[Open on the Owl House living room. Luz is reading a pamphlet about Hexside, labeled "Hexside Facts and Trivia." It has a picture of Principal Bump on the back along with his quote, "Education is the real magic."]

Luz: King, listen to this!

King: [Laying on Luz's stomach.] Hey! Less ready, more scratchy!

Luz: [Sits up.] Sorry! Now that I'll be a student at Hexside, I wanna learn all about it! I've got a new crush

"WHAT?!" Amity shouted, sitting bolt upright on the couch.

and her name is Education!

Amity breathed a sigh of relief. False alarm.

Luz looked over at Camila carefully to see how she reacted to a metaphorical crush being referred to with feminine pronouns, but once more, she didn't appear to notice. She wished she had some idea how Camila would react when she came out. Luz had been dropping hints for months before she went to the Isles. She even went to the trouble of buying a bi flag magnet and leaving it around where Camila could see it. Camila had put it on the fridge, but hadn't said a single word about it, and Luz was too scared to breach the subject.

King: [Bites the pamphlet.] Nyah!

Eda: [Kicks the front door open.] Hey, freeloaders! Guess what today is?

Luz: Is it your birthday?

King: Is it my birthday?

Hooty: It's my birthday!

"Hooty was before all of us, and he will be after all of us," Luz intoned in a dark, sepulcher tone. He claimed to be responsible for the Big Bang and the expansion of the universe, and Luz didn't really have a particular reason to disbelieve him.

Eda: No! [Closes front door.] It's human treasure day!

[Eda tosses the Portal Door into the air. It unfolds and opens. Owlbert flies through, dragging a giant sack. The sack tears when he flips it onto the floor, revealing a pile of human garbage. The door closes.]

"Wait, that's my garbage!" Camila shouted. "Well, some of it is anyway." A part of her liked the idea of her being connected to her daughter, even very indirectly, while she was in the Demon Realm. The larger part of her was pissed Eda stole her trash.

Eda: [Hops onto the pile.] Ahh, fresh garbage.

King: Ooo, gimme, gimme, gimme! [Pulls out a teddy bear.] Yes! Another worthy addition to my army of terror!

"I hope Eda washed that thing before she let him play with it," Camila said. Luz shrugged.

New Guy: I love cuddles and kisses!

King: Truly horrifying!

Eda: [To Luz, who's still reading.] Yo, kid. Your trash pile's getting cold. While mine's getting hot! [Pulls out a wire clothes hangar.] I have never seen such an extravagant earring.

"That's a hangar for putting your clothes on," Vee explained. "Don't use them as earrings. You'll look weird."

"Yeah, not even I would have done that," Luz said.

Luz: You can have my trash. Whoa! Did you know that Hexside was built on the bones of its rival school? One it literally conquered!

[Luz shows off the pamphlet, showing a picture of a much younger Principal Bump standing on various Glandus students, being cheered on by fellow Hexside students. The school burns behind them.]

"I'm not exactly sure that's an example you should be proud of following, mija," Camila warned her.

"They totally had it coming!" Gus protested. "Glandus is a cesspool of vice and sin. It's a place where survival of the fittest is the guiding philosophy. Hexolios fight fierce, but they fight with honor. Well, most of the time."

Eda: [Now wearing two clothing hangars as earrings and looking in a mirror.] Yes, I know all these things, I went there. It was the most harrowing period of my life. [To her reflection.] Oh, hello.

Luz: Can you imagine it! Me, in the halls of Hexside, studying with Willow and Gus and—maybe even Amity! Amity! Oh cramity! We're supposed to meet so I can get my Azura book back! [Runs out, slams door; reopens door.] I love you guys!

Hooty: And I love you, Lu—!

[Luz slams the door again.]

"I was really not in the mood for him," Luz admitted.

"I have to be honest with you, Luz: I would have punched him in the face by this point," Camila said.

"He's not that bad," Luz protested.

Camila made a face. There was something about Hooty that just put all her hackles up. Every time she saw his horrifying visage, she got a deep, primal feeling in her bones that he should not exist. And that voice! She was sure it would feature in her nightmares that evening – and given that the contenders for that position featured far too many instances of Luz in mortal peril, that was a considerable accomplishment.

-THEME SONG-

[Cut to the market.]

Luz: [Running and looking around.] Amity, Amity, Amity, Amity. Gotta find that—oh! [Sees the girl in question, wearing a new outfit.] There she is. Hey, Amity! Luz is finally here!

[Edric and Emira suddenly appear in front of Luz, surprising her.]

"Wow, they really haven't heard of personal space, have they?" Gus said.

"At least they learned their lesson about flirting with her," Amity muttered. She'd taught them the error of their ways…quite extensively. They were still finding abomination goop in inconvenient places weeks later.

Edric and Emira: Hi Luz!

Luz: Ah! [Falls on her back.]

"Very smooth, Luz," Hunter said with a laugh.

[Edric and Emira laugh. Amity walks over.]

Amity: Edric! Emira! Stop bothering her! [Helps Luz up.] Sorry, Luz, they insisted on coming for some reason.

"You seem to be getting along much better here," Camila said.

"Yeah," Amity admitted. "I realized what a jerk I was being. And…I may have started to feel –"

"That she had to be extra nice to make up for it!" Luz said quickly. She was not going to have their relationship be revealed until she was ready. It would probably be just before the Grom episode. She didn't think she would be able to hide it any longer after that one. (And also, she wanted to get Camila in as good a mood as possible to minimize the damage after she found out Grom took her form.)

Emira: [Squishing Amity's face.] Because we love you, baby sister! Ah!

Amity: [Shoves Emira off and straightens her messed-up hair.] They've been extra protective and nice towards me to make up for the library incident.

"It was really weird," Amity said. "It took so long for me to realize they were sincere. I kept on waiting for the other shoe to drop. I assumed they were playing some sort of long con on me to get me with some really vicious prank. I confronted them, and we talked everything out. It was…a difficult conversation. I won't be including my memories of it. I hope that's okay."

"Of course, cariño," Camila assured her. "I would never ask you to."

"Our mom pitted us against each other. Made us resent each other. So we'd have no one in our lives but her. But we saw through it. And we're united now…even if they still annoy the heck out of me."

Edric: [Leaning in.] And we still apologize everyday.

"They did," Amity said. "Sometimes several times a day. It got annoying." Though Amity didn't want to ask them to stop either. She was a better person now, but there was still some part of her that enjoyed seeing them grovel.

Amity: [Shoves Edric away, pulls book out of bag.] In any case, here's your book.

Luz: [Takes the book.] So, what'd you think?

Amity: It was... fine.

"It was absolutely brilliant," Amity assured her. "I just didn't want to give the twins extra teasing ammunition."

Luz: [Pulls a drawing out of the book.] So fine you drew yourself with Malingale the Mysterious Soothsayer?

Amity blushed at the very mention of her slight crush on Azura's most mysterious but trustworthy ally. Despite the fact that they were the exact opposite of Luz in temperament, Amity was really drawn to their unflinching loyalty towards Azura. She wanted someone in her life who was just as loyal to her. Of course, she hadn't meant for Luz to see the artwork. And now everyone else was seeing it! How embarrassing.

[Amity blushes and summons a spell circle, destroying the drawing.]

Luz: This is great! Maybe we could even start an Azura club at school when we're classmates!

Amity: When we're what?

Luz: Surprise! [Pulls out the pamphlet.] I'm enrolling at Hexside!

Amity: Oh! Uh, sorry, but to be in my class, you need to take a placement exam and prove that you've mastered two spells. [Shows the requirements on the pamphlet.] I know you have your light thing. Uh, do you know anything else?

"That didn't come across as passive aggressive, did it?" Amity worried.

"I mean, maybe a little?" Willow admitted. "But you were trying, Amity. Don't be too hard on yourself. No one becomes a different person overnight."

Luz: Placement exam? Spells?

Emira: Quit giving her a hard time, Mittens.

Edric: Yeah, of course she knows two spells. Right, Luz?

Luz: Pff. Yeah. 'Course I know two spells! [Laughs nervously.]

"I mean, like I was going to admit I didn't know something in front of the coolest person I knew," Luz said. Amity grinned. Luz thought she was cool even then! Unless she was referring to Edric or Emira? No. No, she was just being silly and paranoid now.

Amity: Because if you don't, they'll put you in the baby class.

[Amity hands Luz the pamphlet back, now flipped to the baby class page.]

"Ouch," Camila said. "I hope they didn't put you in there. That would have really been a blow to the ego."

"Nah, don't worry. I figured it out," Luz bragged.

"Probably through some sort of mortal danger, yes?" Camila said in a deadpan tone. Luz gave a nervous laugh.

Edric: Oooh! Brain idea!

[Edric kneels in front of Amity. Emira leans on Amity's back, trapping her between them.]

Emira: What if we all trained together? We could show off what we know!

Edric: What do you say, Luz?

Luz: Uh, actually, I have other training plans in a very far away place that I have to go to right now. [Pretends to walk away.] Bye! [Actually leaves.]

"You have got to teach Eda to get you to lie better," Hunter said.

"You will be doing no such thing," Camila said sternly.

[Cut to the Owl House kitchen.]

Luz: [Slams the front door open.] Eda!

Eda: There it is.

Luz: [Runs in.] Eda, Eda! Eda! [Falls.] You have to teach me a new spell right now!

Eda: Sorry, Luz! These vegetables won't cook themselves... yet.

[Eda dumps a potion onto vegetables. They all grow arms and legs.]

Camila leaned forward, very interested. This was certainly a new and interesting spin on cooking.

Eda: Alright, everybody in the pot!

[The vegetables scream and run.]

Ah. She should have known it was too good to be true.

Eda: Why do I always think that's gonna work?

Luz: [Stands.] But I need to know two spells to get into decent classes at Hexside. I can make light glyphs. [Pulls one out and activates it.]

Eda: [Shields her eyes.] Aah!

"Remember your audience, Luz," Camila reminded her.

Luz: But at the end of the day, that's the only spell I know. [Falls face-first to the floor.]

Eda: And whose fault is that?

Luz: [Muffled.] Yours!

Eda: Hah! Yep. Got me there.

Camila had to agree. While she was appreciative that Eda had provided Luz with a home during her time in the Demon Realm – even though the responsible thing to do was get Camila's okay, which she very much did not do – it had to be said Eda was not honoring the agreement she'd made with Luz very much.

Luz: [Stands.] Just teach me a spell now. Any spell! It can be the darkest evil.

"No learning spells of the darkest evil!" Camila said immediately, pointing at Luz sternly.

"Don't worry, mom," Luz said. "Magic isn't inherently evil or good. All that matters is how you use it."

"Yeah," Hunter confirmed. "Magic being good or evil is just as ridiculous a dichotomy as it being wild or controlled. Magic is magic. And people who say otherwise are just zealots with their own agenda." He sighed, remembering how he'd been manipulated so badly by one of said zealots.

Eda: Well, I have been researching my texts on wild magic, but I'm much too busy right now. [Throws book in the pot.]

Luz: Come on, Eda! You're the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles. How would it look if your apprentice got thrown into the baby class?

Eda: Hmm. Weaponizing my pride. Well played. Well, in that case, this looks like a job for magic boot camp.

King: [Opens back door.] Did someone say boot camp? I agree to run it. We'll rise at dawn! You'll carry me on your back as I yell hateful things about your performance!

"Please tell me Eda didn't let him watch Full Metal Jacket," Camila said.

"Nah, he'd have been swearing a lot more if he did," Luz said. "King doesn't know any swear words. He'd use them if he knew them." Camila was reluctantly impressed. Eda seemed like the sort of person who swore all the time but, indeed, she hadn't heard her swear once around Luz.

Eda: 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.

King: I am not adorable! [Stomps.]

Everyone, even Hunter, gave an aww sound.

Luz: Aww, he stamped his little foot!

[King squeals and leaves, slamming the door behind him. It reopens. He slams it again. It reopens. He slams it harder.]

"Truly, he is the most adorable creature in existence," Luz said.

Eda: Now, no time to waste. You'll have to follow my teaching exactly. We gotta go somewhere special.

Luz: Yes!

Eda: A place where magic energy just flows.

Luz: [Climbs onto the counter; louder.] Yes!

[Cut to Eda and Luz standing in winter gear surrounded by snow.]

"How do you have snow if the rain always boils?" Camila wondered. No one had an answer for her.

Eda: A place like, the Knee!

"So why is it called the Knee?" Camila asked.

"Because…it's on the knee of the Titan?" Amity responded slowly.

"Oh, right." Camila had forgotten for a bit there that the Isles were built upon someone's corpse.

"So what kind of corpse is Earth built on?" Gus wondered.

Vee perked up, eager to share her science knowledge. She loved science of all kinds. It was like an endless well of fun, exciting facts. "It's actually built on a ton of rock. There are these massive segments called tectonic plates, and they're moving all the time, very slowly. Sometimes, they bump against each other and the ground shakes. That's called an earthquake!"

"Awesome!"

Luz: Yes!

[Luz's cry echoes across the Isles.]

Eda: The earliest witches came to the Knee to develop their magic, drawn to its natural power.

"Of course, there's just oral knowledge passed through the centuries of this," Hunter said. "Belos made it his personal mission to destroy all written records of wild magic." He grimaced, remembering his own role in doing just that.

Luz: [Gasps.] It's beautiful!

[Ruins covered in snow are shown.]

Eda: [Gestures to the side.] Though, it's not without its dangers.

[Luz screams. A Slitherbeast is gnawing on a tree trunk.]

Camila shuddered. Though looks could be deceiving – Vee was certainly evidence of that – the creature looked very, very dangerous.

Eda: The Slitherbeast! Don't worry, if you don't mess with him, he won't mess with you.

Camila scoffed. She knew very well Luz would end up fighting the slitherbeast by the end of the "episode." It was inevitable.

[Luz blows a raspberry at the Slitherbeast. It bites through the tree trunk and sniffs in Luz's direction. She yelps and runs off.]

"Mija, don't antagonize the terrifying beast," Camila said chidingly.

"Sorry, mami," Luz said. "I just can't help myself!"

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Eda: Here's where we'll set up shop.

Luz: I'll definitely learn my second spell here! Gorgeous views, magic in the air. And best of all, we're completely alone!

[A pink light illuminates her.]

Eda: Watch out!

[Eda tackles Luz seconds before a pink fireball hits the spot Luz had been standing in. Eda pops up over the rocks they fell behind with her staff drawn. Luz also pops up, and gasps.]

"It was an accident!" Amity said frantically to Camila. "I didn't know someone was there! You have to believe me, Mrs. Noceda."

"Amity, relax," Camila said. "Of course I believe you."

Amity: Sorry, whoever's over there!

"Hey, looks like you're making some progress," Willow said. "A couple episodes ago, you probably would have laughed."

"Thanks for reminding me," Amity muttered.

Luz: [Ducks back down, hides her face with her hat.] Forget teaching me a spell, just make me disappear.

Eda: Well, okay, but I've got a 60/40 record of making you re-appear. Oh! You meant... ah, never mind.

[Edric and Emira wave.]

Edric: Hey, Luz!

Emira: Luz!

Edric: Hey, it's us!

Luz: Okay, let's do this. [Stands and waves.] Hey, guys!

Eda: Who are they?

Luz: [Grabs Eda's jacket.] Be cool! If they know I haven't mastered two spells, they'll think I belong in the baby class!

"Sorry I lied to you," Luz said with a grimace.

"I'm a little bit more pissed about you stealing my training wand," Amity admitted. Luz looked at the floor. "But all is forgiven!" Amity added hurriedly. "It's all in the past. No big deal in the grand scheme of things, right?"

Amity: [Walking toward them.] What's that about the baby class?

Eda: Only that it's for babies, and Luz here clearly isn't a baby. [To a glaring Luz.] Nailed it. [Whistles and walks away.]

"She did that on purpose," Luz accused.

Luz: Amity! [Slips, poses on the ground.] Wha... What are you doing here?

"Nailed it," Luz said confidently.

Amity: I'm here to train. I'm trying to beat Ed and Em's highest score on the exam.

Emira: [Popping up from behind Amity.] Aw, Mittens. That's impossible!

"I did it anyway," Amity said proudly. "Tell me something is impossible, would you? Nothing is impossible for me, Amity Blight, master of abominations!" Luz applauded.

Edric: [Also popping up from behind Amity.] She still needs to use a training wand to learn new spells. So what are you workin' on? Something powerful?

Luz: Yup! Powerful spells! I'm workin' on one that's so crazy! Eda's a pretty incredible teacher.

Eda: [Carrying a basket of snowballs.] Luz! I shall now teach you how to identify different types of snow—by taste! [Holds out a snowball.] Go on, eat the snow. [Shoves it in Luz's face.]

Camila burst out laughing. She worried for a second Luz might be offended, but much to her relief, Luz seemed to find it as amusing as she did.

Emira: Is this some kind of... special magic?

Amity: Ahem. I don't think the Owl Lady wants to show us any of her powerful spells. [Leaves.]

"I thought she was making fun of us," Amity said.

"She probably was," Luz admitted. "She really doesn't like your mom."

"Understandable. I don't like her either."

Eda: [Points at her mouth full of snowballs; swallows.] Oooh. Brain freeze! Brain freeze!

Emira: See you around, human! Good luck with your, uh, training.

[Edric picks up a clump of snow and tries to lick it. Emira knocks it out of his hand and drags him away.]

Edric: Aw.

"I swear, if Emira wasn't around, Edric would have killed himself doing some stupid stunt ages ago," Amity complained. "At least Jerbo's keeping the stupidity average down."

"Oh?" Luz said. "I didn't know the two of them were friends."

"Actually, they're dating," Hunter said. "Edric's been keeping on the downlow for a while cause Jerbo's parents really hate the Blight family. But they have told Viney and she told me."

[Edric and Luz wave to each other.]

Luz: Eda! Can you please take this seriously?

Eda: You need to take me seriously. Go taste snow without my guidance, see where it gets you.

"Nowhere good," Luz said. "Some of the snow on the Isles can be toxic! I…totally found that out through perfectly safe means and not through eating some of it myself." Camila just rolled her eyes.

[Luz looks downcast.]

Eda: Oh. [Sighs.] Don't worry, kid. [Ruffles Luz's hair.] If you listen to me, soon you'll be doing stuff like that.

[They look at the Blights. Amity reads from Magic 101, then aims her training wand at a tree and draws a spell circle with it. The produced fireball destroys the tree. The battery light on the training wand flashes.]

"Very impressive!" Camila said. Amity beamed with pride. Luz sulked. It would be so long before Camila got to see her doing things like that.

Eda: And it won't be with some wack training wand, it'll be the real deal. But you have to trust me, okay?

Luz: [Nods.] Okay. I trust you.

Eda: We've covered snow, so now it's on to smelling moss. [Pulls moss out of her pocket.] Now the trick is, [Shoves the moss up her nose.] you really gotta get it up in there.

Camila wasn't sure whether or not Eda was just suckering Luz to hide the fact that she didn't really know how to teach her a spell or whether her methodology was actually effective. The truth, she figured, was likely somewhere in the middle. Eda probably didn't know for sure how to teach Luz, so she was improvising in the hopes of finding a method that genuinely worked.

[Luz's expression falls. Cut to the Knee, where Eda is sitting in front of a fire drinking out of a mug and Luz is walking out from the forest.]

Luz: Ugh. Okay. I've identified the smells of three different rocks, sorted all the twigs from big to small, and found your glove, and your hand. [Lifts glove off of Eda's detached hand.]

"I really thought we were done with the whole severed limb deal," Camila complained, clutching her stomach.

Eda: Ah, I was wondering where that thing went. [Screws her hand back on.]

Luz: So what now?

[Cut to Amity training with Edric and Emira. Amity sends a jet of fire at Edric with the training wand. He dodges it. Emira summons an arm of snow. Amity blocks and destroys it with a shield. Amity dispels the shield and waves at Luz. Edric uses the distraction to make Amity sink in the snow until only her hand is showing. Luz giggles.]

"I can't help it," Amity complained. "You always have this effect on me!"

Luz shrugged modestly. "What can I say, Amity? It's my natural wit and charm."

Eda: Hey. I know my lessons seem weird 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 wanna learn a second spell?

It did have to be said that Eda's philosophy on wild magic echoed similar paganistic beliefs from people who claimed to be able to wield magic on Earth, Camila considered. Maybe there was more to her seemingly pointless lessons than there appeared. Anyway, seemingly pointless lessons were an important part of training in the movies. Look at Yoda or Mr. Miyagi.

Luz: With all my heart.

Eda: Then you have to learn from the island. [Guides Luz to a rock, makes her sit down.] Now look.

[The rock overlooks the Titan. Its Ribs are nearly the same height as the Knee, and its Skull is towering even from the opposite end of the Isles. Luz stares at the sight in awe as wind blows past her.]

"It's so beautiful," Willow breathed.

Eda: And think about what the island is trying to tell you. [Leaves.]

Luz: [Takes deep breath.] Alright, Luz. Look. Look with everything you've got. Focus. [Raises her right hand and speaks through it.]

"Yeah, maybe this wasn't the best method of learning for me," Luz admitted.

Luz's Right Hand: Focus? On what? On you'll be stuck in the baby class?

"You are so weird," Hunter complained.

"Well, I happen to like that about her!" Amity snapped.

Luz: No! Don't think like that!

Luz's Left Hand: Face it, you'll never get a second spell following Eda's lessons.

"Do…you do this very often, mija?" Camila said, unable to stop a hint of concern from entering her voice. "In school?"

"Of course not," Luz said. "Well, not when anyone's listening, anyway." And she was extra careful about making sure no one was listening after she got caught doing it by Amber, the head cheerleader and meanest girl in school.

Luz: Silence, hands!

[A crash gets her attention. Amity has destroyed a pillar with her training wand.]

"You must be a very powerful witch, Amity," Camila said.

"I must be," Amity said, leaning back on the couch and smirking.

Emira: [Offscreen.] Amity! Dinner's ready!

Edric: [Offscreen.] I caught a bat!

Amity: Edric, don't eat that. [Puts her book and wand into her tent, walks off.]

"I swear, that boy requires constant, 25/7 supervision," Amity muttered.

Luz: If I wanna be in the same class as Amity, I'm gonna need to learn magic like Amity.

Luz's Left Hand: Great work, Luz!

Luz: Shh! I don't need your validation.

"Yes, I did," Luz admitted. "Well, I needed Eda's validation, actually, but my hand would have been a nice consolation prize."

"You need help," Hunter said.

[Cut to the Knee, where Edric is holding a bat. Emira and Amity glare at him.]

Emira: Ed, give me the bat.

Edric: No! If we're not gonna eat it, I wanna keep it as a pet! [Runs off.]

"He did keep it as a pet," Amity said darkly. "Can you believe that? What sort of an idiot keeps a bat as a pet?" She sighed. "The kind of idiot I want to see again so badly, I suppose."

"You will see him again," Luz promised. "You will."

"But how, Luz?" Amity demanded. "There's no magic in the Human Realm! If no one's ever done it before, then how could we?"

"Everything was once never done before," Vee said. "The greatest innovations were done by accident. Anything is possible WITH THE POWER OF SCIENCE!" She let forth a maniacal laugh.

Luz scooted minutely away from Vee. "Yeah, Am. We'll do it! We can do anything!"

[Emira and Amity follow him.]

Emira: Get back here before that thing bites you!

"Too late," Amity lamented.

[Luz sneaks into the Blights' tent and takes Amity's wand and book.]

"Oh, Luz," Camila said, shaking her head in dismay.

"I wasn't stealing it!" Luz protested. "I was just…borrowing it, that's all. I was totally going to give it back! I just wanted to impress Amity. How could I ever have impressed her, or anyone, if I was in the baby class?"

"I'm sure Amity would be happy to be your friend regardless of what class you were in," Camila retorted. Amity wasn't so sure of that herself. The Amity of today would have done that, of course, but the Amity of back then was still in the process of becoming a better person. If Luz had gone to the baby class, Amity was pretty sure she probably would have given up on her.

[She goes to a ledge near her and Eda's tent, where she kneels down and opens the book. Inside is a drawing Amity made.]

Luz: Huh. Her crosshatching has improved.

"Practice makes perfect!" Amity said.

[She moves Amity's drawing to show a page titled "Fireball." Under an image of a witch casting the spell is the word "FOCUS" written in runes.]

Luz: Oh man, oh man. [Stands and draws a circle with the wand; gasps.] Yes!

Camila stared at the training wand carefully. It looked so familiar. She was sure she'd seen it before. But how was that even possible? It was from another dimension. And then she abruptly remembered. It had been among the detritus the curator had collected.

"Vee, I think that Hopkins guy got his hands on one of those," Camila said. "Didn't you say your friend Masha runs the historical society now? Perhaps they can get you access to his collection?"

"Uh…I guess I can ask them," Vee said, shifting awkwardly in her seat. Talking to Masha had been so easy back at camp, but recently, she had felt so strange whenever she spent time in her friend's company. It was extremely disconcerting. "I'd need to come up with some excuse, though. I haven't told them I'm a basilisk yet…I don't know if I'll ever have the courage."

"Well, when you do, I'll be there to support you if you want," Camila said. "But I think it's important to ask them, sweetie. If we can find out where the wand came from, maybe we can find a way to the Isles." Vee nodded.

[She shoots the fireball off. It explodes like a firework.]

Luz: I did magic! I did magic! [Jumps in place.] Without drawing anything! This thing is the coolest!

That was pretty awesome, Camila had to admit. She wondered if she'd be able to do the same thing with the training wand. That'd be the ultimate way to stick it to Angela and her vile friends.

Eda: Hold it right there. What are you doing with that?

Luz: I'm doing magic, what would you have me do? Eat more snow? Lick a rock?

Eda: [Pauses.] Okay, so maybe my methods are... unique, but so is your magic. Connecting to the island can help you. That wand can't.

Luz: Well, it's already helped me. Just watch what I can do!

[She draws out another spell circle. The power bar on the wand flashes a low battery bar. Luz loses control of the fireball.]

Luz: Wh... whoa!

"Yeah…not my finest moment," Luz admitted.

Camila let out a deep sigh. Luz had seemed so much more mature when they'd briefly spoken in hologram form, and she certainly seemed more mature now. Perhaps a bit too much. But she hadn't really seen too much evidence Luz had changed very much so far. She kept on taking insane risks to get people to like her. What had caused her to change? Camila had a hunch she was not going to like the answer.

[The fireball goes off further into the Knee. When it lands, birds fly off. The Slitherbeast growls. Eda gasps. The Slitherbeast jumps over the trees. A large patch of fur has been burned off over its mouth. The Slitherbeast continues growling.]

Eda: You've angered the Slitherbeast.

[The slitherbeast roars.]

Luz: Will it accept a heartfelt apology?

"It was a legitimate question!" Luz protested. "I had no clue how sentient it was!"

[The Slitherbeast sniffs and sees the still smoldering-tip of Amity's training wand. It growls and runs at Luz, who screams.]

Eda: [Shoves Luz.] Watch out!

[The Slitherbeast grabs Eda. She screams and strains. The Slitherbeast growls.]

Luz: Eda!

Amity: Luz!

[The Blights arrive.]

Edric: What did we miss?

Amity: And what are you doing with my wand?

"I guess I didn't succeed in looking very cool, did I?" Luz said sheepishly.

"Oh, Luz," Amity said. "You don't have to look cool to make me like you. You just need to be your wonderful self."

"Yeah…well, you're cool enough for the both of us, right?"

Amity shrugged. "I try. I'm cooler than Edric, aren't I?" Luz shifted a little. "Aren't I?!" Luz quickly nodded.

Luz: Um...

[Amity takes her wand and her book and holds them protectively.]

Emira: Mittens, we've got bigger problems.

[The Slitherbeast advances on them, Eda still held in one claw. It growls at them.]

Emira: [Running in front of Luz and Amity.] Aw, he's so cute. Can we keep him?

"Please tell me you didn't keep the slitherbeast, Luz," Camila said pleadingly. It was bad enough Luz was living in a house with an owl beast and Hooty.

"I wish I could have," Luz sulked.

Edric: [Runs up with Emira.] It's no bat, but we could try.

[Edric and Emira both cast a lasso at the Slitherbeast's hands. It growls and pulls at the bonds. Edric and Emira struggle to keep hold.]

"If I'd been paying more attention, I would have realized that was a beast keeping spell," Amity said. "Ed's been studying beast keeping on the sly. He's multitracking now."

"Multitracking?" Camila asked.

"Just a little innovation that yours truly helped get off the ground," Luz bragged.

Eda: You got it! Now finish it off!

Amity: I'm on it! [Runs forward and tries to cast with her wand, fails.] What? [She smacks the wand against her hand, then notices the low battery light. She turns to Luz.] Did you use this all up?

Luz winced. "Sorry!"

Luz: I... I didn't know!

Emira: Come on, Luz!

Edric: Do those powerful spells you were talking about!

Luz: But I don't actually... know any.

Luz put her head in her hands. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!" she muttered.

"Oh, sweetie, you're not stupid," Camila said. "A bit foolish, yes. But I understand why you didn't want to look like a fool in front of someone you clearly cared deeply for."

"Uh…" Luz said, wondering if her secret was finally out.

"Well, no more dawdling!" Camila said quickly, realizing she may have let her hand slip a little. "Don't keep me in suspense like this!"

[The Slitherbeast growls and frees its hands with a yell. Emira and Edric are yanked into the snow.]

Amity: Edric! Emira!

"They'll be fine," Luz assured Camila.

[The Slitherbeast picks up the Blights, but Amity falls through.]

Amity: No!

[The Slitherbeast puts Edric and Emira into the claw holding Eda and runs off. The captured witches yell as the Slitherbeast goes. Amity and Luz follow them for a bit, then stop, panting. Cut to the Knee, where Luz and Amity watch trees shake as the Slitherbeast runs through them.]

Luz: What do we do?

Amity: I am going after them. You are staying here.

Luz: But the beast has Eda!

Amity: [Advances on Luz.] And because of you, it also has my brother and sister! Now stay put. [Pauses.] You'll only get hurt.

"Sorry, Luz," Amity said.

"No…no, I would have done the same," Luz admitted. She gave a weak smile. "I mean, I stole your wand, got your siblings kidnapped…I'm surprised you wanted anything to do with me after this."

"I'm not," Amity said softly but firmly.

[She draws a circle in the air. A matching circle appears on the ground around Luz. With a flick of Amity's hand, a cage rises from the circle on the ground. Amity runs.]

Luz: Amity! Wait! [Gets shocked by Amity's cage.] Stupid island. [Kicks rock.] Ugh! Ow. [Sits on the rock, looks at the Titan's Skull.] You were supposed to teach me magic.

[She looks up, where clouds are parting to reveal stars. Snow is beginning to fall.]

Luz: But I'll never learn more than this.

[She pulls a notepad and a pencil from her pocket and draws a light glyph. She activates it and watches as it flies into the sky. Stars blink above.]

Luz: Wait. Is that...

[The stars form a constellation in the form of her light glyph. She traces the outer ring with her finger.]

Camila let out a soft gasp. Eda had been right the whole time!

Luz: ...a light glyph? But what does that mean?

[A snowflake lands on her glove. She looks at it, seeing a pattern in the center before it melts.]

Luz: Whoa.

[Determined, she grabs a stick. She breaks a twig off of it and catches another snowflake.]

Luz: It means... magic is a gift from the island. It means...

[She draws the glyph from the snowflake into the snow with the twig, adding a diamond to the bottom. She taps the glyph on the ground, backing away when a small pillar of ice rises from it.]

"WOW!" Camila shouted. And she thought the light glyph had been impressive! Her little girl could now wield the magic of the elements themselves! Now if this didn't knock the socks off of those squares at Hexside, Camila didn't know what would.

Luz: ...magic is everywhere.

[Luz grabs the bigger stick and replicates the ice glyph, this time the entire size of the cage.]

Luz: Magic is everywhere!

[She jumps off the rock and activates the giant glyph. The resulting ice pillar grows taller than the cage, launching her through the air.]

Camila clapped, watching the screen with awe. Maybe some part of her should have been berating Luz for taking a risk, but damn, it was just too cool. Her daughter was a spell slinging badass!

Luz: Whoooo—aaah! [Lands in the snow.] My second spell! [Pops out.] Thank you, snow! Thank you, island! Thank you, Eda. [Pauses.] Eda! I have to save her. [She gets out of her hole and runs. Cut to the Knee, where Luz runs out of some trees. Growling is heard from a cave obscured with fog. Inside the cave, the Slitherbeast spits purple goop at the wall. It shoves Eda, Emira, and Edric against it. The goop closes around their torsos. The Slitherbeast hops away.]

Emira: Don't worry. We'll be fine!

[Skeletons drop from the ceiling.]

Edric: No, we're gonna die.

Luz: That's right. [Pops up with a skull over her face.] Death is here.

Camila glared at Luz. "There is a time and a place, mija."

"Sorry, mami."

[Lifts skull.] Just kidding, Luz is here!

Eda: Kid, get outta here! I'm just gonna sneak away when the thing starts eating the twins.

"She would not have done that," Luz hastened to assure everyone. "She was just joking." Camila believed her.

Emira: Wait, what?

[Edric lets out an offended gasp.]

Luz: Don't worry, Eda, I get it now. I was so obsessed with learning my second spell, I didn't listen to you. But now I'm gonna save you! [Jumps away.] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Eda: Well, at least I got to see her misplaced confidence one last time.

"Turned out to be not misplaced for once," Luz bragged.

[Cut to Amity peeking around a boulder with a serious expression. Luz pops up under her with a similar expression. Amity notices Luz and her expression becomes shocked.]

Amity: Luz!

Luz: [Grinning.] Hello!

[They both duck behind the boulder.]

Amity: H-how did you get past the barrier?

Luz: Magic! Literally! Now, forget that, because you and I are gonna have to work together if we want to save everyone. Okay, here's what we're gonna do. [Whispers to Amity.]

[The Slitherbeast returns. It sprinkles assorted seasonings on Edric, Emira, and Eda's heads.]

Eda: [Sneezes.] Ugh, I hate garlic.

Camila wondered if there was a correlation between Edric's hatred of garlic and the folklore that said it was effective in warding off dark creatures, or if she was reading way too much into it. Probably the latter.

Luz: Hey! You big idiot! [Waves her arms.] Over here!

[The Slitherbeast turns and growls. It jumps at Luz, who runs. Amity climbs up to her siblings and Eda.]

Edric: Amity!

Emira: Use that fire spell we taught you!

"Use the Force, Amity!" Luz joked. Amity just looked at her with confusion. "Oh, we are so watching Star Wars."

Camila scoffed. "Cosmic Frontier is ten times better."

"Oh, mom. The myth that one can't be both a Star Wars and Cosmic Frontier fan is so 2003."

Amity: But I can't do it without the wand!

Emira: Yes, you can. Just focus.

Amity: Okay.

[She slowly traces a spell circle in front of her. It wavers when she concentrates, but a ball of pink fire appears after a moment and she smiles proudly.]

"Oh, very well done, Amity," Camila said. Amity beamed with pride. It felt so nice when Camila gave her praise. When someone's mother did it, even if it wasn't hers.

Emira: Cool. I didn't think you could actually do it.

[Amity melts the three of them free. Luz screams.]

Amity: Luz!

[Cut to Luz dodging the Slitherbeast and running out of the cave. The Slitherbeast follows her until she gets to a tree and stops. It is growling loudly.]

Luz: Gotcha!

[Luz steps on a huge ice glyph drawn into the snow. She ducks away from the rising pillar of ice. The ice launches the Slitherbeast into the air, it lands hard on its back. Everyone else runs out of the cave. The Slitherbeast rights itself, screeches at the witches, and runs at them.]

"That was awesome!" Camila said and gave Luz a high five. Luz was surprised. She really thought Camila was going to be more upset. Maybe she was finally getting used to the danger. Luz really hoped so, because there was a lot worse ahead than a mere slitherbeast.

Eda: You want me to teach you kids something cool?

Amity and Emira: Yes!

Edric: Yes, please!

"Oh, so suddenly you're not so opposed to wild magic when it benefits you," Willow teased Amity, who grumbled under her breath.

Eda: [Runs forward, draws complicated spell circle; grunts.] Sleep spell!

[Her spell circle passes around the Slitherbeast. It immediately falls to the ground and begins snoring.]

Luz: Now that's my mentor! [Runs up to Eda.] Did you see? I learned my second spell! I made the connection!

Eda: I saw. [Ruffles Luz's hair.] Nice work, kiddo.

Camila gave a fond smile. She was glad someone was able to give Luz affection and support when she wasn't able to.

Emira: [Sighs.] You showed some real bravery in there, sis.

Edric: Yeah, nice work, kiddo. [Ruffles Amity's hair.]

"They love me," Amity said, sounding as if she was trying to convince herself of that a little. "That's just how they show it."

"I'm sure they miss you very much," Camila assured her.

Amity: Grr, stop! [Fixes her hair and approaches Luz.] So it looks like we'll be in the same class.

Luz: Azura Book Club? Azura Book Club?!

Amity: [Blushing; whispering.] As long as it's a secret club, okay?

Edric: It's not a secret!

Emira: We're gonna tell everyone!

"That was just a joke," Luz said. "After the diary incident, they were real careful about keeping Amity's secrets." They hadn't even spread the news that Luz and Amity were dating, though Amity's lack of subtlety meant it was an open secret even without the twins' intervention.

[Amity sighs disappointedly.]

Eda: [Sneezes between them, making them jump.] Alright, your adorable banter is literally making me sick. Let's go home already.

Luz: On it, teach!

[Luz draws another ice glyph and activates it. This one is a diagonal pillar of ice that sends them flying, they both cheer.]

"It may have been a bit slow going, but that was definitely the most awesome way to return."

Emira: I think we can go the normal way. [The trio walk off.]

[Cut to the Owl House, where stuffing is raining down in the living room.]

"Yeah, I have no clue what we walked in on," Luz admitted.

King: Private Hooty, today when the felt flew you showed grit and determination that were instrumental in securing our victory. May I just say, it has been an honor, to be your commander.

Hooty: Sir, the honor is all mine.

King: Private, [Hugs Hooty.] our hearts have been touched by fire, and—

Eda: Ahem! [In the doorway with Luz, who looks around at the mess.] What the heck did you two get into?

King: Um, excuse me? We're having a moment here!

Hooty: You'll never understand what we've been through together! Never! Never!

"And thank God for that," Luz said.

King: [Walks away.] Ugh, moment ruined.

Hooty: I will be haunted by my actions forever. Hoot hoot!

Hooty definitely wasn't the only one, Luz mused. "Well, that was sure a rollicking good time!" she said in a forced cheerful tone of voice. She remembered what was coming next and gave a more genuine grin. "Anyway, the next one's about my first day in Hexside! It's sure to be a real blast!"

"Not…literally, I hope?" Camila said.

Luz wracked her memories and then shook her head. "I wish you didn't have to think about that first," Camila lamented.