Luz, Eda, and King were at Eda's human collectibles stand; Eda was dusting what products she had on sale, Luz was silently reading her fifth The Good Solo Azura, while King was just laying on the table trying and failing to entertain himself. As Luz was reading King then sat up and asked, "Luz, does your book have any pictures."

Luz not taking her attention from her book replied with simply, "no, and before you even ask the only books that have pictures are all for those twelve and under."

King let out a groan and asks, "then why do you read that book if it has no pictures."

Luz taking out a piece of scrap paper and marking her place in her book then closes it and puts it away, then looks King straight in his eyes and says with a dead flat tone, "because it's the only kind of book that is available for anyone over the age of twelve."

King backs away from Luz slowly as if she was going to kill him right there. Then a familiar squeaky voice is heard saying, "Luz, something amazing is happening today."

Luz looking in the direction of the voice sees Willow with a poster in her right hand and Gus running toward Eda's stand. Luz having seen the poster on the way to set up Eda's stand says in a bored tone, "it's the covention, correct."

Willow and Gus take on with surprised looks. Gus then asks, "how did you know."

Luz with a blank look and tone replied, "Gus, there are posters plastered all over the town."

After hearing that Willow and Gus looked around the empty market and saw that Luz was right, but Willow asked with a hopeful tone in her voice, "so Luz will you be attending it with us."

Luz looks at Willow and Gus and replied with a flat, uninterested tone, "no; and before you ask you must keep in mind that a coven to me sounds like one of the mega-corporations from back in Night City."

Willow and Gus look to each other and Gus asks, "what's a mega-corporation."

Luz expecting that question replies, "a mega-corporation it's like a nation but it's driven by profit over principles and laws."

Willow and Gus just looked at Luz now with an expanded view of how Luz lived before coming to the boiling isles. Willow being the first to overcome the surprise of what Luz just said replies with a hopeful tone, "well, maybe this informative event will change your mind."

Luz looks Willow in her eyes and before she can give a flat answer, Eda places a hand on her shoulder and says to Luz, "I know what I'm about to say maybe out of character for me but (deep inhale, long exhale) why don't you go just once and see what there is because it might be different from the mega-corporations. Ugh, that tastes just wrong."

Luz turns to look Eda in her eyes and Luz saw that Eda knew what the covention was like and to give it a chance. Luz trusting Eda turns back to her friends and says, "alright I'll go but if things go south with a fight breaking out, I'm bouncing."

Gus going was going to ask a question but Luz beat him to it, "that means I'll leave if a fight gets out of control."

Luz then turns back to Eda and says, "and Eda you don't have to go because I'm only going to see what it's like and nothing else."

Eda smiling replies, "good because covens are just supporting a crooked system."

Luz turning and gathering her things together replies, "I never said covens weren't."

Luz with Willow and Gus leaves Eda's stand and head to the covention.

Luz and her friends go to the covention and when Luz sees the building she says, "huh, it doesn't look that different from when job fairs were still a thing."

Opening with cyberpunk elements

Luz, willow, and Gus go inside the building and see dozens of coven stands. While hanging from the ceiling are nine banners with each one having a solid color background, a unique symbol in the center, and a golden border going around the banner and the symbol.

Gus points to the banners and says, "those are the main nine covens, but there are hundreds of others that you can join."

While Gus was talking Luz was looking at the hanging banners. Once Gus finishes talking Luz says, "well, that may be how it is here but to me looking at those banners it feels like I'm looking at the logo of a mega-corporation."

Willow and Gus not sure what Luz meant asked, "what's a mega-corporation."

Luz expecting that the moment she said it replies, "a mega-corporation is a large-scale company that has the money, influence, and personnel to be considered its own country. Granted it's a privately owned, for-profit country."

Gus hearing that gasps' and asks, "so what mega-corporation do you belong to."

Luz looks Gus straight in his eyes and says, "none, I'm a street ronin."

Gus and Willow gave Luz a blank look before Luz clarified, "meaning I'm an urban mercenary."

Gus and Willow both said, "oh."

Then Gus taking out a notepad and pencil asked, "so what do you do."

Luz not even batting an eye away from Willow and Gus says, "well, I do all kinds of things ranging from security escort to assassination."

Willow and Gus upon hearing assassination grow pale. Luz seeing this also went to explain things to them, "assassination jobs require some highly specialized gear that most have a very difficult time acquiring so those jobs are far more usually done by private groups that specialize in that kind of stuff."

Willow and Gus still looking scared of the fact that Luz has acted as an assassin in the past look on with fear until Luz says, "alright, the look you're both giving me is starting to weird me out so how about a change in subject."

Willow and Gus nod in unison then Gus taking out a notepad asks, "do humans do duels."

Luz glad she suggested a change in subject replies, "no, well not anymore. Dueling back in the 1700s was losing favor with the newer cadre of officers and rich before it was outlawed altogether."

Luz looking to Willow who now looks more comfortable says, "how about you and Gus show me around this place; cause now I'm interested in what jobs are possible here."

Willow hearing this smiles and replies, "sure, and maybe we can see the emperor's coven."

Luz simply nods and follows Willow and Gus around the convention.

Willow, Gus, and Luz go around the convention until they come to the presentation area; going in they saw that it was packed. Luz seeing this says, "let's grab some seats and see what this is about." Luz, Willow, and Gus look around and find three seats near the top row; they all take their seats and wait for the presentation to begin.

Not long after taking their seats a short tune played followed by Principal Bump rose out of the stage and using magic summoned a microphone that had wings and could float. Principal Bump then speaks, "hello Bonesburrow; students ask me all the time, "Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?"

Then a random student in the audience stands and asks, "is it this." Before then using magic to make their head swell to be larger than their body, before then falling and landing on someone else in the audience.

Principal Bump seeing this looks on in both shame and horror then says, "wow, I've failed you as a principal." Before grabbing the microphone and speaking into it and continuing from where he left off, "it's being selected to join the best of the best and there are none better than the jewel of the coven system (three figures in white cloaks and bird masks rise out of the stage) and the enforcers of his will: the emperors' coven…"

Luz looked on unimpressed with what was happening; while Willow and Gus look on in excitement and amazement.

Principal Bump then continues with his speech, "feast your eyes on this elite force. Each member was hand-picked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic… (the figures then casted a spell with each one of them being different. The left one did fire, the middle one did water, and the last one did lighting. The spells came together high up in the air and exploded into confetti.)

Luz continued to look on unimpressed now leaning back with her arms crossed over her chest; while Gus and Willow collected the confetti.

Bump continues to give his speech, "members of the emperors' coven have access to all, yes, all forms of magic; oo, aw."

The crowd then repeats what bump just said.

Bump points a finger in the air as he continues the speech, "but only the best can ascend these ranks someday that could be one of you." (Bump then points at a student at random.)

The three emperor coven members then lifted their right side while also holding cloaks, then they moved to have their right hand touch their left shoulder and they left in a breeze of mist.

Once they left Principle Bump continued with his speech, "and now I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest; (points to the left) you know her, (points to the right) you love her; Lilith."

The crowd let out cheers of excitement and looking up they see a giant blue, transparent raven appear and then fly down to the stage. From the raven appears a woman with a similar white cloak but with a white raven mask.

Luz looks still unimpressed but also appears uneasy looking at Lilith. Luz looking to Willow and Gus sees that they're cheering with the crowd that's around them. Luz returned her gaze to the stage just to see Lilith with her face now visible.

Lilith then tossed her cloak and mask to Principal Bump; revealing that she is in a black dress with long sleeves and a cyan gem over her chest between where her breasts would be. While having pale skin, long dark hair, long painted nails, and cyan eyes. As the crowd applauded Lilith's entrance; she then began to speak, "thank you all, it wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings. (Closes left hand into a fist) Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the emperor's will so be more the Emperor's Coven awaits you." Lilith then casts a spell to create an enlarged, stylized version of the Emperor's Coven seal.

Luz, Willow, and Gus exit the presentation arena, and Luz says with a bit of sarcasm, "well, they must be not lacking in membership if that was their presentation."

Willow and Gus looked at Luz in surprise then Willow asks, "what makes you say that? The Emperors' Coven is the most sought-after coven to join-"

Gus then interrupts by saying, "ya, and they get great cloaks that are not only fashionable but also protect against if not weaken the vast majority of spells that are used."

Luz not turning away from the direction she is looking replies, "what I saw is more of a recruitment ad for a mega-corporation than a hobby group or a union."

Willow then pulls out a magazine and says, "well, then why don't you fill out this coven-type quiz? Doesn't that sound fun."

Luz turned and looking at Willow says, "Willow magazine quizzes are a joke that are done just for a laugh; they have no bearing in real life."

Then as Luz was turning back to look ahead, she walked right into someone. Luz looking at who she walked into sees it is a girl with purple-ish sleeves and light green hair done up in a mix of bob-tail and pixie-cut styles, and looking at her Luz feels like she knows her name but couldn't remember it. Luz looking over at the girl with squinted eyes asks, "don't I know you."

The girl upon seeing Luz looks at her with a mix of awe and crossed then speaks, "I'm Amity, and are you the one who got Willow transferred to the plant track."

Luz looking to Willow then Gus says, "go ahead and enjoy the convention after this I'm planning on going home."

Willow and Gus looked at Luz then nodded their heads accepting what Luz had planned before leaving.

Luz returns her attention to Amity and then says, "let's find somewhere more private to talk." Amity nods and they search for somewhere to talk in private.

Luz and Amity eventually found a place that was out of the way and situated behind several of the larger booths. Once both got situated Amity then sincerely asked, "how did you do it."

Luz raised an eyebrow and replied flatly, "how did I do what."

Amity asks in a serious tone, "how did you get Bump to let Willow take the track placement test."

Luz replies simply, "I talked to him about letting Willow take the test and if she failed, she would simply choose her track. Which if you ask me gives her far more opportunities than what I had."

Amity hearing that asks curiously, "what kind of opportunities did you have."

Luz in a serious tone replied, "I had several options but really there are only three: be a corpo, a street merc, or a nomad; and each has its own ups and downs."

Amity then asks, "what are those."

Luz then explains, "as a corpo, you're engaged in a constant power struggle to go up the corporate ladder; you must be willing to do whatever it takes to rise through the ranks. Of course, the benefits are great so long as you don't get fired, killed or worse turned into a "volunteer" for some new product. And there is no easy way out that is if you live that long to get out.

Now as a street merc you have a much easier time since there is no ladder to climb; though that also means you will have to build up a reputation by taking contracts. Not just that but you'll have to also buy your own gear, supplies, cyberware, and a place to live. And as a street merc, you'll have a much easier time getting a way out though you'll have a very difficult time resisting the allure of combat and eddies that will come oh so easily.

Finally, as a nomad well… you're basically part of town on wheels roaming from campsite to campsite, town to town. Of course, each nomad community is different some are hired armies on wheels; while others are peaceful caravans not looking for any trouble. Now there is one out that I know about but it's only for those who are tired of always roaming the freeways and roads that crisscross the land between the cities: settle down."

Amity hearing that last bit asks, "that's it just… settle down."

Luz replies simply, "yup, it's that simple."

Amity is speechless at what she heard but then catches herself and says in a cautious tone, "and if someone wanted to escape a situation they were born into and lived through for sixteen years."

Luz now giving a deadpan expression asks, "is this a hypothetical someone or a real someone."

Amity looks down and her hands and after some fidgeting replies, "real and they're here right now."

Luz smiles and says, "well my daimyo could always use more samurai."

Amity hearing that asks, "what are a daimyo and a samurai."

Luz still smiling replies, "a daimyo is a lord that rules over a district, city, or county; while a samurai are trained fighters for a daimyo. (Luz looks up at the ceiling) of course, the majority of daimyos are corpos' but that's just how things pan out more often than not."

Amity also now looking at the ceiling asks, "is there a limit to how many samurai can serve a daimyo."

Luz replies with a plain, "no, the only thing that limiting factors are space, money, and resources. Other than those there is no limit."

Amity now with a determined gaze asks, "where does your… daimyo live."

Luz looking at amity with a knowing look replies, "if you do this there is a good chance your parents will disown you and there will be no going back after I give you this information… you do understand the risks in this plan you're preparing right."

Amity nods her head and says, "yes, and you know what I'm sick of always having to be the perfect daughter while the twins can get away with dropping wine on the carpet, but I can't get away with having an even slightly imperfect score on a practice test… so yes, I want this."

Luz gives Amity a deadpan look and replies, "alright but you need to look me in my eyes and say that you want this, alright."

Amity giving a nod looks Luz dead in her eyes and sees someone who has killed, stolen, and worse. It's then that Amity realized that Luz is a hardened criminal that's never faced repercussions for her actions. This is also when Amity saw what it meant to be a samurai, Amity swallowed and said with conviction, "I want to be a samurai."

Luz smiling says, "good, I can help you get some of your stuff out of your current place if you want the help, and seeing as how you don't know where my… no our daimyo lives you'll need me to show you the way. You alright with that."

Amity now realizing that she has stuff at her soon-to-be former home replies, "yes, in fact, can we go now."

Luz gesturing to the exit says, "lead the way."

With that settled Luz lets Amity lead her to the center's exit but encounters Willow and Gus. Luz whispers into her ear, "I'll meet you at the exit I just need to say bye to my friends." Amity nods and goes and waits at the exit.

Luz seeing that Amity is waiting for her at the exit goes over to Willow and Gus and says, "hey, chumbs."

Willow and Gus hearing Luz turned to see she was heading to them, then Willow spoke, "we thought you were leaving the convention."

Luz upon reaching them replied, "I was going to, but then as you know I bumped into Amity; she apparently wants to move out of her parents. However, the real reason I'm here is to ask if either of you know her long before now."

Gus just shakes his head and says, "I skipped a few years to get to where I am now so I don't really know about Amity other than what's common knowledge, but I'm sure Willow knows more about Amity."

Willow gives Gus a death stare but then lets out a sigh and pulling out her scroll and handing it to Luz and says, "give this to Amity, she'll tell you everything you'll need to know about herself. (Turns to Gus and grabs wrist) now c'mon Gus I think the advanced fun coven is on the other side of the convention." Willow then began to drag Gus away; with Gus now sporting a red face and praying for mercy from some deity.

Luz looks at the scroll. It was rolled up and looking at its back Luz sees the initials WP and AB on the back. Luz pocketing the scroll returns to Amity and says, "alright let's delta."

Amity then smiles and says, "thanks, for helping me do this I've been looking for a place where I can live without my mother keeping influence over me."

Luz hearing that replies, "that sounds just like the owners of Arasaka."

Amity was going to ask but stopped herself feeling like she needed to finish what she wanted first before trying to learn more about her liberator.

A/N: this is part 1 of a deeper chapter the next chapter will come out in january. this is on account of the holiday season and have a happy new year.