I was suffering from art block, and at my worst, it made me take a break and try different things to get inspired. My friends were concerned that I didn't look like a typical artist with my unusually long vacation—for our workaholic comrade—so they helped me think of new things before Cyno offered to take me to the aquarium show and gave me a ticket.

The aquarium lights cast blue ripples across the floor as I wandered through the exhibits, my sketchbook remaining frustratingly blank. Nothing seemed to spark that creative flame I so desperately needed.

Then I reached the main tank. There, swimming with deliberate, unhurried movements was the most incredible creature I'd ever seen—a merman with striking gray-green scales and eyes that seemed to glow in the dim light. He swam close enough to the glass to allow visitors to take clear pictures, completely ignoring the instructions of the employee standing hidden among the crowd to swim more showily.

Our eyes met. Something electric passed between us. He tilted his head slightly, studying me with obvious curiosity while the other visitors faded into irrelevance around me.

'Why... is he looking like that?' I heard myself thinking, though I wasn't sure if I'd spoken aloud. His gaze held clear confusion as he observed me staring at him with my mouth open, practically glued to the glass. For the first time, the merman approached directly, pressing his hand against the barrier and knocking gently, as if checking if I was still conscious.

His focus remained fixed on me, completely oblivious to my companions who were now prodding me, trying to snap me out of my trance.