The air between was warm and cozy, and there was a bridge of memories built across the divide of life and death. Lolo Theodore spoke of his responsibility during his days as a captain, his eyes softening every time he looked toward Lola Consuelo. It was clear that while the sea had his respect, she had his soul, he spoke of his choice to leave the horizon behind for her as if it were the only easy decision he'd ever made.
In return, I told them my adventures in Zeraschia. I told them the way the air there tasted of fresh ozone and ancient magic. I recounted the narrow escapes and the weight of the choices we'd made to survive. As I spoke, Lolo and Lola traded a long, heavy look— a silent conversation born of decades together. I saw the worry turning their brows, but beneath it, a pride. To them, I wasn't just their sweet little granddaughter, but a traveler of the stars, a girl who had walked through intense pressure and come out forged in sparkling diamonds.
