I followed Eda down the hall with Luz and King by my side as I asked her, "What is it that you want to show me?" It felt good to get out of the clothes I've been wearing for the past two days, and generously Luz gave me some of hers: A black short sleeve dress with orchid leggings and black pointed shoes.

"If our encounter with Nevareth is anything to go by, the Emperor's Coven is looking for you, kid." The Owl Lady explained. "There's no way that we'll be able to look after you all the time. And I don't know which demons and witches are in the Coven's pocket. And let's be real here; we can't exactly leave you cooped up in the Owl House until the key is fixed. Spending that much alone time with Hooty is a fate worse than death."

"No, I'm not! Hoot!" As if on cue, the bird-tube slithered in on us and got right into my face. "Amity and I would be best friends! Hoot!"

"Hooty, de qué hemos hablado?" Luz said.

"Personal space. Hoot." Hooty sulked as he slunk away.

"If he ever gets that close to me again, I'm probably going to destroy him," I told the others.

"Anyway." Eda resumed. "I think you should have some way of defending yourself until then."

Luz let out a squeal and practically lit up like a lightbulb. She bounced up and down like excitement was about to explode out of her. "Does this mean we get to teach her magic?" She asked her mom. "I should get my notes. I've been preparing for this moment."

"Hate to burst your bubble, but we're not teaching her magic." Luz frowned at Eda's answer before she opened a closed door to a room where every inch of the walls was covered with weapons. "We're gonna be starting with something more practical. Step on in and pick a weapon, any weapon." She walked inside as Luz and I followed behind. "I've got swords!" She held a long blade in front of me. "I've got axes!" She held a double-headed axe up. "I've got all kinds of tools for killing right here. Go and take your pick."

"But I've never wielded a weapon in my life," I told her. "How will I know which ones right for me?"

"Don't worry; I'll show you the basics. Just go and pick one, already."

"Oh, what's this one." Eda and I looked over to see King trying to grab a strange, massive weapon off the wall.

Eda dashed over to the little demon. "Hey, get your hands off that!"

Something in the corner of the room caught my eye. I spotted a beautifully crafted, coiled shining chain whip with four curved blades at the end hanging on a rack. From what I could guess, it looked like it's made from silver and had to be about ten feet long; I walked over to and picked it up to examine it closer.

"OH, MI TITAN!" Luz screamed, making me drop the whip. She, Eda, and King ran over to me with concern on their faces.

"What? What happened?" I asked.

Without giving me an answer, Eda grabbed my hands and looked completely surprised as she said, "You're not hurt."

"Why would I be hurt?"

"Uh, Eda, I think we should step back," King said, pointing at the whip, which was now glowing red hot.

"What's it doing?"

Eda drew a circle, and a pair of oven mitts fell out of it and into her hands as she said, "I got this." She put them on and quickly picked up the whip, but the chains started to burn through the gloves. Eda winced with tears pouring out her eyes, exclaiming, "Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!" She coiled up the whip and put it back where I found it. Eda threw the gloves off and held her palms out. Luz drew a circle and two snowballs fell out of it and onto them, bringing a sigh of relief to the Owl Lady.

This was probably stupid to ask her, "Are you okay?" But it felt appropriate as Eda balled her hands into fists, crushing the snow.

"Much better now." She turned to me and explained, "That whip you picked up; I call it the Talon. I found it in some ruins while taking a trip to your realm. Whatever metal it's made of it, it becomes hot whenever anything magical comes near it. And it burns any witch or demon that touches it, as you saw."

"So, if that thing hurts you, why do you keep it on your wall?"

"Hey, I'm not gonna throw away a perfectly good weapon, even if it does leave third-degree burns on my hands." The Owl Lady snapped her fingers and walked over to a corner of the room, stopping in front of and opening a trunk as she said, "I think I know which weapon will be perfect for you." She dug through it until she pulled out a bullwhip that was about seven feet long, walked back over to, and handed the weapon to me. "Not many folks know this, but whips are one of the most effective weapons when going up against a witch. They have good range, so you won't need to get too close; they don't need to be reloaded like a crossbow and are faster than a sword."

"But I don't know how to use a whip, much less how to fight with one."

"Don't worry; I'll give you some pointers." Eda led us out of the Owl House, giving her plenty of room for the demonstration, performing the actions as she said them.

"First things first; make sure your feet are planted shoulder-width apart. Hold the handle of the whip firmly in your dominant hand. With the whip held firmly, bring your arm up straight up as if you're pointing at the sky. Keep your elbow locked on the motion, then let it bend naturally and snap your arm down firmly in front of you." There were several sharp snaps in the air as she showed me how to do an over-head crack, a sidearm crack, and a coachman's crack.

"It'll take practice, but you'll eventually get the hang of it." Eda then blinked and whistled into her fingers, followed by Owlbert flying over to his master with her bag, which she dug through with one hand. "I almost forgot. I have something that'll help you blend in."

The witch pulled out an orchid amulet and tossed it to me, which I raised an eyebrow towards as I replied, "A necklace? Surely, no one will recognize me with that around my neck."

"Cut the sarcasm and just put it on."

I put it on, but… "I don't feel any different."

Eda drew a circle, and my reflection appeared before me. My hair was now an aquamarine green, my eyes were golden and slit like a cat, and I had pointed ears like Luz's and Eda's.

Luz commented, "Hey, green looks good on you,"

"You think?" I could see a blush on my face as I rubbed the back of my head.

"Mija!" Camila shouted as she joined us outside. "You're going to be late for school! And you're not even changed yet!"

"Oh, mierda! I completely forgot!" Luz drew a circle, and a puff of smoke enveloped her. Her usual attire was replaced with a yellow shirt and pants covered by a grey tunic with a cowl and dark grey heeled boots when it cleared. She looked back at me, King, and Eda as she hopped onto Camila's staff, shouting, "Bye guys, I'll see you later!" And the mother and daughter flew off into the woods.

I turned to the Owl Lady. "When she said school, you don't happen to be referring to a magical school, right?" I asked.

"Yep. Hexside Academy of Magic and Demonics." Eda listed off with her fingers: "Winding towers, admittedly cute uniforms, and dark plots that threaten the lives of children every Monday thru Friday." She put her hands on her hips. "But the worst part about them is they force you to learn magic the "proper" way." She opened her mouth and pointed her finger at it, pretending to throw up. "But magic isn't proper; it's so beautiful because it's wild and unpredictable. I didn't finish school, and who wouldn't want to be where I am right now?"

"It's a trick question, don't answer," King warned.

As strange as it may sound, hearing about school made me realize there's a lot about the Boiling Isles I should try to learn. Stuff that may come in handy during my stay here. "Hey, you don't happen to have any books I could read about the Isles, do you?" I asked Eda.

"You're interested in learning about the Isles?" The Owl Lady asked before rubbing her chin. "I guess it wouldn't hurt for you to pick up a thing or two about this place. I would suggest heading to the library in Bonesborough. And we can see if your disguise works on other demons and witches. Oh, and before you go." Eda cast a spell, and a bunch of books floated out of the Owl House and were dropped right into my arms. The sudden shift in weight almost threw me off balance. "I need you to return these books I checked out ages ago."

"And why can't you do it?"

"In case you've forgotten, I'm a wanted criminal. And I've got plenty of other important witch stuff to take care of."

"I strongly doubt that."

"Oh, and take King with you, too." Eda looked at the furry little demon. "Make sure she stays out of trouble, or that trouble doesn't come looking for her."

"Fine, but I ain't walking." The little demon climbed up my legs onto my head and sat on top of the stack. The weight further increased.

"If anyone asks why you can't cast magic, say you have a disability or something… make it up on the spot. And don't take off the amulet while out there, under any circumstances."

"I… got it…" I grunted.

"Oh, and one more thing." Eda drew a circle, and a puff of smoke covered my waist and felt something tight. I had a belt on, with the coiled whip holstered on my right. "That's just in case if you do run into trouble. Be safe."

King shouted as if I were his steed, "Onward to Bonesborough!" I grunted as I continued holding the heavy stack, slowly making our way into the town.

The heart of the Titan pounded calmly in the throne room as Emperor Belos's council of trusted witches and demons gathered. Kikimora kneeled before her master and began with, "Sire, I wish to offer my apologies for the failure of the incubus. I assure you; I won't make the same mistake again."

Looking to rub salt in Kikimora's wounded pride further, Odalia voiced, "That is what happens when you trust simple-minded monsters to do a witch's job. My lord, with your permission, give me a few dozen of the Coven's best warriors. We'll storm the Owl House once the Owl Lady is gone. Once we destroy that infernal house demon, the girl will be easy to capture."

"Odalia, if my men couldn't defeat the house demon; even with me leading the charge; what makes you think you can?" Lilith countered.

"Because I will be leading the charge. I won't hesitate as you would."

"That, or you're a glutton for punishment." Kikimora snarked.

Odalia circled her finger and produced a small, pink fireball in her hand. "Would you care to repeat that, imp?"

Alador Witherbane stroked his beard before he responded, "I am inclined to agree with Lilith. We shouldn't act hastily. Not yet, at least."

"You're taking her side over your wife's?" Odalia questioned in disbelief.

"I'm not taking sides, dear. I'm offering my opinion on the matter."

"I suggest we let more of my spies gather information." Kikimora voiced. "All secrets are eventually found out; if you know where to look."

"Edalyn is just misguided," Lilith said. "Every time we try bringing her in by force or through sabotage, she becomes further lost. I just need one chance to reach out and convince her what is best."

"She won't cooperate." Odalia declared. "We drag her in through any means necessary."

"That will just cause more problems than solutions."

"She's a criminal and should be treated as such."

"She's my sister!"

"Enough!" Emperor Belos shouted, his voice echoing through the room as the Titan's heartbeat became faster, more agitated.

Lilith, Odalia, Alador, and Kikimora knelt before their lord, lowering their heads, and apologized at once, "Forgive us, Sire."

The Titan's heartbeat returned to an average pace as Belos rose from his throne, his eyes glowing their menacing ghostly blue. "The human, while of interest, is far from our priority. We'll collect her when the time is right and not before. Thus, is the will of the Titan."

The Coven members replied, "Yes, Sire."

"Very good." Belos looked to Lilith. "Tell me, Coven Leader, how are your efforts in capturing the Owl Lady?"

Lilith bit her lower lip, thinking carefully about how to respond. "She's been… stubborn, as always."

"Hm, as I suspected."

"My Lord, if I may speak freely." Odalia began.

"You may, Witherbane."

"Why do you insist on pouring so many of the Coven's time and resources into capturing just one criminal?" She heard Lilith hiss at the sound of her sister being talked about in such a manner. That was always satisfying to hear. "What do you want with her, exactly?"

Belos replied, "Oh, Odalia; there's nothing I want with the Owl Lady. But the Titan does." He walked over to and gestured his hand toward a tapestry depicting the Savage Ages before returning his attention to the four Coven members. "He demands the Owl Lady's capture to fulfill his grand design. And as servants of his will, we will obey."

Odalia lowered her head more. "Of course, Sire."

The emperor snapped his gauntleted fingers. "Kikimora, to me. It is time."

The little demon hopped to her feet and bowed, hurrying over to his side as she said, "Yes, Sire."

Once she was standing next to him, Belos returned his attention to Lilith and the Witherbanes. "All of you, out. Prepare yourselves for the coming Covention."

"Yes, Sire." They said simultaneously before leaving the throne room.

Once they were alone, Kikimora followed her emperor over to the tapestry. Walking past it and into a hidden room where a strange device hooked up to a massive, pumping blood vessel lay in wait to be used. Belos removed his right gauntlet, revealing his corpse-like hand with long-rotted flesh peeling off in the bones. He placed his hand next to the machine, and a needle shot out, piercing, and digging into his veins. He ordered Kikimora, "Begin."

She walked over to the other side of the machine and pulled down a lever close to her height. Steam erupted from the device as Belos groaned in pain. Considering how many times they've done this; Kiki should've been used to seeing her master in such agony but wasn't. She could hear drippage as she watched the vial inside the machine fill up with glowing, blue blood — the emperor's blood, in exchange for the Titans.

The vial filled up quickly, and she shut down the device as Belos yanked his arm free from the needle and fell to the floor. "Sire!" Kiki cried out and ran to his aid. "That was more than last time."

"My health is of no concern right now," Belos replied as he struggled to stand. He wobbled back to his throne as he ignored his bleeding arm, just covering it back up with his gauntlet. "Take the sample to the lab and have one of my guards fetch me a palisman. I will join you shortly."

"Yes, Sire." Kiki bowed and hurried off to the lab. She looked back at her master once more as he heaved and sat on his throne before leaving, the last sounds of his heavy breathing haunting her.

"Why couldn't it have a flat surface or a ramp?" I grunted with each step up the stairs leading to the library, believing the walk through the forest and into town was exhausting enough as it was. But there's an upside: At least Eda's Amulet works. No one here has been staring like there was something wrong with me or wanting to eat me; some of them have been friendly.

"C'mon, move those scrawny legs of yours! I wanna go home already!" King complained from the top of the stack.

"Maybe if you stopped whining… and helped… we would be done by now!" I shouted back. "And believe me… you could stand to lose a few pounds."

"Did you just call me fat?"

As I reached the final step, a familiarly deep voice shouted, "Stop right there!" I froze in my tracks. I looked to my right and nearly screeched as King and I spotted Warden Wrath. The little demon hopping off the book pile and hiding behind me for protection.

Standing next to the warden appeared to be a short child with red skin and no other facial parts besides a giant mouth with rows of sharp teeth. The "child" said in a disturbingly deep voice, "Who is she, daddy?"

"I know exactly who she is." Wrath stepped closer to me.

I squeaked out, "You do?"

"Yes, your ditching school, young lady."

"I… What?"

"A witchling like you should be in school by now. So, tell me what you're doing here before you find yourself in bigger trouble."

I began to sweat nervously. "Oh, well… you see… I'm… homeschooled."

"Homeschooled?"

"Yeah, my uh… mom is a… a… certified magical… trainer. I'm just here to return some books before they're overdue and… and, uh… get some new ones."

Wrath stared at me for a long while before responding, "Carry on, then. Come on, Braxus. Let's get you to your first class."

I let out a sigh as Wrath walked past me with his son, Braxus, following behind. The child waved to me as he walked away and said, "Goodbye, Miss." It would've been adorable if not for that terrifying voice.

King asked me, "Is… Is he gone? Can I come out now?"

"Coast is clear," I said and made my way into the library, not giving the little demon the chance to climb up the books. Once inside, I spotted a reptilian man in a grey robe that I assumed to be the head librarian. I grunted my way over to his counter, dropping the book stack in front of him. I heaved heavy breaths as I stretched out my sore back, deciding I'll probably need to lay down back at the Owl House. "Hello, I'd like to return these books."

The snake-man took the book from the top of the stack and drew a magical circle above it, creating a beeping sound as he said, "Late." He grabbed another book and did the same thing. "Late." He grabbed another and examined the cover before flipping it over for me to see. "These are Eda's, aren't they?"

"How did you…" I began.

"I recognize the stains of apple blood anywhere." The librarian let out an annoyed sigh and resumed scanning the rest of the books. There was a poof of smoke, and a thin strip of paper appeared in his hand and gave it to me. "Here's your receipt, not that I'm expecting payment from Mrs. Clawthorne anytime soon. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Yes. Do you know where I can find any books that talk about the history of the Boiling Isles? It's for a paper I'm writing… for school… obviously…"

The librarian pointed an abnormally long finger behind me to rows of bookshelves in the northern direction. "You can find what you're looking for in the History aisle. Just make sure you leave the books intact."

"I will. Thank you." I walked down the bookshelves rows with King until I came across a sign that read History of the Boiling Isles: As Officialized by the Emperor's Coven.

I heard King grunt and saw him pull an oversized hardcover from one of the lower shelves and carry it over to me. "I think this is what you're looking for." He said as I picked up the book, History of the Boiling Isles Volume 1. I found a table to read at and opened the index with the first thing to catch my eye being the chapter, Emperor Belos: The Speaker.

"The Boiling Isles, born from the flesh and bones of a fallen Titan. This original magic was so potent, all life on the Isles evolved to wield magic too. For years, we explored those powers freely. Until, a mysterious witch appeared who declared that he, and he alone, could speak to the island. He said that we were using magic all wrong. His teachings took hold, his strength grew, and he became... Emperor Belos. Belos said that mixing magic was wrong, that only he had that right. So, he created the coven system. And there, our knowledge was restricted, and our potential sealed away. Those who resist are called wild witches, and they face harsh punishment. Emperor Belos has since retreated into his castle. Some whispers say..."

"Amity…" King whined.

I looked at the furry demon and gave him an annoyed, "What?"

"Can't you read that book on the go? I wanna go home."

"Ugh, fine." I slammed the book closed and returned to the front counter to check it out before making our way out of town and back to the Owl House.

"Hey, Amity, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

I replied, "That depends on the question." I held the recently checked-out book close to my chest.

"Since Eda told you what schools on the Isles are like, could you tell me what schools from the Human Realm are like?"

"Well, I imagine they aren't that different from each other. I go to a prep school that my mom and dad forced me, my brother, and my sister to attend."

"Wait, you have a brother and sister?"

"Yeah, Edric and Emira. Well, sort of…"

"Sort of…"

"It's complicated to… Ow!" Before I could finish, I suddenly bumped into someone, my head bonking against theirs. We fell onto our butts, and I dropped my book as I rubbed my forehead. "Hey, watch where you're going, nitwit!"

Upon getting a better look at who exactly I bumped into, it was a slender girl with pink skin around my age. She had violet hair tied back in a bun, pointed ears, and had trio friends by her side. She also sported a school uniform that looked precisely like Luz's, right down to the yellow shirt and pants. But what stood out to me the most was that she had three blue-grey eyes; which opened and looked at me with annoyance as she asked, "Who're you calling a nitwit?"