Virel

Virel is a mage whom Jin Leiyun encountered near Skarnheim after the battle with the shapers. He declared that he brought perfection and would make Skarnheim symmetrical. Jin interpreted this as a threat and attacked him.

Appearance and magic

Virel is slender and wears robes arranged in immaculate symmetry. His precise movements and calm manner reflect his concern for perfection.

He uses vector magic to alter force and direction, turning Jin's lightning, wind and physical attacks away or back against him. He combines it with cosmic magic, guiding meteors toward his opponent. He also possesses fire and divine magic.

History

Jin's sustained assault briefly forced Virel onto the defensive, but Virel's guided meteors broke through his shields and left him severely injured. Sigurd stopped an incoming meteor and intervened. Virel's defenses failed against Sigurd's attacks, and a powerful blow sent him flying. He withdrew while Halgarr carried Jin to safety.

Virel is the wielder of Nahm and a mage of Haverloch. Trained by Isaac and chosen through the Symmetry Trials, he represents his country abroad and plans military operations. He helped organize the invasion of Thalassai and now supports Vianna in rebuilding Morozkaya.

Appearance

Virel has a slender frame, black hair and crystalline white eyes. He arranges his hair, clothing and movements with exact symmetry. His robes are carefully balanced in black and white, and he uses vectors to straighten loose strands and displaced fabric, including other people's clothing. Nahm's shard is embedded in his palm.

Personality

Virel values symmetry, efficiency and precise calculation. Uneven buildings, mismatched clothing and poorly arranged equipment distract him, and he often corrects them without asking. He is proud of Haverloch's designs, though his experience abroad teaches him to appreciate other nations' inventions and to admit their advantages.

His speech is formal and literal, and his questions about sex and reproduction often embarrass his companions. He can miss ordinary affection even while calculating complicated tactics. He nevertheless cares deeply for his friends. After the Thalassai invasion, he accepted Vianna's disordered clothing and grief rather than trying to correct them.

Magic

Virel's principal schools are vector and cosmic magic. He also uses fire and divine magic, which were less developed than his principal powers when he infiltrated Thalassai.

His vectors alter force and direction. He can turn an opponent's attacks back on them, increase their force, redirect falling meteors and propel himself or passengers through the air. He uses the same precision to adjust small objects. Cosmic barriers protect him, while cosmic glyphs strengthen his body for close combat. His attacks include cosmic missiles and meteors guided toward selected targets.

Nahm supplies greater power through the shard, but Virel retains his own vectors when that connection is interrupted. Wide attacks can exceed what he can redirect quickly. Sustained heat and temporal magic also present serious difficulties. He can redirect spells cast by allies as well as enemies. He taught Vianna how to develop plasma from her fire magic after observing Aelius's techniques.

History

Haverloch and the Thalassai invasion

Virel trained under Isaac in Haverloch and earned Nahm's shard through the Symmetry Trials, in which gifted young mages competed for selection. Felix trained under Isaac as well. Virel became an influential representative of Haverloch, while Simon and the country's other senior mages governed its affairs.

Virel investigated Thalassai for Nahm and Ozaith, who feared its hostility toward the gods. Hadrian recommended him to the legions in Pyrenis. Concealing his shard, vector magic and cosmic magic, Virel served using fire and divine magic and rose from centurion to legatus. He transferred to Chronasis, where Aelius put him in charge of the colosseum. There he observed Thalena training Kaelion and Cassian and befriended Kaelion between his lessons. Virel and Nahm considered killing Cassian, but Thalena's protection prevented an opportunity.

Virel reported Thalassai's military strength and Thalena's declaration against divine rule. When Pyrathalor attacked her outside Chronasis, Virel helped the legions shield the city to preserve his cover. Thalena captured Pyrathalor, and Virel escaped to Morozkaya.

When shapers attacked Skarnheim, Virel went ahead of Morozkaya's force to offer assistance. Jin Leiyun mistook his declarations about perfection for a threat and attacked him. Virel redirected Jin's lightning, wind and physical strikes, then overwhelmed him with guided meteors. Sigurd intervened and drove Virel away. Virel later apologized for failing to explain his intentions, and Svanhild confirmed that his account of the misunderstanding was truthful.

He and Nahm then planned a wider invasion. Virel helped secure passage through Stormhaven Strait by offering refuge to Bjarnholt's people. Lythariel challenged his justification for attacking first and threatened to defend her friends. Virel promised that Haverloch would not harm Cassian, while hoping she would remove him from Thalena's side. He trained Vianna to produce plasma and supplied the coalition with Haverloch's resources and knowledge of Thalassai.

The fleets attacked Pyrenis and Terranova while Virel led an elite force through the southern darkness toward Chronasis. Aelius's ambush killed much of that force. Virel fought Tazarin, redirecting his cosmic attacks and threatening Arinella to interrupt her healing, until Silas withdrew them through the void. Nahm descended, but Lunorax's temporal magic countered him. Virel survived the final assault on Thalena and escaped with Isaac and the remaining invaders after Ozaith and Pyrathalor were killed.

The losses shook his confidence in the invasion. He questioned the suffering caused by Xelthys's plans and feared retaliation against Haverloch. When Ozaryn revealed that her name was Maia and begged not to be sent back to Ulzathir, he offered protection. He accompanied her and Vianna to Morozkaya, comforted them and helped rebuild Kyranthos under Vianna's leadership.

Relationships

• Nahm: His god, instructor and frequent adviser. They share Haverloch's concern for symmetry, though Nahm also challenges Virel's social judgments. Virel questions the cost of their invasion while relying on his guidance and power.
• Vianna: His student and close friend. He taught her plasma magic, supported her after Pyrathalor's death and helped her govern and rebuild Morozkaya.
• Isaac: His former teacher, whose instruction helped him earn his shard. Virel respects his skill but questions his ageless appearance and unexplained motives.
• Simon and Felix: Trusted Haverloch companions who supported his preparations and missions. Simon leads the Axial Concord, while Felix commanded the fleet during the Thalassai invasion.
• Maia: A former ally in the invasion whom he protected after she feared returning to Ulzathir. He brought her to Morozkaya with Vianna.
• Thalena and the Thalassai: Opponents whose strength and inventions challenged his calculations. His infiltration informed the invasion, whose losses left him fearing retaliation and considering diplomacy.

Virel Tessaro is the wielder of Nahm and a mage of Haverloch. Trained by Isaac and chosen through the Symmetry Trials, he represents his country abroad, plans military operations and studies unfamiliar magic and technology. He helped organize the invasion of Thalassai and later searched Varnhallow for his missing companions.

Appearance

Virel has a slender frame, black hair and crystalline white eyes. He arranges his hair, clothing and movements with exact symmetry. His robes are carefully balanced in black and white, and he uses vectors to straighten loose strands and displaced fabric, including other people's clothing. Nahm's shard is embedded in his palm.

Personality

Virel values symmetry, efficiency and precise calculation. Uneven buildings, mismatched clothing and poorly arranged equipment distract him, and he often corrects them without asking. He is proud of Haverloch's designs, though his experience abroad teaches him to appreciate other nations' inventions and to admit their advantages.

His speech is formal and literal, and his questions about sex and reproduction often embarrass his companions. He can miss ordinary affection even while calculating complicated tactics. He nevertheless cares deeply for his friends. After the Thalassai invasion, he accepted Vianna's disordered clothing and grief rather than trying to correct them. Betraying her in Varnhallow troubled him far more than an imperfect plan or appearance.

Magic

Virel's principal schools are vector and cosmic magic. He also uses fire and divine magic, which were less developed than his principal powers when he infiltrated Thalassai.

His vectors alter force and direction. He can turn an opponent's attacks back on them, increase their force, redirect falling meteors and propel himself or passengers through the air. He uses the same precision to adjust small objects and filter sounds from distant conversations. Cosmic barriers protect him, while cosmic glyphs strengthen his body for close combat. His attacks include cosmic missiles and meteors guided toward selected targets.

Nahm supplies greater power through the shard, but Virel retains his own vectors when that connection is interrupted. Wide attacks can exceed what he can redirect quickly. Sustained heat and temporal magic also present serious difficulties. He can redirect spells cast by allies as well as enemies. He taught Vianna how to develop plasma from her fire magic after observing Aelius's techniques.

History

Haverloch and the Thalassai invasion

Virel trained under Isaac in Haverloch and earned Nahm's shard through the Symmetry Trials, in which gifted young mages competed for selection. Simon helped guide him in childhood, and Felix trained under Isaac as well. Virel became an influential representative of Haverloch, while Simon and the country's other senior mages governed its affairs.

Virel investigated Thalassai for Nahm and Ozaith, who feared its hostility toward the gods. Hadrian recommended him to the legions in Pyrenis. Concealing his shard, vector magic and cosmic magic, Virel served using fire and divine magic and rose from centurion to legatus. He transferred to Chronasis, where Aelius put him in charge of the colosseum. There he observed Thalena training Kaelion and Cassian and befriended Kaelion between his lessons. Virel and Nahm considered killing Cassian, but Thalena's protection prevented an opportunity.

Virel reported Thalassai's military strength and Thalena's declaration against divine rule. When Pyrathalor attacked her outside Chronasis, Virel helped the legions shield the city to preserve his cover. Thalena captured Pyrathalor, and Virel escaped to Morozkaya.

When shapers attacked Skarnheim, Virel went ahead of Morozkaya's force to offer assistance. Jin Leiyun mistook his declarations about perfection for a threat and attacked him. Virel redirected Jin's lightning, wind and physical strikes, then overwhelmed him with guided meteors. Sigurd intervened and drove Virel away. Virel later apologized for failing to explain his intentions, and Svanhild confirmed that his account of the misunderstanding was truthful.

He and Nahm then planned a wider invasion. Virel helped secure passage through Stormhaven Strait by offering refuge to Bjarnholt's people. Lythariel challenged his justification for attacking first and threatened to defend her friends. Virel promised that Haverloch would not harm Cassian, while hoping she would remove him from Thalena's side. He trained Vianna to produce plasma and supplied the coalition with Haverloch's resources and knowledge of Thalassai.

The fleets attacked Pyrenis and Terranova while Virel led an elite force through the southern darkness toward Chronasis. Aelius's ambush killed much of that force. Virel fought Tazarin, redirecting his cosmic attacks and threatening Arinella to interrupt her healing, until Silas withdrew them through the void. Nahm descended, but Lunorax's temporal magic countered him. Virel survived the final assault on Thalena and escaped with Isaac and the remaining invaders after Ozaith and Pyrathalor were killed.

The losses shook his confidence in the invasion. He questioned the suffering caused by Xelthys's plans and feared retaliation against Haverloch. When Ozaryn revealed that her name was Maia and begged not to be sent back to Ulzathir, he offered protection. He accompanied her and Vianna to Morozkaya, comforted them and helped rebuild Kyranthos under Vianna's leadership.

Varnhallow

Virel continued investigating Varnhallow, where earlier journeys had left him without memories of entering. After the Morozkayan gathering's timerift took several friends, he promised to find them. He traveled through Haverloch and Arcanis Village with Vianna and Maia, meeting Felix and Deylin and learning that Isaac was the Unmaker. Isaac also explained his involvement in Haverloch's selection and training of wielders, including Virel.

Deylin synchronized Varnhallow's temporal barrier so their groups could pass through. Inside, Virel lost contact with Nahm. He reached Astralynne with Felix, Deylin and Anshar, then found Isaac and Svanhild and reunited with the missing travelers at the tournament. While the others prepared to attack Eltaru, Isaac ordered Virel and Zhang to leave and insisted that Vianna remain. Virel trusted his former teacher despite not understanding the reason.

With Thea's help, he retrieved Lysander from the arena. Thea chose to stay behind. Vianna pursued Virel and hurled plasma to stop him. He redirected it back at her with increased force, injuring her and killing people in the city. He fled in tears, distressed at betraying his closest friend. During their escape, Lysander disclosed that Simon had recruited him into the Order as its observer in Ulzathir, further unsettling Virel's understanding of the people he trusted.

Virel and the escaping party crossed the failing barrier and returned three years after their departure. Nahm's connection returned, but two powerful mages ambushed them near Arcanis Village. Isaac intercepted an attack meant for Virel. Virel fought back with cosmic defenses and redirected Zhang's lightning into one attacker before Isaac and Lysander ordered him to leave. Nahm alerted Haverloch while Virel went to Rimvold for Sigurd's help.

Relationships

• Nahm: His god, instructor and frequent adviser. They share Haverloch's concern for symmetry, though Nahm also challenges Virel's social judgments. Virel questions some of Nahm's assumptions and secrecy while relying on his guidance and power.
• Vianna: His student and close friend. He taught her plasma magic, supported her after Pyrathalor's death and helped her govern and rebuild Morozkaya. Isaac's order forced a painful conflict between that friendship and his obedience in Varnhallow; Virel wept after turning her attack against her.
• Isaac: His former teacher, whose instruction helped him earn his shard. Virel respected him as an example of Haverloch's perfection, then discovered his hidden identity and involvement with the Order. His continued trust led him to obey the order to leave Vianna behind.
• Simon, Felix and Remus: His trusted Haverloch companions. Simon guided him from childhood, Felix shared his teacher and supported his missions, and Remus is a friend whose judgment he values.
• Maia: A former ally in the invasion whom he protected after she feared returning to Ulzathir. He brought her to Morozkaya and included her among the companions he sought in Varnhallow.
• Thalena and the Thalassai: Former enemies whose strength, ingenuity and coordination challenged his calculations. He moved from infiltrating their army and invading their country to seeking diplomatic cooperation and understanding the danger of retaliation.

Virel Tessaro is the wielder of Nahm and a mage of Haverloch. Trained by Isaac and chosen through the Symmetry Trials, he represents his country abroad, plans military operations and studies unfamiliar magic and technology. He helped organize the invasion of Thalassai, then sought cooperation with its survivors.

Appearance

Virel has a slender frame, black hair and crystalline white eyes. He arranges his hair, clothing and movements with exact symmetry. His robes are carefully balanced in black and white, and he uses vectors to straighten loose strands and displaced fabric, including other people's clothing. Nahm's shard is embedded in his palm.

Personality

Virel values symmetry, efficiency and precise calculation. Uneven buildings, mismatched clothing and poorly arranged equipment distract him, and he often corrects them without asking. He is proud of Haverloch's designs, though his experience abroad teaches him to appreciate other nations' inventions and to admit their advantages.

His speech is formal and literal, and his questions about sex and reproduction often embarrass his companions. He can miss ordinary affection even while calculating complicated tactics. He nevertheless cares deeply for his friends. After the Thalassai invasion, he accepted Vianna's disordered clothing and grief rather than trying to correct them. Betraying her in Varnhallow troubled him far more than an imperfect plan or appearance.

Magic

Virel's principal schools are vector and cosmic magic. He also uses fire and divine magic, which were less developed than his principal powers when he infiltrated Thalassai.

His vectors alter force and direction. He can turn an opponent's attacks back on them, increase their force, redirect falling meteors and propel himself or passengers through the air. He uses the same precision to adjust small objects and filter sounds from distant conversations. Cosmic barriers protect him, while cosmic glyphs strengthen his body for close combat. His attacks include cosmic missiles and meteors guided toward selected targets.

Nahm supplies greater power through the shard, but Virel retains his own vectors when that connection is interrupted. Wide attacks can exceed what he can redirect quickly; preparation lets him build a vector grid to handle a larger area. Sustained heat and temporal magic also present serious difficulties. He can redirect spells cast by allies as well as enemies. He taught Vianna how to develop plasma from her fire magic after observing Aelius's techniques.

History

Haverloch and the Thalassai invasion

Virel trained under Isaac in Haverloch and earned Nahm's shard through the Symmetry Trials, in which gifted young mages competed for selection. Simon helped guide him in childhood, and Felix trained under Isaac as well. Virel became an influential representative of Haverloch, while Simon and the country's other senior mages governed its affairs.

Virel investigated Thalassai for Nahm and Ozaith, who feared its hostility toward the gods. Hadrian recommended him to the legions in Pyrenis. Concealing his shard, vector magic and cosmic magic, Virel served using fire and divine magic and rose from centurion to legatus. He transferred to Chronasis, where Aelius put him in charge of the colosseum. There he observed Thalena training Kaelion and Cassian and befriended Kaelion between his lessons. Virel and Nahm considered killing Cassian, but Thalena's protection prevented an opportunity.

Virel reported Thalassai's military strength and Thalena's declaration against divine rule. When Pyrathalor attacked her outside Chronasis, Virel helped the legions shield the city to preserve his cover. Thalena captured Pyrathalor, and Virel escaped to Morozkaya.

When shapers attacked Skarnheim, Virel went ahead of Morozkaya's force to offer assistance. Jin Leiyun mistook his declarations about perfection for a threat and attacked him. Virel redirected Jin's lightning, wind and physical strikes, then overwhelmed him with guided meteors. Sigurd intervened and drove Virel away. Virel later apologized for failing to explain his intentions, and Svanhild confirmed that his account of the misunderstanding was truthful.

He and Nahm then planned a wider invasion. Virel helped secure passage through Stormhaven Strait by offering refuge to Bjarnholt's people. Lythariel challenged his justification for attacking first and threatened to defend her friends. Virel promised that Haverloch would not harm Cassian, while hoping she would remove him from Thalena's side. He trained Vianna to produce plasma and supplied the coalition with Haverloch's resources and knowledge of Thalassai.

The fleets attacked Pyrenis and Terranova while Virel led an elite force through the southern darkness toward Chronasis. Aelius's ambush killed much of that force. Virel fought Tazarin, redirecting his cosmic attacks and threatening Arinella to interrupt her healing, until Silas withdrew them through the void. Nahm descended, but Lunorax's temporal magic countered him. Virel survived the final assault on Thalena and escaped with Isaac and the remaining invaders after Ozaith and Pyrathalor were killed.

The losses shook his confidence in the invasion. He questioned the suffering caused by Xelthys's plans and feared retaliation against Haverloch. When Ozaryn revealed that her name was Maia and begged not to be sent back to Ulzathir, he offered protection. He accompanied her and Vianna to Morozkaya, comforted them and helped rebuild Kyranthos under Vianna's leadership.

Varnhallow

Virel continued investigating Varnhallow, where earlier journeys had left him without memories of entering. After the Morozkayan gathering's timerift took several friends, he promised to find them. He traveled through Haverloch and Arcanis Village with Vianna and Maia, meeting Felix and Deylin and learning that Isaac was the Unmaker. Isaac also explained his involvement in Haverloch's selection and training of wielders, including Virel.

Deylin synchronized Varnhallow's temporal barrier so their groups could pass through. Inside, Virel lost contact with Nahm. He reached Astralynne with Felix, Deylin and Anshar, then found Isaac and Svanhild and reunited with the missing travelers at the tournament. While the others prepared to attack Eltaru, Isaac ordered Virel and Zhang to leave and insisted that Vianna remain. Virel trusted his former teacher despite not understanding the reason.

With Thea's help, he retrieved Lysander from the arena. Thea chose to stay behind. Vianna pursued Virel and hurled plasma to stop him. He redirected it back at her with increased force, injuring her and killing people in the city. He fled in tears, distressed at betraying his closest friend. During their escape, Lysander disclosed that Simon had recruited him into the Order as its observer in Ulzathir, further unsettling Virel's understanding of the people he trusted.

Virel and the escaping party crossed the failing barrier and returned three years after their departure. Nahm's connection returned, but two powerful mages ambushed them near Arcanis Village. Isaac intercepted an attack meant for Virel. Virel fought back with cosmic defenses and redirected Zhang's lightning into one attacker before Isaac and Lysander ordered him to leave. Nahm alerted Haverloch while Virel went to Rimvold for Sigurd's help.

Cooperation with Thalassai

Virel helped retrieve Sigurd and fought the guardians after Thalena disappeared. His prepared vectors turned Azarion's broad air attack back against him. He reported what had happened, supported closer diplomatic ties and accompanied the group investigating the remains of Varnhallow.

Glin guided them to Thalena's silver sword, which Lythariel first lifted. Virel subsequently carried it after Thorik enchanted it with runes. Sigurd and Silas disappeared when they touched a cylinder among the ruins. Virel noticed that a book had shifted and gained pages, and he brought it to Cassian. He proposed further cooperation and intended to apologize to Ignaros for the destruction in Pyrenis.

Relationships

• Nahm: His god, instructor and frequent adviser. They share Haverloch's concern for symmetry, though Nahm also challenges Virel's social judgments. Virel questions some of Nahm's assumptions and secrecy while relying on his guidance and power.
• Vianna: His student and close friend. He taught her plasma magic, supported her after Pyrathalor's death and helped her govern and rebuild Morozkaya. Isaac's order forced a painful conflict between that friendship and his obedience in Varnhallow; Virel wept after turning her attack against her.
• Isaac: His former teacher, whose instruction helped him earn his shard. Virel respected him as an example of Haverloch's perfection, then discovered his hidden identity and involvement with the Order. His continued trust led him to obey the order to leave Vianna behind.
• Simon, Felix and Remus: His trusted Haverloch companions. Simon guided him from childhood, Felix shared his teacher and supported his missions, and Remus is a friend whose judgment he values.
• Maia: A former ally in the invasion whom he protected after she feared returning to Ulzathir. He brought her to Morozkaya and included her among the companions he sought in Varnhallow.
• Thalena and the Thalassai: Former enemies whose strength, ingenuity and coordination challenged his calculations. He moved from infiltrating their army and invading their country to seeking diplomatic cooperation and serving alongside them.

Virel Tessaro is the wielder of Nahm and a mage of Haverloch. Trained by Isaac and chosen through the Symmetry Trials, he represents his country abroad, plans military operations and studies unfamiliar magic and technology. He helped organize the invasion of Thalassai, then sought cooperation with its survivors. He serves on the Valrindor Council and volunteers with Nahm for its expedition to Ithyreon.

Appearance

Virel has a slender frame, black hair and crystalline white eyes. He arranges his hair, clothing and movements with exact symmetry. His robes are carefully balanced in black and white, and he uses vectors to straighten loose strands and displaced fabric, including other people's clothing. Nahm's shard is embedded in his palm.

Personality

Virel values symmetry, efficiency and precise calculation. Uneven buildings, mismatched clothing and poorly arranged equipment distract him, and he often corrects them without asking. He is proud of Haverloch's designs, though his experience abroad teaches him to appreciate other nations' inventions and to admit their advantages.

His speech is formal and literal, and his questions about sex and reproduction often embarrass his companions. He can miss ordinary affection even while calculating complicated tactics. He nevertheless cares deeply for his friends. After the Thalassai invasion, he accepted Vianna's disordered clothing and grief rather than trying to correct them. Betraying her in Varnhallow troubled him far more than an imperfect plan or appearance.

Magic

Virel's principal schools are vector and cosmic magic. He also uses fire and divine magic, which were less developed than his principal powers when he infiltrated Thalassai.

His vectors alter force and direction. He can turn an opponent's attacks back on them, increase their force, redirect falling meteors and propel himself or passengers through the air. He uses the same precision to adjust small objects and filter sounds from distant conversations. Cosmic barriers protect him, while cosmic glyphs strengthen his body for close combat. His attacks include cosmic missiles and meteors guided toward selected targets.

Nahm supplies greater power through the shard, but Virel retains his own vectors when that connection is interrupted. Wide attacks can exceed what he can redirect quickly; preparation lets him build a vector grid to handle a larger area. Sustained heat and temporal magic also present serious difficulties. He can redirect spells cast by allies as well as enemies. He taught Vianna how to develop plasma from her fire magic after observing Aelius's techniques.

History

Haverloch and the Thalassai invasion

Virel trained under Isaac in Haverloch and earned Nahm's shard through the Symmetry Trials, in which gifted young mages competed for selection. Simon helped guide him in childhood, and Felix trained under Isaac as well. Virel became an influential representative of Haverloch, while Simon and the country's other senior mages governed its affairs.

Virel investigated Thalassai for Nahm and Ozaith, who feared its hostility toward the gods. Hadrian recommended him to the legions in Pyrenis. Concealing his shard, vector magic and cosmic magic, Virel served using fire and divine magic and rose from centurion to legatus. He transferred to Chronasis, where Aelius put him in charge of the colosseum. There he observed Thalena training Kaelion and Cassian and befriended Kaelion between his lessons. Virel and Nahm considered killing Cassian, but Thalena's protection prevented an opportunity.

Virel reported Thalassai's military strength and Thalena's declaration against divine rule. When Pyrathalor attacked her outside Chronasis, Virel helped the legions shield the city to preserve his cover. Thalena captured Pyrathalor, and Virel escaped to Morozkaya.

When shapers attacked Skarnheim, Virel went ahead of Morozkaya's force to offer assistance. Jin Leiyun mistook his declarations about perfection for a threat and attacked him. Virel redirected Jin's lightning, wind and physical strikes, then overwhelmed him with guided meteors. Sigurd intervened and drove Virel away. Virel later apologized for failing to explain his intentions, and Svanhild confirmed that his account of the misunderstanding was truthful.

He and Nahm then planned a wider invasion. Virel helped secure passage through Stormhaven Strait by offering refuge to Bjarnholt's people. Lythariel challenged his justification for attacking first and threatened to defend her friends. Virel promised that Haverloch would not harm Cassian, while hoping she would remove him from Thalena's side. He trained Vianna to produce plasma and supplied the coalition with Haverloch's resources and knowledge of Thalassai.

The fleets attacked Pyrenis and Terranova while Virel led an elite force through the southern darkness toward Chronasis. Aelius's ambush killed much of that force. Virel fought Tazarin, redirecting his cosmic attacks and threatening Arinella to interrupt her healing, until Silas withdrew them through the void. Nahm descended, but Lunorax's temporal magic countered him. Virel survived the final assault on Thalena and escaped with Isaac and the remaining invaders after Ozaith and Pyrathalor were killed.

The losses shook his confidence in the invasion. He questioned the suffering caused by Xelthys's plans and feared retaliation against Haverloch. When Ozaryn revealed that her name was Maia and begged not to be sent back to Ulzathir, he offered protection. He accompanied her and Vianna to Morozkaya, comforted them and helped rebuild Kyranthos under Vianna's leadership.

Varnhallow

Virel continued investigating Varnhallow, where earlier journeys had left him without memories of entering. After the Morozkayan gathering's timerift took several friends, he promised to find them. He traveled through Haverloch and Arcanis Village with Vianna and Maia, meeting Felix and Deylin and learning that Isaac was the Unmaker. Isaac also explained his involvement in Haverloch's selection and training of wielders, including Virel.

Deylin synchronized Varnhallow's temporal barrier so their groups could pass through. Inside, Virel lost contact with Nahm. He reached Astralynne with Felix, Deylin and Anshar, then found Isaac and Svanhild and reunited with the missing travelers at the tournament. While the others prepared to attack Eltaru, Isaac ordered Virel and Zhang to leave and insisted that Vianna remain. Virel trusted his former teacher despite not understanding the reason.

With Thea's help, he retrieved Lysander from the arena. Thea chose to stay behind. Vianna pursued Virel and hurled plasma to stop him. He redirected it back at her with increased force, injuring her and killing people in the city. He fled in tears, distressed at betraying his closest friend. During their escape, Lysander disclosed that Simon had recruited him into the Order as its observer in Ulzathir, further unsettling Virel's understanding of the people he trusted.

Virel and the escaping party crossed the failing barrier and returned three years after their departure. Nahm's connection returned, but two powerful mages ambushed them near Arcanis Village. Isaac intercepted an attack meant for Virel. Virel fought back with cosmic defenses and redirected Zhang's lightning into one attacker before Isaac and Lysander ordered him to leave. Nahm alerted Haverloch while Virel went to Rimvold for Sigurd's help.

Cooperation with Thalassai

Virel helped retrieve Sigurd and fought the guardians after Thalena disappeared. His prepared vectors turned Azarion's broad air attack back against him. He reported what had happened, supported closer diplomatic ties and accompanied the group investigating the remains of Varnhallow.

Glin guided them to Thalena's silver sword, which Lythariel first lifted. Virel subsequently carried it after Thorik enchanted it with runes. Sigurd and Silas disappeared when they touched a cylinder among the ruins. Virel noticed that a book had shifted and gained pages, and he brought it to Cassian. He proposed further cooperation and intended to apologize to Ignaros for the destruction in Pyrenis.

The Valrindor Council

Virel later helped coordinate allied forces in the Rimvold campaign. His vectors redirected spells, including Thorik's lightning, while his cosmic magic provided attacks and protection. Maric and Renneth rescued him from Gabriel's blizzard, and he accepted the need to retreat. During the later fighting, he redirected one of Azarion's attacks against Gabriel.

When the resulting hurricane threatened the survivors, Virel carried Astheron away from it. Splin collected them, and Virel altered her vectors to increase her speed. They reached Kaldaryn before the city sealed itself underground. There he learned that Remus had died and wept for his friend; Nahm assured Lythariel that she was not responsible for the loss.

Virel participated in the Valrindor Council's work and discussed quasicrystals with Thalena and Nahm. They considered cooperation with researchers beyond their own empire and the need for better surveillance. At the council's gathering, Virel and Nahm volunteered to accompany its force to Ithyreon.

Thalena's account

In Thalena's Shores of Eternity, Virel joined the Ithyreon expedition. He combined his vectors with Kazehiro's air magic against the darkness beasts beneath Kharad. When a creature pursued Seralyth, Virel redirected it away from her and toward himself. Its attack bypassed his cosmic shield. Nahm later reported Virel's death with the rest of the expedition, apart from Seralyth.

Relationships

• Nahm: His god, instructor and frequent adviser. They share Haverloch's concern for symmetry, though Nahm also challenges Virel's social judgments. Virel questions some of Nahm's assumptions and secrecy while relying on his guidance and power.
• Vianna: His student and close friend. He taught her plasma magic, supported her after Pyrathalor's death and helped her govern and rebuild Morozkaya. Isaac's order forced a painful conflict between that friendship and his obedience in Varnhallow; Virel wept after turning her attack against her.
• Isaac: His former teacher, whose instruction helped him earn his shard. Virel respected him as an example of Haverloch's perfection, then discovered his hidden identity and involvement with the Order. His continued trust led him to obey the order to leave Vianna behind.
• Simon, Felix and Remus: His trusted Haverloch companions. Simon guided him from childhood, Felix shared his teacher and supported his missions, and Remus was a friend whose judgment he valued. Remus's death deeply distressed him.
• Maia: A former ally in the invasion whom he protected after she feared returning to Ulzathir. He brought her to Morozkaya and included her among the companions he sought in Varnhallow.
• Thalena and the Thalassai: Former enemies whose strength, ingenuity and coordination challenged his calculations. He moved from infiltrating their army and invading their country to seeking diplomatic cooperation and serving alongside them.