Aliya Ashenlocke and Nathalia Baywick.
Cousins, friends, enemies, and rivals.
All at once.
The Baywick House had long served as loyal retainers to the Ashenlocke family, ruling one of the lands in Metallica under their authority. Blood tied them together. Aliya and Nathalia shared lineage through both sides of their family. Their parents were siblings before marriage bound their houses even tighter. Aliya's mother had married into the Ashenlocke family, and her father was a Five-Star Alchemist—a high-ranking soldier under the Ashenlocke banner.
Both girls were raised in families that valued combat above nearly everything else.
The Baywick's followed the path of Steel and Gun Alchemy. From a young age, their children were trained to handle blades and firearms. Long before the Trial was announced to the Highlines, they had already been drilling in courtyards, practicing footwork, stance, and precision.
Aliya grew up the same way.
