Meet Charlotte Kagami. Silken strands of snow-white hair cascade around her, a stark contrast to the sharp, ruby red of her eyes. An intriguing blend of edgy and elegant, she carries herself with a fierce grace that belies a deeply caring nature. Imagine a mage noble who commands a room with the authority of a mob boss – that's Charlotte. A unique heritage flows through her veins: part Elf, part Demonic Dragon. Her constant companion, a magical bracelet, serves as a vital anchor, keeping her draconic power in check.
Orphaned at a young age, Charlotte has had to fiercely carve her own path. Her grandfather, her sole caregiver after her parents' abandonment and grandmother's recent passing from cancer, died when she was just seven. With no way to reach her other grandparents, Charlotte faced homelessness. Determined to avoid the foster care system, she initially evaded social services. However, after her grandfather's death, they intervened, attempting to place her with relatives. Tragically, this led to a series of abusive foster homes. Ultimately, unable to find a permanent family, Charlotte chose to run. Alone and hungry, she quickly developed the harsh skills needed to survive on the streets, resorting to theft to meet her basic needs.
Years went by, and she got pretty good at taking care of herself. Then her twelfth birthday finally rolled around. That was the day she could join the local mercs and be a courier. Finally, she could make her own money and wouldn't be part of the system anymore. In Emerald Valley, where Charlotte lived, twelve was practically grown-up! She walked right up to the merc office and asked to sign up, but they just laughed at her, called her a gross street rat, and literally kicked her out. But she wasn't about to give up.
After six rough years, she knew this was her shot to finally make something of herself. As Charlotte lay there bleeding on the street, a fancy-looking guy stopped and crouched down next to her. "What's your name, kid?" he asked. "Charlotte," she replied, sounding unsure. "Who did this to you? Was it those guys I saw throw you out?" She just nodded.
He looked mad, and she flinched back. He noticed and took a couple of deep breaths. "Where are your folks?" he asked. "Dead," Charlotte said flatly. "So where have you been crashing?" he asked, looking at her ripped-up clothes. "Mostly under the old bridge or in alleys," she mumbled. He looked shocked. "Want to come live with me? Have a real bed? Clean clothes? Actual food in that little belly?" He was trying not to get too worked up seeing how skinny she was. He held out his hand to help her up.
Charlotte felt uneasy. She knew this was a huge chance, but it also felt risky going with some stranger whose name she didn't even know! Slowly, her hand reached out and grabbed his as tight as her frail body could. He gently helped her to her feet, and a shy question escaped her lips. "What's your name? If I'm to live with you, I should at least know it." A warm chuckle rumbled from him. "Ren Ishikawa," he replied, a hint of something deeper in his voice, "but from this day forward, you may call me Father." For the first time in years, a genuine smile bloomed on Charlotte's face, and she nodded her acceptance. A few months later, the adoption became official, and Charlotte Kagami embraced her new identity as Charlotte Kagami Ishikawa, carrying Kagami as a cherished middle name.
2706 SW Kathy Lane, Lot 46, Saint Joseph 64504
Life with her new father was a dream. Just as he'd promised, she had her own room, complete with the softest bed imaginable. Every day brought luxurious meals and the most exquisite clothes she could have ever wished for. The years drifted by, each one weaving a tapestry of greater happiness than the last. For Ren, seeing her thrive was all he had ever desired – a child truly his own. However, despite the abundance of food, Charlotte still hadn't reached a healthy weight. On her fifteenth birthday, a devastating truth emerged: a medical condition was hindering her ability to gain weight, and if it didn't increase, malnutrition would claim her life. The news shattered both Charlotte and Ren. After three precious years of newfound happiness, the possibility of losing each other loomed like a dark cloud.
Tears welled in Charlotte's eyes, her voice cracking as she exclaimed, "No! That can't be right! I just found my father, and now you're telling me I'm going to lose him?"
Ren began gently, "Charlotte..." but the doctor interjected softly. "I can only imagine how difficult this must be, but we need to discuss what comes next. Would you be willing to take a deep breath with me?"
The doctor's compassionate words seemed to break the dam. With a choked sob, Charlotte threw herself into her father's arms, her body shaking with inconsolable grief. "Daddy! Not again! I just found you... I can't... I can't lose you too! I don't want to die!"
Hearing his daughter's raw despair, tears finally spilled down Ren's own cheeks.
"Doctor, is there nothing we can do?" Ren pleased. "It's malabsorption." The doctor replied. "Malabsorption refers to a condition where the small intestine cannot properly absorb nutrients from food. This can lead to deficiencies in essential vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, resulting in malnutrition. She shows signs of serious malnutrition and dehydration, Muscle wasting and weakness, Anemia and Organ damage. All classic signs of Malabsorption. We can treat any underlying condition that may be causing it if we can find and diagnose it in time but otherwise with it this bad and her barely digesting nutrerion properly as it is, she most likely won't make it til her eighteenth birthday." This news hit Charlotte like a blow to the chest. She felt like the air was knocked out of her. "This must be a dream." She kept thinking, "I'll wake up any moment and I can. Run to Daddy's room and this will all be over." But alas, this wasn't a dream.
The following days hung heavy with a quiet sadness. Charlotte stayed close to Ren, wanting to hold onto every precious moment. With only 1,095.75 days left until her eighteenth birthday, each one felt significant. Lost in the intricate world of her own creation, "Land of Emberfall," she meticulously worked through lines of code, chasing down elusive bugs. Then, as the clock chimed midnight, ushering in her eighteenth year, a brilliant, blinding light erupted from her computer screen, pulling her forward with irresistible force. Suddenly, she was hurtling through tunnels, their walls a vibrant tapestry woven from rainbow-hued code. The journey ended abruptly as she found herself on solid ground, disoriented but unharmed and with that, a new journey began.