At the same time, Cat woke up as well. She was lying on a rather comfortable bed, half-covered with a beast skin as a blanket. As she struggled out of her slumber, she saw a person writing at a candlelit table.
- Where am I? She asked, still half asleep.
- In the tent of the most powerful witch in the kingdom of France! answered a woman's voice that made herblood freeze.
She knew the voice but thought she would never hear it again... A quick glance confirmed what she feared.
- Lilian!
Facing her was the legendary witch who had nearly caused their demise not long ago. Cat was disconcerted, Lilian was supposed to be dead, her soul had been sucked into the underworld. However, her voice, her face, her aura, there was no doubt, it was really her. Lilian, with an amused smile, observed her too. She got up and leaned over the bed where Cat was resting, her face was only a few centimeters away from her, she seemed to analyze every reaction of poor Cat who was really struggling. Cat felt her heart rate increase with each movement of her interlocutor, she had sweaty hands and struggled to breathe.
- So you know my real name, you're getting more and more interesting...
Lilian stepped back and seemed to think for a moment. Cat was relieved and the inconsistencies of the situation began to dawn on her. First, the fact that Lilian did not seem to recognize her, then the fact that she was dressed in heavy armor and finally the incongruity of the place in which they were. But before she could imagine the least hypothesis, Lilian came back to her:
- Three points intrigue me about you, first, you suddenly appeared in the middle of our camp, then, your clothes, I had never seen such... and last, you know my real name...
Lilian was now showing a puzzled face and as she spoke, she was analyzing Cat's clothes, which obviously intrigued her the most. When she raised the bottom of her skirt, Cat had the mechanical reflex to rebel, giving a small tap on the hand of the witch before freezing in fear. Lilian also froze for a moment and then released a soundful laughter. Regaining her seriousness, Lilian began to think aloud of fate of her guest.
- What am I going to do with you... I can't possibly let you go back... I have a choice between killing you... torturing you to find out what you're hiding from me... or...
She paused, Cat's face breaking down with each choice and the pause seemed endless.
- ...Keep you with me, just long enough for me to make sure you're harmless.
At the mention of this last choice, Catherina's face lit up with deep relief and her eyes implored the witch to choose this last option. But contrary to all expectations, Lilian burst out laughing.
- Pffff! What a face, I'm definitely interested in you, I think I'll keep you with me for a while...
When she stopped laughing, she decreed that Cat would be her companion from now on, then got up to go and search in a trunk and got out some clothes that she handed to Cat.
- Here, put this on, you'll be less noticeable than with your clothes... By the way, what's your name?
- Thank you, my name is Catherina Lenko.
Lilian pouted and took a pensive look, Catherina thought she was trying to memorize her name.
- Too long! I will call you Cat it is simpler. She decided.
Cat could not refrain from laughing while thinking that Sophia had exactly the same words when she got in the brigade.
- By the way, call me Joan, it's my name at the moment, I do not want my real name to be disclosed at this time ... (Note: For the rest of the story, Lilian will be referred to as Joan).
- While Cat was changing, Joan analysed her clothes, she seemed fascinated but the highlight of the show was her reaction when Cat took off her blouse, revealing an elegant pink bra. Joan almost jumped on her and observed it from every angle with round eyes.
- What a curious corset! It looks rather comfortable to me...
- Cat was striked by her host's shameless attitude as she hovered around it, feeling the textures of each fabric. Finally She finally stepped aside before extending her hand.
- Give it to me!
- Huh?
- Give me that corset, I want to try it on! She said while untying the straps of her armor.
- No! It's personal, it's not for loan! Protested vigorously Cat.
- You wouldn't want me to change my mind about your fate... insisted Joan, glaring at her.
Cat maintained her glance a moment. Cat was unable to detect if Joan was still joking or if her life was really at stake, she finally gave up. Joan, obviously satisfied with her booty, tryed it on without waiting. Cat still had to give her some advice on how to adjust it, but once the garment was in place, the witch was delighted with the result, it looked like a little girl receiving a new garment. She looked at herself in the mirror, twirling happily.
- Perfect! I keep it! She concluded by getting dressed in front of Cat, who displayed a completely depressed look.
- Cat, on her side put on the outfit that Joan had given her, red and blue pants closed by a small cord and a matching tunic. The outfit was completed by boots and leather sleeves.
They had not been dressed for more than five minutes when a strong man burst into the tent, visibly panicked.
- Joan! Joan!
- What? What is it, Lahire? Why such intrusion?
- The English... the English troops are approaching, we must prepare to defend...
- Lahire, gather our men, they will see the power of God!
- He smiled and left as he came. Joan, on her side, was also getting ready, grabbing a sword, she glanced at Cat as she was leaving.
- Follow me, you too can observe the divine fire!
- Divine power, the devil's, you mean! "
- The devil does not save men, come with me and you will understand!
- Without a word, Cat followed her lead. They walked through a medieval-style camp before arriving at a paddock with horses.
- Can you ride? asked Joan.
- Yes, I should manage...
- Perfect, choose one that suits you. She said while mounting a white steed herself.
- She passed her hand over the animal's head and the next moment armor covered its back and head, transforming it into a war horse.
- As the soldiers streamed out of the camp, Joan took their lead with Cat at her side and the battalion began to march. It didn't take long for them to see the shadow of the opposing army looming on the horizon. The English were clearly outnumbering, but Joan was not impressed, and holding up the French banner, she faced them with an ultimatum.
- Stop, English! My name is Joan of Arc, I am the messenger of God! Abandon your dreams of conquest now or prepare to suffer the wrath of God!
- As the English soldiers continued their assault, Cat watched Joan, she displayed a sense of deep weariness. Then she raised her head:
- Almighty God, may your flames consume the infidels!
No sooner had she said these words than a tornado of flames rose up among the soldiers. It took only a few minutes to burn down the entire battalion. The sight was apocalyptic, hundreds of men and horses reduced to ashes in an instant in a gigantic scream of fear and pain.
The contrast between the howls of pain of the English and the joy of the French troop was striking, she was now fully aware of the darkness of the human soul, this brutality, this cruelty that the war exacerbated froze her blood. She did not have the heart to speak on the way back, but once alone in the tent, her brain rebooted and tons of questions came to her mind but when she raised her head, she almost forgot them all. Joan was sitting on the bed with her head in the hands. She had thrown her armor on the floor and seemed to be in pain. Cat watched her for a moment in silence...
Joan's breathing was ragged, sweat was pouring down her temples, her muscles seemed tense. The great witch now looked so vulnerable that Cat was almost tempted to take the opportunity to flee, but instead she reached out and laid her hand on Joan's back. Surprised, this one turned over one moment towards Cat then noting her benevolent glance, plunged her head back in her hands.
They did not say a single word but Cat understood perfectly the situation. Joan was using her powers daily, battle after battle and she was paying the consequences, the demon was raging inside her and her body was on the verge of breaking. They stayed like that for a few minutes and little by little Joan's breathing stabilized, her muscles relaxed, she managed to tame the demon. When the crisis was over, Cat could not refrain from questioning her.
- Joan... Why are you fighting? Why are you doing this to yourself? "
- Don't you understand? This war between the English and the French has been going on for a hundred years, it's time someone put an end to it!
- And you really think that what you've done will bring peace?
- Of course not, I'm not stupid, I know that a few flames won't be enough but such a demonstration of power won't go unnoticed. If I draw enough attention, my words will eventually be heard.
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