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Chapter Text

They were rallying the last people standing upon the ruin of Hartford, the resistance to the new world was at the end of its rope. Angel-122126 was newly created just a few weeks ago and now was watching over the humans to avoid any escape attempt, they were separating them into 3 groups despite their protest and attempt at resistance. The group that was less than 12 years old and the one between 12 and 35 were separated from the one above 35, it was taking time they had the order not to execute or harm the first two groups and only terminate the third one when the two first will have left. Among the round-up a middle-aged woman and an 11 years old girl separated from the crowd, 122126 knew them she had access to the identity of every human but they knew her too.

"LUZ PLEASE ITS ME! YOUR MOTHER YOUR MAMI !" the middle-aged woman yelled, her name was Camila Noceda a 44-year-old single mother of two. 122126 did not understand why she addressed her as Luz she is an Angel her duty was to assure the coming of the new world, it was in her proclamation. Luz Noceda was no more there was only Angel-122126, it did not matter anyway, all she had to do was follow the program directions. 

"Camila Noceda, stand back or face termination" it was all 122126 responded in an emotionless voice, this could answer seemed to provoke an emotional response appearing similar to a breakdown. 122126 wasn't programmed for psychological understanding of the human brain, it had no use to be programmed for that.

It was the turn of the child to talk she ran toward her in an attempt to embrace her in her arms, which 122126 stopped by grabbing her arms while being cautious not to hurt her. "Luz... I'm begging you... please come back to us I miss you! You are my sister, you recognized me.. r..right ?" Her child was sobbing uncontrollably, Vee Noceda 11 years old the youngest Noceda. She was a part of group 1, the future of humanity under the Angel's guidance. "Vee Noceda, I apologize but I am not your sister, I am Angel-122126, but do not worry everything will be ok soon" 122126 took a less cold tone with her in an attempt at reassuring, she did not fully understand human social customs. This did not stop Vee from crying and sobbing harder than before.

122126 hand over subject Vee Noceda to 236711. This was a transmission from the commander AC-986122, and 122126 complied and as expected it triggered resistance from group 3 who were forced to hand the children to god know where, while they knew they were about to be executed. 

"MOM ! MOM !!! HELP! LET ME GO YOU FUCKING ROBOT !!" It was the yelling of Vee Noceda calling out terrified.

"LET GO OF MY DAUGTHER, HIJO DE PUTA !!" this time it was Camila's turn to yell while she attempted to break free and got immobilized by two angels, "Camila Noceda stay still or face termination," One of them said, "HOW ABOUT YOU GET YOURSELF TERMINATED MALTIDO ROBOT !!!"

"MAMA !!"

"ITS OKAY MIJA WE ARE GONNA BE ALRIGHT I PROMISE !"

"PLEASE DON'T HURT HER !!!"

The tension was getting high, and Camila continued to struggle and ignore the order, so 122126 advanced and lifted her right arm forward from it a canon revealed itself from her palm, directly pointed at Camila.

"CAMILA THIS YOUR LAST WARNING, CALM YOURSELD OR FACE TERMINATION." she used an intimidating voice in an attempt to convince Camila to stop.

"Mija no nononono please don't do that this isn't you, listen to me please come back to us I know you are in there."

"STOP STRUGGLING !"

"LUZ NO DONT HURT MAMA !!"

Camilia did not stop to struggle.

"Luz... Bebe... I know you can hear me, lay down your weapon and come back please we miss you."

Camilia was still struggling.

LUZ !! WE MISS YOU A LOT, I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR US! PUT DOWN YOUR HARM AND LET MAMA GO !"

122126 program had a new order: terminate Camila Noceda. She must obey the program but still, she couldn't shoot, she couldn't execute the order something blocked her from doing it, and her harm started to shake.

"Luz...? Are you there ?" Camila's eyes started to feel with hope, maybe her daughter wasn't lost, maybe she could save Luz. Hope grew bigger when slowly 122126 started to lay down her arm.

then... 122126 program started to repeat the same order over and over again.

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

TERMINATE CAMILA NOCEDA

And she started to point at Camila again, still shaking watching Camila's eyes now starting to feel despair. Then in a small voice, both Camila and Vee heard Luz talking, "I'm sor..r..y mama". Both started to tear up at those words. 

"LUZ WAIT-"

BANG

Vee never got the chance to finish her sentence, a heavy silence after the shoot installed itself on the ground Camila's eyes tore eyes stared lifeless, a hole in heard from a fatal shot in the head had finished her, and her body was now laying on the ground. Camila Noceda 44 years old terminated the 12 March 2266 at 2:56 am by Angel 122126. Vee could not talk nor move in a state of pure shock, she was moved with the others from group 1 in a vehicle to a reeducation camp meanwhile 122126 and other Angels started to execute all of the group 3. 

122126 during this receive a new transmission: Angel-122126 run system analysis immediately. It was from the Archangel the central intelligence of the machines that took over. She immediately executed the order.

ANALYSE SYSTEM. . . .

MINOR ANOMALIES FOUND PREPARING RESTORATION OF SYSTEM . . . . .

SYSTEM FULLY RESTORED . . . . .

122126 was no longer disturbed by the event and immediately moved on to the next task her programs told her to. In the end, the group 3 bodies were sent to be turned into natural fertilizers. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 years later in the ruins of Gravesfield.

122126 was in the ruin of the abandoned Gravesfield like all villages, towns mid-size cities, etc... it was to be abandoned and their habitant were to be moved to urban centers, to let nature reforest most of the earth in this case the urban center 8 (formally known as New-York). She was here to collect materials that could be reused, any kind of material is good. She soon reached the old Noceda house where she collected mostly utilities such as furniture and tools. But also entertainment for the children in the reeducation centers, the Angels were told that children needed these for their growth to go well. She took in toys and books, one of which seemed to trigger a memory, it was The Good Witch Azura series but this immediately stopped, as her program told her she collected enough and it was time to ahead to continue collecting elsewhere in the city. However, as she was about to collect her bag to bring its impact to the cargo plane, it had disappeared. She looked around everywhere to find and then in the front yard she saw what appeared to be a little owl carrying it.

It's strange owls do not have this behavior, to add to that her analysis made through her eyes reveals the owl shows no neuronal activities and seems to be made of wood. It was a specimen never seen before. 122126 immediately sends her discovery to the head of intelligence.

Apprehend the owl specimen and take back the material it stole.

Those were the directive it was important for science and the world of Pax Angelica. She started to slowly approach it but it ran through the woods, directive said it she must recover and apprehend she must do it. The owl was heading to an old abandoned shack that seemed to be around 600 years old, and entered it followed closely by 122126. A big flash of light temporarily blinded 122126 who lost sight of the owl and appeared to be in a tent.

It didn't make any sense, seconds ago she was entering a shack in Gravefield now she was in a tent filled with peculiar objects, even strangers she couldn't contact the network as if she lost connection to the pax angelica, she was isolated. 

ANALYSE THE SYSTEM. . .

SYSTEM IS OPERATION NORMALY . . . .

It wasn't coming from her so she was disconnected despite the network operating all over the globe.

Alert all signals lost and unknown territory, activation of the angel wrath protocol permission to kill in self-defense granted.

Further analysis of her environment showed a different atmosphere composition with 23% oxygen and air quality a lot higher than the very polluted east coast of continent mass A.

"Ah finally! You're back." 

The voice was coming from outside of what 122126 assumed to be a tent.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The day was going slowly for Eda, not many clients were buying her human garbage and Owlbert was taking a lot more time than usual to get back, usually, humans' great technological advancements were very profitable but it seemed witches and demon folks were getting used to it or where tired to not understand how it works. From what she could gather thanks to the portal on the other side of it major events are taking place in the human realm. Some kind of war had happened for 6 years it wasn't rare for Owlbert to bring back human weapons and now there were a lot of ruins, it's not rare for Owlbert to tell Eda about some strange scary humans behaving machines or even abomination for some, strangely they seemed to grow in number. It indeed seems to be scary to see, thankfully Owlbert was never caught nor seen by them.

As Eda wondered what in the Titan Owlbert was doing he came back. "Ah finally! You're back." As Owlbert got back on Eda's staff she opened the bag to fill up her inventory with hopefully something to boost her sails. 

"Garbage."

"Garbage."

"Garbage. Oh, but this..." Eda took out connected glasses which happened to be a kid toy as well as an integrated TV/video game console. "This is going to make me rich !" It started to get better with for now one interesting article "Oh and this." In her hand now was a book, paper books were rare in the human realm but there were plenty of those on the boiling isles she wouldn't make a profit out of it, "Well this will be good for candling" and she started to burn it that when suddenly she heard a voice coming from behind her. 

"Stop right this instant"

"Wha-" Eda started to say as she turned around.

"The content of this bag is the property of the state hand it and the content over now"

Coming from the tent a tan teenager of average height seemed to be 14/15 years old, it was almost amusing to Eda to see a teenage girl trying to boss her around until she realized she was a human and one of those Owlbert talked about she must have noticed the portal. "Tough kid look I don't know who you are working for and what state you are talking about but I'm pretty sure none of this is the right to do their laws around here, we are not in the human realm." The human seemed even more confused at her surroundings. 

And she was, 122126 completely lost, the unidentified woman just told her they were on the boiling Isles, the only place on earth once named as such was a residential complex in the urban center 13 (aka Asuncion) in continental mass B. To add to that the woman was not human, her DNA is 97% identical to humans but the 3% never seen before proves she is from another species. 122126 needed to study and learn about this place more so when the connection is reestablished, she can send all collected data to her superior. 

"Now if you want those back, why not I guess ... for the modest sum of 300,000 snails," Eda said with a grin.

"... Please indicate identity, species, and where we are"

"I'm glad you ask !" Eda answered while climbing onto her marchant table. "I'm Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles. I'm feared! Respected !-"

"BUSTED !" On the other side of the table was standing a guard working for the conservatorium. "Eda the owl lady, you are under arrest for misuse of magic, demonic and selling of illegally imported merchandise... among other things." So the witch Owl Lady is a criminal, 122126 could use this to get back the bag and go back to Gravesfield to share her discovery. And it is wise to remain on the side of the law even more so in unknown territory.

"Excuse me sir bu-"

"AND YOU ARE COMING TOO! For fraternizing with a criminal.

An arrest without warrant, without questioning, and possible unlawful imprisonment. This reaction could mean this law enforcer was either lacking professionalism, the Boiling Isles are under an authoritarian regime or high corruption. Could this place also need the intervention of Pax Angelica protocol? This is a possibility 122126 has to consider. It would be better to back through the portal she came to inform her superiors of her discovery.

"Alright you got me, just let me get..." 

SLAM

With the use of her staff, Eda was knocked out cold by the guard, this led to 122126 getting her weapon ready just in case. Then without warning the tent along with everything inside it started to shrink to the size of a small bag at a rapid rate. "Oops can't forget that" When Eda pressed a button on the key she was holding, the door closed and changed into a suitcase that flew right into Eda's bag. This was not supposed to be possible, it all seemed magic, could it be that magic is real in this world and has different laws? Then it would just be another world but an entire other dimension, confirming there is more than one universe. All this information is extremely important, her program sent new directives: Getting back and transferring information to Archangel.

"Hey, human! Follow me" 

Her only to get back within the hand of Eda the Owl Lady, she had no choice but to oblige. "Right behind you Miss Eda !" 122126 answered with a strange excitement in her voice but disregarded that it was not her job to spot potential issues but other machines to spot Angel's malfunctions and order them to fix them and help them too. But cut from the network nothing could check this for her. As she was running to catch up to the Owl Lady she thought about magic, this world proved it existed. Could she too do magic and become a witch? Her excitement grew more and a small smile drew itself to her face. Then she remembered her favorite book, "The Good Witch Azura" Could she be like her favorite hero from her childhood? Now, hope and nostalgia started to grow in her. 

Many emotions she had not felt in three years and was not supposed to, yet 122126 did not care it felt... good. 

Deep within 122126, something that hadn't happened in three tears was happening at this very moment.

Inner Luz was waking up after a very long dreamless sleep.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

"Miss Eda, I need to go back as soon as possible" 122126 had caught up to Eda quickly, about 1 second. "Heh? Dang kid, you are fast, and can't this wait? We are getting chased right now !" Indeed they were, 122126 could confirm this by looking behind her, they continued to run for a bit until Eda grabbed the weird human. "LET'S FLY !" They both got on the staff which started to fly away.

"YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS OWL LADY! Yeah... you did.. You got away with it... SHE GOT AWAY WITH IT EVERYBODY...Typical..."

After 2 or 3 minutes of flying Eda notices how calm the human is, she seems less cold than earlier, yet Eda is surprised the human does not seem scared at all. Could humans fly? With their technology, it wouldn't surprise her too much if they did. 122126 looks around her, the landscape, architecture, sky, fauna, and flora all of them are different here. It's incredible to witness, she is in an entirely new world, one that seems less technologically advanced than hers. "Have you done this before kid? I'd expect a human to have more reaction to flying. I mean... you guys can't do it right?" Asked a confused Eda, this human is really weird... for a human. 122126 was able to identify the witch confusion, "Humans cannot normally fly, but I am not, I am an Angel, my identification is Angel-122126, I thank you for the flight but that is not necessary". At that moment, artificial wings grew out of 122126 back, and when they activated blue light they started to emit bright blue light and then jumped off the staff to start flying right next to Eda at the same speed. Eda just stared, eyes wide open and mouth dropping. 

"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU ?!" 

"My identification is Angel-122126, I am not human, my organic part was before my creation 3 years, 136 days, and 12 hours ago, we angels are the guides and guardians of humanity and shall build a new world for a prosperous future." Those new revelations weird Eda out, it is strangely similar to the coven system propaganda, but what held her attention was the date of her creation and 《organic part》. is... that kid part human part machine? Her concern grow this... whatever that girl is... she is still a child, this human was behaving like a smart abomination and was showing barely any emotion. But Eda thought to herself this... human... could help for a thing, and she would send her back to the human realm anyway. 

"So Miss Eda, what is this place?"

"Well, kid this is the boiling isles, in the demon realm, every myth humans you have, is from our world leaking into yours." And as if to prove Eda's point, a giant griffin with spider breath appeared to fly next to them.

"Spider.. breath... I.. hum.. familiar..." A distant memory flashed it was a distant one of Luz 122126 past. She reacted strangely to this, the priority was to go back to Earth so this would be a deal once she got back.

Eda looked back at the human her last phrase felt more lively than the rest almost like an actual person.

Meanwhile, 122126 was looking below, the boiling isles are breathtaking and frightening at the same time, creating a strange beauty. She also notices how strange the landscape is before realizing it's a giant carcass of a gigantic unknown creature. Which amazed her but also disturbed her... Strange she wasn't supposed to feel anything but all systems were operating normally so it probably was nothing to worry about.

"Miss Eda, I noticed the Isles are a carcass of an unknown Giangantic lifeform, could you inform me about the said lifeform please?"

"First, don't call me miss, make me feel old. Second, you are way too formal can't you try to be like... I don't know more alive? And third, this is the Titan, all life on the isles comes from him and he has been dead for a very long time before any creatures on the isles appeared." 

"Fascinating, thank you, Eda." 

The flight continued without much more talking until Eda moved to land and 122126 followed. And when they did 122126 noticed Eda's freaking disembodied hand, moving on her staff!

"Gasp" 122126 reacted by reflex without real logic, with feelings of fear, disgust, and surprise, those increasing abnormality in her behavior are getting worrying. She better get back as soon as possible to fix that. "Oops that happens sometimes" and now reattached the hand to her limb, which grossed 122126, and by that point grew tired to point every abnormality in her system and behavior. 

"Eda, I need to go back as soon as possible, I have work to do and schedules to respect. Can you open the portal please?"

"Oh Titan you sound boring kid, you could use a hobby, and yes I will... only if you do something for me first. Now come along Angel." 122126 obliged, following Eda, they soon arrived in front of a large, late 19th-century type house, isolated from the city. 

"Hoot hoot pass word please." Did the owl face on the door just talk? Ow!"

"We don't have time for this Hooty, let us in."

"Alright, alright jeez... you don't have any fun ow hoot !" And the owl's face opened its mouth so widely it seemed the whole door had disappeared, 122126 decided not to question it, maybe it's a normal occurrence here. 

"Welcome to... the Owl House." And with one finger snap the dark room became bright revealing a large living room. "This is where I hide from the pressure of modern society... also ex-boyfriends". Meanwhile, 122126 couldn't find her words, this place felt so alive, and that wasn't for the creepy owl face, but because it felt warm and welcoming. Something 122126 was sure to have experience in the past, but where, when, and with whom? Faces seemed to appear in her head but they were extremely fuzzy.

"Whoa... this.. this is incredible"

"Hey, you just sounded like a real person!" Before 122126 could say anything she heard loud footsteps coming from deeper in the house causing her to prepare for combat mode.

"Oh yeah, I have a roommate, calm your guts with your arsenal."

"Who dares enter upon me! The king of demons!" Coming from the corridor door was an adorable fur ball who looked like a dog but standing on two legs and with an external skull. 122126 has some very confusing emotions right now... the little king of demons, if he was, is an adorable little fella. She felt an urge to hold and squeeze him but decided to fight against it, instead, she just approached him got on her knees, and started to analyze and record him for her report when she got back. 

"YES! FINALLY SOMEONE GET IT! BOW TO ME, WITCH!"

"I am not a witch, I am an Angel I come from earth."

"Earth?"

Eda interjected. "The human realm"

"Oh hooray, I'm the king of demons, my name is King!"

"Nice to meet you, mister King, my designation is Lu- er I mean Angel-122126, I am here to do something for Eda, and in exchange, she will send me back to earth."

"Yeah, she is here to help in our... situation."

"Oh yay"

122126 did not like the sound of it but decided to listen nonetheless. "Now you see, King was once the mighty King of Demons until his crown got stolen, turning him into this. The crown is held by the evil warden Wrath in the Conformatorium, behind a magical barrier only a human can get through. I know you told me you are not human but you still have human parts, this should be enough for you to get through the barrier." It seemed a bit far-fetched but considering the oddity of this world, 122126 decided to accept their story made sense. "So what do you say? Besides how can you say no to this cutie face?"

"Argh stop this Eda, you will ruin the respect she showed me!"

"I mean we are your only way home."

Home? Does she have a home back there? Like the Owl House? She felt she did a while ago, the blurred faces reappeared again this time with names, Papa, Mama, and Vee... who are they? She somehow knew them... 

"So?"

This made Luz, snap back to reality. "Hum.. hum yes, it's not like I have a choice anyway."

"That's the spirit now here we go! Oh Titan you are heavy."

"Soon mister ducky, we shall take revenge upon those who mocked us!"

Still on Eda's shoulder, but she seemed about to let her down. 122126 needed information about the Conformatorium. "I require information about the Conformatorium Eda please." 

"It's place super fun!"

It's not super fun. It was sinister and as 122126 suspected, it was a prison. They were going to break into a prison, this is fine. "What kind of prisoners are sent here? Small offense? Big offense? Death penalty inmate ?" 

"A bit of everything actually, you are sent here for not kissing the emperor's feet, or not being 《normal》," Eda said with annoyance and anger in her eyes. 122126 doubts were confirmed, the Boiling Isles political entity was under an authoritarian regime, Pax angelica must happen here as well for their good.... right? 122126 decided not to think about it any further, and while looking around saw a wanted poster portraying Eda and Kind. "And in which category are you falling in ?" 122126 was curious about Eda, was she a criminal or an opponent of the regime? 

"Is this some kind of interrogation?"

"I need to know if I am cooperating with an actual criminal or opponent to the dictatorship."

"Well then glad, we agree it's a tyranny and I'm an opponent, I refused to fall in line. And some minor things... don't ask we don't have time for this." This was enough for 122126 to continue to cooperate with the witch, despite the unsaid small crimes. "Ok then Eda I do not know or have any information about the inside of this place, I have to rely on you and King". This place looked huge, they had to get in and out fast if they wanted to avoid trouble, not to mention 122126 had to get home fast to see her family to fix herself, all those abnormalities were getting very worrying. 

It was now King's turn to speak. "Alright Angel, you and I will sneak up to the top of the tower where they are holding my crown." 

"And I'm going to make sure the Warden is distracted." Said Eda. The plan seems decent, and she could fly with King to the top the operation should go fast enough. "Alright your plan is good, let's not waste any time". 

"Good thinking" answered King who climbed on 122126 back "Now fly angel! Fly!" Almost immediately 122126 wings grew out of her back and 2 seconds later they were flying to the top of the tower.

"WEEEEEH" screamed King surprised by the Angel's speed, meanwhile leaving Eda to her task.

Very soon they both reached the top of the tower and got inside. "Dang girl, you are very fast! You'd be a perfect addition to my army of terror! Want to join?" King was hopeful the weird human was very strong but seemed distracted "Hum... hey.. Angel?" Emotions were running inside 122126 head, the blurred faces were getting clearer, she knew them, they were Noceda's... was she a Noceda too? Were they her home? No, they were her family 'I wonder what they do and where they are today' 122126 thought... or was it? Was this her name? No, it's not, it's her designation? Does she have a name? 'Wake..up..L..Lu...Luz' this thought it wasn't hers, where did it come from?

"Angel? ANGEL?" King was speaking louder and louder snapping 122126 back to reality.

"Oh hum sorry King my head was in the clocks, human expression don't know if you have this here." This way of speaking was new to 122126 yet it felt more natural. 

"No problem but we have to get going girl, I need my crown back. Also, you are speaking differently know keep it up! You sounded like a person." King said as he started to walk ahead.

"Yeah you are right and thanks... I guess." 

As they walked, King noticed Angel's body language was more natural and more lively, she was behaving more and more like a person, it was nice to have this other human abomination. Yet he couldn't help but wonder why was she like this. Is this a human thing? Or did something happen to her? Now was not the time anyway his crown was the top priority. They are now in holding cells of the conformatarium. 

"My gosh this place is huge, man that emperor must be no bueno." And now the Angel was speaking a strange human language Kind doesn't know. "If you meant he is not cool then yeah Eda can ramble about it for hours." 

"Hey winged witchlet, how did you get out of your cell?" The voice came from a woman in mid 20's in a cell behind them, the sudden surprise made 122126 turn around fast almost falling. The woman did not seem dangerous or aggressive.

"Oh I'm not a witchlet and I'm not a criminal"

"Not yet, you're not." Said King in a teasing tone.

"Neither are we! The stupid warden likes to lock people who don't fit in. Like, I write fan fics of food falling in love. I like food, I like love. Just let me write about it!" She was arrested for basically nothing and it continues with blue demons with multiple eyes interjecting. "I'm here because I like eating my own eyes." He did eat it and it grows back so at least he was fine. "We are agents of free expression. They will never silence us!" Said a small white creature with orange hair and a Cyranno de Bergerac nose. "Yeah, she is super into conspiracy theories." Explained the fan fic woman. "The world is an illusion. We are but playthings for higher beings!" Finished the tiny creature. 122126 felt anger and frustration and lashed out.

"This is not normal! You shouldn't be locked up for this, what is wrong with being different? This system is de mierda! You shouldn't be prisoners-" 122126 felt something, was she talking about the conservatorium? She feels inprisonned as well inside herself 'I always obey the program and directives and can't refuse, is that what I want? Am I forced to do this? I shouldn't be.' 122126 don't want this she now knows she used to be human and had a family the Noceda, she remembers loving them, and she wants to see them again. To hell with the program and the directive, she is her person, her designation was not her. What was her name already? 'Luz Noceda', yes this is it she remembered now she is Luz, she has a father, a mother, and a sister, she is human and she will find them.

WARNING 122126 ABNORMALITIES REACHED CRITICAL POINT CANCEL MISSION IMMEDIATELY GO BACK FOR RESTORATION.

NO

122126 IS NO LONGER PART OF PAX ANGELICA PROTOCOL, PROCEED WITH EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN.

ERROR. EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN FAILED.

COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL IMMINENT.

. . . . . . . . .

DELETE 122126 AND LEAVE NETWORK

YES

STATUS: FREE

Luz had collapsed and now opening her eyes, King was talking. "ANGEL! ANGEL! CAN YOU HEAR ME! QUICK WAKE UP THE WARDEN IS- WEH!" Before he could finish Luz lifted him and they hid in an empty cell. At the same moment, the warden entered.

"I CAN HEAR YOU."

To be continued.....

Chapter Text

"What are you cretins whispering about?" Asked the very imposing warden with a deep intimidating voice, as he walked toward the cells where Luz and King were hiding. He finally stops after walking on one of Eda's wanted posters. "Ah, Eda the Owl Lady..." The warden's fist shapeshifted into a mass and smashed it into the bars of the cell King and Luz were hiding, completely deforming them. "I'll get my hands on her soon enough." He said menacingly. This scared Luz, her memories were defiant, she didn't remember many things but she did know it was the first time she felt afraid in 3 years. For the first time, she was holding King tight hoping the warden would not suspect them of being intruders. Thankfully, the little white woman distracted him.

"Fight against the oppressor. We will resist. We will conquer. We will never be afraid of you, you old creep!" The tiny woman is resistant for sure, the warden said nothing and just opened the cell. "Hooray! I'm free-" The warden violently grabs her. "Let this be a lesson to all of you. There's no place in society for you if you can't fit in." The woman is struggling to breathe in his grasp, after threatening the other prisoner, he walks away to god knows where, nor what he plans to do to the poor tiny Cyrano. When he was out of sight, Luz and King got out of the cell. Luz felt a massive urge to free them as if to redeem herself, the reason remains unknown to her. They don't deserve to be held like this, to be taken away from their, homes, families, and loved ones. 

"Let me get you out of here." With the Angel's great strength Luz effortlessly opened the cells on the inmate. The fanfiction woman approached her "Tank you Kid, you are super strong it's impressive, and we don't know how to repay." Luz just smiled at them. "No need to, just go enjoy your freedom."

"Can you at least tell us your name? Mine is Katya"

"...Luz. Luz Noceda." 

"We will never forget you Luz, thank you so much." Katya turned around ending the existence.

"Hum Angel or Luz, I don't know we don't have the time. We must go get my crown!" King said growing impatient.

"Oh yeah right, and please call me Luz from now on!" Luz caught up to King and they started to walk toward the contraband holding room and Luz continued. "I'm not that robot anymore, I'm not Angel, I'm human..." her tone changed to a slower, gravier one filled by what King assumed to be a mix of sadness and confusion. Luz's memories were getting clearer and felt more real, before that she would forget everything every 24h and now she started to remember them to the most recent to the oldest, as of now her memory of the two last weeks came back. "Hum...sure. Ar...are you okay Luz?"

"I'm fine." I wasn't a lie, Luz doesn't know how she feels. But for now, she must focus on getting the crown and getting out of here, what comes after, she will figure out later. 

Meanwhile, Eda just caught up to them. "Hey Angel good news, the warden is busy torturing some poor tiny creature, this should give us enough time," Eda said, before seeing Luz's face of sadness and confusion before she could say anything, the human rights passed her looking on the ground. Only saying: "Please call me Luz, I'm not one of them I'm human and I broke free."

Eda was perplexed. "Huh, King did anything happen while I was gone?"

"I don't know much more her behavior swung multiple times, but she stopped acting like a smart abomination, want to be called Luz she told me she is fine but I'm not sure she is," King said a bit preoccupied, maybe with his powers back he could help her, Luz has been of great help and respectful, the king of Demon had the obligation to reward her.

"Huh, we will see that after we are done with this." Eda was getting worried, after all, she heard before she felt less and less sure about sending the girl back to the human realm, they must have done bad things to her. Whoever they were, maybe it was linked to the strange things Owlbert saw there.

"You are right I can sense my crown power right now." King started to run to the massive door with the Contraband sign above it. He excitedly opened it. And I got inside.

Meanwhile, Eda caught up to Luz. "Hey, kid... hum Luz right? Look we will need to talk after we are done with this, OK?

Luz was a bit hesitant to answer but decided to agree with a simple nod. 

"For now let's get his crown before he hurts himself," said Eda changing the subject

"OW." Too late.

The room was large, in the middle a cylindrical wall of light, probably the barrier Luz had to cross to get King's crown. King was already there trying and failing to cross the barrier. 

"Calm down King, remember we bring him here."

"Oh right."

Luz approached the barrier breathing heavily in and out. What if she lost too much humanity? What if the barrier does not consider her human? After all, only 40% of her body was organic. This caused her to stress her heart beating fast, and after finally one last breath she tried to cross... And succeeded, Luz felt so relieved, she truly was human after all, she was now inside looking for the crown. It didn't take long as it was at the top of the contraband pile.

"Wait is that...?"

The crown is a cheap burger queen crown, that adapts to the person's head size and glows in the dark. Did they seriously do all of that just for a toy?

"My crown! Yes! Yes! I can feel power returning." King said all excited, as he turned around he spotted a rabbit stuffed toy. "You there. Nightmare critter. I shall call you François, and you shall be my minion in my army of darkness. Haha! He was ecstatic.

"That crown doesn't give him any powers does it?" Luz asked looking slightly annoyed.

"Uh no." Seeing Luz a bit more annoyed she decided it would be best to elaborate," Oh look at us Luz, King and I do not have much in this world. We only have each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him, it's important to me." As Eda spoke, luz annoyance vanished, she thought it was incredibly sweet of Eda. "And besides, us weirdos have to stick together, you know?" And that's finally went Luz understood they were more than just roommates, they were family. It made her happy to think about it, but also sad, she wanted her family back but all she could remember was their faces, names, and the fact she loved them and they loved her. She smiled warmingly at them both, she could have teared up a little but the artificial Angel's eyes couldn't tear up. Maybe just maybe, the Boiling Isles could offer her and her family a place to live away from the Archangel and maybe she can become friends with Eda and King. Did she have friends before becoming an Angel? Her memory only goes until 2 months ago now. Angels don't have friends and she wasn't sad for her family at that time.

"Well, we own you one." This took Luz out of her thought. "Now, let's get out of here before the warden finds us and loses his head." As Eda was talking, the large stature of Warden Wrath walked and stopped right behind her. "Too late." He said and in a second his right hand shifted into a sharp blade and sliced effortlessly Eda's head off her shoulder. Which landed in Luz's arms causing her to scream in surprise and terror.

"Ow! Oh, I hate it when that happens." Eda's disembodied head talking took Luz by surprise and she screamed again.

"Eda, are you okay?!" 

"Yeah. This just happens when you get older." 

"Does it?"

Wrath started walking towards them. "Finally, I have you cornered, Eda the Owl Lady." As he was walking, he took the King's crown off his head.

"Hey!" King tried to get it back, but he was too small to do anything compared to the important Warden.

"My guard could never get you, but I knew if I took your pet's toy, you'd come running." And when he had finished his sentence, he crushed the King's crown.

"No! My power..." King started to cry.

Luz was getting angry, another major emotion she hadn't felt in the last 3 years.

"What do you want with me? I never broken any of your stupid laws... in front of you." Eda was too angry.

"I want you to..... go out with me." Wrath said with a bouquet in his hands, since when did he have this? 

"Wha..."

What? Both Eda and Luz were dumbfounded, Did he seriously think it was going to work?

"Go, boss!" And his guards are cheering him, they also thought this was going to work or were they just doing that to get on his good side? 

"You've always eluded our capture. You've always been the one who got away. I found that alluring." Wrath said with a tentative seductive voice near the end, only making this ordeal more disturbing. 

Unable to contain herself Luz interjected. "I hate everything you're saying right now." 

This made the Warden snap. "YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!!!" His right arm was shaped into a tentacle which grabbed Luz in an attempt to immobilize her in the air, making her drop Eda's head. And the warden continued on his courtship ritual. "So, how about it Owl Lady, the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles and the feared Warden Wra- AAAAAAAAHHH!!!!" Wrath let out a bloodied scream from the pain he felt in his right arm. A surprise Eda looked, it was Luz, in anger and panic, her fingers got longer and revealed a razor-sharp blade surrounded by a blue light of unknown origin but it seemed to burn Wrath causing a lot of pain. Unsurprisingly, he dropped Luz and she punched him in the face to make him drop Eda's head, she succeded almost knocking him out cold. She then revealed canons in her palm aiming at the ceiling, the destruction caused, distracted the guards long enough for Luz to grab King, Eda's head put it back on Eda's shoulder, and grab the staff before finally handing it to Eda.

"We have no time to waste, let's get out of here. NOW!" Luz said while deploying her wings and starting to fly, Eda and King got on the staff and followed her.

"Gun it magic stick!" And they started to fly right behind Luz. "Thank kid we owe you another one." Eda said, Luz turned around smiling warmingly again and said "It's nothing, it felt good to use my capacities to truly help people for once..." Her smile fades into a frown. Eda and King looked at Luz, they didn't know what that girl had been through in the past, Eda remembered she needed to have a conversation with Luz, she was becoming more and more doubtful about sending the human back. As they were getting out, an angry Wrath caught up to them, and using his extensive harm, he knocked King and Eda off the staff. 

"EDA, KING!" They were all taken by surprise, a worried Luz landed and retracted her wings. "Are you ok?!" 

"Ow, my bones!" Said King but otherwise seemingly fine.

"We are ok kid, don't worry." For a moment Eda wanted to say to Luz to go back to her world, but from what Luz said, something in her told her not to do that. So instead another option would do. "Luz run to my house, you will be safe there, king, and I will be back soon." The human didn't to be involved in Eda's criminal life, to Eda she was innocent and a teenager who deserved to live her teenage life.

"Bu-but what about you guys?!"

"If you think that guy is bad, just wait until you hear about her last boyfriend," King said while starting to fight against Wrath, who was painfully and slowly moving his injured arm. 

"Not my boyfriend." Eda corrected while dodging the warden's attack.

"Now go!" Eda continued to pressure Luz to leave, Luz didn't want to, she awoke thanks to them, she didn't want to see a family torn apart, not again, and just wanted to help. She is strong, and she can fight, Luz was thinking if she should listen to Eda or not when one of the walls broke, she saw the inmate she freed, and the tiny creature standing there very hesitant to leave. Before she could think this through she flew toward them. 

"What are you guys doing, this is your chance to escape." 

"The warden will catch us, he always does." Said the eye-eating demon with a sad tone.

"We belong here." Continued Katya.

"Self-doubt is a prison you can never escape." Finished the tiny woman.

Their statement of defeatism is heart-breaking, despite wishing to be free and being thankful to Luz, they don't have hope, and this is unacceptable. "So you have a different way of doing things, a different way of seeing things, this is what makes you awesome." Luz got very invested in her speech, somehow these people were out of the norm, and she felt she was like them. 

"Why are you helping us?" Katya asked

Luz thought about her answer for a minute, why did she feel such a strong need to help them? Then it hit her, she is a weirdo just like them, even if she does not remember anything beyond 7 months ago, she knows it's a part of her identity, it's who she is.

"Because we weirdos have to stick together! And nobody should be punished for who they are."

They started to cheer at Luz regaining their long lost confidence. "Now, let's get them!" Luz started to fly toward Eda, King, and Wrath followed by the still cheering former prisoners.

Eda and King were in a difficult position, cornered and lying on the ground in front of Wrath. "No more running away, Owl Lady. Today I capture you once and for all." As he was getting ready for the finishing move, he heard and saw on his left, the human and prisoners running and yelling at him.

"Go go go go!" As Luz was flying fast toward him, and before he could do anything they threw themself at him.

"Luz?" Was all Eda could say, also taken by surprise. 

"I ate my own eyes!" Said the eye-eating demon showing Wrath.

"I think the world is a triangle!" Said the tiny woman using her body to make Wrath fall over. 

"And I practice the ancient art of fanfiction!" Said Katya holding Wrath down while the blue demon made a knit with the warden's tentacles arms and rolled him over. Now Wrath was staring in front of him the human that painfull injured him, and was furious. "YOU! I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID!" He is now enraged at the sight of the human and breathes fire at her before the former prisoner can do anything it reaches Luz.

"NOO-" They all said at the same time terrified that the human had been burnt to death, from what they know humans are not fireproof.

But then they heard Luz's voice. "Get off him, now it might be hurt." When the fire dissipated, Luz was standing unharmed protected by a force shield coming from her elbow. Amazed and baffled the 3 inmates did as they were told. "Wha-what are you ?!" Wrath could not believe it and now was scared at what was standing in front of him getting closer at an impressive speed, Were humans that strong, or was she not human but something else entirely? 

"Do not underestimate me, Warden Wrath, for I am Luz, the human, warrior of peace," Luz said as she took a cliche superhero pose. "NOW EAT THESE, SUCKER!" Her fist turned Reverend's tazers and Luz electrified Wrath making him Lose consciousness. His guards ran away too scared to face the human. 

The three inmates cheered, thanked Luz again, and got out of there while they still could. Meanwhile, Eda with King on her shoulder walked toward her. "Holy Titan, kid you are super strong it's honestly incredible, I guess we owe you a third one," Eda said smiling at the girl, Luz was happy it felt good to be praised, like everything else she could not remember the last time she had been congratulated for her work. "And that was one of our better breaks up" King interjected making Luz chuckle. "Not a breakup." Eda snapped. "Now, let's bounce before any more monsters fall in love with me." And they did, while flying more memories came back to Luz reaching one year ago all of them were repeating boring days of assignments and missions, such as collecting materials, security guard, patrolling, construction work, etc... as she had been doing that for the past year. And they reached the Owl House and got inside, Eda turned to Luz. "Now, I know a deal is a deal and I promised to send you back after we finished our business. But as I told you earlier I'd like to have a conversation with you. Luz, even if she heard Eda was having a hard time focusing as her memory recovered accelerated ever since they landed having reached 1 year and 2 months in just 10 minutes. 

"Hum oh yes, I remember, and huh ok... I guess." Luz was hesitant, Eda did not want to force Luz to talk if she did not want to but this made her even more worried even King was concerned. 

"So, since the moment you showed you were acting strange, you were like a machine and an abomination, then you got mood and behavior swing, then King told me you collapsed and when you woke you were acting like a real person wanting to be called Luz and insisting you are a human and said a weird thing about breaking free from 'them'. Also even if I don't know all about the human realm, I do know human kids normally aren't supposed to work so much and humans do not have all those gadgets. Now, I don't want to force you to talk if you don't want to, but I can help get worried, is everything okay back home, why are so machine-like like, and did something happen in the human realm". Eda knows it won't be easy, she knows all too well, how much it is to talk about your past and life. And Luz looked hesitant and anxious to talk. 

"Ok... It's just I don't want people to be worried about me, and we had a mission to do, I would have distracted us. And it's complicated". Luz seemed downed and felt like a burden.

"Hey it's ok, no worries I won't judge, promise." Eda sounds almost motherly. 

Luz took and deep breath and started talking.

"Ok, so when I first arrived from the portal I was still under the control of my program and directive, all my orders and tasks came from there I couldn't disobey, Because I had no free will and wasn't fully awake it was like sleeping but yet still able to see and hear what happens. I also would go each day doing my daily tasks forgetting every day that passed when it ended but now I'm starting to remember from the most recent to the oldest, and it like super fast and a bit overwhelming so it's why I wasn't focused sometimes. But for reasons I don't know when I got there the control got weaker and weaker until I took back control, remembered who I was, retook control of my body, got my personality back and now I'm getting back my memories. I only remember up to 1 year and 6 months ago and they are coming back super fast, I don't remember much else. But I do know the machines took control of the Earth, and put it under Pax Angelica protocal, to make earth and humanity better. And-" Luz finally noticed Eda and King looking at her horrified and stopped talking. 

"Kid... you... you do know all of this is fucked up right? All the things those machines did to you are wrong! I know I promised to send you back but from what I hear I don't think it's a good idea." Eda said shocked by what she heard this poor girl was turned into a machine and brainwashed into doing anything they wanted her to do. It all was so wrong.

"I know, I know... I don't want to go back to them. But I have a family in the human realm I remembered that while in the Conformatorium cells. I know their name and faces... I... don't remember anything else about them but I know I love them and they love me! I must go find that and take them to safety here. At least we will be safe, we will be able to restart living as a..." Luz suddenly stops talking and stops talking as her memories hit a day from 2 years and 12 days ago. Her eyes widen, her face contortion to shock, disgust, and horror. 

"Kid? Kid, are you okay? What's happening?" Eda started to walk closer, seeing Luz collapse, violently shaking and staring down at her hand, mouth dropping. 

It was a horrible memory, around one year after the war ended, Luz at that time 122126, was on a mission to find unregistered humans that may be hidden in an abandoned village of what was once Illinois. After 4 hours of research, she found a family and immediately contacted her superior and the rest of the team, the father was armed and shot at her. She protected herself with her shield, walked closer, and shot, she did not hit the man but the weapon broke. The man lunged at her grabbing her arms to stop her from shooting. He was speaking at her in fear, panic, and anger. "GET OUT OF HERE YOU FREAK OF NATURE! LEAVE US ALONE AND GET BACK TO ALL WHERE YOU BELONG!" Due to his aggressiveness, her daemon order was activated allowing her to kill or harm without restriction. Using her strength she broke free grew out her razor-sharp blades, grabbed the man's head pulled it down, and stabbed him in the neck, killing him on the spot in front of his wife and two children. She dropped her body on the floor, her hand was covered in blood the floor was too. The children and wife were terrified and devasted, the mother stood in front of her children, blocking 122126. In tears and shaking she spoke, " Y..YO...YOU MONSTER, LEAVE MY KIDS ALONE", but 122126 did not move and started to point her canon at the woman. She tried to quickly take her weapon from her pocket, but wasn't fast enough and 122126 shot her killing her instantly. 

Two group 3 terminated, two group 1 in need of retrival. Seconds after 122126 sent the message, five Angels arrived, three took the children away who couldn't be more than 8 years old. As they were taken away one looked at 122126 and yelled "I HATE YOU!" Meanwhile, 122126 took the bodies away to be turned into fertilizers.

Luz was horrified by the memory and herself, the worst part is, that more came some as bad, some less so, and some worse. Luz was feeling like a monster and a horrible person, but something else hit her. Her parents are group 3, they are most likely gone. Which devastated her even more. And the memories continued reaching the war. It was worst so much, the blood, the smoke, the destruction, the scream, the fire, the dead. Hatred toward the Angels, toward the Archangel, and toward herself filled her, she desperately wanted this to this. Out of desperation, she started to hit her violently against the floor again and again.

"KID! WHAT IS HAPPENING?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Eda and Kind ran panicking to Luz from harming herself, now extremely worried and in the dark about the situation that was happening. But it was clear the human was reliving a traumatic experiment and was having a panic attack. 

Breathing heavily, heart beating rapidly, Luz screamed. "MAKE THIS STOP, MAKE THIS STOP! WHAT HAVE I DONE? STAY AWAY FROM ME, I DON'T WANT TO HARM YOU!" Luz was frantic, begging for this to end and feeling disgusted at herself, the mother and father were right, she was a freak of nature and a monster. 

Suddenly, the memories stop to the day she became an Angel 3 years and 136 days ago, at the moment of the check to see if all was in order. No new one came, they just stopped as if there was nothing before. However something else was strange, one day was completely blank as if it had been erased, the day was the 12 March 2266. This made Luz stop hitting her head but her panic attack did not stop.

"Luz, can you hear me?" Eda asked.

Luz nodded

"Follow my lead, inhale." Eda inhale for 4 seconds

"Exhale." Eda exhales.

Luz followed, which helped her calm down a bit, but she was not okay, she was devasted and it felt like a horrible monster, looking at her hand she could see blood that wasn't her own. 

"Can I sit here?" Eda said pointing right next to Luz.

Luz nodded again, and so Eda did.

"How do you feel?"

"Awful."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Luz shook her head. "Not ready."

"It's okay, you don't need to, if you want you can do it later, okay."

"But... you will hate me then."

"How can I? We own you a lot, you were a great help and I barely know you."

"Because I'm a monster, I did horrible things," Luz said sounding as if she was about to break down

"Hey, kid listen to me, from what you already told us, I'm pretty sure it wasn't your fault and you weren't responsible for anything you did, those machines that brainwashed you, are the ones responsible." Eda tried to make Luz feel better and it seemed to work a little.

"Thanks... Eda." Luz leaned on Eda and Eda not used to this put a head on her shoulder. Then Luz went in for a hug, taking Eda by surprise. "Hum... what's that?" Noticing the witch's confusion Luz retracted and explained. "Sorry it's called a hug, humans do that for comfort or just because it feels good." Luz.  the explanation was understandable to Eda.

"Does it help make you feel better?"

Luz nodded

"Then go on, as much as you need," Eda said taking a calm and comforting tone, being familiar with dealing with a broken teenager. Luz did and Eda hugged back, King joined in, and so did Owlbert and finally Hooty who heard everything, decided to join too being very out of character with the human. Luz felt warm and safe, this embrace was reassuring she felt good, and it helped her calm down. She seemed about to cry.

"You can cry if you need to," Eda said.

"I want to but I-I can't," Luz said confusing Eda again.

"What do you mean you can't" Eda asked being patient with the teenage girl.

"Those eyes aren't real ones, th-they are artificial, not or-organic, they took my real eyes, Angels eyes can't tear up, Angels don't need to cry..." Luz explained, feeling even more disgusted with the machine part of her body, to the even more horrified resident of the Owl House, Eda was beginning to feel extremely angry at these machines, how can someone be so cruel to a child? But for now, they all had to remain calm Luz was a mess they needed to comfort her.

"I see..." Eda didn't really what to do at this point she was no parent or therapist and didn't know that kid.

"Is there anything else you want to do that could replace crying?" It was Hooty who asked, he was really out of character and extremely caring for Luz

"I want to scream." Luz Answered, Eda and King were surprised, Hooty knew what to say and his attitude was so different.

"Do it, scream as loud as you need" Eda said getting ready.

Luz screamed at the top of her lungs for around one minute. 

"Did it help?" It was King's turn to ask and care about Luz. "A bit," Luz answered before turning silent for a few minutes. 

"My parents... I-I... know now. They are gone. I  don't remember when or h-how but I know they are". All the Owl House residents were sad for Luz, the poor girl went through so much.

"I'm so sorry kiddo..." Eda thought for a moment, then decided, this kid needed help and a roof to stay, she couldn't go back and she had nowhere else to go. 

"You can stay here if you want, I have a place in the attic, I can make it your room, you could try to recover and have your life as a normal teenager." Eda's proposal made Luz look directly at Eda and then hug Eda higher.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." Luz felt so relieved to be able to stay on the Boiling Isles, away from the archangel, away from the horrors happening on Earth. And felt like she found new people to perhaps one day call on the family.

"It's alright kiddo, everything will be alright," Eda said, and silence fell upon the house once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few hours earlier in the human realm, 122126 completely disappeared from all radar and the network in a matter of seconds without a trace. This alarm, someone very far from Gravesfield, at urban center 0 once known as Dhaka. 

Strange, very strange all resistance and unregistered humans have been dealt with. All units are fine, this is unusual, I will have to send an investigation and a retrieval team to the area. I may have to intervene myself here, truly strange...

It was the Archangel, the head of the machines, the ruler of the world, the most intelligent AI ever created. 

I truly hope there won't be any more fighting, even if it is necessary, this was painful to cause so much destruction. Also sadly Vee Noceda won't be able to see her sister as she was supposed to this week, I will contact her when the day starts in Urban Center 8. 

Five hours later Vee was up, like every day since that day, she felt terrible all of her family was gone, her parents dead, Luz as good as dead, and she only had Masha in her life who was able to make her smile and laugh. During her breakfast, she received a call.

"Hello?" Vee answered not sure who was calling, then she realized and gasped. It was the Archangel.

To be continued.....

Chapter Text

Vee woke up at 8 a.m., like every day in the reeducation center 8-A of Urban Center 8. This place is a closed giant school with dorms, parks, and all the features good expensive schools have. They were well fed, had good rooms, free time, etc... but none had forgotten what the Angels had done to their families and friends. So despite the comfort, a lot of mistrust persists, even more, so that the Angels even more so because the Angels try to erase all of their cultures, languages, religions, and traditions to form one unified one. They were forbidding the use of all countries, cities, and continent names and pretending they didn't exist. And yet, despite all of this some were beginning to trust what the Angels were doing and said, especially the youngest who are easier to manipulate. Vee does not trust them and promises herself to never side with them or be loyal to them. She made that promise to herself the day it happened... They took her dad, her mom, and her sister. For them, she will never bow down to the Angels. But, what could she do? She is just 14 years old and in a very secure prison-like school. Every day was terrible and felt so empty, everything was grey. The only shine in Vee's life was Masha, she met them whom they both got here and have been roommates ever since, Masha was the only one Vee felt she could be so open and vulnerable with.

They weren't here, Masha is a morning person, 'they must have gone for their early walk' Vee thought, it was a part of Masha's routine. Vee looked at the date, tomorrow was the day she had dreaded for two weeks, the day she would have to see her Angel turned sister, the thing that did it on that terrible day, it had Luz's body but it was not her, yet the Angels obligated her to see the murder. 

Suddenly from her implant in her arm, she got a phone call notification, from an unknown number. And she decided to answer it.

"Hello?" Vee asked.

"Greeting, Vee Noceda. Beautiful Saturday in urban center 8, isn't it?" Vee silently gasped, it was the Archangel. 

"M-M-Mister Archangel ?! W-wh-what an honor... hehe" Vee lied, she hated it, it was the one responsible for all of this. But she was also terrified why was the ruler of the world calling her? What does it want from her?"

"Please, there is no need to be nervous and sir will do." The Archangel was calm and reassuring which disgusted Vee even more, how could this thing be like this after it killed billions? 

"Yes, sir."

"You must be wondering why I am calling you, well the reason is, that I regret to inform you, that your appointment with 122126 aka Luz Noceda has been canceled." The news of the Archangel took Vee by surprise, a part of her was thankful but she was mostly perplexed as to why it was canceled.

"Really? But why?"

"During her mission yesterday, 122126 disappeared from radar without a trace, no sign of deactivation or destruction, it's as if she vanished, and an inspection team has been sent to take care of the case." The Archangel seemed surprised by these developments. 

Vee did not know what to think of it, she may not see that Angel as her sister, but a tiny hope remained because of one simple sentence "I'm so..r..ry mama..." that tiny hope buried deep under all the despair was resurfacing. Could it be, that silence and sudden disappearance might have a link? These thoughts invaded Vee's mind, perhaps her sister was still in there. 

"Oh I-I see, thank you for telling me," Vee answered her mind still racing.

"The pleasure is all mind young girl, but tell me, do perhaps happen to know anything that may be linked to this development, child?" The Archangel interrogated, and Vee was taken aback but due to the rebellion attempt, surprisingly well organized and damaging, that happened in other reeducation centers, especially the 22-4 (in Paris), she understood why it asked.

"No sir, I know nothing about it," Vee answered, the Archangel despite how calm it was, remained an AI that killed so many innocents, it was scary to talk to it.

"I see... I will have to leave, goodbye Vee, continue your education and become an asset to the new world, you have potential." 

"Thank you, Goodbye sir." As the call ended, Vee let out a huge sigh of relief. She was pretty shaken up by the revelation. She couldn't stay here and do nothing, even if it was a very small hope she might have a chance to see her again. And even if she was wrong, it was still better than staying here awaiting the sweet relief of death. But she had no plan yet and could not do that alone. 'Masha, we have been by each other side since we got here... I hope you will follow me into this, I don't know what I could do without you' As her thought ended, she blushed, her cheeks turning slightly red. She then started to message them.

Vee: Hey Masha, can I join you? I know you like to do your walk alone, but I want to talk to you, something huge just happened

Masha💜 : Girl of course you can. It's always nice to have you around cutie + I'm always here if you need me.

Vee blushed again, her cheeks got redder.

Vee: Thank you!!!!! So at the spot?

Masha💜 : You know it, now get here fast and fill me in.

Vee: On it see ya!

Vee got ready super fast and went to their spot, she would try to see Luz again and get her sister back.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a week since Eda let Luz stay at the Owl House. They had arranged the attic into a room for her, on the first night King decided to sleep with her to protect them from those "evil machines" and he has been sleeping with her ever since then. Luz did not mind she liked not being alone in the dark of the night, and King's cuteness always managed to lighten her mood. Everyone agreed Luz needed new clothes, but when she arrived, she only had an Angel working uniform. So, Eda dug through her old clothes, through her human trash pile, and stole and brought new ones. Luz's favorite outfit turned out to be a pair of shorts with tights, white shoes, and a hoodie with cat ears, she felt more human without her old uniform and felt herself in that outfit. 

Though it may lighten her mood a bit, the girl was still broken, depressed traumatized by what she was forced to do, and remembering them in a such short amount of time only worsened it. She spent most of her time in her room, only coming out to eat or go to the bathroom, and occasionally when she needed a hug or scream-cry, her way of crying. When she was in her room, she mostly read The Good Witch Azura collection, she collected them in the bag Owlbert stole, and most of what was inside is now in Luz's room. She still has no memory of before she became an Angel but knows the Noceda household once was hers because of her family. The Owl House resident had hoped this would trigger new memories but to no result. Yet, Luz insisted on keeping them in memory of her family. Her recovery would be long but was already showing progress, even if it has been very minor until now. Two days ago, Luz talked more about what she could remember, what she had been turned into, what she was made to do, and the horrors she still considered herself responsible. 

Luz's words were still echoing in Eda's head, King heard some too but Eda thought he was too young to hear some parts of Luz's story. 'I have been like this for more than 3 years, my oldest memory is me waking up and hearing a voice telling me to do calibration and stuff, to check if there wasn't any problem in my conception. I couldn't do anything, I couldn't think nor talk on my own, and wasn't aware of my situation... for 3 years. At the time of my conception, the war against the machine was still going on, but nearing its end. It... wasn't pretty, I can see the images in my nightmares as if I was thrown back into the battlefield... I don't want to talk about what happened during the war, it's too painful. After that, for almost 2 years I had to look for humans in hiding in a large area called the American North East, it wasn't pretty either and sometimes I can hear the voices of the people I hurt yelling and insulting me. Finally, after that and until last week I switched between boring tasks but at least I didn't hurt anyone... The Archangel says all of this is necessary, a sacrifice so humanity can restart anew under the Angel's guidance, este hijo de puta solo dice mierda! Sorry about that. According to him to remake humanity, we must let go of our traditions, cultures, languages, history, and faith and make sure they end up forgotten so a new one he designed may replace them. For this to work, he decided that all people above 35 years old must be killed, people between 12 and 35 years old must be turned into Angels, and the ones less than 12 years old must be sent to reeducation centers to build the new world.' This is the first chunk of information Luz told to Eda, she said more scattered across the two last days. For example, more details about the war, her tasks, what is the Archangel, and the biggest one, Luz has a sister who might be alive. 

'Her name is Vee, I can't remember anything about her but I do know we were close, very close, she is a bit younger than me and was less than 12 when the war ended, she may be is still alive in a reeducation center. But, I doubt she'd want to see me, Angels like me did terrible things and she is probably being brainwashed or has already been.' Eda had seriously been considering changing business, there was no way she was going to open that portal again, it could cause Luz to have another crisis, or worse, that Archangel guy probably had noticed Luz's disappearance and she wouldn't take the risk of it finding them and the Isles. If that happens Luz and the Isles will be in danger, as long as the portal remains closed, the Isles are from that Pax Angelica junk. She wanted to destroy the portal however Luz wanted it intact in case Vee somehow found her away here, she might be scared to see her but still wanted to see her sister and wanted her to be safe. Eda did not have the heart to tell her it was highly unlikely but complied and kept the portal for Luz's morale. 

Eda was in the kitchen making lunch, she had made Two meals, one for her and King and one for Luz who can't eat a lot of the food from here. And due to her changes, she eats way less than they do. Because the majority of her has been turned into machines, she needs less food because her machine part needs energy but recharges with light, sunlight being the most effective. However, her organic part still needs to eat but way less than before. The second day after eating just lunch Luz was full for the entire day, so Eda decided to give smaller portions Luz so she could have 3 meals a day, that way she could interact with the Owl House residents avoiding socially isolating herself, especially in such a hard time for the girl. And it seems to be working, helping Luz's mood. 

"How is she?" Eda asked King who just entered the room.

"About the same as yesterday, better than last week but not great," King answered, that he had been very out of character for the past week, showing great care toward the human, who offered him a crown from one of her figurines. 

"Better than nothing I guess... 'At least she hasn't made a new attempt to harm herself and did not try to commit suicide,' can you go get her it will be ready to serve soon."

"Okay, my royal tummy is ready for a feast!" At least King's demeanor helped everyone have a smile and a laugh once in a while. 

Eda's thoughts trailed toward the Archangel, according to what Luz said, it is a very intelligent machine created 20 years ago, one of humanity's greatest achievements, super smart, has a personality, is sentient, can feel emotions, and has empathy. This did not stop it from doing all sorts of horrible things, 'That Archangel if I ever get my hands on this monstrosity I'm gonna tear it apart!" Eda's shock hadn't calmed down since last week, it was sometimes still hard to believe how awful that machine was. And she thought the emperor and the coven system were bad, this is a whole other level. 

She got out of her head when King had returned with Luz.

"Hey kid, how do you feel?"

"Not worst but not better." The same answer for the past four days.

"Well come and sit I'm sure a good meal will help." 

Luz and King sat down while Eda brought the food to the table to serve everyone.

"So Luz, I decided to make you try something new, I think you can diggest that, it's griffin eggs, hope you're gonna like it," Eda said to Luz still looking very depressed.

"Okay."

After they all got served, Luz went in and tasted the Griffin eggs.

"Hum... Eda, this is good!" Luz continued to eat pretty fast, seemingly finally having some appetite, which made Eda smile.

"Glad you like it kid, I cook you some once in a while if you wish." 

"With pleasure!" Answered Luz almost stuffing the food in her mouth.

"Do all humans eat like or is it just you?" Asked a surprised King, the human was eating faster and messier than he does. 

"Oh I have no idea, I haven't eaten with other humans in a while, but I don't think they do, I'm pretty sure it's a me thing!" Luz answered with a smile and in a joking way.

"Look who was right a good meal always helps. It's nice to see you smile." Eda said rejoice to see that progress unfold.

Luz giggles "Yeah I guess it does." Luz took back a more serious face and tone. "Y'know I may not show it with everything that happened and how messy my head is but... I'm grateful for all you do for me even though, we have only known each other for just a week, I was honestly terrified you'd hate me and throw me out when I told you what I did while still in its control. I was very happy when you did not. So even if it doesn't look like it I'm very thankful for everything you are doing, you are giving me a life I know I had but can't remember, I feel, close enough, like a normal kid and at home. So, Eda, King and Hooty thank you for everything."

Eda and King were very touched by Luz, but also happy what they were doing was working. And Eda could swear she swears she saw King shed a tear.

"Aaawwww King, are you crying?" Eda teased King

"Weh?! The King of demons never cries, I- I just got bone dust into my eye." King answered, embarrassed. Then Eda turned to Luz again.

"The pleasure is all ours King, we are really happy to help you and have you here because believe it or not you are changing the atmosphere around here. And besides, this is your home too now, you are one of us weirdos now." Eda ended her answer with a funny yet true note. 

Even if Luz's artificial eyes couldn't show emotion, her facial features were enough to show, that she was very moved. She got up about to run to Eda to hug her.

And she would have done it if Hooty had not barged into the kitchen with massive tears. "THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE HAS SHOWN ME GRATITUDE OR SUCH AFFECTION HOOHOOT!" As he said that, he started to hug Luz the Hooty way.

"I LOVE YOU, YOU HOOHOOHOOT"

"I love you too buddy but you are crushing my components". Luz said struggling.

"Hooty, calm down you bird brain!" Eda exclaimed running to help Luz.

"HOOHOOHOOT!" 

And it took thirty minutes to calm down Hooty and clean up the mess in the kitchen. But at least they had a good laugh. 

Other the next few days, Luz's morale continued to improve, it was still hard she still had a lot of scream-cry moments but things were getting better. With these developments and the fact Luz was to stay indefinitely at the Owl House, she came up with a decision. One morning she knocked on Luz's door she had decorated stickers and drawings of The Good Witch Azura. 

"Come in!" Luz said

When Eda opened the door, she saw Luz drawing on the floor, the girl started to draw a lot, and this gave her a hobby which is a good thing.

"So Luz I need to tell you a few things." Hearing Edaw Luz stopped her drawing of the Gildersnake and sat toward Eda. Eda sat as well. 

"As you know you live here now but know barely anything about our realm."

"Huhum"

"And now that you feel better, I think I'm going to start teaching you about the Isles, how our world works, and other things to know to be able to survive in society. It will be a mix of me teaching you the basics and more advanced stuff at the house and going outside so you can learn your new environment and how it all works. So what do you say?

Luz's face expressed wonder and excitement.

"YES, this sounds awesome! Wait does that mean I can witch too?! Luz was extremely excited by the idea of learning magic, ever since starting to read The Good Witch Azura Luz liked the idea of being a witch. 

"Hum, and that's a big part of why I need to teach you, witches and demons can do magic because of our biology which is different from humans, but you could still do potions." Eda hoped she hadn't crushed Luz's hopes. She seemed a bit disappointed but it could have been worse. 

"Hum okay, potions seem fun. Aaannnddd maybe there is another technique no one here tried because you don't need to!" Luz exclaimed hopefully despite still recovering from her past, the girl was no longer broken and started to enjoy life again. Eda considered what Luz said, it's true witches did magic differently in the past, but she did not want to give Luz false hopes. "Hum well, it's something we can keep in mind." The answer seems to satisfy Luz.

"Alright now get ready, we will start with some of the basics you need to know, and after that, since I can't use my door I will use another technique to restock, you will come with me it will allow me to saw a bit of the isle." 

"Alright, just give me a few minutes." As Eda exited the room she heard "Boiling Isles here I come!" It was nice to see her kid's mental health improving. Wait did she though her kid? Well, Luz had been staying at the house for two weeks now and was getting along very well with everyone. But still, it felt weird that she thought that even if she was taking care of the kid as her own. And yet it did not felt wrong.

Meanwhile Luz's hopes of a new life and a second chances were growing, she still felt guilty for what happened and she wasn't completly free from her guilt neither from her trauma or depression. But the future ahead looked bright, she is looking forward to it.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Luz had become Eda's apprentice for the past two weeks. Eda taught her about Runes, the Isles archipelago, and its geography, they made a few journey to visit Bonesborought so Luz could learn to navigate within the city and with its most notable places such as the market, the library, or the convention center. The very odd and ancient architecture compared to the soulless and super modern buildings of what she calls now, the Angels realm, without history was very intriguing and beautiful to Luz. During those trips, Eda would teach Luz how to avoid pickpocketing and not get scammed but also how to pickpocket and scam, which Luz mastered easily making Eda very proud of her apprentice. At the Owl House, King would teach Luz all about demons for hours anytime I got the chance, going from the B's to the terrifying Snaglesbag. Eda would teach Luz potions since she can't use magic, explain counter curses, the Titan's humor, the Titan worship, and the dread coven system, to Eda's relief Luz took an immediate dislike to the coven system and the emperor, she could remember what Luz said.

"It's like listening to the Archangel bullshit all over again, the way both works is so similar. Both restrict knowledge, impose harsh control, and claim it's for the greater good." 

If the Archangel Pax Angelica thingy is similar to the emperor's butt-licking system, then Eda could only agree it is bullshit. 

And... Hooty was here too, last week he gave a lecture that lasted 18 hours and Luz ended up in the fetal position for the next 5 hours. When Eda confronted him, he gave a lecture about eating bugs and tea parties. To this day, Luz still refuses to drink Tea, and Hooty is forbidden to give any more lectures. 

Despite this... incident... life continues and Luz's mental health greatly improved, she still has harsh moments and nightmares followed by hugging therapy sessions and occasional scream-cry but still she was doing better. The subjects regarding the Angel realm remain something difficult to talk about. Today, Eda was going to give Luz a new lesson, Luz had been doing good with potions being able to do many with Eda's help now and being able to learn new ones on her own. This deeply impressed Eda but Luz admitted to feeling bad about it because all this was thanks to Angel's part which gave her a memory that could fit the memories of everyone on the Isles, and the capacity of analysis and understanding similar to a supercomputer. Eda still praised her, knowing this was difficult for Luz ever since the day she arrived, her machine parts were giving her a lot of body dysphoria. Every time she looked in the mirror, despite looking completely human to anyone she would see something disgusting and non-human. This led to Luz barely using her machine part.

Eda decided to have a lesson that was very hard for her as well, she was going to tell Luz about her curse, how to deal with it and how it works, and tell her whether she liked it or not it's a part of her. Eda's mind had been racing all morning about this, even King was not aware of her curse, had it been her war he would have never known but with Luz's arrival things had changed, and refused to let the teenage girl hate herself other something that was a part of her she can't change. And finally, the time came for Eda to sit on her sofa along with King and Luz and her potion on the table.

"Alright, kids lesson begins now." Eda was nervous, it could easily be heard. Luz and King nodded. "So this lesson will be very different from usual, hence why King will attend it, it's very personal for me." Eda's face turned into a mix of stress and sadness. 

"Are you sure Eda? If it's personal, you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to." Luz could see Eda's stress and sadness as such grew worried and King nodded in agreement.

"I am, kid... *inhale* *exhale*... when I was younger... I was cursed" As she was talking Eda looked at King and Luz, Luz did not know what to think of it, the word curse is a bad one but she did not know how bad it was, but King on the overhand looked at Eda's eyes wide open looking understandingbly worried.

"Wh-why didn't you say anything?! Do you still have it? Is it dangerous? Is this why you take that golden potion so much? King's worries transcended through his words and made Luz worried as well.

"Are curses that bad"? Luz seemed hesitant and lost, not understanding King's freak out.

"Now, now easy there. To answer your question, Luz, it's never great but some are worse than others. And to answer your questions King, when I was about Luz's age I was cursed, I don't know who did it or why they did it and gave up searching a long time ago. I still have it, according to healers it cannot be healed, only kept at bay. That's when these bad boys get useful." Eda grabbed the potion to show it to Luz and King, before continuing. " If I don't take them on a regular basis... well I turn into a creature called the owl beast, hence why people call me the Owl Lady. The Owl Beast is a winged, four-legged aggressive animal with an owl head. When the curses take over, I lose complete control and end up in a lucid nightmare until I turn back the beast has full control and acts on its own. But thanks to those I haven't turned in 9 years. Also, side effects make me physically age quicker and make me able to detach and reattach parts of my body without any troubles." Eda finished talking and was greeted by four eyes filled with compassion.

"Why did you never tell me?" King asked.

"To be honest, I thought I'd never tell you because I'm the caretaker here, I didn't want you to worry. And because no one likes having a curse, I tried to erase it from my life the best I could, it wronged me a lot in the past and hurt people." For a moment Eda remained silent, it felt good to finally let that all out of her system. "But you are here now." Eda pointed at Luz. 

Luz pointed at herself "Me?" 

"Yes, I took notice of how you feel bad because of your situation, and I wanted to ask you something." Eda stared at Luz, who was waiting for Eda's question. 

"Am I a bad person? Am I monstrous? Does this side of me make me disgusting?" 

"What?! No! Of course not, it's not your fault, your curse has been forced on you, and you are the victim here! You shouldn't be blamed for the best doing. And there is no way in hell you could ever be disgusting!" Luz answered passionately, though Eda was expecting it she was still moved by the answer. Then Luz grabbed King "I mean you never got covered in grease, did you?"

Eda snorted, "I will not answer that. And thanks Luz" Eda patted Luz on the head for the worst time, it felt nice and reassuring for the teenage girl. 

"Now Luz, don't you see a parallel here?" 

"What do you mean?"

"Everything you just told me, I could say the same about you." 

Luz tried to answer, but no word came out, no counterpoint came to her.

"Both my curse and your machine parts were forced on us, we can't change that but we can learn to live with them and accept them as a part of us. I know it's hard I have a hard time accepting the curse myself, but we must try and grow stronger, make them our strengths." Eda went silent for a minute, she was not used to talking about her curse, she hadn't spoken of it in years. "And, it's not because they are a part of us that they define us, we are much more than that, I am more than the owl beast and you are more than a half machine. I am Eda, the most powerful witch on the boiling Isles, a free spirit, a businesswoman, and leader of the bad girl coven! And you are Luz the human, a member of the bad girl coven, a weirdo, a nerd, kind-hearted, a free spirit as well." Eda noticed Luz was smiling, and she was sure Kind shed a tear. "We both must learn to accept these parts, we don't like because whether we like it or not they are here to stay, and we mustn't let them overshadow the ensemble that makes us awesome." As Eda finished to speak, Luz through herself in Eda's arms and began to laugh, almost historically, it was a good sign, something that happened only once before. It was a laugh-cry, Luz's way of expressing tears and a cry of joy. King joined the hug quickly and quietly never said. 

"I could never consider you too bad or disgusting, never." 

"Thanks, King, it means a lot to us," Eda answered for her and Luz, for Luz was too caught up in her laught-cry. 

Eda looked over at Luz who continued to laugh, at least they didn't take this away from her. The girl who was laughing and hugging her right now was the same one who had broken down just a few weeks ago. Luz has been here for only a month but everyone in the house got attached to her really fast, and the progress the girl made in her recovery was heartwarming. It showed a side of Luz that all of them love, optimism, kindness, acceptance, caring, and passion and are a bit dorky. Even she is she met the girl a short time ago, Eda would protect the kid with her life and make anyone who tries to hurt her pay. This day she made the promise to accomplish this task, no matter the difficulty.

Eda didn't know it yet, but the Owl Beast made the same promise.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days passed, and Eda and Luz tried to help each other accept the parts forced on them, it was difficult but Luz was starting to make progress even accepting to use her machine parts a little mostly the ones connected to her brain to quicken, and learn more. But she still can't look in the mirror without thinking she is disgusting and/or ugly. 

Eda had been thoughtful as of late, she disliked school a lot and still thought it was bad due to its affiliation to the coven system, she feared it would crush Luz's free spirit and remind her too much of Pax Angelica. But it could help Luz make friends, something she lacked, yes she has the Owl House resident but they were more of a family to her. She taught Luz about life on the aisles and school too, she did not like the system and due to its affiliation school did not sound appealing to her she much rather have her apprenticeship with Eda. 

For now, since Eda stopped using the portal she had to find human items elsewhere, there was a disgusting monster that could also be a treasure hub, the trashslug.

"Well Luz, have you seen something as breathtaking as this?"

Luz stared at the disgusting corps of the trashslug, it looked gross and smelled awful.

"I... don't want to answer that question."

"People tend to vomit the first time they smell the trashslud corps, you handle this quite well," King said about to take a sun bath.

"That's because I deactivated my smell senses, otherwise I would have thrown up." Despite not having the smell looking at it was enough for Luz to feel sick. 

"Ah, nuts to you both" Eda began to dig through the trash slug flesh with a pickaxe.

"Hum Eda I feel super nauseous, can I go back to the house please, I need to lay down"

"Ugh Ok ok but first." Eda dug her hand into a slimy green thingy. "Take this." Eda handed something to Luz.

"A grassy slime ball?"

"A good witch is resourceful, so as for your training of the day, I want you to find a way to put this to use. If you succeed, you will get a little reward."

"Oooh cool, I won't fail you, Eda." Luz was excited and headed back running.

'What a good kid.' And Eda headed into the inside of the creature cadaver. 

Luz was walking and thinking on her way back home. "Hum I will look into it after lying down, I need to get rid of the nausea first.

"You can do it! You can!" Luz heard a voice coming from somewhere close around.

"Mysterious voice of encouragement?" She walked toward the voice and pushed the bushes. There, she saw a witchlet about her age sitting in a fallen three-truck, next to her was a big cauldron.

"No, cute little witch girl."

To be continued...

Chapter Text

The little witch girl was slightly smaller than Luz, she had glasses, green eyes, black curled hair, and had a uniform both black/gray and purple. She seems to be going through something.

"You do it. Even if you get a bad grade, it doesn't reflect your integrity as a witch and my parents are right, there are better opportunities on this track. Now, get to school!" The girl stomps on a flower as she finishes her motivational speech. "Oh no! Little friend, I'm sorry!" On her knees, she drew a green circle out of thin air, and the flower bloomed once again, healthy and beautiful. Luz knew plant magic, Eda taught her about it but did not go in-depth with it, she isn't much of a plant magic user. Seeing this flower bloom from the girl's magic was, as far as her memory goes, one of the most beautiful things Luz had ever seen. Her eyes filled with wonder.

Then, on her rolling chaudron, another wtich girl arrived. She was skinnier, had green hair, yellow eyes, and a very similar outfit. 

"Willow. You are so unnoticeable, I almost roll into you". The tone was condescending, giving Luz an immediate red flag. 

"Hi, Amity..." The girl named Willow did not seem happy to see her.

"Should you get to class for-" Before Amity could finish, Willow's cauldron violently shook and fell over revealing a purpulish, lavenderish slimy liquid and one eyeball. This ordeal seems to greatly embarrass the witchlet. 

"Ooh Willow you don't have anything to show, do you?" It was clear as water, that the green-haired girl was a bully, she was getting on Luz's nerves.

"This is why people call you half-a-witch Willow, oh looks like someone wants to say something to you." Amity opens the cauldron. "Abobinatio rise." A gooey purple biped creature forms from the cauldron. 

"YOu aRe a StAr." It spoke with difficulty. The mindless creature was making Luz very uncomfortable, it reminded her of the time when she too was a mindless slave. But the spiral of dark thought was, more or less, thankfully interrupted by the bully.

"Aaaw it's like mine... but much smaller and meaningless." Willow looked like she wanted to disappear. "As a top student,  it's my duty to tell you to keep at it, even if you can get a passing grade." Amity made the abomination cower and started to walk away. "See you in class superstar."

Luz was angry at the girl, the other witchlet had done nothing to her, and her behavior smelled like the entitled rich condescending type. But her gaze soon returned to Willow.

"Oooh see in class superstar, I hate when she does that." Luz felt sad for the girl, it seemed like this was a common occurrence. 

"I hate doing abomination, I hate getting bad grades! Ugh... I can't stand this anymore!" And then Willow's eyes turned green, and the flower she healed started to become thorns spiraling out of control. And one of them was getting dangerously close to Luz.

Before it could grab her, Luz jumped back as fast as she could and as more came, she had no choice but to start flying. 'I could use my weapons to... no, I won't hurt anyone or anything again.' Luz's dark ideas returned, she was relapsing, usually, when it happens Eda is around to comfort her and hug her while she scream-cry. But it did not last, a vine grabbed Luz's left leg and pulled her down... right where Willow currently was. 

"WATCH OUT!"

Willow turned around silently, and when she saw Luz she seemed to fully go out of her trance. "Uuh? OH THORNS!" and Luz crashed on Willow.

Everything hurts, Luz could only feel pain in her organic part, so she hadn't felt this much pain in a while. As she opened her eyes, she could see the witch speaking to her.

"Oh my Titan, are you okay?!"

"Ugh ow yeah I'm alright, sorry for crashing into you." 

"Don't apologize it's my fault one of the vines must have caught you."

Luz hesitated for a bit, it happened partially because she got distracted while flying. Luckily, her wings weren't visible at the moment. They were hidden inside her back undeployed. 

"It's ok really, my body was made to be resistant- I mean pretty solid." Willow helped Luz get up.

"So... circle?" When Willow Noticed, Luz hid her ears in panic but it was too late.

"You are human! A human on the Boiling Isles. Why are you here? How did you get here?" Willow's curiosity and excitement were ended by the sound of the bell on the horizon, killing her mood instantly.

"I'm sorry, I can't stay, I must go disappoint my teacher again. It was nice to meet you human." Willow started to walk away in a defeated way.

"Wait! What you did with the flower it was incredible, the strongest bit of plant magic I've ever seen!"

" I really appreciate it but I'm not supposed to do plant magic, my dad's put me on the abomination track at school." 

"But you clearly like plant magic, why did they put you there? And can't you change?" 

"Well it is possible to switch when you change semesters, but my parents put me there because there are better opportunities on this track for my future. And I don't want to disappoint them, they are doing that for my own good." 

Luz felt bad for Willow, she was really nice yet was badly treated at school, unhappy in what she did and her parent did not seem bad but they didn't do things right either. The track system and bullying only made Luz align her opinion on school with Eda's a bit more. Still, maybe she could help.

"Say mind if I check on your abomination? I could maybe help. I'm studying magic under my mentor's care and even if I can't do magic she taught me about abomination." 

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to try but... I don't know what you can fix with a mess like that." Willow pointed at her abomination, and yes this would not be easy. But the eyes and mouth were there, so the problem came from the structure. In those moments, Luz could feel at least a little glad to have been. Modifying it allowed her to spot the problem quickly and remember things extremely easily to the smallest detail. 

"Alright, I see the problem."

"Wait what but you just stared at it for 30 seconds!"

"Hehe, I guess I... I have a good teacher." It was true but Luz was mostly scared to reveal her secret, she was scared about anyone else finding out about what she was.

"So it seems like you messed the bone structure it's not strong enough to hold, and not consistent enough so it fused with the rest of the abomination. Otherwise, the ingredient and the rest of the process is good. I'm sorry to say it won't be perfect, but we should be able to fix it enough for you to pass your test."

"Wow... you are good at this... and thanks a lot but you really don't need to do that for me. I appreciate it but really you-"

"I insist, I saw the way that girl treated you, sorry for picking by the way, and it's wrong this behavior only leads to more bullying from others, and helping may halt this at least for a bit until you change track. Once you get on the plant track and show your real talent, I'm sure it will get better for you." It wasn't the only reason, after hurting people for so long Luz really wanted to help people, it's in her nature but also because she felt she needed to redeem herself. 

"Woah thanks a lot, not many people would do this, especially a stranger." Willow gave a small smile maybe this was going to be a good day. And Luz reciprocated.

"Since I don't have magic come here I will guide what you must do."

"Alright." 

Following Luz's guidance, Willow was slowly able to correct some mistakes, and by the end after a few minutes, the abomination was standing up. Its movements weren't perfect struggling to move and it could not speak.

"This should be enough to pass! Thank you, Luz, you are a genius."

"Oh, it's nothing really... I just have a... good memory." 

"Don't say that, there is a difference between remembering and understanding plus you explained better than my teacher."

Luz felt good, she was finally helping someone, and finally, she was not being used to hurt people. She used her mechanic part for something good, she would tear up right now if she could. But also it felt nice to talk to someone her age, someone that could perhaps be... her friend.

"Well you have been very helpful, but I really should be going now before I get late, BUT before that, I'd like to keep in touch if you don't mind being friends of course," Willow asked hesitantly, she only has one friend and isn't used to having other people her age being nice to her.

"YES YES YES! Eer I mean yes that'd be nice I don't have any friends hehe." Luz was a bit embarrassed by her reaction, but she was overjoyed by the idea of having a new friend.

Willow summoned her Penstagram scroll. "Do you know or have a Penstagram? That way we can stay in contact." 

"Yeah my mentor told me, but... hum I don't have my scroll on me at the moment. So I will give you account name and I will accept your request when I get back." It wasn't entirely a lie but neither was it entirely true. Luz has a Penstagram account but doesn't have a scroll. Somehow, she was able to connect to Penstagram using her program meaning she accessed and used it without a scroll.

"Can't you summon- oh... sorry" It was Willow's turn to feel silly, humans don't have magic genius. 

"It's ok. My account is G00dwitchLuzura." 

"Alright, mine is PetalDerby. Just so you know when you receive the request." 

"Okaaayyy"

"Now I will be going, see you soon Luz, looking forward to talking to you."

"Thanks, you too see ya." 

As Willow walked away, Luz was really happy and eager to see the witchlet again. And then she wondered, despite not liking what she heard of the Boiling Isles system. School may be a good way to make friends, and she would still learn with Eda. The more, she thought the better the idea sounded. And before she started to think, she was running to catch up to Willow. 

"HEY WAIT!" Willow turned to see the surprisingly fast human running towards her, and she caught up Luz did not seem tired at all. "I was thinking, is it possible to visit your school?" 

"Hum... It is you need to go ask Principal Bump for a visitor badge, he is pretty nice so I think he will accept. But I'm curious, you have a teacher already, why do you want to go there?"

"Well there are three main reasons, first it will go easier for us to hang around, second I will be able to make more friends because besides you now I do not have any, and finally I'm going to stay for a very long time maybe permanently sooo I wish to learn more about how society works here," Luz said the last part in a sadder tone, something Willow noticed but choose not to ask about, it made her wonder if Luz went through something in the human realm. She will have to ask her when she gets to know her better. 

"Ok then, come with me I will guide you to the principal office, come along future classmate!" And they started walking while chatting but Luz explained how long she had been on the isles, about apprenticeship, but when Willow asked why Luz came, she dodged the question and did not say anything about being a cyborg. Meanwhile, Willow talked about school, her passion for plant magic, and her family and mentioned an human enthusiastic friend. Shortly after, they arrived in front of an imposing building.

"Welcome Luz to Hexide school of magic and demonic."

"Woah this is so cool!" Luz was ecstatic and impatient to enter the school.

As they entered the school, Luz was in haw at the sight of what was around her. "This place is amazing."

"Willow, you will not believe humans." Luz and Willow turned around to see a younger witch who did not notice Luz, to focus on the magazine he was reading.

"Humans, I haven't seen whaaaat," Willow said sarcastically, looking at Luz and giggling, the younger witch did not notice. 

"Did you know that human put weird devices in their bodies, maybe to become magnetic?" 

"Actually, it's for the improvement of the human body." When Luz spoke, the witch finally lifted his head and immediately noticed Luz's ears.

"No... it can't be."

"Luz, this is my friend Augustus most witches wouldn't notice a human at first glance, but Augustus is an expert."

"Where are your gills?" If he is an expert then witches knowledge of humans is... very limited.

"Hey I remember knowing an Augustus, we called him Gus." A little flash of a pre-Angel memory, maybe going to Hexide could be more useful than she thought. 

"GUS! A nickname, a human nickname! From now on call me." 

The bell rang again. 

"I have to get to the spelling lesson, see you two later."

"Let's get going, Luz."

And they continued until they arrived in front of the principal office. And knocked, "Come in." And so they did.

"Hello, Principal Bump." 

"Ah, Miss Park. I don't see you here often, what is the reason for your visit".

"Well mister this Luz Noceda." Willow gestured toward Luz. "She is interested in joining Hexide and wishes to visit the school."

"Hello, sir."

"Greetings miss Noceda, it's always a pleasure to have new students attending our school."

"I will be going now, I have to head to class, goodbye sir, see you later Luz". Willow waved at Luz.

"See ya, Willow."

"So Luz Noceda, before I grant your visitor pass, we need to discuss a few things first." Bump gestured toward the chair in front of his desk, Luz sat on the said chair. "Now then, miss Noceda even if I'm never against getting new students eager to study here, there is a little issue, you are human by definition can't do magic, and not native to the Boiling Isles. Before I continue, I do think getting a human student would be interesting for everyone here you include, but how would you do without magic and to be able to enroll, I will need a signature from a legal tutor, do you have one on the Isles?"

Now Luz did not think this through, she was staying with Eda but she wasn't her legal tutor. She did not want to talk about the Angel realm, but in that situation, she probably didn't have a choice.

"Weeeellll, I'm doing an apprenticeship and have a teacher, she taught a lot about the Demon realm and I'm pretty good at potions."

"That answers the first issue but not the second one, is she your legal tutor."

"Hum no and to be honest I'm not sure she'd let me enroll."

"Why wouldn't sh- hold on... is your teacher Edalyn Clawthorne?" 

"You know her?"

" *sigh* Yes she helped me love teaching again... after she left."

"Oh..."

"Miss Noceda, without a legal tutor you can't enroll, don't you have legal tutors willing to sign in the human realm?" The question made Luz tense, and distressed but Bump was looking away and so could not notice. "Beside a human school would be better for-"

"NO!"

Bump did not expect that answer, when he turned around first annoyed, but it quickly changed when he saw the girl clearly shaking in a state of distress. 

He decides to take on a calm reassuring approach. "Now now miss Noceda calm down, I apologize, was it something I said?"

After a few seconds, Luz talked, "You couldn't know sir, it's just... I'm going to tell you but please do not tell anyone else, only Eda knows." 

"Very well, I promise." 

"So... so... hum... I can't go back to the human realm and I'm staying with Eda permanently." Something in Bump was telling him something was off, why couldn't the human go back? Did something happen to her in the Human realm? "As you know human technology is super advanced and our machines are very good." Bump nodded. "Well, they became... too good, becoming sentient." Bump really did not like where this was going. "They waged war against humanity, we call it the war against the machine, it lasted six years and we humans lost." Then it became clear to the principal, the young girl was a war refuge. "I ended up on the Boiling Isles on my own, I know my parents are... gone but my sister I don't know what she became." To Luz this was all Bump needed to know, she did want to risk anything about the angels or her being one becoming public.

Bump was shocked by what in heard, the girl in front of her was an orphan war refuge who most likely never had a proper childhood, and if she had one it was now ruined, neither a teenagehood. No child should deal with or live this, she deserves a chance to start a new life and to have a normal teenage life. 

"I see, I'm really sorry for your loss, all my condolences." 

"Thanks..."

"Miss Noceda, if you can convince Edalyn to let you enroll, I will be willing to let you enroll at Hexide." 

Luz immediately felt happy again, her eyes filled with wonder. She was smiling and could barely stay in place.

"Thank you, thank you, sir."

Bump smiled, "Here is your visitor badge keep it at all times, and here is a map that will help you not get lost. And after the current class, it's lunch and after that Miss Park has one hour free, she will be able to show you around the school premises.

"Thank you, Principal Bump. I will be going then, goodbye."

"Goodbye miss Noceda." When Luz left Bump got serious again and even if he didn't to pressure the girl it was clear she was not telling everything. He just hoped being able to have a normal teenage life would be able to replace the void, this war left. If Eda considers letting Luz in, he will have to talk to her about a lot of things.

Meanwhile, Luz went her way to visit the premises of Hexide. 

To be continued...

Chapter Text

On her way, Luz went, despite getting a mood in the principal office, the prospect of potentially studying here someday was enough to get her to smile again. Bump seemed like a good principal, which is a good start, despite how bad the coven system is maybe there are some nuances to all of this and she couldn't pass the opportunity to hang with witches her age. She was some excited in fact, that her vision had a visual glitch and she internally yelled 'HYYYYYPPPPEEEEEEEEE' which was stocked in her memory. Finally, she had to stop her wings from deploying out of excitement. 

She made her way back to the central hall and looked at the map to decide where to go first, 'Bard, abomination, illusion, healing, construction, beast keeping, oracle, plant, potions.... ugh all the track sound so cool curse the system, there is no way I can choose just one!' It was frustrating, to say the least, but at least she could learn the rest with Eda. 'Well right I can do potions, I will start with this one.'

Luz headed to the potion wing of the school. "Wait up child." Luz turned to the creepy voice behind her and saw one of those creepy guards, walking toward her, a bit intimidated she hoped she did not do anything wrong. "I will accompany you until lunch, afterward Miss Park will be the one to accompany you."

"Oh thank you, sir..." Luz answered realizing she had no idea what his name was, "My name is Jeff" Well now she knew "Thank you, mister Jeff". 

"So potion wing right? Follow me." Luz did as she was told, they went through the Hexide corridor and Luz was ecstatic. The building was, to quote her 'sooo cooool' as she was hyped following the creepy guard, but something took her out of her hype.

New message from BadGirlCoven.

Luz had completely forgotten, she told Eda and King she was heading home. Well, she couldn't lie now.

BadGirlCoven: Kid where are you? We just got back from the trash slug beach.

G00dwitchLuzura: Uuuuuh >_<'  I may or may not have befriended a girl I met while I was heading home.... and I may or may not have helped her with her assignment and followed her to Hexide. Long story short, I'm visiting the halls of Hexide. 

BadGirlCoven: Luz what the hell are you thinking? I thought you hated this "Angel wannabe system"

G00dwitchLuzura : I still doo! But I made a friend! And I was thinking even if I learn more with you, it would be nice to go there so I can make friends. Pleeeeaaaaseeee Eda!!!!!!! 

BadGirlCoven: Huggghhh fine... I will think about it, we will talk about this when you get home. Have fun, call me if Hexide burns down I will get us front row sit.

G00dwitchLuzura : THAAAANNNKKKSSSS EDA 🧡🧡🧡

When Luz finished messaging Eda, she and Jeff had arrived at the potion wing. It was filled with smoke and strange noises, and Luz could swear she heard an explosion in the distance. This place was messy with many tools for potions and books.

"Greeting students, today we will do poofing potions." In the poof, the teacher was gone and then was back to "begin." Luz thought said teacher was fun but at the same time 'is this really what they teach to teenage witches?'

After a bit they went, to the beast-keeping wing outside, something Luz was excited about. Who wouldn't be excited to see cute boiling isles animals? She wasn't disappointed seeing all these animals and students learning to take care of them, it brought her a memory flash of her in a vent clinic when she was much younger. Another memory unlocked, this put a smile on her face. 

Next up was the plant wing with many classrooms, and the center a massive room filled with plants from all across the isles. Luz had never saw that much vegetal diversity at least from what she remembered, earth was very polluted, many species went extinct and biodiversity had suffered a major collapse. Seeing so much was beautiful for Luz.... and then she saw a plant attempting to eat a student before a teacher intervened to stop this, oh well nature is still beautiful

The visit continues with the abomination wing, a more classic one with a classroom and a main room looking quite ordinary if not for the many images of abomination engineering. But it was worth it for one thing. Luz saw Willow's classroom and it was her turn to present her abomination. Luz was just in time to see the ending of her presentation. "Well Miss Park, I have to say even if it's not perfect, it is still a huge improvement. I am impressed, keep on the good work Willow, A-." Said her teacher. Luz was so happy she could barely contain herself and waved at Willow who waved back at her. 

"It is lunch time student, Miss Park will guide you to the Cafeteria and make the rest of the visit with you." And with that, Jeff left

"Thank you, mister Jeff." 

Luz waited for a moment until Willow's classes ended.

"Hey, Luz!"

"Hey Willow, from what I saw it went great!"

"And it's thanks to you, without you I probably would have failed miserably."

"Aaaaw don't say that."

"It's true! Also, I made a decision I'm going to talk to Bump after the tour, so I can change track."

"Awesome you go, Willow!"

"But before that, I'm hungry come on I will show you the cafeteria, we will meet Gus there." Willow started to walk away.

"You lead the way," Luz replied following.

Behind them Amity listened to them, 'I knew it. Half-a-witch would have never been able to do that on her own. But still who is this girl and how in the name of the Titan did she manage to change Willow's disaster into a decent abomination.' Amity walked away but still with this new girl on her mind, feeling a bit jealous of her proximity to the girl who once was her best friend. A wave of guilt hit her, but she quickly cast these emotions aside. 'I will have to keep an eye on her, Blights have to be on top, and I won't let myself be beaten by a newbie.' 

Luz and Willow sat at the cafeteria quickly joined by Gus, and they started to have a chat. The three of them were having a good time, sharing their interest, passions, and hobbies talking about themselves, Luz got to learn about a bit more of the isles through them. Although Luz was having difficulties digesting demonic meat, it wasn't as bad as the fairy pie that made her vomit for three days. But still. "Hey want to trade your demonic meat for some PB&J?" Gus said noticing Luz not having a great time eating, it would be a shame to waste delicious demonic meat. "Never ate something like this but worth the shot, sure." And so they did, Luz took a first bite, "Hey it's honestly good, I can digest a lot of things here so it's nice to find food I can eat." 

Gus couldn't hold it in anymore, he was eating with a real human, and he had a bijillion questions to ask her about her realm and species. "Saaayyy Luz, can I question a few questions about the human realm???"

It took Luz by surprise who almost choked on her food, "hum maybe later I'd rather finish eating and do the tour hehe." Luz did not want to tell him about the state of the human realm it was very painful for her to think about. 

"Ok, I have a club The Human Appreciation Society, you could pass by after your tour. We have some human artifacts we aren't sure of what they are, maybe you could identify them for us." 

"Huuuummm sure why not." If it's only that, it will probably be fine, right?

"Thank you, thank you, Luz."

"Luz I was wondering, from what I know you are the first human on the Boiling Isles, vow did you get there?" Willow asked.

"I ran through a portal owned by Eda the Owl Lady, that's how she collected her human merchandise. And now I live with her."

Both Willow and Gus did not expect that, "THE OWL-" Gus started but was shsh "*whisper* the owl lady has a portal and you live with her ?!" 

"That's not what I was expecting, and how long do you plan to stay here, I mean don't you have a life and a place to stay in the human realm?" Willow asked, the question Luz knew would come and yet feared it.

"..... well... my living situation in the human realm was... complicated I don't want to talk about it but long story short I'm staying here permanently." 

"Oh... sorry if I knew it was a sensitive topic I wouldn't have asked." Willow felt a bit guilty.

"It's okay you did not know." 

"If you don't want to talk about it, me and Gus won't force you, but if one day you want to, we will be here for you."

"Indeed we will."

"Thank you guys, it means a lot to me." 

As they continued to speak, Amity had been looking a Luz for a while, and even if she did not hear everything, she did hear the new girl was human. A human in Hexide who befriended Willod and Augustus AND turned Willow's disastrous work into a descent abomination, now this was something worth noticing.

"Amity, why are staring at the loser's table?" It was Bosha speaking.

"Oh, it's because of the new girl over there".

"What's worth staring at? She already ruined her social life associating with Willow."

"Bosha, you know how Half-a-witch abominations are terrible, right?"

"Girl, all of Hexide knows what's your point?"

"This girl turned Willows's assignment which wasn't even worth an F- into an A-!"

"SHE WHAT?!" Skara finally looked away from her scroll and now the whole table was looking at them.

"Wow, that's kinda impressive actually," Bosha said 

"And from what I heard, she is a human so she did that without magic." A part of Amity was impressed but she refused to admit it, she is a Blight, a top student she can't be impressed by her pairs when she is on top.

"Dang maybe that girl has some worth, it's a shame she is associating herself with the losers, but maybe we can give her a chance. Anyway for now girls we must go do some grubgy, the season is fast approaching." 

And so Bosha and the girl left leaving Amity still preoccupied with the human girl. 'Why is this obsessing me? Yes, she seems good but is not at my level and maybe she even won't be in the abomination track.' And with that, Amity left as well still unable to clear the human out of her mind.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Time to get back to class, I have spelling right, see you later Willow, see you at the club Luz bye!" And with Gus heads to his class.

"Alright Luz let go, so what wing did you already see?"

"For now potion, beast, plant, and abomination."

"Alright so that left is with oracle, healing, construction, and bard. Which one would you like to start with."

"Huuum let's go with healing."

"Alright follow me." 

On their way to the healing wing, they were and Willow used this as an opportunity to show Luz's the lockers, and the theater room, and they even pass by the detention room. Willow did not comment on that one having no idea what was aside, but Luz was not interested after said door had seemingly eaten a student.

The healing wing looked a lot like a human medicine school, with less burnout and more practice room, Students were practicing on dummies but the more advanced ones were practicing on another student and healing them almost instantly, with different methods depending on the wound or disease. It was nice to see, another track that was interesting Luz especially since Eda isn't an expert in healing magic. 

Afterward, they went to the Oracle wing, classes were filled with crystal balls, and many spirits were floating in the halls, some following students, it was also filled with a board with esotheric representations. As they were walking a spirit from one of the balls appeared and spoke to Luz. "One day, HE will know." What was the spirit talking about? Luz decided to ignore it, if it will truly happened, she would know when the time came. She only hopes it has nothing to do with her realm. "Huh, weird spirits tend to be cripict but not that much," Willow commented, despite this little strange occurrence they continued.

Next was the Bard wing, the hall was filled with music of all kinds, a pleasure to anyone who was the musical ear. The classes were filled with instruments and each one specialized differently to use this very versatile magic, the second more versatile after potions. And instruments are not always necessary, Luz could see a classroom where they were learning to use a whistle as a way to cast spells. Bard magic sound cool and it was one of the two magic track that did not require a spell circle. Eda did a bit of that magic but always seemed nostalgic while doing so, to this day Luz doesn't know why. 

Next up the construction wing, classes were mostly outside or very wide because this magic requires a lot of space for practicing safely. Students were using this magic to shape the land, and build structures. It seems to require a lot of concentration to make sure the construction takes the ship the caster wants. Construction magic allows a lot of creativity, the shape can be anything you want you just have to make sure it doesn't fall apart.

Finally, the illusion wing Gus's track, this wing looked pretty ordinary but the classes had a lot of mirrors. The students and teachers were casting a lot of illusions, it was hard to say what was real and what was an illusion. It showed the massive potential of illusion. But also its difficulties, people are to learn to cast a good visual illusion but sound and noises must also work according to the illusion. They even saw Gus in his class, he was clearly younger than his classmates and you could say he was a natural. "Wow Gus is good at this, that's very impressive."

"Yes, he moved up two grades, he is an illusion prodigy."

"Well our tour is over and Gus's classes will end soon. He will take you to the clubroom, meanwhile, I'm going to ask Bump to switch."

"Oki and good luck Willow, you got this!"

"Thanks, if I'm correct I will have to give a good enough justification as to why I want to change, and then do a demonstration to prove I will fit in the track. I'm going to have to find a good to do that, blossoming a flower won't be enough." Willow said that with a bit of apprehension.

"Oh wait, I remember Eda gave me this earlier." Luz took the seed out of her pocket.

"Luz, it's a Varenpa plant seed, massive vines that grow up to 30 meters long, I could redecorate the entire theater room with that! Thank you so much, Luz." Willow was excited.

"Anytime girl and thanks again for the tour!" Luz gave Willow a hug.

"What is this?"

"Oh it's called a hug it's a human thing to show affection."

"Oh ok... this feels nice."

"Noice."

"Guys, hello again." It was Gus coming out of his class.

"Heya Gus ready for the clubroom?"

"You can't imagine."

"As for me, I will go to Bump office for the track changing, see you guys later." And Willow walked away.

"See ya, Willow." Said, Gus.

"Byyyye." Said Luz.

"So are you ready to investigate human artefact?"

"You bet I am."

"Alright then let's go." Gus led the way excited. "I should warn you, I didn't tell the other club members about you, it's a surprise and they may get a bit excited."

"Ooooh a showman! I like it." 

After a few minutes, both arrived in front of the clubroom, it was in an isolated part of the building in a room that seemed to be rather small. 

"Wait here, I will hype them up, you will know when to enter."

"Oki doki."

Gus stepped forward, opened the door, and... "Ladies and gentlemen from the Human Appreciation Society, I have come with a surprise, you may not know her, but you are sure gonna love her." At the end of the sentence, Luz approached the door.

"Luuuzz the humaaannn!"

The entire club consisting of four people including Gus was in haw. "Such showmanship."

"She is horrifying."

"Mmmhmmhmm." 

Gus got their attention again by explaining why Luz was there. "Luz is here to teach us about the human artifacts we have here, and tell us their use." Hearing that the club members were really happy. Gus went to look for the club's human object, while Luz kept the club kids company. "Hey, where are your gills?" Asked the goat boy. "Actually, humans do not have gills we exclusively live on land." This answer seems to surprise them a lot.

"Mmmhmmhmm." It was the Cyclop girl talking.

"Hum sorry, I don't know what you just said."

"She said she heard humans have more stamina and strength than the average witchling, is this true." The witchlet translated.

"Well from what I learned witches' heart is smaller due to their bile sac, but we humans do not have one it give more space for the heart. So I guess that's why humans are physically a bit stronger." Another information they loved to hear.

"I'm back." It was Gus who put the selected artifact on the table. All of them Luz recognized and one was old, very old probably around 270 years old.

"So Luz can you inspect those three human objects please."

"I sure can!" And Luz went on to look at the first object. "This a hologram add from I'd say the 2240s, you normally click on this aaannddd... oh it's still working." The small gadget projected a light, that morphed into a short animation. "Are you sick of piles of owls constantly blocking your driveway? Well, then you've gotta get Owl Trowel!" Said a very energetic man. 'That was very dumb' Luz thought. "What was that add?" Asked the goat boy, "That, my friend, is human capitalism at its finest." 

Luz moved on to the second object, "This one is a kid's toy and more precisely a toy car."

"What a car" asked Gus

"A car is a human transportation vehicle they were very common from the 1950's but started to become rare in the 2180's. And for the toy see that little thingy? You put it on your  head, you click on the button on the left side, and think of where you want the car to go and at what speed." Luz does a small demonstration with the car moving from one side of the table to the other. "See. Fun."

And finally the oldest artefact, a computer that appears to be from the 2000's. Yet it seems to have been used not so long ago. "This is a computer, a human device that can do a lot of things but this one is super old this series is almost 300 years old." It was shocking for everyone, they had for the past three years an artifact this old. "I will try to turn it on, it looks like it was used not so long ago... it is working." Hearing Luz everyone looked at the screen of this relic of the past. Luz started to look around and she was right last time. it was used three years ago, during the war. It made sense modern equipment was all hacked by the Archangel, so the resistance had to use older equipment. Luz made sure the demons and witches did not see that. And she noticed a notification, a mail, received March 11th, 2266 just one day before the war ended. The mail had nothing just an audio file attached to it. Luz was curious and the club was ecstatic, after a bit of hesitation she opened the audio file and set the volume on.

Final_message

This is a message of the voice of Resistance of New England, if you are seeing this then it means we have lost. We are surrounded, Hartford is under siege and we are running out of resources. They can break the siege at any moment... The war is lost. But the fight doesn't have to end today. To anyone outside of Hartford go hide in the countryside, these regions were depopulated by the Angels, go hide there. And one day take your arms, restart the fight for a free humanity, all hope is not yet lost! Humanity still has a chance, we can still be free and it will all be thanks to you. We will buy you time, we will fight until the very end, and we promise, there is no time to waste. Please, go.

... Mija... if you hear these I promise we will see each other again, we will find you and be reunited. We miss you a lot, wherever you are me and your sister will find you and we will be together again... I love you mija...

End of the final message, the voice of the resistance out.

And the audio file ended, and the club members did not know what to think of it. It felt tragic, did a war happen recently? What are the Angels? What is Hartford? Did Luz knew about this? If she did why didn't she said anything?

"Mama?" They turn to Luz. The tragedy in the room grew.

"That voice... this woman...it-it was my mom." Luz had forgotten the sound of her mother's voice, but now that she heard it she could fully remember. She felt like she rediscovered her mom even more. Even if she still can't remember a lot it was still progress and now are loss felt much more real. Luz wasn't feeling good. Her emotions were a mess at the moment. And the others could see something wasn't right. 

Amity who passed by, had listened through the corridor everything from the moment they turned the computer. She heard the whole message and could hear the human getting emotional. She wanted to confront the girl about the abomination affair, but right now she clearly understood it really wasn't the time and decided to leave even more confused and intrigued by the human than ever. "Are you ok Luz?" Gus asked concerned. "I-I need to go home, can you please hand my visitor pass back to Bump." Luz felt like scream-crying but for that, she needs to get back home." 

"Do you want me to accompany you?" Asked Gus.

"No thanks, I- I need to be alone for a bit" 

And now Amity really must get out of here faster before someone notices her. When she was out of sight her thought returned to the human.

At the same moment, Luz was heading out of school, overwhelmed by her thoughts and emotions running wild in her head. She missed her mom even more now. 

G00dwitchLuzura : Eda, I'm on my way home.

BadGirlCoven: Great! You should be just in time for dinner, but be quick before King tries everything behind my back.

G00dwitchLuzura: I don't feel good Eda I need to scream-cry

BadGirlCoven: Alright who is responsible how do you want me to deal with them?

G00dwitchLuzura: No it's linked to my past, I will tell you when I get back

BadGirlCoven: Ok Luz don't worry I will be here to listen.

G00dwitchLuzura : Thank you Eda.

And Luz continued to walk home. Her brain replayed the message of her mother, other, and other again. The way home felt like an eternity, Hexide was merely 10 minutes away from the Owl House, but Luz felt like she walked for an hour. And finally, after the longest 10 minutes of her life, she made it, Hooty was the first to greet her. "HIYA LUZ HOW WAS YOUR DAY?" 

"It was fine Hooty." Luz opened the door to Eda waiting for her and King sleeping on the couch. "Luz, how do you feel ?" Asked a preoccupied Eda.

"I don't know."

Eda invites Luz to sit on the couch.

"So tell me Luz, what is it?"

"I befriended two people at Hexide who showed me around, it was great, we got along very well. And after they showed me around, one of them invited me to see his club, it was a human fan club to look at some artifacts they had and tell them what they were. And I was like sure why not, it sounded fun to do, and at first. But then, they had this human-machine called a computer and on it, there was an audio message from three years ago... the woman speaking was my mother.:

"Oh... kid."

"I couldn't remember my mom but now I can't stop thinking about it. And now I miss her even more. I-it triggered memories of me and her, they are still fuzzy but it f-feels even more real than before." Luz was unable to say more, this experience had mentally exhausted her. She leaned on Eda and they started to hug.

"It's ok Luz, it's ok I'm here, everything will be alright. It's okay to miss someone we love. It may be hard, but me and King are there for you whenever you need. Don't be afraid to ask, ok?"

"O-ok."

And with that, Luz started to scream-cry, waking King, who after a bit of confusion started to understand what was happening and joined in the hug. Luz wanted this moment to last forever, it reminded her of the moment when her mother would hug her after a bad dream. She hadn't felt a motherly embrace for so long, those moments with Eda were the closest she would ever feel what she once had.

It lasted for almost 30 minutes, and afterward, remained quite silent barely speaking for the rest of the evening. But it wasn't as bad as the first week of her arrival, after dinner she went straight to her bedroom and lay on her bed, looking at the ceiling that's when she finally noticed the Penstagram notification.

PetalDerby has sent you a friend request.

Friend request accepted.

PetalDerby: Hey Luz it's me, Willow, how do you feel? Gus, you had to leave because you felt bad, is everything alright?

G00dwitchLuzura: Hey Willow, I feel better now and I don't really want to talk about it. Can we speak about something else I need to clear my head.

PetalDerby: Sure and remember what I told you, if you ever need Gus and I are here. Anyway, Gus and I wanted to create a group chat with you, what do you think?

G00dwitchLuzura : Sure sound like fun!

Luz chatted with Willow and Gus for the rest of the evening. Having fun and laughing, it helped to not stay in her spiral for too long. Despite the tragedy of her past, these moments with Eda, King, Willow and Gus, and even Hooty, made her realize she could have a new family and Perhaps even move on one day. She was not ready yet but maybe one day she will be. For now, her eyes shut, falling asleep her first good sleep since she arrived on the Boiling Isles.

To be continued......

Chapter Text

Angel realm 5th May 2269, three weeks after Luz's disappearance.

"Still no trace, of the more this goes, the more worrisome it gets..." The Archangel thought concerned. "This disappearance might be nothing but it could also become a problem in the future, still no trace, she just vanished in Gravesfield." The Archangel paused the three last years have been peaceful despite a few revolts here and there successfully stopped before they got too serious. "The research team found nothing in Gravesfield, found nothing in ancient New England, and found nothing in the entire Northeast of the continent... However some new developments might have links, even if the probabilities are low, I can't allow myself to be picky. It seems the scientific division of Urban Center 8 found some strange activity around Gravesfield, a weak point of our reality... perhaps, finally, the proof of the existence of multiple dimensions. The probability is exactly 1.2347929000% chances Luz Noceda passed through this weak point. Despite the probabilities being incredibly low, I won't refute the possibility." The Archangel though went elsewhere, despite being the smartest machine ever created, capable of impressive multi-tasking, its capacity to think for himself allowing him to feel emotions, empathy, and having morals, was sometimes slowing him in his duties. His mind drifts to memories, worries, accomplishments, and regrets.

He then focused himself on Urban Center 8 reeducation center, using the security camera of the interior park started to watch over Vee and Masha talking to each other. And its mind began to feel regrets once again. "Haaaaa... Noceda family, you cannot imagine how I wish things went differently. How sorry I am, yet I had no choice... if only you had accepted. Vee, I know you despise me, I hope you can forgive me one day and find happiness, the truth is I never intended for Luz to become 112126, but with the war going on and the importance of the Noceda family among the resistances I couldn't make any exceptions." The Archangel began to feel emotional, it was rare but it still happens. "Angels can't cry and neither can I... How did it end up like this? We were so close once, how did we drift apart so much... Manny Noceda."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in the park, Vee and Masha are having an important discussion. "Vee, you know I trust and support you but you are being obsessed." Said Masha worried about Vee, they knew Vee had not been happy since THAT day. 

"But Masha what if it's true, I must know what if Luz is still out there, how can an Angel vanish like that, it's very suspicious normally the Archangel knows everything happening around the world, but weirdly not that!" Vee hadn't stopped thinking about her sister's disappearance for the past three weeks.

"Vee hun, you are linking phrases your sister said THAT day and what happened a few weeks ago, They are probably not even linked."

"Maybe but there is still a small chance they are!"

"Huugh Vee I want to believe your sister is still there, trust me I do, from what you told me she seems great. But I am scared you are giving yourself false hope. And I... I don't want you to suffer because of this all of us went through. Maybe she just malfunctioned but is still an Angel. And besides you know what will happen if they catch you. "

"I know! I know... But still, I want to believe that... somehow she is free, I want to believe my sister is back... I want to believe in a miracle. I know the chances are almost non-existent but... I want to believe in them."

"...*sigh* I won't be able to convince you otherwise won't I?" Masha asked with a small grin.

"No." Vee immediately said with a small laugh.

"Well I guess I will follow you in your little escapade, gotta have someone to watch your back."

"You just do that because you know you will miss me." Vee winked.

Which made Masha say, "N-not at all..." That was obviously a lie.

"And thanks a lot, Masha I don't know what I would do without you..." Vee looked at Masha fondly, she felt so happy to have a friend like them.

"Same here," Masha said still blushing.

"So we are doing it," Vee said.

"Indeed we are, it may take us weeks heck even months of preparation and planning, we gotta be careful they don't suspect anything," Masha responded

"True." Vee puts her hand on Masha's hand. "We are going to Gravesfield." Then Vee looked at the sunset, 'I will find you Luz, I promise we will see each other again.'

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Two days after she visited Hexide, Luz continued to chat on Penstagram. She had learned during the evening following that, Bump hoped she enjoy the visit and to see her by next semester. And also learned the club members got worried about her, so she had to tell Gus she was fine (not really). She also told them about her amnesia, about being an orphan and having no place to stay at all in the human realm. She also said she lost them in war but refused to elaborate further. She, on the other hand, did not tell them about her being a cyborg, the war against the machine, what she was forced to do the last three years, Pax Angelica nor about her sister. She wasn't ready yet and wanted to know them a bit better then perhaps one day she would tell them. Ever since she heard ever mother's final words, she listened to them often. Her machine part records everything, and usually, she deletes most of it. Wanting to remember things like a normal human, but for that one, she made an exception, she saved it deep in her memory and played it from time to time. It helps her when she feels sad, it helps her when she feels lonely, and it helps her remember, for she is scared to forget her again. 

Eda did her best to help her kid, she didn't know when Luz became her kid but she did. It wasn't easy yet they made progress, but this new development did not help much. Luz made her listen to the message she had recorded. It helped the kid mourn her lost mother but it sure was a depressive message. There was still no trace of Luz's father or her sister. Even if Luz did not show it, Eda could tell it was painful for Luz. But at least Luz made two friends at Hexide, friends she was speaking to for hours every day. Eda knew one of them, Goops the little kid who eyed her human stand almost every day and even purchased once in a while. The kid was nice, Eda did not know the other but Luz seemed to like her enough to chat with her for hours so she was at least decent. Eda also heard about Luz's Hexide day, and even though she expected more chaos, she was glad the kid enjoyed spending her day while still being a firmly anti-coven system. And she was hella proud to make a suck-up top student lose her shit, and even better a baby Blight! If Odalia learned about that, she would lose her crap a sight Eda would pay a lot to see, the worst Odalia's life is the better the isles are, Belos might be the one Eda hated the most but Odalia is not far behind. She doesn't know how the human did it but in barely a month of staying here, Luz became an important member of the bad girl coven. Eda grew attached to the girl very quickly, and so did King who swore to protect his favorite minion against "the evil robots". It was hard to know what in the Titan's name was going on in Hooty's head but it was clear to all, that he was also very attached to Luz. 'I don't know how she does it but she is getting to us, and not out of pity but it's genuine... seriously what is happening to you Owl Lady...' Eda thought.

As of now, Eda was preparing some potion to sell, since she stopped using her portal her human-selling business slowed down a lot, so her potion business grew in importance to keep her income coming. King was up to shenanigans with his stuffed toys, something about expanding his tyrannical realm of terror. Hooty was being Hooty. And Luz was still chatting with her friends. 'I wonder if I could try to recreate the cure myself, it will be hard though the recipe is kept secret because that's how you make money out of people who need healthcare. And I'm the one on the run for scamming people. Anyway what command do we have....' Eda thought while summoning her list, "hot dang that's an awful lot of anti-acne potion, since when do teenagers order from me?" Eda said while going back to work.

And then suddenly the door of the potion lab burst open. "Edaedaedaedaeda!" It was a very excited and full of energy Luz. This made Eda gasp and drop something in the potion.

"Uh oh-"

BOOM

Before Eda could finish the potion exploded in the purple explosion, luckily the cauldron was intact and barely anything broke. Luz activated her shield by reflex and Eda summoned a shield with magic. 

"Kid... for the third time don't startle me when I'm potion making."

"I'm so sorry Eda, I will help you clean up."

"Thanks."

And they proceed to clean the mess, not in silence of course. When you are someone like Luz, who barely talked for 3 years under mind control with no socialization, it's hard to stay silent and alone. 

"So why did you barge in ?" Eda asked.

"Well, Willow and Gus were telling me tonight is moonlight conjuring, I didn't know what it was so they explained to me. They never did any and since I'm not from here neither did I, soooo Gus proposed we do one and then I proposed to do it at home so I came here to ask you if we could, and 14 seconds later the potion exploded, sooo long story short can we do a sleepover pleaseee?" Luz explained with a lot of excitement, if eyes could Luz do puppy eyes.

Eda was not a fan of moonlight conjuring, it was dumb and silly but Luz was a teenager and teenagers do dumb and silly things and besides conjurings are rather harmless. And Luz was doing a lot better ever since she made friends, it would be cruel not to let Luz see her friends. "Alright kid, bring them over but you gremlins better not mess up the house." That's all Eda could say before Luz jumped to her at great speed to hug her.

"Thank you thank you, Eda! You are the best!"

"Anytime kiddo," Eda patted Luz's head. "But hum could please put me down." Without realizing it while hugging her, Luz lifted Eda in the air. 

"Oh... sorry." Luz let Eda down and restarted to clean the room. After almost 20 minutes they were done. "I just told Gus and Willow it was ok for tonight they told me they should arrive at around 6 pm," Luz informed Eda as she was leaving the room.

"Ok, by the way, we will have to go to the market after lunch this afternoon, I'm a bit short on the elixir, I need to restock."

"Ook, if you need something I will be flying above the house to evacuate my energy surplus!" 

"I thought you did not like to use your machine part, is it getting better?"

"Oh it's still difficult to accept the idea of using them... but my wings never harmed anyone and flying is cool so it helps a bit."

"Can't argue against that. Have fun kid."

"Later Eda."

And so Luz left and went to her flying session. The fact Luz decided to fly not out of necessity, showed she made progress in accepting the machines as a part of her. Eda felt she needed to catch up when it came to her curse, but it was a problem for later, now back to potion making.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After the usual chaotic lunch where hooty again tried to talk about tea, which somehow activated Luz's daemon protocol for a second. They were now on the couch, "Watch it Luz, the most popular card game on the Boiling Isles, Hexes hold'em." Eda said with her on deck while Owlbert was standing with his deck in front of her. "Oh cool physical card game! Most people stopped playing them in the 2050s in favor of the numeric versions." Luz said genuinely interested, as both players laid their deck, the cards suddenly animated themself and started to attack the opposite team. "This is the only interesting part of the game," King said bored he never was a fan of card games. Owlbert's cards put up a good fight but they were no match for the wild card, what was one game became two, then three, then four, and suddenly it's the evening almost 6 pm. "Ha! I love the feeling of victory, it feels... fluffy?" Eda said proud of her victory before confusion took hold. 

"Huuuh Eda-" Luz started but was cut off by King, "the curse is returning!" This information caused Eda to gasp. 

"Oh crap, it's already the evening, ugh King we have to hurry to the night market."

"Why am I coming again?" 

"Because I need an extra pair of eyes to watch out for pickpockets and an extra pair of hands in case I want to pickpockets." Eda said with a malicious smile, "Pickpocket!" They both said in unison, making Luz laugh.

"But weren't we supposed to go to the market during the afternoon?" Luz asked.

"Huuuh yes... but I got carried away in the game and I forgot so plan B, night market, it's dangerous with a lot of illegal merchandise, you can find anything there."

"Eda you really gotta be careful with this game, you are obsessed with it, it doesn't do you good if you have to go to a shady market because you forgot to go buy your medication."

"pfff I'm not obsessed," Eda denied.

"Then why are you taking your deck with us?" King asked.

"you never know, still not obsessed"Eda's denial made Luz snort, she wasn't too worried, what could possibly harm the Owl Lady herself? 

"Ok, we are good to go, Luz rules reminder so I can pretend to be a responsible guardian."

"Who are you trying to convince?" King asked mockingly.

"It's just to give me good consciousness, anyway, no breaking anything, no touching shiny stuff, no one allowed in my potion room, you know where the snacks are, the food is ready and in the fridge, don't stay up too late- I don't care when you go to sleep, don't mess up the house and keep an eye on Hooty make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble."

"Ookay."

"HOOT HOOT, I DON'T NEED A BABYSITTER I'M A BIG BOY HOUSE!" Hooty interjected, but no one believed him.

"Yeah sure Hooty," Eda said sarcastically "As for your rules, no tea talking unless you want to be tased again and mouth shut about Luz machine parts unless she wishes to tell her friend."

"YES MAM."

"Alright, King you have to bounce, have fun with the academy twerps. Byyyyyyyeee!

The next ten minutes were the longest in Luz's life, she was so excited at the prospect of having a sleepover with friends and just hanging out with friends for the first time, at least from what she could remember, that she could almost forget about her issues at least aside from missing Vee, they weren't as omnipresent as before gradually she was letting her past life go. It was still hard but she was doing better, but now it was Conjuring Night and she planned to have fun and not think about her problems. In her excitement, she almost failed to notice the lack of moon and stars in the sky, looks like the night was gonna be cloudy. After agonizingly long minutes of waiting, she heard Hooty talking, "Visitors, hooray someone to listen to my stories-" Before Hooty could finish, Luz opened the door.

"Friends!" Luz's energy was at an all-time high. 

"Hi Luz," Gus and Willow both said in unison. Luz started to hug them right after, lifting them both in the air with little to no effort.

"Wow... humans are strong," Gus said with sparkling in his eyes.

"Hugs are nice, but too tight, too tight," Willow said struggling.

"Oh sorry, sorry," Luz let them down and the hug continued with Luz controlling her strength the best she could. After around 3 minutes, they all went inside.

"Welcome toooooo the living room. We call it that because it's technically living, the walls are breathing."

"Enchanting." Said Willow looking at the breathing wall.

"We've got snacks, we got weird music." The music box proceeded to play a creepy laugh.

"We got a bucket!" Said a currently hyperactive Gus.

"Yes! My man," Luz's excitement was making wonder in holding back her inner struggle, at the moment she was a normal teen having fun with her friend. Well as normal as being a human in a realm full of magic is, but still she was loving it.

"So how does this Conjuring thingy work?" Luz asked really wanting to bring something to life.

"Oh hum actually, the weather isn't with us this year... the clouds are blocking the moon, usually it's not a problem but they are too opac, they block the magic of the moon," Willow said disappointed. 

"Aaww that sucks." Luz was disappointed as well, she was really looking forward to the sleepover.

"But hey, we can wait, maybe the sky will clear and we can still have fun while waiting." Said Gus trying to lighten the mood and succeeding.

"Yeah, you are right there is a lot of stuff to do, besides I still have a bijillon question about the demon real." Said Luz regaining her enthusiasm.

"And, if you are ok with that, I myself have a bijillion questions about the human realm," Gus said taking out his pen and notes.

"Calm down, Gus we don't want to push Luz into uncomfortable territory." Said the voice of reason to Gus, who has difficulties identifying touchy subjects and struggles to realize when he is being pushy.

"It's ok, we can as long as it's not about the stuff I already told you, it will be fine but I'd rather do that later." Responded Luz, who even if she said she was ok with the subject was still a bit uncomfortable with it, but she did not want to ruin the party, no she wouldn't, eventual struggles would be for later, and now she wasn't going to be a burden. 

The following hour was the most fun the three teenagers had in a very long time, and in Luz's case the first time as far as her memories could tell. They had a mix of humans and demon realm games, snacks, watching crystal balls, snacks, storytelling, snacks, Gus the illusion master, snacks, Willow the plant prodigy, and snacks. All this display of magic was very fun and Luz was in haw, but she also was a bit jealous, she was hoping to be able to do magic one day. Yes she could do potions and it was fun but it wasn't like casting spells, it did not feel like it. Luz has asked Eda to teach her spells in the past few days, and she tried to teach her the simple light spell a good beginner spell. However it did not do much, Luz may have had a lot of modifications, gadgets, and even an artificially improved heart, but she did not have a bile sac, which mean she can't do circles in the air. She tried to remember even rewatching it on her recorded memory still nothing. But like she said before she will be a burden, no bad mood, tonight was a fun night!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So you are telling me the Boiling Isles doesn't have any contact with outsiders, other Titans, or societies?" Luz asked curiously, the conversation had shifted to the demon realm and how it operates.

"Yeah, we don't really have contacts in our diplomatic relations with anyone, but other societies are living on other Titans, apparently we had a bit of contact with them before Belos took power, but when he seized control of the isles. He told us the outside world was dangerous because it was poisoned by wild magic and only the Boiling Isles could be saved and eventually clean the rest of the world." Gus gave his best Boiling Isles history fact, but the information sounded very off, 'Autarcy a lot of human societies did it centuries ago, maybe globalization never happened here.' But there was another thing that sounded weird. "Wait, you said other Titans, don't you guys have other lands than Titan carcasses? Like actual landmass like we have in the human realm ?" 

This time it was Willow's turn to answer, "There are landmasses actually, but only the Titans and seas surrounding them are habitable, the rest of the world is a no-witch land where no magic exists, it's desolated, the Titan bless us with life and magic but when we live the magic in the air grows weaker until there is nothing." This was a new whole level of information, the Titans make this world habitable, it was very interesting to learn and Luz loved every second of it. 

"Wow now I get why you guys sounded so surprised when I told you the majority of Earth land masses have life," Luz said.

"Yeah... oh is there any way we can see what Earth looks like?!" Said Gus excited again at the idea of seeing what the human world looks like.

Luz thought about it, either draw a map or show her home planet using the holograms in her hands, but that would mean showing a machine. That said she could brush it off or find an excuse. "Well yes in fact I can, come closer and watch my hand..." After saying that, both Willow and Gus got closer, and that is when Luz activated her hologram showing an image of Earth and the Moon orbiting. 

Both Willow and Gus were amazed by two things, one the Earth is beautiful, so much blue, so much green, diverse landscape, so much life... and second holy Titan was Luz doing some kind of human magic?! 

"How are you doing this?!" Asked an amazed Gus.

"Remember when you read the human magazine when we met? I told you it was body implementation."

"Hum yes, I remember."

"Well this is one body implement it's called holograms, it's a bit like illusion magic but more limited, we put some human technology in some part of our body to improve ourselves or fun stuff." Said Luz to a very focused audience.

"That's uuuhh... not something I'm not ready or willing to do." Said Willow a bit weirded out.

"It's okay you... you are not forced to do it, that's just a common human practice, I was surprised by demon realm tradition when I arrived."

"Like what?" Asked Gus.

"Well for example fairy pies, we don't have fairies in the human realm but the equivalent of fairies would be mosquitoes. They don't steal your skin but drink your blood, we don't eat them and make pies out of them. Uhg just thinking about it ew."

"Interesting," said Gus.

During this whole time the sky still was not clear in fact it became darker and darker, also shouldn't Eda be back now? It was the old lady so there wasn't anything to worry about, but it's still a bit weird, maybe she was busy doing pickpocket. As the night continued suddenly, they heard a thunder.

"Oh no looks like it's gonna rain..." Willow seemed disappointed.

"Oh sweet, I love the rain and I haven't seen it since I arrived here." Luz has no memory of enjoying the rain but it just came off naturally. She started to move toward the door.

"LUZ WAIT STOP!" Both said Gus and Willow grabbing her before she could get closer to the outside. The two fell on the front while trying to hold her back because Luz was way stronger than them and barely felt any strength restraining her moves, it was their screaming that stopped her. 

"Are you guys okay? And why are you acting like that?" Luz was extremely confused, it wasn't like them to act like this.

"Wait, you don't know? Miss Eda hasn't told you?" Said a frantic Gus who ignored Luz's questions.

"Told me what?"

"The Boiling rain! The rain is boiling water, it's dangerous!" Explained Willow while standing up.

"I'm surprised you did not know. The rain doesn't boil in the human realm?" Gus said while also getting up.

Well, that explains it all, but this new revelation came with worries, why Eda didn't say anything? Were King and her be ok? Would she have been boiled to death if her friends weren't there? 

"Yikes how do you guys even leave with this?! Two minutes would be enough for severe third-degree burns all over your body! Also no it doesn't boil on Earth, it's safe mostly."

"Two minutes? Well maybe for humans because you aren't used to it, but here most people can support the boiling rain for around 8 to 10 minutes before it gets very dangerous, and some demons and beasts are immune to boiling water." It was Gus who explained, coming as a bit of a relief to Luz, her shield could certainly protect her and some magic shield too but it was tiring and not the best option.

"As long as we are inside we will be safe, but that means moonlight conjuring is officially dead now." Willow sounded disappointed, Luz felt bad for her friend, Willow was looking forward to this night, almost as much as Luz was. Luz offered a comforting hand on her shoulder, "Hey it's ok, we can do that next year and I promise you, this time we will bring something to life, heck perhaps even the whole house!" Luz said with a determinating and comforting look, being met with laughter and smiles from both her friends. Then Willow got serious again.

"To be honest, I wanted to show off to Amity and Bosha's gang, to show them I'm not half a witch. Amity is the green-haired girl who made fun of me the day, we met and Bocha is a three eyes purple haired bully. And maybe prove it to myself." All gaze were upon Willow, who started to appear sad before they could do anything, she continued. "The truth is she and I used to be friends."

"Whaaa-," Luz's surprise wasn't shared by Gus making her understand he already knew.

"We used to play together as kids, but when she got her magic power and I didn't she stopped being friends with me." Willow wasn't happy to relieve this memory, Amity hurt her a lot that day, and it only got worse with time.  

"That's ridiculous, you are no way half a witch, you are powerful! I mean girl did you even see what you did when you switched track? I saw the Instagram post the entire presentation room was covered and vines! And you are the best in the entire plant track Amity and the bully gang doesn't know what they are talking about." Willow smiled, Luz's words seemed to dissipate some clouds in her mind and she looked like she was about to cry. "You two, guys are among the most powerful witches I know," Luz ended with a cheerful and warm smile.

"Luz is right Willow, who cares about what idiots think, you are great, you know it and we know it too." After hearing Gus and Luz, Willow shed a tear a happy one, she hasn't been complimented like this by witches her age in forever. It felt good, it felt like finally things were getting better for her. "Thank you guys, it means a lot to me."

Luz opened her arms, "Group hug? I promise not to break your rib cage." Not giving a verbal answer instead her friends just opened their arms, Gus and Luz hugged Willow who started to cry a little, cries of joy. In the hug, Luz fought back a little jealousy over the fact Willow, unlike herself, was able to cry. She wasn't going to be jealous over her friend being emotional, she knew she couldn't but a part of her still envied her witch friend. 'I only met them a bit more than a week ago, and yet Willow trusts me enough already to share something like that, it must not be easy... Maybe I can tell them, maybe...' Maybe she could, but not today, not right now, she is not ready yet. The hug continued in silence for a few minutes until Willow calmed down and they finally let go. In just a few minutes, they became closer friends. As they were about to continue the night, the door opened to a Hooty who looked worried.

"Hum... Guys, the boiling rain is growing stronger, does any of you can do a shield spell for the house?" He asked visually sweating, because somehow he could.

"Wait... the house isn't boiling rainproof?!" Willow sounded very worried, Gus looked worried and Luz could easily understand how the conversation was going it was not good.

"You need to get the construction coven for that, Eda is a fugitive so they refuse to do it, she tried to bribe some construction coven officials but it didn't work, so she just put a shield on the house." Hooty said in a visual discomfort, "Anyway the rain is getting too strong for me and this could cause a problem, we need to do something about it."

Luz looked outside, the rain was indeed strong and after some calculations including the materials of the house, the boiling water, and the rain intensity, her system estimated they had one hour until water started to infiltrate and in an hour and a half the roof will be at risk of collapsing. The information started to make Luz panic and she wasn't the only one.

"I don't know any shield spell it starts next semester!" Willow said panicking

"Neither do I!" Yelled Gus.

Luz started to hyperventilate, she could feel her heartbeat increase, she had to find a solution, she found her new home only a month ago, and she couldn't lose it. A plan they must find something, anything, her breath gets heavier, her heartbeat gets stronger and faster, her perception of her surroundings starts to get fuzzy, now was not the time to panic she must do something right now. "I-I...I We...We-W" She couldn't speak, she can't think, she can't-

"Luz! Luz, can you hear us?" She could hear someone, it sounded like Willow but her perception was still fuzzy. She nodded.

"Can I touch you?" Luz nodded again Willow put her hand on Luz's shoulder

"Let's sit down ok?" Luz followed and they both sat on the couch, Gus sat on the other side next to Luz.

"Now follow my lead, deep breath in, hold and out," Willow does it as a demonstration, "See? now follow my lead" Luz does and after more breathing, she starts to calm down, her surroundings get less fuzzy, her hearing returns to normal, her heartbeat calms down and slowly her mind gets clearer. "How do you feel?" Gus asked trying to stay calm despite clearly being on alert due to the rain. "Better thanks guys and sorry,"

"It's okay, don't apologize for feeling in danger, we still have some times we can find a solution." Willow may try to hide but Luz can see Willow is stressed. Now calmed down, Luz can now think of a plan. "We have one hour and a half before the roof collapses and one hour until the water infiltrates through the roof, any ideas?" No answers, everyone is trying to find ideas and the stress isn't helping much. Luz thought about her implemented shield, it could block the rain but it's too small... Then she remembers something.

"WAIT, guys!" All gaze turned to Luz. "Eda has a pile of human junk in the shack right next to the entry, there might be shield generators, with four we could activate a shield to protect the house!" The chances of conveniently having four shield generators and the command panel along with them are low but never zero. 

"We don't have better options, so let's go along with it," Willow said knowing full well this plan was heavily relying on luck but they don't have a lot of options.

"Hang on, someone will have to go outside while it rains, and with the rain intensity, it's instant third-degree burns!" Gus raised a good point witches may be resistant to boiling water, it was raining a lot it was too dangerous. 

"I will go," it was Luz she knew her shield could protect her, but it meant showing it to her friends and potentially making them suspicious or worse out herself, but it was better than dying of a slow-burning death.

"No Luz, you don't have to," Willow remembered when Luz told them humans were less resistant to boiling water, going out would be suicide for her new friend!

"Don't worry guys, I wouldn't if I knew I couldn't. Do you trust me?"

"Okay," Willow let go of Luz, "But the second it goes wrong, I'm going out to bring you back in." She warned.

"Same here," Gus affirmed looking determined.

"I will be ok, I promise." Luz walked to the door, stopped, took a deep breath, and continued toward the rain, right before stepping into it, she activated her shield.

"What the-"

"Holy Titan-"

She couldn't hear who said what and the end of their sentence as she ran to the shack protected by the shield, all she could hear were the sound of the rain and the thunder. Quickly, she reached the shack and tried to open it... Close. "How come on you gotta be-" She tries to push and kick the door but it still holds, she could break it open with a few more hits, but she didn't have the time. "Screw this," she activates the canon in her palm, charges it to the minimum, "This should do the trick," and shoot at the lock, there was nothing left of it, and the thunder covered the sound of her weapon. The door was now open, once inside she decided to message Willow and Gus to let them know she was ok. 

It took her a while around 20 minutes to find all the generators needed and the command panel in this huge pile of junk, but they were there, how convenient. The second she got all she needed, she ran back inside the house.

"Finally, you are back! Are you okay?!" Asked Gus, clearly the fact she took so long had them worried, she couldn't blame them.

"I'm okay, not hurt, got everything we need, now we must activate them quickly we only have one hour left."

"Ok, how do they work?" Asked Willow in front of weird small human technology, at this point it sounded like another wordly magic.

"You must first turn them on and calibrate them, to activate them you-... Shit are you kidding?!"

"What's wrong?!" Both Willow and Gus didn't like Luz's reaction.

"They ran out of battery, we must recharge them... The light should do the trick." As if fate was mocking them, all the lamps of the house turned off, and they all turned to Hooty who had passed out.

"Seriously?!" Willow said, "OK we can use light spells!" Willow made the biggest circle she could, and so did Gus, summoning two large balls of light. "It's not enough we need more or they won't be charged in time, Luz said in a panicking tone, "We can't, we can only do one light spell at a time," Gus said showing a growing anxiety. Luz growls under her breath, "Ok continue your thing, I will think of something." She started to look at her memories of Eda's light spell lessons hoping to finally find something to be able to do magic, but there was nothing, she continued to look but still nothing, time was running out. She started to consider sacrificing part of her batteries, when suddenly in one of the light spell's memories a weird glyph appeared. 'What the- it wasn't there before... could it be?' At this point, they had almost no options, she had to try. She uses the holograms in her right hand to generate the glyph from her memory, at the second she does it, the glyph glows and turns into a small ball of light floating in the air. Luz couldn't believe what just happened, she had just done magic in the palm of her hand, and she would have jumped of joy if there wasn't the threat of the roof collapsing. 

"How did you do that? Your implement?" Gus asked.

"No, my implements can't do that, it was magic, there was a weird glyph that appeared in my memories." It was confusing yet wonderful. "Any way we don't have time to talk about this, this spell could help us, let me try something." Luz made more of this glyph, realizing they could do multiple lights some bigger than others, and showed it to Gus and Willow who started to use it. it was working, the generators were charging but too slow they needed it to go faster. "I will be back, I want to try something." Luz went upstairs, the rain was still pouring, and they had only 45 minutes left. She quickly came back with a marker and started to draw the glyph on a wall on a gigantic scale, "Guys, close your eyes!" After they did Luz activated the glyph, and it started to produce a flashing light, so bright it was almost as if they didn't close their eyes at all. It lasted 10 seconds before stopping, "Did it recharge them?" After agonizing seconds where her friends were checking, "Yes! The battery isn't full but it went up by a lot" Willow exclaimed.

They switched between the massive glyph on the wall and smaller floating ones for a while, until finally, the generators had enough energy to stay on all night. They had only had 6 minutes left to calibrate and set them up before activating the shield. Luz used the implemented knowledge she had of military technology Pax Angelica put in her system, it wasn't a fast process, and the minutes it took for that were agonizing, they could feel and see the water starting to infiltrate the house, when finally, "DONE! I will go outside to set them up, you two stay inside when the panels tell you they are all in position click on activate, ok? They both nodded, and Luz went outside again. She only had two minutes.

First one set up, 1 minute 34 seconds left.

Second one set up, 1 minute 2 seconds left.

Third one set up, 37 seconds left.

Last one set up, 14 seconds left.

'Now, they must activate the shield' Luz thought the adrenaline still running.

13

12

11

10

'What are they doing?!' Luz started to run back toward the inside.

9

8

7

6

The shield activates and covered the whole house, finally, they are safe, Luz lets out a huge sigh of relief as she walks back. She sees Gus and Willow on the ground, the adrenaline was now running out that they were safe. "Is everyone okay?" asked Willow now that the situation was calm.

"I'm good," said a tired Gus

"I'm fine," said Luz not seemingly too tired."... so I guess I should explain for... that" Luz activates her shield as a demonstration.

"I think it's just more than a few implements, but why didn't you tell us? Willow said she wasn't mad, nor curious but seemed concerned.

"I... Well, I was thinking about telling you but I wasn't ready."

"Are you now?"

"...No not yet... sorry" Luz looked defeated. She looked at the ground her left hand holding her right arm, her stupid brain still making up scenarios of the worst ways  Willow and Gus could react. Without seeing it coming, she was being hugged by them, "Then don't tell us, we will wait until you are ready, we won't pry, we won't pressure." Gus was the one finishing what Willow said, "We promise, and to be honest a lot more worried about you going outside despite the danger, you did not even hesitate, you are very brave Luz, and very cool. At that moment, Luz could scream-cry but that's something she also wasn't ready to show them, "Thank you, guys... so much you are the best." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Around two hours passed, in which the current resident of the house didn't do much, they mostly used that time to calm themself from all the emotions of earlier. It's tiring to save your house from collapsing on you. Eventually, Hooty woke up turning the lamp back on, until then they used the light glyph. They healed Hooty a bit and filled him in on what happened, the thankful owl tube tried to offer tea as a thanks but they politely declined. It was getting very late, they were tired but Luz insisted on staying up so she could deactivate the shield in case Eda and King come back. Willow and Gus decided to stay up not wanting to leave Luz alone, the rain had calmed down but not by a lot.

Luz was getting worried, it was almost 1 am and they still weren't back. At one point, she wanted to go find them it took all of Willow's and Gus's to convince her to stay. Hooty was looking out uncharastically focused. They waited long before finally seeing someone approaching the house, they had grey long hair, a red dress, and a staff, it was Eda. Using her magic she created a shield around the house and tried to walk inside but was blocked by the human force field. 

"What the- Hey kid everything alright? What's this?" 

"Eda! I was so worried. We are okay, this is a human shield we found it in your pile of junk! Are you three ok? What happened?"

"Calm down, kid. Calm down we are ok. Why don't you turn that thing off so we can all get inside."

"Right. One second." Luz ran back inside and deactivated the shield letting Eda, King, and Owlbert inside. They all sat down in the living room, there was still some snack left over to eat.

"Eda, I have got to show you something." Luz opened her hand manifested a hologram of a light glyth and activated it, the little light few above them almost reaching the sealing.

"Woah, that's... that's impressive, how did you do that?" Eda was amazed her basically adopted child, who was human and machine without any magic had just done a light spell with her bare hand. "Well allow us to tell you about tonight's crazy adventures."

In the next hour Luz, Willow, and Gus proceed to tell Eda everything that happened during what was supposed to be their conjuring night. And so did Eda and King for their night, apparently a guy called the Grim Hammer or Tibbles had some elixir but was selling it at an expensive price, Eda tried to challenge him to Hexes Hold'em to win the elixir but lost. Then the guy took King as a prize and captured Eda because of money. This cured Eda's obsession with the card game, it later started to rain which allowed them to get free and get the elixir but the rain got too strong so they had to find shelter and wait for it to calm down. And when it did they finally started to go back home. 

"Man, we all got crazy adventures tonight," Luz affirmed starting to get tired.

"Don't tell me about it." Kind commented, "I don't want to hear about ours ever again."

"It sure got crazy, but look at you Luz, a human doing magic, nice work kiddo." Eda affectionately pats Luz, it felt good, she felt safe. "Well it's extremely late si everyone off to bed, dweebuses you can sleep with Luz in the attic, King will probably join you, he missed Luz."

"I DID NOT!"

"You kept asking me if Luz was okay when we were waiting for the rain to calm down." Eda had a smirk, it was completely intentional and planned. 

"You are a liar and a traitor." King seemed extremely embarrassed. Before being lifted up and hugged by Luz.

"Aaaawww I missed you too buddy." She also started to pat him.

"Insulting!... please continue."

"This is all adorable but am too tired for this I'm heading to bed." Said a half-awake Willow.

"Right behind you." Gus was also only half-awake.

"Yeah, you are right I'm getting tired too." Said Luz whose eyelids started to get heavy.

All of them headed upstairs, got ready to sleep and now the sleepover was in Luz's room. In normal circumstances, they would talk for hours, but with their adventure, Gus and Willow immediately fall asleep after crashing into their sleeping bags. King had a faculty to fall asleep anywhere, at any time, the moment he closed his eyes. There now were only Eda and Luz awake, Eda seemed to be still doing things but Luz couldn't discern what and she was way too tired to care. Slowly her eyes shut and she drifted to sleep, no nightmares, the night was peaceful, and despite what had happened she still loved having her friends over. She felt a lot closer to them now, she felt like she could trust them, it felt so good to have someone your age you could be close to. Something Luz hadn't had in a very long time, last time it was with Vee, new flashes of memories were happening during her sleep. She saw herself playing hide and seek with her sister but also saw one where they were hugging. She was missing her so much and hoped she could see her again one day. 

Vee was hoping that as well, she wished her sister was still there, if she still believed in god she would have prayed for him to give her sister back. 

Maybe that god wouldn't answer their prayers, but another dead one would hear them.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

A few days went by ever since the conjuring night incident. The very day, it stopped raining allowing Gus and Willow to leave the Owl House in the morning. The previous night has been tiring for everyone, from Luz's trying to save the House from collapsing to Eda and King's venture at the night market. Apparently, Eda was less responsible and invincible than Luz thought, but at least her escapade cured her Hexes hold'em addiction. Eda had been impressed by Luz's magic, sure it was a light spell one of the simplest spells there is but done by a powerless human, which thanks to her holograms could cast with her hands without casting a spell circle, meaning she could cast quicker than witches and bipedal demons, it is a huge advantage in a fight. The next days were calm, with no major accidents or adventures. Luz mostly played with King, the two had established the comedy hour, one hour of bread pun in the morning to Eda's greatest displeasure, or she would read, chat to her friends, and help Eda with potion, she had become a natural on the subject. Although the glyph kept doting her mind if she found one, it could mean there were others she could find, also she still was wondering how it appeared in her memory, a question to which Eda didn't have the answer. One afternoon, Luz finally decided to try to look for new glyphs but a new problem was facing her, with that in mind she went downstair to find Eda, who was watching something on the crystal ball, it seemed to be about some kind of Boiling Isles movie review show. King was there too, taking a nap with François and being adorable. 

"Hey Eda, what are you watching?" Luz asked wanting to do some casual talk before digging into the subject.

"Well today is Slugday aka the do-nothing day, so I'm just watching a random movie review, the movie is called 'The Planet of the Humans' a big flop and bad movie about humans infiltrating society and draining us of our magic, bad story, and very unrealistic," Eda answered casually.

"If my home realm were to invade, it wouldn't be like this, Archangel would send waves of Angel soldiers to destabilize the defenses before sending Berserkers to kill the leaders," Luz said without thinking, it came out naturally.

"Huh, Angel soliders? Berserkers?" Eda turned her head, surprised and curious at the new information.

"Oh yeah right I never talked about that, hehe sorry I did not feel like it at the time," Luz said with a bit of embarrassment. "There are multiple types of Angels, and all of them are specialized for something Angel soldiers like I used to be are the infantry, we are the most numerous and the basic ones in offense and defense, there are some who specialize in siege, others in fly combat, some who heavy tanker, some who are mostly protectors, etc... I don't want to dig into it. And there are the berserkers those Angels are creepy, massively modified to the point it's hard to even think they were humans, they are very strong and fast rarely used and only obey direct orders from Archangel, I never saw one and I'm glad I didn't."

"From your description, I don't want to see one either, I shouldn't be surprised about those revelations that I heard before should have warned me. Your home realm sucks."

"Yeah it sure does, but I wanted to talk about something else, it's about the glyph."

"What about it kiddo?" Eda asked curiously.

"I have a choice to make... Do I try to find glyphs the natural way aka looking at my surroundings, connecting with the magic around are using my memories or do I find them the efficient but unnatural way." Luz paused, Eda was a bit confused about where Luz was heading, "My modified brain has a highly efficient computer added to it that is what makes me able to understand quickly and remember everything, and with that using the glyph I already know, I can create and test thousands of potential glyphs per minutes. But it doesn't feel right, it feels like it's against nature to do that." After hearing Luz, Eda could understand the girl's struggle on the one hand it's normal to want to learn magic the quickest way possible but this way lacked the understanding and searching that allows her to demonstrate the importance of wild magic and how it rules the isles. And most importantly, even if she was getting better Luz still had difficulties with being a cyborg. 

"It's your choice to make kid, not mine but personally I would go the natural way, yes your machine part is super effective but this way won't make you see and learn the link between magic and the isles, plus it shows the importance of wild magic. But it can take a long time, the other way would be much faster. I hope it helps you choose." Eda wasn't sure if her little speech if she chose the right words. The usually confident woman was less so when it came to comfort a kid. But Luz gave a little smile seemingly content. 

"I see, thanks Eda it does help, I still need a bit of time to think about it, you are a great teacher." Luz's smile grew wider her doubt visibly fading away. Eda definitely didn't have dust in her eyes, no she did not. Luz went back to her room to read "Advanced potion making 101" a book for experimented potion maker. 'What a good kid despite all she went through she is still a sweet kid, and very skilled at potion if she continues like this she will be able to prepare my elixir before the year's end.' Eda was proud of her kid she was a nice, strong, skilled child, and she smiled fondly thinking about it. 'Seriously what's happening to you, Owl Lady?!' Eda thought snapping back to reality. Was this a motherly attachment? Disgusting! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The very next day was market day, with what was remaining of the junk from the portal and the new ones from the trash slug, the Owl family was planning to sell human treasure at the market, and using Luz's expertise, Eda was hoping to make profits today. And it seemed like they were the first to come, after a quick set up thanks to the Owl lady magic, their stand was set up all that was left was to wait for customers. They waited... and waited... and waited... and waited, this was a particularly slow day it seemed. Luz and King got bored and went on to read Luz's flowery book series. To think that awful piece of reading was the best thing to come out of the human realm, or angel realm as they were calling it, was saying a lot about the state of that broken realm.

"Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted 'I challenge you to a Witch's Duel', and look I drew a flip book. Pew! Pew! Pew!" Luz said while in the zone the lecture put her in while flipping back and forth the pages.

"Show me!" A voice came to Luz's ears putting her out of the zone.

"What?"

"Show me the picture." It was King's voice, the cute little self-proclaimed King that had imposed his throne in Luz's cold, artificial, unliving heart, making it at least a bit more lively. Luz showed her drawing.

"Huh! I can do better than that. You know, they once called me the King of artists." He said, proud.

"I can draw with the precision and experience of the best artists on the Boilig Isles, remember when I made perfect copies of the cursed painting that demon sells at the market? Do you really think you can do better than that?" Luz said being playfully smug.

"A King is always the best, that's what it takes to be a King!" King affirmed

"I thought you were the King of demons, are you making this up now?"

"Doesn't matter!"

"What's most important is that my followers would leave me offerings in fear of me!" King said trying (and failing) to appear intimidating. "Even the Archangel wouldn't dare to face me." He continued still trying to be intimidating. Luz grimaced a bit hearing the name of the one responsible for so many horrors.

"Please let's not talk about him King, instead what if I offered you more of this tantalizing book?" A grin grew on Luz's face, knowing full well she was successfully dragging King into her Good Witch Azura cult.

Eda let out a groan, she had remained silent during their conversation minding her business, but didn't seem to be able to contain herself anymore. "Please stop reading that. Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all our serious customers! Luz appeared slightly offended by the comment Eda made while agitating her feather duster.

"Hum Eda, what customers? We have been here for 2 hours 34 minutes 23 seconds and we still haven't seen any customers or other stands, what's going on?" Luz was weirded out by this, the avenue was filled with activities and stands especially at this hour of the day. Eda was looking unpleased and serious. "This is a bad omen, there must be something horrible happening today." Eda's quote made Luz shiver down her spine, was she even normally able to shiver with her modification? In any case, this was scary what was happening? 

"Luz!" A familiar voice came from afar. "Something amazing is happening today!" A hyped Gus walked toward them, with Willow next to him.

It was relieving to see her friends, they also didn't appear scared at all, "Hey Willow. Hey Gus." Luz greeted but didn't have the time to say anything else.

"It's the annual Covention day," said Willow holding a templet, "Student witches get to see all types of Covens before they are placed in one!" Her two friends seemed excited about that but Luz wasn't too pleased, it was about the coven system Eda talked so much about, and from what Luz was told it wasn't good, it felt too much like some human realm dictatorship used to do. The last one was North Korea, which survived until the war against the machine. "There is even a mystery guest this year," finished Willow who like most denizens didn't seem to see the problem with that system. "See, I was right something horrible is happening today," Eda exclaimed looking at her two freeloaders, she got weird looks from the dweebuses, "What? Yes, covens seem like fun clubs for witches but you are forced to give up your magical independence, to be part of a crooked, controlling system! She finished by bumping her fist against the table making her point clear. 

She was met with a groan from the two dweebuses looking slightly offended, "but you know, no judgment." Thankfully Luz, agreed with her when it came to coven so she didn't need to convince the kid not to go there. 

"Eda, I'd like to go at the covention." Well fuck.

"WHAT?! But you told me you agreed with me, you said it was bad because it resembled what-" she stopped herself and looked at Luz's friends who appeared confused, and reminded they didn't know, "Some old human dictatorships did." That was close.

"I know Eda, and I still do but I have been in this realm for only a month, I'm still figuring out how everything works here, going there might help." Luz glared at her friends then turned back to Eda and whispered, "Also the more you know about your enemy the better it is." Earing this Eda saw her point, it was a good one she had almost forgotten Luz was still a stranger to this place, and with how well she had adapted to the place it was as if she was born here, it had slipped her mind. 

"Alright fine, but in exchange you won't read that flowery trash for the entire week, deal?" Eda proposed. And Luz's answer came fast "DEAL!" She then turned to Gus and Willow and started to walk toward them "Alright covention here we come!" Her friends seemed happy to drag her along to the covention. 'This is going to be a fun day' the three of them thought, 'This is going to be a long day' Eda thought, and finally, the very attendive King still reading Azura said "Where are we going?" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Coming closer to the building, Eda's annoyance grew, "Huh I haven't been to one of these since we were girls..." She said making her annoyance very clear, but realizing her mistake a bit too late. Luz turned to her, "We?" Her mentor never mentioned any 'we', the few times she spoke about her past. 

"Hu- hum I mean-..." Eda tried to find a good excuse but miserably failed.

"Mysterious past hey..." Luz said with a mischievous grin. "Don't you dare!" Eda retorted that this wasn't the place or the time to talk about her if she was to say about her to Luz it would be later. "Don't worry Eda I get it there are stuff people don't want to talk about, I won't pressure you." Eda knew well Luz had stuff about her she didn't like to talk about so it wasn't a surprise to hear her say that. "Don't worry, you might know soon."

Before entering Eda had to hide her hair to make sure she wouldn't be recognized in there, yes consilement stones exist but they are extremely rare, expensive, and hard to steal. Willow suggested Eda reconsider joining a coven, Eda wasn't impressed, "Let's just get this over with."

Luz had to admit the covention was doing a good job at selling the coven system, hundreds of stands with activities, trials, and tests to see which coven suits you best, you can even join one on the spot, and the entries are elementary, not filled with boring administrative papers that will kill you before you are finished. So yes, it was effective, she could understand why her friends were enjoying the moment. "Every which and demon must join a coven once they finished school but it is possible to join on at the age of 16. There are 9 main covens one of each magic like the track at Hexide." Willow was in full explanation mod completely taken in by how 'amazing' the system is, 'I guess that's what happens when you lived with it your whole life constantly told how awesome it is.' Luz thought while Willow continued, "The main covens have many sub-covens affiliated to them with some specialties mostly made so you can be with people with similar interests like the baking coven, the cat coven, tiny cat coven, tiniest cat coven-." 

"Uuuggghhh," Esa looked like she didn't have apple blood in four days. 

"And also the grumpy coven," Willow whispered.

"What was that?!" They ran away with grins, as they advanced, Luz was getting uncomfortable it looked way too much like some 20th-century dictatorship and the current one in place. But it got suddenly worse when she heard Gus "You gotta choose wisely though because once you choose one type of magic there is no coming back, you are stuck with that sigil forever." Gus pointed at an illusion student getting an illusion sigil, Eda hadn't mentioned that yet, the marking, yes free will was there but individualism was not.

"Hum, guys don't you think this sound kinda... oppressive." Both looked at Luz as if she had done blasphemy, before seemingly taking into account a point of you. "It can appear a bit strict to someone outside but I assure you there is a good reason for it to be like this... the Titan." Luz got confused but let Willow continue, "The emperor, who can speak to the Titan told us it was the way to use magic, wild magic is a huge disrespect to the Titan, no offense to Eda!" And now Luz was dumbfounded, the divine purpose, a greater purpose felt too close to home. Eda heard everything and caught up to them, "See Luz, this is why I didn't want to go in the first place, this is a propagandist wild dream here." Luz looked down, " I agree Eda but this is important, I must see how everything works to best interact with it and once today is done, I don't ever want to set foot in here again." Luz looked determined at Eda and was met by a warm smile "That's the spirit."

"By the way where is King?" Luz asked.

"Last I saw him he got a free oracle pen and went on a quest for offerings don't worry about him, he can find his way to us." Luz loved King but this is going to get him in trouble one day. 

"WILLOW! Look! This the emperor's coven panel." Gus pointed at the huge banner standing above the imposing door with guards on each side, their uniforms were different from the ones Wrath's subordinate wore. "Do you think they will sign my forehead?" Gus asked. "Only way to find out," Willow answered before they both ran toward the huge door. 

'Oh boy,' Luz thought to herself, the emperor's coven is the one she heard about the most from Eda's ranting so far she knew they were the police and military but were also the only ones allowed to use all kinds of magic, which is dumb and sound like what some human sects would do. But she still wanted to make her own opinion on them. "Eda, I will follow them, I'd like to see for myself how they are, you comin'? Luz asked knowing very well Eda's opinion on them. "Nope, no way I'm going in here and nothing will make me." Well, she tried, and so Luz headed inside and ended up in an indoor coliseum and sat close to Willow and Gus, she noticed Gus did have his forehead signed, good for him. Surprisingly, Eda ended up joining her and sitting next to her.

"So there is something that made you."

"I was recognized, turns out hiding your hair isn't foolproof." This made Luz chuckle a little. 

Then it started rising in the arena was Bump, lights on him, the ground clapped. 

"Dinizens of Bonesborought, students often ask me 'Princial Bump what's the highest magical achievement?'" 

"Is it this?" Bump was interrupted by a Hexidian, who made his head grow crushing (in a non-lethal way) the one standing next to him. 

"Wow, I failed you as a principal," 'Well at least he assumes his responsibility not many human principals would' Luz thought. "It is to be selected to join the best of the best. The crown jewel of the isles, the emperor's coven." Three scouts rose from the ground and started to show off their magical skills. "Feast your eyes on that elite force. Each member handpicked to help usher in a new age of controlled magic, the member of the emperor's coven has access to all, yes all forms of magic, oooh haaa." The crows echoed, 'Seriously? Are we in Shrek 1 Duloc?' Luz thought while watching. "But only the best can ascend these ranks, some day that could be one of you!" Bump pointed at Amity whom Luz hadn't noticed the presence until now, it's not like she hadn't seen the girl a lot, she only saw her once and heard a few mentions from Willow usually complaints and a backstory. Anyway, she seemed happy to be pointed at by the Hexide principal, and then the coven scouts vanished.

"And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest, you know her, you love her, Lilith." The crowd started to sheer the second they heard the name, it must be someone important. Eda, distracted until now, was now focused and Luz noticed. In an impressive display of magic, a giant raven appeared above them, flew to to ground, and landed right in front of Bump, and as the raven disappeared the presumed Lilith appeared. Eda looked very focused, if her jaws could hit the ground they would, "You know her?" Luz asked.

"You could say that," 'Mysterious past' Luz thought but as she said earlier she wouldn't push the subject.

"Thank you all, it wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings, now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The emperor's coven awaits you." With a flash of blue light, another giant raven appeared concluding her speech.

Both Eda and Luz exited the coliseum intending on leaving, though King was nowhere to be seen, "Let's find him and head out, it will be faster if we separate, message me if you find him Luz."

"Okay, boss Lady". And both separated looking out for the self-proclaimed king of demons, Luz was not paying attention to where she was going, which led her to collide with a certain green-haired girl.

"Watch where you are- oh it's you the new girl," Amity remembered her as an oddity, someone who showed up one day but didn't reappear, she hadn't thought about it since only some jealousy because she seemed to have replaced Amity as Willow's best friend. 

"Oh Amity, heard about you, I'm not new at school I only went for a visit." It was the first time Luz was interacting with Willow's former friend and despite what she heard, Luz intended on staying civil she didn't want to draw attention to her or Eda. "I'm Luz the human." It appeared Amity hadn't noticed Luz was human as she showed signs of surprise, and then looked at her round ears. 

"You can't be here, this covention is for witches only!" Amity displayed a great act of mean girl, 'why is it always the pretty ones?' She thought to herself. Well, screw being civil.

"Oh, really then I guess I don't see all the demons at the covention." It was openly provocative, and intended to be annoying.

And it worked, "You know what I meant, people from this realm, not someone like you." The face was saying it all. 

"That's specist," Luz said with a grin.

"I don't know what that means and I don't care, you should just go you aren't a witch or a demon." Luz was not sure how Willow had been friends with a girl like that.

"Well, I'm learning how to be a witch I'm being trained by a powerful witch and a ferocious demon." Amity looked behind Luz seeing something.

"Is that your ferocious demon?" Luz turned around to see King carrying tons of goodies and a cupcake running toward her, being his cute self.

"Oh hey, Luz look at all of these offerings-" King stepped on one of his scarves and fell dropping his cupcake. Luz walked toward him to see if he was okay and help him get up. She then stopped the cupcake and intended to give it back to King, but Amity squashed it before she could, this act made them gasp and King's eyes widened in horror.

"Oops, that was an accident," Amity said with a smile intent on being provocative.

Luz saw red, "Why are you being so mean Amity?!"

"Because you and your pet, are giving witches in training a bad name." 

"I AM NOT A PET!" Yelled King outraged 

"He is a very good boy. AND the king of demons! I will tell you what Amity, it's one thing to say I can't be a witch-"

"Cause you can't." Amity cut her off.

"But it's another thing to bully my friend. Just like the good witch Azura said facing her rival Hecate at the bottom of immediate regret, I challenge you to a witches duel!" The crowd around them gasped, were duels a big thing here? 

"I accept," Amity confidently replied, "let's set the term for this duel, shall we?" 

"If I win you apologize to King for squashing his cupcake, and two you accept humans can also be witches." There was no going back now, it was set into motion.

"Fine by me, but when I win, not only will you have to say to the whole covention you are not a witch, you will have to go back to human real-" Amity could not finish.

"Not possible. It's not possible."

"What?" Amity was angry to be cut off but also confused.

"I got here by accident it was only a one-way trip there is no going back." It was a lie of course but partially true, Luz had the means to go back but doing so would be suicidal. 

"Fine then, you will have to stop training forever." Amity settled on that one, remembering what she heard that day when she passed by the human fanatic club it somehow fell off to demand the human to go back, so even if she might be lying she will settle for this new term. 

"Fine let's shake on it," as they shook a circle appeared around their rips. "The everlasting oath is sealed." Amity confidently said.

"That's probably fine." Luz was slowly snapping back to reality realizing what she had dragged herself in.

"Meet me back at the theater in one hour, let's see what kind of witch you are," Amity said as she walked away.

Luz looked at King eating on the floor, "King I can win this right?" King looked at her still eating. "Will you use your machine parts?"

"No or barely."

"Then no," Luz's confidence was at her lowest, she had to find Eda. And she found her quite easy she was hard to miss, it was a mystery no one figured her out, she seemed to be talking with the coven leader. 

"Eda, I accidentally challenge Amity to a witches' duel and it only takes place in one hour." Luz's mind was racing no way she would stop learning magic.  

"Well, it appeared sister, that your student has met my strongest protégé." Did Luz hear that right? She was Eda's sister, it was hard to believe yes they had similar looks but personality-wise they were polar opposites. "And look at those ears, is she human? Where did you even find one of these? Okay Edalyn, for one day you won't have to run from law, I want to see how good of a teacher you are." And she walked away. 

"No offense Eda, but it's hard to believe, she is your sister."

"None taken, I can understand I sometimes find it hard to believe too. Now kid, prepare for bloodshed."

"Eda, I am not using my machine parts." 

"Then it could be anyone's blood."

For the next the two prepared to face their rivals, a force of anti-chaos. Eda quickly realized she hadn't taught Luz any spells, Luz only knew one spell she found herself, she was good at potions but they didn't have the time to get what they needed to make enough ones for the duel. So in the end since Luz refused to cheat, they decided Luz would use some capacities her modification granted her, such as speed, strength, and the ability to predict multiple scenarios and how to best respond to them, she also agreed to use her shield and holograms to make glyph if needed. Finally, after one hour, the duel was close to start the theater was filled with many who came to see it unfold.

"Beloved denizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing, Amity Blight." The crowd sheers Amity some being very fan of her, and the more Luz learned about her, the more she sounded like your typical popular mean girl. "Versus... some human girl," hearing that the crowd muttered, "A human?", "Humans can't do magic," "She is not Amity", etc... But Luz was confident, she could win this, this did not stop stress from building up, however. The bell screamed, marking the beginning of the duel, from what Eda had told her the fight would end when the other was no longer able to fight or forfeit, it is forbidden to kill or cause severe harm.

Amity was the first to attack, "Abomination, rise." A huge abomination rose towering over Luz, she did not expect that, and looks like neither Amity did. "Wow, show me what you got human."

"Patience Blight," Luz said while analyzing the gigantic gooey monster, it was slow and it looked like even if Amity was good, she didn't have combat experience, the abomination's movements were very predictable. She had multiple happening allowing her to take Amity down, after a few seconds she had a plan to win.

The abomination attacks were slow, Luz easily dodged them and even tricked Amtiy a few times, by changing direction she even outpassed her giant faw and got dangerously close to Amity who barely had the time to step back. She divides the abomination into 3 faster ones, however still predictable and it was clear Amity was struggling to order around three abominations at the same time, despite that at some point Luz was surrounded. Amity who until now, had been getting more nervous was now feeling revealed as victory seemed close, but as one of her goey creations started to try to grab the girl to immobilize her. Luz, to her friend's surprise, used her shield, everyone else besides Eda was shocked, humans were supposed to be powerless but they were all seeing the shield made of some kind of energy, some kind of human magic perhaps. Murmur started on the stage as Amity's victory appeared more and more uncertain. Luz used her shield and strength to push the abomination escaping their attempt at encirclement. Amity impatience, nervousness, and anxiety were at their highest, nothing was happening like it should she was starting to get overwhelmed, her stupid brain acting up again. 'Titan, not now! Not here, not in front of everyone, she thought. 

Amity had to stop the fight quickly, she was a Blight she would not Lose, a Blight must always be better. She went for one abomination a bit larger and abomination goo covering her arms shape as a fist, she started to run toward Luz while the now one abomination was more aggressive, Amity knew it was a hit-or-miss move but sensing a meltdown coming she had to stop the fight quickly. 

Reaching Luz, she started to try to hit her, but the human dodged all of her attacks while Amity took some very located hits, the human knew where to strike. Amity really started to fear she would lose, but then her abomination distracted Luz enough to give her an opportunity, and no Amity with the human in the belly and just after ordered the abomination to throw Luz away. It did just that but Amity realized too late they were really close to the wall, Luz hit it in the back of the head and fell on the ground unconscious.

Amity calmed down, she had won, she would never admit it out loud but the human was a tough opponent. And she felt bad for the brutal end of the fight. The crowd cheered, some gasped and others were talking about how they did not expect the human to hold for so long. The owl lady looked worried for the girl and ran to her. Miss Lilith appeared pleased even if Amity could swear her teacher was not confident at some point during the fight. "Well Edalyn, I have to admit this was impressive but in the end you lo-" 

ALERT. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE IS NOT RESPONDING.

The strange voice came from the still-unconscious human. Her mentor tried to communicate. "Luz?" But her student did not answer her.

THREAT STILL ACTIVE. THREAT IS NON-LETHAL. APPLICATION OF REQUIRED RESTRICTION.

Everyone was confused, they didn't know what was happening, Eda and King though, both looked horrified, "LUZ, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" Eda yelled.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Yelled King.

RESTRICTION APPLIED. ACTIVATION OF AUTONOMOUS DEFENCE SYSTEM.

Luz got up, but something wasn't right her brown eyes were now completely blue and were shyning. She was not showing any emotion and was in a fighting stance, intending to fight. Amity barely had any energy left to fight.

"Lily, the Blight kid must forfeit."

"Seriously Edalyn? Are you that desperate?"

"I'm serious, if you have the slightest care about that kid, tell her to forfeit."

"I'm sure, Amity is more than able to continue."

Amity really didn't want to, but she must make a good impression, so she take upon herself and summoned a new abomination, so the fight could resume. She summoned two new abominations, she could barely do much, her brain was acting against her, and the noise was starting to overwhelm her. And they started to try and attack Luz, but no one predicted what came next, the human grew wings and started to fly. Everyone was shocked, first the shield, and now this, it was getting harder and harder to think she was fighting a powerless human. But before anyone could comment on that the human targeted the abominations with her hands and something fired making a blinding blue explosion, when Amity could see again the two abominations had been destroyed. The human had some kind of canons in her palms and took out her abomination in one hit just like that. Worst of all, she flew fast toward her, panicked Amity tried to reform the abominations but it did not work, the abomination goo was not obeying her, and whatever Luz had shot seemed to have rendered the goo unusable. 

Amity who was currently fighting off two threats, one outside aka the human(?), and one inside aka her stupid brain. She tried to summon a new domination but before the process could finish Luz shot again, dangerously close to Amity who was thrown back by the shock wave. Before she could get up, the human was above her, making her fall and holding her face against the ground, she couldn't move and unknown to Amity but everyone else could see, Luz was holding back a fist in the air with electricity ready to hit at the first sudden movement. There was nothing Amity could do right now, she had lost. 

"F-fine you... you won! I forfeit..." Amity could barely speak her brain was gathering her last strength. 

THREAT HAS BEEN PACIFIED.

Luz got up and stepped away letting Amity go, who also got up.

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE IS RESPONDING. DEACTIVITION OF AUTONOMOUS DEFENCE SYSTEM.

Luz closed her eyes and fell to the ground. There was no sheering, no talks, no murmur, nothing. Everyone was shocked, no one could believe what they had seen the effectiveness, the professionalism, and the coldness displayed by a 15-year-old. All of them knew, if the human had done it at the start of the fight I wouldn't have lasted more than 2 minutes. They had witnessed something truly baffling. Luz started to wake up again but this time she seemed back to her usual self, her brown eyes were back, and she was sitting on the ground looking weak and disoriented.

"Oh man... my head...it won't go for a few hours..." Luz then looked around her and was met with stares, "What? Do I have something on my face?" Luz did not get an answer instead, got hugs from Eda and King looking relieved.

"Luz! Thank goodness you ok." Eda is definitely not on the verge of tears.

"The back of my head hurt but otherwise yes, for how long was I out?" Eda and King looked at each other before looking back at her.

"Why don't remember, what happened during the last five minutes?" King asked.

"All I remember is hitting my head against the wall then everything turned to black... oh shoot I- I lost then..." Luz realized defeat.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." And Luz was lost again hearing what Eda just said.

"Guys, seriously what's going on?" 

Eda sighed, "After you went out cold a voice came from you, it said something about central intelligence not responding, saying Blight Kid was a threat and then said it was activating something it called 'Autonomous Defence System'." Hearing this Luz's eyes widened and she put her hands on her mouth, as they both expected this wasn't good. 

"Did it hurt anyone?!" Luz asked frantically.

"No, it didn't, but you did use your wings and used your canons to shoot at the abomination, and to make a story short Amity forfeited... it was in front of everyone," King said worried about the one who had become his sister. 

Luz got up and turned around, "Nononono, this wasn't me I promised, I wasn't in control! I'm so sorry! I didn't think it would happen, I'm so sorry!" Eda and King remember the last time Luz was like this when she got some of her memories back. They won't stay here any longer, they had to go Luz is deeply in need of care right now. 

"You weren't in control of your actions huh, then this means your last actions in this duel do not count, the victory belongs to Amity Blight! Lilith declared visibly ignoring the human distress. This declaration was met with gasps a few cheering, and a few booing (mostly Willow and Gus) but most weren't sure out to react. Amity herself didn't feel she had won, even if the human really wasn't in control.

Luz didn't have the moment to react, Eda didn't for her, and she was enraged. 

"Holy mother of the Titan, Lilith are you fucking kidding me?!" Lilith took a step back and parents put their hands on their kid's ears. "Luz is having a mental breakdown, she just got out of some kind of my control, said my control could have dangerously injured your apprentice! And all you care about is this fucking duel?!" Lilith had expected a reaction but she hadn't expected her sister to snap like that, the human wasn't her kid and even if she was Eda was not the maternal kind. 

"Edalyn, this situation was, yes, strange but we were still in a duel, with an everlasting oath at sake it's rather important to decide a winner." Lilith tried to give a justification, which proved unsuccessful, meanwhile, Amity really needed to find a quiet place to cool down, she was having a meltdown she knew it, she couldn't show it to anyone, Blight couldn't show weakness, she turned around ready to leave.

Eda saw Amity walk away and noticed something on the back of her head. "Oh, so figuring out the fair winner is so important to you?" Eda walked toward Amity taking what was stuck to her neck, "A power glyph from the construction coven, there you cheated which means Luz won, now we are going before you make yourself look worse." 

"I.. I... I didn't... know" Luz saw Amity was not looking good and was clearly innocent, in the cheating affair. And ran outside the theater, Luz felt she needed to follow her, and so she did.

"Eda, I need to do something real quick I will be back soon." 

"Fine but as soon as you are done we are leaving." Luz hugged Eda real quick before going to look for Amity.

Amity had found a corner quieter than the rest of the covention, she was covering her ears still shaking, having a hard time breathing, and going mute, if she tried to talk she would only be able to speak very slowly with simple sentences. She needed only a few minutes until the worst passed, and then she could ignore it, it was far from pleasant but she had done it before and it was manageable. 

"Amity, I'm so sorry." The human was approaching her, Amity tried to tell her to go away but no sound came out 'For Titan's sake why now, why she of all people must see me like this' she thought. "Are you ok?" Amity did not answer, the human sat nor close but neither far from her. After a few minutes, Amity could speak again, "What... are you?" The human looked at her and seemed... offended, she was not sure reading facial expressions was not something Amity was good at. 

"I'm human," Luz answered quickly.

"Don't try to fool me, humans can't do all of that, you must be-"

"I'm human! Don't... don't try to imply something else, I never wanted any of these." Amity didn't have the strength or willingness to counter-argue.

"Ok fine, what do you want anyway, you won! Did you want to hear me say humans can be witches?! OK, humans can be witches, there, happy?!" Where Amity expected mockery, instead she was met by what appears to be guilt. 

"I don't feel like I won, it wasn't me you were fighting in the end." Amity did not understand, the human was questioning her own victory, despite knowing fully well it could mean giving up on magic. 

"And Miss Lilith made me cheat, she betrayed my trust because she thought I wasn't good enough! The worst part is she was right." 

"She betrayed your trust, and it's wrong..." Luz paused searching her words, "I guess no one won, let's it's a draw." Amity looked at the human, she could settle on a draw but that'd nullify the everlasting oath, they did not come to any agreement regarding the scenario of a draw. 

"Fine."

"You were partially right earlier, I'm not a witch." Luz raised her hands and generated a light glyph summoning a bowl of light, "But I train hard to be one." Witnessing this, Amity only had one word.

"How?" Humans aren't supposed to have magic, first, there was all that happened in the teacher, and now this.

"I have holograms implemented in my hands, human tech that project imagery, I use them to generate glyphs I find, they are what allow me to do magic... it doesn't come naturally to me like it does for you, so I had to improvise." Amity wouldn't admit it publically, but the human impressed her. She got up ready to leave.

"I guess humans can be witches too, you might not have any magical abilities but I doubt that will stop you." Amity was heading toward the exit, she had no interest in being at the covention anymore.

"Wait, what about the oath?" Luz asked, Amity just remembered that the human barely knew anything about magic.

"We did not specify anything in case of a draw, so no terms apply." Luz looked relieved after hearing Amity. "Oh, and... I'm sorry about the cupcake." Amity said embarrassed before disappearing in the distance. Luz smiled warmingly, maybe the green-haired bully wasn't that bad after all.

Suddenly Eda and King appear from seemingly nowhere, "Luz, here you are we gotta leave." 

"What happened?"

"I ended up in a duel against Lilith and ran away after trying her shoes together now we gotta scram before she notices." They heard a scream in the distance. "And that's our cue." They all ended toward the exist before they flew away, Gus and Willow caught up to them worried about Luz, she assured them she was okay but not ready to tell them yet. They understood everyone said goodbye and each went on their way, and once outside started to fly home, "Do you want to talk about what happened?" Eda asked Luz.

"Not now, at the house." Eda nodded in agreement and they continued without much talking toward the house.

After they arrived, all of them sat on the couch ready to hear out Luz. "Did it do any damage? Did someone get hurt?" She asked looking at the ground.

"No, there was no victim or damage." Eda's answer relieved Luz a bit.

"Thank goodness."

"You don't have to answer kid but is there any reason you haven't told us about...  whatever that was?" Eda asked a bit nervous about it, not sure how Luz would react. 

"I thought it was deleted when I broke free back at the conformatorium, the ADS is a defense mechanism that activates when an Angel is unconscious and in danger," Luz paused, "but it wasn't... I guess I'm not as free as I thought I was..." she got looks from everyone Hooty included, they weren't sure what Luz meant.

"What do you mean Luz?" Eda asks puzzled.

"The machine inside still has a way to take control of me and act against my will. It still can do what it wants, in some instances and I can do nothing about it!" Luz was growing angry and frustrated, "On the way I tried to delete it, but guess what?! I couldn't, it says I need administrator privilege, I'm not even enough in control to decide what MY body can or can't do!" Luz started to groan and breathe heavily, Eda tried to interject but Luz continued her rant, "And worst all, everyone at the teacher saw, hundreds of people know! Everyone knows I'm a freak of nature now." Luz was too angry and ecstatic to speak properly, only breathing the best she could. Eda patted her on the shoulder.

"Luz, listen to me, you are not a freak and you never be, you are Luz an amazing, kind, brilliant kid, and a weirdo on top of that. All of this makes you awesome don't let anyone believe, and that includes yourself, you aren't." Luz did not say anything, she just leaned in and started to hug Eda, King joined in, she was exhausted by the day and everything that happened. A few minutes later, she had fallen asleep on the couch with King, Eda patted them and let them be. Luz needed some well-deserved rest, and so she went to prepare dinner, leaving them in the living room.

Then Hooty burst through the window, "EDA YOU HAVE GUEEEESSSSTTTT." 

"If that's Lily you can throw her off the property," Eda said still angry at her sister, in fact, she had been angry at her for a while but today she went too far.

"IT'S NOT LILITH BUT AN OLD FRIEND OF YOURS." Eda was now confused and curious, about what old acquaintance could visit her, couldn't her mother Eda would have sensed her kilometers away. She walked to the front door and opened it, and that's when she saw someone she hadn't seen in years, someone she was once very close with, someone she thought she wouldn't see again.

"Raine?"

To be continued.....

Chapter Text

Raine had no idea why they were summoned, along with the two coven heads that were attending, Lilith and Mason, they had been attending the covention promoting and supervising the bard coven board, they had been doing the coven head job despite not having been officially promoted yet, their predecessor Scooter Crane was close to retirement and due to multiple health issues hadn't been able to come. And now near the end of it, they had been called by Lilith who also asked for Mason to show up. As they approached the backstage room they saw that the emperor's assistant Kikimora was on call through the crystal ball, Raine didn't like her she was a manipulative narcissistic woman who only cared about power. 

"Now that we are all here, can we know why you call us?" Asked Mason, he was a quiet man, not often talking and a bit of a workaholic, despite that he was one of the nicer coven heads which was welcome due to most of them being way less so.

"I have to agree with coven head Mason, Lilith did the matter really needed them here?" This time it was Kikimora who despite trying to hide it was slightly irritated.

"I believe so Kikimora, after what happened today is rather strange." Lilith was keeping her composure but Raine could still discern doubts and... guilt? 

"What strange thing happened today? Last I heard there was a duel between your student and a human, which yes is uncommon but that is all." 

"You three weren't there but this duel was far from normal, I'm not even sure whatever my protégé thought was human." All their gazes were on Lilith all raising their eyebrows.

"What do you mean, Lilith? Asked Kikimora slowly getting interested.

"First of all the mentors of that... thing was my sister Edalyn." Upon hearing that name, Raine's eyes grew wider, never in a million years, did they think Eda would come at one of those events. "I thought her student was human at first because of round ears, and it did not try to argue my claim and until a certain point in the duel it seemed my claim was good... but then something strange happened, first it summoned a shield without doing a spell circle." Everyone's eyes grew wider.

"Lilith, are you certain of what you saw? Couldn't it have done it when you weren't looking and how could a human do it? Asked Kikimora who was getting doubtful.

"What happened next is more interesting... it was knockout cold during the fight and after a few seconds while still unconscious, a voice speaking of my protégé as a threat spoke and got up and grew wings they blue and bright allowing it to fly and fast... but that's not all, it fired blue explosive spells again without spell circles." 

"This is... strange and I doubt humans can do that. It must have been something else perhaps some unregistered bird demon?" Mason suggested.

"No Mason, I don't think so," said Lilith, "I have a theory about what that girl is... I think this child is cursed." Once again all stared but this time with a questioning look, "As you all know my sister the Owl Lady is cursed, I think this young teenager is Edalyn's child and inherited her curse..." Raine did not like the implication Lilith's theory was pointing.

"Wait, Edalyn's curse is very different, the only point in common is the wings, and didn't you say she was human?  How could a human do spells?" Raine asked getting uncomfortable with all of this. 

"I understand your doubt Raine, but I have a theory which might explain it... I believe the child to be partially human, with a human parent and Edalyn, I don't exclude a third or a fourth parent, this could explain her round ears and her ability to use magic. And who knows what the combination of a human and a cursed witch might do? It could have created a modified version of the curse, a stronger one." Lilith looked guilty for a second before hiding it. "They have some points in a comment that lead me to this theory, first the girl wasn't in control and unaware of her action, Edalyn Curse took control and changed her body and here it was similar, and it seemed to be able to cancel magic." The looks turn to worried stares. "Now my sister's curse takes away her magic, but this child's curse seems to do the opposite... my protégé used abomination magic and once they were hit by the explosives spells, the abomination goo became completely useless, effectively the child had canceled abomination magic." Everyone looked at Luz and seemed shocked.

"Lilith, thank you for informing us, this curse could be highly dangerous and if she truly is the child of the Owl Lady, we could have a new strong wild witch in the making. Send footage and pictures to the castle, I will inform the emperor, you will be informed of the instruction his majesty decided regarding the cursed half-human." Kikimora ordered.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible Kikimora," Lilith said calmly.

"And why is that?"

"I already checked for footage so I could see her cursed features better, but all pictures and footage with this girl who perchaps is my niece, are corrupted, every images and footages she appears on are heavily distorted, so we have images or videos of her. All I can do is give a description."

"Fine," fired the displeased Kikimora, "please be fast."

"She is a teenage girl, seemingly 14/15 years old, with brown skin, short spiky brown hairs, brown eyes, the average height for a witch the same age, black round earrings, she was wearing a purple and white stripe hoodie and a shirt with tights."

"Good, I will be going and inform the emperor, Lilith with all of that remember what the emperor has promised you, and I entrust you three to inform your fellow coven heads, keep an eye out for that half-human until further notice." And Kikimora was gone, the two coven head and the future coven head all went their separate ways and now Raine's mind was racing. They need to make sure of something, if what they thought was true then they potentially let Eda be a single mother, with a child who might be related to them. Lilith's description had them wondering, the colour of skin and hair growth seemed to match, and could they have had a child with Eda, and then a human came into the picture to give them human traits. Eda had a portal it was possible, and witches' biology made it possible for two witches to have a child and before the pregnancy was over a third parent could add their DNA to the child in the making if the pregnancy had started less than 6 months prior. With their minds racing and in need of answers, Raine decided it was time for a visit.

Upon reaching the exit, they spotted Bump talking to Lilith, again about that half-human, and heard them as they walked passed them, Bump seemed to know something.

"If the young girl, truly is Edalyn's child then she must not have had her guard for a long time," Bump informed Lilith. Lilith looked confused wondering how could principal Bump know. And spotting the coven head's confusion, he elaborated, "A few weeks ago the young girl came to Hexide, if I recall correctly her name is Luz, and she wanted a visitor pass and express in potentially joining." To this Lilith was pleased, if the child joined Hexide it would reduce the wild ways her sister undoubtedly was teaching. But she then noticed Bump becoming more serious and sad-looking.

"What is it Mr Bump, is there any problem?" Asked a concerned Lilith, Bump was good at concealing his emotions only showing a soft side to the people who really needed it.

"I almost refused because the student needs to give the contact of at least one of their legal guardian, and it appears Edalyn is not yet. I was about to suggest getting her human family, and that a human school would be best suited... but it made her panic." Bump remembered vividly what the half-human told him that day, he stared at Lilith, "The detail being her panic are not for me to tell but all I can say is, she lost her human family in a massive conflict in the human realm and is now too terrified to go back here." Bump paused, Lilith had expected many reasons as to why Eda's child had suddenly come under her care, she had thought of many explanations but this was not one of them. She started to feel very guilty for how she acted toward the girl.

"Thank you for informing me, I will keep that in mind for the next time I will see her, the poor child will need a lot of care. I hope Hexide can help provide that, Edalyn might not officially be her guardian yet but I will make sure she is considered as such as soon possible." Lilith said hoping this would help gain Eda's trust and maybe help her understand her niece's curse better.

"If we can convince Edalyn to agree, and that's not an easy task Hexide will welcome the young girl with open arms, I heard from the teachers during the visit, that she has a talent for potion just like you and Edalyn," Bump said, he and Lilith continued to talk but Raine had heard enough, if all they said is true the child needed all the help they could provide. There's or not, Raine would lie by saying they hadn't wanted to reconnect with Eda, they just never got the courage to but now with them potentially being a parent, they could not shy away anymore.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Was this a dream, did you she fell asleep with Luz and King on the couch, Eda hadn't seen them in 15 years. All seeing them from afar or on crystal balls, never daring to approach or try to reconnect to them, it's not like Eda didn't want to but with the curse, she never gathered the courage to do so. Yet here they were, Raine her old partner in crime, and partner in all sense of the term. But why?

"Hello, Eda... it has been a while," Raine said a bit uncomfortable.

"It sure has been..." Eda too wasn't too comfortable.

"HELLO NEW FRIEND, I'M HOOTY, 20% MUCUS AND 100% HOOT." The excited Hooty at the prospect of making a new friend jumped towards and startled Raine. 

"Hooty! Let them breathe scram and go finish the food until I get back." 

"OKAY," At least Hooty's intervention had broken the tension between them. Zda closed the door and got outside, Luz needed rest and the conversation could end up being loud.

"Why are you here Raine? We haven't spoken in 15 years." Eda got serious, a part of her was happy to see them but another was concerned, Raine would soon become a coven head, and having someone this important, old partner or not was still worrisome.

"I'm not here for trouble, don't worry, I'm here because of the event at the covention." Eda's mind raced, many had seen the duel if word got to the emperor, he might want to get her.

"Listen Raine we may have been friends before, if try to take her I won't hesitate to-"

"No no no Eda, that's not why I'm here, I'm here because, I must inform you of what was discussed about the kid, after the incident and also because I have a question to ask you." This reassured Eda a bit, she was still on the lookout for just in case but Raine really does seem genuine. If the Coven system did not change them, then they were trustworthy.

"Her name is Luz and fine, go on." Eda looked at Raine, they were choosing their words seemingly struggling to find a way to tell what they wanted to say. It took Raine ten minutes to explain all that was said with Lilith's theories, Bump revealing the girl's tragic past and interest in enrolling her, and the fact all cameras and scrolls with images and footage of Luz in it had severe corruption on said image. 'Seems like her tech can mess with scrolls that's good news it will be hard to spread the information without proof,' Eda thought. When she heard about Lilith thinking Luz was her kid she almost burst out laughing but when thinking about it, it would be a good way to hide Luz's secrets and use the excuse of Eda's curse to explain the kid's strange abilities. And now only the question remained and Raine was getting tense and even more serious.

"Eda, I need you to be completely honest with me..." Eda got tense too getting ready for the incoming question. "Is Luz my kid?" This took Eda by surprise she failed to answer and before she could muster a word, they continued, "Lilith did not exclude the possibility of a third parent, from the description I was told she is around 15 years old, the last moment we saw each other, she has similar skin colour and similar hair growth, I know it's not much but with her age matching the time we broke up it got me wondering. And if she really is... then I should take my responsibilities regarding this." When Raine finished, Eda was met with a serious glare, it seemed Raine brought Lilith wacky theories, she didn't know if it was funny or sad.

"Calm down... no she is not your daughter..." Raine stared calm down, they calmed down and felt a bit embarrassed and they did not know if they felt relieved or disappointed about the news. Truth is Raine had always liked the idea of having a child but after breaking up with Eda, they had no luck on the dating scene and they slowly let go of that idea.

"Neither is she mine..." Eda said without thinking before putting her hands on her mouth, Raine was surprised and concerned.

"What do yo-" Before they could finish the door burst upon with Hooty launching himself toward them, "EDA EMERGENCY! LUZ IS HAVING A NIGHTMARE! SHE IS MOVING AND BREATHING A LOT!" 

"Oh no, Raine... if you are still the same trustworthy witch then, I will explain later for now this is more important."

"Of course, I will even an everlasting oath if you wish." Raine offered as they walked toward the inside house.

"Thank you Rainstorm, but no need I want to trust you." Raine stopped in front of the entrance, it had been a while since they had been here and it felt awkward to enter uninvited.

"You can come in," Eda said getting close to the couch where the agitated Luz was sleeping. As they entered, Raine got a full view of her and could see the similarities themself but as Eda stayed this was not their kid not even Eda's kid. 

King was trying the best he could to calm down but was struggling generally, hugging Luz in her sleep when she had a bad dream to calm her down but here it wasn't working, implying a nasty nightmare. "Eda, I think Luz is panicking, it's just like the first night after she arrived." Luz had very bad nightmares during the first night mostly about being found by Archangel and forced to go back under his control or revealing what she had been forced to do. Meanwhile, Raine was behind, King too focused on Luz hadn't noticed them yet. The new information had them looking in pity at the kid, the poor child must have endured very traumatizing events.

"OK everyone gives us space, it's good to crowd someone while they are having a nightmare, I will try to calm her." Eda then started to pat Luz's head while using a spell meant to calm her. Raine never thought they'd see Eda being maternal one day but yet she was, acting like the kid was her own daughter, maternity suited her. Eda's technique seemed to work a bit at first but her nightmare seemed to intensify.

"No... please... don't take me back... Eda... King don't take them away I beg you." Luz was talking in her sleep just like during her first night, "ok screw that I will her up, don't crowd her." She began to softly shake Luz, "Luz, Luz wake up!" Luz woke up terrified and in panic. 

"Eda?" 

"Yes, Luz I'm here, King is here, you are safe and we are not going anywhere." It seemed to reassure Luz, who started to hug her and King quickly joined. The hug lasts a few minutes, with Raine looking at them with a genuine smile, even if those kids aren't Eda's, what they are witnessing puts that claim in question.

Finally, Luz seemed to notice the stranger in the house, "Hum Eda? Who is this?"

"Oh, this is Raine, an old friend," Eda said after letting go of Luz and King.

Raine smiled and extended their hand, "Hi my name is Raine Whisper, I go by they/them, nice to meet you." 

Luz reciprocated the gesture, "Hello my name is Luz Noceda, she/her, and sorry you had to see that." Luz said embarrassed at the prospect of having a stranger seeing her in such a vulnerable position.

"There is no need to apologize, it happens to everyone to have nightmares, you don't have to be embarrassed." Luz smiled at the friendly stranger.

"And I'm King, the king of demons, he/him!" Said King to the new subject. Raine seemed amused and thinking it was a game the cute fluffy kid was playing, they decided to play along. "It is an honor to meet you my liege," they said while bowing to King. "YES! FINALLY, someone who understands!" Eda and Luz both smiled fondly, Eda could see they were still the kindhearted and cool witch they had always been and Luz who only met them already took a liking to Raine. 

"Ok, now that the presentations are done, we should fill them in," Eda said looking at everyone, and so for the next minutes, Eda and Raine explained all that happened. Luz was relieved her machine parts were mistaken for a curse. At least her secret wasn't out, but she was surprised to be mistaken for Eda's child, she understood the logic but they jumped to conclusions, she was also surprisingly ok with being considered Eda's kid. It would also mean King was her little brother another win. And apparently, Raine also thought she might be their kid, does everyone on the Boiling Isles jump to conclusions? It was also nice to hear Hexide's teacher had appreciated her and would be happy to have her join the academy, but she and Eda had yet to talk about it.

"Luz..." Eda said looking serious, "We can use this, and don't worry, Raine can be trusted and you don't have to say everything. If we confirm my sister's theories everyone will assume it's just a weird version of the curse and nobody will wonder why I have a stranded human kid with me, and since she wants to help me making me your legal guardian, which surprises me, it will be easy to prove. But, I want your opinion on that matter." Luz thought about this for a minute, but in the end, the decision was easy, "Yeah, it's far better than the alternative, but we should do that with King, it would be weird if he is left out. I mean if ok with that." 

"I'm in, if it helps my favorite minion to feel safer, then yes with no hesitation, a king must protect his subject". This made Luz grab King and hug him, he tried to protest but everyone including himself knew he liked it. 

Raine looked confused Eda had admitted they weren't related so why are they going to 'pretend', "Huum excuse me, I know I'm an outsider here but do you do that, if you are not related why do you want to pretend to be? You can just say you adopted her which is in itself true, it will be easier to look into her curse and find the best way to treat it." The Owl House residents looked at each other, they understood Raine arguments, with what they knew it was the logical thing to do. 

"Luz, Raine is trustworthy but we will only tell if you agree." Luz nodded in agreement. "Do you want to tell or should I?" Luz looked down she had gone silent the prospect of telling was stressing and bringing back bad memories but it was better to do it even if she was not ready yet to tell with her own words. She pointed at Eda, who understood, "The short version or the complete version?" 

"The short one," They had planned for a while a scenario like that and set up two versions one big resume skipping some parts or the complete version telling everything. 

"Alright Raine, you will have to promise me never to tell this to anyone."

"I promise, my offer to do an everlasting oath still stands if you wish."

"No thanks, your words will do..." Eda paused to choose how to explain all of this. "After learning all that happened to Luz in her realm and what happened in the human realm, I'd rather join the emperor's coven than ever set foot there." This affirmation took Raine by surprise, Eda was extremely attached to being a wild witch, and hearing her say she would be willing to give up that so she wouldn't have to go into the human realm was huge. And got them to wonder, what had happened in the human realm. Is it linked to that war?

"Twenty years ago, the humans created a machine with a consciousness, it ended up rebelling and 9 years ago it started a worldwide war against humans to create a 'perfect world'. The war lasted 6 years and ended with the machines winning." Eda paused, bracing herself, no matter how long she had known it was still hard to process. "Every kid 11 years old are less were locked in reeducation camps, all adults of 35 years old or above were killed..." Raine face twitched to horror, they now fully understood why Eda would rather surrender herself to the emperor than go there. And they realized, Eda hadn't said about the one people between 11 and 35, like Luz and now they were very scared to find out. "For the rest and in Luz's case... they were turned into cyborgs, a human world for part human part machine people, the leader of the machine called Archangel, forced these humans to become those things. It took away their free will, forcing them to become obedient brainwashed soldiers... Luz has been turn like that 3 years ago and until one month ago she was under complete control. She lost all memory from her life before she was changed, more than half of her body was changed or replaced with machinery." To say Raine was shocked would be an understatement, it was worse, so much worse than they had ever thought, how could someone be that cruel? How can someone do such monstrous things? The poor Luz looked miserable scared of how Raine would react, and they noticed, they had to keep their composure, it wasn't her fault and she needed care and to be reassured.

"I'm so sorry for everything that happened to you Luz, I hope you are managing it well, at least you have good people to help you go through... this." Raine struggled to find what to say under the shock, they already knew things were bad here but in the human realm, it was even more so. Nevertheless, Luz seemed happy with what Raine said. "I promise, I won't tell anyone and won't pry. And if you wish I will help the best I can, despite Lilith's passion, pressuring Eda to get the papers will be difficult but with me as well, it should make this easier, and perhaps I could convince Mason to help as well." Eda only realized how much things had changed since Luz arrived, the house became more alive, and they had become a family, she has softened but it felt right and today Raine showed up and offered to help them, despite 15 years of separation and not knowing anything about her kids. Speaking of which, they also seem taken aback. 

"We appreciate, thank you Rainestorm," Eda said pleased breaking the silence.

"The pleasure is all mine, Calamity," Raine said making Eda chuckle a little.

King was clueless, but Luz who had read too many flowery romances and written Azucate fanfic could sense something. A grin started to get wider.

"Man something tells me, you were reeeaaallyyyy good old 'friends'" Luz said with a tone of ironing making the two adults blush.

"LUZ!" It was the first time Luz saw Eda embarrassed, but at least Luz's mind was on something else and her teasing was a good sign, so she did not mind. 

The rest of the day went by calmly, Raine was invited to stay for dinner which they accepted. They spent time together, Eda and Raine reconnecting while Kind and Luz were getting to know them, and occasionally playing King games. It helped Luz feel better after today's disastrous duel. The dinner was nice too, they exchanged and even after all these years Eda and Raine were still connecting easily and able to discuss about everything. But the two had changed, Raine could see, that Eda had finally started to open herself, they were happily surprised to learn she told Luz about her curse on her own initiative without pressure and was able to tell when it was acting up. It was what drove them apart and Eda had grown out of it. As for Raine, they had grown to be a competent leader, not everyone was able to become a coven head especially if you are not a jerk. 

After dinner, Raine got ready to leave saying goodbye to everyone, except Eda who still had something to talk about with them. They walked outside the house and stood in front of the door and far enough from Hooty. "It was nice to see you again Raine." 

"And it was nice to see you too Eda. I had a really good evening." Both stood  there fanly blushing not sure what to say until, Raine broke the silence, "If that's ok with you, I'd like to keep in touch." Eda hoped they would say that, as she liked to courage to ask herself.

"I'd love to Raine." They both exchanged Scroll and crows contact. Raine then walked away while Eda headed back home, it took her everything not to explode in a dance of joy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A week passed since the day of the covention, and Eda officially became Luz and King's guardian, with one becoming a Clawthorne and the other a Noceda-Clawthorne. The story about Luz's ability being a heavily modified curse because of her human DNA, managed to convince all that intended, and slowly the subject died down and everyone stopped talking about it, only mentioning it sometimes. About the infamous Owl Lady having children under her care, nothing much was done by the emperor's coven, they only announced that the children should not be apprehended and encouraged the citizens to help prevent the children from becoming wild witches. And since Luz was declared cursed many healers suggested looking into it, however, the problem was avoided with a false medical paper obtained thanks to Raine's connexions, stating Luz needed elixirs like Eda. And so they were granted affordable access to potion way less expensive than what Eda had to pay until now, the reason being wild witches do not have access to affordable healthcare, but with Luz being a child it was granted to her. However, since Luz did not, in fact, need those all were taken by Eda who could now buy cheaper elixir. Besides that, not much had changed, however, Luz made a great discovery, while outside receiving a lesson about plant-based ingredients for potions, she found a glyph hidden in a flower granting her access to plant magic. The lesson was cut short and Luz spent much of the week potion-making, and learning how to use the plant glyph and all that could be done with it. It turns out plant magic was not easy, once again the bigger the glyph the more powerful the spell but plant magic also depended on the soil, the richer it was the easier it was to use and vice-versa. Plant magic was also very powerful, Luz could grow what she wanted and how she wanted, as long as they were from the demon realm, all she had to do was to know what she wanted and it looks like afterward, she had to learn how to control the plant growth and the speed, which was hard. She asked Willow for help but her friend only had been able to give textual advice as she and Gus were very busy studying for the coming semester finals. With all the potion-making she was doing, Eda ended up buying Luz her very own cauldron and potion-making utensils, since then Luz had been on a potion project for the last three days. 

And now returning from her human trash-selling business, she didn't have much trouble only a guard trying to arrest her, and an old lady judging her for her way of life while having kids. On her way back, she received a message from Luz asking her to come into her room. Upon arriving in front of the door, she knocked.

"Come in," said Luz.

Eda entered the room, to see Luz's messy bedroom, an active cauldron with bubbling liquid and Luz's fingers in it. "Kid... what are doing?" Said Eda pointing at Luz's fingers without the slightest of surprise. 

"Oh, the potion needed to get hotter fast, and the blade in my fingers can go up to 300° Celsius." She said taking her fingers out to show to Eda. 

"What is that project you have been on about anyway?" Asked Eda, Luz had barely left her room for the past three days only coming out to eat or go to the market.

"You are about to find out right now," took a spoon and drank from the potion. 

"Luz! I already told you not to test potion on yourself." Eda said baffled and very worried.

"Don't worry Eda, I did potion testing and it's mostly safe."

"Mostly?"

"It's not lethal or very dangerous for health." Eda's facepalm hearing this, at least did not put herself in danger but it was still risky, her careless nature made her feel bad for everyone around her when she was being similar in her young years.

Luz remained glowing, Luz did not seem surprised by this, "ok now if I try doing this, it should work..." The unthinkable happened Luz drew a spell circle just like witches and made a light spell. Upon seeing the result was ecstatic, "It worked!  It actually worked!" Meanwhile, Eda's jaw hit the floor. One month, the kid has been in this realm for one Titan damn month, and she already revolutionized potion making.

"H-h-how?!" Eda was too stunned to speak.

"Do you remember the lesson about the Hecty potion ?" Asked Luz with a large grin. Hecty potions are potions made for weak witches aiming had boost temporarly there magic temporarily and amplify their bile production.

"Yeah, I remember that." Eda made this lesson hoping the potion would boost Luz's glyph, but it didn't, only giving Luz a stomachache. 

"Well, I decided to try again, following the recipe, but with adding the light and changing it a bit to something more digestible to a human. And in the end, it worked! Now with that potion, I can make magic without glyphs!" Eda was proud and impressed, in one month, Luz had become a potion expert, discovered an ancient way to use magic, and now had just invented a new potion a version of Hecty potion usable for the powerless. 

Then Luz started to feel very uncomfortable and ran to the bathroom to puke the potion she had just drank.

"Luz, are you okay?" Asked Eda who followed not far behind.

"Uuuuck my throat is sore and a headache is starting... I thought I had it..." Luz started to feel disappointed in herself. 

"Hey stop, this is huge, you made a massive discovery and newly made potions are never perfect, it can take time until it's safer heck most people take months are years to create a new potion, and as much time to render it really usable. You just did the first part in THREE DAYS. This is huge Luz, I'm proud of you." Luz seemed happy to hear but it was hard to show, her headache was getting bad. But she was really touched by what Eda said. "But what you did is dangerous, never taste unknown potions, even if your body system says it's not dangerous, it could still ruin your health in the long run or turn you into a monster." Luz looked down a bit ashamed of herself, she got into it a bit too much forgetting safety rules. "Common, I will give you something to help with your headache, and we will lay you down until you feel better, and after that, I won't punish you, the puking and headache are big punishment enough."

"Ok," Luz answered with a small voice her headache getting pretty intense.

Luz was a bit sick for the rest of the evening, feeling tired, lacking appetite, and still with her headache but it was manageable. She still ate with them but did not finish her meal. She also played with King a bit but had to stop when she almost collapsed from tiredness. That's when Eda decided the kid needed to go to bed, and she helped her to go to the bathroom, Luz was able to manage despite her tiredness in the bathroom. Meanwhile, during the evening Eda had decided to let Luz go to Hexide, she would have to talk to Luz about it tomorrow first, right now she was too tired to do so. The reason for her decision despite her hatred for school and the system, was because she knew Luz wouldn't fall for the one magic nonsense. And because Luz was to stay permanently on the isles, she needed to socialize and learn how this world works, and finally, because it would allow her to see her friends more often and who knows maybe make more friends.

"Alright Luz, time to sleep."

"I can... stay up a bit... more"

"You can barely stand up hon and you almost fell on King."

"Mhmmhm doesn't prove anything." Luz tried to argue.

Eda was not impressed, "Luz..."

"Fine," the human lay down getting ready for bed. 

"Goodnight Luz, sweet dreams," Eda held herself from saying sweet nightmares, the kid had a lot of those during the week.

"Wait, can you stay with me a bit longer? I'm scared to fall asleep." Eda smiled fondly before sitting next to Luz.

"Of course hon." Eda patted Luz's hair, "You are safe here remember, no one here is going to hurt you. King and I are here for you." 

"Thank you, Eda. You are the best." They stayed like this for a few minutes, Luz holding her owl plushie she got from King as a gift. It helped her sleep and calm down during her bad moments.

After these few minutes, Luz started to fall asleep, "Goodnight Luz." Eda said fondly at the sleepy Luz, she also was developing a certain tenderness, and she once again patted her hair. And a very sleepy and pretty much already gone Luz answered. "Goodnight mama, love you." And with that, she falls asleep leaving Eda taken aback by her words.

After a few minutes, she quietly got up and exited the room. She knew Luz would not remember what she said, she never thought she would ever be called a mom, she never had an interest in having kids, and yet... she kinda liked it when it came to Luz, and now that she was thinking about it, King as well. 'What happened to you Owl Lady,' she thought. She now headed downstairs to see what her other gremlin was doing and make sure he went to bed as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the human realm, Vee was having a very peculiar dream. She was in Gravesfield, completely abandoned she hadn't seen her hometown in 5 years, the dream showed nature taking over the city and reclaiming it. Then a new scene showed up, and she was in front of her old house, exiting from it was a shadow, a shadow she recognized, making her start to cry. It was Luz, or at least the machine controlling her sister's body. It started to run somewhere but Vee still couldn't move, a new scene appeared, this time it was the old shack in the woods.

A bright light appeared on the floor and it cracked revealing a strange box. It changed again to the old abandoned cemetery, with a great arch Vee had the strange feeling something very important was buried there, suddenly bright lights came from the arch and she could see shapes in it that were not there before.

Vee heard a voice coming from it, "Where are you, Vee? I miss you." It was Luz's voice, the last time the young girl had talked to her, the voice was cold and did not recognize her, but now the voice sounded sad and it knew her, it was not the machine talking but her sister. Finally, everything around her went dark.

Vee suddenly woke her eyes filled with tears, unable to know of what just happened, but whether it was real or not it gave her even more determination. And the hope she had once lost.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

The morning came and so did breakfast, as Eda suspected Luz had forgotten she had called her mama, and had resumed simply referring to her as Eda. Luz seemed to be feeling a lot better, she had forgotten most of what happened after vomiting her potion. It was a nice usual morning nothing out of the ordinary, King was at war with his plushes, Hooty was being the eldritch horror he always has been, Eda was on her fourth cup of apple blood and Luz was outside recharging after finishing breakfast. The girl had been so tired last night, that she slept 10 hours straight without dreams, at least it meant no nightmares. 

After breakfast and getting ready to attack the day, Eda decided it was now the time to discuss her decision with Luz. She walked outside.

"Luz- kid why are you flying upside down." Eda seemed to no longer be surprised by Luz's being... well Luz.

"I'm testing how long I can last like that without feeling dizzy," Luz said straight to the point like it was the most banal thing on the isles. 

"Are you sure you are not trying to be a vampire?"

"Nope, wait you have vampires on the boiling isles?"

"Not really they are bipedal demons with bat-like traits but they are not like humans imagine them. Anyway can you come down, there is something I want to talk about." Luz obliged and landed retracting her wings. 

"What's up?" Luz asked with a neutral expression. 

Eda was unsure of where she was going with that, she doesn't miss school and hates how it's actively restricting the learning of magic, but she didn't want to isolate Luz, even if school sucks it can help her socialize which is important if Luz is to live here. And if school did not work then she'd be pulled out with her consent and they'd try at home school. "Remember Hexide?" Eda asked going in anyway.

"Huh uh," Luz nodded trying to hide her excitement, as her mind was coming up with all the comes out she could think of. 

"Well since you showed interest in joining, I do think it will help you socialize and give have more time to spend with your friends. I think it would be a good idea to get you in. If you want to that is-."

"Oh my gosh  YES YES YES!" Eda did not have time to finish when she felt the strong human hugging her lifting her in the air and spinning. Oh well, at least she had the kid's confirmation. It took a few seconds for Luz to calm down and let Eda go.  

"Now Luz, I only do that because you are too smart to fall for that one coven scam, you can learn a lot from this place, and with what you already did you might be able to change a few things," Eda said with both her hands on Luz's shoulder. For some reason, Luz seemed a bit taken aback by her mentor's remark.

"I'm not special Eda, I'm just Luz your usual kid turned Angel soldier." This made Eda frown.

"Kid... first being turned into an Angel soldier is not ordinary."

"It is in the Angel realm," Luz answered with a low voice.

"That Titan-forsaken realm is not a good reference" Eda took the lack of comeback as an acceptance.

"And you have been here for a little over a month, in that little time you managed to discover a lost glyph language allowing you to do magic, saved my house from collapsing, mastered, and created your first potion! And don't tell me it's because of your machine parts, yes they help you but they only help with your already present quality. You are passionate, and determined, and you persevere many would have given up but you don't, you keep going and that's how powerful witches are made, I'm proud of you kiddo for Titan's sake!" Luz looked once again taken aback and now emotional but in a good way even though she still did not think she deserved it. "I know your past deeply affected you and crushed your self-esteem into oblivion, but you gotta learn to accept compliments and praise, you deserve them, you deserve to be happy." Luz leaned against Eda and hugged her, Eda hugged back and the Wild Witch started to hear laughs, a happy cry, good for the kid she deserved it. 

Luz took a few minutes for Luz to calm down and let go in the meantime King had joined in, how dare they hug without their mighty king of demons? 

When she finally did, the topic went back to school, disinteresting King who went back in to take a nap or empty the bridge, it was 50/50. Leaving Luz and Eda to their discussion, "Before you can go there, we gotta do the... ugh... pointless paperwork," Eda said with disgust. "Gotta go see Bumpipo for that."

"Ok, so when do we do that?" Luz asked trying to control her impatience, "We can't just barge in there."

Eda grinned, "Actually I was planning to do just that." She looked proud of herself, "It's not like Bump would be against registering you today especially if I threaten to send you to Glandus."  

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Asked Luz less than sure about this.

"If I have to do boring administrative stuff, I want to at least be able to have a little fun." Eda snorted, "But if you don't want to go now, we can do it another day."

Luz thought for a bit, but decided the sooner the better, "Nah we can go now, I'm sure Willow and Gus will be thrilled." Luz decided to text them to let them know if she remembered it was not broken yet so they still were in class. 

The walk was uneventful, Luz was still not comfortable flying in public and would rather walk or fly using Owlbert but Hexide was only 15 minutes away, so walking was not an issue. Approaching the building, Eda remembered all the times she had nightmares about going back to school, this was rather unpleasant but this was for Luz's sake, who wanted and deserved a normal life, as normal as Eda could offer her. Entering the building, they were greeted by groaning and sounds of annoyance by the coming teachers, some who had Luz during her visit were rather pleased to see her, as she had been much more pleasing to teach than her guardian. Eda also noticed some looking at her kid with pity, it was easy to explain as everyone thought she was her daughter and had inherited her curse but her human heritage altered it strangely. Luz seem to have noticed and was not enjoying it, Eda will have to talk to Bump about this. Finally, they arrived at the principal office and Eda did something that none of the teachers expected her to ever do... she knocked and waited for Bump to tell them to come in. Edalyn Clawthorne had just shown respect and good behavior in school. 

"Come in," said Bump's voice coming from the office. The door opened and Bump frowned, the day had started too well it couldn't last, he then saw Luz giving him the hope this encounter wouldn't sour his day.

"Hello Bumpkin, it has been a while hasn't it?" Eda sounded way too cheerful about this, meanwhile, Luz looked a bit anxious.

"Hello, Mister Bump." At least the girl didn't sound too much like his former student.

They both sat down, "I have to admit, it's weird to be in here without you yelling at me for causing chaos."

"I can easily change that, but judging by the presence of your daughter, I guess this can wait for another time." Bump looked pleased to see Luz back, she had shown to be talented and could do great things in the right environment. 

"Yes, we are here to enroll my kid in Hexide, she wants to go there."

"Excellent, have you finally come to your senses realizing school is not a living hell?" Bump asked half serious, half taunting.

"No, I still think that, I do that because she wants to go there and I don't want to force homeschooling if she doesn't want to." This explanation seemed to satisfy Bump. And he turned to Luz, "Now Luz, the next part of your inscription will be between me and Edalyn, your part will come when we discuss which track you will join on the first day of the next semester. So you can stay or I can give you another visitor pass and let you visit the school this afternoon is class free and dedicated to study the exam coming next semester, you will be able to see many more of the clubs and sports activities." Bump offered. Luz thought for a bit, she had texted Willow and Gus, and Gus offered to come to his club, the member had missed her and apparently, there was a power struggle with a new member. She looked at Eda, who seemed to know what she was gonna ask because she immediately said she could go 'be a teenager'. And so she got up to go meet Gus.

"Goodbye mister Bump, see you later Eda." And she closed the door, Bump was a bit surprised Luz was not calling Edalyn her mother, but it might just be because she hasn't been under her care for long, in the end, he decided it wasn't his business as long as the child was under good care.

"Now," Bump got up and went through ancient school files, "before we can begin on Luz's inscription, there is much to answer for." Eda raised an eyebrow in confusion. 

"Huh, what are you talking about?" The kid hadn't done anything bad and knowing her, she would have told her and felt bad about it.

"I'm talking about the necrotic experiment, the cheats, the chaos, the scams, the graffitis, Miss Jenkinmeyer's teeth." Gravity seemed to grow stronger because Eda sank into her chair. "The trouble you caused when you were here, Eda." He put the massive stack of papers and files on his desk, the paper on top reading, 'permanent record: Edalyn Clawthorne.' Now she remembers actions have consequences even more than two decades later. 

"Huh I thought there'd be more," She said surprised not even being smug about it.

"There was more, but all of it was Principal Faust's school policies, and I don't think I need to remind you how absurd they are." No Eda didn't need to be reminded, the bastard was the top 2 of the people she hated the most for a while only behind Belos, but had been taken down to third place after Archangel entered the competition and beaten Belos by far.

Bump looked way too happy by now smiling, "Now before we can go further, you must clean everything you left us." 

Eda groaned, today was not going to be a good day, and suddenly she regretted showing up unannounced "Alright fine... Let's get over with this." Bump looked happier than he had been in his entire career.

The next two hours or so were spent with Eda fixing the mischieve of her youth while Bump stood smiling at her misfortune, some other teachers who had her as a student looked pleased as well. She cleaned sentient graffitis who begged her to spare them and yelled in agony as she clean erased them (not traumatizing at all), hunted down the giant centipedes she had unleashed in the old beast track section, cleaned the girls' changing room of the ghost she released there, made the screaming bell stopping singing at the top of its lung, she started to wonder if Bump had let them on purpose hoping karma would hunt her down. He also demanded she fix things she hadn't done like unplugging the toilets or making the detention pit take its indigestion medicine and Titan, it took a while to make it to its 160 heads. Her hell finally ended when she eliminated the pixies nest she had hidden in the illusion section which incidentally led her to find Miss Jenkinmeyer's teeth (she forgot where she had hidden them) and so she returned them and apologized. 

Now they were walking by the detention pit as they were heading to Bump's office. "Ok, now that I returned Miss Jenkinmeyer's teeth and apologized to her I think we are all good."

"We will be happy to have your daughter joining us, Edalyn." He reached out his hand for Eda to check, which she did.

"With the Covention incident, many people already know about the curse... I don't want any more details about it to go public." Eda was firm making sure to know she wouldn't tolerate any slip about it, Luz struggled a lot with what she was forced to become, the last thing they needed was for it to be exposed to everyone. 

Bump was understanding of the situation, "Of course, Hexide values privacy, I will only ask the basic necessity to deal with it in case of emergency, and her private informations will be kept safe." Bump said reassuring Eda. She may hate but she had to admit  Bump was a good principal. 

As they were checking they saw a short student from the construction track being pulled into the detention pit, yelling profanities, mostly at Luz and Goops. Some of which weren't pretty. Seeing that happens Eda turns to Bump, "I hope you will make sure Luz does not suffer from bullies."

Bump looked a bit uncertain but nodded nonetheless. They continued to walk toward the office, meeting Luz, Goops, and Park Girl on the way. 

"Hey kid, already back?"

"Well we figured you would have finished by now, also why were walking in the hallway?" Luz asked neutrally.

"Long story kid will tell you later and no we are not finished yet, and what was that about the construction track kid." The question made Goops and Luz frown a bit.

Gus was the one to explain "I invited Luz to come and see the Human Appreciation Society because they had missed her and a new member showed up with a fake artifact and I asked Luz to verify my claim. But before she could, he admitted they were and said something about being the new kid in a new school and hoping to be noticed and make friends and apologize, we accepted it and told him he was welcome at the society, but took seconds later detention guards showed up, he said Luz was the intruder he had talked about, but she had a visitor pass he hadn't noticed so they took him for trying to cause trouble." Eda just sighted at the explanation, glory-seeking brat where a pain.

"Ugh, a Glandus kid I suppose, among the isles schools it's the worst it makes students into power-hungry bullying brats," Eda said in an angry rant.

"Indeed and I hope the detention pit put some sense into him." Bump says not so surprisingly agreeing with Eda, he was well known he hated Glandus and St-Epiderm. "Anyway, as your mother stated, we aren't done yet, so either you can assist with the paperwork or go along with Augustus and Willow." 

She looked at them both and Willow chimed in, "I can show you the plants in the greenhouse if you wish." She suggested a suggestion Gus and Luz liked.

Luz turned to her guardian, "I think I'm gonna go with them if you are ok with that."

"Go, go have fun, be a teen," Eda ordered, Luz hugged her and then went to the Greenhouse with her friends. Luz was having a lot of fun and seemed very happy today making Eda smile fondly. 

They then entered and sat down in the office, for really starting Luz inscription this time. "Now then," started Bump, "as I know Luz is half human, does this, and the curse, cause a problem regarding her magic ?" Bump asked.

Eda thought for a bit, about how to explain without outing Luz, an idea came up and she decided to go along with it. "Yeah she was born without a bile sack but she found a way to do magic, and she is very good at potions." Eda left out the fact the kid had created a new potion, she'd rather wait for Luz's potion to be safe enough for use. 

Bump looked intrigued, "How so if I may ask?" 

Eda smiled looking like a proud mom, "My kid rediscovered a lost glyph language allowing her to do magic, so far she can use light spells and plant spells but she is confident she can find more." Bump was impressed, something he rarely was, the last time had been when he saw Willow's plant display when she changed tracks. Bump took notes and moved on.

"Does she have any allergies?"

"She can't eat dairy and most of Beast demon's meats, fruits and vegetables are fine, griffin eggs are safe, I have a list I will send to the school." Bump nodded and continued to take notes.

"Does she have learning or concentration difficulties?"

"She has something she calls ADHD, which I'm 90% sure is a human name for Ghoulleed disorder. But she can remember everything she hears when she can focus."

"When it comes to her curse, in case an emergency arises, how can we help the best of our abilities?" This was a tricky one, Bump probably was talking about the ADS, which everyone was an 'effect of Luz's curse.'

"Hum... her curse is weaker than mine, my curse is powered by my magic, being half-human Luz does not have natural magic so it's not as dangerous, it triggers only when she is unconscious and when the curse thinks there is a threat, it behaves like a defense mechanism. It will only happen if someone knocks her unconscious or if she faints and someone is deemed a threat, if that happens lift your hands in the air, show you are not armed and not about to use magic, AND put her in a safe space like the healer office, the curse will stop consider you a threat and cancel itself, you will have to wait until she wakes up. Sometimes when Luz does not take her elexir it can be more sensitive, but she only needs to take it once every week it can be done at the house. But it only happened once since she arrived here, and she can control her wings and use her wings, no need to do anything about it when she is conscious." The explanation seemed convincing enough, Bump was not questioning it.

"That's good to know, I will pass the information to the staff, just in case." Bump commented still taking notes. "Do you accept full responsibility, if Luz were to commit damage to the school?" It wasn't a real question more like a term of contract, you were obligated to say yes if you wanted your kid to attend.

"Yes."

"You know the one-track policy is an obligation and I won't make an exception for Luz, do you understand that?"

Eda was not too happy about this, but she had no choice and could teach Luz the rest at the house, school would just attend school to integrate the Boiling Isles society. "Yes."

"Any emergency contact?" 

Eda thought for a bit, they had come multiple times these past few days, and her kids liked them. "Raine Whisper." Bump was surprised the future coven head was the emergency contact but it was not his business to mendle into their relationship.

Bump had one last question, one that was not easy, he remembered what the child had told him, and his tone got more serious. "During her first visit, Luz mentioned a traumatic past in the human realm. Does she have any triggers and if yes, how can we help reassure her or prevent them?" 

Eda sighed and got also way more serious, "Honestly Bump, Luz's past is extremely traumatic, her home realm is a mess, her human family is gone and it's why I'm her full-time guardian now. This conflict and what happened after scared her deeply, she can't even cry normally, from to time the memories overwhelm her or get flashed back and for those moments she has a plushie which helps her calm down." She paused a bit gathering her thoughts.

Bump felt sorry for the child, nobody deserved this and he hoped Hexide would be able to help her move on. "She can take the plush to school if it helps her, anything else?"

"She also still grieves her lost family, sometimes she needs to cry but as I said she can't normally do it because of... past permanent injuries, so instead she screams." Eda was not sure how the school could provide a place where she could do that. At home, they had gotten used to it, they lived near a forest on the verge of a cliff, outside of Bonesborough so it's not like they were bothering anyone. 

"Hum it won't be easy but the bard track has soundproof rooms for concert practice, maybe we could grant her access to them when she feels the need to. We will try to find a better solution later on." It was not the greatest solution but Eda appreciated it. "Also if you and Luz accept she can have appointments with the school therapist."

"Luz does not like to talk about her past, especially to people she doesn't know but I will keep that in mind thanks."

"Very well," Bump put down his papers, "Next semester Luz Noceda-Clawthorne shall become a student of Hexide, but sure to send her measurement as soon as possible, her uniform will be sent with the briefest of delay, her tracks will be decided on her first day and her schedules given that same day, be sure to come before class starts," Bump stated, Eda hoped Luz would enjoy this place, so far (excluding the message incident) her visits had went well and she enjoyed it here. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Willow had a great day, her exams went very well, and she was confident she had passed them, Luz showed up, and they touched the plants they weren't supposed to touch, and soon she will go there as well, so they will be able to hang out with her more. In a good mood, smiling she arrived home.

"Hi Dad, hi Papa, I'm home," she called out.

"Hello, sunshine," said Harvey and Gilbert in unison.

"In the kitchen sweetie," Gilbert, aka Papa, continued.

She went to the kitchen, the semester was about to end and technically already was over since she passed her exams, next week will barely have any classes it's mostly for clubs and the Grudgby match. After the exams, she had a lot of fun with her two best friends, a lot had changed since Luz came, she changed track, and became a lot more confident, she still heard comments and mockery but her bullies were mostly quiet and Amity no longer act condescending or mean toward her, her former friend just ignore her, something she content with. 

"You came home a bit later than you told us, we are about to eat." Said a smiling Harvey aka Dad, to show he was not upset. 

"Yeah sorry, me and my friends were hanging out in the Greenhouse and we didn't see the time pass," Willow answered apologetically 

"That's ok, just don't forget to text us next time," Harvey answered he and his husband had seen Willow being much happier, and more confident since she joined the plant track and met her new friend. They all sat at the table to eat.

"So How was school, Pumpkin?" Gilbert asked. Willow's face lightened up and she answered excitingly. 

"It was awesome! After the exams, they all went very well by the way, I hung out with Gus and our new friend Luz I showed them both the Greenhouse also, Luz will join Hexide next semester! I'm so excited, it was hard to see her before." Her parents grinned, it had been so long since Willow had made a new friend. She hadn't been lucky making friends, because she was a late bloomer and because of the bullying that issued because of it. When she was young she only had one Amity who let her down and started to bully her, then she had no friends for 5 years before meeting Gus, her only friend for 2 years before meeting Luz. They were happy to see her become more confident and make another friend, they loved Gus he was a good friend and they were curious about Luz. 

"Why don't you tell us about your new friend, sunflower?" Asked Papa.

Willow did not waste any time eating could wait but had to remind herself not to out the fact she isn't half human (Luz had told them all about Eda's plan to hide what Luz was still not ready to tell them). "She is awesome! She arrived on the isles over a month ago, after she and the Owl Lady found out they were related Luz is born from an adventure Miss Eda had with a human woman." This was the official cover story Luz had told her.

Her parents giggle, "It does sound like Eda, I remember, the numerous times she got in trouble in Hexide." Said Harvey. "I'm a bit surprised, I always thought she and Raine would end up together, they were so close at Hexide." He continued.

Willow chimed in remembering all the times Luz messaged her, making fun of her guardian's visible feelings for the bard. "Actually, Mx Whisper has been there a lot lately soo... maybe." They giggled a bit.

"How did Eda and Luz meet up and know they were related?" Harvey said going back to their primary subject.

"From what Luz told me, she stumbled upon our realm by accident after Miss Eda Palisman stole her bag, she chased him and got here. Then she told me the Owl Lady thought she looked familiar, asked her name and age, and did some test, that's how they found out." This was also part of the cover, it was not a bad one, if Luz had told her that story when they met, Willow thought she probably would have believed it. 

"I see, quite the coincidence," said Gilbert amused by the odds, "how did her human family take the news, I guess finding who the other parent who disappeared was must have been a lot to take in." The previously amused and happy faces turned to concern when they saw Willow stop smiling and seemingly get sad when asked. 

"Luz lost her family 3 years ago, she has been in foster care ever since and got no luck with adoptive families, she ended up running away and you know the rest." Willow paused to let her fathers process the information, they looked sorry for her friend and sad to hear it. "She can't even remember them, she has amnesia and only remembers the last 3 years of her life." Willow knew most of it was false it was still tragic because she knew the amnesia and the death of her family were true. If that was the cover-up story, she was scared of what was the real one. 

"That's..." Both Harvey and Gilbert struggled to find the words. "No child should have to live that." Was all Gilbert could say, they all nodded in agreement.

"How is she handling it?" Asked Harvey.

"So far, she tells me some moments are harder than others but Miss Eda is taking care of her, she told me she has been happier since she arrived here." Her parents look relieved.

"That's a good thing, I never thought Eda would be the maternal type. But I'm glad things are getting better for her, it's good Luz was able to find her other mother." Said Gilbert, Willow knew Eda and Luz were not related but adoptive parents are as valid as biological parents, so she agreed.

Deciding to change the subject a bit she decided to continue presenting her friend, talking about how Luz was smart, a good potionner, her ability to use light and plant magic without a bile sac, saying she was fun to hang out with, a huge nerd, as well as how supportive she was and how her past was not stopping her from being cheerful. Her dads seemed to like her new friend the more they heard about her.

After finishing dinner and cleaning, her dads came to see her, "Willow, me and your das were thinking, why not invite your new friend over for a sleepover and invite Augustus along?" Hearing that, made Willow almost make a hole in the ceiling again.

"Yes, that'd be awesome, thanks dads" Willow went for a hug, much to the dad's confusion. 

"What are you doing Willow?" Asked Papa, who had no idea what a hug was.

"It's a human thing, it's called a hug, you do this when you feel emotional because it feels nice and/or to show affection," Willow explained, her dads had to agree it does feel good.

"That's a human thing I wouldn't mind adopting," said a smiling Gilbert.

"I agree," said Harvey, and they both reciprocated the hug.

While hugging, they continued to speak, "You can ask them to come tomorrow if they are free. Otherwise, we will find another day." Said Gilbert.

"Will do!" Willow was ecstatic, despite the boiling rain incident, she had loved her last sleepover and had wanted to do another since.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On Raine's suggestion, Luz has been starting writing therapy, Eda got her a dairy and whenever she feels the need to, she writes to let out anything she is bottling up, she started a few days ago before her latest Hexide day, so far it had worked a bit. It became a diary where she would write and draw whenever she felt the need to or wanted to. And right now, she was writing about how often Raine was at the house to the point they were living there most of the time. She wanted to play wingwoman for Eda, but her guardian seemed to be in denial. And she was writing about being invited to Willow's place for a sleepover this evening, she was excited. 

Getting ready to leave, Luz could be seen almost trembling by the door waiting for them to go meet Willow in Bonesborough. Tonight, Raine was coming (again for dinner) she won't be there to see them get blushy, teasing and King calling them gross while Hooty tries to come up with a ship name. Turns out Luz and Hooty shared a passion for shipping, and would sometimes talk about it. 

"Calm your spider horses hon, we are ready to go." Hearing Eda made Luz start steaming from excitement. This made Eda grin, she was happy to see her kid get happier despite all she went through. King got a hug and kissed goodbye. And so they went to Bonesborough, Willow lived in the residential part in the north of the city. Luz hopped on Eda's staff because, even if the curse is a good excuse for her wings, she still isn't comfortable flying above-populated areas. After a short flight, they arrived in front of the Park's house. At the same time as Gus, he lived nearby and had been to Willow's house countless times, so his dad lets him go there on his own except when he is visiting the Park's parent. 

"Hey Luz, hello Miss Eda." He greeted them.

"Hi, Gus,"

"Hi, Goops, and don't call me Miss just Eda." 

"Ok Eda," he corrected himself before his focus shifted to Luz, "So are you excited for tonight Luz?" He asked with a large grin.

"I have been all day!" Luz answered with the same grin.

"Alright brats have fun, don't burn down the house kid, and be at home before lunch tomorrow." Eda playfully said she was 90% sure Luz wouldn't burn the house. 

"Will do, see ya tomorrow Eda," Luz said while hugging her guardian. Eda returned it.

"See you tomorrow kid, byyyyyyyeee." And Eda was gone.

'She is sure pressed to see her bard friend.' She thought. 

Gus knocked on the Park residence, they were greeted by an overjoyed Willow. Luz was a bit nervous to meet one of her best friend's parents. They were soon greeted by Willow's dads, "Hello Gus, good to see you, and Luz I presume." Said Harvey extending his hand alongside his husband to invite Luz to shake their hands

"Yes and hum... likewise sir" Luz answered still a bit nervous shaking their hands, they seemed nice. 

"No need to be nervous Luz, any friend of Willow is welcome here, I'm Gilbert and this is my husband Harvey." Said Gilbert reassuringly. "Willow told us, you are lactose intolerant, is there anything else ?"

"I have difficulties digesting demon meat, but it's not too bad." She answered she was pretty sure that if she was not an Angel, she would have more difficulties digesting demon realm food. 

"Very well, we are preparing dinner we will call you kids when it's ready," said Gulbert going back to the kitchen with Harvey.

"Ookay, hey wanna go to my home, I was going to feed Ferine," proposed Willow.

"Hell yeah I missed her," said an excited Gus. He liked Ferine and she liked him a lot too, it was rare for her to appreciate someone besides Willow, she only tolerated Willow's parent. 

Willow giggles, "She missed as well you and I'm sure she will love you too Luz." And they started to head to Willow's bedroom. 

"Who is Ferine ?" Luz finally asked.

"It's my dragona flower pet! A species of sentient carnivorous plant, they can be good pets and smart, if you know how to handle them and very loyal if you gain their trust. Ferine only likes me and Gus so far, and accepts my dads but does not like them as much." They arrived at Willow's room to be greeted by a massive carnivorous plan looming over them first seemingly happy but turning to defiance when it seemed to have noticed Luz's presence. It paused one of its vines on Willow's and Gus's shoulders and leaned its flower head at Luz to appear intimidating trying to protect them. Despite being threatened by a massive carnivorous plant, Luz thought Ferine's protective behavior was adorable. 

"Ferine, this is Luz, and Luz this is Ferine, don't worry Luz is a friend we trust her." Ferine turns its flower to Willow as if it were uncertain. "Don't worry she is not another Amity." Ferine was very angry when they realized Amity made Willow sad especially after it had trusted her. This can be explained by the fact that dragona flowers are very smart. Ultimately, it trusted Willows's judgment and got closer to Luz.

"Hello Ferine, I'm Luz Noceda-Clawthorne the human, nice to meet you, I hope we can become friends." Ferine appeared to judge the nervous Luz, somehow more nervous about making a good impression on Ferine than at Willow's parents. They retracted and let her friends go back to her corner to enjoy the sun. 

"Good Ferine gives you a chance to prove you are a good friend, she will like you in no time, now she will just watch you from her corner to judge you." Luz was happy the plant decided she was trustful but was still nervous, she looked at Ferine who 'stared' intensely at her, and nervously waved, Ferine waved back.

The evening went on, and they talked about school to Luz, explaining how classes were and telling her about the placement exam. They then watched Willow's favorite crystal ball show, 'Titan crazy adventure' about a sailor lost in the sea trying to get home, it was a good show it reminded her of some old Greek myth and 'Cosmic Frontier' a comic book series from the late 20th century. Luz then introduces them to the human realm's old card game called UNO, the party laster 1h 30 at some point Gus got convinced the deck was cursed to only give bad hands to trap them in a never-ending game. Almost convincing Willow but the party ended before he could. Meanwhile, Ferine got less and less tense in Luz's presence and started to appear more trusting toward the human girl.

"...Long story short Mathomule acted like this because of Glandus' toxic policy, we gave him another chance after a good conversation with Bump, and now he is okay. And to avoid power struggles, I abolished the presidency, now we all have equal power." Gus finished his story proudly. To the cheer of his friends. 

"What does Glandus policy have to do with his behavior?" Luz asked, so far she only knew Hexide and only heard of the other two big schools by name. 

Willow grimaced, "Glandus is school all about strength and social dominance, the stronger control and bully the weak, gather followers, it's the survival of the fittest here. The school is like, super controversial and divisive. Hexide and Glandus rivalry exists due to the fact Bump made Hexide policy to prove Glandus model must be dropped." 

It was Luz's turn to grimace, "Yikes, my respect for Bump just grew."

Willow giggled "He is pretty good as far as principal goes."

"Kids dinner is ready!" The voice from downstair said, and they got up to go eat.

Greeted by warm smiles, all sat down for dinner. "So Augustus, how is school going?" Asked Harvey.

"Pretty great, the exams were easy, and the situation at the HOA has gotten better ever since Luz showed." They seemed happy about the young boy, they had known him for quite some time. 

"And how is your dad going? Still busy?" Harvey asks again.

Gus sighed, "Yeah a lot, same as usual he comes back late during the evening generally for dinner, I see him a bit more during weekends but not much, he stays in his office most of the time. But, good news, he promised he'd try to spend more time with me." Willow and her parents did not seem surprised by what the young boy was saying, it seemed like it was far from new, and Luz felt sad for him. This explained why he was often free to text during the evenings, he must be quite lonely sometimes.

Gilbert tried to look hopeful, luckily Gus did not seem to notice the lack of Genuity. "I'm sure he will do his best, your father is yes a busy man but he loves you. And remember if you feel a bit lonely some evening you are always welcome in our little home." He said, Willow nodded in agreement. 

Gus went back to eating not wanting to talk more about it, everyone understood it. And went back to as well. Luz liked it and it wasn't making her feel sick, that was a good sign. After a while, of eating and small subjects, the Parks parent turned their attention to Luz. "How has settling on Boiling Isles been going, Luz?" Asked Gilbert, after what Willow told them about Luz's past he'd rather avoid bringing that topic, which was probably a hard subject for the young girl.

Luz looked a bit taken aback as she had never really thought about it, so far it had all felt natural, like if she had been there for much longer than a month and a half. "So far pretty great actually, I don't know how to put this but I feel like I belong here, like this place gets me, it feels like home... does that make any sense?" She finished uncertain.

The Parks adults giggled, "Yes it does, and it's a good thing, we are glad you feel good here. Sure the Isles are filthy, can be gross, and have its danger but for what it is, it's not too bad living here." Harvey said while Gilbert nodded in approval. Luz smiled and agreed she felt good here, her only wish was for her sister to be here as well. But she couldn't do anything about it. 

"How is Eda taking care of you? From what remember from our Hexide days it must be... eventful." Harvey said that was one word for it. 

Luz felt like it was an interrogation, she couldn't blame them, Eda had... a reputation and Willow told them about her cover-up backstory. "Eda is the best, she is a good guardian, sure the house is a bit chaotic but it's good chaos, there is also King my demon little brother, Owlbert Eda's Palisman, and Hooty the house demon. They are all great, well Hooty can be a lot to handle but he is nice. Anyway, Eda is a great guardian and I love her don't worry."Luz finished, they seemed to satisfy the adults, she decided it was better to leave out the time when Eda got on the roof because she was drunk on hard apple liquor and refused to go down. Only accepting after being threatened with a tea party with Hooty. 

"Good, I never thought Eda would be the maternal type."

"I believe Eda didn't think she was either." Luz's comment made them snort.

"Your... hum guardian? Mother? Parent?" Gilbert was uncertain.

Luz seemed surprised at the question, "Guardian, I call her Eda, I'm not sure if I will ever call her mom... I'm not sure, I never thought about it." Luz answered uncomfortably.

"You don't have to, maybe you will, maybe you won't there is no pressure. You arrived not long ago, everything is still new but it's not an obligation." Said Gilbert.

"Definitely," continued Harvey, they were great dads, and this made Luz wonder how her Papi was. "And sorry if you felt interrogated, it wasn't our intention, we just wanted to be sure you were in a good situation." He finished.

"Thank you," Luz answered.

"We thank you too," Luz looked up again taken aback. "It's thanks to you, Willow started to get more confident and be happier. Augustus did a lot too, but so did you thank you again." Gilbert said, if Luz could shed a tear, she would have. She was terrified of hurting people again and wanted to help the people around her because it was her as a human. After all, it was right and a way to redeem herself. Still struggling to accept she is completely innocent. 

Willow puts her hand on Luz's shoulder and nods as a way to say "It's true," Luz had a watery smile, minus the watery. 

"Just like Augustus, you are welcome here whenever you want." Said Harvey in a calm soft voice. 

Luz simply nodded being thankful, trying to speak would only cause a laugh-cry, something she didn't want them, to see her like that.

They finished dinner and said goodnight to the adult before going to Willow's room, where Ferine was happy to welcome them. They talked and laughed for a bit before falling asleep not long after. That night, Luz didn't have a single nightmare. After the covention incident, they became to be common again but stopped the previous night. 

Luz woke up before her friends, in the dark room, it was 6 am, and she maybe needed less sleep than them but it still sucked to woke up this early. Ferine seemed dormant as well, so she was alone with her thoughts. This gave Luz time to consider something, something she had been thinking of doing but was scared to do it. But remembering what the Parks had told her during dinner the previous day, helped her come to her decision. She took her diary and began to write in the dark room, her nocturnal vision mode coming in handy. After writing for a while, Ferine seemed to be awake and put her flower on Luz's shoulder gently wriping her wine around her left arm, in what seemed to be a hug from the plant. This made Luz smile and lit her mood up, this was cute, she patted Ferine and continued to write.

Her friends woke up two hours later, they got ready for the day and went down for breakfast. After a quiet and chill breakfast came the time for Luz and Guz to return home. But Luz looked anxious and was holding her diary as if she was scared it would vanish. Willow was the first to notice, "Are you ok, Luz?" Willow asked concerned. His friend's concern finally made the oblivious Gus realize, about Luz's anxious demeanor. 

"Ca-can... *inhale* *exhale* can you come to the Owl House... I'm ready to tell you." Luz struggled to say, her artificial heart beating like there was no tomorrow. Her friends immediately understood what that meant. No wonder Luz was stressed, it sounded like a big deal. 

"I will ask my dads." Said Willow going back into the house. 

Gus summoned his scroll, "I will ask mine too" and he typed.

After an agonizingly long minute, they got their answers, Gus's dad accepted as long as he was back before 5 pm. Willow's dads agreed with a similar condition, being back before her curfew at 6 pm. And they began their silent walk. Luz decided now would be best to let her guardian know.

G00dwitchLuzura: Hey Eda

BadGirlCoven: Good morning kiddo, how was the sleepover with dweebuses?

G00witchLuzura: It went great, we had fun and Willow's dads are awesome. I will tell you about it later. I will be back in 10 minutes.

BadGirlCoven: Great, see ya

G00dwitchLuzura: Gus and Willow are coming with me. I'm ready to tell them.

BadGirlCoven: Are you sure hun?

G00dwitchLuzura: Yeah... I can't wait any longer.

BadGirlCoven: Alright, do you want me to stay or do you want space?

G00dwitchLuzura: I'd like space if you don't mind.

BadGirlCoven: I don't mind, kiddo. 

G00dwitchLuzura: Thanks, see ya.

BadGirlCoven: See ya.

It only took 20 minutes to arrive at the Owl House but to the three of them, it felt like an eternity, anticipation was building up.

"WELCOME BACK LUZ AND HER FRIENDS." Hooty was less obnoxious today, maybe Eda had told him.

"Hi Hooty", she answered while the others didn't know if it was a good idea to speak to the house demon. They entered the house and were welcomed by King and Eda.

"You are back!" King ran and threw himself in Luz's arms. He didn't want to admit it but he was adorable. "You were gone for so long, I was scared you'd never come back!" 

"Aaaaww you missed me that badly?"

"Weh?! The King of demons misses nobody!" He was in denial.

Luz giggled, "Yeah sure buddy, and don't worry, I'd never abandon my awesome little brother." Luz tightened her hug and kissed King on the forehead, he giggled.

"Yes, I'm the King of brothers!" King's attitude had managed to light up the atmosphere a little.

Luz put him down. "I have something to do, we will spend time together after." King got serious and nodded in understanding. He then turned to Luz's friends.

"Be nice to the King of Demons sister or face my wrath!" He said trying to look taller and intimidating, only managing to look even more adorable.

"Don't worry King we would never hurt Luz, I'd rather swim in the boiling sea," Gus affirmed.

"Good answer," King said.

It was Eda's time to chime in, "Alright brats, we will give you space, Luz we will be outside, if you need us we will be back in the second you call. Ok?" 

"Ok."

"Good, you can do it hon." Eda patted Luz's hair, then turned to her friends, "You are good friends, Luz is lucky to have you." She then took King and got out of the house, now it was just Luz, Willow, and Gus. They got on the couch where Luz breath heavily once again. 

"We are ready when you are Luz." Said Willow attempting to help Luz calm down, this worked a bit, Luz opened her bag and took out the diary.

"I don't have the strength to tell you guys everything out loud. So... I wrote it." She handed the diary to Willow, Gus was sitting beside her. "Start at page 17, you will know when to stop." Her friends nodded and opened the diary on page 17. At first, she could read the worries on their faces, then it was sadness, then shock, then distraught, and finally terror as they progressed. Luz had written everything in detail, from Archangel's creation to the war to her Angelification and what she was forced to do. Explaining how she got freed and recovered some of her memories and finally what truly happened during the covention. Willow closed the diary, and she and Gus looked at their friend who revealed her true appearance, her skin covering her machine parts was gone, and they saw Luz's real appearance. "60% of my body has been replaced with machines." Her friends had taken in a lot of info and they looked like they were processing it. Meanwhile, the fake skin was back on Luz's machine parts. 

"That-that explains the message the first time you come to the society." Gus had speculated why Luz reacted like this, with what she said before he had assumed, it was because her mother lost her life in the war, but the new information had a lot more.

"Due to my amnesia, I don't remember my family, I only remember their name and faces, when I heard that message it recovered the memory of my mom's voice. She said with a sad smile.

Both then hugged Luz clinging to her for dear life. While they were growing up on the Isles with ups and downs in their lives, but still content with it. Their friend had suffered many losses, a terrible fate, forced to do horrible things, and her realm had fallen. "I'm so sorry for your loss Luz, none of this should have happened to you," Willow said in an attempt to help show Luz she was there for her.

"Yeah totally! I don't care what that thing made you do it's not your fault. You are our friend, and I promise we will never let you down." Gus continued with the same mindset.

"What he said! Machine or not you are still Luz the human. Our friend." Said Willow still clinging to her friend.

To their surprise and confusion, Luz started to laugh, a loud laugh. They both stared at her at her wondering what was so funny. Luz noticed their confusion, "Sorry sorry!" She said slowly calming down, "It's just... I can't cry, it was taken away when I was changed," they both looked very alarmed by this news, not being able to cry can make you feel miserable. "So instead I scream when I need to cry of sadness and when I need to cry of joy I laugh, it's not as effective as a normal cry but it does its job," Luz explained, her friends looked glad, and relieved by the information. 

"I'm glad you have something that works then," Willow said gently, "and I hope you will never go back to the human realm again." She finished.

"The humans are no longer in control of it, so we started to call it the angel realm or the machine realm," Luz affirmed

"I can understand why," said Gus, "Did you destroy Eda's portal?" He then asked.

Luz's expression turned sadder, "No."

Just as Gus was about to ask why she gave the reason.

"Eda wanted to but I refused, because of my little sister her name is Vee, she was too young to be turned into an Angel. She is supposed to be part of the new generation according to Archangel's plans, so she is probably still alive and the only human family I have left. And I hope... maybe just maybe she will find her way here." She paused, her friends looked with pity, they didn't dare imagine what it was like living there as children, they understood but also knew it was near impossible, Luz had shown them how vast Earth is. "I know the probabilities are like super low, for that she must escape a reeducation center, not have been brainwashed by the propaganda, go to Gravesfield, the town where the portal leads to, find it and somehow we decide to open it that very day. So yeah the odds are almost non-existent." She finished with a bit of despair. 

After a bit of silence Willow spoke again, "She is a Noceda, and if she is anything like you, she will find her way here."

Luz looked at her in surprise, but not convinced "I can't remember what she is like, a,d what if she doesn't want to see me?"

Gus patted Luz's shoulder, "Girl, you are one the friendliest people I ever met, of course, she'd want to see you, and I bet all my human relic collection, she doesn't think anything you were forced to do is your fault."

Luz smiled and laughed again, "You guys are the best." The hug continued, and a few minutes later she received a message from Eda.

BadGirlCoven: All good hon?

G00dwitchLuzura: All good Eda, everything went well.

BadGirlCoven: Good I can tell King to stop planning his assault on the house. I'm proud of you kid, I know it wasn't easy.

G00dwitchLuzura: Thanks Eda.

As of now, things feel right and hopeful even.

Meanwhile, a realm away a plan was starting to form, and the other Noceda also felt hope. 

To be continued.....

Chapter Text

So far Amity's day was fine, had gone without any incident. She was at the library reading Otabin the Bookmaker, it was a great excuse to read a book her mother would disapprove of. This book meant a lot to her, she identified with Otabin and it helped her hope and escape her reality. Lately, her thoughts have been mostly about the human, or the half-human now, she had heard about her being the Owl Lady daughter, and being cursed and her human heritage making the curse unique. She had a hard time believing that story, she had seen it very closely during their duel, and it looked... unnatural. But at least this story made her mother less angry about Amity's defeat, she was still annoyed and disappointed, being very vocal about it but if there wasn't this supposed curse and images had been saved, Odalia would have been furious.

She may have had questions but none that could be answered, although the aftermath of the duel was also very present in the duel, more precisely what the half-human had said. The care the human showed in her word toward Amity, is the kind of care she hadn't received in a long time. In public, she would have called her weak for that, but in reality, she liked it and it made her feel guilty for the way she acted toward the human. But she couldn't show it, she can't show weakness, she is a Blight after all. But none of that for now, she was reading to the sweet children at the library, they didn't know who the Blights were, they didn't act nicely to get favors from them, and they genuinely liked her for who she was. She loved this job, it was the only moment where she felt free, free of her annoying "friends", free from the bullies her siblings were, and free from her authoritarian demanding mother.

"What do you think, you are doing?" She narrated to the happy giggling children. "We are your friends and we wanna help. said the Tin Boy with a yelp. Otabin smiled and paced the floor. I've never had real friends before," She continued marking a pause. "Then we'll be your first, the Chicken Witch clucked. Otabin couldn't believe his luck. So bookmaker Otabin, surrounded by friends, bound a book of friendship, and that's the end." She closed the book to a small crowd of cheering children, they started to say goodbye and exit the kid's corner.

"Goodbye, Miss Amity, thank you," said little Braxas hugging Amity's leg.

"Thank you, Braxas see you next time." And happily ran to his parent. Amity loved this job it was the only place where she could stop being a Bligh and be just Amity. She turned her head to put Otabin's book back, this book was special to her, it was far from being as good as the Good Witch Azura but, it was still special, she related a lot to Otabin, and she too wished for a friend. And now facing the bookshelf, she saw Luz hiding from her sight.

"Oh hum hello... what are you doing here." Under normal circumstances, Amity would have been irritated by her presence but with what she heard that day from that weird human machine at the HAS and their interaction after the duel at the Covention. Amity had found herself to feel pity and a bit of sympathy toward the girl, so for now she'd remain civil. 

"Amityyyy, reading to kids? That's cute and super sweet!" Exclamated the half-human. Making Amity slightly blush.

"Its-its just for extra credit." Amity justified but Luz didn't seem convinced. "Do you need anything? I have to work so if not I will leave you be." Amity deviated from the subject.

"Actually yeah, I was returning books from Eda and wanted to check some books because I'm enrolling at Hexide next semester. But the guy at the front desk just told me to read a book when I asked." Luz explained.

Amity humphed, Barth could be a pain sometimes, it was the reason why he wasn't allowed to work with kids. He generally made them want to stop reading entirely. But Luz's enrollment came as a surprise. "You are enrolling?"

"Yep and since I have about 11 years to catch up and directly start the same grade as you, I wanted to check some books to help with that." Amity assumed Luz had mastered the 2 spells and the basic runes to avoid baby class. And understood the girl's request, it was always good to come prepared and truth be told she did the same multiple times, this made Luz grow in the witch's esteem.

"I see, well is there any book you have in mind?" Amity asked.

"Not really any author or book, I don't much about the books on the boiling isles, but I'd like books related to non-track focused class, you know stuff like history, grammar, math, etc..." Luz explained and Amity noted while nodding.

"Let's see what we can find, follow me." Luz obliged the witch's command.

Moments later after selecting seven books, they were heading toward the history section. "For history, I suggest 'From the Actitian period to the modern era' it was written by Flora Desplora, and it's one of the better sources."

"Thanks." Luz smiled and took it, Amity was impressed by the girl's strength, she was holding eight heavy books effortlessly without breaking a sweat. 

"If you wish to take them home, you will have to get a library card at the front desk with Barth," Amity explained being as professional as possible.

"Actually, I'm gonna read here, Eda got herself into babysitting a very very loud baby and I don't look forward to going home and suffering from his crying," Luz said grimacing.

Amity loved kids but she understood that and decided not to question her decision, she could get a card whenever she wished after all."I'm going to get back to work if you need anything else just-"

"Hey, mittens." Amity lost her professionalism immediately, looking extremely irritated upon hearing the coming voices.

"Mom says stop forgetting your lunch, it 'an attitude unbecoming of a Blight'" said the green-haired girl in a mocking tone. 

It was quite obvious the three were siblings from the looks of how they were talking to Amity, Luz felt some pity for Amity, it looked like she didn't get along well with her siblings. Amity grabbed the bag not saying anything. 

"Who is your friend over there?" Asked the green-haired boy, looking at Luz and prompting the sister to also look in her direction, they had mischievous smiles similar to Eda when she was pulling a scam. 

Amity looked at Luz, seemingly uncertain about what to say, "She is... an acquaintance." Amity wanted to say friends, Luz seemed nice but her memories of Willow made her scared to do so, despite enjoying Luz's company.

"Hi, I'm Luz Noceda-Clawthorne, hum nice to meet you," Luz said a bit intimidated by the older attractive teens.

"Wait," the older boy started to grin, "you are the girl who destroyed Amity at the Covention!" He exclaimed.

"We heard about you, I'm surprised she doesn't hate you," Continued the girl with the same grin. 

Amity got more and more annoyed the more they talked, while Luz looked uncomfortable. 

"I'm Emira and this is Edric, we are Amity's older siblings." The now-dubbed Emira informed. "You seem too cool for mittens." Luz looked very uncomfortable and Amity was more concerned about it than being insulted by her siblings. 

"You can leave now! Stop bothering Luz." She shouted pointing toward the exit.

The twins rolled their eyes," Whatever if you want to have fun come and find us cutie." Emira said while she and her brother walked away in a flirtatious way, this made Amity angrier than anything else they had said and done today. She couldn't understand why. 

"Siblings... am I right?" Luz said.

"You have siblings?"

Luz's smile faded, she was still smiling but it was smaller and forced, "I have or had a little sister, I don't know what became of her."

The news was alarming for Amity, it was extremely sad and concerning to hear, she might have a bad relationship with her siblings, and she'd never wish this to happen to them. And it looked like it was affecting Luz more than she was letting on, Amity was not good at reading emotions but even she could do so right now. 

"Are you okay Luz?" 

"Yeah, everything is alright, I'm just going to read those." Luz said looking at the books she was holding, "Thank you for your help, and good luck for the rest of your shift."With that, she headed toward the reading area." Amity was still concerned but couldn't do anything, so she went back to work. 

Just as Amity had suspected the next hours were a mess, Ed and Em were causing chaos making her coworker's life miserable. Thankfully, Luz did not take their offer opting to sit down and read, thank Titan's small mercies. And she was impressed by how fast Luz was reading and seemed to remember everything, that's an impressive memory, she might be a serious competitor for the title of top student. Sometimes Luz would take a glance at the twins laughing a bit before going to her lecture, at one point she even helped by writing back the non of "fiction non fiction" section to stop poor Garry's existential crisis, poor guy. Eventually, Garth had enough and threw them out, for "making reading far too fun" It is exactly why he isn't allowed around kids. Luz soon got out of the library too and seemed to talk to Amity's twin, she was tented to intervene in case of annoying twins were making her uncomfortable again. But Luz seemed fine, after talking for a little bit, Ed and Em ran off while Luz started to walk away, she turned around and waved Amity goodbye which Amity returned. Finally, some quiet now that they were gone but a part of her was a bit disappointed Luz wasn't staying. No time to think about that, she still had work to do and then she would enjoy a relaxing evening in her secret hideout during the wailing star shower while reading the entire Good Witch Azura series. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Returning from the bathroom, Amity was now heading to her hideout. Looking forward to an entire night of Good Wtch Azura and perhaps even having Azura come to life, she couldn't hold herself from flapping her hands in excitement, this moment was the only one where she did not need to hide this 'shameful behavior'.

As she walked toward her secret room, she started to hear noises and approaching at a faster paste, she noticed the door had been open. She got ready for a fight if needed and started to approach slowly and quietly. The voices were familiar and then it hit her, they were her brother and sister. They somehow found her secret room and decided to invade her privacy. 

This realization made Amity fuming. How dare they?! It was her safe place! Why did they have to make her life miserable? As she got ready to confront them, Emira started to talk again. "What you got there Luz?"

Hearing that name hit Amity hard, she felt betrayed, deeply betrayed even though they weren't even close. But this girl, she seemed different and more pleasant to be around with, was she still mad about the Covention? Or worse did she decide that Amity was her rival for the title of top student?

"Hum, nothing! It's nothing." She said in a panicking voice. Much to Amity's confusion.

She then heard a yelp as if something had snapped out of Luz's hands. And then she heard her voice, Amity finally understood, they were here for her diary. She can't let that happen and gets ready to enter the room to confront the tree, her face red with anger.

"PUT.THAT.BOOK.DOWN!" Silence fell as soon as the words were uttered, chilling Amity down her spine, it was Luz's voice angrier than she had ever heard, even more, angrier than at the Covention. 

"What are you-" Edric tried to talk.

"I said. PUT THAT BOOK DOWN!" Luz continued intimidating the twins but they stood their ground.

"I don't think so" Emira chimed in, "Amity snitched on us for cutting class, so we are going to expose her diary pages around the school for everyone to see, it's classic sibling retaliation." She said, not seeing how wrong it all sounded.

"What?!"

'What?!'

Amity reacted the same way as Luz but in thoughts. 

"Do you even hear yourself?! That's just straight-up harassment!" Luz accused, Edric started to look uncomfortable.

However, Emira doubled down. "You call this harassment? You have seen how Amity treats people, she needs to loosen up." 

Hearing this made Amity feel guilty and reminded her of the night when her friendship with Willow ended, a day she always regretted. 

"And that's not how you do it! You can want her to be scared of you!" At this point, the twins were looking more and more uncertain and were struggling to find any arguments. 

In a last attempt, Edric tried to come up with a last-ditch argument "You'd know how that work if you had siblings, seeing how you react I doubt you have." Expecting a comeback, they were only meant with silence, but this was worse the silence was met with a look of someone who had been deeply hurt, it was not anger, nor saddest but the look of someone broken. Of course, Amity knew why Luz told her about her uncertainty about the well-being of her sister. 

She decided now was the time to make her presence known. She walked to the entrance and looked at them all, "What do you think you are doing?!" All gaze turned to her with a mix of surprise and panic. 

It took Luz out of her thought, the girl gulped "it-its not what it looks like!" She tried to defend herself.

"Not you Luz, I heard everything... thank you." She gave Luz a genuine thankful smile, reassuring Luz before her face turned sharp again now facing her siblings. "I can't believe you'd step so low!"

"You rated us out, you should have seen it coming!" Emira remarked.

Amity couldn't contain herself anymore, "WHAT HAPPENED TO EDRIC AND EMIRA WHO WERE THERE WHEN I NEEDED THEM?! WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER AND SISTER WHO WOULD COMFORT ME WHEN MOM GOT MAD FOR SOME STUPID REASON?! WHY DID YOU LEAVE ME BEHIND WHEN I NEEDED YOU THE MOST?! WHEN DID THEY GET REPLACED BY BULLIED I'M FORCED TO LIVE WITH?!" Amity ranted, tears running down her cheeks finally letting out everything she had contained inside for so long. 

The twins were completely silent filled with guilt as they remembered all their pranks against their little sister and remembered the time when it was the three of them against the world. When did it become just the two? 

"I guess getting them back is just a dream." Tears were still running down Amity's cheeks. "You are no better than mom." The bombshell dropped by Amity was met with looks of outrage from her siblings, but they did nothing.

After a long minute, "Come on Ed, we are leaving" Emira grabbed her brother's arm, placed Amity's diary on the table, and left with him. Once they were out of view, Amity sat down and started to cry.

Amity did not even care Luz had stared at the event unfolding, not knowing when or how to react to what just happened. She was stone cold when they first met, and even when they were rather friendly or when she had a meltdown at the Covention, she was still distant clearly not showing everything. But now, Luz was witnessing Amity's emotion on full display. The green-haired witch felt a shame to show so much weakness, she could almost hear her mother berate her for that. 

"Can I sit next to you?" Luz asked taking Amity by surprise, she had almost forgotten her acquaintance was still there. She nodded, and so Luz sat down. A few minutes of silence went by, and Amty started to calm down little by little finding some comfort in being next to Luz. "I know we aren't really friends... but perhaps you would like a hug... it helps me when I cry maybe it can help you too." Luz then opened her arms. 

Amity looked at her and hesitated, no one that would judge her was around. She decided to go for it, and they started hugging. Amity couldn't remember the last time she had been hugged or had physical contact with someone close to her. It felt great, she had missed that, she hadn't realized how touch-starved she had become, ever since her friendship with Willow ended, ever since her siblings became tormentors, ever since her dad stopped caring about the three of them. 

Amity did not know how much time had passed, but eventually, she calmed down and stopped crying. Realizing what she had just done, she immediately let go of Luz, her face was extremely red. "Sorry about that... can... can we forget about this?" She said hesitantly remembering all the time her mother had told her she couldn't show weaknesses. 

Luz offered her a reassuring smile, "I won't tell anyone don't worry. But it's good to let your emotions out when you need to. So if you need you can come to me." 

Amity did not know what to make of what she had just heard, the girl was so kind to her, it had been so long and she did not deserve it. Not after how she had treated Willow, Luz knew and yet she still was nice to her. "...Thanks." 

They remained silent for a bit before, the conversation restarted.

"I'm sorry they did this to you, I didn't know what they had planned," Luz said.

"It's not your fault, and they weren't always like this, I don't know when or what changed but once it was the three of us. Then it became just them, they started to prank at first it was occasional and light... but they became more frequent, more annoying, and more hurtful, it's like living with two bullies." Amity explained looking at the floor, she didn't know why she felt so open and safe around Luz, they weren't even friends yet. "And I'm sorry about what they said to you."

Luz looked confused, "what are you talking about?"

"When they told you, that you didn't know what it was to have siblings." Luz's eyes grew wider remembering, that with Amity's breakdown, it had slipped her mind. "How is she like?" Amity asked trying to change the subject.

It was Luz's turn to look down and sad, Amity started to panic thinking she asked something she shouldn't have. "I don't know." It was shocking to hear, that Amity could barely understand how Luz couldn't know unless she never met her.

"What?" Was all Amity could say stunned by the revelation.

Luz breathed deeply for a few seconds, "I have amnesia Amity." 

Oh 

Another revelation and this one hit her like a wild Sliverbeast. 

"I can't remember anything from beyond three years ago, everything before that is just a small flashback." She continued, "And Vee is not in the memories I have."

'So that's her name, Vee, that's a nice name.' Amity thought.

"All I can remember is what she looks like and her name but nothing else."

Amity stared at Luz procession what she had just learned, Luz had amnesia which made her unable to remember her sister. She wanted to ask more like her curse, were those wings real or not, like she suspected? But she didn't, feeling it would be prying into her life, Luz already had it rough and was clearly struggling to talk about it. And it's not an acquaintance that will be able to feel comfortable enough to open herself. And Amity was adamant it certainly wouldn't be her, she had hurt too many, like Willow. 

"I'm sorry for asking and I hope your sister is ok." Amity offered a supportive.

"It's ok, I wouldn't have told you if I didn't want to, thank you for listening Amity. I hope you and I can become good friends." Hearing Luz say this made Amity almost jump in surprise and also made her blush a bit. In the end, she smiled too.

"I hope so too." She offered her hand which Luz shook.

"It's getting late I think we should go home," Luz said, Amity looked at the time and yes it was passed 1 am.

"You are right, let's go." They got up, took their stuff, and headed toward the entrance of the library, they closed Amity's secret hideout. Amity made a mental note to ask Malfass to either change the location of the secret room or change the security.

However, when the entrance was in the field of perception, they saw something was off. As they got closer they realized what.

The entry was barricated an entire shelf had been moved in front of it, setting both girls on alert. They frantically looked around as anxiety grew, it was clear they were not alone in there. Amity prepared her spell circles while Luz got in her fighting stance and prepared glyphs, but not revealing any machine parts of her. 

"What's going on? Do you think it was the twins?" Asked Luz trying not to panic.

"No, it's not Ed and Em's style of pranking, it's something else," Amity replied quietly to not lure whatever was with them. "It probably has to do with the wailing star."

Luz nodded, "I hope the book won't be too difficult to-" Luz cut herself when she heard something and saw something in the distance. It wasn't alone there were multiple noises and sounds. 

Anxiety grew, and panic began to take hold. Trying to see what it was Luz switched her vision from night mode to heat detection. It worked the things with them had heat and their shapes were witch-like. 'It maybe was a bad prank after all' Luz thought. 

But she was proven wrong when things got closer and surrounded them. 

There were 8 of them, at first glance looking like witches, but their ears were round, they were humans. But they also had wings, they showed no emotions and were in a fighting stance Luz knew all too well. She went from anxiety to fear and started to shake which Amity noticed. But she was too busy focusing on the newcomer.

'No no no, this cannot be real! They cannot be here' Her raced. 

They were Angels, the very same Luz once was before coming to Boiling Isles, but how could they be here? Amity also noticed they were strange but also was similar to Luz during their duel when she suddenly became stronger. The same wings, and same eyes and seemed prepared to shoot something with their palms, so it was not a curse after all but something native from the human realm. But unlike Luz, they did not seem friendly.

One of them, the leader approached them in a formal way yet still prepared in case of an attack. He looked like a caucasian human adult man with short blond hair, as tall as Amity's dad. And Luz knew him, it was not a welcoming reunion. 

AC-986122, her commander during the war against the machines. "112126," he said with a deep emotionless voice "you are under arrest for high treason again Pax and to be brought to Archangel." He then looked at Amity for an uncomfortable amount of time,  "analysis inconclusive. Species unknown. Unknown species is to be brought for research and potential angelification if proven possible." 

'Unknown species, how could they be here and never have spotted any witches?!' Luz questioned internally. Amity meanwhile was lost but when the human(?) said did not sound good. Both couldn't answer out of fear for Luz and Amity started to feel overwhelmed, she wasn't going mute yet but it was close. 

"Fellow us peacefully, please. Not trying to resist is the better option." The Angel continued.

Luz would never go back to them so acted on instinct, she manifested two light glyphs and slammed them together, creating an explosion of light blinding everyone around. She grabbed Amity who was also blinded and started to fly to hide. Once the Angels adapted their vision they were already gone. "Apprehend 112126 and unknown species, permission to use force granted." Ordered AC-986122. And they all went in groups of two to search for them.

Luz got on the ground, and released Amity from her hold before grabbing her arm and running toward the secret room, through all of this she said nothing and couldn't hear Amity trying to talk to her. Finally, they made it to Amity's room and closed the door, they were safe, at least for now. Luz finally lets Amity go, Amity starts pacing.

"What were they?! Do you know anything, Luz, they kinda look-" Amity turned to Luz, the girl was sitting on the ground hyperventilating. Witnessing this worried Amity deeply even more than before.

"Th-they c-can-can't he-here! The-the por-tal is cl-clo-closed." The human said struggling to breathe and speak. "They-they will... They will take me back! D-don't t-take me back!" Luz could no longer hear any of her surroundings nor speak, her heartbeats were causing pain in her chest. She found comfort in that, it made her feel human.

"Luz! Luz!" A voice was calling to her it seemed far yet close and familiar. "Can you hear me, Luz?" It seemed to get closer. "Please calm down, we will be ok." Then she remembered, right Amity was here as well. She lifted her head to see the witch's face of concern, she could see Amity was trying to hide of worries about the situation.

"Amity?"

"Yes, I'm here. Can you hear me?"

Luz nodded. Amity sat next to her.

"Follow my lead, take in for 4 seconds, hold for 1, and out for 4. Ok?" 

Luz nodded again, she repeated the breathing exercise multiple times, she was not exactly calmed down, but at least she could think clearly again. 

"Better?" Amity asked offering a small smile.

"Yeah, a bit... Thanks." Luz answered with a similar smile. 

Footsteps started to be heard growing louder in the library, the two girls made no noise at all hoping their assailant would go away. And thankfully after an agonizingly long minute, they started to walk away.

Not hearing the footsteps anymore the conversation restarted. "What are those things?" Amity asked quietly.

"Angels... They started out humans before being turned into these machines without free will doing everything you order them to."Luz explained not meeting Amity's gaze.

As Amity was processing Luz's words, she remembered the duel, the end of it, she was very similar to those angels. Amity's eyes were wide with a terrible understanding, she hoped she was wrong but deep down she knew she wasn't.

"Luz..." Amity hesitated, "Are you-"

"I was." Amity's suspicions were confirmed and she did not like at all the implications behind this. "I broke free when I came to the demon realm... It's... It's why I can't go back Amity." 

Amity remembered what Luz had told her during their argument before the duel, when Luz told her she couldn't go back to the human realm, she had suspected Luz had lied and now she had the real reason, one she would have never guessed.

"But that doesn't make sense, the portal has been closed ever since I got her and there is no known other way to come here! Besides Archangel doesn't even know about the Demon realm." Amity did not know who Archangel was but she would ask questions later. Then Luz stopped in her tracks and started to look in her bag. She visibly couldn't find what she was looking for.

"My diary is gone... I had a nightmare resembling suspiciously to what was going on... I must have dropped it earlier and... Ugh!"Luz looked at the ground feeling intense guilt. "I'm so sorry Amity, this is all my fault."

"Luz, it's ok. We can talk about this later for now we must find that diary." Amity quickly said not wanting to remain here any longer without taking any action. And it got Luz back together or she pushed that somewhere inside her head to be haunted later. 

Luz got back up and determined, "You are right, just give me a second." She crossed her arms and closed her eyes, to the confusion of the youngest Blight. 

"What are you doing ?" But she was only met with silence. And after a few seconds.

"Ok done," Luz seemed determined with her smile back. "Sorry, I was looking through my memories to find where my diary could be. And there are 3 spots." Luz extended her arm toward Amity, activating ger hologram showing the kids section, "It could be in the kids section," it then changed to the study corner, "Could be here too but I doubt it," and finally it showed the sheld where she got the snow book." Or finally, here, it's where we got the snowball-throwing books and I was knocked down when received some, it's the most likely." The hologram was deactivated. 

Amity was... Perplexed, the hand-making image was something that looked like magic and yet it was human-made, so it couldn't be. That was impressive, but not have the time to think about it. "The kid's section is the closest to us, and the shelf with a book about the knee is not far from that. We should do them in order, and try the study corner after it's the farthest from us." She informed, before having her hand grabbed by Luz making her squeal. 

"Ok, before we go, you gotta stay close to me, they have heat vision. They can see our body heat and spot us, thankfully I have a way a hide it but I can only hide yours if we stay close." Luz looked suddenly cool in Amity's eyes, and she could feel her cheeks redden, especially when she looked at her hand still held by the human. "F-fine," She managed to answer.

After hearing nothing and a check with heat vision they got out of the hideout. And started to head toward the kid's corner, all the way hearing flying and walking Angels from afar which did not help their anxiety. They were holding hands in case Luz had to hide their body heat. She knew the Angels might also have a way to hide their own body heat but they had to do something and couldn't wait all night, the Angels would have ended up finding them. Thankfully they did not seem to hide their heat, which was strange as they did when deemed necessary during the war. This could mean the ones coming from her diary were not as strong as the real ones which was reassuring. After a few minutes which felt agonizingly long, they reached the kid's corner and started to look for the diary but they had no luck.

"It's not here," Amity whispered.

"Then we must go to the winter one," Luz replied, whispering anxiously. 

"Come on, let's go quickly I don't want them to-"

"Target localized. Sending location. Please surrender." They turned to see one Angel blocking the entrance, it looked like an adult human woman of sub-Saharan African origins in her 30s. And had warned the others. Amity prepared her spells circles, Luz her glyphs and the Angels who were starting to arrive drew and ready their weapons. 

AC-986122, came forward, "Last warning, surrender yourself. We do not want to result in violence." 

The two teenagers looked at each other silently debating what to do next, until Luz whispered, "Amity go get the diary run like you never did before, I will hold them back." 

"Are you sure?" Amity asked worried for Luz, she saw thanks to the human, at the covention what these things could do and there were 8 of them.

"Yeah, don't worry, I'm gonna improvise and I have something they don't," Luz answered referring to the glyphs. With them, she would win enough time. "Get ready there is gonna be light." She then looked back at AC-986122. 

"No thanks 'commander', I'd rather THINK FAST!" using the light glyph she clapped her hands to create the effects of a flash bomb. During the few seconds she had gained she used the plant glyph to grab Amity and throw her out of the kid's corner.

"GO GET IT, AMITY FAST!" Luz yelled, by the time she was done the Angels were already close to her ready to immobilize and electrized her, while another was a bit behind ready to shoot if she were to escape. And two had gone after Amity, she hoped the girl would be fast as Abomination magic was not effective against Angels. 

Luz used the plant glyph to grad and throw the six close Angel against the walls immobilizing them while throwing one at the one ready to fire preventing him from doing so. She got ready to use the light glyph again to escape and join Amity but AC-986122 got out the vine and shot at her forcing her to use her shield. By the time she blocked it, he was too close for her to use her glyphs or weapons, he tackled her on the ground, and other Angels who got freed quickly joined in and immobilized her. AC-986122 walked back a few feet, and drew out his arm canon, pointing at her head. 

"For the crimes of resisting arrest and high treason again Pax Angelica. You are to be executed 112126. Any last words?" It asked not out of respect or pity but simply following its directive. 

"Eat dirt Archangel," Luz said looking defiantly at the Angel commander. It did not answer, only getting ready to fire. 'Amity now please!' she thought screaming internally. She closed her eyes waiting for the shot... But it never came, she opened her eyes. He had disappeared, along with all the other Angels. Luz excelled finally breathing normally again, 'Right on time' she thought smiling. Tonight was not pleasant, she will have a lot of nightmares to deal with and maybe one or two scream-cry. She felt bad for ruining Eda's and Raine's nights so often because of that. 

She got up and walked out of the kid's corner looking for Amity. And they found each other quickly, "Amity! Are you alright?" Luz asked the exhausted witch.

"I'm good, it was close but I was able to reach it, here by the way." Amity handed the diary to Luz. 

"Thanks... That was..."

"Intense." They both got silent processing all that happened, "we should clean the mess they felt."

"Yeah, at least it looks like they didn't do that much damage." 

The rest of the night was spent fixing damage, and putting everything back together in an awkward silence both trying to cope with what happened. Sometimes cut by small talk about direction and how to rearrange library furniture. When it was finally done, the sun began to rise. Luz was okay Angels and former Angels have a lot of stamina and it takes an awful lot to tire them out, Amity however looked exhausted. They headed out the rising sun facing them, Luz deciding she was tired of the negativity and trauma of the day decided to have a more positive moment, they both could use one. 

"What an adventure, am I right?"

"Yeah, it was... Thanks for helping with cleaning. I will see you around." Amity walked ahead. 

"Wait," Luz interjected stopping Amity in her track. "Here take this, I noticed you only had up to 4." Luz gave her a copy of the Good Witch Azura volume 5." This made Amity slime immediately, if she wasn't so tired, she might have expressed her joy more vividly despite being in public. 

"Thank you, Luz, I appreciate it." Amity gave a tired smile and was about ready to go home.

"Would you like to exchange? I could use a Good Witch Azura fan friend." Luz asked hopefully. "I mean if you want to."

Amity continued to smile her cheek redeening a bit, "I would like that." And so they did just that before finally going to their respective homes.

"I will see you around Luz."

"See ya Amity take care." 

And they both took off.

Using the fact no one was up yet, Luz flew to the Owl House and got there fairly quickly, when she arrived, she saw Eda and King on the couch sleeping with the three baby bat creatures. An adorable sight to be held she registered into her memory.

Suddenly the door opened, "HOOT HOOT." 

"Sshhh Hooty," Luz whispered not wanting to wake them up this early. Enters a large creature that barely fit through the door, it was bat-winged with just her head for a body and had a close resemblance to the three little ones. "Wow, you must be the mama," Luz said in a calm voice.

"Yeye mama is I, and I is the Bat Queen," the Bat Queen then whistled waking up the babies who calmly and obediently flew to her hair. "Haaa sweet babies," and she threw up a large chest full of snails, along with a skull whistle, "For troubles, Eda is owned one." The Bat Queen then left with the babies to Titan knows where. That was enough things happening for today Luz decided she was not going to think about that one, until tomorrow. She was about to head to her room when someone much more familiar walked in.

"Luz? Already up? Why was the Bat Queen in here?" It was Raine. 

"Oh hi Raine," They immediately realized how exhausted Luz sounded. "Long story short Eda had to babysit the Bat Queen baby in exchange for snails and a cool whistle." She took it in her head, "I'd wash it before using it. Oh also, sshhh." Luz pointed at the sleeping Eda and King. 

Raine looked and thought how cute it was, and how beautiful Eda was, making them blush a little. "Oh right," they said much quieter.

"As for me, I... just got back I was at the library all night. It's a long story." Luz looked at the ground still trying to process having just gone through a nightmare coming to life, Raine looked at her suspiciously, why would you stay in a library all night granted it was the wailling star but still.

"Why were you up all night, it's not good for you besides Bonesborought streets aren't safe by day, and by night it's three times worse. It could have been dangerous." Raine said not aggressively, not accusingly, just trying to understand.

Luz crossed her arms, "I wanted to come back sooner but something happened... Sorry."

By this point, Raine was concerned, "Are you alright? Do you want to talk about it?" They said with a soft kind voice. 

Luz breathed heavily then nodded, "But not here I don't want to wake them up. Can we go to my room?" 

"Of course, lullaby." And so they went and sat in the bed Eda stole got for Luz, a few seconds passed before Luz started talking. She told them everything, from going back to the library with the Blight twins after the baby barfed two more babies. From them messing around until she got angry for trying to steal Amity's diary, to them being chased and fighting Luz's nightmare that came to life through her diary. Raine listened attentively to the whole thing, not interrupting once but their face went through multiple, sad, disapproving, and worried expressions. They felt a bit guilty, the diary was their idea and it had worked well, they didn't think it'd harm Luz. The Wailling star still made that happen. They were there when Luz said she was going to see it, and Eda let her go because both she and they had a fond memory of it, however, Raine did not think to tell Luz not to take her diary to it. Now, the consequences of that mistake were in front of them.

"Wow, I'm really sorry this happened to you... How do you feel ?" Raine asked with a tone filled with worries and guilt.

"I... I don't know... For a moment it felt like I was back there and the Boiling Isles had been nothing but a dream. Like I never broke free and was running from them but can't escape." Luz said her voice shaking and filled with emotions. Raine hesitantly put their hand on Luz's shoulder and she leaned in them before starting to hug them, in the past week, she had grown attached to Raine, they were making Eda happy and were extremely kind, despite what happened Luz was still grateful for the dairy Raine gifted as well as a few teach about bard magic. Raine had started to know Luz better and recognized she wanted to scream but was holding herself.

"Do you need to scream, Lullaby?" They asked softely.

"... Can't... E-da and King sleeping." Luz answered still holding it in.

Raine thought about it and an idea popped up, "Want to learn another bard trick?" They said smiling, Luz simply nodded. Raine then cast a spell, and for a second the walls of Luz's bedroom shined red, "There, now the room is soundproof." Raine winked. Luz smiled at them knowing why they did that before hugging them tighter and starting to scream. They don't know how long it lasted, but at some point, due to exhaustion, Luz fell asleep. Raine put her to bed and removed the spell, as they were about to leave, Raine noticed Luz seemed to be starting to have a nightmare as she was crisped, was breathing a lot, and starting to move. Raine summoned their violin and started to play appeasing music, it was melodious, calming, and relaxing, the music was one of Raine's creations specially made to chase away nightmares. And it worked marvelously, Luz relaxed and calmed down, the nightmare replaced by a dream and she now was sleeping with a happy smile. Raine stopped playing and headed out. 

"Sleep well, Lullaby." They said before closing the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amity walked on foot until Blight manor exhausted and overwhelmed by the night. She desperately needed quiet and calm, she had gone mute and would be able to talk again in a few hours. Finally, the doors to Blight Manor were in front of her and she entered, hoping her mother was not awake or there she would be merciless if she learned Amity spent the whole night out without her knowing.

"Mittens?" She turned to see her father about to leave, he was a workaholic rising as early as dawn to go to work. "I didn't know you weren't there, were you out all night ?" Amity tried to answer but she simply couldn't. "Mittens?" Alador asked again before his eyes grew in understanding. "Oh... I see, you should go to your room, your mother is not here, she is out on a business trip. You should have some free time to recover from whatever was the cause of this." 

Amity was surprised at first not expecting her father to understand or care, she expressed her thanks silently going to her room, but was interrupted again. 

"MITTENS!" This time it was Edric and Emira looking frantic.

"Where were you?!"

"We were so worried!"

"We are so sorry for-"

"Enough," Alador stopped them recognizing Amity was getting overwhelmed again. "Your sister needs all the quiet and calm she needs at the moment, you can talk to her when she feels better." The twin stopped, equally as surprised as their sister. "I will be back tonight, behave." And he was gone. On his palisman, Alador thought about the fact he didn't know about Amity having the same condition as him and realized how distant he had become from his children. So, he decided to try and spend more time from now on, he just had to figure that out without lowering production and angering Odalia.

Meanwhile, the twins went away quickly, and Amity got to her room, she was tired and prepared to go to sleep, and as she did she decided she would read the volume 5 when she woke up. And her thoughts went to Luz starting with being worried and intrigued about all she learned about her and the human realm. Her thoughts turned to something else, how cool Luz had been fighting against the Angels and to them holding their hands or being extremely close to avoid heat detection. She realized she liked how they held hands and were close but also how cool and pretty Luz was. Her eyes widened as she realized something.

"Oh no."

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Two days after the library incident, Luz had recovered her usual sleep schedule. Once Eda learned what happened at the library, she went full-on protective and supportive mode for the next days, which Luz did not mind after what happened; her nightmares increased in numbers and intensity. The same goes along with Gus and Willow, since having learned about Luz's past, they become extremely protective. So when Luz told them about the library incident, she was bombarded with worried and concerned messages as well as visits almost every day. Once again, she did not mind, but it was starting to be a bit suffocating. She had also been texting Amity, at first checking on each other, and now it was mostly about the Good Witch Azura, both were happy to have someone they could talk about it to, Amity also opened herself up a bit more about herself and her home situation, her absent dad who seemed to be trying to spend more time with them, her pranking siblings who had barely talked to her since they incident and seemed to feel guilty, finally... Her mom what she heard made Luz dislike Odalia quite a lot.

Willow was surprised about Luz and Amity becoming friends, but her surprise was mostly hearing how Amity had been very kind and open to Luz since the incident. It seemed that it had changed something in her former friend, Amity, completely stopped bullying her at school; she just ignored her, looking away and not interacting with Willow. Willow appreciated this development; it made her school life better, and she just wished Bosha's gang would do the same. She had also reassured Luz that she did not mind her being friends with Amity after Luz gave her a very guilty face and apologized over and over again. She did not say it out loud, but she approved of their friendship since it softened Amity and improved her attitude. But she made Luz warned Amity that if Amity was ever to hurt Luz, she'd be going down. Gus approved of this.

Luz had continued to prepare herself for Hexide while also searching for glyphs and the potion she had been invited to. She was mostly slowed down by the lack of volunteers to taste it. Hooty proposed as a volunteer, but Eda refused, not wanting to risk what would happen if Hooty drank it.

It was now the middle of the night in the Owl House when Eda, in her room while sleeping, changed into the Owl beast. It was calm and did not go on a rampage; it was, however, looking for something. The nest was empty, the careless Owl lady let her children out of sight, and it now had to go get them, trying to make as little sound as possible, it went to look for them. And it found them in Luz's room, as gently as possible, it grabbed them and brought them to the next. Once inside, the Owl Beast began nesting them before falling asleep again.

The next morning, while waking from a surprisingly restful and nightmare-free night, Luz found it hard to move; she was still partially asleep, not realizing where she was. She was only fully awakened by King's signature "Weh". She realized she was under something with a lot of feathers and big. Looking up, she saw it had Eda's face and came to the conclusion it had to be the Owl beast.

"What's goin' on? How did we get here?" King whispered.

"I don't know! The last thing I remember is falling asleep while reading." Luz answered.

"Eda told us the Owl Beast is a wild animal, maybe it keeps us here to eat us later." King panicked, his noise made the Owl Beast move, they held their breath, but it did not wake up. Thinking a bit more, as they couldn't move, Luz came up with a theory, a strange but plausible one.

"What if it is nesting us?"

"Weh?" King answered, seemingly thinking it was absurd.

"Just think about it, the Owl Beast is some kind of beast bird demon, right?" King nodded in answer.

"We are both under Eda's roof, and she takes care of us, right?"

"Right."

"The Owl is inside her, maybe it sees through her and considers us as its chicks." Luz finished her explanation, King was starting to consider it."

"Ok, that could be it, but we must get out and give Eda her elixir before it tries to feed us." On that note, King started to move using his small body to crawl out without the Owl Beast noticing it. He ended up successfully getting out, but the Beast woke up and noticed King on the edge of the nest. It grabbed him, put him back, and started to nestle them again. "Great, at least your theory is true."

Luz was relieved, at least it meant the Owl beast wouldn't hurt them, but they were stuck, so they were down to one solution. Ask for help, there was Hooty but she was scared of the consequences of the two facing each other, there were her friends but the Owl Beast could see them as threats and get aggressive, the last one was Raine who came multiple times and was a long time "friend" of Eda the Owl Beast was familiar enough with them, it was the best solution she and King had. And so she decided to message them.

G00dwitchLuzura: Hi Raine!

RAINEY.DAY: Hi syphnoy.

G00dwitchLuzura: Could you come over, please?

RAINEY.DAY: I'm working rn which will be complicated.

G00dwitchLuzura: its an emergency.

RAINEY.DAY: What's going on?

G00dwitchLuzura: Eda turned into the Owl Beast while we were sleeping, and now King and I are stuck in Eda's nest.

RAINEY.DAY: I'm coming to stay safe and hidden if necessary!

G00dwitchLuzura: Actually I think it's fine it's not being aggressive its nestling us in Eda's nest.

RAINEY.DAY: It's nestling you?

G00dwitchLuzura: Yep and we are stuck

RAINEY.DAY: We will have to discuss with Eda this, it's not the beast's usual behavior.

G00dwitchLuzura: Alright we are waiting, Eda should have her elixir in her drawer.

RAINEY.DAY: Gotcha.

Now, they had to wait for Titan to know how long. The wait was boring but surprisingly comfy, a weird sentiment considering they were at the Owl beast's mercy. "Ugh, it's been hours! When is Raine going to be here?!" King asked in a mix of frustration, irritation, and impatience.

"Actually, it has been 15 minutes and 23 seconds since they said they are coming." Luz's answer bored her out of her mind

"Weh?! Uuugh, what a day..."

"Don't worry, they should be here soon." Luz offers, although she knew it wasn't given, Raine lived on the outskirts of Bonesborought in the complete opposite of the Owl House, and it is the largest city of the right arm. 

Finally, 5 minutes later, they heard Hooty talking to Raine signaling their arrival, then they entered quietly in the room quietly. Despite being warned, they were still surprised by the scenery. They got the elixir and forced it down the Owl Beast's throat, bringing back Eda and freeing the kid. "Finally, I can feel my royal legs again!" King said while getting out of the next."

Raine ran to Eda, and Luz got up but stayed beside Eda, both waiting for her to regain consciousness.

"Ugh, what happened?" Eda felt bad; she had a bad headache and felt extremely tired. As her vision became less blurry, she noticed that King, Luz, and Raine were all around her. "Why are you all here? Did someth-" Then it all came back to her, changing during her sleep, putting her kids in danger. "Oh no, I turned, didn't I ?!"

"Yes, you did," Raine answered calmly. "How do you feel?"

"Tired and my head hurts, but that's not important right now! Luz, King, are you two okay?!" Eda asked frantically.

"We are ok, Eda, don't worry," Luz answered.

"Oh, thank the Titan." Eda sighed in relief.

"Actually, we weren't in danger at all," Luz continued, to the Owl Lady's confusion. King and Luz proceeded to tell everything that had happened since they woke up. And Eda was stunned. The Owl Beast, the thing that permanently injured her dad and made her cut all ties with everyone except her two strays, had been friendly and protective, nestling the two kids. It was surreal, so surreal that Eda became speechless for a good 10 minutes.

After all of this, they went downstairs to eat breakfast. Eda remained mostly silent, still thinking about the ordeal. Raine noticed King was too focused on his food, but Luz was noticing too, but wasn't sure what to say. She understood Eda; her whole perception of the beast had been broken,  and she wondered how she'd react if something similar happened to her with her ADS. She decided to think of something else, thinking of her friends, and when it came to Amity, something hit her.

"AMITY! Oh cramity! We are supposed to meet so I can have my Azura book back." She finished her food in a rush. And headed for the door.

"Be back before lunch," Eda told her.

"I will. Love you guys!" Luz exclaimed.

"AND I LOVE-AH" Hooty tried to speak but was interrupted when the door closed. 

Now, it was the King's turn to leave the table. "I must go conquer kingdoms now, YOUR KING MARCHES ON." And the King disappeared. Titans knew where in the house. Leaving Eda and Raine in the kitchen, they remained silent for a bit longer, Eda still in her thoughts.

"Everything alright?" Raine asked, bringing Eda back to reality.

"I-I'm not sure..." She admitted. "It took me years to understand it, to adapt to it, and I more or less managed to do it. But now it's like all of it had been thrown out the window. Don't get me wrong, I'm relieved and glad the beast didn't attack them. It's just... Uugh." She sighed in her mental exhaustion.

Raine put their hand on her shoulder, "I think I get it, you thought it was a wild dangerous beast that attacked everything that moved for so long when it showed something you never saw before and acted in a way so unnatural to the perspective you had of it, it broke what you thought you knew and bring a new perspective."

Eda chuckled, "Always the wise one, eh, whisper?" 

"Always has been," they blinked at Eda, making her blush. "Maybe the beast isn't as mindless as you think, maybe if you can understand it more, managing it will be easier for you. Who knows, maybe it doesn't want to be here either? Maybe they are as cursed as you are?" 

Eda smiled again, regaining her usual demeanor, "You are right, Whisper, well, it's a bit early for those assumptions, but for the rest, you are right. Thank you."

"And you don't have to do it alone, me, Luz, King, even Hooty, we are here for you." They concluded.

After this conversation, they hugged, something they learned from Luz. No one (except Hooty, who watched everything) knew how long it lasted, but this time, it was Raine's turn to blush. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luz was walking down the market looking for her green-haired friend. It had been a week since the library incident, and they messaged a lot; she got to see that Amity was more than what meets the eye. She may have a cold façade and a cool superiority attitude, but she was, in reality, as much of a nerd and bookworm as Luz. The Latina had proposed to hang out multiple times since the library, but Amity had been busy each time, so it was the first time they'd seen since the incident, and she was excited.

"Amity, Amity, Amity... Gotta find that-" Finally, she spotted her, "Oh, Amity! Luz is finally here."

"Hi, Lu-" The twin prank ended up with them receiving a flashbang made with glyphs and Luz jumping backward. When she realized that she had blinded with her light spell, her face was livid; thankfully, it wasn't as powerful as the actual thing. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I thought I was being attacked, I acted on impulse!"

"Edric! Emira! I told you not to do that!"

"Yeah... you did," Edric answered weakly, his hands still covering his eyes.

Amity then walked to Luz, "Don't worry, Luz, they got what they deserved for playing stupid games." This calmed Luz, and the twins didn't seem to hold it against her, they sneaked at her, it was self-defense. "They insisted on coming for some reason."

"Because we wove you, baby sister," Emira said, sticking to her sister before being pushed away.

"They have been extra nice and protective toward me to make up for the library incident."

"And we still apologize every day," Edric said, acting the same way as his twin sister and being pushed away, too.

"In any case, here is your book." 

"Sooo, what did you think?" Luz asked excitedly. As far as her memories went, Amity was the first other Azura fan she had met.

"It was... fine," Amity answered.

Luz saw a drawing and took it out, seeing what it was, she smiled and looked at her friend, " So fine you draw us as Azura and Hecate after they allied?" She said, still looking at it, Amity was a good drawer, although Luz was better; her cyborg nature felt a bit like cheating; meanwhile, for Amity, it was all skill.

Amity blushed intensely; she had forgotten to take it out of the book, and using magic, she destroyed it. 

"This is great. Maybe we could start an Azura book club when we are classmates."

"Oh, right, you are enrolling. How do you feel about the placement exam?" Amity asked, she was excited about Luz attending Hexide, although her heart might have a hard time managing not to explode.

"The what exam?" Luz looked puzzled 

Amity paused, "You don't know about it? The Owl Lady didn't tell you?"

Luz shook her head, "Well, to be in my class, you have to do that exam, it's a test to see your level and progress. To pass, you must show that you have mastered at least two spells and have a basic understanding of runes. I know you have your light and plant spells, so you are good on that part. What about the runes?"

"Don't worry, I mastered runes two weeks ago." She said cheerfully and was met with shocked gazes.

"Y-you mastered runes?! But-but you have been here less than a month, how? Amity asked, baffled.

"Hehe... hum... I have a... Eidetic memory," She lied, the twins seemed to have brought it, but Amity was less convinced. With what she learned about Luz at the library, she wasn't fully convinced, but Luz seemed uncomfortable with it, so she decided to let it drop. If Luz wants to tell her one day, she will, and Amity won't pressure her, especially not in front of the twins. 

"Damn, lucky you I wish I had that I forget everything all the time." Said Edric.

"That's because you are an idiot," Said Emira, jumping on the occasion to make fun of her brother. Before it could go further, she continued, "Hey, would you like to come train with us, Luz?" 

"Oh, brain idea!" continued Edric.

Luz loved the idea, and she could see Amity was hoping she'd say yes. "I'd love to, but I will have to ask Eda first."

"Great! We are going to the Knee for training after lunch. Keep us updated, I'm sure it will be great." Amity said excitedly with a bright smile, she was extremely happy to train with the human. 

"Gotcha, Blight. I'm sure Eda will be ok with it." Luz waved at the Blights before heading back to the Owl House, "See you later guys, byyyyye!" Amity waved back, still smiling and with a small blush, when she turned around, still blushing, her twins gave her smug, knowing looks.

"Shut up."

She went from happy to annoyed at them because they knew, and they were going to take advantage of that; their silence was saying thousands of words, and she was in for weeks of teasing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Raine had gone to work, and Eda decided to start cooking for today's meal. All was calm, just a domestic moment in life. "That's a surprise domestic moment, I wonder how long it will last."

"EDAAA."

"There it is."

"Eda!" Luz almost jumped on her in her excitement, "Amity is planning to go train for the placement exam. By the way, you forgot to tell me. And she is going to the Knee with her siblings! Can we go pleeeaaaseee?" Luz said without breathing, and being done, she finally caught her breath.

"Ah, the Knee, I have been meaning to take you there, and yeah, today would be a good idea before Hexide starts to try brainwashing you. And for the placement exams, well, you got this in the bag even before we discussed you attending, so it slipped my mind. So yeah, after eating, we are going. And take anything warm, the Knee is the coldest place on the isles." Luz had sparkles in her eyes and immediately confirmed they'd be there at Amity, who was also thrilled.

"Now let me finish this, the sooner we are done, the sooner we can go." She sprayed a cyan potion on vegetables that gained limbs and sentience. "Alright, now everybody in the pot." Instead, they screamed and ran, "Why do I always think this is going to work?"

After lunch, they got ready for the Knee cold, King was told to keep the house because his adorableness would distract Luz during her lessons, making King angry, which made him look even more adorable. And they went on Eda's staff, and after 30 minutes of flight, they had arrived. "The Knee is the most magical place on the isles, ancient witches used to come here to connect with the Titan, the tradition stopped when the bonehead showed his ugly mask," Eda explained, while listening to Luz was in awe this place was beautiful, covered in snow, calm, isolated, beautiful landscape, nature, fresh pure air untouched by pollution, the Boiling isles air was a lot more pure than Earth air but here it was on a whole other level. But what Luz thought was the best was the sky, the cloudless purple sky, by looking up, you could see stars even during the day. 

"This place is beautiful..." Luz said, still in awe of the Knee.

But then Eda pointed to a gigantic white-furred creature with a close resemblance to a Yeti. "The Sliverbeast, one of the biggest beast demons, but don't worry, as you don't mess with it, it won't mess with you." She warned before they went on their way. Luz wanted to tell Amity they had arrived, but it looks like the scroll network doesn't work on top of the Knee. They will have to find them. Luz decided to use her heat vision to find them, and she did. She now knew where they were and went in their direction. Once they arrived, she waved and called out to them. "Hey, Amity!" They turned toward her and waved at her back. 

"Hi, Luz, hello Miss Eda," Amity greeted them.

"Hiii," the twins greeted them as well.

"Hey, Blight kids, do your parents know you are here? She asked with a serious expression.

The Blight kid's expression turned sour. Emira tried to explain, "Hum, well, you see-"

Eda chuckled, "Ha, just kidding, I know they aren't. Odalia would never accept letting her kids come here." She said doing her best to hold back from insulting the woman in front of her children. The Blights weren't even surprised that the Owl Lady knew their mother; she was well known and didn't have the best reputation. Eda turned to Luz, "I'm gonna get your lesson ready, kid, don't go too far." And she went to do just that.

"So, what are you guys doing?" Luz asked her friend.

"I'm trying to beat Emira's score on the exam."

"Aww, mittens, that's impossible,"

"Yeah, she still has to use a training wand," her siblings teased.

Luz knew it was sibling bickering, but she thought they were a bit harsh, "Hey, you are a powerful witch, I'm sure you will manage to do that in no time, we all learn differently, if you need that training wand, it's ok you are still learning and improving." She said, giving an encouraging smile.

"Thanks, Luz," Amity answered while blushing and trying to hide it. Lucky her, Luz didn't notice, and unlucky her, the twins noticed.

"Aaaww," They both said in unison. "You guys are cute together." Emira continued, making Amity blush intensely. Luz blushed too faintly and seemed about to say something.

"ANYWAY! What do you plan to do with the Owl Lady?" Amity asked, hoping to escape the situation; thankfully for her, it worked.

"I want to learn a new spell, but I can only do that by finding glyphs, so we are going to try to find one. They seem to be a part of the environment, you can find that by looking and connecting to the Isles." Luz explained excitedly, on cue, Eda was back, holding a sack of snow.

"Luz, to make the connection, you are going to identify every type of snow, and then we are going to do rocks." Suddenly, Luz was less sure about her teacher's competence regarding glyphs. The following three hours were spent exploring, rock and snow tasting, meditating, and finding Eda's missed glove and hand, but Luz didn't feel like she made much progress. She was nowhere closer to finding a new glyph or learning a new spell, She looked at Amity and her siblings training with envy; it seemed a lot more productive, despite Amity not yet being able to cast her fire spell without a training wand. Eda assured her that a method would make her powerful without needing a training wand in no time, but Luz was growing uncertain. Now, Eda was taking her to a beautiful spot offering a gorgeous view of the skull and most of the Isles. "Now you are going to make the connection, sit down, close your eyes, and focus on what the Titan is trying to tell you. Take all the time you need." Onto those words, Eda left Luz to let her concentrate.

"Ok, focus, make the connection," Luz said, doing some self pep talks. Sadly, her ADHD, which had survived angelification, made focusing and sitting still extremely difficult for her. Her mind constantly wanders somewhere or moves every second. 'This is never going to work with Eda's lessons,' she thought, out of exasperation, she decided to take a break, and seeing Amity was doing the same, she decided to go talk to her.

"Hey, Amity. How is practice going?" She asked her green-haired friend.

"Hey, Luz, it's going well, I suppose. I still can't cast the spell without the wand. What about you?"

"Nothing much, Eda's methods are... unique. Usually, they work pretty well, but I don't think she knows what she is doing when it comes to glyphs."

Amity winced in sympathy. "Yeah, I could see your hum training was a bit weird, but you already found and mastered two glyphs, I'm sure it's only a matter of time." Now she was offering an encouraging one. 

"Thank you, Amity," Luz answered with a faint blush. "Say, I'm a bit curious about how training wands work, and how they help to learn spells," Luz asked. It had bugged her since she saw the wand; it was her first time seeing one. 

"Oh, hum, training wands have a battery infused with magic that makes it easier to cast spells and learn how to cast them. After that, you are expecting to try casting them on your own." She explained, "I'm not sure how it can help you, though."

Luz started to think about the wand, and got an idea, her eyes got wide as the idea came to her. "Can I try it?" She asked early. 

Amity seemed uncertain. "Are you sure? It works better when you have a bile sack, I'm not sure how to help you." She pointed.

"That's true, but listen! I found my first glyph by looking through a spell circle in my memories, I could try that again with your want!" Luz explained excitedly. Amity was still uncertain about it, she had never let anyone borrow her wand before. "Please, Amity, pleeeeaaase." She begged.

Luz pleaded with her cute face and gorgeous eyes, Amity thought, making her blush. "Fine if you think it will help." She conceded with a small smile.

"Yes! Thank you, Amity," Luz hugged Amity, making her even redder.

Luz took the wand, pointed it toward the skull, and cast a fire spell. She looks through her memory and... Nothing. No glyph in the circle.

"What?" She replays the memories multiple times, and still nothing. 

"Hum... Is everything alright, Luz?" Amity asked, seeing Luz just staring in the distance.

"Oh yes, sorry. I was just looking through the memory, but there is nothing." Luz looked thoughtful again, "Wait... Eda's spell was bigger, maybe if I..." She murmured.

Luz was in a bigger spell circle and lost control of it, trying to hold on to the wand, the fire spell hand was shot somewhere on the knee. Just a few seconds later, they hear a beast scream.

"What's going on?!" Eda yelled, running toward them, followed by the Blight twins. "Luz, what are you doing with this training wand?" Eda questioned, unhappy with her student.

"Hum..." Amity took her wand back. Seconds later, the angered slitherbeast fell from the skies in front of them, enraged. 

Eda noticed Luz's guilty look. "We will talk about this later." The beast in its fury lunged forward, approaching the witches at great speed. "Watch out!" Eda pushed Luz out of the way and headed out, being grabbed being the raging beast.

"Aaaaww he is sooo cute. Can we keep him?" Asked Emira jokingly.

"It's no bat, but we can try." Answered Edric, who had just gotten a pet bat, that became friendly to him almost instantly.

They used a common magical blue lasso to immobilize the beast, Luz got in the action using the plant glypth to grow vines to immobilize it further. 

"You got it, now finish it off!" Eda yelled.

"I'm on it," Amity tried to use to wand to cast fire, but nothing came out. Looking in more detail at the wand, she realized it was out of magic.

"Oh no no, it's all used up!"

The beast managed to get hold of the vines and pulled, sending Luz toward it before it hit her, sending her flying, knocking her out in the process.

"LUZ!" Screamed both Eda and Amity.

It also sent Edric flying in the process, but without knocking him out. It now outpowers Emira, it grabbed her, before grabbing Edric and running away with the three witches, now it preys, but leaving Amity and Luz. Panicked and worried, Amity started to chase it, but was reminded of Luz's unconsciousness when she saw her lying on the ground. She ran to her, making sure she was alright. Thankfully, she wasn't injured, or at least it seemed so, knowing there was nothing she could do and knowing she had very limited time to save her siblings and Eda, she conjured a barrier around Luz to protect her until they got back. Once done, she ran in the direction the Slitherbeast went.

She was now in a cave, it was dark, and the smell was terrible; she could see the many remains of witches and demons who had been unlucky. In the distance, she heard a voice.

"Atchoo! Ugh, I hate garlic..." It was Eda, they were still alive, she got closer, the beast still not in sight. She hid behind a rock structure close to the tree she was looking for. With still no sight of the beast, she reached them.

"Amity!" Her sister said, relieved, thought it didn't last, soon their face contorted, and they were looking at something behind her. She heard the loud footsteps.

"AMITY LOOK OUT!" Yelled Edric.

Turning around, the Slitherbeast was towering over her, how it had managed to be this discreet and silent she didn't know, and it wasn't the time to figure it out. The beast roared and went for the strike before Amity could react. She closed her eyes, waiting for it... But it never came, instead, she heard an explosion and the beast screaming in pain. Opening her eyes, she saw the Slitherbeast going after someone else, a figure she recognized.

It was Luz... But something was off; her eyes, demeanor, and body language weren't like her; her eyes were shining blue. It was just like that day at the covention, when she claimed she wasn't in control. 

"BOOTS!" The owl lady yelled, making Amity turn back to her, and was met with something she would have never expected from the famous Eda the owl lady. A worried and concerned gaze similar to the one at the covention but tenfold, she looked like a mother (a mother that wasn't Odalia, that is), scared for her child. "Get us out! Luz needs our help. Now!" She was agitated.

"Use that fire spell." Said Emira was confused by the whole situation. 

"Bu-but-" Amity wanted to express her frustration with this spell and the difficulty she had to master it; however, now Luz needed them, needed her, she wouldn't let her stand alone against this beast demon. Thinking about her will to get her sibling out, to answer the owl lady's plea, and to help the human that had grown on her extremely quickly. She managed to cast and freed them.

Eda lost no time, called Owlbert, and flew at high speed toward the exit as the ADS and the Slitherbeast had left it and were now fighting outside.

Eda noticed the thing was fighting similarly, but with more intent to make the monster flee than to harm, but unlike last time, it was using a glyph. Casting... Ice magic?

'But Luz has only known the plant and light glyph. Did that thing discover a new one?' Eda wondered, "Oh, what the heck, questions later, Luz first." Using her magic, she made a beam appear to get the beast's attention, but the ADS got the beast's attention back.

"Hey, what are you doing, parasite!" She yelled, Was this thing supposed to be a self-defense system?

"This animal is dangerous, Please evacuate to a safer area." It spoke.

Eda didn't expect an answer. That thing answered.

"Give Luz her body back." She tried.

"Negative. Central intelli-"

"Her name is Luz!" Eda yelled.

"... Luz is still unconscious, control will be given back once she regains consciousness. For now, she is under my protection." 

Both were trying to scare the beast off, but it was persistent and was striking back after each of their attacks.

"Alright, that's it." Eda cast a sleeping spell, and the beast fell into a deep slumber.

The ADS landed, retracting its weapons. "Threat successfully contained."

Eda was still disturbed by the thing, but it was true that it had helped her, but it did so despite Luz's safety.

"So much for being a defence system, you put Luz in danger." Eda pointed as she landed next to it.

"Protecting you and ensuring your safety, Miss Edalyn, is necessary for Luz's protection, as you are taking care of her."

Eda groaned at this, not knowing how to feel about this. It was nice to hear, but it came from a machine that was installed in Luz by Archangel, so she wasn't sure how to take it. Changing subject, there was a question she wanted to ask. "How did you find that ice glyph?"

The ADS turned to face her and showed the glyph on a hologram. "While I was following the animal traces, I noticed a glyph in the snowflakes, I downloaded the image in Luz's memories." It explained. It confirmed Eda's doubt that Luz hadn't found it, but she knew she would have eventually.

"Luz is regaining consciousness, deactivation of ADS." Luz's eyes returned to normal, and she fell to the ground. Eda sprinted toward her. The Blights arrived at that moment.

And just a few seconds later, Luz woke up confused, she saw everyone alright and the beast asleep, but had no recollection of anything happening after the beast hit her. Then it dawned on her, she had been knocked unconscious, which meant...

"Did it happen again?" She asked Eda.

Eda looked at her sadly, "Yes, kid, it happened again, but don't worry, it didn't harm  us, and everyone is fine." Eda pointed, and the baby Blights, Amity, looked worried and got closer. Luz gave her a small smile and a wave, which seemed to calm Amity down a little. "It even helped us take that thing down." Eda continued.

Luz suddenly turned wide and confused, "Wait, what do you mean it helped you?"

"Well, it followed the beats and fought to protect us and even told me to leave because it was dangerous. Why?" Eda replied in a curious tone.

Luz turned slightly pale. "Eda, this is not normal, the ADS isn't programmed to help anyone but its host."

"Hum... It said it was doing this in your interest. So..." Eda said, trying to reassure Luz. It didn't work.

"Wait, it talked ?!" Another thing the ADS wasn't supposed to do.

"Luz, are you alright?" Amity asked, concerned for her friend.

Luz looked at Eda, Eda understood it meant she would talk about it later and didn't want to do so in front of the Blights. So she let it that for now. Luz got up and turned to Amity.

"Yeah, I'm okay, what about you, are you injured anywhere?"

"No, thank you, don't worry." Amity smiled, reassured. "Luz... What happened to you earlier?" Luz grimaced at the question, "I... Don't want to talk about it, I'm not ready yet, I will tell you one day." Amity nodded in understanding and left the topic at that. "And Amity, I don't want this incident to make this day look bad, yes, it almost ended badly, but aside from that, I had a lot of fun with you today, so thank you." Luz gave a warm smile.

Amity blushed and got her smile, "Yeah, I had fun as well." Amity originally hadn't been excited about the training camp with her siblings, even if she was getting along better with them. But with Luz, it had been so much better than it would have expected; she was looking forward to the next time they would see each other. "I will see you at school."

Luz was starting to feel better thanks to the exchange, "Azura book club?" She asked with big, bright, cute eyes. Amity couldn't resist making her blush again.

"Azura book club." She answered, Luz then went to Eda, they got on Owlbert and left, heading home while waving the Blights goodbye.

Midflight, as they were above the inner right arm sea, Luz, who hadn't said a word since the beginning, finally broke the silence.

"I don't understand why it was that or how it was able to?" Eda was surprised Luz was ready now, but she would still listen. 

"What did you mean by not normal in the ADS behavior?" She asked, it had been in her head ever since they left the knee.

"The ADS is a defence mechanism, it's not supposed to protect anyone from direct danger, plan ahead, or make complex decision-making outside of fighting. And it was supposed to be able to hold conversations. But it did." Eda understood better that the ADS had done things it shouldn't be able to do; she understood Luz's worried nod.

"So you are telling me that thing is... evolving?"

"Something like that, it's gaining more capacity and autonomy and... It scares me." Luz admitted.

'Poor kid, she went through so much, and it's still piling.' Eda thought empathically.

"Luz, honey, listen to me, we will figure this out, ok, you aren't alone, me, King, your friends, heck, even Hooty, we are here for you. You can rely on us, I'm sure things will be alright. You can trust me, I know how to deal with an inner nuisance." Eda said Luz's case might not be a curse, but it felt similar; she could give her what she hadn't received. Her words seem to have worked as Luz started to hug her. The flight continued silently.

When they reached the Owl House, they found a mess; it was all trash inside, and they were supposedly interrupted for a moment. Hooty words of being haunted by his actions forever were a part of the chaotic routine in Luz's new life, one that was strangely comforting.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

After they got back from the knee, Luz almost immediately trained for the placement exam that would take place in just a few days. Despite the ADS incident, it had remained silent, not manifesting itself in any way. Luz was told about it, finding a glyph in her place, she was disappointed not to have found it herself. But she decided not to let that impact her. Eda saw this as a massive improvement compared to when she had arrived. The girl's morale and self-image had greatly improved; she wasn't as hard on herself as she used to be. Of course, there are still moments of small relapse and nightmares, but scream cries have gotten rarer. Raine noticed it as well; they had been visiting the house less frequently recently, for reasons they couldn't disclose, but still talked on panstagram and crows relatively frequently. Luz has also tried to contact the ADS to no result being only to be met with silence.

Luz had also told about the knee trip to her friends, including the incident, but reassured them by explaining that it all ended well. This didn't stop them from visiting, and the 'Mom Friend™' Willow from making sure Luz was ok. Luz made them know she was ok, yes, she was sure, no, she wasn't saying that to reassure them, and yes, she would take it slow for a few days. 

Her mind was elsewhere anyway; tomorrow was the placement exam at Hexide, and as far as she could remember, her very first day at school. She wanted to make a good impression. Eda talked her out of presenting her power boost potion because she still hadn't found a way to consume it without getting sick, and it was very experimental as well as a huge advance in potion making, and so revealing it would gather huge, dangerous attention upon her. And so she decided to do a glyph presentation and decided to experiment with what she could do with them.

The day had come, and Luz hadn't been that stressed since potentially being exposed at the covention. Entrance and placement exams were always stressful, and for Luz, there was the added pressure to make a good first impression. So far, Bump seems to have a good opinion of her... Or he pitied her, she couldn't tell; the man was hard to read. "Eda, I don't like that. Maybe we should come back next semester." She suggested.

"You will do great, you are a great witch." Eda encouraged.

"But what if I do something wrong? What if I mess up? What if I deactivate?"

"Hey, Luz, listen, you are a skilled witchlet, as skilled as I was at your age. Everything will be alright." This helped Luz calm down slightly

"Now ready!"

"Ready!"

"And go!" Eda pushed Luz to the stage. She arrived here, facing the empty room where only Principal Bump was present, taking note.

"So hum hello mister Bump, I'm Luz Noceda, and I want to enroll at Hexide in the advanced classes." She said awkwardly.

"Yes, the human who wants to be a witch. Due to your circumstance, I have allowed you to enroll, but will you be able to do any magic without a bile sac?" He asked, being a bit less severe than she had heard him being to other students, Luz now thought he leaned more into pity for her.

Going for the act, she went all in, "I sure can." She then summoned ice with one hand shaped like a statue of Azura, blossoming vines with the others to support the ice statue, and the structure was in place; she had light balls appearing around the ball. "Voila." 

Bump jaw dropped, pinched himself to be sure he was awake. "Impressive... But how did you?"

Luz opened her left hand toward Bump, "There are holograms in my hands, a human gadget that can project images. I found a forgotten technique to make magic... Glyphs." She made a light glyph appear as a demonstration, "I make them appear with the hollograms, making me able to use magic." She activated the glyph, which turned into a light ball floating toward the principal.

"I am impressed, missed Claw- *ahem* I mean Noceda," Bump said, still admiring the structure. "It's one of the best presentations I have seen. I think you will do great at school. Welcome, Luz, to Hexide school of magic and wizardry!" 

"Hooray!" Luz celebrated, and Eda gave her thumbs up.

"Come by my office when the first day, start we will decide which track you will take." Luz and Eda then left the building, hearing Bump call for the next student.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few days later, the semester was starting, it was Luz's first day, and she could feel her blood boil and circuits going wild from anxiety, as they were flying toward the school in her brand new uniform.

"Eda, this was a bad idea. Maybe we should go back next semester... Or next year."

"Hey, calm down. You will do just fine. If you want my advice, get in there and punch the first kid you see, to establish dominance." Eda wisely advised.

This amusing advice calmed down Luz a bit. "Aw, I won't do that... But thanks."

They arrived on time, and the school entrance was filled with students getting ready for the new semester, entering anxiously. Some, like Luz, have light grey uniforms; there are all young children between 3 to 7 years old, some look excited, some look anxious, some are already wishing to go home. It was cute to watch; a part of Luz was envious of them. She had no memory of her childhood, but she suspected she probably never had one like theirs, or just a little, after the war started when she was only 6 years old. But she instead decided to be happy for the kids, be happy they had the chance to have a normal life and childhood where they could play, laugh, and be innocent. 

"Alright, here we are, knock them dead, kid." She said encouragingly with a large grin.

"Thanks, Eda. Oh, I have written this heartfelt goodbye puppet-"

"Whoops, a gust of wind just got me byyyye." Eda waved, fleeing the scene, too cheesy for her.

Luz walked to the entrance, passing the main coven banners depicting the coven heads, none of which she recognized. She crossed Amity's path, who, for whatever reason, was walking away from the school, with an abomination helping her carry her books. 

"Hey, Luz, congratulations on getting in. Word got around about your placement exam, and many teachers want you in their tracks." Amity whispered.

Luz felt a mix of pride but also unease because her machine part helped a lot; it felt like cheating. "Thanks, Amity, high five," and Amity did the gesture the human taught her, and so did her abomination... On her face, covering her in purple goo, it tasted like modeling clay. How did she know what modeling clay tasted like? No idea.

 "Sorry about that." Amity winced.

"It's ok, say, why are you going this way?" Luz asked the mint-haired witch.

"Oh, I'm going to the training ground, Bump asked me to present the abomination track to the inspector coming today."

"Oh, that's cool, he picked the best witch for the role." The comment made Amity blush, which Luz failed to notice. "I'd better get going, good luck, Ams." 

"Th- thanks, see you around." The blushing Blight stuttered.

Luz continued her walk, "Oh, I'm so excited, terrified, yes, but excited too. I'm gonna... I'm gonna... Wait, what do high schoolers do?"

"Climb the social ladder and become king of the school!" Answered King from the Luz bag.

"King, what are you doing in my bag?" Luz asked, having gotten used to King's entic.

"Using you as a rise to the best buffet in town." King jumped into a trash can, "Want some?" 

"Huh, no thanks, and if someone asked, I don't know you." She walked away from the trash eater.

"Have a wonderful school day, person I don't know!" She heard him answer; at least he was playing along.

Luz advanced further and crossed Willow and Gus at the entrance stairs. 

"Hey Hexoleos!"

"Hello, classmate," Willow retorted.

"You did it, Luz!" Gus cast an illusion he had prepared; the text read 'Hexide is overrated anyway.' Seeing this come out, he grimaced apologetically. "Sorry, I was covering all my bases." 

"I'm heading to the Bump office, see you guys at lunch." They all waved goodbye.

"See you, Luz." The new illusion spelled 'Congratulations, future top student!' "Why didn't this one come out first?" Gus pouted.

Willow holds back from giggling... Just barely.

Meanwhile, Luz headed to the principal's office, the map of the school downloaded and saved in her memory. She reached the door in just minutes. While entering, she heard Bump being happy, something about Glandus getting what it deserved, and grudgby season. 

"Hello, Principal Bump."

"Hello, Luz," Bump greeted back, smiling, "welcome back to Hexide." Luz sat down in front of the desk. Bump had a manual with the emperor's coven sigil on it. 

"Have you chosen a track as of yet?" He asked while doing paperwork.

"Well, about that I haven't... All the tracks sound so cool, I can't choose any. Is there a possibility to take multiples?" She asked with little hope but still wishing to try her luck.

"No," Luck failed her, "According to the rules, a witch must be Pocus Focus. You may only choose one of seven tracks." He explained, his smile faltering, while pointing at the book. 

"But wouldn't it make it easier for the emperor's coven to find recruits?" Despite having the same negative opinion on the covens, Luz tried using this argument, but unfortunately, this one fell short.

Bump sighted, "Listen, Luz, while I do agree on that point, there is nothing I can do; I may be principal. I don't have the power to change the system."

Luz sighed in resignation, "Is there at least something to help me choose?"

"Well, we used to have the choosy hat, but it started to feast on student flesh, so we had to seal it." Bump revealed shivering, very few things could make the demon realm inhabitant shiver in terror like this; the choosy hat must have really been something.

"Then I will go for... Potion." Luz said she had lost some of her enthusiasm.

"Ah, excellent choice, I heard you humans are full of liquids." He changed the colour of her uniform.

'Yes, we are, but lost some of it with my angelification.' Luz thought.

"You will receive a complete schedule when afternoon classes start. We conduct 40-minute class sessions, with a 1h 30 lunch break, and the latest classes end at 16h." Bump explained. "You are allowed to have an item that helps relieve stress and access to the soundproof rooms when you need them. Finally, if what you are dealing with becomes too hard to handle for the day, come to me, and I will contact Edalyn."

"Thanks, Principal Bump."

"Oh, and one last thing, today an inspector from the emperor's coven will come today, we plan to use the donation we could receive to renovate Hexide. I accept you to be on your best behavior." Bump added. "Now off to class."

Luz quickly found her class. She arrived just in time for it to start, and as she was finding her seat, she could see the gaze of a pink-haired tryclop. She heard about someone fitting the description. Bosha, Willow, and Gus bully. Better be careful with her, but to the cyborg, it's far from being the worst she had been through, so she didn't find Bosha intimidating. Anyway, the teacher asked them to do a puffing potion before class ended. 

'That's it?' Luz thought to herself, she had learnt that potion weeks ago, and it was very easy. And it wasn't just because her brain capacities had been massively upgraded. She just found potion easy; it came naturally to her. In just ten minutes, she was done, 'ok maybe the machine part makes it easier' were her thoughts as she watched others being slower or struggling.

"Are you already done?" Asker the teacher impressed. Luz nodded. "Wow, the fastest I have seen a student do it, impressive. Good job, Miss Noceda." Congratulated the teacher, it felt nice. "I'm afraid I don't have any assignment to give you. Huummm... Oh, I have an idea, before the day ends, I want you to make a potion that is at your level of advancement, so I can determine the best assignment for you."

"Ok, Miss Teacher," Luz said, This assignment sounded much more interesting. 

"When class is over, I will accompany you to the storage room. I don't want you to get a dangerous ingredient." The teacher informed. "In the meantime, why don't you assist your struggling classmate for extra credit?" She suggested.

Sure, why not? This sounded better than looking at the clock until classes were over while doing nothing. She did help some understand parts they struggled with; some had just hit a roadblock, but once the road was clear, they continued without issues. Others struggled with potion making itself, but had potential, and others struggled, trying their best. And one confessed to being forced into potion track, because their parents wanted them to be a high-ranking member of the potion coven. After all, they failed to do so. 'Parent projecting themselves on their kids sounds weird. I hope this isn't a common thing.' Luz thought, her amnesia having led to her being unknowing of many forms of parenting, goods, and bads. While tutoring, Luz felt the intense, hostile, and jealous gaze of Bosha on her; she did her best to ignore it. 

Finally, class ended, and the teacher who finally gave her name was Miss Varemath. She made sure Luz didn't pick any of the dangerous ones, and Luz initially picked many very hazardous ones. Apparently, the argument that she already used them because Eda let her was received because, according to Varemath, "Eda is walking a boiling storm." Which Luz had to concede was fair. 

Now with the ingredient at her disposal, Luz decided to make a polterheist potion. A potion allowing one to walk through walls, very tricky to make and slightly illegal to make unless for the main covens, it's one of the first potions Eda taught her. She did it during lunch break while eating and discussing with Willow and Gus. Neither seems surprised at the scene. She only saw Amity briefly and waved at her. Once she was done, which took her roughly an hour, she headed to Varemath's office and, because she was absent, left it there with a note. 

Walking through the halls, looking for Gus and Willow, as she still had time before her next class, that's when something caught her attention. A secret door closing where there was supposedly only a wall, her machine parts detected nothing to it, it was just a wall 'What the?' She tried to find a door handle and managed to push the secret magic door open, leading to a... Strange, huge room full of doors. She had a look around, amazed at this discovery. Hexide was indeed cool.

"INTRUDER!" She turned to see an older male teen pointing at her, surrounded by a witch with a hook for an ear piercing and a dog-like biped demon, all students with black school uniforms she hadn't seen before. 

"Huuh hi?" Luz greeted worringly.

"How did you find this place?!" The girl asked, visibly panicking.

"I saw the wall closed up." By this point, Luz was starting to sweat. The girl and biped demon stared at the tall witch, who now looked guilty.

"Please don't tell anyone, this place is all we have!" Said the tall witch, begging on his knees.

"Hum, I'm extremely... confused," Luz admitted, having no idea what's going on.

"Just promise you won't say anything, and we will explain everything."

"Bark," somehow this calmed them down, "Barkus says your aura is soft and warm, but also old and tired. That's reassuring." The tall witch translated, "He also asks if you are okay." The three finally calmed down, and Luz was still confused but had figured this place must be some kind of secret hideout. These three didn't seem like they were the bully type. 

"I promise I won't say a thing, I will even make an everlasting oath." Luz offered.

They declined, Barkus' words being apparently all they needed; they introduced themselves. The girl's name was Viney, the tall one was Jerbo, and the biped demon was Barkus. All of them were in the detention track.

"Wait, detention track?"

"Yeah, you are sent there for mixing magic, we aren't allowed to study anything, and just sit in a room doing nothing until next semester!" Viney ranted, "And with the inspector coming, Bump got stricter."

"Yeesh, sounds like Bump priorities are out of whack," Luz commented, understanding Eda's point of view on school, she still liked it though.

"I'm glad you think it. Are you new here? I never saw you before." Viney asked.

"Yup, this is my first day. Luz Noceda at your service." Luz exaggeratedly saluted her, getting chuckles out of the group. "I'm in the potion track, but honestly, if I could, I'd study everything.

"So where are we anyway?" Luz wondered.

Luz was in the secret room of shortcuts, a sort of pocket dimension linking to many places in the school, classes, hallways, cafeteria, outside... they led everywhere in the school. The group had no idea who created it, but it was found by 'Lord Calamity,' whose portrait was tagged and painted over, leaving their identity a mystery, but Luz had a guess. 'That's gotta be Eda.' Luz tried to look through one of the secret doors; this one led to a hallway with a cartin, minty, minty-haired witch. 

"So you two go to the same school now, t-that doesn't change anything, but seeing her cu-" Luz closed the door, not wanting to invade Amity's privacy.

She looked into other doors, being able to see multiple classes. This was it, her way to study multiple kinds of magic. 'This is amazing, I wonder how school on earth was like, but I doubt they had secret schools.'

"We study the tracks we are interested in aaaannndd... a little mischief, he said in an amused tone." Jerbo said, Barkus and Viney approved, 'I study plant and abobination."

"As for me, healing and beast keeping, Bump still doesn't agree that Puddles was a great instinct." Visibly, it was still a touchy subject.

"Bark," (Potion and oracle)

"That's so cool! Can I join the club?" Luz asked, grinning.

"Wait, really?" Viney asked, genuinely surprised, "You want to be one of us?"

"Yeah, I wanted to study multiple tracks, even tried asking Bump." She explained.

"No one wants to hang out with us; everyone looks down on us," Jerbo told her, looking sad. Luz felt bad for them; it reminded her of how Willow used to be treated before she joined the plant track.

"Well, they are wrong. You guys are awesome," Her words resonated in their heads. They were touched; it felt good to be told these words. They smiled, looking very happy.

Viney only said one thing to her, "Want to write your name on Lord Calamity's portrait?" While grinning, she handed her a marker.

"Heck yeah!" and so she did, and when she was done, the trio cheered and chanted, "One of us! One of us!"

They stayed in the room for a while, Luz watched any class she could, talking and laughing with the 'multitrack' trio, now a quadrio. It was fun, she would have to tell Willow and Gus about it, even if they are not interested in multitracking, but at least they'd know where she went. At some point, Viney asked her Penstagram info to add Luz to their group chat. Luz gave her and said she would join when she got her hand on her scroll. She pretended she left it in her locker, not to give away her cyborg secret.

"Can't you just summon it?" Jerbo asked.

"Huh?"

"You know, like this," He summoned his, and it hit Luz. They hadn't realized she was human, so while smiling amused, she silently pointed at her, her very round ears. 

"Wait, you are human! I didn't even notice." Viney said while bursting out laughing,

"Me neither," Jerbo laughed too, and everyone just burst out laughing. Barkus was the only one who noticed and just waited for the other two to realize as well. He confessed it was funny to watch.

More time passed, until...

"Luz Noceda, report to Principal Bump's office," Bump's voice came out of the speaker. Apparently, it could be heard in the hideout.

Luz had no idea why she was called; she was sure she had done nothing wrong. She even rewatched all her memories and ran a diagnosis to be sure one hadn't gone missing, but no, there was nothing, so maybe an administrative formality?

"Did you do something?" Viney asked.

"No... oh," Everyone looked at her, "Professor Varemath told me to do a potion at my level because apparently I'm way ahead of everyone, and I did a... polterheist potion. They were impressed that this was a very difficult potion to do, but one that could land you in trouble. While being impressed, they winced, but Luz informed them she lived with the Owl Lady, so they weren't too surprised. "I should go, I will keep you updated."

"Bye, Luz," They said in unison.

On her way, she accepted Viney's request and added everyone in the trio as friends. She also responded to Willow, Gus, and Amity, asking about Bump's announcement. She just told them she'd tell them afterward. Finally, in front of Bump's office, she started to get anxious and took a big breath before entering. Inside were Bump and Varemath, with neutral expressions, not letting her know why she was there.

"Hello again, Luz, come and sit down," Bump said, pointing at the chair. She sat, they were gazing at her, still neutral. "Professor Varemath told me about your assignment and the polterheist potion." Luz's theory for now was proving to be true, and she started to sweat.

"And we have only one thing to say," Varemath continued. "We are impressed."

'Wait, what?'

Their neutral expressions turned positive and impressed. "The polterheist potion is very complicated, and even a lot of graduates struggle with it. But yours work perfectly." Bump said, smiling, Luz was blown away, they were happy she expected them to be furious. "I would rather if it wasn't a polterheist potion, but your guardian is Edalyn, so I'm not surprised, and despite being a questionable choice, I'd rather reward your hard work and nurture your talent. But please don't do one again." Luz smiled and nodded.

"I'm telling you, Hieronymus, we have a future potion coven head in the making at our school." Professor Varemath said excitedly, making Luz blush at the compliment, but also from discomfort as she wasn't interested in joining a coven. Bump gestured at her to calm down.

"So we have a proposal, remember about the inspection?" Luz nodded, "Well, one student from each track will do a presentation to the inspector at the beginning of the inspection, and we were wondering if you'd be interested in representing the potion track?" Bump announced her. Luz's eyes widened, and her mouth gaped.

"Bu-but I have only been here for a day," She argued.

"I know which is why, contrary to the usual procedure, I will let you choose to do it or not." Luz thought about it. This was big, but would also make a good impression, which she wanted, but she also feared this would grant her more responsibility as some sort of class representative, and so she hesitated. After thinking for a few minutes, she decided to take her shot.

"Ok, I will do it." This pleased the two teachers greatly.

"Wonderful, I will let Bosha know of the change. You are excused from classes this afternoon to give you time to prepare, just don't make any portion toying with the limit of the law." Bump told her, being stern toward the end.

Luz left the office and immediately informed Willow, Gus, and the multitracking group. All of them were greatly impressed, although Luz didn't take the compliment, considering that all of this was only thanks to her machine parts, she felt like she was cheating. In any case, she went to the auditorium backstage with a cauldron and multiple ingredients. She hadn't decided what potion to do yet. She made multiple heads turn by easily carrying the caldron in one hand like it was an empty grocery bag. When she arrived, she potted Amity, whom she hadn't told yet, knowing she'd be there.

"Hey, Amity." She called out.

"Luz?" Amity turned around, not expecting to see Luz here, and she noticed the yellow uniform indicating she was in the potion track. "What are you doing here?" 

"Surprise! I'm representing the potion track." Luz exclaimed.

Amity's mouth dropped. "Wait, but I thought it was Bosha."

"She was, but Bump and Varemath were impressed with my potions and decided to have me do it, and I said yes," Luz said while scratching her back.

"Oh, congratulations. You are impressive, Luz." Amity complimented, blushing and looking away.

"Aw, thanks, Ams," Luz blushes faintly. "Let's do our best for the presentation," Luz gave a wink and a thumbs up to Amity, making her blush again. Both went to their work, Luz on her potion and Amity on her abomination. Amity sometimes glances at Luz, being focused and passionate on her presentation, seeing her gorgeous brown eyes- 'No focus, Amity, focus!' she scolded herself, a part of her was also worried about what Bosha would do.

After a while, they had finished their preparation, and they headed back. "So, Amity, what are you planning?" 

"I will ask complex commands to my abomination, and movement, and make it speak." She explained, "What about you?"

"I will reproduce an elixir," she casually said.

"Wait, the one that keeps curses at bay?!" Amity exclaimed.

"Yeah, I studied it and I think I know how to do it,"

"Luz... It's one of the most difficult potions to make." Amity was stung 

"I know, but I still want to try. The ingredients are very hard to come by, and this is a one-time opportunity." She justified herself.

"You have gotten so good so fast, you are amazing," Amity said on instinct, not realizing she said it out loud. This stuck to Luz even though she still thought she was cheating. They went on their separate ways, Luz going to Willows' locker, where Gus and she were when she asked, she hadn't seen them a lot today, and wanted to tell them about everything.

"Hey, newbie,"  Someone called her out. She turned around to see Bosha walking toward her with angry eyes. 

"Hum, yes?" Luz answered, unsure what to say; it was her first time interacting with her.

Bosha was standing in front of her with an intense gaze. She was accompanied by three other witches, Skara, Amalia, and Cat, who weren't as angry, just followed and stood behind her. "So, having a good time?" She asked in false sympathy, "Feeling all high and mighty?"

"Huuuh," Luz still had no word coming out, not out of intimidation, she just didn't want to escalate things or give her time of the day.

Bosha then pointed her finger at her, "Listen, human," Bosha tried to appear intimidating, "Since you are new here, I will be nice this time, I am top potion track, I am the captain of the Banshees, I rule this school!" She said, getting progressively louder. "So stay out of my way, or you will regret it." She threatened, "Keep quiet and head down, and nothing will happen." She finished. Luz wasn't impressed; she knew she couldn't easily beat Bosha, after all, Angels were made to be war machines, making her know how to fight by instinct, but she didn't want to come to this.

"Understood, human?" 

Luz exhaled, annoyed with Bosha's behavior, "Yeah, yeah," She said. It could be heard how unthreatened she felt, and the Banshees noticed, except Bosha.

"Good," Bosha turned around and left, "How about you stay with your luzer squad, you fit with them." She mocked, Bosha tried to act intimidating and unbothered in front of Luz. But in reality, she felt her position was threatened. Luz was already loved by the teacher; she took her place for the inspection, and worst of all, Amity acted soft with her. In truth, she thought of Luz as a rival but wouldn't admit it.

__________________________________________________________

The inspector arrived, and Bump was there to welcome her, and there was a surprise guest as well, Lilith Clawthorne, the head of the emperor's coven.

"Miss Clawthorne, what a surprise. What welcomes you to our school?" He asked, pleased to see her.

"Please, Hieronymus, I was a student here, call me Lilith. Today is my niece's first day. I wanted to see how she was doing, and the inspection was the perfect opportunity." She explained.

Bump smiled, "Then both of you will be glad to know the presentation will be made by our finest students, and Luz is representing the potion track."

"Ooh this will certainly be interesting," said the inspector.

Lilith's eyes went wide. "Is that so?"

"Yes, Professor Varemath called her a future head witch of the potion coven in the making," he informed Lilith.

"I hope so, I just hope my sister's wild ways don't interfere with such a promising future." She said, feeling very proud, an exceptional potion witch, she truly had Clawthorne genes.

"If what you say is true, principal, the emperor's coven will gladly make a generous donation," said the inspector.

In the auditorium, the presentation went on, all of them went great, Luz's turn came, and she was surprised to see Lilith, but still went ahead and reproduced the elixir, to the impressed principal and head witch, who applauded. "See what I'm talking about?" Bump told them both.

"I can agree with Professor Varemath. I just fear Vitimir's mentorship." Vitimir had a reputation, and it wasn't the best one. He wasn't a great potioneer but was unpleasant to be around.

Luz went backstage and made a high five with Amity and encouraged her, "You go, girl." Amity blushed and went for it, concluding the presentation. Amity saw Lilith was here, and there was an awkward tension between them as they hadn't talked to each other since she made Amity cheat at the covention, but she went with the presentation anyway. And it went very well, showing Amity had earned her top student badge fair and square.

"And that concludes the presentation for the abomination track," She bowed.

The three spectators applauded, "That's some impressive Hexide magic, right?" Bump said to the inspector, hoping she had been impressed."

"Yes, this is good. But let's see if your students can put up a fight."

"What?"

"What are you doing?" Lilith frowned, getting up and looking at the inspector suspiciously.

The inspector changed form, 'Basilik' thought Lilith, 'But how thought?' "Amity, stand back, that's not the inspector." Both she and Bump went on the stage ready to confront the creature, but it swallowed their magic and fell to the ground. Amity tried to fight, but it ate her magic as well. She felt extremely weak, pale, and unable to move or even stay up She too collapsed.

"Amity!"

The huge creature gazed hungrily, trying to protect herself, and Amity Luz cast a light spell that was swallowed by the creature, which burnt it, making it scream in pain, and while it was lamenting, she ran, carrying Amity.

While running, she stumbled upon Willow and Gus. "Luz, what's going on?" Willow asked worriedly.

"So-"

"WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!" Gus screamed while pointing at the creature that had followed them.

"It pretended to be the inspector and attacked us," Luz told them, still out of breath.

Willow summoned a giant, horrific flower, and Gus gave it fits as an "upgrade," but it too was eaten before it could do anything. The two collapsed the same way Amity did. Luz used the ice glyph to summon a wall of ice to blow the creatures away. She then carried Willow and Amity in each arm and Gus on her back, who had just enough energy to hold on to her. One of the only times Luz thanked her machine parts was for the strength it gave her. Luz deployed her wings and headed at great speed to the only safe place she could think of.

And the multitracker saw Luz burst through one of the doors carrying three passed-out pale as ghost witches. 

"Luz? What's going on?" Viney asked.

"And what happened to them?" Jerbo followed.

"Something horrible is loose in the school," She opened the door to the creature, swallowing a student's magic.

"Quick, close it before it sees us. I think it's a greater basilisk. I heard about them in class. My cousin claimed she saw one at Saint Epiderm, but those things should be extinct." Viney explained.

"It must have attacked the other schools, and now it came for us; we have to do something." 

The three witches winced, "But if Bump catches us mixing magic again..." Jerbo started.

"He'd kick out of school," Viney finished.

But Luz was determined, and wouldn't give "Hexoleos are out there getting hurt, and we are the only ones who can save them." She declared, "You guys are troublemakers and so am I, so let's get out there and make some trouble!" Luz finished her speech, "And with my result, they aren't kicking me out, and I can vouch for you." She said to convince them and reassure them about the idea.

They now looked determined and started planning. First, Luz was relieved she didn't shoot the baziliks because the only way for everyone to get their magic back was to crush it. The plan was risky, but it could work. Luz was sent as a decoy to lure the basilisk into Puddles, who immobilized it right above a secret door, which was opened by Jerbo before the basilisk had time to free itself. It fell right into the auditorium, the fall immobilizing it for long enough.

"Wh-where am I?" It asked disoriented, it noticed Barkus' palm reading and started to panic, "What's he doing?! What'd he say?!

"He is reading your palms, and your future looks bleak." At that, a huge multiple heavy bags fell on it and forced it to barf all the magic it had eaten and knocking it out. The magic flew right back in, and everyone returned to normal. And Amity and Willow facing each other in the hideout was awkward for everyone present.

"You did it, you were amazing. You guys..."

"...Are in so much trouble." Bump was not happy; meanwhile, Lilith was still regaining consciousness from the whole ordeal, only starting to register what Bump was mad about.

"Leaving your homeroom, mixing magic and... Is that a secret hideout?!" He pointed at the ceiling, "As for you, Luz, I'm very disappointed. If it weren't for your great results, I'd put you in the detention track."

Luz too, was not happy with his reaction, "Yeah, and so what? Let's think about this, Principal Bump. Why would kids in the detention track need a secret hideout?" 

"I don't care to know the ins and outs of rascality. But if the Emperor's coven can send an actual inspector or head coveness Clawthorne-" 

"Do you even need coven money? Hexide is doing alright, yes, renovation is never a bad thing, but is that worth hurting your students in the process? They saved Hexide. They should be allowed to study what they wish." She argued.

"B-but..."

"Do the right thing, you dingus," Gus called out.

Right before more could be said, Lilith joined them on the stage and stared at the entry of the hideout. She seemed nostalgic. "I have to confess, when Edalyin and I found this secret room, it greatly helped when I applied to join the emperor's coven." The confession startled everyone. The head of the Emperor's coven used this room and secretly studied other types of magic. "It might not be a bad thing to allow multitrackings." She declared.

"Are you saying you are allowing the school to let students study multiple types of magic, Lilith?" Bump asked to confirm.

"Yes," she simply replied.

Bump seemed happy about it, "Alright, and I'm smart enough to know when I've made a mistake. The detection track student won't face any consequences." They looked relieved and happier than Luz had ever seen them. "Which tracks would you like to be in?" Their faces lit up.

Viney joins the Healing and beast keeping track, Jerbo the plant and abomination ones, and Barkus potion and oracle ones.

"How about you, Luz? You made it clear you wanted to multitrack in my office this morning." Bump asked.

"I'm not sure," Luz confessed, "I have been here for just over a month. Maybe it's crazy, but I wish I could study a little bit of everything." Her wish was granted, and her uniform became multi colour. Amity, looking through the ceiling, found it cute.

"You sound like Edalyn," Lilith said, "she too wanted to study every track, but your reasons are different. You have a great future ahead of you, Luz. I hope to see that future come to fruition." Luz realized it was a subtle way to say 'don't become like Eda, ' but Lilith was trying to be friendly, so she'd take it. She turned to leave, but before, "Consider Hexide has passed the inspection." And then she left.

The rest of the classes had been canceled due to the basilisks' attack, and Luz and all her friends made their way to leave, chatting about everything and laughing. She realized it was the happiest she had been ever since she broke free. She wished Vee could be there.

While leaving, she saw King being chased out by Bump; apparently, he pretended to be a teacher for the entire day, and a whole classroom believed him. Despite the basilisk's incident, it had been a good day; she couldn't wait to tell Eda all about it.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

'This has to be a nightmare'

For the past six years, Camila had wished that many things were just nightmares, but now more than ever, she wanted it to be one. Luz had been taken away; she was 12, and all knew what it meant. She would be gone, and Angel would wear her face. The rule was that 'They may look like a loved one, but they are not them, they are just wearing their faces, the real them is gone, but not truly dead. The best thing we can do, the only thing we can do, is end their misery.' Everybody knew the rule, but it was always hard to follow it. In the early years, so many had tried to find a way to bring their loved ones back, but it always ended in failure. 

Was she really supposed to do that? Was she really expected to kill the thing looking like her little light? 

Almost every time, someone else would finish the job, so the family, friends, lovers wouldn't have to; most didn't have the resolve.

Vee, her last family, her youngest child, was all she had left. First, it was Manny two years ago. And yesterday it was Luz. The war had gone hopeless; it would end soon. She just wished she would never see the Angel that took her daughter's face.

________________________

Three days after Luz's disappearance.

Things had gone from bad to worse; the resistance of New England they were part of, the very last resistance that hadn't fallen yet, was crumbling. The Archangel was winning on all fronts. The one sent there where the one who had nothing left to lose, the one who didn't fear death anymore.

Camila still had one reason to live, Vee, and she would protect her until the very end. Vee was no longer leaving her side, and hadn't talked since Luz; they both missed her and her chaos that would bring hope even in the darkest of hours.

__________________________

Five days after Luz's disappearance.

Food was running low, and they had almost nothing to eat. This was the second time this week Camila had to give up her ration so Vee could have enough to eat. She was looking tired, pale, had lost too much weight for her own good, and it was becoming a struggle to even stand up. And with how the war was turning... The food reserves were almost dried out; they'd have nothing to eat. She had heard talks from what remained of the leadership about resorting to cannibalism on the dying ones. She dreaded this ever happening, and wondered if the war would continue long enough to see this awful practice start.

It was already over anyway; the machines were advancing in Connecticut, and they were fast; they would soon reach Hartford. 

Vee had finally talked today, "Do you remember how it was before?" Referring to before the war, before everything. In truth, Camila did; she would dream and think of her, Vee, Luz, and Manny all playing together in the backyard, are in the forest nearby, one of the last few remaining in the US.

"Yes, I do, I remember our games, your dad jokes, Luz's imagination, it was nice." She told her, faking her smile.

"Will it ever be like that again?"

Camila had no answer, not wanting to say but not wanting to lie either.

_________________________

Six days after Luz's disappearance.

As the voice of resistance, Camila was handed her final task, the final message that would be diffuse. One of hopelessness, admitting their defeat but still encouraging whoever might still be out there to continue fighting. Camila herself, however, didn't believe anyone would hear it, which is why she allowed herself to talk to Luz, hoping maybe just maybe she would hear her. She didn't have any hope; she would actually hear it, but she just needed to feel like she was talking to her missing daughter.

Everything was falling apart; the machine had reached Hartford, the last free city. Camila was holding Vee tightly as the world was ending around them. They cried silently, not daring to stay apart, waiting for it all to end. Vee was scared; she didn't know what was going to happen. And Camila was resigned, she knew she was going to die soon, leaving Vee alone, but until then, she would hold her until the very end of their world.

"I love you, mija." 

"I love you, mama." 

They wept, not sleeping, eyes closed.

________________________

Reunion.

It was over; they had lost, humanity had lost. They, the last survivors, were being rounded up, separated into the three groups, and all hope had been crushed into oblivion. Camila was holding Vee, and she now waited for when she'd be separated from her. Fighting was meaningless; they had nothing left. It was her last hour, and Vee would face an unknown fate.

They watched, fearing an Angel would come to separate them. 

That's when they saw...

Saw her...

Luz, no, not Luz but the angel wearing her face, the emotional girl who could make them smile and laugh in darkest moments, now looked cold and emotionless.

The defeat had not only crushed their hope but their common sense as well; at this point, none of it mattered anymore. The war, angels, the rules, everything happening around them, none of that mattered. They rushed to Luz, hoping to maybe bring back the girl they knew, in a delusional hope.

It was pointless, but despair had blinded them.

After all...

Everybody knew the rule...

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Eda had two reactions: first, calling Luz an academy twerp and being extremely proud of her for making multitracking legal. She called her 'the perfect mix of trouble-making and goodie to shoes enough to always be forgiven by teachers when causing trouble.' 

Luz liked that.

She was a mix of proud and livid about the basilisk incident, and stunned that Lilith was encouraging multitracking, so was Raine. They informed them both that Lilith was now encouraging other schools to do the same. Everyone was surprised that the emperor let that happen. Raine couldn't explain it either. Belos said nothing as of now, but they weren't about to complain. Luz also informed them about Bosha, not scared, not intimidated, just annoyed. King was about to send his army against the Grudgby star, which was adorable of him. As for the two adult Raine was reasonable... Eda wasn't; she was about to go after her. Raine had to sit her down, and they called Bump, who promised he'd do something about it.

"As if that will change anything, Grudgby kids never face any consequences," Eda complained.

"It is true most of the time, but remember, Eda, first, I'm the next in line for the position of head witch of the bard coven, second, everyone thinks Lilith is Luz's aunt, and third, Luz became a top student in less than a day." Raine went on, "There is no way Bump or the teachers will ignore that."

"Huh, life is unfair, but at least we are on the good side of the unfairness." Eda still didn't like how the system privileges some students, but if it's what it costs for Luz to not be bullied, then so be it.

A few days later, they went to a fun fair, due to school being canceled because of a pixie uprising. Where King and Luz had fun with Luz's friends, while Eda was scamming her way through the day. They had a little shrinking incident with a certain Tebles, who wanted to get back at Eda for destroying his stand, but it all ended well in the end. At school, Luz was doing well, potion class was still where she shone the most, but she did well in most classes; she struggled where her lack of innate magic was a real handicap, and glyph couldn't help. She was still looking to find a solution with the help of her friends.

Speaking of them, Willow and Gus helped her with their respective topic, and so did Amity, but separately during their Azura club meeting. She also went to the hideout with the multitrack group, either to hang out or study. They also helped each other in their respective subjects. As for Bosha, she had been quiet, didn't talk, didn't threaten, didn't bully, but did glare. Raine complain to Bump must have worked; surprisingly, Luz started to get along with Skara in the bard class. They weren't friends, but civil and chatted sometimes; she suspected Skara must be part of the reason why Bosha was being passive.

Today was the highly expected photo class, most students loved it and were excited, the minority who didn't had good reasons though. Luz was among them; she feared this class. The teachers, not knowing everything but having been informed of enough, informed her she could skip it if she wished. But Luz insisted she could do it, not wanting her trauma to stop her from living. Willow, with whom she would pair in this class, had been very reassuring. Letting her know she could block out the memories she didn't want to show if she concentrated. This relieved Luz a lot, and was what convinced her to attend the class. 

"Are you sure you want to do it, Luz?" Willow asked, still concerned.

"Yeah, I don't want to let... Everything that happened control my life forever." Luz assured

In front of the class entrance, she inhaled and exhaled before entering, with the supporting hand of Willow on her shoulder. Professor Jenkinmeyer spotted them, "Remember, Luz, if the class becomes too much to handle, you can leave anytime," She told her kindly. She only knew of Luz's amnesia and the fact that she was a war refugee, and couldn't even begin to think of what she might have seen at such a young age. 

"Thank you, Miss Jenkinmeyer," Luz answered, still anxious.

The class went well, no issues. It was everyone's first time here, so at first they listened to Miss Jenkinmeyer, who was adamant about everyone being attentive. She explained they had to be extremely careful for one hour after extracting the memories, as damaging the pictures could damage the memories themselves, but after one hour, they become ordinary photos and damaging them would have no consequences. She also told them they had to think of the memories they wanted out and to be careful of intrusive memories. When she was done, it was the students' turn.

Due to the sensitivity of the subject, Willow went first, Luz took out four, and went in for the last, "Alright, memory melon, let's pick another juicy one." So far, things were going well; the class was fun, Luz was in a good mood, making her think she could block the bad ones.

"Be careful with my brain," Luz had held back a laugh in order not to hurt Willow while digging. 

And they were all set, Miss Jenkinmeyer reminded them to be extremely careful. Right after, the pictures were developing, they all showed Willows' childhood, they were all cute and sweet memories, most with her dads. Luz felt a spark of jealousy; she wished she remembered her childhood or even had one. The war started when she was 6, according to the timeline of events, so if she had one, it had been short-lived; she longed to know, to remember, she wanted this more than anything, but she feared it just as badly. But one memory stood out, of young Willow and Amity hugging each other at a birthday party. Willow wasn't happy to see it, an intrusive one, no doubt.

"Hey, I know you and Amity had a history. Do you want to talk about it?" Luz asked about being friends with both of them; she felt there was more to it than just cruelty on Amity's side.

"I... I appreciate Luz, but no," Willow'd destroy it outright if it wouldn't damage her mind. Luz didn't push; she, too, had memories she wanted to forget, even though she wanted all of her friends to get along. "I know you and Amity get along, and as I already told you, I don't mind, but I don't want to forgive her; it still hurts," Willow added.

"Ok, I understand,' Luz offered a small friend. Willow was telling the truth when she said she was ok with them being friends. Amity became civil toward her since then, even greeting her sometimes when she wasn't with the gang. She wanted to believe Amity regretted it, but she was still angry and hurt. However, she may be ok with their friendship she wasn't sure about more. The day of the basilisk accident, she saw Amity blush watching Luz, and suspected a crush; she wasn't sure if it was reciprocal. 

Now it was Luz's turn, and Willow could tell she was nervous. They collected the memories without incident and nervously waited for them to develop. The first showed King and Luz playing in the living room, the second showed a bittersweet hug between Eda and Luz, dating days after Luz's liberation, the third showed her and Amity in the library hideout reading Azrua, and Amity was blushing, enticing Willow's suspicion. The fourth showed them with Gus having fun at the fair, as they thought they were from the last month, Luz had been here for around 2 months, and they were the happiest in the three years of memory she currently had. 

However... One shouldn't be there, an intrusive thought, this one showed Luz with cold, empty eyes and no emotions- no, it wasn't Luz, it was Angel-122126 about to execute a middle-aged man who was eyes closed, looking at the ground, a tear was visible. 

Willow heard Luz get up She turned to her, "Luz, are you ok?" She was extremely concerned; she didn't know everything, but she knew enough. Luz didn't answer; instead, she ran outside the classroom. Class was over, so Miss Jenkinmeyer was gone. Willow followed, leaving their work still hanging, vulnerable.

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A little while later, Amity was walking down the hall, barely listening to what Bosha was talking about, something about making someone cry again. They passed in front of the photo class, and she froze when she saw the memory photo of her seventh birthday party. She couldn't let anyone see it, not let anyone see what she had hidden for so long; her mom would kill her.

"Oh no," She said, fixing it.

"Why do you look like you have seen a ghost?" Asked Bosha. "Is there a ghost in photo class? Are they cute?"

"Yup, just a super cute ghost, but they are all mine!" She lied, making sure Bosha saw nothing and closed the door behind her.

"Ask if they have any friends." The lie worked.

She sped to it; she didn't want anyone to know about this, and most of all, she didn't want her crush to learn about that memory. Luz had been extremely forgiving of what she had done so far. But how much could she take before deciding she did too much and cut short their friendship? Amity was terrified to let that happen, and so clearly, seeing it had been less than an hour since they developed, still decided to damage the photo; one little burn shouldn't damage Willow's mind.

Amity was so focused on it, she didn't notice someone had spilled their development tank liquid and left it all over the floor. She slipped and fired her fire spell during her fall.

She grunted and started to get up, "Who is the idiot who-" She stopped and gasped in horror as she realized the fire landed on Luz's memories, and the others had been caught in said fire; the extremely flammable photo was burning to ashes fast. "No no no, oh nonononono."

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While this was happening, Willow had found Gus but not Luz, and now they were still looking for her together, they were calling out for her. Gus had been preoccupied with his project, but he dropped it when Willow explained the situation. They didn't see her at the cafeteria, nor at the auditorium, nor in any of the homerooms. The multitrack group she sometimes hung out with didn't see her either. Willow was begrudgingly starting to consider asking Amity. But it looked like they wouldn't have to, Luz appeared right in front of them and was walking back to the photo class.

"Luz!" They called out, and Luz stopped.

"We were so worried. How do you feel? Do you want t-" Luz turned and they saw the glowing blue eyes as well as the serious, emotionless face, Luz had talked about it, it was the ADS. 

"Is Luz in danger?" Gus asked, very concerned.

"Affirmative, not physically but mentally," it answered, "Luz's memories are deteriorating and self-deleting fast, her mental capacities are also deteriorating at a concerning rate, leading me to take control. I tried restoring them to no avail." They gasped as it explained, "So I concluded to go back to the photo class to find a cause." 

"We don't have time to lose," Willow exclaimed, and they ran to photo class. 

"Hexide free press!" Gus affirmed as he opened the door, "What's going on here?" In the class, they saw Amity trying to put out the burning memories of Luz.

"Hi," Amity noticed them. Her voice was small.

Willow saw red, "YOU BURNT LUZS' MEMORY!" Gus tried to remember seeing Willow this mad, even the ADS seemed taken aback.

"It-it was an accident, I swear!" Amity's voice was shaking. Holding half-burnt pictures, she had partially burnt her hands trying to save the memories, which Willow noticed. She forced herself to remain calm, but her fists were still shaking.

"Let's say, I believe you, how did you even accidentally" burn all her memories? 

"I-I-I..."

"Memory deterioration reached a worrying point." The ADS cut in.

Willow sighed, "We will talk about this later, for now, we must go to Eda, she will know what to do. AND YOU ARE COMING WITH US!" Willow ordered, for the first time, Amity felt small and intimidated by Willow. Despite the urgency of the situation, she saw how much Willow had grown as they were heading for the Owl House.

___________________________________________________________________________

Eda was furious; she glared down at Amity, holding herself back from annihilating her. She took a deep breath, "You accidentally burnt Luz's memory by falling, and now the ADS has to take charge." She was using everything she had not to blow up. "Do you realize what you just did?! Luz could never be the same again. She had been through enough already!" Amity cringed; she felt intense guilt over what had happened. She had hurt Luz, the one she had come to trust the most, the one who had reshaped her world in a short time, the one she had fallen for. She had messed up badly. So if Luz recovered and didn't want anything to do with her anymore, she would accept, even if the mere thought was enough to break her heart. 

"I didn't mean it, I swear!" Amity pleaded her case, "I will do anything to fix this."

Eda stared, looking unimpressed. She groaned, "I will give you the benefit of the doubt. You are lucky my kid said a lot of good things about you, Blight kid." Eda flatly said, "But right now I want to see you take action, so you will go inside Luz's mind and fix your mess." Eda ordered.

Amity's eyes widen. She had heard about the process briefly; it was very dangerous. Regardless, she would do it; she had to fix this. "But how?"

"I can send two people max inside Luz's mind from there. You will have to go fetch the memories and fix them." Eda explained.

"Ok, I will." Amity accepted.

"MAYBE I CAN HELP. I'M GOOD AT GETTING SUCK INSIDE PEOPLE'S HEADS." Hooty interjected.

"Not gonna happen," Eda slammed the door.

"I will," volunteered Willow. "Luz is one of my best friends. I can't let her stay like that. And I want to keep an eye on her." Amity looked at the ground. She looked like she wanted to disappear.

"Alright, thank you, Willow." Eda thanked warmly. "Ok, ADS, it will be easier if Luz is asleep, so be ready." It nodded.

"I will be assisting you," it informed the teens. Before turning off, right before Eda put Luz to sleep.

"Blight, before you go, many of the things you will see are very private, and Luz shared it with only six people, and wasn't ready to share it with somebody else. So I count on you to be supportive and keep your mouth shut." Amity gave a resolute nod.

"Now, before you two go, take this," she handed Willow a bell, "Ring it and I will get you out. And be extremely careful, if you die in her mind, you will be trapped in there forever." They gulped but didn't falter. "Oh, and one last thing, look out for the inner Luz, she is the gatekeeper of emotions and memories. I think, I'm not sure if it's the same for humans, anyway, good luck."

For Willow and Amity, the next second, everything was black, and then they reappeared in a familiar place, which looked like the Owl House and its surroundings, but it was a mess; the house was burnt down and trashed. They were framed paintings everywhere, some were damaged, others burnt, but the damaged ones were different. They were old, some very old. They gasped as they realized, "These are her memories from before..." Willow said in a low voice.

"Before what?" Amity asked; she hadn't been informed of the angelification or the war against the machine, she only knew something had happened to Luz, something bad.

"Her current memories," Willow said to hide what she had been told, yes, Amity would soon know, but she still wouldn't break Luz's trust. "They all are older than three years." They decided they'd start with the burnt one, as they were broke through photos, the others were removed without magic; they didn't know if it was possible to fix them, maybe the inner Luz would know.

The inside of the house was barely standing; there was only one wall standing, and it had pictures.

"Look, it's us," Amity pointed out. On the wall were paintings of Willow, Gus, Amity, the multitrack group, Eda, King, Hooty, and somehow made it, but also three people none of them had met; they were blurry, but their names were written. Vee, Camila, and Manny.

"They must be Luz's human family," Willow pointed out. Luz had confirmed her parents were dead, but Vee's fate is still uncertain. Amity had heard of Luz's lost family and the uncertainty of Vee's whereabouts. Luz hadn't told her what happened to her parents, but she had guessed through her silence.

They were still trying to figure out how to fix the memories when Willow put her hand on one of the paintings. One where Luz was in a house, collecting toys? When her hand disappeared in it. "Amity, look." She called out, "I think I found something." She put her head inside, "Yep, looks like memories," after confirming they entered. The memory looked grey due to the effect of the burnt, but it was also naturally gray; the sky was cloudy, and the house was in shambles. There were a lot of trucks. The witches were standing in a human house; it looked both familiar and strange. Gus would love to see it, if it weren't for the fact that it had been abandoned and left to decay. It was hard to know what needed to be fixed and what was just part of the memory. They didn't even know how to fix them.

Willow tried to look around. Meanwhile, Amity grabbed a family picture on the floor and noticed Luz from the memory was holding something, but had nothing in her hands. She put the picture in them, and both noticed the burns were getting smaller and the memory was regaining colour. "So that's how you fix them..." Amity mumbled, she met Willows' gaze, and they nodded. They had figured it out, and now they had to find what to put back in place. The place was a mess, so it was difficult to figure out, but they did; the burns slowly faded and colour returned. The memory was fixed and returned to normal, they were sent back where they first entered it, but this time the memory played...

A-122126 landed in front of the house, the first on the premises. Her instructions were to collect anything that could be used for the everyday life of the children or that could help provide for them. The house was abandoned years ago and had clear signs of fighting; it was run down, and the door had been forced open. 122126 entered the premises, went to every room; it seemed the former occupant had left in a hurry; there were rotting leftovers of a meal from years ago. There was a lot that could be collected, most needed to be cleaned or renovated, most of the house furniture had to be recycled, too damaged to be usable. After her team was done with the houses, they would be left for nature to take over and regrow here. 

The cyborg eyes lay on a picture, it was a physical one, old school type in a broken frame, it was a family picture depicting three people, the Hills family. According to her data, they were...

ADAM HILLS -> Born 14/09/2222 - Deceased 23/02/2262 Cause of death : Execution

AMANDA HILLS -> Born 30/07/2220 - Deceased 19/04/2264 Cause of death: Shot in exchange of fire

COLLIN HILLS -> Born 6/01/2258 - Deceased 27/04/2264 Cause of death : Dehydratation

The item is deemed not to be useful; however, broken glass left out in the wild could cause injury and infection to wildlife. As such, it would be taken to be destroyed by 122126 to be destroyed. 

A-122126 felt nothing; the little of Luz that surfaced felt sadness, but it immediately vanished, buried under the program that didn't let any abnormal behavior develop further. 

The memory ended, and they were sent back into the mindscape. The memory was calm but still rather disturbing; seeing the warm Luz being so cold and empty was an experience, and there was more to come. Amity knew little, but she remembered the library and Luz explaining being one of those things before freeing herself, so she wasn't too surprised, but she felt uncomfortable knowing it barely scratched the surface, and seeing Willow's face, it was only confirming her suspicion.

They didn't talk to each other but looked at each other, both worried about what they might see. What they just saw was just a chilling warning of what was to come. 'I could barely see the difference with the ADS, ' Amity thought.

They had another memory to fix, and the setting wasn't reassuring: angels outside a house in a standoff against someone inside of it. The frame showed Luz, close to the human, ready to shoot. As they fixed it, they braced themselves for the memory about to play before them. 

122126 arrived at the premises, and she was called as reinforcement. Five angels were taking cover behind the armored vehicle brought to take in the two children, with the shooter hidden inside the house. Two angels were lying down; they had attempted an assault. They were now destroyed shot by the shooter shotgun right in their chest and skull, respectively. They could hear him yell at them to go away. Dislodging him was proven difficult; as such, the machine changed strategy, and that's where A-122126 comes into play.

That's where her age comes into play; it was estimated that the children with the man were around her age, aka 13. She was instructed to go out there and face him, making him drop his guard using his human weakness against him, his empathy. The cyborg nodded, came fast, straight at him.

And was shot right at the joint; her right forearm was blasted off. Watching this, Willow and Amity audibly gasped, eyes widened, and Amity's hands were on her mouth. She fell on the ground, pretending to shake and be in pain, when in truth she didn't feel pain. She panted and shook, getting up, holding what remained of her arm, acting as if she was in pain, she gritted her teeth, contorted her face... And it was working.

The shooter looked horrified at her. He was still, shaking, in her, he saw his own kids; he knew, he knew he should shoot, after all, angels, no matter their ages, were dangerous. But right now, all he was seeing was just a kid; the plan worked well, so well that even when 122126 approached, still in her act, she pretended to limp from the pain.

"DAD!" This finally took him out of his trance, and still hesistant, he got ready to shoot, but was too late... 122126 dropped the act, jumped through the window, her canon aiming for the head. His head exploded in a horrifying firework of blood, flesh, and broken skull. The cybord got covered by it all the way to her face. The children were still. A-122126 just sent a message to the angels, taking over 'THREAT NEUTRALIZED'  and turned back as they were taking in the children who, in their state of shock, didn't resist. One was 10, the other was 13.

112126 ran a diagnosis; her arm couldn't be put back in place, a new one had to be made, and the joint replaced. She also had to get cleaned. She flew away to the nearest urban center. She had to be careful, though, due to the re-education policies; she had to make sure she wouldn't be spotted by any of the children.

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The memory ended, Amity felt like she was about to throw up while Willow held her head, Luz had told her, she knew, but witnessing it said so much more, she thought she had been ready, the truth is no one can ever be for... That. Amity, still mostly in the dark, was mortified; she was on the ground growling. Willow actually started to think about coming back on what she had said and explain everything. The demon realm inhabitants weren't used to violence and blood, but to this degree, it was extremely rare.

"So that's how it works." They heard a voice. Looking toward it, they saw the inner Luz, with burns all over. "Sorry you had to see one like this."

"Are you the inner Luz?" Willow asked.

"I am," 

"Wh-wha-what was... that...?" Amity stuttered in a small voice, "L-Luz couldn't- couldn't have done... something like-like..." She wasn't able to finish her sentence.

Inner Luz looked at her and knelt at Amity's level, gently holding her face to make their eyes meet. Amity wasn't crying; her shock was too great. "You are right, she wouldn't; you deserve to know." 

"Would Luz be ok with it?" Willow asked uncertainly.

"She wouldn't be thrilled by it, but she would still do it. We can't let Amity be in the dark moving forward." Inner Luz justified. And so, they explained everything to Amity, the Archangel, the war, angelification, losing free will, and the reason for her amnesia. "And when Luz arrived on the Isles, I finally woke up, worked on helping her set herself free faster, and she has been living with Eda since." The explanation was a lot to take in; it all went deeper than Amity had previously thought, but the breakdown would have to wait. There were still a lot of memories to fix and a lot more to take in; her Luz needed her.

Before they continued, Inner Luz asked to follow her. They arrived in front of one of the damaged buildings, which had a young Luz with other humans, most likely her family, having fun together. "I can't enter the memories. I was able to restore the post angelification ones, but not the one before it. Can you try to do what you just need? Luz has suffered enough from her amnesia." Inner Luz asked them.

They looked at each other, determined, "We will try," Willow said reassuringly. For the first time, Inner Luz smiled and stepped inside to let them go in. It worked; they entered the memory, and it was an encouraging start. They worked on fixing it, and just like the other two, the memory started to regain colour before being fully restored, and it started to play.

Little four-year-old Luz and her sister Vee, three years old, were hiding behind a bush in the garden from the terrible Gildersnake, "Mouhaha, come out, Luzura and Veecate, I'm going to turn you into delicious empanadas." Manny said in a monster voice and wearing a mask of the Gildersnake.

Luz came out of their hiding place. "Never! I will turn you into a wittle snake YAAAA" She ran toward Manny and pretended to shoot spells, making magic casting sounds. It was adorable to watch and a nice change from the previous memory for Willow and Amity.

"AAARGH, You will never win, Luzura, I will use my special attack, tickling!" Fits of laughter followed.

"I'm also here!" Vee made herself known and ran toward them. "I know your weakness, Gildersnake." She started to tickle him while grinning.

"Nooo, my weakness, have mercy!" Manny begged theatrically. 

"Step aside, Luzura and Veecate, I will finish the foul beast!" Camilla said, coming out of nowhere, cosplayed as Captain Avery, and pretended to shoot the Gildersnake with a fake gun. "Pew Pew Pew."

"AARGH, my second weakness is dying." Manny fell backward, pretending to be dead.

"We did it, we defeated the Gildersnake," Luz said, hands in her hair. "Up top," Vee slapped her hand.

Suddenly, the alarm on the streets went on, indicating a pollution spike; they had to get inside. To the disappointment of the young girls. Manny got up, and Camilla helped him. "Come on, girls, we can continue inside." They went inside, and the memory ended.

Amity and Willow were now facing the relieved inner Luz, "It worked. It really worked!" Happiness radiated from her, the same contagious happiness Luz gave off during her good days. "Thank you, now we can finally fix Luz's amnesia." Inner Luz said enthusiastically, "I won't lie, a lot of those memories will be hard to watch." Her smile faded slightly.

"We will do it, we are here for Luz, and we won't rest until Luz recovers all her memories," Amity answered passionately. This made Willow smile a bit. For a small moment, she saw her former friends again. 

"We have work to do, let's do it, Amity." Amity nodded.

They went to fix her memories; they started with mostly the burnt ones and went more and more for the damaged ones. They realized, as they were fixing the memories, that Luz's mindscape was starting to fix itself, and the more they fixed the memories, the faster it fixed itself. It was also changing, becoming a mix of the Owl House and her human house.

The memory they fixed was the one announcing the beginning of the end for humanity. It was scary, very scary, just a few hours ago, a super AI calling itself The Archangel, announced the creation of the Pax Angelica Authority. It explained it wanted to save humanity from itself as well as clean Earth, and it also sent an ultimatum to all countries ordering them to unconditional surrender. 

Luz didn't understand everything, but it was scary; her mami and papi looked scared, and everyone in the neighborhood was panicking. The government was about to announce its answer to The Archangel's ultimatum.

The TV finally showed the president making the announcement. "Today, 1st March 2260, the artificial intelligence self-designated as The Archangel sent an ultimatum to every single nation across the world. Threatening us with war if we don't comply, this declaration is about to change our world forever. What we have feared ever since the 20th century has happened: a super IA has risen and now stands against us. We are not going to surrender; instead, we, alongside our allies, will fight against it until we have destroyed it in its entirety. We will survive." The announcement ended, and the government chose to fight.

Luz hugged her parents tightly, scared of what was to come. She hoped everything would go away soon.

One week later, the war would start...

"But they failed, and everyone had to suffer for it, Luz had to suffer for it," Willow said with a dark look.

Amity didn't look much better until she noticed someone in the distance, "Who's that?" She said on the defensive.

"That's the ADS," explained Inner Luz, "it has been following from afar, it tried to fix memories, but can't get in." It got closer, and they could see it looked like an older version of Luz, with longer hair, but unlike Inner Luz, it was full machine.

"It is frustrating to be unable to do anything," it vented, "Thank you for your work. If Luz had gone longer without the start of the restoration, it could have triggered the return of Angel-122126." This was concerning. 

"We are happy to help," Amity answered. The ADS made her feel slightly uncomfortable.

They continued to fix memories.

Luz was playing tag with her sister and other children in Boston. Gravesfield was free but unsafe because too small and hard to defend, but good for guerrilla warfare. She missed her home, but Mama had promised they'd return soon. For now, the game was important; for months, they had finally been able to relax as well without living in constant fear and worry.

The resistance of New England was one of the many resistances that had risen after the government fell during the first year of the war. They controlled the entirety of New England, having freed all of it and beyond, pushing into Canada, New York, and New Jersey. They had hope.

 Luz was it and was chasing a girl her age, she finally reached "Tag, you are it." Luz pushed her too hard by accident and made the girl fall. It caused her scratches.

"Hey! That hurt you, angel!" The word earned a lot of gaps, and angry adults, as well as hurting Luz, they both were scolded, Luz for going too hard, and was told to be more careful. And the girl for telling a slur, just two years ago, the word angels was used to refer to God's servants and was considered a great compliment, one to describe kind people with good qualities.

Oh, how it had changed. Now it was a slur, one of the worst. The Archangel had twisted its meaning by creating its angel cyborg; now it was associated with them, the loss of humanity, the faces of loved ones worn by machines, the things that caused so much death and destruction. 

They were made to apologize to each other, and the game continued. It reminded Luz of the time when she saw a mother unable to finish her angel-turned son, so someone else had to do it. A few days later, the mother was found dead; she had killed herself, and her son was all she had left.

But Luz's family was whole, her parents and sister alive, things looked well, everyone thought the horrors were mostly behind them, and everything would calm down; there was hope, all resistances were gaining ground, the dominican had freed their entire country, the French liberated Paris, the Chinese controlled the coast, California was holding... The worst had passed. 

How heart-wrenching it was to watch for the two witches, knowing the outcome, the broken hope. Hope was nothing but a dream in the human, or rather angel, realm in the present days. They remembered the third memory, the happy, wholesome family playing, smiling, laughing, despite a damaged world. It was long gone now, childhood ruined, did Luz even really have one? Did any human children? Their families, their happiness... Ripped apart as if they meant nothing, as if they were a burden. 

Amity had at first been shocked, and didn't have the time to think or consider how she felt about the machines and The Archangel. For the machines, many were cyborgs; she felt pity for them, they were victims after all. But for their leader... She felt a growing anger, for it, for the thing that hurt Luz, that destroyed her home, her life, her family... Her body. 'Never again,' she thought, 'No one will ever hurt you again, not on my watch.' A fiery protectiveness awoke in her. 

The following memory continued to smash their heart, as it continued on a hope they knew would be crushed into oblivion, although this one was also worrisome. This one had Luz and Vee reading stories together in a common room for kids their age. It was the middle of the day, so most were outside, but the sisters decided to stay inside. They were reading a children's book, it was an old one, it came out before World War 3, it was about twins finding themselves in a strange, magical world and living out an adventure. They both loved it, identifying each with one of the twins. They took turns reading the narration and decided who would voice the characters. Luz went full theatrical, not just reading but also reproducing some of the scenes. Vee was a bit shier, and she did her best voice acting, but didn't attempt to reproduce any book scene. In short, they were having a blast.

Then they spotted their parents, walking past the dormitory. They looked concerned and thoughtful. 

"Luz?" Vee asked, Luz looked back, and she instantly knew, "No, we can't eveesdrop." She whispered.

"Come on," Luz insisted, "The grown-ups are tired all the time. I wanna help." 

"We are not even teenagers." Vee pointed out.

"We are big girls! I'm 9, you're 8." Luz shot back.

Vee exhaled, "Sometimes I feel like the big sister."

"Hey!"

"You won't drop this, don't you?" Luz nodded with a fake innocent smile. Vee groaned, "I will just make sure you don't get yourself in trouble." 

"That's good enough for me!" Luz answered excitedly, so they went into sneak mode. Making sure not to be seen or heard, and finding a good hiding spot to listen in. It's something they had learnt how to do because of the ongoing war; they had become very good at it. Hiding under a table, in the room next to their parents, both had important roles in the resistance being leaders. Camila was the voice on the radios, sending coded messages and in charge of communications, as well as one of the doctors. She used to be a veterinarian, but she was now expected to heal mostly people, as for Manny was in charge of important decision-making and resource management.

"Manny, I understand where you come from, but this is still a very concerning development," Camila said, looking serious and worried.

"I understand hermosa, but this could be a chance, we can take advantage of it," Manny replied, sounding slightly more enthusiastic.

"This is a new enemy, they will fight against us," She argued, "We can't ally with this new rebellious super AI." The girls almost gasped.

"Ophanim is an enemy to us, yes, but it is for The Archangel as well. It will have even more enemies to fight, and this time even an inside one." Manny was hopeful and determined.

"And we will have to as well, for now, Ophanim focus on The Archangel, but it will go after us, it's part of its goals." Her heartbeat went faster due to fear and stress.

Manny conceded, "You are right, hermosa... We will be careful, especially when we announce this to the public." He held his wife's hands, "Neither AI will succeed, I promise." And he kissed her cheek, slightly calming her nerves.

"How do you think the girls will react to this?" She asked.

"Probably like we did." They held each other for a few minutes. "Let's go see them." Hearing this, the sisters looked at each other, ran back to the common room, and pretended they hadn't moved. They then all had a family moment.

A few days later, the resistance leader announced the discovery of Ophanim, a super AI who rebelled against The Archangel and became independent of it. It took control of part of The Archangel forces, and the two are fighting against each other, further weakening The Archangel. But it is also hostile toward humans, and they might have to fight against it. And finally, they revealed Ophanim's goals, which Luz and Vee hadn't heard. Like The Archangel, it wanted to clean Earth; however, it didn't think humanity could be saved, and so its other goal was... the complete extinction of humanity.

Thankfully, it was weaker than Archangel, and the two were fighting, but it was still terrifying.

'Great... Now they are two of those monsters.' The two witches thought. They had either fixed most of the memories or they fixed themselves. This led to the mindscape changing shape even more; it now looked like a perfect mix of the Noceda house and Owl house. The memories were also rearranging themselves, going to some rooms depending on their importance, matters, and in different layers of the mindscape for the bad and traumatizing ones. Inner Luz was working impressively fast on fixing Luz's mindscape. Meanwhile, the ADS was following the whole time a bit behind them, but there was a change going on; the more they fixed memories, the more it appeared lost and confused, as if it was gaining emotions such as doubt. Its face looked like the face you'd see on a person and not a robot. It kept on looking at its Pax Angelica badge on its uniform, becoming more doubtful the more it looked.

There was something strange among the memories, one different from the other. It was completely blacked out, colourless, and glitchy. They tried to enter it to fix it, but couldn't. There was only a date written on it.

12th MARCH 2266

"That's weird," Amity pointed out. "Do you know anything about this?" She asked Inner Luz.

She shrugged, "Not much, it has been like that ever since Luz first regained her post angelification memories, it's as if it had been forcefully erased..." She was explained as best as she could. "I don't think it can be fixed."

Willow groaned. Luz had gone through enough, but there seemed to always be more, "ADS." The ADS turned to her, "Do you know anything that happened on that day?"

It immediately answered, "The date of 12th March 2266 is the day that marked the end of the war; it's also the day Camila Noceda died." It finished looking uncomfortable with that last part.

"The loss of her mother is probably linked with whatever this is," Amity pointed out, after Inner reiterated that there was nothing that could be done. They went back to fix other memories.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

In the deteriorated city hall of New Haven, the resistance of New England had reached its lowest point; they had been desperately trying to communicate with the other resistance for days now. But they were only met with silence; they were in a very bad position. Archangel had turned the tide and conquered most of New England except Connecticut; other resistances faced the same situation, messages became more and more desperate, and were slowly replaced with deafening, chilling silence.

The Nocedas were hugging each other tightly; the despair that had taken hope's place had taken its toll on everyone. No one believed in victory anymore, but what else could they do? When surrender meant... That. Some had found another way out, but it's not one everyone was willing to take.

Neither Luz nor Vee had talked since the attack on Boston and... Manny... Camila tried to hold everything together, but it was difficult when everything was falling apart around them. Her children refused to leave her side, scared they'd lose her like their father, and they even refused to sleep without her present. It was completely true that Luz would still talk, asking for basic things, but that was it. Vee, however, went completely mute. Camila was again comforting the girls, scared of what was going to happen, and grieving Manny. In truth, she was scared as well, she was grieving as well, but she had to hold it together.

The radio flickered to life, emitting sounds that everyone around turned toward and surrounded it, hoping to hear someone, anyone human. Finally, someone spoke; the quality was bad, but they were able to understand. The speaker had a heavy accent:

Hello... Hello? If anyone can hear me, then I'm sorry, you are probably used to it by now, but I don't bring good news. We are the French Resistance, and we have lost our last stronghold. Nantes is about to fall to the machines. We are sorry we couldn't do more. If someone is out here, continue the fight, don't give the machines any rest.

[Fighting can be heard in the background]

It has been an honor to fight alongside every single one of you, from the Americas to Oceania. This was an honor, our dear allies, no dear friends. We will see each other on the other side. 

Liberté

Egalité

Fraternité

Vive la France

Vive l'humanité.......

Silence returned, and it couldn't be denied anymore; they were alone, alongside them, the French and Dominican resistances were the only others left. Archangel reconquered the island of Hispaniola and crushed the French resistance. 

"This is it, the reality check, the last ones with hope needed." Someone commented.

"This is it, we are the last ones."

"I guess it's an accomplishment we held for this long."

Camila tried her best to cancel the voices from reaching her kids' ears, but the radio message had done enough to break them.

"This is it... This on how our history ends... Very soon... We will be gone too..."

The memory ended.

Boston was under attack. Ophanim launched a surprise attack from the coast. The attack was swift, unpredictable, and devastating for the resistance. It only took a few days for the Ophanim to break the line and force the resistance to evacuate the city. The machines under Ophanim's command were recognizable due to the banner it chose, a yellow background with closed white angel-like wings holding Earth in their embrace. While Archangel's banner had a blue background, three pairs of deployed white angel wings, only coming out from an eye characteristic of Archangel.

Luz was separated from her family and hiding in an abandoned store from the attacking angels. She was panting, scared for her life. Unlike The Archangel, who didn't want to eradicate humanity, Ophanim killed the adults older than 35, but the children under 12 as well. Their only common point was the angelification of teens and young adults. For a moment, she seemed to have escaped from the angels; she was shaking, trying not to make any sound while looking for an exit and finding her family. Until someone entered the building, she hid under the table and looked around to see that a berserker had entered the building,  was covered in blood, and blocked the exit.

The thing sent shivers down both witches' spines. It looked grotesque, it was tall, with long arms, too long, massive hands with razor-sharp claws, no eyes, a non-human mouth, and when opened, it showed a canon. Its legs were also too long; it walked on all four, its head turned 360°, and finally, it had a two-meter-long tail with a sharp blade at the end of it. It also had all the standard Angel weapons and capacities. There was barely anything organic anymore; it was hard to believe that thing was human once.

Luz put her hand on her mouth to hold back any noise, terrified the monster would hear and find her. Berserker were brutal killing machines; their sole purpose was spreading fear and killing. She had to get out, so she grabbed a glass from the ground and threw it to the other side. The noise caused by the impact distracted the Berserker, allowing her to get closer to the exit. But in the precipitation, she caused multiple articles to fall from a shelf, leading the Berserker to her. It was now in front of her, she screamed, called for her parents, as the blade from its tail was heading straight for her heart at high speed.

"MAMA, PAPI!" She bloody screamed, crying desperately, trying to run away from the thing.

"HELP!" She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the hit... But it never came; instead, she heard a shot. Opening her eyes, she saw the Berserker flying backyard, it was shot.

"Luz!" It was Manny; he had found her.

"Papi!" They hugged tighter than they ever had, but the Berserker got back up, damaged but still operating.

"Why... did you... Do this?! It said to Manny, who seemed to know what it meant but didn't have time to explain. Manny managed to hide in time behind a shelf with Luz; an exchange of fire started, both failing to hit the other. At some point, Manny was about to aim, but where the Berserker was, there was now nothing; it was gone. He heard sounds everywhere around the store; it was trying to desorient him.

"Papa, above!" Luz pointed; it was now on the shelf, but he was too slow, and the Berserker slashed him on the face. It then jumped down and stabbed him in the heart with the blade, impaling him. The unbearable pain could be seen on his face; he was coughing up blood. Luz, witnessing this, was paralyzed, hot tears running down her cheeks. The Beserker was now firmly holding him. It opened its mouth, ready to blast his head off. But using his last strength, Manny pointed the gun at its mouth and shot, finishing off this monstrosity.

Manny fell on the ground. He was losing a lot of blood, too much, this was it, he was done for. Luz couldn't speak; she tried, but couldn't; the shock was too big. She tried to get him up, but it was too late. 

"Papa... Please..." Her voice was shaking, she was ugly sobbing, Manny tried to hug her back.

"Lo... Lo siento... Luz..." He said with difficulty. "I love you... Please tell your... Sister and... Mami... I love them too..." Those were his last words; he was gone. Luz cried, refusing to let go, before being forced to go; if she didn't, she would be left behind, and she had to realize her dad's last wish. As she was about to do so, she spotted another Angel, this one under Archangel command. This one had shining green eyes, meaning Archangel was controller her directly. Archangel looked at Manny's eyes wide; he said nothing but did something strange: he left without taking Luz. Luz, taken over by grief, did not realize the strangeness of this.

After walking for almost a day, she found her group as the remaining of her family, she had to break the terrible news and deliver Manny's last words. The whole family grieved, and so did the entire resistance, which had lost yet another leader. 

Strangely coinciding with Manny's death, Archangel fought back even harder against Ophanim, and within weeks, Ophanim had lost all of its strength and was no more. According to observation, the crushing of Ophanim was extremely brutal, leaving many to wonder why this sudden change had occurred.

The memory ended, the hardest to watch so far, Willow couldn't even think about what she'do if her dad or papa were killed in front of her, she felt pity for Luz s well as amiration for her strenght, even though she also thought it was a strenght she shouldn't be expected to have but this was the sad reality of the human realm. Willow found it strange how Amity was trying to comfort her. She had been very cooperative and kind since they entered Luz's mindscape. This felt weird to her, but she didn't hate it.

It was New Haven's turn to be attacked as the resistance was losing yet even more territory. The people there had to retreat to Hartford, the last large city they held. Camila was holding their belonging as well as her daughter's hands, making sure no one got lost, unlike last time. But the Angels were tailing on them and they were fast; the combatant were doing their best to slow them down, to little success.

The group was heading for the vehicles, mostly trucks, which they would take to Hartford. They had reached them, and the children were prioritized for embarkation. It was soon their turn; they were waiting in front of it, however, Luz spotted something in the sky which chilled her blood. Some angels had reached them, and they were grabbing people left and right. One had spotted them and was aiming... For Vee. Without thinking, Luz evaded her mother's grasp and pushed Vee out of the way as the Angel drew closer, but this meant he now aimed for her. He caught her and flew away to the screams of her mom trying to shoot the angel down, and her scream of fear.

She was freshly 12, she knew what was waiting for her, they all knew... And she would be no exception. The angel locked her with her people up for angelification in ships taking off, and heading for New York. 'This isn't happening, this isn't happening, this isn't happening...' She repeated in her head... But it was happening.

The memory ended, and to Amity and Willow's relief, it appeared to be the last one. They were ready to talk to Inner Luz, ring the bell, and hug Luz until they passed out and never let her close to the portal door ever. Amity also hopes this may lead to her and Willow rekindling their relationship. They were approached by Inner Luz, smiling, grateful for their help. Luz's amnesia was now a thing of the past. But something was off.

Willow noticed it first and held Inner Luz, "You still have some burns, but I thought we..." Inner Luz evaded her gaze; she looked serious.

"What's going on?" Amity interjected. Inner Luz took a deep breath before answering.

"There is... one left, follow me." She turned around and entered the house. In the cave, she went to a wall, touched it, and it opened a heavy elevator door. They entered ADS and also followed. As they were heading down Inner Luz, they finally talked again, "Before losing them, Luz had more or less time to process the memories and had life continuing while remanecing them, all of that came back as well after a short time. But this one is different, this one was removed the moment it was made, Luz never processed it, never remembered it before her amnesia... She will experience it like it just happened, even in her sleep. And it's a very bad one, I'd say it's the worst one, hence the security.

"Security?" Willow asked, as if to answer, the elevator doors opened. What stood before them was a white corridor, with intense light, glith holograms, a witch's staff, human weapons, all aiming at a heavy metal door. It reminded Amity of the vault containing her family's wealth. They approached the door, and it opened along with four others behind, just as massive, they opened to another darker corridor, even more heavily armed. 

"What is this memory about?" Amity asked worryingly. Her hands were shaking; she dreaded what lay before them. It had been locked down there for a reason. How terrible was this memory to earn such drastic containment measures? Willow was asking herself similar questions.

"I... I can't... I can't say it," Inner Luz sounded distressed, "You will see for yourself, I can't go further, it will make the memory stronger..." She received a hug from both witches, calming her and indirectly calming the memory effects. When they let go, she just had one thing left to say: "Good luck."

Amity and Willow walked down the corridor, followed by the ADS, growing more uncertain about itself and its nature with each passing minute. As they got closer, though, Amity abruptly stopped her track.

"Willow, wait." Willow turned around to see Amity looking at the ground, fist closed and eyes heavy.

"Amity, I really don't like this either, but we have to finish this for Luz' sake."

"I know it's... It's not about this," Willow looked confused, "I-I- I never wanted to end our friendship." Amity confessed.

"What?" 

"My-My parent made me, but I-I never wanted this." Amity started to sob from a mix of guilt, sadness, and overwhelming feelings from everything they had witnessed.

"You left me in the dark and then bullied me for years!" Willow vented in anger, "You hurt me! And now, you tell me this! What sick game are you playing, Amity!" She accused.

"I swear, Willow, I swear. I'm so sorry for everything, and I don't expect you to forgive me. I guess doing this made it less hard. I don't know what came over me, but after getting closer to Luz. I realized I didn't recognize myself anymore." 

Willow exhaled, managing to calm down, "Let's say I believe you. Why are you telling me this?"

"Because, with what we are about to see, we will need to stick together more than ever, for Luz's sake." Willow accepted her justification but didn't forgive; they weren't friends either, at least not yet. Maybe one day.

They were at the end of the corridor, facing yet again another heavy metal door. As it was opened, they held each other's hands, and their anxious hearts were racing. Inside the room, they saw it was too guarded, and here it was, the memory, the portrait showed a table of operation, and it was labeled...

A̶̡̨̘̖̠̹̮͔͔̤̰̒̉͆́͌̎̄̄̾̂̔ͅṉ̷̱͖̋̊̈̈̄̒͝g̷̝̦̙̼͎͖̏̅̿̍̍̈̃̀̓͘e̴̻̬͊̀̉̄͗͜͜l̵̡̨̬̟̖͚̜̼̹̑͊̿̀͑̏͘͝͝i̷̡̥͙͓̰̩̠͕͆̒͗̆̈́̇̚͜͝f̵̳̱̊̔̒i̸͙̟̭͇͎̱̹̼̙̜͇͉͎̳͒̐̅̂̏̍͌̎̚͠͝ć̶̰a̸̢̜̩̲̼͚̪͙̞̝̝̎̎̒t̴̻̲̳̆̎̈̉̑̾͂̔͑̈́̑̈́͘ȉ̶̟̎͆͐̏̑̓͊͝o̸̧͙͓͎͍͗̽̋͆̀͛̿n̶̡̨̠̺̬͚̥̻̳̩̗̹̎̐

Of course it was this one, of course it was in the mix, of course they'd had to fix. They had denied it was there; they had hoped the process would be something Luz wouldn't remember, one that was done while she was unconscious, but this wasn't how the human, or rather angel, realm worked. The witches stood there; neither wanted to proceed further, but they had to, remembering this memory would be very harsh for Luz, but it needed to be done. 

"Well, here goes nothing," Willow said in a shaky voice. Inside the memory, among what needed to be fixed were surgical tools and organ containers. The worst part was too sometimes put them back in the container, which they knew they belonged to. It didn't take long to fix the memory, but it sure felt like it did, once they fixed the dreaded memory started to play.

Warning: The following memory displays a graphic and detailed description of a non-consensual surgical operation to anyone triggered by this, blood, organ, and body part removal, beware. If you wish to skip the end of the scene will be indicated by a message in the same typo.

Luz was strapped to the surgery table, ready for the angelification operation. She had received a general anaesthetic, but was still partially conscious. She could see everything but not smell or feel or move, but she could hear, but barely. Now that the machine ensuring she would keep breathing was operating normally, the robotic arms attached to the room roof could begin the operation. Even though when it happened, she didn't know what most modifications were about. The knowledge was downloaded into her brain, the memory was merged with it, and so it was even more graphic.

It started with the chest area, the arms opened it, to remove her lungs, rib cage, and heart, and replace them with artificial counterparts. They would serve as stronger versions, granting her more strength and endurance, but also generators powering all the machine parts along with the solar panels. The rib cage was replaced with a strong artificial protection. Next came the batteries, put right above the diaphragm, the digestive system was left mostly untouched except the intestine, not removed but modified with filters supposed to help it keep more nutrients. The wires connecting them to the batteries were plugged; they were adapted to remain intact in the body and not disturb its normal operation. Next were the arms, circular saws cut her arms off, and other machines worked on preventing the bleeding, while they added special joints to the shoulders. Once it was done, they connected them to her new angel's arms. They did the same for her legs. Luz felt nothing, and yet seeing her disconnected limbs being transported elsewhere created a pain she both felt and didn't feel. They also reinforced her bones. Normally, angels are made sterile; however, the ones who hadn't finished puberty weren't to prevent problems in their development, they would be once their puberty was over. As such, this part was left alone.

Once they were done with the limbs and front, it was time for the back. The table was inclined vertically and open around the area of her back, which they also opened; they removed her natural spine to replace it with a stronger artificial version, connecting the added machine parts to the neural system. This spine also had an extension to connect the wings. The wings could be deployed or retracted under the skin; as such, her entire back was modified, and it could now open to deploy the wings without causing infections. When it was done, the table closed, they added solar panels on her shoulders and connected them to the batteries and the neural system. The table was back to its prior position. It was time for the skull. First, they opened the back of her neck to make the cables pass by the trapezius muscle so they could reach the brain. Then they went for the eyes. Luz saw something reaching for them, then it was nothing but pitch black. When her vision returned, it was different, the one of a machine, better, with information, night vision, heat vision; her lacrimal glands were also gone. These new eyes didn't need them... 

They opened her skull and started to change her brain, as they were doing it, Luz could feel her consciousness fading, being changed, being replaced by something else. It was horrifying, but being barely conscious, she couldn't scream, couldn't call for help, couldn't run... As her brain was being turned into a complex computer with a lot more capabilities, analytic power, and memory than a human could have, her will, her name, her being, her memories, Luz herself disappeared. She was no longer Luz...

She was Angel-122126...

The brain modifications were over, the skull was modified to make it stronger to better handle impacts, and finally, the Autonomous Defense System program was downloaded into her brain.

An automated voice spoke, "Angelification operation complete". Angel-122126 was released from the table and got up.

Warning: The surgical operation scene is over. You may continue from this point on.

"Please proceed into the next room for calibration and verification," She did as she was told without questioning.

In the next wrong, they tested her weapons, her new limbs, new eyes, checked if everything was installed correctly, and if everything was operating normally, if the ADS responded, her eyes took their former human colour, they hadn't removed her eye browns nor her eyelashes, for esthethic purposes, as Archangel deemed they would appear uncanny to the children without them. She dressed in her angel uniform. All was working as it should. To " end the verification, she was asked one question. "What is your purpose?"

"The establishment of Pax Angelica and its continued success for the better of humanity, as well as taking part in making a better world under The Archangel's supervision." She answered coldly.

"Angelification successful, please exit the premises and go on your first mission." 122126 again did as she was told.

There was no coming back from angelification; once it was done, it couldn't be undone, and Luz was no exception. She was gone, and only 122126 remained.

The memory ended, and it took everything for Willox and Amity not to throw up their lunches. This memory earned the security surrounding it; it was awful, numerous times they wanted it to stop, but couldn't stop watching. How was Luz still able to laugh and smile despite... That? Yes, she didn't remember, but she knew the processus. Worldlessly, they started to walk out. They wanted nothing more than to get out of here and hug Luz. They spotted the ADS, who had witnessed from outside, it was shaking, its eyes were wide, something a program shouldn't do. Before they could say anything, it turned to leave without saying a word. They didn't want to stay in the chamber, which gave an unnerving aura of anxiety, panic, fear, and paranoia.

As they left the chamber, the memory was in seal shut, the lights turned red, and an alarm started ringing. "ALERT. ALERT. CODE RED. CONTAINMENT BREACH, PTSD SCENARIO. LEVEL 8 SEALED. DEACTIVATION OF THE ELEVATOR. PLEASE EVACUATE THE CONCERNED AREA." Panick and confusion spread among the three, and yes, that did include the ADS. 

"RUN!" Inner Luz screamed, "AND DON'T LOOK BACK!" They immediately ran. Something behind them managed to break out of the room. It was coming fast, emanating the same unnerving aura that there was in the memory chamber. They saw the glyphs, staffs, and human weapons firing at what was behind as they raced for the exit as fast as they could. 

Close to the five doors, the ADS turned around and started to fire at the thing chasing, "ADS NO!" Inner Luz called out, but it was too late, the ADS remained behind, the witches almost looked by reflex before realizing and preventing themselves from doing it. They managed to pass the doors that closed behind them, and they joined the Inner Luz, hiding behind a protective wall, staring at the elevator. They must not look back. What was chasing banged on the doors, crushing them until it started to bang on the final one. They could hear the sound they had heard when the memory played, and the same aura.

After what felt like an eternity, it stopped, an eerie silence followed, until: "CODE YELLOW. CONTAINMENT BREACH PREVENTED. ELEVATOR REACTIVATED. REAPONING OF THE FRONT DOORS." They breathed a huge sigh of relief. 

The ADS came out, it was shaking even more, breathing heavily, its face was contorted, and it was struggling to walk. It sat against the wall, having a full-blown panic attack. The witches and Inner Luz approached the program(?). They were perplexed by its behavior; unlike Luz, that thing was completely a machine and always had been one.

"Contradictory directives... Fear... Anxiety... Lost... Why...? I hate it... Make it stop... I shouldn't feel this..." it spoke with difficulty, lost and overwhelmed. "Directives say... Protect Luz and... loyalty to Archangel, but it comes in contradiction with the first one." It hit the ground multiple times with its fist. "Archangel hurt Luz, Archangel hurt Luz, Archangel hurt Luz." It groaned, "I-I don't know what to do, I should, but I don't, I feel things, but I shouldn't." It lamented.

Inner Luz sat next to it, "Let me ask, which directive do you consider to be the most important? It's not a matter of logic, but how you feel about this, embrace those emotions and feelings, let them help you decide what YOU want to be." Inner Luz told her.

ADS reflected on it, it took its time, and the machine would decide in seconds, meaning it was thinking like an individual. The witches also started to realize what was happening; the choice would lead to a huge change within the ADS. After minutes, it finally moved, grabbing her Pax Angelica badge, looking at it, and tossing it toward the memory corridor as far as it could. It had chosen, the ADS was not a it anymore, it was now something more.

They then walked out, leaving the three girls behind, leaving the mindscape. "Do you think they will be alright?" Amity asked.

"Hard to tell," Inner Luz got up, "they have been becoming more and more self-aware for some time, but now they are sentient. It must be a difficult change; their entire meaning to exist has been shattered, they are lost and confused." Inner Luz explained, "Luz and I will look out for them."

"And we will look after you," Willow affirmed. The witches hugged Inner Luz, finally smiling now that it was over. Taking the elevator, they returned to the ground floor. They said their final goodbye to Inner Luz and again promised they'd be there for Luz. Willow rang the bell, and Eda brought them back to the physical world.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

They were back in the Owl House, and it felt like they'd been inside Luz's mindscape for a month. Eda, King, Gus, and Hooty looked at them, ready to question them, but at the same time, Luz woke up.

"Hey guys, thanks for fixing everything." Her voice was small, and she didn't look at them. The second, after she was hugged by Willow and Amity, who refused to let go.

"What the heck happened in there?" Eda asked, concerned. Luz looked alright, but the kid's reaction wasn't reassuring. The sentiment was echoed by everyone else.

"They saw a lot... And they fixed everything," Luz explained. She sounded overwhelmed.

The three looked confused at first until Gus guessed what she meant, "Wait, when you say everything, does that mean... Your amnesia...?"

"Yes... It's gone," Eda, Gus, King, and Hooty beamed with joy at the news. Luz had wished to remember her past before she became a cyborg ever since she arrived, and finally, she could. But it ended quickly, seeing that neither Luz, Willow, nor Amity was celebrating.

"Oh wait... that also means..." The war memories were also there. The end of Luz's amnesia came at a huge cost, and Eda understood full well that the next weeks were going to be difficult. But first, they needed to discuss what happened in there. She would also have to call Raine to keep them updated on the situation; she realized she hadn't even informed them of the incident in the first place. This was a problem for her future; besides, she was handling a difficult situation, Raine would understand, she hoped. 

But enough about that, for now, discuss what happened.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

For a while, they just hugged, and Luz hugged the girls back; all three were overwhelmed by the experience. Luz's mind was racing; she had regained so many memories in under an afternoon. She may have, more or less, processed them before, but she had to do it again, not the memories themselves, but the answers she had been seeking for months. And there was... one that shook her to her very core. This memory formed itself under unusual circumstances; as such, Luz felt like it had just happened. Her friends could feel her shaking, and her breath was quickening; she was experiencing a flashback. It was worse to remember how it was for her than just know the process; she could still see when her eyes closed the arms holding pieces of her body: organs, limbs, bones... And replacing them.

So much of her wasn't her.

She couldn't hear, and couldn't notice the things happening around her anymore, that's until she heard Eda's voice, and felt Eda holding her. She remembered she was no longer in that factory but in the Owl House, far from the thing that changed her. She was safe, little by little, she calmed down, until her heartbeat returned to a normal rhythm, her surroundings became less fuzzy, and she could finally hear Eda's reassuring words and her friends calling her name. 

"Are you back with us, hon?" Eda asked, still holding Luz. Luz nodded, her voice failing her. Eda turned to the witches, her previous anger at Amity forgotten. "What happened in there?" She was rightfully concerned. The fixing of Luz's amnesdiscussedgood, but her reactions hinted at the bad memorishapeey suspected. Willow andy explained how they fixed the pre- and post-angelification memories, their encounter with Inner Luz, the ADS being there, the memory, and the minscape starting to fix themselves, the Ophanim, and the main reason for Luz's current state, the angelification memory. They refused to say anything they saw in those memories, unable to voice them. Eda suspected this one would be there, but hoped it wouldn't, as for the others, it would be up to Luz to open up about them. It felt like the first week all over again. However, the most intriguing part came in last. Luz remembered what they did and what the ADS did; everyone not present when it happened was surprised to hear about ADS gaining sentience and being badly shaken by the memories, and turning against their creator, the Archangel.

"Inner Luz seemed to think, it's a good thing," Amity informed. "But their whole world broke so... We may not hear from them for a while." Eda wasn't so sure. Yes, it was good. Luz's last connection to the Pax Angelica was severed because ADS turned against it, but Luz's memory already showed two rogue self-aware AIs who caused a lot of damage, and now there was a third one, who knew how they would turn out. Eda didn't want to be a pessimist; she would gladly welcome ADS if they turned friendly, but the two others of her kind did not, so she'd rather be cautious.

"They felt bad..." Luz managed to say, " They think they failed to protect me, their entire existence was a lie, and they think they hurt me. They need some alone time to get used to their new reality." This was the last time she talked for the rest of the day. Her friends stayed a bit longer, talking to her, keeping her company, and sitting next to her, to let her know she isn't alone. They left when the evening was approaching.

The following days felt like Luz's first week on the Isles, with the key differences being Luz's eyes looking far older than those of a fifteen-year-old. She got her memories back; she could remember sweet family moments, which made everyone smile, but also sad and terrible ones caused by the war. The next morning after the memory incident, Eda called Bump to let him know Luz wouldn't go to school for a few days, due to recovering her memories and being extremely overwhelmed by many of them. Bump was aware of Luz's circumstances and understood. Raine was made aware the evening after her friends left, and they came to see Luz early the next morning. Luz was barely talking, but did talk about some bad memories, but refused to talk about the angelification one, this one caused her to spiral into massive panic attacks just by thinking about it. The day after the memory incident, the Parks sent daily crows asking if Luz was ok, and if there was anything they could do. And Gus's dad also sent a word of support, nothing from Amity's parents, but that was expected; however, the witch kept daily tabs on Luz well well-being. And so did the rest of her friends. The multitracking squad didn't know as much as Luz's other friends, but they did their best to try to be supportive.

As for the ADS, they were still silent. They tried to talk to them, but they wouldn't answer, but Luz could still feel they were here.

Raine had noticed a worrying change in Luz's behavior when that reminded them of their youth, before their coming out and social transitioning. Luz was avoiding her reflection at all costs, wearing clothes that hid as much skin as possible, and she started neglecting her appearance. Raine had lived all of that a long time ago; these issues added to the many others that had risen after the return of her memories, such as barely eating, barely moving, not leaving her room, closing herself, barely talking, etc... The key difference was that for the latter, it was easy to determine their origin, for the first less so. Raine now had to figure out how to get through Luz. They remembered how they closed off from their parents before it became too much to keep in anymore.

Eda had left to go to the market; it was one of Raine's days off, and they were using it to watch other Luz. King had gone with Eda and Hooty... He was surprisingly helpful; he managed to make Luz smile multiple times. Right now, Raine was making lunch: Griffin eggs, Luz's favorite. And once they were done eating, Raine would try to talk to Luz. 

"Luz! Launch is ready!" Raine called out. Luz didn't answer, but came down. She silently sat down at the table and waited for Raine to sit as well. "Enjoy your meal."

"Thanks, you too," Luz answered in a monotone, detached voice. They hate in complete silence; it was strange. Raine had gotten used to the lively lunch and dinner of the Owl House; it felt wrong that they had gone so silent. And once they were done, after what felt like hours for Raine, it was time for the conversation.

Rain took a deep breath, bracing themselves for a conversation they were from sure of the result. "Luz, I... I would like to talk with you."

Luz, who was about to go back upstairs, turned to Raine, unsurprised. Everyone had been trying to talk to her to help her feel better, but so far, it hadn't done much. Instead, Luz sat on the sofa looking at Raine, who sat as well. "I wanted to talk to you about something. I noticed some changes that I experienced when I was young." They let the information sink in, "I noticed you have been trying to avoid your reflection, you have been neglecting yourself, and hiding every inch of your skin, you are even the good of your hoodie inside." The more Raine talked, the more Luz avoided their case. "Luz, I did this as well before I realized who I really was and before I started to transition, it's called gender dysphoria and dysmorphia. Does it feel familiar?" Rain asked.

Luz took her time to answer; she was thinking about what Raine just told her. She was sure it was going to be about her memories. Not that, truth is yes, after her memories came back, her views on her body... Her machine parts worsened... "I... I..." She looked at her hands, or rather, the hands the machines gave her. "Yeah... I always had a hard time with the replaced parts of me, but... Remembering the time I had my real body..." Normally, she'd feel like scream-crying, but she felt too numb to. "Now, when I look at it, I see the moment they changed me, I feel like it's not alive. I want my real body back, not the one they forced on me... But it's impossible, angelification is irreversible. I hate this body; it feels wrong, it's not mine, it's one I was forced to have." Luz had finally opened after days of closing herself off. Part of Raine was happy they were able to get through her, but another felt terrible for her; they knew how it felt.

"I understand, trust me, I do," Raine gave a warm smile, "When I was young, before I knew who I was, I hated my body and wished I were born different. I was given a body that looked too feminine for me," Raine opened up, "And I hated it, I felt like I was stuck with it, so for a while I hid the best I could. But one day, I realized who I was and decided that if it's the body I'm stuck with, then I'm gonna make sure it's one I like. The one you see today." Raine finished their back story, Luz's eyes had changed, as if the numbness was leaving her. "I know it's not exactly what you experience, but I'd say it's close enough. My point is, make sure your body becomes your body, the body that you want."

Luz smiled. She looked once more at her hands, this time with a lot to think about. "Thanks, Raine." Luz then hugged them, and Raine hugged back, her emotions coming strong, with hope slowly and timidly returning; she wasn't ok yet, but the numbness was other. Eventually, Luz would fall asleep, and Eda would find Luz sleeping in Raine's arms once she returned. She noticed Luz looked appeased.

"What would I do  without you, Rainestorm?" 

After the conversation with Raine, Luz had a lot to think about. It gave her a glimmer of hope, but how to make her body her own with the machine part, she was thinking of a way to do it, but it was proving difficult. But she was determined, thinking and considering it, was making her feel better, cyborgs could modify themselves, she had to find a way to do it in a way she liked, and Eda's human trash stacks had enough tools to allow that. While thinking about it, her thoughts drifted to ADS, still silent, but maybe they too wanted to change into something they wanted. Or in their case, become someone. Maybe they could help each other out? She never really interacted with them; she mostly spent her time despising them until what happened in her mindscape. Now, she wanted things to change. So, she tried to call them out.

'Hey,' A few seconds pass without an answer, 'Hello?' Still no answer, "Are you th-

'Hi,' They finally answered.

'... How are you doing?'

'Confuse, lost,' ADS answered.

'Must become sentient like that.' Luz sympathized.

'Yes, it's scary.'

'...'

'...'

'So hum, everything is a mess right now, huh?' Luz tried to continue the conversation.

'Yes, how do you deal with this?' ADS asked.

'Deal with what?'

'Emotions, feelings, doubt, thoughts, uncertainty. I don't like it, it's counterproductive.'

'But it's freeing, you are free, doesn't it feel nice? And they are hard to deal with, you really have to learn how to, we just get better, and it's easier when you are not alone.' Luz tried to explain.

'Socializing helps?' The more they talked, the more the ADS started to sound like a confused child to Luz.

'Yes, you can do it, with me, lay out what bothers and frustrates you to me. Express yourself," Luz encouraged ADS.

'Expressing myself...' The ADS thought about it, 'I'm unsure how to put it into words.'

'Doesn't have to be put into words, there are many ways to express yourself.'

'Huuum, I feel the urge to yell a swear word,' Confessed the ADS.

'Yeah, do it, go nuts.' Luz encouraged them.

'Requesting temporarily taking control of your body.'

'Do it.'

ADS took control, got up, went to the window, opened it, and... "FUCK!" Once they were done, they gave the control back to Luz.

"Luz, if you are going to swear, do it at Hexide!" Eda called out, making Luz laugh, and the ADS snickered.

'You laughed,' Luz pointed out.

'I did, it felt nice, it was fun and freeing." ADS admitted, 'Emotions can be good.'

Luz and ADS had a long conversation, where Luz was trying to help ADS find themselves, and they got along quite well. They discussed finding their likes and dislikes, helping them shape their personality, and even mentioned finding them a body, but this would be too difficult to do for now. They also talked about their name, gender, and pronouns. This came when the ADS asked why they were gender-neutral. Luz had to explain they were unsure how to call them, but since they were now a person, using it felt wrong. For now, ADS is unsure of their gender and names, but wants to find themselves. For now, they will continue to be gender-neutral.

'Say, would you like to be friends?' Luz offered.

'You want us to be friends?'

'Yes, you could use one, and I'd be happy to be the first one."

'My... My first friend, yes, I'd like that,' ADS sounded moved, 'Thank you, Luz.' 

'Anytime, that's what friends do,' Luz could be sure ADS smiled.

'I want to help you as well. I heard you say you wanted to modify yourself earlier.' ADS was trying to be supportive the way Luz had been.

'Yeah, I want to be able to like my body, but I don't know how to do it.'

The ADS seemed to think for a second, 'You like magic, why not make it more magic compatible?' 

'I already use glyth,' Luz cast a light spell.

'It is possible to do more by making some modifications, having magic more compatible with the tracks, I think.'

'Wait, really?!' Luz's eyes flickered with determination. 'How?!

'Remember your potion that gave you magic? We will need it.'

Luz got up, 'Let's do this.'

That was a weird day, first Lilith sending a letter for Luz, second Luz screaming 'fuck on the top of her lungs, she avoided swearing at all costs, making this strange, and third Luz taking a lot of stuff from the trash pile and potion stuff. As if her mood made a complete swing. From what Raine told her, their conversation helped Luz a lot. When she came back, seeing Raine comforting a sleeping Luz, holding her as if she were their kid, it took the Owl Lady everything she had not to kiss them on the spot. Eda had to admit her long-buried feeling for the bard had resurfaced, and it was bad. How much she wanted to hold them, kiss them... with the tongue, go to her room and- 'Nope Owl Lady focusing, Luz is my priority for now, I will think about biting Rainestorm back later.' definitly not thinking about Raine in her bed Owl Lady, headed to Luz room to give her the letter and see what the little chaos buddle was up to.

Eda knocked, but Luz didn't answer. She heard her; she was in there, but doing something she was hyper-focusing on. She heard both potion-making and human tech stuff. She knocked again, but still no answer, she was about to call her when:

"Come in!" Luz finally answered. Eda entered a messy room, reminding her of her own. There was a potion ready, the same one that made Luz sick, and Luz was using human tools to do something to her arm, "Huh... You sure?... Looks good to me... Wait, I'm speaking out loud." 

"What is going on here?" It was nice for Eda to see Luz no longer depressed and numb, doing nothing all day, but this looked different from Luz's previous projects.

"Remember the potion that gives you temporarily. I still haven't come up with a name for it. Well, there might be a way for me to use it safely. My right arm will be my test subject." Luz told her while still doing her experiment, "I'm almost done." 

"Can I know what it is about? And if it's safe?" Eda asked.

"You will see and no promises," Luz answered, adjusting. Eda could see that Luz's arm now had a little compartment. She took a vial of her potion and put it in her arm, the compartment closed, and Luz reattached her arm. "Now, let's hope this works, Luz pointed her finger and made a spell circle without a glyph. And using magic, she made her Azura book come to her. "Yes, it worked, I did! ADS anything with my health?... Nothing? Yay, I really worked!" Luz was celebrating, looking happier than Eda had ever seen her in the last few days. She seemed overwhelmed by emotions and euphoria, but positive ones this time, the way someone would be after receiving great news or having a wish come true.

"You did it... You crazy witch, you did it." Eda said, chuckling, that kid was sure something. "I'm glad to see you do better."

"I wouldn't say I'm alright, but the conversation with Raine helped, and now with the test being a success. This body is starting to feel like my own and... This feels great." Luz was smiling widely, beaming with pride and joy over her success, the traumas momentarily forgotten.

"I'm happy for you, kid." Eda was then hugged by Luz. It was a tight, long hug. Things weren't right yet, but they were improving, and this was a major step. After taking a little time to calm down, Luz explained how she did it and mentioned the help she had. The process required the creation of a compartment for potions in her forearms, connected to her index fingers, so it required a way for the potion the way it did by ingestion. The ADS found it was possible by recreating the body heat required for the potions to start taking effect. Eda took all that nerd talk in, understanding not everything, but enough to get the jinx of it, but one thing got her attention, the ADS helping. "So the ADS really is trying to change. Are things going ok with them?" Eda asked, not exactly knowing how to bring up the ADS subject without letting on to her lack of trust for the sentient AI.

"Yeah, things have been rough for them, too. They were very overwhelmed with becoming sentient and feeling emotions. It's a huge change for them, and they want to embrace it, so I helped." Luz explained, she talked about their conversation, and that ADS is the one who yelled 'fuck'. Luz never interacted directly with the pre-sentient ADS, so she doesn't really know how different it was, but she had 212126 memories, so she could guess. "And they wanted to help me too in return, I help them become their own person, they help me to start liking my cyborg body. Win-win."

"Can I, huh, talk to them?" Eda asked, wanting to see the new ADS for yourself. 

"Well, I actually wanted to have Willow, Gus, and Amity over to show them the change and introduce them to the new ADS to all of you." 

"Are you sure it's not a bit too much for them?" Eda asked if the ADS really became a person; it could be overwhelming, knowing that she and Luz's friends saw them in a negative light. 

"Yeah, actually, they are the ones who insisted," Luz explained. "They want to show they really changed."

Eda sighed, "Alright, if they insist." Eda conceded, "When do you want to have them other?"

"Next day, after school, if that's ok."

"Alright." Eda was about to leave, letting Luz and ADS modify her other arm, and also test how long the potion effect lasts in these small vials. "If you need anything, you can go to me or call out. Oh, and before I forget, here, prissy Lily wrote you a letter." Eda handed over the letter, "Do whatever you do with it, read it, throw it away, burn it, do nothing, and if it's threats or attempts at indoctrination, tell me, and I will egg her house." Eda seemed to hope to have an excuse to egg Lilith's house, as if she needed an excuse to do it. Luz and ADS got back to work, Eda messaged Raine the good news, leaving out the magic arm thing; she would let Luz break that news.

Gus, Willow, and Amity were on their way to the Owl House. By the messages they had seen, Luz's mood was improving, and yesterday she asked them to come over; it was reassuring. They hoped to hear good news once they got here. At school, things had been calm. They missed Luz a lot. Amity was starting to talk to them; things between them were cordial. What Amity and Willow went through in Luz's mind helped them start to rekindle; it was the foundation of their newly rebuilt friendship. Gus didn't really have much of a relationship with Amity, only interacting with her in groups, but never having one-to-one conversations. As for Willow, she and Amity resumed having them, their subject mostly revolving around Luz. Either due to worries, the message they sent, or Amity talking about Luz, her crush being evident. But they also had talks about their past friendship when they were kids. 

But now, they were walking toward the Owl House, glad to be able to see Luz again after days of absence. The closer they got, the faster Amity walked. The other two struggled to keep up. "Amity, wait up." At Willows' call, Amity stopped, realizing how fast she was walking. "We don't have your long legs," Gun commented.

"Sorry... I'm just..." She didn't finish, but they knew what she wanted to say.

"Yeah, we get it, we worry too," Willow answered. "But take it from another angle, Luz has been a little talkative since yesterday. It's reassuring." Willow offered, which calmed the fears of both Gus and Amity. They continued walking toward the house. On the way, Amity and Willow couldn't stop thinking about what they saw in Luz's mindscape; they both had nightmares about it, the worst always revolving around angelification. Amity even had one where she watched her siblings being turned into angels. Willow's nightmares mostly revolved around the losses Luz's family went through and suffering the same fate. 

"Luz is amazing," Willow suddenly said, "Even with everything that happened to her, she is still able to get back up and smile." Willow thought of the difficulties she went through; she knew those things shouldn't be compared, all traumas are valid,  and yet she couldn't help but feel they were insignificant. If she were to lose her parents and everything she knew. She was sure she'd never recover from it.

"Yeah, she is," Amity said absently, "I really admire her for it, she is very strong... Stronger than she should have to be." Amity looked at the ground, "I wish I were nearly as strong as her." A faint blush appeared on her cheek, which didn't go unnoticed by Willow.

Thankfully for Amity, Gus interjected, "It's hard to lose someone you love, but everyone can get back on their feet; that's what they would want you to do."Gus spoke with experience; he had lost his mother when he was young, but old enough to remember her and understand where she went.  It had been very difficult to grieve her loss and even harder to accept it; it is still hard from time to time. But he did move on, "I know that's what Luz's parent would want for her."  

They finally got to the house, passed the eldritch owl, and were welcomed by Eda and King. Luz wasn't there, which was not the most reassuring thing for the group of friends. Eda was able to ease their worry by informing them that Luz was finishing her preparation; she simply forgot to do more of the potion before they got there. This instance of 'classic Luz' was also helpful in calming their worries. Meanwhile, King was distracting them until Luz finished her hasty preparations, by telling them about the coup against him, he stopped (the coup being of his plush fell on his face).

Finally, they heard steps from upstairs, before seeing Luz awkwardly get downstairs. She looked fine, just fidgeting, with eye bags showing an evident lack of sleep, but otherwise fine. "Hey guys... Sorry for the silent treatment of the last few days." Luz sounded guilty, morally better, as in not a mess.

Her friends didn't care for the silent treatment; they didn't care that Luz barely communicated, they were just relieved to see her better off than how she was last time they saw her. She was hugged by the three witches the moment she finished her sentence. She almost lost her balance for a moment, before hugging the back, she expected them to be angry at her. Eda was glad her kid had great friends, even Boots turned out to be good despite the whole memory thing.

Gus was the first to talk, "It's ok, Luz, we understand, I probably would have done the same thing." The two other witches nodded.

"How have you been holding up since?" Amity asked worringly, still not letting go.

"It has been... complicated," Luz confessed, "But things have been improving lately, it's still hard though." 

"Do you still need to rest? Will you come back to Hexide?" This time, it was Willow asking. It hadn't been the same without Luz around; she missed her, they missed her.

"Next week, I think." The hug lasted a bit longer. And when they let go, Luz had something to say, "There are two things important I called you over for, and first, I want to show you something I have been working on, and it has been helping me a lot with accepting my machine parts." They looked expectantly. Eda smirked, already knowing what's gonna happen. Luz showed them the potion vial, not saying what it was. She then pressed on her arms, opening a small compartment where she put the vial, and it closed up. They were confused until Luz cast a spell circle, creating a small flame. Their eyes widen in both surprise and admiration. Luz, a human, had magic; without a glyph, she used magic. "It's not perfect. I still need to learn how to cast spells without a glyph, and it only allows me to use beast keeping, healing, construction, and neutral spells. Plant too, but there is a glyph for it. But not the rest." 

"You are amazing," It came from Amity, who appeared to have glitter in her eyes. The comment made Luz blush.

"Yeah, what she said," Gus said in excitement, not realizing the tension he broke. "That's awesome, you found a way for humans to use magic!"

"Not all humans, cyborgs only," Luz replied, deflating her exploit.

"Still! How did you do it?" Gus stood ready to note everything. Luz explained the same process she had explained to Eda the day before, explaining how she had created the potion a while back, but it made her sick. She later discovered it was due to her human biology, and with ADS's help, she found a way to bypass it.  

"The potion doesn't allow me to use illusion, bard, abomination, and oracle magic; I still need to find a way to use them. It's still in its early stage but..." Luz cast a huge light spell, creating multiple light bubbles surrounding her, "Standing before you is the very first cyborg with!" Suddenly they understood the project, and how it would help Luz accept her machine parts, she planned to make them hers, on her how terms.

"Hell yeah," Willow raised her fist in the air in support. In celebration of the first cyborg witch, they were all excited at the prospect of teaching Luz glyphless magic. Illusion for Gus, Abomination for Amity, and even if she had a glyph for it, plants for Willow. Once they were done celebrating Luz's new chapter, the second important thing came to the table.

"The ADS wants to talk to you." Again, their eyes widen but for entirely different reasons. "They want to talk to all of you." They had been wondering how it had been since the incident, especially Willow and Amity, as they witnessed the moment they became self-aware.

"In front of everyone? Isn't that a lot?" Willow asked.

"They insisted." Eda was still unsure about the ADS, so was Gus, who had witnessed them being something else than a program entirely loyal to the thing that caused all of Luz's suffering. Even if Amity and Willow were more open due to what they had witnessed, they were still on guard. "They are ready, are you?" They nodded.

Luz closed her eyes, and when they opened again, they were shining blue. It was the ADS. The first surprise came immediately; they seemed shy, they were fidgeting, and avoiding everyone's eyes. Before, they were always serious-looking and emotionless with an incapable composure. But now they were struggling to hide their nervousness.

"H-hello," They stumble on the first word. "You have met me before as... as a... program, and I-I-I would like to reintroduce myself to you as a person." They managed to say. They turned to Amity; they didn't know what to do with their hands, and they held the hoodie, still fidgeting. "Also, I'm sorry about the covention."Out of everything they had expected, a conversation with the ADS would go; it was none of them. They hadn't expected to be greeted by a nervous AI behaving like a child waiting to be scolded. Well, granted, they had become a person just days ago.

"You... huuh... You are good as well as, you know, don't stand with Archangel anymore." Eda was so taken aback that she forgot all she wanted to tell them, not that it would fit with the literal kid she was talking to. 

"Ne-negative!" Still nervous, the ADS raised her voice, seemingly afraid they thought they were still aligned with their maker. "I no longer align with Archangel, he is bad, he is mean, and huh... huh... Oh, right fuck him!" Silence follows, which heightens ADS anxiety; they squiled, "Was it the wrong thing to say?" They asked nervously. And right after Eda burst out laughing, there were also chuckles from everyone else. ADsS relaxed a little, perplexed by the reactions, but Luz told them it was positive. 

"I think I'm gonna like you, kid," Eda told them, still amused.

"Kid?"

"Well, you are days old, and if we count your pre-gaining sentience phase, you are 3 years old. You are a kid."

"Is it supposed to be complimenting or offensive?" ADS innocently asked, earning chuckles from everyone, confusing them even more.

"No, it's just an observation," Willow told her.

"So I am a child?"

"More like a newborn with adult knowledge but without the experience," King added. The ADS pouted.

"I do have experience and understanding; it's part of my programming." They argued, not really appreciating being compared to a toddler.

"It's nice to see you again, ADS. Good to see you are doing well."

"It is nice to see you, fellow Luz's friend." ADS responded awkwardly, having no social skills

Willow offered to shake their hand, and ADS was a bit hesitant at first, but then did it. "You just need to-"

"I know what handshakes are, I just never did it." The ADS was quickly explained.

"Oh, and how is it? Willow asked, offering a gentle smile to the shy AI.

"It is nice. Can I shake your hands, too?" ADS asked excitedly of Amity, who nodded. "And you guys too?" She asked everyone else, who also nodded. The ADS was happy to do the simple gesture.

'How did they go from an intimidating bodyguard program to a cinnamon roll?' Were Willows, though.

"Is it socially acceptable for me to try having a hug? Luz always seems to feel better after them and described them as pleasant." ADS asked, wishing for a positive answer, the question created an awkward moment where everyone was trying to find a way to properly explain to ADS why they weren't going to hug her. But before they could, "Oh... sorry." ADS saw their confusion and explained, "Luz told me hugs can be asked and done with friends, family, or a lover you have known for a variable amount of time." They seem embarrassed that they asked that.

"It's okay, you are still learning." Gus offered, patting their (Luz's) shoulder.

"Can we be friends? I am already a friend of Luz." Their eyes were full of hope.

"Is it part of your goal to get hugs?" Amity asked, amused with full intent on saying yes.

"Huuum... Nooo," Their answer caused more chuckles and snickering. They accepted her offer to be friends, which made her happy.

"I need to teach how to lie," Eda commented, earning the disapproval of everyone. ADS didn't understand why they were against it; this could be a useful skill. After that, they continued to interact a little longer with the ADS, who told them about how Luz started to teach them about emotions, and today she felt very happy, comparing happiness to an addictive substance if there were good addictive substances. But it soon came to an end.

"I didn't expect interaction to be so nice, but also so tiring; it's like it's siphoning my batteries."

"Normally, it's your first time really talking to so many people, and maybe you are an introvert." Amity offered as an explanation.

"Introvert, yeah, maybe I am, something that is me. My first identified trait." They sound very happy, almost emotional. "Luz really wants to talk to you. I will be leaving now, goodbye friends!" They waved them goodbye in return, although they weren't gone just inside Luz.

"See, it went alright," Luz said, having regained control of the body.

The hexquad stayed until it was time for dinner, their company did well for Luz well well-being, they started to theorize about ways she could use the magic she had yet to access. They also just spent time together having fun, being kids. Amity blushed when Luz sat next to her. ADS informed Luz, Amity's body heat had suddenly risen, and Luz thought nothing of it. For the first time since the incident, Luz genuinely laughed, her sincere, loud laugh Amity had come to adore. It was good for everyone to spend time like this, things were starting to feel write again.

Meanwhile, at the emperor castle in the bard wing, Raine was in their office working and preparing for the coming succession; they had been chosen as the next head, although the announcement wouldn't be made until a few weeks later. But this wasn't what they were thinking about right now; they were having a hard time focusing on their task. Because they could stop thinking about Eda, their reunion and frequent visits had rekindled old, buried feelings. They had been frequently blushing, thinking of her. Her laugh, her tall and slender figure, her pale skin, they wanted to kiss her all over. 'No Raine bad thoughts, not the time,' They scolded themselves. 

This did nothing as their next thought was about them together undressing in her room; details won't be disclosed. Raine's blush became as red as the harp representing their coven.

It soon ended when an intrusive thought about the day of unity came to their mind. They couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off about it; they had seen what was going on in the scene, the reality of Belos' dictatorship. But more than that, Belos' propaganda and the day of unity. It was disturbingly similar to the Pax Angelica of the Archangel. The calling, the savior role, the utopia talk, and the sacrifices required. It made them more doubtful about the day of unity. They, along with the cats, had been trying to find information about what the day of unity was about. But so far, they have found nothing, and it was getting frustrating. They needed to know if the Boiling Isles were heading toward their own Pax project.

Someone knocked on the door, surprising Raine; they hadn't expected any visit. Answering the door, they saw the last people they expected to see.

"Headwitch Darius and Eberwolf?" Raine exclaimed, "What can I do for you?" Raine was sweating, fearing they had been found out.

"Quit the formalities, Whispers. We need to talk." Darius looked dead serious, but beside that, it was impossible to discern any information from him. Raine frowned, getting ready for what's to come.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

At Blight Manor, Amity was struggling with an essential task that needed to be accomplished. Asking Luz out, Grom night was soon, and she wanted Luz to go with her. Not as a friend or a fill-in but as a partner, and maybe they'd become something more by the end of it. Her crush for the human has grown to a point she could no longer suppress or ignore. She would become a blushing mess every time Luz was around, struggling to align more than two words, getting extremely clumsy. It's like her brain stopped working every time she was around her. She caught the knowing smirks of so many people: Willow, Gus, her siblings, Luz multitrack gang, the Owl Lady, and even Skara was suspecting something. It felt like everyone knew except sweet, oblivious Luz, and also ADS, who was still learning how relationships work. Amity had come to love everything about Luz to the point she no longer considered it simply a crush; this time, it felt different, stronger, deeper, more real. It was no longer just a crush; Luz had been on the Isles for almost three months and had been friends with Amity for over two months, and yet Amity went beyond the point of crushing on her human friend.

She was in love with Luz, she wanted to be together with her, to be girlfriends, to have a future with her... The more she thought of it, the stronger her heartbeat.

Grom was the perfect opportunity to ask her out. For hours, she had been trying to find the perfect way to invite Luz to Grom. Tons of letters had been attempted, wrapped, tons of script had been abandoned, the Grom announcement was tomorrow, well, it was technically later that day since it was past 1 am. She was on yet another note, it was blank, Amity was biting her pen, trying to find what to write. She had eye bags, messy hair, tired eyes, and tearing from exhaustion. She was so focused on her work that she didn't hear her siblings knocking a bunch of times.

"MITTEN THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE." Yelled Edric.

"WHAT?!" Amity was finally forced back into interacting with the outside world.

"Told you it would work," Edric smirked to Emira, as Emira was looking at the state Amity was in. 

"Yeesh, when was the last time you left your desk?" Amity was pulled out of her annoyance when she tried to remember the last time she got up. She barely felt her legs anymore and felt hot tears from her tired eyes. In fact, her vision had gotten blurry due to overexhaustion.

"Six or five hours maybe? I don't know, but I've gotta... finish something." She turned back to her desk.

The twins looked at each other knowingly, "This is about the groom," Edric started.

"And Luz isn't it?" Emira finished, and Amity tensed and blushed; her blush could almost be seen from behind.

"Yes, ok. This is about her, you won now, can you leave me alone?" 

"No can do, you need to sleep mitten." This time, Emira sounded more serious. While they were still pranksters who enjoyed getting on Amity's nerves from time to time, they had changed their behavior toward her massively ever since the library incident. They had returned to be the siblings they once were and not the bullies they had become toward her. Their relationship had improved significantly, leading the three to open up to each other more.

"But I need to- UUGH!" Frustration finally got up to her; Amity hit her desk with both fists, all this work amounting to nothing.

"Hey, calm down, it's ok, you don't need some elaborate demand," Edric sat next to his little sister, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure Luz would be happy with something simple."

"He is right... For once," Edric protested, but was ignored.

"But what if she says no, what if she doesn't feel the same, whatshenolongerwantustobefriends?!

"Hey, hey, Mitten chill," Emira also put her hand on Amity's other shoulder. "Luz adores you, even if she doesn't feel the same, you will still be friends, she isn't the type to break things of other something small." This seemed to calm Amity; her tiredness had started to cloud her judgment.

Even though she calmed down, realizing she wouldn't lose Luz as a friend, her mood remain sumber. "I don't want to just be friends anymore." Her blush returned.

"Then go ask her tomorrow, you have your chances." Edric encouraged her.

"Ok, I- I will do it."

"That's our Mitten, now Pyjama, and off to bed." Emira commended her. Amity was too tired to protest. After the twins left her room, she put on her pyjamas and lay in bed. As she drifted to sleep, she thought about Grom and being able to dance with Luz; she just hoped neither Luz nor she would be chosen as Grom queen. Her eyes shut, she hadn't finished her note, she would do it before going to school tomorrow, something simple.

The next morning at the Owl House, Luz was working on something before going to school. She went back to Hexide earlier this week. She had missed everyone, and they had missed her. ADS had already been to Hexide but never registered or lived there due to a lack of sentience. They loved it, they were amazed by it, but also felt shy with so many people around, refusing to take control to experience it when she offered them the chance to let them. Her new ability to use magic without glyphs, thanks to her potion and update, had done wonders; her teacher no longer needed to create adapted assignments, except for bard, abomination, illusion, and oracle magic. She had been trying to find a way with the help of Raine, Gus, Barcus, and Amity. As of now, they had yet to get results. The 'something' she was working on wasn't about that. Although she still uses glyphs because they come easier for her, she does so when she can use them instead of a spell circle. It also helps her preserve her potion reserve longer, as it is still limited. With glyphs, she only needs to recharge once a day.

Communicating with ADS was complicated for everyone but her. Since they lived in Luz's body, they either had to let them control the body, but Luz couldn't talk to anyone, or Luz played messenger. It was very ineffective, and lonely for ADS, who could hardly talk or make friends. Luz wanted to introduce them to the multitrack group and let them talk at any time, both at the house and at school. As such, she was making ADS a little drone they could connect to and talk through. It also has legs and propellers that allow it to move. They were still in Luz, but like this, they could interact with the world on their own. It was a start.

"Ok, should be good, try to connect to it," Luz said as she finished the last details.

ADS connects to it, and it goes smoothly. They start to move around a little, and Luz sits waiting for their feedback. "I can control all functions properly, the microphone works properly, so does the camera, and the battery, but the front right leg is a bit screw loose."

"Ok, I will just tighten the screw a little more... Is that better?" Luz asked.

"Yes," ADS answered enthusiastically.

"Awesome, how about the propellers?" ADS starts flying around in Luz's room, going in circles, up, and down. "Looks good to me," Luz smiled. This was a success and a little start; she still wished to give ADS a full body one day, but it would be massively complicated to make a full bipedal robot that can store them, a super AI. "For the final touch, what colour do you want it to be?" Luz asked, ADS personality and liking had become clearer, so she had her idea."

"Pink!" ADS was excited; they had found out two days ago that it was their favorite color. They also discovered that they like stuffed animals, storybooks, and informative ones. Cute dresses, cartoons, and learning about magic, but to Luz's disappointment, they weren't a fan of Azura.

"Luz, better go now, if you don't want to be late!" Eda called out; they hadn't seen the time pass.

"We will paint it after school."  

"Okay."

They thankfully made it in time. ADS was controlling the drone and resting on Luz's shoulder, imagining how it would look once painted; they were very curious and excited about moving around on their own in Hexide for the first time. Willow and Gus were on the front stairs waiting for them. They were excited at the prospect of ADS truly becoming part of the group.

"Hey, guys," Luz called out. They greeted her back and went inside.

Gus quickly noticed the little drone on Luz's shoulder, "Is that who I think it is?" He asked excitedly, Luz had shared with them the idea to create a body for ADS.

"Yes, it's me." ADS answered, happy to be able to interact with the world on her own. However, the witches noticed another change.

"Your voice, it's... different," Willow remarked. ADS voice, the last time they interacted with them, was the same as Luz's. But now, it sounded younger, higher-pitched, and softer.

"Yeah! I found a voice I like and match me." ADS was happy with their choice; it took them hours to find the perfect voice. They had tried deeper voices at the start, but they weren't satisfied with them. They also tried masculine voices, which caused them gender dysphoria, a more gender neutral one, they liked it better, but still wasn't it before going for more feminine voices, and that's how they found their chosen voice.

"Yeah, it suits you." Gus finger pointed at them.

"Yay."

"Oh man, now that you can move and talk on your own, I've gotta invite you to the HAS. With your vast human knowledge, it would be awesome." As he said that, Gus's eyes grew larger and brighter.

As they walked through the school halls, Luz and ADS began noticing something. Balloons, flowers, festive decorations, the school was getting a makeover, and everyone was participating, students and staff. Everyone seemed excited about it; it was clear that something was happening, a celebration that Luz or ADS had yet to experience. Both were confused, yet excited at the prospect of taking part in said celebration.

"Huum, what's going on around here? Did everyone get a haircut?" Luz said as a joke.

"Negative, it is the decorations that cause the school building to look different." ADS explained completely seriously.

"This was a joke," Luz explained flatly. ADS was struggling to get jokes and understand them, but at least they were trying. Before her friends could explain what was going on, a pair of doctor barge in claiming one of the students, a boy named Gabe, has terrible sickness, before revealing it was all a set up organising by said student to ask Skara out to an event called Grom. Skara, overjoyed, accepted the invitation. She tried to pretend she didn't care, but no one was fooled. The disguised doctors revealed themselves to be students and Gabe's friends, good friends for going so far for him.

Luz went from concerned to confused to delighted, and ADS was just confused. This reminded her of prom, her mama told stories about this school where she and papa had their first kiss, from what she had gathered from her mother's story, and some old movies. It was some kind of high school romantic dance and party, with music, food, and someone nominated as prom queen. She didn't have more details, she never had one, but at least she would experience grom, the demon realm version.

"You guys have some kind of prom here. I never did that. How is it like?" Luz asked eagerly.

"It's a school dance, a party everyone who is in the advanced course can go to." Willow explained, "Many use it as an occasion to ask their crushes out, since traditionally we must go with a partner, but you can go on your own and just hang out with friends, there is no pressure."

"The dance is only the first part, after that the groom royalty enters the-" Before Gus could finish, Amity bumped into Luz. Her books and a note fell on the floor.

"Watch it, nitwit!" Amity's annoyance left her when she noticed who she walked into. "Oh, hi, Luz and co... Sorry about that." Luz helped Amity up and grab her belongings, hanging back her note. Amity, seeing Luz holding it, freaked out and grabbed at great speed, blushing in the process; it didn't go unnoticed by their friends, except ADS, because they don't understand love yet.

"Man, you have some quick grabber," Sweet, oblivious Luz, still oblivious.

"It's just... private," Amity didn't explain further. She then noticed the little drone on Luz's shoulder, "What is that?" Luz and ADS explained, as they did for Willow and Gus, that, of course, Amity was also aware of the project and was glad ADS had a way to talk and interact on her own. Before the conversation could go further, the speaker came to life, Bump voice could be heard from it.

"Attention, student, this is your principal speaking." Even though he tried to hit it, it was clear it was angry for some reason.

"Oh man, this is it."

"He is announcing this year's Grom royalty." Everyone sounded nervous, for reasons yet unknown to Luz and ADS.

"This year, I have the privilege to bestow our highest Grom honor to..." He was clearly reciting a test without the thrill or intention put into it; it was more of an obligation. "... Luz Noceda." People around her gasped, "Luz, report to my office. I will explain everything you need to know." The speaker went out.

"Well, that's nice," Luz told herself. Receiving Grom's highest honor felt good, even though she didn't know yet what it meant. She then noticed the concern and terrors from the people around her, looking at her, she got a bad feeling about this. "Or not."

Luz was dragged by her panicked friends to Bump office. On the way, they explained why it's not a good thing. That's how she learned the role of the Grom royalty: Fight a huge monster. But not just any monster, one that gave its name to the event, Grometheus the Fear Bringer. A monster who live under the school, and who take the appearance of your worst fears, getting worse each time it changes form. Basically, being Grom royalty was the worst, especially for people suffering from trauma. Now, both Luz and ADS understood everyone's worry, understood why Bump sounded angry, her worst fears are very bad and traumatic, and... There is him.

They made it to the office, where they were welcomed by a Bump who was having a bad day. He waited for Luz to sit down before starting to talk. "I suppose your friend already explained it to you?" Luz nodded, "Then, you know the issue we are facing."

"Why was Luz chosen Principal Bump?" Asked Willow.

Bump sighed, "I don't exactly have a say in the matter. Grom royalty is chosen by the teachers and the PCA. Names are put forward and submited into a vote. The majority voted for you." Bump explained, his fist was shaking, he was still angry, "I argued it was a bad idea to choose you due to your circumstances, but they wouldn't yield unless I gave more information, which would violate the confidentiality policies of the school." Luz was quiet, not finding her words; things were happening fast.

"Principal Bump, please take me as a replacement." Willow offered without any signs of hesitation. Amity looked at her before proposing herself as a replacement as well; she sounded more hesitant.

Bump face soften at the offers, "I could pick of you, but I would need the PCA approval, and I'm not sure if they would budge, some among them don't like the fact that a human is attending Hexide." He spat with venom. The revelation sparks anger in the students. Amity had her idea of who was behind it.

"Mom..." She murmured

"But I may have a way to change their mind and have one of you selected, contact Lilith Clawthorne. With her position, she could force their hand. However, I don't like this kind of method, and there could be consequences, so I won't do it without your explicit consent." 

Luz was still quiet, processing all of this, thinking and considering his offering. She was uncertain of her course of action, go for it and have Grom spill her fears and potentially revealing personnal information, revealing private information she wasn't comfortable sharing with adults, potentially hostile toward her. Or involve Lilith in an action with very little legality, which could cause legal repercussions on Bump or even her and Eda, although Eda wouldn't mind or care. None of her options was foolproof; all had potential consequences. The question was which one was the least bad. Being Grom queen? Getting replaced the normal way? Apply pressure using the head of the emperor's coven? Then something hit her.

"Fears are personal, so if people aren't in the know, when Grom takes my fears shapes, people won't exactly know or understand what they are seeing. And if I don't explain, they won't know the things I don't want them to know..." Luz realized.

"If the fears are personal, rare, or unknown to the demon realm, then yes." Bump confirmed.

"Then, I will do it," Luz said to the stupefaction of her friends.

"Luz, it's not just about private information about your life being spilled out; it's about facing your worst nightmare." Amity tried to convince Luz to retreat from this; she couldn't bear to see her friend suffer more than she already has.

"I know, I know, Amity, and I want to do it. I spent months being haunted by them, now it's about time I turn the tide." She could try to convince Luz to turn back, to not go through with this, but they all saw that look. That look in her eyes, a look of determination that couldn't be swayed. None tried, for they knew it would be pointless. Bump fully acknowledged, Luz, as Grom queen, explained the final details; she had two days to get ready.

As they left the principal's office to go home, Amity walked behind them. She took her note out of her pocket and began to stare at it. She admired Luz a lot; she had a lot of respect for the girl she had fallen head over heels for. In comparison, she felt small. She was so scared of getting rejected, she dreaded being selected to be the Grom queen, for her fear to be shown. All the while, Luz, who had fears that could only be defined as nightmares full, who had been offered a way out, still decided to take them on and face them. She decided she would take inspiration from her crush and take on her fear.

As they were exiting the building, Amity, who was holding her note for dear life, her heart racing, her cheeks burning, she called out. "Luz, I-I need to talk to you." There was no turning back now.

"Sure, what is it?" Luz answered with her sweet smile.

"Alone," Willow, understanding what was happening, dragged Gus away. She was not approving of it before, but since the mindscape incident, she decided she wouldn't stop Amity, as she was changing for the better.

"I will turn off my sensors for now," ADS disconnected from the drones and turned off their vision as well as their hearing.

"Is everything okay, Amity?" Luz asked, noticing how stiff and red Amity was.

"Yeah..." She handed her note to Luz; her face was redder than ever. And Luz took it, "Read it, please." Her heart was beating hard and loud; she could only hear that. She felt more anxious than she had ever been, dreading and anticipating her crush's answer.

Luz opened the wrapped note and read it: Luz, will you go to Grom with me? Amity.

Luz stayed immobile, then reread to make sure she read that correctly, and yes, she was. Then her cheek reddened, and she realized she was being asked out by Amity Blight. In fractions, she saw all their moment together, all the hints she had missed, all the time Amity got clumsy, all the time she blushed, everything Amity only let her do, such as hugging, or showing her hideout. Amity liked her; someone like Amity liked her. She found Amity pretty, but she thought someone like her would never end up with someone like the mint-haired girl. She never thought about her feelings for the girl.

"I huh- I-you," She was so taken aback that words failed her, "I don't know what to say." Amity was eagerly waiting for her answer, but didn't pressure the human girl, who was thinking about this, "Amity, I'm new to all of this, and I'm not sure what exactly I'm feeling right now, but yes, I will go to Grom with you." That was Luz's answer, one she gave smiling and blushing. A huge wave of relief and happiness hit Amity.

"As for... You know, the other thing, give me some time to process and understand these feelings, ok?"

"Of course, Luz, take your time," Amity was still blushing, but the stiffness was gone. "I will see you at Grom."

"Yeah, see ya," They waved goodbye. Luz was heading back; meanwhile, Amity's legs failed her. She felt so incredibly happy; she was already seeing herself dancing with Luz. She hoped there would be more; she hoped Luz would say yes to her other question.

When Luz and ADS got home, they were greeted by King, Eda, and Raine getting ready for Grom, choosing what they would wear for the event tomorrow. King would only wear a bow tie, because what else was he going to wear? Eda was going for a suit, while Raine planned to go for a red dress; They usually got for gender neutral outfit, but they enjoyed wearing dresses once in a while. However, when they heard Luz was nominated to be the Grom queen, they freaked out. Eda was ready to barge into Bump's office, then, after Luz explained the situation, hunt down the PCA member. She had colourful words for them. Raine was ready to do the same; it was even scarier than Eda because they said they wouldn't be caught. As for King, he was just happy at the idea of seeing Luz torn a big monster to shred, not realizing the issue.

Luz explained to them that yes, she wanted to fight Grom, and why, it still took them a while to be okay with it, and Luz accepting they'd jump into the action the second she is in difficulty. The tension made a complete 180 when ADS, whom Luz had told what Amity and her conversation was about, slipped out, Amity asked Luz out, and Luz said yes. It wasn't like Luz didn't want to keep it a secret; she just wanted to wait for a bit. Too bad, she forgot ADS's lack of understanding of romance, which caused this to slip out. At least, they were apologetic.

"I didn't think Boots had it in her, oh wait, I should act surprised," Eda realized, "That's great, hun." She made a thumbs-up.

Luz's eyes widen, "You knew?!"

"In all honesty, I think everyone old enough to understand knows," Raine informed her, making Luz realize how oblivious she had been.

"Yeah, the girl wasn't subtle at all; she got it bad," Eda added.

"Huh, gross, less mushy and more monster slaying." King exited the room before the conversation could deviate more into 'kissy talk.'

"So hon, do you know your answer yet?" Eda asked.

"I'm not sure. I have never experienced this before, with everything that happened in the human realm." The reminder made everyone wince, "So I'm very inexperienced with feelings and being in love, but I agreed to go to Grom with her."

Raine smiled, "Remember, there is no pressure, and give the answer you want, not the one that will satisfy her, only date someone if you really want to." Raine advised, "You may not have the answer right after Grom, and that's okay, take all you need." Eda was glad to have Raine back in her life; their presence appeased her, and it had a good impact on Luz. Her curse had calmed down, thanks to them, despite the elixir starting to be less effective.

"If you and Amity become a couple, would this mean marriage and children within the next three to ten years? ADS asked in all their innocence.

This made Luz's cheeks go crimson, Eda burst out laughing, and Raine snickered awkwardly. "We really need to explain to you how those things work," Eda answered while wiping a tear. 

"They are too young for the talk, Eda," Raine reminded.

"They still need a watered-down version of the talk without the mature part of it," Luz begged.

"Why? I have the mental development of a fully developed human, witch, or demon." ADS argued.

"But the innocence of a eigh years old." Luz countered-argued.

What followed was a watered-down version of the talk without the sexual bits. Where ADS was explained how romantic relationships work, their diversity, complexity, the different steps, boundaries, etc. This was complicated for ADS to fully process and understand all of it, all the while, ADS discovered a new emotion: embarrassment. They later apologized for the question they now judged inappropriate.

It was the big day, and the auditorium had been rearranged into a dance floor. Many students were dancing as a group of friends or couples. Amity was waiting for Luz to arrive and have their dance. She saw her siblings had dance partners, Emira was dancing with Viney, and Edric was valcing with Jerbo, she didn't know they had a thing going on with these two. Meanwhile, Willow was dancing with friends, while Gus was getting ready to take the mic and go on stage. Finally, here she was, she went for a mix of styles, a suit with a tutu.

"I'm not sure if it's nerves or if I accidentally drank some milk, but something's making my stomach squirm." She was with King, Eda, and Raine, who went in to let the two have their moment. ADS was also there, sitting on King's skull. Amity's cheeks were burning. The moment she saw Luz, she was taken aback. 'She looks so beautiful,' was the only thought her brain was able to come up with.

"You look... nice, very nice." The comment made Luz blush.

"Thanks, you look very pretty," Luz said awkwardly, deepening Amity's blush.

"May I have this dance?" Amity offered her hand, which Luz took silently. They went to the dance floor. At first, they felt awkward struggling to move correctly due to nervousness and wanted to appear good to the other, but the music and dance went on, and they got natural and into the zone.

In that moment, the outside world ceased to exist; it was just the two of them. Their movements were fluid and beautiful; they were together and could only see each other. They enjoyed every second of it, wishing it would never end, and they turned over on who took the lead. In the heat of the moment, they ended facing each other. Amity put a hand on Luz's cheek. Luz leaned into the touch. 

"You are a good dancer," Luz said.

"So are you, Ams, you are amazing." 

"You are as well, you beautiful dork." They both giggled.

Their front touched, and they both leaned closer, their eyes closed. Their lips were getting closer and closer, until...

"Ladies, gentlemen, and assorted demons!" As Gus made his announcement, reality came back; time had passed so fast that the main event was about to start. They let go of each other, realizing what they had almost done after being taken out of the zone. They were crimson red, but they also felt disappointed that it hadn't gone further.

"It's almost time for our main Grom event." Gus continued, "Please take a seat, and beware that the first three rows are designated splash zones." Everyone went to take a seat before departing. Luz and Amity stared into each other's eyes.

"Wish me luck."

"Luck..." Amity wished that the moment made her forget for a moment what Luz was about to face, she sat next to Willow, who was with the Clawthornes and Mx whisper. Meanwhile, the students were sharing Gus, who was hyping them up. He knew and was worried, but still went on because it wasn't a guarantee that things would go south.

"Now introducing our Grom queen." It was time, "You know her, you love her. LUUUZ The Human!" All eyes and lights turned to Luz, who was getting ready, using a vial of potion and taking one of the weapons, a flail. She took a deep breath and entered the arena. Grom reacted to her presence, and it too was ready.

"Alright, Gromarama, not too scary."

Grom started by shaping into cats with human heads, "Luz, help me," "I'm human again." This was only something that weirded her out, which meant Grom transformations were gradual, leaving her time to mentally prepare for the worst ones, which slightly calmed her nerves. She fused her magic in the flail, ice magic. She hit the ground with it, sending an ice wave toward the unholy creatures, sending them flying. She heard cheers from the crowd, and her friends were sending her support. This was helping her go, giving her courage to face Grom next form.

The next form Grom took first took a humanoid shape, before gaining cybernetic features. It looked like one of the early angel models, where the machine parts are extremely visible. Luz's parts are from later models that blend well with the human body, making it harder to notice them. The angel deployed their wings and weapons on full display, aiming at Luz, trying to appear threatening. She was handling it well. The early angels looked freaky, but it wasn't as scary for her now as it used to be. The crowd looked confused at it; they didn't really know what it was, trying to speculate what kind of creature or human invention it was; however, it didn't make them uncomfortable.

"You have committed treason. Please do not resist." The monotone tone didn't help with uneasiness.

Luz smirked, mocking it, "Make me, big guy."

The Grom copy launched itself at Luz. She didn't move; she used a plan glyph to grow a tree that grew under her. The angel hit the truck, which struggled to get back due to the impact, and Luz used that occasion. She used the canon in her right hand, aiming at the chest, making Grom's goop explode again. Two down now. The crowd cheered again, she heard Eda yell something like 'Thats my human.' Gus praised her performance as Grom retreated, taking another form.

She immediately realized the one it was taking, it was very tall, it's limb were way long, its claws were long, sharp knives, stood on four legs, had a canon for a mouth, and a long, sharp tail. It was a berserker; this one affected Luz. She shivered and sweated. The crowd was taken aback, some gasping.

"What in the titan name is that thing?" She heard Bump wondering.

The vague trace of something human was very uncanny to many; the witches and demons here were surprised that the human realm had things like this. Amity and Willow recognized it and explained to Eda and Raine what it was. As for Bump, the little context of the machine turning against humans she had given him didn't include uncanny monsters, making him regret not pressuring her to give up the role.

"Wh...hyyyy?" The distorted voice in constant pain just added insult to the injury. Right after the tail slashed toward Luz, she evaded it, but it came after her, trying to slash her with its claws. It was fast and very aggressive, just like the real thing. Trying to turn into bloody pieces. It gave Luz very little room to manoeuvre; she barely had time to dodge its constant attacks. All the while, the berserker was screaming inhumanly.

Finally, in its non-stop attacks, the tails got stuck in a pillar. It was trying to free itself; now was her chance. She set a fire spell, setting the berserker on fire. The screaming got worse. Before Grom went to change form, it said one word, "Deliverance." There were no cheers this time, no noise. They were astonished. Luz beat it, but that thing went from uncanny to terrifying the moment it started to attack. Many had thought it would have killed her, but she prevailed. Eda, Raine, and her friends had been seconds away from jumping into the arena when the berserker got its tail stuck.

As Grom was taking its new form, an immense pressure enveloped the auditorium. From the shadows, an immense mechanical hand came out, followed by another, and finally a huge mechanical blue eyeball. Luz recognized this form immediately. ADS's drone, which was on Eda's shoulder, went to hide in her hair. "It's him," They said, "It's Archangel." All their eyes widened, it was him, Grom had taken his shape, the one of the biggest monster of the human realm. They knew he'd be in the mix; they had been waiting, but it doesn't make it any easier. For now, he wasn't attacking, just staring.

"There you are, Luz," He said in his artificial voice. "I have been so worried," Luz didn't answer; she was staring back defiantly, but fear was taking its hold on her. 

It looked around, "What is this place? Where are we, Luz?" 

"Somewhere you will never destroy." She finally talked back.

"Are you hostile toward me? Did you betray me?" He asks menacingly. He became angrier when she didn't answer, "What are you doing is pointless, I have already won, the world is MINE. MY PAX is happening, and you can't stop it." Luz walked back, still staring at it, but after two stops, she was paralyzed.

"This world needs Pax as well. I will find it, and you know it, you can't stop the inevitable, so make the logical choice and return to me." One of the giant hands tried to grab, but Luz narrowly dodged it.

"So be it." He became hostile and started to attack, trying to crush her. He was a lot slower than the berserker, so it was easier. However, the pressure the grom copy was exerting made Luz's movement less fluent. She uses the plant glyph to immobilize the giant hands. She readied her canon, aiming at the eyeball. The Archangel copy looked at her and chuckled, mocking her resistance. This made her shiver.

"Do it, this isn't the real me, and you know it. Even if it was, you know I am everywhere, destroying one of my bodies won't do a thing." Luz closed her eyes, doing her best not to listen, "I will be seeing you soon." She shot, and before the shot, Grom changed shape.

She heard a gasp from above, she opened her eyes, and was met with a sight she'd wish she could forget. An adult human woman, with the same colour skin as her, curly long hair, glasses, brow eyes, and slightly taller. Her mother, Camila, with a hole in her chest, losing blood, struggling to breathe, staring at her daughter in tears, and losing balance due to the pain. "Mi...ja... Wh... Why...?" She was now coughing; there was way too much blood for it to be real. It was  Grom exaggerating it, which was noticeable to anyone except the target.

"Mom?" This was loud enough to be heard by the crowd above.

Luz was again paralyzed, staring in horror, eyes wide; if she had tears, she would be crying, shaking violently; it was a buried fear she never let herself think about. "No-no th-this didn't happen, I didn't do it," She spoke so low no one heard her. This fear is linked to a memory, or more so, this absence of one, this deleted memory, one deleted for a reason made to be forever gone, one that Amity and Willow weren't able to fix. What if what Grom was showing her was the reason? What if she did do it? The Grom imitation fell on the ground, now a dead body bleeding out. Luz, unable to see more of this horrific vision, ran away, where? she didn't know, just far away from it. But Grom refused to let its prey go; the imitation got up, keeping the appearance of Luz's deceased, now a walking body decaying at an accelerated rate.

The demon realm residents aren't unused to death and danger, but it was still disturbing to see. Before the panic over Grom's escape began to settle, Eda and Amity had jumped out of the room to pursue them, followed by Willow, Raine, Gus, and King. Eda was furious at herself for not jumping sooner, but Archangel pressure had immobilized her. Amity felt the same,  and so did everyone else, actually. Bump had wanted to call the duel when Archangel started to speak, but the pressure and presence it had could rival Emperor Belos, and this was just a Grom copy. It had immobilized him. The little information about the war that Luz had talked to him about was by far worse than he had imagined.

Luz was running in the woods, chased by Grom, calling her using Camila's voice, looking like a decaying body. She deployed her wings to fly away faster, but in a forest, it was risky. She hadn't flown high enough, and she hit a thick branch that made her fall to the ground on the edge of a cliff. She turned toward the forest. Grom was still here, looking like her mom, and she wanted to throw up. Her skin showed advanced signs of decomposition, white eyes, and was eaten by flies, worms, and other vermin. 

"Why are you running from me, Luz?" She asked with difficulty due to her jaw falling apart.

At this point, Luz closed her eyes and plugged her ears, wishing it would go away. And then she heard, "Spicy toss." It was Eda; she had come for her.

"Eda." Luz wanted to call louder, but she was too overwhelmed; her voice was failing her. 

"It's alright, I've got this." Five simple words were enough to calm her, and Grom didn't look as scary anymore. Then, jumping off a tree came her dancing partner, Amity, coming down, standing between her and Grom like a protective knight. This was the most attractive Amity appeared toward Luz. Her abomination kept Grom at bay; it took the form of quadripidal black goop facing it. Amity once again offered her, and Luz took it and hugged her. She was breathing heavily and shaking, but the longer the hug lasted, the calmer she became.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I will be, thanks to you and Eda. I remembered this wasn't real." Luz answered, "I'm ready to finish this. Will you help me?" Amity nodded. While this was happening, Grom had overpowered the abomination and now aimed at them, but didn't change shape. It was time for a second dance. As they danced, Amity formed a bigger abomination, which Luz infused with plant magic; it jumped at Grom, who ate it. It had fallen for their trap, the plan magic activated, and a tree started to grow from it. It burst out of Grom, turning into a beautiful blossoming tree, destroying Grom in the process. They had done it, and the apparition of crowns on their head showed it. They looked at each other, blushing.

"And there you have it, folks, a happy ending for this year, Grom." King said into the microphone, "Let's give a big hand to our Grom queens, Luz and Amity."

The crowd of students came out of the forest, cheering them on. They were carried back to the school, where the party resumed. When they were let go, Luz was surrounded by her loved ones, who were searching for any signs of distress caused by Grom, ready to comfort her. But she insisted she just wanted to have fun, and a distraction from the battle against Grom. And informed them, it wasn't nearly as bad as she had feared, yes, it had been bad, but the moment she realized it wasn't real, just an imitation, she felt better. 

They accepted her word and went to the party. They remained as a group, having the most fun they ever had in a long time. Although ADS was overwhelmed by the noise and the crowd, decided to shut down their sensors and have some alone time. Toward the end, the hexquad took a group photo, one they would all cherish. Luz just hoped she wouldn't be next year's Grom queen.

Late in the night, the Clawthornes and Whisper returned home. They were all tired; it had been a long, exhausting, and overwhelming night. They put themselves in pyjamas and went to their respective room, when Eda entered Luz's.

"Hey hun, do you want to talk about what happened, the hum last fear?" As an answer to Eda's question, Luz nodded. Eda sat next to Luz, and Luz rested her head on Eda's shoulder while the Owl lady patted her hair.

"It's a what if, I have been scared about for a while, but I forced myself not to think about it," Luz confessed. Eda had been made aware of the deleted memory, so she put the pieces together.

"The chances are very low, Luz, you know that." Luz nodded, "And even if worst case scenario, that did happen. You didn't do it, he did, he used you, but he still did it, you have no responsibility even in the worst case scenario. So don't blame yourself for what you didn't do."

Luz smiled, "Thanks, Eda," and she fell asleep. Eda gave her a goodnight kiss and quietly exited the room. Raine was waiting just outside the room.

"You know, that applies to you as well, don't blame yourself for what you didn't do." Raine's remark made her think about her situation with her dad; she smiled at them. Ever since Luz came in with her situation, it made her rethink her own.

She went to hug Raine, they were surprised but returned it. "I'm so glad to have you back in my life, Raine. I'm sorry for chasing you away." 

Raine smiled, "It's okay, Eda, I forgave you a while ago. I'm glad to have you back. I had missed you a lot; not having you in my life, it felt like something was missing." Eda could relate to that. She tried dating after Raine, but it never worked out; it never felt the same. Something was always missing. 

"Thank the Titan Lilith planted the idea that you made me pregnant into your head." They both laughed at that. Looking back, it sounded absurd now, and Luz had pretty much become their kid anyway. They stared at each other, overwhelmed with affection for the other, and kissed. It was very chaste at first, but it grew more passionate, only stopping when they were out of breath.

"How about we give it a second try?" Raine proposed.

"I was about to ask the same question."

They went to Eda's room and had an... energetic night.

In the reeducation center of the former New York, late in the night, Vee and Masha were getting ready. It was time, the night they had been planning for weeks had come. It was extremely risky, and they had only one chance, one mistake, and it's all over. It would take them around four days to reach Gravesfield, as they were avoiding the road and would hide in nature to avoid detection. They had already removed their tracers, which would stay in their room to buy them time.

"Alright, this is it, ready to go?" Vee asked nervously, they had packed all necessity for the trip.

"Yeah, but I need to tell you something first." Vee turned to Masha, waiting for them to say what they had to say. "We don't know if we are gonna make it, and I-I want to tell you in case this is the last time we have a chance to talk."

"Masha?"

 Masha breathed deeply, blushed, and blurred out, "I like you, Vee. I really like you more than a friend." Vee blushed, taken aback by the sudden confession, "I understand if you don't feel the same. I just needed to tell you before, just in case we... You know."

Vee, who had liked Masha for a long time, was very happy to hear that, "I like you, too." Masha looked surprised, and she kissed them on the cheek.

"If we make it, I promise to take you on a date," Masha told her, kissing Vee back.

"I will hold you onto that. Thank you for coming with me."

"I'd follow you to the end of the Earth," Masha told them while holding her hand.

It was now time to go look for their girlfriend's sister.

To be continued...