Chapter 153 - Jam

"G'orenzia." 

That sounded like a beautiful alien name.

Nansich tried to say it back. "Gore…Gorr'nzeeya? Goren—" He gave up halfway, his lips twitching. "Okay, nope. That's not happening."

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "How about I just call you Zia? That's easier."

Zia didn't seem to mind. He just blinked slowly, like he was accepting whatever Nansich threw at him. No complaints. No judgment. Just calm, steady presence.

"So, Zia…" Nansich paused, then pointed up at the small crack in the barn roof where the night sky peeked through, dark and full of scattered stars. "You from up there?"

Zia followed his finger and gave a single, slow nod.