The sea and sky stretched vast, extending to the endless East. Seven Kingdom Longships, commanded by nearly four hundred Samurai and sailors, replenished with food and water, fully loaded with ship materials, Scripture, gemstones, and weapons, set sail from the world of the Nawa Departnts, heading toward the seemingly unreachable Maya.
Departing from Hidden Serpent City, and sailing fifty miles east, lay the ancient and once-glorious, now abandoned, second ancient city ruins, La Venta. The ancient city ruins were situated on a Lake Island near the Seaside, where dozens of giant god-like statues stood, as if dead spirits, tilted or toppled. In the City-State on the island, weathered brick and stone buildings could be seen everywhere, along with hemispherical observatories.
At the center of the ancient city remains, as per the customary practice of Central Arican City-States, a towering Pyramid Temple was constructed. The La Venta Pyramid Temple stood over thirty ters high, located at the center of the Lake Island, visible from miles away.
Though the second ancient city was abandoned, its temple remained an important sanctuary for rites. During the spring planting and autumn harvesting, life and death of the Divine Descendants, sacred sacrificial rites were held here. At this mont, dozens of Temple Warriors from the local City-States, leading over a hundred militia, were stationed around the temple. From afar, they noticed the longships in the river and the Samurai and sailors holding Long Spears and carrying Greatbows on board, becoming sowhat vigilant.
Surrounding the ancient city was a wide Great River, encircling the remnants of the ancient City-State and flowing north into the sea. This Great River was nad the Red Forest River (now the Rio Tonala River).
"This Great River is called the Lin River, surely for the many forests around it. But what does this red refer to?"
Chiwaco stood at the bow, watching the Red Forest River pour into the sea, finding no trace of redness. Puap was absent-minded, paying no attention to the Great River and the ancient city ahead. Tikalo glanced at the two, his expression leisurely, and said with a smile.
"The red, naturally, refers to Cinnabar! Captain Chi, many ancient Divine Descendants and nobility are buried in the second ancient city, and their bones are covered with divine Cinnabar. Upstream of this river is an important source of Cinnabar. The Divine Descendants of all Maya departnts also share this tradition of covering corpses with Cinnabar. It is said that the divinity in Cinnabar can preserve the body for a long ti and help the Spirit journey to the Divine Realm..."
At this point, Tikalo suddenly thought of sothing. In good spirits, he casually continued.
"Of course, upstream of the Red Forest River, there are also so reddish Stones, quite hard. Occasionally, there are Black-grey Stone slabs within these stones, with cherry red streaks, gleaming like a mirror, shimring light. Actually, we Maya departnts call it Mirror Stone! With a little polishing, they beco natural mirrors and also appear in the tombs of the Divine Descendants..."
"Mirror Stone?"
Upon hearing of such a strange Stone, Puap instinctively reacted. He looked at Tikalo, pressing for more information.
"Tikalo, my friend, do you have such a Stone mirror?"
Hearing the endearing address from Puap, Tikalo smiled slightly. After a brief mont of pondering, he fished out a shiny Black Stone Mirror from his breast and handed it to Puap.
"Puap, my friend, this precious Stone Mirror, inherited from the Ancestors, I’ll give it to you!"
"...Thanks."
Puap nodded in acknowledgnt, took the Stone Mirror, and looked at it back and forth for a while. This mirror was noticeably heavier than an Obsidian Mirror, sturdier, and provided a clearer reflection. On touch, it felt much like a Bronze tal surface. Huitu warrior’s eyes widened as he stared into the mirror, at his sowhat haggard reflection, with deep-set eyes, he pursed his lips.
In the past couple of days, he gradually felt the terror of the Curse, unable to resist recalling the night when the Capital City fell, the night he surrendered the city. Every night as he slept, he would dream of the scene when the Hummingbird chieftain died, and the chieftain’s decapitated head. That eyes-unclosed head would tirelessly chase him in the ruined Royal Palace, angrily questioning him.
"Little Puap! What are you doing?!... I entrusted the Prince to you, but you handed him over to the Aztecs?... I misjudged you! The Huitu Clan’s generations of loyal honor, destroyed by your hands today!... P...u...ap!"
"Puap!"
A sudden shout ca, startling Huitu warrior so much that he nearly dropped the mirror from his hands. He turned his head, eting the suspicious eyes of the old militia.
"Uh!... Old man Chi, what are you shouting for? Gave a scare for nothing!"
"Old Pu, it’s ti to set sail. The Temple Warriors are very wary, alert as lynxes, unwelcoming to visiting parties without Priest approval. This is their territory; we won’t stay here... let’s head straight to the Rivermouth, continue along the coast to the east, then find a Maya village for supplies."
Chiwaco patiently explained the situation. Then, he carefully examined Puap, concerned, asking.
"Old Pu, what’s going on with you lately? You’ve been all restless, like an old turkey that doesn’t nest... eyes are bruised like a turtle too. Haven’t been sleeping well?"
"Uh... I’m okay. Just don’t know why, keep thinking about that night when the Capital City fell."
With a haggard expression, Puap scratched his head and looked at the vibrant Chiwaco, lowering his voice, asking softly.
"Old Chi, have you... ever dread of... the Hummingbird chieftain?"
"Uh? Dream of him? Why?"
Chiwaco was puzzled. He looked at Puap strangely for a mont, then spoke in a deep voice.
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