Page 130 of Zayrik

“Yeah, well... get used to it.”

Earlier, Captain Zaul had pulled me aside. Said they had all the crew they needed, but if Nyla wanted to stay, she was welcome.

Even hinted that she could help me with supply runs when we docked at stations.

And when she’d asked—half-joking, half-hopeful—if Engineering ever needed an extra set of hands, Zaul had just smiled and said, “We’ll find something.”

Nyla hadn’t answered right away.

But later, she’d slid her hand into mine.

Told me she was happy just being on the ship.

And that was enough.

This is home now.