Name: Catalyst IV. "Letitia".
Gender: Female
Race: Homunculus, otherwise known as an Artificial Human
Appearance: At a glance, she appears to be normal, but her status as an Artificial Human becomes more and more evident upon closer inspection. Snow white hair, crimson-red irises, and porcelain skin come to mind. She looks quite beautiful, but her eerily symmetrical features may throw a particularly observant person off. Typically wears whatever she can find or is given to her; she doesn't care much for it, so long it provides adequate coverage.
The numerical symbol for 'four' is branded onto her right shoulder. Whenever she channels her mana, her magical circuits flare to life and her eyes glow a pale red.
Birthplace: Created in the depths of an alchemist's laboratory in the city of Linmark.
Status or Nobility?: As a part of the Catalyst Project, Letitia is the fourth to emerge from the vats. Each Homunculus is a valuable asset, and she is special in that her 'defect' makes for an interesting development that requires further study.
Knack for magic or fighting prowess: It's more apt to call a Homunculus 'a clump of magical circuits resembling a human', than an actual person. Due to the process of their creation, they have immense amounts of mana to fuel their spells. Running out of mana, however, will likely result in a comatose state, or even death. Formed from primordial clay and brought to life with the power of the storm, Letitia is particularly attuned to elements of Earth and Lightning. In addition, by flooding her circuits with mana, she can 'strengthen' her body or things that she comes into contact with to improve its power and durability for as long as she can channel it. Conversely, she can do the inverse, to shatter harder surfaces.
Personality: Letitia is typically described as cold and emotionless by most people. They would be correct; in that, she has yet to develop a proper personality yet. In fact, her sense of self has yet to be properly nurtured, and she frequently refers to herself in the third person. She wonders what it feels like to be truly human, and as such, is curious about the things people normally do.
Brief Background: The first thing the Homunculus could recall is her memories of the tank. She found herself suspended in a vat of warm, magical liquid. She looked up and peered through the glass, spotting several people who were examining her. However, her attention was on the man in front of her. He smiling at her, his hand on the glass. She did not know why, but she ended up mirroring his movement. His expression felt... warm. Even warmer than the false womb that had encapsulated her. Soon, she fell asleep once more.
Every time she awoke within the tank, she would see him. He was there without fail, smiling at her. She could not understand what he was saying from behind the glass, but it felt like he was speaking to her, somehow. When the time came for her to leave the safety of the tank, Catalyst IV would come to know this man as 'Father'. The rest of the Caretakers were not as kind as he was. Over time, they managed to teach her how to speak and to read and write. It turned out that Homunculi were prodigious, in this regard.
The Homunculus became fonder and fonder of Father. She was not certain why but she especially liked it when he gave her a name: Letitia. The other Caretakers never called her anything except "Number Four", but she was supposed to keep it a secret. Letitia wondered what her name meant, and Father told her that it means 'gladness', or 'joy'. He said it once belonged to someone he held very dear to him. She did not understand. Were names a possession to be held by someone? If so, why did she have one?
Over the course of a few weeks, she was taught how to channel her powers. First against logs and stones. Then against practice dummies. Then, against live targets. She did not understand the purpose of these exercises, but she complied. Curiously enough, she did not encounter any of her other brothers and sisters, even if she did know that she was not the only Homunculus here. Still, times marches on, and she began to understand her capabilities.
It all changed one night when she received a strange vision. This was unprecedented. Homunculi do not dream. Was she defective? She consulted Father about the situation, but cryptically, he urged her to keep it a secret. She did not understand, but complied, for a time. However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to ask one of the other Caretakers. The man did not seem to understand why either, and pulled Letitia into a room to examine her. Upon completion, he sent her away and told her to wait in her room.
Letitia was not certain as to what came after, but it seemed like there was much debate about something. In the middle of the night, however, Father visited her room. He gave her strange things. A backpack, full of supplies. A set of clothes. A map. She did not understand. He told her that she did not have much time and that she needed to leave. She did not understand. Why did she have to leave? Was she defective? Why won't he come with her? With no time to answer her questions, the man said that if she found the Seraph, she could find the answers for herself. Father then ran off, intent on distracting the other Caretakers long enough for her to make her escape.
She did not understand.
But she complied, regardless.
Following his instructions, she exited through a path she had never known even existed. Soon, she found herself in a large room. It was cold and dark. She could not see the ceiling, and instead of torchlight, an infinitely distant orb in the air provided light. The wind blew on her skin as she wondered what to do. Following Father's instructions, she donned her cloak and walked. The twisting pathways of the city of Linmark were alien to her, but she found her way to one of the gates. Letitia was prepared to make the trek all the way to Khrousahvell on foot when a kindly old carriage driver stopped her. She accepted his offer, and soon, she was well on her way to visit the Festival of Lights.
To this day, she wonders what became of Father. She also thinks of who this Seraph is, and why she dreamt at all. Perhaps she will find out, soon enough.
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Inertia