Chapter 42

Gilles and Jeanne were on the battlefield, surrounded by dead and wounded soldiers. "I think we should retreat, it's getting late and the remaining soldiers are tired," said Gilles, concerned. Jeanne nodded in agreement, but not before expressing her desire: "Yes, let's go back soon, but I want to take the bodies of the soldiers." With determination, she approached one of the fallen soldiers, holding him by the arm and lifting him onto her back. Gilles, not wanting to be left behind, picked up two corpses and placed them on his shoulders. The blood of the fallen soldiers stained their clothes and bodies, but they ignored the discomfort and moved forward.

One of the soldiers who was observing the scene asked Jeanne, "Excuse me, but why are we taking the dead soldiers? Also, isn't Miss Jeanne herself a French soldier?" He couldn't understand why she was carrying an English soldier on her back, while the French soldiers remained on the ground. However, Jeanne was determined in her purpose: "Regardless of which side these soldiers are on, regardless of what they did, they fought bravely for what they believed. I believe they all deserve a dignified burial, even if it's the simplest one possible."

Some soldiers around agreed with Jeanne and started to help her and Gilles collect the bodies of the dead soldiers. Others, however, remained motionless, not understanding the attitude of honoring even the enemy soldiers. Jeanne arrived at her horse, Luzinha, still carrying the body of the English soldier on her back. The horse seemed to resist at first, but eventually gave in and allowed Jeanne to place the body on her back. Jeanne was tired and weak, but remained strong and determined to give all the soldiers a proper farewell.

After placing the lifeless body of the soldier on her back, Jeanne, with the strength of a true warrior, took him to her horse. Without hesitation, she picked up another fallen body from the battlefield and carried it with her. Her heart demanded dignity, respect for the dead. She couldn't leave them behind as mere disposable objects. In a secluded place away from the fortifications, Jeanne dismounted her horse and, with the care the dead deserved, placed the three bodies side by side on the ground.

But unfortunately, not all soldiers shared the same conviction. One French soldier spoke up, "I'm sorry, Miss Jeanne, I won't do this." Other soldiers also refused to help. Rude words and insults were thrown at Jeanne and her attitude. "I'm not doing this with these bastards," said one of the soldiers, making it clear the contempt he felt for the enemy bodies.

But Jeanne didn't let herself be affected. Gilles, who accompanied her, was outraged by the attitude of the comrades. To him, Jeanne was a noble warrior, with a pure heart, and deserved all the respect. She turned to the soldiers who refused her help and said, "Thank you, Gilles. But they're not obligated to do anything. I respect their decision. I believe you won't stay here, will you? You can go back to the camp if you want. If you do, be careful with your safety."

Jeanne was saddened by the soldiers' behavior, but did not give up on her mission. Some soldiers who disagreed with her felt uneasy, but still refused to help bury the enemies they had killed. Others simply didn't trust Jeanne from the beginning of the battle and didn't care what she said. But there were still those who, despite their aversion, knew that every person deserves a dignified burial.

And so, with the help of Gilles and some soldiers who shared her vision, Jeanne continued with her mission to bury the dead. Each body was placed with the respect and dignity they deserved, honoring their lives and the sacrifice they made. Even in the face of adversity and disrespect from other soldiers, Jeanne remained faithful to her principles and showed the world the true meaning of courage.

Darkness had already taken over the battlefield when the arduous task of burying the dead came to an end. Jeanne, in gratitude, thanked each of the soldiers who helped her bury the French and English soldiers. "Thank you so much for the work you did," she said, with sincere admiration for the soldiers' efforts. They, in turn, promised to help her in her mission as much as they could, wishing for the war to end. Wiping the sweat and blood from his forehead, one of the soldiers approached Jeanne with a smile, saying, "Don't worry, we'll do everything we can to help you. We don't want the war to continue."

Jeanne responded confidently, "Thank you for trusting me. I will do what I can to free France." She was sure she would make a difference. "I believe in you," said Gilles, joining the soldiers. "You are the light that shines in the darkness. I have never seen anyone defeat so many enemy soldiers while losing so little of our own. It's sad what happened, but I believe that if someone else were in command, it could have been worse." Gilles spoke with pride, his eyes shining as he looked at Jeanne. He felt that she was the light of that time.

Jeanne immediately rebuked him, reminding him that God was the true light and she was only a servant of His. "I know, I know," Gilles replied, raising his hands in surrender. "I just wanted to say that you are God's light to the people." One of the soldiers laughed, teasing Gilles, but he just smiled, admitting he was wrong.

"Leave Gilles alone," said Jeanne, interrupting the soldiers' laughter. "Let's go back to camp now and we'll come back here tomorrow to make this place one of ours." Everyone prepared to leave, ready to continue Jeanne's mission and fight for the freedom of France.

Jeanne gracefully mounted her horse and took a quick look around her. The soldiers were still trying to organize their ranks, some riding behind her while others marched on foot. Although she had a sense of urgency to get to camp, Jeanne would not leave them behind. She knew that each of them had played a crucial role in the war and deserved to be recognized.

As she rode, Jeanne approached Gilles, who kept pace with her. "So, what do you plan to do when all this is over?" he asked, curious.

Jeanne smiled and her blue eyes shone with unexpected happiness. "I'm not sure," she said. "Maybe I'll start traveling to other places, see new things. But one thing is certain, I am looking forward to the future."

Gilles was impressed with the change in Jeanne's emotions. He knew she was sad about the loss of the soldiers, but now she seemed radiant with the idea of new adventures. It was inspiring to see how she could maintain hope and positivity, even after everything they had been through.

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