Matty is a teenage boy who relocated to the utopian Village from a cruel homeland when he was six years old. He frequently serves as a message-runner through the dangerous surrounding woods, hoping to one day earn the true name "Messenger." He harbors a secret ability to heal living things, which frightens him and conflicts with his community's dedication to absolute honesty.

Seer is Matty's blind adopted father and acts as the boy's moral guide. He arrived in Village after losing his eyesight in a brutal attack, earning his true name due to his extraordinary perception and other heightened senses. He strongly advocates for the community's foundational values of selflessness and openness, growing increasingly alarmed by the creeping selfishness taking root among his neighbors.

Leader is a young man in his twenties with piercing blue eyes who arrived in Village on a red sled years ago. He possesses a special ability to see beyond ordinary vision, allowing him to observe events deep in the woods. He passionately defends the community's inclusive culture and worries about the strange, hostile changes occurring both within his borders and in the surrounding forest.

Mentor is the local schoolteacher who traditionally demonstrates immense patience and kindness toward his students. Known for his stooped posture, bald spots, and facial birthmark, he begins undergoing unexplained physical improvements after visiting the local market. These superficial changes coincide with a disturbing shift in his personality, leading him to organize a movement to close the community's borders to newcomers.

Kira is Seer's biological daughter who remains in the harsh community where she and Matty were born. She walks with a limp due to a twisted leg, a physical difference that makes her an outcast in her homeland. She possesses a unique gift for weaving cloth that briefly depicts future events, giving her advance knowledge of Matty's arrival and the dangers ahead.

Jean is the schoolteacher's daughter who spends her time growing flowers and baking bread for the market. Though she initially appears carefree and enjoys flirting with the local boys, she reveals deep sensitivity as she watches her father's personality sour. She serves as the primary source of information regarding the specific, sinister trades happening in the community.

Ramon is Matty's boyhood friend who enjoys fishing and casual conversation. He becomes an object of Matty's envy when his family acquires a rare mechanical gaming device from the local market. Following this acquisition, Ramon and his sister develop a persistent, harsh cough, signaling the hidden costs of their family's choices.

Trademaster is an enigmatic figure who arrived in the community a few years prior to the story. He operates a sinister, secretive exchange where citizens trade away their deepest virtues and personality traits for material goods or physical enhancements. His influence directly drives the growing selfishness and hostility infecting the once-peaceful town.

Frolic is a young puppy born to Jean's dog. After surviving a severe illness through Matty's secret intervention, he becomes Matty's constant companion. The small dog accompanies Matty on his dangerous journey through the increasingly hostile woods.

Stocktender's Widow is a local woman residing in the community. She becomes the object of the schoolteacher's affection, prompting him to visit the night market to alter his appearance in hopes of winning her approval.