>>6178555>>6178573>>6178820>>6178585>>6178903https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UBmuXKuA14The wide-eyed girl stares at you with a clear level of fear. To reassure her that you don't mean harm, you give your hair a brush and a grin, helmet off to show that you're not some cruel faceless mook to the child. "Who's this little one?" You ask, stepping a little bit closer. "And what's all that she's wearing...?"
The older woman gives a warm smile to the girl. "This is Lotta. She's a foundling, and a brave little volunteer. As for the suit..." Katriina clicks her tongue and looks at you. "In the eyes of Mother Nature's Providence, no city may produce more food than is fit for one million people; rewards for upstanding citizens aside. Because to produce food for so many people is to overhunt and overfish and strip the soil of its nutrients, and that pushes conflict, creates interdependence, builds a shaky house of cards."
The Black Swan steps toward you, with a sly, downright fiendish sneer.
"But what if humans could subsist on something <span class="mu-i">besides</span> food?"
... What?
She gives a light laugh and throws her arm around your shoulder, speaking much quieter. "If there was a way to reduce how much people can eat, then there wouldn't need to be such strict regulations. Nobody could justify it. We could raise the population cap, or send people elsewhere to found a new city. Some of-no, <span class="mu-i">many</span> of the squatters below could be accepted into society, and live proper lives."
Lotta casts her eyes downward, gripping her hand.
"The squatters know we're about to hit them, so I went and asked for volunteers from them to spare them the certainty of the raid. Some agreed because they knew it was safer. Some saw the vision. It's not there yet, but it's close. So very close, and still, I might not be alive to see it."
The hand on your shoulder trembles.
There was a deep, primordial fear boiling under her skin, and putting it to words is causing it to surface.
"I will not be joining you for training. I've never fought anything like it, but I have observations to record. A legacy to leave. A tomorrow to give." The hand drops from your shoulder. "Even a small chance is worth everything."
The squeaking of cart wheels signals the end of discussion for Katriina, who steps away. Saemus is visibly exhausted from gathering a whole pyre's worth. "You need me to cut down some more, or is this enough?"
"That's enough for the others," Katriina answers, walking back over to the little Lotta wearing her augmented suit. The girl doesn't look like she's doing too great, but she still has to complete this small agility course. The Black Swan needs to see if the little bird might yet fly.
