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[ Wait, is this... uh... Sister Ishkab, Natlan's Pure Soul? ]
[ Judging by her appearance, she seems like a very gentle person. And she's so beautiful! As expected, the Goddess's Seven Souls have excellent taste in choosing people! ]
[ Now that all the Pure Souls have been revealed, I love them all! ]
[ Anemo Element... ]
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"Wait, I-Ishkab?! You're Ishkab?!"
Paimon's small body zipped forward, hovering less than a meter from Ishkab, her large eyes wide with shock.
"Uh... you guys know me?"
Seeing Lumine's equally astonished expression, Ishkab asked, puzzled.
"So, your birthday is November 11th, you're nineteen years old now, and you possess an Anemo Vision, right?!" Paimon declared, her tone brimming with certainty despite the question.
Ishkab's confusion deepened. Everything Paimon said was accurate, but... she didn't recall ever meeting Lumine or Paimon, even though she had some reputation in Natlan.
How could news of me have reached the Traveler and Paimon, who wander the continent? she wondered. And how did they know such specific details?
Lumine stopped Paimon, sensing it would be best for her to explain.
"This might sound strange," Lumine began, "but one of the main reasons we came to Natlan was to find you."
"Find me?" Ishkab echoed, bewildered.
Lumine glanced around. The area was bustling with people, and since many recognized the group standing there, curious glances were frequently cast their way.
"Is this place too crowded?" Ishkab asked. "Come with me, then."
Ishkab led them inside the Arena to the Weary Inn, where several tables were still available. They settled at a corner table.
Mualani went to order a feast. While they waited for the food to arrive, Lumine explained to the others why they knew Ishkab.
"That's pretty much the gist of it," Lumine said. "Ishkab, you possess a Pure Soul, making you a target of the Abyss. One of our reasons for coming to Natlan is to protect you and prevent you from being harmed by the Abyss."
Ishkab showed no immediate reaction, but Kinich panicked.
"Traveler, are you saying that out of the seven Pure Souls you know of, four have already... and it took a tremendous effort to save the one in Fontaine?"
Lumine nodded.
Kinich's pupils trembled, and his head dipped slightly, clearly haunted by grim thoughts.
Kinich turned to Ishkab. "Sister, if that's the case, you can't participate in this year's Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame."
Ishkab patted Kinich's hand on the table, signaling him to relax and not worry.
"Have you forgotten? I'm the Returning Flame of the Scions of the Canopy. Since when have I ever shied away from danger? Besides, haven't you memorized our Natlan's Ode of Resurrection?"
"But that's different..."
Ishkab cut him off. "Nothing is different. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
Despite Ishkab's confident tone, Kinich couldn't shake his unease. Before the Traveler revealed the severity of the situation, he wouldn't have worried. But now that the stakes were laid bare, how could he not?
Yet, his sister had already made up her mind. Based on past experience, he knew he couldn't change her mind.
So... Kinich turned his gaze to the others at the table.
Mualani shrugged slightly, signaling her helplessness. She understood Ishkab's stubborn nature and knew her words would be futile.
Kachina wanted to dissuade Ishkab, but putting herself in the Pure Soul's place, she knew she wouldn't run either. So she remained silent.
Lumine sighed. She had anticipated this outcome, but she had a second plan.
From her spatial inventory, she retrieved a flower—one of those Venti had once pressed into her hand.
"This flower was given to me by Barbatos, the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt," Lumine explained. "In a critical moment, simply crush it. The Anemo Archon Barbatos of Mondstadt, the Geo Archon Morax of Liyue, the Dendro Archon of Sumeru Buer, the Little Dendro Archon Nahida, the Electro Archon Beelzebul of Inazuma, and Fontaine's Hydro Dragon Sovereign Neuvillette will all receive the message and rush here with utmost haste..."
Only after finishing did Lumine realize everyone was staring at her, their eyes wide with shock.
Kachina's face had morphed into an exaggerated, meme-worthy expression: "Master, you... you actually know so many legendary figures?!"
Kinich, momentarily forgetting his worries, fixed his sharp gaze on the flower in Lumine's hand. It looked utterly ordinary, yet it possessed such extraordinary power!
Ishkab stared at the flower being offered to her, swallowing hard. "Give it to me—no, wait, this flower is too important. Traveler, you should keep it yourself."
"It's alright, I have another one here," Lumine said, pulling a flower from her dimensional space. "Besides, Barbatos and the others specifically asked me to give this to you. Your safety is paramount."
With that, Lumine produced another flower from her pocket dimension, gesturing to show she truly had plenty more.
The others were dumbfounded, unsure whether to continue their shock or simply give up. The Traveler is getting these things wholesale?!
How much do those gods trust her?!
Lumine carefully placed the flower aside and retrieved a bracelet from her space.
"This came from the Geo Archon Morax. It automatically activates in dangerous situations to protect you. It's yours. Take it."
Ishkab mechanically accepted the flower and bracelet, sincerely thanking Lumine and Paimon.
"You're welcome," Lumine replied. "These were meant for you all along."
Kinich's gaze toward Lumine practically shimmered with gratitude—not romantic affection, but genuine thankfulness for entrusting such precious gifts to his sister.
"Traveler," Kinich said, "thank you so much! If you ever find yourself in trouble in Natlan, come find me. I'll do everything I can to help!"
With the items the Traveler had given him, even if his sister emerged victorious from the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame and earned the right to participate in the Night Warden Wars, he wouldn't worry too much.
Besides, his sister was right—Natlan did have its own Ode of Resurrection.
Just then, the food Mualani had ordered was ready. The servers began bringing out massive platters, one after another, the portions far surpassing what any other nation could offer.
Mualani urged everyone, "Don't hold back! Dig in! These are all our local specialties. Eat as much as you want, and I'll order more when we're done. Let's make the Pyro Archon weep while settling the bill—ha ha!"
Kachina: "N-no, that won't happen..."
Kinich: "The Pyro Archon is indeed generous, but these next few days will be tough on the staff and volunteers here."
Looking at the large table laden with dishes that looked utterly delicious, Paimon barely suppressed her appetite to ask about the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame. From the earlier conversation, it seemed that victory in the pilgrimage would lead to even more dangerous trials elsewhere.
Ishkab: "Little Kachina must have already told you about the Pilgrimage of the Return of the Sacred Flame, so I'll just highlight the key points. Come, let's eat while we talk—in Natlan, we don't have that silly custom of not speaking during meals."