Joshua Bright

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## Joshua Bright

* Reverie
* CS4
* Sky 3rd
* Sky SC
* Sky FC

### Voice actor

Johnny Yong Bosch (Games and Northern War)Blake Shepard (anime OVA)

## Biographical information

### Alias(es)

The Black Fang
Joshua Astray

### Age

* 16/17 (Sky)
* 18/19 (Zero/Azure)
* 20 (CS4)
* 21 (Reverie)

### Affiliation

* Bracer Guild
* Ouroboros (former)

### Occupation

* Bracer, Bracer Guild
* Assassin, Ouroboros (former)

### Relatives

* Karin Astray (sister)
* Cassius Bright (adoptive father)
* Estelle Bright (adoptive sister/lover)
* Renne Bright (adoptive sister)
* Loewe (brother-in-law)

### Hobbies

Playing the Harmonica, Reading, Repairing Weapons

## Battle information (*Akatsuki no Kiseki*)

### Element

 Time

v **·** e

**Joshua Bright**  (ヨシュア・ブライト) formerly known as **Joshua Astray** is the adopted son of Cassius Bright, a member of the Bracer Guild in Liberl, and the former Enforcer XIII of Ouroboros known as the **Black Fang**. He is the deuteragonist of *Trails in the Sky FC* and *SC*.

## Profile

### Appearance

Joshua is a young man with amber eyes (a dull brown under hypnotic suggestion) and short black hair with a long fringe.

In his original appearance, Joshua wears a long pale blue shirt and trousers, a sleeveless cropped jacket, leather boots, and cloth arm guards. He wears a single pauldron over his shoulder.

After regaining his memories, Joshua opts for a darker, more utilitarian look with a sleeveless black shirt, grey trousers and black boots with several straps and belts, and a long white scarf around his shoulders. His artificial Stigma, in the form of Ouroboros's insignia, is displayed prominently on his shoulder. He carries several pouches full of tools and explosives. Later, after returning to the Bracer Guild, Joshua ditches the scarf and uses a white sleeveless jacket instead, once again using a single guard on the shoulder.

Joshua adapts this outfit slightly in his latest appearance, using the same trousers and boots, but now wearing a form fitting black shirt and long sleeved white jacket, cropped beneath his chest and featuring a wide open collar.

Joshua is armed with twin single-edged blades.

### Personality

Joshua Bright is a kind-hearted and intelligent introvert. He also tends to conformity and is sometimes fearful. In his childhood, these traits express themselves as shyness and passivity. Following his sister's death and the subsequent act of taking a life, Joshua became severely depressed, forcing Leonhardt to bring themselves to the Society of Ouroboros to restore his friend. Leonhardt states that Joshua acts hard on the outside, but is a "softie" inside.

During his time as an Enforcer, Joshua was given purpose, but he resented the acts of murder he committed. Joshua deeply resents the brainwashing that Georg Weissmann forced upon him, contending that Weissmann took away part of what made him human. He sees himself more as a weapon or a doll than a human being. Joshua, nevertheless, understands that his actions an an Enforcer are ethically repugnant, but does not dare rebel against Weissmann.

Upon being adopted by Cassius, Joshua got along well with his adoptive sister Estelle, although he eventually developed feelings for her. Estelle also had feelings for him, but upon learning that Weissmann had used him to feed information to Ouroboros without his knowledge, Joshua temporarily put aside his love for her, feeling that his dark past made him unworthy. He did not want her to die as a result of his actions, admitting that if she had died, he would have no reason to live.

During the events of *Trails in the Sky SC*, Joshua's quest for vengeance made him cold and atypically distant from others, only using them as he saw fit for his agenda to destroy the Society, despite being aware that he could not do so with Leonhardt around. He eventually comes to terms with Estelle and his friends, becoming more honest to himself and others.

### Background

Born as **Joshua Astray** (ヨシュア・アストレイ) in S. 1185, Joshua was born and spent the first six years of his life in the Southern Erebonian village of Hamel. He enjoyed a peaceful childhood along with his older sister Karin and her lover Leonhardt, who acted as a big brother figure to Joshua. At the age of 6, Joshua was deeply traumatized by the extermination of his hometown by armed men under orders from his own country, during which he was forced to take the life of a soldier and lost his sister to one of the assailants cutting them off from escape.

Despite Leonhardt's best efforts to take care of him, Joshua becomes withdrawn and mentally scarred, until he was restored by Georg Weissmann, who mended his mental wounds in exchange for both Loewe and Joshua becoming Enforcers in his organization, the Society of Ouroboros. He served as Enforcer No. XIII, the **Black Fang**, specializing in covert operations and guerrilla warfare. He assassinated numerous people as requested, some of which even included the deaths of innocent bystanders. During one of these missions for Ouroboros, Joshua and Leonhardt rescued Renne Hayworth from one of the D∴G Cult's brothels and recruited her into the organization as an Enforcer.

In S.1197, at the age of 11, Joshua is ordered by Weissmann to assassinate Cassius Bright; however, Cassius was a significant challenge and Joshua was defeated, his identity compromised. Joshua is attacked and almost killed by other operatives from Ouroboros in order to protect their identity, until Cassius Bright intervened and rescued him. Seeing him bruised and battered, Cassius takes Joshua back to the Bright estate and introduces him to Estelle Bright. Shortly afterwards, Cassius officially adopted Joshua as his son. Joshua grew close to his new family and began to live a normal life, free from his bloody past.

### *Trails in the Sky FC*

At the age of 16, Joshua and Estelle both became junior members of the Bracer Guild. After their father disappears, he joins Estelle on her journey to find their father and become a full Bracer. They travel together around each of Liberl's five major regions, solving mysteries and helping the populace. Joshua is the more logical and calculated member of the duo, whereas Estelle is more compassionate and optimistic. Joshua initially worries that he is heartless and cruel, but Estelle's cheerfulness helps him move past these thoughts and the two compliment each other's efforts around the country.

Together they locate the missing airliner Linde, which had been hijacked by bandits, confront said bandits in their own secret base, stop a Mayor's build luxury houses after burning down an orphanage, secure and deliver a mysterious black orbment with the power to disable orbal equipment, and meet many other colourful Bracers and characters who assist them in their journey. They uncover a plot by the Intelligence Division to launch a coup in the country, confront a mystery of several persons losing their memories or acting strangely and win a martial arts tournament in order to reach the queen and stop a conspiracy to unseal an ancient device in Liberl, the Aureole.

At the end of the game, after putting an end to the schemes of Alan Richard, Joshua later learns from Professor Alba (who is actually Weissmann) of his role as an unintentional spy, having anticipated that Cassius would adopt him following his defeat. Seeking revenge on Weissmann and the society, he is met by Estelle where the two admit their feelings for each other. However, he abandons her and the others out of fear of collateral damage.

### *Trails in the Sky SC*

Finding Joshua is the main goal for Estelle who hopes to find him and bring him back home.

Joshua is first seen with the rest of the Capua Family placing flowers on the grave of Karin in Hamel. He is working with them and heads back to Liberl where they take out several  archaisms with the appearance of black guardsmen intended as a distraction of the Liberlian Army. Josette questions Joshua's new personality, looks and mission, bringing up Estelle, to which Joshua remarks that she is no longer part of his life.

Joshua is later seen with the Capuas stealing the Bobcat from the new Nebel Base Training Facility located in the ancient ruins overlooking Nebel Valley. There he confronts Mueller Vander, before escaping to the Bobcat whilst Dorothy Hyatt takes a picture of them. They would eventually use the airship to intercept the Glorious arriving in Liberl, with Joshua infiltrating by taking over one of the patrolling scout ships. The scout ship soon returns to the *Glorious*, as expected. He takes on the disguise of one of the common jaeger soldiers, making his way to the engine room and rigging it to destroy the ship. During this time, an alarm goes off, indicating an escape attempt.

At the top of the *Glorious*, Estelle is confronted by four jaegers and Gilbert Stein. Seeing Estelle in danger, Joshua diverts to her location and provides assistance. They have a brief reunion, though they run into Loewe soon after. He lets them go after Joshua reveals that the engines of the *Glorious* have been sabotaged. As Joshua activates the scout ship he had prepared for escape, the jaegers sortie in their assault ships to pursue. Fortunately, the Sky Bandits return and distract the jaegers, allowing the two to escape, where they land at Gulf Seaside Way. Joshua and Estelle embrace as she confessed her love to him, promising to protect him just as he had for her. Joshua soon found himself shedding tears, noting that it was the first time he had done so since Karin had died. Estelle allowed him to cry as long as he needed, after which Estelle handed back Karin's harmonica to him. Joshua thanked the Sky Bandits for their services as they left.

Following This, Joshua rejoins the party on their operations around Liberl, helping to stop the enforcers at each of the Tetracyclic Towers, before helping to deliver Zero Field Generators to each of the guild's branches using the orbal shutdown created by the unsealing of the Liber Ark. Joshua accompanied his friends on the Arseille, though before they departed for the Liber Ark, Cassius gave him a letter and Kevin assisted Joshua with another matter.

After making all the necessary preparations, Joshua and his friends arrive at the Axis Pillar. They confront the Enforcers one at a time on each of the floors, until reaching the summit where the group encounters Loewe. After defeating him in the first fight, Joshua challenges Loewe in a one-on-one duel, knowing that conviction alone would not make him back down. Loewe eagerly accepts his challenge, and the two clash. Joshua proclaims that he himself is eveidence that mankind have the strength even after disaster, and is the very proof Loewe is looking for, creating an opening and knocking Loewe's sword out of his hands. Joshua is left exhausted as Loewe appears to be unaffected, but Loewe concedes defeat and decides to leave Ouroboros, much to Joshua's delight. Joshua then asks Loewe to help fight Weissmann, but Weissmann strikes him from behind with a bolt of energy. He then activates the Stigma he had embedded in Joshua, putting him into a trance before teleporting to the Core with him.

Estelle and her party arrive at the Core to confront Weissmann, who orders Joshua to kill Estelle. He suddenly snaps out of it, having worked with Kevin on a way to break free of the Stigma should Weissman force him to do the one thing he dreaded most, something Joshua had counted on knowing Weissman's manipulative and cruel nature. Loewe's intervention allowed Joshua and the others to defeat him for a second time.

Joshua frantically tries to keep Loewe alive and reassure him, to no avail. The Liber Ark begins to collapse without its power source and Joshua and Estelle, cut off from the others, try to take an emergency route back to the surface. As they progressed through the route, the path in front and behind them soon collapsed, stranding them on a platform soon to fall itself. The two shared a kiss just as the platform collapsed and they fell. Instead of falling to their deaths however, they were rescued by their father and the ancient dragon Ragnard, reuniting with their friends, who were relieved to see they were alive.

Joshua decided to pay another visit to his sister's grave, taking Estelle alongside him, who introduced herself to Karin. Joshua laid the Kernviter by her grave while Estelle placed some flowers. After paying their respects, Joshua asked Estelle if she was serious about traveling with him, feeling that he had to atone for his sins alone and did not want to get her involved. Estelle playfully told him that there were plenty of reasons to do so. Joshua accepted Estelle's reasoning, and the two set out to travel around the world.

### *Trails in the Sky the 3rd*

Joshua was one of the people sent to Phantasma by the Recluse Cube. He had been accompanying Estelle on their journey to track Renne when they were attacked as a bright flash of white light surrounded them. Kevin and the others found his Sealing Stone after defeating a Dark Bringer.

He recognized most of the present group from their previous travels, but did not recognize Ries Argent, which made him conclude that he was not in an illusion, explaining to Josette how an illusion worked. Joshua joined the group and was able to reunite with Estelle and Renne later on, and left Phantasma with Estelle.

Ries later began to act strange around Kevin, having known that he was putting up a facade. Joshua went up to Kevin after Ries left, having known his true identity as the Fifth Dominion. He thanked him for bringing him together with Estelle, despite being aware of the fact that Kevin intended to use her as bait. Joshua then offered to serve as Kevin's right-hand man until Ries collected herself together, which Kevin accepted.

Joshua accompanied Kevin and the others when the Nohval Monument opened. Upon defeating the monument's guardian, the Schwarzritter, Joshua had already known that it was Loewe. Joshua correctly guessed that Loewe had worn the mask as a result of his inability to face the reality of his death. He was able to give him a proper farewell, putting him at ease.

He later left Phantasma with Estelle.

### *Trails from/to Zero* and *Azure*

Joshua continued to accompany Estelle on their search for Renne, eventually requesting a transfer to Crossbell's Bracer Guild, which was accepted. He first appeared alongside Estelle in fending off some monsters that attacked a bus driver, and later helped the driver repair the orbal engine.

Upon hearing that someone had spotted Renne in the Special Support Section headquarters, Joshua and Estelle raced there, only to be dismayed when Lloyd Bannings told them that they had barely missed her. Joshua explained why they were searching for Renne and her traumatic past to the team.

During the Cult Incident of S.1204, Joshua was working with Estelle at the Sun Fort when they encountered the SSS team and offered their assistance to them. The two encountered Renne, who arrived with Pater-Mater to save them from Joachim. Following Joachim's death, Renne attempted to leave, only for Pater-Mater to bring her to Estelle, which Joshua interpreted as concern for her well-being. He was also able to determine that Joerg Rosenberg was responsible for repairing it. Renne then accepted Estelle's offer, which made her Joshua's younger adoptive sister, and he got along well with her.

During Crossbell's independence declaration, Joshua returns to help fight the Aion Type-γ with Renne and Estelle, but are quickly outmatched and forced to watch as Pater-Mater initiates a double take down by grappling the Aion and self-destructing.

### *Trails of Cold Steel IV*

Joshua, Estelle, Renne, Lloyd , Elie and KeA infiltrate Orchis Tower with the intention of finding out what happened in Erebonia following the Great Twilight. They had previously not been able to enter the country due to their links to Cassius Bright. They discover the truth following a confrontation with Black Alberich, Mariabell Crois, and Claire Rieveldt. They then withdraw. Joshua and the others come to the aid of Class VII in the marshlands.

Joshua is next met on the Pantagruel, representing the Bracer Guild at the summit for discussing Operation Mille Mirage. When the Glorious interrupts the proceedings, Joshua joins the 'boys team' that splits off to fight off the boarders and ensure that everyone can evacuate safely.

The night before the Great War, Estelle and Joshua spend the night exploring Mishelam Wonderland, including the Castle of Mirrors, where Renne questions how far their relationship has gotten.

Joshua is then part of an investigation into a strange manifestation of the Spirit World that envelops Hamel. They encounter malicious spirits that resemble those who fell in the Hamel Tragedy, including many he seemed to know. At the end, they discover the source as a Bennu, one of the Seventy-Seven Devils. After slaying it, there a brief moment where they hear Leonhardt's voice from the shard of his Kernviter.

Joshua is part of a group sent to attack one of the fake Salt Pales protecting the Tuatha De Danann, fighting its guardian, a copy of the Aion Type-γ at the end. He joins the final battle against Ishmelga Loge.

Joshua is one of the attendants at the Imperial wedding.

### *Trails into Reverie*

Joshua, Estelle, Cassius, and Renne go on a family holiday to Ymir where they spend time in the hot springs and solve a crisis involving a boar monster that lives in the mountains. Gilbert returns to stir up trouble but Joshua and the others managed to bring peace back to the hot springs after sending him flying.

Estelle and Joshua visit Crossbell where they are caught up in the takeover by Supreme Leader Rufus Albarea. They make their reappearance with the Crossbell Bracers, coming to aid of Lloyd's group on the Mainz mountain path tunnel where they fight a Soldat. Following this, he joins the group going to the Moon Temple to save Sonya Baelz and confront the Dusken Dancer.

Joshua is part of the final battle to expel the Ebon Defense Force from Crossbell, oust the Supreme Leader, and eventually take on the Retributive Tower when it appears in the nearby lake.

### Character Notes

#### *Trails of Cold Steel IV*

* EN
* JP

 **Burying the Past**Joshua accompanied Class VII to the ruins of Hamel to lay some old ghosts to rest. The trip helped him put the past behind him.

 **憂いを断って**アッシュらと共にハーメル村跡地の静謐をなんとか守り抜いた。最後に聞こえた声援を胸に覚悟を新たにする。

#### *Trails into Reverie*

 **He's Back**The Bright family's vacation is interrupted by the appearance of longtime loser Gilbert, but together as a family, they make quick work of him.

## Gameplay

### Base Stats

* Trails in the Sky
* Trails from Zero

*Trails in the Sky FC*, *SC*, and *the 3rd*

1. ↑ Rounded down, errors may cause differences.

*Trails from Zero*

1. ↑ Rounding errors may cause differences.

### Crafts

* Trails in the Sky FC
* Trails in the Sky SC
* Trails in the Sky the 3rd
* Trails from Zero
* Trails of Cold Steel IV
* Trails into Reverie

*Trails in the Sky FC*

*Trails in the Sky SC*

*Trails in the Sky the 3rd*

*Trails from Zero*

#### Combo Crafts

 **Combo Craft (Estelle & Joshua) - Attack - Area (L)**A perfectly synchronized attack between bo staff and swords.

1. ↑ **Timeless Pummel** is immediately available when Estelle and Joshua join the party in the **Finale**.

*Trails of Cold Steel IV*

*Trails into Reverie*

### Weapons

* Trails in the Sky FC
* Trails in the Sky SC
* Trails in the Sky the 3rd
* Trails from Zero
* Trails of Cold Steel IV
* Trails into Reverie

*Trails in the Sky FC*

1. ↑ At the same time as the Torn Map, can be obtained independently from the quest.

*Trails in the Sky SC*

*Trails in the Sky the 3rd*

*Trails from Zero*

*Trails of Cold Steel IV*

 [STR+1445/RNG+1/Critical rate+2％]Paired swords that emit a pale light. Can slice through metal with ease.

*Trails into Reverie*

### Orbment

* Trails in the Sky FC
* Trails in the Sky SC
* Trails in the Sky the 3rd
* Trails from Zero
* Akatsuki

*Trails in the Sky FC*

*Trails in the Sky SC*

1. ↑ This slot requires **96 time sepith** instead of **90** in *Sky SC*. This is likely a bug.

*Trails in the Sky the 3rd*

*Trails from Zero*

*Akatsuki no Kiseki*

### *Trails in the Sky FC*

EVO ArtworkEVO ArtworkPortrait young (EVO)Joshua as CeciliaPrincess JoshuaJoshua and Leonhardt being taken in by WeissmannEncorcer XIII: The Black Fang.Cassius Protecting Joshua.Joshua Playing the Harmonica.Cassius Protecting Joshua (EVO).Concept Art of Joshua's swordsJoshua's harmonicaConcept art (FC).Concept art (FC).Initial proposal (FC).Concept art of Estelle as Oscar, Joshua as Cecilia and Kloe as Julian for Madrigal of the White Magnolia.As maids
### *Trails in the Sky SC*

SC EVO artworkPortrait (EVO SC)Portrait Stigma (EVO)Portrait Jaeger (EVO)Memories - Bygone Days of Loewe, Joshua and Karin.Memories - Karin Playing the Harmonica.Memories - Karin, Joshua and Loewe escaping.Memories - Jaeger Approaches the Astray Siblings.Memories - Karin Playing the Harmonica (EVO).Memories - Bygone Days of Loewe, Joshua and Karin (EVO).Memories - Karin, Joshua and Loewe escaping (EVO).Memories - Jaeger Approaches the Astray Siblings (EVO).Josette's PromiseReunion with Joshua (EVO)Bladelord versus Black Fang (EVO)Estelle and Joshua kissingI Believe Joshua Would Never LoseEnding visual (EVO)Concept art (SC).Concept art (SC).Concept art of Joshua, Loewe and Karin (SC).
### *Trails in the Sky the 3rd*

3rd EVO artworkPortrait (EVO 3rd)Portrait young (EVO)
### *Trails of Cold Steel I*, *II*, *III*, and *IV*

Ride-Along Joshua (*Trails of Cold Steel II*)Full-lengthS-craftIntroduction in *Trails of Cold Steel IV*Promotional screenshotPromotional screenshotConcept art
### Other

S-Craft (Akatsuki)White Princess Joshua S-Craft (Akatsuki)Military Uniform Joshua S-Craft (Akatsuki)New Years outfit (Akatsuki)Ys Vs KisekiSora OLSuper Skill (Sora OL)Sora OLSuper Skill (Sora OL)SR YumeHR YumeHR Yume
## Trivia

* Joshua is tied with Estelle, Tita Russell, and Agate Crosner for having the second-most number of playable appearances, with 6, behind Fie Claussell who has 7. Joshua is playable in each Sky game, Zero, the final Cold Steel game, and Reverie. He and Estelle are also the only characters who are playable in each arc, including Reverie.
* Joshua's corresponding tarot (XIII- Death) not only reflects his role as an assassin, but his continuous 'rebirths' throughout the series. Weissman continually uses his mind techniques to give Joshua new personalities following the soul-destroying events of Hamel, and then his rebirth as 'Joshua Bright' following his emancipation from the grasp of the Society.