"So your friend Gus is struggling a lot with if he even wants to do illusions?" Hunter asked the girl across from him as he opened the wrapper on another candy and offered it out to her. Willow smiled as she took the offered candy with a nod of thanks.

" He seems really conflicted, though I know he doesn't want to admit it. It didn't help how a while ago he had a bad run in with some Gladus students who kept calling illusion magic worthless." Willow sighed, plopping the candy into her mouth. She watched as Hunter leaned back on his hands in thought, humming as he mulled over what she had told him.

It had been about a month or so since the two of them finally met in the 'Grove of Towers and Flowers', the nickname they gave to the small field they tended to together. In that time they had hesitantly, but steadily became closer. Hunter honestly considered Willow his best friend behind Lil' Rascal, though he wasn't going to openly admit it. Little did he know Willow felt the same, though she doesn't rank her close friends on a list. Hunter was just as important to her as the rest of her friends.

But, one of the things Willow wouldn't go to her other friends about is advice like this. In the short amount of time she knew Hunter, she was able to learn that he was extremely smart and wise. He had to fight tooth, claw, and mind to earn his title and position as The Golden Guard, and he tried to keep his secrets close. She felt honored and a little proud, admittedly, that she was one of the few people he trusted so much as to let her in on who he was, both in and out of uniform.

And Hunter was more than willing to give her advice, help her on homework, and even go on tangents and info dumps on subjects. At first he would stop himself, but after he learned Willow wasn't going to stop him or find his interest weird or bad, he would go on for long times, and the girl would hang on his every word. He knew a lot of information on just about every type of magic, despite how he couldn't cast it himself.

" Well, I understand where your friend is coming from," Hunter stared, rubbing his chin as he thought his words out. " There are a lot of misconceptions that Illusion magic is only good for showmanship and that it doesn't really matter as a magic type. Some even argue that there shouldn't be a coven for Illusionists in the first place. However!" Hunter leaned forward on his knees, resting one of his hands on one, and with his other pointed at Willow. She learned this was his body language for when he was about to go off on one of his magic-lectures, and couldn't help but give a small smile.

" Illusionist and Construction go hand-in-hand, you know! An Illusionist can help with the planning of building, and even form the outline for a construction witch to use. It was believed in the savage ages that it was common practice that a witch would be- uuh..." Hunter froze, stopping himself before clearing his throat, and scratching at the scar on his cheek. He was about to dive into something he felt he wasn't allowed to talk about, but Willow was not about to push and instead motioned him to go on.

"Right- ahh… Like I was saying. That is only one of the ways Illusionists help our society. They can also help visualize a lot of different concepts, like machinery or how a battle pattern could work. But, of course, in my opinion they can be some of the most damaging in a fight." Hunter took up another candy, unwrapping it to plop it in his mouth. Willow quirked her brow at him curiously.

" Hu...Maybe I should tell Gus the leader of the Emperors Coven said that. That would give him a confident boost." Willow smirked at Hunter, who flicked his ears at her and stuck his tongue out at her. He maybe a leader, but he was definitely still a teen like her.

" Like he'd believe you, Flower-Cake." He used his nickname for her, making her blush lightly as she went to take another candy for herself. " But, at least do remind him how important illusionists are to The Boiling Isles. From what you told me, too, the fact he was able to take on those Gladus pricks with just his illusions should be proof enough."

" I do keep trying to remind him, but I am his friend and I can tell though he appreciates the words, he thinks I am saying it out of obligation over my honest opinion." Willow shrugged, giving a small sigh, " It is a bit frustrating, honestly. I feel bad feeling this way because he is my friend, and I want to make him feel better, but it's hard to keep trying when he doesn't seem to listen."

" He very well might just want to keep feeling like this for now." Hunter said, matter of factly, " I mean, he is still trying to figure everything out himself. I am sure a lot of people your age are."

" My age? You act like you are not just a few years older than me, Rocky." Willow smirked as she watched Hunter's ears flick around at hearing her nickname for him, his cheeks turning red as he cleared his throat.

" You know what I mean, though! Even the human is having the problem of struggling with her future…" Hunter muttered that last part. Luz was a bit of a touchy subject for him, he wasn't sure exactly how to handle her. Willow gave a soft smile and nodded, however.

" I know what you mean. I just like giving you a hard time." Willow reached up to boop Hunter's nose with her finger, making his cheeks even redder as he stared at her for a few moments. " And you know...my offer is still always on the table."

"Y-yeah I know." Hunter looked down at the dwindling candy pile, only a few more pieces left. " A-and I do appreciate it, but like I said before I can't help but doubt Luz would be too comfortable with me around. Amity and Gus, too, for that matter." Hunter picked out one of Willow's favorite candies, unwrapping it and offering it out to her like he did before.

" I am sure they will all understand and accept you once they get to know you better, Hunter. In the end, too, you are just doing what you think is best for your Uncle. I think you are a really sweet guy!" Willow smiled at him, kind and warm like always. Hunter only wished he could tell her that his Uncle and Belos were the same person, but didn't have the heart to drag her into something as...wild as the situation he had with his position. Instead, he opted to give her a hard time.

When Willow reached out to take the offered candy, he pulled it away from her, actually making her fall slightly forward after it. It was her turn to flick her ears and look up at him, the look on her face reading 'Oh you wanna go?''. Hunter rested his chin on his other hand, smirking at her. " Have I told you that you're the most wonderful witch?"

Willow snorted as the light pink appeared on her cheeks again, sitting back up as she hummed in thought, " I think you mentioned that a few times, yes." She offered back, taking one of his favorite candies in her hand and unwrapping it.

" Good. Just making sure you knew that-" Willow shoved the candy into his mouth, he gave her a bewildered look before realizing she had snatched the candy from his hand.

" Didn't see that coming, Golden Guard?" She teased, smiling at him before she ate her prize.

Titan this girl was going to be the death of him.