Filling out character sheets are lame. Instead, why not write something like this:
"Now isn't the time to be scared. Just think of the children. Think... Think of your paycheck." The Admissions officer entered the principle's office.
In times of yore, Sullivan Academy was a wizard's tower. Over the years it had received many expansions, to the point that it no longer resembled at all. But in that sprawl of lavish interiors and pearl-like siding, there was an old tower at its heart. The top most floor didn't have the same wow factor as the rest of the school. In times of yore, Merlin would have had the room over run with books, with each page bathed in candle light. But the new principle did not read books. She sat as still as a statue, her robe folded up around her form. She did not need light to see the orb, which bathed everything in its eerie light. The orb flickered like an old TV. It couldn't have been an interesting show if the principle's face was any indication.
"Ah, H-Hello! Is now a good time?" he hid a clipboard behind his back.
"I guess." She didn't look up from the orb. "What are we doing again?"
The admissions officer cleared his throat. "You thought it would be a good idea to have me interview this year's students! Surely a little one-on-one interaction would be more interesting than filling out a form. Besides, there was some concern most of the students weren't literate! So it seemed fitting to have the principle get an interview. You know, just to show there's no shame in it."
"Really?" The admissions officer nodded, which caused the principle to sigh. "I don't remember agreeing to this, but fine. Let's get it over with."
"Very well!" He drew his pen and clipboard. "Let's start with your name. I know it's on the building, but..."
"Silvia O'Sullivan." She propped up her head with her arm.
"Very good, very good... Age?"
"I've been seventeen for a very long time."
"We'll let that slide because you're the boss. Gender?" For the first time during their exchange, Silvia made direct eye contact with the admissions officer. She said nothing. "I suppose that was a little silly. What country are you from?"
Her eyes wandered back towards the orb. "North America. It's been a very long time since I've been there."
"What do you look like?"
"If you can't think of anything to write, just take a picture."
"Okay! Say cheese!" The camera snapped a picture. It wasn't too bad, but would it have killed her to look into the camera? And where did that little man on the side come from? But it didn't matter, there was more to review. "So um... your race?"
"I think I'm caucasian, but it's been so long since I've seen my skin tone outside the light of the orb I could be wrong."
"A relatable answer!" He continued to scribble. "How do you use your magic?"
"I seem to remember having the ability to learn any spell if I saw it enough times. But it's been so long since I've seen something new. Ever since I got this orb, I've been able to observe and ponder so many things. I don't think a spell exists that I can't cast. But as for actually using magic, I mostly just cast Level 1 Death, Abolish Entity, Great Dispel, Greater Wish, or Counter Spell to keep the omniverse from totally collapsing." The orb flashed again. "It's amazing how many cosmic horrors just fade into existence without rhyme or reason."
"Sounds important! Why did you initially enroll here?"
"I can't remember. It must have been to increase my number of known spells."
"And I know you don't need a roommate, but let's just do this part anyway."
"For the students, right?"
"Ah, yes, haha... " Hopefully this wouldn't take much longer. "How would you describe what you're like? Any hobbies, or things you'd want a roommate to know about you?"
"I would describe myself as a stoic person. I get bored easily, and I can't think of any hobbies I still pursue. I suppose I still find interest in the pursuits of others."
That almost sounded normal! "One last question. What is your life story? Tragic past?"
"My origins aren't so remarkable, and my past isn't tragic. If anything, I think it's my future that's tragic." She lowered her arms into her lap. "At the ripe age of seventeen, I came over here to better learn how to use magic. Britain had always been a hub for magi, with stories about Merlin, witches, and others of their kind. Everyone's magic manifested in different ways. Some could do fantastic things. They could fire rays of light that could cook a demon in an instant, or tear apart the very fabric of space time. My magic was far more humble: the ability to copy anything I saw. Weak on its own, but held great potential if I could survive long enough to master it. I did not rise up the ranks, I survived long enough to make something of myself. The frequent attacks on the old school gave me ample material for my studies. I learned far more from that then I did from class, and I was a good student. I got stronger faster than I could get through the curriculum. This was compounded the day I discovered this orb. I can't even remember how I found it. Maybe I always had it. Regardless, the ability to look into other worlds or different parts of my own gave me even greater opportunities to hone my craft. But it didn't matter how strong I became, because I couldn't get through the curriculum. There almost wasn't any reason to."
"That culminated in your fight with Merlin, didn't it?"
"Maybe? It happened so long ago I can't even remember. I don't think about the past very much anymore. It's so alien to me now. I think the young woman who I use to be wanted to get to where I am now. She wanted respect, and she wanted those around her to value her contributions to the school. But I wonder if she knew what she was doing with her power." The Orb was starting to flash now, not unlike clouds during a thunderstorm. "As a mere human who can only ever copy other people's spells I've attained so much. I have conquered death and old age. Entire civilizations will rise and fall in my infinite lifespan. If the world were to ever wage war on me, I could force them to surrender or wipe them out in a matter of minutes. But such power does not come without cost. The warp continues to spit out adversaries to match my might. It can't of course, but even these feeble attempts at challenging me are more than enough to doom this world and others. So I spend my days casting the same spells over and over again, trying to stem a problem that is created by my very existence. I am unable to shape this world the way I like because I am unable to fix this reoccurring problem. I could leave this world and visit another reality, but my problems would follow me. The noble solution might be to lock myself in a world where only I exist, but I've grown too comfortable in this reality. I cannot simply leave what I have spent so much time building, nor am I selfless enough to take my life. So I sit here, alone, joyless, in a stalemate with the omniverse, with only the pride of what I've made keeping me sane. Perhaps-"
"I-I think that's enough for an example!"
"Oh?" Silvia looked at the Admissions Officer one last time before glancing back at her orb. "Very well, you may leave."
"Y-Yes."
"But one more thing."
The Admissions Officer hadn't fully turned away from Silvia. "Yes?"
"That was more fun than I thought it would be. I think the students might enjoy this."
"Ah! Well, thank you! I do my best!" As soon as he got out of the principle's tower, he breathed a long, long, and well deserved sigh of relief. "Never had I thought I would miss Fae Creek so much."
"Now isn't the time to be scared. Just think of the children. Think... Think of your paycheck." The Admissions officer entered the principle's office.
In times of yore, Sullivan Academy was a wizard's tower. Over the years it had received many expansions, to the point that it no longer resembled at all. But in that sprawl of lavish interiors and pearl-like siding, there was an old tower at its heart. The top most floor didn't have the same wow factor as the rest of the school. In times of yore, Merlin would have had the room over run with books, with each page bathed in candle light. But the new principle did not read books. She sat as still as a statue, her robe folded up around her form. She did not need light to see the orb, which bathed everything in its eerie light. The orb flickered like an old TV. It couldn't have been an interesting show if the principle's face was any indication.
"Ah, H-Hello! Is now a good time?" he hid a clipboard behind his back.
"I guess." She didn't look up from the orb. "What are we doing again?"
The admissions officer cleared his throat. "You thought it would be a good idea to have me interview this year's students! Surely a little one-on-one interaction would be more interesting than filling out a form. Besides, there was some concern most of the students weren't literate! So it seemed fitting to have the principle get an interview. You know, just to show there's no shame in it."
"Really?" The admissions officer nodded, which caused the principle to sigh. "I don't remember agreeing to this, but fine. Let's get it over with."
"Very well!" He drew his pen and clipboard. "Let's start with your name. I know it's on the building, but..."
"Silvia O'Sullivan." She propped up her head with her arm.
"Very good, very good... Age?"
"I've been seventeen for a very long time."
"We'll let that slide because you're the boss. Gender?" For the first time during their exchange, Silvia made direct eye contact with the admissions officer. She said nothing. "I suppose that was a little silly. What country are you from?"
Her eyes wandered back towards the orb. "North America. It's been a very long time since I've been there."
"What do you look like?"
"If you can't think of anything to write, just take a picture."
"Okay! Say cheese!" The camera snapped a picture. It wasn't too bad, but would it have killed her to look into the camera? And where did that little man on the side come from? But it didn't matter, there was more to review. "So um... your race?"
"I think I'm caucasian, but it's been so long since I've seen my skin tone outside the light of the orb I could be wrong."
"A relatable answer!" He continued to scribble. "How do you use your magic?"
"I seem to remember having the ability to learn any spell if I saw it enough times. But it's been so long since I've seen something new. Ever since I got this orb, I've been able to observe and ponder so many things. I don't think a spell exists that I can't cast. But as for actually using magic, I mostly just cast Level 1 Death, Abolish Entity, Great Dispel, Greater Wish, or Counter Spell to keep the omniverse from totally collapsing." The orb flashed again. "It's amazing how many cosmic horrors just fade into existence without rhyme or reason."
"Sounds important! Why did you initially enroll here?"
"I can't remember. It must have been to increase my number of known spells."
"And I know you don't need a roommate, but let's just do this part anyway."
"For the students, right?"
"Ah, yes, haha... " Hopefully this wouldn't take much longer. "How would you describe what you're like? Any hobbies, or things you'd want a roommate to know about you?"
"I would describe myself as a stoic person. I get bored easily, and I can't think of any hobbies I still pursue. I suppose I still find interest in the pursuits of others."
That almost sounded normal! "One last question. What is your life story? Tragic past?"
"My origins aren't so remarkable, and my past isn't tragic. If anything, I think it's my future that's tragic." She lowered her arms into her lap. "At the ripe age of seventeen, I came over here to better learn how to use magic. Britain had always been a hub for magi, with stories about Merlin, witches, and others of their kind. Everyone's magic manifested in different ways. Some could do fantastic things. They could fire rays of light that could cook a demon in an instant, or tear apart the very fabric of space time. My magic was far more humble: the ability to copy anything I saw. Weak on its own, but held great potential if I could survive long enough to master it. I did not rise up the ranks, I survived long enough to make something of myself. The frequent attacks on the old school gave me ample material for my studies. I learned far more from that then I did from class, and I was a good student. I got stronger faster than I could get through the curriculum. This was compounded the day I discovered this orb. I can't even remember how I found it. Maybe I always had it. Regardless, the ability to look into other worlds or different parts of my own gave me even greater opportunities to hone my craft. But it didn't matter how strong I became, because I couldn't get through the curriculum. There almost wasn't any reason to."
"That culminated in your fight with Merlin, didn't it?"
"Maybe? It happened so long ago I can't even remember. I don't think about the past very much anymore. It's so alien to me now. I think the young woman who I use to be wanted to get to where I am now. She wanted respect, and she wanted those around her to value her contributions to the school. But I wonder if she knew what she was doing with her power." The Orb was starting to flash now, not unlike clouds during a thunderstorm. "As a mere human who can only ever copy other people's spells I've attained so much. I have conquered death and old age. Entire civilizations will rise and fall in my infinite lifespan. If the world were to ever wage war on me, I could force them to surrender or wipe them out in a matter of minutes. But such power does not come without cost. The warp continues to spit out adversaries to match my might. It can't of course, but even these feeble attempts at challenging me are more than enough to doom this world and others. So I spend my days casting the same spells over and over again, trying to stem a problem that is created by my very existence. I am unable to shape this world the way I like because I am unable to fix this reoccurring problem. I could leave this world and visit another reality, but my problems would follow me. The noble solution might be to lock myself in a world where only I exist, but I've grown too comfortable in this reality. I cannot simply leave what I have spent so much time building, nor am I selfless enough to take my life. So I sit here, alone, joyless, in a stalemate with the omniverse, with only the pride of what I've made keeping me sane. Perhaps-"
"I-I think that's enough for an example!"
"Oh?" Silvia looked at the Admissions Officer one last time before glancing back at her orb. "Very well, you may leave."
"Y-Yes."
"But one more thing."
The Admissions Officer hadn't fully turned away from Silvia. "Yes?"
"That was more fun than I thought it would be. I think the students might enjoy this."
"Ah! Well, thank you! I do my best!" As soon as he got out of the principle's tower, he breathed a long, long, and well deserved sigh of relief. "Never had I thought I would miss Fae Creek so much."
