Chapitre 19: 19.

Alvin glanced at the clock on the wall: 7:30 a.m. The numbers glowed bright in the dimly lit kitchen, but outside the window, the world remained cloaked in darkness. The thick, unsettling fog had settled so heavily around the mansion that it seemed like the middle of the night rather than early morning. The red mist and purple haze obscured everything beyond the walls, casting an eerie silence over the mansion that was more unsettling than any storm.

Alvin's fingers tapped rhythmically on the counter as he considered the situation. "An evolutionary process," he murmured, almost to himself, as he reached for a pan. Despite the pressing concerns of the unknown outside, the kids would need breakfast; he'd promised himself to keep things as routine as possible for them, at least for as long as he could.

He was preparing ingredients when he heard footsteps echo down the hallway. A moment later, Jax appeared in the kitchen doorway, his expression tense and eyes wide as he looked at Alvin.

"Alvin," Jax said, his voice shaky, "have you… have you seen outside? I can barely see a thing. It's like we're completely cut off."

Alvin waved a hand dismissively, his cool gaze flickering briefly to Jax. "Relax. It's just the world adapting, a forced evolutionary process. Nothing we haven't prepared for."

Jax blinked, his brows knitting in confusion. "Evolutionary process? I thought you were kidding about all that apocalypse stuff." He looked back out the window, the fog swirling ominously as if alive. "So… what does that even mean?"

Alvin smirked, turning his attention back to the pan. "It means this fog isn't going anywhere for a while. And it also means you have time to decide what you're having for breakfast."

Jax frowned, looking around the kitchen. "Wait a minute—are you cooking?" A sly grin tugged at his lips as he leaned against the counter. "Didn't take you for the 'cooking' type."

Alvin paused, his fingers hovering over the ingredients. He shot Jax a flat look before setting the ingredients down with exaggerated calmness. He strode past Jax, a sardonic smirk forming. "Then by all means, chef, the kitchen is all yours. Less talking, more cooking."

Jax sighed but didn't argue, heading over to the stove with a resigned expression. "Sure, I'll cook, but don't blame me if it's not five-star quality."

Alvin rolled his eyes as he exited the kitchen, leaving Jax muttering to himself over the ingredients. He'd only taken a few steps down the hallway when he spotted Leo and Lily standing by the corridor, their little faces tight with worry, clutching each other. Their eyes, wide and brimming with tears, darted toward Alvin as soon as he appeared.

"Daddy!" they both called out, their voices barely above a whisper as they ran toward him and latched onto his legs. The feeling of their small arms around him brought an odd sense of calm, despite the chaos that loomed beyond the walls.

Alvin looked down at the two kids clinging to his legs, their expressions a mixture of fear and relief. A part of him softened, though he kept his usual cool demeanor. "What's with you two?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you've seen a ghost. It's just fog."

"But it's so dark outside," Leo whispered, his little hands clutching Alvin's pant leg tightly.

"Yeah," Lily chimed in, looking up at him with teary eyes. "We can't even see the trees. It's like a big, scary blanket."

Alvin couldn't help but smirk slightly at the description, though he maintained his mockingly aloof tone. "You two are way too childish. Scared of a bit of mist? Come on."

Lily huffed, her little brow furrowing in indignation. "We are children, Daddy!"

Alvin blinked, momentarily taken aback. He could feel a laugh bubbling up, but he quickly masked it with a light cough. "Fine, fair point," he said, reluctantly admitting defeat. He bent down, picking them up, one in each arm. The weight of both children quickly reminded him that, as a mage, his physical strength wasn't exactly his greatest asset.

With a slight grunt, he adjusted them in his arms. "Alright, you two. Let's go to the living room and have a little chat."

Once he'd carried them down the hall and into the living room, Alvin set them both on the couch, stretching his arms with an exaggerated groan.

The kids looked at him expectantly, their eyes still wide with fear. Alvin took a deep breath, placing his hands on his hips as he looked down at them, his expression serious.

"Listen, you two," he began, his tone steady. "I know things seem strange and a bit scary right now. But you need to understand that sometimes, things are going to change in ways we can't control. This fog, the darkness outside… it's all part of that."

Leo and Lily nodded, though they still looked confused.

"But," Alvin continued, crouching down to their level, "being scared or acting like kids won't help us when things get tough. You both need to start becoming braver. Even if you're young, you're stronger than you think."

Leo looked down, his small fists clenching as he tried to process Alvin's words. "But… what if we don't know what to do?"

Alvin gave a small, reassuring smile, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder. "That's why I'm here. I'll teach you what you need to know. But you have to trust me and be willing to learn."

Lily bit her lip, glancing over at Leo before looking back at Alvin. "We'll try, Daddy," she said softly. "We'll try to be brave."

Alvin nodded, a rare warmth in his expression as he ruffled Lily's hair. "Good. That's all I ask."

A short while later, the smell of slightly overcooked eggs drifted from the kitchen, and Alvin sighed, the serious moment with the kids giving way to the chaotic normalcy of breakfast. Jax, who had apparently finished his attempt at cooking, emerged from the kitchen with a somewhat guilty expression.

"I, uh… may have overdone the eggs a bit," he admitted, scratching the back of his neck as he set a plate down on the table. Jax sighed in his heart, today he was out of mind thinking of how this world will be gone forever.

Alvin raised an eyebrow, looking at the slightly charred edges. "You call that cooking?"

Jax gave him a sheepish grin. "Hey, you're the one who handed me the kitchen. You get what you get."

Alvin let out a dramatic sigh, shaking his head. "I guess I should've known better. Next time, I'll handle it."

"Oh, sure," Jax said, rolling his eyes. "I'll believe it when I see it."

As they ate, Alvin kept an eye on the kids, watching as Leo and Lily, though still a little tense, slowly began to relax, giggling as they picked at their scrambled eggs. It was a small comfort amidst the uncertainty, but one he held onto.

Just then, Luis walked into the room, glancing between Alvin and Jax, a concerned expression on his face. "Hey, I noticed the fog outside… it's gotten even thicker. What's going on, Alvin?"

Alvin leaned back in his chair, keeping his voice calm. "It's just part of the evolution I mentioned before. This world is shifting, changing. That fog is a sign of it. But don't worry—I've placed protective barriers around the manor. Nothing will get through."

Luis nodded, though he still looked wary. "You really think those barriers will hold up? Against… whatever this is?"

Alvin met his gaze with unwavering confidence. "Trust me, they will. I'm not letting anything happen to any of you."

A faint sound echoed outside—a strange, almost inhuman growl, muted by the thick fog. Everyone's heads turned toward the window, the kids huddling closer to Alvin. He gave them a reassuring pat.

"See? This is why we prepare," Alvin said calmly, keeping his eyes on the others. "No matter what's out there, we're safer here together."

Jax swallowed, glancing nervously at the fog-draped windows. "And if something breaks through?"

Alvin's eyes gleamed with a fierce determination. "Then I'll be here to stop it. But you'll be prepared, too, if I have anything to say about it."

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