| Name | Professor Kaori |
|---|---|
| Age | Unknown |
| Species | Human |
| Status | Alive |
| Quadrant | Riders Quadrant |
| Rank/Title | Colonel, Professor |
| Signet | Illusionist |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Unknown |
| Dragon Bond | Smachd |
| Appears in | Fourth Wing (2023), Iron Flame (2023), Onyx Storm (2025) |
Biography
Professor Kaori is a dragon rider, Colonel, and instructor at Basgiath War College. He teaches Dragonkind in the Riders Quadrant, where cadets learn about dragon types, bonding, flight, dragon behavior, and the dangerous politics of the Empyrean. He is bonded to the dragon Smachd and possesses the signet of an Illusionist, which allows him to project images from his mind for others to see.
Kaori’s signet makes him especially valuable as a teacher. Instead of only describing dragons, maps, flight maneuvers, or tactical layouts, he can show them visually to an entire classroom. Because of this rare ability, Basgiath considers him too useful in an instructional setting to deploy with a wing full-time, though he previously served the required years before the college assigned him to teach.
Before the events of Fourth Wing, Kaori wrote Colonel Kaori’s Field Guide to Dragonkind, a text connected to his expertise in dragon behavior and dragon classifications. His knowledge makes him one of the most important sources of information about dragons at Basgiath, especially for first-year cadets who enter the Riders Quadrant with little understanding of what dragons are truly like.
Fourth Wing
In Fourth Wing, Professor Kaori teaches first-year cadets about dragonkind, including the different dragon colors, tail types, temperaments, and the risks involved in approaching them. He explains that the number of dragons willing to bond has been decreasing, a fact that unsettles the class and hints at larger problems within the Empyrean and Navarre’s military future.
Kaori also warns the cadets about dangerous dragons such as Sgaeyl and introduces them to the reputation of Tairn, one of the most powerful dragons bonded to a rider. When speaking about Tairn, Kaori references his previous rider, Naolin, and later tells Violet Sorrengail that Naolin burned out while trying to save her brother, Brennan. This moment makes Kaori one of the first people to give Violet a deeper glimpse into the history surrounding her family and Tairn’s past.
Kaori is one of the professors who understands that dragon bonding is not something humans fully control. After Violet bonds not only Tairn but also Andarna, Kaori is shocked but also fascinated. He explains that humans do not get to decide who dragons choose, and that no one fully understands the reasoning behind those choices. His reaction shows both his respect for dragon autonomy and his curiosity about the Empyrean’s internal politics.
Before Threshing, Kaori advises cadets on what to expect and how to respond if they do not bond by nightfall. He also teaches practical dragon-riding basics, including where and how to sit on a dragon’s back. His instruction helps prepare cadets for one of the most dangerous transitions in the Riders Quadrant: moving from training on the ground to surviving in the air.
Kaori also leads flight lessons and teaches first-years basic maneuvers. For older cadets, he continues with more advanced flight instruction, showing that his role extends beyond classroom theory. His knowledge of dragons, flight, and rider training makes him a central professor in the development of Basgiath’s cadets.
During the Squad Battle, Kaori’s handwritten journal becomes important enough to be stolen by another squad. The journal reportedly contains personal habits and flaws of active dragons, which suggests that Kaori studies dragons closely and records detailed behavioral information. This reinforces his reputation as one of Basgiath’s most knowledgeable authorities on dragonkind.
Iron Flame
In Iron Flame, Kaori continues teaching flight maneuvers and remains deeply interested in the inner workings of dragons and the Empyrean. His curiosity is not casual; he notices patterns, questions dragon behavior, and seems to understand that dragons’ choices may reveal more than humans are allowed to know.
Kaori is uncomfortable around Vice-Commandant Varrish. He also becomes one of the few authority figures willing to defend Violet when Varrish tries to punish her unfairly. After Violet goes absent without leave because of her dragons’ decisions, Kaori submits his expert opinion. He argues that leadership should not punish her for actions driven by Tairn and Andarna. His statement helps clear Violet of the charges and shows that Kaori believes someone must check power, even when Basgiath’s leadership holds it.
When several cadets and professors leave for Aretia, Kaori is visibly torn. Although he looks at Violet and seems conflicted, he ultimately says that his place is with the Empyrean at Basgiath. This decision shows that his loyalty is strongly tied to the dragons and their larger political structure, even as the human conflict around him becomes more divided.
Before the Battle of Basgiath, Kaori uses his illusionist signet in Battle Brief to project a gridded map for the cadets. The image helps show the area they will be responsible for covering during the battle, proving again how strategically valuable his signet can be. In moments like this, his power is not just educational but militarily useful.
By Onyx Storm, Kaori remains one of the more important Basgiath professors connected to dragon knowledge and training. While he is not always central to the main action, his expertise matters because the series increasingly reveals that dragon choices, dragon politics, and the Empyrean itself are far more important than most humans understand.
Physical Description
Appearance
- Serious dark eyes
- Eyes described as slashing downward toward the bridge of his nose
- Dark eyebrows
- Commanding presence suited to a senior professor and Colonel
Facial Hair
- Perfectly trimmed dark mustache
- His mustache curves when he smiles
Clothing & Gear
- Wears clothing appropriate to his role as a Basgiath professor and rider
- Associated with classroom instruction, dragon theory, flight training, and tactical demonstrations
Personality
Professor Kaori is observant, intelligent, curious, and deeply knowledgeable about dragons. He notices details others overlook, including Violet’s habits, her intelligence, and the unusual nature of her bond with Tairn and Andarna. His curiosity about dragons is one of his defining traits, especially when it comes to the choices and politics of the Empyrean.
Unlike some authority figures at Basgiath, Kaori does not treat dragon bonding as something humans can fully command. He respects the fact that dragons make their own decisions and repeatedly reminds others that human rules do not always apply to the Empyrean. This makes him more open-minded than many officers who see dragons only as military assets.
Kaori also shows a strong sense of fairness. In Iron Flame, he defends Violet against unfair punishment. He argues that she should not be held responsible for a decision made by her dragon. His willingness to stand against Varrish’s pressure shows that he is not simply obedient to authority when he believes that authority is misusing power.
As a teacher, Kaori is practical and effective. His illusionist signet makes him an unusually strong instructor because he can transform abstract information into visible images. He uses this ability to teach dragon forms, tactical layouts, and battlefield positioning, making difficult subjects easier for cadets to understand.
Kaori is also morally grounded. He believes power must be checked, takes his responsibilities seriously, and appears genuinely invested in the safety and education of the cadets. His combination of curiosity, fairness, and dragon expertise makes him one of the more trustworthy professors in the Riders Quadrant.
Powers
Lesser Magic
As a bonded rider, Professor Kaori can perform lesser magic through his dragon bond with Smachd. This includes abilities such as locking and unlocking doors without touching them, moving with preternatural speed, manipulating mage lights, powering ink pens, and placing runes.
Signet
Illusionist: Kaori’s signet allows him to project images from his mind so that others can see them. This ability makes him especially valuable in a classroom, where he can visually demonstrate dragons, maps, formations, and tactical information. He can also make his illusions disappear by closing his fist.
Kaori is the only professor in the Riders Quadrant known to have this signet. Because his ability is so useful for teaching, he is rarely stationed outside Basgiath. His signet gives him a rare role: he is not only a rider, but also one of the most effective visual instructors in the quadrant.
Abilities
Dragonkind Instruction
Kaori teaches Dragonkind to cadets in the Riders Quadrant. His lessons cover dragon types, behavior, bonding, how to approach dragons, and the risks of interacting with powerful dragons. His instruction is especially important for first-year cadets preparing for Threshing.
Flight Training
Kaori teaches basic flight maneuvers to first-years and more advanced maneuvers to older cadets. His knowledge of dragon riding extends beyond theory, making him a practical instructor as well as an academic one.
Dragon Research
Kaori closely studies dragons and their behavior. His handwritten journal on active dragons’ habits and flaws suggests that he keeps detailed observations about dragons beyond what most cadets are taught. This knowledge makes him one of Basgiath’s most valuable dragon experts.
Tactical Visualization
Because of his illusionist signet, Kaori can visually project tactical information for others. He uses this ability in Battle Brief before the Battle of Basgiath, displaying a gridded map so cadets can understand their assigned positions and battlefield responsibilities.
Military Experience
Kaori served the required years before becoming a professor at Basgiath, which means his teaching is backed by real rider experience. His rank as Colonel also reflects his authority within the military structure of the Riders Quadrant.
Relationships
| Violet Sorrengail | Kaori teaches Violet in the Riders Quadrant and becomes one of the professors who recognizes both her intelligence and the unusual nature of her bond with dragons. He tells Violet that she is smarter than both of her siblings and likely more compassionate as well. After Violet bonds Tairn and Andarna, Kaori helps explain that humans do not control who dragons choose. In Iron Flame, he also defends Violet when Varrish attempts to punish her for decisions made by her dragons. |
|---|---|
| Tairn | Kaori knows Tairn’s history and explains part of it to Violet, including the fate of Tairn’s previous rider, Naolin. His reaction to Violet bonding Tairn shows both shock and fascination, especially because Tairn is one of the most powerful and politically significant dragons in the series. |
| Andarna | Kaori is fascinated when Andarna also bonds Violet. The situation gives him a rare chance to observe dragon politics in action, since two dragons bonding one rider is far outside ordinary human understanding. |
| Vice-Commandant Varrish | Kaori is uncomfortable around Varrish and does not appear to support his misuse of power. In Iron Flame, Kaori challenges the idea that Violet should be punished for her dragons’ decisions and submits an expert opinion that helps clear her of charges. |
Dragon
Professor Kaori bonds with Smachd. Through this bond, Kaori gains access to lesser magic and manifests his illusionist signet. The books reveal little about Smachd’s individual personality, but the bond confirms Kaori’s status as an experienced rider and a professor whose dragon connection directly supports his teaching role.
