Ishkab had noticed Paimon's longing glances at the food earlier. She picked up a knife, cut off a large slab of roasted ribs, and handed it to Paimon. She also cut a similar portion for Lumine.
"You're our guests, newly arrived in Natlan. Try our local cuisine and see if it suits your tastes."
"Wow~"
Paimon abandoned all pretense of restraint, snatched the ribs, and took a bite. "Mmm... delicious!"
The seasoning seemed minimal, perhaps just salt and pepper, yet the flavor was incredibly rich. The ingredients must be exceptionally high-quality!
Ishkab explained, "The Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame is much like a national games. The victors earn the right to participate in the Night Warden Wars, where their opponents are our eternal enemies—the Abyss!"
Lumine nodded solemnly. Before coming to Natlan, Neuvillette had shared some information about the region, mentioning the challenges it faced and its formidable foe—the Abyss!
Paimon swallowed her mouthful. "Wait a minute! So the reward for winning the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame is... going to war?!"
Mualani added, "That's essentially correct. Hence the name 'Night Warden Wars.' Through competitions, our tribes select their strongest warriors to repel the Abyss and defend our homeland. These legendary tales are preserved in our stories, passed down through generations, and represent the highest honor a Natlanian can achieve."
Ishkab: "While confronting the Abyss is our duty, the Pyro Archon will also bestow her blessing upon us, ensuring our safe return."
Kachina: "That's the Ode of Resurrection! It can bring people back from the dead!"
Paimon: "The Ode of Resurrection?! Bring people back from the dead?!" Paimon was so stunned she forgot to eat.
Kachina: "Hehe, yes! So it's not so scary, right? Plus, it gives people indomitable courage!"
Lumine hadn't touched her food. After a moment of thought, she asked, "Can we meet the Pyro Archon? Where is she?"
Ishkab: "Hold your horses, Traveler. Before each Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, Ma—cough—the Pyro Archon will appear to deliver a speech. Let's eat first, then rest well. I'm sure you'll meet her soon enough."
Once Ishkab started eating, Kinich, Mualani, and Kachina joined in. Seeing this, Lumine followed suit.
"By the way, Kinich, where's Ajaw?" Ishkab asked. She was starting to miss the noisy little dragon.
Kinich paused briefly before casually replying, "He said he wanted to wander around alone. He's probably off playing somewhere."
Ishkab: "Oh? Alright then. I thought he'd never miss an occasion like this. Never mind, let's eat up, everyone."
Everyone except Ishkab lowered their heads and ate in silence.
-
Time flowed slowly by. As everyone finished eating, Mualani noticed Kachina's expression and asked:
"What's wrong? You still seem down. With me here to help, you don't need to worry anymore."
Kachina: "I know, I know. I'm not unhappy, I'm just... I'm just really nervous. I can't keep using my age as an excuse forever. I need to show some progress... otherwise, how can I prove to everyone that I'm not trying to avoid the Night Warden Wars?"
Mualani: "You don't need to prove anything, and you shouldn't care about what others think. As long as you don't harbor such thoughts in your heart, you owe no one an apology. If they believe you haven't lived up to the expectations of your Ancient Name, let them take it up with the Great Spirit."
"Trust me, the Great Spirit must have seen some special quality in you to bestow the Ancient Name upon you."
Kachina mumbled weakly, "It can't just be because I'm tough and don't get hurt easily, right...?"
Paimon: "Have your previous results been consistently poor?"
Kachina: "Yeah, I've lost about seven or eight times already. Even though my performance is steadily improving, I've never actually won."
By this point, Ishkab had already stood up. She walked behind Kachina and gently stroked her fluffy ears.
"Kachina, your biggest problem is your lack of confidence. Apart from that, you have no flaws."
Kachina tilted her head slightly, gazing up at Ishkab. The words of this "senior" and sister, who had won the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame simply by participating, carried immense weight.
"But... but..."
Kachina wanted to say she had never succeeded even once, but Ishkab spoke first. "Kachina..."
Her voice was gentle yet clear, like a mountain spring. "A healer never judges a tree lifeless just because it hasn't grown to towering heights in a single day. We only care whether it has grown even an inch taller than yesterday."
She turned her head slightly, her gaze calm and compassionate.
"You said earlier that you've improved seven or eight times already. Isn't that itself the best proof that the Great Spirit has chosen you? It hasn't granted you the power to guarantee victory, but rather the resilience to rise again and again, no matter how many times you fall."
"This resilience is far more worthy of reverence than the 'proof' of a single victory."
"Besides, who knows? Maybe this time you'll win. With you and Mualani working together, we might not even stand a chance. So, have faith in yourself."
Kachina: "Yes, I'll do my best, Sister Ishkab!"
Ishkab smiled. After chatting for a while longer, everyone settled down to rest.
-
The next day, everyone gathered at the agreed-upon meeting point. By the time Lumine and Paimon arrived, everyone was already there. Ajaw was wailing incessantly in Ishkab's ear, recounting his ordeal.
"Sister, look at Kinich! He locked me in a tiny box all night! All night! It was so dark, cramped, and uncomfortable! And he didn't even give me any food! It's just too much!"
"Sister, can you help me beat him up? If a full beating is too much, even just a punch or a slap would do! Please, Sister, you have to stand up for me!"
Ishkab patted Ajaw's small body, soothing him while gently scolding Kinich.
"Next time, talk things out calmly. Don't cause conflicts. You shouldn't treat Ajaw like that..."
Kinich listened obediently to Ishkab, nodding at each of her words without a hint of argument or retort. Ajaw, perched on Ishkab's shoulder, stared at Kinich with wide-eyed wonder, but Kinich didn't even glance at him.
Kachina rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "Ajaw's voice is so loud... it's giving me a headache..."
Ishkab: "Alright, alright, I've already spoken to Kinich. Lower your voice, Ajaw. You're bothering everyone."
Ajaw: "Oh, okay, okay."
Once everyone had gathered and the time seemed right, they bought some food from a nearby restaurant and headed to the spectator stands around the Arena.