Miriam

Born on the fringes of the empire to an Alethi mother and an Elysian father, much of Miriam's early life was spent among a community of immigrants from neighboring Aleth. Seen as foreigners at best and sorcerous heretics at worst, Alethi are known for their strong magical inclinations, which manifests in a significant number of the population as an aptitude for the esoteric arts. Renegade mages and diabolical sorcerers prowling the crossroads have remained a point of tension between the two countries for generations. So when Miriam followed her father into military service, she was viewed with both open disdain and masked curiosity. Her mixed heritage was evident in her accent, and it took several months to tame her Alethi lilt. However, it wasn't until Miriam showed a strategic use of arcane magic to augment her natural skills that her commanding officers were convinced of her prowess. In an empire where invoking the Light was sufficient for healing and smiting, bolstering magic was in precious short supply. Within the next few years, thanks to hard work and a keen eye for maneuvers, Miriam attained the rank of commander in the royal Elysian army, the first mixed-blood to ever hold the position. It was there that she met Gortius, eldest son of King Radmuhl and heir to the throne. A military man, he preferred to lead soldiers than courtiers, and—Miriam would soon come to discover after a surprise meeting—possessed an endearingly boyish side. Against both their better judgments, she allowed Gortius to court her, starting a whirlwind romance that would see more storms than the Northern Campaign they were about to embark on...