Previously on the Return of the Lost Son, a boiling rain isolates the witches and realm-hoppers in the Owl House. Frustrated by Lincoln and Luz's preference of magic over his lessons about demons, King steals two of Eda's elixirs, one of which Lincoln drinks. They are then trapped and haunted by an unknown beast, revealed to be a bestial, cursed Eda. With their newly learned spells of wind and light, the two manage to transform Eda back to normal. What the Owl House tenants don't know is that the elixir the Azarathian drank has starting to have adverse side effects, a similary bestial eye being one of them.
Eda's Human Collectibles Stand, Marketplace, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
Opened at Eda's Human Collectibles Stand. She is dusting the table, looking bored, Lincoln was reading his father's grimoire. while Luz reads the first Azura book to King, showing Azura defending her friends against a witch with a moon crest on her head. Since the incident with the Owl Beast and drinking the elixir. Lincoln's body has stopped its growing pains. He later learned that his senses have grown sharper and his reflexes are acting much quicker.
Luz: Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura raised her staff to the cotton-candy skies and yelled, "I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!" And look! I drew a flip book. (Switches between two pages) Pew, Pew, Pew!
King: Show me the picture. (Peeking over the book)
Luz: What?
King Show me the picture! (Luz does) Ha! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists.
Lincoln: (puts the book down. He looks at King with a raised eyebrow) Wait, I thought you said you were the King of Demons?
Luz: Are you just making this up now?
King: It doesn't matter. What's important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me!
Luz: Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book.
Eda: Ugh! Please stop reading that. Your flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all our serious customers!
Lincoln: Um, Eda? What customers? There aren't even any other stalls around.
The camera zooms out and we see the street around them empty.
Luz: What's going on?
Eda: This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible going on today.
Gus: Guys! (He and Willow run to the stand, followed by the two lesser constructs Lincoln gave them) Something amazing is happening today!
Luz: Gus, Willow! Hey!
Lincoln: Hey guys! What's the matter?
Willow: (holds up a flier reading Which Coven Are You? Mystery Guests!) It's the annual covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There are even two mystery guests this year!
Luz: A job fair for witches! Eda, can we go?
Ed: Absolutely not.
Luz groans and falls to the ground, leaning on Eda.
Lincoln: Why? What's wrong with it?
Eda: 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.
Lincoln: Ehh Eda (points to Willow and Gus who was confused)
Willow: Mmm. (Drops the flier.)
Eda: Eh, but, you know, without judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were kids.
Lincoln: (looks at her) Did you and my dad go there?
Eda (nods) Yeah, us and Li… (stops and makes a sour look) My point is, we're not going.
Lincoln: Li-who?
Eda: I—the—I mean—
Luz: (Pops back up.) Who's "Li..."? You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!
Eda: No.
Luz: Okay. Then you leave me no choice.
Lincoln: (smiles) King?
King: (Grabs the book.) "You shall not shan't doeth no more harm," Azura callethed out... (continues reading)
Eda: So flowery, so awful.
Eda walks away, opening the Portal Door and stepping through it.
King: "Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseth.
Luz tosses King through the portal as it closes. It opens a second later, Eda returns with King sitting on her head.
Eda: Stop it! Stop it! I will literally do anything to stop this!
The angle moves to a long building, a sign in front of it reading "COVENTION TODAY alchemists anonymous tomorrow."
Play music: The Owl House Theme
The portal appears and opens.
Luz and Lincoln appear, and appear to be going through the sky upwards, but the camera shows that it was upside down and that actually, they were falling.
Eda rescues Luz and Lincoln, and along with King, they appear flying the Owl Staff, in the direction of The Owl House.
The camera follows them to the Owl House.
It approaches the door, where Hooty is, Luz opens it and is seen twirling the staff, until she leaves it standing, Luz puts her right hand on her hip, and holds the staff with her left while Lincoln draws his sword and strikes a similar pose
Eda takes the staff away from her and Luz gets nervous, Lincoln giving a funny one while King stands in front of the camera to wave with his arms outstretched.
Willow, Gus, and Amity appear in three frames.
Willow makes a heart with her hands, Gus holds out his arms in celebration, and Amity just ignores, and turns her back, crossing her arms.
King appears holding a stuffed rabbit, along with many other stuffed animals around.
He pretends to rule these stuffed animals, until some of them fall on him, while other stuffed animals keep falling in front of the camera.
Luz flies over Bonesborough while Lincoln rides alongside, where she meets Tiny Nose, Willow and Gus.
Later, Eda and King are seen running from the guards, They help them escape, but later Luz loses control of the staff, and are chased by a creature.
Luz, Lincoln, Eda and King are on the roof of the Owl House, where Luz casts her Light Spell, making it go into the night.
The Owl House
Return of the Lost Son
The Owl House logo appears, then the Light and Lightning spells streaks across it with background sounds. The theme ends there.
Chapter 6
Covention
Bonseborough Convention Center, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
The group appears in front of the building, where Luz jumps to her feet and Willow claps and Lincoln has a smile. Eda m* into her hand.
Eda: (grunts as she struggles to put on her hood, King hanging off it) I have to keep a low profile.
Luz: (growls as she tries to tuck Eda's hair into the hood) Is this cowl really necessary?
Eda: Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft? (Numerous small objects fall from her hair) Partly (She stuffs things into her hood) But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If they see me, I could go to jail. Again.
Willow: (approaching with one of Eda's wanted posters) Maybe this informational event will inspire you to join a coven.
Eda traces a spell that pulls Willow's cowl over her face.
Lincoln: Eda! (Helps Willow remove her hood)
Eda: Let's get this over with.
They enter the building.
Lincoln: Wow!
Luz: Whoa, Was I alive before now?
Several booths are set up inside, each holding a sign for one coven or another. Nine large colored banners hang from the ceiling. The first is purple, showing a melting face akin to an abomination. The second is crimson, carrying a harp. The third is orange, showing a beast hatching from an egg resting on a pillow. The fourth is brown, showing a cracked fist. The fifth is blue, showing a hand wrapped in twin bandages. The sixth is gray, showing a hand mirror and a shadowy copy behind it. The seventh is violet, showing an eye. The eighth is green, showing a plant. The ninth is yellow, showing a bubbling potion. Two student witches fly on broomsticks.
Gus: Those are the nine main covens, but there are hundreds of others you can join.
Willow: (As everyone is walking) There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven—
Eda groans
Willow: (whispers) Also the Grumpy Coven.
Eda: What was that?
Willow yipes as the kids and King all run. Eda was about to follow them but a bald man touches her shoulder at the Cooking Coven stanned manned by the cyclops witch.
Man: Uh, excuse me, ma'am, but you look rather familiar. (Looks between her and Eda's wanted posters)
Eda: Uh... No, I don't. Distraction spell!
She reaches into her hood and tosses a bag to the ground. It's a bag of Hex Mix, which does nothing. Eda runs away anyway, but returns when the man reaches down to grab him. She drags his hood over his face, picks up the Hex Mix, and runs off again.
Cut out the children when Eda meets them.
Luz: (Stops and points) Oh, what's that?
Willow: That's the Construction Coven.
Cut to a short and bulky witch with tan skin, a long, gray beard and mustache, and teal eyes wearing a gray tunic with a darker gray belt and brown sleeves representing the Construction Coven, a black cowl, black gloves, and dark gray boots with gray-beige patterning, also wearing two satchels on his belt; one of which stores a hammer with a neutral expression on his face. He also wears a hard hat while displaying his and his coven's capabilities at the covention and Tiny Nose standing next to a pallet of wood and a pallet of bricks. The witch grabs both pallets from below and throws them into the air. The materials falling to perfectly build a small house.
Lincoln: Wow.
Willow: One of the main nine. They use glyphs of power to increase their strength.
The witch removes his hard hat to draw a glyph of power from a stack on his bald head with three hairs. He removes the sticker from the back of one and puts it on Tiny Nose's nose, then crosses his arms. Her pupils constrict.
Tiny Nose: (Screams, creating an aura like Lincoln's and picks up the witch, throwing him into the air) Ha-a-a! I'm the destroyer of worlds! (grabs the Construction Coven sign and throws it)
Man 2: Hey, that's the opposite of construction!
Two witches run in to stop Tiny Nose as she grabs a giant hammer.
Lincoln: Wow, I want to have one of those.
As if on cue, the sword on his back turns into a hammer. The sudden weight causes Lincoln to stumble, sheath the weapon and slam its maul on the ground. The impact creates a pulse which creates two paths, one creating a hand that catches the tossed witch, the other forming a small prison around Tiny Nose, she tries to escape but her glyph rush wears off just in time. The witch turns to Lincoln, who tips his hat off to him with satisfaction in his eyes. Lincoln blushes, then his thoughts turn to Lynn, who would use that borrowed strength to win at all costs. Further inflating that vain little ego of hers.
Luz: Yowza-wowza!
A light blue double of Luz crouches behind her.
Illusion Luz: Yowza-wowza!
Luz: Yowza-wha-a-a?
Lincoln: What was that?
Her illusion double approaches two Illusion track witches, one humanlike while the other a demon, a maw on her head with its tongue acting as a bang of hair. It waves at her and disappears.
Gus: (runs over to the other witches) Ah! You have been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven. We like magic with a hint of... (He disappears in a cloud of smoke, reappears a few meters to the right) ...showmanship.
He bows as the other two appear next to him. Lincoln is reminded of Lola. Such smoke and mirrors would certainly conceal her inner demons.
Luz: Wow! Acceptance? Camaraderie? A feeling of belonging? Covens sound incredible!
Lincoln: Eda, why haven't you and my father never joined one?
Eda: Watch closely, guys.
Another illusion track witch, one with blue curly hair and wearing a Hexside uniform with light blue sleeves and leggings that indicate he is in the illusion track, is now standing with one of the others
Eda: When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed.
A mirror-like seal identical to the on the banner appears on the witch's wrist, light blue lines running from it to her arms and face. He pales slightly as the lines fade.
Eda: From now on, that child will only be able to do illusions. Since me and Draven never joined a coven, We can do all kinds of magic. (Creates a fireball in one hand and a waterball in the other, then makes them both disappear) That's why I'm the most powerful witch of the Boiling Isles.
She walks away. Willow, Lincoln, Luz, and Gus run after her, amazed. King starts to follow him, but is stopped with a hand on his shoulder.
King: Weh?
Oracle Student: The tea leaves predict that this (Puts out a purple pen with the Coven emblem and the word Fortune-Tellers written on it) will lead you to your destiny. (Puts the pen in his hands)
King: Destiny? Feh! I'm not paying for—
Oracle Student: (Retreating into the shadows) It's free-e-e.
King: Are you bestowing gifts upon me? Yes! I accept your offering! The King of Demons is back!
The group then wanders around observing the stands for the other covens. The constructs jump up to the rafters too, as if to avoid them. The first is the Abomination Coven, the same course that Amity uses and what Willow had. Then his mind reflects on Luan. Having her own personal little fanclub would do wonders to that crazed little sense of humor of hers.
Willow: This is the Abomination Coven led by Darius Deamonne. The Abomination Coven focuses on the creation and utilization of purple ooze golems known as abominations, which you already know. Witches in the Abomination Coven can create, summon, and control abominations to do their bidding, and more powerful witches can even use abomination matter to create constructs or even assume an abomination-based form. From what I know, the abomination track has been noted for opening more opportunities for a witch's future.
Gus: And it's the same kind of magic Amity uses.
Lincoln clenches his fist, staring at the vat. As if in response, a limb comes out in the pot akin to a sock puppet and goes crazy spouting nonsense until it grabs a glove and pulls it in. It peeks out again, saying thanks then slips back, a bubble pops releasing a quick f* with a reverb sound effect.
Luz: Hideous. Funny, but hideous.
One of the witches in charge of the stand gives a glance to him and gives him an amused smirk. He is a tall, muscular man with dark brown skin, bright green eyes, and abomination-like hair. He has an amorphous hair bun with an abomination's eye, and similarly amorphous sideburns and a goatee. He has an abomination sigil on his arm.
The second stand leads them to a group of witches healing others of their injuries, the constrcuts return when they arrive.
Lincoln: What's this one?
His mind wanders to Lori, who would certainly abuse said power to her benefit and her so called Boo-Boo Bear if he was still in a relationship with her that justly ended three years ago when the Santiagos moved in with the Casagrandes in Great Lakes City.
Gus: That is the Healing Coven, led by Hettie Cutburn. The Healing Coven specializes in dealing with medicine and healthcare. Healers can treat a variety of injuries and ailments and appear to use healing glyphs to deal with long-term injuries. Witches in the coven can also create shields and projectiles and use them at their own will.
One of the patients seemed to appear in real bad shape. Something that Lincoln can't help but help.
Eda: Lincoln! Come back here before someone recognizes you!
Luz: Don't bother. Once Lincoln puts his mind to something, especially when it comes to helping others, nothing can stop him.
He reaches the patient without anyone noticing, and searches himself to find something to ease his pain, finding a light glyph that Luz gave him a while ago. Seeing no other option, he places it on his hand and activates it, placing it in between himself and the patient's exposed chest. What he sees next is the light from the glyph spreading across the injured man. The glow grows brighter around areas that have the most
Jan 8He reaches the patient without anyone noticing, and searches himself to find something to ease his pain, finding a light glyph that Luz gave him a while ago. Seeing no other option, he places it on his hand and activates it, placing it in between himself and the patient's exposed chest. What he sees next is the light from the glyph spreading across the injured man. The glow grows brighter around areas that have the most damage and heal themselves. His eyes open and gazes into him.
Patient: (tears in his eyes) Thank you.
Lincoln: No problem.
He then feels compelled to write down something, writing things he learned from his father's grimoire and leaves it on the nightstand, then leaving. Soon a tall, brawny woman with pale skin wearing a white hood over most of her head with a semicircle-shaped top that has light blue bands picks up said letter. Her eyes are covered by a light blue patch on her face; her robe consists of a light blue top banded with a Healing Coven patch, and this same blue appears on the sides of the robe, which is primarily dark navy-blue in color. In addition, she dons a white band around her waist and white clawed gloves on her hands.
Witch: He's perfectly healed. This information is accurate with the diagnosis that we gave him, and more than fills up the holes in his treatment. Tell me, sir. Who was the one who brought this to you?
Patient: Head's still fuzzy and my eyes were still burry, but all I could make out was a boy with white hair.
The head witch nods and this was overheard by a green-haired girl, who managed to recognize the description of the boy in question.
The next stand seems to be more of a petting zoo than a convention stand, filled with small animals and eggs and the like.
Luz: Aww, where did these little guys come from?
Eda: Beast Keepers Coven. Led by a furry little brat named Eberwolf. The Beast Keeping Coven focuses on the taming and control of the various beasts on the Boiling Isles. Beast keepers are able to command the various creatures on the Isles, summon beasts, and grant themselves bestial traits.
Lincoln: Wow, you know my sister Lana was really into animals, she would have loved it here. (grumbles and shudders from past memories)
Lincoln and the others look around at all the fauna, many of the animals seemingly attracted and drawn to them, more specifically towards Lincoln as the constructs scan them, perhaps finding ideas for new sub-species. A child-sized bestial humanoid comes lurking around the rafters above the stand, lured by an unknown presence. He has a wild mane of auburn hair tied in a big, fluffy ponytail using a yellow, frayed band. His body is covered with orange fur, with some unkempt spots on his cheeks and elbows. His eyes have yellow sclera with magenta irises and slit pupils, and he has two pointed ears similar in shape to a cat's, dilated as if on catnip.
The group leaves, snapping the creature out of its trance, making him lose his balance and fall off the ceiling and land on a conveniently placed cushion.
Beast: Whuh? What the heck was that?
The following one is filled with yellow markers and the smell of alchemy. Luz recalls the elixir that keeps back the Owl Beast that Lincoln drank while Lincoln does the same regarding Lisa and her experiments.
Willow: Ah, the Potions Coven. The Potions Coven focuses on brewing various potions. Potions Coven witches are able to brew a variety of potions with different effects, ranging from fog brews, explosive potions, elixirs that can keep curses at bay, and even brews that can bring inanimate objects to life. Unlike the other tracks, potion witches do not need magic to brew potions; however, having magic does aid in collecting ingredients from dangerous creatures, and some potions may require a magic source to activate.
The others check out a Make-Your-Own Potion event on the stand and the teens begin tinkering with them with the available ingredients. Lincoln sees them and others making these elixirs, some doing well while others literally blow up in their faces. The Azarathian takes his turn, something making him rubs his eyes, squeeze his nose and recalibrate his ears. Then he sees the ingredients in a brand new light and recalls the elixir, the constructs joining him in this endeavor.
A lean humanoid with sickly greenish-grayish skin, long, wavy white hair, a long, pointy nose, and large red eyes with pink horizontal diamond-shaped pupils and yellow sclera views each subject, with a green-haired boy takig notes. His feet resemble a bird's and are maroon with gray talons. His fingernails are black and wears a tall, black pilgrim hat and a black robe with yellow bands. His arms are bandaged with white tape, and he carries a brown backpack-like box on his back, also donning a yellow mask over his mouth.
When Lincoln gets his turn, something about the way he creates the elixir catches his eye. The keen observations of each ingredient. The meticulous steps he takes is something only a true alchemist can do. When he is done, a gold elixir is born. The boy begins to jot but is stopped. One of the students begins to move him for the next one, but she spots the overseer make a motion.
She nods and explains that he is the 90th tester and is able to get to make a second free one, a second test by the overseer. Lincoln smiles, then gags on the stench of his breath. This gives him an idea and he is soon able to make a sickly-yellow potion with a sweet aroma that he drinks and burps from. He heads up with the others, leaving her with a few drops of the potion to deliver to the overseer. A drop falls out and touches a flower that makes it wither and die. The humanoid pulls down his mask and breathes into another one with the same effect, widening his eyes in astonishment.
The final stand they reach is filled with crimson sleeved students talented in musical instruments.
Eda: The Bard Coven. The Bard Coven focuses on manipulating the world around them using soundwaves. Bards can use sound to create a variety of effects, such as inducing sleepiness, taking control of witches listening to their music, creating small-scale storms, creating concussive or slashing shockwaves, and even changing the chemistry of liquids. However, some bard spells can be countered by wearing ear coverings. Though bards typically use musical instruments, it is also possible to use bard magic through whistling. As musicians, bard witches have been known to make public performances, making it a difficult, but not impossible track for those with stage fright. There has been prejudice against bards that has been noted due to incredulity that bard magic can be strong and useful compared to the other covens.
Luz and Lincoln nod in agreement, remembering the bonds they share with a similarly gifted Loud sister. Luz checks a harp, Willow checks out a violin, Gus checks a flute. While Lincoln observes a sitar, who feels compelled to play a little ditty. He begins by covering his hood for good measure then starts with some simple strumming, causing his hands to spark to the rhythm and give the lute an electrical charge, even going as far as to sing.
Play The Hobbit - Misty Mountains (Epic Metal Cover by Skar feat. Dan Vasc)
Many of the other students take notice and begin gathering to this musical festivity and the other bard students and the constructs join him, having the sounds of their instruments affected too. Once the performance is over and the crowd roars, he bows and he vanishes. revealing him to be an illusion to pull attention away. Although one of the bards sees him slink off with the group, complimenting him for his natural talent that he didn't know he had.
Eda begins to lose patience and explains the final three covens to the group, including a disgruntled Willow and Gus. The Plant Coven, led by Terra Snapdragon, specializes in the various flora on the Boiling Isles. Plant Coven witches can command the flora around them as well as manipulate vines and accelerate plant growth. They can also make flowers bloom and unleash poisonous plants.
The Illusion Coven, led by Adrian Vayne Vernworth, specializes in deception and showmanship to trick the senses of other witches. Illusionists can create clones and alter their appearances, and powerful illusionists like Gus can even cast somewhat tangible illusions over a large area. Prejudice against illusionists has been noted due to their spells lacking a true physical effect.
And the Oracle Coven led by Osran focuses on fortune-telling, spirits, and various mind-based magics. Oracles can use their magic to tell the future, look into distant locations, and use their crystal balls for various purposes, such as telepathic communication, launching a blast of dark purple fire, sinking into a mobile shadow on the ground, summoning spirit entities of either fire or shadow, or creating large psychic energy constructs like a giant hand or a giant energy dome. Crystal balls can come in various sizes; some can even be small enough to be the charm on a necklace. An oracle's magic can be disabled by breaking their method of control, such as their crystal ball.
Soon the kids reach a doorway flanked by guards. The banners are black and gold, the sides showing reflective birds while the center one carries a winged sword in a triangle.
Luz: That panel looks popular.
Lincoln: What will I want is this.
Gus: (gasps) It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?
Willow: Only one way to find out!
Willow and Gus run inside. Luz and Lincoln start to follow them, but stop when they realize that Eda hasn't moved.
Luz: Aren't you coming, Eda?
Eda: No way. Of all the covens, they are the worst. I'll wait out here.
Luz: I understand, Eda. Covens: bad. Individualism: good. But we're still figuring out this world, so I'm going to go in there and make my own decisions, okay? (she walks in)
Lincoln: (looks at her, reading her expression) I had a feeling you didn't like these coven types on the day we first met for a reason. Now what you said has started to make me feel uneasy about all this blind faith.
Eda: (smiles and nods) Look, Lincoln, this coven is more like a military organization. They are basically the puppets of the Emperor himself, his agents and enforcers of the law. As such, they can use all forms of magic.
Lincoln: What's wrong with that?
Eda: Lincoln, there is a reason why a witch must join a coven, it is a law. A witch who refuses to join a coven is branded a criminal and earns a death sentence.
Lincoln gasps at hearing that.
Eda: Just go watch Luz, I'll stay here.
Lincoln looked at her, and turned to go inside.
Man: I just saw her.
Eda: Huh?
Eda turns to see the same man she ran into talking to the guards.
Man: (Holding Eda's wanted poster) She's over there. I think that's her! (points at her)
Eda: Uh-oh. (runs in) Luz, Lincoln!, wait up!
Theater, Convention Center, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
They arrive in a big stadium with a chattering audience. Eda sits next to Lincoln and Luz.
Lincoln: I thought you didn't want to...
Eda: Don't ask, let's see this mess.
The lights dim. Principal Bump rises from the ground with spirals of green magic, a spotlight illuminates him. The audience applauds and cheers as he calls into a microphone.
Principal Bump: Hello, Bonesborough! Students ask me all the time, "Principal Bump, what is the height of magical achievement?"
Student: Is this it? (A short teenage boy with beige skin, dark brown eyes, and straight brown hair which is shaved at the sides with pointy ears, increases the size of his head a lot, crushes the student next to him on his left. A pair of hand constructs appear and seem to readjust and shrink his head back to its normal shape.)
Eda looks at Lincoln who was staring at the inflatable head a moment ago moving his hands around. Lincoln blinks confusedly and shakes his head.
Principal Bump: Wow. I failed you as a principal. (away from mic) But whoever did that, good job. (Takes the microphone, with some feedback) It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there is none better than the jewel of the coven system and... (Three witches appear wearing a white cloak with a pointed hood and a golden triangle in the center. Their attire consists of a long-sleeved dark gray shirt with brown gloves and a brown belt with a gold buckle, followed by black harem pants and pointy brown boots and they wear a light gray mask with large eye holes similar to the masks worn by plague doctors.) ...the enforcers of his will, the Emperor's Coven.
Luz: Whoa.
Lincoln and Luz look to the side and wave.
Willow and Gus: Guys! (pointing to Gus's forehead, which has been signed. The constructs are there too, wearing black cloaks to hide themselves.)
Principal Bump: Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new era of controlled magic.
Each coven guard casts a white spell circle above their head. One produces a jet of flame, another water, and the third lightning. The three elements come together in a firework that turns into confetti.
Eda: (To the yellow demon next to her) When does that "elite force" get here? (laughs)
The demon walks away. The coven guards now hold the same elements in balls between their hands.
Principal Bump: Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all, yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah.
Audience: Ooh. Aah.
Principal Bump: But... only the best can rise through these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!
He points directly at Amity, who lights up and squeals.
Luz: (looks at her from behind) Hmm?
Lincoln looks at her with a raised eyebrow.
Principal Bump: Or you!
He points at Lincoln, who is surprised, hiding himself, Luz and Eda from Amity's surprised glance, making them disappear and reappear when she turns away. A fairly tall and thin witch with light skin, pointed ears, cornflower eyes, thick eyebrows, and curled, dark turquoise hair approaches the theater and spots him vanish and return. He has a long, prehensile dark teal tail with a tan fur tuft at the end.
He wears a light blue, tan furred vest over a teal jumpsuit with gold details and light blue shoes. A small mirror rests in the center of his vest, and he has a sky-blue bead at the end of his tail. Additionally, he wears a set of dark teal fingerless gloves. This little instinctive display gives him a raised eyebrow in intrigue.
The three guards grab their cloaks and disappear in flashes of white light.
Director Bump: And now I'm pleased to introduce two very special guests. The first is the youngest first officer in the Emperor's army and perhaps the most powerful witch in all of the Boiling Isles, the Crimson Empyrean, the Emperor's Voice herself!
The audience gasps and Eda stops laughing too.
A symbol of a pentagonal star on the floor and a large burst of black energy comes out of the floor and out of the energy comes a female person around Lincoln and Luz's age from there. The person is wearing a black and blood red-hooded cloak and a silver triangle brooch. Beneath the cloak was a silvery-yellow tunic with brighter sleeves and a brown belt, white leggings, brown gloves, and boots.
She wears a silver pauldron on her left shoulder and a pointed two-faced mask with a thin slit running through it, more red detailing on said mask. Beneath her robes, she has a gray and yellow shirt and silver chest armor with dark brown straps.
Lincoln: (whispers to Eda) Who is she?
Eda: (clenches her hands) It's the Crimson Empyrean. She's the general of the Emperor's army, his personal mouthpiece and the most powerful sorcerer of them all, not to mention the youngest of them all. Rumors suggest she is more powerful than the emperor himself.
Lincoln: More powerful than the Emperor? You mean like an Azarathian?
Eda: (shakes her head) No, my child, her power is a power that we have never seen before, not even the Azarathians can compare with this power. That magic of hers just feels wrong. Perhaps she could be a Zinthosian... or a Tri-
Eda cups her mouth, stopping herself from saying something she will later regret.
Lincoln is surprised by the news and the wordplay she used and looks closer at the guard, noticing something similar about her within himself, albeit a dark reflection.
Principal Bump: And the second guest is the esteemed leader of this coven. You know her, you love her! Lilith!
Eda: (she catches her breath) Huh?
A bright flash of light near the ceiling turns into a blue crow construct sitting on a branch construct. It flies from the branch onto the stage, landing to reveal a woman in a white cape and mask. It disappears with a shriek as she raises his arms and throws his mask into the air. Lilith is a tall, slender middle-aged woman in her mid-to-late 40s (two years older than Eda).
She has ivory skin, pointed ears, wears black lipstick, has long, straight, dark navy hair, and mint green eyes. She also has dark claw-like nails. She wears a long-sleeved two-tone dark gray dress and dark gray laced boots. She also has an inverted kite-shaped sky-blue gem located on her sternum, which was attached to her dress.
The audience applauds and cheers, while Eda is looking at her speechless. Lincoln and Luz notice her look.
Lincoln: You know her?
Eda: You could say that.
Luz: (gasps) Mysterious past! Again!
Lilith: Thank you all. (Magically sends her cape and mask back to Principal Bump) It wasn't easy for me to get to the top. I too started from humble beginnings.
Inflated Head Student: Like me?
Lilith: Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will.
Crimson Empyrean: And if he is able to reach the top like me, he can be at the Emperor's side in the future.
Lilith: So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!
She spins, creating the raven illusion again. It spreads its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith poses with her arms out, smirking, while Eda glares at her.
Convention Center, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
Outside the auditorium, Eda leaves while Lincoln and Luz follow her.
Lincoln: Eda! Wait!
Luz: Where are you going?
Eda: I'll go home and wash the con funk off my skin.
Luz: But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven types!
She pulls out a thick magazine out of his pocket, turns to a quiz called "What Coven Are You In?", and holds it up over his head. Eda doesn't even look as she shoots a laser beam through the abomination icon and walks away. Luz lowers the magazine to read it, walking without looking.
Luz: Ooh, a punky potionist.
Lincoln: Funny, I pictured you more of a rainbow type of witch, meaning you can do them all. All I got was "Emperor's Wrath"
Lincoln runs into Amity and they both grunt, followed by Luz.
Amity: Watch where you—oh, it's you. One of Willow's... abominable things. (looks at Lincoln and gets angrier) You! I remember you, you're the people who humiliated me in front of Principal Bump!
Lincoln: (crosses his arms) Hey, you and your abominations were attacking us in the first place! So that was self defense.
Luz: (steps back, then leans forward) Uh... Hey, Amity. So, funny story. Not an abomination, not sure what the others are but still. Sorry for the mix up last week. I-I'm Luz the human and his name is Lincoln. Hi!
She offers her hand, but Amity slaps it away.
Amity: (points at Luz) Ugh. Put that away. You're the ones that got me in trouble with Principal Bump and I never get in trouble (walks away)
Luz: (Follows her) Well, to be fair, you were okay with trying to dissect me—, so…
Amity: (stops and turns around) You can't be here! Neither of you should be here! This convention is for witches only.
Lincoln: Hey, I'm a witch too. Though I prefer the term "wizard", "warlock," or other caster based terms.
Amity: (laughs) Please, without that sword you were basically worthless. (earning a growl and a clenched fist from Lincoln)
Luz: Well, we are learning to be witches. I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon.
Amity: (Looks over Luz's shoulder) Is that your ferocious demon?
Luz and Lincoln turn to see King, decked out in merch consisting of a green shirt, blue striped scarf and a green hat with a crescent moon symbol, his horn jutting out, walking towards them. Two bakers, one male with a black mustache, the other a female with a purple bandana walk behind him.
King: Cupcakes in my tummy-tum make the King say yummy-yum!
Baker: So you'll join the Bakers Coven?
King: (He eats a cupcake in one bite) Hmm... No! (Steals a cupcake from the other baker's tray and runs off) Oh hey guys! Look at all those offerings— (He trips over his scarf) Wah!
Luz goes to help him up. Lincoln reaches out for the dropped cupcake, failing to reach it before Amity steps on it. King gasps.
Amity: Oops. That was an accident.
Lincoln: (gets angry and mows down in front of Amity) What the heck is wrong with you! Don't you even care about hurting a person's feelings or whatnot?!
Luz: Why are you so mean, Amity?
Amity: Because you and your pet are giving witches in training a bad name.
King: (While scratching his face with his hind leg) I'm not a pet!
Luz: (Hugs him) He's a very good boy and the King of Demons!
Amity: (scoffs) Whatever it is, I'm going to tell you what they are, they're a joke, a plague, and above all, some of them have no place in this realm.
Lincoln couldn't take it anymore and stood in front of Amity, a pressure emanating from him unnerving the Abomination caster and cracking the floor around them.
Lincoln: Let me tell you something, Amity. And I don't like repeating myself to stuck up jerks like you. It's one thing to say I can't be a witch—
Amity: Because you can't. And won't.
Lincoln ...but bullying my friends and my sister-friend is the one thing I can't and won't let go unpunished. I'm not going to let you and all of your fellow minded-witches go on like this, treating others like garbage without being taught a lesson. I can't believe I'm about to say this. 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!
Everyone gasps, especially Luz since it is one of the few times she has ever seen Lincoln so angry.
Tiny Nose is still screaming, having escaped her cage and having wounded the three Construction witches from earlier. A quick glare from Lincoln causes a hand to erupt and grab the demon. The same witch who tipped his hat now gives him a thumbs up.
Amity takes several steps towards Lincoln's face, unfazed by her approach.
Amity: I accept. Let's set the terms of this duel, shall we?
Lincoln: One, if I win, you apologize to King for squashing his cupcake. (points at King)
King: (Picking up the ruined cupcake.) Good night, sweet child.
Lincoln: And two, you apologize to Luz and I and admit that humans can be witches too.
Amity: Fine by me. But when I win, not only do you have to tell the whole convention that you guys aren't a witch, you have to stop training forever.
Luz and Lincoln gasp.
King: Do it, Lincoln! For my honor!
Luz: Hey Lincoln, maybe we should...
Lincoln: Fine. Let's shake on it.
Lincoln extends his hand. Amity draws a pink spell circle around her before shaking.
Amity: The everlasting oath is sealed.
Amity's notices that instead of Lincoln, she notices someone else staring back at her, a burning cosmic expanse surrounding them and his cosmic skin growing over her like a rot as their hands are still locked together, now becoming one. She pulls hard and withdraws her hand and the spell circle fades as well as the hallucination.
Lincoln: (looks at his hand confused)... Ok?
Luz: That's probably fine.
Amity: (mentally) Who or what was that? Some kind of illusion? No, not even the best Illusion Coven members are able to create something this powerful. (vocally) Meet back inside the theater in one hour. (Walks away) Let's see what kind of witch you are.
Lincoln: Guys, I-I can win this, right?
King: (Eating his cupcake) Hmm? Oh, yeah. No. Amity is a full-fledged witch who studies at one of the best magic schools with one of the best teachers the Emperor's Coven can offer her.
Lincoln: (panics, realizing the situation. Luz tenses too) Arrgh! What have I done?! I shouldn't have lost my temper like that!
Luz: (puts her hand on Lincoln's shoulder) Don't worry, Linc. You can win this. You can do three types of magic now and you have a good handle with that sword. If someone can win this duel, it's you. (smiles) Besides, if you weren't here, I would be the one challenging her and I would be running around with Eda's staff like a headless chicken.
Lincoln: (laughs and smiles back) Thank you. But just in case I need to learn something else to hopefully even things out. Let's go, we have to look for Eda (He runs to look for Eda and Luz and King follow him)
As for the Owl Lady, Eda is trying to sneak out of the convention, before she is caught by the Sin-A-Bun stand.
Lilith: Sister?
Eda stops and turns, seeing Lilith surrounded by several Hexside students, a haunched pink one with a large mouth, a brown with a bat face, a blue one with a snout and the student from before who inflated his head.
Lilith: It's been so long since I last! (Signs something and hands it to the inflated head witch) What are you wearing? You look like some kind of trash collector. Oh, right. You are.
Eda: Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action. (leans down to speak to the students) You know, when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven that she peed a little.
The children laugh, making Lilith blush.
Lilith: That— That's all for today (She regains her composure, ushers them off and looks seriously at Eda, pointing at her) You shouldn't even be here. You are a wanted criminal! You are lucky that the Crimson Empyrean doesn't like being in public because she is able to kill you with one finger. Trust me, I know. (shudders, giving Eda a questioned look) Unless... (gasps and smiles, holding Eda's hands) I don't believe it! You are here to join the Emperor's Coven!
Eda: (chortles, laughs) In your dreams. (Laughing)
Lilith: You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you're running from the law like a degenerate, I'm mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students in the world.
Eda: Well, I have two students and you have the lowly one. And I bet one of them could wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods.
Lilith: (walking closer) Is that a challenge?
Eda: Oh, it's a promise.
Before the two Lincoln and Luz pop up between them.
Luz: Eda, I need your help! Lincoln accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel and I think she might've killed me all the way dead if it wasn't for him! (Slumps to the ground on her knees.)
Lilith looks at the two teenagers, but focuses mainly on Lincoln, noticing his white hair and golden eyes.
Lilith: (whispering) Draven?
Lincoln: (looks at her) Hey, aren't you the coven leader from the presentation?
Eda: Children, this is Lilith. Lilith, these are my students Luz Noceda and Lincoln Loud.
Lilith takes a closer look at Lincoln, kneeling down and then sees Caliburn.
Lilith: (mentally) Impossible. It might be possible but it just can't be. He shouldn't be here, that blade shouldn't be outside of the Conformatorium without some horrific side effect or curse. (comes back to reality) Well it seems that one of your students has met my strongest protégé (looks at Luz) And look at the ears on her!
Luz covers them, blushing.
Lilith: Is she human? (laughs) Where did you find one of these?
Eda: Never mind that. The important thing is that our strongest students are facing off against each other with their weapons, armor and skills in a Death Battle.
Lilith: Okay, Edalyn.
Lilith casts a circle of spells. Around the building, Eda's wanted posters burn.
Lilith: For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good of a teacher you really are (Walks away)
Eda: Come on kids. Time to prepare for bloodshed.
Luz: But... whose blood?
Eda: Anyone can guess! (chuckles)
Lincoln: I have a bad feeling about this.
Luz smiles nervously.
Hallway, Convention Center, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
In a hallway, where Eda is putting on a blue sweatband with a red stripe.
Eda: All right, Lincoln. Let's start your training. Luz, you're in on this too because I don't want to do this twice. Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What is your job?
Luz pulls her hood up and leans off of the box she was sitting on, landing on the floor in fetal position.
Eda: Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?
Luz shakes her head.
Lincoln: I dodge it and I attack you with Caliburn? (pulls out the sword)
Eda: It's okay. A bit simplistic, but still effective. But let's see what kind of magic you would use to counter me.
Lincoln: (sheathes it, counts with his fingers and meshes them together) Well, so far I can do lightning, fire and wind and I'm already thinking of combinations and versatility.
Luz: We played a lot of fighting games and watched lots of stuff worth referencing.
Eda: Well, they're not much, potentially worth watching, playing and doing, but they're enough for now. Well at least you didn't make an everlasting oath over there where if she won, you and Luz would have to stop learning magic or something. You'd be toast.
Lincoln: (nervous) Uhhh... about that. Does this oath regard a hallucination and scaring Amity witless?
Eda: You didn't insist on an everlasting oath right? And no, no hallucinations. I wish I saw that though.
Luz: I-Is there a shiny hand thing going on, or, uh—
Amity: Abomination. Rise.
The three look at Lilith and Amity are nearby at the Oculus Coven. An abomination that comes up Amity's shoulders rises from its spell circle on the ground with a groan. He turns his head and throws it, hitting a witch from the bakers coven in the face. Tiny Nose appears and grabs his hand, chucks him away, then yells, creating the aura again. A smaller hand cranes and rips off the glyph, calming her down.
Eda: Oh boy. Looks like whatever you did with those cages wasn't enough. Clever use with the arm by the way, Lincoln.
Lincoln: But that wasn't me.
Luz: I can't believe we're going to have to stop learning magic!
Lincoln: Hey, I was able to beat her abominations back in Hexside a week ago! I can beat her just as good this time! I only have to learn the last two elemental spells Azarathians can wield; earth and water.
Eda: With you, this will be fast. (whispers) Listen to me, Luz. We are not gonna let those snobs win that easy against your brother from another mother! We are not gonna let them win at all. I've got an idea.
Her sweatband rips as her hair wins its fight against it. One awesome montage with extra cheese later, Lincoln and Luz have already finished their lessons, the former learning the last two elemental spells.
Theater, Convention Center, Bonesborough, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
One Hour Later
Returning to the theater. Lilith and Amity are standing on the dais, while Eda, Lincoln, and Luz are standing opposite of them.
The Crimson Empyrean suddenly enters through a back door. She stands in the shadows at the back of the chamber. She looks at Lincoln. She only came to see the battle and her comrade's student's victory, but now she feels something familiar inside of Lincoln, a purer version herself, his true potential sealed away, but eagerly trying to claw its way out.
Crimson Empyrean: (whispers) The magic is strong in this one.
Lilith: Dear citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the kind of witch we seek each year. Introducing Amity Blight.
Applause from the crowd, making her smirk.
Fan: Woo, Amity!
Lilith: Against...
Eda and Luz step aside and proudly present Lincoln.
Lilith: ...some witch boy.
The applause stops.
Long mouthed student: Who is he?
Runny-Nose Gnome Student: He's not the guy who's banned from Hexside?
Female Gnome Student: He's not Amity!
Principal Bump: (whispers) Wait, that's the guy who broke into Hexside, the one who commanded those white abominations.
Willow and Gus share a nervous look.
Eda: You're ready boy.
Luz: Eda? (Grabs Eda's arms.) What is he going to do?
Eda: Calm down. (Frees herself and points.) You see those mounds? If he gets Amity to land on one of those, she'll set off my magic traps.
Luz: That's cheating!
Eda: Nobody will know. To all eyes up there it'll look like he'll be performing magic. Just trust me.
Luz: But he will know it in his heart! Even if he wins now, he'll lose.
Eda: That's the spirit!
Lincoln: (turns to them) Thanks for everything, it's time to teach this conceited girl a lesson she'll never forget.
Eda: (mentally) Just like his father. Draven and Miwa would be so proud of him right now. (back to reality) So get out there and show them all what you can do.
A bell rings and it screams.
Luz: (sees Lincoln go forward) Kick her butt!
Both challengers, confidently, approach each other in the center as the audience cheers. Amity cracks her knuckles and Lincoln does some stretches.
Amity: Ready to lose?
Lincoln: We'll see.
He bows, showing a form of respect to his challenger, one that Amity understands and hesitantly copies. The witches that he managed to impress also appear to observe the fight, already having made bets on whose coven this newcomer will join. One of them being a small, purple-skinned demon. He has four arms with dark purple claws, pointy ears, a long white mustache that goes back around his head, and white hair that looks like a pair of hands with beige claws; one hand grasps his head, the other serves as a ponytail.
His eyes are ice-blue with indigo sclera. He wears a dark indigo hood with light red-brown banding and a gray robe; attached to it is a pristine ice-blue crystal ball that he can use when tapping into his oracle magic. His robe bores gray sleeves and yellow banding.
I Will Do What I Must: William Ross
Lincoln clenches his hands as a golden electrified aura emanates from him. Amity crunches her hands. The two stare at each other until Amity makes the first move.
Amity: (drawing a large circle of spells) Abomination. Rise.
A giant abomination towers over the two, howling as it steps out of the spell circle. Lincoln was surprised and Luz whimpers.
Amity: (Gasps) Whoa. Show me what you got "witch"!
Luz: I'm not good under pressure! (hides behind Eda)
The abomination raises its foot, ready to crush Lincoln. But he dodges before the abomination's hand hits him causing Lincoln to be thrown to the far side and fall to the ground with a thud, feet on the ground and using the blade to slow his motion.
Lincoln quickly gets up as the abomination groans. It twists its head off and throws it at Lincoln.
Lincoln: Whoa!
Lincoln freaks out and pulls out his sword and slices the abomination's head in half, its matter splattered in between Eda and Luz. Its head fully regrown. Luz sinks to the ground in fear, whimpering, and grows nervous when she realizes he's right in front of one of Eda's mounds.
She braces as Lincoln's hands start to spark and he throws a blast of white fire at the Abomination making it melt, stepping on the trap, causing the flame mound to detonate, creating a mound of colored flame. With some effort he spins the blade's handle like a windmill, making the flame spin into a tornado. This combination and effort surprises Amity and Lilith.
Amity: (looks at Lincoln) How did you do that?
Lincoln: (smiles at her, doing jazz hands) Magic. Real magic.
Amity gets upset and creates another abomination. Lincoln extends Caliburn, beckoning and it runs towards him. Two new figures appear from behind him to hold its approach; copies of the lesser constructs from before, followed by the ones who came with the group, all speaking in the monotone voice from one week ago.
Construct: STRATUS INTELLIGENCE: ONLINE. OPERATION: BLIGHTED PURIFICATION.
Amity: (eye twitching) You mean those abomination knock-offs were yours this whole time?!
Lincoln comically shrugs. Willow and Principal Bump both widen their eyes in surprise.
Willow: So Lincoln was the one who altered my abomination ooze a week ago? Who knew he had this kind of potential, and ingredients?
Principal Bump: If that boy was the one behind those white abominations. Then that fire creature I put down was also of his design, if not purely by reaction with the abomination matter. Perhaps he may have a place on Hexside after all, once I talk with the brass. Maybe even earning a place in the Emperor's Coven.
King scats as he enters the theater, full of hats, shirts, buttons and scarves. This being a blue cap, black tophat, white t-shirt with a red bottom cropping and two pins, a second blue striped scarf and a Swag Coven band on his right wrist.
King: (sings) Things that are free / People are giving offerings to me! (Reaches Willow and Gus.) I love offerings! What did I miss?
Willow: Lincoln is in a witch duel!
Gus: Yes! And he can win it all! Yeah-Yeah!
King: Weh?
Back to the fight we see the abominations charging Lincoln and the constructs, but Lincoln raises his hand up and a stone wall comes out of the ground covering the attack of the abomination, destroying the wall in the process. One of the shards hits a mound, this one producing a current of air strong enough to launch one of them and Amity into the air. She creams. The abomination grunts as it lands on its back. Amity lands, kneeling.
Then Lincoln with the sword creates a large puddle of water on the ground where the abomination was stepping on and then with his hand he launches a lightning burst into the puddle, electrifying it and electrocuting him into stasis so that he does not move.
Lincoln extends his sword causing it to fill with white fire, creating a longer blade made from the white flame and throws the sword like a boomerang at the Abomination causing it to explode and the sword returns to Lincoln's hand.
Amity: How are you doing this?! I-I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?
Lincoln: Um, not dying! Duh! I told you I'm a witch, though I am still leaning on wizard, warlock and/or etc.
Amity growls and creates a horde of little abominations from the remnants. The larger abomination stands back up with a groan, reforming, then stomps toward Lincoln again.
Lincoln smiles and runs towards the abominations, splitting Calibrun into two smaller blades, one in each hand, the Stratus by his side.
Cut to the stands, where King is carefully making his way down the rows.
King: This I gotta see!
Amity Fan: (Wagging a green #1 foam finger with her name on it) Go Amity!
King: Hey! You root Lincoln or nobody!
He tries to run towards the student, but gets caught in his scarf again and falls. Back to the duel, Lilith looks closely at how Lincoln was drifting around the abominations like an elegant dance, the swords acting more like whips and looks more closely at Lincoln's hands, which gave off golden electric sparks with each move, seemingly able to predict and counter nearly every move that her student and her abominations make, with some errors of course.
He could somehow feel where the mounds are, dancing and intentionally setting them off, the latest exploding as one of them steps on it. Lincoln throws Caliburn horizontally, directly at the heads of the abominations causing them to collapse. Kings continues falling down, his "offerings" falling as he goes. Amity advances on him when she finds an opening.
Amity: How are you doing this? (She approaches Lincoln, bruised and scarred, but still relatively unharmed) Not even a witch can do magic like that.
Lincoln: It's because I'm not like the others, I'm something else. Something more.
Luz: (Sees the mound.) No, Amity, don't step any closer!
Amity: Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?
The two were about to start another round but King suddenly fell off the stands and lands in between them, detonating the spike mine.
Lincoln: King? (to Amity) And I suppose that's what Luz meant.
King: Mmmm? I'm okay! (stands up)
Luz: (To Eda.) Spikes?
Eda gives her two thumbs up.
Amity: I knew it! You were cheating!
Luz: Amity—No!
Lilith touches the top of a shorter spike, making it crumble.
Lilith: Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!
Eda groans.
Lincoln: It wasn't my idea to cheat. And when Luz found out, she tried to stop it, but this is of no concern. All's fair in love and war, right? Ha! The world beyond has no use for the term "fair." It's the special versus the conformed! Survival of the fittest. The rules of nature! The apex predators can win at any means necessary for all I care, but it's people like us who will win this right!
The audience and the onlookers are taken aback by this speech of his, many of him beginning to sympathize with his words. Amity however is not having any of this nonsense and commands her minion.
Luz: Lincoln, watch out!
Lincoln turned to her, his eyes widening and he looked up to see an even larger abomination towering over him with its foot raised above it.
Lincoln acts fast and creates a force field with the stone and the blades turning into an aegis, protecting himself, but not for long as the abomination keeps hitting the force field with growing force causing it to crack, straining his ability to hold the barrier and battering him even further. If the abomination won't get him, the delicately placed rubble around him will.
His aura weakens and sputters and in rage, slams the ground, cracking the arena around everyone. Green sparks emanate from the shield as wooden trunks begin arching around the abomination to try and slow it down, and parts of the field break off, some flying like bullets at it to weaken the blows, something impressing Willow and an elderly witch with wrinkled, ivory skin, and long, green hair that resembles plant matter. She also has pale, violet eyes and wears dark green lipstick, the plant coven sigil on her wrist and wearing a purple dress that is banded by yellow-green plant vines. She wears two, green thorny bracelets on her wrists and dons a red-and-yellow lily crown on her head. She also wears what appear to be boots resembling or made of vines.
Amity: (mocks) Ha! I told you that you can't win this. I've already won. I told you, you and your little human friend are not witches, nor will you ever be witches. (turns and walks away) You're just a (slow motion)
Unknown Timespace
THIS ENDS HERE AND NOW by Lionel Schmitt (Cézame Trailers) Near Death Experience Epic Music World
Lincoln upon hearing that insult again, begins to remember all the times that his sisters made fun of him and how they all ruined his life, Lynn most of all who hurt him the most physically and psychologically. Then it cascades to memories with Lori, Luan, Lana, Lola, Lisa, his own father and all those beyond his own home.
These memories sends Lincoln into a primordial rage causing his hands to fill with golden veins, the bestial slit returning. Suddenly getting a bad feeling, Eda casts a protection spell over the seats and the audience. The abomination meanwhile keeps pounding, making a small crater until it stops when it notices a bright light breaking through the rubble, his quarry pushing back. The glow spreads further, arcing up through the other abominations, causing the ground to quake, pulsating rhythmically. The constructs born from this fight begin glowing too, shouting in unison and growing stronger and transforming into replicas of the original counterparts. Amity stops dead in tracks, slowly turning to Lincoln.
Constructs: NEBULOSUS INTELLIGENCE: ONLINE. OPERATION: COLLATERAL CONTAINMENT.
Everyone in the audience looks at the blinding light in confusion and wonders what in the Demon Realm is going on. These include the ones in charge of the Coven stands, the Coven Leaders themselves. Cracks begin appearing around the arena, the landscape shattering into a brand-new realm, a dead, ruined world burning away. The stands are broken into floating sections, the audience and onlookers safe in the shields. And those inside the arena, but not involved, contained small bubbles. Some try to break out with spells but quickly realize that their magic doesn't work inside the field. The Crimson Empyrean doesn't even bother trying, her mind fixated upon the source of the light.
Down in the new arena, Eda and Luz were also confused, the former more concerned for her honorary brother. Suddenly a echoing roar is uttered and a suddenly a pillar of golden energy bursts from the ground, unleashing torrents of wind and sending the abomination flying into the sky, cutting through the clouds to see a cosmic storm above it and granting the gift of annihilation to the one who forcibly broke his limits. Breaking into several hardened pieces that rained down on the sand on the bloodied sand.
Luz covers her eyes after the explosion and gasps at what she saw.
The light vanished as the entire stadium was silent as they looked upon Lincoln, who was floating in the sky. His clothes now burned off save for his jeans up to above the knees. Most of his skin has become reptilian scales, an intricate glowing tattoo pattern emblazoned on his skin, arcing across his entire body. His fingers have become razor sharp claws, horns now jutting from his head and a new stronger aura now sparks to life, lightning sparking all around it.
He opens his eyes that are from a dragon with added patterns around the slit. His blank stare unnerving Eda, Luz and King, consumed by the rage of a berserker. His body has developed completely into a balanced state.
Lilith looks at Lincoln with wide eyes in utter terror.
Lilith: It's him. I don't know how or why but it's him. It's really him.
Amity: (confused, scared but still angry) W-What is this? Lilith! Empyrean! What's happened to him?!
Lincoln says nothing as he lowers himself to the ground.
Amity: (gets angrier) Are you listening to me!? Speak!? Tell me how you're doing this! Who are you?!
Lincoln doesn't say anything, he turns to her, pointing at her and saying something with two syllables in an unknown tongue. He then raises his right hand in the air and snaps, a wave of magical energy shoots out of Lincoln's body knocking down everyone in an explosive wave. The energy blast shakes the platforms and begins to crack and shatter the few destroyed buildings still around them. The audience is stunned by this development, and begin cheering for him just as much as Amity. They even have Lincoln-themed merch pulled out for some reason, all believing that this is either part of the show or the debut of an all-new, all-different champion for the Emperor's Coven.
Lincoln started slowly walking towards Amity who was getting up in a daze. Each step creates a small crater as the aura begins forming the silhouette of a draconic entity around him. The stone shards around him begin flying together, forming a suit of primordial plate armor with a cape shaped like a dragon along with a shield, surrounded by orbs of fire, earth, water, and charged air, before a detailed mask forms around his face, two lights glowing from the eyes.
King is still bound by the spikes, but Luz reaches him.
King: Luz! You're okay! I know Amity and Lilith won't be and anyone else who ticks him off further, but you're okay and that's all that matters in the world!
Luz: (hugs him) Eda, what's happening?!
Eda: (dread in her voice, taking steps back) I don't know, kid. I've never seen anything like this in my entire life, even when I was with Draven or from what he has told me of his people. Did he get a second awakening already?
Amity: (gets up off the ground) Abominations, get up! (summons two giant abominations) Take that atrocity down!
The abominations blindly follows her orders and charges at Lincoln, but he flickers out of sight, first he punches Amity in the gut, creating a hole behind her through sheer force, then kicks one of the abominations heads into nearby mountains, breaking through the first. The smaller abominations are later carved into pieces which create the basis for new Nebulosi. Lincoln appears again, his now empowered weapons and cape now dirtied with their bloodied ooze. A new voice is heard by all by the wind.
Unknown: Sorry, but you and your friends were wide open. Do I have your attention now?
Lincoln doesn't falter his gaze, but his hand invokes Caliburn the other forming a shield. He imbues the weapon with more energy, transforming it into a dual-ended scythe and throws the bladed weapon like a chakram towards the remaining abomination, cutting it in half. The other constructs all charge into each half, amalgamating with the matter to create new larger entities. They have become bulky humanoid constructs with an eye-like unit in the center of its head, thick stocky limbs, and a flail mounted on its left arm and a shield on its right. The shapes of its Nebulosi counterparts can be made out on its abdomen.
Constructs: FRACTUS INTELLIGENCE: ONLINE. OPERATION: DIVINE PURGE.
The guards and Coven Leaders were about to interfere, jumping into the arena. but the Crimson Empyrean makes a sign for them not to interfere. The constructs notice this too and they all stand aside, leaving their chosen master to his prey.
Lilith stands in front of Lincoln and takes out her wand.
Lilith: In the name of the Emperor's Coven, I order you to stop…
Lincoln makes some large stones appear under Lilith trapping her legs. Six other spikes appear, three just in the angle of her spine and brain, the other three acting as shackles for her wrists and neck. The wand is pulled out of her hand by an unknown force and into his, looking at it curiously, craning his head back and forth as it burns to inders and inhales the ashes, the glow growing slightly stronger, angering him more and making him roar, flames spewing out of his mouth, hands and feet, slowly forming a phoenix that screeches, the cape acts on its own, forming a pair of wings and ridding him of the abominations' stain.
Lincoln: (calms down somehwhat and appears in front of her, looks at her than widens his eyes in intrigue) IT WAS YOU WHO CURSED HER... (his voice echoing, amalgamated with others, some she recognizes from her past, emanating from a fanged maw with a glow coming from down his throat) DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CAGE AN ANIMAL, BEAST-BRANDER? (shock in Lilith's eyes) A DRAGON? A GOD?! (he whispers into her ear) THEY GET VICIOUS, THEN THEY BREAK LOOSE.
Luz: I'm going to try and calm him down! Everyone, back me up! (runs toward Lincoln)
King: Luz, wait for me! I'm coming, big bro! (grunts before the spike coil on themselves like a chrysalis)
Eda: Not without me you're not! I'm not losing one of my apprentices today, not to the covens or to himself!? (follows her, aided by Willow and Gus who jump off the stands to try and help stop him his rampage)
Lincoln finally makes it to where Amity is who was scared out of her wits. She was about to create another abomination but Lincoln puts his blade in the ground, creating a large fist from his golden-orange force field, bones and all, catching Amity. He squeezes his hand and makes her scream in pain, but not yet enough to kill her.
Amity: (fearful, coughing blood) L-Let go of me, y-you m-monster!
Lincoln: (looks her straight in the eye, the mask breaking to show his eyes, including a third one with horizontal lids on his forehead all now a blank white as his body begins to crack from the strain, unable to handle the power output) BLIGHT! THIS ENDS, RIGHT NOW! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU MYSELF!
Lincoln squeezes his arm further, causing Amity to cry out and start losing oxygen, he then positions his thumb just below her neck, about to flip a coin on heads. Before he could flip her off. Luz steps in front of him. Eda and the students come from behind but his aura doubles in size in response, knocking them back, hurtling them to the walls as hands emerge and bind them and perform a similar squeeze. But Luz pushes forward despite the pain until manages to hug him.
Luz: LINCOLN!
Lincoln doesn't react to her pleas, his face unmoving like a blank slate as he continues to crack under the overwhelming pressure.
Luz: Lincoln, enough! It's over! You won the duel! Now let go of her! You aren't like this! Please! Stop!
Lincoln looks at her and grabs her face, his free hand forming a pistol and bringing it up to the side of her head. He suddenly begins to have flashbacks of a little Luz with tears in her eyes and another one that was Luz hugging an injured Lincoln among others, forcing him to let go of her and dissipate the gun. He hovers, taking on a fetal position and his hands on his as a tearing sensation tries to rips his mind apart. Those memories lead to ones shared by his adopted mother, Leni, Luna, Lucy and Lily.
Remembering and holding onto those moments of hope and dreams, Lincoln eyes slowly go back to normal, undoing his construct, letting Amity fall to the ground, barely breathing. The scenery returns to its original state, the shards from earlier pulling themselves back together as Lincoln falls to his knees, exhausted from the fight and the energy he used, nearly hitting the ground before Luz goes to him and catches him, the armor now falling apart without its crux. The aura pops out, raining light that begins to heal those affected by the onslaught.
King's stone cocoon unfurls while those bound to the walls find their shackles now brittle and easily break out. The marks and horns disappear, turning to ash upon the wind. His eyes revert to its single point and teeth shrinking down, the third slinking back into his skull while Lincoln's body still retains its bulk as it begins to quickly heal itself. The Crimson Empyrean leaves, no longer showing interest in the aftermath, now having the information she never knew she needed.
Luz: Lincoln?
Lincoln looks around and sees the chaos he made. He looks at Luz and hugs her and Luz responds.
Lincoln: (confused) Luz? Everyone? Did I win?
Luz: Calm down, it's over. You won. But what was that? I've never seen you so angry like that before. You looked like you were almost about to explode.
Lincoln: (tries to think, his head hurting) Argh. I have no idea, last thing I remember, I was pinned down by her abomination. (looks around) What happened here?
Luz: You mean you don't remember what you did?
Eda was about to approach Lincoln and comfort him when she saw Amity start to walk away but what caught her attention was something she sees on her neck.
Eda: Wait a second, Miss Protégé.
Lilith's eyes widen as Eda goes after her. She lifts up Amity's hair.
Amity: (rattled but still grounded) Hey! What are you—
Eda tears off a piece of paper. The last remaining abomination shrinks until it is about the height of Amity's knee, though it crumbles completely when its head crushes it. Eda holds up it in front of the audience.
Eda: A glyph of power from the Construction Coven.
Everyone gasps.
Student #1: (gasps) I mean...I knew.
Willow: (hushed to Gus) She cheated!
Eda: Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes! You cheated. (starts dancing, pumping her fists before bringing her arms to her head) Perfect prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love coventions! La-la-la— (Does the Egyptian)
Lilith: I only did that because I knew you would cheat! I mean a sword technically makes sense but-
Eda: (dances away) Still cheated! Welcome to my level!
Amity: (rubbing the back of her neck) But... I didn't know!
The Coven Leaders start walking away, certainly surprised by the fight itself and the result. Now they all return to their duties to consider their next step, and his.
She sees Lincoln and Luz approach and runs off, angrily crying all the way.
Lincoln: Amity, wait!
Lincoln literally bolts after her, but not before he slams the ground with his warhammer, restoring the damage done during the transition, then vanishing on the spot, leaving sparks behind, followed quickly by the Nebulosi, the ones from earlier returning to Willow and Gus, who also leave.
Luz: Lincoln! Hold up!
King: Luz, help me!
Luz grunts as she frees King, ripping the shirts in the process.
King: My offerings!
Luz: (Pats King's head.) You'll get more offerings, King. (Runs after Amity and Lincoln.)
King: Hey, wait for me! (Follows her.)
Eda is dancing. Kind of. Does doing the wave with your arms count?
Lilith: Knock it off. You're making a scene!
Eda: (points at her, making her lurch back) You cheated. Hey, where's the Rhyming Coven? (brings her left hand up to her left ear) What rhymes with "cheated?"
Rhyming Coven Student: (calls them out in one sitting) Streeted, bleated, cleated, dieted, fleeted, greeted, heated, meated, meted, pleated, seated, sheeted, sleeted, streeted, teated, treated, tweeted, accreted, chapleted, competed, completed, conceited, concreted, deep-seated, defeated, deleted, depleted, entreated, esheated, estreated, galeated, heat-treated, ill-treated, maltreated, mistreated, oppleted, preheated, pretreated, receipted, reheated, repeated, reseated, retreated, secreted, spreadsheeted, steam-heated, toothleted, trabeated, unseated, untreated, valeted, epauleted, half-completed, illaqueated, nonnucleated, obsoleted, ochreated, overheated, phosphoreted, self-conceited, superheated, uncompleted, undefeated, and undeleted. (bows before running) You're welcome.
Eda: Thank you, whoever you are! (performs the Watusi) You were heated, don't get hot, get your stank-face treated.
Lilith: Rhyme one more little thing. I dare you!
Eda: Oh, okay, I'm done. (Pauses) Because my rhymes are depleted!
Lilith: (Screaming) That's it!
Lilith calls out to her staff and strikes Eda with a blast of energy, throwing her through its spikes into the bannered wall behind the dais. The audience gasps, including Willow and Gus. The cloud of Lilith's blue magic dissipates. Eda, splayed out against the wall, smirks.
Eda: There she is!
She summons her own staff and spins it in a circle only for it to fly out of her hand and make a noise on the ground. She picks it up with a roar and sends a blast of energy at Lilith. Lilith growls and sends one back. The Fracti decide they're done and vanish, leaving the two witches to their feud.
Witch: Witch's Duel!
Lilith's blue magic and Eda's orange magic are evenly matched. They explode in a white light.
Ladies Restroom, Convention Center, Bonesbourugh, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
Outside the theater, from which Lincoln and Luz run out and look around, the former covering Lincoln sees Amity sulking in a dark corner next to the bathrooms.
Lincoln: Amity... (walks closer) We're sorry. I'm sorry.
Amity: Ugh, really? Leave me alone. And you, (points to Lincoln) stay away from me!
Luz: (whispers to Lincoln) Wow, she's taking this a lot better than the people from all those other times.
Lincoln: We didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that what you said really got under my skin and then I just lost control. I can't even remember what happened.
Amity: Seriously, stay away! You didn't just hurt me! You embarrassed me! You terrified me!
Lincoln: We didn't mean to embarrass you.
Amity: That's all that you ever do! First at school, and now this!
Lincoln: Yeah, but—
Amity (Stands up, pointing) You made me look like a fool in front of the Emperor's Coven. My future! You have all this power and a mighty weapon worthy of you, but you don't even want the gifts that skills like this can give you! I've worked my whole life to get to the top (advances on the two) And you just pop up here and now everyone thinks you're the Devil himself or top dog all because of your freak dad! You lost! You cheated! Say it! Say you're not a witch!
Lincoln was shocked while Amity's eyes widened as she began to realize what she said as he punched a crater into the wall, inches from her face, his eyes the same they were before emblazoned on his face, the scales on his face returning.
Lincoln: (growling) What do you know about my father! I never even got to meet him! But I know he was kind and loved by everyone! As a person, not because he wasn't a witch! In associating with daft idiots like you! And he died, sacrificing himself for his ideals! And you're right, We're not witches.
Lincoln raises his hand, takes a deep breath, reverting his eyes and making the scales retreat. Amity's eyes widen when she sees the sparks coming from her hands. Lincoln then snaps his fingers and creates a lightning spell, creating a hovering crest behind his back before vanishing.
Lincoln: I'm an Azarathian.
Amity: But it's impossible, I thought it was just a myth, a legend told to children at night.
Lincoln: Well, all of us saw what happened back there. I suppose you were right in saying that I'm not one of you. And for Luz, it isn't something natural, but she found a workaround.
Luz: He's right, I'm not a witch, But I'm training hard to be one.
Luz kneels, takes out a notebook and a pencil. Amity looks confused as she kneels down with her. Luz slowly draws the glyph of light, then touches it. She gently cups the ball of light produced, smiling at him. She shows it to Amity. Amity looks at the light in amazement.
Theater, Convention Center, Bonesbourugh, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
Back to Eda and Lilith's duel, Lilith is spinning her staff. When Eda's attack stops, she pushes her hand forward, her spell circle turning into a burst of magic. Eda takes a few steps back, spinning and drawing a spell circle on the ground. She lifts her hand, creating a growing pillar of Hooty-shaped wood that splits Lilith's attack.
The pillar bends, its owl face hooting lowly. Lilith stares at it, then teleports away from its approaching beak. Stray magic enters the audience. They scream and flee. Two new owl faces extend from the large pillar. Eda draws four more spell circles on the opposite side. Lilith easily teleports away from all of their beaks, destroying one on the ground, then three in the air with a grunt. Eda smirks and spins her staff, creating an orange shield as Lilith hits it with magic and her staff. The shield cracks, but Eda's expression doesn't change. Owlbert's eyes glow. He flies into Lilith's face, interrupting her attack. He hoots and pulls her hair.
Lilith: Ow, ow, ow-ow-ow. Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow!
Eda's shield falls.
Eda: Say goodnight, sister.
She spins her staff and smacks the butt of it into the wooden pillar. Hooty's face forms right next to Lilith, and with a hoot, it captures her in its beak. All fall silent. Owlbert lands back on Eda's staff. She smiles at him, then looks concerned when she sees the flaming hole in the new owl tube's side. Lilith appears directly behind her.
Lilith: Enough of this.
Eda gasps. She is thrown into the wall with a scream, leaving a crater. Lilith smirks and spins her staff.
Eda: (stands back up, her hair disheveled) Lily, wait. The curse.
Lilith stops spinning her staff, the gathering magic at her palisman disappearing.
Eda: Look at me. Look at my face. (covers her left cheek) The curse is worsening and I can't keep up with it. I don't know how much time I have left. And after today, I think Lincoln may have something far worse than mine.
Lilith: (Approaches Eda.) I'll admit I was surprised when I first saw you today. And may the gods grant me resolve in that little acolyte of yours. If he was my apprentice. I would have personally made him the Emperor's chief enforcer alongside the Crimson Empyrean.
Eda: I just had to see my sister for... possibly the last time.
Lilith: Eda, I—
She screams as a bag of Hex Mix is thrown in her face. She stares at it as it hits the ground. Lilith growls.
Eda: (Runs for the exit.) It's been fun, but let's call it a draw!
Lilith: Argh!
Ladies Restroom, Convention Center, Bonesbourugh, Boiling Isles, Demon Realm
Meanwhile back with the teens, the light orb that Luz created for Amity has disappeared.
Amity: (turns away) That's nothing. A child could do a light spell.
Luz's expression falls. She extinguishes the ball of light and turns away, scooping up her notebook.
Amity: But... I've never seen it cast like that.
Luz: It doesn't come naturally to me like you do, so I had to improvise. (Nods to the notepad)
Lincoln: You think you're the only one in this realm who's worked all their life for one crucial moment? Back home, I worked down to the bone, mind and soul included to be someone worthy of said life. Someone who everyone could understand and accept me for who I am despite my physical differences. But it's so-called people just like you who discriminate against "lesser" beings like me because I just look or think too differently. I'm sure you don't know how many of your kind there are on Earth too. But there are far too many in my opinion.
Amity: Lincoln.
Lincoln: I've known your type of people, Amity, for a very long time. I've known and been hurt and rejected by them all my life. Selfish, perfectly intolerable, egotistical, vain, prideful beyond reason, and unable to accept that which is different and brings change to your life, good or bad. Xenophobia at its best. You people are all too busy with yourselves that you're far too blind to see anything but yourselves. And when karma comes and takes away all that they have so called "worked" towards, they won't realize what they had until it's dead and gone.
Amity sighs. She draws a circle of spells and drags Lincoln's hand towards it by the wrist. Their hands glow briefly and the circle disappears, though some of that light flows through Lincoln's arm, as if absorbing that power like with the wand. Amity's sight is pulled into that same space, but it has a calmer, blue vibe, and the entity in Lincoln's place feels more at peace, the growth on her hand retreating into him. It leans to her and whispers something only for her.
Amity: The oath is unbound. (She lets go of Lincoln and stands up.)
Luz: Did it work? Can we still learn magic?
Amity: Humans don't have any magical abilities. But I doubt that will stop you, either of you. And Lincoln, I'm sorry about what I said about your father. I will think about what you said. But be careful, one of the reasons the Azarathians were respected and feared was because of their seemingly unlimited potential. But if the same could be said for their effects of great change, the same could also be said for the powers of destruction.
Amity leaves. Luz and Lincoln stand up, watching her with a worried expression
Amity: (peaks from a stand) Oh, and before I forget, what you said about terms such as wizards and warlocks and etc., they actually sound nice.
King: Guys! You left me!
Luz: Yeah, We're sorry. Your legs are just so tiny.
Lincoln: Should we get you more offerings? You were literally too full of that stuff. Gods, I sound like Lori right now.
King: 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.
Lincoln: Is it the friends you meet along the way?
Luz: (Gasping) Is it love?
King: Ugh! No! (Reaches behind him) Tote bags! (He puts a yellow bag with purple inscription being "I "rat picture" Covention" on Luz's arm and hops in it as she stands up) And they have so many uses! Away, fair chariot! Away!
Luz pats his head and Lincoln shakes his head as Eda arrives.
Eda: We gotta go.
Lincoln: How'd you get away from Lilith?
Eda: Let's just say she had a real "snack attack". Ha! (snorts and heads for the door) Wait, I got a better one.
Luz: Eda...
Eda stops and looks at them.
Luz: Do you think Lincoln and I will ever be real witches?
Eda: 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.
Luz: (brightens) My own witch.
Eda: Now, let's go before my sister realizes that I tied her pointy shoes.
Lilith screams off screen.
Eda: And that's our cue! (Leaves, mentally saying) That duel only confirmed what I suspected about Lincoln being an Azarathian. But Draven was never able to pull something that mind-bending. Could that legend he spoke of that day be true? And if so, the danger of becoming one or both of them has become very much real.
Lincoln: Wait, sister? You mean that Raven Woman was your sister?
Luz: Sister? Now that's a mysterious past payoff! Cool nickname by the way, Lincoln.
Eda: Oh, you think that's all the mystery I got? Wait until you find out about my parents. Besides, I can't exactly let you run around the isles being a teenage hunk.
Lincoln blushes at the compliment, then blushes, realizing he's still very much shirtless, and nearly pantless.
Luz: What? Do you have parents? I need to know more!
King: You very much don't!
The three advanced except for Lincoln who looked at his hands to remember what happened from the duel before blinking twice to show the scaled claw and a new one before joining them through the door, the banner above saying "COME BACK SOON! WE'LL GET YOU EVENTUALLY."
Dressing Room
Meanwhile in a dressing room. Lilith enters, tripping over her tied laces.
Lilith: (Grunts and stands.) You make it so hard to want to help you, Edalyn. And that boy of yours, he's far too dangerous of yours covenless. If I can't help you, I will help him.
The compact mirror on the counter opens, showing off the insignia of the Emperor's Coven. Lilith gasps, showing a red-skinned demon of diminutive stature and childish proportions. She stands several heads shorter than her subordinates, with three-toed, talon-clad arms and legs similar to those of a bird's. Her talons are colored dark brown. Her left eye has yellow sclera and a brownish red iris; inversely, her right eye has red sclera and a yellow iris. Like many of the creatures of the Boiling Isles, her ears are pointed. Her mouth is hidden from view by her veil.
Her most defining feature are the conjoined hands which make up her hair: one with fingers that form a fringe which hides her right eye from view, the other is clenched behind her head to form a bun-fist. Her hands are dark blue with turquoise claws. Being a high-ranking affiliate of the Emperor's Coven, she wears robes reminiscent of Belos's regalia. These are a white tunic overtop a black ensemble, as well as a high-collared veil which shrouds the lower regions of her face. This veil is fastened by a triangular silver accessory. Due to her taloned feet, she doesn't wear shoes.
Demon: (In the mirror.) Lilith, I see you let The Owl Lady get the best of your temper. Just remember what Emperor Belos has promised to you.
Lilith: (Nods.) I will capture her, ma'am. You have my word. There is also another matter about one of her new apprentices. The Crimson Empyrean is on her way to meet him directly. The other Coven Leaders have shared similar reports and will be presented shortly.
Demon: Very good.
She fades from the mirror, allowing Lilith's reflection to appear.
Lilith: Your days are numbered, Edalyn. Once this is all said and done, you'll thank me for what I've done Draven.
She turns, revealing another behind it before turning back to close it.
Unknown
The demon disconnects the line as the Crimson Empyrean enters a room where there are all kinds of pipes and cables connected to the columns and ceiling like veins of blood and at the end of the room behind the throne was a roaring fire. Directly above the throne was a beating green heart. Sitting on the throne was the silhouette of a man wearing a robe and a deer skull like mask. He seems to be having trouble breathing, as if he is living on borrowed time.
The light of the heart and the flames of the lanterns reveal his other companion. To the right of the man is a teenage boy wearing a white cloak and a golden owl mask.
Crimson Empyrean: (kneels before him) I am at your service, my Emperor. I serve and obey.
Emperor Belos: Salutations, Liberty. We just heard from Kikimora and Lilith that the Owl Lady was at today's covention and that she didn't catch her. What happened?
Crimson Empyrean: Master, one of Edalyn's apprentices, a boy, challenged Lilith's protégé, Amity, to a witch duel and won, but I didn't come to simply say that, I came here beacuase of something else, one of the Owl Lady's apprentices is an Azarathian, the other was a human girl.
After those sentences left her mouth, there was perhaps the longest and most tense moment of silence she had ever received from Belos. Sweat began to accumulate on his face as he tried to keep a professional face to hide his anxiety, his hands, one dirty from goo, cracks the arms on the throne. The Emperor leans forward as the flames glow brighter and the hearts beating becomes more erratic and glows golden-orange, something the retainers notice, illuminating his golden mask and glowing blue eyes.
Emperor Belos: Crimson Empyrean, are you absolutely sure of your findings? You know how much I hate liars.
Crimson Empyrean: Crystal. When have I ever deceived you, my Lord?
Kikimora: It is impossible. They were said to be extinct.
Masked Witch: Well, one way or another, this one has managed to survive this long without our noticing. Who knows how many others, survivors, followers or otherwise, managed to survive?
Emperor Belos: Liberty, Crimson Empyrean, Emperor's Voice, and General of the Emperor's Army and Coven, I give you the task of watching over the last Azarathian and his friends as if he were your own brother. If cannot not be made to see reason and join our coven as you once did, you will be given the task of hunting him down and ending him and his heretic race and for all.
Crimson Empyrean: Yes, Emperor Belos. I'm already looking forward to it.
Conformatorium Ruins
In the ruins of the Coven's rehabilitation center, now formed into a society by the former inmates, Two large beings appear at its bottom level and begin to walk together through the broken prison until they reach a large door with two locks, its design different from the rest of the building. They insert the flails into the locks, turning them and unlocking the gate. Once they enter, the door closes behind them, a light beckons toward a man in black, gold and red, watching through a gold orb, a staff in one hand and an octopus on his shoulder. The same man that posed as a statue in the Contraband Vault and one of Adegast's puppets.
Unknown: Rest, my brethren. Sleep, and now that as you do, I draw close to waking you. (Dispels the sphere) You're earlier than what my predictions showed. Tell me what you have learned. Keeper, come to me.
The beings kneel before him, revealing themselves as the Fractus from before and speak sentiently, followed by a smaller one in a hood.
Fractus: Creator, we have heard your call from the beyond. We serve and obey, and await your command.
He turns to them, creating golden colored arms, caressing them as if they were his children.
Unknown: Fractus of the Singularity Homunculi. I heard your call from the land before. I accept your vows and hope to prove worthy of your strength. Tell me everything, Metrionites, my dear children.
They tell him every detail and spare no expense. His concealed mouth grinning with each sentence they finish, he hovers to eye level and floats away, guiding them to a wide open space deeper underground.
Unknown: So the Azarathian has returned and brought with him the Witch of Gaia, just as we knew they would. Even now the Owl Lady guides him and his human sister in arms to the path that destiny has set before them. So we may bring forth their true powers, powers we will use to shatter the wretched seals, that keeps us apart.
He touches his on a device far more advanced than the people of the Boiling Isles possess. The sound of ancient engines roaring to life as light seeps from the terminal.
Unknown: And soon we will have no use for a worthless ruler like "Belos", who would shackle the people to his ideals rather than help them embrace their potential. Soon, we will teach all the peoples of this realm, and set them all free."
More lights begin turning on, soon revealing hundreds, if not thousands of their kind on standby and being created, among many other artificial lifeforms of various forms and designs.
Unknown: And so the story begins.
TO BE CONTINUE
Cinnabon - The snack stands behind Luz and Lilith is a play on the real-life food and brand.
Dragon Ball - The pose Tiny Nose makes alongside the blazing effects that appear behind her during the scene wherein Amity's Abomination throws its own head at the Baker's Coven is a reference to Goku going Super Saiyan in the Dragon Ball franchise.
DC: The species of the Metrionites, Zinthosians, and the unfinished third are based on Raven's incantation: Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos.
Death Battle: What Eda says is how the character, Wiz, introduces each episode of their web series.
Bayonetta: The constructs and the Singularity collective are based on the Homunculi enemies seen in Bayonetta 3.
World of Warcraft: Lincoln's transformation is based on the Dracthyr's human visage. The armor formed around Lincoln is based on the four tier sets that can be earned in the Vault of the Incarnates raid; Evoker / Scales of the Awakened, Death Knight / Haunted Frostbrood Remains, Paladin / Virtuous Silver Cataphract and Warrior / Stones of the Waking Mountain. The sword and shield are based on the Caustic Coldsteel Slicer and Broodsworn's Legionnaire Pavise.
Asura's Wrath: The tattoo pattern is nearly identical to the one the game's namesake has on his body. The crest on his back is the decorated halo that Asura and some of the Seven Deities have behind their backs.
Legends of Runeterra: The phoenix that Lincoln created is related to the celestial known as the Immortal Fire. The being that the Amity sees is related to the Warrior and Ascended Pantheon from League of Legends.
Fanfiction: The name Liberty, comes from what writers originally called Lincoln's female counterpart before Linka made its official debut in the Loud House season 1 episode, One of the Boys.
Bionicle: The words used by the unknown man reflect what the Vortixx Roodaka said to Makuta's heartstone.
