AN:
WARNING
In consideration that the 5.0 update was released only two days ago when this chapter was published, this is an announcement that this chapter contains heavy spoilers about the 5.0 archon quest. For those who have not experienced the archon quest, proceed at your own risk.
You have been warned.
On a side note, you might find it enjoyable to play some of Natlan's osts while reading this chapter, which I did. I personally enjoyed reading this chapter while playing the Natlan live symphony on repeat in the background.
Enjoy
Natlan, the nation of flames and oaths, a region known to be embroiled in constant war; those were what foreigners would associate with Natlan when people speak of the Land of War.
If you were to ask a Natlan local, however, one would be surprised by the description they have of their home. They would not shy away from being referred to as a Land of War for it is the truth. Their nation had been at war with the Abyss for as long as they could remember. To them, war is the means they use to earn honour and glory, and through it would they earn the noble right to fight for a greater cause–
To protect their home: Natlan.
To the people of Natlan, Natlan is a nation which wages war to uphold peace and they are proud of it. The basis which the nation was built on was why heroes are always welcomed in Natlan.
The people of Natlan call themselves the inheritors of memories and legends. The tales and heroic deeds passed down through the Wayob and Ancient Names is an iconic representation of Natlan's culture and history. Each inheritor of an Ancient Name represents and upholds a certain "trait" or "ideal".
To the people of Natlan, a "name" held "significance". A name contains "history", and through the passing down of "history" would the "knowledge" gained from the trials and errors of the past be handed down to the future. This was how Natlan was able to continue to thrive despite the constant war being waged and despite the fact that they had no gods in their history until the emergence of the Pyro Archon. Names are sacred in Natlan. A name represents an "oath", for it was through the successive inheritance of an Ancient Name through the generations– the sworn oath to continue their story and the promise to defend the nation in the name of war– that Natlan remained standing despite it being a land that could never rely on Gods unlike the other nations.
Hence, the people of Natlan understand the significance of a "name" more than any other person in Teyvat from the other nations.
"Attack! Attack from the Abyss!"
"Fight! Defend the elderly and the children!"
"Hold the line! Once they breach the defensive line we are goners!"
Attacks conducted by the Abyss against the six tribes of Natlan are a common occurrence. It happened so frequently that almost everyone in Natlan was raised a warrior. The existence of such constant attacks that led to the constant war being waged on the nation was why heroes are so revered in the Land of War.
The Abyss is formless and mindless, yet not entirely unthinking and without shape. The abyssal power that seeped out from beneath can take on many shapes just like how you can shape water into anything you want through the container you use to hold its mass. The Abyss could take on the form of riftwolves, of Saurians, of hilichurls; they could be anything. The only limit to the forms that the Abyss could take is the information it possesses and the imagination it wields.
A large wave crashed into the abyssal forms of Saurians, courtesy of a young teenage girl riding on a shark-shaped surfboard who very recently received the Ancient Name, Umoja. Despite her young age she had proved to have the talent and qualities to be recognised by the Wayob venerated by her tribe. She expertly weaved through the chaos, protecting her people behind her back while forcibly pushing the endless waves of abyssal monsters in a desperate effort to protect their homes.
"Get behind me! Run to the shelters! Hurry!"
The People of the Springs who dwell in this land soon recognised that this particular attack was much more brutal than the ones that they remembered. The numbers of monsters that spewed forth seemed neverending.
"There must be at least three to four Abyssal Pylons for there to be so many monsters! We need to hurry and close them!"
"We had identified two! One in the west and another at the southeast! There are teams that have gone to deal with the situation there, we need at least another two more teams!" One of the tribesmen in the patrol team quickly informed those at the forefront while desperately fighting against the endless wave of monsters.
"We don't have enough people!" Another yelled out. "We are struggling to prevent them from making their way in as it is!"
They had been pushed to their very last line of defence. This attack was undoubtedly the most brutal attack that the tribe had experienced in recent history.
"Where are the other two Pylons?!" Mualani shouted across the din. It was widely known in Natlan that the most efficient way to destroy an Abyssal Pylon would be doing so using elemental power. Fortunately, the six tribes of Natlan have no shortage of vision wielders. Mualani had confidence that she would be able to do something about the other pylons as long as she had knowledge of their locations.
"Try north! That should be where another pylon should be judging from where the monsters are coming from!" An experienced scout quickly relayed his findings as he fought back to back with his best friend. No one fights alone; that is the belief that the people of Natlan uphold when it comes to their never ending war with the Abyss.
"I can't get out!" Mualani yelled as she tried and failed to extract herself out from combat to deal with the Abyssal Pylons. Her words only left her mouth for barely three seconds when an adult Kohalosaurus barrelled into the fray, the force of its charge sending abyssal monsters flying left and right and instantly clearing a path out of the village for the girl.
"Thanks Koko!" Muanali did not forget to convey her thanks to the Kohalosaurus who aided her as she sped out of the village towards the northern direction. The Kohalosaurus answered the girl with a roar of its own before returning its attention back to the monsters in its front. These monsters received a very angry hydro-infused bullet from the Saurian for their troubles.
Children of Natlan are no strangers to war and combat ever since they were old enough to understand the world around them and Mualani was no different. The constant war and fighting allowed her to develop extraordinary combat skills and intuition and she was one of the most talented warriors in Natlan among her generation. It didn't take long for her to locate the third pylon that her tribesman had deduced where it should be and it was as he said, it was located towards the north of their village.
"So many of them?" Mualani couldn't help but mumble under her breath when she spotted the veritable flood of monsters spewing out of the pylon. She had no allies with her at the present, the tribe was short on manpower at almost all fronts and barely hanging on against the onslaught conducted by the Abyss. She's on her own and the tribe could only stand a fighting chance once they could identify and shut down all of the pylons.
The only way forward is forward.
"Surf's up!"
Even in war, the hero who bears the Ancient Name of Umoja never loses her optimistic outlook in life. She summoned the crashing waves with the aid of her vision and sent the monsters staggering backwards. It did help to delay their charge towards the village, but she made close to no progress in her quest to reach the pylon to destroy it. Mualani's lips were pressed into a grim line when she realised that there's not much that she can do alone against such numbers. She may be a vision wielder but ultimately, she's only human and alone.
"Keep your head down."
She heard the foreign voice of a man just when she was almost at her wits' end. She was certain that it wasn't a voice belonging to anyone from her tribe. The voice wasn't very loud but she could hear it loud and clear, weirdly enough. She felt the scorching heat of flames even before she saw the glow of fire, her keen intuition screaming at her to hurry and duck. She was glad that she heeded the warning when she saw how these monsters from the Abyss vapourised in an instant. She couldn't control how her jaws dropped at the impossible sight.
Has their Pyro Archon arrived? Wait, it couldn't be, their current archon is a woman. That voice was obviously a man's.
The unnatural fire with equally unnatural heat vanished as soon as the monsters were eradicated. In the centre of the blackened area stood a man whose body was covered with a thin layer of flames, deceptively gentle yet burning hot like those of burning white charcoal.
"Burn to cinders, rekindle in ashes," Mualani heard the man whisper before a terrifying blast of pyro energy shot out of the man's outstretched palm and obliterated the Abyssal Pylon in front of them. The man did not stop to check if the pylon was destroyed as he turned on his heels to make his leave. He was confident that he had succeeded.
"W-Wait! We believe there's a total of four pylons. My tribe sent teams to deal with two of them, this is the third, there should be another one! Do you know where it is?!" Mualani quickly asked. This was no time to be shy given the severity of the situation. She will take any help she will get.
"Four?" The man whose hair was lit in flames finally turned to look at her. He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again.
"Follow me."
"W-W-Wait! Not so fast! Gosh!"
The man took a step and he was already approximately twenty to fifty metres away in the same span of time Mualani made a blink. She quickly tried to keep up with her surfboard but no matter how she tried, she could never bridge the gap between them. The man's steps were unhurried and calm, outwardly looking as if he's on a walk, yet the distance he travelled in that span of time could outrun even the swiftest in the Meztli tribe.
They soon found the fourth pylon and it shared the same fate as the third. The blazing ball of fire that shone even brighter than the sun eradicated its existence in an awe-inspiring display of firepower. Natlan worships heroes and this man was undoubtedly one for the feats that he performed today. Mualani wasted no time in introducing herself to him.
"My name is Mualani, what is your name?" The bearer of the Ancient Name of Umoja who hailed from the People of the Springs inquired with a megawatt smile on her face.
"My name?"
"My name?"
"Why the hesitance? Don't tell me you don't have a name?"
"No, I do. It's just that I have… quite a number of names and I am wondering which name I should use to introduce myself. It's my first time in Natlan."
"What do you mean you have a few names? You know what? Nevermind, if you already have so many names how about I give you a name in our local language to add to your collection?"
"I don't collect names–"
"How many do you already have?"
The other half of the Twin Heroes did a quick count with his fingers and found nothing he could use to argue otherwise.
"You win this time."
"You can call me Hunahpu."
"Hunahpu? I hadn't heard or seen you around these parts before?" Mualani briefly tried to recall if she had heard of such a figure. "Ahahaha! I have to say, you have some serious skills. Thanks for helping out earlier! Who knows what would have happened to my tribe if you didn't pass by when you did. But seriously, I don't think I've ever seen or heard anybody who could shut an Abyssal Pylon alone like you did! And so swiftly too! Thank you!"
"You're welcome."
"Hmm? Why the long face? Helloooo, we just won a war! Smile!"
"Why the long face? We just won a war! Eat up, drink to your heart's content, dance, my friend! It's precisely because we live in constant war that it's important to know how to live in the present! Sing!"
"Don't be so loud, Xbalanque. You are giving me a headache."
"Am I? Ahahaha, hey guys, Hunahpu said that I'm loud!" The man who unified Natlan in a land once ruled by dragons and was never graced by the protection of gods hollered out loud to his followers who were likewise dancing, eating, and singing their fill around the warmth of the huge bonfire. There was a collective chorus of boos and cheers alike after they heard Xbalanque's dramatic proclamation.
"You may not have been born in Natlan, friend, but you are every bit a people of Natlan like us. I can understand if you are too shy to dance but surely you can sing? Come, let us teach you how to sing our songs! Ngata! Where are our drums? Our flutes and strings?!"
A loud chorus of cheers followed as the musically inclined began to wobble on their feet to search for their instruments in their drunken stupor.
"Come, Hunahpu, sing! Let us teach you the songs of our ancestors: The Anthem of the Savannah!"
Drums were beaten, the flutes and whistles that people of Natlan use to communicate with their Saurian companions were blown, string instruments were plucked, and even the Saurian companions of the tribe joined in the song with their deep growls and roars.
"Hero
You embark on a pilgrimage, for the wishes of the people
You choose to battle, to earn a glorious name
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream"
"I would have known such a powerful warrior like you. Where are you from, Hunahpu?"
"I had been away from home for a long time. May I ask what is the name of our current archon?" The man who went by the name of Hunahpu patiently indulged in the girl's question while asking another of his own. Her cheery outlook on life reminded him a lot about the girl who taught him the meaning of courage in his sixth cycle, which was also another reason why he found himself oddly indulgent with Mualani's actions.
"Away from home? You mean you went outside of Natlan? Or maybe you were not born in Natlan despite our shared roots? Where have you been to? How's it out there? What are the other nations like?"
"Which one do you want to hear?"
"Wait, how many nations have you been to?!"
"Hero
You embark on a pilgrimage, for the wishes of the people
You choose to battle, to earn a glorious name
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream"
Glory, oh glory
To those who look into the future
Song of the light, fire of the night
For the wishes of the people
For the name of a great hero
In the end, you burn to cinders for a dream
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream"
One of the many ancient songs that had been sung and passed down among the inhabitants of this land echoed loudly throughout the waters. A large celebration of neverending flowing food and drinks and of course, the mandatory dances and songs lit the night of the Toyac Springs. The star of today's celebration was undoubtedly the hero who saved their tribe, Hunahpu.
"To Hunahpu!"
"To Hunahpu!" The tribe cheered and chorused as they sang their worries away after a gruelling day of war and bloodshed. Many outsiders could never understand how the people of Natlan could be fighting a war in one hour and suddenly partying hard like it's the end of the world in the next.
Yet, to Natlan, this is their normal. War is their only constant, fighting is the only language they speak, honour and glory the only thing they wish to hold. They do not seek for outsiders to understand their way of life because they themselves do not wish for others to experience their hardship. It's precisely because they had been in constant war for almost as long as the nation existed that they understand how important it is to be able to live in the present.
So, they sing, they dance, they laugh and cry merrily among the flowing food and drinks.
For tomorrow is another day of war.
"You embark on a pilgrimage, for the wishes of the people
You choose to battle, to earn a glorious name
In the end, you burn to cinders for a dream
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream
You embark on a pilgrimage, for the wishes of the people
You choose to battle, to earn a glorious name
In the end, you burn to cinders for a dream
In the end, you rekindle in ashes because of a dream
Glorious
Ah, hero
Rise like the dawn!"
"I'll let you in on an embarrassing secret. I thought you were a tourist at first, cos you kinda don't actually look local, and you kept looking around as if you looked lost, hehehe…" Mualani sheepishly admitted to Hunahpu once the song ended. "Seriously though, which tribe are you from? It's weird that I never heard of you before until today… Huh? What do you mean you don't have a tribe?"
"I told you, I had been away from home for a very long time. This is my first time in Natlan," the newly recognised hero among the People of Springs answered nonchalantly as Mualani struggled to string the logic of his words together in her mild drunken stupor. A young kohalosaurus whelp that lived with the tribe curiously approached the unknown human and after seeing that it wasn't being shooed, carefully sniffed his scent.
He smelt of warm burning fire, like the quiet yet scorching heat of a burning charcoal.
"Finally, my friend. We won the war. The six tribes had been unified. Is this… the end of what you said the Archon War is?"
"I don't know. This is my first time experiencing this historical war from start to end too, but if the Archon War had come to an end then… the final victor of Natlan will be crowned as the Pyro Archon."
"You mean, a God?"
"I guess. Congrats."
"No no no, hold up. Me? Becoming a god? I-I-I… No no no this is a bad idea. Why don't you take the place instead?"
"Why are you chickening out now? You were the one who wanted to unify the six tribes!"
"Umm… if you don't have any place to go… Hey chief! Can Hunahpu stay here? He has no place to go!"
"Of course!"
The chief's exclamation of approval incited a chorus of cheers from the People of the Springs. The warm welcome they extended to the hero who just played a pivotal role in saving their tribe eventually convinced him to stay and settle down here at the Toyac Springs.
He would need a place to start over now that he had travelled thousands of years into the future at the request of his friend, brother, and archon. He would need to start somewhere to help Natlan, both for Xbalanque, and also for himself.
"Hunahpu."
"What is it now?"
"I am now a god."
"I can see that," the man who was looked upon by the nation as much as they do for their archon replied sarcastically. He made his point extremely clear when his gaze lingered at the Pyro Gnosis floating above Xbalanque's palm long enough to be noticed.
Already, the newly crowned Pyro Archon had been staring at the Pyro Gnosis for hours in a daze.
"I am actually a god."
"Duh?"
"I still cannot believe it."
"If you are going to continue wasting my time I'm out of here."
"B-B-But…! I actually became a god?"
Xbalanque may have ascended to Archonhood, but never before did Hunahpu wanted to hammer some normalcy back into Xbalanque's head as he did then.
Hunahpu became a member of the People of the Springs and easily settled down in their ancestral land with their warm welcome. Before long, the most anticipated and revered festival had graced upon their nation once again.
"Oh oh oh can you attend the Pilgrimage? I know you had been away from Natlan for a very long time and only just returned but… I mean since you can utilise and control Phlogiston like we do– Just join us! As long as the Contending Fire can be accumulated and your presence will not dilute the fire then it should be fine, right?" Mualani excitedly approached Hunahpu when news that the date of the upcoming Pilgrimage had already been officially decided and the information was disseminated to the six tribes.
There was much anticipation and excitement among the Meztli tribe but the ones that most people in their tribe had greatest expectations of were their newest member Hunahpu, and one of the brightest talents of the younger generation, Mualani.
"The Pilgrimage, it still carries on?" The new member of the People of the Springs who recently settled down at Toyac Springs upon their warm invitation asked in mild surprise. He was mentally prepared that the tradition may have already been lost when he and Xbalanque decided to go ahead and enact their crazy plan. Honestly, he had doubts that this tradition would persist before he stepped into the Sacred Flame thousands of years ago.
"Of course, why wouldn't it carry on?" Mualani replied confusedly as though it was only right that the Pilgrimage would always be around.
"I'm just surprised it truly lasted for as long as it did."
"Haha! When you put it that way, it's really amazing that the Pilgrimage has been around for so long!"
"These are the rules that you will lay down for Natlan?"
"These are all that I can think of at the moment. Do you have anything else to add from your memories?"
"I did not know much about Natlan until this cycle, I'm afraid. And… I was not born in Natlan. Is this really alright?"
"Nonsense! You had fought and bled for this land! The land and the people had recognised you as our hero, our Shujaa! The link between familial ties and blood is important, I won't deny, but there are ties that are thicker than even blood itself! You were the one who should have been the Pyro Archon!"
The conversation that day was what drove Xbalanque to do what he did when he was finally made aware of the insecurities that the Descender had hidden very well deep inside of his heart. Hunahpu felt like an outsider despite having fought and bled more than anyone else in this Land of War, all because he wasn't born as a person of Natlan. Xbalanque believed that he already addressed that when he gave Hunahpu his own Natlan name, but clearly that alone wasn't enough.
In that case, Xbalanque will change that for him as the Pyro Archon. Xbalanque plans to show him indisputable proof that Hunahpu of the Twin Heroes of Natlan is indeed a denizen of Natlan too.
The First Ancient Name "Ujasiri" was then personally forged by the hands of the Pyro Archon, the name that bears the meaning of "Courage". The hero Ujasiri was then able to harness the power of Phlogiston like how any child of Natlan would be able to do as per their birthright, serving as proof of his ties to the nation. The Sacred Flame burns bright as the witness to this oath sworn that day.
The hero Hunahpu, the bearer of Ancient Name Ujasiri, is a person of Natlan. This oath will burn the promise made by the original Pyro Archon to his hero into the memories of Teyvat where Ujasiri will always be able to proudly call Natlan his home.
"No matter where you may go, no matter which cycle you may end up in; just know that whenever you feel weary, come home, Ujasiri. Natlan will welcome our hero back to our land with open arms."
This statement is the Pyro Archon's proof to Ujasiri, and also the archon's promise to the other half of the Twin Heroes, that Ujasiri will always be a dweller of Natlan. Natlan will always be his home, regardless of how many samsaric roads he will have to walk on beyond the current one.
Natlan will always welcome their hero back home, regardless of how far he had forged ahead in a quest without a clear goal or end.
"Welcome! Here to register for the Pilgrimage?"
"Yes! Here are our registration details," Mualani provided the necessary documents and proof of their identities as requested to the admin personnel in charge of their registration, Cival. "Are there anything else that we have to provide?"
"This should be fine… Hmm, you seem like a new face? Hunahpu… Only joined the Meztli tribe a few months ago? Are you really a local?"
Natlan had always been very strict about who can take part in their Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame. The purpose of this competition, as could be inferred from its name, is the Sacred Flame. Natlan is only safe from the invasion of the Abyss while the Sacred Flame burns eternal. To do so, Contending Fire must be collected to sustain the Sacred Flame, something that could only be collected from the battles between people of Natlan. Outlander participation would only inhibit the production of the Contending Fire which could in turn, jeopardise the Sacred Flame.
Hence, why Cival had asked that question. It is her duty to ensure that nothing goes awry in this competition which would directly affect the stability and safety of their nation.
"He was just away from home for a very very long time and besides, he can harness Phlogiston! That's enough proof, isn't it? Only Natlan-born can use this power!"
"True… but I have a job to do, so mind showing some proof to me?" Cival took out a small device that is a relic of an ancient past when Natlan used to be ruled by dragons. Now, the device serves as a mere verification gadget in situations like this because only people who could harness Phlogiston can possibly activate it. Namely, Natlan-borns.
The device lit up when Hunahpu placed his palm on it.
"Oh good. In that case, welcome back home, Hunahpu. First time here?"
"Yup! He's crazy good too! He's definitely going to beat the competition!" Mualani added excitedly.
"Then I will look forward to a good showing," Cival replied with a polite smile. "Let's see, this is filled, this is checked… done, done, done… Oh, last segment. Are you a bearer of an Ancient Name?"
"No–"
"Ujasiri. My Ancient Name is Ujasiri," Hunahpu replied before Mualani could say anything else. The girl looked at him with comically wide eyes.
"Wait, what?! You are a bearer of an Ancient Name? And you didn't tell us?! How, WHEN?! WHY did nobody know?!"
"Because nobody asked?"
"This is the kind of thing that you should TELL us! Not wait for us to ask!"
"The Sacred Flame, it shall burn to protect Natlan, the last gift I will leave behind for our descendents. My brother, everything else, I leave it to you. When we finally meet again, it shall be the day where we fight alongside each other and burn to cinders in one final song."
Hunahpu's ability to manipulate time was not a secret that he kept from the other half of the Twin Heroes who ascended to Archonhood. Xbalanque, now armed from the knowledge gained from Hunahpu's experience from his earlier cycles, was aware that Natlan will one day be endangered by the corruption of the Abyss in the far future. With this knowledge in mind, the original Pyro Archon encouraged the person who was the archon's brother in all but blood to take part in an insanely daring plan, together.
Hunahpu will travel to the "future" while Xbalanque will remain in the "past" to oversee the execution of their plan. Together, the "future" and "past" will ensure that peace remains in Natlan's "present".
As Pyro Archon, this was the only way that Xbalanque could think to help Hunahpu to find out and verify the current extent of his time manipulation abilities. At the same time, after being made aware of the calamitic threat that their beloved nation will eventually face, having Hunahpu in the far distant future would assure Xbalanque that Natlan will emerge victorious due to Hunahpu's presence.
This was why the Pyro Archon brought forth a proposal and the Descender agreed to attempt this daring yet crazy plan, both for personal gains, and also to uphold his oath to protect Natlan in Xbalanque's stead long after he's gone.
Together, the past and future shall protect the present.
For that end, Xbalanque split and shared the power of the Pyro Archon with Hunahpu. Xbalanque also sealed his power within Hunahpu such that when the time comes for them to burn to cinders for their dream, Hunahpu will be able to wield his power. When that day comes, the Twin Heroes can fight alongside each other once more in the far future.
The preparations to put this plan into motion were mostly completed. The bearer of the First Ancient Name will soon be cast into the Sacred Flame where Natlan's first hero will reappear for a single day during the Cataclysm to aid Natlan in her greatest time of need, before travelling once more into the future to reappear approximately 500 years after the fated Cataclysm.
This is the plan that the "Pyro Archon" came up with to protect Natlan. The title of "Pyro Archon" had always never been the individual that held the title, but rather, the collective efforts of countless individuals who toiled and fought hard for a common goal. This was why unlike the other nations, the title of "Pyro Archon" exists more like a concept rather than a name or title.
The Pyro Archon was never an individual, but exists as the "People of Natlan".
Hence, Xbalanque found it fitting to split that power with Hunahpu as a contingency measure before he embarked on his very own pilgrimage into the far future. To Xbalanque, Hunahpu is every bit worthy to hold the title of Pyro Archon too.
"What if I don't succeed?" Hunahpu cannot help but ask the Pyro Archon just before he stepped into the Sacred Flame. This will be the last time they meet face to face. Soon, Hunahpu will reappear on the battlefield in the Cataclysm that will plunge Natlan into its darkest days.
"There will always be victories and defeats in war. Even if we lost, at least we had the courage to try. Go forth, my brother."
The bearer of the First Ancient Name stepped forth into the Sacred Flame as Xbalanque bid his farewell until the future came where they met again.
"Rekindle in ashes, and rise like the dawn."
The Sacred Flame burns brightly within the stadium and the competition was being held and witnessed by all who made the journey here to behold the battles fought. The current Pyro Archon's eyes widened for a brief moment when she spotted that familiar yet foreign flames burning amidst the battlefield, but that look of surprise quickly turned into a smile once she understood the truth.
The long-awaited future had come.
Those courageous flames that burned allowed its wielder to easily clinch victory in this competition. The Meztli tribe always knew that Hunahpu was skilled and powerful and had great hopes of him winning this competition, but even they were taken aback at how easily he made it out to be.
"He won! He won!" Mualani screamed and cheered in ecstasy when the enigmatic and newest member of her tribe won by a landslide victory, uncontrollably jumping up and down on her feet and waving her arms. It's not the first time in their nation's history that a warrior won the competition without suffering a single loss, but to witness such a rare feat with her own eyes was very different from hearing the old tales that spoke of similar feats achieved by heroes of old.
"Winner! From the People of the Springs, Hunahpu of the Meztli tribe!"
The ultimate winner was announced by the officiator. The Pyro Archon stood up to give her speech to the nation after the spectacular showing, announcing and crowning the five contenders who stood out from the competition and earned the right to take part in the upcoming Night Warden War.
Her gaze lingered on the mysterious hero who went by the name of Hunahpu a little longer than the rest, the memories which she inherited from her predecessors when she ascended to the divine throne filling her in on the true identity of this man. The man, as if sensing her gaze, looked up as well and their eyes met. An understanding was shared as both gave the other a nod before looking away.
A plan put into motion since Natlan became a nation presided by an archon, it all culminates into a final anthem that will be sung in this era.
Natlan's present, they will protect it using the efforts of the past and future.
"Why do you give me the Ancient Name of Ujasiri?"
"What do you think the "war" that our nation wage symbolises, my brother?" Xbalanque asked in return. "Everyone has a different opinion but to me, our eternal war was waged for us to seek honour and glory, because only through obtaining honour and glory we will then have the right to uphold the peace of our home. Do you see them, brother? Our people?"
Xbalanque pointed outside where a group of tribesmen were dancing and singing despite having just returned from battle less than an hour ago. It was a song that came into being not too long after Natlan was founded and Xbalanque ascended into Archonhood.
"Charge! Bearing all burdens
Fight! Until the very end
For our homeland, we'll shed our last drop of blood
Returning to the earth's embrace
The tale continues on (Like flames ablaze)
Glory passed through generations (Forever burning)
Courage ignites the sky and earth
Once more, victory heralds Natlan's path
We'll wait for you, we'll sing for you
Come back, brothers, come back, heroes
Once again, once again, burn bright!"
"Natlan is a land without the blessings of Gods," Xbalanque spoke, pulling Hunahpu's attention back to him. "Yet, we had survived, we had thrived. We had stood as equals alongside nations who had protection of deities. Natlan never had protection of the divine but we were able to find the strength to continue smiling and enjoying every moment at the present; the very root of that strength, that is Courage. And you, my brother, was the person who first gave Natlan "courage"."
A small burning fire bloomed within Xbalanque's palm.
"We are weak in the face of the divine, yet you proved that humans can achieve what Gods can do too. If we, Natlan, can do what people once believed to be impossible, then who's to say that you cannot defy fate? All you need is a little "Courage", brother. All Natlan needs to tide over all our crisis has always been "Courage"."
"Courage, huh…"
"It's perfectly alright to feel disheartened and scared every now and then. Just know this, brother, when the time comes where we both burn to cinders for a dream, where we rekindle in ashes because of a dream; I will be with you, whether it be in the past, present, or future. Together, we shall burn, for a dream.
Xbalanque's sincere eyes bore into Hunahpu's own.
"Remember, brother, you will never fight alone."
"We are finally here in Natlan! Whew, it felt like yesterday when we first arrived at Mondstadt," the emergency food– ahem, best guide in Teyvat, Paimon– cannot help but exclaim when they finally reach the land of war and oaths.
"Quick, Lumine! Touch the statue of the seven!" Paimon egged on when they finally encountered the first statue of the seven they found in Natlan. She cannot wait to see the look of surprise on Kachina's face when Lumine shows her how she could spit fireballs and create infernos after touching the statue!
"It… didn't react?" Lumine looked at her hand in confusion, then back at the statue. The statue felt empty, like there wasn't enough pyro elemental energy to be shared with her.
"T-The statue must be asleep! Lumine can really use multiple elements, you got to believe us, Kachina! Lumine, quick! Show her!" Paimon egged and Lumine gave a brief demonstration of the element that she had learnt to wield thus far. Kachina clapped her hands in awe.
"How's that?" Paimon asked proudly with her chest puffed out and her hands on her hips.
"Amazing!" Kachina stated with starry eyes. "But Paimon, I really did believe you when you said that Lumine can use several elements. I know of somebody who could do the same that Lumine just did."
"Wait, what?!" This time, it was Lumine and Paimon's turn to be shocked.
"If I had to state a difference, it's that he can use all seven elements, including pyro and cryo too."
"What?!"
"Heehee, don't be so surprised. You might catch bugs in your mouths if you open it that big," Kachina teased good naturedly as she continued to show the outlanders around her nation and home. "He goes by the name of Hunahpu and he's a very skilled warrior recognised by all of Natlan. Remember what I told you of the Pilgrimage and the Night Warden Wars? He's a frequent participant and he never lost a single battle. Never, not even once. He's a true hero of Natlan that everybody looks up to."
Kachina began to fervently fill the outlanders in about their best hero in recent times and what she knew about him. A giant winged creature flew above their heads at that moment, low enough to almost touch their heads, startling Lumine and Paimon as the violent winds that accompanied the creature's flight nearly toppled them.
"W-What is that?!" Paimon asked while hiding behind Lumine and using her as a shield, much to her annoyance.
"Oh, that is a qucusaur!" Kachina replied as if a giant winged dragon-like creature didn't nearly blow them off their feet earlier. "That one is a bit different from the usual variants due to the Flamelord's Blessing. Its name is Holawaqa Ngoubou, also known as the Goldflame Qucusaur Tyrant or the Golden Tyrant of the Broken Oath. It used to make its home at Huitzli Hill but that's not important now! What's important is that Holawaqa Ngoubou is Hunahpu's Saurian companion! You are in luck, Lumine, Paimon! If Holawaqa Ngoubou is around the area then Hunahpu must be nearby! Quick, let's go look for him!"
"T-T-That is his companion?" Paimon shuddered at what it must have taken to tame and befriend such a large and scary looking monster. Lumine, on the other hand, had her mind on other things.
It's the first time she had heard of somebody else who could manipulate multiple elements like she could.
"Kachina, do you mind telling me more about Hunahpu?"
"Sure!" Kachina readily agreed as she continued to lead the way forward, her keen ears twitching every now and then to capture the sound she knew must be around for Holawaqa Ngoubou to be summoned here.
"Hunahpu first appeared at the Toyac Springs several years ago. At that time the People of the Springs were under the attack of the Abyss, it was the worst attack Natlan had seen in recent history. Hunahpu was from Natlan but for other reasons he never specified– maybe he was born outside of Natlan or maybe his parents brought him out when he was very young– he was never in Natlan until he finally returned home that year and happened to come across that attack. He assisted to defend and save the People of the Springs and then stayed there as a member."
"Let Paimon guess how this story will develop… Hunahpu then participated in the Pilgrimage and the Night Warden Wars and never lost a single battle?"
"That's right! You are so smart, Paimon!" Kachina clapped her hands and Paimon blushed shyly at the sincere praise. "I'm not sure if you had seen how powerful those monsters from the Abyss were, Lumine, Paimon, but our battles against them had gotten increasingly difficult over the past decade. What made Hunahpu so revered here was because in the Night Warden Wars that Hunahpu participated, nobody else who also fought in those wars alongside him had died. Our nation never had to sing the Ode of Resurrection for a few years already, that was almost unheard of! Those who fought alongside Hunahpu also had many good things to say about him! I'm not exaggerating, really! Remember Holawaqa Ngoubou?"
"That flying dragon? Uh huh," Paimon nodded with a shudder. There's no way she would forget about it anytime soon.
"It lived at the Huitzli Hill, which is just some distance northwards from the stadium where the Pilgrimage had always been held. There was one year where the Pilgrimage was interrupted when Holawaqa Ngoubou suddenly flew into the venue from out of nowhere but then! Hunahpu intervened! He stopped and tamed Holawaqa Ngoubou with a single punch!" Kachina narrated the story that had spread like wildfire across Natlan with vivid and animated gestures. "I was there to see it! One moment it would seem like the unlucky team that caught Holawaqa Ngoubou's attention was dead, and the next moment Hunahpu was there! Blazing in fire like the sun! He was the first person to tame Holawaqa Ngoubou!"
"Whoa…" Paimon sucked in a breath. Tame a dragon with a single punch? If Lumine could do that the whole Dvalin saga at Mondstadt would have been over in a jiffy.
"We should be near," Kachina and co were very quick on their feet despite how they were talking as they went along. Kachina was following the direction of a specific tune that only people with ears like hers could hear from afar. They soon came across the second statue of the seven that Lumine and Paimon had seen since stepping foot into Natlan.
A lone figure stood before the statue. He was blowing on a small flute with his eyes closed, the Saurian-Crowned Warrior's Golden Whistle that many people of the six tribes use to summon their Saurian companions to aid them. Lumine had no idea how a small little whistle could be used to play an entire melody but she could not help but close her eyes to immerse herself in the song in silence.
The Holawaqa Ngoubou laid peacefully beside the man with its eyes closed as though it had been lulled to sleep by the melody. There was an unspeakable sense of peaceful harmony as that tune resonated from the little whistle and it was obvious that the tune was probably one that's widely known in Natlan, seeing as how Kachina was humming along to the tune softly under her breath. The outlander would later learn that the tune was the famed Ode of Resurrection.
"The tale continues on
Glory passed through generations
Courage ignites the sky and earth
Once more, victory heralds Natlan's path
We'll wait for you, we'll sing for you
Come back, brothers, come back, heroes
Once again, once again, burn bright!"
A peaceful silence remained even long after the tune ended. It was only when the man called out to Kachina that the spell was broken.
"Kachina?"
"H-Hunahpu!" Kachina greeted the Natlan warrior in kind. Lumine could hear the adoration, respect, and admiration from the girl towards the man.
"This is Lumine and Paimon! They are travellers that just arrived in Natlan and I was showing them around! We were just talking about you!"
"Welcome, Lumine, Paimon," Hunahpu greeted with a polite nod and Paimon waved excitedly in return, but quickly flew to hide behind Lumine when Holawaqa Ngoubou happened to raise its head and release a low growl at that moment.
"Don't worry, Paimon. Holawaqa Ngoubou won't bite!" Kachina encouraged Paimon and even went up to pat Holawaqa Ngoubou on the head to demonstrate her point.
"You never know for sure. Paimon is emergency food after all," Lumine remarked with a grin, earning herself an indignant cry of denial from her partner. Paimon's fear was quickly forgotten when she remembered what she just learnt about Hunahpu from Kachina.
"Oh oh! Hunahpu! Kachina said that you can use all seven elements! Is that true?"
"I do."
"Really?! How? Lumine can use it too– theoretically, at least, she is having problems with the pyro element and we had not yet been to Snezhnaya– but she could only wield multiple elements because she is a Descender. So how did you…"
"Are you a Descender too?" Lumine inquired, much to the confusion of Kachina who couldn't catch up to their conversation due to her ignorance of the topic being discussed. Even Lumine's not too sure what kind of answer she's hoping to hear.
"It has always been this way for me. I am a little special," was Hunahpu's cryptic yet polite reply.
"He is! Hunahpu has the ability to copy elemental techniques!" Kachina quickly nodded her head and voiced her support. Lumine and Paimon quickly put that to the test. They went slack jawed and their jaws dropped wider and wider when they saw how effortlessly Hunahpu was able to use the exact same techniques that Lumine demonstrated moments before. Palm Vortex, Starfell Sword, Lightning Blade, Razorgrass Blade, Aquacrest Saber– none was spared.
"P-P-Paimon doesn't understand…"
"Me neither," Lumine shook her head.
"Not even our Pyro Archon did," Kachina tried– and failed– to hide her giggle after seeing Lumine and Paimon's gobsmacked expressions. "But it's fine, Hunahpu is still very strong even if he fights without the use of elemental powers. He had taught me for a while too! I had gotten even stronger under his tutelage! He knows how to wield all sorts of weaponry!"
"I guess that's better compared to somebody who only knows how to use a sword and can only use five elements," Paimon said with a smug grin and Lumine rewarded her companion a flat stare. Maybe she should finally get started on cooking her emergency food soon?
"Are you heading for the stadium?"
"Uh huh!" Kachina nodded her head in response to Hunahpu's question. "Are you going there to register for the Pilgrimage too? We can go together!"
"No, I won't be participating in this year's Pilgrimage."
"E-E-Eh?!"
"The Pyro Archon had asked me to investigate something very important on her behalf, so I'm afraid I will have to sit out on this one."
"B-But…! Alright… I-I will do my best, Hunahpu! I won't let you down!"
"I know you won't. Remember, Kachina, you are already very strong, so be more confident in yourself. Do your best," the enigmatic man encouraged the young girl before he climbed atop the back of Holawaqa Ngoubou. The winged creature took flight in a powerful gust of wind and quickly became a small speck on the horizon.
"Just from the sight of him riding that winged dragon alone, he already looked like a man not to be messed with," Paimon remarked.
"Yup! He's Natlan's strongest warrior!"
A soft knock on the door alerted Mavuika to the visitor's arrival.
"Oh, you are here. Take a seat," the Pyro Archon invited Hunahpu to take a seat and the man who travelled from the past to the future in this cycle accepted her invitation. "Coffee? Tea? Fruit juice?"
"What would you recommend?"
"I'd recommend fruit juice."
"Then fruit juice please, thank you," Hunahpu replied and Mavuika was soon back with two cups of fruit juice.
"It's as you said, the outlander arrived," Mavuika started the conversation.
"I know she will arrive. After which, Kachina would be trapped in the Night Kingdom, a problem that resulted from the Abyss' interference. The Fatui would most likely interfere too, probably through Capitano… I'm afraid that's all I happened to learn from my previous cycles before coming to Natlan. I apologise."
"Please don't, Ujasiri. Natlan is now better equipped and prepared thanks to you," Mavuika assured him. "You had already learned of my plans so… what are your plans?"
"I have the power to absorb abyssal corruption. As for the purifying aspect after absorbing it, it's still a work in progress. Given how dire the corruption is in Natlan, I think we should be prepared for the worst and that my power may not be able to resolve it completely," Hunahpu admitted. "The Sacred Flame will not last for too long. Our time is running out. I will continue to cleanse the filth in the Night Kingdom as I had been doing. It will buy you enough time to put Xbalanque's plans and yours into motion."
"I inherited my predecessors' memories so I'm aware, but… Ujasiri."
"Yes?"
"You do not need to fight alone. We do not fight alone," Mavuika reiterated with sincerity. Xbalanque's memories which she inherited allowed her a glimpse of the man who walked the continuous samsaric roads. She knew that he had a worrying self-sacrificial streak due to his inability to truly die, which was equally respectful as it is tragic. She had seen it for herself firsthand when the hero arrived for a brief moment of a single day five hundred years ago to assist her and Natlan to deal with the Cataclysm, before disappearing into the Sacred Flame once more to arrive in the present era.
If anything, she wished she could do something to help, to alleviate his burdens and duties, but she isn't that powerful. Even Xbalanque could do little to change the fate of the Ancient Name Ujasiri.
Instead, Xbalanque inscribed the Ancient Name of Ujasiri into the memories of Teyvat and also to Hunahpu's soul using his power as the Pyro Archon. Xbalanque knew and understood that Hunahpu yearned to be remembered and be freed of his suffering. Xbalanque couldn't help in assisting with the latter, so the original archon attempted to provide a solution for the former. Xbalanque had hoped that through the power that came with the inscribement of an Ancient Name, regardless of the future cycles that Ujasiri will face, Natlan will always be able to remember their first Ancient Name the moment Ujasiri steps foot into the land of Natlan and offer him their protection and aid.
The power behind a name; that is the concept that Xbalanque was banking on to make this work. This is an experiment conducted for Ujasiri and the results remain to be verified. If Xbalanque's attempt could work, then perhaps, all of the cycles that Ujasiri experienced, they are merely different variations of the past, present, and future, and that Ujasiri could one day find a variation of a future where all of his previous experiences come together to weave a future where he could be remembered and be freed.
Such is the power of a name. Such is the significance of the oath and gift which Xbalanque left behind for the other half of Natlan's Twin Heroes who founded the nation of Natlan, the other half who was forgotten among the annals of history.
Natlan always remembers their heroes
A brief expression of surprise crossed Hunahpu's face before he answered with a soft smile.
"I know," he replied. "It's like how the "Pyro Archon" never referred to a specific individual or was meant to be used as a title but instead, refer to the collective that represented the "People of Natlan". I understand this better than anyone else, Mavuika. I understood that when I fought alongside Xbalanque to unify the tribes to build Natlan. I understood that when Xbalanque and I decided to burn to cinders for our dreams– and only then, would Natlan rekindle in ashes because of a dream."
"Ujasiri–"
"You have done really well, Mavuika. You have done really well. Believe me when I say this: I'm sure Xbalanque is proud of you, just as all your predecessors are. Take it from someone who is now the pseudo Pyro Archon of this cycle," Mavuika felt a soft part of her heart being touched when the ancient hero Ujasiri noticed her own insecurities at a glance just as how she recognised Ujasiri's shortcomings. "Xbalanque told me that all Natlan ever needed was "Courage" to tide over this crisis. Perhaps a little bit of luck as well if I may add my opinion, but we had done all we could. Now, let's bring the fight to the Abyss."
Natlan never shied away from a fight.
This time, they will bring the fight to the Abyss.
"Oh? Kachina already brought you to meet Hunahpu?"
"Uh huh! That's right, Kachina said that he lives with the People of the Springs. Aren't you from there too, Mualani? Do you know Hunahpu?"
The group had returned to the stadium to witness the return of those who earned the right to participate in the Night Warden Wars. Lumine and Paimon had stayed a few days with the Scions of the Canopy upon Kinich's invitation and finally got to have a more in depth conversation with Mualani with this opportunity.
They had learnt a little of the mysterious "Strongest Hero of Natlan" in this era from Kinich, but it will also be nice to hear it from the mouth of someone who's from the same tribe that he hails from.
"Of course! I was the first among my people to meet him!" Mualani said with a jovial laugh as the group spectated the proceedings from high above within the stadium. "He said that he lived outside Natlan all this while and only just returned to Natlan when we first met. I still remember how he looked a little lost when I first found him! Still, take my advice, don't underestimate him. He's scarily powerful. He will obliterate you with a giant fireball if you are on his bad side. Like, whoosh, bam, boom! Then you are gone. Not even ashes remain."
"Whoa! Don't scare Paimon!"
"Haha, no need to be scared. Hunahpu's a really nice guy," Mualani laughed after seeing Paimon's reaction. "And oh! I still remember that day where we first participated and registered for the Pilgrimage together! He has an Ancient Name too, and he didn't bother to tell anyone about it until we registered to participate in the Pilgrimage that day! And when I asked him why he didn't tell us, he was like, because nobody asked. Can you believe it?! The nerve of him!"
"What's his Ancient Name?" Lumine asked in curiosity.
"Ujasiri. It means "Courage" in our local language. Honestly, his Ancient Name is a little weird."
"Weird? How?"
"After his first Night Warden War and his name became more well-known, some from the other tribes who had fragile egos started to investigate him in secret. It was then we found out that none of the known Wayobs granted him that Ancient Name, yet it's an undeniable fact that his Ancient Name is the real deal," Kinich explained on Mualani's behalf.
"Yeah yeah! This created quite a big hoo-hah back then when these sore losers made a fuss about this matter and brought it up to the Pyro Archon!" Mualani added and Lumine could still hear the faint anger in Mualani's voice even when the matter was closed a few years ago.
"In the end, our Pyro Archon stepped in to vouch on Hunahpu's behalf and the case was closed, but that didn't really explain the origin of his Ancient Name," Kinich ended his description of the incident with his arms crossed over his chest. Ajaw was nowhere to be seen, as usual. Probably confined somewhere by Kinich, if Lumine had to make a guess.
"The history and origin of every Ancient Name can be traced. An Ancient Name with no known history was something that never happened before," Mualani added when it looked like Lumine and Paimon did not understand the significance of this incident due to their lack of knowledge about their nation's culture and history.
"Could there be exceptions?" Lumine asked as she began to think from the perspective of a long living species– which she is– rather than from the perspective of humans like Mulanai and Kinich. "Kachina said that Ancient Names are inherited, so what if… there wasn't a need to inherit it in the first place?"
"No need to inherit…?"
"You are saying… Hunahpu is the first person to receive the Ancient Name of Ujasiri? That's not impossible but…"
"It would mean that the name was forged. That's not impossible, but something like that would have left records somewhere. The people capable of forging an Ancient Name are very few in numbers. I couldn't think of a scenario where the forging of an Ancient Name left no records, at least not to my knowledge, and such an act would ultimately still require the assistance of the Pyro Archon," Kinich explained the impossibility of this scenario.
"Or maybe the Pyro Archon was in on this secret and it had her secret approval?" Paimon suggested and both Mualani and Kinich looked at each other as if asking the other party a silent question, before looking back at Lumine and Paimon with a collective shrug.
"Who knows? All I know is that he's on our side and that he's like us, a Child of Natlan."
"Our war with the Abyss had always been hard, but it's getting better since Hunahpu was here. You can really feel and see the changes," Kinich nodded as the din from the crowd abruptly rose before quickly going temporarily silent at the arrival of the officiator. "The ceremony has begun."
"Finally!" Paimon vibrated in excitement. The outlander and her guide bore witness to the Ode of Resurrection. Kachina was the only one to have fallen in the Night Warden War among the five who had represented the nation in the war against the Abyss, but as the team had returned victorious, she would be able to be revived through the Sacred Flame and Ode of Resurrection.
They weren't expecting for Kachina to not make the trip back.
"Capitano, you really arrived."
Mavuika stated with a slight frown from where she stood high above at the now empty stadium. She dismissed the presence of the Fatui operatives who accompanied the Capitano here, her focus was directed to Capitano and him only.
"I'm impressed that you discovered my presence. I believed I already did a good job concealing my tracks," Capitano answered. "The Archon of Natlan– a force to be reckoned with."
"You are obviously not here for chit-chat and neither am I in the mood for it," Mavuika interrupted Capitano with a dismissive wave of her hand. A large sword of fire appeared in her hand with a blaze as her hair lit up in fiery flames. She's thankful that Hunahpu had used his own power to help sustain the dying Sacred Flame before he left. That left her at full power to deal with the Fatui threat.
Ujasiri had ventured to the Night Kingdom to play his part. She has her own role to play as well. As to how the situation will develop and which plan they will have to implement next, only time will tell.
For Natlan
"Come, Fatui," Mavuika pointed her blade at the foe in front of her. "People like us let our blades do the talking instead."
The Capitano remained silent. Mavuika was thinking if the man behind a mask was peeved at her dismissive attitude but she knew that the challenge was accepted when the First of the Fatui Harbingers threw his cloak aside and created a sword of ice.
"Very well."
Paimon has both good news and bad news to report.
Good news is, they found Kachina!
Bad news is… they are trapped here in the Night Kingdom! The fissure that was their only exit was closed!
And that they are surrounded by monsters of the Abyss! There's so many of them!
"T-There's too many of them!"
"Stay together! Don't get separated!" Lumine reminded her companions with a shout as she defeated another monster with a well-timed blast of wind. They had been trying to help purify a totem pole of the Wayob upon Kachina's request but the untimely arrival of an Abyssal Herald by the name of Comonqui ruined things.
The worst part was that he brought friends too. Lots and lots of friends.
Comonqui made his arrival before Lumine could get started on purifying the corruption that was hurting the Wayob. Forget about going through with the purification, none of them know how they could outlast the endless horde of monsters and abyssal spectres that had arrived to try and take their lives.
There was an unsaid understanding that they had to protect the totem pole of the Wayob and that was what the team was trying their best to do in this battle. Honestly, the Abyss Herald didn't seem to be any much more powerful than the ones Lumine had faced in battle before, but the sheer number of monsters in their way made it difficult for anyone to even try getting close.
They have to think of something. They would most definitely be killed at this rate.
"Keep your heads down."
Help arrived in the least expected manner when the skies were suddenly set ablaze. A wide smile could be seen on both Mualani's and Kachina's faces when they instantly recognised the owner of that voice.
"Hunahpu!"
The unbelievable arrival of the person who they least expected to see here brought hope to the team. The man who was holding up a huge fireball that lit up the dark skies of the Night Kingdom threw the conflagration down and a huge explosion followed, devastating enough to instantly burn the abyssal monsters to ash and dispel the surrounding corrosion encroaching the area.
"W-W-Wow, he really obliterated everything into ashes…" Paimon whispered in a daze. Mualanai and Kachina had run up to Hunahpu who had arrived to save them.
"H-Hunahpu!"
"Good job, Kachina. You did very well. Congratulations on your first victorious Night Warden War," Hunahpu fondly patted the young girl on the head.
"N-No, more importantly, why are you here?! This place is dangerous!"
"I had always been going in and out of this place," Hunahpu answered with a nonchalant shrug before turning his attention back to the Abyss Herald who had survived that explosion. Oh, right, he's a Pyro Abyss Herald. Using fire to fight fire wouldn't be the most logical thing to do.
"Hunahpu, the fissure closed," Chasca could not help but remind their strongest hero of how bleak the situation seemed to be. "Do you know of another way–"
"No, I don't," Hunahpu shook his head and everyone's hopes that were briefly ignited extinguished almost immediately, "but I can cut open a route. Once that's done, everyone, use it to escape," the Strongest Hero of Natlan of the current era walked past everyone present to stand in front of them, his greatsword brandished with a bright gleam.
"Lumine, can I count on you that everyone gets out of here? Everyone?"
"Of course," Lumine was surprised when Hunahpu suddenly called for her, but quickly replied with a serious nod of her head.
"B-But, Hunahpu, then what about you?" Kachina hesitantly asked when it became apparent to her that her mentor figure had different plans for himself.
"Someone has to deal with that," Hunahpu pointed at the large gathering of darkness behind the arrogant Abyss Herald. "This is not my first foray into the Night Kingdom. I had been helping Mavuika with the abyss problem ever since my first Night Warden War. Unfortunately, the problem is far more serious than I expected it to be. By Xbalanque and my original estimation, the abyss problem shouldn't have worsened to this extent. I do not know what has gone wrong, but fortunately I have ways to fix it."
"But of course! The power of the Abyss is intoxicating! The destruction it seeks captivates like a masterful work of art!" Comonqui interrupted by exclaiming with his arms raised like a zealot believer.
"Ah, right, I forgot all about you. I half expected you to take the time to run while we were having a conversation. You are not very bright, are you?" Hunahpu said in realisation and Kachina couldn't help but try to smother the laughter that threatened to escape her lips despite the severity of the situation. It's an indescribable feeling for everyone who was from Natlan, they just knew that things will be alright with Hunahpu around.
His presence is assuring, just like those of a hero.
"Humanity is full of lambs willing to offer themselves up to the slaughter," Comonqui sneered. "I shall teach you the meaning of true all-encompassing power!"
"Meaning of power? Teach who? Me?"
Hunahpu slowly stepped forward. One step, followed by another, and another, then another as fire began to quietly burn and coil around his figure.
"Natlan may have forgotten, but surely you of the Abyss remember my name? I was there five hundred years ago for a single day where I first met Mavuika until I came to this era."
The Descender's hair lit brightly aflame as the power of the Pyro element flowed unhindered in his veins. Pyro had always been an unstable and uncontrollable element for him to control but it will never be the case again. Xbalanque had made sure of it.
"W-Who are you?" Comonqui finally recognised that something wasn't quite right with the human in front of him. His power felt so scorchingly suffocating to face.
"I am the hero Hunahpu, the man who fought alongside the First Pyro Archon, Xbalanque, to build Natlan. The Twin Heroes of Natlan, that was us. If Xbalanque was the Pyro Archon, I was his proxy whom he shared his powers with."
"Y-Y-You… You are…! For that one day five hundred years ago, Natlan was saved only because…!" Comonqui found himself shakily taking a step back for every step the legendary man took forward. Tales of how Natlan survived the Cataclysm five hundred years ago had so many different variations that the truth had been lost to time in Natlan, but the Abyss remembers that humiliating defeat.
"Y-You are…! T-The first and only bearer of the First Ancient Name, Ujasiri!"
"Yes, carve that name into your memory, remember the fear of facing the power behind that name as I send you to hell, monster of the Abyss," Ujasiri calmly intoned and with a single swing of his sword, did the impossible by burning the Pyro Abyss Herald into oblivion with fire. He gave his sword a second swing, and another huge crack appeared above the Night Kingdom.
"Get going, everyone. There's your escape."
"Hunahpu!" Kachina called out. She does not understand what Hunahpu and the Abyss Herald was talking about when their conversation revolved around what happened five hundred years ago and how it relates to their first archon.
All she understood was that the man whom she viewed as her older brother figure and mentor, someone who never gave up on her even when she was so weak and useless, was planning to do something about the endless wave of darkness that was surging in their direction.
"L-Let me stay! Let me help! I… I am a hero too! An inheritor of an Ancient Name! I want to defend Natlan too!"
"I will too!" Mualani immediately voiced her support.
"Guess I won't be moving," Chasca said with a playful shrug.
"No one fights alone," Iansan added.
"No one fights alone," Hunahpu agreed, "but this is not your battle. Leave, heroes of Natlan. Go forth, live to fight another day, this is not your destined battlefield."
"But Hunahpu! I… I… I want to fight! I want to fight as a hero too!" Kachina pleaded with a scream.
"Kachina…" Mualani had a worried frown on her face but she could understand what the younger girl was feeling. She felt the same too, and she's sure that her feelings were shared among everyone present. They are all warriors of Natlan, inheritors of Ancient Names.
This is Natlan's battle, and nobody fights alone. They cannot, and will not, leave Hunahpu here to fight this battle alone.
"Kachina, listen to me," there was a gentleness in Hunahpu's voice that had the magical effect of capturing their attention. "This is my destined battle, but not yours. If you wish to fight your destined battle, then follow Mavuika's lead. She is the one who will bring you– bring everyone in Natlan– to realise Natlan's dream. This battle is my and Xbalanque's dream."
A column of warm fire enveloped the group.
"The dream that Xbalanque and I will burn to cinders for– you shall rekindle it and live it for us."
No matter how they tried, they could not break through to assist Hunahpu as he remained behind to ensure their safe escape. No matter how Kachina and Mualani cried out to the man who became their close friend in the few years they had known each other, he did not turn back as the flames brought them closer and closer to the newly created crack that would send them back to Natlan.
"Lumine," Lumine's head perked up when she heard her name being called by the enigmatic hero bearing the equally enigmatic Ancient Name. "I know you are just a witness of Teyvat's history. It might be too much to ask but if it's within your means, please help to protect Natlan in her time of need. There's nothing much I can offer now but the person you are searching for, the meaning of your journey, you shall find it at the end of your journey. That, I can promise you."
"What do you mean?" Lumine asked, desperate to know of an answer, but received none. The group could only watch and do nothing as they were brought higher and higher, closer and closer to the crack that would bring them back to reality. Kachina had already broken down into sobs while even Mualani had turned uncharacteristically silent.
"Kachina, Mualani, do not mourn, do not weep," Hunahpu's voice resounded as he slowly walked to the forefront, his powers burning brightly than ever before. "We are heroes of Natlan. The heroic tales of our victories and names shall be sung and remembered and for as long as they exist, I will continue to live on, in Natlan."
Countless riftwolves began to appear among the black mist, slowly circling around Hunahpu. No matter how one would look at it, the odds weren't favourable.
"In the end, we burn to cinders for a dream," Kachina's keen hearing picked out on Hunahpu's words that everyone else couldn't hear as the man pointed his blade against the impossible odds.
"In the end, we rekindle in ashes because of a dream."
A bright burning column of fire erupted with Hunahpu as its epicentre, turning the eternal into day within the Night Kingdom. The fire of courage that ignites the sky and earth has raged.
"Farewell, heroes of Natlan."
The flames protecting the heroes of Natlan extinguished once they served its purpose and safely delivered the group out from the Night Kingdom through the crack in the sky. More Abyss Heralds emerge to take Comonqui's place.
"So… the great Ujasiri has been left behind."
"Left behind?" The bearer of the First Ancient Name gave a scoff as if he just heard a very bad joke. "No, it's you who had been left behind with me."
Flames lit ablaze, brighter than before in one last song. The power of the First Pyro Archon which had been shared and entrusted with the First Ancient Name thousands of years ago now burns to keep Natlan aflame.
The past and future, they exist to protect the present.
"Welcome back, brother, it's been a long time," Hunahpu whispered fondly as he felt his friend's power and consciousness coursing through his veins with the release of the seal. It's been a while since he was able to hear Xbalanque's voice again. It's been so long since they could fight alongside each other.
"It's been a long time, brother. So it has come to this?"
"Our final song, are you ready?"
"Let our enemies hear it, the Anthem of Natlan."
Fire bloomed as Ujasiri finally inherited the full power of an archon. The Abyss Heralds leading the mindless mass of monsters cut their hands forward in a wordless signal and the thousands of monsters who had been slowly gathering finally lunged forward in a charge. Darkness enveloped the fiery light and for a brief moment, giving the Abyss Heralds hope that they had finally killed the First Ancient Name.
That same hope was extinguished when the flames of courage effortlessly incinerated the darkness seconds later. The oath that the Twin Heroes swore continued to burn in unspoken promise.
For Natlan, we embark on a pilgrimage, for the wishes of the people
The abyss took on countless forms. Some in the form of riftwolves, Saurians, and many other forms that the hero Hunahpu recognised to be monsters that once existed in eras long past. He readjusted his grip over his weapon and made a horizontal slash, the overwhelming power of Pyro burning his enemies to ashes.
For Natlan, we choose to battle, to earn a glorious name
"Futile!" An Abyss Herald screamed as he commanded more abyssal monsters to take the place that were slain. The power of the Abyss is limitless, all-encompassing, it can never be destroyed!
Yet, no matter how many they sent to kill one single man, he remains. Every swing and every slash of Hunahpu's greatsword set the Night Kingdom ablaze, magically ridding the Night Kingdom of the taint left behind from the Abyss' corruption while leaving the totems of the Wayob untouched. The longer the battle dragged on the more flustered the Abyss Heralds became. It's taking them too long to kill one single man.
We burn to cinders for a dream
The Abyss were mistaken, the man was never fighting alone. He had the power of his sworn brother burning by his side. Xbalanque and Hunahpu, they are the Twin Heroes of Natlan who are burning to cinders for a dream.
We rekindle in ashes because of a dream
The Man who became a Hero who through time, became a Legend wielded the unyielding flames of courage by his side. These are the same flames that had witnessed the swearing of an oath that the nation was built upon, a nation where names are remembered and honoured. He cut down monsters, one after the other, as the Night Kingdom lit as bright as day on this fateful day.
Glorious. Ah, hero
"No… No! This cannot be happening!" One Abyss Herald screamed in denial before he was cut down by Ujasiri's sword. The hero's gaze locked onto the next nearest herald and the herald felt a cold shiver creeping up its spine despite it having the power to wield the cryo element.
It is next.
Rise like the dawn
The flames exploded in a sworn promise to rise like the dawn which will bring forth courage to the land. The First Ancient Name Ujasiri– the Abyss was painfully reminded about the power behind that name once again.
The concept of time flowed very differently in the Abyss. Nobody could tell exactly how much time had passed. The power of the Abyss is limitless and Ujasiri, no matter how powerful with the power of an archon, is only human.
"All flames will extinguish one day!" An Abyss Herald cried out in pained victory after the enormous sacrifice the Abyss took for it to finally impale the First Ancient Name with its sword. The hero who bore the name of Ujasiri merely smirked as he gripped onto the sword that impaled his abdomen.
"People always say that your enemy is the one who understands you best. Have you ever thought why Xbalanque and I set the rules of Natlan the way it was? The Sacred Flame, the Ode of Resurrection: As each other's greatest enemy, you should know that in Natlan– "
Ujasiri looked up, the bloodthirsty smirk on his face gave even the monsters of the Abyss chills despite the scorching heat currently burning the Night Kingdom.
"No one fights alone."
If all had gone to plan, Mavuika would have driven off the Fatui and they wouldn't be able to take action anytime soon. Kachina and Mualani should be in the stadium now, together with the six tribes. The whole of Natlan would have gathered to heed Mavuika's call for battle.
The Pyro Archon had a plan; Natlan always had a plan. Shortly after Hunahpu arrived at the present and learnt of the tale that Xbalanque once had to fight continuously for thirty days and nights when Natlan faced a huge calamity, he understood that Xbalanque must have succeeded in creating the Ode of Resurrection. The first half of the Twin Heroes had succeeded, so it's now up to the other half of the Twin Heroes to carry on where it had been left off, for Natlan.
Natlan is a nation without Gods. The Pyro Archon had never been an individual. It was never a title. The Pyro Archon had always been "The People of Natlan" and now, the First Ancient Name had the power of the people of Natlan at his side.
"Still arrogant even in the face of death!" The Abyss Herald forced his sword deeper into Ujasiri with a sickening squelch. The Ujasiri simply burst out laughing, laughing so wildly that even the monsters of the Abyss paused in their tracks, believing that the hero had already gone insane. Chaos resumed when to their disbelief, the Ujasiri who struck fear into the Abyss using only a single day five hundred years ago pulled out the sword that impaled his body with an unexpectedly powerful force, pulverising the skull of the Abyss Herald in the meantime.
"Burn! For Natlan!"
To the shock of the other Abyss Heralds, the Ujasiri's wounds began to heal and close up right before their very eyes in a burning of unending flames. Impossible, how could a mere human–
The crack in the sky of the Night Kingdom had not fully closed. The silence that fell over the Night Kingdom when the impossible happened allowed them to finally hear the song that had arrived from the surface through the crack. It was a loud and solemn chorus, carrying the hopes and will of all of Natlan who had gathered to battle.
"The tale continues on
Glory passed through generations"
"The Ode of Resurrection?" One Abyss Herald managed to immediately identify and make the connection.
"Natlan's greatest power had always existed and passed down in our names, legends, and songs. Humans live a short lifespan. We are weak, but it's precisely because we are weak that we can become strong too. You had lost, Abyss. You lost because you underestimated the determination of humanity."
Ujasiri said as he stood forward anew with his greatsword resting on his shoulder. The flames that Xbalanque entrusted to him had never been extinguished, but rekindled anew. The only way the Abyss could possibly stop his resurrection was if they could get past Ujasiri and arrive at the stadium through the crack in the sky, but the possibility of Ujasiri allowing that to happen is slim to none.
The bearer of the First Ancient Name had to pay a price and he can no longer return to the world above, but for as long as the Ode of Resurrection is sung, for as long as the Sacred Flame burns, he can never be killed here in the Night Kingdom.
"I hope you are prepared, Abyss– To hear Natlan's anthem."
Ujasiri charged forward in a blaze, his greatsword impaling a monster of the abyss that took the shape of a gigantic draconic creature. A mitachurl leapt and crashed down upon where the Ujasiri stood but ended up being cleaved into two clean halves.
"Courage ignites the sky and earth
Once more, victory heralds Natlan's path"
Enormous fireballs that burned like the blazing sun crashed down upon the darkness, purifying filth and protecting the ancient totems that had watched over and protected Natlan since the beginning of time. The element that was often associated with destruction now brought warmth to the nation that warred for honour, glory, and peace.
Courage had been ignited in Natlan, setting the sky and earth ablaze. Songs will be sung in his victory, his tales remembered by the land, and one day these memories and legends shall be inherited and passed down to the future generations who embody the same ideal of "courage".
"We'll wait for you, we'll sing for you"
The darkness that polluted the Night Kingdom is as endless as the void, yet the man who fights with Xbalanque's fiery power never showed even an iota of fear. If his previous thirty cycles had taught him anything, it's that death is not something to be feared.
What he should fear is if he would lose the courage to take the next step forward.
"Come back, brothers, come back, heroes"
The mortal body of the Ujasiri that was made of only flesh and blood was brutally ripped apart by a riftwolf, only for that same body to be instantly reborn anew among the raging flames as the hero cut the riftwolf down in return with his burning greatsword. A cryo abyss mage severed Ujasiri's head from his body with a lance of ice, only for the headless body to return the same favour with his greatsword as his head immediately regrew from the headless body with the blessings of fire.
"Once again, once again, burn bright!"
Despair was the only thing the Abyss knew which followed. No matter how many times the hero Ujasiri was killed and slain, he could never fall. The flames of his power would continuously be rekindled for however long the song that Xbalanque left behind for Natlan continued to be sung.
The screams of the fallen monsters heralded Natlan's victory.
Courage burned that day, cremating and purifying the filth of the Abyss. The courage which was ignited in Natlan by the First Ancient Name of Ujasiri was the final spark that eventually allowed Natlan to clinch victory in the subsequent battles led by their current Pyro Archon, Mavuika.
The ancient war was eventually won.
–Tales of a Hundred Cycles, Vol XXXI
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Like how they eventually departed one nation to travel to the next, Lumine and Paimon eventually left Natlan to embark on their journey to the last nation among the seven, Snezhnaya. The giant qucusaur that went by the name of Holawaqa Ngoubou flew past their heads with a low roar as if saying its farewell before flying back to the direction of the Huitzli Hill. The qucusaur had never been the same ever since its partner sang his final song at the Night Kingdom.
"Lumine?" Paimon asked when Lumine suddenly stopped to turn around and take one last look at the Land of War and Oaths. So much had happened here and she was a witness to the end of Natlan's ancient war.
Mavuika had come clean with them on the true plan that she and so many Pyro Archons before her had enacted to protect Natlan after their return from the Night Kingdom. There were several plans made in total, but ultimately circumstances dictate that the plan to be enacted was the one that required Ujasiri to purge the Night Kingdom of the Abyss' corruption while Natlan and her people fought alongside him via the Ode of Resurrection. Hunahpu's sacrifice was what gave Mavuika the time and opportunity to enact her own plan to save the nation, which ultimately ended the ancient war between Natlan and the Abyss in Natlan's victory.
The Pyro Gnosis which Lumine now possesses as a gift from Mavuika heated up a little in her pocket, as if sensing her thoughts.
"Cinders for a dream…"
Lumine softly recited the phrase that the First Ancient Hero once spoke of. Natlan never forgets their heroes. The name of the hero Hunahpu will forever be remembered in Natlan and she knows that she will too.
The outlander committed the image of this land to memory before turning back and walking ahead, humming a melody that people of Natlan sang to revive their fallen heroes as she embarked on her journey to a land of everlasting winter.
If a will was strong enough to be burned to cinders for a dream, then one day, surely…
That same will can be rekindled in ashes because of a dream.