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The Cold Steel saga of RPGs — developed by Nihon Falcom throughout the 2010s — was an large-scale project, given the multitude of individuals and plot points included. It took the studio several games to fully develop these protagonists. The character Emma's narrative journey is unfolded in conjunction with Cold Steel’s central narrative, but it's through the subtle change in her skill set that we truly grasp the depth of her inner growth.

Heads-up: Our discussion contains light plot details for the central plot of the Cold Steel series.

In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Emma Millstein is a ordinary student, just as the other members of the academy's Class VII. As the student leader, she's approachable to each person and strives to avert any conflicts between her fellow students. Although Emma takes her student life very earnestly, she has a secret identity. She is in fact a sorceress, a member of the Clan of Witches. Attending Thors Military Academy is a component of her real mission of assisting Rean Schwarzer, the central character of her class, who is destined to call forth a Divine Knight.

In every Trails title, the majority of playable personas have at least one ultimate ability, a unique skill that needs you to have a sufficient quantity of Craft Points to use. These finishing moves are designed to be your trump card in all fights. S-Crafts are furthermore a way for the narrative to illustrate the evolution characters are going through. They can represent the advancement of a character’s combat prowess, like Rean Schwarzer’s S-Craft the skill Breaking Dawn in Trails of Cold Steel IV, which he acquires after attaining the designation of Divine Blade. In different instances, such as the witch Emma's, Nihon Falcom employs special moves to express the internal transformations a character experiences.

When the great war in the empire erupts in Cold Steel, Emma’s response to the events is the inexperienced but logical idea that combat means attacking. The struggle continues to the second game in the series, where the dual special abilities she possesses are Albireon and Rain. Each are offensive techniques that indiscriminately hit opponents on the field.

After we have the chance to see the character Emma again in Trails of Cold Steel III, we observe a changed girl. She has moved on from the academy, and after practicing with her witch community, she clearly to have understood an vital truth about who she is. Although she grows into a formidable magic user, the character realizes that, primarily, Emma is a defender. She is prepared to put others first to ensure all her friends — but most notably Rean — safe. Her wish to take on this role is hinted at by her ultimate skill, which in the third installment changes to Palace of Eregion.

When you activate the S-Craft Emma's new skill, the character conjures four semi-transparent arcane structures, and shields form joining them and enclosing the battlefield. The allies under the influence of this skill gain a few stacks of Absolute Reflect, a status that negates damage of all types. Emma had never been a combative person, so she transitions to a protective style, echoing the caring demeanor she had always extended to her companions.

It’s fascinating to witness how the developers employs a persona's powers to enrich the game’s narrative. RPGs typically employ written text or graphics to tell us what a persona is thinking. But Emma Millstein shows that even a ability can provide an extra dimension of meaning.