Paying attention to Divaās language, her age and regard for people become obvious.
When James goes off to battle Saya, she wonders āif that child will be ok?ā āAno ko James daijobu kana?ā She sees James as a child.
When Amshel assures her, she then asks where he will be going: āOmae wa?ā Itās different from how she treated him at the end of episode 24 where she ran to him. Diva, in Japanese, frequently uses polite and formal language. But in these private moments, she behaves differently. Perhaps having Rikuās form allows her to explore her relationships in a different way. Maybe this side of her just comes out when she is confident she will have children beyond her own chevaliers, and is beyond the point of caring about how the conflict with her sister ends.
CHAPTER ONE: Even now, there is a place I want to return to.
TRANSLATION TOOL: Chatgpt
CONTENT / WARNINGS: long post,
[8] There was a man.
The man was the heir to a financial conglomerate that owned vast assets.
He ran businesses and banks around the world, influencing history with his financial power.
The man's curiosity led him to the study of rare animals and plants. Using the financial resources of the conglomerate and an extensive information network, he procured rare specimens from around the world.
One of these obsessions reached a particular point.
It was the birth of a completely new life.
The man's name was Joel.
Joel spent many years, and sometimes even broke prohibitions, to fulfill his dream.
And then.
*****
[9] Saya let out a small sigh.
From the window of the swaying carriage, the rows of buildings in Petrograd could be seen. In the city, said to have been built by inviting architects from Italy and Peter the Greatās era, yellow and pink glamorous walls stood side by side. Originally, it was marshland, but just the streets built to reclaim the land were adorned with magnificent waterways running vertically, the entire area comprising nineteen large and small islands.
If it cleared up, the sky would be blue, and the shadows of the buildings overlapping would be beautiful. The floating clouds, called "Marose", heralded the visit of severe cold.
Saya's hair, which encircled her neck finely, was unusually short for a girl of this era. Thanks to the round-shaped head and the slender frame, she stood out a bit even when she stayed quiet. Naturally, being outside, she had to take care of her appearance.
[10] The dress that wrapped the body of the vampire was made of deep crimson velvet, which looked like black hair. It was designed with the utmost limit of refinement, adorned with narrow black braid embroidery. The sleeves were slightly puffed at the shoulders, with the cuffs widening again, covered in lace and fur. The skirt was embroidered with a pattern of roses and plants, using silk thread. The dress, which seemed almost too tight for the night, embraced her body with minimal exposure.
At first glance, she gave a weak impression, but perhaps because of the strength that could be seen in her eyes, that wasn't the case. Her thick, round eyebrows, always perfectly shaped, and her moist, lustrous lips stood out.
In the center of the city, a relief of the Romanov family's double-headed eagle and the Holy George was carved on the official buildings. Gazing at the passing pedestrians, a young man sitting beside her spoke in a gentle voice as she let out a sigh, perhaps tired or just trying to catch her breath.
[11] He wore a silver vest with a matching shirt and tie under a finely tailored jacket. His long hair, tied with a dark ribbon, fell carelessly over his shoulders, obscuring his face. Despite the carelessness, his appearance was refined, with the matching grass and cuffs giving an elegant touch. His large eyes, seemingly filled with shadows, were striking.
His demeanor, calm and collected, was a defining feature. With a sharp contrast, his pale skin emphasized the coolness of the night. Although dressed in refined clothing, his attire did not seem flashy or over-the-top.
āAre you alright?ā he asked softly, with a gentle smile.
āYes, Iām fine,ā She replied, turning her gaze outside the window to the large building that stood out in the distance.
[12] The objects were solidly anchored in place. The green walls, decorated with intricate goldwork, and the pillars and window frames painted white drew her attention. At the base of each pillar and window frame were detailed reliefs that caught her eye.
As she gazed at them, Haji spoke from behind her. "It's the Winter Palace, known as the Hermitage."
"Hermitage..."
Hearing the name of the place where she grew up in a foreign land brought back a sense of nostalgia. She murmured the name softly to herself without voicing it out loud.
[13] Noticing the distant sound of a bell, Hajiās face was suddenly close to hers.
āHuh? Morning?ā
Saya couldnāt help but blink in surprise, realizing she was inside a carriage. The scenery she saw through the window outside was narrow and blurry as they passed through it.
āIt seems that the bell is indicating a stop,ā Haji told her with a slight smile.
āIāve slept for a long time, havenāt I? It wouldāve been nice if you had woken me up,ā Saya said.
āAll the luggage should have been delivered. Thereās no need to worry about it,ā Haji replied, reaching out to help her, but she refused.
āIām sorryā¦ I must have fallen asleep before I knew it,ā she apologized.
āHave you been watching over me the whole time?ā she asked with a strange look on her face.
āThatās my job, you know,ā Haji said, smiling gently.
[14] "...Haji"
Haji took Saya's hand, who was rubbing her drowsy eyes, and gently lowered her to the ground. Without saying anything, Haji extended his arm, and Saya, having noticed, quickly adjusted the hem of her feathered cape. She straightened herself and smiled softly.
"Shall we go?"
"...Yes."
She nodded deeply, as usual calm and composed.
It was at that moment.
Suddenly, a shadow appeared in front of her, and Saya gasped. Over Haji's shoulder, Saya saw a figureāa boy. The balcony window was left open. "From there? But, now..."
[15] Saya wasnāt concerned at all. The boy's stare, hiding his surprise, didnāt seem to register Hajiās presence. Although his gaze lacked malice, it was rare for anyone to ignore Haji like that. It was like a wild beast that, once having targeted its prey, disregarded anything else.
In an instant, the boy's demeanor changed, and Saya noticed that curiosity colored his eyes.
He was about sixteen or seventeen. That large figure gave a slightly naughty impression. He was a bit taller than Saya and had a slightly narrow but clearly bright look. His short, red hair hung loose, with a mix of reddish hues like agate. His eyes were a blend of amber and gold. He wore a white shirt with a red cloth and leather epaulets on the shoulders, pinned at the left chest, making it look somewhat like a uniform.
Unknowingly, a smile appeared on his face. He was probably thinking, "We're going to be friends, right?"
Saya moved to stand between the boy and herself, and lightly touched Haji's arm. That alone made Haji suppress his presence and silently retreat.
[16] āYou seem weak.ā
The boy unintentionally leaked his thoughts. It took a moment for Saya to realize he was referring to her. While keeping an eye on the boy, she turned her gaze towards the entrance porch.
āAh!ā
Before she knew it, an elderly man in a butlerās uniform was standing there. The boy lost interest and turned his eyes back to her.
āHey, Saya!ā
Startled, Saya called out, but the boy, without acknowledging, started to enter the house. Saya, feeling slightly embarrassed, turned to Haji.
āLetās go, Haji.ā
Saya nodded at Haji and followed the boy into the house. Inside, Haji followed closely behind Saya.
āI see, Saya.ā
As if noticing something, Saya glanced at Haji, who only smiled slightly and said no more. Knowing Saya's name was enough indication that they were at the right place.
*****
[17] Konya (Konya = night) changed her grip on her bag and walked further, opening the door without hesitation. She lowered her head deeply as she stepped inside. The inside was half-covered in black stone. The exterior and interior were designed similarly, with a white marble base and red roses placed in large vases on both sides of the stairs' landing. The exterior had a cold appearance, but inside it was warm, with a few fireplaces burning red in the ground floor's rooms to the left and right.
Konya, who returned and stood in the entrance, was guided down the stairs set up in the back of the hallway. He led her to a room in the basement of the mansion.
"Please wait here until the preparations are complete. I will call for you when it's ready," he said, bowing deeply without waiting for a response, and left.
Konya sat down at the table set in the center of the room, taking off her cape and draping it over the back of her chair. There was a white marble fireplace in the center of the right wall of the room, and as expected, a fire was burning there.
[18] The long, narrow windows cut into the white plaster walls marked the boundary with the ground. The side wall's ceiling featured gold-threaded botanical patterns, and the wallpaper, a deep red with golden designs, was similarly adorned with botanical motifs. Against the white marble walls, Konya sat down, taking off her cape and placing it on the back of the chair.
A carriage stopped outside the window, and as if on cue, Konya stood up. Soon the door opened. The young boy who appeared was about the same height as Konya, wearing a black uniform with a red fold-back collar and cuffs, a belt tied around his waist, and tucking in a long, black jacket. His cap had gold embroidery of a double-headed eagle on the front, similar to the crest of a military academy. Without hesitation, the boy approached Konya and took a seat at the long table.
The boy, who seemed to be around the same age as Konya, had long, wine-red hair, which was cut straight around his shoulders. His eyes were a deep brown, and his expression was mature for his age. The boy pulled out a letter sealed with wax from his pocket and, with practiced fingers, started to unseal it.
[19] "Konya."
Surprised, Konya, who had been standing, reflexively sat down. The boy who had previously been silent and sitting at the head of the table raised his face from the documents and called out to him.
"Please sit down, Rosian."
When addressed like this, Rosian always felt a sense of childishness despite the weight it carried. Perhaps it was because of the stern gaze from beneath the boy's glasses.
The boy called Rosian did not sit down but leaned back against the warmth of the fireplace. He then called out to Konya, who had instinctively stood up.
"Please take a seat, Rosian. As I said, don't go back until the business is settled."
With this, the tone that always seemed to praise him as if he were adorable felt neither oppressive nor threatening. Without waiting for a response, the boy introduced himself from behind Konya's back.
"I'm Valeri. I support your activities, Konya. Now, let's have all five of us sit down."
Hearing his own name, Konya finally raised his head. Following the boy's lead, Konya corrected his posture.
[20] When he went into the room and took off his hat, his naturally wavy, ice-blond hair fell around his face. Not paying attention to the small room he had just entered, Kiriya looked away from the boy with the waist-length hair in front of him and observed the room with an air of disinterest.
"Fujiyon,"
"Rosian,"
"Introduce yourself to Varelli first."
Kiriya did not look at him but instead, looked down. When the boy with waist-length hair spoke, Kiriya replied without hesitation.
"This is Eduard," he said quietly, as if he was accustomed to it.
Kiriya, who still did not look at him, felt that the pale light made the boy's dark hair, which was cut short and clean, appear as if it had a bluish tint. He thought to himself that Eduard was always calm and never said much, and that he was taller than the rest of the boys.
[21] In the back of the room, there was an air of thoughtfulness. The figure standing there had a lean build, clearly honed. Kiriya, who only read books and practiced Eastern swordsmanship, thought absentmindedly, "Is that how clothes fit someone like that?" Rosian, who was holding back his physical power, restrained himself with great effort and headed towards Varelli again.
"Rosian, please sit down," Varelli urged in a serious tone, pulling out a chair and sitting down with a clunk. The sound of the chair being pulled out seemed to further disturb the peace.
Rosian sat down with a nonchalant air, his fingertips tapping on the table. The one who spoke up was Kiriya.
"Are you going to gather them and bring them back?" Kiriya asked, not responding to Varelli but instead addressing Rosian, who was sitting down in a careless manner. Rosian had come back ahead of them, seemingly flapping his wings.
"Hey, Eduard," Kiriya continued, hesitatingly trying to stop himself from speaking further but finally deciding to say, "Looking for Makishima is a real pain. Why not just let him handle it?"
Without turning his face away, Varelli and Kiriya both felt it was easier for them than for Makishima.
Amshel wants Diva's children so that he can expand on his study of chiroptera. With Diva, he only has one queen. With the twin children, he has access to both queens. Chevaliers need to be made willingly by a queen. If he ended up raising Kanade and Hibiki, he could coerce them into making chevaliers.
The experiments would also go into conflicts between chevaliers of different generations. Much like Nathan is immune to Saya's blood, Amshel would effectively be immortal once Saya is dead and Diva has children.
When Diva is in her hibernation period, she is kept in isolated areas. When she is transferred from Vietnam to France, it is by ship. Probably because she was kept in a shipping container. Saya, however, sleeps in a coffin, except after the Vietnam war. She sleeps in the Miyagusuku crypt.
Only Kai and Riku have George's family name. Saya does not. I wonder if the boys ever wondered why Saya wasn't given the same name. She was never Otonashi before waking in 2004.
Before Diva goes to attack Red Shield, we see her with her hair down. During the attack though, she has her hair elaborately pinned up. Was Nathan in on the plan? Out of all her chevaliers, it seems to me he is the only one who can help with her hair, and I wonder if she can do such a hairstyle by herself.
Divaās dress here is similar to what Saya wore at the zoo. The silhouette and the ruffles on the shoulders.Ā It appears that even after Diva left the tower, she would visit the location nearby. This sighting was not long after Joel's death.
It's not clear what it means when Saya and Diva's eyes glow. I've seen this being referred to as "chiropteran mode'. Saya's eyes glow in battle, in her Vietnam awakening and when she receives Hagi's blood to awaken in the first episode. Her personality changes and she is aware of what she needs to do and commands for a sword to be given and fights.
Diva's eyes glow frequently. They glow when she drains Joel's blood, and it looks like even after. When she wakes in the basement of Amschel's castle, her eyes glow when she sense Amschel approaching and again when she sees Solomon bleed out. Her eyes glow when she feeds on the human Karl. Her eyes glow when she drinks Riku's blood, when she targets Riku for assault, when she and Saya battle on the burning ship. Lastly, in the final battle. Her eyes glow when it looks like she is ready to fight.
Saya says in episode 30 that she is just like Diva, she kills innocent people. In the Vietnam war, Saya went berserk. Diva appears to do so as well. Do either of them have control? Saya remembers what she did.
When are the times Diva appears to be in a similar berserk mode? She killed the entire party in 1883. In episode 19, when she wakes, she kills the people who entered her container. When she is resting in the penthouse garden, there are scores in the ground, and broken tree branches, indicating that she had been violent.
Diva has demonstrated that she can use her strength without the glowing eyes. The glowing eyes might simply be a change in state of mind. Similar to excess testosterone affects personality, the glowing eyes are a sign of a battle-ready person.
I hate to comment on an answer, but as much as I agree with the David love (he is great, after all) I donāt feel that heās āall about the missionā and āfocused strictly on his jobā in the strictest sense. Julia specifically calls him out on this in the anime when his feelings for George override his duty (āBusiness comes after personal feelings, I see.ā). In the light novels, it is evident that he has been giving George additional money above and beyond the stipend allotted by Red Shield for Sayaās care. Why? Because he honestly cares about the people his mission is impacting ā more so than the strict concept of āthe missionā itself. From the death of his father, to his entire army unit, right through to the decimation of Red Shield, Davidās struggle has always been personal rather than professional. Yes, heās serious about getting his job done and protecting the world, but never at the expense of those immediately close to him. Hence why he goes against Red Shield protocol in his attempt to save George.
Although he very rarely expresses his affections, they are still made quite clear through his actions and how they impact his job. In that sense, I donāt see him as a clear foil for Saya. They seem to have quite a bit of emotional overlap. Their deep sense of duty and care to those impacted by Diva, for example. Their feelings of guilt over past actions and consequences. Their desire to protect the remnants of Georgeās family. In this regard, theyāre both very human despite initial differences.
Again, I feel like an asshole posting about an answer but there are so few Blood+ discussions on Tumblr that I couldnāt help myself. Itās been eight years and I still have feelings about this series, how is that even possible?
Solomon, Nathan, James and Amshel illustration by BLOOD+ original character designer, Hashii Chizu. Image scanned from my copy of the 6th BLOOD+ limited edition DVD booklet.
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