Chapter 3

The small window let in some sunlight the following morning. It warmed the room. David woke up to distant chanting. The sounds filled the cottage. He sat up and looked around. This was his new reality. He checked his phone again with no signal. But it had fifty per cent power with music and books downloaded. He thought when the battery drained, it would be a useless piece of plastic and metal. Evelyn knocked softly and entered. She wore a simple white linen dress. The gown fit her well and came down to her knees; it made her red gem and red hair glow.

“It’s time for your training,” she said, smiling. “The bathroom is to the left. Get ready and dressed.” She said before leaving him alone, “Meet us downstairs in the kitchen.”

David nodded and stood up. He felt exhausted from last night. In the bathroom, he did his morning routine. The cool water helped wake him up. He returned to his room and spotted a white linen shirt and comfortable white pants on the chair. He slipped into the clothes. His reflection showed a different man. The chanting ceased as he stepped down the stairs. In the kitchen, Isabella and Evelyn were lost in their work. Both wore matching white linen dresses. His stomach rumbled, as he hadn’t eaten since the small piece of steak last night. He felt a lot had happened since then.

Evelyn looked up as he walked in. With mischief, she winked and pointed to a chair. “Breakfast is almost ready,” she said.

“These are made with a unique herb for your training,” Isabella said, sitting next to him.

Soon, a plate was set before him. It was porridge, but mixed with honey and added with a side of fresh berries. He hadn’t realised he was that hungry as he gulped down the food. Isabella and Evelyn smiled and grinned as they watched him.

After breakfast, David followed the women down into a chamber beneath the cottage. It was round, and walls were covered with symbols. The scent of rosemary was more powerful. In the centre, a stone altar stood.

“We’re starting your training now, David,” Isabella said staunchly. “Evelyn will attack you. Your job is to phase through her punches and hit back. Got it?”

David nodded.

“First, let’s see if you can phase. Don’t strike back yet,” Isabella instructed; her voice bounced off the walls.

Evelyn stepped forward; she tapped her red gem, and energy radiated from her. With a quick motion, she swung at him. She was faster than he expected. Her punch connected. He felt no pain but stumbled back a little.

Evelyn grinned, “Now I will use full force,” and charged at him.

David’s heart raced. He remembered the encounter in the alley. The cold steel of the knife. The power that surged through him. He focused on that moment. His body responded. Just as Evelyn’s hand was about to connect again, he phased through her. It felt like swimming through water. She threw another punch. It passed through him like air. Evelyn’s hand swiped where his face had just been.

“Whoa,” Evelyn exclaimed, “You are a fast learner.”

David grinned with a wide smile, “Thanks, Aunt Evelyn.”

“Good. Now you must learn to attack when you phase back in,” Isabella instructed.

Evelyn stepped back; her eyes glowed with excitement. “Come at me, nephew.”

David nodded. His heart raced as Evelyn took another step back. He felt a rush of power. But he waited for her move. She waited for a moment and shot at him. He phased quickly. She missed him by a millisecond. He smiled and phased back to his normal self. He launched his fist at her. He was too slow and missed, and his ghost form passed through her. She seized the moment and knocked his back with an elbow. He fell hard and landed face-first on the ground.

“Remember, timing is everything, my love,” Evelyn said, chuckling.

“You have to be precise. Now, let’s try again,” Isabella added, her tone firm.

David pushed off the floor. His eyes met his grandmother’s. She looked like a girl of his age, but her eyes were authoritarian. A surge of energy flowed through him. He took a deep breath and focused. He had to control his power of energy. The next time Evelyn lunged at him, he phased. He felt the energy through his veins. He tried to match it with his moves. His body felt different—more alive. When he phased back into reality, he unleashed his fist. He punched and was about to land, but Evelyn slipped at the last moment. His fist grazed her wavy hair. She stumbled back, her eyes wide with shock and delight.

“Yes, yes!” Isabella clapped her hands together. “Good job, David.”

Evelyn touched her hair playfully. “Looks like you’re getting the hang of it,” she said, a broad smile on her face.

They trained hard all morning. David improved at phasing and counterattacking with each session. His muscles didn’t tire, yet he noticed traces of sweat on Evelyn’s forehead.

Finally, Isabella called for a break. “We’ll continue after lunch,” she said.

While Evelyn rested, David helped Isabella cook roast chicken and vegetables. The scent filled the kitchen. Evelyn’s stomach growled in response. Together, they sat around the wooden table and enjoyed the meal. Once lunch was finished, Isabella stood up.

“I need to stock up on our herbs for David’s training,” she said. “Evelyn, you keep training him. I’ll be back before sunset.”

Evelyn nodded. “We’ll be fine,” she assured.

Isabella left, her white dress flapping in the breeze. The door closed. David and Evelyn made their way back to the underground chamber. They were back to their full strength. The training started again, and David felt a rush of excitement as they sparred. He focused on Evelyn and her movements. She was quick and precise, and her red hair bounced as she moved. David took a deep breath and phased quickly when she dashed toward him. In a flash, he became normal and aimed for her stomach. The impact hit hard. Her eyes widened as his fist connected. She stepped back as air escaped her lungs.

He approached her. “Are you okay?” he asked with genuine concern.

“Impressive,” she said, breathing hard. “You’re getting there, my boy. Show me full power.”

He nodded respectfully and focused again. He noticed the determination in her eyes. He decided to show his power. With a deep breath, he phased again. This time, when she threw a punch, he didn’t dodge. He saw an opening, and his fist flew through the air; his muscles tightened. He phased back in at the time of impact. As he phased back in, he felt all his strength behind it. Her jaw took a serious blow. Her head snapped back with a crack. She flew across the room, and her lifeless body fell on the cold stone floor.

David couldn’t look away from Evelyn’s still body. He felt sick to his stomach and clawed at his throat. He thought he had killed her. He staggered back, legs weak, struggling to stay upright. He walked toward her, and his hand trembled in panic as he reached for her. He felt her pulse and needed to know. His hands froze when there was no pulse.

He thought, ‘Fuck, I killed my aunt. I don’t know what to do. I just learnt how to fight. Isabella is not here. She would know a way to bring her back. They should have taught me healing before fighting. What should I tell Isabella and Katherine?’

He dropped to his knees, and tears flowed from his eyes. He hung his head in shame. Just then, he heard her ragged breath. Her eyes popped open. He rushed back to her. He felt relieved; she was alive. He hadn’t killed her. He slumped back as he sat beside her.

“Fuck, you are stronger than we believed,” she murmured. Though pain marked her face, there was amusement in her voice.

David was confused. She had no pulse before. He asked, “Why? How? I thought I killed you.”

Evelyn chuckled softly as she sat up. “You nearly killed me,” she said as she panted. She had remnants of a bruise on her cheek, but she had a smile on her face.

“But how?” he asked, still terrified of her collapse.

Evelyn reached inside her dress and revealed the gem of her necklace. It was white instead of red and lost its brightness. “This saved me.”

She stood up, straightening her dress. “Let’s go upstairs,” she said. Her voice was a blend of pain and excitement.

They climbed the stairs. David followed her into the living room. She pointed to space around the round table. He sat on the carpeted floor. She went to the corner filled with the baskets of herbs.

Evelyne said, her voice light. “Now it’s time for a little reward after that training.” She got a small bag. Her excitement was clear. “This”, she continued as she smelt the green buds, “is a special herb.”

“That is marijuana.” David’s eyes widened as she rolled a joint.

She laughed. “Yes, it will help relax your muscles. Plus, it opens your mind to the complexities of your new abilities.”

She lit the joint and took a deep drag. The smoke lingered in the air. She passed it to David.

He hesitated, then inhaled the sweet smoke. The room swirled around him as he let it out. The thoughts and tensions from training drifted away. He took another drag. Their eyes met.

“You are a natural,” she said, her eyes bright. “But be careful with that strength. You need to control it based on situations.”

David nodded as he absorbed her words. He had never felt so powerful and scared at the same time.

“We will guide you,” she said softly, leaning in closer. Her hand found his. “But we need to understand your limits.”

David took another drag and passed it to Evelyn. “How did the gem save you?” he asked, curiosity swirling in his mind.

Evelyn took a drag and paused. “The gem had the power of Ener,” she said. Her voice was steady, but her eyes betrayed her worry. “When I took your hit and fell, all I had was to recover it and send it to my life system.”

David wondered, “You did that to save your life force in that state?”

“Yes, I had to drain everything left in my gem,” Evelyn said, taking another drag. She leaned in closer, playful and light. “Still left with bruises,” she added, showing off the bruise on her cheek.

“Is that why it’s gone all white?” He asked with curiosity.

Evelyn nodded and passed him the joint. She held up the gem over her dress. “The white means it’s drained. I need to recharge it.” She winked and said. “Witches often push themselves during training. But draining it completely ... that might be a first.”

They passed the joint back and forth. Each hit of the cannabis easing the tension. The room filled with the smell of weed. David felt his muscles relax. This high was different. He breathed slowly, watching the smoke rise and dissolve. Evelyn took a slow drag from the joint. She closed her eyes halfway. David reached for the joint. Their fingers brushed, and David saw the white gem on her dress.

“Aunt Evelyn, you need to recharge your gem,” he said, worry clear in his voice.

Her eyes opened slowly. She smiled. “I know, my dear,” she replied, handing the joint back to him. “You know the process, right? I need Nuhnoian seed inside me.”

David suddenly felt bold and said. “I have the Nuhnoian seed. I will give it to you.”

Evelyn’s eyes brightened. Her breath was hot against his neck as she leaned closer. “You do.” She muttered, “However, I am your aunt. It will be incest.”

David took a deep drag and finished the joint. He blew smoke in her face. The word didn’t frighten him. Something changed in him. He threw the joint butt on the floor. He cupped her face in his hands and met her eyes. “I have already fucked my grandmother.” He said firmly, “I’ll fuck you too for the rest of your life.”

Evelyn let out a timid laugh. Her eyes were a mix of shock and mischief. “You’re a brave one, aren’t you?” She asked in a teasing tone, “Very well.”

Evelyn leaned back, her eyes fixed on him. David felt a rush of need; his body wanted hers. It was more than just physical. It was intimate. She stood up and turned to walk up the stairs. The white dress floated around her. He followed, with each step revealing more of her. Her hips bobbed side to side. He couldn’t help but stare.