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Hunter had only really known the human for less than a day and he already felt protective over her, he didn't know why, but he couldn't let Kikimora hurt her. All day she had been driving him crazy, but she was also the first person to really treat him like a person and to listen to him. He wasn't used to that. So maybe that was why, though saying that, it didn't feel right, it felt like there was more to it than that. It had something to do with how much it hurt when she said they weren't friends.
He told her his name, why did he do that? There was just something about her that made him trust her, maybe it was just cause she listened, maybe that was enough. Maybe he just really needed a friend. But being friends with her wouldn't end well, for either of them. He wouldn't do that to her. Like he said, he already felt protective over her, he wouldn't let her get hurt because of him.
She took off with the palisman. He supposed he should've seen that coming, but it still hurt as well.
Luz had only really known Hunter for less than a day but leaving him to deal with Kikimora on his own still felt like a betrayal. Sure, he was Belos' right-hand man and had done some terrible things, but he was just a kid- not too much older than her and was clearly only doing the things he was doing out of loyalty to his Uncle. And that didn't make it any better or excuse it, but it made it a lot more understandable. She still wanted to be his friend.
He told her his name, he obviously already had some form of trust in her, and she didn't know what to think about that. All she had really done was treat him like the kid he was, if that was all it took... Well, she didn't like what that meant. She knew he needed a friend, everything about his behavior screamed that, but she also knew that they were on opposite sides and it would end with one of them getting hurt. He seemed like he had been hurt enough, she didn't want to add to that, she wouldn't let him get hurt because of her.
She left him behind. She knew she would have to, but it still pained her to do.
The walk back to the castle was one of the most agonizing of his life. He failed. His Uncle would not be pleased. He had one mission, one mission! And he failed. He let Luz- the Human take the palisman. And for what? For him to get in trouble? He would deserve it but he hated getting in trouble. He was the Golden Guard. He was not supposed to fail. He was not supposed to let... emotions get the best of him. He had a job to do and he needed to do it. His Uncle was counting on him.
He would not let him down again.
The bird was here. The bird was not supposed to be here. It could get hurt, or worse. It wasn't safe. It... was staying anyways? But that didn't make any sense! Why would it stay somewhere it knew it could get hurt!? Why, why would it stay with him? Why didn't it go back to the human?
She was special on her own. He was only special because his Uncle told him he was.
The ride back to Hexside was tumultuous. She got the palisman back. She succeeded. So why did she feel so bad? Was it because she knew Hunter would get in trouble? Or was it because she still didn't have a palisman of her own? Her original plan, she failed that one but it didn't matter because the palisman were safe. That was the most important thing. There was time to worry about getting her own later. She was Luz the Human. She would not give up. She would find a way to be a witch and go home. She had a plan and she needed to stick to it. Her Mama was counting on her.
She would not let her down again.
Eda and King were in her room. She was so happy to see them. It had been a long day and she wanted her surrogate family. She needed comfort. They... had wood? They stole palistrom wood for her? Why would they go to that trouble? Did she really mean that much to them? Did Hunter mean that much to someone?
He was lucky to know who he was. She was only lucky because of where she ended up when she got to the demon realm.
He had a mission. Well, technically his Uncle didn't know about it but he still had a mission. To get Titan's Blood. He has to prove himself useful to Emperor Belos.
The only problem was that the bird kept following him, and Kikimora wanted to get rid of him, and his Uncle would severely punish him if he found out about this. Okay, a lot of problems. But, he was determined. Even with all the odds stacked against him, even as things get worse and worse, especially then.
And then the lake is dry.
Because of course it is. Because nothing can ever go right for him. Because the universe just loved to mess with him. Ugh, what was the point? He should just accept defeat at this point. But wait,
The Blight girl has Titan's Blood.
He took it from her, what choice did he have? He threatened the human and ignored the lump in his throat at doing so. He got what he needed and he wasn't punished for disobeying! So why did he feel so off?
She had a mission. Well, technically she was stuck in bed but she still had a mission. To get Titan's Blood. She has to get home to her Mama.
The only problem was she was sick. But she had an awesome family and girlfriend who she knew who pull through for her. All she could do was wait for them to get back and get over this cold. But, she always hated waiting. Even though she knew they could handle it, even though she should be resting -maybe in spite of that even.
And then she found out her family was in danger.
Suddenly nothing else mattered. Suddenly the most important thing was making sure they were okay. Suddenly she realized she didn't want to go home if the people she cared about got hurt in the process. But what could she do from here? She should just wait for them to get home. But wait,
She fell asleep.
She woke up and realized she was feeling better. She knew what she had to do. She had to go rescue the others and- they were back? They were okay? Thank the Titan.
They were in the Emperor's Mind. This was the worst possible thing that could happen. It looked exactly like he thought his Uncle's mindscape would. Regal. Ornate. He wanted to get out as soon as possible.
If his Uncle found out he was in here... it wouldn't be pretty. It was the Human's fault they were in this mess! But, the only thing to do now was to find a way out. Easier said than done, especially after said human provoked Belo's inner self and landed them in a pit. The Owl Lady said she would get them out of there, it was all he had, so he just had to wait. And maybe, maybe he could get Lu- the Human to stop undermining his Uncle.
That didn't seem to be likely. For every memory they went into she had a bad thing to say about him. And, look, Hunter knew she had some bad experiences with him but that didn't mean he was a horrible person. Right?
Wrong. So wrong.
They were in the Emperor's Mind. This was the worst possible thing that could happen. It looked... different from what she would've thought. Off. Fake. She wanted to get out as soon as possible.
Everything was a lie, even his own mind believed he was a hero! It was sickening. But, the only thing to do now was to find a way out. Easier said than done, especially after some thing almost attacked Hunter and they fell in a pit. Eda said she would get them out, all that was left to do was wait. And maybe, maybe this could be a good thing, maybe she could get Hunter to see what kind of a guy his Uncle truly was.
That didn't seem to be likely. Every time she pointed out something awful he did Hunter found a way to spin it into his belief system. And, look, she got it, learning your whole world view was wrong was hard but she knew he was only hurting himself in the long run.
She wished she hadn't been so right.