Count Trequill Lark

**Trequill Lark** was a Count of the Griffon Kingdom in charge of the County of Lustria. He was a loyal friend of the Verhen family and served Marchioness Mirim Distar fairly and with dignity befitting of a true gentlemen. He was Lith's first significant political backer, and the person responsible for enrolling Lith in the White Griffon Academy. Lith considered him a valuable friend after the consideration he had shown to his family.

## Appearance

He was in his mid to late 50's around 6 ft tall with a thin build, that made him appear even taller. He had thick black hair with streaks of grey, a short-trimmed goatee of the same color. His inseparable black rimmed monocle was attached to his breast pocket with a blue silk string.

## Personality

Count Lark was a kind, fair, overly enthusiastic and optimistic person who cared for his kids and treated people who worked for him fairly. He was a great magical enthusiast and often became overexcited and airheaded when witnessing it. He was a bit naïve, becoming flustered at the mention of sex, and overly optimistic about life.

## Abilities

Among his many hobbies, Lark had a knack for painting.

## Background

Count Lark had an arranged marriage in his early 20's for the purposes of joining the Lark and Gishal households. The two families went from almost broke to two of the richest of the dukedom. However, there was no love between him and his wife Koya. He was content with his status and was a great magical enthusiast, so much so that he visits all of the villages and towns in his County that host celebrations and shows that involve magicians, trying to sponsor youths talented in magic, including Lith. Koya, on the other hand, sought even more power and took part in political power games, but without Lark's consent her plotting was useless. This caused friction between them and as a result, his firstborn son Lorant and second born daughter Lyka become problematic to the point that he disowned them both and Koya left the household.

Lark first meets Lith at the spring festival, where Lith demonstrates talent in first magic. After Lith gains merits as Nana's assistant healer and disposes of the Byk threat, Lark invites Lith to his manor, where he reveals Koya's attempts to assassinate him to gain control of the household (as well as a giant painting of Lith facing the Byk that Lark makes). Lith successfully unravels the plot and finds the perpetrators, earning Lark's gratitude and promise for enrollment in the Lightning Griffon Academy. The Gishal household is eradicated and their lands given to Lark, who in turn splits the Lark and Gishal territories between Jadon and Keyla. Lith asks Lark to keep an eye on Orpal's whereabouts, and Lark promises to take care of him if any trouble arises.

Lark fights tooth and nail in a political war with the Royal Court to protest Headmistress Linnea's refusal of admission when Lith is rejected from the Lightning Griffon Academy due to Nana's status as a fallen mage. Later, Linnea is fired for overstepping her bounds in regards to Lith and Nana's relationship, and Lark was bestowed the title of Knight of the Griffon as a reward.

Over the years Lark is a frequent guest at the Verhen home, providing them with etiquette lessons. As his influence ends at Lustria's borders, he asks his neighbors to keep an eye for Orpal as well, though this proves fruitless as Lith informs him of Orpal's return to Lutia with Kamila's parents Crefas and Kima Retta. Lark reveals he had received a card marked "Past" from a Balkor copycat, similar to Mirim and Lith's White Griffon professors. Lith invites Lark to be his guest to the upcoming Royal gala.

The Verhens visit Lark in Lith's new DoLorean. Lith buries a Home Stone in Lark's lawn before the Count enthusiastically takes the invention on a reckless joy ride through Lutia. Lark thanks Lith for the opportunity while Lith thanks Lark for having provided the foundation for the start of his magical career. They return to Lark's mansion for dinner where Lark mentions Leria and Aran's magical education.

On the night of Blackest Day, the Balkor copycat attacks the Lark mansion. He kills Lark's household staff and pierces Lark's head and heart with ice shards.

## Quotes

* *"Never become a feudal lord, dear Lith. It sucks the soul out of you."* (Lark to Lith, Chapter 925)
* *"Tista, you grow more beautiful with each passing year. You are a sight for sore eyes and a scourge to the County's postal service. I have filled a barn with the letters addressed to you since the last time you bothered to pick them up."* (Lark to Tista, Chapter 1266)
* *"Nonsense. Sight is for the weak. Either a vehicle it's safe or it isn't."* (Lark to Lith while driving the DoLorean, Chapter 1280)
* *"Thank you very much, Lith. I never had so much fun in my life, now I can really die happy. I've always wanted to watch the sunset from the top of a mountain, but I could never afford the time. You made another of my dreams come true."* (Lark to Lith, Chapter 1281)

## Trivia

* Lark was based on Galahad Threepwood, a fictional character in the Blandings Castle stories by P. G. Wodehouse.
* Lark loved harassing Headmaster Linjos with an endless stream of questions about the most trivial aspects of magic. The Headmaster had been too kind of a man and respected the elderly too much to disappoint even such an annoying guest.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 1489
2. ↑ Chapter 37
3. ↑ Chapter 32
4. ↑ Chapter 31
5. ↑ Chapter 925
6. ↑ Chapter 42
7. ↑ Chapter 1267
8. ↑ Chapter 33
9. ↑ Chapter 33 & 34
10. ↑ Chapter 87
11. ↑ Chapter 42
12. ↑ Chapter 86
13. ↑ Chapter 485
14. ↑ Chapter 1267
15. ↑ Chapter 1281
16. ↑ Chapter 1345
17. ↑ Legion on Discord
18. ↑ Chapter 1362