Bleep-bleep-bleep. Bleep-bleep-bleep. Bleep-bleep-bleep. Penelope Porter reached out from her bed and hit the dismiss button on her scroll's alarm. The fifteen-year-old sat up, stretched her arms with a drawn-out yawn, and hopped out of bed to start her day. She drank the glass of water by her nightstand, then took a nice hot shower. Afterward, she did up her curly black hair in the style she preferred and put on her Hexside uniform.

Fully dressed and putting her glasses on, Poppy opened her window and took in the warm sun and fresh air. "Good morning, Boiling Isles!" She exclaimed with a big smile.

"Good Mornin'!" A sea monster that happened to be nearby waved and greeted the teenager before sinking back into the boiling-hot sea.

Poppy noticed that one of the trees outside the house looked sick and decided she would fix that. She grabbed the bardic instrument on her nightstand, an oaken flute, and played a melody. About half a minute later, the tree's normal colors returned. Satisfied with her work, Poppy headed downstairs to the kitchen and dining room.

The first thing to greet Poppy's senses was the scent of fresh cinnamon bloatmeal, her favorite. Her dad, Augustus Porter, was already sitting at the table, reading the news on his scroll while eating his and having a morning cup of apple blood. "The bloatmeal is delicious, honey." He told his wife, Willow.

"I'm glad you like it, Augustus." She said, filling her bowl. "I tried some new ingredients today."

"I thought something about it tasted different." Augustus' face turned red, realizing how what he said may have sounded. "I… mean not that it's a bad thing… I just meant—"

"I understand." Willow laughed and sat at the table, which is when she noticed Poppy. "Good morning, sweetie."

Augustus looked up from his scroll. "Hey, kiddo."

"Good morning, mom. Good morning, dad." Their only daughter greeted them.

"You're up early, as usual."

"You know I like to go to Hexside early." Poppy sat at the table, bringing her bowl closer to her. "Hang out with my friends."

"Friends that you don't want to tell us about." Augustus raised an eyebrow, reminding her of not discussing her personal life with her parents.

Instead of a response, Poppy started eating the bloatmeal that was waiting for her. "Mm. So good."

With that answer, Augustus decided to drop the topic again. "I'm glad you like it," Willow said, putting a hand on her cheek. The hand where Poppy could see the brand of the Abomination Coven on her wrist. From what her dad tells her, Willow was put into the Abomination Track by her parents — Poppy's grandpas — even though her talent was in plant magic. She never spoke up about changing classes during her time at Hexside. She was now stuck in the Abomination Coven for life.

Because she was not given a choice to choose her studies, Willow and Augustus agreed to let Poppy be the one to determine her future. Putting her on the path to being happy at Hexside, her bard teacher's — Ms. Skara — favorite pupil, and the academy's number one student overall. "So, what's the agenda for today?" Poppy asked.

"Oh, the same old, I guess." Her father answered. "Your mother and I were gonna head to the market and pick up something different for dinner."

"Haven't figured out what it will be." Her mother added. "Though, I did find a recipe for something that involved infernal peppers if you're in the mood for something spicy."

"Sounds delicious." Poppy said.

"Then, I thought we would relax and watch one of those soaps we all ironically enjoy." Her father finished.

"That all sounds good to me." Poppy said, eating up what remained of her breakfast. "Well, gonna brush my teeth and head to school." Poppy helped her mother put the dishes into the sink before heading to the bathroom to get her teeth nice and clean. "Bye." She was on her way out the door.

"Poppy, aren't you forgetting something?" Willow shouted. Poppy stopped and turned, seeing her mother holding her daughter's backpack and her father with her flute.

"Oh, I can't believe I forgot!" Poppy ran back and grabbed her belongings. "Thank you."

"Have a wonderful day, sweetie." Willow and Augustus hugged their daughter, and she hugged them back.

"We love you," Augustus said.

"I love you both, too." Poppy said, breaking the hug then running out of the house once more.

Poppy walked down the road she was most familiar with, a small forest that would get her to Hexside quicker. Not that she was late or anything, she just preferred getting there early enough to hang with the people she likes before classes start. As she walked, she heard rustling from above and noticed leaves falling from the trees. Autumn was many months off, so they could not have been falling naturally. "I know you're up there, Leon!"

The trees stopped rustling, and Leon dropped down in front of Poppy. He presented himself how he usually did when attending school. He wore the standard violet attire of the Oracle Track. His dusky pink hair was styled into spikes, keeping it from covering up the third eye on his forehead. "Was I that noticeable?" He asked in his standard, deadpanned tone.

Poppy put her hands to her hips and smirked. "You know, you can walk to school like a regular person."

He then turned away from Poppy, revealing Leon's four-year-old sister, Hannah. She was in a pouch strapped next to his backpack. "Poppy! Poppy!" She excitedly giggled.

"Hi, Hannah." Poppy waved at the little girl.

"She enjoys the view from above," Leon said. "Plus, I would rather not have any attention drawn to me. Or to her."

"Yes, because hopping through trees makes you completely inconspicuous." Poppy walked ahead of them. Leon was noticeably shorter than most Hexside students and has been mistaken for being in the younger classes on multiple occasions.

"I'm not gonna dignify that with a response," Leon said, following behind his friend while Hannah giggled.

Poppy held up a finger as she walked. "Wait, if you respond to a question by saying you're not gonna dignify it with a response; haven't you already dignified the question with a… Woah!" Poppy tripped on a branch and was about to hit the ground.

But she was stopped by just an inch. She turned her head to see Leon's Oracle Spirit, Dagen Sadow, clutching her backpack with its claws. The bipedal dragon-man spirit lifted her and put her back onto her feet before disappearing into its master's body. "You're lucky there wasn't a sinkhole or some flesh-eating plant in waiting, there." Hannah clapped and giggled. While most children her age would be scared away by something like Dagen, Hannah always enjoyed it when the spirit appeared.

"Oh, thanks for the save." Poppy blushed, rubbing the back of her head. "Really gotta pay attention to where I go." She tends to get wrapped up in whatever she's doing or thinking that she blocks out everything else around her.

"No need. We are friends, after all." Leon continued walking ahead. "Even if your parents are unaware."

"You know, you can drop by my house any time." Poppy picked up the pace until she was beside her shorter friend. "My parents would like you. And they would absolutely adore Hannah." The little girl giggled.

"Thanks, but I don't need any more people judging us."

"C'mon. Look, I know your mom was a total—" She paused. She wanted to use a particular word but felt uncomfortable wanting to say it, especially with a toddler in earshot. "A total bully to my parents. But you're nothing like her. If you were, we wouldn't be friends, would we?"

"My answer is still the same." Leon looked ahead. "Oh, we're here."

Poppy then noticed that she and Leon had just arrived at Hexside with students gathered around the courtyard. "Guess time does fly when having a chat," Poppy said with a bubbly smile.

"Edalyn, stop!" Poppy and Leon heard the voice of Lilith Clawthorne shout. The two of them saw her and Eda Clawthorne in their yellow Potion Track uniforms exit from another part of the woods. The two friends were surprised to see them here so early. Well, they were surprised to see Eda, to be exact. Usually, she takes the long way to school through Bonesborough instead of the shorter path through the woods as she did just now. Lilith ran ahead and stopped right in front of her little sister. "What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing, I'm just sick and tired of her getting on my case!" Eda snapped, walking around and ahead of her.

"Edalyn, you know that mother is only preparing you for the tryouts. For when we both join the Emperor's Coven."

Eda kept walking away. "Well, I don't need her help."

Lilith tried keeping pace with her. "Running from your problems isn't going to fix anything."

"Well, I can't exactly set her on fire, Lily. Now, can I? So, what else am I supposed to do?"

"Could you stop acting like a child for once in your life? Just listen to someone who knows better!"

Eda turned around to face her, stopping Lilith in her tracks. "Just because you're my sister doesn't mean you know what's best for me." Eda walked further from her older sister as fast as she could, just as she was letting out an exhaustive sigh.

"Seems like the Owl Brat woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," Leon commented, folding his arms.

"Nah, she's just grouchy with her mom." A squeaky voice said, making Leon and Poppy jump. Only to see it was a little demon with dark grey fur and a horned skull.

"Aww." Poppy instantly found the little creature to be the most adorable thing she has ever seen, squatting down to his level. "Where did you come from, you little cutie-pie?"

"Puppy! Puppy!" Hannah shouted, giggling some more.

"How dare you! How dare you insult my presence!" The creature shouted, pointing at the teenager and toddler with wounded pride. "Kneel before me! For I am the King of Demons!"

"Hmph, yeah, right." Leon snarked.

"Don't mock me!" The King of Demons jumped up and down in frustration.

"Aww." Poppy fawned over him again.

"That is the incorrect reaction!"

"How are you familiar with the Owl Brat and her sister?" Leon asked.

"Because I live with them!" The self-proclaimed King of Demons shouted. "They are my staunchest of protectors!"

"So, you're like their pet?" Poppy guessed.

"No, I am not their pet. I am their master. Their master who demands to be fed, played with, and get belly rubs. A master who—"

"Sounds like a pet to me," Leon interjected.

"I am not a pet!"

"Whatever you say." Leon looked at Poppy. "If you'll excuse me, I have to make sure Hannah gets to her class. Titan knows why they put the baby classes on the other side of the building." Leon grumbled as he walked away. "I'll see you later."

"Later, then." Poppy said.

"Bye, Poppy! Bye, puppy!" Hannah waved to the witchling and the little demon as she left with her brother.

"Foolish children. One day, you shall face my wrath." The King of Demons warned Leon Hannah, rubbing his paws as he plotted.

"Um, I know this is none of my business." Poppy began. "But if you live with Eda and Lilith, could you explain their little argument we overheard?"

"Oh, it's exactly as I said. She's just grumpy with her mom's training. Some stuff about the Emperor's Coven. Typical teenage stuff."

"So, you came all the way here to talk to her?"

"If I get around to it. Eda likes to work through her issues herself. I'm just here to get my hands on some goodies." A student walked by with a half-eaten doughnut and tossed it into a nearby trash can. "Like that!" The King of Demons ran and climbed into it. He rummaged around and threw some of the contents out before he popped up with the doughnut in his mouth.

"Okay." Poppy said slowly. "Well, have fun doing… that. Bye, little guy." The witchling walked away, heading towards the building.

"Bye, person I don't know! Have fun at school!"

Unbeknownst to the King of Demons, another student was standing next to him. "Thanks, I really needed that." The student said, leaving with a much brighter attitude.

"Whatever." The King of Demons resumed his dumpster diving for more treats.


I hope you enjoyed my introduction of Poppy and Leon. Please favorite, follow and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.