"What water? We don’t hear anything." The bodyguard whose hand was crushed couldn’t help sneering as he spoke. "Having a kid tell lies for you. What kind of man are you?"

"The kind that can smash your skull open if you keep talking," Kain said emotionlessly. "The three kids can hear it. So can I."

They didn’t hide their scrutiny. Kain faced them with a calm exterior. No matter what they thought, he had done his part. If they preferred not to believe, that was their own prerogative.

He felt a tugging on his pant leg and looked down. Ashton was looking up at him. His face, which had grown chubby over the two weeks, was pouting.

"You can hear it too?" he asked.

Kain’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected Ashton to speak to him. Over the two weeks, the one who had communicated with Kain was Dominic. Now, Ashton spoke to him, but he would never admit he felt a bit of warmth in his heart.

"Mhm, I can hear it," he didn’t smile, but the amusement in his eyes said everything. "How about I tell you a secret? But you have to let me pick you to whisper it to you."

Kain watched the child’s face cycle through multiple emotions. Finally, he settled on one, determination. He lifted his hands, allowing Kain to lift him.

"There are other special people in the world. You and your siblings don’t need to hide it anymore," he whispered low enough so only Ashton could hear.

The little mouth opened, and he turned mechanically to Kain. Kain nodded seriously, then put him down. The three children ran off to a corner to talk amongst themselves. Kain knew Ashton would tell the other two what he said.

"Watch the window," that was all he said before he found a corner of his own.

[Ashton Nightfall has taken the initiative to get closer to the host. Bond status has risen to 15%]

[Reward: Snowcow milk 5 litres]

[Mission: Get Avery Nightfall to willingly call you ’Dad’]

[Reward: One Awakening Potion]

Kain hadn’t expected to get a mission, and such a mission at that. He looked at the reward he received because Ashtong talked to him.

Snowcow milk- A bovine capable of living in extreme winter. Its milk is nutritious and can increase the affinity with the source energy.

He rubbed his chin when he saw this. He wondered if he and Amelia could drink it too.

Then he looked at the reward for getting Avery to call him Dad. He wasn’t sure how he felt about the title. But the awakening potion was just what he needed. Amelia was the only person who hadn’t awakened.

There wasn’t a time limit, so he didn’t rush to get her to call him Dad. Right now, they have to deal with the imminent danger.

The sound had gotten so loud that he was sure the others could hear it. The way they crowded around the closed windows told him that much.

Their chatter was muffled by the deafening roar. They were anxious, terrified. Their wide eyes found Kain, who sat watching them. They hadn’t believed him, but now, there was no denying anything.

The sound moved around them, teasing, waiting for someone to make the wrong move. Downstairs, where no one could see, some of the more haphazardly placed items had once again fallen to the floor.

He called over the children by name. He wanted them to see everything. They couldn’t afford to be normal children. Their lives weren’t meant for that. They came into the world at a time when hell was about to break loose. Now, they had to experience that hell.

"Look," he said.

Both children and adults stood at the windows. A wall of dark water surged towards them. Trees disappeared, distant rooftops were swallowed up without a second thought. All the greenery, as far as they could see, had fallen victim to the dark waters.

The chatter died down as they watched the water, emboldened by the waves behind, continue its onslaught. It took almost no time for the waters to reach them.

Wary, some began scurrying away. Afraid the waters might get to them. Kain and the children didn’t move. Not because they were afraid. No, Kain knew the waters would not destroy the mansion.

As for the children, they stood still in fright. The moment Kain saw them moving away, he spoke through their link. He ordered them not to move. He told them they had to face it.

Their eyes darted from the waters to Kain. Right now, the water was deadly, but they considered Kain even more deadly. He was able to access their link without them knowing.

He looked down at them and smiled. Then, through the link, he said, "You’re five. You aren’t as clever as you think you are. Plus, I’m your Dad. Dads know everything." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Kain knew he was laying the framework to get Avery to call him Dad. He also knew he wouldn’t have found out about their link if not for the system. But, they didn’t know that.

In their short conversation, the waters moved ever closer.

The next second, there was an impact. Kain felt it as though it had hit his chest. Everything around them disappeared. The pressure rattled the windows so hard that Kain thought he saw the glass bend.

The water hit the ridge and kept climbing. Kain felt the pressure throughout his body. He saw the children tremble and sent them a message. "If you can’t handle it. Walk away. There is no shame in walking away."

Half understanding what Kain was trying to do, they didn’t move. He, like them, had special powers, so there must be a reason he asked them to stay.

The mansion shook. Everything previously cleaned went back to its fractured state on the ground. Things that hadn’t completely broken were now shattered. Finally, the water stopped climbing, stopping a few hundred metres away from the mansion.

Like an island, the mansion stood. Alone, no inhabitants in sight.