21st Century Necromancer-Chapter 571 - 567: Joan of Arc and The Lady of the Camellias (Please Subscribe, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

"Maid of Orleans is a legendary hero born in France during the Hundred Years' War with England. This young woman from Orleans received revelations from God, leading the French people against the British invasion. Unfortunately, she was eventually captured by the Burgundians and later bought by the English for a substantial amount of money, who then smeared her as a witch and condemned her to burn at the stake," said the old priest as he walked up the steps in front of the church, recounting the story of France's most famous female hero to Mr. and Mrs. Chen Yu, while Gilles de Rais followed behind them with a look of sorrow.

"Did Joan really receive revelations from God?" Jounouchi Hiromi asked curiously. She knew some of the story about the West's most renowned female hero, the Maid of Orleans, and had originally thought that the so-called divine revelation was just propaganda to sanctify Joan, but when she learned that deities truly existed in this world, the authenticity of the divine inspiration needed consideration.

However, in response to Jounouchi Hiromi's question, the old priest looked towards Gilles de Rais. Compared to the priest, this comrade-in-arms of the Maid of Orleans from her lifetime certainly knew much more and had more accurate information.

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"She did indeed receive revelations from God, and while she was still alive, she told us the story and we witnessed the miracles she created more than once," Gilles avoided mentioning Joan's name; it seemed that speaking her name as a vampire was a form of sacrilege: "I have never seen anyone as pure as her; if it weren't for God's revelation, how could a seventeen-year-old shepherdess from Orleans lead us to defeat the British, and be invincible on the battlefield? Even the British legendary warriors couldn't harm her."

"Was Joan a Legendary-rank strong?" Jounouchi Hiromi revealed a surprised expression, while Chen Yu beside her also became curious, very interested in the story of the Catholic saint from six hundred years ago.

Gilles de Rais looked up at the statue of Joan at the top of the entrance to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, seemingly reminiscing about the great and holy young woman, before he continued after a long silence: "She was a courageous and wise commander on the battlefield; she always led from the front, and even when injured, she would still return to the front line to lead us to victory. Every soldier under her command had unwavering faith that she would lead us to drive out the invaders and lead us to victory, just as we had devoutly believed in God initially."

Gilles de Rais did not answer the question of whether Joan was a Legendary-level Transcendent, but his words had in fact already given the answer.

In that era of the Middle Ages, when cold weapons dominated, every knight was a Transcendent, and the British would not allow such a commander capable of leading the French to victory to run rampant on the battlefield. The English longbowmen, the Sherwood archers, were all from English units, and on the battlefield a single arrow could often solve many problems.

Joan's ability to lead the French army to victory on the battlefield, especially leading charges herself, indicates that her strength was formidable; and for a seventeen-year-old girl from the countryside to become a genius commander and general, if not for the help of deities, it would likely have been impossible by her own merits alone.

"She often acted like a child, serious in her intentions to do good, most of the time with a solemn demeanor, but she was never bound by dogma and boldly took what she considered the most effective measures to resolve problems, even though sometimes it seemed as if she was just fooling around," Gilles appeared to recall his memories with Joan, and a gentle smile surfaced on his face, softening the otherwise somber and cold expression he wore in the night.

Neither Chen Yu and his wife nor the old priest interrupted the poor soul who had been pining for his beloved for six hundred years; they simply listened quietly as Gilles de Rais recounted the tales of the battles he had waged alongside Joan of Arc.

"But the shameless Charles VII had no intention of saving her! The Burgundians also violated the prisoner's code by handing her over to the English!" Speaking of Joan's last days, Gilles de Rais's face twisted into a grimace, and it was only then in front of Chen Yu and his wife that he revealed the terrifying aspect of himself that had slaughtered three hundred children and become a vampire: "Pierre Cauchon, I will never forget that name! That beast destined for hell killed her! Even though I avenged her and turned that damned beast into a vampire, locking him up in a dungeon to torment for a hundred years, my Joan! My love! She is gone forever!"

This was the first time in front of Chen Yu that Gilles had cried out Joan's name. Hearing his cry that spanned six hundred years, Chen Yu couldn't help but feel a trace of sympathy for him.

However, looking at the mournful Gilles de Rais, Chen Yu thought for a moment and still decided not to disturb his grief. Instead, he said to the old priest, "Let Marshal Gilles be alone for a while. Father, could you take us to see another respectable woman?"

"Of course, please follow me." Knowing that Gilles de Rais wouldn't enter the church, the old priest did not concern himself with the vampire lost in his sorrow outside the church door and led Chen Yu and his wife towards the church's cemetery.

The old priest fetched a lantern from the church. Though for Chen Yu and his wife and himself, it made no difference whether they had light or not, he still habitually carried the lantern, illuminating their path forward. As they walked, he explained, "The woman buried here is the prototype for the heroine, Marguerite, in Mr. Young Dumas's novel 'The Lady of the Camellias.' Her name was Marie Duplessis, a Parisian socialite of the time. She and Young Dumas fell in love at first sight but, compelled by her livelihood, she continued to maintain relationships with her former clients. Young Dumas, out of anger over this, wrote a break-up letter and then traveled abroad."

However, when he returned from abroad to France, he learned that Marie, only 23 years old, had passed away. When she fell gravely ill, former suitors deserted her, and at her funeral, there were only two attendees! Her belongings were auctioned off to clear her debts, with the remainder going to a poor niece of hers, on the condition that the inheritor would never come to Paris!

The tragedy of Marie deeply moved Young Dumas. Filled with regret and longing, he sequestered himself in the outskirts and wrote 'The Lady of the Camellias,' a work brimming with his remembrance and remorse for Marie. And Marie Duplessis's remains lie buried in this cemetery."

As the old priest spoke, he led Chen Yu and his wife to a grave before them.