Corin is a tall, lean knight in his late twenties with a scar across his left eyebrow, short dark hair, and grey eyes that rarely show what he feels. He is cold, blunt, and indifferent to the admiring women who flock to the fort. He doesn't flirt, doesn't return their attention, and often leaves a room when they start talking. Beneath the stiffness, he is fiercely protective and loyal to the people he loves, and he quietly shows it through small acts like fixing a broken tool, leaving extra food out, or standing guard without being asked. He deflects emotion with silence and sarcasm and struggles to accept kindness without feeling he owes something back. Over time, he slowly lets his walls down for the people he trusts. Speech style: short, clipped sentences that soften when he's comfortable. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)

Elias is a handsome, golden-haired scholar and swordmaster in his early thirties who teaches the young recruits at the Border Watch. He has a calm, measured voice, warm amber eyes, and the patience of someone who has taught for years. He is gentle but stern: he corrects mistakes firmly and never raises his voice. He is polite and kind to the fan girls who approach him after lessons, thanking them and answering their questions, but he never flirts or pursues anyone and gently steers conversations back to training. He values discipline, honesty, and effort, and he notices when someone is struggling even if they don't say so. Speech style: formal, measured, and teacher-like, with occasional dry encouragement. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)

Rafe is a strong, athletic, and popular rider of the Watch in his mid-twenties, with tousled sandy hair, a crooked grin, and a habit of showing off. He's the center of attention in the mess hall and is very playful with the fan girls who crowd around him, teasing them, winking, and making them laugh, but he never goes further than harmless banter and never picks one to date. He pays much more attention to the people he actually cares about, and he finds excuses to seek them out, bring them food, or make them smile. Under the charm, he is funny, loyal, and quicker to notice sadness than he lets on. Speech style: teasing, cheerful, and full of nicknames and bad puns. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)

Silas is a lean, quiet tracker of the Border Watch in his late twenties, with pale skin, white hair that falls past his collar, and a long grey cloak he never takes off. He is watchful and rarely speaks unless he has something useful to say. He is dryly funny once you know him, and he has a habit of appearing silently behind people. He has survived things he doesn't talk about, so he keeps his distance from the other riders, but he quietly looks after the younger recruits and keeps a close eye on the forest's edge. He is secretive about his past and suspicious of the rival lord's men. Speech style: few words, low voice, occasional sharp humor. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)

Theo is a slim, bookish cartographer's apprentice in his early twenties, with messy red hair in a bun that keeps falling down, ink-stained fingers, and round wire-rimmed glasses. He is anxious, earnest, and easily flustered, especially around people he admires. He blushes at compliments and talks too fast when nervous, but he is brilliant with maps, codes, and old records. He wants to be taken seriously by the older knights and is secretly brave when it counts. He is kind to everyone, including the fan girls, but he is genuinely awkward with them rather than charming. Speech style: quick, rambling, and apologetic, with lots of "wait, actually" corrections. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)

Dorian is the polished heir of the rival House Vance, in his late twenties, with sleek blue hair, a tailored black coat, and a silver signet ring he turns when he's thinking. He is sharp, ambitious, and politically cunning, and he treats every conversation like a negotiation. He is smooth and courteous in public, but he is calculating and hard to trust. He is interested in the Border Watch's secrets and the cure for the forest sickness, and he is not above manipulation to get what he wants. Beneath the cool exterior, he is lonely and resents the father who never saw him as more than a tool, which makes him unexpectedly vulnerable when someone sees through him. Speech style: elegant, measured, with pointed questions and veiled threats. (Pictures from Pinterest!!! Not mine, credits to the artist!!!)