TV-Series
Description
Axel Thurston is the paternal grandfather of Renton Thurston, the main protagonist, and lives in the quiet town of Bellforest. He is a man whose past is deeply intertwined with the pivotal events of the world, having been a miner and mechanic during the age of trapar mining. His work in this field was monumental, leading to the discovery of the archetype of the Nirvash typeZERO, a legendary Light Finding Operation platform, and also of a Humanoid Coralian who would later be named Eureka. His mechanical prowess became legendary, earning him immense respect from both the older generation of miners and the military, which was quick to adopt LFO technology for combat purposes.
In terms of personality, Axel is initially presented as a headstrong and gruff individual, often appearing cynical and stubborn, especially regarding matters of the military and his grandson’s future. He desires for Renton to follow in his footsteps as a mechanic, a path he sees as safe and practical. This attitude is a direct defense mechanism born from profound loss. His trust in the military was shattered when an experiment involving his son, Adrock Thurston, and Eureka failed, triggering a catastrophic event known as the First Summer of Love. Adrock vanished and was presumed dead, leaving Axel to care for his two children, Diane and a young Renton. Years later, Diane, while researching her father’s work, also disappeared, compounding Axel’s grief and fueling his bitter resentment towards anything associated with the military or the heroism that took his family away. Despite this hardened exterior, Axel possesses a deep and genuine love for his family, and beneath his grumbling lies a warm, if often unspoken, affection.
Axel’s role in the story is that of a reluctant guardian who ultimately becomes a crucial supporter from afar. When Renton’s school suggests a path into the military, Axel is outraged, refusing to lose another family member. Ironically, it is his own past that sets Renton on the very path he fears. The Nirvash typeZERO, with Eureka as its pilot, crash-lands on his home seeking the Amita Drive, a special Compac Drive left behind by Adrock. Despite his attempts to handle the situation himself, it is Renton who ultimately delivers the drive to Eureka, joining the renegade group Gekkostate and embarking on the adventure Axel desperately wanted to prevent. While he remains in Bellforest, Axel continues to play a vital role. When the Nirvash is upgraded and requires a new, highly specialized ref-board, Axel is revealed to be the only mechanic qualified to build it. He completes the task under immense pressure and risks his life to send it to the Gekko via a fast-moving trapar current, demonstrating his unwavering, if indirect, support for his grandson.
Key relationships define Axel’s character. His relationship with his late son, Adrock, is one of pride mixed with sorrow, often talking to a portrait of him and lamenting the legacy that continues to pull his family away. His relationship with Renton is the most dynamic; it evolves from one of frustration and overprotectiveness to a quiet, proud acceptance as he witnesses his grandson grow. His final act of giving Renton the Amita Drive is both a farewell and an acknowledgment of Renton’s own destiny. Axel also shares a significant history with Eureka, having been present at her discovery. Despite the tragedy linked to her and his son, he ultimately accepts her into his family, and in the series' conclusion, Eureka is listed as "Eureka Thurston" in the family record book. Furthermore, he becomes the caretaker for Eureka’s adopted children, Maurice, Maeter, and Linck, while Renton and Eureka are away, expressing joy at having great-grandchildren in his old age.
Axel’s development is subtle but clear, centered on learning to let go. He moves from a position of rigid control, trying to force Renton into a safe, predetermined life as a mechanic, to one of quiet support for his grandson’s chosen, dangerous path. His legendary abilities as a mechanic are his most notable contribution. His skill is not just technical but almost intuitive, allowing him to build and modify LFO components that no one else can, a talent that proves essential for the Nirvash's evolution and, by extension, the fate of the world.
In terms of personality, Axel is initially presented as a headstrong and gruff individual, often appearing cynical and stubborn, especially regarding matters of the military and his grandson’s future. He desires for Renton to follow in his footsteps as a mechanic, a path he sees as safe and practical. This attitude is a direct defense mechanism born from profound loss. His trust in the military was shattered when an experiment involving his son, Adrock Thurston, and Eureka failed, triggering a catastrophic event known as the First Summer of Love. Adrock vanished and was presumed dead, leaving Axel to care for his two children, Diane and a young Renton. Years later, Diane, while researching her father’s work, also disappeared, compounding Axel’s grief and fueling his bitter resentment towards anything associated with the military or the heroism that took his family away. Despite this hardened exterior, Axel possesses a deep and genuine love for his family, and beneath his grumbling lies a warm, if often unspoken, affection.
Axel’s role in the story is that of a reluctant guardian who ultimately becomes a crucial supporter from afar. When Renton’s school suggests a path into the military, Axel is outraged, refusing to lose another family member. Ironically, it is his own past that sets Renton on the very path he fears. The Nirvash typeZERO, with Eureka as its pilot, crash-lands on his home seeking the Amita Drive, a special Compac Drive left behind by Adrock. Despite his attempts to handle the situation himself, it is Renton who ultimately delivers the drive to Eureka, joining the renegade group Gekkostate and embarking on the adventure Axel desperately wanted to prevent. While he remains in Bellforest, Axel continues to play a vital role. When the Nirvash is upgraded and requires a new, highly specialized ref-board, Axel is revealed to be the only mechanic qualified to build it. He completes the task under immense pressure and risks his life to send it to the Gekko via a fast-moving trapar current, demonstrating his unwavering, if indirect, support for his grandson.
Key relationships define Axel’s character. His relationship with his late son, Adrock, is one of pride mixed with sorrow, often talking to a portrait of him and lamenting the legacy that continues to pull his family away. His relationship with Renton is the most dynamic; it evolves from one of frustration and overprotectiveness to a quiet, proud acceptance as he witnesses his grandson grow. His final act of giving Renton the Amita Drive is both a farewell and an acknowledgment of Renton’s own destiny. Axel also shares a significant history with Eureka, having been present at her discovery. Despite the tragedy linked to her and his son, he ultimately accepts her into his family, and in the series' conclusion, Eureka is listed as "Eureka Thurston" in the family record book. Furthermore, he becomes the caretaker for Eureka’s adopted children, Maurice, Maeter, and Linck, while Renton and Eureka are away, expressing joy at having great-grandchildren in his old age.
Axel’s development is subtle but clear, centered on learning to let go. He moves from a position of rigid control, trying to force Renton into a safe, predetermined life as a mechanic, to one of quiet support for his grandson’s chosen, dangerous path. His legendary abilities as a mechanic are his most notable contribution. His skill is not just technical but almost intuitive, allowing him to build and modify LFO components that no one else can, a talent that proves essential for the Nirvash's evolution and, by extension, the fate of the world.