TV-Series
Description
Hadji is a central figure in the narrative, serving as the first and most loyal Chevalier, or knight, to the protagonist Saya. His origin story begins in 1870 when he was approximately twelve years old, purchased from his parents by Amshel Goldsmith in exchange for a loaf of bread. He was brought to a research facility known as the Zoo in Bordeaux, France, to serve as a companion and potential mate for Saya. The initial relationship between the two was strained; Hadji was taciturn and could be rude, while Saya was described as spoiled and selfish. However, after learning of his circumstances, Saya showed him sympathy, and they gradually developed a deep friendship, with Saya teaching him to play the cello and Hadji accompanying her in fencing practice. During this time, they made a childhood promise: I will take my sword and travel the world, together with Hadji.
As Hadji grew into adulthood, he became suspicious of the fact that Saya never aged. After learning her secret from Joel Goldschmidt, he remained devoted to her. Their bond was sealed through tragedy. In 1883, Hadji fell from a cliff while trying to pick a flower for Saya, suffering a fatal injury. Desperate to save him, Saya cut her own hand and gave him her blood to drink through a kiss, mistakenly believing this was the medicine he needed. This act stopped his aging and transformed him into a Chiropteran, a being now eternally bound to serve and protect her as her Chevalier.
Despite the immense sacrifice, Hadji harbors no resentment toward Saya. He assures her that becoming her Chevalier has no regrets, as it allows him to remain by her side forever. His entire existence becomes dedicated to fulfilling her wishes and protecting her from her twin sister, Diva, and the other Chiropterans. For the majority of the story, Hadji exhibits a calm, stoic, and melancholic personality, speaking in a quiet monotone and rarely showing his emotions. This personality shift is largely attributed to a traumatic incident during the Vietnam War in 1972, when Saya was prematurely awakened from hibernation using his blood. She awoke in a berserk frenzy, failing to recognize him and cutting off his arm. This event deeply traumatized him, and his right hand remained permanently frozen in its Chiropteran form, hidden by bandages. The incident also caused him to distance himself from Saya and others, believing his role was simply to obey her orders and look after her well-being while keeping his deeper feelings to himself.
His role in the story is that of Saya’s eternal guardian. He is the key to awakening her from her periods of thirty-year hibernation and fights tirelessly beside her against the forces of Diva. His devotion is absolute; he follows her commands without question, even when it leads to his own physical and emotional suffering. He carries Saya’s katana inside a large, coffin-shaped black case that also serves as his cello case, which he uses as a shield or blunt weapon in combat. He is a highly skilled swordsman and also wields several small daggers. While he typically suppresses his Chiropteran abilities to avoid frightening Saya, he can partially transform, revealing bat-like wings and enhanced strength. He only resorts to using his full power when her life is in imminent danger, such as saving her from falling from a great height or fighting powerful enemies like Amshel.
Key relationships define his character. His bond with Saya is the central pillar of his existence, evolving from friendship to an unbreakable, centuries-spanning love. He also forms a brotherly bond with Riku, another of Saya’s Chevaliers, and acts as a mentor to him. He shows a degree of quiet jealousy toward Kai, Saya’s adoptive brother, who can make her laugh in a way Hadji feels he cannot. Over the course of the series, his character develops from a near-silent, obedient servant to someone who ultimately voices his own desires. In the final battle, he disobeys Saya for the first and only time, confessing his love for her and his true wish for her to live on and be happy, rather than fulfilling her original order to kill her after Diva’s death. While he is believed to have perished in the collapsing opera house, the epilogue reveals he survived. Years later, a fresh pink rose tied with his signature blue ribbon is found at the crypt where Saya sleeps, signifying he is alive and patiently waiting for her to awaken from her thirty-year slumber so they can finally be together.
As Hadji grew into adulthood, he became suspicious of the fact that Saya never aged. After learning her secret from Joel Goldschmidt, he remained devoted to her. Their bond was sealed through tragedy. In 1883, Hadji fell from a cliff while trying to pick a flower for Saya, suffering a fatal injury. Desperate to save him, Saya cut her own hand and gave him her blood to drink through a kiss, mistakenly believing this was the medicine he needed. This act stopped his aging and transformed him into a Chiropteran, a being now eternally bound to serve and protect her as her Chevalier.
Despite the immense sacrifice, Hadji harbors no resentment toward Saya. He assures her that becoming her Chevalier has no regrets, as it allows him to remain by her side forever. His entire existence becomes dedicated to fulfilling her wishes and protecting her from her twin sister, Diva, and the other Chiropterans. For the majority of the story, Hadji exhibits a calm, stoic, and melancholic personality, speaking in a quiet monotone and rarely showing his emotions. This personality shift is largely attributed to a traumatic incident during the Vietnam War in 1972, when Saya was prematurely awakened from hibernation using his blood. She awoke in a berserk frenzy, failing to recognize him and cutting off his arm. This event deeply traumatized him, and his right hand remained permanently frozen in its Chiropteran form, hidden by bandages. The incident also caused him to distance himself from Saya and others, believing his role was simply to obey her orders and look after her well-being while keeping his deeper feelings to himself.
His role in the story is that of Saya’s eternal guardian. He is the key to awakening her from her periods of thirty-year hibernation and fights tirelessly beside her against the forces of Diva. His devotion is absolute; he follows her commands without question, even when it leads to his own physical and emotional suffering. He carries Saya’s katana inside a large, coffin-shaped black case that also serves as his cello case, which he uses as a shield or blunt weapon in combat. He is a highly skilled swordsman and also wields several small daggers. While he typically suppresses his Chiropteran abilities to avoid frightening Saya, he can partially transform, revealing bat-like wings and enhanced strength. He only resorts to using his full power when her life is in imminent danger, such as saving her from falling from a great height or fighting powerful enemies like Amshel.
Key relationships define his character. His bond with Saya is the central pillar of his existence, evolving from friendship to an unbreakable, centuries-spanning love. He also forms a brotherly bond with Riku, another of Saya’s Chevaliers, and acts as a mentor to him. He shows a degree of quiet jealousy toward Kai, Saya’s adoptive brother, who can make her laugh in a way Hadji feels he cannot. Over the course of the series, his character develops from a near-silent, obedient servant to someone who ultimately voices his own desires. In the final battle, he disobeys Saya for the first and only time, confessing his love for her and his true wish for her to live on and be happy, rather than fulfilling her original order to kill her after Diva’s death. While he is believed to have perished in the collapsing opera house, the epilogue reveals he survived. Years later, a fresh pink rose tied with his signature blue ribbon is found at the crypt where Saya sleeps, signifying he is alive and patiently waiting for her to awaken from her thirty-year slumber so they can finally be together.