We find ourselves in front of an old house where the Leviathan Axe was lodged in the ground when suddenly a powerful gust of wind blew the battle axe out of the ground through a glowing door.

Through the door we find ourselves in the Boiling Isles as the Leviathan Axe flew into Ardyn's hand and the Owl House Title logo appeared.

Iki wo sutte haitara kurushii koto

Kizu ga hitotsu fueru tabi ikiteiru koto

Looking around Ardyn sees the Owl House with Hooty and King watching Eda teaching Luz magic.

Tsukaifurusareta sonna kanshou mo itsuka kitto

Yoru ni tokete kieru

We then find ourselves at Hexide as Willow and Gus wave at them while Amity merely looks away with a small blush on her face.

"No enough" yugandatte

"No escape" machigattatte

"No fear" koroge mawatte

Susumeba iin deshou

As Eda struggles to fight off the curse she briefly fights off the feathers before we see Romani chained up against the wall before a large shadow grows.

Looking up they saw Emperor Belos glaring down at them with staff at the ready and all his coven ready to attack. Standing behind him is a shadowed figure with a demented grin on his face.

Sore wa marude shinwa no you na

Iro, katachi no jubunairu

Spinning her staff Eda creates a powerful blast blowing the guards away before Lilith leaps in and the two sisters clash making magic explode all around them. From the smoke Ardyn, Luz, Amity, Willow and Gus ran towards the top.

Summoning an ice glyph Luz makes a bridge of ice allowing Amity's abomination to charge forward ramming them away as Willow made a road of vines for Ardyn to run ahead.

Ibitsu na mama hibiwareteiru

Kono sekai de hitotsu kagayaku

Kirei na tsuki

Running to the top, Ardyn and Emperor Belos clashes axe and staff before the shadowed figure fires a powerful blast knocking Ardyn back.

Holding out his hand a gilded sword forms in Ardyn's hand before he thrusts his weapon clashing with Belos and the shadowed figured creating a bright light.

FATE/BOILING ISLES

Book 1

Chapter 10: Adventure in the Fated Elements

The last few days was a blur for the residents of the Owl House.

On one of those days; King, Romani, and Eda sitting at the Human Collectibles stand trying to sell items while Musashi kept watch for Coven Guards. To their dismay, little to no customers are interested in what they're selling. At seemingly perfect timing, Luz and Ardyn appears, excited to tell the others about the Book Fair happening nearby. Eda and King seem uninterested, but Luz convinced King to give the fair a shot after allowing him to walk around in her hoodie. Meanwhile, Eda walks around searching for dwellers to "pickpocket" while Romani kept close to make sure she didn't get into further trouble.

When the pair walks around, they stumble across a Writing Competition, which sparks King, Musashi, Ardyn, and Luz's attention - but for different reasons. Luz and Ardyn aspire to write stories and inspire their readers, while King seeks to hold power over them. They decide to brainstorm a book together to submit for the contest. Meanwhile, Eda and Romani stroll the fair and spots Lilith buying a map to the Bloom of Eternal Youth to find and then give to the Emperor. Eda, searching for youth to hopefully reverse her curse, buys a map as well to find the flower herself.

Back at the Owl House, King, Ardyn, and Luz start to brainstorm ideas for the story. It's clear from the start that the two desire different things for their stories - King seeks violence and bloodshed, while Luz yearns for romantic tension to tie the tale together Ardyn yearn for a grand adventure with action to go with it. They agree to have their story be about "Luzura" (Luz's self-insert character based on Azura), and as Luz is well into writing the story with King, she and Ardyn is called downstairs by Eda.

Eda relays to Luz that she'll be going with Romani and Musashi on a mission to an "undisclosed place for undisclosed reasons", and that she and Ardyn will be left in charge. After the conversation that only seemed to last under a minute, Luz and Ardyn comes back upstairs to find that King has completely changed everything they had planned for the story, throwing out everything they had written together into the trash can. Luz and Ardyn were deeply bothered by King wanting to take over the writing process and leaves him to write her own story.

Bothered by the two, King goes to Grimgrub's Pub to find an editor who wants to read the new book he made, "Ruler's Reach". He comes across Piniet, an official from a publishing house who after reading his story, is very interested and wants to make King a famous author. King signs a contract, and seemingly overnight, becomes a literary sensation that's filling up bookstores, and getting reviewed by top critics. His books are flying off the shelves. King quickly gets enamored by his fame, as fans run to get his autograph.

Meanwhile, Eda, Musashi, and Romani, running to find the flower, hears a sudden noise, and turns around to discover it's Lilith who crossed paths with them. It then becomes a competition—who can find the flower first?

As Luz and Ardyn continues typing away their own passage, they were invited by King to go to a "Meet the Author" event where he'll meet up with his fans. Despite being originally reluctant, The two teens decides to go to the event to (hopefully) reconcile with King and mend the issue. Before Luz and Ardyn arrives at the event, King is chatting with his fans as Piniet sits alongside him. Piniet then pulls King aside and asks to speak about when his next book will be getting released. King surprises Piniet by showing him "Ruler's Reach 2", the second addition to his series. However, Piniet finds the sequel so sickening that he thinks it's a joke, calling it "truly awful" (to King's dismay). King realizes he needs Luz and Ardyn's help, and just in time, they arrive to the event. King rushes over to them, and during Luz apology, tells them that without their romantic writing and seeking adventure to dislike and rebel against, he won't be able to write his series well enough. Angered at King's lack of empathy and awareness, Ardyn retracts their apology and figuratively tore him down as a lying hack. Piniet hears this and comes up with a plan to get King to write him another bestseller.

Once Eda, Romani, Musashi, and Lilith finally make it to the Bloom of Eternal Youth, Eda pushes Lilith and grabs the flower for herself. However, the flower soon vanishes, and the group realize they may have just walked into a trap. However, after the monster shows himself, Romani, Musashi, Lilith, and Eda realize he isn't much of a threat, and beat him up together, creating what appears to be peace amongst them… for now. Lilith begs Eda to join the Emperor's Coven and tells her that the Emperor can heal her curse. Eda denies the offer, as she does not want to owe the Emperor anything, and wants to break the curse on her own terms.

Back at the book event, Piniet captures both Luz and Ardyn then puts them in a purple shrinking box. He brings in King, trapping him in the box as well. Piniet threatens them that if they can't come up with a good book, they will become compressed into boxes and be trapped eternally. When Ardyn, Luz, and King beg him to let them out, Piniet reminds King of the contract he signed.

As the box closes in on them, King comes to his senses and apologizes to Luz and Ardyn for how he acted. They work together and come up with a plan to escape the box. The three calls over Piniet and give him the book to read through, but he still doesn't find the story absorbing. He eventually reaches the final page; he encounters a light glyph. Luz activates it, blinding Piniet, which allows King to use his scarf to snatch the contract and destroy it, freeing them from the box. As Piniet corners the two using his guards, a fan runs into the room where they are and asks Piniet to read what she wrote. Piniet, thoroughly impressed, focuses his attention on the fan, and lets Ardyn, Luz, and King leave.

Eda, Romani, and Musashi come home to find Luz, Ardyn, and King asleep on the couch. She asks if anyone would like to calm down with a book, which makes Luz and King leave the room in fear of what had just happened while Ardyn started to cackle as he left the room, making Eda, Romani, and Musahi not feel safe. Noticing King's book on the table, Eda picks it up and turns to the back cover, looking confused when she sees King's picture.

And now we come to today for Ardyn Pierce on the Boiling Isles. Things had finally calmed down after dealing with the Bat Queen and that crazy book nut, Piniet.

At the current moment, Ardyn is facing a new problem. No matter how many books he's investigated, there was still nothing with any knowledge that could grant him and Luz more glyphs. And that's where he was at now, sitting on the couch as he read from a book from the library. His sweater was zipped open as he petted King, who was resting on his lap. Luz was lying on the other side of the couch, reading a pamphlet about Hexside that was labeled "Hexside Facts and Trivia." On the back of it was a picture of Principal Bump on the back along with his quote, "Education is the real magic."

"Ardyn, listen to this!" Luz said with excitement as she sat up. "They have a running of the bunnies race!"

"Are the bunnies like giants or something," Ardyn asked, looking up from the book he was reading

"No, but they have unicorn horns," she said, showing her best friend a picture of the rabbit with a unicorn horn on it… For some reason, Ardyn felt uncomfortable when looking at the rabbit. "Now that we'll be students at Hexside, we've got to learn all about it! I've got a new crush, and her name is Education!"

"I thought you had a crush on that one cheerleader, Brenda?" Ardyn said, remembering back to the human realm. The same girl that made Luz realize she was Bisexual.

"Yes, but things are different," she said with an enthusiastic smile.

"Is that because you realized that she's a bitch?" Ardyn asked with a smirk.

"...Shut up," Luz said with a pout.

Suddenly, the front door was kicked open. Eda stuck her head through the door frame with a grin. "Hey, freeloaders! Guess what today is?"

"Your anniversary of being single?" Ardyn asked sarcastically.

"HEY!"

"No way, it's her birthday," Luz said.

"She probably would have mentioned it." Musashi said

"Is it my birthday?" King asked as he sat up.

"Your birthday was a few months back. It's actually Hooty's" Romani said as he gave a recently deceased vole towards the Owl Worm demon, who happily ate it.

"Thanks Romani!" Hooty said with an excited smile.

"Well…Besides Hooty's birthday!" Eda said, stepping into the house and closing the front door. "It's human treasure day!" The Owl Lady tossed the Portal Door into the air and watched as it unfolded and opened. Owlbert flew through it from Earth, dragging a giant sack. The sack ripped when he flipped it onto the floor, revealing a pile of human garbage. The magic doorway closed as Eda hopped onto the pile and hugged it.

"Ahh, fresh garbage," she said with a smile on her face as everyone just sweat dropped at the scene in front of them.

"Ooo, gimme gimme gimme!" King ran to the pile of garbage and pulled out a teddy bear from inside it. "Yes! Another worthy addition to my army of terror!"

"That's a teddy bear, King," Ardyn said deadpanning.

King pulled the string, and the bear started talking. "I love cuddles and kisses!"

"Truly horrifying!" Exclaimed the young demon.

Eda turned to Luz, who was still sitting on the couch, reading over the pamphlet. "Yo, kid. Your trash pile's getting cold. While mine's getting hot!" She said, digging into the pile and pulling out a wire clothes hanger "I have never seen such an extravagant earring."

"That's a clothes hanger, Eda. It's for hanging clothes," Ardyn said with an amused smirk.

Eda glanced between him and the hanger. "You hang clothes from your ears? Humans are weird," she said, trying to fit it on her ear.

"You can have my trash," Luz said, not looking up from the pamphlet before she read something that made her eyes widen. "Whoa! Did you know that Hexside was built on the bones of its rival school?"

"Wait, what happened to the first school?" Musashi asked, confused by what Luz was saying. "Did it burn to the ground?"

"Yeah, after Hexside conquered it!" Luz exclaimed, showing off the pamphlet to Ardyn. Ardyn leaned in and was shocked to see a picture of a much younger Principal Bump when he was just a student standing on various Glandus students, being cheered on by fellow Hexside students. The school burned behind them.

"Bu- Wh- huh-? I've got so many questions that I'm sure I don't want the answers to," Ardyn said, deeply disturbed about the ethics of the school. Seriously, how was this even allowed?!

Eda, who was now wearing two clothing hangers as earrings and looking in a mirror, said to the kids, "Yes I know all these things. I went there. It was the most harrowing period of my life." She posed and said to her reflection. "Oh, hello. I think I might find myself a hot young man tonight. Momma hasn't had a good time in years."

"Ugh! Come on!" Ardyn said with a cringe as he KNEW what she was talking about. "I don't need to hear that!"

Ignoring Eda's comments, Luz closed the pamphlet and sighed dreamingly. "Can you imagine it! Me, in the halls of Hexside, studying with Willow and Gus and maybe even Amity!"

At that very moment, the Hispanic girl jumped from the couch. "Oh crap you're right! I almost forgot!" Luz said as the two teens ran out of the house. However, Luz ran back and reopened the door.

"I love you guys!" She said to Eda, Romani, Musashi, and King.

"And I love you, Lu-!" Hooty was cut off when Luz slammed the door again.

Entering the market area, Luz started running around, with Ardyn trying to keep up with her. "Luz! Hang on!" He called out to her, but the high-spirited girl did not stop as she looked around for the green-haired girl.

"Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity. Got to find that-" Luz stopped in the middle of the market and looked around the many weird booths for Amity. Ardyn was able to catch up to her when Luz spotted the girl in question.

Standing alone, Amity was outside of her school uniform and was wearing more casual-looking clothes. Those clothes consisted of a short black sleeve dress with orchid leggings and black point shoes with golden crescent moon buckles. Around her neck, she wore an amulet with an orchid gemstone.

"There she is. Come on, Ardyn," Luz said, grabbing her best friend's wrist and pulling him along with her. "Hey, Amity! Ardyn and Luz are finally here!"

They were just about to reach the girl when out of nowhere, Edric and Emira suddenly appeared in front of the two best friends. "Hey there!" They exclaimed, startling Luz to the point that she fell back into her friend, causing the two of them to fall to the ground.

Edric and Emira laughed as Amity walked over. "Edric! Emira! Stop bothering them!" She scolded her older siblings, pushing them away from her friends. Amity then turned to them and helped Luz and Ardyn up to their feet. Offering them her hand, which they accepted. "Sorry, about that you two. They insisted on coming for some reason."

Emira came up to her sister and started squishing Amity's face. "Because we love you, baby sister!" She said teasingly. Amity shoved Emira off.

"They've been extra protective and nice towards me to make up for the library incident," Amity explained.

Edric then leaned in close to Amity's cheek from under her. "And we still apologize every day," he said before Amity shoved Edric away. Ardyn was chuckling before he just realized something.

"Hey, I just realized something. Usually when you three are around, Ryker would be nearby. Have you-" Before Ardyn could say anything else, he was caught in a headlock and was getting a noogie from Ryker Goldmark. Holding him in a lock, Ryker gloats.

"I'm disappointed in you Ardyn. Shouldn't you always be aware of your surroundings?"

"Shouldn't you know to never to put someone in a headlock if they can do this?" Ardyn asked as he drives his elbow into Ryker's stomach. After breaking free, Ardyn sweeps his legs under Ryker to knock him down. Ryker sat up with a chuckle.

"Got to admit, that packed a wallop." Ryker said as Ardyn chuckled as he helps him up.

"Yeah, but I got to admit though, you're pretty good at sneaking up to people." Ardyn said with Emira walking up to Ryker and hooking her arm with his.

"That's my boyfriend for ya. He's good at a lot of stuff… especially the REAL good ones." Emira said sensually as she gives Ryker a quick kiss on the cheek, who blushed a bit with a small smile as he rubbed the back of head.

…

…

…

"HUH?!" The two human teens said in surprise as Ardyn spoke up. "Since when did you two hook up?!"

"A few days since the library incident. Ryker was a sweetie when he asked me out." Emira said as she begun to snuggle against Ryker.

"Emira, stop it," Amity said. She then reached into her book bag and pulled Luz's book out. "In any case, here's your book."

"Thanks," Luz said, taking the book and smiling at Amity. "So, what did you think of it?"

"It was... fine," Amity said, looking away with a blush. Luz looked at her book and realized that something was inside of it. She opened it to that page and was surprised yet tried to hold in her laugh. Ardyn looked and pulled a drawing out of the book.

"So fine you drew yourself with Malingale the Mysterious Soothsayer?" He asked, trying to hold in his laughter too as he pulled out the drawing. The drawing had Amity with said character, with a speech bubble that said: "this love is forbidden!" on it. Seeing that she had forgotten to take out the drawing, Amity blushed again and drew a purple magic circle, destroying the drawing with her magic. Ardyn snickered a bit, which made Amity redder than an apple.

"This is great! Maybe we could even start an Azura club at school when we're classmates!" Luz exclaimed excitedly, pulling out the pamphlet.

"Maybe, but only if you get past the placement exam," Amity said.

"Wait, there's an exam?" Ardyn asked, looking really scared. "Do we…have to study. Cause if that's the case… We're screwed."

"No, no. Normally, to be in any class, you need to take a placement exam and prove that you've mastered two spells. However, they increased it to four because of… 'Certain Incidents.' and they must be spells that are solely from the Boiling Isles." shows the requirements on the pamphlet," Amity explained, taking the pamphlet from Luz, who was also worried. The witch turned it over to show the requirements. "I know you and Ardyn have your light, power, and fire spell. Uh, do you know anything else?"

"I know the illusion spell," Ardyn said as Amity nodded and turned to Luz who looked a little troubled.

"Uh…." Luz looked frightened as she tried to come up with an answer.

Both Emira and Edric appeared out from behind Amity, in the creepy way only twins could do. "Quit giving her a hard time, Mittens," the sister said.

"Yeah, of course she knows four spells. Right, Luz?" asked the brother.

Luz glanced at Ardyn, who looked at her, waiting for her to tell them that she hadn't tried learning any new spells. However, instead, she lied. "Yeah. 'Course I know four spells!" She said with a nervous laugh.

"Luz, what are you–" Ardyn was interrupted when Luz wrapped her arm around his neck and used her other hand to cover her mouth.

"And it's all thanks to my best friend in the whole world, Ardyn," she said, nervously smiling as Ardyn looked annoyed at her. He licked her hand, making Luz winch until she let him go. "Ewww! Ardyn!" She wiped her hand against her shirt. "Did you really have to do that?"

"Does your hand really have to smell like…Fish Tacos?" Ardyn asked, glaring at her.

"My hand does not smell like fish tacos," Luz insisted. However, to make sure she was right, she sniffed her own hand, and was surprised at what she smelled. "Oh my God, I've got to wash my hands more often."

Blushing, Amity held in the giggle she felt coming up as she watched the two friends interacting. Then she got back to the conversation and turned to a page in the pamphlet. "Because if you don't, they'll put you in the baby class," she said, handing Luz the pamphlet back. The page for the baby class showed a baby chewing on a toy cube with the symbols of each of the covens.

"Oooh! Brain idea!" Edric started, walking over to the two friends, and kneeling in front of Amity. As it turned out, Emira was thinking the same thing as her brother, so she leaned on the back of Amity's head. Trapping the poor girl between herself and Edric.

"What if we all trained together? We could show off what we know!" She spoke. That got Amity to look to the side with a blush, silently hoping that Ardyn and Luz wouldn't come along. The last time the boy hung out with her twins was a disaster, but Luz joining in would have been worse.

"Don't worry. I'll make sure they're on their best behavior." Ryker said as Amity sighed in relief. "What do you say, you two?"

"Huh, that could be cool–" Ardyn was once again interrupted by Luz. Only this time she jumped in front of him instead of putting her hands near his mouth.

"Uh, actually, we have other training plans in a very faraway place that we have to go to right now," she said, looking like a nervous wreck as she pretended to walk away. "Bye!" Luz grabbed Ardyn's hand and left. Dragging him along as she ran away from Amity, Ryker and her twins.

"Ow! Luz! Let go of me! You're going to rip off my arm," Ardyn yelled, before finally getting his hand back. Together, they ran through the market towards the town exit.

"I'm sorry, Ardyn, but I need you so bad!" She exclaimed. The way she worded it caused Ardyn to blush. And it was something that Luz caught on too, and she stopped running to face him. Her face reddened with her own blush. "But not like that! I need your help to learn my fourth spell," Luz said, looking away in embarrassment.

With the misunderstanding cleared up, Ardyn cleared his throat and said, "But how," he asked. "Every time I tried to draw the other coven glyphs; they didn't work."

After Ardyn learned the power and Illusion spell, he tried to draw the illusion glyph for him and Luz so that they could use it for themselves. However, every time they did, it failed. Meaning that the symbols that were on little papers were not glyphs and that his magic copied the powers of the Coven.

"Then this is something I have to learn myself, Ardyn," she said. Seeing how confused he was, Luz sighed and began to explain herself. "You're getting so much stronger Ardyn and learning so much magic. More so than I am. Well, that changes now. I'm going to learn new spells, and Eda is going to help me because she's my teacher!"

Back at the Owl House, Eda hummed to herself while in the kitchen as Romani was enjoying a cup of coffee and Musashi with tea. She had everything she needed to cook. She had a small electric stove, a pot of boiling water, bottles of random potions, fruits, and vegetables, and her right hand detached to hold up a book called "Bending Ingredients to Your Will."

"Wow, a surprisingly peaceful domestic moment," she said to herself, enjoying the peace and quiet. It reminded her of the time when she didn't have kids to look after. "When will it be ruined?"

Suddenly there was a slam when the front door opened, followed by Luz screaming, "Edaaaa!"

"There it is."

"Y'know you should have seen this coming." Romani said with a smile as Musashi chuckled.

"Oh hush."

"Eda, Eda! Eda!" Luz yelled, twirling around as she entered the room. She nearly fell over, but Ardyn quickly caught her around the sides. Preventing her from falling. He pulled her back up.

"Are you okay?" He asked, worriedly.

Luz sighed in relief. "Thanks, Ardyn," she said, hugging him, and hugging him close. Ardyn immediately blushed from this action.

"If you two are going to be all lovey-dovey, you might as well take it in the other room," Eda said, smirking as Romani and Musashi chuckled a little from her teasing the kids. This caused the two best friends to turn as red as a tomato, and they pulled out of each other's grasp. Still blushing with embarrassment, Luz turned to Eda as stiff as a board.

"Eda! You must teach me new spells right now!"

"Sorry, Luz! These vegetables won't cook themselves... yet." Eda said, picking up a clear bottle of a green position.

"What do you mean?" Musashi asked as Eda poured the position onto the vegetables and fruit. The potion soaked into the food, and they started to glow a green glow. Then, suddenly, they all grow arms and legs. They stood up and turned to Eda.

"Alright, everybody in the pot!" the Owl Lady commanded, pointing to the pot. But the vegetables screamed and ran away for their lives. Ardyn pulled Luz aside as they jumped down from the table and ran out of the kitchen the same way they came in. The two friends/crushes, male Witch, and Servant turned to Eda, who was just as shocked as they were.

"Why do I always think that's going to work?" She asked, frowning.

"Eda, this is serious," Ardyn said, walking up to her with Luz. "If Luz doesn't know four spells, she's not going to get into decent classes at Hexside."

"Can't you just show her the other spells you know, Ardyn?" Eda asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because it doesn't work, and he's not my teacher!" Luz exclaimed, almost shouting, which startled the Owl Lady. "Ardyn has been able to pick up new spells wherever he goes, but I'm still stuck with the only spell you've been able to teach me. Do you know what that spell is? The light spell!" The young girl pulled one of her three glyphs out and activated each one. Causing the papers to crumple with the light glyph turning into a bright light that made Ardyn, Romani, Musashi and Eda shield their eyes, the fire glyph made a fireball, and the power glyph increased her strength as she lifted the nearby table without trouble. "But at the end of the day, that's the only three spell I know. Ardyn knows like…four spells, right?"

"Yeah, it's four." Ardyn nodded.

"Huh...I didn't think Bump would up the requirement for the advance class... Anyway Luz whose fault is that?" Eda asked, acting all high and mighty.

"Yours!" Luz pointed.

Eda was silent for a moment. "Hah! Yep. Got me there."

"Just teach me another spell now. Any spell will do! One can be the worst spell to know or it can be the darkest evil," Luz said with a deadly serious expression.

Eda thought for a moment. "Well, I have been researching my texts on wild magic, but I'm much too busy right now," she said, picking up the book from her severed hand.

"Doing what?" Ardyn asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh… cooking this book," Eda said, and threw the book in the pot. She looked back at Ardyn and saw him staring at her with a deadpan expression. "Oh, don't look at me like that."

Ardyn sighed in frustration and shook his head. "Listen, Eda, when we decided to live with you, you promised that we'd learn magic from you," he said, looking her directly in the eyes. "That you would teach Luz to be a witch and how to control my powers. We've been here for about a month, and you've still yet to really teach us how to do magic or where magic came from. It's time for you to step up and teach Luz something."

"Hmm…no." And with that, Eda just went back to cooking the book.

Ardyn couldn't believe what he just heard, and neither could Luz, Romani, and Musashi. They've worked with Eda and done everything she's asked of them for a month. They've been through so much, and yet Eda still wouldn't teach Luz a single spell. But then Ardyn remembered that Eda didn't know how to teach them magic. She didn't even graduate from school! The only spell they were able to learn from her was because of Luz's photo. But that was it. What was the point of learning the 'the Most Powerful Witch on the Boiling Isles' if she couldn't or in this case, wouldn't teach them her knowledge? That's when Ardyn's eyes widened, and he grew a mischievous smirk.

"Alright, I guess you're right, Eda," he said, much to Luz's shock, however she raised a brow when he gave a quick wink towards her. "After all, it must be really hard for you…being the second-best witch."

Romani and Musashi spit out their drinks as they coughed and clean their mouths from what Ardyn just said. Eda's eyes widened and turned to him with a glare.

"What did you say?"

"Oh, I'm just saying that you're not as powerful as you say you are," Ardyn said, getting a nervous look from Luz, Romani, and Musashi.

"Oh damn." Romani said to himself

"Uh, Ardyn," she said, shaking his shoulder.

"Oh! And why is that?" Eda asked angrily, glaring at him after being insulted.

"The first most powerful witch wouldn't have a reason not to train an apprentice," Ardyn said with a smirk, as he started to explain himself to his aunt. "They're already at the top of their game, with no one to challenge them. Meaning they would want to train an apprentice and teach them all the knowledge they know so that their legacy lives on after them. To make them the best witch." He walked up to the Owl Lady and stood in front of her. Looking up at her glaring face with a smug expression. "So, ask yourself this, Eda: How would it look if one of your apprentices got thrown into the baby class? If you ask me, that will look poorly on the reputation of 'the most powerful witch' on the Boiling Isles."

The kitchen sat in silence as Ardyn and Eda faced each other, while Luz, Romani, and Musashi looked at her friend with her jaw dropped. "Oh snap," Luz and Musashi whispered, the teen placing her hands on her cheeks.

Grabbing her severed hand and reattaching it, Eda turned away and thought for a moment. "Hmm. You've weaponized my pride and used it against me. Well played," she said with an impressed smirk. Eda then turned back to the kids with a grin on her face. "Well, in that case, this looks like a job for magic boot camp."

It was at that moment that King opened the back door and entered the house. "Did someone say boot camp? I agree to run it. We'll rise at dawn!" King said as he climbed up Ardyn until he reached his shoulder. "You'll carry me on your back as I yell hateful things about your performance!" He raised one fist in the air. Ardyn smiled and just scratched behind his ear, making him give off cute sounds as he kicked one of his legs back like a dog.

"Nope. You'll have no part in this. Luz needs to focus, and I can't have her go all weird when you do something adorable," Eda said, pointing at King.

"I am not adorable!" King yelled, stomping his foot on Ardyn's shoulder.

"Awww, is my little buddy angry?" Ardyn asked playfully as pulled King into a hug, which he tried to escape from.

"Ardyn, stop!" He whined.

"Aww, he's like an angry slice of pie," Luz cooed.

"Hey! I was going to say that!" Musashi said with a grin as King got so angry that he squealed, pulled himself out of Ardyn's hug, and landed on the floor. He then left angrily, slamming the door behind him. However, it reopened. He slammed it again, and it still reopened. Ardyn then calmly closed it for it, and it stayed closed.

"Musashi? You think you can look after King and Hooty to make sure that they don't blow house up." Ardyn asked the Servant of the Sword, who nodded at his request.

"Now, no time to waste. You'll have to follow my teaching exactly. We got to go somewhere special," Eda told her students.

"Yes!" Luz said, getting excited.

"A place where magic energy just flows," Romani said as Eda nodded.

"Yes!" Ardyn said, getting excited.

"A place like…"

"...the Knee!"

It only took a few minutes for Eda and Romani to get them to their destination, and it was unlike anything Ardyn and Luz could have even imagined. The Knee was, as its name said, was one of the knees of the Titan that made the Boiling Isles. The right knee of the corpse to be exact. It was high above sea level that it formed into a snowy mountain biome. As far as the eye could see, it was covered in frost and snow with a forest of pine trees

"YEEEES!" Luz cheered, her cry echoing across the Isles, as she grabbed Ardyn's body and pulled him into an excited hug. Ardyn laughed and patted her head, before the three of them started traveling up the mountain.

"Ah, I remember the Knee," Eda said as she led the group. The five of them were wearing winter clothing for the weather. "Anna and I came here once to take down a gang of bandits."

"Wait, really?" Ardyn asked, walking alongside her with a curious expression.

"Yep. We were taking a bounty hunting job together, so we laid a trap." Eda smiled as she thought back to that mission.

Flashback

The plan Anna and Eda came up with was simple: bait the bandits into coming out and then take them down. And they would do that by pretending to be a married couple that was just crossing the mountains, even though they were both 18 years old. Unfortunately for Anna, after losing in a game of rock paper scissors, Eda tricked her into a dress and bonnet. Lets just say that Anna does NOT like dresses and bonnets

And so, there they were, walking through the snow together with their arms looped. Both were wearing cloaks to hide their heads. Eda wore a brown cloak and used the hood to hide her bright orange hair. Anna was wearing the bonnet and the dress to act as her wife, but over it, she wore a sage green cloak with a falcon pin holding it around her neck.

They walked together in peace for about an hour before their prey came. Bursting up from the treetops, the bandits rode on their staffs and flew towards the couple. Landing on the ground, they surrounded them. The goons aimed their staff at the couple, while the leader walked up to them.

"Pardon me, ladies. But I believe you're carrying something of mine," he said, swaggering as he approached them.

"Sorry, but we didn't steal anything," Eda said, smiling sheepishly as she tried to stay in character.

Bandit snickered at that comment. "You've heard of us, right? You didn't think that it would be safe for you just because it's just the two of you? Now, how about you hand over everything you have." He looked at Anna as he looked at her family's pin and smirked. "And maybe let me have a little alone time with the Bronwyn."

Eda smirked. Oh, if only they knew what they were getting into. "I wouldn't recommend that," she warned the bandits. "The Bronwyn are magically powerful, but I married a powerful b***h."

Hearing this, Anna lifted her head and looked at her, falsely appalled. "How can you say that? How can you shame me in front of new people?" She asked her 'wife'.

As the bandits all looked at the arguing couple in confusion, Eda said to her 'wife', "I could make you prettier if I could."

Anna was mockingly shocked. "You are not the woman I met a year ago."

Suddenly and as quick as a speeding bullet, Anna calls her Leviathan Axe to her hands and conjured ice in between them and Eda aimed her staff at the nearest bandit. The two parties stood in a standoff as Anna pulled the bonnet off her head, revealing her long, brown hair.

"Now I'd think really hard about your next move," she said. "You been terrorizing this Knee awhile now... folks 'round here wouldn't mind a corpse of you. Now you can come with us and stand trial, because if your fingers start glowing, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will cut off what make you a-."

"Those were the times," Eda said, smiling at the fond memory of Anna. If only she could have kept their friendship together instead of tearing it apart. She turned back to her students as they kept walking up the trail on the edge of the Knee. "The earliest witches came to the Knee to develop their magic, drawn to its natural power. And it was here that Anna would come to learn her magic."

The Owl Lady stopped when they reached their destination. Ardyn looked, and his eyes widened in amazement when his eye laid upon the ruins of an old castle in the snow.

"This place is amazing," Ardyn said with a smile.

"Not as much as you," Luz secretly said to herself. However, it was heard by Ardyn.

"Huh?" He looked over at Luz, who immediately turned her head in embarrassment.

"Dear Titan, you both like that of a married couple." Romani said as the two teens turned towards him with a full blush on their faces, however his face grew serious as he pointed is staff to something off to the side. "Though, while what Eda says is true about the Knee, it's not without its dangers,"

When Ardyn and Luz looked, they were scared and gasped. Chewing on the carcass of an animal was a huge yeti-like monster that had its body covered by white fur. Its claws, which have no fur, were purple, and it had many light-yellow sharp teeth that could be seen when its mouth opened to rip out chunks of flesh. Inside its mouth, it was revealed that it had two blue eyes on the gums.

"Eda, Romani what the hell is that thing?" Ardyn gulped, watching the monster gnawing on a bone that had some meat.

"The Slitherbeast! Don't worry; if you don't mess with him, he won't mess with you," Eda said, walking away.

Ardyn and Romani followed her, but Luz stayed behind and looked at the Slitherbeast. Thinking it wouldn't do anything, the two girls put their hands on their cheeks and blew a raspberry at the Slitherbeast. The monster grabbed its meal and bit down on it. Cutting the dead animal in half as blood splattered everywhere. This made Luz and Musashi yelp before she ran off. The Slitherbeast sniffed in the direction where that noise came from.

Soon, the trio reached an area of the ruins with various-sized rocks around them and several broken pieces of architecture.

"Here's where we'll set up shop," Eda said.

"I'll definitely learn my fourth spell here!" Luz said, running off with her arms spread out. Ardyn smiled and followed her as she looked around the ruins. "Gorgeous views, magic in the air. And best of all, we're completely alone!"

Ardyn was about to respond when he noticed something in the corner of his eye, as a pink light illuminated him. Turning his head to the left, Ardyn's eyes widened when a pink fireball came flying at him. "Hit the deck!" He yelled, tackling Luz out of the way before the fireball hit the spot Ardyn had been standing in. Taking cover behind some rocks.

"Kids! What happened?!" Eda exclaimed, as she and Romani were running over to her with their staffs drawn. Ardyn jumped out over the rocks they fell behind with his Leviathan Axe drawn. Luz also popped up to see who had attacked them.

Only to gasp in horror when she saw Amity and her older brother and sister with Ryker and Charlotte Corday sitting next to an open fire pit. "Sorry, whoever's over there!" Amity shouted, holding a light brown wand in one hand called a training wand. It had a thicker, darker brown handle and a gray cylinder connecting the handle to the stick with a screen displaying a battery.

"Hey, Ami-AAH!" Ardyn was suddenly pulled back down by Luz.

The young girl hid her face with the paws of her animal fur hat. "Forget teaching me a spell. Just make me disappear." She groaned in embarrassment.

Ardyn lifted her hat, uncovering her eyes as Eda said, "Well, okay, but I've got a 60/40 record of making you re-appear."

Ardyn and Romani looked at her strangely before Eda finally got what Luz was talking about.

"Oh! You meant... ah, never mind."

Looking over the top of the rock, Ardyn saw Ryker, Charlotte Corday, Edric, and Emira waving at him, with their sister just standing beside them.

"Hey, Ardyn!" Edric said.

"Hey, Luz!" Emira said.

"Hey, guys!" Ardyn said, waving back at them. He looked to Luz, who was still hiding. "You know they saw you, right?"

"Who are they?" Eda asked before she notices Ryker as her eyes widen. "Hey is that-"

Luz grabbed Eda's jacket. "Be cool! If they know I haven't mastered four spells, they'll think I belong in the baby class!" She exclaimed. Ardyn would have said it wasn't likely they'd be that cruel. However, he remembered that the Blights were kind of jerks to them in the past. But after what Ryker told him and Luz… They would only do some light teasing and that's it.

"What's that about the baby class?" Amity asked, walking toward them.

"Only that it's for babies and Luz here clearly isn't a baby," Eda said, patting the heads of her students. She then whispered to a glaring Luz and a deadpanning Ardyn. "Nailed it."

This caused Romani to facepalm as he dragged Eda away from the group.

"Amity!" Luz exclaimed. She tried to jump over the rock but ended up slipping on the snow and landed on the ground. Still trying to play it cool, she posed on the ground.

Ardyn smiled and rolled his eyes at her. "What are you doing here?" He asked Amity

"I'm here to train. I'm trying to beat Ed and Em's highest score on the exam," Amity told him.

Emira popped up from behind Amity and said, "Aw, Mittens. That's impossible!"

Edric also popped up from behind Amity and said, "She still needs to use a training wand to learn new spells." Amity glared at him. "So, what are you two working on? Something powerful?"

"Yup! Powerful spells! I'm working' on one that's so crazy! Eda's an incredible teacher," Luz said, but it was obviously a lie.

"Ardyn! Luz!" Cue Eda and Romani walking back over. Carrying a basket of snowballs. "I shall now teach you how to identify different types of snow—by taste!" She exclaimed enthusiastically, holding out a snowball.

"Eda, I'm not going to eat snow," Ardyn said.

"Oh, come on! If you want to learn wild magic, this is how you do it. By doing weird stuff. Now eat the snow," Eda said, shoving it in Ardyn's face.

"No." Ardyn pushed her hand back.

"Do it."

"No."

"Do it."

"No."

"Do it."

"No."

"Stop it, Eda." Romani spoke up as Luz and Amity laughed at what was happening. It was an odd sight to see, but they thought it was cute.

"Is this some kind of... special magic?" Emira asked as Edric, Ryker, and Charlotte shrugged.

Recomposing herself, Amity cleared her throat. "Ahem. I don't think the Owl Lady wants to show us any of her powerful spells," she said, before walking away and leaving.

Which Luz was thankful for because Eda had stuffed her mouth full of snowballs. She pointed to herself and tried to say something but ended up swallowing the snowballs. "Oooh. Brain freeze! Brain freeze!" Eda exclaimed, grabbing her head as her students looked at her in annoyance and Romani to sigh.

"See you around, humans! Good luck with your, uh, training," Emira said, as her brother picked up a clump of snow and was going to try and lick it. However, his sister knocked it out of his hand and dragged him away.

"Oh, and hey!" Ardyn called out to the twins, making them stop to look at him. "I've got my eye on you two." If they did anything to hurt or humiliate Amity, he was going to be on them like that of a bad itch.

"Pierce, am I right?" Luz said, laughing nervously. Emira and Edric glanced at one another, before walking off. Once they were gone, Luz turned back to her teacher. "Eda! Can you please take this seriously?"

"You need to take me seriously. Go taste snow without my guidance. See where it gets you," Eda said to her students, crossing her arms and looking away.

Ardyn rolled his eyes, but when he looked at Luz, he saws she was looking down at the ground. Sad. Ardyn walked up to her and wrapped his arm around her to cheer his friend up. "Don't worry, Luz," he said, getting a smile from her. "We'll get you that fourth spell."

Luz smiled at him. "You want to learn new spells too, don't you?"

"Yes. Yes, I do."

Eda ruffled Luz's hair. "If you listen to me, soon you'll be doing stuff like that," she said pointing to something behind the two kids. Ardyn and Luz turned to watch Ryker, Charlotte, and the Blights siblings. Amity was reading from a book called Magic 101, which she had in her left hand. With her right hand, she then aimed her training wand at a tree and drew a pink spell circle with it. The spell circle turned into a fireball that she shot and destroyed a tree nearby. The battery light on the training wand flashed, but it was still in the green.

"And it won't be with some wacky training wand; it'll be the real deal," Eda said, turning the kids back to her. "The two of you have the potential to be great witches, but talent without training is meaningless. That's why you must trust me, okay?"

Ardyn looked at Luz who looked at him with a worried expression. The Hybrid wasn't too sure about Eda's method of training the two of them, but she was their teacher and promised to help them.

"Okay. We trust you," Ardyn said, Luz nodding.

"We've covered snow, so now it's on to smelling moss," Eda said, pulling moss out of her pocket. "Now the trick is…" and just about she was about to put it in her nostril, Romani stopped her from doing it.

"How about we let them learn another way…. other than moss?" Romani asked as Eda stopped and turned back to her students. With the moss in her nose, it looked like she had boogers.

"Ah, want to get into the advanced stuff, huh? Alright, I want the two of you to go around and identify three different rocks…by smell."

"Should have seen that coming," Ardyn said, before he and Luz turned and walked off to try and find some rocks. Together they walked around the ruins of the castle, secretly enjoying their time together as they looked around. Ardyn saw a rock and picked it up. He brought it to his nose and sniffed it.

"Smells like a rock," he said, tossing it to the ground.

"Ardyn, do you really think this is going to work?" Luz asked, picking up another rock and sniffing it.

"Hard to say," Ardyn said, sitting down on a bench. "You and I don't really know how to be witches. Magic doesn't come to us as it does with everyone else. And there are things I'm trying to figure out as well."

"It's not a simple as you may think." Ardyn and Luz looked up to see Ryker sitting in a tree above them and Charlotte underneath the tree. "It's a very dangerous learn magic via nature without caution. No one know what will happen."

"Ryker? Charlotte?" Ardyn called up to him. "What are you doing here?"

Ryker jumped down from the tree and he and Charlotte walked up to them. "Ever since we had to leave the temple, everyone in the family's been exploring the island, trying to find a new home that's away from the Emperor's Coven," he said as he looked around the area "So, what are you two doing here?"

"We're trying to learn magic. Eda and Romani brought us out here to teach Luz one more spell for school," Ardyn said.

"And you're doing that by licking rocks?" Charlotte asked

"Yes."

"Gross." Ryker said with his tongue out.

"Oh, Ryker! Can you give us any tips on finding rocks that smell different?" Luz asked.

"Uh, ok. Find some that are different colors," Ryker said, shrugging.

Luz thought about that. "Go on…."

"I think that's about it." Charlotte said as Ardyn groaned in frustration.

"This is ridiculous! There's no way we're going to learn wild sniffing rocks," The Hybrid said as Ryker scratch his chin.

"Maybe not, but I see what your teacher's trying to teach you. It's the same thing my grandmother: Alice tried to teach me," Ryker said as he swipes his hand to allow magic to form around it. "Magic is a gift from the island. It surrounds us in every shape and form."

"And let me guess, 'it's minds and binds the galaxy together'?" Ardyn asked sarcastically.

"I wouldn't say galaxy, but life is what allows magic to exist." Charlotte said as Ryker grabbed his staff and drew a circle on the ground. "The reason we use spell circles is because that's the nature of the world. The island gives us magic, and by casting spells, we return the magic to the island."

"But what do we do," Luz asked.

"Simple, make a connection with the island," Ryker said, before turning and leaving with Charlotte. Disappearing in the forest as Ardyn and Luz look at one another before turning back to see it they can learn from nature.

And so, both friends continued to do the tasks their teacher set them out to do. When they were finished, they returned to a small patch surrounded by the ruins. Eda and Romani waiting for them at their campsite as they were sitting at a fire pit with a cup of hot coffee. Behind them was a monstrous-looking tent that was stitched together, with horns and teeth.

"Ugh. Okay. We've identified the smells of three different rocks, sorted all the twigs from big to small, and found your glove, and your hand," Luz said, out of breath. Ardyn pulled out the glove and lifted it off Eda's detached hand.

"Here's your hand back," Ardyn said, handing it to Eda… Oh god someone just kill me please.

"Ah, I was wondering where that thing went," she said, screwing her hand back on.

"I think still need to put one some superglue for that." Romani said with a grin on his face.

"Not going to happen, Romani." Eda said as Ardyn walked over to a log and sat down on it. "So, do you feel connected to the island?"

"Nope." Ardyn said while he shook his head with Luz copying him.

"Didn't even hesitate with that response." Romani said

"Nope."

As Ardyn talked with Eda and Romani, Luz looked over to her right. She watched as Amity trained with Edric and Emira in combat. Amity sent a jet of fire at Edric with the training wand, but he dodged it. Emira summoned an arm of snow, but her sister blocked and destroyed it with a shield. Amity dispelled the shield and noticed Luz was watching her. This made her blush, but she waved at Luz. Distracted, she was open for Edric to make Amity sink in the snow until only her hand sticking out of the snow. This didn't go unnoticed as Ryker conjures a pile of snow and slams it on Edric as he has one arm sticking out. This caused the others to laugh at what they were seeing.

Luz giggled at this. "She's pretty awesome," she said, catching Ardyn's attention.

"Yeah, she is," he said, smiling at Amity as she pulled herself out of the snow.

Noticing where their attention was at, Eda stood up and placed her hands on their shoulders. "Hey. I know my lessons seem weird…"

"Try super weird," Ardyn said. Eda, annoyed, used a snow spell to dump snow on his head. Luz giggled as Ardyn glared at his teacher.

"But this is what wild magic is all about! Making a connection with nature. The earliest witches understood that. Human witches need to understand it too. You want to learn a fourth spell?"

"With all my heart," Luz said, putting on an adorable look of determination.

"Then you both have to learn from the island," she told the two kids. "And to do that, you'll have to clear your minds and let the island speak to you."

In Ardyn's mind, he really couldn't help but think of this as being traded in the Force and Eda being a knock-off version of Yoda. "So, what do we do, Master Eda," he asked.

"First, let's start with you, Luz," Eda said as she guided Luz to a ridge and made her sit down on a stone. "Now look."

Luz did so, and her eyes widened in astonishment, as the ridge overlooked the Titan that made up the Boiling Isles. Its ribs were nearly the same height as the Knee, and its Skull was towering even from the opposite end of the Isles. Ardyn stared out into the horizon with wide eyes as the wind blew past his hair.

"It's…beautiful…"

"I'm glad you think so, Ardyn, because you're going to be doing the same thing Luz is doing," said Eda, placing a hand on her nephew's shoulder. "You both will have to think about what the island is trying to tell you."

She left Luz, leading Ardyn away to find him a place to connect with the Titan. Luz took a deep breath and turned back to the Titan "Alright, Luz. Look. Look with everything you've got. Focus."

But then she raised her right hand and spoke through it. "Focus? On what? On you'll be stuck in the baby class and Ardyn leaving you behind?" Luz's Right Hand asked.

Luz gasped. "No! Don't think like that!"

Luz's Left Hand then said, "Face it, you'll never get your fourth spell following Eda's lessons."

"Silence, hands!"

She snapped out of her 'argument' when a crashing sound got her attention. It was Amity, destroying a pillar with her training wand.

"Amity! Dinner's ready!" Called her sister.

"I caught a bat!" Edric added.

"Edric, don't eat that," Amity said as she walked back to her family's campsite.

From her place on the ridge, Luz watched as Amity placed her book and wand into her tent before walking off. Leaving them completely unattended. Seeing this, Luz started to get an idea in her head.

"If I want to be in the same class as Amity, I'm going to need to learn magic like Amity," she said.

Luz's left hand said, "Great work, Luz!"

"Shh! I don't need your validation."

Meanwhile, Ardyn was sitting on his own. Eda had him sit on a hill that overlooked their campsite, but he was still having to face the titan. "Alright, Boiling Isles. You're like the Force, I guess. And I'm your Luke Skywalker…. only with magic, so teach me!"

He stared out at the horizon and sat down on the log. Determined to learn magic and help Luz. And… maybe win her heart, but that's not important right now! He stayed on this spot and waited for the Titan to tell him something and wasn't going to stop until he got the first spell. However, as the day started to turn into night, Ardyn groaned in frustration.

"This is getting me nowhere!" He complained, falling back onto the ground. The snow underneath him crunched as he looked up at the night sky. The star started to become visible. "Magic is everywhere, and it's a gift, but how do you give people that gift? And how am I supposed to know what the titan is telling me? It's a corpse!"

As the moon climbed into the sky, Ardyn sat up and looked down at the Titan again. "How am I supposed to magic if I don't even know how to become a witch?" He asked to himself.

"Not all answers are easy to find..." A voice spoke up as Ardyn turned to where Ryker was standing as he walked over to where Ardyn is. "But it never hurts to try to seek them."

"That's true." Ardyn said as he notices someone missing. "Hey? Where's that maid of yours? Charlotte?"

"Sent her home to take care of my grandmother." Ryker said as the two were silent for a few second before the Goldmark teen had an idea. "Hey! Why don't I tell you a story to pass the time?"

"…Eh sure. Why not?" Ardyn said as Ryker created a stone chair via Construction magic. As he took his seat, the Goldmark begins his tale.

"A long time ago, before Emperor Belos took over, The Boiling Isles was a collection of towns and city states. Bonesburrow was a monarchy ruled by the ruling family of the time: The Goldmark Family, with the assistance of another family that acted as the guardians: The Bronwyn Family. They were benevolent rulers and under their rule it was the greatest city state in the boiling isles. When Belos came preaching his status as a messiah chosen by the titan, showing the 'dangers of wild magic', and the need for the coven system, my great grandfather King Octavian Goldmark denounced his claims and accused Belos of being power hungry fraud while the Bronwyn hunted him down to stop his so called truth. Maybe plagues happened in Bonesburrow over the years, with Belos claiming that the Titan was punishing him for his defiance, but Octavian would not yield as he, my family, and the Bronwyn Family did everything to keep things from getting out of control with the residents." Ryker said as Ardyn looked at him surprise.

"Huh? Never thought that your great grandad was a bit of a badass." Ardyn said as Ryker gave off a quick laugh.

"That's right… However, one day Belos gave him a message from the titan if he had not converted and submitted in the next day, he will meet his doom. Octavian didn't believe it but just to make sure he sent his son and his family away. The next day the palace exploded and everyone in it perished. This was the key event that instantly made Belos the emperor of the Boiling Isles. Not only did my grandfather had no choice but to convert and submit to him but all the other city states after witnessing the demise of the greatest leader in the boiling isles perish the way he did bowed and submitted to Belos." Ryker continued as Ardyn felt sorry for him, knowing that his family was nearly brought to its end if it wasn't for the decision of Ryker's Great Grandfather of sending his family away to save them.

"So… What happen then?" Ardyn asked as Ryker looked at him for a moment before he reached for something that was on his middle finger. It was a golden band with a sapphire gemstone in the center of it with carving on the side of the band, but Ardyn couldn't decipher it. As Ryker took off the ring, a puff of blue smoke burst around him. He didn't look any different except for one thing that stood out. His ears… are slightly pointed. "R-Ryker…Are you-"

"That's right, I'm a hybrid, just like you." Ryker said with a small smile as a forlorn look appears on his face. "My father Alex fell into a rift to earth one day, fell in love with a human named Megan Hathaway, and had a son together. After 8 years my mom died of due to degrading health involving a neural disease and with Eda Clawthorne and Anna Bronwyn helping us, my dad and I returned to the isles. My old man returned to working in emperor's coven eventually becoming its head and Lilith's predecessor to see if he can find out anything that was odd about the Coven System and its hidden agendas. A couple years later… he died. The official story is he was ambushed and killed by a large group of wild witches. But I knew that it was Belos who killed him because he found out some things nobody was ever supposed to know." Ryker finished his story as Ardyn looked down in surprise

"…Damn." Ardyn said to himself thinking that Ryker has it worse than him or Luz when it comes to losing parents. Speaking of which, Ardyn looked down at his friend to see how she's holding up. However, she wasn't on her rock. She was walking back to her rig. But she was holding something. Ardyn squinted his eyes to see what she had, and what he saw made his eyes widen.

"Oh no."

Luz had stolen Amity's wand and textbook. Or as she would say 'borrowed' them. She didn't want to, but she had no other option. She wanted to do magic, and she was going to learn how to do magic. She goes back to the ledge near her, Ardyn, and Eda's tent, where she knelt and opened the book.

Inside she saw a drawing Amity made of herself. It was her casting a "Magic Star Beam" and in the corner had her initials, including a 'do not steal' warning. "Huh. Her crosshatching has improved," Luz said. She moved Amity's drawing to show a page titled 'Lightning Ball.' Under an image of a witch casting the spell is the word "FOCUS" written in runes.

"Oh man, oh man," Luz said, excited to finally be able to cast her fourth spell.

Placing the book on the snow-covered ground, Luz stood and aimed the wand forward. She then draws a spell circle with the wand before placing it in the middle of it. Gasping in amazement as a sphere of electricity appeared at the tip of the wand. "Yes!"

She shot the sphere of electricity off into the sky, watching as it exploded like a firework.

"I did magic! I did magic!" Luz exclaimed, jumping in place with joy.

"What did you do?!" Ardyn yelled, startling Luz making her turn around. The hybrid was glaring at her.

"Ardyn! I…what are you doing?" Luz said, hiding the wand behind her back as she smiled nervously.

"I should be asking the same thing," Ardyn said, marching up to Luz. "What are you doing with Amity's wand and book?"

"I…"

Ardyn gave an overly dramatic gasp as he just put two and two together. "Did you steal from Amity?!" He yelled at her.

"I was borrowing it! I was going to put it back!" Luz insisted, hugging the wand in her hands. "Besides, I'm able to use my magic with this wand."

"But that is not your magic," said a very upset voice. The two looked behind to see none other than Eda and Romani at them with disappointment. "Kid, just what do you think you're doing?"

Ardyn looked extremely nervous as he backed up to Luz. "Oh, uh, I was just telling Luz that she needs to return the wand Amity lost.'' he said with a nervous smile. He then leaned toward Luz and said through his teeth. "Isn't that right, Luz?"

Luz heard him but frowned at Eda. "Actually, I'm doing magic. Like I'm supposed to be learning how to do it," she stated angrily while Ardyn facepalmed. "Instead of eating more snow and licking a rock."

Eda paused for a moment, shocked by Luz's words. "Okay, so maybe my methods are... unique, but so is your magic. Just like Ardyn's powers. Connecting to the island can help you. That wand can't."

"Well, it's already helped me. Just watch what I can do!" Luz drew out another spell circle to shoot another sphere of lightning. However, something was wrong. The power bar on the wand flashed a low battery bar. Suddenly, Luz began losing control of the ball of lightning. "Wh... whoaaa!"

"Luz, be careful!" Ardyn exclaimed, grabbing Luz's wrist to help. Together, they pulled the wand away from the direction of Amity's campsite, before it fired.

The lightning ball went flying off over their head, going further into the Knee, before causing a massive explosion as it landed somewhere in the forest. At first, it looked like nothing happened, but that was until some large roared from the woods.

The Slitherbeast jumped over the tree and landed in front of Eda and the kids. It roared angrily at them, as a large patch of fur had been burned off over its mouth.

"You've angered the Slitherbeast," Eda said, horrified.

Ardyn glared at Luz, who chuckled nervously. "Will it accept a heartfelt apology?" She asked.

The Slitherbeast sniffed the air and looked around, trying to see what it was that attacked it. And when it smelt burning wood, it turned in the direction of Luz, who was still holding the smoldering tip of Amity's training wand.

"Oh crap," she said. It roared and ran at Luz.

Luz screamed in fear as Ardyn pulled out the Leviathan Axe. "Watch out!" Eda yelled, pushing the kids off the cliff, before the Slitherbeast grabbed her. It held her up while growling.

"Eda!" Romani, Ardyn and Luz yelled before they landed in the snow together. Making imprints in the snow. They quickly pulled themselves out and stared

"Luz! Ardyn!" called out Emira's voice. The two friends and male witch looked to see the Blights running over to them.

"What did we miss?" Edric added.

Amity pointed at Luz. "And what are you doing with my wand?"

Ardyn turned to Luz. "You want to explain everything to her, or should I?"

"Um…" Luz trailed off, unable to think of an explanation that would not make her look bad in this situation. But what could she say? Amity took her wand and her book from Luz. She looked at the girl with suspicion as she held them protectively in her chest.

"Mittens, we've got bigger problems," Emira said, pushing her sister behind her. The Slitherbeast advanced on the group, Eda still held in one claw. Roaring, the Slitherbeast swung at Luz.

"Look out!" Ardyn yelled, pulling Luz out of the way. However, he wasn't so lucky to escape and was hit by the claw. Sending him flying back before hitting the snow.

"Ardyn!" Luz gasped in horror.

The Slitherbeast growled menacingly at them as Emira and Edric ran in front of Luz and Amity. "Aw, he's so cute. Can we keep him?" The female twin asked with a smirk.

"It's no bat, but we could try," Edric responded.

Together, the twins both cast a lasso spell at the Slitherbeast's hands. The lassos wrapped around the wrists of the monster, making it growl at the witches. Undeterred, they yanked the beast down to the ground. However, Edric and Emira struggled to keep their hold on it as the monster tried to pull away.

Thankfully, they had help. Jumping down from the ridge was none other than Ryker. He landed behind the creature and conjured a planet whip from the ground. He sent it at the legs of the monster and tied it down.

"Ryker!" Luz exclaimed.

"You got it, Amity! Now finish it off!" Ryker yelled.

"I'm on it!" Amity exclaimed, running forward towards the creature. She tried to cast a spell with her wand. Drawing a spell circle and conjuring a pink flame. However, the spell fell apart, much to the shock of Amity. "What?!"

Amity smacked the wand against her hand, trying to get it to work. Then she looked at the power and was shocked to notice the low battery light. She turned to Luz, now angry.

"Did you use this all up?"

"I... I didn't know!" Luz said fearfully.

"Come on, Luz!" Emira yelled, trying to keep her hold on the whip.

"Do those powerful spells you were talking about!" Edric said, also struggling.

"I've got this!" Ardyn rushed past her and ran towards the monster, the Levithan Axe out and ready to cut into the monster. However, the beast suddenly lashed out, breaking free from the lasso. Knocking the Blight twins forward and knocking Ryker backward. Ardyn jumped at the Slitherbeast with the Leviathan Axe raised over his head. Yelling out a battle cry before…

SLASH!

The Slitherbeast used its claws to slash at Ardyn as it hit him. Sending him flying into a boulder, which he hit hard. Ardyn groaned as his body fell on the ground, with claw marks cutting through his coat and bleeding.

"Oh no! Ardyn!" Luz and Amity screamed in horror. Amity was about to try and help her siblings, but she was scooped up by the beast with both Emira and Edric. However, it dropped the girl-haired witch.

"No!" She screamed.

With the hand holding Eda, the Slitherbeast picked up Ardyn. "Ardyn! Ardyn, talk to me!" The Owl Lady begged, but it was no use. Her nephew was completely out cold. The Slitherbeast put Edric and Emira into the claw holding Eda and Ardyn, before running off with a roar. The captured witches yelled as the monster retreated to its lair. Amity, Luz, and Ryker followed them for a bit, then stopped, panting. It was no use chasing after them.

"What do we do?" Luz asked.

Ryker looked over to where Ardyn's weapon is and held out his hand towards the Leviathan Axe. The magical axe shook before flying towards his hand. When it landed in his palm, he clasped his fingers around it. "I'm going after them," he said.

"Wait, I'm going with you," said Amity with determination.

"Sorry, but the last thing I need is you getting in more trouble than Luz here," Ryker said, as Luz looked down in shame while Amity gritted her teeth.

"Hey! That thing has my brother and sister, who is also you girlfriend by the way, not to mention my friend!" She snapped at him.

This seemed to take Ryker aback a little before he grumbled. "Fine."

"Then let's go!" Luz exclaimed.

"No! You are staying here." Ryker said, raising his hand to stop her from moving.

"But the beast has Eda, and Ardyn!" Luz exclaimed, worried. "He's hurt–"

"And it's all your fault?!" Amity snapped. Luz was startled by this and backed away when the witch angrily advanced on her. "Your stupid actions not only got Ardyn seriously hurt, but it also got my brother and sister captured! Now stay put!"

Luz looked at her friend with a somewhat frightened expression. Amity never yelled at her before. Not like this. She stared at the witch as she paused. Watching as Amity's expression turned to one of pain. "Ardyn got hurt…I don't want you to get hurt too."

She drew a spell circle in the air, conjuring a matching circle that appeared on the ground, surrounding Luz. With a flick of Amity's hand, a cage rose from the circle on the ground.

"I'll stay here to make sure she stays put." Romani said as Ryker and Amity nodded.

"Let's go," she said to Ryker, and the two ran to where the Slitherbeast ran off to.

"Ryker! Amity! Wait!" Luz called out to her and tried to reach out to her. However, when she touched the cage, she was shocked by it. Luz held her hand as she hissed in pain. All she could do was watch as Amity and Ryker disappeared into the woods. Luz was all alone with Romani. "Romani you got to get me out of here! I got to help the others!"

"You can help by staying put." Romani said as Luz was about to say something else, but Romani shook his head showing that he wasn't going to budge over this. This got Luz upset.

"Stupid island!" Luz yelled, running up to a rock and kicking it. However, she immediately regretted it and hissed in pain. "Ugh! Ow. Stupid…me." She sighed in misery, sitting on the rock and looking down at the ground. "Amity's right. This is all my fault."

Depressed knowing that her best friend got hurt because of her, Luz looked out at the Titan's Skull. "You were supposed to teach me magic," she said. The young girl then looked up at the sky, where clouds were parting to reveal stars. Snow was beginning to fall on the Kneel. "But I guess I will never know anymore spells."

"…Luz Noceda." Romani spoke up as the teen girl looked at him with a frown. "Do you really want to give up learning magic?"

"…No." Luz said Romani nodded as he picks up a nearby stick.

"Then pay attention on what I'm about to teach you a magic lesson that not even Eda knows: the lesson about the elements and what they represent." Romani said as he drew a symbol of fire into the snow as Luz looked at it in confusion. "Fire is the element of power and passion. People of this affinity have the will, the energy, and the drive to achieve what they want."

"You mean… like those with ambition to change or improve themselves?"

"In one way, yes. Fire is light, life, and death. It breathes. It grows." Romani said as his eyes turned somber. "A controlled fire may bring warmth, but without control, it only brings destruction and pain. A rock will not throw itself, but fire will spread and destroy everything in its path if one does not have the will to control it. Fitting since it is mostly associated with destructive spells."

Luz cringed. "I'll just have to be careful then."

Romani nodded and drew a symbol of a mountain range into the snow. "Earth is the element of substance. These people are steady, strong, and enduring."

"Pretty sure that describes my mom." The girl laughed before her expression turned unsure. Romani felt the need to ask more about that, but he decided to save it for later as he draws a symbol of air currents.

"Air is the element of freedom, detached from the physical world. This element is associated with spiritual and illusionary spells."

"Is this how Eda can fly with her staff?" Luz asked as she could make her staff soon if she had this affinity.

"More than likely. Also, they have a great sense of humor." Romani said as he and Luz gave off a small chuckle before he continues his lectures as he draws a symbol of water. "Water is the element of change, capable of adapting to many things."

"Like ice, water, and steam," supplied Luz.

"Yes. Water is cool and soothing, bringing life. Outside of combat, it can be used in craft and healing. It is important to draw wisdom from many different places. If we take it from only one place, we become rigid and stale. Understanding other elements and other people will help you become whole. All elements are connected in nature and magic in constructive and destructive ways. Wood feeds the fire. Fire creates earth or ash. Earth bears metal. Metal collects water. Water nourishes wood."

Following Romani's train of thought, she tried the opposite. "It's like rock paper scissors. Wood... moves the earth. The earth absorbs water. Water douses fire. Fire... melts metal. Metal... chops wood?"

"Now you're getting it. There are numerous combinations of these elements for varying effects. It is the combination of the many elements in one spell that can make it so powerful, but the same can be said about you too." Romani said with a nod. "Take everything that you learn from me, Eda, and the people around you, and apply it to yourself in the best way possible."

Luz sighed to herself. "I hope I can become a good witch from all this." She said as she pulled out her notepad and a pencil from her pocket as she drew a light glyph on it and activated it. Watching as it flew into the sky and disappeared. However, something strange started to happen. As Luz looked up at the sky, she noticed how the stars were blinking above her.

"Wait. Is that…" Luz trailed off as she watched the stars form a constellation in the form of a light glyph. Reaching up with her finger, she traces the glyph's outer ring. "...a light glyph? But what does that mean?"

"Why don't you be like that of the water and adapt?" Romani said as Luz felt a cold feeling on her palm. Looking down, she saw a snowflake had landed on her glove. And then something amazing happened.

As she looked at it, saw a glyph pattern in the center of the snowflake. It was a large diamond with a line down the center, sat on another line across the bottom of the circle. Across the diamond was a curved line and a smaller diamond included at the bottom.

"Whoa," Luz said in astonishment after it melted away. Now Ryker's words made sense. Determined, she grabbed a stick off the ground. She broke a twig off it and caught another snowflake. "It means... magic is a gift from the island, and I must adapt to it like you said Romani. Which means…" she said to herself as she drew the glyph from the snowflake into the snow with the twig.

"Now you're catching on!" Romani said as when Luz finished drawing, she tapped the glyph on the ground. She jumped back as the glyph shined and a small pillar of ice rose from it.

"...magic is everywhere!"

Now she knew what she had to do. Luz grabbed the bigger stick and replicated the ice glyph. Only this time she drew it to the entire size of the cage. Standing on the rock, Luz admired her work with a big smile on her face.

"Magic is everywhere!" Luz exclaimed, throwing her hands up. She then jumped off the rock and landed on the ground with her hands touching the lines of the glyph. Activating it. The resulting ice pillar grew taller than the cage, launching her through the air. "Whoooo!"

The young witch-in-training fell and was about to land in the snow if she wasn't caught by Romani's magic. She stared up at the sky with a giant grin on her face before throwing her fists in the air. "My fourth spell! Thank you, snow! Thank you, island! Thank you, Romani, Eda!" She exclaimed, before Luz gasped. "Eda! Ardyn! I have to save them."

She was let down from the levitation spell and ran with Romani to find Eda, Ardyn and the others are located.

Following the tracks of the Slitherbeast, Luz and Romani ran out of some trees and stopped when she found its lair. Growling could be heard from a large cave on the side of the mountain that was obscured by an icy fog surrounding it.

Inside the cave, Ardyn groaned as he woke back up. He grunted in pain from the claw marks on his chest.

"Ardyn!"

Ardyn shook his head to clear it and saw Eda, Emira, and Edric close to him. "Wah?" He asked, still out of it.

"Oh, thank Titan, you're okay!" Eda said, beyond relieved to see he's still alive.

"Eda? What happened," Ardyn asked, before gasping when he saw what was going on.

The Slitherbeast carried its prey as it walked deeper into the lair. It climbed up onto a stone and spat a purple goop at the wall. It then shoved Ardyn, Eda, Emira, and Edric against it. The goop closed around their torsos. Keeping them bound and their hands useless. Meaning Ardyn couldn't use his magic and the others couldn't use spell circles.

With its food secured, the Slitherbeast hopped away.

"Don't worry. We'll be fine!" Emira said, nervously smiling at her brother.

That small amount of confidence was shattered when two skeletons dropped from the ceiling. Covered in the goop.

"No, we're going to die," Edric said as the skeletons slowly slid off the stone.

Ardyn struggled to pull himself off the wall, but it was no use. "I…I-I can't get out!" He said, giving up.

"Don't worry, kid! We'll sneak away when the thing starts eating the twins," Eda said to him.

"Wait, what?!" Emira shouted as Edric let out an offended gasp.

"We're not going to leave you guys to be eaten! Ryker and your little sister would kill me if that happened." Ardyn told them to calm them down. Meanwhile, Amity and Ryker silently sneaked into the cave, using the stalagmites on the cave floor for cover. They got behind one of them, and Ryker peeked around it. His face has a serious expression with Amity had the same seriousness on her face as she waited for Ryker to turn back to her.

However, she didn't notice Luz and Romani popping up behind her with a similar expression. "So, what's the plan," she asked.

"We're working on it—" Amity stopped and turned around to look at Luz and Romani in surprise. "Luz!"

Luz grinned at her. "Hello!"

Ryker saw Luz and ducked behind the boulder. "Kid, how did you get past the barrier?" He asked.

"Magic! Literally! Thanks to Romani." Luz said as Romani waved with a small smile on his face.

"Well get out of here. We're trying to rescue the others," Ryker said, looking back at the others.

"Wait!" Luz said, getting Amity and Ryker's attention. "Ryker, I get it now. I was so obsessed with learning my fourth spell, I didn't listen to you or Eda when you both were telling me the answer from the beginning. But now I'm going to save you!"

"Yeah? Well, how do we know you're not going to mess everything up?" Ryker asked.

"That's not fair," Amity said, coming to Luz's defense. Making the tan-skinned girl blush.

However, Luz shook her head and placed a hand on Amity's shoulder. "No. He's right. It's my fault for getting us in this mess," she said in shame. Then she looked at the two with determination. "But I'm going to fix things. However, I can't do that alone. You, Amity, Romani, and I are going to have to work together if we want to save everyone."

Amity looked at Ryker, who looked at her. "It's your brother and sister that we're betting this plan on too," he said.

Amity looked down at the ground before sighing. "Alright, what's the plan?"

A few minutes later, the Slitherbeast returned and approached its prisoners. It crawled up on the stone and sprinkled assorted seasonings on Ardyn, Edric, Emira, and Eda's heads.

The seasoning made Eda sneeze. "Ugh, I hate garlic."

"Well, at least Luz and Amity are safe," Ardyn said.

"Hey! Ugly!" yelled a familiar voice. The Slitherbeast turned around and growled. It was Ryker, standing with the Leviathan Axe in his right hand "That's right, you overgrown throw rug! Come and get me!"

"RYKER!" Emira said in concern as the Slitherbeast didn't take that commit well as it roared at Ryker and jumped at him. The witch activated construction magic and shot off before the Slitherbeast could get on him. It chased after Ryker as he flew out of the cave and into the woods.

Back inside the cave, Amity climbed up onto the stone where Ardyn, her siblings, and Eda were.

"Amity!" Edric exclaimed as the four of them smiled at her.

"Use that fire spell we taught you!" Emira told her sister.

"But I can't do it without the wand!" Amity said with a frown.

"Yes, you can," Ardyn said to her with a smile. "I believe in you, Amity."

With Ardyn's words of encouragement, Amity's frown turned into an expression of determination. "Okay," she said and took a deep breath. The green-haired witch slowly traced a spell circle in front of her. It wavered when she concentrated, but Amity was determined and not about to let anyone down.

She molded the spell circle until it rose, and a ball of pink fire appeared after a moment. Amity looked at the fire in astonishment and smiled proudly.

"Cool. I didn't think you could do it, but I'm glad I was wrong" Emira said with a smirk. Ignoring that, Amity walked up to them and melted the goop. The four of them fell to the ground and smiled at Amity.

As the the group was heading out, Ardyn felt the world stop around him as the others made it to the exit as a sphere stood before him. the sphere was black with a red outline as it was pulsing with anger and rage. The sphere entered Ardyn's body as he felt a tremendous amount of power entering him. However when this happened, memories of someone else shot through his mind, but he couldn't understand or know what was going on.

The Twelve Labors of Heracles

S̛̹̱̃͐́l̴̛͔̰͈͆ͮ͋̽ͫ̚̚ͅă̡̞͍̥̗̓͗͞y̪̝̭̱̭̣͑̀ͯͭ̈́̒͞i̵͎̭̥̪̲̘̹͗̊ͨ͝n̷̴̡̥̋̒̍g̶͉ͭ̇ ̲̪̈́͗̓̓̇̕͡à̡͚͕ͪ͂͑̋̔ͦ ̶͔̤̳̜͇̟̣͍ͦͭ̃̽ͥv̧͚̮͕͚̗̰ͥ̋ͭͭ̀͝į͉̦͕͔̘̖̩͑̒́̏̑̋̋̓͗c̡̛͚͕͚̘͊̾͢i̡̟͇̺̱̍ͩͧö̼͕͚͋̑u̧̺̖̺͕̟̩̤̰̒̚͘͠s̹̦͇͚̄͋̋̓͂ͪͦ̚͠ͅ ̴̟̬̦̤̭̹ͬ̃ͧľ̬͎͗ͨ͝ỉ̸̜̺̙̀̌͜͠oͧ̅̔͌̇̊͏͈͕͇͇̝̬n͖͚̳͔̤ͧ̎ ̪̲̣ͦͤ͗̀̑͂̏͌͟͞t̨͓̻̗̗̠͓̞ͩͦ̒͆ͣ́̍h̭̙͕̦͈͖̩̩̒́͗̿̌͆͗͛͠à̧̺̹̘̬̰̦̓̆͗͐͝t͙͍̯͓̰͔͛ͩ̐ͧ̚ ̰̮͖̳̼̈́ͫ̐̾͡l̨̺̞͇̱͈͆̄͛i̝̩̘̩̫̗̟ͣ̊̾ͭ̄ͪ̃v̴̡̦͇̟̳̘ͬ͞e̸͙ͭ͛d̶̤͚͖̺͕̥̊̇̓̍͋ͬ̂̈́͠͡ ̢͕͈̲̹̺̻͓͔ͬͤ̂̐̓̌̈́̅̍a̶͖̺̮̰̜̝̹̭̠̅ͯͨ̀t̸̵̫̼̬̹̽̔̎ ̩͚̼͔͇͇̰̊ͣ̒̏̄͊̑͂ͤ́Ǹ̘̞̤̤̼̯̓̄͊̅ͬ̀̈̀͢e̵ͧ̃̂ͧ̊͆͏̶͇̫̺̻̟̺͖͚m̧̘͔͎͈͇̪̺̮͂̃̔̂̉ͥ͢͞ͅe̝̜͚̣̝̼̱̞̿͐̾̆ͦ͝a̟͉̦ͧ̿ͣͭͨ̎ͥ̚̕ͅ.̢̝̟̇͊̑͌̿̅͒̕ ̣͆̈́̆̎͐̒̓͗

̽ͫ́̎̾͂̐ͭ̑͝͏̥̯̠̞S̵̪͔͍̗̈̐̀̆ͦͅl͕͊̈ͣ̌͐͗̐́a̗̬͉̝͔͈̦͕͌̇͗ͫͅỷ̼͍̘̰̇̿̈́͌ͫ̎ͯ̎ ̻͖͚̗̳͚̤ͧ̇̒̓̊́ͧ̄̀t̛͙̠͇͖̼̤̐͜h͈̟͕̖̗̥͈̱̐ȩ̞̼̥̘̩̉́ ̖̫͇͛̈́͋ͯͯ̀͢ň̸ͭ̀̊̎̊͐̒҉̭̙̦͍̪͕̝i͖̦͖̭͉̿̐̈́͌͌͌̐͞͠n̶̻̟̦͂̈͐̓e̬̦̘̰͐̄͌ͩ͗̀-̧͇͈̖̫̰̞͖̦ͦ̏͌ͤͦ̄̒ͯh̥̦̲͊ͤ́̒͆̓̔͐ȅ͎̯͕͕͓̇̓̌ͣ͟a̸̶̳̮̟̬͕̦͙͇̮̽̑ͥͬ̈ͥͨ͊͘d̎ͧ̆͊͑̈̀͏͘͏͍̤̯͖ͅẻ̛̘̤̫̤͍̱͇̔̇d̵̰̫̙̩̦͖̏̈͊͒ͬͦ̏ ̨̥͓̟̠̩͛H̻͔͉͚̻̥͛̋̈̄̔ͫͥ̊ͩ͢͞y̱̙̝͓͎̲̪͂̋ͤ̃̈́̇̿́ď͌ͧ̾ͦ͏̨͇̩r͛ͮ͂̒̍͠͏̲̲̳a̡͇̫̙̭̞͍͉̝̠ͣ̓ͬͩͧͤ́ ͖̯͎͈̗̜͆̉ͦ̽̾͠w̡̧͍̥̟̋ͧ̌͐ͤ͋i̢̼̥̝͕̺̯͈̖ͮ̾͑͛̇̄̓̋͟t̸̹̺̠̙̍͢h̢̗̟̹ͧ̃ͪ̈́ͤͫi̢̙̭͖͚̟̙ͫ̂̔n̡̢̙̱̣̖̩ͯ͌ ̙͈͓̥͇̺̬͋ͭ̉̾͝t̆ͧͥ̆͏̶̠̺̖̺̥̗̯͜h͚͎͐̽ͤ͒ͦe̵̛̮͚̗̲̅̐̅̍ ̧̤͍̘͚̬̖̝̹͐̉̊͢l̥̬̒ͨ͜ạ̵̵̖̗͎̈̎ͫ͒̎̆̌̀k̪̰̞̼̘̠͍̔ͯ̀̅͌ͫ͜ͅe̷͚̰̺͋ͩ̃ͪ̂̊ͦ̉͜ͅͅͅ ̮͓̼͇̼̬̩͎̑̏̓̏́ơ̙̟̩͈̺̤̳̗̜̏͟f̳̙̻͓͈̗̪̃̌̿͋̍͑̋̂͠ ̵͎̯͍͓͕̺̩͖̤̾͐̂̍̔͆ͦͫ͠L̷̵̘̤͖̮̣͉̮ͭ̄̀ͅe̷͉̹͉ͤ̈́̓ͭ̃ͨ̑̀͞r̬͒̔̓̈̀̕n͇͒͆ͨ̓ͣ͐͘a͎̘̲͚͇̗͔̥ͩ̂ͭ͞.ͭͤ̄̈ͥͩ̇̈́҉̨̭̟̣̙ ̴̢̦̤̬͔͌ͤ͋ͫ͘ ͎͋͒̍ͪ

C̡̨͉̞̖͕̄ͨͧ̏ͮ̎̽̕a̡ͩ̒ͭ̎͆͑̚͏̟̥̖p̯̦̆ͯ͂̍ͯ̃ͯ̕t̲̜̬͖̰̰̭͑͋̓̓ͥu̶͇̲̤̯̫͐̑͆̾r̵̘͈͕͉̞ͤ̂̆̎̕eͫ͑͏̡̗͙̻͖͖̹̙ͅ ̉ͥ͏̜̻͕͈t̑̌͒̆̏̍͒̆͏͔̩̯̺̳̝h̸̶̗̣͙͚͔ͧ͜ȩ̸̤͙͛̏̾͆͊̓̇ͧ̏ ͌́҉̹̠̗̣C̵̵̯͓̳͚̞̻̊̏̒͗̒̍̎̈́͋͡e̛̖̗̮͙͍͂̃͋͌ͥ̓̕͜ͅŗ̶͚̦̘̰ͤy̶̩̣͕͉͑̊̇ͣͨͨ́̚n̳͓͙͕̼̑ͣ̚͘͢eͣͦ̀̈́͗́̈̾͏̸͎̱i̘̲͈̰ͦ̂ͮ̓̔̋͗͂̚ͅá̢̼̗̻̞̻̱̮̂̈́ͧ̆ͧͧn̫̩͈̙̳͍̞̱ͭ̃ͨͣ ͐͗ͤͨ̊̏̃̊҉̱̞̜͖̼̪̺̕H̡̝̙̏ͫ̊͆̋̽̇͠i̶̶̵̫̮͖̺̋ͯ̉n̡͓̤͎̲͕̻̔͋ͭ͋ͫ͟d̨̳̭̥͚̙̔̿̀.̶͎̱̮̈́̆ͤ̽͢ͅ ̢̡͓̣̗̲̤̩̼̙̌̃̐̇̔͜ ̨̡̺̭͓̝͉̩̠̮͓̍̒ͩ̚

Ć̶̺͈̳̇͆̽̓̅͠ȧ͈̳̩̹̩͚͕̈ͬ̄̓̚͘p̴̸̻̤̫̥̐̓̐ͣ̊̀̚t̢̙̞͓͗ͧͦũ̴̖̤̗̮̣̝̔̄͊͊̈́̓ͤͪ͝ͅr̗̪͖̻̞͉͉͖̦ͮ̎͌́ĕ̵͖̳͎̻̦̙̟͓̈́ͥͭ͝ ͖͚̄̈́͗ͮ͠t̟͇͈̭͎̯ͧͮͯ̈ͣ̐̀͌͜h̷̶̳̘̹͇͂ͪe̶̤̲ͪ͊̇̓͆ ͎͔̲̬͍͚ͩͣ̇ͬͬͬE̡̨͍̹͙̼̠̤̿̑̔r̳̠̬̉ͥ͞y̤̝͓͕ͥͫm̵̘͓̯͈̽ͣͯͥ̑̾ͩ͋͟͠ͅa̷̠̤͑̏̿̒ͭ̽̅n̡̺̽ͯ̍ͣ̌ͪͅţ̷͈͎̻̟̳̠͖̙͈͆̍̆̓ͮ͛ͭ̋h̴̶̗̭̤̹̣ͩ͟ï̘̰̙̯̻̮ͯȧ̷͍͓̱͔̼ͣ̎ͪ̆͐n̶̳̦͕ͮ̄̇ͥ́ ̶̣̮̭̱̘̜͖̂̌̇̉̉͡͠B̝͎̘͙͊̌̂̃o̷̷̲̺̤͓͓̺̬ͥ͐ͩ͟a̟̺͉̞̭͋ͬ͑ͪ̎͗̀r̷̥̰̲͊͛̐ͫ͒̇͠.͐̑̈́ͥ҉̵͚̞̀ ̩͖̼̟̭̭̥ͫ̓ͨ̄́̀̚͞ ̵̘̦̦̃͛̑̑ͯ̌

C̽̍̓̃ͧ̓̔҉̠͎̟̻̭͖̯̬l͋̓ͤͣ̌̒͌̚͢҉̥͕̫̻̝ẻ̵̢̹̟͔̝͇̅̅̄ͭ̈́ͤḁ̍͊̿́̑ͫ͌n̉͌ͭ̐͏͎̪͚͞ ̶̴̟̙͓̯̪̳͚̋ͭ̿̌̀ț̱̗̝̳̈́ͥ̿͛̒́́h͕̫̼̖̭̦̭͎ͯ͂ͯͅȅ̸̦̥̠̈̋͑ͧ̐͂̚̕ ̵̛̜͚̤̺̰̏͡Ä̵̗̯̹̭̳̲̙̬̬́̈̓̔̈́ͥ̿͡ư̸̸̗͎̻̼̩̟̻͇̎̔̊̓g̬̮͙̰͙̗̱͖͙ͭ͊͑ͩ̒͆͜͠e͂ͣ̉́̿͛҉̻̪̠͍̭̜à̷̞̯̟̑ͧͅń̶̳͔̤̰̬̭̺͐ͤ͞ ̷͓͔̻̈́ş͔̯̯̯̱̠̥ͪ̏ͧ͗́̔͂͢͜t̛̤͉̠̭̲͔̰ͯͭ͠a̼͔͖͔͇̯ͫͮ̒ͨͮ̈́̀b̏ͯͩ͏̸̤̞̖̼̙͉͓͝ḻ̷̨̻̪̖̩͖͙̪̎̈́e̸̴͉͈ͮ̽ͮ͆̚s̸̼̖̰̘͚͚͐̍̇ͦ̃̓́̕ ̲̝͎̩̺̐ͯ͊̏̚ĩ̈́͊͝ͅn̩͔̱͈͎̹̮̠ͪͦͦ̓̈́͟͞ ̢̮͖͆̈́̇̉̋ͣͧͫ̀ạ̴̥͙̺̘ͦ̈́̓̑͗̑̊̂̀ ̲̲̘͓͎ͮ̊̈́̔̔̉ͯ̕͞s̶̮̠̬͕͍͇͖̘͚̍̾͋̈̔̊͌i̥͈͇̗̖̇ͤ̓͌̀̎̉̿͂͟n̋̍́ͦ҉̬̪͎̟̬͚͢g̶͇̘̼͕͔̱͓͉̿ͥ̀͌̐͗̇̀ͅl̖͈̳̺͙̲̲̞ͧ̆ͫe̴̷̬̘̹̝̝ͨͣ̾̌̉̄͗͊̀͠ ̥̻̂̔ͬd̴̟̞̘̥͚̯̦͕͌͂̏̈̈́a̶̾͌ͧ͐ͤ͏̖̺̭̼̪̱͟ŷ̨̭̮̯̠̮ͨ̌̋̒ͯ̄͡.̷̫͈̻͉̠̄͊͒̄̄ͧ̀͠ ̵̡̬̥̲͈͎̩͑̓̂̔͆

͖̪̯̼ͣͧ͛̏͐̀͗̔̕S͛͗̆͜͏̟̥l̉̈ͮ̿̈́͌̉̒҉̣̩̯͢a̷̹̖̲̼͕ͤ͜y̗̘̰̍̈́͊̽͢͜ ͎̭ͧt̵̛̹̪̗̪̞̞͔ͪ̎ͭ̍ͤ̐ͨ̐̈́h͖͈̻̞̲̰̣̿͗ͪͬ̀̃̅̇̚͢e̸͚̼̤̫̹̼͖̿̈̎̃̓̓ ̒͑ͮ̆ͥ҉̴̼̹̦̕S̩͙̬̬̝̅ͥ͒ͫ̊̉̓̑̓͢ṭ̴̡̥̗̃͂ͥ̌͊̋͡y̩̭̩͉̳̞ͬ̅͑ͬͯͭ̔͑ͨm̤͇͉͖̬͚̒͒ͦp̧̳͖͌͐͠h̘̦̝̠̺̥͉̺͛ͫa̖͓̤̝͓̝͗̈́ͥ̿͑͝l͎͓̥̯̫͇̼̙͖ͮ͋͛ͮͫ̀̃̃͟i̛̭͓̽̎ͭ̚a̸̳̘̮̜̳̱̤̲͑ͬͪͪͨͮn͔̺̥͓͇ͥͦͯ̈́ͭ͞ ̨͔̦̞̹͍̰͑̿̓͒ͥͧ̑͡b̧̍҉̝̬į̛̼͎́r̨̮̹͚̤̳̍̂̆ͮ͌̾͒ͪ̚͠d̓ͨ̔̔̚҉̸̰̩̪ş͓͔̔̆ͪͮ̑ͨ̎͑.͂̅͝҉͇̣̦̪̺̻̲͔ͅ ̯͕ͧ̈́̇ͅͅ ͖͖̻̝ͪͅ

C̵͐̎͛̇͐ͯ͐͑͐͏͕͙̳̗͎̰̜͘a̧̡̪̲͔̺͉̬̘̦͛̒̉̿̈́͞p̌̅̈͏̻̥̀t̴̡̡̼̱̠̀̐̒ͥ̀̅̓̆u̞̺̠̬͇̰͎̟͗̽̏͐̑̈́̚͘͜ȑͤ͂͗̔ͭ̋̈̀҉̟̣̝͘e̲̖̗ͫ́́ ̶̸ͬ͐́̔͋̾̓҉̻̦̼̥̹t̴͕̳̦̗͚̱̘̆̃h̸̨͈̬ͬͣế̼̝̮͕̙̽ͪͭ̎̆͘ ̮̰ͨ̍͟Ĉ̙͓̖͖͈͇͗͊̎̒͡͝ͅr͇̤̤̱̉ͭͩ̌ͫͫ́͘͠ͅḙ̴̫̙̝ͧͯ̂t̡̀̄̾̂̌̈̚̚͞҉̯̲̻͔̝̮͚̹ȃ̻͍̔ͪ͐̍̌ͣ̒̚n̷̡͔̟̟͋̋̑̾̈́̉̅̚ ̣̤͚̰̦ͮ̒͆̊̅ͨ͗̔̑͠B̛̯̺̘̪̥͈͉̻͒̐ͧ͜͠ũ̬̰̙̫̪̱̦̬ͫ̍̔̿̌̊͜ͅl̸̶̈́̃҉͎̘l͍̯͖̬̈́ͥ͌ͥ͊̚.̞͙̫̼̥̲̖̄̔ͯ̅́́ ̶͚̝̤͎̎̾ͥ̍ ̡̜̙̲͔̲̔ͮͮ̓̈́ͪ̐͊̒

S͎͕̽̓̀t̸̴̨̪͈̥̹̪́ͫ͌ͭͮͭ̚ĕ̩͡ā͍̪̞̞̦͓̩̈́̇ͨͦͯ́͜͝ͅl̢̯̯̠̱͉̼̬͉̈́ͮ̎̊͝ ̢͙̬͇̦̹͖ͦ͒ͭ̊̄ͅt̶̼͖̆̒̽ͬ̋͜h͓͚̞̦̯̘͇̓̓ͬ̈̆̌e̙ͣ̄ͫ́̅̅́͢ ͓̦̦͈̞͕̊̈́͢͝M̷͍̲̜̺̮͛͗͂̊̀͛̐̽ȁ̻͔͖̦̝̻̐̽ͧͪͣ͘r̮͕͉͍̙̲̱̘͊̆̈́͢e̢̻͈̟͚͔̗ͮ̂̿͂͌s̖̮̪̎ͪ̐͊ ̯̝̈́ͫͯ͘͝ö͇̹͔̭̞͎̞̫̬́̃͢͜f̛̫̘̦ͨ̓̄͞ ̧̀͛̑ͧ̿̄ͤ̿̔͜͏̲͔̗D̜͎͖̲͊ͬ͋́͗͞ͅi̷̻͕͗ͪ͗ͭ́͜o̶̸̞̥͖̤͊͑͊̊̚m̸̸̨̠̯̥̠ͧ̂̂ͨͦ̄͋̎ͫe͑̑ͧ͟҉̡̜d̠͖̟̠̬̲̄̾̀͝ę̫̱̘̣̟̙̰̪͐̑͋̄̓̿̏͊̕s̸̭͚̅͌̃͂̏̚.̞̲͖̙̊̀͛ͨ̽ͣ̇͠ ̻͕͉̰̯͇͙͐ͯ͌̽̾ͧ̎ͅ ̨̝̻̲̳̺ͦ̈

Oͭ̈́̇ͥͣ̚͏̹̹̣b̊́͆ͯ͏̰͙̦t̨͎͓̰̄͒̏ͨ̄͗͂ͪa̷̸̤̎̋̒͟ǐ͚̤͔̫ͯͦ̎͊̓͛͘ņ̜̖̻̘̣̮̟̌ͬ͐̑̾̄ͦ͘͝ ̵̦̮̞̱̺̻ͬ͛ͯ̿̔̌t̸̮͎̤̗̖̙̜̄ͪ̌ḩ̧̝͔̤̜̬̔͋ͫ͐͗e̿͑ͫ̎͘͠͏̱͍͍̯͍̬͓̞ͅ ̱̮̝̉ͩͯͅg̸̪ͯ͋ͬ͑̓̆ͫ͝i̓ͧ̽͊̂ͫ͑̚͏̤͕͞r͎͉̺̘̥̭ͬ̈́̂͢ͅͅd͖͓͙̙͍̎̑͜l̨͙̬̥̠̤̫͙̓̆ͤ͊̎ͧ̽͡e͔̘̙̗̪͂͆̉ ̨͉̖̤̠̥͔ͮ͑ͬ̀ͧo̎̓̂҉̙̹͈f̊̅͆ͬ̑̅҉͉̗̝͖͙̩̪̹ ̡̖̥͕͖̞̟̭͛ͬ̋ͭ̇ͣ͘͞H̷̨̦̺̥͓͈̻̚͘i̟̗ͦ̌̾̈̍̚p̷̰̦̲͕͇͚̮͐́͗͐͟p̦͈͉̿͋͒̌ͪ̕͘͟ͅo̴̴̩̪̲̥̮̥̘ͩ̏ͤͅļ͉̥̥̺̹͙̀ͯ̄ͩ͑ͪͤ͛͞ͅy̓ͨ̍ͥͪ̌ͧͣ҉̗̦̹̫̹̺͙̣̕ṱ̛̪̦̞̄ͨͯą̜̩̞ͯ͋ͬ͠,ͯͭ̋̾̿͜͏̳̖̰̦̘͞ ̶͙̩̺̱ͥ̊͌ͤ̂̏ͧ̆͘ͅq̨͔͆ͮ͂͢ͅu̸̟̹͚̲̠͛̾ͧ̓̀ę̺̤̤̳̣̪ͮ̀ȩ͍̬̫̥̹̺̦͇̈̆̑ͮ͟n̵̷̨͔̝̬̙̦̜ͤ͌̄̌ͤͩ̚ ̵̠͓͈͙̰͚̱̤̰ͧͣͧ͂o̙̞͇̿͝f̸̪̟̻̳͉̋̀ͫ̈́ͥ ̷̢͎̜͈͖̖͐͗̎ͤt̴̺͇̾̉̽ḣ͋ͨ̓̅̒͑҉̱͉̖̝̟̳̥̟͢e̜̥͙̰̱͚̮̠̼͑͂͆̑̀ ̵͚͉̜̗̲̰̣̂̀ͦ̓ͧ͐͒ͤẬ̵͉̭̌̈ͤ͛ͣͫ͑ͣ̕͡m̫̩ͭ̕͜a̿ͫ͏̹͉̮̭̱̝zͮ̀ͨ͒͗ͬ̄͗͏͖̰̞̱̱͉̯̘o̡̧͈͕̙͎̭͇ͧ̆̂ǹ͖̉̆̄̎.̢̳̪̠̺̜̲͖̖̔̐͗̓̿͊̌̕͞ ͔͔͚̩͈̳̋͗͋͒͗̍̂͋́̕ ̷̯͖̮̝͔͙̜̤ͪ̆̿ͅ

Ǒ̆̏ͥͦͬ͂̕͡͏̤̺̖͙̼̣̯b̦̭̟̳͙̳ͫ̓̏̾̈̑͞t̶̝̬͈̄̊́̈́ͧ͜â̽̈͂ͩ̊ͧ͞͏͏̪̬̩ĩ̯ͣ̌́́n͎̼̘̹ͤ̎̐̓̾̓͌͗̏ ̧͉͇̦̍͂ͩ̍ͤ͛ͩ͌t͔̻̦̺͓̻̮̿͆̈̉̓̒̄h̵̰̼̥̾ͧ̾̍̃͋͟e̢̧̞̗͚̲̮͎̲̺̻̓ͪ̐̚ ̴̣̝̹̎͗̐̎͝ċ̡̛̝͈̥̯͇͉̙̍ͮ͞à͈̘͎̰̭͚̊̀t̨͉͇͕̲̙̯͕͕ͭͤ̃ͩẗ̬̰͚́ͥͤ̚l̤̲̪̭ͣ̀̋͋͗͡ė̡̛͖̙͋̍ ͓͈̳̲͆ͮo͑͐ͣ̔͛ͤ͏̦̜̯̗͎̭̜̤f̰͔̩̗̙̃̅̿͑ͦ̐ͬ̈͝͞ ̨̩͔̹̞̖ͦͮ̿̅́̃ţ̪̬͉̟̲̟̟͙͐ͦͫ̑͑̆̒h͕͖̦̯ͭͥ̑̉̐́̓͆̚͠ͅe̢̫̬͈̲̻̭̐̅͛̈̔͞͠ ̨̤̞̟̗̮̦̹̼͒̎͆̐̈́̃ț̜̭̻̦̅̾̚͜h͔͐̊͒ͧ̈́̒͌͗͘r͙͎̠̥̟̹̩̩͈̓̇͐͂̄̏̃ͮe̴̅̐̈́̈́ͬ͏͚̦̳͔̞̩̱̩̰e̢̼͍̯͐̑ͨ̄̆͋-̳̺̙͙͖̳͓̐̏ͮ͛͜b̗͚͈͕̖͙ͥͦͨ̐͒ͯ̀ͪ͜͢o̵̡̗̻̲̻̮̬̾̇̎ͮͦ̓͞d̡͋ͪ̃͟͏̮ì̡̔ͧ҉̰̖̩̮͎͙̯̫͉́e̛͖̥̩̘͎̟͋ͪ̈́ͪ̓ͩͅd̷̘̱͖͎̘ͬ͋̂̇̈́͡ ̇̐ͭͧ́҉̯͖͚͕̠̳̗͖g̛̥̯͍̟̿ͅį̷̪̙̜̮̩̎͊̔ǎ͕̂̈́̎̍ͦ̊ň̞͔̬̠͢ṫ̷̜͎̼̯̮͒͞ ̻̳̺̳̯̤͔ͦ́G̴̲̤̓ͫ͛̑̆͗͐́͞ͅė̺͖̥͚̣͉̋̌͢r͓̗̲ͣ́ͬ̒͛͌̊ͪ͜͞ýͣ̀͑̃̈́͑ͮ҉̢͈̗͞o͓͚̦͍̖̟̪͂̔͐̑͐͌ͧ̓n̷̰̤ͥ͑̈́ͦ̓ͤ̊͊͞.̷̶͚̬͍͕̺̠͔̿̍̒ͦ͘ ̢̩̝̲̬̭̖͙̓ͫͬ͆̋͢ ͈̹͙̋

S̨̢̥̖̺͆t̘̦͔̖̬̻̃̏ͅȅ̵̤͓̝̜͒̄ͦ̊̚͢ͅa̱̖̯̓ͪͦͨl̶̨̞͙̻̯̟̞̈͌̓̿̈́͟ ̺̝̳̬̥ͩ̽̀͢t̲̔ͨ͛͌͆h͈̦̗̦̝͑̾̎̐̈ŗ̭̦̹̗͍̏̅͒ͦ̇ͪ͑ͥ͟ͅe͇̳̫͎͙̞ͣͨ̽͂e̺͍̹̻͑ͫ͐̿͢ ͂̐͊̓͌̄ͨͬ̔҉̟̙̮̟̞̟ơ̶̬̩͙͖̘͚̈̋ͥͨ́̚f̴͔̩̞̦̘̥̂̉̔̇͐́ ̞̈̂̔̃̃̎̀t͒͋͌̂ͩ̌̒̇͏͇̱̱̬̥͝h̦̞̣͆eͬ̓̾̅͏̥͖͓̟̦̤̞ ̶͉ͣ̓̋ͅǧ̸̛̩̫͈͕̞̠̦͖̝̋̀̒̃͋o̠͈͖̜̦̩͑͊͊ͪ̊̕ļ̞̥̦̭͚̬̪͕ͭ̏͆́ͮ́d̪̂͟e̵̫̱͕͚͎͆̓ͧͫͮ́̒n̶̷̲̳͓͛́ ͉̤̲͂ͥͨ̈ͭ̍̓̂͗aͧ̆ͮ̅ͬ͐ͬ̾́͏̖̲̗̯̰̺͇̙ͅp̋͒ͭ̓͊̋̀͏̥̮̟p̷̧͕̮͚̐̾͑l̶̘̰̟̤̞̮͕͈̎ͥ͛̽̀ͯ͋̏͞e̛̛̱͇̺̭̣̘ͦͨ̉̽ͪ͌̈̌s̻̲͊̀͌́ ̸̛̞̦̳͙͓̥ͯ̈́ͩͣͬͣ̀o̴̯͔̰̱ͬ͒ͦͪͤͩ͞͝f̮͔̼͉̪ͫͧ͒̃ ͉̹̘͓̯ͩ̃̈͊ͬ̿ͧ̑̀͢͠t̵̹̍ͮͦ̐͝h̴͍̮̝̰͕ͯ̌ͣ͗̓̑͋ͭ͢e̴̐̓̓͏̫͝ ̰̲̘̊̎̀̕͡͠ͅH̵̟̬̆̔̇̀ͧë̴̡̤͍̖̟̭͕́̃ͨ̊̎͊̆̾s̙͕̝̆̿̆̊̄͢p̮̪̹͇̤̫̮̰͋̃͡e̢̠̱͍̟͒ͣ̃ͣ͒͠ȑ̡̰̯ͪī̞͕̱̖̬̺d̶̙̣̤̦̹̜͉ͥ̐̉ȇ̸̢̜̻ͤ͋̔̃͌̂s̑͑̓́̏ͧ̍͘͡҉̞̰.̤̯ͧ͘ ̷̢̦̥̠̮͓̹̩͌͂́̿ͅ ̛̺̩ͭ͋̊ͧ̔̏͑͌͠͠

C̝̄̍ͧͬ̆̌ͦ̆̚͜͡â̝̟̙͎̣͋ͮ͠ͅpͭ̃̎͌̆͜͏̞͍̟̭̪͕͎͕t̙̼̰͈̳͈̯͋͗̉̾̽ͩ̏͞ṷ̧̫ͮ̍̾ͣͤ̍ͭ͆̀r̨̬͎͈̦̼͔̮̅́ͤ͑̾̾̓̋e̢̺̞̣͔̥̪͗̍ͯͅ ̴̶̯̜͓̹̟̣̱̈́ͨͦa̭̲̹̫̥̥͇̻̝͒͐ͦ͐ͪ̂ͤn͍͇ͫ̅̀͘͘d̵͍͚̖̓̌̿͑̓̊̚ ̸̳̟̹̻͔̅̈ͮb͖̰̞̭̮̿̉͊͋̍̅͌̚ͅͅȓ̤͈̠̖̗̬͛̈͊̐ͬį̝̱̪͌ͨ͂̑ͨͫ͗̚͢͝ͅn̞̺̞ͨ͐ͥ͟g̘̖̯̔ͭ̒͋ͪ͆ ̷̡̪̠̣̤̺̖͖̂ͬ̄͋̉͌̌̓ͅb̦̪̯̠̳͕͕͆ͥ͋̌̕̕ã͙̜̱̙ͪ̈ͧ͗̋̄̑̀c̶̛̣̪̘̝̻͖͎̫̿k̐̒ͨ̔ͣͥ͏̷͚̣̣ ̧̫͉̟̞̤̻̠̺̝ͬͩͦ͒͂ͥ̒̈̚C̠̘̿͛̅̎ͨ͢͝e̶̡̹̘ͤ̑͠r̛̬ͫ̅̽b͕͍̤̯̱̈̃̐̅͜͡e̴̮͚͈̰͍̼̤̙̭ͤͫ͊͗̿r̻͈̯͎̻͈̟͊̍̓͌ū̮͍͕̫̽ͩ͂̐ͅs̙̪͒͋ͥ̉.͍͇͑͋ͨ͝

However the last memory was something that Ardyn wont forget. It was a memory of a giant man, standing over the corpses of his family while hugging what looks like his son. Tears ran down his as he felt sorrow for what he done as he let loose a howl of despair. As the memory came to an end, time resume as Ardyn was beathing heavily before he looked up with a scowl on his face before saying one line.

"Install: Berserker."

Meanwhile, Ryker continued to fly away from the Slitherbeast as it chased him. As he dodged and weaved through the woods, he turned back and headed for the cave. The beast did the same. He led the monster back to the cave and stopped in front of a tree.

Jumping off his staff, Ryker slid across the snow before coming to a stop. He turned and faced the Slitherbeast as it charged at him. Growling loudly before letting out a roar. However it didn't get far as it was now binded by energy ropes that Romani casted from behind another tree.

"Gotcha!" yelled Luz, running out from behind the tree where Ryker was.

She stepped on a huge ice glyph drawn into the snow in front of the tree. She and Ryker ducked away from the glyph, and it conjured a giant rising pillar of ice. The ice launched the Slitherbeast into the air, making it roar before it landed hard on its back as the bindings snaped.

Everyone else except Ardyn ran out of the cave to see what was going on. Their eyes widened when they saw the pillar of ice. However, the Slitherbeast righted itself and screeched at the witches. Then just as it was about to charge at them-

"▂▂▃▃▅▅ーーー!"

A monstrous roar caused all combatants and the observers to stop what they were doing as they turned towards the cave where the Slitherbeast lives as a colossal, statue-like man who is described as a "black giant." with an immensely muscular body stepped out of the cave. His appearance was said to be beyond human, as he looked more like a statue of a monstrous god, instantly marked as the Berserker-class Servant in both appearance and presence. In his hand is a simple Nameless Axe-Sword made of rock.

The Slitherbeast began to growl at the hulking behemoth as it let loose a challenging roar towards the new foe. A growl would escape from the behemoth's throat, answering the roar from the beast as its skin darkened even further and a red light glowed from under its skin with the air seemed to rush away from the Giant. It's growling continued to grow louder as its grip tightened around the handle of its landform weapon until it became a full-fledged roar.

"▂▂▃▃▅▅-▂▂▃▃▅▅■■■■-!"

The sheer power of the roar stunned everyone that was nearby, and even the Slitherbeast seemed to retract a little in fear. Before the creature could recover, the Giant seemed to disappear from the others sight as it surged forth, moving with a surprising amount of speed and power. The snow covered ground beneath it was destroyed by the charge, unable to handle the strength behind each footstep of the Giant, rapidly closing the distance between it and the Slitherbeast before it could react.

The Slitherbeast would only be able to react near the end of the rival monster's charge. It would leap forth, its mouth opened to bite the Giant. But before it could come into contact, the Giant would swing its massive Axe-sword down on the Slitherbeast. The sheer weight of the landform, combined with the speed and power it was swung with, seemed to obliterate the upper half of the monster. The hide that had gone undamaged by hits from before, hardly slowing the massive weapon. It would go all the way through before slamming the ground, creating a powerful gust of wind that blew away the remains that the Slitherbeast became upon its death.

Luz, Amity, Ryker, and the others were stunned at the display of strength from the Giant.

The black giant exhaled deeply to calm down, letting out a thick cloud of steam as the raging red light dimmed away from his eyes and he began to collect his bearings. He didn't know where he had suddenly been summoned, the knowledge of where and when that was supposed to be provided by the Holy Grail was lost amongst the endless darkness in his mind caused by the Madness Enhancement, which meant he was once more summoned as a Berserker. Had he the ability to, he would've snorted in a dark sense of amusement. Out of all the Heroic Spirits in the Throne of Heroes, he was by far the one with the qualifications to be summoned in the greatest number of classes, yet he was always summoned as a Berserker. He supposed that this was the universe telling him that this was his true class, despite it being one of his weakest, something he couldn't argue against… not after everything he did in life.

Putting such thoughts out of his head, he returned to the task of listing out everything he knew, which wasn't much. The first being that he was oddly lucid for being in his Berserker class. It wasn't much, as all but the very core of his being and personality was still lost in the Madness Enhancement, but he was able of some basic form of rational thought process, more than he should've been capable of and he didn't know why. The second, he was in a snowfield, and he had killed a yeti-like creature… already, at this rate, he would've been expecting a Servant Theseus to come around the corner if he still had his sanity. The third and final thing was that as he was summoned, but the question was: who summoned him?

Information flooded his mind as he grips the side of head. From what he obtained, He was possessing the body of his master via Install – Soul Variant: Phantasm Summon - The true usage of this power installs the soul of a Heroic Spirit directly into the user's body, granting the Noble Phantasms, Skills, and appearance of the Heroic Spirit of the card. The user obtains a "fraction of their power", their own existence "overwritten" by that of a hero's existence.

"Ardyn?" A young woman's voice spoke up, causing the Berserker to look towards the Hispanic girl. Images of a young looking girl overlayed with the young girl in front of her, but those images the girl disappeared in the dark fog of his insanity driven mind as fast as they came to him. Berserker couldn't remember who this girl was, not with his current mental facilities anyway, but he knew that whoever she was, she meant enough to him that just associating the girl in front of him with her in some way strengthened the already powerful desire and instinct of a Berserker to protect his master and his allies. However, time was short as his body begins to glow as a sphere surrounded his body, his time on this plane of existence was up. After a few moments, the sphere dissipates as Ardyn remained as he laid on the snow covered ground in fatigue.

With the hulking Servant gone, Ryker breathed in relief and smirked. "Well…I'm glad that's taken care of."

"Ardyn!" Luz exclaimed, running past Ryker as she helps Ardyn up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm ok. Just going to feel that in the morning." Ardyn said as he got his bearing and saw what Luz did with that ice pillar. With a big smile, Ardyn picked Luz up. Hugging her tightly and twirling her around. "But never mind that Luz, you did it! You learned your fourth spell!" He smiled and placed her down.

"Thanks, Ardyn," Luz said, before wrapping her arms around his neck. Nuzzling her cheek against his. "I'm so happy you're alright." This prompted Ardyn to blush hard, but he smiled and hugged her back.

Luz let him go as Eda, Romani, and Ryker walked up to them. "Did you see? I learned my fourth spell! I made the connection!" Luz exclaimed with joy.

"I saw," Eda said as she ruffled Luz's hair. "Nice work kiddo."

"I will admit, I didn't think this plan would work, but I'm glad it did," Ryker said with a smile, impressed with Luz's magic. He then handled the Leviathan Axe back to Ardyn, who smiled and took it back.

Eda then turned to Ryker and smirked at him. "So, it's been a while huh?"

"That's right," Ryker said, placing his staff on his shoulder. "It's been a while Ms. Clawthorne."

Eda smirked teasingly and rubs the top of Rykers head. "Glad to see you're doing okay, kid. And call me Eda for Titan's sake."

"Stop." Ryker said as Emira walked over to him with her eyes covered in shadow of her hair. "Emira are you ok-" He stopped as Emira pulled his ear as he yelps in pain.

"OW OW OW OW OW OW OW!"

"That's for making me worry." Emira said as she lets go of Ryker's ear. When he was about to speak up, Ryker was cut off when his girlfriend grabs him by his coat and passionately kisses him. Ardyn, Luz, Edric and the others jaw dropped at scene while Ryker's face is completely red as Emira pulled back. "And that is for staying alive. Just don't scare me like that again."

"…Okay." Ryker said as he was still reeling from the kiss as Ardyn and Luz walked over to talk to the Goldmark Hybrid.

"So… I didn't hurt you guys, right?" He asked, hoping so. He would like to know if anything happened to the others when he was Berserker.

"No, just surprised is all" Ryker said, looking around at the woods. Then he smirked at Ardyn. "Just do me a favor and warn us next time when something like that happens."

"I'll make sure to do that," Ardyn said jokingly.

Meanwhile, Emira sighed as Amity and Edric walked. "However, I got to say little sis, you showed some real bravery in there." she said to her sister, placing her hand on her hip.

"Yeah, nice work kiddo," Edric said, copying Eda's mannerism and ruffling Amity's hair. Much to the girl's annoyance.

"Grr, stop!" Amity snapped, pushing his hand away and fixing her hair. She then approached Ardyn and Luz. "So, I guess we'll be in the same class."

Luz wrapped her arms around Ardyn and Amity, making the two teens blush a healthy red. "Azura and Ordan Book Club? Azura and Ordan Book Club?!"

"Eh, I'm down with it," Ardyn said with a smile, looking at Amity.

Amity blushed and smiled at him and Luz. The idea of hanging out with both excited her, and she didn't know why. "As long as it's a secret club, okay?" She whispered.

"You know we're standing here, right?" Ryker asked, smirking at them with his arms crossed.

"It's not a secret!" Edric said, waving at them.

"We're going to tell everyone!" Emira finished while Amity sighed disappointedly.

Out of nowhere, Eda sneezed between them, making them jump. The old witch snorted deeply. "Alright, your adorable banter is literally making me sick. Let's go home already," she said.

Luz smiled and said, "On it, teach!"

"Wait, I want to do it!" Ardyn said, eager to try out the spell.

Luz drew the ice glyph onto a piece of paper and showed it to Ardyn. Just like with the other glyphs, Ardyn memorized it and concentrates. His markings turned into the glyph.

"What what are you-" Romani didn't get to finish his sentence as the Hybrid then knelt and slammed his hands into the snow. Creating a diagonal pillar of ice that sent them flying.

Ardyn, Eda, and Luz cheered while Romani shouted in surprise as they flew together in the air. Heading on their way home.

Emira said, "I think we can go the normal way."

The others agreed as they made their way back home.

When the group got back to Owl House, Ardyn, Romani, and the girls were not expecting to find what they had found. The living room was a complete wreck, and stuffed animals were torn apart and tossed everywhere. King and Hooty were talking like they had been through a war together while Musashi looked blankly at the scene, but at the end of it, Ardyn didn't care.

He was in the living room with Musashi, Romani, Luz, and Eda while throwing the last of the possessed plushies into the fire pit. "Alright, no more bringing things to life," he scolded King. Under his shirt were bandages for his injuries.

"Dang it…" King said as he kicked the ground.

Luz sat on the couch and watched before she felt Eda place her hand on her shoulder. "You know, I'm proud of you, kid," she said with a smile. "I know my lessons weren't normal, and it seems like I don't know what I'm doing, but I'm trying to help you by teaching you the way that I learned."

"Thank you, Eda," Luz said with a grateful smile. "I'm glad that you're my teacher. I can't wait to learn more spells."

Ardyn smiled at her before looking back at the fire as he slowly begins to recall what he seen in the memories.

'So... From what I saw in those memories... I summoned The greatest hero in Greek mythology. I never thought to have summoned Heracles himself. Also seeing what happened to his family...I'm glad that the Age of God has come to an end.' The young man thought as he begins to remember who Heracles was. He was a demi-god born from Zeus, the king of the gods, and a human woman (who herself, was the granddaughter of Perseus, a demigod son of Zeus). While he had superior talent in all areas, he had a number of personality issues. He beat his lyre instructor, Linus to death after he reprimanded Heracles for making errors and then caned him with rods, so his mortal father Amphitryon (who himself, was a grandson of Perseus) sent him to tend his cowherds. He thus became a splendid man who accomplished several great deeds that caused the King of Thebes to grant Heracles his daughter, Megara. They had two children, and he earned the right to succeed the king.

He was both young and strong and it seemed that there was no match for him among humans. His future seemed bright, having married the king's daughter and bearing two children, but Zeus's wife, Hera, detested the child born between Zeus and a human. She meddled with his fate at every opportunity, and she started by sending madness to him that caused him to kill his family. Troubled by the sins he had committed, he received a sign that he should atone by becoming the slave of Eurystheus, the man who took away his promised position as king.

Eurystheus, jealous of the strong hero, gave him many difficult tasks, and claimed that Heracles would remain his slave until they were completed. These difficult labors were tasks impossible to complete with normal human skills that later came to be known as the famous Twelve Labors of Heracles. The number of labors originally chosen by the gods was ten, but Eurystheus added two more labors after denying the fulfillment of two of them. Heracles managed to complete even those tasks, so he was granted not only his freedom, but he also received an immortal body as proof of his great accomplishments.

This marked the beginning of the great hero Heracles, the greatest hero in Greece, who singlehandedly achieved great deeds equaling those of the Trojan War and the Argo Expedition. Despite that, Hera's hatred was endless, so the rest of his life was again full of madness. While he should have been immortal, he was killed by poison by one of his wives. Though he was a great hero equally matched with the sun god even as a human, he was slowly killed by Hera's persistent jealousy. He burned his own body, still contaminated with poison at the time of his death, and he entrusted himself to Zeus' judgment. The gods approved of his great deeds in a conference, prepared a seat in Olympus after his death, and acknowledged him as a god. But that was a story for another day as Ardyn and the others decided to turn in for the night.

After what happened today...They earned it.