!"

"What if I tell you that this is the result of genetic experiments on the interbreeding of humans and animals?" Ororon asked innocently. Paimon paled.

"Perhaps Paimon won't ask anymore..."

Ororon chuckled mirthlessly.

"I'm going to be a hero," he looked straight into the eyes of the Traveler. "The hero who will save Natlan. And then, my friends and Granny will be proud of me!"

Paimon clapped her hands in approval.

"That's great, although Paimon isn't sure if your plan is reliable or safe. Wait!" Paimon frowned. "And who is Granny?"

"Well, this is the Granny Itztli, the Elder Itztli. She is very strong, and what especially strong – that’s her staff, which she uses to bash anyone she doesn't like." Paimon made a startled sound again. "She's my mentor."

"So we weren't deceived about this," the Traveler said thoughtfully.

"Yes, it has long been a cause for gossip within our tribe. But it's true. Although I am very far from her level," said Ororon.

Longing pierced his heart again. Granny would definitely be more angry, than proud of him. But Ororon had already made that decision.

"And this elder, is she really scary?" Paimon asked anxiously.

"It's hard to run away from Granny in anger! But she won't hurt you, Paimon. Why are you scared at all?" Ororon tilted his head questioningly.

"Well, the thing is, Paimon sees a very scary woman, and she's coming right here!"

Ororon looked fearfully at where Paimon was pointing. She was standing right behind him and the Traveler. Granny Itztli. And she was angry.

Citlali's eyes burned with rage. Ororon swallowed, not daring to look away. Granny won't let him go that easily.

"Oh." Paimon squeaked and hurried to cover her mouth with her palms. "How did she get here in the first place? Aren’t some Fatui’s guardians were there?" She whispered softly.

But Citlali heard.

"Ha!" Said Granny loudly and confidently. "Do the Harbinger call these people guardians?" Her face immediately darkened. "And everyone is hanging out with these people! My grandson, our dear Archon! The famous Traveler and his companion!"

Her tone made even the Traveler uneasy. Yes, Granny was grumpy.

"Isn’t Paimon the only one who want to hide right now?" Paimon did as she said, flying behind the Traveler’s back. He remained standing quietly.

"Hi, G-Granny..." Ororon greeted hesitantly.

"You! You!" Citlali didn't have enough words to describe her anger.

"I'm sorry..."

"I'm sorry? You've messed with Fatui! You helped Harbinger escape, and then led him into the Night Kingdom! I felt it!" Citlali smiled smugly. "And I haven't told you yet that you brought strangers to the main city of the Masters of the Night-Wind! Do you have any idea how worri-..?" She hesitated. "Well, that was very stupid of you!"

"I'm sorry."

"Granny Itztli," Paimon began, drawing Citlali's attention. "Well, that is, Elder Itztli. Ororon helped us with the Traveler, and we helped Pyro Archon save Natlan."

"Huh?" Citlali raised an eyebrow in surprise. "So you want to help Natlan?" She immediately crossed her arms defensively. "That doesn't mean I don't want to save Natlan! But Ororon acted recklessly and put himself and others at risk!" Citlali clenched her hands into fists.

"Please, let's resolve this peacefully!" Paimon exclaimed.

Attracted by the noise, the Fatui from the tents nearby had already begun to gather. Capitano will be here soon, and then Mavuika will be here too.

"Granny, you're attracting a lot of attention..." Ororon tried to calm Citlali down. "You're in Fatui's camp..."

The place Ororon wanted to protect her from. And Citlali came here by herself. What a loser he is!

"I'm not attracting attention!" Citlali's voice was quieter and calmer. "I'm not afraid of Harbinger and his subordinates. And even more I’m not afraid of talking with..!" A devious expression blossomed on Citlali's face.

"What's all that noise?" Mavuika arrived.

"Pyro Archon Mavuika!" Granny exclaimed furiously. "Well, finally we're going to talk about your behavior!"

Mavuika's face paled.

"C-Citlali? What are you doing here?"

"You came and asked me for the scrolls! And I've helped you, but I haven't seen any effect in the five years since you ascended to the Archon's throne. So, Mavuika, what are the excuses!?" Citlali finished triumphantly.

"I’m... I mean... Xilonen has the scrolls! She's working with them, I swear!"

"Hmm," Citlali said.

And then, the ground began to be covered with ice. Usually, Capitano moved with less extravagance, but even he understood that an unknown but very strong human had entered the camp. Stopping, The Captain assessed the situation and turned to Citlali.

"Good afternoon, Elder Itztli. How does our camp owe your visit?"

"I have come to demand justice from the Archon."

She pointed her finger at Mavuika, who was nervously biting her lips. Capitano looked at her too. Even with the helmet hiding the Harbinger's emotions, Ororon could feel the superiority written on the man's face.

"So what can you say, Pyro Archon?" Capitano asked mockingly.

Ororon knew what he and Mavuika had agreed on that first night at camp. He was eavesdropping and at some point made eye contact with the Traveler who was doing the same thing. And now Mavuika's main advantage has been lost.

He took another look at the Traveler, who was watching the development of events with interest, Ororon retreated into the shadows. Before it's too late, he'll leave.

After settling down in a tree, Ororon decided to write letters. He can talk with his Granny before he dies, but he probably won't see Chasca or Ifa until the next life.

He decided to write three letters. In the first one, Ororon thanked the Granny for taking him in and teaching him within the limits of the guy's abilities. He may not have been a worthy student, but Citlali was a worthy teacher.

In the second, he thanked Chasca for her friendship. After all, it was their communication that became the connecting thread for Ororon, who was not sure that he would find a place in the world at all. Chasca had a kind and fair heart, hidden under an assumed anger. She was brave and determined, ready to rise up against injustice and never surrendered to the Abyss in her mind. She was everything Ororon could never become.

Even at the tournament, she attacked him, but it wasn't the girl's fault. If only Ororon could distinguish clones from real people, if only he could figure out their plan before the fog poisoned their minds... None of his friends would have been hurt.

He was pathetic. But even more pitiful would be the third letter he would write for Ifa. For some reason, it was the hardest thing for him. Perhaps because Ororon was torn between the desire to indulge his own weaknesses and confess, or to remain silent, not wanting to condemn Ifa to a lifetime of guilt.

"Dear Ifa," he began. "By the time this letter reaches you, I'll be dead."

Ifa will definitely tear up the letter as soon as she sees such dramatic words. Therefore, it is worth diluting them with something like:

"But I will always be alive in the memory of our people. There will be legends about me, and even if the old stories about heroes would be erased from people's memories, I would like to be selfish. Let everyone know the name of the new hero of Natlan. It's me, Ororon, your bro!"

Ororon reread what he had written and thought about it. Ifa always appreciated when he noticed small details. Well...

"There are two terribly stupid-looking birds sitting on a nearby branch. I'll send my letters with them. After all, you've always said that you can't judge someone without knowing their nature. Whether it was a human, an animal, or a saurian, you always found an approach to them. And you've always treated me as an equa human being."

Ororon bit his pencil. Ifa would say that he doesn't like to hear the self-deprecating nonsense that the other guy always said about himself. But Ororon knew better than anyone what he deserved. He didn’t deserve Ifa, that's for sure.

"Don't get mad at me, bro. I don't deserve a friend like you."

That's right, that's right.

"Ifa, you've helped me so much in finding my place in this world, but I think my fate has been obvious all along. If there's anything good I can do to repay the chance at life that was given to me, then I'll do it. I won't go into details, but the ritual... You remember what I told you, I know."

Ororon told him everything. And even though he didn't agree with how many unflattering expressions Ifa used to berate all the shamans and elders of the Masters of the Night-Wind, Ororon was still pleased. Someone stood up for him.

When Chasca did this, the offenders left with injuries. But Ifa has always been a pretty gentle guy. This gentle guy was ready to fight with the shamans when he found out the truth.

Then again, Ororon didn't deserve friends like them.

"When you have a family, don't name the children after me! Spare them such shame. I never found out the meaning of this name, think about it! What if my name is some kind of swear word in the dialect, for example, "monster" or "freak"? And the names in the Teyvat carry the fate of their previous bearers."

After thinking about it, Ororon added, "If you'll miss me too much, then get a bat, they live long enough to cope with the burden of my name. But I'm afraid that its nest under the roof of your house will only bring misfortune. It'll eat all the aphids!"

He laughed.

"I'm sure Cacucu is fine and returned home safely. Don't spoil him too much! There will be no one to feed him vegetables and fruits without me."

Ifa always grumbled that Cacucu eats too many saurian treats. But Ororon knew that his friend simply adored this little ball of feathers and fluff.

"It turns out that apart from my vegetable garden, I would not have left any legacy. Pretty depressing, don't you agree? But now I'm going to do what I have to do. I hope that my new legacy will be worthy of my people."

It's time to finish this letter. Ororon drew a circle with wings and a patch over one eye. Cacucu.

"I know this isn't the good news you expect in the morning mail, but there's nothing more joyful for me than being a hero to you."

He didn't want to be obvious about his feelings. Anyway, he still couldn't help but...

"Don't miss me too much. The radish is wasting away from longing. However, I am sure that my passing will be almost imperceptible. I want to believe that I won't disappoint you any more than I already have.

With love, Ororon. I will always be your friend."

Having rolled up the last letter, Ororon whistled to the birds. Oddly, they turned out to be smart enough to fly closer. The guy took out a handful of berries and let the birds peck from the palm of his hand.

"Take this to Granny's house," Ororon touched the forehead of the first bird and put a mark on it so that it would not lose its course while flying. "And this is for the Flower-Feather Clan. The addressees are signed there, they'll figure it out." Ororon marked the second bird as well.

He waved his hand, and the birds took off. As he watched them fly, Ororon couldn't help but hope that they would actually reach their destination. It was his only chance to say goodbye.

Ororon didn't want to die. He just wanted to be a hero.

Chapter Text

"You know, your burning gaze distracts me from my work."

Exasperated, Xilonen threw a large stone into a box where there was a mountain of similar ones. Obsidian. Xilonen compared the stones, selecting the best ones so that she could try to forge the Ancient Name once again. The chance that she would fail was huge. But even more disturbing was another girl sitting in the darkest corner of the brightly lit workshop in the Xilonen house.

"Try again, then I'll disappear," Chasca said sullenly. "I'm just as happy to be here as you are."

"Yes," Xilonen rolled her eyes and went back to examining the next piece of ore. "Because my house is so bad."

"That's not the point," Chasca grumbled. "I want to return to the Flower-Feather Clan. But those shackles!" She shook her hands, making the gold sparkle, reflecting the lamplight. "I can't go home while they're on me."

That was the problem. Xilonen agreed to make sure Chasca returned home safely. It was Mavuika's request. But it was complicated by the fact that the shackles were still hanging on Chasca's arms, legs, and neck. Commander Tsarce is up to something, and Chasca will become his toy again.

That's why Xilonen took her with her. She has thousands of tools in her house, because she was looking for a way to remove the shackles from Mavuika. But she didn't have a chance to try out the methods. Now, Chasca will become a test subject.

Although she wasn't thrilled about it. Moreover, she distracted Xilonen with her presence, sitting next to her and biding her time... No, not to attack. To ask her sharply about something. But more often than not, Chasca silently waited for Xilonen to put aside work on the Ancient Names and try to remove the shackles again.

"I can't help you right now." Xilonen said, hearing the heavy sigh that the girl made. "I'm working on Ancient Names at Mavuika's request. I'm helping you, too, because she asked me to. But I can't split into two. So go for a walk or chat with the girls."

"Xilonen, I can't show myself to people... If anyone sees me, you'll be in trouble."

"Yes, I know! You're just annoying me," Xilonen viciously brushed the stone off the table. "Please let me work in silence."

Fortunately, Chasca finally listened to her words. So, Xilonen had the opportunity to examine more closely several pieces of obsidian, which seemed to her more or less successful. The woman put on protective glasses and took out a small hammer and a sharp metal stick.

She needs to tap gently on the surface to assess its internal structure. The Geo Vision would help her with this, but the process still required concentration. And when Xilonen found a weak spot, an accurate blow to which would break the stone in two, there was a deafening knock on her door.

Xilonen's hand twitched, and the hammer slipped. There was an unpleasant crack, and part of the stone broke off, breaking up into several smaller ones. Xilonen cursed and turned to the door. Kachina stood there, scared, holding the handle with one hand and her mouth with the other so that her jaw wouldn't show how she was shaking. Holding back her anger, Xilonen asked:

"What happened?" Instead of anger, there was endless weariness in her voice.

"I'm sorry, Xilonen," Kachina squeaked softly. "I'll sweep up here later, if you'll let me!" Kachina nervously fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "Xilonen! Nepecha told me that she had seen fierce warriors riding tatankasaurus through the streets. And worse, they're looking for..."

"Our guest," Xilonen finished, pulling her glasses off her face. Of course, the problems won't end with Mavuika's departure in the Night Kingdom.

"Yes," Kachina stared at Xilonen with frightened blue eyes.

"And where is she?" Xilonen immediately regretted not letting Chasca sit quietly in the corner. If the girl still went outside...

"I’m here," Chasca quietly came out from behind Kachina, frowning and looking around.

Kachina breathed a sigh of relief, and Xilonen herself felt better. At least someone can act like an adult and not run into trouble.

"We have a problem," Xilonen grinned. "And I don't have any ideas on how to solve it."

Chasca resolutely placed a large hammer in her hands.

"Just hit them until they break," Chasca said, sitting down on a chair and putting her hands on the table.

"Your hands?" Xilonen laughed. "Why not the neck?"

"Hit my hands." Chasca stared intently into Xilonen's eyes. "If my hands would be broken, it's still better than wearing these bracelets."

"Chasca," Kachina said softly, looking at the girl's hands. "Your fingers are already broken, they have just begun to heal, why break your hands as well?"

"It's not a big deal. Hit them, Xilonen."

Wincing, Xilonen put down the hammer.

"I'm not going to smash your hands into mush. Are you sure you're not afraid of pain?"

Chasca's eyes widened in surprise.

"I'm not fragile. And I survived what happened to me at the Stadium. Whatever you do to my hands, just take off the damn bracelets. Please," she added softly.

Xilonen bent down and examined the bracelet once more. Almost identical to the one on Mavuika. And very durable. During the time they spent with Chasca, they tried to dissolve the bracelets with acid, destroy them with the help of Visions, ancient spells, weapons and other unpleasant methods. Xilonen knew that Chasca wasn't fragile, but she still couldn't help but empathize with the fact that she was going to have to face pain again.

"What if the bracelets have a tracking sensor?" Chasca said pointedly with indifference. "You don't want any problems, I don't want any problems. Come on now."

Xilonen grabbed the girl's right wrist with both hands.

"Turn away," Xilonen said.

Chasca just grinned.

"I'm never turning away."

And Xilonen abruptly pulled the girl's thumb, pulling it out of the joint. Chasca only flinched slightly.

"Well, now I'm going to try to pull off the bracelet," Xilonen said hesitantly. "It's strange that you haven't tried this method yourself. Of course, it would hurt to put your finger back in place without the help of a doctor, but it would definitely help..."

"My friends are doctors," Chasca chuckled. "But they both decided rather stubbornly that it was better to follow the rules of that bastard Tsarce and his subordinates than to try to escape."

"And you did the right thing," Xilonen said softly, rummaging for suitable wire cutters. "Where would you go if you ran away? You would have been detained in the city, despite all your outstanding skills. And then what?"

"They would have chained us to the wall," Chasca bit her lip, watching as Xilonen diligently stretched the metal, placing smooth and dense sticks under the metal encircling her arm. "Besides," Chasca averted her eyes. "I don't like to hurt myself. This... Provokes some reaction."

Xilonen chuckled knowingly. As if she didn't know what kind of reaction it was. The Abyss in the girl's mind rebelled against causing pain. Why did Xilonen let Chasca in at all, seeing how close she was to going crazy at the tournament? The answer was simple: Mavuika had asked her.

Or was Xilonen just sympathizing with the girl? Xilonen could still make her own decisions! Casting a sidelong glance at Chasca, who was stubbornly staring back at her, Xilonen sighed. No, it's just for Mavuika.

"I put some sticks under the bracelet, now I'm going to try to take it off." Xilonen warned, and then pulled the bracelet on herself. It slowly began to move, freeing Chasca's hand from the shackle.

There were four more to go.

"Pyro Archon didn't rush to break her arm to remove the handcuffs either," Chasca commented.

She lifted her own palm and looked at it as if she couldn't enjoy the sight.

"Mavuika might not have the determination," Xilonen replied, starting on Chasca’s other hand. There was a crunch.

"She lacks determination in many places," Chasca sarcastically remarked, gnashing her teeth at the unpleasant sensations.

Xilonen stopped and squinted at the Chasca.

"Mavuika may be a bad Archon, but you still have no right to condemn her. She's doing everything she can. She might be scared too," Xilonen began to slip the sticks under the bracelet.

"You treat her like a child," Chasca muttered, but fortunately she didn't continue the quarrel. She just watched Xilonen work indifferently. And her blue eyes were so empty.

"You tricked me," Xilonen chuckled. "I panicked and hurriedly started removing your shackles. But why was I even afraid that some people would come and knock on my door looking for you?"

At the same moment, there was a knock on the door from outside. Kachina, who was sitting on a chair in the corner, raised her head in alarm. Xilonen sighed. She needs to stop defying fate with her rash phrases.

"Will you open it?" Chasca raised an eyebrow. She adjusted her own fingers without batting an eye.

Xilonen nodded and headed for the door. What else she could do.

"I'm listening," the woman opened the door and stared at the people who had disturbed her. But it wasn't the soldiers. Women from work, with whom Xilonen could sometimes have a drink.

"Hello, Xilonen," the colleagues exchanged worried glances. "You've probably heard the news? About the tournament, about the People of the Springs, about..." The woman leaned closer and whispered. "About a runaway?"

"What runaway?" Xilonen said deliberately loudly, mentally going over the options.

If these women came to her, they might know that Chasca was hiding with her. Or was this decision made without any grounds?

"A runaway is...!" Said the first woman.

"A savage! From the Flower-Feather Clan!" The second woman exclaimed in a loud whisper. "She is dangerous and escaped from the supervision of the authorities!"

"Oh," Xilonen said indifferently, cautiously surveying her surroundings. What if there's an enemy hiding out there somewhere? "And what does that have to do with me?"

The women exchanged glances and lowered their heads.

"That's what I told that guy, but he told me what his boss said. They say you’re friends with the Archon, and it was her request to help this girl escape! By the way, Pyro Archon ran away herself!"

"That's enough," Xilonen said roughly. "My friendship with the Archon does not concern any of you or any of those whose words you have heard. And about the runaway girl..."

"But, Xilonen. You've been so friendly with the rest of the Natlan people before."

Oh, and since when has this become something bad. Xilonen frowned.

"You're confusing something. I don't know who you've heard enough of to come looking for a runaway in my house. Are you now suspecting me of harboring a criminal?"

The women squinted at each other.

"People saw it... We just wanted to warn you."

"And I have nothing to do with criminals, nor with any of the Scions of the Canopy, nor with the Archon, nor with the savages of the Flower-Feather Clan. Leave me alone!"

Xilonen wanted to close the door, but one of her colleagues prevented her from doing so.

"At least don't kid yourself, Xilonen. Everyone knows that you will be the first to betray us. While someone is working tirelessly, you make special orders for money!! And now your patron has turned his back on you, and immediately there are rumors that you are helping criminals!"

Xilonen just slammed the door in their faces.

"That's how I handle things," Xilonen chuckled, meeting Kachina's wary gaze and... A disgruntled Chasca. Xilonen closed the locks and moved away from the door.

"The savages of the Flower-Feather Clan," Chasca said accusingly. "But I was just beginning to believe in the decency of at least one of you."

Xilonen rubbed the bridge of her nose tiredly.

"Kachina," the girl immediately jumped up and left the room, understanding Xilonen without words. What a wonderful child.

Chasca was still sulking, her whole face expressing disappointment.

"Don't you understand that I called you that for the good?"

"To convince your friends of your innocence? Or do you always talk about us like that?"

"They're not my friends." Xilonen picked up several broken swords and spears lying on the hallway floor and carried them to a drawer in the corner of the hallway. "They're just jealous," Xilonen said, throwing one weapon after another. "I fulfill special orders and receive money. But they forget," Xilonen gathered more weapons. "That I also work for the benefit of society, at a defense plant. The fact that I have such special orders is my own achievement."

The weapon rattled in the drawer as Xilonen dragged it towards the workshop. These were either blanks that needed to be refined, or weapons that needed to be repaired. Her orders. There are too many of them.

"You wouldn't like it if I called you something offensive." Chasca said angrily. She was sitting cross-legged and looked like a crouching qucusaurus.

"Try it," Xilonen said, continuing to sort through the piles of things. She usually didn't have time, but right now she desperately wanted to vent her anger. Cleaning would be a great option.

"The beast," Chasca suggested.

"Your friend already called me that," Xilonen replied, dragging several blueprints towards the warehouse. A real warehouse, not what the rest of her apartment had become.

"I'm sure Ororon didn't mean to offend you!" Chasca shouted so that Xilonen could hear her.

"I know. Being offended by him is like being offended by a child," Xilonen returned to where Chasca was still sitting on the floor.

"He's not what you think he is." Chasca said after a short pause. "Although the beast is a shitty insult."

Xilonen just shrugged her shoulders. If they had to work together, then she would have a chance to get to know Ororon better.

If only they understand exactly what they need to do. So far, the situation seemed very, very dubious.

"A miner?" Chasca asked. "No, it's better to say, clay kicker. Your whole tribe is kind of..."

"Well, it's true," Xilonen grinned. "The stereotype justifies itself."

"All the stereotypes about your people are based on a passion for stones," Chasca pursed her lips. "What could possibly hurt you?"

Xilonen shrugged her shoulders. She was always pretty calm, and there was only one thing that made her mad...

"You’re corrupt."

"Yes, I like money."

"Then you're a hypocrite, you just said that you forge to order because you have talent."

"One thing doesn't interfere with the other," Xilonen took away several boxes of obsidian in turn.

"You have a funny tail."

"And you have strange ears. Don't cling to appearances."

Xilonen raised an eyebrow and looked at Chasca. There was a familiar determination on her face.

"Do you want to win this argument at any cost?"

Chasca's eyes sparkled. She grinned.

"I can't lose."

Xilonen shook her head and began sorting through other ores, precious ones, piled in a box with the coal that Xilonen used to heat the furnace. Yes, this is the wrong way of storing, but as if Xilonen would not be able to distinguish a gemstone from a simple stone. Justified the stereotype.

"You're the Archon's favorite toy," came a message from her back. Xilonen froze, and then turned around and looked at Chasca, narrowing her eyes. The woman knew that they had become truly bestial.

"You also justify stereotypes about your people. It's wild. Why were you so desperate to find something to prick me?"

Chasca grimaced.

"You supported it yourself. Also..." The girl closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. "Okay, I admit it. I was wrong." Chasca looked at Xilonen again. "When I get excited, it's hard for me to stop. And the voice of the Abyss in my mind doesn't help."

"Okay." Xilonen returned to sorting.

Archon's favorite toy. What does that even mean? And why does this phrase hurt Xilonen so much?

"Toy is... That's the wrong word," Chasca spoke up again. "It would be more correct to call you a figure. Like in chess. You work for her, you make these... Ancient Names, but she drops everything and goes into the Night Kingdom. Maybe one day the Archon will sacrifice your life for her plan, and you won't even know that you were just a pawn. Because there are only pieces on the board, and she's playing with them."

Xilonen turned around again, examining Chasca more closely. Well, that was a pretty insightful conclusion from a girl with an Abyss-infected mind. Or was this infection not what they all imagined?

"Mavuika is my friend. She won't sacrifice my life."

"Maybe so," Chasca shrugged her shoulders. "But your blind faith in the Archon will lead you to take the blow meant for her."

It was as if she knew what Xilonen was thinking, but she made her willingness to defend Mavuika look like something bad.

"I want it," Xilonen replied simply. "I have to protect her."

Chasca let out a scornful laugh.

"Besides, you're also one of the pieces on the chessboard right now. Commander Tsarce needs you for some reason..."

"To take out the bitterness of his defeat on me. As if you believe that he would be able to enter our lands. Now the only one left in his hands is me."

Chasca knew all this because she questioned Xilonen about what had happened when she woke up in the carriage heading to the Children of Echoes. Whatever conclusions she came to, they were clearly disappointing.

"Will you be able to return home at all without putting your family and friends in danger?" Xilonen was genuinely wondering if Chasca had at least some kind of plan.

"I won't get my hopes up. As long as the shackles are on me, Tsarce has control. It's dangerous."

"Do you still hear his orders?" Xilonen tensed. All she needed was for this psycho to break into her house.

"It's easier from a distance. They're barely audible. But he's no fool either – the closer he gets, the harder it is for me to resist. Although now, without the two handcuffs, it's easier."

Xilonen shook her head sympathetically. It turns out that the voice of the Abyss and the voice of one maniacal Commander were fighting in Chasca's head. And somewhere between them was the girl herself. It's a terrible situation.

"I have no allies here," Chasca said, playing with the knots on her red scarf. "But it means that there are no weaknesses either. If only I can, I will finish off Tsarce. This time, he won't have anyone to threaten me."

"And you're not afraid? Lose control or not be able to win?" Xilonen asked, sitting closer.

They were still sitting on the cold floor, but they didn't mind the inconvenience. One coped with the worst, the other was too interested.

"Not, I’m not." Chasca's eyes were dancing with fire. "If there's no one to cover me, then I'll open my eyes at the back of my head. And what about control..." Chasca grinned maliciously. "At the very least, I'll let the Abyss possess me."

"You can't just let the Abyss kill you," Xilonen put her hand on the girl's knee in a gesture of support, stubbornly playing a staring game with her. "And you're wrong that you don't have any allies here."

"You quickly changed your mind from "I'm only helping you for the sake of the Pyro Archon" to "I'll watch your back if necessary"." Chasca smiled sincerely.

It was cute because the girl's face was clearly not used to this emotion. Xilonen rarely saw her relaxed, and they spent several days in close contact. But now Chasca seemed to let herself exhale. And she seemed to find her judgment of Xilonen funny. Well. It's time to slightly darken her happiness.

"No," Xilonen felt her lips stretch into a malicious grin. Well, she can't stand it alone, right? "Don't you remember agreeing to participate in a very adventurous plan?"

Xilonen watched as the smile slipped from Chasca's face, replaced by something like shock and... embarrassment.

"Nah, don't tell me that someone remembered that. Chuychu was joking, I didn't agree to anything!"

Chasca even waved her hands in the air, so much so that she did not want to be considered involved in the rescue team of Natlan.

"One way or another, you're going to have to help. I need someone to deliver copies of the Ancient Name to the Flower-Feather Clan. It takes six heroes to defeat the Abyss."

Chasca sighed heavily. She covered her face with her hands and massaged her eyelids.

"Okay," she said bleakly. "Only because you helped me remove at least some of those shackles."

"And what happens when I take off the rest?" Xilonen asked.

Her companion chuckled.

"If I survive, I can fulfill your every wish. I'm a pretty capable warrior. But I have other talents."

There was no explanation.

"Agreed," Xilonen said cheerfully.

Chasca suddenly got to her feet and walked towards the workshop, where she usually came to annoy Xilonen with her close observation.

"I asked you to..." Xilonen moaned, but followed.

In the room, Chasca bent over the boxes of obsidian and looked at the stones with interest.

"Are you comparing the ore with the one from which the Ancient Name received by Kinich was made?" Chasca frowned as she asked this.

"Yes," Xilonen came over and took the Ancient Name from the table. "I can't believe he got it."

"Well, then, this name is worth its bearer. Maybe you believe too much in the idea of the six heroes of Natlan joining forces to save it?" Chasca ran her fingers over the ore in the crates, and then touched the Ancient Name. "If the new heroes are going to be scoundrels, then I can recommend you a couple of candidates from my Clan. However, it is unlikely that any of them will agree to help."

Xilonen chuckled.

"If not this idea, what else will save this land?" Xilonen said rhetorically. There was no answer in Chasca's eyes, as if she had already accepted the inevitability of death or simply didn't care.

"It's all stupid. You need to believe in real people, evaluate their real strength, and not just wait for an Ancient Name to fall and hit someone on the head, forcing them to act for the good. Shouldn't the desire to save your land come from your heart?"

Chasca was right, but still... It would be painful to abandon an idea that Xilonen had been working on for so long. She studied the Ancient Name, but her own still didn't come out as they should. There was no soul in them.

Kinich wouldn't have taken a simple stone from those ruins if he hadn't realized it contained some hidden power. And these stones, of which there were so many in the Xilonen house... They were dummies.

"I noticed something," Chasca said. Xilonen cocked her ears warily. "As a master, you will agree, right, that the ore from which the Ancient Name is made, and those pieces on your table, they are different?" Chasca tapped her cheek thoughtfully with the tip of her finger, right where her scar ran.

"Yes," Xilonen nodded. Her heart began to beat faster. "But this obsidian is the only kind mined in Natlan. Do you think the ore for the Ancient Names used to be imported from outside?"

"I don't know how it was before, but I have one observation." Chasca turned the Ancient Name over in her hand once more, watching the light reflected on its surface. "I know exactly where to find this exact ore."

Xilonen hugged herself to hide the insane interest caused by this fact. Chasca looked at her, frowned. A crease appeared between her eyebrows.

"It's not far from the Flower-Feather Clan."

Xilonen gave a strangled laugh. As if the problems of recreating the Ancient Name weren't enough, that very ore should have been in the most inaccessible place in Natlan.

Chapter Text

They didn't talk about it, but Chasca understood that Xilonen didn't want to move on to the next stage at all. She had excuses all the time, the woman forged to order, repaired old inventions, constantly immersed herself in the drawings of weapons and invariably returned to work on Ancient Names. Yes, Xilonen didn't have a minute of free time, that's how she justified herself.

And everything was simple. Xilonen avoided meeting Kinich and Mualani.

It doesn't seem that Chasca herself was looking forward to the moment when they would finally have to meet, but days passed, and Xilonen was in no hurry to try to contact their forced companions. However, not a word was heard from them either.

"No, Kachina. My house is not a zoo. It's bad enough that I have to hide two qucusaurus in one of the rooms." Xilonen grumbled. "And then I wonder where the rumors come from when people see qucusaurus cutting through the sky above the Children of Echoes."

"Please, Xilonen." Kachina pleaded. "It's just a tepetlisaurus cub. He doesn't have parents, he'll die if I leave him on the street! It won't take up much space."

"And you'll be leaving soon anyway," Nepecha added mockingly.

Chasca was absently stroking Cacucu's head. He nuzzled into her stomach, purring sadly. He was pining. And the girl understood him perfectly. But they were trapped in Xilonen's house until she had time to go to the Flower-Feather Clan.

Xilonen sighed in exasperation. She worked at the factory for several days, only coming home for a short time. And now, as soon as she got a minute of free time, the woman still had to work. Ancient Names, again. This time, the final calculations. Chasca hoped it was true.

"Do whatever you want," Xilonen said. "But this saurian is your responsibility now."

Kachina shone.

"Maybe when he gets stronger, I can put him in good hands. But now he needs our care!" The girl spun around the room. The little tepetlisaurus clumsily followed, repeating Kachina’s movements.

Someone knocked on the door. Xilonen, as usual, went to open it. Chasca listened carefully.

"Hello, Xilonen! " Mualani chattered happily. "No, Kinich is not with me. I came alone, but not to you. I wanted to see Kachina. And invite her and Nepecha, if she wants, to the festival."

"Mualani!" Kachina exclaimed happily, running out into the hallway. Her tepetlisaurus followed her.

"Kachina, I'm so glad to see you!" It was heard from afar.

Chasca frowned and glanced sideways at Nepecha, who was calmly reading a book without showing excessive joy.

"They're friends," the girl explained. "Actually, the Traveler helped Kachina. She told the rest of it when you first met."

Chasca remembered that they were friends. Simply... Yes, she couldn't shake her suspicion of Mualani. From the very beginning, even before the situation with the clones, the girl was so fake... Pretending to be kind. Sickly perfect.

Chasca turned away and continued stroking Cacucu, a little more fiercely. She wanted to hope that their meeting with Mualani could be avoided, but she did not have time to take any action. The voices began to approach, and the satisfied face of this vulture appeared in the room. Chasca pursed her lips. Not a vulture, just a fool.

"Chasca..!" Mualani put on a fake smile. "I'm so sorry about what happened. I know it's hard to forgive this, but I assure you, I'm very, very, very sorry!"

Chasca chuckled.

"You were warned that monsters could be very close. We must not lose our vigilance.  She said coldly."

"I'm sorry!" Mualani really looked regretful.
Chasca shrugged her shoulders.

"So what kind of festival is there?" Xilonen asked skeptically, leaning against the wall.

Mualani perked up, as if the apology was meant only to reassure herself that she was a good girl. "That's really sweet. The leaders of the Children of Echoes and the Scions of the Canopy felt that they should give their peoples a little more chance of mutual understanding. And so, even if it's still a long time before your next intertribal tournament, they decided to organize a celebration. To boost the spirit!"

"This is so cool, Mualani!" Kachina exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Mualani smiled. "Many refugees came here from the People of the Springs. The leaders think it would be nice to cheer them up too."

"And how did the elders allow this?" Xilonen asked.

"Kinich said that they were not asked." Mualani laughed.

"Did Pacal go around all these old mean hags?" Nepecha was surprised.

"Nepecha, even if they are idiots, they are still older than you. You need to show respect..." Xilonen said monotonously. "The elders of the Children of Echoes aren’t better than the elders of the Scions of the Canopy – both are tyrants."

"And the elders of the People of the Springs are jerks," Mualani added.

Xilonen's lips stretched into a satisfied smile. Chasca looked away, returning to the mockery of Cacucu. He was still sad. And Chasca shared his feelings. They both belonged to the Flower-Feather Clan, not Natlan.

Their people were outcasts among the rest. Of course, the conversation passed by Chasca. There were no elders in the Flower-Feather Clan, only a council headed by Mutota. Maybe that's why her people were better? The power there was in the hands of really decent people.

"And there will be dancing, and music, and a baking contest!" Listed Mualani.

"Oh, I want to participate in a baking contest!" Kachina clapped her hands. "While you were gone, I learned how to cook brownies! It's so delicious!"

Mualani took Kachina's hands in hers and spun her around the room. Their laughter hurt Chasca's ears.

"I wouldn't mind going..." Nepecha whispered softly. Mualani immediately stopped and ran up to the chair where the girl was sitting.

"Nepecha! It's wonderful! I heard there's going to be a reading contest. You could read an excerpt from one of the books that you like so much!"

"But I read stupid books," Nepecha said, confused. She read something with the title "I was reborn as a radish, and my main enemy is a clumsy dragon."

"Don't lose your chance," Mualani encouraged her.

Nepecha nodded in agreement. Chasca watched the girls in silence.

"Why don't you go with them?" Xilonen's question brought Chasca back from her thoughts.

She raised an eyebrow skeptically and stared at Xilonen.

"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Chasca grimaced. "I can't go outside. And besides..." She glanced at Mualani, who was happily discussing something with Kachina.

"You should go," Xilonen said confidently. "You need to take a walk, you've been cooped up too long. Don't be afraid of changes in your life."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll keep working on the orders," Xilonen grinned. "What else can I do?"

"And then we'll meet and discuss the plan?" Chasca asked hopefully.

She had a chance to get home! If only Xilonen decides to go to the Flower-Feather Clan for the ore.

"Well..." Xilonen drawled. "I have a lot of work. I don't have time..."

Chasca raised an eyebrow, studying Xilonen's face. She was pretty, of course, but there were deep shadows under her eyes. Because someone barely slept while doing their jobs. However, Chasca was sure that Xilonen was just avoiding meeting with Kinich and Mualani. After all, this would lead to changes that the woman disliked.

"You're the one who's afraid of changes." Chasca said with displeasure. "I'll go entertain my pursuers with a chase."

Chasca transferred Cacucu to the sofa and got to her feet, attracting the attention of Kachina and Mualani. The latter smiled uncertainly.

"You should probably wear something in the colors of the Children of Echoes, so as not to stand out among other people." Mualani said.
Chasca chuckled.

"No red scarf," Xilonen added. "And you'd better braid your hair so that the blue ends don't stand out."

Chasca agreed with displeasure. But even that didn't help. She still felt like she was different from the people from outer Natlan, even from those gathered in the room.

"Then let's move out!" Mualani suggested positively.

Kachina extended her hand to Nepecha, and they walked towards the exit. Chasca trailed after him. She braided her hair and twisted it with pins so that the ends were hidden under the main mass. And she was wearing something from Xilonen's clothes, which had become familiar in recent days. But Chasca's face screamed that she is the danger.

"I hope to be able to sign up for the baking contest!" Kachina said worriedly.

"I'm sure it's not too late!" Mualani encouraged her.

"People here tend to show distrust. There are definitely still plenty of empty places." Nepecha added.

And Chasca had nothing to add. She looked around sullenly, assessing the risks of this walk. But it was very nice to be free.

"It turns out that there are better lifts here than the one we used last time," Kachina remarked.

As Mualani explained, all the activities began with the Scions of the Canopy, and in the evening they went down to the Children of Echoes.

"That's right," Mualani smiled. "Kinich showed it to me. In addition, a truce will be established between the two nations and guests from other tribes today."

"Which gives us every right to walk through the territory of the Scions of the Canopy!" Nepecha said with excessive enthusiasm. In response to the questioning looks, she added. "I've never been there. Still, I'm not brave enough to walk there alone..."

"Oh," Mualani made a sympathetic sound.

Yeah, oh. Chasca rolled her eyes. She was beginning to get tired of Mualani's company, which seemed to her overly emotional and responsive. And Chasca could have sworn that half of those smiles and laughs were fake.

Or was it the voice of the Abyss in her head sure about it? She didn't know, but negative emotions were quickly gaining the upper hand, so she urgently needed a distraction.

Such an opportunity presented itself pretty quickly – they saw the shooting range.

"I'll stay here," she said quickly, hurrying to shoot.

Despite the downed sight of the revolvers that were provided for the game, Chasca completed the first attempt with an almost one hundred percent hit. Further – more. It was Xilonen's money, and Chasca allowed herself to get carried away.

"But you've already won all the prizes," the guy from the Children of Echoes in charge of the attraction paled.

"The prizes aren't that important, I just want to warm up," Chasca grinned self–confidently, twirling the revolvers on her fingers.

"But we're going to run out of targets soon..." The guy tried to object.

Chasca glared at him. Excitement burned in her blood. In addition, her own revolvers were taken away when she was captured. The habit of carrying them in a holster, rather than summoning them as a weapon, went sideways for her.

"Please have mercy," the guy looked desperate.

"There was an archery range nearby," someone from the crowd said.

Oh, yes, she's got an audience.

"Okay." With a satisfied grin, Chasca left, taking a few plush toys with her. She will give them to Kachina and Nepecha.

Already on the sidelines, Chasca realized that she shouldn't have attracted so much attention.

"Chasca," someone called her quietly from the crowd.

She stopped, looking with displeasure at Mualani, who was already standing next to her.

"What do you want?" The girl asked sullenly.

"Kachina baked waffles, I brought you some." To confirm her words, Mualani handed Chasca a small cardboard box containing a pair of waffles covered with jam.

"I don't like that," Chasca said stubbornly. It wasn't true, but Mualani didn't need to know it. "And anyway, why are you here?"

Mualani's smile became a little dimmer.

"I know we got off to the wrong start, but I really don't want this tension between us. So how about we try to participate in something together?"

An outstretched box and a strained smile. Chasca felt her eye twitch. Was that some kind of olive branch?

Despite her thoughts, Chasca pursed her lips.

"Do you always make people be friends with you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

Mualani grimaced.

"It's not like that! She exclaimed. "I'm not forcing you to be my friend, and...!"

"That's good, Chasca interrupted her. "Because I don't want to be friends with you. And somehow get in touch too. I don't like you, get over it and forget it." She looked intently into Mualani's eyes. "You can't be everyone's friend."

Mualani's gaze grew heavier, although the smile did not leave her face.

"Okay." She said briefly. "If I want to be your friend... I don't like people like you either."

"Because I'm a savage from the Flower-Feather Clan?" Chasca asked quietly but angrily.

"Because you are rude and deliberately provoke conflicts."

"Some of your friends do that too." Chasca said with distaste. "How do I differ from Kinich or Rizok, as Xilonen describes them?"

"You don't know anything about them," Mualani said, frowning.

"So explain it. What is the difference?" Chasca asked in a furious whisper, taking a couple of steps towards Mualani, who looked confused, which gave Chasca the advantage. "That's right." She bared her teeth mockingly. "It’s all because they are boys."

Mualani's face paled and then flushed.

"How can you say that!?" She exclaimed.

Chasca enjoyed these emotions, feeling confident, strong and dangerous. But before she could say another word, a hand landed on her shoulder.

Chasca shuddered and shook off the limb.

"Girls, today is not the time for quarrels," a man from the Scions of the Canopy patted Mualani on the shoulder. "We are here for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. So why don't you try to figure out the problem by competing with each other?"

Mualani narrowed her eyes.

"That's right, because I'll still be better than her." She was clearly provoking Chasca.

Chasca chuckled. She didn't back down from the challenge.

"Let's check it out."

And they actually started competing. These were various rather silly contests, for example, who knows Natlan's folk songs better (obviously, Mualani) or who could memorize sequences of pictures better (Chasca). In some ways, Mualani surpassed her – mostly it was everyday things. And somewhere Chasca confidently won – usually where a quick reaction was required.

It got to the point where they participated in competitions organized for children. Chasca confidently won among all those who tried to remain motionless while the presenter looked at them. But Mualani did a better job of building towers made of grainfruits. Anyway, Chasca didn't have a chance to calm her racing heart. Excitement got the better of reason, especially at times when Mualani demonstrated skills that Chasca did not expect from her. And then she laughed and smiled at her in a friendly way. Chasca wanted her own eyes to be permanently frozen in the rolled–up position – it was so cheesy and fake.

"I'm sorry," someone said softly.

Chasca looked down. While she and Mualani were spoiling the children's entertainment, children were watching with interest two adult women who seemed to be going crazy. But the child who disturbed Chasca was not in the mood for fun. The little girl was sitting in a wheelchair, and it seemed that she was one step away from bursting into tears.

"What happened?" Mualani, who was nearby in a second, fell to her knees. She reached out and gently stroked the baby's head.

"My parents told me to spend some time here while they are busy at work. But it seems that the stone hit the wheel. And now the stroller is broken." The girl tried to move the stroller, but she couldn't. She lowered her head in disappointment."

Mualani examined the wheel, but repairing such things was not one of her hidden skills. She stood up and looked at Chasca.

"It's not good to take Xilonen away from work, but she could help..." Mualani looked around. "Can you keep an eye on the girl while I run after Xilonen?"

Chasca tensed. She wasn't patient, and she certainly wasn't known for her love of children. And this sad girl will cry at any wrong word.

"I... Um... I don't get along very well with children," she confessed. "Why don't I go get Xilonen while you look after her?"

Mualani shrugged her shoulders.

"It sounds reasonable, but Xilonen won't approve if you go after her alone. The events will move down soon, but before that, you should stay among this crowd," Mualani waved her hand at the people, of whom there really were a lot.

"That's not an argument," Chasca grumbled.

"Just wait here, I'll be quick!" Without listening to the objections, Mualani took off and ran towards the lifts.

Wonderful. Chasca cast a wary glance at the little girl fiddling with her dress.

"Well... I really don't know how to deal with children."

Chasca looked around for anyone who looked responsible enough to help her. She caught sight of a group of children from the Scions of the Canopy jumping rope with their saurians. They didn't look responsible, but at least they weren't her.

"Wait a bit," Chasca said quickly to the girl, heading towards the children. "Hey, guys!" She addressed them more loudly.

The children got distracted and stared at the girl. Chasca tried to make her face more friendly.

"Do you guys see that girl in a wheelchair?" Chasca pointed with her palm to where the girl was still sitting and staring at her. "Could you please keep her company for a while?"

"Oh, I saw you shooting at the shooting range." Said one of the boys.

"Will you show us the revolvers?"

"Do you sign autographs?"

Chasca shook her head.

"I don't have any revolvers with me, but later, I'll definitely show you a couple of tricks."

The children looked downcast, but still agreed to chat with the girl left in Chasca's care. An awkward conversation ensued between them, which allowed Chasca to scan his surroundings again. Suddenly, her gaze caught on a suspiciously familiar shape. In addition to the colors of their tribes, Tsarce’s warriors wore dark purple armor. And a piece of this armor flashed among the people.

Chasca glanced at the children once more. Well, they can handle it themselves. She slowly retreated, and then quickly walked towards where the armored man had disappeared.

The girl quickly caught up with him and continued walking slowly, keeping to the side. They gradually moved away from the venue to where it was sparsely populated and gloomy. And the longer Chasca watched the man, the further she went into the dark alleys.

Maybe she should have listened to Xilonen and stayed out of trouble.

The man froze, and then greeted several comrades in the same uniform. They headed deeper into one of the alleys. Their faces were faintly visible in the darkness. Chasca had to follow them, hoping to remain unnoticed.

The group of warriors moved on, into the space between the two houses. The entrance was boarded up, although there was a gap in the old wooden fence, through which they climbed. Chasca remained on the other side of the fence, listening to the warriors' conversation.

"I think I saw her at the festival," one of them rasped. "But I can't be sure."

"It seemed to me that a fugitive should be hiding, not having fun in front of everyone." The second voice said, slightly offended.

"Well, I'm sure they're covering for her." Tsarce said angrily, whose voice Chasca easily recognized.

The girl frowned. A shadow passed over her from above, and Chasca turned around when she heard the soft sound of landing. It was as if she had led herself into a trap, the exits from which were closing with every passing second.

But it wasn't one of the Tsarce's men. It was just Kinich, who gave her a discontentedly surprised look. Chasca answered him with a frown and put her finger to her lips. The guy rolled his eyes.

"I don't understand you at all, Tsarce." The second one whined. "Why are you so attached to this slut? It would be better to search for the Archon, as Commander Windosh wrote to you."

"I'm not going to listen to his orders," Tsarce hissed. "He thinks he's the Archon now that Mavuika's gone. We don't even have to look for her. Everyone knows that she teamed up with the Fatui!"

Chasca was surprised. She allowed herself a quick glance at Kinich. He answered her in confusion, frowning, but with doubtful eyes. Chasca turned away and continued eavesdropping.

"With the Fatui," the first one rasped. "And what can we do against them?"

"And that's where this witch comes in," Tsarce emphasized the last word. "I have an idea how I can use her."

"And how?" The first one asked blankly. "We haven't heard any explanation from you, we're just wasting our time here. Let's go back to the City of the Sacred Flame."

"Shut up!" Tsarce growled. "We will return to the City of the Sacred Flame only with the witch."

"So why do you need her?" The second one asked with fatigue in his voice.

"Because I'm going to make her our new Pyro Archon!"

Hearing this, Chasca couldn't help but look out from behind the fence a little further to see the Tsarce's face and emotions. He started walking down the alley, waving his arms. Chasca disappeared again, and the Commander's loud speech could be clearly heard in the silence.

"Come on, think about it yourself. She won the tournament. All that remains is to defeat the Archon, but she escaped. So the throne is empty. And everyone will want to sit on it." He laughed. "Why can't I wish the same?!"

"Because you're not the first one in line for this throne?"

"So why do you need the savage if you can become an Archon yourself?"

"Because she's my puppet. And then," he paused. "I need to get to the Flower-Feather Clan."

Chasca shuddered as the psychopath's laughter echoed through the empty alley. Does he need the Flower-Feather Clan? Never in her life would she let him cross the border of her land!

"Then what are you waiting for, Tsarce?" The second one asked dejectedly. "Why are we looking for her for so long – just give the order."

"I know what to do without your useless advices!" Tsarce said angrily. "She's being covered by the leader of the Children of Echoes and," came the sound of spitting, "the Archon's friend. My orders seem to be ignored!"

Because they were far away from her. And Chasca really made great efforts to keep herself from submitting to the Tsarce. How long has this man been here? Is he wandering outside the walls of the Xilonen house? Or is the help of the leader of the Children of Echoes that he does not give out to idiots like Tsarce the place of residence of one of the brilliant representatives of his people?

"Well, then we can go back to the square and look for her there," summed up the second. "We might as well go out for a drink."

"Asshole, she's already in my hands!" Tsarce exclaimed confidently. "Now she's not in the territory of the Children of Echoes, which means we won't have to break into someone's house, which Pacal has strongly forbidden us to do. And this witch is having fun at a party nearby. I'll just give the order..." At the end, his voice became quieter. 

Chasca realized what was going to happen a second before Tsarce's voice rang in her head. She froze, noticing movement next to her out of the corner of her eye. And then she lost consciousness.

When Chasca woke up, there was only a starry sky above her. She sat up and looked around. Still in the territory of the Scions of the Canopy, but she was not bound, and no Tsarce landed on the roof next to her. It was Kinich, gloomy and cold as usual.

"You didn't have to knock me out."

Kinich chuckled. Chasca caught his eye, and they stared at each other.

"Would you rather go and surrender to the Tsarce?" Kinich raised an eyebrow, mocking her.

"I would never. Besides, what prevents you from working for them? To mislead me, to make me trust, and then betray."

"You don't have any trust in people, Chasca. I couldn't make you trust me even if I wanted to." Kinich shook his head.

Chasca frowned. Her mind was in a mess again, because all day she had been on the verge of succumbing to the voice of the Abyss, and she hadn't even realized it. She was just angry, and that's where she ended up. And at the end of the day, Tsarce also returned.

"Are we far from them?"

"Far enough. I followed them before they went down to the Children of Echoes. Apparently they thought you were already downstairs."

Chasca chuckled.

"They’re idiots."

"They are," Kinich agreed.

"I don't trust you anyway, and I don't feel grateful."

"I didn't doubt it," Kinich said indifferently. "It's just that we're all working towards a common goal. Just like that, not playing friends."

At least someone here understood her.

"Exactly. I will do what Xilonen demands of me. And the rest won't be my problem."

Kinich gave her another indifferent look.

"I'll count the days," he said with a slight sneer. "Although I don't care what you plan to do. Just don't expose yourself and others."

Chasca bared her teeth. This guy... She still couldn’t stand him.

Kinich hooked on the cable and disappeared from sight. Chasca climbed down from the roof and wandered towards the center. Fortunately, the voices in her head had shouted down.

Xilonen and Mualani were already there. They, along with those children on whom Chasca had previously left the girl, surrounded her wheelchair and carefully watched the work of the Xilonen tools. She was so good – quick hand movements, attentive gaze.

"Oh, Chasca," Mualani drew attention to her.

Chasca nodded in displeasure and moved to the side where she could observe the others without attracting attention to herself. Xilonen finished her work and stepped back, allowing the girl to test the repaired chair. Mualani clapped her hands happily.

"You shouldn't have left the kids alone," Xilonen said reproachfully, approaching Chasca.

She made an unhappy face.

"I saw Tsarce." The girl said stubbornly. "He's looking for me, and now I know why."

Xilonen's eyebrows rose.

"Don't tell me you followed him. It's dangerous!"

"Well, I know," Chasca shrugged her shoulders. "He wants to make me an Archon."

Shock showed on Xilonen's face.

"What? But what about Mavuika!?"

"Mavuika teamed up with Fatui," Chasca rolled her eyes. "Which is to be expected from an Archon like her."

"Huh," Xilonen breathed.

Her face became unreadable, and Chasca looked away to give the other woman space.

"Well," Chasca shrugged her shoulders. "We should think about going to the Flower-Feather Clan as soon as possible."

"On what makes him think that you can become the new Archon?" Xilonen asked, confused.

Did Xilonen really think Chasca was unworthy of it?

"Because I won the tournament." She tried to sound nonchalant so as not to show how hurt she was by Xilonen's attitude. Of course, she did not want to become an Archon, but this does not mean that she does not have a single quality that would help her become worthy of this status.

"But you didn't win," Xilonen muttered. "In duels, yes. But not in the tournament for the title of the best warrior."

"Catch up with this idiot and ask him why he thinks so!" Chasca exclaimed. "I know I shouldn't become an Archon." Chasca held Xilonen's gaze. "Yes. I'm not going to take this title away from Mavuika, relax."

Xilonen smiled wryly.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. Mavuika is just..." Xilonen clenched her fists.

"She just made another move without telling anyone," Chasca shrugged. "It's time for you to get used to it."

Xilonen chuckled. Her pale eyes were full of sadness.

"Xilonen, I'm sorry to interrupt," Kachina awkwardly intervened in the conversation between the girls. "Leader Pacal was looking for you..."

Xilonen frowned.

"No case is solved here without your help?" Chasca asked with a grin.

Xilonen made a confused sound.

"Let's go find out what he wants." Xilonen beckoned to Mualani and followed Kachina.

"Is something wrong?" Mualani asked anxiously.

"I don't know," came Xilonen's curt reply.

"The leader asked Xilonen to come over," Kachina explained. "Nepecha stayed with him, but Pacal didn't tell us what he wanted from you."

It was hardly something good. Although there was a glimmer of hope in Chasca's chest. During these days, Xilonen carried out various tasks that were not always related to forging. Maybe there's a kitten stuck out there somewhere and no one can save it better than Xilonen. Apparently, she would have to meow for it...

"Well, Pacal," Xilonen turned to the leader, whom Chasca had seen only once. He came to make sure that the girl from the Flower-Feather Clan was really hiding with Xilonen. And then he agreed to cover her up.

"Xilonen," Pacal waved his hand, greeting them all. "I'll get straight to the point – the events were supposed to continue downstairs, and that's what happened, but..." He waved his hand in the direction where the Children of Echoes’ settlement was supposedly located below. "There is one problem."

"What's that?" Xilonen tensed up.

"There was a fire," Pacal said quickly. "In the northern district, right where your work is located."

Right where her house is located. Xilonen understood it without words.

"I need to go downstairs." Xilonen said sharply.

"Xilonen, everything is not very good there..." Pacal tried to stop her.

"It doesn't matter, all my research is there!"

Xilonen headed for the lifts. Nepecha and Kachina ran after her. Chasca, Mualani and Pacal were left alone.

"Was the Xilonen’s house damaged too?" Mualani exclaimed.

Pacal nodded.

"Cacucu and Tetor are still there!" Chasca and Mualani's eyes met, reflecting the same fright.
"Hurry up," Chasca also started running.

If she was asked to describe what she saw... Well, Xilonen’s house didn't just seem to be damaged. This place looked like it was where the fire had started.

When Mualani and Chasca reached the house, Xilonen was already there. Kachina and Nepecha stood awkwardly by the door, the first had a tepetlisaurus cub in her arms, and the second was holding Cacucu, who, fortunately, did not look injured. Tetor was sitting discontentedly on a crossbar nearby.

After exchanging glances, Mualani and Chasca entered the house. Little has survived. The walls were burned, and there was nothing left of the furniture. Xilonen was not visible in the living room, she seemed to be in her workshop.

And so it was, Xilonen, with her hands covered in soot, was trying to find at least something that had survived the fire. The workshop was charred so much that there is little left here. Just the ore, broken into small, tiny pieces.

"It's all gone!" Xilonen looked with despair at the girls who had entered. "My research, ancient scrolls and books. All that is gone!"

She wanted to put her hands to her head, but refused. Instead, Xilonen sat on her knees, continuing to sort through the stones.

"Xilonen..." Mualani came over and put her hand on woman’s shoulders. "There's nothing in the other rooms either?"

"Yes," Xilonen replied. "Whoever it was, he destroyed everything that could help us."

Chasca touched the wall. The way it looked seemed strange to the girl. Footsteps sounded in the hallway.

"I heard what happened and came here," Kinich entered the room, looking around.

"I'm happy for you," Xilonen replied angrily. "This bastard is going to pay for what he did!"

Xilonen threw a handful of rocks at the wall.

"The bastard?" Kinich asked. "If you're talking about Tsarce, then it's not his doing. I've been following them since Chasca and I split up. They didn't come near your house."

"But there were only three of them," Chasca said. "What could have prevented him from sending someone here...?" She paused. "No, I don't think so. The walls definitely look weird."

The others took a closer look. The eerie black walls were depressing. But besides that, they seemed to radiate the energy of the Abyss.

"The Abyss..." Xilonen said in shock.

"It makes sense," Kinich confirmed. "To destroy all your research so that you can't recreate the Ancient Names."

"You didn't have to finish your sentence," Xilonen grumbled. "I know it already. We've lost everything."

"Even my Ancient Name?" Kinich asked indifferently.

"No. I took it with me. But it doesn't matter. Without scrolls, without research, there's nothing left! I've been working on this for five years, and I've lost everything."

Xilonen got to her feet and kicked another pile of stones that had previously been obsidian.

"That's not true, Xilonen." Mualani looked at her seriously, squeezing the woman's shoulders. "There's something left."

"And what's that?" The woman asked skeptically.

"Mualani, you can't just say something like "your friends are here." It won't help." Chasca added, making Mualani wince.

"No, it's not." She waved Chasca away. "Judge for yourself, who else in Natlan could have done this if not you, Xilonen? Recreate the lost technology? Do the impossible?"

"But I'm not omnipotent. I did this only because I had all these drawings, research, and information..."

"She's right," Chasca agreed glumly. "No one else could, and it's not about the scrolls and blueprints. It's about your head. Your memory."

"You were their target," Kinich frowned.

"Which means that someone really wants you dead." Chasca added.

"There are no monster claw marks here," Xilonen gestured around the house. "Just the flames that started from my room."

Mualani shuddered.

"And since we've come to the conclusion that it's the flame of the Abyss..."

It's very simple. The Abyss is on the trail of Xilonen. And this time, their enemy is more dangerous and smarter than the hilichurls or the rifthounds.

"You're looking for me, aren't you?" A familiar annoying voice disturbed Tsarce while he was drinking.

It was a small bar on the territory of the Children of Echoes, where he and his companions stumbled in after an unsuccessful search for a witch. And now she had come into his hands by herself!

The man turned around and staggered back. He shouldn't have been afraid of the savage, but she was standing behind him. With rage in her eyes and a revolver pointed at Tsarce’s back.

"Youu," Tsarce's eyes narrowed angrily. "Did you come to give up?"

Chasca laughed. Her laughter was jerky and slightly frightening. In addition, the energy of the Abyss seemed to be spreading around them. It was invisible, but goosebumps ran through the Tsarce's body when he felt the touch of this darkness to himself.

"Control the Abyss in your head," he snapped. "That's an order."

There was really less energy, as if Chasca had listened to his words.

"And put the gun away."

The girl obeyed. With a satisfied expression on his face, Tsarce examined the witch. She glared at him.

"And now let's talk, what do you want? Did you come begging for my mercy?"

"No way," Chasca said hoarsely. "But I have one suggestion."

"A suggestion?" Tsarce grinned. "You're in no position to bargain with me. You must rely on my mercy."

"That's right," Chasca grinned. There was something otherworldly shining in her eyes. "Unless you want to know what I can offer you." She leaned over and whispered to him. "Or if I don't have something for you to become someone who relies on my mercy..."

The energy of the Abyss has spread around the man's body again. He swallowed and tried to figure out where it was coming from. But, as before, it was nowhere to be seen.

"You've become dangerous," he chuckled. "I wouldn't be interested in chatting with you, but still..." He narrowed his eyes. "Your eyes are shining with a special brilliance. I'm interested."

He leaned back in his chair. Chasca also retreated and sat down opposite Tsarce.

"Let's have a chat, Commander Tsarce." She chuckled.

Purple flames were splashing in the eyes of this witch.

Chapter Text

He appeared in front of her. This was to be expected, but Mavuika jumped aside as the ground beneath her feet turned into a cursed puddle of filth and evil.

The woman drew her sword. It weighed less than she was used to. But it was still a dream. As always, their meeting did not take place live.

"Pyro Archon," his voice sounded clear, trying to absorb everything that was in Mavuika's mind. "It's been a long time."

Mavuika summoned flames and attacked. The fire went through.

"It's still weak," he grinned. "We're trapped in your head, you're supposed to rule this place, but..." The monster reached out his elongated hand and touched Mavuika's neck and chin. "I'm winning."

Mavuika swung her sword and jumped aside. The monster laughed.

"Won't you even tell me anything? Don't you miss our conversations while I'm not around?"

Mavuika pursed her lips viciously, sending several more fire attacks towards the monster. They didn't do him any harm.

"All right," he grinned.

Suddenly, his presence was felt more strongly. The dream rippled around him. Mavuika looked around intently.

"And today I killed your dear friend," the monster grinned and his inhuman face began to change. "She screamed so loud while she begged me to die." His face became feminine, blond curly hair, familiar green eyes.

"How dare you...!"

"Help me! Somebody!" The monster screamed. His voice was filled with horror and pain.

Mavuika growled and tried to slice through the monster's body with her sword.

"Mavuika! Mavuika, save me! Stop it!" He shouted. The voices of the Abyss echoed him, mocking, angry, full of fear and pain.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Mavuika concentrated, and instead of the burned-out Xilonen workshop, they found themselves outside of space and time.

"You don't like seeing this?" The voices of the Abyss faded away. All except one. The voice of a monster who wants Natlan dead.

It was Gosoythoth.

The Abyss may be multifaceted, but this creature... He was different. His hatred was huge, his appetites were huge. And Gosoythoth itself was huge. In his true form, he was immense.

However, in her dreams he chose much smaller forms. They were Mavuika's friends, her family. Her mistakes.

"You hadn't done anything to her!" Mavuika shouted furiously, slamming her sword on the ground, which caused a crack to open under their feet.

But neither she nor the monster fell through there. Gosoythoth chuckled.

"Really? Can you be sure?" He laughed. "You ran away."

"I didn't run away."

"Of course, and I am the Pyro Archon." Gosoythoth chuckled. "As long as I'm in your head, I can be considered a Pyro Archon."

Mavuika glared at the monster. Fortunately, he looked like himself again. A huge three-meter tall creature with long limbs, covered in armor and an Abyss. His mouth was grinning at her.

"What do you want?" Mavuika sighed. "I already told you, don't come to me from the Abyss, but meet me in person and give me a fair fight."

"But, Mavuika," the mouth of Gosoythoth grew even wider. "It's not as interesting as breaking you."

Mavuika allowed herself to laugh.

"Break me? Me?" She concentrated the power of Pyro in her hands. "I have nothing care about in this world. And I can't be broken!"

She created a shield of flame around herself and expanded it, expelling the enemy. His growl echoed in her ears. Then the screams began again, familiar voices, familiar faces appeared around, growing out of the Abyss. They were screaming, crying, covered in blood, mutilated. They're dead. Embittered.

Mavuika closed her eyes, concentrating. She needs to wake up.

"Mavuika!" A child's voice said her name, so familiar that...

The woman opened her eyes, but did not see the one who called her. Only two burning eyes stared at her from the flames around her.

"Ha-ha-ha," Gosoythoth laughed a shrieking laugh. "You don't even need to care for alive people to make a mistake."

Mavuika growled. She created a hundred fire blades and sent them towards the Gosoythoth. Only a few of them hit the target. The monster screamed.

"Bitch! And yet!" Before Mavuika's eyes, this picture appeared again – the burnt-out workshop, in the center of which lay the broken body of Xilonen.

"No!"

"I'll take them all! Everyone will die! Natlan will fall!"

Noises, screaming, crying. Mavuika tried to close her eyes, but she had to watch Gosoythoth get close to her friend and then "play" with her. No. No. No.

Mavuika screamed and opened her eyes. But there was only a tent in The Captain's camp, where she lived.

It's always been like this. Gosoythoth came, laughed, manipulated her memories. Sometimes he tormented her for hours, and sometimes it ended quickly. And he always told her these words: "I'll take them all."

Mavuika stood up resolutely and went to wash her face. Her hair must have been sticking out in all directions, and the sun was already high in the sky. The woman grimaced. She also slept until lunch, what a shame.

After visiting Fatui's stunningly technological camping shower, Mavuika wanted to go and have a snack, but she was attracted by the noise. She was still plagued by anxiety left over from her meeting with Gosoythoth, and the worst thing would be to hear the bad news coming from the Children of Echoes.

"What's going on?" Mavuika asked.

And she was faced with a look of discontent and rage from Citlali, who came to Fatui's camp.
Mavuika felt her heart skip a beat and then start pounding with a vengeance. She turned pale. Citlali chastised her for using the scrolls and cooperating with Fatui, but Mavuika couldn't think of anything other than the fact that she had just lost her only advantage over Capitano.
And he was already here.

"And really, what will the Pyro Archon tell us?"

He spoke with mockery and self-satisfaction. That's right, he's dictating the rules now. During her time at the camp, Mavuika met with Harbinger, discussing further actions. They had to go to City of the Sacred Flame so that no one would encroach on Mavuika's freedom. The advantage for The Captain was that he would have the opportunity to take decisive strategic actions aimed at saving Natlan. Simply put, if Harbinger wanted to be a strategist making decisions for the benefit of an entire nation, then Mavuika was ready to give in.

If she had heard that someone, but not the Archon, makes decisions five hundred years ago, she would have laughed in the face of whoever thought of saying it. After all, the power of the Archon is absolute, there is no one more important and worthy than this person to rule the country.

And now... There are too many power-hungry officials that the previous Archons surrounded themselves with. And besides them, there were Commanders who wanted power as much as Mavuika herself. She had fought with Windosh for the right to become an Archon.

And she won only to be dominated by this man.
Mavuika clenched her fists viciously.

"Mavuika," Paimon's voice caught the woman's attention. "What are you going to do now?"

She really didn't know.

"Since Elder Itztli is already here, there's no need to follow the first part of our agreement." Mavuika narrowed her eyes and gave The Captain a scornful look. "Now the esteemed Harbinger can only begin to carry out his secret plan. But..." She turned to Citlali. "I wish this Harbinger good luck so that he can convince this elder that we can sacrifice the Night Kingdom."

It was a random shot, an idea that Mavuika came up with while thinking over The Captain's words, reading the scrolls he suggested. Guess for yourself what the Harbinger's plan was.

Citlali frowned.

"Sacrifice the Night Kingdom? How long have we been here in Natlan allowing Fatui to solve important issues for us, Mavuika?"

Mavuika wanted to pit Citlali against the Captain, but the elder suspiciously quickly returned to chastising her. Mavuika grimaced.
"We cooperate with them."

"I suggest we continue this conversation without prying ears," Harbinger said coldly.

And they gathered in his tent: the Traveler and Paimon with thoughtful expressions, a disgruntled Citlali, a confused Mavuika and a smug Capitano. It should be expected that this conversation will have an unfavorable outcome. Elder Itztli was not a pleasant person.

Citlali punched the pillow she was leaning on. "What's your plan, Harbinger? The Night Kingdom cannot be sacrificed. There are thousands of souls there! And our Ley Lines preserve the memory, culture and history of Natlan."

"The sacrifice you're talking about won't happen." The Captain said coldly, as before. "Thanks to the Source Mechanism, I will be able to renew the Ley Lines. As for history and culture," he shrugged his shoulders. "There is nothing to fight for here. It is important to ensure survival now. Or do you not want to rebuild the Night Kingdom because you are pursuing your own selfish goals?"

Citlali pouted and indignantly pointed her finger in the direction of the Harbinger.

"What kind of selfish goals are these!?" She glanced suspiciously at Mavuika. "Does he know what the Masters of the Night-Wind have done? Did you tell him that? And how does he know about the Source Mechanism?"

"I'm not. I found out about the Night Kingdom myself recently," Mavuika crossed her arms defensively.

"Ororon!" Citlali's face lit up with understanding. "I'll break his legs!" She took a deep breath, but exhaled quickly and turned to The Captain much more calmly. "I won't let you use the Source Mechanism. It's like using the Gnosis. These options are hopeless."

"And if you have a better plan, then it's high time to announce it."

"Mavuika has a plan..." Paimon said uncertainly.
Everyone looked at the Archon.

"My plan does not concern Fatui." Mavuika replied firmly.

Paimon groaned. "Paimon is already tired of this. The Traveler and Paimon don't understand what you're talking about! But you're making this conversation unbearable!"

"Using the Gnosis or the Source Mechanism is about the same thing." Citlali took out a fan and started fanning herself with it. "A great force will require sacrifice – the Night Kingdom will be destroyed, and even if it succeeds in creating a new one, it is not certain that it will be able to perform its original functions. And besides, people will suffer from constant pain and memory loss."

"And the main thing is that it won't last long," Mavuika finished quietly. "That's why I have another plan."

"Wait for who knows what, and then die because the power you use will require a price?" Paimon exclaimed.

"Paimon..." Mavuika sighed.

"And why is this death necessary?" Capitano asked.

"This will give the Lord of the Night the strength to keep the Ley Lines in working order for hundreds more years."

The Captain chuckled.

"And the chances that this method will be more durable than mine are very low. Besides, maintaining the existence of the Ley Lines does not mean cleaning them. The polluted Night Kingdom will not help the souls who are trapped in it without the possibility of rebirth. Therefore, we need to create a system from scratch."

"It won't last long anyway. Natlan is doomed!" Mavuika exclaimed furiously. "Why are cleansed Ley Lines so important to you, Harbinger? What about the suffering of all the souls that will burn when new Ley Lines appear on this land?"

"These are forced sacrifices. Low price."

"The whole of Natlan will be plunged into suffering anyway! But you will have clean Ley Lines foe your own egoistical goals!"

Mavuika couldn't believe that Harbinger really didn't understand that his plan, as well as the plan with the Gnosis, was doomed to failure. It aims to completely destroy and then recreate the Night Kingdom and the Ley Lines, but it also completely ignored what would happen next. Natlanians will suffer. But for unknown reasons, Capitano was seriously concerned about reconstructing the Ley Lines, completely forgetting about the consequences. And it's not about Mavuika's sentimentality. The Ley Lines of the Natlan land were connected to humans on a genetic level. Breaking this connection, even if it would be fixed soon, will only do harm.

"Why don't you take the best of both of your plans?" The Traveler finally intervened, frowning at the people gathered in the tent. "Clean the Ley Lines, but in a different way than what Capitano suggests. And then Mavuika uses that power to banish the Abyss."

"Yes, it sounds like a good plan!" Paimon nodded vigorously. "And no one will get hurt. Well, except for you, Mavuika..."

She awkwardly averted her eyes.

"That's the problem, the Archon is waiting..." There was steel and contempt in The Captain's voice.

But as if he knew anything about her!

"You don't know anything. It's like I'm deliberately stalling! No, I'm not putting off this day." Mavuika stood up and walked towards the Harbinger. "You guessed it, too, when we met him in the Night Kingdom. The Gosoythoth. He puts off this battle, enjoying our suffering."

The Captain chuckled softly.

"Who is the Gosoythoth?" Paimon asked. "Was he pretending to be the Traveler's sister?"

"Yes. And he's avoiding our fight." As if sensing that Capitano was impatient to object, Mavuika hurriedly added. "It's pointless to give him a fight in the Night Kingdom. Everything is in the Abyss, and it seems endless."

Paimon frowned, and the others also seemed thoughtful. Maybe even Capitano. They couldn't see his face.

"It's pointless to waste time on this conversation." Capitano got up from his chair and abruptly headed for the exit. "I'm going to start executing my plan."

"Stop!" Citlali did not have time to intervene, as the Harbinger quickly disappeared behind the canopy.

Damn it! Mavuika ran out after him, but Capitano wasn't around. He seemed to have disappeared into the middle of the camp.

"What are we going to do?" Paimon flew out of the tent with frightened round eyes. "Look, no one from Fatui is even thinking of worrying! Did Capitano go there alone? Does he even know where he's going?"

"Of course he knows!" Citlali screamed. "My useless grandson told him everything!"

"But you know where the Secret Source is, don't you?" Mavuika looked hopefully at Citlali.

"Yes." Elder Itztli gripped her staff. "The Harbinger's plan must not be allowed to come true."

"So this is what the road to the facility, which is so protected by my people, looks like..."

Ororon continued to remove the seals blocking the entrance to the place where the Source Mechanism was located. He didn't have time to talk to Citlali. He was just napping in a tree when The Captain appeared and said it was time to implement their plan. The second he used the teleportation array, Ororon regretted his overconfidence.

"Try not to get distracted," Capitano said calmly. "Your grandmother will catch up with us soon."

"I hope that I have left enough obstacles in her way."

Several traps that he spent almost all the time he had while he was living in the camp setting up. It won't be difficult for Citlali to get out of them, but it will give him some time to open all the locks. And then, all he has to do is activate the mechanism.

Finally, the last seal was lifted. Ororon got up, allowed The Captain to go first, and followed him. The guy could feel the aura of the Harbinger, as well as the powerful energy that radiated from his upgraded heart. Ororon knew that Capitano was going to bring the souls back to the Night Kingdom and supported it. In a calm and safe place. However, there will probably be a lot fewer people there after what they were going to do...

Ororon grimaced, trying to push away the bad thoughts. The cave they were walking through was dark. But the flashes of light from the fluorescent mushrooms and flowers made it possible to see that it was created several hundred years ago. Of the living Masters of the Night-Wind, only Citlali and a few elders knew where the Source Mechanism was located. And Ororon knew it too. More precisely, he could feel this place, thanks to his incomplete soul, but he wasn't sure until the very end.

However, as soon as they were near the barrier, Ororon immediately realized that he had led them in the right direction. Capitano grunted contentedly, waiting. And with a heavy heart, Ororon began to remove the seals.

Now that they were standing in the middle of a circular cave illuminated by purple and yellow lights, Ororon's heart was pounding so loudly that he was starting to suffocate. The Source Mechanism was located in the center, emitting a strong oppressive aura. Ororon rubbed his temples, trying to concentrate.

Capitano walked over to the Mechanism and gently touched it. It wasn't dangerous – it took something else to start the device. The victim.

"I can do it," Ororon said.

He was trying to convince himself, knowing full well what The Captain expected of him. If starting the device does not kill it, then its subsequent operation will definitely do it. It will require giving something equivalent to what The Captain wanted. Using a Secret Source will give the Night Kingdom the very energy that has been so lacking in recent decades. And then the Ley Lines will be overwritten at the cost of one person's life, slowly flowing out of the body.

All of them will return to the ground sooner or later. And Ororon hoped that his power would be enough to nourish it enough. Since childhood, he owed a lot to this land. And it's time to repay the debt!

Ororon resolutely squared his shoulders and stretched out his arms towards the rectangular ledge in the rock from which the Secret Source was carved. He channeled the energy into his fingers, watching them tremble. And it wasn't from focusing magic at all. The guy was shaking with terror.

Gathering enough energy to create a strong enough bond, Ororon placed his palms on the stone.

"Stop it!" There was a scream.

"It's too late."

Ororon did it. He felt the stone heat up and then begin to glow. All that remained was to continue feeding the Secret Source.

His life wasn't important if he is useless for other people.

When they ran into the cave, Ororon already had both palms pressed against the Secret Source.

"Stop it!" Citlali exclaimed. There was a mixture of something unexpectedly frightening on her face. Fear prevailed over rage.

She ran up to Ororon and tried to pry his palms off the stone. But they seemed to stick.

"It's okay, Granny." Ororon said softly. "I'm doing what I had to do."

"Captain," Mavuika summoned her sword and pointed it at Harbinger's face. "You don't know what you're doing."

Capitano was strangely calm. He turned away from the Secret Source. The first of the three energy blocks has just shone with a warm light.
"Everything is going according to my plan."

"But people will suffer!" Mavuika exclaimed desperately. "Haven't you ever heard about why natlanians can't live outside our country? We are connected to the Night Kingdom, to the Ley Lines of Natlan. Breaking this connection will lead to disaster. We can never defeat the Abyss..."

"I know about this connection, but..." For the first time since they met, there was confusion in The Captain's voice. "It's my duty."

Mavuika threw up her hands. She turned to where the Traveler and Citlali were trying to remove Ororon's hands from the stone.

"Ask him to stop..." Mavuika turned back to the Harbinger. "You don't know what the price will be."

"The price..." Capitano inclined his head slightly. "Tell me about your plan, Pyro Archon."

Mavuika pursed her lips. Was it really necessary? She thought that everyone understood everything anyway. Especially the Harbinger, who had such an unhealthy interest in saving Natlan.

"I can't."

"Because you're afraid that someone will try to stop you?" Capitano interrupted her. "Or do you want to be stopped, but you're afraid to admit it?"

He was right to assume the worst about her. After all, her only purpose was to sacrifice herself. This was her fate, no matter how she tried to escape from it.

But how she wished that her life would not obey the laws of the Celestia. But that was the price for the throne she ascended. Her whole life rested on these two things: price and fate. In her first life, she became an Archon, unaware that she was now forever bound by invisible chains that bound her to Teyvat.

And in her second life, becoming an Archon was her destiny, but also the price. The price of rebirth will be her death. And death is fate. This vicious circle that she couldn't break!

Mavuika clenched her fists, watching as the second block of the Secret Source began to shine. Ororon spoke softly to Citlali, who seemed to be in despair. The Traveler and Paimon looked from the Archon and Harbinger to Ororon and Citlali, not knowing what to do. The Source could not be turned off unless the person who started it wanted to.

"I'll give you the Pyro Gnosis if you help me defeat the Abyss by dealing with the Gosoythoth." She had no choice but to suggest it. "Even if it is not in my chest, only I can take it from where it is hidden."

She was going to lie earlier, but... There was no choice. It seems that she will have to part with the Gnosis if it helps to defeat the Abyss.

"It's quite strange. You hid the Pyro Gnosis, and then you were deprived of the opportunity to use it. But at the same time, it's only thanks to your efforts that the Sacred Flame hasn't been extinguished yet."

"I didn't hide the Gnosis. One of the first Archons who was shackled did this. And along with the secret of my plan, along with the title of Archon, this secret was passed on. So, despite the restrictions, only the worthy one, the winner of the tournament, will have access to the Gnosis."

Capitano said nothing.

"This is the Archons' response to the trap they fell into over and over again when they ascended to the throne and found themselves chained up like criminals and enemies. Greedy people will not get to the Gnosis."

"But what would prevent one of them from becoming an Archon? If they have the strength, of course."

Mavuika chuckled.

"This is a feature of the power that Xbalanque, the first Pyro Archon, asked for from Ronova. Those whose hearts are not filled with nobility will not discover the secrets of the Sacred Flame."

"Hm. That's pretty smart. But what connects you to the Shade of Death?" Harbinger's voice dripped with contempt, which Mavuika guessed was directed at Ronova.

A rumble shook the cave. Next, an otherworldly howl cut through the silence, reverberating off the walls. Mavuika released her sword, clutching her head. Citlali stood with her fists clenched tightly. The Traveler was also holding his head, and even The Captain seemed uncomfortable.

The howling did not stop, getting louder, new voices were added. And then he was joined by a terrible cry of pain, which Ororon let out.

"What's going on?" Paimon's face turned white with horror.

"I told you!" Mavuika exclaimed.

"What does that mean?" The Captain sounded puzzled. "This is the howl of lament..."

Ororon continued to shout, his voice breaking. He tried to take his hands off the stone, but they wouldn't obey the guy. His scream started to sound like a wheeze, and then it got even louder. His chest seemed to glow from within, and everyone present could see what an incomplete soul looked like. Instead of a full-fledged spherical lump in the area of the heart, there was a ball covered with cracks and a black liquid that resembled the filth of the Abyss.

"His soul is incomplete, Captain. And for him, the rupture with the Ley Lines will be fatal. Right now, he's experiencing all the things I've been talking about: headaches, panic attacks, disorientation, loss of sensitivity in some organs. Other natlanians may not suffer as much, but I assure you, such a "rescue" will not seem like a mercy to them!"

Mavuika peered into the blackness under The Captain's helmet, trying to see a glimmer of humanity there.

"Stop it, Harbinger!" Citlali screamed with tears of rage in her eyes.

"I can't." Capitano said abruptly. "Only the one who started it can stop the process."

Citlali turned away from him and screamed, calling her grandson's name. There was an unpleasant crunch. Ororon tried to hit his head on a rock.

"Traveler, do something!" Paimon squeaked.

Mavuika looked back at Capitano. He seemed to have doubts, seeing Ororon's torment, hearing his screams.

"This is not the way we should go." Mavuika tried to convince him.

"Yes." Capitano suddenly agreed. "It's just..."

He didn't finish. Suddenly, the cries of the grieving souls stopped, as did the flashes of light. Mavuika and Capitano looked sharply at the Secret Source. There, with a hideous tearing sound, Ororon tore his other hand off the surface of the stone. Blood flowed from his skinned palms.

Mavuika reached for her sword in fright.

At the same moment, Ororon took off, heading towards her. His hands glowed with a strange light, unlike the Electro element of his Vision. The guy performed his maneuver so quickly that Mavuika did not have time to pick up her sword, froze. She was about to create a shield of Pyro energy when a dark silhouette blocked her way.

It was Capitano. He summoned his blade and knocked Ororon away with the hilt. The guy landed and laughed a strange hoarse laugh.

"Paimon does think there's anything wrong with him"

"Captain," croaked Ororon. His voice didn't sound like himself, probably because he was shouting himself hoarse. Or maybe...

Ororon stood up and straightened his shoulders.

"Captain, I see you haven't changed a bit," Ororon said.

His way of speaking used to be completely different, Mavuika noticed.

"You are..." Capitano said with a slight surprise. "How is this possible? However, this is not so important."

He raised his hand, and a restraining seal appeared in front of Ororon's face. The guy grinned again.

"You have indulged to your sense of honor and nobility again. But is this the time and place to be a knight?" He coughed. "Do what you have in mind. Your plan."

Capitano said nothing, but his gaze was fixed on the man who had taken over Ororon's body.

"It's not an Ororon, is it?" Paimon asked softly.

"It's wrong to do this," Capitano said quietly. "I have no right to cause people such suffering."

Ororon grinned, which looked creepy on his exhausted face.

"Why are you worried about a doomed man, Captain? He would have died anyway. No. He's going to die after this anyway. I am supporting the fading life in this fragile and helpless body."

"Don't say that!" Paimon exclaimed.

"How dare you!?" The space around Citlali was covered with ice, even the air was getting colder.

"A person with a split soul is incomplete. Captain, you control more souls than I can count. Maybe I came back just to help you not to stumble, succumbing to a sense of honor." Ororon looked at his own hands with distaste. "Useless. His only purpose is to become a victim for a better future."

Citlali's fist smashed into Ororon's face. But she didn't aim to harm her grandson. Along with Paimon's squeak, which hurt her ears, Mavuika noticed the soul that flew out of Ororon's body.

"I'll banish you, monstrous bitch!" Citlali swore. "How dare you!? You!"

She waved her staff, creating a net that captured a soul that tried to hide in a dark corner of the cave.

"Gotcha. Do you think I won't see you if you try to hide? You naive fool!" Citlali reached for the soul with her hand, which had a blue flame burning on it, allowing her to expel and disperse souls.

She grinned smugly and maliciously, but Capitano blocked her path, thrusting his sword forward. A soul fluttered faintly behind the blade.

"What?" Citlali asked aggressively. "Let me banish him! What are you trying to achieve, Harbinger?"

"No, I won't let you banish this soul." Capitano replied rudely. "Let me do this."

"Huh?" Citlali raised an eyebrow.

Capitano sighed. He touched his heart, right where Mavuika's punched before. A soft light spread out from the man's touch. Even Mavuika noticed that there were thousands of souls in the Harbinger's chest. Citlali sighed in amazement.

"How is this possible?" Paimon squeaked in surprise.

Capitano dissolved the sword and stretched out his free hand to the soul fluttering in the Citlali net. He took this clot and brought it to his chest. The glow intensified, and then the soul joined the others. Capitano sighed.

The man straightened his shoulders, and then put his right hand, clenched into a fist, to his chest. He put his left hand behind his back. The light gradually began to fade, and soon Capitano looked as usual again. Mavuika realized that she had slightly opened her mouth, so she snapped it shut.

"Is this Khaenri'ah technology, right?" Asked the Traveler, who was holding Ororon's limp body in his arms. Breaking out of her trance, Citlali hurried to him, throwing the staff aside.

"Yes," replied Capitano. "My heart is designed in such a way that I can keep souls inside. That's what I've been doing for years."

"This..." Mavuika gasped. "The warriors from Khaenri'ah came to Natlan to help us fight the Cataclysm!"

The Captain chuckled.

"That's quite close to how it actually was. There are no Ley Lines in Khaenri'ah. The people there are not inscribed in the Irminsul, which means they cannot enter the afterlife. And only here, in Natlan, the Ley Lines have a certain flexibility."

"And you were going to leave these souls here..." The Archon guessed. She took a few steps towards the Harbinger, feeling his burning gaze.
But she wasn't going to him. The Secret Source was still glowing. Someone has to turn it off.

Mavuika looked at the stone. There were charred marks from two palms, and there was a slight smell of burnt flesh nearby. The woman winced as she touched the clean part of the stone. If Ororon had succeeded, he would have pumped himself out so that the Secret Source could work. Simply put, he would become a battery for an ancient Mechanism.

The Archon felt the energy steadily circulating inside the system under her palms. She doesn't need to extract it back – then Ororon's sacrifice will be in vain. Later, she would figure out how to use the Secret Source for her own purposes. Out of the corner of her eye, the woman noticed that The Captain was carefully examining the guy's body to the side. Great, no one would bother her.

For a second, a frightening thought flashed through Mavuika's mind. After all, she could finish what Ororon started, become a victim, a battery for a Source Mechanism. Then fate will finally be deceived. And let the others figure out for themselves what awaits Natlan.

She chuckled. She shouldn't be that weak. The woman concentrated and sent a pulse of her own magic, which was supposed to interrupt the circulation of energy inside the Secret Source. Feeling that the flow of magic inside had slowed down, Mavuika gathered some more into a clot, which she sealed the Mechanism with. It was like corking bottles.

The stone turned cold under her hands, and Mavuika took them away contentedly.

"That's all..." She turned to the others. "Now we need to get out of here, so that no one else would even think to use the Mechanism."

Mavuika also thought that leaving the cave as soon as possible would help prevent a "tail" that was guaranteed to follow them once the pursuers realized where they had teleported from Fatui's camp. After all, the spies of some Commanders were not as inconspicuous as they would like to appear.

"Ororon is not feeling well," Citlali said anxiously.

It was clear from her face that the elder's grandson was much worse off than "not feeling well," but she understood that shouting loudly would not help matters.

"That's right, Ororon... What's wrong with him?" To her shame, Mavuika forgot that Ororon had been injured. And Citlali herself hit him so hard that she probably knocked out the last of his brains.

It sounded too cynical.

"I tried to stabilize his condition, but the help of professional healers is still very much needed." Citlali said hurriedly.

"So we're going back to the capital of the Masters of the Night-Wind?" Paimon smiled tightly.

"Well, yes, why are you asking such stupid things?" Citlali looked at the little girl as if she were a fool. "Is something wrong with it?"

"What Paimon is trying to say is that Ororon is not welcome there. You should know that the barrier over the Masters of the Night-Wind collapsed because of us, right?" The Traveler asked.

"Well, they'll have to put up with his presence!" Citlali declared angrily, stamping her foot. "As long as I am the elder Itztli, no one has the right to disobey my direct instructions."

"Well," Paimon drawled, "then we'll go back to the main city... Hooray, Paimon missed the endless maze so much."

There was no enthusiasm in her voice.

"Let's hurry!" With these words, Citlali took off.

The Traveler ran after her, still holding Ororon's body in his arms. Paimon followed.

Mavuika glanced at The Captain. He froze, waiting.

"Come on..." Mavuika offered reluctantly. "Are we still working together?"

"Hm."

Mavuika thought the man wanted to say something else, but suddenly the air around them vibrated with the presence of an otherworldly entity. Just not the Gosoythoth again, please. He must not find this place!

Mavuika turned around to see the energy blocks inside the Secret Source glow with a faded blue light.

"I'm so sorry..." A gentle voice echoed through the empty cave.

"Lord of the Night?" Mavuika gasped in shock, recognizing the speaker.

The Captain grunted in surprise as she like to think. It was hard to understand his emotions, considering the helmet and all that!!

"I'm so sorry that my screaming hurt this boy..."

"Lord of the Night, you have awakened, but how?"

The gentle fluctuation of the air near Mavuika's cheek made her think that an invisible hand was touching her right now.

"You and the boy... Ororon," the Lord of the Night corrected herself. "You have created a special beacon for me. You poured energy into the Mechanism and sealed it to prevent leakage."

"But using the Source Mechanism should have led to the renewal of the Ley Lines," Capitano said.

"That's right..." Lord of the Night has fallen silent. "But you haven't completed the ritual. The energy inside the Mechanism had to be redistributed and recreate the Ley Lines system." She paused again.

"But?" Mavuika asked, frowning.

"You just need a wish. The sacrifice may not have been made, but this beacon contains enough energy for me to try."

"No," the Archon said sharply. "You will die, and without you, the Night Kingdom will fall. And my plan..." She smiled mirthlessly. "It will be doomed to total failure."

"Your plan..." Lord of the Night... sighed. "You'll need six heroes to use the power of the Shade of Death, right?"

Mavuika glanced sideways at Capitano, who was standing motionless nearby. However, she had no time for secrets right now.

"Yes." She confessed. "But without your voice, without the power of the Wayob... And without the Ancient Names," she added with a touch of desperation, "nothing will work."

"Why do you need six heroes so much?" Capitano asked. "Aren't we talking about your companions, the comrades of Tenoch, who joined together to save Natlan five hundred years ago?"

How did he know that? Mavuika narrowed her eyes. Could it be that the Harbinger caught the time of the Cataclysm? And so it was, judging by the facts she had, but still... Could they have met before?

"Yes, that's them."

"But what prevents you from finding new heroes? If the Ancient Names of the past six are lost, you can still manage without them. There are people in Natlan whose hearts are full of nobility and fire."

Capitano sounded as if he believed in the Natlan forces more than Mavuika herself.

"I have already talked about this with the Traveler, although I forgot to mention one important thing. And you must not be as good at Natlan's story as you want to make it seem." Mavuika allowed herself a smile. "The six Ancient Names didn't just belong to the heroes who fought alongside me five hundred years ago. They appeared long before that. For a long time, the six heroes were the ones who opposed Natlan's enemies, whoever they were. Despite the differences and conflicts between the peoples, they united. And they won..."

The Captain tilted his head, as if to show that he understood what she was talking about.

"So there's a certain symbolism in this..." He said thoughtfully.

"Yes, but besides that," the Lord of the Night intervened. "Only the heroes bearing these names gave the Archon access to the ancient power."

She put the emphasis back on power. Mavuika spread her hands, showing her helplessness in this situation.

"Lord of the Night, don't you know?" The woman asked hopefully. "Maybe now that you've managed to wake up, we can recreate the Ancient Names and find the heroes before it's too late?"

There should have been no wind in the cave, but Mavuika's strands of hair were moving under its influence.

"There's too much going on," the Lord of the Night's voice sounded lost. "I'll try to deal with the Wayob of the tribes, but the pollution of the Abyss in the Night Kingdom is huge. It's hard to work with that."

Mavuika lowered her head.

"But does the Archon still have a chance?" Capitano asked. "It's not too late, is it?"

The Lord of the Night fell silent. Mavuika cautiously glanced at Capitano, hoping that he would not notice how strong hope was in her heart.

"There are chances..." Said the Lord of the Night. "I will contact you later when I assess the situation in Natlan. Now the Gosoythoth will no longer be the sole ruler of the Night Kingdom."

Well, they can only wait and hope. Oh, how Mavuika hoped! That everything is fine with Xilonen, that she will be able to recreate the Ancient Names, that Natlan is not doomed, that she is not as bad an Archon as she might seem.

"Where have you been all this time, Lord of the Night?" Mavuika asked quietly, looking longingly at the stone, which was gradually changing color from blue to yellow.

The answer, as expected, was silence.

"It's quite strange to ask her about it, when I myself have lost five years without doing anything..." Mavuika made a self-deprecating sound and took a few steps towards Capitano.

He stood there, silent and restrained, but through the darkness under his helmet, the outlines of the blue lights shone with his eyes.

"Well, Harbinger," Mavuika turned to him with a slight smile. "Are we still allies?"

She held out her hand to the Captain, offering a handshake, a sign of fragile trust. The man didn't move, but his gaze darted from Mavuika's hand to her face. Finally, he raised his palm. His hand was already big, and in the half-metal glove it seemed huge at all. But at the same time, it was so human. After all, the man's palm was warm.

"We're really on the same side now," Capitano said dryly.

Nevertheless, this handshake was firm, filled with noble feelings and determination to stop evil.

"It's an honor for me," Mavuika said in a low voice, watching the blue flame fade in The Captain's eyes.

Chapter Text

Mavuika always said that no one can become a hero under duress. It should come from the heart.

Kinich usually didn't let other people's words get to him, but he hadn't been able to get rid of his troubled thoughts for the past few days. When they went up to the Scions of the Canopy to leave some things in Mavuika's house that had survived the fire and were too valuable in Xilonen's opinion, Chasca could not resist commenting.

"It's quite funny to watch, but your people avoid you so much, even though you should be their hero." The girl chuckled. "I already told Xilonen that she believes too much in this idea with six heroes."

She was walking in front, so she turned around to gauge the reaction of the others. Kinich ignored the teasing with an indifferent expression on his face, but Xilonen snorted with displeasure, which caused a satisfied grin on Chasca's face.

Kinich had long had the impression that Chasca easily succumbed to her own emotions, hostility towards other peoples of Natlan. However, this did not entail the most pleasant consequences for her – the guy was sure that the voice of the Abyss in her mind only inflamed the heat of hatred.

However, now, a few days later, Kinich again found himself returning to this thought. After all, Chasca was quite perceptive, realizing and voicing one simple truth: everyone around despised or feared him.

Yes, it's worthy of being a hero. He wondered what people would think if they found out that he was the one who was chosen to be... to do good, to perform feats, and all this for the sake of those who hated him.

"Mora for your thoughts, Kinich." Mualani appeared on the same roof where he had been sitting for the last two hours and patted him on the shoulder.

"You're giving this greedy snake a choice: there are too many silly thoughts in this head that he hates sharing, but he also loves mora!" Ajaw chuckled.

Kinich waved his hand to ward off the dragon. He did not fly far away and hid behind the pipe, listening. The guy sighed.

"I'm thinking about what Chasca said." He decided to share. "That I am not the hero that the Scions of the Canopy would like."

Mualani frowned.

"Chasca, she... She listens too much to the whispers of the Abyss in her head, which makes her hate us." Mualani put her hands behind her head and leaned back on the roof. "And anyway, did the Scions of the Canopy want at least some kind of hero?"

Kinich looked skeptically at her lying on the roof with an innocent expression on her face.

"They wanted Mavuika..." He drawled.

"Yeah!" Mualani slammed her fist on the tiles. "Therefore, there were no expectations from you and there are none!"

She smiled contentedly.

"You've noticed that people shy away from me..."

"Ha-ha-ha," Mualani jumped up abruptly and laughed. "Well, yes, but they don't know anything about you. You walk around with a disgruntled expression on your face and that murderous aura of yours, but..." She reached out and grabbed his cheeks. "They just don't know what cutie you are!" Mualani tugged at his skin.

Kinich felt a blush spreading across his cheeks. A very bright and suspicious blush.

"I'm not cutie," he said.

"Of course you are...!" Mualani suddenly released him. "Well, I mean, yes... You’re cutie, but I'm just saying this as a friend! You're also very strong, and tough, and handsome, and kind, and fair, and..." She stopped to take a breath. "But you skillfully hid all this at the beginning!"

Her cheeks were also flushed from how fast she was talking, completely forgetting to breathe. It was cute too, so Kinich hurried to turn away.

"You make me sick," Ajaw flew closer, something between disgust and disbelief could be read on his face. "Seriously, we've already realized what good friends you are." He mocked the word "friends". "It's a pity that you don't have the wit to praise Our Dragon Majesty with the same fervor."

He laughed nastily, avoiding Kinich's irritated attempts to brush him off.

"There's no need to be jealous, Ajaw." Mualani smiled softly.

"What's there to be jealous of?" The dragon growled. "The pitiful servant finally has one friend."

"And you don't have any." Kinich teased, contentedly watching Ajaw's muzzle turn red with anger.

Mualani laughed and then grabbed Kinich's arm.

"Stop moping around here," she stood up and pulled him after her. "Let's go and show everyone that you can be a good guy. You'll see, people just misunderstand you!"

"I want to see it," Ajaw grinned.

The three of them went for a walk through the streets of the Scions of the Canopy. Mualani carefully studied her surroundings in search of a case in which Kinich could prove himself.

"I know it would be pretty stupid to ask you to get a kitten out of a tree or carry an elderly woman's bags, but it might work."

The only problem was that there were no grannies or kittens nearby.

"You just seem unapproachable and cold to people. I understand why you've become like this," Mualani looked into Kinich's eyes with her kind and sincere gaze. "But if you're really worried about what your fellow tribesmen think of you, then let's do something to correct their impression of you!"

How long had he been concerned about what his fellow tribesmen thought of him? They have always disliked him, and yet it will be especially unpleasant to look into their contemptuous faces when Mavuika declares him one of the six heroes of Natlan.

Kinich wanted to save his country, and he also didn't want to let down Mualani, who believed in him. Therefore, Kinich obediently walked next to the girl, ignoring Ajaw's attempts to trip him up.

"Look," Mualani stopped, pointing at a group of children crowding around a small store. "I think they need help."

Kinich squinted, trying to figure out why Mualani thought that way. The children were intently discussing something, standing with a map in their hands. Other than that, there was nothing suspicious. They were well dressed, probably some of Leik's students.

Kinich did not have time to refuse, as Mualani was already pulling him towards the children, jumping up and down with delight.

"Hello!" The girl greeted joyfully, attracting the attention of the children. They raised their heads and greeted. From such a close distance, Kinich could see a shadow of anxiety in their eyes. "I see that you need help?"

The children exchanged glances.

"Mom told me not to talk to strangers, especially with someone from the People of the Springs. They have nowhere to go right now, so they'll steal our things." The child, a girl of about ten, spoke in a monotone, her words sounded memorized. It was as if her parents had often repeated this to her, convincing her that everyone around her was enemies. 

Mualani's smile did not waver.

"Still, I don't need your things. Now, I even have the Vision. How can someone give it to a bad person?" Mualani tried to outwit them. Kinich could have given more than one example of how Visions were given to vile people. But for children, the gift of the gods should mean the highest reward for doing their homework and helping their parents with the cleaning.

"Well..." The boy who seemed to be the oldest drawled. "Let's say, we believe you. But he looks suspicious too."

All heads turned to Kinich, who looked back at them with a slightly raised eyebrow.

"Come on," Mualani said reproachfully. "It's rude to talk like that to strangers who want to help you."

The girl chuckled.

"You are not the first to suggest it!" She lifted her nose proudly, and then quickly lowered her head. Her eyes seemed sad. "However, it looks like this guy tricked us."

"Who was that?" Mualani asked.

"We don't know," the younger boy shrugged. "He's not dressed like a local and he said something about liking our country. And he agreed to help find our saurians."

"Are the saurians missing?" Kinich focused on the conversation. "When?"

The children's faces clouded over, as if they had been holding back their sadness for a long time.

"They left three days ago! There are three yumkasaurus in my family, and they're all missing!" The girl exclaimed.

"And we recently had whelps, and they also left." The younger boy added, wiping his eyes.

"And it didn't just happen to us," the older boy added gloomily. "So do our classmates. Hundreds of yumkasaurus have left in the last month. Haven't you heard?"

Mualani looked at Kinich with interest. He shrugged his shoulders.

"When we returned, I was running errands related to the search, but I quickly found the escaped yumkasaurus in the foothills. But this is a common practice. What was unusual was this..." Kinich fell silent, remembering that there were children nearby. He spoke much more quietly. "They were infected by the Abyss, but I've been hunting them for years..."

"And you decided to save your friends?" Mualani asked loudly so that the children wouldn't listen to Kinich's mumbling.

"Yes." The older boy replied firmly.

"Then we'll help you," Mualani smiled. "And we won't take anything." She emphasized.

The children bowed their heads thoughtfully and whispered. Mualani waited patiently for their reply.

"Okay, let's go. We secretly went to the foothills and saw the nest, but we didn't come any closer. There was nothing there before! Could it be that yumkasaurus are hiding deeper in the forest?"

"And how did you manage to hide your escape from elder Leik?" Kinich asked in a voice devoid of emotion.

The children turned pale.

"How did you know...?" The girl asked, startled.

Kinich wanted to quip that he knew everything about them, but Mualani's warning look stopped him. The guy sighed. He had forgotten that he was dealing with children.

"The elder and I are acquainted. He was my mentor..."

The children sighed, impressed. It even seemed to Kinich that their eyes shone with great respect.

"Okay, let's get down to business!" Mualani urged them on. "Show this place on the map, and then we will go there."

"We'll go with you!" The children shouted in unison.

Mualani looked helplessly at Kinich. But what could they do? All they have to do is escort a group of children to a place that could be deadly.

"Then you must obey me... us," Kinich corrected himself. "And be careful."

It wasn't far to go. Some of the foothills went down to the ocean, but others went far away, forming a landscape covered with forests and sparse mountains. The Children of Echoes did not settle there, despite the territorial proximity. Dense forests and an abundance of unstable soils were not suitable for life, even if there were mountains that could be used for mining.

However, it was gloomy there, and an unpleasant chill slid over their skin. Mualani looked worried, as if she too sensed that they were heading towards danger.

"Watch your step," Kinich said casually, carefully studying the area around them.

"The nest was over there," the younger boy pointed to the right. "About ten minutes’ walk."

And they set off down the path through the forest. Huge trees loomed over their heads, but there was almost no wind. If suddenly there is an eerie silence, they will turn around and leave. They cannot put these children in greater danger than they have already done.

They didn't have to take them with them, but they both knew that if Kinich and Mualani left without the children, they would come here on their own. And something was wrong with this place.

"The day has come when our faithful servant Kinich goes straight into the clutches of danger!" Ajaw whirled joyfully in the air.

Mualani sighed.

"Remind me, why don't we lock him up?"

"Because he's going to carry us on his back when we go to..."

"To where?" The girl asked suspiciously.

"On a journey to complete the task of the Pyro Archon," Mualani replied.

The children made understanding sounds.

"She's cool," the older boy sighed dreamily. "I've seen her fight. It was a flame and nothing more!" Gesturing widely, he showed how Mavuika uses the flame.

"When did you see that?" Kinich asked suspiciously.

Mualani tensed and stopped. They both remembered that Mavuika did not have the power of Pyro when she lived among the Scions of the Canopy. However, the children were not at all embarrassed when they saw the disbelief and doubt on the faces of their escorts.

"About three years ago," the boy said thoughtfully. "She came here on her fire bike. And by the way, if you are familiar with the Archon, you can confirm my words!" The boy turned around and pointed in the direction of his friends. "They don't believe me, but she does have a flying motorcycle, doesn't she?"

His eyes were pleading.

"Yes." Kinich chuckled. "Very convenient."

Mualani looked at him reproachfully.

"Wow!"

"Cool!"

"Rough!"

The children were delighted. But Kinich still wanted to know when this boy had seen Mavuika.

"And where did you see the Archon fighting?"

"My parents and I went down to the Children of Echoes to visit my aunt. And... Hey, don't look at me like that!" He loudly protested, turning to his friends. "Some adults do strange things and marry representatives of other tribes! But my uncle is very nice." He pouted. "In general, the Abyss attacked. And the Archon came to the rescue. I know it was her, because no one else in Natlan could have shone like that."

Oh, so that's when it was. Just at the moment when Kinich was bleeding out in the alley.

He nodded to Mualani, who was waiting for his confirmation.

"Yes, I remembered that day." Kinich said indifferently. "The Archon certainly helped..."

"How much joy there is in that voice," Ajaw giggled. "Kinich dreams of being torn apart by the Abyss, just to see it with his own eyes."

"Ajaw, my patience is running out," Kinich said monotonously, restraining his irritation. Not here, not now, but he desperately wanted to send Ajaw away.

They continued walking, and the conversations died down. After a few minutes, the children stopped, pointing to the claw marks on the ground, which Kinich had noticed earlier, but no one else paid attention to the scratches on the tree trunks almost at the very entrance to the forest.

"Here," the younger boy pointed to the ground. "A few trees fell, but earlier you could see the nest from here. Will someone go and check?" He asked hopefully.

"I'll go," Kinich replied calmly.

"We'll go," Mualani corrected him.

"And who will look after the children?" Kinich turned and looked at the girl skeptically. "I'll go."

Mualani pursed her lips angrily.

"Are you not going to let me go alone or with you because it's dangerous?"

"Yes."

"Then listen to me carefully! Imagine that I tell you that I'm going to a place that radiates threat. And I said: don’t go with me. Because I'm stronger and you don't feel sorry for me, and all that kind of nonsense." She narrowed her eyes. "Would you let me go?"

"Of course not," Kinich crossed his arms over his chest.

"Exactly. And I won't let you go too."

They stared at each other.

"Agrh!!" Ajaw groaned. "How disgusting!"

"You're worrying too much about some nest," the girl grumbled. "There's nothing to worry about."

"The place is filled with the Abyss," Kinich sighed wearily. "But I know who will go and look." He looked at Ajaw contemptuously. "Nobody feels sorry for him anyway."

"How dare you!!" Ajaw choked with anger.

"Please take a look." Mualani smiled tightly.

Ajaw made a few indignant noises, but agreed to fly over and take a look. He disappeared into the foliage. And they had no choice but to wait for the dragon to return.

Finally, there was a rustling sound, and Ajaw returned. He seemed displeased.

"It's just an old ruined nest. And the energy of the Abyss is from the fact that monsters have been there. They probably ate the poor saurians."

The children exhaled in fright.

"Listen to only half of what he says..." Kinich grumbled. "Ajaw said that the nest is old. It must have been destroyed a long time ago."

"I'm sure that everything is fine with your saurians," Mualani smiled reassuringly at the children. "But now we need to return home and report everything to your leader. There may still be monsters of the Abyss lurking somewhere out there. So let's go quickly."

The children obediently moved towards the exit, lowering their heads. But still, the fear of the Abyss won out, and they did not ask to look at the nest. The way back seemed shorter, and they were already waiting at the entrance to the forest.

"It's just you," Elder Leik gasped. "I told you," he turned to the group of representatives of the Scions of the Canopy, who rushed to meet the children.

"Hi," Kinich greeted. "Hello, Wayna." He nodded to the chief, who had also come here.

"Why are there so many people here?" Mualani asked with a resigned expression on her face.

"Well, someone saw the two of you and the children walking away towards the foothills. They raised a panic, and the parents of these children ran to the leader. And we came here with a rescue mission." Leik smiled. "It's good that no one had to be saved."

Mualani smiled back.

"My name is Mualani, and Kinich told me about you. By the way, we certainly weren't going to kidnap these children," she shyly straightened her hair. "They would have come here anyway with or without us. And speaking of which..."

She turned around and looked at Kinich, who was distracted from his battle of glances with Ajaw.

"Ajaw wants to tell us something," the guy said mockingly. "Chief, mentor, Mualani, let's step aside."

The fussing parents took the resisting children away, but, fortunately, they did not argue and try to deal with the "kidnappers". Recently, the two of them have been accused of kidnapping quite a lot...

"Well, Our Dragon Majesty was generous," Ajaw said arrogantly. "Stupid little people shouldn't know what we saw. And we've seen a lot."

 Leik's smile never left his face, but the man's eyes were stern. "Get down to business, quickly."

Ajaw snorted indignantly.

"It's not an abandoned nest. It looks like it was created recently. But it was built so terribly by some mentally ill saurian."

"And what else?"

"And the energy of the Abyss, and the bodies of the dead, decaying yumkasaurus. But worst of all, there are claw marks in the ground and fallen trees, as if someone huge was making its way through the thicket."

"This is Kongamato," Leik said confidently. "The companion of the hero Burkina.

"Burkina..." Mualani gasped. "And what happened to Kongamato?"

"They were fighting the Abyss, Kongamato was infected. Blinded by hatred, he killed Burkina."

While Kinich was saying this, pictures from Burkina's life flashed before his eyes, which he saw at the moment when he received the Ancient Name. Burkina died with a smile, and the grieving howl of Kongamato became his only companion.

"That's right," said Wayna, casting an interested glance at Kinich. "Kongamato lived in a remote gorge, and in the past, the Scions of the Canopy made offerings to appease him. But this has not been done for a long time. People thought he had gone into hibernation."

"And I told you that the Scions of the Canopy should not forget about respect for traditions," Leik said dreamily. "And now Kongamato is angry."

"And something's going on with the yumkasaurus. The children said that the saurians just leave and don't come back." Kinich looked into the forest. "We need to go back and see for ourselves. Perhaps there are traces there that can be used to find out where they went."

Leik put his hand on the guy's shoulder.

"I think the answer is obvious. They went to the Kongamato lair. As I understand it, he poisons the minds of other saurians with the energy of the Abyss, and they follow him."

Everyone fell silent, thinking about the current situation.

"And what do you plan to do?" Mualani turned to the older men

"We need to assemble a group of warriors, put the question before the elders," Wayna began to enumerate. "Then, the Children of Echoes should be notified of the potential threat."

That is, it will take a considerable time before they take any action. Kinich frowned thoughtfully, feeling Leik and Mualani staring at him intently. He was sure that they guessed his intentions. But even so, Kinich must go to the Kongamato lair.

It wasn't sincere altruism. No. It was his duty as the bearer of the Ancient Name "Malipo". Burkina died at the clutches of his friend, having previously performed countless feats. And yet his name was erased from the pages of Natlan's history. To honor the memory of the hero who, with his blood, ensured the protection of the Scions of the Canopy for five hundred years, Kinich must complete what Burkina started.

Saying goodbye, Leik patted him on the shoulder, holding the guy's gaze. He knew exactly what Kinich was going to do. Most likely, he would leave with Wayna and tell the chief about his student's intentions. But the elder did not stop him, giving him the opportunity to act without resistance.

And Mualani blocked his path. She smiled, but her eyes betrayed her apprehension.

"I want to go with you. And before you say no, I just want you to know. Stop patronizing me." She didn't wait for any objections and went deeper into the forest, from where they had recently emerged. Kinich looked after her irritably, but the girl wasn't going to stop. He had to go after her, sending Ajaw to scout the road ahead so that he wouldn't spoil their mood.

Mualani simply did not understand that Kinich wanted to protect her from the cruelty of this world so that she could preserve her inner light. And he didn't understand her either. Time after time, the girl walked towards danger, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.

He quickly caught up with Mualani. Kinich walked behind, focusing his gaze on the ends of the girl's hair, braided in intricate braids. They twitched as they moved, and they were probably madly in the way in this forest. Mualani stubbornly braided her hair, avoiding hairstyles that would make her hair shorter. And now Kinich was forced to look at those tips, feeling his fingers tremble.

He wanted to touch them.

"You know," Mualani stopped and turned to him. "It's quite insulting. I know you're much stronger than me, but I'm not some kind of fool either. If I realize that the enemy is beyond my strength, I will retreat." She was so stubborn. "I just wanted to stop being perceived as a helpless child who needs to be protected and cared for. I thought we were past that stage, but I'm still nothing more than a burden to you."

She pursed her lips and crossed her arms over her chest. Mualani's eyes were sad. Kinich felt guilty. She misunderstood him! But he couldn't admit that he was worried about her safety.

"I don't want you to get hurt." Kinich chose rather neutral words, but Mualani just smiled sadly.

"And I don't want to sit around thinking about where you are and what's wrong with you. I can't help but worry about my friends when they go into the unknown."

At first, Mualani wanted to become his friend, forced him to participate in the rescue of Natlan. And then, after a long time that they spent together. Kinich couldn't help but let her get closer. Mualani took care of him, and he... He took care of her, right. However, they both showed concern in different ways and refused to understand each other.

"Let's move on," Kinich sighed. "Actually, Kongamato's lair isn't that far from here."

It's only an hour away and they've reached it. Long before the entrance, they began to come across paths along which something of monstrous size had previously passed. Kinich was wondering if Kongamato could match the strength of the tentacle monsters. In any case, this yumkasaurus must be huge.

They had no choice but to enter the cave. Or they could leave, but no one was going to run away. The cave was dark and smelled of animal excrement and blood. Kinich grimaced, and Mualani looked around warily. Glowing mushrooms and moss made it possible to examine the surroundings. And in the distance, the fruits of the flamegranate which grew all around were visible.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Mualani said quietly.

Kinich chuckled, peering intently into the semi-darkness. They walked through endless corridors, but finally the road began to widen. Kinich froze for a second, and then moved forward. He could hear Mualani breathing next to him.

Thousands of eyes stared at them from the circular cave where Kongamato apparently lived. There were bones everywhere, and the energy of the Abyss seeped through his skin, causing goosebumps.

The yumkasaurus hissed and growled, but did not attack. It's as if this place was created to intimidate the people who enter it. But there was no sign of Kongamato either. And there was only one entrance.

Kinich peered intently into the semi-darkness, but he did not notice the silhouette of saurian, who looked like Kongamato. The guy had never seen him, but stories about this monstrous yumkasaurus circulated among the people of his tribe. Although Mavuika once remembered Kongamato when he was still a whelp. What would she say now if she saw this creature?

"I think we should leave. The longer we stand in the middle of this cave, the more I feel like we've trapped ourselves." Mualani caught his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Ajaw?" Kinich called out. "Can you figure out if there is a Kongamato here?"

"We have night vision, of course," Ajaw said arrogantly. "And we can see everything!!" He screamed. "There are only ordinary yumkasaurus here and the Abyss they are infected with. If you've finally decided to give up your body to us, then stay here. Otherwise, get out!"

Ajaw's mocking muzzle glowed in the dark, irritating. Kinich waved him away and pulled Mualani towards the exit.

"He's right, there's nothing to do here. We will report this place to Wayna, and he will send warriors to try to save these saurians."

"But what about Kongamato? Wouldn't the warriors face his fury if they came to the cave while he was inside?" Mualani asked anxiously.

She was right. And while their group was heading for the exit, passing through the numerous corridors of the cave, Kinich could not get rid of a bad feeling. Suddenly, the ground trembled. And again. And more.

"What is this?" Mualani exclaimed, clutching his hand tighter. "Is this Kongamato? Is he coming here?"

Kinich summoned the sword, holding it with one hand. He didn't want to let go of Mualani's hand, feeling how tightly she was holding his palm.

"No," growled the suspiciously calm Ajaw. "He's not coming here..."

"What? No way!" Mualani said, startled.

Kinich also realized this. The ground shook several times because saurian was jumping! Its heavy bulk created vibrations comparable to an earthquake. And Kongamato was heading in the direction where the people lived!

"He's going to recruit more saurians into his army, or..." Mualani bit her lip.

They heard a loud howl from somewhere outside. Soon, he was answered by hundreds of yumkasaurus inside the cave. There was a clatter, and Kinich pulled Mualani towards him. A crowd of saurians rushed past, hissing, growling, being furious.

"We need to get back urgently."

Kinich and Mualani ran to the exit, but they did not see a single yumkasaurus – they had already disappeared into the forest. As there was no Kongamato anywhere. Were his jumps so powerful that they could cover a huge distance in a matter of seconds?

"I don't want to ask you for a favor, Ajaw." Kinich said resignedly. "But we need to get there before them. Take us there."

"Your arrogance knows no bounds!" Ajaw was indignant. "I'm not a taxi!!!"

"We know, Ajaw!" Mualani looked at the dragon pleadingly. "Just consider that we owe you."

Ajaw's muzzle became suspiciously pleased.

"We'll remember," he grinned and transformed.

Hastily, Mualani and Kinich jumped on his back, and barely had the guy managed to attach them with ropes when Ajaw abruptly rose into the sky.

"Sometimes I think I should make you a bridle, like for horses." Kinich muttered.

"Don’t you dare try it!" Ajaw growled.

It took a while before they could catch up to Kongamato. He was shorter than the trees, but that didn't stop him from breaking the trunks, landing on them with a deafening crash. And he was moving very fast, jumping non-stop in the direction of the Scions of the Canopy.

"What's the plan?" Mualani asked.

"Ajaw could set it on flame, but it could lead to a forest fire... And the power of our Visions is not enough to attack him from such a distance."

"Then we'll just fall on top of him." Mualani chuckled.

"Yes," Kinich felt his lips stretch into an answering smile.

He wasn't afraid. The main thing is to stop Kongamato before he gets to the settlements of the Scions of the Canopy or the Children of Echoes. He, Ajaw, and Mualani would take on the battle with Burkina's huge, angry companion, and then, as Kinich hoped, the rest of the warriors would arrive to subdue Kongamato and the pack that followed him.

However, should they kill Kongamato? After all, he was an ancient being, closely related to the legacy of the Scions of the Canopy. However, this yumkasaurus has long been forgotten, like a terrible dream. And here's the result – he's hungry for blood.

"Ajaw, fly closer to him." Kinich sighed. "And try to land so as to block his path."

Ajaw obeyed and began a rapid descent. Kinich watched with concern as Kongamato got closer and closer to the place where the forest ended and the first houses began.

Yumkasaurus seemed to notice them because he sped up. With a furious growl, Ajaw flew after him, almost touching the treetops with his belly. Finally, they drew level. Kongamato rode on the left, Ajaw glided on the right.

Making a dash, Ajaw managed to overtake Kongamato. The dragon turned its head and breathed fire in the direction of yumkasaurus. He finally stopped, landing noisily among the trees.

Ajaw soared into the sky, dodging the tree fragments that flew up. Kongamato growled and wagged his tail, snapping off the trunks. Gradually, a clearing formed, in the middle of which he stood, ready to engage in battle. Ajaw flew closer, once again exhaling flames in saurian's direction.

Now that he was so close, Kinich could see that Kongamato didn't look well. His fur was tarnished, and his ears were covered with healed lacerations. Saurian's entire body was streaked with old scars, his paws were covered in blood and dirt, and his tail was furiously tossing from side to side. And Kongamato's eyes... They were filled with the veil of the Abyss. Filth enveloped his body, gathering on his sharp teeth and the tip of his tail.

And don't forget that it was huge. But the creature's size seemed unnatural, as if the infection from the Abyss had caused the yumkasaurus to grow dramatically in size, and then it had swollen more than ordinary saurians could handle.

And the battle continued. Ajaw shot flames, Kongamato dodged and attacked back. Flamegrenades consisting of the energy of the Abyss appeared from the air in front of him. Due to the endless number of shells, Ajaw had a hard time.

"I'll jump off Ajaw, and together we'll try to neutralize Kongamato. And you," Kinich looked at Mualani. "Think of something to stop him, but please don't get off."

Kinich dissolved the vines holding him down and jumped off Ajaw, grouping in flight. The guy landed on the ground and immediately dodged Kongamato's paw, which he tried to crush him with. Kinich created a Dendro rope, which he tied around saurian's hind limb. He jerked sharply, but Kongamato only staggered.

There were too many factors in this fight that could hinder Kinich. Yumkasaurus was huge and aggressive, but it also had a strong resistance to the Dendro. Therefore, it will be much more difficult to injure him using the power of the elements.

Besides it... Kinich dodged the projectiles that Kongamato hurled at him and Ajaw. Besides it, the energy of the Abyss in the creature's body was limitless. The yumkasaurus could attack them until they were exhausted. And Kongamato didn't let Kinich get any closer, ripping off Dendro's shackles as Kinich grabbed onto him.

With a howl, Kongamato turned away from Ajaw and looked down to where Kinich managed to hit him, cutting his hind leg, which saurian was going to crush him with.

"You-u," he howled.

Kinich flinched, not expecting the creature to be able to talk. So the Abyss had awakened his voice... Kongamato hit him with his claws. Kinich managed to repel this attack with his sword. The guy gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the sword. Kongamato landed a few more punches, and then swung his tail. Kinich ducked and rolled under him. He heard an enraged howl.

Expecting Ajaw to be able to get the Kongamato, Kinich took a closer look. To his pleasant surprise, saurian was steaming. The guy saw several more Hydroblades flying towards yumkasaurus along with the flames spewing out from Ajaw. Mualani was sitting dangerously close to falling off the dragon and throwing blades.

The Hydro element did a good job of piercing saurian's hide surreptitiously, and along with the fire, it scalded Kongamato. He frantically waved his claws and tail, even jumped up, trying to reach Ajaw.

Great. While yumkasaurus is distracted, Kinich can try to get to him. The guy again created a Dendro rope with a hook at the end in the hope of jumping onto saurian's body. The hook caught on one of the growths on Kongamato's body, and Kinich jumped, shortening the length of the rope and thereby rising higher.

Suddenly, Kongamato turned around and looked at Kinich with a look full of hatred. Saurian froze, then flushed. It was the flame of the Abyss, the shock wave from which threw the guy back, and the temperature burned the ropes. After rolling on the ground, Kinich hurried to get up, ignoring the pain. But to his dismay, Kongamato kicked off the ground again and...

Kinich might have expected him to land on top of him, but Kongamato flew over his body and resumed his journey to the Scions of the Canopy.

"Damn it!" Kinich exhaled.

"A hand!" Mualani leaned over from Ajaw and held out her hand to him. "We'll still be able to stop him."

Kinich stretched out his hand, and then felt something push him up. He saw that Mualani had concentrated Hydro energy in the form of arms, with which she lifted him up. She wouldn't have had the strength to lift it on her own, but she found a way to make up for it.

Kinich grinned contentedly as he climbed onto Ajaw and looked at the girl's worried face. She hesitantly returned his smile.

"Thanks."

Kinich hurried to tie himself to Ajaw, who was gaining altitude and speed. And Kongamato was already so close to the settlement. The guy stared intently at Saurian's receding and approaching silhouette.

"It seems to me that he has accelerated. What is its purpose?" Mualani was also looking at Kongamato, who was rapidly closing the distance between himself and the people.

"Murder. Or revenge," Kinich frowned.

"We can't let him get to people. Ajaw, can you fly faster?" Mualani nervously clutched the growth on the dragon's back. Her fingers turned white.

"Don't grab us so hard!" Ajaw was indignant. "We spend a lot of energy on this race. How much you both owe Our Dragon Majesty!"

Drawing strength from an unknown source, Ajaw flew faster. The wind whistled in their ears, and even looking ahead became difficult. Fortunately, Kinich always carried special glasses with him. He reached into his subspace and pulled them out.

"Put it on," the guy handed the glasses to Mualani without looking at her.

She hesitantly took them after a little thought. Kinich was glad that the girl accepted his care.

"I can see that he is... What is he doing!?" Mualani exclaimed.

Kinich wiped his eyes and squinted, trying to see at least something. Kongamato has already reached the borders. Below, people were shooting at a creature approaching the settlement of the Scions of the Canopy. But their blows did not harm Kongamato. With a crash, he landed, crushing the house.

Mualani exhaled sharply.

Kongamato jumped in the direction of the rocks, as if he was going to climb up. The energy of the Abyss began to gather around him, forming a flame that did not harm the yumkasaurus.

"It's like he's going to climb as high as possible and then burn the Scions of the Canopy to the ground. And it won't be difficult for him to do the same with the Children of Echoes if his appetite isn't satisfied." Kinich said.

A plan was beginning to form in his mind. But it was terrifyingly dangerous and reckless. They were flying close enough for Kinich to reach Kongamato. The guy concentrated, forming another Dendro construction. But this time he created something new. The guy clenched his hand into a fist.

Kongamato froze on one of the mountain slopes and let out a howl. He clawed at his neck, which now had a collar on it. Kinich held the chain in his hand.

"Let him try to throw me off now." He chuckled. "Mualani, keep creating the Hydroblades. And, Ajaw, when I give the command, shoot the flame."

Kongamato jumped sharply, and Kinich tore off Ajaw's body. However, he hadn't spent so many years surrounded by these mountains for nothing. Having cleverly picked himself up, Kinich landed with his feet on a vertical slope and ran up, which was greatly facilitated by the tensioning chain.

The yumkasaurus performed several maneuvers, trying to break the chain, but it remained solid. Kinich put a lot of effort into controlling the strength of this structure. Finally, Kongamato gave up and continued climbing. After a few jumps, they found themselves on a plateau on the highest rock of the Scions of the Canopy.

People had never lived there – there was not enough air, it was located so close to the sky. And it was an ideal battlefield.

Kongamato was already waiting for him at the top, and several shells filled with Abyss flew in the direction of the guy. Kinich barely managed to dodge them, while holding the chain. Yes, it was both an advantage and a disadvantage at the same time. By associating himself with Kongamato, the guy also lost some of his mobility.

Several Hydroblades flew into Kongamato's back, causing him to cry out in pain. Fortunately for Kinich, saurian was very easily distracted from one goal, switching to another. The guy drew his sword and ran towards the yumkasaurus, concentrating the Dendro element on the weapon. Fortunately, his chain was adjustable, so he calmly shortened the distance, knowing that it would not get in the way. He created it to keep Kongamato if he still tries to carry out his plan and burn everyone.

Saurian howled, dodging Ajaw's fire projectiles. Kinich got so close that he could feel the warmth and the smell of death coming from Kongamato. The guy swung his sword, but suddenly felt a blow landing on his arm.

Kinich flew to the side and almost let go of the chain. He rolled on the ground, feeling pain in his left hand, which usually held a sword. Kinich got up and barely managed to jump back when Kongamato launched a dozen shells in his direction.

The guy clenched his teeth. His left arm might have been broken, but what was definitely broken is his sword that was lying on the ground nearby. It was quite problematic, but he could still come up with something.

Kongamato attacked again, forcing Kinich to dodge. Now he was forced to run away, because his original plan involved having a weapon to neutralize saurian. As if realizing his opponent's impotence, Kongamato growled. The energy of the Abyss only increased around them. He crept closer to the edge of the cliff. Down on one side were the houses of the Scions of the Canopy, and down on the other side were the houses of the Children of Echoes. And right now, Kongamato was about to send a wave of flames down the slope.

Kinich rushed into battle, calculating his options.

"Kinich!" He heard Mualani's scream.

Looking up, the guy noticed that Ajaw had flown closer, not blocking Kongamato's path. Mualani tossed him a dagger in a sheath. Kinich caught it.

"Ajaw, fly around it from the other side. And remember, you have to attack him on the signal."

The guy ran forward, made a dash and abruptly pulled Kongamato by the chain. Saurian howled and turned around.

"Don't touch people. I am your rival."

Kinich clenched his fist, watching the collar on Kongamato tighten. He tried to pick it off with his paws again. But at the same time, saurian did not stop concentrating the energy of the Abyss around himself.

"Are you really so sure that you have the strength to gather so many flames and burn all these people?"

"Get off!" Kongamato growled. "You don't know anything! No one knows anything!"

Kinich chuckled. He gathered some more energy, forming structures around himself.

"That's how," the guy abruptly pulled the chain towards himself. "Ajaw, now."

Ajaw sent a stream of flame straight into Kongamato's back. The saurian howled, but he couldn't move away. Kinich held him down with more chains, but he also gathered all the remaining strength in his legs, which he wrapped around with Dendro roots that had grown through the ground.

"What are you doing?" Kongamato growled.

The Abyss was gathering around him, so Ajaw's flame hardly harmed him.

"Ajaw, don't stop the flow of flame!" Kinich shouted.

A new wave of heat washed over his face. Kongamato tried to pull away, but he couldn't.

Kinich clenched his teeth tighter. He would not burn in this flame, most of which was on Kongamato's back. Yumkasaurus acted as a shield, but Ajaw's flame was intended for saurian to give up and deplete the energy reserves of the Abyss. However, it seemed that he was too stubborn to give up. Well, then there's nothing to do but scorch his muzzle.

Kinich created a weak shield behind his back that barely reached his feet and his head. It won't last long, but at least the guy won't burn out in the first few minutes. This plan was almost suicidal, but Kinich expected that a sharp flame strike in the most vulnerable places – the muzzle and belly, would cause serious damage to saurian.

"Ajaw, from behind my back." Kinich ordered.

"You're going to burn yourself!" Kongamato growled.

"Then let the turnfire baptize me," the guy breathed out.

The surrounding area was engulfed in flames. Even the shield on his back did not protect him from the piercing heat. Kongamato tried to dodge, but the fire was everywhere. Kinich clenched his teeth, feeling how close he was to being burned alive.

Ajaw continued to spew flames, and Kongamato struggled in his bonds. Finally, the energy of the Abyss disintegrated, and fire began to lick saurian's body. He howled. Kinich frowned, looking closer. It was as if the veil in Kongamato's eyes had lifted, exposing his true insides.

"Ajaw, we have achieved our goal." Kinich shouted loudly.

For a split second, it seemed to him that the dragon would not stop and burn him. But the flame was gone. Kinich exhaled and destroyed most of the Dendro structures, including the Kongamato collar. Only a few chains kept saurian from escaping, but he didn't try to escape either.

Kongamato fell to the ground, and Kinich made a small relieved sound. Still, controlling so much energy required tremendous strength and concentration. The guy took the blade out of the sheath and threw them aside. He moved in the direction of Kongamato's body, lying exhausted at the edge of the cliff.

"You," Kongamato drawled weakly, not trying to evade. "Kill me, heir of Burkina."

Kinich frowned and put the blade to the place where Kongamato's heart was. The guy watched intently as the creature's chest heaved.

"You're weak," he said. "Has the Abyss left your body? As is typical of it, it left you at death's door... And yet you keep talking."

"Worthless..."

"What?" Kinich asked.

"My life is worthless." Kongamato said quietly. "I betrayed and killed my friend. There is no forgiveness for me. I was trying to destroy what was left of his legacy... His home..."

Kinich continued to hold the blade against the creature's chest.

"That's right," the guy said thoughtfully. "And you're right, there's no forgiveness for that."

"Then kill me," Kongamato pleaded.

 "No." Kinich looked into saurian's eyes. "You will live and carry the guilt for the rest of your days."

Kongamato sighed heavily. Kinich wanted to remove the blade, but felt that someone was holding him back. The guy turned his head to the right. Burkina stood there, translucent and hunched over, clutching the hilt of a blade with his left hand.

"Burkina..." Kongamato exhaled.

"Is it true...? How is this possible?" Kinich asked.

Burkina smiled sadly at them both.

"It took a lot of effort, and I may never be able to appear in front of you again..." He looked at Kinich carefully. "Although the Lord of the Night has woken up, it will take a long time for both of us to recover. And yet here I am."

Burkina pressed down on the hilt of the blade, and it sank into Kongamato's flesh.

"Even after all these years, I..." Burkina's voice cracked, as if he was about to cry. "I can't leave my friend to suffer."

Burkina pressed harder, and Kinich felt his hand sink deeper into Kongamato's flesh along with the blade. Under its tip was saurian's barely beating heart. One more push, and the blade pierced Kongamato's heart.

Blood gushed from the wound, staining the fur in burgundy. Burkina did not let go of the blade, but he put his other hand on saurian's muzzle. Kongamato was breathing heavily, and Kinich saw tears dripping from yumkasaurus's eyes.

"That's it, it's not scary, my friend." Burkina said softly, stroking Kongamato's muzzle.

And so he sat: on his knees in front of his fallen comrade. Both man and saurian were crying, but Burkina's ghostly tears did not touch Kongamato's body. And the ancient hero's hand was still clutching the blade in saurian's chest. Kinich sat next to them, unable to stop or do anything.

When Kongamato's eyes lost the light, Burkina pulled on the hilt of the blade again, pulling it out of saurian's chest. Kinich's arm was covered in blood up to his elbows.

"Thank you for letting me do this." Burkina looked at the guy. "I know you have a right to be angry, considering that my fallen comrade just tried to destroy our home. But I couldn't leave him to suffer."

Kinich looked away. He hoped that Burkina didn't consider him a cruel monster because the guy thought it would be fairer to let Kongamato live.

"Everything has a price, you should know." Burkina patted him on the shoulder. "I'm not mad, you did the right thing. Even so, forgive me for interfering." He smiled. "You were really good today!"

"You're watching me," Kinich grinned. "Thanks."

Burkina grunted, and then looked at Kongamato's body.

"He'll be joining me soon. Please, Kinich, burn his body for me." Burkina looked around. "I have to go, and they're already waiting for you. See you."

And he disappeared, leaving Kinich next to Kongamato's dead body.

"Kinich!"

The guy turned around and caught Mualani in his arms.

"I..." She hugged him tighter. "In my opinion, of the two of us, you are the one who commits rash acts and sacrifices your life unnecessarily. Prick."

Kinich laughed.

"It's okay, I knew that everything would work out."

"Still a jerk," muttered Mualani. She released him from her embrace and looked into his eyes. "But it was so cool."

Her eyes shone with delight. Kinich felt himself blushing. No one had ever looked at him like that.

"I don't want to interrupt your idyll," Ajaw said mockingly, pretending to spew. "But there are people gathering down there. How about we go down and talk to them before they come in here and break their necks?"

Kinich grunted in agreement. They climbed onto Ajaw, who smoothly descended to where the people were gathering. As soon as they saw the dragon and its passengers, there was applause.

"Wow," Kinich said quietly. "This is quite unexpected."

He jumped off Ajaw, and Mualani landed next to him. And people shouted something about how he had saved their lives. They looked at him with delight, adoration, and gratitude, which was so different from their usual looks. Ajaw talked about how he was ready to accept any assignment on behalf of Kinich.

After much praise, Kinich felt his face burn with discomfort. Nearby, Mualani was also shouting something about how she saw Kinich save everyone. Her smile was warm.

"You know," she pulled him to her and whispered in his ear. "Your mentor is going to cry with happiness."

She pointed to where Leik was standing, looking awfully pleased. He waved at them amiably.

"I assure you, he dreamed of this day."

Mualani giggled.

"And you? Have you made sure that you would make a good hero?"

"I think so." Kinich exhaled, leaning into Mualani's ear to whisper. "But I'm also convinced of something else."

"And what is it?" Mualani asked softly.

"I'm lucky to have an ally like you."

The girl made a small surprised sound.

"Oh..." She smiled. "You finally admit it."

"And also," Kinich chuckled. "I'm lucky that my ally is also a big fan of mine."

"Huh?" Mualani was confused. "A very confident statement."

"Of course, because the support of a cutie like you gives me confidence."

Perhaps it was unnecessary. Mualani's face turned terribly red, and for the rest of that day she avoided looking into his eyes.

Chapter Text

"Wow, Paimon missed this place so much..." Paimon said without enthusiasm. "Look, they're staring at us!"

"Paimon, they're not looking at us. They are looking at them."

Mavuika and Capitano were standing nearby, discussing their next steps in low voices.

The Traveler sighed. They hurried after Citlali, and she opened a portal that brought Aether and Paimon to the main city of the Masters of the Night-Wind. Mavuika and Capitano showed up some time later, and now they were all waiting for news about Ororon.

The Archon wasn't going to miss the opportunity. As soon as Citlali allows it, Mavuika intends to go to the storehouse of the scrolls of the Masters of the Night-Wind to find a way to cleanse the Night Kingdom from the taint. Then the tribal Wayob will be able to answer the call of the people.

"Come on," Paimon exclaimed loudly, flying up to Mavuika. "Paimon understands that you like the attention you attract, but maybe you shouldn't do it!? People are already gathering there!"

Paimon pointed to where a small crowd was looking at Mavuika and Capitano with interest. The woman grimaced.

"Paimon, there's nothing we can do."

"You could have dressed more simply," Paimon grumbled, returning to the Traveler. "I wish Citlali would come back sooner..."

Someone's hands covered Paimon's eyes. She screamed and flew over their heads.

"Don't be so loud!" Citlali was indignant, but her face was pleased.

Paimon fell silent resentfully, and Mavuika looked at the elder expectantly.

"So when are we going to the library?" She asked impatiently.

Citlali frowned.

"What's the hurry?" The elder looked suspiciously at the Archon. "And you won't even ask if Ororon is okay?"

"Is he okay?" Paimon forgot her grudges and interrupted Citlali. She looked at the little girl sternly.

"Guess."

There was an awkward pause, during which Mavuika began tapping her fingers impatiently on her thigh. Citlali squinted at her, and then the elder's eye twitched. Paimon looked worried. Then the Traveler realized that it was time to step in.

"Okay, I guess we can start tomorrow? Citlali needs rest. All of us, actually."

The elder looked at him gratefully.

"Yes. Tomorrow. Mavuika, your research can wait. After all, you've been waiting for five years."

"What about my research?" Capitano asked coldly. Citlali did not flinch, meeting the Harbinger's invisible gaze.

"Don't overestimate yourself, Harbinger. You are a guest on this land. And your arrangements with the Archon have nothing to do with me. So see you tomorrow."

Capitano chuckled briefly, and Mavuika sighed in disappointment. Perhaps she expected the Harbinger to insist on his own.

"I'm leaving," Citlali announced. She quickly left, but the Traveler did not want to stay next to Mavuika and Capitano now that they were going to sort things out.

"I'll talk to her." The Traveler hoped that these words would give Mavuika false hope that he was going to persuade Citlali. That's not what Aether really wanted.

He was interested in what had happened, and he was also a little worried about Ororon. After all, they weren’t strangers.

Citlali was found pretty quickly. As if she knew that someone would want to find her, and hoped that the Traveler would be that person. And she managed to buy drinks. Alcohol.

"I knew you'd come looking for me!" She pointed in the direction of the Traveler and Paimon, who entered the small pub where the elder was hiding.

"It shouldn't be difficult to predict any action if you are in a city of wizards and fortune tellers." Paimon crossed her arms over her chest. "However, Paimon is really worried about you."

"What about it?" Citlali pursed her lips. "Is it written on my face that I want to be pitied?"

With her feigned anger, the woman's voice sounded confused and sad. She cleared her throat and lowered her eyes in embarrassment. She had to examine the bubbles in her glass.

"If you really want to know what's on my mind, I can arrange it!" Citlali poked the Traveler in the chest with her finger. "At the same time, it will help me understand you."

The elder muttered something under her breath, and then a brief flash of light surrounded her and the Traveler. Paimon squeaked, but the glow bypassed her.

"Why did I do that?" Citlali pressed her hands to her face, but she did not open her mouth.

"I do not know..." The Traveler said in confusion. Paimon squinted at him.

"Is something wrong?"

"It is!" Citlali thought. "But I don't want Paimon to know. She's too young for that..."

"Too young for what?" The Traveler asked mentally.

Citlali started and turned pale.

"Ah, Traveler, I'm just... Have you ever meet people with split souls?"

Aether thought about it. It was possible that he and his sister had met someone like this in one of the many worlds, but he couldn't remember anything specific.

"The thing is that among the Masters of the Night-Wind, a split soul is a sign of misfortune."

"Ororon mentioned something like that," the Traveler thought uncertainly.

"Yes!" Citlali slammed her mug down on the table. "But my stupid grandson seems to have forgotten what a problem it is for me to preserve the integrity of his soul! And he went so thoughtlessly and..." Citlali's thoughts fell silent. "His soul has almost separated from his body. And this is... painful."

In Citlali's eyes, the Traveler saw a heaviness that could not have appeared there otherwise than after many years of life. Many years of losses...

"Everything will be fine..." Paimon said hesitantly. "Just say something, and Paimon and the Traveler will help you!"

She tried to sound optimistic, even though she hadn't heard a word Citlali had said before. To her, the two of them must have just looked into each other's eyes. The Traveler will definitely tell Paimon about the ability to read minds later.

"I need time." Citlali muttered. "Time." She said more clearly. "Until Ororon's condition stabilizes, I don't want to do any searching at this time. Traveler, Paimon, please convince Mavuika and Harbinger to wait."

"But isn't it too late to wait?" Paimon asked uncertainly. "Everyone's just waiting while Natlan comes to an end."

Citlali looked away, lost in thought.

"Mavuika knows what she has to do. There is hardly any other way to defeat the Abyss."

"But what about the Ley Lines and the goals pursued by The Captain?" Said the Traveler.

"We'll look for the scrolls, I promise. But first, I have to make sure that Ororon..." She blushed with anger. "That he would stay alive so that I could break his legs!!!"

Paimon whistled.

And they continued to sit around, talking about something unimportant. And the next day, Citlali refused Mavuika access to the library. And again. And again.

It wasn't until the fifth day that the elder agreed.

Iansan never wanted to become a Commander. But it was her duty to help people. There is a difference between managing a small group and a huge army. And if she had been asked, the woman would have been happy to became a trainer, leaving the leadership of the country to Windosh or people like him.

Nevertheless, when Windosh got the chance to get to power, he didn't hesitate for a second. The man did not dare to proclaim himself Pyro Archon, but the tone of his letter told Iansan that the Commander would change his status very soon. And he invited her to return to the City of the Sacred Flame to officially support his new status.

Sighing and considering her few options, Iansan said goodbye to her mother and set off on her way. Windosh as Pyro the Archon... She would like to see it, even if a man's vanity is already great. However, at the same time, somewhere out there was Mavuika, who was still the rightful leader of their land. Now, without the shackles, this woman could change everything.

Or maybe Iansan believed in her too much. Probably, when there is no one else to believe in but yourself, the appearance of any hope, like Mavuika five years ago, causes an incomprehensible desire to shift all your worries to another person, endow him with the title of savior and believe. However, the miracle did not happen, and Iansan still hopes only for himself.

No, she hadn't lost faith in people. On the contrary, the woman tried to contact Xilonen for the sake of their still weak cooperation. Together, they would be able to do something other than desperately fend off the attacks of the Abyss. Who better than Iansan would know what it's like to fight an endless battle on the front line?

With a small detachment of her warriors riding tatankasaurs, Iansan had to stop at one of the settlements of the Masters of the Night-Wind and replenish supplies. Still, there were advantages to being the Commander of the Natlan army. The woman wasn't going to stay long, but she heard rumors that Pyro Archon herself was currently in the main city. And Iansan was going to meet her.

There were two reasons: Iansan had to convince Mavuika to return so that the confusion with the Archon and the Commanders would not lead to unpleasant consequences. And besides, in the last letter from Xilonen, she asked to inform the Archon about the progress regarding Ancient Names. Simply put, Mavuika still didn't know that Kinich had received one.

Therefore, the Commander went to the main city, the portal to which was kindly opened for her by the shamans. And as soon as the woman was in the capital, she was surrounded by the smell of all kinds of incense. Iansan grimaced, but she was able to overcome such a difficulty. Only the Masters of the Night-Wind, who had lived among so many scents since childhood, had a tolerance for scents.

It wasn't difficult to find Mavuika: she always attracted attention. Although this time, people were only talking, not daring to come closer. Judging by Iansan's modest knowledge, Mavuika was located in the building where the local council met, and there was also a storage. And judging by the loud noise from that building, something was wrong.

Iansan walked past all the people, and after spending an extra minute reminding the guards of her status, she found herself inside the building. There, the noise became more distinct: the clatter of furniture and screams. Someone was cursing loudly in the midst of the chaos. And Iansan recognized the voices, gradually approaching the source of the noise.

She opened the door and couldn't contain her surprise. It was a library, not a repository of the most ancient scrolls, but still a large room, filled with... aggressive books? The Traveler fought with the priceless treasures of the Masters of the Night-Wind attacking him, while Paimon dodged the attacks and squeaked. The Fatui Harbinger created an ice shield around himself and stood aside.

Mavuika was the one who cursed. And her opponent was a pink-haired woman who couldn't be anyone else but Elder Itztli.

"Finally, someone dared to enter here!" Paimon exclaimed, attracting the attention of the Traveler and the Harbinger. "Don’t let the door to close!"

Iansan managed to stop the door from slamming shut at the last second before it apparently locked them inside the library.

"Let's get out of here. Hey, Mavuika! Citlali!" Paimon called out to the arguing women, but they only cast a brief glance in her direction.

"What's going on here?" Iansan asked, watching as the Traveler quickly moved away from the pack of books that surely intended to cripple him.

Paimon looked at her with a pained expression, "Oh, Iansan, you have no idea how tired Paimon is today! They keep arguing and don't listen to the Traveler and Paimon at all!"

"I can hear everything," Citlali suddenly appeared quite close to the two of them. The woman raised her hand and caught the book. The movement of the others slowed down, and soon stopped altogether. The books fell to the floor.

"It could be that easy!!!???" Paimon was indignant. "Traveler is already tired of running away so as not to damage your precious books, and you could stop everything in one second!"

Citlali glanced at the Traveler, but after making sure that he looked calm, she smiled arrogantly.

"Paimon, it's nothing. For our dearest Traveler, this is just a warm–up. But for her!" Citlali turned to Mavuika, who glared at her, gradually approaching. "If only someone hadn't touched everything without permission!"

"If only you didn't have such important secrets from me!" Mavuika retorted. "Maybe there's something else you're hiding? Are you hiding the technology of forging Ancient Names somewhere? Do you talk to the Lord of the Night at night?"

"Yes, even Paimon didn't touch my library with a finger, and in general..."

Citlali stopped.

"Hey, that's not funny." Paimon grumbled. "And when the library became yours..."

"What happened anyway?" Iansan asked.

Mavuika pursed her lips angrily, while Citlali looked suspiciously pale and cast pleading glances at the Traveler. Capitano was silently studying a book, so Paimon was the only hope. She sighed.

"The Traveler and Paimon have already tried to get to a meeting with the leader of the Masters of the Night-Wind. But he avoided us, which led to long hours of wandering through this maze, which they call the city!"

"And what of this could have caused the elder and the Archon to quarrel?" Iansan frowned.

"Well... We wanted to go to the storage where the scrolls about the Ley Lines are kept. And Citlali bypassed the leader and allowed us to come here. But first, everyone wanted to explore the library. And Mavuika came across a book that tells about the way that the Masters of the Night-Wind used to place their city in the Night Kingdom. Paimon hopes that you already know about it..."

"Iansan, the problem is that the city of the Masters of the Night-Wind is located in a place where the purest energy was collected in the Night Kingdom. It was a place from where souls could go to be reborn. And as a result, the city has grown together with the Night Kingdom so much that its extraction will lead to destruction. But at the same time, we need to let the wandering souls take refuge in this place and then be reborn."

Iansan massaged her temples in confusion. She did not understand the intricacies of the work of spiritual energy, but she still guessed that the situation was not easy. Mavuika cast another displeased glance at Citlali and switched to Capitano.

"Capitano, did you find something?" Mavuika nodded towards the book that Harbinger was holding in his hands.

"No," the man replied dully. "We still need to go down to the storage, there is only superficial knowledge at the top."

"As if I'd let you in there!" Citlali exclaimed, but immediately became confused and looked at the Traveler, who raised an eyebrow. "Okay! I'll let them in, but they're not allowed to touch anything! And I'm going to have lunch first. So get out of my sight!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and pouted. Mavuika rolled her eyes and walked towards the exit. Iansan cast an uncertain glance at the others and hurried after the Archon.

"Mavuika, wait!"

Iansan had to run through several corridors before Mavuika stopped.

"Oh, yeah... Iansan, are you here on some business or something?"

"Windosh wants to become the new Archon." Iansan said bluntly, watching Mavuika's face stretch in disbelief. "And he's not the only one. I believe that Tsarce also has some kind of plan. Windosh asked me to come back so that I could become his ally and confirm his status. But fortunately, I met you before him."

Mavuika frowned.

"I can't believe they’re dare to... No, I can believe it, but something urgently needs to be done about it!" She turned in the direction she had just come from.

"Mavuika..." Iansan called out to her, but the Archon had already run away.

Sighing, Iansan headed towards the library. There, Mavuika was waving her arms wide, explaining something to The Captain. He crossed his arms over his chest, but Iansan could feel his displeasure without even seeing his emotions. There was no one else but the two of them. It seems that the Traveler, Paimon and Citlali managed to leave, although they did not meet on the way to Iansan.

"We have to return to the City of the Sacred Flame. I'll show them all who the real Archon is.

"Pyro Archon," Capitano interrupted her. "Don't forget that we work together, but the first priority for me is to restore the Ley Lines. Therefore, we will not run somewhere to prove your importance until we find a way to save the Ley Lines in this library."

Mavuika's face was indignant, but even she understood that the Harbinger's words were indisputable. The woman exhaled and went to the first shelf she saw, from where she picked up a random book, which she immediately threw away and reached for another.

"Mavuika, there's something else I need to tell you." Iansan began to speak.

"Commander, don't distract me. Now my task is to find a way to restore the Ley Lines." Mavuika said irritably, tracing the spines with her finger.

"You don't have to project your anger and resentment on me because of the Harbinger's words," Iansan smiled, but her eyes remained stern. "It's really important."

"Yeah," Mavuika nodded indifferently.

"When you left, no, when you flew away into the Sacred Flame, something happened..." Iansan noticed that Mavuika continued to walk away, collecting an increasing stack of books in her hands... "Mavuika, listen. Kinich got an Ancient Name and..."

Mavuika was nowhere to be seen. She slipped away. She must have moved on to the next shelf. Iansan felt a pang of anger. The years of imprisonment did not benefit the Archon’s behavior.

"Mavuika!" Iansan called out to her.

"Mmm," she heard from behind the shelves.

Iansan went there, seeing the concentrated Archon, who was choosing literature.

"Mavuika, this is important. Kinich, he is..."

"Iansan, it's not important right now. You seem to know each other, so it's not surprising that he asked you to tell me something that he didn't have time to shout in my face at our last meeting." Mavuika straightened up and looked tiredly at Iansan. "No need. I'll talk to him later."

"That's not the point! Ancient Names..."

"I don't want to know." Mavuika turned away.

"You won't even let me finish," Iansan said irritably. Mavuika moved away from her again at a great distance. "I just wanted to help you!" She shouted after her. But the Archon was already lost in thought.

And let them. Iansan really wanted to make Mavuika happy, but she didn't seem interested in anything except her own plans and thoughts that filled her head. Then Iansan has no choice but to leave. Nodding goodbye to the Harbinger, the woman left the library and the council building. However, she didn't manage to get far.

"Iansan!" Paimon exclaimed, bumping into her. "Is Mavuika still there?"

"Paimon? Something happened? Mavuika is inside, but she is not in the mood and is studying books."

The little girl looked worried.

"Yes, something happened! Okay, Paimon didn't want to break the news in front of The Captain anyway..." Paimon smiled nervously. "Then let's go with Paimon. Paimon even thinks that you would be a better option than Mavuika or Capitano, if anyone is interested..."

And Iansan had no idea what could happen in a matter of minutes. However, neither the Traveler nor Citlali was around, which means they were the ones who asked Paimon to bring Mavuika. And if the matter required the Archon's urgent intervention, then it was clearly not an easy one.

"What happened?" Iansan asked quickly when Paimon finally led them to the meeting place. "Mavuika is offended in the library, we need to give her time..."

Citlali chuckled with displeasure.

"Pf, she feels sorry for herself when it's her own fault. How typical..." She pursed her lips, then turned to Iansan. "I'll kill him."

Iansan looked at the elder in disbelief and misunderstanding. Citlali was getting angry again.

"Ororon. He's escaped again!"

"I suppose that sounds like him," Iansan said carefully.

"Except he's hurt!" Paimon covered her mouth with her hands and looked around, hoping that her screams didn't attract unnecessary attention. "Well, as we understand it, Ororon came to his senses a few hours ago and ran away."

"And when was he injured?"

Paimon turned around in confusion, hoping to catch the gaze of the Traveler or Citlali. But they looked into each other's eyes in silence.

"Paimon is tired of the fact that they can now read each other's minds. The Traveler is already not a fan of talking, and now he's brazenly taking advantage of it!"

"Paimon, I was just trying to convince Citlali that we could trust Iansan. If she agrees to help, of course."

"And what kind of help is needed?"

"I don't want to admit it," sighed Citlali. "But Ororon won't want to talk to me. I can only guess what's going on in his head after the ritual."

"A ritual?" Iansan asked.

"Yes!" Paimon interjected. "Capitano and Ororon wanted to perform some kind of ritual, but everything didn't go according to plan. If you can say so... In general, Mavuika and the Traveler stopped them, but Ororon was severely affected by the release of energy. Both Citlali, Paimon, and the Traveler would like to help him with all their might, but Ororon ran away as soon as he came to his senses! And we can't follow him, because Citlali is watching the safety of the library and storage, and the Traveler is making sure that they – Paimon is talking about Pyro Archon, the First Harbinger of Fatui and the strongest elder of Natlan – don't quarrel!"

Citlali grunted resentfully.

"It's a fairly simple task and unworthy of your position, but the Traveler and Paimon say they trust you..." Citlali asked uncertainly. She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Now we are all on the same side, and the Abyss may be very close. Although some unworthy students can't see the monsters under their noses!" Citlali stopped abruptly and cleared her throat. "Ahem. Commander Iansan, could you please make sure that Ororon gets home safely? As soon as we deal with the Ley Lines, I'll get there and break my worthless grandson's legs!"

Iansan retreated in embarrassment after hearing such an emotional request from the elder. Well, she didn't want to return to the City of the Sacred Flame for as long as possible, but it was her duty. However, if helping Ororon gives her a short reprieve, and Mavuika still decides to face Windosh face to face, then everything may turn out in favor of Iansan.

"Okay," Iansan agreed. "It won't take me long. I only need to write a letter for my people." Paimon quickly handed her paper and a pen and ink. "And by the way, why don't you ask someone from the Masters of the Night-Wind whom you trust?"

"Because the Masters of the Night-Wind don't like Ororon. To think that he wanted to become a hero for them!" Citlali swore angrily.

"Paimon won't be surprised if one day Citlali challenges the other elders to a fight..."

"Brainless, idiotic pieces of shit!" Citlali continued to swear. She nervously flexed her fingers and wandered from side to side, which betrayed her anxiety.

Iansan smiled awkwardly.

"Which way did he go?"

Citlali didn't just give instructions, but escorted Iansan to the nearest teleportation place. She lit a flame and activated the portal.

"That's where we go west from here. His house is in the gorge, a half-day walk away.

Good. Iansan confidently headed west, using the Electro to give herself speed. The sky above her was covered with clouds, which meant it would start raining soon, which would significantly slow down her movements.

And the woman felt the understatement hanging in the air when Citlali and Paimon tried to explain to her what had happened to Ororon. At least, they did not specify what kind of injury the guy received. However, Iansan reassured herself that if the injury had been life-threatening, nothing would have stopped Citlali from personally going in search of her grandson.

Soon, the rain started. Iansan took out a folding umbrella, which was part of the camping equipment of the Collective of Plenty. But she had to slow down to avoid getting dirty and wet.

The ground was scattered underfoot, and the rain lasted for several hours and was not going to end. Iansan's prosthetic leg made her step heavier, and visibility was almost zero. Still, Mavuika herself could envy the woman's tenacity. But what really made Iansan move forward?

She sincerely wanted to help, but at the same time, any situation other than the war was a relief. She shouldn't have gone home, and she shouldn't have given herself a break. After the arrival of the Traveler, the situation in Natlan began to change. Perhaps the war will end, and then Iansan will be able to live in the Collective of Plenty, devoting herself to training and educating the younger generations.

Was it desertion? It might be temporary, but the fact that Iansan had abandoned her people to chase after a random guy she barely knew was depressing. She'll be back soon. He'll just escort Ororon home, make sure he's safe, and then return to duty. But a nasty little voice in her subconscious kept whispering: what if she had another option? Not to return, because the system of the Natlan army was ineffective, led to unnecessary casualties, and Iansan became the Commander only to help people win.

No, she did it so that humanity could survive.

The woman decided to wait out the rain in one of the caves. However, a few hours of watching the wavering flames did not eliminate Iansan's doubts. The rain did not stop when Iansan decided to continue her search.

She saw him by accident. A little way off the main road, a figure covered with a cloak was walking, getting bogged down in the mud.

"Ororon?" Iansan called over the sound of the rain.

The figure froze, probably wondering if it was worth trying to escape. But Iansan had already blocked the guy's path.

"Commander Iansan," the guy said hoarsely, bending down a little, which gave her the opportunity to raise the umbrella over their heads.

And besides, the woman could see the man standing in front of her. His shoes and trousers, sticking out from under the tattered hem of his raincoat, were covered with mud, through which the guy resolutely made his way, ignoring the downpour. Ororon's hands were dirty too, and he was holding a long stick tightly, which he used as a makeshift cane. And he was soaking wet, even his raincoat didn't help. Ororon's hair was plastered to his face, which had traces of stained fingers.

His face was tired and sickly, but his eyes were the most frightening thing. The dark circles under them contrasted with the faded irises. Ororon didn't see anything. He was blind.

"Your eyes," Iansan breathed.

Ororon tried to turn away, but the woman caught him by the hood and turned him around.

"It's okay," she said softly. "Why did you run away? Your Granny was worried about you so much that she had to ask me for a favor."

"You shouldn't have," Ororon said softly. "I'm almost home. I can still feel the auras of things and focus on that." He closed his eyes so that Iansan couldn't see them.

"Um... let me walk you out. That way I'll make sure you get there in one piece."

"Commander Iansan, there's no need to worry. It's unlikely that another piece will break off from my soul along the way..."

And Iansan chuckled mirthlessly.

"Come on. I will have to report to Citlali. Just take the umbrella, please."

Ororon hesitantly accepted the umbrella from her hands. They took a few steps before the guy slipped on the mud, but managed to keep from falling by leaning on a cane. However, he clumsily waved the umbrella, which caused cold raindrops to fall on Iansan's head. The woman hissed in displeasure.

"I'm sorry," Ororon tried to put the umbrella in a comfortable position for the two of them, which was complicated by the fact that he couldn't see anything.

"It's all right. Right now, tell me why you ran away."

Ororon shrugged his shoulders, continuing to trudge through the mud.

"It's a shame to stay there when I failed. Sooner or later, everyone will find out and hate me with renewed vigor."

"Failed?" Iansan said thoughtfully, walking around the mud. "Paimon said that you and The Captain performed some kind of ritual, but it went awry. Are you talking about this failure?"

"Yes," Ororon said faintly. He stubbornly turned away so that Iansan could not read his emotions. After being silent for a while, he continued. "I was going to be a hero to my people. My power would have been enough to awaken the Lord of the Night, but..."

"But you survived," Iansan finished skeptically.

"But I survived," Ororon agreed.

"Don't say it so sadly!" Iansan lightly hit the guy on the arm. "You mustn't wish for death."

Ororon looked at her sadly, even though the guy's eyes remained unfocused.

"I’m not wishing for it. And it wasn’t just death. This was a sacrifice."

"Sacrifice," Iansan chuckled. "Life is the highest value, Ororon. And sacrifice is stupidity."

"You probably haven't had to sacrifice anything..." Ororon muttered. After a few seconds, he added, "I'm sorry. I can't control my speech."

Iansan just grinned. If only he knew...

"Your tongue is your enemy," she said in an instructive tone. "And it seems to me that I see a house in the middle of this rain."

"Really?" Ororon perked up. "I can barely feel it. Too far away." He paused, hiding under his hood. "I'm sorry. I was rude."

Iansan said nothing, staring up at the gray-blue sky, which merged with the earth, painted in the same shades. There really was a house there. And also, a small column of smoke above it.

"It looks like your house is on fire," Iansan commented.

"But it's raining outside... How can my house burn?"

Iansan looked at him, shaking her head.

"But your house is on fire."

"Oh, no," Ororon muttered. "It looks like I really forgot to feed the kettle."

A few hours ago.

They flew in silence. It was as if everyone had something to say, but none of them wanted to start. After saying goodbye to Kachina and Nepecha, the only topic for a short conversation was the decisions about stops. Ajaw had learned his lesson, so they had to land to give the dragon time to rest and satisfy his hunger.

However, when Ajaw went to earth for the fifth time... Well, Mualani was glad that she wasn't the only one who was annoyed.

"Stop laugh at us," Kinich said irritably.

At the same time Chasca said, "I thought the Almighty Rascal could take such a flight."

Ajaw snorted with displeasure.

"If only you hadn't tried Our Dragon Majesty's patience! And if it weren't for all those bags that you took with you for some reason! And if it wasn't for that stupid little cuckoo!"

"Bro, this is nonsense!" Cacucu squeaked, causing Ajaw to growl in annoyance.

Mualani grinned and stroked the qucusaurus, which purred contentedly in her arms.

"If you, Ajaw, are ready to dig out the ore with your claws, then you can drop the bags right now," Xilonen looked up from the papers she had been working on all the way. She was trying to reconstruct from memory everything that had been destroyed in the fire. Mualani wondered: how does a woman manage to hold hundreds of papers without losing them in flight?

"There's no way our Dragon Majesty would stoop so low as to become a pathetic tepetlisaurus!"

"Has Ajaw always been such a parasite?" Chasca asked.

And to Mualani's surprise, she addressed Kinich directly. It is possible that the girl was also oppressed by the silence. And really... Mualani couldn't have hoped, but she heard something like friendliness in Chasca's voice.

"The laziest dragon in the world," Kinich replied indifferently. However, then, as if realizing it, he turned his head and looked at Chasca in disbelief.

The girl met his gaze, and then, to Mualani's great delight, something like uncertainty appeared in her eyes.

"Well..." She drawled. "I've been thinking..." Chasca’s cheeks flushed slightly under the expectant stares of the other people. "Okay. The day before yesterday, you two... You did a pretty good job."

She looked away, but the tips of her pointed ears also turned red. As if she was embarrassed to admit that the battle with Kongamato had impressed her.

"Yes?" Mualani asked enthusiastically. "I didn't know you'd seen this!"

Xilonen chuckled softly.

"Everyone saw it." She said, without looking up from her calculations. "There was a crash, but we were still in Mavuika's house. We went out to look." The grin on Xilonen's face grew brighter. "Chasca was very impressed."

Chasca blushed even more. Mualani was smiling enthusiastically at all three of them.

"That's great, Chasca, Xilonen!" Mualani looked at Kinich. "Hey, they're your fans now too."

"Yeah..." Kinich said uncertainly. "Fans."

Mualani elbowed him.

"Don't be so depressed. The whole world is under your control when you have a fan club of such cuties, headed by me."

All three of them looked at her with varying degrees of disbelief.

"That's disgusting," Ajaw groaned. "This is unbearable! Is someone understanding us?"

Xilonen and Chasca looked at each other with very understanding eyes. Mualani pretended not to notice anything and happily continued.

"So, is this some kind of forgiveness from you?" She caught Chasca's gaze and raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Pff," Chasca chuckled. "No, but I can admit that You all are... not so bad."

"All she had to do was take down one monster in front of her," Xilonen laughed.

"His name was Kongamato," Kinich said. "He was once Burkina's friend. And I met Burkina again."

Xilonen raised her head in interest.

"He said that the Lord of the Night had awakened," Mualani remembered.

"So Mavuika did it," Xilonen looked pleased.

There was silence between them again, but it wasn't as uncomfortable now. However, Ajaw continued to decline, either out of harmfulness or from fatigue. After all, he had spent a lot of effort fighting Kongamato.

"Tetor would have done it faster," Chasca grinned.

However, she allowed her qucusaurus to fly on its own. He had been deprived of the opportunity to soar in the open sky for too long. Cacucu quickly got tired and rested in Mualani's arms. Chasca looked at the pinkish silhouette in the distance, and then squinted at Cacucu.

"And thanks, by the way... Thank you for taking them and giving them to Xilonen"

Mualani knew that Kinich had done this while the girl herself was training with Iansan. She smiled.

"No problem."

Kinich nodded.

"I have a suggestion," Chasca said reluctantly. "We're flying over the territories of the Masters of the Night-Wind. We can stay at Ororon's house. I don't think he'll mind."

It's not a bad idea.

"Is he even at home?" Mualani asked. "Are you sure?"

Chasca grinned and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I have no idea where he is." She answered confidently. "But he's my friend."

So, the decision has been made.

"I hope that you remember the place that you punched with your head, Ajaw." Kinich teased the dragon.

"I hope the rain washes you off my back," Ajaw growled.

Clouds were really starting to gather on the horizon. But still, despite Xilonen's misgivings with her precious research, Ororon's house appeared below before the rain could overtake them. Although Mualani was ready to use her Vision to create a shield around them.

"Welcome," Chasca opened the door.

"Isn't there a lock?" Xilonen asked skeptically as she walked inside.

As expected, the house was quite empty and dark.

"You two have some kind of problem taking care of the place where you live," Mualani grumbled, putting her hand on Kinich's shoulder. "There was a lot of stuff in the Xilonen house... her inventions, but it was clean and cozy. Chasca's house was clean and cozy. The place where my aunt and I lived was clean and cozy. But you two..." Mualani waved her hand at the almost empty room. "Boys."

Kinich didn't say anything, but Chasca and Xilonen enjoyed the look on the guy's face. Mualani did not let her smile fade.

"But we can work with it. For example, I'll cook something for us while you don't bother me!"

Mualani waved her hands in a conciliatory gesture and, meeting no objections, headed for the kitchen. However, after a while, which took a little cleaning and preparation of the ingredients, the girl felt that someone was glaring at her. She turned around. Chasca was standing there, leaning against the wall.

"Did you want something?" Mualani asked uncertainly. Still, she hoped the girl's hostility had cooled.

"I'll help you." Chasca said roughly.

"No, you wouldn’t," Mualani shook her head.

"I'll help," Chasca pressed.

Rolling her eyes, Mualani gave up.

"Okay. Just do everything according to my instructions."

Chasca chuckled. There was a complete unwillingness to follow instructions in her eyes. That's why, and only because, an hour later, the whole kitchen was filled with smoke, and the two girls were shouting at each other.

"I told you to keep an eye on the oil! There's only one pot here!"

"Cut your salads and don't bother!" Chasca growled. "It's all right! I always cook like this!"

"Is your kitchen always in smoke?!" Mualani's eyes widened. "Please, just let me fix this! Cut the salads yourself! And open the window!"

Chasca obeyed, letting the smell of rain enter the smoky room. She took a knife and started chopping the vegetables.

"It's disrespectful to vegetables," Mualani said reproachfully. "These are not hilichurls, cut carefully!"

Chasca brandished the knife even faster and more aggressively. Mualani threw up her hands. It's hopeless, she can only try to repair the damage caused to their food.

The loud bang of the door against the wall alerted them to the sudden intrusion. Mualani and Chasca exchanged glances and hurried to look. On the threshold stood a soaked Ororon with a hood pulled down over his face, and Iansan with an umbrella, which she carefully put aside in a corner. The Commander was relatively dry and smiled kindly at them two. Neither Kinich nor Xilonen hurried out to meet their guests.

"Hello, Ororon, Iansan," Mualani greeted. "I'm sorry to intrude your house, but I hope you don't mind."

Ororon raised his head, causing his frightening gaze to be directed directly at Mualani. She abruptly grabbed her hand for something nearby.

"No, I don't mind." He said hoarsely. The guy lowered his head and resolutely walked towards his bedroom without undressing, leaving dirty footprints on the floor.

Mualani looked at Chasca, and then released her hand, which she was holding tightly. Chasca did not react. On the contrary, the same panic that Mualani was experiencing was frozen on her face. Both girls looked at Iansan, who awkwardly smiled back at them.

"What happened?" Chasca's voice cracked.

Iansan rubbed her forehead.

"He and Capitano have some kind of ritual...? And something went wrong... I don't know myself, but I met the Traveler, Mavuika, and the Harbinger. They are among the Masters of the Night-Wind now. And elder Itztli asked me to look after him."

"Mavuika is with the Masters of the Night-Wind!?" Xilonen asked, returning to the living room where they had gathered. "Did you tell her about the Ancient Names?"

Iansan's face became gloomy.

"She didn't want to listen. I tried."

Xilonen frowned.

"It's important..."

"Xilonen, I know." Iansan said sharply.

"You always say, "Mavuika this, Mavuika that." As if you depend on her approval," Chasca added.

Xilonen's pupils narrowed.

"Let's eat." Mualani intervened. "Chasca tried not to ruin our dinner. It's a pity, but she didn't succeed!" The girl smiled, and Chasca pouted resentfully.

And the five of them, not counting Ajaw, ate. However, they were silent, there was no conversation. The shadow of a previous quarrel hung over them, as well as the thought of what could have happened to Ororon. After all, Mualani had seen his eyes!

So when everyone went about their business, Mualani was filled with sympathy. She put some food on a plate and knocked on the door of Ororon's room. He ignored the knock, which was to be expected.

"Don't hide, Ororon. I saw it, Chasca saw it. Iansan knows, and we told Kinich and Xilonen. There's nothing shameful about that." The answer to the girl's words was silence. "I don't know what you're thinking, but don't let yourself believe in those self-hating thoughts that I'm sure your head is filled with."

Mualani waited a bit, but Ororon remained silent. Maybe he fell asleep, and she continued to talk to the void?

"Just know that me and the others will support you."

Mualani didn't see it, but across the room, Kinich and Chasca made eye contact.

"I don't care what you think of me," the guy said indifferently. "But Mualani... We don't deserve her kind heart."

And Chasca didn't say anything, but maybe she was beginning to understand.

Chapter Text

She didn't understand why everyone around was against her. As if the years of waiting for decisive action should not have led to the fact that people would rejoice at her determination to save Natlan? Or was Mavuika just thinking too highly of herself?

In any case, she knew what the end would be like.

"Capitan," Mavuika called.

The two of them stayed together, Citlali and the Traveler did not return, although it took a long time for the elder to have time to eat. It was as if she was hiding another secret, as important as the fact that the city of the Masters of the Night-Wind had become something like a cork, plugging the Night Kingdom like a barrel. Citlali knew a lot, but she was in no hurry to share, as if testing Mavuika. But so far, she could only test the Archon's patience.

"Pyro Archon," the man replied.

Around him were stacks of books and rare scrolls, which Harbinger had been silently studying since they were alone. While Mavuika herself couldn't concentrate and was constantly moving, Capitano remained motionless. The embodiment of Fatui's resilience in all its glory.

"Why don't you use some of your great abilities to get us moving on our mission?"

The Captain chuckled.

"Are you trying to persuade me to go against your own people?"

"No," Mavuika replied sharply. "Citlali is avoiding something," perhaps the Archon herself, "and won't let us explore the storage. I'm sure she only came to the camp to get Ororon back, but the circumstances were against her, so we ended up here."

"So, the elder would hardly agree to help us, the Fatui, in the search, which you were so sure of when you set the conditions for me?"

Mavuika immediately realized her mistake. Still, she tried to look neutral.

"It's possible that we're just a burden to her right now. Obsessive. And if we had come to her personally, who knows what her reaction would have been."

She would have slammed the door in Mavuika's face. But then she would have opened it. Probably.

"All these are empty promises and assumptions, Archon." Capitano exhaled wearily. "But you're right: we're just stalling, waiting for the elder to agree to open the veil of secrecy for us."

"And you're suggesting that we break into the storage ourselves?" Mavuika asked, hoping that Capitano would actually suggest doing something like that. She felt a pang of conscience: having betrayed Citlali's trust, what kind of person would she be? An enemy of her own people? Mavuika shook her head. "Forget it."

Capitano said nothing. Proudly straightened shoulders and back. The man took off his coat, but the black color of his armor and clothes allowed the Harbinger to hide in the shadows of the library, where the rays of the setting sun almost did not reach.

"We can return to the City of the Sacred Flame. There is no opponent there who is comparable in strength to the two of us." Mavuika sighed hopelessly, sitting down opposite The Captain. She put her head in her hands and murmured. "It would be interesting to see them trying to put shackles on someone like you."

"They wouldn't have had a chance," Capitano replied calmly, without looking up from another book. Mavuika noticed that he was making small notes on the paper in front of him. "Now we just have to wait for the elder to agree to take us to the storage."

"Five more days? Or five more years?" Mavuika moaned. "I've already waited too long! And I still can't save Natlan."

Capitano put away his book and looked at her. The woman felt the man's gaze burning into her skin.

"There are countless battles with monsters on the territory of Natlan. If you don't have the patience to study books, you can go and help people with a sword and flame."

Just like she did last time. Using the power of the Sacred Flame was so easy, its source seemed inexhaustible. And as a result, the People of the Springs were deprived of protection. Now the city in the heart of Natlan was the only safe place. Although they should not forget that monsters have quietly penetrated there. Mavuika still knows nothing about their plans.

She didn't want to go back. Windosh is a problem, Tsarce is a problem. Well, she didn't really want to go back there alone. Although she did everything to push away as many people as possible.

So, no one will stop her from dying to save Natlan.

"Why didn't you try to fight me again?" Mavuika asked.

Capitano inclined his head slightly. The metal chains on his helmet rattled.

"I'm not interested in you right now. In fight with you," he hastily corrected himself. "The Gnosis can wait. People's lives are more important."

The Captain's hand involuntarily dropped to his chest, where his modernized heart was. Mavuika's gaze also shifted there.

"Besides, I lost to you." Capitano admitted. "There's no honor in attacking surreptitiously after my defeat."

Mavuika smiled faintly. This man in front of her was surprisingly fair. In the camp, he treated his subordinates like a human being, and now he refused to fight her because his own honor as a man would not allow him. Mavuika wanted to find the same firm inner core that had prevented Capitano from abandoning his principles for five hundred years.

"Have we met before? After the catastrophe?" Mavuika looked at the Harbinger expectantly. "Once, in the camp, you mentioned that you arrived in Natlan after your homela-... Khaenri'ah has fallen."

"Hmm," Capitano said shortly. However, he seemed thoughtful, as if he was recalling the events... Oh yes, if Mavuika spent almost five hundred years in the middle of nowhere, then the man must have had an eventful life. And although the Khaenri'ah catastrophe was a grave tragedy that could not be forgotten, some unimportant details, such as their possible meeting, could be erased from memory.

"Actually, I remember you, the Khaenri'ah people, who appeared in Natlan shortly before the Abyss was stopped." Her memories of this were so distant that the woman had to strain to recover the lost details. "You must have been one of their captains. It would be easier to remember if I saw your face."

The Captain chuckled.

"The curse of immortality destroyed the man I was. You won't recognize that face, you won't remember the name."

"What a pity," Mavuika stood up from her seat and spread her arms in different directions. "That we are in a place where there is knowledge about everything."

The woman's hair shone, and she created several fire spheres to illuminate the library. Capitano crossed his arms over his chest, staring stubbornly at her from under his helmet.

"Why would you do that? What's the use?" He asked wearily.

Mavuika couldn't explain. It was just that Capitano was a mystery, and suddenly, that was the only thing on her mind. They were different, but at the same time, there was something same tragic about the two of them.

Perhaps it was lonely for her to walk the path that fate had set for her.

Mavuika frowned. She won't look for information in the library. For some reason, she wanted to remember for herself, to prove that her memories were still intact.

"What do you think about fate? As far as I know, you went against her in Khaenri'ah." Mavuika sat down again, her hair dimmed, the soft lights of the fiery spheres illuminated the space around them.

"That's right. Fate is an instrument of the Heavenly Principals. Humanity deserves to walk its own path."

"Then look at me," Mavuika said desperately. "Why should I accept my fate and die!?"

Capitano actually looked at her, and Archon felt his piercing gaze on her skin again.

"I kind of decided on it myself. But still, long before me, Xbalanque had reached an agreement with Ronova. I just had the determination to accept this fate and become a key figure in a game that was played out long before I was born."

"Fate," The Captain said slowly. "Very well, Archon. I understand what you're trying to say. Is your suggestion that I help you out of pity for your difficult situation? And for this, will I have a chance to meet and talk with the Heavenly Principles?" Capitano spat out the last words, sounding surprisingly furious. "You're teasing me, Mavuika."

Mavuika smiled uncertainly.

"Maybe. But as a doomed human, I would like to face whoever is behind my rebirth. For myself, for Natlan, and for who this girl could have become if her name hadn't been connected to my fate."

"Agreed." Capitano said with determination and approval in his voice.

"Then I'll ask you to come back to the City of the Sacred Flame with me. I will offer Citlali an alternative. Let her and the Traveler search for information, since she trusts him and not me. In the meantime, I'll get to the Gosoythoth. In the Night Kingdom or on the surface, I will not allow him to commit outrages. If necessary, I’m ready to give him a fight inside the Night Kingdom."

"I think this is not a bad option." Capitano agreed. "Then the Fatui and I will join you."

Mavuika was pleased. She headed for the exit, took an annoying amount of time to get to Citlali's house.

And to her great joy, the elder not only opened the front door, but also agreed to the Archon's plan without unnecessary objections.

"Keep your secrets to yourself," Mavuika sneered impudently.

And yes, Citlali did slam the door in her face.

It was painful to die. The feeling of a thousand pieces being torn apart by the soul was unbearable. His skin was burning, so he didn't immediately feel the tears mixed with blood that flowed down his cheeks.

And suddenly, he didn't have a single thought left. He was gone, just an agonized scream, pain, pain, pain, pain. His head burned.

While the soul yearned for liberation. And maybe he should give in to this impulse... Ororon sobbed, then screamed, and realized to his horror that his body no longer belonged to him. Worse, the whole world seemed to be covered with a veil, the figures of Citlali and the Traveler blurred.

He was dying. Ororon will now leave Natlan and go to the Night Kingdom. The guy tried to push off, but he couldn't find the ground under his feet. In the void where he was sinking, his only companion was loneliness.

After a while, the space around began to darken, dim purple lights appeared in the distance. But before Ororon could see them, he felt a hard grip on his arm.

A jerk, and the peace of the Night Kingdom was replaced by the smell of the cave, the worried voice of Granny, and the pain that pierced Ororon's entire body again. He trembled, hoping to scream, but he couldn't make a sound with his broken voice. And the guy knew that he couldn't give up, he couldn't sink into oblivion, but it hurt so much that...!

Fortunately, Citlali put him to sleep. However, after waking up, nothing good awaited the guy. His head hurt terribly, several days passed, but the buzzing in his ears did not subside, as did the painful pulsations.

When Ororon tried to open his eyes, he saw no light. His sensitivity to auras remained, but apart from the glowing clusters of other people's magic, he saw nothing.

"You're lucky to be alive. It's all thanks to elder Itztli," someone, probably a nurse, put the blindfolds back on his eyes, which the guy had torn off a moment earlier in a panic. Her hands were cold. "She put your soul back together piece by piece." There was respect mixed with disapproval in the woman's voice. "And she made a new gem. The one on your chest."

Ororon reached out to where something was pressing against his chest. He felt that his hands were wrapped in bandages. Exactly, someone took his place, and then... But Ororon didn't remember anything except the silhouette pushing him away from his own body.

The stone was rough to the touch. Ororon couldn't help but wonder what had happened to the old one. It must have cracked during the ritual.

"Keep bed rest, take medications, sleep. Maybe your eyes will recover. Your head was about to explode. Um..." The woman hesitated. "The pressure was too high, so you're lucky you were only blinded. If something had burst, damaged beyond repair, then you would have remained disabled, if at all, you would have survived."

And he just let everyone down once again. The guy wasn't sure: perhaps Citlali, the Traveler, and the Pyro Archon had been able to stop Capitano. And he was forced to retreat. And the Granny herself... She would kill him. The guy was sure of that.

But Ororon was not afraid of the woman's anger. He used to be so cocky. It's simple: the guy will sacrifice himself, become the hero that the Masters of the Night-Wind deserve. And he failed. Ororon will not be able to withstand their renewed hatred as soon as information about the Secret Source becomes known. He revealed secrets to outsiders, endangered the whole of Natlan, and, moreover, did not succeed in his original goal of doing at least something useful.

Therefore, Ororon waited until the nurse left, observing her fluctuating aura. She'll probably find someone to tell Citlali that her grandson has regained consciousness. But he doesn't have much time right now. Gathering his strength, Ororon got out of bed and immediately felt the blood rush to his head. Ignoring the painful sensations, the guy got to his feet and almost fell. With determination, he knelt down and rummaged under the bed for his boots. That's where them ended up. And the cloak was nearby, someone had folded it on the edge of his bed.

Ororon was just going to hide his face so that he wouldn't run into problems until he got to the nearest portal. From there, he will head home.

And even though the path was not easy: the guy constantly stumbled, stopped to catch his breath, hid from the gazes of others, which he felt especially clearly despite the loss of vision, he still got out of the city. However, it took an impossible effort. And there was a long way to go to his house. The air smelled of rain, and the wind was strong enough to play with the hem of Ororon's cloak. The steps were slow, even the long snag did not help to stay upright. He overestimated his strength, but stay there... Ororon did not want to die, but also to live with shame... He'd rather go back to being a hermit. To be alone.

And the bad weather was getting worse. His feet sank into the mud, and the rain beat on guy’s face. Ororon was soaked through, he stumbled, fell, but got up. After all, he wasn't going to die in the middle of nowhere.

And even though he wandered a little in the wrong direction, the unexpected help of Commander Iansan allowed the guy to get home. Where he locked himself in his bedroom and passed out, curled up in a corner. His head hurt terribly, robbing him of his strength and desire to talk.

But in the morning... Or was it night? He felt a little better. After all, Ororon got the opportunity to restore some of his strength. Even though the headache had subsided and his vision hadn't returned, his other senses were as sharp as ever. And his feelings were not pleasant.

The damp clothes were uncomfortably cold and stank, and the burns under the tangibly dirty bandages itched. And Ororon couldn't see it, but he knew for sure that his hair was tangled and stuck together because of the rain and unconscious tossing. Maybe he didn't deserve anything better, but the others... Well, Ororon was at fault in front of them, failing to recognize the monsters from the Abyss. And he would like to atone for his guilt and not look pathetic in their eyes.

Unless those people in his house were the monsters of the Abyss who had tricked him again. That would be so stupid.

Therefore, Ororon gathered all his strength again to first sit down, then stand up. He tossed his cloak aside and reached for the door. The guy opened it as carefully as possible, but it didn't help. Ororon's sensitive hearing picked up that at least three people in his house had woken up. However, no one moved, their auras remained in place in the other rooms. This gave him the opportunity to retire to the bathroom, after which Ororon changed into clothes suitable for gardening, took some tools, seeds and went outside.

The rain had stopped, and judging by the coolness, the sun hadn't had time to rise. However, it didn't matter. For him, day and night became one. The darkness that aggravated his inferiority.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Ororon was methodically hoeing the ground, trying to rebuild his vegetable garden. The feeling of wet earth on his fingertips – he was wearing fingerless gloves – brought peace. The guy knew every inch of this place – he spent hours under the moonlight tending plants and aphids. However, his garden must have been a pitiful sight right now. At least there was a huge hole in the ground where Ajaw had landed earlier.

"Are you working at this hour?" Xilonen yawned as she approached. Ororon heard her footsteps, felt her aura, but there was no need to look up – he wouldn't see anything anyway.

"Yes. I need to prepare the ground before winter. There, at the Masters of the Night-Wind, it’s colder than at the rest of Natlan. And that's why I want to make something like a greenhouse, so that the first shoots will sprout along with warming. I would even..." He broke off. Xilonen is unlikely to be interested in hearing about plants. "In general, something like that."

Xilonen looked at him in silence, he felt it, and then hesitantly said. "All my plants are dying, no matter what I do. So I stopped trying."

"My plants are dead too. And the aphids scattered. There should be honey left in the house somewhere..."

"Ah, so that's what Ajaw was trying to open. Don't worry, he failed. It was pathetic, but funny."

Ororon smiled uncertainly. Xilonen, judging by the sounds, wandered along the fence, probably looking at the scenery around. Although the sun's rays were especially bright in this part of the garden. The woman must have been basking in them.

"Okay, finish up here and join us. Let's talk. After all, we won't be staying here for long. Ajaw has gained strength, so we can go to the Flower-Feather Clan."

The Flower-Feather Clan. Ifa! Ororon felt his heart flutter. Well, then he has no choice but to try to be useful, so that he can be taken with them.

Ororon stood up and dusted himself off.

"I'm ready."

"Really? So fast? What happened to the greenhouse and the plants?" There was skepticism in Xilonen's voice.

"Oh, I think there is nothing better for seeds than natural growing conditions. My vegetables are unpretentious, while the flowers are very dependent on many conditions. Although the survivors are extremely resilient..."

"Chasca waves at me out the window," Xilonen commented.

"Then let's not keep her waiting."

So, he found himself surrounded by five oppressive auras and the annoying slurping of Ajaw. Ororon knew that everyone was curious to know what happened to his eyes. After all, he was sitting right in front of them.

Before anyone could ask this question, Ororon hurried to seize the initiative. He ran his fingers through Cacucu's feathers and said, "First of all, I'm really sorry. Please, forgive me."

"Why are you apologizing?" Mualani's kind voice sounded confused.

Was she really not angry?

"I couldn't recognize the deception when the monsters replaced Kinich and Mualani. And everyone was in danger, and Chasca had to fight in the tournament."

"Ah, that's all in the past!" Mualani exclaimed.

"Although Kinich looked so stupid while he was trying to get to the Archon. We enjoyed every moment of it!" Ajaw laughed, but quickly subsided when he heard that no one joined him.

In the silence that followed, Kinich sighed loudly.

"There was no voice command. Fill your mouth with food."

Ajaw squeaked indignantly, but crunched something stolen from the table again.

"Okay," Chasca said. "We're going to join the Flower-Feather Clan." She paused and, as Ororon suggested, there was an exchange of glances between her and someone else, because Chasca continued. "Mutota trusts my opinion, and I’ll... So be it, I'll vouch for you. So there's no doubt about it. It's time to go."

Judging by the enthusiasm in Chasca's voice, she couldn't wait to get home. After the tournament, Ororon watched the battle between the Flower-Feather Clan and the volunteers from Natlan from a dark corner of the stands. That's why he remembered that Chasca couldn't leave with the others. If Ororon had been more attentive, then all this could have been avoided... Guilt had long since taken root through his split soul.

The others continued to chatter, discussing further actions. Something about ore, Ancient Names, and teamwork. Ororon couldn't concentrate because of his anxiety.

"Um," Mualani, who was sitting on his right, gently poked his arm. Ororon roused himself. "I'm sorry, you didn't react. We wanted to know if you would come with us."

"Yes, I was just going to ask!" Ororon smiled. "Do I need to help you find the ore? I can try to focus on a certain energy."

"Actually, the only help I'll need is for you to take the prepared Ancient Names and bring them back to your tribe." Xilonen said confidently. Ororon could hear the tip of her tail tapping impatiently on the table leg. "I hope you can do it. If anything, I can write the instructions. However, someone will have to read it for you," Xilonen muttered the last words to herself.

It was not clear whether the woman believed that he could not cope because he was blind, or because he was helpless in life. Ororon tried not to focus on it.

"I can do it," he assured Xilonen.

"Great. And if we all agree to do this, then let's hit the road." Chasca didn't even hide her impatience.

And soon they flew out. Ajaw cursed periodically, and the aura of Chasca, flying on a Tetor, was getting closer and further away. Sometimes Iansan would poke Ororon in the side, commenting on what she saw. Everyone tacitly agreed not to ask her why she stayed with them.

Kinich kept his distance and was silent: he had never talked to another guy during the whole time. At the same time, Mualani talked to each of them about all kinds of safe topics. Xilonen scribbled and grumbled as she did her research.

As they approached the Flower-Feather Clan, Chasca whistled loudly. An answering greeting was heard in the distance. Cacucu in Ororon's hands squeaked something unintelligible, but it sounded very happy. The guy's heart was ready to squeak to the beat of the qucusaurus. They're both going to see Ifa!

When their group landed, Chasca stepped forward and went to where Ororon could sense the auras of several guards. Iansan pulled the guy's hand as the others walked away. Chasca must have let them know that everything was fine.

They didn't get far. Or it seemed to Ororon, but in fact they had to walk for long minutes. Someone was approaching and shouting loudly. The human's aura was familiar.

"Chasca! Chasca!" Chuychu ran up to her sister and bumped into her. As expected, Chasca stayed on her feet, but there was a shuffling sound as she staggered. Ororon had no choice but to invent what was happening.

"Chuychu," Chasca breathed.

"Hello!" Mualani greeted optimistically.

"Oh, I hope you're still real people." Chuychu laughed nervously. "Just checking!"

Mualani chuckled briefly.

"Chuychu, they're with me." Chasca sighed. "It's all right."

"Oh, well, then let's go quickly. Mutota is already waiting, isn't he, Ifa?"

"That's right..."

And Ifa's voice sounded terribly empty.

Of course, Ororon sensed his friend's approach long before he spoke. Just Ifa... He was in no hurry to engage in conversation, and his aura was full of doubt.

There were cheers. Cacucu squeaked happily, bumping into his loved human every now and then. Ifa was laughing weakly. The sadness inside his aura did not dissipate.

"Shall we go?" Chasca called.

"Chasca, wait," Ifa said. "There's something I need to give to you." There was a rustle of paper, and Ororon's heart skipped a beat. "It's yours. A Letter." Ifa managed to say.

Chasca tore open the envelope, and a few seconds were enough for her to run her eyes over the first lines.

"This..." She crumpled the paper. "Were you going to die there?" She whispered furiously to Ororon.

He had nothing to say. Chasca's voice seemed so unbelieving, and the darkness of the Abyss was rising again from the depths of her soul.

"Come on." She said sharply, throwing a wad of paper at Ororon. Of course, he couldn't catch it. The guy hesitantly bent down to pick it up, and blindly groped with his hand on the ground. His mark on the letter had long since disappeared, so he had to rely only on his own feelings.

He finally found it, straightened up, wanted to hide, get away from the conversation, but Ifa stopped him, standing in the way. With a pang, Ororon realized that his anxious thoughts had led him to not notice how the others had left. Only he and Ifa remained.

"Ororon..." Ifa called him.

"Hi, bro," the guy replied softly.

He didn't know if they were standing in the middle of a busy street or in a dark alley. All this lost its meaning, there were too many auras, and his head felt heavier. To avoid overexertion, Ororon had to stop focusing on specific things and lose himself in flashes of light.

"Bro," Ifa breathed out... "Do you even understand what I felt when I read this?" The paper crunched in Ifa's hands.

"Relief?" Ororon joked.

"Are you a fool?" Ifa asked with genuine pain in his voice. "Tell me this is some kind of joke! That my friend wasn't going to die for the greater good. That you didn't think that I..." The guy's voice cracked. "That I'll just name my children... a pet... after you?"

Ifa grabbed him by the elbow and squeezed him tightly.

"To be honest, I was hoping you wouldn't do that. You'll just get sad, and then you'll move on." Ororon replied.

Ifa sighed heavily. Ororon couldn't say anything. He knew that Ifa appreciated their friendship, it's just...

"I wanted you to remember me as a hero, not as I am now." Ororon smiled sadly. "Bright, full of life... I've never been like this, but still, I wasn't such a loser either, once upon a time..."

"Are you kidding me?" Ifa asked. "What happened in general? Your tattoos have gone pale, and your eyes... Ororon, tell me you weren't trying to die!"

"Of course not. I want to live," Ororon crossed his arms defensively. "It's just not like that. My life is worthless, I'm a loser..."

"Stop talking this nonsense!" Ifa interrupted him. "I don't know what happened to you, but I am very glad that you are alive. However..." Ifa removed his hand from his elbow. "I need to be alone. It’s because... You still won't understand that your life is worth living, and not being exposed to every sacrificial blade!"

Perhaps it was Ororon's imagination, but Ifa uttered the last words with something like a sob. The guy reached out to comfort his friend, but instead of a comforting gesture, he stuck his fingers in Ifa's nostril. Ororon awkwardly removed his hand and froze.

"We'll talk later," Ifa managed to say. And he left, but Ororon remained, holding a crumpled letter for Chasca.

A tear rolled down his cheek. If only they understood that he wanted to be something other than a loser in their eyes... It is a pity that this can be achieved only with the help of sacrifice.

The dark dungeon was illuminated by the light of a single torch on the wall. There was a musty smell and the sound of dripping water. The sound of Cardelia's heels created an echo, although the woman would have preferred to remain invisible. She was committing a crime after all.

The monster was still where it had been imprisoned. The human mask was almost peeled off, but still the shackles did not allow the creature to completely return to its actual form. It didn't move, but the creature's attentive eyes were watching Cardelia intently.

"To be honest, I liked your face better when you pretended to be a pretty boy." She grinned as she approached the bars. "But my desires rarely coincide with reality."

The monster's twisted face snarled. He growled.

"Come on, you speak human language perfectly." Cardelia grimaced. "Aren't you wondering why I came here?"

"To kill me?" The creature croaked.

"Poor thing." Cardelia pursed her lips. "You're completely weak without blood..."

The monster looked at her with hatred.

"But fortunately, I want to offer you a deal."

Desperate times call for desperate measures. And the situation in the City of the Sacred Flame was heating up every day. Windosh was going to become an Archon, and Tsarce was ready to propose his candidacy. But who, if not Cardelia, knew what the people wanted? It is not so important who will make the decisions. But a figure, a symbol, around which everyone will rally... They need a savior. And the Commander had a plan.

"What do you want? Let me out of here!" The monster demanded.

"Exactly. That’s what I’m going to do." Cardelia chuckled. "Play one role for me, and in return, I will give you freedom. Your friends, the other monsters, roam freely around the city, as if they were at home. I just need submission from you."

The monster said nothing, but looked interested.

"Agreed. Prove it..." It was difficult for him to speak.

Cardelia smiled. She was the one who put those shackles on the creature in front of her. After all, at least someone should be using devices to contain the Abyss, not people.

The woman went to the wall and loosened the chains that held the monster. He was able to lower his upper limbs and shake his lower ones.

"Commander, did you call?" A hesitant voice came from the dark corridors leading to the prison. You'd have to be a naive idiot to come down here voluntarily. An idiot in love with her.

"Of course, I have one request," the woman sang sweetly.

The footsteps quickened, and soon a man's figure became visible in the torchlight. Cardelia didn't bother to remember his name, face, or age. It doesn't matter.

With a quick attack, the Commander knocked out the man. He fell to the ground. The monster was watching intently.

"Dinner is served," Cardelia announced. And then she gave the order, savoring the taste of power on her lips. "Don't you dare attack people without my permission. Don't you dare touch me."

The monster growled, but the woman was not afraid. The creature's willpower is not enough to resist her commands. She opened the cage and cut the chains. The monster took off and... started eating. Cardelia waited patiently, watching the feast indifferently.

"Who am I becoming?" The creature with the bloody muzzle growled. After hearing the woman's reply, the monster focused. The energy of the Abyss concentrated and a human appeared in front of Cardelia.

"Perfect," the Commander said.

And the monster grinned back.