Chapter Text
Oh, the break of the dawn, the sun's rising over the Boiling Isles, breeze was gently pushing the trees and birds were singing their melodies, almost all the witches and demons from Bonesborough woke up and were getting ready to fulfill their daily duties; some opened their stores, others were heading to their jobs, and the witchlets were heading to their schools. Eda woke up, excited as the Emperor's Coven tryouts were about to start soon and they needed to confirm their tryout request entry, she ran outside her bedroom, heading to Lilith's bed, shaking her until she woke up.—What time is it? —Lilith grunted, confused, and barely awake as she looked at Eda's blurry face, given the fact she didn't put her glasses on yet.
—It's 'bouta be late if we don't hurry, sis'! —Eda replied, as she was putting on her little cape in a rush.
—Late for what? —Lilith yawned, confused as she was still feeling quite snoozy, she rubbed her eyelids a bit and grabbed her glasses and a piece of cloth to clean them.
—Late for the Emperor's Coven tryouts, we need to confirm our entry request, duh! —She replied with a hint of sarcasm in her tone, she was hopping as she tried to put on one of her shoes and almost tripped; when she recovered her balance, she stood next to Lilith and glanced at her.
—You... forgot about it? —Eda replied, she tilted her head in confusion, given the fact that she saw Lilith studying yesterday [or well, for MONTHS, that felt like an ETERNITY, in their home, when they went go have picnics, at Hexside's cafeteria, with her study group, during class, and even before she goes to sleep, her attention was only to her condemned flashcards, dusty books, and all her notes].
—OH! —Lilith almost choked, she immediately stood up and hurried to grab her uniform. Eda rushed to the bathroom and brushed her hair a couple of times, washed her face and brushed her teeth, then went to the kitchen and grabbed some of the fairy pie leftovers from yesterday. She checked if everything was right with her look and then ran back upstairs to check on Lilith.
—Errr, Lily? you good, sis? —She asked, wondering why her sister was being a bit slower than usual, it was weird, she was always the one who woke up and was ready for school earlier.
—Yeah, I'm just still struggling to find my— Ugh!, where did I put my—. She felt Eda quickly patting her twice on her shoulder, trying to get her back to the Boiling Isles. —Lookin' for these? —Eda asked playfully as she handed Lily's flashcards, grinning in a playful manner.
—Yeah, —she giggled, —sorry, —she sighed. —I was too excited to sleep and now I'm a snoozy mess. —She giggled as she put the flashcards in her pockets, even though she studied them for the past months, she still wanted to give them a couple more reads before the tryouts. The sisters left the house without first saying goodbye to their mother, who was looking for Dell's carving tools.
—Isn't it exciting? It's finally about to happen! We're definitely gonna impress them, don'tcha think? —The orange-haired witchlet beamed at her older sister while walking sideways, taking a bite of the fairy pie slice she took from the kitchen table.
—Hmm, yeah. —Lilith smiled back to Eda, and looked back to their path to Hexside, it was field day, so there were no classes, but students that were taking a look on the different covens stands. The two witchlets headed to the guard that was on the main coven stand, the Emperor's coven. The Clawthorne sisters waited for the guards' answer as he was checking on the list. He seemed to be doing the math, whether to choose to accept both sisters' requests, or to allow only one to join the coven.
—One spot is available. You duel tomorrow, the winner will join our ranks. —The coven scout answered, his tone was cold and clear, his words resonated on the sisters minds.
—(Oh, no... NO!, NO!, NO! ) —Eda's eyes darted as she was staring at the floor, she was anxious and couldn't hide it for long enough. —(It's Lily's dream to join the Emperor's Coven..., what do I do?, I don't want to lose her...). —She pondered, once again her mind was tormented by the fear of losing Lily, the threats from Principal Faust from months ago made their way into her mind, echoing into cruel reality. She immediately looked at Lilith, her expression and silence spoke more than thousands of words.
To Lilith's disappointment, despite being the older sister, Eda met her at her level; she was younger, but worked twice as hard to become one of the most powerful witches from the Boiling Isles. Even if she's the rebellious kind of teenager that seems to be completely careless when it comes to studying, she doubled her efforts to improve and master her magic skills; Lilith was impressed, even proud of Eda's talents and efforts, yet she was afraid that she could easily defeat her [especially considering how competitive the younger witchlet is] ; before her eyes started tearing in frustration, she took a deep breath and walked away.
—Lily! —Eda cried, but there was no response of hers, Lilith's pace got faster until she was gone, lost to the multitude of students, parents, and teachers. Eda sighed and nodded the coven scout as a way to farewell him, and went to look for her older sister.
As she was walking away, she glanced a familiar face on the grandstands of the stadium. It was Raine, practicing with their new viola, Eda headed to their place, greeting the mint-haired bard.
—Nice violin you got there, Rainestorm. —Eda teased as she sat next to them, she knew that Raine hated it when people mistake a violin for a viola, a musician's pet peeve?, maybe. Yet she also knows she's the only one that Raine allows to make such "mistake" without taking it in a serious manner.
—It's a viola. —they faked a cough, sarcastically, hiding their smile with their fist as they put down their viola and bow next to them. —So, how did your request go? Lilith and you made it into the Emperor's coven tryouts? —Raine wondered. Eda's smile disappeared, she leaned back and forth, and sat with her knees drawn up.
—Lilith and I have to duel, the winner will join their stupid ranks... —She muttered, frustrated. Raine's smile faded, her voice sounded like it was about to shatter, and her eyes watered.
—Oh, Calamity, I'm sorry... —Raine got closer to Eda and comforted her, they holded her hand and she rested her head on their shoulder, her eyes closed for a brief moment and took another deep breath, trying to hold her tears; they nuzzled her, trying to comfort her. Eda opened her eyes and exhaled.
—I'm gonna let her win. —Her voice sounded determined. Raine pulled back in shock, their jaw nearly dropped and pupils contracted. —You will WHAT?!? —They were completely baffled. —(She's so competitive, why would she...?) —They were concerned, their thoughts and worries were interrupted by her voice.
—Ya' heard me, Rainedrop, it's her childhood dream, after all... Besides, covens aren't really my style. —She smiled back at Raine, friendly punching them, and trying so hard to not to worry them, but her broken smile tricked nobody, she was about to burst, her top eyelid twitched; huge stress was taking over her, all those months of studying, and being sleep deprived due to Lily's obsession over studying WASTED, not being able to be with her again, letting her be exposed to inmense danger, even if the Emperor's coven seems like the best, it faces the most dangerous missions. Raine hugged her and caressed her hand, still attempting to comfort the orange-haired witchlet, they separated from her and looked at her eyes, concerned for her well being.
—Hmm, even if they aren't your thing, are you ok, Calamity?, since I've met you, you've been training so hard for so long. —The mint-haired witch was still a bit saddened over how she was feeling.
—Yeah, yeh, no worries, as long as she's happy and fulfills her dreams I'm glad for her. —She felt much better, and rested her eyes. Not so long after, she realized that Raine was still gazing at her and holding her hand, a soft smile was noticed along their [enamoured] attentive eyes, their hands were slightly scarred, and callous, yet they still had a soft spot and comforting warmth; there was a huge contrast to her vampiric-pale and cold hands. She blinked twice, peeking twice at the young bard's hands on hers, and their dingus-in-love face.
—*Ahem* , your hands are... warm. —Raine immediately got back to reality and pulled their hand away and tried to hide their burning red cheeks.—I...! Uh!, agh! Don't mind me! —Raine was all-red and completely flustered, Eda cracked a smile and holded their hand.
—Hey, I... like the warmth of your hand. —Eda heard herself and looked away, also getting rosy cheeks. —I mean, uh! that's, errr.., cool!, that's really cool and— Both teenagers were a blushing mess, Raine chuckled and cleared their throat, their blush finally was gone and they fidgeted with the button of their uniform.
—So, I was thinking, what if we go to a picnic in the snapdragon valley?, to clear up your mind and so. —They offered, eager for Eda's answer.
—Sounds good! at dusk, maybe?
—Yeah, after my viola practice.
—Aight, see ya' later, Rainestorm! Gotta go! —She stood up from the grandstand and was heading towards the stadium again. Yes! Yes! Yes! —She muttered, fist pumping and nearly missing a step for being too focused on her little victory, it's been so long since she had a picnic with her best friend, having a day off from studying was such a delight; Raine noticed and cracked a sassy smirk.
—Careful! Also, what was that?, didn't quite catch that, Lord Calamity. —The bard teased the wild witch, trying so hard to not chuckle to her little [yet adorable] fail.
—Nothing!, uh... nevermind!
—Wait, you really have to leave now? —They seemed slightly sad. Eda stopped and took a few steps back. —Yeah, sorry for leaving so soon. I need to find Lilith, she looked so upset at what the coven scout said. —Oh, yeah; All right, I understand, yet, I... —They took a deep breath, —wanted to ask you something. —They scratched their neck, a little nervous, they took a peek on the book in their bag; Eda found this quite adorable, yet she took the opportunity to kid them.
—Well, you just did. —She teased, pulling that shit-eating smirk of hers.
—I–, Eda!, you know what I meant! —Raine grumbled, a little mocked by Eda's teasing; Eda snorted, amused by Raine's reaction.
—Heh, I know, I just like teasin' ya'!, I think it's cute. —Eda winked smugly at the young bard as she was walking away. —See ya later, Rainestorm! Why did I say that? Why did I say that? Why did I say that? —She mumbled, completely embarassed of herself, pulling her hair and speeding up her pace.
—Mmm! —Raine grumbled, —Nos vemos luego, Clawthorne. —They sighed, a soft and enamoured smile appeared as they witnessed the orange haired witch leaving the grandstands. They decided to keep practicing with their viola, taking out of their bag a book with all their partitures, particularly interested for the newest piece they wrote, yet still needed a little improvement; and a poem, an ode?, or maybe a sonnet?, doesn't matter what kind, it be poetry after all; but Raine was eager to finish the poem they wrote for Eda, and maybe perform a little serenade for her by dusk / twilight. They couldn't hide their feelings any longer, they were nervous, scared of rejection, of course, but the silence they forced onto their heart ached more than hundreds of thorns piercing through their neck, throat, and thorax.