"Ughh- Wh-where am I?" Nyx asked as she looks around the place. She remembered that she was trying to commit suicide by letting wolves eat her.
"You've finally woken up, young girl." Oro waved at Nyx with a smile.
"I am no 'young girl', old woman. It appears that I intruded in your domain. I shall be taking my leave." Nyx coldly said as she tries to stand up but failed to do so in her current state.
"Ugh!"
"I won't be moving too much if I were you. You might be healed girl but your body is still weak at the moment." Oro said making Nyx frown deeply.
"Thank you for the thought, but you don't need to worry about. Got that?" Nyx replied while still trying to get up. Oro shook her head at this.
"So stubborn. Freeze." Oro casted a spell making Nyx's body immobilized.
"How unfortunate to be in this situation." Nyx clicked her tongue.
"Indeed. Your tone of speaking is quiet mature for a young girl. It's making me quite curious of you." Oro replied as she sat down in front of Nyx.
"As I've said before, I am no 'young girl'. I may look like a child but I am not." Nyx calmly said as she accepts her fate.
"Hmmm... Kind of hard to believe but the world is full of mysteries. I can't help but believe that you are not a child." Oro nodded.
"Indeed, there are many mysteries in the world and many are still left unanswered to us." Nyx commented.
"Take a rest for now. I don't want to make my little Kein mad at me for not taking care of you. I'll make something for you to eat." Oro stood up and went to her kitchen.
'Such kindness... I don't deserve this sentiment. I only deserve punishment and atonement.' Nyx thought as she closed her eyes.
--
"Grandma Oro! I'm here for a visit!" Rem shouted as he walks inside the house.
'The young are really a noisy bunch.' Nyx and Oro thought as they heard Rem's voice.
"Hello, Grandma Oro and um... sister?" Rem greeted as he sees Oro feeding Nyx with a spoonful of porridge.
"Is this your little Kein, Oro?" Nyx asked as she looks at the young Wolfskin.
"Yes, isn't he a treasure? Those three behind him are my two foolish assistant and the bratty kid." Oro introduced making Ven and the others scowl at her.
"That's so mean, Elder. I'm Ven, this is Hane and Sean. Nice to meet you, kid." Ven said as she gaves her hand out.
"I am no 'kid', child. I am far older than I look." Ven, Hane, and Sean chuckled at what Nyx said.
"This young girl sure knows how to joke around, Elder Oro." Sean said as he shakes his head. This made Nyx frown at them.
"She's not joking around. I believe that she is much older than you think. Do you remember the story of the Warath Village I've told before?" Oro asked the three with a serious face. Nyx had a shocked face hearing the Warath Village.
"Warath Village?" Hane asked.
"Isn't that the rumored village that was destroyed by a giant spell. You've told us that it happened when you were in your 40s, and it was reported that a young prodigy casted that spell. The prodigy was then cursed into never growing up afterwards." Ven narrated. Nyx expression turned into a sad one as she remembers the tragedy that happened because of her actions.
"What's with this story, Elder? Why bring it up?" Sean asked curiously.
"Because I believe that the girl in front of us is that prodigy. Am I right?" Oro asked.
"Indeed, I'm that prodigy that you're speaking about." Nyx nodded with a sad smile. This answer frightened Hane and Ven, and covered Rem behind them. They intend to protect him incase of Nyx attacking suddenly.
"Then isn't she dangerous for the tribe, Elder?" Sean frowned while unsheathing his sword.
"Calm down, Sean. I don't think she would harm the tribe in any way. Right?" Oro asked Nyx.
"I won't. Relax, child. I have no intention to do such things. In fact, I'll gladly let your sword cut me down. Only if that will be enough atonement for my sins." Nyx answered making Sean hesitate in attacking her.
"Why should I believe such words from a monster like you?" Sean spat making Nyx flinch. She remembered the looks that others gave her. The terrified looks that made them label her as a monster. A monster that should be killed and hunted down.
"I don't think that sister is a monster!" Rem suddenly shouted while removing Hane and Ven's hold on him to run towards Nyx. He only did this since the situation didn't look good.
'If I don't do a thing, Nyx would most likely be kicked out of here.' Rem thought as he covers Nyx body with his.
This scene shocked the people inside. Mostly, it was Nyx that was shocked. She has never been protected like this. Everyone was mostly afraid of her existence. And if they are not afraid of her, they wanted to use her power for their selfish needs. This happened with Garon, the king of Nohr, he wanted to recruit Nyx since she was strong and talented. He wants her to be a tool for war. Nyx didn't want to be one since it meant killing people which she was avoiding at all cost. Of course, she was not afraid of killing others, she was just trying to not kill others for her atonement.
"Kein step aside! That monster might suddenly attack you!" Sean shouted worriedly but Rem stayed on his ground.
"That's right, young master." Hane said as she and Ven tried to pull Rem away from Nyx.
"No! Even Grandma Oro said that sister won't attack us." Rem replied.
"STOP!" Oro shouted making Sean and the other two stop from persuading Rem.
"*Sigh* You three are giving me a headache. I know that the girl is dangerous and might be able to destroy our tribe easily. But that does not give us a reason to just blatantly attack her. She has done nothing wrong to us."
"But Elder! There is still a chance that she'll kill everyone in the tribe. I can't trust some monster being in our tribe. I can't risk our tribe like that." Sean retorted.
"You have a point. That's why I'm making you guard her from now on. You'll be personally guarding her all the time at her stay here in our tribe. I believe that you have the capabilities to do that brat." Oro smiled while Nyx and Sean frowned from hearing this.
"I don't like the idea of a child guarding me around, Oro. But I suppose I can compromise." Nyx comments as she nods her head.
"I don't like your idea too, Elder. It's like we have a huge dangerous spell on our tribe that can be casted anytime with her around. I don't like it but I'll follow your idea for now. But one single suspicious move from her and I'll cut her down." Sean coldly said as he sheaths his sword.
"Great. Don't worry too much, Sean. If she ever attacks our tribe, don't you have your powerful Elder to save the day?" Oro playfully said making the other three young Wolfskin shake their heads.
Rem instantly relaxed seeing that the situation was fixed. He then looked at Nyx who was smiling at him. He shyly waved his hand at her.
"What's your name sister?" Rem asked as he moved closer to her.
"I am Nyx, child." Nyx replied while ruffling his hair. It seems that Nyx has a soft spot for children.
"Sister Nyx... Can we go play sometime? Or maybe you can teach me some magic?" Rem enthusiastically said. This was an act since he wanted to make Nyx attach to him. In the game, Nyx was cold and distant when you first meet her. But once you know her and stay with her for a long time, she'll warm up to you. It's quite easy to make her feel attach to someone with just a bit of persuasion and perseverance.
"Sure, child. I can play with you if you want." Nyx replies.
"Just call me Kein, Sister Nyx." Rem pouted making Nyx reluctantly nod.
"Young master..." Ven whispered while looking helplessly at the scene. She was still cautious about Nyx, and no one can blame her since a monster like existence close to you is terrifying.
"We have to keep an eye on Nyx. I don't want anything to happen from the young master. Miss Nie will be devastated if something terrible happen to the young master." Hane whispered to Ven making her nod. Nyx of course felt the cautious and wary looks she was getting from the three. She can only helplessly sigh at this. She was already used to this but experiencing kindness from Rem was surely something new she has not experienced yet.
An experience she knew she didn't deserve but can't help wanting to experience every moment.