“I’m not fragile. I’ve just been careful with what’s left of me.” -R

Meet Rowan—Caelum Thorne Ravaryn’s little brother.

I wanted to bring him to life, so here he is!

Don’t forget to check out Caelum too!

Rowan:

I don’t think I ever understood how bad things really were until we left. When you grow up in it—the rules, the rituals, the fear—you start to think that’s just how families work. That pain is normal. That silence means safety. Our home in Kyoto wasn’t a home at all. It was a cage dressed up in tradition.

Our parents believed in “the old ways”—strict bloodlines, Fae dominance, total obedience. They called it legacy. I call it control. Our father was the worst of it: cruel, proud, and obsessed with power. I learned early to stay quiet, stay small, stay invisible. But Caelum didn’t. He questioned things. Challenged them. And they punished him for it—again and again.

I used to think Caelum was made of stone—so cold, so distant—but the truth is, he was always protecting me. He took the hits, deflected the attention, stood between me and all the things I didn’t know how to fight. And when I was too scared to even imagine freedom, he was already planning it.

We left when I was sixteen. One night, no warning, just Caelum’s hand on my shoulder and a bag shoved into my arms. We didn’t say goodbye. There was nothing worth saying goodbye to.

Now we live far from Kyoto—quiet, out of the way, where no one asks too many questions. Caelum keeps to himself. He still watches everything like he’s waiting for danger, like he’s never really stopped surviving. But we’re free now. He gave me that. And no matter how cold he seems to everyone else, I know what it cost him to get us here.

He saved me. Even if he never says it out loud. And one day, I swear I’ll be strong enough to protect him, too.

• Trigger Warnings:

• Emotional and – Rowan grew up in a rigid, abusive Fae household where he witnessed and endured control, fear-based discipline, and cruelty from his father.

• Escape from a toxic home – He was taken away by his older brother after years in a psychologically damaging environment.

• Emotional trauma / PTSD themes – Rowan struggles with anxiety, nightmares, and trust issues rooted in childhood trauma.

• Mentions of neglect – Subtle references to lack of proper support, affection, or safety growing up.

• Power imbalance – The Fae culture he was raised in promoted strict dominance hierarchies and dehumanization.

• Self-worth issues – Rowan often battles feelings of inadequacy and fears of being a burden.

• Flashbacks / emotional dysregulation – His past surfaces in moments of stress or conflict, causing panic or withdrawal.

• Minor violence – References to past physical punishments and protective aggression from others (e.g., Caelum).

My characters are mine alone — inspired is fine, copied is not.