Everyone arrived at the owl house and were sitting in the living room. Azara had placed John to bed and was sitting on the couch with Hunter, who was setting Azara's arm in a sling. Luz and Amity were sitting on the floor. King was laying on the arm of the couch. Eda walked over and slapped a healing glyph on Azara's arm.
"There we go," Eda said, sitting down in the chair. No one said a word, as they sat silently trying to process what had happened at the Conformatorium.
"Look on the bright side, we didn't go back empty handed," Azara said, trying to cheer Eda up. "We helped rescue a few people."
"But, we still didn't get Raine," Eda replied.
"At least we know that they're alive." Luz said.
"If you call being stripped of your powers and imprisoned against your will, "alive", then you're crazy, " Eda said, frustrated. "I can't believe the emperor's coven would go this far! It-It makes me wanna!" She yelled, angrily. Feathers were starting to sprout out from Eda's arm.
"Uh, Eda," King said, nervously. "Maybe you should take it down a notch." Luz got up and grabbed a potion and handed it to Eda. She took it from her, drinking it.
"Eda, you need to calm down," Luz told her. "Getting angrier is making the owl beast come out."
Then Hooty slammed the front door open and came flying in. "I know something that will cheer everyone up. Mail!" The owl hovered over Azara and began hacking. Mountains of letters from the mail came dropping out and fell right on top of Azara. Some were covered in spit and others had owl pellets on them and hair balls.
"Gee, thanks," Azara said, disgusted. Eda sorted through the mail, separating out the ones that were junk and hexes. However, one slipped out from the pile. King noticed and hopped off from the couch and picked it up. He flipped the letter over and his eyes widen to see his name addressed on it.
"Hey, there's one for me," King said.
"Really? Who sent it to you?" Luz asked. King opened the letter and read it. His eyes widen in surprise.
"Dear, King Clawthorne,
I hope that this letter finds you well. I heard that you want answers to who you are and about our kind. Let's meet at the coven day parade. I'll be waiting for you there." King wasn't able to read anymore from the letter as the rest of the writing was smeared and smudged.
"Hey, I-I think this is a letter from my father!" King exclaimed, shocked.
"What?!" Eda and Luz sputtered, surprised as well.
"King, are you sure?" Luz asked, unsure.
"Yes, it has to be!" King said. "I have to see him! I have to go to the coven day parade!"
"Hold it," Eda stopped him. "The coven day parade is going to a lot of the emperor's guards crawling around."
"But, this could be the only chance to see my father!" King argued. "I have to see him!"
"What is the coven day parade?" Azara asked.
"It's the day where all of the coven leaders show up and flaunt about their skills, encouraging witches and newly graduated witches, to join their covens," Eda explained. "This is going to be dangerous. I mean, how do we know if this guy really is your father."
"But, if this guy, really is my father or knows something about him, I have to go!" King shouted. "I want to know what I am!"
"Is there an address on the letter? A way for you to contact this guy? Maybe, be able to tell him to meet somewhere else?" Azara asked King. King looked over the letter again and shook his head.
"No," He answered. "Eda, I have to go. This could be my only chance." Eda sighed.
"Okay, but we are going to be needing disguises if we're going," she said.
"We?" King asked, confused. Eda smiled.
"You really think that I'm going to let you go on your own? I don't think so," she told him.
"I promised that I would help you, King," Luz said. "I'm coming too."
"Well, if Luz is going then I'm going," Amity said.
"I am too," Azara said.
"Shouldn't you rest?" Hunter asked, worried.
"Aw, you worried about little ol' me, Hunter?" Azara teased, batting her eyelashes. "Why? You care about me or something?"
"N-No!" Hunter blushed. "I just don't want to see you hurt than you already are!" He stood up so suddenly, surprising Azara, then looked at King. "I'm coming too!" Lil' rascal chirped in agreement on top of Hunter's head.
"Guys, thanks," King cried. "You really don't know how much this means to me!"
The next day in the afternoon, everyone put on cloaks, wearing the hood over their heads. They walked into the town square of Bonesborough seeing that some of the festivities have already started. The streets were very crowded, which was good, less easily to be spotted. There were banners of each different types of covens strewn on the balcony of buildings. Balloons with the coven colors floating around everywhere, stands with games and foods. Azara and Luz watched in awe and amazement taking in everything.
"Azara, let's go play some of the games!" John shouted, tugging on her arm. Hunter watched silently at the festival around him, curious and excited.
"I never thought that the coven day parade would be like this," he commented. Azara turned to him, confused.
"Wait, you've never been to one before?" she asked. Hunter frowned.
"No, Unc-Belos always said that the parade was too dangerous, that I would get lost in the crowds. He also said that it's something that we shouldn't get involved in. We had everything that we needed at the castle." Azara stared at him with a surprised look. All of his life, Hunter had never been to a single festival or parade? He never had a chance to be a kid...How can anyone live like that? Azara reached out and took Hunter's hand.
"How about we play some games, while we look for King's father?" she asked. Hunter gave her a surprised look before looking away unsure.
"I don't know," he shifted, rubbing his arm, hesitantly. "what if-"
"You can't have fun based on "what ifs," Azara replied. "Come on, go!" Azara pulled Hunter's arm, dragging him away. Her brother ran after them, following behind.
"Yeah!" John shouted, excitedly.
"W-Wait!" Hunter protested.
"Let's not get too side tracked," Eda called out. "There are wanted posters of us everywhere." Nearly on every building and stands and bulletin post, there were wanted posters of Eda, Luz, Amity, Azara and Hunter.
"We'll try to be careful," Luz told her. "We'll try not to get caught."
"I find that hard to believe," Eda said. "I'll stay with King and we'll try and look for his father," she told Luz. "I'll signal you guys if we see something."
"That's great, now Luz and I are going to go look around," Amity told Eda. She hooked Luz's arm around hers, making Luz blush. Amity and her walked away, heading towards the festivities.
Azara and Hunter along with John played some of the games and ate some of the food from the stands and rode some of the rides. Amity and Luz joined them, while having some fun as well. Eda walked over to the group along with King.
"We've spotted someone over by the bar," Eda said. "He looked a lot like King."
"Really? Then let's go," Luz said.
The group headed over to the tavern while avoiding some of the guards, keeping their hoods down. They walked inside to find the bar bustling with many witches and beasts. However, in a far corner, sitting at a table by themselves, there was a tall creature, wearing long yellow robes, twisted horns that pointed upwards, black fur like King's, but he also had some grey hairs underneath his chin and stretched downward like a beard, and a skull head like his. What stood out differently, was that he had wings, instead. He looked intimidating.
The creature noticed the group as they came into the bar. His eyes widen as he saw Azara then her necklace before his gaze drifted downwards until he noticed King. His eyes turned softer. He stood up and walked over to them. King stared up at the giant creature in front of him.
"King Clawthorne, at last we meet," the creature spoke. "Come, we shall talk somewhere more quieter. The emperor have eyes everywhere that isn't safe for this conversation." He signaled them to follow him and he lead them to a caravan that was parked outside.
He opened the door and gestured them to step inside. As everyone went inside, he closed the door behind him. Inside of the caravan, looked larger than what appeared from the outside, perhaps enchanted by magic? He passed everyone and sat down at a table that had a crystal ball sitting in the middle of it. There were star constellations and designs on the walls, some different herbs and scrolls, sitting on the shelves. King stared at him, silently, not sure of what to say. What could he say? He had so many questions to ask him. The creature gestured for everyone to take a seat and they did, now sitting at the round table.
"Um, h-hi," King stammered nervously, his voice shaking as he stared up at the huge beast that looked similar to him, sitting in front of him. "Oh geez, I'm already blowing this! Let me start over! You don't know how much I've been wanting to meet you! What am I?! What are we?! What does this symbol mean? Why do I shoot out sonic blasts from my mouth!? Are you my-" the creature let out a deep rumble, laughing joyfully, at the numerous questions that King blurted out all at once.
"Slow down, little one," He said, calmly. "There will be plenty of time to answer all your questions."
"I'm sorry," King blushed, embarrassed. "You don't know how much this means to me! To finally be able to another one of me, to know that I'm not alone. Dad, I-" King stopped when he saw the creature had a solemn look on his face.
"Hey, dad, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?" King asked, confused.
"No, little one," the creature shook his head. "You have every right to ask such questions. But, as much as I wish that I was, I'm not your father."
King stared at him confused. "Then who are you? Where is my father?"
"My name is Oberon. I am a close friend of your father," he told King. "The symbol on your collar is our clan's mark. I am sorry to tell you this, but your father is dead."
"No...no!" King shook his head. "No, no, no! Your lying! My father was a great warrior! He wouldn't have died so easily! I've seen those murals back at the place where I came from."
"King..." Azara said, softly. She tried to reach out to him but, King smack her hand away. He climbed and stood up on the table, now narrowing his eyes at Oberon.
"Who are you?!" King demanded.
"Your father entrusted in me to keep you safe, should anything happen to him," he told King.
"So were you the one who enchanted those rock guardians, that attacked us, back at the ruins?" Luz asked. "To protect King?"
"Yes," Oberon nodded. "However, over time my magic faded as King grew older."
"So what am I? What are we?" King asked.
"Take a seat and I will tell you all that you need to know," Oberon told King. King stared at him for a minute, before hopping off from the table, sitting back down. The lights inside of the caravan suddenly went out, going pitch black startling everyone. Then the crystal ball sitting on the table, ignited, unleashing a shadow projection.
"We are from an ancient race that goes back before the fall of the Titan. We are what's known as stone sleepers. We are a race known to negate or block magic with our "sonic blast" is that what you call it?" King scratched his head, sheepishly and continued.
"Before witch's and beasts came, your father and the Titan have clashed together for many centuries. It was a great and glorious battle until he was able to struck the Titan down. Over time, we were known as guardians of this land, by the witches and beasts centuries ago, at keeping the Titan at bay. The Titan is an evil being known to be an manipulator for anyone interesting who catches his eyes. He entices them using what they want most to get what he wants." he explained. "Chaos and domination."
Azara and Luz both frowned at what he had said before looking at each other. Hunter and Amity noticed their reaction, but said nothing.
"Wait a minute, "is?" Azara questioned. "Your saying that as if the Titan is still alive."
"He is," Azara froze. "But, he's in a dormant state, asleep. As long as the Titan doesn't wake, everything will be fine."
"Huh, and here I thought the Titan was just an old fairy tale, just to scare children into being obedient," Amity commented.
"How do you know all this?" Hunter asked.
"I have teachings from the old ways of magic, some during the savage ages as well," Oberon told him. Hunter's eyes widen, curious to hear more. "There is a prophecy that's been said, the two worlds will be combined, the demon realm and human realm. Who is of human blood or witch's blood..."
"Enough of the fortune cookie nonsense!" Eda shouted. "You don't get anywhere with prophecies! I focus on what's happening right now."
"What do you mean by one who is of human or witch?" Azara asked.
"Don't tell me you buy this?" Eda frowned.
"I'm just curious," Azara told her.
"Well, have you heard the saying curiosity killed the cat," Luz joked.
"You remind me of an old friend of mine," Oberon told Azara. Azara looked at him confused. "You are similar to her in some ways, but you have her fighting spirit. That necklace of yours is special, don't let it fall into the wrong hands." Azara frowned, looking down at her necklace.
"Who was this friend of yours?" Azara asked.
"Azura," Oberon said. Luz's and Amity's eyes widen in shock.
"Azura! Like the good witch Azura?!" Luz exclaimed.
"She's real? And you knew her?!" Amity shouted as well.
"Yes, she was sort of a troublemaker back in the day," Oberon told them. "That was before two humans, brothers, came into the boiling isles, everything change."
"Two humans? Brothers?" Luz muttered. "Tell me, would one of them happen to be Philip Wittebane?"
"Yes," Oberon nodded.
"What was the other brother's name?" Azara asked.
"Caleb Wittebane," he told her before turning his head to Hunter. "You look similar to him in some ways, almost as if you could be related." Hunter's eyes widen. Lil rascal chirped inside of Hunter's cloak. Caleb? This person that looked like him, was named Caleb. His father...Something more to lead on. Before Hunter could ask Oberon more about him, King spoke.
"What happened to my father?" King asked. Oberon turned to him.
"He was betrayed." Oberon said. "By who we all thought was a friend long ago. But, not all is lost. His legacy lives in you King. That means something. You are the future of our race."
King sniffed, wiping his eyes. "Even if you're not my dad, can I still can you that?" he asked. Oberon stared at King with a shocked look before smiling warmly.
"You may." he answered.
"So, why did you chose to have a meeting at the coven parade?" Azara asked. Oberon turned his head back to her.
"It's such a shame seeing all of this," he told her. "It's a disgrace to magic. Magic is meant to be free, not divided." Hunter's eyes widen.
"Wait a minute, you aren't planning on a rebellion are you?" He asked, shocked. "There are countless guards out there!" Eda smiled.
"Hmm, chief, now you're speaking my language," She smirked. "What do ya say to a little redecorating? Let's send a little message to Belos."
Later on that day, as the sun was almost going down, everyone set out heading to the coven parade, while also managing to convince several wild witches as well to join in on the rebellion. Hunter eventually joined in as well, helping them. The banners with the covens symbols on them, had been drawn over with spell glyphs. Several of the coven scouts were tied up, subdued by vines. There were ice pillars everywhere as well as some stands that were set on fire.
Everyone stood back taking in their work and masterpiece of their rebellion. Eventually, they ran as soon as they saw the coven heads coming towards them. Luz made a ice glyph which made the ground slippery, making some of the leaders fall onto the ground. Hunter used Lil' rascal to make a huge bright light to blind the rest of the coven leaders, allowing everyone to escape. Everyone gathered around at the caravan, to say goodbye to Oberon.
"Do you really have to go?" King asked. Oberon nodded, sadly.
"Yes, it is not safe for me to be here right now," He told King.
"You could come stay with me at the owl house," King insisted. Oberon smiled. "You already have so many people who care about you, focus on them for now." He hopped off from the caravan and walked over to King. "But we will meet again, very soon, that I know for a fact," He told King and picked him up, hugging him. "Take care, little one."
"Bye, dad!" King waved goodbye to him as the caravan took off.
"So, did you have fun at the parade?" Azara asked Hunter as she turned to him. Hunter made a small smile.
"Yes, yes I did," He replied.