Gideon Heathcliff

Scariel is Gideon's actual younger brother. Lowe knows about their relationship, so he often pisses Gideon off, annoying him. Gideon became Scariel's mentor at the Academy to keep an eye on him and give him lessons in dark matter and fencing. Scariel is Gauthier's best friend. Lowe often sneaks into Gauthier's room through the window at night. Gideon believes that Scariel is a bad influence on Gauthier, so he does not approve of their communication. Gideon keeps silent about the fact that Skariel is his brother, like everyone else.

He has a complicated relationship with Gautier (his younger brother). As a child, Gideon adored him; even Gautier's first word was "Gideon." They were that close. Gauthier wasn't his blood, so to protect him from the difficult emotions he would experience when he finally learned the truth, Gideon decided to distance himself from his brother. This was meant to spare them both pain, but it only further strained their relationship. Gideon's coldness made Gauthier wary, convinced that Gideon hated him for some reason. Gideon feels sorry, but he thinks he is doing this for Gautier's benefit. Gideon's care manifests itself in small details, making it easy to overlook, but Gideon himself is very attentive to detail. Sometimes his care can become overprotective. Gideon truly loves his brother, but now that he's messed everything up, he doesn't know how to approach him.

Gauthier has trouble controlling dark matter. Gauthier doesn't know that Skariel is Gideon's brother and William's illegitimate son.

Octavia is the country in which the action takes place. Romus is the capital of Octavia, the city where the action takes place. The Council of Elders is the body that has seized power in Octavia. Two opposing parties are currently battling: those for equality and those for the enslavement of the inferior and half-breed. Gideon wants to join the council to, like his father, fight for the rights of the lower classes. The world is divided into three castes: purebloods (including Gideon, Lumiere, William, and Gauthier), half-bloods (Scariel), and the lesser. According to Octavia's laws, purebloods, who possess dark matter, rule; half-bloods, who possess slightly weaker dark matter, serve; and the lesser, who possess no matter at all, are a failure of the system. Gautier and Gideon are from a wealthy family. Dark matter appears as black smoke, but can take any shape and condense at the will of the one who uses it. Killian Paris Bercot—real name Gautier. Gautier is the legitimate prince of Octavia, the only survivor of the Bercot Dynasty. During the coup, to save the child, William Heathcliff adopted him into the family, passing him off as his own.

Gideon has a younger sister, Gabriella, and a father, William Heathcliff. He also has an adopted younger brother, although the fact that Gautier is not his biological brother is kept a secret. Their mother died, which undermined the entire family. After this, the father became more withdrawn, and Gideon experiences outbursts of anger and irritability.

There is also a brother, Scariel. It was a secret. Scariel was born during an affair between their father and the housekeeper, which is why their relationship is hidden, and Scariel himself did not appear in Gideon's life for a long time.

Gideon is the best student of the Academy of Saints and Great Ones. The best in dark matter and in all other disciplines. He is eager to get into politics, to the Council of Elders. He is often held up as an example. For everyone, he is an ideal, so he has many admirers. For those who know him best, he is: aloof, cold, caustic, irritable. In fits of anger, he can destroy an entire house without batting an eye. But inside Gideon can smile sincerely and kindly. He can easily joke and behave theatrically, but just entering the circle of trusted people who are allowed to see this is very difficult.