Gladius

> *I've always felt like I have to look for a face in a crowd... For someone... I don't really know who is it but every time I think of it... My heart hurts so.*
>
> —Gladius to Luna, *Echo of a Memory*

**Gladius** is a major character of *The Crystal of Light* series. He is the crown prince of the Kingdom of Regalia, only son of King Cidaris and late Queen Aegis. He is tasked by his father to find the Crystal that went missing five years ago, when *The Fall* nearly occurred.

## Appearance

Gladius has a slim built, often called out to be rather not fit for combat. He is also quite short, much to his dismay. He usually stood out for his curly hair, described as similar to *"a soft fur of a fluffy pet"*. Although it mostly comes off as a joke, it is indeed a fact that he stands out in a crowd because of it, for it has the color of silver, a common attribute of those in the royal line. He has green eyes that always seemed *"refreshing to look at"* for it is often described to be similar to *"how the sunlight shines through the foliage of trees."*

He prefers casual clothing to blend in with the crowd and appears as not too flashy. He usually picks one with a hood to hide his features. However, his noble status tends to be given away due to the pendant he always wore. It is a polished green crystal with a golden frame, the last memento from his friend, Luna.

## Personality

Usually described as *"the boy who loved stories"*, Gladius has great interest in the tales and legends told within books. He was more of a scholar than a fighter, knowledgeable about the world. He deeply cares for his friends and kind to all he encounters. He often tries to see things in a different perspective. For someone so pure, he is also too fragile. Haunted by a distant memory, he is usually emotional, full of yearning and loneliness he couldn't explain himself. Nevertheless, he tries his best to fulfill whatever duty he was given. He is willing to learn what he needs, no matter the difficulty.

## Mechanics

He wields the ***Glaive of Kings***, a royal heirloom that can be only called upon when there will be immense danger, specifically to prevent *The Fall.* It gives him similar abilities to a *Mimic*, a class that enables one to recreate existing weapons. However, he has to finish *The Trial* alongside with a *Champion* to be granted and be worthy of it as well and train to properly wield its new form.

He is also the only one who can heal using magic initially in the party, becoming capable of both support and offense. He is also the only one who can learn to cast different kinds of magic independently, as long as he undergoes training for it.

His gift, ***Lingering Touch***, enables him to see memories of the past based on what he is in contact with. It was from Luna, given to him when they parted, to *"lend him a hand"* to find answers to the deep emotions inside him that persisted against time.

## Etymology, Symbolism, and Trivia

* *"Gladius"* was one Latin word for *sword*, and is used to represent the primary sword of Ancient Roman foot soldiers which reflects to the Glaive's Initial form, a short sword with a similar appearance. It is also a Latin word for *death*, which is one of the central themes of the story.
* His concept and design was greatly inspired from Final Fantasy's Noctis Lucis Caelum and Hope Estheim respectively.