Mateo Ramirez

* Human
* Hyleft
* Tekchyk

**Mateo Ramirez** is a nervous and quiet teenager with dreams of space travel. When he least expects it, he contracts Magic Poisoning and is pulled into the Four Realms.

## Personality

Mateo is an intelligent and reserved young man. Shy and insecure, he is conflicted between the stability of an easy career, or the difficult path to an astronaut. Despite this, Mateo absorbs knowledge like a sponge, and one of the best ways to get him to smile is to get him talking about space and astronomy.

## Appearance

Mateo is a boy with tan skin, black hair, and blue eyes. He usually wears a turquoise shirt underneath a dark blue, zipped hoodie that has a light blue top half with a row of light yellow dots on the lower edge paired with regular blue jeans.

### Hyleft

Mateo's Hyleft form is primarily shades of blue, with light blue at the base of his fins and along the underside of his torso and tail while the upperside of his body is aquamarine. He has dark blue, almost black dorsal and tail fins, matching the color of his hair, with sapphire blue eyes and yellow sclera. Mateo's four-fingered hands are large and webbed, while his three-toed digitigrade feet are spindly in comparison, and both are a deeper blue than the rest of his skin.

His outfit remains largely unchanged in appearance. The only differences are that his shirt, hoodie, and pants are modified to allow for his dorsal fins and tail, and his shoes and socks are completely removed.

### Techikk

Mateo’s Techikk form is largely pink, with lavender spots along his body, as well as a shift towards lavender towards the tip of his tail. His underbelly and muzzle are peach while his horns, mandibles, stinger, and back plates are closer to grey. Mateo also has lavender antennae and a patch of scutes under his chin. The only blue on Mateo’s Tek form’s body is his solid blue eyes.

Mateo’s shirt and hoodie remain unchanged from his human or hyleft appearance. His shoes and pants however completely change. A tassled, dark blue blanket-like garment is draped across Mateo’s lower back, while his four legs are covered with dark wrappings.

### Eibua

While the majority of Mateo’s eibua form is largely a mystery, it is known to possess light blue, almost white, feathers. Presently, Mateo has not shifted fully into this form, due to eibua lacking eyes.

## History

### Early Life

Not much is currently known about Mateo's childhood, except that he was often bullied by his older cousin David for his dream of being an astronaut.

### Modern Day

#### Beginning Arc

Mateo sits in class as his teacher explains about the career fair. While there, Mateo spots a stall for Skyline Industries Space and Aeronautics Program, but before he can approach, his cousin David shows up with a package, scaring Mateo away. He and Tyson hide in a storage closet, where David briefly enters to set the box down. Mateo then stumbles and knocks the box over, spilling its contents all over him. He reaches out for Tyson, and the pair suddenly vanish. The pair appear in an unfamiliar, rainy place as Mateo notices that his fingers have become webbed.

Mateo and Tyson freak out at the former's changing body, but are interrupted by an attacking monster. The beast is driven off as Mateo unleashes a blast of water, then fire as a new figure arrives to help the pair. Introducing themselves as Tele, the hyleft escorts them to his home in Ridgepool.

Mateo continues changing, as Tele suggests enlisting the help of Nyla, the local healer. With Nyla's help, Mateo's core is protected from the warring magics within him, though she adds this is temporary, and he will eventually transform fully into one of the other races. She then sends Mateo and Tyson back to Earth.

#### Water Arc

Mateo continues having trouble with his magic and the resulting transformations. Spraying water everywhere, coughing up smoke, and sneezing out gale-force winds, he eventually sequesters himself in a bathroom. Tyson suggests that he can hide in the realms to deal with the latter, and the pair soon vanish.

Mateo and Tyson appear above a group of creatures playing a game and promptly slam on the table. Looking around, they see a completely new setting. Mateo and Tyson explore around, the latter helping the former out of a panic before going to ask one of the bug-people at a stall for directions to a tavern. The stall-owner refuses to answer, and after examining what the pair have on them, takes a soda bottle from Mateo's bag and begins trying to guzzle it down despite the carbonation burning his throat (to Tyson's amusement). Mateo then overhears a pair of voices discussing an elf.

Going over to try and ask Tessek for information immediately leads to her and her companion fawning over Mateo and Tyson and confusing them for baby elves and hoping to adopt them. When Mateo suggests that he could just pay Rannum for information, Tessek snaps at him and they begin to fight. Tessek's companion gladly points the two towards a bar, where the elven hero of prophecy sits with a drink. Mateo and Tyson approach Gwen and try to explain their situation, to no avail. Upon pressing her, she proceeds to flip Mateo onto his back and nearly kill him, only to stop upon seeing his phone.

Outside, Mateo shows exactly what his phone can do, playing a recording, much to Gwen's amazement. When she asks to borrow it, Mateo declines, explaining that while every human has one, they "are considered very personal items." Still slightly in disbelief, she gives the two humans a quick rundown of the Great War. Gwen, ecstatic that she's found actual humans in the Realms, decides to help Mateo and Tyson however she can and offers to escort them to a research team in Beryl City. The trio make their way to the nearest Gate (Mateo having a private freakout that humans apparently had wormhole travel), and take it to the Water Realm.

They pass through to Beryl City, Gwen giving an explanation on how Gate travel works as they explore the city. Mateo notices Gwen seems slightly lost, which she denies as Tele appears and is happy to see them. He explains his desires to attend the elven colleges, but admits his chances are slim in that regard. The hyleft shows them to ARC, the research group Mateo and Tyson were looking for. When asked how they plan to get to them before ARC leaves, Tele suggests swimming.

On seeing Mateo's horror at the idea, Gwen reminds Tele that she and Tyson also need to reach ARC, and thus swimming is not an option. Thus, the four make their way on foot to the outskirts, Mateo revealing that he doesn't want to use magic and learning that elves have no magic at all but want it. Along the way, Tele explains that ARC is here in Beryl City because the area has been growing increasingly weak and unstable, to the point where dead zones are beginning to appear. He also reveals that at one point Water magic could carve cities from stone, but no longer can, as they arrive at their destination.

Lysanthir, leader of ARC, and the Mayor of Beryl Ravine are having a private meeting. Mateo watches as the Mayor denies ARC's assistance and Lysanthir's glee at meeting Gwen. When Mateo attempts to speak with the elf as he and Gwen leave, the Mayor creates a wave to scare Mateo away. Mateo decides to do his own research. After several failed attempts to prove that they're human, Mateo and Tyson follow Tele to his home for dinner and rest. There, they meet his sister Kala and his mother. Just as Tyson confirms that the food is edible, Gwen arrives to meet the humans, and upon learning that ARC refused to listen explains that she can explain their situation to Lysanthir the next day, and is invited to stay the night.

Later, Mateo looks at his now-normal hand as he sits in his bed, wondering if he'll ever be able to return home. Depressed that he can't see the stars due to the Water Realm's eternal rainstorm, Mateo steps out for some air, waking Tele as he walks through the city. He gets startled as the hyleft emerges from the water and climbs up to chat.

Mateo asks if Tele ever feels like he's trapped in his own life, being guided along a path he doesn't want. Upon learning that the human's been feeling this way for longer than he's had magic, Tele responds that Mateo shouldn't have to wait to be asked what he wants, and clarifies his statement by voicing his desire to attend the elven college, but adds that due to his species, he most likely won't be accepted. As Mateo begins to respond that just setting your mind to a goal won't exactly help, the pair are interrupted by a noise.

The sound was that of an aqualotl stepping onto the dock-street, startling Mateo and Tele. The monster screams, slamming its head into the fence. Mateo briefly scares it away with a fireball (his hand shifting to a Techik's). Tele distracts the aqualotl with a wave and tells Mateo to get the guards, who laugh him off. A second aqualotl then jumps off a roof and roars, preparing to attack Mateo before he's saved by Gwen swiping her sword at it, as it retreats to a safe distance and snarls. The guards explain they aren't trained to fight an aqualotl, much to Gwen's annoyance, as Mateo rushes off to check on Tele.

He finds Tele huddled behind some crates, bleeding from a wound on his thigh and shushing him. Tyson appears wondering where Mateo had gone off to, and the first Aqualotl erupts from he docks between the three, roars, and bites Tyson on the leg before going back into the water. Mateo looks around for anyone who could help, but the only person around is Tele, who is in no good condition to do so. Steeling himself, Mateo dives into the water, shifting into his full hyleft form for the first time. **(insert picture of Matleft here)**

Mateo looks around for Tyson and the aqualotl briefly, eventually spotting them deeper in the water. On seeing that Tyson is bleeding profusely, Mateo slams his hands into the monster's head before it can bite Tyson before it flings him away. Mateo, remembering something Tele told him earlier, slams his tail into it in response before grabbing Tyson and swimming to the surface.

After making sure Tyson is okay and back on the docks, Mateo gets dragged back underwater by the aqualotl. The monster slams him into the lakebed (incidentally letting him learn that hyleft have gills). Mateo decides to fight back, first biting the aqualotl before swimming away. Recalling another tidbit, he squeezes in between a crack in some rocks and under the docks. As Mateo scrambles out of the water, the aqualotl prepares to strike, but not before Mateo shoots fire at it, scaring it back underwater. He takes a moment to breathe, discovering an egg that was hidden away.

Mateo brings the egg, along with the first aqualotl, to where Gwen was left fighting the second. He relinquishes it to the pair, who proceed to leave. Gwen notices his new changes (Techik hands and a stinger tail) as Lysanthir arrives. The elf calms the crowd of approaching hylefts (chiding Gwen for dropping her sword and failing to save them as he does so). Mateo takes the initiative to get Lysanthir's attention, causing him to take full notice of his condition, and the trio head off to collect Tyson.

Later, in an underwater chamber, Tyson, Gwen, and Mateo recover from their ordeal while Lysanthir and the mayor discuss the situation. The mayor accepts the offer to join ARC, as Lysanthir turns his attention to the other three. Tyson's leg and Mateo's tail have been tended to, and the humans properly introduce themselves. Mateo explains how he wound up with his condition as well as about his necklace, which the elf reaches out to touch.

Remembering Nyla's warning, Mateo recoils, though Lysanthir remarks that he's going to have to let someone handle it eventually. He continues by offering the trio to be ambassadorsto ARC on their journey to the Fire Realm where they should meet with a man named Aydred. Lysanthir continues to openly fantasize about the things they will accomplish together. Checking with Tyson and Gwen, Mateo accepts the offer, though not without some doubts.

The next morning, Gwen, Tyson, and Mateo (who has fully returned to his normal appearance), prepare to set out. As Nyla arrives on the scene, she disregards Lysanthir before denying that she has ever met Mateo when asked about his necklace and inviting Tele to be her apprentice, which he eagerly accepts. As they chat, Mateo notices that he's beginning to shift back, and grabs Tyson before they vanish.

Reappearing in the bathroom, Tyson remarks they were there for 24 hours. Before their conversation can continue, Jason interrupts them before leaving the bathroom. Mateo can only think about how much of an isekaii his life has become.

## Abilities

* **Magic:** Mateo can use Water, Fire, and Air magic.
* **Transformation:** Mateo can transform into a hyleft, techikk, or eibua. This ability CAN be focused, but using magic will eventually force a transformation into the associated species.
* **Realm Shift:** Using magic on Earth will cause Mateo, along with anyone touching him, to shift into one of the other realms.

## Trivia

* Mateo can speak Spanish, but is self-conscious about how his skill in the language is not as good as his older family members.

## Gallery

Mateo's Hyleft appearanceMateo's Tekchyik appearance