Artifically infused with magic as an infant and brought up as a soldier, the young Celes quickly rose through the imperial ranks to become one of the empire's top generals. But Gestahl's greed and Kefka's cruelty compels her to have a change of heart, and General Celes lands in prison after a failed defection attempt. She is set free by Locke the night before her execution, and sides with the Returners from then on (though some still question her loyalty).