Jonan returned to the tent, where Astrid was cowering in fear, and Edric was nonchalant, sitting on the floor with his eyes closed, not bothered in the slightest by the commotion that occurred.
Marla followed behind Jonan, she was brooding. "We can let them have the girl. After all, she was originally meant to go to them only. Keeping her with us without a good reason would be detrimental to us."
"I know, but they must at least explain to us what they will do to her after taking her with them. We cannot just hand her to them just because they said so," Jonan stated, his voice edged with frustration.
"Where is that darn old man when you need him the most?" growled Marla.
"Never knew I would be needed so much," said Elias with a grin.
Marla instantly jumped, noticing Elias behind her. Who knows when he got behind her? "Damn you, old man. Always sneaking up on others."
"Hehe, forgive this old man's antics." Looking at Jonan, he said, "Well, you are not entirely hopeless."
Jonan was once again confused by Elias's words.
"He is right that we must first understand our opponent's goal and also try hiding our affiliation, or who knows what other problems could occur along the way? No need to worry, you both. I have already sent a letter to them. After an hour, they will be here again. We will set forth our own demands, and only then will we hand the girl over to them."
"I have also checked their team's strength. They might be stronger than us, so it is best if we don't antagonize them too much."
Jonan nodded, but Marla just scoffed.
The hour passed in tense silence. Astrid remained curled up in a corner, watching with wary eyes, while Edric continued to remain indifferent. The flickering lantern cast long shadows across the tent walls as the night deepened. Then, at last, the sound of footsteps approaching signaled the arrival of the Knights of Nyx.
Jonan and Marla stepped outside, standing firm as a group of armored figures dismounted. The knights wore dark steel, their helmets obscuring their faces, with the sigil of the Nyx House emblazoned on their cloaks, two wings, and a crystal embedded between them.
The leading knight stepped forward, the one with the green eyes, her movements exuding authority. Her helmet was removed, revealing sharp features and cold, calculating eyes. "You've demanded a negotiation," she stated, voice devoid of warmth.
"We cannot just hand over the girl to you without knowing her well-being," Jonan replied evenly. "Before we hand over the girl, we require answers. What do you intend to do with her?"
The knight's gaze flickered momentarily to Marla, then back to Jonan.
"That is not your concern."
Marla scoffed. "Then neither is she yours."
A tense silence followed, both groups standing rigidly in place. The night wind carried the distant sounds of the forest, the rustling leaves adding to the unease, one wrong word and swords could be drawn.
"Now, Now, what do I always say be respectful to your guests, violence should rarely be the first resort; there are often more effective ways to go through in life."
Listening to the old man, she calmed down, and finally, the knight exhaled, seemingly weighing her options.
"She is required for a trial," she finally admitted. "A sacred trial of the Nyx House. Before the trial, her safety is of utmost importance, which is why the overseer was looking after her."
"The chubby man?" Elias interjected, a knowing smirk on his face. "The one who was killed by the bandits?"
A flicker of cold light passed through the knight's expression, annoyance, perhaps. "Yes. He was entrusted with ensuring her arrival, and now that duty falls to us."
Jonan and Marla exchanged glances. The explanation seemed reasonable enough. The Nyx House was known for its rigorous trials, selecting only a few for whatever purpose their family had in mind. If Astrid was chosen, it meant she had some latent value to them.
"And if we refuse to hand her over?" Marla tested.
"Then you will have made an enemy of the Nyx House," the knight said flatly, "while we have said so much, you haven't mentioned your identities yet, and how can we trust you and leave you be in any way, I feel either way we will have to fight with you".
Jonan sighed. "We are not looking to make enemies, and you don't have to worry about our identities, we have no common interests, we have our own journey to make."
The knight's expression remained unreadable. "That is fair. But time is short, and you must decide now."
Jonan turned to Astrid, who looked at him with wide, fearful eyes. He knew this decision wasn't very beneficial to her, and they could not just take her with them, after all, they did have a mission to complete, in which just his presence was already hindering his cohort members, he could not selfishly ask them to take care of someone of unknown origin, and while the knights have mentioned the need for a trial, they didn't mention anything about her, and he was also not strong enough to have everything go according to his will.
If they refused, conflict was inevitable. If they agreed, they would be rid of this burden, but at the cost of potentially sending the girl to an uncertain fate, but at least better than being with them or leaving her alone.
After a long moment, Jonan nodded with a sigh. "We will hand her over, but only if you swear that no harm will come to her."
The knight placed a fist over his chest. "By the name of the Nyx House, I swear it."
Elias chuckled. "Well, that settles that."
Astrid hesitated but stepped forward reluctantly. The knights took her without another word. As they mounted their horses and disappeared into the night.
Jonan looked at her departing figure, he clenched his fists, always helpless to help someone, "When will I become strong enough to have everything according to my will," thought Jonan.