Chapter Text
Luz walked throughout the castle, making sure her footsteps were as quiet as a mouse so as to not get caught. She came alone and didn’t tell Eda who mostly thought Luz is at school, she’ll deal with the scolding later.
Luz then turned a corner and saw a part of the castle she’s never seen before, what weirded her out was just a hallway with a door at the end, unlike the whole castles with guards always on standby this hallway for some reason didn’t.
But the door looked locked up tight, it looked like it was made to make noise if anyone dared to enter it. Luz slowly walked up to it, it was dead silent, at least the other parts of the castle had guards conversations, the sound of boots scuffling the floor, clicking from their uniforms or handheld weapons.
Luz touched the door, dragging her finger down its sleek, stone frame with a deep breath, she slowly pushed the door enough so she can peek inside. It was dark with various shapes and paintings covering the stone walls, what’s different is that it looks unkept despite the very clean castle.
The room was rugged, some stones looked as if they could cut you if you are not careful. The desk caught her eye, it was littered with paper, books, and mapped out plans. She caught sight of a rag oddly placed on the table as if it was covering something.
Luz slowly pushed the door open more, enough for her to slip in, she had a gut feeling to close the door so against her mind and better judgment she closed it, cringing as it made a small screech, but the soft *click* made her know that it had been shut.
Luz slowly approached the table marveling at all The Day of Unity plans and notes and diagrams. Luz looked over at the oddly placed rag she turned to it and slowly peeled it away, underneath Luz saw a shiny dark teal tablet, pulling more cloth away Luz saw a lighter crescent moon on it.
Luz pulled her hand away as if she was on fire, she stared at it, The Collector’s Tablet. Luz stayed still for a moment before taking a deep breath and slowly uncovered the whole tablet and held it in her hands.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
“Back so soon, Philip?” A childish voice said.
Luz stared at the shadow, it was the same when she was in Belos’s mind. They crossed their arms, pouting, then opened one eye.
“You aren’t Philip.” He said, staring at Luz. “You’re that human girl he talks about! Well, since you're dead already from the stuff, you’ve done and found my disk. Wanna play a game?”
Luz stammered, her words unintelligible. The Collector seemed so much childish in person than in Belos’s mind, they seemed much less sadistic if they are even sadistic at all.
“Well? Do you wanna play or not?” He asked, impatiently. “Philip, leaves me alone for soooo long.”
“How long?” Luz managed to ask.
“Likeee weeks! It’s so boringggg when he’s mad, he covers my mirror up and leaves me alone!” The Collector complained with an undertone of sadness.
Luz inhaled sharply, she did not expect this of all things. “He.. Neglects you?”
The Collector looked at Luz oddly, “Well.. No? I don’t- know uhh. What is neglect?”
“It’s where someone ignores and doesn’t take care of someone who they are responsible for.” Luz said, looking at The Collector who had a blank face.
Luz got more nervous by the second, Belos could be back any minute, Luz decided that Belos didn’t deserve or need The Collector. Luz then covered up The Collector’s tablet, even when they protested, Luz held him close putting them in her bag.
Luz then slowly opened the door and it made a titan awful creak, it made a jolt of panic through Luz’s body, she then without a second thought ran. She tried to be stealthy only going through the darkest and back rooms.
Luz saw guards running, hearing their feet scuffle fast as they ran towards the loud creak that happened. Luz knew Belos knew she was in the castle, she wanted to rest but knew it was a bad idea.
Luz then ran as she saw her exit, with a sigh of relief she ran out of the castle and into the woods. Finally, she stopped to rest, taking The Collector out of her bag and they were not pleased and in fact was being loud.
They yelled and cried and Luz tried calming them down, covering the mirror wasn’t a good idea, it really upset The Collector from his obvious meltdown. Luz took her scroll out and texted Eda, who she knows is gonna be pissed.
…
“You could’ve got caught!” Eda scolded. “Or worse, what if Belos locked you up?”
Luz sighed as Eda scolded her, she did deserve it to an extend, Luz had put The Collector mirror on the fireplace mantel, he was watching Luz get scolded.
“Who is this even in the mirror, Kiddo?” Eda asked, pointing to the shadow.
“That’s the… The Collector.” Luz said.
“You stole The Collector?” Eda said, a hint of amusement in her voice. “Well, I guess you took Belos’s strongest allie.”
“I couldn’t leave them there, he is a kid, they act like it, talk like it.” Luz said, watching The Collector bounce along the walls.
Eda nodded, “Doesn’t take away from the fact he is working with the very person who wants to control the entire isles.”
“They could give us useful information.” King chimed in walking in. “After all, they know about the day of unity and what will happen.”
The Collector stopped, looking around for the source of King’s voice. “Who said, that?”
“Oh! It’s King, he is tiny, that's probably why you can’t see him.” Luz said, picking King up.
“No, no! I can’t see him.” The Collector whined.
Luz then noticed King’s collar glowing. “What’s up with your collar, King?”
“Weh?”
King looked down and took his collar off making The Collector gasp.
“Baby titan!” They said, cheerfully.
The room atmosphere became tense.
“Yeah… I just found out, keep it on down low, please?” King asked.
The Collector ignored that. “You look like the bully who put me in here! Wait-Wait! You can set me free, please please!”
“You… Knew my dad?” King questions.
“Duh!” The Collector spoke as if it was the most obvious thing. “I knew all the titans, the baby titans are the cutest!”
“You…You.” King stammered. “Killed my kind off.”
The Collector looked at King with a question in eyes. “What are you-“
“You are the grand huntsman who the titan trappers worship, you killed my species off.” King muttered.
The Collector looked more confused. “Titan trappers? Grand Huntsman? dead species? What are you talking about?”