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aquanut - aquanut - Undisclosed
The moment when Cloud wakes up in the Sector 5 church is striking because of the contrast between its peaceful environment and the grimy industrial backstreets he’s been through thus far; everything from the flowers to the light pouring through the windows to the soothing music is designed to evoke a sense of safety, beauty, and sanctuary, the game’s first sign that there is something in this world beyond the destruction and waste that humans have heaped upon it.
Yet what’s special about the church is that it does not exist apart from this world; it lives in the middle of it, as Aerith herself lives surrounded by the harshness of the slums, and stands as a symbol for the existence of beauty in even the most dirty and difficult walks of life. Aerith is designed to appear innocent, delicate, and beautiful, yet she is far from shy and naïve; though aware of the danger and misery around her, she is unafraid and continually finds ways to laugh, tease, and look towards the future.
She, and the church, are reminders of the importance of finding signs of hope and joy in the harshest circumstances, no matter how rare they are and how quickly they vanish.

