Me: I'll update sooner!
Also me: *Updates later*

Chapter 18: I'm tired of fear

"Wait. What is that... operation exactly?" Hunter asked, as he and King sat up as well.

While Luz brought something out of a chest, before turning back to the others and unfolding a big (almost tapestry-like) blueprint of Hexside, with arrows pointing towards and outwards drawn all around. "This is operation high school break-in. A genious plan to sneak you guys into Hexside, without Amity's parents, or anyone who might snitch, noticing." She announced proudly, getting mixed reactions, from smiles to curiosity to probably... actual concern. But since no one was interrupting, she went on. "Me and Amity were thinking about this for a while and now seems like a good time to share and expand our little plan, for a full-on 'being a kid' experience. So, the plan goes like this: We leave the house late in the morning and all cloaked up, so that no one can recognize us on the way. By the time we reach the school, everyone has gone inside, heading to class for the first period. Which gives us time to get you into the secret room of shortcuts."

"It's a special room that has many secret doors hidden all over Hexside." Amity explained, noticing Hunter looking oddly at the blueprint. "We can stay there and watch any class in secret and no one will know."

"Well, aside from my trouble-maker friends who showed me the room in the first place and... uh... a little problem we've yet to solve:" Luz smile strained a bit at this, before it turned into a pout. "Principal Bump."

"Why's he a problem?" King asked. "I thought that guy was cool with you. He let Eda enroll you without snitching on the emperor's coven."

"Yeah, but after finding out about that room, he sealed it up. And, since he wasn't that big of a help when the Blights got me and my friends kicked out of Hexside, we aren't exactly sure we can ask him to un-seal it."

"Have you tried a pocket-key?"

...

Hunter wasn't sure why he actually said that out loud. Sure, he was getting more comfortable with conversations there, but this time he probably should've...

No matter, now he said it. And the others looked pretty perplexed about it.

"Well, that room you were talking about, sounds pretty much like a pocket-space. Small, hidden areas that sometimes have multiple entry points. They used to be pretty common during the earliest savage ages, used mostly as storages or bunkers. And they could be opened and closed only with their assigned pocket-keys, made by whoever crafted the room." He explained, kind of unsure whether he still regreted talking or not.

"That's it!" The human suddenly exclaimed. "Eda might have that key! She made the shortcut room when she was a student."

"Of course she did..."
"Of course I did."

The Owl Lady's voice was suddenly heard, cutting the conversation short, as everyone turned to look at her and the little bandaged bird on her shoulder.

"Flapjack!" Hunter called out, barely catching himself from standing up. While Flapjack chirped at him, flapping his wing a bit, before closing it again (thank goodness the Owl Lady didn't have to catch him).

"All right, all right. Slow down, you guys." She chuckled as she carefully handed him to his witch, who immediately brought him close to his face and he started nuzzling against it, still chirping happily.

"I'm so glad you're okay. Please don't ever scare me like that again."

"I won't. I'm sorry." Flapjack said, just as relieved as Hunter, before the latter pulled away.

And then heard a collective 'Aww' from everyone in the room. Who were giving him variations of that funny look the human gave him in the morning. And this was the part when he was looking away, once again not knowing whether he wanted the earth to swallow him up or not. Fortunately(?) though, he didn't have to worry about that for too long.

"Anyway, how come you kids got so interested in pocket-spaces?" The Owl Lady asked getting them all back on track(...), as he placed his palisman on his shoulder.

"Well. We've been coming up with a plan to sneak Amity and Hunter into Hexside through the shortcut room, but since Bump sealed it, we can't really move on. " The human replied, showing her the blueprint with the plans. "Hunter mentioned that pocket-key that could help us open it. You do still have it, don't you?"

She crossed her arms at this, looking down in thought. "Yeah, but... I don't think it would help. My hideout might be a pocket-space I made, but it's still a part of Hexside, which is entirely Bump's territory. Basically his own pocket-space. Why do you think I was always so careful to keep it hidden from him? If he sealed it, he's the only one that can open it."

"Then how about we make another one?" The Blight girl suggested (because of course she did...!).

"No way." Hunter said, his voice laced with an edge he wasn't sure he could hide for much longer. "It's an incredibly hard and complicated spell. It could take us months just to gather the materials."

"I thought you said those pocket-spaces were common."

"Back in the savage ages! Even Titan's blood, the rarest source of magic, was easier to come by then!"

"He has a point." The Owl Lady piped up, glancing over at him for a quick second. Almost as if she wanted to tell him to calm down. Even though he couldn't really be calm with all of this... "It took me almost a year to get my room done, even with all my skill, no offense. I don't think you guys can wait that long."

"So, what now?" The human asked. "Is convincing Bump our only option?"

For the love of-"No! Our only option is to drop this plan, which is a very foolish plan to begin with!" Hunter finally called out, ignoring the concerned chirp on his shoulder. "I mean we're supposed to be in hiding! Earlier today we were almost discovered and now you want us to risk going out, where a bunch of people could see us, recognise us and turn us in?!"

"Hunter, you won't be seen. That's the whole point of the plan." She said, trying to smooth things over.

"You can't now that! What if someone comes later and sees us go in?! What if they see us in the corner of a class?! Heck, even past those, you literally just considered telling your principal about us! Am I the only one sensible about this here?!"

...!

...!

...

Hunter stopped, noticing the looks everyone was giving him.

Thought.

Annoyance(?).

Regret.

Concern.

Actually, those last two weren't really on him, at least not for more than a few seconds before they turned either to the floor or someone else.

And on top of all that...

Again that heavy silence.

All because he opened his mouth. All because of him...! One good moment and then he just had to...-

"Hunter? Why didn't you say anything before?" The human asked softly, her question feeling so heavy in his ears. Echoing in an almost perfect unison to his own thoughts.

"...Because I didn't know if I should." He sighed, his eyes glued to the floor, filled with shame and regret. "You were both so excited and focused and sure and...you said it was important for a complete... 'being a kid' experience. I-I... wanted to have it. I liked that pillow fight part and I wanted more. But going outside now? When Belos has everyone looking for me? In a place filled with people that could see me...?" He had to stop for a moment to take a breath. And then another and then another...

"Hunter." He heard Flapjack's gentle voice next to him, stronger than his puffed breathing. Strong enough to push the walls of the room back into place. "It's okay. You can stop if-"

"I didn't think I was in any position to disagree... But... I'm scared. I'm really... really scared."

Hunter's breathing was back under control, but he still couldn't really face anyone. He could only catch a glimpse of his palisman. Of how surprised he seemed but also... proud (?).

"...I'm scared too."

...!

Amity closed her eyes as she spoke, sparing herself that look she was getting tired of seeing. "I too think about all those things and I'm not sure whether it's a good idea or not, but... I can't stand being locked up in a house the whole time. If you don't feel comfortable about it, you don't have to come along. But I want to go back to school."

She finally opened her eyes with a determined look and Luz gave her hand a light squeeze. Along with a (much needed) confident smile.

"Well, what do you know. Kids usually want to get out of school and you want to get in?" Eda said and the atmosphere in the room actually felt lighter than before. "I just hope Bump won't have me do any more chores this time."

"Wait, what?" Luz exclaimed, as her and Amity turned to her in surprise.

"What? You thought I'd let you do this on your own?" She raised an eyebrow with a smile and then turned to Amity. "Don't worry, Boots. We're getting you back in that school." She ruffled her hair as she finished, earning a laugh and a grateful smile from her (without pulling away this time), before turning to Hunter. "And don't you worry either. It's completely normal to be scared. You can stay here for as long as you need, there's no rush. Okay?"

"...Okay." He replied, barely smiling, but still slightly more relaxed.

"Plus, I'll still be here! So if you want to learn more about 'being a kid', I think I could use a third in command." King said and it actually seemed to ease the boy up more.

"Well, now that we're finished with that, how about we go grab some lunch? The kraken should be ready now." Eda was already heading outside as she spoke, and when she stopped she could only focus on the excitement and the banter going on behind her.

That was all that mattered now. Everything else... it could wait a little longer.

"Also, during lunch, will you be taking food from the house or will I be sneaking you trays?" Luz asked, bringing out the sleeping bags.

"I think it's safer to just bring food from the house. But you better find a way to get me some apple pie on Fridays." Amity replied with a teasing grin as she unfolded hers.

"Anything for you, m'lady." Luz made a little bow, before slipping into her own, making Amity laugh (and blush). She always looked so beautiful when she laughed...

"...Luz?" The young witch ventured, after lying down as well.

"Hm?"

She waited for Luz to turn to the side to face her, before carrying on. "Do you think... Are you ready for tommorow?"

"...Hey, don't worry about me. It's not like it'll be the first time I'm confronting principal Bump. What about you?" Luz kept a smile on her face as she spoke, but then she dropped it, as Amity's eyes drifted to the side. Her face clouding in concern. "Amity?"

"I... I don't know. I mean... I still want to go through with this, I really do, but... What if Hunter's right and this idea is really stupid? What if we can't convince Bump? Or he tricks us, or double-crosses us, or-or-"

"Hey, hey... Slow down, okay?" Luz reached out her hand, softly caressing Amity's cheek to calm her down.

The witch held it, before closing her eyes for a moment, letting herself melt into the touch... And when she opened them again, she saw that smile on her human's face. That smile that always assured her that she was safe, that no matter what it'd be okay. They'd be okay... "Sorry..." She said, as they both withdrew their hands.

"No, don't. It makes sense to worry. Your parents had you locked up just for dying you hair purple-"

"It's not just that, Luz... I don't want you, any of you to get in trouble because of me. My Mom already has her suspicions and even if she does bring me back to the Manor..." She bit her lip to stop herself from finishing that sentence, that horrible, poisonous thought at the back of her mind... coming back like it did yesterday...! "...I'm so sick of being scared... But I just can't help but wonder if it's stupid to risk my safety, all of our safety for this..."

Luz's heart broke for her and she silently wished she had the time to use at least one of her glyphs in the morning(!). "Amity. There's nothing stupid in wanting a life that doesn't revolve around hiding and fear. You deserve so much better than this and I promise you. No matter what happens tommorow, we won't let your parents take you away. Never. So... will you trust me to protect you?" As she finished she reached her hand out again.

And this time, Amity reached hers out too, their fingers intertwining. "Only if you trust me to protect you in return."

Luz could feel her cheeks burning, but she managed to keep her cool, giving her a nod and... "...Amity Blight?"

"Hm?"

This is it... This is it...! "When you feel ready... and comfortable... about... going out... Do you want to go out with me? Like... on a date?"

"...Yes"

With voices as warm and full as their hearts, the two girls held each other's hands tighter. And refused to let go as their eyes softly closed and they drifted off to sleep with a wide smile.

Eda walked down the stairs as quietly as she could. The kids were thankfully all asleep at this hour, so she could do her work in peace. She didn'twant to alert anyone just yet. They were already stressed enough those couple of days...

Okay... What was in that bookshelf...

The flow of the spirits: A guide in oracle magic.

And... her old spell scapbook.

Those would do for now.

The Standards of Oracle Magic

One of the most myserious arts of our world, the oracle magic allows us to connect with worlds that may seem unreachable or impenetrable. Whether it is a person's mind or their future, or even the world of the spirits, with the right knowledge and resources, one can see and hear everything.

"Yeah, no kidding. Anything I don't know?" Eda grumbled, looking through the pages.

The energy of oracle magic can be channelled in multiple networks, be they small, like the connection between two or more communication stones, or large, like the networks of the penstagram scrolls and the crystal balls. Those, however, are mostly networks that concern the present.

Networks with connections to the future are far more compliated, given the never-ending possibilities it holds. Due to that, the farther into the future we look, the more vague the prediction will be.

Adding to that, studies have shown that if the attempts to reach too far are too strong, the magic will backfire and turn to the present, causing a crossroad of the two known sides of oracle magic: Spirit and mind.

"And combining that with a projection glyph... you get your worst nightmare come to life..." She sighed running a hand over her face.

Now... it was time to turn somewhere else. To something a bit more hopeful.

Smokebombs Recipe

Invisibility Cloak (Major Fail)

The Great Dive of Lost and Found

"There it is!"

Voice-altering potion

And that is all for now! I'm really really sorry I took so long (yet again...) but there was... a lot going on irl this month. And my brain was being a perfectionist again... Hope the chapter was worth the wait though. And... you know what, I won't say it. Nope! I won't jinx it this time! So I'll just bid you goodbye, until next time! Please leave a review and stay safe. Byeeeee! :)