Iris Elton
Nanamimo-Kun
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- 4 years, 8 months ago
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Profile
"Heh, maybe I really am a monster..."
Cousin to Seraphina Elton and niece to the Emperor; Iris is a member of the ruling family of Elysviel-- House Elton. She is 3rd in line for the throne after her father and the Crown Princess.
A prodigy in the art of magecraft, Iris propelled herself into the limelight as the golden child of House Elton from a young age. Through her talents, appearance, and accomplishments; she had secured herself a shining reputation among the masses. But an immaculate exterior hides a dark truth, and the mask she conjured up so carefully may soon unravel at the seams.
Details
Likes
Seraphina
Training
Cranberry juice
Peace and quiet
Experimenting with magic
Snow, ice and winter
Dislikes
Disruptive individuals
Alcohol
Loud noises
Harsh sunlight
Summer heat
Having her weaknesses pointed out
Personality
Known as one of the youngest general in Elysvian history; Iris is seen as an intelligent and highly-driven young woman. Although her personal life is unknown to the public; her charitable deeds, general appearance, and numerous achievements--tailored through years of calculated maneuvers--makes her popular with the masses. A fact that she is not hesitant to take advantage of in order to further her personal goals.
Born with very little capacity for emotions, Iris is what one would consider a psychopath. Her disinterest in life is hidden only by her great charisma--her empty smiles rarely ever reaches her eyes. Even though she is regarded as a charming and kind individual by the wider community, those close to her would more describe her as distant and standoffish--perhaps even a bit odd. However, very few would expect the darkness that lurks beneath.
To Iris, life itself has little value and even less meaning. For the sake of her "mission", she will do whatever it takes in order to achieve her ambitions; even resorting to murder and human experimentation. Good and evil, light and darkness; none of it mattered as long as the end results benefited a greater amount of people than it sacrificed. Even if 10 people died as a consequence of her actions, it would be justified as long as the results saved 100 more. Under this belief, she began to discretely police the streets and black markets of Elysviel at night; purging it of bothersome individuals such as serial killers, criminal gangs, and political dissidents. She also operates an underground lab with kidnapped subjects for the sake of her magic experiments. Everything she does is with the utmost secrecy, for she knew even her status as a princess would not save her from a grim fate if it was ever uncovered.
Efficiency, order, and rationality--that was what Iris valued the most. For every challenge she was presented with, she always sought the most efficient method to resolve it; this was what allowed her to excel in her studies. However, even this could not assist her in the matters of the heart. Seraphina--her naive, innocent, and far too kind baby cousin--the first to ever make Iris feel; and the reason she wanted to support the empire through her "missions". Although the two were close as children. Seraphina, with the weight of the empire on her shoulders as its sole Crown Princess; begun feeling increasingly inadequate in comparison to the much more talented Iris, and thus started distancing herself out of sadness. Iris--who sees emotions as disruptive and empathy as redundant--could not even begin to comprehend the magnitude of how Seraphina feels. For the first time in her life, it is as if she encountered an insurmountable obstacle; and there is no resolution in sight.
Skills
Magic Affinity: Light
Iris wields great control over her affinity--light magic; and can employ high level light spells with ease. Her claim to fame--lightning magic--is an advanced form of light manipulation.
Spearmanship
Her weapon of choice. Iris has been trained in the art of spearmanship from a young age, and became highly proficient over time. Her magical tool--a Sapphire Series spear whose sealed form takes the shape of a brooch--named "Apocalyptic Sky", also enables her to use magic spells. As with all Nemphia, she is unable to control mana efficiently without it.
Hand-to-Hand Combat
Not her preferred way of combat, as opponents she faces against frequently outclass her in strength. However, her high mana control gives her an edge; allowing her to increase her strength and speed output several folds at the cost of large amounts of mana. Nevertheless, she is capable of hand-to-hand combat as it is a part of her training regime as a general in the military.
Marksmanship
Guns are Iris' second weapon of choice; sometimes utilized for its ease of operation and accuracy across distances. Although she normally prefer magic guns, normal guns are often used when she carries out her secret assassinations as it'll be difficult to discern the species of the killer post-death. They can also be less conspicuous than magic, making it a valuable tool for assassins.
Espionage
Iris is frequently sent on undercover missions as she is perceptive, quick-witted, and cunning; making her a talented assassin and agent. Her efficiency and brutality on missions has led to fear and distain towards her in the underground black market. She also uses her skills to fulfill her own "goals" later on.
Other Elemental Magic and Support/Utility Spells
Having spent the majority of her life learning offensive magic, she has only recently began to delve into support and utility magic. Life magic--a form of magic thought to be impossible to achieve--serve as the main subject of her "experimentation". She is also capable of wielding a few spells from other elements such as wind--something she learned specifically so she can tutor Seraphina.
Medical and First Aid Skills
Iris can perform first aid on most types of wounds commonly seen on field; she is also capable of conducting simple surgeries and healing magic on the fly. These skills are primarily used on her experimental subjects in order to keep them alive after each session. However, she is by no means a qualified surgeon or doctor.
Mana Sensing
An essential skill for esponiage. Iris is proficient in both mana sensing and mana masking; her prowess as a sensor allows her to detect individuals in her surroundings and distinguish the familiar mana of an ally from a stranger. However, as this ability requires a focused mind, it is incredibly difficult to use in the midst of a battle. Those more skilled in masking can also evade her detections. Iris is competent with mana masking as it is a required technique for undercover missions, although she is far more adept at sensing and masking is more difficult than normal due to her higher mana reserves.
Summary
ACT I: A Strange Revelation
"When I first got to know the world, everything was in black and white...."
Iris was born in Elton Castle, Ariesphis; on a snowy winter day. The snowstorm had long passed, and the sky was in shades of lavender--the color of the Irises which were her mother's favorite flower. Iris' birth was celebrated; the first of her generation! Parties were thrown in honor of the birth of the emperor's niece; blessings were given to the new parents and their baby girl before they set off to Evarton, the quaint little town where her branch of the family lived.
Iris was homeschooled the first few years of her life; her parents spared no expense for her education. Although she flourished under the instructions of Elysivel's best, her parents became concerned that Iris was isolated and would not gain the social skills necessary to excel in Elysviel’s harsh social sphere; so she was sent to Evarton academy, where she interacted with people of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Iris unlocked the ability to use mana at only the age of 4--exceptionally early even for children of elites. Her parents and the rest of the family saw this as a sign of many good things to come; and they were proven right as Iris surpassed expectation after expectation. Yet throughout all of this, Iris never truly felt. Rewards and affections would be given for her good behavior and grades, but it never made her feel any more than complete nothingness. Iris thought this was all normal, as she never knew anything different.
The first indication that something was wrong was when she was gathering mushrooms with a maid in a nearby forest. The pair had wandered near a hidden cliff. With one wrong step; the maid had fallen--tumbling down the hill to her death. Meanwhile, Iris watched, eyes empty--gazing at the broken form of the maid at the cliff's bottom. She was later found by a butler who had heard the maid's screams, and enrolled in therapy sessions in case of any mental trauma.
While at the therapist, Iris was questioned about many things. Trauma? PTSD? what were they talking about? She didn't feel any different when the maid fell, and she still doesn't feel different now. Was she supposed to feel something? Iris didn't know, but even at the young age of 4; she had a inkling of understanding she was different from everyone else.
The butler who found her at the cliff's edge would later become her mentor, teaching her various things about magic and fighting. The relationship they have is strange, not like the connection she would have with Seraphina, but not completely unwelcomed either.
ACT II: A Tiny Flower
"All the sudden it was there, a small spark of life and warmth.."
Just a few months shy of her 5th birthday, Iris and her parents were invited to the main castle in Ariesphis to be present at the birth of the empire's heir. She could not completely understand what was happening, but only that she was getting a cousin soon. When she was finally able to lay her eyes on the newborn, her life turned upside down. She was small, so tiny and weak; it looked like a single touch could break her. But she was so warm, and so full of life. Iris extended a single finger to poke her in the cheek, and the newborn yawned before going back to sleep. For the first time ever, Iris felt something, she didn't know what it was, but she liked it.
The next few years of her life was a blur. In between her studies at Evarton and magic training, Iris had little time to think about the bundle of life in Ariesphis. When Seraphina was finally old enough to warrant a playmate, Iris visited whenever she can. That little spark of happiness only grew as she watched her little cousin grow up, and she found herself enjoying every visit greatly.
ACT III: The Aldinhyn Forest Incident
"Everything breaks in the end, even your entire world..."
It all started with a routine visit to the main palace. Iris had been anticipating it for a while now, although her parents were too busy to accompany her this time around; she was still able to go with her mentor and a few of her guards. The journey to the palace was typical--a calm, quiet trip through the Aldinhyn Forest. The voyage itself was serene--perhaps, almost too quiet.
All the sudden, like a thousand firecrackers going off at once; the accompanying car exploded into flames. Thick plumes of smoke billowed out of the wreckage, burning the men inside to ashes. Iris' car screeched to a halt as her driver and mentor exited to survey the damage. From the bushes, dozens of bandits lunged at the surviving car. The driver--as skilled as he was, was quickly overwhelmed by the disproportionate numbers. Iris attempted to come to his aid, but was stopped by a small piercing pain by the side of her neck--a needle, held in the hand of her mentor. Iris looked to see the conflicted look in the man's eyes as her world faded to black.
"As a child, we were taught to fear the monsters outside our windows. But as we grew older, we realized; the true monster was much closer to home...."
Iris awoke to a dimly lit room--some sort of hideout carved into the face of a mountain. The only light source she had was a single candle placed on a small wooden table. As she looked down, she realized her hands and feet were bounded with rope. Testing its durability, the 11-year-old came to the conclusion that they were underestimating her before she swiftly freed herself with enhanced strength. Now able to move as she pleased, Iris made her way to the door before discovering that it was locked. Without her magical tool, she could not use any form of magic except for enhanced strength; which would no doubt catch the attention of her abductors. Looking around the room for an alternate form of escape, Iris could briefly hear the sound of air flowing behind a tall cupboard. She pushed it aside to unveil a small air vent--only barely able to fit her slim frame.
While crawling through the air duct, Iris came across an opening to a nearly empty hallway. At the other side, she could hear a young man speaking to someone on the phone--oblivious to his surroundings. Iris quietly removed the cover of the air vent before moving behind the man, surprising him with an enhanced kick to the back of his knees. Before he can call for reinforcements, Iris grabbed his magical tool--a poorly made sword which had become worn at the edges--and swiftly ended his life. It was her first kill, and she had barely made note of it.
With a magical tool at hand, Iris sneaked her way through the hideout, dispatching any bandits that she came across. Although Iris had the element of surprise on her side, the bandits--numerous as they may be--were inadequately trained and could barely handle themselves in a fight. Iris' weapon and clothes were stained a deep red by the time she made it near the exit, but she paid no mind to it.
Finally, leaning against the door to the outside, her mentor looked to his feet; not a hint of surprise at her appearance. Iris prepared herself for battle, her mentor's betrayal had struck a chord deep within her heart, but she had little idea what it was. Neither said a word as they began a dance of mortality. Her mentor was said to be a great soldier back in his day, but age had worn out his body, and so he had lived out his golden years in peace--teaching Iris the skills he honed when he was young. However, he had by no means gotten complacent, and Iris would later describe the battle as one of her toughest challenges.
The battle ended when Iris ran the blade through his abdomen. Having sustained numerous wounds and broken bones to her body, Iris watched as her mentor staggered towards a wall before collapsing in pain, gasping for air as his lungs filled with blood. Iris grabbed her sword once again, making her way towards him to deal the final blow. As she stood above him, coldly gazing at his broken form, her mentor snickered; it was a pained, sorrowful laugh.
"Haha... I always knew you would turn out to be a monster... and yet.. I still.." his words trailed off.
Monster? is that what she was? Iris had little time to contemplate before bringing the blade down.
The sky was a dusty gray by the time she made her way out of the hideout; snow drifted gently onto the frosty ground. The bare trees sprinkled with ice crystals made for a monotonous landscape, it was difficult to figure out where she was going. Clutching her wounded arm, she staggered on; leaving a trail of blood in the snow. Finally, the pain had caught up to her and she fell headfirst onto the ground. Contemplating her fate, she thought back to the times she spent with her mentor. Iris wondered if everything had been a lie from the start, or why she even cared at all. Perhaps she did feel something after all.. The thought was broken by the sound of a shout piercing through the wind, Iris turned to see the feet of a royal soldier sent to look for the missing princess before her world turned black once more.
ACT IV: Aftermath
"One day, everyone will learn that they are merely a speck of dust within the grandeur of the universe..."
White... was all Iris could see when she woke up in a hospital room. The nurses gossiped outside her door, not yet realizing the young princess had woken up.
"Did you hear? they finally caught him! the duke who had orchestrated Lady Iris' kidnapping!"
"Finally! that incident was just pure madness! I can't believe Duke Gerald thought he was going to get away with it! I heard he even roped in the lady's teacher."
"It's true! I heard Duke Gerald offered Mr. Svend a grand sum for her capture, the same Mr. Svend with the terminally ill grandson who was supposed to be sent to Eskea for an experimental procedure. He was being treated here just last week actually! you know, the boy in room 367?"
"Huh.. I heard those treatments at Eskea can get rather expensive, is that why he did it? Nevertheless, roping in Mr. Svend was the only intelligent thing that man did! did you hear Lady Iris broke out all by herself? He couldn't even hire men competent enough to hold back an 11-year-old; and he thought he could overthrow the empire? ha!"
"Right?! and his original target was Lady Seraphina too! his men would not been able to step one foot into the palace, a truly delusional man indeed!"
The nurses' voices faded as they disappeared down the hallway, leaving Iris to her own thoughts.
Seraphina? they were planning on going after Seraphina? she felt a shiver go down her spine at the thought. No... she killed them, it's over. Everything is fine now... As she looked down at her bandaged hands, she could still remember the crimson blood tainting her pale skin. It was easy to forget about it when her adrenaline ran high, but when she thought back; she cannot help but feel the bubbles of doubt rising: the splatters of blood, their vacant eyes diminished by her own hands, her mentor's final words, his sloppy maneuvers during their battle...
Her mentor's grandson... yes she heard of him, a young boy of only 6 years. Rambunctious and mischievous was how he described him, yet there was no denying the look in his eyes. She might not know exactly how he feels, but he cared. But then why had he not stopped her from leaving? even with his advanced age, her mentor was holding back. He was capable of defeating her; but he didn't. Why?
Suddenly, she recalled a story her mentor told her once upon a time. 20 years ago, when he was still in active duty; he had been sent to Whitemere to quell an uprising that had been brewing for months. The local mayor, Duke Lorenz--a neglectful man who left all the management of the town to his secretary, Marquis Schuster--had failed to notice the latter was embezzling funds from the town coffer. A conspiracy began to circulate among the masses--that Duke Lorenz had planned to bleed the town dry before fleeing--a rumour that was said to be encouraged by Marquis Schuster; who pretended to be a victim of his tyranny. The ploy was quickly foiled and Duke Lorenz deposed for negligence, but the townsfolk remained restless for the following decades.
That day, under the shade of a large wisteria tree; Iris remembered asking her mentor why Marquis Schuster had done such a thing. His reply echoed in her mind for years to come.
"Why? I suppose the most obvious answer is greed and jealousy... Marquis Schuster desired what Duke Lorenz had, and so he took steps to obtain it. But most of all however, I believe it is because Duke Lorenz was human. There are many of them in our world, Lady Iris; those who look down on another for factors outside of their control. Marquis Schuster believed Duke Lorenz to be inferior due to his species. Even if Duke Lorenz was a competent mayor, I believe Marquis Schuster most likely would have still conspired against him."
His expression hardened. He contemplates his teacup before continuing.
"Lady Iris, going forward you must remember that both humans and nemphia alike are inherently selfish creatures. We compete with eachother, we steal, we pilfer. All in a bid to make the lives of ourselves and those close to us better; even at the expense of another. To tell you the truth, most people will not even acknowledge the existence of others, nor will they lift a finger in support; even if they had the capacity to. The world can be bright and warm, but there will be darkness in every corner. I'm sure there will be many examples of people like Marquis Schuster in your future. For the sake of your family and the empire, You must stay strong, no matter what..."
We are all inherently selfish? is that why he did it? he cared more about his grandson, so therefore sacrificing her was the logical decision. But her mentor was not a foolish man, he knew that he would not survive this plot. So why did he let her leave? was it to spare his family the wrath of the imperial family, or is it a final act of mercy? Regardless of the reason, Iris knew he acted in his best interests--the way nature intended one's life to be lived. But knowing all of this, those bandits most likely had their own reasons--their own instincts to survive. So was what she did justified? If they had succeeded in their plans... got a hold of Seraphina... overthrew the empire and began a power vacuum; then who knows how many would have died? If her actions saved more people than it hurt, even if it ruined the lives of many...
Did it even matter?
ACT V: Epilogue
"The wheels of time moves on, no matter what...
As the winter snow gave way to blooming flowers, the scent of blossoms filled the streets of Evarton. 2 months after the incident, doctors had finally cleared Iris to return to class. Yet in the presence of her peers who could not understand her, and without her mentor; Iris could not help but feel increasingly detached from the world. One day after class, behind the school shed where she frequently went to avoid her classmates. Iris saw him, a small wolf boy being beaten by the other students. She remembered him, Siegfried Klein--a new transfer student who arrived in Evarton just this year; he was a quiet boy who often sat in the back of the class and rarely talked. In any other circumstances, Iris would have simply walked away and left him to his fate, but as she watched the other boys push Siegfried to the ground; her eyes met his for a second. She could see--even during that brief period, the same look of haunting acceptance her mentor had in his dying moments. Siegfried thought he deserved this, just as her mentor did.
Iris moved before she could comprehend what she was doing; soon 5 bodies were lying around her, all groaning in pain. The wolf boy was gazing at her in awe and hesitation, but she merely walked away before he could call out to her.
The next day, Siegfried cornered her in the school garden. "Train me!" he repeated everyday until she eventually gave in. Even as the pair matured into adults, he would never leave her alone again.
At the age of 18, after successfully graduating from Aurora University. Iris enlisted in the military and quickly rose through the ranks due to her prodigious talents and professional demeanor; becoming one of Elysviel's generals at 21. Despite her numerous achievements during her time in service; Alfred Edmund--the Great General and leader of the Elysvian military--could not help but feel apprehensive, noting that there was something "missing" inside of her. Knowing that Iris could not face off against him in battle just yet, she conducts her tasks in utmost secrecy--aware of the fact that his sharp instincts could be her undoing.
Trivia
Iris Writes in a strange cursive font that is hard to decipher; only her higher-ups and a few of her closest troops can read it. This makes it difficult for soldiers to take written commands from her directly as they often have to ask for clarification. She does not understand how so many people could have trouble with her reports.
Cranberry juice is Iris' favorite drink. She is often seen with a cup when she's in office. Due to the sheer quantity she can go through in a day--especially during stressful times; the base's kitchen is often stocked with crates of them. Because of its resemblance to wine, some of her troops believe she drinks on the job.
Because she spent the majority of her free time in the past training or experimenting, she does not have much creative talents aside from violin; her artistic abilities in particular is next to zero. All of her drawings look like a chicken scratch and is often the butt of jokes among her troops; much of her dismay.
Iris has low alcohol tolerance for her stature, but can still weather a few glasses for special occasions. Iris is not fond of alcohol because it dulls her senses and wouldn't consume it if she could help it.
She is a particularly mad but sleepy drunk who lashes out if bothered. Orders have been made to not engage her in this state in fear of injuries to others, but new recruits often do not heed this warning and frequently gets sent to the hospital as a result.
As a part of her etiquette training growing up, Iris is capable of playing the violin. She sometimes partakes in it as stress-relief, especially during nights of full moon.
She has very fair skin that burns easily in the sun; just half a hour during a summer afternoon can turn her into a red lobster. She always carries around a bottle of sunscreen or parasol as a result.
Iris can tuck her wings into her back like other winged Nemphia when not in use so it looks like she doesn't have wings at all.
Links
Seraphina Elton
Iris' most cherished person, and the one who could make her feel. Iris joined the military for the sake of protecting her. Everything she does to better the empire was to make things easier for when she took the crown; she herself cares very little about the empire or its inhabitants.
Siegfried Klein
One of Iris' only close friends. Siegfried had been stuck to her side the moment she saved him from bullies--a fact she considers a nuisance. Despite his relentless pursuit of her love, she genuinely cares about him more than she lets on; a soft spot, perhaps...
Sofiya Baylor
A young woman specifically picked for her good work ethics and skills in machinery; a member of Iris' personal squad. Although she could be rather naive at times, she is reliable and consistently on top of her work. One of Iris' closest allies.
Feng Mu Han
A member of her squad--incredibly annoying but highly skilled. He was a former serial killer prowling the streets of Elysviel before being caught by Iris in a months-long chase. Seeing his intelligence and manipulation skills, Iris opted to recruit him into her squad rather than execution. Psychotic tendencies aside, he is immensely talented at undercover missions; making him a key asset.
Elliot Blanc
One of Seraphina's best friends, but a dangerous assassin who originally infiltrated Aurora University for the sake of his mission. Iris dislikes him greatly as she considers him a threat to Seraphina's safety; even if he is "reformed". If he steps out of line even once, she will not hesitate to dispose of him.
Alfred Edmund
The Great General of the Elysvian military; a man who places great importance on peace and morality. His ideals clashes against Iris' without his knowledge. He is considered one of Iris' greatest obstacles as he is powerful, intelligent, and can potentially stop Iris if he ever finds out about her actions.
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