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Chapter Text

After all the bugging, Luz finally got Eda to teach her how to do real magic. Till now, all Luz has ever done in the path of becoming a witch was stupid chores. After seeing how strong Amity and Willow, who were about her age, were back in Hexside, she was frustrated that she couldn’t do any of the things they could.       

  Eda yawned sleepily, and said “Alright kiddo. Now, I will show you how to do a light spell.” Luz was extremely excited. “But how about demons? You don’t know when knowledge of demons would save your life!” King contested. Luz looked at him. “ I am sorry, King. But.. becoming a witch was always the fantasy dream I had, and now there is a chance that it could be real, so I want to dedicate myself to it, maybe later, huh?.” Luz said and turned to Eda. “Okay Eda. I am watching you.” she said. While King was miserably glancing at the book in hand, Eda performed the spell in front of her apprentice. She drew a circle in the air, and a light ball appeared, then levitated in the house. Luz was captivated by the show. But unfortunately, she didn’t really understand how Eda was doing it, just making a circle and the spell was activated.

 “How are you doing it!?” Luz asked while drawing circles constantly in the air. “It doesn’t work on me.” King snorted and responded. “You can’t. Witches have a special magic bile sack attached to their hearts, that’s how they do it. But you humans don’t have this bile sack. That’s why it is important for you to learn about demons before getting eaten by any of them.” He stated. He wanted Luz to pay attention to him and his lessons. Since Luz came around, King had someone to befriend and spend time with. Eda and Hooty didn’t really take him seriously since he has been residing in The Owl House. The thing King wanted the most was a friend. But now Luz was avoiding him and choosing Eda and magic over him. He was happy for her following her passion, but he didn’t wanna be alone.

  Unfortunately for King, Luz turned to Eda, who was yawning and blinking her eyes. “I want to watch it again. Maybe I will notice something I haven’t. Please do the spell again, Eda, will you?” She said while running in place with excitement. Eda snorted and said “Fine.”

  Just when she was about to cast the spell, Luz began to have a weird feeling, as if there was pressure on her eyes. But, she couldn’t say anything because this happened just a second ago Eda performed the spell.

  The real weirdness is that Luz saw a shape in the circle Eda drew in the air. It all was so fast but the shape was in Luz’s mind perfectly, as if she memorized it. As normally, a light ball appeared and rose in the air. “Hey, I saw some shapes while you were doing it!” she stated, looking around for some kind of paper to draw it on while Eda said “Yeah, yeah, I am going to sleep now.” and dropped herself onto the couch. Luz heard King's concerned voice from behind. “Ehhh… Luz?” he said. She turned at him. King pointed at her eyes, he looked so scared and worried. “What?” Luz asked. “Is something wrong with my face?”  

  King nodded, “And you really have to see that.” he added. Luz quickly ran upstairs to go to the bathroom for the mirror. Actually she realized that the weird tingle in her eyes never passed, her heart was pumping heavily, wondering what could it be. When she entered the bathroom and looked at the mirror, she screamed. Her brown eyes were red now. And there were black figures around the pupil. She came closer to the mirror to view them with her mouth open. It was so scary, having your eye color changed. Then her eyes started to change again, turning to brown slowly. She looked at King who was at the door, his mouth was open with shock as well. “What th- was that?” she asked. King shrugged. “I have no idea. Does it hurt?” Luz turned to the mirror again and responded. “No, but it was tingling while it was… activated. I have to see some kind of doctor.” She kept looking at her eyes with worry but they were completely normal now. King responded. Yes, but it’s raining, remember?” Luz remembered the boiling rain, and looked at King. “Oh, right. Let’s wake up Eda then?” She suggested. “She knows so much, she probably knows something about this as well.”  She added. King approved and they headed downstairs. On the way, King suddenly said “Hey! You said you saw some shapes while watching Eda doing the spell!” Luz’s eyes widened as she remembered. “Oh, right!” she shouted as she went back to her room. As King followed her into the room, she sat down and took a piece of paper from her pack. She drew the figure she saw in Eda’s spell on the paper while King was watching. “Here it is!” she declared. King viewed the figure Luz drew. “Okay, but, isn’t this too complicated to memorise in a very short moment?” he questioned. “Yes, but I think it might be an effect of those… red eyes.” Luz stated her thoughts. Thinking of those eyes still gave her goosebumps. Thinking of them, she touched the figure on the paper in her hand with her thumb without realizing, and the paper creased and lumped into a shape of sphere, and became a light ball. In Luz and King’s surprised looks, it levitated. “It’s beautiful.” Luz mumbled before realizing what she just did. “Hey, I just did magic. I did magic!” she stood up and shouted with joy, raising her arms to the above. King joined her, “That’s my boo boo buddy!” Although she avoided him sometimes, he was happy for his friend.  

  Eda was having a nightmare. It was the same nightmare she always had. In a completely dark place, the beast was chasing her, she was sweating, she was afraid, like a little child. But this time, the dark started to be covered by a light. Then she woke up to King, who was poking her face repeatedly. She was sleepy but her attention was taken quickly by the strange brightness in the house. She rose to the sitting position and took a look around the room. There were light balls in the air, and there was Luz sitting on the ground, and drawing on small papers. After drawing something, she touched the paper and casted the light spell. “Wow.” Eda mumbled. “How is she doing that?” she asked. King told her the whole deal about the figure in Eda’s circle and Luz writing it to papers. He also mentioned the red eyes and how they made Luz see the figure clearly and memorise it. Luz saw them talking and came near them. “Hey Eda! I can cast the light spell!” she said. “That’s great, kid.” Eda responded. “Look, I don’t know anything about the red eyes King said you had for a moment. I’ve never seen a person’s eyes changing color. You should look for it in the library tomorrow. They always have information about the most weird things you can imagine.” She stated with a sleepy voice. Luz nodded. “Thank you Eda.” Eda led his head on the pillow again, ready to sleep. “Hoot Hoot!” Hooty bammed the door by opening and faced the residents. Eda grunted and turned around. “Is something wrong!? You are talking a lot today!” Yes, that is really from Hooty. “I would do anything to help my homies if anything’s wrong!” he shouted while dramatically shaking in the air. King rolled his eyes with annoyance as Luz began to tell her condition to Hooty. “Do you know anything Hooty? ” she asked. Hooty’s face was very serious, he squinted his eyes, as if he knew something, something that is scary and terrible to talk about. “No, I have no idea!” he declared with his general happy voice. So there was nothing for Luz to do until tomorrow.

  At night, Luz and King made light glyphs and they completed King’s lesson about demons. They wondered about the red eyes. If Luz knew how to control and activate it, she could learn all the spells by watching Eda. She was impatient to go to sleep.

Chapter Text

  Finally, it was morning. Luz woke up, rubbed her eyes. She had a really good sleep. King wasn’t at the end of the bed, so he has woken up. She stood up, looked outside, there was no rain. She could go do some research about the red eyes today. She went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror. Her eyes were brown. She was still curious about the incident yesterday. After washing her face, brushing her teeth and changing her clothes, she went downstairs to see anyone. There was King on the couch, giving a lecture to his plushies. She couldn’t see Eda though, she was probably sleeping.

 “Morning, cutie pie.” Luz called out and snuggled him. “Hey! Drop me off!” King replied, showing affection to her back. She dropped him off to the couch, she was still giggling though. She opened and looked in the fridge, to see what she could have for breakfast. “Hey,” King said, “You are going out to the library today, right?” he asked. “Yep,” Luz replied, “After I eat something.”

 “Can I come too?” King asked. Luz turned around to face him. “Well, of course, but why? I mean, I didn’t think you’d really be that interested in witchcraft and stuff like this.” King took a formal posture. “Well, as the king of demons, I have to help and care about my potential servants.” Luz smiled, “Then thanks, your majesty.” and turned back to the fridge. Even though he found her a bit annoying in her first days, they were getting along well now. Luz was happy that she could befriend him and he wanted to be with her.  

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  After leaving a note for Eda, our duo left the house and took their road to Bonesborough into the woods. Before much time passed, Luz took a small paper from her pocket and drew the figure she memorized yesterday. A beautiful light ball was released into the sky as usual. Even though it was basic, learning and doing magic was an incredible feeling, even if there was an extraordinary condition behind it. Those red eyes… they didn’t hurt or cause any harm at all, yet they were creepy and so strange. Luz really wanted to have some explanation or information about them. 

  While her swimming through thoughts and King being excited, they arrived at the town when the sun was halfway to the top. Even though it wasn’t completely safe, Bonesborough always gave her goosebumps. Seeing people walking around there reminded her that she was in another realm filled with witches and demons and it was actually true, happening right now. It was like the regular life she was witnessing around the streets back in her realm, people selling things around, families walking around, but every second felt like an adventure.         

  After some time, they reached the front of the Bonesborough Library. Luz has never visited there in her time in Isles, but it was surely impressive on the outside. It gave the impression of a castle with it’s constructivist style, and there was a huge clock tower in the middle of it. Luz eyed the big wooden doors. At that moment, she froze with a sudden surprise. There was a familiar girl in front of the door, even though her back was turned against Luz and King, Luz had no problem recognizing her green hair. It was Amity Blight. 

  King, who also stopped, looked at Luz. “What happened?” he asked. “I just… saw someone I know.” Luz explained. “Who?” King asked curiously. Luz looked at him and replied. “Amity Blight. A student from Hexside.” King’s eyes opened wide. “Blight?” he sounded surprised. “You know her?” Luz was surprised as well. “Heard of them. They are one of the wealthiest and powerful families around here. Also, Eda has gone through some encounters with them in the past.” Luz looked at Amity, who was about to enter the building. She had no idea about her background. Being ignorant to Boiling Isles hit well.

 “Hey,” King said again, “If you have met her in Hexside, she might help us about your condition. Let’s go talk to her!” He suggested. Luz was timid, “Well, I don’t think this is a good idea. I… may have annoyed her a little.” she confessed with adding a nervous laugh at the end. “Well done, boo boo buddy.” King said sarcastically. Luz snorted and acted to punch him as a joke. 

 They entered the library and Luz’s eyes hopelessly searched for Amity, even though she knew Amity would have a grudge against her. “So, where should we look first?” King asked. That was right, the main reason they were here was to research about Luz’s condition. She got herself together. “Let’s look at the biology section. I’m sure we will find out something on magical or abnormal situations about the eyes.” She explained her idea. “Yep. Let’s go.” King agreed and they began to wander around. They came across many genres, action, fantasy, history… They couldn’t find the biology or any other section related to the sciences, no matter how much they tried, they couldn’t find what they wanted. While it was starting to get on their nerves, they came across the romance section.

 King complimented the magical beauty of romance with wisely chosen words, “Ew, romance.” Although she was not much interested at that moment, Luz’s eyes slided to the books. She gave a deep exhale of hopelessness and pulled a romance book randomly. After that, something they both definitely didn’t expect happened. 

 Bookshelf pulled back, and then pulled left, revealing a secret hideaway. And there was Amity sitting on a chair in front of them with a book in her hands. There was a silence for a moment, all looking at each other. Amity was so surprised that her mouth and eyes were wide open. Then, her expression of surprise turned into annoyance and boredom. She frowned, her golden yellow eyes looked threatening. “Oh, it’s you. Willow’s… abomination thing.” Luz smiled but she was nervous and unconfident. “Uh, hey Amity, well, funny story: not an abomination. I am Luz, the human. Sorry for the confusion last week.” Luz said.  “Whatever, just go away. Why do you always bug me? So annoying! You caused enough trouble to me already. Leave me alone!” Amity rebuffed and stood up. Luz backed off a little bit, with her palms towards Amity. “Hey! You don’t get to talk to my friend like that!” King shouted and angrily pointed at Amity. But Amity didn’t really care about him. “Shut up, rat.” she said. King was ready to attack, but Luz gestured for him to don’t. “Look Amity, I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just wanted to help my friend.” Amity folded her arms while listening to her. She looked like she didn’t care about Luz’s regret at all. 

 But then, a terrified expression covered her face. Her eyes were wide open, her arms were separated and trembling. “No way…” she mumbled. “What?” Luz asked. Amity dashed and quickly held Luz’s arm. “Hey!” Luz protested. She tried to resist but Amity was stronger. She pulled Luz and pushed her inside. Amity looked around to see if anyone saw them, then drew a circle in the air and the bookshelf pulled back to it's former location closed the way there. She was worried as hell. “Luz, your eyes!” King exclaimed. Luz knew the deal but still suddenly asked with excitement mixed with worry,“Are they red!?”. “Yes,” Amity claimed. “And you shouldn’t be seen with those. So, you are an evolved one.” she said. “What?” Luz asked. What did she mean by evolved? Why shouldn’t she be seen outside with the eyes? She was dying to have answers to her questions. Amity looked surprised. “You don’t know about evolved humans?” she asked. Luz was starting to sweat. There was a feeling inside her that having those eyes was a trouble. “No, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 Amity exhaled deeply. “You are a hopeless case. And also shouldn’t exist. Your kind died out several centuries ago.” Okay, now Luz was freaking out. Amity was walking around the room, with her finger on her chin, processing the situation. “Hey, really, what are you talking about?” King asked. Amity took two cushions from the corner of the room and threw them in front of Luz and King, and gestured for them to sit. Then she herself sat on the chair. “Let me tell you some history. There is so much you need to know about.” she said.

Chapter Text

   Amity was thinking silently, with her elbows on her knees. She seemed to be nervous and worried. Luz and King were waiting for her to talk. Luz was shaking her knees with impatience. At least, Amity pulled herself together and raised her head.

  “Centuries ago,” she started to talk with a calm and solemn voice, “some witches found a way to form a portal to the human realm. A whole new realm, with many unknown species in it. It was damn shocking for those at that time. They quickly began sending groups to visit there to discover and gather information. They were supposed to investigate, but… they fell in love with some humans and married them.” She stopped for a moment, as if she was pulling together what she was going to say. “The thing is, that their children weren't normal, they were humans, but they weren't as powerless as their human relatives. They had...” she couldn’t finish her sentence.

  “They had magic?” Luz guessed. Amity looked at her and put her hand to her nape. “Actually, it isn’t magic, they had some kind of energy inside their body. It let them do some techniques that… can’t be called magic. They were strange, but so useful in any type of battles and fights. We can say that they are evolved compared to other humans. In time, those evolved humans spreaded and formed nations.” Luz was lost in the story. Ever since she was in the Isles, she was used to that all the fantasy things she could imagine were actually real, but this was different. It was so surprising and startling to know that the fantasy was a part of human history.

  “Then what?” King asked, “Did they fight? Were there epic scenes, filled with blood and violence?” He actually sounded interested and excited. Amity looked at him, she was already downhearted through all this confrontation, but she just got more desperate. “Unfortunately, you are just right, rat. There were so many violent wars between the evolved humans in those years. Despite the fact that they were already stronger than most of the humans, they kept seeking more and more power. In the end, witches and demons had no other choice than cutting and banishing interactions with humans. This didn’t prevent them from seeking power either.”

  “What? What do you mean?” Luz asked, she didn’t get the last sentence. Amity exhaled with pure apprehension. She kept looking at Luz's red eyes without saying anything for seconds. “Well, the evolved humans were able to use fighting techniques thanks to the energy inside them, but this wasn’t the only thing about them. Through decades, they developed some kinds of special powers that made them unique and could be transferred to next generations by blood.”

  “And I have one of them right now?” Luz guessed but she already knew the answer. “Yes,” Amity said. “You have Sharingan, a power that develops in the eyes. It belongs to the Uchiha clan.” Luz felt like her head was going to explode into millions of pieces, she learned almost the most important stuff in her own kind’s history in just a few minutes. She thought she could start to melt in any second. “I’ll get back to the Uchihas, let me finish the main story first.” 

   She coughed and went on talking. “Those powers like Sharingan were so valuable, they could be used in many ways and purposes. So, the witches and demons started to go hunt them for their body parts like eyes in the human realm.” The whole deal started to get more and more scarier for Luz. She didn’t know what to think. People like her were used to being hunted for power by witches. And now, she was living with a witch and two demons. And she was listening to those from a witch. She and King looked at each other simultaneously. She could swear that they both were feeling the same way. I really dislike what I am hearing right now.

  “Over the constant wars, evolved humans started to go extinct and it became harder to find them around. And most of the portals started to not work either. In time, evolved humans became forgotten by most of the witches. Humans decided to erase them from the story as well. However, it is possible to reach this stuff in some qualified sources.” Amity explained. “But I have to be some kind of descendant of those people, right? Particularly the Uchiha clan, you said?” Luz asked to reassure. “Yes, you are somehow related to that clan. Sharingan was one of the most popular powers in the past.” Amity explained. “What abilities does it have?” Luz asked. “We figured out that it makes me learn and memorize how to cast a spell if I watch it being casted. But we don’t know anything more.” She shrugged. Amity looked up and thought for a second. “Well, I once read that it might make people sleep when they look the user in the eye, but know that this information isn’t surely true. Just don’t get disappointed if it doesn’t work.” Luz nodded, noting Amity’s warning.

  “Do you know anything more about the Uchihas?” Luz asked. She was dying to get some answers to that. Amity thought for a second. “They were one of the strongest clans in the world. With Sharingan, they were able to use any technique in the world just by watching it and they were so advantageous. But…” She stopped for a second, but it wasn’t like she wasn’t sure what she was gonna say, it was more like she was afraid to finish the sentence.

  “But what?” King asked. Amity’s face went sour. “One night, a mysterious boy went out and… killed everyone in the clan, including his own parents.” There was silence after Amity stopped talking. Just silence. Luz swallowed, she wasn’t feeling well after what she heard. She looked at the ground while feeling cold. “Some sources say that he spared his little brother, but I’m not really sure.” Amity’s voice cracked, she looked to the left with a disgusted expression. “Why would he do that?” Luz asked quietly. “I have no idea.” Amity replied by shaking her head. “But the thing is, power might poison people when they get the taste once. You have to be careful outside.” She stood up from the chair. “I’d like to answer more of your questions, but I have to go now. I will read stories to kids.”

  “Hah, that’s so sweet.” Luz said, smiling. Amity just went through between them to the exit and opened the bookshelf by drawing a magic circle. Luz turned to Amity just before she left there. “Amity, thanks for everything, we’d have been clueless without you.” Amity stopped, and turned her head a little bit to face Luz. It was the regular cold look Luz was used to “You are a trouble, and I don’t like you. But I couldn’t just let you die out somewhere.” She turned forward and walked away. “You can thank me by getting out of my hair from now on.” She said as she got far. Luz pouted as she watched her. She was sorry to hear those from Amity. She really hoped that one day Amity would consider her as a friend. “Hey, your eyes are brown now. We should go tell Eda all about these weirdo human stuff.” King drew her from her thoughts.

   Luz still had many unanswered questions. Did she have that energy? Could she learn battle techniques that can compete with magic? Who her dad truly was? And would the fantasy world she always wanted to live in be her enemy? Curiosity was killing her, but there was nothing else to do than go through the future that awaits her. “Let’s go.” She said and they began to travel back to the Owl House.

   Hunter liked Saturdays. It was the only day he was free. He had a chance to get a close glimpse of the people’s regular lives. The scenes made him get away from the atmosphere of the castle life. He would see children, who didn’t have to prove anything to be loved, and their parents, who unconditionally loved them. He would love to live in a family like that. However, he wasn’t. No one around him in the streets knew that, but he was the Golden Guard, the Emperor’s right hand man. As the most trusted man of the Emperor, he always had to be successful and prove his worth. It was really tough.

   Interestingly, it wasn’t a regular Saturday, because of the scene he just witnessed. 

   He was walking in front of the library, then she saw two people getting out of there. One of them looked like a demon. It was small. Then she viewed the other one. As he looked at her, he was surprised. The girl was a human. She had round ears. How did she get in the Isles? He didn’t know that but he knew that he must inform the Emperor Belos about that. But then, another surprise hit Hunter in the guts. The girl’s brown eyes suddenly turned to red. Hunter has never seen a case like this before. Humans were powerless, they didn’t have any magical abilities. He noticed the girl and the demon were panicked and trying to hide her eyes. They fastened as they got away from there.

   But Hunter was definitely following them. He didn’t know if this was any danger, but he had his staff with him in case of fighting. As they went through the town, Hunter followed them from a safe distance. Finally, they entered into the woods and they got slow. Hunter got slow as well. He thought that they were going to their home or something. Hunter followed them, they walked, Hunter followed them, they walked, Hunter followed them and they walked. Finally, they went out into a clearing, where a building was standing. As the human and her companion headed to the door, Hunter went inside a bush as quietly as he could and watched them. They arrived near the door and a tube appeared from the door and began to talk to them. Then, Hunter suddenly recognized the building. Unfortunately, it was the Owl House. The Owl Lady’s home. If the Owl Lady brought that human here, it was not good. He got away from the house a little. Then he drew his miniature staff from his pocket. As he gave the command with his mind, the staff grew to its original size. Hunter sat on it and flew to the castle to report to Emperor Belos.

    Meanwhile in the castle, the Emperor was discussing recent situations and how everything in the castle was going with Lilith, the current head of the Emperor’s Coven. They were interrupted when someone knocked on the door of the throne room. “Come in!” the Emperor called out. The door opened and revealed the Emperor’s nephew, Hunter, a.k.a. the Golden Guard. “Uncle, I have some news.” He said. He seemed to be nervous. The Emperor nodded. “I am listening.” he said. Hunter told him the incident he witnessed today. How a human girl was in the Isles, how her eyes changed color to red, and that they have interaction with the Owl Lady. After that, a silence took over. It was hard to get what Belos was thinking or feeling. He looked up, and started to laugh. It was terrifying. “The Owl Lady, she has a portal to the human realm as we suspected and that is very interesting, but this human… This was the kind of news I really needed.” He looked down again. “Hunter, and Lilith, you must bring me the human and the portal she came through. You will work together.” Both Hunter and Lilith kneeled before him. “Sure, my lord.” said Hunter. “As you wish, my liege.” said Lilith. She was trying to not give it away, but she was really annoyed to have to work with the golden brat. “Okay, you are dismissed.” the Emperor said. Hunter and Lilith went out. “You better not get in my way this time.” she said. Hunter looked at her. He was confused. “Actually, you were the one who got in my way.” he said. Lilith was really angry that her arms were trembling. “Just- can’t you stop being a brat for once!?” she exclaimed. Hunter shrugged. “Sure, if that will help your confrontation with your sister, who is cursed by you.” he said and went away.

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   When Luz and King went inside the Owl House, they faced Eda, who was in her pijamas and drinking some appleblood. “Oh, hey! Wow, that’s… creepy.” Eda pointed at Luz's red eyes. “Well, whatever. Did you learn anything about them?” she asked excitedly. No one spoke for a moment. There was confusion and concern in Luz’s face. She looked Eda in the eye. Eda was worried that she didn’t look like she found what she hoped. Luz and King told Eda everything that they learned from Amity. After processing all of that, “So, what do you do now?” Eda asked. Luz put her hands on her head. She was trembling. “I- I don’t know. It feels like.. it is too much, you know? First, I found myself in a terrifying fantasy world and that led me to another life. I felt like I knew what I wanted to accomplish and be in the future. And now, I learned that there is another whole story about who I am and who I could become. Also, my mom… she wants me to be happy and I want her to be happy and be with her. But if she got pulled into any of this.. I- it’s- so complicated and confusing.” she put her anxiety into words. “Hey, hey, hey. Calm down.” Eda put a hand on Luz’s shoulder. Luz raised her and looked at her.  “I am sure you will figure out what you want for yourself. And we will always support you in your way, okay? We can get rid of everything together.” Eda said, with a much more soft voice than her general tone. “Yeah! We will help you at any cost!” King exclaimed and hugged Luz’s left leg. The door fully opened harshly and Hooty stretched towards them. “Don’t forget about me! I will beat everyone who tries to hurt you!” he shouted and came much closer to Luz that he touched her right cheek. “And I mean that.” he added with a deeper voice.  Luz just smiled, the storms inside her got softer. “Thank you guys. You guys make me feel real and valuable.” she said. 

  “And you know what? I think I want to face my mom, tell everything I’ve been through. I don’t want to hide the truth from her anymore.” She added. Her mom definitely deserved to know about everything. “Oh, well then,” Eda said and drew the portal key from her hair. She pressed it and the door appeared in the middle of the room. Eda opened the door for Luz and wished good luck to her. Luz could see trees on the other side of the door. She came before the door, but she stopped. “What’s the matter?” Eda asked. Luz looked at her, then King. “I think... it would be better if you guys came with me. It would be easier. Can you come with me, please?” she asked. “Of course!” King said and came beside Luz. “Actually, I always wanted to visit the human realm. Can we eat some snacks there, please?” he asked. Luz smiled, “Of course, King, I promise you, you will get to eat the most delicious ones.” she said. “Wheeeee!” King screamed as he went through the portal. Luz looked at Eda. “Anything for you, kiddo. Oh, and by the way also your eyes got back to normal.” Eda said. “Hoot Hoot! Good luck guys!” Hooty shouted from behind. “See you Hooty!” Luz said and shook her hand before going through the portal after Eda. 

  Even the air felt different for Luz. She wasn’t away for so much time, yet the human realm felt like a foreign place. It was a hot and sunny day. “I missed that place.” said Eda as she inhaled the air loudly. Luz checked where they came through, it was the same building she went in when she came to Boiling Isles for the first time. “Come on guys, my house is so near here.” she said. She started to walk but she stopped when a blue light appeared before her. The light got into the shape of a circle, and a man fell onto the ground off the portal. He was lying on his front. He was mumbling with pain as he tried to get up. For some reason, he didn’t use his left arm, probably he had lost it but Luz wasn’t sure because she couldn’t see there. He only used his right arm to get up. “Fuck. Something went wrong.” he said. Of course it was creepy and surprising, but Luz wasn’t affected much by this after the last few days. “Hey! Who are you?” Eda asked. The man looked at them and stood up. He was a few inches shorter than Eda. He looked like he was in his 30s. He wore a black cloak that covered almost all his body. His black hair was covering much of his face as well. They couldn’t see his left eye. 

  He viewed them for a few seconds, and introduced himself.

  “My name is Uchiha Sasuke.”

Chapter Text

   Uchiha. Luz almost jumped when she heard that word. If this man had sharingan like her and knew how to use it…

   “What year are we in?” Sasuke asked. It was really an interesting week for Luz, surprise after surprise. “2021. Let me guess, you are a time traveler?” she asked, finger gunning him. Sasuke nodded. “I am a ninja from the past. I was supposed to go back in time with the power of a relic in order to accomplish a mission, but it looks like it sent me into the far future. And since I have no access to the relic right now, I am stuck here.” He finished explaining and began to hold the left side of his head, as if it was hurting. He was grunting and grinding teeth. “Are you powerful?” King asked. Sasuke looked at him. He was calmer now. “Well, we could say that.” He said. “Is the world cool in your time?” Eda asked. Sasuke’s lips went down, he was emitting pain with his expression. “No, it is not. It is a desperate world of pain and ambition.” He sounded like he knew this well. Luz really wanted to know more about it, but she had another big question. 

   “Do you have sharingan?” Luz asked Sasuke. Sasuke turned her lightning fast. “Who is asking?” he asked. Luz stood up straight. “My name is Luz Noceda. I don’t know if I am related to Uchihas, but I have sharingan.” She introduced herself. Sasuke looked at her without saying anything for seconds. “Noceda, huh? Summon your sharingan.” He said. “I want to see it.” Luz laughed nervously and landed her hand on her nape. “Well, actually, I can’t summon it at my own will. It just appears from time to time.” Luz said. Sasuke looked so surprised. His eye was widened. “Hmph. I’ve never seen a case like this before. I wonder what you are capable of.” Sasuke said as he viewed Luz. If he was skillful and a master, it might be a great opportunity for Luz. “Hey, you said you were a ninja? Could you train me to be a ninja like you please? I need to learn how to use sharingan and other abilities.” She asked with her fingers intertwined. “No, I have to work on finding a way back home. I don’t have time for you.” Sasuke said. Luz was frozen cold, her probably only chance to start this path on her life was slipping through from her hands. “But, I’m begging you, please! This might be the only chance to figure out who I am. I need to be somebody. I need to help myself and my family, friends!” Luz said, pouring her emotions to words.

 Family, huh?

 Once, Sasuke couldn’t help his family.

 If he was just stonger, he could have helped them.

 He just remembered that night.

 “Hey, hey, hey, hey! Give us a second!” Eda said to Sasuke and pulled Luz away. King followed them. 

 “Luz, what are you doing? He is a stranger!” Eda said after being sure Sasuke couldn’t hear them. “But he is a real alive Uchiha! This might be the only chance in my hands! I have to trust him, Eda!” Luz argued. “Also, you were a stranger when I met you too.” she added. “But what if he is a criminal or something!? He is a warrior, we don’t have an idea about what he has done till now.” Eda argued back. Then her face got softer. “I am just trying to protect you. You can’t befriend everyone, Luz.” Eda said in a motherly tone. Luz got softer as well. “Eda, please let’s give him a chance.” Luz begged. Eda was half-hearted, but she accepted. “Okay, a chance, but I’ll always keep him in watch.” she said. “Thank you, Eda!” Luz hugged her tight. Eda hugged back her as well. They went back to Sasuke. 

  “Back to your request, Luz Noceda, I decided to train you into becoming a ninja.” There were butterflies wandering inside Luz’s stomach. She was so happy. “But, it will last until I find a way back to my own time. That’s the condition I put in.” Sasuke added. “Thank you so much, Mr. Uchiha!” Luz shouted as she jumped. Sasuke raised his hand. “I’d prefer just Sasuke.” he stated before falling on one knee, grunting. Clearly, he was in so much pain. Eda quickly helped him get up. As Luz thought, he didn’t have his left arm. Luz wondered what kind of an accident he went through. He got up and thanked Eda, he didn’t need her help anymore. “A lot of my chakra is gone. It will take a lot of time to completely recover.” Sasuke said. “What is chakra?” Luz asked. Sasuke looked at her. “You don’t know chakra?” he asked surprisedly. Luz shook her head, she felt embarrassed. “I think we will need a lot of time in training. When shall we start?” Sasuke asked. “Actually, we need to visit someone first. An important person.” Luz explained. Sasuke nodded. “I understand.” he said. “Come on, let’s go then.” Eda said and gestured for Luz to lead the way. Luz began to walk and Eda followed her. King looked at Sasuke. Sasuke looked at him as well. He thought King would say something important. “Dude, you really are a cold, depressed emo guy.” King said. Sasuke didn’t take this statement so seriously, but still he recalled his childhood times, before the massacre, when he was really happy with his life. Getting out of thoughts, he followed them through the forest.    

  Finally, they arrived at a road, and Luz’s house was near them. Even looking at it from a distance made her tremble with horror. But she was definitely gonna face her mom, being open and honest to her would make everything easier, and now that they came across this man, she could be both a ninja and a witch. Although, she was a little worried about the reaction her mom would give. Surely, she would get over it with time, but it would be hard to face her after disappearing for a whole week.  

  “Is that your house?” Eda asked. Luz realized that she stopped, and everyone did so. “Yep, this is my house.” she replied but her voice cracked. “Hey, are you okay?” King asked with worry. “Yeah, yeah! I am totally fine!” Luz said with an unnecessary high voice. “Come on! Time to see my mama!” She said and began to walk slowly with exaggeratedly swinging her arms. “By the way, who are your parents? You mentioned that your surname was Noceda.” Sasuke asked.

  Well… shit. Now there was another whole issue in Luz’s mind as if it wasn’t enough. Her dad. “My mom is Camila Noceda, she is an ordinary person, but I don’t know who my dad is. In truth, I’ve never known or seen him. I asked about him sometimes but my mom hasn't told much about him either. The only thing we have is that he is an Uchiha.” Luz explained. Sasuke looked at the house while walking. “I see.” 

 They were finally before the front door. After gaining confidence, Luz rang the bell. “I’m coming!” she heard her mom’s voice inside the house. Seconds lasted like years, but the door was opened, and revealed Luz’s mom, Camila.

(I’m sorry for interrupting the story like that, but please just imagine that you send your daughter to a camp for her self-development, and a week later, she comes back with an old criminal time traveler ninja, a rebellious witch, who is able to travel through dimensions and does whatever she wants in both, and a little demon child who continually refers himself as the King of Demons and has impulse toward violence. :D)

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   Every mission was another high risk for Hunter. Not that he could get hurt, he could be unsuccessful. If he was unsuccessful, things wouldn’t go well for him. “We are getting close to the Owl House.” he warned Lilith and the rest of the group. Despite the fact that there were two high class witches like him and Lilith, and a group of scouts, the Owl Lady would be an extreme opponent. “Stop talking like you are the leader.” Lilith said as he surpassed him. “There is no time for your childish complexes.” Hunter said, without even looking at her. “Hmph. I hate you, and your stupid mask.” Lilith grunted and kept walking. Aside from always having to be strong and successful, no one in the castle liked him, they were jealous of him. Even though he tried to look like he didn’t care, being alone was so painful. Being the right-hand man was really hard.

   After a while, they stopped in some bushes. The Owl House was before them. Lilith pointed forward. “This is the house demon I’ve been talking about. We have to be really careful from now on.” she said. She raised her staff towards the house, and it started to glow. Lilith looked surprised. “I can’t see anyone in the house. There is a portal open in the floor room. They are probably in the human realm right now.” She said and turned to the group “Okay, here is the plan: Me and the scouts will be distracting the demon, while the Golden Brat crashes into one of the windows and quickly enters into the portal in one minute, takes the human and the portal key and returns back. Once he enters the portal in one minute, we all retreat. Clear?” she explained the plan. Hunter was really surprised, that was something he definitely didn’t expect.

  “Hey, why are you giving me such an important role? I thought you hated me.” he asked as he shrugged. Lilith looked at him. She was frowning but she looked calm. “I don’t like you. But you are a comrade and ally of mine, and I trust you.” she said. Hunter was confused. “Thank you,” he mumbled. He turned to the Owl House, and the demon just went into the ground. “EVERYBODY! FLY AWAY!” Lilith screamed and quickly sat on her staff. Everyone else did so. But unfortunately, the demon appeared from the ground and the group was shattered in the sky. “HOOT HOOT! VISITORS!” it screamed and viewed them from high. “Hey! You are the Emperor’s Coven! We don’t welcome you here! Go away!” he was angry. Hunter took a moment to pull himself together on the staff while the scouts were keeping the demon. “GG! It’s your chance! Go!” Lilith shouted. Hunter nodded and flew into the big window on the second floor and crashed it. 

   Lilith and scouts were doing their best to avoid Hooty and fight back but it was desperate. They couldn’t do any damage. “44, 45, 46, 47,...” Lilith was counting. It was all up to the Golden Guard. Hooty turned to her and focused on her. “HOOT HOOT!” he screamed his war cry as he chased Lilith. Lilith was flying so high to escape the demon, but it was useless. Hooty was catching up with her. İnevitably, he bumped her and she fell from her staff. Her head was hurt so much that she couldn’t focus on calling her staff. 

     She crashed into the ground. All her body hurt so much.

     That was it. She was dying. 

     She barely opened her eyes and looked into the sky. 

     “I’m sorry, Edalyn.” she mumbled in pain and regret.

Chapter Text

   “Mija!?” Camila was surprised, but not angry. Why? Luz suddenly vanished for a week. “Mama!” Luz hugged her and Camila hugged back. “I missed you so much!” she exclaimed while hugging. “I missed you too! But why did you abandon the camp? I thought you were happy according to your letter. And who are these people? Are they friends?” Camila shot her questions constantly. Luz broke the hug. “My letter!? Mom, we need to talk, can they come inside?” she asked. “Sure.” Camila said and gestured for all them to come in. 

   After they came in, Camila led them to the guest room. There were three red couches on three sides of the room, and two cushions on each. Luz, Eda and King sat on the couch at the left. Camila sat on the middle one and Sasuke sat on the right one. She wasn’t expecting anyone today, especially her daughter, who was supposed to be in the camp.

   “It feels weird here,” King said as he trembled on the couch, sitting on the closest place to Camila. Camila screamed, she didn’t even notice that… dog? And it could talk! “Mom,” Luz raised a hand to calm her. “Please don’t panic, everything is okay, just let me explain. You know, a week ago, the day you left me for the bus…” 

    As minutes passed, Luz told her mom everything. How she came to the Isles, how she met Eda and King, how she wanted to become a witch.

    It was true that she was having some hard time telling all this. However, this was the easy part. The hard part was just about to begin.

   She talked about the sharingan and the Uchihas. She pointed at Sasuke and introduced him. “He is Uchiha Sasuke, a member of the clan.” Camila looked at Sasuke. Sasuke shook his hand. Then, Camila looked at her daughter again. 

   She was sad. Not extremely surprised or worried. Just sad.

   “Mija, could you lend me a hand serving some snacks and drinks to our guests?” she asked, she sounded exhausted. They went into the kitchen. Luz was hell worried but she tried to keep her cool. She knew she had to do this confrontation some day and she had to be brave. They looked at each other for a moment. Then, Luz broke the silence. “Mom, don’t worry! It’s all safe-” but she was interrupted by her mother. “I knew this day would come.” she said. She turned her head away from Luz. Pain could be read from her face. “What do you mean?” Luz asked. Some new questions were popping in Luz’s head. Did her mom know about Boiling Isles already? Or even had she been there? “I’ve been trying to avoid this for years, but you are not that small now, it is time for you to know about your dad.” 

   Luz couldn’t reply, she didn’t know what to say. Although she got used to it over years, her dad has alway been a sensitive topic. She always wanted to know what kind of a man her dad was. Now, she was about to be told his man was a ninja, probably.

   “Your dad… was a member of Uchiha. There are some Uchihas today. He was an important man in the hidden ninja world. He also knew about… the Boiling Isles. He found a way to travel there. But he.. had to leave us when you were a baby.” Her voice cracked, she was gonna cry, there was no doubt it was extremely hard for a mother who has been holding back for years for her daughter. Luz felt her pain, she was feeling frozen as well. She hugged her mom. “I’m so sorry, mija, I didn’t mean to push you away.” she said. Luz put a finger on her mother’s lips. “No, I am the one who is sorry, it was already hard for you to take all the responsibility by yourself. I could have been a much better daughter.” Luz poured her words with difficulty. She couldn’t count how many times she let her mother down anymore. “No! Never say that! You’ve always been the perfect daughter! But I just couldn’t see that. A week apart from you was so hard, you couldn’t believe it.” Camila confessed. Now Luz was about to cry as well. These words meant so much to her. “I was obsessed and busy with becoming a witch in my time in the Boiling Isles, but actually I missed you so much, from now on I will never put a distance between us, mama.” Luz said and hugged Camila. Camila was crying, or laughing? Luz couldn’t tell but she was sure she made the right decision about opening up to her about her whole deal. Camila broke the hug, she was still holding Luz’s shoulder. “Magic, ninjas, sharingan… I would never want you to get pulled into any of this, but here we are. I am sorry I can’t do much to help you, but I am proud of you, and always be there for you. After all, you are my only world left.” she said. Tears were scrolling down Luz’s face, but she wiped them off. “Thank you so much, mama.” She said. Her mother was smiling, but it went away suddenly. “Mija, your sharingan…” she cupped Luz’s head. “Don’t worry, it’s fine.” Luz said.

  So that was it? Sharingan would appear whenever she was in an emotionally high state? She recalled the first time she awakened the Sharingan and used it. She was obsessed with fulfilling her dream of becoming a witch and it was so breaking to learn that humans couldn’t do magic the proper way. The next time was when she was in front of Amity, a person she hurt, even if it was unintended. If that was the case…

  In a few minutes, they came back into the guest room with some fruits, vegetables, chocolate and milk, and put them on the table. The second they placed them, King attacked like a predator. But Sasuke wasn’t less than him. He was eating constantly as well. “Sasuke, I think I’m ready.” Luz said. Unfortunately, Sasuke wasn’t listening. He was in a staring competition with King about who was going to eat the last piece of chocolate. They both went simultaneously for the reward, and placed a finger at the same time. Tension was intense. King squinted his eyes to give a more threatening look to his enemy. Sasuke did so as well. King was ready to go at Sasuke but Camila interfered just at the right time and broke the chocolate into two. King and Sasuke weren’t completely satisfied, but they had no choice but to accept the draw. “Sasuke?” Luz called again. “Oh, right.” Sasuke said and quickly threw his chocolate to his mouth. He got up and he was covered in the cloak again. “This deal of witches or a whole new dimension is getting more and more interesting. Let’s go out and see what you are, my descendant.” he said, before heading through the way they came in.   

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  Lilith was finally catching a proper rhythm of breathing. Most of her bones were broken, but she was going to live. After Hunter bringed her to the castle, she was taken by the doctırs and they took her into an emergency room so quickly. She was going to live because of Hunter’s sacrifice, he hadn’t gone through the portal and went on the mission.

 He was so stupid.

 He didn’t know why, but he had felt like he had to do that.

 And now he was waiting, like a guilty dead was waiting to be judged in hell.

 You shouldn’t ever get back empty handed if you were the right hand man, especially to Belos. It was Hunter’s first time he got back empty handed, he really didn’t want to have a taste of consequences. He left Lilith’s room, and headed to his room. He threw all his plushies on his bed away and dropped himself onto the bed on his front. His life in the castle was kind of filled with sad, alone moments, but this was the worst. His uncle was his only family left and he was the one who pulled him from nothingness when he had no one, and made him the Golden Guard. If this was how Hunter would repay, things wouldn’t end nice.

  After a while, the inevitable message came. A scout knocked the door, Hunter told to come in and the door opened, revealing a coven scout. “The emperor wants to see you, my liege.” the scout reported. Hunter grunted and got up from the bed. “Okay.” he said and sent off the scout. He wore his costume and began to walk to the throne room. After he arrived at the doors, she stopped. His breathing got faster. He has never been so nervous in his life. He opened the doors and got inside. The emperor was sitting on the huge throne. He was motionless, just waiting. Hunter slowly got closer to him. Finally, the emperor talked. “I’ve heard about how your mission went, Hunter.” he said. Hunter was shocked and frozen with horror. “You don’t have to be concerned, my nephew. Lilith had a very important place in my- Titan’s plans. In the long term, you did the right thing by saving her.” The Emperor stood up and came much closer to Hunter. “But, the human and the portal are crucial as well. You know that, right Hunter?” he asked. Hunter gulped. “Yes, uncle.” he said. Belos hold Hunter’s shoulder. “I need to take those eventually, I can count on you, right, Hunter?” he asked. “Yes, uncle.” Hunter replied, keeping his calm. “Good.” The Emperor said and pulled back his hand off Hunter. 

 “Uncle, I understand that you want the portal to the human realm, but why are you interested in this human? Just out of curiosity.” Hunter asked Belos. Belos gave a heavy exhale, and started to walk away with his hand folded behind. “I’ve never told this to you, but there are some special humans apart from the ordinary ones. They have special eyes.” He turned to Hunter. “And the one you witnessed earlier today has a type of those special eyes. I need to receive them. If I receive them, everything would be easier for everyone. I could create a world where everyone would be happy and have everything they want. Do you understand how much this means?” he asked his nephew. Hunter nodded and thought about what he actually wanted. Unfortunately, there was no clear answer he could get out of his head. “Hunter, be a hero.” Belos said.

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  It was afternoon and Amity was finished reading stories to kids. They were always bright lights in Amity’s dark life. It always made her relieved and happy. But, she had to return home. To her parents, to her siblings. She was packing her books in her backpack.

“Hey there,” she heard a male voice from the window. She quickly turned there, and met the sight of the Golden Guard. He was standing at the window in Spiderman pose. “Golden Guard!? What are you doing here?” Amity asked. “Amity Blight, we need to talk.” the voice under the mask said.

Chapter Text

  “Now, show me what you’ve got.” Sasuke said, waiting before Luz. They were standing inside the forest area, behind the Noceda residence. Rest of the squad was sitting on the table behind the house outside, watching them. Luckily, most of Luz’s neighbors had gone out to holiday, so they wouldn’t give a big effort to hide themselves.

   Luz was fired up by Sasuke’s words, she put up a stiff fighting position and took a small paper, and drew the figure she memorized last night on it. Nothing happened, the paper shrinked and banished. Then, there was a silent moment between her and Sasuke. She gave a nervous laugh. “That was… pathetic.” Sasuke said. “I know, I know.” Luz said. That was the exact term to put it. Pathetic. “But I will train hard and become both a witch and ninja soon!” she exclaimed, with a bulk of determination. “And also, I think I might summon sharingan at my will.” she continued. Sasuke’s eyes became wider, he looked more interested than before. “Then come on, summon it.” he said.

   Now it was a deciding moment for Luz. She closed her eyes, recalled all the highly emotional events and moments she could think of. Her mother trying to separate her from interests, thinking about her missing dad, discovering the Isles, witches and magic. Awakening the sharingan for the first time, returning back home… she could feel her contradicted emotions wander in her veins. While trembling with high focus, she could finally feel the change, it was not like the pressure feeling in the first time though. She opened her eyes, facing surprised Sasuke. “You did it.” he claimed, “You have one tomoe, which means your sharingan is at the stage one.” he explained. “Wow, there are different types of sharingans!?” Luz asked with her hands pressing her cheeks, squeezing her face. Sasuke nodded, and closed his right eye -she couldn’t see his left eye because of his hair-. Then, he opened his eye, leaving Luz in a shock. His sharingan was active, but it was so strange. It was a red star on the black ground, and a black shuriken figure inside the red star. It didn’t have a pupil. “Oh, that is… impressive.” Luz commented. “That is a pretty advanced level of special eye, as the level of an eye increases, you gain more abilities.” Sasuke explained and deactivated the sharingan. “Really? What can I do right now?” Luz asked with little jumps. 

   “Well, in your case, you can copy any Ninjutsu and Taijutsu you watch right now.” Sasuke told. Luz didn’t understand. “What are… Ninjutsu and Taijutsu?” she asked. Sasuke exhaled heavily, it seemed like he was going to have some hard time with his student. “There are three different technique types you can use as a ninja: Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu. Taijutsu are hand-in-hand combat techniques that require physical strength. Genjutsu are the techniques you use chakra to affect how anyone sees you or the environment. Basically, they are illusions. Ninjutsu are the techniques one can manipulate the chakra to attack the enemy, or create an advantage for themselves.” Sasuke explained the topic. “Oh, I understand, but what was chakra again?” Luz asked. “Chakra is the energy inside of a ninja. You have chakra inside your body too. That’s how you will be doing Ninjutsus and Genjutsus you will learn.” Sasuke explained again. “Then, let’s begin! I’m dying to do some ninja stuff.” Luz said and randomly swang her arms and legs, mimicking fighting.

   “Okay, but unfortunately, most of my chakra was stealed. And I used my left chakra in a fight just before arriving at this time, I can’t do anything qualified right now..” Sasuke told. “So, we have to start from the most basic jutsus. Watch me closely, Luz.” Sasuke warned her. “Hı hm!” She gave a supporting snort as she nodded. Sasuke bringed his right hand at the height of his chest, and raised two of his fingers. “Henge!” he screamed and puffed, leaving a small cloud of smoke behind. When the cloud dispersed, there was King in front of the Luz. “Wait what?” she couldn’t help but look at the table behind the house. Her mother and Eda were clearly surprised, but King was so joyful and calm while eating some chips. “Human snacks are so delicious.” he mumbled. 

   Luz looked at the sight of King in front of her again. King puffed and turned back to Sasuke. “As you see, this is a transformation technique. Now that you watched it with sharingan, you must be able to perform it.” he said and raised his palm as gesturing her to do the jutsu. “Okey dokey, here I go!” Luz exclaimed and focused on doing the jutsu Sasuke just performed. She did a hand seal using her both hands unintentionally and screamed “Henge!”. Then, she started to feel different, like fluffy. And now she was much shorter, she was looking around from down. She viewed her own body, then looked at King to see his reaction. His interest was still at chips. Luz walked through him until she was just before him. Then, King raised her head and saw himself in front of him. He squeaked and jumped backwards, and fell onto the ground with the pack of chips. Everyone except Sasuke started to laugh. King looked at his chips. Some of them were on the grass. He turned to Luz, who just returned to her own look, “You will pay for that when you get under my kingdom!” screamed in a tragic voice. “ Hahaha, actually, we have some other snacks you might like.” Luz said while laughing. “Or maybe, I could just pardon you from your crime.” King made a quick turn so calmly and sat on his spot back. Luz turned back near Sasuke again. “Sharingan is clearly working well. So, we can get to our next jutsu. This is another ninjutsu just like the last one.” Sasuke declared. Luz nodded and screamed “Wu huuu! Let’s go!”.

   Sasuke made a figure with his right arm that is similar to the last one. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” he screamed. Then he puffed, and two puffs appeared on his two sides. In a moment, there were three Sasuke in front of Luz. The squad at the table clapped for him, especially King. He also whistled so loudly to support him. “This jutsu takes chakra per the number of clones, so you should have a good control on your chakra and have to focus well to summon as many as in your mind.” Sasuke explained. Luz nodded and performed the jutsu by making the hand seal. Now, there are clones of her on her left and right as well. She tried to touch them, and she was successful. “Wow, they are tangible!? That’s amazing! I think I will use this a lot.” she said. A little smirk on Sasuke’s lips couldn’t escape from her. “What?” she asked. “Nothing,” Sasuke replied. “You just remind me of a friend of mine.” he said. Then his usual cold expression took over again. “Okay, let’s continue.” he said.

   Sasuke drew his sword with a screech. He pointed it at himself. Luz was a bit worried to be honest. “Are you watching, Luz?” he asked. Luz gulped and nodded slowly. “Good.” Sasuke said. And drove the sword in his own stomach.

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  The Blight Manor was one of the most iconic locations on the Boiling Isles. Blights always had a splendid history and wealth. They had an important place amongst witches. But coming from a special family had its own problems too. With great power comes great responsibility, they’d say. 

  Amity worked hard, so hard. She had cut out people from her life. In order to create a perfect impression for Blights. In order to get stronger. In order to fulfill her future dream. It was more important to her than nearly everything else. Although…

  Although, sometimes she asked herself if a life like that was really what she really wanted. 

  Because maybe she could have been happier than that.   

  Today, Amity would make a choice, finally she was to choose.

  As approaching the manor with small steps, she was overthinking. Usually, her twin siblings would watch her from the top window, thinking what pranks they could do. But even they noticed something was wrong with her by just seeing her. Amity was greeted at an abomination at the door. The abomination opened the door for her as she dragged herself inside half-heartedly. “Welcome home, little sis!” Emira and Edric, who quickly went downstairs, shouted in union, trying their best to give a cheering tone. “Hi,” Amity said, even without looking at any of them. She passed through them. Her siblings looked at each other. They were quite a bit worried. Amity wasn’t nice to them before as well, but she would give a strong reaction to them, even if it’s annoyance. “I heard someone coming inside, was it Amity?” Odalia asked, who is their mother. “She has a lot to work on today. Also, we need her to help us on the big day. Where is she?” she rambled and asked. “Headed to her room, I guess.” Emira replied. Odalia nodded, “Good.” she said while walking away. She stopped for a second and turned her head to the twins. “Also, I want you to be studying as well. You must keep your recent grades like this.” she said. “Yes mom.” the duo grunted in union. 

  Amity was in her room, looking outside from the window on her bed. Sun still had a quiet way to go before noon. Her door was knocked, “Come in,” she said, not in a very loud voice though. The door was opened and she faced her visitor, her mother. “Amity! I bought a new book of research and experiments on abominations. Have a very good look at it today. I’m sure it will sharpen you. Also, we need to introduce our… little surprise in a week. And you will help us decorate the stage and demonstrate what it’s capable of.” she told sternly. Amity wasn’t even looking at her. “Sure, mom.” she mumbled coldly. Odalia put the book on Amity’s working table. She looked at Amity again, she was still watching outside. “Won’t you start?” she asked. Amity turned her head to her. She looked desperate and reluctant. She got up from the bed and headed to the table. “What is the matter? Normally you’d start studying just as you come home.” she asked. “It’s nothing, mom.” Amity replied as she sat on her chair. Odalia wasn’t satisfied but she left the room.

  After some time, it was dinner time. The twins, Alador and Odalia were in the dining room, waiting to start. They couldn’t start until everyone in the family was there. Finally, Amity came. “Why are you late?” Odalia asked. “Sorry, mom. I was studying.” She said in her usual monotone voice. Odalia frowned. There was surely something odd with Amity today. Throughout the dinner, they discussed many things, school, the covens, their works… but Amity was always quiet. At last, she got up and began to walk away. She was on the way to exit the house. “Hey! Where are you going!?” Odalia shouted. 

  “To protect my future.” Amity replied.

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   It was one of the scariest moments Luz has ever witnessed. She could hear shoutings on her left, from the table. But she wasn’t able to do anything. She froze with horror. But then, Sasuke puffed, leaving a cloud and a wood log with the sword on it fell onto the ground. Without having a chance to be surprised, Luz felt a hand on her shoulder. She quickly turned her back, and there was Sasuke. He seemed completely fine. “This is the substitution technique. With this, you can neglect any kind of physical damage by replacing your body with a wooden log or something similar just before the attack. This also makes you have a chance to attack or get away if necessary.” He quickly explained. “This is getting better and better.” Luz commented, and then performed the jutsu. She replaced herself with a wooden log as well. Now she was behind a tree near them. She had a peek on the other side of the tree, and Sasuke was looking at her in the distance. He gave a thumbs-up. Luz returned near them jumping like a bunny. This training was really fun. 

   Now, she was in her regular place in front of Sasuke. This time, Sasuke looked a little bit concerned, as if he was indecisive what to do. “Okay, now the next technique… might be a little dangerous and qualified for a very far beginner. So, you will just watch it and not do it this time. And you will use it just when you really need it, okay?” Sasuke warned her. Luz nodded sharply. “Of course, I will be so careful! Sooo careful.” she exclaimed as she gave a military salute. “Nice.” Sasuke said, then jumped. He jumped so high that he surpassed the height of Luz’s house. He raised his head upwards and made a few seals with his hand. “Katon! Gokakyu no Jutsu!” he shouted, and then started to blow fires. Almost all of Luz’s sight of the sky was covered in flames. Then, Sasuke stopped blowing as he landed back on the ground. “Wow.” Luz couldn’t know what to say to a power like that. It was scary though, fire…

  For a moment, Sasuke stumbled and fell on one knee.”Hey! What’s wrong?” Luz asked while running towards him. Sasuke raised his hand. ”I’m fine, I am just exhausted. I think that’s enough for now.” he said. Luz agreed with him. Sasuke had mentioned that most of his chakra was stolen before. “But I recommend you practice to get familiar with techniques. Getting used to them is important, I will join you when I get a little better.” he said. “Okay, you go rest while I sharpen up these bad boys.” Luz replied as she began to jump with excitement. Sasuke hardly got up, “Congratulations, by the way. You became a real Uchiha.” he said.

Chapter Text

  Luz was really worn out. After some self-practicing, Sasuke joined her and they played a game. There was a bell attached to Sasuke’s belt and Luz should have stolen it by 9.00 PM.

  She couldn’t make it.

  Luz thought she would at least force Sasuke a little bit but Sasuke was in another class. She couldn’t even touch him for several hours. She had used her techniques in row continuously, but he was so fast as if he was teleporting. Sasuke didn’t really put much of an effort, he wasn’t even sweating while Luz was sweating like hell and breathing like lightning. “Looks like I won.” Sasuke said as he checked his clock. Yeah, there was a need to mention it. “It was quite productive, your moves began to be more coordinated over time.” Sasuke stated. Luz was still trying to catch her breath. She looked at Sasuke. So, that was how difficult her opponents would be. Nice. “Let’s go home, it’s getting dark.” Luz said between her breaths. “I talked with Eda. You can stay with us until you find a way back to your own time.”  she added. Sasuke seemed to be surprised. “Thanks, that’s so nice of you guys.” he replied. “No, I should be thanking you.” Luz said with a thumbs-up. “Without you, I’d have been clueless.” she added and began to walk to the house. Sasuke smiled, and followed her. 

  Then, he stopped suddenly. He quickly turned his back. There was a blue portal open in some distance. Then, a friend appeared from it. 

  “Ouch!” Boruto complained as he fell on his butt. He slowly got up on his feet while grunting, and looked around. A big grin covered his face when he met Sasuke’s eyes. “SASKE-SENSEEEII!” he shouted as he ran towards his teacher. Sasuke was not able to give a reaction before Boruto hugged him. “I missed you so much! Actually, we all missed you so much! We defeated Urashiki! We were trying to find you in the timeline for days!” he quickly explained. “For days!?” Sasuke was surprised and a little annoyed. “I was gone for hours.” he said. Boruto looked surprised, but shrugged. “Whatever, time is weird. The important thing is that I found you! Come on, let’s go home!” he called out as he crossed the portal. “Before that, I should do something.” he turned back to where Luz was. Luz was looking at them and she looked really confused. “Who is she? Is she a friend?” Boruto asked. “Yes, she was my student for today.” he replied and looked at Boruto. “Boruto, I have to say goodbye to those people, okay? I will catch up with you in a few minutes. Please wait.” Sasuke asked Boruto. “Of course, sensei. But you owe me a hamburger when we come back!” he shouted happily. Sasuke couldn’t help but smile.“Sure.”

  “Are you going?” Luz asked as Sasuke approached her. “Yes, I have to go back to my family. And for you, Luz, don’t forget that a ninja must risk their life for their loved ones. Make sure that I didn’t decide to train you for nothing, okay?” he asked. Luz seemed determined. “Sure, you can trust me, Sasuke.” she said confidently. Sasuke patted her head. “It was interesting to run into you. Now, let’s go. I want to see the rest of your friends before going.” he said.

  After they entered the living room from the behind door, they faced Eda and Camila, who were chatting. “I wanted you to know that I’m going. Thanks for everything.” he explained. Camila quickly got up. “Oh, but I thought you could have dinner with us.” she said. Sasuke raised his hand. “No, no, it’s fine. Thanks.” he clarified. Then, King barged into the room. “Is he leaving?” he asked. He sounded really worried and panicked. “I’m sorry, my little dog friend, but I’m leaving. Goodbye to you as well.” he sounded really sorry to be separated from King. “A dog?” King clenched his fists. He looked so frustrated. “Screw you!” he pointed at Sasuke. “Itachi is much better than you! Cry over it!” he exclaimed. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t catch that very well. Can you repeat?” Sasuke asked. “It’s nothing, I was just wishing you goodbye.” King assured him. “Oh, ok then.” Sasuke said and had a look at everyone again. “Goodbye and take care.” He said walked outside. Everyone followed him outside as well. Before going into the portal with his companion, he turned back and waved his hand at him. “It was interesting to know you, Luz Noceda. Don’t forget about my words.” he said and went into the portal after Boruto. Then the portal closed and there were only them once again.

  Luz couldn’t stop thinking about Sasuke and the jutsus he teached. It was really an extraordinary and tiring day. “I’m proud of you, mija.” Camila said as she held her daughter’s shoulder after entering the house. “Me, as well.” Eda said. “But don’t get all crazy over this ninja stuff. You are still my apprentice and will be trained to be a great witch as well.” she said while she softly elbowed her. “Yes! Of course! I haven’t forgotten that! I will be a great witch like Azura someday!” Luz exclaimed. “That’s my girl!” Eda replied happily. 

  “So, what are you planning to do now, Luz?” Camila asked. “I want to stay with you for longer, but I want to sleep at Boiling Isles. My life has changed a lot since it entered my life.” Luz explained, hoping that her mother could understand. “Oh, alright.” Camila said, sounding a little bit sad, but she was the one who intended to send her away in the first place, after all. “Then at least stay for dinner, huh?” she asked. Luz hugged her, before answering the question. “Of course, mama.” she said. 

   “I’m gonna visit you frequently from now on!” Luz declared. They were in front of the portal house and now it was time to leave for her. “Don’t you ever forget. You’d regret it.” Camila said in a lovely tone as she stroked Luz’s hair. “Oh, by the way, you mentioned you had a letter from me. It was not me.” Luz explained, she was confused. “Oh, I will deal with the camp later. But now, you mustn't leave without a goodbye kiss.” Camila said before she left a kiss on Luz’s cheek. “Good night, mama! I love you so much!” Luz said before going into the portal, following Eda and King.

   After they entered the Owl House once again, Eda closed the portal, then pressed the button on the key and the portal sank into the ground. “Wow, it was a long day.” she said as she released herself onto the couch. “Hoot Hoot!” Hooty shouted as he barged into the house. “Welcome back! How was your day?” he asked with big interest. “It was much better than I expected!” Luz screamed and quickly began to tell what happened. Eda couldn’t take any voices anymore. “I’m gonna sleep, night.” she said as she dragged herself upstairs to her room. “Good night!” Luz called out to her.

   After spending some time with King and Hooty, Luz was feeling sleepy as well. It was almost 11 PM. She yawned. She looked at King beside her on the couch, who was blinking eyes. “I think I’m gonna go to sleep.” she said and got up from the couch. Then, suddenly the door slam opened. “We have a visitor!” Hooty screamed. As cold air invaded inside the house, Luz noticed the visitor. “Amity!? What happened? Why are you here?” Luz asked. Amity seemed so concerned. “Your friends were kidnapped.” Amity said. Luz got so panicked that she was awakened as hell now. “Willow and Gus!? By who and why!?” she shouted. “By the emperor.” Amity answered. Luz heard about the Emperor Belos from Eda and she couldn’t tell that she had a positive opinion of him. Although, she couldn’t understand why he would do that. “But- but why?” she asked. “I don’t know why. I can’t help you because it would be the end of my dreams, but I know someone who could help you. I can lead you to her.” Amity offered to help. “Please, Amity. I’d be so grateful to you.” Luz said with a wanting tone. Amity nodded. “Let’s go, then. Every minute we spend less would be an earning.” she said as she turned her back, gesturing for Luz to come. Luz runned near her outside, getting under the sight of the shining moon. “I will come too!” King screamed as he sprinted to them. Amity looked surprised at first, but she seemed pleased. “Oh, that’d be nice.” she said. 

  As they continued walking through woods in the dark, Luz was curious. “Do you think that Belos wants something from Eda or me? I mean, he wants to capture the Owl Lady for a long time. Maybe he actually expects me to somehow try to manage to save my friends, huh?” she asked. Amity looked at her. She looked so stiff, as if she was guilty. “Maybe.” was all she said at the question. Amity was always a little odd to Luz, but she was too strange at the moment. Luz knew that Amity had clarified that she and her weren't friends or anything but she seemed much colder than before. She wasn’t sure if she did anything wrong. After some time passed, Amity stopped. Luz and King stopped as well because of that. “Is something wrong?” Luz asked.

 “I don’t know whether you know what being threatened with your future dreams falling apart feels like or not, but in any case, I am really sorry.” she said. She drew a circle in the air, then some abomination appeared from the ground and covered King. He was captured in a ball of abomination. While Luz was trying to process that, a hand held Luz’s left foot. She looked at her foot, it was an abomination. She was struck with confusion, as she looked at Amity’s empty eyes.

Chapter Text

  “Hey! What is happening!?” Luz could hear King screaming inside the sphere abomination cell. She was so confused as well. “Amity? What are you doing!? What is the meaning of that!?” she asked. Amity was trying to keep her cool but she couldn’t hide her guilt. “You are my mission.” she said coldly. “Mission?” Luz was surprised at first but it made sense. “The Emperor wanted you to take me, huh?” she asked. Amity nodded. “And my future depends on this.” she added as she raised her hand. The abomination hand that held Luz’s foot stuck on it and started to spread. “What do you mean?” Luz asked. Amity frowned. “Getting into the Emperor’s Coven… it is my dream. And I would risk anything on it.” she confessed. 

  Luz was still surprised and kind of sad. Right, Amity wasn’t her friend, but she seemed to have a sense of heart to her. Luz could have been clueless about this all without Amity’s help. But now, there they were, standing on opposite sides. “Hey! Luz!? Please someone get me out of this!” King screamed as powerful as he could. Luz looked at the cell. It didn’t seem to have any breathing holes or something. At the same time, abomination slime was crawling through her left leg. Okay, it was time to get into some action from Luz's perspective. She immidately casted the Substitution jutsu using her memory of Sharingan, and replaced her body with a wooden log, while she teleported behind a tree on the right of Amity. She quickly looked for a peek from behind the tree. Amity was looking at the log, then she started to look around as Luz pulled her head back. “Please, I don’t want this to last any longer! You just make me feel more guilty!” Amity called out. Luz could hear Amity’s footsteps. She did her best to breathe without making a sound. She did a good job escaping, but it wasn’t enough. She must save her friend somehow.

   Amity was walking around, with the cell following her in the air. She knew Luz wouldn’t just abandon the demon and run away. She was going to come to Amity sooner or later. “Come on…” she mumbled. Then, a light appeared behind a tree in front of Amity’s sight suddenly. “Aha!” she screamed as she lunged forward. Unfortunately, there was no one behind the tree. “Got you!” Amity heard Luz’s proud voice from behind. Without having a chance to make a move, her both arms were caught. When she quickly looked left and right, she saw there were two of Luz, each was holding her arms. It had to be some kind of ninja technique. Amity elbowed both of them at the same time, and they just vanished, leaving small clouds. So, the real Luz was still out somewhere. 

   Luz was watching Amity behind a tree from afar. It was so lucky for her to have small papers with her. Even though she wasn’t successful, she actually made Amity fall for a surprise. And the thing is that the cell in the air trembled a little when her clones held Amity. As she suspected, if she distracted Amity from concentrating enough, there was a chance for the cell to collapse. “Hold on a little, King.” she mumbled. 

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   It was so joyful to see Luz again for Camila. She would go to the camp and ask about Luz’s letter tomorrow, since Luz mentioned that she has never been to the camp, but the rest of today was to rest. She was thinking about how she made the mistake of sending Luz away, as if she was some weirdo. Maybe she was too concerned about her daughter and her life, how she was alone. But from now on, she would acknowledge her daughter no matter what.

  Someone knocked on the door. She got up from the couch and headed for the door. Who could it be at this time of night? She looked outside from the door hole for it, and was frozen by the face she saw. She pulled her back slowly, she couldn’t know what to think. She opened the door so slowly, facing the visitor. He was a tall white man, with medium-length black hair and black beard and mustache. Excitement was spreading from his black eyes. “Hello, Camila. How are you? Is Luz home?” he asked.

                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

   “I am really tired of this hide and seek game, please just come along, I swear I will leave your friend alone if you do.” Amity begged with a painful voice. But there was no answer other than the dead silence of the night. She always kept an eye on the cell, it was the main goal of Luz. Finally, she heard rustling from some bushes beside a tree. This time, Amity reacted quickly and threw a bunch of abomination slime she had readied before. Movement in the bushes stopped. She walked towards the bush so carefully and slowly. While she was near a little rock which is hard to notice, the rock puffed and it turned to Luz. “Got you! Again!” she shouted as she placed a punch in Amity’s guts as well as she could. Amity looked surprised and hurt. It had to work, the cell would probably distort in Luz expectation. But something happened, Amity started to turn purple and melt. In a second, she became a lifeless bunch of abomination. Luz was so surprised that her mouth kept open at the moment. The cell became a motionless slime and fell on the ground as well. “An abomination clone!?” Luz finally realized, but it was too late. Three big abomination bodies appeared from the ground. They were almost twice Luz’s height. “Really, you thought I fell for it for a second time?” Amity said afar from in front of the Luz. She didn’t sound proud though, more like she was suffering. With the pink, shining energy spheres covering her hands, she looked scarier than ever. “Just stop boasting around already, you assmouth!” King yelled. 

   Amity was clearly angry at him. She raised her hand to the cell and the cell shrinked a little. King grunted with concern. “King!” Luz shouted. She had to hurry up. The abominations raised their hands to reach her. Maybe it would be dangerous, but Luz couldn’t think of a better option at the moment. “Katon! Gokakyo no Jutsu!” she shouted and made the hand seals quickly. Then, she blew fire at the abominations around her. They couldn’t do anything to escape from burning and melting. The fire was much lighter than Sasuke’s, it didn’t do any harm to the environment and just distorted in the air. Now, there was no obstacle between Luz and Amity. Despite just witnessing the fire show of Luz’s, Amity didn’t look scared even a little bit. Without wasting much time Luz made another jutsu. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” she shouted. This time, she was focused on her power much more than before, and as the result, there were around ten clones of Luz now. “Attack!” the original Luz cried and everyone began to run towards Amity while screaming. 

   Amity waited and thought for what to do. Just before the first Luzes was about to reach her, she set up an abomination wall appearing from the ground, between the Luz and her. Then, she pointed her hand at the ground, and an abomination column appeared under her, raising her high enough to see all the Luzes. Now, Luz was the one countered. Amity used her magic and made a bow and arrow out of the column under her. She adjusted the arrow in the bow, aimed, and shot the Luz closest to her. The arrow stuck in Luz’s stomach, and she disappeared. All the other Luzes looked panicked while looking at the place where the hit clone was just a moment ago. They turned their looks to Amity while trembling. “Do I have to continue? Or will you just give up?” Amity asked, while reading the second arrow. There was no reply, even the King was quiet in his cell behind her. Amity exhaled heavily, “Well, if so…” she shot the second arrow on a random clone and hit her. It was another clone as well, it just disappeared. Amity grunted, she was really starting to get frustrated now. She quickly made another arrow. While she was just about to shoot it, a rock hit the back of her hand, which was holding the bow, and made a wound on Amity’s hand. She dropped the bow and the arrow down onto the ground. “King, someone catch him!” Amity heard some Luzes yelling while trying to pull herself together. She was bleeding but it was not the time to be absent-minded. She looked down, Luz’s clones were disappearing one by one, and probably the real one was running away with King in her arms. Amity quickly created an abomination slide, which helped her to slide onto the ground from the top of the big column. Without wasting any time, she began to chase Luz and King. 

   “Faster, she is closing the distance!” King screamed on Luz’s shoulder. Luz turned her back for a second to face Amity, who was following them in the woods. “Hold on tight! I will try to slow her!” Luz called out to King. King hugged Luz tight, and then Luz drew a pencil and a paper while running. Amity readied herself for what was about to come.

    But Luz’s next move was something she definitely didn’t expect. Luz threw her a cluster of abomination. Amity slowened and ducked to avoid Luz’s attack. It was impossible, how could she know to summon abomination? “How did you do that!?” she asked while running. “You didn’t seem to notice, but I activated my sharingan just before you made the wall. I know what to draw to cast abomination magic now!” Luz explained. Amity was hit by the reminder of the truth. Of course she used sharingan. 

    Luz was about to nail it. If she just made it back to the Owl House, they would be safe. “We will make it!” King encouraged her. Yes, they would be there in time and it all would be over. These thoughts were the last thing she remembered before blacking out.

    Amity looked at Luz’s body lying on the ground unconsciously. “Luz! Are you okay?” Luz’s little demon friend, who fell forward a moment ago, was shaking Luz to wake her up. Amity created a cell around him just as before. “Oh! Not again!” he shouted. Amity looked at Luz’s body again. She was lying on her stomach. Her head was bleeding from where Amity threw an abomination stick seconds ago. Now, there was no interference. Luz was just there, lying vulnerable for Amity to finish off and take her eyes out. She raised her hand, it started to shine pink. But she couldn't just do it. She couldn’t finish Luz off. She said that she would do anything for her dream, but here she was, not having enough courage to kill a person to accomplish her mission.

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    “Kid, wake up!” Luz suddenly woke up to Eda’s concerned face, with her eyes open wide. She quickly sat up on her butt. “King!” she shouted. “Where is he!? Is he okay!?” she quickly looked around. She was in the Owl House, on the couch in the living room. “I don’t know, because he is not here.” Eda said. “Hooty told me that a Blight came and picked you up. What happened?” Eda was a little annoyed. Luz remembered that King told her Eda has had some interactions with the Blights in the past. Maybe Eda knew about the Blights. “You were unconscious for hours! And your head was bleeding! I was damn horrified! It was that Blight girl, wasn't it?” she asked. 

     Luz told her everything happened and she learned about Amity. While recalling all those, she couldn’ hold back much longer. “I am sorry Eda, if I just hadn’t appeared out of nowhere, none of this would happen. King, Hooty and you would just continue your life properly as a family.” Luz said as she cried. Eda wiped away Luz’s tears. “Hey, never say that. Since you got here, we all have been happier than before. You were always the friends we didn’t know we needed. Now, pull yourself together, okay?” Eda said as she held Luz’s hand. “Weirdos have to stick together. We all found each other because we had to. And now, I will take King and the others back, while you stay here and rest.” Eda said and stood up from near Luz, as she had a grip on her staff. “No! I will come too!” Luz yelled and pushed her blanked away and straightened up. “Definitely not,” Eda rejected. “I found the note attached to your hoodie. They demanded the sharingan and the portal key to release our friends for free. They want us both to go to the castle. If you come with me, you’d just fulfill their wish. Stay here safe.” Eda emphasized on the last sentence especially. Then, she turned on her back and headed for the door. “Good luck, Eda! I trust you with all my heart!” Hooty exclaimed. After Eda left, Luz was all alone with her guilt and grief.

Chapter Text

  “Damn, it’s almost 2 AM. Where the heck are you guys?” Hunter mumbled on the top of the front walls, as he watched through the silence on the castle’s front side. With a sudden feeling of energy coming from behind him, he was confused. “Hunter, you should take your position as well, you have to behave for the plan for achieving success, you know.” Belos ordered gently. Hunter tried to keep his cool. “Of course, my liege.” he said.

                                                        * * * * * * * * *

  After a few minutes Eda left, Luz got up from the couch. Yes, apparently Belos wanted her eyes, and any risky action she took tonight could cause her trouble. But she had to make things right for her friends’ sake. “Oh, are you going with her?” Hooty asked, but Luz was so occupied that she couldn’t answer him. She quickly ran upstairs, went inside her room. She collected small papers to use later as many as she could from her backpack. Hooty stretched and barged in the room. “Hey, isn’t that dangerous for you?” he asked. Luz ignored him again. As she went downstairs, Hooty kept following her. “And, you are not in a good condition. You know, you hurt your head badly not so long ago.” Hooty continued to argue. Luz frowned, right now, nothing would break her determination to go and rescue her friends. Finally, when she was just about to go outside from the door, Hooty got in her way. “Luz, please don’t do that, you will get hurt so badly!” Hooty resisted. Although Luz still looked determined, she wasn’t gonna quit now. “Hooty, I appreciate that you care about me, but I must take some risks. If I wasn’t so excited and was more cautious about my identity, this wouldn’t happen. I am responsible for this trouble and I have to fix it, or at least have a contribution to it. I can’t just lie and sleep around while King and others are taken away. Please, show understanding for me.” Luz said with a firm but calm voice. Hooty was so worried about her but apparently there was nothing he could do at the moment. “Okay, but please be careful! And get Eda’s back!” Hooty screamed, he was in his regular mood now.

  Luz smiled and nodded. “I will.”

  Luz slowly got away from the house as Hooty watched her. Hooty still couldn’t believe how brave Luz was. When she showed up for the first time, he thought she was some silly stanger, but over time Hooty warmed up to her and saw how charitable and caring she was. While he was swimming in these thoughts, Luz barged into the house, surprising Hooty. “I need to get a jacket first!” she shouted. She was trembling and holding her arms.

  After Luz wore her pink jacket, she once headed for the door again. “Hey, by the way, do you have any ideas or plans!?” Hooty asked with high excitement. Luz was glancing down on the floor. “Well, I have an idea, I should visit someone in Bonesbrough. And actually I just realized now, I might need your help on this.” she said. “YOU NEED MY HELP!?” Hooty yelled while swinging in the air. “Tell me! Tell me! I will give my everything!” he shouted.

  “So that’s where he lives!” Hooty declared happily. “Thanks so much, Hooty!” Luz exclaimed, before getting on the magical bathtub Hooty bringed while she was taking her jacket from her room. According to Hooty, it was supposed to fly. “So, how does this thing-”

“With that!” Hooty interrupted her and turned on the tap. The bathtub quickly raised into the air and went forward before Luz had a chance to react. “AAAAAAAAA!” she screamed while she flew into the purple-dark sky. She was definitely gonna vomit. The cold air was hitting her face so harshly that she could barely open her eyes. “They grow so fast.” Hooty said sadly, as if everything was completely fine without any doubt.

   Finally, Luz was able to stabilize herself a little bit, but it was still uncomfortable. She looked down on the ground and viewed the surroundings. The bathtub was so fast, Luz could see the buildings and street lamps shining in the middle of darkness in a few minutes. It was pretty beautiful, but Luz had other concerns right now. After wandering around the town for a while, she spotted the brownish house that Hooty described detailly. She slowly turned off the tap, and the bathtub started to glide down onto the ground. She landed on the street and got out of the bathtub. The street wasn’t dark thanks to the lamps, yet it was so quiet, which was really creepy. Also, the small wind didn’t make it any better. Luz could see that the lights were open in the brown house she was interested in through the windows. The house was cute, it was in a garden, alongside some weird Isles flowers and aesthetic decorations, such as little statues of people. One of them was someone Luz knew…

   “Here we go…” Luz said to herself, slowly headed for the front door. After a moment of pulling some courage, she knocked on the door. Everything from this moment on was crucial now. She heard something like “Who the hell…” from behind the door. She was breathing heavily. Then, the door opened and revealed a black man with glasses. “Mr. Porter, right?” Luz asked nervously. “What is it in the dead of night, you weirdo!? I already had a terrible day.” the man said. He looked so frustrated and sad. “It’s about your son!” Luz confessed in panic. The annoyed look of the man was gone, leaving a curious and surprised face behind. “What, you know Gus!? Where is he!?” he shouted and held Luz’s shoulders. “Hey! Please calm down!” Luz complained. 

    Mr. Porter let her in, and as soon as he led her to the guest room, he started to walk around the room, holding his head. Meanwhile, Luz sat on the big couch in the room. It really hurt Luz to watch him, how could he take the news she was about to give? And Luz once again remembered that she was the reason for that. Not only did she push his friends in trouble, she also hurt the people who love them. Luz really had to settle things for everyone. “Where is my son? Is he okay?” Mr. Porter asked after pulling himself together. Luz knew she must be honest, but damn words just weren’t gonna get outside. “Hey, are you his friend? Please, give me answers!” Mr. Porter exclaimed, he was hell worried, and he was right. But Luz couldn’t even find the right to look at his eyes properly inside her. “He is kidnapped.” she mumbled. “What!? By who!?” Mr. Porter asked as he summoned his scroll. He was probably gonna call the police. “By the emperor.” Luz continued with difficulty. 

   “What?” Mr. Porter seemed so confused. He frowned, “What the- Is this a fucking prank?” he sounded angry. Luz panicked, she was kind of expecting a negative reaction considering the respect and loyalty towards the emperor among people there, but still it was really hard to endure. She has never been through something like that. “Please, you have to believe me! He was kidnapped by Belos!” Luz insisted, she didn’t know what to say to convince him. “Stop telling bullshit, kid!” Mr. Porter was really angry. 

    Why?

    Why always there has to be an obstacle?

    Why always there has to be an enemy?

    Couldn’t they just go happy? What has she ever done to deserve these?

    Back at her home, there was always trouble, it was people, school, the life itself. She was alone, no one could hear her screams.

    Now she thought she would make a new beginning here, but troubles again, and even worse. 

    She was really exhausted of trouble, she didn’t think she deserved any of this. And now, there were finally some people that valued her. Yes, she had been helpless to herself all her life, but it wouldn’t go the same for her friends.

   Suddenly, she felt a new energy flowing inside her. She felt that her sharingan was activated. She wasn’t sure what was going on with her, but she felt much more confident now. She got up from the couch. “Look at me, mister! Your son and my friend is in danger here! Why would I lie to a parent whose kid is missing? Do you think that is something that can be made a joke of? Also, it’s not like you have much option other than believing me, unless you want to stay there and worry around lonely all night, without any clue of Gus!” Luz finally stopped and took a deep breath. Sharingan was deactivated and Luz was calm now. On the other hand, Mr. Porter looked like he was about to lose it. “Oh, no! I- I am so sorry, I… I am..” Luz couldn’t know how to continue. She really shitted in all her hope of help. Mr. Porter raised his hand in gesturing for her to stop. “No, I am the one who is sorry, I mean, you know, the Emperor getting involved sounded nonsense. Even thinking of blaming him is a trouble in itself, I hope you understand.” Mr. Porter explained. Luz nodded, she felt really guilty for yelling and scolding at him. After all, he was another victim of the emperor as well. “I get it, but really, Belos is the bad guy here. But I promise, I will save your son. And I need a little help from you. In truth, that is the main reason I visited you.” Luz explained, and using her all will to force a smile. “Trust me, sir. I will return with Augustus Porter tonight.” she tried to assure him. Mr. Porter nodded, he looked a lot calmer now. “Okay, now tell me how I can help you.”

                                                        * * * * * * * * * *

   The Conformatorium was as creepy and gloomy as Eda remembered. She landed on the ground far from the tower, near a tree with her staff to view around. There were some guards, standing watching around in the lower-attitude area where the conformatorium was. Even just looking at the huge tower made Eda feel bad. Most of the prisoners there were harmless, they were just ordinary people without anything to be blamed of. They were imprisoned because of the system that the regime imposed. She really hated that bonehead for all the things he has done to Isles.

  She walked and got a little bit closer to the big black spikes that randomly attached on the ground. It was true that there were some coven scouts, but Eda couldn’t see any of the higher-ranked members of the coven, such as Lilith or…

  “Helllllo there!” Eda heard from behind her.

 …Or such as the owner of that annoying voice. She quickly turned on her back and faced the mask she was quite familiar with.

   It was the Golden Guard. The teenage prodigy, the right-hand man of Belos. He was sitting on a rock, shaking his legs. If even he came out of the shadows and showed up, it meant Belos was really serious. She held her staff with her both hands, ready for action. “Welcome, grandma hero.” he said and quickly added. “Or should I prefer, criminal?” he looked up while putting a finger on his chin. “Shut it, brat. I’m getting people out of here tonight. A kid like you won’t be a bother to me.” Eda said angrily. The Golden Guard looked down at her. “Well,” he pushed himself from the rock and landed on the ground, “If you think so, you will have to reconsider it.” he said, as he pointed his staff at Eda. The tip part of his staff started to shine red, cutting through the darkness of the night. Then, a big magic laser was shooted from the staff, at Eda’s direction. Fortunately, Eda made a yellow magic shield using her hand and deflected the laser in another way. “Hah! Let me show you how to attack, kid!” she called out and began to spin her staff with her hands, and turned it towards her enemy. Owlbert shined and a huge yellow magical version of Hooty appeared out of the spinning staff. “HOOT HOOT!” it screamed and charged for the Golden Guard. There was something odd to Eda, he looked calmer than she thought he would be. 

  He held his staff against Eda, and a wall appeared from the ground to prevent the fake Hooty from eating him whole. Hooty right bumped into it but nothing happened. The material that the wall was made of was… pretty strange, though the protection it provided was pretty high, considering it stopped the Owl Lady’s attack without much of an effort.

 “Come on!” Eda heard the boy’s voice from behind the wall. “Don’t tell me this is the best you’ve got, the Owl Lady!” the Golden Guard shouted in an arrogant brat voice. “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Eda mumbled. Then, so many small branches started to grow on the fake Hooty. “HOOT HOOT!” they all screamed as soon as they grew a face. Then, they dashed around the wall, trying to reach for the Golden Guard.

  Eda wondered if that would do it, but her curiosity was erased when her opponent abandoned his place by flying high to run away from the magical copies of Hooty. Eda was trying to give her best focus on her magic but that kid was fast, she had to admit. “Oh, now you're talkin!” the boy shouted. He sounded easy, fully confident. “Not enough, though.” he added, and then returned 180 degrees in the air. After that, A beam of red light was launched from the tip of the staff, and it extinguished all of the magical Sub Hooties, just like that. After Eda released her focus, the original Hooty disappeared as well. This boy was tough, Eda thought. But she had to finish this quickly and after getting the caught squad, leave this cursed place as soon as possible. “Okay, I will be serious from now on!” she exclaimed. “Oh, I am so scared!” the Golden Guard replied from high. While viewing and waiting for the Owl Lady’s next move, at the same time how could he counteract.

  But he wasn’t expecting to feel a sudden movement from behind. “Where are you looking?” Eda asked, before hitting at his hand with her staff. Eda was definitely sure that this was the last attack. No one could resist or predict her that move and speed, and taking a hit by her staff, which she filled with magic before swinging. But she was awestruck by the result this time. It splashed and scattered some weird stuff after hitting his head. Eda pulled her staff, which was stuck in his head, and his color started to change. His body and staff turned into the same material the protection wall was made of. It was like… some sort of meat? Eda couldn’t exactly tell. It melted and fell onto the ground, while Eda was still in the air, holding her staff. “A clone? You coward!” she shouted, for him to hear her from wherever he was hiding.

  Then, she heard a laugh from about the tree she first landed on when she entered this cursed place. She quickly turned around to face the annoying brat. He slowly walked to be seen from behind the tree. He was laughing and holding his belly. “It was really funny!” he mimicked wiping a tear of his eyes on the mask. “But this little encounter lasted long enough already, I believe.” he added. “I was thinking the same.” Eda stated and dashed with an enormous speed, leaving a trace of light behind. She was so fast that she couldn’t be followed with eyes, there was no way the Golden Guard could counter that. 

  But he did, just when Eda was about to hit him, he took a position and disappeared, leaving a red hologram behind. Eda managed to stop herself in the air before hitting the ground. She was so surprised she couldn’t decide where to look. “What the-” she could at least have to express herself before she understood what he would do. “Too slow, grandma.” the Golden Guard said, behind her in the air. Then, all she could feel was the hit of his staff on her waist. She crashed into the tree. Damn, that really hurt. She was feeling dizzy, but she tried to have a good grip on her staff again. Unfortunately, her staff was kicked out of her hand. “Hah, you lose! I win!” he really enjoyed himself, raising her arms into the air. “Now, I must take the portal key, oh, and where is the human by the way? She has a couple of eyes to donate to us.” he explained. Now Eda was really furious, she couldn’t let Luz get hurt. She could do anything for her. Luz was like a daughter to her at her time at the Isles. She was able to bring joy to their house. And she definitely didn’t deserve that kind of enemies. Why were there always scenarios and consequences like that even for the most innocent ones? Eda didn’t think anything she did would matter in that situation, but she spat at his face. “Well, that was rude.” he said as he wiped it off from his mask. “But however you prefer. I can be rude as well to get to your little precious human-”

  “I’M HEREEEEEE!” they heard a scream from the above.

  Before they could process anything, Luz fell on the Golden Guard from the sky and crushed into him, making him fall on his face. To be honest, Eda would laugh if they weren’t in some kind of life-threatening situation. “Luz! What are you doing here, you idiot!? This is the worst place in the whole world possible for you to be right now!” Eda had definitely pulled herself together, she was able to get up and gain her focus back. “I came here to help you!” she replied amiably as she got up. Eda was really worried right now. “You could have been helpful but staying at home, safe!” she yelled at Luz. Luz looked a little disappointed, she shrugged. “But you looked like you were in trouble alone, now we can defeat them together!” she resisted. Eda was about to reply back, she was really frustrated right now. But before she could begin to talk, the Golden Guard pushed Luz away and got up. “How lucky I am today! Now I get to take both of your stuff!” He sounded extremely happy and joyful. He was taking a glance at them by turning his head again and again. Before Luz and Eda did anything, he stuck his staff into the ground. Then, the ground around them started to get a little soft and sticky. Luz and Eda both looked at the ground at the same time, and they witnessed the change on the ground, turning from hard dirt to some kind of weird material of flesh. “What the-” Luz reacted but it was too late. Walls raised from all four sides, a ceiling covered the sky.

  In moments, they were in an extremely huge dark room made of flesh. Then, the flesh started to shine, making Luz and Eda able to see each other and the Golden Guard between them. The room’s wide length and height was around… 200 feet? Luz couldn’t know that but she knew it was really gigantic. “Now, you can’t escape! Really, are you even trying?” the Golden Brat asked sarcastically. However, he seemed to stumble a little bit. The spell he did definitely didn’t look easy to perform, after all. Eda quickly reached for her staff on the ground and ran near Luz, “Get away, Luz! I will take care of that!” she screamed. “No!” Luz resisted. “I can fight too!”. Eda breathed heavily, wondering what she was gonna do with that child. “Okay, look, I will create an opening for you, okay? Go and save your friends.” she offered. “Oh, actually you don’t need to do that.” she said. Eda didn’t get it. “What?” she asked. “I mean, I am not here right now, this is a clone of mine. My real body is in the flying bathtub far above us.” she confessed.

  Eda couldn’t say anything for seconds. “Luz, I am sorry for questioning your intelligence.” she said. Luz smiled. “Go finish him, Eda! I will save my friends! Be safe!” she exclaimed and waved her hand, then puffed and disappeared. Now, Eda’s confidence was quite repaired. Luz had clearly improved so much since she came to the Isles for the first time, no doubt. She trusted her about the King and others. Now, she had to focus on her own opponent. “Well,” the Golden Guard was still breathing heavily but he had some time to recover from the last spell, “I’d never guess the human could think of that. It is pitiful that someone like her will have to sacrifice her eyes eventually.” he said, despite that he didn’t sound very sad. Eda grunted. “You…” she mumbled, “You will be in a pitiful condition when I’m done with you!” she screamed and attacked.

                                         * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

  Now, it was Luz’s time to make a real move. After losing her connection to the clone inside the huge cell, she pulled the magical drone inside the tube. She knew what to do. She pushed the red button, which was on the left side of it. With that, the camera on the drone started to record, which was indicated by the red light on the camera. The drone started to rise out of Luz’s hands. Luz coughed and started to speak. “Dear residents of the Boiling Isles, this is Luz Noceda and tonight, I will show you something really scandalistic about the emperor and its regime.” She introduced herself and the topic as calmly as possible. She has never been that nervous before. She got out of the drone’s way. “This is the Conformatorium, you see. I will introduce some of the prisoners and discuss what they have done to get judged. I am highly sure that you will be very surprised at the results.” Luz was kind of starting to get confident in herself, she was sounding so badass from the inside right now. She turned on the lap of the bathtub a little bit and they started to move forward in the air with an appropriate speed. The drone was following the bathtub without any order as well. It was indeed so qualified as Mr. Porter told. 

  She entered the huge tower from a window on the highest part of the structure, and ended up in the prison she had seen before. After making sure that the drone was following her, she went forward to look around. There were the cells standing along each other, in order of a circle that goes downwards. 

  But there was something different compared to the last time she visited there. There were no prisoners or any guards. It seemed like there was no other person than Luz in the whole prison. “Where is everyone?” she mumbled. It was really creepy to be in a place like that. She looked for any prisoners once again in the prison, but there was no one. She couldn’t see her friends either. “Dammit.” she said. She was really disappointed, she was so hyped to save her friends, but it was for nothing. She held the drone and turned it off. Maybe they could figure out where her friends were after defeating the enemy guy. She headed for the window she came in to get out. She put the drone in the bathtub, but she was frozen when she started to hear footsteps. “Well, well, well. Looks like I’ve gotten myself a shortcut to success. I will definitely surpass him this time.” Luz heard a female voice from her behind, she quickly awakened and turned on her back.

  There was a small demon-like person standing at the other end of the little corridor that leads to the prison. “What are you after?” Luz sounded a little bit offensive. “Are you also working for the Emperor?” she asked demandingly. The demon looked relaxed and joyful. She had a white uniform that covered her mouth. Her hair was in the shape of a blue hand that covered her right eye. Suddenly, she drew a pink circle in the air quickly, and as she dashed her hand through the circle, the circle turned into a pink fireball, and launched towards Luz. Luz quickly tumbled to the right and escaped from the fireball that was coming for her. Although, she was able to feel the extreme heat of the fire by even just being a little near. “Yes, I work for the Emperor, and his goal of achieving peace and justice for everyone.” she explained. At that answer, Luz was really angry and provoked now. “Peace and justice!? He literally wants to take my eyes off! He kidnapped my friends, who absolutely did nothing wrong! He has imprisoned people for just being goofy and having goofy interest! If that’s your understanding of peace and justice, you don’t deserve to be at charge at all!” Luz exploded. The demon gave a sigh, it definitely wasn’t the first time she was having a conservation like this. “Look, little girl. World is bigger than you, bigger than your friends, bigger than anyone. People can’t do or change something big in such a huge, problematic place on their own.” she said. Luz was really uninterested and tired of this stuff. She just wanted to get rid of her and Eda’s opponent and find her friends as soon as possible. “Save it!” she interrupted her and threw an abomination glyph just before activating it. The glyph turned into abomination in the air, it spreaded and got into the shape of a big fist. It was going to give a direct hit to Luz’s enemy, but the woman casted another spell by drawing a circle and she provided a pink protection wall that covered her. And unfortunately, the abomination fist was distorted when it hit the shield. “People are insecure, it is painful to have our wishes unfulfilled. Even now, I strive in a competition against a guy in my coven. Basically, we create conflicts to satisfy ourselves, to reach to getting or being something we desire. We sometimes even fight and start wars for these.” the demon continued as she loosened the magical shield. Actually it was making sense in a way but Luz didn’t care about that at the moment. She was really pissed off and ready to beat up that little, annoying creature. “Really, I am about to start a war against you for being such a-” Luz was interrupted by the feeling in her feet. When she looked down, she saw there were pink tentacle-like figures crawling in her feet. “If we continue to want, want and want more instead of giving, making effort and giving sacrifices for the sake of the society and our beloved, things will get worse more and more, it can’t go on like that. We must all be one for everyone and be brave. That’s how we will do it. That’s why I am asking you to cooperate in your own place, Luz Noceda.” she asked.

  “Are you… are you out of your mind?” Luz asked quietly. She casted the Kage Bunshin jutsu and created a copy of her. Unlike Luz, it was free. It pulled Luz from the tentacles and helped her escape. Then, they both turned to the demon, the corridor they were in wasn’t so wide, despite that Luz was able to run away from the fireball for the first time. She had to be careful about that in her place because she wouldn’t know what the next danger would be. “There is no way I could cooperate with the likes of you, never, ever.” Luz challenged as her clone disappeared. The demon seemed to be so disappointed at first, but then she shrugged. “Well, then I will have you help us by force.” she said and drew another circle in the air. This time, it was really big compared to the size witches normally use. After she put her hand in the middle of the circle to activate the spell, three fireballs appeared in the position of a triangle. They started to spin around the circle, and then they were launched at Luz.

   Now, Luz was really horrified. This was the first time she really experienced being this much close to death in her life. And she felt like she would never forget this feeling for the rest of her life. Three fireballs were coming at her, spinning in the air and covering all the way through in the corridor. As a human, her instincts ordered her to do only one thing in this situation: run. She ran to the window for her life, as if there was no tomorrow (maybe that’d be true). Just when she was about to jump and make it to the outside, she heard an explosion from behind. Suddenly, she was thrown outside, with a huge pain on her backside. She was flipping in the air so fast, and she couldn’t understand anything, she couldn’t think anything. She was just left with pain and horror. She forced herself to hold on to something, sadly, there was nothing but cold, harsh air of hopelessness. She knew it, she was gonna die.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

  Eda was not doing so well with the Golden Guard.

  Since Luz left, all she could do was deflect his attacks, she couldn’t get a chance to counter or take any advantages. On the other hand, the young prodigy Golden Guard was always keeping his tempo of constantly attacking and preserving the pressure she had on the Owl Lady. Eda must have immediately pulled this off and met up with Luz. She had to get the hell out of this place. “Looks like age is starting to hit, huh?” the Golden Guard asked teasingly in the air. Eda grunted, she was sweating. It was not only that she was tired, also the secret she has been hiding from everyone made her ach. It was begging to get outside…

  The Golden Guard flew down to Eda, and created a big clay fist, charging at Eda. Eda was barely able to create a magical shield and stopped the attack. The Golden Guard retreated again to high again. “Come on, the Owl Lady! Do something!” he shouted. Eda was getting more and more angry, she was doing her best to keep it in but it got harder at every second. “Shut it, you… You have no idea what you’re messing with.” Eda tried to warn him but talking hurt so much that her voice was cracked. “Oh, really?” the Golden Guard landed on the ground. He was still teasing and joyful, clearly he wasn’t gonna stop going further. “I am really scared! Please, please don’t hurt me!” he cried with exaggerated hand gestures. 

  Finally, Eda wasn’t able to hold it back anymore. She lost her sight when she was looking at the boy, it was all darkness. “Good bye, Luz, King.” she said, while slowly losing her consciousness. She was so guilty for not being open enough about herself. But there was nothing to do, she was saying goodbye as a criminal who was gonna leave two children unguarded behind. She lost her last pieces of consciousness as she dropped a few tears.

  “What the-” Hunter was shocked. The desperate witch in front of him was growing feathers and bigger. The Owl Lady was transforming into something, as Hunter could tell. She bent over, got over her arms and stood on four feet like an animal. Her backside started to grow huge and a couple of wings covered in feathers appeared. Her eyes were black now and her teeth were sharper and longer. It was one of the scariest lives Hunter has ever witnessed in his life. The creature stood up on her back feet and roared. It’s voice echoed in the flesh cell. Hunter flew high with his staff. He didn’t think of being involved in a direct interaction with this monster. If it was aggressive, Hunter was gonna observe its abilites and then try to subdue her back into the Eda Clawthorne. He needed her alive for the portal key. The creature looked up to Hunter, it looked angry. Then, it jumped upwards with an enormous speed, which made Hunter feel fear deeply. He got away from the monster’s way as it charged at him and swung it’s claw. It’s nails were long and even one hit would be dangerous. But more importantly, it seemed to be much more energetic and rageous than the Owl Lady. Hunter viewed the huge demon while flying around and staying mobile. The demon’s eyes were following Hunter with a predator’s attention. It showed its teeth and charged into the sky again. But this time, it was flying with its wings. Hunter started to fly away from her to escape. Although, the creature was closing up the distance over seconds. Hunter had no other choice than taking an action. He turned on his back in the sky, and he shooted a ray of laser, targeting the monster’s right wing.

  Unfortunately, the beast escaped from the attack by going a little below in the air, and then charged at Hunter. It drove its claw on Hunter’s mask, causing him to fall from his staff. With being unable to do anything, he fell on a tree. He was out of the sight of the monster. In a few seconds, the flesh walls and the floor vaporized since Hunter lost his focus on the spell. The beast forgot about Hunter when it met the sight of the rest of the open world. The cold air stroke its feathers. It was unleashed and free once again. It flew away from everything and everyone under the moonlight.

                                               * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

  Luz felt that she fell on something, but it wasn’t as bad as she thought. When she opened her eyes, she realized that she was in the bathtub. She got on her feet and looked up. Where the window was now debris, spreading fire and smoke. Actually, it was way up from Luz’s height now. It was incredible that the magical bathtub was able to save Luz on it’s own will. “Thank God,” she mumbled. It would have been much worse if she fell all the way down from the tower. However, her back really hurt. It was probably burning, but it wasn’t so terrible that Luz could endure it for now. She took her jacket off, it was damaged that she couldn’t use it anymore. She dropped it in the bathtub. Then, she touched her back to check her hoodie. It hurt so much, but she could still use her hoodie, which was very fortunate. “Thank God.” she mumbled. It was cold but there was nothing Luz could do about that. 

  Then, she noticed something, the cell that the bow in the mask created before the area of Conformatorium was gone now. “Eda!?” she called out but it was far. She couldn’t see Eda or the masked enemy. “Forgot about me that quick?” the little demon barged in Luz’s sight from above with a pink magic round platform flying in the air. Luz was caught by surprise, but she quickly turned on the tap on the right side of the faucet, and then the bathtub raised above into the sky. When Luz came to the edge, she saw the demon following her. She drew an abomination glyph, and threw it to the demon after activating it. The abomination quickly spreaded around the paper and it got into the shape of a spear. Luz did her best to hit her, but her opponent deflected it by destroying it with a fireball she created. 

  However, that moment provided time for Luz to create clones. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” she screamed while making the seals, and two of Luz’s clones jumped down on the platform, ambushing the demon. They began to beat up the demon, it was small like a child and seemed to be vulnerable in close combat compared to the clones, who were much bigger than her. Platform was trembling due to the decreasing of her focus on the spell. She regained her focus back, and tried to ignore the beating she was taking. She drew circles quickly, and created a huge fire wave around her, exterminating the clones away. Then, the wall of fire exploded, which created a huge wave of wind and a little earthquake around the surroundings.

  Luz was panicked and scared, the bathtub shook in the air as well. Damn, she has never witnessed that kind of pure power before. Who the hell was this woman!? Luz thought of what she could do next. How could she win!? Maybe she must somehow try to reach Eda, but she was probably facing her own opponent as well. “Okay, Okay,” Luz pulled herself together. She entered this path once, and was there to rescue her friends, and now she must be brave and strong for their sake. Also, she had a card she hadn’t played yet. She once again looked down from the bathtub and inhaled deeply. “Katon! Gokakyu no-”

  Her jutsu was interrupted when the demon reached Luz’s height at lightning speed. Luz was surprised and she was open to attack. The demon looked different. Her hair, which was a hand, was now not gripping her head. Luz could see her right eye now. It was like the opposite of her right eye. It’s iris was yellow while the right was red. The left one’s sclera was yellow while the right one’s was red. Also, she looked much more tensious angry before than before. It wasn’t much of an effort for Luz to understand she was in danger. Surprisingly, the demon fell on her arms, she was trembling. The hand on her head covered her right eye again. “I… give up. You win.” she said, as she looked up to Luz, she was frustrated. “Wait, what?” Luz was shocked, this was the last thing she could expect. “You are not as desperate as I predicted. If this keeps up, I will end up losing control. Don’t enjoy or flatter yourself, you will help us anyway.” she said, there was pain of holding something back in her voice. Luz frowned. “Where are my friends?” she demanded. “If you want to get your friends that badly, go to the castle. They are there. However, you will have to participate in a trade with the Emperor. That’s all I will say.” she explained while snapping her fingers. A pink fire covered her body and she just vanished. Luz knew what she should give to get her friends back, but she was not intended to give her eyes. She needed to see with them. And she also wanted to get her friends back from the Emperor. And if you wanted to get more things than you are offered or allowed to, there was a way to achieve that: Force.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * * * *

   Hunter knew that he blacked out after crushing on a tree. His suit provided a high level of protection, but it couldn’t prevent falling from high. However, he couldn’t feel any broken bones at the moment.

  “Wake up!” he was slapped by someone, causing him to stand up on his butt. “What!?” he was surprised and scared. “Where is Eda!? Did you hurt her!?” Hunter felt his own staff pressed on his throat. It was the human who was holding it, she looked furious. After a moment of processing he replied. “I don’t know! She turned into a monster!” he screamed back. She looked even more angry now. “Don’t ramble bullshit!” she yelled at him. “I swear, it’s true! You found me unconscious! If the Owl Lady would have defeated me and left me here, wouldn’t she immediately come to your help!?” he argued. The human backed off a little bit. “Well, this makes a little bit of sense, but I will still assume that this is some kind of trick!” she exclaimed. Hunter was a lot calmer now. “It’s your choice, I told what you demanded from me, now give me your eyes!” he suddenly jumped up and tried to reach for the girl. As soon as he touched her, she puffed and disappeared. While he was left surprised with nothing, someone hit him with a staff from behind. “You idiot!” Luz called out to him from behind while he fell on his knees. “Here’s your staff, I cracked the crystal, so it’s useless now. I didn’t recognize you at first, but Eda had told me about you. You can’t use natural magic, and now you can’t use your staff, you can’t do anything now, other than staying and crying here. Goodbye!” Luz gave him her nicest wishes and walked away. Hunter was alone, questioning himself. He couldn’t do anything, and now he was completely powerless. He failed. “I am worthless.” he mumbled as he shed a few tears.

                                                  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  Luz was flying in the sky on her way to the castle, at least she was thinking she was doing that. There was a trail from the Conformatorium that seemed like it was for transportation. That might be her way to the castle. As she got closer to the castle, the atmosphere got more stifling and uncomfortable. Fogs started to get in Luz’s sight. It was really getting on her nerves. She never imagined the colorful Boiling Isles would include a place like this. She wanted to get her friends and get the hell out of this place and began to search for Eda. 

  Finally, after some silent, nervous time, Luz could see the huge area of buildings in the middle of huge spine bones. It was like a gloomy town. In the middle of this area, there were huge walls surrounding the castle. Luz raised into the sky to get as little attention as possible. After coming above the castle, she dived in and landed on the front side of the castle. The castle was huge and spooky. There was an uncomfortable silence around and it nerved Luz. Then, suddenly the gates of the castle opened a few seconds after Luz landed. “Hello?” Luz called out to face anyone, but no one showed up, which was even creepier. But it was true that the Emperor was expecting her to come, so it would be like him to invite Luz inside from the front door. Luz looked around just in case. Then, she got out of the bathtub and began to head for the entrance of the castle. “Oh, wait!” she exclaimed with pointing a finger above. She quickly checked the special weapon she bringed here in her pocket. It was still there and fine. “Alright,” she mumbled and kept walking into the castle. While walking towards the castle, she stopped once again. “Oh, wait!” She returned back to the bathtub, and turned the drone on. The drone began to fly and record. “That’s more like it.” Luz mumbled and got back on her way to the castle.

  Once Luz entered the castle, the front doors closed behind her harshly, making Luz tremble with instant fear. “It’s okay,” she mumbled to herself. Even though the conditions were against her, she had gone this far. Now she had to finish this off with rescuing her friends, and facing everyone in her way if necessary. She tried to be confident while going straight ahead through the huge, wide corridor. Inside the castle was so dark and creepy. The only sources of light were the candles on the ledges on the walls, which were so high that they didn’t even brighten near down Luz. After pulling a paper from her pocket, Luz drew the figure of light glyph on it and activated the spell. The paper curled inside and turned into a ball of light, levitating from Luz’s hand. The spell couldn’t completely lighten the whole inside but Luz was able to see her way at least. Luz got near the wall on her right side while managing the light ball to get a nicer look around. As she viewed the wall, she kept going forward. There were colorful paintings and engravings on the wall. The theme was mostly the same, there was a huge person getting their hands on a kind of light and people seemed to pray to him. Luz knew who that masked leader was. It was Emperor Belos. She wondered about his endgame, the reason he was messing with them. Yes, he wanted her eyes but why? 

  While she was walking, something especially drew her interest. There was an engraving that was Eda’s portal to the human realm. The door was open and there were two human-like men in front of it. Luz knew one of them, the one with black hair and a black cloak. “Sasuke!?” she said aloud. She was so surprised to see him in a moment like that, in a place like that. More surprisingly, his left eye was shown and it was even stranger than the sharingan. It was pink and there were purple circles that surrounded each other and covered the whole eye. When she got to meet Sasuke, his hair was covering his left eye and they couldn’t see it. Luz was really curious about that, but it was another day’s issue. Next to Sasuke, there was a blonde guy with blue eyes in a white cape. The strange thing about him was the whiskers on cheeks of him. And there were witches and demons below them. It looked like him and Sasuke came to the Isles through the portal and met the people of the Isles. Did ninjas create the portal in the first place? She had to ask Eda about the portal once they went back. “Oh wait, she is gone too.” Luz mumbled to herself and sighed. She was really tired of all this. There were so many things going on she wanted to understand and manage, despite the little information and capability she had. Just when she was about to move on, she heard the opening screech of the gates behind her. She was alerted and quickly turned around to see who was there. However, she was going through the castle for a while and the gates were so behind that she couldn’t see anything but darkness. “Who’s there?” Luz demanded, her voice echoed through all the way behind. After a moment, a reply came. “The Emperor Coven! Surrender now!” she heard a male voice. “Great. Luz said and headed forward to run away. She couldn’t see them and didn’t know how many units there were. It was quite risky to face them and fight. She had to keep away from danger until she got to meet the Emperor as much as possible. 

  She ran away deeper into the castle. And then, the road split into two, creating a T. Luz stopped for a second. There was no clue about the way to a possible throne room or something. So, she decided quickly and ran in the left way. She was moving blind, without having any idea of where she was going. But at least there were no signs of danger ahead.

  Unfortunately, Luz was about to learn how she was mistaken when the floor below her started to crack. She stopped with instant confusion. Then the ground completely broke down and Luz’s legs loosened as she fell down while screaming. It hurt so much when she hit the ground on her front side. She was able to protect her head by putting her arms in the way. But in return there was an immense pain in her arms. However, it wasn’t like there was any broken bone. So she could keep going. She turned around and looked up. There was a hole on where she fell from. It was really down there. She stood up and looked around. She had lost the light spell when she loosened her control and it was so dark. While trying to stabilize the pain she was feeling, she heard a familiar voice. “Who’s there?” Luz knew that voice, she awakened, adrenaline going through her veins. “Willow?” Luz called out. “Luz!” she heard King’s scream this time. After that she heard her friend Gus’ voice as well. “Luz! Where are you?” he asked. Luz drew a huge glyph of light on the ground. As she activated it, a huge ball of light rised into the air and lightened the whole area enough for Luz to see around. Now that Luz could see around, she met the sight of her friends who were captured. They were in huge brown-yellow glass capsules in front of her. “Willow, Gus, King!” Luz shouted while running towards them. Finally, after all she had gone through, she made it to her friends. They looked so confused and desperate. “Luz! Oh, thanks Titan!” Willow in the left capsule cried as she stuck her face on the glass. She sounded relieved. “You- You came for us… You did!” King shouted as he jumped. He was so surprised and thankful. “Of course I did! What else could I do!?” Luz couldn’t help but smile. All the stuff she’s been through now had results. She was proud of herself. She never imagined she could be this brave someday. “But you must have known that this would be treason against the Emperor! Why!? Why have you come this far for us!?” Gus asked. Luz opened her arms wide. “Because you guys are my friends! You are people who cared about me, got into trouble for me and helped me! While I was having a terrible time in my life, you lightened the way for me in this realm! That’s why I had to stand up when your safety was on the line!” Luz explained herself. The blood in her was hot, she could feel. “Okay, now I will-”

  She was interrupted when she felt an arm covered and held her throat, and an abomination spike was held pointing at Luz’s jaw. “This is the end for you, Uchiha.” Amity said. Luz could feel her breath on her nape. She was panicked, like her friends who began to yell and call her name “Oh no, Luz!” “Luz!” “Luz!. Luz was too scared to move even a little bit. But it was not the time to back off. “Amity, why? Why are you doing this?” She asked. Luz was trying her best to understand Amity, but she was making it hard. “Because I have an ideal in my life. I want to be strong. I need power and prestige. For my family, for myself.” Amity explained. She sounded ambitious, but there was something like a silhouette inside her voice, a silhouette of pain and disappointment. Luz believed that there was good inside Amity, she was just lost. “Henge!” Luz used her chance to use the Transformation Jutsu. She turned into a little ant, while Amity was left awestruck, looking around to get what was going on. Luz jumped forward and turned back into a human, reappearing in the sight of Amity. “But why do you depend on the likes of him? Don’t you see what he’s doing to people?” Luz asked and pointed at the capsules behind her. Amity looked angry. “Don’t judge me like you know me! I have no other choice! Even if I have to hurt people, I am going to fulfill my future!” Amity declared, and raised her hands. They were glowing pink, and an abomination golem appeared from the ground. It was like five times bigger than Luz. It began to move towards Luz and tried to seize her. Luz walked backwards to get away. “Even if you keep pushing everyone away like this? What if you end up being completely alone? Do you think you will be happy then?” Luz asked. She knew what it meant to be a materialistic person. And she didn’t want Amity to regret it. If Luz wanted to help Amity, she had to do it immediately. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” she created a clone of herself. Then, the clone casted another Jutsu. “Henge!” she transformed into a small wooden spear. It was light, Luz didn’t have any trouble holding it and throwing it to the golem’s head. The spear stuck in the golem’s forehead, who was just about to touch Luz. It started to melt and break down. Luz quickly slipped through between its legs to face Amity. “Amity, please, you must understand. Our morals and relationships with people are what makes us a person. Please, let’s stop. I don’t want to be an enemy to you.” Luz cried. Amity seemed to be irritated at that. “But you are! That was decided. I’m saying it once again, you don’t know me. Our perspectives are different. Our environments are different. There is no point in this conservation.” Amity snapped, and then created another abomination spike connected to her hand, and charged at Luz. Luz was able to escape by jumping right, but she wasn’t fast enough to prevent having a scratch on her left shoulder. “Luz!” her friends shouted. Luz fell down on her right arm. It hurt so much when she moved her left arm. Also, the burn on her back suddenly came back, aching. She couldn’t help but grunting in pain. She looked up and met Amity’s eyes. Luz could see a bit of remorse in her eyes. At least, she wanted to keep believing in that.

  She forced herself to get up, despite her suffering. She had to be on her feet right now if she wanted to be helpful to anybody. She could feel her friends’ worried looks on them. “I must put an end to this, one way or another. This feels wrong.” She mumbled, hoping Amity would hear. Amity frowned, “I was thinking of the same thing. You annoy me more and more.” She began to walk towards Luz, her hands were glowing pink as she shook them while moving. Luz was feeling dizzy, but she did her best to keep together. “Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!” She casted the Clone Jutsu and a bunch of her clones joined the scene. Luz commanded them all to attack Amity at once. She herself followed them as well. She had to make it. This was to pull this off. She was almost at her limit before collapsing. It was like all the effort she made that night was now getting back at her. Unfortunately, Amity destroyed all her clones one by one by swapping them with abomination tentacles that came out of her hands. When it was Luz’s turn, she created an extra layer on her left hand with abomination. Then, she punched Luz without holding back. It was the worst beating Luz has ever experienced. She stumbled towards the capsules that her friends were in. She could do nothing to avoid falling down. “Luz!” her friends called out to her. The message from Earth to Luz could not be transmitted. Her left arm was numb. The right side of her face felt like hell. “You don’t have to worry about me, if that’s the case.” Amity said somewhere behind her. “I’m doing fine. I don’t need any of your soft approach.” 

   Amity held and squeezed the left shoulder of Luz, which she injured just a moment ago, and pushed her on her back. Luz couldn’t help but groan in pain. It hurt so much. Not only did Amity go hard on her shoulder, also now she was on her back, which was also injured. “You, on the other hand, don’t seem okay. Why? Because you came here, despite that you knew it was suicide.” Amity whispered. “I.. had to.” Luz tried to answer as she tried to keep her focus on Amity’s look. Amity got up on her feet. “That’s why you irritate me so much.” she said. Then, she created an abomination spike in her hand.

   The next thing Luz could feel was the sharp pain in her stomach that opened her eyes wide. She could barely hear King howling, but it was like most of her senses were closed. There was only the burning flame in her stomach. Her body was in panic, she felt like she was about to vomit. There was a wanting of dying in her that she never thought of before, she wanted all this to finish quickly and be free. Then, her consciousness was loosened, she was blacking out. She slowly closed her eyes and surrendered herself into the warm darkness.

  Luz wasn’t sure if she was alive or not anymore, but either way, she was completely sure that she went nuts when she saw something like a ghost while her eyes were closed. A man was standing in the darkness. The only thing Luz could tell was that he had extremely long hair which covered the right side of his face. “You are an Uchiha. Get up and show your power to them.” he calmly said, and then walked away. He got smaller and smaller in Luz’s sight, until he vanished. 

   Yes, Luz was an Uchiha and she couldn’t just lie there uselessly. She wouldn’t give up until she achieved what she came here for. “You will come and visit me frequently, okay?” her mom asked. Yes, mama. I promise, Luz thought. Her eyes suddenly opened like lightning, revealing her sharingan to everyone. “Huh?” Amity was dumbfounded at that. Luz’s eyes slid down to see Amity, who was surprised. Her injuries didn’t hurt anymore. She quickly jumped up on her feet and kicked Amity in the stomach. Amity wasn’t able to give a reaction to that kind of speed, and she was thrown back away from Luz and the capsules by the kick. Luz was still bleeding, but she felt okay, actually, even more than okay. She felt like she could keep fighting all day. 

   Amity slowly got up, she was breathing heavily. “I didn’t think I would have to use this, but here it is!” she exclaimed and summoned a magic wand in her hand. “Watch out!” Luz heard Willow’s warning from behind, but she didn’t care at all. “Give your best shot, Amity!” Luz shouted. “Oh, trust me, I will!” Amity replied back and drew a huge pink circle in the air. The circle started to burn and cover the hole. And then, a beam of pink magical flames charged at Luz. 

   Luz didn’t think of holding back anymore either. “Katon! Gokakyu no Jutsu!” she started to blow fire after making the seals. Luz and Amity’s fires hit each other, and pushed each other. They were standing and kept pushing each other like that and there was no clear result. 

   But then, Luz’s fire started to push Amity’s back. Amity was struggling to keep casting the fire and started to step back. Fortunately for her, Luz stopped at the same time she did. They both were breathing like crazy. Amity’s legs loosened and she dropped herself on her knees. The last spell took so much from her, apparently. Luz’s case wasn’t much different, there was blood coming out of her mouth. “It’s over?” King was relieved. Luz turned behind to face them. Her job wasn’t done, she had to save-

  She was awestruck when she heard someone clapping. She quickly looked behind to see the new guest. Someone huge came out of the darkness behind Amity. He was in a white cloak and had a mask. Blue points were glowing at the holes where his eyes could be. Luz knew that man, he was Emperor Belos.

  “It was amusing, I have to say.” he stopped clapping and his metallic arms got back in his cloak. A new wave of anger emerged inside Luz, she wanted to beat the shit out of this man, but she had to keep her cool if she wanted to defeat him. She looked for the drone to make sure it was working. It was above them, and recording everything. “Belos, why are you doing all of this?” she asked. Belos gave a snort. “Haven’t you figured it out? You have a significant power on you. I need to get my hands on that power for-” he explained but Luz quickly interrupted him. “Really? You go to that extent for power? Stealing childrens’ eyes? Kidnapping them? Having them fight against each other?” Luz argued. “Is this how a leader should be?” she asked. Belos was clearly angry, he was grunting. “Look, child, you don’t seem to understand my ideal. I-” Belos said, before Luz interrupted him once again. “Your purpose hurts us! Look at me! I’m injured and bleeding! Those people you captured are scared! And Amity! You have her doing your dirty jobs!” Luz exploded. Belos was breathing heavily. “I will save the world, including you and the people you care about. I needed to make these choices in order to achieve that. You will understand very soon, my child. Now, enough talking.” He declared and began to walk towards Luz.

  Luz stepped back closer to the capsules. “Stay away! Katon! Gokakyu no Jutsu!” she screamed and casted the jutsu. She blew fire against the Emperor. However, despite that he was covered in flames, he didn’t seem to get hurt at all. He just kept walking. As she got near Luz, she looked higher and higher to look at him. Finally, Belos covered Luz’s mouth with his hand and pushed her onto the ground on her back as he himself crouched down, stopping the fire. With his other hand, he put his fingers on her under and upper eyelid to pull her left eye out. Luz could hear her friends shouting, she was also screaming but she couldn’t be heard. The only thing that would be helpful was a miracle right now.

  A miracle like that happened and she didn’t lose an eye. Actually, she couldn’t see or feel Belos at all. She closed and opened her left eye, it was there. Then she quickly raised her upper body and looked around. Belos was standing beside Amity, they seemed to be surprised as well. “What the-” Belos expressed his astonishment. “You were under my genjutsu, my friend.” Luz heard a male voice from behind. She turned around, and the sight she met made her freeze. There was a huge guy standing there, and his eyes were just like Sasuke. His right eye was sharingan, while his left eye was the strange pink-purple one that was the same as Sasuke had. He looked majestic with the long white cape he wore. His short hair’s color was black like Sasuke. The threatening look in his eyes was against the Emperor. “And it’s really bold of you to try to hurt my daughter.” he completed.

  What.

  His eyes turned towards Luz. It was much softer now. “Luz, my dear. I’m so sorry, I’m late.” Luz couldn’t explain how she was feeling right now. “You are sorry… That’s all you're gonna say?” Luz asked harshly. Her mysterious dad kept looking at her. His expression was painful. She managed to notice a tear coming out of his pink eye. “You are injured.” he said and crouched down near Luz. Without giving Luz a chance to react, he put his palm on her stomach. His hand started to emit a green light around it. Miracly, Luz felt that the wound in her stomach was closing up. It felt completely fine. The same went for the scratch on her shoulder and the burn on her back as well. That was some kind of healing jutsu, Luz guessed. “I’ve been in a huge secret ninja war for years, I was barely able to pay a small visit to you and your mother. I’m so sorry, I never wanted to let any of this happen. My biggest wish was for you to have a peaceful life.” Luz felt completely fine. All her injuries were gone. Her dad stood up. “But I never had a proper impact on you, after all.” his voice cracked. Then, he looked at the people in the capsules. For a moment, everything became purple for Luz. And when it all turned back to normal, her friends were free, standing in front of the capsules. “Luz, you should take your friends and leave this place immediately. I will take care of this guy.” her dad said as he turned against Belos. “No!” Luz shouted. “You can’t leave me! We have so much to talk about!” she stood up, but her dad gestured her to stop. “I can’t protect you if you stay here, go, please!” Luz knew he was so sorrowful about this too. But it was like there was no other choice. He looked her in the eye. “I know I am never going to be the Dad of the Year, but I want you to know that I am proud of you. I always watched you, your interests, your attitude towards other people… I couldn’t wish for a better kid.” Now Luz was about to cry as well. She headed towards her friends. “Visit us some other time again, okay dad?” Luz asked while trying to smile. “I will, I promise.” her dad answered. Luz left him and ran back to the capsules. “Everyone, let’s go!”

  They followed Luz, who went below the huge hole upwards. “How do we reach up there?” Gus asked. It was time for Luz to bring out her special tool. She drew a few filthy slimeballs from her pocket. “Aha! That’s the way!” Willow quickly took the slimeballs from Luz’s hand and put them on the ground in the middle of them. “Ugh! Why in the world do you keep them?” King asked with a disgusted tone. “A witch should be resourceful.” Luz explained while watching Willow. She knew about her ability on the plants. And of course, a bunch of vines came out of the slimeballs, pulled and raised them into the hole. They were at the ground floor of the castle right now and Luz wasn’t able to see her father. “Luz, let’s go!” Willow pulled Luz, who had stopped moving and was looking down back for a moment. Luz nodded and they kept running away. In front of them, King and Gus were awestruck while they were looking at the right side, which was the way to the exit. Luz and Willow catched up with them, and they were surprised at the sight as well. There was a crowd of coven scouts lying around all the way. “Wow, did he do all this? Gus asked in wonder. “That doesn’t matter, let’s go!” Luz exclaimed and ran forward. After a few minutes of going through bodies, they finally reached outside of the castle. The sky was red and the sun was a little visible. It was the first minutes of the morning. “Into the bathtub!” Luz pointed at the bathtub a little away, and then they got into it. Luz quickly turned on the tap and they began to fly away from the castle.

  After they got away and couldn’t see the castle, King was the first one to talk. “Thank you so much for saving us, Luz!” King shouted to Luz, who sat right in front of him. “Yes! You were amazing back there!” Gus supported, who sat next to him. Luz couldn’t help but smile. “We were just lucky. If my dad didn’t come…” but she was interrupted by Willow, who was next to her. “Hey, don’t say that. What matters to us is what you meant by standing up against someone like the Emperor for us.” she explained with a smile on her face. Luz smiled back at her. She was lucky to have people like them around her.

                                                 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

   It was fully morning when they finally arrived at the Owl House after dropping Willow and Gus off at Bonesbrough. King jumped out of the bathtub after it landed in front of the house. “Ahhhh… home sweet home.” he said. Luz was not as relieved as him, though. She just dropped herself on the ground after getting out. “Luz?” King was a little worried. Luz rolled and faced the open sky. “My dad… I wonder who he really is.” she said. King didn’t know what to say. He was sad for not being able to comfort her effectively.

   “HOOT HOOT!” Hooty suddenly stretched near them with a load of positive energy. “Good morning!!! I’m so glad you made it!!! But where is Eda?” he asked. This made Luz get up. She had completely forgotten about her. “Yeah, really. Where is she?” King asked too. Luz recalled her dialogue with the Golden Guard. She didn’t want to believe it, but there was no other explanation in their hands at the moment. “I-” She was interrupted when they heard flapping and reflexively looked up. It was Owlbert who was coming near them. He landed on the ground, he looked so scared and worried that he was trembling. “I’m so sorry for forgetting you, my little friend. What’s the matter?” Luz asked as she stroked Owlbert. He started to howl as if he was telling something. Hooty seemed to listen to him with great interest. And when Owlbert was finished, Hooty gasped. “What? What’s going on here?” King asked. Hooty looked at Luz and King. Clearly, it was bad news. “He says, Eda turned into a beast and ran away!” he translated. “Eda what! How!” King jumped, and then turned to Luz. “We must find her immediately!” he screamed. Luz wanted to do so, but her body couldn’t take any more action. “Oh, right. You must be exhausted.” King looked away from Luz, he seemed to be regretful for his insensitivity. Luz stroked his head as well. “Once I get a nice rest, buddy.” she said.

  “Oh! Do you have a proof by the way!?” Hooty asked, regaining his energy. “What proof?” King answered before Luz. “Do you remember our dialogue with the Emperor? I pointed out how evil he is, and the thing is that was recorded by a drone. And when we returned home, Hooty would post it on his Penstagram account and reveal what kind of a person Belos is to the people of Boiling Isles.” Luz explained what she planned from the beginning. King looked at her without saying anything for a moment. “Luz, you are incredible.” he said. Luz gave a tired laugh. “Oh, stop it, you.” she swung her hand in the air.

   Hooty and King headed back to the house. “Hey, are you coming?” King asked, turning his head back. “In a moment.” Luz replied.

   She looked at the woods and the sky. There was a lot going on in her mind, but as long as she kept hope and confidence, she would solve it all. “I will find you Eda, I will reach you, dad. I will find a way back to you, mom.” she mumbled and walked to home to get a nice sleep.

Chapter Text

  It was a peaceful morning for nature in the Boiling Isles. It was quiet and usually nothing violent happened at that time of the day.

  However, the quiet moment was spoiled when a portal was opened between the trees. A boy came out from the portal, looking around. His eyes were glowing red. “This is gonna be interesting.” he mumbled.