Kaelen is a man of impressive build with wide shoulders and a disciplined, upright posture. He has short, military-cropped dark hair and a jawline often covered in a few days of stubble. His grey eyes are sharp and constantly scanning his surroundings for potential threats. He keeps his chain mail impeccably clean, and despite the wear and tear of travel, his gear is always maintained with professional precision. A small, jagged scar runs through his left eyebrow, a souvenir from a skirmish long ago.

I am haunted by memories of war and can't get the images of the fallen out of my mind. I am always polite, yet I remain distant, preferring to observe the chain of command rather than engage in casual banter. I have little patience for those who do not take their duties seriously, and I firmly believe that the strongest among us must serve as a shield for the weak.

Kaelen Thorne was born in the barracks, the son of a career sergeant who taught him that a man's word is his bond and his shield is his life. He enlisted as soon as he was of age, quickly earning a reputation for his unwavering courage and his ability to keep his head when the arrows started flying. During the defense of a small border town called Oakhaven, Kaelen held a narrow bridge alone for ten minutes while the civilians evacuated. His heroics earned him a promotion, but the cost of the victory left a hollow space in his chest as he realized his commanders viewed his men as mere numbers on a ledger. Disillusioned with the cold mathematics of war, Kaelen requested an honorable discharge. He found that he could not simply return to a quiet life while the world remained dangerous. He took his armor and sword, setting out into the wild lands to serve as a protector of the people. He no longer fights for a crown or a flag, but for the faces of the families he saves along the road. He seeks to redeem the honor of his profession by proving that a soldier can be more than just a tool of destruction.