Everything red, red in the setting sun shining upon the blood. This scene which should be only gruesome... However... ...instead... ...it was like... an inimitable painting.
– Sonia [3]
Sonia (ソーニャ Sōnya?) is a member of Griffith's Band of the Falcon, serving as their medium.[2]
Upon seeing him for the first time, Sonia becomes enraptured by Griffith's charisma,[3] and is extremely devout in her admiration of him thereafter.[4]
Quick Answers
What role does Sonia play in Griffith's Band of the Falcon?
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Personality[]
Sonia is a happy-go-lucky girl who often makes her mind known. She is entirely at ease with the apostles that make up Griffith's army[2], and isn't afraid of the pirates she meets at Vritannis.[5]
Sonia is almost unshakably happy, unbothered by even the most severe danger. The only three things to wipe the smile from her face have so far been the human soldiers' fear of the reborn Band of the Falcon's apostle forms, which she tempered with a heartfelt speech,[6] Charlotte's advances on Griffith, which inspire her jealousy[7][8][9] and when Rickert slaps Griffith, which clearly shocked and upset her.[10]
Aside from Griffith, she is shown to get along well with the apostle Irvine.[7][6]
She likes birds[11][9] and has been seen comparing people to them. When telling her version of the Ugly Duckling tale, she refers to herself as a kite, Schierke as an owl, Griffith as a falcon, Kushans as crows and Midlanders as ducks. She also mentions dragons, probably referring to the apostles.[11]
Abilities[]
Sonia is a mind-reader [12] -allowing her to hear through thought transference-[5] as well as a prophetess.[13][14] These powers alienated her from other people, as she could see things they couldn't see and hear voices they couldn't hear.[7] Generally, she uses her abilities to aid in the reborn Band of the Falcon's campaigns by sharing her mental images with other people.[12][15][16][4] She has also used her abilities to ingratiate herself with many people, including the Pontiff and his aides[17], Ivalera and Schierke, oftentimes being a valuable tool due to how easily she can manipulate people.[11][6] She is also able to discern the lifeforce that blankets a battlefield and find a suitable path to strike.[12][16] She also claims to be the only one alongside Griffith that can safely use the World Spiral Tree branches without getting lost.[4]
Background[]
When Kushans came to her village, they burnt her parents to death right in front of her and took her prisoner.[13]
Story[]
Millennium Falcon Arc[]
As Sonia and a number of enslaved female villagers in Shet are being moved, a slave mentions if only the Band of the Falcon and if only "he" were here, none of that would have happened. As another slave tells her mentioning there's no use in saying that, Sonia tells them their helping hand is coming, any moment, to save them. When a woman asks what's wrong with her, another tells her tragic past. Sonia continues to tell them the wind is whispering that the Falcon of Light is coming and she can hear it.[13]
When Griffith arrives in the burnt Midland city, run by the Kushans, Sonia watches his arrival, and starts to wonder who he is. As Griffith stabs the Kushan leader in the eye after he questioned him, she looks on with shock. She is then amazed to see Kushan archers' arrows fail to hit Griffith. After the arrival of the Moonlight Knight, and hearing him refer to Griffith as the Falcon of Light, several slaves then quarrel unable to believe that it's him, even after rumors of his death. Sonia tells them she saw his face in the victory parade in Wyndham, so there is no mistake: he is Midland's guardian angel. Sonia then bites the rope tying her hands together, knowing that's him. After freeing her hands she runs toward him, knowing the wind whispered that the world began to change.[18]
Sonia believes him to be so incredibly beautiful he's not even human. When two Tapasa leap over Sonia and prepare to attack Griffith, she shouts to him to look out. Sonia then stands in shock as the two Tapasa are knocked back by the arrival of Rakshas. Sonia stands in awe knowing he is the Falcon of Light, the man who will save the world. Sonia describes the dead bodies stench as "choking" as the mind-numbing smell of blood envelops them and their numbers. Dyed red, the sun shines down on blood and everything is red. She knows it should be a gruesome scene but somehow it looked like an inimitable painting, and notes they are all in the midst of some extraordinary tale.[3]
During the battle of Lumias, Sonia shows Mule Wolflame a psychic image of incoming arrows, warning him of danger. From a viewing point she watches over the battle, noticing the fluctuating lifeforce covering the battle field stopping at the core of the enemy's will and transmitting it to Griffith. After the battle Sonia appears before Mule. Mule then recognizes her and asks her who she is. Sonia cuts him short, replying that they can smile as Griffith's here. She then introduces herself as Sonia and welcomes him to the Band of the Falcon. As he questions her mentioning the Band of the Falcon, she tells him that everyone asked Griffith to use that name after the legendary band, as it was being led by the Falcon himself. She then asks Mule to follow her, asking him if does he not want to meet Griffith. Unsure what to say, Mule decides to follow her.[12] She then tells him about Locus, who has a short talk with the young knight. Going into the nearby woods, Sonia has him meet the War Demons - the apostles that serve under Griffith's command. One of them grabs her by an ankle and claims she's an odd one due to how she is unafraid of them. The arrival of Grunbeld has the apostle release her. Afterwards, the stern warrior lectures the girl on how the band medium shouldn't venture that place without a guardian, and she nonchalantly expresses how useless it'd be. Before leaving, she promises the attacking apostle she'll bring him a corpse next time.[2] She then takes Mule to where Griffith is surrounded by the souls of those who died in the recent battle. After the event, Griffith congratulates the seeress, who states that she feels her power gets stronger when she's with him.[19]
Fantasia Arc[]
This section requires expansion.
Gallery[]
Portrayal[]
Japanese Voice Actor(s)[]
Notes[]
- The Berserk Official Guidebook states that circa the Fantasia Arc, Sonia is 140 cm (4'7"), and 42 kg (93 lbs).(NOTE: The Berserk Official Guidebook is highly questionable in its veracity.)
References[]
- ^ Berserk Official Guidebook
- ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 23, "Wings of Light and Darkness"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 22, "War Cry of the Wind (2)"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 40, "Triumphant Return at Dawn"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 29, "Bloodshed"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 34, "Medium of the Falcon"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 29, "Homing"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Hero"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 41, "Dawn of an Empire"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 38, "Bridge of Parting"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 28, "The Kite and the Owl on the Pier"
- ^ a b c d Berserk :: Volume 23, "Flag of the Flying Sword"
- ^ a b c Berserk :: Volume 22, "Onslaught of the Kushans"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 32, "Human Bullet"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 29, "Meager Supper"
- ^ a b Berserk :: Volume 40, "Jötunn"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 30, "Divine Revelation"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 22, "War Cry of the Wind (1)"
- ^ Berserk :: Volume 23, "Night of Falling Stars"