Annie is a sixteen-year-old former serf from Holbin Hill who survived the execution of her family by dragonfire. Raised in Albans Orphanage, she possesses an intense fear of dragonfire but discovers a natural talent for riding. She is soft-spoken and physically minimizes herself in social situations, providing a sharp contrast to her bold, confident maneuvers in the sky.

Lee is a high-ranking dragonrider candidate who hides his true identity as Leo Stormscourge, the son of a deposed dragonlord. Spared during the violent revolution, he lives under an assumed name and attempts to blend in with the common-born citizens of the new republic. He experiences intense internal conflict as he balances his loyalty to the friends who raised him against the legacy of his slaughtered family.

Atreus serves as the First Protector and the primary architect of Callipolis's new government. He organized the rebellion to dismantle the oppressive dragonlord system and install a society where rank is determined by merit rather than bloodline. He governs with a firm, pragmatic approach, willing to make ruthless decisions to maintain the security of his new republic.

Julia is a survivor of the old regime's ruling Triarchy who escaped the revolution's massacres. Operating out of the exiled territory of New Pythos, she has become a formidable dragonrider and military leader. She actively schemes to destabilize Callipolis and restore her family's former dominance.

Power is a dragonrider candidate adopted into a wealthy patrician family from the Janiculum neighborhood. He holds intense class prejudices and frequently expresses contempt for riders of common or serf origins. He flies a Stormscourge dragon and utilizes aggressive, predatory tactics in the arena.

Duck is a sixteen-year-old dragonrider candidate who rides a Skyfish named Crete. Unlike many of his intensely serious peers, he maintains a cheerful and open demeanor. He relies on his supportive family structure and actively works to keep his friends' spirits high during their grueling military training.

Cor is a seventeen-year-old dragonrider competing for a position in the new aerial fleet. He rides a Stormscourge dragon and takes his responsibilities as a Guardian very seriously. He often worries about his family's standing, especially regarding his sister's test results in the new merit system.

Crissa is a competent dragonrider who flies a pale blue Skyfish dragon. She is a core member of Lee and Annie's social circle and fully participates in the rigorous physical and political education required of the candidates. She occasionally seeks out romantic distractions from the pressures of the academy.

Leon was the dragonlord of Stormscourge House and the Drakarch of the Far Highlands under the old regime. He utilized his dragon to ruthlessly enforce tax collections and execute dissenters. His violent actions left a trail of trauma that deeply affects the current generation of riders.

Tyndale is a former court tutor from before the revolution who managed to secure a teaching position in the new society. He misses the elegance of the old aristocracy and uses his position to secretly correspond with the exiled Pythian forces.

Miranda serves as the Minister of Propaganda for the Callipolan government. She carefully manages public perception and initially doubts the optics of allowing a former serf to hold a high-ranking military position.

General Holmes is a high-ranking military official in the new Callipolan republic. He coordinates defense strategies and oversees the deployment of the dragonrider fleet when threats emerge from across the sea.

Dora is a wealthy councilwoman and honorary alderman who provided essential investments to launch the revolution. She holds rigid beliefs about dragon lore, insisting that aristocratic blood is required to unlock a dragon's true power.

Aela is an amber-toned Aurelian dragon who forms an immediate bond with Annie. She is highly attuned to her rider's emotions and provides Annie with the physical power and freedom she lacks on the ground.

Pallor is a white Aurelian dragon marked by a silver-scaled neck and depthless black eyes. His rare coloration sets him apart from the rest of the fleet, and he matches Lee's need for strict control during combat.

Eater is a heavily armored Stormscourge dragon ridden by Power. He fights using close-proximity, predatory tactics and relies on heavy ash attacks to disorient his opponents.

Aletheia was the dragon partnered with the former dragonlord Leon Stormscourge. She was utilized to carry out brutal attacks on peasant villages before being captured and killed by revolutionary forces.

Goran is a patrician drillmaster tasked with training the new generation of Guardians. He evaluates their combat skills but allows his ingrained class prejudices to influence his official reports.

Rock is a dragonrider candidate training alongside the primary squad. He participates in the required morale visits and resource collections, experiencing firsthand the civilian resentment toward dragons.

Lotus is a student in the dragonrider program who participates in the aerial drills and political classes. She remains loyal to her squadmates when internal tensions threaten to divide them.

Darius is a dragonrider candidate in the aerial fleet. He frequently aligns himself with the wealthier, upper-class students and assists them in harassing the common-born riders.

Erinys is a sparked dragon ridden by Julia Stormscourge. Unlike the younger dragons in Callipolis, Erinys is fully capable of breathing lethal fire, making her a massive threat to the new republic.

Penelope was Lee's older sister and a member of the Stormscourge family under the old regime. She was killed during the violent Palace Day massacres that ended her family's rule.