Characters

The people who fight beside you, the supply officer — and who tell you their own stories once they trust you.

Han Seojin

Federation Infantry Colonel · First met in Chapter 1

A railway surveyor before the war. Careful, and more sensitive than anyone to civilian harm. Even at the front, she writes letters to her younger sibling Seoyun.

Maro

Federation Cavalry Captain · First met in Chapter 1

Born in the Windy Highlands. Bold and hungry for glory, yet at the door of a highland village he gets off his horse and walks.

Yun Chae

Federation Artillery Major · First met in Chapter 1

A calculator trained at the Orben military academy. When her numbers are wrong, she runs them again the next day.

Bern Kaya

League Railway Division Commander → Rebuilding Corps Chief · First met in Chapter 2

Han Seojin's railway school classmate. The first bridge they designed together was the Silver River railway bridge. After the war, he builds it again.

Nadia Sol

League Intelligence Officer → Ashen Banner · First met in Chapter 3

From a village in the Reed Marsh. She lost her home to the first bombardment of the war — no one knows whose shell it was. No one is better at cutting rails.

Arin

Chief of Wolf Hollow · First met in Chapter 3

"In our village there is no Federation and no League." She opens the door to guests, and sets terms for soldiers.

Ren Hartwick

Orben Military Observer · First met in Chapter 4

Came from the kingdom across the sea to sell arms to both sides. In the end, he read more train timetables than contracts.

Hela

Belmar Citizens' Representative · First met in Chapter 4

In the besieged port, she protected more children than there were soldiers. On the day the gates opened, she was the first to greet the bread cart.

Bao

Farmer of Tidefield · First met in Chapter 5

Believes the wheat ripens even in wartime. He taught the soldiers how to use a scythe.

Osuk

Veteran Engine Driver · First met in Chapter 6

An engine driver for forty-two years. He drove the last evacuation train on the war's first day, and the homecoming train after it ended. "Trains don't take sides. Only the timetable's."

Han Seoyun

Teacher at the Lighthouse Cape School · First met in Chapter 7

Han Seojin's younger brother. All through the war he received his sister's letters. Teaching children in a seaside village, he counts the days until the railway arrives in ribbons.

Ryu Seheon

Chairman of the Continental Rail Company · First met in Chapter 7

Heir of the Company that doubled its track fees. He never started a war, but he was the first to arrive where the war ended.

Dodam

Elder of Willow Village · First met in Chapter 6

Returned beneath the willows a year after boarding the evacuation train. On the night of the return, the village made soup.