Sentry and his master Raven stayed in the village of Domrémy to assist with the damage that had been done by the Burgundians. While the Raven assisted the D'arc family, Sentry mostly stayed in the company of their daughter Joan.
He sat with her on a fence as she looked at him with wide eyes, listening to his explanation of vampires.
"So they cannot dwell in the light of the sun?" Joan asked. Sentry shook his head in response.
"No. The sun will kill them if they remain in its rays. It's like lighting someone on fire the moment the sun makes contact with their skin. They also cannot enter a home unless you give permission. They are very dangerous to fight unarmed since they move very quickly, nearly impossible to track by normal humans."
Joan leans on the fence as she listens.
"Are there any other monsters besides vampires?" Sentry did not desire to scare her, but she did not seem afraid. Mostly intrigued by the possibilities.
"Yes, many more. I'd bore you with all the details. But you should be fine as long as you remain here." Sentry looks around the city, seeing the area. But his eyes always landed back on Joan. He stared at her long dark hair, her hazel eyes, her aquiline nose. He looked at Joan with a shortness of breath, taking in her plain features, but in his eyes, he had never seen such a beautiful girl.
She catches his stare as she shivers softly.
"Why do you where that mask? Are you ugly underneath?" Her straightforward question sent a stabbing pain through Sentry's chest. He turns away from her, his eyes wide under the mask as his heart speeds to a rate he had never thought possible. He also felt something he hadn't ever felt this way. A sense of self-consciousness that was different than the self-consciousness he felt in the Parliament.
Joan notices his movements and realizes how rude her question was.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean that you are ugly. I'm sure you look handsome underneath." She smiles awkwardly, worried she may have hurt his feelings. Joan places her hands on his, pulling his attention to her.
"I apologize. I don't mean to come off as rude to the boy who helped save my life. So do please forgive me. Forget I ever said it please."
She couldn't see it, but Sentry's gaze was wide and stunned. His eyes stared at her as his cheeks flushed under the mask. This was a new feeling. He had been around girls within his age group like Éloise, but he never felt anymore different than he usually did. Focused on studies and training, but here he focused on Joan. How she made his heart flutter, his stomach twisting with a foreign sense of delight.
He shakes his head lightly and gathers himself the best he can.
"It's fine, Joan," Sentry said, unsure of what to do. He had been raised to fight and kill. He remembered seeing how the other kids were praised for their skills. He remembered how they would twirl their blades and be cheered on for their dexterity and skill. This gave him a small idea.
As his idea came to. He steps from the fence and draws his blade. Joan looked confused at his actions.
"Have you ever met a knight before?" He asked with a coy tone. Joan with a raised brow answered back.
"No. Not really."
"They are great fighters, but slow with all their armor. If you've seen one, you'd never see one do this." Within moments he throws the sword high into the air, backflipping into the air as he catches the blade, now holding it in a reverse grip.
Joan was stunned, her eyes wider than any dinner plate Sentry had seen. She lightly claps her hands with a smile. This was new for Sentry. Roxanne had been too busy to watch him in combat training. The only one who did was Morrigan, and she was only ever in the business of just that. Business. She was not one for compliments unless she could tell he really deserved it.
Sentry smiled under his mask as he took out his dagger as well. Throwing it and his sword up, juggling them both. Juggling them between the two before only doing the action with his right hand. Catching both by the handle and tossing them back into the air. Joan smiled brighter as she clapped for him.
This was truly the most entertaining thing she had seen all her life.
"You are truly amazing. Are you certain you aren't a performer? I'd believe that over a kind of knight any day." Sentry smiled under this mask before catching his sword, sheathing it in a swift motion. Allowing his dagger to fall as he kicks the hilt back up, catching it and sheathing it on his back.
"Not a performer. But if I were one, I think an audience of you is all I need Lady Joan." He says formally with a bow. Making Joan recoil from his sudden boost in confidence.
She smiles lightly as she cannot hesitate to ask. "What other tricks can you do Sir Sentry?"
Sentry continued to entertain the young Joan while his master spoke with her parents. Watching from a distance as they observed the two. Joan's mother, Isabelle watched as well as she smiled to herself.
"That boy of yours is certainly talented. I've never encountered anything like him." She spoke with clear praise. Morrigan stared on with a light smile.
"And you probably never will. He truly is one of a kind. Surprisingly enough, he seems to have taken an interest in your little girl. I've never seen him so... happy." Morrigan says, her tone trailing off a bit at the word.
"I must say the same for Joan. She's never really been treated well by the other children. She's so devoted to the word of God, always attending mass any time she can. Other kids call her weird for it, this is the first time I've seen her happy about something else. It's such a shame you both have to leave so soon." The Raven sighs as she knows it's true. It almost made her desire to stay a bit longer for Sentry to get closer to this Joan girl.
"Yes, but if we stay any longer, then he will never leave your girl alone. We'll stay in the city for tonight, then leave at dawn. Hopefully, he doesn't try to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage." Isabelle laughed it off softly, but the idea of Joan having a husband was not something she had thought of before. But it was not an idea she was totally against either.
The two watch their children as Sentry performs more feats of his skills for Joan. From flips, splits, and many acrobatic acts which gave Joan more insight into Sentry as a person. At first, she found him unusual, what with his eerie atmosphere and shy attitude, it was relaxing to see him act so... human.
Sentry balanced on the fence, walking on his hands alongside as Joan watched with a smile and laugh.
"You sure you won't fall and make a fool of yourself Sentry?" She asks with a chuckle as he balances on one hand.
"Not at all. I can do this all day." He says as his eyes land on Joan. Seeing her laugh, her face so bright to him, made his heart skip as imagery flashed before his eyes. He saw in her more than a simple farm girl. He saw in her what others did not.
While others called her plain, and bland, not giving her the time of day with her basic looks. Sentry did not see that. Even upside down he saw in her beauty. Her smile, her pale yet soft-looking skin, and her long black hair that flowed in the wind as it draped over her shoulders. Her nose with it's a prominent bridge with a slight downward curve. Even her brown eyes reflected the sun's rays, making them appear golden like honey.
When she locked eyes with him, he slipped, falling off the fence as Joan gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth and she rushed to check on him as he fell into the grass.
"Are you alright?!" Joan asked as Sentry sat up. Joan gasped again as their eyes locked. Sentry looks into her eyes as he feels something is truly off.
That being his mask.
Reaching up to feel his face, he notices the missing accessory and reacts immediately to cover it up. He knew he wasn't ugly, but he was still self-conscious of his appearance. His yellow eyes that gave off a supernatural glow of gold, with his darkened freckled skin, he had never been seen by outsiders, and had recently decided to hide his appearance when out on the battlefield to not stick out to others.
He feared Joan would demonize him now that she had seen his face. Seen his eyes. Those burning eyes. He feared for himself that the one girl who made him feel so internally good would hate him and cast him aside because of this revelation. Instead, he peeked from between his fingers to be greeted with not hate, not a look of disgust., but instead he saw her hand. He could not fathom her actions as he had not understood her motives yet.
"Are you okay? I told you you'd make a fool of yourself if you weren't careful." Joan's words were spoken from actual concern. Her voice so sweet as her words landed on his sharp ears.
He looked up to her as the sun beamed behind her head, mimicking the light of a halo as he felt his heart skip a beat. He lightly places his hand in hers as she helps him stand. Joan seems lost as well, staring at his face with interest. She had never met anyone who looked like him. Especially one with eyes that were as bright and golden as the sun. The freckles that painted his cheeks only seemed to emphasize his unique face.
Joan lightly looked as he looked back into her eyes.
"You aren't afraid of me?" Sentry asked softly.
Joan shakes her head lightly, nearly chuckling at him for even asking it seemed.
"Not at all. Here I thought you were hiding scars or something scary. But you don't look scary or bad at all. Besides, it's not my job to judge you. Even if it were, I don't see anything but the real you, so what is there to judge?" Her words seemed so genuine. So true.
She meant every word that left her holy lips. Sentry felt as though he could listen to her words all day long. She lightly handed Sentry his mask as he lightly took it from her grasp.
"You're so pretty..." Sentry said softly. Joan's eyes widen as she recoils from his words.
"W-What?"
Sentry covers his mouth as he tries to recover from his own words.
"Oh, umm... nothing. T-Thank you." He says quickly taking the mask from her grasp and putting it onto his face.
Sentry stands with his back to Joan after blurting out his strange request. Even Joan was flushed from the very sudden question. The moment seemed so painfully awkward, yet it was manageable.
A childish awkwardness that reminded Sentry that he was just that. A child. Sentry had been used to training to kill monsters and to purge the world of evil. Yet no training could help him handle his time with a simple girl.
He looked her in the eyes once again. Something about this girl made every nerve in his body fire. Wanting nothing more than to stare at her until the sun ate the earth and thereafter.
Inside her eyes, he saw what no one else seemed to care to notice. Inside her brown eyes, he saw a masterpiece with every detail in her irises, pupils, and the very nature of her gaze.
"Sentry. Can you show me... how you fight with a sword?" Joan asked. She turned away after asking, only desiring to make the awkward moment pass.
Sentry nodded happily as he rushed around the field, trying to find some sticks. Eventually happening upon two branches of equal length. Rushing to Joan and handing her a branch, she looks surprised at his gesture.
"Wait, you want to fight me?" She asked, a little afraid.
"Well yes. But we will not fight for real. I only desire to show you how I fight. No harm will befall you." Sentry reassured her. His voice sounded genuine, giving Joan enough comfort to grab the other stick.
Taking a stance across from her as she stands to her feet. Holding the stick.
"Joan, show me how you hold a sword."
Joan takes a stance on what she imagined knights holding swords was like. Sentry tilts his head as he removes his mask with a smile.
"Good stance. If you desire to be gutted like a fish." Sentry walks over. Tapping the stick on her shoulders. "Your shoulders are too stiff. Relax your stance a bit and bring your forward leg in a bit. Also aim the blade a bit more to the left, covering your front at an angle. I don't know how to explain it fully but like... this."
He uses his stick to angle Joan's stick. Once her stance was good, he stood across from her.
"Now. Strike me."
"W-what?"
"You heard me. Strike me, Joan."
Joan hesitated, not wanting to just whack him with the stick. But she was sure he'd be okay surely. She didn't wing full force. But brings the stick down, only for Sentry to slap the stick to the side and press the stick against her neck.
"That's how I fight. I like to throw one off balance, or disarm, then go for the throat." He pulls his stick away as he motions for her to hold the stick up again.
Joan does so, taking a deep breath as she takes her stance again. Sentry smiles as he motions for her to come and try again.
This time Joan waited a moment. Moving in and swinging at Sentry as he playfully carried her strikes. He moved smoothly like the water around Joan. Moving around her before pressing the stick to her neck again.
She smiles softly as she watches him move. It feels more like a dance than a fight with swords. Sentry flowed around her, he moved smoothly and quickly, but stayed long enough to flash sticks with her. Joan was having fun for once, not like she had ever had before.
The demonstration turned into an innocent bout. One that Sentry truly began to treasure as it went on. It made him never want to leave her side.
The sun began to fall as eventually the two were called inside. Joan by her father and Sentry by his master. The two drop their sticks and quickly walk back to the farm where Joan's mother had prepared food for them to dine on.
The Raven did not desire to eat inside, but was convinced by Isabelle to eat in with the family.
Once inside. The Raven could not help but notice Sentry's desire to sit next to Joan. Which sadly could not be with her siblings and the usual seating arrangements. This made him a bit sad, but he got over it as he was seated across from her, able to admire her pretty face.
The food was served, an average bowl of stew to be exact. Nothing extravagant. But it beats the rations that they've been eating while on the road.
Jacques prayed over the food as everyone soon after dug in.
Sentry moved his mask up a bit to eat the food. Joan's brothers seemed pretty curious about him, especially after seeing how well he interacted with their less-than-social sister.
Her mother looked to him, with a smile, admiring his seemingly polite and soft-spoken nature. She spoke softly. "So, Sentry was it? You seem so young. Yet you fight at your age?"
He stops eating and nods his head as he answers. "Yes."
"Have you killed anyone!?" Pierre shouted. This earned a stern glance from his father and mother alike.
"Pierre, it's rude to shout. Besides, that may be too personal a question that Sentry may not want to talk about." Isabelle said, making him shrink a bit in his seat.
"Sorry mother. I just... I'm just curious."
Sentry looked to the Raven, as if finding permission in her gaze to speak. Which she granted with a small nod.
"It's fine Lady Isabelle. I don't mind, I also promise it isn't bad what I have to say." Sentry lightly turns to Pierre to answer his question.
"I haven't killed anyone human at least. I only point my sword towards monsters."
This had them intrigued, especially since the previous night when the Burgundians attacked was the only time they had ever seen or heard of such monsters existing in the world. Jean spoke up.
"So like that man. Those monsters. You train to fight them? But how does one even train to fight things like that so young?" Jean spoke to Sentry like a child with genuine curiosity. Though he was the second-oldest child, older than Sentry as well, he still spoke to Sentry like he was a seasoned knight.
Sentry internally appreciated his curiosity. Finding it refreshing as it gave him time to think of an answer.
"It's not easy. It requires more than just swordsmanship and power. Monsters aren't all the same as we said before. Some look as seamless as you and I. Human in appearance, but anything but inside. So we mostly train our senses and our mind to be able to tell them apart. It isn't as scary as it seems on the surface. But it'sn't for everyone."
Sentry tried to sound nice as he spoke. Joan and her siblings seemed to understand what he was trying to say. Her parents as well. Her father looked at Sentry for a while, wondering what fate forced a child to fight a man's battles so young.
"Well, I feel safer knowing you're out there killing the monsters." Joan said as she ate her bread.
Sentry was flushed under his mask as he tried to hide his face softly behind his mask.
"O-Of course my lady." His sheepish voice leaked to a whisper.
Pierre gave Joan a knowing look. Seeing the effect her words had on Sentry. It was something all three of her elder brothers noticed.
Joan pretended not to care as she continued eating. After dinner, Sentry volunteered to help clean the table. Though Isabelle and Jacques didn't want their guest doing any kind of work, Sentry wanted to lend his aid to all he could.
He assisted in cleaning the table alongside Isabelle. Who appreciated his kindness.
Sentry examined Isabelle's features, comparing them to Joan's and what she may or may not have inherited. Her face was soft and innocent. Like a woman who could do no wrong.
Isabelle wasn't nobility, but you can see that she and Joan have the same sweetness in their gaze. Joan's gaze looked a tad bit more serious at times.
Isabelle notices his gaze as he quickly turns his head.
"You know, I didn't expect Joan to be so open with you. Nor for her to have such an effect on you." Sentry looked at her from under his mask with a tilt of his head.
"Really? I take it she isn't friendly with others?"
"She is as sweet as they come. But Joan is very religious and devoted. She spends her free time reading in her Bible or at church. I haven't seen her interact with anyone around her age as casually as she did with you earlier. It makes me sad to see you and your teacher leave so soon."
Sentry could see the slight sadness in her eyes. Making him wonder if he truly had to leave. He knows he did, but his fondness for the young girl tugged at his heart. Directing him to go where she goes.
He did not say it, but he wanted to be with Joan in every way possible. Even if he did not understand why he fell for this village girl so quickly.
By most standards, she was average, but if you asked Sentry, her looks could not be matched by any Queen or Countess. Sentry looked at Isabelle lightly as he spoke without thinking. Mostly asking a question to himself.
"Could I... marry Joan?" He whispered, but it did not go unheard.
Isabelle's eyes widened at this sudden question as Sentry quickly covered the mouth of his mask. His cheeks flushing deep red under his porcelain mask.
Isabelle lightly laughed softly at his question.
"Did my daughter have that much of an effect on you?" Isebell noticed Sentry's meek attitude begin to grow. It was hard to believe this hunter who has been where no child should be is still a child at heart.
"Sentry, you are very kind and a great boy, and I can see that you will be an even greater man. But Joan isn't just someone I can give you. While she does seem interested, I'm not sure it's in that way."
Sentry stood up as he finished helping, thinking in his mind what he would do.
"I know. I just feel right asking for permission to try. Even when we return tomorrow, I don't know when. But I want to return and marry her. If that's alright with you and her."
Isabelle was surprised at the sincerity behind his words. She thought it was just a childish crush, but he spoke with a tone that rang with truth. She still assumed it was only a crush, but she was happy that he wanted to try.
"Very well. If you return you can try to get that girl to warm up to you. Then I'll allow it." Isabelle spoke as she stood up, lightly wiping the sweat from her brow.
Sentry smiled under his mask, but in Isabelle's eyes, she couldn't tell what his face was actually portraying. Sentry gave a polite bow to her.
"I swear on my name as Sentry Ashwood. I will return. And when I do, I shall prove myself to Joan d'Arc the next time I see her."
As those words left his lips, from the halls of the small house, the girl herself leaned against the wall, her ears picking up on the conversation and hearing Sentry's conviction.
Joan was more surprised than anything, but simply turned to her room with a smile.