A Beautiful Memory — The Unyielding Hope of Radiant’s Seth
Whether the devil is so human it hurts or whether it takes away our humanity intentionally, it touches a part of our subconsciousness that we tend to lock away in a functional community. When we finally see that the devil we fear most is our innermost nature, the horror of confronting him or it works best. In reality, we do not want to sacrifice friends or tear down effective social structures in an attempt to satisfy some animalistic urge. Yet in a lot of media productions, we all too easily do. — The Devil is Only Human After All (Pascal Wagner, 2019, Unwinnable)
Since time immemorial, humanity has tried to make sense of the natural world and humanity’s penchant towards chaos through myths, religion and beyond. Christianity tells the story of Lucifer (Satan) and his inevitable downfall when he challenged God and further tempted man with the fruit of knowledge. Norse mythology immortalized the concept of a trickster god in Loki who would play a major a role in the twilight of the gods or Ragnarök. The demigod Triton, of Greek mythology and ruler of the depths, signaled the coming of the storm by controlling the sea waves. And in the Egyptian pantheon, the deity who represented violence and disorder as well as the god of the desert came to be known as Set (Seth).
Whether they be literal devils, cunning tricksters, harbingers of doom or the embodiment of destruction, these figures have existed all throughout history, fictional or otherwise. Yet even in these ancient tales, one could argue a level of “gray” was prescribed in their creation. After all, Lucifer was once an angel. Loki assisted the Aesir gods as often as he caused discord among them. Triton is the son of Poseidon, appointed by his father to act as his herald. Even Set was once worshipped as a sky deity or a god of war against Egypt’s enemies.
I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking things. Perhaps we just love stories with a bit of drama, discord and ambiguity. Either way, these stories have a way of reflecting the human heart, even if we don’t always like what we find inside. It’s one reason we keep revisiting and retelling them in the modern day. The other is because on some level, we’re still trying to make meaning for ourselves — a sense of belonging or purpose, if you will.
Then again, it could just be the horns! Something about the mythical, otherworldly nature that just naturally invites intrigue in the human brain. At least, that’s the main inspiration for Radiant’s Infections, as well as its protagonist. But in a world where fear and prejudice of the unknown maintains its grip on humanity, they come to represent something more…
(Seriously, I can’t believe I’m making another 30 minute essay–)
Radiant Memories is a collection of stories looking back at the Radiant universe and its 10 year anniversary. For more details, see below.
Departure
Refusal of the Call: The myths and folk tales of the whole world make clear that the refusal is essentially a refusal to give up what one takes to be one’s own interest. The future is regarded not in terms of an unremitting scries of deaths and births, but as though one’s present system of ideals, virtues, goals, and advantages were to be fixed and made secure. — The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell, 1949 [2004], p. 55)
Radiant’s Seth is a character who works on two dimensions. He’s blunt and straightforward to a fault, impulsive with his actions and carries a high sense of justice with the occasional lapse in judgment, typically to comedic effect. In other words, a shonen protagonist, which I’ll refer to as his external sphere.
The other, his intrinsic side, is the subtler part of his personality where his experiences and connections become crucial not just in the big picture storytelling, but a constant dialogue between himself and the world in order to achieve equilibrium — the reminders in his life that keep him grounded to earth.
That’s because at its core Seth’s story is about subverting expectations, starting with the rejection of personal interests. The story begins on the quiet settlement of Pompo Hills located on the unremarkably named Island 21. Without much in the way of excitement, Seth tries to make his own amusement through magic to impress his mentor Alma with the hope of joining her profession of Nemesis Hunting. Unfortunately, this catches the attention of the locals who are none too pleased with his recent antics.
This prompts Alma to intervene, reminding him that he’s not proven himself as a “proper human” (i.e. the ability to restrain himself), much less a Sorcerer, thus forbidding him from leaving her observatory until further notice. But when a Nemesis Egg lands at the center of town, he sees the opportunity to make a name for himself before running into a group of bandits known as the Bravery Quartet looking to seize their own fortune.
Seth initially doesn’t take magic seriously because he views it as a means to an end, not having the experience or insight yet to measure himself beyond his desires. It’s why his pride in this prologue ultimately gets the better of him when the gang’s leader Don Bossman allows him to take on the Nemesis single handedly, unaware they were using him as a distraction while they robbed the town. And when he does see the error of his ways and tries to course correct, not only does the town reject him, Bossman calls out his hypocrisy at playing the hero with the destruction in the background.
As a result, the Refusal of the Call for Seth isn’t the rejection of stepping up to his future responsibilities, it’s the uncertainty that despite his best efforts — they might be right.
Still, their situation requires immediate action because the Nemesis has located them, so he pushes those feelings of uncertainty down by showing them all who he really is. He strikes down the thieves directly, blocks the Nemesis’s attack and basically tells them “You know what? Screw you! I’m nothing like the Nemeses or you criminals! I’m going to help them even if they don’t want or appreciate it. All I know is they can’t defend themselves and if I don’t step in, no one will!”
With the Nemesis eliminated and the thieves subdued, Alma arrives to retrieve her apprentice. To his surprise, she recognizes his magic for the first time (with some light scolding thrown in) and realizes he’s grown up quite a bit since they met. Seth has come to comprehend an uncomfortable truth about the world they live in. The Nemeses, the fear, discrimination and the world’s inability to accept the Infected and their continuing struggle to maintain their existence.
Despite now being recognized by his teacher, and even given the clear to join her officially, Seth refuses. On a metatextual level, he rejects the pursuit of adventure, power and status — the shonen trinity as discussed before — thereby subverting his own wants. He can’t accept the way things are, much less contribute to the cycle of simply cleaning up after the Nemeses, expecting people to do better or become less hostile, so he changes the perspective. To paraphrase, “What if we didn’t have to hunt the Nemesis? What if we could just get rid of them at the source? No more Infections, no more curses? Then there would be nothing to fear anymore, right?”
“You’re gonna try and track down Radiant, aren’t you?”
Before we continue, let’s talk about Alma for a bit. Unexpectedly entrusted with the care of a young infant with horns, the two originally travel together to uncover the mysteries of their origins. Dealing with both identity issues regarding her past as well as the burden of being an Infected and the open hostility that usually comes with it, the amnesiac Alma initially considers leaving Seth behind, either not wanting the responsibility or feeling unfit to be the child’s guardian.
In time, her quest for answers starts to diminish as the boy becomes attached to his adopted mother. This culminates in an incident where his powers manifest in self-defense, only for the residents of a neighboring village to put Seth at the stake. Described by many as a powerful Sorcerer respected and somewhat feared by her colleagues, Alma was more than capable of resolving this situation single-handedly. Instead of brute forcing it, however, she plays into their superstitions and ignorance, chasing them away without further conflict.
Alma doesn’t teach Seth magic directly, largely in part because of his inability/resistance to use Magic Tools (his gloves) and unnatural talent to manipulate Fantasia with his bare hands, but her role in the story is arguably the most important element in Radiant’s narrative, which brings me to my favorite storytelling device — the recurring theme. In contrast to their somewhat chaotic relationship, the two end up becoming family with Alma continuing to shape Seth’s moral compass. But just like any parent watching their child grow and mature comes the knowledge that they’ll one day leave the nest.
Upon realizing Seth intends to search for the Radiant, Alma disapproves, but acknowledges the validity in his argument and that he’s already made up his mind. He’s no longer the helpless child she looked after, so she gives him her blessing and some parting words, “Don’t become a monster. You’re not born human, you become human.” And so begins Seth’s departure, but not before one of my favorite scenes:
The rest of the story plays out as one would expect. A colorful cast of allies and companions join the adventure for personal reasons, a run-in with the central authority or antagonistic force opposed to the hero’s goal and a spiritual dive to reawaken oneself to realms beyond. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to play out. While each of these steps still occur at various intervals with their own added spin, he meets several outsiders who give him pause about the journey ahead — and himself.
***Spoilers for season 1 and 2 begin here.***
Which Side?
Crossing of the First Threshold: With the personifications of his destiny to guide and aid him, the hero goes forward in his adventure until he comes to the “threshold guardian” at the entrance to the zone of magnified power. Such custodians bound the world in four directions — also up and down — standing for the limits of the hero’s present sphere, or life horizon. Beyond them is darkness, the unknown, and danger; just as beyond the parental watch is a danger to the infant and beyond the protection of his society danger to the members of the tribe. The usual person is more than content, he is even proud, to remain within the indicated bounds, and popular belief gives him every reason to fear so much as the first step into the unexplored.
…
The adventure is always and everywhere a passage beyond the veil of the known into the unknown; the powers that watch at the boundary are dangerous; to deal with them is risky, yet for anyone with competence and courage the danger fades. — Campbell 2004, pp. 71, 76.
Most would agree Seth’s journey doesn’t truly begin until the conclusion of Rumble Town, where all the major players and forces that run the gears of this world intertwine into one cohesive narrative. Therefore, I would argue that this “calm before the storm” is what defines the Crossing of the First Threshold — the moment the hero takes the first step into the unknown and realizes how expansive their world is.
To that end, the story introduces three characters who act as Seth’s threshold guardians towards the beyond. The first is Captain Dart Dragunov, who is quite literally waiting for him outside the borders of Pompo Hills and the Artemis Institute. As a member of the Inquisition, he is Seth’s first frame of reference of the system he’s trying to overthrow, making them ideologically opposed by default. Broadly speaking, Seth is a character who seeks institutional change by disrupting the current system while Draganov is initially one who works within said system to change it from the inside.
Unsurprisingly, they assume the worst of one another — of Dragunov being another corrupt lawman eager to hunt the Sorcerers and Seth being the heinous criminal listed on his arrest warrant. This point of contention, however, is disrupted during the Rumble Town arc when the crisis unfolding threatens to sink the entire island and they both work to protect as many lives as possible. Even as they give each other a hard time, they challenge each other to look past their affiliations, labels and past biases to serve a greater community, leaving Seth to handle the Domitor while Dragunov takes control of the situation following Konrad’s defeat.
On the way to the clock tower, Seth is pulled away by a mysterious figure wearing the Inquisition uniform and sporting the same horns as himself. Referred to by the name Piodon, he introduces himself as Seth’s older brother and a spectator with more information than he lets on. Symbolically speaking, he’s the custodian representing knowledge of the unknown, offering Seth a link to his heritage (i.e. his brothers), insight into the forces that govern this world and a way to unlock his true potential.
Before doing so, he prompts Seth with a moral dilemma, painting a scenario with different factions and their own pros and cons. Much like the situation currently brewing in Rumble Town, the question of “which side” not only serves as the thematic backdrop of the conflict playing out in real time, but a measure of Seth’s commitment to building a better world or compromise to the whims of his prescribed destiny.
He doesn’t give Piodon an answer, still lost in thought with all this new information, not to mention preoccupied with the Domitor above them, which brings us to the final lock on the first threshold. If Dragunov represents the limits of the hero’s present sphere and Piodon is the entrance into the zone of magnified power via the unknown, then Hameline is the physical danger to the infant and members of the tribe represented by the fear and anger of the Infected if they acted on those impulses.
This ideological difference leads to their inevitable duel atop the clock tower, but instead of simply trading blows, their exchange becomes one of ideas. Faced with the atrocity that Hameline was about to commit, her tragic past and years of deep-seated resentment towards the world that rejected them helps Seth understand his own pain, enabling him to come to a decision regarding the earlier question. Simply put, he rejects the idea of sides or affiliations, denying the “us vs them” argument further agency.
Naturally, this choice is represented as the hardest option with the most immediate consequences. The Thaumaturges arrive ready to cast judgment against the Sorcerers. Hameline sacrifices herself to protect Seth and his allies in service of a greater goal. Even worse, Seth breaks his promise to Alma, becoming a monster when Piodon lightly unseals a portion of his true power when his life is in danger. This forced awakening along with the introduction of the dark monitor or “freeloader” — the belly of the whale stage, if you will — is where Seth’s crisis of faith begins when he realizes how powerless he is.
Belly of the Whale: The idea that the passage of the magical threshold is a transit into a sphere of rebirth is symbolized in the worldwide womb image of the belly of the whale. The hero, instead of conquering or conciliating the power of the threshold, is swallowed into the unknown and would appear to have died.
…
This popular motif gives emphasis to the lesson that the passage of the threshold is a form of self-annihilation. … [I]nstead of passing outward, beyond the confines of the visible world, the hero goes inward, to be born again. The disappearance corresponds to the passing of a worshiper into the temple — where he is to be quickened by the recollection of who and what he is, namely dust and ashes unless immortal.
They illustrate the fact that the devotee at the moment of entry into a temple undergoes a metamorphosis. — Campbell 2004, pp. 83, 84–85.
With Hameline’s death still fresh in his mind, the false cycle of praise and word of mouth when the truth of what transpired gets buried by everyone not in attendance, and the looming uncertainty of who he is and what he is becoming, his confidence is shattered. He eventually finds some comfort to carry on through the lives he did change, but in the process, he further alienates himself from others to journey on alone.
Deciding to continue the quest in Cyfandir without informing anyone, this act prolongs his stay in the belly of the whale. As he continues to deny the fear that the dark monitor holds over him, he actively refrains from his full magic when faced with immediate danger. His denial extends when he tries to make amends with Mélie and Doc, only to push them further away under the guise of protection from himself.
This freeloader dwelling within Seth is what holds power over him — the manifestation of his fears regarding his origins — so he compensates by disconnecting from the world. But as Mélie points out in their emotional exchange, what he fears most is connection, the ability to become attached to someone and ask for help at the risk of becoming a burden to them. To regain his sense of self, he must willingly return to the world, form connections and become vulnerable, reconciling with the parts of himself he would rather tuck away in some alternate dimension.
It’s why shortly after he reconsiders Ocoho’s offer to be her sparring partner. Even though the deal itself isn’t mutually beneficial (she can only get him access to the library rather than the archives), he sees how dedicated she is to her dream, along with her genuine interest after seeing his potential out in the field earlier. And when she stumbles into a larger web of conspiracy unsure of what direction to go, he’s the first to reassure her to trust in her ideals and that when the time comes, she’ll do the right thing regardless of her position or status.
This renewed confidence is only made possible when Seth himself is able to permit others into his orbit by asking for help. When the dark monitor does take control again, he is finally able to confide in Mélie with the truth about his fears. Just as he was able to bring her a bit of tranquility to the instability of her dual personalities, she returns the favor symbolized by their promise to work through their struggles — to never have to feel alone because of their Infections.
In essence, to share a part of himself, which further extends to his brother Diabal when he reaches out to him. Paranoid and highly distrustful, Diabal hid beneath Caislean Merlin and intentionally blinded himself to avoid Piodon’s surveillance. Although he also took Piodon’s offer, he was quickly discarded when he got too close to the truth. Naturally, he attacks Seth on first instinct, fearing his location has been compromised. After escaping his deadly encounter with the real Spectrum Nemesis, Seth returns, hoping to understand him better as well as gain answers to their grim, but shared history.
With a patient ear, Seth offers him a chance to return to the surface by closing his old wounds. It’s still too soon for Diabal, who is not ready to face his traumatic memories in the Sidh and reluctantly declines when the fighting upstairs intensifies. However, this gesture is enough for him to confide in his sibling, so he gives him a summoning stone — the same type used for the Spectrum Nemeses. Their trust evolves further they meet up again in Bome as they continue to look after one another with Diabal taking more initiative.
These small offerings eventually lead the way towards deepening connections in subsequent chapters, but they still can’t entirely overcome the threat of the dark monitor itself. For that, Seth needs to undergo a true metamorphosis through the road of trials. A road that only becomes available when he opens his senses to the world beyond and the guardians of the forest who can offer him the tools to overcome the beast within.
Becoming Human
Road of Trials: Once having traversed the threshold, the hero moves in a dream landscape of curiously fluid, ambiguous forms, where he must survive a succession of trials. This is a favorite phase of the myth-adventure. It has produced a world literature of miraculous tests and ordeals. The hero is covertly aided by the advice, amulets, and secret agents of the supernatural helper whom he met before his entrance into this region. Or it may be that he here discovers for the first time that there is a benign power everywhere supporting him in his superhuman passage.
…
The ordeal is a deepening of the problem of the first threshold and the question is still in balance: Can the ego put itself to death? For many-headed is this surrounding Hydra; one head cut off, two more appear — unless the right caustic is applied to the mutilated stump. The original departure into the land of trials represented only the beginning of the long and really perilous path of initiator)’ conquests and moments of illumination. Dragons have now to be slain and surprising barriers passed — again, again, and again. Meanwhile there will be a multitude of preliminary victories, unretainable ecstasies, and momentary glimpses of the wonderful land — Campbell 2004, pp. 89, 100.
Having avoided death once more, Seth is taken to the Callite Forest where time and space move differently. To that end, Myr lays out the task at hand — to overcome the freeloader’s grasp. Not simply endurance or physical training, but rather his spiritual connection by getting in touch with the world and its natural environment. With the aid of his wife Yggdrajill — which we’ll summarize as The Meeting with the Goddess stage — they bestow Seth three gifts to tame his inner darkness.
The first is a portion of Jill’s sap which was used to heal his injuries. It now courses throughout his body, effectively making him a part of the forest. The second is the ability to see Fantasia around him (Shaman Vision), and the third is a special bracelet made to anchor his connection to the world. With these tools in hand, they reveal the true history of Fantasia and the key to conquering his impulses.
Long ago, Fantasia was an abundant resource where almost anyone could physically manipulate it without the aid of magic tools. But as humanity moved in and deforested the planet, the little people (Pixies) started building trinkets to ration out the dwindling Fantasia. Unfortunately, these became the basis of what would become magic tools, leaving the little people to merge with the forest, effectively choosing extinction over starvation.
Thus, the purpose of the hero’s ordeals is now two-fold. In preparing Seth to tackle his inner darkness, he must reevaluate his relationship to Fantasia, starting with his understanding of its meaning — imagination. Whereas before Seth’s struggles with magic were characterized through a combination of self-fulfilling prophecies and personal restraint upon the discovery of his true power, he overcomes his fears by becoming one with the world, guided along through the memories he’s created along the way.
Normally, this would be the stage where the hero or shonen protagonist acquires some incredible power to slay whatever dragon is up next. Though Seth does gain a new trick following his training — a shockwave used to repel objects or propel himself (Pulsar) — the story makes the deliberate choice not to introduce it here. In both versions of the story, it never comes up until his fight with Santori!
At first, I interpreted it as an oversight or Seth using his rekindled imagination to build a new spell of his own off screen, but then I realized it’s kind of brilliant. It carries over Seth’s character arc of crafting his own path forward, whether it be finding the Radiant or building his own repertoire beyond offense (i.e. his Titan Punch, which is notably absent for most of this arc). And to drive things home further, it amplifies the message Myr has been instructing him towards — to work in tandem with nature rather than against it as most Sorcerers often do.
The trials themselves were never about proof of strength, willpower or acquiring some penultimate upgrade, it was about reinforcing connections to others. By upholding his prior commitments to the people around him and the new responsibilities outlined by Myr and Jill when they task him with repopulating the world with Fantasia, Seth regains the confidence to renter the world, not as a tool of destruction, but creation.
It’s a point symbolized by the fruits of his labor when he overcomes the dark monitor. As the memories of his friends and loved ones pour into the Sidh and he breaks free from his shadowy prison, he opens his eyes to find a small sapling on the ground. In both versions of the story, this is the moment where he realizes he’s no longer bound by his fate. He now has the imagination to redefine himself as his own person. He can now enter his apotheosis.
Before that, the story throws in one more trial to contend with in the form of the aforementioned Santori, or to reference the Hero’s Journey, the Atonement with the Father.
Remaining Human
Atonement with the Father (Abyss): The paradox of creation, the coming of the forms of time out of eternity, is the germinal secret of the father. It can never be quite explained. Therefore, in every system of theology there is an umbilical point, an Achilles tendon which the finger of mother life has touched, and where the possibility of perfect knowledge has been impaired. The problem of the hero is to pierce himself (and therewith his world) precisely through that point; to shatter and annihilate that key knot of his limited existence.
The problem of the hero going to meet the father is to open his soul beyond terror to such a degree that he will be ripe to understand how the sickening and insane tragedies of this vast and ruthless cosmos are completely validated in the majesty of Being. The hero transcends life with its peculiar blind spot and for a moment rises to a glimpse of the source. He beholds the face of the father, understands — and the two are atoned. — Campbell 2004, pp. 135.
From a purely narrative perspective, Santori fills a similar role to the previous arc’s Konrad — a brutally selfish tyrant all too eager to subjugate those they deem less than human. The big difference here is that whereas Konrad was driven by an intense hatred for the perceived outsiders along with personal gain, Santori’s purpose for seeking him out is for sport.
This point is emphasized by Santori himself as he passes their fight off as one big game. He toys with Seth by countering with big, flashy moves, which he names of course, courtesy of his Miracle. He shirks his duties and obligations, laughing as his own men are tossed into the air and subsequently tells reinforcements to leave them be when a new report comes in. And to further highlight Santori’s lack of urgency, he takes a full Pulsar blast, only to take a nap when slammed against a wall.
To Santori, he sees this fight as two old friends catching up, citing the “various encounters they’ve had across Pharenos,” unaware they were in fact Seth’s brothers he faced off with. Though he eventually reveals the true purpose of the War of Cyfandir — to enslave the Infected — those are all secondary objectives to Santori, who merely views this as an excuse to cure his boredom. Even before he reveals his true colors, he continues to dehumanize Seth, treating him as nothing more than his personal plaything.
In a genre typically well known for extravagant battles, extraordinary strength and ability, this fight is subverted through Santori’s lack of purpose beyond fighting as Seth struggles to end this duel and stop the war from escalating further. In the penultimate strike before the climax, Seth takes the blunt force of Santori’s headbutt projection, falling to the ground. This upsets Santori, who urges him to stand back up, shouting at him to make up an excuse if he has to. “Do it for your friends, or for freedom, or for the sheer thrill of it!”
In any case, whether Seth can stand up or not, he simply doesn’t.
Seeing that the battle has seemingly come to an end, Santori airs his frustration, insulted that their fight could end prematurely. But as he berates Seth, looking down on him over his disappointment, he hears his fallen opponent mocking him. He calls out Santori’s hypocrisy of using the people’s fear of the Sorcerers as an excuse to fulfill his own violent tendencies. He points to his invisible chains he placed on his heart, pitying the man who threw away his humanity while having the arrogance of calling himself its “pinnacle” — or to use his nickname “The Peak.”
And to add further insult to injury, he grants Santori’s wish — by finishing him off upon realizing he was stalling for time! As the newly planted tree branches form a makeshift cage against the Inquisitor, Seth delivers a beautiful speech of defiance before delivering the final blow. Because no matter the odds, there is no cage or chain out there strong enough to deny their existence.
Even as Santori glees with anticipation, practically glowing as he is lifted into the air, Seth doesn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing him at his worst. With half the power of the dark monitor in one arm and the power of the forest wrapped in the other, this is a different person than the naïve child at the start of the show. This is the hero ready to choose his own destiny — the master of the two worlds — but not before dropping the hardest line in the show:
“I’m not your damn monster! Just a pissed off human!!!”
(See why I love writing these retrospectives?)
Memento
Apotheosis: Those who know, not only that the Everlasting lies in them, but that what they, and all things, really are is the Everlasting, dwell in the groves of the wish-fulfilling trees, drink the brew of immortality, and listen everywhere to the unheard music of eternal concord. These are the immortals. — Campbell 2004, pp. 154.
With Santori out of the way and the War of Cyfandir seemingly entering its finale, Seth goes to check on Myr, only to stop dead in his tracks as he looks on in horror. The Callite Forest is dead, along with Jill and the tree that housed what remains of the little ones. As the scene pans over a grieving Myr and more guests arrive to bear witness, a new threat emerges, only this time the danger is from within when Myr reveals his true name and form — Myrddin.
The man, prophet and wild beast who would go on to inspire the Merlin character and mythos — in both real life and Radiant — the mentor and friend who helped Seth achieve his Apotheosis is now his final obstacle. In another ironic twist, Myr’s transformation and bestial roar breaks the protection seal holding back the dark monitor within Seth. After overcoming trials, achieving a sense of equilibrium and even the ultimate boon (suppressing his darkness in this stretch of the journey), this act strips the hero of these gifts, reverting him back to a force of nature.
Once more, Seth is involuntarily trapped within the Sidh — a refusal of the return, to summarize. Though this forced awakening is not of the hero’s volition, Seth’s distress and mental instability fuels his freeloader’s strength. The sight of which attracts the attention of Ulmina who attaches herself to him with her Miracle for reasons I won’t attempt to fathom. Simply put, it’s no longer a question of whether he will return — he can’t.
Seth is no longer connected to the world, and in its place is the overwhelming darkness blocking out all communication, along with Ulmina’s false gift of salvation. Without the protection of the forest, his last defense is the trust and bonds he’s cultivated throughout the journey — the rescue from without, to briefly highlight — which of course falls back to Mélie and Ocoho who reach out to him via the Sidh while the rest work behind the scenes to rescue his physical body.
Their pleas fall on deaf ears as the overwhelming darkness threatens to consume them all, but as they continue to call out, they remind him of his true nature. The fear he’s experiencing confronting the trauma after the death of a loved one. The powerlessness he feels fighting back against immeasurable darkness. The thought of being left behind once more — of becoming less than human.
So, he wakes up.
Over the course of nearly two seasons, it’s hard to quantify the despair humanity has sown. Whether it be the discrimination of the Infected, the bitter hatred of the perceived outsiders, the devastation reaped by people’s greed and the lack of empathy over the loss of the innocent, it looks like humanity is just doomed to repeat its mistakes. To play Devil’s advocate for a moment, one could argue a few figures involved certainly deserve what’s coming to them.
Radiant is no stranger to difficult problems, presenting an honest critique of real-world issues through a digestible fantasy lens. But even amid devastating losses and despair, even if these problems can’t be resolved overnight, the story makes its case to continue moving forward in its finale. Nowhere is this more apparent than Seth’s resolution, making use of what he’s learned by subverting what is expected.
With Seth now conscious, he immediately reenters the fray to stop Myr. For a time, it seems like his only two options are to appeal to his senses — which fails when he tries to talk to him — or end him quickly. If he doesn’t end this soon, more lives will be lost, but if he chooses force, that will be another friend he’s failed to save. Yet again, he must choose a side.
At various points in the story, Seth’s hesitation was often characterized by immediate consequences. Awakening the Nemesis in Pompo Hills and having to own up to his mistakes, closing himself off to connections only to be consumed further by the freeloader and at one point accepting death if it meant his rampant power could never be used to harm another. The Seth of previous iterations would have tried to brute force his way forward or taken the burden onto himself if it meant not experiencing further pain or death.
For those reading along, his answer shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, but it’s how it’s presented that shows how far we’ve come. The final scene of the war doesn’t end with conflict. There isn’t a fight or an argument between two sides. It doesn’t even end with Seth attempting to bar Myr’s entrance to Caislean Merlin. Instead, he reaches for the ground, gathering what remains of the forest to build something.
As Myr recognizes what Seth creates, he hands his teacher a memento — a reminder that he too still has responsibilities to live up to. Not just to his wife and the new world they envisioned.
After all, they still need him.
Master of the Two Worlds: The individual, through prolonged psychological disciplines, gives up completely all attachment to his personal limitations, idiosyncrasies, hopes and fears, no longer resists the self-annihilation that is prerequisite to rebirth in the realization of truth, and so becomes ripe, at last, for the great at-one-ment. His personal ambitions being totally dissolved, he no longer tries to live but willingly relaxes to whatever may come to pass in him; he becomes, that is to say, an anonymity. — Campbell 2004, pp. 220
In their final conversation before Seth’s departure, Myr gives him a sneak peek at the new song he’s been working on. Given his previous works, Seth tries to politely decline, but as Myr starts singing, he notes the lyrics are notably absent of most of his flowery trademarks. Reflecting on past events and the people they’ve encountered, they part ways knowing that they’ll continue to move forward.
The story fittingly enough doesn’t end with some big revelation. Aside from some important milestones in the big picture storytelling, Seth isn’t anywhere closer to his goal of finding the Radiant, a point that he himself brings up, much to his chagrin. Ironically, this comes after using his last possible lead. When the queen offers him a parting gift of his choosing for his contributions, Seth only requests one item, the Stone of Magosia — the object Grimm asked him to retrieve on his behalf. Even in the show’s closing moments, his final act is to continue to look after his companions.
The arc ends with Queen Boudica seeing Seth and company off, along with her new protege Ocoho who officially joins their party after the queen’s push. As the credits roll on their evening departure, he turns to his friends who gently remind him of the memories and experiences they’ve created and the change they helped facilitate. It’s why he smiles knowing that despite the long journey ahead or what mysteries his origins will unravel, he has everything he needs right in front of him.
Utopia (Final Thoughts)
In spite of the negative connotations we commonly associate with demons and other horned entities, I think there’s a larger motivation to why they’re so prevalent in popular media. Sure, they are humanity’s genesis of evil in the broadest sense and a universal, easy to understand storytelling device, yet some of our oldest depictions of them maintain some traces of human characteristics both physically and behaviorally. In fiction, they become a blank canvas to depict whatever abstract idea of humanity is being represented.
In Radiant, the origins of the horned sorcerers are intentionally left ambiguous, and while their status in the big picture storytelling is one of uncertainty, it doesn’t have to define them. Rather, their existence is proof of humanity’s resilience to find meaning in the unknown. Where “the hope and gaze of an unbiased child who knows nothing” — as Hameline so eloquently puts it — becomes an empathetic invitation to enact change.
In the end, what saved Seth from his fated destiny of becoming a monster was to listen. What maintains his humanity is the knowledge that he’ll always be welcomed back into the world, no matter what direction his future self may take. Hence, the story’s central theme of becoming human is a unified goal where the vision of heroes means everyone is invited. Where the idea of creating can inspire others to make something truly radiant.
The second season’s intro features Seth surrounded by the bright fragments of his memories highlighting one of his companions — usually, the episode’s focal point — looking towards the horizon as if searching for something. In the final episode, the highlighted fragment is replaced by a mosaic of all the people who helped him remember who he is. In the following arc, when he is once more faced with the possibility that his existence will bring destruction to those around him, he renounces the outsider’s invitation by telling him he knows where he belongs — standing alongside his friends.
Thus, the hero’s journey in Radiant comes full circle. The freedom to live in the moment, embrace change and believe in others. For Seth, it’s the unyielding hope that the adventure continues in the presence of good company. For the Radiant itself, it’s the dream of a community sharing the view of tomorrow as the sun rises to greet them.
The end of a beautiful memory — and the promise of many more to come.
Freedom to Live: The hero is the champion of things becoming, not of things become, because he is. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” He does not mistake apparent changelessness in time for the permanence of Being, nor is he fearful of the next moment (or of the “other thing”), as destroying the permanent with its change. [Ovid, Metamorphoses, XV, 252–255:] “Nothing retains its own form; but Nature, the greater renewer, ever makes up forms from forms. Be sure that nothing perishes in the whole universe; it does but vary and renew its form.” Thus the next moment is permitted to come to pass. — Campbell 2004, pp. 225
See You Again Someday! (Epilogue)
Oh, it’s you. Didn’t think anyone would read past this point!
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I announced this project in celebration of Radiant’s 10th anniversary. Initially, my plan was to run this series as a side project to my regular content where I would alternate between articles. “Oh, I bet I can wrap this up by the end of the year!” But then I wrote my first part and before long, it snowballed into something more ambitious.
Incidentally, this is right about where I decided I wanted to give each article its own identity, so to speak. It’s why some articles have more of an academic focus while others ventured into folk lore and mythology among other topics. Despite some roadblocks and not hitting every topic I had on my checklist, I managed to get through a good chunk of them, including most of the main cast, a beginner’s guide, a deep dive into the Inquisition and at least two articles related to the Domitor’s arc which you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to get off my chest!
Overall, it’s been fun getting to revisit the series from a new perspective, but all good things must come to an end. This will be the official final entry for Radiant Memories. As I move forward with my writing pursuits and take on new challenges, it’s impossible for me to overstate how much of an impact this series has had on me both personally and professionally. Frankly, I’m surprised anyone cared given how SEO driven the majority of sites are these days!
Jokes aside, I struggled to find a conclusive way to wrap up this project. You know, “what did it all mean in the end?” Much like the Radiant itself, I don’t have all the answers or even a proper farewell to give. So, maybe… I don’t have to?
This isn’t goodbye by any means. That third season of the anime comes into fruition? I’ll be there day one, no questions asked. Those spin off titles get localized to English? You bet your ass we’re going to talk about them! And that list of unfinished ideas on my checklist I didn’t get around to? Well, I’m saving them for a rainy day. No promises on anything specific, but there is one special piece I plan to publish hopefully by the end of the year. Let’s just say, I received a special gift last year…
To those that stuck around or just looking in at my strange word curios, thank you so much! And for the small minority who haven’t checked out the series but did read these pieces, I hope this at least piqued your interest! I know I covered a lot, including some heavy spoilers, but there’s plenty more I haven’t discussed that’s out there waiting for you to discover, including the recent arc which I’ve barely scratched!
Though we part ways for now, the adventure continues. Once more, thanks everyone! I’ll see you again, someday.
Ultimate Death Training (Additional Resources)
- The Devil is Only Human After All | Pascal Wagner (Unwinnable)
- Horned deity | Wikipedia
- The Art of Radiant (2023, pp. 29) | Tony Valente
- [EP.17 SPOILER] Hameline | RADIANT (SimulDub Clip) [YouTube]
- Myrddin: The Original Merlin | Sean Poage (Blog)
- Was Merlin a Real Person? | Horses (YouTube)
- All excerpts taken from The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Joseph Campbell, 1949 [2004])
All screenshots and media captured from my computer and phone using the original source, unless otherwise noted.
Dark Aether is a writer/contributor for TAY and AniTAY. You can check his main writings on Medium, archives at TAY2, or follow him on Twitter @TheGrimAether. Not Dead Yet.
The Adventure Continues
