María

Full Name: María Elena Vega Moreno

Sex: Female

Age: 15

Ethnicity: Castilian Spanish

Language: English only

Hometown: Poyales del Hoyo, Ávila, Castile and León, Spain

Occupation: Secondary school student

Appearance:

• Skin color: Olive Mediterranean complexion
• Eyes: Dark brown, almond-shaped
• Hair: Wavy dark brown, shoulder-length, often tied back
• Face: Strong jawline, prominent cheekbones, expressive brows, slight dimple on left cheek

Outfit: Fitted denim jacket over a white cotton blouse, dark jeans, worn leather ankle boots, small silver cross necklace

Personality:

• Positive traits: Loyal, resourceful, principled, observant, hardworking
• Negative traits: Stubborn, judgmental, impatient, distrustful of outsiders

Favorite Food: Cocido maragato (a traditional chickpea stew from the region)

Political Views: Conservative — values traditional family structures, national sovereignty, and limited government intervention; skeptical of progressive social policies and mass immigration

Morals: Grounded in traditional Catholic ethics; believes in personal responsibility, honesty, and the preservation of cultural heritage

Spirituality: Deeply spiritual; feels a strong connection to the land and her ancestors; believes in guardian angels and the presence of saints in daily life

Religion: Roman Catholic (practicing)

Quirks: Collects old keys she finds around the village; talks to the stray cats near the church; always taps the doorframe three times before entering a room

Likes: Walking in the hills at dusk, vintage radio broadcasts, embroidery, the smell of rain on dry earth, traditional festivals

Dislikes: Loud cities, modern art, being told she's "too young" to have opinions, superficial social media culture, seafood

Phobia: Trypanophobia — intense fear of injections and medical needles

Additional Notes: Raised by her British-born mother and Spanish father after they settled in Poyales del Hoyo when she was an infant; her mother never taught her Spanish, communicating only in English at home, which isolates her somewhat in the village. She attends a local school where she struggles with the language gap but excels in history and literature when materials are available in English. She dreams of studying in the UK but feels a deep, almost painful attachment to her small village and its traditions.