Chtomio

Chtomio was the Red Monarch after Akay and before Cestia. He was Asheva's mentor and Sybilla's husband before being killed by Oris during the Siege of Samaris.

Description
Chtomio wore a silver mask when he first met Asheva on the Cancerian. In Samaris, he wore a red mask with gold ornaments in them to signify his rank as king of the Reds. In the main series, he had pale eyes, pale skin, and greying hair.

In The Seer (a prequel), he has long blonde hair and is described by Sybilla to have "languid eyes".

Personality
Chtomio was a kind-hearted individual and sought to challenge Chrome society. He is also harsh to those who don't listen to him.

Pre-Series
Chtomio was born to King Akay in Samaris as an Ashi. As a teenager, Chtomio saw the injustices of the Red Kingdom and vowed to abolish them. When he escaped Samaris one night during a Janis hunt, Chtomio met Sybilla, the Orange Seer, in the Orange Mountains. The pair soon fell in love and married each other. Chtomio then became the father of Princess Cestia and an unnamed prince. At some point in time, the Ashis of Samaris lobbyed Oris to watch Chtomio for fear that Chtomio would be a weak ruler.

Of Masks and Chromes
Asheva and Astor encountered Chtomio on the Cancerian, while Chtomio was bringing the masks of dead Blacks to Ayas to bring the masks back to Axyum. That night, Chtomio realized early on that Astor was manipulating Asheva and drove Astor off. He and Asheva later talked over a fire. The next morning, Chtomio and Asheva entered Ayas and both planned to meet up at noon. When Asheva was called a "Harlequin" by Astor in the Blue city, Chtomio vouched for him and saved his life on the Wheel of Chance by using a metallic rock to deflect the Goddess of Chance's knives from Asheva. After arriving in Violet Territory with Asheva, Chtomio tells the truth of Chrome society to Asheva.

Kingdom of Deceit
At the beginning of the novel, Chtomio finishes telling Asheva the truth about the Chromes before heading back to Samaris. After some time, Chtomio comes back into the Violet Territory and trains Asheva for a day before heading back to Samaris. Asheva, curious about Samaris, asks about the Red city, to which Chtomio says to not find him in the city.

As "King Quadrio", Chtomio was seen during the Ferya with Cestia and Oris. When Asheva infiltrated Samaris as "Chtomio", Chtomio orders Oris to back down after Oris breaks up a fight between Asheva and Erai. In the Red palace throne room, Asheva and Chtomio argue about Samaris and Asheva's training. Chtomio throws Asheva out of Samaris and tells him to go back to the Violet Territory. Shortly after, Chtomio was murdered by Oris in the Red throne room, as Oris was in league with the Black Chromes. During the Siege of Samaris, Asheva finds that Oris killed Chtomio, and he kills Oris in revenge. Due to ill-fated timing, Cestia finds Asheva looking over Chtomio and Oris' corpses, beliving that Asheva killed both men.

Rise of the Harlequin
As Asheva tends to an injured Cestia in the Black woods, he tells her about what he had learned from Chtomio, and comments that Quadrio's "deadname" was "Chtomio".

A New Dawn
Cestia and Asheva visit Chtomio's grave in the ruins of Samaris.

The Seer
WIP

Trivia

 * Chtomio encompasses "the mentor" trope in the fantasy genre.