Everyone was working double time now, and the tension was heightened when Luz and Hunter finally told everyone about the threat of being hunted down by the Guardian. But it wasn't like they couldn't leave the terrifying thing without a name.
So Boscha decided to name it.
To which he earned the title of Volley.
And sadly, it grew on everyone. Having to say the stupid name versus Deadly Wall-Crawling Guardian.
"Alright, so what do we have so far on Volley?" Willow regrouped, setting down her book on the long wooden table with a thud.
Boscha reserved a giggle, and set down her own notes, putting on a focused expression. "Not much, since there wasn't anything on Guardians to start off with— only that they're old." she shrugged.
"I think we got something," Raine said, as they sat down their protractor in hand, and a rolled-up map of the Monster Realm - and not too far behind was Lilith who held the same supplies.
"Indeed." She agreed, nodding.
"What could the world be without you, Lily?" Eda grinned, feeling a spike of pride as Lilith's cheeks flushed from embarrassment.
"Oh Edalyn," Lilith took the moment of tribute, and Amity brightened.
"Okay, so what do we have? Not to barge in on the moment. But time is of the essence,… and we don't have much—" Amity intervened.
"Time?" The Collector popped in, pausing the gap in inclusion for the time being. He propped off from his wall hovering against the wooden beams of the door frame, and walked over; his time carrying a deep graveness.
He was a Collector— or Archivist. Whatever the name meant, he was probably the most powerful being in the room. Luz could possibly be compared to him, but it was too thin of a line to find.
"Yeah, time." Amity approved, giving a lesser tone of voice.
The Collector let out a deep exhale, before clearing his throat and making his way to the table. He glanced over to Raine for a moment. "Can I use this… please?" He asked.
"Oh, go right ahead." They accepted and took a moment to step back. Snapping his fingers, the map and protractor Raine was originally using, appeared right in front of the Collector in a very colorful, confetti-colored poof. "I think it's time I show you what I know."
"Luz? You out here?" Camila's voice echoed into the dark cold of the outside, looking around for her daughter. She couldn't see anything except her breath turning into a small rising cloud, filling the dark blue moonlit sky. Her eyes trailed upwards and noticed the very distinct shape of a hat-tail. Her gaze lingered on the dark figure, watching Luz's golden eyes scan around as she held her palisman close. "Luz?" Camila asked again, reaching up to the rooftops hoping to grab her attention.
She could hear a quiet sigh and a white cloud puff out of her nose in a deep exhale. "Hey, Mamá." Luz acknowledged, her face gaming more distinct features as the moonlight shifted.
Camila gave a quick smile; tempted to climb up to the rooftop window, she did just that. Struggling for what felt like an eternity to swing her legs up and over the slippery crimson shingles. She hunkered her way upwards on the slippery slope, and sat down next to Luz; following her gaze towards the stars. "Are you... okay?"
Luz, leaning from her last mistake, shook her head. "No," Her eyes pulled to the floor, illuminating the air around her.
"Why?" her mother gently prodded. She wanted to get answers— and Luz promised her ever since she had appeared in Vee's mirror that there was never going to be any blank spaces between their knowledge of each other. And Luz was aware that she was keeping secrets, not just from everyone— but from herself.
Luz sighed, circling her finger on the tile. She didn't know what to make of the subtle 'why?'. It was her mother, and she got right under her skin every time, not like it was a bad thing— only that she was a mother. And mothers just know their kids; maybe better than Luz knew herself.
Her finger continued to glide on the roof, until a small glowing orb of light sparked from the ground, and hovered between the two of them. Like their own personal flashlight in the grim darkness. "I just don't know." Luz finally answered.
"Don't know what?" Camila muted, nudging a little closer, to the point they were elbow to elbow.
The twinkle in Luz's eyes dimmed. "Anything." She loured a little more. "For the last year, I'd known who our enemy was, who we'd need to defeat. That glyphs were the only way I could use magic. Back when things were just— simpler. Even with everything we got tied into and the end of the world, we knew what we were dealing with and how to stop it together." Her eyes lingered on her clenched fists that balled. "Now? We're just swimming in waters that don't have a bottom or end."
Camila just listened silently, watching Luz vent was something she'd learned not to question now. Since she'd been through things that Camila could never comprehend— but in the end was still there to support her. She pondered for a moment before speaking up. "Don't beat yourself up about it Luz." she gave an encouraging arm. "As a very wise one once said, 'Do or do not. There is no try.'"
Luz picked up her head and shoulders, giggling to herself. "You actually watched the movies?" She said in disbelief."
"Yes? Did I get it right?" Camila's eyes bored into Luz's as she nodded vigorously.
"You got it ma." She shook her head. "Maybe I should call you Sabia Camila!" She teased.
They both paused when the door suddenly swung open, and Hunter walked out. "Luz? Camila?"
"Yeah?" They both answered in an equal yell.
"You might want to be down here for this." He said with a more assertive twang in her voice, and both came off the roof through Luz's upstairs window.
"What is it?" Luz peeped trotting down the stairs while Camila was taking her time.
"You might want to see this for yourself," Gus whispered, watching in awe.
The Collector created a huge projection in the center of the room, glowing multicolored flakes of blues and sparkly greens. It was a huge flat surface, having a division in the middle of the two plains - completely blank in color. On the top section, were houses, homes, and landmarks Luz could've only known to be Earth. And on the bottom, was the Boiling Isles, as well as the Titan Trapper Island, and a few more she'd never seen before.
She took a cautious step forward, not wanting to vandalize the astounding projection. Only to find it was evading her presence, parting like Moses and the Red Sea. "Woah..." Her jaw dropped, and she turned and spun her hand briefly in the illumination. Her realization hit her only a few seconds later, like a slap to the face from King.
It was a Star Map.
Not only of the Boiling Isles...but of the entire planes of existence.