Fern

Introduction

Synopsis

Relationships

Gallery

Fern
Japanese	フェルン
Romaji	Ferun
Biographical Information
Gender	Female
Age	9 (Chapter 2) 13 (middle of Chapter 2) 15 (Chapter 3) 16 (Chapter 4) 16–17 (Chapter 6) 18 (Chapter 29) 19–20 (current)
Species	Human
Class	Mage
Rank	Third-Class (former) First-Class (Chapter 60)
Affiliation	Frieren's Party 4th Party (First-Class Mage Exam (First Stage))
Relatives	Heiter (adoptive father, deceased) Unnamed parents (deceased)
Status	Alive
Physical Description
Hair Color	Purple
Eye Color	Purple
Series Information
Manga Debut	Chapter 2
Anime Debut	Episode 1
Japanese VA	Kana Ichinose
English VA	Jill Harris

Fern ｢フェルン, Ferun^?｣ is a young human mage, and she accompanies Frieren as her apprentice and party member. She is an orphaned war refugee originally from the Southern Lands, later adopted by Heiter and placed under Frieren's care after his death.

Personality

Fern has a mature personality as a result of her upbringing, leading her to often act as the mother of the party. She constantly has to help Frieren perform ordinary tasks such as waking her up due to her being a deep sleeper, feeding her, and dressing her, along with cleaning up her messes. She acts similarly around Stark, such as getting mad when he stays up late, even though they are around the same age.

Fern's tendency to pout.

Despite her outward motherly nature, Fern is easily upset and can act childish when others don't cater to what she wants or offend her, and in extreme cases, pouting and completely ignoring them when they attempt to reconcile, though this can be resolved through actions like treating her with food and abiding by demands she makes. She also has a habit of following around and watching others when she is suspicious or curious about them instead of confronting them directly, as seen when she stalks Frieren after suspecting her of making poor financial decisions and investigating Stark when she struggles to find a suitable birthday gift for him.

Fern is also a very loyal apprentice and has the discipline to train incredibly hard since she was young so she can manage on her own, ultimately becoming a powerful mage acknowledged by Frieren. She rarely cracks under pressure and is able to keep a level head in combat despite receiving injuries and battling opponents that are more powerful or experienced than her. Her devotion to learning magic stems from the loss of her parents at an early age and her subsequent adoption by Heiter; after nearly giving up after her parents' death, she was stopped by the priest, who advised her to stay alive for the sake of keeping the good memories she had. As a result, she became extremely dedicated with the maturity to learn magic and prove to Heiter that he could pass peacefully without any regrets and without worrying about her.

Appearance

Fern's butterfly hair ornament, a gift from Frieren.

Fern is a young human with purple eyes and long, waist-length purple hair with bangs. She usually wears her hair down with two additional chest-length strands framing her face in a Hime-style hair cut. After her sixteenth birthday, Fern began tying her hair partially back. After turning sixteen, Fern also grew to be taller than Frieren and with a more developed figure. As a result of her mature and calm personality, she frequently wears a stoic expression and rarely expresses strong emotions. Her facial features are characteristic of those from the Southern Lands.

Staff

As a mage, Fern wields a long, wooden staff wrapped with purple ribbons in battle, which was a gift to her from Heiter. The staff was shattered in the fight against Frieren's clone in the second test of the First-Class Mage Exam that used The Height of Magic against her. Broken into pieces, it led to a quarrel between Frieren and Fern, which was resolved after Frieren brought the remains to Richter who was able to reconstruct the staff fully.

Outfits

During her travels with Frieren, Fern is most commonly seen wearing a long, buttoned white dress with a Victorian top, including a frilled collar and puffy white sleeves, along with black boots. When outdoors, she also dons a long black coat with a hood, which has a gray inside layer.

Fern's winter attire.

After the events at Graf Granat's Domain, Graf Granat gifted Fern a dark-blue, long-sleeved dress that she wears with a thick, cropped, light-gray winter jacket and braided scarf in colder settings. This replaced her former winter attire, which consisted solely of a brown shawl over her normal clothes.

When she was a child, Fern had short, purple hair cut into a straight bob with bangs, decorated with a large, red ribbon on the side of her head. She wore very similar clothing to her present-day outfit, consisting of a smaller version of the buttoned white dress and black cloak, with black Mary Jane shoes. Prior to being adopted by Heiter, she wore a light-colored shoulder cape and possessed a locket with a photo of her family.

Accessory

Fern's mirrored lotus motif bracelet that Stark gifted.

For her sixteenth birthday, Frieren took Fern out to a location that served dessert in the city of Warm and gifted the girl a butterfly hair ornament which she wears as an everyday accessory on her head's back. After overcoming a quarrel on her eighteenth birthday with Stark, he gifted her an ornate mirrored lotus motif bracelet, which she frequently wears on her left wrist. The mirrored lotus has the floriography meaning of eternal love, which Stark didn't know at the time and only Sein pointed it out later with Fern overhearing it.

Abilities

• Mana concealment: Like Frieren, Fern is an expert at concealing her mana, a skill she has maintained ever since she was a child. As a result, she can often sneak up on individuals, including demons, without being detected. She was able to catch the powerful demon Lügner off guard, which surprised him greatly as the adept mana detection of his subordinate Linie would normally expose human mages. She was also able to approach Wirbel, a mage strong enough to become the Captain of the Northern Magic Corps, without him sensing her until she was right next to him, and even Frieren herself claims to have trouble locating Fern when she is concealing her mana. She is arguably better than Frieren given she can move while completely concealing her mana, whereas Frieren must stay still.
• Mana detection: Fern has shown to be more skilled at detecting mana than any other human introduced so far. She was able to determine that Serie's mana was unstable, something that not even Lernen, the first ever first-class mage and an apprentice of Serie for over fifty years, was able to achieve. This feat was impressive enough for Serie to request Fern be her apprentice on the spot despite initially planning to fail her.
• Fast spell casting: While she is inferior to Frieren in terms of techniques and mana, her true strength lies on her quick release of magic. According to Frieren, battles end more quickly when Fern fights. When Fern fought against Lügner, she was able to overcome his attempts at outlasting her in a battle of attrition because she was able to cast multiple instances of Zoltraak simultaneously and in rapid succession to counter or even overwhelm his attacks.

Spells

• Offensive magic: Zoltraak: The only offense spell Fern utilizes. Having practiced it from a young age, she is very familiar with it and is able to cast multiple Zoltraak blasts extremely quickly.
• Spell to make clothes clean and spotless: Magic granted to Fern by Serie for passing the First-Class Mage Exam. A legendary spell from the mythical era, it renders any clothing Fern uses it on clean, spotless, and infused with a pleasant floral scent.

Manga Appearance

Beyond Journey's End Arc
Chapter 1: The Journey's End	Absent
Chapter 2: The Priest's Lie	Debut
Chapter 3: Blue-Moon Weed	Appears
Chapter 4: The Mage's Secret	Appears
Chapter 5: Killing Magic	Appears
Chapter 6: New Year's Festival	Appears
Chapter 7: The Land Where Souls Rest	Appears
Chapter 8: One One-Hundredth	Appears
Chapter 9: Phantoms of the Dead	Appears
Chapter 10: Solar Dragon	Appears
Chapter 11: The Hero of the Village	Appears
Chapter 12: The Northern Checkpoint	Appears
Chapter 13: Liberation Festival	Appears

Aura the Guillotine Arc
Chapter 14: Monsters That Speak	Appears
Chapter 15: Draht	Absent
Chapter 16: The Murder of a Guard	Appears
Chapter 17: Frieren the Slayer	Appears
Chapter 18: The Undead Army	Appears
Chapter 19: Raid	Appears
Chapter 20: Master's Technique	Appears
Chapter 21: Coward	Appears
Chapter 22: The Scales of Obedience	Absent
Chapter 23: A Victory and a Funeral	Appears

Travels to Äußerst Arc
Chapter 24: The Elves' Wish	Appears
Chapter 25: The Village of the Sword	Appears
Chapter 26: A Gift to a Warrior	Appears
Chapter 27: A Priest from an Ordinary Village	Appears
Chapter 28: The Priest and His Regret	Appears
Chapter 29: Ideal Adult	Appears
Chapter 30: Mirrored Lotus	Appears
Chapter 31: Chaos Flower	Appears
Chapter 32: The Orden Family	Appears
Chapter 33: Old Man Voll	Appears
Chapter 34: The Statues of Heroes	Appears
Chapter 35: A Reason to Begin the Journey	Appears
Chapter 36: Emotional Support	Appears

First-Class Mage Exam Arc
Chapter 37: The First-Class Exam	Appears
Chapter 38: Stille—Meteoric Iron Bird	Appears
Chapter 39: Commence Capture Strategy	Appears
Chapter 40: A Spell to Capture a Bird	Appears
Chapter 41: Time for Resolve	Appears
Chapter 42: A Reason to Fight	Appears
Chapter 43: Privilege	Absent
Chapter 44: Recapture the Stille	Absent
Chapter 45: Water-Manipulation Magic	Appears
Chapter 46: An Even-Better Flavor	Appears
Chapter 47: Fern and Her Baked Sweets	Appears
Chapter 48: The Ruin's of the King's Tomb	Appears
Chapter 49: Dungeons and Magical Items	Appears
Chapter 50: Spiegel—A Water-Mirror Demon	Appears
Chapter 51: Dungeon Battle	Appears
Chapter 52: Strategy Meeting	Appears
Chapter 53: An Era of Humans	Appears
Chapter 54: A Spell that Slashes Almost Anything	Appears
Chapter 55: The Second Exam Ends	Appears Clone
Chapter 56: Fern's Staff	Appears
Chapter 57: The Third Exam	Appears
Chapter 58: Serie's Intuition	Appears
Chapter 59: With a Little Help	Appears
Chapter 60: Departure and Farewell	Appears

Continued Northern Travels Arc
Chapter 61: Magic-Nullifying Crystal	Appears
Chapter 62: Why I Set Out on This Journey	Appears
Chapter 63: The Hero of the South	Appears
Chapter 64: The Demon with a Sword	Appears
Chapter 65: The Secret Hot Spring of the Etwas Mountains	Appears
Chapter 66: The Places She Would Like	Appears
Chapter 67: Peaceful Time	Appears
Chapter 68: Northern Plateau	Appears
Chapter 69: Boshaft-The Emperor's Spirit	Appears
Chapter 70: The Norm Company	Appears

Divine Revolte Arc
Chapter 71: Subjugation Request	Appears
Chapter 72: The General	Appears
Chapter 73: Encounter Battle	Appears
Chapter 74: Divine Revolte	Absent
Chapter 75: Erilfrachte-The Spell to Dispel Fog	Appears
Chapter 76: Settling	Appears

The Golden Land Arc
Chapter 77: A Thunder of Dragons	Appears
Chapter 78: Lake Korridor	Appears
Chapter 79: The Great Tor Canyon	Appears
Chapter 80: Holy Snow Crystals	Appears
Chapter 81: The Golden Land	Appears
Chapter 82: Diagoldze—The Spell to Transmute All Creation into Gold	Appears
Chapter 83: The Stone Bracelet of Servitude	Appears
Chapter 84: Daredevil	Absent
Chapter 85: Malice	Appears
Chapter 86: Discussions	Appears
Chapter 87: Affection	Appears
Chapter 88: Solitär	Absent
Chapter 89: Guilt	Absent
Chapter 90: Glück	Absent
Chapter 91: Onstage	Absent
Chapter 92: The End of Weise	Absent
Chapter 93: The Great Barrier	Appears
Chapter 94: Analysis	Appears
Chapter 95: Nameless Great Demon	Appears
Chapter 96: Master and Apprentice	Absent
Chapter 97: Observation	Appears
Chapter 98: Retribution	Absent
Chapter 99: Offense and Defense	Mentioned
Chapter 100: The Fundamentals of Mages	Flashback
Chapter 101: Breakthrough	Flashback
Chapter 102: A Tie	Appears
Chapter 103: Time for Retribution	Absent
Chapter 104: A Visit to Her Grave	Appears

Goddess's Monument Arc
Chapter 105: Golem	Appears
Chapter 106: Sky-Mountain Dragon	Appears
Chapter 107: The Monument of the Goddess	Appears
Chapter 108: Reunion	Absent
Chapter 109: Zart the Remnant	Absent
Chapter 110: The Party of Heroes	Absent
Chapter 111: Escort Mission	Flashback
Chapter 112: Faith	Absent
Chapter 113: Abyssal Dragon	Absent
Chapter 114: The Sword of the Hero	Absent
Chapter 115: Best Friend	Absent
Chapter 116: Spell to Return	Absent
Chapter 117: Miraculous Illusion	Absent
Chapter 118: Vialathor	Absent
Chapter 119: Memories	Appears

Imperial Territory Travels Arc
Chapter 120: False Image of a Hero	Appears
Chapter 121: Monsters on the Road	Appears
Chapter 122: The Titan Fortress Ruins	Appears
Chapter 123: Proof of Perseverance	Appears
Chapter 124: Shadow Warrior	Appears
Chapter 125: Family	Appears

Foundation Festival Arc
Chapter 126: A New Mission	Appears
Chapter 127: Retrieval Mission	Appears
Chapter 128: Magic Special Forces	Absent
Chapter 129: Shadow of the Empire	Appears
Chapter 130: Beneath the Water's Surface	Appears
Chapter 131: Escape	Absent
Chapter 132: Chase	Appears
Chapter 133: Silver Coins	Appears
Chapter 134: Trace Back	Appears
Chapter 135: Prelude	Appears
Chapter 136: Reunion	Appears
Chapter 137: Repel	Appears
Chapter 138: Traitor	Appears

Anime Appearance

Season 1
Episode 1: The Journey's End	Debut
Episode 2: It Didn't Have to Be Magic...	Appears
Episode 3: Killing Magic	Appears
Episode 4: The Land Where Souls Rest	Appears
Episode 5: Phantoms of the Dead	Appears
Episode 6: The Hero of the Village	Appears
Episode 7: Like a Fairy Tale	Appears
Episode 8: Frieren the Slayer	Appears
Episode 9: Aura the Guillotine	Appears
Episode 10: A Powerful Mage	Appears
Episode 11: Winter in the Northern Lands	Appears
Episode 12: A Real Hero	Appears
Episode 13: Aversion to One's Own Kind	Appears
Episode 14: Privilege of the Young	Appears
Episode 15: Smells like Trouble	Appears
Episode 16: Long-Lived Friends	Appears
Episode 17: Take Care	Appears
Episode 18: First-Class Mage Exam	Appears
Episode 19: Well-Laid Plans	Appears
Episode 20: Necessary Killing	Appears
Episode 21: The World of Magic	Appears
Episode 22: Future Enemies	Appears
Episode 23: Conquering the Labyrinth	Appears
Episode 24: Perfect Replicas	Appears
Episode 25: A Fatal Vulnerability	Appears
Episode 26: The Height of Magic	Appears
Episode 27: An Era of Humans	Appears
Episode 28: It Would Be Embarrassing When We Met Again	Appears

Trivia

• "Fern" in German means "remote" or "far away."
• Fern has the same Japanese and English voice actresses as Suletta Mercury from Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury and Marlya Noel in Fairy Gone.
• Fern ranked the following in the official popularity polls:
  • 5th in the first popularity contest with 6,446,329 points.
  • 3rd in the second popularity contest with 864,863 votes, where multiple votes per character were counted.
    • In this same contest, Fern ranked 3rd when counting only unique votes (one vote per character per person).