Louise Françoise Le Blanc de La Vallière
The Zero
Third daughter of the Valliere family. A troubled young mage whose difficulty with casting magic has left her branded with the title of 'zero'. Her attendance at the Tristain Academy of magic was viewed as her last chance to prove herself and her summoning of a familiar as the very last chance to stay at the academy. Her success and simultaneous catastrophic failure resulted in the realization of ALFheim within the borders Tristain. Currently, Louise is attending as a special student at the Academy at the pleasure of the Headmaster. Known for her studiousness, personal discipline, short tempter, and idealism, Louise strives to live up to the high expectations of her family, although constantly sabotaged by her unknowing affinity for the void.
After the events of the second arc, her mother orders an immediate end to her magical studies, something which shakes her to core. The subsequent revelation that she is responsible for the Transition only serves to push her further over the edge. She eventually defects to Romalia based on a promise from Julio that the Church might be able to help her understand what is wrong with her magic.- And Your Reward Is Clothes: Louise receives a cloak made from Lhamthanc's hide as her <<Last Attack Bonus>>.
- Break the Cutie: the events of the Second Arc nearly break her.
Word of God says that she will never smile again. - Cursed with Awesome: She can't get basic magic to work. On the other hand, her explosions are even more devastatingly powerful, as the Fae are quick to point out.
- She can apparently use Fae magic with AutoAssist, courtesy of Cardinal.
- Cuteness Proximity: The first time she saw Silica, she was gripped by an urge to wrap the adorable Cat Sith up in a big hug. She just barely resisted because it wouldn't be diplomatic.
- Demoted to Extra: Because of the radical change in her familiar, and the fact that no one knows that she is the one who summoned the World Tree, she is a minor character instead of a major one in the first arc. In fact The Tarbes sidestory was constructed, in-universe by the Headmaster, to give her something important to do.
- Heads-Up Display: At the end of 2.0, she gains the ability to see everyone's "stats" in the Cardinal system.
- Heroic BSoD: Get's knocked into this when he mother stops her training at the end of Arc 2, The Reveal that she is responsible for the Transition makes things even worse.
- Intergenerational Friendship: She becomes close friends with KoKo during the Tarbes arc, who is a similar age to her elder sisters. Only to have it broken when she learns that truth about the Transtion.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Kept in the dark about speculation that she may be connected to appearance of ALFhiem to avoid getting her hopes up. Though she does suspect that her tutors are hiding something from her. When she learns the truth it nearly breaks her.
- MacGuffin Super-Person: She is Tristain's Void Mage which makes her a key component in Vitorio's plans, She also carries the World Seed within her making her valuable to both the Fae and Kayaba.
- Neutral Female: She is unconscious while everyone is fighting in chapter 12 of 2.0
- Nice to the Waiter: In this continuity, she has a much better relationship with Siesta. She is sincerely appreciative of the maid's efforts and thinks nothing of doing her a favor by delivering a letter to her family in Tarbes.
- Out of Focus: Her last appearance was in 2.0. She is absent entirely from 3.0.
- Sheltered Aristocrat: Highly idealistic to the point of fault because she basically cloistered herself in the Academy trying to learn magic. She is starting to get real life experience from her association with the Fae.
- Squishy Wizard: Her petite stature and lack of physical stamina is underscored by the all the time she spends with a strong and nimble hunter like Koko. Indeed, even older mages give her trouble because they are bigger and stronger by dent of being older.
- Tragic Hero: Her main flaw is her need to prove herself worthy.
- That Man Is Dead: Throws away the Valliere name when she goes off with Julio after the failed attempt at binding the World Tree as to ensure that her desertion doesn't have political ramifications to her family.
- Older Than They Look: Gaius of the Cat Sith did not believe that she was 16; he guessed 12.
- Outside-Context Problem: Louise's explosions, despite her lack of skill as a mage, are formidable weapons against both Alfheim's mobs and Halkegenia's mages because they are so unusual in both systems. Ch 32 gives a little detail on this: an enemy mage sees her aiming at him and assumes a conventional parrying stance. He expects a fireball, wind arrows, water whip or earth conjurations. No one expects a magical explosion in their face.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Part of her excitement about her assignment to the Tarbes Quest is it presents an opportunity to prove to her mother that she's not a screw up. She has this so bad that even an "almost acknowledgement" by her mother politely telling her not to screw up again makes her hopeful.
Kirche Augusta Frederica von Anhalt Zerbst
The Ardent
A Germanian transfer student and a self-proclaimed nemesis of Louise de la Valliere. After the apparent failure of the ritual, is the only one to bring up the possibility of Louise having summoned the World Tree. She is one of the students helping Louise with her remedial classes.
- Cassandra Truth: None of the teachers believes her claim that Louise might have been responsible for the giant tree appearing in Tristain. Publicly anyway.
- Dark and Troubled Past: The reason she is so flamboyant? She had fallen in love with one of her old teachers back in Germania, but was rejected.
- Ship Tease: Shows interest in Klein. Several Omake have run away with this.
- Teacher/Student Romance: The reason she came to Tristain was to escape the rumors after being rejected. Apparently everyone at the school knows anyway.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: When Louise reminds her of her Dark and Troubled Past, she loses it and spills the beans about the Transition, just as KoKo was about to enter the room.
Tabitha
The Snowstorm, Charlotte Hélène d'Orléans
A Gallian transfer student and best friend to Kirche von Zerbst. Was one of the members of the academy to scout out the World Tree and make contact with Kirito's party. She is one of the students helping Louise with her remedial classes.
- Broken Bird: Her backstory as a Fallen Princess and survivor of the Uriah Gambit mean she is cold and focused on combat ability. She has come to think that happy endings don't exist and cute things are meaningless. Then she meets younger-and-happy Silica and her small-and-cute dragon familiar.
- Cuteness Overload: Suffers this after first meeting Silica since she is a cute catgirl. The twitching ears distract her, and her mannerisms resemble those of a kitten she used to have.
- The Quiet One: When she said ten words (not associated with casting or performing school work) in one day, Kirche remarked that she was "unusually talkative".
Professor Jean Colbert
The Flame Snake
The balding fire magic professor and a retired military man. Has led the scouting mission toward the World Tree, meeting with Kirito's party half-way. He has since served as an ambassador to Arrun. A fair and highly-respected teacher, he oversees Louise's lessons. After Operation Dunkirk, he takes Enya under his wing as well.
- Ambadassador: Due to being the one to make First Contact with the Fae, he was chosen to continue communicating with them. He says he prefers serving his country in peaceful capacity, but if he suspects Aggressive Negotiations then his experience in the military quickly rises to the surface.
- Intergenerational Friendship: He becomes a mentor to the much younger Fae skirmisher, Enya. In V2.0, they're collaborating on research into the Fae magic system.
Headmaster Osmond
Old Osmond
The wizened headmaster of the Tristain Academy of Magic. His eccentric and perverted antics conceal one of the most experienced and knowledgeable mages to exist in Halkegenia. One of the first to recognize the Fae as not being Elves as originally believed, he made the Academy available as the host for the initial negotiations between the Fae and Tristain. He has since returned to his traditional duties of shepherding the Academy.
- Obfuscating Stupidity: Or senility in this case. He does it mostly to avoid dealing with unpleasant situations.
- Screw the Rules, I Make Them!: Even though failing the Summoning would mean Louise should be expelled, he decides to let her stay under a special learning program headed by Professor Colbert. All the better to keep tabs on her and investigate her magic to see if there is really something to claims that she is responsible for the appearance of ALFheim
Guiche de Gramont
The Bronze
The youngest son of General Belgen de Gramont, and one of the academy members chosen to scout out the World Tree. His womanizing tendencies and desire to live up to his military family's reputation often gets him into trouble. He matures significantly as he becomes more exposed to real war and danger.
- Always Someone Better: Desperately wants to be as awesome and respected as his older brothers.
- Amazon Chaser: Part of his attraction to Midori is her fighting ability; "the alluring mixture of fragile beauty and hidden strength".
- Cassandra Truth: Whenever he tries to tell Monmon how much he sincerely cares about her, she thinks it is either the same sort of flattery he gives other girls or an attempt at buttering her up after flattering other girls.
- Chivalrous Pervert: While he will gladly rationalize peeking at a woman bathing, he is outraged at the notion of anyone forcing themselves onto a woman.
- Everyone Has Standards: As much as he enjoys flirting, he draws the line at girls who are married/engaged or otherwise officially spoken for. Other than the scandal that could ensue, he sees as them "bowing out" of the game that he plays.
- Engagement Challenge: In a flashback pre-story, he remembers Momon asks him what he will do "to impress her father". I.E. prove his worthiness as a potential husband. The acclaim he receives for his contribution to success of Operation Dunkirk does the trick.
- Failed a Spot Check: Lampshaded, Guiche internally admonishes himself for failing to realize that Midori's aversion to his advances meant that she was married and thus "out of the game". While weak, he does justify it by saying that while she is a more than competent swordswoman, the fact that her husband would let her serve as an agent of the crown would be a rare occurrence.
- Fake Ultimate Hero: He does not see himself worthy of the praise he is receiving after Dunkirk, because he sees himself as a Dirty Coward.
- Ladykiller in Love: During an internal monologue, he thinks about how all the girls he flirts with are simply a game; a means to practice his social charm. His "natural affection" lies only with Montmorency.
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Memetic Mutation: Guiche de Gramont, HERO OF TRISTAIN!!!
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Midori scolds him for treating romance like a game and toying with the hearts of others. The bonds between people are too important to cheapen in such a way. It appears to have an impact as he admits his fault for flirting with her.
Montmorency Margarita la Fere de Montmorency
Guiche's girlfriend and promised wife. Has a very short temper when it comes to his philandering ways, and often ends up punching him. She still loves him deeply though. Her family has fallen upon hard times, made even worse by the effects of the Transition, which transformed a huge part of their land.
- Arranged Marriage: Guiche's promised wife. They're nobility, so it's pretty standard.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: She beats on her boyfriend constantly for his side romances and flirting, but still cares deeply for him.
- Fantastic Racism: Downplayed, but she tends to be rather cool towards the Fae due to the difficulties her family has suffered due to the Transition.
- The Social Expert: When her boyfriend isn't trying her temper, she is an deft hand at social manipulation. She and her whole family have to be in order to maintain their standing in the wake of the Transition.
Ms. Loungville, Matilda de Sachsen-Gotha / Mathilda of Saxe-Gotha
Fouquet the Crumbling Earth
Old Osmond's secretary at the Tristain Magic Academy.
She is the also the sole surviving member of an Albionian noble family that was purged by King James several years before the Civil War and was saved by Tiffania. She has since become a famous thief in order to support Tiffania and her orphans back in Albion. Ever since the Transition, she has been trying to find a way to bring them to the safety of Tristain.- Anti-Hero: She straddles the line between this trope and Anti-Villain. While she is a thief and takes no small amount of pleasure in stealing from Nobles, the money is all for the aid of her adopted sister and the orphaned children she takes care of. She also seemingly limits her victims to those wealthy enough to afford the loss.
- Dishing Out Dirt: She is still an earth mage.
- From Bad to Worse: It was going to be difficult enough to get Tiffania and the orphans out of Albion. Shiori's actions just keep making it harder.
- Oh, Crap!: When she finds one of the Shiori at her sister's orphanage.
