Pandora

Pandora (パンドラ) is the Witch of Vainglory who has a connection to the Witch Cult. Due to her seeming command over the Cult, she can actively be described as one of the main antagonists of Re:Zero.

She played a part in several atrocities throughout history, including the attack on Elior Forest as well as the death of Theresia van Astrea at the hands of the Hakugei.

Appearance
Pandora appears as young girl and has long, transparent platinum hair with dark blue eyes, and long eyelashes. She only wears one white cloth over her petite body. She gives off an important aura and her voice has a magic like charm that seems to bind the bodies and souls of others. Just by being looked at or talked to, one can experience happiness enough to die for.

She is beautiful enough to be said to make other tremble with her beauty and that even God would hesitate to touch her. Humans have an ideal of beauty, and Pandora is the answer to that beauty. Also, if beauty could kill, Pandora would be that beauty.

Personality
At first glance, Pandora is dignified and graceful, with a generally calm demeanor. This calm exterior hid an extremely selfish and sociopathic personality, whom was willing to do anything to achieve her goals. She had no problem with manipulating Petelgeuse into killing his beloved Fortuna and driving him into insanity, and even told Emilia that she would rip up Elior Forest to open the seal if she did not comply with her demands. Despite these traits, she never showed anger toward anyone, sending Regulus away when he turned on her and speaking calmly toward Emilia despite the latter repeatedly killing her.

History
Pandora's origins and goals are shrouded with mystery, as history has no mention of her. At an unknown point in time, she became the Witch of Vainglory, and set out on a path of destruction.

Approximately 100 years ago, she instructed Regulus Corneas, the Sin Archbishop of Greed, to accompany her on he visit to the Elior Forest, with the intent of opening the seal, guarded by the elves living in the forest. They arrived to find Fortuna, the Guardian of the seal, and Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, the leader of the moderate Witch Cult faction. Pandora explained to the pair her intentions of opening her seal. After their initial hostile interactions, Petelgeuse ordered Fortuna to escape and make sure Pandora doesn't get the chance to interact with Emilia and use her for her vile plans. After the pair successfully escaped, Petelgeuse then revealed a box containing the Witch Factor of Sloth, and despite being incompatible with the genes, took them in, gaining the Authority of Sloth. Pandora commended him for his efforts, giving him the title of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, but the newly corrupt spirit rejected it, saying he accepted the power only to protect what he loved. Petelgeuse then duelled Regulus, however, Greed easily defeated Sloth, severing off his right arm and utterly destroying his legs, rendering him unable to even move. Just as Regulus was about to stomp Petelgeuse's head, ending the spirit's life forever, Fortuna came back to save him. As Regulus prepared to slaughter the pair, Pandora intervened, stating that she would not allow him to harm him as they held significant importance for her plans. Regulus, enraged, hurled dirt at her, which blew her into bits of gore, however, Pandora brought herself back to life and removed Regulus' presence from the forest which automatically reverted all the damage he had done, including disfiguring Petelgeuse..

Pandora then managed to subdue Fortuna and Petelgeuse, and made her way to the Seal where she met Emilia. Pandora revealed that she had been controlling the minor spirits that Emilia followed, and told her how no one had to be hurt and that all she had to do was open the seal. To the Witch's disappointment, Emilia told her that she had made a promise to Fortuna not to open the seal, to which Pandora replied she would tear the forest apart and open the seal forcefully. Seconds before Pandora succeeded in convincing the child, a heavily injured Fortuna attacked Pandora, killing her time after time after time, but to no avail. As Fortuna yelled at her to stay away from Emilia, Petelgeuse joined the fight. The newly promoted spirit and the Guardian of the Seal then prepared to finish the Witch once and for all however, Pandora used her Authority to confuse Petelgeuse who accidentally used his Unseen Hands to rip a hole into Fortuna's chest, destroying her vital organs and sending her to death's door. With the illusion broken, Petelgeuse realized what he had done, and was subsequently driven completely mad due to the unbearable guilt. Pandora then asked Emilia to open the seal again. Pandora then revealed she had been controlling the minor spirits that had played with Emilia and led her to the seal. Emilia, witnessing these events, unleashed her magic, and continuously killed Pandora in her rage, as Pandora came back repeatedly and attempted to calm her down. Emilia then lost control and froze the entire forest, thus ending Pandora's assault.

Fourteen years before Subaru's arrival, Pandora assaulted the soldiers in a conquest to kill the Hakugei via directing it toward the party. She then approached Theresia van Astrea, the former Sword Saint, who had been injured from fighting the Demon Beast, and recently lost her Divine Protection. It's heavily implied that Pandora then proceeded to finish her off.

Abilities
Authority of Vainglory (虚飾の権能 Kyoshoku no Ken'nō): Pandora is able to use the Authority of Vainglory.
 * Pandora can rewrite certain phenomena in her favor as many times as she wants, as long as the conditions are in her favor. Using this, she can negate her death, bury people into the ground instantly, erase a person's presence without leaving any trace of their actions behind, and change people's memories. Although she can't control the Kurohebi with her power, she is able to direct it to wherever she wants.

Trivia

 * Pandora's name refers to the 55 Pandora asteroid.
 * The name also refers to the first woman in Greek mythology who unwittingly released evil into the world, but closed the box before hope was released.
 * Pandora in Greek means "all gifted" or "all giving." This is either a reference to how Pandora was given a blessing by each Greek God before being sent to Earth or a reference to how she gave all the evils to mankind. The former in particular would be a fairly appropriate name for a Witch associated with Vainglory.
 * According to one of Petelgeuse's fingers, Pandora has supreme command over the Witch Cult, but is also regarded as a taboo. Both extremist and moderate factions of the cult which existed at the time never dared to mention her, with Regulus even treating her with respect.
 * It is highly implied through Fortuna's wording that Pandora was responsible for the deaths of Emilia's parents.