The evening breeze swept through the academy courtyard as Tyler sat under a shady tree, enjoying a moment of quiet.
'It's not like before,' he thought 'Before it's just the girls and me out there on the sea… Now They've got their own lives in the academy. They got their childhood back. They might even find someone they like.'
"Here's your tea." Darla's voice interrupted his musings, pulling him back to the present. She stood beside him, holding a steaming teapot, her face radiating a sense of pride.
He glanced up, surprised to see her. "Join me."
Darla nodded and gracefully sat beside him. She poured herself a cup of tea, her movements reflecting her growing confidence. Though she'd faced challenges in her other classes, she'd excelled in the academy's cooking course, where she was quickly making a name for herself. Yet, even with her success, she never forgot her role as Tyler's ship cook.
