Ariel is one of the central figures in the narrative, a human boy found as an infant by the Iorph girl Maquia. He is discovered in the arms of his deceased mother, the sole survivor of a tragic attack on a caravan, and Maquia takes him in, naming him Ariel and deciding to raise him as her own child. This adoption sets the course for his entire life, placing him at the heart of a story about motherhood, the passage of time, and the bonds of family.

Physically, Ariel's appearance changes dramatically over the course of the story, reflecting his journey from infancy to old age. As a child, he has short orange hair and bright green eyes, typically dressed in simple, warm-colored clothes like a green shirt, yellow pants, and brown boots. During his teenage years spent working at an iron mill, he adopts the standard work clothes of that trade. As a young man, he enlists in the Mezarte Kingdom's army and is seen in its standard-issue soldier's uniform. In his final years, he is depicted as a frail, elderly man with white hair, wearing a simple green shirt.

Ariel’s personality is marked by a profound evolution, shaped by the unique circumstances of his upbringing. As a young child, he is described as playful, vivacious, and full of energy. He openly adores his mother, Maquia, and is fiercely defensive of her. When other children bully him, he stands up for her, proudly declaring his love and his future intention to protect her when he grows up. This innocent devotion, however, becomes complicated as he enters adolescence. The secret of Maquia’s immortal Iorph heritage becomes impossible to ignore; she does not age, and he does. Upon learning that they are not related by blood, Ariel grows distant and conflicted. This internal turmoil comes to a head in a heated dispute where he angrily declares he can no longer be her son. However, this anger is later revealed to be a mask for deep-seated frustration with himself. He confides in Lang, a family friend, that his negative feelings are not truly about Maquia but stem from his own perceived failure to protect her and his inability to fully comprehend how she can love him so completely despite his flaws. In adulthood, his temperament softens significantly. He becomes a caring and loving husband to his wife, Dita, and looks forward to the birth of their first child with evident joy.

Ariel’s primary motivation is a desire to find his own identity and purpose, which is inextricably linked to his relationship with his adoptive mother. As a child, his motivation is simple: to grow up and become strong enough to protect Maquia. As a teenager, his motivation shifts toward independence and proving his own worth, separate from her. This drive leads him to leave Maquia, take up a job as a miner, and later enlist as a soldier for the Mezarte kingdom, a nation that once threatened his mother’s people. This decision is a crucial act of self-definition. In his later years, his motivation returns to its roots: protecting his family, which now includes his wife and child. During the final invasion of Mezarte, he chooses to defend his home and his pregnant wife rather than search for Maquia, a mature decision that prioritizes his immediate responsibilities over his past.

Ariel’s role in the story is to serve as the emotional and temporal anchor for Maquia’s immortal perspective. While Maquia is the protagonist who experiences time slowly, Ariel is the human who ages at a normal pace, allowing the film to explore themes of change, loss, and unconditional love. He is not a hero in a grand fantasy adventure but the central figure in a deeply personal drama about a mother and son. His entire life, from a helpless baby to a dying old man, is chronicled, providing the narrative’s structure and its most poignant moments.

His key relationships define every stage of his life. The most significant is, of course, with Maquia. Their bond is the core of the story, evolving from innocent maternal love, to rebellious teenage angst, and finally to a mature, understanding, and deeply affectionate reconciliation. In his final moments, as an old man, he smiles and lovingly welcomes Maquia home, affirming their eternal connection. Another crucial relationship is with Dita, a girl from his childhood community. They eventually marry, and she becomes the center of his new family, representing the normal human life he builds for himself. He also shares a significant bond with Lang, who is initially like an older brother figure. Their relationship becomes more complex when a grown-up Ariel seeks to join the same army that Lang serves, leading to conflict before Lang ultimately accepts Ariel’s decision.

Ariel’s development is the central thread of his character. He progresses through Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, successfully navigating the challenges from infancy to late adulthood to achieve a sense of integrity. His journey is one from innocence to rebelliousness, then to responsibility and finally to a peaceful acceptance of a life fully lived. He has no superhuman abilities or special skills; his strengths are emotional and relational. He learns to work as a miner and fights as a soldier, but his most notable abilities are his capacity for love, his struggle for self-acceptance, and his ultimate ability to reconcile his past with his present, allowing him to die peacefully, surrounded by the legacy of the family he built.