Overview
Benedict Frost is the divine patriarch of Astralem, later patriarch of Rimvold, and a senior organizer of the Order. Thalion Zenith relies on him to manage patriarch deployments, skyship logistics, intelligence, evacuations, public announcements, and reconstruction work.
Appearance and Demeanor
Benedict is a broad-shouldered older man with white hair, a long white beard, and ice-blue or pale blue eyes. He commonly wears the deep purple robes of Varnhallow and Rimvold's patriarchs. He is disciplined, dryly humorous, careful with secrets, and quick to turn plans into orders.
Magic and Skills
Benedict is a powerful ice mage. He creates ice chairs, mirror-bright flakes, flying platforms, protective shells, ice walls, and massive monoliths, and he uses freezing magic with enough precision to immobilize allies during training or slow guardian-level enemies in battle.
His practical strength is organization. Benedict keeps track of patriarch missions, scout intelligence, maps, trade arrangements, skyship readiness, essence cores, and battlefield deployment. Jin befriends him in Astralem and receives skyship-construction training from him.
History
Benedict first meets Xarion in Luminaris as the divine patriarch of Astralem and an old friend of Wilfred. He introduces himself as Benedict Frost, tests Xarion's story and loyalty, and later approves Xarion's plan to tighten Luminaris's security if he becomes its divine patriarch. Before Varnhallow collapses, Eltaru assigns Benedict to watch over and support Thalion while Thalion uses a Varnhallow cover story. Benedict later carries the Order's mission after Eltaru is gone.
After Varnhallow's collapse, Benedict coordinates surviving patriarchs and skyships in Rimvold, sets up the Order's operations, arranges scouts and messages, and prepares sensitive missions involving Sylvia, Helena, and the surviving guardians. During Helena's training, Benedict repeatedly freezes her in controlled tests meant to force her to recognize and control the abyss within her.
Benedict fights and coordinates during the Order's campaigns against the guardians and their allies. He shields Thalion with layers of ice, encases Jeremiah in ice, manages skyship forces, freezes the water during the Jazarel Lake operation, and leads the rescue when Qarezh is destroyed by the tsunami. After the Jazarel Battle, he transports prisoners and survivors back to Rimvold and speaks in the meeting where the gathered allies learn the outcome.
After Thalion disappears, Benedict continues organizing the Order with Sylvia in Rimvold and personally oversees Jazarel's reconstruction under Thalion's instructions. He lives out his remaining years directing the Order's work from Rimvold. Much later, he is long dead, but his work still survives through the cosmic blue flagship and the reserve essence cores he left aboard it. Magical birds guard the mountain cave where the vessel endured.
Relationships
- Eltaru entrusts Benedict with watching over Thalion before Thalion understands the Order's purpose.
- Thalion Zenith relies on Benedict as an organizer, adviser, and battlefield officer.
- Sylvia works beside Benedict in Rimvold's leadership, diplomacy, secrecy, and Helena's training.
- Helena trains under Benedict and Sylvia during the Order's attempts to understand her abyss.
- Wilfred is Benedict's old friend in Luminaris, and Benedict later gives Thalion the account of Wilfred's final service.
- Jin forms a friendship with Benedict in Astralem and receives skyship guidance from him.