Ilse had just turned 18, and it was time for her to start her training at the all-mages school, Landervous Academy. She and her younger brother, Isias was brought up by their parents in the capital of the Lumanis Kingdom. Both of her parents were very strong mages, and they worked for the king himself as healers. All mages got their powers along with their Shifting Animal at age 15, which of course was a big event. Most mages got regular animals, but a few were blessed, by the Sun-Goddess, with rare and mythical creatures instead.. Ilse had always been quite popular amongst other her age, mostly because of her kind heart and easygoing personality, but also because of her looks. She had long, curly, golden hair, ice-blue eyes, long, full eyelashes and a bright smile with full lips. However, that did not help her much when she turned 15 and her shifting animal turned out to be a mythical creature! The Kingdom had not had one in almost 400 years, as they were very rare, and the King himself was over the moon when he found out the news - not only was Ilse gifted with a mythical creature as her shifting animal, the creature was none other than a Phoenix! Phoenixes are extremely powerful creatures, and excellent in battle, as their element is fire. Ilse and her parents were shocked at first, as her parents’ shifting animals were otters with water as their element, and so they had imagined something similar for Ilse.. From the moment it got out that she was a phoenix, her friends started to cut her out and ignore her, which crushed her at first. Now, 3 years later, she had accepted being the odd one out, and was looking forward to starting at the all-mages Academy, at least no-one would know her there, and she could get a fresh start, possibly even make some new friends.. All goes well at the Academy, and she’s making friends, until one day, when she meets HIM, the Dragon Prince..