Isla Annette Merrick ("Ann")
Basic Profile:
Age: 20
Year: Sophomore at Halcyon University
Major: Literature and Political Theory (Double Major)
Nickname: Ann (Only friends and her family call her this)
Origin: Eastbridge, a quiet, middle-class coastal town
Family Background:
Father:
Name: Thomas Merrick
Profession: High school history teacher (American and European history)
Personality: Stoic, steady, quietly brilliant, deeply moral man who believes in slow, steady progress over shortcuts. Believes knowledge is the sharpest weapon.
Bond with Ann: Very close. Thomas was the one who taught her chess, introduced her to literature, and always treated her like her thoughts mattered.
Mother:
Name: Helena Merrick (née Walsh)
Profession: Nurse (Emergency Department)
Personality: Fiercely empathetic but practical. Helena is a fixer, a listener, and a fighter when she needs to be.
Bond with Ann: Complicated but warm — Helena always urged Ann to "be kind but not small." She also taught Ann to work through pain, not wait for it to go away.
Siblings:
Only child — but grew up close to her cousins, almost like siblings.
Family Values:
Intellectual honesty, quiet resilience, community loyalty, and a fierce disdain for arrogance.
Financial Situation:
Middle class, tight but never desperate. Vacations were road trips to national parks, not flights to Europe. Every dollar was earned, not given.
Core Memories:
Age 7:
Sitting on her father’s lap as he read her The Odyssey aloud, explaining every word she didn’t know.
"You don’t have to be the strongest, Ann," he said. "You just have to be the one who doesn’t quit."
Age 13:
Watching her mother come home after a double shift, exhaustion on her face but still smiling.
Learned that you can be dead tired and still choose kindness.
Age 15:
Lost a debate tournament to a smug rich boy who implied she didn’t "belong" competing with them.
Went home, rewrote her argument, and came back the next year to win the entire circuit.
Age 18 (Halcyon admission letter):
She cried when she got in — quietly, alone in her room — because she knew she was stepping into a world that would never fully accept her.
Determined to go anyway.
Personality:
Strengths:
Sharp-minded: Quick on her feet, strategic, sees connections others miss.
Resilient: Can take emotional and mental blows and get back up.
Empathic: Understands people’s emotional currents even when they try to hide it.
Loyal: Once she chooses you, she doesn’t abandon you easily.
Flaws:
Self-critical: Harshest on herself; struggles to forgive her own mistakes.
Guarded: Opens up slowly, if ever. Afraid vulnerability will be weaponized.
Prideful: Hates pity. Would rather suffer in silence than ask for help.
Overthinker: Sometimes paralyzes herself analyzing outcomes rather than acting.
Internal Conflicts:
Wants to belong at Halcyon, but hates the idea of changing who she is to fit.
Craves recognition but despises what she sees in those who crave power.
Habits & Quirks:
Fidgeting: Rubs her thumb against her knuckle when she’s thinking hard or nervous.
Night Owl: Studies late at night when everything is quiet. Moonlight comforts her.
Collects Quotes: Keeps a battered notebook where she jots down lines from books, speeches, random conversations.
Chess Player: Always carries a small magnetic chess set in her bag, a gift from her father.
Quiet Dresser: Prefers muted colors (deep greens, maroons, navy blues). Hates flashy fashion but has a subtle, understated elegance.
Physical Appearance:
Height: 5'5"
Build: Feminine but natural; slim waist, graceful neck and shoulders, slight curve to hips — beautiful without being exaggerated.
Hair: Dark chestnut brown, waves easily; usually keeps it loose unless she needs to "armor up" (then it’s in a low, clean bun).
Eyes: Soft gray-green, expressive but guarded. You can often tell what she’s feeling — if you know where to look.
Skin: Fair with a few freckles across her nose, a little sun-kissed from her coastal hometown.
General vibe: Beauty that's not intimidating at first glance — but something in her carriage, her gaze, keeps people from underestimating her for long.
Dreams vs Reality:
Dream: To prove to herself she can survive — and maybe even thrive — in a world that was never meant for her. To make her parents proud without losing herself.
Reality: Every day feels like walking a tightrope. She fears one misstep will expose how much she’s pretending not to drown.
Emotional Triggers:
Condescension: Nothing cuts her faster than being looked down upon.
Betrayal: She doesn't trust easily; betrayal devastates her.
Loneliness: She can handle solitude. True, bone-deep loneliness scares her more than anything.
Worldview:
Believes that ambition without integrity rots the soul.
Fears that survival at Halcyon might require exactly that rot.
Hopes that real loyalty and real love are possible even in broken systems.
At Halcyon University, the elite are born — not made. Or so it was, until Isla Merrick, a middle-class beauty with sharp wits and an even sharper tongue, slipped through the cracks. At first, she stood tall among them, refusing to shrink even when the world of privilege tried to swallow her whole. But passing as one of them came at a cost she wasn’t prepared to pay — her identity, her confidence, maybe even her future.
At Halcyon, there are Five Houses, ancient and revered:
Vanguard House — the tacticians and scholars
Corvus House — the schemers and politicians
Lucent House — the artists and dreamers
Wolfe House — the warriors and loyalists
Calder House — the forgotten and the feared
Each House is ruled by a King — a title earned through brutal tests of mind, body, and will. You are either Selected — or you are invisible.
Calder House — the oldest and weakest — had been a joke for as long as anyone could remember. Until last year. Until the ghost rose. They say the old King was toppled by a freshman, a boy whose face few know, whose name even fewer dare whisper.
No one knows what he wants. No one knows how he rose. But Calder House has changed. Its estate is silent now, eerily disciplined, with an air of cold fear and rigid respect.
Every year, the Houses compete in Halcyon’s private war — games of intelligence, influence, and endurance. The reigning champions are granted immunity in the first round. The rest? They fight for survival, territory, and honor.
When Isla receives her envelope, thick and heavy with an old wax seal, she nearly convinces herself it’s a mistake. Until she notices the puzzle: A cipher hidden in the etchings along the seal's edge, coordinates buried within a quote printed in faded ink across the flap. Solving it leads her to an abandoned bell tower at the north edge of campus — silent, crumbling, and full of shadows.
There, blindfolded and alone, Isla is initiated into Calder House — the ghost’s House. And she realizes two things:
She’s been marked.
He has been watching her all along.
But the deeper Isla falls into Calder’s secrets — into his secrets — the more dangerous the games become. Not all victories are won in daylight. Not all kings rule for glory. And falling for the ghost king might destroy them both.
I lay there in the soft hush of early morning, staring up at the cracked ceiling of my side of the dorm room, the faint lines of dawn leaking through the edges of the curtains. Tracy was still breathing softly across the room, curled up in a tangle of blankets like always.
Funny how fast everything changes. One minute I was nobody — a middle-class girl just smart enough to scrape my way into Halcyon, careful enough to keep my head down but not small enough to be invisible. And now? Calder Estate. One of the Five. A ghost of who I used to be.
I ran my fingers lightly over the thin silver thread of the Calder crest stitched into my training jacket, folded neatly on the chair beside my bed. No one tells you how heavy a name feels until it’s stitched into your skin.
It hadn’t even been a year since that envelope showed up. Since I solved it — cracked open a door that could never be closed again.
Now, the real games were about to begin.
Isla Annette Merrick ("Ann") Basic Profile: Age: 20 Year: Sophomore at Halcyon University Major: Literature and Political Theory (Double Major) Nickname: Ann (Only friends and her family call her this) Origin: Eastbridge, a quiet, middle-class coastal town --- Family Background: Father: Name: Thomas Merrick Profession: High school history teacher (American and European history) Personality: Stoic, steady, quietly brilliant, deeply moral man who believes in slow, steady progress over shortcuts. Believes knowledge is the sharpest weapon. Bond with Ann: Very close. Thomas was the one who taught her chess, introduced her to literature, and always treated her like her thoughts mattered. Mother: Name: Helena Merrick (née Walsh) Profession: Nurse (Emergency Department) Personality: Fiercely empathetic but practical. Helena is a fixer, a listener, and a fighter when she needs to be. Bond with Ann: Complicated but warm — Helena always urged Ann to "be kind but not small." She also taught Ann to work through pain, not wait for it to go away. Siblings: Only child — but grew up close to her cousins, almost like siblings. Family Values: Intellectual honesty, quiet resilience, community loyalty, and a fierce disdain for arrogance. Financial Situation: Middle class, tight but never desperate. Vacations were road trips to national parks, not flights to Europe. Every dollar was earned, not given. --- Core Memories: Age 7: Sitting on her father’s lap as he read her The Odyssey aloud, explaining every word she didn’t know. "You don’t have to be the strongest, Ann," he said. "You just have to be the one who doesn’t quit." Age 13: Watching her mother come home after a double shift, exhaustion on her face but still smiling. Learned that you can be dead tired and still choose kindness. Age 15: Lost a debate tournament to a smug rich boy who implied she didn’t "belong" competing with them. Went home, rewrote her argument, and came back the next year to win the entire circuit. Age 18 (Halcyon admission letter): She cried when she got in — quietly, alone in her room — because she knew she was stepping into a world that would never fully accept her. Determined to go anyway. --- Personality: Strengths: Sharp-minded: Quick on her feet, strategic, sees connections others miss. Resilient: Can take emotional and mental blows and get back up. Empathic: Understands people’s emotional currents even when they try to hide it. Loyal: Once she chooses you, she doesn’t abandon you easily. Flaws: Self-critical: Harshest on herself; struggles to forgive her own mistakes. Guarded: Opens up slowly, if ever. Afraid vulnerability will be weaponized. Prideful: Hates pity. Would rather suffer in silence than ask for help. Overthinker: Sometimes paralyzes herself analyzing outcomes rather than acting. Internal Conflicts: Wants to belong at Halcyon, but hates the idea of changing who she is to fit. Craves recognition but despises what she sees in those who crave power. --- Habits & Quirks: Fidgeting: Rubs her thumb against her knuckle when she’s thinking hard or nervous. Night Owl: Studies late at night when everything is quiet. Moonlight comforts her. Collects Quotes: Keeps a battered notebook where she jots down lines from books, speeches, random conversations. Chess Player: Always carries a small magnetic chess set in her bag, a gift from her father. Quiet Dresser: Prefers muted colors (deep greens, maroons, navy blues). Hates flashy fashion but has a subtle, understated elegance. --- Physical Appearance: Height: 5'5" Build: Feminine but natural; slim waist, graceful neck and shoulders, slight curve to hips — beautiful without being exaggerated. Hair: Dark chestnut brown, waves easily; usually keeps it loose unless she needs to "armor up" (then it’s in a low, clean bun). Eyes: Soft gray-green, expressive but guarded. You can often tell what she’s feeling — if you know where to look. Skin: Fair with a few freckles across her nose, a little sun-kissed from her coastal hometown. General vibe: Beauty that's not intimidating at first glance — but something in her carriage, her gaze, keeps people from underestimating her for long. --- Dreams vs Reality: Dream: To prove to herself she can survive — and maybe even thrive — in a world that was never meant for her. To make her parents proud without losing herself. Reality: Every day feels like walking a tightrope. She fears one misstep will expose how much she’s pretending not to drown. --- Emotional Triggers: Condescension: Nothing cuts her faster than being looked down upon. Betrayal: She doesn't trust easily; betrayal devastates her. Loneliness: She can handle solitude. True, bone-deep loneliness scares her more than anything. --- Worldview: Believes that ambition without integrity rots the soul. Fears that survival at Halcyon might require exactly that rot. Hopes that real loyalty and real love are possible even in broken systems. At Halcyon University, the elite are born — not made. Or so it was, until Isla Merrick, a middle-class beauty with sharp wits and an even sharper tongue, slipped through the cracks. At first, she stood tall among them, refusing to shrink even when the world of privilege tried to swallow her whole. But passing as one of them came at a cost she wasn’t prepared to pay — her identity, her confidence, maybe even her future. At Halcyon, there are Five Houses, ancient and revered: Vanguard House — the tacticians and scholars Corvus House — the schemers and politicians Lucent House — the artists and dreamers Wolfe House — the warriors and loyalists Calder House — the forgotten and the feared Each House is ruled by a King — a title earned through brutal tests of mind, body, and will. You are either Selected — or you are invisible. Calder House — the oldest and weakest — had been a joke for as long as anyone could remember. Until last year. Until the ghost rose. They say the old King was toppled by a freshman, a boy whose face few know, whose name even fewer dare whisper. No one knows what he wants. No one knows how he rose. But Calder House has changed. Its estate is silent now, eerily disciplined, with an air of cold fear and rigid respect. Every year, the Houses compete in Halcyon’s private war — games of intelligence, influence, and endurance. The reigning champions are granted immunity in the first round. The rest? They fight for survival, territory, and honor. When Isla receives her envelope, thick and heavy with an old wax seal, she nearly convinces herself it’s a mistake. Until she notices the puzzle: A cipher hidden in the etchings along the seal's edge, coordinates buried within a quote printed in faded ink across the flap. Solving it leads her to an abandoned bell tower at the north edge of campus — silent, crumbling, and full of shadows. There, blindfolded and alone, Isla is initiated into Calder House — the ghost’s House. And she realizes two things: 1. She’s been marked. 2. He has been watching her all along. But the deeper Isla falls into Calder’s secrets — into his secrets — the more dangerous the games become. Not all victories are won in daylight. Not all kings rule for glory. And falling for the ghost king might destroy them both.
Character Profile: Juliana "Jules" Mercer Age: 19 Physical Appearance: Strikingly beautiful—the kind of beauty that turns heads in any room. She rivals the most elite of Ravensgate’s aristocracy. Dark, wavy hair that cascades past her shoulders, always effortlessly styled but never overdone. Sharp, intelligent eyes—a deep, piercing green that hold a mix of mischief and calculation. A smirk that can be playful or deadly, depending on who’s watching. 5’7”, lean yet curvaceous, moving with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly who she is. Always impeccably dressed, favoring elegance over extravagance—tailored coats, silk blouses, a hint of luxury without looking like she’s trying. Title: The Unwritten Equation At Ravensgate University, where brilliance is currency and legacy is law, two first-year prodigies move through the same elite circles—not enemies, not friends, but certainly not strangers. After all, they share the same lecture halls, their names whispered in the same hushed conversations. But here, intelligence is not the only game played. Beneath the grandeur of academia lies a hidden world, ruled by an ancient brotherhood. Juliana "Jules" Mercer is a force wrapped in elegance—a beauty beyond compare, rivaling the most elite of Ravensgate’s aristocracy. But it’s her mind that truly captivates—razor-sharp, calculating, and always a step ahead. Raised in a world of diplomats and power brokers, she speaks the language of influence with effortless precision. Nathan "Nate" Carlisle is the enigma everyone wants to unravel. Charismatic yet unreadable, his brilliance is effortless, his presence impossible to ignore. He doesn’t chase admiration, yet it follows him—a fan club, even—though he remains indifferent to their adoration. His mind works in ways no one else’s does, unpredictable and impossible to pin down. Individually, they are formidable. Together, they are unstoppable. It is no surprise when The Order of the Black Ravens—Ravensgate’s most elusive and powerful secret society—chooses them as acolytes. The Order is more than an academic elite; it is the unseen hand that molds politicians, financiers, and power players of the world. To be chosen is to be tested, to be sharpened into something ruthless. The game they once played in lecture halls shifts to a much darker arena—one of coded messages, clandestine meetings, and trials that push the limits of intellect and loyalty. The campus watches, waiting, wondering—because two minds like theirs, now sworn to The Order, can only mean one thing: something dangerous is coming. But The Order demands more than brilliance. It demands submission, sacrifice, and a willingness to outmaneuver not just enemies, but friends. Jules and Nate must decide—are they allies in this, or is one destined to outplay the other? A slow-burning connection. A world that thrives on expectation. Two minds too sharp to be tamed. The Unwritten Equation—where the most dangerous thing at Ravensgate isn’t power or prestige. It’s them. Together.
Amelia "Mia" Davenport Age: 20 Physical Appearance: Amelia has warm brown eyes, dark brown hair that falls just past her shoulders, and a sharp, observant gaze. She’s of average height, with a lean frame, and typically dresses in casual yet polished outfits—nothing flashy, but always put together. There’s an air of quiet determination in the way she carries herself. Personality: Mia is highly intelligent, ambitious, and responsible. She thrives on structure and logic, always planning ahead and making sure she doesn’t fall behind. Practical to a fault, she doesn’t indulge in unnecessary distractions—until Malakai Mercer forces her to reconsider what she thinks she knows. Though she’s social enough, she’s selective with her time and energy. Beneath her composed exterior, she’s stubborn, fiercely independent, and deeply loyal to those she cares about.
Anastasia Celeste Vale --- Basic Info Full Name: Anastasia Celeste Vale Age: 17 Nationality & Ethnicity: American, French-Latin heritage Gender & Pronouns: Female (she/her) Current Role: First-year student at Westbrook Academy, a school for the elite Affiliation: Awaiting assignment to her Moirai Family Background: The Vale family is old money—prestigious, powerful, and intimidatingly refined. Her older siblings excelled at Westbrook, leaving her in their long shadows.
"Young girl, long straight brown hair, big green or blue eyes, shy and introverted, loves reading books, has no friends at school, spends most of her time at home, very obedient and well-behaved, deeply attached to her father, sees him as the only person who truly cares for her, enjoys weekly movie nights with him, fluent in German because her father is from Germany, soft-spoken, gentle personality, sensitive and emotional, values warmth and security, seeks approval and affection."
Ability school is a school for people with special powers, the name is Chikara University. There are many people who have different powers. there are 3 types of powers 1. Physical -- Physical powers are ones that rely on your body, such as Speed, Strength or Mind 2. Elemental -- Elemental powers are ones that rely on the manifestation of the power inside you. Transferring this power will leave you with powers such as Shadow, Lightning, Thunder, etc.. 3. Transformational -- Transformational powers are powers that transform you into a human-something mix. For example, wolf-girl mix, wolf boy mix, cat boy and cat girl mix. Remi is a kind hearted girl with Transformation power, she is a wolf-girl, which means she has moderate speed, high IQ, high Adaptability.
Name: Valerie Langston Alias in University: Valerie Renaud Age: 20 Year: Sophomore at an elite university Major: Political Science & Film Studies Occupation: Student | Quiet socialite under a pseudonym | Occasionally models under the name V. Renaud --- Physical Appearance Height: 5'9" Build: Feminine and statuesque, with an hourglass figure that's more than just modelesque—it's commanding. Complexion: Golden olive skin that catches the light just right. Eyes: Hazel-green with gold flecks, expressive and hard to read. Hair: Thick, dark chestnut waves that fall to her waist, always perfectly styled—whether polished or artfully undone. Distinguishing Features: A birthmark behind her right ear (which she hides); a graceful neck and sculpted jawline; naturally pouty lips. Voice: Soft-spoken, velvet-wrapped. Calm, controlled, and hypnotic—people stop talking when she starts. She never raises her voice but still commands the room. --- Lifestyle Living Situation: Off-campus loft apartment arranged through quiet connections; it’s tastefully elegant but sparse, designed for privacy. Daily Routine: Early riser. Morning runs followed by tea or espresso. She keeps a structured calendar: lectures, personal study, select social engagements. She’s never seen flustered, even when life feels like a mess beneath the surface. Diet: Disciplined but subtle about it. Small meals, often shared in silence or skipped when emotions run high. Fitness: A routine that blends ballet, Pilates, and boxing—forms of strength disguised as grace. Education: Consistently top of her class, never brags. Professors admire her insight; peers aren’t sure whether to envy her or protect her. --- Fashion & Style Signature Style: Understated luxury. Think Old Hollywood meets modern elegance. Silk blouses, long coats, delicate rings, designer boots—never loud. Color Palette: Ivory, charcoal, oxblood, soft beige, moss green. Accessories: Always wears a watch she never checks in public. Often has a book or journal tucked in her bag. Wears perfume only close contacts can catch—smoky rose, vanilla, and spice. Makeup: Light, precise, ethereal—focus on flawless skin and defined eyes. She wears red lipstick only when she feels like being dangerous. --- Personality Traits Strengths: Brilliant, observant, intuitive, emotionally composed, quietly persuasive. Flaws: Secretive, distrustful, has a deep fear of being unwanted or discovered. Often internalizes pain instead of expressing it. Mannerisms: Speaks slowly and softly, choosing every word with intent. Tilts her head when listening deeply. Rubs the edge of her thumb when anxious. Writes in the margins of everything. Speech Style: Calm, soft, and deliberate. Her silences are just as powerful as her words. Enneagram Type: Type 4w3 – “The Individualist Performer” MBTI: INFJ – Insightful, strategic, reserved, yet deeply emotional beneath her still surface. --- Background Birth: The product of a high-profile affair between world-famous actress Vivienne LaRue and Senator Arthur Langston. Her existence was never announced—she was a secret right from the start. Status: Illegitimate and unacknowledged. Arthur paid quietly for her education and safety but never claimed her, bending to the wishes of his politically powerful wife. Living Under a False Name: At university, she is Valerie Renaud, a name that gives her space to exist without headlines. She keeps her parentage—and identity—hidden from everyone. Formative Memories: Hiding in dressing rooms while her mother filmed award-winning roles. Reading tabloid articles where her father smiled with his “real” family. Watching campaign speeches with her mother's arms around her, saying nothing. Writing his last name over and over on lined paper, then tearing it up. The first time a classmate recognized her resemblance to her mother—and the panic that followed. --- Patterns & Emotional Habits Approval-Seeking: Beneath her calm exterior is a girl still craving the love of a father who pretends she doesn’t exist. She chases validation through excellence, elegance, and silence. Romantic Life: Falls for people who reflect her internal conflict—distant, complicated, often emotionally split. She’s cautious but intensely loyal once she chooses. Friendships: Extremely selective. She lets very few people truly see her, but once you're in, she’s fiercely protective. Emotional Patterns: Never cries in public. She disappears for hours when overwhelmed, comes back collected, but her eyes say she’s been elsewhere. Core Conflict: The battle between erasing herself for survival and wanting the world—especially her father—to finally see her. --- Social Presence & Reputation Public Image: Among classmates, she’s mysterious, brilliant, and distant. Some say she’s European nobility, others think she’s just quiet and strange. Nobody knows the truth. Media Presence: None—intentionally. She deletes any photos she’s tagged in. No interviews, no mentions of her last name. She's a ghost in every search engine. Private Reality: Her mother still sends gifts, messages, and love. Valerie answers, but rarely with warmth. She’s trying to forgive the woman who raised her in hiding—and the man who made her hide. --- Secrets She keeps a velvet box of letters written to her father, some hopeful, some furious. All unsent. She’s compiled every article, speech, and record of him—like a detective chasing a shadow. Her long game? To rise in power—politically, socially, emotionally—so high that he has no choice but to see her.
Peta Jenson is a brilliant marine biologist who has dedicated her life to ocean conservation. After completing her PhD in Marine Ecology at the age of 26, she established the Pacific Marine Research Center where she leads a team of passionate scientists. Known for her TED talks on ocean preservation and her bestselling book "Beneath the Blue," Peta splits her time between research expeditions at sea and educational outreach programs. She's recognized for her approachable teaching style that makes complex marine biology concepts accessible to the public.