TV-Series
Description
Bernard serves as the primary human antagonist in the story, a cunning and manipulative priest whose influence is deeply felt throughout the Hundred Years' War. He holds a position of authority within the church, serving as an abbot and using his religious standing as a cover for his worldly and political machinations. His role in the clergy is not born of simple faith but is a strategic choice made to advance the ambitions of his uncle, Count Guillaume, granting him near-infinite goodwill from the populace to exploit for their political ends.
On the surface, Bernard is a devout and respected man of God, but this facade conceals a ruthless and unscrupulous nature. He is a schemer and a manipulator, driven by a desire for control and a belief that the ends justify his often deplorable means. He is adept at using florid language and abstract theology to rationalize his actions, which can involve spreading lies, turning communities against innocent people, and forming alliances with dangerous individuals. His interest in peace is conditional; he desires an end to the war only if it results in a triumph for his country and his family, and he is willing to prolong suffering to achieve this.
Bernard’s primary motivation is to neutralize Maria, whose magical interventions disrupt the natural flow of the war and, by extension, his political schemes. He orchestrates a campaign against her not just as a witch, but as a heretic who defies both the church and the natural order. He sees her as a significant obstacle to his agenda. This is most evident when he learns of the divine curse that will strip Maria of her powers if she loses her virginity; he breaks into grotesque laughter, seeing this as a perfect weakness to exploit. He conspires to have her captured, arranges for an inquisition to try her, and attempts to turn the local villagers against her by blaming her for their misfortunes.
Within the story, Bernard is the central figure representing the corruption of religious authority. While the archangel Michael represents a divine, lawful opposition to Maria’s meddling, Bernard represents the earthly, corrupt, and self-serving arm of the church. He is directly responsible for escalating the conflict with Maria from a supernatural dispute to a very human, political, and life-threatening persecution. His actions have a direct impact on the plot, from hiring the mercenary Galfa to assassinate Maria to organizing the mob that drags her to be stoned.
Bernard’s key relationships are defined by his manipulation of others. He keeps the younger priest Gilbert as a fawning lackey, serving as a mentor figure whose approval Gilbert craves. Gilbert idolizes Bernard, and it is the shattering of this illusion that becomes a pivotal moment for his character. Bernard also forms a dangerous alliance with the mercenary Galfa, tasking him with Maria’s assassination and using him as a tool for his violent purposes. Perhaps his most notable victim is Joseph, Maria’s beloved. Despite Joseph being his loyal messenger, Bernard is either indifferent to or unaware of Joseph’s connection to Maria, using him to further his plans.
Throughout the series, Bernard undergoes a subtle but significant development. Initially presented as a cold and calculating strategist, his instability and madness become more pronounced, especially after a direct conversation with Maria. His obsession with control and his perverse motivations begin to alienate those around him, and he is driven to acts that can be described as blasphemous, revealing a deeply unstable core beneath his pious exterior. While his role as a primary threat diminishes after Maria’s capture, he continues to serve an important thematic purpose, representing the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy that can flourish within powerful institutions.
Bernard possesses no magical abilities but is formidable due to his political acumen, his authority as a religious figure, and his psychological manipulation. He is a master of propaganda, using his position to spread rumors and turn public opinion against Maria. His greatest weapon is his mind, and he proves to be a more persistent and insidious threat than any mercenary or soldier due to his ability to weaponize the very society Maria is trying to protect.
On the surface, Bernard is a devout and respected man of God, but this facade conceals a ruthless and unscrupulous nature. He is a schemer and a manipulator, driven by a desire for control and a belief that the ends justify his often deplorable means. He is adept at using florid language and abstract theology to rationalize his actions, which can involve spreading lies, turning communities against innocent people, and forming alliances with dangerous individuals. His interest in peace is conditional; he desires an end to the war only if it results in a triumph for his country and his family, and he is willing to prolong suffering to achieve this.
Bernard’s primary motivation is to neutralize Maria, whose magical interventions disrupt the natural flow of the war and, by extension, his political schemes. He orchestrates a campaign against her not just as a witch, but as a heretic who defies both the church and the natural order. He sees her as a significant obstacle to his agenda. This is most evident when he learns of the divine curse that will strip Maria of her powers if she loses her virginity; he breaks into grotesque laughter, seeing this as a perfect weakness to exploit. He conspires to have her captured, arranges for an inquisition to try her, and attempts to turn the local villagers against her by blaming her for their misfortunes.
Within the story, Bernard is the central figure representing the corruption of religious authority. While the archangel Michael represents a divine, lawful opposition to Maria’s meddling, Bernard represents the earthly, corrupt, and self-serving arm of the church. He is directly responsible for escalating the conflict with Maria from a supernatural dispute to a very human, political, and life-threatening persecution. His actions have a direct impact on the plot, from hiring the mercenary Galfa to assassinate Maria to organizing the mob that drags her to be stoned.
Bernard’s key relationships are defined by his manipulation of others. He keeps the younger priest Gilbert as a fawning lackey, serving as a mentor figure whose approval Gilbert craves. Gilbert idolizes Bernard, and it is the shattering of this illusion that becomes a pivotal moment for his character. Bernard also forms a dangerous alliance with the mercenary Galfa, tasking him with Maria’s assassination and using him as a tool for his violent purposes. Perhaps his most notable victim is Joseph, Maria’s beloved. Despite Joseph being his loyal messenger, Bernard is either indifferent to or unaware of Joseph’s connection to Maria, using him to further his plans.
Throughout the series, Bernard undergoes a subtle but significant development. Initially presented as a cold and calculating strategist, his instability and madness become more pronounced, especially after a direct conversation with Maria. His obsession with control and his perverse motivations begin to alienate those around him, and he is driven to acts that can be described as blasphemous, revealing a deeply unstable core beneath his pious exterior. While his role as a primary threat diminishes after Maria’s capture, he continues to serve an important thematic purpose, representing the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy that can flourish within powerful institutions.
Bernard possesses no magical abilities but is formidable due to his political acumen, his authority as a religious figure, and his psychological manipulation. He is a master of propaganda, using his position to spread rumors and turn public opinion against Maria. His greatest weapon is his mind, and he proves to be a more persistent and insidious threat than any mercenary or soldier due to his ability to weaponize the very society Maria is trying to protect.