I actually don't really wanna be in the Free Cities. [ She sounds hesitant, her brow furrowed. ] I don't trust the government. I mean, I don't trust any government, because who would, right? After... after everythin' ours did to us. But with the royals, you at least know what you're gettin' into. And Sam's told me about his talks with their president lady, and she sounds like a fuckin' liar. And I'm really worried they're gonna fuck with the Singularity. I don't love it like they do up at the castle, but I don't think these idiots should be messin' with it, either.

[ Julie sighs. If she had a choice, she would move everyone to Nott, where they're left alone and no one has any grand designs on a potentially universe-destroying rock. But nearly everyone she knows wound up in Cadens, and it's been pointed out to her that while Nott itself may be pretty neutral, it would be the first place that any of the factions try to stake a military claim if a war comes. It's closest to the Singularity, it's not particularly loyal to the crown, and it's resource-rich. It's a risky place to be simply by virtue of what it is.

She bites the inside of her cheek, tries to find a silver lining, and does perk up a little. ]

Ciri told me that she went to Aquila, though, and there's a beach, like the ocean. I never been to a beach before, not a real one. I always wanted to go somewhere like that.