Naeria didn't care much about pomp and tradition, anyway. Ceremonies could be stressful, and she'd already pushed herself near the limits of what her nerves could handle just by showing up to this meeting with the Commodore, and baring her research to him.
Quiet moments like this one were much easier to stomach.
She took Lyndin's hands.
In documentaries, she'd watched as people in various Earth offices took oaths as they accepted their new roles. Closing her eyes, Naeria found herself thinking about that. It was not a Velencyan tradition, so she kept silent, but she found herself thinking of what she would say.
She would promise to support Velencya, she thought. She would promise to support every individual Velenyan. Even Lyndin, now that she was here actually talking to her, seemed to think that she could do both.
So, wordlessly, she made that promise as she felt something warm in her palms.
Then, although it was a subtle difference, she opened her eyes as a Corporal.
"Thank you, Commodore," she whispered.
