In the days following the duel, Natlan buzzed with tales of the “Icy Intruder” and the Archon’s fiery stand. Mavuika patrolled the borders on her Flamestrider, the motorcycle’s roar echoing through canyons as she reflected on the encounter. “He called me out on my sacrifices,” she confided to the Traveler during a strategy meeting at the Stadium’s war room. “But he’s no different—willing to pay any cost for his Tsaritsa. Hypocrite.”

  The Traveler nodded thoughtfully. “Capitano’s reputation is solid. Even the Harbingers respect him. Or maybe he’s really here to help.”

  Paimon floated nearby, munching on a snack. “Help? With what? He’s a Fatui!”

  Meanwhile, Capitano established a temporary camp near the Tequemecan Valley, his subordinates—elite Fatui agents—standing at attention. “We aid Natlan against the Abyss,” he commanded, his voice firm. “No underhanded tactics. Honor demands we earn their trust.”

  One night, as stars blanketed the sky, Mavuika spotted Fatui scouts near a Ley Line anomaly. Racing on her Flamestrider, she confronted them—and found Capitano himself, channeling his energy to stabilize the rift. “What are you doing?” she demanded, dismounting with flames flickering at her fingertips.

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  Capitano turned, his helm impassive. “The Ley Lines fracture under Abyssal corruption. I use my vitality to mend them—a temporary fix, but necessary. Your people suffer otherwise.”

  Mavuika’s eyes widened. “Your vitality? That’s reckless! Why risk yourself for us?”

  He paused, the awkwardness palpable in his rigid stance. “Because innocence must be protected. I have lived centuries cursed with immortality; expending life force is a small price. Unlike you, who would burn out entirely.”

  She stepped closer, the heat of her presence clashing with his chill. “You speak as if you understand me. But hiding your face, your past—how can I trust a shadow?”

  Capitano’s voice softened slightly, a rare crack in his armor. “Trust is earned in battle, not words. Yet… your fire reminds me of what I once fought for. Unyielding, pure. Perhaps we are not so different.”

  Their eyes met—or at least, she gazed into the void of his visor. An uncomfortable silence stretched, broken only by the hum of the Ley Line. “Join me for a walk,” Mavuika said impulsively. “Away from prying eyes. Let’s talk, rival to rival.”

  They wandered the valley, the conversation turning from accusations to shared burdens. “The Tsaritsa seeks to defy the heavens for humanity’s sake,” Capitano explained at length. “I follow her because I believe in that vision. But seeing Natlan’s spirit… it stirs doubts. Your people fight with heart, not just power.”

  Mavuika nodded, her tone warming. “And I protect Natlan because they’re my family. But carrying it all alone… it’s exhausting. You challenged me publicly—awkward, but maybe needed.” As they parted, a tentative alliance formed, laced with unspoken attraction.