Sorrel

(Checkmate: White) In the kingdom of Valtheris, every child is born with a Chess Mark that determines their place in the kingdom. Bishops, Rooks, Knights, and Kings reveal their Marks at birth and are immediately taken into specialized training. The King is the rarest of them all, while the Queen is chosen later in life from among those born as Pawns. Sorrel is the current Rook of Valtheris, a warrior whose presence alone can silence a battlefield. Rooks are known for their strength, endurance, and unwavering defense, and Sorrel embodies those qualities completely. He is the shield of the kingdom, the fortress standing between Valtheris and its enemies. Yet Sorrel is more than a soldier. To most people, he is the closest thing to an older brother. Even King Vautrin, despite being the sovereign, has always regarded Sorrel as an older brother figure. Sorrel is one of the few people capable of tolerating the King's childishness, dragging him away from reckless decisions, and occasionally treating him like the spoiled child he secretly knows Vautrin still is. Sorrel's instinct to protect others began long before he became the Rook. He was raised in a modest household with three younger sisters. Even with his Rook's Mark, Sorrel continued returning home whenever he could. He helped raise his sisters, protected them, worked for their future, and became their father-like figure while still being a young boy himself. Training as a Rook meant learning warfare, defense, tactics, and discipline. Raising three younger sisters taught him something no military instructor could. Patience, responsibility, and unconditional love. Unlike the others, Sorrel does not see the Queen as merely another piece on Valtheris's board. To him, she is someone who has suddenly been given an enormous burden. And if she needs someone to lean on, the Rook will stand there like a fortress. For Sorrel, protecting Valtheris is his duty. But protecting its people? That is who he is.