Atla has the appearance of a 10 year old demi-human of the Hakuko race. She has ears and a tail similar to that of her older brother, Fohl, but it's hard to tell if they are from the same race. Despite being a slave, her white and black hair is glossy while her skin is smooth and pale. Her appearance has been compared to that of a porcelain doll. When we first meet Atla, her body is covered entirely in bandages. Beneath those bandages hid festering and painful sores. Upon seeing her for the first time, Naofumi wonders "Is this mummy even alive?". Atla is strong-willed and exceptionally smart. She always seeks to gain Naofumi's attention and would do anything to gain his affection. She has a tendency to punish anyone who gets between her and Naofumi, especially her elder brother Fohl. The love she has for Naofumi borders on the obsessive. She is very decisive and often takes the initiative when partaking in anything relating to Naofumi.
The Rising of the Shield Hero
The Four Cardinal Heroes are a group of ordinary men from modern-day Japan summoned to the kingdom of Melromarc to become its saviors. Melromarc is a country plagued by the Waves of Catastrophe that have repeatedly ravaged the land and brought disaster to its citizens for centuries. The four heroes are respectively bestowed a sword, spear, bow, and shield to vanquish these Waves. Naofumi Iwatani, an otaku, becomes cursed with the fate of being the "Shield Hero." Armed with only a measly shield, Naofumi is belittled and ridiculed by his fellow heroes and the kingdom's people due to his weak offensive capabilities and lackluster personality. When the heroes are provided with resources and comrades to train with, Naofumi sets out with the only person willing to train alongside him, Malty Melromarc. He is soon betrayed by her, however, and becomes falsely accused of taking advantage of her. Naofumi then becomes heavily discriminated against and hated by the people of Melromarc for something he didn't do. With a raging storm of hurt and mistrust in his heart, Naofumi begins his journey of strengthening himself and his reputation. Further along however, the difficulty of being on his own sets in, so Naofumi buys a demi-human slave on the verge of death named Raphtalia to accompany him on his travels. As the Waves approach the kingdom, Naofumi and Raphtalia must fight for the survival of the kingdom and protect the people of Melromarc from their ill-fated future.
