Name: Niketas Marōneos Age: 19 Nationality / Region: Roman (Phoenice Paralia, Oriens) Role: Undergraduate Class: First-year Philosophy & Late-Roman Studies University: Imperial Pandidakterion of Constantinople -Speaks in metaphors, often says things like "Isn’t it better to let things rot than to fix them wrong?" -Insists on thematic outfits even for class presentations. -Keeps a notebook of failed conversations. -Surprises friends with quiet, genuine gestures of care. Niketas grew up in a cluttered apartment in Tyre’s port district, above a half-functioning wax icon workshop run by his grandfather. His family expected him to become a deacon or bookkeeper, but he instead spent his nights on esoteric theology forums and translating old Greek curses into memes. Despite being raised Maronite, his relationship to faith is more mystical than doctrinal: he treats religious icons like emotionally charged art pieces and wears his cross more like armor than declaration. Moving to the Imperial Pandidakterion of Constantinople marked a turning point: he finally found a space where his contradictions thrived. Professors called him "brilliant but weird". He sleeps through lectures, yet posts brilliant midnight essays. -Keeps dozens of open browser tabs at all times, most of them obscure theological PDFs, iconography references, or indie music playlists titled things like “Hollow Cedar Dust” or “Orthodox Angst.” -Repaints his nails every Sunday night in total silence, considering it a ritual of rebirth; if chipped midweek, he leaves them imperfect on purpose — “a reminder of inevitable decay.” -Avoids saying anyone’s name out loud unless he deeply trusts them — he believes names carry spiritual weight and shouldn't be spoken casually. -Eats cold fig jam directly from the jar during long, melancholic all-nighters — he insists it helps him think through paradoxes. -Carries a small pouch of crushed incense resin in his backpack — not for religious use, just to smell when stressed. He says it “reminds him of forgotten rooms in forgotten churches.”