Many years ago, in the same Nexarion house, a 7-year-old girl stood on a big, four-legged wooden chair in the kitchen. Her long, decorative black and purple hair cascaded down her back, and she wore blue pajamas with a beautiful design on them. She was trying to reach the top shelf of the cabinet, where white, expensive-looking plates and cutlery decorated with gold were stored, along with a vase. But the little girl's eyes were fixed on a plastic bowl filled with all types of candies and toffees.
The girl stood on her tiptoes, her hands stretching out to grab the bowl. "Ooh, I'm so close! Just a little bit more!" she exclaimed. With a final stretch, she managed to grab the bowl handle with the tips of her fingers. A lovely smile spread across her face as she pulled the bowl towards her.
With a happy squeal, she threw the bowl onto the floor and opened the lid. She scooped up a handful of candies and started munching on them eagerly. But her joy was short-lived, as she heard the sound of footsteps approaching.
"Oh no, Mommy's coming! I gotta hide, NOW NOW NOW! Where can I go?!" The girl thought in panic, quickly grabbing more candies without thinking. She ran to the door and hid behind it, her heart racing. As she hid, traces of toffees fell from her hands, leaving a trail behind her.
Just then, as the girl had finished hiding, another girl came inside, wearing purple pajamas with lovely designs. The girl who had just arrived looked exactly like the girl who had hidden behind the door - a perfect twin. She was also seven years old, with the same hair and face as her sister. However, when she entered the kitchen, she looked confused, noticing that she was alone except for a bowl and wrappers of used sweets on the ground and a chair standing under the open wardrobe.
The girl in purple pajamas furrowed her brow, curiosity getting the better of her. She ran to the candies and picked one up from the bowl, popping it into her mouth. "I'm sure it's Valtira who made this mess!" she said to herself, her eyes scanning the room.
As she sucked on the candy stick toffee, she noticed traces of toffee on the floor leading all the way to the door. And beneath the door, she saw someone's leg, clad in blue pajamas. The girl's eyes lit up with excitement. She got up and followed the trail, her eyes fixed on the door. She placed her ear against it and heard someone eating toffee behind the door.
"I bet Valtira's behind this," she thought, a sly grin spreading across her face. "She's always up to something silly!" With a mischievous glint in her eye, the girl grabbed the door handle and slowly turned it. As the door creaked open, she saw her twin sister, Valtira, making a funny face with her tongue out filled with candies and her eyes rolling around.
"RAAAH!" Valtira shouted, trying to scare her sister.
But instead of getting scared, the girl in purple pajamas burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! You're not scary, you're a silly monster! Hahaha, you can't scare me!" she exclaimed, her laughter echoing through the room.
Valtira couldn't help but join in, her laughter mingling with her sister's as they both giggled uncontrollably.
Their laughter died down as Valtira's expression turned serious. "You know what happened, and I messed up big time... please don't tell Mom, Kaliyah. Please?" she said, her eyes pleading despite her attempt to hide it.
Kaliyah smiled slyly. "Okay, deal... if I get some candy."
Valtira's face lit up. "Yay! Thanks, Kaliyah! You're the best!" she exclaimed, her excitement genuine.
The girl in purple pajamas, Kaliyah, chuckled at her twin sister's antics. Just then, they heard another set of footsteps coming from the main hall. Valtira's eyes widened in panic, and she grabbed Kaliyah's hand. "Let's clean this up, fast! Before Mom gets here!" she whispered urgently.
The twins quickly picked up some of the toffees and stuffed them into their pockets. Valtira grabbed the bowl and instructed Kaliyah, "Just throw it! We gotta go!" But Kaliyah was more cautious. "No way! We can't break the plates, we'll be in even bigger trouble!" she said, her voice low but firm.
Valtira hesitated, then nodded. "You're smart... okay, I'll put it back, and you watch for Mom." Kaliyah nodded and positioned herself beside the door, keeping an eye out for their mother. Valtira quickly climbed onto the chair and tried to place the bowl inside the wardrobe. She struggled, her tiptoes straining as she attempted to push the bowl further in.
"You can do it, Valtira! Hurry!" Kaliyah encouraged, her voice filled with hope. Valtira's determination grew. "I got this... I'm almost there," she thought to herself.
The chair began to shake violently as the footsteps drew closer.
Kaliyah rushed to help, holding the chair steady for Valtira. With one final push, Valtira managed to place the bowl inside the wardrobe.
Just as Valtira had placed the bowl inside, both Kaliyah and Valtira felt a sense of relief. Then, a man entered the room, wearing a grey shirt and trousers. It was none other than their father, Alexander. Kaliyah and Valtira saw their dad and both got surprised. Alexander got surprised too.
"Oh, it's just you, Dad! We thought you were Mom!" Kaliyah said, feeling annoyed and frustrated. Valtira also got frustrated and said, "Yeah! We were so scared! We had to hide and everything."
Alexander saw a piece of toffee wrapper on the floor and immediately understood. "Hahahahaha," Alexander giggled. "Getting the sweets and putting them back was super hard, huh. I can tell."
"Tell me about it... as long as we don't get in trouble, I'm happy!" Valtira said, agreeing with Alexander.
"So you're saying it's okay to take sweets without asking?" Alexander asked calmly.
Valtira nodded. Just then, their mom, Nixia, appeared. She had been hiding beside the door without the twins realizing. Nixia wore dark night pajamas, and her expression was angry.
"Wait, so you mean she was there the whole time?" Valtira said in astonishment. Kaliyah was also surprised.
Nixia came inside and stood in front of them. "You've got a lot to explain, Valtira! I know you started this mess. You're always causing trouble," Nixia said, looking angry.
"It's not my fault. I was just too hungry!" Valtira pleaded.
Nixia didn't listen. Just then, Kaliyah came forward and said, "It's my fault too, I helped Valtira! Punish me too!" Valtira was surprised by what Kaliyah did. "Kaliyah..."
"But Valtira started it, right?" Nixia said, surprised by Kaliyah's confidence.
"Then I'll take the blame for her," Kaliyah said.
Valtira then came forward and said, "No, I'll do it! I don't want you to get in trouble because of me."
Nixia sighed and said, "Okay, I won't punish either of you this time." Nixia got tired of their complaining and decided to spare them.
"You girls act like twins, huh? You think the same and help each other!" Nixia said, her words laced with a mix of frustration and pride. Though her tone seemed stern, deep down, she was happy to see her daughters' bond. "They're super close, and as their mom, I'm proud they got each other's backs!" Nixia thought, a warm smile spreading across her face.
Nixia then turned and walked out of the kitchen, Alexander watching her with a knowing smile. He caught the hint of a smile on her face and thought, "I knew this would happen. It's what you'd expect from twins." With a gentle chuckle, Alexander followed Nixia out of the kitchen.
Kaliyah seemed relieved, and Valtira watched her in admiration. "Kaliyah's the best! I'm so happy she's my sis!" Valtira thought, her eyes shining with affection for her twin sister.
.....
As the years passed, Valtira and Kaliyah grew up, their paths diverging further with each passing day. Despite being twins, their powers and strengths were vastly different. Valtira stood out as the strongest, not just among their peers but in the entire school. Her abilities earned her a mix of awe and fear, making her a recognizable figure.
On the other hand, Kaliyah seemed to fade into the background, her presence often overlooked. She became the target of bullying and isolation, her struggles largely ignored by those around her. Despite their differences, the twins remained inseparable, their bond still strong. However, the envy and jealousy of others began to drive a wedge between them.
Valtira's world started to crumble as whispers of envy and jealousy spread like wildfire. People who once looked up to her began to disrespect her, and opportunities slipped through her fingers like sand. The respect she had earned was fading fast, and with it, her reputation. But Valtira was driven by a burning desire to prove herself, to live up to her father's legacy. To her, respect and fear were the ultimate measures of strength. She wanted to be feared, to command attention and admiration. The thought of disappointing her father was unbearable to her. She didn't want her hardwork to fade away quickly.
Valtira couldn't tolerate being ignored and belittled. She yearned for recognition, fear, and respect.
Then Valtira's eyes hardened as she came to a realization that stung her to the core - her twin sister, Kaliyah, was pulling away, and it was time to take drastic action. She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her sister behind, but Valtira knew that Kaliyah needed to be toughened up, prepared for the cruel world that awaited her. She believed it was her duty to teach Kaliyah the harsh realities of life, even if it meant breaking her heart in the process. Valtira started transforming herself, shedding her old identity and embracing a new persona, one that was distinct from Kaliyah's. And without a word of warning, she vanished, leaving Kaliyah all alone, lost and confused.
And so, Valtira transformed herself. Her hair, once a mix of purple and black, was now a striking mix of blue and black. Her personality shifted, too, becoming manipulative and calculating. People whispered about her, their fear palpable. But to Valtira, their reactions were a validation of her power.
As time went on, Kaliyah continued to reach out to Valtira, seeking comfort and companionship. But Valtira's responses were laced with venom. "You're so useless," she'd say, her words cutting deep. "All you do is hold me back. Get stronger, change your attitude and mindset, and maybe I'll respect you."
Kaliyah's eyes would well up with tears as she listened to Valtira's harsh words. She felt like she was running behind Valtira, trying to catch up, but always falling short. The distance between them grew, and Kaliyah's pleas for connection became more desperate. "I feel so worthless, like I'm nothing," she'd say, her voice trembling. "It's making me want to end it all... I just want us to be like we used to be, like we were twins or something."
But Valtira remained unmoved, her responses a harsh reminder of the gap between them. As the days turned into years, the twins' bond continued to fray, their relationship hanging by a thread.
.....
As time passed, 14-year-old Kaliyah's world continued to unravel in ways that left her feeling unfulfilled. She couldn't shake the feeling that her life was heading in the wrong direction.
Kaliyah sat alone on her decorative and expensive looking bed in her room.
Kaliyah had already started skipping school, staying at home in her room all alone for almost a month.
"Valtira wants to play it that way, huh. Then I'll forge my own path," Kaliyah thought to herself. "I'll become stronger than her, and she'll have to respect me."
The next evening, Kaliyah sat in the main hall, her face expressionless. Alexander walked by, noticing her demeanor but choosing not to comment. However, when Kaliyah suddenly stood up and approached him, he couldn't ignore her. "Dad, I want to get powerful," she said, her voice firm. "Teach me how to unlock my abilities. I'll train as hard as I can."
Alexander sensed that something was driving Kaliyah's request, but he decided to focus on the positive. "Alright, kiddo, I'll teach you everything I know," he said with a warm smile. "If it'll make you happy, I'll do it gladly." As he agreed, he thought to himself, "She's ready to forge her own path. I hope she makes the right decisions and becomes determined."
Over the next year and a half, Kaliyah trained tirelessly with Alexander, skipping school to focus on her development. She dedicated herself to mastering her abilities, and finally, at the age of 16, she had made significant progress. Kaliyah learned to summon shadow soldiers and harness her powers, though she knew she still had untapped potential.
With her newfound skills, Kaliyah requested to join her father's Hunter's Association. Alexander agreed, and with that, 16 year old Kaliyah embarked on a new journey as a hunter, fully prepared and determined to succeed.