Cassie stands 165 cm tall with a slender build and just enough curves in the right places. She has black, straight hair that falls down several inches below her shoulders, with bangs covering the right side of her heart shaped face. Her eyes are a light shade of brown framed by long dark lashes. It was apparent that she took after her mother, who is a Filipino. They had the same colored hair, the same heart shaped face, the same small nose and the same soft lips. As opposed to the light brown hair, angular face and strong pointed nose of her father, who was 100% American. But despite her almost identical appearance to her mother, the shape of her eyes, the color of her eyes, her expressions, the dimples on her cheeks and the way the corner of her eyes crinkle when she smiled belonged to her father. During an incident 5 years ago, the whole right side of Cassie's body, including her face, was burned. Her right eye was severely damaged and was now blind and milky in color. Humiliated due to her appearance, she let her bangs grow to cover the entire right half of her face. Sleeveless clothing and short skirts were discarded and changed to something that would cover the burns. Only her right hand was left exposed for curious eyes.

With a wing span of 3.05 meters (10 feet) and height of 1.22 meters (4 feet), the Phoenix easily dwarfs the largest American Bald Eagle. Her beak is golden with a graceful downward curve and a wicked pointed tip. Her sharp fierce eyes are golden. Her contour feather (outer wing feathers) are a dark shade of orange. The afterfeathers are a lighter shade. The feathers on her chest and torso are a shade darker than the contour feathers, almost red. Her tail feathers are the same shade as the contour feathers but it becomes lighter in shade as it tapers down to the curled tips. Her golden talons are sharp and deadly. Upon moving, especially in flight, the feathers and the Phoenix's whole body erupts in flames.

Knows more about medicine than the average person and can administer first aid adeptly

Cassie's speed and agility is greatly enhanced in her Shifter form. However, it only applies when she is airborne. Gliding speed is 20km/hr, flying speed ranges from 70-80km/hr and diving speed ranges from 160-180km/hr. Her ground speed, however, is limited to that of humans or a bit faster. Being bonded with a creature of fire, she can now deliver devastating fire attacks the same way a fire dragon can. But instead of fire breath, she uses her wings to stir up wind and heat the air, creating a vortex of fire. Her fire tornadoes can range from 3 meters to as high as 185 meters with a speed of 80 to 100 kilometers per hour. The size and speed of each cyclone depends on the beat of her wings. To sustain and strengthen a fire tornado, she needs to forcefully beat her wings non-stop. She can also create multiple small funnels (2 meter high tornadoes) with continuous flap of her wings. While the Phoenix's curved talons are useful for tearing and goring enemies, they can also generate fireballs. These orbs, when flung, unravel and become smaller Phoenix copies. The copies hurtle down at enemy units and explode on impact. By command, the copies are also capable of assisting in physical attacks but they are ultimately used as bombs. The long tail feathers of the Phoenix may look elegant with its curling tips but it is also capable to destruction on its own. By flying close to the ground, the Phoenix trails the tip of it tail on the terrain (earth, rock, cement, metal and to a lesser degree, water) and creates a ring of fire meant to trap enemies inside. Upon command, the ring of fire spreads and constricts inward incinerating those trapped inside. Inherent to the Phoenix is its healing powers. She breathes out a purifying blue flame, used mainly to heal poison (as long as it hasn't spread extensively throughout the body), to heal ice based injuries and to nullify to a small extent fire based injuries. Golden tears shed willingly by the Phoenix can heal wounds from superficial cuts to deeper lacerations and burns. Amputated limbs are beyond the healing powers of her tears. And finally, the Phoenix's song can revitalize a small group (2-3 people at a time) to a small extent and lend a temporary boost to their abilities.

Cassie was born Cassandra Sinclair to Drs. Addison and Matthew Sinclair, two prominent people in the scientific world. Dr. Matthew Sinclair is a geneticist working in a huge laboratory in California. He made numerous contributions to science with his break through in modern medicine using purified DNA from plants as cure for CIDS, an immune disease evolved from AIDS. His wife, Dr. Addison Sinclair, is an Emergency Medicine Doctor who works in the same facility, providing medical attention to patients treated with the said cure. For several years, the couple repeatedly tried to conceive but the pregnancies were always prematurely aborted. Since conceiving was so difficult, Cassie's arrival brought them immense joy. Throughout Cassie's childhood, both parents showered her with love and attention, giving her everything she wanted and needed. But despite being pampered, she didn't grow up to be spoiled and arrogant as some rich kids become. This was all thanks to her parents who, despite their immense success in their fields, were down to earth and humble. Cassie's childhood passed by with no unusual or untoward events. She was well liked in school, had a group of friends and showed an aptitude in science just like her mother and father. In the year 2540, Endola attacked Earth. Although it was a concentrated attack, there was worldwide panic. Cassie's mother, having worked for the military in her younger years, used her connections to be able to safeguard her small family. She didn't want to wait for another and so wasted no time arranging for a transfer. They were installed in a secure military base located underground in San Diego. Shortly after the Endolan attack, the Twin Souls Project was begun. Fearing that another attack might happen in the near future, Cassie's father immediately volunteered his expertise to the program. Out of necessity, it didn't take long for the Program to be perfected. It took 6 months to finish and from that time on, numerous volunteers fueled by the need to protect the Earth flocked to local testing centers. And so in only a few years time, Earth had its own growing army of magic wielding beings. Cassie's parents worked tirelessly for the Program, both firmly believing that it was the only and the best way to protect the entire human species from complete annihilation by Endolan and Malnican armies. All their efforts were to protect their only daughter who had just turned 15. On one clear and sunny day, Drs. Addison and Matthew Sinclair went on their way to work, expecting a more or less uneventful day. Cassie headed her own way to school and the day progressed as it did any normal day. School was at it always was. Classes were a mix of boring ones and interesting ones. Friends chatted over lunch in the cafeteria, jokes thrown around, hushed excited voices discussed the compatibility test everyone seemed to want to undergo in three years time. It wasn't until the end of the day when catastrophe struck. Cassie was walking home from school when the attack began. Fire began raining from the sky, hitting parked cars and people. A woman who had been walking several feet ahead of her screamed when a fireball hit her. The woman fell to the ground, writhing, her body reduced to a twisted mass of burnt flesh as it hit the pavement. A car several feet away exploded as a fireball hit it. Cassie began to run. But she didn't make it far as a fireball hurtled towards her. She tried to avoid it but she wasn't fast enough. It might not have hit her head on but she was hit nevertheless. She screamed as she felt the flames melt her skin and sear her flesh, the pain excruciating and real. And then everything went black. Cassie awoke after several days in a hospital, with several tubes attached to her. The entire right half her body including her face was swathed in the silvery bandages used to cover burns. Standing at the foot of her bed were her parents. Her dad looked like he hadn't slept for a week and her mother's face was streaked with tears. With the advent of the Shifter program, they had been lulled with a false sense of security and forgot that nowhere in the world was really safe from any attack. When they saw that she was awake, both adults rushed to her side. After being asked how she felt several times by both her parents, her father finally began to explained what happened. Endolans had launched several surprise attacks around the world meant to destroy Twin Soul facilities and to diminish the growing number of Shifters. Cassie was lucky that a shifter had arrived when she had been hit and extinguished the fire that was burning her. However, the fire had already done its damage. But despite the extensive burns she sustained, the Shifter's intervention had saved her life. When Cassie asked who her savior was, her father dropped his head and shook it sadly. The Shifter's name was Xander Forbes. He was a water based Fae class Shifter and he had died fighting in the surprise attack. Ever since she was discharged from the hospital, Cassie had become withdrawn, ashamed of how she looked. She couldn't even look at herself in the mirror. The burns were a constant reminder of the pain and the fear she felt the day of the attack. Old friends from school only aggravated her condition as they teased her about her burns, some shying away from her because of the grotesque appearance of the burnt half of her face. Only a few friends symphatized and offered her support. While a friendly shoulder offered her comfort, it wasn't enough. Day by day, she thought about Xander and she became more and more fascinated to the point that she was almost addicted to the water element. She would frequently wander off to the park alone, staring at the lake water for hours, engrossed by how it flowed, how it remained calm and how it rippled when disturbed. All bodies of water, even the water in her drinking cup, amazed her to no end. On the other hand, fire terrified her. It reminded her of the attack and mostly, of the pain. Often times, she would have panic attacks at the sight of even a small flame. As the years passed by, Cassie found herself looking forward to the tests more and more. She didn't have the chance to thank the Shifter for saving her life. Perhaps fighting for the safety of other people would be gratitude enough for the fallen hero. The day Cassie turned 18, she asked her parents to take her in for Compatibility testing. Her parents' initial reaction was incredulous. They had almost lost their daughter once, the test could mean losing her forever in the war. Her mother appealed to her to reconsider but Cassie was adamant. And after a few hours of convincing, both parents finally acquiesced. It was finally the day for the testing. What would she be compatible with? Without a doubt, she wanted to be a Shifter. And she hoped with all her heart that it would be something connected with water. The tests started. Mythics and Humans surrounded her. The humans ran the tests, the Mythics stayed to observe her, their eyes watching and evaluating. And then came the result. Phoenix. Cassie was compatible with a Phoenix. The Mythics seemed pleased. It had been years since there was a human who tested compatible with a Phoenix. While it wasn't a rare occurrence, it was fairly uncommon. Her whole body shook at the news. The memory of the suprise attack 5 years ago flashed through her mind. She tried to calm herself but the fear was almost tangible. Her parents came in and led her away and back home. Part of her rejoiced at finally knowing what she was compatible with but a larger part of her was afraid. What will happen to her? Will she be able to handle the element that almost claimed her life? What if she couldn't? It was fire. There were so many questions running through her mind that she didn't notice how the dinner table was deathly silent. It was her mother's voice that broke the silence. "Y-you can always back out, Cassie. The Program asks for volunteers. I-if you told them you didn't want to go, they'd let you live a normal life." She said, knowing full well the extent of her daughter's fear of fire. Her father remained silent but the look on his face made it obvious that he was thinking the same thing as his wife. Cassie looked at both of her parents and shook her head. "No, mom. I want this. I want to fight to keep you both safe. To help keep the whole world safe. If this is what I'm compatible with then it's what I'm gonna be." She said, her voice strong and resolute, pushing the thoughts of fire and pain out of her head. The days passed by quickly and soon she was in the Twin Souls facility, ready to become a Shifter. A few minutes later and Cassie was standing naked in the tube, the electrodes connected to her. As the bluish liquid filled the tube, memories of the attack 5 years ago resurface in her mind. Her heart began beating fast in her chest but Cassie fought the onslaught of panic. And then she lost consciousness. While most people felt no pain in the procedure, Cassie did. Or maybe it was her mind that brought on the pain. She felt a sharp pain along the entire right side of her body. At first it was a dull pain on her face, then it spread to her neck down to her right arm, her torso, her right leg then finally, her right foot. Her heart began beating so hard it threatened to burst out of her chest. Slowly, the pain began spreading all over her body. The pain steadily increased until it became an intolerable heat. She felt herself burn, her flesh melting the way it did before. The pain escalated and it became excruciating. She screamed. Cassie's mother looked away and clutched her husband's arm. Cassie's father looked on, his lips a tight line across his face. There was nothing they can do but watch. While trapped in her own mind and still unconscious, Cassie began transforming. It was subtle change. Her hair became red, starting from the roots, creeping slowly to the tips until they became like flames that danced around her face. The scars on her face and body erupted into flames which slowly spread all over her body until she was literally fire itself. And then the changes stopped. Cassie remained unconscious. The woman who administered the Essence stopped. "What the...?" He looked at Cassie, confused why the changes stopped. "Is that the full transformation?" She asked mostly to herself than to anyone else. He furrowed his brow. Why didn't the subject regain consciousness? Cassie's heart continued pounding in her chest as she felt the flames sear her whole body. In the darkness, she flailed and writhed, trying desperately to put out the flames that was eating her alive. She screamed again. But no one was gonna save her no matter how loud she screamed. I am fire. Came a small voice. I AM fire. This time it was her voice, stronger and louder. She stopped moving and then the pain subsided. Cassie opened her eyes. She was no longer human. The first thing she noted was the beak, its surface smooth, shiny and golden. It had a graceful downward curve that ended in a sharp point. She turned her head to the left and to the right, noting that she had wings instead of arms. The large contour feathers were a beautiful shade of dark orange. She tried moving one wing and was amazed at how a small movement lit the vanes of her contour feathers in flames. Moving on with her inspection, she tilted her head forward, noting that the rest of her body was dark red shade. Curiously, she tilted her head down further. Where her feet used to be were golden talons, sharp and deadly looking. Beyond the talons she could see the long feathers of her tail which was the same shade as her wings. The tips of her tail feathers curled here and there and looked like flickering, licking flames as she moved them. She was a site to behold and for a moment, she forgot that she was terrified of fire. Cassie raised her head and her sharp golden eyes focused on her mother and father. Seeing her complete transformation, the two adults sagged against each other in relief.

* Despite the fact that Cassie had already accepted herself as being fire based, she still have nightmares of the attack when she was 15. Shifting to her Phoenix form, however, has gotten easier during her stay in the Academy. * She's still immensely grateful to Xander Forbes for saving her life and takes her training very seriously so that she may repay the favor through protecting others * She is still very conscious of her burns but has found out that nobody in the Academy judged her appearance the way she had been in her old school when she was younger. And because of this, she's a bit more open to curious questions about why she had burns all over her body. However, she still doesn't wear anything that would overly expose the burnt parts of her body * Even though she's silent and keeps to herself most times, she is friendly when approached. * She is visited by her parents a lot.