( ahn hyoseop, cis male, he/him) — one day the sea will sing of CYRUS MIHALIS, the thirty one year old priest from the town of cynefin. there will be verses about bloodied knuckles and torn skin, yellowing bruises next to new ones / faint light at the end of dark, long tunnel / an empty chapel with sunlight streaming in through the windows, a lone figure kneeling down with head bowed in silence / a hug so tight that it knocked air out of your lungs, desperate and remorseful enough it felt like you’ll never part again for another lifetime / a childhood memory of careful, gentle hands picking you up from the sofa as you sleep and carrying you to bed in the hums of their hymn, about a person who is trained in the magic of khemia. the land will know them as someone caring and attentive, but perhaps, you’ll hear the old crones hiss that they are stubborn and secretive. only the shadows of the ocean floor will bear witness to the truth. ╱ rae, 26, any pronouns, gmt +7.

Profile.

FULL NAME Cyrus Mihalis AGE Thirty-One BIRTH DATE August 1st GENDER & PRONOUNS He/Him ORIENTATION Demiromantic/sexual RELATIONSHIP STATUS Married

KHEMIA Anima OCCUPATION Priest (New Faith) CURRENT RESIDENCE Cynefin, Clwyd-isle

PARENTS Unknown SIBLINGS Unknown PARTNER Sion Lee (husband, alive) CHILDREN Ahri Lee (daughter, alive); Yuri Lee (daughter, alive)

HEIGHT 188cm / 6’2” WEIGHT 72kg / 159 lbs EYE COLOR Dark Brown HAIR COLOR Black SCARS Various scars all over his body. Usually wears long sleeved clothes to cover the ones on his arms

FACECLAIM Ahn Hyoseop CHARACTER INSPO Shiro Fujimoto (Blue Exorcist), Ja’far ( Magi), Kaeya (Genshin Impact), Qifrey (Witch Hat Atelier), Jesse Venetian/Jung Yuseo (When the Third Wheel Strikes Back)

Summary.

TW: mentions of violence.

- Started life as a street urchin/war orphan, was taken in by Sion Lee’s family when he was around 8 or so (probably, no one knew his real birthdate). Then they got separated a few years later. 

- Cyrus tried to find them and traveled to different regions, often earning money through mugging/pickpocketing and even entered street fighting rings in one region due to decent prize money for each win. It became a steady income for him that he thought of staying in that region for a while until he gathered decent funding to continue his search. 

- The local ringleader wasn't too pleased with him due to certain things and told their underlings to cripple him as he was tossed into some alley and left to die. A wandering pilgrim happened to pass by and saved him from the brink of death and took him in. 

- Years later he officially became a priest and was sent to Cynefin about 6 or 7 years ago. He’s not actually that devout but he knows better than to say this out loud. Cyrus is an agnostic but he’s not going to trample on those who have more specific belief, he’s come to terms that if some people can find comfort and hope in prayers, they should be allowed to do that in peace as long as it doesn’t harm themselves or others.  

- The pilgrim who saved him became his adoptive parent and they probably could guess his line of thought hence why Cyrus was sent to Cynefin. A person who’s flexible in his belief is probably more suited with the people there, though Cyrus (jokingly) thinks he’s just being demoted.

- Ends up reuniting with Sion Lee in Cynefin and they get married not long after with their twin daughters born in the following year. 

- Uses a prosthetic leg that his husband specifically made for him. Before he used one given by his adoptive parent but that old one was a lot more limiting than the one Sion made for him as he constantly tinkers with it to make it more comfortable for Cyrus. 

Personality.

- The Cyrus Mihalis of today is known by those around him as an amiable individual who wouldn’t hesitate to lend his help to those in need. He has a mild temperament, appearing to be a harmless clergyman who manages a small private orchard in his family home as his hobby. He can be found greeting people he meets with a gentle smile. His eyes become a lot livelier whenever he talks about his little family of four or when gardening comes up as a conversational topic. 

- He often uses his anima magic to aid those plagued with anxiety. He’d hold their hands and ask them to tell him their worries. As he listens to their woes, Cyrus would use his magic to help them to calm down and encourage them to find logical solutions together.

- Although he also cherishes his friends and neighbors, no one really knows what the young priest is truly like as Cyrus often tries to maintain a respectable distance between himself and other people.

Connections.

Tba.

( lee soohyuk, transmasc, he/him ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize SION LEE, the thirty-five year old professor within the school. having spent five years as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of warm calloused hands stained black with gunpowder and iron / an empty grave sitting upon the top of a hill overlooking the sea, abandoned but not forgotten / fluttering pages of an opened children storybook in the wind, covered in debris and stained with blood, never completed / burning the midnight oil searching for answers within stacks of books until the pitch black sky breaks into sepia-toned dawn. their unwavering and conscientious temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be taciturn and disillusioned. regardless, hopefully they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again.

PROFILE.

FULL NAME Yohan Lim Sion Lee AGE thirty-five BIRTH DATE december 27th, 897 GENDER & PRONOUNS transmasculine & he/him ORIENTATION ace-spec RELATIONSHIP STATUS married

KHEMIA transmutation, specializing in weaponry engineering OCCUPATION professor of metallurgy @ verum academy CURRENT RESIDENCE cynefin, clwyd-isle

PARENTS Minkyu Lim (father, deceased); Eunmi Hwang (mother, deceased) SIBLINGS Siyeon Lim (younger sister, deceased) PARTNER Cyrus Mihalis (husband, alive) CHILDREN Ahri Lee (daughter, alive); Yuri Lee (daughter, alive)

HEIGHT 185 cm / 6’0’’ WEIGHT 70 kg / 154 lbs BUILD healthy, muscular and tall DISTINGUISHING MARKS small scars all over his hands, burn scar coiling around his left arm, standard lobe piercings, an upper lobe piercing on left ear

POSITIVES paternal, incisive, wistful NEUTRALS candid, persevering, realistic NEGATIVES reticent, self-sacrificial, dependent ASTROLOGICAL SIGN capricorn sun, cancer moon, virgo rising ENNEAGRAM the defender MBTI ISTP MORAL ALIGNMENT chaotic neutral TEMPERAMENT choleric-melancholic

FACECLAIM Lee Soohyuk CHARACTER INSPO Secretive Plotter (Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint), Alhaitham (Genshin Impact), Winry Rockbell (Fullmetal Alchemist), Kitagawa Yusuke (Persona 5)

SUMMARY.

his name is sion lee. thirty-five years of age. a professor of metallurgy at verum academy. if not caught teaching, he can usually be found in his own office buried nose-deep in a book about metallurgy or the human anatomy, or in the lab jotting down calculations upon the already full chalkboard. if you still can’t find him by the time the clock strikes 5 pm, try again tomorrow because he had already headed home to his husband and daughters. something to keep in mind, though; he doesn’t care for geniuses or prodigies—only hard work. joined verum as a part of the faculty five years ago despite having never studied there, though he claims to have been taught by a former professor as their apprentice. strangely enough he avoids anything relating to weaponry and would rather utilize his skills for communal purposes like engineering. most people only remembered him as the stranger who wandered into cynefin seven years ago, muttering gibberish about death and the sea before the local priest rescued and nursed him back to health. upon first glance might seem standoffish due to his quiet and intimidating exterior, but is actually helpful if you ask him. always looks deep in thought that one might think he is reflecting something beyond the grand scheme of things (spoiler: he’s thinking about going home already because he misses his family). can be quite blunt, but only because he thinks holding back on things will cause problems later. always jumps to the worst case scenario so he won’t ever be taken by surprise, and will not hesitate to state his less-than-hopeful view on the subject out loud even if it means lowering the morale of the group. also fiercely protective of those he considers as “his”.

BACKSTORY.

born as yohan lim in a city by the borders of clywd-isle, to a family full of scholars. father was a skilled healer, known for his community service and humanitarian acts. mother was an engineer employed by the town hall to help with local development. they both met during their education in verum. grandmother is a self-taught healer herself.

when the conflict first arrived at their hometown, it first took his parents with them, then his grandmother not long after. yohan was forced to become the sole caretaker of his then infant sister, siyeon, alongside an orphan that his grandmother took in few years prior named cyrus.

their survival mostly relied on moving from city to city, with yohan utilizing his bare minimum knowledge of transmutation to work odd jobs here and there. they lived on the streets or abandoned houses or even shelters and orphanages as they couldn’t afford rent. the only constant thing in his life was siyeon and cyrus, so yohan held onto them with everything he’s got, even if it means he had to work until the palm of his hands or the soles of his feet are bloody.

at eighteen, it was cyrus who got taken away from him, and yohan was then recruited by the military. the soldier had told him that it was an experimental program to create soldiers that can also produce weapons in the events of a war, spearheaded by a former professor hailing from verum. as they were promised food and shelter in the military, yohan agreed to join.

yohan himself became the professor’s apprentice, who claimed to have also taught his mother during her studies in verum. aside from khemia training, he was made to participate in standard military training such as survival skills and combat. his mentor deemed it necessary in order for yohan to understand how his weapons will be used in real battle situations.

ten years later he finds himself in talcelin, a prominent member of his ranks due to his skills and achievements. yet even then the sight of the battlefield still causes dread and guilt to keep him awake at night, especially knowing that his creations has caused innocent children like them to suffer. chose to turn a blind eye for his sister’s sake.

ironically enough, it was siyeon who begged him to leave the military with her after finding out the true nature of yohan’s job, which prompted his mentor to eventually assassinate her. clueless at first, yohan turned his grief into hatred for the enemy and continued his work, even participating actively as a soldier at battle. it wasn’t until his mentor got drunk and confessed to orchestrating siyeon’s death that yohan finally murdered the professor before escaping the military.

which finally brought him to cynefin after months of wandering aimlessly, looking for a sea to set siyeon’s belongings free before taking his own life, only to find a still alive cyrus instead. finding a reason to keep living once again, yohan chose to settle down with the younger man and form a family with the arrival of their twin daughters. hence the year 925 marked the death of yohan lim and the beginning of sion lee.

WANTED CONNECTIONS.

someone from his military days. maybe you were dispatched together once, or maybe you two only known each other from afar. either way sion isn’t very pleased to see a walking reminder of his old life… but maybe that’s exactly what he needs.

neighbors in cynefin. “you scratch my back and i’ll scratch yours” type of arrangement? you ask for help with mechanical/building related stuff and in return he receives a constant supply of pastries and homecooked meals? or they simply just enjoy each other’s company? or maybe the opposite; you can’t sleep because he kept tinkering with his husband’s prosthetics at night.

fellow professors in verum. the quiet ones who doesn’t mind his company while reading. the cheerful/easygoing ones that became his closest work friend. the ones that probably thought he standoffish until they interacted.

fellow staff in verum. librarians who had to keep reminding him to return the books he borrowed to the point of going on first-name basis. infirmary staffs who had to deal with his chemical burns during experiments. security who has to deal with his failed experiments.

students. those who genuinely like him. those who just wants a good grade. those who had always been considered as the rotten eggs but he thought has potential.

and more!! these are the ones i could recall at the top of my head atm so i’m most definitely open to discuss plots, etc. actually if you ever come up with something for our muse out of the blue just throw it at me bc i will love u for it.

( mint ranchrawee , non-binary , she/they ) — as the demons pour out of the sea MAKARIA makes their way to the shore, a four hundred year old creature who appears twenty-five. here with their feet planted on cynefin’s soil, it is images of the bitter chill of ocean waters and the darkness that envelops their depths; sticking your tongue out to catch fat raindrops that fall from the sky; laughing without abandon, showing all of your (sharp, pointed) teeth; bombarding someone with questions of things you do not know and wish to learn; being unleashed and released - finally that flood the minds they touch. some may even say that they are talkative and curious, but it matters little that they are untied by a sorcerer’s contract — they remain unabashedly chaotic and inexperienced. beware, for demons are never truly kind. ╱ eliza, thirty3, she/her, cst.

i. basics FULL NAME: makaria. NICKNAMES: mak, aria. AGE / D.O.B.: four hundred (25) / unknown. GENDER / PRONOUNS: non-binary / she & they. ORIENTATIONS: unknown. MARITAL STATUS: single. OCCUPATION: nuisance. HOMETOWN: the sea? hell? who knows, really. RESIDENCE: lurking about cynefin, attempting to find a place to land.

ii. physical EYE COLOR: brown. HAIR COLOR: black. HEIGHT: 5 ft even. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: teeth that are pointed and razor sharp. long black hair they like to keep dangling down their back. tiny figure that doesn't resemble the height of their actual form. an innocent face with which they can gain sympathy points despite what they are. FASHION STYLE: she doesn't have a style as of yet - however, when the time comes, they will be more than excited to don new types of clothing to see what they like wearing.

iii. psychological POSITIVE TRAITS: curious, adventurous, sociable, engaging, persuasive, (mostly) fearless. NEGATIVE TRAITS: fickle, childish, relentless, dramatic, erratic, tactless. MBTI TYPE: enfp. TEMPERAMENT: sanguine. EDUCATION: none as far as the human nature would be concerned. she doesn't know how to read nor write. SKILLS: none that would be considered useful for human practices. she's willing to learn, though. MAGIC: demon abilities, of which hers lean toward mental manipulation and making the victim see and hear what is not there. more information down below.

iv. familial MOTHER: unknown. FATHER: unknown. SIBLINGS: unknown. CHILDREN: none. SIGNIFICANT OTHER: none.

v. summary a chaos gremlin who is ecstatic to be here. vi. headcanons i. makaria's relatively young for a demon or familiar, all things considered. because of this, they'll likely be seen as inexperienced, and probably have been in the past. it doesn't help that makaria genuinely doesn't know much of anything about the human world and is learning as they go along. ii. she has had two separate contracts before when she was much younger that both lasted... well, not a long time, leading to questions of her capabilities as a familiar. they only claim that it's not their fault humans are so keen to heed the call of the grave. the contracts occurred quite a long time ago, and as such, they have absolutely no interest in being tied to another one and wish to be here in the human world for themselves, not for linking their magic with someone else's. she will avoid a contract at almost any cost. iii. makaria will choose various small animals to appear as - a cat who stretches with full claws out, a squirrel who watches you from high above, a butterfly floating past. however, their current form has become their favorite through trial and error and they are loathe to appear as anything but the way they have chosen, at least in terms of other faces and human-like looks. iv. as talkative as she is, chances are makaria will not speak much about where she comes from, or will choose a convincing lie. the gist of their existence in the sea is quite the opposite of everything they tend to be drawn to - teasing, company, laughter. they hate being alone, and sticking to shadows is not their preferred method of being. v. they are VERY claustrophobic and despite seeing well in the dark, hate the pitch blackness of, well, the depths of the sea or a night where the moon is hidden behind the clouds. vi. being a demon, they aren't exactly forward thinking or caring when it comes to a human's life. there may not always be some trickiness or ulterior motive in the things they say or do, but their very nature is chaos and they are often ruled by extreme boredom and the want to learn. they are a laughing, smiling, chipper creature - or a fickle, feral, hissing entity. it simply depends on you as to which comes out. untrue, actually. it depends on her mood and whether she's restless enough to do something just to cause trouble or wants to get her way. but it also depends on you sometimes. so be wary. vii. magic abilities i. demon physiology - enhanced strength and regenerative abilities. in their demonic form, they have wings that can sprout for flight. they have the capacity for living a very long time, though makaria isn't quite sure how old she is exactly. ii. contracts - the very word makes her want to spit, but this is part of the nature of being a demon. her abilities and magic are her own and she doesn't see the point in latching herself onto someone in this manner ever again, no matter the rewards. iii. shapeshifting - makaria can transform into other creatures and shift their features to appear as another human, though they prefer the former and are quite attached to 'their' face. iv. dream manipulation - the ability to creep into someone's dreams/nightmares and alter them. she has to have a connection to the person to be able to do this and is rarely able to actually produce a dream or nightmare and implant it into someone's mind, only shape the way a current one is going. v. illusions - the ability to create hallucinations, making people see something that is not or should not be there. whether used to drive an individual insane or show creations that come from her own head, there are a variety of ways this can be utilized. vi. telepathy - makaria can push thoughts into another person's head, though this is not the strongest of their powers and usually results in something as short as a sentence. vii. emotion heightening - amplifying the emotions around them, causing sadness or fear or happiness. viii. telekinesis - the ability to move objects without physically interacting with them. perfect for pretending to be a ghost!

viii. wanted connections literally anything. seriously. people to teach her about the world, people she fucks with, people who maybe want a contract.

𝑳𝑼𝑪𝑬 𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑺...

( song jiyang , agender , they/him ) — the halls of verum academy is home to LI ZHIYU, the twenty-four year old student of transmutation. listen to the whispers that follow them through the door of the history of khemia classroom, the ones about growing up in a warm house, firewood crackling lulls you to sleep, running around and looking up to your siblings at every step, the smell of metal on your fingertips, sparks of khemia you cannot bring yourself to believe, the inherent guilt at what you can do, and who you can possibly be, when you don't think you deserve it. once they graduate, their legacy will be one that is gracious and diligent in nature, but the records will not mention that they are known to be quiet and self-critical, too. they are, after all, the future of verum. ╱ kira, 25, she/her, gmt+3.

BIOGRAPHY

you are born as the last li child. fond eyes look down at you, always a hand in yours to guide your way through life. at your first steps, claps echo around you, followed by joyful laughter.

there are hands on top of yours as you bury your first seeds into the soft soil. helping you dig, then close up the earth. when you raise the watering can, there is another pair helping you lift it up. you water it with precise care, close your eyes, and name your first tree.

you warm your hands against the fireplace, lean into a warm embrace. a bowl of warm food in front of you, gentle fingers running through your long hair.

life is good in the way that it's linear. the same. it went similarly for your grandparents. your parents. day after day. as a part of the traditional cynefian family, you learn about the earth. you are protective of your land just as you are of your family. grow to appreciate how to nurture it, how to care for it. knowing it will care for you right back.

you do not expect to feel the sparks on the tips of your fingertips. for your apprenticeship to yield this result. it changes every single thing at once. shatters the ground you walk on.

for the first time in your life, you feel alone.

—

li zhiyu is the youngest of the li children, and with it comes fewer responsibilities on his shoulders. parents more lenient. more freedom to wander off if he wishes, to go to the outskirts of the town, to watch how the earth and water respond to his touch, how they transform with the changing of seasons. attuned to the elements under his fingertips; the metal, the ores, the particles of sand.

he is a quiet child for he does not need to cry loud for attention. there is still a silent desperation that linger beneath every action, driven to never upset those he loves. to be good. to not lose those warm hands running through his hair, patting his back, holding his hand.

sheltered in more ways than others, he expects his future to lie through the earth. a farmer, a gardener, a regular way of life, nothing to stray from that linear, anticipated path.

after his secondary education, when he goes through his apprenticeship, he expects the answer to follow that expectation. that he does not have the affinity: he can go back to his home, back to what he is supposed to do, who he is supposed to become.

to learn that he does have the affinity is terrifying. the implications of him being part of a family with no trace of khemia before him. mind clouded with all sorts of emotions: the fear of the unknown, hand in hand with the thrill of so many possibilities unlocked before him. revelation chased by the sudden spike of expectations from his parents now that their little child is attuned to khemia.

it changes everything. how people act around him. how they look at him. their neighbors, their friends. especially the people who have always been wary of verum, of khemia. it becomes too much at once. his heart aches with the consequences of his path diverging in a way he was not prepared for.

beyond it all, he knows how much this would mean to his siblings, how unfair it is that he is the only one. the inherent guilt that comes whenever he looks at them claws all the way up to his throat, thorns of reality digging into the soft skin.

throughout the apprenticeship, he prays for his path to not lie with transmutation. 'dear stars, i beg of you, anything but that.' convinces himself with everything he has that it won't be. it is impossible to pray the fates away.

the first year, there are mostly mandatory classes, as well as some electives. he doesn't have to choose his major just yet. the second year, he chooses anima. from the moment he was a child, he has always been fascinated by the surrounding earth. it should be alright. it has to be.

it isn't. it's a failure over and over again. so much that it becomes all too clear to every anima professor that this isn't his calling.

in the end, as much as it pains him, he changes his major to transmutation, starting his second year all over. this becomes a secret, an unspoken truth. if asked, especially by his family, he says he is still deciding, learning how the khemia world works. how can he be expected to know the ropes already when it's all so foreign to him?

loneliness digs its claws into his chest. nothing is the same anymore. it never will be.

coldness seeps into his skin, into his bones. there is a sharp guilt and discomfort whenever he lies in his childhood bed, in a house with one less person. after that, it isn't difficult to decide it will be better for them all for him to move to the school dorms. veiled under the excuse of how he can learn better with this change, he moves away from home.

it feels like something is ripped from his chest. leaving behind a hole that will never be filled, a part always missing.

zhiyu does not know if verum will ever be his home, if he will ever belong in a world so terrifying, so foreign.

( huang zitao , nonbinary , he/they ) — one day the sea will sing of LI HAOYU, the twenty-nine year old blacksmith from the town of cynefin. there will be verses about a heart rotting in its own blood, a mirror shattered—and with it the reflection inside, the blistering heat steel conducts, and obsidian ink going drip, drip, drip in the hums of their hymn, about a person who is untrained in the magic of khemia. the land will know them as someone forthright and decisive, but perhaps, you’ll hear the old crones hiss that they are bitter and relentless. only the shadows of the ocean floor will bear witness to the truth.

i. statistics.

FULL NAME: li haoyu / 李浩宇 ( lǐ hàoyǔ ). GOES BY: haoyu, preferred. AGE: twenty-nine. BIRTHDAY: november 3, 903. PLACE OF BIRTH: cynefin, clwyd-isle. GENDER: nonbinary. PRONOUNS: he / they. SEXUALITY: bisexual. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single.

MAGIC: close to no affinity for khemia / no rare magic. OCCUPATION: a blacksmith @ the local forge. RESIDENCE: a small house shared with two other people. FAMILY: li zihan, parent / chen jingyi, mother / tba, younger sibling / li zhiyu, youngest sibling.

ZODIAC: scorpio. MBTI: infj. ALIGNMENT: neutral evil. ELEMENT: fire. TRAITS: decisive, fervent, forthright ( ++ ) / bitter, mercurial, relentless ( – ). AESTHETIC: a heart rotting in its own blood / a mirror shattered—and with it the reflection inside / the blistering heat steel conducts / obsidian ink going drip, drip, drip / the spark before the blaze ; soon, it will come. PARALLELS: uchiha sasuke, naruto / riku, kingdom hearts / eris, greek mythology / gale hawthorne, the hunger games.

ii. summary.

twenty-nine year old blacksmith who works at the local forge. has no affinity for khemia whatsoever and this has somehow shaped them as a person (with equal parts envy, rage, and desire). born and raised in cynefin and is quite protective of the land they grew up in. eldest of three siblings in a stereotypical cynefinian family.

he’s also a study in if uchiha sasuke did not have a tragic backstory, which is to say that normalcy can in fact also denormalize someone. good at his craft, deeply cares about his hands, and is an exceptionally passionate individual; this is how bitterness breeds. a personification of the dark side of yearning.

iii. more.

docs link. / pinterest board.

intro. ryu jin-ah

( son naeun, cis woman , she/her ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize RYU JIN-AH, the thirty year old lab assistant within the school. having spent one year as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of one’s vision clouding over after pouring over texts for hours; the scent of fresh ink as it sinks into a sheet of paper; fingers sinking softly into damp earth; the feeling of being nowhere and everywhere at once & the ringing of your own laughter in your ears despite not uttering a sound for hours. their devoted and ingenious temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be obstinate and deceitful. regardless, hopefully they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again.

I. statistics.

FULL NAME: ryu jin-ah. AGE: thirty. BIRTHDAY: june 27, 902. PLACE OF BIRTH: the capital, clwyd-isle. GENDER: cis woman. PRONOUNS: she / her. SEXUALITY: bisexual. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single.

MAGIC: khemia, elixirs / no rare magic / no familiar contract. OCCUPATION: lab assistant @ verum academy. RESIDENCE: ???. FAMILY: ryu ji-hoon, elder brother. 

ZODIAC: cancer sun, libra moon, scorpio rising. MBTI: intj. ALIGNMENT: neutral good. TRAITS: devoted, ingenious ( ++ ) / obstinate, deceitful ( – ). AESTHETIC: one’s vision clouding over after pouring over texts for hours / the scent of fresh ink as it sinks into a sheet of paper / fingers sinking softly into damp earth / the feeling of being nowhere and everywhere at once / the ringing of your own laughter in your ears despite not uttering a sound for hours. 

II. summary.

lab assistant, former elixirs major. younger sister of ryu ji-hoon. her entire personality is essentially "what would ji-hoon do?" except not even ji-hoon acts this way anymore. her family is from the capital, but since her brother is now a professor, she's aiming to become one too. surely, if her brother does something, it must be the right choice. not only for himself but for her as well.

she's very into research and is constantly trying to perfect the effect of potions, to make them work more effectively, or to become the person who discovers how to cure a worrisome ailment or, so secretly she doesn't admit it even to herself, how to make their effects long-lasting without causing irreversible damage. this last one is more a dream than something she actively strives for. she can be a bit odd, but just enough to create some pause. mad scientist lite, if you will. sometimes it seems as though her mind is in a faraway land, or a different world altogether.

III. more.

pinterest | full bio | connections | psd credits

( oscar isaac , cis man , he/him ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize ROMAN ARCE, the forty five year old professor within the school. having spent five years as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of faded gold threads across the spine of an old book, the white spray of foam as waves break upon rocks, the gold of a signet ring, never parted from its owner. their eloquent and assiduous temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be pedantic and impetuous. regardless, hopefully they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again. ╱

𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐒 .

ALSO KNOWN AS. . . rommy 

BIRTHDAY. . .  november 15th. 

GENDER & PRONOUNS. . .  cis man, he / him.

ORIENTATION. . .  bisexual

LANGUAGE(S)  SPOKEN. . .  spanish, english.

OCCUPATION. . .  symbology professor at verum academy; teaches beginning, intermediate, and advanced symbology.

BORN IN. . .  cynefin, clwyd-isle.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS ... married

RESIDES IN. . .  cynefin, clwyd-isle; he lives with his wife in a much loved cottage

` 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐀𝐆𝐄 .

FACECLAIM. . .  oscar isaac.

HEIGHT. . .  6'0. (let me live my fantasy)

HAIR. . .  dark brown curls, streaked with grey.

BUILD. . .  muscular and lean. 

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES. . .  wears round glasses.

` 𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒  .  

POSITIVE TRAITS. . .  eloquent, assidious, dedicated, passionate, hard-working.

NEGATIVE TRAITS. . .  pendantic, impestuous, calculating, severe at times.

ALIGNMENT. . .  neutral good

LIKES. . .  old books, quiet walks, teaching, history, his wife, symbols (naturally) 

.DISLIKES. . .  lazy students, disorder, tea with milk, brutality, people who 'don't read'.

STRENGTHS. . .  fiercely well-read and versed in symbols across the ages, a strategist and diplomat when needed, passionate about teaching and his students, eager to engage, curious, always desiring to learn and know more, a devoted husband

WEAKNESSES. . .  often very little forgiveness for errors or missteps - incredibly focused on the semantics of an answer, uninterested in combat or fighting, often lost in books, tough on students he doesn't believe are trying, neutral when he should make a stand. 

full bio coming!

( kathryn bernardo , cis woman , she/her ) — the halls of verum academy is home to EVANGELINE ‘ANGEL’ AGBAYANI, the twenty-six year old student of transmutation. listen to the whispers that follow them through the door of the weaponry theory classroom, the ones about silk ribbons meticulously webbed through dark locks, eyes so unattached that they scream about emotions undiscovered, and a heavy burden of the weight of a legacy. once they graduate, their legacy will be one that is adroit and eloquent in nature, but the records will not mention that they are known to be reticent and vindictive, too. they are, after all, the future of verum.

Basics

full name: evangeline luxamana agbayani . nickname: angel . age: 26 . birthday: december 13 . zodiac sun sign: sagittarius . gender + pronouns: she / her . orientation: ???? languages: tagalog , english .

Personality

mbti: entj , the commander . moral alignment: lawful evil . positive traits: adroit , eloquent and intelligent negative traits: reticent , vindictive and detached . khemia: transmutation , currently studying . specific abilities: rare magic , divination / prophetic . character inspirations: katherine pierce - the vampire diaries , fallon carrington - dynasty , blair waldorf - gossip girl & kat stratford - 10 things i hate about you .

Background

twenty-six and a lover of manipulation and getting things she wants . grew up amongst the wealthiest and greediest of people . daughter of a late high up government official and a scholar highly embedded in the growing world of electricity and technology . she's dark and a little morbid but she's also snarky and blunt , she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty yet you'll never know how she actually feels about things . she has immense control of her khemia but her rare magic is something she lacks control in . honestly , she's kind of a bitch .

[ Full Bio ! ]

( davika hoorne , cis female , she/her ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize SAVINA MASOE, the thirty one year old lab assistant within the school. having spent two years as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of white light passed through a glass prism, a fractured reflection in the looking glass, blooming plants in a thriving greenhouse, a dream forever just beyond reach and eyes so bright they see right through you. their perceptive and inquisitive temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be competitive and single-minded. regardless, hopefully, they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again.

&. BASICS.

full name: savina masoe

age: 31

birthday: february 16

birthplace: unknown, but raised in cynefin

gender & pronouns: cis female | she/her

orientation: *gestures vaguely* 

residence: verum academy staff residence, often returns to their family home over the weekends or term holidays.

&. DETAILS.

education: graduate of verum academy, anima major. 

magic: khemia, anima. 

occupation: lab assistant, aspiring professor or researcher of some capacity. assists with the family textile business in the little free time she has. 

relationship status: single 

piercings: both earlobes, helix on the left ear 

tattoos: n/a

&. PERSONALITY.

zodiac sign: aquarius

mbti: INTP

likes: cool soil on bare feet; blooming plants in the spring; a new mystery to unravel; experimenting in the lab; long days in the greenhouse with her father; rolling green hills and sea salted air; people watching; the smell of freshly baked pastries; lists. 

dislikes: being away from home for too long; black coffee; losing; cheating; early mornings; big cities; accounting; conflict; places with no windows or gardens; mess, disorganisation. 

habits: chewing on the ends of her pen; dog earing pages; sleeping with a window open; sleeping through her alarm.

(+) inquisitive, perceptive, kind, sociable, ambitious, loyal, outdoorsy, empathetic, family orientated. (-) nosy, single minded, competitive, stubborn, self-indulgent, petty. 

&. BACKGROUND.

adopted as a baby, the masoes — a wealthy merchant family — are the only parents savina has ever known and ever cares to know. she loves them both dearly, though she is closer to her father due to their shared affinity for khemia than her mother. 

savina spent her childhood exploring the rolling hills of her parents property with her beloved little brother, finding all the nooks and crannies and secrets the land had to offer. as far as childhoods go, it was almost idyllic. 

growing up, savina always knew her place would be to one day take over the family’s textile business. founded by her grandparents decades ago, it’s through the ambition and hard work of her parents that the business thrives as it does now and they want to see their legacy carried on. many days were spent learning everything from managing the finances to the ideal growing conditions needed to produce the highest quality fabrics. while competent, savina never did fall in love with numbers the way her mother hoped, always preferring to be in the greenhouse.

discovering her magic changed that plan. savina followed in her father’s footsteps, studying anima at the academy and falling in love with the way she could make flowers bloom instead.  

savina travelled for a year after graduating the academy and loved every minute of it, but homesickness and duty eventually brought her home. the salty air of cynefin runs in her blood and as intriguing as the wider world is, no where else could ever be home. the crushing crowds of the city cannot hold the candle to the unforgiving fills of cynefin.

in any case, savina missed her brother, and her parents needed her. she returned to take up a position as a lab assistant at the academy with the hopes of one day making professor while also assisting with the family business on the side.

the mudslide has hit their family hard. unable to export their products any longer, they rely on the business of the academy and local townsfolk to keep them afloat. the pressure is on for savina to return home where she belongs.

guilt gnaws at her the longer she avoids making a decision — her parents are getting on, and there isn’t much time left. her brother certainly doesn’t want to assume the mantle of heir, and savina would never be so selfish as to foist that burden on him. but she doesn’t want it for herself, either. she feels like she’s letting them all down by not being who they want her to be and savina doesn’t know to reconcile her love for her family with her unwillingness to follow in their footsteps. 

TLDR; generally friendly, has an unfortunate habit of hearing the things you don’t say a little too well, can be very single minded when she’s found a new interest or theory to prove/disprove - especially if she wants to prove someone wrong. savina feels pulled in several directions and a little lost/torn on where to go. she has tendency to adopt the habits/mannerisms of people around her and honestly, she doesn't really know who she is anymore. there is tension between her and her parents over taking over the business versus her own career plans (the person she thinks they want her to be versus the person she thinks she is).

&. CONNECTIONS.

docs link template credit

( nesrin cavadzade, nonbinary, she/they ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize VANYA SVETLA VYACHESLAVOVNA, the fourty-one year old professor within the school. having spent nine years as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of the harsh winter but of the cold, but the warmth you seek within sanctuary ; beauty of the early morning frost, how it glistens and shines under soft sunlight ; the first flower after a brutal freeze,  winter has not yet relented its grasp, but the color is returning to the lang /  a lover above all else, but a bitter taste lingers against their blushed lips. their nurturing and honorable temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be martyrish and verbose. regardless, hopefully they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again. graphic template cred.

BASICS

full name. vanya svetla vyancheslavovna. title. professor v. nicknames. vany, v. face claim: nesrin cavadzade. date of birth. october 1st. age. 42. zodiac. libra. gender. fem nonbinary. pronouns. she/they. sexuality. bisexual ( woman / fem-aligned leaning ). occupation. professor of human biology (etc) @ verum. languages. english, azerbaijani, russian, mandarin ( limited ).

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

height. 6'3ft. ( this is so serious. i am so serious. ) haircolor. dark brown. eye color. brown, with a slight blue glint in the light. tattoos.   spine tattoo of flowers. piercings.  earlobes. always wearing chunky earrings or large, thick loops.

PSYCHE

stability. stable (allegedly). intelligence.  above average. positive traits. nurturing. honorable. scholarly. negative traits. martyrish. verbose. reserved. MBTI: ENFJ-T moral alignment. lawful good. temperment. sanguine-melancholic. sins.  lust / greed / gluttony / sloth / pride / envy / wrath. virtues.  chasity / charity / temperance / diligence / humility / kindness / patience / justice.

BACKSTORY TID-BIDS

TW MENTION: spousal death mention & the grief of it.

you were a child of cynefin, one deeply in love with the land. you never saw yourself setting foot from the familiar cobblestone, but you also never foresaw the death of your newlywed wife. it was sudden and much was your grief. the once welcoming sea-front now felt like it taunted you. the winding woods you'd spend time with her every morning on a walk now a prison. on cynefin, you were a renowned medic. excellent bedside manner, a smile many saw as warm even in the coldest temperature. you seemed to have a healing touch ; a careful hand, gentle fingers. you did, once. after your loss, your fingers seemed to hesitate when placed against an arm. after your loss, looking someone in the eye seemed to cause panic. there wasn't much left to you, was there? nothing but the grief. nothing but the misplaced anger towards once comforting waters, soil. everything felt devoid without your own personal sunshine. for what was winter without the hearth? what was the dawn of spring without the blossoming flowers? you felt yourself grow cold and this scared you. something had to be changed ...

you sought a distraction, desperate to free your mind of the throws of grief, of anger for the water claiming your beloved. you turned to the draw, the taste of khemia. you'd studied it at behest of her ; her intrigue of attuning something that brought you great distrust. but you couldn't deny your interest, could you? your interest in healing ideologies, the reflection of magic within human bodies and soul. you once were a nurse, weren't you? perhaps there were further ways to aide ; to find a peace physically. you seek out employment through verum, both an escape and in honor and turn your back on cynefin. only, you didn't know it would be what seemed like for good.

you excel in your field. you excel in distracting yourself. you were always the nurturing type. witnessing their interest ( and sometimes their disinterest ) of your field. there's enjoyment in sharing your knowledge and watering the flowers of future prospects. you do your best attempt at creating a bond between your students. you're someone they can lean on, reflect even their most mudane worries on you. you can shoulder it. you can give them comfort. you can quell their worries, shape their shortcomings into goals. it fills the once empty space within you. shaped like a body. shaped like a heart. but there's still a hole there, right? it's leaking. it spilling sea water at your feet.

there is a hole in your well. it comes in whispers, of beckons. it began in your first few months on verum grounds. wind seemed to whisper to you: return, child. your reflection seemed to ripple like the water of your childhood. your sleep erect with hallow forests, empty and overgrown. you didn't abandon cyenfin out of hate, but intense sadness. anger at your loss. you chalked it up to stress, to homesickness, but it only progressed further than this. even some of your students faces seemed lost to visions of water. you'd worried them once ; staring blankly into the sea of faces before your dissertation on human anatomy. you swear the voice of your once love is mixed within the calls ( remember me. remember us. remember your roots. ) / the shape of her in the corner of your eye. the shape of unfamiliar people ( you've swam far enough, return to the shore. you've gone without water long enough. come back. come back. )

you're still doing your best to ignore the calls, but it's getting heavy, isn't it? you're beginning to cough up the water in your lungs. a taste of salt lingers beneath your tongue. the smell of fresh leaves crosses your nose without origin. return, return. but you can't. you don't think you could ever.

focus on your pupils. focus on the future. they need it more than you.

( murakami nijiro, male, he/him) — the halls of verum academy is home to MIHARU SATO, twenty four year old student of elixir. listen to the whispers that follow them through the door of the theory of healing arts classroom, the ones about a volatile stormy sea by a cliffside, sunlit greenhouses with tall windows, apothecary shelves packed with bottles and vials, handwritten journal with drawn plants and endless winding staircases. once they graduate, their legacy will be one that is intelligent and protective in nature, but the records will not mention that they are known to be insecure and possessive, too. they are, after all, the future of verum. ╱ rae, 26, any pronoun, gmt +7.

Basic Info

Faceclaim: Nijiro Murakami

Name: Miharu Sato

Nickname: Haru, Ruru

Age: 24

DOB: May 10th

Pronouns: He/him

Gender: Male

Orientation: ?? (he's too busy studying he never paid attention to romance)

Occupation: Student of Verum Academy

Languages: English, Japanese, Latin

Residence: Verum Academy Dormitory

Skeleton: Muse 1

Height: 165 cm/5’5”

Weight: 55 kg/ 121 lbs

Eye color: Black

Hair color: Black 

Piercings: None

Tattoos: None

Scars: A few small cuts on his hands and arms from when he was learning swordsmanship

Aesthetic: a volatile stormy sea by a cliffside / sunlit greenhouses with tall windows / apothecary shelves packed with bottles and vials / handwritten journal with drawn plants / endless winding staircases

Familiar: ? ??

Background:

“There is an unquenchable thirst for greatness within you, one that nobody but you can fulfill. Yet every quest for glory you took left you unsated, each gulp of victory were mouthfuls of fire. And there is only a matter of time until you burn to cinders from inside out.” 

Born from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the capital, Miharu grew up rarely wanting for anything. That is, until he became old enough to understand the sting of people’s words and venom hidden behind the sweetest smiles. 

Was very attached to his second older sibling, used to idolize and adored them a lot until the pressure of being compared to them started to get to him. Miharu is ashamed to admit that his 2nd eldest was the reason he has an inferiority complex because while he loves his sibling, being known as the hardworking little brother of a natural born genius made him miserable. 

As the youngest of four siblings all he’s been taught since young was not to bring any shame into family and that there are little to no expectations for him to live up to, no grand roles to fill in. For some people, being born with a silver spoon with no responsibilities or expectations would be a wonderful thing. But to him, it shows how insignificant he is as he’s not even worthy of being a spare for his older siblings.

Miharu is by no means an untalented or average khemia practitioner. By his own right, he’s worked hard to be where he is with or without the privilege his family’s influence gave him and he’s made a name for himself despite his age. But sure enough, the brilliance of the sun would easily devour the light that came from a handful of stars.

It was cowardly of him to run away to Cynefin in the guise of studying in Verum. Miharu needed to get away from Talcelin, from the eyes of the Capital’s high society, from his family and from his older sibling that he both loves and loathes the most. 

Ignorant of the world yet remained headstrong, Miharu, the little young master who had never even dressed himself without a servant's help before settled in the quaint little town of Cynefin at the age of 18. 

Trivias: 

Has a lot of unsent letters addressed to his family. He might not like being sheltered under their shadow but they’re still his blood and he does get homesick occasionally. 

Hates it when someone mentions his family’s wealth/influence or calls him a spoiled young master (and they were right to call him that. He brought his fancy schmancy automobile from the capital that he rarely uses ffs. "I'm not spoiled." he says. Meanwhile, the car in question: x) 

Very hard on himself and self-critical. Has severe trust issues with people who approach him, worried they only get close to him to gain connection with his family that it’s hard for him to open up his heart for new friends.

Is fascinated with the way human bodies heal itself, hence why he picked elixirs as his major though there was another reason: because he wants to prove to his family that he’s a useful/crucial asset to the ongoing war. 

Actually has more natural affinity towards the transmutation branch of khemia but stubbornly chose to specialize in elixirs out of spite so people would stop comparing him and his other sibling who is adept in transmutation. 

Probably almost died when he foolishly tried to summon a demon to be his familiar but since it’s a successful summon he thought nothing of the danger he had put himself through. 

Sleeps with a gun under his pillows loaded with silver bullets after learning the existence of demons (after summoning one, unsure if it will even do the demons any harm but hey worth a shot).

More tba <3

Connections:

frenemies (0/2) 

someone who tries to befriend him just bc he's from a wealthy family or wants to get close to him bc of one of his older siblings (0/1)

someone that he end up tutoring (0/1)

roommate/dormmate. (0/2) you've known him since he first arrived to verum. you wondered why did this foolish young master came all the way down to the little town of cynefin on his own accord and how in the world was he to survive alone. this guy didn't even know how to dress up by himself!

you found one of his journals and liked his neat handwritings along with the life-like sketches of plants and potions materials drawn in there. he isn't too happy with you when you returned it back to him though.

you found him chilling on a branch of a tall tree. the sun is going down soon but he doesn't seem like he has any intention to climb down. you have a suspicion that he's actually stuck up there and doesn't know how to climb down.

more tba

( havana rose liu , demi woman , she/her ) — one day the sea will sing of CERIDWEN ‘CERI’ WYNNE-JONES, the twenty-seven year old town courier from the town of cynefin. there will be verses about clusters of pearls torn from oyster shells, tree branches bent to whisper their secrets, and a scarf snatched from fingers, lost to the rolling waves of the sea in the hums of their hymn, about a person who is untrained in the magic of khemia. the land will know them as someone zealous and devoted, but perhaps, you’ll hear the old crones hiss that they are audacious and obstinate. only the shadows of the ocean floor will bear witness to the truth.

FULL NAME: ceridwen wynne-jones. AGE: twenty-seven. BIRTHDAY: february 14, 905. PLACE OF BIRTH: cynefin, clwyd-isle. GENDER: demi woman. PRONOUNS: she/her. SEXUALITY: bisexual. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single.

ETHNICITY: half chinese, half white. FAMILY: yitian wynne-jones née cai, father / elin wynne-jones, mother / astoria wynne-jones, younger sister / osian wynne-jones, younger brother. RELIGION: the old faith. PROFESSION: town courier. RARE MAGIC: divination/prophetic (unawakened). 

ZODIAC: aquarius, western / pig, chinese. TRAITS: zealous, devoted, plucky ( ++ ) / audacious, reticent, obstinate ( – ). PARALLELS: kiki ( kiki’s delivery service ) / hutao ( genshin impact ) / anne shirley-cuthbert ( anne of green gables/anne with an e ) / angharad ( a study in drowning ).

AESTHETICS: clusters of pearls torn from oyster shells / tree branches bent to whisper their secrets / a scarf snatched from fingers, lost to the rolling waves of the sea in the hums of their hymn … 

biography… / WYNNE-JONES , CERIDWEN.

coming soon.

tldr… / BREAK DOWN.

twenty-seven year old town courier – aka delivers stuff all across cynefin & verum. works odd jobs at times when deliveries and mail are slow. eldest of two siblings, astoria & osian (who is thirteen). they all live on the outskirts of town not too far away from the masoe household, where their main trade is sheep herding. because of the wool they sell, they are in direct competition with one another in the local economy. elin & alessa have always disliked each other because of this. obviously the masoe family washes the wynne-jones in terms of sales, so the wynne-jones are constantly struggling to financially make it (especially after the death of ceri’s father some years ago; more on that in a bit).

elin is cynefin born and raised while yitian came from a different part of clwyd-isle to study at verum. they met at some point during his school years and fell in love, prompting yitian to put down roots (he was especially motivated when his best friend, ira masoe, married alessa who was also a local). he struggled to find his footing in town due to the locals mistrust of outsiders/verum students, but with a lot of hardwork and dedication he managed to finally make a place for himself sometime after he was married. he took on elin’s last name.

this was short-lived after ceri was born. quickly following her birth strange things began to happen around town (a local child temporarily missing, days upon days of horrible weather, a small fire at the bakers, etc.) which on their own would’ve been written off as coincidence, but altogether made the more superstitious townsfolk jump to a conclusion: ceri is a changeling child. when locals found out elin didn’t follow “changeling protocol” (aka a pair of iron scissors by the cradle for protection, monitoring the baby and never leaving it alone, etc.) that only cemented their belief.

ceri was raised up under watchful eyes and ostracized by the larger town population. children were told to avoid her in school, the more superstitious townsfolk barred her from their homes & businesses, and if she were nearby when something went awry she was often blamed for it. is definitely othered as a whole. think anne shirley-cuthbert being put out by the population of avonlea for being an orphan. very similar vibes.

and like anne (though far less poetic/delusional, they’re definitely not 1to1 by any means) ceri didn’t really let any of those things stop her from being herself. in fact her attitude and push back would often lead to more trouble, especially during her school days. her mother still raised her up to have tons of pride in her town and her heritage within cynefin, and she’s always felt extremely connected to the land and the sea. the trope of the princess who picks up the sword and becomes her own knight.

father passed away when she was fourteen. she went to visit him at the factory to bring him lunch, and shortly after she left there was an accident. her father and another man (baek haru’s elder brother) perished in the event. some people viewed this as ceri’s fault.

doesn’t like verum or khemia as a whole because she sees it as playing with magic people don’t understand (there’s a belief around cynefin that magic is ancient and therefore can’t be entirely understood by man; kinda the exact opposite philosophy of khemia); yes, her father practiced khemia/was an alumni of verum. no, that doesn’t mean she views it very positively. 

she’s also stubborn in her belief that cynefin has all you could ever need/want and any locals who leave will always come back. ceri is incredibly opinionated and therefore always believes she's right.

finishing… / CONNECTIONS & IDEAS.

WYNNE-JONES, ASTORIA. younger sister. ceri very much so sees herself as the eldest, so they definitely butt heads (especially with the way ceri has unintentionally shaped astoria’s social life and upbringing in cynefin), but their love is deep. she would do anything for her sister.

BAEK, HARU. very first friend. met when they were around nine and discovered they had the same secret hiding spot in the woods. haru would sneak out to meet up with ceri for years. were very close until haru’s brother died. haru now has it out for ceri as adults, though ceri has zero idea. 

MASOE, DANTE. best friend since they were around eleven and were forced to work on a school project together. alessa used to really be against ceri due to her superstitions, but has since warmed up to her after her father’s death. their fathers were also best friends back in the day. dante has been coming to dinner once a week now for years. 

OLD SCHOOLMATES. people who avoided ceri in school or made fun of her. maybe they feel bad as an adult and want to apologize, but can’t make themselves. or maybe they don’t give a fuck still and to this day they both dislike each other. maybe even someone who wanted to be her friend in school, but she misunderstood their intention and lashed out at them. 

LOCAL BUSINESS BUDDY. someone ceri runs tons of deliveries for and over the course of time they’ve grown really close. 

VERUM STUDENTS OR STAFF. someone who has constant debates with ceri over the practice of khemia. 

ASTORIA’S FRIENDS. people who are close with her younger sister. ceri and astoria are extremely close, so ceri having positive or negative relationships with astoria’s friends is essential. 

ANYTHING INSANE. i said what i said!

( martin sensmeier , cis man , he/him ) — one day the sea will sing of KOVA WILDER, the thirty-six year old farmer from the town of cynefin. there will be verses about sarcastic quips made in a low tone, barely noticeable; dodging conversations one does not wish to have in the moment; nights spent gasping awake and mornings revealing your weary, shadowed eyes; missing those you should not be wanting or needing; hands stained and fingernails packed with the dirt of the earth, the same dirt you were raised upon  in the hums of their hymn, about a person who is trained in the magic of khemia. the land will know them as someone hard-working and steadfast, but perhaps, you’ll hear the old crones hiss that they are cynical and aloof. only the shadows of the ocean floor will bear witness to the truth. ╱ eliza, 33, she/her, cst.

i. basics FULL NAME: kova kaskae wilder. NICKNAMES: ko. AGE / D.O.B.: thirty-six / august 29th. GENDER / PRONOUNS: cis man / he & him. ORIENTATIONS: bisexual biromantic. MARITAL STATUS: separated. OCCUPATION: farmer. HOMETOWN: cynefin, clwyd-isle. RESIDENCE: the farm that has belonged to his father's side of the family for precisely five generations.

ii. physical EYE COLOR: brown. HAIR COLOR: black. HEIGHT: 6 ft even. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: cropped hair, occasionally rocks a five o' clock shadow or a fuller beard depending on how he's feeling. strong jawline, sturdily built figure, eyes that cut at you in annoyance if you're being an asshole. you don't want to be on that side of this expression, trust me. FASHION STYLE: farmer chic. a lot of the clothing you would expect to see a working man don. white cotton shirts and simple pairs of slacks paired with boots, and the occasional pair of overalls if he's feeling particularly daring. kova has exactly one (1) nice outfit that he saves for special occasions but there haven't particularly been any as of late.

iii. psychological POSITIVE TRAITS: disciplined, resourceful, observant, decisive, appreciative. NEGATIVE TRAITS: impatient, reserved, quiet, sarcastic, hard-headed. ZODIAC: virgo. MBTI TYPE: istj. TEMPERAMENT: melancholic. EDUCATION: he studied at verum for a time before ultimately returning back to the family and his farm. SKILLS: planting, harvesting, wrangling animals - abilities you would find a farmer with. however, he's adept with his khemia, despite not receiving the full education from verum. besides that, he's good with sewing, enjoys horseback riding and fishing. he plays the violin shockingly well for a farm boy, probably thanks to his mother's attempts at bringing her socialite ways to the town. MAGIC: decomposition khemia.

iv. familial MOTHER: ahnah wilder (deceased.) FATHER: albert wilder (deceased.) SIBLINGS: none. CHILDREN: yura wilder, daughter. SIGNIFICANT OTHER: catherine wilder, wife (separated - he has no idea of her current location.)

v. summary tw: cheating, death a man who never feels as much as home as he does in the fields of the farm where he was born and raised, despite it having an array of difficult memories. he was never close with either one of his parents, more so the animals he took care of and the crops he tended to. they were older, weary, not in a place of having a child. but there he was, anyway. the wilder name became well known in the town for a number of reasons, not all of them good - particularly when his mother was caught with another man. and then another. and then a third. the blowups in the wilder family home weren't as intense as they should have been. instead, it seemed that kova was the only one truly upset about the happenings, while his father remained silent on the matter. his khemia sparked and it offered him a chance to study, get away from the pain of his dysfunctional family. of course, verum wasn't exactly what he pictured and he didn't enjoy it as much as he desperately wanted to. in the end, he went back home after only three years of study despite the potential to leave everything he knew for good. the reason? his mother falling ill, needing a caretaker while his father worked the fields, or vice versa. they shared the duties up until her death. he never did ask his father why he put up with the cheating and the lies. no, kova would learn for himself after he settled down with a lady, got hitched and brought her to the place he was so very proud of, that he fixed up himself over the years when his father became too old to do much. of course, it wouldn't happen until they had another person in the mix, a little girl with big, bright eyes and dark, shiny hair. his heart hurt for her more than his own when catherine became fed up with the life and the struggling, first dumping the truth on him of her affair and then leaving for parts unknown. like father, like son. isn't that the way it goes? vi. headcanons i. he doesn't believe he's a good father or can give his daughter really anything that she needs, mostly because he has no idea how to raise a little girl on his own. ii. he finds it hard to really get close to anyone, mostly because of the rumors that went around town and the whispers that followed thanks to his mother's actions. kova himself wasn't exactly talkative before this, taking after his father mostly, with a fairly large portion of his mother's... sass coming out in his own sarcasm. iii. he's fallen in love exactly once and it was not with his wife, though he hoped their union would bring some sort of deeper love between them instead of just filling the loneliness the both of them had without each other. they cared for each other, trusted each other. but it wasn't the once in a lifetime love that he'd overheard women talk about. funny that she'd end up leaving him, right? iv. he loves his khemia. absolutely adores it. part of him hopes that his daughter's magic will spark up, though he's scared for when it does because it means she'll leave him, though she won't be going very far at least. v. once he makes a decision, it's nearly impossible to change his mind. others have tried and failed. good luck if you wish to change that streak. vii. wanted connections family members of his wife who either hate him or know he's doing his Best - or extended connections of his own family / verum folks who studied when he did that he keeps in loose contact with / people he's known his whole life in cynefin, even if they aren't friends / folks who work on the farm when he needs the extra hands / anything!!!

𝑳𝑼𝑪𝑬 𝑽𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑻𝑨𝑻𝑰𝑺... フジワラケンジ

( ryosuke yamada , nonbinary , he/them ) — the halls of verum academy is home to KENJI FUJIWARA, the twenty-seven year old student of elixirs. listen to the whispers that follow them through the door of the advanced elixirs classroom, the ones about straight posture, a metaphorical pin against your back, the weight of generations of khemia on your shoulders, whispers of your surname when you walk through the corridors, chest tight with the urge to make a name of your own, clashing with the expectations of your family. once they graduate, their legacy will be one that is adroit and independent in nature, but the records will not mention that they are known to be rebellious and rash, too. they are, after all, the future of verum. ╱ kira, twenty-five, she/her, gmt+3.

BIOGRAPHY ( cw child neglect, allusions to corporal disciplinary punishments )

the fujiwara name echoes through the halls of your three-story manor. uttered in the same vein as the history of khemia. a throne carved for you even before you are born. a life already set, everything you have to become laid in front of you. you don't need to think, just to follow that path. it's easy. it's supposed to be.

you want anything but to sit on that throne. despite the shackles around your limbs tying you down, you fight it with everything you can.

will you every break them? despite the hefty cost?

—

kenji is born with a silver spoon in his mouth. he spits it out at every chance. weight of generations upon his shoulders, a pin against his back at every turn. sit up straight. use the right fork. don't use those crude words. private tutors teaching him ancient languages, the history of khemia, as well as the history of his own family. expectations from his parents are drilled into him from the moment he learns how to speak. before he is given the chance to figure out who he wants to be.

both parents working high up within the government, he sees the help around the house more than his blood family. the nannies, the tutors. the housekeeper. a lot of people act to be on his side but mostly carry whatever he has done that day to his father: 'kenji was particularly stubborn today, failed his latin exam.' or 'his piano work was sloppy, he should train harder.' or 'he is a bright kid, just needs to study more'

learns from a young age that anyone who exists under his father's shadow, in his control, is never going to be on his side. the word 'father' rots in his mouth. a taste that he cannot wash away. no matter how much he tries. the distance includes his mother, who is somehow more absent than he is. whatever she says feels like an echo of the patriarch, the same knives that cut into the skin, leaving marks.

oil paintings of his grand-grandparents decorate the walls. he sees them every single day as he walks to his room. someone thrice-removed, a couple wearing an attire so old, he thinks they must be made up. they all look prideful, yet also look down on him in a way that reminds him how he cannot fill those shoes. how much he does not want to. 'look at who you are supposed to be. then look back into yourself.'

his affinity for magic comes to no one's surprise. there is no celebration or a pat on his back. not even a smile. only pursed lips and a vice grip on his shoulder. nails dig into the skin from the fabric of his robes. an order both loud and unspoken, to work even harder now. do better.

it's with him going to verum that he can break free even further from those shackles. while it posed to be more of a challenge when he spent so much time at home, he jumps at the idea of living in the school dorms. to leave his family, to become who he is beyond the legacy breathing down his neck.

rebels in every single way he can. dig his own claws in, lashes at every single expectation. it begins with his attire, the physical manifestation of who he really is. dark, messy robes versus the pristine ones with the fujiwara coat of arms. bulky and heeled boots, silver rings around his fingers, sounds of his belt buckles clanging with every step. he makes himself look large to feel as large as the world.

as the boy who seems to have everything: the wealth, the money, the fame —  he forfeits it all whenever he gets the chance. regardless of the angry letters he receives at every turn, he tries to be true to himself. his choice of major: elixirs, is too common, too normal for the name— but his parents finally wrap their mind around it, framing it so to other families that it is a valiant line of work, especially with the war looming.

despite it all, he does enjoy khemia. spending hours cooped up in the library, in the elixir classrooms, injuries littering his arms from failed experiments. trying to come up with new concotions himself. he isn't a stellar student by any means, too mouthy, too defiant to listen to orders. though his talent and affinity for khemia show up in ways that he passes every class, knowing the subject matter by heart regardless of how much he can vex his professors.

what he does not expect is that he possesses rare magic. at an instance where he cannot stop the way anger and frustration claw up his chest, his notebooks and pens convulse on the table akin to an earthquake. once they fall down on the wooden floors of the library, there is no mistaking it.

it becomes a well-kept secret that he keeps close to his chest, not wanting this to be something else that defines him. knows that if his parents were to learn, they would be elated to show him off — claim that they have always known he was special, that it is of course fitting the fujiwara legacy.

the mere idea of that smug expression on their faces makes him lock the secret tighter. wows to himself to make sure they never learn.  

it's a battle every day to figure out who he is, growing closer and closer to breaking those shackles. sometimes he thinks he has suceeded — until his father finds a way to pull him back into it. the angry letters from the man continue, despite it growing lesser in frequency. the fight in kenji remains, fire burning ever bright.

( putri marino , nonbinary , she/they ) — amongst the faces lining the staff portrait wall, you recognize LINTANG AULIA, the thirty-one year old infirmary staff. having spent one month as a member of the verum staff, students say that they’re reminiscent of a light breeze ruffling short strands of hair, a hand brushing the surface of still water, the smooth edge of a rock, and the last of a flame burning a dying candle wick. their responsive and compassionate temperament brings color to these halls, but be warned, you may also find them to be rigid and prideful. regardless, hopefully they’ll remain when it’s time for verum to open its doors again.

i. statistics.

FULL NAME: lintang aulia. GOES BY: lintang, preferred. AGE: thirty-one. BIRTHDAY: january 15, 901. PLACE OF BIRTH: the capital, clwyd-isle. GENDER: nonbinary. PRONOUNS: she / they. SEXUALITY: bisexual. RELATIONSHIP STATUS: single.

MAGIC: poor affinity for khemia, attempting to learn elixirs & anima / healing rare magic / a demon nicknamed aster as a familiar, who presents as a human in the presence of people other than lintang themselves. OCCUPATION: an army doctor who was at the warfront / presently an infirmary staff @ verum academy / part timing with the local doctor in cynefin. RESIDENCE: verum academy staff housing, renting. FAMILY: bayu anggara, father / meila duarte, mother / dimas abyasa, younger brother.

ZODIAC: capricorn. MBTI: istj. ALIGNMENT: lawful neutral. ELEMENT: water. TRAITS: compassionate, diligent, responsive ( ++ ) / pedantic, prideful, rigid ( – ). AESTHETIC: a light breeze ruffling short strands of hair / a hand brushing the surface of still water / the smooth edge of a rock / the last of a flame burning a dying candle wick / the shadow on the wall looming larger than life. PARALLELS: jean gunnhildr, genshin impact / kaul shaelinsan, the green bone saga / charles sun, the brothers sun / aqua, kingdom hearts.

ii. summary.

thirty-one year old army doctor who arrived in cynefin very recently, like in the last month or two. after the mudslide, she chose to work as an infirmary staff in verum & also does part time work with the local doctor(s) in cynefin to fill her time. was previously called to the war front thanks to her healing magic.

if you’ve played genshin impact, something about them reminds me of jean gunnhildr (aka, they have a rigid personality but also overwork themselves and take on too much). they spread themselves a little too thin because of their pride and being useful is a Big Deal to them. also has a familiar who she promised her soul to once she passes—which could happen sooner than later if she doesn’t slow down.

iii. more.

docs link. / pinterest board.