Eralda

Archbishop Eralda (エラルダ大司教) is a high-ranking member of the Septian Church in Crossbell.

Appearance
Eralda is an elderly man with a long gray moustache and hazel coloured eyes. He is seen wearing the elaborate robes and attire of an archbishop of the Septian Church, consisting of a red and blue robe with ornate gold trimmings, a red shawl with golden tassels and a golden mitre. A medallion with the symbol of the Septian Church can be seen hanging from his neck.

Personality
Eralda is best known for his unrelenting attitude against sinfulness. There is nothing Archbishop Eralda loathes as much as immorality. He strongly dislikes those who use grey or unethical means, considering the Gralsritter 'meddlesome frumps' for this reason. His stance to never, ever lend his hand to wickedness inspired other church figures to follow him and trust in his judgment as well as aspire to be like him. he is regarded as strict; his punishment for immorality is merciless, but his guidance for those in need is compassionate and sincere.

He cares deeply for the lives of the innocent and hopes no citizens will be caught up in conflict across the continent. He cannot tolerate that people live in fear of conflict between rival factions in the city.

Eralda is a firm believer that using faith to make political advances is nothing more than blasphemy.

Background
Eralda is a well-known and respected figure in The Septian Church's Congregation for Divine Worship. Eralda dislikes the tendency of the Gralsritter to employ less than moral tactics and thus harbours a great distaste for them, barring them from operating within Crossbell.

He is renowned in the medical field, having pharmaceutical experience and is influential to the extent that his techniques and remedies are still used and prescribed at St. Ursula Medical College in the present. According to his colleagues, Archbishop Eralda's achievements left a mark on the pharmaceutical world.

Eralda hears about the commotion in the Downtown district and is unimpressed when he hears the Special Support Section were involved. He believes the police should be better than that and festivals can cause people to become worked up and lose rationality, but is glad nobody was injured.

He is later sought for some medicinal herbs, from a request by Doctor Lago, but He has made it his prerogative not to reply to his letters. The SSS are initially dismayed but Eralda states that he never said he wouldn't give the herbs either, directing them to the location. The root of this is that Lago initially studied to become a priest at the cathedral, but dropped out to pursue modern medicine. Even with this, Lago still uses technqiues and herbs form the church and it is implied by the other fathers that Eralda doesn't deny his skill in medicine, however frustrating.

Eralda is concerned about the presence of the bells in Crossbell summoning fiends. Their status as Artifacts has the potential to attract Gralsritter attention which he wants to avoid at all costs. He states that they will investigate the Moon Temple and Stargazer's Tower.

After hearing whispers, Eralda encourages the SSS, consoling them not to worry about others who view them as bracer copies, but instead consider themselves as those who pursue goodness and that Aidios shall never abandon those who act under the belief of righteousness and justice. He expresses a desire to find some leisure time outside of mass, thinking about bringing out his old medicine textbooks.

At some point, Eralda is visited by a man from the Erebonian Empire who was trying to get access to the influential network of the church. Eralda had to use a raised voice to get him to leave.

Ries Argent comes to Crosbell in the guise of an ordinary sister, but Eralda has his suspicions, which he no longer doubts after the West Zemuria Trade Conference. His preoccupation with Ries means that he did not notice the presence of Wazy Hemisphere who was one of the Dominion.

Eralda is thankful to Lynn and Aeolia for guarding members of the church searching for herbs and hopes they are well when they go missing. Klaudia von Auslese also visits him and he believes she has much promise as a future progressive leader. Lago writes to Eralda thanking him for the results of his research into the Lupinus Grass gifted to him and states that although it doesn't concern him, it was a job well done. He hopes the SSS catch Bleublanc after his cathedral is involved in one of the phantom thief's many heists.

Eralda is not forthcoming when it comes to information about the Pleroma Grass when the SSS come asking, and asks them to leave, denying all knowledge.

The appearance of the Azure Tree confounds Eralda as nothing is like it in the testaments. He believes it may be beyond the scope of man to solve. After Wazy says they have a chance, Eralda says he may reconsider working with the Gralsritter for the sake of Crossbell. The tree's appearance is a somewhat of a revelation for Eralda as he ponders if his stubbornness to not work with the Congregation for the Sacraments led to this situation that could have been prevented.

Eralda presides over the signing ceremony in Crossbell for their autonomy and independence to be recognised by the Septian Church. Wazy and his knights Wald Wales and Scarlet are sent to Crossbell because of this, as well as to check on the after effects of the Great Twilight. They seem to have a more amicable relationship but Eralda is accepting that some scared truths must remain hidden, although is less than pleased Wazy and Wald have joined the ranks of the Gralsritter.

He is present when the Black Guard and Supreme Leader Rufus Albarea launch a coup. Afterwards, Eralda looks after the wounded in the Crossbell Cathedral.