Chapter 16: Family(1)
Dinner at Ava's apartment had been strangely quiet after they left the system. Everyone was too drained, both mentally and physically, to chatter the way they normally did. Even Cream Puff had kept unusually silent, as though it sensed their need to just breathe and exist without screens or pop-ups blinking into their vision. They had all excused themselves early, retreating to guest rooms or couches, and by the time the lights dimmed, the apartment had fallen into a cocoon of steady breathing and soft snores.
The next morning, though, reality settled back on their shoulders. Not the apocalypse itself—not yet—but the simple truth that they couldn't hide the system forever. Their parents, siblings, and families… they would need to know.
Ava was the first to bring it up over breakfast. Her hair was still a wild tangle from sleep, and she was poking absentmindedly at her toast.
"So," she said, "do we… actually tell them today?"
Kael groaned into his mug of coffee. "Do we have to? I'd rather just… never. Ever."
Lyra rolled her eyes, her twin Alyssa smothering a laugh beside her. "Your mom would notice if you started stockpiling food in your closet, Kael. Besides, we said we'd tell them."
Brian leaned back in his chair with a sigh. "Yeah, but how do you tell your parents, 'Hey, surprise, we have a magical apocalypse farming system now. Also, you've got one year before society collapses.' It sounds like a bad prank."
"It's not like they'll think we're lying," Ava pointed out. "They'll see it for themselves once we show them. But…" She hesitated. "We should probably tell them separately, just our immediate families first. That way they don't all start… I don't know, panicking in a group."
"Panicking?" Zephyr lifted a brow. "Have you met our parents? They're more likely to treat it like a business merger. Efficient, terrifying, and way too many spreadsheets."
That made everyone laugh, the nervous tension cracking just a little.
Alyssa leaned her chin on her palm. "Alright, fine. We tell them today. Immediate families only. And then… later, once they've digested it, maybe they'll want to talk together."
"Not maybe," Zephyr said dryly. "Definitely. You know my mother and Aunt Ariana. The moment they smell coordination, they'll drag everyone into some kind of grand summit. It's inevitable."
Ava smiled faintly. He wasn't wrong.
They lingered for another hour, debating the best strategies—Brian insisting honesty was the only way, Lyra and Alyssa suggesting easing into it gently, Kael proposing that they just flash the system interface and let their parents figure it out. Eventually, though, there was no more stalling. One by one, they headed home.
Ava Blackwood
Her parents' house wasn't far, a sleek white villa tucked behind hedges and security gates. She found her mother in the garden, pruning roses with careful precision, while her father sat on the porch with a book.
"Ava, darling," Claire Blackwood greeted with a smile. "You're up early for once."
Ava swallowed. "Yeah. Uh… can we talk? It's important."
Within minutes they were seated inside, her parents watching her with curious expressions. She told them everything—the glowing menus, the farm, the timer counting down to the apocalypse. She expected disbelief, or laughter, or at least a raised brow.
Instead, Claire only set down her teacup and asked calmly, "So, where exactly is this warehouse you mentioned? You said unlimited storage?"
Ava blinked. "That's… that's your takeaway? Unlimited storage?"
Her father chuckled. "Darling, do you have any idea how much your mother complains about pantry space? Of course that's her first thought."
To prove it, Ava summoned the interface, letting them glimpse the shimmering screens. Her parents leaned forward, fascinated. Claire even reached out, as though she could touch the glowing text.
"Well," Matteo said after a moment, "this certainly makes all our estate planning a bit more exciting. Don't worry, Ava. We believe you. And we'll support you."
Relief nearly knocked her over.
Kael Stormbringer
Kael braced himself as he entered the Stormbringer mansion. His mother was in the kitchen, directing chefs like a general at war, while his father sat nearby on a tablet.
"Mom, Dad… I need to tell you something."
He launched into the explanation, waving his hands for emphasis. When he revealed the apocalypse timer, his father only raised one brow.
"Only a year?" George mused. "That's not much time for a proper supply chain."
"Dad!" Kael exclaimed.
His mother, Mia, patted his cheek. "Don't look so distressed, sweetheart. If this is true—and I believe you—then we'll just do what we always do. Plan better than anyone else. Besides…" She smirked faintly. "Imagine the shopping opportunities. One last glorious spree before the end of the world."
Kael groaned. "You're impossible."
Brian Lakspur
Brian's parents, Mildred and Liam, were curled up on the sofa with glasses of wine when he told them. He half-expected his father to burst out laughing.
Instead, Liam only stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So the world ends in a year? Hm. Well, at least I won't have to finish that dreadful golf membership renewal."
"Dad!" Brian said.
Mildred reached over to squeeze her son's hand. "Thank you for trusting us, Brian. We'll prepare together. You won't shoulder this alone."
Brian felt his throat tighten. He hadn't realized how badly he needed to hear that.
Zephyr Slade
The Slade household was never quiet, and today was no different. Theodore was sprawled in the living room, scrolling through his phone, while Oriana and Davis debated some business report.
When Zephyr explained, Theodore laughed so hard he nearly dropped his phone. "Oh my god. Little brother's a prophet now."
Zephyr glared. "It's real."
Oriana, though, believed him immediately. "I knew it," she murmured, eyes sharp. "The strange energy shifts I've felt lately—this explains them. Zephyr, darling, you've brought us an opportunity."
Davis looked impressed. "Well done, son."
Theodore snickered. "End of the world, and mom calls it an opportunity. Classic Slade."
Zephyr groaned.
Lyra and Alyssa Emberly
The Emberly household was pure chaos at the best of times, and revealing the apocalypse did nothing to change that. Oliver frowned deeply, muttering about logistics, while Ariana's eyes lit with excitement.
"A farm system? With folding space? My dears, this is incredible. We'll have to coordinate immediately with Oriana, of course—"
"No!" Lyra yelped. "Not yet! We're supposed to tell everyone separately first."
Alyssa added, "Mom, please, just… calm down. It's real, and we'll show you, but don't start planning a family-wide summit this second."
Her mother looked offended. "But this is exactly the sort of thing that requires a summit."
Their father sighed and patted her shoulder. "Later, Ariana. Let the girls breathe."
By evening, each of the six friends had done it. Their parents knew. Some had laughed, some had immediately begun strategizing, but all had believed. And now, as promised, they reconvened online for a video call.
Ava sat on the comfy sofa in their home theatre, Cream Puff perched beside her. One by one, the screens flickered to life—Kael's parents , Brian's with wineglasses in hand, Zephyr's with Theodore making faces in the background, the Emberlys already half-arguing in their frame.
Within moments the noise was deafening. Parents talking over one another, siblings chiming in.
Ava pressed her hands to her ears and groaned. "Oh no. What have we unleashed?"
And with that, the real chaos began.