Story Arc: Welcome to a Nevermore
Episode 3: Mysterious warnings (I)
Chapter 10: Goodbye parents
Plot : Bruce manages to switch places with his illusory construct, eventually learning more about Enid.
After getting their uniforms, our protagonists' parents are about to leave Nevermore Academy.
Each family gets their own little goodbye moment, with varied results.
In a minor note a girl dressed in black, with a skull-shaped mask, and a disembodied hand is entering the school.
XXX
POV Narrator
Half an hour in the past.
When the parents were in the Orphéus dormitory and the children were doing a little tour of the school (and a certain investigator was looking for his Shishou, Scáthach).
Outside the school, exactly where Bruce has parked his red muscle car, something unusual is going on.
The trunk of the car opened ... from the inside.
A large blue-white suitcase has jumped out of the trunk, as if it were alive or has a wild animal inside.
Once the suitcase hit the ground it opened by itself. Then, a tiny figure, obviously female, stepped out of the suitcase, as if she were the greatest contortionist in the world.
The stowaway, wears a tight and revealing black dress, with her face covered by a skull-shaped mask.
"I've arrived at my destination. I'm proceeding to erase my tracks." She told the girl that she is imitating Hassan of Serenity.
The little girl kneels next to the suitcase, closes it and touches a star-shaped decoration.
Then, when she opens the suitcase, it reveals that it is full of clothes that belong to Luz.
The magical suitcases that allow the Clawthorne-Noceda family to carry whatever they want without fear of controls.
For once it was used against them.
The illegal immigrant put the suitcase in the trunk, hiding all traces of it.
Finally, he infiltrates Nevermore Academy, having a single goal in his mind, to guard a person named, Bruce Bahamut Belmont.
XXX
Returning to the present.
The Nevermore Academy library has been desecrated in more ways than one in the last half hour…
If a student or teacher sees the disaster, at the very least there will be an inquiry into the destruction of school property.
To avoid problems, Bruce before leaving the library, has applied a Bounded Field, a magical barrier, to keep people away from the library.
XXX
Bruce hidden from people's sight, through his magic, hastily walks through the corridors of Nevermore Academy.
Naturally, Carmen the Crow finds herself sitting on her master's shoulder, looking especially happy…
In less than a minute, the invisible Bruce is in the corridor leading to the office of the school secretary.
Thanks to a stroke of luck, the office has been quite crowded, allowing only Wednesday and Luz to go inside to pick up uniforms and the rest of the school supplies.
Leaving in the corridor, Enid and the illusory construct in the shape of Bruce, the second best possible scenario for the Real Bruce.
The best case scenario would be, if the illusory construct is left alone, with no one nearby.
But, being close to Enid can work.
Definitely better than Luz or Wednesday.
Luz, his best friend and future sister, is one of the few people in the world who can touch him without permission.
As good as the young sorcerer's illusions are, a touch is enough to tell what they really are.
Therefore, it is ideal to keep the touchy friend away, if Bruce wants to maintain the deception.
Wednesday is Wednesday, a girl with a bad temper and high intelligence.
You may notice that Fake Bruce is avoiding interaction with his surroundings.
Although, Wednesday is more likely to act violently again, landing a punch and discovering the true nature of the Fake Bruce.
Enid being a new acquaintance, she can't suspect anything, because she doesn't know Bruce and his habits.
Above all, Enid is a girl who tries to be polite and kind, which means she won't try to touch Fake Bruce.
' The girls didn't suspect a thing. I can't help but love illusions, they have their advantages and disadvantages, just like any magical art. But they've always been useful.' thinks Bruce, preparing to trade places.
First, the Real Bruce walks over to his illusory construct, which is listening to the lycan girl.
Enid, once left alone with the Fake Bruce, decided to tell him the whole story of her personal blog and several things about the social life of Nevermore Academy.
The True Bruce, being careful not to alarm the Lycan girl, slowly overlays his illusory construct, exactly copying the position of the False Bruce.
After, Bruce slowly erases the magic of invisibility and illusions, making the whole world believe he was with Enid all along.
If anyone ever discovered the disaster in the library, the young sorcerer has an alibi.
" I think I talked too much about myself. Why don't you tell me something about yourself, do you have a hobby or do you play a sport?" Enid asks, with a cute smile, wanting to get to know Bruce better.
The lycan girl also has the same intent towards Luz and Wednesday, wanting to make new friends.
For being a friendly and vivacious girl, Enid had some difficulty making friends in San Francisco, especially if those friends were werewolves.
But here at Nevermore Academy, where Enid is surrounded by all kinds of supernatural teenagers who aren't werewolf, she can make all the friends she wants.
'I hope I haven't bored Bruce with my stories.' Enid thinks, not wanting to give the impression of being one of those self-centered girls who never stop talking about themselves.
"I don't like to talk about myself much." Bruce said, crossing his arms, getting defensive.
The result of being a paranoid lunatic and a sorcerer who has to hide the existence of magic from ordinary people.
The young investigator has a problem "opening his heart" to people, especially if you know them for a short time.
"Understood, sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Enid said, her tone sad, shedding the positive attitude she had before, believing she'd made a bad move.
Enid's wounded puppy expression was enough to get Bruce to throw them a bone.
" Enid, if you're interested, I'm a big fan of winter sports, I really enjoy speed skating, snowboarding and ice racing." Bruce said, trying to be a little more sociable.
Mentioning some of his occasional hobbies can't hurt anyone.
The Lycan girl's lively smile snapped back.
This girl just like Luz wears her heart on her sleeve, the opposite of Bruce and Wednesday.
"I'm a pretty good girl at ice hockey." Enid said, wanting to make a good impression, so she mentioned one of her winter passions about her.
"Hockey? Seeing you I would have thought you would have been a figure skater." Bruce said, slightly surprised by the news.
When the young detective searched Enid's room, he found nothing that showed an interest in hockey.
Bruce knows a number of girls who play hockey. His younger sister, Miyu, has joined several sports clubs, including Ice Hockey.
"I actually would have preferred figure skating. I mean, have you seen the fabulous costumes the ice skaters wear?
They are so beautiful and cute! I…" Enid stops talking, a sad look passes him for a moment. As if he suddenly remembered something bad.
"Yes, I understand what you mean, ice skaters have a unique charm, like ballet dancers." Bruce said, showing interest in the subject, pretending not to have Enid's change of mood.
An interesting little fact about Bruce Belmont, if he was born into a normal world, most likely his soft spot for witches and female warriors would be replaced by girls who practice skating, ballet, gymnastics.
" Out of curiosity, if you like figure skating, why play hockey?
They're different complementary sports: hockey is a muscular team sport, figure skating is a graceful individual sport." Bruce asks, innocently, aiming to understand Enid's problem.
"My mother enrolled me in hockey, a family tradition, she said it would make me a stronger girl." Enid answers, obviously not wanting to talk much about her family.
' Mother Trouble, a classic.' Thinks Bruce, in a cold tone. The young detective has a small list of acquaintances who had little or big problems with their mother.
The most troubling case Bruce encountered was Amity and Amelia with Odalia.
Before Bruce or Enid could continue talking.
Wednesday and Luz came out of the school office, carrying three cardboard bags with them, containing the school uniforms and timetable.
"Bruce, here's your school uniform, try it on now." Luz said, quite enthusiastic about the uniforms, throwing the cardboard bag at her best friend.
Bruce grabs the envelope on the fly, then puts it on the floor, starting to undress.
The coat and black leather vest fell to the floor.
" What are you doing ?" Wednesday asks, staring at Bruce as if he's some strange animal he's never seen before.
"I'm taking off my clothes so I can put on my school uniform, isn't that obvious?" Bruce said, as if girls were the weird ones, as he unbuttoned his white shirt.
"Bruce we've talked about this before, is there such a thing as modesty and shame!?" Luz said, slightly exasperated at Bruce's lack of modesty.
Carmen knowing well how Bruce's mind works, took flight, sitting on Luz's shoulder for the moment.
The young detective has taken off his shirt, leaving only a tight undershirt.
"Me, I have no problem with someone watching me change my clothes.
You, you're too sensitive, shouldn't you already be used to seeing my body?" Bruce said, exasperated by Luz's "puritanical" attitude.
"Is this normal for you?" Enid asks, her cheeks quite red with embarrassment, having certain inappropriate thoughts…
"In spite of myself, yes, Bruce is a boy without shame, modesty or embarrassment. So I saw things I didn't want to see." Luz said, her cheeks red, finding it very embarrassing to remember all the moments with Bruce not being presentable.
"I've come into a room at an inopportune time." Enid murmurs, her blush losing intensity as the Lycan girl's imagination has calmed down.
"Exhibitionist you must find a room or I'll put you through hell." She declares Wednesday, ready to bring out the worst in her, to teach the young detective the meaning of modesty.
"I've been to hell before. I seriously doubt you can match the source material." Bruce said, not afraid of what Wednesday can come up with.
Gloomy girl prepares to pull out her emergency knife.
"But because I'm in a good mood, I'll do as you like." Bruce said, not wanting to fight Wednesday, the fight with Scáthach was enough for his fighting spirit.
"Enid do you know a place nearby where we can put on our uniforms?" Luz asks, not wanting to walk halfway through school to get to the Orphéus dormitory to change clothes.
" Around the corner there is an empty room, it used to be the janitor's closet. But now it's empty, some students use it as a secret space to kiss or hide stuff." Enid said, pulling a useful piece of information out of the myriad of rumors he knows.
"Using a closet as a changing room isn't the weirdest stuff I've done in my life." said Luz, having done far more extravagant things in a closet.
Bruce said nothing, just grabbed his clothes off the floor and chased after Enid.
XXX
Wednesday, Bruce and Luz are dressed in Nevermore Academy uniforms.
Wednesday is dressed in a custom colorless, black, white, and gray uniform that includes the school badge.
Luz wears the authentic model of the vivid indigo uniform which can appear more blue or purple depending on the lighting.
Bruce's appearance hasn't changed much. The tight pants and running shoes remained.
The young detective only changed his upper body clothes.
First, Bruce wears a patch over his left eye, a white shirt, a red tie, a leather vest, black gloves, and an old black coat.
Now, Bruce wears a patch over his left eye, a slightly lighter white shirt, black tie, gray sweater vest, black gloves, and a Nevermore Academy striped blazer.
Finally, his black leather coat is held over his back like a cloak. With Carmen standing on Bruce's left shoulder, maintaining an observer role.
Wednesday, Bruce and Luz find themselves in front of the lycan girl, who is doing fashion criticism.
"Wednesday, Luz, you two are cute in your uniforms!" Enid declares, delivering a small round of applause to her new friends.
"I agree with Enid." Comment Bruce, leaving the row, standing to the right of the lycan girl.
The custom dark colored uniform highlights Wednesday's pale complexion.
You'll definitely get a lot of people's attention." Bruce shares his candid take on the appearance of the gloomy girl in her custom school uniform.
"If they have any sense of survival they will stay away from me." Wednesday said, not wanting to get the attention of a boy or girl, believing that any form of romance is a nuisance to be avoided.
Bruce ignored Wednesday's comment, shifting his attention to Luz.
"As always blue is your color. Amity will be happy to have a photograph of you, dressed like this." He declares Bruce, pulling out of his coat, a miniature camera, the kind used by government spies.
"Why are you taking pictures of Luz in her school uniform?" Enid asks, intrigued by the miniature camera and the purpose of photography itself.
"Amity, Luz's girlfriend has a fetish for uniforms and a rather complicated relationship with me." Bruce said, showing once again that he has no shame or modesty.
"Amity has no such fetish!" declares Luz, her cheeks red with embarrassment, trying to protect the honor of her fantastic girlfriend.
" For over a year now I have been sending him pictures of you in all kinds of cute dresses or uniforms.
And so far he has never told me to stop. In fact, when you're apart, he seems to be eager to receive my photographs and news." Bruce said, not batting an eyelid, having no problem revealing his job as Amity's paparazzi.
This happens when you don't get Bruce to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
"Next time we have a free moment. You, Amity and I should have a discussion about privacy and especially limits… again." Luz said, having to broach this subject for the umpteenth time.
For Luz, Amity and Bruce are the two most important people in her life.
Amity is the love of his life, his soul mate and everyone is convinced that in less than ten years there will be a dream wedding.
Bruce is her best friend, the one who showed him the moonlit world and opened up a thousand possibilities for Luz.
However, as much as Luz loves these two people, she is not oblivious to their flaws.
Amity is a jealous girlfriend, quite insecure (thanks a lot, Odalia !), very competitive (thanks again, Odalia !), a perfectionist and can't cook anything edible for humans.
Bruce is possessive, overprotective, paranoid, pushy, antisocial, obsessed with solving unusual crimes and furthering his ambitions in any way possible.
Amity and Bruce if left alone, end up in only two ways: arguing or collaborating.
If they argue, Luz gets a severe headache and has to either split up between them or get them to stay together for the whole day. That is, it implies that one of the two becomes the third wheel.
If they collaborate, Luz suffers from a small headache, because when they team up, something always happens, sometimes good, sometimes bad, but there is always a need to run for one's life.
Amity and Bruce's attempt to create the Ultimate Abomination gave birth to a Blob Monster that nearly destroyed the city.
" Still ?" Bruce asks, grimacing, not liking to spend an hour or two of his life discussing limits and rules of conduct with Luz and Amity.
"Your private life seems to be rather unusual." Wednesday said, being able to see that between Bruce, Luz and this Amity, things are… complex and unique.
If Wednesday Addams says this, there must be truth in his words.
"You have no idea." Said Bruce and Luz, at the same time, fully aware that their life has more in common with a Japanese video game series than with reality.
'For once, I don't want to find out news.' Enid thinks, knowing when she has to stand in her place, certain information shouldn't be touched even with a thirty-foot pole.
XXX
Shortly after.
Wednesday, Bruce and Luz stand at the entrance to Nevermore Academy, preparing to say goodbye to their parents.
Enid not wanting to spoil this intimate moment, decided to stay behind and wait for her new friends to return.
Carmen wisely decided to take off and walk a lap or two around the school, letting her master have a quiet talk with two of her three mothers.
XXX
Let's focus for the moment on the Addams Family.
"Look at you, my little deathtrap. Seeing you in this uniform brings up so many terrible memories. Doesn't it, Tish?" Gomez said, feeling great joy to see her own daughter in the Nevermore Academy uniform.
"Yes, I agree with you, Gomez. So many macabre memories come to mind." Morticia said, in a nostalgic tone, her mind filled with unforgettable moments from her time at Nevermore Academy.
Too bad the dark girl doesn't share the same enthusiasm as her parents.
"Gomez, why don't you wait in the car? Wednesday and I need a moment." Morticia said, having to settle some important matters with her own daughter.
Gomez knowing not to intrude on a mother-daughter moment, gets into the car and closes the door.
"Any plans you have to escape are ending right now." said Morticia, in a serious tone, knowing her daughter too well to delude himself that she will be a good, quiet girl at Nevermore Academy.
"I have warned all family members to contact me the moment you darken the door. You have nowhere to go." Morticia said, hoping this information would dissuade Wednesday from fleeing.
"As usual, you underestimate me, Mother." She replies Wednesday, not intimidated by Morticia's words.
Having no access to Clan Addams property or resources only means that Wednesday must rely only on herself or an ally outside of Morticia's influence.
"Maybe not today or tomorrow. But one day I will escape this educational penitentiary and you will never hear from me again." Wednesday declares, not holding her sharp tongue, wanting to run away and leave her troublesome family behind.
"You are a brilliant girl, Wednesday, but sometimes you get in your own way." Morticia said, with a sad expression, feeling a sharp pain in her heart.
The thought that her daughter wants to cut ties with her own family is potentially lethal to Morticia's soul.
"I'm sure you'll grow to love Nevermore, and find it as life-changing as I did." Morticia said, hoping with all her heart that her old school and the Owl Lady's children can help her daughter grow as a person.
"Oh, I got you a little something." Morticia said, pulling out a little present for her daughter, wanting to leave her with something beautiful.
The gift for Wednesday is a small black amulet in the shape of a W or M.
"W ... M. Our initials." said Morticia, twisting the amulet to make the W into M.
"It's made of obsidian, which the Aztec priests used to conjure visions. It's a symbol of our connection." Morticia said, wanting to help her daughter master her oncoming powers, above all, to remind her that she's not as lonely as she thinks.
"Which one of your spirits suggested this toe-curling tchotchke?" Wednesday said, taking the amulet, not appreciating the gift, finding it ridiculous.
But he could sell it and make enough money for a plane ticket.
"I'm not you, Mom. I will never fall in love, or be a housewife, or have a family." Wednesday declares, expressing her sincere opinion, not wanting to look anything like her mother, desiring a completely different life.
"I'm told girls your age say hurtful things, and I shouldn't take it to heart." Morticia said, trying not to sound hurt by Wednesday's words.
The Addams Family matriarch has read enough parenting books and sought advice to understand that adolescence is a turbulent time.
"Fortunately, you don't have one." Wednesday said, wanting to help or hurt her mother further, hard to tell.
"Finally, a kind word for your mother." Morticia said, smiling, appreciating her daughter's words very much, being the nicest thing she's heard in a long time.
"Lurch, the crystal ball, please." Morticia said, putting the family butler to work.
Lurch in less than a second, delivers a crystal ball to Morticia, then returned to his seat.
"We can't talk to you for the first week while you're settling in, so we'll call you next Sunday." Morticia said, passing the crystal ball to her daughter.
It is obvious that the Addams Family does not keep up with the times, it would have been easier to give the gloomy girl a phone.
Instead of getting in the car and driving away, Morticia turns and walks in the direction of the Clawthorne-Noceda Family, wanting to ask for a favor.
XXX
Minutes in the past with the Clawthorne-Noceda family.
"Luz, Bruce, you two look ridiculous in these school uniforms." Eda said, mocking her children for wearing the extravagant uniforms of Nevermore Academy.
The wild witch knowing that she won't have another chance to see Bruce dressed like this, decided to take advantage of the moment and have fun at Bruce's expense.
" Eda, don't be mean, with our children, you know that Bruce doesn't react well to jokes." Camila said, nudging her beloved witch of hers.
Camila is trying to stop Mrs. Owl from playing with fire, making fun of the descendant of Morgan Le Fay, will never do any good.
"My dear adoptive mother, the next time we see each other, the situation will be completely different." Bruce declares, taking a step forward, placing himself in front of Eda.
You will be a tired and stressed woman, overburdened with household duties, worried about your impending wedding and Lily's pregnancy.
Sure, you can handle Vee and Hunter, they are the calm and obedient kids.
But, Zul, Miyu, Illya and Chloe, with all their extracurricular activities and without my presence, will be mission impossible for you." Bruce said, knowing full well that his absence would change the balance of the family.
Eda hearing all these words has become paler than usual.
Bruce and Luz are the eldest son and daughter of the family and the main disaster magnets, wherever they go, they attract all kinds of trouble.
Surely without them, the life of the family will become much more peaceful, reducing paranormal disasters by 95%.
But, at the same time, the family will lose two rather important stabilizing elements.
Miyu, Illya, and Chloe are quite close to Bruce, making a part of many of their extracurricular discussions and projects.
The same goes for Zul, Vee and Hunter with Luz, albeit to a lesser extent.
"Bruce, don't play with Eda's mind." Luz said, not wanting to see how her future stepmother risks having a nervous breakdown.
"I'm just telling the truth, Eda's life without us, will be more boring and full of domestic duties." Bruce said, sounding innocent, as if he wasn't playing psych tricks on her adoptive mother.
"So, see you during the winter break?" Eda said, trying to think of her having her new duties as a housewife.
"If Bruce freezes or burns down the school, we could see each other before the holidays." Luz said, trying not to cry, living in a dorm will be a new experience.
"I can't believe the day has come when one of my children leaves home to continue his studies. Instead of university, I send you to a high school for paranormal teenagers!" Camila said, shedding some bittersweet tears, having rather contradictory feelings within herself.
The idea of two of her new children leaving home for 3/4 of the year is heart wrenching for Camila
No one was surprised by a sudden family hug, though Bruce was the one most reluctant to give this goodbye hug.
Among the four of them, Bruce is the one who feels the least emotions regarding the separation from the family.
After being catapulted and stranded on foreign worlds for months, he then returns home, with greater responsibilities and powers, all repeated an unknown number of times.
Bruce's heart has become more resistant to separation from the family. (It would be completely different if it was a romantic breakup)
If Bruce can traverse a continent on foot, take on an army, led by superhuman lieutenants, and a king as powerful as a titan, all to reach his home world.
A few thousand kilometers are nothing for Bruce. Too bad Luz doesn't share the same perspective as Bruce.
"Are we done being sappy? I've got a room to decorate, a couple of phone calls to make, and a couple of homework to finalize." Bruce said, having plenty to do before the sun sets and the moon rises.
"Always cool, calm and focused." Eda said, shaking her head, knowing too well how her own son's mind works.
Hard exterior, soft heart and a complex mind that can't stop working.
" Luz, take care of Bruce, help him make new friends and above all, don't let him isolate himself in his quest.
I don't want to see school become one giant lab experiment." Camila said, patting her daughter on the back lightly, knowing that Luz will be able to keep Bruce grounded in reality.
"Bruce, I'd love to see Nevermore Academy burn.
Please try to hold back and give new friendships a chance.
Maybe you could get yourself a new band of witches to solve mysteries or create something fabulous." Eda said, giving Bruce a small pat on the head, knowing that everything will depend on her son's choices.
"For now the school and the rest of the city looks promising. But if my expectations are disappointed or I'm bored stiff, I'll go to Old Britain and see what's new at the Clock Tower." Bruce said, his tone deadpan, just like Wednesday doesn't hide her intent from the family.
It's not like they can stop it.
Camila is a vet with no real offensive skills; Eda is a powerful witch, but she has long since been surpassed by her own children in one way or another.
Luz is the chosen one of the Clow Cards, inheriting a unique magic that makes her one of the most powerful witches of her generation.
Bruce is the heir to four legendary bloodlines, with a bad habit of getting involved in a number of prophecies and semi-sentient magic crystals looking for a master.
In short, Bruce and Luz are OPs, each of them can destroy a city in one day.
Although Bruce is the one who specializes in large-scale destruction, while Luz is better with single targets.
Eda doesn't seem bothered by Bruce's statement, probably because she too never stood still in one place for too long in her youth.
Another explanation would be that Eda is aware that few people are capable of making her child bleed.
"Nevermore Academy or Clock Tower, both are schools for kids like you." Eda said, not seeing much difference whether Bruce goes to his old school or the famous institute in London.
If Bruce stays at Nevermore Academy he will meet paranormal teenagers his own age.
If Bruce goes to London, he'll probably waste a good deal of his time at the Clock Tower, a place filled with witches and warlocks of all ages.
Wherever he goes he will end up socializing and maybe making a friend or two.
Camila on the other hand is less calm than Eda.
For Camila there is a huge difference between the Nevermore Academy which can be reached by car in five hours and the Clock Tower which is located across the Atlantic Ocean.
Before Camila said anything, Luz anticipated her biological mother's request.
" I will try to keep him with me at Nevermore Academy. If he wants to leave the city he will have to go through me, la Grande Luzura !" Luz said, puffing out her chest, assuring her mother that she would keep Bruce in the country.
" Luz, you are a powerful witch, one of the best the world could ask for.
I've even listed you in the top 25 most powerful magic users of this era." Bruce said, in a serious tone, acknowledging his best friend/assistant/sister's abilities.
" But, you have no hope of stop The Ultimate Life Form, The Evolutionary Apex, a future Sky Father." Bruce declares, in a serious tone, not believing that Luz can stop him from doing what he wants.
Luz with her magic can slow him down, she can hold him back, she can even injure or kill him under the right circumstances, but she can't stop him.
"Bruce, you should stop with these titles, you seem to be Gil-kun, the most arrogant kid in the world." Luz said, finding this habit of her best friend slightly annoying.
"Thank you so much for the compliments. The fact that my best friend thinks I'm an equal of Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, makes me feel good." Bruce said, taking Luz's words as a compliment of the highest order.
"I wasn't paying you a compliment, it was actually a criticism, looking like Gil-kun is a bad thing." Luz said, shaking her head, wanting to prevent her best friend from starting to become the King of Heroes of this age.
" Putting aside his complex personality, alien morality and possessive attitude towards his possessions; Gilgamesh remains the first king of mankind, one of the most powerful beings the world has ever known.
Not to mention Gate of Babylon, a Hyperspace Arsenal containing prototype Noble Phantasms from all around the world, the Chain of Heaven that can bind divine enemies, and the Sword of Separation, Ea." Bruce said, showing a good deal of respect in his comparisons of Gilgamesh, which no other member of the Clawthorne-Noceda family seems to have.
"I could at least go easier on the titles." Luz said, fearing that over time this habit could degenerate into something very bad like the attitude of Gilgamesh or Victor Von Doom.
"I didn't give myself these titles, I earned them. The same goes for you, Chosen Witch of Clow Reed, Knight of Etro." Bruce said, listing two of the most important titles Luz earned in her adventures.
"Bruce, Luz, we can't talk about demigods, chosen ones, champions of the gods or future ascensions to the divine." Camila said, feeling great unease when she hears her children talk about matters that should ideally be myths and legends.
They are actually immutable facts that happened when Camila was oblivious to magic and the supernatural.
When out of nine children, the lab-born basilisk girl is the most normal, it means your life as a mother will be indescribable.
But learning that the eldest and youngest sons, i.e. Bruce and King, the baby Titan, are not mortal beings, with finite life spans, is hard to swallow.
The two of them, with time it will become something big.
At least in a thousand years, Bruce will be something as powerful as Odin, the King of Asgard or as transcendent as Tamamo-no-Mae in possession of all his nine tails, i.e. a full force reincarnation of the Goddess Amaterasu.
King will likely become a living continent, with a fledgling civilization built on his back, treated surely as a guardian god.
When Camila thinks about this stuff, she can't help but feel a feeling of unease and worry about her oldest and youngest child.
At least, Luz is 100% human, so Camila doesn't have to worry that her daughter will eventually become a demigoddess, with powers beyond the comprehension of the average human.
Even if temporarily becoming the Knight of Etro, wouldn't it leave side effects?
" Cami, are you okay ?" Eda asks, placing a hand on his future wife's shoulder, bringing her back to reality.
"I'm just emotionally tired, I'm going to the car to lay down for a moment." Camila said, obviously making up an excuse, not to mention the source of her discomfort.
Camila got into her car, needing a moment to recover.
"Human beings fail to accept the inevitable.
It's sweet that Camila cares about my whereabouts. But she shouldn't waste her time and kill her heart on a lost cause." Bruce said, expounding his thoughts on Camila, knowing full well the cause of his human mother's distress.
"She's not the only one who cares about you." Luz said, understanding what her mother is going through, often having several nights up thinking or talking to Bruce and King about the future.
" Bruce, Luz, good luck with Nevermore Academy.
For the first week we'll leave you alone, then I want to hear about all the trouble you've caused.
If you can, play a joke or ten on Principal Weems." Eda said, with a mischievous smile, ending this conversation on a positive note.
When Eda got in the car to talk to Camila.
Morticia Addams came over to talk to Bruce and Luz.
XXX
Present.
"Bruce, Luz, can I steal a moment from you?" Morticia asks, wanting to talk to the only two teenagers who haven't escaped Wednesday in the first ten minutes.
"Yeah, we're not doing anything important at the moment." Bruce said, being able to give Morticia a few minutes.
"What do you think of my daughter, Wednesday?" Morticia asks, wanting Bruce and Luz's honest opinion before asking for a big favor.
" I've only known her for a day. She seems to me a goth girl, very pretty, very intelligent, good at fighting and enjoys scaring people.
I think we can be friends, I've made friends with tougher people than Wednesday." Luz said, glancing briefly at Bruce, remembering how much she worked to become her best friend.
The same goes for Amity, in the beginning they were rivals/enemies, nowadays they are girlfriends.
"I keep my deductions and analyzes to myself.
All I can say is that your daughter is an interesting girl with a rather complex personality.
Surely she'll be one of the few people who can keep me entertained for the duration of this social experiment." Bruce expressed a small set of superficial thoughts about the dark girl, not wanting to reveal too much for no real reason.
"These are the kindest words I've ever heard in my life about my daughter from a non-Addams." Morticia said, placing a hand over her heart, looking ready to die of a happy heart attack.
"You can promise me that you two will keep an eye on my little thundercloud.
I'd sleep better knowing there are a couple of people keeping her safe." Morticia asks, hoping that more direct and targeted help can help Wednesday and stop her from doing something rash.
"I don't see anything wrong. If it makes you feel better, I promise to help Wednesday." Luz said, always ready to help others. Either way, she Luz would hang around Wednesday, sharing most of her lessons.
" I'm sorry, I only make promises to the dying or to people close to me.
You, you're not on your deathbed and I hardly know you.
But you can hire me as a Bodyguard." Bruce said, pulling a business card out of his sleeves, handing it to Morticia.
Luz can do whatever she wants for free and without asking for anything in return. But Bruce is more realistic, wanting to be paid or rewarded for his services.
"Sounds reasonable to me, what are your prices?" Morticia asks, willingly accepting the payment request.
' Better not get me involved in this. Bruce has said many times, that he doesn't need help to make a deal.' Luz thinks, knowing when he should intervene or not.
"For long-term work, limited to duties falling within the range of the mundane and the daily, my price is $50 an hour, that is, $1,200 a day, that is, $36,000 a month.
The price can increase based on many internal, external factors and specific customer requests." Bruce lists the prices of his detective/handyman services, adding clauses to increase the price.
"These prices are affordable. Bruce Bahamut Belmont, I desire your services for the duration of the school year." Morticia said, reaching out, wanting to finalize the deal, with a handshake.
The greater the opportunity to take an individual's riches or soul, Bruce can't help but smile and shake the poor hapless hand.
The Addamses are about to lose a big chunk of their finances.
Bruce learned from Eda and Stan how to empty the pockets of rich families.' Thinks Luz, never wanting to be in the skin of someone who owes money or favor, to her best friend.
Because when Bruce collects debts, many shady rich people become miserable.
"I love doing business." He declares Bruce, with a big smile, snapping his fingers, creating a green flame that turns into a quill and a parchment.
"First the signature, then the handshake." Bruce said, handing the document to Morticia.
The Addams Family matriarch signed the contract then the document itself caught fire, turning into a powder that flew up Morticia's arms, creating a tattoo with the same content as the contract.
For little mercies everything was incredibly quick and painless.
" An interesting way to make deals." Morticia said, tugging at the sleeve of her shirt to look at the tattoo/contract she just got.
" Many things flow in my veins, there may be a few drops of archdemon." Bruce said, trying to minimize some of his inhuman heritage.
Morticia doesn't seem to be concerned by this statement, the Addams Family has all kinds of members and friends.
A handshake was performed, completing the pact.
XXX
Five minutes later.
Wednesday, Bruce and Luz find themselves standing on the school stairs, saying goodbye to their departing parents.
Well, Luz is waving warmly, while Wednesday and Bruce stand still and watch as the cars pull away with every second.
"Principal Weems must have taken my advice, she blew a hole in the hearse's gas tank." Bruce said, noting that the Addams Family car is leaking fuel.
A small smile appeared on Wednesday's lips, loving when the unfortunate one hits her parents.
"Should we warn them?" Luz asks, slightly worried about Wednesday's parents.
"No, they're adults, they can handle it." Wednesday said, not wanting to lend a helping hand to the parents who brought him to this prison.
"Wednesday, your parents just dropped dead... a disembodied hand waving?" Bruce asks, pointing to a small distant spot that only he can see.
"Thing." Wednesday mutters softly, knowing well that hand walking towards the school.
"By the way, your mother hired me as a bodyguard for you.
I will stick with you like a shadow demon for the next school year or until I get bored of the assignment.
If you tolerate my presence, I'll offer you half of my pay, which is $18,000." Bruce said, wanting to set things straight, to avoid future problems or hurting someone's feelings.
" What !?" Wednesday said, in an angry tone, turning to Bruce.
" I'm kidding, actually five minutes I signed a marriage contract with your mother. At the end of our senior year of high school, we will get married." Bruce said, with a mischievous smile, playing the worst joke of his life.
' There's going to be a mess in the next few seconds. Bruce must not try to be a comedian.' Think Luz, knowing that humor is a field Bruce isn't good at.
"I'll kill you here and now!" Wednesday declares, jumping on Bruce, trying to strangle him with his hands.
At that moment, Enid appeared on the scene.
" What is going on !?" yells Enid, shocked to see Wednesday and Bruce tumbling on the stairs, trying to hurt each other.
"Bruce has played a bad joke and Wednesday wants to kill him. Help me separate them." Luz said, needing some help calming the dark girl before she hurt herself.
Continues ...