In fall 1703 in Villon-sur-Sarthe, twelve-year-old Adeline lives in a visibly Catholic village, where churchgoing is routine and expected. Adeline follows the habits of faith more than its conviction, and her thoughts are shaped by Estele, the village outsider who treats Christianity as a “new” god that belongs to cities and kings, not to river, field, and woods.

Adeline’s immediate problem is personal and urgent: her father is leaving for the Le Mans market, but for the first time in years Adeline is not allowed to go. Her mother insists it is no longer fitting as Adeline grows older, and compares her unfavorably to the quiet, incurious Isabelle Therault. Adeline begs, is restrained, and when she tries to run after the cart, her mother slaps her and tells her she is not a child anymore; Adeline feels punished simply for growing up.

Angry and trapped, Adeline goes to find Estele, believing the old woman’s “old gods” might change what her parents will not. Remembering how Estele once offered a stone cup to the river as payment while praying, Adeline asks how to speak to these gods—whether they have names, spells, or rules. Estele rejects “spells” as dangerous talk, then explains that the old gods are everywhere—in river and field, woods and sunlight, dawn and dusk—and that prayer is made with gifts and praise, without any guarantee of an answer.

When Adeline asks to be taught, Estele agrees only with warnings: Adeline must humble herself, offer something precious, and be careful what she asks for because the old gods are fickle and unmerciful. Estele gives one final, emphatic rule—no matter how desperate, never pray to the gods that answer after dark.

Two days later Adeline’s father returns with gifts meant to satisfy her: new parchment and black lead pencils. Adeline takes the best pencil, buries it behind the garden as an offering, and prays to be allowed to go with her father next time. Nothing changes; if any gods hear, they do not answer, and Adeline never goes to market again.