Villain Retirement

"I have lived many of your lifetimes, and only once have I ever been under someone. I do not plan to be anyone's subordinate—well, at least, not yet."

Xra was truly not planning on serving under anyone, no matter who or what. But for some reason, seeing the look of subtle worry on both the faces of the women in front of her, she could not help but want to tease them.

"..."

Still, the people that surround Riley Ross truly weren't that bad. Although she had not seen what they could do, she knew enough that they were strong just from the way they carried themselves. Even the old woman, Tsula, carried herself with dignity even as she reached the end of her lifespan.

Of course, out of all the women she had seen, Hera still held the most curious ability. A power to react and adapt to any and all situations was a power that could only be said to be godly. She already knew that her kind, humankind, would be comparable to the Higher Races once a good amount has been infected by the virus that gives them abilities. And now, 8000 years after she left the planet, more and more have gained powers well beyond what she had seen.

"Hannah Ross."

And after a few more seconds of teasing Tomoe and Katherine, Xra turned to look at Hannah and bowed. Even after 8000 years, even after seeing what the humans have evolved into, even after seeing the most frightening existence the humans have given birth to—Hannah's abilities were still the most special for her.

After almost ten millennia, a being with the same exact ability as Akkamesh has been born.

Unlike Akkamesh, however, Hannah is clearly able to breathe through space—and there was really only one clear reason for that.

"You are Caitlain's daughter?" Xra said as a small smile crawled on her red lips, "I have been truly wanting to meet you.

"...You know who I am?" Hannah raised an eyebrow as she looked at Xra from head to toe again.

"Of course. Riley Ross has told me so much about you," Xra nodded, before approaching Hannah and standing awfully close to her, enough to make Hannah take a step back,

"You are the only reason someone like your brother is not worse than he is."

"You…" There are not many in this world that could make Hannah uncomfortable—but Xra was truly on her way to the top of that list for some reason, and she had only met her, "...You think Riley could actually be worse?"

"Of course," Xra once again nodded before turning to look at Riley, also approaching him and standing even more awfully close to him; to the point that their cheek once again touched, "At a very young age, your brother has seen what I've seen—and unlike me, he had conquered it. But because of his… condition, he chooses to still be swayed by the darkness and eradicate everything that is and will be. Both of us have a reason for what we are; a murderer, a being clad in evil…

…but my evil, from the start, even if it was created by another being, has reason to exist," the tone of Xra's voice slightly became meek as she turned to look at the Bloodcruiser, "But your brother… your brother just chooses to be evil."

"Stop talking like you actually know my brother," Hannah pulled Riley away from Xra, "You don't."

"She actually does, sister," Riley, however, just tilted his head to the side to look at Xra, "Pirate Queen Xra and I are alike—out of all the creatures in the entire universe, she is probably the only being that could truly understand what I am and will be. She—"

"Shut the fuck up, Riley," Hannah squinted her eyes as she looked Xra straight in the eyes, "I know a predator when I see one."

"You did not even see Julius—"

"Continue what you're going to say and I swear I will send you to this darkness shit you like so much."

"You did not even see Julius Reuben, sister."

"You!"

And all of a sudden, Riley started flying away, with Hannah also flying to chase him.

"No matter where in the universe, those two will never change," Katherine could really only let out a sigh as she saw this. Tomoe clearly agreed as she nodded several times.

"That's good and all," Hera, however, did not seem to share the same sentiment as she yawned, "But what exactly do we do now? I don't see anything within miles. Shouldn't there be like… at least something?"

"When I mentioned that we are free to roam about, I meant it," Katherine answered, "The themarians don't really care for us."

"Great, a race of stuck-ups."

"Not entirely, madam Hera."

"Hm?" Everyone looked as Xra joined in on the conversation.

"It is more like when one sees an insect. The themarians could either choose to squash them, or just ignore their existence completely—the themarians see most races, not their own, as nothing."

"Well, one of those new insects just killed one of them," Hera pointed at Riley.

"That's true—the themarians become more and more apathetic as they grow older. But if there is one thing that they can't get rid of, it is grudge."

"Right…" Hera slightly hummed when she remembered that Xra had experience dealing with themarians, "...You've been here before?"

"I lived here before," Xra sighed as she looked over the horizon, "And as I have been afraid of so before—the themarians truly have not changed."

"A tree that can not fall tends to remain the same for eternity."

And all of a sudden, Tsula spoke; her eyes, just following the two siblings that were still playing on the clouds, "But I believe that is about to change."

"Oh, it will," Xra smirked as she heard Tsula's words, "The tree may not fall, but it has been shaken many times before. And as I am one of the people that have truly shaken it quite violently before, they have probably already appointed someone to spy on us."

"..."

"That's good and all," Hera rolled her eyes as she started walking around, "But after everything that has happened, I need a fucking drink."

"The themarians do have one of the best alcohol in the entire universe," Xra smirked as she looked Hera straight in the eyes.

"Now we're talking my language," Hera once again closed her eyes and took in a very deep breath.

"If it is alright, may I lead us there?" Xra then said as she looked at Katherine, "I believe you have a lot to report to Riley, and that place is one of the few where we won't be disturbed."

"Is… it near Galpath? That is where we're staying."

"You mean that's the only place that welcomed us," Vera joined in on the conversation as she lightly pulled the collar around her neck.

"If it was up to me, you will not be welcomed anywhere," Tomoe, who had also been quiet since earlier, also joined in as she looked—no, glared Vera straight in the eyes, "Now that master is here, we will finally have a verdict on what to do you with you. I don't even know why you are tagging with us."

"Your master already said he won't do anything to me."

"That you know of," Tomoe squinted her already small eyes, "I will convince master to get rid of you once and for all."

"Y—"

"Enough, enough," Hera breathed loudly as she walked between the two, "Pirate Queen, where to?"

"Well, we actually don't need to go far…

…The place I am talking about is in the city of Galpath."

***

"Are… we really in the most advanced civilization in the entire universe?"

Riley and the others had to leave the Bloodcruiser, as according to Katherine, Theran has a lot of 'No Fly' zones—and that is including their own. And so, right now, in front of Hera, were people that looked like humans, walked like humans, and were just casually truly living like humans.

Hera was already surprised that Theran was surrounded by nature, but to think it was literally covered in it was something she did not expect. When Katherine said they were staying in a city, Hera was at least expecting something that looked like an actual city, New York, or at least something urban.

But this—it almost seemed as if she was in the set of Lord of the Bangles. There were no tall buildings, and most of the infrastructure was just built with bricks and stones. The set-up was almost medieval fantasy, with trees even growing on top of some of the small houses. There was even a river going through the small city.

"..." But if there was something lacking, then it was—

"...I don't see any kids," Hera whispered as their group continued to walk through the city. The themarians glanced at them with curiosity, but that was it—no one really approached them or heeded them any mind, even though Vera and Riley had collars on their necks.

"Mother told me that themarians are only able to have children every thousand years or so, Miss Hera."

"...For real?" Hera's eyes widened as she looked at the people around them, "...I can't even imagine the kind of menstrual cycle themarian women have, then."

"I wonder that too, Miss Hera," Riley nodded several times, "Aerith is—"

"We're here."

And fortunately for everyone listening, they arrived at their destination before Riley could say whatever it is he wanted to say.

"...There was a bar here?" Hannah raised an eyebrow as she saw the wooden signage above the door.

"Let's taste that themarian alcohol!"

And with a certain excitement in her voice, Hera was the first to step inside as she opened the bar's wooden doors. And there, inside…

…were themarians wearing collars, even the barkeeper.

"...Maybe we should just go to a 7/12? Does that exist here?"