This was just something I decided to write to share a theory I came up with while going off on a tangent in my thoughts. Weird things happen when I do that. Anyway, I don't think this is how it'll actually play out, I just came up with a theory and threw in some extra bits as well for fun. Enjoy and tell me what you think.
Luz struggled against her bindings, trying desperately to break free from the plants currently holding her down, hands behind her back. Had she known this would have happened, she might have stored more glyph paper, or at least a marker in her sleeve. Making a mental note that storing writing utensils in her pockets would be a good idea, she scowled at her captor, only now listening to his monologue.
"...and now with the Day of Unity at hand, wild magic will forever be put to an end," Belos announced, facing away from her.
"I don't get it," Luz replied, ceasing her struggle against the vines. "What's your problem with wild magic? It's not hurting anyone," Belos continued facing away from her but judging by the slight change in his stance, Luz guessed he was thinking about her words. "Eda always tells me that the covens are a way for you to control witches, that you never once cared about her beyond the fact that she hadn't joined a coven. I guess that's all you've ever cared about."
"Human," Belos said, sounding slightly melancholic. "It is to my understanding that you've met and faced Grometheus, correct?" Luz nodded, even though Belos still faced away. Regardless, he continued on. "Have any of your classmates or teachers ever told you how Grometheus was sealed under the school?" Luz thought back to when Amity had told her about Grom, realizing the only things she'd known about it was that it was a monster that lived under the school, trying to escape every year.
"No," Luz answered, finally. It felt weird that she'd never bothered asking anyone about how Grom came to be. She had assumed that he was born from the island, as many demons were. Judging by how Belos had brought this up, it probably had something to do with wild magic.
"Allow me to enlighten you on its history," Belos said, creating an illusion of two young witches, only shown in silhouette. "I once had a friend named Grogelius, a gifted witch with both abomination and illusion magic." The illusion showed him creating abominations and sparkles in the air. "He often boasted that he could make an abomination the size of the titan, if he pleased." Belos let himself chuckle. The closest Luz had ever seen to true emotion that Belos had shown. "The only way I could convince him not to try was telling him he'd be forced to clean up the mess after the abomination would lose form." The illusion changed to seeing what looked like a griffin standing next to the two witches. "As time went on, Grogelius became stronger, but it wasn't enough for him." The griffin suddenly had grown twice its size, with a longer beak and wings stretching much farther back. "He had heard that certain beastkeeping magic could enhance the natural strengths of any beast and felt drawn to such spells." Grogelius had now been standing next to a crystal ball. "He had learned oracle magic, hoping that it would help strengthen his mind once he'd heard many beastkeepers tended to grow feral using this magic." The illusion changed, showing Belos standing next to Grogelius next to a tree with a dog next to them. "I had pleaded with him not to attempt such a dangerous mix of spells, that he couldn't possibly know what the effects would be." Suddenly, the image of Grogelius changed into an abomination. "But he was undeterred. He needed to see what sort of power he would possess." The image showed the dog, jumping into the abomination as it transformed once again. "However, neither of us expected his beloved pet, Prometheus, to leap into the mix. The added addition of the beast's mind connected to Grogelius' oracle magic, melding their minds in the midst of his activated enhancement spell." The abomination had suddenly twisted, contorting itself into many forms until it resembled what Luz thought of as Grom's natural form. "As a result, my friend was gone. With his power, I had barely managed to seal him away in the grounds of the school we had attended. It had become destroyed in the battle, and the headmaster of hexside took the opportunity to rebuild a new school on top, acting as a second defense against a weakened Grometheus," The illusion had disappeared, leaving Luz, for the first time, feeling sympathetic for the emperor. Until she had realized something.
"You buried your friend," she narrated, feeling her hands clenched so much that she had drawn blood. "Over so many years, you've let students battle Grom in your place for years instead of trying to help him."
"Grogelius is beyond my assistance!" the emperor bellowed. "Even if I discovered a way to treat his condition, he would attempt that spell again. It is beyond my power to save him from himself." Belos sighed, looking away from Luz again. "He was not the first casualty of wild magic. And he was not the last. I must save the future before I can salvage the past. Then, perhaps, I might be able to save him."
"Bologna!" Luz yelled, getting the emperor's attention. "I didn't know Grogelius the way you did, but I doubt he would think you way of saving him would be good. You're taking away his freedom. If you did that, you might as well leave him as a monster. If you won't save him, I will!" Without warning to Belos, the vines trapping Luz had burst into flames, freeing her hands to attempt two more spells: an ice spell from one hand, and her newly-discovered lightning glyph from the other, sending both toward the emperor and catching him off guard. He'd stumbled back on impact, his mask breaking under the might of two spells, and tried to figure out the source of the magic when he'd seen her hand. It was bleeding. And she'd drawn her glyphs with that blood. "Even if you're against me, I'll help your friend. I'll free him from his curse and anyone else who needs it. Demon realm, human realm, I'll protect both!" Suddenly, her carved palisman burst forward at blinding speeds, straight to Luz's hand, surprising them both. Luz looked down at the little wooden animal that she had created, the little figure that hadn't moved an inch since she'd finished it, was suddenly in her hand.
Her palisman had chosen her. And she'd chosen for herself.
Well, that's my headcanon that Grom is actually a witch that experimented with his magic. You may have noticed I cut out any detail regarding Luz's palisman. There's a simple reason for that. I don't know what it could be. I like the one Moringmark created for his short comic, but I've seen a lot of speculation that it could be a snake and it could also be an otter. I don't think it'll be either one. It's just a gut feeling but I don't think her palisman will be either one. What do you think? Please leave reviews.