First Day

"So, what do you want to talk about" Ash said, leaning back in the nearest recliner in a hotel room. 

 "Your rank hasn't been calculated yet," Queen Korin said, leaning forward on the couch across from him.

"And so what." 

Her eyes narrowed in intrigue "That's not important, I just said that to test you." staring at him "Where were you for the past 15 years" 

"You're not in a place to ask questions, especially if you need my help." Ash said, wondering for some food "Why did you call me" 

Korin looked amused He's an interesting kid "I need you to do one thing for me" 

Ash cocked his head "What do I get in return" 

"This hotel," she said, gesturing around "Will be yours. Oh as well as a suitable monthly allowance" 

He leaned forward slowly after some time "So what do you need" 

She smiled, leaning back "You see... you look a lot like someone I know..." 

The next day...

 Thorne Black quickly got up from his bed, hearing his mom's steps towards his room, his heart rate spiking. 

Shit  

He rushed to brush his teeth, quickly making his bed and falling over 

Shit

She got to his room when he was halfway up his shirt and opened the door. His heart evaporated from his body. 

...Shit 

"Are you serious right now" Lyra, his mom said, deceptively calm. 

He quickly wore his shirt and backed away slowly, his shaky hands held out. "Mom I can explain-"

"We were supposed to be there by 7:30," she said, now behind him, her overwhelming aura leaking out. "Do you know what time it is" 

"11:47, you could round it up to 11:50-" 

"It's noon," she said, now sitting on the bed, letting out a breath, and laying down. 

Still backing away into the bathroom "T-that's a bit of a stretch, don't you think" 

"You think so," she said, sitting up. 

"Yeah," he said, quickly shutting closed the door. 

Only to be stopped by a perfectly manicured hand behind him. 

"Now what do you think you're doing" a voice, adored by many, whispered in his ear. He turned around, shaking with sweat forming. The woman behind him looked back with purple eyes glowing malevolently and showed her wicked smile that men would start wars for. 

"Go pack." 

In the car to his boarding school, he sat, sulking. His mother however was blissfully unaware. 

"This is your second year! Arent you exited" She said, practically radiating. 

"Yup" 

"I should have bought a dress that matches your uniform, with the same black hair and purple eyes, we could be twins." 

"Yay" 

"Oh, you look sooo cute." 

"I sure do." 

They pulled up at the gates of the region's most prestigious school, the courtyard filled with families backed by unimaginable wealth

And they all stopped everything once those two arrived. 

Immediately, they changed attitudes, Lyra stopped talking and moved with such power that everyone parted for her. 

...Oh and Thorne to I guess. 

He never really liked the fame that came with being his mother's son. But he sure knew how to play the part. 

Everyone was in awe at then.- Almost everyone. 

At the foot of the stairs to enter the building, A grey-haired boy stopped and turned around to look at her, grinned... 

Then left. 

She forgot everything and ran to him. 

He looked exactly like Thorne. Am I being crazy? 

He was gone, It was like he couldn't sense his presence anymore. 

What. 

She looked back at everyone, then left to the dorms with a confused Thorne. He didn't have time to react though, as she seemingly returned to her normal happy self. 

"In only your second year, my little boy has become a prefect," she said with a delirious smile. "am I so perfect that I gave birth to a prodigy?? " she gushed over herself. Thorne almost forgot her reaction when the gray-haired kid appeared.. 

Almost. 

There have been people claiming to be the fabled 'second son' of Lyra Black, but none have been able to look directly at them. 

Insolence, that's what it was-Pure insolence. 

His mother simply wanted to teach him a lesson and dropped her facade out of anger. Yes, that's it. 

Don't worry Mom, I'll get him for you.. he thought as she hit his head to snap him back to reality. 

"Hurry up, I need to leave the region," she said in front of the principal's office. He smiled and looked up at her. "Alright," he said walking in. 

"If it isn't our star student," Luke, the administrator smiled "Go right on in." 

Smiling back, he said "Thank you" He opened the doors and instantly an overwhelming aura engulfed him, nearly choking him. But he smiled anyway. 

"Hello, principal... I'm guessing you saw him too." He looked at the man sitting behind the desk, his massive frame dwarfing him. 

"Ash...sit." His deep voice, despite hearing it so many times, always made his heart drop to his stomach. Closing the door, he sat in front of the desk, with a badge saying: 

 PARADOX HIGH SCHOOL

 HEAD BOY THORNE BLACK 

"You remember what happened last time someone pretended to be the second son right?" 

How could I forget?

"Good, I give you full authority to ensure this is nipped in the bud." 

Thorne smiled as he held up the platinum badge to examine it. "Full Authority." 

The aura calmed down a bit "Full authority" 

He smiled even wider, "I hope to serve the school with my service," he said as he bowed then left. 

As he saw his mother's proud face, his heart burned even more. 

"...Bye kid, see you in a month and a half," Lyra said as she walked away. 

Thorne's resolve only grew and then he turned the other way to head to the dorms. 

Lyra on the other hand, was running to the school garden, 

I saw him, she thought, I saw him. 

She moved her fastest and got there in record time, looking around frantically. 

I know for sure I wasn't seeing things this time. He's somehow better at hiding than I thought. 

As she wandered around, thoughts raced through her mind. 

What do I even say when I see him...What do I do from here...How would Thorne feel... 

As she turned around the corner, on a bench, a woman in a silver female knight costume was sitting there, waiting. 

"Hello," Lyra started, in a hurry "Have you seen a grey-haired kid around-" 

"Why do you care." 

Halting, Lyra smiled "Korin, is that you," she said in a mocking tone. 

"Queen Korin to you" 

"Pft, sure. So that kid was just a fake huh-" The moment she said that, the air felt colder and it felt like it was evening. All her hair stood on end and she was frozen to the spot, wide-eyed in shock. This wasn't something that was impossible for her to deal with, she just hadn't felt such a feeling in years-

"Do I look fake?" Ash's voice said behind her, holding a silver sword to her throat from behind. 

Korin smiled "Yeah Lyra, does he look fake" 

When she got the strength to turn around, the presence was immediately gone. Everything was normal as if he was never there. 

She fell to her knees, her chest tightening. then she felt Korin's, armored hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, he won't hurt you-" Lyra looked at her, her purple eyes shining malevolently again. For real this time. "Don't make me take your other eye." 

Korin put her hand on the part of her helmet that had her eyepatch in mock fear. 

Gasps"You wouldn't" 

Luna stared at her with the same hatred, then got up and started to walk away. 

Korin smiled "He'll say hi to your son for you-" She felt a jab to her chest and fell on the ground coughing blood. 

"You really want to test me don't you" Lyra said, towering over her. 

Despite the pain, she smiled "Wouldnt dream of it." 

Lyra smiled back then disappeared. 

"That was out of line," Ash said appearing out of nowhere and walking up to her kneeling self, squatted beside her "Don't you think."

"Help me up." Ash got her up and put her back on the bench 

"Is that it" Ash asked, skeptical 

"I'll contact you if I need anything else." She said, clutching her chest. Then she took out her phone from a chink in her armor designed as a pocket. Her eyes widened. 

"Ash, would you happen to know something about this" She said, handing him the phone. 

Shit. Yeah, I know them. On the screen, there was a recording of an emergency news broadcast. 

"All those in the salt district have been ordered directly by the executives to leave immediately, the cause of this is due to a possible contamination in all water-" The reporter was cut off as a skinny, 40-ish-year-old man intervened, looking horrified. 

"I-It's a lie," He said, his eyes looking crazed and his voice quivering "Monsters. L-lots of them. RUUUUUN!" 

A dark cloud fell then the broadcast cut. But not before a silhouette of a monster was shown. 

Oh...that's pretty easy to deal with. He started. Wait...How did that get here? 

"Wait for a bit, It will eventually sleep...Kill it then." 

"What about the smoke?" 

"I've never personally been affected by it, so I wouldn't know." 

Korin looked at him, lost in thought. 

"Earth is different from wherever you came from, the normal response squad might not be enough. If by tomorrow they aren't able to kill it, you need to come in to kill it" 

Ash looked at her, annoyed "Why can't you kill it." he said, pointing at her "I have school soon" 

She put on an innocent face "Who, me?" then run into her car and sped off. 

Shit, well I guess it's fair... He sat on the bench and looked up. Is that why I was told to get stronger? To stop this madness. Even if it's not. He got up I didn't waste my life fighting just to not use it. It's high time I put that training to use. 

Yawning, he made his way to the dorms. I feel like someone's talking about me... 

In the only empty dorm, Thorne and his fellow prefects had finished leading every one to their dorms. 

Now, the only room left... Thorne smilled, looking at the door at the end of the third floor corridor. 

Alan's gonna have fun with him. He left to the fourth floor, the prefect's floor as, in the room, a tall, muscular, dark skinned boy was sharpening a dagger, waiting...