Simon Kain

Simon Kain (Симон Каин) was the eldest of the Kain family. He was claimed to be immortal, and, oddly, was much older than his "twin", Georgiy. He was often called the patriarch or ruler of the town.

Background
It is thanks to Simon that the Kains studied and practiced the magical arts without incurring the wrath of the people or provoking idle curiosity. Simon's strength of character and personal aura acted almost hypnotically on anyone who dealt with the Kains.

An authoritative politician and a prominent figure in business circles, Simon was a natural mediator between the family affairs of the demonic house of Kain and the civilized world. His name served as a guarantee to society of due respect and trust in the Kains. Simon was a representative of the Kains in the construction of the Polyhedron: on behalf of his family he oversaw the development of the architectural ensemble. Simon's death was not only a terrible blow to Georgiy, it also carried great symbolic meaning, as his name had been the banner of a new city and a new order.

All of the Bound of the protagonists are part of his Taglur, and Simon was said to prefer their company to any other. The children of the town adored him, calling him Grandpa Simon, and often played with him at games he invented.

Magic
Simon himself wrote:

"Magic&mdash;if you prefer to use this term&mdash;has nothing to do with those conceptions of it which are widely disseminated. The magic of which you accused me is a heavy, bulky, long-lasting art that requires the simultaneous involvement of dozens of difficult-to-organize factors, devoid of any kind of spectacular effects!

Yes, I regret to admit that among these factors is often the energy of human will and the predetermination of human destiny. To produce a magical construct sometimes requires tens or even hundreds of people. They must be close at hand, and they must be predictable. To take their life line, read them, learn to make a match: that's an art that you call magic. But it works. It is not as represented by children, dreamers and visionaries, but it works. Get ahold of them, and you get a palette with colors that will allow one to draw truly fabulous things, and not in your imagination, but in reality, my friend. This is proven and has been documented.

[...]

The same distinguished author, B., defined magic as an invisible combination of causes, leading to moderately predictable consequences. It doesn't have the slightest thing to do with fireballs, pink lightning, crystal balls or cauldrons of frog legs. Repeat similar nonsense one more and I'll be forced to admit that I am disgusted by your society.

I hate being called a magician or sorcerer; I do not like when the activity in which I am engaged is called magic."

Quotes
""He created a city in which it was possible to work wonders.''

He created an art that allows you to convert dreams into reality, surpassing the dream itself.

He has shown by example that people are capable of creation.

He created a society that nurtured two generations of people who understood this simplicity.

He learned how to live forever.

He was ahead of his time in many ways.

He used not one-hundredth or even one-twentieth of his intellect--of whom else can one say that?

He pushed the limits of the possible wider than any other historical figure of whom that is said.

He's one of those people who you'll read about, say, in a thousand and five years: Now, look at him! Here is a man who stepped through humanity itself.""

- [Leo. CL]

Death
On his last day alive, he met with Isidor Burakh, perhaps to discuss the impending arrival of famed scientist Daniil Dankovsky. Afterwards, he informed his family to fast for a week, which Victor suggests was because his brother, knowing he would die, "wanted to be mourned beforehand--as [was] the custom with the local people". He was found dead the next day, body twisted and mangled.

Several people in the town suggest Simon's sudden death was an inevitable result of his unnatural longevity, or divine punishment for seeking to unite the disparate factions of the town. However, Georgiy Kain remains convinced that he was murdered.