chapter 12

Remy walked silently next to Jeanne, his thoughts restless. Something seemed strange about the situation, but he knew it might be his fault. After all, Jeanne shouldn't have left home at thirteen, but at sixteen. And now, what would she do? How would she deal with this situation?

Remy was uncertain about how she would handle the situation, but was determined to support Jeanne in whatever she needed. After walking for a few minutes, they had distanced themselves considerably from the village they were in. That was when Jeanne pointed with her finger and exclaimed, "Remy, look!" He followed the gesture of the young woman and noticed, not far away, a man sitting next to a majestic white horse.

The man wearing armor was sitting with his back against the tree while his horse ate grass on the ground. Jeanne turned to Remy and said, "Let's go." Jeanne began to walk towards the man, who had his eyes closed. Remy held his wooden spear firmly and approached with Jeanne.

As they approached the man, Remy remained on high alert, his senses sharpened in search of any sign of danger. Both approached slowly and cautiously until they finally got close enough to realize it was an older man. The man seemed to have noticed their approach and opened his eyes to look at them curiously.

The man's eyes passed from the young girls to the young redhead, who wielded a wooden spear with such firmness that one could see the veins bulging in his arms. The knight felt a shiver run down his spine at the determination in the red-haired boy's gaze, who seemed ready to attack at any moment. The young man's blue eyes watched every move of the armor-clad man as if trying to decipher his intentions.

Then, the armor-clad man turned his gaze to the golden-haired girl, whose hair swayed gently in the wind. His eyes met the girl's gaze, who looked at him with an expression of kindness and innocence so pure that the knight was surprised. It was as if the girl could see beyond the armor, beyond the knight's rigid appearance, and see his true essence. This vision was so unexpected and powerful that the knight felt momentarily disoriented.

The red-haired boy took a few steps towards the armor-clad man, ready to attack him at any moment if he tried anything. However, the knight remained seated, motionless, as if he had not noticed the young man's presence.

With admirable courage, Jeanne approached the knight, even knowing that he could pose a threat. She spoke delicately and confidently: "Hello, sir knight. Good morning."

The armor-clad man finally turned his gaze to Jeanne, staring at her with an impassive expression. His features were harsh and severe, and it seemed that not even the beauty and courage of the young woman could soften his heart.

Jeanne, however, did not let herself be shaken. She maintained an upright posture and a firm gaze, waiting for a response from the knight. The silence that followed was tense and heavy, but she did not let herself be intimidated.

The knight observed the two young people attentively, as if evaluating their courage and determination. "Good morning," he greeted, with a deep and imposing voice. "Isn't it very dangerous for you to be here?"

Jeanne, with her unwavering confidence, replied with a serene smile on her lips: "I don't need to worry, God is with me, as he is with him too." She pointed to Remy, who was by her side, and he was surprised by the unexpected mention of his name.

Silence reigned in that moment. Rémy was closely observing the conversation unfolding before his eyes. The knight, visibly worried, could not hide the restlessness that took hold of his body. "I don't know if you know," he said hesitantly, "but a war is happening..."

It was then that Jeanne interrupted him, with a firm and determined voice: "I know. That's why I'm here." Her posture was imposing, her eyes shining with admirable determination. She knew that much was at stake, that the approaching battle would be difficult and painful. But she also knew that it was her responsibility to fight for what she believed in.

The man remained silent, with a deep look as he observed the scene before him. He knew that war was imminent, that death was approaching, and that an uncertain future lay ahead. His thoughts were somber, but he maintained his composure as he watched the girl in front of him.

"What are you doing here? This is not a place for children," said the knight, with an irritated tone. He noticed the determination in the girl's gaze, but could not allow her to go to war.

However, the girl was not intimidated by the knight's reaction. "I know that war is a dangerous place and a curse for everyone. Many lives will be lost, as they already have, but still, I intend to go to this war," Jeanne replied, with a firm and decisive voice.

The knight noticed the young girl's courage and felt a twinge of admiration for her determination. He knew that war was a cruel and dangerous place, but also knew that courage was essential to face the challenges that lay ahead.

As he watched the scene before him, the knight felt a sense of apprehension mixed with a strange feeling of hope. He knew that the war would be difficult and that many lives would be lost, but he also knew that the courage and determination of those who fought could bring a better future for everyone.

With these thoughts in mind, the knight stood up and approached the young girl. He put his hand on her shoulder and said, "If you're willing to fight, then I'll fight by your side. Together, we can face whatever comes." The girl looked at him, surprised, but smiled and nodded.

Jeanne stood before the knight, facing him with determined eyes and a firm posture. She knew she needed to convince him to follow her on her mission, but the knight did not seem willing to give in easily.

"But... You'll have to defeat me," the knight said with a strong and decisive voice. He drew his sword from his waist and assumed a fighting stance. "I won't follow someone weaker than me, someone who may die in war. Prove that you have strength, determination, and faith."

Jeanne was ready to respond, but before she could open her mouth, Rémy stepped in front of her. "If I fight for her, it's okay, right?" he said confidently. "Since I am her soldier, it's fine, isn't it?"

The knight looked at Rémy, evaluating him with a critical eye. It was evident that he was not convinced that Rémy was capable of protecting Jeanne. But Jeanne knew that her friend was strong and brave, and would not let him face danger alone.

"Rémy..." Jeanne began, with a comforting smile on her lips. She appreciated her friend's determination to protect her, but she did not want to put his life in danger. "Thank you, but I will face this challenge myself."

"Jeanne...", Rémy began, but was interrupted by surprise when Jeanne quickly untied her cloth and pulled a sword from within it. Rémy was truly amazed, as he had never known Jeanne had a sword. The weapon had a cross shape and was extremely beautiful, with a blade so sharp that it reflected sunlight, shining in an intense silver.

Jeanne placed one foot in front and the other behind, positioning her sword in front and holding it with both hands. The knight, observing the young woman's stance, realized that she was a beginner and didn't even know how to get into the right combat position. However, he was still willing to fight her.

With confidence in her voice, Jeanne said, "I will not lose! But first, I want to know your name."

The knight, with elegance, refused to reveal his name until Jeanne defeated him. "I apologize for the rudeness, but I won't give my name until you defeat me," he said, remaining firm in his decision. Jeanne didn't mind the knight's refusal to identify himself and was determined to win against him to discover his name.

With the sword in hand, Jeanne whispered to herself, "The Lord my God is with me." The knight noticed Jeanne's expression and wondered what she was saying. However, he was ready to fight and put curiosity aside.

Rémy didn't agree with Jeanne fighting, but didn't say anything. He knew she was stubborn and determined to prove her strength. He just hoped she wouldn't get hurt. "Ré, you can't interfere," said Jeanne, anticipating her friend's thoughts. She appreciated Rémy's protection, but knew she needed to prove her ability and not depend on anyone for that.

The knight observed the scene and Jeanne's determined posture. "Very well, then let's begin," he said, advancing toward her with his sword raised. Jeanne prepared for the attack, with her eyes fixed on the knight and the sword ready for combat.

The knight advanced with his sword raised, determined to defeat Jeanne. He didn't care that she was a woman, as for him, the fight was a matter of skill and strength.

Jeanne was prepared for the attack and defended herself with skill, pushing the knight's sword away with her own. The knight was surprised by the young woman's strength, he didn't expect her to be so skillful.

Jeanne, taking advantage of the moment when the knight was surprised, attacked him with a diagonal blow. The knight managed to defend himself, but then something unexpected happened: Jeanne, taking advantage of the fact that the knight was busy defending himself from her sword, kicked him hard. The knight was shocked by Jeanne's agility and strength, he didn't expect her to be capable of such a bold attack.

Confident in her ability, Jeanne advanced again, with her sword ready for combat. The knight, still surprised by Jeanne's blow, recovered and prepared for the next attack. The fight was just beginning, and both were determined to win.

The knight observed Jeanne advancing toward him with a mixture of surprise and caution. He didn't expect such a small and fragile young woman to demonstrate such strength and skill with a sword.

He wondered how powerful she would be when she was older, but didn't have much time to think, as Jeanne was already attacking again. With impressive agility, she wielded her sword toward the knight, who narrowly dodged.

Jeanne was not intimidated and took advantage of the opportunity to sweep her opponent's feet, but he quickly recovered. The knight realized that she was not following the rules of a traditional sword fight and that he would have to adapt to her way of fighting if he wanted to win.

With a watchful eye, the knight studied her movements and strategies, trying to find an opening to counterattack. Jeanne was as quick and agile as a panther, and he knew he had to be careful not to be caught off guard.

The fight continued fiercely, with the two combatants moving in a deadly dance of swords. The knight was able to block most of Jeanne's attacks, but could not find an opening to strike.

Meanwhile, Jeanne seemed to be enjoying herself, smiling with a sparkle in her eye as she fought. She didn't seem to feel fear or insecurity, as if she knew that victory was within her reach.

The knight knew he couldn't underestimate her and continued to fight with all his skill and experience. But even so, he began to wonder if he could defeat that determined and courageous young warrior.

The knight was even more surprised to realize that, even with all his battle experience, he was not able to gain an advantage against Jeanne. Every blow he struck was perfectly blocked by the precise and fluid movement of the young warrior.

She seemed to know exactly where the blows were going, as if she could read his movements before they even happened. The knight couldn't understand how someone so young could have such skill and dexterity in a sword fight.

He found himself in an uncomfortable situation, as he was used to being the best in battles and now had found an opponent who challenged him impressively. The knight began to sweat, feeling the pressure increase as the fight continued.

Jeanne, on the other hand, seemed to be having even more fun with the battle, smiling and laughing as she dodged the knight's attacks. She didn't seem tired or intimidated, as if she were a force of nature that never tired or gave up.

The knight wondered how he could defeat such a talented and brave opponent. He tried to change his attack strategy, but Jeanne always seemed one step ahead, anticipating every move he made.

The fight continued for a few minutes, with the two combatants moving quickly and exchanging precise blows. The knight began to feel fatigue intensify, while Jeanne seemed to have an inexhaustible source of energy and determination.

He knew he needed to find a way to defeat the young warrior, but until then he had not found an opening to strike. The knight sighed, feeling the pressure increase as the battle intensified.

Rémy watched the battle from a distance, his eyes fixed on Jeanne and the knight who fought with so much determination and skill. He couldn't believe what he was seeing - even without completely mastering the art of sword fighting, Jeanne was able to put pressure on an experienced knight.

He couldn't help but admire the courage and determination of the young warrior. It was impressive to see how she moved with so much agility and precision, blocking every blow from the knight with surprising ease.

Rémy wondered how Jeanne had acquired so much skill in a sword fight. She seemed to have an innate ability for fighting, as if she were born for it.

He felt a wave of admiration and respect for Jeanne, who continued to fight with such courage and determination, even against such a skilled opponent.

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