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It is already late afternoon when Xilonen opens the fourth book she had dragged from her storage and flips through the pages in search of a specific chapter. She has spent the majority of the day trying to find information for the Archon’s unreasonable request of forging an Ancient Name for the Traveller. Without any result.
She is ambitious, for sure, but no Name Engraver has ever forged a name for an Outlander. Xilonen simply doesn’t know where to start her research. And these books are certainly not helping at all.
Rubbing the center of her forehead in frustration, Xilonen closes the book in front of her and sighs.
A perfect, sunny afternoon wasted. And it sets me back on my commissions, too.
Xilonen hears the little footsteps approaching, but it is the light tug on her tail that has her turning in her seat, coming face to face with her temporary fosterling.
“Xilonen, I’m done with chopping the firewood. What shall I do next?”
Little Nepecha.
After she had volunteered to take the little girl in until she dug up more information about her past, Nepecha had shown interest in Xilonen’s work as a Name Engraver and the forge, to the point that she wants to become one herself. Xilonen humors her, explaining as much as she can in between commissions and tries to teach her some basics of forging. It’s not much, Nepecha is still too you for the more straining work, but she absorbs every word and diligently fulfills the tasks she is given.
She must admit that the little girl has grown on her. Her showing so much enthusiasm for Xilonen’s profession surely tipped the scale in her favor, even though Xilonen wasn't sure at first if caring for a child was her cup of tea.
“Hm…let me think.”
Xilonen lets her gaze wander around her forge. Her growing stack of papers with her written commissions needs to be organized, but this is hardly a task for an aspiring engraver. As is cleaning her heavy and sharp tools she isn't allowed to lay a finger on. What else…ah yes.
“If you want you can-”
Familiar footsteps coming closer to the workshop interrupt Xilonen’s thoughts and Nepecha has a bright smile on her face, when she catches sight of the Pyro Archon herself walking towards them.
Xilonen remembers how during her first days, Nepecha would unconsciously hide behind her whenever someone visited; a habit she had picked up after being in Tlazolli’s ‘care’. But Mavuika had managed to charm herself into the girl's heart quickly, bringing Saurus Crackers and asking about her favorite saurian. Of course it was the tribe's familiar Tepetlisaur, but the Yumkasaur came second which put a smile on Mavuika’s face.
“It’s Mavuika!”
Xilonen leans her back against the table, props herself on her elbows and observes as Mavuika approaches.
Her confident strides never cease to amaze her. She is the personification of a true leader the legends always tell about. Strong, prideful, confident, but also sympathetic and caring. Her nation and her people are her utmost priority.
And so very, very beautiful. Those captivating eyes, her fine features and a few other qualities she can only admit behind closed doors. But she's getting off-track now.
However, only a few have seen the real Mavuika and are part of her inner circle. Living two lives in two different periods of time and leaving behind everything you call dear does this to you.
All the more it makes Xilonen a little bit proud that a part of Mavuika’s heart is solely reserved for her.
“Xilonen.” Mavuika leans down to kiss her and the fiery aura she always carries washes over her, blanketing her in a pleasant warmth. Her body heats up, threatening to be consumed by the ever-burning flame, but Mavuika reigns her fire in until she feels like she's being bathed in the cozy Toyac Springs.
Her lips are so soft and warm and ah - did she mention how soft they are?
Mavuika retreats and leaves behind an open-mouthed Xilonen whose lidded eyes gaze lovingly at the woman above her. The Pyro Archon chuckles at Xilonen’s lovestruck expression- she knows exactly what Xilonen likes - and turns around to greet Nepecha.
The girl is scrunching her nose in disgust. “Why do you always have to do that? It’s icky.”
“Because it’s not. You will see when you’re older.”
“Bleh! I will never do that!”
Nepecha sticks out her tongue, utterly repulsed by the idea of willingly kissing someone. Suddenly, the girl wants to put an end to this conversation and remembers why she talked to Xilonen in the first place.
“Xilonen! Hey, did you think of something?”
Another tug on her tail, this time more forceful, brings Xilonen back to the cold reality, greeted by an expectant child and an Archon with a smug expression on her face.
“Ah, yes. Of course I did.” She points at the furnace with its ever-burning fire.
“Can you add some firewood? I need the temperature to be high enough for forging later.”
“You bet!”
Nepecha runs off to her freshly chopped firewood, happy to escape the kissing topic and leaves the two lovers alone.
“She is so full of energy.”
“Yeah, her curiosity is unmatched. But sometimes I wish she would just go and play with the other children. I’m not meant to be a full-time parent, you know.”
Mavuika smiles at Xilonen’s choice of words. “She likes you. And you are good to her. And a capable teacher. That’s why she’s glued to your hip and wants to become a Name Engraver too.”
“Hm…if you say so.” Mavuika’s words don’t sound very convincing. She hasn’t signed up for a long-term tutelage.
“I want to look into her past, find her relatives and so on. She needs a home, not a workshop. However, a certain someone keeps insisting I should try to forge an Ancient Name for an Outlander instead.”
Xilonen narrows her green eyes and glares at the Archon who in turn feigns innocence. Mavuika raises her hands in mock surrender and is about to answer her, when Nepecha calls for their attention.
“Xilonen look! I can do it. See?”
Nepecha throws the logs into the fire, prompting the sparks to fly around her. Some hit her bare forearms and she flinches at the stinging sensation. But, a moment later, she throws another piece of wood inside, this time covering her eyes from the newly kindled flames.
“Careful! Don't hurt yourself!”
Nepecha continues to feed the fire with logs while shielding her eyes with her other arm. A few logs end up on the floor and Xilonen can only let out an exasperated sigh.
“You'd have a better aim if you could see clearly, you know?”
Nepecha only shakes her head and continues to more or less blindly throw the logs into the furnace.
“That girl.” Xilonen shakes her head and expects a remark from Mavuika too, but the other woman remains silent. She has a distant look on her face Xilonen cannot quite place.
Meanwhile, Nepecha is done with her task and rushes back to them.
“Not bad, Nepecha, not bad. You're an expert when it comes to firewood.” Xilonen says and her words bring a proud smile on the girl's face. “But next time, don't cover your eyes or you'll get hurt.”
Nepecha's smile morphs into a frown. “But the other children said you shouldn’t stare at bright flames. It will hurt your eyes.”
Xilonen feels the temperature drop. Gone is the pleasant warmth which follows the Pyro Archon everywhere she goes. Instead the evening breeze chills her shoulders as it blows through the rift. Mavuika’s hands are balled into fists and Xilonen can see them trembling slightly.
“Please excuse me. I forgot I am needed elsewhere.”
Mavuika’s voice is calm and steady as always, but the Name Engraver knows something is amiss. Her pyro power is somewhat related to her feelings and a strong drop or rise in temperature always means trouble.
“Come visit us again soon.”
Oblivious, Nepecha waves enthusiastically at Mavuika, who only offers her a small wave and a strained smile. Xilonen and her lock eyes for a split-second and come to a silent agreement, before Mavuika turns around and leaves, her steps less confident than before.
Xilonen hurries to close the workshop, much to Nepecha's disapproval, but she can live with her nagging. She has to take care of her flickering flame.
🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺
She spots her motorbike by a cliff near the stadium.
The setting sun paints the landscape in a golden glow as if everything is inlaid with Phlogiston. It looks breathtaking and it’s a sight exclusive to Natlan and its unique landmarks. Despite the golden hue, Xilonen can easily spot Mavuika, sitting by a tree overlooking the city below.
She removes her phlogiston-infused skates and wipes the sweat from her brow - this has been quite a long run - but her gut-feeling has been right. Mavuika often comes here when she has something weighing on her mind and today seems no exception.
Wordlessly, Xilonen gets down beside her, tail curling around her. She gives Mavuika space and just sits there in silence, waiting for the Archon to make the first step.
It’s fine if she doesn’t want to talk about it. It’s okay, if she wants her to leave. But Xilonen wants her to know that she’s here, if she needs a shoulder to lean on.
She doesn’t know how much time passes, but the sun is a thin, fiery line on the horizon when Mavuika finally speaks.
“Is it beautiful?"
Xilonen doesn’t answer and keeps looking at the setting sun. She knows Mavuika doesn’t expect an answer from her anyway.
“I…I cannot tell anymore.” Mavuika pulls her knees to her chest and rests her chin onto them. Her sun-shaped eyes keep staring at the horizon.
“I’ve seen countless sunsets. More than a human should.” She takes a deep shuddering breath and Xilonen’s ears twitch at the sound. Her green eyes dart to Mavuika for a moment, but the other woman’s gaze is still glued to the horizon.
“I think they lost their beauty long ago. It must have been the day when-”
Tears are welling up in Mavuika’s eyes and she tries to blink them away, but to no avail. The first droplets fall, leaving pitch-black circles on her dark pants. It’s time for Xilonen to make her move.
“Hey, it’s okay.” She scoots closer until they are touching and lays a hand on Mavuika’s shoulder. She doesn’t flinch away nor does she say something. Xilonen hopes she can at least give her a bit of comfort.
But the tears won’t stop. Like rivers of molten lava the tears fall, reflecting the last light of the setting sun. Mavuika hugs her knees and buries her face into them, trying to shield herself from the world around her.
“They can't see it. My family, my friends.” A heart-wrenching sob bubbles up in Mavuika’s throat when she says the last name.
“Hi..Hine. She can’t.”
Seeing her girlfriend break down, Xilonen finally wraps her arms around Mavuika’s shoulders and draws her in. Emotionally drained, Mavuika sags against Xilonen and allows herself to be vulnerable for a moment. She clings to her and cries silently, her face buried into the crook of Xilonen’s neck. She can feel the hot tears on her chest, even warmer than Mavuika’s pyro-infused body, her sobs unusually loud against the stillness of the evening. A pair of young Yumkasaurs flees into the darkness.
They stay like this for a while, hugging each other while Mavuika cries and cries, as if she had not allowed herself to do so since she leaped through time 500 years ago.
She has shielded her emotions, suppressed them for the sake of Natlan. But, although she is the Pyro Archon, she is first and foremost human.
Xilonen knows she cannot understand how it must feel to leave everyone and everything behind. To wake up half a millennium later, still in the same nation, but in a totally different world nonetheless.
She sacrificed so much.
She is allowed to grieve.
Xilonen tightens her hold on the other woman and rests her chin on Mavuika’s head while her tail wraps protectively around her legs. The only light left now is the ever-burning Sacred Flame.
Slowly, the temperature around them drops and the creatures of the night wake up. An owl can be heard in the distance and the frogs croak in a nearby pond.
Mavuika calms down; her crying reduced to occasional sniffles. She lifts her head from Xilonen’s chest when a dark green frog hops past them, her eyes filled with melancholy and sadness.
She snuggles even closer being Xilonen’s personal warm blanket against the chill of the night. Her long hair simmers in the darkness, the tendrils lighting up where Xilonen combs them with her fingers and Mavuika lets out a tired sigh.
“I’m not sure where this journey leads me.” she says, her voice hoarse. “Will we manage to defeat the Abyss in the end?”
Will my sacrifices not have been in vain?
Xilonen doesn’t have an answer to that; she is no Citlali who can foresee the future. But she knows one thing for sure.
“The people of Natlan put their trust in you.” Xilonen says. “They watch the sun set today and rise the next, believing you will lead them to victory. They are certain that, when they wake up, they will see the sun shine bright high in the sky again.”
She points at the Sacred Flame shining in the distance. “Even during the darkest of nights you shine brightly. You are their hope and you have already achieved so much.”
Xilonen gives Mavuika a light squeeze before placing her hand above her heart. Her heartbeat calms her, assures her that Mavuika is with her - alive - and not a lost soul wandering through the Night Kingdom like the people she left behind.
“I am sure they are proud of you. Your family and friends. And they will be even more when you kick the Abyss’ ass.”
Mavuika lets out a pained chuckle from where she rests against Xilonen’s chest. “I thought kicking ass was your job.”
“I can teach you one or two moves if you want.”
“I’ll pass. My claymore and my bike are more than enough to give them a beating.”
The mood lifts for a moment when the two women share a kiss, as if wanting to reassure the other that everything will be alright. This kiss is not full of passion and heat like the one this afternoon, but full of uncertainty and hope.
“I miss them.“ Mavuika whispers after they depart.
“I know.”
“Especially Hine.”
Her sister. Xilonen wonders if little Nepecha had reminded her of her today. She tightens her embrace when she feels newly shed tears on her collarbone.
“I miss them so much.”
I know.
🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺
They stay huddled against each other until the early morning hours, before they decide to get back to the Children of Echoes.
“We should probably head back. It’s been - yawn - a long night.” Xilonen stretches her limbs and rubs her ears to stay awake. Beside her Mavuika is already standing up, offering her a hand.
“We should get some breakfast first.” she says while pulling Xilonen up without effort. “Breakfast and then sleep.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“And…thank you. For tonight.”
Mavuika intertwines their fingers and brings their joined hands to her lips. She kisses the back of Xilonen’s hand, leaving a warm, tingling sensation behind. Xilonen answers with a small smile, rubbing the back of Mavuika’s hand with her thumb.
The Stadium is slowly waking up from its slumber. The first fires are lit and the shops are opening while a few saurians roam the streets. Xilonen and Mavuika enjoy the peaceful sight for a moment, hands still intertwined, before the Archon’s stomach starts to growl.
Mavuika squeezes Xilonen’s hand to get her attention. “Let me give you a ride. It's much faster than your skates.”
“You sure?” Xilonen turns around to inspect the bike with a sceptical look. “I didn't design it to fit two people.”
“It'll be a tight squeeze, but it'll work. Besides, it comes with special features.”
“Special features?” The wink and mischievous smile Mavuika gives her makes Xilonen a little bit suspicious as they walk back to the motorbike. She of all people should remember any extras that don't come with the blueprints.
Mavuika swings her leg over the back of the bike and sits down, reaching for the helmet in front of her. Perhaps she should build another one, Xilonen thinks, one with openings for her ears. She files this thought back for later and mounts the seat behind the Archon.
It's a tight fit, but she won't fall off mid-ride. Not if she can snuggle against Mavuika's back and hold onto her.
“Ready?”
The engine roars to life and Mavuika turns up the throttle shortly after. The vibrations travel through Xilonen’s body; to the tip of her tail and back between her legs. Her entire body stiffens and of course Mavuika notices.
“Are you feeling alright, dear?”
With her visor still up Mavuika glances back at Xilonen while she turns up the throttle again, creating another wave which travels through their bodies. Xilonen can only see her eyes, but it's enough to know Mavuika hides a smug grin under her helmet.
"Devious."
“But you like it.” Mavuika points at her puffed up tail which is twitching slightly. “No point denying it.”
“Oh, shut up and drive.” Xilonen smacks Mavuika's back lightly, before holding onto her when the bike begins to move. Mavuika’s hair lights up with a burst of pyro as she fuels her customized vehicle with divine power.
They drive back to the Children of Echoes in silence, both tired and worn out by the night’s events. Xilonen wouldn’t want to trade though, for she is rewarded with a caring and insanely beautiful girlfriend in return. She simply needs someone to open up to from time to time. Xilonen hopes that, in the future, she can always be that person for Mavuika.
“So, any ideas for breakfast?” Mavuika’s muffled voice can be heard over the bike’s roar as they are nearing Tequemecan Valley. Xilonen smirks, hidden behind a curtain of Mavuika’s fiery hair. She knows exactly how to get back to her.
“I planned to ask Mama Coco for some freshly-cooked stew for breakfast. But I guess you’ve jeopardized your chances today.”
“Hey, that’s not fair! Why can’t we-”
“Hush, you butchered it. At least for today.”
🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺🔥😺
Merely half an hour later, Nepecha wakes up by a low rumble and people talking outside her window. She is still half asleep but also curious who could be outside at this early hour and drags herself out of bed to get a glimpse of the commotion outside.
“Xilonen and Mavuika are back.” Standing on her tiptoes Nepecha watches as the two women dismount the bike and - to her horror - share a passionate kiss that has Mavuika’s hair light up for a split second and Xilonen swooning on the spot to the point that her knees get weak.
“I think we’re skipping breakfast.” is all Mavuika says, before they make their way inside. Nepecha sticks out her tongue and tries to banish their lovey-dovey picture from her mind.
“When will they stop being so gross all the time?”