Interstellar: Return of the Villain
Chapter 158: Official Rank Bestowal

Chapter 158: Official Rank Bestowal

Out of respect for the principal, Lyra refrained from directly asking what he was after, though she could already guess his motives.

Moments later, a knock echoed from the door.

The secretary, barely able to contain her excitement, quickly opened it. "Lieutenant Commander Whyte... Oh, wait—no, Commander Whyte has arrived!" she corrected herself with a grin.

Lyra’s gaze naturally drifted to Cohen’s shoulder, taking in the new insignia that marked his promotion.

She remained composed, though the timing didn’t surprise her.

It all made sense. New star development was essentially a treasure trove, and Cohen had skillfully navigated through it, seizing every opportunity.

His recent feats—quelling the level-eight beast riots and fending off the Seething Fires, even capturing their leader—had cemented his reputation. Those accomplishments alone were enough to propel him upward.

And knowing Cohen, Lyra figured he had probably handed over most of the spoils to the military, gaining even more favor in their eyes.

"Sir," Cohen greeted the principle. He was still in his pristine white military uniform. His gold-trimmed chains and the red ceremonial sash across his chest made him look even more distinguished, like a polished piece of platinum.

"Cohen, perfect timing. Lyra has just arrived." The principal, clearly proud of one of his star pupils, gave him a pat on the shoulder before stepping aside.

Cohen, holding a scroll tied with a red ribbon, walked forward with military precision, saluting Lyra.

The other students in the room were still processing the formality of the situation as Lyra, one brow raised, stood and returned the salute.

"By the authority of the military, I am here to bestow a new rank upon Lyra Shedd," Cohen began, his voice steady and authoritative.

His movements were precise as he offered her the scroll with both hands, his expression serious. "For her bravery during AMAT, where she uncovered and resisted the Empire’s spies, and for her decisive actions, the High Court of the military has officially promoted Lyra Shedd to the rank of Student Officer."

This was no ceremonial title; it was a real, earned rank.

Thierry, Zinnia, and Mandy exchanged wide-eyed glances as the room broke into applause.

"Lyra, that’s incredible!" Zinnia practically bounced in her seat, and Mandy nodded, her face glowing with pride.

Lyra, though surprised at first, quickly adjusted. She had assumed the military would try to sweep everything under the rug to avoid stirring up any scandals, but instead, they had chosen to reward her publicly.

She accepted the scroll and raised her hand to return the salute.

"I swear, in the name of the military, to dedicate my life to the Alliance and her people," she recited.

Cohen, having heard that oath countless times in his career, found himself oddly moved hearing it from her. It seemed to carry more weight coming from her lips, as if the words meant something deeper.

Since Lyra wasn’t part of any specific regiment, she would be issued a standard uniform. The principal made a note to have her visit logistics for measurements.

Once the brief ceremony concluded, Cohen addressed her again. "Given that you’re still a student, we decided not to hold a public ceremony for your promotion. I hope you understand."

Whether it was out of genuine concern for her privacy or to save the military any potential embarrassment, Lyra wasn’t too bothered by the reasoning. She nodded in acknowledgment, not particularly caring about the fanfare.

The principal, beaming with pride, offered a few final words of encouragement before adding, "You young people probably have a lot to catch up on. Feel free to chat among yourselves. Lyra, we’ll talk more another time."

There was a subtle undertone in his words, one Lyra picked up on immediately, but she chose not to comment. Instead, she gathered her things and left the office with her friends.

The principal let out a quiet sigh once they were gone. ’This young woman is as mysterious as ever.’

Outside, a large crowd had gathered, a mix of students and admirers.

Although they tried to maintain a cool, nonchalant demeanor, their excitement was palpable in the way their eyes sparkled with curiosity and awe.

Word had clearly gotten out about Cohen’s visit, and now, a small swarm of fans was trailing after him.

Cohen glanced at the crowd, then at Lyra, with a weary expression. "This isn’t really the best place for a conversation. How about we head off-campus? There’s a quiet café nearby where we can talk."

Lyra, noting the increasing attention from bystanders, nodded in agreement. She didn’t like crowds, and this growing spectacle wasn’t helping her mood.

"You two go ahead and talk, I’ll head out first," Thierry said, sensing it was time to make his exit.

Zinnia and Mandy wasted no time following suit. "Catch you later, Lyra! We’ll be in the dorm waiting for you," Zinnia called, giving a quick wave before the three disappeared, leaving Lyra and Cohen alone in the growing quiet.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They just stood there, locked in a silent standoff.

Lyra narrowed her eyes, studying him intently. "What do you want?" she asked bluntly.

Cohen wasn’t the type to seek her out without a reason. The official business of the rank bestowal was over, so whatever this was, it had to be personal.

Cohen’s expression didn’t change. "It’s about the aftermath of the Seething Fires incident."

Lyra crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I don’t remember there being any loose ends."

"You’ll find out soon enough," Cohen replied, his tone measured as he started walking toward a Lev parked by the curb.

Inside the vehicle, Kogar sat in the driver’s seat, laughing and chatting on a comm call. When he spotted them, he waved at Lyra before ending the call.

Cohen gestured to the Lev. "We’ll talk in here."

Something about the whole situation felt off, and Lyra hesitated for a moment before opening the door.

Sitting in the back seat was a young boy, sulking with his arms crossed. But the second he saw Lyra, his face lit up in a huge grin. "Lyra!" he shouted, his eyes shining with happiness.

’Bang.’ The car door shut behind her, and Lyra whipped around to face Cohen, her voice turning cold as ice. "Don’t tell me THIS is the ’aftermath.’"

Unfazed by her sharp tone, Cohen remained as calm as ever. "This boy’s background has been fully investigated. He’s from an orphanage in the Empire. The Seething Fires kidnapped him because of his unique superpower."

Cohen continued his explanation, standing just outside the car. "He’s endured a lot of trauma—being trafficked, abused. Normally, he would be sent to a welfare center or placed in foster care, but he’s refused to go. He’s ten years old now, and by law, his wishes are considered in adoption cases."

The situation was clear now, but it didn’t sit well with Lyra. She shot Cohen a cold glare. "And what does any of this have to do with me?"

The boy’s preferences didn’t mean they could just dump him on her. Legal adoption wasn’t that simple, and there had to be someone actually willing to take him on.

"It doesn’t concern you, not directly," Cohen admitted, as if he’d expected her response. "But the boy refuses to go anywhere else. He wants to follow you."

For the first time, a flicker of frustration passed across Cohen’s face. He rubbed his temple as if this had been a long and annoying ordeal. "You have no idea how much trouble he’s been."

Apparently, enough trouble for Cohen to personally escort him here.

Cohen turned to the boy—Phelixes—who was now peering out the window, his eyes wide and hopeful.

"As you can see," Cohen said to him, "she doesn’t want to adopt you, so you’ll have to go to the welfare center."

The boy’s face crumpled in an instant. He shoved open the car door and sprinted over to Lyra, grabbing at her clothes desperately.

"I won’t eat much! I can even work in your factory to earn money. Please let me stay with you!" His large black eyes filled with tears, and his lips trembled as he looked up at her, a pitiful sight with his reddening nose and fragile, doll-like features.

But Lyra wasn’t moved.

"What exactly do you bring to the table?" she asked, her voice cold and detached. "If I take legal guardianship, I’ll be responsible for everything—your food, your education, your clothes. And if you ever get upset with me, you could easily sue. So, tell me, why would I take on that kind of burden?"

She pried his small hand off her sleeve without a second thought, her indifference sharp and unforgiving. "You’re just a kid. Not worth the hassle," she added, throwing a disdainful glance at Cohen before turning to leave.

Phelixes stood frozen, his small frame shaking as tears streamed down his face. He bit his lip, trying to stifle his sobs, but his quiet, heart-wrenching cries filled the air as he watched her walk away.

Cohen let out a sigh of relief, watching Lyra disappear from view.

"Satisfied now?" he asked, casting a glance at Phelixes, who was still sniffling and wiping away tears.

Cohen had never truly expected Lyra to take the boy in. She had distanced herself from her own family—her blood. Why would she go out of her way for a child she didn’t know?

From the start, Cohen knew placing Phelixes with her wasn’t a realistic option. Lyra wasn’t the type to offer the nurturing or stability the boy needed.

She was too self-reliant, too focused on her own path, and dragging a child along would only complicate things for both of them.

Climbing back into the Lev, Cohen glanced at the boy, still red-eyed from crying but now sitting in silence. He didn’t say anything, simply exhaled another tired sigh.

Cohen wasn’t one to waste time or energy on things beyond his control, and this situation was no different.

Breaking the lingering quiet, Kogar shifted the conversation, his tone casual but thoughtful. "Miss Shedd may have been flying under the radar for a while, but her momentum... is very strong this time."

Cohen’s expression darkened slightly, his thoughts turning more complex. "If she hadn’t left the Shedd family... or if she still had the power of freezing... maybe things would’ve turned out differently," he muttered, almost to himself.

Though he rarely indulged in "what-ifs," the thought crossed his mind now and then.

There was no denying the raw potential she had once held, and sometimes he couldn’t help but wonder how things could have unfolded if she hadn’t walked away from it all.

But Cohen quickly shoved that trace of regret aside. He knew better than anyone that speculation changed nothing. Life had moved on, and so had she.