[[Joan continues her journey to the church. She spent more time than she had intended in the village. It would be a race against time as she did not have the resources to make it through the winter…. Joan finally returns to the church and tells the orphan children about her adventures in all the vast lands and unique people she saw she introduced them to Chloe but did not include the part about the illness and the extinction of the village. The kids were mesmerized by Joan's stories so much so that they listened for hours]]
"it's getting late now" Teresa the head saint of the church stood at the door smiling "the kids should go to bed" Joan got up and began ushering the children to leave. one by one they got up and left as a group led by the oldest child. "You're lucky you came back when you did," Teresa said with a worried look on her face. "We were expecting your return around a month ago, you do understand your role in this world don't you? You may have chosen to live the rest of your life for God but you are still a hero a symbol of power"
"Then you would understand that I can handle myself" Joan replied with a firm tone
"The King nearly got involved!" replied Teresa. Joan was appalled. They fought together in the war as the chosen heroes but that was before he had become king. since then Joan had distanced herself from the kingdom and its politics.
"What business does he have with what I do?" asked Joan
"The whole world has business with what you do, you may not have chosen the role of, hero but you must still play the role regardless" Joan averted her gaze from Teresa and stomped down the hallway "make sure the kids are tucked in well, there will be a storm tonight" Teresa's voice faded the further Joan went. "I envy your free spirit," Teresa said to herself "like a child that dreams of soaring through the clouds".
The night was dark and frigid Joan stared at the wall in her chamber as she thought to herself about how different her life would be if she hadn't been chosen to be a hero and how much her life had changed since that day. The other heroes still lived in the center of the kingdom Zion in the castle city. Joan opened her eyes, she had fallen asleep. Looking out of the window she could see snow piled up at least a meter high it glistened as the light from the sky beamed down on it she would have to clear the path so that the church could connect to the main road that lead to the nearest town.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
She left her room and headed for the front door, nobody else had woken up yet, it must have been very early. She pushed on the door to open it, but it wouldn't budge almost as if there was something pushing back. She had assumed it was a small animal and immediately stopped pushing she opened a nearby window and climbed out. Her curiosity turned to shock. There was an unconscious boy, leaning up against the church door covered in frozen blood the snow around him was stained a deep crimson red. Without hesitation Joan ran to the boy, stumbling and nearly falling in the snow shoveling snow off of him he was covered in gashes and bruises and cold to the touch, but not dead she quickly brought him inside and began to tend to him.
The boy opened his eyes he was in an unfamiliar place the room around him was large and decorated with paintings of flowers and trees there was an intense smell of chamomile all over the room he could hear muffled voices talking outside of the door. Suddenly the door began to creek open. Startled, the boy squinted his eyes to see what was on the other side the figure gasped and ran down the hallway a few minutes later Joan entered the room and all the kids hid at the door, listening and shushing each other. Joan examined the boy he was no older than three
"What is your name?" asked Joan
Taceo stared off into the room, a deep rumbling noise began to grow louder and louder in his ears as Joan spoke to him.
"Joan is my name, what about you?" the boy looked up and made eye contact with Joan. The rumbling had stopped.
"Taceo" he quickly looked away.
"Taceo huh?" the name did not seem familiar nor did it sound akin to any other countries or dialects she had ever heard. "What an interesting name! Do you have a family?" she asked. Taceo had lost his memories. The last thing he remembered was being hugged tightly in a dark cold space before losing consciousness. Teresa entered the room and the kids all ran outside to avoid being scolded.
"Have you learned anything that could help us get him back to his family?" Teresa asked Joan shook her head. Teresa saw this as an opportunity to tie Joan down in an attempt to teach her. "Then from this moment forward until someone shows up to accept him, you will be his personal teacher"
"What?!" Joan slammed her hand into a pillow on the bed, startling Taceo
"That girl as well, you will be responsible for their reading writing and any unique talents that they happen to develop" Joan was prepared to argue her way of this. "You can not run away from responsibility forever, you cause too many problems and then complain when the people who care about you try to help" Joan knew Teresa was telling the truth there was no point in a rebuttal "it is finally time for you to grow up" Joan hated it, once again she was tasked with a responsibility that she never wanted she craved the feeling of freedom but there was nothing she could do.