Chapter 10

Everything to me.

2504 planet - circumstance - Koletre University -art section room C

Viktoriya was in a slump. She hadn't been painting for three months and had terrible problems. She was facing her greatest current enemy: a white canvas.

2504 to 2505 events

Catherine cared for the house chores in the meantime, and even if the food was improving at the beginning, it was barely passable after a few times. It was acceptable. The cleaning getting proper was not helping Viktoriya, so people took up chores for her to gain more practice time.

The gist was that Visha was the top student. Still, the teachers' demands soon became unrealistic, giving her sour notes in a misunderstood case of sloppiness.

She was good, but the faculty wanted her to continue. They wanted her to get out of her comfort zone and reach new heights; the expectations were made too strict because she was simply in a league of her own.

It was like wanting a master class out of an established artist to change style entirely. She was not a natural genius, only a diligent reincarnation.

Her merit differed from Catherine's, but only one person knew that, so the idol fell from top rank to the bottom. Everyone thought that if it was Viktoriya, she could do it, or that would be expected of Viktoriya.

She cooked and cleaned everything to an absurd degree to escape reality, so people took those duties out of her hands.

Still, even though that was a part of her daily life, Grantz handled even taking Weiss to walk after getting tutor Grohl's advice and help from the faculty to keep Viktoriya on track.

Everything was done for Viktoriya to fix by herself. The problem was blowing up as the bullying from one of her classmates was redirected at her because people misunderstood her fall as only fooling with a boyfriend, finishing after the supposed culprit Grantz steeped in with help from friends in certain art groups.

After an inspection from the Advisor, it was diagnosed that Visha had skipped sleep time since the first semester when helping the bakery from the first-floor change, transitioning from pastries to luxury cakes.

She did this without anybody realizing it, and after that, she always slipped out at dawn to help do chores in the confection.

The prohibition and fixed schedule were put in place, and even a dosage of sleep pills was prescribed to make her do proper rest. After that incident was resolved, everyone realized that Grantz was her anchor and that everyone could have defended her.

Still, Grantz went above and beyond to solve matters, not caring if he needed more hands, and humbled himself to seek help and advice, which made him rise to the attention of the student council, later being appointed to general affairs.

2506 Koletre-Browning District 1 Girls apartments

Masami Iwasawa told an impromptu story to Hitori, Yui, and Mio, newcomers and neighbors in their apartment.

"Now, on the eight wonders of the campus, never insult the art course in the science department, because even if being a teacher the Russians right red hand is going to disappear you from existence, you can run through the mills, bridges, squares or stacks even in port they hunt you down."

"What? Even in Endymion, that was a thing! And if not, getting one credit for every time I hear that will not be much, but twice is now making a trend and too much to be a coincidence."

"Interesting, by coincidence, had you a pair of brunette and blondie troublemakers in that school of yours back there?"

"Well, no, but I recall seeing a pair of sisters in the neighborhood, in school, and the mall, you know, being a European colony funded by Luxembourg duchy, mean many hair colors there with people ascending from all over Europe."

"Also, the little one was blond, and the older one was brunette. That may be a coincidence, but in planets full of people focused on things with high added value, make it so that streets are as safe as here even if this city has 80% youngsters."

"Interesting, and by coincidence, the blondie was a geek, and the brunette was the perfect wife type."

"Older ones are more prone to take care of the youngest and have that older sister vibe."

"Well, yeah, but that does not coincide with my recollection because the mother junta was full of chitchat about a pair of mothers in high esteem who solved riddles, a pair of mothers with blond and brown hair, who were the go-to people to solve mysteries cases and even help the police that was the cream of the cream putting detectives to shame and highly valued in medical knowledge being traditional or modern, solving mysteries and …"

"And I remember the legend of a pair of gentlemen highly valued in the hunting club, people expert in tracking that gave the SWAT courses, that in their younger days were a pair of trouble makers gamblers, racers, etc, ?, who coincidentally was a pair of blond and brown... ?"

"See, too much of a coincidence to be true, almost normalized in their globe of influence, but when seeing that culture from the outside to many overlapping made rumors getting a form of a trend, that if legends have the nuance of validity is that they are based in real facts and imagine if two couples raised both daughters and bam! You have a pair of geniuses that create the 8th wonder."

"I don't know of gossip, but I recall that the sister of my keyboardist is brunette, and she is from Endymion."

"Oh, but if I recall, they have been here for five years ago, meaning they are sponsored, meaning geniuses."

"We also had a friend pianist in our band some years ago. Her name was Catherine Halsey from Port Vernon."

2506 Koletre Exhibition Hall A

Viktoriya couldn't believe it. Her art was all gone, and not even a single piece was left. She was in shock, deflated, she couldn't believe her luck. All of those sold out, meaning she was rich even before adulthood.

She was happy, but this sudden change in expectations might change the meaning of how she grabs a brush from now on, as now, every piece she will make will be highly valued, a pressure Visha was not yet ready to accept, as she was mulling her soul in front of her only portrait named the champion of light, a professor came in to give her a hazelnut cocoa macchiato.

"hi, here's gart."

"god, did you say god?"

"mmm, not yet; in one of my books, it will be, but not today, but let's play with it. What pain, little sheep, is your heart."

"I thought your name was Carlos."

"My pile one is Gart, but I am always misunderstand, so my pen name is Carlos."

"Well, I will need an artistic one, seeing that I am as famous as Dali now."

"Well, in that regard, it is more precisely to say that you revitalized a movement from the confines of history; it is not every day that people get into the beauty of nature as vivid as in your painting. You could say you created a protest as honest as Duchamp."

"Well, that is the most on-the-ground praise I received this week. I was sure people would inflate my ego to the moon with their lips service."

"Mmm, that is thanks to your anchor, isn't it? How are things with your husband or boyfriend."

"No, not boyfriend, but he claims the title of 'husband to be,' making that a tradition now that I am tired of correcting."

"In my honest opinion, he has his feet grounded and has been famous more time than yours truly, and as far as I was hearing, he is the person that makes you authentic, making since the entrance in university gave that spark on your work, I even hear that it was good with your blockades."

"How are you able to tell? It doesn't matter, mister 4th wall, but I initially advanced faster than anyone in my course. Suddenly, I was second before I knew it, and when glimpsed again, it was the last."

"Still, suddenly, he distracted me, comforted me, took my mind off from doing 3d chess to a more common and simple pathway, and well, one day, all of a sudden, one of the pieces was sold, then another, and now as we made an exhibition on nature"

"People saw things I did not even put there and marveled at my work leading in all my life works sold out it doesn't matter if is a monument, the type of painting, or digital art, they wanted everything. I donated this portrait to the school to thank my alma mater."

"A very appreciated token of goodwill will be displayed in Koletre-Browning as proud proof that they taught Viktoriya Ivanovna Serebryakov."

"?, who are you? I never used my full name, not that name. Only one person in the entire galaxy knows that name, my anchor."

"Calm lieutenant, I mean no harm, this old man as I am but a passing soul in this forgotten universe. I am as mortal as you and know only that the great filter is coming."

Viktoriya was speechless and shocked at that point-blank statement, letting her mind race from slumping moody to a more battle-ready stance.

"Quiet, as I said, I am not yet in godhood here. Take my baton. Without it, I am as fast as a turtle,"

Viktoriya couldn't believe it. That must be the one the saint fought or some related eldritch terror, but he said he was as inoffensive as old men.

"You soon meet with a man called Elias Carver. Let him reach his soulmate, Milah Tchakova. Do not let him commit suicide and make him verify his calculus with someone smarter than him, and if you have doubts about what team I am on, read my work, ' War of a Little Girl."

"The TV series is also a masterpiece, but you need all the context by the end of the week. This early Alzheimer's of mine will wipe out this conversation, but trust me, I already sowed what I planted."

"My retribution is coming, and soon, I will be diagnosed with early symptoms that will degrade my body, making such a compelling case of fortunate karma making me retire much earlier than I wanted."

At that statement, Viktoriya was not catching up. Was he a former enemy? or an ally, Ex divine? That man recruited Halsey. He was next door to her house while Alistair interviewed the Serebriakov.

They even took a photo with the duo when graduating with their parents, and now he was saying stuff out of the blue that makes that truth siphoned away.

He was supposed to be a family friend, and now Carlos was saying he was a former enemy; at that statement, she was out to find Halsey and maybe Grantz, but given he is terrible with lies, she needs to mask this encounter to something different, goodwill was that she has reference material to work with it and understand his intentions.

Koletre-Browning University presentation hall A

Catherine Halsey was rehearsing her first doctoral thesis on IA, a new generation of fabrication, longevity, and reliability, and every question, rebuttal, and concern was met with criticism. However, as soon as more and more questions were raised about the technical aspects, people were eager to learn more—how much?

They took the morning and afternoon and would soon dine to celebrate her newly acquired title. It was a shame that this week was busy for Viktoriya and Catherine, but they will be going to be together after only being able to say good nights and a good day for months,

Rare coming for a pair of friends that had a very balanced lifestyle with homemade cooking, baking, and tidy apartment amenities, as she was doing a little hope of jumping for joy to being able to go to those izakaya restaurants an adjutant of the UNSC was approaching her if she remembered well her name was Milah came here at almost the same time she was admitted to the faculty.

"So, the youngest acquired her PH. D. and is working on her second one."

"Well, I have a model that I want to run using IA, but I am searching for something challenging to impress people."

"A fast learner and dedicated person, I remember you being attached to that sister of yours when she defeated me in a shooting tournament. Where was that little duckling."

"So, you are Milah Tchakova"

"Delighted to be an acquaintance, and that a hell of a memory do you have, want to go to work for the ONI."

"I thought you were from UNSC. Why did the change from Navy to intelligence come about?"

"Well, my job is about picking the right person for the right jobs. You are a little young, but you already have the door open, making intelligent IA and maybe combating rampancy a priority for the Navy. It also comes with benefits, housing, and retirement plans."

"Well, in that regard, it is unavoidable. There is a lot of research to be done, and new instruments and techniques need to be specifically made for that purpose."

"That is why I am mentioning this in this informal interview. This is going to be a long race, a marathon of sorts."

"As far as my humble comprehension mind goes, this is going to be the same as campus life: instead of classrooms, a laboratory, and changing the apartment for a house in a remote location full of nature working and baking to pass the time, maybe a dog or cat, and a very balanced lifestyle."

"Well, as far as I get to my cabin surrounded by pines, I am good. I have been too busy in the bustle and hustle of cities and want a change in mentality. You know I grew up next to the sea."

At that point, Viktoriya entered the scene and took the seat next to Halsey in fluid motion,

"Aren't you too young to be thinking of retiring in a cabin in the middle of Conifer Forest and enjoying that Christmas vibe all year? Also, this coffee tastes like Santa's, which is good."

"Enough about being an old soul. It says that the artist who makes sceneries or landscapes but not portraits."

"Well, my, it is time to celebrate. Girls change their mood, chill, and remember life is like a hotdog; it has two starting points and two ends, and this is only a little milestone in the journey; nothing is decided. Nothing is done; it is only prep time."

"Yeah, also remember a scientist named Elias Carver? It has a model that could make a good example of your theory and be a good starting point."

"Hah, Visha, you are a genius. I had forgotten about Jinxes cause of bad juju, but yeah, his would work wonders, but the question is where he is."

"Ely? That man is my lucky charm, but he had been holed up and did not get out of that cave much like Amaterasu."

"And you are?"

"Milah Tchakova, long time no see last boss."

"Last boss? I don't remember playing AAA games, so my pop culture knowledge."

"It's not that! You have beaten hers in the first tournament."

"The deception, sister! It hurt being forgotten, and you even scored a hubby back then."

"He is not my boyfriend!"

"He claims the title of 'husband to be' nowadays."

At that point, the blush in Viktoriya attracted the attention of the savvy ladies in the room, teasing her to relieve the tension in the room a sport, making a very comfortable evening once the ice was broken.

Decan of biology Slevatna Alexievich and rector Andrzej Sapkowski were present in the izakaya, overseeing the zealous scandal that popped up every time the girls touched the subject of young Grantz and lady Viktoriya.

"So tell me, how come a biology decan sponsored a tech-savvy girl? I, the rector, ended up sponsoring the artist."

"Not much mystery, hard science does not discriminate about subjects. It does not matter which tech tree you manage. What matters is giving results, and for the rector of faculty sponsoring a painter, well, it was gut feeling you had a debt with you and me an empty slot, so here we are with fundraising for more students from Endymion a good portrait on display, and the government pledging to have a word with miss Halsey once grew old enough any questions?"

"I thought I was a sage, but you always play 20 dice rolls on dungeons in the long run. Is there a rock without a flip on this damn planet"

"Not much. I was getting old, and almost every seed I planted was already sown. I always have tricks up my sleeve, but I am more in taking it easy as I saw my grandnephew getting demoted from admiral to captain. I invited him to an adjunct job to see potential in my school for next year. I suppose that would not cause you any problem."

"You and your resources ness, how are you capable of such marvels? When wasting every trick in the book, you got hold of the parenthood card like nothing. Are you sure you do not want the rector seat again?"

"boy, I am taking it easy in semi-retirement training Ursula le Guin as my next decan. I am too old to play tricks; I was so good as a great mother, and by destiny, the grandchild is coming here on a sabbatical with granny and cookies."