It was a fresh dawn in Darion, a small and little-known village nestled deep within the supreme kingdom. Hidden behind one of the tallest mountains, it was shrouded in secrecy, with towering trees scattered across the landscape, creating a natural fortress that shielded it from curious eyes. As the first light of morning crept over the horizon, villagers began to emerge from their modest homes, greeting the day.

The Gin family was particularly well-known among the locals, celebrated not only for their three striking daughters but also for the renowned restaurant they operated. Having moved to Darion fourteen years prior, they seamlessly blended into village life, yet their roots ran deep, as they were among the village's founders.

Sonya, the eldest of the Gin children, had been adopted by the family fourteen years ago, arriving with a mysterious infant in her arms. At 23, Sonya’s slim, almost child-like figure often made her appear much younger, a contrast to her strikingly long white hair that framed her golden eyes with an ethereal glow. Elliet, the infant Sonya had been found with, had since grown into the tallest of the three sisters.

Her cascade of long, curly hair and wide, expressive eyes gave her a distinctive beauty. Ariya, the Gin’s only biological daughter, was petite in stature, her small frame making her seem much younger than her years. Her blue eyes, inherited from her mother, lent an added depth to her delicate features.

The family resided peacefully on the outskirts of the village in a cozy cottage, with a large chicken barn situated just behind it. The three girls shared a room, while their parents occupied the other. As was her habit, Elliet was the first to stir from sleep. She quietly rose from the bed, padding to the center of the room where she stretched languidly, a loud yawn escaping her lips.

Afterward, she made her way to the wardrobe at the far end, slipping into a simple brown dress before standing before the mirror to admire her reflection.

As Elliet examined herself in the mirror, her gaze drifted to Sonya, who lay sleeping with her mouth slightly ajar, a small pool of drool collecting on her pillow. A mischievous smile curled across Elliet’s lips. Silently, she turned from the mirror and tiptoed toward Sonya's small bed on the other side of the room.

Once there, she leaned down and, without warning, screamed into Sonya's ear at the top of her lungs. The effect was immediate: Sonya shot up in alarm, eyes wide with terror, while Ariya stirred from her sleep in equal panic.

Elliet, unable to contain herself, burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter, her prank having succeeded far beyond her expectations.

"What in the world is going on?" their father bellowed from the other room, his voice filled with irritation.

“You lunatic! I’ve had it with your nonsense!” Sonya shouted, fury evident in her eyes. She began to rise from her bed, but Elliet swiftly jumped backward, leaping through the tiny window of their room. Landing gracefully outside, she continued laughing as she darted away. Sonya, undeterred, followed after her, still clad in nothing but her nightdress, which barely covered her disheveled form.

“Wait, you're not seriously chasing me looking like that, are you?” Elliet called out, walking backward as she retreated toward the mountain. She was surprised to see Sonya still pursuing her, even as the distance between them grew.

“If you think you’re crazy, I’ll show you what real insanity looks like!” Sonya growled, her voice laced with determination.

“What if someone sees you in that state?” Elliet teased again, a smirk playing on her lips.

“I don’t care!” Sonya shot back, her eyes narrowing as she chased Elliet deeper into the forest, their path leading them toward the mountain.

Though their parents had strictly forbidden them from using their powers, Elliet couldn’t resist. She tapped into her superhuman strength and leaped effortlessly onto one of the towering trees, assuming Sonya would abandon the chase now.

But to her shock, Sonya mimicked the same feat, bounding from tree to tree, closing the distance between them. Within moments, she caught up and grabbed Elliet by the leg, flipping her upside down while standing on a high branch.

Elliet’s dress flew over her head, revealing her underwear. “Are you insane? What if someone sees me like this?” she cried out, laughing despite the situation.

“You should’ve thought about that before you decided to provoke me,” Sonya replied coolly. “Just because you’re taller than me doesn’t mean you’re stronger.”

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry! I promise I won’t do it again,” Elliet pleaded, still dangling from Sonya’s grasp.

“If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I’ll make sure it’s worse than today,” Sonya threatened with a grin before letting go. Elliet plummeted toward the ground headfirst, but with a swift flip, she landed gracefully on her feet, laughing as she thought she had evaded punishment.

But before Elliet could celebrate her escape, Sonya descended from above, landing with her knee squarely on Elliet’s chest, knocking her to the ground. Pinning her down with one leg, Sonya smirked.

“Ahh! That really hurts!” Elliet groaned in protest.

“The crazier you act, the wilder I’ll get,” Sonya replied with a mischievous smile.

“Well then,” Elliet said, grinning defiantly, “let’s see who’s truly crazier.” Using her immense strength, Elliet pushed Sonya into the air. As Sonya was airborne, Elliet swiftly rose to her feet, grabbed her by the right leg, and swung her forcefully, aiming to slam her into the ground.

Reacting quickly, Sonya clenched her fist and struck the ground to halt her fall, using her hand to prop herself up while Elliet still held onto her leg. Sonya swung her free leg toward Elliet, but Elliet blocked the attack with her hand. With quick reflexes, Elliet attempted to strike Sonya’s supporting arm, but Sonya thrust her fist into the ground, launching herself into the air once again. Twisting her body mid-air, she kicked Elliet’s hand, breaking free from her grasp.

Sonya landed a few steps away from Elliet, and they stood facing each other.

"Impressive. It seems you've gotten stronger lately," Sonya acknowledged, a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Of course! I told you I’d be stronger than you one day," Elliet giggled confidently.

"Well, you still have a long way to go before catching up to me. I’ve barely shown you a fraction of my power."

"What? You’re lying! I would’ve known if you’d been hiding any secret abilities all these years," Elliet scoffed, waving off Sonya’s claim.

"I have my reasons for holding back," Sonya replied calmly. "You’re too immature, Elliet. Unpredictable. If I taught you more than just physical combat, you’d expose us without a second thought."

"That’s not fair! Why do you treat me like I’m still a child?" Elliet protested, her voice tinged with frustration.

"If you want to be treated like a woman, then start acting like one. You may have the body of an adult, but you still behave like a child. You could learn something from Ariya."

"The whole mundane, conventional life isn’t for me," Elliet sighed. "I feel most alive when I use my strength."

"If people knew what you were capable of, you’d be killed in an instant. That’s why we keep our powers hidden," Sonya warned.

"But why would they kill me? I’ve heard there are people with abilities like mine throughout the kingdom, and they’re even treated specially by the royal family."

"You're not like them," Sonya replied, her tone serious. "You’re different. No one else is like you—not even me."

"How am I different?" Elliet asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I can’t tell you that. Not yet."

"Please, tell me!" Elliet pleaded, grabbing Sonya’s hand.

Sonya gently pulled her hand away. "Come on, let’s visit Sparkle up the mountain."

Elliet hesitated, eyeing Sonya’s disheveled nightdress. "Are you really going out like that? What if someone sees you?"

"It’s still early; no one’s going to be around," Sonya replied casually.

"You never know. Maybe someone decided that the best way to enjoy their morning is to hike up the mountain," Elliet teased, laughing.

"Not everyone is as much of an airhead as you," Sonya teased back with a smirk.

"I’m pretty sure I’m smarter than you," Elliet shot back playfully.

"Smart people don’t scream in their sister’s ear while they’re sleeping," Sonya retorted.

"I see you’re still mad," Elliet giggled.

"I am."

"I’m sorry! I just wanted to have some fun. It really made my day." Elliet grinned mischievously.

The two walked up the mountain, making their way toward the cave where Sonya kept her wolf. They traversed a narrow path that led them to the large cave. As soon as the wolf heard their footsteps, it bounded toward them, tail wagging in excitement. The wolf was a magnificent creature, its white fur gleaming like snow, and its size rivaling that of a polar bear.

"Hey, boy," Sonya greeted, reaching out to stroke its thick fur.

"He seems so happy to see you," Elliet remarked as she joined in petting the wolf.

"Of course he is," Sonya smiled warmly. "I’m sorry I haven’t been able to visit as often."

After spending a few minutes playing with the wolf, they decided it was time to return home. As they descended the mountain, they unexpectedly encountered a young man who appeared to be camping with friends.

He was dressed in a black military uniform, complete with a green beret and matching boots, marking him as a second lieutenant from the nearby city.

The moment his eyes landed on Sonya, time seemed to stand still. As he watched her laugh and talk with Elliet, the wind caught her hair, making her appear almost otherworldly.

Their eyes met, and his heart raced. In that fleeting moment, he felt something indescribable. He turned to check if his friends had noticed her, but when he looked back, Sonya and Elliet had vanished like spirits in the wind.

Panicking, he ran into the forest, searching desperately for any sign of them. But there was nothing. His friends soon caught up with him, calling his name.

“Carl! What are you looking for?” one of them asked, puzzled. They were three friends who had met at Arixon, a special military academy for superhumans, where they’d graduated as commissioned officers.

“I just saw the most beautiful girl in the world,” Carl murmured, still in awe.

“Come on, stop exaggerating,” Frayger scoffed as he arrived, his blonde hair falling into his eyes. “It’s fine if you think she’s pretty, but calling her the most beautiful girl in the world? That’s something a loser would say.”

“I swear, I’ve never seen anyone like her,” Carl insisted, still dazed.

“So, where is she?” Nat asked, the tallest of the three. His slightly brown hair hung lazily over his always-sleepy eyes.

“They disappeared. I don’t know how, but they were just gone,” Carl replied, bewildered.

His friends burst into laughter. “Maybe you drank too much last night,” Frayger teased.

“Yeah, that local brew was stronger than we thought,” Nat added, chuckling.

“You think I’m making this up?” Carl asked, his frustration growing.

“Obviously, you’re still drunk,” Frayger joked.

"Fine, don't believe me," Carl muttered.

“Okay, okay. Describe these girls to us,” Nat urged.

“The first one had this long, magical white hair.”

“Maybe you saw a ghost,” Nat quipped, causing another round of laughter.

“Just forget it,” Carl sighed.

“Come on, let’s head back. The Major’s going to lose it if he finds out we didn’t spend the night at the base,” Frayger reminded them.

“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go,” Carl agreed reluctantly.

As the boys made their way down the mountain, Sonya and Elliet slipped down from the tree they’d been hiding in.

“Who was that guy?” Elliet asked, glancing at Sonya.

“How should I know?” Sonya shrugged.

“He looked like a soldier,” Elliet added thoughtfully.

“Yeah, so what?” Sonya replied nonchalantly.

“Why did we have to hide?” Elliet asked, frowning.

“Look at me! I’m practically half-naked,” Sonya retorted.

“I thought you didn’t care if people saw you like that,” Elliet teased, laughing. “You were ready to prove you’re crazier than me, right?”

Sonya chuckled, shaking her head. “Well, your level of madness is something I could never compete with.”

When they arrived home, everyone was already up and about. Ariya was sweeping the house, while their mother was in the kitchen, washing dishes. Their father was in the backyard, feeding the chickens.

"Good morning," Sonya greeted as she and Elliet walked in.

"Don't tell me you went out looking like that," their mother scolded, glancing disapprovingly at Sonya’s disheveled state.

"She said she wanted to show me how crazy she is," Elliet laughed.

"No matter how wild Sonya gets, she’ll never be as crazy as you," Ariya quipped, sweeping diligently.

"Seriously? Is everyone turning against me now?" Elliet asked, her face twisting into a mock pout.

"Of course! You have no idea how angry I was when I woke up to your scream," Ariya grumbled, her frustration evident.

"Well, if that’s the case, I’ll just have to show you *more* craziness," Elliet said, her eyes glinting mischievously.

"You’re mental. I wouldn’t be surprised if you did," Ariya shot back.

Meanwhile, Sonya joined their mother in the kitchen to help with breakfast, while Elliet helped finish cleaning the house. By the time the chores were done, breakfast was ready. They gathered around the table as their mother served plates of potatoes to each of them. After distributing the food, she finally sat down to eat.

"I heard your friend is getting married in the city soon," their father announced as he started eating.

"Oh yes, she is," Sonya replied between bites.

"Don’t you think—," he began, but Sonya cut him off.

"No. I’m not getting married," she stated firmly.

"Why not?" he pressed.

"Because I don’t believe in love or marriage," Sonya replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Besides, she’s too young to get married anyway," Elliet chimed in.

"In case you’ve forgotten, Sonya is nine years older than you," their mother reminded Elliet.

"I don’t want her to get married either. If she does, I’ll be stuck alone with this idiot," Ariya teased.

"Hey!" Elliet glared at her.

"It’s all part of growing up," their father interjected. "One day, you’ll have no choice but to marry."

"That day is a long way off," Sonya replied with a dismissive wave.

"Alright then," their father conceded, letting the subject drop.

After breakfast, the four of them headed to their restaurant, leaving their father to work on the farm. By this time, the village was bustling with activity. Children ran through the streets, their laughter echoing in the air. Men tended to their fields while women were busy with knitting or other household chores.

As Sonya and her family walked through the village, they were greeted by nearly everyone they passed.

"Hello, Elliet!" a boy called from behind. He was about the same age as Elliet, a childhood friend named Modi.

"Hi, Modi," Elliet replied, turning to face him.

"You’re late for work today," he observed, catching up with them.

"Yeah, we had a lot to do at home," she explained.

He walked alongside them, greeting their mother as well. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Modi. How are you?" she asked.

"I’m doing well, thank you," he replied.

As they continued walking, Modi leaned in close to Elliet and whispered, "We’re sneaking out later tonight. Do you want to join us?"

Before Elliet could respond, Sonya, who was several paces ahead, answered for her. "Absolutely not."

Modi blinked, startled. "How did she even hear me?" he asked, eyes wide. "Is she even human?"

Elliet chuckled. "You’re still underestimating my sister."

"Well, it’s a shame she heard. Looks like we’ll have to go without you," Modi sighed.

"You should avoid sneaking out at night," Sonya advised. "There have been reports of people going missing lately."

"Pff, no one’s going to kidnap me," Modi boasted.

Sonya raised an eyebrow. "You think you’re that tough?"

"Of course," he replied, puffing out his chest.

"Well, good luck with that, big man. But Elliet isn’t going anywhere," Sonya said firmly.

"That’s too bad. It won’t be as fun without her," Modi grumbled.

They soon arrived at the restaurant, which was nestled beneath the shade of one of the largest trees in the village. Modi helped Elliet and Ariya set up the tables and chairs under the tree, while Sonya and their mother disappeared into the kitchen to start preparing the food.

Within minutes, the village market was abuzz with activity. People from neighboring villages had arrived, and the marketplace was crowded. The tables at the restaurant quickly filled up, with more customers lining up in queues. Elliet, Ariya, and Modi scurried around, serving food to the customers while Sonya and their mother remained busy in the kitchen.

"I’ve been wondering about something," Modi remarked as they worked.

"What is it?" Ariya asked.

"Can you girls even cook?" he asked teasingly.

Elliet shot him a look. "What kind of silly question is that?"

"I’ve just never seen either of you in the kitchen. It’s always Sonya or your mother," Modi replied with a grin.

"He’s right. Maybe you two are just servers because you can’t cook," another customer joked.

"Of course we can cook!" Ariya defended. "If all of us were in the kitchen, who would serve the customers?"

"That sounds like an excuse," Modi laughed.

Elliet leaned toward Ariya and whispered, "You know what? We should cook today."

Ariya’s eyes widened. "You know Sonya won’t let us."

"We’ll make her," Elliet declared.

"Yes! Do it. Let’s see how talented you are," another customer encouraged, and soon the crowd around them began cheering in agreement.

Determined, Elliet and Ariya marched into the kitchen, where their mother and Sonya were working.

"What’s going on?" their mother asked, noticing their expressions.

"We’re going to cook today," Elliet announced proudly.

Sonya glanced up, startled. "What’s gotten into you?"

"The customers want to see what we can do," Elliet replied, grinning. "They’ve been eating your food for years. It’s time for a change."

"You’ve got to give them a chance to practice," one of the customers shouted from outside.

Their mother smiled. "Alright, let’s see what you girls can do."

Sonya crossed her arms. "Fine, but don’t blame us if they ruin the meal."

"It’s all part of learning," another customer chimed in. "Let them try."

With that, Sonya and their mother stepped aside, leaving Elliet and Ariya to take over the kitchen. The crowd gathered around the windows, eagerly watching. Word quickly spread throughout the village, and soon more and more people came to see the spectacle.

Elliet reached over and took Ariya’s hand. "Don’t worry. We’ve got this," she whispered with a reassuring smile.

"Alright," Ariya nodded.

They set to work, recalling the steps they’d observed over the years. As they moved through the kitchen, the rich aroma of their cooking began to fill the air. Soon, the smell drifted outside, prompting murmurs of approval from the crowd.

At last, the food was ready. Elliet and Ariya brought it out and placed it on the table.

"We’re done!" Elliet announced.

"I’ll be the judge of that," Sonya said, stepping forward.

"No!" Ariya protested. "Let someone else taste it first. You’ll be too harsh."

"I agree," Elliet added. "Sonya will criticize it no matter how good it is."

Sonya chuckled and backed away. "Alright then, let someone else try."

One of the customers eagerly stepped up, took a spoonful, and tasted it. His eyes widened in surprise. "This is delicious!" he proclaimed. The crowd erupted in applause as Elliet and Ariya hugged each other, overjoyed.

"Are you sure you’re not exaggerating?" Sonya asked skeptically.

"Not at all. Try it yourself," the man insisted.

Sonya took a spoonful and tasted it. Her face twisted dramatically. "It’s awful!"

"I knew she’d say that!" Elliet groaned.

Their mother took a bite and smiled. "Come on, Sonya. They did a greata great job."

"Yes, I know," Sonya admitted, breaking into a grin. "They surprised me."

Elliet and Ariya cheered, jumping up and down in excitement.

"I knew you could do it," Modi said, giving Elliet a wink.

"If it had turned out bad, you’d have been the first to laugh," Elliet teased.

"Yeah, he was challenging us," Ariya added.

"And now he’s trying to take credit," Elliet joked.

"Hey, I’m always on your side," Modi laughed.