The Year 1000 After the Circle of Oath marks an era filled with countless secrets and memories.
One tranquil morning
Soft winds blew beneath the spring sky.
Little birds sang in the trees.
In the distance, a thin mist cloaked the vast fields.
Two figures walked along the dirt path.
Jeanne and Joanna.
Their bodies seemed forever 17 years old,
with long hair that shone golden.
Their faces were soft,
yet their eyes…
eyes that had witnessed thousands of years of choices and partings.
"There is nothing left of our time," Joanna whispered, her voice dancing on the cool breeze.
"They are all gone.
Sheena. Maria. Eryndor. Kael. Saphira. Even Miriel..." A trace of sorrow marked her face.
"Yes," Jeanne replied gently, her eyes glistening with shadows of memories.
"And even Nexus Equilibria is now but a sacred ruin.
The Arkanum and Stones have become kingdoms of their own,
and our oath is merely spoken of in ancient legends."
Jeanne paused, gazing at the bright sky with nostalgia.
"Do you remember when we stood on that cliff?" Jeanne asked, continuing.
"We promised to remain together, no matter what happened."
Joanna nodded, a faint smile appearing on her lips.
"Because our love is stronger than anything that could separate us."
"But, Joan... the world keeps on turning." Jeanne forced a slight smile, though her eyes betrayed a longing for the moments that had passed.
"Because they keep choosing." Joanna's voice was gentle yet filled with hope.
Before them, a small village appeared amidst the green fields.
Valeora Village.
The land was fertile:
Golden rice ripened in the fields, ready for harvest, presenting not only sustenance but also offering hope for bountiful yields for the local community and their shared prosperity.
Fruit trees lined the landscape, some heavy with sap, waiting to be picked by gentle hands.
Vegetables grew in the clean fields, symbolizing a simple yet meaningful life, emphasizing the importance of agriculture in sustaining their community and traditions.
A clear river flows alongside, the sound of water reflecting the sunlight and creating small rainbows in the air.
"Do you wish you could return to those days?" Jeanne asked softly, her voice filled with longing.
"Return to where?" Joanna inquired, as if carefully considering each word.
"To a place unburdened by painful memories," Jeanne replied sadly.
"We have so little time, yet it feels as though we have lived through a thousand storms." Joanna looked tenderly at Jeanne, sharing the same weight of feeling.
"Every storm can turn into a rainbow if we keep moving forward," Joanna asserted, her voice full of conviction.
Children run on the dirt roads, laughing freely.
Adults plant and harvest the crops.
Here, there is no grand magic. No towers of power. No politics.
Just a simple life.
Small choices made with love every day.
"Places like this... are more enduring than any Nexus we've ever known," Joanna murmured as she looked around, a warm smile gracing her face, recalling the lost tranquility of the past.
"True," Jeanne nodded. "Because here, free will is neither monitored nor debated.
It is simply lived." In the silence, Jeanne clasped Joanna's hand, feeling the long-lost serenity.
Joanna gazed at Jeanne, her eyes sparkling with hope. "Will we always be like this?" she asked, the excitement of the day awakening old memories.
"As long as we're together, perhaps," Jeanne replied, their voices filled with warmth yet tinged with a hint of longing. "But remember, life is about choices, and each choice leads us down a different path."
As they walked through the village, an elderly woman approached them.
But the woman did not recognize them.
"Are you travelers?" the old woman asked kindly, her wrinkled smile suggesting wisdom.
"Looking for a place to stay? We have rooms in a small inn."
Jeanne and Joanna exchanged glances.
It had been a long time since anyone spoke to them without titles, without fear, or without excessive admiration.
"We're just passing through," Jeanne said, her heart heavy as she uttered those words.
"But could we help with the harvest today?" Joanna added, a genuine smile she couldn't hide. She longed for the lost closeness.
The old woman laughed. "Of course! All hands are welcome in Valeora."
Jeanne and Joanna joined the farmers in harvesting rice.
Jeanne learned to bind the stalks, while Joanna helped the children gather the fruit.
As they worked in the fields, Joanna softly suggested, "Perhaps we could settle here, Jeanne, if we dare to choose differently."
Jeanne contemplated this, her face reflecting melancholy. "Does that mean leaving everything behind?" She felt a fear rising within her, conjuring images of an uncertain future.
"Not always; sometimes we just need to find a home in unexpected places," Joanna replied, her tone filled with a warmth that soothed Jeanne's soul.
Jeanne nodded slowly, grasping the depth of her friend's words, yet her heart was torn between desire and obligation.
No one questioned who they were.
No one mentioned Stones or Arkanum.
No one spoke of a greater will or destiny.
Only life.
Only everyday choices.
On a peaceful afternoon, they sat together by the river, enjoying warm bread and freshly harvested honey. A gentle breeze flowed, carrying the aroma of spices from the village, as if the surrounding world had forgotten all the chaos that had once occurred.
"It's been so long since I felt peace like this," Joanna whispered, her eyes searching for reflections in the calm water. "Every moment feels precious."
Jeanne smiled softly, "We deserve to feel this, even for a moment. After everything we've been through." She grasped her sister's hand, "Sometimes I wish we could stay here forever."
"For over five centuries we have fought, led, and protected.
But here... we are just human," Joanna continued, her voice lowering, as if inspired by the silence of the night surrounding them. "But... is there any guarantee that we will be safe?"
"Perhaps... this is the ending we never imagined.
Neither victory. Nor defeat.
But life that goes on even though we have stopped moving," Jeanne replied, gazing far into the horizon, hoping that a glimmer of hope still existed out there.
"Maybe we can build something here," Joanna said softly, "Something new, free from the past."
Jeanne nodded, feeling a new spirit blossoming within her, like a gentle light illuminating the darkness. "Let's seize this opportunity," she continued, "We can discover a new meaning in our lives."
The night fell, with stars shining in the clear sky.
Jeanne and Joanna slept at the village inn.
For the first time in hundreds of years, they slept without the influence of the Continuum or Fluctuating magic.
Just ordinary sleep.
Just ordinary dreams.
"I feel like we're back to our pajama nights," Joanna murmured before drifting off to sleep.
"Me too, Jo," Jeanne replied. "And if this is our last night in this world...
I'm glad it is a peaceful one."
Jeanne gazed at the star-filled sky, feeling a rare tranquility. "You know, Jo? I often think back to when we were kids,
when we created our own world from imagination and simple laughter."
Joanna sighed, the candlelight reflecting softly on her face. "Yes, but now we can no longer ignore reality. Our world is much more complicated." She clutched her blanket tightly, as if trying to embrace the lost memories.
"Maybe we can create a new reality, Jo," Jeanne suggested with a faint smile, "One that is brighter, even if just in our minds, a sanctuary from the burdens of our past."
"That will be very difficult," Joanna replied softly, her tone reflecting both doubt and hope. "But... I like that idea, as if we have a second chance."
As the sun rose, they walked to the riverbank.
Children ran towards them, offering wildflowers.
"For you, traveling sisters!"
Jeanne knelt down, accepting the flowers with a smile. "Thank you, dear. They are beautiful." She then whispered to Joanna, "Look, Jo. These little ones remind us of the hope that never fades." Joanna nodded, holding back a wave of emotions she couldn't express.
"I wish we could at least give them something,
anything that could make them happy," Joanna said, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Jeanne replied warmly, "Maybe we can share our stories and experiences,
Jeanne replied warmly, "Maybe we can share our stories and experiences, teaching them about the wonders of the world, igniting their imaginations and inspiring them like we once imagined our own possibilities."
"Thank you. But why for us?"
A young child answered innocently:
"Because you helped us when we needed it.
That is enough."
No one knew they were speaking to two founders of the modern world.
But that was not what mattered.
What truly mattered was:
the spirit of independence and free will still resided in the hearts of humanity,
even though the names Jeanne and Joanna had become faint whispers.
For a moment, Jeanne lowered her head, feeling the weight of the responsibility that accompanied her. She looked at Jo, who still appeared cheerful, not fully comprehending the burden of the world on her shoulders. "Jo, do you know that sometimes we become guardians of other people's dreams?" she asked slowly.
"I know, sis. But can we always do it?" Joanna replied, her eyes shining with hope but tinged with a hint of doubt.
"Perhaps not always. But what we do matters," Jeanne smiled, trying to reassure her sister.
As they left the village, Joanna asked:
"Sis, what will we do now, after all these experiences?"
"We keep moving forward, Joan, not just for ourselves but for all those who believe in us, those who dare to hope, and those who strive for a better tomorrow."
We will continue to be witnesses.
Not to lead.
But to observe the new choices being made."
The cool breeze flowed between them, as if the wind itself was listening to their conversation. "And as we see people like us fighting for their freedom, I feel that our dreams are not in vain," added Jeanne, her voice slightly choked by emotion.
"And one day,
when the world no longer needs us...
we will know."
"That our duties have been fulfilled."
And Excalibur, hidden far in the old Nexus,
continued to glow faintly,
waiting for the next generation.
Jeanne sensed a change; hope was blossoming like new shoots. The sky above them began to darken, yet her heart was filled with the light of hope for the unseen future.