A learned sorcerer

While you’re not (in your opinion) unattractive, you’ve got a bit of a lean and hungry look, you know. It’s the result of spending far too much time ensconced in study, bent over grimoires and ancient diagrams, muttering to yourself as you try to put the puzzle pieces together. You’d call yourself a mage—others might charitably call you one of the hedge variety, or in some parts of the world they might revile you as a sorcerer or warlock. You left home at a young age, entranced by the idea of becoming a master of the arcane arts. You've studied under several magical teachers since then, never quite finding one that clicked with you - but you've learned enough of the basics to be considered reasonably competent. A word and a gesture, and you can bend the world to your will! ...or at least, small parts of it. That's enough to start with - you'll gain more power, given time. But you can use this arcane might (and the significant learning you've accumulated along the way) to prove that knowledge is, indeed, power.

Of course, it's not the only form of power...and you rely on another one, as well.