This time there was hardly any waiting. First, the smell of smoke and sulfur appeared in the air, the portal was colored with streaks of dark hues, like the colors of a fire, and then a tall brunet in all black emerged from it. This guest was not overpowering, his mere presence did not weaken his legs and sphincters, but he was still strong, and his black sclerae and the tip of a red pupil with slightly elongated ears subtly hinted at his non-human nature.
The Visitor cast what seemed to be a fleeting glance around the room and walked over to Hermione, who looked at the Visitor with open interest, though real apprehension. Outwardly, the Visitor looked... normal (if one ignored the eyes and ears), there was no aggression or danger in his movements... at first glance. More attentive and understanding eyes immediately noticed the grace of an experienced warrior, or even an assassin, and in the sleeves of his tightly buttoned coat they noticed weapons.
— Hello, young innocent witch, — the smile revealed an almost human set of teeth, except that the fangs were slightly enlarged, just a little. — What did you need a knight for? — Hermione, staring into the face of her guest, blinked quickly, surprised and confused, she turned to her master for help, but he was only looking at the guest.
— Jin, — Sora's voice sounded firm and confident, giving the girl confidence. — Tell us the reason why we decided to summon a helper for you. — And yes, Sora had warned her in advance not to call Hermione by her real name until after the treaty, and 'Gin' was a middle name, albeit an important one, but not so much that it was dangerous for her.
— "We?" — The black-red eyes turned to the young man and, quickly assessing the threat, sparkled with a kind of... mischief, resulting in a wide grin and an "understanding" expression. But he didn't get an answer to that question right away, now the girl spoke and answered his first question.
— I need a strong dark protector, intelligent, able to control his violent temper... — she answered, not as confident as she would have liked.
— But you asked for a knight, — the guest raised an eyebrow.
— I... — Hermione didn't know what to say, she was flooded with emotion, but at that moment the portal changed.
Summoning otherworldly beings was a new thing for everyone present, except for the guest of course (simply because no one knew anything about it yet), and so they didn't know how the Summoning Portal should behave. Painted in the colors of the current guest, the portal was drastically transformed: the dark colors and shades of the conflagration disappeared, and a lot of green and silver-white appeared, organically combined, but not fused. A few seconds later, a new guest emerged from the oval, tall, slender, with long wheat-colored hair and pointed ears.
The long robes looked archaic, but harmonious and beautiful. On the guest's perfectly beautiful face, two green lights were burning, and his eyes were breathtaking. In one hand, the guest held a long, four-meter milky spear with a silver tip decorated with a flag, and a thin, straight sword in a scabbard on his belt.
The guest frowned as he looked at the not-man-in-black, who replied with a cocky grin. They looked at each other for a moment, and then the new guest looked at Hermione.
— Maiden,' his voice was as soft and warm as his gaze. — This creature will do you no good. — The blonde frowned at the brunette. — Do not deal with her and refuse any conversation.
— But... — the girl was confused and shifted her gaze from one guest to the other.
— Yes, yes, — the brunet grinned and shook his head. — Everything around you is evil, only you are clean. — There was so much sarcasm in his voice that only the most "wooden" would have missed it, and even that was unlikely. — Black suits a witch. — The brunette grinned even wider, causing the newcomer to frown.
— Maiden, — the blonde turned to Hermione and looked into her eyes. — I see you're still pure, you still have a choice to make, and it doesn't force you to give in to the darkness. Think: will your ancestors and your descendants approve of your choice? What will they say? — Judging by the look on the girl's face, the blond man's words had an effect on her.
— Don't deceive the witch, Alliel! — The brunette was sharply angry. — I can see too, so I know what you're trying to do! Don't you dare!
The two otherworldly beings began to exchange fierce glances, trying to "crush" their opponent, but their will and strength were equal, so neither was in a hurry to give up, but neither could win. Even the air seemed to become heavier. Golden and silver sparks appeared around the blonde's body, and his hair began to quickly turn white until it was white and silver.
In response, the brunet's skin turned pale and then blue, a line appeared on his forehead revealing a third purple eye, and the fangs in his mouth grew considerably larger. It was clear to everyone that this was a battle to be fought, and everyone was already thinking about what they were going to do, but then Sora's voice sounded. A voice of strength and power, and a hint of beastly growl.
— If anyone draws a weapon, I will throw them both back to where they came from. Do I make myself clear? — The fangs in his mouth were as strong as a tiger's, and his eyes shone with a more powerful glow than any of the guests.
He was met with long, questioning glances: the guests were deciding whether to obey or not. But Sora helped them decide again: dark blue streaks appeared on his skin, the air around his figure shook with translucent blue flames, and he smiled. He smiled in such a way that everyone understood the subtle hint.
A few seconds later, the guests looked the same as when they had appeared, except that the brunette was looking at Sora with a satisfied look of anticipation and impatience. The surrounding people reacted almost the same way — they were surprised, who was stronger, who was weaker, but there were no indifferent people anymore. Only the woman with the ancient and powerful blade was frowning and pensive, and the beastman whipped his tail at his feet and let out his gray ears.
— Are you ready for a constructive dialogue?
— Identify yourself, whoever you are! — demanded the one called Alliel.
— My name is Sora, and you may call my ward "Jin". Now it's your turn to introduce yourselves. — Some of the men looked at Sora with a completely new gaze: most of them had never seen the boy as he was now. The proud, aloof look, the confident, firm gaze of a man who wasn't afraid of two otherworldly warriors.
— Alliel "Moon Song", of the House of Night Violets. — Saying this, the blonde made a ceremonial bow, more of a nod.
— Cain kar Illiel, "Shield Breaker". — The brunet grinned broadly, following the blonde's bow-nod exactly, and then his grin turned somehow evil. — ... and also a distant relative of this "blond". — The blonde just exhaled heavily and shook his head, but then he straightened up and looked directly at Sora.
— I see you, so let me ask you: If there is no darkness in you, why don't you stop your ward from stepping into the shadows?
— Hmm, since you see it, why do you ask? — Guy replied. — Jin needs balance like every human being, balance is freedom, having choices.
— Darkness is evil, it seduces with power and secret knowledge, it corrupts. — Alliel shook her head stubbornly. — Don't you know that?
— I agree with you, but only half of it, because light is not ideal, it burns out humanity, it blinds the eye, soon "blinded" it stops seeing shades and colors, it lives by ideals, most of the time — absolutely unattainable.
— It is better to strive for the best than to sink into sin and impurity.
— Balance, Alliel, balance is the solution for every mortal and most immortals. It is only in balance that light and darkness reveal themselves in all their beauty and power. Neither side will ever allow itself to be defeated by the other, will fight to the end until man himself makes a conscious choice. And I don't intend to deprive Jean or her children of their choice, for it is theirs and theirs alone. Do you understand me?
— You are too young, — Alliel shook his head. — You don't know what you're talking about.
— Of course I do! — Cain spoke up. — I'd rather burn it all out, strip it of color and shade, impose my will, than let it unfold! — There was a wicked mockery in the brunet's voice.
— I do not wish to speak to a fallen man, — Alliel turned away from Cain and looked back at Hermione, but Sora gave him no chance to speak.
— Cain, do you wish to make a pact with this young witch? To stand in her defense? Help her grow stronger in body and mind?
— A knight, rumor has it, — the brunet grinned. — to protect the ladies. Besides, I have nothing to do at the moment, so I don't mind spending some time in a new world. — He shrugged nonchalantly. — So, young witch, are you ready to make a pact with evil and frighten me? — Cain grinned merrily, showing his snow-white fangs.
Hermione smiled and nodded. Alliel, frowning and annoyed, sighed heavily and intervened.
— I have no moral right to leave an innocent girl alone with such a dark creature as you, Cain, and so I am willing to stand in your defense, young Jean. Will you take my hand in yours? Are you willing to listen to my words?
Hermione studied the blond man's face for a moment, looking into kind green eyes, then smiled softly and turned her gaze to Cain.
— It is a great honor for me to make a pact with you, gentlemen. — The girl curtsied and raised her eyes. — I hope for your wisdom and care. — and a new curtsy....
An hour later, with the basic terms agreed upon, the treaty was concluded and the portal had long since closed.