The Phantom

"I'm not a ghost, nor an angel, nor a magician. I am a man. A scarred man by the past, and though I regret nothing about this scar, I despair that my pain will cause you suffering. That seeing how it deforms my face will make you flee. That being next to me will do you no good. That Adrien Delacroix will do you no good."

- The Phantom revealing his real identity to Linnéa Bergström

The Phantom (born Adrien Delacroix; 8 September 1877) is the Byronic hero and titular character of The Phantom trilogy. A complete gifted musician, considered to be a prodigy in both the piano and violin at a very young age, the Phantom is also a very genius young man for his age; considered to be a remarkable intellect in all fields. He is also said to be Linnéa Bergström's secret teacher, who sings melodies to her whenever she is alone, and compels her to be in love with his voice and be lured by his music. The reason that he is teaching Linnéa was revealed to be because of his undying and secret love for her. Later on, it was revealed that he had masqueraded as Arie Jadranko in order to get close to Linnéa in the "upper world", and that he is the supposed long-dead and missing heir to the Dukedom of Cadore, Adrien Delacroix.

In the third and final book, The Aria, it is revealed that he had secretly married Linnéa before they've separated ways at the end of The Ghost, and consummated their marriage. He is also revealed to be Érik's real father.

Early life
The Phantom was born on 8 September 1877 to Lord Pierre-Adrien Delacroix and Lady Sara Delacroix, the Duke and Duchess of Cadore, in Paris as Lord Adrien Delacroix, Marquis of Cadore; since he is the eldest twin, claiming the right as heir apparent to the duchy of their father over his younger brother, Pierre, by seven minutes. His father considered twins as a hassle as their family business at the time is not doing well. So since birth, the two were separated when his younger brother was adopted by the Moreau family because the current successor to the clan's fortune, the young Alphonse, was sickly as a child. He and Dominique Moreau (Pierre's known name) grew up without knowing that they were brothers, much more is that, they were twins. The Duke considers Adrien as his luck, for after his birth, the family business flourishes.

At a very young age, Adrien excels in countless things—from music, arts, inventing, discovering, and designing. He was considered a prodigy and a genius. According to Madame Michaux, Adrien designed an underground secret tunnel and lair that connects the Delacroix villa to the Opéra Garnier, and probably from countless other places. His father adopted most of his plans as a secret the two of them shared. The tunnel designs had been Adrien's own playground and workplace for most of his creations. It was his designs that completed the many secret passageways in the Opera that he'll later used when he starts being considered as a phantom.

It was also at this time that he met Linnéa Bergström, when her parents were revealed to be close friends with his family. Linnéa and her father recently arrived to Paris at the death of her mother; since then, the two grow close together as Linnéa and her father live with them. However, as a contract between Adrien's parents and the Moreau family, that the Duke and Duchess of Cadore to continue seeing Dominique as he grows up and for the Moreau family to continue keeping the secret of his parentage, the Moreau are usual visitors of the Delacroix family. And also, Dominique befriending Linnéa, requested to always visit so that they can play. Adrien slowly slips away from Linnéa, secretly watching them from a far and he returns to his old ways of composing and designing.

Receiving the scar
On 23 May 1885, during the usual hide-and-seek game of Dominique and Linnéa, the latter found Adrien instead playing the piano on the tunnels by following the sound of him playing. Linnéa said that his music lured her to him. Amazed by the tunnels, Adrien invited Linnéa to explore the tunnels and the Opera Garnier. Once they've arrived at the Opera Garnier, they met a crazy beggar whom Adrien had given money but insiste to have Linnéa's locket which was her only memory of her deceased mother. Agitated, the crazy beggar attacked them and Adrien protected Linnéa from the attacker's dagger, scarring him with a dagger wound passing his left eye.

They were tracked and found by their parents who've immediately saved them from the crazy beggar who've been arrested. Adrien's father sued the media with a huge sum of money to keep the incident. Linnéa and her father left the villa when Linnéa was traumatized and contracted a very high fever about the incident, causing her to lose her memories of Adrien upon recovery. Dominique wasn't allowed to return to the Delacroix villa, the Duke and Duchess of Cadore, who were his real parents, considered him the cause for the incident since they were warned not to play hide-and-seek at the villa. All connections he have with them disappeared at that moment.

The injury happened to be much more critical than anticipated. The dagger that had been used happens to be newly cleaned from rust by muriatic acid. The blade, still dripping with a few trace of the acid didn't only caused a dagger scar but also slightly burned Adrien's left cheek. His parents, though continued to dote on Adrien with love, hid him from the public, asked to have all the tunnels barred except for the one in the villa (since no one else knows the tunnels layout except for Adrien, and the exits known by those who've worked on the tunnels), and have them all locked with a key that only Adrien and his father has. They've also asked Adrien to wear a mask and to lengthen his hair to hide his scar.

At the sudden death of his parents in a carriage accident on 1889, Adrien had all the barred woods removed and replaced all locks with a key that only him has. Throughout the series, such tunnels will never be tracked and known by anyone else except for a selected few whom Adrien trusted with his life. He also placed traps on them for wandering strangers, such traps vary from non-deathly to deathly. As the new Duke of Cadore, the nobles considered him as the mysterious successor to his parents's immense fortune. After tracking Linnéa's location, finding her orphaned and a ballet student and choir girl at the Opera Garnier, he confronted her through music, introducing himself as her "angel". Since then, he became a huge sponsor and benefactor of the Opera, situating himself as its owner.

Physical description
He was first described to be a hideous man with a huge shadow that creep in the darkness like some cloaked monster. But when he was first seen by Linnéa, he was the complete opposite of the ghost stories. He was a tall and lanky young man dressed in regal and formal clothes that one may even note that he was of nobility. Though he opted to remain in a black suit, with a matching cape, and his face was covered by a black mask that only exposes his mouth. He was, surprisingly, handsome when his real face was revealed though the scar on his face remains, his features were noted to still be superior than Dominique. He was also taller, about 6'0", pale, with a strong, taut and firm muscles and figure. His fingers were also said to be long and callused with years of playing the violin and piano. He has jet black hair that tapers his nape, opting to tie it in a low tail as Arie Jadranko, matching dark blue eyes, and a clean-shaven face. On the latter years, he'll opt to keep his hair a little shorter but still tapering his nape.

Personality
The Phantom is known to be a completely secretive and a very introvert person but the reason of his hiding is because of his scarred face and his life being threatened by those wanting him dead. He was said to be a murderous psychopath when in truth, most of the murders were done in his name and among countless deaths in the Opera, he only claimed doing XXX of those. In truth, he is a sensitive, reserved and conservative person, confiding his emotions within him alone; but he is very analytical, has a strong relationship with those who've managed to know him well, and receptive to change and new ideas. He is also mentioned to be extremely meticulous to the point of perfectionism that is usually shown throughout the trilogy for how he worked on for his masterpiece opera for years after countless revisions and scratches before finally perfecting it. He greatly loves patterns that had been usually seen with his works, especially the repetitive use of the same chords in a different pitch, and the gradual progression. His genius mind is all contributed to the fact that he is extremely curious of almost everything around him. He has a great sense of justice and protectiveness, especially towards Linnéa.

Skills & abilities
The Phantom is described to be a genius in both music and arts. He was a prodigy with the piano and violin, and a grand composer. His greatest work is the opera musical Soulflare that took about twelve years to be completed. He is also said to have a very beautiful voice, a baritenor range, and served as Linnéa's voice teacher. He is also an inventor, architect, engineer and magician. After all, his underground tunnels that connect the Delacroix Manor to other places around Paris was based on his designs that were later ordered to be constructed by his father. His years of living in hiding propelled him to excel in countless things.

Physically, though appearing weak and lanky, the Phantom is surprisingly an equal against Dominique, whose mastery in the sword is astonishing. He was an ambidextrous with the use of swords, courtesy of his piano lessons as well. He is also a trained horseback rider and marksman when it comes to revolver and a dagger. He usually carries a revolver with only two bullets with him. In all of his skills, he is considered greater in scale than the other characters in the trilogy.

Romance
Linnéa Bergström= "And I love you. Yes, I loved you! Do you know that I would have followed you anywhere? I was so sure that I love you. I thought that the night was proof of it. But, what? I woke up and find myself all alone! I found you gone instead!"

- Linnéa Bergström to The Phantom

Linnéa Bergström is the Phantom's main love interest, being his childhood sweetheart and true love; later on, as his wife.

Though he first kept his love for her in secret, he reached out to her by singing to her whenever she is alone in the Opéra Garnier, teaching her; and even disguising as "Arie Jadranko", a street magician, just to hear her sing and talk to her whenever she is working in La Serre Café in Palais-Royal. Because of such adoration, knowing fully that Linnéa deserves much more than being a chorus girl, the Phantom tried all simple "accidents" that will drive away the current opera star to leave her post herself. And when Linnéa was placed on her stead, the Phantom started to be much more demanding towards the managers for his works to be played, while the main lead be performed by Linnéa herself. It was later revealed that the Phantom's love for her runs deeply and for so long already; and that the reason Linnéa applied as a chorus girl in the Opéra Garnier than just being a ballerina was to rest her soul regarding the mysteries of the Opéra for her. The Phantom's appearance heightened her interest to find out the oddities.

When the Phantom reveals his true identity, and the real reason that he is hiding and wearing a mask, Linnéa returned back those feelings; which at first was her intention to capture him but slowly became real. The Phantom, Adrien Delacroix, was Linnéa's childhood sweetheart who saved her from the crazy old beggar when they were kids, and who spared her from a knife wound that badly scarred the Phantom's face. Because of this revelation, Linnéa became much drawn to him, dropping her intentions in finding his motives about terrorizing the Opera, and started to love him much greatly. because of the police searching for the Phantom to be arrested, the two separate ways.

Ten years later, they've met each other again. It was revealed that before Linnéa's marriage to Dominique, she found where he is hiding and accepted the Phantom's proposal of marriage. It was also revealed that the two of them consummated their marriage, binding herself to him that will make another marriage invalid then. But, before Linnéa could wake up, the Phantom slips away and leaves her alone being ashamed of what he was. Érik was also revealed to be their son, and not Dominique's. At the end of the trilogy, the two live together, happy, contented and peaceful in Paris with their son, Érik, and three other children.

Family
Dominique Moreau= Dominique Moreau, born as Pierre Delacroix, is originally the Phantom's younger twin brother. However, they grow separated as Dominique was adopted by the Moreau family in order for compensation with their family's debt.

Though Dominique was adopted, it had been requested by their father, the Duke of Cadore, to witness Dominique's growth that he grew up next to him as a childhood friend. However, it had been evident that their father had always loved him more than Dominique, comparing that he is always better. But after the incident that he received his scar, Dominique was no longer invited to their family estate and the brothers became finally estranged with one another. It was also about the same time that the feud between them started as they see each other as competitors for Linnéa.

It was unknown if the Phantom had kept tabs of Dominique, since it was revealed that since becoming the new head of the family, he had known of Dominique being his younger twin brother. But, eleven years later, they much consider each other as enemies who, throughout the series, were at odds with one another. Dominique remained insecure and doubtful of Linnéa's love, knowing that she was in love with the Phantom. In the end, it was revealed that Érik was truly the Phantom's son and not Dominique, and that Linnéa was first married to the Phantom, Dominique finally let them go. The two brothers learned the truth and was noted to part ways in goodwill. Originally born as Adrien Delacroix, he was the son of Lord Pierre-Adrien Delacroix and Lady Sara Delacroix, Duke and Duchess of Cadore,being the older twin brother of Dominique Moreau, who was born as Pierre Delacroix. However, due to the current crisis of the Delacroix family, the two were separated and Adrien grew up with their parents.
 * -|Delacroix family=

Due to the family business's boost, Adrien grew in a sheltered home combined with the love and support of both parents. They were supportive and loving parents to Adrien. When he was scarred, despite their initial decision to hide him from the public, they blamed Dominique for the incident and the Duke considered the latter as the bad luck he had gotten rid of since infancy. The Duke and Duchess doted onto Adrien until their sudden death due to a carriage accident; one that propelled Adrien to find out who had been behind the murder. Érik Moreau, originally Érik Jadran Delacroix is his son with Linnéa. However, for majority of the child's life, he believes that his father is Dominique Moreau, which is also later revealed to be his uncle. Even this knowledge had been kept in secret by Linnéa to the Phantom. Due to the incident that separated the Phantom and Linnéa, the latter married Dominique all the while unaware of being pregnant. However, Linnéa's marriage to Dominique was invalid for they were both married first and the marriage was consummated. Though afraid of him at first, Érik later grew closer to him after ten years and that they've been reunited as a family.
 * -|Érik Moreau=

Others
Madame Michaux=
 * -|Claude Michaux=
 * -|Father Gounelle=
 * -|Dr. Frederik Pilkvist=

Quotes
The Mask=
 * -|The Ghost=
 * -|The Aria=

Trivia
Etymology=
 * The name Adrien is the French derivation of the name "Adrian" that is a form of " Hadrianus" or "Hadrian". Hadrian comes from the Roman cognomen Hadrianus, which meant "from Hadria" in Latin. The last name Delacroix means "of the cross" in French.
 * The name he used as a street magician is Arie Jadranko. The name Arie is a diminutive of his name "Adrien", and could be an alternate transcription of Hebrew אַרְיֵה (Arieh) that means "lion" in Hebrew. The name Jadranko is the Croatian, Serbian and Slovene form of his name "Adrien".
 * -|Character descriptions=
 * The Phantom's singing voice was described to be a high tessitura baritone or a baritenor (a combination of baritone and tenor); and his speaking voice was dark and deep, adding a rich and mysterious quality when he sings.
 * -|Author's notes=
 * The Phantom's character was heavily inspired by Erik, the titular character of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera to where the trilogy was also based on as a retelling.
 * The Phantom's personality was aligned to ISFJ and a little bit of INTP.
 * The Phantom was also described as a noble, gallant, roguish, brutish, supremely self-confident (but not conceited) and successful man–yet also as a man who could be brought trembling to his knees, in contrast, by one woman (Linnéa).