TV-Series
Description
Ion Fortuna, the Earl of Memphis, is a Methuselah noble from the New Human Empire, also known as the Count of Memphis, who serves as a messenger and the Chief Imperial Sword Bearer for Augusta Vradica, the Empress of the Methuselah. Born in the year 3045, he is a favorite of the Empress and has been promised a future position in the State Secrets Institution. Despite his high rank, he has a youthful and somewhat feminine appearance, characterized by short blond hair and red eyes, making him look much younger than his actual age. This is because he underwent his "awakening," the transformation from a human into a full Methuselah, at a much younger age than is typical, a trait he shares with his grandmother, Mirka Fortuna, who is his primary caregiver after his mother died during his infancy.
In terms of personality, Ion initially appears as a short-tempered, proud, and somewhat patronizing noble who holds a deep dislike for humans, or "Terrans," from outside the Empire. This prejudice is evident in his early interactions, where he recoils at the touch of a human like Esther Blanchett and is deeply offended when a Vatican official refers to him as a "vampire" rather than the proper term "Methuselah". However, his rigid worldview is challenged and ultimately begins to change after a profound act of betrayal by the person he trusted most: Radu Barvon.
Radu is Ion's closest companion, his "tovarich," and a distant relative. They grew up together, and Ion considered him his only true friend. When Radu reveals himself to be a traitor working with the Rosenkreuz Orden, a secret organization aiming to start a new war between humans and Methuselah, Ion is devastated. Radu's mission is to kill Ion and frame the Vatican for the murder, a plan that would shatter the fragile peace. This traumatic event shatters Ion's innocence and forces him to confront a world where his black-and-white view of friends and enemies is no longer valid. As he grapples with the pain of this betrayal, he finds comfort in the kindness of Esther Blanchett, the very human he initially despised. Her empathy and care lead him to develop a strong friendship with her, and his feelings for her grow to the point where he wishes for her to stay with him in the Empire. He understands, however, that he must mature further before they can meet again, indicating a budding sense of self-awareness.
Ion's role in the story is that of a bridge between two worlds. Sent as a secret envoy to Cardinal Caterina Sforza of the Vatican, his mission is one of peace and diplomacy. The plot to assassinate him transforms him from a mere messenger into a fugitive and a target, forcing him to rely on former enemies like the priest Abel Nightroad and the nun Esther to survive. Through this ordeal, his motivations shift from simply serving the Empress to a more personal quest. Devastated by Radu's betrayal, he develops a strong desire for vengeance against the Rosenkreuz Orden that manipulated his friend, and he eventually joins forces with Abel Nightroad in a quest to stop them and protect the Empress from further conspiracies.
Throughout the narrative, Ion shows significant development. He begins as a prejudiced boy who judges all humans by his negative preconceptions. After losing his best friend to treachery, he gradually becomes more mature, setting aside his pride to work alongside Terrans for a greater cause. His relationship with Esther is key to this change, as her scolding and compassion teach him humility. By the end of his initial arc, he has been forced to grow up, accepting that his simple worldview was flawed and that trust and friendship can be found in the most unexpected places.
As a Methuselah, Ion possesses several notable abilities common to his species. These include enhanced durability, the ability to shrug off serious wounds, and a powerful healing factor that allows him to recover from injuries like severe burns or gunshot wounds in a short amount of time. He is also superhumanly fast, with Methuselah speed being noted as up to twenty times that of a human, and Ion himself is considered particularly fast even among his kind. He has enhanced strength as well. Beyond these inherent traits, Ion is a skilled swordsman, which is fitting for his official title as the Empress's Sword Bearer. He wields his blade with proficiency in combat, using it to fight against the agents of the Rosenkreuz Orden who seek his life.
In terms of personality, Ion initially appears as a short-tempered, proud, and somewhat patronizing noble who holds a deep dislike for humans, or "Terrans," from outside the Empire. This prejudice is evident in his early interactions, where he recoils at the touch of a human like Esther Blanchett and is deeply offended when a Vatican official refers to him as a "vampire" rather than the proper term "Methuselah". However, his rigid worldview is challenged and ultimately begins to change after a profound act of betrayal by the person he trusted most: Radu Barvon.
Radu is Ion's closest companion, his "tovarich," and a distant relative. They grew up together, and Ion considered him his only true friend. When Radu reveals himself to be a traitor working with the Rosenkreuz Orden, a secret organization aiming to start a new war between humans and Methuselah, Ion is devastated. Radu's mission is to kill Ion and frame the Vatican for the murder, a plan that would shatter the fragile peace. This traumatic event shatters Ion's innocence and forces him to confront a world where his black-and-white view of friends and enemies is no longer valid. As he grapples with the pain of this betrayal, he finds comfort in the kindness of Esther Blanchett, the very human he initially despised. Her empathy and care lead him to develop a strong friendship with her, and his feelings for her grow to the point where he wishes for her to stay with him in the Empire. He understands, however, that he must mature further before they can meet again, indicating a budding sense of self-awareness.
Ion's role in the story is that of a bridge between two worlds. Sent as a secret envoy to Cardinal Caterina Sforza of the Vatican, his mission is one of peace and diplomacy. The plot to assassinate him transforms him from a mere messenger into a fugitive and a target, forcing him to rely on former enemies like the priest Abel Nightroad and the nun Esther to survive. Through this ordeal, his motivations shift from simply serving the Empress to a more personal quest. Devastated by Radu's betrayal, he develops a strong desire for vengeance against the Rosenkreuz Orden that manipulated his friend, and he eventually joins forces with Abel Nightroad in a quest to stop them and protect the Empress from further conspiracies.
Throughout the narrative, Ion shows significant development. He begins as a prejudiced boy who judges all humans by his negative preconceptions. After losing his best friend to treachery, he gradually becomes more mature, setting aside his pride to work alongside Terrans for a greater cause. His relationship with Esther is key to this change, as her scolding and compassion teach him humility. By the end of his initial arc, he has been forced to grow up, accepting that his simple worldview was flawed and that trust and friendship can be found in the most unexpected places.
As a Methuselah, Ion possesses several notable abilities common to his species. These include enhanced durability, the ability to shrug off serious wounds, and a powerful healing factor that allows him to recover from injuries like severe burns or gunshot wounds in a short amount of time. He is also superhumanly fast, with Methuselah speed being noted as up to twenty times that of a human, and Ion himself is considered particularly fast even among his kind. He has enhanced strength as well. Beyond these inherent traits, Ion is a skilled swordsman, which is fitting for his official title as the Empress's Sword Bearer. He wields his blade with proficiency in combat, using it to fight against the agents of the Rosenkreuz Orden who seek his life.