# Francis — Wet Magic character guide > Francis in Wet Magic by E. Nesbit. **Role:** major **Also known as:** So Francis **First appearance:** 0001-wet-magic ## Snapshot A boy so drawn to water he once had to be fished from a horse trough, Francis is the family's restless dreamer and the first to chase the sea's magic. ## Who they are Francis has spent years longing for the sea and never quite reaching it, so when the family finally rents seaside lodgings he arrives with an aquarium and a head full of poetry. His passion runs ahead of his patience: he buys the tank before anyone will let him fill it, and he bristles when Aunt Enid calls his plans messing about. That hunger for the impossible is exactly what makes him the one who answers when something under the waves calls back. ## Relationships ### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis) _romantic_ Francis and Mavis share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Bernard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/bernard) _friendship_ Bernard and Francis are close friends or allies, with frequent interactions indicating strong companionship. ### [Kathleen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/kathleen) _friendship_ Francis and Kathleen are friends or allies, with a supportive and amicable dynamic. ### [Princess Freia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/princess_freia) _friendship_ Francis and Princess Freia are friends or allies, with a positive and cooperative dynamic. ### [Aunt Enid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/aunt_enid) _family_ Aunt Enid and Francis have a familial aunt-nephew relationship, likely caring and affectionate. ### [Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/maia) _friendship_ Francis and Maia are friends or companions, with a warm and cooperative dynamic. ### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis) _romantic_ Francis and Mavis share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Kathleen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/kathleen) _friendship_ Francis and Kathleen are friends or allies, with a supportive and amicable dynamic. ### [Bernard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/bernard) _friendship_ Bernard and Francis are close friends or allies, with frequent interactions indicating strong companionship. ### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis) _romantic_ Francis and Mavis share a deep romantic bond, with frequent interactions suggesting a central love story. ### [Aunt Enid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/aunt_enid) _family_ Aunt Enid and Francis have a familial aunt-nephew relationship, likely caring and affectionate. ### [Maia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/maia) _friendship_ Francis and Maia are friends or companions, with a warm and cooperative dynamic. ## In the story ### [Wet Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/wet-magic) One of the children eagerly anticipating the seaside holiday and involved in planning the mermaid rescue. ### [I: Sabrina Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/i-sabrina-fair) Passionate about water, buys the aquarium, reads The Water Babies, and thinks he sees something move in the aquarium. ### [The Captive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/ii-the-captive) Reads the newspaper article aloud, insists they must find and protect the mermaid, and leads the early morning expedition to the shore. ### [III: The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/iii-the-rescue) Assists Mavis in the rescue, uses Bernard's knife to cut the tent. ### [Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/iv-gratitude) Initially frightened by the Spangled Boy's prank; feels cross and jealous when the Mermaid favors the boy over him; asserts his role as a preserver of the Mermaid. ### [Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/v-consequences) Reads Reuben's note aloud; refuses to go back at dead of night; expresses frustration with the mermaid's unpleasantness; grateful for Mrs. Pearce's kindness. ### [VII: The Skies Are Falling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/vii-the-skies-are-falling) Feels unusually clever, asks about swords, and blames the guilty one for breaking the sky. ### [VIII: The Water-War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/viii-the-water-war) Serves as an aide-de-camp, delivering a message to the Queen alongside Mavis. ### [The Book People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/ix-the-book-people) Practices with oyster shells and feels a pang of sympathy for the sad-faced Under Folk. ### [The Under Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/x-the-under-folk) Defiantly declares they were fighting against the Under Folk; drinks from the Cup of Forgetfulness. ### [XI: The Peacemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xi-the-peacemaker) Dreams of ending the war forever; proposes talking to the Queen of the Under Folk. ### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xii-the-end) Holds a ginger beer bottle upon returning to earth; wishes Aunt Enid had let him bring the aquarium. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/francis - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters