Sorceress power

The Sorceress Power is the special power that separates a Sorceress from a normal human being in the world of Final Fantasy VIII.

Apparently granted to Sorceresses at the beginning of time by the Great Hyne, the Sorceress Power is a mysterious gift that enables a person to use magic naturally, without Junctioning to a Guardian Force. The full extent of the power that a Sorceress can use is unknown; it encompasses (but is hardly limited to) telekinesis, teleportation, telepathy, mind control, mental possession, control over the elements, projection of kinetic barriers that can stop bullets with ease, phasing through solid objects, and even causing instant death with one touch.

A total of fifteen different Sorceresses are seen throughout Final Fantasy VIII, but only four of them have any background: Edea Kramer, Rinoa Heartilly, Adel of Esthar, and Ultimecia of the future. Edea apparently received the Power from another Sorceress at the age of five, and then received Ultimecia's powers as well several years later. Adel received the Power from an unknown source, and bequeathed it to Rinoa upon her death in the Lunatic Pandora. The source of Ultimecia's Power is unknown, but she is forced to grant it to Edea when she is killed by Squall at her castle. The other eleven Sorceresses appear at the Commencement Room at the time of Time Compression, but very little information is known about them.

The most important point about the Sorceress Power is that at the time of its holder's death, it must go to someone else. The Sorceress Power seems to be an immortal, inexorable kind of non-sentient being; almost like a primal, unchangeable Guardian Force. It attaches to a person and remains with them unshakeably until their death, at which point it MUST be given to another person. Not everybody can become a Sorceress, and some are more adept at using the Power than others. This is why the Sorceress Adel, when she realized she was nearing the end of her life, kidnapped hundreds of girls from all over the world in an attempt to find the one who could be her perfect successor.

What is not understood is what would happen were a Sorceress to die without passing on her powers. Adel and Ultimecia both pass their powers on, even unwillingly, at the time of their death, but what if a Sorceress were to die with no Sorceress candidate in the area? Apparently distance matters, to the Sorceress Power, and the recipient must be close to the Sorceress at the time of his or her death (Sorceresses are not always female). So if a Sorceress was stuck with her power...what would happen then? This becomes a particularly important question when considering the eleven Sorceresses pulled into Time Compression. If defeating them has killed them, where did their Sorceress Powers go to?

Another unusual aspect of the Sorceress Power is the way it seems to distort a person's physical appearance, making them less human on the outside and perhaps having other sinister effects on the inside. After Edea receives Ultimecia's Power, the veins on her face begin to stand out in sharp relief. Adel is a misshapen gigas who barely looks human anymore. Ultimecia possesses wings and hair that defies the laws of physics (although I suppose that isn't exactly a sign of abnormality in a video game). The Sorceresses fought in Time Compression have blue skin, coats that seem to have merged with their bodies, or, in the case of the last Sorceress, absolutely no lingering resemblance to anything human. It is especially important to note that it is only the Power of an evil Sorceress that seems to have this effect on a person; Edea looked perfectly normal until she received Ultimecia's powers. However, this can only mean one thing--that the Sorceress Power can actually be influenced by the personality of the Sorceress who possesses it.

Furthermore, this brings up delicate questions regarding Rinoa's future. Even with Power received from a good Sorceress, it must be difficult to stay you with the combined remnants of the personality of so many past Sorceresses pulsating inside of you. With a Power received from an evil Sorceress, the fight against corruption must be nearly impossible. Since Rinoa received her Power from Adel, is she destined to turn to the dark side?

In all likelihood, no. Apparently, the corruptive influence of the Sorceress Power can be offset by the presence of a person, usually male, who stands by the Sorceress and becomes her Sorceress Knight. Apparently a Knight allows a Sorceress to cling to her personality and code of ethics, despite the personalities of the Power that is within her. Since Rinoa has a Knight in Squall, she is unlikely to ever become an evil Sorceress.

See also: Rinoa/Ultimecia Theory