Bonds forged in Ash and Laughter

Chapter Eight: Bonds Forged in Ash and Laughter

Issac and Mr. Owens stepped back into the room.

Julio, who was in the middle of eating, caught sight of Issac returning. His expression darkened. With a scowl, he tossed his apron aside and stormed out of the dining hall, his footsteps heavy with anger.

Issac's gaze drifted uncertainly to Mr. Owens.

Mr. Owens met his eyes, then shook his head calmly — a silent message not to react, not to take Julio's bait.

The other children at the table averted their eyes, pretending as if nothing had happened. Tension rippled under the surface, but the clinking of cutlery soon resumed.

Mr. Owens clapped his hands and raised his voice. "Today we have someone joining us! Like the usual, he'll introduce himself."

He stepped aside and gave Issac's shoulder a firm, encouraging tap before nodding.

Issac swallowed and stepped forward. He took in a slow breath, trying to steady the anxiety twisting in his gut. "Hello everyone," he said, his voice a little tight. "I am Issac... Issac from the House of Storm. Glad to make your acquaintance."

He gave a small, respectful bow.

Anne squealed with delight, her hands waving her doll in the air. "Yaaay! Now Maya has a new person to play with!" Her beaming smile was like a sunrise cutting through the awkwardness.

A boy suddenly stood up, practically vibrating with energy. Round goggles sat on his nose, and his gloved hands twitched with excitement. His black hair bounced as he darted forward and shook Issac's hand with a force that surprised him.

"Hey, I'm Janai! Nice to meet you! Yeaaah, everyone calls me the Mad Scientist. I'm the genius of this household — one of the youngest too. I mean, after Anne, there's me. I'm ten!" His words tumbled out in a single breath. "One day I'll become the best scientist in the world!"

Janai giggled at his own declaration before dashing back to his seat.

Issac blinked, then smiled. Something small flickered in his chest — a warmth he hadn't felt in a long while.

"Oh, and I use the Elemental Law of Electricity!" Janai called out proudly from his seat, sparks zipping from his fingertips in little blue flashes.

Another boy, about Issac's age, stood up with an annoyed expression and smacked Janai on the back of the head. "Do you have to be so loud about it?!"

Still holding his head in pain, Janai muttered through gritted teeth, "No shit... you're the one to talk..." He folded his arms and slumped back with a grumpy huff.

The boy had shaggy yellow hair, rings on every finger, and an old towel wrapped around his neck like a royal cape. He stood with exaggerated posture, smoothing his hair before speaking.

"Hey, fellow royal. I am Prince of the Gamma District of Arcacia — Rauf. Glad to meet someone of similar calibre... and before I forget..." He raised his hand dramatically, letting his aluminum and iron rings catch the light. "I use the Elemental Law of Wood."

"No one wants to see your fake rings, Rauf!" Janai shouted.

"They are not fake! I am a prince, you idiot!" Rauf smacked him again.

Laughter erupted around the table.

Even Mr. Owens chuckled. And for the first time in what felt like ages, Issac felt something unfamiliar — joy. A genuine, small, hesitant smile crept across his lips.

Maybe Arcacia isn't that bad after all, he thought.

"Enough."

The word sliced through the room like a blade.

Silence fell. All eyes turned toward the one who had spoken.

A boy had risen from his seat, his eyes locked on Issac with an intense stare. He looked slightly older than Issac, with a sharp ebony Mohawk, three earrings dangling from his right ear, and eyes like a predator's — narrow, calculating, unblinking.

He spoke again, voice calm but laced with warning. "I'm Ed. Elemental Law of Stone."

He walked with slow, deliberate steps until he was face-to-face with Issac.

"This is my family. I won't let anyone treat them anyhow. I'll let you go this time... but if you ever repeat what you did with Emma again..." His voice dropped to a chilling whisper, "...you'll wish you were dead."

Without waiting for a reply, Ed turned and exited the room, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the frame.

The silence lingered — thick, awkward — until a dry voice broke it.

"Nice way to kill the vibe, kid."

Another boy stood, this one close in age to Ed. His speech was lazy, like he hadn't slept in days. Long grey hair flowed over his shoulders, and earrings swung on both ears. He looked like he didn't care about much.

"I'm Bryan. Don't let that sour boy get to you — he's just overly protective." He yawned and rubbed one eye. "Oh yeah... I use the Elemental Law of Fire." Then he muttered in a lower tone, "Also... I'm the strongest in the household right now."

The other children all nodded in agreement.

A girl stood up next — quiet, with gentle eyes. "Hey—urm, I'm Alice, and I use the Elemental Law of Water," she said softly, then quickly sat back down and resumed eating.

Emma raised a hand casually. "Yeah, he knows me already. We've got history. I use the Elemental Law of Metal."

Issac gave her a nod of acknowledgment, then looked toward the two remaining boys — both sitting quietly, seemingly uninterested.

"Lamar. Halliday." Mr. Owens called out. "Don't you have anything to say to the new boy?"

The twins stood in unison.

Issac's eyes widened slightly as he realized they were identical — almost the same age as him. One had black hair with a white stripe. The other had white hair with a black stripe. Their serpentine eyes glinted with something unreadable.

"Forgive our insolence, sir," one said coolly. "But we don't give respect to just anybody."

"You gotta earn it... in a battle, of course," the other added with a faint smirk.

As they turned to leave, both suddenly stopped.

In eerie unison, they turned their heads slightly. "There's a strange power seeping from your body," one said.

"And it's not an Elemental Law," the other finished.

Mr. Owens stiffened. These twins... their senses are too sharp. Sometimes it scares even me.

Issac took a deep breath and exhaled. "You mean this?"

He closed his eyes. A hush fell over the room.

When he opened them again — they were glowing white.

A radiant white energy began to pour from his body like steam, soft and shimmering. His braids floated slightly, as if weightless. His eyes blazed with otherworldly light.

"This is Zone. Back where I'm from, there's nothing like Elemental Laws," he said, voice low and steady. He clenched his fists as a frown tugged at his brow... but then exhaled again, slowly, and the glow faded. His body relaxed.

The twins shared a glance, and — for the first time — grinned. "I wonder which is stronger..." they said, laughing lightly as they left the room.

Janai's mouth hung open. "Wow... that's so cool! How does it work though?!"

Rauf jumped to his feet. "Yes! Teach me how it's done!"

Anne spun with her doll. "Best power ever!!"

Emma watched quietly. Her eyes lingered on Issac longer than the others. She didn't speak.

Mr. Owens raised a hand and called for calm. "Alright, everyone — table dismissed! Off to bed."

One by one, the children filed out, buzzing with energy. Issac turned to follow—

"Except you, Issac," Mr. Owens said gently.

Issac paused and nodded. He pulled out a chair and sat.

Mr. Owens sat across from him and slid over a cup of hot milk mixed with chocolate base. The aroma was calming. Issac hesitated... then accepted it.

For a while, the room was quiet. Just the faint clinking of the cup.

Then Mr. Owens spoke.

"You wanted to know how I knew your grandfather... I used to be part of the Arcacian military. One of the units sent into wars... missions wrapped in lies. We followed orders without question. But Arcacia isn't what the world thinks it is."

He leaned back, his face shadowed.

"There are secrets — old and buried. Arcacia had tried to invade Atlas for years. Every attempt failed. I left the military the day I realized we citizens were pawns — fed propaganda and chained by fear. All under the control of an ancient force... The Trident."

Issac clenched his teeth. "With all due respect, Baker... I asked about Azar. Not Arcacia's fairy tales."

Mr. Owens chuckled softly. "You've lost your path, Issac... Azar was a friend. We met on the battlefield. He spared my unit... then showed me the truth."

Issac's fists tightened. His voice trembled. "Arcacian soldiers took my home. My family. All of it."

He saw it again — the flames. The white uniforms. The star-shaped crest.

"They killed everyone... the ones in white capes, with star crests on their chest."

Mr. Owens' face drained of color. "The Twelve Stars of Arcacia," he whispered, swallowing hard. "But that... that's forbidden. The Bond forbids use of power factors like that. Unless... they were desperate. After the Cube."

"How did you escape?" he asked.

Issac stared into the cup.

"I... I didn't. My grandfather... Azar... he pushed me off a broken boat. He said something about 'essence'... and that I was the key. I still don't understand."

He scratched at his braids. His voice cracked. "If only I'd been stronger... faster... maybe I could've stopped him."

The coronation. The man with the strange aura. The flash of betrayal.

Tears spilled down his cheeks.

"I'm sorry, Idris... Klaus... Lena... Father... I'm sorry."

Mr. Owens stood and placed a hand on his shoulder. Warm. Steady.

"Nothing will ever fill the hole left by greed and war... but grieving forever isn't the answer. That's what Azar told me too. You may be new here... but Anne looks up to you. So does Janai. Even Rauf."

Issac wiped his face and managed a faint smile.

"You don't have to erase the pain," Mr. Owens said. "Just don't let it erase you. Enjoy the moment. You never know what's coming next."

Issac nodded quietly, fixing his braids.

"You're not alone anymore," Mr. Owens said, then stood, removing his apron.

As he climbed the stairs, he caught a small figure hiding behind the doorway.

"Shouldn't you be asleep?" he asked.

Emma blinked, then turned around sheepishly. "I need something to snack on."

He shook his head and smiled faintly as she darted back toward her room.

Downstairs, Issac sat alone, tears still falling — but these were different. They were warm.

"I'm sorry... Idris, Klaus, Lena... Father... I'm sorry," he whispered.

Crickets chirped softly outside. The house was still. The night, gentle.

But not far away, on the rooftop of a lighthouse near the shore of Gamma District...

A hooded man stood bathed in moonlight. Cloaked in black, a sword strapped to his back, his silhouette barely disturbed the air.

"It's all going according to plan," he whispered, voice like gravel soaked in oil.

Then — he dissolved into ash, vanishing into the wind.