Chapter: When Bligh Met Human
Lilith always looked forwards to her training sessions with her apprentice. Teaching next generation of witches about magic had always been a passion of hers; she was secretly sure that if the Coven hadn't snapped her up she would have ended up teaching at school; and she had never meet a young mind quite like Amity. The girl matched raw skill with a fierce drive to be the best, and Lilith relished their time together as a result.
Of course her great pride is Katrina. The raven witch is very proud of her own daughter, and love spending time with her and teaching her more about magic. Even if Katrina doesn't really need Lilith help, she always came to mother looking for advice or ask about help with a some spell. Always willing to learn about new things from Lilith.
Both Katrina and Amity still wants to improve their skills. Although there is a big difference between Amity and Katrina's lesson and their incentive to learning. Lilith've always known that.
Katrina was curious of the magic, she enjoyed getting to know various spells and all kind of magic secrets. She did this for herself, develop knowledge, skills and power for her. And she didn't much care for if she is the best at everything or she isn't.
Amity spent her entire training for perfection. Magic serves one purpose only, and that's to be the greatest witch of all. And sometimes Lilith wonder if Amity really wants to do it all, or just she's determined to meet the expectations of her parents.
However, the youngest of the Blight family putting her heart and mind into training.
Lilith can still see it, even now.
Amity looked into a spell book before pointing her wand forward, drawing a spell circle before forming a fireball and shooting at a training dummies. The spell hit perfectly as the arms and head was destroyed and left just the corps with empty neck, flame covered training dummie and grass under it.
"Well done." The raven witch extinguished the fire using water spell, "However, before we move on to another step, I want you to try do this without a wand."
Admittedly, Amity had only cast this spell without a training wand once before. But Lilith had to assess what fire spell level is her apprentice on.
The teen just nodded as she drew a spell circle with her right hand before focusing the circle with both. She concentrated and slowly mold the circle until it rose up and became a magenta fire before her.
And while Amity was focusing on magic flame in her hands, she saw out of the corner of her eye Harlow and Luz wending their way to another part of garden.
"Amity!"
Lilith voice reached a girl's ears exactly one second before she lost control of the fire and purple flame burn her hands. And then the spell dispersed into the air, but the pain was still there. Lilith came close, making sure that fire is gone and then asked if her student's okay.
Despite the pain Amity answered with a composure and calm. "I'm sorry for this incydent, it won't happen again."
"Did you get burned?"
Amity went silent in response, involuntary stepping back. But smudge of dark red colour that instantly caught Lilith's attention.
"Show me your hands."
"I'm fine." The young witchling quickly rebuffed. "Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Lilith, but it's unnecessary."
"Amity, show me your hands." Lilith said, gentle but firm.
Amity swallowed hard, seeming afraid. Finally, she conceded, raising her hands up. She flinched as she felt Lilith's fingernails brush her skin, the witch carefully checking a girl's palms.
"Second-degree burns. The spell was strong when you lost your focus."
A quick glance up revealed Amity was tense, almost as if she was afraid of what was coming next; Lilith kept that thought to herself.
The witch's been tough with Amity teachings, frankly she was rather stern as a teacher to everyone she've learn this kind of spells. Magic is just amazing in every possible way, but it may be very dangerous. Amity had a fresh burn on her hands just confirms that.
However, Lilith considered mistakes are part of the learning. Yet Amity try hide if anything comes wrong. Not only today.
"It's not good to hide your wounds." Lilith circled one finger in the air, feeling the tiniest surge of magic through her hands. Amity's hands glowed blue. A bit of healing magic here and teen's hands were good as new.
Amity just took her hands back, opening and closing her healed hands for any pain. "I'm very apologize for my mistake. It won't happen again."
Softening her voice, Lilith said, "There's really no need to be ashamed. A lot of witches make the mistake when trying to master new spells without training wand."
Something indiscernible flashes through Amity's eyes before she said very quiet. "Making mistakes is a sign of weakness. Blights can't make mistakes."
Right. The stigma of being Blight. In their minds, they're different from the rest of witches. Better. Infallible. Amity's parents has built the image of their family. No matter what happens. Blight must be perfect. And they put this stuff in their kids' heads. Hard way.
"When you are here, you aren't Amity Blight. You're just Amity, my apprentice. And you can make a mistake."
"Mist-"
"To make no mistakes is not in the power of witches; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." Lilith declared, "And you can't just pretend mistake didn't happen."
Amity wouldn't look at her, but pawed at her glisten eyes as she stared at the ground.
"I don't want to see you hurt like this; you're my apprentice, and it's my responsibility to keep you safe during our lessons." Lilith put her hand on Amity's shoulder. "If you tried to cast a spell and failed. Admit it. I won't be mad. You can trust me with anything. Do you understand?"
"Yes mom."
Amity froze at the accidental slip of the tongue. It was embarrassing for her, and what's worse, it wasn't the first time she called her mentor that.
Unsure what to do, Amity just said she'd like to try again with the spell.
"Maybe later."
"Later?" She doesn't know how to take that, finding it difficult to interpret Lilith's expression.
"Yes," the raven witch just said, "Let's take a quick tea break."
Amity just nodded. Tips of her pointy ears were still a light pink.
Minutes later, both of them was sitting under an apple tree and dropping random stuff like "school" and "weather" into their little casual conversation, drinking tea
The teen feeling relaxed during this. However, Lilith's next sentence just broke her peace. "I want to know what happened while practicing."
Amity avoided eye contact with her mentor.
"Everything was going fine until..."
"I was distracted by something." She admitted.
"Luz." That wasn't a question.
"Yes. I saw her walking with Mr. Harlow, and my mind just began to wander."
"I understand." Lilith felt like she hadn't said enough. "It's a lot to proces, meet with a teen human who can use magic and belong to the Order of the Keepers. Honestly, I still cannot believe that Luz is my sister's student."
Amity was surprised to hear that. She never meet the other Clawthorne, but she have heard much about her mentor's sister. The Owl Lady is known in the Boiling Isles; a powerful wild witch every Coven wants recruit despite her behaviour and multiple infractions. The only person who had permission to human artifacts trade... And now the mentor of the human Keeper.
"Mrs. Lilith, if I may ask... What's so special about this human that the leaders of the Order decided to make her one of keepers?"
"I don't know the Council of Four' motives." Lilith said, putting aside her cup of tea. "Maybe there's something in Luz that was never before seen by anyone. Maybe they thought only she can be part of the team with Katrina and Jett. Or maybe they just want to know if she'll become the witch."
"There is a possibility she will become the witch?" Amity asked, but it sounded more like an partial denial.
"Luz is determined to each that goal."
"But she can't. I'm right? Ultimately, the laws of magic have this special property. And according to them, no human can become a true witch."
"Luz's different than any other human, and I don't mean ability to use magic. Despite being human, she seems fit in this realm. Almost like humans in the harmony age. Also my sister is the one who teaching Luz how to be witch. And Edalyn has always liked to break rules."
Lilith was about to say more when she noticed Luz and Kayda walking over from across the garden.
"Sorry to bother you," Luz said, once within speaking distance. "But Harlow wanted me to tell Lilith that he got called up to see the seven Shaman Elders so he'll be unreachable for a few hours."
"Did he say why?" Lilith asked.
Instead of answering her, Luz hand her a origami irys. So, everything is fine. Harlow always left Lilith a origami flowers when he can't tell her to much about his shaman clan meeting. Irys mean - important but not dangerous. Lilith wouldn't be ashamed to admit that she was relieved to know that her husband is not in trouble.
A new sound broke the silent. Lilith's scroll was going off, the sound of a classic the Boiling Isles song coming from it. Amity practically recoiled at the song and Luz gave her a weird look. Lilith needed a moment to process the message content.
'My beloved is not the only one who has an emergency meeting.' The witch thought as she summoned her staff.
"Amity, we'll continue lesson tomorrow." She told her protégé, and then turned to her sister's student. "Luz, you better wait for Katrina in the livingroom, spirits shouldn't have bothered you in that room."
"So, look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Miss. Lilith." Amity said while Luz nodded.
Lilith smiled a tiny smile as a withe raven at top of her staff flapped its wings and began their ascent. Then she gone, leaving the two teens and a little dragon alone.
Theye were silent for a moment.
Luz broke the silence. "Soooo... What have you learned these past 2 hours?"
"Like I said before, it's none of your business."
"Is it some kind of secret training?"
"What part of 'none of your business' don't you understand?" Amity asked irritably.
"I'm just curious." the other girl raised her hands up in defense and stepped back.
"Take an interest in human things."
"The witch things are more interesting." Luz replied.
"What are you really up to?" The witch girl asked coldly and the human one blinked in surprise.
"Look, you and I got off to a bit rocky start here, and I know you rather has a bad opinions about humans. But I would like to try to make friends with you."
"No witch will ever be human's friend."
"I already have a few witches friends." As evidence, Luz raised a hand on which wrist she wore a friendship band from Jett and Katrina. Gus and Willow also added their magic strings to it some time ago.
"You're friends with a witchlings?" Normally, Amity wouldn't believe it. But a strings to friendship band can only be created when witch calls the other person a friend.
"Yes." She smiled. After an appropriate pause for dramatic effect, Luz spoke again. "And I believe that I can make friends with you."
"No." One short word. But so full of anger.
The look on Amity's face was true, there was no option to hiding behind calculated expressions, that reaction was all honest. Eyes wide, fists clenched, tension riddled her body. Anger and despise radiated from her aura as she turned to Luz with force.
Her eyes instinctively fell to silver necklace of keepers star on Luz's neck. And that's make the witchling more angry. The Order of the Keepers is one of the most respectable organization in The Boiling Isles. Even Amity's parents felt respect towards the the Council of Four.
Each magic user would be honored to be the Keeper. And the girl in front of Amity isn't even a witch. She's human. A human have been chosen as the Keeper. It wasn't right. Humans know nothing about magic. Human kind exhausted magic in their realm.
And this human girl acted like he didn't know what her kind did. She had the nerve to say that they can be friends.
"You and I will never be friends. I don't know why the Council of Four made you one of Keepers. Bur I know that you're not fit to be a Keeper. Human like you have no right to using magic. Especially after all you kind have done."
The witchling's ears pressed tightly against the side of her head as she poke her finger in Luz's chest.
Kayda hissed suddenly at the tone of Amity's words. Just a warning noise to tell Amity she shouldn't touch the dragon's 'mommy'. Amity ignored it. So, Luz petted dragon's head until the drake calmed down.
"That's why I hereby declare you my rival. And I'll do everything I can to show everybody you are nothing compared to true magic user. To true witch from Magic Realm. And prove you aren't worth this necklace."
With those words, Amity walked past Luz, wanting to go home. But stopped.
"This is my advice, and you should take it. Go back to your world. This one is ours. Human."
And then she walked awey.
Luz wasn't trying to stop her.
Harlow warned her that Amity would say something like that. Blight family believed that humans are savages who pose a threat to all magic species. And Amity's parents expects her to be best of all. The Keepers are considered a special kind of person with incredible potential. So, the fact that human teen was chosen as the Keeper, Amity took it as a personal umbrage.
Yet, Luz was hoping that the witchlings could give this friendship a chance. She really want to show her that humans aren't like the Blight family think.
Kayda growled as if to say, 'see, what'd I tell you?'
Luz petted her dragon who was seated next to her left leg. "I just need some time to win her over with this."
The dragon just puffed out some smoke from her snout.
In the meantime, Douxie, the last human wizard and Morgan's foster child was slowly moving in a dark isolated cave at the foot of a mountain. Those rock tunnels were part of his live, he knows every single scratch, curve and pit on that place. For him this place is the same even after so many years. Well, almost the same.
It's too quiet, too calm.
The teen continued his stride towards Morgan's cave, a place involved in shadow magic where she introduced him to a secrets of other side of magic. Where Douxie learned that magic is a double-edged blade.
One side light, the other dark. It doesn't matter what kind of magic we use, all that matters is what we were using it you have to respect all sides of magic, Douxie. Those were the first words Morgan uttered to him in this place.
A whole bunch of her other lessons echo inside Douxie's head while he went down the cave.
The deeper and deeper he walked more traces of a more civilized interior started to appear before him. Into the cave's interior was a slight flickering light of fluorescent crystal, Douxie passed the entrance carved in old wood, tenderly stroking the runes of protection carved on the door frame.
Runes were the work of Merlin.
Admittedly, Merlin considered the black/shadow magic is nothing but trouble. But even he subscribe to the old rule that Light needs dark, dark needs light. He respect Morgan and shadow magic. That's why Merlin made sure that nobody could come in here but he, Morgan Douxie and Archie.
Because right inside was Morgan's library of dark magic and secret enchantress knowledge…
Technically, Douxie shouldn't have come to this place. Morgan has made it clear that she taught him everything he need and what he might know.
But the last human wizard was kind of desperate. He kept having the most horrible nightmares. And the worst part was that he can't remember anything about this bad dreams. He just woke with a feelings of fear and apprehension and worry.
While Archie considered nightmares are a result of binge-watched all Stranger Things seasons. Something tells Douxie it's something else. And he has to know what the dreams about.
That's why right now he moved through the shadows of the bookcases. He searched for a book or two that could provide him with some assistance. He found one that he thought might do and removed it from the shelf, moving into the direct line of the lamp's light to check it out.
It was a goldish, light brown tome with thick embroidery starting from the edge of the clasps ending just past the center of the cover. Across the cover in bright white letters it read; "Dream Land: Delightful space somewhere between dreams and reality."
He swept his eyes across the first chapter; Sleep-based Abilities.
Dream Walker
The power to manipulate dreams is a sub-power of Sleep Manipulation.
User can create, shape, enter and manipulate the dreams of oneself and others, including modifying, suppressing, fabricating, influencing, manifesting, sensing, and observing dreams as well as nightmares, daydreams, etc., possibly including past ones. They can produce and modify dreams, bestow nightmares or lucid dreaming, entrap people in REM, and promote spiritual/emotional healing within dreams.
In some cases, user's power extends to the real world, such as wounds inflicted on a sleeping victim, healed damage (mental or physical) affecting the physical form, and other wise blurring the line between waking and dream. They may be able to pull someone from the waking world into the dream world or brings people/things from the dream world into the waking world.
The ability to enter the dreams of another person is mix power of Dream Manipulation and Telepathy.
Sometimes there's someone who can shape his dreams into whatever he wants — or shape your dreams, for that matter. They can send you into Your Worst Nightmare. They can trap you in a Dream Within a Dream, or help you resolve something in a Vision Quest. They can even kill you in your dreams. They can be villains or heroes, but dreams are their domain. They are a Dream Weaver.
The opposite of a Dream Weaver, is a Dream Stealer that steals/destroys/eats the dreams of others, usually because they gain something from doing so. Dream Stealer themselves are normally unable to dream and want to experience it, very ofen dreams are the food source of their species, or they're just doing it for fun.
Douxie's eyes raced over the texts and pages, sifting through them for relevant information.
• Oneiricpotence, power to possess infinite power while in dreamworld...
• Unconsciousness Inducement power of cause organisms to fall asleep, whether instantaneously or more naturally...
"That's not what I'm looking for." The teen wizard heard soft echoes of the flutter of the turning pages, as they were fast rifled by his fingers.
"Chapter XIII - Dreamcatchers; Hiding and revealing our dreams." Douxie muttered along with the book. Finally, he'd found something important. He already knew about dream land basic rules, the special wizards dream vision fase he went through every few years, and all of that. He wanted to know why this time he can't remember his dream, or what he shoud do to remember.
Dreamcatchers (otherwise known as the spider web charm) are magical and non-magical talismans. Only few know all about these items and the power they contain.
Magical dreamcatchers allow people to view others' dream. In order to do it, one must wave it over someone to catch a dream. However, a magic user can also use a stronger shadow magic to get the image on the dreamcather without waving it over someone, but it way could be very unpredictable. Because it is not certain that the dreamcatcher show the dream of right person.
It can also be used to extract someone's dream into the dreamcatcher. After then, one can also split the dreams of several people into separate dreamcatchers.
The power of dreamcatcher is dependent on elements from which it is made.
If a user fills dreamcatcher up with the right amount of their magic, then dreamcatcher has also the power to let user travel to Dreamscape and anyone's dream, but only when user is sleeping. So all they has to do is start sleeping by relaxing, keep their eyes closed, and feel falling asleep, and can travel.
CAUTION! It is nevertheless important to remember that this kind of dreamcatcher may have accidentally bring in someone to user's dream, but only if user spend too much time thinking about that person.
Douxie's lips twitched in hesitant thought, his thumb brushing against book cover as he skimmed through the instruction on how to made the dream catchers.
"I don't have all the elements... but maybe that's enough to make one dreamcatcher that record fragment of my dreams." He said to himself.
Author Note: I wish anyone had hoped for 'love at first sight' when Luz meet Amity. That would be boring. Don't worry they won't be enemies/one-side rivals forever.
Also Amity and Lilith has a closer relationship in this story than in the cannon. Lilith is mother in my AU and she know Amity for long time, so her maternal instinct kicking in. And Amity parents... well let's say they get Adaptational Abusive Parents Upgrade
Tiny spoiler for future... Douxie will come up in the next few chapters.
P.S
In the coming weeks, you will notice some changes in my updates schedule. Because, I'm starting a new job. So, I may be a bit busy. But I will try still update regularly. See ya! :)
