Appearance

Mentality

Personal history

Cassia Aurora Sylvius was born into a comfortable, educated household on the outskirts of a Vivantan village, where Solonic doctrine existed but wasn’t suffocating. Her father, Lucian Sylvius, a dignified and practical land steward, and her mother, Marenia Sylvius, a warmly voiced but rule-conscious woman, valued refinement and intellect - yet not to the point of fanaticism. They followed Solon just enough to be respectable, while quietly chafing at the restrictions placed on their daughters.

Cassia grew up alongside her older sister, Julianna, her closest companion and opposite half. Where Cassia was headstrong, curious, and imaginative, Julianna was calm, thoughtful, and clever. Their tutors instructed them at home in the Vivantan style: mornings of posture drills, reading, and the “Rules of Reason,” followed by afternoons of calligraphy, history, and genteel arts. Cassia excelled especially at calligraphy and the viol, developing elegant handwriting and a soft, expressive style of music.

Together, the sisters broke into their father’s locked cabinet of forbidden books - mythic tales, forest-god stories, and pre-Solonic histories. Julianna picked the lock; Cassia stood lookout and dramatized the stories for them both. They stole sips of wine during celebrations, giggling and feeling impossibly grown-up. At night, they climbed onto the roof, wrapped in blankets, whispering their dreams to the stars.

When Cassia was around fourteen, Julianna earned the chance to study magic abroad in the Golden Sands - an opportunity foreign women could access, though only with coin and luck. Cassia felt pride for her sister, but also a fierce, guilty loneliness. The house seemed half-empty without Julianna. Their games ended, the cabinet adventures felt hollow alone, and the rooftop felt colder. She filled journals with thoughts and fantasies, determined to catch up.

By sixteen, Cassia was finally permitted to join her sister in the Golden Sands. The desert city dazzled and terrified her: white stone buildings glowing in the sun, markets bursting with gems, and the strange, sacred rituals of the sun god. She reunited with Julianna beneath a foreign sky, slipping easily back into their sisterly rhythm - though it was clear Julianna had already built a life there, and Cassia needed to find her own footing.

As a student, Cassia blossomed. Her first real crush was on her magical theory tutor - calm, refined, gentle-eyed, and the first man she could truly converse with. Her feelings were less about him and more about freedom, adulthood, and being seen as an equal. She never confessed, and he remained politely oblivious.

Cassia made her first true friends outside her family: Nara, a confident local girl who delighted in teasing her; Phelan, a quiet foreign student who studied with her; and Lyria, a meticulous scribe from the Calligraphy Guild who admired Cassia’s elegant Vivantan hand. With Nara and Phelan, she attended magical practice circles - occasionally singeing her sleeves with overambitious cantrips. In the Guild, she decorated spell diagrams and learned to blend Vivantan precision with Golden Sands flourishes.

She flirted clumsily at festivals, especially with Sahil, a charming merchant’s son who gave her small gifts and nearly became her first romance - until Cassia panicked and fled when things felt too real. She wrote music, studied hard, and slowly grew more confident. Her life was beginning to feel full.

Education

Cassia’s education began at home in Vivanta, where her wealthy and moderately traditional family hired private tutors. Her early schooling was formal, disciplined, and grounded in Solonic ideals. She studied:

• Etiquette and refined speech
  


• Reading, writing, and philosophy (including the “Rules of Reason”)
  


• Arithmetic and geography
  


• History of the Solonic Empire
  


• Calligraphy - in which she became particularly skilled
  


• “Appropriate arts” for young women such as music and composition
  

Cassia excelled in calligraphy and learned to play the viol with gentle, expressive talent. She was not permitted to study magic in Vivanta due to its restrictions on women outside the priestly class.

At sixteen, Cassia travelled to the Golden Sands to continue her education and reunite with her older sister, Julianna. There, she enrolled in a magical academy where foreign women could study magic.

In the Golden Sands, Cassia learned:

• Magical theory under a patient, refined tutor
  


• Basic spellcasting, including sparks, minor illusions, sun-aligned cantrips, and stabilisation rituals
  


• Magical etiquette and diagram structure
  


• Collaborative spell practice in beginner circles
  

Cassia also joined the Calligraphy Guild, where she blended Vivantan precision with desert artistry, decorating spell diagrams and illuminated magical texts. Her handwriting became known for its elegance and clarity.

Employment

No employment yet.

Accomplishments & Achievements

Mastery of Elegant Calligraphy

Cassia became known in the Golden Sands for her clean, refined Vivantan script. Her work was admired enough that senior scribes sometimes requested her help with delicate manuscripts or magical diagrams.

Gradual Independence From Julianna

Emotionally difficult but important: Cassia learned to function socially, academically, and personally without relying on Julianna to guide her.

Failures & Embarrassments

The Infamous Sleeve-Singeing Incident(s)

Cassia has burned holes in:

• at least two sleeves
  


• one tablecloth
  


• and almost her own hair
  

She laughs it off, but the teachers still remember.

Crying in Class Once

A teacher criticised her spell-form too sharply; Cassia tried to hold it together… but tears escaped. The teacher later apologised, but Cassia wished the earth would swallow her whole.

A Failed Attempt at Independence

In her early months at the Golden Sands, Cassia once insisted she could navigate a sprawling bazaar alone. She got hopelessly lost, panicked, and ended up being guided back by an amused gemstone seller. Julianna never let her forget it.

Mental Trauma

Abandonment Anxiety

Cassia’s sister was the one constant presence throughout her childhood - her mirror, protector, and partner in mischief. When Julianna left for the Golden Sands, Cassia felt lonely, but she knew she would see her again.

But when Julianna disappeared without warning?

It created a wound Cassia can’t articulate: the fear that people she loves can vanish anytime, without explanation. She’s not dramatic about it - but the fear is always there under the surface.

Academic & Social Perfectionism

Because Cassia was trained in refinement and correctness from a young age - and because she had to “earn” her place in the Golden Sands - she equates failure with inadequacy.

Her sleeve-singeing mistakes and crying-in-class moment didn’t just embarrass her; they confirmed her private fear of: “Maybe I’m not good enough to be here.”

It’s not crippling - but it’s always humming in the background.

Romantic Anxiety & Fear of Intimacy

Growing up separated from boys socially, then developing her first romantic attachment to an older, idealised authority figure, shaped her understanding of relationships.

Intellectual Characteristics

Highly Literate & Language-Sensitive

Because of her refined education, Cassia:

• chooses her words carefully
  


• notices tone and phrasing
  


• enjoys metaphors, symbolism, and poetic turns of speech
  


• writes beautifully detailed journal entries
  

She processes information well when it’s written or spoken elegantly.

Strong Creative Memory (Weak Stress Memory)

She remembers:

• stories
  


• melodies
  


• diagrams
  


• calligraphic shapes
  


• the emotional tone of a conversation
  

But when stressed, she may forget small details like:

• names
  


• dates
  


• specific instructions
  

Her brain is more aesthetic and emotional than administrative.

Intuition-Guided Logic

She understands things best when she can feel their structure.
In magic, this means:

• spells make more sense when she visualises them as art
  


• she grasps concepts better when they’re linked to imagery or metaphor
  

Her intelligence is intuitive, not coldly analytical.

Gentle Academic Rigour

Cassia studies hard - not for status or competition, but for love of learning and fear of falling short. She is the type who copies notes neatly, re-checks her diagrams, and practices until she feels at peace.

Conflict-Avoidant Reasoning

When she thinks through problems, she tends to choose solutions that:

• minimise confrontation
  


• preserve harmony
  


• protect the feelings of others
  

Morality & Philosophy

Knowledge Is Not a Privilege, but a Right

She believes knowledge should be:

• shared
  


• taught
  


• accessible
  


• never used to control others
  

This philosophy underpins her desire to become a mage who helps others rather than hoards secrets.

Beauty and Meaning Are Worth Creating

Cassia believes that beauty - in art, music, magic, words - gives life purpose. It uplifts the soul, heals the spirit, and connects people.

Loyalty Is a Promise, Not a Chain

Cassia believes in loyalty more than almost anything - but the healthy kind, not the controlling kind. She would never abandon someone she loves, but she also respects their freedom.

The World Is Full of Quiet Wonders

Cassia sees meaning in small things:

• a flicker of sunlight on stone
  


• a well-balanced spell diagram
  


• the curve of a handwritten letter
  


• a stranger’s smile
  

She believes these little wonders make life worth living - especially in dark times.

person.sexuality

Cassia is straight.

person.gender_identity

Cassia identifies as a woman.

Taboos

Hoarding or Restricting Knowledge

Because she grew up in a society where women were forbidden from studying magic, Cassia has a deep emotional reaction to the idea of:

• locking away information
  


• forbidding someone from learning
  


• manipulating knowledge to control others
  


• treating education as a privilege for the elite
  

She finds secretive hoarding of magical texts or “forbidden knowledge” policies morally repulsive.

Cruelty as Discipline

In Vivanta, discipline was strict but controlled. In the Golden Sands, kindness was surprisingly common.

Cassia has a visceral taboo against:

• shaming someone publicly
  


• teaching through fear
  


• belittling students or apprentices
  


• “breaking a person down to build them up”
  

She believes cruelty destroys trust, and she flinches at it.

Breaking Promises (Especially Emotional Ones)

Because loyalty and bonds define her world, Cassia views promise-breaking as a near-sacred violation. If someone betrays her trust, she may forgive eventually, but she will never forget.

Desecrating Artistic or Scholarly Work

Because calligraphy, music, and crafted magic are central to her identity, she has a quiet taboo against:

• destroying books or manuscripts
  


• defacing art or music
  


• using sacred or artistic spaces for violence
  

She finds such acts spiritually wrong, even if not evil.

Personality

Motivation

To Find Her Sister

This is Cassia’s strongest and clearest motivation. Julianna’s disappearance didn’t just break Cassia’s heart - it destabilised her entire sense of safety and purpose.

To Prove Herself in a World That Underestimated Her

Cassia grew up in a society that told her she:

• couldn’t study magic
  


• shouldn’t pursue knowledge
  


• shouldn’t seek independence
  

Even in the Golden Sands, she was always catching up to her sister. Cassia’s quiet motivation is to prove - mostly to herself - that she deserves to be a mage. This fuels her hard work, her perfectionism, and her emotional investment in her studies.

To Understand the World’s Quiet Wonders

Cassia is curious by nature - but not in a loud, academic way.
She is driven by fascination with:

• stories
  


• small details
  


• symbols
  


• places with history
  


• beautiful or curious objects
  


• cultural practices
  


• natural magic
  

This keeps her exploring, learning, and noticing things others overlook.

Savvies & Ineptitudes

Savvies

Artistic Spellcasting (Form, Not Force)

Cassia doesn’t excel at raw magical power - but she is brilliant at:

• precise gestures
  


• elegant sigils
  


• balanced spell structure
  


• flow and rhythm in magic
  


• composing magical diagrams
  

Her spells might not be the strongest, but they’re often the cleanest.

Detail-Oriented Craftsmanship

Her calligraphy training makes her:

• meticulous
  


• patient
  


• able to produce beautiful written work
  


• good with delicate tasks
  


• a natural organizer of magical notes and diagrams
  

She excels at anything requiring careful hands and aesthetic sense.

Cultural Adaptation

Living abroad taught her how to:

• observe and imitate foreign social cues
  


• adapt her etiquette to different expectations
  


• blend into scholarly or formal settings
  


• show respect to unfamiliar traditions
  

She learns cultural norms quickly because she pays attention.

Beautiful Presentation

Cassia instinctively cares about presentation:

• how her handwriting looks
  


• the order of her belongings
  


• the grace of her movements
  


• the aesthetic flow of a spell
  

This makes her appear refined even when she feels unsure.

Ineptitudes

Poor Under Pressure

Because her memory falters under stress, Cassia struggles with:

• fast instructions
  


• high-stakes decisions
  


• sudden combat
  


• confrontational moments
  


• being shouted at
  

She freezes, fumbles, or overthinks when overwhelmed.

Romantic Clumsiness

Cassia is:

• easily flustered
  


• prone to overthinking tiny interactions
  


• terrified of real intimacy
  


• inexperienced at reading romantic signals
  


• dramatic in her private imagination but shy in reality
  

She is not smooth in matters of the heart.

Difficulty With Confrontation

Cassia avoids conflict whenever possible - even when she shouldn’t.

She struggles to:

• assert herself
  


• hold boundaries
  


• speak harsh truths
  


• call out bad behaviour
  


• handle aggressive personalities
  

She would rather placate than escalate.

Physical or Practical Ineptitude

Cassia grew up refined, sheltered, and academic - not rugged. She struggles with:

• heavy lifting
  


• climbing
  


• long treks
  


• manual labour
  


• rough terrain
  


• practical survival tasks
  

She learns, but slowly.

Likes & Dislikes

Likes

Calligraphy & Decorative Writing

It’s more than a skill - it’s a form of meditation.
She enjoys:

• new inks
  


• fine quills
  


• decorative flourishes
  

She often practices when anxious.

Red Wine

A nostalgic indulgence, tied to mischief with her sister. She prefers it sweet and rich.

Music - Especially Strings

She loves viol performances, gentle melodies, and the way music carries emotion. Music is how she expresses things she struggles to say aloud.

Quiet Wonders

She delights in small magical or natural details:

• dust motes in sunlight
  


• the curve of a seashell
  


• the shimmer of a polished gem
  


• a well-balanced spell pattern
  

These little moments charm her deeply.

Meaningful Conversation

Cassia loves:

• deep talks
  


• story-sharing
  


• learning about other cultures
  


• gentle emotional exchanges
  


• late-night conversations about hopes and fears
  

Small talk bores her; intimacy fascinates her.

Dislikes

Being Rushed or Pressured

Cassia freezes under pressure - especially during:

• fast decision-making
  


• high-stakes choices
  


• demanding magic
  

She dislikes being pushed to act quickly.

Confrontations or Arguments

She avoids them instinctively. Yelling or raised voices can make her tear up or retreat. She prefers calm conversation.

Being Alone for Too Long

She doesn’t fear solitude logically - but emotionally, it unsettles her. Quiet rooms with no companionship remind her of when Julianna left.

Virtues & Personality perks

Loyal and Devoted

Once Cassia loves someone - family or friend - she is steadfast, patient, and willing to go to great lengths for them.

Creatively Insightful

Cassia sees meaning, symbolism, and beauty where others overlook it.

Diligent & Enduring

She studies hard, practices carefully, and doesn’t give up easily - even when she feels inadequate.

Culturally Considerate

Cassia observes others' customs respectfully, making her a welcomed presence in new places.

Good Listener

She remembers emotional details, which endears her to people.

Vices & Personality flaws

Overly Sensitive

Criticism, harsh words, or disappointed tones hit her too deeply.
She often spirals into self-blame.

Conflict-Avoidant to a Fault

Cassia’s dislike of confrontation means she:

• avoids speaking hard truths
  


• yields too easily
  


• doesn’t defend herself appropriately
  


• lets others take advantage of her gentleness
  

Romantic Idealism

She falls for unattainable, elegant, impossible figures - and panics when someone likes her back.

Hesitant Under Pressure

Cassia freezes when situations become urgent or chaotic.

Overindulgence in Red Wine

She uses it:

• to soothe nerves
  


• to feel grown-up
  


• to ease loneliness
  

It’s not dangerous, but it’s a crutch she relies on too easily.

Personality Quirks

Romantic Daydreamer

Cassia journals fantasies about love, magic, and future adventures. Sometimes she gets lost in thought mid-conversation.

Artically-Minded Spellcaster

She adds flourishes to spells - tiny arcs, elegant gestures, whispered poetic phrases.

Easily Distracted by Beauty

If something is beautiful - a mural, a melody, an ornate spellbook - her attention drifts. Curiosity and aesthetic fascination often override practical focus.

Unconscious Swaying When Playing Music

Her body moves in subtle rhythm when she’s playing the viol or humming.

Holds Books Close to Her Chest

Especially when nervous or walking alone. It’s a comforting habit from childhood.

Social

Religious Views

Respectful but Not Devout

Cassia was raised in a household that followed Solon - but only just enough to meet societal expectations.
Her parents performed the required prayers and observances, but they weren’t zealots.

Because of this, Cassia:

• respects Solon culturally
  


• knows the rituals
  


• observes holidays when appropriate
  


• but does not feel a deep personal connection to Him
  

For her, Solon represents tradition, not truth.

Quiet Skepticism of Rigid Doctrine

Growing up with restrictions based on Solonic law taught Cassia that religion can be used to limit rather than uplift. She doesn’t reject the faith outright - but she’s wary of its strictness.

Drawn to the Aesthetic Spirituality of the Golden Sands

While studying in the Golden Sands, Cassia was exposed to the sun god’s worship - more symbolic, celebratory, colourful, and open to interpretation.

Cassia isn’t a follower, but she:

• admires their rituals
  


• finds beauty in their art and sun motifs
  


• enjoys the symbolism
  


• feels their spirituality is warmer and more expressive than Vivanta’s
  

It appeals to her artistic nature, even if she doesn’t adopt the belief.

Social Aptitude

Warm, Approachable, and Earnest

Cassia’s first impression is soft and genuine.
She listens attentively, smiles easily, and treats people with polite respect.
Her sincerity makes her easy to trust - even strangers tend to relax around her.

She is especially adept at:

• one-on-one conversations
  


• comforting nervous or upset people
  


• noticing subtle emotional cues
  


• giving others space to speak
  


• making people feel valued and heard
  

Her presence is soothing rather than commanding.

Polite to a Fault

Her Vivantan upbringing drilled etiquette into her, so she relies on:

• courteous phrasing
  


• careful tone
  


• deference when unsure
  


• avoidance of saying anything that could offend
  

This helps her in formal settings, but can also make her seem overly cautious or timid.

Sensitive and Easily Flustered

Cassia’s emotions show readily, and she becomes visibly:

• shy around confident or attractive people
  


• rattled by raised voices
  


• embarrassed by mistakes
  


• apologetic if she thinks she’s upset someone
  

She is empathetic - but also fragile.

Conflict-Avoidant Behavior

Cassia will go to great lengths to avoid arguments:

• she softens her opinions
  


• tries to mediate gently
  


• diffuses tension with kindness
  


• backs down even when she’s right
  

This makes her agreeable - but also easy to steamroll.

Social Learning in Progress

Because she spent her childhood sheltered from boys her age and strict social limitations, Cassia is:

• inexperienced in flirtation
  


• shy around admiration
  


• easily flustered by compliments
  


• naïve about manipulation
  


• prone to romantic idealism
  

Her social maturity is still catching up to her emotional depth.

Mannerisms

Easily Flustered

Especially around people she finds attractive or intimidating. Her cheeks go pink; she stammers; her hands fidget.

Tilting Her Head When She Asks Questions

Cassia’s curiosity shows physically. When something interests her, she tilts her head slightly and blinks more slowly, like she’s trying to read a deeper layer. It gives her an earnest, almost bird-like attentiveness.

Soft, Controlled Posture

She sits neatly, hands folded, ankles crossed, shoulders relaxed.
Years of etiquette training linger visibly.

Hobbies & Pets

Calligraphy Practice & Decorative Writing

Cassia genuinely enjoys spending quiet time with fresh ink, fine quills, parchment. It soothes her, helps her think, and lets her combine art with magic.

Playing the Viol

Her viol is one of her most precious possessions. She loves soft, lyrical pieces with emotional depth.

Journaling (Often Poetic, Sometimes Romantic)

Cassia writes daily. Her journals are incredibly personal and beautifully written.

Reading Old Stories and Folklore

Cassia loves stories - especially:

• myths and legends
  


• magical histories
  


• poetic tales
  

Browsing Markets for Pretty Supplies

Cassia adores wandering through markets looking for ink colours, quills, small charms and sheet music. She rarely buys much - she just loves the experience.

Speech

Over-Polite Phrasing

Cassia peppers her speech with:

• “If that’s alright?”
  


• “Only if it’s no trouble…”
  


• “I don’t mean to intrude, but…”
  

She can’t help softening everything she says.

Flourished Vocabulary From Education

Her Vivantan schooling and love of language leak through in her word choices:

• “remarkable” instead of “nice”
  


• “unsettling” instead of “weird”
  


• “I wonder if…” instead of “what if…”
  

Never pretentious — just refined.

Romantic & Poetic Descriptions

Cassia often describes things in soft metaphor:

• “It glowed like dawn.”
  


• “The magic felt warm, like a held breath.”
  


• “There’s a sadness in that melody.”
  

She doesn’t realise she’s doing it.