Dr. Alopa Sallom

Even as a child, Alopa was ever curious. They were always asking questions; even wondering off in search of their own discoveries. The adults in their life had a hard time keeping up with the thirst for knowledge. Their mother did her best to encourage this but at the same time she worried that eventually this drive might lead young Alopa into trouble that they won't be able to get out of.

When Alopa's mother fell ill and passed away, they were welcomed into the home of their neighbor who promised to take care of them if the time came. He didn't have much to spare but made sure Alopa never went without. He even managed to get his hands on some new books and scrolls from travelers passing through. Even with this limited supply of resources and knowledge, Alopa quickly grew into their own and showed great promise in their diligence and studies.

Their time in Sumeru City was not wasted. From the moment Alopa set foot within the city they began carving their path through every inch of information available to them. Much like the village, it didn't take long before they had eyes on them and their progress. The restriction of information was one of the first things they noticed and loathed. After passing the exams they believed they would have access to whatever their heart desired. Because of this they began to reach out to fellow students and offer aid in their studies in the hopes of getting crumbs of research material that was not open for them alone. This brought many younger students and friends into their social circle and they were more than happy to help.

Alopa's passion for learning would have them climbing the ranks of the Akademiya at a dizzying pace. They hoped that gaining more prestige would open doors. It did but at the same time it seemed to draw more unwanted attention to everything they looked into or questioned. Before their ponderings were encouraged, even praised as a trait of a bright mind. Then they began to be shut down completely. Now, there was a choking aprihention that followed every single question asked. They stopped asking and began hunting for answered themself. Rules be damned.

It was in their early 20s that everything came to a head. The illness that has killed their mother had always been a creeping threat to them since childhood. They had felt it, knew it was there. They couldn't play as hard as the other children, just running home would send awful pains through their chest. It only got worse with time but they ignored the dreadful reality of it to look for answers in fixing it. But the stress of the Akademiya and the sleepless nights studying— not to mention sneaking away from the city to conduct their own research in the privacy of the jungles— had brought along signs and symtoms that would not be ignored.

Alopa has always had a soft heart for strays. Their own upbringing left a strong impression on them. If they can offer even passing support or comfort to those in need of it, they will do so without hesitation. So when they found a young Oni child drowning in a pond at the port, of course they jumped into action. Upon dragging this child and themself out of the water, they tried asking her what her name is and where her parents were. But quickly they discovered that this kid had no idea what they were saying. Instead of just leaving her there, wet and miserable, Alopa took her back home to get dried off and some food in her while they figured out what to do.

It took a few days but Alopa got their hands on Inazuman study books and worked on getting a semi functional vocabulary going. Once they felt confident enough in their skills they went on to question this Oni child. They were able to collect that her name is Akari Yoko, she’s around six years old, came from Inazuma, and that her parents had died when she was young. She mentiones another Oni named Itto but not much more than that.

Not knowing what else to do they kept her close and took care of her. They didn't have much to work with at the time seeing as they lived in a flat alone and wasn't used to caring for someone else. But much like Mr. Kazem, Alopa would not let Yoko go without. They brought her around the city with them and to their classes. In the free time before bed Alopa would go about teaching Yoko bits of Sumerian and the common shared laguage of Tevat. Seeing her catch on and learn made them incredibly proud and encouraged their drive to ensure her curiosity was nurtured.

The weight of their illness pushed Alopa over lines they had simply toed at before. They had nothing to lose in their opinion. They did not care about the Sins of the Akademiya if it meant progress. Sadly, no one else shared this sentiment. Their research into the Abyss and it's effect on the body was discovered and reported immediately. It wasn't long before the city was out for their head.

Old friends and colleagues turned away at best and at worst joined the pursuit. Alopa had to gather everything they could and make a break for it. Their bag was stuffed to the brim with all the materials and papers they could gather but years of work was lost in just one night. Alopa was worried Yoko and their cat Fraida would get lost in the rush to leave so they carried them all the best they could. The group fled from the city and into the wilds with a tail of Matra behind them.

It was deep in the jungle that one finally caught up and managed to stop Alopa in their tracks. An old friend, Masika, that used to study with them; now a guard against academic offenses. They tried to explain their reasoning and what this work could mean for people, what it could mean for them. But there was nothing that could change what was coming. Masika recognized that Alopa was prepared to stand their ground if it meant Yoko could slip away. She had sworn to uphold the laws of the Akademia but could not orphan a young child, let alone doom one of their dearest friends.

She offered a favor and a final warning in return of their previous friendship. Alopa could leave with whatever they had brought with them. But if they were ever spotted in Sumeru again there will be no hessitation and no mercy. In addition, if they continued to tamper with life and death, with the evolution of humankind, and the secrets beyond this world, then she would have no choice but to put a stop to them before they were consumed by their hubris.

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