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Piltovans. That’s what they call us. That’s what they call me. We live in the City of Progress, where education, science, and politics are the three pillars. Here, the sun shines all day, and the air is pure. Beyond the bridges, where the eye can no longer see, lies Zaun—the Undercity. And if you ask me, I don’t really know where it ends.
My name is Caitlyn, but I prefer Cait. Maybe because that’s what Jayce calls me. I’m an only child, with no prospects of having a brother or a sister any time soon, so my parents place all their high expectations on me. They want me to be independent, capable, smart, strong. They want me to be a fighter.
I begin my days with enforcer training. I run along the river until I can taste blood in my mouth. Then comes the shooting range and the combat classes—first, a few hours of hand-to-hand combat, then we train with standard weapons or whatever they throw at us.
After the physical exhaustion kicks in, we switch to law and politics. And when my brain and my legs stop working, I switch off.
I crawl home and into the shower, letting the hot water soothe my muscles, burning where my skin is raw from training. When I glance at myself in the mirror, at first all I see is a lanky, awkward girl, all sharp angles and long limbs. But as I keep looking, I start to notice it—the subtle softness of my curves beginning to take shape, the quiet promise of the woman I’m meant to become.
My mother always says I’ll be graceful and beautiful one day, even though my body seems to be taking its time.
Our manor is near the Academy, where I tend to spend most of my nights. I know I should be resting, but I feel most at home there. Because that’s where I find my mentor, my best friend, and—ultimately—my big brother, Jayce. My parents have always supported the Academy, but they’ve taken a liking to Jayce because of his creativity, ambition, and brilliance as a scientist.
Jayce is older than me by a few years, a young adult. He’s handsome, strong, and—much to my dismay—trying to grow a beard. I don’t like it, but he doesn’t seem to care. I think I even spotted a grey hair behind his ear the other day, but I’ll keep that to myself for now. He works under the supervision of Professor Heimerdinger, alongside Viktor.
Viktor is about the same age as Jayce, and just as kind. I’d say he’s the moderator in their work dynamic, balancing the excitement and unpredictability of Jayce’s experiments with his own calmness and reason. Viktor is from the Undercity, but he doesn’t like to talk much about his younger days in Zaun. There’s sadness in his eyes, but he has the warmest smile, especially when he’s looking at Jayce.
Tonight the plan is the same as always. I sit on top of Jayce's mahogany desk, blueprints and scribbles beneath me, looking at these two idiots trying not to set something on fire. But there's something... Something making me restless...
“So… what’s the plan, boys?” I ask.
“There’s no plan, Cait. It’s almost midnight. Please go to sleep before your mom kills me.” Jayce sighs.
“You know I’ll be back tomorrow, right? And I’ll ask you all over again. So you might as well spill the beans now about this new project.”
“Well, little Caitlyn, we’re going on a little adventure as soon as the sun rises!” Viktor says with a grin.
“Shut up, Viktor! She’s young, impressionable—and way too reckless.” Jayce frowns at me, raising an eyebrow.
I smirk. “Well then, I’ll pack my bag and meet you at the Academy entrance. If you’re going on an adventure, you should take an enforcer with you… don’t you think?”