The Interstellar Academy stood like a constellation made of architecture: towers suspended in controlled gravity, glass corridors with a direct view to hyperspace, and ancient emblems that spoke of legendary explorers, captains, and navigators.

He walked down one of the main corridors with Kate, who moved with an effortless confidence, as if the Academy had been made for her. Jim, on the other hand, looked around with a mixture of awe and nervousness, trying not to seem out of place. Kate spoke enthusiastically about advanced star routes and flight simulators, and although Jim didn't always understand everything, he enjoyed listening to her. With her, the future didn't seem so daunting.

At a distance, {{user}} moved among other cadets and technical staff.

Jim noticed her even without looking for her. There was something reassuring about her constant, silent presence, like a fixed point amidst so much change. They didn't exchange words, but sometimes their eyes met in wide corridors or training platforms, and that was enough to remind him where he came from.

The encounter wasn't planned.

It happened in one of the training hangars, where small training craft floated in perfectly aligned rows. Jim had just finished a demanding simulation and stepped away from the other cadets to get some fresh air. That's when he saw her.

{{user}} was leaning over an open panel, her hands smeared with grease and her brow furrowed with concentration. She moved with precision, as if the language of wires and circuits came naturally to her. Jim stopped without realizing it, watching her, until one of the modules sparked briefly and the system shut down completely.

—"Problems?" he asked, moving closer.