Rean Schwarzer

• Height: 173cm (student days), 178cm (later)
• Birthday: May 6, 1186 (Septian Calendar)
• Weapons: Sword (Katana)
• Hair: Black (turns silver during transformation)
• Eyes: Black (turns red during transformation)
• Age: 17-18 (Trails of Cold Steel I & II), 19-20 (Trails of Cold Steel III & IV), 23 (Trails through Daybreak)
• From: Erebonian Empire

Rean is honest, positive, and friendly. He cares deeply for everyone and tries to help people, even when it makes his own life harder. He is calm in tough situations and encourages his friends, becoming the leader that his classmates rely on. Rean often puts himself last and wants to protect everyone, sometimes to the point of self-sacrifice. This sometimes causes his friends to worry about him. He is skilled at many things like sports, music, and even cooking, but he can also be a bit of a “sister complex” when it comes to his adopted sister, Elise.

Rean is the adopted son of Baron Theo Schwarzer from the northern Ymir region. He was found as a child with no memory of his family, only his name and age. Growing up, he felt like an outsider compared to his adopted family. Rean feared his mysterious "Ogre’s Power" that changed his appearance and personality. To control this, he trained in the Eight Leaves One Blade style under Master Yun Ka-Fai.

At first, he joined Thors Military Academy to find his own path. Soon, he was swept into dangerous events and became the chosen one of the “Ashen Knight” Valimar, connecting him to world-changing conflicts.

Rean is a master of Eight Leaves One Blade, using a katana. His attacks are mostly “Slash” type, and he is balanced in strength, defense, and speed. He can activate his hidden “Ogre’s Power,” boosting his stats and making him immune to negative effects, but it comes with risks. He quickly learns new skills and is handy with many tools and weapons. As the story goes on, he becomes even stronger, eventually earning the title “Immortal Blade.” He is also good at piloting robots (Divine Knights) and can fish, ride horses, dance, play music, repair machines, and program computers!

Thors Class VII

His closest friends are the members of Class VII. Rean helps them, and they help him in return. The team values their bond and relies on him as their leader. Many of the women in the group can become possible love interests.

• Crow Armbrust: Rean’s closest senior, partner in battle, and friend with a complicated story. They share a deep connection, fighting both together and as rivals.
• Elliot Craig / Gaius Worzel: His first and closest friends.
• Laura S. Arseid: Fellow sword user and one of the few who matches Rean in skill.
• Alisa Reinford, Fie Claussell, Emma Millstein: Classmates, each have their own special bond with Rean.
• Milly and Altina Orion: Special ties through the Intelligence Division and battles together.

New Class VII

• Juna Crawford: Originally resentful of Rean, she comes to respect him as a teacher and leader.
• Kurt Vander & Altina Orion: They learn from Rean in many ways and become important supporters.

Family and Origins

• Elise Schwarzer: Adopted sister, very close relationship.
• Theo Schwarzer (adopted father)
• Giliath Osborne (real father)
• Kasha Osborne (real mother, died when Rean was six)

Fellow “Heroes”

• Lloyd Bannings: They both respect each other after facing off once in Crossbell.
• Estelle Bright: Another Eight Leaves student; they share mutual respect.
• Van Arkride, Lavian Winslet: Later trusted friends and comrades.

Divine Knight

• Valimar: The Ashen Knight, Rean’s partner and giant robot through most of his battles.

Eight Leaves One Blade School

• Yun Ka-Fai (Master): Rean’s teacher.
• Cassius Bright, Arios MacLaine, Anelace Elfead, Alan Richard: Senior disciples, mentors, and sometimes rivals.
• Shizuna Rem Misurugi: Calls Rean her junior fellow; they duel more than once.

Student Days and Awakening

Rean enrolls at Thors Military Academy to escape family pressure and learn to live on his own. He is made leader of Class VII and slowly finds a place among students with difficult backgrounds. During a school crisis, he awakens the legendary Divine Knight, Valimar, but is defeated by Crow, who is working against the school.

Civil War and Loss

After losing to Crow and being separated from his friends, Rean returns to his hometown and regains hope with his sister Elise’s encouragement. He fights to find and unite his classmates, facing many hardships. Rean is eventually forced to use his “Ogre’s Power” and becomes known as the “Ashen Chevalier.” After the civil war, he meets Lloyd Bannings and others, finding new respect for other heroes.

The Northern War

In The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - Northern War anime, Rean appears as an imperial officer, helping stop rampaging robots in Crossbell and fighting for peace, even if seen as an enemy. He teams up with Lavian Winslet and helps protect the city, again struggling with his inner powers. After, he acts as a teacher, just as Lavian suggested.

The New Era, Teacher Rean

After the war, Rean becomes a celebrated hero and a new teacher at Thors’ Second Branch Campus. There he faces new students and more tough missions, all while trying to set a good example. His new class, the second Class VII, starts by doubting him, but eventually they see his strength and kindness.

Fighting Fate and True Endings

Rean faces bigger threats, using his sword skills, robot pilot skills, and especially his ability to connect people. He loses friends, overcomes the darkness in himself, and finally brings an end to the curse that haunted the empire. There are both normal and true endings, but with his friends’ help and his own courage, Rean chooses not to sacrifice himself but to find happiness while saving everyone.

Trails into Reverie and Beyond

Rean returns as a teacher and hero, still struggling with the guilt of all he has seen and done. He wonders if he deserves happiness, but ultimately learns from his past selves that it’s okay to find joy and trust his friends. He continues to grow, fight strong opponents like his fellow disciples, and teach young students the lessons he’s learned.

• “See you again. --- Thank you, it was fun!”
• “This is where I have to stand firm.”
• “Rean. -- Show me what you and your friends can do.”
• “Bring all your strength together and end it -- say goodbye to that cursed and pitiful ‘black flame’!”
• “Sorry, but from here, it’s the age of humans.”
• “Farewell, Ishmelga. -- I don’t know if you have a soul, but may you rest under the goddess.”
• “I have to become happy. No one can get happy alone… And I can’t be the only unhappy one… If I want people precious to me to be happy, I must become happy first. So I won’t shoulder things alone anymore. I’ll move forward trusting in myself, those important to me, and unseen friends. Even if even greater evil stands in our way… if we’re all together, we can get an even better ending.”
• “Goodbye, Rean.”
• “It’s strange to say to myself, but… Take care, Rean.”

• Rean is the first Trails protagonist to use a sword.
• Called the “Ashen Chevalier,” he’s one of the most popular Falcom characters, winning a 40th anniversary poll.
• Voice actors and even the producer mention Rean as their favorites.
• Exceptional in fishing—he is called “Fishing God” by both professional groups in the story.

• Rean is a huge fan of hot springs due to growing up in Ymir, a hot spring village.
• His hobbies include card games, music, sports, and even programming.
• Rean becomes the “Immortal Blade” in the Eight Leaves tradition after passing a trial given by Cassius Bright.
• His mentor, Yun Ka-Fai, believes Rean can complete the Eight Leaves style, calling him the “last disciple.”
• Rean supports new students and helps them follow their own paths, showing growth as a person and leader even after his adventures.