Chapter 10: Let me tell you why you're here
"Congratulations you've passed."
Luz gave him the appropriate look of confusion. "You were testing me?"
"Yes, young lady, that's correct." Dion nodded, his bluish eyes locked on her.
"Why?" Luz was only able to get the one word out as she stared at him.
"We wanted to ensure that you are loyal and your heart's in the right place."
"We?" Luz seemed only capable of speaking one word at a time.
"Allow me to introduce my friends, the Council of Four." Grinning, Dion shook his tambourine letting his magic reveal to Luz three persons in the room.
"Lady Aisha."
The woman looked at Luz. Her eyes were big, clear taffy in colour, sweet in glance, placed on very high cheekbones. She had Caucasian skin with long purple hair and blue highlights. She worn a magenta coat with purple at the ends. Underneath, she wore purple long heeled boots with dark blue straps around them.
"Count Sidon."
When he looked at human girl, it was like he was looking right through her. Luz experienced a cool shudder.
Sidon was menacing and intimidating in appearance, resembling a Old-Fashioned Vampire with notably long fangs and dark eyes that gleamed red in a room light, like animal's eyes would. Grayish skinn and his hair blacker than a crow, seemed only emphasized his daunting vibes.
His outfit was an elegant and impeccably - a three-piece silk suit the color of karma choc dahlia, his necktie and pocket square of the same color but a few shades darker.
Just the sight of him screamed vampire.
"And General Khonvoum."
Luz took a moment to look at him with her head cocked sideways. Khonvoum was a tall humanoid that closely resembles a lizard.
His scales was a celadon-green color and he had four huge grayish white spikes running down his head that overlap; two natural, and two made of crystal. The crystal prosthetics continue down half off his neck, and his entire right arm, transparently exposing his bones. He wore leather bracers set with black stones, black pants, two bandoleers connecting together on his chest and leather wrappings on his two-toed feet.
Then again there was silence. The Council of Four stared at each other, something unspoken hanging between them.
And then slowly they shifted their eyes to the human teen.
Luz wasn't sure how to read the way they all was looking at her now.
Finaly Dion spoke to his acquaintances.
"Well, as I mentioned, Luz has potential. She's loyal to her friends. And her aura is strong and silly, like a baby's laughter." He raised his hand, "I vote that we accept the idea."
"How very strange." proclaimed Sidon, especially enunciating the 'strange'. "A human who can use magic. How remarkable she can be. I'm curious to see what she would achieve." He raised his left hand. "My vote is yes."
"True loyalty, passion, energy and courage - these are the qualities for which I appreciate." Aisha smiled at Luz before raising her hand. "Vote yes."
"[I think this is a very bad idea, to be honest. She has magic, but she's still Man-cub. Something or someone will probably eat her by week's end.]" Khonvoum said, using a mix of grunts and growls as a means of communicating. "[But fine. I vote yes.]"
"Our decision is clear," Dion scanned three of them with his eyes. "We want Luz to join our two new recruits."
Luz's tongue was useless. She couldn't speak even if she tried. She was completely speechless.
'What is he talking about? Secret test of character and then some mystery voting... What's going on? What do they want with me?'
Her fingers were flexing at her sides, radiating nervous tension.
"Young lady, you've been mimicking the facial expressions of a fish for the last two minutes." Sidon raised an eyebrow.
"Because I don't have a clue what's going on." Luz said with a growing sense of uncertainty. "Can you please explain to me... everything?"
"My dear human, someone else will explain this to you." Aisha looked to Luz, pointed at the door. "Leave the room and turn right, then enter the door at the end of the corridor."
A wicked grin spread across Katrina's face, unnerving Jett, and his jaw dropped as she arranged her Scrabble letters.
"QUIZZIFY," she said proudly. "One hundred and sixty-four points to me."
"How many?" Jett gasped.
"Feel free to check my maths, cousin."
He looked at her, raising an eyebrow. "Is that even a word?"
Katrina smiled at Jett, "Check the dictionary."
He checked both, and groaned. "You are far too good at this game, Red."
"And you're far too good at Hexus Hold Em."
"Good point. I'll stop complaining." Jett counted up what was on the board. "I think all the high-scoring tiles have been used."
"Do you give up?"
"Never. I can beat the odds … somehow."
"Your hope is vain: my victory's inevitable."
"I'll win." he going to put his Scrabble letters on board, but Katrina slapped his hand.
"Ow!" He rubbed his palm with a petulant expression on his face.
"Don't cheat, Birdbrain." She warned Jett, pointing a well-manicured fingernail at him.
His unrepentance is obvious on his face. "How did you know?"
"You were doing your little fingers tick." Katrina said as Jett raised his eyebrow.
"Like this." She showed him and he huffed.
It was just then, when they heard a soft knock on the door, and a human head carefully peeked inside.
"Katrina? Jett?" Luz asked happily. "Is that you?"
"In the flesh and blood." Jett said with a wave as Katrina gave one as well.
"What are you doing here?" Luz asked as she made her way to where her friends stood.
"We're waiting for you." Jett said as drew a magic circle and threw it up.
They suddenly heard the sound of thunder and Luz looked up to see he had spelled out the words "Welcome to the team!" out of magic neon-like floating lightning with a tiny fireworks around it.
"I'm sorry, you lost me." Luz admitted bemusedly.
"Master Dion didn't explain everything to you?" Katrina was surprised when Luz said this.
"Well, he told me the incredible story of the birth of the Boiling Isles, the bond between human world and demon realm, Belos' crazy plan and its consequences, and also say a few words about what the Order of the Keepers. Shortly after he gave me a secret test of character, he introduced me to the Council of Four. Then they voted for some project of which I am a part, and when I asked what all this was about, they sent me to come here. And to be honest, I find that just confusing." Luz just said all that in a single breath.
Sure a lot of cool stuff happened, but with each passing hour she only have more and more questions.
"You know, you're right to be confused and do not know how to react to this." Jett waved at the magic neon before made it disappear.
"So, let us explain," Katrina told Luz, "Two months ago I and Jett applied for a job at the Order. And we've been accepted as Keepers Team, their sole condition being that we find another person to our team."
"After a few weeks, we were ready to give up and move on to something else." Jett interrupted, "But then we met a very special human, the only person who's on the same page as us."
Luz's face dawned in realization. "You want me to join your team. Be part of this mythical Order?"
"That's the reason you're here." Katrina assured.
"But I'm just a human." After a few moments, Luz finally spoke the words, having much thinking in head.
"Human who entered the other realm without fear." Jett began counting off his fingers, "Helped us seal an S class monster, kicked gytrash's ass using only two Dawn Crystals, and figured out how to cast a powerful light spell even though you have no contact with the magic before."
Katrina smiled a little at Luz's realization expression. "The Council of Four were impressed by your bravery and abilities. And trust me, I know from experience, they're not easily impressed." the red head witchling stated in a calm voice, "They however wanted to test your loyalty and morality."
"And you passed." The two cousins said at the same time.
"So, you can join us and spend your entire summer here." Jett grinned, feeling a proud of his friend. "Learning how to be a witch."
"But what about the camp? The proprietor of Camp will notify the police and my mom if I just disappear." Luz knew that she cannot just disappear, she signed the papers in front of Suzi and Jordan. Maybe they're not nice people, but they will not ignore the disappearance of a young girl.
"Don't worry, it's taken care of." Katrina said with a hint of mystery, looking at the others with a smile. "The Order have a special squad for handling memeory of people who noticed "the paranormal activity" in your realm. They will change the camp staff memories a bit."
"People from the camp probably will be walks like a polluted zombie for few weeks, but this isn't our problem." Jett raised the pamphlet that Luz had left in the Owl House. "As long as they're convinced you're on their lame camp." He smirked before he drew a small spell circle with left hand and made the pamphlet for 'Reality Check Summer Camp' crumble to pieces.
"And about your mom, you just need to write or call her with the use of a human scroll. So, she won't be worry about you."
"You don't have to worry about a place to stay either." Katrina inform Luz.
Jett nodded, "You'll stay in the Owl House." He then added, "And now the best part - because you have to learn how your magic work, we got you an extremely great teacher."
"The best of the best." A voice called from behind her, and Luz turned to see the same witch who brought her to this place.
"You are very lucky, little human. Jett and Katrina told me about you and your little adventure in caves." Eda said and jumped on the table, knocked Scrabble boards off it. "So I, Eda Clawthorne – the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles, a master of all magical forms, decide to take you under my wing."
"Clawthorne..." Luz then gasped in realization and looked to Jett and Katrina who gave her a confirming expression.
"Luz, I'd like you to meet my mom." Jett said with a smile.
"We've already met, Owlet." Eda jumped down onto the floor, "I brought back your human friend to the Boiling Isles."
Jett looked at his mom and then turned back to Luz. "Then I'm sorry for whatever my mom did. Because I'm sure she wasn't too subtle in bringing you here."
"Actually it wasn't that bad. A little odd, but no one finds that very alarming." Luz stated as she thought back to the moment Eda had took her.
"So... If you have any more concern, don't worry as we have thought of everything!" Jett assured her.
"Literally everything." Katrina said.
There was a pregnant pause, there were so many emotions running across Luz's face that it was hard to understand.
"Of course you have a choice. I mean, you don't have to join us if you don't want to." Katrina said gently. "Say the word and we'll escort you home, with no hard feelings."
Jett rubbed the back of his neck, "We thought since you weren't very enthusiastic about this summer camp, and you have really grown fond of our stink realm. You will like our offer."
Luz felt something rise in her chest, her eyes glistening wetly.
Jett and Katrina just seemed pretty concerned.
"Sorry, I just... I just can't believe you did all this for me." Luz's voice caught and she felt tears starting to gather in the corners of her eyes.
"Luz, you're our friend." Katrina stated with a warm smile.
"And us weirdos have to stick together." Jett then winked at the girl.
This time, the tears found their way out, and Luz pulled them both into a hug.
"You guys are so wonderful friends. I don't know what to say." said the human girl, in a bit faltering voice as Jett and Katrina smiled and hugged her back.
That was such an emotional moment for all of teenagers.
Suddenly Eda spoke out, ruining the moment.
"It's "I'm" in or "I'm out" offer, kiddo. And decide quickly, I'm missing my show."
Author's note:
Lady Aisha voice is White Diamond from "Steven Universe"/Christine Ebersole
Count Sidon's voice is Horde Prime from "She-Ra and the Princesses of Power"/Keston John
General Khonvoum's voice is Venom from "Venom (2018)"/Tom Hardy
Feel free to comment on it.