Luna stood in shock, trying to piece together the scene before her. Monday and the Headmaster were kneeling, their bodies directed toward a massive figure standing in the middle of the room. His back was to her, but the powerful aura that had nearly suffocated her earlier was undoubtedly coming from him.

Kloud, Jae-Sun, Rain, and Sky stood off to the side, their eyes fixed on Lyra as she entered. Jae-Sun smiled, waving at her with joy, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere that gripped everyone else in the room.

Kloud mouthed, "Sorry," just before the imposing figure turned around. Lyra nearly had to catch her breath as she took in the sight of the most gorgeous yet intimidating man she had ever seen.

The man was a towering elf, easily standing at 6'10". He was built like a warrior, wearing a black tank that revealed his muscular physique and silver dog tags that hung around his neck. His camouflage cargo pants and black boots gave him a rugged, military air. One arm was encased in silver armor from shoulder to wrist, while the other displayed intricate tattoos of oriental clouds that spiraled up to his neck. His blonde hair, soft and glowing, cascaded down to the nape of his neck, framing a chiseled, godlike face adorned with scrappy facial hair and a golden tan. His golden eyes locked onto hers, so intense that she had to look away.

Lyra could only make one guess as to who this was: the Emperor.

"Kneel," Monday hissed at her, but their command was cut short by the golden-haired man's raised hand.

"Silence, Monday," he spoke, his deep, alpha voice reverberating through the room, nearly shaking the walls. His eyes never left Lyra as he walked toward her, each step heavy and deliberate.

"You must be Lyra. My children have spoken highly of you. I heard you saved my daughter here." He gestured toward Rain, who blushed slightly at being called his daughter.

Lyra swallowed nervously. "Am I in trouble, sir? I was told to come here for detention. Is this it?" she asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

The Emperor's golden eyes never left Lyra as she spoke, her voice trembling slightly. He could sense her unease. "You are not in trouble, Lyra," the Emperor said, his voice gentler but still carrying an undeniable weight. "In fact, you should be commended for your actions during the duel. It should never have escalated to that point."

The Headmaster's eyes widened in surprise as she quickly averted her gaze from the Emperor. The tension in the room was palpable as he turned his attention to her. "Samara," he began, his tone firm, "I expect better judgment from the leader of this academy. You should have intervened when you saw the fight was getting out of hand. Instead, you allowed it to continue. I suggest you offer an apology. Now."

The Headmaster swallowed hard, then nodded, stepping forward with her hands clasped in front of her. "My deepest apologies, Lyra. I should have stopped the duel before it reached that point. You were right to intervene, and I was wrong to place you in detention."

Lyra blinked, her anxiety easing as she realized she wasn't in trouble.

The Emperor's gaze shifted to Monday, who was still kneeling, trying to maintain their usual haughty demeanor. "And you, Monday. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Monday hesitated for a moment before their usual sass was tempered by a sheepish tone. "I apologize, Lyra. I got carried away, and it was wrong of me to attack so recklessly."

The Emperor then turned to Rain, his demeanor softening as he extended a hand toward her. Rain immediately ran towards him, taking his hand with a small smile. The contrast between his interactions with others and with Rain was striking, as he seemed to melt into a more tender version of himself around her.

"My children," the Emperor said, addressing Kloud, Jae-Sun, and Sky, who were still standing to the side, "Your brother will be staying here for a while. Make sure you keep an eye on him. You know he tends to get into trouble when left unsupervised."

Kloud, Jae-Sun, and Sky all exchanged glances with mixed emotions, mostly dread. The Emperor's words carried an underlying seriousness, but there was also a hint of affection for his son.

Finally, the Emperor's golden eyes returned to Lyra, giving her a long, hard stare that made her feel as though he could see right through her. There was no malice in his gaze, but it was intense enough to make her feel a mix of awe and fear. "Lyra," he said, his voice low and commanding, "I expect you to continue proving yourself worthy of the trust Rain and my other children have placed in you."

Lyra could only nod, too overwhelmed to speak.

The Emperor turned to leave, but paused and fixed his gaze on Kloud. "Kloud, a word," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation. With Rain holding his hand, he started toward the exit. As they reached the door, Rain glanced back and gave Lyra a small wave, her smile warm and genuine.

Lyra returned Rain's wave, but a strange mix of relief and apprehension gnawed at her. One question kept echoing in her mind: why did Rain look exactly like her little sister? Lyra frowned, her confusion deepening when the Emperor referred to Rain as his daughter. There was no way that could be Oceana. She would have to investigate this further... later.

She watched as Kloud gave a respectful bow to the Headmaster before turning to leave. As he passed her, Lyra gently caught the cuff of his blazer, her concern evident. "Will you be okay?" she asked softly.

Kloud smiled, clearly touched by her worry. "I'll be fine," he assured her, a playful wink accompanying his words. "I'll meet up with you later." With that, he casually followed after his father.

Once outside the building, Kloud paused. Nero stood alone, his presence commanding and formidable. "He must have teleported Rain back home," Kloud thought, realizing this meant only one thing: a lecture.

Before Kloud could start explaining, Nero's voice cut through the air like a blade. "This isn't about the fight." There was an edge of agitation in his tone, though it remained dangerously even. "I warned you to be careful around that girl."

Kloud scoffed, trying to downplay his father's concern. "Lyra? She's just a friend!"

Nero's eyes narrowed, his towering frame taking a menacing step forward. "And that's what you said about the last girl. Where is she now?" His voice dripped with a cold, lethal intensity.

A shadow passed over Kloud's face at the mention of the past. Something dark stirred within him, but he kept his composure. "Lyra is different," he said carefully, weighing each word. "She understands me."

Nero's response was immediate and terrifying. He bared his fangs, a low, threatening growl vibrating in his chest as he closed the distance between them. "I told you she was off-limits. Friends? Fine. But she is not yours, Kloud. You've known her for only a fucking week. If I so much as hear about you flirting with her or trying to get too close, I will fucking kill you, drag your ass to the Underworld, and rip you a new one. Do you understand me? Lyra is not your mate."

Kloud held his father's gaze, his breath quickening as Nero's words took hold. The tension between them was almost unbearable, each moment dragging out like an eternity.

"You're overreacting," Kloud muttered, trying to sound confident, but the tremor in his voice gave him away. "You don't get it. Lyra—she's different. She's not like any girl I've met."

Nero's eyes darkened, his gaze growing cold and almost suffocating. "Do you even hear yourself? he hissed, his voice sharp as a blade. "But you're right about one thing—Lyra isn't just any girl. She belongs to my brother, your uncle Khan."

Kloud's heart skipped a beat, his defiance faltering as the weight of Nero's words settled in. "Khan?" he whispered, the name feeling foreign on his lips. He had heard it in passing, but his father had always kept details about his brother vague. The revelation that Lyra was connected to someone so unknown and yet so close, someone he was related to by blood, made his stomach churn.

Nero stepped closer, his towering presence making Kloud feel smaller by the second. "Yes," he confirmed, his tone laced with warning. "And let me make this perfectly clear—my older brother is not someone you want to provoke. He is a force that even I tread carefully around."

Kloud clenched his fists, struggling to process the weight of what he was hearing. "So that's it?" he said bitterly. "I'm just supposed to pretend like she means nothing to me?"

Nero's expression grew colder, his gaze piercing through Kloud. "That's exactly what you'll do," he said with chilling finality. "Your feelings don't matter. She is destined for your uncle and you will watch yourself around her. Or else, you will face the wrath of the God of the Underworld and I will not be able to save you."