After a few hours of shopping for furniture, Adam started to feel exhausted. He couldn't wrap his head around how his mom and Annabelle had enough energy to continue shopping for so long.

His legs felt weak, and he thought, 'I run every day, and yet my mom, who barely exercises, can somehow keep standing?'

They decided to take a break while Melissa and Annabelle continued their enthusiastic hunt for the perfect furniture. Adam recalled their discussions about oak, cherry, and mahogany wood types, but he couldn't care less about what type of wood the furniture was made of. If he were shopping for it, he would have picked up the first thing he saw.

They found a spot to sit in, an area near the shopping center, which resembled a charming mini park. Yusuf patiently waited in line next to a colorful trailer selling a variety of ice cream flavors. The lush green grass and the pleasant atmosphere provided a perfect setting for a break.

Adam glanced at Stella, who also appeared slightly tired. She was lying lazily on the grass, basking in the warm sunlight, her red hair spread out like a fiery halo. Her face was relaxed, and she seemed to be enjoying the rare London sunshine, knowing that it would probably rain for the next fortnight before they could enjoy such pleasant weather again.

Adam was aware of his albinism and exercised caution in exposing himself to the sun on Earth, but he didn't have to be concerned about it in the Dreamverse because his attributes protected him from the harmful effects of the Sun's rays.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a special sun cream that offered the protection he needed. Applying it diligently to his exposed skin, he made sure he was protected before stretching out on the grass beside Stella, making the most of the bright day without risking damage to his sensitive skin.

He couldn't help but feel a pang of envy for the other people around him who didn't need to worry too much about protecting themselves from the sun. However, he knew that taking care of his skin was essential and tried to focus on enjoying the sunny day.

The sun's warmth, filtered through the protective layer of cream, felt comforting, and he momentarily forgot his earlier exhaustion. The mini park provided a much-needed respite for both of them, surrounded by vibrant flowers and the gentle rustling of leaves from the nearby trees. Adam noticed a mother playing with her toddler on a nearby swing set, while an elderly couple sat on a bench, feeding the birds with breadcrumbs.

Adam's thoughts turned to the impending apocalypse and the role he played in bringing it about. His awakening had essentially triggered a catastrophe, and he grappled with his feelings regarding the situation. The world had already endured a pandemic two years earlier, and now, the Dreamverse was set to invade Earth, all because he had awakened.

A part of him couldn't help but wonder if things might have been better if he hadn't awakened so soon. 'Maybe if I hadn't awakened, we could have avoided all of this,' he thought.

Adam shook his head, reminding himself that the events were inevitable, whether he liked it or not. 'I can't change the past, but I can do something now. I was chosen as the Dream Child for a reason.'

As his thoughts continued, Adam realized that he needed to select his first follower, someone who might gain enhanced class options upon awakening as well. 'My first follower will be important, and they might even take on a higher-ranking position within the group.' He pondered over whom to approach—his mom, his dad, or someone else entirely. The decision weighed heavily on his mind, as the consequences of his choice could shape the future of his family and the cult. 'Whom should I choose? This decision will impact not only me but everyone around me.'

As he pondered he looked over at Stella, 'Wait, what about Stella? Wouldn’t she be perfect as my first follower?'

He debated in his mind whether she would be a suitable first follower for his cult. On one hand, she was young, and he didn't know how she would react to him asking her to be a part of his cult. He feared the awkwardness, especially if she unknowingly mentioned this in front of his parents, which would undoubtedly raise red flags for them.

On the other hand, being a part of his cult would allow Stella, his best friend whom he deeply cared about, to level up once the Dreamverse incorporated Earth into it, giving her the best chance at survival for what was essentially an apocalypse. He wrestled with this decision, weighing the pros and cons, trying to determine what was best for both of them.

Adam had made up his mind and turned to Stella, saying, "Stella, I need to ask you something."

Stella looked at him curiously, "What's up?"

Adam hesitated, feeling uncomfortable with the question he was about to ask, "Do you want to join my cu—"

He was interrupted by a voice calling out, "Hey there, kids."

Looking up, Adam saw a middle-aged man with a friendly smile approaching them. At first, he was annoyed at being interrupted, but as he quickly assessed the situation, he remembered the security drills his family had practiced. Realizing that he needed to stay alert, he subtly shifted his body to place himself between the man and Stella.

Although he felt an undercurrent of annoyance at being interrupted, he made sure not to let it show, maintaining a cautious demeanor.

The man inquired, "Are you here with family or friends?"

Feeling guarded, Adam cautiously replied, "Yes, we're here with our families."

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The man seemed genuinely interested and asked, "Who are they?"

Adam retorted, "Why does it matter to you?"

The man quickly raised his hands, trying to defuse the situation. "Hey, no offense intended. I was just hoping to share the message of Lord Dawson."

Adam dismissed him, saying, "Well, we're not interested. So, leave us alone."

The man appeared taken aback by Adam's rudeness. Stella intervened, gently scolding, "Adam, don't be rude."

As the conversation continued, Adam kept an eye on his surroundings and discreetly signaled his father with a pre-arranged hand gesture they had practiced during their security drills.

The man regained his composure and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bother you. I just noticed you both wearing designer clothes, and I wanted to remind you that with the end near, material possessions won't matter. We need to seek spiritual salvation."

Adam kept the man engaged, "You don't know anything about us. How can you assume we're materialistic?"

He glanced around, searching for his father, and spotted Yusuf walking towards them. Adam continued to subtly shield Stella, staying on alert. He no longer thought this person was a potential kidnapper but he still continued to follow what he was taught.

The man replied, "I happened to see you and your father with an expensive-looking car earlier. And your clothes are clearly high-end."

Before he could continue, Yusuf reached them, holding two ice creams. Frowning, he asked, "Who is this?"

The man introduced himself, saying, "I'm an enlightened child of the 'Children of the End,' and I'm here to spread Lord Dawson's message." He extended his hand to Yusuf.

Yusuf glanced at the offered hand, then at the ice creams, and finally back at the man, saying, "I'm aware of the 'Children of the End,' but we have no interest in joining."

The man looked embarrassed and awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Yusuf handed the ice creams to Adam and Stella, ignoring the man's outstretched hand.

Adam noticed a brief frown crossing the man's face at the clear rejection. The man reluctantly said, "Perhaps someday you'll be open to Lord Dawson's message. The end is near, and there's no time to waste if you want to survive the end of times."

He offered his business card to Yusuf, who turned away, clearly uninterested. Stella, feeling bad for the man, took the card and thanked him.

The man nodded at them all, saying, "May you awaken your eyes to see the coming end," before walking away, leaving Adam, Stella, and Yusuf to enjoy their ice creams in the mini park.

Upon hearing the man say "awaken," Adam's curiosity was piqued. Once the man was out of earshot, Yusuf muttered, "I can't believe these cultists. They're everywhere, and they just don't take a hint."

Adam inquired, "Are they the same ones who knocked on our door last week?"

Yusuf, savoring his ice cream, confirmed, "Yeah, that's them."

Adam's mind raced, connecting the messages the cultist had shared with the impending apocalypse. He wondered if Lord Dawson knew about it and how he could be aware of it.

‘Could this lord Dawson be another dream child? No, that's not possible. Zara mentioned that there can only be a single dream child for each race, and that the Dreamverse will begin incorporating the dream childs race once they awaken. However, If the apocalypse starts, this cult might see a surge in membership,’ he thought.

Suddenly sitting up, he startled Stella. Stella ended up with a bit of ice cream on her face. She pouted at Adam, "What's the matter?"

Adam quickly apologized and asked his dad, "Do you know anything about these ‘Children of the End’ people?"

Yusuf, worried about Adam's sudden interest, asked, "Why do you want to know?"

Adam hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

Misinterpreting Adam's silence, Yusuf assumed his son was considering joining the cult. He warned, "Listen, Adam, nothing good will come from them. Stay away from those people. If they ever approach you again, tell them to leave you alone. Understood?"

Adam replied, "Ok, Dad." He saw how serious his father was but didn't want to join the cult; he just wanted information about them. After all, they could be competitors since he needed to recruit followers for his own cult.

Stella, puzzled by the conversation, asked, "What's a cult?"

Yusuf thought for a moment before explaining. "A cult is a group of people who follow a particular set of beliefs or a leader, often outside of mainstream society. Sometimes, cults can be dangerous because they can manipulate and control their members, making them do things they wouldn't normally do."

He paused and glanced around the park, as if making sure none of the cultists were around, before continuing. "The ‘Children of the End’ cult prey on people with more money than sense. They’ve become more mainstream since the start of the pandemic and have managed to convert some wealthy individuals and celebrities to their side."

Yusuf leaned in closer and lowered his voice, "They're a doomsday cult, and their leader is a con man who lies to these people and takes their money. Stay away from them."

Adam couldn’t help but think how wrong his dad was; the end was indeed coming, just probably not the one the Children of the End were talking about. Adam decided to gather more information about Lord Dawson and his cult in the near future. He planned to search the internet for any relevant details to better understand their motives and intentions. He just had to do it without alerting his parents.

Yusuf then looked at Stella with a serious expression and added, "Stella, I want you to stay away from cults too. They might seem interesting, but they can lead to trouble. If anyone tries to get you involved in one, tell them no, and if you feel unsure about it, talk to your mom, Melissa or me. Understand?"

Stella nodded, taking Yusuf's advice to heart. "I understand, Uncle Yusuf. I'll be careful."

Adam sighed inwardly, knowing that asking Stella to join his cult had just become much more complicated. He had hoped that Stella would join without question, trusting him and wanting to ensure her safety. However, now that she understood what a cult was, broaching the topic might arouse her suspicions.

With a forced smile, Adam turned to Stella and said, "Hey, Stella, there's one cult you can join, though."

Adam tried his best to ignore his dad's disapproving expression, thinking, ‘Sorry, Dad, but I need to do this. It's for her own good.’

Stella looked at him, puzzled, and replied, "But we were just told we shouldn't join any cults. They seem really shady."

Adam attempted to keep the mood light and joked, "Well, you can join my cult."

Feeling that Adam was merely teasing her, Stella played along and said, "Yeah, I would join the cult you make." Little did she know, Adam's proposition was more serious than she realized.

‘Ok, I don't know if that is enough, but I'll ask her officially later just in case,’ Adam thought, relieved that Stella seemed open to the idea, even if she thought it was a joke.