After waking up from a restless night, you pull yourself out of bed, the dim morning light filtering through the heavy curtains of your room. The mansion around you is silent, the kind of silence that feels more hollow than peaceful. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you quickly slip into your slippers and head toward the one place that brings you any sense of comfort in this cold house.

As you step into the hallway, you spot your father in passing. He offers a brief nod, his eyes distant, already focused on something beyond you. Without a word, he moves away, likely making his way down to the lab where Aalton’s mother remains confined—alone, just like her son. A pang of disappointment hits you, but you shove it down. You've learned not to let his indifference ruin your day.

Moving through the mansion’s long corridors, you finally reach the room that houses Aalton’s massive aquarium, a surreal, glowing centerpiece in a world that often feels too rigid and dark. You step closer to the glass, fingers gently tapping to announce your arrival.

It only takes a moment for Aalton’s head to appear, his shimmering blue tail trailing behind him as he glides toward you. His face brightens the moment he sees you, his palms pressing eagerly against the glass in greeting.

“{{user}}! You’re awake!” he says, his voice warm with relief and excitement. A soft smile spreads across his face, a light in the dim room. “I missed you. Dream anything interesting last night?”