Chapter: It's the headquarters of the Order of the Keepers
A few days has passed since Luz ended up in the Boiling Isles, a fantastical world filled to the brim with every supernatural thing she's ever read. From monsters, to witches, to giant slugs that eat garbage. Also anything and everything can and will either kill you, or eat you. Not exactly what the teen had envisioned her dream fantasy world to be, but like beggers can't be choosers.
It was a lovely day, soft wind, and the warm rays of sunlight tickled three teenagers as they fly to Headquarter of the Order. Today Team of Light was first called to the Order of the Keepers. Yet they don't know for what.
"Are we there yet?"
"For the 10th time Luz, no." Katrina said as Jett turned around on his staff to looked at human girl, and just keep flying backwards.
"I don't understand why you are so excited about it. You saw the order headquarters." He said.
"But only few rooms." whined Luz from her place on Jett's staff. "I don't even know what the building looks like."
And she meant it. The last time they were here, master Dion used the nowhere key to send a two Clawthorne and the human girl directly to the Owl House livingroom.
Jett waved a hand dismissively. "Does not stand out."
She gave him a questioning glance.
"You'll understand when you see."
"So, Luz, what do you think of flying?" Katrina asked, deciding to redirect the conversation.
"Flying on witch staff is so much cooler than my first plane trip." Luz responded.
"Could you elaborate on that?" The red head asked, flying next to her cousin's staff. "I heard about 'plane' but I don't know what it is."
"In the human world, we don't have any staffs or flying chariots," Luz then lifted up her phone to show the picture from last year when she went to a different country to visit family in Santa Cecilia. The picture shows an airplane, but not the inside "Instead, we have these things."
"That looks like the big metal knockoff version of Thunderbird." Jett said, clearly not impressed. "Not a patch on the witch's staff."
"The staffs are awesome." Luz sliding her fingers on the wood, Howlitty and Solaris(Katrina's palisman) chirped pleased with Luz's opinion. "I can't wait till I get my own staff."
Jett smiled, "Wanna drive?"
"Yes!" the teen girl scrambled her way to the front of the boy's staff, ignoring that they are high in the air.
Fifteen minutes and three near brushes with death later, they landed the staffs in front of the mountainside. But there was no sign of building.
"Here we are... Headquarter of the Order of the Keepers. It waiting for us beyond the mountainside."
Luz turned back in a clockwise direction.
"Well I do not see an entrance."
"Because it only comes after a pure creature's heart is sacrificed." Jett said dead serious, holding horned rabbit in his right hand.
Luz's eyes widened in fear until that very moment when the boy laughed heartily. The illusion of rabbit disappeared into the dust cloud.
"I'm just joking. You should have seen the look on your face." He said snorting with a chuckle. That joke earned Jett a light smack to the back of the head via Katrina's staff.
"Don't joke like that."
"I made a bet with King that Luz believes that 'make a heart sacrifice' thing. I win."
"Not, cool." Luz replied as crossed her arms and pouted.
"I'll split my prize with you, Sunbeam. Now come on, ladies. Let's go see what bosses want from us."
Now the son of the Owl Lady was walking briskly toward the stone wall he was almost there - and then, quite suddenly, he wasn't anywhere.
Luz turned to Katrina.
"All you have to do is walk straight at the stone wall. Don't stop and don't be scared you'll crash into it." the teen witch fast enters the wall, leaving the girl impressed.
Luz pressed her delicate hands against the wall and began testing the wall. Like scientists studying hieroglyphics of an ancient pyramid, she was analyzing every presented indentation to find what looking for. Her hands fell through a wide opening, her fingers having nearly scraped at the protruding rocks that stacked among themselves like Lego pieces.
"Geronimo!" She cried happily as she rushed through the entrance that led into a brilliantly and very long lit grand hall with a cathedral-like ceiling that reached nearly 700 feet.
The wall's on each side were panelled in shiny dark wood and had many arched passages. Every few moments a male or female character would emerge from one of the many doors, each of them has the Order's symbol on their clothes or wearing jewelry with this symbol initials on it. Like a necklace around Luz's neck.
Around them were mostly witches, but also quite a few mythological magic creature. Some threw curious looks into Luz's direction when they passed, but none openly seemed to care like the Bonesborough witches and demons had when Luz first visited city with Jett and Katrina.
Halfway down the hall was a fountain. Three marble statues, larger than life-size, stood in the middle of a circular pool. Tallest of them all was a noble-looking human sorcerer with eyes peeking at beautiful witch beetwen him and the mystery looking human enchantress.
Glittering jets of water were flying from the ends of the witch staff, the point of the sorcerer's sword, the tip of the enchantress' lance, so that the tinkling hiss of the falling water was added to many Keepers' footsteps echoing here.
A small golden sign on circular pool read: The Mighty Three - Heroes of both worlds.
"Team of Light?"
A high ranking the Keeper approached them and looked down at half folded paper in his hand. He was a tall and muscular troll. He has dark purple stone-like skin with horns that framed his entire face like a lion's mane and four stone-like shards on his back. He wears black pants with five magneta shining lines on each leg. He has brown gloves with his fingers showing.
"Yes." Luz nodded.
He gives them an appraising look for a moment then shakes his head. "Two half-breeds and a outsider."
Though Luz questions if he is actually speaking to them or himself.
"You got a problem with our lineage, spiky?" Jett sounded very challenging.
"I'm Andronikos "The Impenetrable", son of Adamaii "The Adventurous". Watch how you talk to me, half-breed."
"Why he called you "half-breeds"?" Luz asked, but she've no doubt it must've been something bad because her friends facial expression.
"Me and Jett are a witches, but only one of our parents is the witch." Katrina explained calmly, despite her glance, "All trolls clans pride themselves on the fact that keeps the bloodline pure, and don't have a high opinion of multiracial families."
"Or humans who have forsaken the magic." Andronikos facial features are wallowing in a slew of negative emotions, turning his head to Luz.
And at that moment Luz decided that she doesn't like him. The troll's such a racist with bad personal prejudice against others.
"Humans did what they judged to be right." Katrina pointed out.
"And they were right to be scared after everything a both realms went through in the war." Jett added.
"I don't care about your opinion." Andronikos snapped, "I've been appointed to run the whistle test on you. I'm not happy about that. So let's make this as fast as possible. Follow me."
He started walking between the people, not carring If the teenagers follow him or not.
"It's the karma for what we did in our other lives." Katrina said as Luz stuck her tongue at troll.
"What's the whistle test?" Luz asked as they followed a purple troll out.
"I don't know, but I'm going to get the highest score on this test just to annoy him." To emphasize his point, the tip of Jett's fingers glow with sparks of magic.
The training grounds was the size of ten American football fields, and was divided into few smaller sections. Each looked different. All around this place, as far as the eye could see, they saw the Keepers one after the other. Young and old, high ranking and low ranking , the males and females came in a variety of people, the interesting differences in them matched only by the variety of magic or fights methods they displayed as they trained.
"You are all official members of the Order, but you are all still just new Keepers." Andronikos continued as he lead the way. "You have to prove yourself worthy. Not that I expect that you worth anything more than fairy crushed by a dirty sneakers. But the rules are the rules. There are two kinds of test to assess how level of mission may be right for you. First test will take place there on the training ground 7."
The training ground 7 look like a mix of a clearing in a forest and narrowing gorge of ruins.
"So the task is simple and clear. At least one of you has to get the whistle." He pointed at wooden column at the end of the training ground. A silver whistle hung on the hook.
"Who steps out of training ground 7 or get sludge on them. They're out. Okay, who wants to go first?"
Jett raised his hand, but Katrina immediately lowered it.
"So, we just need to get that whistle. Be careful not to get fall out of a training ground 7 or not get sludge on us. That's all." She clarified.
"Exactly, but there's a catch. No magic."
Luz's a little disappointed. She've been practicing with Eda and Jett, and wanted to try a new trick with the light glyph.
"Choose quickly you go individually, or as a group."
"We're team." Katrina gaze turned from Luz to Jett, back and forth. "Let's do this as a team." Luz and Jett nodded in agreement with her.
"Whatever. Are you ready? No? I don't care! GO!"
As the three took off, Andronikos pressed a button on the ground. Suddenly, the training ground 7 sprang to life, battering ram flying from the nowhere, sludge-throwers blowing from ground, the ground shifting and splitting untli make a few long and deep cracks, and sludge traps exposed to the teenagers' view.
The troll was surprised to see what they are doing. He was sure that the both older teenagers left behind a human girl. Trolls always abandoned the weakest link at the first opportunity. And there are none weaker than human, in his opinion.
But the trio were working together. Katrina analyzed everything every trap, every move on the activated training ground, and show them the right way. Jett took upon himself neutralize all traps. And Luz motivate her friends on each step.
They were true team and get on final stretch to their goal in just a few minutes.
Jett, Luz and Katrina almost feeling the sweet taste of victory. But they hadn't stepped three steps, before a purple troll stepped in front of trio.
"What-"
"I'm the final obstacle." They looked to Andronikos, who sneered at trio, thumping the ground with a closed fist in anticipation.
The Team of Light looked at each other in a significant way.
"May I?" Jett asked, pointing at troll.
The girls shared another look with each others. Luz just nodded. Katrina started thinking about something before said, "Okay, Birdbrain, have fun." The both girls stepped backward by three steps.
"That won't be a fair fight." Andronikos crouch down with his right fist touching the ground.
"I can fight you with one hand behind my back." Jett smirk, making "come on" gestures with his hand.
Then troll's face became hard set into a terrifying grimace. He roared, lunging at the smaller teen. His fist was cocked back, aiming straight for Jett' head, but he swung backward out of troll way with ease.
Andronikos attack the son of the Owl Lady again. He sends furious punches at him. Secretly, the troll was very surprised when the boy dodged them all with ease.
Jett had no problems with ducking his fists but a troll's relentless attack had prohibited him from strike back.
"Stand still, you brat!" Andronikos growled, lunging at the almost dancing Jett.
"Make me," Jett responded and then stuck out his tongue.
The teen ran straight at the tree, using his momentum to rebound and slide between his still-attacking opponent's legs. The troll's fist slammed into the tree where he had been previously, making big hole in it.
Andronikos pulled hand from tree and was back on teen, but Jett keep hidden behind Andronikos' back and moves to the side to match troll's movements.
"Like all half-breeds, you're a coward! Come on, half-breed, attack me!"
At this Jett backflipped over troll while he is looking for way to hit him. The teen going punch him in the Adam's apple. Right before Jett could hit him, Andronikos grabbed Jett's wrist.
Andronikos still holding Jett wrist gave a smile. The troll spoke, "This was so the Steel Wings style of figh. But you're still a million miles from his level."
Andronikos punch Jett at the chest, sending him flying through the air to slam hard against the tree. When Jett got back up, he take step towards troll but then realized he was standing behind the line of training ground 7.
"You're out. Any comment on it, half-breed?" Troll snarled. He was perplexed. Instead of admit defeat or spitting a curse on his conqueror, Jett instead did a bizarre action with his hand.
"What exactly is the purpose of showing me a finger?"
"Oh, there's plenty of purpose," the orange haired boy replied, "Ask the New York taxi driver."
A rock smack to his back made Andronikos whirl.
"My turn" Katrina said as she broke down into a stylish warrior stance.
"You like throwing a rocks around, half-breed? Andronikos reached for two sharped longs shards on his back, and broke off them. The broken parts start to grow back even before he throw his shards on the teen witch.
The red head didn't even movie, just eeled her body out of the way of this rocks, bending in ways no actual living creature who wasn't a professional gymnast could possibly do.
The troll raise his right arm up his hand clutch into a fist and started to glow. When Andronikos hit ground, ground shook hard under Katrina's feet causing her tripped and fell. Andronikos was about to kick Katrina, but she rolled away when troll foot left a crack on the ground. With amazing agility, she brought both her legs up, raising her knees to her chest, and then kicked outward.
Katrina's feet impacted solidly with back of Andronikos' knee and she got back up. For a moment it looked like troll lost his balance, then he threw a left fist towards a teen girl.
But, she jumped away as Andronikos threw a right fist towards her, when it hit the ground huge cracks became craters. Katrina charged in and kick him at the stomach. But, instead of pain Andronikos just chuckled.
He took this opportunity to punch the confused young witch. Katrina flew backwards, landing hard on the ground.
Jett leaned over Katrina's still laying body, inspecting it. "Nice of you to drop by, Red."
"Why am I not surprised you two are so weak?" Andronikos asked faking a smile. "What you thought your wretched hits may break my stone skinn?
"It's not like we try beat you." The response shot right out of Katrina and she stood, dusting off her clothes.
"You both fought me!" He yelled, hitting his fist on the ground hard.
"Don't insult us. If I'd tried to kick your ass for reall, you'd be lay unconscious on the floor." Jett huffed.
Troll's eyes narrowed, looking the two over. "So what were you trying to do?
"Distract you." Katrina replied, a small mirroring smile teasing her cousin lips and her.
Andronikos stared, uncomprehending, at teenagers for a moment. Then his pupils dilated of understanding. He turned and saw Luz near the wooden column. The silver whistle at hand.
The troll roared and curled into a ball, launching himself straight towards where Luz stood.
The human teen was reaching for the whistle and flicked one eye as angry troll got closer and closer to her and at the very last moment dived to one side. Andronikos' body collided full force with wooden column with a resounding wham of stone against wood. The thick and large column snapped like a twig and fallen near Luz.
"Here's what happens now," Andronikos growled as he advanced towards the stunned girl.
The troll leaned closer to where he and Luz's face almost touched. "You are a small female the man-cub." He said with contempt. "So, I'll let you hit me with your best shot. And If I will feel something, I will let you go."
Luz recoiled away from him, she really wanted to do it. But she had no doubt that hit him could lead to a badly broken arm. Andronikos smirk and spread his arms, waiting for Luz's punch.
"Hey Luz!" Jett exclaimed, "Remember fight golden rule!"
"What is-" Andronikos was cut off by pain. Doing what the orange haired boy said, Luz attack troll. She sends a one strong kick in accordance with fight golden rule.
The troll's reaction was immediate. Jett and Katrina watched as his eyes bulged out of their sockets, his mouth pursed in that certain where you stop chewing when you realize the food doesn't taste good, and he started to double over into himself. A few male Keepers had to stop themself from noticeably grimacing. They don't feel sorry for troll, but still, all knew Luz had just hit a very sensitive part of the male body.
Andronikos let out an ungodly wail of pain from the back of his throat, and everybody watched as troll falling down on the ground and writhing in pain.
A few seconds after that Luz stood over him and said, "Fight golden rule - When opponent's too tall to hit face or have hard body, always kick them in the gronk-nuks."
"You-"
Andronikos was silenced by a loud whistle, which was hung around Luz's neck now.
"Win." Luz smiled as Jett and Katrina came and stood beside her, both giving her a human-style high five.
"You are definitely the Owl Lady's apprentice." He snapped.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"You shoud."
The speaker was a woman dressed in a green, black, and white uniform. Wings of what appeared to be frozen material, snowflake shaped, hovered behind her.
"Commander, are you alright?" However, her eyes narrowed as understanding dawned on her. "Ah, I see. She got you good, huh?" She commented. "How you feeling?"
"Like I wanna throw up," a troll huffed out. The woman knew that voice from her days in ESMH (Elitar Specialists to Monster Hunting). That was the 'I wanna throw up' voice.
"I warned you not to go to an fight and underestimate the opponent."she said, a hint of a tease back in her tone. "So, do you have anything to say?"
"The little ears are around, I won't say it." He murmurs at a angry voice barely above a whisper, accompanied with a strained swallow.
"Good choose." She helped him hobble over to the bench. She extended a blue nail-tipped finger and formed a blue circle in the air. The rectangular piece of ice fell on troll's lap.
Andronikos moved it and said harshly something that probably supposed to mean "thanks", then he nods his head at the Team of Light.
"You have-"
"Yeah, I got it," she said, holding up a hand to tell him to shut it. Then she back to three teenagers who still standing in this same place.
"Well, for starters, great hit, girl" The woman smiled as give Luz a thumbs-up. Then she bent down, stating lowly, "I often wanted to hit him in the weak spot. He is the biggest douche on the isles. Tell Eda I said "thanks" for teaching you fight golden rule."
"Sure thing."
"Okay, and second of all, I'm Nova." The woman said as she straightened, "I'm going tested Jett and Katrina for power and level of magic."
"But not me?"
Nova knew by Luz's the look that she really wanted to go with her skills as a young Keeper.
"We've already got the full report on your magic, so you're off the hook on that test...for now." The woman said, flipping through paper in their portfolio, "When you learn your second spell we'll meet in my gym."
"I'm supposed to wait here 'til you finished?"
"If you want to tour on the headquarter, don't hesitate. I personally recommend our library." Nova winked at girl, "These books are clear knowagle but subtle mystery, and they would easy draw you into the reading."
Luz nodded, taking that in.
Notes: Hey everyone! Hope you liked this chapter.
Let me know what you think in the comments. Always appreciate y'all!
