Truth will Out
Luz stretched and yawned in her bed. She looked around her room and smiled. It had taken a while but she and Amber had finally found the glow in the dark star stickers and had spend the evening before putting them up around her room. It was rare enough that she would get her own room, let alone that she got to decorate it at all. Yawning again, she threw off her blankets and rolled out of bed. She stumbled into the bathroom and locked the door behind her. Looking around, she closed the window curtains so Hooty would know not to come in and she took off the illusion stone. She smiled at what she saw in the mirror. The mint green hair was starting to really grow out now that she and Amber weren't dieing it every couple days. It only just reached the top of her ears but the hair itself was getting down to her chin.
"Maybe I'll have Amber trim it when she gets home tonight," She whispered, tugging on it, "That way it can be all green soon."
Someone knocked on the door and she fumbled for the illusion stone.
"Luz? Are you in there, Mia Stella?" Raine asked. (1)
"Yup! Almost done!"
"Alright. Breakfast is nearly ready."
"Thank you!"
She hurried to finish brushing her hair and tucked the illusion stone under her shirt. Then she ran back across the hall and tossed on her favorite hoodie and shorts. She opted not to wear her leggings today since it had been so hot lately. Then she ran back down the hall and down the stairs. Eda was half asleep, pouring her apple blood at the counter. King was in his high chair, fighting with his food while Amber ate in the chair next to his. Raine stabbed the wiggling food as they passed, effectively stilling it so he could eat it, and sat across from Amber. Luz made her plate at the stove and sat next to Amber.
"Hey, Amber?" She looked up at her sister, "Would you mind trimming my hair tonight? I think it's getting a little long and the healthy hair can't curl with it weighing it down."
"I'm not sure that's how curly hair works, Luz," She chuckled, "But sure. We can do it when I get home. King, do you have your bag packed and ready to go?"
"Yeah, yeah. Francois and I are ready to go." He shoved a mouthful of food into his mouth.
"Oh. Is King going to the Bard College with you today? I didn't know he went."
"He'll be staying with a friend of mine today," Raine explained, "She has a son his age so they can play together."
"He doesn't usually," Eda added, sitting next to Raine, "But we didn't want to leave him with just Hooty for company since we'll be leaving for Healer Violet's once we've all eaten."
Luz felt her stomach drop. That's right. Today was the day she was finally going to get her "bile sickness" looked at and get her vaccines. She hung her head and stared down at her food. She slowed down her eating, picking at her food.
"You ok, Pumpkin?" Eda asked.
She nodded mutely.
Eda's hand came across the table and lifted her chin, "Hey. It's ok. I don't like going to the healer either. But, trust me on this, you'd like getting griffin pox a heck of a lot less."
"And believe me," Raine interjected, "If Eda trusts Healer Violet, we can trust her."
Luz forced a smile and nodded but didn't pick up her pace. Amber squeezed her shoulder. Then she stood and lifted King out of his chair.
"You two have fun today," Raine called, "And King, you behave for Mrs. Rosie."
"Yes, Zaza."
Eda shook her head and shoveled the last of her food into her mouth. Then she took her and Raine's dishes over to the sink. Luz poked at her food again.
"Eating slower isn't going to make the appointment go away, Mia Stella." Raine insisted.
"I know. But I can try."
"Why don't you go and get your files?" Eda offered over her shoulder, "Vi'll need them to be sure she know everything that's going on. Ok?"
Luz nodded and dragged her feet as she went back up the stairs. She put her files and Trix into her bag before rejoining Eda and Raine in the living room. They each offered her their hand. Luz took their hands and followed them out the door.
"We're walking?" She asked.
"Yup. Violet prefers that her patients walk unless it's an emergency."
Luz held tighter to their hands as what looked like a small house appeared on the edge of Bonesbourough. She tucked herself closer to Eda's legs while Raine knocked on the door. They pushed it open and held the door for her and Eda. Luz could only follow the tug of Eda's hand.
It didn't look like any waiting room she had ever been in before. It almost looked like a living room. There were hard wood floors and a thick blue and green rug. Instead of hard plastic chairs there was a mismatched set of sofas and lounging chairs. A collection of well loved toys were spilling out of an old wooden toy box. A witch in a light blue blouse sat behind a wooden desk at the far end of the room.
While Raine went to let the witch behind the desk know they were there, Eda took Luz and sat on one of the sofas. Luz pulled Trix out of her bag and scooted closer to Eda's side. Raine sat on her other side and put a hand on her head.
"Does Tia Camella usually take you to the healers?" They asked.
Luz shrugged. Raine hummed, looking up Eda. They stroked Luz's hair gently. She pet Trix's tail. A shadow fell over her.
"Hi."
Luz looked up. Standing in front of her was a girl about Evan's age dressed in a Hexside Healing Track uniform. She held a baby griffon against her chest.
"I'm Viney. And this is Puddles," She nodded down at the griffon, "You're Luz, right?"
Luz nodded. Viney smiled.
"Evan told me you were staying for the summer."
Luz sat up, "You know Evan?"
"Sure do. His family lives just around the corner." Viney shrugged. "Anyway. You looked nervous. Do you want to hold Puddles? He's a great helper."
Luz looked down at the baby griffon and shook her head, "No thank you. I have Trix."
"Viney? Are you pestering the patience again?"
Luz jumped and looked up at the witch. She was shorter than Eda but still taller than Raine with the same green eyes as Viney. Her black hair was cut short around her ears.
"No! Puddles and I were just trying to help!" Viney insisted.
"I see," The older witch nodded, "However, I believe the terms of our agreement was that Puddles needed to wash his claws before coming into the office."
Viney covered Puddles' claws with one hand, "We did!"
"Mmhmm?" The healer hummed, "Hop to it."
"Yes, Mom. It was nice to meet you Luz." Viney waved over her shoulder as she and Puddles rushed out the door.
Luz waved but pressed herself further back into the sofa. The older witch smiled down at her.
"You're Luz, then?"
She nodded shyly.
"I'm Healer Violet," She knelt in front of her and offered her a hand, "It's nice to meet you."
Luz tightened her hold on Trix but still shook Violet's hand. Violet smiled and looked down at Trix.
"Is it alright if I disinfect your friend before we go back?" She asked, "You can hold them while I do it and it won't hurt them. I promise."
Luz hesitated but nodded. Violet nodded back and formed a small spell circle. Trix warmed in Luz's arms for a moment before returning to normal.
"There. All set." Violet stood back up. "If you'll just follow me this way. We'll get you out of here as soon as we can."
Luz hummed and slowly followed Violet and Raine to the exam room, Eda right behind her. The exam room looked closer to what she was used too. An exam table against the wall, two chairs next to it, and a rolly chair across from it. However, it was in the same warm browns and greens as the waiting room.
Raine helped her up onto the table and sat in the chair next to Eda. Luz wiggled and tucked Trix into her bag, pulling out her medical files. She held them out to Healer Violet.
"These are my files from the human realm." She explained.
"Oh, thank you." Violet took the envelope and began flipping through it. She frowned and hummed. Her eyebrows pinched before shooting up her forehead. "A heart murmur?"
Luz nodded. Violet pursed her lips and closed the envelope.
"We'll come back that." She said, "We'll just start with a normal exam first."
Luz nodded. Violet smiled and sat next to Luz on the exam bed. She pulled out her stethoscope. She pressed it against Luz's back and nodded slowly. She pressed it to her chest and nodded again before laying her stethoscope in her lap.
"Well, everything sounds just fine to me so far. Maybe a little more quite than I'd usually hear." She drew a spell circle," Open your mouth, please."
Luz opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue. Violet frowned but nodded.
"And look at the circle."
Luz closed her mouth and looked at the circle, eyes nearly crossed. Violet's frown didn't shift.
"Alright. Now turn so I can see your ears."
Luz swallowed thickly but complied. Violet's brows pinched once more. She sighed and nodded.
"Alright. Everything looks just like the files said they would." She stood back up and pushed open the door, "Raine, Eda, if you two wouldn't mind giving us a moment."
Raine frowned, "What?"
Eda, however, stood and took her partner's hand, "We'll be out in the waiting room if you need us, Luz. Just shout."
"It's just for the physical exam, Raine," Violet explained, "Just like with Amber and King."
As soon as the door closed behind them Violet rounded back on Luz. She sat back on the exam bed.
"Luz, Honey. Why are you wearing a glamour stone?"
Luz felt the blood rush from her face. Her hand jumped up to hold the stone under her shirt.
"You're not in trouble," Violet insisted, "But I can't examine you properly if you're wearing it."
"But it just cover's my hair." Luz explained, "I-I'm trying to grow it out because-and-and Amber helped me get the stone so…"
"So Amber knows?"
Luz mentally kicked herself.
Violet sighed and looked around, "Does this have anything to do with your ears being clipped? Or is it the hair color listed in your medical files?"
"My hair color is listed in the paperwork!?"
Violet bit back another sigh and held out her hand, "Alright then. Off with it."
Luz shuffled and pulled the glamour stone over her head. In a puff of powder blue smoke, her hair was exposed once more. Violet gasped, one hand coming up and nearly touching the mint green curls. She put her hand back in her lap and looked over at the file.
"You're ten-years-old right?"
Luz nodded, eyes trained on her knees.
Violet took a deep breath. "What are the odds?"
"That's why I asked Amber to help me hide it," Luz whispered, "She told me about Melody when she found out and...I don't want Raine and Eda to know yet."
Violet looked back at her, "Why not?"
Luz formed a small spell circle. It crumbled before her.
"I can't even do magic. Even if I am Melody...I...I just can't. What if they're disappointed that I'm broken? Or-Or don't want me back after so long?"
Violet tilted her head at the spell circle, "Well, that just looks like bile sickness. We can treat that easy enough. And, even if we couldn't, I can tell you with pretty good confidence that they want you back. I'm just going to run a couple more quick tests to be sure of your bile sickness."
Luz watched as she made another spell circle and scanned her chest. Her chest felt warm while Violet looked around. Violet nodded.
"Well, it is bile sickness. And, because yours has been caused by an atrophied bile sack, we can treat that with an elixir." Violet confirmed, "And a witch with cosmetic training can probably fix your ears. If you want, I could even do a spell to confirm you're their daughter."
Luz shuffled and looked back up at her, "Would you have to tell Raine and Eda?"
Violet looked at the door and sighed, "Technically, no. I don't have too. You're not in any danger from not telling them. It won't compromise your health. If you tell me not to tell them, I won't. However, I really think you should."
Luz hung her head, "Please don't. I-I'm not ready."
Violet leaned back and looked around the room.
"How about we make a deal?" She offered.
"A deal?"
Violet nodded and looked down at her, "You'll need to come back in a few months for another round of vaccines. I want you to tell them before you come back. If you don't, I'll tell them. Agreed?"
Luz shifted and looked around, "A few months? I'm expected back in the human realm at the end of the summer any way."
"Is that a yes?"
She nodded, "I'll tell them."
Violet smiled and formed another spell circle. In just a moment, a glowing blue paper appeared in front of her and she handed it to Luz. It showed a short geology. Herself, Eda and Raine above her and four witches she had never seen before listed above them. (2)
"I'll put it in your files and I can make a copy if you'd like," Violet offered, prepping her current vaccines.
Luz nodded mutely, barely feeling it as Violet administered the first few vaccine spells. With another spell circle, a matching copy of Luz's files appeared and she tucked them back into her bag. Luz slipped her illusion stone back over her head. Then, Violet opened the door and called Raine and Eda back in.
"Everything went well." Violet explained to them, "I've given her the first round of vaccines and run a few other tests. She does in fact have bile sickness caused by her bile sack not developing properly." She handed Eda a prescription slip, "This is for an elixir to help her with that. You can fill that at Mr. Elixir like you do with your own. I'm also going to recommend a bile monitor for her until everything is set to rights."
She handed Luz the a sparkling purple bile monitor.
"Really?" Luz perked up, "Then I can be more like Eda!"
Violet chuckled and nodded. "However, I don't want her doing any spell circles until then either. Potions should be fine as well as mixing abomination matter. Instrument assisted bard magic is perfectly fine and hands on plant and beast keeping should be safe. And, of course, she can use Evan's gliphs." Then she handed Raine another slip of paper, "And this is for you and Eda. Just think about it."
Raine looked at the paper, eyebrows crawling up their forehead, before they tucked the paper in their pocket.
"Other than that, she's a perfectly healthy witchlet." Violet assured them, "Just make an appointment to have her come and get the rest of her vaccines and you're all set."
Eda tucked the prescription into her pocket and offered her hand to Luz, "Thanks again, Vi."
"Think nothing of it." Violet waved her off, "And Luz, think about what we talked about."
"Yes, Healer Violet." Luz slid off the exam bed and took Eda's offered hand.
Raine took Luz's other hand and followed Eda out the door. One quick talk with the secretary again and they were out the door.
"We should probably make a stop at the market since we have to fill this prescription," Eda reasoned.
"And we need groceries anyway." Raine agreed, "Sound good to you, Luz?"
"Sounds good to me," She agreed.
LLB
Luz could hear the shouts long before the house came into view. She was carrying the bag with her and Eda's elixirs while Eda and Raine each carried a bag of groceries. When they rounded the corner, they could see Amber and King standing on the cliff edge. Amber let out another shriek, sending waves of bright red magic over the boiling sea.
"What are you doing?" Luz asked.
Amber yelped, letting off another wave of magic before she turned and sighed, "Aunt Rosie has me practicing more of my vocal magic."
"Vocal magic?"
Eda simply leaned forward and took the elixirs from Luz before heading inside. Raine rolled their eyes and followed her.
"Yeah. As a bat demon I'm naturally inclined to vocal magic," Amber held her head high, "Aunt Rosie has been teaching me since I was about three."
"Who's Aunt Rosie?" Luz clapped her hands and grinned, "Is she another relative I need to meet?"
Amber laughed, "Sort of. Aunt Rosie is my bog parent so she's kind of just my aunt but I bet she'd love to meet you."
"Cool. Can I try?"
"What did Healer Vi say, Pumpkin?" Eda called out the window.
Luz winced, "No unassisted bard magic."
"That's right." Raine appeared beside her, "Try this instead."
They handed her a wooden flute. (3) Luz looked it over in her hands.
"It's not much but it'll be a start. We can try you on something else once you get the hang of reading sheet music," They continued, "And Eda can start teaching you more about potions now that we have the all clear."
"And maybe Uncle Darius can teach you about abominations!" Amber grinned.
King tugged on her leg and Luz crouched down to his height.
"Can I still teach you about demons?"
"Of course!" Luz grinned and heft him onto her shoulder, "I'm going to learn everything!"
Raine laughed and turned her and Amber back to the cliff. "Alright then. No time like the present. Amber?" They formed a spell circle and a glass target appeared out over the sea. "Hit the glass."
Amber took a controlled breath and shrieked. Another wave of bard magic rippled across the boiling sea until the glass shattered.
"Very good. Luz, place your fingers here, here, and here," They pointed on the flute. "Now go ahead."
The flute squawked as she blew into it with all her might. But she laughed all the same. Then she tried again and watched as her own wave of bard magic wobbled out over the water. King leapt from her shoulder and stood at the edge of the cliff.
"WEH!" A different wave of magic bounced across the water but knocked King on his back, leaving the little demon giggling on the ground. (4)
Raine chuckled and went back to the house, leaving the kids to practice on the cliff side. They leaned against the wall and Eda leaned out the window.
"What did the note from Vi say?" She whispered.
They fished it out of their pocket and handed it to her.
"All is not well in the human realm. Though it is old, I've found evidence of intentional harm. I know I can't do much since it's in the human realm but, as her guardians, you need to know."(5)
"Eda," Raine whispered, "I don't know what we're going to do but, between that and the camp she's supposed to be at...I don't think we can send her back."
She crumpled the note in her hands, "I know. I just...I don't know. I feel like there's more to this. How does a human have a bile sack? We've never met one before now…"
Raine nodded and looked back at the kids. They reached over their shoulder and grabbed Eda's hand.
LLB
AN: I'm sorry. I do have a plan for how Raine and Eda are going to find out the truth about Luz but it's not happening yet.
1) I feel the need to bring this up. I don't know a whole lot of Spanish. I do, however, know quite a bit of Italian. If Raine, Luz, or anyone ends up speaking Italian instead of the intended Spanish, please let me know. I will do my best to fix it.
2) Like how in Sims if you show a kid's family tree it'll show their parents and grandparents but not their parents' siblings or anything.
3) A Recorder in the U.S.
4) Yes, I changed a little about Titans and how King's powers work. Basically, as he gets older, different Titan traits develop. Baby Titans, like King, have the 'weh' and it serves as their only defense mechanism as well as a way to call out to their parents. Once they get a little older, roughly about where we saw King at the end of the show, they start to develop their own gliphs and actually learn magic. Then, in their mid teens, they start to develop their wings which will reach their proper size once they're an adult. From there, Titans simply grow for the rest of their lives. Hence the giant Titan form of Papa Titan vs what he shows Luz. It was simply him when he was younger.
5) If it's not obvious, this isn't how this actually works. A doctor would be a mandatory report and, in Luz's case, would likely report to Camilla. But this is kind of a special case since the kid is actually from a different universe and the doctor can't get in contact with the proper authorities in that universe. On top of that, Violet is working with Wild Witches. This is kind of the best Violet can do in her situation, especially since the injuries are to old to have been caused by Luz's current guardians.