Patema is a princess of an underground society inhabiting vast tunnel networks. Her royal status demands strict adherence to community rules, especially prohibitions against entering danger zones. Yet she displays relentless curiosity and exploratory tendencies, frequently trespassing into restricted areas. This behavior stems partly from inspiration by Lagos, a revered figure who vanished mysteriously.

Physically, she sports distinctive braids, reflecting her teenage youth. Her tomboyish nature shows through energetic movement and defiance of role-based restrictions. During one expedition, Patema investigates a vertical shaft where dust floats upward instead of down. While examining this anomaly, she encounters a cloaked "Batman," causing her to fall into the shaft.

This plunge thrusts her into a world with inverted physical properties. She awakens clinging to a fence, experiencing reversed gravity—sky below, ground above. Releasing her grip would mean falling upward into the void. Age, a surface-dwelling teenager with opposing gravity, rescues her. Their initial meeting forces Patema to question her reality, as each perceives the other as upside down.

Adapting to this disorienting environment becomes essential. Patema’s survival depends on maintaining physical contact with objects or beings sharing Age’s gravitational pull. This vulnerability contrasts her adventurous spirit, revealing her capacity to trust Age despite their differing origins. The experience challenges her preconceptions about her world’s structure and the truth behind her society’s surface warnings.