Kassandra Ariene Luisa Anireth
Kassandra Ariene Luisa Anireth was born as the second child to the current King and Queen of Vel Anir.
An incredibly compassionate, empathetic and almost wistful child Kassandra understood the position of the Royal family from an early age. Whether having overheard one too many solemn whispers from her parents or simply grasping the state of her family early on. Kassandra never had much of an illusion about what her place would be in this world.
Though her childhood was not devoid of joy by any means, she always took a great amount of care to rein herself in around 'outsiders'. Beyon the walls of the Keep she was the perfect Princess. Mellow, calm, kind, and exceedingly deft at the dangerous conversations that often befell her family.
Within the Keep of Anir was the only place that Kassandra allowed herself to shine, were the true flickers of her personality actually appeared.
Almost as though a switch was flipped. The Keep of Anir was a sanctuary of sorts, and it was here that Kassandra truly thrived. Having almost the run of the whole Citadel, Kassandra spent her days exploring, learning, and playing with her two brothers. She also befriended a Royal Guardsmen by the name of Friedrich, who taught her much of the world beyond the Castle walls.
When within the walls of the keep, she preferred to be called 'Kizzie', a name that was almost never uttered outside the family abode.
Though this life was one in a gilded cage, it was one that Kassandra could stand to live. She resigned herself to the fate put in front of her. Until one day when Kassandra was at the age of fourteen, near half the windows in the Keep of Anir shattered.
What exactly happened is still unknown. The Royal family claimed it to be a backdraft, a strange occurrence of a flicker of magic from one of the Dreadlord's still bound to them.
The truth however was that the damage had been done by young Kassandra. A manifestation of magic in a moment of terror when her younger brother had played one of his mischievous pranks. Through her panic, Kizzie had tapped into abilities that long lay dormant.
Terrified of what the Great Houses would do, and even more afraid of what might occur if Kassandra were to attend the Academy; the Royal family quickly covered up the entire incident. Then, weeks later begged the Assembly of Houses for permission to send both Kassandra and her younger brother away for a more 'grand' education. Though this was initially opposed, it was through the convincing of the more generous Houses of Pirian and Luana that the request was eventually granted. Much to the objection of Houses Virak and Sirl.
Before the Assembly could change it's mind, both Kassandra and her younger brother were sent away.
Elbion was too close and might draw a suspicious eye, Ovan too closely tied to House Virak, and Alliria simply too filled with spies. It was, with a great amount of trepidation that the King and Queen settled upon AlthHaven. The great school of magics in the east.
Much to both of their objection, Kassandra and her younger brother were shipped off. With the latter being told he would 'protect' Kizzie and endure his own studies afar. An excuse to keep the two together, and allow them at least a semblance of family.
Over the next decade, Kassandra studied in AlthHaven, learning to control her magics and coming into her own. Always taking the time to visit her younger brother in the nearby city, and always taking careful measure to never let slip who she really was.
It was, only with the advent of the Revolution, that Kassandra and her younger brother could finally return home. Upon which, shortly thereafter, Kassandra joined the ranks of the Anirian Guard.
Insisting that she not be treated any different than the soldiers in her home. Defiantly breaking the expectations of her parents and feeling the need to show the choice to miss the Academy was not her own.
Skills and Abilities
Though she was late to discover it, Kassandra is what the teachers at Althhaven referred to as a Glassdancer.
Most simply put, Kassandra is capable of controlling, bending, and altering any and all glass around her. This skill is an incredibly precise and dangerous one. Early on in her tutelage it lead to many injuries for both herself and her fellow students. Overtime however, she managed to gain a great deal of control within her craft.
Over the years she has become an exceptionally dangerous Sorcerer. Utilizing the glass she carries or takes from around her in an incredibly dangerous manner. Her movements within her magic are incredibly graceful and smooth. Almost as though the glass within her craft is more liquid than solid.
However; Kassandra is no Dreadlord.
The Young Princess knows how to utilize her magic, but, it is not quite as honed and deadly as it might be had she gone to the Academy. She is an utterly fierce combatant, but the edge of training that many Dreadlord's have is severely lacking within her.
Though many might see this as a weakness, there is a benefit to this fact as well. In AlthHaven Kassandra learned to use her magics beyond what she might have at the Academy. Instead of just a weapon of war, the Princess quietly studied ways to make her magic more useful in other ways. She is capable, through great difficulty, of crafting what she calls 'shards'.
Slivers of glass imbued with touches of magic, Shards are capable of a great many deeds of magic. Some create explosions, other dull pain, and some are even capable of rudimentary healing. More often than not these Shards take on the appearance of a beautiful, almost pulsing piece of stained glass. Kassandra can only produce these shards with great difficulty, and sometimes it can take days just to craft a single piece.
AlthHaven
Though not as well Known as Elbion or the College of Magic in Alliria, Althhaven is a unique school for magic nestled within the deepest reaches of the Spine.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to study at Althhaven. One must not necessarily be magically gifted or even inclined. There is no fee to enter nor live there, though there is a heavy price. Failure at Althhaven is now allowed, and the arts one learns there are only allowed to leave once the schools standards are met.
Students are given three spans of three years. At the end of every one of these 'terms' the student must display their mastery of one, if not more, of their chosen skill.
Each of these tests grows in difficulty, with the third and final being the hardest of all. The payment for failure is the students own soul. From the first test to the last, those who do not pass will find their essence torn from their body and turned to the schools own use.
Most of these failed souls are turned to monsters which are sent to roam the land around Althhaven in defense of the school itself.
This defense is necessary because of what Althhaven teaches. Unlike at some other schools of magic, there are no rules for what can be learned at Althhaven. Necromancy, Blood Magic, soul-marking are all practiced which are not only taught, but invariably explored and studied.
These teachings can be understandably upsetting for surrounding Kingdoms, Templars, and Monster hunters. It is for this reason that failed students become the very defense of the school itself, and to even reach Althhaven itself one is tested on their ability to survive.
One would think that with these conditions Althhaven would have failed long ago, yet the draw of power and knowledge is often difficult to overcome.
