Edward was born inside Anir square. His mother had died in childbirth, but his father was a well-respected Blacksmith within the square, Gorn Smittan, known as 'Gravin' Gorn' for his famed skill in etching elaborate patterns into the metal he forged. His father nicknamed him Ned.

His father put him to work at a very young age, teaching him to use the bellows when he was 7. He quickly had to learn how to forge, as his father knew that, as he grew older, he would not be able to take the brunt of the work on his own. Gorn, not being a poor man, made sure Edward was fairly well-educated, paying special tutors to teach him how to read and write, something very fortunate for someone in his position, where a large portion of workers who crafted with their hands were illiterate, even within the walls of Vel Anir.

Through reading, he soon become enamoured with the tales of the Anirian Guards. The tales written in books made everything sound so spectacular, and from a very young age he knew that he wanted to join the Anirian military. His father did not hinder this dream, but decided to help him focus on his Smithing skills nevertheless.

Though he was a very happy and gentle child, and became a very happy and gentle man, his outward appearance would not tell the same story. By the time he turned 16 he already towered over most of his friends and peers, his body hard and strong from hours of slamming hammer on anvil. His father quickly recognised that his skill lied not at the anvil, but at the Barracks. Realising his potential, his father spent a large portion of his savings on providing him with a weapons-master, Rastiban Trelmy, a very experienced Anirian Guard, and a true master of the sword.

He underwent the next year and a half in the hands of Rastiban, spending every morning, afternoon and evening working on the skills required of a soldier, whether it be caring for his mount, sharpening a sword with a whetstone, or taking long hikes outside of Vel Anir and back again.

It wasn't long before he became a skilled swordsman, specifically with the bastard sword, working extremely well for a man of his size, who had now grown taller than most fully developed men, able to handle the long sword or bastard sword as easily as someone might handle a dagger or short-sword.

As soon as he'd turned 18, he immediately enlisted to join the Anirian Military, sooner than most people his age. He was quickly sent away to one of the academies to the East, accompanied only by a ration pack, his clothes, and a bastard-sword his father had made for him, which he had dubbed 'Stielen'.

Once he'd reached training however, he very quickly realised that being a guard was far less glamorous than he'd thought. He was singled out amongst his fellow trainees, not only because of his height, but also because of his skill with a sword. There were many nights that he'd be left bruised and battered from the other men beating him in the night, due to 'making them look bad'. He quickly learnt to hold back, and tried not to make his previous experience so obvious. There were others who were far more skilled than he, but their charms, way-with-words and non-distinctness didn't make them easy targets.

It wasn't long before he'd finished his initial training, and was suited-and-booted for service. It was recommended that he join the Northern Watch, as they required strong men with skill in sword-play, so that was exactly what he did.