Life sooned returned to its normal pace. Albert and Victoria both went to their high school after having skipped a day from their injuries and fever and the other kids started to attend primary school. Just like with Albert, the Cruz's had adopted them with ease and flawlessly integrated the new additions to the family. It was just that the house became a little more cramped and lively.
The night the kids first arrived, they shared a room together but now the twins along with Vin occupied that room. Victoria offered to share with Iris but she refused stating that she couldn't sleep without Atlas. Also, Vin volunteered to supervise them, suggesting that they'd get up to now good if left alone. Thus, it was only Ian left that didn't have a room. Naturally, the only option he had left was Albert's room. At first, Ian was very shy, but he was slowly coming to terms with it and opening up to Albert a bit more.
Albert also started his training to become stronger, the kids joining in as well. They mostly did basic things but the ever so weak Albert still found that tough. He was, after all, that one kid that never participated in sport class. He always used Victoria as an excuse to sit out. Anyhow, a few months of training passed and Albert was getting visibly more fit. He no longer ran out of breath after having ran 1 minute and could actually do push ups now. It was very good progress.
"What kind of house do you like?" Joan suddenly asked one day when the whole family had gathered in the living room to watch TV. Cain was also there, using his ability to help Victoria see. After doing this for half a year, he had developed the skill to make himself invisible like a ninja. You wouldn't know he was there even if you saw him. The poor guy also learnt to just not talk and be not there. It was very useful on stealth missions.
""A big one!"" As usual, the twins answered without thinking too much.
"I see, and how many rooms?"
""A lot!""
"Hmm, what kind?" Joan chuckled and asked.
""Uhh, a playing room and a swimming pool!"" After thinking some more, they raised their hands excitedly and added, ""Oh, oh, and a secret room! Like, underground or something that no one knows about!""
"I see, so like a secret lair or something." Joan nodded, taking note. Beside her, Kin was snacking on chocolate and was also nodding along. "How about the rest of you?"
"I would like a music room, Mother." Victoria stated. She had recently gotten really into music and thought it would be cool to just have a soundproof room full of instruments in the house. Of course, the grand piano in the middle was a must. Imagining herself sitting by her lonesome self in a room void of naught but a piano, glowing in the silver shine of the moon, playing an ethereal piece, Victoria almost squealed with excitement. How angelic must I look, she thought narcissitically.
Thinking that it was just a fun game of make believe, Vin also contributed. "A library would be nice." The house already had various bookshelves in different rooms, Albert's having the most with his books on plants and whatnot but the bookworm Vin still preferred a room entirely dedicated to reading.
"And Ian?" Joan inquired.
Albert turned to look at him and the silent Ian stared back. After a short minute of silent staring, Albert turned to Joan, "He wants a treehouse."
Albert gained a new ability, and that was somehow being able to understand Ian. Just staring into his eyes, he could understand what he wanted to say. It was mysterious and Albert couldn't really understand how but it really only worked with Ian.
""Treehouse!"" The twins echoed with sparkly eyes.
"And you, Albert?" Kin asked.
"A big garden with a greenhouse?" Albert answered.
Kin and Joan nodded, "Then we'll be sure to include it in the plan."
"We're moving again?" Victoria inquired.
Joan nodded, "Yes, your Father was given a rather big piece of land recently so we thought we'd build a new house there and move into it."
"So we're going to have a music room?"
"Mhm"
"Great! I'm going to make Albert learn how to play and play for me."
"Why don't you learn yourself?" Albert grumbled.
"That's obviously too much effort."
"I wanna learn together with big sis!" Iris exclaimed.
"Then let's learn together." Victoria did a 180 and smiled nicely at Iris, agreeing amicably to her request. For some odd reason, Victoria was much nicer to the younger kids and not to Albert. She treated him like a servant and pampered the rest of them.
The family spent some more time discussing the house and the plans for gradually got more and more outrageous. The twins suggested things such as rollercoasters and entire theme parks, movie theaters, water slides and jumping castles. Worst thing was Kin nodded to all of them, his face displaying full resolve to fulfill the wishes of his beloved children.
"Would we have to change schools?" Albert couldn't help but to inquire.
"It's quite far from here but it would take awhile for the house to be built so don't worry about it for now."
Albert nodded. He finally made some friends so it was kind of a shame but thinking that he could easily make more he didn't care too much about it. Victoria never cared from the start, having the mindset that wherever she went, people would pamper and worship her very existence.
"The new house is going to be so much fun!" Atlas imagined a big palace full of intriguing and dangerous contraptions and the demon king(Kin) that lived on the highest floor. It would surely be interesting to explore. Even a few days after the conversation, he was dreaming of a different house each day. Each equally as grand and strange as the first.
Humming as he walked to the pickup spot close by their primary school, Atlas noticed a furry little butt in a hedge nearby. "Hmm? Look at that, Iris."
"What is it?" Iris' eyes locked onto the short and poofy tail.
As the twins approached the unknown animal stuck in the hedge, Vin grabbed onto their backpacks and prevented them from going further. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Argh, let go of us, Meanie Vin. The fluffy fluff is stuck in the bush!" Iris complained.
"Don't you feel sorry for it?" Atlas echoed.
"..." Ian was silent as always but his eyes seemed to convey the very same message.
Vin sighed and relented to the silent pressure of the three puppy eyes directed at him. He let go of the struggling twins and they dashed to the poor critter in the hedge. Pulling the tail and legs roughly, they yoinked the thing out.
"Hahhahaha, what is that?" Iris laughed upon seeing the whole body of the animal. It was a round fluffy cloud looking thing, with sky-blue eyes and triangle eyes on top of its head. Its stubby legs were barely visible under all the fluff.
"It's a rabbit!!!" Atlas cheered as he hugged the ball of floof, his face sinking into the strangely wool-like fur. Then, without even thinking twice, Atlas used his ability and transformed into the weird rabbit hybrid thing. They both fell to the ground with a soft poof, their thick coats softening the fall.
For awhile, the two identical fluff balls went back and forth, seemingly conversing to one another in silence. It was strikingly alike how Albert and Ian communicated.
"God dang idiot!" Vin cursed, picking up Atlas' school uniform and backpack.
"Dumb Vin, Atlas said the rabbit wants to come home with us!" Iris was nodding at one of the rabbits and reported back what had just been exchanged. Somehow she understood what Atlas said even as a rabbit like she had telepathy or something.
"We can't take it home with us." Vin sternly rejected.
"But it's so cute."
"No means no."
"Vin~!"
"...Fine! It's not my fault if Mother and Father says no." Vin stormed ahead of the group to the direction of the car while the others cheered with joy. Iris quickly picked up her brother while Ian picked up the strange rabbit. Then, together they got into the car.
Once in the car, Atlas transformed back in his glorious nudity. Snuggling against the rabbit, he declared, "Your name is Cloud!"