At Eda's Human Collectables stand, Luz was reading her Good Witch Azura book to King. In particular, the bit of Azura defending her friends from the Greek three-faced goddess of magic, Hecate. "Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, 'I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!'" She made a flip book of Azura and Hecate dueling on the bottom corner. "And look! I drew a flip book. Pew, pew, pew!"
"Show me the picture," said King.
"What?"
"Show me the picture!" Luz showed him the book's illustration. "Hah! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists."
"Don't listen to him Luz," Strix said as he placed some merchandise on the table. "He's the King of Nothing."
"I AM KING! I HAD FOLLOWERS THAT LEFT ME OFFERINGS!"
Luz chuckled. "Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book."
Eda let out a groan. "Ugh! Please stop reading that. Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all of our serious customers!"
Strix looked around. "Uh, Mom? There are no customers. There aren't even any other stands!"
"This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today."
"Luz, Strix! Something amazing is happening today!" It was Willow and Gus, Luz and Strix's friends from Hexside.
"Hey guys," said Strix. "Long time no see!"
"It's the annual covention!" Willow held up a poster of a witch with a cauldron that said, "Annual Coven Convention!". "Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year!"
Luz gasped with excitement. "A job fair for witches! Eda, can we go?"
"Absolutely not." Luz made a disappointed groan. "I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system." Willow and Gus gave Eda a look. "Eh, but, you know, no judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls."
"'We?'"
Eda put a hand over her mouth. "I- the- I mean-"
"Who's 'we'?" Luz pointed to her. "You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!"
"No."
"Okay. Then you leave me no choice." Luz nodded to King who started to read the book, "'You shall not shan't doeth no more harm,' Azura callethed out..."
Eda's eye twitched. "So flowery, so awful." She tried to escape using the magic door, but King followed her.
"Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseneth."
Eda ran out the door, pulled on her ears and banged her head on the counter. "Stop it! Stop it! I will literally do anything, just stop this!"
The kids cheered. Except for Strix who started drumming his fingers on the counter. "Maybe I should stay here. Just in case there are any potential customers." Luz nodded to King and he started to read again. "That's not going to work on me, Luzer."
Luz frowned. "Read it louder, King."
King did so. Eda tore some of her hair out and screamed. "JUST SAY YES, STRIX! I'M GOING TO BLOW MY BRAINS OUT IF I HEAR ONE MORE PARAGRAPH!"
"Alright, alright, I'll go! Just shut up, King!"
At the convention center, a very reluctant Eda struggled to put her hood on, what with her wild hair and all. "Gotta keep a low profile," she grunted.
"Is this cowl really necessary?" asked Luz as she tried to help her.
"Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" A bunch of junk fell out her sleeves. "Partly. But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again."
"Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven," said Willow.
Eda responded by magicking the girl's cowl over her face. "Let's just get this over with."
Inside the convention center, there were various booths for different covens with various people gathered around and hanging from the ceiling were nine banners with the corresponding colors: blue, red, yellow, purple, indigo, pink, brown, orange and green. Luz could barely take it all in as she stared with awe. "Whoa. Was I even alive before now?"
"Those are the nine main covens," said Strix. "Blue is for Illusion, red is for Bard, yellow is for Potions, indigo is for Healing, orange is for Beast-Keeping, green is for Plants, purple is for Oracle, brown is for Construction and pink is for Abomination. But there are hundreds of minor ones you can join."
"There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven-" Eda grunted as Willow counted the covens off. "Also the Grumpy Coven."
"WHAT WAS THAT?" Eda growled, scaring the kids and King off.
A man poked her on the shoulder and said, "Uh, excuse me, ma'am, but you look rather familiar." He looked from a wanted poster of Eda hanging on a pillar to Eda herself.
"Uh... No, I don't. Distraction spell!" She threw a bag of Hex Mix at him before running off. But then she came back, pulled the man's hood over his head and grabbed the bag before rejoining with Luz and the others.
"Ooh, what's that?" Luz pointed to a dwarf standing next to a pile of bricks.
"That's the Construction Coven. One of the main nine," said Willow. The dwarf lifted the bricks up into the air and when they came down, they perfectly made a small house. "They use power glyphs to increase their strength." To demonstrate, the dwarf placed a sticker with a brown fist on it onto the nose of Tiny Nose. Almost immediately, she started screaming like she had Hulked out and started destroying the house.
"I'm the destwoyer of worlds!" she screamed.
Two Construction witches chased after her. "Hey, that's the opposite of construction!"
"Yowza-wowza!" said Luz.
"Yowza-wowza!" said Luz's twin. Wait. When did Luz have a twin?
"Yowza-wha-a-a?"
The other Luz smiled before vanishing. "Ah! You've been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven," Gus said, gesturing to a booth under a banner with a blue mirror on it. The witches running the booth, the ones who cast that twin spell, giggled at Luz playfully. "We like to magic with a hint of showmanship," Gus said as he disappeared then reappeared with a bow. The witches running the booth suddenly appeared next to him and bowed with him.
Luz was so excited. "Wow! Acceptance? Comradery? A sense of belonging? Covens sound incredible! Eda, why haven't you ever joined one?"
"Watch closely, Luz." The witches running the booth placed a mark on a kid wearing the same blue uniform as them. It glowed slightly before vanishing. "When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed away. From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions. Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic. That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles."
"And unfortunately, joining a coven is mandatory," said Strix as he raised his hood up. "Not joining one is illegal and is punishable by law. And since I can't join a coven because I can't cast magic, I am considered an anomaly." The kids gave him a look, something he noticed. "Uh...oh, look! What's that coven?" He ran to a random booth. The others followed, but King felt someone grab his shoulder.
"Huh?"
It was a witch wearing the purple uniform of the Oracle coven. "The tea leaves foretell that this will lead you to your destiny." She handed him a purple fountain pen.
"Destiny? Huh! I'm not paying for-"
"It's free-e-e," she said before slinking off.
King looked down at the pen then at the direction the witch left. "Are you bestowing gifts upon me? Yes! I accept your offering! The King of Demons is back!"
The group found a panel that was different than the others. Its banner was white and gold and its symbol was a winged golden sword and shield. The same symbol being worn on the tunic of what looked like soldiers wearing white hooded cloaks and grey bird masks. Luz saw this symbol hanging on the walls of the Conformatorium.
"That panel looks popular," she said, taking note of the people trying to get in.
Gus gasped with shock and said, excited, "It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?"
"Only one way to find out," said Willow as they ran in.
Luz was about to follow them when she realized Eda and Strix weren't following. "Aren't you two coming?"
"No way. Of all the covens, they're the worst," said Eda. "I'll wait out here."
"These guys aren't so much as a coven and more like a military organization," explained Strix. "They're the lap dogs of the Emperor himself, his law enforcers. As such they can use all forms of magic like Eda."
"Well, what's wrong with that?" asked Luz.
"Luz, there's a reason why I was reluctant to be here," said Strix darkly. "A witch MUST join a coven, it's the law. A witch who refuses to join a coven is a criminal. And a witch who can't perform any magic; can't join any coven at all, well, they're just dead weight in the eyes of the Emperor." Luz gasped. "I want you to promise me not to join this coven."
"Or any coven," added Eda. "For that matter."
"I get it, guys. Covens: bad. Individualism: good. But I'm still figuring this world out, so I'm going to go in there and make up my own mind, okay?" Luz ran into the panel after her friends.
Eda folded her arms. Then she saw the man she encountered before talking to a guard. "Uh-oh." She grabbed Strix and ran after Luz. "Luz, wait up!"
Inside was an arena full of people of all kinds. Hanging from behind the podium was the banner of the Emperor's Coven.
Eda and Strix found Luz and sat next to her. "All right, let's see this mess," Eda said.
In a flash of light, Principal Bump, headmaster of Hexside, appeared on the podium. He conjured up a microphone and spoke into it. "Hello, Bonesborough!" Everyone in the stadium applauded save for Eda, Strix and Luz. Luz didn't entirely forgive him for trying to dissect her. "Students ask me all the time, 'Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?'"
"Is it this?" A student wearing the Construction Coven's brown uniform cast a spell to make his head larger.
"Wow. I failed you as a principal. 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, the Emperor's Coven."
Three soldiers wearing the same uniform and masks they saw outside the panel phased through the floor.
Luz was impressed. "Luz!" Willow and Gus called to her. Apparently, Gus got that autograph on his forehead.
Principal Bump continued his speech, "Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic." The soldiers cast magic circles and blasts of water, fire and lightning shot out.
Bump said, "When does that elite force get here," Eda asked a random stranger before laughing out loud. The stranger inched away from her.
"Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all- yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah."
"Ooh. Aah," said almost everyone in the audience.
"But... only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!" Eda just laughed at Bump. Luz and Strix heard a girl squeal with excitement. Sitting in the row in front of them was Amity Blight, the girl who was once number one student at Hexside. The soldiers demonstrating snapped their fingers and vanished. "And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!"
Eda stopped laughing and Strix let out a gasp. A large spectral bird swooped down from the ceiling and onto the podium. It shrieked before transforming into a woman wearing a black dress and white hooded cloak and a raven mask. The woman removed her mask and cloak, revealing her short black hair, pale skin and teal eyes. Embedded in her chest was a jewel that matched her eyes. Eda stared at the woman while Strix tightened his hood.
Luz noticed their discomfort and asked, "You know her?"
"You could say that," said Eda.
Luz gasped. "Mysterious past!"
Strix slapped her. "Shut up."
Lilith took the microphone from Bump who gave her a polite bow. "Thank you, all. It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings."
"Like me," the big-headed kid asked.
"Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" She conjured up another spectral raven before making it explode into particles of light. Eda stared angrily at Lilith before grabbing her son. "Let's go."
"Mom, not so hard!" Strix cried out. "You're going to pull my arm out of its socket!"
Luz caught up to them. "Eda! Where are you going?"
"I'm gonna head home and wash the con funk off my skin."
Luz held up a magazine and pointed to an article that said, "Which Coven Are You?" "But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven type!" Without even looking, Eda blasted a hole in the magazine before walking off. "Ooh, a punky potionist," Luz read an article before bumping into someone.
"Watch where you-" It was Amity Blight. "Oh, it's you. Willow's... abomination thing."
"And if it isn't Amity Blight," snarked Strix. "Little Miss Perfect. Or rather, not-so perfect. How does it feel to be below Willow?"
"Shut it! Willow didn't deserve that praise she got from the teacher!"
Luz stepped between the two. "Easy everyone." She said to Amity, "Hey, Amity. So, funny story. Not an abomination. Sorry for the confusion last week. I-I'm Luz. The human. Hi!" She tried to shake hands with Amity, but she slapped it away like it had manure on it.
"Ugh. Put that away. You're the one that got me in trouble with Principal Bump and I never get in trouble." She marched off, but Luz followed after her.
"Well, to be fair," she said. "You were okay with him trying to dissect me, so-"
Amity spun around on her and jabbed a finger in her stomach. "You two can't be here! This covention is for witches only."
Strix said, "Hey! I am a witch!"
"You? I know about you, Strix. The only witch on the Boiling Isles who can't even cast the simplest spells! You're just as worthless as this human!" Strix frowned at her.
Luz gestured to herself, still trying to wear her friendly smile. "Well, I'm learning how to be a witch. I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon."
Amity looked over Luz's shoulder. "Is that your 'ferocious demon'?"
They looked and saw King, wearing swag from different covens, being presented with a plate of cupcakes. "Cupcakes in my tummy-tum makes the King say yummy-yum!"
"So you'll join the Bakers Coven?" the baker asked.
"Hmm... Nope! Oh, hey, Luz! Look at all those offerings- Wah!" King tripped on his own swag and dropped his cupcakes. Amity promptly stomped on them.
"Oops. That was an accident," she said with a mocking tone.
Luz's smile vanished as she helped King up. "Why are you being so mean, Amity?"
"Because you, your anomaly friend and your pet are giving witches in training a bad name."
"I AM NOT A PET!" Strix silenced King by stuffing his mouth with a cupcake and said, "Quiet, mutt."
Luz got into Amity's face and said, "He's a very good boy and the King of Demons! And Strix is just as much a witch as you! I'll tell you what, Amity. It's one thing to say I can't be a witch-"
"'Cause you can't."
"...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, I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!"
People overhearing their argument gasped. Amity smirked. "I accept. Let's set the terms for this duel, shall we?"
"One, if I win, you apologize to King for squashing his cupcake and to Strix for saying he's not a witch."
"Luzer..." Stix said, not liking where this was going.
"And two, you admit that humans can be witches too."
Amity nodded. "Fine by me. But when I win, not only do you have to tell the whole covention you're not a witch, you have to stop training forever."
"Do it, Luz," shouted King. "For my honor!"
"Luz, wait," Strix said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't do it. I'm not going to let you give up your dream because of this spoiled brat!"
But she ignored him and glared at Amity. "Fine. Let's shake on it."
The girls shook hands and Amity cast a spell circle over them. "The everlasting oath is sealed," Amity said. "Meet back inside the theater in one hour. Let's see what kind of witch you are, Luzer," she said as she turned and walked off.
Strix stared at the green-haired girl. "You know, it sounds a lot meaner when she says it."
"King, Strix, I-I can win this, right?"
Strix sighed. Might as well be honest. "Luz, you only know one spell and that girl is no doubt more experienced. I don't think you stand a chance." Luz whimpered in fear.
Meanwhile, Eda was heading for the exit when a voice stopped her. "Sister?" She turned around and saw Lilith. She was giving a group of kids autographs when she saw Eda. "It's been so long since I've seen you last! What are you wearing? You look like some sort of trash collector. Oh, right. You are."
Eda played it off like it was nothing and said, "Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action." She said to the kids, "You know, when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven, she peed a little."
The children giggled. Lilith's face blushed, but she quickly brushed it off. "That- That's all for today." She shooed them along before speaking sternly to Eda, "You shouldn't even be here. You're a wanted criminal! Unless..." She gasped. "I don't believe it! You are here to join the Emperor's Coven!"
Eda burst out laughing. "In your dreams!"
Lilith glared at her. "You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you run from the law like a degenerate, I'm mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students into the world."
"Well, I have a student. And I bet she could wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Oh, it's a promise."
Suddenly, Luz appeared and said frantically, "Eda, I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel, and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead!" She dropped to her knees, whimpering.
Lilith smirked at Eda. "Mmm, it seems your student has met my strongest protégé. And look at those ears! Is she human?" Lilith laughed. Luz covered her ears as her cheeks turned red. "Where did you even find one of these? Okay, Edalyn." She cast a spell circle and all the wanted posters in the convention center disappeared. "For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good a teacher you really are. Probably as good as a mother."
"You leave Strix out of this!" Eda grabbed Luz by the shoulders. "Come on, kid. Time to prepare for bloodshed."
"But- whose blood?"
"Anyone's guess!" Eda said cheerfully, slapping her pupil on the back.
Later, Eda lowered her hood and put a headband on. "All right, Luz. Let's start your training. Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What do you do?" Luz put her hood on, fell to her side and crawled behind Strix. "Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?" Luz timidly shook her head.
"One spell, Mom," Strix said. "She learned one spell and that was by accident!"
"Boy, I hope she didn't make an everlasting oath to stop learning magic or anything. She'd be toast."
"Uh..."
Luz felt her heart drop. "I-Is there a glowy hand thing that happens, or, uh-"
They suddenly heard Amity training with Lilith. They watched the abomination she conjured take itself apart and used its parts as weapons. One of the sludge parts hit the Baker Coven's booth and crashed it. Then Tiny Nose appeared and tossed the baker over her shoulder, screaming with power.
"Yeah, she's boned," said Strix.
Luz buried her knees up to her chest as she said in despair, "I can't believe I'm gonna have to stop learning magic!"
Eda put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Listen to me, Luz. We are not gonna let those snobs win that easy! We are not gonna let them win at all. I've got an idea." Her headband snapped as she walked into the theater.
Strix approached Luz. "I'm not going to let you lose to that bully. So..." He reached into his pocket and pulled out something. "...I'll give you a winning edge."
Luz gasped. "But...you and Eda say it's dangerous!"
"Coming from the girl who gets herself in danger all the time."
"Not on purpose!"
"Look, I know my mom. She's probably doing something stupid and dangerous to give you a winning edge too. So..."
Luz gave it back to him. "This isn't right. Besides, Eda will know something's up the instant I use magic."
Strix thought it over. He sighed. "You're right," he said before putting the Mask back into his pocket.
An hour later, Lilith and Eda stood in the arena with their respective students. Lilith announced to the people in the audience. "Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight." Everyone in the audience cheered. "Versus... some human girl." Everyone murmured in surprise while some people shouted that she shouldn't be here.
"Eda?" Luz turned to her teacher. "Calm down. You see those mounds? Get Amity to land on one of those and she'll set off my magic traps."
"That's cheating!"
"See, I told you Mom would do it," said Strix.
"Don't be such a stick in the mud, son! Besides, nobody will know. To all eyes up there it'll look like you're performing magic. Just trust me."
Luz shook her head. "But I will know in my heart! Even if I win now, I lose."
"That's the spirit!"
The bell rang and the two combatants stepped forward. Amity cracked her knuckles. Luz made a look that said, "Please go easy on me!" Amity cast a spell circle. "Abomination, rise!" The abomination summoned was a towering sixteen feet tall.
From the side, Strix frowned. "Amity's abominations weren't that big before."
Even Amity was surprised, but surprise turned into a smirk. "Show me what you got, human!"
"I'M NOT GOOD UNDER PRESSURE!" Luz screamed as she ran. The abomination threw its head at her, nearly hitting her. Its head grew back as it forced her into a corner. She closed her eyes as it got closer when suddenly a column of fire shot out of the ground.
Amity blinked in surprise. "How did you do that?"
"Uh...magic?"
King entered the theater, literally covered head to toe in free swag. He sang a little song as he sat next to Gus and Willow. "Things that are free! People are giving offerings to me! I love offerings!" He paused and looked around. "What did I miss?"
"Luz is in a witch's duel," said Willow.
"Yeah! And she can win it all! Yeah-yeah," Gus said with a cheer.
"Wha...?"
The abomination chased after Luz again, but it stepped on another of the magic land mines and a tornado shot out, sending it flying onto its back. Amity pointed at Luz. "I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you playing at?"
"Not dying!" shouted Luz as the abomination stood up and chased after her again.
"This I gotta see," King said as he sat down. When he saw a kid cheering Amity on, he tried to take his foam finger and said, "Hey! You root for Luz or nobody!" And then he tripped on his swag and went tumbling down the stairs.
The abomination stepped on another mine, triggering an explosion. "How are you doing that?!" demanded Amity as she stepped toward Luz.
"No, Amity, don't step any closer!"
Amity stopped and raised an eyebrow at her. "Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?"
As if to answer her, King fell out of the stands and onto the mine Amity was about to step on and spikes popped out. Luckily, King was not impaled, but his swag was. "Mmm? I'm okay!"
Luz looked at her mentor, shocked. "SPIKES?!" Eda gave her a thumbs up.
"I KNEW IT!" shouted Amity with disgust. "You were cheating!"
"Amity...No..."
Lilith inspected the spikes and sighed in disappointment. "Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!"
"It wasn't my idea to cheat," Luz tried to explain. "And when I found out, I tried to stop it, but-"
"Who could believe anything you say," Amity snapped before turning to leave.
That's when Strix saw something on the back of her neck. "Hold it right there, Little Miss Protégé!" He ran up to her and tackled her to the ground.
"What are you-"
Strix tore a sticker off the back of her neck and her abomination shrunk down. "As I thought." He showed the whole stadium what it was. "A power glyph from the Construction Coven! Amity's been given a power boost!"
The audience gasped. Amity Blight, star pupil of Lilith, cheated. Amity's eyes widened with horror. She turned to look at Lilith whose face remained blank.
Eda laughed and pointed at her sister. "Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes! You cheated. Perfect, prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love coventions!" Eda danced around, laughing and mocking Lilith.
"I only did that because I knew you would cheat!"
"Still cheated! Welcome down to my level!"
Amity's face turned red with shame and embarrassment. "But... I didn't know!" She ran out the theater. Strix swore he saw tears starting to form.
"Amity, wait!" called Luz.
"LUZ! STRIX! HELP ME!" cried King. Strix pulled King down, tearing his swag apart. "MY OFFERINGS!"
"You'll get more offerings, King," Luz gently said as she and Strix chased after the distraught girl.
"Wait for me!"
Meanwhile Eda was still dancing around Lilith like an idiot. "Knock it off. You're making a scene!" snapped Lilith.
"You cheated. Hey, where's the Rhyming Coven? What rhymes with 'cheated'?"
"Stop acting like a child!"
"You were defeated, don't get heated, get your stank face treated."
Lilith's teeth and fists clenched. "Rhyme one more thing. I dare you!"
"Oh, it's okay, I'm done. Because my rhymes are depleted!"
"THAT'S IT!" Lilith produced a white raven headed staff and fired a jet of flame at Eda that sent her flying into a wall. But Eda wasn't in pain. Instead, she got out of the hole, laughing. "There she is." There was the sister she quarreled with since they were kids.
Eda produced her own staff and (after accidentally dropping it in the process) blasted her own fire at Lilith. Lilith blocked it with her fire and the two were at a stalemate.
Luz and Strix found Amity hiding behind a trash can near the restroom. "Amity... I'm sorry," said Luz.
"Seriously?" Amity glared at her and Strix, angry tears running down her face. "Just leave me alone!"
"I didn't mean to embarrass you."
"That's all you ever do! First at school, and now this!"
Strix said, starting to get angry, "WE didn't get you in trouble at school, Blight! You did that yourself!"
Amity stood up and got in their faces. "YOU TWO HELPED WILLOW CHEAT! She didn't deserve that badge or that A+! You made me look like a fool in front of the Emperor's Coven! MY FUTURE!" She jabbed a finger in Luz's chest as her voice started to crack. "You think it's so easy to be a witch. I have been working my whole life to get to the top! You lost! You cheated! Say it! Say you're not a witch!"
Luz's face remained neutral. "I'm not a witch." She reached into her pocket, drew the light spell glyph on it and created a small ball of light. Strix followed her example. "But we are training hard to be one," she said with a small smile. Amity stared with surprise.
Back at the arena, Lilith fired a huge wall of flames at Eda who blocked it with an owl-faced pillar. The pillar then lunged at Lilith, who dodged it. More owl-faced tubes popped out of the pillar, but she dodged or destroyed them with the grace of a dancer. She lunged at Eda, who blocked her with a forcefield. Then Owlbert, the owl perched on the staff, popped off and tugged at Lilith's hair.
"Say goodnight sister," said Eda. She summoned another owl-faced pillar that swallowed Lilith whole. Owlbert reattached himself to her staff. She thought she'd won when suddenly, Lilith burst out of the pillar in a blaze of blue fire and glared at her. "Enough of this." A fiery fist sent Eda flying into another wall.
"Lily, wait. The curse," Eda said weakly. Lilith stopped her attack and her features softened. "Look at me. Look at my face. The curse is worsening and I can't keep up with it. I don't know how much time I have left."
"I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw you today."
"I just had to see my sister for... possibly the last time." Eda helped herself up. "And... Strix actually did magic. His first spell."
Lilith's eyes widened. "He... what?" Suddenly, a bag of Hex Mix got thrown in her face.
"It's been fun, but let's call it a draw!" Eda yelled over her shoulder as she ran. Lilith screamed in anger.
Amity stared at the ball of light with awe, but she tried to dismiss it, "That's nothing. A child could do a light spell. But... I've never seen it cast like that."
"It doesn't come naturally to me and Strix like it does for you, so we've had to improvise."
Amity sighed. She grabbed Luz by the hand and cast a spell circle before casting another one, breaking it. "The oath is unbound."
Luz looked at her hand before turning to Amity who was about to leave. "Did it work? Can I still learn magic?"
"Humans have no magical ability. But I doubt that'll stop you." She was about to leave when Strix stopped her. "I want to hear you say it."
Amity's face remained neutral then she exhaled and said, "You're a witch. Happy?" Strix nodded, then walked aside for her to leave.
"Luz! Strix!" King ran up to them and jumped into Luz's arms. "You two left me!"
"Not our fault your legs are tiny," said Strix.
"Strix!" Luz scolded him before asking King, "Should we get you more offerings?"
"Nah. That stuff just weighed me down. But I have something for you, Luz. And it's the best thing, because it's free, comes from my heart, and I always have more than I need."
"Is it love?"
"Ugh! No! Tote bags! And they have so many uses!" He hopped into one of them and had Luz carry him like a chihuahua in a purse. "Away, fair chariot! Away!" Luz patted his skull.
At that moment, Eda came, edging them along. "We gotta go," she said.
"How'd you get away from Lilith?" Luz asked.
"Let's just say she had a real 'snack attack.' Hah! Wait, I got a better one."
Luz asked, a little sad about what happened today, "Eda, do you think I'll ever be a true witch?"
Eda scoffed and asked, "What? I don't know. And who's a true witch? These suckers? According to them, that means being in a coven, but I never joined one and I'm better than all of them combined. You gotta be your own witch."
"She's right," Strix said.
"How do you know?" asked Luz.
"Because I asked her that question the first time I found out I couldn't cast spells."
"My own witch," Luz said in thought.
"Now, let's go before my sister realizes I tied her pointy shoes together," said Eda. Suddenly there was a loud scream of rage. "And that's our cue," Eda said as she hurried her son and pupil along and out the convention center.
Wait. Luz looked up at her mentor. "Sister?"
"Duh," said Strix. "She's my Aunt Lily."
"Oh, you think that's all the mystery I got," Eda asked. "Wait until you hear about my parents."
Luz exclaimed, "What? You've got parents? I need to know more!"
"You very much don't," said King.
Lilith stumbled into her dressing room and fell face first. Curse those laces! "You make it so hard to want to help you, Edalyn." Suddenly, her compact mirror opened and her reflection was replaced with an image of a red goblin with green curly hair and a white dress with a collar so high, you couldn't see her lower facial features. Lilith gasped.
"Lilith, I see you let the Owl Lady get the best of your temper," said the goblin. "Just remember what Emperor Belos has promised to you."
"I will capture her, ma'am. You have my word."
"Very good." The image disappeared and Lilith was left staring at her own reflection before she closed it. She frowned as she said, "Your days are numbered, Edalyn." She picked up a locket and opened it, looking at two images: one of a young Eda and another of a baby Strix. "Perhaps there's hope for you yet, Strix."