Aislin Minot

Early Life and Family Aislin Minot was born into House Minot, an old and prestigious Mystidian noble family, though by the time he came into the world, much of the family's former glory had diminished. His parents died when he was born and he was adopted into House Tye.  His adoptive father, Mark Tye, was an austere and exacting man, deeply concerned with propriety and maintaining appearances in Myst’s noble circles. Mark was more focused on status and control than showing affection or understanding to his adopted son. Aislin's adoptive mother, Terah Tye, was strict and distant, often leaving Aislin to be raised by strict tutors and governesses. As a result, Aislin grew up feeling disconnected and emotionally neglected, developing a deep sense of loneliness and a fear of failure.   From a young age, Aislin’s life was marked by rigorous discipline. His adoptive father believed in tough love, enforcing strict punishments for any perceived shortcomings. Aislin was subjected to harsh physical punishments like canings and being locked in his room without food if he stepped out of line or disobeyed. This instilled a deep sense of shame in him and the belief that his existence was inherently flawed or "bad." Though House Minot still held enough sway for Aislin to be educated in the ways of noble society, his education came with immense pressure to always do as he was told.   Childhood Trauma and Self-Sabotage By the time Aislin was a teenager, the rigid control his adoptive father exerted had fractured their relationship. Aislin became deeply rebellious, lashing out at authority figures and engaging in destructive behavior. However, rather than simply acting out for the sake of rebellion, Aislin's self-sabotaging tendencies were a manifestation of his deep-rooted belief that he was inherently bad, instilled by years of emotional and physical abuse.   Though his relationship with his parents grew increasingly strained, Aislin still longed for connection and struggled with feelings of worthlessness. He wasn’t yet ready to embrace the idea that he was deserving of love and respect, and this self-loathing led him into increasingly volatile behavior.   The Escape to Tsugeoka When Aislin was 15, he ran away from Myst, leaving behind his noble responsibilities. He joined up with a caravan of Ruroushin traders led by Dove and her sister Bran, finding solace in their freedom and lack of judgment. The caravan traveled to Tsugeoka, where Aislin lived in relative obscurity, working on farms and performing odd jobs. In Tsugeoka, he eventually met Ceres, a young woman who ran an inn. She was stubborn, hardworking, and didn’t tolerate his arrogance or his attempts to intimidate others. Over time, the two grew close, and Aislin found himself drawn to her strength and compassion.   Though Aislin was rough around the edges, Ceres was not intimidated by his temper. She challenged him in ways no one else ever had, and her unwavering kindness and ability to see through his defenses became a source of healing for him. The relationship started rocky—Aislin was still trying to assert control over his life, and he found it hard to express his emotions in a healthy way. He often lashed out when he felt vulnerable, but Ceres refused to back down.   Aislin and Ceres: The Turning Point Ceres became the anchor in Aislin’s tumultuous life. She didn’t coddle him, but she also didn’t reject him, even when his self-sabotaging tendencies flared up. Over time, Aislin’s harsh exterior began to soften, though he still struggled with deep feelings of inadequacy. When he returned to Myst after the death of his adoptive Father Mark Tye, Ceres went with him. Despite his own fears, he proposed to Ceres, and she accepted.   Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but it became the foundation for Aislin’s growth. Their first few years together were difficult—Ceres saw through his defenses, and Aislin’s inability to be vulnerable with her initially led to tension. However, their bond deepened as they learned to communicate and rely on one another.   When Ceres became pregnant with their first child, Edmund, Aislin was thrown into a state of panic. Having experienced only emotional neglect and trauma from his own parents, he feared that he would be incapable of being a good father. His worst fears about himself began to resurface, but he didn’t hide from Ceres the way he once would have. Instead, he opened up to her about his insecurities, marking a pivotal moment in his personal growth.   As Edmund was born and the years passed, Aislin’s self-destructive tendencies began to fade. He threw himself into fatherhood, determined not to pass on the trauma he had experienced. While he would always carry scars from his past, Aislin found peace in the life he built with Ceres and their son. He became fiercely protective of his family and more at ease with himself, though his harsh upbringing would sometimes cause him to overreact or retreat into silence.   Life in Gulling and the New Beginning In their late 20s, Aislin and Ceres decided to leave the city of Juneon entirely and settle in Gulling, a small town in Southern Myst. They purchased a farmstead, and for the first time in his life, Aislin felt a sense of belonging that wasn’t tied to his family name or societal expectations. His role as a father and husband became his purpose, and the peaceful rural life allowed him to shed the last remnants of the angry, destructive boy he had been.   Though his relationship with his son Edmund had its challenges, especially during Edmund’s rebellious teenage years, Aislin worked hard to be the kind of father he had never had. He was firm but loving, and though he struggled with expressing his emotions, he was always present for his son.