First, about their world:
Illia lives in a post-apocalyptic Earth, after all the humans died out. It starts the same as one of my other universes, but diverges when the ships do not lift. The "people" there believe that anything made by the humans is holy and sacred, and only few get access to it. They are partially science based, and partially magic based, the two forces co-existing. Not always peacefully though.

The mages are a special group that fuse magic and religion to science and technology to create an elite force of warriors, healers and priests. The magic that they hold within them is granted to them by the Three Gods, Ithos: god of peace, medicine and patron god to healers and scientists alike, Diamos: God of strength, war and patron god to warriors and rulers, and Rexius: Ruler over the two gods and symbol of faith, power and pride.

The process to become a mage involves swearing your life to the Gods, and remaining loyal only to them, which means no romance with another mortal. Illia, who is commonly mistaken for a man, sees no problem in this because she believes that no one could possibly love her, aside from her father.

Sweet! :D

The 'x' on her palm is where the head mage marks them with a blessed dagger. Through the middle of the 'x' is where the magic energy is harnessed and where it spouts from. The nature of the spell is determined by words spoken before the ceremony. Each mage has their own personal magic, but some may be the same as anothers' as there is not an unlimited amout of words. Illia's is lightning, for example, while another's may be mind control.

They gain more armour as they rank up. Illia is only a minor mage, which means she's basically a page in knight terms.
Now for Illia's story. (Sorry this is so long. XD)

She was born to a trader and his wife who was a baker. Her mother left her father when she was four because another man caught her eye. Ever since then, her father had raised her the best he could, but due to lack of funds, she turned to thieving. She was terrible, to say the least. XD Public floggings were very common for her, and finally, one day when she was getting flogged for stealing a ring, the king rode up and lectured her and the other trouble-makers, and she realized that stealing isn't the best job. So, jobless and still living with her father, Illia set out to join the mages. Now, only those above or at the rank of knight may enter the temple of the Three, but Illia was VERY persistant to the point of annoyance, so the head mage allowed her entrance. After witnessing her devotion to the Gods, the mage...

...proposed that she join their ranks, and so the next day, she did. Now she's only learning, but someday she may be a great mage. Maybe. Her talents are a bit limited to looking like a boy and getting flogged. XD

Interesting character design and backstory, it's interesting how dreams can create and inspire such interesting stories and characters.

cool! love how she has lightning abilities!

WOOHOO, REXIUS! Pride, man! XD

Whoaaa dude. Still wish I had cool dreams. XD Looks awesome!
Re: I'm glad ya like it! I kinda figured you were doing something else from your FL comment :3

Cool? She's awesome! :D And yay! ^-^ I'm looking forward to more of your art!

Wow she looks like such an awesome character! ^-^ I just love her design. ^-^

Keep up the absolutely stunning work Quadruped! ^-^