[hider=Serena Hazetaka]
[u][b]Name:[/b][/u] Serena Hazetaka

[u][b]Age:[/b][/u] Appears to be in her mid-twenties

[u][b]Race:[/b][/u] Half-demon

[b][u]Appearance:[/u][/b] 
Standing at six feet and one inch tall, Serena towers over most other women from her native Foji. The bangs and sidelocks on her jet-black, waist-length Hime hairstyle frame more olive skin tones and soft facial features that are easy on the eyes, most noticeably her soulful brown eyes, tinged with a hint of red. Her body is slender, but bares the toned muscles needed to both hit hard and stay agile. On her stomach lies an old yet very large and noticeable scar, formed in a way that suggests a horrible, deeply puncturing wound. Though she normally acts and moves in a way that projects a warm, kind aura, the light of the full moon reveals the shadow of a different creature entirely.

When Serena channels demonic power, her appearance changes drastically. Her skin becomes dark as soot, her eyes and hair glowing white, with the former wavering like an open flame and the latter taking on a texture akin to feathers. A very dark and visible aura surrounds her in this form, in a way that can send shivers down one’s spine.
[hider=A Drawing]
[img]http://orig14.deviantart.net/638f/f/2017/123/d/0/serena_dmc_by_lavulwraith-db7yg9r.jpg[/img]
[/hider]
[u][b]Attire:[/b][/u] Serena wears a dark green dress made in a style similar to kimonos from her homeland, but with various design concessions made to allow greater flexibility in battle. A sash dyed a darker shade of green is tied around the waist, and she wears high leather boots for travel. When she isn’t wearing her plain white mask, it’s usually either stowed away or put over her shoulder like a shoulderpad. She wears a golden pendant inset with a curious black gemstone around her neck.

[b][u]Bio:[/u][/b]
[hider]
	“Tell me, child,” Serena said as she sat next to her student’s nightstand. “What do you know of the tale of how Abadden’s nations came to be?” The young girl shook her head.

	“Not a lot, Teacher.” she replied. “There was one from Falke, two from the Twilight Fields, one from Tour de Rouge, and one from Foji. They fought alongside one another, and eventually they led the people of their homelands together into their own countries.” Serena smiled.

	“So you haven’t heard of the tale of Haede, then?” she asked. Her student shook her head once again.

	“Haede was a demon,” Serena explained. “The weakest among their sworn family. Even the tales know little of Haede, other than that they turned against their two brothers. Some bicker to this day, over whether Haede was a hero who fought alongside the nations’ forefathers or, a villain who was only in it for personal gain. Or, perhaps, even something in between.” The young student yawned, before looking up to her mentor quizzically.

	“Teacher,” she asked hesitantly. “Do you mind if I ask if you mean to teach me something with this folklore? Are you related to this Haede?” Serena laughed.

	“That’s what they say, Veronica.” she answered. “But that is not my point. No matter who you think you are, and no matter what anyone else says you should be, you need to do what you feel is right. Do you understand?” Serena’s student nodded.

	“I think so, Teacher.” Veronica said. Serena smiled warmly.

	“Then make sure to sleep well, Veronica. Your grandmother will be eager to see you tomorrow morning.” Serena left the room before her student could gain the confidence to prod with too many eager questions. Perhaps Aegea would not be too busy with her duties to discuss her student’s progress.

	For almost twenty years, Serena had stood beside Aegea as her right hand woman, serving as both part of her elite guard and as an agent to take care of tasks unsuited to either The Choir’s ranks or Aegea herself. Despite this, few know much about her, save her resemblance to a similar woman who had filled the same position, and her story is even further shrouded. With Aegea dead, only a handful remain who know the truth of her history. What is known is that she has always been a supporter of her student Veronica and her legitimacy as a potential successor. Now, she travels with her student, ensuring her safety in her quest to find the assassins who killed Aegea in cold blood.[/hider]

[u][b]Inventory:[/b][/u]
[list]
[*][hider=Noh Mask]A plain white mask made of cypress indigenous to Foji, possessing no features other than holes for the wearer to see out of. Masks of this type are traditionally used in plays and festivals throughout Foji, meant to represent a faceless youkai. It ironically serves Serena well in allowing her to appear inconspicuous while she channels the power residing within her own mixed blood.
[/hider]
[*][hider=Bloom of Embers:] A sword made in a style traditional to her homeland, though with a weak enchantment that causes the blade to generate heat and greatly increases its power. It can only retain this in the sheath, however; it quickly dissipates otherwise, making it best-suited to quick-draw attacks.[/hider]
[*]A naginata of average length, constructed of steel and oak wood. Though it has no special tricks or enchantments, it remains a practical weapon, and its large blade aids in directing wind.
[*]A wakizashi bearing elegant engravings of a serpentine, feathered dragon on one side and cherry blossoms on the other. Even from looking at it, one could tell that an extraordinary amount of care went into maintaining it.
[*]A small dagger, balanced for throwing.
[*]Various supplies, such as a flask, spare sets of clothes, bandages, and a tea set with ingredients, kept in a bag slung over her shoulder.
[/list]

[u][b]Skills:[/b][/u]

[u]Lady of Battle:[/u] Serena has spent many years in both battle and honing her own skills, and as such is both proficient and deadly with any of her weapons as well as her bare hands. She mixes techniques taught to her by others with her own self-taught skills, and can quickly switch between multiple fighting styles to suit the situation. Of these, she prefers to use a low-risk style with her polearm involving quick swipes and deft movement, a fast yet brutal iajutsu style with her katana involving strong advances and devastating quickdraw attacks, a more animalistic style with her wakizashi, and a mix of reversals and throws alongside surprisingly strong blows with her fists. She also commands a small number of miscellaneous talents, such as knife-throwing.

[u]Lady of Embers:[/u] Through her connection with The Forno, Serena commands and directs the wind around her as if she were the eye of a storm, using it both to disorient opponents and aid her own movement. If she feels that her situation has grown dire enough, she can increase this connection, experiencing the form and power of her heritage for the briefest of moments. In this form, the wind can be turned into smog and embers, and her strength and speed are increased astronomically, but only for a couple of seconds. Her attunement with this other half increases the closer she is to the wastelands near Nethern Port, though she remains incredibly vulnerable to celestial magic.

[u]Lady of Taste:[/u] Serena is somewhat famous in the upper echelons of The Choir for her skill in cooking, and especially in making tea. Though her recipes are a closely-guarded secret, each cup tastes as if it was made specifically to honor a cherished memory.

[u]Languages:[/u] Serena is fluent in both Abbalic and Foji, as well as some Neath-scratch and a good deal of language spoken by demons.

[b][u]Current Location:[/u][/b] Tour de Rouge
[/hider]