[It's so warm…]
My consciousness fades in as I open my eyes slightly to a warm blue sky and the beating sun on my face.
I struggle around for a moment, leaves break and twigs crack below me, while searching for a comfortable position.
Seemingly melting into the ground below me, I close my eyes and embrace the sun's tender warmth once again.
A dark shadow casts over me, causing me to shiver, but it quickly retreats.
"Hello?"
A female's voice, both gentle and kind, causes my eyes to shoot open. The brush and growth surrounding me lifts itself back up into its original position as I push off the ground and stand. Something attached to my side jiggles lightly while I stand
Turning my head around, I see her.
A young girl, pale skin yet rugged hands, with beautiful piercing blue eyes, long blonde hair extending well past her shoulders and down her back while a purple dress covers her small frame.
The girl stared slightly up at me with both a tender gaze and a confused one.
"Who…?"
My lips are dry, my throat rattles as I attempt to speak.
"Are you alright?"
Her tone is filled with worry.
"Yes-… I-… Where am I?"
The area surrounding me is foreign. I'd never been here before nor did I remember the journey I took to end up in such a place.
The girl looks at me, confused maybe. She takes a step forward and stares deep into my eyes, causing me to blink a few times before turning away.
"You do not seem to be drunk, how strange… Hmmm…. What is your name?"
"Ah! I'm-… I'm…?"
[What?]
"You are?"
"I-I don't know."
"You do not know your own name?"
"Yes…"
"That is an issue… Do you remember where you come from?"
I look up and stare blankly into the sky, waiting for a thought to bloom.
"I do not."
The girl rubs her forehead.
"How very strange… Do you remember anything at all?"
My hands clench up into fists.
"I'm sorry, but I don't…"
She smiles and tilts her head.
"Do not be sorry, my name is Jeanne, and you're on the outskirts of Domremy, France."
"France…?"
"Mhm! Sound familiar now?"
"No…"
"Ah, well I'm sure your memory will return in due time. Would you like to come into town with me Sir Knight? It isn't safe for anyone, even one such as yourself, to be wandering around aimlessly."
"Sir Knight…?"
She nods.
"That is a sword, is it not?"
Jeanne points to my hip, a blade sits within a sheath at my side.
I pull the sword out and study it. The long, sharp, blade shines in the sun and reflects my own face.
Even my appearance is alien to me. Brown hair that stretches down and reaches just past my eyebrow, hazel eyes, and a slim figure. My body is covered in armor that feels as light as air.
"I guess it is…"
"Your page must be worried!"
"What?"
"Your armor is quite well maintained, your page must have worked very hard to keep it in such exceptional condition."
"Ah, I guess they did."
"Maybe they're searching for you in town, let us go look together! Follow me!"
Jeanne starts walking through the forest surrounding us. I follow silently behind her while sheathing my sword.
"How did you find me?"
She pauses for a second.
"I merely stumbled upon you by chance."
"Were you looking for something?"
"Nope! I just felt like exploring the forest!"
[What a strange girl.]
"What is Damromy like?"
She stops and stifles a laugh before continuing on through the tall grass.
"Domremy, and it is not very big nor a spectacle to behold, however, it is my home, and the people are kind."
"It sounds nice."
"I do believe it is."
"So… Sir Knight, do you know of the war?"
"War?"
Jeanne sighs and stops in her tracks then turns towards me.
"France is at war."
"With who?"
"The English."
I rub my brow for a moment, trying to remember anything in order to participate in the conversation.
"The uhh… English?"
"France is currently split into two factions. The Burgundians welcome the English invaders while the Armagnacs resist them."
"Why does one side welcome them?"
"It is only for their own benefit, they care not for the people of France, but for themselves. This country belongs to the people of France, not the English kin!"
"I'll assume you aren't on their side?"
"That is correct."
"Do the rest of your town share that stance?"
"I am unsure."
"Ah, I see."
We continue walking for a few minutes before stepping into a clearing.
A large church stands tall, surrounded by smaller houses and other facilities. The town is small yet looks lively.
I quietly follow the french girl through the town. A few people glare at me while I walk, but most don't notice my presence.
"Why are they staring at me?"
"They might be fearful of you."
"Why's that?"
"You are a stranger with a blade."
"I see, would it be better if I hid my blade?"
"It would make no difference now since some have already noticed."
"Ah, will this cause trouble for you Jeanne?"
"Oh no, do not worry about me, I will be fine!"
I scratch the back of my neck while looking around at the children playing and the adults talking.
Jeanne stumbles ahead of me as my gaze drifts around.
A loud thud rings out, followed by my body stumbling to the ground.
"Hey kid, watch where you step!"
I look up and see an older man with a beard standing over me. Barrels rolled out on the dirt road we walked over.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
He leans down and glares at me.
"You are not from round', here are ya?"
His eyes wander to the sword at my waist, and then he slowly clenches his own blade.
"I don't believe I am."
"Go on and pick them barrels up."
I look over at the barrels rolling along the dirt and back to the man before standing.
He steps closer, hand clenching the handle of his blade as his voice grows louder.
"What are you staring at boy?"
[What?]
I stand up and stare deep into the man's eyes. We're even in height, something he probably dislikes.
"Excuse me?"
"I said, what are you staring at, boy."
The street seems to go silent.
Someone quickly steps between us.
"Sorry! He is not from here!"
Jeanne faces the man and raises her hands.
She turns her head slightly and motions towards the barrels while mumbling.
"Please go pick up the barrels Sir Knight…"
I stare down at her for a moment before turning and walking towards the barrels, now resting a few yards from where they'd been originally. My eyes wander back to hers.
"Alright."
The man snickers as I kneel and pick up the two barrels. Neither of them weigh much individually.
I set them down in front of the man, who pats me on the shoulder and laughs to himself.
"That's what I thought, kid."
Jeanne dips her head.
"I'm sorry sir, do not mind him."
[What'd I do…?]
"You're lucky Jacques is a buddy of mine. Go home girl, and get him out of my sight."
"Thank you so much!"
She turns around towards me and tilts her head with a smile.
"Let us go, Sir Knight."
"Where?"
"For now we will head to my father's home."
"Okay?"
After taking another look around at the street, I continue following Jeanne.
We move on and on, down long stretches of dirt road until coming across a home, moderate-sized, where she stops. A large field sits beside the home, and a man stands in that field working the land beneath his feet with a slightly rusted hoe.
"Father!"
Jeanne's walk turns into a light jog as she rushes to meet her father on the field.
The man looks over and smiles as his daughter closes in.
They hug for a moment, I can't hear their conversation, but Jeanne points at me and smiles.
Her father strokes his chin for a moment before nodding and dropping his hoe on the ground and then walking towards me with Jeanne following closely.
"Jacques D'arc, nice to meet youuuu…?"
He reaches his hand out.
[…?]
I stare at it.
"I don't remember my name."
"Jeanne had said you remember little. I had a dear friend who had lost his memory too, and I am truly sorry for you, young knight."
He closes then opens his hand, gesturing for me to take it.
I do so.
"I'm fine. My memories must've not been important enough if I can't remember anything."
His hand is rough, full of callus from what seems like daily work on the field.
"That is a sad, yet lighthearted, way of thinking about it. I assume you have nothing but that blade and armor on your person?"
"I believe so."
Jacques lets go of my hand and smiles.
"You must be hungry, right?"
[I feel fine… I think?]
"I don't think I am."
He puts his hand on my shoulder.
"It is quite alright boy, you look no older than my daughter. It is not wise to refuse a meal, especially for a knight. Come help me with some chores and my wife will make you a fine meal."
I look towards Jeanne.
She nods.
"Alright."
"That is the spirit boy!"
Jacques takes me aside and hands me his hoe before walking into a shed and bringing out a spare. He teaches me how to plow a field by hand, but his warning of the oncoming labor seems strange to me. The repeated motions are boring, yes, but the work itself is far from tiring.
"You must have had some serious training, kid. I'm surprised you're still standing."
He wipes sweat off his forehead before continuing his work.
"This doesn't seem like enough. Are you sure this is enough work?"
Jacques laughs.
"Trust me kid, this is more than enough work for a meal."
Eyes wandering, I noticed the blonde girl who found me in the forest was gone.
"Where is Jeanne?"
"Helping her mother prepare."
"Prepare what?"
"Dinner, what else?"
"Oh… Sorry."
"Do you always apologize?"
[Do I…?]
"I'm not sure…"
By the time we're done, Jacques is sweating while the only thing I feel is the relief of my hand finally returning to its resting position.
The moonlight seeps into my skin as Jacques nudges me towards a small shed a few feet from his home.
We walk inside and rest the two hoes against the wall.
"How come you kept your armor on?"
"What would taking it off do?"
"Your work would have been much easier. I bet your body is aching for some food and rest."
I look down at my hands, covered in dirt, and clench them together.
"I'm not tired."
"Seriously?"
"Yes…?"
"No wonder you became a knight so early. Your strength is impressive."
"I became a knight early?"
"You look to be around Jeanne's age, so I assume you are around 17 years old."
"Can you also tell who I fought for?"
"What do you mean?"
"Jeanne had mentioned the two parts of France fighting. I hope I wasn't fighting with the English…"
"That girl… Listen kid, do not go voicing things like that to everyone you meet, Jeanne should not have either. Your armor seems to have no distinctions on it, so I assume you fought for no one in particular."
"Ah, I see…"
We stood in silence for a moment.
"FATHER!"
A familiar voice rang out from outside the shed.
Jacques ran to the shed's door and forced it open.
"What? What? What is it Jeanne? Are you alright???"
"People are coming!"
"What? Who's coming?"
"They said at least 50 soldiers were on their way here!"
Jacques bit his lip and clicked his tongue.
"Who is coming Jeanne…?"
"The English…"
Her father turned towards me.
"Do you know how to use that sword?"
"I'm not sure…"
"I pray you can."
"What's happening?"
Jeanne stepped into the shed and spoke before her father.
"Other towns and cities in the area have been getting raided by English soldiers!"
"So this place is next?"
Jacques nodded.
"Correct, the English are here, and I refuse to lose my livelihood for a war destined to carry on forever."
He moved past me and reached over a shelf in the corner of the shed.
A broadsword shone in the moonlight peeping through the shed's poorly-built roof.
"Are you coming kid?"
[Why…? This isn't my home.]
"Yes."
[What…? Yes? Why'd I agree…?]
"Then let us go."
Jacques pushed past Jeanne softly as I followed.
[What the hell am I doing?]
I looked at Jeanne, our eyes met for a moment before I stepped out into the moonlight, screaming echoing out from deeper within the town of Domremy.
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