Aeonia City glistened in the distance below, a buzzing hive of activity. Malia opened her window and heard the thump of music, the beeping of horns, the blaring of boats, and smelled the salty air. The sun glimmered and sparkled off its building’s roofs, and the ocean’s calm waters beckoned her soul as ever. Oh, how she loved this place. How brilliant and brief her stay had been. If only she could stay.

Could she stay? She had money now. She spoke the language, knew the ...