Adalyn strolled down the halls of the school as she listened to her two friends talk. They chatted for a bit about what exactly their plans were for after school. They thought about the movies, or even hanging out at one of their houses. Though personally she just wanted to be by herself for the day. Spend her day sketching out her ideas in her notebook. Yet her friends always insisted that she spent their time off together. She enjoyed it of course, but she always felt so drained afterward.

She was amazed at how her friends could just talk on and on for so long. Honestly, she wished she had the social talent to carry a conversation so easily. She was the team captain after all. She led her team just fine, but casual conversation always seemed like a chore. She wished she could be like Luz.

Someone unafraid to be themselves. Luz seemed like someone who didn't care what others thought of her. With the griffon's breathing spiders thing, and The incident at the tryouts. Of course, Adalyn was a little disturbed by some of the things Luz did, but she also found herself fascinated by just how unrestrained someone could be. The complete opposite of her. She wanted to get to know Luz and find out what ticked inside that brain of hers. Maybe some of that unbridled energy would rub off on her if she got to know Luz.

"-Lyn hello you there!"

Her train of thought broke when she heard her nickname called out to her by one of her friends. It appeared as if they were trying to get her attention for a while.

"Huh, what?" Adalyn looked towards her two friends beside her. She stopped in the hall when she saw her friends stop walking. This happened more than Adalyn liked to admit. Losing focus of everyone else around her while she thought to herself.

"We were just saying how we never actually visited your house before." The long brown-haired friend spoke matter of factly.

"Yeah, I think it's about time you invite us over!" The curly black haired friend Agreed.

"What?! No no no, that's... I don't really... I told you before my place isn't really that special. Nothing fun for us to do there." Adalyn admitted nervously. She really couldn't afford to let them see her house. She didn't want to have to avoid the endless teasing that would come from it. They already teased her for being the quiet one in the group when they were out and about. Honestly, she didn't like it, but she laughed along with it regardless. After all good friends did that type of stuff, right?

"Ah come on, this again." The brown-haired girl sighed in exasperation.

"Listen, girl. We have to come to your place. It's the one thing in this town we have yet to do together, and I'm not gonna take no for an answer. Kay?" The black-haired girl demanded.

"I don't really want to though..." Adalyn answered quietly. She rubbed her arm uncomfortably as she tried in vain to dissuade the others.

"Ugh, Why?! You're always like this. Why do you always have to ruin the fun? 'I want to leave' this. 'I have something to do' that. You flake out on us so often. Sometimes I feel like you don't want to hang out." The brown-haired girl scolded.

"No, I do! It's just after being with you guy's for 3 hours after school I kind of get tired." Adalyn wanted to say something different but she just couldn't think up the right word she was looking for. Unsurprisingly her friends didn't take it well.

"Tired? Are we boring to you or something is that it?" The brown-haired girl sneered, insulted.

"That's not what I meant!" Adalyn exclaimed defensively as she put her hands up in front of her.

"Fine. Okay. Whatever. Let's just get over to your house then. Okay?" The Black haired girl dismissed.

"...Alright." That wasn't fair. Guilt-tripping her like that. She really didn't want to bring them to her house, but what else was she supposed to do? They were her only friends. She didn't want to make them hate her.

"Hey. now was that so hard!" The brown-haired girl said patting Adalyn on the shoulder. Wrapping her arm around Adalyn's neck. "Come on let's get going."

"Okay." Adalyn gave in to her friend's demands. hoping that she wouldn't get in trouble with her Dad for bringing guests without his prior notice. "I'll show you which bus I take."

Adalyn subtly pulled away from her friend's embrace and began to walk slightly faster so she would stay just far away enough to appear like she was leading them. In actuality, she just wanted to get away from them a bit. She really needed to think up just how she could get through this without the two of them finding out.

Just as she turned the corner she felt herself bump into someone. both of them stumbled backward with a grunt of shock. Adalyn was mortified. she was so busy in her head again she managed to ram right into someone.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't... I wasn't watching where I was going!" Adalyn apologized profusely as she did small bows repeatedly with her eye's closed. It took her a few seconds to realize what she was doing and her face quickly flushed red with embarrassment. She was doing it again. Adalyn quickly straightened herself up and opened her eyes. She looked around herself hoping no one noticed. Especially her friends.

"That's fine I wasn't looking either." A familiar voice assured. Adalyn looked back to the person she ran into and was shocked to see just who it was.

"Luz?" Adalyn was surprised. She was just thinking about Luz a while ago, and here she was. The fearless bundle of energy that she wanted to know more of.

"Yeah. That's me! good ol' Luz reporting!" Luz said with an enthusiastic salute. Adalyn couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. Amused by Luz's energetic attitude.

"I haven't talked to you since the tryouts"

"Yeah. Hehehe. The tryouts. Good times." Luz looked back on the event with an awkward smile, rubbing the back of her hand nervously.

"How have you been?" Adalyn asked. It was really more an automatic greeting though.

"Good. Pretty good."

"I see." Adalyn tried to think of what to say next, but she just couldn't think of anything. They stood like that for a few seconds. Adalyn really couldn't find the words she wanted to say, and she could feel the awkwardness permeating through the air because of it. Luz didn't really seem too into the conversation either, making Adalyn feel panicked and desperate. So she decided to get straight to the point. The thing she wanted to know the moment they met again. "Uhh, This may be out of the blue, but how would you like to come hang out with me?".

"What? Y-you serious?" Luz was astonished. Someone actually wanted to hang out with her? Honestly, she never expected this to happen, and by someone, she thought might have not even wanted to talk to her again after her impulsive actions. Just as Luz was about to agree She heard a voice come from behind Adalyn.

"Lyn. What are you doing talking to her?" Both Luz and Adalyn looked to the two girls that turned the corner. Adalyn's friends seemed a little upset and confused from what she could gather from their expressions. Though Luz seemed oblivious to that fact.

"Well, uh, I just asked Luz if she wanted to hang out. so, what do you think of her joining us?" Adalyn asked nervously.

"Really!?" The brown-haired girl asked genuinely shocked by the proposition before she thought up an idea for herself. "Actually. Yeah, we could use some more entertainment."

"Really? Oh man, I swear we're going to have so much fun, I promise!" Luz was so excited. She was actually making friends. They even came to her! Luz always expected she would have to be the instigator. The fact they came to her made her much happier than she really wanted to admit.

"Yeah, I know. Having A clown around can be pretty fun." The Black haired girl giggled maliciously. Adalyn just stood there blank-faced, staring at her friend aghast. Clown? What was she talking about? There wasn't any clown.

"W-what?" Luz's enthusiasm quickly drained away at the comment.

"Watching idiots do stupid stuff is pretty funny sometimes. " The brown-haired girl continued. Making Luz only feel worse about what was going on.

"Wait a minute..." Adalyn whispered, no one hearing what she said. This wasn't at all how she thought it would have gone. Why are they being so mean?

"Yeah! What are you gonna do this time weirdo? Gonna spout some nonsense on how dragons are actually real?"

"Or maybe you're just gonna eat a bug straight off the ground? Wouldn't be surprising considering how disgusting you've been."

"Eww! Yeah, bringing those freaking spiders to school! What are you some evil spider witch or something? "

"No! I'm a good witch! W-wait I mean..." Luz felt mortified. So quickly she felt that happiness she had got pulled right from underneath her. Was this what Adalyn planned the whole time? How could she have been so stupid! Of course, everything Adalyn said was nothing but sarcasm. Why would anyone actually want to hang out with her?

"Hahaha! What? You're saying you're actually a witch? My god! Not only are you stupid you're crazy!"

"That's not what I meant. I'm... I'm not crazy..." It was all too much. Luz couldn't stand this for much longer. She never knew that it was possible to feel betrayed by someone you didn't even really know. It hurt so much. Having the false proclamation of friendship be nothing more than a trap. It was so terrible. So bad. She just couldn't help but let her tears flow freely.

The whole time this was happening Adalyn felt so helpless. She was scared. Why was she scared? They were her friends, but yet they mercilessly shot down Luz's hope like they've been doing it their whole life. This wasn't right. She wanted to do something. Yet she found herself hesitating. Shaking. Afraid. Was she always afraid of her friends?

"Listen here freak. There's no way we would actually be caught anywhere near you. So why don't you take the hint, and get lost!" The brown-haired girl yelled at Luz. Disgust dripping from her voice like she was talking about some forbidden topic. Quickly and wordlessly, Luz ran past the three of them, softly crying as she ran.

Why did this happen? Adalyn just wanted to get to know Luz. Then all of a sudden her friends drove her away. No they weren't friends. They never really were her friends. were they. They only hung around her cause she was the cheerleading captain, didn't they. The two of them just wanted some pointless reputation for being 'BFFs' with the captain. She knew from the beginning they were just using her. They never actually treated her like a friend. More Like a submissive slave they could control with false motives. She convinced herself otherwise out of desperation for acceptance and companionship.

Not anymore. This was the last straw. She wasn't afraid anymore. She was angry. Angrier than she could ever recount.

"The little crybaby really ran off!"

"Good riddance. Come on Lyn let's go."

"Shut up," Adalyn muttered aggressively

"Excuse me?"

"Shut up!" Adalyn's rage was palpable. The two girls were shocked by the sudden outburst. Though the shock quickly turned to rage.

"What the hell Lyn!"

"I never want to see you two again!" Without warning, Adalyn took off in the direction Luz ran towards. She wanted to find her. Adalyn needed to apologize. She needed to help Luz. She wanted to make this up to Luz any way she could.

"Lyn! Get back here! Lyn! LYN!"

Adalyn snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the loud distinct sound of a bell ringing throughout the building. It was the end of school, and they were off for the weekend. Adalyn felt like she was supposed to be excited about it, but honestly, she just couldn't bring herself to look forward to it with the guilt she still felt. She stepped up from her seat and left with everyone else to start heading out.

She was never able to catch up with Luz that day, and ever since then, she's been looking for Luz every day after school. It was really inconvenient that she didn't share any classes with her. All she wanted was to find her, but even after school she never found Luz. She didn't come to the bus pick up, or even the parental pick up locations. She tried looking around the school for as long as she could every day, but she always had to stop early so she could catch her bus.

This time was different. She had some more time since her Dad would be picking her up for once. She knew Luz didn't take the bus or wasn't picked up by someone Adalyn figured that she walked home. So she had to have been leaving from one of the schools many other exits. It was a long shot, but she figured this would be her only time to look near the furthest exit at the opposite side of the school so she might as well try.

She walked through the halls scanning the area for Luz, but she didn't have any luck. She came all this way here only to come up empty once again. She sighed in disappointment letting herself fall back into one of the lockers nearby. She just stayed like that. Leaning into the locker with a defeated look scrawled across her. Why did the school have to be so big? At this rate, she wouldn't be able to apologize as she wanted.

Suddenly Adalyn felt a buzz in her pocket. It was her phone. Taking it out of her pocket to check on it she saw it was her Dad. Sighing once again she pushed off the locker and began to make her way to the pickup.

Just as she finished texting her Dad back, and put her phone back into her pocket, she turned behind her. A strange feeling as if she just missed something coming over her. She decided to ignore it. Only really concerned with getting to her father in time.

During her walk back, however, she noticed something even stranger. A man in a formal black suit and a wide-brimmed hat was walking in the direction towards the Principal's office. The strangest thing though was something Adalyn wasn't exactly sure she saw right. The man's ears stuck outwards into a sharp point.

Luz stared in awe out into the wide-open air as she soared through the sky on Lilith's staff. It was unbelievable. Something she thought she'd only see in a dream. rolling hills and trees of red grass and leaves, or whatever it was. Large curved pillars towered over the land each one of equal distance from each other like they were carefully planted there. She could see it all from above.

"Where am I?" Luz asked Lilith. Her eyes filled with wonder and curiosity. Lilith didn't look back to Luz, but she still answered the question without taking her eyes away from the sky.

"This is the Boiling Isles. The whole island is a part of the Titan's body. The very one you were chosen by." Lilith explained simply. Not going into too much detail.

"The Titan's body? Wow. It's just like the Bionis." Luz noted to herself.

"The what?" Lilith questioned getting a quick response from Luz.

"Oh, nothing. Just thinking out loud."

"I see. Putting that aside we've arrived." Lilith informed Luz. Immediately Luz turned her head to face where Lilith was looking to see a large castle looming in the distance. A castle that lingered over a massive pit of spikes. Having multiple smaller segments of the castle spread out across the pit. Then there was the large city that spread behind the castle's pit. It was really something to look at. Both regal and intimidating.

"Wow! I'm really going to be training here?"

"Training? Well, yes I suppose so."

"Sweet! Man, I can't wait to find out what sort of cool magic I have."

Lilith was just about to comment on the fact humans couldn't do things like magic, but relented. Despite the truth of that prospect Lilith knew that the power of the emperor came from the Titan. It would only make sense that this human chosen by the Titan would be able to tap into the Titans latent energy.

Lilith pulled down towards the entrance of the castle. Landing on her feet swiftly. She looked behind her to check on Luz who already hopped off without any prompting.

"Stay still, Luz," Lilith instructed.

"Oh, Okay."

"I am Lilith Clawthorne! I have returned from my mission successfully!" Immediately after Lilith finished speaking the entrance to the door began to move for her. It creaked loudly with scraping metal as the giant door slowly pulled it's self-open.

Luz stared up at the grand door as it opened. It was the biggest door she ever saw, and she didn't exactly hold back her awe.

"Luz, come, we have business to attend to."

"Oh. What is it! Are we gonna start training already? Oh, or is there some king you're gonna have me meet? Maybe I get to choose my divine weapon. Oh my gosh. What is it?! Please tell me!" Luz's excitement was honestly so tiring to Lilith. What kind of fantasies did this girl have? Divine weapons, are you serious? It was clear to Lilith that this girl wasn't in any shape to take the throne at the moment. It made her worry for the Boiling Isles future. Soon enough though there will be a decision on the matter on how to proceed. When the discussion with the coven leaders and Kikimora ended.

"A meeting. " Lilith answered as the door closed behind her and Luz. Luz's excited face dropped from disappointment.

"A meeting?" Luz whined dejectedly. "Ugh. why?"

Lilith didn't bother to humor Luz with a reply. Lilith didn't want to deal with a child she really didn't. It was annoying her. The constant prattling and questions were quite bothersome. Though at the same time, she felt something else about Luz. Almost like a certain familiarity, she couldn't quite place. Instead of focusing on it, however, Lilith decided to ignore that feeling and strolled further into the castle. Luz followed closely behind. Lilith only stopped when she caught sight of the late emperor's assistant, The small red witch with the strange hair, walking towards her.

"Ah, Lilith you've come back. I assume that you found The person we're looking for?"

"Yes. I have." Lilith moved aside to let Kikimora see Luz behind her. Kikimora was bewildered, to say the least. She didn't believe it at first, but of course, the mark on Luz's hand proved everything.

"A child? And a human child at that. My, that makes things more complicated." Kikimora put her clawed finger to her chin. She honestly wasn't expecting this at all. The mere fact that the Titan chose a human was something she was sure no one would have predicted. They did ponder for a small while If it was going to be a witchling, but everyone unanimously agreed the most likely outcome would have been a fully-fledged witch. This was simply unprecedented.

"Indeed." Lilith agreed. Kikimora looked back to Luz and walked up to her. Pondering all the while

"Hmm, what is your name human?" Kikimora asked.

"Luz," She answered with a little surprise. She assumed all the witches she would meet would have been more like Lilith. Kikimora disproved that theory of hers rather soundly. Rather than looking pretty identical to a human, like Lilith. Kikimora was more of a little red gremlin or something like that.

"Just Luz? Do humans not have family names?" Kikimora asked, putting Luz out of her thoughts.

"Oh! It's Noceda. Luz Noceda."

"Well then, Luz. You will be attending the meeting of the coven leaders with us. We must discuss your future here in the Boiling Isles." Coven leaders? That actually piqued Luz's interest a bit. She still had some reservations though. After all, every meeting she's been to has either been her getting in trouble, or dreadfully boring. "Of course we will also explain to you the meaning behind the symbol that rests on your hand. You have a great destiny ahead of you Luz Noceda."

That did it. That made Luz feel a sudden shift in opinion.

"Really? Alright, I'm ready for this meeting then!" Luz said, very interested now. Kikimora nodded before turning around.

"Follow me. The meeting is all ready to go. We were just waiting for your arrival." Kikimora walked forward to lead the two of them to the meeting location.

They've been walking for a couple of minutes now. passing by paintings and murals sprawled throughout the castle walls. It almost seemed like they would be walking for hours. The sheer size of just the halls was already daunting enough on their own. That was until they came across a door. A seemingly normal door That lacked that grand size of the entrance and the halls that preceded it.

"Here we are." Kikimora said as she reached up towards the door's handle. She turned it open, pushing the door forward. The door was entirely silent as she pushed it open.

Luz was in awe of the people that sat inside chatting. There they were. The coven leaders. all eight of them looked far different from what she imagined. The table they sat at had 3 empty seats. two that sat opposite sides at the end of the table. Another one was left empty sitting between two of the leaders. They all stopped talking at once when they noticed the door opening. each one of them quickly turning their attention to Luz. They didn't say anything, however, and just sat patiently.

"Come, Luz." Kikimora beckoned Luz to follow her with a hand wave as she walked towards the empty chair at the far end of the table. Kikimora pulled out the seat from the table offering it for Luz to sit on. Only now though she realized the subtle difference this chair had from the others There were small elaborate etchings in the sides of the chair with a braid of gold trimming bordering the head of the chair. It was like the chair was meant for someone important, and she was being offered it.

"Thank you," Luz said as she sat down. Graciously accepting the seat. She looked ahead of her to see all the coven leaders were still looking her way. It was kind of unsettling to her being stared at like that. She also noticed Lilith taking the seat opposite of her on the table.

"It seems Illushi won't be joining us." Kikimora pointed out, referring to the seat that was left empty. Disapproval dripping from her voice like venom. "No matter. We can still move forward regardless. I'm sure all of you are aware of the reason why we are here." The leaders responded to Kikimora's statement with a nod of acknowledgment. "Good. Then I would like to introduce to you all the one chosen by The Titan, and the future emperor of The Boiling Isles, Lady Luz Noceda."

Luz felt herself freeze in time. Did she hear that right? Future Emperor? Her? No that wasn't right. How could she be? She had so much on her mind, but now her thoughts drained away into confusion and shock. Leaving her with only a single confused word.

"What?"