Henry Henderson

thumb|left|Henry punches Murdoch in defense of the Forgers and his own pride Henry is a dignified and principled educator who places utmost importance on "elegance," which he defines as a person's dignity and conduct. To him, elegance is a reflection of character and how a person carries themselves in the face of adversity. He does not hesitate to correct behavior he considers inelegant, as seen during the Forger family's admissions interview, where he remained composed even after Loid smashed a table in frustration toward Murdoch Swan. When Swan later attempted to intimidate him with his influence, Henry refused to yield and struck him instead, defending both the Forgers' integrity and his own sense of honor. Even in his teenage years, he was already known among his peers for his excessive obsession with elegance. thumb|Henry's shock after Anya misunderstands his lesson While usually level-headed, Henry is not immune to emotional reactions. He may briefly lose composure when shocked or elated, such as silently cursing to himself when Anya failed to understand one of his teachings, or becoming both delighted and terrified by the Forgers' extreme preparation for his trials during Eden's entrance exam. He has even shown jealousy when he learned that his students Emile and Ewen went to Mr. Green for advice instead of him. Despite these lapses, Henry is fundamentally disciplined. He adheres to a strict daily routine, assists with the school's administration, and approaches teaching with sincerity and care. He believes that true elegance balances discipline with compassion, recognizing that children require both structure and moments of joy to grow properly. In his youth, Henry was introverted but already deeply principled. Guided by his father's words to "be ever a gentleman," Henry developed a strong sense of duty and propriety, but his formality often alienated his peers, with some seeing him as self-righteous. Henry favored reason over violence and believed conflicts should be resolved through civility, though he was willing to fight when necessary to defend others or uphold his convictions, a trait that carried into adulthood. A young Henry punches a classmate to protect Martha Henry grew up during the growing tensions between Ostania and Westalis. During his final year at Eden Academy, he was assaulted by embittered classmates. While Henry did not initially fight back and attempted to reason with them, he resorted to violence when his friend Martha Marriott intervened and was almost harmed, punching one of the boys. Disgusted with himself, Henry attempted to get his teacher to punish him and his attackers, only for the teacher to refuse due to one of the boy's families being an important military supplier. This incident left a lasting impression on him, convincing Henry that meaningful change could only be achieved through education. From that point forward, he dedicated himself to becoming a teacher and shaping future generations into honorable individuals capable of preventing conflict, both personally and globally. While teaching, Henry's idealism and pursuit of his goal gradually distanced him from others, particularly Martha. Their differing views came to a head when she chose to enlist during the First East-West War of Unification, leading to a bitter argument. Although they reconciled shortly before her graduation and deployment, Henry later received word of her death in battle. Overcome with grief, he publicly condemned a military recruitment rally at Eden for exploiting her fallen unit as propaganda. Branded a traitor, he was arrested and briefly imprisoned. During this time, his father confronted him, warning that his career would be destroyed if he did not change his attitude. The encounter left Henry conflicted over whether true strength lay in unwavering conviction or the ability to bend. thumb|Henry discusses his personal beliefs with a young Donovan Desmond Ultimately, Henry tempered his pride, committing himself to the peaceful future Martha had envisioned: a classroom where students could learn and live without fear. With time, his understanding of elegance matured into a quieter form of strength rooted in empathy, restraint, and perseverance. A later conversation with a young Donovan Desmond reaffirmed this outlook, as Henry rejected the boy's cynicism and insisted that giving up on everyone and everything would mark the end of human progress. Henry's teaching philosophy emphasizes the human element behind history and society. As he once said to fellow educator Thomas Austin, "From the grand efforts with which our forefathers crafted society to the foolish ideas that sent them racing to war... to not study the human element at history's root is to not understand history at all." To Henry, history serves not merely as a record, but as a tool to prevent humanity from repeating its worst mistakes. Weary after many years of teaching,...

Henry has long, straight, white hair tied into a tight ponytail that falls just below his shoulders, with a noticeably receding hairline. He also sports a lengthy white beard styled in the Imperial fashion, featuring hair along the mustache and jawline while leaving the chin bare and disconnected from the hair on his head. The beard is styled into two long pointed sections that extend to his collarbone. Consistent with his age, Henry has noticeable facial creases and wrinkles, accompanied by small, narrow eyes and thin eyebrows. He wears a monocle over his left eye and usually maintains a stern expression, though displays of exceptional elegance can cause him to lose composure. Henry typically wears a three-piece suit consisting of a dark jacket with long coattails and striped trousers. He accessorizes the outfit with a pocket square, a tricolor-striped tie, and a cane. In his younger years, Henry had dirty blond hair, which he grew from short to shoulder-length during his late teens. By his early twenties, he wore it long enough to reach around the middle of his back. Following Henry's brief imprisonment during the First East-West War, he cut his hair short and began wearing his monocle over his injured left eye after his arrest.