A witch with green hair and a staff backflipped onto a cliff, then glared up at a giant purple snake, the Gildersnake. "Foolish child! I could swallow you whole!" The beast hissed as it slithered closer, its eyes glowing with malice.

The witch raises her staff, ready to defend herself against the monstrous creature. "Do not underestimate me, Gildersnake, for I am the Good Witch Azura, warrior of peace!" Azura then poses as the wind blows her hair before dropping into a battle stance and holding her staff like a bazooka. "Now eat this, sucker!" She fires off magical bolts from it like rockets, each one hitting the Gildersnake with precision and causing it to writhe in pain.

The powerful witch has defeated the beast, which lets out a roar. "No! My only weakness is dying!" Azura's magical prowess causes it to crumble to the ground. The villagers cheer as Azura stands victorious, her staff crackling with energy.

"And that's the end." Luz Noceda said, holding an Azura doll in one hand and a live snake in the other.

"The end of what?" Camila Noceda, her mother, inquired about Luz's unusual behavior.

"This is the end of our book report's epic battle reenactment!" Luz replied with a mischievous grin. I think Ray and I knocked it out of the park." The snake hissed and tried to bite the boy beside her, Ray Palmer.

Ray recoils in surprise. "Yeah, we nailed it," he chuckled as he scooted his chair away from the snake.

"You know it, Senpai," Luz exclaimed.

"Please don't call me that," Ray replied, cringing inwardly. Despite being the same age, Ray was moved up a grade due to his exceptional intelligence, technically making him Luz's senior. "And maybe we can leave out the live props next time." He eyed the snake warily.

"Your book report is why you both are here." Principal Hal scolded sternly, looking unimpressed.

"And what were you going to do with this?" Camila asked, holding up several firecrackers tied together with a string.

"That was for Act Three," Luz explained, trying to keep a straight face. "We were going for a dramatic finale."

"It was just for special effects," Ray explained quickly, hoping to diffuse the situation before it escalated further. "But no one got hurt."

Then, through the door window, Luz and Ray saw two students outside running and screaming, snakes biting their heads. "Oh. That's where the backup snakes went." Luz said as she and Ray exchanged sheepish glances before turning their attention back to the principal.

"Mija, I love your creativity, but it's gotten out of hand," Camila said, sighing and shaking her head.

"You both will have detention after school today to reflect on your poor choices," Principal Hal added sternly, crossing his arms. And I expect all those snakes to return safely to their habitats immediately."

"Principal Hal, wait." Luz began. "Ray tried to warn me about the snakes, but I didn't listen. It's all my fault."

"You both worked on the project, so you share the responsibility," Principal Hal replied firmly before looking at Ray. "You are aware this could have been a dangerous situation, correct? One that will affect whether you get into Metropolis University or not." Ray nodded solemnly. Luz felt a pang of guilt for not listening to his warning.

"Luz, I love that you express yourself," Camila said gently, "but if you can't learn to separate fantasy from reality, you may need to spend the summer here." She handed her daughter a pamphlet for Reality Check Summer Camp. Luz's eyes widened in shock at the thought of spending her summer at a camp, and she reluctantly accepted the pamphlet.

"What about me?" Ray asked.

"Well, Mr. Palmer, unlike Ms. Noceda, your behavior and grades are exemplary," Principal Hal said with a smile, "so I have no doubt you'll be attending Metropolis University in the fall. Ms. Noceda, however, if she wishes to make it to senior year, will need to attend Reality Check Summer Camp to work on her issues."

Summer finally arrived, and Luz reluctantly packed her bags for Reality Check Summer Camp. She stood disappointedly outside her house, waiting for the bus to come and take her away from her summer plans.

"Oh! Oh, my baby!" Camilia exited the house and hugged Luz tightly. "Now, don't worry. Summer camp is only going to last for three months. The time will fly by because you will be so occupied balancing checkbooks and developing an appreciation for public radio. "

"But I don't like any of that stuff." Luz pouted as she pulled away from Camila's embrace. "I like editing anime clips to music and reading fantasy books with convoluted backstories. I also like researching the history of the Justice Society of America."

"Mija, your fantasy world is holding you back. Aside from Ray, do you have any friends? Real ones, not imagined, drawn, or reptilian? Summer camp is a chance to make friends, but you must try. Can you do that?"

Luz looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I'll try," she mumbled, her voice hinting at uncertainty.

"Hey, Luz," Ray called across the street, grabbing her attention. "Glad I caught you before you left." He then noticed Camila. "Hola, Sra. Noceda."

"English is fine, Ray," Camila replied with a smile.

"Hey, Ray," Luz responded, surprised to see him. "What's up?"

Ray smiled. "I wanted to wish you luck at camp. I know it's not what you had in mind for summer, but I'm sure you'll make the best of it."

"Thanks." Luz nodded appreciatively, feeling a bit more optimistic about what lay ahead.

"Plus, who knows, maybe you'll even have some fun and make new friends," Ray added with a grin. "I also wanted to tell you about this," he said, showing her a letter with the Metropolis University logo.

"You got into Met-U?" Luz's eyes widened in shock as she took the letter from him.

"Yeah, I did!" Ray replied excitedly. "I'll be starting in the fall."

"No way! That's amazing, Ray! I knew you could do it!"

"Congratulations," Camila added. "You're going to do great things at Met-U."

"Thanks, Luz. Thanks, Ms. Noceda."

Camila's phone vibrates in her purse. "Oh. I have to go to work." She kisses Luz's forehead. "Your bus is coming soon. Text me when you get there. Cuídate mucho, mija. Qué te vaya bien!" She looks at Ray with a smile before walking away. "Y felicidades de nuevo!"

"My Spanish isn't perfect, but I think that means 'take care and good luck,' right?" Ray asked Luz, but her thoughts seemed to be elsewhere.

She was staring at her "The Good Witch Azura" book—her most cherished possession. Ray had never seen her without it. He wondered what made that book so special, but she never felt comfortable sharing that information with anyone.

Luz's distant expression worried Ray, so he asked her, "Are you okay?"

She finally looked up and nodded, softly saying, "I'm fine; I'm just lost in thought." Then she put her book back in her bag.

"I can stay with you until the bus comes."

"No, but thank you," Luz replied, offering Ray a small smile. "I appreciate it, but I'll be fine on my own. I'm sure you want to celebrate getting into Met-U with your family."

Ray nodded, understanding Luz's need for solitude, and replied, "Yeah, they're waiting for me. But I'm sure they'll understand if I'm late."

"It's fine, Ray," Luz assured him.

"All right, well, take care of yourself," Ray said, patting Luz before heading off to meet his family.

Hoot. Yip.

"Huh?" Luz turned around to see a tiny owl and a fox behind her. The former has her bag in its beak, while the latter wags its tail excitedly.

Hoot. Yip.

Then, they immediately took off with her belongings, leaving Luz in shock. "Tiny thieves!" she exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief before going after them to try and retrieve her bag. "No puedo creer que esto esté pasando," Luz muttered as she chased the mischievous animals, determined to regain her belongings.

Luz chased the owl and fox through the forest, dodging branches and jumping over rocks in her pursuit. "Get back here!" she shouted, determination fueling her every step. The owl hooted, and the fox barked as they seemed to lead her deeper into the dense woods. Their playful antics made it difficult for Luz to catch up. She paused when they reached a decrepit, abandoned house, but the critters continued right inside, disappearing. Luz hesitated momentarily, staring at the building. Luz let out a low growl to steel her nerves. "You can do this, Luz." She took a deep breath before cautiously following them into the dark, eerie building, unsure of what she would find inside.

"Stop adorably running away, you… huh?" Luz stopped in her tracks as she entered the house. She was anticipating creaking floorboards beneath her feet and the musty smell of decay filling her nostrils. Instead, she was inside a tent filled with strange objects from who knows where, including a crystal ball, a dusty old typewriter, a rusted key hanging on the wall, and a stack of yellowed letters tied with ribbon. The owl and fox were nowhere to be seen. "Whoa. I thought I had much weird stuff." She picked up a creepy-looking doll lying around and examined it closely. "But this? This is impressive."

As she continued to explore the tent, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was no longer in Connecticut.

"Finally, you're back." A woman's voice spoke, making Luz drop the doll. "I've been waiting for you, two." She notices an open flap leading out of the tent. She approached it cautiously and peeked out to see a pale woman in a red dress with long, flowing gray hair standing outside. She patted the owl on her shoulder and smiled, revealing a golden, sharp tooth. She also scratched under the fox's chin, causing it to let out a contented purr.

"Are they her pets or something?" Luz whispered to herself.

"Now let's see what you've brought Mama today." She unzips Luz's bag and starts rummaging through it, pulling out various items and inspecting them with a critical eye. The first item was her phone. "Garbage." She tossed it aside, making Luz cringe at the sound of it hitting the ground. "What else do you have in here?" She continued searching through the bag, muttering to herself about the poor quality of the items. She pulled out a mood ring. "More garbage." She then pulled out a plastic cup made to look like the Holy Grail that Luz won at a Renaissance Fair once. The woman bit the cup, testing its authenticity. "What is this, a child's toy? I've seen better fakes in my time. Garbage."

Luz felt an angry blush creep up her neck as she watched the woman dismiss her belongings so callously. She wanted to walk up to her and do something, but she didn't know who this was and figured it would be best to keep her calm. She didn't know if the woman was dangerous or not.

"Oh, these," the woman said with a smirk, pulling out a pair of joke glasses with eyeball springs attached. Luz planned to use them to make friends at the camp through comedy. "These will make me rich." The woman continued rummaging through Luz's things until she pulled out her "The Good Witch Azura" book. "Oh, this will make good kindling." She placed it over a pile of sticks and lit a match.

"No!" Luz exclaimed, blowing her cover to run out of the tent and snatch the book. Caution was thrown to the wind; she would not stand there and watch her favorite book go up in flames. "Excuse me, sorry. That book is priceless to me. Thank you, bye!" She ran back into the tent and headed for the door. But it folded up before she could walk through it and disappeared, leaving Luz in shock.

"You're not going anywhere," the woman said with a sinister look, blocking Luz's path and forcing her to escape from the back of the tent. As Luz sprinted away, she clutched the book tightly to her chest. Then, she stopped in her tracks when she realized that she genuinely was no longer in Connecticut. She was no longer on Earth.

The town before her was filled with monsters of all shapes and sizes, going about their days like any other beings in a bustling city. She passed by a cloaked figure with legs that appeared to be a chicken's. A centipede-looking thing regurgitated a bag of coins into a salesman's hand. A group of tiny dragon-like creatures with wings fluttered overhead.

"Oh, no, no, no! This… this can't be real." Luz said to herself as she tried to make sense of the surreal scene before her. Then, a tiny creature that looked like a typical fairy one would find in a storybook landed on her shoulder, making Luz shriek in surprise. "Oh, hello, little fairy." Luz giggled nervously, embarrassed about how she was startled by something so small and delicate. "Are you going to tell me this is all a fantastical dream?"

The fairy smiled at Luz, its tiny wings fluttering gently. Then, it revealed a toothy maw filled with sharp teeth. "Give me your skin!" it demanded, its voice sounding eerily sweet yet menacing.

Luz screamed in horror and quickly slapped it off her like a mosquito, scrambling to get away from it as fast as she could. She kept running, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself as she searched for a way back home. "This is real!" Luz shouted, her heart pounding in her chest, while all the monsters looked at her like she was the crazy one. "¡Esto es real! ¡Esto es real! ¡Esto es real!"

"Hmph, tourists." A minotaur-looking monster muttered under its breath, shaking its head in disbelief at Luz's reaction.

"Where am I? Did I die? Am I in the bad place?" Luz muttered to herself, trying to make sense of the surreal situation she found herself in. Luz kept walking until she felt like something was underneath her shoe, followed by a loud screeching that made Luz jump back in fear.

"It's okay, Puddles. No, she didn't mean it." A fairly muscular brunette girl with green eyes and blue clothing was trying to restrain the creature named Puddles.

Adorable name aside, it was a creature Luz recognized from her favorite books. And one she tried to replicate in taxidermy class one time, with spider-breath included. "Dios mío! A griffon!" Luz exclaimed, her eyes widening in amazement as she took in the majestic creature before her. Luz looked down and realized she was stepping on the griffon's tail. This would've easily been one of the greatest moments of her life if not for the fact that she had just provoked it into trying to rip her face off.

"Don't run!" The girl began to explain. "You'll just—"

"I'M SORRY!" Luz cried as she bolted away from the enraged griffon, narrowly avoiding its sharp claws. The griffon screeched and shook its caretaker until she lost her grip on the beast, then gave chase after Luz, its massive wings beating against the air as it pursued.

"No, no, no, no! No, Puddles, no! Puddles, stop! You're a bad griffon, Puddles!" the caretaker shouted, desperately trying to calm the creature before things got worse.

Luz ran through the city's cobblestone streets, her heart pounding as she searched for a way to escape Puddles. She did not want death by Puddles immortalized on her gravestone. Luz then saw a lanky merchant pushing a cart full of green vegetables in the middle of the road and quickly dodged underneath it and out the other side.

"Watch where you're going!" she heard the merchant yell as she continued running, hoping to lose Puddles in the bustling marketplace ahead. The griffon screeched, getting on all fours as it barreled through the cart, sending vegetables flying in all directions. Luz glanced back just in time to see Puddles leap over the wreckage, gaining ground quickly. She also saw the vegetables sprout crab-like legs and hurried away in all directions. The merchant watched in horror as he escaped. "M… m… MY CRABBAGES!"

Luz continued to run to the edge of the town, only to skid to a stop mere inches away from falling off a cliff. "Woah! That was close," she muttered, feeling her heart race, and backed away from the cliff. Puddle's screeching from behind made her turn around, realizing the griffon was still hot on her heels. Luz instinctively stepped back, and that was the last mistake she made. "Woah! Ahh!" Luz screamed as she fell off the cliff's edge, plummeting towards the rocky ground below!

It was another typical day in Bonesborough. The sun was shining brightly overhead. It was a three-day weekend off from school, which meant the town's streets were bustling today. It has been six months since Dell stepped into the limelight as Superboy, and he is still adjusting to his newfound fame. Not that he'd ever let it go to his head or anything—people looked up to him now. Despite the pressure, he knew he had to stay true to himself and continue fighting for the right reasons.

He finished patrolling the town, scanning for signs of trouble. Fortunately, none were found. He may be super, but he was still a teenager who needed to relax and enjoy his time off. Plus, if trouble that the Emperor's Coven couldn't handle did arise or someone needed saving, he knew he could handle it before it escalated.

Dell was hanging out with Augustus at the scarcade, where teens like them could unwind and have fun. Augustus was on fire! He was racking up a high score in "Bonesborough Brawler" while Dell watched in awe. The miniature illusions of previous champions traded blow for blow in the model arena.

"Just a few more hits," Augustus said to himself, his focus intense. "And…" Augustus' character delivered a finishing combo, knocking out his opponent and winning the game dramatically.

"YOU WIN!" A tiny illusion announcer declared as confetti rained down on the battlefield. The spell dissipated, and Augustus gave a triumphant cheer, raising his fists in victory. Dell couldn't help but grin, impressed by his friend's skills and determination.

"Congrats, Augustus! That was an epic win!" Dell exclaimed, patting his friend on the back. Augustus beamed with pride, satisfied with his hard-earned victory.

"That was worth the snails." Augustus turned to Dell and said, "Thanks for believing in me, buddy. This is what I needed."

"No problem," Dell replied.

Their trip to the arcade was to take Augustus' mind off the H.A.S. club meeting he'd been planning for later in the week. It was a history seminar on an ancient human civilization called the Row-Man Empire. However, some students from the Abomination Track attended a meeting about a week ago, where he faced some harsh criticism about his ideas and leadership skills. Dell knew Augustus needed a confidence boost and was glad to see his friend finally feeling in high spirits again.

"This also gave me a new idea of how to make our club meeting more engaging and interactive," Augustus said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "Instead of telling everyone about humans, why not show them?" Augustus traced a spell circle and projected an illusionary image of a human into the room. The illusion was adorned with fish-like armor and a rowing oar. "This is one of the Row-Mans I read about. What do you think?"

The illusion glitched for a moment before stabilizing. "You're getting better at maintaining the illusions," Dell remarked.

Augustus beamed at the compliment, proud of his progress in mastering illusion magic. "Thanks, Dell. I think this will make our meetings more exciting."

"But I don't think this is what they look like." Dell raised an eyebrow, studying the illusion carefully. "You might need to do more research on the Row-Mans before we finalize the image."

Augustus nodded. "I was just going off what I saw in that book I bought from that Human Collectibles stand. Though it was in poor condition, it might not have missed some. But I'm pretty sure this is what a Row-Man looks like. I mean, they're called Row-Mans; they had to have rows of some sort, right?"

Dell chuckled. "Fair point. Let's keep digging and see if we can find more accurate representations before we present our findings."

"Y'know, if we had an actual human here, we could ask for their input on what a Row-Man looked like. That might give us a better idea of what we're looking for."

Dell agreed, "That would be great."

"Yeah, but it's not like one will fall from the sky and help us out."

"Woah! Ahh!" Dell's super-hearing picked up a scream from somewhere in town. It sounded like someone was about to fall to their death.

"Hey, Dell, are you all right?" Augustus asked, concerned about Dell's sudden reaction.

"Sorry, I just… gotta use the bathroom. I'll be back." Dell quickly excused himself and rushed out of the room, leaving Augustus puzzled by his sudden departure.

Dell entered the men's restroom, which fortunately had a big enough window to fly out of. He used his super-speed to change into Superboy, flew out of the window, and quickly located the scream's source.

Luz continued to scream as she fell to what would very much be her demise. Thousands of thoughts rushed through her head as she plummeted towards the ground. She couldn't believe this was how she was going to die.

Just as it all seemed hopeless, something… someone—swooped in just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. "It's okay, Miss. I got you," said a black-haired young man wearing a medieval-like red and blue uniform with an "S" symbol on his chest and a flowing red cape. He also had a reassuring smile on his face.

Luz looked down and realized the man was flying with her in his arms, defying gravity. "You got me? Who's got you?" Luz exclaimed, feeling a rush of relief and disbelief simultaneously. She held tight as the mysterious hero flew her safely, grateful for his unexpected intervention.

He flew her up to the ledge from which she had fallen. "You can let go of me now." He said, his voice calm and steady.

Luz only now realized that she had been holding on to him like the leading lady in one of those pre-2000s superhero movies. She blushed as she released her grip, feeling embarrassed and grateful to her rescuer. "Thank you," she said, still in awe.

A sudden screech made Luz jump. She turned around and saw the griffon charging towards them, its eyes filled with a need to get even with the girl for stepping on its tail. But the superhero stood unfazed. "I've got this," he assured her, standing between the girl and the beast, who skidded to a stop upon seeing his confident stance. It sniffed him, then began to coo softly, seemingly recognizing him. Luz watched in amazement as the griffon nuzzled the superhero.

"Eso fue increible," she whispered.

"Puddles, there you are." The griffon's owner finally caught up with them, huffing and puffing but looking relieved to see his beloved pet safe and sound. She then noticed the superhero calming the griffon down. "Superboy?"

The superhero turned to her with a smile, nodding in acknowledgment. "Don't worry, V— Miss; your griffon is all right. And the girl she was chasing, too."

"Hello," Luz greeted.

"I am so sorry about that," she apologized.

"No, I should apologize. I stepped on her tail."

"No harm done, thankfully," Superboy reassured. "Griffons can be quite unpredictable sometimes."

"Thank you for calming Puddles down," the brunette added gratefully. "I'll take her home before she causes any more trouble." She escorted her griffon back into the town.

Superboy then looked over at Luz. "I forgot to ask how you are doing," he apologized. "Falling off a cliff isn't the best way to start the day."

Luz replied with a small smile, "I'm shaken up, but I'll be fine. Thank you for asking. And before you go, can you tell me where I am?!"

The girl suddenly felt a shiver go down her spine as she realized someone had just touched her shoulder. "Welcome to the Boiling Isles, kiddo." It was the woman that she was running from earlier.

Luz ran behind Superboy for protection. "I'm so sorry! I just wanted my book! Please don't let her eat me, Superboy!"

"Eat you? Why would I eat a potential customer?" The woman chuckled.

"You don't need to worry about Eda," Superboy assured Luz. "She's harmless… Most of the time... She's a pretty cool witch once you get to know her." Luz hesitantly stepped out from behind Superboy, eyeing Eda cautiously. Superboy looked over at Eda with a severe expression. "Eda, please tell me you didn't kidnap her."

"No, she followed Owlbert and Fiddlesticks through the portal alone."

"She's a human?"

"I am. Aren't you?" Luz asked Superboy.

Superboy chuckled. "Not exactly. Well, make sure she gets back home safely once she's done browsing," Superboy instructed Eda. "And don't scare her too much."

"Relax; everything will be fine," Eda replied with a mischievous grin. "I'll show her a good time in the Demon Realm before sending her home."

"See that you do," Superboy said with a nod before turning to Luz. "Just be careful and stay close to Eda, okay?"

Luz nodded nervously, trying to muster up some courage. Although she doesn't trust the woman, she feels immense trust in Superboy. He flew into the sky, leaving Luz alone with Eda as she escorted her back to the tent.

"Can I offer you a human foot filled with holes?" Eda holds up a green croc, then puts it aside and grabs a stick of men's deodorant. "Or a bar of green human candy? Oh, oh! How about this black shadow box that reflects only sadness?" She brings a portable TV up to Luz, who can see her reflection distorted on the screen.

Luz looks at the middle-aged woman and laughs. "That's not all it can do. Here, let me see it." She takes the TV and grabs two batteries from a dish labeled "Human Candy?" She puts the batteries in and presses the power button, and a jazz exercise video starts playing with loud music. "Voilà!" Luz exclaims, pointing at the screen. "It's a portable dance party in a box!"

The music grabs the attention of passersby, who gather around the vendor.

"Huh?" "What's that?" The sound—it's so alluring." "I'll pay 40 snails for the screaming box!" "I'll give you a hundred!" "Can I eat the tiny person inside?"

Eda looks back at Luz. "What did you say your name was?"

"I'm Luz. Luz Noceda."

"Well, Luz, that was pretty clever."

"Oh, thank you, Eda."

"Oh, dear child, call me by my full title." She climbed onto the table. "I'm Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!"

"A witch?" Luz gasped in amazement. "That's so cool!"

"I am respected and feared, and..."

"Busted!" Eda stopped mid-sentence as a pair of burly guardsmen burst onto the scene. Everyone scattered, and Luz hid behind the table.

"Eda the Owl Lady, you are wanted for misuse of magic and demonic misdemeanors."

"Whoa! Witch criminal!" Luz exclaimed, wide-eyed with, well, not that much shock.

One of the guards grabs Eda's arm. "You are, at this moment, ordered to come with me to the Conformatorium."

Eda frees her arm. "Would you guys quit following me around? I haven't done a squat."

"And you're coming too..." One of the other guards said this as he picked Luz up by her hood.

"What did I do? Let me go!" Luz protested, kicking her legs in the air.

"You're charged for fraternizing with a criminal, disturbing the peace earlier, and the unlawful destruction of produce."

"Yes, off with her head!" Shouted the merchant, whose cart Puddles had destroyed while chasing Luz. "Make her pay for each head of crabbage!"

"Wh-What? That's not cool!" Luz cried out, trying to break free from the guard's grasp.

"Oh, all right, all right, you win. Just let me get my stuff." Eda said as she reached under the table and grabbed a staff, swinging it at the guard. He falls to the ground with a grunt. Eda spins her staff and taps the bottom of the table, making all her stuff float in midair. Luz picks herself and her book off the ground. "Whoops. I can't forget this." Eda reaches into her hair and pulls out the key, pressing the eye to summon the portal door. She closes her hand into a fist, making the tablecloth wrap around all her stuff. She sticks her staff through the bundle and starts running. "Follow me, human."

"This is crazy," Luz exclaimed as she followed Eda. "If I die here, my mom's gonna kill me!"

"Ha! I won't let them hurt you. A human like you is much more valuable to me alive than dead."

"Wait. What's that supposed to be?"

"Shh, no time to explain now. Just trust me," Eda replied, pulling herself and Luz onto her staff and taking off into the sky.

Luz closed her eyes as they soared through the air and could hear the guards shouting, "You won't get away with this, Owl Lady!"

"You can open your eyes now, human," Eda said. Luz does so and screams as she sees the breathtaking view of the Boiling Isles below them. Feeling fear and excitement, she nearly falls off the staff when she sees the ground below them. "We're safe for now but need to keep moving."

"Where are we going?" Eda glanced back at Luz with a mischievous grin.

"To the Owl House, of course. You're about to see a whole new world." Eda landed them safely on the ground and hopped off. Though her hand stays behind. Luz screamed as she saw it move on its own. "Oops." She screws her hand back on. "That happens sometimes."

"Well, I've had enough adventure for today," Luz said nervously. "This is not the PG fantasy world I always dreamed about. So, can you help me get back home like that Superboy said you would?"

"Only if you help me first." Eda chuckles, lifts her staff, and walks away with the bag.

"Aren't you worried about those guards finding us?"

"Nope. My place has a state-of-the-art defense system. Now, come along, Luz the Human."

"Welcome to the Owl House!" Eda snaps her fingers. Candles ignite. A fire in the fireplace starts, a cauldron starts stirring, and a broom starts sweeping the floor. Overhead, a depiction of an owl beast begins to glow with a tremendous screeching noise. Luz looks at all of this in awe, her eyes wide with wonder.

"This place is amazing," she breathes, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation building within her.

"Eda is where I hide from the pressures of modern life. Also, the cops. Mm, also ex-boyfriends."

"Do you live here all alone?" Luz asked, placing her belongings on a nearby table.

Eda chuckled. "Alone? Oh no, I have plenty of company here," she replied mysteriously, gesturing to the various magical objects around the room that seemed to have a life of their own. "I've got two wonderful boys and a loving partner in crime and marriage." She flashed her wedding ring with a mischievous grin. "But don't worry, they won't bite... unless you give them a reason to."

"Eda!" A high-pitched voice called from another room, followed by footsteps approaching. From the hall emerged a tiny dog-like creature with a bath towel around its waist and a rubber ducky in its paws. "We're out of hot water!"

Luz gasps in overjoy. "Ay, que lindo!" She runs forward and scoops the little creature up in a hug. "Eda, he's so cute! Who's a widdle guy? Who's a widdle guy? Is it you? Is it you?"

"No! I don't know who your little guy is!" He protests, struggling to free himself. "Eda, who is this monster?"

Eda drags Luz away from him. "Oh, this is Luz, the human. She's here to help us with our little situation. Dell won't do the one because it's illegal."

"Oh! Hooray! I'm King, the King of Demons," King proudly announces, puffing out his chest.

"Wait, wait, wait. I don't like the sound of the situation." Luz says, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly did I just agree to help with? And why is it illegal?"

"It's a long story," Eda told her. "But I think you'll agree to help us because..." She picks up King and holds him close to Luz's face. "Who could say no to this cute face?"

"No! Please don't encourage her!" King pleaded, squirming in Eda's grasp.

"And I mean, we're kinda your only way home."

"So, I don't have a choice, do I?" Luz asked, resigned to her fate.

"Nope."

"Fine, I'll help. But only because I want to get back home." With a sigh, she prepared herself for whatever trouble awaited.

Dell entered the scarcade the same way he exited. As he exited the restroom, Dell noticed Augustus sitting at a table by the snack bar, conversing with Loisse. She wasn't dressed casually like the rest of the patrons, but in a sleek blue suit that said she was all business, adding to her kind smile and twinkle in her eyes. Dell felt his face heat up, but he quickly composed himself and approached to join them.

"Ah, Dell! You're back!" Augustus exclaimed, raising his voice due to the loud music that just started to play.

"Sorry about leaving like that," Dell said sheepishly, sitting beside Augustus. "And I didn't expect to see you here, Loisse."

"I had some free time and decided to stop by," Loisse replied with a smile. "I saw Augustus inside and figured that if he was here, you must be too."

Dell chuckled at her logic. "I guess that makes sense."

"Well, aren't you gonna tell him the good news?" Augustus asked Loisse eagerly.

"Oh, right! I almost forgot." Loisse excitedly turned to Dell. "I got a part-time job as a reporter for the local news station!"

Dell's eyes widened in surprise. "That's amazing, Loisse! Congratulations!"

"Thank you," Loisse beamed, feeling proud of her accomplishment. "I got it because of Augustus' dad. After hearing about my interest in journalism, he recommended me for the position," she explained. "I owe him big time."

Dell nodded in understanding. "That's great, Loisse. I'm happy for you. I'm guessing that with the way you're dressed, you're on the clock? You look nice, by the way."

Loisse blushed at the compliment. "Yes, I have to head to the news station. And," she began looking around as if making sure no one was listening, "I might have an idea of my first story."

Dell and Augustus leaned in with interest. "Do tell," the latter urged.

"Have you guys heard of the mysterious deaths of Coven Scouts in the forest near the town?" Loisse whispered. "I think there's more to it than the authorities say."

"I haven't heard about that," Dell admitted that his super-hearing should've picked up on something like that, or Superboy should have eventually encountered it.

Augustus added, "Not surprising, given how secretive the authorities have been about it. My dad has told me Adrian Graye Vensworth and the Illusion Coven have been interfering with what gets leaked to the public regarding those deaths."

"I always thought the Oracle Coven got the last word on matters like this," Dell questioned.

"It seems like there's a power struggle behind the scenes." Loisse mused. "Politics, power plays, and hidden agendas are nothing new. Anyway, the killings are strange. It's not just the deaths themselves; the circumstances surrounding them are puzzling. According to some sources, the bodies appear drained of magic and life. It's as though some parasite was feeding on them."

"Could it be a new kind of wild magic at play?" Dell speculated. Despite the Emperor's propaganda, Dell knew that not every Wild Magic practitioner was a threat; his parents were practitioners. Still, that did not mean he could discount the possibility of a wild witch being responsible.

"Who knows?" Loisse shrugged. "But knowing the Emperor's Coven, they will jump to conclusions." She looked at the clock on the wall, and her eyes widened. "Oh, crap! I'm going to be late. Can we continue this later?"

Dell and Augustus both nodded.

"Of course," Dell said.

"Stay safe out there," Augustus added.

As Loisse rushed out the door, Dell turned to Augustus with a furrowed brow. "Do you think the Emperor's Coven will listen to reason if we find evidence pointing elsewhere?"

Augustus sighed. "I hope so, but they have a reputation for being stubborn and quick to judge. Hopefully, Superboy will be able to help before it's too late."

Dell nodded in agreement.

The rest of the day was a blur. Dell said his goodbyes to Augustus and headed back to the Owl House. It was a lovely evening to walk back, with the cool breeze providing a sense of calm after the day's events. Yes, flying and super-speed were more efficient, but sometimes, a stroll was precisely what he needed to clear his mind. Dell found solace in the quiet moments and being down to earth with the people of the Isles. Still, Dell couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

"Junior! Where are you?" Dell heard a voice call out, snapping him out of his thoughts. Among a crowd of witches and demons, Dell spotted a man with tan-yellow skin, white hair, and a large pale blue blotch that eclipsed the left side of his face, giving the right side the appearance of a crescent moon shape. He wore clothing that resembled robes, split between dark blue on the right and gray on the left. "Your mother and I are worried sick about you."

Dell felt for the man. He remembered getting lost in a crowded place as a child, the fear and panic overwhelming him, especially with his super-senses, which heightened his distress.

HONK! HONK!

Suddenly, a bus made a turn and crawled down the street. Dell watched in horror as the man with the pale blue blotch on his face stepped into its path. "Look out!" Dell's heart raced as he shouted a warning, but it was too late. The bus was about to strike the man!

Snap!

The bus disappeared, and in its place were giant bubbles, and the man was nowhere to be seen. Dell's jaw dropped in shock as he realized the bus and the man had vanished into thin air. He rubbed his eyes, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But they were not. This was real, and Dell was left in disbelief on the sidewalk.

"What happened to the bus?" "Did anyone else see that?" A crowd gathered around the scene, looking as bewildered as he did.

A cry snapped Dell out of his daze, and he saw people trapped inside the bubbles floating higher and higher into the sky. Panic began to spread among the onlookers as they realized the gravity of the situation. Dell knew he had to act fast before it was too late. After ensuring no one was looking, he dove into an alley to change. This was a job for Superboy!

His cape billowed behind him as he took off to face the trouble. "Superboy, help us!" One of the trapped people cried out as everyone floated higher and higher towards the clouds.

"Hang on, I'm coming!" Dell shouted.

The civilians continued to panic, and they soon began pounding on the walls of the bubbles, desperate to escape.

"Wait, don't—" But it was too late.

POP!

The bubbles burst, sending the person and the other three witches trapped with them plummeting towards the ground. Dell swooped in to catch them all before they hit the earth. He gently set them on the ground. Before they could thank him, he took off once more to rescue the remaining frightened citizens before they could float any higher.

POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP!

The bubbles all began to pop, whether alone or because the people inside panicked. Either way, people were now falling back to the ground as the magic holding them aloft dissipated.

For Dell, time slowed to a crawl as he focused on reaching each person as quickly as possible. He used his super-speed and incredible agility to catch each falling citizen before they hit the ground. But he had to be careful; if he moved too quickly, he risked hurting or possibly killing them.

Dell caught a couple of moms and their babies and gently lowered them to safety. He then flew back to see a few students from Glandus High and gently set them down on the sidewalk. It was a loop of going back and forth, saving as many people as he could with precision and care. One last person remained a woman only mere feet from hitting the ground. But he caught her quickly and safely brought her down to the others.

"Is everyone alright?" he asked, scanning the group for signs of injury. The grateful crowd nodded unison, thanking Dell for his quick thinking and heroism.

"We're fine," a demon with goat legs said gratefully, still shaken from the experience. "Thank you, Superboy."

"Yeah!" "You're the man!" "Did anyone else see that?" "Go, Superboy!" "WOO!" "He's so cool!"

Civilians cheered and clapped as Superboy stood there, smiling, knowing he had saved lives that day. The woman he had caught looked up at him with tears, whispering a heartfelt "thank you" before joining the others in expressing their gratitude.

Dell's super-hearing could pick up the Emperor's Coven's first responders arriving on the scene to assist with the aftermath. "I'm glad everyone's alright," Dell told them before flying away, letting the Coven Scouts take over.

He ultimately decided he would fly the rest of the way back to the Owl House. Though Dell could not stop thinking about how all that happened, strange stuff happens on the Boiling Isles all the time; a bus turning into bubbles was a new one for him. Could it have been that strange man's doing? He did disappear, almost out of thin air, right after the incident. Dell shook his head, determined to focus on returning to the Owl House and figuring out what to do next.

Luz is here! This chapter didn't have much happening, but it will serve as the starting point for what I have planned in the coming set. If you enjoyed it, please favorite, follow, and leave a review; feedback is appreciated.