Chapter 225: Small Changes

The morning passed peacefully in Liam and Lydia’s apartment.

Sunlight streamed through the living room windows, where the twins spent much of their days playing under their parents’ watchful eyes.

Lionel lay on his back, kicking his legs as he tried to grab a small, colorful toy. Beside him, Liana sat propped up by a few cushions, watching her brother’s every move with curiosity.

Liam sat in front of them, holding a cup of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other. He had decided to take advantage of his free morning to get some rest before returning to his responsibilities at the guild.

"Come on, Lionel. You’re almost there," he encouraged, moving the toy a few inches to the side.

The little boy responded with a series of babbles and stretched out both arms. His fingers brushed against the object, but he couldn’t quite get a grip on it.

Liam smiled.

"A little more."

Lionel tried again, this time kicking his legs so hard that his body slid slightly across the blanket.

Finally, he managed to grab the toy.

The baby held it up in front of his face, looking so pleased with himself that his father burst out laughing.

"That’s it! You did it!"

Liana turned her head toward her brother when she heard the celebration. Then she looked at the toy in his hands and seemed to reach a conclusion.

She wanted one too.

The problem was that hers was some distance away, just beyond the reach of her little arms.

Liana stretched out one hand, but her fingers barely brushed the edge of the object.

Liam watched the scene with an amused smile.

"You want to play too?"

The little girl stretched out her arm again.

And then something strange happened.

Liana’s arm seemed to stretch slightly.

It was only a small change, so subtle that it took Liam a moment to process what he had just seen. The distance between his daughter’s fingers and the toy suddenly shortened until she managed to grab it without having to move the rest of her body.

Liana began waving her arms excitedly.

Liam froze, his coffee cup suspended halfway to his mouth.

’What...?’

He blinked and stared at his daughter’s arm.

The little girl was busy trying to bring the toy to her mouth, paying no attention to her father’s expression.

Liam set his cup on the table and leaned forward slightly.

"Lydia."

A distracted voice came from the kitchen.

"Yes?"

"Did you see that? Liana’s arm stretched."

Lydia appeared in the kitchen doorway, holding a dishcloth.

"What happened to her?"

Liam pointed at his daughter.

"She was trying to reach her toy, and... I think her arm stretched."

Lydia looked at Liana.

The little girl continued playing peacefully, banging the toy against the blanket.

"Her arm looks perfectly normal to me," Lydia replied.

"I know. It does now."

"Now?"

"I’m sure I saw it!"

Lydia walked over and sat beside him. She gently took her daughter’s hand and examined her tiny fingers, then her wrist and her entire arm.

She found nothing unusual.

"Liam, honey, you’ve been watching the babies all morning as if you’re expecting a monster to appear from under their blanket."

"I’m not doing that."

"This morning, you checked three times to make sure Lionel was breathing while he slept."

"That’s different."

"And yesterday, you said Liana had given you a suspicious look."

Liam opened his mouth to respond, but ended up closing it again.

Out of context, that sounded pretty ridiculous.

"I’m just saying that maybe we should pay attention," he insisted.

Lydia gave him an understanding smile and gently stroked his cheek.

"We always pay attention. But we also have to let them be babies, don’t we?"

Liam lowered his gaze toward his children.

She was right.

Ever since they were born, he had tried not to obsess over the possibility that they might inherit some kind of ability. They were the children of an Awakened hunter and a slime, so it was hard not to wonder whether they would eventually develop extraordinary powers.

However, he didn’t want to turn every little gesture into a sign of something important.

They were his children. He wanted them to grow up peacefully, to play, make mistakes, and discover the world at their own pace.

"I suppose you’re right," he admitted.

"Of course I am."

Lydia giggled and kissed his cheek before returning to the kitchen.

Liam continued watching Liana for a few more seconds.

The little girl raised her toy, dropped it, and began slapping the blanket with both hands.

’I must be tired.’

It was a reasonable explanation.

He decided to stop dwelling on it.

At least for the time being.

◇◆◇

A little while later, Liam discovered he had another problem on his hands.

One that was considerably more obvious.

Lionel was eating.

And eating.

And eating some more.

Lydia was sitting on the couch, holding the little boy while feeding him. At first, everything had gone normally. However, Lionel seemed to have a considerably bigger appetite than usual.

When Lydia thought he had eaten enough, the baby began fussing.

"Just a moment, little one," she murmured, adjusting him in her arms.

Lionel responded with an impatient sound.

Liam looked up from the other end of the couch.

"What’s wrong?"

"I think he’s still hungry."

"Again?"

Lydia shot him a look.

"What do you mean, again?"

"Nothing. I just thought he’d finished a while ago."

"And he did. But it seems he wants more."

Lionel fussed again, waving his hands energetically.

Lydia sighed and continued feeding him.

Liam watched the scene with some disbelief.

"Is he eating more than usual?"

"A little."

"A little?"

Lydia paused to think.

"Well, maybe quite a lot."

They both fell silent as Lionel continued eating as if he hadn’t spent the last several minutes doing exactly the same thing.

Finally, Lydia moved the food away and waited.

Lionel stopped moving for a few seconds.

Then he opened his mouth and began complaining again.

Liam raised his eyebrows.

"Wow."

"Don’t say anything."

"I didn’t say anything."

"Your face is saying it for you."

Liam raised both hands, pretending to be innocent.

"I’m just surprised he has such a big appetite. Shouldn’t we ask James about it if this keeps happening?"

Lydia looked at her son thoughtfully.

"Maybe. Although babies go through phases when they eat more. He might be going through a growth spurt."

"That makes sense."

"Besides, you’re not exactly a model of moderation when you’re hungry, either."

"That has nothing to do with this!"

"Oh, really? I remember a certain time when you came back from a job and practically ate everything in the refrigerator."

"I’d gone many hours without eating."

"And apparently, Lionel has been going many hours without eating, too."

Liam covered his face with one hand.

He had no argument to defend himself with.

Lydia smiled and settled Lionel against her chest again, although this time she decided to give him a short break before continuing.

The little boy soon calmed down, as if he had completely forgotten his earlier complaints.

"See?" she remarked.

"He’s fine."

Liam nodded.

"Yeah. He probably just has a healthy appetite."

There was no reason to worry about something that, on its own, didn’t seem to indicate any problem. If it happened too often or they noticed any concerning changes, they could consult James.

Liam got up from the couch and walked over to the twins.

Liana was busy trying to bite her toy, while Lionel was beginning to fall asleep in his mother’s arms.

He sat beside Lydia and gently stroked his son’s head.

"You know? Sometimes I can hardly believe it’s already been six months."

Lydia rested her head against his shoulder.

"Me neither. It feels like just yesterday we were holding them for the first time."

"And now one of them tries to eat everything he can find, while the other can reach toys without moving."

Lydia immediately lifted her head.

"Liam."

"It was a joke!"

She narrowed her eyes but eventually burst out laughing.

Liam smiled and picked Liana up. The little girl looked at him with her big eyes before calmly resting her head against his chest.

For a few moments, Liam forgot about all the responsibilities waiting for him beyond those walls.

It was just the four of them.

His wife, his children, and the little home they had built together.

Liana yawned against his chest, slowly closing her eyes.

He kissed her forehead and looked at Lydia again.

"I think we should stay home today."

Lydia smiled.

"Didn’t you have some reports to review?"

"They can wait a few hours."

"What if James calls you?"

"I’ll tell him I’m busy."

"Busy doing what?"

Liam looked at the twins, then at his wife.

"Being a father."

Lydia let out a soft laugh and snuggled up beside him.