Rain held her mother tightly, savoring the moment, until something clicked in her mind. She suddenly pulled away, her excitement bubbling up. Kloud and Keanu finally caught up to them, both curious but silent for the moment.

"Where is Luna? Is she going to be here too? Or Ashanti? Or Atlas?" Rain's voice was filled with hope, her joy spilling over at the thought of seeing any of her sisters or her brother.

Tera's smile faltered just a little, a shadow of sadness crossing her face. "Unfortunately not, sweetheart. They're still back in Mortalis Solum," she explained softly. But then, her expression brightened again as she motioned to the infants in Nero's arms. "However, you haven't met Nebulas or Nova yet. They're your little brother and sister."

Rain's eyes widened as she stepped closer to the two infants, who were wide awake and eagerly reaching up towards Nero's face with their tiny hands. She waving a gentle hello to them, her heart swelling with affection. "Hi, you two," she whispered, as they seemed more fascinated by Nero's presence than her. Still, her smile never faltered as she marveled at her new siblings.

Tera watched with a full heart, smiling at the sight of her children together. She had never imagined in all her years that she would witness this—a reunion, with new life in her arms and her family around her.

Then her eyes turned to Kloud. He stood a little back, staring at her with wide, almost disbelieving eyes, as if he were seeing a ghost. Tera smiled, her expression warm and inviting. "Hello, Kloud. You've grown into quite a handsome man since I last saw you," she said, her smile bright and genuine.

Kloud hesitated, his gaze shifting between Rain and her mother. He couldn't shake the feeling that had settled deep in his gut, a feeling of confusion and something else—something he wasn't ready to name yet. Tera looked so much like Lyra that it unnerved him. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

"It's an honor to meet you, Mother Nature," he said slowly, bowing his head slightly in respect. "May I ask you something, ma'am?"

Tera raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but nodded, gesturing for him to continue.

Kloud's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to ask the question that had been gnawing at him since they arrived. "Do you have a daughter named Lyra?"

The revelation hung thick in the air. Kloud stood frozen, Tera's words echoing in his mind: Lyra is Luna.

The same Luna he had heard tales of, the Princess of Yruf, disguised all this time. His chest tightened as the weight of it sank in—his friend, the woman he thought he knew.

Rain's shock mirrored his own. "Princess Luna is Lyra?" Kloud whispered, barely able to believe it himself.

Tera nodded gently. "Yes, she wanted to learn about her moonstone, to perfect her magic, and the academy was the best place for her to do so."

As Kloud processed the information, the puzzle pieces clicked into place. Her hesitations, her reserved nature, the way she would sometimes avoid his questions—all of it made sense now.

But then another thought struck him, harder than the first. Lyra—or rather Luna—had lied. She had lied about who she was, her background, everything. Weren't they friends? Friends didn't deceive each other like that.His hand clenched involuntarily at his side as emotions warred within him—betrayal, confusion, anger. He felt a storm brewing, and his mind began to spiral. 

Nero, watching closely, caught the shift in his son's demeanor. He knew what was coming. But this reaction was precisely what Nero had hoped for. Kloud becoming disillusioned with Luna would only benefit his plans. Yet, he said nothing. This was Kloud's moment to wrestle with his emotions.

Rain, still absorbing the shock of her mother's words, tried to make sense of it all. "But... her moonstone? I didn't even sense it! Her hair and eyes—she doesn't look anything like she use to!" She turned to her mom, her confusion written across her face.

Tera let out a soft chuckle. "Of course, sweetheart. We had to give her a new appearance to keep her safe. The moonstone is hidden, and her looks are altered. But beneath all that magic, she's still your sister."

Rain processed this slowly before nodding. "I see..." Her expression softened as the realization dawned. "Don't worry mom, we'll look out for her!"

Tera's gaze flickered between them, her voice gentle but firm. "Yes, more than ever. Please, Rain, Kloud—watch over her for me. She may seem strong, but she's carrying a lot. You both are her closest allies in this world. She'll need you." 

————

Lyra sat outside the staff building, her gaze drifting to the sky as the sun dipped lower, casting a soft orange hue over the horizon. She had been waiting for hours, checking her phone repeatedly for a message from Kloud. 

Nothing.

No texts, no calls, and every time she tried, his phone went straight to voicemail. Her frown deepened, worry creeping into her thoughts. Was he busy? In trouble? He had told her he'd be back, so where was he?

As the evening chill settled in, Lyra wrapped her arms around herself. She didn't want to leave, not after waiting so long, but the growing cold was making it harder to stay. Just as she debated whether to go, Sky walked by, heading back to her room. She spotted Lyra sitting alone and hesitated before speaking.

"Oi, you'll catch a cold out here. What are you doing, waiting for someone?" Sky asked, her voice more curious than concerned. Normally, she wouldn't poke around in someone else's business, but it was odd seeing Lyra still hanging around this late.

Lyra perked up at the sight of Sky, relief flashing across her face. "Your brother told me to wait for him. He said he'd be back, but he's not answering my texts or calls. Have you heard from him?" She tried to sound casual, but there was a clear edge of worry in her voice.

Sky frowned. She knew exactly why Kloud wasn't responding. He had been texting her earlier, and it was clear he was avoiding Lyra. Kloud had likely made up his mind about the whole situation, and it didn't look good. Despite that, Sky actually liked Lyra—she was kind and much better than some of Kloud's past choices.

"No, I haven't heard from him," Sky lied smoothly. She glanced at Lyra's hopeful expression and added, "But our dad took him to his palace. Reception's pretty shitty there, so he won't be back for a while." She shrugged as if it were no big deal. "You want me to walk you back to your dorm?"

Lyra's face fell slightly, but she forced a small smile. "Oh, I see. That makes sense. And no I'm good, I know the way back. Thanks, Sky." She stood up, brushing the dust from her clothes. She couldn't help but feel disappointed, but at least now she had an explanation for Kloud's silence.

Sky waved Lyra off, thankful she hadn't pressed for more details. "See ya," she said quickly before turning to head in the opposite direction. Kloud's mess to handle, not mine, she thought, pushing down any lingering sympathy for the situation.

It didn't take long for Lyra to make her way back to her dorm. She was mentally exhausted from the day and all she wanted was some peace. A nice bath, some music, maybe a book with grapes, cheese, and a glass of wine. That sounds perfect, she thought as she reached her door.

She tapped her key card against the scanner, the green light flashing to signal entry. But as she pushed the door open, her breath caught in her throat. 

The room was an absolute disaster.

Her once tidy kitchen was littered with open food containers, bags of chips, and half-eaten fruits. Some of the food was even on the floor, creating a mess she could barely comprehend. Loud music blared from the TV, bass-heavy beats shaking the walls as dancers on the screen moved wildly to the rhythm. The scene was like something straight out of Project X.

Lyra took cautious steps inside, eyes scanning for any sign of a burglar or, worse, some kind of creature that had rampaged through her space. What in the world happened here? she thought, heart pounding as she made her way toward the kitchen.

And that's when she saw him.

A tall man with silver hair was dancing in the kitchen, completely at ease in the chaos. His small braids swayed as he moved to the music. He wore a long black t-shirt with a designer fanny pack slung across his chest, paired with black sweat shorts and neon yellow sneakers. He had high black socks pulled up to his calves, and a joint dangled casually from his fingers. 

The man turned, revealing clear, designer glasses that perched on the bridge of his nose. His glossy red eyes met hers, and he flashed a lazy, knowing smile.

Lyra froze in shock.  

Kloud? 

But something was off. The vibe, the clothes—it was wrong. He looked like Kloud, but this guy was different.