The feast continued the entire night. Despite this, when the sun rose everyone went back to work. Those who had nothing urgent to do, mainly the hunters and the adolescents, cleaned up the square.

It amazed Arick that this all happened as if it was natural. No one complained, no one needed to take charge.

Jyl also helped, having once again appeared out of nowhere, only to be berated by elder Daren for not having attended the feast.

"I did come," she responded dryly, "though you never specified how long I should stay."

An exasperated sigh escaped the chief elder.

"Once you're done here, go visit your grandfather. He was really disappointed you didn't go see him yesterday."

Walking away, he grumbled under his breath: "I should just let him handle her. Though, she probably got if from him in the first place. Urgh."

Half an hour later, Jyl approached a small home near the outer edge of the village, dragging a confused Arick with her, and followed closely by Lyall.

Without hesitating, she opened the door and walked inside. An old man with silver hair was sitting at the table, sipping tea as he watched them enter.

"Hello, grandpa", said Lyall.

The man turned to face them, though Jyl knew he had noticed their arrival long before they even opened the door. His eyes lingered on Arick, slightly narrowing.

"Come, sit", he invited, "Daren and Alcaeus have already told me parts of the story, but I would prefer to hear your side of things."

The living room consisted of two benches covered in pelts on either side of the old wooden table, a window showing the field bordering the house, and a bunch of hunting trophies lining the walls.

Jyl knew much of the history behind the pelts, claws and scales her grandfather had collected over the years. He would tell the stories to her over and over when she was younger, teaching her about the forest and its beasts through them.

"Hear it from Arick and Lyall", she said, "I will make some more tea."

With that, she excused herself, leaving the three men in uncomfortable silence.

When Jyl returned, Arick was busy explaining their deal. Ignoring Lyall and her grandfather's expressions, she filled everyone's cups with sweetroot tea and took a seet.

Lyall's emotions were easy enough to read, but her grandfather kept his expression neutral.

When Arick finished speaking, silence descended. All eyes were locked on her grandfather, waiting for his reaction, some more patiently than others. After a minute or two, Lyall couldn't take it anymore.

"Grandpa! We can't just let him take her!"

His aggresive words failed to incite a reaction from Arick. Jyl suspected that had been his goal, get the demon angry so her grandfather would disapprove of him. Though, if he thought that would work, he was underestimating about everyone in the room.

It earned him a glare from Jyl and a hit over the head.

"Have you not been taught manners?" reprimanded her grandfather.

"But grandpa!"

"She has already made a promise. We can't just force her to break it, that would be unacceptable."

He sipped some tea.

"That being said, I cannot trust my only granddaughter to someone I don't trust. Let's see... How about a naming ceremony? If you obtain a beast name, then at least I know you're skilled enough."

Arick was stunned, but a quick glance at Jyl told him she had no qualms with her grandfather's condition. There was no backing out.

It seemed he would be staying a bit longer, whether that was a good or a bad thing he didn't know.