Maris Excelsior

**Maris Excelsior** (マリス・エクセルシア) is a character who is introduced in *Soukyuu no Fafner The Beyond*.

Maris is an Esperanto who has joined forces with Benon and pilots Mark Zwei Kai which is nicknamed Grimreaper.

## Biography

Maris is an Esperanto who lived through the journey from the land of the first Ashoka's birth to Wadatsumijima. However, he is fixated on his power to control people because he is afraid of the future, wishing for a place that is disconnected from everything in the world. He once sided with the citizens of Tatsumiyajima but he betrayed them by abducting Soushi Minashiro and joining Marespero. With his betrayal, he steals Specter.

### *Soukyuu no Fafner The Beyond*

Maris makes his way toward the rocket along with Soushi Minashiro and two other children. The place starts to shake as a battle is going on outside and Soushi shouts that he's scared. Maris calms him down, putting him to sleep, and carries Soushi when they arrive at the rocket. He is happy that they can finally send Prometheus to the sky and has a brief conversation with Serenoa, Legato, and Floro, promising to the latter that they will meet again. The group gets on the rocket and Prometheus appears before Maris, the former thanking Maris for what he has done. He responds that it made him leave the island and that he has high hopes for the world Prometheus is going to create. Prometheus tells him his new name, Marespero, and Maris knows what his name means, despair. As the rocket takes off, Miwa Hino tries to stop it but Maris knows that Miwa won't shoot the rocket down, which he predicts right as she wasn't able to pull the trigger. The rocket arrives at their destination and Maris states that in order to live in the world they are hoping for, another must die.

Maris is with Floro when they find Soushi and Maris laughs when Soushi and Floro are arguing. While they are walking, Maris reminds Soushi that they need to prepare for the festival and asks him why a Benon's warship would appear. Hearing an annoucement, the trio quickly head to the harbor to meet with Serenoa and Legato. The group are on their way home and Maris is invited to dinner where they talk Benon and the outside world. Curious about the outside world, Soushi uses a radio, trying to contact someone, and Maris reminds him that the outside world is dangerous due to the Esperanto forces. He then leaves, not wanting to disrupt their family time, and looks over the ocean, saying that Miwa should come to the island. The next day, Maris talks about the festival when he and Soushi check out the school gates when Soushi notices that someone was standing there earlier. Sometime later, Maris is present at the festival and wishes for the island to stay peaceful forever. However, the island comes under attack by the Tatsumiyajima pilots who wants to destroy the fake island and Maris boards the Grimreaper and fights Misao Kurusu's and his swarm. Maris is still fighting against Misao and his Festum comrades when he is contacted by Serenoa who tells him that Floro has disappeared. Being given the plan to retreat as the island is slowly falling, Maris states that they should have destroyed them a long time ago.

Maris is aboard Benon's mothership and he touches a red crystal, entering Rina Nishio's consciousness. Maris enters the shop and Rina greets him.

## References

1. ↑ The Beyond Episode 5: Student
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Beyond Episode 3: Vessel of Destiny
3. ↑ The Beyond Episode 11: Heroes, Two Heroes
4. ↑ The Beyond Episode 1: Operation Azure
5. ↑ The Beyond Episode 2: Child of Paradise
6. ↑ The Beyond Episode 4: The Powerless Ones