Testing The bonds.
Summary: The Clawthorne sisters test their limits now that their beasts are out of them.
"Ohh," Eda moaned as she woke up. "Now that was a binge. How long was I out."
The wild witch looked around and saw she was on the Owl house's couch. She slowly eased herself into a sitting position and continued to look around.
"It's been about two hours and 15 minutes since you fainted," Lilith explained as she came into view.
Eda offered her sister a sleepy smile as Lilith stared at her sister in concern.
"Heey, Lily," Eda said sleepily, "Did I break any records?"
"If you count passing out after casting two high-level spells," Lilith deadpanned, "Then, yes, you broke something."
Eda's smile grew as her mind started to clear. She finally noticed the concerned look her older sister was giving her.
"Everything good, Lily?" Eda asked seriously.
Lilith shook and wave to the loveseat. Eda followed her sister's arm and saw Owda next to a raven-like beast on the piece of furniture. The wild witch focused on her beast and noticed Owda was shivering. She saw the second beast get a little closer and snuggled into Owda.
"What happened?" Eda asked her sister.
Lilith sighed and took a seat next to her sister. Eda waited as her sister gathered her thoughts and looked at the two beasts.
"After you passed out from spell exhaustion, I contacted Willia Oldstone," Lilith explained. "However, before she arrived, Odwa also fainted. Healer Oldstone checked both of you over, and while she is no beast-keeper, she knew enough about connected magic to realize you wasting your magic affected your beast."
Eda frowned as she went over her sister's words. She knew enough about connected magic from her "independent" oracle studies at Hexside and how dangerous it could be for everyone involved.
She looked at her beast. Eda quickly put two and two together; Eda was now using some of her magic to keep Owda in the world.
The wild witch looked at her sister with a forced grin.
"I See you couldn't wait to tip your toes in," she joked, trying to ease her regret at nearly harming her beast.
"Yes," Lilith said with a smile blooming. "I figured that Rath had waited long enough."
"Rath?" Eda echoed with a cocked eyebrow.
Lilith looked at her beast, and her smile turned warm and motherly. "Like how your daughter named your beast, I let Amity name Rath."
Eda just made a face and silently agreed with Lilith; her bossy boots niece has been spending too much time with Luz.
"So," Eda said, "What's up next?"
Lilith looked at her sister with her smile fading and said, "For now, let's rest for the day. Then we finished this project."
(A Day Later)
"So from the tests we ran, I believe I have learned a few things," Willia told the group.
The Clawthorne Sisters, their daughters, their daughters' friends, and Jane were outside the Owl House. The group was going through a series of tests Lilith, Jane, and Willia came up with the day before.
The sisters had finished testing the limits of their restored magic. They did this by casting low-level spells until they were tired. They then timed how long it took for the two to recover their strength.
"Well, Oldie," Eda retorted, "Don't keep us hanging by our wings."
Willia ignored the youngest Clawthorne's retort and went over her notes one last time. Once she was sure everything was in order, she looked at the Familia.
"Well, I can say this," the odd healer spoke professionally. "Lilith's magic replenishes slightly faster than Eda's."
The group exchanged perplexed looks and then turned their attention back to the odd healer.
"Why do you think that is, Healer Oldstone?" Jane asked curiously.
"Hmm," Willia looked at her notes and then at Jane. "I have a theory; Eda had her beast longer than Lilith. Her and Owda's link may be strong enough that the beast is subconsciously absorbing magic faster than Rath."
The group heard a sad chirp and looked at Owda. One didn't need to be a beast-keeper to know what the beast was feeling. So, Luz went over to her witch mother's beast and scooped her up.
The human hugged the once-cursed beast, and Owda leaned into the embrace. Soon, the other members of the "Knocked-down" Coven gathered around Luz and began to comfort the bond beast. Even Rath went to comfort her "sister."
The adults were wearing smiles as they watched the scene before them. They allowed this quiet moment to happen for a minute longer before they decided it was time to finish things up.
"Now, Eda," Lilith said, "I believe it's time to get the real tests."
Eda looked at her sister and nodded. She then turned her attention to the kids.
"Kids, can you put Owda down?" she called to her charges.
The "knocked-down" coven looked at the wild witch and knew what was coming next. Luz set Owda on the ground, and the group took a few steps back.
Eda closed her and focused. Like how a witch prepared a spell, she pictured her beasting merging with her, and her body went into autopilot. She opened her orange, glowing eyes and made a circle.
Owda's head snapped up, and her eyes glowed orange. She took off in a dash and ran as Eda made the circle bigger. With a cry, the bond beast jumped as the magic circle grew to Eda's size.
The wild witch grunted as she felt the impact of the merge. She gasped, and her eyes stopped glowing.
"Edalyn," Lilith called to her sister. "Are you feeling?"
"Like something been poking me in the chest for ten hours," Eda replied, rubbing her chest. "But I good to go."
Eda then did the next part of the test; she tried a simple light spell. The orb of light formed, but it was dimmer than the last time. The spell didn't last more than 10 seconds before it disappeared.
Eda sighed at this and wordlessly began the second to last test. She closed her eyes and focused on the beast inside of her. She felt Owda make her way to the surface. Like many times before, she felt the changes overtake her.
"Wow…," she heard Jane gasp and opened her eyes.
She couldn't help but grin at the gawking face of the historian and spun around.
"See anything you like?" the harpy woman asked playfully.
Lilith just rolled her eyes at her sister's antics and ignored the red face of her employer.
"Edalyn," she said seriously, "how are you feeling?"
"Like I normally do when I'm this fine piece of meat," the wild witch replied joyously.
Lilith again rolled her eyes and silently urged Eda to continue with the tests. Eda just groaned as her spoil-sport sister but started the next test.
The harpy woman tried to make a spell circle. Nothing happened, not even a spark. Eda frowned at this as she turned back to nothing.
"So," Willia stated, "It seems your magic is nearly depleted when you're like this."
"Does that mean Mama Eda can't set Owda free?" Luz asked worryingly.
Lilith smiled reassuringly at her niece, and Amity explained to her fiancee that they had the bonding ritual in case Eda couldn't free Owda on her own.
Lilith turned serious as she held up Eda's mandolin. "Now, for the final test," the historian spoke in a grim tone.
(M Corner)
We're reaching the end of part one of the Daily Live sub-series.; just two more chapters to go. Look forward to them!