Alva

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Alva Ratu (阿尔瓦)
Alias(es)	Master Alva; Alva Ratu
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Holy Sound Church (formerly); one of the Holy Sound Three Heroes 33 36
Occupation/Role	Painter and mural restorer; former priest; Adam Boku's nominal spellcasting instructor 6 33 35 36
Status	Alive; over eighty years old while retaining the appearance of a middle-aged man 33
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Alva was once described as the Holy Sound Kingdom's most gifted priest of the past century. Alongside Xia Ya and Anthony, he belonged to the Holy Sound Three Heroes. At some point, he created the Elixir of Immortality, an act for which the Church stripped him of all holy power. He subsequently lived in the border city of Roa under Xia Ya's protection. 33 36

Though he appears to be around forty, Alva is over eighty and is stated to have used the Elixir of Immortality without altering his life aura. The elixir's precise method and wider consequences remain obscured; Adam and Jin later speculate that aberrants and Count Ronnie's disappearance may have been involved, but lack proof. 33 50

By the time Adam meets him, Alva has settled in Roa as a painter and works on restoring the Southern District Church's murals. He accepts Adam as an apprentice at Fula's request and Xia Ya's urging, though he quickly recognizes Adam's ambition and distrusts his character. 6 10 14

When Adam visits Thousand Paintings House, Alva tests him through the manor's unusual gallery. After Adam's spiritual power is confirmed, Alva offers him a choice between inheriting his painting techniques and gallery, or taking a letter to pursue spiritual-power training. Adam chooses the letter, ending his painting apprenticeship. 32 33

The letter leads Adam to Anthony, whom Alva recommends as Adam's actual spellcasting mentor. Publicly, however, Adam is instructed to name Alva as his teacher, and Xia Ya arranges his Church registration as a spellcaster. 34 35 36

Appearance

Alva retains the appearance of a middle-aged man despite his true age. At the Church, he is commonly seen in white robes covered in paint and carries himself with the disheveled manner of an artist. 32 33

• Often wears white robes stained with various paints. 32
• Is portrayed in an old painting as a cheerful young man alongside Xia Ya and Anthony. 32
• Appears physically unimpressive enough that Adam doubts he follows the knight path. 32

Personality

Alva is abrasive, impatient, and openly contemptuous of ambition. He rarely softens his words for Adam, does not initially bother to remember his apprentice's name, and considers Adam's desire for advancement a dangerous trait rather than a virtue. 6 12 14

Despite this hostility, he acts with a degree of responsibility toward Adam. When Adam's bloodline agitation leaves him unable to work properly, Alva sends him home rather than allowing him to continue making mistakes. His decision to offer Adam a path toward spellcasting also reflects Xia Ya's belief that Adam might still be guided toward redemption. 14 32 33

Alva remains burdened by his past. After Adam leaves, he questions whether he has truly attained redemption and admits, at least to himself, that he lacks confidence in guiding someone who resembles his younger self. 33

Abilities & Skills

Master Painting and Mural Restoration

Alva is an exceptional painter and restoration specialist, capable of producing highly layered, lifelike painted craft murals.

• Uses layered materials, carving, pigments, colored stones, shells, and gemstones to create depth and changing colors. 10
• Detects subtle changes in pigment, humidity, lighting, material adhesion, and even slight shifts in embedded gemstones. 11
• Possesses an extraordinarily steady hand when carving detailed figures and anatomical textures. 11
• Teaches Adam practical mural work, including material ratios, pigment mixing, tool handling, and layered application. 10 11

Exceptional Perception

Alva's perception far exceeds Adam's early heightened senses and allows him to identify minute flaws in artworks and changes in people.

• Examines walls through touch, sight, sound, and smell while assessing mural restoration needs. 6
• Recognizes Adam's unstable mental state and disrupted concentration during his bloodline maturation. 14
• Identifies Adam's naturally awakened spiritual power. 32
• Is suggested to possess knowledge of curse arts, according to Anthony. 41

Thousand Paintings House

Alva's residence contains a gallery with paintings that exert psychological influence on visitors.

• Portraits in the gallery create the sensation of being watched and provoke buried shame and anger. 32
• The gallery serves as a test capable of drawing out abnormalities hidden in a visitor's mind. 32
• Alva uses Adam's successful passage through the gallery as evidence that it did not expose an abnormality in him. 32

Elixir of Immortality

Alva created the Elixir of Immortality, a longevity method sought by Viscount Doug Rom Alfred.

• The Church stripped Alva of his holy power for inventing it. 33
• Alva is said to have consumed the elixir while preserving his original life aura, making it especially desirable to nobles whose crests depend on bloodline compatibility. 33
• He consistently refuses Doug's requests for the elixir. 33 43
• Anthony characterizes the project as the result of Alva's lifelong urge to prove and change things. 46

Estate & Works

• Thousand Paintings House — Alva's manor in Roa's noble district, containing his studio, gallery, and extensive collection of paintings. 31 32
• Gallery inheritance — Alva offers Adam his lifetime of painting techniques and eventual inheritance of the gallery if Adam remains his painting student. 32 33
• Southern District Church murals — Large-scale restoration work through which Adam initially studies under Alva. 6 10

Relationships

• Adam Boku — Former painting apprentice. Alva recognizes Adam's talent but dislikes his ambition; he ultimately directs Adam toward spellcasting through a letter of introduction. 6 14 32 33
• Xia Ya — Old friend and fellow Holy Sound Three Hero. Xia Ya asks Alva to teach and guide Adam, believing Adam may be redeemed. 14 33
• Anthony Ratu Fernandes — Fellow Holy Sound Three Hero and recipient of Alva's letter of introduction for Adam. 32 34 36
• Ai — Loyal servant at Thousand Paintings House. Ai is an Overflow-stage knight and refuses unwanted visitors on Alva's behalf. 31 32 33
• Fula — The priest who initially asks Alva to take Adam as an apprentice. 6 14
• Doug Rom Alfred — Noble repeatedly seeking the Elixir of Immortality; Alva rejects him and refuses to provide the elixir. 33 43

Notable Quotes

“Adam, I know people like you very well. Your ambition will never allow you to stop at becoming a renowned painter.” 32

“Do not do something you will regret.” 33