Aida
Aida [アイダ] is one of the protagonists of Seiji Tanaka's 1988 Ultima-inspired manga, Ultima: The Terror of Exodus.
Description[edit]
Aida was an exceptionally gifted magician and psychic. Her path was marked by tragedy early in the manga's narrative, when she witnessed the death of her father, Lord Sattava, soon after Exodus' first attack upon Britain. Placed by the dying Lycaeum head under the protection of the bard, Lennon, the young woman quickly ascended to a position of spiritual leadership within the group of heroes, helping to direct the often confused Genji through Sosaria and often demonstrating a keen intelligence in tackling obstacles.[1]
A compassionate and talented woman, Aida exhibited such powers as psychic empathy, animal psi and telepathy throughout the comic. She shared a deep bond with Genji, and it was eventually revealed that Minax's time magics allowed her to contact him throughout various points in his childhood and youth.[2] When she quite nearly died during the final confrontation with Exodus, Genji became overwrought as he cradled her seemingly lifeless body, obviously hurt that he may not be able to make the full extent of his feelings known. It was ultimately Aida's own fervent prayers, however, which shook the daemon-machine's hold on the Great Earth Serpent - allowing the other heroes to at last to seal the dark being away.[3]
Aida's "seal," bestowed upon her in Ambrosia, took the form of a magical sphere which she attempted to use to lock out Exodus as it tried to reenter the world through Mondain's dead body.[4] Her Mark of the Dragon appears above her left breast, and is revealed as such in a rather gratuitous bathing scene.[5]
The Maze of Schwarzschild[edit]
Practically her whole story was changed for the manga The Maze of Schwarzschild. In that manga, she has to ties to Sosaia and gets back her memories in flashbacks, which also have nothing to do with the last time she appeared. One of such memories is her being a Vietnamese civilian during Vietnam war, whom soldiers try to kill or rape.
It is unknown why these changes were made.
Trivia[edit]
- Aida's may be a subtle pun on the word/particle "Ai" - which in Japanese means love or affection.
References[edit]
- ↑ Tanaka, Seiji. Exodus (Ultima III). JICC: August 15, 1988. Pages 20-23.
- ↑ Tanaka, Seiji. Exodus (Ultima III). JICC: August 15, 1988. Pages 118-125.
- ↑ Tanaka, Seiji. Exodus (Ultima III). JICC: August 15, 1988. Pages 233-246.
- ↑ Tanaka, Seiji. Exodus (Ultima III). JICC: August 15, 1988. Pages 222.
- ↑ Tanaka, Seiji. Exodus (Ultima III). JICC: August 15, 1988. Pages 88.