Fern
A stoic human mage who walks faithfully beside the immortal elf on a journey of discovery.
Fern is a character of the Japanese manga series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, created by Kanehito Yamada and illustrated by Tsukasa Abe. A war orphan, Fern is adopted by the priest Heiter who wishes her to be raised by the protagonist Frieren in the future due to his decaying health. As Frieren takes into Fern, the child grows into an adult mage but is often portrayed as a stoic individual until warming up to both Frieren and her companion Stark, a young soldier also raised by one of Frieren's friends. Fern is voiced by Kana Ichinose in Japanese and Jill Harris in English.
- Weapon
- Magic Staff
Lore & Background
Fern is a war orphan from a southern country who lost her parents and was about to commit suicide by jumping off a ravine when the priest Heiter rescued her. After being raised by him, Fern meets Heiter's friend Frieren, who is asked by him to teach her magic so she could become a full-fledged mage. After Heiter's death, by which she has turned sixteen, she embarks on a journey as Frieren's apprentice. Though she initially treats Stark coldly, she eventually warms up to him as they bond, but still scolds him when he causes trouble. The two open up to each other on their respective 18th birthdays where they give each other items as presents. Their partner Sein suggests Stark's present means a declaration of love but Fern does not care when Stark claims he had no idea the meaning of his present. On the journey to Heaven, Fern is convinced by Frieren to enter a Mage Examination. Fern feels uncertain that she could pass the exam, but Frieren lets her know that mana capacity is not everything and that she herself has lost eleven times to people with a lower mana capacity than herself. In the final exam, the elf Serie sees enormous potential in Fern and asks her to be her student, but Fern rejects the proposal. Unwilling to turn away such a promising mage, Serie relents and passes Fern. Fern asks for a spell to clean her clothes. Following the exam, the mage Wirbel insists on trying to recruit Stark for defending the Northern Plateau from the encroaching demon threat. A concerned Fern reaches out to Stark, who tells her that he declined Wirbel's offer and that he loves his current role as party vanguard. He believes that working with Frieren and Fern has helped him grow as a person, and that there is no better place for him to be.
In Their Own Story
The embers of the campfire crackle softly in the night air. Fern sits apart from the others, methodically polishing her blade while Frieren reads a spellbook nearby without looking up. No words pass between them, yet a quiet understanding fills the space. When a shadow moves at the forest's edge, Fern does not startle; she simply stands, sword ready, magic humming beneath her skin. She is the shield that allows the elf to remain the observer.
Reader's Guide
Fern serves as the human apprentice to the elf mage Frieren in this fantasy narrative. Originally a war orphan from a southern country, she was rescued by the priest Heiter when she was about to commit suicide by jumping off a ravine. After being raised by him, she meets Heiter's friend Frieren, who is asked by him to teach her magic so she could become a full-fledged mage. After Heiter's death, by which she has turned sixteen, she embarks on a journey as Frieren's apprentice. Though she initially treats Stark coldly, she eventually warms up to him as they bond, but still scolds him when he causes trouble. The two open up to each other on their respective 18th birthdays where they give each other items as presents. Their partner Sein suggests Stark's present means a declaration of love but Fern does not care when Stark claims he had no idea the meaning of his present. On the journey to Heaven, Fern is convinced by Frieren to enter a Mage Examination. Fern feels uncertain that she could pass the exam, but Frieren lets her know that mana capacity is not everything and that she herself has lost eleven times to people with a lower mana capacity than herself. In the final exam, the elf Serie sees enormous potential in Fern and asks her to be her student, but Fern rejects the proposal. Unwilling to turn away such a promising mage, Serie relents and passes Fern. Fern asks for a spell to clean her clothes. Following the exam, the mage Wirbel insists on trying to recruit Stark for defending the Northern Plateau from the encroaching demon threat. A concerned Fern reaches out to Stark, who tells her that he declined Wirbel's offer and that he loves his current role as party vanguard. He believes that working with Frieren and Fern has helped him grow as a person, and that there is no better place for him to be.
Did You Know?
- Fern was about to commit suicide by jumping off a ravine when the priest Heiter rescued her.
- Fern rejected the elf Serie's offer to become her student during the Mage Examination, despite Serie seeing enormous potential in her.
- Fern asked for a spell to clean her clothes as her reward for passing the Mage Examination.
- Fern and Stark gave each other presents on their respective 18th birthdays, and Sein suggested Stark's present meant a declaration of love.
- Fern won the award for Best Supporting Character at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Fern in the story?
Fern is a human mage who serves as the apprentice to the elf protagonist, Frieren. She was originally raised at the Magic Academy before joining her mentor on their journey across the continent.
What are Fern's combat abilities?
She specializes in offensive black magic and utilizes a sword for close-range defense during battles. Her precise spellcasting allows her to handle powerful enemies alongside her party members.
How does Fern view Frieren?
Fern respects Frieren as a mentor but also views her as a vital family figure in her life. She strives to learn from the elf while ensuring her safety during their travels.
What is Fern's personality like?
She maintains a stoic and serious demeanor, often acting more mature than her age suggests. Despite this calm exterior, she shows deep loyalty and concern for the people in her party.
Is Fern still alive at the end of the story?
Fern remains alive and continues to travel with Frieren and Stark throughout their adventures. She is actively growing as a mage while exploring the world beyond her initial training.
Elsewhere in the Frieren universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record