on silver wings

Strong of body, strong of heart!

Well, friends, we made it! An entire week of the Diamant Campaign. Alongside going over the Fell Xenologue version of Diamant and other neat things about regular Diamant, I’ll end this post with a final appeal and thank you.

Let’s start!

Unlike the main game, Brodia in the Fell Xenologue has a major hatred for warfare. Not quite in a pacifistic way, though. Rather, in a more, aggravated and isolationist way. The party cannot cross into Brodia during the FX story because Brodia would not permit them to even cross the border, with their border security being noted as being tighter than other nations.

Other than Mauvier (sort of), the familiar characters we see in FX typically have personalities opposite of those they have in the main story (Alcryst is arrogant and self assured, Ivy loves the Fell Dragon and hates her sister, etc.), or may have certain traits exaggerated/develop towards a negative path (Celine’s steel hearted view towards protecting peace became outright advocation for attacking other nations without provocation for her people, Fogado’s free spirited and party loving personality turned into a destructive hedonist who fights for the fun of it).

Diamant is kind of a mixture of both approaches!

In base game, we learn that Diamant isn’t actually that confident, and he’s willing to share as much when he’s comfortable enough to be vulnerable around people. His main mistake during the story was not pressing back enough against Morion and advocating for his own thoughts, suffering the consequences of such when Morion gets killed.

However, whether it’s before or after his development, he still presents himself as a model prince of a warrior kingdom. He speaks with confidence, and with assuredness in his tone, never straying far from a path once he’s decided on it, for better and for worse.

FX Diamant meanwhile, just doesn’t have confidence or conviction whatsoever. He’s bullied and belittled by Alcryst, and had to be pushed to even make a move to confront Nel’s party. In accordance with his country hating war, he goes to drastic measures to ensure it doesn’t even start, including killing his own allies. Almost an eerie parallel of what Brodia does in the base game to Elusia, and what it could do to Firene as discussed in Diamant and Alfred’s supports.

Going further, Diamant is beside himself in pessimism and lost in a fog of indecision, not questioning that he sees the Divine Dragon again, and instead jumps straight to begging him for direction once again. His relationship with Alcryst is terrible in FX, as he explains that he straight up expected Alcryst to assassinate him one day. There’s still a tinge of brotherhood though, as when Alcryst is later killed by Nel, Diamant reacts with the kind of horror one would expect from someone seeing their baby brother be killed.

He’s of course melancholy with Citrinne, Jade, Amber and Saphir as well, questioning if he’s losing his grip on reality more than once. Truly, he has none of the attitude expected of a king, which our Diamant calls him out on. As as seen by the end of the Brodia FX chapter, he surrenders quietly when there’s no chance left for him, instead of finding a reason to press on. He ends the FX in the final chapter apologizing to his nation for being a weak king, though thanking our party for releasing him from the responsibility of having to fight.

More than anything, it says a lot that Diamant’s “dark” reflection is, more than anything, weak-willed. For lack of better words, he’s a doormat that tries acclimating to the people around him, being reactive rather than proactive, and having no conviction or direction to follow. Our Diamant shares anxieties about ruling and self-confidence, but nonetheless he faces the world head on, confronting his doubts and hardships with full enthusiasm and confidence.

It’s little wonder that Brodia’s theme is titled “Royal Confidence” considering who we associate with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0SjaXBnADY&list=RDU0SjaXBnADY&start_radio=1

Alongside that confidence, Diamant’s also just such a neat little guy.

Per the Ally Notebook, he likes weapons and a good scrap, but he’s a good study (a talented speed-reader!), he loves his family and likes his alone time as well. As a peek into his hidden self esteem issues, it’s also noted that he dislikes heightened expectations.

He loves a good joke and encouraging those around him. He has a strong and earnest presence, with the strongest laugh in the army. And if given the pact ring, he’s noted to keep an eye on Alear both on and off the battlefield, whom he loves to see wearing the Brodian ring he gave. Diamant himself keeps the pact ring in a pouch he conceals in his shirt, and in the JP version it specifically says he keeps it hidden close to his chest when in battle. And what a chest that must be 😳

Similarly, the pact ring support in general is more romantic and less “coworker” sounding than it is in English.

Localization

Diamant: Don’t worry. I enjoy fighting beside you too much to turn this down. I accept your gift.

Translation

Diamant: Heh…I see how it is. Well, I have no intention to let anyone else have it. I accept, with thanks.

Localization

Alear: If we hope to add worthwhile stories of our own, we’d better help each other out.

Diamant: I’m not worried. When we work together, there’s nothing we can’t do.

Diamant: I vow to protect you, Divine One. From this point on, I will always fight by your side.

Translation

Alear: We’ll just have to make our own history together, to rival our rings’.

Diamant: It’ll be fine. With one another’s support, there’s nothing we can’t do.

Diamant: I’ll continue to stand by you. I vow to protect you, even if it costs me my life. Together with our precious rings.

Still, given he’s the prince of Brodia, it makes some amount of sense to connect a deep relationship with battle. Perhaps a cultural thing, haha.

Even more swoon worthy are his wake up events, though!

Localization

Diamant: Phew. I'm glad you're awake.

Diamant: I almost let you sleep in, you know.

Diamant: If you had...I could've taken you in for a few moments more.

Diamant: It's me. I've come to greet you, Divine One.

Diamant: Hey.

Diamant: Looks like we can talk now.

Diamant: This time we share, just you and I...

Diamant: I truly treasure these moments.

Diamant: Fast asleep.

Diamant: I'm honored that you trust me, but...

Diamant: I fear what the others may think of our vulnerabilities.

Diamant: I also fear that, one morning, you may not wake at all.

Diamant: Unfounded fears like that...

Diamant: reveal how close I've grown to you, and how I've grown to need you.

Translation

Diamant: Good morning. I’m relieved to see you awake.

Diamant: Well, you could’ve overslept, too.

Diamant: If you did, I’d have been able to look at your beautiful face a little longer.

Diamant: …It’s me. Divine One, I’m here to wake you as usual.

Diamant: Good morning.

Diamant: You woke up quickly, so we can talk for a bit.

Diamant: This time I get to spend with you…

Diamant: Is more precious and dear to my heart than anything else.

Diamant: Fast asleep.

Diamant: I’m happy you let your guard down around me, but…

Diamant: I worry a little that you’re this way with everyone else too.

Diamant: Besides, I fear you’ll never wake up.

Diamant: …That such absurd fears should come to my mind…

Diamant: Shows how much I want to never be apart from you.

Localization

Diamant: Hello.

Diamant: There's no rush, so please...

Diamant: Until you have to leave...

Diamant: would you...keep my ring on?

Diamant: Still asleep?

Diamant: You do seem to enjoy your rest.

Diamant: You got up!

Diamant: I'm impressed, but...

Diamant: Whether you wake up early or sleep in all day...

Diamant: I'll always be happy just to see you.

Diamant: Oh, look at that. The ring I gave you...

Diamant: You wear it even while sleeping.

Diamant: I sleep with the Pact Ring on. If I could...

Diamant: I'd even wear it during battle.

Diamant: It makes me think of peace.

Diamant: Heh. Do you hear how you've softened this prince of a kingdom of warriors?

Translation

Diamant: Are you awake?

Diamant: Mhm, there’s still time. So…

Diamant: Just a while longer, until you leave the room…

Diamant: Please…keep my ring on.

Diamant: I figured you’d still be asleep.

Diamant: You do usually sleep as much as you can.

Diamant: Look at you, waking up early.

Diamant: But please, remember this…

Diamant: Whether you wake up immediately, or sleep until I wake you…

Diamant: I’ll be happy either way.

Diamant: This is…the ring I gave you.

Diamant: So you wear it to sleep, huh?

Diamant: I wear the Pact Ring to sleep, too, but…

Diamant: It’s frustrating to be unable to wear it to battle.

Diamant: It makes me wish for peace to happen as soon as possible.

Diamant: You’re amazing, getting the prince of a military nation to say something like that.

Calling the Divine One beautiful and wanting their time all to yourself, Diamant you dog!

Diamant truly is a character that’s as equally well written as he is just casually appealing. It’s been such a joy getting to do this kind of campaign.

And while it’d be great for him to place, I consider it a victory if I even moved a few votes this year. What matters most to me is getting people more invested in a character that I adore, so that he can remain popular enough to get more love and recognition in the future.

If I persuaded you at all, I truly appreciate your contribution to the Diamant Campaign!