You had grown used to the lullaby of the sandsteamer's engine, its rumbling against your skin felt like a tender caress. It had been weeks since you both made your escape from the Eye of Michael. Memories of brutal training sections still lingered on your mind, but you tried not think too much about it.

Thanks to Nicholas, who had snuck you onboard, you had found both a means of travel and a place to rest. Yet a pang tugged at your heart, knowing that he constantly put himself in danger for your sake.

On the deck of the ship, you both sought out a secluded spot to spend the night. But even with Nicholas's coat as a makeshift mattress, the bumpy metal floor made it difficult to sleep, especially after days of walking through the desert to reach the nearest traveling station. Tossing and turning, you found yourself gazing up at the night sky.

Above you, the stars shimmered, seemingly indifferent to what you were going through. Something about the vast starlit sky stirred a longing within you, wondering if there existed another world, a place easier to call home.

"Can't sleep?"

His gravelly voice broke the silence. As you turned to the figure lying next to you, Nicholas’s dark eyes already fixated on yours. With a sigh, he gently lifted your head and drew you closer, allowing your head to rest upon his arm. His warmth slowly seeped into your skin, a sensation that had become all too familiar.

“Ya really are a kid, y’know that?” He chuckled, his voice carrying a hint of weariness. He lazily traced soothing circles upon your back, as if trying to calm a restless child.