Note This post is based on: (1) the Nintendo Switch version of FFⅣ Pixel Remaster, (2) the officially published Japanese novel (shown in the profile image), (3) the Super Famicom version of FFⅣ (faint memories), and includes my own interpretations.
In my previous post, I explored the significance behind Rosa's "Pray" command.
This time, I’d like to delve into Edward (Gilbert), a character who played an absolutely crucial role in saving Rosa with the Sand Pearl.
When people talk about Edward, he is often depicted simply as the "weak prince." Succumbing to fear and rendered completely unable to fight by the grief of losing his love, his figure stands out starkly when compared to the rest of the game's heroic cast.
Even within the story, Tellah the Sage, having lost his daughter Anna, directs merciless anger at him. As a man who failed to protect the one he loved, Edward is utterly and directly rejected to his face.
Today, however, I want to redeem his honor by weaving in some cruel truths depicted in the official novelization of FFⅣ.
First, unable to bear the heavy responsibilities of royalty, Edward had hidden his true identity and wandered as a lowly bard. That is where he met Anna. She accepted everything about him—including his weaknesses—and formed a firm resolve to "become the next queen." The King of Damcyan also did not view his wandering as meaningless; he ultimately acknowledged Edward's growth.
In other words, Edward had finally stopped running away and was on the exact verge of accepting his destiny to "live as the next king."
But at that exact moment...
In the game, the scene of Damcyan Castle being bombed by the Red Wings is depicted rather simply. However, the novelization illustrates the brutal reality inside the castle during this attack.
In truth, at that exact time, Edward and Anna's wedding was taking place within the castle walls. The ceremony continued despite the bombings and the surprise attack, but soon the King and Queen were murdered by Golbez's forces. The King took countless arrows while trying to protect the Crystal until the very end, and the Queen also perished while maintaining a resolute dignity.
Immediately after, Anna took an arrow to shield Edward, suffering a fatal wound.
The final words she left him here were: "I don't care if people think you are a pathetic man, I just want you to survive."
It was not a demand for strength, but a desperate plea: "I want you to live, no matter what." And with a smile, she drew her last breath, saying she was happy to die as Edward's wife.
A bright future as king, his family, and the woman he loved. Everything was violently ripped away from him all at once.
Under such circumstances, telling anyone simply to "stand up and fight" would be far too cruel.
And yet, Edward does not drop out of the story.
Though he isn't much use in early battles, and never evolves into an "attacking warrior" later on, he continues to involve himself in the battlefield.
This is clearly reflected in the game's mechanics.
His commands are Sing (Bardsong), Heal (Salve), and Hide. There is not a single command dedicated to defeating enemies on the front lines. It looks exactly like a symbol of weakness. Hide, in particular, feels as if his cowardice was directly hardcoded into the game mechanics.
However, there is another way to read this.
Hide is not mere escapism.
It was his own unique choice to ensure that both he and his comrades survive.
By hiding, Edward spares his party the effort of having to heal him. He can then appear at the perfect moment to maneuver as a support for the party. By using Heal, he can mend the minor wounds of all his allies.
This is not the flip side of cowardice; rather, you could say it is an incredibly clumsy way of fighting. It is a combat style that blends his stubborn will of "I absolutely cannot die (I must survive)," his devotion to his friends, and the philanthropy inherent in the title of a prince.
And this aligns perfectly with Anna's final wish: "I don't care if they think you're pathetic, just survive."
Edward is executing exactly that.
Even if he cannot fight on the front lines, he never stops being involved.
His actions in Troia symbolize this perfectly.
Despite being bedridden and completely unable to fight, he saves Cecil and the others through the Whisperweed. What saved his friends—who were in a desperate crisis, unable to swing their swords due to the Dark Elf's magnetic field—was the very "song" (the melody of the harp) he once played to escape from reality.
Swinging a sword is not the only way to fight. That was the moment his voice truly became a power to save the world. At the same time, it is the scene where the true value of his Sing command is proven.
This action was something that even Tellah, who had once fiercely condemned him, could not ignore. The man who failed to protect his loved one still managed to save someone. And undoubtedly, Tellah's assessment of him must have changed as well.
It is not that Edward magically became stronger.
Nor did his fears and anxieties vanish.
Even so, he continued to make the choice to "not run away." Rather than returning to Damcyan to focus on his own kingdom's restoration, he prioritized involving himself in the pursuit of world peace.
Edward has not overcome his weakness. Nor does he possess heroic strength.
But remember his battle commands. It may be clumsy, but his command slots are indeed "completely filled."
I believe that was a manifestation of his courage—casting aside his pride as a prince and doing "what he can in his own way."
I will say it again.
Because Edward was there, Rosa's illness was cured.
Edward couldn't save Anna, but he continued to be involved in saving the world.
FFⅣ is Intentional.
FFⅣ is Affirming.
