ONA
Description
Prince Aleksandar, usually called Alek, is one of the two main protagonists of the anime Leviathan. He is a sixteen-year-old Austrian noble and the son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek, Princess of Hohenberg. Because his mother was not of royal birth, his position in the imperial hierarchy is complicated, leaving him in a kind of royal yet not fully legitimate status. His life is overturned when his parents are assassinated, an act that also pushes the great powers of Europe toward war. Afterward, Alek flees the Austro-Hungarian Empire in a mechanized walker, a large walking war machine, accompanied by loyal retainers, becoming a fugitive prince who carries the weight of his family name.
In personality, Alek is earnest, brave, and idealistic, but also headstrong and sometimes defiant toward those in authority. He feels a deep sense of responsibility, to the point of believing that he himself is the cause of the war, suspecting that his great-uncle the Emperor may have ordered his parents' deaths to remove him from the line of inheritance. Despite his sheltered upbringing, he repeatedly shows physical courage and refuses to remain passive in the face of danger. His stubbornness often puts him at odds with his guardian Count Volger and occasionally places him at greater risk, but the same resolve also drives him to act on his convictions.
Alek's motivations center on honoring his family, escaping the assassins pursuing him, and finding his place in a world that suddenly regards him as either a target or a political pawn. He wants to prove himself worthy of the responsibilities attached to his name, even though his mixed heritage blocks him from any clear path to power.
In the story, Alek's escape across Central Europe runs parallel to the journey of Deryn Sharp, a young British woman disguised as a boy and serving aboard the airship Leviathan. His path eventually crosses with the British crew, and his role as a fugitive prince from an enemy empire places him at the center of the conflict's political tensions. Through these encounters, the two sides of the story are brought together.
His most significant relationship is with Deryn Sharp, who comes from the opposing side of the war and with whom he gradually builds trust and friendship. Count Volger serves as his mentor-like guardian, whose instructions Alek frequently resists but whose guidance he relies on during crises. His late father, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his great-uncle the Emperor both loom over his story, shaping his sense of duty and his anxiety about political betrayal.
Over the course of the series, Alek develops from a sheltered and somewhat naive prince into a more seasoned and self-aware young man. He learns to see the world beyond his own royal perspective, begins to question his assumptions about his enemies, and matures through exile, loss, and combat. His defiance, which first appears as recklessness, gradually becomes a source of strength as he learns when to follow instruction and when to take the lead.
In terms of abilities, Alek is trained to operate the mechanized walker and proves capable of piloting it under extreme pressure. He is also skilled with a sword, and his willingness to place himself in danger, whether while operating the walker or confronting enemy forces directly, makes him a capable fighter despite his youth.
In personality, Alek is earnest, brave, and idealistic, but also headstrong and sometimes defiant toward those in authority. He feels a deep sense of responsibility, to the point of believing that he himself is the cause of the war, suspecting that his great-uncle the Emperor may have ordered his parents' deaths to remove him from the line of inheritance. Despite his sheltered upbringing, he repeatedly shows physical courage and refuses to remain passive in the face of danger. His stubbornness often puts him at odds with his guardian Count Volger and occasionally places him at greater risk, but the same resolve also drives him to act on his convictions.
Alek's motivations center on honoring his family, escaping the assassins pursuing him, and finding his place in a world that suddenly regards him as either a target or a political pawn. He wants to prove himself worthy of the responsibilities attached to his name, even though his mixed heritage blocks him from any clear path to power.
In the story, Alek's escape across Central Europe runs parallel to the journey of Deryn Sharp, a young British woman disguised as a boy and serving aboard the airship Leviathan. His path eventually crosses with the British crew, and his role as a fugitive prince from an enemy empire places him at the center of the conflict's political tensions. Through these encounters, the two sides of the story are brought together.
His most significant relationship is with Deryn Sharp, who comes from the opposing side of the war and with whom he gradually builds trust and friendship. Count Volger serves as his mentor-like guardian, whose instructions Alek frequently resists but whose guidance he relies on during crises. His late father, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his great-uncle the Emperor both loom over his story, shaping his sense of duty and his anxiety about political betrayal.
Over the course of the series, Alek develops from a sheltered and somewhat naive prince into a more seasoned and self-aware young man. He learns to see the world beyond his own royal perspective, begins to question his assumptions about his enemies, and matures through exile, loss, and combat. His defiance, which first appears as recklessness, gradually becomes a source of strength as he learns when to follow instruction and when to take the lead.
In terms of abilities, Alek is trained to operate the mechanized walker and proves capable of piloting it under extreme pressure. He is also skilled with a sword, and his willingness to place himself in danger, whether while operating the walker or confronting enemy forces directly, makes him a capable fighter despite his youth.