There are a lot of characters you will meet - or at least witness the story of - inFinal Fantasy 16. From family members to archvillains to random soldiers on the battlefield,Clive will meet a ton of different people. With the number of people that come across your path, it will get confusing at times who are the big players and who is just a passerby with little significance to your story. That’s why it is important toknow who Anabella is.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 16: Blacksmith Blues III Walkthrough
Your mother comes into the story very early on in the game, but after being involved in a momentous event, soon slips into the background for a good amount of time. This makes it difficult to really know who she really is and what are her motives.
Who Is Anabella?
Well, the first thing you should know is thatAnabella is Cilve’s mother. She is a doting mother to your little brother, Joshua, and he alone. Given the nature of their arranged marriage, Anabella and Elwin are not very close, and their relationship is a more diplomatic one than it is loving.
When Clive was born, he had the first opportunity to becomea Dominant with the Phoenix. However, when Clive was given the chance to take on that responsibility, the Phoenix rejected him. Because of this, Anabella begins to resent Clive for her disappointment at the boy’s failure.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 16: Ramuh Eikon Lore Explained
It wasn’t until Clive’s little brother, Joshua, was born thatthe Phoenix chose him, andAnabella found the child she had wanted. With him becoming the Dominant, she began to dote on him, often coddling him and not letting him leave the castle for any reason.
Eventually,Anabella decided to defect from the kingdom of Rosaria. Seeing what she perceived as a path to greater power, Anabella chose to betray her husband, family, and people to join the Holy Empire of Sanbreque. Her only request was that Joshua be taken with her.
Her plan for defection came to fruition at Phoenix Gate, where traitors gained entrance to the garrison, and a battle broke out from there. In the ensuing fight,Elwin was beheaded in front of Joshua,and this traumatic event prompted the Phoenix to come out, taking the form of the giant, fiery bird and laying devastation to everyone around him.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 16: How To Unlock & Use The Arete Stone
In his attempt to stop Joshua, Cliveawakened his own Dominance with Ifritand unknowingly killed Joshua with his power. While she mourns the death of Joshua, her resentment for Clive presents itself again. After Clive faints, Anabella orders Clive, her first-born son, to be executed by soldiers. However, at the last second, she decides to have Clive enslaved for the Empire.
She even releases the news that Clive died in the battle so as not toencourage any allies of Elwin or Clive to come to rescue himfrom his forced service. With that, she leaves Clive and goes on to marry the head of the Holy Empire, Sylvestre Lesage. Though resenting him just as much as her first husband, she is on her way to the powerful position she already dreamt of, and that is where thestory for the gamereally begins.
