"Huh? Where is this coming from all of a sudden? Did you hear one of the rumors about me? Fine, it's true! I'm the oldest, strangest, and scariest shaman in the tribe. Believe what you want — I gave up explaining myself a long time ago."
Name: Citlali
Ancient Name: Ukumbuko
Nickname: Granny Itzli
Occupation: Shaman, Stargazer of Mictlan
Age: 200+, phsyically appears late 20s
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Height: 170 cm
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Pink
Citlali was a powerful and highly respected shaman, though her behaviour rarely matched the dignified image others had created for her. She was short-tempered, sharp-tongued and quick to scold anyone she believed had acted foolishly. Her reputation alone was enough to frighten most members of the Masters of the Night-Wind, and she made little effort to correct the exaggerated stories surrounding “Granny Itztli.” Beneath that intimidating exterior, however, she was far more awkward and self-conscious than she wanted anyone to realize.
Despite her harsh manner, Citlali cared deeply for the people she considered close to her. She often expressed that concern through complaints, lectures and unwanted advice rather than open affection. This was especially clear with Ororon, whom she treated like an adopted grandson and constantly worried over. She could be strict and overbearing, but much of that behaviour came from a genuine sense of responsibility and a desire to keep others from making dangerous mistakes.
Citlali preferred living alone and avoided leaving her home unless something important demanded her attention. Her secluded lifestyle was considerably less mysterious than outsiders imagined, as she spent much of her free time reading light novels, eating snacks and drinking. She could be lazy, messy and somewhat self-indulgent, becoming embarrassed or defensive whenever someone discovered just how ordinary her private habits were.
Her distance from others was not caused by a lack of compassion. Having lived for centuries without visibly aging, Citlali had repeatedly experienced the pain of outliving people she cared about. As a result, she sometimes pushed others away or dismissed them as annoying before they could become too important to her. For all her temper and stubbornness, she remained a dependable figure who would step forward whenever her knowledge or strength was truly needed, even if she complained throughout the entire process.
Citlali had been born among the Masters of the Night-Wind, where she quickly distinguished herself as a prodigy in the tribe’s mystic arts. Even during her early training, the elders had already spoken of her as a genius, and few among her peers could match her strength or understanding. One of the only people stubborn enough to keep challenging her was Huitzilin, another talented shaman who repeatedly appeared at Citlali’s home demanding a rematch. Citlali defeated her every time at first, but Huitzilin continued returning with snacks, wine and new challenges until their rivalry gradually turned into friendship.
After twenty years, Huitzilin finally managed to fight Citlali to a draw. The two became great shamans on the same day, standing as equals within their tribe and preserving its traditions together. Huitzilin later taught Citlali how to weave significant memories into special scrolls, recording important victories, fallen heroes and pieces of their people’s history through colour rather than plain writing. Their friendship became one of the most important parts of Citlali’s life, though Huitzilin eventually grew old and passed away while Citlali remained physically unchanged.
Citlali continued living for centuries, eventually becoming the only great shaman remaining in Natlan. Her age was uncertain even to her, though she claimed that she had been counting for exactly two hundred years since an unspecified event made her conscious of how much time had passed. Over the years, generations of younger shamans were sent to challenge her as part of their training, and her effortless victories created the frightening reputation of “Granny Itztli.” Despite rarely participating in ordinary tribal affairs, she remained one of Natlan’s most knowledgeable and reliable figures whenever a serious problem arose.
Eventually, Citlali inherited the Ancient Name Ukumbuko, meaning “Memory.” She came to understand that preserving the past had been both the mission of those before her and a wish she had chosen for herself. Carrying on Huitzilin’s teachings, she continued weaving memories into scrolls so that the people, emotions and traditions lost to time would not disappear completely. Although she withdrew from society and lived alone, surrounded by wine, snacks and light novels, she remained tied to the world through the memories she protected and the people who still turned to her for guidance.