They reached her street sooner than she'd expected. The conversation had been that engaging. Not that she really joined in; she mostly lingered at the sidelines, listening quietly as they walked, occasionally nodding at a question or chiming in with a subtle gesture during a heated argument along the way.
They waved off each other as they parted ways, with them continuing the journey without her.
"That's a relief."
She reached her doorstep and took off her shoes as she slid open the door slightly. The sounds of little humans playing inside welcomed her as she swung the door fully open.
They turned at the creak of the door and noticed her entrance, a slight change in their expressions right before they ran toward her with big smiles tugging at the sides of their lips.
"Big sis, big sis!! Welcome home!!" they called out, gesturing for her to carry them up.
But she was too tired from the day's events to actually lift them up, so she patted them on the head instead.
"Big sis is too tired today, another time, alright?" Her voice came out coarse and rough.
They both pouted at the understanding of what she meant and folded their arms in protest.
"But you always say that, and you never actually do it!"
She giggled at the sound of their high-pitched cute voices, then she bent down, placing a hand on both their heads as she stared at them.
They both resembled each other greatly because they were twins, though they were of different genders, so you could tell the difference if you stared closely.
The boy had shorter eyelashes compared to his twin, with his eyebrows a bit bushier than his sister's. Though apart from that, they both shared the same eye and hair color, blue, and the girl was slightly taller than him, even though it wasn't that noticeable.
"I promise you next time." She pulled out her pinky finger, placing it in front of them.
"Pinky promise."
They both glanced at each other before bringing out their pinkies as well, placing them alongside hers to seal the promise.
"Okay then, go play. I have to go freshen up," she smiled, rising back up to her feet.
She watched as they both ran outside, giggling as they continued playing whatever game they were into.
'I love those kids.' She smiled before turning and heading for the dining to get some water to drink.
It was autumn, and therefore, it was natural for her throat to be dry from being outside for so long. At times, it could lead to sore throats or dry coughs, which could be fatal if not treated in time.
As she stepped through the door, she noticed her mother standing in the kitchen while her father sat at the dining table, like he was waiting for food to be served.
'Oh God! I just had to meet these two right now?'
"Good day, Mom. Good day, Dad. I'm back from school," she said respectfully, walking across the room to the dispenser.
Her father, a middle-aged man with little white hairs sticking out of his hairline, a slightly bulky frame, with broad shoulders and an imposing glare, was seen staring at the dining table for some reason. He raised his head at the sound of her voice and noticed her presence.
"Ohh, good day, Lily. How was school?" he asked.
Her mother, noticeably younger than her father in both age and appearance, with silky blue hair and a beautifully curved figure, was busy cooking, fully absorbed in the task. She turned slightly at the sound of her husband's voice, her striking blue eyes landing on her daughter for a while. A small smile touched her lips before she turned back to continue stirring the pot.
"It was alright, Dad. You know we don't do much in school anyway, just the continuous orientation and introduction into college and dungeon hunting," she explained, waiting for the cup to fill up before gulping it down.
"Ohh, I see. So you've changed your mind then?"
She flinched at his question but didn't answer until she finished gulping down the water.
'I knew he would ask that… Can't he just accept my decision for once?'
"No, Dad. I haven't changed my decision. It still remains the same," she answered, setting the cup down beside the dispenser and wiping the drops from her lips.
"You should really think about it, Lily. We're talking about your future here. You shouldn't rush and make a decision that will ruin your life!" His voice rose slightly, his brows furrowing just a bit.
She had her back to him, so she didn't notice the change in his expression, only the slight rise in his voice, but she remained calm, so she didn't cause an argument by mistake.
"Yes, I know very well, Dad, and that's why I'm following something I know I will not end up regretting," she muttered before she left the dining room.
She left the room not because she wanted to disrespect him, but because she knew if she had carried on staying there, then an argument would have definitely broken out, and she was in no position to argue with him, so it was best to avoid it all.
'I wish he could just see it from my perspective. It's really not that hard.'
She climbed up the stairs slowly, with her bag still slung behind her the whole time, but it had become weightless enough for her not to notice it anymore.
She reached her room and slid open the door, the fragrance of her perfume reaching her nose and welcoming her in as she stepped through the doors.
A cozy bed rested against one wall, layered in pastel blankets and cloud-like pillows. From the distance, they looked so soft and warm, making her feel like jumping on it without second thoughts.
Then, just above the headboard, the light sipping through the window cast a golden glow over a collage of photos, art prints, and a vision board cluttered with doodles and half-finished to-do lists.
By the window sat a small desk, basking in natural light, where neatly stacked textbooks mingled with colourful stationery, framed snapshots, and tiny keepsakes that made her heart smile.
A bookshelf, whether stacked in harmony, held a mix of fantasy novels, magazines with Lira on their front page, journals, and skincare bottles, each one whispering a piece of her personality and her everyday rituals.
'Ahhhh! I feel so tired… and they say going out is good.'
She dropped her school bag on the floor, close to her bed, and almost fell on the bed before she realized she hadn't showered yet.
'Oh my good Lord! I have to take a bath first.' She sighed before walking up to the mirror and staring at her face.
'Can I really not become a dungeon hunter?'
She bent her head and stared down at her palms, then, with a single thought, she activated her powers.
A single flower slowly sprouted from her palms, growing steadily until it came to a gentle stop. Then, it began to bloom, its petals unfurling as sunlight washed over them, making the flower even more beautiful than before. As it fully opened, it revealed its delicate buds, resting softly in her hands.
'So far, this is all I can do, and it's been a month since I awakened my abilities.'
She sighed, then plucked out the flower from her palm and placed it among the flowers in the flower vase close to the mirror.
Then she glanced back at the mirror as she slowly took off her school blazer, dropped it on the rack, unbuttoned her shirt, and placed it in the rack as she slowly took off her school skirt.
She looked at her reflection, her eyes lingering on her small-sized breasts with a mix of resignation and hope.
'It's been three years, and it still hasn't grown past a B cup,' she sighed, cupping it in her hands as she stared in disappointment.
Her eyes traced her body, catching the unexpectedly full curves despite her small bust. Her hips curved in a seductive hourglass, radiating a mature allure that outshone her youth.
'I hope my boob's grow bigger soon, so it compliments my body'
She took a glance at her body one last time before she shook her head in disappointment.
In her underwear, she went into the bathroom to shower, washing off the day's stress and trouble.
After a careful shower, she stepped out of the bathroom tying up a towel, covering from her shoulders down, even though there was no one in the room.
With a sigh, she opened up her wardrobe and picked out a hoodie with a flowered short skirt and tights. Then she took off the towel and put them on.
'I feel so much better!!' she exclaimed as she fell on the bed.
She turned over and started staring at the ceiling as her thoughts churned inside her head.
Her memory drifted to the moment Lira came to an event her school hosted five months ago. That's when her obsession with dungeon hunting began.
'It was the best moment of my life!!' she smiled.
It all happened during a sports event. Back then, she hadn't awakened any powers, so all that was on her mind was going to college immediately after graduation, because it had been the normal process, one she had no choice but to follow.
But her perspective changed the day Lira came for the school event. At that time, she didn't know Lira much; she only knew her as a trending dungeon hunter that got the boys simping and the girls wanting to be like her.
She didn't fully understand anything back then, until she spoke, lecturing them about dungeon hunting and her backstory as a Dungeon Hunter.
After she was done, it inspired Lily so much that she promised herself something.
"As soon as I get my powers, I'm signing up to become a dungeon hunter, no matter what!!"
'I remember that moment like it was yesterday,' she smiled.
'My very perspective about dungeon hunting changed that day, and I finally understood why people were obsessed with Lira. I want to be like her when I become a dungeon hunter!!'
'Right, tomorrow is when I get the exam results, and they'll decide what my future might look like. I need to get some rest so I don't feel tired when the time comes.'
With that, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, or so she thought, with the excitement of tomorrow still lingering in her mind.