Ch. 26..30: Interstellar_ Return of the Villain Chapter 26-30

Chapter 26: Department of Command And Strategy

"Once we’re back, I’ll make sure you get the highest honor for bravery," Zarek said. He wasn’t too badly hurt. He was now sitting comfortably under the treatment device and flipping through the battle reports handed to him.

Lyra, serious as ever, asked, "Does the bravery award come with extra credits?"

"Absolutely! Anything you need, just say the word. Our lives are pretty valuable, after all." Zarek was genuinely grateful.

"Thanks," she replied, pausing for a moment. "I need level-nine strength-enhancing plants."

Zarek nearly choked, setting aside the light screen. He found her directness refreshing, though a bit surprising. "Our family’s powers are unique, so we do have a lot of strength-enhancing plants. But none at the ninth level. How about level eight?"

Level-nine plants were incredibly rare, usually snatched up by top Alliance forces before the news even got out.

Rowie listened quietly, not saying a word.

Zarek, not yet forty, was being groomed as the head of the Rymes family. Giving away level-eight plants, meant for his own advancement, could stir up some issues.

"Forget it," Lyra said. She needed level-nine plants to counteract the damage from the Soul Spike.

Zarek crossed his arms and scanned her slender frame. "I’m curious, why do you need something that powerful?"

Zarek thought to himself, ’She specifically asks for level-nine plants, but doesn’t seem greedy. It has to be urgent, but what will a healer need them for?’

"Can’t tell you," said Lyra.

"Alright, anything else I can help with?" asked Zarek.

"Yes, take me to Planet Nagano. Someone from Voidstar is causing me trouble."

In a way, Snakehead had correctly guessed Lyra’s plans. If not for her future goals, she wouldn’t want to deal with someone like Blackheart, known for his plundering ways.

Zarek was taken aback by her limited requests and offered, "Who is it? Want me to handle it for you?"

"If you can, sure." She smiled mysteriously. "The one after me is Blackheart."

Zarek chuckled awkwardly. "In a few days, I have to send Zinnia to Planet Nagano. You can stay with us for a bit."

He didn’t pry about how she’d made an enemy of Blackheart. To him, she was an enigma.

After Lyra went to the lounge, he immediately instructed Rowie, "Find out everything about her."

Two days later, they returned to Snowfall.

Lyra was greeted warmly by the Rymes family for saving the siblings.

Looking around, she noticed all the young family members were all men. As the only girl, Zinnia was clearly their treasure.

"You reckless girl, always getting into trouble! You nearly got yourself killed!"

All those men playfully slapped Zinnia on the back and ruffled her hair.

Hearing the loud smacks, Lyra pursed her lips: not so much a darling, more like a tough ball they loved to toss around.

"This must be Miss Shedd. Thank you for saving our wayward kids," Zinnia’s grandma said warmly, nudging her grandpa aside to grasp Lyra’s hand. "Oh my, why are your hands so cold? Turn on the heater, quick! How old are you? Are you in high school?"

Everyone’s gaze softened as they looked at Lyra. She seemed so delicate compared to this towering family, like a little doll among giants.

Lyra honestly thought dealing with Blackheart’s men might be easier than facing this.

Zarek stepped in, "We’ve been in space for a while, everyone’s tired. Let’s let her rest; she’s still recovering."

If these folks saw the cockpit’s condition, their sympathy would vanish fast.

"Right, right. Zinnia, Lyra’s room is next to yours. Show her the way," Zarek’s grandpa said.

"Got it!" Zinnia replied, pulling Lyra upstairs.

Once they were gone, the family’s warm expressions dropped.

Zarek’s grandfather kicked him sharply. "What’s going on? Explain everything clearly!"

Zarek rubbed his leg, wincing. "Grandpa, I’m still hurt."

With no choice, he explained everything honestly, making the old men fume.

"Those guys are pests!" the old man said, tapping his cane angrily. "I’ve lived over a hundred years and never seen such reckless behavior, abandoning a whole ship of passengers!"

Zarek sneered, "Some people in the military have gotten too arrogant these days. That’s why the Voidstar folks are thriving."

There was a brief silence before someone asked about Lyra.

"What’s the story with that young woman?"

Zarek lounged on the sofa. "Her? You won’t believe it..."

Rowie’s investigation results had stunned him. The famous Sis Marv, who had saved the admiral’s son, now aiming to join the NMA!

Piecing these events together felt surreal.

Finally, the old man commented, "She’s ambitious. Since she saved you, deal with those trailing her."

As for the ship incident, Zarek kept quiet, avoiding any tarnish to the family’s image of him.

Meanwhile, at Icicle, Liliana and her team watched as their target entered the military district. After two days with no sign of Lyra, soldiers had driven them away.

"What now, Miss?" someone asked Liliana.

"We’re going back," she replied, glaring at the patrolling soldiers and leading her team away.

They had no chance against Sis Marv’s clever tactics.

The NMA retest was just seven days away.

Lyra and Zinnia hurried to Planet Nagano, arriving just in time to stay near the NMA the day before the exam.

As they unpacked, Zinnia finally realized, "Lyra, why did you come here too? You don’t need to accompany me."

Lyra blinked. "I’m here for the exam too."

"Which one?"

"NMA."

For a moment, the tall girl’s face lit up with joy. "We’ll be at the same school!" She grabbed Lyra’s hand excitedly. "You’re a healer, so you’re applying to the logistics department, right?"

"The Command and Strategy Department."

"What?"

Zinnia was surprised, and when the retest list was published, the entire Department of Command and Strategy was abuzz with discussion.

"No way? Are healers this bold now? What makes her think she can compete with us?"

"She got the highest score in the written exam, that’s why. But she’s naive if she thinks that matters. The written exam is only forty percent of the total score. How many points can she get in the combat part? It’s a joke!"

"You don’t get it. I heard she came recommended by the higher-ups."

"So what if she has connections? Even the admiral’s nephew has to pass the exam. Let’s just wait and see the joke."

On the day of the official assessment, someone even started a betting pool on the forum.

"Can a healer get into the Department of Command and Strategy?"

The support rate was only 0.01 percent, and that was Zinnia’s vote.

 

Chapter 27: Physical Test

Right now, Zinnia and Lyra were riding the air rail to NMA.

NMA sat on an independent island in Emerald Harbor, the heart of Planet Nagano.

Access was only by sea, with a bridge carrying Lev vehicles on top and the air rail running below.

Majestic creatures leaped from the blue ocean, their splashes glistening like diamonds in the sunlight.

Overhead, seabirds soared. The view was nothing short of breathtaking.

Lyra stared out, deep in thought. After all the devastation and wastelands of Voidstar, she found herself liking this scenery. But beside her, Zinnia’s messages kept lighting up.

"I want to see who’s backing this healer."

"Don’t even bother. She’ll know her limits after all her efforts go in vain."

Zinnia was fuming, nearly smashing her tablet. "These snobs! I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!"

She wasn’t yet aware of what Lyra did on the human traffickers’ spaceship; she just had faith Arix could handle it.

Today, many were there for re-examination, making the air rail quite packed. Zinnia kept her signature loud voice, drawing a lot of stares.

Most of the applicants to NMA were proud, and they shot her unfriendly looks.

Zinnia fiercely stared back, while Lyra stayed expressionless as always.

As they neared the island, they heard loud shouts.

On the beach, students were jogging and training, all shirtless, their dark, glossy skin shining.

Even the girls in tank tops had physiques on par with Zinnia’s.

Seeing this, almost everyone on the air rail looked impressed. EPMA (Eden Prime Military Academy), with its rich students and well-rounded training, was like an elegant unicorn; yet NMA, with its sole focus on strength and rugged style, was a wild stallion.

Here, students were urged to fight, with the Department of Command and Strategy having the highest combat requirements. Their mockery towards Lyra stemmed from disdain for weakness.

Some of the personal attacks, however, were just about personal character, not school style.

Zinnia pressed her face against the glass, her fighting spirit ablaze. "No wonder Grandpa and the others suggested I apply to NMA. This place is perfect for me."

Lyra glanced at her, noting her physique that matched the senior students, and nodded. "Indeed."

Plus, her personality wasn’t suited for EPMA.

The island spanned nearly seventy thousand square kilometers, and all facilities were dedicated to NMA.

The air rail’s final stop was on the outer island, and after disembarking, they had to switch to the island’s subway or levitation buses.

This city was a blend of advanced tech and superpowers, with lush green belts featuring palm trees soaring twenty to thirty meters high.

Stone channels and fountains, drawing seawater, were scattered across the island, creating a strong tropical island vibe.

For many, it was their first—and possibly last—visit, and they were constantly in awe.

In the distance, Lyra saw the NMA emblem: a massive, majestic rock with "Nagano Military Academy" carved on it.

Next, they arrived at a sleek, modern entrance hall.

Here, everyone—students, or staff—underwent an identity check.

Everyone had a special ID card. The narrow, two-meter-long corridor verified identities, followed by another checkpoint requiring a card swipe.

Lyra and the other students had temporary ID cards. After lining up and swiping their cards at the entrance, they followed the signs to their respective examination spots.

Upon signing in, they lined up for assessments according to their numbers, which included tests for physical fitness, psychokinesis, and superpowers.

When they reached the front of the line, Zinnia realized Lyra was a top student.

"Each group of ten will complete an obstacle course, with no superpowers allowed. The time limit is thirty minutes."

The Department of Command and Strategy, the military school’s flagship, had the largest physical assessment area—the combat training field behind the school.

Spanning nearly 100,000 square meters, the area featured walls, jungles, and pools among its obstacles, with sand, mud, and rugged rocks on the ground. Many non-Peculiars couldn’t even manage a full lap.

Lyra, second in line, frowned deeply. Her petite frame barely reached the shoulders of the youths around her, and her slender thighs were thinner than some of their arms, making her seem out of place.

All the new students, old students, and even instructors focused their attention on her.

"Is she the one who tied for first in the written exam? The healer?"

"I’ve heard healers are pretty useless, but she looks too weak."

"She applied for the Department of Command and Strategy, with that slender body? She should quit daydreaming."

"But if it were a beauty contest, she’d probably win first place."

Nearby, someone muttered, "How did Cousin Cohen recommend someone like you? Did you cast a spell on him? Gosh, he must’ve fallen head over heels for you."

Lyra glanced at the speaker, noting the same amber eyes as Cohen’s. Unlike Cohen’s scholarly, upright demeanor, this youth had a bronze tan and an untamed, bold face.

"You heard I’m a healer, and your first thought should be ’She saved Cohen’s life’. That’s the right reaction from a functional brain. Why do you all overestimate my looks and underestimate Cohen’s ability to make the right judgment? "

It was a pure doctor-patient relationship, but people always twisted it into romantic gossip, which Lyra didn’t understand.

The young man, Thierry, suddenly realized, "Oh, it was you who saved him at Voidstar No.2." Then he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Thanks for saving Cohen."

...

A signal gunshot shattered the awkward silence. The young man who had just been grinning and thanking Lyra was now only a dust cloud in the distance.

The others in the group sprinted ahead at lightning speed.

"Ugh, cough cough," Lyra muttered, pulling out a pre-approved filter mask before she began to run.

Meanwhile, the second group was already lining up behind her, and soon people from that group overtook her. Then came the third group...

Those eager to see a spectacle were now dumbfounded. They had imagined Lyra being weak, but this was beyond their wildest expectations.

"No way!"

"Has she ever trained before?"

"Why would she even think of applying to the Department of Command and Strategy?"

Nearby, the instructors wore grim expressions, huddled together and discussing as they scribbled in their record books.

"Her respiratory system seems compromised; she can’t handle high-intensity training."

"Webber, you came all the way to see her? What a letdown."

"Healers rarely score well in superpower evaluations, and with such poor physical fitness, she definitely won’t make it into our Department of Command and Strategy."

Webber nodded but had another perspective. "If she didn’t seriously want to get into our school, why would she put in the effort to ace the written exam? Let’s keep watching."

People outside the course were laughing; those inside the course who overtook Lyra during the exam had strange expressions. If it weren’t for the test, they might have stopped just to marvel at her slow pace.

 

Chapter 28: Saving Energy

Everyone chuckled at her attempts, but Lyra was already pushing her limits.

To ace the entire course, she might just pass if she used her superpower to boost her body. But superpower particle detectors were scattered throughout the course, so cheating wasn’t an option.

She had to push her speed while saving energy for the rest of the exam. She took twenty-six minutes to finish, getting overtaken repeatedly.

A perfect score for this event was twenty points for ten minutes. She ended up with four.

The intelligent robots processed the data quickly, and within two minutes of her finishing, the rankings were out. She dropped from second place to somewhere in the middle.

She made a name for herself, but not in a good way.

Out of thirty thousand candidates, only two hundred would be chosen this year.

"Lyra, don’t be discouraged. Your superpower and psychokinesis are strong," Zinnia said, helping her up and trying to cheer her on, though she wasn’t confident either.

She just wouldn’t dampen her friend’s spirits.

Amidst the crowd, many eyes were on them. Lyra didn’t care about the stares, but Zinnia glared back at everyone.

Lyra nodded, "Four points, not too bad."

It was way better than the zero she had feared. Even a fraction of a point could leave many people behind.

Her calm demeanor drew sneers from passersby.

Zinnia’s eyes widened, and she grabbed one of them, yelling, "What are you laughing at?"

A young man, with black hair and slanted eyes, frowned as he was grabbed. He clenched Zinnia’s hand and raised his fist.

Zinnia wouldn’t back down and started to fight back. The escalation made the surrounding students stop and watch. Within a few moves, everyone realized how strong the two of them were.

"Hey, stop fighting! We’re all here for the exam. Let’s be peaceful!" Thierry pushed through the crowd and separated them effortlessly, surprising Lyra.

"Peaceful, my foot! Let go! I’ll kill this jerk!" Zinnia yelled, eyes blazing with anger.

"Forget it," Lyra said, pulling Zinnia’s hand. Despite her slender arm, she managed to hold back the furious Zinnia. "I’m not mad. We still have exams. Don’t waste your superpower."

The young man with black hair shook off Thierry’s hand. Then he crossed his arms and sneered, "Weak and can’t take criticism? I wouldn’t stoop to taking the exam with weaklings like you!"

He shot a disdainful glance at Lyra.

Suddenly, she scrutinized him, her face turning icy.

An inexplicable pressure spread out, and Jorath, the young man, looked down at Lyra, trying to shake off the chill in his heart. He even continued mockingly, "Not mad, huh? What’s with the face? Gonna cry?"

"Nothing, you just look familiar," Lyra said, turning her gaze away. He resembled one of the Shedd family kids, her former cousin.

Just then, the instructor arrived. They’d been watching from a distance and, without any reprimands, simply called for the psychokinesis test.

Jorath snorted, nearly provoking Zinnia again. He turned away, and Lyra called out, "Jorath Shedd."

"What do you want?" He spun around, glaring at her.

But Lyra wore a strange smile, "Nothing." Turned out her memory was still sharp after eleven years.

Muttering something about her being crazy, Jorath walked away.

"I can’t stand this anymore!" Zinnia tried to chase after him, but Lyra held her back.

"Our rankings are about the same now; we can take the test together."

"Sounds good!"

Zinnia was still easy to calm down.

Everyone considered Lyra a joke, including the instructors. Even their expressionless faces would crease with annoyance when they saw her.

"Lyra."

"Yes."

"Sit down, put on this helmet, and control the mecha on the interface for defense and attack."

Lyra obeyed. In the simulated universe, the mecha was attacked from all directions. She controlled the mecha with her psychokinesis, precisely defending and attacking without a single mistake.

On the display above the machine, her psychokinesis value kept rising.

Many others sitting around couldn’t handle it; feeling dizzy, their helmets automatically disconnected.

Waves of people swapped in and out around Lyra. By the third batch, with a ding, she finally removed her helmet—6079!

Among retest candidates with an average score of only three thousand, this number was astonishing!

Even Thierry couldn’t help but touch his head, realizing Cohen was right.

Cohen had said, "Never underestimate her."

After this round, Lyra’s score jumped from forty-four to sixty-four, rocketing her from 1800 place to 800 thousandth.

She had over a thousand competitors with similar scores.

People weren’t fools; they slowly retracted their mocking attitudes. Scoring perfectly in two events was no joke.

"Tch, I don’t believe it. Let’s see what her healing ability can do," Jorath muttered. He was one of the few who refused to acknowledge her prowess.

As many people’s attack methods were private, the superpower test wasn’t publicly shown.

But the scores were fully transparent.

Lyra entered and exited a specialized training room, emerging with another near-perfect score, skyrocketing her rank into the top hundred.

Superpower was the most critical category, with assessments covering type, level, talent, attack power, and defense capability.

Among the powers recorded by the Alliance, very few met all the standards.

In past years, the average superpower score for new recruits hovered between ten and eleven, highlighting the strict grading criteria.

Lyra’s score of eighteen was truly dazzling, only second to the top scores of nineteen held by Thierry and Zinnia. With eighty-two points, she shot straight into the top twenty.

"How can a healer score eighteen points!?" Jorath shouted from the front of the crowd. "Even with an S-Class talent and at level-five, how could a healer have combat and defense abilities? Are they really trying to fool us?"

The crowd began to murmur.

"Strange, could she not be a healer?"

"But her certification says healer. Maybe she’s a special type of healer?"

"If she’s special, then she’s not a regular healer, right? I think the test machine is broken."

The supervising instructor stepped forward, his expression stern. "Quiet!" He looked around before his gaze landed on Lyra. "For this exam, all the machines were standardized, and each room had an instructor supervising. There was no mistake."

Jorath shouted again, "Then how did she, a healer, get such a high score?"

"Yeah!"

"Exactly."

The instructor extended his arm and grabbed Jorath, lifting him effortlessly. "Superpowers have countless possibilities. Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. If you’re so confident, challenge Miss Shedd and see if you can beat her."

"Just what I wanted!" Jorath looked at Lyra with a challenging glare.

"I refuse," Lyra said. Her spirit had been drained from the exams, her face and lips pale. "I don’t want to waste my energy."

Engaging with him wouldn’t benefit her in any way. Why should she respond to his provocation?

 

Chapter 29: Getting Prepared

When Lyra stood there with her calm and indifferent look, everyone suddenly realized she wasn’t as weak as they thought.

The screen showed her high score of eighty-two points, making those who mocked her feel pretty embarrassed.

They had laughed at her, called her weak, but she just ignored them.

Even with the score right there, however, some people still tried to convince themselves it wasn’t true.

"Cheating! She must’ve cheated!" Jorath shouted, his neck strained as he faced the instructor. "If it weren’t for Cohen’s recommendation letter, she wouldn’t even be here!"

His words made everyone tense up.

Lyra didn’t need to do anything, for the instructor had already made his move.

"Shut up! Everyone here at the NMA earned their spot. Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll deal with you myself!" The instructor loosened his tie, grabbed Jorath like he was nothing, and sneered, "And you, if you want to be a soldier, learn about obedience and evidence. Baseless accusations will get you nowhere, even if you pass the re-exam."

That’s how the NMA rolled. Troublemakers got a good beating.

Jorath didn’t dare speak again and ended up on the ground. The instructor’s shirt buttons popped open, showing off his muscular chest, like a beast ready to pounce.

He looked sharply at all the young recruits and pointed to the score display. "The results are out. The top two hundred must report by noon tomorrow. In the afternoon, complete your registration. Freshman orientation is at 7 PM. Be late, don’t bother showing up!"

Then he walked off.

Webber and the others shared glances, leaving the freshmen looking confused.

This was just the start, and there was more to come.

Lyra started to leave, but Jorath, still humiliated, wasn’t done.

"Lyra, wait! Why won’t you accept my challenge? Because you cheated?" He yelled, pushing through students like a mad dog.

Zinnia gritted her teeth and took a deep breath. "Gosh, the guy’s like a fly. Let me deal with him."

"No, I’ll handle it," said Lyra as she stopped Zinnia. Then she got into position, and delivered a spinning kick.

"It’s a hassle that killing isn’t allowed in school," Lyra murmured.

Jorath flew and crashed into a passing cleaning robot. The robot, dragging an egg-shaped trash can, wobbled and sounded an alarm. "Attack! Someone is attacking! Unit 202 is starting counterattack."

Then he used his mechanical arm to pick up trash and threw it at Jorath.

Jorath, still dizzy from the fall, came to his senses and jumped up angrily. "You sneaky witch!"

But Lyra was already gone.

SPLAT! A banana peel landed on Jorath’s head.

Furious, Jorath kicked the robot again in frustration. "Lyra, just you wait!"

"Can’t fight back... Unit 202 initiating escape," the robot said, stopping his trash-throwing. A sad face appeared on his black LCD screen, and he quickly rolled away, dragging the trash can behind.

People around looked at Jorath with disdain.

Taking out his anger on a robot after being beaten up was just pathetic.

At the military school, all living supplies were provided, so Lyra didn’t need much. But Zinnia was eager to go shopping.

"Even though we have uniforms, we still need some casual clothes. What will we wear outside of school?" Zinnia said.

Lyra glanced at her t-shirt and cargo pants. They seemed fine to her.

Zinnia, who liked wearing shorts and skirts, loved picking out cute, fresh dresses for Lyra.

"Lyra, try this one!" Zinnia said, holding up a white, frilled midi dress with sparkling eyes.

Lyra finally realized Zinnia had a point. Since she had left Voidstar, she should adapt to different clothing styles.

Her doll-like appearance suited the cute dresses, making the salesman exclaim in surprise.

Lyra had spent most of her life training or studying and rarely paid attention to her looks.

Staring at the young woman in the mirror, she felt a bit unfamiliar with herself.

After changing out of the dress, she told the salesman, "I’ll take it."

"Will you be paying with cash or card?"

"Let me do it!" Zinnia said, pulling out her bank card.

Lyra looked at Zinnia curiously. "Why are you paying for me?"

The tall girl patted Lyra’s head like a big sister. "My brother said you had a hard time alone on Voidstar. Consider this dress a gift from me."

The dress cost over a thousand credits, which wasn’t cheap. Zinnia had already spoken as tactfully as possible.

Lyra couldn’t help but laugh. "Did your brother ever say I was short on money?" She handed her bank card to the hesitant clerk, who immediately smiled, relieved that her sale wasn’t lost.

Zinnia thought for a moment. "I don’t think he did."

"Don’t worry, I’m not short on money," Lyra said. She had many things to do, and material wealth was just the foundation of her plans.

...

Meanwhile, Jorath returned to his residence and immediately had someone investigate Lyra’s identity. His butler quickly came back with a thin sheet of paper detailing her background.

"Voidstar No.2? An orphan?" Jorath skimmed the paper and couldn’t help but prop his legs on the coffee table, laughing. "An orphan, and once a doctor? What does she think she have to compete with me?"

To him, a young woman without any background was someone he could easily manipulate.

The butler, however, didn’t share his dismissive attitude. Bowing slightly, he advised, "Sir, your family has instructed you to study diligently here and avoid causing trouble, especially with anyone from the Whyte family. Otherwise, it will put your family in a difficult position."

Jorath had been sent away from Elden Prime because of his troublesome behavior.

The butler was a retired soldier who once worked from Ansel. He was specifically assigned to keep an eye on Jorath.

Jorath rubbed his cheek, which was still aching from the earlier treatment, and he slapped the paper onto the table. "The royal family might be off-limits, but why should I bear the humiliation from some Voidstar orphan?"

He glared at the name "Lyra" on the paper. It was a very common name, so common that he might come across with one or two every time he walked on the street.

Actually, Jorath remembered that, he once had a cousin with that name.

He didn’t remember his cousin’s face, but he hated the name because it reminded him of a bad memory.

He recalled how, provoked by Erin, he had put a scorpion in Kail’s clothes. That "Lyra" caught him in the act and gave him a thorough beating. He never even saw her face clearly. It was an experience he never wanted to remember.

...

NMA’s new students reported in as scheduled and found their dorm rooms by number. When Lyra opened her door, she was greeted with a huge hug.

"Haah-ha, surprised?"

Lyra lifted her head from the soft embrace. "Not really."

She could feel the excitement in the room from afar.

"Hey? I begged my brother for so long to get us assigned to the same room."

"Alright, I’m quite happy then."

"Liar."

Chapter 30: Roommates

NMA’s dorm setup was a suite designed for four people, with each person having their own bedroom and bathroom. They shared a living room and a balcony. The living room was equipped with basics like a water dispenser and a fridge, giving off a hotel vibe.

Each bedroom came furnished with a wardrobe, desk, and bed. The bathrooms had washing machines.

However, students needed to bring personal items like VR headsets and, for some, recovery pods for post-workout relaxation.

After everyone found their beds, set up their spaces, and cleaned up, the dorm was ready to go.

Suddenly, a loud noise came from outside the door.

"Vivian, why did you bring so much stuff? We don’t need all of this at school," said a gentle voice.

"Just help me move it first," replied a clear voice.

Zinnia was drinking water and, when she heard the voices, she walked to the door.

She put down her cup and picked up two large boxes. Soon, the living room was packed with boxes of all shapes and sizes.

"Wow, are you moving in? That’s a lot of stuff," Zinnia remarked.

Vivian, with her thick, wavy brown hair, wore a custom blue fitted dress and a matching gemstone necklace.

Her makeup was on point, making her look like she was heading for a vacation rather than a military school.

She tossed her hair and pouted, "I spent ages picking these out and only brought a bit. If outsiders were allowed, I would have brought a whole renovation team too." As she spoke, she opened a bag containing a full-length mirror with lace trim.

"I need to set up my mirror first, or I won’t have a place to do my makeup later."

After Vivian went to her room, the blonde girl next to her gave an awkward smile and said, "Yeah, that’s her. That’s typical Vivian."

Zinnia soon learned that Vivian was the youngest daughter of the richest man on Planet Nagano, which explained her attitude.

The blonde girl with freckles and a low braid was Mandy. She didn’t have a prominent background like Vivian, and she was shy and introverted, always wearing a subtle smile.

The four girls in the dorm had completely different backgrounds and personalities.

Zinnia was enthusiastic and cheerful, quickly bonding with the other two.

"It’s almost twelve, let’s go eat," Mandy suggested.

"It’s that late? No wonder I’m starving," Zinnia said, hurrying to knock on the door. "I’m calling Lyra, let’s all go together."

Vivian, looking at her shiny nails, muttered to Mandy, "What’s her deal? She didn’t help with my stuff and didn’t even come out to meet us."

Mandy smiled, "Maybe she didn’t hear you."

Just then, a young woman in an army green tank top opened the door and stepped out.

Zinnia beamed. She pulled Lyra towards their two roommates, saying, "Let me introduce you, this is Lyra."

Vivian and Mandy exchanged surprised glances.

"I know you. The forums are still buzzing about you, the healer from Voidstar No.2," Vivian said, standing up and extending her hand with a smile. "I heard you got in with a recommendation letter from Lieutenant Commander Whyte, and your scores were top-notch."

Mandy tugged at Vivian’s dress, thinking, ’Don’t be so blunt.’—She had seen Lyra fight fiercely the previous day.

Vivian’s tone had a sharp edge that made even Zinnia frown, but Lyra remained calm. She nodded and said, "Yeah, that’s true."

Without the recommendation letter, she wouldn’t have gotten the exam spot, let alone passed the background check. And her high scores were also true.

Vivian felt a pang of frustration, like she had hit a cold wall. She stood up, crossed her arms, and asked, "Then let me be direct. What’s your relationship with Lieutenant Commander Whyte?"

She scrutinized Lyra with sharp eyes, thinking, ’She’s so pretty, are they...’

"I’m a doctor, and he was once my patient. I saved his life," Lyra replied calmly, her steady gaze meeting Vivian’s. "Anything else you want to know?"

Vivian’s aggressive attitude waned, but she still lifted her chin and said somewhat proudly, "Nothing."

Cohen’s injury was something Vivian didn’t know about. Besides, she realized that it was impossible that a level-five healer could have any significant relationship with an admiral’s son.

The scene grew awkward.

Zinnia and Mandy exchanged glances.

At that moment, Lyra walked towards the door, saying, "Weren’t we going to eat? Let’s go."

The NMA cafeteria mainly served seafood, with plenty of meat and carbs to replenish daily energy. The cafeteria was large and crowded but orderly. Everyone could see the dishes on a floating screen above each window and then line up for their meals.

Lyra and Mandy lined up at one window, standing one behind the other.

Mandy stared at Lyra’s back, feeling she was hard to approach. She gathered her courage and said, "Um... Vivian has a crush on Lieutenant Commander Whyte, and she’s pretty straightforward. Please... don’t be mad at her."

Actually, Mandy’s family was also trying to arrange a marriage with the Whyte family for her.

Lyra turned slightly and said, "I’m not mad. Many people misunderstood us, not to mentioned that Vivian, who has a crush on him."

’But your expression really keeps people off,’ Mandy thought.

Mandy’s gaze and the indication in it were so obvious that Lyra grasped it immeidtaely

Thus, she added, "Please don’t mind my expression. It has grown on me."

The tension thickened. Mandy, trying to smooth things over, gave an awkward smile and said, "Let’s get along well from now on."

It was meant to ease the tension, and anyone else might have agreed. But Lyra shook her head and said, "That might be difficult."

Ignoring Mandy’s shocked expression, she continued, "Vivian already holds a grudge against me, and you seem to be afraid of me. It would be good if we can just stay cool and maybe some distance from each other."

Lyra’s sole focus at the military academy was to use it as a stepping stone to get into the military. The two young lady, however, one from a common background and the other from a business family—Lyra just couldn’t see any opportunities for cooperation with them for now.

After getting their food, the four of them sat at the same table.

Only Zinnia and Mandy were talking. Vivian complained about the food, while Lyra concentrated on eating her large plate of food.

"I think the cafeteria is pretty good. I like seafood," Zinnia said.

Trying to avoid awkward silence, Mandy agreed, "Yes, these sea beasts are very expensive outside."

"They’re just common ingredients. How expensive can they be?" Vivian poked at her plate with a fork disdainfully. "They just fry it up. Do the chefs even know how to cook?"

Zinnia glanced at the embarrassed Mandy, picked up a piece of fish, and said, "I think it tastes good. Maybe it’s because we don’t have seafood in Snowfall, so I don’t eat it often. Yum!"

Her cheeks puffed out with food, and she squinted her eyes in enjoyment.

Vivian sneered at her, thinking she was rude. Then she turned to Lyra, who hadn’t said a word, and asked, "You came from Voidstar No.2. Life must have been a tough challenge there, huh?"

She just couldn’t stand this poker-face woman.

Lyra ignored her provocation. She quickly finished her soup, cleaned her plate, and got up to leave.

"I’m done eating."

She left Vivian glaring in anger.

Zinnia blinked and quickly finished her meal. She wiped her mouth and stood up, "I’m done too."