It was the day of the Covention, and Amity had been practicing with her new abomination for the last four days. School was cancelled for the event, and everyone from Bonesborough and all the way up the Titan's right arm was likely to be here. As expected, Emira and Edric hadn't waited for their little sister before doing whatever they had planned, so Amity had to walk on her own to the Covention Hall. The roads and forests of the Boiling Isles could be dangerous, but today they were so populated that most beasts likely wouldn't attempt to find a quick meal lest they run into a powerful witch willing to turn them into dust.
The Hall was one of the largest buildings on the Boiling Isles outside of the Emperor's Palace, a place she hoped to visit herself some day. Banners of the primary nine covens hung from the ceiling in every room, accompanied by booths on the floor and floating halfway up the walls of the hundreds of other minor covens that witches and demons could sample, or even join on the spot. Some people were crowding nearly every doorway on the floor to get from section to section, while others were on their staffs, visiting the floating booths and making their way to and fro with relative ease. Amity couldn't wait to get her own staff and palisman this year.
As eager as she was to attend, see the booths, and enter the presentation to show off her skills, the crowds were uncomfortable navigating them alone, giving her a sense of not belonging, and she crossed her arms as she slowly moved into the mass of people. She could hear other witches theorizing on who the 'mystery guest' could be, and Amity smirked. She had been tutored by Lilith, the head of the Emperor's Coven and the Emperor's top enforcer of his will. It had been a few months since she had last visited the manor, and Amity was excited to demonstrate all she had learned. Lilith was her straight path to success, and Amity tingled with excitement despite the jostling of people.
Once through the archway, she found herself slowly moving by various booths trying to pass off their free merchandise and attempting to persuade coven goers to take a brochure as well and listen to their spiel about why their coven was the best. Amity had to admit that immediately joining the Abomination Coven was tempting. To get that choice about her future out of the way and continue moving forward, the chance to reach the top of the coven ladder stayed her hand. The hard work she had put in over just the last few days had renewed her confidence in herself since the debacle at school, and she was ready.
She found herself in front of a booth for the Debate Coven, considering how well she would probably excel on such a track with carefully researched facts and knowledge of various topics that people would likely waste their time debating when her eye caught an assortment of posters plastered to a stone pillar beside the booth. She had seen it around the Bonesborough market, and even heard her parents talk about the witch depicted on it. The Owl Lady. A frightening looking witch dressed in blood red and sporting a full head of unkempt grey hair, with a single sharp fang and seemingly threatening the viewer with a fireball in one hand. A scared, grey demon-dog… thing was in the lower corner of the poster, presumably part of the trillion snail reward for her capture. "What idiot worth that much bounty would show their face here?" Amity scoffed with a curt laugh, walking away. She shot a glare at the next booth's attendants… the Illusionist coven, when they moved to cast their showy phantasms to keep them away from her when another witch appeared on her right.
"The tea leaves foretell that this…" a purple haired witch with a black cowl over her head whispered in her ear. She brandished a pen with The Oracle Coven engraved in gold along the side and twirled it in her fingers. "Will lead you to your destiny."
Amity batted the pen away out of reflex of having someone enter her personal space by surprise. "Get away from me! I already know my destiny." She insisted with a growl. The other witch frowned, but moved away to pick up the pen again to hand off to the next rube. The incessant noise of speaking crowds was beginning to grate on Amity's nerves, and she surveyed the room for somewhere quieter to collect her thoughts when she spied the white cloaks and beak-like masks of a pair of Emperor's Coven scouts guarding the Orator's Hall. The noise and crowds around her faded out and she couldn't repress her grin. Getting closer through the crowd revealed more scouts lining velvet ropes herding people into the doorway. They stood stoically in their grey suits, gold Emperor sigil pins binding their cloaks on, and shadowed faces beneath their masks. Everything about them was amazing, and Amity pushed her way forward despite the uncomfortable jostling from the crowd around her.
Being so much shorter than most of the adult witches and demons around her made getting anywhere and seeing anything a challenge, but Amity was determined to get a front row seat to the presentation. She followed a hunched over elderly demon with long ears that stuck out from under what appeared to be the skinned hide and skull of yet another demon. His long nose and tired, sunken yellow eyes were a bit unnerving, but less so than the long sharp fingernails that he drooped over the wall that surrounded the pit where the presentation would be taking place. The auditorium was a grand room, with bleachers facing inward to a pit where witches duels often took place once upon a time, and had been repurposed for coven recruitment and more entertainment purposes in years past. Emperor's sigils were everywhere, as well as banners and posters that announced how Emperor Belos or Lillith wanted 'YOU' to join a coven.
She sat down with a space between herself and the demon, and he looked over at her and smiled softly. "Ah, you're that young Blight girl, aren't you?"
Amity returned the smile and nodded. "Yes, sir. Amity Blight."
"Amity! Yes. I remember teaching your parents. Tell me, Amity; is this your first covention?"
"No. I've been coming to coventions for as long as I can remember. We would always come as a family…" she added, then frowned, feeling suddenly alone again.
"Well that's nice to hear. Family should stick together." The demon said, slowly wearing his own frown. "Are your parents here today? I'd love to meet them again. Y'know, your mother…"
"No." Amity said, unintentionally cutting him off. "I mean. No, not today. Sorry."
Before the old demon could finish his story, the lights dimmed and the crowd began to hush, a single spotlight centering on the stage. Wisps of green smoke began to appear on the stage and coagulate in the light as Principal Bump rose from the floor with his arms outstretched. A roar reverberated through the crowd all around the pit and Amity winced in annoyance. Why couldn't people just enjoy things with civility?
Principal Bump drew a small ring of magic in the air, and a winged microphone appeared, fluttering its leathery wings in place at head height. "Hello, Bonesborough!" He announced in a booming voice that could clearly be heard through the auditorium, waiting for the crowd to quiet again. "Students ask me all the time, 'Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?'" He asked with a shrug.
Some student sitting behind her asked aloud, "Is it this?" Drawing a small spell circle by his own temple, he head swelled to such a proportion that he no longer had the strength to hold it up, and he fell to the side onto the blue swine demon child that sat beside him. Amity rolled her eyes at the student's idiocy and turned back to the presentation.
Principal Bump frowned, looking embarrassed. "Wow. I failed you as a principal." He plucked the winged microphone out of the air to hold it closer. "It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the coven system and the enforcers of His will," he said with a flourish as three of the Emperor's scouts rose out of the floor. "The Emperor's Coven!"
"Whoa…" Amity heard someone whisper from behind, and she nodded in agreement.
Bump began pacing back and forth on the stage, presenting the three witches before him to the crowd. "Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic!" The trio of scouts each drew a white spell circle over their heads and from each, a bolt of energy. From one, fire; from the next, a stream of water, and finally a bolt of yellow lightning arced up from the third. The three streams shot toward the ceiling and met, exploding into a shower of confetti that made the crowd go wild. Amity simply sat still, paying attention despite the red filaments of paper that fell around her.
Principal Bump continued to pace once the crowd calmed down again. "Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all- yes, all forms of magic!" When there was no reaction, he added, "Oo! Aah!" Causing the suggestible crowd to repeat him. "But... only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!" He said, and he pointed a finger directly at Amity.
Finally! The recognition she deserved. She couldn't help herself and she grinned, squealing excitedly. Yes! Today would be her moment!
The three guardsmen grabbed their white cloaks and seemed to disappear into them, fading into a smokey white light. "And now," Principal Bump continued. "I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest! You know her, you love her! Lillith!"
The crowd let out a collective gasp as a flash of light high above appeared, forming into the blue, wireframe image of a raven perched on a staff. It spread its wings and dived from its place, before stretching out its talons a short distance from the stage floor and wrapping its wings around a figure. A great field of light filled the pit, causing the crowd to wince for a moment before it disappeared, leaving a woman clad in black robes. She wore a more ornamental version of the white cloak that the scouts wore with a more ornate and narrow, bird-like mask as well. She threw her arms out to the side, doffing the white cloak and mask and tossing it back onto Principal Bump.
Bump stepped away, carrying the cloak and mask in an undignified manner. "Thank you, all!" She shouted, her voice carrying easily through the hall, even without amplification. She clasped her hands together, conveying a posture of humility. "It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings." She said, with sad, closed eyes. Lillith then turned back to face the audience with a risen fist. "Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!"
Lillith spun in place, drawing a magical circle of blue light around herself as the illusion of the raven appeared once again, filling the pit with its luminescent wings. It screeched before exploding into orbs of light that filled the entire auditorium and Lillith stood upon the stage with a rightfully confident grin. Eventually, the lights faded, and Lillith began to speak again, standing straight with one arm behind her back, and her other hand emphasizing each announcement she made. "Every year since our illustrious Emperor lifted us from the Savage Ages, we have selected one new member of the Emperor's Coven from each region of the Boiling Isles. Only the best, the brightest, and the most loyal can even hope to be indicted into our halls of the palace, but rest assured that the Emperor has a plan for every witch that joins a coven!"
Cheers erupted once again and Lilith allowed it to continue for a few minutes before holding up a hand, silencing the auditorium so immediately it was eerie. "I will return in a few hours for a question and answer session. Please, enjoy the convention and I look forward to seeing all of you on the floor!" Amity knew she would have to seek Lilith out, hopefully before all of her lesser fans surrounded her for trivial autographs and the sort.
Amity stood and nearly sprinted out of the hall in an effort to beat the crowd out of the doorway and slowing to a more dignified pace once in sight of the scouts. She lifted a brochure for the Emperor's Coven from the booth outside of the hall that was manned by a particularly bored looking scout and found a place off to the side of the exiting traffic where she shouldn't be run over. The brochure listed several requirements for even being considered being recruited by the coven, and Amity mentally checked off each one. It was likely that by this time next year, once she was sixteen, she would be able to challenge for a place in their ranks.
Without warning, Amity was shoved forward, causing her to drop the brochure and nearly lose her balance. She spun around with a growl, "Watch where you're…" she glared. Surprise and recognition contorted her face as before her stood the less sticky and gooey creature that had cost her her Top Student badge last week at school. "Oh, it's you. Willow's abomination… thing."
"Uh, hey Amity." The girl replied. She was less purple and grey now, with dark brown hair, light brown skin, and lighter hazel eyes that seemed to sparkle. Most of the witches and demons occupying the Covention Hall were either wearing their school uniforms or professional clothing, but this… thing's clothes stood out with bright colors in materials that Amity didn't recognize. "So funny story: Not an abomination. Sorry for the confusion last week." She continued, jutting out a hand. "I'm Luz. The human. Hi…"
Amity slapped the offered hand away in disgust. "Put that away." She ordered, pointing a finger into Luz's chest. "You're the one that got me in trouble with Principal Bump, and I never get in trouble." Amity crossed her arms in discomfort, turning away in an effort to further ignore the girl.
Luz, unfortunately, wasn't adept at taking a hint. "Well to be fair, you were okay with him trying to dissect me, so…"
Amity rolled her eyes and spun around to poke a finger into Luz's chest again. "You can't be here! This Covention is for witches only."
Again, Amity's point seemed lost on the human. "Well, I'm learning how to be a witch." She smiled proudly. "I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch, and a ferocious demon."
This human was irritatingly excitable and was refusing to leave Amity's personal space. Her eye caught sight of the grey, furry creature from the wanted poster behind Luz, and she leaned to the side to get a better look. He was dressed in several different coven jerseys, a cap, a scarf, several bracelets, and holding a pan of pastries with two witches from the baker's coven following behind it. "Is that your ferocious demon there?" Amity asked.
The little furry demon seemed to wear another creature's skull upon his head, or perhaps his own skull was exposed, with what would be a set of vicious teeth overhanging his tiny bottom jaw. He stuffed his face with a cupcake before stealing another from the baker witches, then ran off toward Luz. "Oh, hey Luz! Look at all these offerings…" The tiny creature got halfway to his human friend before clumsily tripping on his scarf, sprawling himself across the floor and tossing his cupcake further on at Amity's feet.
Amity looked down at the cherry topped pastry. Some of its icing had rubbed off in the fall, but it was still relatively presentable for the tumble it had taken. She then looked at Luz, who had bent down to help the small furry demon. Flashes of the past week went through Amity's mind, from losing her Top Student badge, watching Willow finally excel at her own magical plant skills, and Principal Bump admitting that the reason her brother and sister never got in trouble, and now Amity herself, was because of her parent's wealth. A part of her was beginning to understand Edric and Emira's apathy to their studies. Was any of her success as a student her own work? Her vision narrowed on the cupcake and it suddenly symbolized all the stress she had been put through the last few days.
She lifted her boot and crushed it under her heel, feeling an immediate surge of satisfaction. "Oops." She smiled, heaving a sigh. "That was an accident."
Luz looked up at her from her kneeling position with an angry glare. "Why are you being so mean, Amity?!"
"Because you and your pet are giving witches in training a bad name!" Amity argued. She wanted to add 'Like me', but she was certain if this pretender was allowed to continue to make a mockery of schools like Hexside, every student would be involved eventually. Like The Good Witch Azura, she would be the hero that would stand against this villain.
"I am not a pet!" The small creature shouted, scratching his cheek with a hind leg, ironically proving her point.
Luz hugged the gruesome thing tightly to comfort him. "He's a very good boy, and the King of Demons!" She said in anger, but Amity remained unintimidated. She had heard the stories of how dangerous humans were. They had no magic. Not like witches did. "I'll tell you what, Amity…" she began, standing up and moving toward Amity with balled fists. "It's one thing to say that I can't be a witch…"
"Cause you can't." Amity interrupted, a smug smile pulling at her lips.
"But it's another thing to bully my friends. Just like the Good Witch Azura said when facing down her rival Hecate at the Bog of Immediate Regret…" Luz said, pointing a finger a short way from Amity's face. "I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!"
The entire Covention Hall seemed to fall silent for a moment before gasps could be heard from attendees and booth workers alike. Amity closed her eyes and took a step forward, moving past Luz's outstretched arm. She was about to ruin this girl's whole future. Getting into Luz's face, she grinned. "I accept."