Character: Caiden Phillips Species: Witch Age: 35 Gender: Male Pronouns: He/him Occupation: Mechanic By: Katy
Biography
The first time Caiden used magic, he was 3, and his mother warned him to never let anyone see. It was just a bit of light, understandable for a toddler still frightened of the darkness around him in his room, but it was enough that she knew what would happen if anyone found out. Including his father. The first time Caiden killed someone, he was 16 and his mother had been dead for 12 years. He hadn’t used magic in 10 years, and while most of those things weren’t related, he couldn’t help but think of what his mother would say as he looked down at the body he had created. Still, his father’s voice was in his ear, telling him he’d done well, to come home and clean up and they would have a good dinner tonight. So he went home. Caiden was 20 when he used magic again, and had killed enough times by that point that he was far too used to it. His father had been training him as his own private soldier since he was a child, and Caiden had known even then that magic was too powerful to hand over to the man who couldn’t even look him in the eye. He was 20 now though, and he brought forth that bit of light again, laying in another hotel room in the dark. It was warm in his hands, and it seemed to cement the decision he’d only halfway made at that point. The decision to leave. Unsurprisingly, it was fairly easy to disappear. He knew, after all, every method his father would use to attempt to find him. He traveled, picking up whatever work he could, wherever he could. And he practiced. He found other witches, learned more about magic. He learned which part of things actually needed the fancy ingredients and the rituals, and which parts were mostly for show and peace of mind. He’s not the most conventional of witches now, more inclined to working with his hands than really using much magic. It’s been a little over fifteen years since he left, and Henrietta is just another stop. Maybe someday he’ll stop for good, but for right now this is a habit, spend a few months, a year, two years, in one spot, and then move on again. Attachments only get you in trouble, and even in a town like Henrietta, it’s better to hide the magic you have.
Personality
Despite being fairly young, Caiden acts like a grumpy old man. It's rare that he actually wants to speak to someone, communicating in grunts whenever possible, and he avoids talking about feelings as though it might bring on the next plague. That being said, he's generous, and will help people, although he refuses to acknowledge that he has.
