Return of The Maid-Knight (A Genshin Impact Fanfiction)

The Plan

Aether, Ayaka and Nilou walked across the desert with Dehya and Cyno. Their investigation in the last few days reveal that an Eremite group was indeed behind the missing Village Keepers.

"Where's the maid?" Cyno asked.

"There's a reason why we're not bringing her." Dehya replied, before handing over the wanted poster that she kept all this time to Cyno.

Cyno raised his brows, and told them.

"Leaving her alone at the village might be a bad idea. The Eremites have eyes and ears everywhere."

Dehya then widened her eyes.

"It's too late to tell them, damn it! And the time of the exchange is in just a bit!"

"What is it, Dehya? Is there something wrong?" Nilou asked.

"It's nothing, Nilou! Let's just--"

"Let me guess, do you think that it is a mistake that we left Noelle back in the village?"

"How did you--"

"It's alright, Dehya. She's better than you'd expected."

Back in the village, Noelle sweeps the dust off her hands after taking care of the mess she just got into. Behind her, are 3 men named Zaki, Delavar, and Engur who had already tried to stop Aether and the others from investigating into the matters of the missing village keepers. Now they try to kidnap Noelle to sell her out to the Fatui, but how little did they know.

"Even after what happened with you ambushing the Traveler's party, you still want to cause trouble, Zaki?" Candace asked the beaten up man in front of her.

"W-we thought we could get a hand on... 50 million mora, never expected her to be..."

"If her bounty is indeed that high, then it was for a reason." Candace shook her head

Back in the soaring desert, Dehya scratched the back of her head while chuckling in embarrassment.

"Now that you mentioned it, it really isn't that easy!"

"Eyes up, everyone. I saw movement." Ayaka said, notifying the group.

In front of the group is a band of Eremites led by a bulky man by the name of Rahman, who is an acquaintance of Dehya.

"You brought a few people than I imagined." Alhaitham noted.

"And you seem to have not brought a certain prize with you." Rahman replied.

"What are you talking about?" Dehya asked.

"The Maid-Knight. I know she was with your group, where is she?"

Aether widened his eyes. Could they have been watching Noelle with them this whole time?

"If no-one's speaking, then let me do the honors."

Out of the blue, Rahman throws a dagger towards Aether, who manages to deflect it effortlessly with his sword.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Lure her out. If you are in danger, she is bound to appear, or so I heard."

"You're going to have to pass us if you want to!" Ayaka, Nilou and Dehya quickly readied their blades.

One of the mercenaries quickly puts a blade over an old man's throat. The old man is a "Grandpa" to a boy named Isak, who is following the group to the exchange as well.

"One more move, then this old man is over."

"Say that again?" Nilou's voice is heard behind the mercenary.