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**Aer, believing herself to be Olivia,** wakes up surrounded by people that aren’t quite human, calling themselves her Transition Aides. After struggling to calm her down, they quickly usher Aer to another room to meet who she’s told is her family, including Emperor Azura, her sister and sacred ruler of the nation she now finds herself in, Lumiir. Despite Olivia’s denial, they insist that her name is Aer, the chosen Ascendant to the throne. She tries to remove a device in her ear, called the Babeler, before learning it is translating spoken and written words for her.
After the uncomfortable reunion, Aer receives a short demonstration from Ursula Adlebaran, the leader of the MurAlde Foundation scientists. She learns that everything she’s ever known–her family, her life, even her own body–is a lie. Using Universal Spirit Travel (UST), her spirit was sent into a temporary body on a “safe haven” (Earth) as a child 17 years ago. They did this to keep her safe during an event called the Atrocity, and they have brought her back now that Lumiir is (mostly) safe once again.
The head Transition Aide (TA), Vesta, takes Aer to rest in her room in the Royal Citadel. Vesta shows Aer how to customize her appearance using mirrors and lets her know that tomorrow she will begin lessons to learn more about Lumiir and prepare for her future role as Ascendant. She’s left alone to rest but is soon disturbed by a loud commotion outside the citadel. Opening the window curtains, she sees a plaza alight with celebration. Bright blue holographic signs joyfully announce that the Ascendant has safely returned. Citizens cheer and celebrate late into the night while Aer dreams of Earth–her family, her dog, and her favorite beach–flashing back to a night when her and her brother watched bioluminescent algae light up the waves in a brilliant blue.
The next morning, Aer begins her lessons with TA Vesta, learning about the history of Lumiir and the planet they’re on, Iythara. Aer learns that her father had been the emperor, but that he and her mother died during the Atrocity, when massive **Soundless** creatures thrashed about the planet. Her sister was chosen to ascend to the throne by the Sacred Light Garden, a bioluminescent royal garden connected to the spirits of Lumiiryn people. The garden chose Aer as the next ascendant, prompting the family to hire the MurAlde scientists to take drastic measures to keep her safe from the ongoing attacks.
For their next lesson, TA Vesta shows Aer the local Intra-System Transit System (ISTS). ISTS was developed by the MurAlde Foundation 30 years ago, allowing Lumiir citizens to freely travel within their own solar system and solidifying the nation as a leader in space travel. TA Vesta gives Aer a pamphlet showing ISTS routes, teaching the player about their inventory and showing Aer that nearby planets are now available vacation destinations.