Chapter: A Rooftop Conversation
The ride home was quite calm. And Luz even get a chance to took the selfie with a griffin.
"Hi guys," Hooty said after they landed. "Did you have fun today? Make any new friends? Make any new enemies? Make any new pacts with dark forces?"
"Yes. No. Maybe but it finished as our dinner. Not since the triangular yellow guy incident." Eda said, hand on the door knob.
The door opened to reveal Jett.
"Hi guys."
Luz blinked a few times. "Whoa! What happened to you?" She had gotten a good look at his attire. It was… worrying.
"I found place where a lazuli orchids grow, but the Tree Nymph thrive there wasn't happy to see me on her turf. So, I got shot twice by venomous plant spike, and fell off a cliff that was fifteen meters height, into freezing liquid that wasn't water but I told myself that was water, and almost drowned… and then I and the nymph began to fight on the meadow of explosive lilac."
Luz's jaw had almost hit the floor by now. Eda just asked. "Did you get her number?"
"Yes. And saturday night, we are going to the concert Casta and the spells at the Cafe Late Night Bite."
"Wait, you're really going on a date with person who tried to kill you?" Luz stared at her friend, surprise evident on her face.
Jett gave a non-committal half-shrug, "That nymph turned out to be pretty cool, actually. Besides just knowing that your date can kill you, gives the date a trill."
"That's my boy." Eda ruffled his hair, and he smiled.
"And how was your day?"
"Trip to beach, stealing treasure, fight with the gigantic crab, brush with death. In other words, Tuesday." Eda summed up as she hand her son a bag, "You're making dinner, kid. I have to wash up. I've got sand in places you don't want to get sand."
"Sweet." Jett checked what's in that bag, "I've been wanting to try this recipe for a Shrimp-and-Crab Gumbo.
He left the room without looking at Luz or King. The human girl looked at small demon on couch. King looked down in sadness, most likely because of what happened to his crown. Luz quite understand that this crown was something very important to him.
Then the metaphorical light bulb turns itself on directly above Luz's head.
~10 minutes later~
"Hey King." Luz smiled as stood next to couch, holding both hands behind her back.
King barely looked up from the crystal ball that wasn't even on, and looked at her. "Yes?"
"I have something for you."
"I feel like I need to be alone." he said, hugging his favorite stuffed toy Francois, "Leave offerings. And let me finish grieving for my crown."
"About the crown...I know it's not the same, but a king shouldn't be without his crown." Luz she reached behind her, and pulled out, a origami crown partially covered with glitter and with plastic rhinestones glued to it.
King took it and placed it on his head. "This shall suffice." King nodded in approval. The human girl and little demon traded a smile.
Then King grabbed a small stuffed bunny. "Come Francois, let's show the rest of my army of evil that their king have a new crown."
Luz watching him with a soft smile. Then her face hardens as a few thoughts in her mind finally bubbled up. She needs a fresh air.
With Hooty help Luz get on the roof of the Owl House and sat there, knees close to her chest and arms crossed over them.
'You found the light glyph, this was your moment of connection with the island.' - the words still hang in her mind like air in a balloon... The girl drew quickly the light glyph and activated it, making the piece of paper crumble into a ball of light that floated into the sky. Yes. She found the light glyph, she can use this magic.
But the problem was that she did not discover this glyph the way human enchantress and first witches did. They were able to feel the Boiling Isles, understand it, and finally connect to it. She have no idea how make that connection.
Found the glyph was a stroke of luck, and it's not gonna happen again. Even if Jett will have another "glitch" attack, Luz doubt he would've draw a spell circle like that one in the Cave of Spiral Uroboros.
Which meant that she has little chance of finding new glyph. But how she could protect magic without new spells? She only survived crab attacks by Eda's help. And Eda, Jett or Katrina won't always be here to help.
Did she really could become the witch? Can she call herself the Keeper? How much is worth a human teen with one spell in the Magic Realm like this one?
Luz was mulling over these thoughts in silence when she heard the clacking of heels behind her. She whirled around, startled.
"You've been sitting there for like and hour," Eda said holding her staff at her side as she walked over, "Felt the need to have a brooding session?"
"I-" Luz tries to answer the question but finds it's not coming. It's a simple question, with a relatively simple answer. But she just can't answer it for some reason. "I just need a fresh air."
Eda was a very good liar since childhood. Okay she is just the professional in the area especially of believable lying. Plus, she have a teenage son, so she don't have a problem seeing teenager girl's lie.
Normally, she'd ignored it and just leave Luz alone with her thoughts. The Owl Lady was not a fan of teen problems conversation. Of course she is mother and care about her kid feelings, but Jett usually prefer to go to his father with his problem... and Luz is more emotional than her son is. Yet something in Luz's face made Eda stay.
"You're a horrible liar. But we'll work on that later. Now tell me what's bothering you."
Luz visibly hesitates to answer the question.
"I won't judge." Eda said carelessly, "I only disapprove of not blood sports and puns."
"I'm human." Luz said in quite voice only a little louder than whisper.
"You're just now noticing this?"
"I'm human." the teen said again, one hand slipping beneath the collar of her shirt to wrapped at the silver-white metal star dangling on thin silver chain. "Luz Noceda is just human. She want to be like Azura. But she's not Azura. She don't fit here. She almost die her second day here. And she think that she may doesn't deserve to be the Keeper."
"Well, for one thing, don't talking about yourself in the third person. It's creepy. And being creepy is Hooty thing." Eda took a seat beside her at a distance that was close enough for comfort but far enough for space. "Secondly, this is the Boiling Isles everybody here has a few near-death experience on their belt. Three last but not least: What the hex do you think you doesn't deserve to be the Keeper?"
Luz stared down at the friendship bracelet, idly running her fingers along the thread around her wrist as she admitted, "I found the light glyph by accident. When Jett had a "glitch" attack, his spell circle flickered and I saw a glyph inside it."
"So?"
She frown deepened. "I didn't made the connection with the island. I don't know how I can do this. I'm just human. I'm not worthy of Keeper or the witch's apprentice title."
Eda blinded. There appeared an image before witch's eyes, her seven-year-old son, looking at her with sad face and asking if he is worthless without a fully functioning magic. That was the day, Jett had his first "glitch" attack in front of other kids. They did not react kindly to this. And this make Jett have thought that he may doesn't deserve to be called a witch and his parents' son. His eyes were full of sorrow and uncertainty. Just like Luz's eyes now.
The Owl Lady just stare at Luz for a second. A slightly unreadable expression on her face before she asks. "Why do you think the Council of Four decided to offer you a job in the Order?"
"Because I'm first human who used magic in centuries?" Luz asked uncertainly.
"No."
"No?" She parroted.
"Because you have proved to be brave loyal and ready to protect place like this. This Realm is slimy and very stinky. Also really, weird." Eda looked at view in distance. "But you saw that if you look at it from a different perspective, it's beautiful. Those are the traits a person needs to be the Keeper."
"But how am I supposed to protect magic and balance between the two worlds if I can't-"
"Magic doesn't decide how much you're worth." said Eda, cutting her off, "Look at Jett. He is strong even if his magic is what it is. He's kicked so many douche' asses, he just ain't keeping track no more. He won many races and special challenges, make many crazy and big thing. And he didn't need a always good working magic to do this."
"Jett is your son." Luz replied bitterly. "Of course he's awesome."
"True." Eda agreed, "But still magic isn't the most important ability. Sure it is a great thing. I know from experience that magic makes your life easier, yet you couldn't just poof all your problems away. A few crazy exes yes, but other things will not resolve itself because you cast spells. Plus, you only just started learning, you have time to find the answer. I was a bit skilled than you in my day, and I needed a time to get some things too."
"And what if I never found any new glyphs?" Luz asked her mentor.
"Actually not knowing more spells is no big deal." Eda replied, "Many members of the Order doesn't know a thing about use a strong magic."
"Really?" Luz blinked, turning to her.
"Asked for Xiloma or Jackie the next time you're in the Order. These guys placed among the top ten Keepers, four times, and they're got the magic level of a ten-year-old." Eda said, a hint of a tease back in her tone at the end of the sentence. "But you'll be better than them. Your light glyph has already helped put two strong creatures down. Real soon you'll find a way to connect to the isles. And one day you'll be a great witch; I do not have doubts about that."
Luz looked up at her hopefully, the spark in his eyes rekindling. "Did you really mean that?"
The corner of Eda's mouth lifted in a sympathetic smirk. "I wouldn't lie to my favourite apprentice."
"I'm your only apprentice." Luz noticed, looking at her mentor with a mildly amusement expression.
"Then you know that's true." Eda shot back, still smirking.
Arms wrapping around the witch's waist, "Thanks Eda." Luz said as her every negative thought from a few minutes ago... just gone.
"You're welcome." The witch said, patting girl's hair.
"Awww this was so tooth-rotting scene!" Hooty rose up from the unseen nothing, Jett and King standing on him. "I want the hug too! Hoot! Hoot!"
"Don't even think about it." Eda have a real deadpan face as Luz moved away from her. The house demon huffed something, pouting because of this.
"Sorry for interrupting mentor-apprentice moment, but gumbo's ready. Also I think we all deserve a good food, and a nice view." Jett jumped on roof with four bowls of gumbo floating behind him.
"Especially me, as I'm the one great king of demons." King declared as he sat between Luz and Eda.
"Remember not to add too much salt to your food this time ,Your Highness." the orange haired boy said as he hands others their bowls.
"No one commands the kings of demon."
Jett simply shrugged before gave Luz the last bowl, "A special bowl for the future great human witch."
Luz's bowl of gumbo looks a bit different than others but it smelled like something delicious.
"You believe that I will be the witch, too." Luz said, more as a fact than a question.
"I know you will." Jett replied with friendly wink.
"Enough of this emotional chatter, time to eat." At the word from the Owl Lady, they all began to eat.
Time passed slow. They watched in silence as the sky turned, words needless to the company of one another.
And at some point Luz looked at her companions, and smiled. Maybe she still have a long way to go before she can call herself a witch and get her own staff. But she know she's not alone in that journey.
And with that in mind, the girl drew glyphs in her notebook and filled the night with orbs of light and laughter.
Luz's completely unaware, that someone was watching her and was listen carefully this whole conversation. It was a small, dark scarlet creature with a tiny body, big half hypognathous head and bright yellow eyes. It had a long and thin body. It forearms, lower legs and the front of its body were dark blue, with a couple of black streaks.
The insect-like creature waited minute before opened its dragonfly wings and flew away.
A few kilometers away, it has reached its destination. A grassy hill where the unknow perso was waiting for it. The person reached out left hand and a insect-like creature landed on it.
"Let see what did you find out, Chauko." They said as theirs eyes glowed bright yellow with Chauko's doing the same. After few seconds both pair of eyes back to normal.
"So, the girl has not yet able to make appropriate connection." They said as Chauko dice in their sleeve, "This info may not jive with boss' expectation."
Notes: I hope you are enjoying the story so far! See ya soon. Also I promise we'll see more canon character very soon.
