Mariko

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Mariko
Alias(es)	Old Mariko; Old Marico
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Forest Mutual Aid Society; Forest Patrol
Occupation/Role	Forest-dwelling wizard; Forest Patrol squad leader
Status	Deceased; killed by Vissel's Wind Blades 36
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background and History

Mariko was an elderly wizard living in a treehouse in the forest outside Aina Town. In his youth, he travelled widely within the Wizard Alliance and survived multiple wizard wars, experiences that left him highly pragmatic about war, displacement, and the treatment of weaker wizards. 6 16 34

He became one of Dago's first sources of guidance in the forest, sharing knowledge of Ainak Wizard Academy and the Wizard Alliance. He also cautioned Dago that the Moonlight Flowers southwest of the forest lay in Shadow Leopard territory—an area dangerous enough that even Mariko avoided it. 6 10

After Wizard Rosalyn's death, Mariko silently shared food and liquor with the grieving Dago. When the Duskblood Council's invasion began, he drew on his wartime experience to assess the threat and proposed a Forest Mutual Aid Society so that the isolated forest wizards could protect one another. 15 16

Mariko sent Dago to deliver a letter to an old friend, only for Dago to find the friend's cave devastated and occupied by a Duskblood Council wizard. After Dago returned with the enemy's badge, Mariko identified the organization and took responsibility for warning the forest dwellers while Dago reported the intelligence to the academy. 17 18

He helped establish the eight-member Forest Patrol, arguing for Dago to serve as captain because of Dago's combat record and forest experience. Mariko led a squad with Evan and Evan's wife, later serving as the patrol's defensive and support specialist. 20 25

During the patrol's campaign against the Duskblood Council, Mariko repeatedly protected others despite his age and declining condition. He rescued Vissel's team from Morlock, supported Selena after her first killing, and continued fighting after being seriously injured by a black-robed wizard. 23 25 26

On a town-patrol mission, Mariko lost an arm while protecting a young hired wizard. He urged Dago not to retaliate against Vissel, fearing that Dago would be hunted by the academy; shortly afterward, Mariko used his remaining strength to push Dago and the young wizard away from Vissel's Wind Blades. The spell killed him instead. 36

Dago later gathered Mariko's cremated remains, and he and Selena buried an urn in the Wizard Inn courtyard. They continued paying their respects after his death. 39 44

Appearance

Mariko was an elderly man whose age showed in his clouded eyes, aged voice, and worn clothing. He typically wore a tattered, faded old robe and lived simply in a forest treehouse. 6 39

• Wore a worn, repeatedly washed robe with a frayed collar. 39
• Carried a delicate silver hip flask and frequently drank liquor. 6
• Lost an arm while protecting a hired wizard during the town-patrol ambush. 36

Personality

Mariko was compassionate, community-minded, and deeply shaped by the wars he had survived. He understood that wandering and hired wizards would be treated as expendable in a prolonged conflict, and he consistently urged caution, mutual aid, and preparation rather than blind faith in the academy. 16 33 34

Despite accepting that he would likely never become a Formal Wizard, Mariko continued protecting others. He showed patience toward Dago and Selena, comforted Selena after her first killing, and regarded Dago as an unusually humane wizard. 25 33 34

Abilities & Skills

Restful Soul Spell

Mariko could use the Restful Soul Spell to ease the suffering of the dead.

• Cast silver light over a mummified corpse and drew forth its anguished soul. 22
• Calmed the soul until it transformed into light and vanished. 22
• Presided over Gavin's funeral after the Forest Patrol's first casualty. 24

Ice Spell

Mariko possessed a powerful ice-element spell capable of freezing hostile wizards.

• Blasted Morlock with ice magic, freezing him and leaving him vulnerable to Dago's finishing attack. 23

Flash Orb

Mariko used Flash Orb as a battlefield support spell.

• Released a glowing sphere that erupted into intense light near an enemy's face. 25
• Used it with Selena's Vine Art and Dago's Ice Crystal Technique as part of the team's coordinated ambushes. 25

Patrol Tactics

Mariko was an experienced wartime survivor and a capable field organizer.

• Assessed the Duskblood Council's invasion as an early phase of intelligence gathering, assassination, and testing. 16
• Proposed the Forest Mutual Aid Society and helped rally forest-dwelling wizards. 16 18
• Served as a defensive and harassment specialist in Dago's three-person squad. 25

Equipment / Items

• Silver hip flask — A delicate flask carried in his tattered robe; used for sharing liquor with Dago. 6
• Parchment map — Used to show forest wizards the Duskblood Council's advance-force positions. 19

Relationships

• Dago — Neighbor, mentor figure, and close companion. Mariko guided Dago in forest survival and wartime realities, supported his leadership of the Forest Patrol, and ultimately died protecting him. 6 16 20 33 36
• Selena — Forest Patrol teammate. Mariko comforted her after her first killing; Selena was devastated by his death and joined Dago in mourning him. 25 37 39
• Vissel — Fellow Forest Patrol member whose arrogance Mariko tried to defuse. Vissel's Wind Blades killed Mariko during the town-patrol ambush. 20 35 36
• Evan and Evan's wife — Mariko's Forest Patrol squadmates; they fought alongside him during the rescue of Vissel's group and later hosted him, Dago, and Selena for dinner. 20 23 32
• Unnamed reclusive friend — An old friend and fellow Third-Level Apprentice Wizard living in a southern forest cave. Mariko sent Dago to deliver him a letter, but the man had apparently been killed before Dago arrived. 17 18

Notable Quotes

“We usually watch out for one another, but now that war has come, we must look out for and help each other like brothers and sisters.” 16

“From the wars I experienced before, hired wizards did fairly well in the early stages. But once the war intensified, there was only one fate waiting for them: becoming cannon fodder.” 34

“You are the most humane wizard I have ever met. I am certain you can become a great wizard.” 33

Trivia

• Mariko once became drunk around a campfire and performed a chaotic belly dance, forcing Dago to carry him back to his treehouse. 6
• He had spent nearly his entire life waiting for his spiritual power to undergo Metamorphosis, but ultimately remained an apprentice wizard. 34