TV-Series
Description
Karim Flam serves as both a lieutenant and a priest within Special Fire Force Company 1. He is twenty-two years old, born on December 12, and stands 178.5 centimeters tall. His appearance is marked by short, straight dark grey hair brushed forward with the sides shaven, small dark eyes that often convey an irritated or lazy expression, and an outfit consisting of a dark cassock topped by a light overcoat with a high collar and a skirt-like garment. He also wears a cross-shaped pendant as a charm, dark shoes, and is frequently seen with headphones, wielding musical instruments in combat instead of standard bunker gear.
His personality is serious, cautious, and direct, often coming across as brash or blunt with a noted tendency to become annoyed quickly, even with his comrades. He disapproves of playfulness, especially during fights. Despite this sometimes harsh exterior, he strictly observes the etiquette of his company and shows respect toward his colleagues. He has a highly distinctive speech pattern, often repeating words or phrases that carry the same meaning within a single sentence, which can make him difficult to understand for those unfamiliar with his manner of speaking. This cool and reserved demeanor is balanced by a deep sense of justice and a loyal, protective nature toward those he considers allies.
Karim is a Second Generation pyrokinetic, but his ignition ability is unique and frequently misunderstood. Rather than directly controlling ice, he uses a technique called thermoacoustic refrigeration. By channeling his power through a wind instrument-shaped device, he absorbs ambient heat energy from an external source, converts it into sound, and then rapidly lowers the temperature by repeating this cycle. This process allows him to generate ice, which he can launch as projectiles or use to incapacitate and purify Infernals instantly. He has compared this process simply to how air conditioning functions. He also carries a bell that produces alarming noises to assist in heat absorption. His precise control over this ability is such that he can create air pockets within ice to allow trapped individuals to breathe, or freeze massive threats like Firestorms. While his power mimics cryokinesis, it is fundamentally an advanced application of heat manipulation, which makes him a strategically valuable asset with strong tactical acumen, able to formulate effective plans in very short amounts of time.
His background as both a soldier of the Special Fire Force and a man of faith deeply informs his motivations. He is driven by a strong sense of justice and a desire to protect others, but his personal journey is heavily influenced by his relationships, most notably with his childhood friends Rekka Hoshimiya and Foien Li. These bonds are central to his role in the story. During the probationary training of Shinra Kusakabe and Arthur Boyle at Company 1, Karim suspects someone within his ranks is responsible for creating artificial Infernals. To test the newcomers and prove his own innocence, he deliberately plants a bottle containing a Bug, the source of artificial Infernal creation, where Shinra and Arthur can find it. The investigation ultimately leads to the discovery that the real culprit is his old friend Rekka.
Confronting Rekka, Karim uses his thermoacoustic refrigeration to immobilize him in ice, preventing further harm. However, before any interrogation can take place, a mysterious organization known as the White-Clad assassinates Rekka with a projectile right in front of Karim. A second arrow is fired directly at Karim, but Foien Li sacrifices his own forearm to shield him. This event profoundly affects Karim. Despite Rekka's betrayal, the loss of his childhood friend leaves him with deep feelings of guilt, self-loathing, and a belief that he failed their friendship and inadvertently contributed to Rekka's downfall. Driven by a need to understand the truth behind Rekka's actions, the nature of doppelgangers, and the motives of the Evangelist, Karim decides to formally ally with Company 8, sharing intelligence and supporting their missions despite his own company's bureaucratic constraints.
Throughout the series, Karim's development sees him grapple with conflicting emotions and a shaken faith, as the institutional religion of the Holy Sol Temple is revealed to have dark secrets. He investigates St. Raffles Convent, discovering hidden research labs where sisters were fed Fire Bugs in experiments to create doppelgangers and pyrokinetics. He faces powerful enemies like Sister Sumire, who destroys his instrument and physically attacks him with vibration-based abilities. Following the death of his captain, Leonard Burns, Karim resolves to continue the fight, committing to understanding the stone pillars connected to Adolla and battling increasingly powerful Infernals. Notably, during the Great Cataclysm, he uses a new pipe gun modified by Vulcan to freeze multiple Firestorms at once, slowing the world's destruction and inspiring public hope even as he is horrified by the appearance of a doppelganger of his deceased friend Rekka.
His personality is serious, cautious, and direct, often coming across as brash or blunt with a noted tendency to become annoyed quickly, even with his comrades. He disapproves of playfulness, especially during fights. Despite this sometimes harsh exterior, he strictly observes the etiquette of his company and shows respect toward his colleagues. He has a highly distinctive speech pattern, often repeating words or phrases that carry the same meaning within a single sentence, which can make him difficult to understand for those unfamiliar with his manner of speaking. This cool and reserved demeanor is balanced by a deep sense of justice and a loyal, protective nature toward those he considers allies.
Karim is a Second Generation pyrokinetic, but his ignition ability is unique and frequently misunderstood. Rather than directly controlling ice, he uses a technique called thermoacoustic refrigeration. By channeling his power through a wind instrument-shaped device, he absorbs ambient heat energy from an external source, converts it into sound, and then rapidly lowers the temperature by repeating this cycle. This process allows him to generate ice, which he can launch as projectiles or use to incapacitate and purify Infernals instantly. He has compared this process simply to how air conditioning functions. He also carries a bell that produces alarming noises to assist in heat absorption. His precise control over this ability is such that he can create air pockets within ice to allow trapped individuals to breathe, or freeze massive threats like Firestorms. While his power mimics cryokinesis, it is fundamentally an advanced application of heat manipulation, which makes him a strategically valuable asset with strong tactical acumen, able to formulate effective plans in very short amounts of time.
His background as both a soldier of the Special Fire Force and a man of faith deeply informs his motivations. He is driven by a strong sense of justice and a desire to protect others, but his personal journey is heavily influenced by his relationships, most notably with his childhood friends Rekka Hoshimiya and Foien Li. These bonds are central to his role in the story. During the probationary training of Shinra Kusakabe and Arthur Boyle at Company 1, Karim suspects someone within his ranks is responsible for creating artificial Infernals. To test the newcomers and prove his own innocence, he deliberately plants a bottle containing a Bug, the source of artificial Infernal creation, where Shinra and Arthur can find it. The investigation ultimately leads to the discovery that the real culprit is his old friend Rekka.
Confronting Rekka, Karim uses his thermoacoustic refrigeration to immobilize him in ice, preventing further harm. However, before any interrogation can take place, a mysterious organization known as the White-Clad assassinates Rekka with a projectile right in front of Karim. A second arrow is fired directly at Karim, but Foien Li sacrifices his own forearm to shield him. This event profoundly affects Karim. Despite Rekka's betrayal, the loss of his childhood friend leaves him with deep feelings of guilt, self-loathing, and a belief that he failed their friendship and inadvertently contributed to Rekka's downfall. Driven by a need to understand the truth behind Rekka's actions, the nature of doppelgangers, and the motives of the Evangelist, Karim decides to formally ally with Company 8, sharing intelligence and supporting their missions despite his own company's bureaucratic constraints.
Throughout the series, Karim's development sees him grapple with conflicting emotions and a shaken faith, as the institutional religion of the Holy Sol Temple is revealed to have dark secrets. He investigates St. Raffles Convent, discovering hidden research labs where sisters were fed Fire Bugs in experiments to create doppelgangers and pyrokinetics. He faces powerful enemies like Sister Sumire, who destroys his instrument and physically attacks him with vibration-based abilities. Following the death of his captain, Leonard Burns, Karim resolves to continue the fight, committing to understanding the stone pillars connected to Adolla and battling increasingly powerful Infernals. Notably, during the Great Cataclysm, he uses a new pipe gun modified by Vulcan to freeze multiple Firestorms at once, slowing the world's destruction and inspiring public hope even as he is horrified by the appearance of a doppelganger of his deceased friend Rekka.