Oh! Oh! Is that mighty traveler Aether!?
An energetic girl with a white hair and a bit revealing clothes rushed through.
-Welcome to Natlan! I am Mualani! I would love to have the honor to show you around!
The boy she called turned to her, ofcourse a bit shocked of her this energeticness. But he still responded with a smile. His golden hairs were a bit disheveled and tiredness in his eyes can be seen easily.
-Okay okay be calm Mualani! Its nice to meet ofcourse, yet I have to find the Archon of Pyro quickly...
-Archon of Pyro? I can take you to her ofcourse but you seem very tired. You sure you dont need to take a little nap before?
-Meh, I have seen worse
But with a yawn he lets out it was obvious that he cant go on so much. Mualani sighed.
-You should rest dummy, follow me. I know a place for you to stay.
-Uhm, okay? If you insist.
As they were walking, Mualani couldnt hold herself from asking hundreds of questions
-Is it true that you faced againist a Fatui harbinger?! Thats so cool! I wanna see one of them too!
-Trust me, you dont... Plus I got many help from friends while fighting them
-Was it scary? Or you were the one who scared him? What powers did they posses! Tell meee!
A calm and collected voice came from behind though
-Mualani, are you bombarding people with questions again?
-EH? I dont know what you are talking about..? ehehe
When Aether turned around, he saw a black haired warrior seemingly boy and a... two dimensional flying pixel dragon? Dragon was small though, as if this boy was keeping it as a pet.
-Ah? I didn't know that famous Aether would come to Natlan.
This boy was much more calm compared to Mualani for sure, but Aether was still in shock to see that pixel dragon. And for sure he wasnt waiting for dragon to talk suddenly, at least... not that snarky?
-PFFT! I was waiting for someone more muscular.
-Shut up Ajaw, this is someone who beated Archon level threats and saved many regions. Cant you show a bit of respect at least?
-Look at him Kinich! Its like he would start to cry if I landed a punch on his fa- EH?! What are you doing! LET ME GO!
Then dragon vanishes with a hand move Kinich did. Both Mualani and Kinich sighed.
-Still creating problems eh Kinich?
-He just never shuts up... Nevermind, Kachina was looking for you Mualani. I think you should give a check, I will take care of our guest
-Ah okay! See you then! Take careee!
As Mualani started to walk away from them, Aether was amused actually. It was both funny to see that he was both welcomed to region by two kind characters yet not welcomed by a two dimensional dragon thingy. He didnt mind though.
This was a new adventure for him after all, new friends, new things to see, new places to wonder. But all he can think was sleep right now. Kinich realized that with a simple look on his face.
-Sorry for creating such problems for you, lets just go and get some rest shall we?
-Yeah that would be amazin-
-HEEEY AETHEER! Paimon is baaack!
-Oh hooow awesome...
This time Aether was the one to sigh with tiredness. As dual were talking, a little flying fairy came near them. She had a strange crown on her hairs and had a clothing that didnt fit any regions culture which was strange to Kinich. But he didnt question it.
The moment fairy reached near them, she started talk with both anger and annoyence
-How could you ditch me Aether! I was looking for you everywhere! I thought I lost you!
-You know each other?
Kinich asked with crossed arms, it was his first time to see a fairy like this. She reminded him of Ajaw though. "I hope my problems didnt just doubled..." He thought. Well, it was him after all who wanted to help first.
Aether gave a mischevious smirk, probably it was something that would make Paimon mad and she knew it
-Yep, we have been knowing each other for a long time! Its like a bond of... Traveler-Emergenicy food!
With that last words chaos began between them, yet they did able to calm down around evening times. They have finally reached the place Kinich was leading them to and he bought them a room for a night. After settling everything down, they sat down and started to talk.
-So which wind brought you here Aether?
-Long story, I guess you already know about me looking for my sister...
-I see, sorry but I dont know anything about her, nor that I think anyone here does. Even so, you can try to ask Mavuika. She is the archon here after all.
-Its okay Kinich, I wasnt waiting for you to know things. Mavuika is my reason to come here, yeah.
-We will take you to her tomorrow ofcourse but, you seem exhusted buddy. Can I ask what happened?
Suddenly a soft but sharp snoring sound interrupt their chat. They both looked at the place where sounds came from. There Paimon was, already asleep and still holding a small piece of dessert that was a cultural beauty from Natlan.
-This happened...
Aether took Paimon from couch and dropped her to bed softly, trying to take care of the mess she caused.
-You seem to care about her.
-Even if she is such a mess sometimes, she was someone who was on my side always...
-I see... Then, I wont disturb you for tonight anymore, have good rest Aether. As I said, we can settle things tomorrow.
After Kinich's leaving, Aether laid over his own bed, called into thoughts. This was all new to him, and he was only looking for his sister. He never wanted to pass these beatiful places without even giving a look... But the thought of something hurting his sister was eating Aether from inside.
Only thing he could do was to hope for best...
Suns light was shimmering through curtains, announcing that it was morning. Clumsy voices was coming from kitchen already. Aether knew it was Paimon trying new foods even at this early at morning. He get up from his bed, started to getting prepared for the day.
-Paimon, stop eating the whole table and get prepared to leave already.
-EH? You awake? I... wasnt eating that much anyway.
-Come on, we have to go.
-Already? Wont you eat anything?
-I can eat things on way, come on. We have to find Kinich.
Aether was always in a rush to find his sister, he wouldnt care about himself that much if Paimon didnt always forced him to eat things or sleep. They had shared such a strong bond after everything they have been through.
When they get out, they saw a crowd panicking, and a chaos wondering around. Both of them were shocked and a little bit afraid, they tried stop anyone to ask whats going on but everyone seemed to be on hurry.
-Hey, over here
A blonde short girl was coming through them, she seemed to worry like everyone else but she seemed determined to explain things.
-I am Kachina, there is no time to explain things. I would have loved to spend time with you but we are in hurry, come with me.
As much as Aether and Paimon was still in shock, they followed her
-Wh- Whats going on? I was just eating things on kitchen a second ago and now there is a huge chaos!
-An abyss attack...
-AN ABYSS ATTACK?!
Kachina was still running to somewhere, making sure that they are following. Aether and Paimon still seemed to worry but Aether was always ready to fight. Kachina talked with a breathy voice.
-You were here to talk pyro archon right? Come on, fast. We should reach her fastly so you can get away from war early as possible.
-Get away from war?
Aether asked and stopped for a second.
-Do you think I would run from war while innocent people are dying?
-YEAH! We can fight too! I mean- Aether can! ehehe- Hey! Dont look at me like that! Ofcourse I will try to help!
Kachina was suprised to see their determination, but it was a fresh air to see that mighty traveler will be on their side too.
-Are you sure..? You two are only travelers, you dont have to attend to regional problems.
-Shush and take us where you are leading dummy, we have a war to attend!
Kachina smiled with a bit of relief, started to run again, soldiers were running and getting prepared for a harsh war. After a few minutes they reached into a big crowd. And there she was, with her red flame like long hairs, and her determined eyes. Pyro archon, Mavuika, was ordering people to get ready for a war.
Her voice was firm and commanding, yet it was obvious she was caring towards her people. She cant afford to lose anyone in this war to those pathetic creatures, so her preparation should have been perfect.
-Madam Mavuika! Here, I brought that mighty traveler to you. He has some questions to you.
-Let the questions go Kachina, I can see its a bad time Mavuika. What can we do?
Mavuika turned to them, she seemed ready for war. But she needed help as much as she can get to lose minimum.
-Great timing you two, we have to create a front line defence. Traveler, I know I dont have to right to order you things right now. Yet I need your help.
Paimon suddenly jumped in,
-Can we pass the chit chat already?! Yes we will help! No, no need for thank! So what else left to do!
Even Mavuika was suprised to see their determination, yet she collected herself fastly and started to talk,
-There is an abyss gate close to nation, we have already evacuated civillians yet this will be a harsh war...
-We cant win if we wont gonna target that rift thingy, Aether said.
-I have saw something like this before, they will come endlessly if we cant close the gate.
Kachina was deep in thoughts, soldiers were awaiting orders from them to prepare somethings.
-Its in air. Even if we could have reached there, can we even give it a strong enough strike to destroy it?
-Leave that to me, I will show these pathetic creatures what is it to mess with an archon and her people...
-Can you land a strong strike enough?
-I cant if I was alone. Yet I will need many of yours help. Kachina find other commenders, tell them to meet at here. Aether, please lead these troops to create a frontline defence. I trust to your experiences...
-Got it!
Aether rushed to outside parts of the nation, there was a few soldiers around him following him.
-Hmph, who is Paimon anyway, she didnt even gave Paimon a misson.
-Heh okay okay Paimon, you can cheer up soldiers. You are somehow better than me on this.
-Right?! Hehee!
Soon they meet with Kinich and Mualani in the front lines, yet no one had time to chit chat. Everyone was in hurry to get prepared. Paimon was screaming in a silly way that how they will beat up those monsters, yet it was cheering up soldiers and making them work better even in this stressfull moment somehow.
Kinich turned to Aether, his voice was still calm and collected somehow.
-Aether, I thought you would just take the knowledge from Mavuika and leave...
-Its a shame that you really thought I would run from war, knowledge can wait. There are innocents to save.
-Heh, thats suits to mighty traveler anyway. Come on, we still have things to do.
After an hour, rift started to expand. And suddenly mad abyssal wolves started to come through gate and rush towards them. This was only vanguards of the abyss, yet it was a scarry scene to see.
-Here they come...
Aether whispered, this wasnt the first war he have joined after all, nor it will be the last.
-FOR NATLAN...
He screamed, filling soldiers with more determination. Even in this horrible situation, soldiers screamed and flamed fearlessly.
-FOR NATLAN!
Aether lifted his sword. Once again, here he was...
Holding countles innocents lives...