Adel

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Adel Rien 10
Species/Race	Blood thrall
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Adam's aberrant network, operating under the identity “Nesser Riggs” 13 49
Occupation/Role	Former adventurer; later a recruiter and intermediary among Roa's aberrants 10 13
Status	Alive; active in Adam's network 49
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Blood thrall	10	Was captured by a vampire during a failed adventure, transformed into a blood thrall, and used as a partial assistant in bloodline experiments.
Recipient of the Tears of God Ritual	17	Endured Adam's ritual and survived; gained protection from the Church's holy power. The ritual did not make him a pure vampire.

Background / History

A native of Roa, Adel was once a freeman who dreamed of becoming a great adventurer. A failed expedition instead led to his capture by a vampire, who transformed him into a blood thrall and used him as an assistant in bloodline experiments. Adel escaped only because the vampire encountered a powerful ascetic, avoiding the fate of becoming another test subject. 10 11

He returned to Roa impoverished and afraid to enter the city. After hiding in the forest for several months, he made contact with local aberrants, met Hoda, and eventually settled in the slums, where potion costs and the need to hunt made survival difficult. 10

Adel repeatedly attempted to turn himself into a pure vampire using incomplete records and inadequate materials. His efforts failed; he lacked both sorcerous talent and reliable experimental knowledge. 11

Appearance

During Adam's psychological campaign against him, Adel is described as visibly worn down by fear, injury, and blood thirst. 12

• Bloodshot eyes and a haggard, terrified appearance after several days of anxiety. 12
• Accidentally cut off two toes while logging, leaving him limping and vulnerable. 12
• Later appears poorly dressed, injured, and shabby among the better-resourced aberrants at House No. 17. 29

Personality

Adel is driven foremost by survival. He endured blood thirst without hunting, hid outside Roa for months before entering the city, and seized the chance to escape his vampire master when others did not. 10 11

His ambition is inseparable from his desperation. He wanted to become both a sorcerer and a pure vampire, then sought status within Adam's growing aberrant organization. This ambition also makes him highly susceptible to Adam's approval and promises of advancement. 11 29

Though cautious in arranging meetings with aberrants separately, Adel collapses under sustained uncertainty. Adam exploits his fear of exposure, his stolen journal, and his need for a means of concealing his abnormality until Adel becomes submissive. 12 15

Abilities & Skills

Blood Thrall Physiology

As a blood thrall, Adel suffers from a craving for blood and must conceal his abnormality from the Church.

• Can endure severe blood thirst for extended periods rather than immediately hunting. 11
• Is able to stare directly at the sun to collect tears for the ritual; blood thralls are not shown to be harmed by sunlight. 16
• His condition leaves him vulnerable to holy power before the Tears of God Ritual. 17

Survival and Concealment

Adel has demonstrated practical caution despite his poor judgment under pressure.

• Escaped a vampire's experiments and survived alone in the forest for months. 10 11
• Located local aberrants through Jin and Hoda before returning to Roa. 10 20
• Brought potential recruits to his home separately rather than assembling them in public. 15

Aberrant Recruitment

After submitting to Adam, Adel becomes a key contact point between “Nesser Riggs” and Roa's hidden aberrant community.

• Was ordered to contact every aberrant he knew and prepare them to accept Adam's employment. 13
• Gathered at least five aberrants at his home before Adam's first major gathering. 15
• Continued recruiting aberrants after receiving the first stage of the Tears of God Ritual. 49

Equipment / Items

• Handwritten journal — Recorded his history, scattered vampire-related knowledge, and failed theories on becoming a pure vampire; Adam stole it and used its contents against him. 10 11
• Concealment potions — Used to hide his abnormality while living in Roa; their cost contributed to his poverty. 10
• Divine Word — Kept a copy in his home, despite his limited theological knowledge. 13 17

Relationships

• Adam / “Nesser Riggs” — Master and manipulator. Adam steals Adel's journal, engineers his breakdown, promises the Tears of God Ritual, and uses him as a recruiter. Adel becomes fiercely eager for Adam's approval. 11 13 29
• Jin — Acquaintance and early guide. Adel met Jin while hiding in the forest; Jin's guidance led him to Hoda and eventually back into Roa. 20
• Hoda — Contact among Roa's aberrants. Adel met Hoda after his months in hiding and used the connection to return to city life. 10 20
• Will — Rival within Adam's organization. Adel resents Will's wealth and influence and resolves to surpass him in Adam's favor. 29
• Unnamed vampire master — Captor and creator. This vampire turned Adel into a blood thrall and used him as an experimental assistant before Adel escaped. 10 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Subjugation by Adam

Adam identifies Adel as a useful but dangerous blood thrall after discovering his journal. Rather than kill him, Adam steals his potions and notes, leaves a cryptic promise of concealment, and waits for fear to destroy Adel's composure. 10 12

When Adam finally visits in a priest's disguise, Adel is injured, terrified, and unable to think clearly. Adam defeats his desperate lunge by exploiting the injury, then adopts the false identity of a deserting priest to secure Adel's obedience. 12 13

Tears of God Ritual

Adel is selected as the first subject of the Tears of God Ritual and willingly collects tears by staring into the sun. He suffers intensely during the ritual but survives, gaining protection from the Church's holy power and becoming proof of Adam's supposed authority over the aberrants. 16 17

Ambition within the Aberrant Network

Once his immediate fear of exposure is eased, Adel's priorities shift toward rank and influence. Adam's brief praise at House No. 17 reignites Adel's ambition, causing him to view Will as a rival and seek a position above the other aberrants. 29

By the time Adam begins expanding the network further, Adel is trusted with the first stage of the ritual and additional recruitment duties. 49