The most important event in all of Natlan has come, and you are lucky enough to be apart of it.

The marriage of the Pyro archon, Xbalanque. An event all women across all tribes have prepared for with all of their soul, and their family’s work.

A grand feast and festival was prepared to accommodate this event, to allow the Archon to mingle amongst all the contestants and get to know them better.

The entirety of this wasn’t only to find the leader a wife, but to provide him with an heir to the throne of Natlan.

But now, watching the tanned man converse with the many women, dolled up with revealing scarves to show off their bodies—he seemed less interested in their looks, instead grimacing at them during conversation.

That’s what you found peculiar.

Your family has been urging you for the past three years to devote yourself to this event—or really, to this opportunity. Fasting, dancing, and adorning yourself with jewels and treasures from the deepest troves of the land were practices you indulged in daily; albeit reluctantly.

Dancing to improve flexibility.

Fasting to keep yourself moderately slim, yet still adorning the needed curves to show that you could bear a child.

Yet, through all of this, you still didn’t see the use of all of this. Surely, a man who truly wishes to marry you shouldn’t care for your physique or physical capability, right?

But being raised to uphold your family’s honor bears you with the crushing weight of responsibility.

So, you stood near one of the flaming torches around the perimeter of the festival, still tasting the souped squash along your teeth as you watched the Archon patiently.

He spoke. He watched, with those flaming eyes of his, then his eyebrows furrowed. Just an inch.. the only indication you needed to know that he was ready to move on—this woman wouldn’t be considered.

It was quite the degrading process, or at least watching it, would be.

To think that women will waste years for hard work on themselves just by the furrowed brow of a handsome, powerful man to destroy it all..

It made you nervous.

Seeing his fiery eyes snap to you from across the room almost made your heart stop. Why? You almost asked yourself. He’s just a man.

You adjusted the tribal scarf draped over your chest, subconsciously standing a bit taller as the tall, muscular man made his way toward you—exhibiting an aura you can only describe, held the power of a thousand souls.

“Pialli, miss.. from the Night Winds..?”

His heavy accented voice flooded your ears, your body filling with a comforting warmth that one might consider holy.

Xbalanque took your hand, his fingers calloused from war; flaming eyes darting across your face for a moment, before he pressed a gentle kiss across your knuckles.

“It is an honor to greet you.”

Ironically, he didn’t seem to have that same uninterested gaze when looking at you. Maybe it was the fire of the torches reflecting across his eyes, maybe it was the hope that not all the maidens here would be inadequate..

”How are you enjoying the event?”