Darius Raff

**Darius Raff** is the main character of the Shifting Times series and is first introduced in the first volume, Survivors. He is the eldest son of Charles and Joan Raff with Alexander Raff being his younger brother. The crash of the plane carrying his family and the deaths of his parents led to Darius beginning his arduous journey through the universe as he constantly strives to get stronger to protect the only remaining member of his family, his younger brother, Alex.

## Appearance

Darius at the age of eleven is a relatively average sized boy of 4 foot 7 inches with his most distinguishing features being his bright blond hair on the verge of being pale blond with light blue eyes. However, during the year he spends at Noah's Home for Foundlings his blond hair becomes darker in shade to a more golden colour as he spends more time inside rather than outside.

## Personality

Originally as a young boy before the crash of the Boeing 757, Darius was a normal child being highly energetic and adventurous. He possessed a love for riding on his fathers bike which allowed him to bond with Richard Patterson. But he also held a fascination for flying though feared being trapped on a plane. However, following the crash of the Boening 757, Darius does not allow himself any time to grieve the deaths of his parents and completely ignores his own injuries as he focuses all of his attention on his younger brother, Alex.

This continues through his time in Noah's Home for Foundlings though he does open up to both Richard Patterson and Rachel Jennings. Yet when the two disappear and the plans for his and Alex's adoption also disappear, Darius withdraws into himself once more as his determination to save Alex grows even stronger.

## History

### Origins

#### Noah's Home for Foundlings

Darius Raff was the eldest son born to Charles and Joan Raff with them giving birth to his younger brother, Alexander Raff five years later. His early childhood up until the age of eleven was normal with a loving family until they were returning from holiday upon a Boeing 757. That is until Emperor Tah and his ship arrive and destroy the plane killing all inhabitants on board except for Joan, Alex and Darius himself. Ignoring his own injuries from the crash, Darius brings Alex to safety and not grieving the deaths of his parents, though is not aware that his mother was taken by Emperor Tah.

Upon arriving at the town of Stockdale, Dr Cessair acts as a surgeon at the town and operates on the two brothers, discovering that they belong to the Collateral Line. Darius and Alex are then taken back to Noah's Home for Foundlings where they are experimented upon by Dr Cessair under the guise of medical checkups and therapy sessions. These actions cause Darius to further withdraw into himself though a worker at the orphanage, Rachel Jennings works hard to help him. Eventually she succeeds in getting close with aid from Richard Patterson who eventually makes plans to adopt both Darius and Alex.

However, these plans interfere with the plans of Dr Cessair who has them eliminated, leading to Darius remaining at the orphanage and mistakenly believing that he has been abandoned once more. This is where Darius focuses more and more upon his goal to protect Alex as at the moment it becomes his sole driving goal. Following one final experimentation though, Darius escapes with Alex from the orphanage and heads out into the world on the run.

#### Phantom Mind

Living on the streets, Darius and Alex live their life as squatters with Darius heading out numerous times to pickpocket people on the streets for money. He uses this money to pay for transport from town to town as well as food and other essentials. Yet one day, Alex is found by police and Darius angrily fights against them only for both to be taken into police custody. That's when Phantom Mind arrives knocking all the police officers and nearby civilians unconscious and offers them the opportunity to work with him. Darius refuses yet this means nothing, Phantom Mind taking control of their minds with his telepathy.