So I spent a lot of time agonizing over how old Gage should actually be. I've known for a while now that he's actually much younger than his avatar/general demeanor would have you (and Charis and Rima and others) believe. I settled on 11 because I wanted his age to be as shocking as possible, while also giving him at least some plausibility as a precocious genius of some kind who functions like an adult. After some more thought, though, I think I'm just gonna make him 14. 11 just seems too ridiculous, even in the ridiculous setting that I've set up.

Thanks for the quick review! I guess you're one of the lucky few who briefly read that Gage was 11 before I swooped in and changed it!