Nicholas Donovan

My natural magic is enhancement magic. At first, I could only do simple things like strengthening my grip or giving myself a bit of extra muscle when lifting something heavy. But the more I practiced and played with it, the more I realized it wasn’t just about strength. My magic seems to enhance whatever I focus my mind on. It’s strange most natural magic has a clear path of growth, like building up from one core effect but mine has been evolving in unexpected ways. I’m still figuring it out, but I guess that’s part of the fun. My magic’s kind of weird... like me.

Unfortunately, my parents won’t let me take any formal magical training. My father especially sees magic as a crutch something other people rely on when they should just work harder. In his view, magic is a tool, like a sword or a ledger, and it shouldn’t influence our place in trade or politics. He says, "Magic is for those how cant do on their own use what little power you get and make your slef the one in power."

It doesn’t help that my dad family magical power is the abilities that absorb energy in different forms. It varies between relatives—some draw strength from light, others from blood or basic elements it can be anting and it give them power or incress an aspect of them. Mine’s is different. Mine does the opposite. Where their magic drains and power them up, mine enhances from me. And honestly? I think that weird them out more than they’re willing to admit.

I am a child of the House of Donovan, a well known family in Willowreach with a long history of public service and strong ties to the Merchant Guild, particularly as information brokers and high level investors. My older brother has been groomed since birth to inherit the family legacy. As for me I’ve been told my role is to support him, uphold tradition, and make sure I don’t stray from the family’s carefully curated image.

The problem is... I already have.

I’ve always loved building and crafting things tinkering with scraps, modifying tools, sketching up blueprints, and figuring out how things work. My parents think it’s a waste of time a “lesser” skill unfit for someone of noble blood. If I have time to go out collecting materials or bending metal, they say, I should be studying economics or trade law instead.

So yeah, I’m definitely the rebellious one in the family. I still get roped into the public events, the banquets, the civic speeches but it’s not what I want. I don’t hate studying, not at all. I actually enjoy learning about how the world works from leyline mechanics to magical circuits. But what I really want is to create. To help people. To design tools that make life better for both adventurers and everyday folks. I get excited hearing stories about battles with huge creatures not because of the danger, but because I want to know how armor held up, what weapons were used, what could’ve worked better.

It’s not like my family doesn’t love me. They do. But their love comes with expectations, and those expectations are dragging me in a direction I don’t want to go.

I’ve been given the finest education money can buy private tutors, etiquette lessons, in-depth studies of economics, trade networks, deal-making, and government policy. That’s the kind of learning my family expects of me. And don’t get me wrong it’s valuable. I understand how the world works, how power moves, how decisions shape cities. But that’s not where my passion lies.

My real education? That comes from self-study.

I spend hours at the library, poring over schematics, blueprint archives, and material catalogs. When I get the chance, I sneak off to the crafting halls and the market district, where I try out new techniques, enter contests, and—more often than not—get scolded by the local craftsmen. Especially the ones visiting from the Kingdom of Tulm Marle. Dwarves from there don’t mess around—they’re intense, precise, and brutally honest. But I learn a lot from them and they are badass on the forge.

And sometimes, the best way to learn how something works... is just to take it apart. Of course, if you do that at home especially to something valuable and your parents find out? Yeah, you’re in serious trouble.

But that’s how I’ve learned: trial, error, observation, and talking with real craftsmen. A lot of them are happy to share tips, tricks, and trade secrets especially if they see you’ve got the spark for it. It’s not formal education, but it’s real. And it’s mine.

Technically, I have worked for the family business—if you count all the networking, smiling, and polite small talk I’ve done at parties, events, and social gatherings. I know the role well, but let’s be honest: I’m only playing the part because my parents expect me to. Being a member of House Donovan sometimes feels more like being employed by them. There are rules. Expectations. Standards. As my father loves to say, “You are the face of the family name, so dress like it.”   That said, I’ve also done some work that actually feels like me. Side jobs, mostly small handyman gigs, fixing things around town. One of the coolest was getting to repair a Zero Cool Refrigerator . I’ll spare you the deep dive into the magic circuitry unless you’re into that sort of thing but let’s just say it was a fun puzzle to rework the mana loop without frying the ice rune core.

I’ve also helped out plenty of locals, mostly quietly. My friend Nyra is a regular she always brings her gear to me when her bowstring channels wear out or her siblings break something of hers. Stuff like that makes me feel useful. Not just as a Donovan. Just... as me.

I guess I’ve got two great accomplishments I’m really proud of.

Now, if you asked my family, they’d probably say my biggest achievement is how I’ve made connections with several influential people some of them actual friends, others just party acquaintances. But for me, the things I treasure most are a bit different.

The first is something my parents definitely wouldn’t approve of. If they ever found out, I’d probably be grounded for months. I secretly entered a crafting contest where the challenge was to design and forge a sword with a unique natural motif. My submission was a crescent moon blade sleek and curved, forged from deep midnight-blue steel. I’ve always loved that dark, velvety blue, like Odessa’s moon skies.

The blade curved gently like a Leonardo moon, with the white moon-colored white hilt that blended into a smooth, ergonomic grip. I added a subtle dip where the hand meets the guard, making the downward swing flow naturally into a graceful crescent slash. To top it off, I tied a blue and white ribbon to the pommel. When spun, the ribbon trails gave the illusion of a full moon eclipse—a beautiful swirl of light and shadow.

Surprisingly, I placed second. The winner was a Dwarf named Magnar Kindrest, who forged a masterpiece inspired by leaves. His sword was straight and elegant a rapier with a hardened brown blade and a tapered green hilt wrapped in vine-like textures. The crossguard spread outward like stylized leaves of deep glassy emerald, beautiful yet durable enough to withstand multiple strikes and pierce even enchanted armor. As much as I admired Magnar’s design, I was proud to stand beside it.

My second favorite creation is a lot more personal.

I made a handcrafted doll for my little sister, Millie. She’s half human, half catfolk like us, and she always said she wished she had more soft white fur. So I made her a doll to match that dream a sweet little girl with white fur, soft pink hair, and big green eyes. I even taught myself to sew so I could create cute little outfits for it dresses, scarves, little seasonal coats.

Millie loves that doll. It’s her favorite thing in the world. She has no idea I made it. I told her it came from a traveling merchant, that I found it at the docks, and it was made by some famous doll artisan. She believes it, and I keep the story going by pretending all the new clothes I make are “custom orders” from those same dollmakers. But I don’t mind. As long as it makes her smile, I’m happy. That doll is a secret I’ll gladly keep. I don’t want my parents taking it away from her.

My Father is name Kristoff Donovan he a full catfolk My Mom is name Jamisen Blake She full human My older bother his name is Matthew Donovan he is 3 year older I call him Mat My cute adober little sister Amelia Donovan she only 8 year old I call her Mel