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When Mavuika returned to the world, she was completely changed. She didn't know how to feel about it, but she embraced the changes with grace.
The traditional rites of Natlan were the only things that hadn't changed. She was greeted with drums, speeches, and respect. People looked at her with curiosity, others with admiration and respect. It was immediate that the leader, who had been in charge of Natlan, passed the responsibility to her.
She tried to deny the formalities, all the rites of passage, but allowed it to happen in the end. She allowed her people to see her for the first time.
The familiar face present was the person who had received her the first time, Citlali. And she ended up having to introduce some important figures of the Nation. Mavuika's adaptation would be brief, everyone imagined. They were in such constant war that perhaps she would only have time to think of a strategy to suppress an Abyss invasion on the west side of the Flower Feather Clan.
But during the banquet, where Mavuika smiled and greeted the peculiar Chasca, her eyes burning like a thousand sun rays, fixed on the opposite side of the room. A blonde, clearly a hybrid, seemed to be seriously conversing with the chief of the Children of Echoes, with an untouched alcoholic drink in her hand.
"Xilonen. She inherited the Ancient Name 'Baraka.' She is the current Ancient Name Forger, and also an artisan." Chasca followed Mavuika's gaze, well acquainted with the figure being stared at by the Pyro Archon. "She has an impressive talent for creating unusual things."
Chasca was kindly offering other information, but the mind of Natlan's Supreme Deity drifted away.
She might have lost her breath at someone's beauty, if she didn't find it so silly and wasn't so proud. The hybrid named Xilonen turned towards her as if sensing the insistent gaze upon her. Her eyes were incredibly green and clever, her tail swished from side to side, and her ears moved as if catching strange and improper sounds.
Mavuika, however, couldn't ignore the pronounced Ancient Name.
"So that's her." Mavuika murmured, thoughtful.
She already knew who the heroes by the Ancient Names would be, and did not reveal any of their destinies to them. She merely kept it to herself.
A lovely and beautiful creature was Baraka.
And she was approaching.
"Didn't want to intrude, Chasca spoke louder than the music. I assumed no one would introduce me, until you needed to know the Forge. I am Xilonen." Xilonen not only had clever eyes, but her tongue was as sharp as a razor, and fearless.
"Are you a cat?" Mavuika blurted out the first unfiltered and strange thing that crossed her mind.
Xilonen looked at her as if the Pyro Archon were an awkward teenager. Which was ironic. She herself might consider that she left her teens a little over two years ago.
"A jaguarundi." Corrected Xilonen, deciding not to take offense so early with Natlan's new leadership. She yawned, feeling sleepy. "Welcome back to Natlan. I won't take up much of your time tonight. Grandma Itzatli warned me not to take orders for tomorrow because I'll be accompanying you."
Xilonen approached because she was curious. When she was a child and teenager, she hated stories that had no true foundation. Her nature was utterly skeptical and a bit lazy, but forging an Ancient Name was intrinsically linked to Natlan's history. Every name told a story.
The history books told of Natlan's Original Heroes. She also knew the story from five hundred years ago, which everyone clung to devoutly in the hope that the Pyro Archon would reemerge and save the nation from more tragedies of a tiring and endless war.
One of the only stories she paid attention to because it was based on a single fact: the Pyro authority had not been transferred to anyone for five hundred years. No one dared to sit on that throne. Everyone was waiting, the narrative that the Pyro Archon was alive and would return haunted Natlan for hundreds of years like a flame of hope.
People like her, who carried Ancient Name heritages, were encouraged to await the return. The flame burned ardently, and there was still the protection of their supreme deity. Even though at no point did that prevent the deaths that haunted Natlan when a person was infected by the Abyss.
That burning flame was just the promise of return, of the sacrifice of a powerful heroine named Mavuika, blah blah blah. Xilonen was not disparaging the human figure of that time who ascended as a deity.
The person from the books Xilonen was forced to study was right in front of her. She exuded authority and power during the speech, but now that she was closer, she could feel the warm and gentle aura, along with a friendly smile.
Probably the most beautiful woman Xilonen had ever seen in her life. It was bitter to know that the illustrations never did justice to the Pyro Archon's true beauty.
"It's nice to meet you, Xilonen. You can call me Mavuika." Oh this is… should an Archon be so informal and make Xilonen's heart skip a few beats with a breathtaking smile?
The artisan immediately diverted the dangerous thoughts and closed herself off. This was the supreme deity of Natlan. With a "see you tomorrow" and a courteous reciprocation of Mavuika's introduction, Xilonen fled to safe territory.
The next day, when the guide for the New Natlan was swapped, Mavuika noticed that the name "Xilonen" frequently appeared alongside "commission." Beyond the beauty, the things she saw and heard piqued her curiosity.
Xilonen was no ordinary artisan.
Mavuika became fascinated by several unique objects powered by phlogiston, and they always traced back to the artisan. She was naturally fascinated by engineering and was not ignorant. In her time, the technology was different, but she could get a good grasp of how Xilonen assembled and infused phlogiston when she touched and evaluated them.
All the objects were of the highest quality.
It was late afternoon when they reached their final destination in the Children of Echoes' territory. Mavuika wondered how someone so young could be so… genius? She wanted to see more, to talk. She wanted to exchange ideas about these creations and refinement methods.
The sound of hammering and the heat could be felt from the door.
"Archon, I'll leave you here." The young Kinich spoke politely. He had restrained Ajaw to avoid making a bad impression on the Pyro Archon.
"You may go. Thank you."
Mavuika knocked on the door but received no initial response. She stopped her own confusion because she knew she was only there by appointment so as not to disrupt the artisan's difficult and meticulous work. She knocked once more, but the door creaked and opened by itself instead.
If something had happened, it was better to enter and check, right?
But she quickly discovered nothing had happened. The girl was slumped over the table, lying on top of books. Her expression was serene, and she was drooling a little. Mavuika was silent as she approached and observed Xilonen's expressions up close. She was visibly tired and youthful.
She peeked at the title of the book she had fallen asleep on and spotted a "Kiongozi." She adjusted herself to look at the content. Mavuika presumed it was some kind of encyclopedia, it seemed a very old record passed down through generations. Interestingly, Xilonen was reading about her. It was a well-made summary, and Mavuika was recorded as the last bearer of the name "Kiongozi."
She composed herself and brought her hand to Xilonen's shoulder, nudging her, feeling a bit sorry for disturbing her sleep. The girl startled at the touch.
With fascination, she saw Xilonen adopt a rigid expression to the point where her thin fangs were visible, her ears alert and her tail bristled. Not that Mavuika had never seen a feline react to perceived danger before, but this was slightly… beautiful to see.
When the artisan saw who it was, she quickly composed herself, closed the book, and placed it under the table as if it were forbidden for Mavuika to know what the book was about. She pretended she didn't look.
"Archon. Sorry! I slept a bit late." Xilonen justified herself, a bit embarrassed at being caught drooling on a book.
"Don't worry. I would have let you sleep, but… I thought it wasn't ideal." Mavuika was full of ellipses.
Mavuika didn't know if she was a good judge of character or not, but no matter how hard Xilonen tried, she couldn't contain a sleepy yawn. She had heard that Xilonen used to be lazy and sleep a lot, but it didn't seem wrong to the Pyro Archon.
"No! It's all right." Xilonen quickly rejected the hypothesis. Then she stood up. "I'll show you the Forge. Uh. Don't mind the mess."
Mavuika merely followed her as Xilonen explained some things about its operation, how she worked. An immense and scary form. Generally, the place is not tidy. It was as clean as it could be, but it wasn't tidy with the piles of books that formed in some corners.
The work was organized. Separated by categories, labeled, the ores were all separated. The weapon forge and some strange objects were separated from where Xilonen forged Ancient Names.
"Don't worry about explaining how Ancient Names are forged, and how you do it." Mavuika gently dismissed it when she saw Xilonen trying to explain clearly. "If the function was given to you, then I trust in your ability. I won't demand details to know if you know what you're doing."
"Thank you, Archon." Xilonen murmured, her tail swishing nervously from side to side.
"I already said you can call me Mavuika. This isn't a formal meeting." Again, the woman was dispensing with the treatment as the highest authority. It wasn't necessary to reaffirm who she was all the time. She believed it would end up pressuring the young Xilonen. "Instead of explaining Ancient Names to me, I'm very interested in your creations. Can you show me?"
"Yes, of course! I have some things already finished." Xilonen seemed to perk up a bit more as she guided Mavuika through the Forge, stopping in front of the labeled works.
Xilonen began to show them then, and she tried not to be euphoric as she explained each mechanism, each little thing she had made. Some of those small tools were made from tests when Xilonen had time from her work. Xilonen showed, Mavuika raised pointed questions. It was explained how she was fusing phlogiston with some ores to create a technology completely different from what would be found in all of Teyvat.
Mavuika was impressed. Xilonen's creations mixed modern technology with vague studies of the technology of Natlan's sovereign pyro dragon.
The time that passed went unnoticed by the Pyro Archon, but Xilonen was methodical enough to notice and, subtly, rearranged her schedule for the next day. The conversation with Mavuika was interesting, and she realized the woman had deep knowledge in engineering. She asked questions people didn't usually ask.
"Can you create fast things with a phlogiston base?" Mavuika asked, thoughtful, at some point in the conversation.
"My phlogiston-based shoes are fast, and they climb. I created some special weapons for some people." Admitted Xilonen. "Are you interested in something?"
Xilonen asked out of politeness. She didn't believe the Pyro Archon needed any creation of hers. That would be too presumptuous.
"Actually, I am." Mavuika surprised her. "I didn't think Natlan would have an artisan like you nowadays. In my time, the technology wasn't so developed yet, or rather, there wasn't yet someone capable of thinking of fusing phlogiston with ores to create such incredible things."
Xilonen felt the blood rise to her face, the blush was subtle with the praise. She had noticed Mavuika wasn't just beautiful and powerful, but also meticulous. Being recognized by the Pyro Archon? Well, it was a bit beyond being praised by other people.
Mavuika left at dusk. They spent so many hours talking, and Xilonen didn't even feel sleepy until the moment she left.
Due to standing still the entire day, three of her commissions were delayed. Xilonen had to organize her commissions, and she worked more than she should have for three days straight. The Pyro Archon didn't return immediately.
A week passed.
Xilonen heard the talk about the Pyro Archon, and also the most unusual thing. The number of people who were sighing for her. She judged it to be normal, at first. Mavuika was impressive, and it was a novelty for everyone that one could be attracted to someone like her.
Mavuika had been exploring the ruins alone. She did it on impulse, but was satisfied with the final result. She combined her own knowledge, with some field research and rare pieces found. She momentarily lost interest in meeting people to get the idea she had out of her mind.
When she went to Xilonen's workshop with a project, rare pieces, and began talking about her idea, Mavuika wanted to laugh at the clear expression on the hybrid's face. Those cute ears moved, and the green eyes narrowed.
"You're joking, right? I know you gave some compliments, but do you have any idea what you're asking me to create? Ign… Ignimote?" Xilonen was thinking the Pyro Archon spent too much time in the Sacred Flame, and it made her lose a few screws.
She stared at the drawing, the details of the project as if it were going to come to life and swallow her alive.
"Of course I do! And I think you're capable." Mavuika retorted, crossing her arms while seated. This time, they were having tea with cookies. Or rather, Mavuika was. Xilonen was thinking of how to gently refuse that commission from the newly emerged from the Sacred Flame, the Pyro Archon of Natlan.
"I'm flattered, but…" Xilonen tried to argue, but stopped speaking when the redhead placed the cup down and pulled out one of the project papers.
Mavuika didn't try to convince Xilonen to create what she asked for immediately. Instead, the two debated that idea and its feasibility for hours on end. The hours turned into days.
No one dared interrupt to speak of Xilonen's previous commissions. Everyone eventually found out that the Pyro Archon was visiting the Workshop located in the Children of Echoes every day, and spent hours there.
What no one knew was that Xilonen began to think Mavuika had a screw loose.
It was days of debates, discussions, ways to try to deny an insane request. It turned out that Mavuika wasn't the type of woman who just handed over a vague idea, like all her other clients. No. Mavuika delivered a complete blueprint and also the solution to everything Xilonen thought was impractical.
The project was challenging.
Mavuika was insane.
That summed up the situation. The artisan couldn't refuse anymore, and in fact, she even thought that if she accepted, it would get the Pyro Archon off her doorstep because she was driving her crazy.
The two began working together on the construction of what Mavuika called the "Ignimote." Basically, a two-wheeled vehicle powered by phlogiston and resistant to the staggering power of the person who would ride it.
They discovered too early that it would be dangerous to use ready-made parts, so Xilonen and Mavuika had to work on crafting unique parts from scratch.
And for months, this relationship between them seemed purely professional.
If it weren't for Mavuika's thoughts of wanting to delay the completion to get closer to Xilonen. When Xilonen dropped her usual bad mood and smiled, her pulse quickened, and Mavuika found her face hot as if she were still a teenager.
Xilonen tried to keep everything as professional and respectful as possible. She was irritated with the project, but couldn't deny enjoying Mavuika's company.
She began to understand those who sighed for the Pyro Archon, but also to be bothered by those people.
"We're almost finished. But I don't like the colors on the rear part, it looks dull." Xilonen commented, reaching for the red spray paint in a different shade from the one there. Mavuika nodded, and absentmindedly went to grab the same object.
Unintentionally, their fingers brushed as they both reached for the spray can. Xilonen widened her green eyes and had to swallow hard. A torrent of warm, inviting sensation ran through her body. The two had never touched, not even accidentally. She was frozen in place, hoping the Archon would remove her hand and scold her.
None of that happened.
Serenely, Mavuika turned her palm towards Xilonen's hand, and touched her fingers, caressing and lightly sliding, never holding.
Xilonen's impulse, who loved to sunbathe while napping on a tree, was to lean towards this Sun in the shape of a woman and ask for her warmth.
That thought was what made her pull her hand back.
"Sorry." Mavuika murmured, but she had no trace of remorse.
"My apologies, Archon. I didn't see your hand." Xilonen took the blame off her, playing with the formality of Natlan's supreme deity.
Xilonen pretended it wasn't Mavuika who touched her fingers as if wanting to hold her hands. Until then, despite some exchanged glances, there had been nothing between them to suggest a different, existing, and reciprocated interest.
Mavuika knew she liked Xilonen's company excessively and found her absurdly beautiful, but she didn't know about the other part. The way Xilonen looked at her intensely, frozen and not pulling her hand away, seemed like a vestige of something.
The progress of the Ignimote increased significantly in the following days, so they went out to do the first tests. The motorcycle wasn't finished yet and still had colors of well-polished bodywork, with parts cut and uniformly well-made.
The funny thing about the time they were taking to build the Ignimote was that Xilonen felt comfortable enough to start grumbling in front of Mavuika about this creation being dangerous and insane.
"The engine is fused with phlogiston, so you don't need to press any button to make this thing fly, climb, or ride on water. But we're not doing that today, that mechanism isn't ready. We'll test the engine's capacity, and if the brakes and throttles are working. No need to… you know, catch fire." Xilonen said, handing the helmet to Mavuika.
She activated her shoes when she saw the Archon sit on the bike and quickly approached.
"Excuse me." She requested, putting her arms around Mavuika, leaning over her back.
Xilonen tried not to get tense and ignore their position as she brought her hand to Mavuika's wrist and their fingers met more comfortably when she made her hold the motorcycle's handlebars.
Xilonen's breath close to her ear, hitting her skin, was bad for Mavuika and her sanity. The Pyro Archon felt disoriented for never having felt chills run up the back of her neck from someone's approach. The delicious scent of wild berries penetrated Mavuika's senses, making her tighten her fingers on the handlebars in restraint.
"You were with me, but just reminding you. Speed gears, from 1 to 5. Don't put it in gear 5, your limit is 3. Brakes, if you feel anything is wrong. Anything wrong, stop the bike immediately, you hear?" Xilonen asked, the grumbling tone waking Mavuika. The hybrid's hand was moving the Archon's hand in a touch that seemed too intimate as she showed the functions.
Xilonen didn't pay attention to her act or Mavuika's reaction. She did it on impulse, knowing she should make it clear. The Archon's safety was all that mattered at the moment. To be honest, the safest way to keep Mavuika's physical integrity intact was to have refused to build something like that from scratch.
Yes, Xilonen confesses she was being challenged, that Mavuika was smart and effective, but she couldn't guarantee she would be safe with her creations. One thing was a client asking for something so simple and signing the liability waiver.
She didn't demand a contract, didn't demand liability terms or a form from Mavuika. It had been months since she began to feel comfortable enough to treat the newly emerged from the Sacred Flame Pyro Archon as a work partner. But Xilonen forced herself to remember that the beautiful woman, with a warm smile and awkward in her jokes, was the most important woman in Natlan and should not be neglected.
Mavuika was forced to inhale the air she held to avoid having Xilonen's scent invade her.
"Understood. Anything else?" Mavuika asked rigidly.
"Are you impervious to explosions? I hope so. You didn't sign any liability waiver, and I'll be the one to blame if anything happens to you." Xilonen stepped back, to Mavuika's relief.
"Are you trying to offend me by thinking an explosion will kill me?" Mavuika asked, narrowing her eyes. She was clearly joking, but wanted to know why Xilonen was worried about something so trivial.
"Let me tell you something I studied on the side, when you weren't around." Xilonen dodged the question.
The artisan was too close again, and now her left hand rested on the bare skin of her back, causing severe chills that Xilonen could feel in the palm of her hand with her feline senses on alert. She thought of removing her hand because it went too far, but refused to back down. She should have asked for permission first.
"Posture is important for speed. We created a lightweight motorcycle to increase speed, but the rider's posture helps a lot. Lean forward and brace your hips, keep your feet always on the pegs, and don't take them off. Be firm, but don't put all your weight." Xilonen instructed, watching Mavuika obey her without a word, yielding to the pressure her hand made on her back.
Mavuika was taken over by a completely unknown and frightening sensation. Something spread through her chest and warmed more than her overwhelming power as the Pyro Archon. It grew like a weed and was addictive. Her heart pounded like crazy in her chest; she was afraid Xilonen's sensitive hearing might pick up her nervousness.
She started the Ignimoto, her feet firming up as she began to move, first a bit slow, then Mavuika shifted to gear 2. Xilonen managed to keep up with her using her phlogiston-powered shoes, evaluating how the creation behaved in motion.
"All good! Feel safe to increase speed?" Xilonen asked Mavuika. The redhead looked to the side, and a brief panic took over the hybrid. "Don't look at me! Look ahead!"
"Sorry! I can do this." Mavuika's thumb moved the gear to indicator three and the speed increased. The engine made a bit more noise. "The steering is still a bit heavy, you could make a quieter engine, but you nailed the torque."
"Make some turns." Xilonen instructed.
Mavuika made zigzags and long, uniform circles. Until she lost her balance and fell. She swore when her back hit the grass-filled ground violently.
"Mavuika, are you okay?" Xilonen deactivated the phlogiston in her shoes as she approached and lowered herself to check on Mavuika.
"I'm fine, it was just a fall." Mavuika assured, sitting up and placing a hand on her back.
"Honestly, I'm totally against this abominable thing. It's too dangerous." Xilonen huffed, irritated for having been worried about the fall of someone so stubborn and who usually had unusual physical strength.
To Xilonen's despair, this was only Mavuika's first fall because (ignoring all common sense, all the nervous shouts, and how Xilonen began daring to show frustration with her Archon) she began to perform maneuvers even more dangerous than the concept of riding something with two wheels.
Xilonen, definitely, began to think the Pyro Archon was unstable. When she cursed, Mavuika wasn't offended, and instead, gave one of her vibrant, beautiful smiles that easily overwhelmed the artisan's irritation.
When they began testing the speed gear 5, Xilonen was horrified. Mavuika seemed to be living the best moment of her life.
"Do you think it can go faster?" asked the redhead, completely excited.
"No!" Xilonen was emphatic.
The day of the pilgrimage arrived. Xilonen was one of those who took part this time, and her mood always turns gloomy. Unlike other times, Mavuika offered that they go celebrate. Genuinely, and the reason was that the resurrection ode did not need to be used.
Xilonen was tired, but wouldn't deny a request from Mavuika.
Moments later, the two said goodbye and met again at the bar, with common friends. Mavuika had made many friends in months while dividing her time between leading, but everyone said Xilonen was now the closest to the Pyro Archon.
Xilonen drank her beverage calmly, watching Mavuika enter a drinking contest. Yalene always drank well, from Xilonen's memories. But not better than the Pyro Archon herself.
In fact, Xilonen became bothered and introspective when she saw Mavuika smile and wink playfully at Yalene. She downed two glasses of her alcoholic cocktail at once, trying to tolerate that the girl native to the Hot Spring People seemed to blush and become flustered by the charm thrown by the Archon.
"Hey, Xilonen!" Mavuika turned to her suddenly, smiling.
Mavuika didn't get easily altered by alcohol, but she drank so much that she began to show slight signs of unusual cheerfulness. She got so close to her face that Xilonen felt the alcoholic breath hit her face, mixed with the smell of strawberry.
She was flushed, and her smile was different from the one she gave Yalene. Before, she seemed cordial with the other girl, but what exactly did it mean for her to try to seem less euphoric with Xilonen?
Slowly, the hybrid moved her face away a little, to a safe distance when she felt the blush rise up her neck.
"Huh? What?" she responded in a confused murmur.
"You were amazing! Thanks to you, no one died." Mavuika praised.
Xilonen got a bit stuck with the giggles, and Yalene seemed to lose a bit of spirit, seeing that the rumors seemed true.
Neither of them were aware of the forbidden whispers of some pilgrimage companions. About them being excessively close, and how Mavuika gave practically exclusive attention to her. No one would dare let either of them find out what was said behind their backs.
There was no envy; no one disliked Mavuika or had accusatory tones. What was common sense was that the Archon seemed to become practically immediately attached to the figure of Natlan's artisan, enough to spend a lot of time with her. Mavuika became friends with many people, but the nature of her friendship with Xilonen sounded stronger to those watching from the outside.
If it weren't for the strange moments of glances, and the mental reprimands for thoughts they had about each other, they themselves would already have considered themselves best friends.
Mavuika was used to being surrounded by people, making friends easily, but she felt uncomfortable with the definition of best friend for Xilonen. In fact, she never directly thought of Xilonen in this term.
Friends didn't look at other friends that way.
To others, it was natural for someone to have more in common with some people than others. Which seemed to be the case with Mavuika and Xilonen. They seemed to have a totally different language when they started talking about construction and engineering in front of others. They knew the two were working on something phlogiston-powered for the Archon, and sometimes heard them debating frequently about the project (and even disagreeing).
Mavuika was busy, she dealt with a lot of paperwork and problems in Natlan, but she always sought time to socialize when she wanted. The person she saw the most, without a doubt, was Xilonen, followed by Citlali.
Xilonen seemed to grumble and be always bothered, but lately, the people around her were discovering that if they wanted to get something out of her, they just had to mention Mavuika.
The intimate and teasing relationship the Archon cultivated with Xilonen disheartened someone like Yalene. The hybrid couldn't say she felt sorry. She was impulsive when she lightly touched Mavuika's arm without thinking. She had never had physical contact with the other in front of others before.
Xilonen found herself stopping her retreat at that moment and smiling back, in response to the Archon's praise. She was being recognized in front of everyone by the most important person in Natlan, so she could have that pride, right?
"It was a team effort. I'm happy no one needed the resurrection ode this time." Xilonen turned the entire glass up to her lips at once and closed her eyes, gathering the courage to expose something beyond her usual grumpy mood to Mavuika.
Everyone started talking about Xilonen being humble and reliving exciting moments of the battle.
The green eyes fixed on the redhead.
"Well, I'm a bit tired, and I'm afraid the night has to come to an end for me. You know I can't stay awake for so long, Mavuika. Can you accompany me? You seem more sober than I am." Xilonen asked, blinking a few times.
It was a lie. Except for the drinks downed because of the growing annoyance of seeing Yalene try to flirt with Mavuika, she hadn't drunk much. Drank enough to gather courage, but was sober.
The friends tried not to pay attention to the two, laughing and talking. Only two or three people were paying attention to the interaction unfolding. Yalene was one of them.
Yalene had known Xilonen for years and studied with her; she had never seen the hybrid act that way before.
The green eyes blinked slowly, the ears moved and the tail brushed against Mavuika's thigh, they were so close. The body language was the same as that of a feline trying to attract its prey.
The girl thought she had no right to meddle in this, when the Archon continued to smile that radiantly at Xilonen, as if she were her favorite person and incapable of denying her anything.
"Of course!" Mavuika nodded, and then turned to the rest of the table. "Everyone, enjoy the rest of the night. It's on me. I'll take Xilonen home."
She didn't know that something like this would generate even more curious gossip about the nature of their relationship. But later, Mavuika would be indifferent, not irritated, to know they talked about her and Xilonen's relationship, without making clear what they thought.
Mainly because, for the first time, Mavuika wanted something for herself. She had always believed her wishes and desires weren't important, but she found herself desiring Xilonen's company. Needing Xilonen to move forward with the plan, no matter how selfish that was.
When they both left the bar, and the loud music was muffled, Mavuika walked side by side with Xilonen. The girl from the Gel clan stopped for a moment and looked at Mavuika.
"I'm ruining your celebration, Archon. My apologies." Xilonen said, then cleared her throat. "Actually, I can go alone and defend myself if I'm approached by someone dangerous."
"I'll take you home anyway. I'll be more at ease if I don't have to fight more than I already did today." Mavuika shook her head, following Xilonen's steps.
The answer was accepted. Xilonen didn't want her near the other colleague, even if the journey was made in silence, like now.
"Xilonen…" Mavuika called with an ellipsis in her voice, looking at her face when they stopped at the door.
The dazzling smile was no longer on the Pyro Archon's face when the hybrid turned and looked at her, her mind feeling a bit slow from the alcohol. Xilonen thought she was also beautiful when she was serious.
"Thank you for accompanying me." Xilonen said, but Mavuika didn't move, so she didn't either. Even though everyone shouted about them being close friends, she still kept in mind not to be excessive.
Mavuika also didn't allow opportunists around her, even if she didn't punish them for taking advantage of her generosity. Xilonen didn't want to give any impression about that, not even when they were alone, so sometimes she fell into placid formality, although she no longer called her Archon.
Xilonen hesitated because Mavuika was strangely quiet.
"Do you need something? Or did you forget to tell me something?" Xilonen wanted to know if she made some mistake in the pilgrimage, despite the praise. The redhead had been standing still for a long time.
"No. I—" Mavuika interrupted herself.
She was feeling embarrassed, a bit overwhelmed. And guilt. Mavuika looked at Xilonen and felt a lot of guilt for all the thoughts she had had about her. Something she wasn't used to, had never happened with anyone before. She was accustomed to living and wanting to die for her nation. Her feelings and desires as a human being were not as important as keeping her people alive.
Mavuika wished she could stay within the safe line of friendship. It wasn't fair even to Xilonen that she wanted this. Fear and doubt permeated Mavuika's thoughts.
What if she tried something, and Xilonen couldn't refuse because she thought she couldn't? People used to eat cold food when she was present, waiting for her to eat first. Would that logic apply to this desire growing in her core?
Mavuika was not a good actress. Xilonen saw the doubt in her solar eyes, which seemed to dim briefly.
"Mavuika."
"Wait, please." Mavuika asked, shaking her head. "You're messing up my life."
"What?"
Despite having no accusatory tone from the Archon, Xilonen immediately became confused. It wasn't her who was constantly going to the Archon's house, with the excuse of discussing the Ignimote.
Yes, Xilonen knew Mavuika's presence was unnecessary sometimes, but she didn't complain because she even liked it. People thought Mavuika was a simple woman to understand, but there was so much that Xilonen personally couldn't define.
"You know you can deny me anything that makes you uncomfortable?" Mavuika asked, bowing her head a little.
"The Ignimote makes me uncomfortable." Xilonen said spontaneously; the alcohol could be a great excuse tomorrow.
"A shame. I'm not talking about that, you know." Mavuika didn't pay much attention to another complaint from Xilonen. "I mean… What if… What if I wanted to kiss you?"
Xilonen raised her green eyes, this time, fully awake and her heart stirring. Her expression was still serious, and it was not a joke. The hybrid swallowed hard. She hadn't intended to pretend she hadn't had forbidden thoughts about Mavuika, but she should have imagined that the Archon was much braver at exposing them than she was.
Not that she considered herself a coward, but she didn't want to cross boundaries or distort the kind of trust Mavuika had placed in her.
"Are you drunk, Mavuika?"
It wasn't offensive, she just genuinely wanted to know. She wouldn't accept this conversation from the Archon if that were the case. And even less any act of approach.
"Do I seem altered? I apologize in advance if I overstepped boundaries with you. We can forget this conversation happened."
No. The suddenly adopted formality confirmed what Xilonen wanted to know.
She took a step forward, and Mavuika anticipated with another step towards Xilonen automatically. The height difference between them was enough for Xilonen to look up, even if not by much.
"Shouldn't you have been spontaneous? Are you afraid of being rejected, Mavuika?" Xilonen wanted to know, ignoring the apology.
"Will I be?"
The conversation was making Mavuika anxious. Xilonen's ears moved slowly with the loud sound of the Archon's heart pounding very hard in her chest. Another step forward, she was ecstatic to perceive such a physical reaction from Mavuika towards her.
"Try your luck."
It was all Mavuika needed to break the atmosphere of anxiety and desire, tightening her core. Working with Xilonen was, in fact, a punishment. She was intelligent and beautiful, pulled her closer and was a temptation in human form. No one could mess with what the Archon believed, but the person who bore the name Baraka appeared in this century as the most tempting female figure in all of Natlan.
Mavuika's romantic anxiety betrayed the complex duality of her having lived five hundred years in the Sacred Flame, but not being much older than Xilonen herself. Not physically, and certainly not emotionally older when it came to romantic feelings.
The awkward approach came from a nervousness she wouldn't feel on a battlefield or a State meeting that would decide the future of an entire nation. Mavuika was too direct to pretend games of disinterest. It was the first time she wanted something for herself. Or rather, someone.
Mavuika wanted Xilonen for herself ardently. It was a mix of guilt and inevitability. She tried to convince herself that friendship would be enough, but ended up almost begging to know her kiss.
The redhead brought her hands to Xilonen's waist, her fingers touching the bare waist, brushing her thumb to feel the softness of the skin as she pulled her closer, as close as they could be. Xilonen's arms held Mavuika's face on both sides.
Both pushed their lips together simultaneously, testing the intoxicating softness. Mavuika was hesitant, but her touch was firm on her waist, pulling her into her warm arms. Their mouths touched every second, in a seal of somewhat moist and confused lips, as they fit their mouths together.
Xilonen's skin tingled under her fingers that caressed the touch. Neither of them felt like stopping. Both wanted a little more, to deepen and taste. A lick on Xilonen's lower lip made her yield space to Mavuika.
A primitive moan escaped the hybrid, her tail wrapping around Mavuika's leg. The taste of citrus fruits and alcohol invaded the Archon's palate, and it was delicious. Her tongue deepened, seeking more of it, wanting to swallow every hint of that flavor.
The two ended the kiss, looking at each other with panting breaths, their bodies united and the shared moisture of both their lips. Passion exploded for both again, and a new kiss restarted.
Both their hands remained well-behaved, and except for the tight holds, neither knew what to do with the desire in their deepest core. It wasn't a kiss full of experience on the part of either of them, but it was good the way they found to fit their lips together.
Xilonen thought it was delicious to taste that full, sharp-talking mouth. Xilonen shouldn't have kissed Mavuika and was regretful for the feeling that took over. Her heart was beating like crazy. She was addicted. She threw her body forward, searching for more. The warmth Mavuika exuded was naturally attractive to a feline who liked to sunbathe on a tree.
There wasn't a single trace in the Pyro Archon that wasn't beautiful, attractive, and warm. Xilonen liked shiny things, like stones and ores. She became greedy while Mavuika's tongue touched hers. Unfortunately, she ran out of air.
She took a deep breath, and instead of taking a moment, she found herself pulling Mavuika's neck, her nails digging into her skin.
The act reflected in the Archon's belly, and it was the biggest alert to stop, before it was too late.
"Xilonen…" Mavuika removed her hand from the waist to hold Xilonen's face with its profound expression, stopping the kiss. "It's better to go inside."
"I—" Xilonen seemed to want to protest, but Mavuika's gaze had a soft and affectionate firmness. "Alright."
"Go in, before I end up giving in to all my selfish thoughts." Mavuika gave a serious warning.
Xilonen wanted to know what would be done. She hadn't stopped for a second to think that her first kiss had been taken by the Pyro Archon. She had her arms wrapped around the waist of the taller woman, and her tail moved to touch her frequently.
Her ear moved a few times, showing discontent. Mavuika saw that Xilonen agreed, but hadn't let go of her yet. She raised her hand and stroked the ear. Xilonen's eyes closed and her head leaned sweetly against her chest.
Mavuika had always thought Xilonen was cute, and was enchanted by the act.
"Go in." Mavuika reminded her, making Xilonen open her eyes and release her hesitantly.
Mavuika only left after Xilonen went in and closed the door.
She didn't return to Xilonen's workshop for the next few days. By coincidence, Mavuika's work ended up becoming a heavier load, and the Abyss seemed to be trying to infiltrate.
The Pyro Archon felt ashamed for not having had time to justify herself to the girl she had kissed. It was then that Mavuika realized she had been selfish. She could be Xilonen's friend, but she couldn't drag her into her life in that specific way.
It was unfair to think she had fallen in love.
Even more unfair to think that if she continued to captivate Xilonen and make her fall in love too, knowing she had a plan.
A plan whose price was to pay with her own life.
And Mavuika knew exactly who the heroes were who would keep Natlan standing. How would it be fair to Xilonen to let her watch her sacrifice, of all people?
Three of the heroes were nothing more than children who were strong and successful in the pilgrimage. But Xilonen was an adult woman.
And the kiss between them was disturbing Mavuika.
When she had time to return to the workshop, Mavuika was received by a Xilonen who didn't express a drop of discontent with her absence. Instead, she stopped her current commission immediately and attended to the Archon with the same naturalness as always.
Xilonen guided her to the back of her workshop, and it was at that moment, when the two were in a closed and private place, that Mavuika knew she wouldn't be able to resist.
"That aberration of yours is ready." Xilonen declared, pulling off the white sheet and exposing the motorcycle.
Xilonen would never admit that the expression on Mavuika's face made every second of sleepless nights planning the colors, the patterns, adjusting and getting irritated to death worth it. Her eyes looked like those of a child getting the best present in the world.
"Can we test it?" Mavuika touched the object affectionately, seeing the beautiful, vibrant, and well-polished colors.
"We can. But before that…" Xilonen went to a shelf and took the black bag covering one of the objects.
It was a helmet.
"I did tests and modified the raw material of this aberration to withstand high degrees of heat, including fire. It's strong enough to withstand the Actopan volcano. The helmet is for… you know, it's preferable that you don't hit your head, but in case of any accident, it will lessen the impact." Xilonen explained, then she restrained the urge to be disrespectful and roll her eyes. "And of course, the maximum speed is ready too. This bike has more concentration of fused phlogiston than anything I've ever created before."
Mavuika took the helmet and tried it on her head. As incredible as it seemed, Xilonen nailed it perfectly, without any measurements taken.
"It's perfect. Do you want to ride behind me? We won't fall." Mavuika offered.
"No, thank you. I'll let you have fun alone, and I didn't make an extra helmet." Xilonen took a few steps back, fearing the Archon would insist.
Her stomach churned just thinking about the possibility of sitting behind Mavuika at high speed. No. Xilonen was not a fan of the idea.
And in the new tests, Mavuika didn't hold back. Not in the use of speed, and not in the use of the Nightsoul. When the tests were over, it was already dawn, and Xilonen yawned, looking at the clock, always timing the speed reached by Mavuika.
"Let's end the day." Mavuika took off the helmet and got off the bike, placing the helmet on the handlebars.
"Yeah! I'm really very sleepy." Admitted Xilonen, lazily.
"I wasn't ignoring you." Mavuika was devoid of subtlety. This made Xilonen look silently at the Archon and yawn, still too sleepy.
"I know! I had to send reinforced weaponry to the army at the Actopan border. And some people have been getting sick." Xilonen spoke in a low voice. The occupations of both didn't let either forget that they lived in the middle of a war.
"Should I apologize for what I did that night? I've been pursuing you since I met you. You know, if you want me to disappear, I'll understand." Mavuika's voice was soft, without the usual intensity. She couldn't pretend the idea didn't sadden her.
"Did I say something?" Xilonen's tail moved from side to side, lightly bristled and irritated.
"No, but…"
"Then no. You gave me my first kiss, try not to look so regretful and avoid tainting my memory, please." Murmured Xilonen, looking away.
Xilonen was being sentimental because it had been her first kiss, but it had been special. She wasn't regretful for having reciprocated Mavuika at that moment, and she hoped the woman wasn't either. Something stirred in the hybrid, who sighed.
"Unless it wasn't good for you. In that case, forget it." Xilonen turned and was already leaving. She wasn't willing to have a humiliating conversation.
Mavuika had to anticipate and hold the girl's waist, turning her and pressing her body against hers. She brought her hand to the silky blonde hair, touching it gently and then moving up to the cheek.
"Thank you." Mavuika said, bending down to the shorter woman.
Xilonen looked into the Archon's eyes, and thought she would be kissed again. Her green eyes blinked a few times, and slowly began to close slowly. She wanted to be kissed again. The feeling had really been very good, the sound that came from her throat was low, almost a purr.
Mavuika perceived what she wanted, but a smile spread on her lips as she took another route because it wasn't her idea, even though she liked what Xilonen wanted. She kissed the cheek and hid her face in the curve of her neck, giving the girl a tight hug in gratitude for the hard work.
Xilonen liked to scold Mavuika, but she began to accept any commission she asked for, simply because Mavuika's gratitude involved affection. Sometimes, there were some stolen kisses, but Mavuika spoiled her with affection, and that made Xilonen endure any crazy commission from the supreme deity of Natlan.