Adelana Ayika

> My name is Adelana Ayika. I am the blessed one and the leader of the Circa Clan.
>
> Adelana Ayika, Forgotten Villainy, Chapter II

Adelana Ayika is the deuteragonist of *Forgotten Villainy*. She is a Circa blessed one, and possesses the power to summon magical golden circles at will. As the leader of the Circa Clan and the Circa rebellion, she wishes to see her people gain more freedom and escape the tyranny of Weirong San.

## Appearance

Adelana is a strikingly beautiful young woman with curly black hair which is usually in a hairstyle called *suku* or *shuku:* cornrows that gather into a bun on the top of Adelana’s head. Sometimes, the edges of her hair are laid into circular swirls on her forehead. She has a wide nose, regal features, full two-toned lips, and almond-shaped golden eyes that glow while she is using her power. After being tortured, she is missing her left eye, and she starts wearing an eye patch over it. Her body is lean and muscular from training, and covered in scars from her time on the streets of Ojoewe and various battles. The backs of her hands and the tops of her feet have yellow, circular marks on them, resembling tattoos, that glow when she is using her power.

She often wears the color yellow, since she is in the Circa Clan. Typically, she dresses casually and practically, but wears nicer, patterned clothing for more formal occasions. Because she is the Circa blessed one, she is wears golden circular earrings that are about the size of her palm. She almost always has the worn yellow scarf her mother gave to her, though she doesn't always wear it as a scarf.

## Personality

Adelana is very kind-hearted and empathetic, and she wishes to help as many people as possible. This makes her a bit of an idealist at times - sometimes to a fault. Due to the pressure of being the blessed one, she is very concerned with how other people view her, and she has a need to appear perfect to everyone at all times. Unfortunately, her perfectionism makes her extremely self-critical, regretful, and reluctant to open up. She usually tries to keep up a cool, wise front to maintain the image of strength and flawlessness that others expect of her. Throughout the story, Meilian San is able to peel away Adelana's outer layers and see her true self-doubt, then help Adelana to become more confident.

## Abilities

* **The Circa Power**: Adelana is blessed by the goddess Circ with the ability to summon transparent, magical yellow circles at will. She can control them with her hands and feet and, after two power amplifications, her eyes. The circles generally have as much strength and speed as Adelana needs - though she still has a limit. They are of an indefinite thickness and can be both sharp and dull. She uses her circles to slash while fighting, and to assist her in various other purposes (like walking in the air).
	+ Power amplifications: **two** (her parents' deaths, Meilian's near-death)
* **Physical strength**: The Circa Power gives Adelana a greater capacity for strength. She is athletic and has trained herself, maximizing her strength.
* **Speed**: The Circa Power gives Adelana a much greater capacity for speed (particularly while using the power). She is athletic, maximizing her speed.
* **Endurance**: The Circa Power gives Adelana greater stamina. She is athletic, maximizing this.
* **Resilience**: The Circa Power gives Adelana greater physical resilience, meaning that she must suffer more injury and illness before dying, and can last longer before being incapacitated. She can withstand wounds that would take out any normal person.
* **Healing**: The Circa Power gives Adelana an elevated ability to heal. She heals faster.
* **Fighting prowess**: Adelana has trained herself in battle for many years, and with the Circa Power aiding her, she is a formidable fighter.
* **Charisma**: Adelana, despite lacking confidence in herself, possesses natural charisma that influences those around her to follow her and be loyal to her.

## Relationships

### Meilian San

Meilian is Adelana's girlfriend. At first, the two hated each other with a passion, as Adelana led the Circa rebellion against the Tria Empire, and Meilian was the Tria princess who wished to stamp out the Circa. Adelana defeated Meilian in a great battle, causing the latter to lose her memory. After this, their relationship was completely turned on its head as Meilian fell in love with Adelana. Though Adelana disliked and distrusted Meilian for some time, Meilian's steadfast devotion soon won her over and she grew to trust and love Meilian. Each has had her power amplified by witnessing the other be tortured - which is only possible if you love that person. Adelana finds Meilian to be funny, sweet, and beautiful, as well as a great natural leader (which she somewhat envies).

Meilian sees Adelana as being perfect in nearly every way: a good leader, kind, wise, and beautiful. Meilian wishes that Adelana could realize these things for herself, so she does her best to remind Adelana of it, even if it embarrasses Adelana.

### Isaiah Hatami

Isaiah is one of Adelana's best friends. They met when they were still children, when Isaiah and Arlo attempted to steal Adelana's food, and she accidentally revealed herself as the blessed one to them. Isaiah and Arlo became loyal to Adelana after that, and the three of them have stuck together since then. Isaiah is one of the people Adelana trusts the most, so much so that she placed him on the Circa Council. She sees him as funny, a great fighter, and she also somewhat envies his cheerful nature and natural confidence. Isaiah views her as a strong, capable leader who is also a great friend.

### Arlo Castaneda

Arlo is one of Adelana's best friends. They met when they were still children, when Arlo and Isaiah attempted to steal Adelana's food, and she accidentally revealed herself as the blessed one to them. Isaiah and Arlo became loyal to Adelana after that, and the three of them have stuck together since then. Adelana trusts Arlo deeply, so much that she put them on the Circa Council. She thinks they are very smart and a crucial member of the rebellion. Arlo thinks that Adelana is strong and competent, and they are one of the few people who knows about Adelana's secret insecurity. They do their best to reassure her and remind her that she really is a great leader, and everyone who knows her can agree on that.

### Daanis Makwa

Daanis is one of Adelana's best friends. Adelana, Isaiah, and Arlo saved Daanis from starving to death when she was 8 years old, and they all stuck together after that. Adelana and Daanis, in particular, were able to bond because they were both girls. Adelana thinks that Daanis is an incredible fighter and a truly good person. Daanis is loyal to Adelana, the leader of the Circa Clan, and she views Adelana as a strong and wise leader.

### Korinola Arcariun

Adelana is Korinola's cousin. The two were very close as children, since they had a small age difference, but they were separated and did not see each other after Adelana's parents were killed. They were reunited after Adelana joined the Circa rebellion when Korinola was 14. Once again, they became close, trusted friends, but they kept the fact that they were related a secret (so that Korinola's identity as the next in line for the Circa Power would be protected). Adelana and Korinola also share a love of and talent for singing, and they started a choir together.

### Rohan Jhaveri

Rohan is in love with Adelana. Unfortunately for him, his feelings are not reciprocated. The two of them met when Adelana first joined the Circa rebellion (she was 13 and he was 14), and he quickly developed a crush on her. He joined her friend group, and he has been trying (unsuccessfully) to win her affections since. He thinks Adelana is the most strong, kind, and beautiful person in the world, and he regards her as somewhat of a goddess. Adelana sees Rohan as reliable, loyal, and supportive, but she dislikes how highly he thinks of her.

### Weirong San

Adelana despises Weirong San. When Adelana was 6, Weirong killed both of her parents and began to hunt her down, forcing Adelana to live in hiding on the streets of Ojoewe for several years. At age 13, Adelana joined the Circa rebellion to fight against Weirong. After the Circa rebellion was discovered, Weirong had Adelana tortured, sometimes at his own hands, leading to the loss of her left eye. During the battle against him, Weirong severely beat and gravely injured Meilian San, to Adelana's horror. With this, Weirong had taken nearly everything from Adelana at some point or another: her parents, her happiness, her identity, her freedom, her dignity, her eye, and Meilian San. She loathes him with every fiber of her being, and she was glad to execute him. The hatred between them is mutual, though it's less personal on Weirong's end; he wishes to kill her and "take" the Circa Power from her because she is the Circa blessed one and is attempting to overthrow him.

### Meiying San

Meiying and Adelana have a cordial relationship. They both care deeply for Meilian San and hate Weirong San, giving them common ground. However, there is also a bit of tension between them. Adelana is bitter towards Meiying for never taking any action against Weirong, despite claiming to be against him. Meiying, though she is glad that Meilian is happier and nicer now, she still somewhat resents Adelana for "taking away" the sister she had known before.

## Trivia

* She is Yoruba-inspired.
* Her first name, *Adélànà*, means "the crown has led/opened the way" in Yoruba. This refers to the fact that Adelana is the blessed one and (technical) ruler of the Circa Clan, and she is leading The Circa rebellion towards freedom from Weirong San.
* Her surname, *Ayika*, is the word for "circle" in Yoruba. This refers to her being in the Circa Clan.
* She is WLW (woman loving woman), but her actual sexuality is never specified.
* Her name has been changed several times. She was originally called Aurelia Onesmo, which was changed to Aurelia Da'irar, then Aurelia Iyika, and finally Adelana Ayika.
* She has a good singing voice, and participates in a choir at Wura Fortress.
* She is a Cancer (with her birthday being on July 6)
* Her MBTI personality type is INFP.
* Her traditional, formal clothing is a Yoruba style which includes *Buba* (blouse), *Iro* (wrap-around skirt), and *Ipele* (a long piece of fabric that hangs over the left shoulder). However, unlike traditional Yoruba clothing, she is not usually described as wearing *Gele*, a headwrap that is important to the outfit in Yoruba culture. This is likely so that her hairstyle would be visible.
* Her hair is usually done by Daanis.
* Her hair type is 4C.