Villain Retirement

"You met with… Van? What…

…what kind of blasphemy is coming out of that tainted mouth of yours, vermin!?"

Queen Vania's silver hair lit up the entire room as she roared. Her steps, however, were incredibly slow and forceful as she walked toward Riley. It would seem all her speed went into her eyebrows, which were moving in a trembling rage.

Aerith and Tedi quickly blocked Queen Vania's path—making sure the two didn't end up fighting and making a mess again.

But it wasn't only Queen Vania that was making noise, however. The Elders too were all exclaiming; their voices, as loud as they could be as they tried to make sense of the situation. There was not even a single inch in the gray room that was not filled with noise—unbefitting for a place considered a library.

Ahor Zai's avatar didn't really know what to do, as it just frantically floated everywhere; circling in the air as it tried to process all the information dancing around her. Throughout its entire existence, it had seen Elders debate endlessly. They argue, and sometimes even fight…

…but not like this. The situation in front of it felt like children in a nursery, creating needless chaos. It was… too noisy.

[Stop! Stop it!]

And with its system no longer able to take the useless noise, Ahor Zai's voice traveled throughout the entire plateau; the gray room they were all in, violently trembling and causing everyone inside to stop.

[This is the Library! Respect its silence!] Ahor Zai's avatar started flailing its little arms around as it pointed at everyone,

[Those that are not involved, out! Out, I say!]

***

"Truly, you can't expect me to believe this ludicrous story?"

And now, with peace and quiet once again lingering in the library, Ahor Zai also started to calm down. Queen Vania, Aerith, Tedi, Riley, and Riley's clone were the only ones left inside. They were now seated around a table, created by Ahor Zai in hopes of a diplomatic and civil discussion.

"Primordials, Nothing, Death…" Queen Vania's breaths quietly whispered in everyone's ears, "...and Van, living outside the scope of the Universe? What sort of nonsense is that?"

Each of her words contained her disbelief. But Riley did not seem to mind as he just shrugged his shoulders as he once again had a plate of cookies in front of him. Ahor Zai was also beside the plate, eating the cookies with Riley. How it was able to digest or even eat, no one really knows.

"I do not lie, Queen Vania," Riley then sighed, "You can ask Aerith."

"He lies," Aerith did not hesitate to place her hand on the table, "Rarely. And when he does, it's a lie the size of Tedi."

"Hey," Tedi could not help but furrow her eyebrows as her name was suddenly mentioned in the conversation. As for Riley, he just squinted his eyes as he looked at Aerith; slightly shocked at Aerith's betrayal.

"I will uncover your lies, then," Queen Vania slightly harrumphed as she looked Riley in the eyes, "If you have truly met Van, then what does He look like?"

Although Van is the evaniel's god and his images were everywhere, no one truly knows what he looked like—Only the Queen does, and this is passed on through generations. There were images of him looking as if a giant amongst men, towering over everyone with his long, sturdy legs. There were also images of him that made him look like the most beautiful being in the universe—he could may very well be…

…but there is one specific detail that is not shown to the populace.

"He has long silver hair, as long as Tedi's original body's hair," Riley casually said as he ate some cookies, "And he has several light markings on his face."

"You truly take me for a fool, do you not?" Queen Vania took in a deep breath, "You just described a typical evaniel."

"And he is short, perhaps 162 centimeters."

"That's him!" Queen Vania could not help but stand up from her seat, letting out a loud gasp that whistled in the air. If it wasn't for Aerith catching her, then she would have definitely fallen to the floor from shock.

And while Aerith was trying to calm Queen Vania, Tedi was fidgeting with her glasses.

"Does this mean the rest of what Riley said is true?" She then mumbled as she tried to process the information. And she wasn't alone in that, as Ahor Zai's avatar also stopped eating.

[I am adding that information to the Codex now,] Ahor Zai said.

"Wait…" And as Queen Vania finally recovered, she quickly collected herself and looked at Tedi, "...I can no longer allow you to continue the Shade Prison."

"...What?"

"You heard what Van said," Queen Vania sighed, "Van told us not to open any portals."

"This research has been going on long before we were born, Queen Vania. I can't—"

"Wait," Queen Vania did not let Tedi finish her words as she suddenly pointing her palm at Riley, "You conniving deviant—that is a lie, is it not? You know that we plan to trap you, and you added some details in that story that are not true! You think I am unable to see that you mixed truth with lies?"

"..." Riley no longer entertained Queen Vania as he looked at Aerith with disappointment, "Look at what you did, Aerith. They think I am a liar now."

"..."

"Continue your research, Tedi," Queen Vania then quickly changed her tone, "The evaniels will even help you fund it."

"Really?" A smile quickly formed on Tedi's face, "Then we should hurry up—this is getting exciting."

"...You're a little bubbly for a race that has no emotions."

"Let's go, Princess Aerith," Tedi then stood up from her seat and started walking out of the library, "Let's go to Theran."

"...You're coming with us?" Aerith raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. I will help in migrating your people to New Theran."

"Help?" Aerith let out a slightly confused chuckle, "I truly appreciate this… but why?"

"You should thank Riley Ross," Tedi shrugged as the door in front of her opened, "In return for agreeing to cooperate with my research, I will be helping him in helping you."

"...What?" Aerith could not help but look at Riley; her eyes, slightly wavering.

"But please, keep this secret to the people in this room," Tedi sighed, "I don't want any of the other Elders poking their noses."

[You do not have to worry, your conversation is secured,] Ahor Zai's avatar stood up from the table, [But I am confused about the dynamic of the people in this room…

…Queen Vania has expressed her desire to trap Riley for eternity, but he doesn't mind. Former Elder Tedi creates the prison that is able to trap Riley, but she protects him. And then, Riley and Princess Aerith are sworn enemies… but they are lovers?]

"We're not lovers! Who—" Aerith did not even finish her words as she quickly turned to look at Riley, "What are you feeding to the AI!?"

"...Cookies," Riley quietly said as he looked to the side.

And so, after much discussion, the time for Aerith and Riley to return to Theran has come.