Chapter 9

Three long days had passed since Rémy began his training with tireless determination, committed to improving his skills. Sunlight entered through the roof, illuminating Rémy's face and waking him up from his deep sleep. Looking around, he noticed that Jeanne was not present, which left him confused, since in the last few days, she had woken him up by poking his face.

Still, Rémy got out of bed and started his training routine, without wasting a single minute to rest. He worked hard and gave his best, being satisfied with his progress at the end of each day. As he left the house, Rémy looked around again, hoping to see Jeanne somewhere, but she wasn't there.

Intrigued, Rémy scratched his head and wondered what could have happened. "Is she still sleeping?" he asked himself, not knowing what to think. Jeanne's absence left him curious and anxious, wondering if something unexpected had happened.

Meanwhile, Jeanne was doing a task that brought her calmness and tranquility. With delicacy, she placed several fruits on a cloth, making sure each one was well accommodated. When she finished, she held the cloth with the fruits between her hands and left her house, cheerfully humming. Her parents had already left to tend to the plantations, leaving Jeanne free to explore the village.

"Don't worry, Ré, I'm on my way," Jeanne said to herself, letting out a soft laugh. As she walked elegantly through the streets, a smile illuminated her charming face. People who passed her couldn't help but admire her beauty and gracefulness.

As she walked, Jeanne heard an excited child commenting to three others: "I saw a armored man passing near the village, he was so cool!". Jeanne smiled at the children and continued her way, curious about the enigmatic figure that had caught the child's attention.

As she walked towards Rémy's house, Jeanne couldn't help but think about the encounter she had with the boys in the village and the possible presence of one of the knights who protected the region. However, she tried not to worry too much about it, as she had a commitment with Rémy.

As soon as she arrived at his house, she saw him approaching. Rémy noticed the cloth Jeanne was carrying and smiled bitterly. He knew she always brought something for him, even if he insisted he didn't need it. However, Jeanne opened a smile and handed the gift to him, saying: "I brought a gift for you. I hope you like it."

Rémy accepted the cloth, which was full of fruit, and spoke with a bitter smile on his face: "I already told you that you don't need to bring anything for me... Ah, forget it, thank you." Although he wanted to reprimand her a little, he knew Jeanne would keep bringing things for him, even if he fought with her. Besides, he was also helping Jeanne in the pasture with the animals, so he could accept some of her food.

As Jeanne and Rémy talked, she couldn't help but wonder if the man the boys had seen was really one of the knights from the region. She knew that the knights were responsible for protecting the village and its surroundings, but she also knew that there were many rumors about them. Jeanne couldn't help but worry about the safety of the village and the people she loved, but for now, she was happy to be there with her friend, Rémy.

"Jeanne?" Rémy called the girl's attention, noticing that she had lost herself in her thoughts. It was the first time he had seen her like this. When she heard her name, Jeanne snapped out of her reverie and answered, "Yes?"

Concerned, Rémy asked, "What were you thinking about? Are you okay?" Jeanne smiled and looked into Rémy's eyes before replying, "It's nothing serious, just a silly thing that crossed my mind." Then she looked away from Rémy's eyes.

Rémy noticed that Jeanne averted her eyes from his, something that was uncommon because she usually maintained eye contact during conversations. The two continued walking towards the village, but their steps were slow.

"Are you sure you're okay, Jeanne?" Rémy asked again, concerned about his friend's behavior. Even after she said she was fine, he still couldn't completely relax. Jeanne, who walked with a smile, looked back at Rémy. "I've already told you I'm fine, you don't need to worry so much about me."

Rémy was in a big dilemma. He had never seen Jeanne worried or lost in thought, except for that one time when she asked if they could stay that way forever. After that, she didn't show any other behavior that could give clues about her personality, except for her concern for him. Despite spending some time together, Rémy didn't really know Jeanne well.

This realization frustrated him. He had realized that Jeanne was a friendly, kind, and generous girl who wished everyone well. However, he felt that there were still many things he didn't know about her. It was strange for him to be so attached to someone he barely knew.

"I'm getting frustrated feeling like a child who doesn't know a person," Rémy thought, laughing at himself. Although he knew it was just a simulation, he felt like he was really attached to Jeanne. Maybe it was because of the environment they were in or because of her personality. But deep down, he knew he needed to get to know her better to understand this attraction he felt for her.

Rémy looked up at the sky, which was clear with no clouds in sight. The sun was high in the sky, and there were no birds flying, just a gentle breeze blowing from time to time. Jeanne, who was beside him, asked curiously if there was something in the sky. She looked up for something, but even after looking for a while, she found nothing but the sun and the blue sky. Remy, seeing her doing this, laughed and said, "It's nothing, silly." Then he flicked her forehead with the middle finger of his right hand.

"Ah, why do you always hit my forehead? It will grow a sore if you keep doing that," complained Jeanne, putting her hands on her forehead and grumbling cutely. Rémy then answered her question, "See this as something special."

Jeanne looked at Rémy, curious, and asked, "Special? Why?"

Remy gave a half-smile and looked up at the sky. "Because, to me, this moment is special. We're here together, appreciating the beauty of the world around us, and that's something unique. Sometimes you need to stop and appreciate the little things in life, and this is one of those moments. So even though there's nothing in the sky, this moment is special to me."

"But what does that have to do with the flick you gave me on the forehead?" asked Jeanne, confused. She couldn't understand how the two things were related. Rémy looked at her and laughed before answering, "It has nothing to do with it, I just like flicking people on the forehead." He put his hands behind his head and continued walking.

Rémy's answer left Jeanne even more perplexed. She wondered why someone would enjoy flicking others, especially on the forehead. She watched as Rémy walked calmly, his hands still behind his head, seeming completely unconcerned.

Jeanne tried to understand what could lead Rémy to have this strange behavior. She wondered if maybe it was a way of expressing affection or care in some way. But she couldn't imagine how this could be considered affectionate or caring.

As they walked, Jeanne noticed that Rémy continued to look at her with a playful smile on his face. She realized that, even if she didn't understand the reason behind the flick on the forehead, for Rémy it was just a harmless joke.

Jeanne decided that, even though she didn't fully understand Rémy's behavior, she didn't care that much about it. She focused on enjoying his company as they walked together, setting aside her doubts about the flick on the forehead.

They finally arrived at the village, which was full of life. Children ran and played in the streets, while women chatted cheerfully in front of their houses and men worked. Despite the poor conditions of the village, the people's spirits seemed unbreakable, and a feeling of joy permeated the air.

Jeanne, observing everything with a radiant smile on her face, was especially happy to see the happiness of the people around her. She knew that, even in times of war, it was possible to find joy and hope in the small things.

Rémy, who was watching Jeanne's smile, noticed that she became even happier when she saw other people happy around her. He admired his companion's empathy and sensitivity, and knew that she was a bright light in dark times.

Rémy knew that most of the villagers were aware of the war that was ravaging the region, although it often unfolded silently and covertly. Tension and uncertainty were palpable in the air, and even children's games and women's animated conversations could not completely erase the shadow of war that hung over everyone.

To Rémy, war was an undeniable and frightening reality, a constant threat that affected everyone's lives in that village and beyond. He knew that, even if the conflicts did not occur directly there, their consequences were felt in subtle and profound ways. It was a difficult and dangerous time, and everyone had to fight to maintain hope and resilience.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Jeanne asked Rémy, with a sparkle in her eyes and a smile on her face, eager for his response. Rémy observed Jeanne's animated expression and then looked around the surroundings. He absorbed every detail of the landscape, enjoying people having fun and interacting with each other. Children ran back and forth while adults chatted and laughed together. The village was full of life and animation.

"It's quite pleasant, yes," he replied, with a sincere smile on his face.

Jeanne felt her heart fill with joy hearing Rémy's response. She radiated happiness as she said, "That's one of the reasons why I dedicate myself to helping people whenever I can. Seeing people happy and enjoying life is an indescribable feeling. I want to be able to contribute to this happiness in some way, whether through a simple gesture or a big action. Helping others is the best way to make a difference in the world."

"If I'm not mistaken, so far you've only helped me. I haven't seen you reach out to anyone else," Rémy said with a serious expression on his face that was almost dissipated by the laughter he was holding back. Jeanne felt her cheeks flush as she timidly replied, "Yes, you are the first person I have been able to help, but you won't be the last. Even though I'm just one person, I will do what I can to help others, just like I am helping you now."

"So, does that mean you're going to abandon me?" Rémy asked, his voice filled with sadness catching Jeanne off guard. She felt her heart tighten at the sight of the sadness on his face and quickly held his right hand tightly.

"No, I never said that!" she said firmly, squeezing his hand even tighter. "You will always be with me, always! I promise you that." Jeanne looked into Rémy's eyes, trying to convey all the love and trust she felt for him.

Rémy was surprised by Jeanne's reaction because he was just pretending to be playfully sad and didn't expect her to take it seriously.

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