Celes Ashford is a character from the anime series Failure Frame. She is a young woman of nineteen years who originally held the position of a princess from the country of the High Elves. Following the fall of her homeland, she later came to serve as the captain of the Order of Holy Knights in the country of Nea. When Nea was attacked and surrendered to the nation of Pakuos, Celes was forced to flee abroad. During her time in exile, she adopted the alias Mist Barukas and used her spirit-given powers to change her appearance in order to hide her true identity.

In terms of personality, Celes is described as having a very serious disposition. She is dutiful and reliable, regarded by those who know her as a fundamentally good person. Her intelligence is notable, as is her exceptional skill with a sword, a talent befitting her former role as a captain, where she also learned to fight in a coordinated, tactical manner. She possesses a remarkable beauty that is said to drive many people mad, and this, combined with her abilities, has made her name known worldwide and has marked her as a target for numerous powerful individuals.

Celes’s primary role in the story begins during her time as a fugitive. While living in exile, she was pursued by agents sent to capture her. These pursuers were all defeated by the protagonist, Touka, who happened to be present. This event led the two to gradually begin traveling together. A key relationship in her life is with Cattleya, who was instrumental in helping Celes escape from Nea when it fell. Her character develops from a displaced princess and military captain into a traveling companion and ally to Touka, as they navigate the dangers of their world together. Her notable abilities include using the power of spirits for combat attire and for creating disguises, as well as her proven mastery of swordsmanship and organized fighting techniques.