Una is a legendary knight known across history as the Drawn Blade of Dominion and the Red Knight. While folklore paints her as a pristine and flawless hero, she is actually a world-weary, traumatized warrior burdened by the extreme violence she commits for the crown. Physically marked by bone-white hair and a disfiguring eye scar, she retreats to the ancient woods to avoid her final quest. She yearns for peace and struggles against the immense weight of the patriotic myths written about her.

Owen is a traumatized war veteran and a historian working as a junior lecturer in Middle Dominion Studies. Burdened by his wartime experiences and desperate to secure his academic career, he is tasked with translating a mythical text about his childhood hero. He is a naturally fearful man with poor eyesight who grew up idolizing Una Everlasting, but translating her story forces him to witness the brutal reality behind his nation's foundational texts.

Vivian is the formidable Minister of War in the near-future nation of Dominion, inextricably linked to the legacy of the historical Queen Yvanne. She is a ruthless, ambitious leader obsessed with forging a strong national identity. Operating from the capitol, she believes that a nation needs a glorious, tragic past to secure a powerful future. She uses her immense political might to sponsor Owen's translation and shape Dominion's founding myths to her exact specifications.

Sir Ancel is a devoted and highly skilled knight serving the crown of Dominion. Positioned as both a rival and a brother-in-arms to Una Everlasting, his defining characteristic is his absolute, unquestioning loyalty to the Queen. He represents the idealized, dutiful soldier who executes the crown's will without hesitation, contrasting sharply with Una's growing weariness over their violent duties.

Owen's father is a pacifist, a political dissident, and a war veteran living in the mining village of Queenswald. Struggling with an alcohol use disorder and widely scorned as a coward for his actions in a past war, he dedicates his life to anti-war activism and protests at the capitol. Despite his severely strained relationship with his son, he attempts to protect Owen from the dangerous political currents sweeping their nation.

Professor Gilda Sawbridge is an experienced, sharp-witted academic at Cantford College who oversees Owen's studies. As a historian who firmly believes that physical evidence matters more than written myth, she is highly skeptical of state-sanctioned narratives and sudden historical discoveries. She acts as a voice of intellectual integrity, challenging the propaganda of Dominion's leaders while rigorously mentoring her students.

Jeremy Harrison is a colleague and academic rival to Owen Mallory at Cantford College. Ambitious and competitive, he is eager to secure the same endowed faculty position as Owen, making him a constant source of professional pressure when the ancient manuscript arrives.

Colonel Drayton is Owen's brutal former commanding officer from his military service. A harsh and unforgiving military leader, he views the war against the Hinterlands as a noble crusade and deals ruthlessly with soldiers he perceives as cowardly, leaving Owen with severe physical and mental scars.

Sylvie Shaw is an archivist working alongside Professor Sawbridge. She assists in uncovering historical truths and locating artifacts, standing firmly by Sawbridge's side despite the growing political dangers inside Dominion's academic and political spheres.

Morvain is a sorceress from Una's early, legendary past. She is a figure from one of Una's early quests who briefly became romantically involved with the young knight before the severe demands of Una's martial duties pulled them apart.

Hen is Una Everlasting's loyal horse. A steadfast and remarkably enduring animal, Hen carries Una through the winter forests, impoverished villages, and difficult terrains during her various quests across the continent.