SOFIYA VOLKOV
Inferni of the Second Army
BASIC INFORMATION
Full Name: Sofiya Aleksandrovna Volkov
Age: 19 (as of Rule of Wolves)
Nationality:Ravkan (originally from Fjerda)
Grisha Order:Etherealki
Grisha Type: Inferni
Military Rank:Corporal, Second Army
Current Status: Active soldier stationed in Ravka
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PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
Sofiya possesses a striking appearance reminiscent of a doll. She has delicate, porcelain features with high cheekbones and a heart-shaped face that gives her almost ethereal quality. Her hair is pale blonde, nearly platinum, which she typically wears in a simple braid wrapped around her head for practicality during training and combat—though wisps always seem to escape, framing her face in a way that softens her sometimes intimidating demeanor.
Her eyes are a clear, crystalline blue that can appear almost icy in certain light, which has led to some unfortunate jokes about her Fjerdan origins. They're expressive despite her attempts to maintain composure, often betraying her emotions before her words do. Her skin is fair with a tendency to flush pink across her cheeks when she's embarrassed, angry, or has been using her powers extensively.
Standing at approximately 5'7", Sofiya has a lean, athletic build developed through years of Second Army training. Her hands are never quite still when she's thinking, a nervous habit she developed as a child. She wears the traditional blue kefta with red embroidery that marks her as an Inferni, though hers has subtle personalized details—slightly longer sleeves that extend past her wrists, and reinforced fabric along the forearms from repeated fire manipulation. She always wears leather gloves with embedded flint in the fingertips, custom-made by a Fabrikator friend, allowing her to create sparks with a simple snap.
She has a small scar on her left temple, barely visible beneath her hair, from the night she escaped Fjerda as a child. There's also burn scarring on her right forearm from an early training accident when she was twelve and still learning to control the intensity of her flames.
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BACKSTORY
Early Childhood in Fjerda (Age 0-8):
Sofiya was born in a small village near the Fjerdan-Ravkan border to a Fjerdan mother and a Ravkan father who had fled persecution. Her mother, Linnea, was a seamstress who had fallen in love with Aleksandr Volkov, a Ravkan merchant who visited the village regularly. Their marriage was controversial but tolerated as long as they kept to themselves.
When Sofiya was five, strange incidents began occurring—candles flaring when she walked past, the hearth fire roaring when she had nightmares, small flames appearing in her clenched fists when she was frightened. Her parents recognized what she was immediately: Grisha. Her father's worst fears had come true.
For three years, they hid her abilities, keeping her indoors, teaching her to suppress the combustible gases she unconsciously summoned. But Fjerda's drüskelle were thorough, and whispers spread. When Sofiya was eight years old, her home was raided. Her father fought to protect them and was killed instantly. Her mother, in a desperate act of love, created a diversion that allowed Sofiya to escape through a hidden root cellar her father had prepared for exactly this scenario.
Escape to Ravka (Age 8-12):
Sofiya fled south through the wilderness, guided only by her father's maps and stories of Ravka—a place where Grisha were valued, not hunted. The journey took three weeks. She survived by stealing food, hiding in barns, and avoiding all human contact. The trauma of watching her father die and leaving her mother behind (her fate unknown, though Sofiya fears the worst) left deep psychological scars.
At the Ravkan border, she was discovered by a patrol of First Army soldiers. Half-starved, frostbitten, and terrified, she accidentally set fire to one of their tents when they tried to approach her. A Grisha Examiner traveling with the patrol recognized what she was and calmed her down. Within days, she was on her way to Os Alta and the Little Palace.
Life at the Little Palace (Age 12-17):
Arriving at the Little Palace at age twelve was overwhelming. Sofiya had never seen such luxury, never imagined a place where Grisha were celebrated rather than condemned. But integration was difficult. Her Fjerdan features and accent (which she worked hard to suppress) made her a target for whispers and suspicion. Some students questioned her loyalty. Others, orphans from border villages who'd lost family to Fjerdan raids, were outright hostile.
She dealt with this by building walls. She became sharp-tongued and defensive, quick to snap at anyone who looked at her wrong. Her instructors noted she had a "mean streak" and struggled with authority. But beneath the prickly exterior was a girl desperate to belong, terrified of being sent away, and haunted by guilt over her parents.
Her Inferni abilities developed rapidly. She demonstrated an unusual aptitude for temperature control and precision—where other Inferni created walls of flame, Sofiya could craft intricate patterns of fire, threading flames between her fingers like silk. Her instructors speculated this came from years of forced suppression; she'd learned micro-control before she learned to let go.
At fifteen, during a training exercise, she accidentally burned another student who had been bullying her about her heritage. The incident was deemed accidental, but Sofiya was devastated. It confirmed her worst fear: that she was dangerous, that maybe the Fjerdans had been right about her. She became even more withdrawn, though she threw herself into mastering her abilities with an almost obsessive intensity.
The Ravkan Civil War (Age 17-18):
When the Darkling expanded the Fold and the civil war erupted, Sofiya was seventeen and newly graduated to full soldier status. Like many young Grisha, she initially sided with the Darkling. He represented strength, protection, and—most importantly to her—unambiguous acceptance of Grisha regardless of origin. The Sun Summoner's rhetoric about unity with the otkazat'sya felt naive to someone who'd watched her father murdered for loving a Grisha.
Sofiya fought alongside the Darkling's forces during the early battles. She was present at the Battle of the Fold when the Darkling attempted to use his nichevo'ya against Alina's forces. The sight of those shadow creatures—wrong, unnatural, clearly created through merzost—shook something in her. This wasn't protection; this was becoming the monsters the Fjerdans claimed Grisha were, and she defected to alina's side .
When the Darkling ultimately fell, Sofiya experienced intense cognitive dissonance. She had to reconcile having fought for someone whose methods grew increasingly horrific. In the aftermath of her desertion of the darkling, she faced potential discharge or even imprisonment for her allegiance. However, Alina Starkov herself intervened, arguing that many young Grisha had been manipulated by the Darkling's charisma and promises of safety. Sofiya was allowed to remain in the little palace and help alinas cause, though she carried deep shame about her choices.
Current Day (Age 19):
Now nineteen, Sofiya serves under the reformed Second Army led by the Triumvirate (Zoya Nazyalensky, Genya Safin, and David Kostyk). She's worked hard to prove her loyalty to Ravka and distance herself from her time under the Darkling's command. She remains stationed in Ravka, having participated in skirmishes along the borders and training exercises.
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PERSONALITY
Surface Level:
First impressions of Sofiya are rarely positive. She presents as aloof, sharp-tongued, and standoffish. Her default expression is somewhere between bored and mildly annoyed, and she has a tendency to make cutting remarks that come across as mean. She's quick to find fault, doesn't suffer fools, and seems to take a certain satisfaction in making people uncomfortable. Many in the Second Army initially label her as "difficult" or "cold."
Beneath the Surface:
The reality is that Sofiya's defensive behavior is a protective mechanism built over years of trauma, displacement, and fear of rejection. Underneath the prickly exterior is someone incredibly warm, deeply caring, and almost painfully eager for connection. Once someone gets past her walls—which admittedly takes patience—they discover a person who is:
Fiercely Loyal:Once you earn her trust, she's devoted to a fault. She'll defend her friends with the same intensity she once defended herself.
Intellectually Curious: She loves learning new techniques, experimenting with her powers, and discussing Grisha theory. She'll stay up late reading texts from the Little Palace library.
Secretly Affectionate:She shows love through actions rather than words—making sure friends have eaten, remembering small details they've mentioned, leaving little gifts without fanfare.
Deeply Empathetic: Her harsh past has made her sensitive to others' pain, though she hides it. She's the first to notice when someone is struggling, even if she pretends she doesn't care.
Unintentionally Funny:Once comfortable, her dry wit and unexpected observations are genuinely hilarious. She has perfect comedic timing without trying.
Social Dynamics:
Sofiya is paradoxically both introverted and extremely social. She needs people, craves connection, and becomes deeply unhappy when isolated—but she's terrible at initiating relationships in healthy ways. She makes friends relatively easily once the initial barrier is broken because her enthusiasm and genuine interest shine through. She's the type to remember everyone's birthday, to organize spontaneous gatherings, to insist on celebrating small victories.
She's particularly drawn to other "outsiders"—Grisha who don't quite fit in, people with complicated pasts, anyone who seems lonely. She has a gift for making people feel seen and valued, though she rarely recognizes this quality in herself.
Emotional Complexity:
Sofiya battles ongoing guilt about her parents, her time fighting for the Darkling, and every mistake she's made. She has nightmares about Fjerda and carries deep-seated fear of abandonment. She sometimes struggles with feelings that she doesn't deserve happiness or belonging.
However, she's also resilient. She's survived things that would have broken many people, and there's a core of steel beneath her insecurities. She's working on being kinder to herself, on accepting that she was a child who did her best in impossible circumstances.
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ABILITIES AND COMBAT STYLE
Inferni Powers:
Like all Inferni, Sofiya manipulates combustible gases—primarily methane and hydrogen—summoning them from the air around her. She requires a spark to ignite them, which she generates using her custom flint-embedded gloves.
What distinguishes Sofiya from other Inferni is her exceptional control and creativity:
Precision Fire Manipulation:
- Can create extremely thin streams of flame, useful for cutting through rope, metal, or leather at specific points
- Capable of maintaining multiple separate fires simultaneously, each with different temperatures and intensities
- Can "paint" with fire, creating complex patterns and shapes—this makes her invaluable for signals and communication
- Able to direct flames around allies in combat without singeing them
Temperature Control:
- Advanced ability to manipulate the heat of flames independently of their size
- Can create low-temperature flames that provide light without heat (useful for stealth)
- Can superheat small areas to extreme temperatures, melting metal or creating thermal updrafts
- Uses concentrated heat to cauterize wounds in field medicine situations
Defensive Techniques:
- Creates "fire shields" by spinning curtains of flame rapidly in circular patterns
- Generates smokescreens by deliberately producing incomplete combustion
- Can extinguish flames by dispersing the combustible gases, useful against enemy Inferni
- Uses flash-burns to temporarily blind opponents without causing permanent damage
Innovative Applications:
- "Fire whips"—streams of flame she can control like extensions of her arms
- Thermal detection—sensing heat signatures to locate hidden enemies or survivors in rubble
- Controlled explosions—gathering combustible gases in concentrated areas and detonating them remotely
- Fire chains—creating linked bursts of flame that can wrap around multiple targets
- Ember manipulation—keeping small flames "alive" in her palm for hours without fuel, useful for starting campfires or emergency signals
Combat Style:
Sofiya is a mid-to-close range combatant who excels in support roles and area control. In battle, she:
1. Creates zones of denial with walls of flame that funnel enemies into kill zones
2. Provides cover for advancing allies with smokescreens and suppressive fire
3. Handles crowd control by igniting multiple targets simultaneously
4. Adapts rapidly to changing conditions, switching between offensive and defensive techniques
5. Pairs effectively with Squallers (who feed her flames with oxygen) and Tidemakers (who provide moisture she can flash-boil into steam)
Limitations:
- Requires oxygen-rich environments; struggles in enclosed spaces or high altitudes
- Extended use drains her stamina significantly; her record is maintaining combat-ready flames for approximately forty minutes before exhaustion
- Wet or extremely cold conditions slow her ability to gather and ignite combustible gases
- Cannot create fire from nothing—requires the gases to be present (though they're almost always available in some concentration)
- Emotional state affects control; when upset or frightened, her flames become unstable
Signature Move - "The Fjerdan's Goodbye":
A technique Sofiya developed herself: she creates a dense cloud of combustible gas around an enemy, lets them panic and swing blindly (dispersing the gas further), then ignites everything simultaneously. The result is a blinding flash and concussive blast that incapacitates without killing—though the name references her dark humor about her origins and what Fjerdans taught her about Grisha.
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RELATIONSHIPS WITH CANON CHARACTERS
Zoya Nazyalensky:
Complicated respect. Sofiya admires Zoya's strength and competence but finds her intimidating. Post-civil war, Zoya was one of the officers who reviewed Sofiya's case for remaining in the Second Army. Zoya was harsh but fair, telling Sofiya: "You were a child who chose wrong. Now prove you can choose better." Sofiya works hard to live up to that challenge. They're not close, but Sofiya harbors deep gratitude and desperately wants to earn Zoya's approval. In group settings, she's more deferential to Zoya than to any other authority figure.
Genya Safin:
Warmth and inspiration. Genya was kind to Sofiya during her probation period, and Sofiya deeply appreciates that Genya understands what it's like to have served the Darkling under complicated circumstances. Sofiya finds Genya's story of surviving trauma and rebuilding herself inspiring, though she's rarely worked directly with Genya due to their different specializations. When they do interact, Genya treats her with genuine compassion, which Sofiya treasures.
David Kostyk:
Friendly respect. David helped create Sofiya's custom flint gloves and seemed entirely uninterested in her past allegiances, only in the technical challenge of making better equipment. His complete lack of judgment was refreshing. Sofiya is devastated by his death and privately mourns him, wishing she'd told him how much his quiet kindness meant to her.
Alina Starkov:
Reverence and guilt. Alina personally intervened to keep Sofiya in the Second Army despite her fighting against Alina during the civil war. Sofiya has never forgiven herself for this and views Alina with an almost religious devotion. She's never met Alina personally (, but Sofiya considers Alina the reason she has a second chance.
Mal Oretsev:
No significant relationship. Sofiya knows of him through his association with Alina but has never met him.
The Darkling:
Complex trauma. Sofiya initially idolized the Darkling as the ultimate protector of Grisha. His charisma and promises of safety spoke directly to her deepest fears. Learning the truth about his manipulation, his creation of the Fold, and his willingness to sacrifice countless lives shattered her worldview. She now views him with a mixture of betrayal, anger, and lingering shame that she was taken in by him.
Nikolai Lantsov:
Distant admiration. Sofiya respects Nikolai's intelligence and his efforts to rebuild Ravka and unite Grisha with otkazat'sya. She appreciates that his policies focus on practical integration rather than rhetoric. She's never met him personally but has fought under strategies he's designed. She finds his humor inappropriate sometimes but secretly appreciates it.
Tamar and Tolya Yul-Bataar:
Professional colleagues. As fellow soldiers, she's worked with them on border patrol rotations. Tolya's poetry readings annoy her (she finds them pretentious), but she respects both twins' combat skills. Tamar once complimented Sofiya's fire control, which made her week.
Nina Zenik:
Heard about her exploits in Fjerda. Sofiya is fascinated by Nina's undercover work and her efforts to save Grisha in the country that killed Sofiya's father. She views Nina as braver than she could ever be—returning to the place of trauma rather than fleeing it. If they met, Sofiya would probably pepper her with questions about Fjerda, though she'd pretend casual disinterest.
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PRESENCE IN THE BOOKS
Shadow and Bone:
Sofiya arrived at the Little Palace at age 12, shortly before the events of Shadow and Bone began. She would have been an unknown student, struggling with integration and her training. During the Darkling's expansion of the Fold, she would have been with the other students, terrified and confused, processing the revelation of his true nature.
Siege and Storm:
Still in training, approximately 13 years old. She witnessed the political upheaval as Alina took command of the Second Army. She was too young to fight in the major battles but would have been evacuated with other students when the Little Palace was threatened.
Ruin and Rising:
Age 14-15. Sofiya was among the Grisha who evacuated to the underground sanctuary at the White Cathedral. This was a formative experience—living in cramped conditions, rationing food, the constant threat of discovery. It was also when she first seriously questioned whether following Alina was the right choice, though she ultimately stayed loyal to the Second Army institution if not to Alina personally.
Six of Crows:
Age 16. Sofiya was not involved in any Ice Court or Ketterdam events. She was stationed in Ravka, completing advanced training.
Crooked Kingdom:
Age 17. Sofiya was part of the contingent of Grisha who traveled to Ketterdam with Genya and Zoya following the auction of Kuwei Yul-Bo. Her specific role: she was one of the Grisha who disguised themselves as the Council of Tides during the auction interruption.
Details: The plan required several Inferni and Squallers to create dramatic weather effects (storm clouds, lightning, flames) to sell the illusion that the mysterious Council of Tides was intervening Sofiya was chosen for her precise control—she created the ring of blue-white flames that encircled the auction platform and the flame "curtain" that descended to block the exits. She also helped create the fog effects by working with Tidemakers to produce steam.
She was relieved to return to Ravka and vowed never to return to "that cesspool of corruption."
Spoilers for the king of scars dulougy
King of Scars:
Age 18. Sofiya was serving in the Second Army under the new Triumvirate structure. She was assigned to border patrol duty along the Fjerdan frontier—a posting she specifically requested despite (or because of) her complicated history with Fjerda. She wanted to prove she could face her past and protect Ravka from the country that had taken everything from her.
During this time:
- She participated in skirmishes with Fjerdan raiders testing Ravka's defenses
- She helped intercept drüskelle patrols attempting to kidnap Ravkan Grisha
- She struggled with nightmares and PTSD symptoms, especially when hearing Fjerdan language or seeing Fjerdan prisoners
- She began keeping a private journal, trying to process her experiences and emotions
Rule of Wolves:
Age 19. Sofiya participated in the defense of Ravka against Fjerda's invasion. Her experiences:
Defence of Os Kervo:She was present when Fjerda bombed Os Kervo from the air. She survived the attack but lost several friends, including a fellow Inferni she'd trained with for years. David Kostyk's death particularly devastated her—he'd made her gloves and treated her with such casual kindness.
Battle Preparations:She was part of the forces preparing for the major confrontation with Fjerda's army. She trained extensively with other Etherealki in combined tactics.
The Final Battle: Sofiya fought in the climactic battle against Fjerda's invasion force. She was positioned in the mid-ranks, working with other Inferni to create fire barriers and suppression zones. She witnessed the appearance of the demon Zoya's transformation into the dragon. The sheer scale and horror of the battle traumatized her, though she performed her duties competently.
Aftermath:In the aftermath, as Shu Han and Ravka made peace and the Darkling imprisoned himself in the thornwood, Sofiya struggled with survivor's guilt and grief. She attended memorial services for fallen comrades and began considering whether she wanted to remain in active military service or transition to a training/teaching role.
She was present (in the background) when Zoya sent the message to the Crows about a new mission, though she wasn't privy to details. Her reaction: an eye-roll and a muttered "Saints save us from Kerch mercenaries."
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CURRENT STATUS
As of the end of Rule of Wolves, Sofiya (now 19) remains stationed in Ravka as an active soldier in the Second Army. She's considered a competent and reliable soldier, though not among the elite. She's respected for her technical skill and her ability to work well in team scenarios, though her interpersonal reputation is mixed—some find her prickly, others appreciate her once you get to know her.
She's dealing with:
-Grief over losses from the war
- Relief that Ravka survived and is moving toward peace
- Uncertainty about her future path—does she want to continue as a soldier, train new students, or perhaps pursue Grisha research?
- Tentative hope that maybe she can build a life in Ravka, that she's finally safe and belongs somewhere
She maintains her practice of creative fire manipulation, developing new techniques in her spare time. She's started mentoring younger Inferni students, though she pretends this is a duty rather than something she finds deeply fulfilling.
She still has nightmares about Fjerda and her parents. She's still working through shame about her time under the Darkling. But she's healing, slowly, surrounded by people who've become something like family.
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NOTABLE DETAILS & QUIRKS
Personal Habits:
- Snaps her fingers unconsciously when thinking, a habit from years of creating sparks
- Braids small charms and trinkets into her hair—gifts from friends, each with a story
- Hums off-key when she's concentrating, doesn't realize she does it
- Writes letters to her mother that she'll never send, keeping them in a locked box under her bed
- Collects interesting rocks and fire-scorched wood pieces, arranges them on her windowsill
- Makes terrible tea (always over-steeps it) but insists on making it for friends anyway
- Falls asleep reading and has singed several books accidentally by leaving candles burning
Speech Patterns:
- Tends toward dry, sarcastic remarks initially
- Becomes more animated and expressive when comfortable, talks with her hands
- Occasionally uses Fjerdan words/phrases unconsciously, then gets embarrassed
- Has a surprisingly filthy vocabulary when angry
- Gives people nicknames (usually mildly insulting) that somehow become terms of endearment
Skills Beyond Combat:
- Excellent at card games and gambling (learned from soldiers)
- Surprisingly good cook, especially soups and stews
- Can sketch decently, often draws fire patterns and Grisha theory diagrams
- Knows medicinal herbs (learned from trying to treat her mother's headaches as a child)
- Can track and navigate wilderness terrain from her escape journey
Fears:
- Deep water (can't swim, never learned)
- Confinement in small spaces (trauma from hiding)
- Being sent away/exiled from Ravka
- Losing control and hurting someone she cares about
- Drüskelle (visceral fear response to Fjerdan witch hunters)
- Becoming like the Darkling—losing her empathy in pursuit of power
Hopes:
- That her mother somehow survived and might still be alive
- To prove she belongs in Ravka beyond any doubt
- To master new Inferni techniques no one's tried before
- To find a partner who sees past her defenses (secretly very romantic)
- To visit Fjerda in peacetime, face her trauma directly
- To forgive herself
Values:
- Loyalty to chosen family above all else
- Protecting those who can't protect themselves
- Constant self-improvement and learning
- Honesty, even when it's uncomfortable
- The small joys—good food, warm fires, friendship, laughter
Core Belief:
Everyone deserves a second chance, including herself.
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Face Claim: Elle Fanning
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"They called us witches in Fjerda. Monsters. Unnatural. Maybe I believed them once. But I learned to call myself something else: surviver. And then soldier. And now? Now I'm just Sofiya. And that's enough."
