Biodata
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Nia 89 |
| Gender | Female 93 |
| Affiliation | School of Transmutation at Arcanix 89 |
| Occupation/Role | Mage, alchemist, and Field Engineer 92 140 241 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 89 (mentioned); Chapter 90 (appears) 89 90 |
Power Progression
| Stage / Realm / Level | Chapter | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 Mage | 140 | Her level before entering the demiplane labyrinth with Karl; she had preferred gaining experience through scroll-copying and potion-making. |
| Level 3 Mage | 140 | Gains a level during the demiplane expedition, where she fights Fire Snakes alongside Karl. |
Background and History
Nia comes from a family with considerable income, though magical research strains her budget. Her father, a retired soldier and doctor-type Artificer working in Aundair, is later revealed to be an Aundair secret agent; her mother is a private investigator. Nia spends so much of her living allowance on experimental materials that she sometimes subsists on bread 91 175.
A renowned genius in Arcanix’s School of Transmutation, Nia writes Artificer theory notes specifically for Karl despite not needing them herself. She becomes increasingly reclusive while he is missing, and her instructor supplies her with separate experimental materials when other students try to obstruct her work 89 90.
Nia later travels with Karl through the demiplane labyrinth, gaining a Mage level in combat 140. After his move to Stormreach Bay, she travels there with Lisana and Mithris when she cannot get news from him. She meets Joanna, offers help with Storm Bay’s affairs, and continues her own construct research while waiting for Karl to return from an adventure zone 230 233 235 241.
Appearance
Nia is initially notably short for her age and self-conscious about her limited growth. Three years later, she has grown taller and looks more mature 93 229.
- Wears a long robe while making potions; she is also seen working in a white coat 229 309.
- Has a slight build: she needs her Steel Guardian’s help carrying alchemical materials 348.
Personality
Nia prioritizes research over comforts and can treat alchemy experiments as entertainment. She is socially anxious around unfamiliar company, but among Karl and her close friends she is playful, teasing, and sometimes openly competitive 92 100 264 275.
She is protective of Karl, particularly when his psionics or experiments put him at risk. Her concern can make her stern: after he activates the Elemental Pool without waiting for her, she explains that she was frightened for his safety, not upset about the experiment’s outcome 93 373 400. Karl also observes that her strengths lie chiefly in learning and research rather than flexible game strategy 310.
Abilities and Skills
Alchemy and Transmutation
Nia produces alchemical potions and pursues new discoveries in the field; her work becomes known beyond Arcanix 92 235.
- Uses a Battlemage Wand to gather moisture into a cooling water ring containing ice shards 140.
- Shapes earth into a ramp for Karl’s motorcycle and maintains an earth-shaping spell to smooth its route across a snowfield 142 144.
- Uses fire spells to help Karl evade white dragon beasts 145.
Field Engineering
Nia builds and modifies a Steel Guardian, a construct that can transform into a motorcycle. Her version is more agile to use than Karl’s V 241.
- Reworks its head to resemble Karl’s Power Armor helmet 241.
- Works with Karl on an anti-gravity prototype and suggests Spirit Cards as a way to test ideas about gravity magic 309.
- Helps investigate a method for creating a demiplane 405.
Magical Analysis
Nia applies her knowledge to problems outside the laboratory.
- Identifies necromantic traces on an injured Tyrannosaur and warns that its meat needs purification 281.
- Recognizes signs that psionic patterns are changing Karl’s body and checks whether they may also be affecting his mind 373.
- Prepares amulets against mental damage and illusions for an expedition 328.
Equipment, Constructs, and Items
- Battlemage Wand — used during the hot demiplane expedition 140.
- Ring of Warmth — helps protect her and Karl from cold after they pass through a teleportation gate 142.
- Steel Guardian — her transforming Field Engineer construct 241.
- Metagross Spirit Card — a card made by Karl and the centerpiece of her deck; she remains attached to it even as stronger cards make it less competitive 277 309.
Relationships
- Karl — longtime close companion and later described as her boyfriend. She supports his studies and research, adventures with him, and worries when he takes risks without telling her 89 140 235 400.
- Lisana — a close friend whom Nia helps with coursework; Lisana calls her “Sister Nia” 100 102.
- Hopp — a close friend; the two support each other despite earlier tension surrounding Karl 159 310 383.
- Mithris — a research and adventuring companion who also assists Nia’s father. Nia knows Mithris’s true identity and asks to include her in an expedition 229 318.
- Joanna — an administrator in Storm Bay whom Nia offers to assist without trying to take over her duties 235.
Notable Quotes
“Rather than delicious food, I'm more interested in how to improve my magic!” 92
“What I'm upset about is him not waiting for me! I'm upset that he's playing with his own safety.” 400