The hours passed in a blur as the ship glided deeper into the void of space. The stars outside seemed to stretch on endlessly, their faint glimmers casting soft light through the windows. Selene sat with her back against one of the sleek seats, her posture relaxed but alert, her mind always calculating, always planning. The children, exhausted from their journey, had managed to find a place to rest, curling up in their seats with their small bodies wrapped in the soft folds of blankets. Their breathing was steady, and their faces were peaceful, the calmness of sleep settling over them as they drifted into dreams.

Jod, who had remained tense and on edge since boarding the ship, sat across from Selene. His eyes never stayed still, constantly shifting between the cockpit, the stars outside, and the quiet children who lay sleeping in their seats. He wasn't used to such quiet. The hum of the ship's engines filled the space, but it was a silence that seemed thick, a heavy atmosphere that made the slightest sound feel amplified.

Selene had kept her attention on the children for the most part, but now, after a few hours of steady travel, she shifted in her seat, turning her head to face Jod with a slight tilt of her head. The blindfold that covered her eyes never wavered, but there was something in her demeanor that suggested she could see far more than any ordinary person. She leaned forward slightly, a charming smile tugging at her lips, her hands folding delicately in her lap.

"So, who are you really, Jod Nawood?" Selene asked softly, her voice low but clear, cutting through the silence between them. "Do you have any connections to the sector's... shall we say, more interesting individuals?" Her tone was teasing yet laced with an underlying curiosity, as if she were trying to peel back the layers of Jod's carefully constructed exterior. She leaned back against the seat, her fingers brushing against the cold metal as she watched him closely.

Her blindfold remained firmly in place, but there was a sharpness in her voice, a quiet confidence that made it clear she didn't need her sight to read him. Her smile never faltered, holding a subtle challenge in it, as if daring him to reveal more about himself.

Jod, still a little on edge from the strange and unpredictable woman who sat across from him, looked away momentarily, his jaw tightening. It was clear that Selene's question had caught him off guard. He ran a hand through his dark hair, his eyes darting to the children once more to avoid meeting her piercing presence.

"I'm just a man trying to keep his head down," Jod muttered, his voice guarded. "Not involved with anyone or anything you might consider 'interesting.'" He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly not eager to discuss his past.

Selene chuckled softly at his response, the sound warm but layered with an unspoken understanding. "Oh, I doubt that. Everyone has ties, Jod. You can't tell me you're completely unattached in this galaxy," she said, her smile widening just slightly as she leaned forward, her posture almost predatory in its calmness. "But, if you insist... I'll let you keep your secrets for now."

Jod didn't respond immediately. He could feel the weight of her words pressing against him, and a part of him—the part that was used to keeping things close to his chest—wanted to resist, to shut her out. But there was something about Selene, something in the way she carried herself, that made it hard to simply walk away from this conversation.

Instead, he simply gave her a quick, fleeting glance, his lips pressed together. "I'm not as interesting as you think, lady," he replied, though his words lacked conviction.

Selene's smile softened, and for a moment, there was a hint of something almost sympathetic in her gaze. "I never said you were. But everyone has their story, Jod. I'm curious about yours." Her voice was softer now, almost coaxing.

The silence stretched between them again, but this time, it was less uncomfortable. Jod didn't know what to make of Selene. She was a mystery—one that seemed to unravel with each passing moment, with each word she spoke. And as they continued on their journey through the vast expanse of space, he couldn't shake the feeling that the more he interacted with her, the more he would be drawn into her orbit.

For now, he remained silent, though his mind raced, contemplating the woman in front of him. He had no idea what was coming, but something told him that Selene Gojo's story was far from over.

Selene's hand gently rested on the armrest as the ship continued its steady journey through the stars, but something in the air had shifted. Jod was practically vibrating with an anxious energy, his discomfort palpable. The tension between them grew, and Selene could sense it, the subtle way his muscles tensed, his eyes darting around. She didn't need to look to know he was uncomfortable—she could feel the unease emanating from him.

The ship suddenly hit a slight turbulence, and Jod, unprepared for the sudden jolt, nearly stumbled forward, almost falling into Selene's lap. He managed to catch himself at the last moment, but his breath caught, and he braced his hands against the seat, trying to regain his balance. The moment was brief, but enough to make his unease even more apparent.

Selene's lips curled into a small, knowing smile as she watched him, her posture never faltering. She didn't flinch or react to his close proximity. Instead, she leaned back into her seat, her calm and collected demeanor standing in stark contrast to Jod's tense presence. "Take it easy, Jod," she said smoothly, her voice as steady as the hum of the engines. "You're not going to fall."

Her words were cool, but they carried an edge, like a soft challenge that cut through the growing silence between them. The ship's motion smoothed out, but the air was thick with unspoken words, and Jod could feel every bit of Selene's attention on him, as if she were dissecting every movement, every breath he took.

"You don't need to play games, Jod," she continued, her tone now sharp and direct. "I know why you're really here. You just want to get to Attuin for the treasure, don't you? You've got no interest in these kids, no real need to be their protector. So, why drag them along?" Her voice wasn't angry, but the way she spoke made it clear that she saw through his act—his feigned concern for the children was just that, an act. "Why not admit it? You're just using them to get what you want."

Jod's face tightened at her words. She had struck a nerve. He looked away, his eyes flicking to the children, still curled up and sleeping, oblivious to the conversation unfolding around them. His jaw clenched, and his fingers gripped the armrests of his seat, his knuckles going white. "I never said I was their protector," he muttered under his breath, though it was clear he was trying to dismiss the accusation, even if he wasn't entirely sure how to.

Selene's eyes softened, just slightly, as she observed him. She tilted her head to the side, her blindfold still firmly in place, but there was something almost knowing in the way she regarded him. "It's not a crime, you know. Wanting something for yourself. But you could stop pretending." Her voice was quieter now, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of someone who had seen all kinds of schemes play out across the galaxy. "I'm not judging you, Jod. I'm just... calling it for what it is."

The quietness in the cockpit felt almost oppressive, as if the ship itself was holding its breath, waiting for Jod to respond. But he didn't. Instead, he kept his gaze trained on the distant stars, his mind clearly working through the sharpness of Selene's words. It wasn't that he was entirely opposed to the idea of helping the kids—he didn't hate them—but deep down, he knew his primary goal was always Attuin. The treasure. The riches. The things that could change his life forever.

For a long moment, the only sound was the steady hum of the ship's engines as it continued its path toward Attuin. Jod remained silent, avoiding Selene's gaze. She had caught him in the middle of his own lie, but she hadn't pushed him further, giving him space to wrestle with the truth in his own time.

And in that silence, the tension between them remained, a quiet acknowledgment that neither of them were entirely what they seemed.