Nevareth had finally caught up with Lucila, but she didn't notice as she walked right around him.
"Ah, my lady Lucila!"
Immediately the girl shivered as she could feel it within her spine. "Nevareth," She replied as politely as she could, snapping her book shut with a hand on her hip as she turned around. "Back so soon? I was sure that you were still hunting down monsters for another week," She said in disdain, walking off. He pouted while sagging his shoulders. Nevareth was a monster hunter, hunting down beasts, creatures, or just anything that would give him a lot of snails.
It wasn't something Lucila or Luz approved of.
He ran after her and snatched her book to get her full attention. "Nevareth, I'd like my book back, please," She said in slight annoyance.
"Why are you even reading this?" He flipped through the pages as she tried to snatch it, but he turned around. "There's nothing for you in there." She crossed her arms with a 'really' look. At best, she could put up with this kind of stuff, but she didn't like interacting with him for too long. Something about him just rubbed her off the wrong way.
"Well, in my experience, if we tell people they can't do something, they're gonna do it anyway," She quipped to him. "As I'm sure you've heard me express that sentiment almost every day."
"Luci," She scowled as she not only hated that nickname, but he was the one who came up with it. "Maybe you should start focusing less on magic and more on important things," He tossed the book lightly to the ground. She bent down to get it, but he stood in front of her. "Like us," He smirked and she narrowed her eyes. "Everyone's talking about this." Lucila picked up her book carefully. "It's not normal for someone of...your biology to practice magic. Soon you'll start thinking about joining a coven or utilizing your skills more than we are."
"Nevareth," She started off while wiping the dirt off her book. "You're something else, you know that?"
He chuckled even though it wasn't a compliment. "Well, my flawless pecs thank you, Lucila." She looked away while silently gagging. "How about we go on a walk over to the tribute of my kingdom and we can admire my heroics more?" He took her book once again and she rolled her eyes.
"Hey, that sounds...riveting and all, but I just don't have the time," Lucila chuckled awkwardly from his advance, and they walked past Boscha and her friends.
"Unbelievable that he likes her, and that she doesn't even care," Cat remarked at this.
"Clearly something's wrong with her. I just didn't think it'd be everything in general," Boscha commented while looking at her fingers.
"He's amazing!" Amelia swooned at Nevareth holding the book over his head. "Why can't he look in our direction?"
"Nevareth, even if I could, I have a sick sister at home. And I can't leave her alone for too long," She jumped up and snatched her book, backing away to the forest. "I'm sure anyone would love the chance to...talk about how...you are," She couldn't even think of a nice thing to say as she turned around.
Chris ran up while giggling. "That fool of a girl. All she does is make a stir with how she wants to be a witch!" Both him and Nevareth busted out laughing and she stopped. She clenched a fist as she turned around angrily.
"I don't care who you think you are, but you don't talk about my sister like that."
"Yeah! Don't degrade Luz like this!" Nevareth slapped the back of Chris' head as he tried to save face. After all, she'd be his sister-in-law.
"My sister will be a full-fledged witch just like I am, she just...needs more time." As soon as she said that, a large sneeze came from the Owl House just a few minutes away. She turned around in alarm and ran off, the two laughing again.
Amity, the only real friend they had besides her siblings, came up from another direction while holding a fairy pie. She was a member of the Blights, a powerful name due to their company, and therefore, her parents had no idea she was here. "Oh, Lucila! I-Is it alright if I come in and see Luz?" She blushed at the mention of the younger sister.
"Can't talk, don't mind it!" Lucila ran right past her and threw open the door.
"Oh, just in time! Boy, have I got a story to tell-" The girls slammed the door shut before Hooty could continue.
"Luz?!" Lucila called out as she ran up the stairs and threw open Luz's door. Luz had a bunch of mushrooms on her head as she looked less sicker now.
"I'm all better now!" She cheered and the girl sighed in relief, dropping her shoulders.
"So that's what that was..." The girl murmured to herself.
"Did you get my book?" Luz bounced a bit happily from her bed. "I-I mean, my best big sister is back! Did you get it?"
"Best big sister, I'm the only one you've got," Lucila said loud enough for only Luz to hear as she got the book from her basket. "And it's your lucky day, he said you can keep this one."
Luz gasped and then squealed. "It really is my lucky day!"
"Um, I wanted to give you a fairy pie to help you get better," Amity spoke up as she revealed it, Luz wincing a little. Luz didn't really eat them, she would just give them to Hooty after the girl left since the fairies still had some life to them.
"Thanks..." Luz took it hesitantly, Amity looking away with a blush.
"So how are you feeling?" Lucila asked her sister while putting away the basket.
"Just feeling...anything really! Is this really all necessary?" Luz grinned widely and the two glanced at each other. Starting tomorrow, Luz would be heading to Hexside, a school where she could learn more magic. Mainly so she could be taken seriously among the town, and not as a laughing stock. And so that she could get the approval of Amity's parents, as unlikely as that was. But Hexside Academy was a whole day's worth of travel, and she'd see her sister less.
"You always do this really sweet-I mean dumb—thing where you keep doubting whether or not they'll change their mind about you," Amity blushed in embarrassment as the girls stared at her. It wasn't obvious to Luz, but to Lucila, she knew the truth that the Blight had a crush on her sister. And it was adorable, but she'd let Luz figure it out on her own. "But um, just be your adorable—annoying—usual self and you'll do great, heh heh..."
"Um, thanks?" Luz raised a brow in confusion. "But what if I mess up the spells you taught me? I don't wanna end up in the baby class! My teenage mind can't handle that."
"You won't," Lucila assured her. "And you'll be accepted tomorrow morning with them." Luz looked away, still unsure. "And become a real witch~"
"Is that really a thing?" The girl stared at her sister. For as long as she could remember, Luz had always wanted to be a witch. Normal wasn't really her style, and she had a fascination with the world that they lived in. Her favorite book inspired her in the first place, a book that Lucila told her about when they were younger.
"Come on, you and I both know that you need to be a witch your way. And you're the one who begged me to help you practice for the entrance exam," Lucila smiled softly at her.
"I guess you're right," Luz smiled and hugged the girl. "Oh, oh, let me show you my demonstration."
"Oh...right now?" Amity blinked in surprise as Luz sat them down. She stepped back and smiled.
"Prepare to be amazed, for I, Luz Noceda, shall dazzle all!" She turned around while motivating herself.
"Did anything happen today?" Amity turned to Lucila, who gagged in response at the reminder of a certain hero.
"I mean, I get to keep the books I got...Amity, do you think that we don't fit in here?"
"Who told you that?" Luz asked immediately in defense.
"Of course I don't!" Amity answered quickly, mainly so that she wouldn't upset them if there was any doubt, which there wasn't. "Who's putting that into your head? Because I will hunt them down if necessary if you need me to!"
"I don't know...some stuff people said, and the fact that...well, my sister and I are the only ones of our kind here," Lucila shrugged a little. Most of the time, the gossip and jeers didn't really faze her, but it had been years of the same thing. She just wondered if they'd always have to deal with the animosity.
"What about Nevareth? He's a catch," Luz smiled dreamily, earning a jealous growl from Amity.
"How about not? Guy's got the looks, but everything else is not for me," The older girl denied in disgust. "Besides, he tried to convince me to not read spell books anymore just a few minutes ago."
"Oh, then he's a jerk who doesn't know better!" Luz clenched her fists, Amity sighing in relief from her reaction. She wouldn't be able to take it if Luz actually liked Nevareth...for her own safety! Not because Amity liked her or anything. "But don't mind him or anyone else. When I become a witch, everyone's gonna start seeing us that way," She cracked her fingers with a grin. "Watch this. From the humblest of beginnings, a hero will rise. I have traveled from another realm and trained with my awesome sister to master dark and forbidden magic. I am...Luz Noceda!" Lucila glanced away with a playful smile. Moreso forbidden because they were humans, if anything else. Amity blushed at Luz's confidence. Luz threw confetti around them. "It's been told to us that humans can't do magic," Luz spun a small spell finger. "But I've been training hard to change everything." A light orb appeared in its wake and then she spun her other finger to dry and do the ice spell. However, the ice pillar hit the ceiling, alarming all of them. Then the pillar moved to break a window and Luz dropped her hands, sagging her shoulders.
"Aww...I was so close, Luci...so close."
"You're gonna be fine if you just relax and remember what I taught you!" Lucila held her shoulders gently, looking up at Amity for assistance.
"Your sister is right. All you have to do is think about what you want the spells to do. I—we have faith in you," Amity rubbed the back of her neck while looking away.
"Look who's all soft," Luz smirked at Amity.
"In your dreams," Amity replied with a small smile.
"Okay..." Luz took a deep breath and the two girls waited in anticipation. Luz was expecting something to fail...but it didn't. Both Lucila and Amity were amazed by her performing them well.
"You did it! You really did it!"
"I did...? I did!" The young witch cheered and hugged them both. "I'm gonna pass!"
"I'm so happy for you!" Amity confessed while blushing and Luz did as well.
"Oh, thanks, Amity. Get your staff ready, Luci. Hexside, here comes your best student!"
Lucila waved goodbye to her sister as she and Amity watched Luz fly off. She was heading for her entrance exam, and then once she would pass, she'd be there for a few days for orientation. "Bye, hermana! You'll do great!"
"Bye, Luci! Don't worry about me! And no shenanigans," She smiled in amusement at her sister. Lucila just rolled her eyes playfully at the girl, watching her sister disappear into the sky.
"She's gonna get into trouble, isn't she?" She asked Amity with a smile still on her face.
"Yeah...Mind if I stay a little longer?" Amity asked, rubbing her arm a bit.
"Don't wanna go home yet to your mom or Ed and Em, huh?" Lucila guessed correctly and Amity grunted.
"Ed and Em just always like messing with me."
"I thought you guys were trying to get along?" Lucila wondered as they stepped inside to go into the kitchen.
"We are, but just last week, he played another prank on me," Amity rolled her eyes while blushing in embarrassment. "I'm just glad that he decided not to do it in public." What he did was record himself reading Amity's Azura fanfiction and then played it back whenever Amity practiced at home. And it...may or may not have included Luz.
"Well, not everyone changes in a short amount of time. It takes work," Lucila gave a weak smile while pouring them some tea.
"I actually wanted to talk to you about something," Amity glanced up at her, the girl turning around in confusion while holding the teapot made out of bones.
"Me? Why me?"
"You know how there are rumors about...war going on?" The girl glanced around to make sure no one heard, especially Hooty.
"Yeah, but we both know you didn't wanna talk about stuff that would upset my sister. Especially since...Gus, Willow, Eda, and King all disappeared years ago. Just like with Mama..." She looked away forlornly, Amity feeling just as sad. The five all disappeared from town without a trace, or clues, or evidence in different points of time. First it started with Camila, the mother of the sisters, being called to Latissa apparently for her animal expertise. However...after she left, she never came back. And when Luz and her sister attempted to find her, no one could tell them where she was. It was as if she didn't exist. Then a few years later, the same thing happened to first Eda, then Gus, Willow, and King when they all just didn't come home one night in the span of a week. Both Nocedas vowed to find all of them, even if it took a lifetime.
"I know that it's silly, but...I came across some books in the library and also heard some stories. You know, since we're still trying to find them. It might have something to do with what happened to all of them, but it could also be a stretch," Amity held out a book to her, and the title read 'Legendary Witches and Monsters'.
Lucila opened up the book and then saw that Amity marked a page. She flipped to it and took a moment to speed-read the page. "Legend has it that only a human with magic can bring peace to all..." She murmured and looked up. "Amity, I know we're the only two humans in town, but you don't really think this is valid, do you?"
"Not that. Read the next line," Amity dismissed it and Lucila sighed a bit, reading off the next line.
"The human, referred to as the Chosen One, holds great power; not even the Titan can match them. So what does this have to do with our friends?"
"Well, the librarian told me that for years, the castle near the Knee has been at war with Philip Wittebane," Amity slid over a book and Lucila took it, seeing that it was his diary. "He was also a human just like you, and is associated with the Monster of the Boiling Isles. A cruel, sadistic, power-hungry demon that seeks out anyone who even comes near his castle," She continued while Lucila eyed the page, as there were no pictures of the Monster himself. Lucila tended to not entirely believe the whole monster story. Clearly, there were way worse people out there that she truly considered monsters...like Odalia Blight. It wasn't like he didn't exist, but also, it wasn't like anyone had laid eyes on him. No one ever went up to the castle because they were scared of being 'eaten by the monster. And those who even had the courage to try never managed to find him past all the fog and the forest maze blocking the castle. So she could see why Amity would think it was a stretch, since it kind of was.
"I thought maybe he had something to do with them all disappearing. And since we've had no clues for months, it's our only shot of finding them."
Lucila sighed heavily while looking away. Trying to find the castle was like trying to get Luz to stop eating puzzles when she was a kid. Hence why she wasn't stupid enough to go try and lay eyes on him. "What if we don't find him? Then what?"
"Then we get answers elsewhere. We'll search outside Bonesborough if we-"
"We tried that, remember?" Lucila interrupted the girl. "And we found nothing."
"I know, but...I just have a really good feeling about this time. I'm not ready to give up hope...and you guys aren't either."
Lucila sighed slowly, giving her a small smile. "Well, you're right about that. Thanks for the book."
"Something had to have happened to them," Amity's eyes softened while Lucila handed her the cup of tea. "I just wish we had more to say to their families." Lucila silently nodded in agreement, as their family members missed them. Even Lilith herself had admitted to them that she couldn't track down Eda. Lilith was secretly helping them, as she used to be Phillip's advisor, but quit due to him wanting to hurt Eda. He wanted to do it to prove to Hunter that he was serious about the war, and eliminating a witch was his plan to get Hunter to surrender. And with Lilith found out, she betrayed him and got Eda to a safe hiding spot before she was gone...
"Yeah...we promised them, Amity, so we have to find our friends...for their sake," Lucila said in determination and then gave a weak smile. "I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to send you home. I have a bunch of chores to do, and you don't wanna see me do all that."
"B-But I can help! If you want me to...besides, with me, you'd get done faster. Unless I'm intruding, which I don't want to do," Amity scratched her cheek anxiously. Lucila stared at her and then smiled gratefully. Not only did she have a point, but Lucila could tell that she didn't want to go home just yet. And she didn't blame Amity for that at all.
"Thanks, Amity, that'd be really great, actually. And besides, you're welcome here anytime. Come on, I'll show you the supply closet."