Quite a few people wanted to save Kaiulani.
Aside from Mualani, Kachina and Kinich, the Traveler and little Paimon who had come from afar also wanted to take part in this rescue operation.
After learning from Caelus that Kaiulani might not be able to hold out for much longer, they left the Affairs Office at full speed.
Every moment of delay meant Kaiulani could face another danger.
According to Caelus, many Abyssal monsters had already gathered within the Night Kingdom. If they continued wasting time in the Affairs Office, Kaiulani might truly die there.
Not long after Mualani and the others departed, a woman with a strand of fiery red hair walked into the room.
"Lord Pyro Archon, the punishment for those two has been carried out in accordance with Natlan's laws."
The first thing Mauvika did after entering the Affairs Office was report the results of the punishment.
"They have already been sent back to their respective Tribes. I believe they will soon face the judgment of their fellow tribesmen as well."
Mauvika spoke in a professional tone, but her actions afterward made it clear that she also held some resentment toward Tepepan and the other.
Not only had they been punished according to Natlan's laws, but they were also sent back to their own Tribes to face judgment before their fellow villagers.
Anyone who insulted a hero deserved such an ending.
Caelus himself did not care much about whether those two lived or died. Instead, he spoke about Kaiulani's situation and explained that she could still be resurrected, as well as the fact that Mualani and the others had already begun their operation.
"Mualani is involved as well?"
After hearing Caelus's explanation, the Pyro Archon from five hundred years ago noticed that Mualani's name had been mentioned.
"Lord Pyro Archon, did you deliberately arrange for Mualani to participate in this mission so that she could awaken?"
Both Mauvika and Caelus already knew that Mualani was one of Natlan's Six Heroes.
As long as one knew which individuals currently inherited the ancient names of the six heroes, it would not be difficult to identify those who needed to awaken in the present era.
Mauvika had once wondered whether her plan had been questioned because Mualani was involved.
But judging from Caelus's arrangements now, he was also very willing to push forward Mualani's awakening.
That was reasonable.
Mauvika's plan did not conflict with Caelus's goal of resisting the Abyss. It was simply that Caelus had been focusing all his efforts on strengthening Natlan's military power and had no time to personally arrange matters concerning the awakening of the Six Heroes.
Previously, when Mauvika discussed the matter with the Traveler, she believed that the Traveler's identity as an outsider might help Mualani awaken, since her ancient name symbolized "Unity."
But Caelus had adopted a different approach.
By allowing Mualani to enter the Night Kingdom to rescue her companion without even knowing that she was one of the Six Heroes, he had created a situation that could naturally trigger her awakening.
One had to admit that this method had a far higher chance of success than simply asking the Traveler to become close friends with Mualani.
"I did not think about it that way," Caelus said quietly.
"Oh?" Mauvika raised an eyebrow and looked curiously at the young man before her.
"Risking one's life to break into the danger filled Night Kingdom in order to rescue a fallen companion. If this operation succeeds, it could indeed trigger Mualani's awakening."
"But even if I had not given the order, Mualani would still have gone to save her companion after learning the truth."
"Because she is Mualani."
Caelus spoke slowly.
Even if the fallen person had not been Kachina or any of the characters known to the players, Mualani would still have rushed forward without hesitation once she learned there was a chance to save them.
Not because she carried the ancient name that symbolized Unity.
But because she was Mualani.
Seeing the serious expression on the youth's face, Mauvika could not help but laugh softly.
"It seems you truly trust this friend of yours from the People of the Springs."
Mauvika herself had not interacted much with Mualani. She only knew that the girl was lively and cheerful, and the fact that she had not yet awakened had always worried her.
Of course, Mauvika still believed that Mualani would awaken sooner or later.
But compared with trusting a girl she had rarely met, Mauvika had always placed greater faith in the judgment of the Great Spirit.
Caelus was different.
From beginning to end, he trusted Mualani herself.
His confidence did not depend on the Great Spirit's judgment or the inheritance of an ancient name.
"Lord Pyro Archon, I have another request."
Aside from reporting the punishment of Tepepan and the other, Mauvika had come here for another reason.
"I wish to forge an ancient name for the Traveler."
This was something that had also happened in the original storyline. Mauvika spoke casually, but the matter itself carried extraordinary significance.
After all, ancient names belonged exclusively to the people of Natlan.
Forging one for an outsider was enough to drive even the most skilled craftsman mad.
For example, it was like adding Gridman into the Ultra Brothers lineup. Saying it out loud sounded simple, but if someone actually did it, the writers would probably lose their minds.
Even adding the Heisei Trio into the Ultra Brothers would not be that shocking.
Fortunately, Caelus was not the type of person who would panic over such matters.
He only understood how to fight and eliminate enemies. Forging ancient names was far beyond his expertise.
Even if the Traveler needed an ancient name, he would not be the one forging it.
That responsibility belonged to the best craftsman in Natlan.
"Leave the forging of the ancient name to Xilonen," Caelus said, calmly handing the task over to Xilonen.
"Then I will go to the Children of Echoes right away to find Xilonen," Mauvika said as she prepared to leave, assuming that Xilonen was either forging weapons in the Tribe workshop or sleeping somewhere as usual.
"She is currently at the Sacred Flame Arena," Caelus recalled.
"If everything went as expected, she should be catching up on sleep in the contestants' lounge."
"Catching up on sleep?" Mauvika smiled.
"That matches my impression of Xilonen perfectly."
"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Pyro Archon. I will go to the lounge now and ask Xilonen to forge the ancient name."
Mauvika turned to leave once again.
But Caelus stopped her.
"Mauvika, when you find Xilonen, do not tell her that I revealed her location."
Caelus understood Xilonen's personality very well.
If she discovered that she was about to take on such a troublesome task, she would probably start arguing immediately, even knowing that Mauvika was the former Pyro Archon.
In the original storyline, Mauvika had not dared to make this request directly either.
Instead, she had provided only partial information and asked Xilonen to forge an ancient name for someone from Natlan.
Xilonen originally assumed it was an ordinary commission for a Natlan local.
Only after the Traveler arrived did she discover that the request was actually for an outsider.
And not just any outsider, but someone who did not even belong to Teyvat.
If the Traveler had not been present and Mauvika had not stepped in to explain, Xilonen probably would have scolded her on the spot.
If she found out that Caelus was involved this time as well, he might end up receiving a lecture too.
Hearing this, Mauvika laughed lightly.
"I did not expect the Lord Pyro Archon to be afraid of Xilonen."
"I suspect I am still less afraid than you are," Caelus replied with a smile. "Just remember to say that it was your personal decision and had nothing to do with me."
"That will not work," Mauvika said firmly.
"I will make sure to mention that the Lord Pyro Archon has already approved the matter."
...
Read advance chapters on p@treon
[email protected]/guilt_free_daoist
Join disc0rd link in synopsis.
GIVE ME YOU POWER STONES.