NOVEL WEB ~7~
The next day, it was a surprisingly cold night in Lancashire, England, as almost winter paid an early visit to the sleepy town. One of the cottages in the countryside lay with a pair of young females, with one holding a baby.
She had hot pink hair, white-brown eyes, and a dark-skinned complexion. She was even wearing a red and black gothic-inspired dress. She was holding a baby in one hand while reading off her smartphone in another.
The young woman told the newborn baby, “The Umbra Witches are a clan of European dark art practitioners from ancient times. Their affinity is to Inferno, darkness, and the moon. Making pacts with demons to possess their extraordinary abilities, the umbra witches are fluent in using the Bullet Arts as a fighting technique and abilities such as Witch Time.
“Through the harnessing of Spirit Energy, Umbra Witches are practitioners of magic revolving around the influence of the moon and the evocation of beings from Inferno. While well-versed in the supernatural and metaphysical arts, they are also keen in the arts of alchemy, chemistry, acrobatics, firearms training, medicine, anatomical health, and various sciences and technological prowess of many sorts to temper and refine their body and soul in the process of handling the powerful forms of magic that they would come to wield.
“The Umbra Witches are an all-female clan of witches as per namesake; their ranks included only those who could harness spirit energy by birth and those who were strong enough to survive their brutal training and study courses.
“Children born in the witches’ homeland of Crescent Valley were taught the workings of Spirit Energy from a young age and would thus manifest abilities--if they had them--earlier than children born elsewhere, although what constitutes an “earlier” age is unspecified. Upon becoming a woman, a trainee would take the “Witchly Vows” and become a full-fledged umbra witch. However, some candidates of particular skill and achievement could take their vows much earlier.
“To gain their power, all Umbra Witches are required to make a pact with an infernal demoness to sponsor them and improve their power, allowing them to summon the limbs of their sponsor to attack their enemies. The demon’s silhouette then replaces the witch’s shadow to represent this pact. When the witch dies, her soul goes directly to Inferno as part of their contract.
“Besides their sponsor, umbra witches may also summon other demons from Inferno by using a medium such as their hair and chanting a magic spell. It would seem that these chants, spoken in Enochian, are unique from witch to witch; the sponsoring demon might grant them or be an invention of the witch herself.
“The Umbra Witch’s special ability called Witch Time allows them to slow down time for everyone except other umbra witches. Witches usually activate this ability in beneficial moments after dodging an enemy attack. They can also use Witch Walk whenever the moon casts its glow, allowing them to defy gravity and walk on any vertical or horizontal surface. According to Antonio’s Notes, it was said that these powers were obtained from their demons instead of the moon itself.
“Witches can also use the Beast Within that allows them to transform into different animals such as felines and birds. Because of their knowledge of the Bullet Arts, Witches possess great weapon knowledge to master any they pick up. Their supernatural connections to the underworld give them incredible strength, acrobatic skills, and lightning-fast reflexes. Umbra witches are also well versed in herbology and can concoct items that can heal them, increase their strength and everlasting magic power.”
Then, the young woman pays attention to her newborn as it falls asleep.
The young woman was pleased by the outcome, “There, she’s fast asleep.”
Hearing that story was a bit embarrassing for Marco, wow... someone likes Bayonetta a bit too much. She thought.
“Wow, Lydia, that story is a bit out there, don’t you think?” Marco criticizes with a cute smile.
However, the dark-skinned woman named Lydia wrinkled her nose at her, "I'm only telling her the story my mother told me, Marco. I find it quite... What's the word? Oh yes! Flattering that they would create such fodder."
Marco nodded, “Well, they have to sell their merchandise some. I find it unsettling that they would lie about it--”
“Nothing is unsettling about who we are!” Lydia snapped, quickly calmed herself, and smiled, “People like this stuff nowadays.”
This worried Marco, “even now, what’s happening worldwide?” With an intense glare from Lydia, Marco had to change her mind not to upset her anymore. “Fine, forget I asked...”
This made Lydia smile again, "You keep praying for the worst, and it will happen. Stop being such a worrywart."
“I guess...” Marco relented.
"I want you to make yourself useful and take the baby upstairs. I have a present for you when you come back down," Lydia offered.