WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 18 of Fire Force, "The Holy Woman's Anguish/The Man, Assault," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
Few characters in Fire Force have been more impacted by the discovery the Holy Sol Temple's scriptures were founded on the Evangelist's lies than Sister Iris. Company 8's resident devotee struggles to come to terms with her faith and wonders how the Evangelist's hostile intentions should affect her beliefs.
While the Fire Force may not know Yona's identity, he is the shapeshifting White-Clad member responsible for impersonating Raffles I. On the Evangelist's orders, Yona took Raffles's identity and founded the Holy Sol Temple. This seed of doubt causes Iris to question who she has been offering up her faith to and who the Infernals they put to rest are gaining salvation from.
Iris' Shaken Beliefs
Shinra joins Iris on a mission to the Baptism Church, where they baptize all their weapons for use on Infernals. As Iris struggles to focus on the baptisms, Shinra runs into Lieutenant Huo Yan from Company 1. Huo Yan reveals that even some of the more devout followers are becoming disenchanted with the Holy Sol Temple, prompting Shinra to ask his thoughts on the Evangelist's involvement.
Huo Yan emphasizes that the sun and its fire are what the Holy Sol Temple reveres, not the Evangelist, but he also recognizes the danger of that same worship some aim at the Evangelist. The most poignant aspect of Shinra's conversation is the importance of belief, particularly in your friends. Shinra views the bond between Company 7's Benimaru and Konro as the reason they are such a formidable force.
An Infernal Priest Fuels Doubt
Iris takes Shinra to the cemetery where the sisters of her convent are buried. As she asks Shinra his thoughts on the Holy Sol Temple and those who believe in it, a spontaneous combustion results in a priest becoming an Infernal. Though Shinra easily defeats it, it furthers doubt among the sisters who continue questioning their prayers' purpose.
In a very candid conversation, Shinra discusses the difficulties of being a Fire Solider, namely that he has to kill Infernals regularly. While they're left with no other option when someone becomes an Infernal, Shinra knows that until recently, they were human too, and it's a part of his job he can't grow accustomed to. Shinra explains his conversation with Huo Yan about the sun and reveals that it's thanks to Iris that he, and the rest of Company 8, can stay positive.
Iris Resembles the First Pillar
This conversation ends on an ominous note for Shinra, as he's suddenly reminded of the striking resemblance between Iris and the enigmatic First Pillar he shared an Adolla Link with earlier in the season. Aside from being the Adolla Burst-user sacrificed to power the Amaterasu, not much is known about the First Pillar. However, her uncanny likeness to Iris will probably hold some significance later in the series.
