Months passed and the life of a page is more of studying than physical training. More delivering messages than delivering blows. More books than sword. It's been a couple days and Karim now knows who the girl is. It turns out she was the daughter and only child of the duke, meaning she is also an heir. He hasn't seen her since the day they met but he finds himself wondering when he could have the chance to talk to her.
One particularly silent night, Karim walks out of the pages' dormitory to practice sword fighting fearing that he might lose the ability to swing a sword if he does not maintain training. Once outside, he hears thuds and silent swooshes. Peeking, he sees a person practice with wooden sword on a quintain. Seeing who it was baffled Karim and because of it, he makes a sudden step backwards only to step on a branch.
The person practicing heard this and comes eye-to-eye with Karim.
That was the start of Karim and the girl's friendship.
Karim grew up to be a splendid young man and serves the duke as a squire. At this time, tensions between the tribes and the duchy is at its peak and he often accompanies the noble to inspect the frontier. They may not see each other as much but the girl, now a bright young woman still maintains a very close relationship with him. One can obviously see how close they are just by being there. Karim and the young woman often spar and train together. It can also be said that Karim is on par with the woman's fighting prowess, both in the art of hand to hand combat and with melee weapons.
The Etherion Kingdom still does not approve of the fairer sex participating in the army and its branching departments. This has aggravated the young woman because she has always wanted to be acknowledged as a warrior first, a noblewoman second.
Her dream is to defend the Kingdom from its enemies, namely the the Inoi tribes from the North, the Ereldian Empire from the east, and the brewing rebellion inside the kingdom itself. As someone who will inherit the duchy, the woman had studied the politics and history of the kingdom. Based on recent findings, the nation suffers from a lack of soldiers, both from the nobles and common men. If the war ravages for years, which is most likely to happen, the kingdom will have to force those younger, older, incapable men into the military. The woman knows there are those like her of the snubbed gender who are more than capable to fight amongst the soldiers of Etherion.
Alas, her dreams were futile and were scoffed at. The dreams of a little warrior girl, crushed and belittled. The only ones who supported her dreams and genuinely fought beside this ideal was her partner and eventually, husband, Karim and their friends and alliances.

"Grandfather, is there something wrong?" I asked and nudge the old man. Karim straightens and puts a hand on my shoulder. "Lass, whatever ye are planning to do, the path o' mercenary is a brutal one. I strongly suggest that you put yer attention elsewhere."
"I...I-I'll think about your advice, grandfather. However, I still insist on training with you." There's no reason to make grandfather suspicious this early. He might be brutish but he can still discern my actions.
"'Course, lass!" His face brightens and he fastens his sheath on to his person. "Well, guess I's come back next morrow. Be prepared, lass. This ain't child's play anymore! HA HA HA!"
The former duke offers a sloppy salutation and a toothy grin before exiting towards the gates of the field.
I'm tired. No, scratch that, I'm half-dead. I sincerely offer myself to my bed even if it is still early in the morning. If this was my previous body, I'd be off to the afterlife, wait, maybe the next life if reincarnation is real?