Proem

“Oi, new kid!” A gruff voice snickered at a black-haired boy.

Z jolted, the voice yanking him out of his thoughts.

He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing hard as he tried to push that stupid memory to the back of his mind. The boy grimaced in disappointment. Wallowing over events that transpired ten years ago was fruitless. He had expected better from himself.

A sharp shoulder jabbed into the small of Z’s back, making him stumble forward and forget about his previous worries.

Anger bubbled up within him, but he chose to ignore the other boy, vouching instead to walk forward unblinkingly. The kid didn’t take kindly to being ignored.

“Hey, shit face.” A firm tug on his collar sent Z keeling back. Without warning, a fugly face was pressed into his, and a foul stench made its way into his nose from the other boy’s mouth. Z narrowed his eyes at him.

The boy chuckled evilly. “Don’t ignore me, you brat.” He paused and then smirked at Z. “I heard you were an Ash. Is it true?”

Z didn’t spare him a glance. He directed his blank stare towards the rotting ceiling above them.

“Your breath stinks,” he monotoned, dragging his eyes down to meet the other boy’s gaze. Ugly Face scowled at Z, his eyes flashing with mirth.

Sneering, he opened his mouth to retort. A short, chubby kid walked up behind him to discreetly sniff at his breath before pulling back abruptly as the other whipped around with a glare.

Z rolled his eyes and turned away, intending to simply walk off.

Just his luck. The boy from before grabbed the collar of his shirt again, this time with his fist reeling back for a punch. The last thing Z could register was greasy red hair before a blooming pain in his face stopped him in his tracks.

Z’s head whipped to the side from the force. He took a slow, shaky breath. A familiar anger bubbled up within him again, and he chuckled, slowly turning his head to finally get a good look at Ugly Face.

Z cocked his head to the right, widening his eyes to adopt a crazed look.

The boy from before looked taken aback. He stepped away from Z almost unconsciously. Z licked his lips at the taste of his emerging fear. “You’re a noble, yes? Of House Floa?”

Despite his tenseness, Ugly Face managed to twist his lips into a sneer. “I am. You should bow down, peasant.” He spat the last word out, droplets of saliva landing on Z’s face.

House Floa. He remembered that one. That day, Lady Floa had snickered behind a feathery blue fan. She had glanced impassively at them as if she were gazing down on insignificant bugs.

Z smiled sweetly.

Ugly Face saw nothing but a blur. Before he knew it, he was facing the ground as Z gripped the back of his neck tightly, using his other hand to yank fiercely at his hair.

Z chuckled, “Well Mister Floa, allow me to serve you like the peasant I am. Would you like some water?”

Before the boy could respond, Z dragged him towards the nearest bathroom by the hair on his head. Ugly Face flailed around in his grasp, but Z’s gloved hands did not budge. Passersby stared in shock as the boy cried for help. None were brave enough to step in.

Z kicked open the stall of the closest restroom, ignoring the girls’ shrieks of surprise. He let go of Ugly Face’s hair, pressing down on his nape and shoving his face into the toilet bowl.

The water in the bowl filled with bubbles as the boy struggled to breathe. The water muffled his yells, so he kicked out his arms and legs, grabbing at Z desperately.

Z lifted his head by his hair, smiling madly as Ugly Face gasped for air. “What’s wrong, sire? Water not up to your standard? Here, let me get you some more.” He dunked the boy’s head back into the toilet, holding him down as he flailed about.

The girls in the restroom stood in shock as Ugly Face’s thrashing slowed to a stop. Z sighed, pulling him out of the toilet and dropping him onto the tile floor. He turned around to face the girls, who immediately huddled up in the corner furthest from him.

Z scoffed, casually stepping over the dripping body and making his way to the sink. He spoke suddenly, making the girls jolt. “You should give him CPR if you want him to live.” The girls scrambled towards Ugly Face worriedly, maintaining a safe distance from Z.

Z silently turned on the tap, staring blankly at his hands as he rinsed off the toilet water that had splattered onto his black gloves. He had done it again.

The rumors spread like wildfire.

“Did you know? He’s been expelled from 4 schools already for murder.”

“I heard the kids at his old schools called him the Noble Slayer because he only targeted nobles.”

“I heard he’s an Ash! An Ash! How does he even defeat nobles?”

“Apparently their powers were useless on him.”

“No way. He’s a monster.”

“Shut up! Here he comes.”

Being feared was a bittersweet feeling. Yet as Z walked down the halls of his new school, a sense of pride and relief filled him. The way they whispered was almost nostalgic. After all, they sounded just like their parents did. This time, however, their words were full of fear, not ridicule. Z hummed, and the bitter monster inside him was appeased.

“Hey! Are you Zekiah?” A silvery voice rang out in the hall. Z turned around, shooting a glare at the figure who called out to him. A blonde boy just a little taller than him stood at the end of the hall with furrowed brows.

His icy blue eyes sized Z up warily. Z’s lips parted as he recognized him. Who wouldn’t? He was the prince of the Floa House and, of course, the son of Lady Floa.

Aalto Floa was a prodigy. By the young age of 14, he had already mastered the art of controlling his element. As he grew, his skills only got better and better.

His unique ability to alter the pH of the water molecules he controlled allowed him and his House to rise and become one of the strongest noble families in Isela. Now seventeen, his water could disintegrate bone. At least, that’s what Z’s sources told him.

Z sighed. “Prince Floa. What can I do for you today?”

Aalto stepped forward confidently. He scowled as he said, “I’m sure you know why I’m here. You attempted to murder a noble from my House.” Z scoffed, crossing his arms and glaring murderously at the boy in front of him. Somewhat taken aback by Z’s blatant killing intent, Aalto tensed up with narrowed eyes.

Noticing Aalto’s unease, Z sighed. He closed his eyes, reeling back the pure hatred he held towards Aalto and his family. “Attempted murder is a bit excessive, no? I thought all members of House Floa adored water. I was just trying to give him what he wanted.”

Aalto gritted his teeth. “Are you insane? You almost drowned him.” Z raised an eyebrow at him, making Aalto flinch back. The blonde boy sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Listen, Zekiah-”

“Z,” Z interrupted. “I go by Z.”

Aalto shot him a curious look before continuing, “Okay, Z.” He crossed his arms. “I don’t know what kind of vendetta you have against the nobles, but this kind of violence is unacceptable and-”

Z snorted, interrupting him once again. The noble glared at him, a muscle twitching in his left eye. “You have a penchant for disrespect, I see.”

The boy smiled sweetly at him, but Aalto could see the disdain in his eyes. “Only for hypocritical fuckers such as yourself.”

Audible gasps sounded out among the growing crowd. Aalto’s face grew ever so slightly red. He pressed his lips into a straight line and clenched his fists while glaring at Z.

The shorter boy raised his eyebrows at him, beckoning him to continue with his eyes. Aalto seethed, the muscles in his body tensing as he attempted to stay calm. “I am trying to have a civil conversation with you.”

Z shrugged. “I’m not stopping you. Go ahead.” Aalto opened his mouth to retort but decided against it. He turned on his heel, his arms tensed into straight rods as he stormed away. Z huffed in disbelief. Turns out the nobles were cowards too. Who would’ve guessed?

As the coward stormed away, Z could feel a familiar pair of eyes watching him. An unsettling feeling washed over him, and he turned around slowly to see a boy with familiar white hair and caramel, milky skin staring pensively at him. Icarus.

Z averted his gaze, biting down hard on his lip. What in the hell was he doing here?

Whatever it was, Z didn’t want to stick around and find out. Being around him for too long would dredge up painful memories that could only serve to hinder all the progress he’d made. He couldn’t afford that. Not when he was so close.

But he could still feel Icarus’s eyes on his back and he couldn’t help but glance back for one more look. It had been so long.

He was taller than Z now, and his hair was longer, with a style that cropped it at his shoulders. As Z looked into his eyes, he was struck by the pain inside them. Pain that he had caused.

A vibrant bell rang through the air, breaking the trance. The crowd parted as students started scrambling to get to class on time, obscuring Z’s view. By the time the halls were empty enough for him to see, Icarus was gone.

Z gritted his teeth. Don’t get distracted, Z. You’re here for a reason. Don’t forget it.