Iris Bergmeier

"Lady, is that the reason you killed Bardock? For revenge?", I asked as we were returning home.

"That's different, Seraph. All the people responsible for that incident are already dead. Bloody Fall happened because people were careless. They underestimated what the enemy was capable of. That's the general story, anyway."

"The general story?"

She nodded, "Naturally, even the stratocracy needs to answer to the people sometimes. This is the story they gave out, weather conditions, bad luck, whatnot. Some officers were removed from their offices and laid off. I suppose that seemed enough to some. All those that died, like I said before, aren't coming back."

"It seems to me that you think Iori was right", I looked sternly at her as we walked on.

"I do think so, in fact. Bloody Fall was a conspiracy."

"Then, Lady, ", I asked, "Why did you kill Iori? You could have let him escape empty handed, couldn't you?"

"He killed the caretaker of that so-called bank, didn't you see? That person wasn't the Iori I knew. The real Iori was the kind of person who'd submit in face of a rival that liked the same girl he did. The rival knew as well, for he was his brother. They were innocent people. They should have gotten to stay like that", she paused before looking at me, "Seraph, do you know of Iris Bergmeier?"

"Of course! Who doesn't know of her?! She's a war hero, the one responsible for putting an end to The Great War. General Bardock worked hand in hand with her. Her legend is told in every house these days, you know!"

"I don't know about Bardock but some say Bergmeier was in fact a man. That probably seems more plausible. In any case, I don't really know about him being a hero. Iris Bergmeier is just a legend, a housewives tale. One man could not have stopped that terror. It seems unbelievable, don't you think? I do wish he wasn't so late though. Sure took his time, doing his magic as he did."

I realized Lady barely believed in any stories. It was as if she was in love with reality. Dreams, hopes and wishes seemed ridiculous to her. She was always clinging to the hardest facts. In short, a pessimist. Or perhaps a realist, either way she was living in a world where there was nothing but coldness. I wonder if something like that seemed unreal to me because I was so young at the time. Still, to imagine such a midget like her, having ideals like that, it was surreal.

We were nearing the church, our home, when Lady spoke.

"You asked me about God earlier, Seraph", she grinned, "I've seen a devil, so I say, what's the point in believing only half of the story."

"You've seen a devil, you say?", I asked, casually.

"Say, Seraph, wouldn't you love to go catch a devil?", she grinned cheekily.

That was a danger alert but I failed to respond promptly. I should have blurted a 'no' as quick as possible. Though, I'm not sure that witch would have let me off.

"We're home!", she announced joyfully, somehow she was brimming with energy even after that hectic morning.

"Where were you two gone?! Did you bring anything to eat at least?", Deli greeted us first.

"Oh boy! Chopper is missing, did you know?", Sight whispered.

"Ah, I sent him out for work. He gets so lazy", Lady spoke before I could.

The witch had dispatched Chopper even though he was still recovering from his wounds. He had barely any blood in him, he shouldn't have been walking around for a month at least. Lady was indeed a tyrant.

"Prophet!", she probably intended to greet him.

The poor guy shivered, he perhaps knew of the hell she was about to put us in.

Literally.