A person who stands by his convictions to protect mages and mundanes a like and isn't neutrotic as to stand in the way of mage freedom. Someone who cares more about compassion and helping a person have a better life instead of bragging about killing an apostate and acting like a hero for killing the maleficar and protecting humanity. Now I know Barris isn't the latter but I get the impression that's what people in the BSN believe being a templar is all about. The idea of embodying the "protector" instead of actually being a protector. The envy to be "righteous".
Well, some of them yes. My ideal Templar is someone who stands by the order. But is also willing to question it when it turns down a dark path. Someone who wants to make the Templars all they can be. Someone willing to die to keep the mages safe. A compassionate and courageous person. A strong leader worthy of respect.
I think that's what Ser Barris is. A strong, compassionate leader. Willing to die for his order, and the mages he's sworn to protect.