Michaela

"*I'm sorry for being alive.*"
―Michaela
**Michaela** was a peasant of the Kingdom of Elphegort. Hated for her distinct eye and hair color marking her a member of the Elphe Clan, Michaela suffered harsh discrimination within her village. She later found an ill Clarith by the Millennium Tree and nursed her back to health, the two becoming close friends. After her foster mother's death, the two moved to Aceid where they worked as maids at the Freezis Mansion.

## History

### Early Life

"*Ever since I was born, I have been persecuted and scorned. When I was a child I couldn't understand why I was put through such experiences. When I grew older I came to understand that my green hair and eyes were traits that weren't accepted in this country.*"
―Michaela
Born in the Kingdom of Elphegort on November 21, EC 479, the young child's father and mother died, leaving the baby orphan. She was subsequently adopted by a foreign shaman, who named her Michaela. As she grew up, Michaela was bullied, threatened, and abused by the Netsuma people of Yatski, eventually learning that it was because of her heritage as a member of the Elphe Clan, marked by her green eyes and hair. Meanwhile as she grew up, her loving foster mother taught her how to read and write.

As the years progressed and the abuse continued, Michaela eventually began to apologize for even living. When she came of age, the Elphe started working at the village, helping grow and tend to the crops to pay her family's land fee to Earl Felix. Struggling to make enough to pay the fees with broken tools and the villagers' cruelty, the village chief sometimes called the peasant to his home to work for him, often abusing her. One day, Michaela's mother contracted the Gula Disease, suffering a gruesome appetite for worms and dirt.

### Grüne

"*I'm very sorry, little birdie. But, she really is a very kind girl. She brought you here when she saw you were injured, and your dressings she also did herself. So please forgive her.*"
―Michaela's mother to Clarith
In January of EC 499, Michaela went out to the Millennium Tree Forest to pick trauben fruits; as she picked fruits from the orchard at the Lake of Amusement, she saw a black rollam bird attack a small robin. Rushing to the forest, Michaela rescued the unconscious bird and brought it home, trying to bandage its wing before she had to go back to work. At work, Michaela was bullied by the other villagers and called to the chief's home again.

Once she finished for the day, the exhausted girl returned home. As her mother welcomed her, Michaela chastised her for not getting some rest before learning that the robin had woken up. She then fed the robin, giving it trauben when it refused to eat worms, and when her mother suggested that the bird was the avatar of a forest spirit Michaela waved the notion off. After sulking over her "poor quality" trauben, Michaela left for the chief's home and returned late in the night, crying herself to sleep.

The next morning, Michaela fed and bonded with the robin that she had rescued, deciding to name it Grüne. As time progressed, Michaela continued feeding the robin her unsold trauben for each of its meals and opened up to Grüne even more. Once Grüne no longer needed its bandages, Michaela collected some junk and clumsily made a birdcage for the robin, placing it and Grüne on the windowsill so the bird could see outside. Afterward, Michaela left for the fields and was again bullied by the other villagers.

After she returned home and brought Grüne's cage down, Michaela confided all of her problems to the robin and Grüne comforted her; since then, Michaela began making a habit of talking to the bird after coming home from work. Two weeks since she first rescued the robin, Michaela set Grüne out as always and went out to work. As she plowed the fields, she looked to Chelsea and Alma conversing nearby and screwed up her courage to approach them.

Hoping to befriend them as she had the robin, Michaela nervously invited Chelsea over for dinner, only to have her offer harshly rejected. She retreated into the forest immediately after and broke down in tears; once she returned home, Michaela's misery was compounded when she learned that Grüne had left, having recovered enough from its injuries. Although comforted by her mother with the possibility that Grüne was a forest spirit, Michaela spent a lonely night after putting her mother to bed.

The next morning, Michaela left early and headed straight to the Millennium Tree in the forest. Kneeling before the massive tree, she related aloud how she had been persecuted and scorned, how she had befriended Grüne only to lose the bird later, and how her adoptive mother didn't have very long to live. Addressing Held, Michaela prayed that, if he existed, he would send her a friend.

### First Friend

"*Um, well, I just happened to be going to the Millenium Tree by chance... but it's unusual for other people to be there...*"
―Michaela
Over a month later, Michaela went through the Millennium Tree Forest on an errand when she found a Netsuma girl unconscious by the Millennium Tree, sick with fever. Michaela took the girl home and tended to her until she regained consciousness, gently explaining to her how she had a fever and had collapsed. As Michaela apologized that the girl had to be cared for by an Elphe, the girl thanked her for her care instead, surprising Michaela.

After learning her location, the girl introduced herself as "Clarith" and Michaela introduced herself in turn and inquired of Clarith why she was in the forest. She learned Clarith was trying to get to Aceid, having come from Lucifenia, where many kinds of races live. During their talk Michaela broke down, crying hysterically, before her mother interrupted them both to give Clarith her soup.

Upon hearing her mother planned to put in her "secret ingredient" in the soup she brought, Michaela immediately stood from her chair and rushed to prevent her mother from feeding Michaela worms. A knock came to their door and the village chief arrived with his henchman, Eugen, come to collect her rent. As the chief bullied her, Clarith interrupted and offered to pay the rent for Michaela as thanks for her help earlier.

The village chief left and Michaela continued fretted over the girl's gesture. Clarith then told Michaela she would pay the rent in exchange for her staying with them and Michaela agreed to the arrangement. Shortly after, Michaela explained the way things worked in the village, such as with Earl Felix having jurisdiction over the region and the chief simply paying the land fees to him. The two eventually retired for the night.

One morning, as Michaela began leaving for work, Clarith insisted on also learning how to work the fields and accompanied her as well, Michaela teaching her how to tend to the soil and crops. As she worked, she noticed how Clarith gained the villager's attention, happily associating with the other Netsuma villagers over the next six months and becoming more and more popular. Over time, the village chief's son Ayn also began approaching Michaela and talk to her.

One day that summer, Michaela saw Clarith exhausted and tried calling out to her, when Chelsea offered to take a break with her instead. Following the two to the work shed, Michaela hid behind a wall and listened as the two talked. As Chelsea continually insulted her, Michaela returned to the fields. When she tried to approach Clarith later that day, she saw her talking to other villagers and gave up to return home by herself.

Along the way, Ayn greeted and spoke casually with her, before Clarith arrived and conversed with him instead. After Ayn left, Michaela went back home with Clarith, speaking on the way about how she'd gotten better with men and how Ayn might have begun speaking to her out of affection for Clarith. When Michaela heard Clarith say she wasn't interested in men, however, she was pleased and revealed she felt the same.

As they were about to enter their home, Chelsea vehemently called to Michaela and dragged her to the back of the house. Chelsea then accused Michaela of "leering" at Ayn and interrogated her over it, warning her to stay away from the chief's son. Right as Chelsea prepared to hit her, Michaela watched, shocked, as Clarith intervened and warded the bullies off. Relieved, Michaela thanked Clarith profusely and the two held each other. The next day, the two went out to work, Michaela cutting the back of her right hand during it. During their next break, Michaela met up with Clarith behind the work shed and Michaela was embarrassed to discuss her injury.

### Uncertain Bonds

"*No matter what anyone says, to me you are a very wonderful person. More than anyone, more than anyone in the world.*"
―Clarith to Michaela
Over the next several months, Clarith continued spending more and more time with Michaela; in the meantime, a doctor came to check on her mother and diagnosed her as in the final stages of Gula, the woman not having much longer to live. As the disease was currently incurable, Michaela only treated her mother's symptoms with painkillers and sleeping pills. That November, Michaela met with Chelsea, who suggested to her that Clarith only hung out with the Elphe to make her own beauty stand out, saying she treated her kindly to look extra kind and wonderful to everyone else.

One night, Michaela noticed Clarith leave the house and secretly followed her to the flats overlooking Aceid. There she watched Clarith sing in amazement before addressing her directly. Sitting together, the two talked under the stars about village life, Michaela's suspicions that Clarith was actually nobility, and the worsening condition of Michaela's mother.

Clarith then asked Michaela about the mansion belonging to Keel Freezis in the distance and Michaela described his vast wealth and monthly dinner parties. Although Michaela admitted her envy for his having so many friends, she said aloud that her own fate and friendship with Clarith was enough, unable to voice her concerns from her conversation with Chelsea. Clarith then suggested they return home and Michaela agreed, the two walking back to the house.

Once home, the two found Michaela's mother dead, having vomited blood and collapsed; after Clarith fetched the chief Michaela silently stared as the man prepared to move her corpse. Over the following days, Michaela lapsed into depression and overheard the village gossip that the woman suffered and died because she adopted an Elphe. Soon after, she attended her mother's funeral with Clarith, thinking over what everyone had said during the ceremony and silently watching her mother's grave after.

After returning home from the cemetery, Clarith and Michaela discussed what she would do next, including moving to Aceid; during the conversation Michaela broke down, finally voicing to Clarith what she had heard from Chelsea. As Michaela insisted Clarith was only friends with her to satisfy her own conceit, Clarith hugged the other girl and told her that she was a wonderful person. Realizing Clarith spoke the truth, Michaela returned the embrace as she cried in her friend's arms.

After calming down, the two decided they would indeed move to Aceid together and discussed preparing for the journey, before Ayn burst inside looking for them. To Michaela's shock, he explained that Eugen had been murdered and his father, accusing her of the deed, was preparing a mob to arrest her.

Clarith and Michaela immediately fled the village with Ayn, escaping through the mountains; during the trek, the three took a break by a tree and Michaela slept. Afterwards, they went the rest of the way to Aceid and checked into an inn at the Central District whose owners Ayn was familiar with. Exhausted, Michaela collapsed into bed and rested for the night.

Over the next week, Clarith and Michaela exhaustively searched for a new job from dawn to dusk while staying with the innkeeper and his wife, although they failed to find a business willing to hire an Elphe. After returning from another fruitless job search that morning, Michaela returned to find Clarith speaking with Mikina Freezis. After studying her features, Mikina initially agreed to hire Michaela but not Clarith, only agreeing to take the Netsuma on at Michaela's insistence. Deciding to live-in at the Freezis Mansion, the two quickly gathered what little luggage they had and left the inn.

### Freezis Maid

"*I'm so relieved to see you two are doing well.*"
―Ayn commenting to Michaela and Clarith
After moving into the Freezis Mansion, Clarith and Michaela began training to become proper maids, learning about their various duties from Mikina. A few nights later, the couple assigned Michaela to take care of their eldest daughter, Yukina, or otherwise help the other maids. Over the next month, Michaela struggled to learn her duties while playing with Yukina and reading over the girl's writings, meeting with Clarith at the garden fountain after dinner each night to chat. At the end of their probationary month, both she and Clarith were accepted as junior maids.

On December 28, Michaela played with Yukina and then joined Clarith and some other maids outside to help with the laundry, getting startled by the cold water. The two chatted with the maids until they were summoned by Gerda to serve Earl Felix, who had specifically asked for them. The two, confused, obediently served the earl with proper etiquette as instructed and realized that he was accompanied by Ayn. Once Keel entered, all three left the room so he could meet privately with the feudal lord.

Outside, Ayn explained he had heard of their new job and accompanied the earl to see them, revealing his father had been arrested and he had enlisted in Elphegort's army. Their discussion was interrupted by Keel and Earl Felix exiting the room, Keel subsequently tackled by Yukina. As Ayn and the earl left, Michaela thanked him for all he had done. That night, Michaela put Yukina to bed and joined Clarith in the garden; there she talked to her about Yukina and her incredible writing prowess, reassuring Clarith when she admitted her jealousy of how much attention Michaela gave her charge.

After a short silence, Michaela requested Clarith sing the song she had sung in Yatski and listened to her subsequent performances. Michaela then watched as Keel revealed he had overheard and announced his intention to hire Clarith a singing instructor to refine her technique. The two were sent to bed, and two weeks later, in January of EC 500, Michaela accompanied Clarith in the banquet hall as Keel prepared to show her singing off to his business associates. Backstage, she supported her friend as she dazzled the audience. As time passed, Michaela began to get jealous as the "Diva of Elphegort" became increasingly popular and was sought after by numerous male suitors.

### Queen from Overseas

"*Hey, Red! Getting infatuated with another woman despite having a fiancé! It's a bad idea to do as Queen of a country! If it goes badly the country will perish!*"
―Michaela to Queen Germaine
After Clarith's performances at another of Keel's monthly banquets, Michaela saw the Queen Germaine Marlon from the Kingdom of Marlon speak with Clarith in the drawing room and questioned her about what he said immediately afterwards. Noticing the shell pendant Germaine gave her, Michaela realized Germaine was trying to romance Clarith as well and tried to warn her off from seeing her. After she admitted her fears of Clarith leaving her, she apologized and went to attend to Yukina.

Several weeks later, Michaela was mopping the hallway overheard Keel and Clarith discussing Germaine in another room, learning that she was engaged to the Prince of Lucifenia. Horrified at the news, she vowed to protect Clarith from the apparent temptress Germaine; when Germaine, who had arrived on business, approached Michaela immediately after and asked where Clarith was, Michaela told him she was busy at the market. As Germaine left to go find her, however, another maid sent Clarith to the market as well and Michaela cursed her blunder.

She then tried numerous methods of humiliating or chasing off Germaine, including siccing a dog on her and putting a banana peel in her path, only for each method to backfire on her. As the couple crossed a bridge on their way back to the mansion, Michaela tried to push Germaine into the water and, as a result, fell in herself. As she flailed and called for help, Germaine jumped into the water and saved her; that night, Michaela lamented over her failures in the mansion's kitchen.

When Clarith approached her and said they'd been ordered to deliver liquor to Keel, Thorny, and Germaine following their meeting, Michaela suggested they taste the liquor to make sure it was alright and subsequently drank the whole bottle. Drunk, Michaela burst into Keel's private room and "delivered" what was left of the liquor, before she began drunkenly yelling at Germaine for not mentioning her fiancé and planning to throw Clarith away. When Keel tried to intervene, she drunkenly argued with him until she eventually sobered up.

Afterwards, Clarith and Michaela were both harshly scolded by Keel for Michaela'a outburst, and Michaela went into the mansion gardens to sulk until Clarith arrived. As Michaela lamented her behavior, Clarith tried to cheer her and gently told her to be more open about her feelings. As she did, Michaela blurted out if she would marry her and Clarith replied she'd have to think about it.

On one occasion, when the chef was sick, Michaela cooked a meal in his place for Yukina and impressed the Freezis household, given more cooking duties from then on. She also became worried on one occasion when Clarith took a long time to return from her visit to the inn they stayed at; when Clarith finally arrived back and apologized for getting sidetracked, Michaela also noted the girl who accompanied her back to the mansion, Rin. She then directed Clarith to the laundry and the two washed clothes together. That night, the two chatted in the garden about the inn.

### White Hunting

"*Michaela, you're leaving?*"
"*...Yes. It's alright, you're a strong girl Miss Yukina. Please look after your siblings with your parents for me, won't you? Don’t worry about me. I know we'll meet again. When we do, I'll make some excellent brioche for you. Look forward to it.*"
―Yukina and Michaela
The next day, Michaela was among those summoned by Keel and listened as his butler, Bruno, explained that Queen Germaine had retracted her engagement to Prince Alexiel due to having a lover in Elphegort. As he explained Keel speculated Clarith to be her "lover," Michaela then listened as Keel berated Germaine's actions discerned that Alexiel may kill Clarith; she spoke up when Keel told Clarith he had hideouts for her to take refuge in, and during the meeting determined she should protect Clarith and be with her at all times.

A week later, Michaela saw the Millennium Tree Forest burned and prayed to God for the forest. The next day, at the start of The White Hunting, Michaela prepared to flee with Clarith on Keel's direction and comforted Yukina when the girl cried over her departure. After Keel gave Clarith a cloak to obscure her white hair, the two left for Yatski village; along the way, they saw the carnage of women scattered across the city of Aceid and in the destroyed village of Yatski itself.

To Michaela's surprise, they stumbled on their old house miraculously still standing, and Michaela took some of her mother's sleeping pills from it before leaving. Hurrying southward, the two were suddenly pursued by Lucifenian soldiers on horseback and surrounded; as the soldiers discovered Clarith and prepared to kill her, Ayn arrived and gave them a chance to escape. As they fled, Ayn caught up with the girls and he would lure the soldiers away while they hid in the forest. The girls reluctantly ran into the woods until Ayn joined them again.

As she heard the Lucifenian soldiers approaching once again, Michaela told Clarith to give her her cloak, planning to distract the soldiers while she ran for safety. The two friends hugged and Michaela confessed her love to Clarith before finally kissing her; as she did, Michaela used the opportunity to slip her mother's sleeping pills into her mouth. As Clarith lost consciousness, she thanked Ayn and had him take Clarith to Keel's hideout while she distracted the soldiers. From there she was chased, captured, and then taken to the city of Toragay for questioning.

### Lucifenian Revolution

"*I see... Well then, take care, okay?Thank you... Ney... I will pray for the success of your revolution.*"
―Ney and Michaela
For the next two months Michaela was interrogated by General Daniel Ausdin on Michaela's location, refusing to disclose the information despite the general's attempts. The interrogation was interrupted by Corpa, who arrived to liberate her. As he discussed this with Daniel, Michaela learned that Clarith had been confirmed dead and she harshly bit her tongue in shock. Having a hysterical fit and bleeding from the mouth, Michaela fell unconscious and was given medical aid.

Afterwards she was sent to Corpa's mansion in Rolled, and she learned the Freezises were stayed there following their release and the destruction of their mansion. Upon arrival, Michaela greeted Yukina warmly and met with Mikina as well. Once Mikina confirmed Clarith's death, Michaela collapsed and broke down, comforted by Mikina and Yukina. Michaela then went to meet with Keel, who was in a meeting with a guest next door. After greeting Keel, Michaela met his guest Ney Avadonia, who shortly after attempted to recruit her.

From Ney, Michaela learned of the Lucifenian Resistance that planned to initiate a revolution in Lucifenia, and was asked if she wanted to avenge Clarith's murder; Michaela replied she would consider it and Ney threatened her not to betray them. Keel calmed her fears and Ney left with her comrade, York. After commenting on his guests, Michaela left to rest on Keel's direction and slept. She spent the next several days playing with Yukina and doing little else.

One day, Keel approached Michaela to discuss her future plans and told her he had decided to support the Lucifenian Resistance. Affirming Michaela had decided not to join them, Keel offered to keep her on as his family moved to Marlon and she refused, unable to cope with losing Clarith. Studying a Behemoth cathedral through the window, Keel suggested she work in an understaffed monastery on the west end of Lucifenia in order to clear her head. As Keel told her that she needed to accept Clarith's death and move on, Michaela finally accepted the offer.

For a small time, Michaela met with the Lucifenian Resistance so that they could communicate with Keel through her. One day she arrived at a Lucifenian tavern in Milanais Square, Rolled, to relay to Ney that Keel had finally decided to support the resistance. There she was once again asked to join but refused, saying that she was too weak and that she had already been given a place to work. After wishing Ney and her revolution well, Michaela left the tavern.

### Starting Over

For the next four months Michaela worked at the Held Monastery by the harbor, taking care of the children, working in the fields, and often praying. During her time she wrote a letter to Keel conveying her progress, and she was also told by the abbess about a legend of the sea that was a demon contract. One day, after lunch, Michaela was visited by the sorcerer Gallerian Clockworker and his apprentice Lemy, bestowing on her a potted sapling.

Gallerian explained over tea that the sapling housed Clarith, who was originally a forest spirit that had been incarnated as a human by magic. Unsurprised by the news, Michaela further learned that Clarith had been chosen as the successor of Held and was to become the next Millennium Tree; in the meantime, Keel had suggested giving the sapling to Michaela. Although Michaela was glad to know Clarith was alive, Lemy contested Clarith's custody and recited a spell to summon her spirit from the sapling.

As she saw her friend appear before her eyes, Michaela spoke with Clarith and learned to her disappointment that the short illusory spell could only be used a few times. Finally understanding that she had to move on, she and Clarith confessed their love to each other in unison before the ritual ended. As the illusion disappeared, the defeated Lemy gave the sapling to Michaela and suggested she plant her in the forest; before departing, she also told Michaela that Clarith had been avenged and the Son of Evil had been killed in the revolution.

A week later, Michaela took the sapling with her to the port town as she wondered what to do with it. Once she found a spot to rest, she found a child collapsed on the ground and found it was a boy suffering from hunger; although the delirious boy begged her not to leave, Michaela fetched help and had the boy carried back to the convent. There they learned the boy, Allen, had nowhere to go and Michaela allowed him to stay at the monastery.

Although Allen soon revealed a selfish and bratty attitude towards everyone in the monastery, Michaela continued to treat him kindly in remembrance of how she herself was treated once; slowly, Allen began to open up and show respect to others, even asking Michaela for cooking advice. A few days after that Michaela, with the help of another child named Denis, finally convinced Allen to help with the farm work after getting him out of an argument with a clergy woman.

During lunch, Michaela watered the plants as Allen enjoyed his food and then the child asked about the sapling Clarith. Michaela replied the plant was her friend and declared that all life was equal, discussing this belief with Allen's less egalitarian mindset. They then got to talking about their religious beliefs and Michaela asserted that, regardless of their sect, their Behemoth beliefs were essentially the same. As Allen cleaned up Michaela heard him ask if she would still treat him the same even if he was a terrible person, telling the boy she would.

Over the years, Allen's behavior improved and, feeling like she had a little brother, Michaela began to move on from Clarith's death; in time she was officially baptized as a nun of the Held sect. In EC 505, a few days after Allen had asked her for cooking tips, Michaela broke a hairclip and left it in the confessional; that night, remembering the hair clip, she went down to the confessional for it and found the door unlocked, the confessional occupied.

As she quietly eavesdropped, Michaela realized it was Allen who was confessing inside; as the boy described the atrocities he had committed and begged God for forgiveness, Michaela came to the realization that Allen was really Alexiel, the Son of Evil. After the news sank in, Michaela was overcome with rage and took a knife from the cupboard. Finding Allen gone from the confessional, she secretly followed the boy from the monastery to the coastline.

From there, Michaela watched Allen take out a bottle and send it out to sea, recalling what the head nun had told her about the legend. As a voice began to whisper to her, Michaela determined to kill Allen before her contract was established. Believing the voice was Clarith, Michaela grew ever angrier until she prepared to stab Allen, before a vision of a girl appeared and stopped her. After a moment of struggle, Michaela realized the hateful voice could not be Clarith's and came to her senses, with Allen now calmly watching her. Conflicted, Michaela stabbed down with the knife and violently cut the boy's hair instead.

The next day, Michaela brought Allen with her to the Millennium Tree Forest to plant Clarith's sapling. As they arrived at the site of the Millennium Tree, the two prayed and then began to dig; during their work, Michaela apologized to Allen for cutting his hair and was casually brushed off. After transplanting the sapling, Michaela promised to teach Allen how to make brioche and they both knelt to pray again. Once Allen broke down apologizing, Michaela followed suit and the two cried together till nightfall. Later, she taught Allen how to make brioche as promised.

### Life at the Convent

In EC 505, Michaela received occasional visits from Mikina over the next six months, the woman donating some of Yukina's books to the nun and speaking about her search to find the "vessels of sin". During one of these visits, Michaela noticed Mikina looking dazed before she left, and not long after she learned that Mikina had been missing from home. Four days later, she found Denis grilling two visitors, whom she quickly learned were Ney and Yukina. After happily reuniting with her former charge, Michaela brought them inside and took them to the guests rooms, discussing the monastery's custom of hosting visitors.

Once Ney left the room, Michaela caught up with Yukina privately, discussing how she'd received many of her books from Mikina. She then recounted Mikina's recent string of visits, after, said she would allow Yukina to stay in the monastery for a time. The two chatted about Yukina's adventures of the last five years until noticing they were out of tea; Michaela summoned Allen to replace the pot, as well as telling him to replace it in other rooms and have the cafeteria workers prepare meals for their guests.

Michaela watched as Allen and Yukina became acquainted, and saw Allen's shock when he learned Ney Avadonia was in the next room. Quickly remembering her friend's past, Michaela prepared to deliver the tea to Ney herself and tried to hurry Allen away, only for them to run into Ney on the way out. She watched as Ney shared a brief and tense moment with Allen, before saying it was nice to meet him and left. Questioned by Yukina, Michaela refused to talk about it and promised to when the girl was older. She then left the room after announcing dinner would be ready shortly.

### Later Life

"*We all must honor the Millennium Tree. All people must protect this sacred tree, not just the followers of Held. For to us she is a most respected god, our most precious friend, and our most cherished love.*"
―Michaela in her discourse
Much later, when Ney and Yukina had moved on from the monastery, a young Elphe boy was abandoned at the orphanage and Michaela raised him, naming the boy Ayn. Sometime after EC 529, distressed by the continued discrimination against her clan, Michaela left the monastery and founded her own monastic order: the Sisters of Michaela. Campaigning to eliminate discrimination from society, Michaela directed her other sisters to care for the poor and orphaned throughout Evillious; throughout the period, she continued to remain in contact with Allen.

During the EC 530s, after the Millennium Tree's death and Clarith's discovery by the Held sect, Michaela published a discourse regarding the new "reincarnated" Millennium Tree, declaring it a protector of humanity and worthy of their reverence and love. She then inspired the Sisters of Michaela to promote respect for the tree and forbade it from becoming damaged.

As part of this protection, Michaela established a church at the entrance to the Millennium Tree Forest, through which potential visitors to the forest could be examined prior to entry. After the examination process was streamlined with the issuing of forest traffic permits, Michaela gave permits to Gallerian Clockworker and Lemy so they could pass freely into the forest. Later in life, Michaela published an autobiography of her life and her discovery of faith following hardships before and after the Lucifenia-Elphegort War.

### World's End

Following her death, Michaela's soul was sent to the Heavenly Yard and remained there. In EC 999, she and the other souls were pulled back to the Third Period as the ground world merged with the Hellish Yard. She later reunited with Clarith at the destroyed Millennium Tree Forest and learned about Rin Avadonia meeting with several of the Demons of Sin's previous contractors in the destroyed world.

When Sleep Princess's new Gift began spreading through the ground world's air and put all the afflicted souls to sleep, Michaela was tasked by Clarith with rescuing Alexiel and bringing him to Marlon, where he and the other Demons of Sin were gathered. There, the demons were to lend Alexiel their power in stopping Sleep Princess' rampage in Toragay. Given the god's temporary blessing as protection from the poison, Michaela took Alexiel's favorite horse Josephine, who was given the same blessing, and rode into the Lucifenian Royal Palace.

Seeing the soldiers from the Tasan Party attacking Alexiel, Michaela rescued him, and the two fled the palace before stopping to rest. The two then caught up with each others' lives, Michaela explaining Clarith had sent her to save him and that she wasn't at Alexiel's party due to her dislike of crowds. As the two reasoned that the Tasan Party was after demon contractors, Michaela prevented Alexiel from going back to save Germaine who was also a contractor.

They were then interrupted by the Demon of Pride, who explained that it was only contractors with high compatibility that were being hunted and that they needed the aid of the other Demons of Sin. The three soon set out for Marlon, where Clarith was with the demons. After the three reunited, Alexiel departed with the Master of the Hellish Yard while Michaela stayed with Clarith. Later, after Michaela and Clarith witnessed the irregularities in the sky being caused by Gallerian, Michaela was tasked with watching over the Demons of Sin while Clarith traveled to Evil's Theater. Later, Michaela participated in the ball at the Lucifenian Royal Palace before being presumably incorporated into the Fourth Period.

### Legacy

In the years following Michaela's death, the Sisters of Michaela continued her mission in protecting the new Millennium Tree and spreading good works across Evillious. Michaela's life with Clarith was detailed by Yukina in one of her Freezis Fairy Tales called "Tree Maiden", deriving the character of "The Daughter of Green" from her. Michaela and her actions were also detailed in another of Yukina's novels, "The Son of Evil", gaining popularity around the world during the succeeding centuries.

The Elphe orphan she saved, Ayn, later became the first chief commissioner of the World Police and his name was passed onto his grandson, Ayn Anchor. While consulting the constable regarding a recent murder case in Toragay, Gallerian shared his knowledge about his name and its origin with Michaela and his dear friend, inspiring Ayn to work to live up to his namesake's heroism.

Centuries after Michaela's death, the playwright Ma wrote a screenplay regarding Michaela and it was adapted into a film. He later wrote another screenplay with Bruno Octo regarding his relationship with Clarith and it was subsequently reviewed by the Master of the Court. While reviewing the "motion", Bruno expressed his uncertainty on whether the two were friends or lovers, but noted their relationship was inevitably doomed either way.

## Personality and Traits

"*The pride to have things her own way, the kindness to sacrifice herself for someone, the bravery to resist authority, she didn't have any of that on hand.*"
―Gallerian describing Michaela
Michaela was a kind and caring person but lacked the confidence to believe in herself. Because of her abuse, Michaela was timid, quiet, and clumsy, often causing accidents or not speaking up about things that weren't her fault; as this behavior often earned her further abuse, she became even more timid to a point of appearing cold or unsociable to others, and often apologized or had hysterical outbursts at inappropriate moments. Over time, she also grew to hate her hair due to the discrimination it attracted, hating the rest of her appearance as an extension.

After gaining friends, Michaela slowly came out of her shell and had more confidence and respect for herself; as a result, and at Clarith's urging, she became more vocal about her feelings, more carefree, and hopeful for a happier life. She also began demonstrating a calm and sensible attitude as a maid of the Freezis family, particularly as Yukina's caretaker. Despite this, she remained fearful of losing her happiness and acted rash and hysterical at the slightest thought that she would lose Michaela to somebody else.

After the White Hunting, Michaela lapsed into a depression and seemed to return to her old self-loathing. After spending some time to grieve, however, she regained her dedicated demeanor while working at the monastery, remaining kind to the orphans she nurtured, including Allen. Highly empathetic as a result of her background, Michaela led by example to help others escape from their suffering like how Clarith helped her escape from hers. Although initially lacking faith in God because of her past, her experiences with Clarith changed her into a devout believer.

## Skills and Abilities

Due to her clumsiness, Michaela fumbled with much of her work, often working slower than most and having to repeat herself; her lack of confidence only reinforced her slow pace, and tasks like farming and doing laundry were noticeably difficult for her. Over her services to the Freezises and the Held monastery, however, Michaela improved in performing laborious tasks. Due to living most of her life in a land-locked village, she didn't know how to swim.

Michaela was skilled at cooking and baking, especially when it came to making brioche. Likewise, emulating her mother, Michaela was a natural with children, easily earning Yukina's love and admiration; after joining the monastery, Michaela perfected her abilities with children and was even able to successfully deal with the bratty Allen.

Because of her past, Michaela possessed extraordinary patience and empathy, as well as a dedication that allowed her to earn the trust and respect of others. As a result she was able to successfully found and run a separate sect in the Sisters of Michaela; her abilities to read and write were such that she published a persuasive discourse and her own autobiography later in life. She also possessed a small amount of magic potential, allowing her to "feel" that Clarith was more than merely human.

## Character Connections

Clarith: Michaela's friend and love. While lonely enough to accept it, Michaela was initially unable to believe Clarith's friendship was real. Over time, however, the two became close and Michaela began to heal from years of emotional abuse. In time she grew to love her, to the point of being jealous of Germaine and frantic to protect her during the Lucifenia-Elphegort War; while lapsing into a depression upon her death, Michaela was able to receive closure with Clarith's spirit and found strength from her memory.

Yatski Shaman: Michaela's mother. Although at first coldly dismissive of her more spiritual beliefs, Michaela loved her mother dearly as her only family and, before Clarith, her only friend in the world. As a result, when her mother became ill Michaela constantly worried about her, always insistent that she rest, and was deeply grieved by her death.

Keel Freezis: Michaela's employer. Before coming into his employment Michaela envied Keel for his famous banquets and the many friends he had, and after coming into his employ she regarded him with gratitude and respect. Eventually Michaela came to see Keel as family and accepted his help to try and move on from Clarith's death.

Mikina Freezis: Michaela's other employer. Michaela was grateful to Mikina for employing her despite her telltale "demon child" characteristics, and eventually Michaela came to see her as family, accepting comfort from her after the White Hunting and often being visited by her in the church.

Yukina Freezis: Michaela's charge in the Freezis' employ. Michaela became fond of Yukina in her employment, playing games with her and helping with her writing, and would affectionately refer to the child as her little master. This close relationship continued following Michaela's life as a nun, accepting visits from Yukina and trusting her enough to later learn the truth about her friend, "Allen."

Allen: A boy Michaela helps at the monastery. Initially Michaela was exasperated with Allen's arrogance and refusal to work, but she persevered in being kind to him, seeing his past loneliness in the boy. Over time Michaela started to see Allen as a little brother and mentored him in the monastery, such as helping teach him how to cook. She was horrified to learn Allen was actually Alexiel, but the two remained close friends after Michaela forgave him.

## Trivia

### Conceptualization and Origin

* Michaela is based on the canon character Michaela and is role swapped with Clarith.
* Originally, Michaela's line said at the beginning of The Daughter of Green was planned to be "I'm sorry for being born" but was later changed to "I'm sorry for being alive" to better suit the song lyrics.

## Appearances

* The Son of Evil (velvet mix; first mentioned in PV)
* The Servant of Evil (velvet mix; first appearance in PV)
* Tree Maiden ~Millennium Wiegenlied~
* The Daughter of Green
* Handbeat Clocktower (appears in PV)
* Reach For The Stars ~The Letter He Kept Waiting For~ (appears in PV)
* Master of the Heavenly Yard
* Waltz of the Departed (appears in PV)
* Song of the Third Period
* The Son of Evil: Clôture of Evil
* The Son of Evil: Wiegenlied of White
* The Son of Evil: Praeludium of Yellow (mentioned only)
* The Son of Evil: Praefacio of Red
* Deadly Sins of Evil: Gift from the Prince who Brought Sleep (mentioned only)
* Deadly Sins of Evil: Judgment of Corruption (mentioned only)
* Deadly Sins of Evil: The Muzzle of Michelle (mentioned only)
* Deadly Sins of Evil: Master of the Heavenly Yard
* Entr'acte of Evil: The Son of Evil Worldguide
* Epic of Evil: The Son of Evil Fanbook
* The Son of Evil Schedule Book 2013
* Waltz of Evil: The Deadly Sins of Evil Guidebook
* The Son of Evil: Illustration Story
* The Daughter of Fog (mentioned only)
* Seven Crimes and Punishments (story) (alternate timeline)
* The Son of Evil: Novelette of Green
* The Son of Evil: Retrouver of Crimson (appears in flashback(s))
* Aku Musu (non-canon appearance)
* Deadly Sins of Evil (manga) (non-canon appearance)
* The Son of Evil (manga)
* Quartets of Evil (non-canon appearance)
* The School Capriccio of the Dead (non-canon appearance)
* Prelude to Forest
* Evils Forest
* Evils Kingdom
* Evils Court
* Four Melodies of Evil ~The Son of Evil Novel Music Collection~
* Seven Crimes and Punishments (album)
* Master of the Heavenly Yard (album)
* Clockwork Lullaby (album)