Juris, Singing Warrior of White 

• Mention of incest in episode 1.

• General "Sibyl-like" despair.

My name is “Juris Tillmer”.
I am the current head of the Tillmer family and a proud “Singing Warrior”.
Our “Sound Capital” is a divine nation that receives blessings from the gods by offering music. Singing Warriors are both priests and knights who can convert sound into power and wield it as Song Power.
The Tillmer family is a lineage of noble blood, permitted to stand by the king’s side since the era when the first Divine King founded this nation.
…But the Tillmer family of today holds none of its former glory. Perhaps due to repeated marriages among close relatives to preserve noble blood, the power of the Singing Warriors has gradually weakened. Then, a scandal caused by an ancestor five generations before me became the decisive factor, branding the Tillmer family as “fallen nobility”.

I am the long-awaited hope of the Tillmer family, born with strong Song Power after so many generations. To not betray my clan’s expectations, I have trained diligently until now.
And so, I graduated at the top of my class from the Royal Singing Warrior Academy.
Now, all that remains is to win the “Royal Song Combat Tournament”, where all Singing Warriors gather to battle with everything they have. And I will surely achieve the revival of my family!

Participating in the Royal Song Combat Tournament, held once every ten years, is the greatest honor for a Singing Warrior. It is said the winner is virtually guaranteed to become the Captain of the Royal Guard. Fueled by a burning fighting spirit, I advanced smoothly through the rounds. And then came the quarterfinals…

My opponent was an extremely small man.

“Let’s do this. A fair and square fight.”

“Fair and square… hehe. A well-bred noble speaks differently, eh~”

His vulgar laugh grated on me, but I resolved to focus on the match.

The moment it began, he used his small stature to close in on me at incredible speed. His skill was undeniable. But…

(Th-this guy! He deliberately aimed for my clothes!?)

He had intentionally slashed the front of my tunic! Instinctively, I covered my exposed chest with both hands.

“Y-you coward!!”

“Coward? There’s no room for cowardice in the world of combat!”

“Guh…!”

The thought that such a vulgar, shameless creature could be a Singing Warrior made my anger surge.

(…But it’s true, the world of combat is merciless.)

I calmed myself and readied my sword again.

“What!? Y-you fool! As a noblewoman, aren’t you ashamed to expose yourself like that?!”

“Before being a woman, I am a proud knight of the Tillmer family, and a Singing Warrior! Take this! Sacred Sound Explosion Chant!”

“Gwaaaaahh!!”

The blade of light and sound unleashed through my sword pierced the enemy and triggered a violent explosion… Thus, I won the quarterfinals. 

My semifinal opponent was a warrior from the Orc tribe, a demihuman with a massive, mountain-like physique.

The orc warrior’s glossy black, muscular body served as natural armor; my attacks didn’t even make him flinch.

“What!? What kind of hardness is this?!”

“Sorry, human girl. I can’t hold back.”

I barely dodged the axe swing the orc warrior swung, half tumbling out of the way.

The next instant, the floor where I had been standing caved in, and cracks spread across the entire arena floor.

(If I took that attack head-on, my body would shatter! Damn it, this guy is a formidable foe!)

Fortunately, the orc moved more slowly than I did.

(Hold on… For now, I must endure his attacks and bide my time!)

I refused to give up and kept attacking.

“…Why don’t you stop wasting your effort already? Attacks from your puny arms are nothing before my proud physique… What?!”

“…How many hits do you think you’ve landed?”

I wasn’t attacking blindly. I had been repeatedly piling damage onto a single spot on the orc’s tough hide!

As blood began to seep faintly from that spot, I delivered the finishing blow.

“Roar of the Heartless Light! Pierce the impure! Saintaria!!”

The roar, transformed into a spear of white light, pierced the orc straight through.

“Guh!! I-Impressive…”

It was an extremely tough fight, but I had safely won the semi-finals. 

My final opponent was Angela from the prestigious Thadalfus family. Like me, she was a graduate of the Royal Singing Warrior Academy, having ranked second in her graduating class… a truly formidable Singing Warrior.

But I am a bit ashamed to confess, I never held Angela in high regard.

During our time at the academy, dark rumors unbecoming of a Singing Warrior circulated about her.

(Now is not the time for distractions. I cannot face her with my mind cluttered!)

At the signal to begin, Angela charged straight at me. Her sword technique was beautiful, following the orthodox lineage of a Singing Warrior… but suddenly, needle-like objects shot out from her leather boots, wounding the back of my hand!

“A hidden weapon!? Ugh… Coward!”

“Fufufu… It’s not just any hidden weapon, you know?”

“Wh-what!? My body’s numb, I can’t move!? Angela! You… you used poison!?”

“Hehehe… It seems you didn’t know my family bears the epithet “Thadalfus of the Purple Poison”? …Now! This is the end! Juris!”

“Not so fast!”

I concentrated all my Song Power into my beloved sword, “Kērúkeion”!

“Taste my ultimate technique!”

“What!? You still had this power left!?”

An impact sound carrying light and heat shattered the air, blowing everything around it away.

Angela took the blast head-on from my ultimate technique, “Ecliksys Dine”, and was blown out of the arena.

And so, I finally claimed the championship title at the Royal Song Combat Tournament! 

The Royal Song Combat Tournament celebratory banquet… The lavish feast held in the palace’s grand hall was indeed a beautiful sight, but truthfully, I couldn’t quite relax.
(I know why. It’s because of my dress.)
Of course, I am, after all, the daughter of a noble. I know how to wear a dress and the etiquette of dancing, but I had never worn such an extravagant gown before.
Moreover, relaxing without my sword was an experience I had never had before.

“…Are you feeling uneasy, Lady Tillmer?”
“Oh, you are… Prince Fronta!”
“…Would you care to step out onto the balcony for a moment? The night breeze is quite pleasant.”

The prince and I stepped out onto the balcony together.

“…I apologize. To cause the prince such concern is unbecoming of a subject.”
“Hehehe. You are a straightforward girl, Lady Tillmer. Watching the match, I sensed it… From that moment, I wished to speak with you.”
“Wh-what do you mean…”
“…Must I put it into words for you to understand?”

…From the moment I resolved to live for my country as a Singing Warrior, I had prepared myself to abandon my femininity.
But the moment I met Prince Fronta, gazed into his shining eyes, and heard his passionate words… I couldn’t stop my body and heart from burning with heat.

Two weeks later, I was appointed Captain of the Imperial Guard. At the same time, I became engaged to Prince Fronta, gaining both honor and happiness.

The engagement ceremony with the prince concluded smoothly, leaving only the wedding to come.

(Ah… what utter happiness!)

I never knew finding someone to love could bring such immense strength.

“…Captain? Why are you grinning~?”

The one teasing me was Angela, who had become the Vice-Captain of the Imperial Guard. We’d had our share of drama during the Royal Song Combat Tournament finals, but talking with her revealed a straightforward personality and a flexibility I lacked, which I found appealing. Now, we had become close friends who could be completely at ease with each other.

“Stop chatting. Focus.”

“Okay, okay. Still so serious~”

We were currently visiting a neighboring country whose political relations with us were delicate. Prince Fronta was attending a conference held at the royal villa. Consequently, we of the Imperial Guard were tasked with his personal security.

The conference had concluded without incident, leaving only a banquet for the royal families of each nation to deepen their bonds…

Suddenly, a shockwave and an explosion reverberated through the villa, shaking it to its foundations!

“What!? Make sure the prince is safe!”

As I rushed toward the prince, countless enemies swarmed down from the ceiling!

“Damn you! How dare you!”

The enemies weren’t particularly strong, but their numbers were overwhelming!

After repelling the attackers, a terrifying truth awaited me.

“Prince Fronta… has been kidnapped!?” 

“P-Prince! He was by my side…!”

“…The uniforms of the attacking enemies… These belong to this country’s militant organization. There’s no mistake.”

Angela said grimly.

“That group shows no respect for captives. They’re notorious for their brutal treatment.”

“Dammit!… We must rescue the prince quickly!”

“Yes… Let’s pursue them immediately!”

Angela and I led the elite of the Imperial Guard and rushed to the militant organization’s hideout.

Infiltrating deep into enemy territory, we fought a desperate battle. By the time we defeated their leader, only Angela and I remained of the Imperial Guard.

“What… The prince isn’t here!? What does this mean!?”

We searched every corner of the enemy hideout, but the prince was nowhere to be found.

“You bastard! Where did you take the prince!?”

As I harshly interrogated the dying enemy leader, he answered, his blood-stained mouth twisted.

“…You savage… Die!”

The enemy leader mustered his last strength and pressed the switch to collapse the ceiling!

“It’s dangerous! Juris!”

“…!? A-Angela!?”

Angela shoved me aside, saving me from the collapse by a hair’s breadth. But…

“Angela! Answer me!”

…Not only did I fail to find my beloved prince, but I also lost my most trusted subordinate and irreplaceable friend. 

Overwhelmed by anxiety over the prince’s whereabouts and the shock of losing my friend, I was momentarily lost in a daze. But soon, I encouraged myself, thinking, “I can’t stay like this.”

(…Anyway, I must return to the kingdom and report this situation to the Divine King!)

I hurried back to the kingdom and presented myself before the Divine King.

“Your Majesty! A-a dreadful situation has occurred!”

“…I received the report by swift horse. Truly, this is an outrageous calamity and a shameful affair.”

“…I apologize. This is entirely my responsibility.”

I prostrated myself before the King, ashamed of my own incompetence.

(His anger is justified. But now, I must urgently request the formation of a rescue party for the Prince!)

I believed the King’s fury stemmed from the Prince being taken away by barbarians and the Imperial Guard’s failure. But… then he uttered something unexpected.

“…Juris. Could it be that you were a high-ranking enemy spy from the militant organization that kidnapped the prince?!”

“What… are you saying… Your Majesty…”

“Don’t play dumb! This entire plot was laid out in this report!”

“N-no…! This must be some mistake!”

“I won’t listen! Throw this traitor into prison!”

I protested my innocence, but none of the Imperial Guard remained to testify for me.

And so, unbelievably, I was subjected to the humiliation of being thrown into prison… 

In prison, I endured harsh interrogations every day.

The questioning from the Singing Warriors, who had fought alongside me as comrades, was humiliating both mentally and physically.

(Will I die in this way? Framed for a crime I never committed… unable to save the prince, just rotting away?)

The rage at this unjust treatment was beginning to turn into utter emptiness. Then, one day…

“…Do you intend to die in vain? Juris Tillmer.”

“W-Who are you?! You bastard!”

A man had appeared inside my cell without my noticing. He was eerie, radiating an aura so dark it seemed impossible for a living being.

“How… how did you slip past the heavy guards and reach this cell?”

“Such trivialities matter not… Juris… Do you not wish to know the whereabouts of your beloved man?”

“What!? You… you know the prince’s location!?”

“Yes… Read this letter.”

The letter contained a map of a certain land in the neighboring country, drawn in crimson ink. The man who handed me the letter, which had a gloomy atmosphere reminiscent of blood writing, said.

“Whether you believe it or not is up to you.”

…I had no choice but to believe the words of this man, whose true identity was shrouded in an ominous miasma.

(I must save the Prince!)

Escaping the prison, I spurred my horse toward the location marked on the map! 

The prince was at the location marked on the map.

“Prince! I’ve come to rescue you!”

But he showed no reaction to my words.

“Prince…? What’s wrong?”

“…The Prince is already mine!”

A sharp slash flew at me from behind cover!

Dodging it at the last moment, I raised my blade toward the enemy.

Standing there was…

“A-Angela! You’re alive!? Why are you here!?”

“That’s what I should be asking you. I was going to frame you and get you executed!”

“I can’t believe this… Tell me it’s a lie.”

“Hmph. Still saying that now…? Juris, I hated that naive part of you the most! Ever since academy days. I always wanted to corrupt you, as you always acted so pure and righteous!”

“So… you kidnapped the Prince?!”

“Yes… and stole his heart. Your precious Prince is already mine. Hahaha…”

The Prince’s eyes were vacant; it was clear Angela had drugged him.

“You bastard!! Angela!!”

“Let’s settle this once and for all! Juris!”

For the first time, I pointed my sword at an opponent fueled by hatred. …That was my greatest mistake.

After our blades clashed countless times, just as I thrust my sword toward Angela’s throat…

“P-Prince!? Why…”

Juris’ sword pierced Prince Fronta, who had shielded Angela. 

“Prince! Ah… No! Please open your eyes! Prince Fronta!”

I clutched the prince’s body. But his eyes reflected nothing anymore.

“To lose your mind to a man in the middle of battle! …Die! Juris!”

“…ANGELAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

My rage exploded, inverting the colors of the world before me.

My Song Power burst within me. That power concentrated into my beloved sword, Kērúkeion. It responded to my will, unleashing its true power.

Countless beams of light shot forth from the sword, piercing Angela’s limbs and robbing her of freedom!

“Impossible!? T-this power!?”

“Vanish from this world! You vile monster!”

The pillar of light I unleashed enveloped Angela’s body, reducing her to nothingness!

Angela vanished into dust before she could even utter a death cry.

“…Prince Fronta. Why did this…”

I embraced the Prince’s lifeless body and wept.

Yet there was no one to comfort my grief. Having lost my homeland, my pride as a Singing Warrior, my trusted friend, and my beloved… nothing remained for me now… not even the will to live.

(At least… I wish to be by the Prince’s side.)

My body had somehow made its way toward the cliff’s edge.

Reaching the very tip, I threw myself off without hesitation.

Anticipating the imminent impact, I closed my eyes. Yet my body never reached the ground…

(At this rate… How far will I fall?)

As I was precipitating toward the abyss, my vision was enveloped in pitch-black darkness… 

Kērúkeion is the Greek word for caduceus.

Since GOD characters tend to have references to the artists of their respective songs, Juris’ mask is probably a reference to senya (the Yuuhei Satellite singer at the time this song was made), who used to wear a very similar mask during live performances.