Orryx Enchanted

The beginning

Layton’s POV:

I watch the sisters, their expressions a mix of doubt, curiosity, and defiance. They’re powerful, no doubt, but right now they are untrained, uncertain of their place in the world. I can feel their hesitance—this path isn’t easy. Their parents sheltered them from the harsh truths of the magical world, and now they’re being asked to step into roles they never anticipated.

“Now, before we begin formal training,” I say, moving to the center of the room, “we’re going to set up some stations. One for when you’re together and one for when you’re apart. It’s crucial you know how to protect yourselves if you’re ever separated. That way, you’ll be able to either stall long enough for your sisters or me to reach you, or you’ll find your way back to them on your own.”

The girls exchange uneasy glances.

“First,” I turn to Thalia, the eldest. “Thalia, your power is time manipulation. You can freeze time, but right now, with no combat training, I’d estimate that you can freeze up to 10, maybe 15 people at most. That may seem like a lot, but the real challenge is how long you can hold it. My guess? Five to seven seconds tops.”

Thalia rolls her eyes, a smirk playing at her lips. “I’m sure I can hold it longer than that.”

I meet her gaze, unwavering. “We’ll see about that. But here’s the thing: your powers only affect your immediate surroundings. If someone walks in after you’ve already frozen a room, they won’t be frozen, and you’ll have a serious problem on your hands. That’s one of the many reasons rule number one is this: no human must ever know you’re witches.”

Selene furrows her brows. “What happens if they do find out?”

I pause, making sure they understand the gravity of this rule. “If humans learn about magic, the balance of life will shift. They’ll panic. They’ll want explanations, then control. Eventually, magical creatures will break free from their rightful worlds into this one, and chaos will ensue. Worst case scenario, humans could become magic hunters. They’ll try to wipe us out. It’s best to keep magic hidden. The only exception to this rule is telling your significant other—if you’re serious about them, and I mean marriage serious.”

Amara groans, “But what if—”

“No high school flings, Amara,” I interrupt, glaring at her. She shrinks back, clearly annoyed. “This is serious. Keeping our world hidden is essential for your safety and ours.”

I move on quickly, sensing their unease. “Another rule: never, under any circumstances, use your powers for personal gain. Powers are to be used to help innocents or to stop threats. Certain spells come with consequences. Some small, others deadly.”

Thalia stiffens at that, but she says nothing.

“Now, Thalia, you’ll start by practicing freezing your sisters. Once you’ve mastered that, we’ll head to a secluded location and practice on strangers. I want to know how long you can hold them. Once you’ve got the hang of it, your next challenge will be learning to slow people down or speed them up.”

I turn to Selene, the middle sister. “Your power is empathetic healing. You can feel others’ emotions—deeply. This means their pain, joy, and everything in between will hit you like a wave. But you’re also capable of seeing premonitions, past or future, depending on how your power develops. We’ll need to test that as we go.”

Selene’s face pales. “I… I don’t know if I can handle feeling everything like that.”

“It’s going to be overwhelming at first,” I admit. “People’s pain will feel like your own. It might even paralyze you in moments of high stress. But you can train your mind to handle it, to work through the pain and focus on what’s necessary. You’ll need to change their emotions when necessary—to ease their suffering or turn their fear into calm. This power is both a gift and a burden, but you’re strong enough to carry it.”

Selene nods, though I can see the doubt in her eyes.

Finally, I turn to Amara, the youngest. “And Amara…”

“I’m not a baby,” she interjects, pouting like one.

“Right,” I say with a small smile. “Your power is telepathy and mind control. But, as I said before, the power must choose you. It hasn’t fully manifested yet.”

Her brows furrow. “Why not? Why does it have to choose me?”

“Because it’s one of the strongest powers a witch can have. Telepathy allows you to project thoughts or memories into others’ minds, making them see things that aren’t real. You can even suggest impulses to control their actions. But with that much power comes great responsibility. Every witch born with this gift must be chosen by the power itself. It’s a test to make sure you won’t abuse it.”

She crosses her arms, clearly not happy with that explanation.

“Your telepathy could eventually grow to allow you to move objects with your mind,” I continue. “But that’s down the road. For now, we’ll start small.”

I step back, looking at the three of them. “Now, what have you learned from your parents?”

“Nothing that could be used in combat,” Selene says. “Just some potions.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Potions can be useful. What kinds?”

“They taught us how to brew healing potions and a basic truth serum,” Thalia says. “And a protection potion for warding off minor threats.”

I nod. “Those will come in handy later on. Healing potions could save your life. A truth serum can be used to interrogate without violence. And the protection potions… well, those will help you survive long enough to learn how to fight. Your parents gave you the tools to start; now it’s time to build on them.”

The sisters exchange another look, this one more resolute.

“So, where do we start?” Amara asks.

“With trust,” I say. “I know you don’t fully understand what’s ahead of you, and it’s okay to be hesitant. This world is bigger and darker than you’ve been prepared for. But I’m here to guide you, and I’ll be with you every step of the way. You’re not alone in this.”

They’re quiet for a moment, taking it all in.

“Shall we?” I ask, gesturing to the stations I’ve set up.

Thalia steps forward first, followed by Selene and Amara. I watch them, knowing that these first few steps will be the hardest. But I can see the potential in their eyes, even if they don’t yet.