Waver Velvet
A young mage who matures through war and becomes a respected teacher.
Waver Velvet is a fictional character introduced in Type Moon's prequel light novel Fate/Zero, written by Gen Urobuchi and Takashi Takeuchi. He is a nineteen-year-old Clock Tower student who steals his teacher's artifact to join the Fourth Holy Grail War as the Master of Rider, later becoming a professor and the Dean of Norwich. After being adopted into the El-Melloi family, he is formally given the title of Lord El-Melloi II and serves as the main protagonist in the spin-off light novel The Case Files of Lord El-Melloi II.
Quick Facts
- Series
- Fate
- Creator
- Gen Urobuchi
- First
- Fate/Zero (2006)
- First game
- Fate/Grand Order (2015)
Facts from the source article.
Appearances
Waver was a student of the Mineralogy Department. After being humiliated by his teacher for submitting an essay arguing that anyone can become a great mage through hard work, he steals his teacher's artifact and enters the Holy Grail War to force the Mages' Association to recognize his genius. Using the artifact, he summons Iskandar (Alexander the Great) of the Rider class. Near the war's end, Archer is about to kill them, but Iskandar convinces Waver to become his servant, which Waver accepts.
Archer kills Iskandar but spares Waver out of respect for Iskandar's values and Waver's newfound will to live. Waver then travels the world before returning to the Clock Tower. In the epilogue of Ufotable's anime adaptation of Unlimited Blade Works, Waver meets student Shirou Emiya in a Clock Tower hallway and asks his reasons for studying magecraft; Shirou says he wants to become a hero of justice, and Waver replies that while the dream may be foolish, it might be too big for the Clock Tower.
The previous Lord El-Melloi, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, had been killed, causing the El-Melloi clan's decline. Feeling responsible, Waver borrows a loan from Melvin Weins to buy the El-Melloi Classroom and begins teaching Modern Magecraft. Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, Kayneth's niece, asks Waver to take the title of El-Melloi and temporarily become head until she comes of age. Waver accepts on the condition he be called Lord El-Melloi II, feeling unworthy of the original title. For ten years, he has been a popular professor at the Clock Tower.
Creation and conception
Urobuchi wrote Waver as a young child who would seek his path to adulthood through traumatic events. Waver was conceptualized as a weak character similar to Nobita Nobi from Doraemon, but by the end he had grown enough to be mistaken for the protagonist. Artist Takashi Takeuchi said his original design motif was 'sarcastic, smart-alecky boy' and had no trouble designing him because he had a clear image. Takeuchi felt the design that makes him look incompetent was for the best and was satisfied with Waver's reception in the light novels.
Takeuchi described the incarnation of Waver as a 'heroine' based on Ufotable's portrayal, but believed viewers would still like him. Urobuchi found it difficult to see another author write about Waver developing as a mage while he could only watch events unfold, but that worry proved unfounded. The character's growth was so large that he became different from the original version. Urobuchi described him as 'the gentleman who had polished his powers of analysis, bearing a cunning like an old man's wisdom, while still hiding the distortion of his youth somewhere in his heart,' making him an 'enchanting character.
The novelists describe El-Melloi as a quiet man with a sense of humor. Waver's character was influenced by Sherlock Holmes, with Gray as his sidekick Dr. Watson. Their relationship centers on Gray's weaker persona and her constant thoughts about her master, aiming to attract the female demographic.
Reception
Waver Velvet is considered one of the tragic figures in Fate/Zero, even though he starts with little to lose. Critics noted that his presence makes audiences care about his servant. The bond between Waver and Iskandar is often highlighted for their stark differences, with Waver gradually growing stronger because of his servant. Unlike other master-servant pairs in the series, their relationship is unusually friendly and close.
Early on, Waver was seen as a source of comic relief, while others found him complex due to his reliance on a servant. Later assessments praised the pair as the best master-servant dynamic in the show, focusing on how Waver overcomes his inferiority complex. Their conversations and interactions, where Waver learns about Iskandar’s desire for conquest, were especially appreciated. One review described their companionship as heartwarming to watch.
Another outlet listed them among the manliest bromances for their friendship. In a 2012 fan poll, Waver ranked as the third most popular master from Fate/Zero.
More in Servants & Masters
Elsewhere in Fate Grand Order
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