After chatting idly, Mavuika brought up the proper matter.
"This time I called you all here because Citlali recently received some news," Mavuika said. "The first Pyro Archon Xbalanque will come over on the day we hold the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage."
"What? The first Pyro Archon Xbalanque?" The Traveler and Paimon both felt particularly surprised when they heard this news.
"Isn't it said that the Pyro Archon's lifespan is the same as that of a normal human?" Paimon scratched her hair. "Shouldn't the first Pyro Archon have died long ago?"
Mavuika nodded: "That's correct, but it seems Xbalanque once made a deal with the Ruler of Death in the past. Through this method, he can briefly return to Natlan five hundred years later."
Paimon surprisedly opened her small mouth: "The Ruler of Death can even accomplish this? To directly resurrect someone who died so long ago, that's too terrifying!"
Hearing Paimon's words, Rios smiled and said: "Paimon, you'd better discuss that Ruler of Death less. If you make her unhappy, she might come from afar to descend the punishment of death upon you."
Paimon shook her head vigorously in fright, shrinking her entire body behind the Traveler: "I won't say it, I won't say it. I don't want to see that Ruler of Death at all!"
After saying that, Paimon covered her mouth.
The Traveler soothingly patted Paimon, then curiously asked: "What kind of person is that first Pyro Archon?"
Rios crossed his arms and said: "Enthusiastic and generous, valiant and skilled in battle, intelligent and resourceful, witty and humorous. In short, basically all the complimentary words you can think of can be applied to him."
"Witty and humorous doesn't count as a complimentary word, right?" Paimon poked half her head out from behind the Traveler and couldn't help but retort.
Mavuika smiled, then said: "I think being humorous is indeed a very good quality. However, according to our Natlan historical records, it indeed doesn't say that the first Pyro Archon is a humorous person."
Paimon furrowed her brows slightly upon hearing this and looked toward the red-haired youth: "Isn't that just Rios deceiving people?"
Rios smiled: "Not necessarily. Maybe the first Pyro Archon really is very humorous."
"That's impossible no matter how you think about it!" Paimon placed her hands on her hips to express disbelief.
At this time, the Traveler noticed that Mavuika's expression was somewhat serious, so he puzzledly asked: "Is the first Pyro Archon coming a bad thing?"
Mavuika shook her head: "No, I'm just somewhat worried that Lord Xbalanque choosing to come at this exact time means he feels we haven't done our work well."
"This is indeed something worth worrying about," Paimon and the Traveler said understandingly.
Even though Mavuika is now the Pyro Archon, she still worries about leadership inspections.
Although in terms of position she is on the same level as Xbalanque, the latter is ultimately the senior, and moreover Natlan's very first Pyro Archon, which will inevitably bring great pressure.
Rios, however, is debt-free and carefree. He is no longer the Pyro Archon, so something like Xbalanque's assessment, he doesn't care about it at all.
But Mavuika seemed to notice his situation and smiled over at him: "Rios, how about during the period when Lord Xbalanque comes, you serve as the Pyro Archon?"
Rios shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, no. I've already stepped down from the Pyro Archon position."
"This arduous task should still be handed to you."
Seeing this scene.
======
"Pfft," Paimon snickered to the Traveler: "I always feel like they don't really seem like Pyro Archons right now. They seem more like subordinates worried about the leader coming to inspect."
The Traveler chuckled lowly in response: "After all, they are essentially humans too."
After making the joke, Mavuika continued: "This matter has already spread throughout Natlan. Everyone already knows that Lord Xbalanque will return during the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage."
"But at that time, Lord Xbalanque might make a disguise and not reveal his true identity, so everyone is thinking about whether there's a way to identify Lord Xbalanque."
Paimon blinked her eyes and curiously asked: "Then Mavuika, have you thought of any method?"
"Me?" Mavuika smiled mysteriously. "I have indeed thought of a method, but I'll keep it confidential for now."
"Just tell me!" Paimon called out disappointedly, stomping her feet in the air: "You're just like Rios. You could directly tell us, but you just refuse to."
Mavuika smiled and said: "This is also for the sense of mystery. Otherwise, you can also ask Rios. Maybe he knows what I plan to do."
Thus, the girls all turned their heads to look at Rios.
"Is it riddle-guessing time now?" Rios thought for a moment, then said: "It couldn't be finding a few extreme Xbalanque fans, then having them go around everywhere saying 'Lord Xbalanque, we adore you! If you don't appear, we'll jump down from the mountain'? If it's using a method like that, the kind-hearted Xbalanque should take the bait."
"That's way too underhanded!" Paimon loudly retorted after hearing it.
"Indeed," Mavuika couldn't help but chuckle. "My idea isn't as extreme as yours. It can even be called very mild."
Rios continued: "That is to make Xbalanque take the bait himself, right?"
"Exactly," Mavuika nodded approvingly. "Rios, you truly understand my line of thinking."
Paimon looked at this one, then that one, several question marks seemingly popping up above her head: "Wait, what kind of riddle are you two playing? Why can't I understand?"
The Traveler pondered and said: "Mavuika's meaning is probably to utilize the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage itself. With the first Pyro Archon's personality of enjoying challenges, he is very likely to personally participate in it."
"At that time, the one who performs the most outstandingly will very likely be Lord Xbalanque."
After this explanation, Paimon immediately understood: "So this is making Lord Xbalanque take the bait himself!"
"Actually, my method is also to make Xbalanque take the bait," Rios said. "At that time, we'll call some people to imitate Mondstadt's nuns, singing praises to Xbalanque in various regions, then call some other people to cheer and applaud. The person enjoying the flattery there won't be anyone else; it's most likely Xbalanque."
"That lord... probably wouldn't be that... superficial, right?" Paimon said uncertainly.
Is there such an unreliable god in the world?
It seems there really are, and there are quite a lot of them.
Rios's idea might really work.
Mavuika then said: "Lord Xbalanque might be busy participating in the competition at that time and won't have time to listen to others singing his praises."
"Rios, Traveler, and Paimon, could I trouble you all to serve as supervisors for the competition during this period?" Mavuika looked toward everyone. "I've handed all the schedule designs for the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage to Iansan. Do you all want to go try experiencing the competitions she designed?"
"Speaking of which," Paimon suddenly thought of a question, "Hasn't the war with the Abyss monsters already ended? Why still hold the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage?"
"Although the battle with the monsters has ended, I feel that Natlan's Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage, which has been passed down for many years, cannot end," Mavuika explained. "Starting from this edition, the Returning Flame Holy Night Pilgrimage will become competition-style events, so many activities need to be rearranged."
"I see," anticipation appeared on Paimon's small face. "Hearing you say it like this, we're really a bit curious about what the new pilgrimage will be like."
"Shall we go find Iansan now?" the Traveler asked.
"You all go first," Rios said. "I want to first check on the situation of the monument."
According to his speculation, the monument should be completed by now, just waiting for Mavuika's inspection.