personality
just what is under her skin
When examining a character it is important to look at the traits that make them whole. In Salvia, we see a stubborn, aloof, selfish and passionate individual. An angel with a difficult past and and uncertain future, Salvia contrasts considerably with her peers. This leads to a certain degree of conflict between the main characters as they try to understand her. But just how do these primary traits present themselves in the series? Read on, my friend.
Stubborn
Salvia is an incredibly pig-headed individual, never giving in when
she believes that she is in the right (which is most of the time). This keeps
her in constant conflict with the other love angels, all of whom tend
to share different beliefs (particularly where devils are concerned).
A prime example of Salvia's stubbornness can be observed in episode thirty-six when
the other love angels attempt to help her in battle. Salvia declares "Don't get in my way! I don't need your help or anything
else!" before blocking and crushing attacks from both Lily
and Daisy when they go against her wishes and attempt to assist anyway. The other love angels are far from impressed.
"No matter what you say, I'm going to stay the same!"
In episode thirty-seven, despite Peach telling her that each attack she uses on the devil only allows him to grow stronger, Salvia still declares "Hmmph! Let him become bigger! But before he can, I'll cut him down with the Saint Pure Sword". Salvia's willful and defiant nature tames over the course of the series, but is still intact as part of her somewhat dogged personality. Surrender is rarely an option in any element of Salvia's life.
aloof
Salvia keeps herself completely out of the reach of others
because of how badly she was hurt after the death of Freesia. She
operates by the idea that if she doesn't let anyone get close to her,
she won't feel that terrible pain again. Salvia outright states this at one point, telling Momoko "If
I remain alone, that way I won't get hurt afterwards". While she slowly comes to drop her mask around the love angels, as Scarlet she tends to remain distant - ignoring people when they speak to her and responding with generally short and unhelpful replies when pressed.
"Don't bother me anymore!"
In episode thirty-seven, when approached by students interested in having her join their clubs one girl asks Scarlet to join the English club. Her response? "I have no interest in that". Another student says "Oh, that cool attitude is just wonderful! Even the boys are saying they want you to join" to which Scarlet responds "Boys? I have even less interest in them than I do in performance". Salvia's curt responses to all enquiries by others keep her unattainable and mysterious, just as she wishes.
selfish
Although Salvia doesn't see herself in this light, as Jama-pii notes
in episode thirty-seven "Scarlet-chama is a selfish as the
devils themselves". She fights for her reasons and on her terms, irrespective of how others might feel. Aphrodite states that angels
are incredibly sensitive with their own love waves and if anything happens
to betray their hearts they will become hate-filled and selfish. As
such an angel, Salvia has indeed become the
antithesis of what she originally was - a selfish, hateful individual with little regard for her peers.
"Love Angels you say? I don't care about that."
When Peach takes a stand against Salvia's self-centered behaviour in thirty-seven, the fourth love angel begins to realise just how selfish she has been; "Salvia, you're only fighting the devils for your own reasons, right? Not for other people, or the Tenshi-kai... I don't know if that's wrong or not but look at these people trapped in ice! This is the result of you only fighting for yourself!"
Salvia's true selflessness soon surfaces again (albeit it in a twisted manner) when she feels she must protect Momoko from heartbreak after Yousuke's demonic origins are revealed. When it comes to normal human interaction, Salvia has a heck of a long way to go.
passionate
In everything she does, Salvia is a truly passionate individual.
Prideful too perhaps ("A woman with that much pride won't
listen to other people at all" - Daisy, episode thirty-seven)
but undeniably driven by strong feelings and a will to do right. When
she first appears, Salvia is channeling her passion in a negative direction,
harnessing personal loss to fuel a hate-filled quest. Her passionate desire to see devils purged from the world allows her to soldier on, even when others question her conviction. It isn't until Momoko openly challenges Salvia's choice of path that the pure angel begins to filter her passion toward more altruistic pursuits.
"We can't afford to fall into darkness!
By the conclusion of the series Salvia's passion still dominates her, but she has come to wish for nothing more than the happiness of those around her. Even in the toughest of circumstances, her conviction sees her through - you've definitely got to admire that spirit!