What is the age of adulthood in the Trailsverse?

[Velorien]

I notice I am confused. Estelle and Joshua finish their studies, leave home and take on full-time employment at 16. Crow and Angelica are described as adults at 18 (and it's implied by contrast that Rean isn't at 16/17). And I've seen at least one reference to not drinking until you're 20 (as in real-world Japan). Clearly, there *is* a legal line between child and adult, but where does it fall?

[Legendary Mr. Tiddles]

Different nations, different laws.

[󠀡󠀡󠀡⁧⁧the.jester]

Like most countries here, there probably isn't a fine line either. Also, don't forget that Liberl and erebonia are different countries too and more than likely have different laws and culture.

I would imagine for Erebonia though that it would be 16, as there is reference to young girls (presumably for boys as well although there is no specific mention of this) marking their debut into society at the age of 16 which would imply (to me anyways) that that is when they would be referred to as an adult

[Sugoi]

I get the feeling that Liberl has a lower age of majority than Erebonia, although this isn't something that is explicitly ever addressed, as you say. I wonder how it differs from Calvard or Crossbell?

[Velorien]

Originally posted by the.jester:

I would imagine for Erebonia though that it would be 16, as there is reference to young girls (presumably for boys as well although there is no specific mention of this) marking their debut into society at the age of 16 which would imply (to me anyways) that that is when they would be referred to as an adult

On the other hand, Crow is referred to as an adult and Rean isn't, and Class VII claim to be too young to drink.

What led me to make this post was playing Zero no Kiseki, and hearing a barman tell a customer to go home because she wasn't twenty yet. But even in Crossbell, you can finish secondary education and enter full-time employment at 18.

[Vandread]

You can be an adult, but not yet be allowed to do something in the real world as well.

A simple example that I know of - you need to be an adult in my country to get a license to drive a motorcycle; this means you have to be 18. However, that only permits you to drive 'light' motorcycles. Heavy motorcycles require you to be at least 21 and take additional exams (to expand your license).

I'd imagine something quite similar to be the case - perhaps the legal drinking age in Crossbell is higher than the age of adulthood? There may very well be a difference between just a beer or a stronger liquor as well of course.

[Tiasmoon]

You have to remember that real life society is rather iffy when it comes to age restrictions. Because of that nearly always age restrictions/limitations in a fictional setting are described they tend to be shockingly similar to the culture/country of the writter (or another country's).

It's quite odd that the legal age for drinking would be so high, but then thats to be 'realistic and give a good example'.

[Irx]

Also the ages tend to change in translation due to Japan/US law differences.

[Velorien]

Originally posted by Irx:

Also the ages tend to change in translation due to Japan/US law differences.

Good point, although XSEED are on record as being anti-censorship, so it's entirely possible they haven't touched this.

Incidentally, I've played more Zero no Kiseki now, and come across a firm reference to adulthood being at 18.

[Vladislak]

According to the legend of heroes wiki, rean is about 17 in CS1 (and 18 at least by the end of CS2). If the drinking age is 20 then yeah they're still too young. Technically Crow is as well, at least at the beginning of CS1 (the wiki says he's 19).
http://legendofheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Rean_Schwarzer
http://legendofheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Crow_Armbrust

Estelle is one year older than Rean. Estelle was born in S.1186, Rean was born in S.1187.

Considering the wiki has info on games that are currently only in Japan (like CS3) I think it's safe to say they aren't censoring their ages here or they'd likely list the Japanese equivelant age on the wiki. That and Falcom has a fairly detailed timeline, somewhow I doubt they'd go in and change dates around casually, it could end up causing contradictions in later games.
http://legendofheroes.wikia.com/wiki/Zemuria/Septian_Calendar

As a side note, the "age of adulthood" is kind of subjective, unless you're strictly talking about the legal definition. Different people will consider youth adults at different ages, both due to different cultures and the different opinions of individuals.

So I guess my question would be: this reference in Zero no Kiseki, is it explicitly talking about the legal age of adulthood or just someone saying "now you're an adult!" or something like that? Because the later could simply be something that doesn't necessarily hold any weight outside of that one persons recognition. No spoilers please mind you.

[ZWabbit]

Japan has very strict regulations regarding the portrayal of alcohol being consumed by their definition of minors (by Japanese law, irregardless of ingame lore), especially for games targeted at minors. That more than anything else explains why drinking is handled in very specific, and uniform, ways across Japanese games.

[Velorien]

Originally posted by Vladislak:

So I guess my question would be: this reference in Zero no Kiseki, is it explicitly talking about the legal age of adulthood or just someone saying "now you're an adult!" or something like that? Because the later could simply be something that doesn't necessarily hold any weight outside of that one persons recognition. No spoilers please mind you.

I *think* it's the former rather than the latter, but at this point I can't remember the exact original context.

[Vladislak]

Fair enough. If that's the case then it would seem to confirm the age of adulthood for Crossbell (assuming the scene wasn't set outside Crossbell or something, I haven't played that game).

[dean.dip]

I saw the debut into high society thing as ok to start dating rather than ready for marriage, but even if it was marriage, pre-adulthood / pre-18 teens are allowed to marry with parental consent in the United States

[Vladislak]

Well the high society debut thing seemed more of a cultural event than a passage into legal adulthood anyways. My thinking is that it's simply the age that nobility is expected to step into the spotlight and take an active interest in politics and such, it's sort of a coming of age thing but I wouldn't say it's the same as being considered an adult either.

[Yarchonis Marfedelom]

Originally posted by Vladislak:

Well the high society debut thing seemed more of a cultural event than a passage into legal adulthood anyways. My thinking is that it's simply the age that nobility is expected to step into the spotlight and take an active interest in politics and such, it's sort of a coming of age thing but I wouldn't say it's the same as being considered an adult either.

Don't forget that Kloe was being married off in Trails in the Sky and she was only 16 at the time.