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The power fantasy has in our real world is the most important theme of Metaphor: Refantazio. Throughout the game, with every life Will touches (being the party members), each of them read different sections of the book. I want to use this opportunity to see how each “chapter” relates to the characters and the themes of this game. (Spoilers are unmarked up until the Altabury and the Day of the Hero arc)

Chapter 1 (Gallica): Entering the world of Fantasy

The Fantasy Novel is established early in the game as something very close to Will. And not just to him, but to his best friend: The Prince, who Will is trying to save from the curse. The Prince desires a world where tribe and status doesn’t decide one’s future or how they are treated.

The Prince lives by this mindset because of the Fantasy Novel Will holds. As said before, each character party member takes turns in reading the Novel. And the first person to do so is Will’s close fairy companion Gallica.

Obviously, Fairies are magical creatures no matter what lens you see them. So for someone to be a magical being by nature learn of a world with no magic, that would sound interesting to her. Even if our real life isn’t as amazing as the Novel claims it being, to someone like Gallica, topics like these would intrigue her.

The final chapter of this section will be important to what we learn about the Novel. Gallica needs to be opened minded to take in the experiences needed to understand the narrative of the Novel. Something that we should all take time to do.

Chapter 2 (Maria): The desire for Maria’s happiness

A lot happens after that scene with Will and Gallica. Eventually, Will awakens his Archetype, alongside Strohl, and together with the mercenary Grius would return to Grand Trad at an Inn to initiate their plan to kill Louis (which should break the curse). When they arrive, Will and co. learn that Grius has a daughter named Maria.

Grius, being the loving dad that he is, asks Will to keep Maria company while he is preparing for the his plan to kill Louis. During which, Will’s conversation with Maria will unlock the Healer Archetype lineage. This is also where we read the second “chapter” of the Novel.

The chapter with Gallica was about establishing the world of the Novel itself. This chapter is focuses on the safety of the people who live in the society. This fits with Maria's caring nature.

A world where everyone can be happy and with no conflict is something that would especially touch the heart of a child. Especially when one considers that Maria is a half blooded child. Hybrids in Metaphor are treated just as badly as Eldas (Will's tribe).

Maria is a lonely, but kind girl that just wants to not be alone; that's why seeing her father makes her happy. But unfortunately, Grius is killed by Louis when his assassination attempt failed. And Maria becomes depressed as a result.

After the Grand Cathedral arc, Will and friends find and comfort Maria over her loss. Seeing that Will went out of his way to take care of her, Maria hopes for kind king like him. It is Maria's influence that leads Will to take on the Tournament for the Throne for her sake.

Maria herself is supposed to represent Grius’s spirit. Even though the party lost their Rhoag member, Grius’s will lives on in her. This small kind girl would be driving force behind Will’s mission to create the world the prince envisioned.

Chapter 3 (Strohl): The Nobility protecting the people

Now let’s turn back time to the Prologue of the game to talk about Strohl. Strohl had already established himself to be the thing this world needs: a Noble that uses his power to protect the people. When we meet him in the game, his first instinct is to defend Will from a Roussainte harassing him.

Strohl proves how much of a ride or die character he his by wanting to protect Will from the Human (leading to Will awakening his Archetype). As well as choosing to join Will and Grius in the plot to kill Louis strictly because it was the right thing to do. Little wonder why he awoken his Archetype not long after.

However, Strohl’s knowledge on the world and its cruelties makes him a bit cynical. Makes sense considering how his homeland was destroyed by a Human. When Grius is killed and knowing how unfortunate Maria is going to have it now weighs on him heavily.

However, there key things Strohl must learn in the face of the tragedies that occurred. That even if not everyone can be saved, hope can still spread to the survivors. After Will comforts Maria and hopes for a kind king, Strohl is able to become more understanding of Hythlodaeus desire with the Royal Magic and the election.

Afterwards, Strohl has his chance to read the book. Which focuses on the security of the Utopia. The words in this chapter puts emphasis on why Grius’ assassination attempt was destined to fail. This leads into slight foreshadowing for things to come.

Strohl’s critical mindset is what allows him to see the fall in the Novel’s mentality. People are easily swayed by ignorance and emotion, so a world where something is decided by the people is no guarantee to be the right decision. But Strohl is a man who fights for others…

Thanks to the reading the book, Strohl begins to think of other ways to break the curse without killing Louis. Which was going to have to happen, considering the Royal Magic. It shows that Strohl’s character development is about coming to terms with his inability to protect.

Chapter 4 (Hulkenberg): Knight chosen for the people

Speaking of “protecting,” it’s a good time to talk about Hulkenberg, as her reading comes not long after Strohl. As we know, Hulkenberg has been on a mission to find the prince after her failure to protect him. It was Will’s confirmation what she believed in that allowed her to awaken to her Archetype.

When Hulkenberg mentions the book and the first time they met, it’s confirmed that the Fantasy Novel was banned by Sanctism. So Hulkenberg reads the next chapter to understand why. The chapter here concerns how leaders are chosen.

In short terms, this chapter is about the people choosing their leader. And why this works for Hulkenberg’s character goes back to when Will saved her and revealed the truth she needed to hear. Will is chosen as be the leader through the friends that choose to trust him.

Keep in mind that not too long ago, Will devises a plan to find Louis and the curse by entering the Tournament for the Throne. Hulkenberg chose Will to be captain partly out necessity with the Archetypes. But after that moment, Hulkenberg was vindicated in her choice.

The power that Hulkenberg awakened was through the hope Will gave her. Hope that the cruel world that his highness wanted to change will in fact change. It’s for this reason she places her hopes in this “fantasy.”

The truth behind why Sanctism abolished the Fantasy goes deeper than what Hulkenberg believes. Much as the truth of the Prince is deeper than she believes. The power to believe the world can change is why Hulkenberg has the right to fight for and believe in highness.

Chapter 5 (Heismay): Knight’s creed against discrimination

The fallen Shadowguard Eugief Knight Heismay was once believed that to be the Kidnapper haunting Martira. After meeting their initial target in order to reach Louis, our heroes learned that Heismay was framed by the true culprits behind the kidnappings. Afterward, Heismay awakens to his Archetype and joins the party.

Heismay’s chapter on discrimination fits with him being the first of the “lesser tribes” to join the party. As a Eugief, Heismay is one of the most hated tribes in the kingdom. Heismay wanted to change his world slowly by gaining power and rising in the knighthood.

Alas, his position was eventually stripped and, along with it, his son was killed in a Paripus “riot.” This is why Heismay lived in the Sandworm dens; awaiting for death. It takes Will and the others discovering the truth and hearing his side of the story that things changed for him.

Now when Heismay reads the novel itself, he is one of the few to deconstruct the flaws behind the writer’s thinking. Heck, Heismay even notes that kind of thinking can allow the strong to dominate the weak. A mindset that fits with our antagonist Louis Guiabern.

Speaking of whom, near the end of the following story arc, Will and Gallica learn that Louis has his own copy of the book. People give flak to the story and Gallica for saying that Louis failed to get the message behind the novel. Personally, I believe Heismay’s understanding of the book perfectly describes why Gallica says as much.

Even knowing the flaws behind the way the story is told, Heismay is still striving to protect the weak. Whereas Louis is using his gifts and talents to do the opposite. Doing the very thing Heismay is calling out while reading the novel.

Instead of using power and status to trample on others to get ahead, Heismay used his powers and understanding save Joanna from herself and end the kidnappings. And Heismay would continue devoting his cause to making a better world. Where people like Heismay and Joanna’s son isn’t a victim of an unfair society.

Chapter 6 (Junah): The “creation” born from “magic.”

Junah’s “chapter” is an interesting case; because as said before, she joins the team after Will and Gallica learn about the Fantasy Novel Louis holds. She was at first a celebrity that Will and Co. thought we’re working for Louis and was… in an “intimate” relationship… However, near the end of the Brilehaven arc, it is revealed that Junah was a secret agent for the resistance looking to break the curse.

This chapter is about the freedom in creation and how it shapes our world. What I find interesting about this section is how inspiring the things we have that make up our world and how it is taken for granted. This chapter focuses on Junah and what makes her character perfectly IMO.

From the beginning, we learn from Gallica that music is the first known magic. Guess what profession Junah is in and what she enjoys more than anything? Singing. It also helps that Junah is our first true dedicated magic party member.

I feel that people that don’t like Junah miss that the very thing she devoted herself to is one of the crucial aspects of this game. When she first sings the song “harmony,” you can see how each and every candidate takes the song’s beauty in awe. Even Louis himself admits to enjoying her songs.

During this moment, Junah slips out some important details about Nidia. Nidia uses glamours to hide their true, small forms. It takes truly ending Junah’s struggles to understand why Magic and Music both are such powerful inspirations for her. It’s no wonder that she was able to awaken to the Masked Dancer Archetype so easily.

Junah is someone who is truly dedicated to her cause; be it to save the prince or to her love in music. Junah believes in the power to spread freedom and hope to the lives she touches. That’s what makes her invaluable to this party.

Chapter 7 (Eupha): The Priestess’ Dogma

Eupha is a Mustari Priestess who initially believed she was destined be sacrificed in order to appease her Dragon God. Our heroes then came along, and help her learn the truth about the Dragon and the legend that drove her to martyrdom. Eupha awakens to her true calling, and with it, the Summoner Archetype; leading her to fulfill the legends true meaning.

For her whole life, Eupha was groomed to accept her fate was to die. But now that the party has helped he find a reason to live, one of the first things she gets to do is read Will’s Fantasy Novel. I prefer her reaction when you describe to Eupha that the Novel is an “ideal world.”

Eupha: Well...! So you do not merely strive against evil, you have a vision for the world's betterment.

That’s because, IMO, it’s important that Will and Co. promote themselves in a way to help Eupha understand the party and their goals. Not long before this, the party mentions their goals to use her Divine Relic: Drakodios (the true form of the Dragon God) to kill Louis. While Eupha will learn soon enough why, it’s still important for her to know that her saviors have good intentions for the world at large.

The brief shot we get of Will and Eupha sitting together reading is something that touches my heart. The game already hints at their relationship even before her Bond. That, and it fits with Will being a bard like character; sharing his story and ideals to someone who is almost like him in a way.

Now to the novel itself; as a priestess who lives under a different culture and religion, this chapter focuses on the beauty of different belief systems. As Gallica aptly puts, this is the exact opposite of what Sanctism wants for the world. They look to shut down any belief systems that aren’t their own.

But in reality, it goes much deeper than that; the reason why they want to shut down the Mustari is because their culture hides the truth behind the world’s existence. Though the party is unaware of the full truth, it’s still important in knowing the original intent behind why these truths were hidden.

Even the Mustari themselves ended up reflecting the things they hated; by losing sight of the truth of the legend. But now that Eupha is freed from this mindset, Eupha is now able to take her own path without fear. Even be able to fall in love with the person that showed her what an ideal world could be like.

Now this is where the spoilers begin:

Chapter 8 (Basilio and Fidelio): Becoming who you want to be

Not long after Eupha, right before the Dragon Festival, the Magnus brothers: Fidelio and Basilio also have a gander at the book because Louis himself loves them. Important to remember; the reason why these guys are here is because they don’t trust Will after Glodell’s death. So they “volunteer for bodyguard duty” for Lady Junah.

Over the course of their brief time, as much as Fidelio denies it, being with Will and Co. did change things for the Magnus brothers. During the fight against Homo Sabara, Will attempted to save Fidelio’s life despite the latter not trusting him. It’s an act that Basilio admits really touched him.

So when it came to time to chase after the Lance, when the party debates saving Eupha, Fidelio is only concerned with the Lance. It is Basilio who isn’t opposed to the heroes saving Eupha. Especially when Fidelio suffers from an illness after the Human fight and needed the people of the island to help him recover.

Fidelio only has the chance to read the book because the party saved him in spite of his attitude. And if not for staying back, there would have been no one to evacuate the people when Homo Margo (the human that manipulated the legend) attacked. It was the first act of Fidelio being a hero.

When Fidelio reads the Novel, it speaks of a world where anyone is free to be who they want and pursue their dream. Fidelio is the most negative about the Fantasy Novel, but his words are true in some ways. Fidelio is right that people can be prejudiced if they are free to think that way and things can only change with effort and will.

The reason why Fidelio’s words here are true is because of what we learn later on. This also ties in with the final chapter of the novel. What Fidelio lacks however is the belief that things can change outside of the worldview he took in because of Louis,

Basilio is one wished open up a restaurant with his brother. Basilio here demonstrates the key reason why he was meant to be the last party member while Fidelio was not. Basilio is open to different possibilities; while Fidelio still trapped himself in the bubble Louis created for him.

It takes Louis’s seeming death at the Opera House for Fidelio to be open to that possibility. However, Louis managed to survive the initial battle and used the opportunity to force Will and Co. to reveal the location of the prince by attacking innocent people. During which, when Will tries to defend them, Fidelio pushes him out of the way.

Afterwards, Louis decides to kill the brothers for their defiance; Fidelio takes the fatal blow that was heading for his brother. At last Fidelio’s eyes are opened; Louis ideal world is only one where the weak, like the brothers in the slums, would be left to die. He finally admits to his brother that he had the right of it.

Thanks to his new found friends and his brother’s last words, Basilio found his desire. Even though his dream of the diner with his brother has been cut short, his will lives on. Basilio awakens to the Berserker Archetype and vows to live up to his brother’s legacy.

Basilio: See ‘ya around, Del!

Fidelio and Basilio’s section of the novel is one of the key foreshadowing points that would lead to one of them being a party member. Many wish for Fidelio, but personally, this was another showing why it had to be Basilio. Basilio had the power to believe in the impossible or other options, something Fidelio didn’t have in him.

That being said, as stated before, Fidelio’s words serve a greater narrative purpose to show the flaws behind Fantasy Novel. It’s also important to the lesson Will needs to take in order to be king. That the one who has the power to change the world lies within themselves.

Final Chapter (Prince Will): An ideal world

A lot happens after Basilio joins; it’s thanks to him that party comes up with idea for Will to be the body double until they have time to save the Prince and his place. We learn that Rella is the true culprit behind the curse. And eventually she is defeated and her death lifts the curse.

The bad news is that Louis later on, during a fight against him, uses magic to transform for Will into a Human in order to turn the populace against him. During which, Louis sends the thought to be dead Zorba to kill the real prince. After this happens, Will and the others begin to lose hope.

However, the Mysterious Voice who has been beckoning our heroes into awakening their Archetypes, talks to Will. From here, we learn that Will is a physical manifestation of the Prince’s desire to be a hero. Accepting this truth leads Will to fuse with the Prince’s corpse to become the ideal version of him.

After which, our heroes learn about Gallica’s memories, Will’s role, and the truth behind the world they live in. A world where there was no tribes, as described in the Novel was destroyed by rampant Magla: which is how Human monsters are formed. The truth of Magla is also the reason why the Novel was banned by Sanctism.

As for the last chapter itself; it’s a nice book end for Will and Gallica’s Rank 8 bond where they now read the book with new understanding. It’s about the ruler of the utopia and what it takes to maintain that world. And how it takes the people to fully establish said world.

But the novel ends with the question of what a true utopia is. It definitely sounds contradictory from everything the Novel already established itself on (much like how people see this plot point). Even Will questions that if this is the ideals that the team is striving for.

And this leads into my final point for the Fantasy Novel’s purpose; the author More, Magla manifested version of late King Hythlodaeus. As Gallica says and what we see later; Hythlodaeus was once an idealist whose hopes were crushed after the death of his wife. Soon he lost his son, lost the Mage Academy, and eventually his life to Louis.

Hythlodaeus couldn’t do anything to stop Forden and the Senate from rising to power; and this is the reason Louis killed him. Because Louis himself personally knew Hythlodaeus, he was the man who gave him a dream to chase. But after the destruction of the Eldan Village (Louis is Elda by the way), and after being blamed for the church, Louis became the tyrant he is now.

Louis held on to the Fantasy Novel More gave him in spite of it all. Louis’s goal to turn the kingdom into a land of humans is his idea of fulfilling what Hythlodaeus wanted in his own way. As Eupha says near the end of the game; Louis’s efforts seem to be him truing to fulfill what the people of the world before started.

And this is why Gallica’s line that Louis doesn’t get the message behind the Novel makes sense now. The Archetypes are the representation of fear and anxieties turned into the power to face reality. Whereas the Human monsters embody what we become when fears and anxieties rule us.

The point of Will’s journey to be king is to not fall into the traps that ensnared Hythlodaeus and Louis. And this is best exemplified in the final battle. After our heroes stay behind to face the army of humans; Will is nearly transformed into a human again and nearly died for it. This leads More to snap and attempts to gaslight Will into accepting the Novel is the real world all along.

Will’s character arc is completed when he rejects the Novel and accept it isn’t a Utopia. Also, Will hearing Gallica’s music from when they first began their journey plays in his mind. At last Will has found his answer to what the world means to him.

Will: The Journey… my friends. They were as real as anything I’ve known!

Will learns who More is and defeats him in battle; proving his resolve. Will and Co. would then go on to awaken the King Archetype and finally defeat the now humanized Louis. Thus proving their ideals to be just and true.

Even with Will becoming King; it doesn’t change the racism that runs deeply within the world. Nor will it change that not everyone will accept Will or his ideals. But the main thing that separates Will from More and Louis is the resolve to face the cruel reality and follow the paths he believes in.

Gallica: You’ve got the power to change the world… and the one who gave it to you was, well, yourself.

More: You have taken control of your life. You are ready to rule your very self.

Each of the games’ themes of how Fantasy changes reality and what means to be king are reflected within the Novel; thereby, Will’s character. And through connections he forged and his courage to face fear and anxieties, he became the truest version of himself and his ideals.

He is the proof that we can change the world by walking hand in hand.

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