Natlan.
After returning from the Night Kingdom, the group found themselves back at the Domain where they had originally entered the Rift. Ishkab had sustained the most severe injuries.
She had been unconscious ever since they left the Night Kingdom. Furthermore, aside from Lumine and Paimon, the others had spent a considerable amount of time in the Night Kingdom and were, to varying degrees, affected by the Abyss.
Kinich and Mualani fared relatively well, but the five who had participated in the Night Warden Wars, even those who remained conscious, were pale and visibly shaken.
Without much discussion, they unanimously agreed to head for the Speaker's Chamber.
Before entering the Night Kingdom, the Pyro Archon Mavuika had assured them that she would arrange for skilled physicians to be present there.
-
[ Speaker's Chamber ].
Seeing everyone return, Mavuika finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Welcome back, everyone. I've already gathered most of the details. I know you have many questions, but let Chuychu examine you first and treat the lingering effects of the Abyss Power."
Kinich: "Quick, Chuychu! Please check on my sister!"
Chuychu swiftly scanned the crowd. Spotting her sister Chasca, she exhaled softly before immediately assisting Kinich in gently laying Ishkab flat on the ground.
Chuychu quickly opened her medical kit and retrieved various medications, many of which Ishkab herself had given her.
Among Natlan's tribes, Ishkab was a renowned physician, capable of effectively treating illnesses that other healers couldn't cure. Chuychu had once spent a few days learning from Ishkab—or rather, exchanging knowledge with her.
Yet no matter how skilled Ishkab was, she couldn't treat herself in her current state.
Chuychu carefully bandaged Ishkab's wounds.
Ishkab had sustained numerous external injuries. After a thorough examination, Chuychu concluded that Ishkab's unconsciousness was due to severe blood loss and extreme exhaustion, with no other critical injuries.
The many wounds on Ishkab's body made it impractical to treat her in the chamber, so Chuychu moved her to another room.
A few minutes later, Chuychu emerged from the room, and Kinich and the others rushed forward to ask about Ishkab's condition.
Chuychu: "Sister Ishkab has fallen asleep. Don't worry about her. As for you all... please sit down, and I'll examine each of you individually."
-
After some time, Chuychu finished the treatment.
She wiped the fine sweat from her forehead and said, "Everyone has accumulated a significant amount of Abyss Contamination in their bodies, especially the sisters. Fortunately, I gained extensive experience treating my elder sister."
Following the emergency treatment, even the four most severely affected individuals showed signs of improvement.
Chuychu: "Alright, this should suffice for now. But to be safe, I'll need to conduct a follow-up examination in a few days."
"However, the Traveler and Paimon's condition... I've never encountered anything like it. They seem completely immune to Abyss Power..."
Lumine was already aware of her immunity to Abyss Power, but she found it strange that Paimon seemed to share the same resistance.
After a brief exchange, Chuychu prepared to take Ishkab away to a more suitable location for continued treatment.
Kinich wanted to hear the Pyro Archon's plan, but after a moment's hesitation, he decided to follow Chuychu instead.
Ajaw naturally left with Kinich as well.
Before departing, Chasca stopped Chuychu. "Thank you, Sister."
Chuychu: "Seeing you safe puts my mind at ease too. I understand your considerations, Sister. You did wonderfully this time."
-
After Chuychu left with Ishkab, Kinich, and Ajaw, Kaiulani also departed. In the Speaker's Chamber, Mavuika bluntly explained the dire situation facing Natlan.
"Natlan is on the verge of destruction," Mavuika declared. "Its remaining 'lifespan' is likely less than a year."
"Ah?!" Paimon exclaimed.
"W-what?! No way!" Kachina exclaimed in disbelief.
Lumine, however, showed little surprise, having anticipated this outcome.
"Indeed," Mavuika confirmed. "But this truth has been kept hidden, known only to a select few involved in the plan to save Natlan. The countdown to our doom began not recently, but five hundred years ago, a consequence of the Abyss Disaster that has persisted to this day."
Mavuika began recounting Natlan's history, recounting the protracted and utterly devastating war of five centuries past.
At that time, Mavuika and her allies had calculated that the Night Kingdom had at most five hundred years left before succumbing entirely to the Abyss. Yet the Natlanians of that era, witnessing widespread death and destruction, had lost all faith in victory and the future.
Civilization teetered on the brink of collapse, faith crumbled, and the power of the Great Spirit waned...
If Natlan could not be united and its people rallied, any talk of defeating the Abyss would remain nothing more than empty words.
After much deliberation, the God and the Heroes of Natlan devised a grand plan to save the nation, spanning five hundred years.
Mualani recounted her experiences in the Night Kingdom, sharing her observations of Tupac's battles.
Mavuika nodded, simultaneously answering Paimon's earlier question: If the Pyro Archon is always the strongest person in Natlan and the title has been passed down through generations, why do the Statues of The Seven in Natlan resemble Mavuika exactly?
"Life is like a flame destined to burn out," Mavuika explained. "Five hundred years ago, I deposited my life into the Sacred Flame, choosing to 'die' prematurely in the past so I could awaken in the present."
Mavuika also revealed that she knew who the Great Spirit would choose, but she kept this information to herself.
Just as Mualani might not have gained recognition of her Ancient Name had Mavuika revealed her knowledge earlier, premature disclosure could alter the course of destiny.
"Before today," Mavuika continued, "Xilonen of the Children of Echoes, Ishkab of the Scions of the Canopy, and Iansan of the Collective of Plenty had all been recognized. Today, Mualani of the People of the Springs has also gained acknowledgment..."
"But even with that, there are still two more to go," Paimon exclaimed. "And we only have a year left!"
"No."
Lumine suddenly said, "It might not be a year—perhaps even sooner. I exchanged some information with the Pyro Archon earlier, but due to time constraints, it wasn't complete. Now that everyone's here..."
Lumine retold the story of the Seven Souls of the Goddess. Everyone present listened in stunned silence, including Mavuika.
Mavuika wasn't one of the Original Archons and possessed far less knowledge than Zhongli and the others. Even Zhongli and his companions were left dumbfounded by this revelation.
A Goddess? The Primordial One? Phanes? The Dragon Sovereign Nibelung? These were all concepts they were hearing for the very first time!
Lumine continued, "Four of the seven Pure Souls have already perished. However, fragments of their souls reside within this sword..."
Mualani exclaimed, "So that's why this sword is so powerful and capable of repelling the Abyss! The original Goddess... This is an overwhelming amount of information..."