Luz's Pov:

Darkness...There's darkness all around us, even in some people. Like the empress of the boiling isles. Camila Noceda A.I learned that since I became the Violet Guard, after I became five...I didn't know what to do without task's.

My clouded judgement told me to help people out. No matter what, if that's in a bad way or a good way. Ma- I mean Camila, always told us. "To be great, you have to make sacrifices." And so...I did. I made a sacrifice.

I felt great about it to, like I had accomplished something and that was one thing. Protecting BlueJay. Well...I guess you'll call it succeed but I like the word protecting better.

"Luz? You awake? it's 5:00." Five? What does that- OH SHIT! My body jumped up quickly after I realized that I need to be there before 6:00. Mami would kill me if I'm late.

Grabbing my uniform, I pulled it over in a rush. My hair would be fine since I slept on my stomach.

"Thank you Hunter. I hope we can do this again?" He chuckled and nodded his head.

"You don't need to be so formal here. Lillth doesn't care, and I don't care. All you need to ask is a small thing and she'll say yes."

Smiling, I left the room. Making my way downstairs. Lilith was in the kitchen, by the smell of breakfast I assumed she was making Griffen eggs.

"Hi Luz! Want some eggs?" That sounded great, but I had to leave... Considering it was 5:45.

"I'm alright Miss Lilith, I can get something in Bonesborough. My shift starts at six." I knew Lillth didn't like Formal terminology but, I was so used to it.

"Oh." She said, waving the concern off.

"You'll be alright, my sister Eda doesn't get to the emperor's castle until 6:45. Come on in here." Sighing, I sat down.

"I'm not gonna get out of this am I?"

"Nope!" Lillth handed me the eggs and Hunter came in with his hexisde uniform on. "I'm not letting you starve yourself even more. When your here. You eat."

Nodding my head. I picked the fork up and started to eat.

After twelve minutes, I got done. Thanking Miss Lillth and Hunter as I went out the door.

"Alright, now I just have to make it there. Hopefully, King can cover me."

As soon as the gates closed..I made it. That's was scary. Eda was already there with King.

"Luz, where have you been? Did Camila send you on one of those dangerous missions again?"

Grunting, I pulled my weight up and pushed the castle doors open.

"No, Mami didn't. I was just on patrol." I hated lying to Eda, she was the only one I could trust. Other than King, Hunter, and Lillth.

"You were on patrol for a really long time then." Sweating...I nodded my head.

"Yup."

"You sure you're okay? You're acting strange."

"I'm alright Eda." That was the final thing I said before I went up to report to Mami.

"Your Empress."

Mamì smiled fondly and stood up. I suppose, this was life for me? "My daughter, you don't have to me your Empress."

I nodded. My hands were shaking underneath my cloak, hiding them from society. Hunter already knows that I have scars on them. I don't want anyone else to know.

"You ready to report to me Mija?"

Snapping out of my trance, I spoke up.

"Oh, we found a hidden room underneath the nightmarket scrolls stand. In the room...We found alot of sacred weapons, palismens, swords, crossbows, and fireworks."

"Wonderful work Mija. You are dismissed."

I quickly ran out. Passing through Eda and King, and ran up the stairwell to my room.

Laying down on the bed. I put. my scarred hands over my face.

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh. Why is this so difficult?!" Keeping a secret from your parental figure is a hard thing. But keeping a secret palismen from your Mother Empress is harder.

I need to find a way to get out of here and take Eda and King with me.

I felt BlueJay rub her head against mine. Feeling comfort from her, I took her out of my cape.

"Hey, birdy, we're gonna need an escape plan. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of this hell place."

She chipped as if she agreed with me. This is going to be hard.