UI and Menus

The game would introduce the symbol/its signifiance well enough during gameplay I'm sure, but the real genius of it to me relates to something completely different: you know how standard hearts in Castlevania float in kind of a leaf trajectory as they fall? Well, one way to replicate that following the themes of the game is a falling petal.

The little thing itself could be crystal, yes, just as if it were part of the crystal flowers on our icon designs or Miriam's back. Something that dense isn't as likely to move so well through the air, but then again little red hearts don't really float around in the real world at all, so...

Crystal, actual flower or whatever other substance, perhaps just magical - it's a cool way to synthesize something, both familiar and new.

edit: Oh, and the "big heart" would be a full flower (i.e. our icons). Anyway, it's just an idea if hearts need to be replaced. They may have already settled on something better.