Pala

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Pala (帕拉)
Alias(es)	Paracelsus; Pala Celsus; Bertolai; White Sage; White Staff Knight 244 487 510 511
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Bremen Empire; Healing Knights; Mysterious Investigation Committee 165 245
Occupation/Role	Chairman of the Mysterious Investigation Committee; Chief Scholar of the Imperial Cabinet; Grand Alchemist; chief knight of the Healing Knights 244 515
Status	Deceased; mortally wounded and killed during his solo incursion into the Ovena Federation 515
First Appearance	Chapter 165

Background

Pala was a central figure among the Healing Knights, whose theoretical work enabled the development of both the White Cross Body-Forging Technique and Gerard's Bloodletting Sword. He independently developed the alchemical communication array later known as the Alchemy Hotline, giving the knights a strategic means of long-distance communication. 165

In the present era, Pala served the Bremen Empire as Chairman of the Mysterious Investigation Committee and Chief Scholar of the Imperial Cabinet. He recruited Gilan Iros into the Committee, guided him through its hidden dangers, and became his teacher after recognizing the originality of Gilan's path. 244 245 253

As Gilan's mentor, Pala gave him access to the True Film Reel Silver Bottle, taught him alchemy and mysticism, and passed on the three principal disciplines he considered the essence of his life's work: Life Star Orbit, Dream of Myriad Flowers, and Cosmos Sword. 361 389 390

Pala also founded and funded an orphanage in South Muse under the name Bertolai, continuing to donate to its upkeep even while the Bu'ao War approached its worst stage. 510

Knowing that his lifespan was nearing its end, Pala named Gilan his student and successor. He entrusted him with protecting the Empire and preserving the Philosopher's Sword before departing alone for the Ovena Federation. 349 511

Appearance

In his aged state, Pala was a white-haired, gaunt old man with sunken cheeks, pronounced cheekbones, and a frail posture. The cost of wielding the Philosopher's Sword visibly accelerated this decline. 349

When he fully activated the Philosopher's Stone within himself, Pala temporarily returned to youth.

• His white hair became golden.
• His wrinkles vanished and his back straightened.
• His youthful form was that of a handsome blond man. 463 513

Personality

Pala was patient, perceptive, and demanding as a teacher. He recognized Gilan's potential early, encouraged his original ideas, and was willing to entrust rare knowledge to him despite the risks of rapid advancement. 253 301 389

His worldview was shaped by alchemy's principle of equivalent exchange. He understood the costs of power, including the toll of his own Philosopher's Sword, but accepted them without self-pity. 349

Despite his political authority and immense strength, Pala retained a deep concern for ordinary people. His support for the orphanage and his dream of a peaceful, prosperous age reflected the ideals he had carried since the Healing Knights' era. 463 510

Abilities & Skills

Alchemy

Pala was a Grand Alchemist capable of designing arrays, transmuting matter, and applying alchemical principles in warfare.

• Developed the Alchemy Hotline, a long-distance communication array based on equivalent exchange. 165
• Designed the Mian Pavilion, an alchemical containment device that suppresses nightmare aura and forces a Nightmare Stele into dormancy. 246
• Could transmute materials in combat, including a sacrificial cloak that absorbed soul-burning black flames. 514
• Used Refine to transform Lady Barefoot into an obsidian-like statue. 514
• Used Disassemble to execute the critically wounded Chanter; the technique could kill even a Tier 6 Long-Lived One once their physical state and Mind Kingdom defenses had sufficiently deteriorated. 514

Philosopher's Sword

Pala wielded the crimson, translucent Philosopher's Sword, a weapon powerful enough to distort and divide space.

• Split open the night sky to absorb and deflect the Federation's Terminal Burst. 346
• Created a nearly ten-meter spatial rift with the technique “Cosmos,” allowing him to escape an encirclement and reposition instantly. 515
• Its use imposed a severe vitality cost, visibly aging and weakening Pala. 349
• Pala intended the sword to pass to Gilan after his death rather than fall into Federation hands. 511

Swordsmanship

Pala was an elite swordsman who could contend directly with Blood Colonel Hellman, despite Hellman having taught him swordsmanship in the past. 514

• Fought Hellman, Apostle Biwo, Songstress, Lady Barefoot, and Chanter during his final battle. 514
• Killed Chanter and Songstress while surrounded by opponents of comparable rank. 514 515
• Combined swordplay with transmutation, lightning, and spatial rifts to create openings against stronger numbers. 514 515

Tier 6 Power

Pala was a Tier 6 Long-Lived One and among the Bremen Empire's foremost mortal-world combatants. 244 434

• His battle with Hellman generated a mysterious magnetic field lethal to nearby ordinary soldiers. 514
• Could fight multiple Tier 6 opponents at once, though prolonged combat rapidly depleted his stamina and Philosopher's Stone energy. 514
• Regained a youthful combat form by fully activating the Philosopher's Stone within his body. 513

Equipment & Creations

• Philosopher's Sword — Crimson longsword capable of spatial severance and devastating alchemical combat. 346 515
• Cane — Pala's usual walking aid and the apparent storage form for the Philosopher's Sword. 349
• King chess piece — A pure-gold chess piece used to initiate travel to Midnight Rose gatherings. 356
• Alchemy Hotline — Long-distance alchemical communication array personally developed by Pala. 165
• Mian Pavilion — Portable alchemical containment structure for isolating Nightmare Steles. 246
• True Film Reel: Silver Bottle — A film reel given to Gilan as a foundation for studying alchemy and mysticism. 361

Relationships

• Gilan Iros — Student, successor, and eventual heir to Pala's duties and Philosopher's Sword. Pala guided Gilan's cultivation, appointed him to major Imperial roles, and entrusted the Empire's future to him. 245 349 511
• William Gerard — Captain and spiritual core of the Healing Knights. Pala served as William's chief knight and helped strengthen the order through alchemical and martial theory. 165 515
• Hellman — Former swordsmanship teacher and later enemy. Their final duel was marked by mutual recognition of each other's skill. 514 515
• Caesar — Bremen Empire's supreme leader. Caesar allowed Pala's final operation to proceed while covertly sending witnesses to record it. 511
• Lady Shadai — Trusted associate who discussed the Spirit King's creations, impending upheaval, and the requirements for sixth-tier advancement with Pala and Gilan. 463
• Misela Marsh — Director of the orphanage Pala founded under the alias Bertolai; she recognized him as its longtime benefactor. 510

Story Role / Major Arcs

Healing Knights Legacy

Pala's past work formed part of the Healing Knights' enduring legacy. His theories contributed to the White Cross Body-Forging Technique and Gerard's Bloodletting Sword, while his Alchemy Hotline gave the order a decisive communications advantage. 165

Chairman and Mentor

As Chairman of the Investigation Committee, Pala brought Gilan into Imperial service, offered him protection against hostile factions, and became the mentor who recognized and cultivated Gilan's potential. 245 328 349

Succession

As his death approached, Pala accelerated Gilan's instruction in alchemy, mysticism, body-tempering, meditation, and sword arts. He formally named Gilan his student and successor, assigning him both political responsibility and the legacy of the Healing Knights. 349 389 390

Final Incursion into the Ovena Federation

Pala infiltrated the Federation alone to disrupt its leadership and weaken it before his death. He massacred the Hall of the Hundred Elders' defenders, faced a four-sided encirclement, killed Chanter and Songstress, and ultimately died after being mortally wounded by Hellman. 511 512 514 515

Notable Quotes

“Take my place, and wrap my corpse.” 511

“From now on, the Empire's safety is in your hands.” 511

“Three hundred years... I've lived long enough.” 513

“May the dream of a prosperous age one day come true...” 511