Angel: Surprise! I decided to upload a day earlier because I know people were looking forward to this chapter because Hunter's in it. And also because today I'm officially moving, hopefully you'll see me on Monday because WiFi where I'm going is not set up yet. But I honestly wouldn't mind the delay, I kind of don't want to upload Yesterday's Lie because that would mean afterwards that I'll just have to be on hiatus.
I'm not entirely sure what direction the show is gonna go in after it returns in terms of character development with Edric or Hunter right now, so right now I'm just going off of their arcs with Lucila. So I can't say for sure what major changes will happen with all three. Though I can understand why I get those type of messages or suggestionsto have certain plot lines that aren't already happening.
In the Emperor's castle, someone walked past a blueprint of a portal key, Belos' mask, and...a book that had ingredients for a Grimwalker, and with a picture of eyes similar to Hunter's. A tube was inserted into a door lock, and he waved a hand. The Abomaton spun a wheel and a green substance came out of the tubes, going all the way to the door...which was the portal to the human world. A pieced-together key was put into the lock, but it completely disintegrated, shutting everything down. Hunter was watching nearby, without his mask. Li'l Rascal landed on his shoulder, chirping quietly.
"Shoo," He waved it away, but the palisman simply went to his other shoulder.
"Would you like to see how it works, Hunter?" Emperor Belos spoke up, the boy gasping. Li'l Rascal turned into plain wood and he hid it in his cloak.
"I didn't mean to hide...Emperor Belos," Hunter walked up to his uncle, who had a green scar over his face and long ash-blond hair.
"We found every piece of the door, but without the power of the real key, it refuses to open," Belos stated in irritation.
"Is it true that rain doesn't boil in the human realm?" Hunter wondered, though he made a note to ask Lucila the same thing the next time he saw her.
"It is," The man smiled a bit. "You know, I've been there before. Did I ever tell you that?" The boy simply shook his head no. "The trees there are green. Nights are quiet. I look forward to seeing it again. Were you spying on me just to hear these boring stories?" He stepped down the staircase, hands behind his back.
Hunter glanced away briefly. "The operation at the Knee, why did you switch me out with Kikimora?" He had just found out that Kikimora was assigned to lead a search down at the Knee, and he was told by a captain that he was switched out.
"Everyone has a use, Hunter," Belos placed a hand on his shoulder. The two started walking. "Kikimora has her intricate little plans. The scouts carry out orders. And you...well...the Titan has big plans for you, and it will be such a hassle to find a replacement." Hunter's eyes widened as he realized that this might have to do with the palismen mission, and that Belos didn't have any purpose for him besides staying away. "So, right now, you can be useful by staying safe in the castle."
"If this is punishment for failing my last mission, I swear I can do better!" He promised his uncle.
"Goodnight, Hunter," Belos just smiled a bit and closed the door. Hunter glanced back at the door, unsatisfied with his new role and ran off. He remembered what Lucila said...about how that wasn't how it worked, that people didn't have to live up to expectations just to feel as if they had purpose. But she just didn't understand that his relationship with his uncle was what drove him to wild magic in the first place...
Amity walked down the hall in the Owl House's second floor, going through a clipboard. "Hooty, what's your status?" She looked out a window, which Hooty broke into to talk to her.
"The perimeter's secure! Nothing's getting past me."
"Good," She walked past the glass. "Clean up that mess."
"Ma'am!" He swept it away with his body.
"Willow," She walked up to the girl as she was carrying a bag, Clover flying over. "Have you gathered the supplies?"
"Yes!" She saluted to her friend. "We're ready to attack this on all fronts."
A white cat palisman walked up to them, holding something in her mouth. "Excellent. Aw, Ghost," Amity smiled at her palisman, who put down a dead bug. "Did you help too?" Amity scratched her chin. "Who's a good palisman? Great, now all we need is-"
"Rain?" Gus asked as he arrived with King and Lucila, both of them with their palismen on their shoulders. King and Gus were holding CDs and a speaker while the girl had a pot of soup in her hands, but it didn't look that appetizing. "Beach waves?"
"Something called lo-fi beats to study and relax to?" King asked in confusion. "We've got it all."
"Eda was rummaging through her basement and gave us some soothing human noises."
"I might need to check this out. But I've got the soup, and...I followed this recipe like Eda said, but..." Lucila stuck out her tongue at the eyeballs floating around. "Did I really have to add the eyeballs or firebee honey?"
"That's great, Gus. And Luz can't eat that! Remake that soup." Amity ordered her and she gave a small glare, walking off to dump it. She just wanted to make chicken noodle soup like she previously wanted, but nooo, she had to 'follow the recipe'... "Wait. Eda's still here?" Amity walked into the living room. "Eda, you're supposed to be helping Hooty build our defenses. Huh?"
Eda clenched her fists, sweating before she let out a scream for some reason. She screamed again, wiping the sweat with the back of her hand. Lucila ran into the living room.
"What was that? Why were you screaming, I thought it was the curse!" Lucila stated in alarm.
"Ah, don't mind me. I'm just learning how to turn into Harpy Eda on command. According to these human workouts, you just gotta scream a lot until you force your inner beast out." She struck a pose, and the two just looked on, a bit uncomfortable. Amity picked up the Dragonclaw Z box, Lucila looking over her shoulder.
"Dragonclaw Z? Uhh, that's not for a workout, it's just an anime about some guy fighting against an alien with a chestnut for a head," Lucila raised a brow.
"And this looks ancient."
"What?" Eda took it from her. "No. It's only...30 years old? I remember seeing this in theaters."
Lucila just facepalmed at the woman. "Yes, you're old. Who cares?" Amity dismissed it. "We have a crisis on our hands!"
"Chill, bossy boots," Eda lightly pushed her away with the box. "Everything's fine."
Amity opened a door, gesturing inside. "Does this seem fine to you?"
Luz was lying on the ground in her room, in her pajamas as she looked tired and there was a towel over her head. Her nose was a deep red. An abomination was standing nearby with tissues ready. She had socks on her hands as well... "Whoa. It's like I have snakes for arms."
"Please," Eda shrugged it off, Amity frowning in concern. "She just has the common mold. It's harmless."
"But she and Luci are both humans. We have no idea how it'll affect her or if it's contagious," Amity argued back in worry.
"Back at home, I'd always have to be the one who took care of her. Mom tried, but sometimes she couldn't get out of work. I don't know if it's because I've been around her so long while she's sick, but I don't get actually get sick anymore, so I'm fine," Lucila smirked, hands on her hips.
"Is she always like this in your realm when she's sick?" Amity looked up at her.
"Not always. The most she's done while sick was trying to reach a cookie jar with a chair and oranges..." She glanced away, shaking her head. "After that, now I just wrap her up in a cocoon so that she doesn't get out. Don't ask what she does for a bathroom."
"If I ate the portal key, would I return to the human realm?" Luz held up the key they still had. "Ahh..." She opened up her mouth to swallow it, the abomination taking it away. It walked up to the door, Luz being too sick to fight back. Amity put the key around her neck.
"I am not giving this back until you're better, okay?"
Luz groaned at her, looking towards her sister. "Sorry, Luz, but I gotta go with Amity on this one," She shrugged, jerking a thumb to the girl. The younger Noceda pouted and whined before taking out a game device. She typed on it and then something beeped from Amity. For communication since Luz didn't have a crow phone to text with, the next best thing were these little devices in the shape of animals. Amity read a message, but just saw a bunch of photos, and it didn't make sense to her. It said 'you are pretty,' but she was reading it horizontally.
She lowered her device, Luz smiling at her. "Oh, uh...you got it!" Amity smiled nervously, Luz just looking confused as she watched her girlfriend close the door. She was suddenly met with the others.
"Gotta admit, Amity, seeing you around more often is...different," Willow confessed with a small smile.
"I know. But I was taught to see every situation as an opportunity. And today, I'll show Luz that I am an awesome girlfriend," She looked away with a smile.
"Feels like just a few months ago, you almost got her dissected by your crazy principal," King said fondly.
"That was a few months ago," Gus corrected, Willow giving a small smile.
Luz let out a scream from her room, Lucila, Eda, and Amity pushing the door open. "Luz!" They all exclaimed in unison. She was pointing to the echo mouse, which was giving her another piece of information.
"M-Mouse. Uh. Philip diary entry!" She looked towards the projection being shown on the curtain.
"After five years, I have finally found it," The other three stepped inside. "A power source so potent it can pierce through realms. Titan's Blood. There are old tales of lakes reflecting green trees and blue skies. The Titan's veins run through the land. And many believe that these wild portals are created when a little of its blood leaks into the water. That is how I came here. So that is the first place I shall look. I will journey back to...Eclipse Lake." A map was then shown, Luz quickly dropping it. Then the projection ended and she sat up with wide eyes.
"I have to go to Eclipse Lake!" She panted and jumped for the door, everyone except Lucila and Eda ducking. The two caught her by legs and arms. Luz struggled as Willow stood up.
"Luz, no. You are not well," Willow pushed her back inside.
"She is shockingly strong!" Gus commented as they fought her off. They managed to tie her up in her sleeping bag, just like Lucila did, and placed her on the floor. She pouted up at them.
"Alright, Luz," Eda loomed over her, along with Lucila. "Lucila, King, and I will get your Titan Blood if you just. Calm. Down."
King jumped onto her shoulder, pumping a fist. "Yes! Perfect chance to take our new powers for a test drive." Eda smiled at him.
"You guys are the best," She closed her eyes happily. "Did I ever tell you how much I love you, Luci?"
"Aww, I love you too, hermana," The girl smiled in response before narrowing her eyes playfully. "Though no, you still can't come."
"Dang it," Luz frowned, handing Eda the map as Lucila gave a small smirk. Eda carefully held it since...Luz touched it, and walked off with King and Lucila.
"I volunteer as well," Amity raised a hand, following after them and holding up a finger. "As Luz's girlfriend, I must-"
"I get it, boots," Eda interrupted in slight annoyance. "Just grab a coat. Willow, Goops, watch over Luz. She thinks she has snakes for arms."
"Whoa..." Luz looked between her hands, hissing. Gus gave a slightly frightened look. Lucila pulled Amity into the hallway for a chat.
"Amity, as Luz's older sister-"
"Oh! That reminds me, what's your favorite food...that I am asking for no other reason?" Amity smiled as she held up a paper, so that she could get Lucila's approval for them to date.
"That's easy, it's baked ziti, look it up—this better not be an attempt to impress me," She gave the girl a warning look, and Amity hid the paper behind her back, smiling sheepishly. "Anyway, don't you think you're trying too hard?" Lucila asked in concern. "You don't really need to prove anything to Luz, you know. She likes you just the way you are."
"Really?" Amity wondered, shaking it off. "I-I know, but I have to prove myself, you know? And I wanna help her."
"I've seen Luz gone through worse and survive it, but I know my sister," Lucila crossed her arms with a small smile. "You two look really happy together, and I'm sure that Luz appreciates everything you do, Amity," She patted the girl on the shoulder and walked off to get her coat. Amity frowned a little, as she needed to hear Luz's praise...
At the Knee, Kikimora was ordering around the scouts and Abomatons, while standing on one. "Dig faster, scouts!" She yelled at them.
"Kikimora, these tunnels are unstable," The Scout Captain advised her. "Maybe we should slow down."
"Ugh! Not now, Captain," Kikimora disregarded the warning. "This could be my last chance to show Belos what I can do. And I just know that brat Golden Guard will try to spoil it, along with his little human girlfriend! Hey, Steve!" The Abomaton walked away as she pointed. "Jump over that chasm before I throw you in it!"
The captain sighed, shaking her head. "She's getting so paranoid..."
A Scout peeked from behind a tree, who lifted up his mask to reveal that it was Hunter. Li'l Rascal was resting on a root nearby, and it caused the boy to yelp in alarm. "Why do you keep following me?"
The palisman chirped, but Hunter disregarded it. "I don't speak palisman. Here's the plan. I slip in with this disguise. I find the Titan Blood before Kiki, I give it to Belos. Boom! I'm useful again."
He ducked his head as the tree was destroyed by the Automaton, since they heard him. "Ma'am, is everything alright?" The captain asked, Kikimora giving a suspicious look at the tree.
"I just thought I heard an annoying voice..." She narrowed her eye.
"Ah, another way in," Hunter ran off. "We'll go find another way in." If he tried to sneak in again, Kikimora would blast him to pieces. Li'l Rascal chirped, flying off and landing on a branch. Hunter looked up at him, the palisman flying closer. He got a better look and gasped, seeing Eda, Lucila, Amity, and King. All three women were holding their staffs, Amity leading the way with a map. "The Owl Lady and her dog. And..." He then saw Amity. "Is that the youngest Blight?"
He then saw Lucila walking next to Eda's left.
"Luci!" Hunter perked up happily upon seeing her. He then cleared his throat, looking away awkwardly. "No, no, I'd get captured if they see me." L'il Rascal glanced between him and Lucila, seeing that she had her staff with her. He chirped eagerly; he wanted to help Hunter see Lucila, hoping that eventually they'd be on better terms. Not to mention that he could tell that the boy really wanted to see the girl.
And because the palisman wanted to see Melody.
"This place is crawling with tools," King said in disdain as he saw the Emperor's troops in the distance. "What gives?"
"Titan Blood is the most powerful source of magic on the Isles," Eda explained to him. "I'm not surprised Belos wants it too."
"Well, we can't afford to mess this up," Amity glanced back at them. "Luz is counting on me." The three gave her a blank look and she could tell without even looking. "I mean...us."
"All right," Hunter rubbed his chin. "New plan. They can lead us to-" Li'l Rascal grabbed his hood, pulling him forward so that they could meet the others. "Hey! Hey!" He screamed and fell down in front of them, his mask falling over his face. The four flinched in surprise upon seeing him.
"A coven scout!" Amity gasped as they prepared to defend themselves.
"Uh, yes," Lucila raised a brow at the familiar voice. "I am but a humble scout, and I surrender."
"Well, that was easy," King remarked happily.
"...Not so fast, King," Eda stated as she now knew who he was. "Don't you recognize that annoying voice?"
"...Why does everyone say that?" Hunter questioned, hurt by that. He stared at the four looking at him and then ran off in the other direction.
"Don't let him get away!" Eda shouted and Amity spun a finger. A pouch attached to her hip released abomination goo, and it came around Hunter, tying him up. He rolled to a stop, his mask falling off to reveal his face. They looked down at him and he opened his eyes, Lucila gasping at him.
"Hunter?!" She exclaimed in disbelief.
"Luci! Heeey…" He smiled awkwardly.
"This is none other than Belos' right-hand man," Eda stated knowingly, Amity spinning her finger still. She then gasped as she dropped her hand, having heard the story about what happened in Latissa.
"The Golden Guard? ...He is a lot...scrawnier than I imagined."
Eda smirked as King laughed, Lucila snickering at him. Hunter groaned a bit, blushing in embarrassment as he glanced up at the girl.
"Did you tell him to come here?" Eda pointed at Lucila, who groaned in response.
"Ugh," She pinched her nose in annoyance that she was getting blamed for this. "No, Eda, I didn't. Trust me, I had no idea he was even here..."
"You're the one with the whole love thing with him from the past, Lucila. What do you want us to do with him?" She gestured to the boy.
"What?!" Both of them exclaimed, turning to each other. Then they both blushed, the girl turning back to Eda.
"Love thing?!" Lucila waved her hands rapidly. "Oh no, no, no, no, no, no! There's no love thing back then, there was never a love thing. It didn't exist."
"Or did it?" Eda raised a brow playfully.
"Luz put you up to this, didn't she? She won't stop insisting I need a boyfriend," She gave the Owl Lady a blank look.
"Look, we have no time for this. What do we do?" Amity cut in urgently.
"If we toss him, he'll just come back and get the blood for Belos. We're taking him with us. To keep an eye on him," Lucila crossed her arms.
"Well, as long as we can talk about wild magic."
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? Not gonna happen, Golden Guard." She was trying to hide the fact that she was hurt by him being here for Titan Blood too. It felt like he had entirely forgotten that she was hoping to trust him again after the whole raid incident and after helping her and Luz with the palismen.
"Oh. That hurts. And that comes from me," Amity winced a bit as he looked away, frowning a bit. He didn't want to upset her, but he had to prove himself to his uncle.
Inside the mine, Eda burst through a wall, flipping and landing on the ground. "Did I do it? Did I go into harpy mode?"
"No," King came in behind her with a deadpan look. "You just screamed hoot and ran headfirst into a wall of ice." She gave him an annoyed look as he walked past. "Pretty funny, actually."
Lucila walked in front of Hunter, who was being escorted by Amity. "You can put down your staff," He told the girl as he glanced behind him. "I won't run."
"Too bad," He looked away with a raised brow. "Because I don't trust you."
They came to a stop as they saw some mining equipment. "Huh, this stuff is old," Eda commented at one drill in front of them.
"Ancient witches used to mine the veins for Titan Blood-"
"They're not paying attention," Amity interrupted him. They looked up ahead, watching King control the drill. Eda was standing in the drill's path, Lucila placing a hand on her forehead.
"Go on, fire it," She urged him. "Maybe the adrenaline will kick in, and bam, Harpy Eda."
"Sounds perfectly safe!" King replied cheerfully, powering it up.
"Wait, don't-" Hunter's warning went ignored as the drill fired and hit the wall, bouncing around the area. It hit a spike right above Lucila's head, who gasped. As it headed for Amity, she used her abomination magic to contain it in a ball of goop, and it canceled itself out. "Look out!" Hunter pushed Lucila out of the way, both of them landing to the side. The boy landed above her and she landed on her back. Once she snapped out of it, she looked up at him with wide eyes, blushing as he was really close to her face. He sighed in relief, and then he turned to her, blushing as well.
She then pushed him away gently with an embarrassed look, turning away as he sat up. "Thanks for the save..."
"N-No problem, Luci," He murmured quietly, standing up and glaring at Eda and King. "This isn't a normal cave. These walls are made from the veins of the Titan. Any magic you shoot will bounce right back at you!"
"Oh, you must be fun at parties. I don't know what you see in him, Luci."
Lucila blushed deep red both in embarrassment and anger. She clenched her fists as she turned to glare at the woman slightly. "Eda!"
"See in me?" Hunter asked a little hopefully and she whipped around to him, blushing again.
"S-Stop looking at me like that!" She cleared her throat awkwardly. "And since when did you care?"
"I don't!" He glanced at the others, not wanting to let it slip that he still had feelings for her. And she herself wasn't ready to confront her own feelings, since she still needed to think about it.
"Great. Let's get out of here as soon as possible then." She just wanted to get this over with. It wasn't that she wasn't happy to see him, but him being here wasn't helping matters.
"Hey, King. How about you use your new powers to echolocate the lake?" Eda suggested to him.
He chuckled and jumped down from the drill. "Okay." He stood in front of the doorway, taking a deep breath and then releasing a sonic wave. However, nothing happened and he stood there before shrugging at them.
"Eda...echolocation is for solids, not liquids," Lucila sighed at this.
"Oh..." She murmured in realization.
"Those two are definitely gonna get us caught," Hunter deadpanned at them.
"Us?" Amity flinched in alarm. "There is no us. Now keep walking." He shrugged and continued on, Amity narrowing her eyes at him. Li'l Rascal flew after them, chirping as he flew next to Melody. She chirped eagerly upon seeing him and they flew together.
At the Owl House, Willow was remaking soup for Luz while Gus and Hooty were at the kitchen table. "Hooty, we're not gonna make Luz listen to 24 hours of whale noises," Gus took the CD from him. "What even is a whale? It looks terrifying!"
"Well, I've never heard of underground Korean hip-hop before," He looked at the CD in front of him.
"It's human music, and it's soothing," He danced and Hooty started imitating a whale, wiggling back and forth.
"Will you guys please be quiet?" She snapped at them in annoyance and they clamped their mouths shut, a little frightened. "What if we played them at the same time?" She asked with a playful smirk, the two turning to each other with wide-open mouths.
"Oooooh!"
Further in the mines, the five marched on and they walked down a track.
Amity brought Hunter further to ask a question. "So…what exactly happened with those two? They knew each other for a while, right?" She glanced at Lucila, who was looking up at Melody and Li'l Rascal interact.
"He and Luci have…history," Eda glanced away knowingly.
"Complicated history," King added in. "He hurt our Luci and we still haven't forgotten it, you jerk!"
"I'm right here," Lucila called out in annoyance while Hunter just gave a blank look.
"Not that it's any of your business, but Kikimora has it out for both of us. She framed me when she gave Lilith a different path to your owl residence. Luci just wants to not acknowledge it." He replied, him and Amity stepping back.
"I don't blame you for that anymore, but maybe you being here doesn't exactly put you in my good graces," She suggested in an almost snarky way. He looked away silently because…she had a point. "What are you really doing anyway?" She turned to face him, exasperated. "You're in the Emperor's Coven, and yet you're stealing palismen and protecting me and my sister after the fact. Then you said you wanted me specifically before I told you to wait for me. And now you're here for Titan blood, which we need more than you do. What do you really want?"
He looked back at her with a sigh. He saw her frowning because she felt like he kept messing with her head. Just when she kept thinking that maybe she could trust him, he turned around and did stuff like this. And then when she thought she couldn't trust him, he wanted to do nice things for her, she had no idea what he was doing.
"Look, Lucila...I know I'm...complicated. I just...Belos raised me. I don't want to let him down. And I bet you feel the same way towards your sister."
She blinked at him in disbelief, frowning deeply. It reminded her of when she hid the fact that she hadn't protected Luz enough, and that fear came back to haunt her, badly.
"...Let's just find this stupid Titan's blood and get out of here," She walked on and he looked a bit confused, not knowing that he unknowingly struck a nerve in her.
"I know what you're doing and it won't work. You think you can charm Luci, but then you go right back around and hurt her," Amity stated as they continued.
"Trust me, you wouldn't get it," He looked away briefly.
"I don't, but I know desperate when I see it. I'm not letting you crush her feelings this time," She pointed at him in a warning way. Lucila was her friend, and she didn't want to see the girl have to go through this.
"It's none of your business, Blight."
"As Luz's girlfriend, it is by default," Amity corrected him, holding up a finger.
"You know, Luz told me about a trip to Latissa where she and Lucila met someone very interesting," Eda spoke up, getting their attention. "A beat-up blond with no magical powers. She called him, and these are her words, 'a bad but sad boy', She glanced at Hunter in amusement, the two chuckling. Hunter's face and the tip of his ears turned pink in embarrassment. His face and ears turned an even deeper red as he heard Lucila snickering at him, hiding her mouth with her hand.
"If I ever see that human again-"
"Watch it," Amity warned him.
"He might as well be Luci's bad but sad boy," King teased and the girl froze on the spot. Her hair tensed up as her face turned red.
"No he's not/No I'm not!" Lucila and Hunter said in unison. They glanced to each other and the girl looked away, still blushing as she crossed her arms.
"Well, at least I'm not delusional enough to think I can turn into a harpy," Hunter remarked back.
Eda turned around and hissed in response. "Hey. Come on. Give it a rest, you two," King attempted to keep the peace.
"Yeah, listen to your rat."
King squealed angrily, jumping forward and grabbing onto his hair. Lucila just placed a hand on her forehead, shaking her head. Amity stepped forward as she saw something up ahead.
"Shh," She shushed everyone, and they peeked behind a rock to see Kikimora and her troops arriving. The Captain came to a stop, holding up a hand.
"Why are we stopping?" Kikimora demanded, looking around and preparing herself. "Is it the Golden Guard?"
"No, ma'am. This is a dangerous area. We need to move carefully," The Captain informed her.
"Careful takes too long! My butt is on the line, and so help me, Titan, if you ruin this, I will throw you off the tallest peak of the Knee with a smile." Li'l Rascal and Melody landed near the group, Eda feeling a little bad as they stared.
"Oh, that poor girl is going through something."
Lucila growled a bit upon seeing Kikimora, clenching her staff a bit. The blond glanced at her, remembering what he told her in Latissa. She took a deep breath. Just like with Lilith, there would be a perfect time to express anger. "That wouldn't have to do with you fighting against her, would it?" Lucila raised a brow at Hunter.
"Eh, I never liked her, and she never liked me. Nothing much clearer than that," He shrugged at her.
"Pfft, and you scold me whenever you find me in trouble," She scoffed playfully.
"One day it was gonna be the other way around," He smirked a little.
"Enough with the flirting," Amity glared at Hunter, looking at the map. "They're blocking the path to Eclipse Lake."
"I can smell it. I can see it. I can see..." Kikimora ranted as the pathway leading to the lake was past her and the troops.
"We should create a distraction."
"We should create a distraction!" Eda yelled and they stared at her as she left with King. "You kids wait for my signal."
"What si—Eda!" Lucila whispered as she jumped, earning a sigh.
"Huh. That was easy," Hunter took a seat. "When they're caught, you two and I can take the Titan Blood for ourselves."
"Stop talking like we're a team," Amity glared at him, clenching a fist.
"We might as well be. The Owl Lady and her pet have nothing at stake, unlike us."
"Hunter, that's not the point," Lucila narrowed her eyes a little.
"Didn't seem to stop you from helping me..." He murmured to himself and she stood up in protest.
"You were being hunted by Kikimora! I wasn't exactly helping you necessarily, it was two birds in one stone."
"Was it really?" He looked up at her and she flinched in alarm, wondering what he meant by that. She then flushed as she realized what he was hinting at: that she did it for him. Which was not true...or was it?
"You have no idea what you're talkin-" Amity's device beeped, but she ignored it. "I was gonna say you have no-" It beeped again and Hunter stared at her, wondering if she was going to answer it. She groaned in defeat, turning away and taking out her game device. She opened up Luz's message, which she still didn't understand.
"Oof," Hunter looked over his shoulder. "That doesn't look good."
"Stay back!" She yelled at him and he shrugged, relenting. She glanced back at the device, wondering what he was talking about. "But what doesn't look good?"
"Seems clear to me. Come back with results or else...you can figure out the rest." Amity's eyes rested on the crying face specifically.
"I'd be very careful of what you're saying to me right now," Lucila pointed to him in warning.
"No. Luz wouldn't make that kind of threat," Amity glared at him in defense. "I'm an awesome girlfriend."
"Has she told you that?" Hunter argued back, earning a grunt.
"Seriously, what do you see in this guy?" Amity asked Lucila, who looked away in disbelief.
"Why does everyone ask me that?!" She whispered to herself, Hunter clearing his throat awkwardly.
"We have a lot in common, you two. We're all trying to show what we can bring to the table. And we can't fail...cause there's nothing worse than disappointing someone who thinks you're special," He looked away and Amity bit her lip. Lucila clenched a fist, fuming a little.
"You think you're so wise, huh?" She crossed her arms. "Well, let me tell you something, Hunter. I don't have that problem because I've already dealt with it, at Grom! That day I realized that I don't need to live up to anyone's expectations. My relationship with my sister is none of your business, so don't think you know everything about me," She huffed as she turned away with crossed arms, and he stared at her, baffled. He wasn't expecting that reaction because their past interactions would suggest that they had a lot in common...but he didn't know everything about her.
Maybe it was time he learned a little more...
"Sorry," He murmured to her and she calmed down. He could tell she cared a lot about Luz and didn't want to disappoint her... "But why don't you try to make sure that she doesn't...think of you as a burden?"
"I thought that way...once," She glanced away. "But she showed me that...neither of us have to be burdens to each other. I went through a lot of pressure to be responsible for her, and...she helped me see that it doesn't have to be like that 24/7. After all...people who want to prove themselves to someone they respect shouldn't have to work to earn it..."
Hunter blinked at her words. Amity stared at her as she looked back towards the troops, looking at the device. Could she be right?
Eda bent down to King. "Okay, watch this," She threw her hair in front of her, making it into a face. "I'll be the ghost of miners past and spook 'em out."
"You look like one of my hair balls. Let's just do the trench coat thing." Suddenly a magenta fireball flew between them and they ducked as it hit the walls. The troops looked around in alarm, an Abomaton making a shield to protect them.
The others ran off, Eda and King joining them and looking annoyed. "Why didn't you wait for our signal?" She demanded them.
"You didn't give us one!" Lucila argued back.
"We don't have time to play around," Amity disregarded the question. "We are getting that Titan Blood." She dropped her device as they ran through the tunnel.
Luz was playing with the echo mouse's ears. "Little mouse, Owl House, frilly blouse. Boop," She tapped it on the head and then its eyes glowed green. It gave off another protection and she turned around.
"My journey to Eclipse Lake has been a success...and yet, a tragic failure. The tunnels were filled with a substance known as Fool's Blood. It signifies a decaying rain. I was lucky to get out alive. My companions...were not."
She sweated as the entry ended there and she gasped. "Oh, no! I gotta warn them. G-Gotta call," She turned to the crystal ball, but her vision was getting blurry as she reached out. She accidentally knocked the crystal ball onto the ground and it broke. "Dang it."
Gus, Willow, and Hooty were still in the kitchen, wearing headphones over their ears. "These two are train whistles and a thunderstorm and soothing opera screaming..." He slowly pushed a button and the noises played, but unfortunately that meant they couldn't hear Luz.
"Hello? Gus? Hooty?"
Gus shed a tear as the other two nodded along with smiles.
"Guys!" Luz stepped forward, tripping onto the ground. Unfortunately, she couldn't reach her sister without Wi-Fi... "I gotta reach Amity." She gasped at the game device in front of her.
The Abomaton was still blocking the fireball, eventually catching it. "There's someone else in the tunnels. I bet it's him. Find him!"
The Captain ran off from Kikimora as the others followed her order. She picked up Amity's game device, narrowing her eyes and giving a look of thought.
Hunter was trailing behind the group, staring at the back of Lucila's head. He frowned to himself. It seemed like every time he saw her, he was disappointing her, but...it couldn't be helped...he knew that she wasn't pleased to see him here, because of the Titan's blood...but there wasn't anything he could think of to make her happy this time around.
Li'l Rascal flew over to Hunter, landing on his shoulder. "Hey," He tried to shrug him off as Melody landed on Lucila's head. "Find a different perch, bird."
"You're impossible," The 16-year-old girl rolled her eyes.
"If you really believe that, then why do we keep running into each other?"
"Don't," Lucila warned him, a bit annoyed. Amity and Eda gasped as they came across dark blue orbs everywhere.
"Is this...Titan's blood?" Eda asked slowly.
"But Eclipse Lake is farther ahead," Amity informed her, taking a quick glance at the map.
"Who cares? We did it," King jumped down from Eda's shoulder.
"Stop!" Hunter called out. "That's Fool's Blood. Don't touch it."
"Oh, so you can keep it all for yourself?" Eda scoffed at him. "Hard pass."
"Eda, Hunter's many things, but he's not a liar," Lucila crossed her arms. "...So far," She glanced away briefly. He looked at her in surprise that she was defending him.
"Oh, great, now you've got Luci in on it? Now I know you're bluffing," She raised her staff and cracked an orb apart, Eda chuckling. However, the floor started to crack, splitting between her and King. They both fell in the chasm that formed.
"No!" Amity shouted as they looked down.
"Eda! King!" Lucila yelled as they both got onto their staffs.
"Wait. Take me with you!" Hunter pleaded with them.
"Yoo-hoo!" They turned to the entrance as they heard Kikimora's voice. "Golden Guard!" They saw the shadows approaching, gasping.
"At least untie me so I can escape," He said quickly, and she debated whether or not to leave him here or to get captured. Kikimora DID seem to have it out for him, and she knew from Luz how dangerous she was. He could only run, and that could only get him so far. Lucila glanced back at the entrance and then at him, seeing the boy with a pleading look.
"Please. I don't wanna be replaced."
Their eyes widened, Lucila feeling a little bad for him.
"Ugh, fine," Amity relented, spinning a finger to set the boy free. He smiled in relief as the abomination goo went back to her pouch. "So, where will you go now?"
"Now..." He adjusted his arm, his eyes softening. "Don't take this personally, Luci." He swept his leg underneath Amity, knocking her onto the ground.
"Amity!" Lucila shouted, Hunter picking her up bridal style and then throwing her to hide behind some Fool's Blood. She growled as she looked up at him. "What are you-"
Li'l Rascal chirped as he flapped his wings in alarm. "I get to Eclipse Lake before anyone," Hunter ran to a mine cart and went down, waving as he looked back. "Byeeee!"
Li'l Rascal flew after him.
"That jerk!" Amity gritted her teeth, a fireball forming in her hand. But then Lucila noticed why Hunter threw her to hide as a spear was pointed at Amity's neck.
"Ooh. Would you look at this, Captain?" Kikimora wondered and Lucila gasped quietly, peeking over a pile of Fool's Blood. Amity was completely surrounded by the Emperor's Troops. "We found our little fire starter."
Amity was sitting between the captain and a scout, who was holding her staff. "So...the Golden Guard is also looking for Titan's Blood," Kikimora stated as they made Amity confess what happened. "And he took off to Eclipse Lake. Ha ha! I knew it. That little snake is always making me look bad," She rubbed her hands together, sounding...crazy. "Well, now I can get my revenge!"
The Captain cleared their throat. "Ma'am, what about the Titan Blood?"
"...Oh, yes. I'll get that too," She had almost forgotten about the Titan Blood. She clapped her hands, the Abomaton turning into a mine cart. She chuckled at the thought of getting revenge. "This is going to be a good day."
"What should we do with the girl?" The Captain stepped up.
"Oh, I don't...care." She then snapped her fingers and was about to take off when a fire glyph landed on her shoulder. She tapped it and rocketed off the cart. She screamed as she flew around, the others baffled as they stared. Kikimora finally landed on her face, looking up with a glare. "What is the meaning of this?!"
Lucila jumped out of hiding, spinning her staff in front of her. "You..." Kikimora growled out upon seeing her.
"Luci," Amity said in relief.
"This is all your fault!" Kikimora spun a spell finger, pointing it at Lucila. She yelped as she rolled to the side, standing up quickly.
"Me?!" She yelled at Kikimora, ducking from another blast. "You made me believe that Hunter was conspiring against me! He was innocent! He didn't do anything to you! And then you made me feel like it was my fault when all I had to was believe him! Why?!" She demanded angrily, finally expressing how furious she was over the whole thing.
"He's a brat who embarrassed me! I did what I had to do!" Kikimora clenched her fists. Lucila flicked a light glyph at Kikimora, flashing her eyes and making her fall to the ground. As the other troops were about to fight the girl, Kikimora held up a hand to stop them, and then she just chuckled. "Naïve little girl. Did you really think the two of you could work? You're his weakness! And I'll spend the rest of my days to make sure you both don't get in my way!"
She sent off another blast, and it hit Lucila in the leg, leaving a tear in her leggings and also a scratch mark. "Ahh!" She bent down in pain, gritting her teeth. She watched as Kikimora got back in the cart, waving at Lucila.
"Ta-ta!" She disappeared down the mine. The scouts followed after her and she cheered as they went down a hill, leaving the Captain alone with them. She glanced down at Amity.
"So, uh, did you come with anyone else, or...ugh. This is boring." She grabbed the girl and threw her down the chasm.
"Amity!" Lucila screamed, jumping onto her staff and flying after her. The Captain threw down the game device. Amity fell further until she was suddenly grabbed. She caught her game device in her hands, looking up to see Eda hanging onto the back of her coat. She had used her staff to catch her and King, who was holding onto the staff. Lucila floated over to them as Amity climbed up.
"Guys, you're okay."
Eda groaned a bit. "Just barely. Owlbert's knocked out, so we can't fly," Eda looked towards her palisman, and due to the fall, not only was his wing cracked, but his eyes were dizzy.
"Not to mention that we've got company. Kikimora and the others caught up with us, so now we have to find out how to get past them," Lucila stated as she held out a hand, helping Eda up first.
"I'm just, like, throwing it out there," King started off as Eda grabbed Amity's hand. "But this would be a great time to bring out Harpy Eda."
"I don't know how!" Eda argued back as Amity took King's hand, pulling him to be behind Lucila. She then flew her staff down so that Eda could get Owlbert. "I've tried yelling at it, scaring it." A squawk was heard and they looked to see a crack forming in him, which meant that he was gonna fall. Eda grabbed hold and tried to pull him out, but it was a tight fit.
"Did you ever think about talking to it?" King suggested to her.
"Ha! I...No, I guess I didn't, but hey, i-it's a wild animal."
"You thought I was a wild animal once," He pointed out.
"Eda, I'm willing to try anything at this point, but whatever it is you do, you need to do it fast!" Lucila urged her as Amity and King were trying to help, but Owlbert wouldn't budge, and he fell a bit further.
"Okay, I'll try! Just..." She groaned as she closed her eyes. "Give me a second." They waited in anticipation. "What? You wanna make a deal? Wait, I-I don't know if I can." Another crack appeared in Owlbert and she sighed in defeat. "Okay, okay, I'll do it. Just change now!" When she opened her eyes, her harpy eyes appeared and she changed into Harpy Eda, finally having the strength to pull out Owlbert just before he fell. "Ha ha!" She chuckled as she flew out with him, Lucila following after her. "Yes!" She then flew forward.
"What did you promise to do?" King asked curiously.
"I don't wanna talk about it..." Harpy Eda glanced away. She went down the mine, Lucila flying after her. Owlbert landed on her ear and then hid in her hair.
"I can't wait to see a real life minecart chase!" King said in excitement, but they came across something and stopped in confusion.
"Huh?"
They looked to see that the mine carts had crashed, Amity's staff nearby. Kikimora groaned on the ground nearby and they winced.
"Ooh."
"Guess mine cart chases are a lot more dangerous than video games make 'em seem," King commented as Amity got her staff back, relieved to see that Ghost was okay.
"Serves her right for what she did," Lucila glared at Kikimora briefly. They saw a sign for Eclipse Lake, with the tunnel up ahead.
"There it is!" Amity pointed, but they were suddenly stopped by Abomatons grabbing onto Harpy Eda's leg and Lucila's staff. The Captain stood up, glaring at them.
"I don't know who you freaks are, but that blood belongs to Kikimora!" The group screamed as they were pulled onto the dirt, crashing. Once the dust settled, Harpy Eda's wings were protecting them.
"Get to the lake. I'll take care of-" She was suddenly pulled backwards, throwing into a wall.
"Eda!" King called out.
"She'll be okay, she's in Harpy mode. They won't be able to fight against that," Lucila quickly assured him, jumping onto her staff. Amity grabbed King, the Captain throwing her spear at them. Harpy Eda flew by and grabbed the weapon, growling as she broke it with her hand. The others went through the tunnel behind her.
"Alright, Owl Beast," She smirked at the Captain, flying into the air. "Let's see what we can do!" She spun herself into a drill, attacking the Captain.
The others went further down the tunnel, Lucila wincing a bit as she was walking on an injured leg. Amity looked at the picture Luz drew, with the water having a drawing of her on it. Amity lowered the map to see the lake...empty. Hunter was in the middle of it, digging. The two stepped forward, sling down. Amity pointed her staff at him, Lucila reluctantly pulling out a glyph.
"Don't worry," Hunter spoke up softly. "I won't pick a fight. There's no Titan Blood."
The three glanced at each other, the older girl putting the glyph back in her pocket. "Then why are you digging?" Amity wondered curiously.
Hunter chuckled as he turned around to them, looking...on edge. "Oh, it's simple really. Belos needs Titan Blood to make a new portal key. Can't get to the Human Realm without it."
His revelation shocked both girls, Lucila gasping quietly.
"There's blood in the key?" Amity gripped it a little so that he wouldn't see it. Lucila couldn't believe that they had the answer all along...
"Since I failed my last mission, I thought 'hey, a chance to make up for it'," He then chuckled manically and Lucila stepped back a bit, a little frightened by this side of him. "But I can't go back empty-handed." He laughed this time in a hysterical way before dropping his hands onto the ground, now looking a bit sad himself. "Not again. Long story short, this is my grave. Want me to make you one too?"
Lucila opened her mouth a bit, appalled by his attitude. It just...really made her think just what he was going through with his uncle...clearly, it wasn't anything like her relationship with her sister. To be this depressed over a second failure...it was concerning to see him this way.
"This is really bumming me out," King said what the other two were thinking.
"That's just life, rat. Everyone has a use, and if you don't," He blew a raspberry. "Bye bye! Your friend gets it."
"What's he talking about?" King looked up at Amity in confusion as she had a sad look on her face.
She paused and then took out the game device. "Luz has been sending me these...strange human codes. I don't understand all of them, but this one seems pretty clear," She showed him the one that supposedly meant that they'd be over. "Come back with results or...we're done."
King stared at the message and then tilted the device clockwise so that it said U R RAD. Amity's eyes widened. "U R rad." She then started reading the other messages. "Fool's blood bad. U okay? Come home?" She chuckled happily, Lucila smiling as she put the device to her chest. "Of course. This is Luz we're talking about."
"Of course she didn't explain how it worked," The older girl smiled in amusement, hands on her hips.
"Hey!" They looked back to Hunter, Li'l Rascal trying to help him up. "Go find a better witch to be with. And Luci's better off too," He added, confusing the girl as he flopped onto the dirt, throwing it over himself. The palisman chirped as he landed on Hunter's back.
"What?" She said no such thing to him, wondering what he was referring about. "When did I ever say-"
"The Emperor's Coven. I know you don't like them, and I'm affiliated with them. You don't have to spell it out for me. Guess I'm getting that disappointment earlier than I thought. Even when you show me your feelings, I can't be honest!" He slammed down his fist.
"What are you-" Her eyes widened and then they softened as it was then and there...that she knew that he realized what her last song meant. Looking back, she couldn't help but wonder…if he couldn't give up helping Belos and yet still wanted to be around her…what should she do? He probably didn't know those kind of feelings and wanted to keep experiencing them. But when he saw Edric, that soured everything for him. And maybe in the grand scheme of things…
He wanted her, but he couldn't because he thought he wasn't the right person for her. And maybe their last conversation was just simply him debating still on what he should do about her and Belos. She thought back to what Kikimora said about how she was his weakness, and…now she could see why.
The girl slowly stepped forward, King and Amity watching. "Lu—" King stopped her from stepping forward. Lucila slowly got into the light and came to a stop next to him. She picked up her skirt and when she sat down, she let it go, her skirt flowing underneath her.
She leaned in and kissed his cheek, causing him to look up with wide eyes. "It wasn't just the Emperor's Coven. Luz is my family. And if I don't help her...I don't know what will happen to her. Hunter...you don't need to prove anything to anyone, let alone Belos. And I don't…know what either of our futures mean for us, but…I would at least like to be friends for the time being. Like we used to."
"Friends?"
"I don't want you out of my life, Hunter," She smiled weakly at him, hugging herself. He looked down at her leg, seeing the scratch.
"Who did that?" He asked immediately and she saw what he was looking at.
"Oh...I, um..." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I had a run-in with Kikimora. I was trying to save Amity, and she managed to land a hit on my leg..."
He gritted his teeth, angry to hear that Kikimora didn't listen to his warning. He then sighed as he realized that Lucila only got hurt because Kikimora was after him. He noticed Lucila's staff in her hand and gently took it.
She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She knew that he wasn't stealing her palisman, since he had opportunity to get rid of Li'l Rascal or capture Melody in Latissa, but didn't. "Hunter, why are you-"
He gently spun the staff into the flute, playing a soft tune. Her eyes widened at him and then she felt something. She looked down at her leg to see it glowing. Soon the scratch disappeared and she looked up at him, giving a small smile. Once he was finished, he handed her back the flute and it turned back into her staff.
"I figured to return the favor. I had a feeling that you'd get yourself into more trouble," He told her, Amity walking up to them. She stared at them as she could see that they were almost like her and Luz, because Hunter wanted to prove himself to Lucila.
"Thanks..." She looked up at her friend as she bent down to Hunter.
"You know, you were right. We do have a lot in common. I grew up thinking that everything was an opportunity to justify...existing. But there are people out there who won't make you feel worthless. You just...have to let yourself meet them. Or let them help you."
"Hunter, when I go home…I'd wanna remember memories like this. I treated you unfairly about the whole raid thing, and…"
He had stopped listening at this point because he remembered that once she found a way to get the portal working, he wouldn't see her ever again…
No…I don't want her to go home. I'm not ready to say goodbye.
As he looked up at Amity offering her hand, she was smiling...and then he noticed the key around her neck. He gasped sharply, slowly sitting up, and it made the both of them nervous. That key could not only help Belos, but it would ensure that Lucila stayed in the Boiling Isles. He wanted her to stay with him...
"W-What are you..." Amity looked down at the key, gasping in realization.
"Hunter..." Lucila said nervously and he lunged for Amity. She rolled away from him and Lucila stood up.
"Oh, come on," Amity complained at this. "Being nice usually works for Luz."
He glanced back at them, sweating a little as he was desperate to get that key. He lunged forward, but then King stood in front of his friends, releasing his sonic scream. L'il Rascal flew in front of Hunter, turning into a staff to block the blow. Hunter grabbed hold of it, Lucila spinning her flute back into her staff.
"You've got one last chance to back off before I make you," She threatened him.
"My fight isn't with you, Luci," He told her.
"We're past things not being my own!" The girl argued back and he grunted. He moved to teleport, but barely moved.
"Real staffs are weird!" Abomination goo took hold of him again. "Ah!" He attempted to break free as he teleported, and after a few times, he emerged with his limbs free in the air, and the goo then captured Lucila because he directed it at her.
"Agh!" She fell onto the ground, attempting to break free. Hunter pointed his staff and fired a few energy blasts at Amity. She jumped onto her staff with King, dodging the blasts and flying past Lucila to get her onto the staff. She grunted as she tried to free her arms. Amity used abomination goo to dodge one, landing on the ground. Hunter teleported behind her for the key, but King pushed him away. He teleported again, diving for the purple-haired girl, but she used an abomination shield to block the staff. He teleported a few more times and she dodged every single one. Then she made a gauntlet out of abomination goo, punching him. She made a huge spell circle, encasing him through an abomination. Lucila jumped on, Amity grabbing King as they looked back. They didn't get far as Hunter broke free, going underground and knocking all of them off Ghost. King gets stuck as his horns get lodged into a larger one, Amity helping Lucila slide down safely. She then finally broke Lucila free, Hunter teleporting behind her.
"You really wanna help, then gimme that key!" He shouted, using his staff to latch onto the thread. It broke off and Amity reached forward, catching it. Hunter pinned her arm to the wall while she pointed a spike at his neck. He glanced behind him as Lucila had her staff pointed at him, an upset look on her face. His eyes softened at her as he didn't want to resort to this...but he had to.
"...Listen, you're strong, and I'm outnumbered and tired. If this continues, you'll probably escape, but here's the thing: We know where to find you...and your human." Amity and Lucila gasped that he was resorting to using Luz as an incentive. "So just...hand over the key." Amity's hand squeezed so much that it broke the key.
"...Fine. Just...stay away from Luz and Lucila," She warned him, defeatedly dropping the spike. She dropped the key and it landed in Hunter's hand. Lucila dropped her staff in defeat since she didn't want her sister hurt, but she couldn't believe he stooped that low.
"Appreciate it," He walked past Lucila, who let her knees hit the floor, a look of horror on her face. He came to a stop. "I, uh, mean that too." He jumped onto his staff, Amity glaring at him.
"You really can't be trusted, can you?"
He flinched as he looked back at Lucila, her back to him. She didn't want to look at him, considering that they had just gave him the key for Belos...
"…I'm sorry," He whispered softly and she sniffled. His heart broke a little hearing it...he just hoped he could find a way to make it up to her. Right now, she wouldn't be willing to hear him out...
Amity watched him fly away through a hole in the ceiling. Then Harpy Eda flew in.
"Ha ha! Yes. I heard fighting. I'm ready to go," She landed on a horn, looking around. "Where's the nerd?"
However, she saw that she had arrived too late as King cried out, still stuck. Then she saw Lucila's back and Amity's grim expression. "Oh. Dang it." She walked past King, pulling him out with no problem before bending down to the 16-year-old. "You okay, Luci?"
"Yeah, I just…need to re-evaluate where my priorities lie," She whispered without looking back, the two giving a worried look.
Luz had fallen asleep, the game device in her hand. "Huh?" She suddenly sat up, the pillow moving away to reveal a bunch of mushrooms that grew on her head. She tapped her cheeks as her red nose was gone, along with her baggy eyes. "I feel...great!" She looked up at her head. "I wonder if this is permanent." She then gasped as she realized she was alone. "I gotta find everyone!"
She ran out of her room, shaking off the mushrooms, and then she bumped into Willow, who was holding her soup. Hooty attempted to catch it, but it landed all over his head. "Safe."
"Have the others returned?" Luz asked them in concern. She ran into the living room.
"Ow, ow, ow. Just get an elixir," Harpy Eda stated as the three were trying to pull her inside, but it was hard with her large wings. "I got into harpy mode, and now I can't get out." Ghost carried around Owlbert and Melody, Luz cooing a bit. Melody had been so shy at first, but now it seemed that her interactions with Li'l Rascal were helping.
"She also ate, like, nine voles on the way home," King pointed out.
"Hey, I had to keep up my end of the bargain."
They managed to pull her in, and they all landed on the carpet. Amity groaned a bit as she sat up, Luz running over and hugging her.
"Amity! I'm so glad my awesome girlfriend is okay."
Amity blushed and hugged her back with a smile, glad that Luz said that, because it gave her the confirmation that she didn't need to prove anything. "Me too."
"No King hug? What is this?" King demanded to her. "You are a swindler and a thief!"
"Come here, buddy!" Luz picked him up for a tight hug.
"I regret this!"
Lucila chuckled weakly, Luz pulling her in for a hug. "And my big sis is okay too!"
"I see you're feeling better," Lucila hugged her back, patting her on the head.
Harpy Eda bent down to Amity, who looked on with a smile. "Do you wanna break the news or should I?"
"News?" Amity looked up in confusion.
"The empty lake, the Golden Guard, losing the portal key," She scoffed in disbelief. "Today was a disaster."
"Actually...we might be okay," Amity revealed her glove, which was stained with Titan blood from when she squeezed the key open.
Hunter held up the leaking key, a little disappointed. He just hoped it satisfied his uncle...he glanced away sadly as he recalled Lucila's reaction. He didn't want her to leave, but he stole the key and might've damaged any sense of a close relationship with her...
Li'l Rascal landed on his hand, chirping. "Oh, hey. You stuck with me the whole time, huh, bird?" The palisman chirped and his eyes widened. "I think I understood that. I-Is that your name? Can you say it again?"
Li'l Rascal landed on his shoulder, chirping again, earning a chuckle. "Weird. Uh, can you say other things?" He walked off, the palisman chirping as it seemed that he was taking what Amity said seriously...Li'l Rascal chirped again and he flinched blushing. "M-Make up with Luci? Not gonna happen right now...she hates my guts. And she won't be happy if I told her why I reacted like that."
Li'l Rascal chirped again and he smiled. "Yeah...I like her too. I hope I still have a chance, though..."
Lucila sat at her desk in her room, her hand on her cheek. She gave a sad look as she recalled what happened tonight. First Luz got sick, they ran into Hunter, Kikimora caught her and Amity, and then Hunter got the Titan key with the essence they needed to get her and Luz home...she faltered at that last thought.
She was definitely not going to trust him anymore since he squandered what little faith she had in him now…actually, she might as well give up on trying to hold a relationship at all. It was just getting too complicated...she didn't even know if they could be friends...she should just give up on him.
"Lucila...I don't know if this'll help, but...you know, you're not...anything like that old bat lady says."
"...One day you can see my face."
"W-Well, don't read into it. You got into Hexside, so you deserve a break from stress."
"Please. I don't wanna be replaced."
She quickly shook her head, snapping out of her previous decision. "No!" She sat down in her chair, pulling it forward. She then slammed down her fists onto the desk. "No pienses asi, Lucila!" When he was digging his own grave…it showed her that he clearly needed help, and she couldn't just forget that. She had no idea what he was going through, but it was obvious to her that something was wrong between him and the Emperor...
Whether or not she could trust him next time was the real question in her mind as she looked towards the window, a look of thought on her face.
Angel: I saw a comic that had Hunter wearing a bad sad boy shirt, and now I wish someone can draw him wearing the shirt, but it says 'Luci's bad sad boy' XD