- "Kindness, Humility, Honesty, Purity, Faith - the Maid's heart carried only these things and nothing else."
Place du Vieux Marché, Rouen
...Words of damnation came to her, like a melody from an infinitely distant country. She paid them little mind. It would be a lie to say that she was not in pain - but that was something she could endure.
She also had also little fear. Such emotions as disappointment and regret had been left behind from the moment she decided to fight. They would no longer find their way back to her.
She did not want to be dragged about, so she walked without a falter in her step. Unconsciously, she reached for her chest - but her cross had been taken from her. There was no longer anything to support her heart. For this, she felt some sadness.
Just as she realized this, an Englishman ran up to her and reverently held up a wooden cross that looked as though he had just fashioned it then and there. She quietly thanked the man as he knelt, tears streaming down his face. Among the condemnation, there were still those who would cry for her.
As damnation is like a melody from far-off countries, grief is like a mother's lullaby.
Her hands were tied to a tall wooden stake behind her - rather tightly, perhaps to remind her that there would be no reprieve. But what meaning is there to escape after having come all this way?
The priest completed the recitation of her final judgement and promptly threw a torch, which slowly began to burn below her feet. They believed that the loss of the flesh was the greatest of fears... To them, this was the cruellest punishment of all.
The flame burned her skin, scorched her flesh and charred her bones. Again and again, she spoke the name of the Lord and the Holy Mother.
...Your prayers were a lie.
They endlessly denounced her with their words of abuse. Yet she only found it strange... for a prayer can be neither false nor true. A prayer is simply that, nothing more. Its nature does not change based on who you pray to.
She wanted to tell this to them but no sounds came from her. Suddenly, the scene before her was one from the past. It was a rustic village... with an ordinary family. She saw herself, the fool who ran away and tossed all of that aside.
Yes... Perhaps she had been foolish. After all, she knew that it would end this way from the start. It was she herself who understood this fate better than any around her.
...Things would not have ended this way had you had simply turned away from it.
That was the truth. If she had just shut her ears from the voice and abandoned those soldiers to their lamentations - for what salvation could they possibly have? - she would have gone through her life, got married and lived with husband and child. It would only be natural. She knew that she once had such a future as well.
But she abandoned it in favor of pressing down a different path.
She chose to take up a sword, put on armor, raise a standard and mount a horse on the front line.
...Did you know that it would end this way?
Yes. Of course she did. She knew that as long as she fought on, this end would come to her. So of course, others would decry her for stupidity. However, she herself would never stoop to self-derision.
"There had still been lives that I saved... so it cannot have been a mistake to walk this path."
These images - of the past, of impossible futures, even of cruel reality - were meaningless before her prayers.
She simply prayed - and offered herself. Even if everybody were to condemn what she had done as wrong... at the very least, I will not betray myself.
She did not look back on the path she had not walked, or crave for a future to the one she had chosen... only wishing for silent rest.
Even in the midst of such brutal savagery, the only thing that stayed in her heart to the very end was a prayer - unblemished by regret, filled only with sincerity.
...O Lord, I give myself to You...
They were the words of the end. Her consciousness was ceased and she was released from all suffering.
The girl's dream ended in the face of reality. But it was not quite the end. Yes, the dream of the girl had ended... but the dream of La Pucelle was only just beginning.
SEARCH ... BEGIN
SEARCH ... COMPLETE
PERFECT MATCH.
PHYSICAL BUILD ... COMPATIBLE
SPIRITUAL BUILD ... COMPATIBLE
PERSONALITY ... COMPATIBLE
PRANA ... COMPATIBLE
BEGIN ADAPTATION OF PHYSICAL BUILD AND SPIRITUAL BUILD.
ASSIGNMENT OF CLASS SKILLS ... BEGIN
BEGIN INSERTION OF DATA PERTAINING TO ALL HEROIC SPIRITS AND MODERN ERA AS REQUIRED.
BACKUP ... COMPLETE
CLASS SKILL ASSIGNED. SKILL {SAINTHOOD} OPTION {HOLY SHROUD CREATION} CHOSEN.
INSERTION OF REQUIRED DATA COMPLETE.
ADAPTATION COMPLETE.
ALL CLEAR.
CLASS {RULER} SERVANT ACTUALIZATION COMPLETE
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH! Omg what was that! It was so real…"
-cough, cough- it feels like my lungs are still full of the smoke and i'm drowning in my own blood shaking I grab my water near my bed I fell out of bed reaching for the light. Managing to turn it on I start chugging the water leaning my back against the bed.
"Ahem"
A beautiful girl in steel armor kneeling on his bed with Her amethyst-colored blue eyes so were so completely pure. She possessed a wondrous beauty that scarcely felt real. Though jaune could not help his eyes from wandering to her large chest. Her look of concern snapped him back to reality.
"um...Are you ok?"
"Uh...yeah I think so I just shaky from a nightmare I just had."
Hanging her head low; "Oh... oh I am sorry master It is not normal you would experience that upon my summoning."
"Summoning?! What do you mean summoning who are you?! How did you get in here!?"
Confused jeanne responds' "Calm down I am your servant In accordance to the summoning you issued. D Arc of Orleans."
"Oh I'm Jaune Arc. Wait you are a Arc? So are we related?"
Ugh..sigh. "No I am not related to you like I was saying I am not from remanent. I came from france a country far from this place and far from this time. Now Master I will reintroduce myself."
"Servant Ruler, Jeanne d'Arc. I 'm really glad to meet you!"
Clearing his throat "what do you mean by servant though?"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"Hey jaune what the fuck are you doing in there you woke me up with your yelling!?"
"Why is your Door locked!? I am breaking it down at the count of 3 Jaune unlock it now!"
"Ah um ah! Whoever you are hide if my sister finds you here she won't ever let me live this down!"
Jaune throws the blanket over her and runs to the door.
"Ok that's it I am breaking it down Jaune! The second before jaune's sister made contact with the door jaune yanks it open!"
Hazel goes past his head in a flying kick position. Making contact with the blanket!
Oh no! Jeanne!
"Hazel get off her!"
Pulling hazel off I notice no one is in the blanket?
"What the hell jaune?Who were you talking to?an her?"
Appearing behind jaune Jeanne rematilazies giving a small wave and smile to hazel.
"Who is she!? Jaune you had a girl over I'm getting mom!"
"Oh no you're not!"
Grabbing her by the collar of her pajamas.
"I am not sure who she is ,but she said her name is Jeanne D'ARC. So lets hear her out before getting mom involved and yelling at the both of us."
"Ah Hello hazel I am your cousin once removed I had been talking to jaune over our scrolls."
"He told me that he was going to talk to your mom about me visiting ,but it seems he forgot to talk to your mom. Then once I got here I was late ,So Hazel can you wait until everyone else wakes up?"
"Hmmm well alright Imma go ahead and eat breakfast. It is to early in morning for me to care enough. if anyone wakes up it is on you otherwise sure I'll wait. But Don't think About sneaking out I am watching the exits lady! When annabeth wakes up she will be able to tell who you are! Heh"
Walking out she slammed the door~
"Ugggghh! Who are you why did you say that to hazel? Why are you calling me master?"
"Shhhhh! Master It seems you are not a mage nor do you know of the grail war ,so sit down so I can explain everything to you."
"No I am not sitting down tell me what you are doing in my house and why were you in my bed! You are obviously a huntress with that armor and that teleporting thing you did earlier."
"Happily Master~ she says with a smile I am a Servant Ruler class normally summoned by the Holy Grail. Though this time it was done by the counter force. Simply put the safety device formed by the collective unconsciousness of mankind."
"It consists of two components: gaia and alaya. Gaia is the will of the earth, the planet's intrinsic wish to survive and prosper. Alaya, on the other hand, is the collective unconscious will of mankind to avoid extinction. As humans are creatures of earth, alaya was a component of gaia. However, as mankind begins to develop independent from nature, it became independent of the gaian system. With this divergence, alaya is no longer aligned with gaia and potential conflict can result."
"Despite being called "The will of the planet/mankind", the counter forces bear no emotions. They are described as passive spirals of energy that respond to threats of planet destruction or human extinction. The counter forces are always active, constantly steering mankind and the planet away from potential danger. Usually, the counter forces act indirectly in this case where circumstances have become this dire... I have been summoned. From what I knowledge I have been bestowed upon summoning This world is infested with magical beasts called Grimm with the sole purpose of wiping out humanity. The good thing though is that Humanity does not give up without a fight."
"Alaya helped with the creation of hunter abilities awaking in Humans to protect itself from the grimm.."
"Using you as a catalyst I was summoned here you may not remember it ,but I asked your permission before coming into this world Jaune. I may not know why it chose you yet ,but as a ARC."
"I Can sense a strength of will and kinship from deep within you."
Pointing at her command seals on each others right hands.
"This is proof of our contract Master."
Looking at his hand Jaune sees now that he has what looks like cross and wings tattoo on his right hand.
"OH MY GOD! You tattooed me in my sleep!?...and all that crazy talk about the world and grimm...If I am to believe you you need to show me some proof. You just barged into my room in middle of the night ranting about servants grails and some weird religious stuff about the world…."
"What do you want from me I don't have anything a huntress would want really to steal?"
His eyes darting to Crocea Mors then back at jeanne.
"No Master! I am Not a Thief! Her voice now stern."
"I know this might be hard ,but jaune you want be a hero the counter force sensed that not only your desired to be one ,but your vast potential! You were planning to use those transcript to sneak your way into beacon and becoming a Hunter. You were tired of a world so unjust so chaotic so weak. You have the soul of a hero!"
Visibly panicked by how serious the small girl has now gotten jaune sits down in his chair by his desk.
Sigh..."Even if and this is a big IF! I decided to believe you what do you want me to do I am just Jaune ARC...I don't have a semblance an aura or anything special about me I am just some guy from the boonies?"
Jeanne puts a hand on his back gently.
"Mas- no Jaune listen you are special your mana or arua pools and generation are massive for any time period. Also You may not have noticed it but upon summoning be but.."
A bright smile filled with innocence forming on her face. Your Aura was activated while you were asleep summoning me. The massive amount of mana was forced through your already high quality magic circuits.
Looking at his hand there hand been a unnoticed cut from the glass of water he reached for earlier. It as if on cue pushed a the piece of glass out and closing the wound.
Whow ok leaning back looking at the command seal.
"Ok I will hear you out on what exactly you want me to do ,but you need to know that I plan on going on a airship to beacon late today."
Turning to face her leaning on his desk still beaming that smile at him with such a blinding purity.
"You knew because of this counter force didn't you huh? Jaune now can't help but smirk at all this."
Still not sure if this woman is mad or not. He can't stay mad looking at that face after hearing that story. Unconsciously reaching for a necklace at his chest.
"That won't be a problem Jaune I made sure to come into this world with false transcript and identify myself upon summoning."
"Guess we're a Team huh? I hope you are telling the truth I have a bad habit of being lead around by beautiful women. After breakfast I will be leaving. It is 4 now so i'm gonna get ready and head downstairs. Guess I will meet you at the airport?"
"Mhm no Master I think it would be better if I meet your family ,so that if any starts digging into my past I can at least have your family vouch for me."
"Under the condition that you don't call me master around them fine. Just so you know if it had not been for that nightmare and my aura being unlocked. I don't think I would have believed you on this. Well I am still not sure about the counterforce stuff but whatever. I'll go change in the bathroom. If you are hungry there are snacks in my suitcase or just go join hazel down stairs. Everyone should be getting up soon since I was leaving today ,So just tell them the story you told hazel."
Walking to the shower I the memories from the nightmare came back like a fresh wound being iced and salted.I contemplate on how to ask her about it while in the shower...How you bring up someones own death when you experienced it… "UGAHH!"
I punch the shower wall in frustration at the madness of all this. Leaving a hole leading to the pipe. OH NO! Mom is gonna be pissed! Maybe she will understand with the whole aura thing being new to me.
I get out of the shower whoever was not up from the yelling would now be up from that bang. I better go make breakfast as a apology for the shower.
Whoever this Jeanne girl is...I can't tell if she is either a Blessing or a Curse. Clenching the doorknob I am filled with determination to make the most out of this opportunity ,and hope that things can change.