Chapter Text
A young girl with a stern look and aquamarine hair glanced down at the sheet of paper given to her and placed on the rickety, wooden desk. She smiles with pride.
A+
“Congratulations, Ms. Blight! At this rate, I am sure that your parents are very proud of your astounding record,” A middle-aged, spectacled lizardman proclaimed with utmost enthusiasm. With the growing number of groans and murmurs in the classroom, the rest of her classmates must not have achieved such a feat. “Settle down now!” The lizardman turned around quickly to the rest of the class, “I am sure with the right amount of effort, you too can achieve the same grade as Ms. Blight!”
The young girl looked down so that her face could not be seen by others. Not out of arrogance, but out of somber acceptance. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes, one thought running rampant in her head, ‘I doubt that…’
“Yes, Mr. Marco…” Announced the class, though with a distinct lack of fanfare.
RING-RING-RING
The students immediately perked up, hearing the telltale sound of freedom resounding in the air. Many began packing their things and heading out the door before a very flustered teacher.
“N-Now, now, class! There is still the big assignment due at the end of this month! Make sure you have enough time to finish it!” Mr. Marco exclaimed. Some students groaned but got the message, some even staying behind to ask some questions regarding the assignment.
Ms. Blight was not of those students for she had a clear picture on what she had to do. As she was heading out of the class, she glanced at the plaque of the classroom out of pure habit.
Advanced Theory and Application of Abomination Summoning
She released a weary sigh, “At least it’s the end of the day.” She continued down the halls of the prestigious Hexside Academy of the Boiling Isles, renowned for its ability to produce world renowned individuals who lead their fields of study. Ranging from botany to advanced illusion mechanics, it is the only school young witches want to go to pursue their craft.
However, with its reputation, it does tend to draw in unique individuals…
“Yo, Amity!” A girl yelled from behind her.
Amity gave a slight wince. She turned around and saw one of her ‘friends’ from her childhood. Her three eyes, magenta hair, and sports-like attire were immediate determinants to who she was.
“Hello, Boscha.” Amity gave a slight wave and smile and walked over to her. Amity saw her smug smile and kept her guard up, having an inkling what she wants to ask. “How was your day at school?”
“Oh, nothing much,” She splayed out her hand, far more concerned with her nails. “Things have been quiet for a while. We should go out and have some fun while we still have a chance,” She gave a pointed look at her. “Unless little Miss Perfect here can’t go out with us yet again?”
Amity hid her grimace as she did a mental tally on the number of times she was asked by Boscha to hang out with her and, by extension, her group of followers that do her every whim. Amity distinctly recalls all the times that unnerved her, all the bullying they did, all the trouble brought with them, it was astounding. She had every right to decline.
Yet…
‘You are a Blight’. The voice of her father echoes in her mind. ‘You should only be friends with those that we deem to be acceptable and influential. You WILL befriend those that we choose.’
Maybe this one time…
Amity threw a disarming smile at Boscha, “Sorry, but I already have a bunch of extracurriculars to do and work to catch up on? Maybe next time?”
“Ugh, fine.” Boscha gave a disgruntled whine and walked away. “Don’t go soft on me, Blight! We are still your friends!”
Once she was out of earshot, Amity gave a snort at Boscha notion of friends. ‘You are only friends with me because of my father, don’t forget that’. She does not know if that was for Boscha or towards herself.
Amity quickly gathered her things from her locker and left with speed in her step to go to her first extracurricular of the day, reading with young children at the local library. Snow covers the stone city and the cold bites at the exposed face of the young Blight as she hurries. However, it seems that fate has other ideas for her and today.
CLOSED!?
A closed sign covers the large double doors of the gigantic stone library, large banks of snow covering the sidewalk and windows of the library.
‘I didn’t know it would be closed today, why was there no notice?’ She hurriedly checked her scroll to see if there were any updates but there was nothing. ‘Did they forget to message me?’
She was so engrossed in checking her scroll that she did not see the figure in front of her and both crashed into one another and landed into the snow.
“Ow,” Said the unknown person. Amity freezes. I know this voice…. “Sorry, I didn’t- Amity!”. Amity quickly got up and immediately recognized who it was.
“Willow?” Barely a whisper but the green haired girl heard it all the same.
“Amity, it really is you!” Shock quickly gave way to suspicion, her green eyes piercing her very soul. “What are YOU doing here?”
Several memories of Willow and herself began to rapidly flicker through her head with a knot in her stomach twisting in sadness. She remembers all the times they had fun, all the times they did hang out together, all the -
‘You are a BLIGHT!’ Her fathers voice echoes loudly in her head again. She pales, already understanding what will happen if she was caught with her again. She knows what she must do.
‘I’m sorry, Willow…” Amity turns and runs away quickly from her old friend, tears threatening to break out from her face.
“Amity, wait!” A thousand questions peppered under her outcry; Willow immediately give chase with one arm outstretched to catch her.
Amity, recalling all her time and practice as an ex-Grudgby captain, ran as fast as she could, bobbing and weaving through the obstacles standing in her way. She couldn’t do this to Willow. She shouldn’t.
What choice do I have?
The buildings began to blur together as she picked up speed. The surprise of many a monster can be heard as she moves through crowds of monsters.
“Amity, please wait!” The distant cries of Willow can be heard amongst the crowd. “I just want to talk!”
Amity grits her teeth as she remembers the unheard threats when her parents spoke of Willow. All the unmentioned conclusions and danger hidden under the guise of parental advice.
What choice do you have?
“Amity, please!” It sounds farther this time. “Amity!” It sounds…torn.
Willow can’t know, shouldn’t know what could happen. She must be strong. For herself… For her…
Do I have a choice?
Amity quickly turned her head to check if Willow was behind her and saw nothing, but snow and shadow held within the alleyway. She breathes and lets out a sigh of relief. She slows her pace and examines the area to see where she was. On the right side of the road, oddly, the buildings here look built using old wood and a bit rundown with barely any stone occupying the houses, besides the road. On the sidewalk, streetlamps flicker and dim as the light inside must surely be dying. On the other side of road, a snow-covered forest stands tall and numerous with the soft chitter of animals being present.
Worry began to take hold of her. ‘I… don’t recognize this place. Where am I?’ She quickly takes out her scroll and looks up the map of the area but with no luck.
“No connection!? Ugh,” She huffs at the inconvenience and stuffs her scroll into pocket. ‘There as to be someone here to help me get out here.’
“Hello?” She shouts, her voice echoes amongst the empty streets. “Is anyone there? I just need some help finding my way?” She began walking, hoping to see at least one being to help get out of here.
She was walking around for what felt like hours as snow began to fall steadily from the evening sky. She began to shudder from the increasing chill and checked her scroll for the time, cursing under her breath as she does so. It is late, too late to do any of her extracurriculars today. No connection either so she can’t contact anyone.
Gurgle
She holds a hand up to her stomach and winces. She is getting hungry and nothing to help in sight.
“Hello!” Once more with desperation creeping to her tone. “Anyone? I’m lost and would like some help!” Only her echo answers her back, haunting her every moment.
“DANG IT!” She kicks a nearby snowbank in anger, taking in breaths rapidly to clam her down. After a while, she slumps down, sitting with her knees up to her face and trying to hug herself with her own legs. Her only company being the falling snow and the dimming light of the lamp above her as she slowly feels the chill gnaw at her bones.
She lets out a withering breath, the cold turning it into a dense mist. She looks to her left. Nothing. She looks to her right. Nothing. She groans and closes her eyes.
Is this how I die?
Flickers of her life began appearing in her mind as she tries to stay awake in the cold. Her time with Willow when they were younger. All those wasted years trying to appease her parents. Edric and Emira.
Would this be better?
A sudden laugh resounds throughout the area. Amity bolts upwards, dazed, cold, and barely awake. With desperation fueling her mind, she runs.
She runs as if she sees Willow.
She runs as if her parents are hounding her.
She runs…
And arrives somewhere strange. She arrives at a frozen lake clearing, snow gracefully falling along the now night sky. She blinks, and sees bright lights dance amongst the snow like stars crossing the darkened night. She was sure that the voice was around here somewhere, but…
She moves closer and steps onto the frozen lake with all the determination she could muster.
“Hello?” Her voice is carried amongst the snowfall. Her body feels numb. Nothing feels as it should.
“Anyone there?” Her breath begins to shudder, and her body slowly stops shivering. Her legs feel weak as she falls onto one knee.
“Anyone…please…” Her voice rings aloud with the timidity of a mouse. She feels a soft cloud surround her and everything around her feels so slow.
‘Tired……’
Her vision begins to dull, and warmth enraptures her until she sees something move along.
A flicker within the cloak of snow.
A dance of shadow and light. Something glides across the ice and leaps with immense grace and poise. The light follows and illuminates the falling snow, causing them to transform into comets plunging towards the ground.
Amity can barely keep herself up and falls, her vision darkens and finally lets sleep take her. Just before her consciousness fades, she sees who appears. A young girl no older than she, covered in thick grey furs. The young girl moves with a purpose and approaches her downed body with a sled of some sort.
Amity can only catch a glimpse of the face the colour of bronze, filled with worry, and brown eyes steep with concern before the darkness claims her.
… …. she …. here…
What … … even … do with …
… need … bring … inside…
How … … world ……… here …
Bring … … C’mon, I … … all night….
She feels it. Something warm. Something near.
Amity slowly opens her eyes, scrubbing out the drowsiness with her bare hands.
Wait-
She looks at her hands and sees that her mittens were not there. She looks down to see herself and sees that she is covered in a brown blanket, patched in some areas but still relatively useful.
‘Who would do this?’ She tries getting up, but she winces in pain, the vestiges of cold still leaving some aches and discomfort before she just flops down in resignation. She opts to just lay there and accept that someone brought her in?
Her pointed ears feel warm as she starts to slowly remember what happened. The laugh. The radiant snow. The figure’s face…
“I see your finally awake.” Amity jumps in surprise as a new voice announces their presence. Immediately, she can hear the rapid thumping of footsteps. “Hey there, kiddo. Don’t push herself.” She turns around and sees a mug filled with a dark brown liquid pushed unto her face. “Drink up, kid. You have been out there for too long and you’re lucky we’ve found you.” Amity takes the cup and looks up towards the voice.
She sees a face that looks slightly familiar to her. It is a woman clothed in a purple sweater and blue pajamas with her pale skin standing in contrast to her bright attire. Her golden eyes shine with curiosity, concern, and mischievousness and her hair being different shades of grey.
She sits down at the massive cushioned sofa near the fireplace and gives a toothy smile. “Well, are you going to drink up or what? It’s going to get cold otherwise.” Amity, with some hesitation, takes a small sip of the dark brown liquid and immediately perks up. She quickly takes another, longer drink as she savors the lingering taste of sweetness.
The lady gives a quick snort of laughter. “Like it? Its something called hot chocolate and I can’t just stop drinking it for the life of me.” Amity lets out a small giggle at the lady’s antics but quickly recomposes herself, she doesn’t know who this person is. If the lady notices the quick stop, she doesn’t comment. “So, mind telling me why you happened to be walking across the frozen lake?” The lady asks with a keen look; not judging but curious.
Amity takes a moment to compose herself, contemplating if she should be honest to this stranger. “I…I was just trying to get home.” The lady raises an eyebrow. “I got lost and I couldn’t get a signal with my scroll, so I tried finding anyone to help me, but no one was there. I just kind of gave up before I heard someone and I just kind of…followed…it.” Amity looks away in embarrassment as she realized what could have happened.
“So,” A snort. “You’re telling me that you just followed a voice in the middle of nowhere and decided it might be someone helpful? Hah!” She turns to see the lady laughing with her arms hugging her stomach. Amity shrinks at the laughter and doesn’t look at the lady, knowing that it was a kind-of stupid decision.
The lady slowly stops laughing and Amity looks back to see a slightly apologetic face. “Sorry about that, kid. Couldn’t help myself. Let’s start over.” The lady gets up from her spot, walks over to her, and crouches down with her hand extended. “Names Eda, the Owl Lady. And you are?”
Amity gulps and takes her hand, shaking it lightly. “My name is Amity Blight. Thank you for helping me.”
A flicker of recognition races across Eda’s face. “Blight? Wait, are you-“
THUD
The two of them turned towards the sound and Eda gives a knowing smile. “Brace yourself, kid.”
Amity gave a confused glance towards her before something immediately dashed into the room, a coat and boots flying off and landing on the ground with an unceremonious thud. She sees a person shaped ball of energy crash into Eda and with a slight stumble, got a hold of the slightly disgruntled lady. Eda’s body was turned away from Amity so she could not see who came in but she could definitely hear the excited voice.
“Eda, Eda, Eda! I haven’t been gone for too long have I? I did what you asked and brought back some wood and herbs,” The voice shot out like rapid fire and Amity could barely keep up.
“Luz-”
“Oh, is King anywhere? I tried looking for him on the way back, but I didn’t see. I hope he doesn’t become a snowman like last time.”
“Luz-”
“AH, Dios mio! I totally forgot. What about the girl we found on the frozen lake? Is she going to be okay? Is she still breathing? Does her parents know that their daughter just happened to just show up in this part of town without any warning and didn’t get abducted by some type of -"
“LUZ!” Eda cried out, causing the voice to stop. The lady turned and raised a pointed finger at the confused Amity. Amity can now see that the new arrival was a girl with brown hair and brown skin. Brown eyes meets gold and Amity realizes that this was the one who found her.
“Ah!” Amity flinches when the girl known as Luz immediately rushes up to her, causing Amity to shift back a bit. “Are you okay? Why were in the snow? How did you get here?” Amity can barely keep up before a hand grabs the girl and puts her back a bit.
“Easy, Luz, she just woke up. Give her some space.” Eda sternly told the now sorry girl.
“Sorry, Eda. I just got too excited.” She rubbed her neck in embarrassment. She turned towards Amity, “So, stranger, what’s your name?”
Amity fiddles with her fingers to calm her nerves, “My name is Amity.”
“Oh, cool!” The girl’s eyes shine with joy. “That is such a cool name. My name is Luz Noceda and you have such cool looking hair, like my favourite character from my book!”
Amity feels heat creep into her ears, “T-Thank you.” She tries to look away, but Amity seems drawn to Luz’s infectious attitude. She quickly clears her throat to refocus, “Can you tell me where am I? I need to head home.”
Luz and Eda share a look before Eda pipes up, “Well for starters, you are outside the main city and signal tends to be a tad scuff out here. That’s why your scroll couldn’t reach anyone.” She walks over to the curtains and pulls on it to reveal a dark night, the wind howling with snow pelting the window. “And two, the storm is a big one and you don’t want to go through that without the right gear. Hate to say it but you may have to stay the night.”
Amity deflates a bit and casts a downward glance, “Oh, okay…” She immediately thinks of what everyone must be thinking and if they were worried.
“Ah, don’t be so sad,” Amity looks up and sees Luz with a cheeky grin with a glint in her eye. “We’ll keep you company, so you won’t feel lonely. You’ll love it here because,” Luz jumps in with a bright smile on her face.
“You are now in the world-famous centre of the magical and the material!” Luz announces with one arm raised to the ceiling, the fire illuminating her figure.
“Where magic meets showmanship!” Eda declares with a twirl and the casting of magic to bring about tiny fireworks to blast to life behind her.
With a mighty cry, both Luz and Eda jump and strike an illustrious pose, magic highlighting the two figures. The shout with a mighty cry, “THE OWL HOUSE!”
Amity lets out a small giggle that turns into genuine laughter as she can’t help but enjoy the antics of these two. Both Luz and Eda were constantly trying to one-up one another as they did several routines to entertain their guest.
Amity takes one last drink of her ‘Hot Chocolate’ and places the empty mug beside her, laying down with her left arm resting on her cheek and looking at the antics of the two performers.
She lets out one last breathy laugh at the antics before she suddenly feels fatigue take over her body. She lets out a yawn before her eyes slowly close, a smile adorns her face as she thinks one thing before she sleeps.
I like this…