Unknown to Mariana, she was fathered by Amadeus Krixus. Her mother, Catalina Lopez, was an apothecary in the small town of Vel Lameus. Unfortunately, her mother died when Mariana was only three, leaving her in the care of the local orphanage. The orphanage was cruel and by the age of six, Mariana took to the streets, instead. Quickly adapting to streetlife, she thrived on her own with mostly the rats for company and friends. From a young age, she was always drawn to things she deemed beautiful. She had an aritst's eye. She pocketed and stole trinkets and baubles that caught her attention even if they had no monetary value, keeping a small hoard where she stashed her few valuable possessions.

One day, she drew a bird and it suddenly leapt from the canvas singing and alive. She was around seven and it was the first time she realized she had any kind of magical gift. It only lasted a few hours before it disappeared in a powder of paint. Mariana knew what Vel Anir did to those who had magic so she kept her talents hidden. She realized she could draw and paint coin and pass it off as the real thing for a few hours, which forced her to move from small town to small town to avoid being caught and brought into the Academy.

She is often found drawing or painting graffiti on the sides of buildings or swindling others or scavenging for food. Her belly is usually never full and she usually has the edge of unsatisfied hunger. Despite all that, she keeps a generally positive outlook on life and takes pride in having avoided the authorities for this long. Recently, she realized who her real father was. Thinking she might be able to take advantage of him, she paid someone else to write him a letter - since she can't read or write, and declared her birthright.

It might be nice not to be on the run all the time. And to have a hot meal.