Yelena

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Yelena
Alias(es)	FrostNova
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Yeti Squad; Reunion
Occupation/Role	Captain of the Yeti Squad
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Power Progression

Chapter(s)	Advancement / Demonstration
3, 5	Her extreme cold-producing Originium Arts are established; she avoids direct contact with others to prevent frostbite.
41	Uses her Arts offensively, launching black ice at an Elite Guard during the defense of Reunion's camp.

Background / History

Yelena serves as the Yeti Squad's “Big Sister” and captain. When Alina returns to camp injured with Griseo, Yelena urges her to receive treatment and delivers food to the tent in Alina's place. She immediately notices Griseo's unusual light clothing and lack of reaction to the cold. 3

Griseo formally introduces herself to Yelena and learns her codename, FrostNova. Yelena initially pulls away when Griseo takes her hand, fearing that her extreme cold will cause frostbite; after confirming Griseo is unaffected, she allows the contact. 5

Yelena grows increasingly affectionate toward Griseo, shares stories of the Yeti Squad with her, and carries the sleepy child back toward Alina's tent. 6 By later meetings, she treats Griseo more as a younger sister than as an ordinary child. 9

During the mine reconnaissance operation, Yelena carefully divides the Yeti Squad, prioritizing stealth, information-gathering, and the safe return of every member. 15 When Griseo's secret involvement is exposed, Yelena accepts that Griseo acted out of concern for the Yetis and recognizes her as a comrade capable of fighting beside them. 19

After the mine's Infected workers are rescued, Yelena oversees their food, shelter, supplies, and security. She remains especially alert to Griseo's safety among the unfamiliar miners. 21 22 When Griseo warns her of an enemy advance team, Yelena investigates, confirms the threat, and leads a small pursuit unit. 30

During the attack on Reunion's camp, Yelena organizes a retreat for civilians, children, and the injured before joining Talulah against the attacking Elite Guards. She is injured in the fighting but continues defending the camp until Griseo intervenes. 40 41 Afterward, she has Griseo remain with the Yetis during Reunion's relocation. 44

Following Reunion's relocation, Yelena continues to monitor Griseo's physical and emotional wellbeing. She resolves to spend more time with Griseo herself, or arrange for the Yetis to accompany her, after concluding that the child may be lonely. 57

When Griseo creates a painting using Yelena's colors, Yelena comforts her after the painting leaves her overwhelmed by sorrow. She accepts the painting despite its potentially strong effect and is drawn into its illusory world, where she witnesses a fragile family portrait of Patriot, herself, and the Yetis. 61 62 After comparing the information revealed by the painting with Talulah and Alina, Yelena concludes that the depicted events may have occurred in a world without Griseo and helps organize the potentially useful information. 62

When Griseo later returns with supplies and gifts for Reunion, Yelena receives a heavy white cloak but joins Talulah, Patriot, and Alina in refusing to exploit Griseo's generosity, accepting an agreement that Reunion will repay her once it has grown stronger. 133 Griseo subsequently gives Yelena assorted candies and asks her to spend more time with her; Yelena warmly agrees. 134

Appearance

Yelena is a white-haired young woman with rabbit ears, usually dressed for the snowfields and wearing gloves due to the dangerous cold surrounding her body. 3 5

• White hair and rabbit ears. 3
• Gray eyes. 61
• Her hands and body radiate abnormal cold from her Originium Arts. 3 5
• Her usual expression and manner are cool and serious, though she smiles around the Yeti Squad and Griseo. 3 19

Personality

Yelena is disciplined, protective, and deeply responsible for the people under her command. She treats the Yetis as family rather than merely subordinates, and will place herself in danger rather than risk exposing them to an unknown threat. 15 16

Although initially reserved, she is gentle with Griseo. Her first rejection of Griseo's touch comes from concern that the child could be frostbitten, not hostility. She later comforts Griseo, cleans food from her face, prepares a bed for her, and trusts her explanations about her summoned companions. 5 19 22

Yelena does not excuse recklessness, but she responds to Griseo's secret pursuit of the squad with understanding rather than anger. She acknowledges Griseo's wish to protect the Yetis and promises that they will protect her in return. 19

Her protectiveness extends beyond immediate physical danger. She keeps a close watch on Griseo among the rescued miners, quietly intimidates hostile onlookers, and worries whenever Griseo leaves camp or appears emotionally distressed. 23 61 172 She is also patient with Griseo's unusual requests and reciprocates the child's affection with reassurance and companionship. 57 134

Despite the shock caused by the revelations in Griseo's painting, Yelena remains calm and analytical, seeking corroboration from Talulah and Alina rather than immediately accepting its visions as fact. 62

Abilities & Skills

Originium Arts

Yelena's Originium Arts lower her body temperature to an extreme degree, making physical contact dangerous for most people. 3 5

• Her cold can cause frostbite, preventing even Yeti Squad members from touching her normally. 5 6
• She can form and launch black ice in combat. 41
• Her Arts appear physically taxing; Griseo notices Yelena's weakened condition and worries that combat use is worsening her Oripathy. 9

Squad Command

As the Yeti Squad's captain, Yelena directs reconnaissance, pursuit, evacuation, and post-operation relief efforts. 15 21 30 40

• Splits the squad into scouting groups and establishes rendezvous procedures. 15
• Orders injured members to withdraw for treatment rather than remain in danger. 16
• Organizes food, rest arrangements, and security for the rescued Infected miners. 21 22
• Coordinates a retreat during the attack on Reunion while protecting noncombatants. 40
• Personally verifies intelligence about an enemy advance team, then organizes a small squad to pursue it after it regroups. 30

Relationships

• Griseo — Initially cautious because of the danger of her cold, Yelena becomes one of Griseo's closest protectors and accepts her as a fellow ally after the mine operation. 5 6 19 She later comforts Griseo after the latter is emotionally affected by a painting made with Yelena's colors, promises to stay with her for a long time, and agrees to spend more time with her. 61 134
• Yeti Squad — Their captain and elder-sister figure; she considers the squad her family and prioritizes every member's safety. 6 15 16
• Alina — A trusted colleague who asks Yelena to deliver food to Griseo while receiving treatment. 3 Yelena later compares the information from Griseo's paintings with Alina and Talulah. 62
• Talulah — A fellow Reunion leader and battlefield partner; they jointly respond to the camp attack and fight the Elite Guards. 40 41 Yelena later works with Talulah to assess the possible truth of the information revealed by Griseo's paintings. 62
• Alyona — Yelena helps safeguard the rescued, injured girl and supports the miners' care after the mine operation. 19 21
• Lois — A Yeti Squad member who readily follows Yelena's authority and assists with Griseo and Alyona's care. 5 22
• Patriot — Yelena's father and a fellow Reunion leader. They both recognize the strategic value of the Elite Guard painting after the camp battle, and Yelena later appears with him among the leaders who insist that Reunion repay Griseo's material support. 32 44 133 134

Story Role / Major Arcs

Meeting Griseo

Yelena delivers food to Alina's tent, observes Griseo's painting ability and unusual resistance to cold, then later meets her properly as FrostNova, captain of the Yeti Squad. 3 5

She becomes the first member of the Yeti Squad whom Griseo can safely hold, allowing the child to satisfy Yelena's long-denied need for harmless physical contact. 5 6

Mine Reconnaissance and Rescue

Yelena leads the Yeti Squad's reconnaissance mission near an infected-worker mine, investigates the disturbance caused by Griseo's companions, and accepts Griseo's desire to protect the squad. She subsequently directs the mine's cleanup and care for the rescued workers. 15 16 19 21

Enemy Advance Team

After receiving Griseo's warning, Yelena tracks and moves to eliminate an enemy advance team before it can report the mine's location. Sakura arrives before Yelena needs to fully deploy her Arts and kills the force. 30

Defense of Reunion

Yelena helps organize Reunion's defense against an Elite Guard-led assault. Injured while fighting alongside Talulah, she continues resisting until Griseo's Azure Knight, Tyrant, and painting ability reverse the battle's momentum. 40 41

Yelena's Color Painting

Griseo paints with Yelena's colors and is deeply affected by the sorrow contained in them. Yelena comforts her and accepts the completed painting, which draws her into a vision containing information about Patriot, FrostNova, and the Yeti Squad. 61 62

Yelena, Talulah, and Alina subsequently compare what each has learned from Griseo's paintings. They determine that the visions may depict events from a world in which Griseo never appeared and preserve the information for Reunion's future use. 62

Reunion's Continued Family

Yelena remains part of the core Reunion leadership as Griseo's place within the group becomes firmly familial. She accepts Griseo's gifts while insisting that Reunion must repay her generosity, then promises to devote more time to the child after Griseo openly asks for her companionship. 133 134

Trivia

• The Yeti Squad is delighted that Griseo can touch Yelena without suffering frostbite, as Yelena has gone a long time without safe physical contact. 6
• Griseo specifically wants to protect Yelena after noticing her declining health. 9
• Yelena is among the first people to treat Griseo's summoned companions as potentially exhausting manifestations of Originium Arts, though Griseo explains that their use does not harm her. 22
• Griseo uses Yelena's color as protection against W's influence during their encounters. 58
• Griseo initially asks Yelena for one of her candies to keep rather than eat; Yelena considers her own candy unsuitable for children. 57