Gerel

Lieutenant Colonel (*Chapter 284*)

Second in command of the Iron Banner Mercenary Company. Leading talent of his generation among the Bekhai.

Later became Husband to Shing Yuzhen, Captain of the Marshal's Guards and a Peak Expert of the Empire.

 Appearance

Gerel is a full-blooded Bekhai, with the trademark amber eyes. He has a completely bald head. Shrouded in a practised air of indifference which bordered on disdain.

### Volume 32

Gone was the quietly arrogant soldier who wore furred tunics under leather armour, and in his place was a fierce and wild prince, with eyes of gold which shone brighter than any jewellery ever could. A wavy, white-silk long-shirt sat under his loose, buttonless outer robes, a light, flimsy affair festooned with flowers and foxes embroidered in black and silver thread. His collar, lapel, sash, and wide sleeves were lined with lace in similar colours, though more black than red or silver to frame his figure, and his head of black, lustrous hair had been pulled back into the beginnings of a ponytail, and kept out of his eyes by a beautiful silver crown studded with honey topazes and yellow diamonds.

## Personality

Gerel is rough and energetic, always ready for a fight, whether it be against the Defiled or other people.

## Background

Orphaned as a babe, he was something of an outcast among the Bekhai, with his only ties being to his mysterious Mentor and his Senior Sister Sarnai.

"There was a time when all I thought of was battle, wanting nothing more than to fight better and kill faster. In my idle winter months, I’d hide away alone at home, honing my skills and pacing the walls, waiting for spring to come so I might find a worthy foe. It's all I lived for."

On the day of Alsantset and Charok's wedding, Gerel stormed in and declared that Charok wasn't worthy of Alsantset's hand. Gerel blames it on the foolishness of youth, being drunk, and believing he was in love. This drew the ire of his Senior Sister and Alsantset's mother, Sarnai, who beat Gerel so badly after leaving him on the floor of his own home that he shit blood for a week.

## Powers and Abilities

### Equipment

* Glaive
* Longsword
* Runic Armor set

## Relationships

**Mentor**: Gerel’s talents in combat and command caught the eye of his ‘Mentor'. Although Gerel claimed he spent months tracking her down and begging her to teach him, if his mysterious Mentor didn’t want to teach, then she would never been found by a boy of fourteen years. She strung him along for over a decade, teaching him bits and pieces to keep him on the hook while always denying their relationship.

**Shing Yuzhen**: Began their relationship when the two were stationed together at the Northern Bridge. Married at the end of new year festivities of the 36th Year.

**Charok**: Childhood friends. Went through a rocky period after he interrupted Charok and Alsantset's wedding, which he paid for dearly at the hands of Sarnai. Made peace a decade later.

**Baatar**: Sparring partner, superior.

## Trivia

* Once word spread of Rain’s affiliation with the Penitent Brotherhood, people began speculating on how this relationship came about, and one prominent explanation was that Gerel was a failed initiate. When Yuzhen brought up the rumour that he might be a failed eunuch monk, Gerel never shaved his head again.

 References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 589
2. ↑ Side Story 4
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chapter 120
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 560
5. ↑ Chapter 284