The trauma he endured makes him shy and guarded, saying very little throughout Yona of the Dawn. Given his upbringing, he didn't believe he could ever make friends or experience kindness until meeting Yona. Once Yona finds him and saves him from the darkness, she names him Shin-Ah, meaning 'person of the moonlight.' Despite his initial hesitancy, Shin-Ah is happy to be the second Dragon Warrior to join their party and feels grateful to finally receive his own name. Without friends or even a name, they isolate him and make him live in darkness with only a squirrel to keep him company. Ironically, Shin-Ah uses his dragon powers to protect the very village that abuses him and defeats an entire troop with just his eyes, making the villagers fear him even more. Since the village fears the spirit's power, they force him to wear a mask at all times to cover up his eyes that wield his unique powers. Instead, they despise the Blue Dragon Warrior spirit and view it as a curse that they're forced to suffer. Unlike Kija, Shin-Ah was neither admired nor celebrated by his village for possessing the power of a dragon.

As the first Dragon Warrior to join Yona of the Dawn's mission, he shows bravery and fortitude whenever Yona's life is in danger, loyally cherishing her above all else. While he lacks real-world experience and combat, his competitive and jealous nature drives him to outperform the others in the face of danger. He's honest and polite, with a strong sense of duty that causes him to argue with the other Dragon Warriors when they aren't as well behaved as him. With the dragon's power being concentrated in a different area in each Dragon Warrior, Kija possesses a dragon's claw in his right hand that grows incredibly large and powerful, but he keeps it wrapped up when not in use. As Yona awakens his inner White Dragon spirit and it speaks to him, Kija is convinced he has finally met his true destiny. Given his upbringing and understanding of the dragon reincarnates, Kija eagerly agrees to join Yona and promises to follow her anywhere. The elders tell him the Crimson Dragon King will eventually appear and that he has an obligation to obediently serve his master when the time comes. While being widely adored and worshipped, Kija has been taught the ways of the Dragon Warriors since childhood. With his power fully transferred to the son, the villagers make Kija their tribe leader and protector.

Out of fear and jealousy that his power and life force were being sucked away, Kija's father attacks him before slowly passing away. Kija was born in the hidden village of Hakuryuu, which carries the White Dragon's bloodline. His father was the previous White Dragon Warrior, and his powers transferred to Kija after his birth.

Dawn of dragons guide