Flark

Personal Info

Though Flark is not exceptionally powerful himself, the formidable synergy between him and his golem Jimmy enables him to navigate any situation in the Abyss, earning him the name of The Puppeteer among fellow Explorers.
As the apprentice of the renowned technician Victor, he possesses considerable expertise in engineering, including materials, dynamics, and mechanical structures.

Endlessly curious and brimming with optimism, he's particularly obsessed with all things mechanical.
Any unfamiliar device immediately becomes his next "study" object. He must understand how it works.
It's this insatiable curiosity that drives him to explore the Abyss alongside Jimmy, seeking new technologies for humanity's use.

Chronicles

Flark has real talent. After I provided the foundational theories and frameworks, he designed that golem and built it with his own hands.
That's what really matters in our line of work. We've got no shortage of geniuses spouting beautiful theories they can't implement.
It takes a special kind of madman, the right kind with both vision and insanity, to actually make ideas real. Flark has that potential. Where he goes from here is his call.
If he only seeks fame and fortune as an Explorer, what he knows now is enough.
But if he wants to leave his mark on technological progress... well, he's got a lot more work ahead of him.
— Victor

His father and I often told him stories of our adventures into the Abyss, so naturally, the boy grew up yearning for it.
But alas, whether in combat or magic, his abilities were unremarkable...
When he realized he lacked the strength to survive the Abyss on his own, to experience what we had, he was devastated.
We offered to accompany him. The presence of me and his father is enough to guarantee his safety, but he refused.
He didn't want to rely on us, to live forever sheltered under our protection. So we found another path, entrusting him to Master Victor instead.
— Flark's Mother

I always assumed The Puppeteer was a disheveled old eccentric, so I was shocked when I met him for the first time.
Yet what truly surprises me is how someone so... lacking in personal strength dares to venture into the Abyss alone.
That golem, Jimmy, is impressive, I'll grant him that. But to place absolute trust in a golem? I can't tell if it's naivety or confidence.
— GhostSamurai from Jokers

Record

More members showed interest in Flark's golem Jimmy than in the Puppeteer himself.
During his early days with the team, some members would often borrow Jimmy under the guise of "capability assessment" or "strategic planning," though really, they just wanted to play with it.
Flark didn't seem bothered by this at all. Unless it interfered with his research, he would readily indulge their every request without hesitation. One member even offered substantial payment to commission a similar golem, but Flark refused.
According to him, the real challenge wasn't the materials; it was analyzing the user's unique magic signature and replicating the golem's power source. So far, he could only decode his own magic, making Jimmy impossible to replicate for others.
What truly brought Jimmy to life was a core component salvaged from an anthropomorphic puppet created by his master, Victor. No substitute for it existed yet.
Whenever Jimmy or other technical topics came up, Flark would light up with excitement and eagerly share every detail.
Whether it's about Jimmy or any other engineering topic, he'd light up with enthusiasm, almost as if guarding secrets was the last thing on his mind.

Anecdote

While peers played with toys, young Flark took them apart to study their mechanisms.
While peers practiced swordplay and spells, Flark's world still revolved around dismantling, though his subjects graduated from toys to proper machinery.
Eventually, whispers spread through his hometown: "The legendary swordsman and archmage's son is a weirdo."

Yes, weirdo.
He inherited neither his mother's magical brilliance nor his father's combat mastery. His abilities were painfully unremarkable.
His passions set him further apart. While other children played, he found endless fascination in the simple cycle of dismantling and reassembling objects.
To their community, he was undeniably... weirdo.
Yet none dared say it openly. Not with his parents being the legendary swordsman and archmage. Both their prestige and power ensured it.
However, whispers always find their way home.
When the rumors reached his parents, their anger burned, yet they directed it at no one.
Instead, they wrapped their son in protective care, shielding him from cruel words so he might grow unburdened.

"Guess I'm still a weirdo, no?" He chuckles. "Everyone else relies on spells or martial arts while I've got Jimmy."
"But being different isn't so bad. You get attention everywhere and get to see things others can't."
"And if I weren't odd, I'd never have met Jimmy! Missing out on him is unimaginable. That'd be my life's biggest regret!"
"So I owe my parents everything. Without their protection and understanding, I'd never have come this far."
"Without their help convincing Master Victor, I'd never have a life in the Abyss either."