Leona Ruby

Leona Alice Ruby is fifteen, born October 31st, 1870 AE. She is 5' 3" tall, with dark brown eyes, blackish-brown hair and brown skin. Born a freedman, or descendant of the formerly enslaved members of her home colony, Leona started life on the Miller plantation. Her father, Theophilus Ruby, is a machinist and her mother, Maria, is a laundress. Leona is the fifth of six children, whose names all begin with the letter "L". They are Louise, Leopold, Letitia, Lavinia, Leona and Leroy, who is also called "Generous". After her magical ability is discovered, Leona moves to the capital to live with her teacher, John Opal.

Leona is an aether magician, one of the five types of magicians in the world. Leona's ability is the most rare, associated with the soul, chi and the afterlife, which is why magicians of her type are universally reviled as "necromancers" and "sorcerers". After the fall of House Ruby and the Order of the Stone in the 1600s, aether magicians were branded as evil and were hunted and executed Inquisition-style. By the 1800s, they are no longer being actively pursued by it is still dangerous for a non-white magician to identify as one. Leona's teacher, John Opal, encourages her to conceal her ability for her safety.

As a freedman and a magician in the colony, Leona has limited career options. Water magicians are typically healers, so Leona is expected to become one as well once she passes her Exhibition. However, should Leona win a scholarship at her Exhibition, she can travel to the metropolitan centre, Londinum, and an apprenticeship with a master magician. Water magicians in the Londinum are known to have a much wider range of career options.

With her parents and Master Opal's encouragement, Leona has a strong personality. She is outspoken, inquisitive and courageous, which is why she says whatever she is thinking even if it gets her into trouble. A Novice magician, Leona wears grey to formal events, though once she passes her Exhibition she will wear black as all water magicians. Leona also does not have a familiar, as some more powerful magicians do, though she is strong enough that Master Opal expects her to gain one in time. When the story begins, Leona is working with Master Opal as his unofficial apprentice, accompanying him to the pre-Exhibition lessons he gives to other wealthy, young magicians in the colony.