Zélie is a 17-year-old divîner living in the ocean village of Ilorin. Marked by her distinctive white hair, she faces severe discrimination, exorbitant taxes, and physical abuse from royal guards. She carries deep trauma from witnessing the murder of her mother during the raid that wiped out all adult magic users eleven years ago. Fiercely protective of her remaining family, she wields a collapsible staff and rides a giant horned feline named Nailah.

Amari is the teenage princess of Orϊsha, characterized by her amber eyes and copper skin. Raised in the sheltered environment of the royal palace, she lives in constant fear of her cruel father. She bears physical scars on her back from a childhood sparring incident. Following a tragic event in the throne room, she steals a sacred artifact and flees the palace, deciding she must help the marginalized divîners.

Prince Inan is the heir to the throne of Orϊsha, sharing his sister's copper skin and amber eyes. Desperate for the king's approval, he views magic as a dangerous force that must be eradicated to maintain peace. He carries a small metal game pawn for comfort, a physical tie to his father. He is tasked with hunting down his runaway sister and the stolen artifact, a mission complicated by the unexpected awakening of his own abilities.

Tzain is Zélie's older brother, a physically imposing and athletic young man who plays the sport agbӧn. Dark-skinned and heavily muscled, he often assumes a caretaking role for his father and sister. He is more cautious and pragmatic than his impulsive sister, striving to keep his family safe in a society built to oppress them.

King Saran is the ruthless ruler of Orϊsha, a man defined by his deep-seated paranoia and hatred of magic. Driven by the trauma of losing his first family to magic users, he orchestrated the genocide of the maji eleven years ago to sever their connection to the gods. He keeps a majacite sword by his side at all times. He is a cruel, emotionally distant father who weaponizes his affection to manipulate his children and maintain absolute control over his kingdom.

Baba is the father of Zélie and Tzain. Once a strong man, he was severely beaten during the raid that killed his wife eleven years ago and has never fully recovered physically or mentally. He relies heavily on his children for support and survival in their ocean village of Ilorin, though he retains flashes of his former fierce spirit.

Binta is a young divîner who serves as Amari's maidservant and closest companion in the royal palace. She provides Amari with a dented tiara after a sparring incident, a gift that Amari treasures above the crown jewels. Her presence helps Amari see past the king's prejudices against magical people.

Mama Agba is a wise, older woman who teaches the local divîner girls self-defense so they can survive in a hostile society. She possesses deep knowledge of Orϊsha's magical history and the old gods. She lost her magic during the purge but survived by having a disease magician cause her white hair to fall out, hiding her identity.

Kaea is a high-ranking military commander in King Saran's army. She is a loyal enforcer of the king's anti-magic policies and accompanies Prince Inan on his mission to track down Amari and the stolen artifact. She is highly perceptive and quickly grows suspicious of any deviations from the king's strict orders.

Lekan is a sȇntaro, a high priest of the old religion who survived King Saran's purges because he was away from the temple during the massacre. Hidden within the sacred temple of Chândomblé, he serves as a spiritual guide who possesses vital knowledge about the artifacts and the ritual needed to permanently restore magic to the world.

Nailah is a massive, horned feline known as a lionaire. Raised from a cub by Zélie, she serves as a fiercely loyal companion and a formidable mount. She helps the protagonists traverse the dangerous landscapes of Orϊsha and provides critical assistance during combat and escapes.

Roёn is the leader of a band of mercenaries based in the lawless town of Jimeta. Known as the silver-eyed fox, he commands a fast ship and a capable crew. He is mischievous and flirtatious, but bears his own history of torture and trauma, which makes him surprisingly empathetic to the psychological struggles faced by the protagonists.

Zu is a young divîner girl living in a hidden refugee encampment. Despite her youth, she possesses powerful healing abilities and holds a position of influence among the community of escaped divîners, commanding respect from older rebels.

Kwame is a fiercely protective divîner rebel who uses his abilities to defend his hidden community in the forest. Suspicious of outsiders, especially those with royal ties, he is willing to resort to extreme measures and violence to extract information and ensure the safety of his people.

Bisi is a young divîner girl in Ilorin who trains under Mama Agba. She represents the vulnerable younger generation of magical children living in constant fear of the king's forces, requiring the protection of older community members.

Yemi is a young woman in Ilorin who trains alongside Zélie at Mama Agba's secret school. The two share a competitive relationship, marked by petty insults during training, though they are ultimately united by the shared threat of the royal guards.

Kenyon is an old friend of Tzain who has recently experienced the awakening of his own magical abilities. He frequents a hidden bar with other newly awakened maji and is initially hesitant to join a dangerous rescue mission against the heavily guarded royal fortress.