Villain Retirement

The Kingdom of Varoif.

One of the two only superpowers on the planet of Theran. Of course, Theran used to be more than just a planet that was ruled by two peoples—but greed incited violence, and violence incited war.

The people of Theran could have ventured out into the Universe to conquer other planets to live on, they were one of the few that was capable of doing so without any visible resistance, but no. The inhabitants fought against each other just for Theran.

Perhaps because of loyalty or a sense of planetism, but themarians never once wanted to claim another planet but their own, but no. Some historians claim that the reason for this was because Theran was the only planet that could actually sustain their people; other planets just felt like… cardboard.

Theran was strong, not only in the sense that it gave birth to the undisputed strongest race in the entire Known Universe, but because of how physically durable it was—a themarian could sneeze, and a planet would just be torn asunder.

But Theran?

Theran would survive even the rampage of a raging themarian.

No one really knows the true reason. As often, history is perverse by those that are capable of writing it—and with the war happening more than a million years ago and all that was involved are presumed to be dead, there was truly knowing why.

The war did happen, that is all the future and current generations will know. But if there is one thing that has remained since then, it was the peace that the war brought.

Many kingdoms fought for supremacy, but by the end of it, only two remained—perhaps that was the number when they thought 'enough'.

But of course, if war happened once, it will happen again. And so, the Kingdom of Varoif and the Kingdom of Hel decided that a truce was not enough; they needed a sort of permanent contingency, and thus, they created the Grand Militia.

A corps formed by the people of the two kingdoms that would ensure peace, no matter what. Taking no sides while still serving both kingdoms.

The Kingdom of Varoif and Hel ruled each half of the planet respectively, but everyone knows that Varoif is the superior nation—and the reason for this is simple, the Supreme College of Varoif.

The college is responsible for producing the best of the best of themarians. In terms of intelligence, strength, and loyalty to the planet, the Supreme College of Varoif is uncontested. Unlike Hel, whose own princess rebelled against the nation and even went out to the Unknown just to get away from her responsibilities.

Truly, Varoif is the superior nation.

"..."

"...That's the end of the recording, Riley. It seems every account is biased toward Varoif, figures. It— that… wait… that's too tight."

"Hm."

"Hn…"

Katherine's moans whispered through the walls of a tiny room. There really was nothing of note inside the room… because there was nothing in it other than the two beds, and the large mirror that Katherine and Riley were standing in front of.

"Hn!"

"I apologize, Katherine."

And once again, Katherine's meek and high-pitched moans whispered through Riley's ears. Riley, however, did not stop and continued to wrap his arms around her waist; his fingers crawling along the side of her soft and unusually smooth leg as he… zipped her skirt close.

"I'm…" Katherine then took in a small gulp as she looked at her reflection in the mirror; it has been a while since she last wore a school uniform, and with her already having given birth and growing in the right places, it just… looked like she was doing cosplay instead,

"...I'm too old for this."

"No, Katherine. You are too fat for it."

"Wha—I'm not fat," Katherine quickly stepped to the side as she looked Riley in the eyes, "My boobs are just bigger because I gave birth to our child."

"..." Riley could really only blink as he returned Katherine's gaze, but after a few breaths, he just sighed and walked away.

"..." Katherine slightly squinted as she saw this. It wasn't only because of the sudden change of expression on Riley's face, but the fluctuation she sensed in his heart. She had noticed it ever since Riley arrived on Theran…

…but his emotions have been fluctuating quite randomly. In the span of just a day, Riley has shown more changes in his expression than he did in the span of time they have spent together.

Did… something happen while they got separated?

"Riley…"

"Hm?"

"...Let me brush back your hair."

"I was just thinking of cutting it, Katherine. I believe it is proper to have it short while attending college," Riley turned to face Katherine again, before looking at the mirror. Like Katherine, he was wearing the uniform that was given to them by Princess Esme—a white coat, partnered with a black vest and white pants.

"Wouldn't it be a waste? I quite like you with longer hair," Katherine said as this time, she stood behind Riley before letting out a small giggle and touching his hair, "It's the only thing your sister and I agree on."

"..." Riley sighed as he looked at his long white hair. And after a few seconds, he nodded, "My sister only likes it because he wanted to dress me up when I was younger."

"Well, I like it because it suits you," Katherine smiled, before feeling Riley's hair on her cheek, "It makes you look like royalty, Riley. Like Thrundail from Lord of the Bangles."

"..." Riley turned around; his lips, almost brushing across Katherine's forehead as he did so, "I suppose that is fitting in the current scenario. We are in the presence of royalty, we need to look the part."

"...Yes," Katherine's lips slightly quivered as she felt Riley's warm breaths flowing across her neck, "Riley… it's been a long time since—"

"I will leave it to you, Katherine. A look of royalty would also serve well if we ever meet Aerith and his family spontaneously."

"..." And just like that, any quivering that was happening in Katherine's body transferred to her left eyelid. Of course, Riley is thinking of something else—and she should too. Perhaps wearing a school uniform was making her quite… unnecessarily excited.

And so, the only thing she could really do was shake her head, before starting to brush back Riley's hair.

"...Why are we even doing this, Riley?"

"So we can proceed to our main objective here, Katherine. And then to see Aerith, and then Karina as we planned. You said my biological mother's body is still being preserved, we have time."

"...But we could have just done that by actually trying to find Aerith. We don't have to do all these things."

"There are orders for everything, Silvermoon."

"..."

"For one to truly enjoy the screams of the people, one must learn their history and culture. The only thing I have learned from the themarians is their language, that is not enough."

"..."

"What about their dialects? How could I understand it if they are screaming and saying something to me? I do not want to use the translator for something like that, it is just not the same, Silvermoon."

"..." Riley may have changed throughout the years—is what Katherine thought, but truly… his essence will always remain the same.

***

Whispers and murmurs—perhaps the only sound Katherine and Riley have been hearing ever since stepping into the college. When they entered the room the college provided for them, when they stepped out of the room, and when they walked through the hallways; everyone was just looking and whispering.

And now that they were inside a lecture hall and standing in front of almost 3 dozen themarians, the whispers soon became an orchestra that just blatantly sang to their ears.

"..." It has been a while since Katherine has been a student, and this truly is making her feel slightly irritated that anywhere you go, students are the same. She had always thought that themarians would be more mature even as students, as most of them are probably hundreds of years old already, but no. Their judging eyes that look at you like some sort of animal in a zoo are still the same.

"Silence!"

Fortunately for Katherine, the class' professor clapped the whispers away, literally—almost blowing her skirt off if it wasn't for Riley shielding her with a telekinetic barrier.

"As you can see," the professor then cleared his throat before gesturing and presenting her and Riley, "We have universal students temporarily participating in our classes…

…they are from the Unknown."

"!!!"

Since the students could no longer let out their loud whispers, 'less they wanted to face the wrath of their professor, the only thing they could really do was widen their eyes as they stared at Riley and Katherine from head to toe. And if you would ask Katherine, this was worse.

"I know what all of you are thinking," the professor raised his voice, "But these two have been personally enrolled by Princess Esme herself. Treat them as one of our own, if you do not, then you know what will happen."

"..."

"Good," the professor nodded his head several times as he saw the enthusiasm of the students slightly dying down, "The two of you, please introduce yourselves."

"..."

"..."

Katherine and Riley looked at each other before Riley took a step back, and gestured to Katherine to introduce herself first.

"...My name is Katherine Read, I am from a planet called Earth. I do hope that even if our planets are thousands and thousands of light years away, we could bridge that closer by learning about each other," Katherine said as she stood firmly,

"I look forward to getting along with all of you."