Maria's Overwhelming Might
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Maria noticed that the powers of whatever was within the paladin's body were amplifying in response to his body being exposed to near-death experiences. But this wasn't really happening with the other Paladins, this Paladin Commander guy was really quite special in thar regard.
She also noticed that there was some sort of blue jewel glowing beneath his chest, hidden within his still beating heart, a blue jewel that was completely overtaken by a vicious darkness… This somewhat reminded her of the tale that Nia had told her about the Divine Oasis Spirit.
Where she sacrificed her own life to seal The Dark Pest with her body and soul… Yet, if Celes is truly her reincarnation, then that means that whatever they're using as her fragments, it might be something left behind, perhaps a piece of her divine body, corrupted by whatever the Dark Pest truly was!