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There weren't few people who wanted to go save Kaiulani.
Besides Mualani, Kachina, Kinich, as well as the Traveler and little Paimon who had come from afar, also wanted to participate in this operation.
After learning from Rios's mouth that Kaiulani couldn't hold out for long, they left the council hall at full speed.
Every bit of delay meant Kaiulani might face one more danger.
According to what Rios said, the Night Kingdom now was full of Abyss monsters; if they continued to dawdle in the council hall, Kaiulani might end up deader than dead.
Not long after Mualani and the others left, a woman with a strand of fiery red long hair walked in.
"Lord Pyro Archon, the punishment for those two has already been handled according to Natlan's laws."
The first thing Mavuika did upon arriving at the council hall was to report the results of the punishment. "Now they have been sent back to their respective tribes; I believe what's waiting for them is judgment from their tribal companions."
Mavuika handled matters impartially, but from her follow-up actions, it was clear she also had some opinions about Tepetapán and the others.
Not only did she dispose of them according to Natlan's laws, but in the end, she also sent them back to the tribe to be dealt with again in front of their elders and fellow villagers.
Those who insulted heroes should end up like this.
Rios actually wasn't very concerned about the life or death of those two anymore; he told her that Kaiulani could still be revived, and that Mualani and the others had begun their actions.
"Mualani is also participating in it?"
After hearing Rios's words, this Pyro Archon from 500 years ago noticed Mualani's name among them. "Lord Pyro Archon, did you deliberately arrange for Mualani to participate in this operation to help her awaken?"
That Mualani was one of Natlan's six heroes was actually no secret to Mavuika and Rios.
As long as one knew who currently inherited the Ancient Names of those six heroes from the past, one could find the six heroes who needed to awaken in the present.
Mavuika had once wondered if her plan being questioned was because Mualani was involved.
But now, from Rios's arrangements, it seemed Rios was also very willing to promote Mualani's awakening.
That made sense; Mavuika's plan didn't conflict with Rios's idea of fighting the Abyss to the death—it was just that the latter focused all his attention on enhancing Natlan's strength and couldn't spare the time to arrange matters for the six heroes.
When Mavuika had discussed it with the Traveler earlier, she had thought that perhaps by utilizing the Traveler's status as an outsider, it might help awaken Mualani, whose Ancient Name signified "unity."
And now, Rios had used a different approach: having Mualani go to the Night Kingdom to save her companion without knowing this was a hero's trial, thereby completing the awakening.
It had to be said, this method had a much higher success rate than having the Traveler become good friends with Mualani.
"I didn't think that way." Rios said in a low voice.
"Oh?" Mavuika raised half an eyebrow, her gaze curiously falling on the youth before her.
"To save a sacrificed companion, risking life and limb to charge into the peril-filled Night Kingdom—if this incident succeeds, it indeed might help Mualani awaken."
"But even if I don't give the order, after Mualani learns of this, she would definitely go save her companion."
"Because she is Mualani."
Rios said slowly.
Even if the sacrificed one wasn't Kachina, or a character in the gacha pool, Mualani, upon knowing there was hope to save her companion, would rush in without regard for her life.
Not because she inherited the Ancient Name signifying "unity," but because she was Mualani.
Seeing the youth's serious and earnest appearance, Mavuika couldn't help but chuckle lightly. "It seems you're more trusting of this friend from the People of the Springs than I am."
Mavuika hadn't interacted much with Mualani, only knowing her as a lively and cheerful girl, and her failure to awaken thus far had also made Mavuika worried.
Of course, Mavuika still believed Mualani could awaken in time, but compared to believing in Mualani, whom she hadn't met many times, she trusted more in the Wayob's judgment.
But Rios was different; from beginning to end, what he believed in was Mualani herself, having nothing to do with the Wayob's judgment or the inheritance of the Ancient Name.
"Lord Pyro Archon, I have a request." Besides reporting the handling of Tepetapán's punishment, Mavuika had come for another matter. "I hope to forge an Ancient Name for the Traveler."
This was something that had happened in the original work; what Mavuika said sounded casual, but in reality, it was of profound significance.
After all, Ancient Names were something only Natlan people could possess; forging one for an outsider could drive a craftsman straight to madness.
For example, it would be like classifying Gurren Lagann into the Ultraman brothers—seemingly just saying a few words, but if done for real, the scriptwriters and such would definitely collapse and die.
Even if you added the Heisei Three Heroes into the Ultraman brothers?
But Rios wouldn't collapse; he only knew fighting and killing, and was utterly clueless about forging Ancient Names.
So what if an Ancient Name was forged for the Traveler? Anyway, the one actually forging the Ancient Name in the end wouldn't be him, but Natlan's most outstanding craftsman.
"The matter of forging the Ancient Name, just leave it to Xilonen." Rios naturally handed this important task over to Xilonen.
"Then I'll go to the Children of Echoes now to find Xilonen." Mavuika said as she prepared to turn and leave, thinking Xilonen was still in the tribe hammering iron or sleeping as usual.
"She's at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame right now." Rios recalled, then said, "If nothing unexpected, she's probably napping in the players' lounge."
"Napping?" Mavuika smiled. "That fits my impression of Xilonen perfectly."
"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Pyro Archon; I'll go to the lounge now and ask Xilonen to forge the Ancient Name." Mavuika turned again to leave.
But once more, she was stopped by Rios.
"Mavuika, when you find Xilonen, don't say it was me who gave you the location."
Rios knew Xilonen's temper well; if she learned that she was about to take on a task of such immense difficulty, even knowing Mavuika was the former Pyro Archon, she would definitely start arguing on the spot.
In the original plot, even Mavuika didn't dare propose such a request directly in front of Xilonen; she only gave partial information, asking Xilonen to forge an Ancient Name for someone in Natlan.
Xilonen had thought it was an ordinary commission, just forging for a Natlan person, but when the Traveler and the others arrived, she realized it was actually for an outsider, even a non-Teyvat person!
If not for the Traveler being present on site, and Mavuika not being there, she might have cursed Mavuika out thoroughly.
If Xilonen now knew Rios was also involved, Rios would probably get an earful too.
Hearing this, Mavuika let out a few pleasant laughs, then said, "I didn't expect Lord Pyro Archon to be afraid of Xilonen."
"Feels like you're not any less afraid." Rios replied with a smile. "Remember to say it was your private decision, having nothing to do with me."
"That won't do." Mavuika decisively replied. "I'll specifically mention that Lord Pyro Archon has already agreed."