Overview
Kazehiro is a powerful air and ice mage from Hanamizu, the capital of Shanari. He meets Renneth and Maric during their diplomatic voyage north from Xalmyrra, brings them before Arashiiwa, and volunteers to explore mainland Valrindor on Shanari's behalf. His travels draw him toward Varnhallow, the Celestial Games, Thalassai, Tharendur, and the Thalassai takeover of Solvarria.
Appearance and Manner
Kazehiro wears short-sleeved white robes with silver and blue accents, matching the white-robed mages of Hanamizu. He is formal, curious, and adventurous, with a theatrical habit of bowing deeply. He calls himself something of a legend in Shanari, but he does not consider that reputation important and volunteers to explore mainland Valrindor.
Magic
Kazehiro uses advanced air magic and ice magic. He flies, casts shearing wind blades with sword-like hand motions, shapes compressed wind into explosive strikes, forms air barriers, and conjures an ice sword that can shift between ice and air.
In the Grand Court tournament at Varnhallow, the announcer names him Kazehiro no Hyojin, the incredible wind mage. His duel with Kaelion ends in a draw after his wind blades pressure Kaelion's cosmic barriers, his ice sword deflects a cosmic beam, and his air barrier survives the force of a solar explosion. In the Plains of Eternity, he struggles at first with the unusual environment but still produces concentrated wind strong enough to cut through a massive tree.
History
Kazehiro first encounters Renneth, Maric, Gin, and Spin near Shanari's waters and guides them to Hanamizu. Shanari has long avoided the difficult crossing to mainland Valrindor, though it knows of nearby regions such as Thundermarch, Shaoying, the Blackcrag Dominion, Thiravos, and Theryssa. After the Xalmyrran visit opens the possibility of renewed diplomacy, he leaves Shanari to learn more about the mainland.
Kazehiro crosses the mainland, spends time in Kaldaryn, and reaches Haverloch, where rumors of the Celestial Games circulate after Glin passes overhead. His attempt to reach Thalassai takes him toward the Navan Sea and Varnhallow, where a massive timerift traps him inside a temporal bubble. In Varnhallow, Eltaru accepts him among the divine patriarchs, Wilfred is assigned to look after him, and Jin later has him assist in Lysaraine.
Eira eventually opens a way through Varnhallow's barrier and sends Kazehiro back out close to the day he disappeared, though years have passed for him. After reaching Thalassai, he gives Cassian's household the first direct word of Renneth and Maric's Shanari expedition and remains there while the Celestial Games are postponed.
Kazehiro later joins Eira, Kaelion, Xarion, and Marcellus on the mission toward Tharendur and the Plains of Eternity. During the ambush west of Tharendur, he fights as Marcellus's partner. After Xarion calls down a meteor, Kazehiro and Marcellus flee south to Solvarria as instructed; Hadrian later meets up with them after their arrival from Tharendur, and Thalassai fully takes Solvarria and cuts off its trade lines with Ulzathir.