Zoe Pierce admitted she was being selfish. After all, at least until she recovered her old memories, her strongest connections in this world were with Miles Sherman and the others.

Her biological family had fallen apart, but their existence had pushed her to become a better, more outstanding person.

They were like friends, and like family.

Call her selfish, but it didn’t matter. Zoe Pierce stared pensively at the drawn curtains. The high-quality fabric blocked the moonlight almost completely, save for a few slivers of light that slipped through the cracks.

’I’ll pretend I don’t know.’

’As long as they don’t say anything, I won’t know a thing.’

’I don’t want to lose anyone else.’

Viewed from above, the young woman on the bed was curled up like a shrimp, her arms wrapped around herself and her back tensed into a bow. Her long hair fanned out across the beige pillow, rippling like seaweed in water and echoing the curve of her body.

A soft sigh escaped her lips. She pulled the covers tighter, wrapping them around her body as if building herself a small sanctuary.

Even with her eyes closed, they still darted restlessly back and forth beneath her lids.

She unconsciously burrowed deeper under the covers.

’So what if I’m a coward?’ She’d never been some incredible hero anyway, just an ordinary person.

Outside the villa, after Zoe Pierce had left, Chase Shaw and Nathan Lockwood lost any desire to compete with each other. They exchanged a few more words before going their separate ways.

But anyone paying attention would have noticed that both Nathan Lockwood and Chase Shaw had bought villas in the same neighborhood; it didn’t even take them ten minutes to get home.

As Nathan Lockwood walked along the road, he suddenly turned to look back at the Pierce family’s old home. The curtains were drawn. The custom-made fabric not only blocked the moonlight from entering but also concealed any light from within, preventing any glimpse of the scene inside.

Just like the person he wanted to see.

Turning away, Nathan Lockwood finally headed home. He had a feeling Zoe Pierce seemed tired today. Her voice had lacked its usual energy when she spoke.

’Oh well,’ he thought. ’I’ll let her get some rest.’

*

Time flew by. In the days leading up to the trip, Zoe Pierce had managed to prepare herself mentally. When she was around Miles Sherman and the others, she acted just like her usual self.

Subconsciously, however, she found herself paying more attention to them than usual.

Erin Xavier sidled up to her. "Zoe Pierce, you’ll be training alone. If anyone gives you a hard time, you have to tell me."

He raised his eyebrows. "I’ll take care of them for you."

Erin Xavier had been in low spirits ever since he found out Zoe Pierce would be undergoing special training separately from the rest of them, but he couldn’t find a good reason to object.

This would be the first time she was completely out of their sight since joining the team.

Ryan Jacobs, who had been listening nearby, suddenly swiped at Erin’s head. "What kind of nonsense is that? Who’s going to give you a hard time?"

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Erin Xavier ducked, and the man’s hand swished through empty air.

"Mr. Jacobs, you’re a little too hot-headed, don’t you think? Maybe you should drink some ginseng tea to cool down?" Erin Xavier said with a cheeky grin, straightening up.

Mr. Jacobs was long used to Erin’s antics. He just crossed his arms and looked at him. "You’re the one who should be talking. You need to control that temper of yours and learn to pull your punches."

Mr. Jacobs was an instructor in the Solo Combat Division and had been teaching Erin Xavier for years. He knew the kid inside and out.

He knew Erin had a foul temper and had to be handled with care, like a dog that bites if you pet it the wrong way.

Once you set him off, he wouldn’t care about anyone else; he’d just keep venting until he felt better.

Erin Xavier suddenly turned to Zoe Pierce and huffed. "I have a great temper. Zoe, don’t listen to him."

’Utter nonsense.’ Mr. Jacobs instantly rolled his eyes.

Zoe Pierce was a little speechless herself. ’After all,’ she thought, ’if Erin Xavier has a good temper, then no one in the world has a bad one.’

"All right, all right, I get it, you two are close. Now get ready, we’re leaving." Just seeing how well Zoe Pierce got along with the team now, it was clear she had a good relationship with them.

Mr. Jacobs was also partially in the know; he knew that Miles Sherman and the others had accompanied Zoe Pierce to Planet B36.

Seeing Zoe in the flesh now, he was still a little surprised. After all, in the beginning, no one would have imagined she could become so close with Erin Xavier and the others.

It wasn’t easy to earn the acceptance of Miles Sherman’s group, but Zoe Pierce had, step by step, completely won them over with her own charm.

He led Erin Xavier and Zoe Pierce toward the shuttle. "The instructors for this trip are also split into two groups," he explained. "Your itinerary is different from the others. Director Quinn, Mr. Troy, Dr. Reid, and I will be departing with you."

"The other group of instructors will be traveling from different planets. We’ll all rendezvous at the Companion Star of the First Military Academy’s Praxium. Once we’ve gathered, we’ll head to Praxium together."

Erin Xavier didn’t pay it much mind. After all, there were always plenty of instructors on these interplanetary trips, and the journeys were usually dull and monotonous.

It was Zoe Pierce, however, who asked, "Is that the same Mr. Troy who took us to Siren Star?"

Mr. Jacobs thought for a moment. It was. He nodded. "That’s right."

’Mr. Troy is an introvert,’ he thought. ’We’re complete opposites, so it’s hard for us to find anything to talk about.’

’And as for Director Quinn, my direct superior... just looking at that stern face of his makes me lose all desire to speak.’ 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

’I guess that just leaves Dr. Reid as someone I can have a decent conversation with.’

And just as Mr. Jacobs knew Erin, Erin knew him. Seeing the instructor stroking his chin, Erin knew exactly what he was thinking.

’He’s definitely thinking up ways to make trouble for us on the Starship.’

Chase Shaw and the others were already waiting by the Starship’s boarding ramp. The moment Zoe Pierce appeared, Chase’s eyes landed on her necklace—the Space Button.

It was the custom-made freesia design.

A Space Button designed to match the scent of her pheromones.

"This trip should have only taken two days, but there’s an issue with the standard route, so we have to take a detour. It’ll take about four days now." Although Mr. Jacobs usually joked around with Erin Xavier, he had the distinct air of a teacher when he put on a serious face.

He now addressed them seriously. "Our rendezvous at the Companion Star is in seven days, so this gives us three days to spare. No need to worry."

"All right, that’s about everything I needed to tell you. Go on and board the Starship. If anything else comes up, I’ll find you."

"You can relax a bit for the next few days. Once we get to the First Military Academy’s Praxium, things won’t be this easy." Although he knew that with the abilities of Miles Sherman and the others, they’d have no trouble passing the Academy’s training programs, Mr. Jacobs still stopped himself.

’It’s better not to say things like ’I know you can do it’ to these kids,’ he thought. ’It’s a little too sentimental.’

’That’s just not his style.’

This Starship was far more luxurious than the last. As they walked into its central area, Zoe Pierce immediately spotted Director Quinn and the others.

The three of them glanced at Zoe and her friends. Director Quinn spoke first. "I don’t care what you do on the Starship for the next few days. But when we disembark, you’d better be in top form."