Chapter 325: A Heavy Gift and the Weight of Life
Paimon's fascination with her newly acquired Appraisal Skill showed absolutely no signs of waning, even though her previous attempts had yielded nothing but aggressively mundane results.
Whether she scanned a chunk of roadside ore, a bizarrely shaped succulent, or the vibrant, geometric textiles unique to Natlan's markets, the system's feedback remained stubbornly dry: [Ordinary], [Common], or [Decorative].
Yet, this lack of magical loot did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm. For Paimon, the process itself was a thrilling game of exploration, like tearing into an endless series of mystery boxes. Even if the box only contained a cheap piece of hard candy, the sheer anticipation of the reveal was enough to keep her buzzing with simple joy.
"Lumine, look at this!" Paimon zipped over to a wooden stall draped in traditional Natlan handicrafts. She pointed eagerly at a thick, brightly colored belt woven with complex, stylized bird feathers. "This one looks super special. Let me appraise it!"
Lumine trailed behind her floating companion, a fond, helpless smile tugging at her lips. She watched her little guide buzz from stall to stall like a hyperactive bee, practically vibrating with the urge to scan every single object in the market.
She was just about to suggest they rein in the impromptu inspection tour when her gaze dropped to her own waist. Tied securely against her hip was a seemingly simple, yet deeply resonant woven cord.
It was the Sacred Night's Journey Weave. Xilonen and Citlali had presented it to her earlier, a specialized artifact designed to record the heroic deeds of an outlander—a 'non-Natlan person'—to lay the groundwork for forging her very own Ancient Name.
"Paimon," Lumine called out gently. "How about... you appraise this one?" She tapped the woven cord at her waist.
Curiosity drove the request. She genuinely wanted to know what the system would say about a masterpiece personally crafted by Xilonen, the legendary artisan of the Children of Echoes.
"Oh, right! Something Xilonen made has to be amazing!" Paimon abandoned the feather belt instantly. She zipped back to Lumine's side, her expression shifting into a mask of exaggerated solemnity. She placed her tiny hands over the weave, squeezed her eyes shut, and declared, "Appraisal Skill, activate!"
A pulse of faint blue light washed over the cord, sinking into the complex threads.
This time, the system didn't spit out a boring one-word summary. A dense block of text materialized in Paimon's mind, detailing the deep and heavy cost woven into the very fabric of the item.
[Sacred Night's Journey Weave (Handmade by Xilonen)]
[Material: Spiritual fibers native to Natlan, steeped in the spring water of Echoing Valley, woven with the artisan's heart and fragments of the Ancient Name's power.]
[Effect: Greatly enhances the adaptability of non-Natlan entities to Natlan's environment, and records their legendary deeds.]
[Hidden Information: This item defies the natural order. For a non-Natlan body to forcibly bear the power of an Ancient Name, it requires the life essence of the crafting artisan as a catalyst. Each time an Ancient Name or similar medium is crafted for such a target, it irreversibly depletes a portion of the creator's lifespan.]
The eager, starry-eyed excitement vanished from Paimon's face. Her jaw dropped, and her eyes widened in sheer panic.
She whipped her head up to stare at Lumine, her voice trembling. "Lumine! No, this is bad! This Sacred Night's Journey Weave... Xilonen making this thing... it's going to consume her own lifespan!"
The relaxed, fond smile slid right off Lumine's face. Her breath hitched. Her fingers clamped down on the weave at her waist. The material still felt warm against her skin, but suddenly, it carried the crushing weight of a boulder.
Memories of the day Xilonen and Citlali handed it to her flashed through her mind. Xilonen had smiled so gently, her tone casual as she expressed her hope that it would aid Lumine on her journey.
And Citlali... Citlali had been standing off to the side, her arms crossed, a heavy, complicated knot of worry pinching her brows.
"No wonder..." Lumine murmured, her voice tight with sudden self-reproach. "No wonder Citlali looked so preoccupied that day."
"They didn't say a word about it!" Paimon spun in frantic circles, her tiny boots kicking at the air. "They probably knew that if you found out, the burden would be too heavy and you'd refuse it! But what do we do now? Xilonen is sacrificing her own life to help us! This is way too serious!"
While Paimon spiraled into a panic, Lumine forced herself to take a deep breath. The initial shock settled into a cold, hard focus.
She gently smoothed her thumb over the woven threads, her golden eyes hardening with resolve.
"It's alright, Paimon," Lumine said, her voice steady enough to anchor her floating companion. "Now that we know the truth, we aren't going to pretend we don't. Come on. We're going to find Xilonen and clear this up right now."
She looked up, a familiar, defiant spark igniting in her gaze. "Besides, don't forget our trump card. We have the Chat Group now. Do you really think a multiversal group of overpowered members lacks a way to replenish lifespan or heal spiritual injuries?"
"Whatever Xilonen sacrificed for us, we will compensate her for it. We'll leave her better off than she was before!"
Paimon froze mid-spin. She blinked, then smacked her own forehead with a tiny fist. "Oh, right! How could I forget! We have the Chat Group! There's totally a way!"
Her panic evaporated, instantly replaced by fierce determination. "Let's go, let's go! We need to find Xilonen right now! And we can check on how everyone is doing now that the war is over!"
For the rest of the trek to the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, Paimon completely ignored the vibrant market stalls, the exotic plants, and the strange, glowing rocks. The thrill of testing her new skill was entirely eclipsed by her concern for a friend.
At this moment, she had only one goal: find Xilonen, confront her about the weave, and fix her lifespan.
The duo used the Teleport Waypoints scattered across Natlan, materializing just outside the massive, imposing structure of the arena.
The air still smelled faintly of smoke and ozone, a lingering reminder of the recent Abyssal invasion. Yet, the atmosphere buzzed with the frantic, hopeful energy of reconstruction. Tribal warriors and civilians milled about the perimeter, waiting for logistical assignments to rebuild their shattered homes.
Fortunately, Lumine and Paimon arrived just in time. A moment later, and they might have missed their target entirely.
Under Mavuika's decisive and commanding leadership, the major tribes had already finalized their preliminary post-war recovery strategies.
Tucked away in a bustling corner of the stadium grounds, the delegation from the Children of Echoes was busy packing up their encampment, preparing for the long trek back to their territory to begin the arduous task of rebuilding.
Xilonen stood among the crates, chatting casually with the energetic Kachina beside her.
"Xilonen! Kachina! Wait!" Lumine shouted, breaking into a sprint with Paimon flying hard on her heels.
Their sudden arrival turned heads across the courtyard. As the heroes who had turned the tide against the Abyss, Lumine and Paimon were practically living legends in Natlan. Warriors and civilians alike paused their work, casting glances filled with deep respect and curiosity.
Xilonen and Kachina stopped packing and turned, blinking in surprise at the approaching duo.
"Lumine? Paimon?" Xilonen asked, her casual posture straightening as she noticed the grim, urgent expressions on their faces. "Why are you two in such a rush?"
Before Lumine could answer, the crowd parted slightly. Mavuika, her fiery hair catching the sunlight, strode over. She took one look at Lumine's tense shoulders and asked, "Lumine, Paimon. Is there something you need help with?"
"Mavuika," Lumine greeted her with a respectful nod, though her tone remained urgent. "We have something incredibly important we need to discuss with Xilonen. Privately."
Mavuika studied Lumine's unwavering gaze, then glanced at a highly confused Xilonen. The Pyro Archon gave a single, understanding nod.
"I see. In that case, follow me. There are quiet rooms secured behind the arena."
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