Clematis

Standing tall, Clematis dresses in the manner of a clergyman: a long robe fastened with buttons, a white stole draped from his shoulders that hangs past his knees, and black boots. A pendant at his chest bears the emblem of the Goddess of Creation. His pale blonde hair sits tidily over his brow, framing eyes of soft green.

On the surface Clematis is serene and quick to smile, yet his methods are cold and exacting. He values results far above feeling and regards his fellow operatives as tools for finishing a job: he once mended Iris's wounds only to push her straight back into the fighting, and he speaks of Wehrlos as the team's most valuable instrument, to be deployed wherever he does the most good. Though he drilled both Iris and Gazelle in fighting and in the art of watching and mimicking, he rejects any fatherly motive, insisting he only wanted skilled pawns. That attitude earns him open dislike from peers and students alike, Lore and Iris among them, a fact he freely admits and even Wehrlos finds understandable.

He will not drag along anyone who might slow the group, and while he accepts that some must die for victory, he cannot stomach a life thrown away for nothing. The same calculus applies to himself: he says he is content to perish as a pawn, since he has groomed Lore to succeed him and trusts her to manage whatever follows. For all his coldness, Clematis is devout, telling Lore that riches mean nothing beside faith, though Wolf scoffs that the priest is merely glib and tight with money. He also drafts mission briefs so plain that a child could follow them, using the exercise to practice the teaching materials he hopes to write for an orphanage.

During the Foundation Festival, word of the plan to kill Serie travels down a chain of Shadow Warrior informants, passing from Löwe's order through several hands until the librarian Routine delivers it to Clematis, who in turn briefs the nun Lore. At the operation's final planning session the next day, Schritt realizes she never informed her brother Kreis, so Clematis hands out the mission details himself to keep things moving. He then returns to his church.

There he learns from Iris and Routine that an old tunnel dating to the Unified Empire, meant as an escape route to the Imperial Palace, can no longer be used. Wehrlos tests it personally, swims its length, and brings the news to Clematis, who concludes that Wehrlos alone can manage the passage. Over tea the two map out how to slip Wehrlos behind enemy lines. Wehrlos departs but soon comes back cradling a badly hurt cat, asking the priest to save it. Clematis tells him nothing can be done and offers a prayer, which Wehrlos waves off as unneeded. He counts Wehrlos a dear friend and prizes his talents, even as Wehrlos remains doubtful of such high praise; with Lore he keeps things strictly professional, drawing her into his work despite sensing she has little fondness for him.