Sophia Measley

"I, Sophia Measley the Neid, love hell... And didn't you notice, that this place is a very populous hell?"

- Sophia Measley.

Sophia Measley (ソフィア・ミーズリー Sofia Miizurii) is a sub character of Shiori's After Story. She is Index's researcher and a self-proclaimed mad scientist. She is also known as the creator of Ursula of the Bookshelf's artificial body.

Appearance
Sophia has light blond hair, which is kept into two ponytails on the sides of her head. Her eyes are green in color and has cat-like slits, a trait that emphasizes the fact that she is a witch. She wears a black suit and has a crystal-shaped necklace.

Personality
Despite her age, Sophia usually acts energetic and somewhat childish, mostly when being around Ursula. However, this is merely a way she uses to hide her true sadistic nature of a mad scientist and a witch. She enjoys making hell out of others, hate being bound by rules and does not hesitate to betray others, as a witch's nature is freedom. Her insanity is further revealed in her attitude towards her specimens, all of which, human or not, are treated in the same manner. If the specimen is not human, Sophia shows no mercy, but if it is the opposite, she shows a genuine sadistic hobby of torturing her specimens.

On the other hand, like Chiara, she actually cares for Ursula like her own daughter, which is the best side of her nature and shows she isn't such a bad person and proves that she still knows what is right or wrong, unlike the others Thule members. She especially modified the Francine to make it compatible with Ursula, stood up for her when Johanna said that Ursula was going to be hold on trial and attempted to kill the pope when the situation was not in her favor, saying she would support Ursula until the end. Despite this however, she hates to admit that she has some motherly love for Ursula and always tries to prove that her kindness is only a facade, although without any success. A few people seem to know this trait of her personality.

Biography
Sophia was originally a member of the Magic Association of Thule, under Lieselotte Werckmeister's leadership. However, she only participated to have funding for her research and was not very devoted to the organization. After Germany's defeat in 1945, she joined Index as their researcher, taking part in researching and creating artificial bodies, mostly for Ursula's family line.

Ursula's Return
When Ursula returned to Vatican to report to Johanna directly, Sophia cloaked her presence and listened to the whole conversation, only revealed herself after Ursula had left. Johanna asked her opinion on both herself and Ursula. Sophia said that Johanna had been a sadist like usual, while Ursula had showed changes and resistance. She asked Johanna if she wanted her to reset Ursula's memories, but the pope replied that it would be more interesting to leave her that way.

Night fell, Sophia met Ursula directly again, half irritated the latter with her energetic nature. She took Ursula to her lab to perform a maintenance on her since Ursula had been on a mission for a long time. She made a joke that she would erase all of Ursula's memories when she had been in Ayamegaoka since those were unnecessary, to which Ursula strongly refused. Sophia then told Ursula about the reason she joined Index as a researcher. It was revealed that she envied the artificial bodies made by the old Roman Empire, so much that she would do anything to create at least one of that level. Ursula was surprised since it was the first time Sophia actually opened up to her. She asked Sophia to have talks like that again, since it made her feel comfortable. Sophia pondered for a while, but then agreed before shutting down Ursula for more delicate maintenance.

Johanna's Theory
When Ursula's body function went offline, Johanna arrived at the lab and Sophia took out the artifact that the pope had secretly put inside Ursula before sending her to Ayamegaoka, the God's Name Tablet. It was revealed that Johanna had put this into Ursula's body to investigate the multi-world phenomenon, to which the Lieselotte Werckmeister's weakening by Georgius of the Rainbow's spell was a proof. Sophia denied her theory, since it sounded unrealistic. However, the pope stood firm on her ground and would not abandon the possibility. The argument went on, but then Sophia retreated, claiming continuing was too tiresome.

Condemnation
Upon hearing that Ursula would be put on trial since the Church doubted if her report was authentic, Sophia went to meet Johanna to clarify what she would do. While Johanna had no interest in blaming Ursula, she kept telling what might happen to Ursula should the Church judge her guilty, and intended not to interfere with whatever the Council might decide. Sophia argued that Ursula was her product, so they had no rights to disable her. Johanna said that she could have the Francine since it was Sophia's creation, but Ursula's psyche belonged to Index. She added that with just herself, Sophia could never achieve anything. Raged over Johanna's words, Sophia clawed the pope's head off in an attempt to set Ursula free. However, Johanna suddenly appeared when she was not paying attention. Sophia was shocked at how Johanna survived, but the pope did not reveal the mystery; she simply said she was alive because she existed. Sophia was still unable to understand, but Johanna offered to help her by resuming their conversation about the world and the true power of the Emerald Tablet on the night Ursula returned, shocking her. However, in the end, Sophia stated that no matter how futile her efforts were, she would support Ursula to the very end.

Freedom
On November 17, Sophia eavesdropped a conversation between Johanna and Chiara, in which the former had stated her intention of lending Ursula her assistance. After Chiara was gone, Sophia appeared before Johanna as the latter had requested so. She asked if Johanna had a change of heart because she had met Ursula. Johanna replied by saying that Ursula was an interesting individual, transforming from a mere doll to a real human, then asked if Sophia had written her fate beforehand. Sophia rejected the idea, as she could not decide what Ursula's heart wanted. Johanna asked if she regretted, since it also meant that all of her research were in vain, to which Sophia replied that 'nothing could be done about it' and she would have to start from scratch. Johanna then continued to ask if Sophia had made any decision for the near future if Ursula won the trial. Sophia said that she had made the same decision as Ursula, but would move out a few months later since there were a great deal of equipment to move. Johanna said that she and Chiara would be lonely without her, but Sophia said that she and Chiara could keep in touch through phones and e-mail. Johanna stated her interest in keeping in touch with Sophia, since she was interested in witnessing how Ursula's future would become. Sophia refused, saying that it would be the same as keeping in contact with a monster. She then bid the Pope farewell.

Relationships
Ursula of the Bookshelf: Sophia is the one who created Ursula's artificial body and who is charged with its maintenance. Despite Sophia's nature, she is taking care of Ursula as her daughter, and would like her happiness, going as far as slicing Johanna's head off when she learned that she had been called on a trial by the Church. She would never try to show her motherly side, however, as it annoys her being viewed as a kind person. While the two get along well, Ursula is often irritated by her childish nature.

Chiara Francesca: Chiara and Sophia don't have a lot interactions with each other, but as they have the same goal, Ursula's happiness, they seems getting along well, despite theirs opposite personalities. When Sophia left Index, she informed Johanna that she kept in touch with Chiara, but not with the Pope herself.

Johanna: Johanna and Sophia often discusse together about Johanna's philosophy on the Parallel Worlds, but their relationships are rather stormy, as Sophia is an ancient Thule's member, and they like mocking of each other. Sophia isn't really loyal to her, being a witch, as she thinks her researches and Ursula as more important for her, and didn't hesitate trying to kill Johanna when she threatened Ursula's future. Finally, when she thought Ursula would win the trial, she decided to leave Index and follow Ursula, and made her farewells to the Pope.

Powers&Abilities

 * Keen intellect: Sophia is a talented scientist and researcher, knowledgeable in science, magic and philosophy. Her intellect is at a level enough to follow a conversation of philosophy with Johanna, although this is mostly due to Johanna's skill of simplifying her view point so that others can understand.
 * Melee combat capability: Sophia appears to have minimal combat capability by strengthening her body with magical power. As seen in one Cross Vision's scene, she clawed Johanna's head out with her bare hand in a single swift motion a bit like Lieselotte did.

Trivia

 * Her Thule's name is Neid in German, which means "Envy". In Thule's order, Sophia's seat is next to last (one level above Walter Dietrich). She is also the only member who has a major role in the story beside Kanae and Lieselotte. (Fu Manchu appears just in one scene)
 * In one conversation with Ursula, Sophia complained that before joining Thule, she was hardly able to get any human body donations to create Francine. However, she never explicitly confirmed whether she needed the donations to make the Francine, or only to experiment with them.
 * According to a talk with Shiori, she had apparently her life extended like some others members of Thule. However her origins are unknown.
 * She is the only one known Thule member who isn't an antagonist, despite her twisted personality.