Elias Ainsworth

Lore & Background

Elias Ainsworth is also called the Child of Thorns and Pilum Muralis ("Wall Spear"). He is a being with both fae and human elements, his origins a mystery. His humanlike traits imply he was a mage who dabbled in black magic, consequently losing his humanity and memories. The other faeries see him as an abomination, something he does not mind.

Occasionally, he uses glamour spells to hide his animalistic appearance, taking on a similar look to people he knows or sees—his true form being a shapeless mass of thorns and darkness. He also wears a red veil on the back of his head which he sometimes covers his face with when speaking to others. In the series he first resembles Simon, then Chise, and then an unknown woman. He can summon and control thorns, and transform into shadows.

When angry enough, he adopts a more monstrous form consisting of various animal parts, such as a fish tail, wings or a snake body. Lindenbaum calls him a child in regards to Elias' limited understanding and sensations of human emotions. To this end, Elias purchases Chise partially because she is a rare Sleigh Beggy, but also with hope she can teach him about human feelings and behavior. He is indifferent or uncomfortable around children, because they often see through his shadow magic and fear him; the ones that do not fear him ask many questions about him he cannot answer.

Reader's Guide

Elias Ainsworth is the master and fiancé of Chise Hatori, a teenage apprentice and future bride. He is a seven-foot-tall humanoid with an animal skull for a head, known as the Thorn Mage, the Child of Thorns, and Pilum Muralis. His origins are a mystery: a being with both fae and human elements, hinted to have been born from the shadows of the forest, but his humanlike traits imply he was a mage who dabbled in black magic, losing his humanity and memories.

He was once apprenticed to Master Lindenbaum, who calls him a child regarding his limited understanding of human emotions. Elias can summon and control thorns, transform into shadows, and use glamour spells to hide his true form—a tall man with the skull of a sharp-toothed horned beast with glowing red lights in the sockets. He wears a red veil on the back of his head. He dislikes children because they see through his shadow magic and fear him, or ask questions he cannot answer.

His key relationship is with Chise, whom he purchased for five million pounds at a London auction. He buys her because she is a rare Sleigh Beggy, but also with hope she can teach him about human feelings and behavior. Their dynamic evolves as she practices magic and he learns to understand emotions.

Origins and Nature

Elias Ainsworth is a mysterious entity known by titles such as the Child of Thorns, Pilum Muralis, or the Thorn Mage. His true nature remains enigmatic, with hints suggesting he was born from forest shadows or perhaps a human mage who dabbled in forbidden black magic, subsequently losing his humanity and memories. To other faeries, he is viewed as an abomination, though this perception does not trouble him. His physical form is that of a towering seven-foot humanoid possessing the skull of a sharp-toothed, horned beast with glowing red sockets, often concealed by a red veil or glamour spells that allow him to mimic human appearances.

He possesses formidable abilities, including summoning and controlling thorns, transforming into shadows, and shifting into monstrous amalgamations of animal parts when enraged. Despite his terrifying appearance and power, he is described as emotionally immature regarding human sensations, viewing himself almost as a child in terms of understanding complex feelings.

The Purchase of Chise

Elias's primary motivation for entering the human world was to acquire Chise Hatori, an orphaned Japanese student who sold herself into slavery at a London auction. He purchased her for five million pounds after identifying her as a Sleigh Beggy, a rare magus capable of drawing immense power from both her surroundings and her own life force. This unique ability comes at a terrible cost; it severely strains the user's body, typically leading to premature death within three years.

Elias bought Chise not merely for her magical potential but with the specific hope of preventing her inevitable early demise. Furthermore, he sought her companionship to learn about human emotions and behaviors, areas where his own understanding is limited. While he initially views her as a vessel to be protected from exhaustion, their relationship evolves into one where she becomes his apprentice and fiancée, teaching him the nuances of humanity while he guides her magical education.

Magical Abilities and Limitations

As a powerful magus, Elias commands thorns and shadows with great precision, utilizing them for both defense and offense. He frequently employs glamour magic to alter his appearance, taking on forms that resemble people he knows or has seen, such as Simon Kalm or Chise herself, to navigate social situations without causing immediate panic. However, his true form is a constant reminder of his non-human origins, featuring an animal skull and a red veil that he sometimes uses to cover his face during conversation.

His emotional volatility can trigger a transformation into a grotesque hybrid creature composed of various animal parts, including fish tails, wings, or snake bodies. Despite his immense power, Elias struggles with the concept of human interaction, particularly with children who often see through his illusions and ask questions he cannot answer. This inability to comprehend certain social dynamics reinforces his reliance on Chise to bridge the gap between his fae nature and the human world.

Mentorship and Relationships

Elias's journey is deeply intertwined with his past mentor, Lindenbaum, a centuries-old dragon guardian who refers to Elias as a child due to his limited emotional comprehension. This dynamic highlights Elias's ongoing struggle to mature beyond his instinctual reactions. Beyond his master, Elias interacts with various figures in the magical community, including Angelica Varley, an old acquaintance and skilled technician of Magus Craft. His household also includes Silver, a former banshee turned silent silkie who manages domestic duties and fiercely protects Chise from outsiders like Simon Kalm.

Additionally, he is accompanied by Ruth, a Church grim familiar who shares a mental link with Chise and views her as a sister. These relationships illustrate Elias's gradual integration into a family unit, moving away from his solitary existence to find purpose in caring for others, even if his methods remain unconventional and rooted in his fae heritage.