Dominic stood in the midst of everything, watching the cleanup happen. He did not attempt to move. Kain bent down and hugged him.

Whether it was trauma or something else, he needed to let the child know that he wasn’t alone.

His mind was drawn back to a scene when he was a spirit. Something similar had happened. He watched Ashton struggle to get to Dominic, and he watched Avery cry.

But Dominic pressed himself into the blade; he was ready to die. His eyes were clear. There was even a small smile.

At that time, Kain swore the child would die that day.

If not for Ashton’s powers that erupted, he might have died. In this moment of panic, Ashton used elemental powers to drive an ice spear through the man’s head.

Only then did Dominic grab the man’s hand to steady the blade so it wouldn’t slice through his neck. The look he gave Ashton was nothing short of amazement.

It was like he just realized that they wanted him to live. Since that day, Dominic would wear a smile around his siblings. He would joke more. He took the time to relax.

It was through that he found he could use spiritual powers. Just being in a state of total relaxation.

Bringing himself back to the present, Kain stroked his hair.

"You don’t have to pretend you aren’t scared. It’s not just you and your brother and sister anymore. You have parents who want the best for you. If you feel bad, you can come to us. If you feel sad, happy, or anything else, you can come to us. We won’t leave you alone."

He whispered the words to Dominic while stroking his hair and back. His body was tense, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Kain didn’t know how long he held him, but he felt his body start to tremble.

At some point, Amelia had walked over with an umbrella and stood there. She said nothing, offering her silent support.

Kain let go and saw Dominic’s eyes were red; he knew the little one had cried. He didn’t show any other emotions, but in Kain’s eyes, being able to cry so openly was already a start.

A sense of unease shrouded Kain. On the horizon, all he could see was water. He didn’t know how long it would take to arrive at Paradise Gates. He was even more unsure if they could arrive safely.

Thankfully, after the trouble on the first day, they spent another day without the slightest hint of trouble. The smoother the journey, the more uneasy Kain felt. So much so that he spent every spare moment meditating in an attempt to reach Awakening Level 2.

Though not particularly powerful in the grand scheme of things. Now, when so many people are unaware that such a thing exists, he has the advantage.

There are some, like Martha, who can feel the differences in their bodies, yet they aren’t sure what it is. This is his advantage. He knows how it works and how to actively use source energy.

If nothing else, level 2 would give his body another physical boost. He won’t be as fragile, and he will be can start using the elements.

A day ago, he finally gave Amelia the awakening potion. She was skeptical at first, but she drank it.

Her exact words were, "If this is poison, I’ll stab you. You’re not living to find some other woman."

He guided her, teaching her how to feel the source energy in the air. He knew from constant meditation that the source energy was getting stronger. It was nowhere near enough for humans to actively feel it, but it would be...soon.

When they finally get to Paradise Gates, he can have the children start meditating. Same for the rest of them.

After nearly four days, they finally saw a sign of hope.

Using the binoculars, Kain could see Paradise Gates. In another hour or so, they should be able to reach their destination.

The announcement that they had almost reached their destination made everyone cheer. They had been on the water for days, and they wanted to step on land.

What they especially missed was the space they had. They needed privacy ASAP.

With their hearts thumping, they gathered on the deck.

The closer they came, the more euphoric they felt. The joy in their hearts soared to new heights.

Kain’s eyes blurred as he looked in his direction. His smile was wide. He picked up Ashton and Avery, and Amelia held Dominic.

"We’re almost home," he said, pride welling in his chest.

Just as his euphoria was about to spike, a sudden headache made him frown. He closed his eyes. Gently placing Avery and Ashton on their feet, he balled his fist and hit himself on the head.

The sensation cleared his head.

His pupils shrank when he looked around. A thick fog was closing around them. Matthew, at the helm, was veering off course. Everyone stood on the deck, wide smiles splitting their faces.

"Shit!" he shouted, running to the helm.

There was no time to think. He shoved Matthew aside, causing him to hit his head.

He turned the wheel and pushed the lever forward. The yacht lurched forward. Kain raced against time. He couldn’t afford to get caught up in whatever this fog was.

Matthew hissed behind him.

"What was that? Were you trying to kill me?" he held his head and grumbled.

"No time. Wake everyone up."

Matthew, somewhat dazed, didn’t move immediately. He looked around and saw the same thing, Kain.

"How am I supposed to wake them up? Give everyone a concussion?" he yelled.

"Get a bucket, splash them. Drop kick them. I don’t care how you do it, just...WAKE THEM UP!"

The fog closed faster after Kain yelled.

Then the sounds came. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

It sounded like children crying. They were begging for help. The sound was coming closer, accompanied by the sound of splashing. Like someone trying to paddle towards them.

’Fuck that.’ He pushed the lever to its limit, barely breaking through before the fog closed. He didn’t look back. There was no way he was looking back.

It was a good thing he didn’t. The fog wasn’t completely opaque. In the center, what looked like a large black shadow moved.

Its eyes like saucers, its teeth sharp and jagged, couldn’t be covered by its mouth. It stared at them for a long time before submerging itself. As it disappeared, the fog went with it.