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"You wish to hear a story?" A voice mused as she stared at the audience before her. "Very well, this one is a new one. A very special one. How the Moon Goddess saved a child, and how the child protected the Moon Goddess."
She gestured her hands, a small smile on her lips as she began to tell the tale.
Many years ago, the Moon Goddess left the comforts of Nod-Krai in search, of… something. No one knew what, neither did she, but she had to leave.
So, she ventured to the nation across the water. To the nation of war, dragons, and fire. Natlan.
This Natlan though, was peaceful. Peaceful enough that the citizens had a quiet evening, free from the clutches of the Abyss that haunt them so. There, the Moon Goddess wandered, until she found what she was looking for.
Under the gaze of the pale moon. A child sat before the corpse of what the Moon Goddess believed to be a person, but had been warped by evil it hardly registered as 'human' to her. The child was crying, crying for this fallen being as it's corpse glowed under the moonlight.
The Moon Goddess approached the child, and asked.
"Are you crying? What is the matter?"
The Moon Goddess hadn't interacted with humans before. After all, her only station was being revered and worshipped, but never spoken to. An object of reverence, but never a person. She tried her best to ease the child's tears, but only a small sadness remained.
"I am alone now, completely alone." The child spoke.
"Alone?" The Moon Goddess asked instinctively.
She then thought about that word, "Alone".
It was a strong word, but prevalent. One she knew very well.
"I… am alone too." The Goddess said.
She undid a white ribbon, and offered it to the child.
"I… am alone. You are alone too. Perhaps, you can join me? So we won't be alone?"
The child looked at the ribbon, before shaking his head. Refusing. He looked at her with eyes that burned like a setting sun.
"Why? I cannot offer you anything."
"Offer…?" The Goddess murmured.
Offers, she was a Goddess, her appearance was probably enough to tell this child what she was. But, the child needn't offer anything. He couldn't offer anything. He looked to her in a way she looked at her subjects.
Offers, and always asking for more. More than one could give.
The Moon Goddess did not have a lot of power left. So she knew what she could offer her followers was limited. She didn't have much to offer herself, just like this lost child.
"You needn't offer me anything child," The Goddess said, "For I cannot offer you much myself. The only thing I request is that we keep each other company."
"Are you staying in Natlan?" the child asked.
"I am afraid I will need to return to Nod-Krai." The Goddess spoke. "You… are a child of Natlan, I understand you cannot leave this land on your own."
The child nodded. The Goddess thought about what she could do. Whatever she was searching for, perhaps this child was that. Whatever the reason for traveling to this nation. Whatever reason for seeking this child out. This child was her reason to come here.
An Offer, The Goddess recalled. A trade. Perhaps they both have something to give after all. One transaction for both of their sakes.
"I… have a deal for you." The Goddess said, her voice gentle and worried. As if one wrong word, one harsh breath, would make the child before her vanish into the night.
"I can… I can make it so, make it so you can leave this place, and… and come with me." The Goddess spoke. "All I ask in return, is… for you to stay with me. So I won't be alone. So we won't be alone."
The child, looked at the corpse behind him, something that became more like the abyss with each passing minute. He looked back at the Moon Goddess.
"You can do that?"
"Yes, I can."
The child thought, and thought, before nodding his head.
The Moon Goddess extended a hand, and offered it. The lost child, looked at her, and took her hand.
"What happened next?" A curious voice piqued from the crowd.
"I will tell you." She smiled, "The story isn't over yet, but this child, did go with her. A Natlan child taken to Nod-Krai, by the Goddess of the Moon."
The Moon Goddess took the child back to Nod-Krai. Only the highest ranking priestesses of her following were allowed to see the child. They did not know how the child was able to leave Natlan, nothing beyond the Moon Goddess giving him a blessing.
There, the child accompanied the Goddess wherever they went. On walks, stargazing, meeting with the priests.
This went on for many years, and the child slowly grew up. Soon becoming something akin to a knight to the Goddess, protecting her with a large blade and scorching eyes that would melt the coldest nights. But to the Moon Goddess, he was still the child she met all those years ago, whom kept her company and who she wished to keep safe herself.
"The end."
"That's it?!"
"But I wanna hear more!"
"That's enough for today, our storyteller needs a rest now. Come along."
Nefer mused as she watched the children slowly patter out of the Curatorium lobby. She then smirked when she saw a familiar figure walk in and close the door.
Dark green hair, sunset eyes, and a white ribbon braided into his hair.
"The Moon Goddess and the Lost Child?" He asked, sounding unamused.
Nefer only smirked at him, before continuing.
"…Who would have thought, that the nation the child reigned from would need his aid? So the child and the Moon Goddess traveled to Natlan once again. A sense of responsibility and duty. Only for the child to end up contracted to an old dragon, and gaining one of Natlan's Ancient Names."
Nefer smiled, "The child, bearing the responsibility of an Ancient Name, aided Natlan in the crisis to defeat the Abyss. The Pyro Archon of that nation wished you not to leave, that Natlan is always open to you. Yet, just like the many years before, you acknowledged the offer, before joining the Moon Goddess and returning to Nod-Krai. Your real home. Right, Kinich?"
Kinich only glanced at her, his face neutral.
"No Ajaw today?" Nefer asked.
"He's in time-out." Kinich said, "He made some remarks to Luna I did not appreciate."
"Luna…" Nefer mused, "Columbina, Kuutar, the Damselette. She really does have so many titles, even for me. Anyway, what brings you here today? Did Lauma send you?"
"Lauma is busy checking on Luna. After the whole scare with Rerir a short while ago, both of them are pretty exhausted." Kinich said simply, crossing his arms. "Honestly, I thought the trouble was over once everything in Natlan had been dealt with."
Nefer simply hummed, "Perhaps, but I must say, such a tale is quite a curious one. Wouldn't you agree? I mean, a child from another nation, the nation of war no less, ending up being whisked away by the moon goddess and becoming her chiled and protector. Not to mention your connection with the Knave too, hm?"
"You know about that?" Kinich asked.
Nefer tapped a part of her headpiece, "Nothing ever escapes my ears, Kinich. I also heard the Pyro Archon herself wishes to visit you."
"Archon Mavuika simply wants to make sure the bearer of a Natlan Ancient Name lives and dies as they should." Kinich said neutrally. "It's bad enough I have a dragon riding my back."
"Why did you make such a contract?" Nefer asked.
"Because it gives me some extra power, my vision alone isn't enough at points, not with how the Wild Hunt's been acting." Kinich said, "Besides, he means trouble, I'm doing the world a favor keeping him under control."
"Oh how noble of you." Nefer mused, "You know, you always gave me the impression that you might be more… transactional, like me."
"Perhaps, I still am if you think about it." Kinich said, "Everything has worth, everything has a price. Some things are just harder to weigh in terms of worth than others. In regards to Luna, her life is worth much more than my own, yet she sees it in reverse. Perhaps that's why Natlan decided the name 'Malipo' for me."
"Ah yes, the name meaning 'price'. It's still so curious it was given to a child who left it's lands for another god. Though I suppose I shouldn't question divine rules like that too often." Nefer said, "Fate works in mysterious ways. Anyway, to repeat myself, what brings you to the Curatorium? Medicine? Or something else?"
Kinich made a gesture with his hand, his eyes sharp.
Nefer smiled, "Ah, that's good to know, I'll let Jahoda know we will be occupied for the next few minutes. How was the collection this time?"
"Smooth, though I think one of the Harbingers is up to something." Kinich said, "On your end?"
"Mhm…" Nefer thought for a moment, an unusual expression of concern on her lips. "There is some, much like the former Damselette, there seems to be some in the Fatui not too keen with you leaving with her."
"Why would that be the case? I was never a part of the Fatui." Kinich said.
"Perhaps, but you were practically raised by two of their most powerful Harbingers." Nefer said, "Come, I'll explain the rest, as exchange for your intel."
Kinich nodded and followed her to one of the more private areas of the Curatorium.
Years go by, the Moon Goddess' Knight continues to stay by her side. However, despite how such tales end, this one hasn't. Not yet. For despite his role as a knight, to protect the one who cared for him from harm, she may not be the one who needs protecting.
When evils unknown are truly after the Knight himself? Who shall protect the Knight? The Moon Goddess does not know, not yet anymore. The Moon Goddess can only hope, that her own prayers can be heard by the heavens, to protect the child who illuminated her lonely nights.