111. The Training Begins

"So if you are ready, let's start the process now," Demetria said. "Alright, let's do it!" Clarice replied excitedly. "Let's go somewhere first. I'll show you something." Demetria waved her hand in the air. A few minutes later, the women found themselves in an empty room next to Demetria's room. Demetria approached the wall and opened a secret drawer that only appeared when she waved her hand. Clarice looked at the three oval-shaped objects inside a wooden box, which looked like yummy chocolates. "What is that?" "Grandpa Mortaz made this to be consumed by the next guardian. These oval-shaped objects can give you unlimited powers such as teleportation, making illusions, superhuman strength, the ability to hover in the air, freeze people and other living things, create objects in your mind, turn yourself invisible and many more. You have to ingest these objects one after another," Demetria explained. "Wow!" Clarice stared at the brown objects in awe. "They look like hard objects. Are they edible?" she asked. "Yeah, they taste like chocolate. When you touch them they are hard, but when you put them in your mouth they begin to melt. So you need to take them one at a time in a half-an-hour interval," Demetria elaborated further. "Did you also take them before?" Clarice asked curiously. "Yeah, to enhance my power," Demetria replied. "Really? And after I took it all today, no more left for the next successor?" Clarice inquired. Demetria spoke, "Grandpa Mortaz will resupply this magical drawer with the power infuser the moment it becomes empty." "How would he know it was already empty?" Clarice asked in bewilderment. "The core will alert him that another successor is taking my place, so he replenishes it with his magical creation," Demetria explained. Surprised, Clarice asked, "So he personally comes here in his invisible form and resupplies the mystical drawer?" "Yeah, and while he is here he also visits his beloved grandchildren and relatives in their hibernation chamber," Demetria added. "But he never interfered with my affairs and never showed himself to me after all these years." "But what if he gets angry that you have chosen a she-wolf to be your successor and not your own kind? What if he kills or punishes me while I'm sleeping?" Clarice asked anxiously. "Nah, worry not." Demetria shook her head. "You are now a vampire like me. Besides, he will see goodness in your heart. Trust me, he won't harm you," she said reassuringly. Clarice felt relieved after hearing her mentor's assurances. "I'm now ready to eat the power-infusion chocolates!" she gushed giddily. "Alright, let's go to my room and start the process." Demetria picked up the wooden box. The women entered Demetria's room. Clarice went to bed and lay down in a sleeping position. "Are you ready to receive immense power?" Demetria asked. "Yes, please!" Clarice replied excitedly and opened her mouth. Demetria puts one power infusion into her trainee's mouth. "It tastes bitter at first, but at this moment it melts in my mouth and tastes like chocolate," Clarice commented, liking the sweet taste of the power infusions. "Enjoy the taste," Demetria said casually, settling down on the rocker chair near the bed. Half an hour later, Demetria placed another power infusion in her student's mouth and said, "One more left, and we will officially start your training." Clarice grinned. "I can't wait!" Demetria smiled. "Your enthusiasm is contagious, dear." Clarice responded, "I have a valid reason why, and you know it." "Yeah. I know." Demetria nodded her head. Half an hour later, Demetria dropped the remaining power chocolate into Clarice's mouth. "After one hour, you will feel different," she casually stated. Clarice's forehead creased. "What do you mean? What should I expect? Please give me a hint," she begged, tensed. Demetria answered, "You will detect the strong power transforming you. You will feel it after one hour when the power infusion you ingested takes over your whole mind and body. Everything will come together in your consciousness." "Great! Will I feel like superwoman?" Clarice asked, giggling in amusement. "Yeah, more like it," Demetria replied. "You will feel sleepy in a minute, which means the power is already working inside you," she added. "Cool!" Clarice muses. "Close your eyes. Go to sleep and allow the power to take over your consciousness," Demetria ordered. "Copy." Clarice shut her eyes, surrendering to the sleepiness that took over her consciousness. Minutes went by. One hour passed like a blur. When Clarice opened her eyes, Demetria was staring down at her face. "How is it?" Demetria asked. Clarice went silent for a second, then grinned broadly. "I feel great! I feel lightheaded and there is something happening inside my body that is hard to describe. I feel like I'm being reborn. I just can't explain the strange feeling I feel inside right now." "Alright, let's try your power of teleportation. Go to the kitchen and bring me a glass filled with water," Demetria ordered. Clarice scratched her head. "What should I do? Is there a spell that I'm going to chant to make it happen?" she asked, confused. Demetria groaned. "Dear, your power comes from your mind. Whatever you think, your inner power will give it to you. Concentrate on your mind, for example... I will teleport to the kitchen... repeat that command in your mind over and over again. Try it!" Five minutes passed, but nothing happened. Clarice tried again, concentrating for the next fifteen minutes. Clarice groaned in dismay. "I can't do it!" she said, utterly frustrated. "Yes you can. Take your time. First time is always the hardest. You can do it!" Demetria encouraged her. "OK. I'll try one last time." Clarice closed her eyes, meditating deeply, instructing her mind to teleport her to the kitchen. A few minutes later, Clarice disappeared from the room. Demetria smiled. "Finally! She did it!" When Clarice returned to the room, she was holding a glass filled with water, grinning broadly. "Yes, I made it!" she said jubilantly. "Good job!" Demetria clapped her hands happily and continued, "Now put the glass on the table and try to see if you can make yourself invisible. Let's see..." "OK, challenge accepted!" Clarice said cheerily. Her body tingling with energy. She concentrated on her mind, instructing her mind to make herself invisible. She tried her hardest but failed. She groaned in frustration. "Why is it so hard?" she whined in annoyance. "Because it's your first time. The more you use your power every day, things will get easier. Your mind is also under training just like you. Don't be too hard on yourself. Relax. You have all the time in the world to practice. I won't leave your side if you can't master your power," Demetria assured her. "Thank you for your patience," Clarice said gratefully. "Now try again. Don't force it. Just take it easy," Demetria said. Twenty minutes later, Clarice still couldn't do it. She looked at her mentor. "I'm sorry I can't do it," she said apologetically. "Alright, it seems you look tired and worn out. I must not force you to learn several tricks at once on the same day you received the power infusion. You can go back to your room and rest. Let's continue your training tomorrow," Demetria finally said. "OK," Clarice agreed. "But before I leave, I want to try one last time." "Go ahead." Demetria nodded her head. Clarice concentrates with her eyes closed. A few minutes later, she suddenly vanished in front of her mentor. Demetria clapped her hands. "Yes! You made it, dear! Congrats!" "Great!" Clarice giggled in elation. It took twenty minutes for Clarice to find the correct way to become visible again. Inspired by her success, Clarice asked in a thrilled voice, "Can I test my freezing power?" "Sure. Freeze that wall clock hanging on the wall. Currently, the hands are moving. Freeze it!" Demetria ordered. Clarice looked at the wall clock and began concentrating on freezing it. Her gaze was fixed on the wall clock for twenty minutes. "Why don't you try channeling your power through your hands? Maybe it will be easier that way," Demetria suggested. "OK." Clarice waved her hand at the wall clock and said, "Freeze!" Nothing happens. "Keep trying," Demetria ordered. "Freeze!" Clarice shouted. "Do it again!" Demetria repeated. "Freeze!" Clarice shouted. Demetria commanded, "Try again one last time." "Freezeeeee!" Clarice said seriously. She felt her power surge through her hands and the clock finally stopped ticking, frozen in time. She grinned joyously. "Wow! You made it. Congratulations! You are learning fast!" Demetria gushed in admiration, pleased with the results. "Alright, that's enough for today. You need to rest in your room. Let's continue tomorrow." "OK," Clarice agreed, smiling brightly, delighted with her progress. "Bring the glass back to the kitchen using teleportation," Demetria ordered. "Copy," Clarice picked up the glass and teleported back to the kitchen on the first floor. She appeared in the kitchen ten minutes later. She put the glass down on the sink, then retired to her room in high spirits. "All is well. I'm slowly getting to know my powers and learning how to use them. I can't wait to go home!" Clarice said excitedly. She climbed on the bed and closed her eyes to rest.