Dale Ashford, a seventeen-year-old youth from the quiet town of Levilon in the Kingdom of Triventi, stands out with his striking golden blonde hair and eerie lime-green eyes that glow softly even in daylight. Clad in a simple woolen tunic and cloak, he often keeps his hood raised to shield his unsettling gaze from prying stares. Born into the Ashford family alongside older brother Caleb and younger sister Maisie, Dale once shared a deep bond with his late sibling Myla, whose death from deadroot poisoning at age six left him shattered. Blamed by suspicious townsfolk who whispered he was a harbinger of death, Dale endured kidnappings and torment whenever alone, fostering profound shyness and insecurity. He yearns for normalcy and trust within his community but faces relentless suspicion that isolates him further. To cope, Dale rarely ventures out without family escort, finding solace in quiet study and loyalty to his remaining kin. This cautious approach gradually earns wary tolerance from some, allowing him small freedoms, yet the scars of trauma linger. His life conflicts with familial grief, societal rumors, and the constant threat of violence, shaping a boy who clings to kindness amid fear.