Lucien and Felicia met quite young. In the past, when Lucien was in the navy, relations between the guards and the natives of that island were tense due to a struggle for territory. The two met in secret and began dating when they both were about 22 years.
Zachary was about 10, a capricious boy of hard-working parents, and like most villagers, he had no warm feelings for the navy. Felicia simply babysat him from time to time, and took him along a few times to meet her lover.
He didn't like Lucien at all, and in the future, during canon events, the relationship between the two will be even more strained. Felicia, however, is like an older sister to this boy
Felicia's design was inspired by the vibe of gypsy culture. On a separate island (the map of which I'm too lazy to finish), there's the settlement where Felicia and Zachary hail from, and a Talon camp (or, as I call them more often, the navy).
Their people revere the Thunderbird, which serves as a local boss in gameplay, and their attire is primarily in cool violet-blue tones. This is reflected in Felicia's design, which honors traditions both past and present, even though little remains of her people. The ocean and thunderstorm themes also perfectly capture her character, with the calm waters and looming clouds on the horizon.
Zachary is essentially based on all the stories of a child growing up alone in the woods. In reality, he only spent a few years alone with himself and the great beast, but for a child who lost his home and society, that's significant. His design still features purple mixed with gray and black to emphasize the image of a troubled teenager. Initially, his role was supposed to be very small, more like an NPC addition to the beast, but I liked his design too much, plus I didn’t really have such young characters, it just had to be interesting. In the game mechanics, his weapons would have been daggers, like all the other supports, but in the design, they're massive clawed gloves that he crafted himself.
Dietrich is based on the animal trainer profession. I love the navy in the game; I couldn't pass up such a character. To flesh out Lucien's lore, he was created—a brutal general with his own army, whose methods are often criticized but never challenged. I love it when you can understand a character's archetype just by looking at them, and I proudly declare that it works for him. His stern gaze, his correct posture—everything befits a proud guardsman who walks over heads. In his opinion, not everyone can call themselves an individual, so only he can break the dress code, simply to show off his superiority. Hence the heavy makeup, the beautiful medals, and the puffy sleeves. His design hasn't changed much since its inception, just a few details have been added, and overall, I'm happy with it.
Cassia, I confess, has no core character I could describe. It's a composite image of a fragile girl, unloved and rejected, yet striving for more. She comes from a wealthy family, well-known in certain circles, of fellow servants of the crown with immense accomplishments, an unwanted child in the family of a strict father and two older brothers. But those who desperately desire will one day receive their just deserts, and by the events of canon, she has risen to become one of the dictator's "favorites." Her appearance contrasts with her predatory nature, which is why she received the nickname Sundew. Shoulder pads, a headscarf, and makeup, all bespoke of her rank.
