My character is an oddball. Her father was involved in the portal research project; a mage of power and intellect. However, she was born with...or developed...a progressive condition that caused her to slowly weaken and that would end in her death.
Her father, through desperate researches and in the end some guesswork, discovered a portal that was located on a shard drifting anomalously close to the Light. Despite the dangers his studies warned him of, he took her there himself.
She returned alone, apparently completely healed of her affliction...but at a cost. Her eyes were glazed over and white, though she seemed to be able to see at least a little.
Though not a wizard, she had worked with her father while able to, and knew some of the complicated magicks that fueled the portals. Enough to be useful.