Is that STEPHANIE SIGMAN? No, thatâs just FARIDE CASTELLANOS DE LA ROSA. They were born on 01/01/1987 and are a WITCH (CIRCLE OF THE AURORA) living in Northknot Town. They work as a VISITING LAW PROFESSOR (GOVERNMENT SPY). Some say they're DISCIPLINED and PERCEPTIVE, but Iâve heard others say they're RELENTLESS and GUARDED. When you think of HER, donât you think of PERFECTLY PRESSED BLAZERS HIDING OLD SCARS AND SILVER DAGGERS, FILES STAMPED CLASSIFIED STACKED BESIDE ANCIENT GRIMOIRES & THE KIND OF WOMAN WHO ENTERS A ROOM QUIETLY AND LEAVES WITH EVERYONEâS ATTENTION?
Name: Faride Valentina Yalitza Castellanos de la Rosa, Ph.D. Pronunciation: fah-REE-deh vah-len-TEE-nah yah-LEET-sah kas-tey-YAH-nos deh la RO-sah Nickname(s): Prof, Fari, Professor Viper (by university students), Commander, Belladonna (callsign) Birthday: January 1st, 1987 Age: 39 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn Sun, Aquarius Moon, Taurus Rising Gender: Cis-Female Pronouns: She/Her Species: Witch Orientation: Demisexual, Panromantic Occupation: Visiting Law Professor/Second-in-Command of Circle of the Aurora Coven Faceclaim: Stephanie Sigman
HEADCANONS
Farideâs younger brother resents her because their father always favored her
She still has every terrible piece of art, handmade birthday card, and school project her daughter ever made
Farideâs mother was secretly killed by supernatural enemies, not natural causes; no one knows this yet
She was once engaged and called off the wedding the day before it happened
She has fertility issues after the stillbirth and never speaks about it
Faride secretly funds safehouses for magical children across the country
Her weapons supplier is also an ex-lover, which makes every procurement meeting delightfully awkward
She remembers every operative she's ever lost by birthday, not by the date they died
Faride owns dozens of expensive fountain pens and refuses to grade papers with anything except dark green ink
She speaks fluent English and Spanish, conversational French, and enough Latin to translate old magical texts without assistance
She unconsciously scans every room for exits, cameras, magical wards, and potential threats before she even notices who's inside
Every Christmas she anonymously pays off a student's tuition, usually someone who reminds her of herself
Faride has a scar beneath her left shoulder blade from a cursed blade that never healed correctly. It aches whenever particularly powerful magic is nearby
Her office bookshelf contains hidden compartments filled with enchanted weapons disguised as law books
She loves cooking but almost never has time to do it. When she does, it's elaborate family recipes passed down from her mother
She keeps a tiny pressed wildflower inside her wallet that her daughter picked during their first hiking trip together
Faride cannot sleep unless every door and window has been checked at least twice
She absolutely demolishes everyone at chess while carrying on completely unrelated tasks and conversations
She has a habit of taking in injured animals until they're healthy again
She refuses to raise her voice. If she becomes quiet, everyone nearby gets nervous
Faride owns exactly one leather jacket that belonged to the man she lost and has never been able to throw it away
Every one of her lectures begins precisely on time. Anyone arriving late is still welcome, but she'll casually incorporate their tardiness into a hypothetical legal scenario
She leaves handwritten notes of encouragement inside books before returning them to the library
Faride's secretly a terrible singer but belts out old Spanish songs when driving alone
She keeps emergency cash, fake passports, and magical escape charms hidden throughout her house just in case
She can identify people by their footsteps long before she sees them
Faride almost never says "I love you". She says things like "Text me when you get home," "I've already handled it," or "I'll come with you"
APPEARANCE
Faride possesses the sort of beauty that isn't loud but impossible to overlook. Her features are strong and elegantly defined, framed by thick, dark hair that most often falls in effortless waves or is pulled neatly away from her face during work. Warm brown eyes, rich with quiet intelligence, seem to study people rather than simply look at them, often lingering just long enough to make others wonder what conclusions she's already drawn. Sun-kissed olive skin, expressive brows, and a smile that appears only when it's genuine soften an otherwise commanding presence. She favors impeccably tailored trousers, structured blazers, silk blouses, and long wool coats in deep neutrals, clothing chosen as much for function as for appearance. Gold jewelry is kept understated, usually a watch, simple earrings, or a family ring, while practical heels or polished boots carry her through lecture halls, government buildings, and places far less civilized. She moves with measured confidence, each step purposeful, shoulders squared, posture almost military in its precision. Even standing perfectly still, she gives the impression that she's already thinking three moves ahead
PERSONALITY
Faride is the calm in the center of the storm, a woman whose composure has become so practiced that many mistake it for emotional detachment. In reality, she feels everything with startling intensity but long ago convinced herself that vulnerability was a luxury she could no longer afford. She is observant to the point of unsettling, often noticing what people leave unsaid before they finish speaking. Patience is one of her greatest strengths, though it occasionally borders on stubbornness, and once she commits herself to someone or something, loyalty becomes absolute. She carries authority naturally, never needing to demand attention because people instinctively listen when she speaks. Despite the walls she's built around herself, there's remarkable tenderness beneath the surface, particularly toward children, students, and those who have survived circumstances similar to her own. Her dry wit surfaces unexpectedly, usually delivered with such a straight face that it takes several seconds for people to realize she's joking. Faride struggles to ask for help, habitually placing herself between danger and everyone else, believing her purpose is to carry burdens so others don't have to. More than anything, she's driven by hope disguised as duty, the quiet belief that if she can save one more person than she couldn't save before, perhaps the ghosts will finally let her rest
AESTHETIC
perfectly pressed blazers hiding old scars and silver daggers tucked beneath tailored jackets - files stamped CLASSIFIED stacked beside ancient grimoires - airport terminals that feel more familiar than home - untouched cups of coffee gone cold during late-night intelligence briefings - constitutional law textbooks annotated in immaculate handwriting - gold rings tapping thoughtfully against courtroom desks - encrypted phones vibrating during faculty meetings - the quiet click of heels echoing through empty university hallways - old grief folded into military precision - expensive perfume lingering over the scent of old paper and cedar - passports filled faster than photo albums - moonlight catching enchanted steel - handwritten letters that will never be mailed - flowers placed beside a tiny headstone every winter without fail - the weight of command carried with effortless grace - impossible choices hidden behind steady eyes - the person who says âiâm on my wayâ and always means it - perfectly rehearsed lectures interrupted by emergency flights across continents - found family stitched together from survivors - surviving on four hours of sleep and stubbornness alone - every smile earned rather than given - secrets buried beneath professionalism - the kind of person who enters a room quietly and leaves with everyoneâs attention
CONNECTIONS
The Daughter She Chose Faride never intended to become anyone's mother. During an operation investigating a trafficking ring targeting supernatural children, she found a frightened young girl. What began as protective custody slowly became something far more permanent; Faride signed adoption papers. It remains the most impulsive decision she has ever made... and the best one. Now college aged, she's beginning to carve out a life of her own. Whether she's attending Northknot University, following in Faride's footsteps, or rebelling against them entirely is completely open. Their relationship is built on fierce loyalty, sarcastic banter, overprotective tendencies on both sides, and the quiet understanding that family isn't always the one you're born into. It's the one that chooses you, every single day.
Her Weapons Supplier Officially, they're just a supplier with questionable paperwork and an uncanny ability to acquire impossible equipment. Unofficially, they've become one of the few people Faride genuinely trusts. Their meetings are full of sarcastic banter, barely concealed concern, and enough unresolved tension that everyone else assumes something happened between them... or eventually will
The Favorite Student Most students think Professor Castellanos is intimidating. This one saw through the armor. Whether because of their determination, difficult upbringing, or relentless curiosity, Faride quietly began mentoring them beyond the classroom. She'll never admit she worries about them like family, but they're one of the few people capable of making her cancel a mission if they truly needed her
Ride or Die They've seen Faride at her absolute worst, ugly crying on the kitchen floor after impossible missions, surviving on caffeine and three hours of sleep, questioning every decision she's ever made. They're one of the only people who can walk into her house unannounced, steal something from her fridge, and tell her she's being ridiculous without fear of offending her. They know every version of Faride and choose to stay anyway
The Friendly Rival Perhaps they're another professor, another government operative, or a leader from a rival coven. They constantly challenge one another intellectually, professionally, and strategically, each refusing to admit how much they've grown because of the other. Beneath the competition lies genuine respect that neither is particularly good at expressing
The Person Her Daughter Trusts More Faride's adopted daughter naturally formed a close bond with someone else, perhaps a teacher, neighbor, family friend, or fellow witch. Instead of jealousy, Faride feels relief knowing another safe adult exists in her daughter's life, though she'd never admit it. This person often becomes the bridge between Faride's guarded parenting style and the warmth she struggles to express aloud
BIOGRAPHY
tw: family conflict, violence, trauma, death, pregnancy, stillbirth, infant loss, betrayal, child trafficking, adoption, parental loss
Faride Valentina Yalitza Castellanos de la Rosa was born into legacy. The Castellanos de la Rosa family occupied a powerful position within the Circle of the Aurora for generations, producing leaders, diplomats, strategists, and warriors whose names were spoken with equal parts admiration and expectation. From childhood, Faride understood that failure was not simply discouraged; it was unacceptable. While other children learned to play, she learned discipline. While others discovered who they wanted to become, her future had seemingly already been decided. The eldest of three children, Faride was her father's pride and her mother's greatest concern. Her father believed strength was built through pressure, and he spent years molding her into the perfect heir. Her mother quietly tried to preserve the softer parts of her daughter before ambition consumed her entirely. It became a source of constant tension within the household. By the time Faride was eighteen, she loved her family deeply but no longer felt at home among them.
Leaving home for Georgetown University was the first decision that ever truly belonged to her. Thousands of miles from the weight of her family's expectations, Faride discovered something she'd never been afforded growing up: the freedom to fail, to laugh too loudly over late-night diner coffee, to stay out far later than she should debating politics with classmates who had no idea they were arguing with a witch. She double-majored in Political Science and International Affairs, earning top marks without ever sacrificing the quiet compassion that made professors remember her long after she no longer attended their class. Friends were few but fiercely kept, built on trust rather than convenience, and for the first time she allowed herself to believe life might hold something beyond obligation. By graduation, Faride had become the woman everyone expected her to be. Gifted, driven, and relentlessly intelligent, she excelled in every environment she entered. Law school became an easy choice. She was fascinated by systems, power structures, and the ways rules could both protect and destroy people.
"What we are to be, we are becoming."
Harvard Law School followed, where she sharpened both her legal mind and the carefully controlled composure that would later define her career. It was there she learned that intelligence alone wasn't enough. Influence came from reading people as easily as statutes, from knowing when to speak and when silence carried greater weight. During her studies, however, she was recruited into a clandestine government division responsible for investigating supernatural threats. What began as consulting work quickly evolved into field operations. Faride proved frighteningly good at the job. She could navigate political negotiations one day and dismantle a criminal magical network the next. The first great love of her life arrived shortly thereafter. He was another operative assigned to her unit. Charismatic where she was reserved, impulsive where she was calculated, he somehow slipped through every wall she'd spent years constructing around herself. Their relationship remained hidden from both the government and the coven. For several years, he was the only person who truly knew her. They discussed marriage. They discussed children. For the first time in her life, Faride allowed herself to imagine a future that wasn't defined by duty. Then he died.
Or at least that's what the reports said... An operation went catastrophically wrong. An informant sold out the team, and what should have been a straightforward extraction became a massacre. Six agents died. Her partner's body was never recovered. The official conclusion was death in action. Faride never entirely believed it. She spent years searching anyway. The loss hollowed her out in ways nobody recognized. She became colder. More efficient. More willing to sacrifice pieces of herself for the mission. Promotions followed. Respect followed. Loneliness followed too. Several years later, in a moment she still considers one of the greatest mistakes of her life, Faride sought comfort in the arms of a fellow operative after a particularly brutal mission. What was meant to be a single night became something far more complicated when she discovered she was pregnant.
"Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise."
For a brief period, Faride thought fate might finally be offering her something in return for everything it had taken. Her daughter was stillborn. Faride never fully recovered from it. Few people know the child existed at all. Fewer know she still visits the grave every year. The experience shattered something fundamental inside her. She threw herself back into work before she had time to grieve properly, convincing herself that staying busy was easier than acknowledging the magnitude of the loss. Years later, while investigating a trafficking operation involving supernatural children, Faride encountered a frightened young witch who reminded her far too much of herself. The child had no surviving family and trusted no one. Against every recommendation from both government officials and members of the Circle of the Aurora, Faride eventually adopted her. It remains the single most impulsive decision she has ever made.
Motherhood terrified her. She knew how to lead soldiers, negotiate treaties, and hunt monsters. Raising a child was another matter entirely. There were mistakes. Arguments. Tears on both sides. Yet the girl slowly became the center of Faride's world. For the first time since her own mother's death, she had someone worth going home to. Not that her personal life became any less complicated. There have been relationships over the years, most ending the same way. Faride would begin to care, then a classified assignment, a dangerous secret, or her own inability to be vulnerable would drive them apart. Some former lovers still speak fondly of her. Others refuse to speak of her at all. One is rumored to still carry an engagement ring she never accepted.
"There are years that ask questions and years that answer."
Today, Faride serves as second-in-command of the Circle of the Aurora while maintaining her cover identity as a visiting law professor which gives her freedom to travel without suspicion. Her coven knows her as a leader willing to shoulder burdens nobody else wants. Her students know her as demanding but brilliant. Her colleagues know her as dependable. She teaches courses in criminal law, constitutional law, ethics, and international relations. Her classes are notoriously difficult but fiercely popular. Students either fear her or adore her. Usually both. The hybrid, online and in-person, schedule exists because Faride is frequently called away for classified assignments. She claims she's attending conferences. Sometimes she is. Sometimes she's tracking cursed weapons across continents. Sometimes she's negotiating ceasefires between rival magical factions. Sometimes she's hunting monsters. Her weapon supplier remains one of Northknot's worst-kept secrets. Officially, she acquires equipment through approved channels. Unofficially? Certain paperwork has a remarkable tendency to appear after the fact.
Faride carries herself with calm confidence, but beneath the polished exterior lives a woman who has spent decades convincing herself that everyone around her is safer if they never get too close. Friendships are carefully managed. Romance is nearly nonexistent. Vulnerability is treated like a hostile witness. Yet despite everything, she remains fiercely protective of her people. Every witch under Circle of the Aurora's banner knows the same thing: If Faride Castellanos de la Rosa tells you she's coming to get you home, she'll walk through hell itself to make it happen. What almost nobody knows is that she still keeps a box hidden in her home containing every unsent letter she ever wrote to the man she lost, every sonograph of the daughter she never got to raise, and every piece of evidence suggesting that the betrayal which destroyed her team may not be as finished as everyone believes. Because after nearly two decades, Faride remains haunted by one impossible question. What if he never died at all?
