History Analysis / AeonLegionLabyrinth

[[spoiler:The most important character connected to the main theme is Kairos herself. Former savior of the Edge of Time, Kairos is the setting's greatest [[TheChosenOne chosen one]]. Yet her very status as [[TheChosenOne a savior and chosen one]] drives her to the point where she turns on her former friends and home. Kairos's unshakeable belief that she will save the world is the very thing that drives her to become a villain without realizing it. [[NotSoDifferent What makes Kairos so notable is that her core motivation is the same as Terra's: to be a hero and save history.]] Kairos serves as a ShadowArchetype to Terra by being a dark reflection of Terra's own desires, a warning about what Terra could easily become herself if she is not careful. Hanns's status as villain is easy for Terra to discern since he is a Nazi. Kairos's villainy has no such historical perspective to guide Terra.]]

Hanns is a Nazi. Their status as [[ThoseWackyNazis villains is near universal in the modern world to the point where they have become one of the go to disposable bad guys for fiction]]. But, [[AntiVillain Hanns is polite, resourceful, the underdog, and honorable]]. His only negative trait is his loyalty to a poisonous ideology that he believes is redeemable. Lacking historical perspective, Hanns fails to realize that the Nazi Party is irredeemable, even with mounting evidence right in front of him.

The story takes place in the [[PlaceBeyondTime Edge of Time]], a place where all time blends together. Saturnian culture seems a blend of ancient Greek, Latin, and Arabic influences. The Aeon Legion has ranks from many different ancient armies: Tiro is a Roman Legion recruit, Strategos is a Greek general, etc. Even their use a sword, an ancient tool of war, is mixed with science fiction style [[DeflectorShields energy shields]]. The story itself blends [[ScienceFantasy futuristic science fiction technology and classic fantasy storytelling tropes]]. Another way this is manifest is in the characters themselves who are from various times. Terra and her three primary companions are also a symbolic reflection of the four classical elements: earth, water, air, and fire.

Lycus is a name meaning wolf while Cerberus is a three headed dog from Greek mythology. He even has a 'wolf like' grin. However, Lycus also serves as the story's [[ThresholdGuardians threshold guardian]], preventing Terra from entering the special world until she proves herself to him. In Greek myth, Cerberus guarded the gates to the underworld. Given that all the recruits at the academy were people destined to die, Lycus's alias seems appropriate as he '[[GateGuardian guards the gates]]'. His [[SplitPersonality three distinct personae]] also match the three heads of Cerberus. Terra even describes his office as the “gates of the underworld”.

“''Then how can you tell when you have become the villain then?''”

“''When one pursues revenge for as long as we have, it's easy to find oneself becoming the villain without realizing it.''”

Terra's question she poses to Alya after they capture Hanns is also the main question the book asks. When does one recognize that they are the villain? Alya herself admits that she has no answers and that it is up the individual to come to this realization. Some do and some do not.

Hanns Speer is where the main theme is most prominent. Hanns is a Nazi. Their status as [[ThoseWackyNazis villains is near universal in the modern world to the point where they have become the go to disposable bad guys for fiction]]. This is where the book plays with the theme the most. [[AntiVillain Hanns should not be the villain]]. He is polite, resourceful, the underdog, and honorable. At no point does Hanns do anything that most would consider villainous except that he is trying to aid the Nazi Party. Lacking historical perspective, Hanns fails to realize that the Nazi Party is irredeemable, even with mounting evidence right in front of him. This is where Emmerich comes in to serve as a {{Foil}} to Hanns. Being a member of the SS, Emmerich's beliefs are [[FinalSolution much more in tune with the historical realities of the Nazi Party]] and they clash with Hanns's more idealistic vision of what he wants the party to be. Yet this one defining feature, Hanns's status as a Nazi supporter, cements his status as the story's villain and makes all of his other positive qualities moot.

Alya's dismissive attitude towards Hanns's ignorance of his own villainy stands in stark contrast to Terra's frustration with Hanns's denial. Being an [[TheAgeless ageless immortal]], Alya has likely seen men like Hanns before. The Aeon Legion deals with time travelers constantly. A good number of them likely believe they are [[SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong changing history for the best]]. However, the immortals of Saturn City know that this will only lead to more problems in the future. Alya understands that her job is not to debate or change Hanns's mind.
This even ties in with Alya's chastisement of Terra for Terra's admiration of the [[CoolSword aeon edge sword]]. A sword is a tool of death, not reason. When it comes time to wield a sword then the time for reason has long since been lost. If Hanns realized he was the villain, then he would not be menacing history to begin with. Reasoning with villains is not the Aeon Legion's job. Stopping them is.

Terra's final confrontation with Hanns reflects the above quote. She does not waste time trying to prove that she is right and that Hanns in wrong. Instead, Terra accepts her status as hero by focusing on stopping a villain. However, Terra rejects her soldier's duty and shows mercy to Hanns because she is a hero. She stops the villain without having to use her sword for its intended purpose since a sword is a tool of death, not a tool for heroism. And in an echo of Alya's words Terra leaves Hanns lost: “Now he stood lost in darkness as she left him behind.” Hanns remains lost in the dark while Terra ascends to the status of hero and earns her place amongst the heroes of the Aeon Legion and history.

Another character strongly connected with the central theme is Lycus Cerberus. At first glance, Lycus appears to be nothing more than a [[TheBully bully]]. However, the chapter epigraphs reveal that his antagonistic actions all serve to challenge, unite, and test the recruits. “''You may have noticed that I am very good at playing the villain.''” Lycus is playing the part of the villain not only to unify the recruits against him, but as a warning to not follow his path. However, his actions go even deeper.

'''Warning: Spoilers'''

[[spoiler:Lycus was a villain. More precisely, he was a villain [[HeelRealization who realized he was a villain]]. His confrontation with Terra as the Captain was not a confrontation at all, but a confession. His guilt over his actions manifest themselves in his decision to screen potential recruits for those who might turn out like him. “''I despise war criminals''” Those were Lycus's words before he crushes Vand. However, what he really hates is being reminded of what he was. It is also why he gets annoyed when people call him by his alias, Cerberus, after his aeon edge sword. His understanding of the monstrous aspects of his personality is why he “stopped this Academy from churning out broken soldiers and instead made it forge heroes.”]]

[[spoiler:The most important character connected to the main theme is Kairos herself. Former savior of the Edge of Time, Kairos is the setting's greatest [[TheChosenOne chosen one]]. She was so admired that it led to her isolation. Yet her very status as [[TheChosenOne a savior and chosen one]] drives her to the point where she turns on her former friends and home. Kairos's unshakeable belief that she will save the world is the very thing that drives her to become the villain without realizing it. [[NotSoDifferent What makes Kairos so notable is that her core motivation is the same as Terra's: to be a hero and save history.]] Kairos serves as a ShadowArchetype to Terra by being a dark reflection of Terra's own desires, a warning about what Terra could easily become herself if she is not careful. Hanns's status as villain is easy for Terra to discern since he is a Nazi. Kairos's villainy has no such historical perspective to guide Terra and no easy answers for her either.]]

The timeless wonder and culture of Saturn City is juxtaposed to the many shifting and changing horrors that the Aeon Legion has to fight in order to keep history safe. While Saturn City enjoys a hedonistic lifestyle of shallow pleasures, a Nazi scientist works to overcome the Legion's technological advantage. Other threats have also come close to destroying the Legion and Saturn City and each one seems worse than the last. [[BigCreepyCrawlies Sero, a hyper evolving monster]], even states that the Legion will eventually be destroyed by something that can adapt to counter its tactics and technology. Hanns also compares to the [[PrideBeforeAFall majesty of Saturn City with that of Troy and Atlantis]], both powerful cities there were eventually destroyed.

Nothing lasts forever. [[spoiler:According to Kairos, not even time lasts forever. The Legion's reliance on [[TheChosenOne Chosen Ones]] to solve each new threat has finally backfired. Kairos's betrayal not only heralds a new threat to the Aeon Legion, but an end to the setting's [[StatusQuoIsGod stagnation]] itself. The Aeon Legion finally has a foe that has the technology and power to destroy it.]]

The story takes place in the [[PlaceBeyondTime Edge of Time]], a place where all time blends together. This can be seen in many other ways as well. Saturnian culture seems a blend of ancient Greek, Latin, and Arabic influences. The Aeon Legion has ranks from many different ancient armies: Tiro is a Roman Legion recruit, Strategos is a Greek general, etc. Even their use a sword, an ancient tool of war, is mixed with science fiction style [[DeflectorShields energy shields]]. Even the story style itself seems a blend of [[ScienceFantasy futuristic science fiction technology and classic fantasy storytelling tropes]]. Another way this is manifest is in the characters themselves who are from various times. Terra and her three primary companions are also a symbolic reflection of the four classical elements: earth, water, air, and fire.

Terra, the Latin name for Earth. Mason, a last name meaning stone worker. Terra is like earth and stone. She is [[{{Determinator}} stubborn]] just like stone and prone to standing still and unmoving unless subjected to a strong force. When Alya comes to recruit Terra after the battle with Hanns, she finds Terra in a quarry and really struggles to get Terra moving. However, like stone, she is also [[MadeOfIron tough]]. Others frequently complain during their duels with Terra because hitting her is compared to hitting a rock.

The story starts in a library primarily made of marble that gets easily destroyed in the crossfire in a battle that Hanns started. Terra's final confrontation with Hanns occurs in a maze of iron. Iron is one more step towards steel. Terra is not steel yet, but she has already taken a step towards steel.

Hikari is a Japanese name meaning light. Urashima references a Japanese myth similar to Rip Van Winkle. Hikari is like fire. She is introduced by running through a burning obstacle course and making it to the other side without a single burn. Like fire, Hikari is beautiful and exotic drawing in all those around her, but those who touch her get hurt. Her father was also a blacksmith, someone who works with fire to shape metal.

Hikari's relationship with Terra is particularly symbolic. Hikari burns through her [[CompetitionFreak competition]], comparing them to tinder. However, she struggles with Terra because Terra is not tinder, but like stone. Much like how fire shapes metal (metal which is just refined stone ore), Hikari's competitive nature shapes Terra into something stronger.

During the survival Test, Hikari is the first team member that Terra finds. They share their first true connection around a campfire that nearly burns out of control. Yet Terra uses stones to contain the fire. Terra seems to be the only person who can contain Hikari and stop Hikari from burning others.

Roland's last name, Delmare, means of the sea. Roland's symbolic element is water. Terra first meets Roland on a bridge over a creek, a meeting of stone and water. Roland also takes Terra's point in a duel in a stoney river. The river duel is of particular note since Roland outright compares himself to water stating that he always [[BrilliantButLazy takes the path of least resistance]]. His relationship with Terra is like that of the rounded stones in the creek. Roland wears down Terra's rough edges and forces Terra to ease off her blunt nature. However, their relationship changes during the Trial of War. A key exchange where Roland opens up to Terra for the first time occurs atop a glacier, frozen water. There, Terra discovers just how cold Roland's heart is.

Lycus is a name meaning wolf while Cerberus is a three headed dog from Greek mythology. He even has a 'wolf like' grin. However, Lycus also serves as the story's [[ThresholdGuardians threshold guardian]], preventing Terra from entering the special world until she proves herself to him. In Greek myth, Cerberus guarded the gates to Hades, the world of the dead. Given that all the recruits at the academy were people destined to die, Lycus's alias seems appropriate as he '[[GateGuardian guards the gates]]'. His [[SplitPersonality three distinct personae]] also match the three heads of Cerberus as well. Terra even describes his office as the “gates of the underworld”.

Hanns Speer is where the main theme is most prominent. Hanns is a Nazi. Their status as [[ThoseWackyNazis villains is near universal in the modern world to the point where they have become the go to disposable bad guys for fiction]]. This is where the book plays with the theme the most. [[AntiVillain Hanns should not be the villain]]. He is polite, resourceful, the underdog, and honorable. At no point does Hanns do anything that most would consider villainous except that he is trying to aid the Nazi Party. Lacking historical perspective, Hanns fails to realize that the Nazi Party is irredeemable, even with mounting evidence right in front of him. This is where Emmerich comes in to serve as a {{Foil}} to Hanns. Being a member of the SS, Emmerich's beliefs are [[FinalSolution much more in tune with the historical realities of the Nazi Party]] and they clash with Hanns's more idealistic vision of what he wants the party to be. Yet this one defining feature, his status as a Nazi supporter, cements his status as the story's villain and makes all of his other positive qualities moot.