Scalia Animus

Scalia Animus is a princess of Shimuin and the former vice-commander of the Violent Tide Knights, publicly celebrated as the Princess Knight. Repeated manipulation by a Night Demon destabilizes her early career, while Eugene's later purification of that influence redirects her life toward religious devotion. (Chapters 224–227 and 616)

Biography

Shimuin and the Demon King of Fury

Scalia first meets the Lionhearts in the Lehainjar snowfields while suffering insomnia, nightmares, and possession engineered by Noir Giabella. Her exhaustion and concealed frustration lead to a merciless attack on criminals and an indiscriminate assault before the Night Demon is expelled. Years later, Scalia joins Shimuin's expedition against Fury while her murderous impulses and Noir's influence have returned. She fights rather than flee, but Noir again takes control until Eugene purifies the possessing demon without harming Scalia. Believing that Eugene personally saved her, Scalia becomes his fervent worshiper, eventually lays down her sword, leaves the Violent Tide Knights, and devotes herself to spreading his faith in Shimuin. (Chapters 224–227, 357, 374–377, 383, 553, and 616)

Appearance and personality

Scalia has long red hair, orange eyes, and a carefully maintained public image as a clean and beautiful princess-knight. During her affliction she develops bloodshot or unfocused eyes, sallow skin, and deep dark circles that makeup only partly conceals. She is proud, imperious, and intensely concerned with meeting public expectations; beneath that image lie insecurity, stubbornness, and violent impulses that she initially channels only toward people she judges guilty. After purification, that intensity becomes adoration and religious zeal for Eugene. (Chapters 224, 357, 383, and 616)

Abilities and powers

Scalia is a trained mana-using swordswoman whose actual skill merits a place in the Violent Tide Knights even though royal status helps her become vice-commander. She can release dark-blue mana and continue a forceful sword assault while mentally compromised, but Dior Hyman has superior sword-light and can block her without losing his footing. Exid armor supplies substantial protection, while the sleep and possession powers shown through her body belong to Noir and are not Scalia's own abilities. (Chapters 224–225 and 377)

Relationships

• Eugene Lionheart: Eugene twice helps free Scalia from demonic influence; she interprets that rescue as divine grace and becomes his devoted worshiper. (Chapters 227, 377, 383, and 616)
• Dior Hyman: Dior serves as Scalia's aide, monitors her unstable condition, and can subdue her swordplay when she loses control. (Chapters 224–225 and 357)
• Noir Giabella: Noir invades Scalia's dreams, cultivates her impulses, and twice uses her body as a vessel. (Chapters 225–227 and 374–377)
• Jafar: Jafar is Scalia's half-brother and fellow expedition member; their poor relationship nearly becomes lethal while Scalia is under demonic influence. (Chapters 354 and 374)

Items

• Exid: Scalia wears Shimuin's transforming orihalcon armor as a royal knight and receives a national-treasure Dragonheart suit on loan for the expedition against Fury. The armor protects and equips her but remains Shimuin's property rather than her personal possession. (Chapters 224 and 359)