A light fog clung to the air as Jared walked the rugged path that led away from the castle, flanked by Anne and Jeanne, the rising sun casting a gentle glow on the landscape. The promise of adventure fluttered in the air, and he could sense the anticipation pooling within him like an unspent charge awaiting release. Beside him, Jeanne's vibrant energy seemed to radiate, contrasting beautifully with Anne's more serene presence.
"So, esteemed sir," Anne began, her voice light with curiosity, "what other marvels do you have hidden away in that contraption of yours?" She glanced at the slightly misshapen bag slung over Jared's shoulder, where he was cradling the "Build your own AI Girlfriend."
"Uh, well…" Jared hesitated, feeling a bit sheepish. He pulled out the futuristic "Build your own AI Girlfriend" model with reluctance, cringing internally at how much it resembled a toy. The sleek machine had a non-stick molding clay aesthetic about it, as if it were just waiting to be crafted into the ideal version of someone.
Jeanne squinted at the object, hands on her hips, a grin teasing the corners of her mouth. "What sorcery is this? Are you building your own little army with clay now?" She smirked, a playful light dancing in her eyes, undermining the grandeur of the AI he held.
"Well, sort of," Jared replied, a sheepish smile creeping to his face. "It's not an army. More like... A replica of you, Jeanne."
"You think you can capture my valor and beauty with that? Show me!"
"Nonsense!" Jared exclaimed, gazing ahead down the dirt path. "This machine might start a bigger ripple than we think. It could help reshape perceptions of women like you in history, showcasing that a woman can do everything a man can."
"Women like you?" Jeanne furrowed her brow, irritated yet intrigued. "You better clarify what you mean! Just because I wield a sword doesn't mean that I'm made of stone! We can be bold and beautiful, can't we? Society often expects us to be delicate, but we do what we must to survive!"
Anne chimed in, "Exactly! Strength doesn't preclude femininity. We should redefine how others see us, and you, Jeanne, embody that perfectly."
"Hold your horses there, Junior Sister," Jared retorted, instantly reminded of the dramatic flair of Xianxia novels. "I'm not some sort of divine sculptor. It's more mechanical than artistic."
With a sigh—and a hint of mischief—he pressed a few buttons, and the machine sprang to life. Bright colors flickered through the circuitry as it whirred and clicked, molding the clay into what could only be described as a curious mock-up of Jeanne, her armor and all.
"Amazing! Am I as glorious as I thought I was?" Jeanne exclaimed, hands on her hips, striking a pose as if the replica was the epitome of perfection.
"Almost charming, but I must say, the spirit behind that clay is missing the boldness of the original," Jared quipped, grinning.
Anne watched it all, her laughter bubbling like a gentle stream. "If you're not careful, Jeanne will get a big head," she teased.
"Big head? You dare to question the Messenger of the Lord's wisdom?" Jeanne shot back, the banter racing between them like a swift wind. "I hope your clay model can fight, for I would not be tame even in a crafted likeness!"
"Just you wait! All your valor will shine through! It's about time you head into the castle!" Jared declared dramatically, the moment feeling surreal yet oddly exhilarating.
Jared turned solemn for a moment, the implications dawning on him. "Actually, I need to send this 'Jeanne' to the men in Compiègne. If they think your sword breaking was just a replica, it'll change the narrative of history as the texts write it."
"Oh, Messenger of the Lord, how clever you are!" Jeanne exclaimed, teasing back, her playful eyes narrowed in admiration yet holding a hint of skepticism.
As they continued walking, Jared felt a sense of fulfillment washing over him; his idea might just work, but his system wasn't done issuing him directives. A sudden notification flashed in his mind declaring Mission Completion: A Rating. He couldn't help but wince internally at the commentary.
The system flashed its commentary before him:
1. Fully convince them Jeanne has turned into a potato.
2. Replace Jeanne with a hug pillow and make the English believe it was Jeanne with certainty.
3. Make them doubt that Jeanne was a woman.
Jared felt a mix of disbelief and irritation rising in him. "What kind of nonsense is this? A potato? Really?" He looked up at the sky, shaking his fist in frustration at the ridiculousness imposed upon him.
"Don't be so hard on yourself, 'esteemed sir,'" Anne chimed in, her tone genuinely sweet. "We all do our best to make sense of this, don't we?"
"Yes, what are those bandits compared to our duty to protect the lands and inspire hope?" Jeanne remarked, her voice buoyant yet with an underlying authority. "A few skirmishes here and there are nothing to fear for the brave! The only thing truly risky is doubting your own valor."
"Alright, alright, then," Jared conceded. "I'll embrace my valor. Just... don't call me 'esteemed sir' all the time; it makes me feel like someone's great uncle."
"Fine," Anne said with a soft laugh, "but I shall insist on calling you that! Such a title demands respect!"
"No respect, just call me Jared!" He declared with a feigned sternness, the playful argument weaving a warm comfort into their growing bond.
Jeanne's voice piped up immediately, "Very well, 'Jared!' But I expect you to live up to the honor of the title! On that note, how do you plan to proceed from now on?" Jeanne asked. She also couldn't help but wonder if the why the voice in her head was gone while deep in thought.
Jared rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'll need to gather information, find allies, maybe even scout the enemy."
"Ah, the strategic mind of a true warrior," Jeanne teased. "If only you could place your brain in the right direction as well."
"Hey!" Jared chuckled, shaking his head. "You stormed my thoughts faster than anyone I've ever met!"
Their camaraderie warmed the air around them, each conversation drawing them closer despite the uncertainties awaiting them down the road.
Later, after the sun mounted high in the sky and the golden rays filtered through the branches, Jared thought it was time to check out more about his newfound abilities and resources, but controlled his eager excitement. "I hope that AI girlfriend is reliable and what surprises await in the System shop," he thought.
Once he calmed his brewing excitement, he quickly opened the interface within his mind. A glowing holographic screen materialized just above his palm.
[Welcome to the System Shop]
He scanned the options:
Resonance Blade Standard Issue (Space Cadet Era) 10T+
Auto Turret + Sentry (Limited Time! Buy One! Get One! With Free Ammunition of 100K Rounds!) (21st Century) 15T+
DNA Modification - Godspeed Level 1 (Unknown Era) 20T+
All weather and all terrain in a vehicle (Early Space Exploration Era) 25T+
Space Exoskeleton T3 Series (Classified Star Sector Warring Era) 50T+
"Imagine what these could do!" Jared marveled quietly, but Jeanne's voice rang in his ears.
"Why do you stare at the sky like a fool? Whatever you're planning must be truly noble!"
"I'm just…considering options for the next mission," he said without revealing more.
"Such strength you exude," Jeanne teased again, though her tone carried genuine encouragement.
The moment they made few more turns on the rough terrain, they began to hear whispers around them. The pact with destiny made itself plain; the sound of distant peasant revolts echoed through the air, carrying the tension of mutiny and rebellion that filled the land.
"I hear skirmishes ahead!" Jared called out, instinctively moving into a more strategic posture. "I need to capitalize on this! The System seems to indicate there could be spoils to gather."
The two were unaware of the thing he called (System) as him just jesting around.
"Ah, precious spoils! The allure of reward calls you," Anne remarked lightly, smirking. "But I hope you are prepared for the chaos that follows."
Jared nodded. "Absolutely! I'll take anything not bolted down. Broken swords, axes, armor… and perhaps," he leaned in conspiratorially, "if the winds favor us, the odd piece of unoccupied clothing, too."
"Clothing? Have you lost your mind?" Jeanne scoffed, incredulity spilling from her lips. "What will you do? Set up a market?"
"Just you wait and see!" Jared grinned, envisioning the prospects of salvaging valuables.
They advanced into the chaos, a mix of shouts and clangs igniting the air as they stumbled into the heart of disorder—a village overtaken by rebels. Jared birthed plans and goals within his mind like a surgeon assessing a complicated surgery. Each beating heart melded with the clashing swords during the revolt felt harmonious—the chaos swirling around him felt as though he were about to partake in something significant.
He turned to Jeanne and Anne, anticipation dancing in his eyes. "We can help! And with the right strategies, we could make quite a fortune out of this!"
"Fortune?" Jeanne questioned, suspicion threaded in her voice. "We'd need to be careful, lest we rouse a rage we cannot quell!"
As they trespassed further through the turmoil, Jared gripped his sword tightly, feeling the adrenaline flood him. "Let's go!" he urged, and the trio dove headfirst into the violent dance around them.
He gathered broken swords and armor pieces like a thorough collector among the discord; each item snatched bore a weight of potential reward. They pressed forward and began assisting villagers in their fight—each skid of shield and clash of steel giving him hope.
"Are you really doing this?" Jeanne panted, sword raised. "You must really be quite equipped!"
"Everyone needs a role in this chaos! Isn't that what you taught me?" he shot back playfully. "What could possibly be more noble than helping the downtrodden?"
Among the wreckage from the battle, Jared rapped his fingers against items of perhaps dubious ownership—broken helmets and dented armor alike. "Each piece I salvage adds up! There's a potential market waiting!"
Anne's laughter bubbled, unique and infectious as they pressed onward. "Do look at him! I sense quite a merchant beneath your brave facade, Jared!"
"With a heart for justice!" Jeanne interrupted. "Though boldness and altruism do seem to have a penchant for wandering away from common sense."
Jared could only laugh as they immersed themselves further into the riot, gathering spoils of rebellion. Racing hearts and sweat greased their resolve, even as notions of the wider world flitted between them, carrying the breezes of historic change.
The atmosphere buzzed with promise; they took stock of everything they collected—gold, broken weapons, and oddly enough, various clothing pieces. Among the random assortment, one peculiar item caught Jared's attention—an Auntie's undergarment. He snorted, both caught off-guard and amused at the ridiculousness of the moment.
"Do you really mean to salvage that?" Jeanne scoffed, disbelief coloring her tone.
"Hey! You can never tell when something—unsuitable for these times—might incite novelty!" He chuckled, attempting humor and failing miserably.
Anne shook her head, partially embarrassed yet amused. "We are not in a fairytale with fancy relics; you realize this, right?"
As Jared rummaged through the remnants of the battlefield, an overwhelming sense of prosperity washed over him. The notion of salvaging treasures softened the seriousness of his predicament, allowing him to brush aside any lingering morality concerns with a grin, knowing their plight deserved some levity amidst the chaos.
"Let's go see if there's more to find; this chaos may just yield bountiful treasures!" Jared called, embarking on the road ahead—unprepared for whatever implausible, curious, historical reality awaited them.
As they joined the pandemonium, the path stretched before them, illuminated by the radiant thrill of uncertainty, friendship, and emerging destinies.