Ace

Ace (エース) also known as the One of Swords (ソードの1) was an assassin working under the Organization, and the former partner of Swin Abel in the novel series Three & Nine.

Appearance
Ace was a tall young man with messy hair. It is unknown if his hair was same colour, pink, as his sister Nadia Rayne. He wore a long coat with an upturned collar over an untucked shirt and trousers with chevrons down the side. He also wore black gloves and a belt with a numeral for '1' acting as a buckle, in the same way Swin has the numeral for '3'. Ace also has a spade shaped pendant, a nod to the Spade suit being connected to the Tarot. suit of Swords. Ace wields a large broad greatsword in combat, which is worn on his back when not in use.

Personality
Ace was a caring older brother, looking out for his sister when no-one else would and looking out for Swin in the same way. Ace hated the methods and lifestyle of the Organization and wanted better out of life. He was self-sacrificing, willing to lay down his life so that Swin could live on even when he would be slain.

Background
Ace grew up in a home with an abusive father whom his younger sister, Nadia, described as a 'monster' who would take all the family's Mira, make life difficult for their mother and eventually developed a habit of expensive substance addiction. Ace looked out for Nadia until one day he was sent away and she was left on her own.

Ace was sent to the Organization and the 'Factory' facility where he was trained to be an assassin. He was partnered with Swin who was like-minded and soon they had a brotherly relationship of their own. Despite the Organizations strict rules, As Swin was sympathetic, he was able to send letters to his sister, telling her about his plans to escape and Swin. He mentioned how Swin would never allow him to sacrifice his life for him, so Ace knew he would have to feign betrayal should they ever get caught.

When Ace and Swin made their move, they fled to Erebonia, but were unaware that the Organization had eyes there as well and they were soon tracked down. They repelled two pairs of assassins sent after them, but this was soon followed by a warden, the Emperor himself. They attempted to fight back, but with the Monarch's Regalia giving the emperor near-unbeatable control over gravitational forces, they found their attacks sluggish and unable to hit the seemingly unnaturally fast Warden. They were quickly outmatched and forced to retreat.

Injured and corned in a cave, Ace knew the time had come for his sacrifice to allow Swin to live. As per the rules of the Organization, should one partner kill the other, they would be welcomed back. Ace feigned a betrayal, attacking Swin while claiming he could never go back to that life. Swin defended himself and before long, Ace throwing the fight allowed Swin to kill him, which let him back into the organization.