"'Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton candy skies and shouted, 'I challenge you to a Witch's Duel'!' And look. I drew a flipbook."
Luz demonstrated her little bit of art to King while Eda finished setting up her human sale booth. Stephen groaned listening to his sister's narration.
"Luz, would you stop, please?" Stephen asked. "It's hard enough listening to it the first time." He was already stressed out because of his recent discovery of using magic. He still couldn't make heads or tails of what he was able to do, so he kept it to himself until he was ready to tell his sister and friends.
"I actually agree with your brother." Eda said. "Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all our serious customers."
"Uh, Eda," Luz said, "What customers?" She looked around seeing the barren, abandoned area around them. "There aren't even any other stands around. What's going on?"
Eda had a fearful look on her face as if she was expecting the worst. "This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today."
"Luz, something amazing is happening today!" shouted a familiar voice. Four familiar kids approached Eda's stand.
"Gus. Willow." Luz greeted.
"Clea. Wong." Stephen did the same. "What's happening?"
"It's the annual Covention." Clea answered as Willow held up an event poster. "Every year, young witches get to personally check out all the official covens before they can join."
"We get to sample the experience of our dream covens that we wish to join after graduation." Wong said.
"There are even two mystery guests this year." Willow said.
"A job fair for witches!" Luz cheered. "Eda, can we go?"
"Absolutely not!" Eda refused. "It's a bad idea."
"Why?" Stephen asked. "In every book I read, joining a coven is a good thing."
"Who do you think wrote those books?" Eda asked. "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. But, you know, no judgement. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls."
"We?" Luz asked excitedly. "Who's we? You have a mysterious past! Now, we gotta go!"
"What, the whole 'monster curse' thing wasn't enough of a mystery?" Stephen asked. "Is there something else you're not telling us?"
"What? No." Eda replied. "And again, we're not going to that stupid Covention."
"Okay. Then you leave my no choice." Luz gestured to King, who proceeded to read aloud from her Azura book. Each word he recited made Eda more and more in anguish.
"So flowery. So awful."
Eda opened the human portal and stepped through its light. It was about to close, but at the last second, Luz picked King up and tossed him through while he continued to read. Right after, the portal opened again and Eda returned with King reading from the top of her head.
"STOP IT! STOP IT! I WILL LITERALLY DO ANYTHING TO STOP THIS!"
And that was how Eda reluctantly took the kids to the Covention.
Just outside of the stadium where the Covention was held, Eda struggled to raise her hood over her large, gray hair. "Gotta keep a low profile."
"Is this cowl really necessary?" Luz asked.
"Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" Eda responded. "Well, that's partly true. But the big whammy is that I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven."
"That's illegal?" Stephen asked.
"To those royal jerks, yes. If I'm seen, I could go to jail… again."
"Again?" Wong asked. "Should I ask?"
"I wouldn't." Stephen said.
"Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven." Willow suggested. Eda's only response was pulling her cowl over her head.
"Yeah, it's probably best right now, given her 'condition'." Clea said referring to Eda's curse.
The gang entered the Covention and got their first look at the event going on inside. Several booths and tents where set up as far as the room could reach with young witches flying on broomsticks above. Hanging from the ceiling were nine banners of different colors and symbols.
"Was I even alive before now?" Luz asked in amazement.
"Those are the main nine covens." Gus said.
"Wait, I think I got this." Stephen said. "They are… Healing, Plant, Beast Keeping, Oracle, Construction, Bard, Illusion, Abomination, and Potions."
"Good guess." Clea said.
"Thanks. I read about them at the Hexside library. I have a really good memory. And as I recall, there are hundreds of other covens, right?"
"That's right." Willow said. "There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven…" She turned to see Eda groaning. "…Also, the Grumpy Coven."
"What was that?" Eda asked in response. A witch came by and recognized her from the wanted posters. She threw a bag of Hex Mix to distract him before grabbing his hood and forcing it over his face. She took back her Hex Mix and ran off.
"Ooh, what's that?" Luz asked pointing at a couple of piles of bricks. They were accompanied by Tiny Nose and a construction worker.
"That's the Construction Coven." Willow said.
"Oh, yeah." Stephen said. "Just one of those guys can build a whole house with one throw. They use power glyphs to boost their magic, right?"
"That's correct." Wong said.
The construction worker slapped a sticker with a power glyph on Tiny Nose's big nose. She of course exploded a powerful aura which encompassed her entire body. She then roared out before going on a super-strength rampage.
"Dang, Stephen." Luz said. "We've been here on the Boiling Isles around the same time, you're not interested in learning magic, and yet, you know more about this than me."
"Well, to be fair, I had a lot of time to kill at Hexside." Stephen said.
"A lot of time to kill at Hexside."
Stephen was both surprised and confused. "What was that, an echo?" His answer came clear when a blue, transparent copy of himself walked from his body and toward a tent with a mirror symbol on it.
"Ah, you've been taken in by the lure of the Illusion Coven." Gus said. "We like to magic with a hint of showmanship." He demonstrated by disappearing from one spot and reappearing at another.
"So what about you, Wong?" Stephen asked. "I know Gus is in Illusion, Willow's in Plant, and Clea's in Healing. What's your coven in mind?"
"The Book Keeping Coven." Wong answered. "It's not one of the main nine, but I like to surround myself with the knowledgeable books and maintaining them."
"Acceptance? Camaraderie? A sense of belonging? Covens sound incredible!" Luz said. "Eda, why haven't you ever joined one."
"Watch closely, Luz." Eda pointed back at the Illusion tent where a new member has joined. He was branded with the coven symbol on his wrist which branched a few vains and made him weaker. "When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed away. From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions."
"Seriously?" Stephen asked. "Seems kinda counter-productive if you ask me."
"That's one way to see it." Eda said. "Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic. That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles."
"You sure you should call yourself that, Eda?" Wong asked. "I mean, you're not exactly the Sorcerer Supreme." That comment made Eda freeze in place.
"The what now?" Luz asked.
"The Sorcerer Supreme." Willow said. "Whoever holds that title is officially the most powerful magic caster."
"Emphasis on 'officially'." Eda said. "I don't need that title to be the most powerful. In any case, I'm much more deserving of it than the current guy."
"What current guy?" Stephen asked. "Who's the Sorcerer Supreme now?"
"That would be Emperor Belos." Clea said. "He's the ruler of the Boiling Isles and the creator of the Coven System."
"He's also one of the biggest jerks in all dimensions." Eda said. "That guy's had his guards hunt me down for ages just because I didn't want to join a stinkin' coven. Oh, and speaking of which…"
They stopped at an aisle of velvet ropes and uniformed withes with white hoods and gray masks. They stood below a golden symbol of a triangle that had a winged sword behind a winged shield. Several young witches were racing to get in.
"It's the Emperor's Coven!" Gus gasped.
"Well, of all the covens, they're the worst." Eda said.
"Why?" Clea asked. "You said you never joined because you didn't want to lose any of your magic. Well, this coven can allow you to use any and all kinds of magic."
"Yeah, but then, you'd have to answer to Emperor Belos and enforce his stupid laws. And I think I already made myself clear of how much I don't like him."
"I get it, Eda. Covens, bad. Individualism, good." Luz said. "But I'm still figuring this world out. So I'm going to go in there to make up my own mind."
"Don't worry, Eda." Stephen said. "I'll make sure she doesn't get lost." He went with the other kids into the Emperor's Coven panel. But then, when Eda saw how she was called out by the same man who recognized her from the wanted posters, she followed in a hurry.
Once everyone was seated, the lights dimmed and Principal Bump graced the stage at the stage in the arena pit. He summoned a winged microphone and spoke into it.
"Hello, Bonesborough! Students ask me all the time 'Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?'"
"Is it this?" asked a boy in the audience. With a twirl of his finger, his head bloated to ridiculous size and he couldn't help but let it tilt to his side.
"Wow, I've failed you as a principal." Bump commented before continuing. "It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the Coven System and the enforcers of his will, the Emperor's Coven." Three Emperor's Coven witches arrived and casted different spells to showcase. "Feast your eyes on this elite force; each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic."
"And when does that elite force get here?" Eda joked to Stephen.
"Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all—Yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Ahh. But… Only the best can ascend these ranks. Someday, that could be one of you." Bump pointed at an overexcited girl who Luz and Stephen recognized as Amity Blight. "And now, I am pleased to introduce the esteemed leaders of this coven and this year's mystery guests. You know them. You love them. Give it up for… Lillith and Baron Mordo!"
Eda stopped laughing and widened her eyes. She shared the shocked expression with Clea. The two of them watched as the witches in question made their way.
The first one came from an illusion of a raven. It swooped down from above, and when it cleared, a pale woman with dark-blue hair graced the center of the stage. The next witch came from an illusion of a green wolf that paced across the pit. It jump and landed on top of the stage before disappearing. Just like before, a witch stood in its place. This time, it was a man with black hair and a beard-and-mustache combo. He wore the Emperor's Coven uniform same as the others, but instead of white, his was green with black outlines.
"Oh, boy! Mordo's here?" Clea asked. "So this is why he left early!"
"What do you mean?" Stephen asked. "Do you know that guy?"
"Yeah. That's my guardian."
"What?" Willow gasped. "Your dad's the baron and one of the Emperor's Coven heads?"
"He's not my dad. He's my guardian." Clea corrected. "And yes. How do you think I got private healing tutors?
"Thank you all." Lillith said. "It wasn't easy for us to rise to the top."
"Too true." Baron Mordo agreed. "Lillith and I worked our hardest to get where we are today. Together, we have the highest honor of enforcing the will of Emperor Belos."
"So be more." Lillith called out. "The Emperor's Coven awaits you!"
After the panel, Eda stormed out of the bleachers and headed back into the hallway with Luz and Stephen following her.
"Eda, where are you going?" Luz asked.
"I'm going home to wash the con funk off my skin."
"You've been acting extra weird after those two coven heads arrived." Stephen said. "Do you know them?"
"Just one, 'cause… Look, it doesn't matter. I'm going." She walked away leaving the two kids to themselves.
"Hey, Stephen," Luz said holing up a magazine, "I know you're not into magic, but just for fun, how about you take this quiz to determine type?"
Stephen sighed. "Well, it wouldn't hurt. What's one read going to do?"
As it turned it, it did a lot. As Luz turned to look through the pages, she accidentally bumped into the same green-haired girl what squeed earlier, Amity Blight.
"Watch where you're…" Amity's expression turned to disgust when she recognized Luz and Stephen. "Oh, it's you. Willow's abomination thing and… that other guy."
"Hey." Stephen said in offense.
"Hi, Amity." Luz said nervously. "So funny story… Not an abomination. Sorry for the confusion last week. I'm Luz, the human. And this is my brother, Stephen."
"Look, Amity," Stephen started to say, "Sorry about everything that happened. It was a very crazy mess."
"Apology not accepted." Amity said. "You guys got me in trouble with Principal Bump, and I never get in trouble."
"What? What did I do?" Stephen asked. "If anything, I tried to get Luz out of it."
"Stephen, have you forgotten that Amity tried to have me dissected?" Luz asked.
"Okay. I admit, that was a bit extreme…"
"Look, you two can't be here!" Amity said. "This Covention is for witches only!"
"Well, I'm learning how to be a witch." Luz said.
"And I'm only here because me and Luz are a package deal." Stephen said.
"Seriously, I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon." Luz continued.
"Is that your ferocious demon there?" Amity asked as she spotted King.
The little demon walked on wearing a green T-shirt, a green cap, and a blue scarf. He carried a single pink cupcake in his hands.
"Cupcakes in my tummy-tum makes a King say yummy-yum."
Stephen smacked his forehead. "Yeah, 'ferocious' might be a bit complimentary when describing King."
"Hey, Luz, Stephen, look at these offerings." King said excitedly. Suddenly, he stepped on his scarf and tripped over it. As he fell, he dropped his cupcake which Amity proceeded to stomp on.
"Oops. That was an accident." Amity said, but her expression clearly showed that it wasn't.
"That was a bit too much." Stephen said.
"Why are you being so mean, Amity?" Luz asked.
"Because you, your brother, and your pet are giving witches-in-training a bad name."
"For the record, I'm not trying to be a witch." Stephen said.
"I AM NOT A PET!" King shouted.
"He's a very good boy and the King of Demons!" Luz said. "I'll tell you what, Amity. It's one thing to say I can't be a witch. But it's another thing to bully my friends."
"Look, Luz, let's not escalate this, all right?" Stephen asked. "We can't do anything to change Amity's mind."
"I beg to differ!" Luz said. "As 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 who heard that instantly gasped. Stephen widened his eyes in shock, which quickly became worry as Amity smiled with complete confidence giving her answer.
"I accept."
"Hold on!" Stephen protested. "Luz, you're dancing in a hornet's nest. Take a moment and think about what you're doing!"
"She already challenged." Amity said. "Let's set the terms for this duel, shall we?"
"One, if I win you apologize to King for squashing his cupcake." Luz said. "And two, you admit that humans can be witches too."
"Luz, this is a terrible idea." Stephen said.
"Not from where I'm standing." Amity smirked. "When I win, not only do you have to tell the whole Covention you're not a witch, you have to stop training… forever."
"Luz, don't do this!" Stephen warned.
"No, do it, Luz!" King cried out. "For my honor!"
"Don't encourage her!" Stephen growled.
"Sorry, Stephen, but I have to." Luz said. "Let's shake on it, Amity."
Amity quickly formed a purple circle around Luz's hand before shaking it. Their shake glowed in touch.
"The Everlasting Oath is sealed." Amity said. "Meet back inside the theater in one hour. Let's see what kind of witch you are." She turned and walked away.
"Luz, do you have any idea what you've done?" Stephen asked loudly.
"Uh… Is this a problem?" Luz asked.
"Yes, it is a problem! The Everlasting Oath is a magical vow that I read about! Basically saying, if you lose, you cannot learn magic any more, no matter how much you want too. You'll be mystically incapable of learning. And considering that you only know one spell and Amity is an ace in her class, the odds are not in your favor."
Realizing the mistake she had made, Luz began to get nervous. "Uh, King, I can win this, right?"
"Oh, yeah, no." King answered as he began munching down on the crushed cupcake. Of course, Luz was scared witless.
"Sister?"
That word stopped Eda right before she could leave the Covention. She turned to see Lillith and Baron Mordo watching her.
"It's been so long since I've seen you last." Lillith said.
"So this is Edalyn Clawthorne." Baron Mordo said. "Pleasure to meet you. Your sister's told me much about you. And my ward told me quite a bit herself."
"I take it you mean Clea." Eda said. "She never told me her guardian was one of the heads of the Emperor's Coven."
"I'm not surprised." Baron Mordo said. "Clea wouldn't want people to be her friend just so they could get close to me."
"So Lilly, you and this guy are partners?" Eda asked.
"You could say that." Lillith answered. She wrapped her hand around Mordo's which made Eda widen her eyes.
"Seriously? You two? Together?"
"Well, you work with someone long enough, things start to develop." Lillith said. "In any case, what are you doing here, Edalyn? You're a wanted criminal. Unless…" She gasped in happiness. "You're here to join the Emperor's Coven!"
A snort escaped from Eda's nose before she broke out in laughter. "In your dreams!"
"Yeah, Lillith told me you'd be a tough customer." Mordo said.
"Tough customer? I'm not even going to enter the store." Eda said. "The Emperor's Coven may be the place for you two snobs, but I have standards."
Lillith sneered. "You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you run from the law like a degenerate, me and Karl are mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students into the world."
"Wait. Who's Karl?" Eda asked.
"That's me." Mordo said. "That's my first name. Baron Karl Mordo."
Eda stood in silence before breaking out into an even greater volume of laughter. "Seriously? Your name is Karl? If I were you, I wouldn't express my first name like that if I want to be taken seriously."
Mordo sighed. "Back to the matter at hand, my dear Lillith is correct. We're guiding the future of the Boiling Isles while you are reduced to selling junk."
"Well, I have a student," Eda said, "And I bet she could wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods."
"Is that a challenge?" Lillith asked.
"It's a promise."
"EDA!" Luz yelled out as she interrupted the confrontation with Stephen behind her. "I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a Witch's Duel and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead!"
Stephen sighed. "Yeah. It's that bad."
"Sounds like your student has met our strongest protégé." Lillith said.
Baron Mordo leaned in to examine both Luz and Stephen. "Round ears. Are these humans? And you're teaching magic to this girl? What, is the boy magic too?"
"Seriously? Look at him." Eda pointed out.
Mordo laughed a little. "Oh, this should be fun to watch. What do you think, Lillith? Should we make it official?"
"Let's." Lillith answered. She twirled her finger and every wanted poster of Eda burned into nothing. "Okay, Edalyn. For one day, you don't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good of a teacher you really are." She and Baron Mordo turned to meet up with Amity at the other side of the Covention.
"Did you also make a challenge on Luz's behalf, Eda?" Stephen asked.
"Maybe." Eda said.
Stephen groaned in anguish. "You two are the perfect duo, all right."
"Come on, kid." Eda said. "Time to prepare for bloodshed."
"But who's blood?" Luz asked.
"Anyone's guess."
"Yeah. I can see this ending real cheery already." Stephen said.
After putting a headband around her hair, Eda turned to Luz. "All right, Luz. Let's start your training. Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What do you do?" Luz tightened her hood around her head and placed herself in a sideways beetle position. "Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?"
"No, Eda." Stephen said. "All Luz knows is that little light ball spell. That's not going to do much against a giant, purple ooze monster. And what's wore, Luz accepted an Everlasting Oath so that if she loses, she has to stop learning magic."
"Whoa." Eda said. "That's a bit of a mistake."
Luz groaned. "I get it! I made a mistake! Stephen, why don't you support me on this?"
"I tried to. I told you to just let it go between you and Amity, but you didn't listen. Instead, you did exactly what your fictional witch would do thinking it would end the same way. Obviously, it didn't. And now, you're risking your chance to learn magic."
"I thought you didn't care about learning magic."
"I don't, but you do." Stephen began to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Luz asked.
"To find Amity. Hopefully, I can convince her to be a little lenient on you. Though, I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. It's just worth a try" Stephen proceeded to walk away.
Luz sighed miserably. "I can't believe I have to stop learning magic."
"Listen to me, Luz." Eda said. "We are not going to let those snobs win that easy. We are not going to let them win at all. I've got an idea." She smiled mischievously.
Author's Note: Sorry for cutting this halfway through the Covention episode, but this is all I could do right now. You'll find that it'll be the case with some of the other episodes. In any case, the next episode will have the second half of the episode. Any and all comments are welcome.