Apo Lakan: Guess Who's Back?
Rekindled Lord of Primal Embers • Xiuhtecuhtli
#GenshinImpact #ApoLakan
With The Seven ruling over the land, the years of the elemental sovereigns now bygone, what legacy did they leave for us? In other lands, it might seem bleak, but in Natlan, every inch of land shares a tale yet to be told.
Once, the dragons ruled the lands of Natlan, their dominion stretching across an age long forgotten by mankind. Among them stood Xiuhcoatl, Lord of Flame and Wisdom, whose might had endured erosion even mountains cannot. Yet even the sovereign of fire could not escape father time. His end came not at the claws of another dragon, nor by the decree of the heavens, but at the hands of a mortal named Xbalanque. And when the flames of the fallen sovereign finally dimmed, one remained to mourn him. Kukulkan, the Sage of Stolen Flame.
From the remnants of his brother's ruined flesh, he sought to accomplish what neither dragon nor god had achieved: the birth of a sovereign who might understand the very humanity that had brought about his brother's downfall. For centuries, he laboured in silence, binding flesh to primordial flame, until at last his creation stirred within its vessel. It would inherit the strength of a dragon, but not its contempt for mankind. And as Kukulkan gazed upon his final creation, he spoke the words that would become his legacy.
"My final gift to humanity."
Many moons have gone by, and humans now reach the point of modern settlement, with six tribes of six elements. People were doing what they do best, celebrating, partaking in music and art, when suddenly, a thundering fulmination was heard in the direction of the great volcano of Tollan. This is not a normal occurence, for an eruption of this magnitude has never been recorded in the woven scrolls of history. Within this decimation, a baby was found nearby the seaside tribe. A young couple took the child in, for nobody else has accepted the newborn as their own. There, the story of Apo Lakan, a human boy, starts its first chapter.
Apo was a peculiar little thing, able to communicate with saurians, and possessed strength and intellect far beyond his years. But despite this, he always had questions, questions about who he is and where he came from. At the dawn of his 20th birthday, he set out to have an audience with the pyro archon, Mavuika, and finally get the chance to get answers to his life long questions. Him and the archon discussed the matter inside the speaker's chamber, and they decided to seek the guidance of one Granny Itztli, who could converse with the wayob and peer directly into the leylines. What she witnessed shook her to her core. Granny Itztli told them of what she saw, and immediately went into action. She, the archon, and all the tribal chieftains of Natlan held a meeting, there, they decided on the next course of action, which the archon proclaimed.
"Apo Lakan of the People of the Springs, as the reborn pyro dragon sovereign, it is your duty to step up as leader of this nation, as soon as I, The Pyro Archon, goes out of commission. Because of this, you must journey through Teyvat and earn your place in humanity. Ten Labors, and you'd be ready."
Apo Lakan didn't know what to do with this new task, but he accepted it nonetheless. He set out into a journey never before done by a Natlanese, since his blood, composed of pure liquid phlogiston, lets him cross the boundaries with ease. Along his journey, he came across different places, met a lot of new people, made new friends, and found new appreciation for humanity. Him, along with the unlikely companions he had gathered, went back to Natlan for his final test, joining the final war against the abyss as they stepped foot upon land. After the war, Mavuika finally announced what the final test was. A one-versus-one no holding back duel against the pyro archon.
There they were, Pyro Dragon and Pyro Archon facing once again. But this time, its for one to prove himself to the other, in a stadium full of their subjects. They fought tooth and nail, blaze after blaze, singe after singe. But then the pyro archon once again strikes the decisive blow. In the sky, she prepares a ball of flame as big as the sun seen in the heavens above. At that moment, Apo Lakan knew what he had to do. He flew right into the attack, and absorbed all the pyro energy within. It was too much for his young body to handle, so he fell lifelessly to the arena floor, showing no signs of vitality. But before people could swarm him to help, a brilliant shine of light engulfs the whole stadium, bearing all the colors of the rainbow. A vision. Different from the norm, this vision glowed strange hues. Vibrant shades of blue, purple, pinks, and oranges all coalesced into a single gem. This means only one thing—Whatever had answered his will, it was no ordinary divine power.
The vision stabilized the pyro energy from within him, granting him a new life. He then got carried heroically to the infirmary.
"You failed" Mavuika exclaims.
"Yes i know, archon. I admit, you're as formidable as your title suggests." Apo replies.
"Not the fight, kid. The task." She sighed.
He failed, not because he lost, but because he didn't measure his opponent's character. Would the warm and loving pyro archon actually destroy a stadium full of her people? No. But Mavuika still commended his guts, and agreed to take him under her wing until he's ready. After a couple of weeks of resting he set out for another journey, his first major project for Natlan. A resort for all souls, human or saurian, to have a place of solace and fun. Tenochtzitoc, or as we call it now, the Easybreeze Holiday Resort.