Heaven's Judgement [Storyteller | Elise Saga]

For most, it might have come as a surprise that Elise von Eisenberg had decided to apply for a job within the Public Safety Commission. While to the surface the Public Safety Commission might have sounded like a desk job, a thought she could understand from the basic impression people had of the Public Safety Commission. However, in Elise's opinion, it was something much more. As someone who had been trained by Spymaster personally, she knew to find opportunities where others believed there were none. Take for example the logistics support that the Public Safety Commission provided, they were an essential asset in coordinating the joint efforts of pro-heroes and the police. The network available to them reached far, and she hoped to put it to good use, to track down the spy that the Plutocracy had planted in the government.

It was for that reason Elise has worked on a plan that for once didn't involve her taking on the entire burden. No, she needed allies, people with the right skills, experience and authority to act where she couldn't. The first stage of her plan had been to meet up with deputy Aoi Aniba, gaining a just and trustworthy ally among the police had been an important key factor in her plan. If she could deliver proof of the spy's identity, Aniba could surely get the man arrested, but she needed more, to truly discover this spy's identity she needed to obtain a network of intel that reached far and wide. It was for that reason she had applied to the Public Safety Commission.

"From the hero academy's disciplinary committee to the Public Safety Commission, from one committee into the other~" Elise chimed in amusement as the taxi drove her toward her destination. She had been informed that her application had passed the first stage of approval, and that she was to undergo a briefing and interview which would decide the results. The girl closed her eyes for a moment, leaning back in her seat as she thought about the things that were happening. This was for the best. As much as she wanted to remain at Tetsuko's side at all times, Elise knew her own limits, or rather she knew how dangerous she became if her beloved knight's safety was endangered. Even if it didn't show most of the times, her body had been trained in a way that the act of killing an enemy felt like a simple calculating, like a reflex. However, what the body did and the heart desires were different. Her first kill still weighted heavily on her. She wasn't like Ryuusei who didn't seem affected by it, no it was an experience she didn't want to undergo again, and knowing her? She knew her body wouldn't hesitate to do the act again.

It was for that reason she had also applied to the Public Safety Commission, knowing that she'd able to still support her beloved Tetsuko, but she would also be able to use her training as Spymaster, and her medical expertise to coordinate and support operations.

Indeed, to her this enrollment was just as much an opportunity, as it was a safety precaution. She didn't want to haunt Tetsuko with such grief again. As the taxi arrived at the secondary office, Elise stepped outside the vehicle and briefly cast her gaze at the building and her surroundings before stepping inside. It didn't take long for her to reach the reception, where she spoke, her tone soft and gentle. "I have an appointment~ Elise von Eisenberg is the name." After the receptionist confirmed her identity she was guided toward the office by the receptionist, a light knock on the door announcing her arrival as she stepped inside, her gaze drifting firm and resolute at the man behind the desk.

It took a moment for her to sense the casualness in the mood, making her body seemingly ease a little as she spoke. "Thank you very much for taking the time to meet me." She knew all too well that her young age, despite her accomplishments could be considered a detriment, but she wouldn't let that bring her down.

"I see you already received my profile~ Although I personally tend to favor the actual interviewing part, there is only so much a profile can tell you without meeting the person in question~" Despite the playful jest she seemed calm, not overconfident but clearly determined.

She was glad to hear that the one interviewing her was a man who wasn't too focused on all the proper etiquette. While she was capable of acting formal and polite, Elise had to admit she was someone who greatly preferred a bit of informality. Being too stiff and proper made her feel a bit uneasy. Elise nodded her head lightly in affirmation as she heard the man chuckle, and after his invitation, she took a seat.

"A pleasure to meet you then Yasuke, although during formal occasions I will refer to you as Heaven-on-High then." Her gaze remained focused on the man as he started to look at her academic record. As expected he knew she was enrolled in the hero academy in the past, had solid grades and both medical experience and combat experience. However, when he inquired about her other skills she paused for a moment. Just outright revealing she was Kiryu's successor seemed tricky, so perhaps instead it would be wise for her to play it carefully. "Aside from my medical expertise and combat training, I have also been trained in intel gathering and surveillance. My quirk is quite suitable for infiltration purposes, and I had a fair degree of training into it."

She raised a hand to her chin, pondering for a moment. "But in all honesty, I'd prefer to keep out of actual confrontations. Coordinating forces and gathering intel is one thing, but being on the frontline of a battlefield is an entirely different story. The responsibilities it brings, and the burdens you might be forced to shoulder after your confrontation of an enemy are immense, and I don't think it will be wise for me to experience it again outside of an emergency. After all, I'm certain we both would want to avoid such paperwork."

She smiled briefly at him, deciding to see how Heaven on High would respond to her reaction. "In a way consider an operation like an orchestra. I don't desire to become the star of the show, the hero that saves everyone on the field, that role is not suited for me. I'd rather be the dirigent, the conductor that guides the key assets of this performance as diligently and strategic as possible. If anything, rather than being the hero, I want to be the maestro. Ensuring that as few mistakes are made as possible, as little losses as possible are made while ensuring the mission is a success."

And with those words she gently folded her hands on her lap. "How about you Yasuke? What do you seek in an applicant? After all, surely the one who watches from 'Heaven on High' has an entirely different perspective and view than 'most' of the teachers at the hero academy had."

Indeed, if there was one teacher who well and truly held a perspective similar to her own, then it was her late mentor. While others might not consider Spymaster a hero, to her the fact he was willing to do so much for the greater good, made him a man worth respecting and admiring... she was proud to be his successor.

Indeed, calling him Yasuke seemed like the most comfortable decision to her. Not only did she prefer to be casual and friendly when possible, the fact the man mentioned his friends called him Yasuke made her believe it would also be a favorable decision. In the wake of the little naming decision the interview had properly started. First off came the question associated with her skill, the explanation of her skills proving to be a positive asset in this interview, nonetheless there was a reason she had decided to clarify a bit further on her desire to avoid actual combat if possible.

Indeed, in the wake of the mission with Spymaster, the Germanic lass had been forced to come to terms with the fact that she was unsuited for the battlefield, at the very least as a hero. The feelings the consequences of her first kill had brought along, and the awareness she wouldn't hesitate to kill again to protect her beloved Tetsuko made it clear she was a legal danger if she was to become a pro-hero, and she knew just how worried her beloved knight would be if she always had to carry that burden. It was a risk too great for her to expose herself to, not just for her sake, but also Tetsuko's... Elise nodded her head firmly at Yasuke's declaration. "Indeed, there are many risks found on the battlefield that go beyond physical, especially the psychological ones are dangerous. For the sake of those dear to me, I would only enter it during emergencies. It's not just about guts, I'd say it might just as much be about the mindset those in the field might have.

A sixth sense, an intriguing thing to look for. People often debated what a sixth sense actually was, in her opinion, it was a certain ability to predict things based on calculations made from the information one possessed. It was for that reason a certain sort of insight was needed, something that required a certain aptitude that was difficult to obtain.

Indeed, like Yasuke said it was the ability to look at the big picture just as much as a single frame, the ability to see the threads that connected everything together. She nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment to the man's explanation. However, the next question that came was a bit more tricky. What made her want to become a hero? It reminded her of the past, that despite her efforts to become a hero, she never considered herself a true hero in nature. "I don't really believe that I'm what a hero should be. Perhaps I'm too idealistic, but a hero should be selfless, a role model for the citizen that makes them feel safe and hopeful for a better future. Instead, I joined the hero academy because I desired to be closer to my beloved one. In a way most of my actions have been for her, my desire to become a great doctor was so I could tend to any injury she might suffer in the field as a hero, my enrollment into the hero academy was to get closer to her, to be with her more often. All in all, those activities were simply positive byproducts for others. I'm too selfish as a human being to truly be considered a hero, even if I like helping people as much as any other good-natured person might do."

She paused for a moment, a hand raised for her chin as she thought further. "But in the end, if heroes protect citizen, then who support the heroes? Who saves the heroes when they need saving? To be able to ensure that in the future, there be less heroes in need of saving, I desired to become someone who could support heroes from the shadows, someone who didn't need or want the glory those in the field earn. No, to me their safety is already enough of a reward."

She nodded her head firmly, a smile lingering on her lips. Indeed, for Tetsuko's sake...

Indeed, it was something she had noticed during her time at the hero academy. A lot of the students seemingly didn't realize the importance, or perhaps even the very nature of their work. She couldn't help but think back on some of them who saw their role as heroes as a convenient opportunity to battle villains, and yet Elise couldn't help but wonder if they understood just what type of responsibility a hero had. What type of burdens they would carry throughout their life.

It was also undeniable that when it came to morals that villains often had the advantage in a battle. Not many possessed a proper moral compass, and there was no deed too heinous for a villain to accomplish their objectives. A villain could easily kill, it was as simple as breathing to them.

However, heroes were meant to obey certain rules and regulations, things they should never do, and killing a villain was one such thing. Having experienced it first-hand, the weight of killing someone was immense. To those who took the responsibility, the awareness that one ended a life and the impact it had could be devastating. However, for Elise this revelation, this experience was all the more terrifying.

Killing is easy... Do not be mistaken, killing 'people' isn't easy. If you think of them as people, it suddenly gets that much harder. But, if you simply look at the balance sheet - How much of a threat someone is, or how much more benefit there is in letting them keep breathing a while longer? Then it becomes simple math, and simple math is simple to do. It's almost as easy as putting two bullets center mass and a third one in the head...

At her heart Elise might had been kind, but she was also protective, if she perceived someone as a threat to her beloved childhood friend, or possibly endangered her future alongside her? Then killing became as easy as breathing. After all, it was for that reason that Elise had chosen to leave the battlefield.

Still, Yasuke's words were heartening to hear, that being selfish isn't necessarily a bad thing. "What I hope to gain?" For a moment Elise paused, not entirely certain on how to answer. Although she had her own personal agenda, to say that she joined the Public Safety Commission merely to pursue the spy was not entirely correct.

"In a way, one could say that what I hope to gain is power." She paused for a moment, realizing her answer might had sounded confusing. "Please don't misunderstand me, what I mean isn't the classic combative strength that the students at the hero academy are hoping to attain. The power I seek is something different."

She closed her eyes for a moment, thinking about the reports she heard of the injured people and the casualties at Shinagawa, about her earlier words that there should be people that could save the heroes when they needed saving. "There is something Yasuke-san, a certain thing our society is missing right now. Take a look at Shinagawa, Nakano, indeed even Semper Fi. Too many times the price for our success is too high. Villains that escape, heroes that get injured, or worse... Despite all efforts, society is restless, and the underworld continues to stir. Criminals become bolder, villains more active and in the end this despair spreads like a contagious disease."

Indeed, take for example Nick Cross and her Quirker supremacist attitude, and how the rift between Quirkers and non-Quirkers continued to widen.

"I feel that there is a need for something, someone that inspires society, someone who supports and protects the heroes when they are vulnerable. My master... even if people might question his deeds, there is no doubt in my heart that he did it for everyone's sake. But I am not my master, I have someone to return home to, but that does not mean his duty, his legacy has been forsaken."

She smiled gently and nodded her head lightly as she finished. "If the heroes in the field, and the students waiting to graduate from the hero academy are symbols of justice and peace, the people who will fight the rising darkness that encroaches upon us, then what about the times they feel outnumbered? What when their resolve starts to falter? When things start to look so bad that they might start to despair? To become the person that gives those people a push in the back, to give them the strength to stand up and fight once more. To make the likes of Thunder Shock and Nick Cross realize that no matter how vile their plans might get, there will always be embers waiting to be kindled, people to stand up and crush their schemes. To make those people fear to commit crimes, for the awareness that in the end their motives of crushing our spirit to be futile..."

In the end, to her, her master had never been an 'assassin', he was a shinobi who carried out his duty for the greater good, and in the end, she would carry on his legacy in a way that surely would make him proud.

"I feel what this society needs right now, isn't just heroes, it also needs someone that encourages those people to keep on fighting. It needs a Symbol of Hope, and I want to become such a person. But for that I need more than just my talent as a doctor, or my skills on the battlefield. I need to obtain the wisdom and experience to help support people, after all... I guess deep inside, I want to be a hero too, just a different type than the one everyone else wants to be~ After all, if we can save lives even before a conflict begins, it makes the situation all the more 'hopeful', doesn't it?"