Caleb had no explanation for what had just happened, and if he were to tell the story to someone else, they would look at him like he was crazy.
Even Caleb thought he was going crazy, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone looking down at him.
Caleb turned, and to his utmost surprise, it was Hilda. She had an indifferent expression on her face as if she knew exactly what was going on.
Caleb backed away from her—he could tell she had something to do with this.
"There is so much you do not know, Caleb," Hilda said, but Caleb was already looking around for something to defend himself with.
"W-What are you doing here?" Caleb asked, the caution in his voice evident.
"I'm not your enemy, Caleb. But what just happened… it was nothing of this world," Hilda began as she slowly walked toward him.
Eileen had underestimated Hilda. This encounter would no doubt set the church on their trail, but if Hilda could find a way to channel what was inside this boy,
no hunter on Earth would be able to touch her. It would grant her ultimate power.
"Not of this world?" Caleb responded, and Hilda relied on his intellect—there was no way he hadn't already started to suspect something.
"That is correct, Caleb… You see, I'm a witch," Hilda confessed.
It took Caleb a second to process what she said before he chuckled.
"A witch?" he repeated, but Hilda nodded. He could tell by the look on her face that she was serious.
It wasn't far-fetched—he had read about them in the books his father made him study.
"If you're a witch, do something," Caleb challenged, asking for proof.
"I would think bringing the dead to life would be proof enough," Hilda replied.
Caleb knew he had to calm down. If she truly was what she claimed, he stood no chance against her, even with all his knowledge.
He lacked the tools to execute a plan and judging by her age, there was no doubt she was an experienced witch.
"I have no wish to harm you. But you must have figured it out by now—the changes you're going through," Hilda pointed out.
"How do you know about that?" Caleb questioned, making sure to keep his distance.
But before Hilda could respond, Eileen appeared out of nowhere, stepping between Caleb and Hilda.
"Hello there, Eileen. I was just filling Caleb in on what you've kept from him," Hilda said outright.
Caleb could tell from Eileen's body language that whatever this woman was saying… was true.
"We need to leave right now, Caleb. I'll explain everything to you later," Eileen said quickly, trying to get him away.
"Why would I leave? What is she talking about, Eileen?" Caleb asked with a raised brow.
"A hunter is on its way," Hilda blurted out. Caleb could've sworn he had heard that word before when he was younger.
"Be quiet, Hilda!" Eileen shouted at the top of her lungs. This was now a matter of life or death.
"Have you told him what he is?" Hilda pressed, and it was working—Eileen was visibly frustrated.
"You are a spawn of the devil—"
But Hilda immediately felt a lump in her throat as Eileen's outstretched arm came into view.
Hilda couldn't speak—she was being suffocated by Eileen's magic. And suddenly, everything made sense to Caleb.
The studies. His father's research. The strange dreams he had been having.
And right now, there was no doubt—Eileen was using magic to attack this woman.
But Caleb took it all in stride because he had one question that needed answering.
"Stop it, Eileen," Caleb requested.
Eileen looked at him, confused. Hilda was the enemy—why would he stop her?
He walked beside her and gently lowered her hand. Eileen reluctantly complied, and Hilda gasped for breath.
"Tell me... what am I?" Caleb asked.
Eileen looked panicked—this was all the result of her mistake.
"You're the spawn of the demon king," Hilda answered.
It didn't make any sense. Caleb didn't have horns or claws or anything to indicate that was true.
Silence filled the air. Both women seemed to wait for his reaction.
Then, a chuckle.
Followed by laughter—loud, uncontrollable laughter.
"You both had me! I can't lie, how long did it take you two to rehearse this?" Caleb laughed, completely dismissing the situation.
There was no way—no way—this could be real.
But Eileen knew this place was no longer safe. They had to leave immediately before the hunter arrived.
"We need to leave—now!" Eileen repeated urgently.
But then she froze.
A wave of bloodlust crashed over her—so intense it nearly brought her to her knees.
However, it didn't come from Caleb.
Quite the opposite.
"T-This can't be… A hunter!?" Eileen thought in horror.