Lila stood in the center of the living room, her heart racing as she clutched the ancient, worn book in her hands. Her parents were in the kitchen, arguing about something trivial, completely unaware of what she was about to do. She had discovered the book hidden in the attic, its pages filled with strange symbols and spells, and for the first time in her life, she felt powerful— unstoppable.
She had never intended for things to go this far. But lately, her father’s sharp words, his constant criticism, and her mother’s endless sighs had pushed her to the brink. A wave of frustration washed over her. She whispered the words from the book, her voice barely audible, each syllable thick with anticipation.
The air in the room shifted. A strange warmth enveloped her as a crackling energy buzzed around her fingertips. The spell was taking hold.
In the kitchen, her father froze mid-sentence, his sharp words turning into a confused grunt. Before her mother could react, a blinding flash filled the room. Lila blinked, and when she opened her eyes, the scene before her had completely transformed.
Her father stood no longer as the man she had known for years but as a large, brown dog, his wide, bewildered eyes staring up at her. His human clothes hung awkwardly around his new canine form. He opened his mouth to speak, but only a bark escaped.
Her mother, meanwhile, was perched delicately on the windowsill. The transformation had taken its toll—her limbs had lengthened and curved, her body turning into soft, elegant feathers. Her mother was now a graceful swan, wings fluttering as she tried to adjust to her new form, her confused eyes wide with shock.
Lila stood frozen in the doorway, a mix of triumph and regret swirling inside her. She had never meant to hurt them—only to make them understand, to make them feel the weight of her frustration. But now, with her father’s tail wagging uncertainly and her mother preening her feathers, Lila realized that there was no going back. The spell was irreversible.
The swan, now her mother in form, gave a soft, sorrowful honk, and the dog that was once her father sat with his head tilted, looking at her with eyes that seemed to ask, What have you done?
Lila’s hands trembled as she closed the book, the reality of her actions settling in. There was power in her hands, but it came with a price. And as the dog wagged its tail and the swan moved gracefully to the window, she couldn’t help but wonder if this magical world she had unlocked was more dangerous than she’d ever imagined.
English