Caroline

Judging solely on Caroline's competency as a pathfinder, all of her physical indicators and field exploration expertise are irreproachable. Maybe her lifestyle of constantly climbing high and low has trained her well, or maybe she was already inherently fit as a fiddle, but Caroline is unbeaten at trekking, consistently walking swiftly and steadily regardless if it's on mountains or flatlands. Her colleagues joked that if the Bonfire City hosted a Walk-the-City Contest, they would without a doubt recommend Caroline to participate right away.

Among the present Anita staff, no one would disregard Caroline's opinion anymore, though everyone agrees as a whole that there was a reason why nobody approved of her working style at first. The way she selects the best path based on her instinct and years of exploration experience tends to come off as "I just feel like we should go this way!" which admittedly doesn't sound very reliable. Precisely because of that, her most trusted partner is actually a robot dog, Shepherd, who never doubts the path she picks under any circumstances.

Caroline and Yejue are currently working for one of Anita Energy Institute's research projects and overseen by the research supervisor, Nicola. This evolved the duo who's already often at odds into a rather inharmonious trio... which naturally makes people wonder, is a staff arrangement like that really okay?

Caroline once tried to adjust to city life. Initially, she used her earnings as a pathfinder to rent a small living space. Then, she attempted to engage with people around her, much like when she gathered messages in sparsely populated areas. Eventually, she delved into hobbies like fashion, food, and trends, similar to her colleagues.

Yet, she soon realized her efforts were not paying off as expected. Despite having trendy items in her place, they ended up forgotten on the shelves. While she made a few friends and learned about what was in vogue, staying connected was impossible due to limited access to communication devices until she returned to Bonfire City. By then, her friends had made other plans, and the topics that interested her had become outdated.

Caroline is not too disheartened by this, as she is new to conventional social interactions. This realization prompts her to consider the lifestyle that truly suits her. Perhaps the pathfinder's way of life is more fitting, as the well-trodden paths of others may not be her true calling.

"Generating power using lobsters? What on earth are you thinking, Caroline?!"

Yejue's voice booms through the glass door of the lounge. Caroline instinctively covers her ears, having grown accustomed to these outbursts. As Yejue strides into the room, Caroline shouts at the same volume, "But I really want to eat them!"
"Fine, but why would such a request even pass the review?! Why not enjoy them at a seafood restaurant in Freeport Ⅶ during your break? Our funds are limited, and the monocrystalline silicon I ordered hasn't arrived yet!"

"I approved it," states the acting director of the institute, seated on the sofa, barely lifting her eyelid.
"Oh, so it was you... wait, you approved it?!"

At Yejue's question, Nicola nods, casually filling in numbers on a Sudoku grid in a magazine. "The system filtered it out, but I kept hearing someone screaming for lobsters, so I put it back. If all goes well, we can enjoy lobsters today."
Yejue, waving her report in frustration, stands stunned in the doorway. Caroline, still covering her ears, braces for another outburst from Yejue. Only Nicola remains composed, engrossed in her Sudoku puzzle.

"...So, what brings you here? It wasn't about lobsters, was it?"
"No, it wasn't... I got sidetracked by the whole lobster situation. Well, I was supposed to inform you..." Yejue clears her throat, irritation evident, "That you've been selected as one of the initial members for the pathfinding operation in the newly discovered Chaos Space. And I'm your partner, of course! We're embarking on a new explor..."

Before Yejue can finish her sentence, Caroline leaps from the sofa, snatching the report and bouncing with excitement.
"I knew they'd approve our requests!"
"It's the result of our teamwork! But remember, you still need to complete your duty days at this station..."
"Yeah! Got it, got it! Let's have lobster tonight to celebrate!"
Caroline cheers and darts outside. Her departing figure in the corridor hints at a new beginning, leading toward uncharted territories.