As promised, here we are with the last chapter for this update.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Owl House or its characters. I only own this story and any OCs I throw in. The excerpt Hunter reads from his book is from one of the Avalon: Web of Magic books with hints of Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders thrown in. Creation rights to their creators.
It was the weekend, so Eda's Human Collectibles stand was up. She was dusting the table, looking bored, while Luz and Hunter were taking turns reading their first Azura and Gem Riders books to King.
It was Hunter's turn, his book showing a boy about his age with auburn/red hair, bright hazel eyes that almost looked green, and medium light skin wearing shades of green with a heart-shaped gem on his wrist. He held an injured white owl in his arms as he stood before a zen bear-like creature with purple fur. Behind the redhead stood another boy, tall, athletic, dark-skinned, and dark-haired, wearing shades of purple with a moon-shaped crystal on his wrist. Beside him stood a gold and brown ferret, a majestic purple unicorn wearing riding gear, a silver and white wolf with amber-gold eyes, and many other animals that looked just as beautiful and magical.
"Emmett held the owl as Phel's great paws stroked its wings. The Heart Stone on his wrist pulsed with bright pink light. He was concentrating so hard that he was barely aware of Adriane, Archie, Moondance, Storm, and the other animals watching. As the light from his jewel mixed with Phel's warm glow, he could feel the poison leaving the owl's body, could sense its strength returning. His heart leaped into flight. The owl opened its bright eyes and looked adoringly at Emmett. He gently scratched its head and was thrilled to see a glimmer of turquoise and gold run through its feathers." Hunter read aloud.
"Hooray! Ariel's okay!" King cheered before turning to Luz. "Now, the picture book!"
Luz giggled before reading from her book, showing Azura facing off against her rival, Hecate.
"Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, 'I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!' And look! I drew a flip book." She started flipping between the corners of the two pages to make the witches fight. "Pew, pew, pew!"
"Show me the picture." King peeked over the top of the book.
"What?"
"Show me the picture!" She turned the book around to show him. "Hah! I can draw better than that. You know, they once called me the King of Artists."
"Wait. I thought you were the King of Demons." Luz pointed out, making King's eyes widen. "Are you just making this up now?"
"Doesn't matter." The little demon brushed off. "What's important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me!"
"Well, I can offer you more of this tantalizing book."
"Ugh! Please stop reading that." Eda groaned, waving her feather duster at her. "Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all of our serious customers!"
"Um, Eda?" Luz looked at the empty street. "What customers? There aren't even any other stands around. What's going on?"
"This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today." She said seriously.
"Or you're just bad at picking locations." Hunter deadpanned.
"Luz! Hunter!" Gus called as he and Willow ran up to the stand. "Something amazing is happening today!"
"Gus, Willow! Hey!" Luz greeted their friends.
"Hey, guys," Hunter said as well.
Willow held up a flier. "It's the annual covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year!"
"A job fair for witches!" Luz said excitedly.
"Cool!" Hunter grinned, intrigued.
"Eda, can we go?" His sister leaned on the older witch.
"Absolutely not," Eda answered. Luz groaned and dropped to the ground. "I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure, it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system."
"Mmm." Willow lowered the flier as the remaining teens stared at her.
"Eh, but, you know, no judgment," Eda waved off, turning to avoid their stares. "In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls."
"'We?'" Luz asked suddenly.
"I–the–I mean–"
The human girl popped back up. "Who's 'we'? You have a mysterious past! Now we gotta go!"
"Definitely!" Hunter agreed.
"No," Eda said sternly.
"Okay. Then you leave me no choice." Luz said mischievously.
King grabbed Luz's book and began reading dramatically. "'You shall not shan't doeth no more harm,' Azura callethed out…"
"So flowery, so awful." Eda groaned, walking away. She opened the Portal Door and stepped through it.
"'Hecate could only screech, screech as did she, for the screeching did worseneth.'" Luz tossed King through the portal as it closed. It opened again a second later, Eda coming back through with King sitting on her head.
"Stop it! Stop it! I will literally do anything to stop this!" She begged.
Cut to a long building with a sign reading "COVENTION TODAY alchemists anonymous tomorrow." The group was out front, Luz bouncing on her feet while Willow clapped excitedly. Eda groaned into her hand, now sporting a red cowl.
"You said 'anything,'" Hunter reminded her.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Eda said as she struggled to pull her hood up, King hanging off it. "Gotta keep a low profile."
Luz grunted as she tried to shove Eda's hair into the cowl. "Is this cowl really necessary?"
"Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" The Owl Lady asked before numerous small objects fell out of her hair.
"Yes," Hunter stated, getting a glare from Eda.
"Partly." She admitted as she scooped the things back into her cowl. "But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again."
Willow approached her with one of Eda's wanted posters. "Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven."
Eda traced a spell that pulled Willow's cowl over her face.
"On this topic, Luz, you might wanna cover your ears," Hunter advised his sister.
"Good idea." She agreed, pulling her hood up.
"Let's just get this over with," Eda muttered as they entered the building.
Once inside, Luz's eyes widened at the sight before them. "Whoa."
Several booths were set up inside, each with a sign for one coven or another. Nine large colorful banners hung from the ceiling, and student witches flew by on broomsticks. "Was I even alive before now?"
"No kidding…" Hunter said, nearly speechless.
"Those are the main nine covens," Gus pointed at the banners on the ceiling. "but there are hundreds of other ones you can join."
Willow started listing the different covens as they walked around. "There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven–"
"Is there a book or sewing coven?" Hunter asked.
"Mhm." Willow nodded, making the siblings' eyes light up. Eda groaned dramatically behind them.
"Also, the Grumpy Coven," Willow whispered.
"What was that?" She glared at them. Willow yipped as the kids and King ran off.
"Uh, excuse me, ma'am, but you look rather familiar." A man approached Eda, looking between the wanted posters and her.
"Uh… No, I don't. Distraction spell!" She reached into her cowl and threw a bag on the ground. It was Hex Mix, which does nothing. Eda ran away anyway but returned when the man bent down to grab it. She dragged his hood over his face, scooped up the Hex Mix, and ran away again.
The kids were still looking around as Eda rejoined them. Luz stopped and pointed at one of the booths. "Ooh, what's that?"
"That's the Construction Coven," Willow answered. A bearded witch in a hard hat and the tiny prisoner the siblings met at the prison (Tinella Nosa) stood next to a pallet of wood and a pallet of bricks. The witch grabbed both pallets from the bottom and tossed them in the air. The materials fell down and perfectly constructed a small house. "One of the main nine. They use power glyphs to increase their strength."
The witch removed his hard hat to pull a power glyph off a stack atop his head. He peeled the adhesive off the back of one and put it on Tinella Nosa's nose. Her pupils constricted before she screamed, picking up the witch and throwing him in the air.
"Ha-a-a! I'm the destroyer of worlds!" She cried as she grabbed the Construction Coven sign and tossed it.
"Hey, that's the opposite of construction!" A member yelled as he and another witch ran in to stop her as she grabbed a giant hammer.
"Yowza-wowza!" Luz gasped.
"What you said," Hunter said. Suddenly, light blue doubles of Luz and Hunter ducked out from behind them.
"Yowza-wowza!" Illusion Luz parroted.
"What you said." Illusion Hunter added.
"Yowza-wha-a-a?" Luz's mouth dropped open.
"What the–?" The blond gasped.
Their illusion doubles walked over to two illusion track witches. They waved at them and then disappeared, the two witches doing a pose to finish off. Gus ran over to the other witches. "Ah! You've been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven. We like to magic with a hint…"
The younger witch cast a spell and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. He then reappeared a few feet to the right.
"… of showmanship." He bowed as the other two appeared next to him.
"Wow! Acceptance? Comradery? A sense of belonging? Covens sound incredible!" Luz praised.
"Eda, why haven't you ever joined one?" Hunter turned to the older witch.
"Watch closely, you two." Eda put a hand on both their shoulders and directed them to look at another illusion track witch standing with one of the others. "When you join a coven, all your other magic is sealed away."
A seal in the shape of a mirror appeared on the witch's wrist. Light blue lines ran from it up his arms and face. He paled slightly as the lines faded, and he looked a little tired, too.
"From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions. Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic." She created a fireball in one hand and a ball of water in the other to make her point, then made both disappear before walking away. "That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles."
Willow, Luz, and Gus hurried after her in amazement. Hunter hung back a little, glancing back at the witch who was branded as he nervously covered his wrist.
"There's something messed up about that…" He muttered as he walked after the others.
King started to follow but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "Weh?"
"The tea leaves foretell that this," A student witch pulled out a pen. "will lead you to your destiny."
They then put the pen in his hands, which he looked at skeptically. "Destiny? Feh! I'm not paying for–"
"It's free-e-e." The student assured with a smirk as they retreated into the shadows.
"Are you bestowing gifts upon me? Yes! I accept your offering! The King of Demons is back!" King cheered loudly, causing nearby vendors and patrons to stare at him.
Meanwhile, the gang approached a doorway flanked by guards.
"That panel looks popular," Luz commented, seeing several students walk inside.
"I'll say," Hunter agreed. "Who are they?"
Gus gasped in awe. "It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?"
"Only one way to find out!" Willow grinned as she and Gus ran inside. Luz and Hunter started to follow them but stopped when they realized Eda hadn't moved.
"Aren't you coming, Eda?" Luz asked.
"No way. Of all the covens, they're the worst. I'll wait out here." Eda responded.
"We get it, Eda. Covens: bad. Individualism: good. But we're still figuring this world out, so we're gonna go in there and make our own decisions, okay?" Hunter laid down their argument before the brother and sister duo walked inside, the Owl Lady watching them with a frustrated expression.
"I just saw her."
"Huh?" Eda turned and saw the man from before talking to a guard, holding a copy of her wanted poster.
"She's over there. I think that's her!" He said, pointing at her.
"Uh-oh. Kids, wait up!" Eda called after them as she ran after them.
Inside the panel was a large stadium with a chattering audience. Eda managed to find the siblings and sat beside them. "All right, let's see this mess."
The lights dimmed as the presentation began. Principal Bump (whom Luz had told Hunter about before) rose from the floor with spirals of green magic, a spotlight illuminating him. The audience applauded and cheered as he summoned a floating mic with bat wings. "Hello, Bonesborough! Students ask me all the time, 'Principal Bump, what's the height of magical achievement?'"
"Is it this?" A student stood up suddenly. He used a spell to significantly increase the size of his head, which fell over and crushed the student next to him.
"Wow. I failed you as a principal." He commented before grabbing the mic with some feedback. "It's being selected to join the best of the best. And there are none better than the jewel of the coven system and the enforcers of his will, the Emperor's Coven."
As he spoke, three witches dressed like the guards outside appeared similarly to Bump's entrance.
"Whoa." The siblings breathed together before Luz looked to the side and waved.
"Luz!" Willow and Gus pointed to Gus' forehead, which had been signed.
At the same time, Hunter was startled when a puff of blue smoke appeared on his shoulder, followed by a small illusion of Edric. The tiny illusion waved and pointed a couple rows behind them, where Hunter saw the twins waving at him from where they sat. The older Noceda waved back to them before Principal Bump started talking again.
"Feast your eyes on this elite force, each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic." Each coven guard traced a white spell circle above their head. One produced a jet of flame, another water, and the third lightning. The three elements came together in a firework that turned to confetti, which Luz grabbed at while Hunter stared bright-eyed at the display.
"When does that "elite force" get here?" Eda muttered to the demon beside her, laughing at her remark while the demon moved away uncomfortably.
Down below, the coven guards held the same elements in balls between their hands as Bump said, "Members of the Emperor's Coven have access to all–yes, all forms of magic. Ooh. Aah."
"Ooh. Aah." The audience repeated.
"But… only the best can ascend these ranks. Some day that could be one of you!" He pointed at the audience directly where Amity was sitting, who brightened and squealed at the thought.
"Hmm?" The siblings noticed her before glancing at each other as Eda kept laughing.
The three guards then grabbed their capes and disappeared in flashes of white light. "And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!"
The audience gasped as Eda stopped laughing. "Huh?"
A bright flash of light near the ceiling turned into a blue raven sitting on a branch. It flew off the branch to the stage, landing with a screech to reveal a woman in a cloak and mask. It disappeared with a screech as Lilith lifted her arms and levitated her mask off her face. The audience applauded and cheered while Eda was looking at her speechless, something that was noticed by the sibling duo.
"You know her?" Hunter nudged her.
"You could say that."
Luz gasped. "Mysterious past!"
"Shh!" Hunter hushed.
"Thank you, all," Lilith said as she magically sent her cape and mask back into Principal Bump's face. "It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings."
"Like me?" The big-headed kid said.
"Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" She spun around, creating the raven illusion again. It spread its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith posed with her arms out, smirking, while Eda glared at her.
After the show, people, including Eda and the siblings, began leaving the auditorium.
"Eda! Where are you going?" Luz asked, grabbing her arm.
"I'm gonna head home and wash the con funk off my skin." She said, prying the human off.
"But we haven't even taken the quiz to determine our coven type!" Luz pulled a thick magazine out of her pocket, flipped to a quiz named "What Coven Are You In?" and held it above her head. Eda didn't even look as she cast a laser beam through it and walked away. Hunter followed their mentor as Luz pulled the magazine down to read it, walking the other way without looking. "Ooh, a punky potionist…"
"Eda, wait up!" Hunter said, catching up with her. "You okay, 'cause if looks could kill, Lilith would've burst into flames by the glare you gave her?"
"Oh, if only…" She muttered, clearly on edge.
"Seriously, what's the matter?" The blond questioned, visibly concerned.
The Owl Lady looked at him before sighing tiredly. "I just… really wanna leave. My wanted posters plastered everywhere aside, this event's… bringing back bitter memories."
Hunter stared at her, surprised to see her this open with feelings, before saying, "… If you really wanna leave, you can wait outside while I go round up Luz and King."
"You sure?" She asked, surprised.
"She'll be annoyed with me, but not forever. Besides, you didn't want to come in the first place, so I think we've been here long enough."
"Thanks, kid," Eda said after a minute before they started walking again. "Now, let's get moving before someone recognizes me."
"Sister?" They stopped and turned, seeing Lilith surrounded by several Hexside students.
"It's been so long since I've seen you last!" She signed something and handed it to the kid from the audience.
"Sister!?" Hunter gasped.
The sisters ignored Hunter as Lilith walked over to them. "What are you wearing? You look like some sort of trash collector. Oh, right. You are."
"Oh, Lily. I just had to see the leader of the Emperor's Coven in action." Eda said before she leaned down to talk to the students. "You know, when we were kids, Lilith was so excited to see the Emperor's Coven, she peed a little."
The kids laughed, making Lilith blush.
"That–That's all for today." She ushered them off, waving goodbye before turning to Eda. "You shouldn't even be here. You're a wanted criminal! Unless…"
She gasped before moving to take her sister's hands. "I don't believe it! You are here to join the Emperor's Coven!"
Eda looked at her before she chortled a laugh, yanking her hands away. "In your dreams."
Lilith's face fell before glaring at her sister as she laughed. "You think being covenless makes you so much smarter than everyone else. But while you run from the law like a degenerate, I'm mentoring the next generation of powerful witch students into the world."
"Well, I have students, too," Eda said, wrapping her arm around Hunter's shoulder and pulling him close. He gave Lilith a nervous smile. "And I bet either of them could wipe the floor with any of your prissy little blue bloods."
The coven head stepped closer. "Is that a challenge?"
"Oh, it's a promise."
Suddenly, Luz popped up between them, forcing them to back up. "Eda, I need your help! I accidentally challenged Amity to a witch's duel, and I think she's going to kill me all the way dead!"
She then slumped to the ground, and Hunter was immediately beside her to comfort her.
"Mmm, it seems one of your students has met my strongest protégé," Lilith said as she kneeled beside the siblings. "And look at those ears! Is she human?"
Realizing her hood was off, Luz covered her ears, blushing. Hunter pulled his sister closer to him, glaring at the other woman. The Coven Head chuckled and stood up. "Where did you even find one of these? Okay, Edalyn."
Lilith traced a spell circle, and then around the building, Eda's wanted posters burned away.
"For one day, you won't have to hide from the law because I want to see how good a teacher you really are." She said as she walked away.
Eda kneeled next to the siblings and put an arm around Luz. "Come on, kid. Time to prepare for bloodshed."
"But… whose blood?" She asked.
"Anyone's guess!" She clapped her on the back, making Luz smile nervously as Hunter held her tighter. The trio moved to a hallway, where Eda put a sweatband on.
"All right, Luz. Let's start your training," she cracked her knuckles. Luz was sitting on a box as she gave Eda her full attention. "Now, I'm coming at you with a blast of fire. What do you do?"
Luz pulled her hood up and leaned off the box, landing on the floor in the fetal position. "Oh, that's right. I haven't taught you many spells, huh?"
Luz shook her head while Hunter crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at her. "Boy, I hope you didn't make an everlasting oath to stop learning magic or anything. You'd be toast."
The younger Noceda sat up nervously. "I-Is there a glowy hand thing that happens, or, uh–"
Hunter facepalmed. "Luz…"
"What?! It's not like I knew it was going to happen!"
Before their argument could continue, they were interrupted by a familiar voice. "Abomination. Rise."
They turned to see Lilith and Amity standing nearby, working on their own spells. An abomination that came up to Amity's shoulders rose from her spell circle on the ground with a groan. It twisted its head off and threw it, hitting a bakers coven witch in the face. Tinella Nosa grabbed his hand, chucked him, and then screamed.
"Ooh, boy." Eda sighed.
"I can't believe I'm gonna have to stop learning magic!" Luz moaned sadly as Hunter sat beside her and put his arm around her for comfort.
"Listen to me, Luz. We are not gonna let those snobs win that easy! We are not gonna let them win at all. I've got an idea." Their teacher smiled mischievously as her sweatband ripped, her hair winning its fight against it.
While she was plotting, Luz turned to her brother. "Do you think I can do this?"
"Yes, I do, and I'm not just saying that because you're my sister," The blond said sincerely. "You got this. You managed to find a way to do magic even though you're human. I doubt anything could stop you and your determination."
Luz gave him a small, grateful smile, feeling a little more confident from his words.
(Later)
Back in the theater, the stands were almost more full than they were for the presentation. Lilith and Amity stood on the dais, while Eda and Luz stood opposite them. Meanwhile, Hunter had found a spot in the front row, hoping his sister didn't get hurt.
"Man, do people really like watching teenagers fight this much?" He muttered, seeing the size of the crowd.
"You'd be surprised." A familiar female voice said behind him.
Hunter yelped and fell over in surprise, looking up to see Emira and Edric smiling mischievously. "Geez, you two, you scared the life out of me!"
"Sorry," They laughed as the trio sat beside each other.
"And sorry about our sister, she can be a little… intense," Emira added.
"Your sister?" Hunter asked.
"Oh, yeah, we didn't tell you. Amity's our little sister." Edric rubbed his neck nervously.
"Wait, she's your sister?!" The blond looked between the twins and the girl Luz was going to fight. "No offense, but you guys are like… night and day."
"Yeah, we're the fun ones," Emira said, getting a chuckle from her twin.
"Any chance, when this is over, you can ask her to stop messing with my sister?" Hunter asked. "I get being mad that she lost her top student spot to a cheat, but that doesn't mean she had to try and kill Luz over it."
"Don't worry, we got ya, dude," Edric said as they winked at him.
Hunter didn't know what those winks meant, but he almost felt sorry for Amity… almost.
"Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year," Lillith announced before ushering Amity forward. "Introducing Amity Blight."
Amity smirked smugly as the crowd cheered for her.
"Woo, Amity!" A fan hollered.
"Versus…" Eda stepped out of the way and proudly presented a very nervous Luz. "… some human girl."
The applause stopped as the audience murmured.
"A human?" A student questioned, confused.
"Humans can't do magic!" A younger student witch said.
"She's not Amity." The fan student muttered. Willow and Gus shared nervous looks behind him.
"Whoa, what a minute. A human?" Edric questioned, looking at Hunter. "Didn't you say she was your sister?"
"Yeah."
"But you're a witch," Emira added, confused.
"It's a long story," Hunter said nervously. "I'll tell your guys later."
The twins looked at each other in confusion but didn't press further.
"Eda?" Luz grabbed Eda's arms. "What am I going to do?"
"Calm down." Eda freed herself and gestured to small mounds on the field. "You see those mounds? Get Amity to land on one of those, and she'll set off my magic traps."
"That's cheating!"
"Nobody will know. To all eyes up there, it'll look like you're performing magic. Just trust me."
"But I will know in my heart! Even if I win now, I lose."
Eda stared at her momentarily before cheering, "That's the spirit!"
A bell rang and screamed, causing Hunter to cover his ears since he wasn't used to the noise. Luz, still nervous, and Amity, confident, approached each other as the audience cheered. Amity cracked her knuckles while Luz waved nervously. Amity traced a large spell circle, forcing the human girl to step back. "Abomination. Rise."
An abomination that towered over the two girls groaned as it rose out of the spell circle. Luz whimpered at the sight of the behemoth.
"Whoa." Amity gasped, looking taken aback by her own power.
"Wow. I guess the private lessons are paying off." Emira said, surprised by what Amity pulled off.
"What do you mean?" Hunter asked.
"We've never seen her make an abomination that big before," Edric explained.
The blond looked back at the battle, confused and worried by what he just heard.
"Show me what you got, human!" Amity sneered.
"I'm not good under pressure!" Luz cried as she ran away, avoiding being stepped on by her abomination. The abomination groaned before it twisted its head off and threw it at Luz. The human panted as she fled, gasping in fright as the head just missed her. "Whoa!"
"Luz!" Hunter yelled.
The younger Noceda was soon backed into the wall as Eda looked at the abomination with dawning suspicion, noticing the same thing the twins did. The abomination continued to advance as its head regrew. Luz sank to the ground in fear, whimpering, and grew nervous when she realized she was right in front of one of Eda's mounds. Knowing what would happen, she braced herself as the abomination stepped on it. The abomination looked down as a towering jet of fire erupted from the mound.
"Wha–?" Hunter muttered, shocked.
"How did you do that?" Amity demanded.
"I, uh– She stammered before doing jazz hands. "Magic?"
While this happened, King was scatting a tune as he entered the theater, covered in hats, shirts, buttons, and scarves.
"Things that are free~ People are giving offerings to me!" He sang as he reached Willow and Gus. "I love offerings! What did I miss?"
"Luz is in a witch's duel!" Willow said.
"Yeah! And she can win it all! Yeah-yeah!" Gus cheered.
"Weh?" King gasped.
The steaming abomination stepped onto another mound, this one producing a current of air strong enough to launch it and Amity into the air, making the witch scream in surprise. The abomination grunted as it landed on its back while Amity landed in a kneel.
"I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?" Amity yelled, pointing at Luz.
"Not dying!" She yelled back.
The abomination sat up with a groan, then stomped toward Luz again. The human screamed and ran, the creation chasing her.
Up in the stands, King was carefully making his way down the rows. "This I gotta see!"
He glared at a student as he waved a foam finger. "Go, Amity!"
"Hey! You root for Luz or nobody!" He tried to run at the student but got caught on his scarf and fell.
Cut back to Luz as she continued to run from the abomination, which set off an explosion as it stepped on a mound. At the same time, King was falling down the stands, his "offerings" falling off as he went.
"How are you doing that?" Amity growled as she advanced on Luz.
She saw a mount right in her path and tried to stop her. "No, Amity, don't step any closer!"
The witch girl glanced down, noticing the mound with a raised eyebrow. "Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?"
King screamed, catching Hunter's attention, as he fell flat on his back, directly on the mound. Spikes burst from the ground, forcing Luz and Amity back several steps.
"King!" Hunter cried, vaulting over the wall before the twins could stop him. Landing with a roll, the blond jumped to his feet and ran to the little demon. He was stuck on the spikes, but then he opened his eyes and looked around, much to Hunter's relief.
"Mmm? I'm okay!"
"Spikes?" Luz looked at Eda, who gave her two thumbs up.
"I knew it! You were cheating!" Amity pointed at her accusingly as Lilith walked up to them.
"Amity–No!"
Lilith touched the top of a shorter spike, making it crumble. "Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!"
Eda groaned angrily.
"It wasn't my idea to cheat," Luz tried to explain. "And when I found out, I tried to stop it, but–"
"Who could believe anything you say?" Amity scoffed. As she started to walk away, her hair moved slightly to reveal something on the back of her neck, which Eda noticed.
"Wait just a sec, Miss Protégé." The Owl Lady went after her, making Lilith's eyes widen as she lifted Amity's hair.
"Hey! What are you–" The student witch protested before Eda ripped the glyph off. Her abomination shrank until it was about the height of Amity's knee, though it crumbled completely when its head crushed it.
"A power glyph from the Construction Coven." Eda held the glyph up to the audience.
Everyone gasped in shock, including the student who gave King his pen before they corrected themselves. "I mean… I knew it."
"She cheated!" Willow said to Gus in a hushed tone.
"Ah-ha! Yes, yes, yes-yes-yes!" Eda celebrated, pumping her fists in the air. "You cheated. Perfect, prissy Lilith cheated. Hot dang, I love coventions! La-la-la–"
"I only did that because I knew you would cheat!" Lilith tried to defend herself.
"Still cheated! Welcome down to my level!"
Amity was rubbing the back of her neck where the glyph was. "But… I didn't know!"
She saw Luz approach and ran off. "Amity, wait!"
"Luz! Hunter!" King cried, reminding them he was still stuck on the spikes. "Help me!"
The siblings grunted as they pulled King free, ripping his shirts in the process.
"My offerings!" He cried, looking at the remains still stuck on the spikes.
"You'll get more offerings, King." Luz patted him on the head before running after Amity.
"Luz!" Hunter followed after her.
"Hey, wait for me!" King followed them.
The twins watched them leave, looking at each other before running for the exit.
At the entrance to the theater, Hunter ran out and looked around. His sister had gotten far enough ahead of him that he lost track of her.
"Man, how does she do that?" He muttered, looking around for her.
As he searched, Hunter paused as he passed a poster for the Emperor's Coven. Their coven symbol was on it, and now that Hunter was looking at it, he was getting the same deja vu feeling he got back in the forest before they arrived on the Boiling Isles. There was something familiar about it… Like he had seen it before today.
Suddenly, Hunter started to feel dizzy, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to fight a headache that was coming on. He stepped back before he stumbled slightly, bumping into someone who steadied him.
"Easy there…" A male voice said that made the feeling stronger. He'd heard this voice before…? "Are you alright?"
"Uh, I think so…" Hunter groaned.
"Hunter!" He heard Emira call, turning to see the twins run up to them. "Are you okay– Head Witch Deamonne?!"
The blond collected himself enough to get a better look at the witch beside him. He was tall, dark-skinned with odd purple hair that he could've sworn was abomination goo, and overall, pretty handsome. He was impeccably dressed and wore one of those side capes Hunter had seen in the animes he watched. Hunter could've sworn he saw a flash of recognition cross his face, but it was there and gone so fast, he thought he imagined it.
"Ah, yes, you're Alador's older children, correct?" The witch looked at the twins. "Emira and Edric?"
"That's us." Ed nodded, looking at him with a stunned expression.
"Hunter, are you okay?" Em asked, moving to the blond's side.
"It's just a headache…" He responded as the oldest Blight helped him sit in a nearby chair.
"You might be dehydrated," Emira checked him over. "That happens easily at these things. Ed, could you get some water?"
"Ma'am!" Edric saluted her before running off.
"This should help…" She traced a circle by his head as her hand glowed blue. She held it close to his temple, and Hunter felt his headache melt away.
"Ohh, that's better…" He sighed happily.
"Healing magic?" Darius noted, looking intrigued.
"Yeah…" Emira smiled bashfully. "My parents aren't the most attentive in the world, and since I'm the oldest, I took up some healing magic out of necessity."
"I'm back," Edric showed up with a cup of water. "Here, Hunter."
"Thanks, Ed." The blond took the cup and slowly drank its contents. After a minute, he added awkwardly. "Uh, sorry about my mentor almost skewering her sister."
"Well, Amity tried to flatten your sister, so I think we're even," Edric replied, not feeling any ill will.
"Yes, this is common behavior for Edalyn," Darius added, rolling his eyes. "She used to pull similar stunts back when we went to school together."
"By the way, Head Witch Deamonne, what are you doing here?" Emira asked.
"After the debacle last time, I decided to manage the covention booth myself this year," He explained before checking the time. "Speaking of, I've left it unattended for too long. I should be getting back."
Darius looked at Hunter one last time with an expression he couldn't place as he smiled slightly. The older witch then nodded a farewell before leaving the teens to themselves. Hunter watched him leave with a mix of feelings he couldn't quite name.
"Wow. We got to meet the Head Witch of the Abomination Coven," Edric grinned.
"Mittens is gonna be so jealous," Emira chuckled. "Anyway, how are you feeling, Hunter?"
"Better, thanks, guys." Hunter appreciated their help as he stood up.
"You gonna be okay on your own?" Edric asked.
"Yeah, we're probably gonna leave once I find the others."
"Okay. It was nice seeing you again, Hunter." Emira smiled.
"You guys, too. I'll see you around." Hunter said before resuming his search for his sister. When he found her, she was standing by the bathrooms, watching Amity leave.
"Luz! There you are!" Hunter ran up to her and started to check for injuries. "Did she hurt you?"
"No, Hunter, I'm fine." Luz grabbed his wrists. "We were just making amends… kinda… I think."
"Phew. I'm just glad you're okay. From now on, no more magic duels." He said, making the siblings laugh.
"Luz! Hunter!" King yelled as he ran up to the. "You left me!"
"Yeah, sorry," Luz apologized, kneeling beside him. "Your legs are just so tiny. Should we get you more offerings?"
"Nah. That stuff just weighed me down. But I have something for you, Luz. And it's the best thing because it's free, comes from my heart, and I always have more than I need."
The younger Noceda gasped as she asked, "Is it love?"
"Ugh! No!" He reached behind him and pulled out a covention tote bag. "Tote bags!"
He put it on Luz's arm and climbed on her shoulder as she stood.
"And they have so many uses!" He said as he hopped in. "Away, fair chariot! Away!"
Luz patted his head as Eda arrived. "We gotta go."
"How'd you get away from Lilith?" She asked.
"Let's just say she had a real "snack attack." Hah!" Eda snorted and headed for the door. "Wait, I got a better one."
"Eda…" Luz spoke up, making Eda stop and look back at her. "Do you think I'll ever be a true witch?"
"Luz…" Hunter murmured, looking at her with worry.
"What? I don't know. And who's a true witch? These suckers?" The Owl Lady responded, pointing to some people behind her. "According to them, that means being in a coven, but I never joined one, and I'm better than all of them combined. You gotta be your own witch.
"My own witch." Luz brightened up.
"Duh, Sis," Hunter nudged her playfully.
"Now, let's go before my sister realizes I tied her pointy shoes together," Eda said. Right after she said, they heard Lilith scream.
"And that's our cue!" She said, leading them to the door.
"Sister? Now that's a mysterious past payoff!" Luz said as they left the covention hall.
"Oh, you think that's all the mystery I got? Wait until you hear about my parents."
"What? You've got parents? I need to know more!"
"You very much don't!" King deadpanned.
"Let's just leave that for another day," Hunter suggested, beyond exhausted.
With that, I am done updating this story for a while. The next story on this list will be I Was a Teenage Abomination.
Until then, read, review, and stay tuned.