Anton Verus

Anton Verus (Asteran: Αητφη Δεχυs) is a character in the Starlight Saga. The brother of Ivan Verus, he makes his first appearance briefly in Runefire, during the Battle of Crystala. Unlike his brother, he bears no rune, but he possesses exceptional swordfighting ability.

History
The younger brother of Ivan, Anton always felt that he never got as much attention and that his life was just treated as the fizzle after where Ivan had been before him. He knows that there isn't really anything wrong with Ivan, and can speak friendly with him, but still hates him for casting a shadow over his life. When Ivan's rune manifested itself, and Anton's fifteenth year passed by without any such thing happening to him, he decided that he would have to compensate for his runelessness by becoming an expert swordfighter. After Ivan was captured, he recklessly and tirelessly trained himself to become better, so that he might also become a figure in Telaeria. However, his plan was ruined when Ivan betrayed the Empire, and Anton kept his family safe for a year before the Telaerians found them, and slaughtered them and everyone they knew... except for Anton, who was captured beforehand to be used as a bargaining token to get Ivan to surrender himself. His captors marked him by carving a "V" shape into his forehead. Anton believes that Ivan is responsible for all the deaths he was to find out about after being captured, during his holding by Telaeria. However, Anton has different ideas than to be used as a bargaining chip. He is now driven by a longing to become a Telaerian hero, both to gain renown and to restore his family's name that was soiled by Ivan's betrayal.