Amity struggled to not look over her shoulder when she walked away from Luz as the human followed Principal Bump into his office. How badly she wanted to talk about the events of last night, what they had said to each other. For Titan's same, they slept together! Her ears burned at the thought of those words. No, not that kind of sleeping together! She did not even want to entertain that thought, let alone say those two words out loud! Snuggle, they had snuggled together. While that did little to help her panicking heart, she at least felt her face cool down. Sighing, Amity walked to her locker and tickled the red creature's face, selecting her notebook and texts for Advanced Spelling. There were still some spells she fully did not have the hang of, and she had an idea for one that she could possibly combine with her abomination, something for the final this term?

Walking to the room where she usually chose for study period, Amity stopped when she saw Boscha and her crew lounging on the desks tapping at their scrolls. No doubt they had finagled the unused room for socializing thanks to Boscha's jock status. Clenching her books to her chest, Amity turned on her heel and walked away. At least when she was captain of the grudgby team, she didn't use her status for free time to socialize.

The library was an idea, for not point five seconds, until she realized the Illusion Track had claimed it for a guest lecture from the Coven head. As much as Amity was not in the mood to deal with Boscha's cronies, she was less pleased with facing the likely teasing of her older siblings. As carefully as she could, Amity backed out of the library while keeping her eyes out for her troublemaking brother and sister. She should have taken up Bump's offer after all, none of the quiet areas she preferred were available, and Amity liked it quiet when she studied. Maybe she could just go back to his office and ask if she could change her answer? Sure Luz was there, but as far as she was aware now, Amity was long gone. Less chance of her doing something distractingly adorable...right? Rolling her eyes at her inner monologue, Amity quickly headed off in the direction of Bump's office, hoping Luz was not getting into trouble after only ten minutes of being by herself.

Luz followed Bump through the door into the small waiting room sectioned off from his office, taking a seat when he told her it would be a couple minutes. She shifted in her chair, playing with the cuffs of her sleeves. It felt weird to be wearing a single track uniform, temporary or not. Her multi-track colors were a part of her identity as both the first human student and first student to study all tracks. To suddenly look like a student with just one track made her feel uncomfortable. Still, it was nice that Amity volunteered to get her a clean uniform instead of leaving her to wear a gloopy one. Luz wondered if the Abomination color was just the first one available that Amity could find, or if she had picked it for a reason? She didn't think Amity would be trying to hint that she should just take one track, right?

Of course not! Luz slapped her cheeks. She was just being nice! She could have grabbed any track uniform and I'd be happy with it! With that in mind, Luz settled back in her seat to wait her turn. It was not much longer before the door opened and an Oracle student walked out.

"Barcus!"

The canine dual-track student blinked and looked at Luz, his muzzle splitting into his version of a smile as he barked a greeting at her. He trotted up to her and Luz could see he had replaced his broken glasses with a new set. She gave him a scratch under his chin and he shook his head.

"Heya bud, looks like you got pulled in too?"

Barcus huffed in affirmation, looking from Luz to the door and back.

"Yeah, I guess I'm next. I don't get why all of the students in the track have to meet with him. Not sure what he's looking for." Seeing Bump standing in the doorway, Luz sighed and got to her feet. "See you later, bud!" She heard Barcus yip a farewell and followed Bump into his office.

Cyrus was standing in front of the window with his hands clasped behind his back, staring out at the school grounds. His helmet sat on the side of Bump's large desk, as well as what Luz guessed was the crystal ball containing his oracle. A spiderweb fissure spread over the top of the orb, making Luz wonder what would have happened that could damage something that housed an oracle?

"It was in the early days when I joined the Coven."

Luz jolted at the unexpected response and Cyrus turned around, an apologetic smile on his face.

"Oh right, sorry, I forget you're new to the mind-reading. I'll try to not be so invasive. Would you like to sit?" He gestured to the chair across the desk and Luz nodded, slowly sitting down as Cyrus took the seat normally occupied by Bump. The two witches nodded at each other and Bump excused himself, closing the door behind him.

"So, Luz Noceda, we meet again." Cyrus leaned back in the chair, resting his hand on the cracked orb. "Would you be comfortable if I summoned my oracle for this meeting?"

Luz shrugged. "Sure,"

"Thank you. Leota?"

The familiar dark purple smoke hissed out from around the crystal ball as a large oracle rose from the cracked surface and hovered at its master's side. Surprisingly, Luz could not see either of the creature's eyes, as its entire upper face was wrapped in the mummy-like bandages, yet she still had the feeling it could see her.

"This is my oracle, Leota," Cyrus gestured with a gloved hand. "She has been with me since the day I graduated Hexside and has never steered me wrong. You could almost say she is the palisman I never had." He caught the confused look Luz was giving him and smiled wryly. "When I graduated the...ancient wood needed to construct a palisman was in short supply, reserved only for the most powerful of the Emperor's Coven. Even with the pull my family had, I still could not gain my own palisman. So instead, I chose to have Leota act as one for me." He nodded to the ghostly figure. "And in all our battles together, she has never failed to keep me safe. Speaking of which,"

Luz fought to stay still as Cyrus turned his gaze to her, trying to think of something, anything, to clear her mind.

"As I'm sure you have been told by your fellow students, I am here to interview those part of the Oracle track regarding the lessons you have had this week. During our investigation, it was learned someone broke into the closet containing Hexside's collection of oracles. I'd like to know why. When I was here yesterday, I was told the Oracle class had been practicing the art of summoning prophecies of the self." The witch tilted his head slightly, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "My best guess is that one of the students may have learned something vitaly important, why else would the door to the vault be left open?"

"Maybe it was a trick?" Luz volunteered, mentally reading through chapter 5 of the third Azura book. "Maybe someone wanted to throw off the scent?"

Cyrus nodded. "That's a good point, and I thought the same thing. Until the Conformitorium was attacked last night and someone stole information about the whereabouts of a dangerous artifact."

The palms of Luz's hands suddenly felt very sweaty. She did not want to say anything, but, the more she listened, the more she felt her prophecy just might have to do with this. "What is the artifact?"

"I'm...not sure." Cyrus looked at Leota. "The information was reserved for high-level members of the Coven. Despite my ability to read minds, I'm still the level of a Grunt. But, I am curious as to why you're thinking about Azura's battle against Hecate in the Mountain of Madness with Amity's voice as the narrator."

All of the blood flushed from Luz's face. Oh crammity. "I thought you said you wouldn't read my mind?"

"I said I'd try to be less invasive. But that's a little hard to be when the one I'm interviewing is more uptight than our coven's ex-leader, Lilith Clawthorne." His eyes slid to her's. "What is it that you're worried I will see? I can assure you nothing will be shared with the Coven that will jeopardize the safety of you and your family. Why are you trying to avoid thinking about Alador and Ophelia's youngest?"

Luz clenched her fists against the sides of her chair until she felt her nails bite into her palms. "I-that is-she-we're," she stopped and took a breath. "Amity is helping me break down a prophecy I was given from my oracle in class earlier this week. She's been tutoring me with abominations and offered to help me with my oracle work as well."

"I see," Cyrus rested his elbows on the desk. "Why were you trying to avoid me reading your thoughts about her?"

"You grew up with her, you know her parents wouldn't be happy if they learned she was spending her time with someone like me."

Cyrus raised an eyebrow. "Someone like you? I fail to see why they would not approve of a student learning to master all the tracks offered at Hexside. Granted, you being responsible for breaking out and apprenticing under Public Enemy No. 1 would be something less than desirable to the Blight family. But, a human with the ability to perform magic? That's a remarkable quality. And if there is one thing I know, Alador Blight is a scholar through and through. Odalia may be the dragon guarding the family treasure, but Alador was never one to turn down anything of interest."

The mental image of Amity dressed up as a princess with her mother's face attached to a dragon's body had Luz wanting to double over giggling and blush furiously at the same time. Especially when her imagination had herself dressed as a knight charging forth to rescue said princess. If Cyrus was reading her mind, he chose not to say anything, and Luz appreciated that.

"Now, would you mind telling me this prophecy of yours that had you asking the school's top student for help?"

Luz swallowed. "I, uh, left it in my locker." She saw the Coven member slump back in his chair, a suddenly exhausted look on his face. "Whoa, you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, I just," he rubbed his temple and winced. "I took a hard spill from the intruder last night, maintaining my ability to read minds had been draining."

"You mean, you can't read my mind for the prophecy?"

Cyrus shook his head. "I can read present thoughts, not memories. If you don't believe what you were told is not significant, then I won't pressure you to remember it."

Was he really giving her an out? Luz gaped at the Coven member, not sure what to say to that. Of course she wanted to keep a tight lid on it, but at the same time, if it would help find whoever had broken into the school, she couldn't bear the thought of standing on the side lines and doing nothing.

"Well, I think I might be able to remember it. The prophecy my oracle gave me." When Cyrus looked at her, she cleared her throat and recited the entire prophecy word for word. There was no way she could forget it, she had read that thing almost as many times as the first Azura book! Still, Luz did her best to pause between verses so it would not seem like she had it memorised. Once she was done, Cyrus slowly leaned forward, his eyes trailing between Luz and his oracle.

"That is...a very interesting prophecy for an oracle to recite. And, you're saying Amity is helping you with, what exactly?"

"Trying to break it down."

"Have you had much luck with that?"

Luz tapped her fingers together as she considered her words carefully. "Sort of...I think it has to do with dreams? I found out about something called the Dreamscape, but, that's it."

For a long moment, Cyrus was silent as he mulled over Luz's answers. The tattoo on his forehead had long since lost its glowing light, but Luz still had to avoid looking at it as it made her feel like it too was studying her.

"I've not heard about the Dreamscape for a very long time. The part of worlds colliding, stars crossing, that must have to do with the upcoming Firestorm, which no doubt you and Miss Blight already discovered." He looked at Luz and she nodded. "But, that final line, 'something weird this way comes' that has me concerned."

Doing her best not to squirm, Luz clasped her hands together to keep them still. "Why? Why does 'weird' sound bad?"

"Because, the last time two worlds collided, a demon almost took control of your realm."

The school bell shrieked out in the halls, pulling their attention from their conversation and the door to the office creaked open for Bump to walk back in. "Ah, Cyrus, did you and Miss Noceda have a productive meeting?"

The two looked at each other and Cyrus slowly smiled. "Yes, thank you very much for letting me borrow your student for the period." He nodded to Luz and stood, she followed suit. "Thank you, Luz, for agreeing to meet with me today. I'm certain I will see you again soon."

"Y-you're welcome," Suddenly eager to get out of the room, Luz backed away and out the door, pivoting to dart into the hall.

"Luz!"

She froze mid-step as Amity appeared at her side, her books in her arms. "Amity? I thought you were going to study?"

"I couldn't find a free room, so I came back and asked Principal Bump if I could borrow the waiting room."

Which meant she probably heard everything Luz and Cyrus had said.

"Oh," Luz felt her face pink and looked away. "So...did you...um...did you get done what you wanted?" The look Amity gave her was a curious one that she didn't quite get, then it turned into that small half-smile that made her stomach quiver.

"You could say that. Come on, let's get to lunch before all the good food is taken."

The two students jogged out of the room and away from the office. Principal Bump turned back to the office interior to see Cyrus had returned to looking out the window, but his oracle still hovered over its orb.

"Are you ready for the next student?"

The Coven member turned around and looked as if he had momentarily forgotten what was to happen. "Oh, yes, please send them in." Bump nodded and dipped back out, closing the door behind him, and Cyrus turned to the window. So, Luz Noceda had been given a prophecy of the Dreamscape and no doubt, she was already exploring its secrets. Which meant he would need to act fast if he was to be ready in time for the Firestorm. Weirdness was coming. He had seen what it could do to unsuspecting worlds, heard the rumors of those unprepared for its raw power, so he would need to be prepared.

"We have a lot of work to do Leota," he whispered under his breath as the door opened for the next Oracle Track student to walk in and he turned around. "A lot of work."

"What do you mean a demon almost took over the human world?" Gus stared at Luz from across their lunch table, the straw for his juice box dangling off his lip. "How is that possible? And why didn't I know about it?"

Luz shrugged. "I didn't even think it was possible! But I guess it does make sense. Eda probably isn't the first witch to have a portal to the human world, but from what Cyrus said, I don't think it was as simple. All I can say is it's the first time I've learned about it." She glanced at Willow and Amity for their opinions, but Willow shook her head.

"I never heard about anything like that, so it either was entirely on the human side of whatever portal was opened or this happened before our time. I could ask my dads if they know anything, but I'm going to guess not."

Humming thoughtfully, Amity leaned back in her chair. "You said Cyrus was concerned about the 'something weird this way comes', right?"

"Yeah," Luz nodded. "That's what led him to bringing up the demon trying to take over the human world bit. Have you heard about it?"

"Sort of...it was back when I was training under Lilith's tutelage." Amity's eyes darkened for a moment as she thought of what her ex-mentor had done to use Luz not only for bait to catch Eda, but actually attempted to kill her. Clenching her fist, she pushed those thoughts away and cleared her throat. "It was in this big book she kept with her, something like a personal tome of spells she had learned in the Emperor's Coven. I only caught a few glimpses of it, but it spoke of an ancient demon that lived not in the physical world, but the realm of the mind."

Willow frowned. "Kinda like the Dreamscape?"

"Yes and no. I can't remember what it was called, but this demon could only survive as a living entity outside of its home world in this mind realm. It had a name, but in the writings that I could find, it was known as the Demon of Weird."

"I'm going to guess that demon's version of weird is different from my kind of weird?" Luz asked.

Amity nodded. "Extremely. To the point where nothing made sense to the furthest degree and those who were affected by its power lost their sanity, went 'mad' if you will." She tapped the table with a finger as she mulled over the information. "If that's what the last line of the prophecy is talking about, then the Firestorm and the Portal Key must somehow play into what could happen. But," Amity sighed and rested her elbows on the table. "We're still missing quite a lot."

"Well then, what if we went to the Owl House after school and asked Lilith if we could borrow her book?"

The three witchlings stared at Luz as if she had suddenly drawn a spell circle in the air all by herself. Gus was the first to break the stunned silence.

"You want us to go talk to the witch who threatened your life and forced us to deliver the message to Eda?"

Luz winced. "Well, when you say it that way, it sounds bad. But, to be fair to Lilith...no, wait, that was worse. Lemme try again," she shifted in her seat. "You guys didn't see what Lilith did after the Emperor betrayed her. She gave everything up to help me and Eda escape, she split the curse with Eda so she wouldn't be stuck as the Owl Beast forever. I'm not saying I've forgiven her completely, I'm still pretty sore about it all, but at least she's trying to make things right! That's got to say something? I won't try to make you guys forgive her either, but if Lilith knows anything about this Weird Demon and the Dreamscape, then I think we should talk to her about it. And..Eda too."

"Luz, are you sure about that?"

Nodding, Luz turned to Amity. "Yeah, I think it's time I came clean with her, especially after what happened in class with that new glyph -"

"You have a new glyph?" Gus practically vaulted over his lunch tray with excitement. "Is that why you're not wearing your uniform?"

Both Amity and Luz went bright red thinking about what happened in the locker room, which Willow did not miss, but decided to log away for later. She had been curious why Luz looked so clean and fresh early in the day.

"Um, yeah," Pushing her bangs from her hair, Luz pulled out her glyph pad and traced out the intricate pattern. "I found it in the Dreamscape last night and decided to test it out during Abominations, thinking it would help me finally create one."

"Which you did," interjected Gus. "Willow and I heard all about it!"

"Yeah," Luz blushed sheepishly, and continued to draw the glyph. "But it wasn't from this, though I'm not sure how, since I don't have a bile sac. I guess I just finally got the formula right? All thanks to Miss Top Student!" She teasingly elbowed a pink-faced Amity.

Looking down at the strange glyph, Gus frowned. "So then, what does this thing do?"

"Don't touch it!' Luz yelped when the witchling reached for it, earning a few curious stares. "I'm not sure exactly what it does, but when I tapped it...well…" She looked at Amity, since all she really saw was the classroom blur around her and then nothing but abomination sludge.

"There was this big flash of purple light that tossed her straight up into the air, almost like a forcefield." Drawing a spell circle, Amity's magic formed into a miniature of Luz being projected to the presumed classroom ceiling and falling headfirst into the mixing vat. "Then, the air pulled her back down in a vacuum, but no wind. I've never seen anything like it before."

Willow stared at her as Gus sat back. "And you saw this in the Dreamscape? A glyph that pushes and pulls? Weird…"

"Right," Carefully closing the pad of paper, Luz tucked it back into her pocket and looked at her friends. "I'm still super excited about our sleepover and trying to figure out more about the Dreamscape, but I'm thinking it would be a good idea to talk to Lilith and Eda about it. Maybe not tell them why we're doing the sleepover, but try to find out at least a little bit more before we go in." Her grin faltered at the confused looks being sent her way. "What? What'd I do?" She yelped when Willow tapped her forehead.

"Who are you, and what have you done with Luz?"

Luz swatted her hand away. "What the heck are you talking about? I'm just trying to be careful here!"

"Exactly! Why are you all of a sudden trying to be careful with this idea? You're usually so…" Willow paused. "What's the best word to use?"

"Impulsive?" Gus volunteered.

"Quirky?" Luz asked.

"Adorable," Amity's face turned tomato -red. "I-I mean stubborn!" She shot Willow a warning look when the girl bit back a snort.

"I guess all of those. So, what's up Luz? Why try to be so careful?"

Sighing, Luz slumped forward. "After hearing Cyrus say all those things, I guess it just reminded me too much of when I tried to think on my feet and steal the Healing Hat for Eda. I wasn't careful, didn't think things through like I should have, and messed everything up! I just don't want to cause anyone any more harm for my stupid mistake. If this prophecy thing is actually something real, then this demon Cyrus was talking about must be dangerous, and I don't want it to come here. That's why I want to talk to Lilith. If you guys don't want to go with me, I won't make you, but," she looked at them and stopped when her gaze fell to Amity. "I'd really like it if you were with me."

Well aware of the blush igniting her face, Amity looked away, pointedly avoiding Willow's knowing grin, and sighed. "Okay Luz, but if Lilith talks to me, I refuse to be warm." She squeaked when Luz yanked her into a hug.

"Good enough for me!"

Willow and Gus were quick to say they would go as well and the four agreed to meet up at the end of school by the front steps. The rest of the day went by about as normal of a pace as it could when going to a purely magic school, now that Luz had the meeting with Cyrus over and done with. She was surprised to not see the Coven member at all during her lessons, aside from the occasional Oracle Track student going to and fro Bump's office when summoned. Either there was still more information Cyrus wanted or he was a stickler for checking off every possible answer from his list. By the time Luz grabbed her book bag from her locker and was jogging down the steps to meet up with her friends, Cyrus was nothing more than a blip on the horizon flying back to the Conformitorium.

"Thanks again for grabbing me a clean uniform," she whispered to Amity as they walked down the path towards the Owl House, her gooey multi-track uniform balled up in a sack in her book bag. Too bad there were no glyphs for instantly cleaning abomination muck from clothes, that would have been helpful today.

"Of course! Though I'm starting to think you like being covered in abomination formula."

"Is this about me pretending to be Willow's abomination? I got her a top score!"

"Only because you cheated." Amity shoulder-bumped Luz. "And you got me in trouble with Principal Bump."

Catching herself, Luz grinned deviously at the green-haired witch. "Right, and that never happens because you're Little Miss Perfect with your straight A's and straight hair."

Willow snickered and muttered something under her breath.

"What was that?!"

The plant witch squeaked at the abomination bursting from the ground at her feet and the murderous glint in Amity's eyes. However, the nuclear-hot blush swarming her face ruined the threatening look and Willow burst out laughing, disappearing into a giant flower bud that closed around her and yanked her beneath the abomination's feet, depositing her a safe distance away down the path.

"Get back here!" Amity yelled, tearing off after her with her abomination lumbering along.

Luz and Gus watched the two withclings run about the path and looked at each other.

"Okay, what just happened?"

Gus had heard what Willow said, but he had a feeling it would not be wise to add fuel to the fire. Especially if said fire was the risk of facing Amity's wrath. "I don't know. But we should probably catch up with them before someone gets hurt. Like Amity."

Nodding, Luz raced off down the path with Gus hot on her heels as they listened to Amity's verbal threats while Willow continued laughing.

"I'm sorry! You just make it too easy!"

"Why don't you come down off that tree and say that again? Since I'm 'so easy'?"

"No thanks! I'm perfectly happy up - hey! Hey! That's cheating!"

Up ahead, Luz saw Amity's abomination vigorously shaking a thick tree while the witch glared up at the branches. Whatever Willow had muttered clearly got under Amity's skin, but she seriously wasn't going to hurt her so soon after repairing their friendship. Right? She then watched Amity start to scale up the tree, using her abomination like a ladder, but when she reached for the branch Willow was comfortably perched on, it bent out of reach.

"Sorry! No grumpy witchlings allowed!"

Amity audibly growled and lunged for the branch, but missed and, to Luz's horror, slipped from her abomination's shoulders. Thinking fast, Luz grabbed her glyph pad from her bag and, ripping the paper off the rings, slapped it and hurled it under the falling witch. The burst of violet light ballooned under Amity's back, projecting her and the abomination straight up, and then yanked them to the ground. Only, Luz had managed to launch herself forward just in time for the vacuum to catch Amity and roll beneath to cushion her from the fall. Unfortunately, that meant all of Amity's weight dropped down onto Luz and knocked every ounce of air from her lungs. The poor abomination was not so lucky and burst apart when it slammed into the ground, globs of goop raining down. It was that precise moment that Hooty decided to greet them.

"Hey guys! How's every-" A large blob smacked him right in the face. "Why'd it get so dark all of a sudden? And wet? Luz? Hello?"

Despite Amity currently crushing her stomach, Luz could not help but laugh as the house demon wiggled about to shake off the abomination remains. Meanwhile, Amity had started to sit up and realized just who had broken her fall.

"Luz! I'm so sorry,"

Luz wrapped her arms around her shoulders and pulled her down just as another blob sailed through the air, missing them both by mere inches. "I think that one had a rock in it. You okay, Amity?" She tilted her head to look down right as Amity was lifting her head from where it had been resting on Luz's chest. Their eyes met and they froze, hearts thundering at the slow realization of the position they were literally in.

When Luz had pulled Amity down to avoid the barrage of goop, she had shifted her so that the witch's body was fully resting on top of her, her legs dangling off to the side. Luz's arms were wrapped snugly around Amity's shoulders to keep her secure, leaving very little space between their faces. Amity tried to find something coherent to say, but all that came out was a squeak.

"Um, I think we should head on inside." Slowly, Luz sat up and scooted Amity out of her lap so she could stand, helping the catatonic witch to her feet. While Hooty did his best to shake off the muck still covering his face, the four friends continued on down the path towards the Owl House that was now finally in sight. Glancing over at the two girls, Gus carefully reached up and poked Amity in the shoulder. No response.

"Luz," He said slowly. "I think you broke Amity."

Poor Amity...I'm not trying to be cruel to her! It's just too easy. So, what are your thoughts about the new glyph? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you in the next chapter!