Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 157: A Gut Feeling

Chapter 157: A Gut Feeling

Lyra picked a quiet little cabin for herself, one with a small bathroom that even had its own shower—a rare chance to steal some solitude.

Stripping off her clothes, she revealed the damage from earlier: her skin was scorched, blackened from the electric shock she’d endured.

Slowly, she let her superpower flow through her, healing the wounds as the burnt patches peeled off, replaced by fresh, pink skin underneath.

Suddenly, her Crystal Core throbbed, sending a wave of power surging through her body. It made her shake, her limbs trembling from the sheer force of it.

Quickly, she forced the energy back down, keeping her power in check.

’Not yet,’ she reminded herself. ’I can’t risk losing control until the Soul Spike is gone.’

After slipping into a robe, she stepped out of the bathroom just as her opticomputer chimed.

The screen blinked on, revealing Cohen’s face—handsome as always, though his expression was hard to read.

"You’ve got some unreal luck, you know that?" he remarked. His tone was somewhere between surprise and something more... skeptical.

Lyra didn’t answer right away. She poured herself a glass of water and took a slow sip, letting the silence hang before she responded.

"What, were you hoping I’d die?" Her voice was calm, but her words cut sharp.

Cohen blinked, clearly not expecting that. Sure, he didn’t agree with her methods, but to say he wished her dead? Nah. In fact, he had even pulled strings with his father to get help for her—a move way out of character for him.

With a shrug, Cohen shook his head. "No, not exactly." A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "But you didn’t really think the admiral just happened to rescue you by accident, did you?"

Lyra’s eyebrow arched. That explained a lot. Why would an admiral go out of his way for someone like her, unless there was more going on?

"I guess I owe you big time then," she said, her voice more serious now, feeling the weight of the favor.

"Don’t worry," Cohen replied, his grin growing a little darker, almost mischievous. "I’ve already got a pretty good idea of how you can pay me back."

A strange, uneasy feeling crawled up her spine, her brow furrowing. Whatever he had planned, she wasn’t going to like it.

Her eyes flicked to the background of his call, noticing the familiar setting of a military ship. "Are you back on a warship? Heading to Planet Nagano?"

"I’ve got some business there," he answered, cryptic as ever.

Lyra didn’t press for details. Whatever Cohen was up to, she didn’t care enough to pry. They weren’t exactly close.

It wasn’t until her feet hit the ground on Planet Nagano that she figured out why Cohen had come back. The news was already plastered across every screen in the spaceport.

"At nine o’clock today, on Planet Nagano, the admiral’s son, Cohen, will receive his official promotion. Among his peers, no one’s rise has been faster. His accomplishments have been nothing short of extraordinary..."

As she walked out of the spaceport, Lyra caught snippets of the broadcast before a sudden scream pulled her attention.

"Lyra! Oh my gosh, it’s really you!" A girl with tanned skin, looking a shade darker after vacation, came barreling towards her—Zinnia. She wrapped Lyra up in a massive bear hug that nearly knocked her off balance.

Zinnia pulled back, eyes wide as she looked Lyra over. "When did you get so tall?" she asked, clearly surprised. At over 1.75 meters now, Lyra definitely had a few more inches on her since they last met.

Mandy chimed in, a touch of envy in her voice. "Must be a late growth spurt or something."

Lyra immediately pieced together how Zinnia knew her exact arrival time. She wasn’t mad though—this was just Zinnia being Zinnia.

"Come on, let’s get back to the dorms!" Zinnia said, practically dragging her along. "Oh my gosh, Lyra, your performance at AMAT was insane!"

She only mentioned the AMAT competition, smartly avoiding any talk of Lyra’s business ventures or family drama, knowing that was a sensitive subject.

Zinnia’s excitement was infectious, her energy bouncing off everyone around them. "You have no idea how proud we are! People used to call us the NMA losers, but now, thanks to you, we’ve completely shut them up! You’ve become a legend back at school, and folks here on Planet Nagano are buzzing about you too!"

As if to prove her point, reporters had already started gathering outside the spaceport. The moment they spotted Lyra, they rushed forward, eager for an interview.

Clearly, someone had tipped them off about her arrival from Elden Prime, and they were ready to pounce.

Zinnia stood tall, like an immovable fortress, stepping in front of Lyra and shielding her from the encroaching crowd. "Back off, folks! Give us some room here—Lyra’s not up for interviews right now," she declared, her voice firm and unyielding.

"Yeah, sorry, but our girl isn’t doing any press today," Mandy chimed in, sliding to block the reporters coming from the left side.

But the reporters, like a pack of hungry wolves sensing fresh prey, shoved their cameras and microphones past the two girls, zeroing in on Lyra.

"Miss Shedd, how do you feel after your AMAT victory?"

"Is Aesculapius’ Grace going to be available on Planet Nagano? Are you involved in its distribution?"

"Are you planning to drop out of school to chase business ventures?"

"There’s a rumor you’re estranged from your family. Is there any truth to that?"

The barrage of questions hit like a tidal wave, relentless and overwhelming.

Lyra’s brow furrowed, irritation flickering in her eyes. But before she could speak, Zinnia snapped.

"Enough!" she roared, fury bursting out of her in a wave of golden energy that sent the reporters stumbling back. "She just got off the damn ship and hasn’t even had time to breathe! What the hell is wrong with you people?"

The reporters, now on the defensive, immediately turned their cameras toward Zinnia. "What’s your deal?" one of them barked, eyes narrowing. "You’re a cadet, right? Shouldn’t you act with some decorum? Or do you want us to expose your attitude problem?"

Sensing the situation spiraling, Mandy grabbed Zinnia’s arm, whispering anxiously, "Zinnia, chill! You’re gonna make things worse. We don’t need trouble for our school, okay?"

Mandy knew all too well how quickly a bad reputation could ruin their future in the military, and one outburst could be used against them.

At that moment, Lyra stepped forward, her icy calm radiating authority. The reporters, thinking they’d finally gotten through to her, eagerly closed in—only to freeze when she shot them a cold, piercing glare.

"Listen," Lyra said, her voice calm but firm, "I’m really tired right now." She reached for one of the cameras pointed aggressively at Zinnia.

The reporter hesitated, but the intensity in Lyra’s gaze made him back down. With a quick movement, she erased the footage before handing the camera back.

"I understand you need your story since I represented NMA at the competition," she continued, her tone professional yet resolute. "So here’s the deal: I’ll have my office arrange a press conference in a few days. You’re all welcome to come then."

She gave them a small, controlled smile. "My friends were only looking out for me, so let’s not twist their actions in your reports, alright?"

The tension in the air deflated. The reporters, relieved that they’d at least be getting their interview later, accepted the delay. Better to wait than risk losing access to her altogether.

Just then, the screech of a Lev pulling up to the curb caught everyone’s attention.

The window rolled down, and Thierry’s grinning face appeared. "Yo! Get in! Let’s roll!" he shouted.

Without hesitation, Lyra, Zinnia, and Mandy jumped into the vehicle, speeding off before the reporters could even react.

As they zipped through the streets, Zinnia crossed her arms, fuming. "Thierry, you really took your time! I was this close to losing it on those vultures. Can you believe how rude they were?"

Thierry laughed, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. "Hey, cut me some slack! I had to sit through Cohen’s promotion ceremony. As soon as that wrapped up, I raced over here to save you guys."

His eyes flicked to Lyra, who was sitting quietly in the back, her expression unreadable. "Speaking of Cohen," he added with a smirk, "I think Cohen wants to see you, Lyra. I’ll drop you off at the principal’s office—he should be meeting you there."

Lyra’s unease only grew stronger. She knew Thierry too well—his easygoing attitude hid a sharp, calculating mind. If Cohen wanted to see her, it couldn’t be anything good.

"I’m exhausted," she muttered, leaning back against the seat, hoping to avoid whatever Cohen had planned.

Thierry’s grin widened. "He said he’s got something special for you."

Lyra’s stomach twitched. That didn’t sound comforting.

With no other option, Lyra and her friends reluctantly followed Thierry into the principal’s office, her nerves on edge as they waited for Cohen to arrive.

Something was definitely off, and she couldn’t shake the bad feeling creeping over her.

As soon as Lyra stepped into the office, the principal greeted her with the warmth of a doting grandparent.

"Ah, Lyra, there you are! I’ve been eagerly waiting for your return. You must’ve been through quite an ordeal during the competition," he said, his smile wide and welcoming, almost too friendly.

He settled into a plush couch, gesturing for the others, who were hovering near the door, to come in. "Come on now, don’t just stand there like strangers. Take a seat, all of you!"

Zinnia and the rest exchanged hesitant glances, but the principal’s insistence left them little choice.

Awkwardly, they perched on the edge of the couch, clearly out of their element in the formal setting.

Moments later, the principal’s secretary arrived with a tray of tea.

Instinctively, everyone stood, unsure of the etiquette in such a situation, accepting the cups with polite nods.

Noticing their unease, the principal let out a hearty chuckle. "Relax! There’s no need to be so tense. Look at Lyra—calm as ever. You all should take a page out of her book." He gave them a good-natured scolding, his eyes twinkling.

Lyra, though seemingly at ease, sipped her tea slowly, keeping her thoughts to herself. She threw a quick glance at the principal, trying to gauge his sudden surge of warmth.

Something about his overly kind demeanor put her on edge. ’Way too friendly,’ she thought, her instincts on high alert. ’He’s definitely after something.’