The Homework

The water that she used to soak her face was slightly cold, which let her concentrate to search for a solution to her problem. Luz then observed herself in the mirror and, with great facies of worry, she said: «Okay, Luz. You can do this. You only have to think. What are you going to say?».

―You see, teacher, the thing is that the dog ate my homework…

«Is this what you're really thinking to say, Luz Noceda? Please. I'm not even sure that there are dogs in the Boiling Islands. I mean, King could count as one, he would be the closest to a dog that I've seen here. Don't get distracted yourself, Luz. Come on, think. What would Eda do in a situation like this? What can you say as an excuse for the class of Abominations? Excuse… I shouldn't be trying to do this. Just thinking about that makes me feel bad».

―I should tell the truth and nothing more. After all, I didn't do my homework. I must face the consequences ―So the girl, with a sigh, resigned herself to receive the proper punishment for her irresponsibility.

But luck was on her side.

―Your class is canceled today, guys ―said a tall and smiling white cat that, upright and dressed with an elegant black suit, was looking at them all with his huge emerald eyes―. Turns out your professor had a… let's say, a little problem with one of his abominations. Now he'll have to stay one whole week in the hospital, so consider yourselves lucky to have these next classes free until he returns.

That was just what Luz needed. A little bit more time so she could concentrate on doing her homework. But there was one more problem. She didn't understand what to do. She knew that she alone could not accomplish her task, but she knew of someone who could guide her on the right way. As soon as the cat-guy retired from the classroom, Luz stood up from her seat and headed straight towards the cubicle of who would be her heroin.

―Amity! Amity, Amity.

As quickly as she heard that voice that was yelling her name, the small and pale witch blushed a little startled. She immediately turned her head towards the origin of the screams and saw her, an ecstatic but distressed Luz. As soon as Amity opened her mouth to talk to her, she was interrupted by the hurried voice of her friend.

―Amity! I'm going to need you to stay with me these days for a few extra hours in the library, please.

―You and me? In the library? Alone? ―The imperceptible blush that was initially around the witch's face now took on more and more color until a point that her cheeks now looked like a pair of cherries― For hours? Luz. Clarify me one thing. For what precisely do you want me with you in the library?

―Well ―She answered with shame―, do you remember that assignment that we had to do? The one from the essay about the technique of Roudinesco for Abominations.

―Yes, I remember ―answered Amity, gradually recovering her natural pallor on her face while trying to figure why Luz was commenting about that.

―The fact is that, let's say, I didn't do it. And I know that you'll ask me why, but it's because I couldn't understand that darn theory and, when I was trying to get to work, I was easily distracted. Seriously, even at one point I spent three hours watching a plant that Willow gifted me because I wanted to see how it grew…

Hearing her, Amity couldn't do more than do a small smirk as she watched fondly how grieved was Luz while confessing her sorrow.

―Then I started cleaning Eda's nest. Boy, she had a lot of garbage piled up there. I even got to listen to some of Hootie's songs, and between you and me…

―Luz ―interrupted her Amity, laughing at the anecdotes that the girl told her―, it's okay. Don't worry. Of course that I'll help you with your essay.

Given that answer, such was the emotion of Luz that she threw herself onto the witch, giving her a big hug while thanking a flushed Amity.

So that's how the next two days passed for them. In the beginning, the human became frustrated by not being able to understand the complicated theory behind the creation of abominations. But Amity didn't give up when it came to Luz; she had her patience and strove as her tutor. After all, she was the best student of the class.

By the third day, Luz began to understand what she had to do. Now the study sessions with Amity were less tiring and they had a faster rhythm. By the fourth day there was no longer the need to continue meeting in the library in the afternoons, but the girls kept doing it. Now, they were not only talking about homework, but also about how their day was, about Azura, manga, or whatever came to their minds first.

Finally Luz could write the essay she had as homework. The day came and now she really was ready to deliver it. Already in the classroom, as the time to start the class approached, the teacher still wasn't there. At that moment, Amity, who was by the side of the human, asked her about her homework.

―I did it! Really I couldn't have done it without your help, Amity. Thank you so much. Two weeks ago I couldn't even understand the basics aspects of this theory, and now look at me, I wrote this dumb essay of ten pages. Ten pages!

A victorious Luz held her text with both her hands and elevated it over her head with pride while the little witch observed her with joy.

―My name is Luz Noceda, the human, and I was able to understand how abominations are created under the most basic concepts of magic. This that stands by my hands is the proof of it!

Not having passed a few seconds since she proclaimed that, a strange portal of red, green and yellow lights opened nearby the girls. From that strange space that captured everyone's attention, a tiny puppy with three heads crossed the threshold and, with a single bite, took the text from Luz's fingers. And just as it appeared, the scaled cerberus crossed another gleaming portal that opened in front of it and disappeared. Luz, still with her hands at the high, observed the blank space where just a few moments ago was her precious essay. Amity, still confused, watched the scene without understanding what had happened.

A few seconds later, the teacher of the class of Abominations entered the classroom, being one of the first things he asked the class the homework of a week ago. So, the students, one by one, gave the teacher their essays. When the turn of Luz to deliver it came, then, she couldn't say more than:

―Teacher, I know that you won't believe me, but a dog ate my homework.