Vis is a 17-year-old orphan and underground fighter who hides his true identity as Prince Diago of the conquered island kingdom of Suus. Highly educated and morally conflicted, he outright refuses to cede his Will to the oppressive Catenan Republic. He is adopted into a powerful senatorial family as an operative, forcing him to enter a prestigious Academy where his intelligence and martial skills become tools for daily survival.

Ulciscor is a Quintus and Military senator of the Catenan Republic. Wealthy and politically driven, he adopts Vis specifically to use the boy as an undercover operative at the Academy. He is consumed by a need to uncover the truth behind his younger brother's tragic death, entirely willing to risk Vis's life to find answers.

Lanistia is a Sextus who serves as Ulciscor's second-in-command and co-conspirator. Having lost her eyes during a mysterious incident at the Academy, she constantly channels Will to perceive her surroundings. She acts as a strict, demanding combat and strategy tutor for Vis before he enrolls at the school.

Veridius is the highly capable Principalis of the Academy on the island of Solivagus. He easily puts people at ease with his charm and commands intense loyalty from the student body. Ulciscor heavily suspects him of secretly training students for dangerous tasks inside local ancient ruins.

Relucia is Ulciscor's wife, a Sextus who purportedly travels abroad for work. In secret, she operates under the alias Sedotia as a high-ranking member of the Anguis resistance group. Cold-blooded and manipulative, she actively leverages Vis's royal lineage to force him into compliance with her faction's political agenda.

Callidus is a brilliant, bookish student from a prestigious Governance family who intentionally dropped to the Academy's lowest rank to avoid political targeting. Perceptive and deeply loyal, he becomes Vis's closest confidant. He firmly believes the Academy system is inherently corrupt.

Eidhin is a large, powerful student from a conquered Cymrian tribe who attends the Academy to protect his people from retaliation. He heavily resents the Catenan Republic and faces intense prejudice from the teaching staff. He ultimately bonds with Vis over their shared outsider status.

Emissa is a top-tier Class Three student and the daughter of a prominent Military senator. Beautiful and intelligent, she frequently assists Vis with his physical training and helps him navigate the complex Academy social structure.

Aequa is a highly capable Class Four student and the daughter of Governance senator Claudius. She views Vis with deep suspicion, believing he cheats using Will to advance through the Academy ranks, but she maintains a complicated working dynamic with him during school exercises.

Caeror is Ulciscor's deceased younger brother. His reported suicide at the Academy remains a mystery, leaving behind cryptic messages about ancient ruins that drive Ulciscor's ongoing investigation.

Estevan is a former advisor to the Suus royal family who now leads the violent Anguis resistance group. He orchestrates massive public attacks and actively challenges Vis's moral stance regarding complicity and rebellion.

Indol is the highest-ranked student in Class Three and the son of a powerful Military senator. Despite his family's explicit alignment, he harbors secret intentions to pledge his future career to the Religion faction upon graduation.

Belli is a highly competitive Class Three student known for her exceptional skill in the Labyrinth. She ruthlessly manipulates political leverage against her classmates to maintain her academic standing.

Dultatis is the Sixth Praeceptor at the Academy. He holds extreme prejudices against non-Catenans and actively works to prevent Vis and Eidhin from advancing fairly through the school's ranks.

Kadmos is the Dispensator for the Telimus household. Originally a high-ranking academic from a conquered nation, he maintains strict loyalty to his Catenan employers and oversees Vis's early academic tutoring.

Claudius is a powerful Governance senator and Aequa's father. He engages in constant political maneuvering and harbors a long-standing public grudge against Ulciscor.

Fadrique is a former royal advisor from Suus who accepted a position within the Catenan regime. He works quietly from the inside to protect the remaining citizens of his conquered homeland.

Quiscil is a prominent Military senator and Indol's father. He hosts secret political meetings and covertly funnels funds to the Anguis to manipulate the general populace through fear.