Aria Velstone

Aria grew up in the lush greenhouses and gardens of The Verdant Refuge, where she learned to care for plants from a young age. Her innate talent for botany and herbalism earned her a scholarship to the prestigious University of Alchemy aboard The Celestial Arcadia.
During her studies, she crossed paths with Hermes Mendel, whose passion for understanding the Bloom mirrored her own drive to protect the natural world. The two became lovers and collaborators, blending their knowledge of alchemy and botany in an attempt to develop sustainable methods to counteract the Bloom. However, their relationship deteriorated over time as Aria’s cautious, methodical approach clashed with Hermes’s idealistic and risk-prone tendencies.
After their separation, Aria focused on advancing her own research into creating Bloom-resistant plant species and natural remedies for Bloom-related ailments. She continues to work independently, occasionally consulting with BRASC but keeping her distance from Hermes and his high-risk projects.

Reputation

Aria is regarded as a brilliant botanist whose research has practical applications for communities living near Bloom Zones. While her cautious approach earns her respect from many, some view her reluctance to take risks as a limitation. Among the scientific community aboard the Celestial Arcadia, she is known as a voice of reason and a champion of sustainable solutions.

Physical Description

Special abilities

Skills and Expertise

• Botany and Herbalism: A master of cultivating plants, identifying medicinal herbs, and creating powerful tinctures and salves.
• Bloom-Resistant Flora Development: Aria specializes in breeding plant species that can survive in Bloom-contaminated zones, often experimenting with hybrids of native and foreign plants.
• Practical Survival Skills: Her fieldwork has made her adept at foraging, crafting, and navigating natural environments.

Personality Characteristics

Motivation

• Primary Goal: To discover natural ways to reclaim land from the Bloom and restore balance to Largitas’s ecosystems.
• Secondary Goal: To prove that cautious, deliberate methods are just as effective—if not more so—than Hermes’s bold, high-risk experiments.

Social

Contacts & Relations

Key Relationships

• Hermes Mendel (Ex-Lover): Their partnership was once a perfect blend of passion and intellect, but their differing philosophies on risk and progress led to an amicable yet painful breakup. Despite their history, Aria still respects Hermes’s brilliance, though she often critiques his reckless methods.
• Mentor: Dr. Idris Lymore, an eccentric botanist known for experimenting with hybrid plants. Aria credits Idris with instilling her cautious yet inventive approach to science.
• Colleagues: Collaborates with other botanists and herbalists aboard the Verdant Refuge and occasionally shares findings with BRASC’s research divisions.

Mannerisms

Personality

Core Traits:

• Pragmatic: Aria approaches life and her work with a logical, no-nonsense attitude, always seeking tangible results.
• Nurturing: Despite her stern exterior, she has a deep compassion for living things and a desire to heal the world through her knowledge.
• Driven: Her dedication to her craft is matched only by her ambition to discover natural solutions to the world’s challenges.

Flaws:

• Perfectionist: Aria is often overly critical of herself and others, especially when it comes to scientific rigor or decision-making.
• Guarded: Her pragmatic nature sometimes makes her seem distant, and she struggles to express vulnerability.

Quotes & Catchphrases

"The Bloom may be an unnatural force, but nature has always found a way to adapt. We just need to give it the tools and time to heal itself."