Path to the Stars

by ImmortalStarfruit

Summary:

Apotheosis- the process of becoming a god. For thousands of years there have been men and women who have risked life and limb to achieve the power to bend the universe to their will. After an unfortunate encounter, one such man finds himself meeting a young child destined for great things.

Notes:

This work is in combination with the Wuxia genre of prominently Chinese novels and comics focused on what I can best describe as 'Daoist Dragon Ball Z'. We have weird powers, the pursuit of immortality, and this guy's best attempt to interpret and write a genre that has a lot of variation in how things work.

I have no idea how this chapter is as long as it is, but I guess I'm gonna roll with it.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

The man's wounds ached. His vision blurred as he held his side and took a pill. His betrayal at the hands of his friends and apprentice had not entirely a surprise, but that they had prepared so carefully to kill him in one go had been a shock. He always figured one or two would try to force his hand with a fight, but outright assassination was something he thought was beneath them all. He will have his revenge on them all, already the plans to target each one specifically were already forming, but he needed to hide first. His injuries would take a long time to heal, and even longer for his cultivation base to recover.

So, it is time to hide. Probably on some far and remote star. Yeah, he thought to himself, a remote star would be a fine place to hide for now. His revenge could take time, he had plenty of time to get back to the Great World. For now, he'll seal himself in the World Bead and cast it in a random direction, hopefully, to land on a cultivation star on the edges of the star field he found himself in. It would take them far too long to find him then.

And that he did. From his robes he pulled out a large marble and threw it, quickly disappearing into the space within. He had long since prepared a decently sized home for himself within the World Bead, prepared at a time when he had many enemies who wouldn't hesitate to kill him. He staggered his way into the secluded room in the back where he would spend the next several years recovering. With one last effort, he activated a series of arrays to seal the space off from intruders. His final defenses prepared, he laid down and began to rest.

 

A young Luz ran around in the forest near her home. She loved playing among the tall trees that bordered her home. The sense of magic and mystery reminded her of her favorite story. She could spend hours running after imaginary monsters, facing evil wizards, and saving fair maidens from mighty dragons.

Her adventures were suddenly interrupted when she heard a tree crash to the ground not far from her. Ever curious, she ran towards the sound only to see a tree split in half with no apparent explanation. Having concluded the tree simply decided it didn't like being a normal tree anymore, Luz turned to wander toward a more familiar area of the woods when something glinted in the sunlight.

She bent down to see a large blue marble sitting on the forest floor. She picked up the glass ball, noticing it was warm and seemed a bit heavier than it should be. Seeing as there was no one else around to claim ownership Luz decided to take her new discovery with her and show her parents when she got home. After all, it wasn't every day she could bring home such a treasure from her frequent excursions.

Luz wandered her way home as the sun began to set behind the trees having had a satisfying day, ready to regale her parents on her adventures and show off her new treasure. The child was so full of hope, blissfully unaware of the tragedy around the corner.

Three days after finding the strange marble in the forest, her father passed away.

 

It has been three years since the death of Manny Noceda.

To say that Camilla didn't take his death well was an understatement. His death had destroyed her. The only thing that kept her going those first few months was the seemingly endless cycle of going to work and caring for her daughter. Though Luz initially seemed like she took her father's death harder than her mother, Luz seemed to quickly bounce back. Once again, she found joy in the world of fantasy and wonder that her father had shown her.

If only the good times would last. About a month ago Camilla started to get calls from the school about a shift in Luz's behavior. Initially, it was being unfocused or disinterested in the lesson but has more recently escalated to sleeping during class and general irritability towards other classmates. While Camilla hadn't been able to be home enough to confirm all of these changes in her daughter herself, she did notice Luz was spending more time in the evenings locked in her room. With the anniversary of Manny's death around the corner, Camilla strongly hoped this change in behavior would quickly pass and her daughter's bright personality would return.

 

Luz hadn't been feeling well for months now. It all started with strange and fragmented dreams. For a while she would wake up in a cold sweat, not remembering anything of the nightmares that tormented her. As time went on images began to stick in her head. Her father's lifeless eyes, a bloody knife, a five-tiered tower, and a figure performing a strange dance. None of it made any sense to her, and as time went on, the images began to invade her waking world as well. Her teachers would drone on and on about some math formula or historical battle, but her mind would focus on the images. A tower, a knife, a man who sometimes looked like her dead father and other times would be someone she never seen before, the dance again.

To say she was driven desperate was an understatement. So, when she found out she could get some peaceful sleep during class, she wasn't going to complain. This whole ordeal was so draining on her.

After another long day of school, Luz began to trudge home. Taking a path through the forest to avoid the bullies who had taken up tormenting her, Luz wondered why her life couldn't seem to get back on track. Every time she tried to make friends, she always seemed to do SOMETHING that pushed them away. At first, it only resulted in being brushed off, but it recently opened the door for some girls to start bullying her whenever they had a chance.

Her depressing thoughts continued, reminding her of each instance she had embarrassed herself when trying to make friends. As she walked through the back door of her home, she dropped her bag and mindlessly walked into her room. She had taken off her shoes and flopped on the bed before noticing the strange glow that filled her room.

On the dresser sat that marble she found three years ago. It had sat there for a while, having its place of honor among the few trinkets she had. Never before did it show any signs of being more than a small ball of blue glass before today. She reached out to pick it up when the room suddenly flashed white.

After a moment, Luz looked around to see she was standing in a meadow with a very familiar tower a short distance in front of her.

Drawn in by curiosity, Luz began to approach the front door before stopping. 'This has to be another dream.' She thought. 'There's no way for me to suddenly be here.' Luz quickly slapped herself across the face, only to bend over clutching her cheek as the very real pain began to spread.

"Okay, so this isn't a dream. But then what is going on? It's like I was telephoned here, like magic. But that can't be right." The young girl wondered aloud.

From behind her came a man's voice. "It's not quite magic my dear, but you're not far off."

Quickly facing the voice, Luz saw a man. But this wasn't just any man, but the one who had been in her dreams for the past month. There he was standing in the doorway of the tower, seemingly as real as everything around her. He was tall, with dark hair and eyes, wearing a strange assortment of white and blue robes that reminded her of the outfits anime characters would wear.

"Come on in child, we have some things we need to talk about. I'm sure you have questions about what's been happening the last few months." The man then turned and entered the tower, leaving the door open as an invitation for Luz to follow. She hesitated, everything about this situation was setting off alarms in her head, but at the same time, she wanted, no, needed, to know what was going on. Why was this tower, which had only existed in her mind, standing right in front of her?

Evidently, she had taken longer than the man would have liked as before she could take a step towards or away from the tower, the door swung closed and with a resounding thud, she found herself in a room. The man was sitting on a cushion at a low table, pouring tea.

"While normally I would love to have you make the decision to come inside yourself, I'm afraid we are pressed for time. Your mother should be home in a few hours, and I have not recovered enough to be active for long. Please, sit." The man gestured across the table where a similar cushion was laid out. Hesitantly, Luz sat down as the man passed her a cup of tea.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but allow me to introduce myself first. I am Michael and you are Luz Noceda, the young girl who happened to find my Universe Bead a few years ago." The man, Michael, smiled at the young and frightened girl sitting across from him. Her eyes darted side to side, looking for either a way out or an explanation as to how she got here. He simply waited, he had watched her long enough to know that her curiosity would win out against her fear before long.

"Where are we?" A simple question.

"We are currently inside the Universe Bead that is still sitting on your dresser. The Bead contains a small world that I use for a variety of reasons, but for now, it is where I'm recovering from an attack I suffered before you found me." After finishing his explanation, Michael took a sip from his cup. "I recommend you drink your tea before it gets cold, it's a shame to waste good tea."

Luz looked down at the steaming cup in front of her. She contemplated the idea it may be drugged before realizing this man wouldn't need that if he had any bad intentions. Carefully, she took a drink of the warm liquid, feeling it run down her throat. After a second, a feeling of calm spread through her body, and her mind felt like it became clearer than it had in months. Then she asked her second question.

"Why have you and my father been appearing in my dreams? And why can't I make sense of them?"

"Your dreams are actually the first thing we need to discuss. After your father passed, his soul somehow entered the Bead. I found him and he was my guest for a few days before his soul dissipated. I'm sorry to say that he is well and truly gone. No force or method exists to bring him back." Michael hung his head before reaching into his outer robe, he pulled out a green stone tablet. "His final message is recorded on this jade slip. I'll teach got how to access it before long. As for why your dreams haven't made sense, that's due to a gap that exists between us. With the barrier that forms the Universe Bead in the way, it was hard to get any messages across. Had I been more prepared, I would have saved you many sleepless nights. I fully accept responsibility and ask for your forgiveness."

Luz barely paid attention to him after he pulled the tablet out. Her father lived here for a few days after he died? He left his final words with some stranger who lived in her dresser? It was strange, too strange for her. Yet it also made sense, as if she knew the man, Michael, was being completely honest with her.

Finally, she looked back at Michael before asking her next question. "What are you?"

Michael chuckled before answering, "A simple question without a simple answer. I am human, just like you. The human race has long since spread across many worlds with different cultures, and I come from one of those. To be more specific, I am a cultivator, an immortal who gained power through constant and repeated practice of martial and esoteric arts. I have lived for hundreds of years and expect to live for thousands more. And you, dear child, have stumbled upon the next thing we need to discuss. I owe you for finding the Bead and moving it, and I wish to repay you by teaching you to become a cultivator of equal power."

He stood and turned as the space around them changed once again. Luz could see out a window to see the surrounding landscape. Beyond the meadow around the tower, there was a dense forest, and even further beyond she saw a series of mountain peaks. Looking around the room she saw it was some kind of training room. In that instant, it was as if she could see those who trained here in the past.

With a determined look, Luz said, "Teach me."

 

And so, her training began, or that's what she would have liked to say. As it turns out there was a lot of stuff she needed to do a learn before her training actually started. Michael was patient, explaining how the different levels of cultivation were broken down and other aspects of her training she would need to know beforehand.

Cultivation is broken down into major and minor realms. The minor realms were simply defined as a grade of 1-9. The major realms were a bit more complicated, with the first five being Body Tempering, Qi Refining, Qi Condensing, Mixed Element, and Immortal Boundary. Michael explained his realm was beyond the Immortal Boundary, but Luz didn't need to worry about the higher realms yet. No, what she needed to work on first was physical and mental conditioning. And so for the next several years, Luz learned the basics of meditation and martial arts while undergoing what she thought was torture every day. She was really starting to wonder if this was all some cruel joke made by some supernatural alien until the day it finally happened.

 

Luz sat on a mat on the training floor of her master's tower. It had become a part of her routine to meditate for a couple hours each day, trying to feel the world energy, or qi, which was supposed to be all around her. While her master had made it clear special stones would be more effective in raising her cultivation, she first needed to learn how to sense qi.

"Empty the mind, free the soul, lose the self, empty the mind, free the soul, lose the shelf. No wait, not that." If only her mind could memorize a simple mantra. Michael taught it to her last week after declaring her physical conditioning sufficient to begin cultivating. But it seemed to be completely useless. She knew she had that mantra memorized, but no matter how long she repeated it, nothing happened.

Out of frustration she stood up and marched out of the room. Wondering through the tower she made her way to the secluded room where her 'wonderful master' was working on his own practice. Of course, she asked about what made that room different from the one he taught her in, but all she got was a non-answer.

She readied herself in front of the stone door that led to her 'master's' practice room. There was a very real chance this could backfire for her, but at the same time, if she didn't do this, she would likely never make any progress with her training. She worked so hard to get and everything until now was so easy to understand, there had to be something she was missing that he could help her with.

With a deep breath, Luz placed her hands against the doors and pushed.

Or at least she tried.

The stone doors had remained firmly shut in front of her. After all her training, months of it, she refused to believe she could be stopped by her master's strange choice of die material. No, she refused to accept this. She pushed again with all her might. She pushed and shoved against the door until finally, something gave way.

But it wasn't the door.

For the first time in her life, Luz felt the flow of qi around her. It was somewhere between the flow of air and water, an ethereal sensation she could never find the right words for. But there seemed to be something off. It felt chaotic, dangerous even. There was a scent of death and evil in the air. Luz's mind immediately came to one conclusion, her master was in danger.

Once more Luz threw herself against the door, newfound power surging through her body as the door slowly slid open. What she saw inside shocked her.

Michael was floating in the middle of the room, surrounded by a swirling black energy. His body was hunched over as he seemed to struggling, low grunts of pain could barely be heard over the low roar of the swirling energy.

"MAST..." before she could finish calling out, Luz watched as Michael threw his head back with a roar as the vortex began to shrink. Luz could only continue watching on in horror as her master continued screaming as the energy shrank. After what felt like minutes to her, the vortex split in two, and the masses shrank into the palms of her master's hands. With one final effort, Michael slammed his palms together, dispersing what little energy was left before gently falling to the ground and onto his back.

It wasn’t long before Michael began trying to sit back up. Luz quickly helped him into a sitting position and noticed strange markings on his palms that she was certain weren't there before.

"What was all that?" Luz asked. While there was still a lot she didn't understand about the world she was learning about, nothing felt right about that energy she saw.

"What was what kid? Everything is fine." Michael tried to brush off the question before changing the topic. "Did you finally sense qi yet or are you just bored and want to go home early today?"

Luz didn't take the bait and pressed, "What was that black smoke around you a while ago? And why did it feel so... evil?"

Michael sighed, he knew he couldn't keep this particular secret from her forever, but he was hopeful he would have more answers by the time she found out. Never one to dwell on regrets, he decided to face his disciple's questions.

"Remember when we first met, and I said we had things we needed to talk about? Well, this is one of those things and I was hoping to avoid it for a while longer." Michael took a deep breath before moving them both to the main hall, motioning to join her at the table.

"First, a lesson in etiquette. When addressing someone it is considered polite among our peers to recognize seniority. Using our particular case as an example, if I were to take on another disciple it would be correct etiquette for the new disciple to refer to you as senior sister. Likewise, there a dozens of other relations which I'll have to tell you about later, for now I just need you to understand that concept." Luz nodded, silently dreading the prophesied lecture on etiquette.

"You are not the first student I've taken under my wing in this capacity. As such you have one senior brother and two senior sisters that I have had the pleasure to train until recently. Several years ago now I was lured into a trap and severely wounded, while the main culprits were long-standing enemies of mine, the worst part was the act of betrayal by your senior brother." Michael raised his hand and a knife appeared. "He stabbed me in the back with this knife and ever since then I have been trying to resolve its effects."

With another wave of his hand, the knife disappeared, and Luz was left processing what she had heard. She wasn't his first student, but actually his fourth, and he was betrayed by one of her fellow students.

"But how could the knife hurt you, or even be bothering you for so long? You said your true strength was beyond anything we've talked about, surely there can't be anything that could do that to you."

"You're right, I am quite powerful when I'm at my peak. But I was tricked, and attacked by several opponents at a similar level to me, all factors which make my survival already a miracle. But the worst part actually is the knife wound. It contained a powerful poison and what I can only call a curse." Michael looked down at the marks on his palms, new reminders of his shortcomings.

"A few months ago, I managed to decipher what exactly was going on inside my body, but I needed time to prepare to deal with this. It took a lot of time, and I admit to giving you a pointless task while I finished preparations. What you saw today was the final steps of separating the poison and curse then sealing them, so my body has a chance to recover enough to deal with them." Michael turned his attention towards Luz to gauge her reaction to this news.

Luz quickly processed what she could understand. Unfortunately, what she understood was that she was wasting her time with an impossible task. She was mad, and nothing was going to stop her from venting this frustration.

"You had me sitting there for hours, trying and failing to do what you said was a simple task just to keep me out of your hair?" Michael was shocked by Luz's ferocity. Far too many women he had met over his life were either cold and soulless or manipulative, and he couldn't blame them. The world of cultivation and martial arts was one where strength decided everything, and to some people, every advantage was worth it no matter how despicable the method. But Luz wasn't like that. She had spirit, determination, and a trusting soul. A pure product of her world where children could be seen as people first and not tools to be used and bartered with.

The Latina continued her tirade for several minutes, attacking him for withholding information about her senior disciples as well as the nature of his injury.

"I trusted you when you offered to teach me, and after I worked so hard to improve. After all of that, I thought I had earned your trust too. Maybe I was just fooling myself." That final statement struck him to the core. Trust is a universal commodity. To betray one's trust would more often than not lead to a lifelong enemy without significant effort to mend the relationship.

Luz was standing now, her face flushed and a bit out of breath from yelling for five minutes. Michael just sat in his chair with his head bowed down, a thoughtful expression on his face. She worried that she may have gone too far this time. After all, she's learned quite often that everyone has a limit to how much of her they can stand before pushing her away.

Luz was pulled out of her thoughts when her master stood up from his chair. She was ready for the fallout, hoping that she could at least keep learning martial arts after this. She was shocked when instead of launching into his own tirade, Michael bowed instead.

"I'm sorry Luz. I should have trusted you more. You weren't raised in the violent world that I am from, you were raised to care about the suffering of others without the expectation of reward or gaining an advantage." Michael rose from the bow and looked Luz in the eye. "I have failed in my role as your master. I sincerely hope you will forgive me someday."

Luz was stunned. Sure, the adults in her life have apologized to her before, but they rarely did it for something they did to her. It was weird, but a good weird. While she did feel betrayed, Michael's apology showed he really didn't mean to hurt her.

"I will forgive you, but you have to take my training seriously from now on. No more pointless tasks, no more secrets. I want full transparency with anything that's going on."

Michael smiled at the request, maybe she would fit in with her senior sisters better than he originally thought. "Very well, but if we're going to do this, we going to make it official. Luz Noceda, I swear an oath here and now, before the heavens and the earth, that I will train you to the best of my ability, instructing you in every aspect of your training until you have enough power and knowledge to stand on your own among our peers. If I fail in this task, then I will accept the judgments of the heavens."

Luz wasn't sure what this oath was or if she had a part, but her newly awakened sense felt a shift in the air around her. The seriousness of the situation raised dozens of alarm bells in her mind, but deep down she felt relieved somehow. Things were going to be different, they were going to be better.

 

Oh, how naive she was, thinking things were going to be better. While Michael did take immediate steps to correct the gaps in her training, it was quickly becoming overwhelming. The first thing he did was take her to a library and pick out a manual. There had to be hundreds, if not thousands, of books in the library. While there was a system to organize them and limit her search area, that wasn't the end of it.

The particular technique she chose was split across three books, each of which had to.be studied and memorized before she could practice that step. Michael gave her another technique to help her with that, but it still took her three months to get all three books down.

Next was a trip to what she could only call an armory, weapon, armor, and tools of various shapes and sizes lined the wall. Michael explained they were a special kind of tool called artifacts, as well as their classifications and ranks.

Finally, she got a crash course in alchemy, refining, and arrays. While not required, Michael emphasized that many successful and powerful cultivators studied one of these groups and that learning any of them would be a reliable skill she could use to support herself later in life.

Time flew by and Luz's power began to grow. With help from her master, she quickly broke through to the 5th rank of Body Tempering. She felt great, stronger, lighter, better than she had ever felt before. Furthermore, Michael's condition began to improve as well, and while he chose to remain in the tower the wounds from his battle began to close and the scars faded. Things were looking good, and then one day in the woods, an owl stole her book.

 

Another day with normal people, another issue between Luz and her mother. This time it was because Luz said she didn't want to go to college, which was true, but the reasons she gave her mother weren't convincing enough for her. After that, her mother mentioned sending her off to some camp that was supposed to straighten her out. Luz knows her mother just wants her to have a good life, but the world she's been learning about just doesn't fit in with what's 'normal' anymore.

From there things assume how got weirder for Luz. After chasing a surprisingly small and agile owl, meeting a self-proclaimed Witch, realizing she wasn't in Connecticut anymore, and being chased by local authorities before being picked up and flying away from the town.

Soon after she had a brief encounter with what she could only assume was a witch's version of a home security system before being ushered into the front room. The witch, Eda, threw off her cloak and welcomed her to the 'Owl House'.

The inside of the witch’s home felt alive, both literally and figuratively. Luz could feel the slight rhythmic movements in the walls as the house demon outside was breathing. But it was the décor that drew her attention. While the room was frankly a mess, it had a strange sense of comfort her room had. This was a place people lived in, and laughed in. It was a stark contrast to how her own home had felt for a few years now, the realization making Luz’s heart clench.

“So, do you live out here alone? Or does a living front door count as a roommate here?” Luz asked pulling her mind back to the present.

“No, Hooty is more of a pet crossed with a home security system, but I do have a roommate. Speaking of, he should have heard us coming in.”

Before another word could be said a thud came from the stairwell. A shadow fell down from the second floor as what could only be a hulking monster approached. Luz tensed, ready to run at the first sign of danger, there was no way she could handle two of them at once if they came at her. “Who dares to disturb the domain of…” The figure came into view and Luz sprung into action. “… the King of Demo… Eda help!”

Luz ran over and scooped up the small dog-like creature. He was just so adorable and reminded her of the smaller dog breeds her mother would take care of at the vet clinic she worked at. “Oh, you’re just so adorable.” Luz squealed as she hugged the creature.

“Let me go! I am the king of Demons! I demand to be feared not adored!” King yelled indignantly as he struggled to get out of the girls’ surprisingly strong grip. Luz gently put him back down as Eda walked over for introductions.

“King, this is Luz the human. Luz, this is my roommate King. He is the king of all demons but has been separated from his crown and as a consequence his power as well.” King seemed to perk up when it was mentioned that Luz was human. “See Luz, we need your help in getting it back. The crown has been placed behind a barrier that neither witch nor demon could pass through. But as a human, you should have no issue getting through. What do you say, help us pull this little heist and you can be on your way back home?”

Eda and King looked at Luz, waiting for her response. She was conflicted, to say the least. On one hand, adventure was calling her for the first time in her life. Her master had gone on about her needing to eventually experience the outside world to grow both faster and stronger. On the other hand, both her mother and her master had drilled into her a strong moral compass and respect for the rules. Her master on several occasions told stories where he or a friend of his had saved their own lives by playing into the rules that governed cultivator societies.

Oh, to hell with it, worst-case scenario she'll just hide in the Universe Bead until she's strong enough to fight her way out.

 

She was wrong, oh so very wrong. Things had somehow gone from bad to worse. Things were going smoothly for the most part. Luz met some of the quirky prisoners, saw the warden with the worst (best?) name she'd ever heard and got to the crown without alerting anyone.

Eda was beheaded by the warden. He somehow had snuck in with half a dozen guards. Panic began to take hold of Luz. The warden and King were going back and forth but Luz could only hear her heart thundering in her ears.

Then it all stopped, literally. Time stood still and a familiar voice filled her head. "Take a deep breath kid, it's all going to be okay." Her master's voice rang through the communication tool he had given her some months before.

"Just breathe for right now Luz, I can see what's going on right now. I'm going to keep talking for a bit while you focus on yourself. Panic is your worst enemy, especially with how inexperienced you are. You still have the advantage here..."

He droned on while Luz worked on calming herself down. She needed to focus right now. Eda was dead, but King was still alive, and she was his only hope of getting out of here. Now what did she have on her that could help? Her master had begun giving her some basic tools that he claimed all cultivators had and every master would give to their direct disciples. A storage bag with a minor invisibility illusion that keeps it from being seen but anyone touching it would disable the illusion. The Universe Bead, though that would probably be brought to the local emperor and Luz wasn't thrilled with the idea of meeting him after her little adventure today. A few various talismans... wait that was it. She had an escape talisman on her. Its range wasn't far, but it was far enough to get them out and short enough to keep her from ending up in the ocean. Now she just needed a plan...

"Last thing before time moves again Luz, the woman isn't dead. She has something weird going on that's put her body in a weird state, but her vitality is fine. Also, I won't be able to help you like this again for a while, three months at least, so if you have a plan, it better be good." As his voice faded out, Luz saw what she assumed was her master's technique fade and time began to slip forward again.

She didn't wait. As soon as Luz was capable of moving she launched into action. It would take fifteen seconds for the talisman to activate, a side effect of her cultivation level. She moved quickly. First, she grabbed the talisman and activated it. The next second, she grabbed King and dashed toward Eda's body. Eda was already in the process of trying to reattach her severed head. The warden was still too close to Eda and might get caught up in the talisman's effect or throw it off entirely. Luz dropped King on top of Eda before turning and throwing everything she had into a roundhouse kick to the warden's face.

The blow landed hard and sent the warden stumbling back into some of the other guards. The undistracted ones moved to surround them, but it was too late. Fifteen seconds had passed, and the talisman telephoned the three intruders away.

 

While Luz was told the talisman would teleport her and anyone in close proximity to her somewhere safe within 10 miles, she was never told about the rough landing. The talisman telephoned the three of them into the woods about 10 feet in the air.

The three of them landed in a pile, with Eda on the bottom and King on top. Even though he doesn't weigh much, Luz still had the wind knocked out of her. She could only imagine how bad it was for Eda to have both of them land on her.

"Alright, who’s not dead?" Eda called from the bottom of the pile. King groaned and Luz pulled the both of them off of Eda.

"I think we're both fine," Luz said, but as she stepped away, she felt a sharp pain shoot up the leg she kicked Wrath with. He must have been tougher than he seemed, and she now had an injured leg to prove it. "Actually, think I messed up my leg right there at the end."

King groaned in her arms as she quickly set him down before he started squirming like earlier today. Her leg could use a little extra strain until she could use a healing pill she had in her bag. Luz thought it was pretty excessive when her master gave her about forty of them in a bottle, but now she's grateful she has them.

Eda pulled herself up from the ground and dusted herself off before turning to Luz. With a quick motion, she cast a spell and held the circle close to the injured leg. "Well kid, I don't know where you learned to do that, but that kick you used fractured your femur and left you with muscle tears all along your leg."

"Yeah, my master always said I needed to be careful with the martial arts I use since I'm not too strong yet. Though I think most of that is from the warden's hard head." Luz replied as she dug around in her bag. She quickly found the bottle and pulled it out. It was made of a pale white jade with a simple cork stopper.

After opening the bottle Luz carefully poured out a single pill. It was perfectly round, resembling a gumball with blues and greens running together. The faint smell of medicine was a bit unusual but also pleasant. Without a moment's hesitation, she quickly popped it in her mouth and swallowed. Almost immediately she felt the pill work, and the pain in her leg faded as her injuries healed.

Luz then held the bottle out to Eda. "Do you need one?"

"Uh, what are they, kid?" Eda asked. As an experienced con artist herself, Eda knew it was bad practice to take strange substances.

"They're recovery pills. One of the several things my master made sure to give me 'just in case'. I thought he was just paranoid before, but now I'm glad I have them." Luz then bounced from one foot to the other showing how effective the pill had been. "It's still not back at one hundred percent, but it's enough that I can walk just fine."

Eda blinked at this. This girl, who Eda was sure shouldn't have a good impression of her, was just willing to offer some of the most powerful healing medicine she had ever seen. The injuries to Luz's leg should have taken weeks to recover. Even with healing magic, there should have been no way the muscle could recover without some physical therapy. She could only conclude that Luz didn't understand the value of what she had.

"Oh, uh no thanks. I'm perfectly fine. See." Eda craned her neck around to show that it had been perfectly reattached, leaving no sign that it had been cut off mere moments ago.

Luz nodded before offering one to King, who happily accepted the candy-like pill. He swallowed it before Eda could protest but seemed to suffer no ill effects from it.

"Well, I guess it's time I send you home kid," Eda said as she dug around her hair for the portal key.

"Are you sure? I mean, yeah, I guess so..." Luz was a bit dejected at the statement. While it was in keeping with their agreement, Luz had grown a bit fond of this place and the two criminals who called it home.

"Do you want to stay here Luz?" Eda carefully asked.

"Yes, I'd love to stay here. There's so much energy here, and the chance for adventure. I really feel like I could fit in around here." Luz spun around as she said this, not really paying attention to Eda.

"Well good, 'cause the portal stopped working."

"What?"

Notes:

So for the most part I'm going to try to use the end notes here to define and clarify concepts that are used or mentioned in the story, but whose explanations wouldn't flow well in the part of the story they are first mentioned. I'll also use this space to rant/vent about troupes that show up in this genre. While I have read a lot of these stories and a few are longer than One Piece, there are things that I really don't like seeing. Now for some education.

Cultivation- A general term used for the process of using ambient qi to strengthen and refine a person, allowing them to live longer and perform miraculous feats. In these stories, cultivation is broken down into two general categories, internal and external. Internal cultivation is done through a meditation technique, with a focus on the body's energy pathways and core, often translated as daitan or elixir field. External works a lot like bodybuilding, actually it's pretty much what they do in Dragon Ball Z.

Cultivation levels don't have a set series of names but are generally broken into 3 or 9 minor realms in each major realm. The best visualization of this I found is in Soul Land, where cultivation is simply broken down into a 1-100 level system with each group of 10 being a major realm.

Arrays- These need the least explanation as they are the same as the glyph spells in the show. The use of special flags and other materials can be integrated into more powerful arrays to strengthen their effects.

Alchemy- Alchemists use fire to refine various plant and monster parts. This process is done inside of a specialized cauldron. The goal is to extract the medicinal properties from the materials and condense them into a round pill. There are thousands of pill recipes and multiple ways to refine the same pill.

Artifacts- The best word to use here is tool. An artifact can look like anything, it all depends on its intended function as well as the person who created it. Artifact refining works just like blacksmithing with the addition of monster parts and specialized furnaces. An artifact could be a powerful sword, a beautiful scarf, a scroll, or even a marble.

It should be noted that a cultivator being talented in one of these fields is already a remarkable feat. As such most stories will have the protagonist work on one field, occasionally two if the story is long enough. There are some that are good at all three and that's going to wait until a future rant.

Universe Bead- A prized artifact of Michael, the Universe Bead contains an entirely separate space. Its unique ability classifies it as a space attribute artifact. The laws of space are usually considered to be one of the most difficult laws for a cultivator to learn, second only by time. As such it's a pretty nice excuse to keep some of the really old characters from being way too strong.

The use of a star when referring to a planet- I think this is something that is lost in translation, whether it's a language issue or cultural issue, but it is one of the things that is consistent across multiple stories from different authors. Stars in this setting are categorized based on what the environment is good for. Stars with larger amounts of qi are referred to as cultivation stars and are ideal places for both mortals and cultivators to live. Dead stars are devoid of life and qi, and mining stars are rich in rare minerals and ores.

Talisman- think the paper bombs from Naruto, except they can make ones that do things besides blowing up. Usually tied to arrays, though they tend to fall off fairly early in a story due to limited effectiveness.

Questions are welcome and I will try my best to answer them.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Notes:

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments.

It has been three days since Eda couldn’t open the portal back to the human realm. Hell, she couldn't even get it to unfold into a door. Something was wrong with it, and she needed to fix it. The portal was her livelihood after all. No, all the research she's been doing had nothing to do with the human girl who was stuck in the Demon Realm because Eda couldn't pass on the opportunity to make a quick buck.

Speaking of Luz, she was incredibly calm when Eda told her the portal had stopped working. Eda half expected Luz to just pull out her own portal and head home as if it was a normal thing to do, Titan knows she used more outlandish things during the failed heist at the Conformitorium. No one had been able to cast a teleportation spell in years, well before the Emperor came to power. And the healing potion that was able to repair the extensive damage to the girl’s leg was unheard of. Eda knew from personal experience that healing magic and potions could only accelerate the body's natural healing so much. It took weeks for her own leg to heal back then under the careful watch and care of her parents.

But no, Luz was just calmly living her life in the most dangerous place she'd ever seen. Eda was just glad that Luz seemed to be able to handle more local food than she had thought possible for a human. That made caring for the girl easier. Luz also got along well with King, even if the puns they subjected her to were awful. The only strange thing, if Eda could even call it strange, was the mediation Luz would do behind the house for a few hours. On the outside, it seemed like normal meditation, but Eda felt that there was something different. On top of that, it seemed like Luz was normally a very active person, the kind that just couldn't sit still to save their life.

Eda sighed as she closed yet another tome. In the last three days, she had poured over every text on wild magic she had been able to find over the years. Nothing about portals and nothing about any of the treasures Luz had. As she put the tome back on the shelf there was a shift in the air. The hair on her neck stood straight. Something outside wasn't normal. With a snap of her fingers, Owlbert swooped down and formed his staff in her hands.

Stepping into her living room, Eda could feel the flow of ambient magic had changed. It was being pulled in the same direction, towards the back of the house. Eda hurried back through the house and out the back door, ready to face whatever new danger the Isles was throwing at her. To her horror, a vortex of magical energy had completely surrounded Luz. The woman's mind was going into overdrive to figure out what to do or if she could even get the human girl out safely.

Then suddenly the energy changed direction and surged out, moving away from Luz. The force was enough to force Eda back a couple of steps and slam the door open behind her. After things had calmed down, Luz stood up and started celebrating.

"I did it! I finally did it!"

"What the hell did you just do?" Eda's concern had now changed into agitated curiosity. Never before had she heard of humans having magic of their own, much less influencing the ambient magic of the dead titan to such a degree. Yet another thing witches and demons had done in recorded history.

"I broke through to the next realm. I'm stronger now." Luz stated in a matter-of-fact tone. Eda was still clueless.

"What are you talking about kid? You broke what? And what was with all that magic just now?" Eda's questions helped Luz realize the witch had no idea what Luz was actually doing out here for the past few days.

"You don't know what cultivation is, do you?" Luz asked sheepishly.

"Not a clue. Now how about you answer a few of my questions, kid." Eda felt her agitation ebb a bit. Whatever it was that Luz just went through seemed to have been the point of her exercises and was something unique to at least some humans. Perhaps she could use Luz's skills to get the portal working again.

"Actually, I think I know someone better qualified to explain it to you. My master would be able to answer any questions you have in greater detail than I could right now. Plus, he said he wanted to know as soon as I finished my breakthrough."

Eda was now even more confused, "How are we going to get to your master when the portal to the human realm isn't working? Hell, I don't even know what's wrong with it."

Luz walked past her and stepped into the house, "Oh then bring the portal with you. My master is pretty good with space and teleportation stuff. Perhaps he could tell us what's wrong with it. Also, my master isn't in the human realm, he's here in the Boiling Isles." With that, she was halfway to the stairs and showed no intention of stopping. Seeing this Eda quickly followed.

"If your master is here in the Boiling Isle then why are you staying here? And how did a human like you even meet another witch from the Boiling Isles? As far as I know, I'm the only one with access to a stable portal between the realms." Eda shouted as she closed the back door. A quick look around showed that the blast earlier had knocked over and scattered a lot of knickknacks and junk she had kept around the house. Even a familiar gold-colored potion wasn't spared from the carnage. At least she had a few more of those in the house.

Luz waited by the door to the room she was staying in at the top of the stairs, "I never said he was living here. He came through with me, you just couldn't see him 'cause he was hiding."

A powerful master of the arcane arts was hiding? Well, Eda guessed the idea wasn't as far-fetched as it sounded. She had often claimed to be the most powerful witch in the Isles but often went about her business with some level of caution or disguise. Perhaps this mystery man was also running from some sort of government in the human realm. The two women stepped into the room and Luz walked over to the bracelet she had been wearing when she came through the portal. Luz held it for a minute before slipping it onto her wrist and pulling out a blue marble. Before another thought could cross her mind, Eda found herself standing in a completely different room. The décor reminded her of a weird restaurant a human man had taken her to over a decade ago.

"Welcome to my home Eda of the Boiling Isles. I am Michael, Luz's martial master. I understand you have some questions for me about what the two of us do." Spoke a man standing in front of a small table with two chairs and a tea set. Steam rising from the two cups let Eda know they were currently in use.

"Uh yeah, the kid just got caught up in some phenomenon I had never seen before and just started spouting things off like I should know what she was talking about." Eda was back on high alert. She was easily taken somewhere she had never been by a person she'd never met, all without her detecting anything strange before it happened. For the first time in her life, Eda felt completely outclassed.

"Yes, Luz told me she had completed her breakthrough. Well done, Luz. How about you go into the practice room and focus on stabilizing your realm? Also, that movement technique you wanted to learn is in there, ready for you to review it. I'll do my best to help you work on it after Ms. Eda and I finish talking." The man, Michael, had a pleasant tone and friendly demeanor. He clearly held no animosity for the impromptu visit and would play the generous host.

Luz for her part gave a quick thanks before rushing off through a sliding door, being careful to close it before the thumping sound of footsteps echoed through the wooden floor. Eda took the time to take stock of the man before her. He wore a strange set of white robes with blue accents. He looked like any other witch in his twenties, but a closer look at his eye revealed an age and wisdom that didn't match his face. The most overwhelming thing was the sense of power radiating off him. Eda never felt such magic coming from a person, but beyond its magnitude was the sense of control it had. Michael wasn't flexing his power to show off. He had restrained his power, likely for Eda's own comfort. There was only one conclusion she could draw from all this.

The man standing before her was a master of wild magic, with skill beyond anything the ancient witches had accomplished.

"Please sit down and ask all the questions you like."

For the next two hours, the two of them talked about cultivation. Everything from what it was, how it was done, and what it could do. Eda could barely imagine some of the things cultivators could do that witches had written off as impossible. Though with every question asked and lesson learned there was one issue that wormed its way to the forefront of Eda's mind.

"Why didn't you step in to protect Luz the other day?" The question hung in the air. It was a serious question that Eda needed to be answered. If Michael would let Luz suffer at the hands of the Emperor's guards then Eda needed to work on getting Luz away from him.

Michael considered the question before he answered. Of course, she would ask that it was reasonable to assume he should look after Luz. He knew from Eda's own actions that she held the girl's safety in some regard. She had saved Luz from the guards who would have arrested Luz for simply standing too close to the wanted criminal.

"She… wasn't in danger," Michael answered cautiously. "Rather she wasn't in mortal danger. As we discussed, we are currently inside the Universe Bead, which lies on the floor of the room outside. That day the Bead was in her pocket. I knew that she was facing off against several opponents who were undoubtedly stronger than her. Any one of them would have been capable of beating her in a one-on-one fight, much less the group melee she found herself in. Had she asked for it, I would have pulled her from danger immediately. But, I also wanted to take the time to test her." Michael waved his hand and a simple illusion filled the middle of the room.

"You see Eda, martial arts are best practiced in a safe environment. These skills are incredibly dangerous if improperly executed." Several images of different figures worked through a series of motions, each one getting injured at different points and increasing worse injuries. "But paradoxically, the best place to refine them is when one's own life is in danger." The scene changed to show a single person facing down a dozen beasts. The fight was vicious, but the lone man was victorious. The illusion faded and Eda returned her attention to her host.

"Luz faced her first brush with death in the most controlled way I could have done. She had the resources to escape and recover on her own. If the worst came about, I could pull her here and begin treating her immediately. Instead of running to safety, she learned to assess a situation quickly and devise a plan of escape. She learned what she could do if pushed to her limits and the consequences of doing so. That's why I let her face down those men." He finished, the tone in his voice was resolute. Eda felt like she better understood the strange man and, in a way, she also understood Luz a bit more.

"I'm also injured, Eda. Well, poisoned to be more accurate. It happened almost ten years ago now, but the poison is still in my body. You know what that's like, I can sense it." He looked at her, through her. In the back of her mind, Eda could feel the Owlbeast shrink back in fear. This was an existence that could reach in and hurt it.

"How do you know?" Eda asked, trying to maintain a mask of confidence. Her curse was an incredibly personal issue for her, one she hadn't even told King about.

"I can sense a second soul in you, one that isn't supposed to be there. It’s a monster, one you seem to have been dealing with for years. I can help you with it, and the portal Luz told me about. All I ask is that while we are here you look after and teach Luz what you can. I know you don't know much about cultivation, but I can sense that your skills are from the same source. With some luck, Luz may be able to do some of the things you do." Michael was serious. Leaving the Universe Bead was still too risky, something he needed to save until absolutely necessary. Eda was the perfect person to do so, she already cared for the safety of those she felt responsible for, and she needed something he could provide.

"Let's say I believe you that about curing my curse, which I don't. How long are you even planning on being here? What guarantee do I have that you will do what you're saying you will?" Eda had heard enough. That offer was just another scam, an attempt to control her. She would never fall for such a…

"Name your price. If it's an oath, I'll swear it. If there is a contract, I'll sign it. A price and I'll pay it." Eda was surprised. While Michael seemed to want her to just trust him, he was also willing to do what it took to earn that trust as fast as possible.

"Swear an Everlasting Oath that you'll cure my curse in two months' time." Eda would take this chance. Just this last time. She drew a circle in the air, the promised spell materializing between them. Without a word, she stuck her hand through the circle.

Without a moment of hesitation, Michael took her hand. "I swear it." The magic responded and bound the oath.

 

Soon after the topic of conversation moved to the broken portal door. Eda pulled the key from her hair and pressed the eye to summon the door. It appeared as it normally would, which seemed to surprise Michael a little. The portal, however, remained in its portable form, refusing to unfold. After several minutes of observing and handling it, Michael placed it back on the ground before returning to his chair and closing his eyes.

"The good thing is that I have seen this kind of array before. But that is where things get strange." He spoke after a minute of mulling over his thoughts.

"So, what is it?"

"It's a space array, designed to open what's called a void corridor between two locations. There are a few things that are strange about it though. First, I have never seen a space array that has a mobile entry point. The void is a very dangerous place where one wrong move can shatter your body in an instant. Second is that this isn't a cross-star space array, this one is designed to connect two points on the same star. Lastly, there's a control switch built into the array. That means whoever created this array intentionally turned it off." Michael leaned back in his chair as he finished.

It took Eda a bit to process the last thing he said. Whoever made the portal was still alive somehow and aware of its use. They could have turned the portal off at any point when she was using it. She felt sick when she realized that it could have happened during the dozens of times, she sent Owlbert through to collect trash and trinkets for her to sell. The next realization was this, the human and demon realms were the same world.

"I do have some good news. It seems like whoever did this wanted to be found."

Michael's voice shook Eda from her thoughts, "They want to be found?"

He nodded, "Yep, and I can probably guess why. I told you I've seen this before. My home star was put in a similar array a long time ago. It was to protect us from something dangerous. I bet that the current array is failing and the person who did this needs help fixing or maintaining it. I have to help them."

Eda was surprised. "Why? No offense, but don't you have obligations to Luz?"

He smirked, "This would be part of those obligations. When the array over my home star failed a hidden enemy attacked. Tens of thousands of people were killed, and the losses would have been greater if the larger sects weren't quick to react. If this array exists for a similar purpose, then Luz is in danger if it fails."

In his thoughts Michael was relieved, 'They can't find me as long as this array exists too. I need to keep it up, so they don't find her.'

"Let's go tell Luz. I'll need to leave as soon as possible in order to find them before our deal is due." With that, Michael stood up and began walking away with Eda following quickly behind.

It took several minutes before they reached what Eda assumed was the practice room. It was pretty bare, with only a few weapons hanging on one wall. Luz was inside practicing her cultivation. Luz stood up when she heard them enter the room. Michael quickly explained what he had learned about the portal and that he needed to leave.

"I need to make preparations before heading out to find this mysterious artificer. They'll know more about what the current situation is and how I can help." Michael said as he finished catching Luz up on their latest discoveries. "You are going to stay here with Eda. Practice your techniques and pay attention to what she teaches you."

"We'll see what you can do, kid. You've shown me that humans could do a lot more than I ever thought possible." Eda stated. Taking on a student was never something Eda considered, but Luz had shown her enough to be willing to give it a try.

"You'll also need to take some techniques from my library to work on while I'm gone. Have you decided on anything we discussed?" Michael asked.

Luz nodded, "I want to study a lightning attribute technique."

Michael was a bit shocked at that. Luz's constitution had no innate affinity to any one technique, meaning she could learn just about anything she set her mind to. But lightning was known for being particularly dangerous due to its destructive nature. Cultivators who studied these techniques had to possess a strong will to make any progress due to the intense pain they could encounter. Hell, he could still remember the first time he was struck by lightning while practicing one such technique several hundred years ago. "Very well, I'll have the manuals ready for you in the morning. Until then, I think it would be best for you two to go work out the terms for how your lessons are going to go."

With that, Michael sent the two women back to the Owl House. In the blink of an eye, Eda and Luz were standing over the blue marble she had come to learn was a powerful and unique treasure containing a massive world and a person whose own power was something she had never seen before. While her life certainly hadn't been boring, between King and Hooty's shenanigans, the bounty on her head, the hair-brained schemes of her mother, and her sister's own attempts to recruit or capture her, it was the first time Eda's life had begun to feel exciting in a long time.

"Alright kid, we're going to get started tomorrow morning after your master leaves. I'm quite the accomplished witch, but my specialty has always been with potions. My potions also bring in most of the money we use around here so expect to help out with running that. Besides that, let me know if you need something for your cultivation and I'll do my best to get it to you." Eda stated confidently, "I may not have been around as long as he has, but I know the Isles better than anyone around."

"I'm looking forward to it. I've always wanted to learn to do things like my favorite character could do. The martial arts I've learned have been great, but never quite fit in the same space." Luz responded, excited at the idea of learning magic. Even though she was going to be stuck here for a while, there was so much opportunity for her to learn and grow.

"Very good, now I'm going back downstairs to my lab to finish some orders for tomorrow. You can do whatever for the rest of the day." Eda said, waving her hand in circles as she walked out the door.

Luz didn't feel the need to respond, instead just smiled as she watched her new teacher and host leave. After Eda disappeared the smile dropped. The situation had gone from bad to worse in a matter of hours. What at first seemed to be a simple issue of the portal not having enough power had developed into something beyond what she could help with. Sure, she knew the gap between her master and herself was something that would take unknown years to close, but she still felt helpless. Furthermore, she knew her mother was worried about her now. It had been three days and while Luz could get a signal for a few minutes here and there, it was never long enough to communicate that she was okay. Luz could only hope that it wouldn't be long before she could get home and apologize to her mom. When she could, Luz was going to show her mom that she was capable of making her own way in the world.

 

Far away, on the chest of the dead Titan, a man in white robes and a golden mask stared at the still-beating heart of the Titan. Something about it had changed today. Something small. Beyond what could be noticed by normal means. But his time here had made him something far from normal. It seemed… faster somehow. As if the Titan was excited by something. An impossible event, he concluded. But still, he knew something caused the Titan to change. Something he didn't know.

Notes:

I found this chapter difficult to write. The culture around cultivation is very survival of the fittest, even in the sects and schools that teach the new generation. The idea is to promote competition and reward the talented. However, you'll often see stronger students leverage their power and background to bully those weaker than them. Outside of these sects and schools, fights between cultivators can often end with one party dead. Wars between different schools can break out, causing massive destruction and loss of life. This is a very different approach to education than what is seen in the Boiling Isles and could easily cause conflict between mentor-type characters like Michael and Eda.

Space arrays are often very old and only found in large cities. Operating and maintaining them is very important to the city and thus they often have a decent fair one needs to pay to use it. Furthermore, due to how difficult it can be to work with space-based techniques, there are very few who can repair these arrays if they break, and even fewer are capable of making a new one. Finding something so small that contains an operational space array is very unusual.

Recovery- Cultivation is a long process that strengthens the body, mind, and soul. As such it takes more to hurt a cultivator the stronger they get. This also has the inverse effect of making recovery take even longer without proper healing pills. As such, even though it's been ten years since Michael got his initial injury, he is still recovering from the effects of the poison and has yet to return to his full strength.

Anyways, if you have questions feel free to ask them in the comments.

Chapter 3: Chapter 3

The sun quietly rose over the rotting beast, marking the start of Luz's fourth day on the Boiling Isles. She started her day off as she had for the last five years, working her way through the exercises her master taught her. She recalled the first time she ever did the exercises, her master woke her up at five in the morning to teach her how to do them before throwing her out. For whatever reason, the exercises had to be done during a short period of time after sunrise. What was left out was the sheer agony it would cause or the violent bought of vomiting caused by the various impurities in her body trying to escape at the same time. The sound of her retching woke up her poor mother, resulting in Luz staying home from school that day.

After a lengthy talk about giving proper warnings, Luz was convinced to continue the exercises. Thankfully, the retching only lasted a few more days, and with a significant decrease in severity. The burning sensation, however, continued until Luz's cultivation had risen by two levels. The whole ordeal lasted a year.

Today she began her routine, only for her to begin reliving that year in agonizing detail. Her muscles burned and her qi surged through her body at a worrying pace. But still, she persisted, trusting her gut to warn her before things went beyond the point of no return. She worked her way through the routine. Kick, punch, block, block, turn, kick, kick, each movement carefully performed as a result of years of practice. Finally, the thirty minutes had finished and Luz laid down on the floor using all her willpower to not just collapse where she stood. She would ask about the sudden spike in difficulty she had experienced this morning before her master left for his trip.

Luz was uncertain how to feel about the trip. While he wasn't a constant presence in her life, Luz had gotten used to him being close by whenever she needed him to be. While she leaned far more on her mother for emotional support and guidance, Michael had been there to help provide clarity and to answer her more existential questions about her rapidly expanding universe. The idea that he wouldn't be as available in a short couple of hours was uncomfortable to her like she was about to be alone for the first time in a very long time.

Luz wasn't left alone with her thoughts for long before King woke up. He had come into her room last night and joined her on the makeshift bed, curling up at her feet like a dog. She found the behavior adorable and was quickly growing fond of him. There was still the question of what exactly was King. Neither King nor Eda actually knew what kind of demon beast he was, though they also weren't familiar with the term before Luz had explained it to them. Every time Luz looked at him she felt a pull at the back of her mind. It wasn't fear exactly. It was more like whatever King was, it was something from a powerful lineage.

Eda wasn't free from Luz's wonderings either. Something about the woman had Luz on edge. It was like looking at a mouse trap set up and waiting for its victim, but the spring was broken and the trap lacked the power to really hurt anything. A danger without any threat. Luz wanted to ask but knew that the two of them didn't quite have that kind of relationship yet. Besides, her master didn't think Eda would harm Luz, so why should she worry? She was probably just overthinking it anyway.

"Good morning King," Luz said.

"Morning," King said with significantly less enthusiasm. She had quickly noticed that none of the other residents were exactly morning people, either preferring to sleep in or at least rely on what Luz assumed was a local variant of coffee or other caffeinated drink.

Luz pushed herself off the floor and made her way to the bathroom for a shower before making her way down to the kitchen. After making it downstairs she found Eda already working on breakfast for the three of them. Hooty seemed to be content with what was left over as well as any poor insect that got too close to the living house creature. Meanwhile, Michael had decided to keep to what he had in the Universe Bead, saying he had come to enjoy the way he prepared food, though Luz suspected it had something to do with how squeamish he was about the food descriptions she had given him. Never before did she think that someone who could kill without a second thought could turn green and the description of food.

Luz greeted Eda only to get the same half-hearted response she had gotten from King earlier. Instead of trying to push a conversation out of the other two, Luz decided to help out with preparing the table for breakfast. It wasn't long before she heard another set of footsteps making their way down the stairs. She turned and saw her master dressed in what she could only describe as a travel version of his regular attire. The large-sleeved robes replaced with much closer-fitting ones with the cuffs bound around his forearms. His sandals had been replaced with a sturdy-looking pair of blue boots. What caught her attention the most was the books he had in his hands. Four manuals, each containing a martial art she was to practice while he was away.

"Good morning Master. Will you be joining us for breakfast today?" Luz asked though she felt like she knew the answer already.

"No, I won't be Luz. I need to be leaving now. It will take me some time to find the person who created this whole mess, even though I know what I'm looking for." Michael said, clearly annoyed with the task in front of him. Even with all his power he can't make a person appear before him. Looking for one person across a populated star was no easy task.

He held out the books to Luz, "These are the techniques I want you to learn while I am away. The first is Divine Lightning Qi art. It will help you adjust your internal qi to the lightning attribute and is a more powerful cultivation technique than what you have been using. The next one is the Pure Lightning Body technique, a lightning attribute body technique. It will help strengthen your body and allow you to unleash explosive power once you properly master it. Third is the Lightning Palm, an easy-to-learn technique but one that has great potential if you can understand its principles. The last thing I have for you is a spear technique I want you to study, the Great Unrestrained Spear. I don't expect you to make much progress with it by the time you get back, I simply want you to see if the spear is a weapon you want to learn." Luz listened as she took the books from her master. This was the third weapon manual she had been given, having studied one for a whip and another for a sword. She wasn't very interested in learning how to use those weapons but had found they had interesting things to teach her.

Before another word could be said, he disappeared. Luz had almost expected this. Whenever her master worked on a task, that was all he would focus on, much to her annoyance on more than one occasion. With a sigh, she slipped the books into her bag and turned toward the table. Eda had seen the entire encounter but decided it was probably better to not ask too many questions. If everything she was told yesterday was true then the man was well over a thousand years old and as such entitled to a few quirks. Instead, Eda decided to place the pan of cooked eggs on the table and sit down. King pulled himself onto his chair as Luz sat down across from Eda. They all made small talk as they ate.

As their breakfast came to a close, Eda explained the plans for the day. Luz would take King and go deliver potions to Eda's customers in Bonesborough. The customers would pay for the delivery when they got there and the price was on the list. If they tried to short their payment then the two of them were to walk away with the potion. After they got back, Eda would start to teach Luz the basics of magic as well as the writing system used on the Isles.

The deliveries themselves had been mostly uneventful. The only time Luz had been in any semblance of danger was when a demon got onto her about staring at him. Luz was honestly a bit taken aback by how naturally the residents of the town interacted with each other despite the difference in race. Her master told her a few tales about the tension between the human and monster races on other stars, but here on the Isles, they all seemed to get along just fine. The trip had other benefits beyond sightseeing and people-watching. Luz learned that the local currency was called snails and was entirely coin-based. She also learned that while legally speaking Eda was a criminal, her customers were more or less fond of her for fair prices, quick delivery, and no questions asked for her medicinal potions.

The sun reached its peak as Luz and King approached their last stop for the day. According to the list, it was a pain potion for an old wizard who lived outside of town. the list it was a pain potion for an old wizard who lived outside of town. It seemed simple enough, but something had King on edge.

"What's up, King? You seem agitated." Luz asked. It was unusual to see King drop his usual bravado.

"Eh, there's something about this last delivery. I know that there's something wrong, but I can't remember what it is." King said with a frustrated growl. The nagging feeling he had was bothering him since they left town some twenty minutes ago. Something about the wizard's name was setting him on edge.

"Alright, then let's play it safe. Just grab the money and head back home. No detours, stick to the roads. Sound good?" Luz asked. While she was confident that she could handle most of the wildlife near the town, King was still a local and thus much more familiar with the dangers that could be lurking around them.

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," King replied.

Luz scooped up King and placed him on her shoulders while she increased her pace. She had been able to run faster than most people since she started her training, but after learning the flash step technique her master had she was better able to use her powers and move even faster. She figured she could probably maintain a speed of around twenty miles per hour for at least a few minutes, ten tops if she pushed it. With their increased pace they quickly made it to their destination.

The old stone tower looked flat to Luz. There was no other way to put it, the tower just looked flat. Sure it reached into the sky like any other stone tower, but the texture of the brick felt wrong. It was like she was staring at a screenshot from a video game. There was all this detail she noticed, but there was no depth to them.

The next red flag was the sign that seemed to flicker in and out of existence over the door. Real-life texture issues aside, the real issue was the sign wasn't in the same language used on the Boiling Isles, or at least the part Luz had been able to explore. No, the only other place she had seen this kind of writing before was her master's library. It was the writing system most commonly used among human civilizations. Lastly, the sign read 'Pill Flame Sect.' Luz's body tensed. King was right, there was something very wrong with this delivery, likely a trap intended for Eda.

Luz immediately turned to run, only to realize that she and King had already sprung the trap. The path they took to get here had disappeared, the only thing she could see was the strange trees of the Isles as far as she could see.

"Shit, we're trapped," Luz growled. While she was certain Eda would have something to say about using foul language around the young kid on her back, Luz was far more preoccupied with surviving the encounter.

"Can't you just use another one of those talisman things you used to get us away from Warden Wrath?" King asked, panic creeping into his voice.

"Those are best used as a last resort and besides, their range is only so far and I have no idea how large this illusion is. We could easily end up stuck in a different part and not even realize it." Luz realized their options really were limited. While Michael had seen it fit to give her a number of tools to help deal with some common traps, illusions were not on that list. Powerful illusion techniques require time to set up while fast ones were more restricted on what senses they could confuse, at best merely clouding one's thoughts for a few moments.

Turning back towards the tower, Luz saw that the door was wide open. At least she knew how to handle the situation. The only person who could let them out would be the one in control of the array. So they need to convince them to let King and her go, peacefully or otherwise. Her only other option would be to destroy the eye of the array, making it fall apart. But finding the eye was well beyond her current ability.

"Well, I guess we have no other choice than to meet the client." Luz sighed, marching into the tower. Hopefully, they were the leader of the mysterious Pill Flame sect and she could leverage her master's ability to intimidate them or convince them that she would be a talented member of their sect.

The inside of the tower was an empty room with deep shadows across the back wall. Luz fell into a ready stance as King clamored down from his perch. A series of wet slapping sounds could be heard as the door swung shut behind them, light pouring in from holes in the walls and ceiling high about them. From the darkness emerged a disgusting-looking tentacle monster.

"I guess now would be a bad time to mention I realized what was bothering me about this job," King asked sheepishly.

"A bit, though I guess this thing had a grudge with Eda," Luz responded but was far more focused on trying to figure out an escape plan.

"Ah, I see the Owl Lady has found herself a delivery girl. Tell me, girl, would she come running if she knew you were in danger?" The creature's voice felt like nails on a chalkboard.

Luz considered whether responding to it would even change anything. It was clear to her that she got caught up in some revenge scheme meant to target Eda. She probably should have guessed Eda had rivals, but that wasn't something one asked on their first day working with someone.

A tentacle rushed towards her, the beast clearly annoyed at her silence. With King standing behind her, Luz had no other option other than to try and stop the beast. With her best attempt at a battle cry, she rushed the oncoming tentacle and began to grapple it. She managed to stop it before being lifted up and slammed into the wall. She heard King call out to her, but Luz felt something inside her shift. A series of realizations hit her harder than the wall.

She was in danger.

King was in danger.

He was going to get hurt.

He was going to die.

It would be all her fault.

Luz pushed herself off the wall and landed on the ground. She finally understood what she was up against. This monster couldn't be reasoned with. It couldn't be talked to. It's mind couldn't be changed. The only language it truly understood was force. It was time Luz started speaking with force too.

She launched herself at the body of the beast, catching it off guard thanks to her flash step. Before it could react, Luz pulled her arm back and slammed her fist into the creature. The blow caused the creature to ripple, indicating it didn't have any bones. She recalled what she read in the sword manual she studied last year she uncurled her fist. The manual said that a true sword master is never without a sword, as he could make the world around him his weapon. When Michael explained it to her he said it was because sword cultivators created a type of energy that grew with their mastery and understanding of swordsmanship. If they could do that with a sword, what if she applied the same idea to her hand?

Luz covered her hand with qi and began focusing it into an edge. It was rough, even she wouldn't consider it a technique but it was her best bet at doing significant damage to this thing. She swung her hand in an arc, forcing it into the flesh of her opponent. The result was a brutal gash forming and a horrific shriek shaking the tower. Luz flashed back to King, her hand drenched in the greenish-yellow blood of her enemy. Around them the illusion broke, the tower fading into a ruin. The beast was a writhing mass of tentacles and pain. Its eyes were locked on to Luz as it began to make its escape. It didn't make it far before Luz was on its head, her other hand clenched in a fist as it made contact. The impact concussed the creature and it lazily tried to counterattack, but Luz was too fast.

King could only watch on in shock. Luz was moving faster than he had ever seen a witch or demon move. Not only that Luz was able to rip open her opponent's skin with her bare hands. The part of him that was the King of Demons was in awe at her skill, but there was a growing part of him that was scared at what he saw. This Luz seemed to be an entirely different person compared to the cheery girl he had been playing with yesterday. All he could do was stand there, uncertain of how he should feel.

Before Luz could land another blow the creature was bathed in flames from a familiar witch. Luz realized it was Eda and it was like a switch had been flipped. She looked down at her bloody hands as she felt her body begin to shake. Michael had done what he could to prepare her for the bloody life she wanted to live, but nothing he could do would have prepared her for this fight. She had caused serious injury to another living, sentient creature. Her hands were covered in its blood. But the thing that unsettled her the most was that she knew she would do it again. It decided to try and kill the two children who had shown up on its doorstep simply wanting to do what their caretaker had asked. In her mind, that was when it had forfeited its right to live.

Eda looked Luz in the eye and tried to call out to her with no effect. The girl was lost in her own mind. Eda cursed herself, she should have realized sooner that the last-minute order she got was from her competitor. She heard she pulled a significant amount of business from him, but she just figured it was because people caught on to him eating a few of his clients when they couldn't pay. Realizing she wasn't going to get an answer from Luz, Eda quickly looked her over. Nothing seemed to be broken and none of the blood was red so she guessed Luz was just in shock. A quick glance at King told her he was very much in the same state. She sighed, so much for a great first day of teaching.

While Eda began trying to figure out how to get the two shell-shocked kids back to the Owl House, Luz sat down and began cultivating. The energy around her began to build up quickly and Eda took an educated guess as to what was happening. Luz had reached an epiphany when fighting for her life. Michael had explained such insights were quite valuable and cultivators needed to act quickly to maximize their benefit. Leaving Luz to her thing, Eda began taking care of King.

It took about twenty minutes for Eda to coax King into telling her what had happened. By the time he explained everything that happened since they left the house Luz had finished with her cultivation. Eda could feel a difference in Luz this time. There was a sharpness to her aura now. It had the same feeling the magic of some of the Emperor's more competent guards had. Luz was stronger, not by virtue of raw power but by experiencing a life-or-death situation. A situation someone her age should never have to face.

"King… are you alright?" The first words from Luz were of concern for the little guy. She reached out her arms, offering a hug only for King to pull back a bit. She looked down and understood, she was still covered in blood.

King could see the pain in Luz's eyes, but it was difficult for him to simply ignore what he saw. But he was King of Demons, not King of Cowards. His subject needed to see that he was alright and grateful for her help. "Y-yes, I'm fine. I am King of Demons after all. Something like that would never s-scare me. When we get back home I'll even reward you f-for your e-excellent service."

"It's okay to be scared King, I am too," Luz responded. That statement broke them both. Without a word, King rushed Luz and began crying into her chest. Eda watched for a minute before gently coaxing them off the ground. As they walked away though, a bright light suddenly flashed behind them. When they turned around there was a small wooden box. Eda opened it and found a book bound in the same way as Luz's manuals and five rings. Figuring the mystery could wait until tomorrow she closed the lid and shoved the box in her hair before herding the two kids back home. It was a long walk and they took it slow. By the time the house came into view, the sun had begun to set. Hooty began to be his usual self when he saw his friends return, but one look told him his usual shenanigans would be very unwelcome tonight.

Dinner was a simple and quiet affair after which Luz went and washed off the rest of the dried blood before retiring to her room. She had dealt with her feelings about the fight and was now struggling with King's reaction. She had guessed he wasn't some cursed tyrant, but seeing his reaction to her fight had confirmed it. He was probably terrified of her now.

It wasn't long before she heard the door open followed by the familiar tick of claws on wood. She looked over and saw King as he closed the door behind him. He quietly walked across the room and sat next to her on the pile of spare blankets she had organized into a semblance of a bed. Luz was trying to figure out what to say when King broke the silence.

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings today. I knew you were trying to protect me, but I've never seen anyone fight like that. You were really cool at the beginning with how fast and strong you looked, but then you started to rip it apart and you stopped looking like you." King said with a shaky voice. "And you just kept going like it didn't bother you at all. Luz, have you fought someone like that before? Have you killed someone?"

Luz let King's questions settle in her mind before answering him, "No, I've never fought like that before nor have I killed anyone before. I was warned several times over the years that one day I would be in a fight that could only end with someone dead, and that the only way to win was to kill my opponent first." Luz wrapped her arm around King, pulling him close before she continued, "In the tower, I realized that not only was it the first time I had to fight like that, but that I had someone else to protect. Then it was like it all made sense to me and I just… went with it. It didn't matter, I had to protect you, keep you safe."

It was King's turn to take in what was said. Luz was scared, but she still put him first. Only Eda had done that before. Other people just saw him as an annoying kid, but not these two. King liked it when people treated him fairly, he liked Luz he decided. "Very well," he said, returning to his usual bravado, "Then as King of Demons I hereby promote you to royal guard. A great reward for your service to your king today."

Luz giggled, "I humbly accept."

"Great!" King exclaimed before letting out a yawn. The day had been both physically and emotionally exhausting.

Luz yawned too as she laid down on her improvised bed. King curled up into her side as the two fell asleep. Soon after the door creaked open once again as Eda tried to check in on Luz, only to see the two of them cuddled together sleeping soundly. With a simile she closed the door, glad the two of them didn't let the horrors of the day taint their friendship.

Far away, a departed soul watched his son. He was delighted that the little child was able to find people who were willing to care for him in a way he never could. He turned his attention to a cube floating next to him. On its surface he saw a man flying across an ocean, making his way towards the center of the great array the soul had created so long ago.

Notes:

Nothing I feel like I really need to add for additional context to this chapter. I will say I'm not a fan of how the site handles multiple end-of-chapter notes so I might look into other ways of doing this.

If you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to answer them.

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

It had been a few days since the incident at the tower and a week since Luz had come to the Boiling Isles. It was also the day Eda went into town to sell the junk she collected from the Human Realm. Hence, Luz found herself helping Eda with the stand today. It was honestly pretty boring for the most part. Most of the items Eda had were horribly misidentified, heck, she tried to sell a used deodorant stick as candy. Thankfully, with a little bit of work Luz was able to fix a few items and in turn, sell them to the passing shoppers. But it wasn't long before all they were left with was junk.

"Ugh, this is so boring." Luz groaned as she slumped on the table in front of her. It had been roughly two hours since anyone had even bothered to stop and look at what they had to sell.

"Why don't you go and practice inside the tent then?" Eda asked, "I'll be able to run the stand just fine until the next crowd hits."

"Somehow I doubt there will be another crowd." Luz replied, "Besides, it's too dangerous to practice with so many people around. Too many distractions around here."

"Then how about you work on this." Eda handed her the book from the box she found, "I found this a few days ago, but can't make out much of it. It’s written in a language I haven't seen before."

"What makes you think I would know what it says then?" Luz asked as she took the book. Eda simply shrugged as Luz flipped through a few pages. "Okay I do know how to read this, but still."

Luz began to read through the book. To her surprise, it was the last will and testament of the last sect leader of the Pill Flame Sect. It seemed the sect was on the decline for a number of years before he took over the position. Fierce fighting among independent cultivators had caused quite a few sects to suffer major blows but the Pill Flame sect had taken the brunt of it. In a last desperate act, the Pill Flame sect and two of its allies, who were frustratingly unnamed, built a joint tomb that would act as a vault for the treasures of the sects. They would then seal the entrance with five keys, three held by the Pill Flame sect and the other two given to the leaders of the other two sects. After that, the three sects dissolved, with the intention that eventually the descendants of the five individuals would come together to open the tomb and reclaim the inheritance of their sects. Sadly it seems that the plan fell apart as the years went on.

"Hey Eda, did you find anything else with this book?" Luz asked.

"Just a couple of rings, was planning to sell them later today. Why do you ask?" Eda replied, "Find something interesting about them in that book?"

"Maybe, but I want to check them out first. If I'm right, then we may have struck gold here. The book details where to find the tomb of three allied sects. If the rings are the keys, then we can head over there and claim what's there for ourselves." Luz was getting excited now, another adventure was right around the corner. If what her master had said about the tombs of cultivators was true, then she could walk away with enough resources to boost her cultivation by a few levels. "Cultivators set up tombs like this to test future cultivators' abilities. Think of it like a big testing ground."

Eda thought about it. From her conversation with Michael, she knew that cultivation used a lot of resources that just weren't widely available on the Isles, but she was also weirded out at the idea of messing around with some old dude's grave. Besides, she really didn't want to pay an oracle to get rid of a vengeful spirit.

"Are you comfortable with digging up the dead?" Eda asked. She hoped her question would make Luz think twice about what she was asking.

"No one was buried there. The tomb was made to commemorate the death of the sects and act as a vault, but since it seems that the families in charge of keeping the keys have died out it's fair game to whoever can get the door open." Luz clarified. Eda was now a bit more receptive to the idea. With how old the tomb probably was, she would likely find some old wild magic stuff mixed in with what Luz was interested in.

The two decided that their time would be better spent trying to find the tomb than trying to sell the junk they had on display. So, they packed up and made their way back to the Owl House. Once there they brought King up to speed and began going over a map of the Isles, cross-referencing it with the description of the tomb’s location from the book. It took a few hours due to the fact that the Titan's body had continued to decay over the centuries, but they had it narrowed down to about fifteen square miles in the chest region. After that they began to plan for the trip given it would take at least two days just to get to the area. After a few hours they had figured out what they had and needed to get for the trip. After that Eda finally let Luz take a look at the five rings that were found with the book.

Luz quickly realized that the rings weren't the keys they were looking for, but a special storage artifact called a space ring. It would take her a few days for her to claim each of the rings as her own, but she was certain that the keys were kept inside along with whatever else the deceased cultivators thought would be necessary for their successors to have. With a plan now set, the three retired to their beds for the night.

The next morning found Luz, Eda, and King on the beach. Normally, Luz would be excited to be on the beach. She had fond memories of visiting one with her parents when she was younger. This beach, however, was covered in foul-smelling giant slug carcasses. Eda was currently elbow-deep in one, explaining the process of dissecting the carcass and extracting the useful materials found within. Michael had done the same thing before with a much better-smelling creature, and Luz was not eager to repeat the lesson. After having enough of the teenager's moaning, Eda allowed Luz to wander off confident that she had the ability to protect herself from anything she would encounter.

Luz happily accepted the opportunity to be anywhere else and dashed away before King could issue any protests about being left with Eda. She rushed between the trees, barely stepping on the ground before launching forward again. It wasn't long before she found herself next to a dirt path through the forest. A quick glance around confirmed that Luz hadn't been through this area before. She decided to take her time and explore what she could find along the path. After flipping a coin to see which way she should go first, Luz was quietly enjoying the strange nature of her new world. The thought of the Isles being somewhere she belonged stuck in her mind for a second before a voice caught her attention.

"Come on, you can do it!" The voice came from a young witch further up the road. She seemed to be talking to a large cauldron sitting on a wooden cart. Luz was curious and decided to try and get a closer look at what was going on. Luz noted that the girl had an aura at a similar level to her own, placing her at the fourth level of Qi Gathering. Luz had figured witches gain their strength slowly over time given Eda was in the Mixed Elements stage, but most civilians were nowhere near that level.

Luz began walking up to her when the girls stepped on a flower, crushing it. Luz remembered that particular flower from one of the books from Eda's collection. It was a somewhat rare plant due to how difficult it was to raise in captivity, even with the aid of magic. A bit of a loss, but Luz had access to more powerful medicines in the form of pills.

The girl though seemed to have sensed the destruction of the plant and immediately turned around to look at it. "Oh, you poor thing. I didn't mean to step on you. Let me fix you up." With a practiced motion, the girl brought a green circle to life. A second later Luz watched as the plant began to glow green. She felt like she was witnessing a small miracle as the plant returned to its previously uncrushed state.

"That's some pretty impressive magic," Luz called out. The girl jumped at her voice, clearly, she thought there was no one else around to see her.

"Oh, that? It was nothing special." She responded nervously.

"I wouldn't say so. If I remember correctly that particular flower is one the Plant coven has really struggled to raise with magic, and you just fixed it like it wasn't that hard." Luz stuck her hand out towards the girl, "I'm Luz Noceda, nice to meet you."

"Willow Park, nice to meet you too." The girl, Willow, shook Luz's hand. Now that Luz was closer, she noted that Willow's qi had a strong affinity to the wood element, explaining her talent with the flower.

Luz turned to the wagon and asked, "What do you have here? I don't think I've seen something like this before." Now that she was closer, she could see the cauldron was filled with purple slime. Looking at it made Luz feel weird like it was some incomplete existence her mind couldn't quite comprehend.

"Don't you know what an abomination mixture looks like?" Willow asked. Abominations were widely used in Bonesborough, so maybe Luz was from somewhere else on the Titan where they weren't as common.

"No, I haven't, though I don't know much about how you guys do things around here. I only came to the Isles about a week ago." Luz responded as she continued to peer into the cauldron, the texture reminded her of a science experiment her class did in the third grade with corn starch and water. Her mom was not happy when Luz got home covered in the stuff.

Willow took a second look at Luz a noticed the small things that indicated she wasn't a witch, mainly the fact that her ears were rounded instead of pointed. "Are you human?"

Luz chuckled, "Yeah. I guess I'm still getting used to being the minority around here. I came through a portal with my master about a week ago. Unfortunately, the portal we used is refusing to open back up so he left to find a way to open it again while I study with a local potion seller." Luz decided it would be best to leave out the part where the potion seller was also a wanted criminal. After all, she wasn't sure if the guards’ guilt by association was a widely held belief or not.

"Your master? What does he teach you?" Willow had heard of apprenticeships before, but they had fallen out of favor on the Isles in favor of the academy system the residents currently used. If the rumors her friend Augustus had told her were true then the situation in the human realm was much the same, a unified academy system designed to reach more students with fewer teachers.

"Yeah, I have a master, though he doesn't teach the things normal people would study. He teaches martial arts and the art of cultivating immortality." Luz replied. Willow was a bit put off by her sincerity, but the idea of a witch, much less a magicless human, achieving immortality was absurd.

"You don't really think that possible, right Luz? Immortality is a fool’s dream." Willow asked.

"Yes and no. Master explained that only a small portion of the human race has the potential to be a cultivator, and fewer still have the luck and determination to reach their potential. I would have thought he was crazy too, but after working hard over the years I know he isn't as crazy as he sounds." Luz's confidence swayed Willow a bit. Perhaps she misunderstood and it was a religious thing like the people who believe the Emperor actually spoke to the Titan. Her satisfactory conclusion was quickly shattered by Luz.

Luz took a step towards a large boulder near the road and gathered her strength. Lightning began to crackle up and down her arm as she prepared to execute her technique. With a practiced movement, Luz thrust her right arm forward and slammed her open palm against the stone. The boulder resisted for a brief moment before cracks spread out from the point of impact. "Lightning Palm!" Luz cried out, the small bolts of lightning racing into the stone and spreading the cracks further. She turned around to see Willow staring at the boulder slack-jawed.

Before either could ask another question the sound of a second cart rolling down the path could be heard. Luz turned towards the sound, missing the look of dread that took over Willow's face. Sitting at the front of the magically propelled cart was a witch with bright green hair. Luz noted that the two witches wore the same uniform, down to the color of their selves, leading her to believe there was a school for the magical arts nearby.

"Well, what do we have hear? Did Half-a-witch find a new friend? I'd be careful if I were you, the mediocrity might rub off on you." The green-haired girl sneered. Luz had been on the receiving end of quite a number of insults, both from her won bullies and her master teaching her what he called the 'tasteful art of trash talking.' Whatever the context behind half-a-witch was, it was a weak insult.

"Hello, Amity." Willow dejectedly responded. Luz knew that kind of response, she had given it enough over the years. Amity and Willow had a history together and it wasn't good.

"So, who are you? You're not wearing a Hexside uniform, are you from another school?" Amity asked, turning her attention to the dark-skinned girl she hadn't met before.

Luz for her part refrained from responding. Amity had the telltale signs of what her master called important rich kid syndrome. Symptoms were confidence to the point of arrogance, a well-maintained appearance, and placing importance on social standing. The first step for treatment is to throw them off their game.

"So, you work with abominations Willow? Do you know if it's like puppetry?" Luz ignored Amity's question, setting a trap for her to walk in.

"Oh uh, yeah I try my…" Willow tried to explain before Amity interjected.

"You're asking Half-a-Witch Willow about abominations when Hexside's top abomination track student is right here? You must be just as clueless as her." The trap was sprung, and Luz knew this could end up turning into a mess down the line.

"Sorry, I don't speak bitch, bitch." The shock on Amity's and Willow's faces told her that not only did they understand the insult, but it had landed exactly how she wanted it to.

Amity felt her face go red as she sputtered at the insult. No one had ever dared to talk to her like that in her life. She was Amity Blight, a person who had everything going for her in life. How could some nobody dare to talk to her like that? She was about to summon her abomination before she remembered she had other more important things to take care of that morning. With a deep breath, she collected herself before facing her aggressor again. The look in Luz's eyes chilled her to the bone. The dark-skinned girl was ready to fight and showed no signs of wanting to back down. Amity decided the high road would be a much safer option when it came to dealing with her.

"I don't have time to deal with you but let me give you one more warning before I go. Stay away from Half-a-witch, she only brings out the worst in others." Amity felt confident in her response. It was to the point and warned the girl about Willow's low social standing.

"You know, if you really are a top student like you say then you should be able to come up with a better insult." The voice was coming from behind her now. Without Amity or Willow being able to notice, Luz had flash stepped onto the cart and was stilling on the cauldron behind Amity. "I suggest you be a bit more polite next time we meet. I don't like giving trash a second chance."

 

Luz jumped off the cart and walked back over to Willow. While Amity wanted to get the girl back, she knew that she was short on time and wasn't in the right head space to win. She had never met anyone as instantly unlikable as this dark-skinned witch. Urging her cart onwards, Amity began to think of ways she could get back at the girl the next time she saw her.

"Are you okay Willow? That Amity girl seemed to get at you there." Luz asked with a concerned tone. She had been the victim of her own share of bullying. All she wanted was for someone else to stand up for her, show all the bullies that they weren't welcome. But as a bit of a loner, there was no one to come to her aid. At least now she had got to be there for someone else.

"Uh, oh yeah, I'm fine. But Luz, do you realize wh…" Willow was quickly cut off by Luz.

"I just hate people like her. They think that just because they're a little better than others they think they can just go and treat them however they want." Luz stomped her foot down, "ARG, I just hate that. And what was the complete lack of creativity with the insults? Why did she even call you half a witch? From what I've seen around town people aren't treated differently for their appearance or family."

"Oh, well she's not the only one to call me that." Willow said dejectedly, "There's a few others that call me that too cause I'm an abomination witch who can't summon a proper abomination."

Luz blanked for a second, her brain somehow struggling to process what she heard. After a moment she gathered her thoughts enough to continue the conversation, "You're telling me that you're being bullied cause you aren't good at the magic you're studying?"

"Yeah." Willow sighed, Luz would probably join in. Even though Luz was human she probably would see Willow's inadequacies as damning as others did.

"That's stupid." Luz bluntly stated, "Why should you be treated differently cause you fail in one area of magic, especially when you're extremely talented in another area. I may be new to your brand of magic, but I've studied enough to know that not many witches could bring that flower back to life like you did. Beyond that, I can feel that your magic naturally leans towards the wood element. If anything, your teachers should have you focus on that over trying to do whatever it is abomination witches do." Luz fumbled a bit at the end, realizing that Eda didn't have any books on abomination magic.

"It's my dads who wanted me to learn abominations. They said there were more opportunities in that field than there are in plant magic." Willow was a bit put off by Luz's enthusiastic rant, but the truth was Willow didn't want to disappoint either of her fathers.

"Have you talked to them about it?" Willow looked at Luz a bit stunned. She had wanted to, but they were so adamant that it would be best for her to stick it out. Luz seemed to pick up on that. "My master used to tell me stories of his own adventures and the things he learned. One thing that he learned early on is that it doesn't matter how many opportunities there are if you're not strong enough to take them. Your dads will understand you if you take the time to talk with them."

Willow didn't have much time to reflect on Luz's words as she heard a distant scream, letting her know she was now late for class. "Shit, I'm late for class." With a flick of her hand, the cart surged forward down the path.

She turned to say goodbye to Luz only to see that the human girl had already disappeared, leaving only a note on the ground. Willow read it to see that Luz wished her luck with talking to her dads later that day and that she’d keep an eye out for her the next time Luz was in town. Willow was a bit sad that she couldn't properly say goodbye to her new potential friend, but she knew there were only so many potion makers in Bonesborough. She'd also have to remember to tell Augustus about meeting an actual human.

Up above, Luz stood on a branch and watched Willow walk away, following her cart towards her school. Luz didn't really want to just disappear on her like that but figured it would be easier to check out the school on her own. Michael had shared a few tales about dealing with families and sects defending their secrets. Though it seemed unlikely, Luz didn't want to take the chance to see if they would let her wander around unsupervised. Digging around her bag for a second, Luz pulled out a talisman. This particular one was a concealment talisman that should hide her from anyone on the Isles, or at least she hoped. Michael explained that it would be difficult for anyone below the Immortal Boundary realm to detect her, he also told her that didn't mean it was impossible.

It wasn't long until Luz found herself at Hexside Academy. While the grounds seemed to be empty, a quick glance through a window showed that classes had simply started for the day. With not much else to do, Luz began to wander around the halls, occasionally glancing into the various classrooms. Each hallway seemed to be dedicated to one of the several different schools of magic found on the Isles. Luz saw illusions, healing, beast taming, abomination, and a few others she couldn't figure out by what they were by simply watching from outside. In between classes, Luz watched as students made their way around the hall, literally fighting their lockers, and chatting with friends they met in the hallway.

Luz tried her best to avoid bumping into anyone as she moved through the hallway when she felt something change around her. A quick check confirmed that the concealment talisman was still working and securely pinned in place, but something still felt off. It was only after the students had cleared the hallway to start their next class that Luz realized what was different. The qi around her was thicker than it was in the surrounding forest. Luz figured there had to be a reason for this and began to look around a bit closer, trying to figure out what was going on. While the amount of qi can vary from place to place, such a noticeable shift usually has a cause. Carefully making her way outside, Luz found herself on some kind of game field. She wandered around for a while but couldn't find the cause of the dense qi she felt in the area before the next bell rang. Deciding that it could wait, Luz made her way back inside and began looking for a familiar face.

Unfortunately for her, the familiar face she found belonged to Amity Blight. The girl was flanked by two others Luz figured were either her friends or cronies. Luz turned around to go look elsewhere when a hand suddenly grabbed her and began pulling her through a door. After being thrown into a chair, Luz saw that her attacker was an old man. Her fear of being found quickly grew as she noticed on the man's desk a nameplate that read Principle Bump. She had been found by the man in charge of the school she had just spent the last couple of hours sneaking around. She. Was. Screwed.

"Now, I don't know who you are, but I recommend you drop that invisibility spell." Principle Bump was not happy to learn that there was an intruder but had to admit that their illusion skills were quite exceptional. It had taken him quite a long time to pinpoint their location, but not much else.

Luz knew she was trapped. While this Bump person was only in the Mixed Element realm like Eda, he had still been able to find her while under concealment. She pulled the talisman off the front of her shirt, the paper crumbling into dust as its power was spent. Luz tried to remain calm in the presence of her strongest opponent yet. If it came to blows all she could do was try to escape with as few injuries as possible and make her way back to the Owl House. She just hoped Eda would be there or that Hooty could hold Bump off if he managed to follow her.

"So young lady, what is your name and why were you stalking around the school under an invisibility spell?" Bump doubted it was a traditional invisibility spell given that the girl in front of him wasn't a witch or demon, but a supposedly magicless human.

"My name is Luz and I guess I was just curious about what happened here," Luz mumbled the last part.

"I'm sorry dear, but could you speak up? My hearing isn't as good as it used to be." Bump had plenty of experience dealing with children and teens. He picked up that Luz was going for a stall tactic, mumbled her way through a few answers, and hoped he would get bored or frustrated enough to let her go.

"I said I was just curious about the school," Luz replied with a bit more enthusiasm.

"Now Miss Luz, why were you sneaking around under an invisibility spell if you were simply curious about our school? Surely it would have been easier to have your guardian bring you here for a tour." Bump wanted to believe her. There was a sincerity in her that he had learned to pick up over the years, but she was also still on guard against him.

"It's… complicated." Luz began trying to think of what to tell him. She was bad at lying, that's why her master always came up with a cover story when she needed one, but the truth would most likely sound even more outlandish than anything she could come up with.

"Surely it can't be more complicated than a human suddenly finding themselves in another world." Bump took a leap. He was sure this girl was still relatively new to the Isles. Maybe if he could convince her he was trustworthy then she would let him help her.

"My martial master flew off to try and find someone strong enough to twist space in the next two months while I stay with a wanted criminal in their sentient house," Luz stated with a deadpan expression, her hands itching to reach into her bag for an escape talisman.

 

Bump didn't quite know how to respond to that. There was a conflict between what he knew and what he was told and seen today. On one hand, it was a documented fact that humans could not use magic the way that witches did, it was supposedly a simple fact of their biology. However, he had in front of him a human who, until a few minutes ago, managed to cast a high-level invisibility spell. A spell that would be beyond the ability of most members of the Illusionist Coven. Thankfully she wasn't aware of how well he knew the witches that lived around the school, especially former students who now had criminal records.

"So, you're staying with Miss Clawthrone then. Well, that makes finding someone responsible for you easier, despite your exaggerations." Bump should have known the only one who sells human items would have managed to find a human on the Isles. He then rummaged through his desk and pulled out his scroll and began searching his contacts. Despite her best efforts to be a recluse, Bump had managed to establish contact with her a couple of years ago to help out with getting students their own palisman. They ended up establishing an adoption event for abandoned palisman. It was quite a successful event and one that students looked forward to every year.

It took a few seconds for Eda to answer his call, "Hey Bumpkins, what's this about? You're not calling 'cause you miss your favorite troublemaker, are you?" Bump refused to acknowledge the nickname and simply spun the scroll around so Eda could see Luz in his office.

"Ah, shit." Came the reply.

Notes:

After several attempts, here's chapter 4.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Eda thought that today was going to be an okay day. It couldn't be a good day cause today she planned to take Luz and King to the beach where the dead trash slugs washed up. While they were an excellent source of human junk, their smell was awful enough to ruin your day. So when Eda saw that Luz knew her way around a carcass and would rather be anywhere else she decided to the teenager run off, confident that she wouldn't get into any trouble that she couldn't handle.

But getting a call from Bump only to see Luz sitting in his office was beyond the kind of trouble Eda thought Luz was capable of. Eda had seen some of what Luz was capable of and the various tricks Michael had left with her to avoid situations like this, which meant Eda had to go and bail Luz out of whatever situation she landed herself in. Hopefully, it was just trespassing.

"Ah, shit." Eda knew she couldn't wiggle her way out of this conversation if Bump was calling her. "I'll be down there in a bit to pick her up."

"Oh, you'll do more than that Miss Clawthrone. I have several questions that you're going to answer about this child." Bump coldly replied. Eda figured Luz tried to explain herself and either lied badly or told the truth, which probably sounded like a lie.

Eda quickly packed up all the junk she and King had managed to find and flew off to 'rescue' Luz. The flight took about twenty minutes, and it was a strangely worrying twenty minutes for Eda. She knew Luz could handle herself if she got in trouble and she knew Bump enough to know that he wouldn't harm a teenager unless they met some very specific requirements. But still, Eda couldn't shake the sense of worry building in her chest until they landed in front of the school.

It was a quick and familiar walk to the door to Bump's office. With a quick knock, Eda and King entered the office. Bump looked up from his paperwork and Luz looked over her shoulder to see who it was. Eda quickly took her seat as King climbed into Luz's lap. "So, what did you call me down here for? I doubt we're all here just because you found Luz here trespassing on school grounds."

"Ah, yes, thank you for joining us so quickly Miss Clawthrone. I understand you are currently looking after young Miss Luz here. I was hoping you could answer some questions about her, starting with how a human wound up on the Boiling Isles? Perhaps after that tale, you could help her explain how she was able to perform high-level illusion magic without a spell circle?" Bump asked. He had tried to get a bit more information from Luz, but she kept giving him the same answers about her master.

"I wasn't aware you knew how to perform any illusion techniques," Eda said, turning to Luz.

"I don't. Remember how I told you Master Michael gave me several types of talismans? One of them is a concealment talisman. It obscures the user from most forms of detection while it’s affixed to their person." Luz explained.

Eda turned towards Bump, "As hard as that may be to accept, it’s the truth. I met her master and pulling off something like that is very much within his ability."

"And you expect me to just accept that? While I do admit you have grown quite a bit since you left this school Miss Clawthrone, what you're saying is well beyond everything we understand, not only about humans, but magic itself." Bump responded defensively.

Eda sighed and began to fill Bump in on what Michael had told her about, having Luz show off what she could as Eda went along. The conversation took up the rest of the school day apparently, as the scream signaling the end of the day echoed from the halls as she finished. "Look, while I don't expect you to understand or believe everything I told you, Titan knows I don't, it is the truth that Luz has a master teaching her mystic arts and that he left saying he would be back in two months' time at most. Until then Luz's safety and education are somewhat my responsibility."

Bump mulled over his thoughts a bit before turning to Luz, "Why don't you and the little one head on out? I think Miss Clawthrone and I have quite a bit more to discuss." Luz didn't waste a second, dashing out of the room with King in her arms.

Luz carefully ran through the throng of students making their way out of the building. It was difficult for her to move as quickly as she would have liked, but soon enough they found themselves outside and as luck would have it, Luz saw a familiar face. Well, she saw two familiar faces, unfortunately. Willow and another boy were being confronted by a few other students, though their target seemed to be Willow, and the poor boy was just getting caught in the crossfire. The other face belonged to Amity, though strangely she seemed entirely disinterested in what was going on. She seemed more of a bystander than the antagonist she was when Luz saw her earlier in the day.

"Hey Luz, why are we stopping?" King asked, a bit impatient to get home.

"I just recognized someone I met earlier today, that's all." Luz quickly replied.

In one of his 'rare' moments of insight, King figured it was one of the kids being bullied. "They need help, don't they."

"It kinda looks like it." She was already feeling the anticipation of a fight. She didn't want to fight, but she couldn't sit by and watch the bullying continue.

"Then as your king, I command you to protect your friend. Reign your fury upon their aggressors!" King called out, slipping back into his tyrant persona.

Luz chuckled, "As you wish my king." She moved King to her shoulders and then flashed behind Willow and her friend.

"Hey Willow, sorry I disappeared on you earlier today." Luz saw everyone jump as she spoke, turning to see who the newcomer was. Willow seemed relieved, the boy seemed to stare at Luz with awe, Amity annoyed, and the rest of her group seemed mostly startled.

It was the three-eyed girl who spoke up first, "Who the hell are you?" She seemed to present herself as the leader of the group, which Luz didn't expect. From their brief interaction earlier in the day Luz thought that Amity would be the leader of the group.

Either way, Luz wasn't going to let this drag on longer than it needed to be. "I wasn't talking to you. Think you would have noticed seeing that the heavens decided to give you an extra eye." Without bothering to see if her insults had even worked, Luz turned her body away from the others. The bait was set.

"I was really curious about the school and ran ahead to check it out. Ended up getting caught by the principal though." Luz said, rubbing the back of her head at admitting she got caught. "Anyways, who is your friend?"

Willow moved to introduce them when one of the bullies interjected, "Excuse you, we were having a conversation with Half-a-Witch."

Luz watched as Willow flinched at the name, giving Luz her justification to retaliate. Looking over her shoulder, Luz mustered all her ill will towards the three-eyed girl who spoke out. Without a word Luz sent a small bolt of lightning at her, giving the girl a mild shock. The girl yelped as she jumped back from the unexpected shock. "The conversation is over," Luz said, hoping the effect of venom dripping in her voice translated from her thoughts, "I suggest you and your friends move on before I decide to make you."

The three-eyed leader took a step forward, only for a purple tentacle wrapped around her wrist. Eyes moved back to where Amity was watching, spell circle still hanging in the air. "Enough Boscha, if you get caught fighting on school grounds again Principle Bump will kick you off the team and spend the rest of the year in detention."

"Oh Amity, it's been too soon," Luz called out. Luz really wanted Boscha to swing at her, it would have expedited the whole process. Fortunately for Boscha, Amity had a good head on her shoulders. Luz decided to settle with the slower process of slinging insults.

Amity, however, was not in the mood to go another round with the strange girl she met that morning in the woods. With a flick of her wrist, the abomination matter withdrew of Boscha's wrist and returned to the flask hanging from her belt. Without a word to anyone, Amity turned and walked down the path, disappearing into the throng of students heading home. Boscha turned to look at Luz before storming off into the crowd, followed by her friends and cronies.

Satisfied that the bullies had been dealt with for now, Luz turned to face her potential friend, "So where were we with…"

"That was so cool! I've never seen anyone casually stand up to Boscha like that before!" It was as if the boy had suddenly sprung to life. He was quickly moving around Luz and King while excitedly blabbing on about how cool Luz was. Luz felt the blush creep up her face listening to it all, she had never been praised so enthusiastically before.

"Augustus, calm down." Willow cried out, "This is who I was telling you about earlier, the human I met in the woods. Luz, this is my friend Augustus. He studies illusions here at Hexside."

Luz stretched her hand out towards the currently vibrating boy, "Hey Augustus, nice to meet you. I'm Luz Noceda. Is it alright if I call you Gus?"

 

To say Augustus lost it would have to imply he had it together before that moment. He didn't. He was meeting a human. A real human! And she was offering to shake his hand. His poor mind had a hard time keeping up at this moment. He grabbed her hand and began to vigorously shake it. Luz almost lost her balance with how hard he was shaking and King was forced to jump off her shoulders. "Hey! Watch it!" He called after landing on the ground.

Augustus caught on to the fact that he was being a bit much and tried to tone it back. "Sorry, I just never thought I would ever get to meet a real human. The last one spotted in the Isles was at least three to four hundred years ago." He finally calmed down enough to let go of Luz's hand which he was certain he had gripped too hard.

"Well, if that's the case I guess I can understand the enthusiasm. If I had been dropped on the Isles without knowing what I do, I probably would have had a similar reaction." Luz replied grinning. There was something about the energy people like Augustus had that she found infectious. "So, can I call you Gus? Augustus seems a bit like a mouthful to say all the time."

"Oh certainly!" Gus, as he started to refer to himself, was excited to have his own human nickname. He had so many questions and knew just the one to ask first. "How did you do the lightning-shock thing you did to Boscha? All records we have of humans say that they can't do magic, but you did it without even drawing a spell circle."

Willow also noticed Luz didn't use a spell circle either time she used her abilities. The spell circle was fundamental to how the witches of the Boiling Isles channeled their magic, so what was the secret that made their methods so different? Luz didn't seem to have a good answer, "I'm not really sure. My best guess from watching people cast their spells is that you externalized part of the process. The size of the spell circle determines the amount of energy you put into a spell, right?"

Both Willow and Gus nodded before Luz continued, "So when I perform a technique, I have to actively adjust the amount of power each time. However, the trade-off seems to be a better-developed control of my energy than a witch practicing for the same amount of time."

"What do you mean by that?" Gus asked.

"You guys start casting spells when you're kids right? When I was wandering around the campus the youngest class, I saw doing practical studies seemed to be around nine or ten. I've only been able to do any lightning stuff for about a week, even though I have been practicing cultivation for several years." Luz replied, satisfied with her conclusion.

There were a lot of questions whirling around their heads at that moment, a lot of things they didn't understand. Willow and Gus shared a quick glance before Willow asked the next question, "What is cultivation?"

What followed was an hour of the three of them going back and forth trying to understand the other’s methods. While Willow and Gus could say they learned enough to understand the basics of what Luz was talking about, Luz was nowhere closer to being able to cast a spell than she was at the start of the day. The conversation would have continued, but the two witches had to head home, their respective parents would be expecting them to be home soon, and they had homework to do. Willow especially had a lot since she planned to talk to her dads about changing tracks at school, a talk Luz wished her luck with as they parted ways promising to meet up again tomorrow after school.

Luz and King had been walking home for about five minutes before Eda caught up to them. The two joined her on her staff and they flew off towards the house. They flew for another ten minutes before arriving. Luz gave a quick greeting to Hooty as they passed through the door. King jumped from his perch on Luz's shoulders and made his way up the stairs, worn out from the long day he had. Luz for her part crashed on the couch, the drain from the day's activities finally catching up with her. Eda wandered off into the kitchen before joining Luz with a mug in her hands.

The two sat in silence for a while before Eda finally spoke, "You know you ended up leaving an impression on ol' Bump. He offered to let you enroll next semester if you were interested in learning magic."

Luz turned to her mentor, "I thought you hated how things worked, you even have a memorized rant about how the coven system sucks."

"I do NOT have a…" Eda stopped herself. "That's beside the point. The point is that your little talisman impressed him enough to take the risk of accepting a human into one of the best schools on the Isles. He made it clear he was willing to deal with all the red tape if you decided you wanted to study there."

Luz considered It for a bit. Michael had often gone over the benefits and drawbacks of joining the different organizations that existed in the world of cultivation. While the most common one was the sect, traditional school structures also existed and were among his favorites. He often cited the large amount of available recourses and learning opportunities along with the more relaxed loyalty requirements. While both sects and academies expected absolute loyalty from their students, a sect demanded a lifelong commitment while academies allowed their students to leave and pursue other opportunities after their instruction ended. The idea was a lot like being an alumnus of a university back home.

Of course, the idea of spending more time with her new friends was a big positive.

The only downside was that she had no way to learn any spells.

"It sounds like it could be fun, but we don't even know if I can cast any spells like you do," Luz replied.

Eda paused for a minute. While it was true that a cultivator could do everything a witch could do, the methods they took to reach those results were still different. If Michael were here, he may have the necessary knowledge to translate or replace the spells Luz would need to perform, but he was who knows where at this point. This left the two women on their own to figure out a problem that may very well not have a solution. "How about tomorrow we start you on actual magic lessons, see if we can't bridge the gap between our skill sets?"

Luz smiled, "That sounds great!"

The evening went on like any other. After dinner, Luz went up to her room and noticed that her bracelet was glowing. She had taken it off a few days ago since she thought her master would be busy and the failsafe, he put on it wouldn't be functional for another few months. But now it was glowing. She reached down and grabbed the bracelet. Immediately her mind was filled with a message from her master.

"Luz, I have reached the center of the array and have made contact with the one who set it up. Unfortunately, it was much like how I predicted it would be. The array is fine for now, but the one who made it is starting to fade, his soul can't hold on for more than a year at this rate. I'm going to take my time to adjust the array and help stabilize our new friend. Tell Eda that these adjustments are going to take some time, but I'll still be able to keep my end of the deal. Be diligent and take your time with your cultivation. If you have any questions reach out to me around sunset, I'll try to pace myself so I can be available then."

Luz was relieved to hear from her master again. It felt like she let go of a breath she didn’t know she was holding. She was fully aware that he was a capable and accomplished cultivator, but the entire time she had known him was when he was injured and trying to recover from a powerful poison. Still, he confirmed that she was for sure going to be here for the next two months and she decided to make the most of it. Friends, magic, and adventure had all presented themselves to her and she was going all in.

 

In a faraway space, Michael watched his apprentice receive his message. The center of the array was similar to what his old friend had explained to him a few hundred years ago but also had its own unique features. The main one was its ability to display any individual one wanted to see but could only show them through the nearest reflective surface. An odd limitation, one he had learned was just a quirk of how the array was set up. Satisfied that Luz had received the whole message, Michael moved to the center of the array and began the adjustments.

Notes:

Sects and academies are functionally the same in stories where they appear side by side, but academies are understood to be temporary. They're just a place for the protagonist to get stronger and meet a few recurring characters before moving on. Sects on the other hand are more like joining a family or community. There's an expectation that when you join a sect you're going to live there for the rest of your life and follow the will of the sect. While students of academies display a similar level of loyalty, it is more like someone repping the university they went to.

Fun fact, the singular form of alumni is alumnus. That's right, alumni is plural.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Luz watched the storm clouds as they approached the house. She was excited to follow through with her plan. She had been struggling with the Pure Lightning Body technique. It required a lot of lightning energy to practice and while her own lightning had an effect, it was nowhere near enough to provide significant results. A note in the margins of the book gave her an idea though. Why not use actual lightning? Normal people survived being stuck by lightning before, and she was now a lot stronger than normal people. So, when she noticed the storm on the horizon, she got Hooty to take her to the top of the tower. And there she waited. All she had to do was cycle the technique and wait for the lightning to strike. While it may not be a huge breakthrough, it would be enough for her to at least make progress toward the first level of the technique.

Unfortunately, that left Luz on the roof of the tower for about three hours before the storm was overhead. While cultivating for that long wasn't much of a problem, waiting was still something she struggled with. But finally, she could see the arcs of lightning streaking across the sky. The storm was overhead and all she had to do was wait, carefully leaning against the lightning rod on the top of the house. She was willing to wait as long as it took, even if she was soaked to the bone. She was not ready for the rain to actually burn her. In hindsight, it was pretty obvious that the Boiling Isles would have boiling rain.

"Why does the rain burn?" Luz cried out as she ran into the house.

Eda and King both shouted out in alarm, "BOILING RAIN!" Eda rushed outside to throw up a shielding spell while King ran to get burn cream from the medical supplies. Luz's body had thankfully gotten tougher as a result of her practice, but only enough to prevent serious burns in the short amount of time she spent in the rain. By the time Eda had come back inside King had applied half a jar of ointment and a box of bandages on every little mark he saw on Luz.

"Well, the barrier is up, but I think this storm is going to last for the rest of the day. Looks like you won't be able to meet up with those new friends of yours." Eda said as she started to clean up the mess King made.

"Yeah, and the idea of boiling alive on the off chance I get struck by lightning doesn’t sound too fun." One look at Eda's reaction was enough to confirm that Luz sounded as crazy as she thought she did.

"I am not going to ask," Eda responded as she stood up to put the ointment away. King figured it was one of those human cultivation things that let Luz do all the cool things she did.

"Looks like it’s going to be a long day being stuck inside," Luz grumbled.

"Well, it may not be ideal, but we still have your magic lesson today," Eda replied. Luz perked up at that, while there was a chance that she wouldn't be able to cast any spells there was also the possibility that she would learn something she could apply to her own techniques.

"Then let's get started!" Luz said.

Eda chuckled at how quickly her attitude had changed. "Alright, let's start with the basics then. Where does magic come from?"

"The daitan." Luz immediately replied. Eda was a bit unsure how to respond. While the daitan was the source of a cultivator's power, she was always taught that magic came from the bile sac on a witch's heart.

"No, points for an educated guess though. While your master is pretty confident that humans and witches are physiologically the same, witches theorize that magic comes from a special sac that produces magically bile located on the heart." Eda pulled out a diagram of what the heart and sac looked like.

Luz stared at it for a bit. "Have you seen or felt your bile sac?"

Eda paused again. While she believed what she was teaching Luz, she also couldn't answer Luz's question with any certainty. After a second, she carefully replied, "While I don't feel my bile sac working, I know that my magic comes from somewhere, just like how you don't feel your intestines while they work but you know they're there."

Luz accepted this answer. Thought it did lead to a new question, "How do you expect me to cast a spell If I don’t have a bile sac?"

"I predict that your daitan should be able to act as a substitute for a witch's bile sac. From what I've seen and been told there isn't a difference between what you understand as qi and the wild magic that surrounds the Isles. Given that we found evidence of several cultivations sects being present on the Isles, it is my educated guess that before witches evolved bile sacs magic was restricted to those with a talent for cultivation." Eda explained. It wasn't exactly a solid thesis, but it was the best reconciliation between what she learned about wild magic and cultivation. "If we want to do more research into that theory, we would have to visit that tomb we learned about."

"And that's still going to be a few weeks away." Luz followed up.

"Right! Anyways, when a witch wants to cast a spell they begin to channel their magic and then draw a spell circle in the air. I can't really explain how to do that part, it's mostly instinctual, like moving an arm or leg. While drawing the circle the witch focuses on what they want the spell to do. The first spell every witch learns is the light spell." Eda quickly spun her finger in the air, a pale-yellow circle forming in the air. There was a slight flicker before it collapsed into a small ball of light. Luz was enraptured by it, feeling a sense of wonder she hadn't felt in a long time. While Michael had opened the door to a world of possibilities, it was a world that was more or less well understood. Sure, he didn't know everything, but that didn't mean someone else did. Magic on the other hand was still new to Luz, something not entirely understood yet. Luz continued to watch the little ball of light until Eda waved her hand to dispel it.

"The light spell is fundamental for each witch to learn. It allows each witch to practice their control in a safe way, as well as providing the greatest defense against the beasts of the Isles. Most beasts will only attack prey they think they can approach undetected. As such the light spell has been as important to us as fire has been to humans." Eda continued her lecture. "Now you try it. Channel your qi into your hand a draw the spell. Focus on what you want."

Luz closed her eyes and held out her hand. At her command, a small strand of qi flowed out of her core and into her finger. She opened her eyes and quickly traced a circle in the air, a light blue circle appearing in the air. As she closed the circle everyone watched in anticipation, but the circle didn't change. After a few seconds, the circle slowly faded out of existence. Disappointed, Lus turned to her teacher.

"Well, I guess it would have been wishful thinking for you to get it on your first try," Eda said, a bit dejected at the results. Luz was able to form a circle using her qi, but there was still something missing. Sighing, she relaxed on the couch. The feeling of the curse rearing its ugly head was starting to seep into her bones. The barrier had apparently drained her more than she thought, yet another sign that the curse was progressing a bit faster than in years past.

Luz's thoughts were focused on the spell attempt. She was missing something, she knew it. Luz noticed that before Eda's spell manifests the circle had flickered, but her own circle held steady until it faded out. Maybe magic was some kind of bloodline ability unique to the witches of the Boiling Isles?

"Hey Eda, can I get a recording of you casting the light spell a few more times? I'd like to have something I can look back on in case inspiration hits." Luz asked as she dug through her space bag.

"Sure thing, but after that, I think I'm going to head upstairs for a nap. This weather seems to be taking it out of me." Eda replied. Once Luz had her phone ready Eda quickly cast several light spells, making sure to give Luz as much variation as she could, drawing the circle at different speeds and sizes in hopes that some minute detail would give the girl the clue she needed. After that, Eda was true to her word and walked up the stairs with a yawn. A few moments later Luz and King heard the distinct sound of Eda's door closing. Luz replayed the video a few times, trying to glean as much as she could from it. Eda had cast each spell basically the same every time, the only thing that seemed out of place was the strange flicker Luz saw before each spell manifested. After a few minutes, Luz shut the phone off and placed it in her pocket, promising herself to look at it later.

King took the moment to capture Luz's attention, "Since your magic lesson is cut short until you can figure out the light spell and you can't go outside to cultivate, how about I teach you about my many subjects?"

Luz raised an eyebrow, "Are you saying you want to teach me about the different demons that call the Isles home, or do you just want to test how well I remember your different soldiers and generals again?" King had introduced Luz to his army of stuffed animals he had accumulated over the years, memorizing the names of each one quickly thanks to the hours of mental conditioning Michael put her through.

"The demons of course," King said, rolling his eyes. He got up and ran up the stairs. Luz listened to the clicking of his claws on the wood as he went to get his demon encyclopedia. Soon she her the click-thump sound of King making his way back down the stairs. Luz got off the couch and lay down on the floor as King placed his book on the ground. They spent the next couple of hours reviewing the different demons found around the Boiling Isles. It was a rare moment where King dropped the bravado and acted like the kid Luz thought he really was.

All seemed calm in the Owl House. The rain fell harmlessly against the barrier, thunder echoing in the distance. King had lost interest in showing off his people to Luz and instead curled up next to her for a nap while Luz dozed off. Everything felt calm, and pleasant even for Luz. How long had it been since she felt like this? Her mom wasn't bad by any means, but here Luz was comfortable and free from the pressures of a place she really didn't fit in. A sense of melancholy filled Luz as she thought about her mom. She missed her and hoped that she would forgive Luz for dropping off the face of the earth for a couple of months.

Suddenly there was a crash upstairs. Both Luz and King bolted up, listening for any further disturbances. Luz felt a shiver creep up her spine and could see the fur on King's back rise up. The two quickly and quietly moved up the stairs towards Eda's room. Halfway there they heard it, the scraping sound of claw against wood. Something was in the house, something big. Without thinking, Luz grabbed King and dashed into a nearby closet. Leaning against the door with her hand holding King's mouth shut, Luz listened as the scraping sound got closer and closer. Her heart had leaped its way into her throat as she felt the oppressive aura of the monster. It was a fourth-grade monster, something far beyond her power level. If they were to have any hope of driving the beast off, she would need Eda's help. The sound moved down the stairs and out of earshot.

"We need to get to Eda," Luz said in a hushed whisper. King simply nodded his head, too scared to talk at that moment.

After cracking the door open to confirm the beast had moved on, the two quickly exited the closet and made their way to Eda's room. What they found there shocked them both. The room was torn to pieces and the large window was smashed. Worst of all, there was no trace of the witch they had hoped to find. Eda was gone, and not a trace of her could be found. Panic began to fill Luz at this point. She was trapped in a house miles from the nearest settlement. Any help she could call from Bonesborough would be delayed by the boiling rain and Michael would be out of reach for another few hours at least. The same rain that delayed potential rescuers also trapped them inside the house, keeping Luz from grabbing King and running for it.

King wasn't faring any better. His bravado was forgotten as he shook like a scared child, "It got Eda. It killed and ate her. You won't let that happen to us, right Luz?"

Luz felt her hear tbreak. Eda was missing, possibly dead, and there was a monster stalking the halls of his home, the one place he should feel safe. But there was nothing she could do, she wasn't strong enough to fight the beast head-on without a plan nor did she know anything that could drive it off. She just didn't know enough to save anyone. Michael or Eda could fight the beast, take them somewhere else, or a million other things that could make the situation better. Luz just didn't know enough yet. Before either of them could spiral any further there was another crash, this time they were sure it was from the living room.

Moving quickly, they made it down the stairs to see a massive creature wrestling with Hooty, who had snaked his way into the house through an open window. The two thrashed around the room, breaking several pieces of furniture. The beast struggled against Hooty's flexibility, but it did eventually break free. When it did, it raked its claws against the house demon's body before grabbing his head and slamming it into the ground. Luz could only hope that Hooty was still alive.

A flash of lightning illuminated the room enough for Luz and King to see the beast clearly. It was incredibly large, even on all four legs it stood almost ten feet tall and was about fifteen feet from head to tail. Its body was covered in feathers with massive, folded wings on its back. But what chilled Luz the most was its face. The creature had a very human face, with eyes so dark Luz could only describe them as soulless. The face itself was also stretched wide and sported a pair of long ears. But the worst part had to be its mouth, fixed in an eerie grin. This was a creature of malice so great that it did not sustain itself off of flesh and blood, but off of the suffering and torment of its prey. Pure evil had invaded this home.

Luz began to turn away when the beast let out a ghastly scream. Its roar echoed in her mind and seemed to rattle her soul. Dread filled her heart as Luz realized what that scream was. It was a soul attack, meant to disrupt and break the mind and will of its victim. It took all that Luz had to grab Kind and use her flash step to escape.

Their exit was far from graceful, each turn resulting in Luz slamming into the wall in her mad dash to get them to whatever safety they could find. The beast wasn't chasing them, but the fear it etched into Luz's mind had her feeling the beast’s fangs on her neck. King was shaken but thankfully seemed to avoid the brunt of the attack. Luz made it to her room and quickly slammed the door behind her before collapsing against it. Tears began to pour down her face, fear tearing at her mind. King curled up under her chin, his own tears staining her shirt.

In the depths of her space bag, a glass flower began to glow. Its light gradually increased in intensity and variety until a rainbow of light began to shine through the bag. The light reflected around the room and soothed the injured souls of the children. Slowly, over the course of several minutes, their heartbeats began to slow down, and their tears stopped flowing. With its work done for now, the light of the glass flower dimmed back into darkness.

Luz, unaware of the events that happened around her, finally got her breathing under control and was able to assess the situation. It wasn't good, in fact, it was probably worse than she had initially thought. The only comforting thing she managed to pull from the encounter was that the beast was not as physically powerful as others in its grade. This meant that if she could get the drop on it, she could do a great deal of damage and possibly drive it off. However, it was capable of unleashing a soul attack. Michael had warned Luz about soul attacks as it targeted an area cultivators found difficult to protect or strengthen. If the beast could unleash that attack again while she was close, Luz's soul would likely shatter. Thankfully, Luz had a self-proclaimed expert on demons to help her formulate a plan that would greatly increase their odds.

"Did you recognize what kind of demon it was King?" Luz asked.

"N-no, it wasn't any demon I've ever heard or read about," King replied, still working on calming his emotions.

Luz grimaced, "Was there anything about it that stood out, something we can use against it?"

King began to mumble a description of the beast to himself, going over its traits and why it would need them. "Aha! Its eyes were pitch black, likely due to being nocturnal or living in a low-light environment. If we can shine a bright light in its eyes that should be enough to disorient it."

Luz perked up at that, "There's a flashlight function on my phone that should be bright enough to do just that." She quickly dug her phone out of her pocket only to see that the camera light had been an unfortunate casualty in their escape, likely breaking against one of the walls she threw herself against, "Never mind. We'll need to think of a new plan."

King closed his eyes and thought for a bit, trying to think of where they could get something they could use to blind the beast. Then he remembered, "Eda keeps all kinds of shiny objects in her room. Maybe we could find something in there that would work?"

Luz agreed, then carefully peeked into the hallway. There was no sign of the beast, and she hadn’t heard it moving around the house for a little bit. Deciding it would be best to head out sooner rather than later, Luz pushed the door open and carefully made her way back to Eda's room with King close behind her. The trip was short but tense. At any moment the beast could appear to attack them. Thankfully though, they managed to make it to the room undetected. After securing the door, the two of them began to look through the junk Eda kept in her room. It wasn't long until they made their discovery.

"Hey Luz, look at what I found over here," King called out. Luz walked over and saw an empty potion bottle in King's claws. She read the label attached to the bottle out loud, "An elixir a day keeps the curse away."

A whole new sense of dread filled Luz. Without a word, she looked back at the damage the beast did to the room. Claw marks covered the room, but they got deeper the further from Eda's nest/bed they got. Then she looked at the window and realized there was no glass on the floor. That meant whatever broke the window was moving out of the room. Luz couldn't hold back her dreadful realization anymore, "It's Eda. The beast is her under the effects of the curse."

King's mind quickly connected the same dots that Luz did, "If it's Eda then w-we have to help her then."

"We would probably need more of this elixir to turn her back," Luz replied. A quick check inside her closet revealed a new bottle filled with a golden liquid that Luz recognized as the same she occasionally found around the house. She just figured it was a kind of alcohol since Eda seemed to enjoy day drinking so much. "Okay, but we're back to square one. We need something to distract her so we can get this down her throat."

"Why don't you try to use the light spell?" King asked. "You took one of those video things of Eda using it, maybe you can see what you missed?"

Luz sighed and pulled out her phone. It was an innocent request, but she didn't have much hope. She played the video, watching as her mentor-turn-beast demonstrated the light spell to the camera. Luz stared at the video, trying to absorb every detail she could all at once. Then the spell circles flickered again, and she saw it. The circle had changed right before it activated. The ring was filled with little symbols she had never seen before while the center was dominated by a large rune. With nothing left to lose, Luz began to draw a circle with her qi but instead of trying to visualize the rune. King watched closely as Luz brought the circle to a close the spell flared to life. A small orb of light appeared where her circle was, only to quickly disappear.

"How did you do that?" King asked.

Luz was a bit perplexed by how quickly her spell burnt out. She responded, "I just visualized the rune that was in the center of Eda's spell." Grabbing a sparkly pen she saw nearby, Luz quickly drew the rune on the back of the tag. Showing it to King they both gasped when after accidentally brushing it caused the symbol to glow as the paper crumbled into a tiny ball of light. They watched as it hovered in place. Luz carefully tried touching it. The ball didn't give off any heat and felt solid to the touch. After moving it around for a bit, King reached out to grab it only to watch it fade out in his fist. Further experimentation would have to wait. Now they had a plan.

The plan was straightforward. Luz was confident in her ability to outmaneuver Eda for a minute, at which point Luz predicted Eda would unleash her soul attack again. That gave them one minute to spring their trap. Luz would carefully etch the rune into the wall where King would wait for the right time to activate it. Once stunned by the light, Luz would rush in and shove the elixir down Eda's throat. Eda would turn back into her usual self, and they would all go on to have a long discussion about what happened, hopefully only taking a few bumps and bruises as souvenirs of the event. Maybe a mental scar or two.

Luz made it down the stairs when the beast attacked. It tackled her to the ground and quickly bounded across the room. Even in the dim light of the house, Luz could see its face. She could see traces of Eda in the beast's face, but the eyes held a dark intelligence that solely belonged to the beast. While Luz lost the element of surprise, she did have the beast's attention. That meant King could still set the trap himself. Without a sound, Luz launched herself across the room with lightning racing along her arms. Luz threw her palm forward, aiming for the beast's chest only to watch it rear up to avoid her strike. Seeing its own opportunity it slammed its body back down to crush Luz. Thankfully Luz had an advantage when it came to agility, letting her get out of the way in time.

The two of them went back and forth, dodging and striking, but Luz could feel her qi was running out. Still, she pushed on, trying to buy as much time as she could for King to get ready. After dodging another swipe Luz noticed a pattern. The beast never looked up. Whenever it lost track of her it would always swing around to check its flank, but never above it. Taking a chance, Luz dodged again and then quickly flung herself over the beast. With its guard down, Luz poured all the power she had left into one final attack. Her palm connected and she unleashed the power of her lightning. The lightning arcing around the beast illuminated the room in flashes of blueish light. After a few seconds, the lightning dissipated, and Luz collapsed on the back of the beast. All King should have to do is pour the elixir down its throat and they'll have Eda back.

Unfortunately, her attack had no effect on the beast. It threw Luz off and then pinned her to the ground. Luz stared into the beast’s soulless eyes, her mind racing to think of anything she could do to get out of the situation. But it was all for naught, nothing in her arsenal would allow her to overpower the gap provided by three major realms. She could only hope that King could avoid meeting a similar fate.

Then King called out from across the room, "I am the King of Demons and I demand you marvel at my magnificence!" He then slapped his hand on the wall behind him. Luz watched as the rune flared to life before taking the form of a giant ball of light, illuminating the room and blinding the beast. It reared up trying to cover its eyes, blindly swiping in the direction of its attacker. Not missing the opportunity, Luz quickly pulled an elixir from her bag and poured it into the creature's open mouth. It reflexively swallowed before letting out a shriek. Golden light shot out of its eyes as the feathers on its body receded. The body began to shrink with the sound of shifting bones as it turned back into its natural form. Soon the form of the beast was gone, leaving Eda on the floor completely passed out.

It was past sunset when Eda finally woke up. A quick look around revealed that she wasn't in her nest like she was when she went to sleep, and the look on the faces of her two charges told her something was wrong.

"Hey kids, what's up?" Eda asked as she sat up, the bones of her back cracking loudly from the effort.

"When were you going to tell us?" Luz asked point blank.

"What are you talking about?" Was Eda's only response as she took another look around the room. The damage was startling. What made it worse to her though was the abundance of claw marks. She had lost control again, for the first time in years too. "I turned into that thing again, didn't I?"

"So you knew that was something that could happen?" King cried out. His tone cut Eda more than she thought it would.

"Yes, I did. It's something I have been struggling with since I was a teenager. Back then I was cursed. I spent a number of years trying to find a cure, but the best I could find was the elixirs you found." Eda explained. "But unfortunately, they only do so much. If I overexert my magic then, well you saw what happens."

Eda let out a deep sigh, "It's been around ten years since I last lost control like that."

Luz tried her best to mull over what she had heard. It wasn't hard for her to comprehend. What was difficult was that this was the second time a mentor had kept such a huge and dangerous secret from her. Despite her best efforts, her emotions got the better of her, "What else are you keeping from us? Any other curses? Or maybe you have a former apprentice who wants you dead too?"

Eda found herself flinching at Luz's words. She should have expected that the girl wouldn't take learning about this secret well, especially with how she found out. Eda had gotten the summarized version of events from Michael, but she still should have known better than to be careless with someone's trust. She had burned enough bridges over the years to know. "No kid, my secrets don't run as deep as your master's do. The short of it is that I was cursed as a kid, and never found out who did it. I kept it from you two cause I didn't think it was your problem to deal with. Clearly, I was wrong. Besides my family and a few close friends I had when I got cursed, no one else has figured out the extent of my condition. The only person who figured out I was cursed was actually Michael, who took one look at me and figured it out."

"My master knew about this?" Luz asked. If he knew and didn't tell her then he would have broken his promise to her all those years ago. She learned later that a promise like that had very real consequences.

"He knew I was cursed and offered to help me cure it. A lot of people have come around offering the same thing over the years. But I don't think he knew how bad it really is or he just thought I had better control of the situation." She continued, "He offered to help rid me of my curse, but I had heard it all before, so I gave him a deadline, two months. He has to free me from this curse in two months. And all he asked is that I keep an eye on you while he does that, even threw in fixing the portal too."

Luz was silent while she processed what she heard, "Is that why you're teaching me magic? To free yourself from your curse?"

The look in Luz's eyes took Eda back twenty years. It was the same look she had in her own eyes when she confronted her mother before running away. "No Luz, my deal with your master is one thing and it ends with making sure you still breathing until he gets back. My deal to teach you is between you and me with nothing to do with him. I promise you that."

Luz felt the effects of a long day begin to wear on her, so she decided on one last question. "Do you have any other secrets that could make things difficult for me while I am here?"

Eda thought for a minute before replying, "The only thing I can think of is that my sister is head of the Emperor's Coven and personally leads their attempts to capture me. If you stick around long enough, you'll probably run into her."

Luz nodded. The conversation then shifted to how Luz and King managed to feed Eda the elixir. What she got was King's embellished version of events that tended to skip over the more un-kingly details of events. Eda showed interest in the rune Luz used. Luz displayed her newly acquired skill with pride but was disappointed when Eda didn't know anything else.

"I'll be honest kid, I've studied a lot of wild magic but I have never seen anything quite like that rune there. Maybe it's some cultivator thing?" Eda suggested.

Thus, Luz went to retrieve her bracelet and contact her master. After giving a brief summary of the day's events Luz asked about the rune.

"Hmmm, it sounds like the magic of the Boiling Isles uses the same principles that govern arrays," Michael said after a moment of careful consideration. "Single runes can be used to create various minor effects, but they become significantly more powerful when they are strung together. The markings you saw on the circle itself were likely runes that defined the characteristics of the spell, hence why you were able to pull it off without them."

"Okay, that makes sense. Thank you for explaining that master." Luz replied.

"I think I will send you some materials I have on arrays as well as an eye technique to help you see these spell arrays more clearly. At the very least it will give you an advantage over any witches who mean you harm in the future." Michael continued.

"Hey master, what do you think makes it so witches can so easily use arrays like they do?" Luz asked. From what she knew arrays typically took a lot of mental power which required one to have a strong soul. But witches could cast spells from a very early age.

"It's likely the Titan, Luz. The people of the Isles have been living on it for so long that some of its bloodline must have seeped into the people of the Isles. This also allows them to get stronger as they get older like the monster races do while retaining human physiology." Michael answered. "There are dozens of techniques that require blood from certain monster species to gain their power."

Luz accepted that answer. Cultivation was a practice full of strange methods, the idea that an entire populace could slowly undergo a similar transformation made sense to her.

In the place between realms, Michael walked the perimeter of his latest array, checking it for any obvious flaws or places where it would conflict with the existing array he planned to integrate it with. The process had been slow due to the lack of certain materials. Satisfied with his work he stood up to begin the process when the realm shook. Michael immediately took action, using his powers over space to physically hold reality together. The strain was immense, but he managed to hold on until the shaking stopped. Time was not on his side.

Notes:

Y'all didn't think I'd let Luz blast her way out of every situation right?

Soul attacks are exactly what they sound like on the tin, one person uses the power of their soul to attack the target's soul directly. The effects are mostly mental, with individual cultivators losing their sanity if their soul experiences significant damage. A damaged soul is also difficult to heal without the aid of a soul treasure, be that an artifact, pill, or medicinal herb. Alchemists possess stronger souls than their peers due to alchemists needing their souls' power in the process of refining pills.

Monsters are graded differently than cultivators. They're ranked by grade with each grade being more of a range than a specific power level as the system cultivators use. This is because not all monsters are created equally. Each species has different strengths, weaknesses, and limitations. Their power is also closely tied to their age, though they can also benefit from a good environment and medicines.

Glyphs and arrays are pretty much the same thing, just arrays have more symbols cause they're based on Chinese magic.

Also, I don't like the concept of the bile sac. It just feels like it was added to give a different reason as to why Luz had to find a different way to cast magic.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer.

Chapter 7: Chapter 7

It had been a rather quiet two weeks since Luz had encountered the side effect of Eda's curse, what she called the Owl Beast. Thankfully, it seemed to have just been a slip-up and Eda took steps to make sure that more elixirs were around the house and that Luz and King knew where they were. After a few days, things went right back to normal.

Luz's study of magic had made some progress. While limited due to her master being who knows where she did manage to make some discoveries about the rune she found. First, activating the rune did not draw on her qi even if it was used as a medium. It instead drew on her soul power. This discovery was made after Eda mentioned the best way for a witch to increase their magic was through rigorous spell use while young, hence the focus on practical ability over conceptual mastery in magic schools. Luz's practice attempt led to her passing out from exhausting her soul power and waking up a day later. The second thing she discovered was that the rune she saw wasn't a rune, but something closer to a glyph. When she tried to combine it with a few runes her master had shown her to practice, it refused to interact with them. Everyone decided that it would be pointless to try anything else until she discovered another glyph.

Discovering more glyphs took a back seat to a more interesting project for now. Luz had almost finished the first of the space rings. Regardless of what else the rings held; the keys would be far more valuable in the short term. It wouldn't be easy though. Michael had expressed that even after he returned, he wouldn't help Luz open the rings, claiming it would be an excellent teaching opportunity and that the contents weren't meant for someone like him but for someone from the 'younger generation.' Luz figured that was the polite cultivator way of saying he was too good for it.

So here she was, sitting in Eda's stand on a Friday afternoon, quietly working away on the seal of the space ring. Eda and King were outside, keeping watch for potential customers and targets alike with very little success. No one seemed to be out today, even several other shop owners weren't there today. Having had enough, King slumped back in his chair sliding down until he laid across the seat. "It's so boring. Where are my adoring subjects?"

"I know what you mean." Eda replied, "Usually there's a few dozen people wandering the shops by now. I also can't shake this feeling that something bad is happening today." She shuddered, the uneasiness hanging on her shoulders.

The two of them heard Luz call out from the back, "HOLY SHIT WE'RE RICH!"

"Not yet kid, haven't managed to make a single sale today," Eda called back.

Luz burst through the tent, eyes wide with excitement holding out the space ring she had been working on. "No Eda, we're rich now. I managed to crack open the ring and you won't believe what I found inside."

"Mountains of treasures to shower on your demonic overlord?" King called hopefully.

Luz grabbed the two and pulled them inside the tent, hoping to avoid prying eyes. Standing next to a cleared-out space, Luz closed her eyes as she went through the steps needed to take an item out of the space ring. After a few seconds, a large pile of yellow crystals appeared with a few weapons scattered on top. Eda and King stared at the pile, eyes wide with wonder. They had never seen a crystal that looked anything like what had just appeared before them.

"What are they?" Eda asked.

"They’re called spirit stones. They’re made of pure energy that naturally condenses when an area reaches a high enough concentration for a long period of time. Each one of these is worth more than their weight in gold." Luz explained. "Not only that, but that energy can be extracted during cultivation allowing me to increase my cultivation speed by several times."

Luz walked over to the pile and pulled out one of the weapons. It was a mace, the head of which was about two feet across and completely smooth. Luz struggled with the weight of the weapon as it was clearly meant for someone larger and stronger than her. "These are all offensive artifacts. Each one has its own properties. The highest one in this pile seems to be at Grade Five or Six. For reference, that would make it about as strong as the Owl Beast."

Eda grimaced at the reminder, but at least she knew that Luz would have another trump card if she lost control of her curse again. "While all of this stuff is shiny, it's going to be hard to convince people these crystals are worth anything. The weapons are going to be tricky, given that the emperor put out a ban on weapon sales shortly after uniting the Isles."

Luz's excitement deflated a bit. Michael had dozens of stories centered around auction houses. The forces who ran them commanded respect. Even the greatest powers in a region, be they kings or god-like cultivators, followed the rules of the auction house. Luz had hoped that there was an auction house they could use to flip the weapons for snails since the spirit stones were going to be more useful to her anyway. Then an idea came to mind, one that both Michael and Eda would approve of. "We're… not selling weapons. We're selling recovered magical relics long lost to history."

Eda and King stared at Luz for a solid minute, each processing what she said in their own way. King was confused as to why they needed to sell the weapons. After all, when he regained his power and rallied his army, they would make fine gifts for his greatest warriors and generals. Eda was more confused by what Luz was proposing. She wanted to circumvent the law banning the sale of weapons by faking their nature. It was clever if a bit of a short-sighted plan. If they did get them to market, then explorers and historians would be flocking to the Owl House wanting to know where they found them. From there the only options would be to lie badly, lie well enough to go into hiding, or give up the location of the tomb altogether. Unless…

"I get where you're going kid, and I got just the person in mind to talk to about this." Eda knew only one historian who could for sure get the artifacts through all the red tape, Lilith. While she has made a name for herself, even reaching the lofty position of head of the Emperor's coven, Lilith also had a passion for history and the truth. The likelihood of running into Lilith without a squad of scouts to arrest Eda was pretty low, but they were also due for another attempted raid. Hooty even marked it on his calendar. Maybe she should tell him to bring Lilith inside for a bit before letting her skulk back to the Emperor's castle. It would be risky, Lilith would likely want to cart them back on the account that they are weapons, but if she can be convinced that they are artifacts then it could go smoother.

"Luz? Are you back here?" A voice called out from outside the tent. Luz quickly began trying to move all the stuff back into the ring while Eda and King went to run interference. The two stuck their heads out only to be greeted by the faces of two familiar witches, Willow and Gus.

"Hey you two, Luz will be out here in just a moment. She's just cleaning up some junk we found earlier." Eda told them. "Not that I want to discourage rebellious behavior, but aren't you two supposed to be in school right now?"

"That's why we're here Miss Clawthrone, It's the Covention today. We thought it would be fun if the three of us checked it out together." Gus said.

"Kid, how many times do I have to tell you to just call me Eda? The whole Miss Clawthrone thing makes me feel as old as I look." Eda chided. The curse did a number on her body already and she wasn't about to let some polite kids kick her while she was down.

Luz then emerged from the tent, having gotten all the treasures back into the ring. Seeing her friends were at the stand she quickly wrapped them both in a hug. "What are you guys doing here? I thought you guys had classes today."

"We did, but we got let out early to go to the Covention today," Willow explained.

"Yeah, it's so all the students can check out all the covens that are available. It also lets the covens show off what they can do." Gus chimed in. "We thought it would be great if you tagged along with us."

"That sounds like a great idea, what do you think Eda?" Luz turned around to see that Eda had already started to pack up the stall.

"Yeah, go have fun with your friends Luz. We aren't going to see any customers today with the biggest scam on the Isles being celebrated today." Eda explained as she finished wrapping up her tent and storing its compact form in her hair. "Besides, it would be a good time to highlight my issues with the system."

"Aren't you supposed to be a wanted criminal though?" Gus asked. "The security at the Covention is provided by the Emperor's coven, they'd arrest you on sight."

"That's why I'm going in disguise," Eda replied as she stuffed her hair into a hood. Her disguise wasn't much, just a pair of novelty sunglasses she had picked up years ago.

"I've seen her get away with worse," King commented as the group walked over to where the Covention was held.

Despite the Boiling Isles being a realm where human ideas were either twisted, warped, or taken too literally on occasion, the Covention seemed just like any con Luz had been to. There were dozens of booths each manned by witches and demons displaying the niche magic, handing out pamphlets and novelty items centered around what they do. It felt like the kind of job fair Luz would have been interested in going to. Each group was clearly trying to outdo the other.

"Looks fun, right kid? Well, don't believe it. Look over there." Eda pointed to a booth that was run by the Illusion coven. Luz followed her gaze and saw the back of the tent where a boy a bit older than her was sitting on a stool facing a coven member with a large glove on. The member grabbed the boy's arm with the glove and blue lines ran up the kid's arm. After a second the glove was removed, revealing the new coven mark on the boy's arm. The thing that stuck out to Luz was how uncomfortable the whole process looked. "That kid will never be able to cast a non-illusion spell again, for the rest of his life."

"That looked horrible," Luz said. "Master always told me to focus on what I was good at, but never to the degree." Luz was uneasy at what was going on now. Michael told her it was advice given to every student: succeed at a few things or fail at everything. But to force such a decision didn't sit right with her.

"The real reason I call myself the most powerful witch in the Isles isn't just pride Luz. I never fell into the trap of the coven system. Even in the Emperor's coven, which has access to all magic, there are very few who can match my mastery of spells." Eda spoke with an authoritative calmness. This wasn't her usual hollow bragging, but a statement of fact. "Don't let what you saw today keep you from enjoying today with your friends, but keep in mind there is nothing to celebrate here."

Luz nodded before disappearing into the crowd with the other two witches. Eda turned to King. "You can run around too if you want, I'm actually going to see if I can find someone. Stay out of trouble and if you can't try to find Luz or one of her friends." King acknowledged what she said as Eda went to look for the last person she would want to run into, Lilith.

Needless to say, just because Eda wanted to find her sister didn't mean she would be easy to find or approach. Eda found herself constantly ducking into alleyways to avoid the small patrol groups that moved around the fairgrounds. The atmosphere of the Covention began to wear on Eda too. All around her were happy fools, eager to seal away a large portion of their own innate gifts all because some guy said it was what some dead beast wanted. Magic was never meant to be treated like this and as long as she lived her magic wouldn't suffer the same fate.

The crowd began to filter into the main tent. Without anything better to do at the moment Eda followed them in. Taking a place towards the back, Eda glanced around at the audience. She saw Luz and her two friends in the middle of the crowd. While she couldn't hear them over the noise, she could see them laughing and smiling like kids should. Sure, it wouldn't be much longer until the two witches would be expected to join a coven, but until then they deserved the freedoms youths deserved. Titan knows that was stolen from her.

A magical darkness filled the tent and the crowd quieted down and the show began. Bump was up first, casting a few simple spells while making his usual speech about hyping up the Emperor's coven. Then she appeared, Lilith. Eda felt mixed emotions seeing her sister again. Sure, she saw Lilith from her window whenever she would lead a raid on the Owl House, but it was impersonal and always ended with Hooty dragging them off for one of his 'tea parties.' Eda honestly hoped all the scouts made it home, but she could never bring herself to ask Hooty. Lilith finished her brief speech and disappeared in a flashy raven-shaped illusion. Eda left the tent as other coven heads began their presentations, she only had enough emotional energy for one reunion today.

She began to wander the empty stands, not to look for anything but to try and process her emotions. The last time she spoke to Lilith was a few days after their duel. The next morning Lilith left to officially join the coven. A week later Eda ran away, tripping on the portal in the process. Every interaction after that was always coven-related. Lilith was hell-bent on getting Eda to join the Emperor's coven and Eda just wanted to live the rest of her life as she wanted. The last time they exchanged even a passing glance at each other was ten years ago when Lilith led her first raid on the Owl House.

"Hello, sister. Fancy meeting you here." The voice came from behind her. Eda stopped and turned to face her sister.

"Hey Lily, long time no see. How's the boot licking going?" Eda jabbed at her.

"Better than your efforts to be a law-abiding citizen." Lilith coldly remarked. "I should have you slapped in chains but given that you are at the Covention I'll ignore your criminal record. Perhaps today you'll change your mind a finally join the Emperor's coven."

Eda scoffed, "Not likely, though I do have a tricky issue you could help me with."

"I'm not helping you with your petty crimes Eda," Lilith replied with a cold stare.

"I actually need your help because I want to avoid additional charges thank you very much." She said in a matter-of-fact tone. "My student has recently come across a rather… peculiar artifact. I haven't had much time to look at it, but it occupies a rather difficult legal area."

Lilith was a bit thrown off by Eda's request. Not only was her sister trying to avoid intentionally breaking the law, but she also let slip that she had taken a young witch under her wing. There were several things that would need to be considered later, but Lilith had a perfect idea. "So you don't want my help as your sister, but as the head of the Emperor's coven?"

Eda grimaced, while she wasn't going to try to manipulate Lilith, Eda knew she was going to use this to her advantage. "Yes Lilith, I need your expertise as a member of the Emperor's coven and as a historian. I honestly don't know what this is or how old it is. I am way out of my depth this time. Will you help me?"

"Will you join the Emperor's coven?" Lilith asked.

"No."

"Then I guess you're out of luck. Unless…" Lilith set her trap.

"Unless what?" Eda asked. Whatever scheme her sister was thinking of Eda was sure she could handle it.

"Well, you see I just so happen to have recently taken on a student myself, Alador and Odalia's daughter Amity. What do you say to a little wager, the two of them compete in a little exhibition duel. If your student wins then I'll help you deal with this artifact that is giving you so much trouble, no questions asked. If Miss Blight wins then you join the Emperor's coven, I'll even pull some strings to get your student in too." Lilith watched her sister carefully. If she was the same person she was when they were kids then she couldn't pass up a challenge like this.

Eda considered the opportunity she had before her. All Luz had to do was throw some rich kid around for a few minutes and Lilith would become their fence for all the weapon artifacts they had found in that ring. Eda honestly preferred to fight her own battles, but she couldn't afford to fight her sister right now. There was still another month left on her oath with Michael and she was running out of time herself. The amount of her elixir she needed had been slowly increasing and the Beast's voice had been getting louder inside her head. "I agree, but!"

"But?" Lilith repeated.

"But we need to find the two first and ask if they are okay with it first." Eda finished. "A bet is a bet, but if you want to involve our respective students then I need them to agree first. I refuse to use children for my own personal gain unless they agree to it." It was a true statement. Eda never scammed kids if she could help it and would lower her prices if any of them were interested in her human paraphernalia.

As if on cue, the two girls in question came storming up to the two women. Eda tuned Lilith out as she watched the two girls, Luz in particular. Something had happened between them and it made Luz furious. Sure, she got upset when she learned about Eda's curse. She was mad that Eda and Michael both hid life-ending conditions from her. But the fury in her right now was something beyond that. Eda wasn't sure if going forward with the duel was even a good idea anymore.

"Eda? Are you paying attention?" Lilith snapped her fingers, pulling Eda from her thoughts. "The girls have already agreed to the fight. Bring her to the tent in an hour." Satisfied that her message had been sent, Lilith guided Amity away to prepare for the fight.

"What happened Luz?" Eda asked, bringing herself to Luz's eye level.

"She attacked King. She knocked into him causing him to drop his cupcake and when he went to ask her to apologize, she attacked him." Luz said bitterly. "I would have tried to beat her to a pulp right then and there if Willow hadn't stopped me. I challenged her right there. Said it was about time someone beat some sense into her. She agreed but made me swear a pact. When I win, she has to apologize to King, then to Willow and Gus for all the shit she puts them through at school."

"And if you lose?" Eda asked.

Luz looked at her magic teacher with determination. "There will be no if. If I lose, then everything I've worked hard for will be for nothing and there would be no point in continuing." Eda felt the air around them shudder. There was power in Luz's words, power beyond what she probably intended.

Eda sighed. "Alright kid, let's get you someplace quiet for now. You may have the power, but your mind is not in the right place to win a fight. If my sister taught that spoiled brat anything about dueling, then she would be able to take advantage of your mental state." Eda led Luz through the stands, finding a quiet corner where the attendees would leave them alone. Luz pulled out a spirit crystal and began to cultivate. Eda was unsure about her practice, but she figured interrupting Luz would do more harm than good. A quick check of her scroll confirmed King was okay and with Luz's friends. Though he was a bit shaken up, the two had stepped up to help calm him down and distract him.

Eda had tried to emotionally distance herself from King over the years, but she could never deny that she deeply cared for the furball. She owed the two for looking after him while she did what she could to handle Luz's situation. She glanced at Luz, she had never seen the girl so angry before. It was uncomfortable for Eda to see that much anger in Luz's face. The girl had been so cheerful every day, so happy to experience the world she had found herself in. She knew that she couldn't stop the fight at this point, but she would do everything in her power to prevent the Blight kid from becoming a smear on a wall.

Time passed quickly. The energy around Luz calmed down as she stopped her practice. The stone in her hand had lost a bit of its luster, but overall seemed the same. Luz didn't expect to raise her realm during the short session, but she needed something to do while she cleared her head. She dusted herself off and turned to face Eda.

"You alright kid? You looked like you were about ready to tear her head off." Eda asked warily.

Luz took a deep breath. "Yeah, I've cooled off a bit. It was probably reckless of me to agree to this fight, but it needs to happen now while the two of us are in a controlled environment. If I keep putting this off then it's going to end with one of us dead."

"One of those will of the heavens things your master likes to talk about?" Eda replied.

Luz simply nodded as she started to walk towards the main tent. Most of the crowd had worked their way back into the tent to watch the duel, making it easy for the two to reach it in a short period of time. The previous stage had been replaced with an open arena surrounded by stands with a large viewing platform opposite the tent's entrance. The crowd filled the stands, eager to see two young witches show off their skills. King was in the front row, hanging over the edge of the retaining wall meant to keep the crowd separated from the fight. Lilith was standing on top of the platform with Bump and a few other local leaders. Eda gave Luz a pat on the back before moving to join King in the stands.

Luz looked around, a nervous energy settling in her stomach. The crowd maintained a low roar as they talked amongst themselves. She found her friends, sitting a few rows behind King. Her eyes then wandered up to the stand, seeing who she could only assume were important leaders flanking Lilith. Finally, her eyes landed on her opponent. Amity Blight stood on the far side of the arena. Her posture was relaxed, giving her the appearance of being disinterested in the world around her. But Luz could see those piercing eyes following her every move. Amity had been trained, just like she had.

Lilith moved to the front of the platform, "Ladies and gentlemen, Witches and Demons of all descriptions, today we have a special exhibition match for you! Today these two young witches will…" Lilith stopped and the crowd went silent when a strange sound filled the arena. It was as if fabric was being torn as glass shattered. All eyes locked on the source of the sound. A hand sticking out of what looked like a crack in reality. The hand flexed before being joined by its pair, the two hands moving to push the crack open. Everyone could only look on in shock as reality itself was forced open and a man walked through. Michael had just stepped into the arena from realms unknown.

"Forgive the intrusion Sect Master Lilith, though I suppose the correct term is Coven Head," Michael called out. He took a step forward, only to appear next to Lilith when his foot should have touched the ground. "Allow me to make the introductions."

Lilith stood there with her jaw hanging open. Everything she saw defied any form of rational explanation. Michael, however, didn't wait for permission to continue. "Residents of the Boiling Isles, today we bear witness to an event not seen in generations. Today we will witness not only a contest between two young and talented individuals but also witness the clash between the mystic arts of man and witch. Representing the mystic arts of the Isles is Amity Blight, the disciple of Coven Head Lilith. Representing the mystic arts of the human race is Luz Noceda, my personal disciple."

Michael paused, waiting for the audience to applaud the two contestants. After a minute of awkward silence, a few members clapped their hands before fading back into silence. Satisfied with the effort, Michael continued, "On the signal from Coven Head Lilith, the two contestants will give everything they have to achieve victory. Once that is decided, a reward based on their desire will be granted but the true reward is the experience gained from such a rare event." He turned to Lilith, "When you are ready, Coven Head."

Lilith took a moment to regain her wits before addressing the crowd. She had no idea who this man was, but she could guess enough to go along with him for now. "This duel will continue until one is rendered unable to continue fighting or they surrender. Lethal blows are not permitted. Ready? BEGIN!"

The crowd roared to life as the fight began. Amity was fast, conjuring several purple spell circles. She would easily overwhelm her human opponent with a few large abominations. Her master may have managed some impressive illusions, but there was no way a human could overpower a witch, much less a Blight. As soon as she finished that thought she felt a fist connect with her side. Her mind and body could barely react as she was sent staggering back a few steps, her spells fading unused.

Luz didn't waste any time. Once the fight began, she closed the distance, not wanting Amity to get the upper hand. Luz knew the witch specialized in Abomination magic which would allow her control over the substance, shaping it to her will. If Amity got such a spell off, then the fight would go from a one-on-one to a one-on-many. Luz watched as her opponent stumbled from the unexpected hit. As soon as she could see the other girl's eyes, Luz launched another attack. This time it was a straightforward rush followed by a straight jab aimed at her opponent's chin. Her blow stopped short when her arm was grabbed by the abomination slime Amity had summoned. A few tugs showed Luz that her physical strength wouldn't be enough to break free, so she watched.

Amity spun a single, large circle into the air. Activating the spell brought forth a seven-foot-tall Abomination with arms shaped like weapons. "Abomination, attack." Following its simple directive, the creature swung its hammer-like arm at the human girl. But the smirk that was growing on Amity's face was dashed when Luz blocked the swing with a kick. Then the slime holding her arm surged with electricity, disrupting the magic inside and releasing Luz from its grasp. She wasted no time creating space, clearing a quarter of the arena in a single flash.

Lightning had been effective, which evened the playing field for Luz but it didn't automatically win her the match. She just didn't have enough qi to match the amount of magic Amity seemed to have. What's more is that Amity seemed to give off a stronger feeling than before, like she was hiding her power earlier. Amity was likely around the seventh grade of the Qi Gathering realm, which put her around three minor realms above Luz. It wasn't an impossible gap for her to clear, but it wouldn't be easy. Taking advantage of her superior mobility, Luz launched an attack against Amity herself, ignoring her construct. She flashed in close and launched a kick into her opponent’s chest. She struck with enough force to send Amity back six or seven feet as well as crack a few ribs. The abomination detected its target was in range and reacted. It swung both of its hammer-like arms from overhead to flatten its target. Luz calmly shifted her stance and struck out with two open palms. Lightning cracked along her arms and into the abomination. The slime shot back, looking as if Luz had managed to blast it away. The construct then began to slowly melt into a puddle on the ground.

Neither girl waited for the construct to finish forming. Through blurred vision, Amity cast two spells. One spell pulled the massive construct back towards her in a liquid form while the second one pulled extra slime to act as a cast for her ribs. The kick she received cracked at least three of them and broke two more. It hurt to breathe, but the rage she felt when considering that she would lose to a human dulled the pain enough for her to push on. She threw out another set of spells, launching a series of fireballs at her opponent. Luz had to focus her efforts on avoiding the barrage, giving Amity an opportunity to prepare her next gambit. She wasn't good enough to alter the make-up of her abominations on the fly, so she decided to take her chances in close-quarters combat.

Luz watched the last fireball streak past her only to have a fist slam into her side. She staggered back from the force of the blow and got caught up in another strike. While Amity's punches were slow and were more like wide swings than actual punches, they were augmented by the abomination gloves she had summoned around her fists. Luz took several hits before she was able to counterattack. The two then settled into a rhythm of striking and blocking. Luz was constantly looking for an opportunity to unleash her Lightning Palm, but Amity wasn't giving her enough time. Amity was likewise trying to find time to cast another spell, but Luz's greater martial arts experience locked Amity into a pointless slugfest just to keep her pinned.

The crowd loved it though. Sure, it wasn't the flashy displays the covens had given them, but it was a simple fight that met the primal draw of violence. But not everyone was excited about the fight. King and Eda were worried about Luz. They've never really seen her take a hit, yet here she was trading blows. On the platform, Lilith was amazed at how well the human girl was keeping up. What little documentation they had on humans was far too out of date to be reliable, but this was still beyond what she thought they were capable of.

"You trained your disciple well, Head Lilith," Michael said. He meant the compliment. The girl quickly picked up on the apparent weakness of her technique and adjusted her strategy accordingly. Sure, she still ended up at a disadvantage, but that was excusable given that both girls' lack of combat experience.

"Thank you for your kind words. You have also done an excellent job at training the young human." Lilith replied.

"I would hope so. I've been training her for some eight years, but most of her progress has come from the time she has spent on the Isles. The environment in the lands she comes from is far too poor to make any meaningful progress. It would be a great benefit if I could build a training facility here, then she would make much better progress." Michael prepared his bait. He and his associate had plans that needed the approval of the 'emperor' to get started, and Lilith provided the perfect opportunity to get started on that.

Lilith caught on to what he said about the environment. Apparently, the mystic arts he had weren't restricted by biology like magic was. Perhaps there was some use to be had. "If you wish, I could arrange an audience with Emperor Belos if you'd like. I'm sure he would be interested to hear about human magic."

"That would be lovely. Thank you, Head Lilith." Both of them smirked, the other having taken their bait.

The fight had gone on for several minutes and both girls were starting to feel the effects. Amity was losing control, her gloves slowly morphing into balls on her hands. Luz was slowing down, missing blocks, and taking blows she could have avoided. Both were trying to think of a solution as fast as possible. It was Luz who had an idea first. The reason she learned the Lightning Palm technique was to learn control, not to just give her a technique for her arsenal. Understanding the principles that govern a martial art allows the user to amplify its power without significantly increasing the drawbacks. She took her chance. Feinting a punch caused Amity to pull her guard in front of her, limiting her own vision. Using this momentary blindness, Luz threw her hands out to either side of Amity's head. Taking a deep breath, she unleashed her attack. "Lightning Palm: Closed Circuit."

Placing her hands on Amity's head, Luz cycled lightning qi through her arms and into her opponent. The potential for lethal damage was high, so Luz only ran it for a second. The effect was immediate. Amity's body seized before collapsing to the ground, the slime on her hands returning to a liquid state. The crowd was silent as the representative of the Healing coven rushed out to check on her. After a few moments, they confirmed that she was fine and would likely recover momentarily. The crowd cheered out for their victor, but Luz zoned them out. She didn't feel the retribution she thought she would feel. She felt tired, sore, and defeated. She realized a bit of what motivated Amity.

She realized Amity wasn't happy with herself.

It was a weird idea. They hadn't exchanged a single word with each other the entire time. The only thing they did for the last ten minutes was beat the shit out of each other. But there was something there in that exchange of blows, a silent conversation. She was then pulled from her thoughts by her master's voice transmission. "You felt it, didn't you? There's something off about her. Make sure she doesn't wander off before I meet up with you two." Luz didn't react, she didn't even have the energy to.

As Amity came to, Luz helped her to her feet. She was so disoriented from the fight that they were out of the tent before she realized what was happening. By the time she could do anything about it, Luz was setting her down in a quiet ally between the stalls outside the fairgrounds. Luz started to dig into a bag Amity hadn't noticed before. Whatever the human was looking for didn't concern her. She just waited for her body to recover enough so she could leave. She was grateful that the human took them someplace secluded, she was already going to have enough issues once her mother learned about the fight. Regardless of what either of the two humans were capable of, her mother held strict standards for her performance. All Amity wanted to do right now was rest and disappear from the world.

Luz noted Amity's silence while she dug around her bag for some healing pills. She anticipated Amity trying to get away, or perhaps start trying to throw insults or excuses at her. But she just sat there, defeated. Finally, she found the right bottle and poured out a pill. She placed the bottle on the ground before turning to Amity, "Here, take this."

Amity looked up at what she was being offered. A pill she had never seen before. "Why should I?"

"It's a healing medicine, several times more effective than a healing potion and faster than any healing magic you would be able to perform anytime soon," Luz explained.

Amity wanted to list off another excuse, but the pain was just too much for her to keep up the façade. She took the pill from Luz and swallowed it. It had a strangely pleasant and refreshing taste, very different from the potions she would take after helping her mother with product demonstrations. It was almost as if she could feel the healing properties of the pill moving around her body.

"I'm going to help you use the pill now," Luz said. "While taking it like you did is fine, it's more effective when you know how to use it effectively." Without waiting for Amity to respond, Luz placed her hands on the other girl’s back. "Try not to resist if you feel anything strange."

Slowly, Amity felt something enter her body from Luz's hands. The sensation was a lot like the diagnostic spells used by the Healing coven. Soon the energy was guiding what she now understood as the pill's magic, moving it carefully around her body and gathering it around her injuries. The process was slow, but when Luz was done Amity felt significantly better. But there was something that bothered her. Amity had been nothing but nasty to Luz and her friends. She even threatened the girl's future because she was asked to apologize. She lost. Luz won. By all rights Luz should be treating her like trash, gloating about her victory over Amity.

"Why are you like this?" Amity asked, her voice strained. "You should hate me. Nothing about how we have been around each other explains why you're helping me."

Luz thought about it. "You're right, but you haven't earned my hate."

"Earned your hate?" Amity asked.

"It's something my mom and master taught me," Luz explained. "I was bullied in the human realm by other kids our age. My mom told me to ignore them, only people with insecurities feel the need to bully others."

Amity flinched at the comment, but Luz didn't notice and kept going. "It didn't stop of course. I was getting so angry about it. My master finally interjected himself. He said that cultivators live too long to let hatred live in our hearts and that the only way to get rid of hatred after it festers in your heart is pain and violence."

Luz sighed, the conversation brought back painful memories. The names, the pranks, and being chased through the wood all because some girls decided she was too different. She had wanted to fight back, but she knew it would disappoint her mom.

"My master also told me this other thing once. When two people fight, they're actually having a conversation." She laughed, "I never really believed him until today. But I feel like you told me a bit about yourself in the arena."

"And what's that?" Amity asked.

Luz looked her in the eyes. "You're not happy with yourself. I don't know why or what about, but you aren't happy."

Amity scoffed. "Guess he's still wrong then." Amity then quickly stood up and left, leaving Luz behind.

After watching her walk away, Luz asked the empty air, "Then why did you start crying?"

 

Michael took a deep breath. The chaos caused by his apprentice winning was a bit more than he anticipated. An accusation of cheating left Lilith's mouth almost immediately. She was convinced that her sister had something to do with the outcome of the fight. He was very quick to shoot that down, almost demanding that the two of them take to the arena right then to test that theory. Lilith apologized for her behavior before offering what he wanted, an audience with the emperor.

Thus, he found himself standing in the throne room of the most powerful man in the Boiling Isles. The stench of death lingered in the room and a cold aura radiated from the masked boy standing in the corner. Above the throne was the beating heart of the dead titan. A mockery of life and faith, one he would gladly destroy later.

A hidden door opened, and from it came the masked emperor. Philp Wittebane, known as Emperor Belos, wore his mask and white robes but they couldn't hide his true nature from Michael's divine senses. He could feel the tormented souls the monster had absorbed over the years struggle and cry out from his soul. It disgusted Michael, but he needed Belos alive for now.

"Greetings Lord Belos. It is an honor to meet such a wise and kind soul such as yourself." Michael said, bowing before the ruler of the land.

"Greetings to you as well, traveler," Belos responded. "It is rare for someone to visit from lands unknown. Coven head Lilith said you wished to have an audience with me. I wonder what you have to discuss."

"I have matters of great importance, Lord Belos. But I am afraid they are not meant for others to hear." Michael turned to the lone guard in the back of the room.

"I assure you, whatever you have to discuss will not leave this room. My Golden Guard is my most trusted servant." Belos countered.

"It has to do with the Day of Unity. I am afraid that The Coll…" Belos cut him off. "Hunter, leave us at once."

"Y-yes, Lord Belos." The boy, Hunter, quickly left the room without another word.

Several seconds after the door closed, Belos spoke, "What do you know about the Day of Unity?"

Michael smirked, he had the monster's attention. "Everything, Philip. Humanity has been watching you for a very long time. We have decided to help you fix the flaws your enemy has woven into the draining spell as well as secure a few choice talents we have found on the Isles. The Lord God has ordained some souls that can still be saved."

Notes:

Holy cow did I have a series of events after the last chapter. Went to a wedding in Arizona, got sick from one of the groomsmen, then when I was just starting to recover my laptop needed to go into the shop for repairs. No big deal, I keep the rough draft on the cloud. Yeah like an hour's worth of writing didn't make it to the cloud so I was stuck waiting for the laptop. Thankfully it was only a software issue that the shop was familiar with fixing so it didn't take long.

So there is a tendency for major fights to end in someone dead in cultivation stories. I can only think of one story where the main character didn't have a double-digit body count after the first few story arcs. So many rich kids are willing to die on whatever hill they happen to be on. But you do get to see a lot of cheesy threats like "Courting death" being thrown around.

As always, if you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Amity held her head high as she walked through the empty streets, ignoring the tears that fell down her face. Not only was she beaten in single combat today, but her opponent seemed to have her entirely figured out too. Home had been a pointless word for Amity for some time now. Ever since her mother gave up on shaping the twins into what she wanted she turned all her efforts on Amity. Everything became planned out, her academic choices, her friends, her mother even threatened to control her diet. Thankfully, her father actually stepped up and stopped that one before it began. The most recent expectation was her apprenticeship with Lilith Clawthrone. Her mother was adamant that she worked hard under Miss Lilith's guidance so that she could enter the Emperor's coven in a year.

Amity wasn't even sure if that was what she wanted anymore. Her mother had gone to great lengths to force Amity's desires to match her own. It had been a wake-up call when she was told she wasn't happy with herself. She wanted to deny it, so she did. Amity was a Blight, the closest thing the Boiling Isles had to an aristocratic family. They had hundreds of years of history, always leading in one area or another. So why wasn't she happy with who she was?

A childhood memory flashed before her eyes. A little girl cried as she was cast aside. Another flashed, the same girl, now older, was being mocked for her shortcomings. More flashed, always the same person being mocked or humiliated for what they weren't. Amity literally stumbled at the realization. It all began and ended with Willow. Amity picked up her pace, running to the one place where she felt safe.

She raced up the steps of the library, unlocking the door with her key. Working at the library had been the one choice Amity truly made over the past several years. Her mother approved of her work since it was good for her public image, but the true benefit was the secret room she was allowed to use. Hidden behind a false shelf in the romance section, the small room was Amity's safe space free from the watchful eyes of her mother and the invasive thoughts of her siblings. It was truly the one place she could cry.

She cried for what felt like hours, racked by the torment that was her life. There in her safe space, she poured out the pain of her soul to the void. She was pulled from her wallowing when her scroll went off. It was a text from her sister telling her that their mother had asked where Amity was. Thankfully, Emira heard about the duel and decided to cover for her this time. Her alibi was impromptu training assigned by Miss Lilith after the results of the duel. Amity breathed a sigh of relief as she dismissed her scroll, Emira had bought her several hours away from the manor with no questions asked.

Amity pulled herself into her meditation posture. With a deep breath, she closed her eyes and began the practice method she was given by her mother. It was supposed to make her the strongest witch in the Isles one day, but all it succeeded at doing was calm her emotions. She would have to face her mother eventually, but until then Amity could enjoy the one gift from her that gave her peace.

 

Luz walked back to the Owl House after Amity ran off. It wouldn't have been hard to follow her, but Luz figured Amity needed space right now. Luz wasn't sure where their relationship would go from here, but she hoped it would be in a better direction.

Michael didn't show up at the Owl House until the next morning. He walked through the front door as they were finishing up breakfast. There was a short round of greetings before he pulled Luz outside. They wandered off into the woods for a bit before stopping in a clearing.

"Luz, bring out those rings you found." He said. Without a word, Luz pulled out the five space rings she had been working on. Michael gave them each a look before removing the seals on the four she hadn't cracked yet. "You did good yesterday, so I thought I should reward you. Bring those friends of yours when you go, it's bad luck to keep everything to yourself."

"Thank you, master." Luz bowed to the man. "Is there something else you wanted to talk about?"

Michael sat down against a large tree, "Yes, it's time for you to choose a weapon, though I have a feeling you haven't decided yet."

Luz gave him a sheepish grin. Michael could only shake his head, Luz only agreed to focus on a single cultivation technique after he explained the consequences in great detail. "I figured as much, but since I am your master, I will only teach you three weapons: spears, swords, and heavy blades. Anything else is on your own."

The rest of the afternoon was spent working on the basics of using a spear. It was quite strange for Luz at first, every thrust her master demonstrated seemed to bend and twist instead of following a predictable straight path. It was an hour before she could start to see the simpler movements clearly. Michael put his own spear away as the sun fell below the horizon. The two of them made their way back to the Owl House where Hooty had somehow prepared dinner for all of them. It was a strange meal for Michael and reminded him of several failed cooking attempts when he first started traveling. Still, he was grateful for the food and the care that the little family of weirdos showed his disciple.

After the table was cleared, Michael told them the next part of his plan. "I still need a few weeks to prepare everything to fix your condition, Eda. I've managed to sense out the locations of a few items, but there's one that is going to be a bit difficult to get to."

"Are you sure there's nothing in my stock you can use as a substitute?" She asked. While she may lack some of the rarer ingredients the Potions coven kept strict control over, she had managed to figure out a number of substitutes over the years and kept a healthy stock in her lab.

"I'm afraid not. The one thing I need the most is the blood essence of a monster from a more powerful bloodline than the Owl Beast inside you. That is something very difficult to find since the Owl Beast is not a monster originating from the Boiling Isles." Michael explained.

Eda mulled over the revelation that the Owl Beast was a foreign creature. It wasn't much of a shock, she had spent years looking into her condition after all. Not a single record could be found of any demon on the Isles matching the Beast's description. "What exactly is my curse? You were confident that you could cure or fix it when you first met me, why?"

"I was confident because I had already gone through the same process, the difference being it wasn't intentionally botched," Michael explained. "What you have inside you is the soul of the Owl Beast and its source. When I was younger, I also found and merged with a source, but the corresponding soul had long since dissipated. What I am going to do is remove the soul and finish merging the source with your body. This would give you full control of the Owl Beast's body without its soul trying to overwrite your own. Whoever did this to you either knew this would happen and still went through with it or had no idea what they were doing at all."

King spoke up, "So then when you finish Eda will still need her elixirs?"

"No King," Michael said. He then held up his arm and they watched as the skin on his hand shifted to blue scales then back to skin. "When we are done, Eda will be able to fully control her transformations. I can't say if her magic capacity would recover, but she would have access to the powers inherit to the Owl Beast's bloodline."

"You have no idea what those are, right?" Luz asked.

"Not a clue," He replied with a hint of pride. "I may be over five thousand years old, but the universe is even older than that."

His honesty earned a few chuckles from around the table. It was nice for him to be away from the expectations that came from his station. It had been far too long since he had a nice domestic moment like tonight. Michael decided he would have to change that once he returned from the star field.

Eventually, the night drew to a close. The residents of the house retired to their rooms, leaving Michael alone in the living room. Once he was certain the rest had fallen asleep, he slipped out of the house. He took to the skies, making his way up the Titan's body until he saw what he was looking for. A small clearing with a few coven scouts setting up camp. Making a quick descent he was greeted by their leader.

"It's exactly like I said, the Owl Lady isn't suspicious of me at all. You would have had her marked long ago if you used my approach instead of these man hunts, Coven Head Clawthrone." Michael said, doing his best to appear respectful while rubbing in his success.

Lilith was irritated, not only did she have to deal with Kikimora gunning for her position but now the mysterious human was dragging her sister into whatever plan he and the emperor had decided to leave her out of. All she knew was that she was to help him build a tower. When she asked why the emperor had told her it was for the Day of Unity. A frustratingly vague answer. "Don't celebrate too soon, you've yet to get her to join a coven. Besides, I'm not here to get an update on your pet project. I'm here to start construction of this tower the emperor commissioned."

"Yes, yes, all work and no play. No wonder you’re single." Michael jabbed at Lilith. He honestly didn't care but enjoyed trying to throw Lilith off her game. "Here are the blueprints as well as the list of materials needed for the tower. It's important these are followed to the letter. If you have any questions, you may relay them through this communication device."

He handed her several scrolls and a small wire orb. Lilith put the orb away before looking over the scrolls. She gave the blueprints a quick glance before looking over the list of materials. She had never heard these names before in her life, but thankfully he had included descriptions as well as pictures of the materials. Satisfied that the task could be accomplished she passed the list off to her assistant.

"It will take some time to go over the materials and clear the space to begin construction. Is there anything else you need?" Lilith asked.

Michael thought for a second before replying, "Now that you mention it, there is something. I need the blood of an exceptionally powerful creature for a little pet project of mine. What kind would you recommend?"

It was an unusual question, and one Lilith wasn't entirely certain how to answer. "I would recommend talking to Coven Head Eberwolf of the Beast Keeping coven. But if you're willing to take a risk you could always try looking for Titan's Blood."

He hummed in thought. The blood essence of a titan would certainly work for what he needed. "Thank you for your recommendations, Coven Head. I will be certain to follow up on them." Without another word, Michael took to the skies again. He had a lot to do and a sinking feeling that Titan's Blood would take a lot of effort to find.

Notes:

Short chapter as I try moving people around. Honestly, this is version 3 as the other two didn't fit in the current moment of the story.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments.

Chapter 9: Chapter 9

It had been a productive week since Michael had left to finish his preparations to cure Eda. Luz now had access to a ridiculous number of spirit stones as well as various treasures left by the ancient sects of the Boiling Isles. With such a great wealth of recourses at her disposal her realm quickly rose, allowing her to break through to the Qi Condensing realm. Not only had her cultivation base benefited from her newfound bounty, but also her body refinement. Among the many treasures inside the five rings were items she needed to successfully cultivate her Pure Lightning Body, much to everyone else's displeasure. Luz had forgotten to relay her master's warning that physical cultivation was a very painful process, as it involved the purging of impurities and strengthening the flesh through what could be described as exposure therapy.

Needless to say, there was a lot of screaming that day. Though Luz did gain the ability to walk in the rain without boiling alive.

Today was the day that Lilith was supposed to come and help them with their artifact problem. Luz was a bit nervous. The only guarantee that Lilith wouldn't bring a legion of scouts to try and arrest Eda was her own word saying she wouldn't. If Lilith used the fact that Hooty was told to let her in today as an excuse to attack, then Luz wasn't sure what would happen. Luz paced back and forth in her room, looking over the collection of artifacts she had chosen to show Lilith. She had picked five artifacts, a grade 4 sword, a grade 3 fan, a grade 2 mace, a grade 6 mirror, and a grade 5 robe. While the weapons were the real issue, Luz hoped the other three artifacts would help sell the story.

Finally, she heard the dreaded knock as Hooty announced the arrival of their guest. Luz gathered the items in her arms and began walking down to the living room, passing King on the way. He knew that Eda was going to talk business and it would be best if he stayed out of the way while she did. Luz made it to the bottom of the stairs and saw their guests. Lilith had brought someone along. Amity Blight was standing in the Owl House.

Eda and Lilith had already exchanged pleasantries and were currently discussing where the artifacts had been found, but Luz had tuned them out. The silence coming from Amity had put Luz on edge. Luz hadn't seen nor heard about Amity since their duel at the Covention a little over a week ago. Thankfully, Luz was saved from her own racing thoughts by the adults.

"Ah, Luz. I see you brought some of the items in question. Go ahead and lay them out on the table." Eda casually called out. She was completely relaxed, despite the fact that her estranged sister was sitting across from her. Luz did as she was asked and carefully laid out her selection. She could feel Lilith's eyes boring into her as she carefully placed the sword and mace on the table.

"I see why you needed my help, sister. Not only are these items unlike anything seen on the Isles, but traditional martial weapons have been outlawed for some time. If I'm not mistaken, even vendors at the Night Market are warry about dealing with anything larger than a knife." Lilith said as she examined the items. The items didn't match any witch or demon culture Lilith was aware of. "How about you girls go do… whatever teenagers do these days. We're going to be here a while."

"Kid, why don't you go practice outside?" Eda kept her eyes on the artifacts as she addressed Luz. Before Luz could voice any protest Eda continued. "You don't need to worry about Lily here. If anything were to happen Hooty would have her out of the house before she could do any major damage."

Lilith shuddered at the mention of the house demon. Far too many raids had been thwarted by him alone. Far too many scouts had been sent to therapy to justify more frequent raids. "You don't have to worry about me, Luz. I'm here as a historian first, coven head second today."

Luz nodded before walking out the back door. If she wasn't needed, then she would take the time she had to continue her cultivation. She would need to improve her strength a bit more before the tomb raid next week. Gus and Willow had gotten permission from their parents to join them under the guise of an extended camping trip over the summer break. She would need the extra power to make sure her friends would stay safe on the trip. She summoned her practice staff from one of the space rings before working her way through the warmup routine Michael had shown her before she left.

"How were you able to beat me?" The question came from Amity. Luz considered how to answer her while she finished her exercise.

"You weren't used to the amount of power you had," Luz replied. "I'm sure you realize now that the patch from the Construction coven won't give you an edge in combat if you don't know how to use your power correctly."

Amity was stunned, Miss Lilith only told her about placing the patch on the back of her neck a few days after the fight. Yet apparently this 'human' was fully aware she was being boosted the whole time. It was insulting to think. "If you knew then why didn't you say anything? You could have automatically won the fight if you pointed out I was cheating."

"Master Michael knew about. Lilith knew about it. Neither of them saw it as enough to preemptively call the fight, so why should it matter? Besides, power isn't everything in a fight." Luz explained before she started her next exercise. She decided to practice some of the forms she had seen in the manual for the Great Unrestrained Spear. There was an air of mystery about them like she couldn't see what was really going on.

Amity felt herself getting frustrated again. This 'human' said that cheating wasn't a big deal cause no one else tried to point it out. What kind of logic was that? And to say that power wasn't everything in a fight was infuriating. If power didn't matter then why did she lose to a weaker opponent? "I don't buy it. You're just making excuses to avoid admitting you got lucky."

Luz once again waited until she finished the form she was on before responding. It seemed like she wasn't going to get as much practice as she would have liked with Amity constantly being well… Amity. "Why are you even here today? Don't you have anything better to do or is it some rich kid past time here to go and harass people they don't like?"

Amity felt like she was back in that arena again. The 'human' had a defiant look in her eyes with an added air of superiority about her now. "I am here because Miss Lilith decided I should accompany her. She said something about learning something from you, but I can hardly how if you're just going to sit here and lie."

Luz saw it, the mask that Amity was hiding behind. It faltered like it did during their slug match. She just needed to push a little harder. "Why are you still lying to yourself?"

It was an innocent question, but the walls Amity lived behind hadn't recovered enough to take it. Without a word, Amity launched a fireball at Luz before summoning two abominations. Amity commanded them to rush Luz before she had a chance to recover.

Unfortunately, Luz was not the same person she was a week ago. The gap that existed between the two of them was not something Amity could cross with blitz tactics. Luz let the fireball wash over her. Lightning began to arc across her body as she activated the power of the Pure Lightning Body. She may have only reached the first level, but the boost was enough to raise her cultivation base by two minor realms for a bit. Luz swung her staff at each of the abominations, scattering them across the grass. Luz then flashed, closing the distance between them.

Before Amity could register what had happened, she was on the ground. One end of the staff Luz was using was gently resting on her chest. "Do you yield?" Amity slammed her fist on the ground. There was nothing she could do.

When she turned back, she noticed that the staff had been replaced with an open hand. Amity looked up at Luz to see a smiling face blocking the sun. It was as if something inside Amity finally clicked. Amity had been forced to act only for herself from a very young age. Success wasn't enough in her house, you had to excel at everything. People only cared about her when she was on top. Yet Luz beat her and didn't care. Even after she soundly beat Amity a second time Luz was willing to offer what Amity lacked, validation. She did her best. It wasn't enough, but that was okay.

Amity took Luz's hand, startled when the other girl seemed to effortlessly pull her off the ground. After finding her balance, Amity looked at Luz again. A friendly smile greeted her. "Are you ready to be honest with yourself?"

Amity didn't need a second to consider it. She may have had to have this revelation beaten into her twice, but she was ready. "Yes, but how do you suggest I do that? It's not like I can just rebel like my siblings."

Luz's smile took on a mischievous energy. "Why not? Can't think of anything your parents would disapprove of?"

"I… I just can't okay." Amity retorted.

"I see, you don't know how to rebel." Luz teased. "Little Miss Goody Two Shoes has no idea how to have fun."

Amity growled, "Why do you care?"

Luz tilted her head in confusion, "Cause that's what friends do?"

It was Amity's turn to be confused. "After everything you've seen me do, you think we can be friends?"

Luz put on an exaggerated thinking face. She already had an answer but decided it would be more fun to put on a show. She hummed and haw'd for a minute before giving her answer. "You're right, it wouldn't make sense to just start being friends at this point. How about we start over then? Hi, I'm Luz Noceda. I'm a human cultivator currently staying here in the Boiling Isles. I spend a lot of time working on my martial arts, but I also love reading, learning new things, and hanging out with friends. My favorite book series is The Good Witch Azura, though you probably don't know what that is."

Amity laughed. She never met someone so willing to let the past be the past. The people she was allowed to associate with either used it as a tool to beat others down or stood on the sidelines and watched. It was refreshing to have someone willing to ignore it and start again. "Hi Luz. I'm Amity Blight, an aspiring abomination witch. Most of my time is spent studying magic, but I do make time for other things. I love reading as well and work at the local library. I don't have anyone I'd call a friend, but I'm hoping that can change. My favorite book series is also the Good Witch Azura, though I can't imagine how you could have read it before."

The two girls tried to keep a straight face but failed. They laughed at each other a bit before calming down. They then spent the next couple of hours talking. Amity hadn't felt able to connect with another person like this for a long time. Time didn't matter anymore. She didn't even realize how long she was there until her scroll went off. Her shift at the library was going to start in half an hour.

"Ah, shit. I gotta go. My shift is going to start in half an hour." She stood up and dusted herself off.

Luz quickly jumped up, "At the library, right? Give me a minute, Eda has some books she wants returned. I'll go grab them and we can hitch a ride on Owlbert."

"The Owl Lady lets you borrow her palisman whenever you want?" Amity asked.

"Not at first. When I first got here, she would only lend him when I needed to make potion deliveries for her. After a while though, he started to volunteer to come with me when I needed to go somewhere. It hasn't been often, but I think it's nice he's willing to help." Luz told her.

Amity was stunned. "Luz, a witch doesn't just lend their palisman to someone else and it's unheard of for a palisman to be willing to help someone who isn't their witch. Both of them must trust you a lot."

"Wow," Luz said. "Eda never mentioned any of that to me." A warm fuzzy feeling grew in her chest. It meant a lot to her that both Eda and Owlbert trusted her to that extent. Without another word, Luz went into the house to get the books and palisman.

Luz felt like she skipped a chapter when she saw the chaos inside the house. Eda, King, and Lilith were each trying to wrangle their own demon. The three were identical, looking like a person's head with bat-like wings and feet. Thankfully someone had the foresight to put the weapons somewhere the tiny terrors couldn't reach. Luz quickly grabbed the books she was going to return and signaled Owlbert to follow her.

"Hey buddy, Amity and I need to head into town. Do you think you could give us a lift?" Luz asked the carved owl. Owlbert gave a small hoot before turning into a staff. Luz quickly placed the books in a space ring she had emptied for personal use and took the staff outside. There she and Amity got on and took off towards town. Twenty minutes later they landed in front of the Bonesborough library. Amity ran inside, eager to start her shift on time. Luz was about to follow her when she felt a tug on her sleeve.

"What's up, buddy? You gonna head back to Eda?" Luz asked.

Hoot. Owlbert nodded.

"Alright buddy, you go on ahead. I can get back home fine." Luz told him. She reached out and gently stroked the side of his face. Owlbert gave his best attempt at a smile upon receiving the affectionate touch. "Just be careful, I don't know if I could forgive myself if something happened to you on the way back."

Another hoot, this one filled with confidence. Owlbert then took off back towards the Owl House and the chaos he left it in. Satisfied that her friend would be okay on his way back, Luz entered the library.

The clerk was… less than pleased with the condition the books were returned in. Luz was worried she would be stuck with the fine until asked if Eda had borrowed them. Clearly, it wasn't the first time she had kept books past due or returned them stained or torn. Thankful that she wouldn't have to pay for her teacher's mistakes, Luz began to explore the library. It wasn't as impressive as the one Michael kept, but he had never allowed her to freely explore it. He said it was because there were dangerous techniques and dark secrets, she didn't need to burden herself with. Luz just figured he had a large porn collection somewhere, but she decided it was better to believe his story than to confront him with her theory.

 

While it wasn't as grand, Luz wasn't used to seeing books covering so many different subjects gathered in one place. Gravesfield's public and school libraries were small due to poor funding and the low population. She took her time, wandering the aisles looking for something interesting. She didn't find anything of note in the historical and educational sections of the library. At a glance, it seemed that the emperor was very successful at presenting his set of facts as the ultimate truth. Anything that didn't fit neatly into the current status quo was branded wild magic, likely either destroyed or kept in the forbidden stacks she saw in the back of the library. With her quest for knowledge thwarted, Luz made her way towards the fiction section.

The last thing Luz had expected to see was Amity reading to a group of young children. Sure, Luz had learned earlier that day that Amity had been working at the library for some time, but she never expected her to be good with children. Luz had pictured Amity being a cold person, helping people when asked but always in a way that made it seem like they were bothering her. Instead, it seems like Amity had spent a lot of time working with children. She even had different voices for the characters. The children seemed very disappointed when the story ended, and it was time for Amity to go.

"I know you said you were a librarian, but I never pegged you for reading time." Amity jumped at Luz's voice, earning a chuckle. Amity's face was red, and it turned even darker when a voice called out.

"Mittens, there you are." Two green-haired witches walked up to them, one of them carrying a pink lunch bag. "Mom said you need to stop forgetting your lunch." The boy teased.

Luz quickly connected the dots. The two witches were Amity's older siblings she had mentioned a few times, but never by name. The girl made eye contact with Luz, her eyes going wide with recognition. "Hey Edric, look. It's the human who kicked Mittens' ass."

Amity was mortified. The twins had been quiet about the whole Covention incident, and she figured they somehow didn’t hear about it. Instead, they were waiting for a better opportunity than making their mother go on another rant. Edric immediately began asking Luz questions, "Hey, how did your mentor pull off that illusion? It was crazy. Oh, and you have to show us that lightning thing you did. We've never seen anything take out an abomination that fast."

It was as if Amity was living a nightmare. She had just begun to break out of the mold that her mother had forced her into and here came the twin disasters as some kind of karmic consequence. However, Luz didn't seem happy with them at the moment.

"It's awfully bold to ask me to teach you a secret technique out of nowhere. What makes you think I would teach you anything when I don't even know you?" Luz demanded. While they may be Amity's older siblings, there were lines you did NOT cross with cultivators. Their secret techniques being one of them. Techniques were meant to be passed down to disciples, left to one's sect, or traded fairly. They weren't to be handed out like cheap party tricks.

"Looks like you hit a nerve there Ed. I told you it couldn't have been an illusion." The girl elbowed her brother in the ribs. "So, your mentor has some crazy teleportation magic, and you have neat lightning powers. Any other crazy tricks."

Luz was a bit annoyed. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. One way for you to find out."

"Wow, easy there. I don't want to fight. Can't really, we're illusionists." Edric said, pointing to the coven mark on his wrist. Luz could tell it was an illusion but wasn't sure how, it was like the edges were fuzzy or like it was showing through from behind his wrist.

"O, that's a neat mark you have there." Luz leaned in, acting like she believed them. "Hey Amity, you should know this and Lilith's apprentice, what's the sentence for faking a coven sigil?"

While the library was already quiet, it somehow got even quieter. All three siblings were shocked. "Luz, what do you mean? Edric and Emira were made marked members of a smaller illusion coven last year. Those are real marks."

"No, they're not. At least Edric's isn't." Luz stated confidently. Edric's body language betrayed him. All his confidence was gone, and his sister was shifting side to side now, her eyes darting back and forth. "It's… wrong for the lack of a better term. While it's enough for anyone to think it was real at a glance, if you look closely enough the inconsistencies begin to add up."

Luz looked Edric in the eyes before looking at Emria. "If I had to guess, you two cast the illusion of the coven mark on each other. That way if you were questioned about it individually then you lower the chances of dropping your focus and dispelling the illusion."

To test her theory Luz set a small shock and Emira. While it was nowhere near enough to hurt her, since she was already on edge it was enough to disrupt her focus. This caused the mark on Edric's arm to briefly glitch out. Amity gasped when she saw that.

"What are you two thinking? It was already bad enough when our mother thought you two joined a smaller coven behind her back, but instead, you're committing fraud." Amity whisper-yelled at her twin siblings. She would have continued to tear into them but was stopped when Luz put a hand on her shoulder.

"Relax, there's probably only a handful of people on the Isles that could notice that, and your siblings aren't dumb enough to let those people look that long, right?" Luz hoped the two were smart enough to take the out she'd given them.

'R-right. We were only caught because we let our guard down." Edric spouted out. Emira quickly followed up, "Yeah, right. Guess this shows how you got the better of Amity."

"Whatever, just don't let me hear about you two getting caught doing this again, got it?" The twins could only nod under their younger sister's glare. "Good, I have to get back to work now. I better not see you two pulling any of your usual pranks like last year."

Amity walked off without another word. The twins stood there like scolded children, which wasn't far from the truth. "So, uh, what did you two try to do last year?" Luz was curious about the story behind the threat, it was too specific.

"You really are new to the Isles. Tonight is the Wailing Star." Emira said. "They only show up for one or two days every year. They have some pretty weird magical effects, so the library has to close early for it."

"Amity usually takes an overnight shift to make sure nothing happens." Edric continued. "Last year we tried to steal the diary Mittens keeps here and post the pages around Hexside. Instead, we got caught up in the effects of the Star and had to be rescued by Amity."

Luz let out a low whistle, "No wonder she doesn't have high opinions about you two. I just thought it was all overbearing parents."

Edric shook his head, "Just Odalia. Our father never leaves his workshop long enough to take care of himself, must lest have expectations for his children." The family issues of the Blight's ran deeper than Luz thought.

"So you three grew up with an overbearing mother and an absentee father and decided the best way to strengthen your sibling bond was to torment her by revealing her deepest secrets to an entire student body?" Luz looked between the twins. The two of them refused to make eye contact. "Y'all need therapy. Let's make a deal, you two are going to apologize to your sister and I mean actually apologize. If you do that and she thinks you did a good enough job, I'll teach you a thing or two I know."

The twins perked up at the offer. Emria asked, "How do we know if she would even accept our apology? You don't know the list of pranks we've pulled on her over the years."

"You can't. But whose fault is that?" Luz retorted. "I will say your sister may be a bit more open to rebuilding bridges, but you need to really work at it."

Luz began to walk away before stopping and turning back to them, "Oh, I forgot to mention, I've gotten quite a bit stronger since I dueled Amity. So if I hear that you two have doubled down on your sibling bullying, the only thing I will teach you is how cultivators settle disputes." For dramatic effect Luz had lightning arc from the corner of one of her eyes. The twins gulped before nodding. Satisfied, Luz returned to wandering the library.

It wasn't much longer before the closing announcement went out over the speaker system. Luz decided that she didn't want to leave quite yet. She carefully checked her surroundings before pulling out a concealment talisman. Last time she was caught after several hours and a bit of carelessness on her part. Since the only employee staying over was her friend, Luz figured she could get away with it.

The patrons may have left early, but it was another two hours before the rest of the library staff left for the night. Luz had managed to find a dark corner that they all seemed to ignore while they all ran around finishing their tasks, though she could have sworn the head librarian looked right at her for a moment.

Amity sat down behind the front desk and pulled out her scroll. Everyone had left for the night, leaving Amity to make sure something didn't happen to the library while the Wailing Star was close by. Last year she ended up having to have her siblings from a group of characters from different children's books they vandalized. The rest of the night for her to clean up the mess they caused. This year she had decent leverage to keep them away from the library by threatening to unleash a book she had carefully edited to deal with the two of them.

She anticipated a long and quiet night by herself in the library. That was until Luz appeared right in front of her holding a slip of paper. Amity was not anticipating that at all.

"How in Titan's name did you get in here?" Amity yelled. "The library was emptied hours ago. There's no way you could have gotten in without tripping the desk alarm." She pointed to a small light on the desk with a piece of paper labeled 'Intruder Alert.'

"I never left," Luz responded as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.

"Never left? You should have been seen and escorted out." Amity countered.

"Concealment talisman," Luz responded in the same tone. "Most witches and demons on the Isles aren't able to see through them. Took your principal several hours to find me when I visited the campus using one."

"Your talisman just makes you invisible to their senses and magic?" Amity was a bit skeptical about it. What Luz was describing was illusion magic beyond what most trained illusionists could pull off.

"Yep," Luz answered. "Master said that anyone below the Immortal Boundary realm would find it impossible to see through the talisman. For reference, not even Eda or Lilith are strong enough to do that. They are only one-time use though, so I do have to be a bit careful with how often I use them."

"And you decided to use one of your limited stealth spells to stay in a library past closing?" Amity was beginning to find the whole situation ridiculous. "What if you can't run away from a demon because you didn't save that talisman for later."

"Escape talisman. Randomly teleports the user and anyone in contact with them to a random safe location within a five-mile radius. Furthermore, I have reached the QI Condensing realm and would be able to handle any monster below grade 4 without being in significant danger." Luz was starting to enjoy this conversation. It reminded her of reading power-scaling threads on the internet. "Next question."

Amity sighed, "There's no chance I could convince you to leave, is there?"

"Nope."

"Can I ask why?" Amity admitted defeat.

"I heard the Wailing Star causes some weird things to happen here. I also heard you're the one who does the overnight shifts when it happens." Luz explained. "Seemed like it would be better than returning to whatever chaos the Owl House is in right now."

"Fine, I guess there are worse people I could spend the night with. There's only one rule." She held up a finger to emphasize the point. "You do not, under any circumstances, open a book. The Wailing Star brings the contents of pages to life."

"So, when your bother said they got caught up in the effects of the Star?" Luz wondered what kind of trouble they had gotten into.

Amity couldn't hold back a short burst of laughter. "They told you about that?"

"Just a bit, said they wanted to steal your diary but ended up being rescued instead," Luz admitted.

"The two of them first discovered what the Wailing Star does. Then they experimented with changing parts of the book with a pencil. Things got out of hand, and they ended up being sewn into a book by one of the characters they changed. I had to fight it before finding its book and closing it." Amity grimaced at the memory. It wasn't a pleasant experience fighting her favorite childhood story.

"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but why did you decide to hide your diary in a library of all places?" Luz asked. "I mean I get that its away from home and all, but isn't there a risk that someone else would take it?"

"I'm not sure if I trust you enough to show you yet," Amity admitted. While Luz had done a lot today to help her come out of her shell, Amity could feel the edges of her emotions fraying.

Luz had to weigh her options for a moment. On one hand, pushing Amity to do something she wasn't comfortable with would be a dick move on her part. On the other hand, she was far too curious for her own good. "What if I traded for it?"

"Trade?" Amity asked. "Why would I do that?"

"Cause I'm offering adventure, treasure, and a chance to prove you're becoming a better person," Luz replied confidently.

"Go on." Amity was curious about what Luz's idea of adventure was. "If I like what you have to say I'll show you my secret."

"So, you could probably guess that there are more people like my master and I out there. Well about a month ago, I happened upon a couple of maps and a set of keys to a treasure trove left by cultivators who lived on the Isles a long time ago." Luz explained. "According to the records they left behind there's a ton of cool stuff buried in the Chest region. Eda Is taking me, Gus, and Willow, up there in a week to go crack it open. You could join us if you want, I'm sure Lilith would be willing to provide an excuse for you once she hears about us finding more artifacts like the ones we showed her earlier today."

"That's a bit ridiculous, even for you." Amity felt confident her secret was safe. That confidence quickly shattered when Luz produced the map. "Hold on, I've seen this writing before."

"You've seen the cultivation language?" Luz asked. "Eda said she had never seen anything like it before on the Isles. Where did you see this?"

"My mother gave me a book that had a practice technique she wanted me to use. I thought it was worthless, but then I realized it helped me center my emotions. Follow me, I'll show it to you." Amity jumped out of her chair and led Luz into the library. She walked straight for the romance section, revealing a false shelf that opened when she pulled on a fake book. Luz wasn't sure how to feel about the cliché but pushed that aside to admire the hidden room.

It wasn't large, hardly big enough for the two of them to use the room comfortably, but it did have a lot of care put into it. Luz figured Amity had free reign of this room for a long time. A small shelf held a few books she was sure would have been contraband along with a couple of journals. On the desk was a book bound in the same unusual style all her master's books were. Luz felt her blood run cold when she read the title.

Written in the stylized symbols of the common language of cultivators was the term 'Pill Furnace Cultivation Method.'

Luz felt like she wanted to throw up. Amity's mother gave her daughter a cultivation method meant to exploit her for someone else's gain. "Amity… how much of that book have you read?"

"Oh, I think I've worked my way through a third of it. I haven't been able to complete the exercise all the way yet, but I think I'll get there soon." Amity explained as she absent-mindedly flipped through the book.

Luz clamped her hand on her bracelet. 'Master, I need you here right now. Amity is being trained as a Pill Furnace.'

Luz grabbed Amity by the shoulders. "I want you to know that it is going to be okay. My master will know what to do. You're going to be fine."

Amity was confused, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of glass shattering and fabric tearing. She looked over Luz's shoulder to see her master stepping through a hole in reality.

Notes:

Physical cultivation/body refining is not a pleasant process. One story I read had the MC beaten with a bone, another was exposed to different extreme temperatures repeatedly, and another entered a literal sea of lightning.

Before I start talking about what I mean by Pill Furnace I would like to remind y'all that this work is marked as mature.

The term Pill Furnace is a colloquialism. The tool used in alchemy is called a pill furnace, but in this context, it refers to a woman who has cultivated only to be used by a man to speed up his cultivation. The general practice is referred to as 'dual cultivation'. The idea behind dual cultivation is uniting Yin (female) and Yang (male) energy from two different people. Dual cultivation techniques are actually faster than normal cultivation techniques but have some issues. The first is that they mostly only work with one male and one female participant. There are stories with other kinds of dual cultivation methods, but they have their own restrictions like only working with identical twins. The next issue is that it includes sex, or more like an orgy. The final issue is that nine out of ten times, the woman is getting the short end of the stick. She will be tossed aside once the man has gotten bored or gotten all he can from her. In the case of a Pill Furnace, she will die. Furthermore, a woman trained as a Pill Furnace is incapable of fully using their power as a side effect of the method.

Now there are more morally reprehensible methods out there, but dual cultivation is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to how women are treated in some of these stories.

When I started this work I mentioned that I would talk about some things about the Wuxia genre I don't like and dual cultivation is on the list. It's just a tool used by sleazy people who leer at women until they get punched in the face. It's gross and doesn't need to be there. It takes potentially interesting characters and focuses all the attention on how hot they are, There are other issues I have with how women are treated, but it mainly boils down to the idea that we can't have interesting female characters without them being sexualized or put into a compromising position with the main character. I'd continue, but there is a character limit and I'm writing this at 1 am.

Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Michael poured himself another drink. He had been observing the progress the Emperor's coven had made on his design. The foundation was laid and work had progressed onto the framing, but was being stalled due to a lack of competent craftsmen among the rank-and-file members of the coven. Truly an elite force.

He was extremely disappointed by the supposed elite witches of the Boiling Isles. Even though they had been given permission to use and study any branch of magic they wanted to they restricted themselves to whatever they ended up studying as children. Normally that wouldn't be a bad thing, but it was clear they were chosen based on raw power over any measure of talent or skill. Thankfully members of the Construction coven were called in to help out, but only a few higher-ranking members could be trusted to handle the project.

He turned his gaze from the work below to the strange comet in the sky. He had been to many different places and seen many different phenomena, yet the universe continued to amaze him. A star that could bring the written word to life was simply astounding. He spread out his divine senses, trying to feel even a bit of the power that caused this phenomenon to work. Yet he could sense nothing. Truly, the universe was an amazing place.

Then he received a very unpleasant message. Someone was trying to turn an innocent girl into a pill furnace. It was only the combination of his immense will and thousands of years of wisdom that prevented him from leveling the library as he entered it. There he was greeted by his disciple doing her best to keep her friend calm and a very concerned witch. The void corridor he created closed behind him as he approached the desk.

He didn't bother to open it. Looking at it filled him with the same sense of wrath and disgust that ruled his life so long ago. "Amity, who gave you this book?" He turned and saw a freighted girl. More memories flashed through his mind, the seals on the palms of his hands ached.

"Her mother did, Master. She was told to use it by her mother." Luz replied with a cold tone.

"Thank you, Luz. But I asked Amity, I think it would be best if I heard the story from her." Michael calmly admonished his student. "Now Amity, is it true that your mother gave you this book?"

Amity nodded. Panic had begun to take over her expression. Her mind was beginning to race, trying to figure out what was wrong. Why would Luz say everything was going to be okay like she did?

"Amity, would it be okay if we discussed this somewhere else? I know a place where we can discuss this without worry. I promise it's a safe place." It had been a long time since Michael had worked against fear. Centuries of fighting had removed his fear of death and many of his peers were also willing to lay down their lives at a moment's notice. It had been too long since he had dealt with pure fear.

"Yes, that would be fine." Amity expected Michael to open another hole for them to walk through. Instead, he pulled out a glass ball and placed it on the desk. A moment later, Amity and Luz were standing in a meadow. Her mind could hardly comprehend it. The grass, trees, and sky were an unnatural color. Turning around she saw a gazebo and further past it was a strangely built tower.

"Luz, where are we?" Amity asked, wishing it was all a dream and that she would wake up at the front desk of the library.

Luz gently grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the gazebo. "This is the inside of the Universe Bead Michael has. This is what it looks like in the human realm. He built all of this himself, though he says the Bead itself was made by someone else a long time ago."

They made their way under the gazebo and sat down at a table that was already there. Amity studied the woodwork, trying to ground herself for a bit. She wanted to focus on the rich color or even the careful detail work, but she couldn't. There was something wrong and she didn’t know what.

Michael appeared carrying a teapot and three cups on a tray. He set it down and then proceeded to summon a small stack of books, the one on top being the one she had been using for the past year. Michael set them aside before pouring each of them a cup of tea.

"Please, drink. This blend is made from spirit herbs that have a calming effect on the mind." Michael carefully placed a cup in front of Amity. "I grow them myself, so please don't worry about the cost or anything like that."

Amity hesitated but ultimately took a sip from her drink. The effect was almost instant and felt like her soul was being wrapped in a warm, fluffy blanket. It eased her strained emotions and helped calm her thoughts. She closed her eyes as she took another sip, enjoying the sensation as the herbs eased her soul.

Michael waited until the three of them had each finished their drinks before turning his attention to his stack of books. He carefully flipped through the manual Amity had in her possession. In his complacency, he never expected to find such a method on the Boiling Isles. In a realm where everyone could use magic cultivation had become a dying art. Under such circumstances only the most powerful methods endured, but someone had deliberately preserved this manual.

He closed the book and looked at the two young girls, mere babes compared to him. "Before I ask any more questions about this book, I think it would only be far to explain the reaction it's gotten from Luz and me."

"Why don't you ever share fun details about your past anymore?" Luz asked. She remembered a time when Michael shared stories out of a fairy tale. Now she was going to get another war story.

"Pain teaches better than pleasure, and this story is the most painful one from my youth." Michael continued, "As hard as it may be to believe, I am over five thousand years old even though I look like I'm in my thirties. My journey through cultivation has been kind to me in that regard."

Michael began his story, "When I was eighteen, my family lived outside of a small village. We couldn't be considered rich, but we were well off and acted as the financial pillar of the community. My father traded fairly and my mother saw that the poor were taken care of. Everything seemed perfect when I left home that year. I left home knowing that my family would be there for me when I returned."

"I spent three years wandering the country. I made a few good friends and a few connections with the various guilds. I planned to use these connections to expand our family's operations, but it was not meant to be." He sighed, "When I returned to the village I learned that my family was attacked by bandits and my parents were slaughtered, our wealth stolen, and our home destroyed. Thankfully, a passing cultivator noticed the commotion and went to investigate. He saved my younger sister from a few bandits that had stayed behind. The villagers told me that the cultivator said my sister had unique potential in his sect's secret art and took her to join them."

"I immediately went to track down the cultivator who saved my sister to try and repay him for his kindness. It took a few months, but I eventually found the sect. I met the man and thanked him, but when I asked to meet my sister he said she had just entered seclusion and wouldn't emerge for some time. I accepted this and went on my way. As fate would have it, I soon after met with a good friend from a powerful sect and learned the truth." Michael's face contorted in pain, "The sect that had saved my sister took her to be used as a pill furnace, a woman cultivator whose only purpose is to be used by a man. The process drains all the vitality from the victim. I immediately wanted to storm the sect and take my sister back, but I wasn't strong enough."

"I spent the next few years training like a madman, hoping that my sister had not yet been killed by those disgusting dogs. I honed my technique and increased my strength until the day I was ready. I rallied my allies and we attacked. I killed as many of them as I could get my hands on, even the one who brought my sister to that hell. We put the entire sect to the blade, blood flowed like water down the mountainside." Michael quickly poured himself another drink, downing it before finishing his story. "After the battle, we gathered all the captive women, but my sister was already dead. The major sects that participated in the battle divided the spoils according to the contributions of individual cultivators. Then they reached the topic of what to do with the women. In the end, ten of them had reached a point of no return, they couldn't learn how to fight because of the secret technique nor would they survive abolishing their cultivation to start again. I spent the next fifteen years trying to undo the effects of that heinous technique, until one day I woke up to see that they had all ended their own lives."

"In the letter they left, they explained they did not blame me but felt like they were holding me back. They decided to take their lives in hopes that I would move on and one day succeed elsewhere." Michael placed his hand on the stack of books. "I moved on, eventually, growing stronger but never forgetting any of them. Two thousand years later I managed to develop a method to undo the restraints placed on those who were forced to cultivate in such a way."

"That's awful," Luz said. His family was the one topic Michael always avoided. Now she knew why.

Amity felt sick. "My own mother gave me such a horrible book. D-did she know?"

"I don't know." He said, "But I promise you that I will find out where this book came from and make sure it will never bother you or anyone else again."

Silence fell over them. Luz pulled Amity against her side, bringing the troubled girl into a comforting embrace. Michael simply poured her cup after cup until the pot was empty. Once she had calmed down enough, Michael sent the three of them back out to the hidden room.

Michael and Luz instantly felt there was something wrong. Luz sensed that the natural flow of qi had been muffled like someone had thrown a blanket over her. Michael's divine senses allowed him to understand what was happening. Someone had created a barrier over the entire library. Six men, all around the third level of the Mixed Elements stage. Fodder to him, but the two girls would be quickly overpowered.

"Master, what's going on?" Luz asked.

"It seems we are under attack." Michael responded, "Six combatants, all beyond your skill level."

The foundations of the library shuddered. Michael noted that their assailants had finished their formation. It was a capture array, meant to suppress the target while they were inside. However, he noted that Luz was completely unaffected. Amity on the other hand could barely stand.

Without a word, Michael stepped out of the small room pulling the shelf back in place as he did. They were here specifically for Amity, to collect their prize. 'Luz, keep her comfortable and stay in that room. They're too strong for you.'

The first one struck him square in the jaw with enough force to injure a normal man. Unfortunately for him, Michael had left normal behind centuries ago. Michael stood his ground, taking the hit as if he was hit by a slight breeze. Two more followed up with ice quickly covering the floor and moving up his legs and a thick fog covering the area. Michael heard four of them quickly moving around the shelves, making only the slightest sounds as they tried to surround him. When they finally stopped, four conjured spears slammed into Michael. They shattered against his tempered body.

"I'll give you this one chance. The first one to bring me the heads of two of his companions I will let go. The other three I will take in for questioning." Michael said as he dispelled the fog with a swipe of his hand. "It's getting late though, so I'll give you one minute to do so."

The assailants didn't even consider his offer. Instead, they changed tactics. The four around him launched into close-quarters combat, attempting to wear him out while the other two moved around. He toyed with them for a while by testing their teamwork. Moving in unexpected ways, deflecting their attacks towards a comrade, and attempting to escape their little formation. Then he heard a click and the sound of wood scraping against wood.

In an instant, he was behind the unfortunate soul who opened the hidden door. The next moment he had ripped the arm of the witch clean off. Before the man could even grip the stump where his arm used to be, Michael took his head clean off. He grimaced as blood sprayed from the wounds, a library was not an appropriate place to fight in, but he doubted he could convince the others to move the fight somewhere else.

A small spark fell from Michael's hand, igniting the corpse which quickly burned to ashes leaving no trace behind. The blood stains on the walls and books would take more time for him to clean. "My original offer was for one of you to go free, but you have just put my disciple in danger. Your right to mercy has expired." Space warped and cracked as Michael brought his hand up. Once it reached its full height, Michael slammed it to the ground with the sixth man's head held firmly in his grip. The bones of the man's body cracked and broke against the ground beneath him.

Michael casually tossed aside the limp body. He didn't care if they were still breathing when he was done, he had enough ways to extract information from the souls of the recently departed. His next move had him cave in the chest cavity of his third victim. The fourth and fifth tried to run for it only to be met with a shattered spine for one and a set of worthless knees for the other. The last one just stood there, terrified. It was as if a monster had emerged from the depths of the Titan to punish him for his misdeeds. With a sharp blow to the back of his head, it was over.

Michael took his time to carefully move the broken bodies to a special place inside the Universe Bead. He would take his time interrogating the survivors later. Once he was done he returned to check on the two girls. Amity had fallen asleep, likely a combination of the emotional distress and the suppressing effects of the barrier. Luz was diligently watching out for her friend.

"They've been dealt with," Michael said as if he was talking about chores and not a half dozen people. "There were only six tonight, but chances are that there will be more."

Luz balled her hands into fists. "I'll deal with them myself next time." Her blood boiled at the thought of what they would have done to Amity.

"You might not be there next time." Michael placed a hand on her shoulder. "They were clearly targeting her tonight. They knew exactly where this room was."

Luz looked up, "They've been watching her for a while now."

Michael nodded, "Probably have her whole routine memorized. Tonight would have been the perfect time to take her. She was supposed to be here all alone, with no one likely to check up on her until the following evening."

"What are we going to do?" She asked.

"Right now, what we need to focus on is removing the effects of the secret technique from her body." Michael raised his hand and summoned a void corridor. "But before any of that, both of you need to rest. You can worry more in the morning, or maybe the afternoon."

Luz carefully picked up Amity, making sure she didn't wake the other girl up. She turned to ask another question, but her master simply shook his head and motioned for the portal. Stepping through, Luz found herself in her room of the Owl House. The whole house was dark and quiet, the only light in the room being the fading greenish light from the Wailing Star. Luz carefully set Amity down in the mess of blankets before laying down next to her. The morning would bring a lot of questions, but for now, she was too tired to care.

Notes:

A shorter chapter to round out the night and give a bit of back story to the resident fossil.

I'll be honest, ten chapters with some fifty-ish thousand words is a lot further than I though I would get with this work.

Nothing of note to add to tonight's chapter, but if you have any questions about the story feel free to ask them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Amity woke up to the sun shining in her face. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and took stock of the situation. She was in a room she had never seen before and was still in the same clothes she was wearing yesterday. She tried to remember what had happened last night, but her memory was fuzzy. She remembered Luz had hidden in the library, and then her master showed up and told a story about something. But then all she could remember was feeling drained and just wanting to sleep.

The door opened, revealing the little black demon Luz lived with walking in with a tray. She was apparently at the Owl House, though that still didn't explain why she was there. The little demon took a few steps into the room before noticing that Amity was awake.

"Oh, you're up. Let me go get Luz." He quickly turned around before remembering why he was even there to begin with. "Oh, here's some food. Michael said you should have something to eat when you woke up."

He set the tray down next to her and then ran out the door. Amity tried to thank him but found her throat wouldn't cooperate with her. She looked down to examine what was on the tray. A simple sandwich and a glass of water. Realizing how hungry she was, Amity dug in.

The next person to walk through the door was Luz. She didn't say anything to Amity, instead, she took a seat on the floor across from her and waited until she was done with her food.

Amity set the empty glass back on the tray. The food and drink felt like they did wonders for her. "How did I get here?" Her voice was hoarse and she strained to be loud enough.

"I carried you here. I don't know what you remember, but you were attacked at the library. They used something that drained your magic and you passed out as a result. Master dealt with the attackers and sent us here to recover." Luz kept her voice calm and low. Michael wasn't sure how much Amity would remember and stressed that bombarding her with details would be a counter-productive thing to do.

Amity closed her eyes as she tried to piece things together with this new information. It wasn't much help. Her memories felt distorted, like she had actually seen a recording of a recording of the events. She shook her head, there was no point in dwelling on those memories right now. "Why am I here? Why wasn't I taken home?"

"You, uh, never told us where you lived," Luz replied, a bit embarrassed to admit it. "While your family may be well known, neither Master nor I are actually from the Isles. Besides, Master felt you would be safer if you stayed somewhere you wouldn't normally be."

Amity opened her mouth to ask another question but ended up in a coughing fit instead. Luz grabbed the empty glass and left the room, giving Amity more time with her thoughts. By the time Luz returned with a full glass and a pitcher Amity had managed to remember what Michael had told her about and why it was important. "Why did he think it would be safer here?"

Luz froze at the question. She debated on whether or not she should really answer the question. "Amity, are you sure you want to know?" Luz let the question hang in the air before answering it herself, "No, I think any other questions about last night are best answered by someone else."

Amity tried to protest, but her throat betrayed her again. Luz put the glass of water in her hand and then moved to rub her back. The water helped, soothing her throat enough to stop the coughing. Luz spoke up, "Master said that whatever they did to you last night would have taken a toll on your body. You should be back to normal by the end of the day, but you shouldn't push yourself right now."

The next few minutes were spent in silence until there was a knock at the door. Both girls turned to see Eda poke her head in with a bag in her hands. "Hey kid, good to see you're up. Your siblings just dropped off a bag for you after Lily called and pulled some strings with your mom. She thinks you two are going on a sudden coven mission for the next couple of weeks." She placed the bag on the ground and then left.

Luz stood up, "There's a bathroom across the hall. It has a shower in it with towels in the cabinet below the sink. Take your time. When you're ready you can come downstairs and we can talk about what happened." Luz then left the room.

Amity waited until she couldn't hear her footsteps before taking the bag and looking for the aforementioned bathroom. Unsurprisingly it was right where she was told it was. The small bathroom was more crowded than what she was used to, with dozens of bottles around the sink and lining the shelves. More than half of them looked old and unused. She quickly went about her business taking a quick shower followed by scrubbing her face using one of the products she found on the counter. By the time she exited the bathroom, she felt completely refreshed. After dropping her stuff back in the room she was using, Amity made her way downstairs.

The living room was busy. Lilith, Emira, and Willow seemed to be dividing up rations. Michael was busy entertaining Gus and King with what sounded like fairy tales from the human realm. Eda and Luz were on the other side of the room stocking a few bandoliers with various potions. Edric could be seen outside distracting the house demon. She stood there and observed the mild chaos until Michael noticed she had come downstairs. He said something to his audience who quickly dispersed to grab the two other adults in the room. The conversations died down, and the adults joined up while the others quietly finished their tasks.

"Amity, come take a seat." Lilith motioned for Amity to join her on the couch. Amity walked over, her eyes darting around to her peers as they shared hushed whispers and occasional glances.

"Well, I'm sure you have some questions or more likely a lot of questions." Michael started, "Your peers have been brought up to speed on what happened last night as well as some potential plans going forward."

"Plans?" Amity asked.

Michael waved his hand as if to dismiss the question, "Don’t worry about those right now Amity. You'll learn about them when it's our turn to ask you some questions."

She nodded, as weird as the past several hours had been everyone had done their best to let Amity take things at her own pace. "Why was I brought here last night? I know Luz mentioned not knowing where I lived, but it shouldn't have been hard to figure that out."

"You're right, I could have asked Lilith. After all, she has been assigned as my personal liaison while Luz and I are on the Isles." He gestured towards her mentor who nodded in affirmation. "But certain details about last night's attack had us reconsider our options."

Amity gave him a confused stare before Lilith chimed in, "Amity, they attacked you on the one night of the year you would be alone for several hours without being expected to check in with anyone. They also knew the exact location of the false shelf in the library. Whoever is behind this has been watching you for a while."

"They call themselves the Sons of the Titan," Michael interjected. "And they have been watching her for about two years. She was scouted. That's all I could get from the captives."

So now her attackers had a name. The Sons of the Titan sounded like a weird cult, it was even worse when she added the fact they had been stalking her for quite a while. "Do my parents know?"

Michael gave her a firm response, "No, as of right now your mother is being considered a co-conspirator. Your siblings told us how your father has been absent from your lives so he is under less suspicion for now."

Amity's face turned pale. The idea that her own mother had a hand in her abduction was shocking, but Amity couldn't deny it. She had watched for years as her mother tried to arrange marriages for her siblings to the children of wealthy business partners. She had expected her mother to start trying to set her up with some associate's kid, but it never happened. It made sickening sense now.

"What are my choices?" Amity asked as she looked at each of the adults, "I can't imagine you would send me back home and you already mentioned plans, so what are my choices?"

Eda spoke up for the first time, "I recommend you go underground while Lily and Mike root out this group. With Mike's methods and Lily's connections it shouldn't take too long to get rid of them all."

"I recommend not involving you any further. There's no proof that your mother is involved and there's no proof that there are more people in this group beyond the six that were at the library last night." Lilith said. It was the by-the-book response that was expected of the Coven Head of the Emperor's Coven. "Though I admit that it's the worst option."

"The last option we have come up with is to have you take back your life." Michael leaned forward and handed Amity a book. "This book contains a method to undo the side effects of the secret method you've been practicing without compromising your health or ability. It will take some time for you to finish the process, in the meanwhile you will be hiding and training with your peers."

Luz's voice rang out from across the room, "We won't judge you for the choice you made. We are here to help you until you're no longer in danger."

Amity turned around in her seat to face her peers. All of them had stopped what they were doing to face her. Willow stepped forward, "I know we have our history, but I agree with Luz. If you need help, then I want to be of use." Emira gave her little sister a nod and Gus stuck his thumb up in the air.

Amity turned back to face the adults. Lilith and Eda both had tense looks on their faces while Michael held himself with his usual aloof confidence. Amity could feel the weight of this decision. It terrified her. "Can I ask another question?"

"Ask as many as you like Amity. It's your life, it's only right that you decide what to do with it." Eda answered.

"How do you make a decision when you're too scared to act?" She looked at the three adults, trying to find her own confidence.

"I… made a decision that I still regret to this day," Lilith answered.

"I ran away." Came Eda's response.

"I lost the people I loved the most," Michael answered. "None of us can go back and change those events, no matter how much we want to. My only advice is to never let fear make a choice you know you will regret."

Regret. Amity had a lot of those, all stemming from the fear instilled by her mother. Well no more. "Teach me how to be stronger. Teach me how to beat these monsters."

Michael erupted into laughter. A moment before Amity was a scared child, forced to fit a mold by forces perceived greater than her. Now that same girl was asking for the methods that would let her rebel against those who sought to control her. It had been years since he had seen such sudden determination.

"Good, good! Your spirit isn't dead yet." Michael said. "I'll give you the secret of undoing the restriction technique for free, but if you want me to take you on as my student then you need to pass a test."

"Whatever it is I'll do it." Was her confident reply.

Michael waved to Luz, "Bring that map over here Luz. It's time we told your friends about this field trip we've planned."

Luz placed a map of the Titan on the table between them. It labeled the various cities and landmarks found across the body of the Titan. Plenty of markings were made along the chest region with three locations circled. Michael let Amity look it over before continuing. "There's a treasure trove left by some old cultivator schools in the Chest region. Luz found the keys and details about its location a few weeks back. If the records are to be believed then there are at least three inheritances left in that trove. If you want me to take you on as my disciple then you need to claim one of these inheritances."

"Sounds simple enough. When do we leave?" She asked.

"As soon as possible," Michael said. "It seems their tracking ability is better than I gave them credit for. There's two outside the house right now." He waved his hand, bringing a void corridor into existence. "It would be best if you all left before they can confirm that Amity is here."

The teens quickly grabbed their gear and headed through the corridor followed closely by Eda. "I have to give them credit, I expected them to panic when they heard that," Michael said as he closed the corridor.

"While I expected Amity to remain calm under any circumstance, I will admit it was a bit strange," Lilith replied. "Do you have plans for the spies or would you like me to take care of them?"

Michael thought about it a bit before replying, "Leave them. If they tracked me here then they already anticipated losing a few men. If they were tracking Amity then they will leave on their own."

"You're not worried that they could just follow Amity to the Chest?" Lilith asked.

'They might, but think about how much time it would take to get there." Michael countered. "The Lower Chest is a good five hundred miles from here, if they can detect a tracking mark from that far away then there is nowhere on the Titan that is safe. Under those circumstances, we would need to either move to her somewhere harder to reach or keep her under constant surveillance."

"Fair observations. It would make more sense to keep their resources tied up on false leads." Lilith said. "Which gives me an idea. Emira, could you go get your brother? I have something I'd like your help with."

It took about ten minutes for Emira to come back with her brother in tow. The young man was glad to be free from Hooty, who had somehow managed to traumatize him with a simple conversation. It made Michael reconsider talking with the house demon as even his mind had its limits.

"What do you need our help with Miss Lilith?" Emira asked.

"I understand you two are quite the accomplished illusionists," Lilith started. "Especially when you two are working together."

The two gave awkward smiles at the praise. "Yeah, we've managed to pull off a big trick or two. What do you need?"

"I need you two to fool your mother," Lilith said. "Make sure she never suspects that Amity isn't home. You can use any method you can think of, outside of mixing magic of course. And you may do so with the full support of the Emperor's Coven. I expect you two to be ready in one week."

A mischievous glint appeared in the eyes of each twin. The pranks they had pulled off over the years had been a lot of fun, but no one had ever asked them to pull off something so intricate. It would take a lot of effort, spells would need to be put in place that had dozens of contingencies, and they would need body doubles for the time physical contact couldn't be avoided. Anyone with enough sense would have said it was impossible, but then again, they never had much sense to begin with.

"We'll do it." They said in unison.

The twins left the house immediately, discussing the various challenges and solutions they would use to accomplish their task. Lilith stayed for another hour, updating Michael on the state of the project as well as running a few quality tests by him. It was boring to sit there and listen, but eventually she left. All that remained was Michael and King.

King was getting antsy. He knew Michael wasn't a bad guy, Luz trusted him after all, but there was something about him that made King very uncomfortable. He wished he was able to go with Luz and Eda, but Michael had shot it down. King could guess the reason, after all, he was small, weak, and lacked any magical ability in his current form. But staying home while everyone else got to go out just left him on edge.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Why did you have them leave me behind?" The question shattered the silence of the house. "I know I'm usually not a lot of help, but I can help."

Michael took a deep breath. "You are right King, you can help. I'm sure if I let you go with them you would have been able to help them out in some spectacular way. But I need your help too, and it's with something that would be far more important." He stood up and motioned for King to follow him. The two walked out the back door where Michael summoned a massive decorative furnace, an anvil, and several tools.

"The body of a cultivator can be trained to become an incredibly powerful weapon, but it has limits. The body can still wear down and it can take years to fully recover." Michael explained as King examined the various tools. "So to supplement their power they created weapons. Luz needs a weapon, King. I need your help to make it."

Notes:

Yet another chapter brought to you at the ungodly hour of 1 am MST. I should really fix my sleep schedule, I have stuff to do in the morning.

Anyway here goes my first attempt at an original antagonist. Hope you hate them for the right reasons.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments.

Chapter 12: Chapter 12

The group emerged in the dense forest of the Isles, the ribs of the Titan looming far above them. Luz felt small looking up at the weathered bones. She understood that she was living on the corpse of another creature, but being inside its rib cage let the perspective set in. Not only was she small, but the Titan was a massive creature and borderline force of nature. It was difficult to comprehend what could have killed it.

Everyone else was having a significantly less existential experience. As lifelong denizens of the Titan, the four witches had already wrestled with the scale of the Titan. Instead, the three young witches were busy discussing how it was even possible to move so far so fast.

"It's just not possible," Amity stated, "I've looked over my dad's notes on magical transportation and it takes way too much energy to even start the spell. I always assumed that he was relatively close by, maybe five hundred feet."

Gus added his theory, "Maybe he chained spells like how illusion magic works?" After getting two confused looks he elaborated. "For most types, advanced magic requires more control or magic to pull off. But illusion magic requires spells to be layered together, the more senses the more spells are layered on top of each other."

"They're called space principles," Luz said. "They're the laws that govern space. Any cultivator who understands the underlying principles can use them freely. Though he didn't use space principles to send us here."

The three of them exchanged confused glances. Willow asked, "How do you know? It seems like he used space principles to send us here."

Luz looked at the ground, hoping to find the right words in the dirt. "When using space principles to travel, you have to pass through the void. It's a space behind reality. The void is incredibly dangerous, one wrong step and your entire body could be scattered across space. Master knows how to navigate the currents of the void to prevent that, but we would need to be protected from them. Instead of doing that, it was like he compressed the two points together."

"Luz, just how powerful is Michael?" Amity asked. The concepts Luz mentioned weren't hard to understand, but the level of power needed to use them freely was beyond comprehension. The only word she could think of to describe such an existence was god.

"He never actually told me," Luz admitted. "The rules here are a bit different than the world he comes from. He says that he has to limit his cultivation to a lower realm or else the universe would constantly try to reject him the only way it can, killing him. He says whether or not he survives, the devastation could destroy multiple worlds."

"So he's the strongest human then, right?" Gus asked.

"I don't know. He said that questions like that are pointless, cause the cost of finding out is too great." She explained. "You know that he was injured in a fight ten years ago, well his injuries haven't fully healed yet. That's part of the problem when we reach those levels, it takes a lot of effort to hurt us but it takes just as much effort to recover."

"There's also that nasty poison they hit him with." Eda chimed in. "From how he explained it to me, it would have killed him if he wasn't able to seal it off inside his body. But that's only a temporary solution like my elixirs. Now if you four are done with your reality-shattering conversation, I think I found the entrance to our destination."

Eda swung her staff summoning magic winds to blow away the leaves and branches covering a massive stone. The edges of the stone showed signs of weathering, but the carvings on the face were pristine. Luz could feel faint traces of energy left in them. It was as if she was watching the symbols be carved into the stone. The only language on the stone was at the top, written in both the old language of the Isles and the universal language of cultivators. Bellow was a massive array, a circle with lines and symbols crisscrossed across the surface of the stone forming what must have been an incredibly complicated locking spell. Luz noted the Light glyph in several places along with a few others she didn't recognize.

"Yeah," Luz said, "This is it." She then pulled out the journal that contained the instructions for opening the door. She had memorized them several days ago, but her nerves were getting to her.

Thankfully, Eda took some pressure off of Luz. "Alright kids, Luz already knows this so I'll fill you three in while she finishes her preparations. There's a good chance that this stone actually contains a teleportation spell linked to the interior. We have no way of knowing whether or not we will arrive in the same place once we're inside or if we will be split up to different sections. In the case that we are split up just calm down and explore the place, take and learn what you can but don't try to take on more than you can handle. You've each been given a few medicinal potions which have been brewed and labeled by yours truly. You also have a week's worth of rations and a single escape talisman." Eda pulled out a small slip of jade from her hair. "If you find yourself needing to make an immediate exit just push a little magic in it and snap it in half. It will take you to the front of the Owl House. Any questions?"

Amity raised her hand before pulling it back down, realizing it was a pointless gesture. "Why aren't we studying the spell more before activating it? It seems like a reckless thing to do."

"I actually agree with you, but none of the journals we found detailed how the spell works, and Michael said it would be safe enough to use." Eda replied, "He claimed any danger you faced would 'build character'. I don't like it, but there's no way to force the guy to do anything he doesn't want to do."

The three teens quickly pulled off their packs and each dug out their jade slip. While they had accepted that Michael was wise and powerful, it was also becoming clear he was entirely unhinged when it came to certain topics safety being number one.

Luz finished reviewing the instructions for the third time when they got their packs back on and jades stored somewhere more accessible. Seeing that everyone was ready, she pulled out the keys. Each was carved from a thick piece of material they couldn't identify into a small plaque the size of a playing card. They lit up and floated out of her hand, forming a circle around them. Luz closed her eyes and quickly ran through the hand signs that acted as the final failsafe. Light poured down from the keys, flowing towards the stone and along the carving. With a flash, they were whisked away.

When her vision returned, Luz saw she was completely alone. The air in the stone room had a musty smell from being isolated for so long. The room was undecorated beyond the simple brick pattern on the walls. The alarming bit was that there wasn't a door to be seen anywhere. Panic began to set in until a section of the wall slid open. Luz poked her head through the doorway. It led to another room with a pedestal in the middle of it. Taking her chances, Luz stepped into the new room with the wall sliding close behind her.

On the pedestal was a polished crystal ball and a note. "In order to receive your inheritance, you must pass the tests your ancestors have laid out. The first test is a test of your innate talent." Luz read aloud. "When you add your power to the orb it will change colors. Talent is divided into several classes… blah, blah, blah, makes sense." Luz placed the note back on the pedestal before taking a closer look at the orb. It was deceptively heavy, even when using the Pure Lightning Body she couldn't move it.

Elsewhere, Willow, Gus, Eda, and Amity each read the same message in their own rooms. Without any other apparent options, they placed their hands on their respective orbs and added their magic. Each shone its own vibrant color before they disappeared in a flash. Luz got a very different result, when she poured her qi into the crystal there was no reaction. No matter how much she seemed to add the crystal didn't respond, until it fell apart.

Luz blinked. The crystal had shown no flaws when she looked at it earlier, but now it was in several pieces. Before she could begin to panic she was teleported to another room. This one was laid out like a massive throne room, with two sets of pillars running down the length of the room. Behind her was a massive set of gilded doors each depicting a massive beast with a skull-like face. On the other end of the room stood a single throne, with someone sitting on it. Luz cautiously approached until a loud voice called out.

"Stop, cultivator! You will answer my questions before I allow you to approach." The voice seemed to call out from every direction. "How did you come to enter this place? None of our methods were allowed outside this sepulcher."

Luz struggled against the force being exerted by her interrogator. "Greetings honored ancestor. I am Luz Noceda of the human race. My methods were given to me by my master. I discovered the keys and map to this place in a ruin guarded by a beast that attacked me." Luz pulled out the rings and held them out for inspection.

The pressure eased up, which made Lus realize how much she was struggling against it. Her breathing was ragged and her legs were screaming at her. Still, she pushed on, making her way towards the throne. When she was close enough she made a bone-chilling discovery. The person on the throne had died a long time ago, leaving only a skeleton wearing a set of robes behind. Then the voice called out again.

"Those you have brought here show promise." Images of Gus, Willow, and Eda appeared. "Though one of them will unfortunately die." Another image appeared, showing Amity in combat with a puppet. She seemed to have a puppet of her own but was struggling to control it. Furthermore, the hostile puppet wasn't giving her room to reach for her escape talisman.

"Is there anything I can do to help her?" Luz asked. "She is my junior sister and Master hasn't had enough time to train her."

"Hmmm." A swirl of dust rose from the skeleton and formed into the rough shape of a person. "I cannot stop a test in progress. Only the master of this place can, but there currently isn't one. If you manage to pass my test then you would gain control of the testing grounds and do anything you want, with the exception of passing the tests for her."

"I'll do it!" Luz felt her heart pounding. Someone was in danger and she needed to help, it didn't matter what would happen to her.

"Very well." The spirit turned towards its throne and waved its hand. The massive seat shuddered before sliding back, revealing a staircase descending into darkness. "You must claim the tressure stored at the end of this hall. If you fail, you will die."

Luz didn't care, running down the stairs. She didn't have time for warnings, she barely had time for this test. Lightning arced from her feet as she pushed her movement to its limit. Ahead of her, she saw a humanoid puppet in the middle of the hall. She didn't even wait for it to take a fighting stance, thrusting her staff forward she tore its head clean off. It crumpled to the floor as Luz sped onwards, striking at several more puppets with blinding speed and deadly accuracy. Amity was fighting for her life, and the rest of her friends could be close behind her. The primal fear of loss pushed Luz forward.

The last puppet was thrown through the stone door behind it. Luz stepped through and saw her prize. A black gem inside a floating orb. Luz touched the orb to find it solid. In frustration, she slammed her staff down in an overhead blow. Both staff and orb shattered at the impact, shards of wood scattering as the gem fell to the ground.

The room suddenly went cold. Luz was rooted in place as she watched something emerge from the gem. Black slime poured out from the gem and thin, lanky arms shot out trying to push its body up. It flailed and struggled as more of its body emerged. Its head was the horned skull of a dead animal, its jaw filled with fangs. Its massive body emerged from the slime supported by its thin arms and dozens of spiked tendrils moved behind it. It let out a gurgling roar, its body barely maintaining its shape.

Luz stared in horror. She hadn't found the treasure, instead, she found some sealed and forgotten monstrosity. Now not only would Amity surely die, but so would Luz and anyone else who had the misfortune to find this beast. Her limbs refused to move as it bore down on her. The slime rushed into her body as she collapsed.

The spirit materialized above her. They knew this would be the outcome. While the girl had talent, she quickly lost control of her emotions when she thought her friend was in danger. They had hoped a human cultivator would have the edge needed to succeed here, but she did not. Now her body and soul would have to be destroyed to contain the final secret of the vault.

As they raised their hand, a brilliant flash of multicolored light filled the room obliterating the remnant of their soul.

Luz opened her eyes to see a place she had never seen before. She was inside a giant crystal flower floating over a vast sea. She tried to move, but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't do it. She struggled until she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"You can't seem to stay out of trouble, can you?" Michael said.

"Master? What are you doing here and where are we?" Luz asked.

He laughed. "I'm not really your master, but rather a strand of his consciousness he left behind in the Five-Colored Glass Lotus. It's a soul artifact that was meant to protect you until you unlocked your own divine senses and could use the artifact on your own, though it seems you found something the real me could have never predicted."

The memory of what she was doing came rushing forward in a very literal sense. From the ocean below came the memories of that day. They were initially jumbled but soon began to play out the last thing she remembered before waking up in the giant flower. It was strange watching her own memories play out like a movie in front of her.

"Wow, are we inside my head?" Luz asked with a mixture of wonder and fear.

He laughed. "In a manner of speaking. This is your knowledge sea, the place where your mind and soul dwell. This is where I destroyed the soul that attempted to possess you."

Luz's eyes went wide, "Amity! I need to go help her!"

"Relax. The spirit you talked to was caught up in the fight. As a result, some of his memories were absorbed by the Five-Colored Glass Lotus. He lied to you." The simulacrum calmly stated. "None of your friends are in any danger, though you did get quite the benefit."

"What is that?" Luz asked.

"You'll see." He smiled. "Though it's time for me to disappear and for you to return to your physical body."

"But wait, I still have…" Luz bolted up from the ground. "Questions." She hurriedly looked around. She was back in the real world. She hurriedly stood up and looked around. The slime creature was gone, with no clues as to where it could have gone. Seeing that she was safe, Luz took a deep breath and tried to think. As she did fragments of foreign memories flashed through her mind. She knew what she needed to look for.

Luz pulled out her phone and set the camera to record. After making sure there was enough light for the camera to see, she propped it against the wall and hit record. She turned away from the camera and pulled off her shirt, twisting and turning to guarantee that the camera captured her whole back. She pulled her shirt back on and went to review the video. All across her back was a single tribal-style tattoo. The monster that attacked her had been reduced to a mark on her skin, its power hers to slowly obtain. The only question she had was why did it look like King.

Notes:

The visual inspiration I failed to bring to the text is Elias from The Ancient Magus Bride in his monstrous form. I think it's a really cool design.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments and I'll do my best to answer them.

Imma go to bed now.

Chapter 13: Chapter 13

The room was covered in hundreds of discarded drawings. King sat staring at an empty page, his pencil held tightly in his claws. Michael had given him the task of creating a blueprint for Luz's weapon. King had created the first one in a matter of minutes. It was a massive blade with the power to vaporize anything it touched. Michael spent the next hour explaining why it wouldn't work, both practically and conceptually. Once King understood that even a five-thousand-year-old god being had limits, he went back to designing a weapon.

King spent the rest of the day trying to come up with the perfect design, stopping only when Hooty finished dinner and when Michael physically took away the paper so he would go to sleep. After breakfast the next morning, he went right back to sketching designs. He drew blades, staffs, bows, spears, and hammers. After each design, he reviewed it critically before tossing it away. Dozens of crumpled papers surrounded him.

It was late in the afternoon when Michael finally walked into the living room. King knew he was working on his own projects, mainly Eda's cure and something for the Emperor's coven. Michael had a long call with Lilith last night, but King was too focused on his own assignment to care. Michael picked up a few paper balls and smoothed them out. He studied them for a bit before setting them down.

"Can I see your most recent one?" He asked. King looked down at the half-finished drawing in front of him and the scattered pile around him. He hurriedly finished and passed the pad over to Michael. Again, he took his time reviewing it.

Michael was shocked at the progress King made in a matter of hours. He was told that the creative powers of the Titans were legendary, but seeing the quality of the design and how quickly King improved was startling. Few talents could match the speed King displayed. The sketch before him was the biggest example. It was another blade, but instead of the unwieldy monstrosity King designed yesterday, this was almost elegant.

Michael looked up at the young titan. So much potential was contained in that tiny body, maybe enough to surpass his forebearers. "I think you're ready."

King perked up, "Does that mean we're going to start making the actual weapon now?"

"Almost." Michael set the paper down with the rest. "There are only a few more things we need to do before we should begin. First, what kind of weapon are we making?"

He let King think before continuing. "This weapon is for Luz and one she will be using for a very long time. It needs to not only be powerful, but reliable. It will also need to be able to change shape or else we will have to make her a dozen weapons. So, King, what will we make for her first?"

On the surface, it was a simple question. Just say a sword or a mace and that's it. But this was for Luz, someone who willingly put their life on the line for him. She actually listened to him and paid attention to the names of his legion and the war games he would set up. She was the closest thing he had to a sister. Her weapon needed to be something that was uniquely her, something to protect her and crush her enemies when he couldn't.

Michael felt the energy in the room shift. Strands of King's soul reached out and across the room, probing the various discarded papers. The Titan had explained the innate bloodline ability of his race to Michael. Still, watching King pull from the library of weapons he created to create the best possible weapon was astounding. In this moment, Michael felt that even without formal training King could surpass the great craftsmen of the universe one day. He hoped that he would get to see that day.

The tendrils began to retract, each holding a small, glowing picture. As they disappeared back into King's body he began to draw. Michael watched as King drew the spear with careful precision that no ten-year-old creature could possess. It was a simple design, completely devoid of any ornamentations. The head of the spear was unusually long, roughly a third of the overall length with a slight curve.

King opened his eyes and looked at his notepad, shocked when he saw the design in his head was already there. "Wha…?"

"The reason why I asked you to design a weapon when you have no experience is because you have a gift, King," Michael said. He snapped his fingers and a strange portal opened. It was a deep gold color rimmed with black and its surface rippled like water. "There's one more thing we need to do before we start making it."

King got up and walked over to the portal, eyeing it with suspicion. It didn't look like any other portal he had seen Michael open. "This isn't going to take us somewhere else on the Boiling Isles, is it?"

"No," Michael replied. "It will take us somewhere between realms. An important place, for the both of us."

King placed a hand into the portal, and a ripple spread across the surface as he reached through. It felt like he stuck his hand into a bucket of water that was somehow empty. Taking a deep breath, King stepped through. The world beyond was strange. The ground below him was water that came up to his ankles, but he could tell it was much deeper than that. The sky above him had the same watery surface with dozens of cubes between it and the ground. Michael soon stepped through and the portal sank into the water below them.

"Where are we?" King asked.

"The Place Between," Michael replied. "The watery surfaces you see are the actual barriers between realms."

King looked around with renewed amazement. He was standing in a place that probably shouldn't exist. His amazement was quickly cut off by a sloshing sound to his right. From the dark depths rose a massive skeleton. It was some sort of bipedal demon standing about twenty feet tall with a pair of massive wings and a tail lazily curled around its feet. Its skull was strangely familiar as if King had seen it many times before.

"That's what we've come for. The bones of a divine beast." Michael explained. "This, King, is the true skeleton of a Titan. All you need to do is gain the recognition of its guardian."

Before King could ask what the guardian was, a figure appeared between the skeletal feet. King had no idea who it was but felt a strange connection to them. Without realizing it, King walked up to them. Thick black fur, exposed skull over their head, clawed hands and feet, the only difference between them and King was their height and a pair of wings. That and the sloppy way they dressed, lounge pants with a stained shirt and an open bathrobe.

"I told you to clean up a bit before we arrived." Michael said, "And don't give me an excuse about not knowing we were coming, I know what you can see from here."

"Ah, well you see…" They spoke with a deep and rich voice. Michael held up his hand to cut them off. "I don't care, you have a few hours before I come to take him and those bones back with me."

Before he could object, King watched as Michael's body sunk beneath the water, probably returning to the Owl House. Now without support, he turned to face the Guardian. He barely came up past their knee, but King felt strangely calm with them. The only other person he could recall making him feel like this was Eda, but this was almost instinctual. Puffing his chest out he confronted the Guardian. "As king of demons, I demand you hand over your treasure to me as tribute. I require it to craft my loyal bodyguard the finest weapon with which to protect me."

"HAHAHAHAHA!" Its laugh echoed across the empty realm. "You really do think you are the king of demons. Even after meeting another of your kind."

"O-of course I am." King retorted. "I could spend hours regaling you of my conquests and power. I just look like this because of a curse that was placed on me."

It chuckled, "I won't debate you on this, my place is to teach you about what you are and not who you are. You, King, are a divine spirit, and will one day be much more powerful than some mere 'king of demons'."

 

Eda struggled against the fire. Taking in and controlling the strange fire was the second test waiting for her in this strange vault. She was familiar with fire, every potion witch worth their potions was familiar with using and controlling fire. But this was different, she could feel it twist, pull, and even rage against her control. It was like it was a living thing with a will of its own.

She had been locked in this fight for a few hours now, but she was winning. Before, when the fire lashed out it would almost break free and Eda would have to wrangle it back under her control over the next several minutes. It took a toll on her body, she could feel the burns on her hands getting worse and smell her hair singe in the heat. With one final push, she brought the flame under her full control.

Finally winning her battle against the near sentient flame, Eda began to assess the damage to her hand to find that it had all been in her head. Though she supposed that made sense. The carvings on the wall called it the Soul Tempering Flame and claimed it could burn the soul of anyone it touched and leave the body unharmed. It also had unique properties against illusions, but what was of interest to Eda was its purported ability to improve one's alchemical ability. While she would love to test that, she had yet to manage to keep a cauldron in her hair. Instead, Eda decided to cast a simple fire spell and work through some control exercises. Before she could even begin to draw the circle, the fire sprang into existence.

Its sudden appearance caught Eda off guard making her drop her focus causing the flame to disappear. With a better understanding of what to expect, she brought the flame into existence again. The strange blue flame hung in the air over her palm, casting its light and heat into the room. With a flick of her hand, she threw the small ball of fire halfway across the room, stopping it in midair. Eda began to put the flame through a series of tests, changing its size and temperature according to her will. The flame responded immediately and with a level of precision, Eda had never experienced before. She was already thinking of the difficult potions she would try making when she got back home.

The door to the next room slid open. Inside Eda found a strange cauldron, a manual, and a series of well-preserved herbs. The section of the wall slid back into place and the writing on the wall appeared emitting a faint light. From what she understood, her last test was a test in potion making. Except instead of a normal liquid potion she was required to make a pill. Eda began to wonder if it was some kind of joke, a witch with the skill to condense a liquid potion into a solid pill for hundreds of years. Even the heads of the potion and healing coven considered it a lost skill.

Without much to go on, Eda decided to at least consult the recipe. While she hoped to find something new to add to her repertoire, she instead found the missing link between solid and liquid medicine. She carefully poured over the manual, only stopping when Owlbert pulled on her hair to remind her to eat. The method was unlike anything she had done or read about in her life.

After carefully reading the manual cover to cover, Eda went about preparing her workspace. She went about, carefully selecting the right herbs being sure to take only the best quality of what was available. This was going to be a gamble, but if it worked then she would quickly gain recognition as one of the greatest witches the Boiling Isles had seen in over a hundred years, maybe even longer.

She sat down on the ground, taking a deep breath to center herself. She raised her hand as Owlbert transformed into a staff. With palisman in hand, she lit the cauldron. With the fire lit she added the ingredients step by step, adjusting the intensity of the heat as she went and taking her time to ensure the conditions were perfect before moving on. It was a long process, and while her new flame drained her less than her normal fire spell she could still feel fatigue start to creep up on her. Without her greatest friend by her side, this recipe would have probably been impossible, but she finally reached the last step.

Eda rose from the ground and slammed her staff down with both hands. Following the will of his master, Owlbert spread his wings as his eyes glowed with power. Eda spread her hands as she took more direct control of the fire in the cauldron. The final step was condensing the refined energy inside the cauldron into the shape of the pill. Failure at this step would result in a cauldron full of ash, but success would create a powerful pill. She slammed her palms together as she forced the pill to condense, using Owlbert as a relay to amplify her power.

Eda was knocked off balance by the resulting shock wave and blinding light that shot out from the cauldron. But she succeeded. Floating inside the cauldron was about a dozen pills, each with a light brown coating that reminded her of a polished wooden table. According to the manual, Eda had successfully refined a vitality restoring pill though she didn't understand how it was different from a normal healing pill. Perhaps Michael would be able to tell her, assuming she got out of there.

Notes:

Happy Thanksgiving to my US audience.

I will not answer any questions about what's going on with King. Not even if you ask nicely or bribe me.

If you have any other questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 14: Chapter 14

It took a few days to transport the skeleton from The Place Between to the demon realm. King refused to have it placed in the Universe Bead as if it was some object and Michael didn't want prying eyes to see the massive skeleton. So Michael and Hooty spent a day hunting down the various scouts the Sons of the Titan had around the Owl House. King voiced his pleasure at removing the people ruining the name of his people. Hooty succeeded in unsettling Michael with how quickly he 'dealt' with his area.

The next day was taken up by moving the skeleton bone by bone and carefully arranging it to King's specifications. Normally, Michael would be insulted by being ordered around by an actual child but he recognized that this was something important to King and meant more to the little Titan than the old cultivator's pride. His personal understanding couldn't stop it from feeling like the longest day in his very long life though.

At long last though, everything was ready. The materials had been carefully selected from a series of rare metals Michael had collected over a few hundred years. He was going to use them to make a present for his oldest student when he broke through the next major realm, but the knife he drove into Michael's back ruined that idea. King had selected a femur bone from the Titan skeleton to be used as the shaft of the spear. There was one last ingredient.

"You need Titan's Blood," King said.

"You are the second person to mention that," Michael stated. "Why do I need Titan's Blood?"

King pointed to the femur as it rested next to the forge. "The power inside the bone won't respond without Titan's Blood. It's a unique property which protects the true body of a titan."

"And where do you propose we get Titan's Blood?" Michael asked. "Every known well has dried up, I checked myself. Sure there's a ton of crystalized blood around, but it completely lacks any power or vitality."

King looked at the ground sheepishly. "No," Michael said. "We aren't using that option. If we need it then we find it somewhere else."

"But I'm a titan, my blood should work just fine." King protested.

Michael took a deep breath to calm himself. "You don't know what you're talking about King. Titan's Blood is more than just your blood. Titan's Blood is blood essence and using your blood essence at your age would have disastrous consequences. You're too young to be using it for others."

Silence hung in the air. King realized now that what the Guardian told him wasn't advice, but a warning. The body parts of divine spirits could be forged into powerful weapons but a fully grown divine spirit could contend with top powerhouses of the human race, which numbered less than a hundred. Thus the only way a cultivator could get their hands on these materials is to find a long-dead divine spirit. Titan materials needing the blood essence of a titan put a huge target on King's back if people learned of his true nature, at least until he could fully defend himself.

Michael could only stare at the young titan. Even without fully understanding what he was offering, King was willing to offer up something that most would only use as a last resort. He considered the options that were available. Michael knew there was Titan's Blood in the portal key, but he also promised the Titan that he would use its bones to forge an artifact for King. There was probably only enough blood in the key for one artifact. Then an idea struck, what if they didn't specifically need a titan's blood essence? After all, there is more than one kind of divine spirit.

"I have an idea," Michael said. "If it works, then it works."

"And if it doesn't?" King asked.

Michael looked towards the Owl House. "Hooty should survive, but the house would need repairs."

King was about to object when Michael threw out a hand, lighting the forge in a rather explosive manner. With reckless abandon, Michael tossed the metal and bone into the forge. Michael closed the grate on the opening and slapped his hands together. King watched as dozens of runes appeared along the walls of the forge. He had on occasion seen a blacksmith work, but this was unlike any Construction magic he had seen used. The heat from the forge began to singe the grass and King had to step back.

Michael had a mad glint in his eye when he called for King to bring him the tongs. After passing him the tool, King stepped back as Michael threw the gate open and reached in. He pulled out a mass of glowing metal and took it to the anvil where he began to hammer it into shape. King watched in amazement as Michael worked. He worked the metal into a long bar, repeatedly folding it until the glow of the metal took a darker color. Without a word, Michael threw the metal back into the forge and placed his hands against the walls. The runes changed and shifted around into new formations as the fire changed to a deep blue color.

"So, why did you throw the bone in? Isn't it just going to burn?" King asked.

"If it was a normal bone and a normal fire then yes it would," Michael explained. "The arrays on the forge help control how different materials react while the fire purges impurities. Right now I'm really just cleaning the bone before working it into the shape I want."

"What are you going to do about the Titan's Blood?" The young titan asked. It was clear that they didn't have an acceptable source of the much needed ingredient.

"We're going to use the blood essence of a different divine spirit," Michael stated. "This will either go really well or really poorly, not much room for error."

"Why a dragon? Is there something special about them?" King asked, curious about another member of the divine spirits.

Michael chuckled a bit before answering, "The dragon clan is one of the oldest clans of divine spirits and also one of the most powerful, matched only by the phoenix clan. The two clans could be considered the leaders of all divine spirits and have both the power and reputation to do so if they wanted to." He looked over to King. "I guess we will get to see how a titan stacks up to a dragon."

"What are dragons like?" King was interested in the supposed kings of his kind.

Michael stroked his chin as he thought about how to answer that question. "Dragons possess long, scaled bodies with four legs. Each leg has five claws. They don't have any wings, but possess the ability to fly. They have a mane like a lion and horns like a deer. They can be arrogant, but they respect strength and loyalty. The one thing you should note if you see a dragon's true body is its length as that will tell you how powerful a dragon is."

"Do you think that titans have something similar to that?" King asked. Hearing about what could be considered his cousins made King wonder about how he was going to turn out. How would he show his mighty power to those who met him? How would he have shown his power to other titans were they still around?

"I think it has to do with your ability to create." Michael offered. He honestly had no idea, but had seen a few archipelagos formed by the avatars of other titans. "Or perhaps it is the size of your avatar, like the one that forms the Boiling Isles. Maybe your people just didn’t care for power and that's why they secluded themselves here. There are questions I can help you answer thanks to what I know, but questions like that are something you are going to have to answer yourself."

King mulled over his new found knowledge and growing sense of loneliness. His grandiose claims of being king of demons were cracked when he learned his true nature and were slowly falling apart. Titans may have been the most powerful beings in the demon realm, but something here killed them. They may be a part of the divine spirits, but there are divine spirits stronger than them. His world was slowly falling apart and he wasn't sure if he could stop it.

The forge began to shake violently as something inside slammed against the walls. The titan bone began to rampage against its fate. The Guardian warned that this would happen without Titan's Blood to temper the energy inside the bone. But now it was time to test Michael's theory.

He stood up and threw open the grate. Instantly, a spectral titan emerged from the flames and towered over the nearby house. Michael calmly bit into his hand to draw blood and threw it into the fire. As his blood essence burned, a spectral dragon coiled around the massive titan, binding it. The two spectral beasts raged as the bone inside the forge continued to try and break out. Michael threw his arms out and forced his qi into the furnace. His method began to show signs of working as the titan bone was easily held in place while he focused on shaping the spearhead to meet King's specifications.

Problems arose when Michael tried to shape the bone. It resisted and fought back like a cornered animal. He had never seen such long-dead bones hold so much vitality. Outside the forge the spectral titan raged against the dragon binding it, breaking free from its restraint. The two beasts began clashing, but the dragon didn't have as much power in it as the titan did, forcing Michael to add more of his blood to the fire.

Reinvigorated, the dragon managed to gain the upper hand over the titan. This was reflected inside the forge as Michael was able to get bone into the shape of the shaft of a spear. But as he tried to bring the shaft and spearhead together inside the forge it began to resist again. Furthermore, clouds began to gather and darken the sky. This was a sign that while the weapon was almost done, but the artifact in question was powerful enough to trigger a heavenly phenomenon. Lightning flew down from the sky and struck the two spectral beasts, scattering stray bolts across the area scorching all plant life in their wake.

King could only stand and watch the disaster unfolding around him. Specters of divine spirits clashed as lightning rained down on the forge and Michael stood there, taking each strike as it came while he tried to finish the spear. Michael strained against the titan bone, trying to force it together with the spearhead until he felt something change. The bone was no longer resisting, but trying to change itself. With one last effort, Michael followed the guidance of the bone changing the shape of the shaft.

As soon as the change was made, the two parts of the spear came together and fused. The titan and dragon spirits blurred and mixed together as they were dragged back into the forge. Michael cut the flames and reached in just as a massive blot fell down on the forge. The resulting blast was blinding and sent King flying into the waiting coils of Hooty who had snaked his way around to see what was going on.

When the dust settled, the forge was destroyed along with most of Michael's robes. But in his hands, he held a magnificent spear. The spear had a two-foot-long blade with a slight curve. It was stark black save for the white depiction of a titan that seemed etched into the blade. The rest of the nearly seven-foot-long spear was stark white with a black depiction of a dragon descending from the blade along the entire length of the shaft. At the blunt end of the spear was a ring about four inches across just out of reach from the dragon's open maw.

"It needs a name, King. It's only right you give it one." Michael said in a soft voice.

Only one name came to mind as King stared at the spear. "The Divine Dragon Titan Spear."

"A fitting name for a magnificent weapon." Then Michael collapsed, violently coughing. Even from a distance King and Hooty could see blood coming from his mouth. The lightning combined with the amount of blood essence used took a huge toll on Michael's already injured body.

Hooty carefully picked up the heavily injured man while King took the spear. Once they laid him down on the couch they realized how severe his injuries were. His body was crisscrossed with burns following the path the lightning took across his body. His breathing was steady but shallow. The two of them got to work dressing his wounds to the best of their ability, but given that King was small, Hooty had no hands, and Michael was completely unconscious they ended up just wrapping his whole body in bandages and leaving him on the couch.

They took turns watching him until Eda and the rest got back five days later.

Notes:

Did Michael take a calculated risk? Yes
Is he good at math? No

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Also, Grammarly did some weird updates and there are all sorts of colored lines that I can't make sense of. So if you see any really bad grammar issues out there let me know, I'm not above admitting I don't know how English works. I am a finance major after all.

Chapter 15: Chapter 15

He looked down at the mountain range. The valleys were lush, filled with all kinds of life. On the mountaintops, he could see the different buildings that housed the different branches and elders of the sect. It was a peaceful sight that reminded him of his younger years.

It was a shame he was going to paint the mountains red with blood.

This sect, the Verdant Mountain Sect, was founded by his sworn enemy. Named Feng Chi, the man had taken a liking to HIS wife. Too arrogant to accept that she loved another man, Feng Chi kidnapped her almost two years ago. Michael only learned about it due to him being on another star until fairly recently. It took three months for him to complete his reconnaissance of the sect.

The sect had fourteen elders, the strongest of which was at the peak of the Immortal Boundary realm. Most of them came from other sects that the Verdant Mountain Sect took over and likely held little loyalty to Feng Chi. He was the strongest cultivator by far, having reached the peak of the Saint realm through a chance encounter. This overwhelming advantage allowed him to act however he wanted for a number of years.

He would change that today.

Michael dropped to the ground in an instant, landing in the largest courtyard of the sect. His arrival was noticed as he intended, his sense detecting several elders rushing towards him. The disciples who were already present began to gather around, speculating about his identity. He hoped they wouldn't get caught up in the fighting. He hated the waste of young talents that conflicts like this sometimes brought, far too many old fogies were too attached to their position and fame to be willing to stand down. Far too many are careless with the lives of others.

Several elders landed around him. He could feel them probing him, trying to figure out his strengths and probe for weaknesses.

"Greetings honorable elders," Michael brought his hands together and bowed. "Forgive my intrusion, I am Michael Drake. I've come to your Verdant Mountain Sect today to meet with a member of my family."

"Greetings Sir Drake," spoke one of the elders. From his aura, Michael knew he wasn't the head elder but still commanded the respect of those present. "I regret to say that to the best of my knowledge, there are no cultivators in the sect that hail from the Drake family."

"She does not use our surname, you would know her better as Susan Mu." Michael watched as the elders froze. They knew why he was here.

"I'm sorry Sir Drake, but there is no one among our sect with that name. Perhaps you have the…" He never finished his sentence as his head fell from his body. Everyone was shocked and the disciples began to murmur amongst themselves.

"I detest liars, they have no honor." Michael coldly stated. He turned to address the rest of the elders gathered. "I think it would be best if the disciples were dismissed. Their time could be better used elsewhere, don't you agree?"

The elders quickly dismissed the crowd, stating that they shouldn't speak of what happened unless they wished to visit the Punishment Hall. It took a few moments, but the disciples dispersed to different parts of the valley. Satisfied that he had done what he could to limit collateral damage, Michael addressed the gathered elders.

"Bring me Feng Chi and Susan Mu. You have one hour," A large hourglass appeared above them and began to count down. "If both of them aren't here by that time I will look for them myself, and any who try to stop me will die."

He unleashed an oppressive aura on the elders. Several struggled to move while a few could barely stand under the pressure. In the presence of such tyrannical strength, they could only obey. Two elders left to fetch their sect master and his prisoner while the rest struggled against the pressure. He understood that they weren't compliant with their sect master's actions, but they also failed to advise him on the dangers of kidnapping a woman with no clear background.

Half the sand had fallen to the bottom when Michael felt three people approaching from above and withdrew his aura. Feng Chi had arrived, escorted by the two elders who went to get him. The man had an air of arrogance about him that made Michael's hands itch. He wanted nothing more than to wipe the floor with the man, but he held back for now.

"Sir Drake, I understand there has been a bit of an issue between you and my sect." Feng Chi bowed to Michael, "As sect master, I apologize for how a distinguished guest like yourself was treated. However, that does not excuse the death of one of our elders."

Feng Chi unleashed his aura, but Michael barely acknowledged it. Instead, he looked at the hourglass as the sands continued to fall. "You have half an hour to bring me Susan Mu, Sect Master Feng Chi. You won't be able to bear the consequences if you don't."

"Big talk from an arrogant dog," Feng Chi spat back. "You attacked the members of my sect first, killing an elder in front of dozens of disciples. You're lucky I let you plead your case first, but it seems my generosity is wasted on you."

Feng Chi launched an attack at Michael. It was a simple palm strike, the force of which could severely injure a weaker cultivator. As the blow struck his chest, Michael understood how Feng Chi was able to stand unopposed for so long. His strength was above that of a normal peak Saint realm cultivator and was bordering on the next level. Had Michael been in the same realm as Feng Chi the palm strike would have been enough to wound him. Unfortunately for Feng Chi, Michael wasn't in the same realm as him.

The blow landed, but Michael stood unfazed by it. He turned to the hourglass and shattered it. "I'll give you one last chance to walk away with your life. Bring me Susan Mu and cripple yourself. If you do that I'll let you live."

"You're in no position to bargain with me." Feng Chi declared. "Break both your arms and abolish your cultivation and I'll spare your pathetic life. Susan is my woman now and there is nothing you can do about it."

Michael held his rage in check, though just barely. He turned to the gathered elders, "Do all of you support the decisions and actions of your sect master?" The gathered elders dared not speak against their sect master for fear of their lives, yet they knew that should the other man kill their sect master they would not be spared his wrath. In this no-win situation, they stood by their sect.

"Very well, this place shall become your grave." Michael unleashed the full weight of his power. Instantly several elders collapsed, having passed out from the shock. He began walking toward Feng Chi, the stone cracking beneath his feet with each step. The man refused to back down, whether it was due to misjudging the difference between the two of them or his pride refusing to let him beg for his life Michael didn't care.

Michael dashed forward in an instant, his massive blade in his hand as he swung at Feng Chi. It was possible the sect master would have died right there if it wasn't for the head elder trying to block the blow. Had the man possessed greater strength or a stronger artifact then he might have done more, but it made no difference in the end. The old cultivator lay dead on the stone, his sword shattered beside him.

It was as if the head elder's death was a signal. Every other elder who could move launched at Michael. Dozens of blows rained down on his position, but he had already moved. One by one they fell, their blood soaking the stone courtyard. Michael moved his blade as if it were a part of his body as he cleaved through his attackers. Taking advantage of the chaos, Feng Chi attempted to blindside him.

Michael turned his body to avoid the blow and followed through with a punch. His fist smashed straight through his opponent's chest, rupturing their internal organs as it passed through to the other side. Feng Chi never stood a chance. While his combat power was above the norm for his cultivation level, Michael was beyond him. His death was the inevitable outcome of his evil deeds and short-sightedness.

Michael pulled his fist out and watched the body fall. He watched in abject horror. The one he ran through was not Feng Chi, but his precious Susan. Her piercing green eyes stared back at him, accusing him of cutting her life short. Rage and despair filled his heart. He began rampaging in his grief, destroying the valley and any who had the misfortune of crossing his path. He slaughtered for three days before finally being stopped by several spears piercing his chest.

He bolted upright, panting as he tried to pry fact from fiction. His hand darted up to wipe the sleep from his eyes, finding his cheeks covered in tears. While the memory that played out in the dream was mostly unchanged, his wife's death didn't happen. After a few calming breaths he recalled what actually happened. Feng Chi found a technique that allowed him to puppet cultivators he marked, which was how he was able to absorb the other sects so quickly. He tried to do the same to Susan but wasn't aware of the strength of her soul. She caught him off guard when Feng Chi tried to use her against Michael in their final confrontation. She was the one to land the killing blow.

They allowed the disciples and surviving elders to live, but the damage to their hierarchy meant that the sect couldn't survive the backlash from any of the sects they were competing with. The final decision was to dissolve the sect and escort the disciples away from their enemies. Over two thousand disciples were led to the nearest major city and scattered to the winds to find a new home.

A painful tingling drew Michael's attention to his right palm. The seal of the Heart Corroding Poison was damaged during the heavenly punishment and leaked back into his body while he recovered. Had several small things been different it would have been likely his soul would have been destroyed by the insidious poison. A quick inspection of the seal revealed that only a small amount had leaked out and his body was able to process it at a great cost. His head felt foggy and his body had lost some of its fine motor skills. It wasn't enough for others to notice, but it still wasn't a good sign.

Hearing a group of voices coming from downstairs, Michael figured that Luz and her friends made it back safely. With a careful effort, he stood up from the makeshift bed and made his way downstairs. He felt phantom pains race across his body with each step and couldn't help but wonder how long it had been since he was so heavily injured.

He somehow managed to enter the living room without drawing anyone's attention. It seemed that they were going over their spoils. Each of the witches gained a powerful technique and artifact that complemented their magical skills. It seemed that Luz didn't gain anything from the venture until he noticed what she was hiding. He would need to adjust his teachings to help her utilize her new gift.

Michael decided to make his presence known. "I see that everyone had a good harvest from this little adventure."

Half a dozen pairs of eyes locked on to him in shock. Before anything could be said, both Luz and King tackled him in a hug nearly knocking him over. "You're awake." Luz cried into his chest.

"Clam down, you two," Michael said as he tried to untangle himself. "It will take more than a little lightning to take me out." His attempts to pry King off were met with the young titan tightening his grip.

"You were out cold for five days," Eda explained. "Hooty and King did the best first aid they could, but neither of them knew enough about medicine to say if you would ever wake up."

"I see," Michael replied. He knelt down to look King in the eye. "I'm sorry I put you through that. I should have known there would have been compatibility issues and that using such powerful materials would have had serious consequences. You handled the situation amazingly."

"What were you two even doing that put you in that situation?" Luz asked.

Michael blinked and looked and King, "You haven't told her?"

"No," King replied. "I thought it should wait until you woke up."

"That's very thoughtful of you," Michael turned his attention to Luz. "I figured it was time you had a weapon you could rely on. Since you wanted to learn all different kinds of weapons I figured you needed a custom weapon."

King ran over to the closet and pulled out the spear. It was wrapped in a sheet, but everyone could feel a faint aura emanating from it. He handed it to Luz, who carefully unwrapped it. Everyone gasped when they saw it. None of them had ever seen an item with such beauty. Luz carefully handled the spear as if the slightest bump would shatter it. It felt comfortable in her hands and a few careful movements revealed that it was well-balanced for her size.

"What is it made of?" Amity asked, curious about the materials the ancient man had used.

"Titan bone," Michael replied. "And not that imitation stuff you see everywhere. The haft is made using a bone from the true skeleton of a titan mixed with the blood essence of a dragon. It ended up being the most costly part of the whole weapon and the reason I ended up getting injured like I did."

"How did you get hurt?" Eda asked. "Hooty described a storm that came out of nowhere, but it never rained."

Michael took a deep breath. "You all should be aware that the world has rules. Natural ones that govern how things should work." He paused to make sure they were following him. "Cultivators push the boundaries of these rules and incur a punishment for it. This is called the Heavenly Tribulation, a type of phenomenon that is the manifestation of heaven and earth striking back. Every cultivator experiences this when they break through beyond the Immortal Boundary realm. Alchemist and artifact refiners can also trigger this when creating something above a certain level, though it's far more common for an alchemist to trigger it."

"That explains the storm, but not the full extent of your injuries." Eda continued. "You were borderline anemic. I may not be a member of the Healing coven, but I know lightning doesn’t cause that."

He sighed, "Can't you just let an old man keep a few secrets to himself?"

Eda snorted, "You may be older than me, but we both know you're far from being old."

"Master," Luz said in a low voice. "You promised, no more secrets."

Michael tried to stonewall Luz. He was entitled to some secrets, and the nature of what happened could certainly count as one. He was spared further debate when King spoke up.

"He used his own blood." He blurted out. The room was silent until King continued, "We needed Titan's Blood to use the bone correctly, but we couldn't find a source he was comfortable with using. He thought that using blood from a dragon would work, but he didn't mention that the dragon blood would come from him."

Now everyone had questions they wanted answered, but Michael quickly shut it down. "A chance encounter allowed me to slowly change my body to that of a dragon. While I was able to take it further than most, using the blood of different monsters is a fairly common practice. I severely underestimated how much more blood I would need to use and it damaged my vitality enough to exaggerate my other injuries. It is not up to me to talk about the bones and blood."

The room was silent for a while before the conversation turned to other subjects. Eventually, the sun began to set and Gus and Willow headed home. Amity joined the residents of the Owl House for dinner since the Blight family manor was still considered unsafe. This led to an interesting conversation at the dinner table.

"I think it's time Luz was enrolled in the local academy." Michael started.

Eda paused for a minute before replying, "If you think that's for the best then go ahead. Why mention it over dinner?"

"You are her magic instructor," Michael stated. "Decisions regarding that area of her education are yours to decide. I'm simply expressing my opinion."

They went back and forth on the merits of the different education methods. Michael believed that while Eda may have a better approach, Hexside simply had more resources and facilities available to the students. Eda tried to stand by her arguments against the coven system but folded when Luz chimed in that she would love to enroll in Hexside.

Dinner was a very different experience for Amity. It was strange watching everyone participate in an orderly debate. Opinions were listened to and respected, even if Luz got a bit animated when she joined in. In the manor, her mother held absolute authority with her father too busy with his work to keep up with what was being said most of the time. Every aspect of her life was decided for her regardless of her own opinion. Seeing this group of misfits play out a better family than her own was disheartening.

After the meal, Eda asked Amity to stay behind and help her clean the dishes. Eda quietly gathered the dishes while everyone else dispersed. Michael retired to the private rooms of the Universe Bead while King and Luz went upstairs while whispering to each other.

"Would you dry the dishes, Amity?" Eda asked as she started the faucet. Without a word, Amity took her spot next to the sink. They fell into a quiet rhythm working through the dinner dishes.

Eda spoke first, "I assume it would be wrong to say everything was going well under Odalia's roof?"

"Why would you say that?" Amity asked as she dried another plate.

"You can drop the act, kid. I went to school with your parents so I know Odalia was far from the perfect mother she likes to present herself as." Eda retorted. "I saw the look on your face during dinner. It's one I had a few times myself. When my parents found out about my curse, my mother went off the deep end trying to fix me. She even went as far as joining the Beast coven in hopes of finding a cure. It got to be too much for me and well, Gwyn and I haven't been on amicable terms in years."

"Why are you telling me this?" Amity asked.

Eda turned off the faucet and handed Amity the last cup. "Look kid, I'm not really good at this whole parenting thing despite what it may look like." She took a deep breath, "I just want you to know that while you are here you have an equal say in what you do. I know you're going through a lot right now, but no one in this house is going to rebuke you for having an opinion we don't agree with."

Eda placed a reassuring hand on Amity's shoulder before leaving the kitchen. She quietly dried the cup she was holding and added it to the pile of clean dishes. The house demon would take care of them at some point later that night. Without anywhere else to go, Amity went to the living room and curled up on the couch. She began to doze off when she heard someone coming down the stairs.

"There you are," Luz said. "Follow me, I got something to show you."

Without waiting for a response, Luz pulled Amity off the couch. The young cultivator led her witch friend up the stairs and into her room. It looked much the same as it did a week ago when Amity woke up after the incident at the library. The only difference was that there was a second makeshift bed in the room now.

"There's too much junk for us to clear you your own room right now," Luz said. "But you can sleep in here while we work on that. It's not much, but it's home."

Amity quietly sat down on her makeshift bed. It was barely more than a pile of bedding and a pillow and was probably the most uncomfortable thing she ever called a bed. Yet she couldn't shake the warm feeling in her chest. For the first time in years, Amity felt not only cared for but loved.

"Thank you, Luz." She said before laying down. Luz smiled to herself before turning off the light and going to bed herself.

Notes:

Suprise back story.

For those wondering Saint realm is the next major realm after Immortal Boundary.

It's 2 am and I keep staring off into space so if I missed anything just ask me.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments. Imma go to sleep now.

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Amity woke up to a series of sharp twacking sounds coming from outside. She looked around the room and noticed Luz had already left her own blanket pile and was likely the source of the sound. Amity pulled out her scroll and checked the time. It was a quarter till seven, the time she was expected to be up. She took her time getting dressed before making her way down to the kitchen. From the kitchen window, she could see Luz sparring with Michael. Well, spar may have been stretching it.

Michael barely moved as he dodged and deflected each of Luz's moves. Amity wasn't entirely sure how he managed it as some blows seemed to have simply gone around him. That wasn't to say Luz wasn't doing her best. She had been training with weapons for a few weeks but was already displaying a level of skill that would give most guards some issues. Each failed attack was quickly followed up with another attack, block, or dodge of her own. They traded blows for a few minutes until Michael landed a solid palm strike on Luz. Amity watched in shock as Luz was sent flying back several feet before rolling on the ground.

Amity rushed out the backdoor worried about her friend. Images of large cuts and broken bones filled her head as she ran through the yard. Luz was just starting to pull herself up when she was suddenly bombarded by worried questions. It took a minute to calm Amity down and show her that Luz wasn't harmed. Amity's concern quickly turned to anger.

"Why the hell did you hit her that hard?" She yelled at Michael, who looked on with a disinterested expression.

"Cause it was a spar." He replied, "You can't exactly learn much from a simple tap on the head. Besides, she could easily take twice the hit with only minor injuries."

"Yeah, Amity," Luz said. "I'm totally fine."

Amity swung around and gave Lu a furious look. "You stay out of this. You've shown you don't know how to calculate risk correctly."

"Amity, watch this," Michael said. She turned to look at him, only to watch him plunge a kitchen knife straight into his leg. She entirely expected the knife to sink into his leg, but instead, the metal crumpled against his leg. She blinked as her brain struggled to process what she saw. "The methods we practice change our physical body. Flesh and bones stronger than steel are commonplace. Speaking of, you're a bit late for your first day of conditioning."

"I'm sorry?" Amity replied.

"No need to apologize," Michael told her. "Luz should have informed you that physical training starts half an hour before sunrise until you memorize all the forms. I don't quite understand why myself, but the exercise is only effective for about thirty to forty minutes after sunrise."

"No, I mean I don't remember agreeing to physical conditioning," Amity interjected.

Luz chimed in, "Amity, you kind of did when you agreed to let Michael help reverse the effects of that technique you practiced."

"She's right," Michael said. "Physical conditioning is step one, and based on what I've seen from you before you desperately need it."

Amity tried to argue against him but found herself being tag-teamed by Michael and Luz as they pointed out her shortcomings and the benefits to their regiment. While Amity was an accomplished athlete among her peers, the two of them were on a different level and expected Amity to join them. She relented and ended up running laps around the house for the next hour. Her body was on fire when Michael finally told her she was done for the day.

Eda and King had just left the house for the day, leaving a note saying they would be running the stall all day. Michael announced his plans for the day, a meeting with the principal of Hexside Academy.

"You're serious about enrolling Luz?" Amity asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Michael replied. "Luz has shown excellent talent in learning how to use the magic of the Isles, it's only fair she gets an opportunity to continue her studies."

"What about the entrance test?" Amity asked.

Michael waved his hand dismissively. "All things she will have to deal with herself. The point of this meeting is to get the process started before the next semester starts."

As if on cue, Luz entered the kitchen hair still damp from the shower. "Ready to go." She said.

Michael reached up and grabbed the empty air. With a swift motion, he tore open the fabric that separated reality from the void. After a second the jagged edges seemed to smooth out leaving a perfect hole in reality. "Care to join us Amity?" He asked.

Luz's eyes lit up, "That's a great idea. You could show me around while Michael takes care of the boring adult stuff." She grabbed both of Amity's hands and began to bounce with excitement. Michael smiled as he watched the moment between the two girls.

Uh, okay sure." Amity replied as she tried to gently pry her hands out of Luz's iron grip. The young cultivator cheered before dragging Amity through the rift.

The trip to the school was quick thanks to Michael's manipulation of space. Before Amity could regain her balance she was standing before the front doors of the school, with Principle Bump waiting at the top. Michael stepped through the portal and addressed the principal.

"Greeting Principle Bump." Michael brought in hands together and bowed, a sign of respect that was copied by Luz. "I must thank you again for this opportunity. I recognize that this situation is far outside the norm for your institution."

"yes I must admit the situation is quite strange," Principle Bump replied. "But after seeing her performance in the arena during the Covention I figured Miss Noceda at least deserved a chance."

"You won't regret it, Principal Bump," Luz said confidently.

"I certainly hope so," Bump replied before turning his attention to Amity. "Miss Blight, I wasn't expecting you to join us today."

Michael placed a hand on Amity's shoulder and spoke up for her. "There have been some developments recently that have required my attention. Since she is here why don't we let the girls explore the school while we handle the boring paperwork."

Principle Bump considered the offer for a moment. "Well, who else would be qualified than one of our top students? Miss Blight, would you kindly show Miss Noceda around the campus while we discuss her enrollment?"

Before Amity could finish agreeing Luz had already pulled her into the school, leaving the two old men amused at her excitement. Bump watched as the green and brown-haired girls were briefly replaced by two auburn-haired sisters. His former students seemed to have found perfect successors. Michael and Bump soon followed them inside and made their way to the office to work out the details of enrolling a student that didn't legally exist.

A man watched from the shadows of the trees. He just couldn't believe his luck, the treasure that had disappeared a week ago just showed up right in front of him. The sect master had ordered the entire Isles systematically searched after she disappeared and they lost contact with the men sent to watch her. If he could bring her back to the sect master he was sure to be greatly rewarded. He just needed to be careful, the old man wouldn't be an issue but the other guy gave off a strange vibe.

Michael took in the atmosphere of the school as he followed Bump to his office. It seemed a lot like the school Luz attended in the human realm, with a few notable exceptions. One was that the lockers seemed to be alive, at least four of them growled at them as they walked past. The other major exception was the spirit gathering array the school was built on. Practicing here would be at least three times as effective for Luz and Amity.

"I suppose we should start with a review of what Hexside provides." Bump said as he dug around his office.

"Actually," Michael said, "I would like to start with what we could provide Hexside."

Bump was caught off guard by the statement and just stared at Michael for a moment. "Care to elaborate."

Michael held up his hand and waited. His divine senses were able to quickly detect the spy due to the lack of students who were normally on campus. Based on their movements they were from the Sons of the Titan and were about to cross the carefully laid detection spell. As soon as they crossed that line Bump felt the spell pull at the back of his mind.

"Our friend who just entered the school grounds is targeting Miss Blight," Michael explained. "He's part of a cult that Coven Head Clawthrone and I are working on removing."

Both men mentally tracked the intruder as he made his way across the campus, careful to avoid the obvious security measures while ignorant of the one he already set off. Bump was about to leave to deal with him when he was stopped by Michael.

"I want to give Luz a chance to show what we have to offer," Michael said as he offered Bump a talisman. The aged man recognized it as the same one Luz was wearing when he caught her trespassing on school grounds. "This little trinket should keep us out of sight while she deals with him."

The men activated their concealment talismans and silently stalked the stalker.

Jefferies could barely contain his excitement. The Blight girl was completely oblivious to the danger she was in. All he had to do was deal with the human girl she was with, but he knew that wasn't going to be easy. She was easily at the level of an apprentice witch, something that should be impossible given her race's natural lack of magic. An inferior being such as her shouldn't be able to get that strong.

Seeing an opportunity, Jefferies rushed out to grab at the Blight girl. The next moment he was staring at the ceiling.

"Who the hell are you?" Demanded the human.

He picked himself off the floor and pulled out his knife. The human was clearly going to be a bigger issue that he would have to deal with first.

Luz stared at the man who tried to grab Amity. The only clue she had was that he was a member of the Sons of the Titan. They were the only group who were after Amity and would have attempted a kidnapping here. However, he was much weaker than the first group. The first group was six cultivators in the Mixed Element stage, one major realm higher than the man in front of her. He was in the fifth rank of the Qi Refining Realm, just a few minor realms higher than her. She started to use her communication artifact when her master used voice transmission.

'Girls, Bump and I would like it if Luz took care of our uninvited guest.' He said. 'Don't worry about breaking anything.'

Both girls exchanged a look while they visibly relaxed. Michael and Principle Bump were fully aware and in control of the situation. Amity leaned against the lockers while Luz began to go through some quick stretches.

"If you want to beat me then you better go all out from the beginning, not that you stand much of a chance to begin with." She taunted.

Jefferies waved his hand, summoning a dozen spell circles in an instant. He didn't have time to drag out the fight if he wanted to get away before the school's principal showed up. He released his spells, sending dozens of rock spikes towards the girl. Luz leapt into the air, easily clearing the line of fire. The spikes sailed through the empty air before shattering against the floor.

As soon as her feet touched the ground Luz launched herself at her opponent, closing the gap before he could cast any more spells. She swung her leg out, aiming a kick at his temp only to be intercepted by a block. He struggled against the force of the kick but managed to hold his ground.

"Are you going to take this seriously now?" Luz asked as she continued to apply pressure to her leg. In her head, she looked really cool but was finding it a bit difficult to keep up the pressure. With a growl, her opponent forced her back and summoned a blade.

He swung at Luz, aiming for arms and legs in an attempt to disable her. He had the advantage when it came to range and was able to force her back down the hall. Spotting an opening, he thrust his sword at her thigh. Luz saw the attack coming and moved to avoid it, widening her stance enough to dodge the blade as her opponent's body got closer. Once he was fully committed to the attack, Luz slammed her fist into his gut.

Jefferies felt his body leave the ground as the human's fist planted itself into him. He spent far too much effort trying to get around her to realize the threat she posed. As his body flew through the air he had only one thought, for the good of the sect she must be eliminated. His brothers could retrieve the Blight girl later, but as long as that human remained she would be a throne in their side. He landed hard, bouncing slightly against the cold floor. His eyes focused on the human, her cocky grin infuriated him. He would show her what a Son of the Titan can really do.

The air was filled with energy as her opponent finally started to take her seriously and it filled Luz with dread. His aura raised two ranks meaning that it would be that much harder for her to injure him. But he wasn't the only one with a trick up their sleeve, she just needed the right moment.

Their clash began again but with more violence this time. Luz could tell that her opponent was focused on fighting her, killing her. The fear of her own mortality lingered in the back of her mind but was drowned out by a fiery energy. There was something intoxicating about risking her life in a fight that meant something. Dodging and weaving around her opponent felt natural and while she knew she should be afraid she felt completely calm.

Jefferies and Luz exchanged several dozen blows when he finally found an opening. The girl had fallen into a pattern with her movements. He baited her into preemptively dodging to the right and straight into his sword. Luz saw the sword too late to dodge it. Metal made contact with fabric, cutting through the soft material of her shirt. But the feeling of metal slicing through flesh never came. Instead, a searing electrical current came running up the blade.

"Pure Lightning Body," Luz said, answering the unasked question. "Enhances my physical body using pure lightning qi, making it stronger. When I activate it my body is covered by an electrical current that further increases my durability and gives an unprepared opponent a nasty shock." What she left out was that she cultivated the technique to the point where it raised her cultivation by three minor realms when activated.

She pulled the Dragon Titan Spear from her space ring. She was done fighting, as fun as it was. Luz gathered her qi as lightning began to arc from her body. She would risk everything in this next strike. To try and take a life is to risk your own, a principle she figured was shared between her and her opponent. The hall was silent as Luz lunged at her opponent. Spear held firmly in front of her, she gave no regard for defense in her attack.

Amity watched as Luz drove her spear through the man's chest. He coughed up blood as his raised arm fell limply to his side. Blood covered the thin white blade of her spear and was slowly seeping into the man's clothes and dripping onto the floor. With a swift jerk, Luz pulled her weapon free and tried to shake the blood off it. The effort failed and she was left trying to wipe the blood off with a spare cloth.

Michael and Principle Bump decided they had seen enough and removed their concealment talismans. Principle Bump had a slightly disturbed look on his face while Michael seemed very unbothered. With a quick wave of his hand, Michael removed the corpse from the hall leaving only a puddle of blood behind.

"I think that should be enough to show what we have to offer for now." Michael turned to address Bump. "I am willing to teach these skills to a select number of students, you may contact Coven Head Clawthrone to handle the arrangements."

"I don't care about the arrangements right now." Principle Bump responded in a cold tone. "I'd rather you explain why your disciple just killed a man in my school."

Amity watched as Michael returned a cold stare to Principle Bump. A silent contest of wills took place between the two before Michael spoke again. "Amity, did you finish showing Luz the important parts of the school?"

"U-uh, yeah. I mean yes." She mentally kicked herself for stuttering.

Michael gave a short reply, "Good." He walked over to Luz and spoke to her in a hushed voice.

 

"Are you alright, Luz?" His voice was filled with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Luz could feel her body start to shake as the adrenaline began to leave her body.

"Don't lie to me," Michael growled. "You just killed your first man, I highly doubt your fine."

Luz gave the pool of blood a blank stare before facing her master again. "I think I'm fine. It probably has something to do with the Five Colored Glass Lotus."

"Very well." Michael waved his hand opening a portal. "But you owe me a detailed explanation of what happened in that tomb."

Luz gave him a silent nod before stepping through with Amity following after her. After he closed the portal Michael pulled out a small wire orb. "Coven Head Clawthrone, I require your presence at Hexside Academy immediately. It has to do with our disciples."

The portal closed behind the two girls and they found themselves in the familiar living room of the Owl House. Luz was about to go about her normal day until Amity had something to say about it.

"What the hell was that?" Amity's voice was a mix of fear and concern.

Luz wasn't sure how to answer the question. She did just end the life of another living, thinking person. She even did it in front of her friend and future principal. Michael had trained her for years with the mantra that those who try to take a life must be prepared to lose theirs. It seemed only fair for so long, but now that blood stained her hands Luz wasn't sure what the right response was.

"I… He… I… You were in danger." Luz stumbled through her words. "He was going to take you and I couldn't let that happen. He had a choice to run away and he didn't. Instead, he tried to kill me so I just killed him first."

Luz wasn't sure how to react when she felt Amity wrap her arms around her. Luz didn't know what to do when the tears started flowing down her face. She couldn't stop herself as the sobs wracked her body. She sobbed into Amity's shoulder and she didn't know why. She cried that way for a while until she managed to pull herself together enough to express herself.

"I don't regret it," Luz said as she wiped her eyes. "He would have hurt you, taken you to the people who think you're an object. I killed him and I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant protecting you."

Amity wasn't sure what to do. All her life emotions and insecurities were to be beaten down and locked away. Yet Luz not only had the determination to kill, but the heart to cry about it afterward.

"I understand," Amity whispered. It wasn't much, but it seemed to be what Luz needed to hear as she melted into Amity's shoulder. Amity carefully guided Luz to their shared room. There Amity tried to lay Luz down in her bed pile only to be dragged down and held there. Amity tried to struggle away, but deep down she knew that she didn't want to try too hard. Not that she would admit that.

Notes:

Just as a heads up this will be the last chapter for the year, but you get it early cause I've been home all day. I'm driving across the US for Christmas which means lots of driving and not a lot of free time. For those interested, I'm looking at around 4.5k miles there and back. So yeah, not gonna have anything to post till January.

Anyway, Luz killed a man. To give an idea of how common killing is, in most stories I've read the protagonist has a double-digit body count before they turn eighteen. None of them are bothered by their first kill either.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments.

Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Michael walked through the trees after his meeting with Bump. The man showed a remarkable understanding of the situation that led to a dead body lying in his school, enough for Michael to think it would be easy to work things out with him.

He was both right and wrong.

Bump was more than willing to allow Luz to join the school and even seemed open to the idea of her taking any mix of classes she wanted since both Bump and Lilith believed humans weren't subject to the dangers of mixing magic as the entire process was external for them. Bump was also open to Michael coming in and teaching a few choice students in the mystic arts humans practiced, even going as far as to offer the use of an unused section of the building.

His helpful attitude ended when it came to the Sons of the Titan. He didn't blame Amity for her unwilling involvement but was worried about how far the cult of cultivators would be willing to go. Then there was the issue of the Parent Creature Association. No matter what world Michael found himself in, the parents of wealthy families would always interfere where they weren't wanted or needed. It was bad enough that some young fools were allowed into sects via the backdoor, but even in a government-funded institution, the rich have found a way to butt in.

Odalia Blight was not only involved with the cancerous organization but also its de facto leader. Michael was sure she only had the position through a mix of bribes and intimidation over any actual charisma, but he was in no position to try and force them out. Furthermore, he couldn't force Bump to cut them out of the daily activities of the school. If he didn't report an assault of a student to their parents then they would hear it through the gossip such an event would cause.

Michael was frustrated at Bump's refusal to fully cooperate but respected the man's position. He was entrusted with the safety of hundreds of students and a lot of that trust depended on transparency. It would only take one attempted abduction for that trust to crack, and if Bump tried to cover it up then the trust would completely shatter.

There was another option available. Send Amity away. They already had long-term plans to fool her parents and Bump agreed to allow Amity to miss school long-term while the situation was being dealt with, a benefit of Odalia's insistence Amity outshine her peers. The issue was where to send her and who should accompany her. The realms were vast with no shortage of hiding places, but if he simply wanted to hide the girl then there was no place better than the Universe Bead. It was completely cut off from the demon realm and he was the only person who knew how to enter the bead at will, a secret the Sons of the Titan would never be able to get from him. The human realm was probably a safer choice than staying the in demon realm. Amity could easily blend right in without worrying about others seeing through an illusion. There were only about a dozen families across the world that would seek out the young witch should they learn of her, and they all could be persuaded with a simple show of force. The worst-case scenario had Amity staying with Camila for a few months while Michael and Lilith carried out the extermination and Luz was overdue for a heart-to-heart with her mother. Lastly, there was the heavenly realm, the only one of the three major realms the Titan made that retained the practice of cultivation.

He didn't like the idea of hiding Amity among those pompous fools of the heavenly realm. While Michael only observed them from afar, the people of the heavenly realm were the most prideful he had seen in a while. Amity was more likely to offend some short-tempered noble and be hunted down like a dog than to live a few months in obscurity. Which would mean sending Luz with her and Michael wasn't sure if his disciple would make things better or worse.

It was a frustrating situation that he would have to deal with later.

He let out a sigh as he entered the clearly where the Owl House was. The spies hadn't been replaced since he and Hooty dealt with them a week ago which worried Michael more than if they had reappeared the next day. He had no idea what they were planning at this critical juncture. His oath with Eda was due by sunset the next day and he was worried about how things would go.

The array was ready, he spent most of the previous night setting it. It would extract the soul of the Owl Beast and bind it inside while Eda dealt with it. If she managed to destroy it before the time limit on the array expired then she would be free from the effects of her curse. With a few weeks to a couple of months of careful practice, she would be operating at her full potential. If she failed though, Eda would find herself quickly running out of options. Michael would need to force her soul to merge with the Owl Beast if she wanted any chance of retaining her mind. The only other merciful option would be a swift death while she remained herself.

He rubbed his head in frustration. At his age he should be enjoying wine on the back mountain of some sect, only concerning himself with a single student and a few close confidants. Instead, he finds himself tied up in the plots of several madmen while trying to help several people with vastly different problems. Dreams of peaceful retirement aside, he knew that life would never suit him as well as his current one.

Michael exchanged a few pleasant words with Hooty before entering the house. He was greeted by Amity, who was sitting on the couch reading through the book he gave her. She struggled with the terminology at first, but Michael was confident she could start practicing his secret art in a few days. He quickly cast his eyes around for anyone else in the room, mainly Luz. He had hoped the girl would be forced into taking a life though he had to admit to himself that he should have intervened sooner.

"Is she upstairs?" He asked.

Amity responded without looking up, "Yes, she was still asleep the last time I checked. It took a huge mental toll on her."

Michael sighed, "That would be my fault, I should have controlled the situation better than I did. I hope I can earn my forgiveness."

The book in her hands was slammed shut before Amity could even process what she was doing. "She will forgive you easily enough, but that doesn't mean you deserve it."

"Amity," Michael said in a calm voice. "The person I want to convince isn't Luz. Much like yourself, the person I wish to convince is me."

Michael left Amity in silence as she mulled over his words. Michael had spent enough time buried in his own guilt to recognize when others were doing the same, especially those who didn't have much practice with masking their emotions. He quietly walked up the stairs to leave the young witch to reflect on his words. His thoughts were quickly moved to his young disciple. Her casual mention of the Five-Colored Glass Lotus bothered him. He left instructions inside for her to talk to him if she got it before she was ready and she ignored them. Luz always had a forgetful streak in her but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something else related to the soul artifact.

Luz was awake when he entered the room. She lay in the dark staring at the ceiling, the light in her eyes gone. It pained his soul to see Luz in this depressive state. Michael took out an incense burner and placed it on the ground before lighting the stick. The smell of the incense slowly filled the room as Michael sat on the ground and waited for Luz to make the first move.

The stick of incense had burned out when Luz finally sat up. Her eyes were swollen from the tears. Her voice was hoarse, "Does it ever feel any better?"

"Yes and no," Michael replied. "I still see the faces of the dead sometimes, but I don't dwell on 'what ifs' like I did when I was younger. The one thing I wanted you to learn is that some grudges can only end in death, but that should have been your decision to make."

"I didn't feel forced," Luz said. "As I fought him, I knew he was going to take Amity away and that she would be hurt. I knew the only way to stop him was to kill him. What scared me was how I felt after I did it."

Luz looked at Michael as new tears threatened to spill out. "I didn't feel anything."

"A side effect of the Five-Colored Glass Lotus," Michael answered. "It detected that your soul was disturbed and tried to balance it out, but you didn't realize it was happening so you spiraled."

They sat in silence for a while. Michael noticed the effects of the incense were starting to take effect and Luz's mood seemed to lighten a bit. It wasn't much but still more than he hoped for as Luz showed signs of her soul recovering from the drain of the artifact.

"Being aware of the artifact and what it's doing will help alleviate the effects of using it," Michael said. "Though I'd like to hear how you got it, and I'd rather you not leave anything out. I can feel that thing on your back."

Luz took her time recounting the events that took place in the tomb making sure to share every detail she remembered about the thing that attacked her. Michael listened intently and carefully studied the video Luz took. It was as he suspected though he never imagined Luz would run into such a life-altering opportunity.

"Well, I never expected you to fit in so literally here." Michael laughed at the situation. It was as if heaven itself was dictating each of Luz's actions.

"Am I cursed?" Luz asked, a bit of fear tainting her voice.

"No," Michael said with a dismissive wave. "The Five Colored Glass Lotus made sure of that, but you do have a bit in common with both King and Eda now. What you found is something called a divine source. It contains the power of its corresponding divine spirit. If you learn how to use it your body will change over time to that of the original divine spirit."

Michael held out his hand and slowly channeled his source strength through it, shifting it into a hybrid between human and dragon. "A divine source is the most precious thing a divine spirit possesses. It is said that some clans can even resurrect their fallen members if they have their source, though this has never been confirmed and likely carries a great cost to the clan as a whole. Very few have ever been found by human masters and I have never heard of those masters sealing it away."

Luz was puzzled. "Why not? I mean the source I found tried to kill me so wouldn't it make sense to seal them away?"

Michael pulled his arm back as scales turned back into flesh. "What you encountered was probably the most dangerous state you could find a divine source, it still had a remnant of its owner's soul attached to it. Far from being intelligent, it would have possessed your body out of instinct and tried to regain its form by any means necessary. The Five Colored Glass Lotus removed that remnant leaving you the divine source intact."

He stood up and walked over to the door. Before he left he turned back to Luz, "You found a powerful treasure, but you aren't ready to use it. I suggest you keep this a secret, even from King and Eda. The fewer people know about it the better it will be for now. You aren't strong enough to keep it."

"Wait," Luz called out. "You said this had something to do with King."

Michael stopped for a second, realizing he had forgotten to explain that connection. "That divine source is from the same clan as him. He has to be the one to tell you what that is though. It is his secret to share, not mine."

Michael closed the door behind him, leaving Luz alone with her thoughts. She stayed in the darkened room until she heard King and Eda return from the market. Luz emerged from her self-imposed isolation to join the rest of the rag-tag group she started to consider family. The conversation seemed to go from Michael lecturing on ethical scams to King describing all the people he pickpocketed at the market.

When dinner was served Eda finally asked the questions Luz had been dreading the whole night. "So, did you get into Hexside?"

Michael quickly answered her, "Almost. Apparently, there is a proficiency test she needs to pass first."

"Did you ask what kind of test it would be?" Luz asked.

"Nope," Michael responded. "Each sect has its own set of tests that generally aren't too hard for those who have been practicing for a while. You can ask Bump while he is here tomorrow."

"Why's Bump coming here tomorrow?" Eda asked.

"Turns out that all teachers at Hexside require a portfolio before they are hired," Michael replied. "To solve our little security issue I decided it would be best for me to teach a class at Hexside. As it turns out your curse is quite renowned for being resistant to any form of treatment."

"Aren't those elixirs supposed to treat the curse?" Luz asked.

Eda shook her head. "The elixirs just keep me from transforming and even then they have lost their effectiveness over the years. Unless Michael's idea works tomorrow then my life is going to end by permanently turning into the Owl Beast."

The dinner table fell into somber silence. The lethal nature of Eda's curse was never really discussed before, but now they realized Eda had been facing the worst possible end for years. Every day there was a chance that she would turn and be swallowed by the malevolent soul that powered her curse. Even cultivators were careful with their souls since bodies could be rebuilt or forcefully taken over, but once a soul was destroyed the cultivator ceased to exist.

Michael stood up and placed a hand on Eda's shoulder. "It won't come to that anymore. Your condition is treatable and by this time tomorrow you will never need an elixir again."

The sun rose and the energy inside the house was tense. Michael spent the entire night in the backyard, carefully transporting a massive stone platform and adjusting it where needed. The arrays were incredibly detailed and seemed impossibly complex to the untrained onlookers. He was so engrossed in his task that he had forgone overseeing the morning training. It was about ten o'clock when Principle Bump finally arrived.

"Good morning Miss Clawthrone," He greeted the unusually energetic woman.

"Good morning Bumpikins," Came her jovial reply.

"I seem to recall telling you to not call me that," The old principal said in a rather annoyed tone.

"Oh come on now," Eda said. "You can't expect me to stand on ceremony today. I'm finally going to get what I wanted after all these years."

Bump nodded in agreement. He knew how quickly Eda's life fell apart when the curse manifested. She lost out on her chance to join the Emperor's coven, her father was injured by an attack, and her mother became obsessive over finding a cure to the point of destroying almost every relationship she had. The end of a decades-long nightmare was just moments away.

Over on the platform, Michael gave a final once-over before nodding. The arrays were set up and carefully arranged, the only issue was that he wouldn't be able to use blood essence to help Eda as he had hoped. All that was left was to get started. He went to let them know he was ready.

"Gather around everyone." Michael's voice carried far through the warm summer morning. Luz and Amity stopped their training and joined the adults next to the platform.

The platform itself was a square stone surface raised a foot off the ground and two dozen feet long on each side. To the untrained eye, it looked like a polished slab of rock, but the witches could feel strong magic radiating off the stone and Luz could see the faint lines of the various arrays.

"I'll explain how this works so there are no surprises," Michael started. "This platform when activated will force both Eda's and the Beast's souls out of her body. Eda will then have to destroy the soul of the Owl Beast. The platform will seal both of them inside its boundary and also restrain the Owl Beast. Be warned though, no one can help you once it's started and if you can't finish it off in half an hour then the array will end and place both souls back inside your body."

His eyes were locked onto Eda the entire time. His explanation was meant entirely for her, he only said it out loud so the others wouldn't panic. The idea of being separated from her body was unsettling, but if it meant she could face off against the thing that tormented her for years then she would do it. With a steady resolve, Eda walked up the platform.

Michael stopped her before she passed him. "I don't know how well your magic will work, but you should be able to call on the fire you obtained in the tomb. If nothing else works use that, alchemists have a habit of keeping flames with strange and powerful properties."

Eda knelt in the center of the platform and glanced at Michael. He nodded and threw out four stones that shone with a pure light. Each stone flew over to a different corner as Michael made a hand sign. With a shout that none of them understood the platform lit up and the fight began.

Notes:

We're back. After a ridiculous amount of time spent in a car I have returned to deliver... this. I wrote half of this chapter a week ago so there may be some weirdness I didn't catch.

The holiday season was definitely a holiday season of all time for me. It's good to be back at things though. Hope y'all had a decent holiday season.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 18: Chapter 18

The daylight blinded them. They were trapped in the darkness for so long that they forgot what day was like. They didn't understand their sudden freedom from their dark prison, but they would not wait to be taken back. They spread their wings wide and launched themselves with a mighty stroke. Their newfound freedom was short-lived.

Chains pierced its chest throwing it off balance. It crashed onto the stone with a pained cry. More chains appeared, binding its wings against its body. It heard sounds, words it recalled. Raising its head, it saw its cursed warden standing in front of it.

Eda looked at the Owl Beast as it lay before her, chained to the floor by the powerful magic of the immortal that lived in her house. She had seen the beast several times over the years in her nightmares. In them, she was always running powerless to defend herself against the threat. But now she felt powerful, perhaps stronger than she had in years. Her magic felt weird, it felt pure but incomplete.

A small hoot drew her attention to a translucent Owlbert. Eda had sworn she had left him outside with Luz. She glanced over to the girl and saw Owlbert's wooden body held in Luz's hands, her attention completely focused on the platform. Before Eda could question things further her mind was flooded with thoughts and images.

Friend. Soul. One. An image of a younger Eda holding a knife. Owlbert reflected in a mirror. Help. Friend. Help. Self.

Eda didn't entirely understand, but it seemed like her connection with her palisman was stronger than she realized. Owlbert was here to help her and she would gladly accept. She held out her hand and grasped her staff. It was time for her to end her decades-long nightmare.

Michael had seen many things over his long life. From the vast emptiness between worlds to the minor miracles in everyday life. Yet somehow the Boiling Isles continued to hold secrets he never considered possible. Yet he could see it plain as day. Eda's soul avatar was holding her staff.

It defied everything Michael understood about soul-based artifacts and cultivation.

Owlbert, a creature Michael had previously thought a separate entity, was born from Eda's primordial soul. He never heard of any material or artifact being able to do this without causing serious harm to one's soul. An artifact developing a soul of its own was something that was known to happen, but they were incredibly rare and could take thousands or even tens of thousands of years to form even the most simple soul that acted on pure instinct.

The very concept of a palisman defied everything cultivators understood about artifact spirits. He decided that he would need to find out more about how the wooden familiars are made.

Eda thrust her staff towards the chained Owl Beast and unleashed a torrent of fire. The flames surged forth in a barely contained manner until they suddenly scattered as they neared the Owl Beast. A new wave of thoughts filled Eda's mind.

No. Harmless. Friend. Scared. Help. Friend. Help. Self. More images filled her mind. A shadowy figure loomed over her, a scroll in hand. A painful ripping sensation filled her chest. She turned around and saw something that chilled her blood. The lifeless corpse of the Owl Beast lay on the ground, surrounded by dozens of mutilated corpses of its fellow beasts.

Eda swayed as she came back to the present. She looked at the Owl Beast again. Instead of a chained monster, she saw a scared and battered animal. The nightmares she had struggled with for years suddenly gained a new perspective. The Owl Beast wasn't trying to kill her, it was trying to break free she was just in the way. Eda felt sick with herself. For years she railed against people and systems she thought were trying to control her and force her to fit into their definitions only to have spent the entire time doing the same thing to an animal that was forced into her body.

Killing the Owl Beast remained a viable option. Eda knew that it had nothing to return home to and without a body its soul would turn into a specter that haunted the forest until some oracle came around and bound it to their service. Eda knew a few oracles who treated the spirits under their command with respect, but most would not do that. Yet even knowing that death would likely be the kinder fate, she felt revolted by the idea. She didn't need to hurt the beast, hurt herself.

"How do I help them?" Eda asked Owlbert. The owl pointed to a thread that led from the Owl Beast's tail to the chest of Eda's physical body. She noted a second thread that seemed to trail into her hair, likely the thing that kept both souls tied to her body.

"So we first need to sever its connection to my body. Seems simple enough." The chains around the Owl Beast seemed to be holding, though it didn't seem to struggle against them much. Seeing as the Owl Beast had resigned itself to whatever fate Eda decided for it, she went to work on severing its connection.

The thread was thin and felt delicate, yet was remarkably strong. Or at least strong enough that Eda couldn't snap it with her hands. Even with Owlbert's best efforts, it seemed that the thread couldn't be broken by physical efforts. Time was short and Eda was short on options. If she had more time there were a couple of potions that might have been able to burn the thread, but she only had about twenty minutes before the spell ended and forced both souls back into her body. The strain caused by two souls entering the same body would likely trigger a transformation putting an agitated Owl Beast in control.

Then an idea came to her. An old potions book mentioned that one of the best treatments for poison was another poison. Using like to destroy like. So if the spell that created this situation was of immortal origins then perhaps something that belonged to the immortal arts would work best here.

Eda took the Owl Beast's thread in one hand and conjured a blue flame in the other. The thread burned quickly shooting off in both directions, leaving nothing behind. Satisfied that its tie to her body was severed, Eda turned her attention to the chains that helped the Beast bound. She didn't know how to help the poor creature. Its suffering came from untold years of solitude and abuse. She had no idea how to begin healing a soul from such injuries or if it even wanted to be healed.

The Owl Beast was tired. It had been angry and afraid for so long, bound to a body that was not its own for so long that when it was finally free all it felt was the years wearing down on it. In the few moments it had escaped its captor's control it learned that it was alone. The world had changed, the bones of the island couldn't be seen when it was taken. The nesting grounds were gone and none responded to its cries. It was alone.

The chains suddenly fell away from its body allowing it to stand. It pulled itself up and faced its warden. The creature had been the one constant since it was freed from the endless darkness. The years of restraining it had taken a toll on her. She made a series of strange growls at it, thinking it understood her primitive communication. It stood up, spreading its wings wide with a mighty roar.

"Just listen!" Eda screamed, slamming down her staff to stabilize herself. Though the Owl Beast lacked a physical body its soul was still remarkably powerful. She almost regretted having Michael remove the chains, but Eda knew she would never be able to live with herself if she didn't help the Owl Beast.

Without many options available to her, Eda took a risk. Pulling her arm back, she threw Owlbert right at the Beast. Owlbert shifted to his animal form, wings spread out as he flew. He knew what his witch needed him to do and he would do everything in his power to help her.

Michael was stone-faced as he watched. It was hard to judge soul battles, even when they were given a visual manifestation. The Owl Beast clearly came from a bloodline with powerful souls but Eda was an intelligent and powerful witch equipped with a soul artifact in the form of her palisman. A mistake on either side would spell disaster. This is why he was confused when Eda threw her staff at the Beast and was even more confused when the palisman continued to fly towards the Owl Beast.

He began to go through the hand signs to release the barrier, only stopping when Owlbert began to glow. Carefully returning his hands to his sleeves, Michael waited to see what new miracle the world would show him. The glow intensified as the little owl landed on the beast's head. It was blinding for all but Michael, who watched as the little palisman sunk into the larger soul's head. Everyone waited with bated breath for the outcome of this final gambit.

The time on the array was about to run out when the light faded and Eda's soul shot back into her body. Quickly redoing the hand signs, Michael deactivated the arrays around the arena. Michael and Luz were the first ones to Eda's side, using their supernatural speed to close the distance as quickly as they could to assess the witch's condition.

Luz sighed in relief as she realized Eda was physically fine, no feathers or wandering limbs to be seen. Michael was busy carefully checking Eda's spiritual condition. The soul of the Owl Beast was completely absent, the only traces remaining being the considerable amount of monster qi inside her body. The ritual had been successful. Eda was freed from the curse.

A strange trilling sound pulled the cultivators to their senses. Owlbert had come around sooner than Eda and was walking toward his witch. On all four of his legs. Michael and Luz blinked before looking back and forth between each other and the palisman. Owlbert now resembled a miniature version of the Owl Beast.

It took a few hours for Eda to regain consciousness, though she was tight-lipped about what happened between her and the Owl Beast. It was unusual for those gathered to see Eda so calm and collected during what should have been a celebratory moment. Even Owlbert's unusual evolution didn't garner a reaction from her. Bump eventually left after setting up a meeting with Michael to discuss the terms of his employment at the school.

In the dark of the night, Eda slipped out of the house and made her way to a nearby cliff. Owlbert had shared the Beast's memories with her over the course of the day. One of them was their first time flying over the Boiling Sea. The memory contained such unbridled joy that Eda knew the Sea would make the perfect backdrop. With a quick twist of her wrist, a large stone rose from the ground. It was shaped like an old headstone, but instead of a figure of death on top, it was the Owl Beast in flight.

Pulling a hammer and chisel from her hair, Eda went to work on the short epitaph. When she was done she stood up and observed her handy work. It was rough, working with stone was different than any kind of wood, but it was personal.

"Thank you for being in my life."

Notes:

No palismen were harmed in any way during this chapter.

While the Beast itself may be gone, we probably haven't seen the last of its influence. Assuming I remember.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below.

As it has been in the past, Grammarly has turned this chapter into a series of colorful lines with no clues as to what is wrong. I refuse to pay them to tell me whats wrong so if you see any horrid grammar please point it out, I'm an Accounting major, not an English major.

Chapter 19: Chapter 19

A few days after Eda was freed from her curse, Luz and Amity left of the Knee accompanied by Edric and Emira. The two illusionists were deemed skilled enough to protect the younger girls should anyone try to attack them while they were gone. It was fine with Michael who was busy gathering the money and materials for a side project he was working on. Eda wasn't entirely sure of the details, but it seemed pretty important so she did her best to stay out of his way.

It wasn't until the next morning that anyone realized King had snuck off in one of Amity's bags. Given that they were hundreds of miles away when he was found, Eda grudgingly gave him permission to join Luz and her group on their outing. What should have happened after that was a relaxing week getting used to being free from her curse.

So why did she feel… stuck?

More than that, it was affecting her magic. It was hard to notice at first, but slowly she realized her magic was sluggish and unstable. She wasn't running out of magic like when the Owl Beast was still around, but something was obstructing her magic.

And then there was the situation with Owlbert. After his transformation into a miniature version of the Owl Beast, he became unresponsive. She knew he was okay, but there was still something that kept him from acting like his normal self. The only thing she could do right now is wait. The only other person she could ask about Owlbert was out of the question anyway.

On the third day, she finally had enough and approached Michael about her condition.

"Hmmm," Michael pulled his hand back as he finished his examination. "Physically speaking, you're fine. I would wager it’s the same situation with Owlbert as well."

"So if there is nothing physically wrong with me, then what's going on with my magic?" Eda asked.

Michael held out his hand. Eda watched as the magic bile a witch's body produced to fuel its magic appeared over his palm. "Witch bile is comprised of two different energies. The first component is qi. If the problem was physical then there should be an issue with the flow of your qi. Furthermore, I confirmed that the problem wasn't with your bile sac itself. That means the issue must be with the second component, your soul energy."

Eda looked up from the artificial bile, "So what exactly does that mean?"

Michael dispersed the bile and leaned back in his chair. "It could be a lot of things, it is difficult for an outsider to diagnose an issue of the soul. Given that your cognitive ability hasn't been affected we can rule out significant damage to your soul. I think the issue is that something is messing with your soul's connection."

Eda raised an eyebrow. "So what? Am I just going to drop dead then?"

"Unlikely," Michael replied. "But I would assume that's why Owlbert had been unresponsive. While there is still a lot about palismen that I don't understand, it is clear that his soul comes from your soul so whatever is affecting you is affecting him. My hypothesis is that your issue is something called a heart demon."

"A heart demon?" Eda asked. Her mind immediately went to some kind of weird bug demon hiding inside her heart, messing with her magic.

"It's not an actual demon," He explained. "A heart demon is more of a manifestation of the mental barriers that hold a cultivator back. Regrets and traumas are the most common cause, though the causes aren't limited to that. Oaths can create heart demons depending on the wording of the oath."

Eda couldn't stop the realization that was dawning on her. The Owl Beast had been a source of a lot of issues that she spent the better part of her life running away from. Now that she was free those problems had finally started to slow her down. "So how do you treat a heart demon? Do you fight it in a dream or take a pill?"

"There is a pill you could take," Eda felt her hopes begin to rise. "Though the ingredients are ridiculously rare and it really only acts as a temporary solution. If you were to run into another issue further down the line it would be harder to deal with the next time." Back down into despair, they went.

Michael stood up from his chair. "The best solution to deal with a heart demon is to face the underlying cause. It could be fulfilling an obligation, mending a broken relationship, or killing a significant enemy. I don't know what part of your past is giving you issues, but I recommend starting sooner rather than later. Luz may be attending Hexside soon, but she still sees you as her magic teacher. She would appreciate it if you could continue being that for her."

Michael didn't wait for Eda to say anything before leaving the room and condemning Eda to time alone with her thoughts. She had several regrets, all focused on different people she had pushed away over the years. Raine, Lilith, Gwen, and… him. Those were the relationships she felt the most anguish over. She wasn't sure which one would fix her problem, but she knew a good place to start.

Gwendolyn Clawthorne was going to be the easiest person to reach out to. As annoying to deal with as she had been over the years, her mother was the only person Eda could contact without risking several squads of coven scouts descending on her home. With a great amount of anxiety, Eda called her mother.

Eda hung up on the first ring. Anxiety gripped her heart as her mind raced faster than she could comprehend. Too many questions were flooding her thoughts, paralyzing her through sheer volume. Her breathing began to pick up when she heard a ringing sound. She looked down at her scroll to see her mother's number on the screen. She watched as her ringtone played until the screen went dark.

She waited for several minutes for her mother to try and call her again. When it seemed like she wasn't going to try again Eda let go of a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. She scolded herself for doing something do stupid, Eda put her scroll away and went about her day. She didn’t have some mental block caused by some imaginary monster. No, she just hadn't fully adjusted to having her full magic capacity back. She just needed a few days to acclimate and she would be back to brewing potions and casting spells like the best of them.

Michael was taking his time reading through the code of conduct for Hexside a few days after his talk with Eda. While he had the entire thing committed to memory he wanted to take his time understanding the purpose behind the rules students and teachers were expected to keep during the day. It wasn't difficult for him to grasp, but it felt refreshing to focus on a mundane task.

His serenity was broken by a knock at the door. Immediately Michael spread out his divine senses to cover the property. All he sensed was an older witch woman at the door. Focusing his senses he detected signs that she was distressed. Without a good reason to keep her out, Michael went to answer the door and save the woman from the house demon's enthusiasm.

Hooty swung the door open before Michael could finish crossing the room. The woman standing at the door immediately walked in allowing Michael to get a clearer view of her. It didn't take long for Michael to figure out how she was. She had several traits he had seen in Eda and Lilith including the wild hair that was incredibly characteristic of Eda.

Gwen had an easy enough time convincing the house demon to let her in. He was an honest demon who only wanted to do the best for his charges. After explaining why she thought something was wrong he let her into the house. Her eyes quickly darted around looking for her daughter when they landed on a strange man standing in her daughter's living room.

Michael brought his hands together and bowed to the woman. "Greetings ma'am. My name is Michael Drake. Are you here for Eda?"

"I… I am… bu…sh…" Gwen stumbled over her words and her thoughts attempted to catch up with her. "I'm sorry but who are you and why are you here?"

Michael rose from his bow. "My name is Michael Drake, ma'am, a human cultivator who has been living here for the past couple of months. If you are looking for Eda I'm afraid you will have to wait a bit as she is currently in the middle of preparing a difficult potion in her lab."

Gwen was really confused. She had heard that there were a few humans on the Boiling Isles right now, but the fact that one was staying with her daughter was strange. "She's brewing potions right now? So she's fine then right?"

"Why yes ma'am, she is," Michael paused before asking. "I'm sorry ma'am, but would you please tell me who you are to Eda before we continue talking?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I was so concerned for my Owlet's safety that I completely forgot." Gwen took a breath to center herself. "I am Gwendolyn Clawthrone, Eda's mother."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Clawthrone. I have to say both of your daughters are wonderful people." Michael motioned for her to take a seat. "I suppose it would be a betrayal of trust to tell you more now. Eda is just fine, in fact, you could say she is doing better than she has in years after this past week."

"What happened?" Gwen asked.

"Your daughter was finally freed from her curse, of course," Michael replied. He took his time explaining the process they had used to remove the curse that had plagued Eda for so many years, taking care to avoid confusing the woman with terms she wouldn't have run into before. It took time and by the time he finished, he heard Eda start to walk up the stairs from her lab.

"If you would excuse me, ma'am, I'm afraid I have some things I need to attend to." Without waiting for a response, Michael disappeared as he teleported to a place a few miles from the Owl House.

Before Gwen could finish wondering where Michael had gone she heard a door open behind her followed by a familiar voice. "Gwen?"

Eda wasn't sure what to think right now. She heard Michael talking to someone as she made her way out of her workshop. But to see that he was talking to her own mother was a bit of a shock. It really shouldn't have been though. Eda expected to feel angry at seeing Gwen again but she just felt empty. Perhaps now that the curse was gone Eda had lost her reason to stay mad at her mother.

Gwen shot out of her chair but stopped herself from tackling her child. "Owlet… is it true? Is that damnable curse gone?"

Her guts twisted inside her, but Eda managed to force out an answer. "Yes, it's gone."

Gwen felt the tears run down her face as she rushed to wrap Eda in a hug. Eda sidestepped her mother as her missing anger reared its head. "You don't get to hug me, not after everything you have done."

Gwen stumbled, landing on the floor. She looked back towards Eda, "Everything I did was to help you, to rid you of that curse."

"And did I ask for that?" Eda snapped back. "No, I didn't. Yet you took it on yourself to try every scam that came your way to try and 'fix' me. You didn't even stop when you spent everything you and Dad had worked for. But do you know the worst part of all of it? The part that cut my heart the most? The fact that you didn't do the one thing a parent, a mother, should do! Accept me and love me!"

Eda's tears flowed down her face as her emotions swirled inside her, changing from anger to sorrow to some horrid mix of the two. Her mother's face was also a mix of tears and emotions as she wrestled with the neglect she laid on her child was laid bare before her.

"Do you even know what Lily has been up to recently?" Eda asked.

"I-I'm sure she's b-busy with Coven business. After all she…" Gwen was cut off by another outburst.

"Her apprentice is in danger! The closest thing you have to a grandchild is being targeted and you have no idea." Eda's voice was laced with venom. "You don't even know about King 'cause every time you were here it was all about trying to fix me."

She couldn't deny the accusations thrown at her, all Gwen could do was sit silently as tears fell down her face. What did she know about her daughters? What of the people around them? Were they even happy with the choices they made in life? Gwen thought for so long that she needed to help, to save her baby girl, but instead, she was harming the fine woman she had become.

"I don't want to keep locking you out of my life," Eda found her mouth working on its own, speaking her deepest desires. "You and I have made our fair share of mistakes, but if you are going to continue to act like nothing is wrong then this will be the last time we talk."

"Your right." Gwen slowly pulled herself off the ground. "I was obsessed with the idea of you that I had in my head that I lost sight of both you and your sister. I failed as a mother." Gwen went to leave the house when she felt a pair of thin arms wrap around her.

"You may have messed up, but that doesn’t mean you can't still fix things," Eda said as she held her mother in a hug for the first time in years. "If you'd like we can work on fixing our relationship. How about you come over for dinner next week and get to know everyone?"

Gwen wiped the fresh tears from her eyes. "That sounds like a lovely idea. Should I bring your father too?"

Eda tensed at the mention of her father. "I guess not yet. Just know that he is ready to talk when you are, Owlet."

Gwen left the house soon after, promising to return the next week for dinner the following week. After the door closed Eda collapsed on the couch, exhausted from the emotional exertion. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back, oblivious to the changes taking place on her ceiling. The elaborate carving of an owl on her ceiling began to glow and a soft light descended on her. Eda's eyes flung open as words began to etch themselves into her mind. Feathers quickly grew over her left arm before pain forced her to hunch over. A single grey wing burst out of her right shoulder before the light faded.

By the time Eda regained consciousness the feathers and wing were gone, leaving only a giant hole in the back of her dress and a searing head ache.

Notes:

Ah yes, trauma as a plot device. I am a literary genius!

I have read exactly one story where the protagonist had to deal with a heart demon and it happened over 2000 chapters into the story.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments. Also, if there's any really bad grammar errors help me find them.

Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Luz was feeling nervous, an idea that seemed entirely foreign to her. She faced a number of more terrifying situations than this. She fought Amity in front of hundreds of people just fine. She managed to keep her cool when her master saved them at the library shortly after that. She even faced down a slitherbeast on the Knee a few days ago.

But still, the first day of school terrified her.

It was going to be a simple day, show off a few skills, get assigned to the new Immortal Arts track, and spend the rest of the day cultivating. Barely enough to be considered an adventure.

So why did she feel everyone staring at her?

In reality, everyone was staring at Luz because she was brought to the school by both Michael and Eda via the void. The sound caused by Michael tearing open the fabric of reality drew everyone's attention. Seeing a new student step through followed by the most wanted criminal on the Isles followed by someone dressed like the teachers caused the rumor mill to start moving at full force. Photos of the three of them circled through the school quickly and it wasn't long before they had names with the new faces.

Eda walked to town after seeing Luz off and Michael disappeared after muttering something about preparations, leaving Luz standing alone in front of the school. She looked around to find a familiar face, but she couldn't find one. Not being one to wait to be saved, Luz attempted to calmly walk through the front door.

"There is no way they let you in," A voice called out to her. Luz looked over and saw the three-eyed girl she had seen hanging around Amity. Her name was Boscha or something like that.

Responding to the hostility, Luz struck back, "What's the point in having an extra eye if you can't understand what you're seeing?" With a flourish, Luz spun a circle in the air. In less than a second she filled in the light glyph and activated it, leaving a few balls of light floating in the air.

Boscha scoffed, "You think impressing me is going to change anything?"

"Why would I waste time trying to impress you?" Luz asked. "You're just a student, same as the rest of us."

Before Boscha could make another retort a scream cut through the air. Luz was warned before that the bells screamed instead of ringing, but it still caught her off guard. "I'd love to continue this… whatever it is, but I have to meet with Principle Bump now." Luz left the three-eyed girl, hurrying through the school to the auditorium.

Bump was going through his notes while waiting for Luz to show up. Her enrollment test would be different due to her circumstances. He worked out a different kind of test with Michael that would best fit the girl's unique talents. The test they decided on was broken down into three parts, magical ability, martial ability, and innate talent. The only test that mattered for the records was her magical ability, though Bump was much more interested in the innate talent test.

His thoughts were interrupted when the doors to the auditorium flew open and Luz rushed in. "It's good to see you again Miss Noceda. As you are probably aware, this test is mostly a formality for you. When you're ready you may step on the stage and I'll explain the test."

"Isn't the test for me to demonstrate two spells?" Luz asked as she made her way onto the stage.

"Normally, yes," Bump replied. "Though given the unique nature of your abilities, your master and I have created a new test for you and the other students. The first part is still what you prepared for though."

Luz nodded in acknowledgment. She should have known it wouldn't be so easy, though if other students without her training were to take this test then it couldn't be too hard. Taking a deep breath, Luz began her presentation. "As I am sure you know, humans are not naturally capable of using magic like witches are due to the lack of a bile sac. However, humans have their own way of using magic through the use of arrays."

Luz held out her hand and drew a circle, taking her time while filling it in with the light glyph to make sure the design was clearly visible to Bump before she activated it. The circle collapsed into a ball of light that hovered in the air. The Luz drew another circle, this time she filled in the ice glyph she saw on the Knee. Once it was complete the glyph was quickly encased in a ball of ice that formed around it before falling to the ground.

"Arrays range from being simple, like the ones I demonstrated, to incredibly complex," Luz explained. "What I have demonstrated today is the current limit of my ability with arrays."

"Very good, Miss Noceda," Bump replied after he made a few notes. "Your presentation was well done and informative. Your next test is a demonstration of your martial ability."

Bump summoned a large slab of stone that Michael had provided earlier. "To test your martial ability you will hit this stone with one punch, using all the force you can muster. We will then measure the reaction to assess your martial skill."

Luz had heard of this kind of test before. The physical strength of two cultivators of the same realm isn't always equal so they devised tests like this to assess their physical condition. Taking a moment to gather her strength, Luz activated her Pure Lightning Body. With only one chance, Luz threw everything she had at the stone block. The auditorium was filled with the echoing sound of thunder as lighting raced along the surface of the stone. The force of the blow was enough to send Luz back a few feet.

However, the more impressive feat was not how far Luz pushed the stone but what she left on it. She managed to push the stone back six inches, which was just a bit further than Michael had hoped for Luz. The thing that shocked Bump though, was the fist-shaped indent Luz left on the stone. Michael said that normal blows would be unable to mark the stone's surface. So what did the imprint mean about Luz's power?

Bump jotted the results down. He would ask more about what they meant later, for now, he had to finish the test. "The final test is broken into two parts. First is a measure of your talent via an artifact." Bump summoned the other stone Michael gave him. It looked like a standard crystal ball used in Oracle magic, but when Bump held it earlier it changed colors before emitting a purple light. Michael didn't say what the color meant, only that it acted as a measure of one's talent.

Luz didn't even wait for instructions before she placed her hand on the orb. Just as it had done before, the orb began to change different colors. Bump waited for the final result, unsure of how it was supposed to change anything. Luz was hand-selected to join the new track by her master so as far as Bump and the school were concerned this whole event was all for show. His thoughts were interrupted when a pillar of light burst from the orb. A mighty collum of light burst from the orb and swirling colors climbed high into the air. The color shifted from white to yellow to red to blue to purple before finishing with a combination of purple and gold light.

Michael watched the reaction from the back of the room. He had to admit that he never expected Luz to be so innately talented. The display before him was enough for him to reconsider his impact on her current position. There was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't be nearly as capable without his influence, but she wouldn't have been helpless either. She discovered the light glyph on her own and then found a way to use it. Would she have been able to face Amity without his influence? Enroll in Hexside? Regardless of the endless questions that filled his mind, one thing was now plain as day.

Luz Noceda was far more talented than he was at her age.

To compare them now would be a disservice to Luz, as Michael knew he had his fair share of lucky encounters that improved his prospects. Luz simply hasn't had those opportunities yet, but in the race of life, she was given a head start.

"There will be no need for the final part of this assessment, Principle Bump," Michael called out as he stepped out of the shadows. "Any student capable of calling forth purple-gold light is worth every resource this school has."

Principle Bump nodded. He figured it was all a formality, though now a second thought entered his aging mind. Luz's test scores are to act as a benchmark for the other students who might be given the chance to join the track today. "Very well then. Miss Noceda you may quickly take a seat, we have other students to get through this morning."

Luz jumped off the stage and took a seat on the first row. She was interested to see what magic the other new students were going to show off.

The term new didn't seem to fit as Willow was the next one called to the stage. Michael took over explaining the tests while Bump continued to take notes. "Miss Park, your skill with magic is already well established despite the shortcomings of your education. Hence we will be skipping the magic ability test and move straight to the martial ability test."

Luz watched as Willow struck the stone block, only barely knocking it back. Bump continued to take notes while Michael explained the next test. Luz could feel herself checking out as she waited for Willow to finish her test. A deep blue light briefly filled the room before Michael explained the past that Luz was exempt from.

"The last test is a measure of your sensitivity to energy," Michael placed a small tray in front of Willow. "Simply close your eyes and reach your mind out to the crystals in front of you. You are trying to detect the flow of energy in this room. You will be assessed based on the number of crystals that react. Any questions?"

"No sir," Came Willow's confident response. Everyone in the auditorium watched as Willow began the final test. She gripped the box and closed her eyes, focusing her thoughts on the energy around her. She tried practicing this a few times since the adventure to the tomb, but she couldn't quite get it. No matter how hard she focused she never felt anything different.

"Very well done, Miss Park," Michael said. Two minutes had barely passed and the result wasn't going to get any better. "Five out of seven stones is quite impressive." Five of the small crystals were floating a few inches above the box, each giving off a faint green light.

Willow gave a short bow before she joined Luz in the audience seats. The two chatted quietly as other students were called up. Gus and Amity each had their turn as did a few other students that Luz didn't know. By the end, a total of eight students were tested.

"You all are dismissed for the rest of the day," Michael said. "I will be personally visiting your homes tonight to discuss some details and get your parents' approval for multi-day excursions."

The students quietly filed out of the auditorium. Luz and her friends were starting to plan what to do with the rest of their day when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking behind her, she saw Michael with a solemn look on his face. "I'm afraid we need to leave now, Luz."

"What for?" She asked

Michael sighed. "Luz, we need to go to the Human Realm. We need to talk to your mother."

Willow, Gus, and Amity could have heard a pin drop in the ensuing silence. They each watched as Luz's dark complexion slowly turned pale as Michael's words sunk in.

Notes:

A shorter chapter (I think, I didn't actually check the word count before posting this), but I figured it would be too much to try and fit the 'fun' times that are coming.

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments below.

I will admit, school is a bit more challenging this semester, but I am aware that someone is waiting for the next chapter so I'm going to do my best to not drop off the face of the earth without warning. With warning is a different story, though I will try to give and stick to a return date if I do.

Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"A-are you sure we need to talk to her?" Luz asked. Michael brought Luz back to the Owl House, assuring his apprentice wouldn't get any ideas about trying to run away under any misguided attempts at getting him to waste time.

"Talking to your mother isn't going to be the worst thing to happen," Michael said. "Amity has to be in the same room as her mother. I had the misfortune of meeting her while you were away. A real piece of work."

Luz asked about the encounter, but Michael ignored it. "Your mother deserves to at least know what you will be up to and that you are okay. You aren't going to be exempt from this because you are my personal student. Besides, I have some things I'd like to do while we are there. "

Luz knew that the Human Realm lacked enough qi to support any treasure materials or powerful cultivators, so if Michael had business there it must be quite important. Still, she wasn't quite sure how her mother would react to Luz showing up right now. The camp she was sent to ended a month ago, but even then Luz was sure her mother knew something was wrong since Luz wasn't able to answer any messages or calls. She wanted to find any reason to avoid going back right now, but Michael wasn't giving her that option. He was probably willing to use his mastery of space to drag her there if he had to.

 

Eda had just walked in, "You're going to the Human Realm? Does that mean that the portal is fixed? You never actually told me and I forgot to ask since things got a little hectic when you came back."

"Oh right, I don't think I told you," Michael pulled out the suitcase that unfolded into the portal door. "This is complete junk now."

"junk?" Everyone was shocked to learn that. The only artifact capable of traveling to the Human Realm was now just a worthless decoration.

Eda asked the question on everyone's mind. "How are you going to get to the Human Realm if the portal doesn't work anymore?"

Michael closed his eyes and thought for a minute. "What you understand as two different realms is actually five realms. The Human, Demon, and Heavenly Realms are the three realms that contain any form of sentient life. The Place Between acts as the center point for those realms while the last realm has been left uninhabited due to the extreme elemental forces found within. Now throw all of that out, all five of these realms constitute one star."

Michael waited for Luz and Eda to understand what he said. King had been to The Place Between and saw the reality of the world for himself, even if he didn't quite understand it all quite yet.

Eda was the first one to speak up, "What do you mean they were one realm? That's impossible, the Human and Demon Realms are as different as can be?"

"Are they though?" Michael asked. "Sure the colors of the sky and plants are different, but have you ever wondered why humans know so much about the Demon Realm, even if that information is twisted or incomplete? Both realms have the same word for so many things, even the language of the Isles is similar to English with only a few variations that are more like a local vernacular than a separate language. The realms were divided roughly 3000-4000 years ago, with the cultures of the Human and Heavenly Realms mythologizing it."

"Okay, so the realms are all the same big place," Luz said. "How hasn't anyone flown to another realm if they are broken apart?"

"They aren't broken, more like twisted. The space around this star was bent and twisted by a great array, creating artificial barriers between the realms. But these barriers are in a sense incomplete. We can safely travel through the channels that still connect the realms." Michael replied. "And when I helped adjust that array, I moved those channels around and thus was able to put the entrances wherever I wanted. One such entrance is nearby, you just don't know how to open it."

"I assume that's intentional?" Eda asked.

"Quite. I have no way of knowing how any party would react if they discovered a stable void corridor to another realm," Michael replied. "Worst case scenario is an all-out war between the realms."

"Yeah," King chimed in. "Keep my kingdom hidden until I have regained my full power." Eyes around the table rolled at King's comment, but they agreed that peace was a great idea.

Michael clapped his hands together, "Enough questions for now, Luz and I have a meeting with her mother to get to. We best be off." Michael turned to leave before remembering one last thing. "Oh, Amity will have to be at the manor tonight, but I will be there as well so everything should be fine."

Michael grabbed Luz by the back of her shirt and walked out the door. Before she could even protest against her treatment, Michael began to bend and twist the space around them. The technique was different from his normal transportation method of tearing space open. Luz watched as best as she could, but she couldn't understand what he was doing.

"I suppose as your master I should tell you a bit of what I am doing," Michael said. "I placed this particular connection outside Eda's front door and connected it with the original opening for the portal door. What I'm doing now is 'unwrapping' the corridor so we can use it without getting stuck."

It wasn't much longer until a hole opened up in front of them. Luz could tell the difference between it and the tears Michael normally opened. His tears were like cuts in the fabric of space, the mind couldn’t fully comprehend what it was seeing and thus filled in the gaps. This hole was more like the sleeve of a shirt or jacket. The fabric wasn't torn but simply looped back inside. She could comprehend what was inside. Colors stretched out until they slowly transitioned to the familiar colors of the Human Realm.

"This will be a bit different than what you are used to," Michael explained. "Normally, I have to plot out the course for you to keep you from getting lost in the void. But here, the path is stable. As such you can see through it to the other side. Now, let's go."

Michael walked through the void corridor, dragging Luz along with him. Luz watched as the world quickly transitioned to that of the familiar woods behind her home, the void corridor vanishing behind her. After quickly checking that the void corridor was hidden, Michael finally released Luz's shirt.

"Here's the plan, I need to quickly check in on something here. I'll be two hours at most. Use this time as you will, but I recommend talking with your mother and getting her acclimated before I get there," Michael smiled as he laid out his plan. That smile faded when he saw how nervous Luz looked. "Luz, your mother isn’t going to kill you or disown you. You and I both know you've tested her patience enough over the years. Just be honest and everything will be fine."

Luz walked through the woods towards her house with slightly more confidence than before. Once she disappeared through the trees, Michael turned towards the south and began walking. He was sure the people he wanted to look into were nearby.

He didn't have to go far. Their auras may have been weak, but they didn't bother trying to hide them. An unmarked car at the end of the street, windows darkened enough to obscure the surveillance equipment inside. Three people were inside the house the car was parked in front of. Michael simply helped himself inside. It wasn't hard, there were no defensive arrays around the property and the people inside lacked any divine sense. It was bullying really, but oaths and obligations must be fulfilled.

"Hello everyone," Michael called out from the living room. Seconds later three men were in the room, ready for a fight. "Oh calm down you three, if I wanted you dead we wouldn't be talking. Now, am I right in assuming you three are from the Noceda clan?"

He watched alarm fill their eyes, he was right. The men went for their weapons, drawing out the combustion-based weapons the humans here had developed. The weapons were quite formidable, but their effectiveness was limited against practitioners who could easily dodge their projectiles. "Come now gentlemen, I don't want violence. I just need to confirm you are who I think you are."

It was the one on the right who spoke up, "Which family are you from? They're the only ones who could have known that."

He couldn't help chuckling at the confidence behind that statement. It was just like the story of a frog at the bottom of a well. "I'm not from any family you might think of. In fact, I'm easily stronger than all of them combined. I will reiterate, if I wanted you gentlemen dead I would have killed you already. I came here unarmed for a simple and polite conversation, so would you please lower your weapons? We don't want something to happen and scare the neighbors."

Slowly each man lowered their weapon. They may not have put them away, but Michael was willing to settle for not having them actively pointed at him. The man to the left spoke up, "You found men from the Noceda family, now what do you want?"

"Hold on, I have that written down right here," Michael rummaged through his robes and pulled out the treasured scroll. He unrolled it before the three men and read aloud. "In compliance with clan law, on his death bed Manny Noceda, outcast of the Noceda branch family, assigned Michael Drake to act as his daughter's guardian in matters that concern the clan. Also, on his death bed, Manny Noceda renounced all connections to the clan for himself and his family." He lowered the scroll and looked at the men. "I am Michael Drake, and I would kindly request you three to fuck off and never approach or get near Camilla Noceda or Luz Noceda ever again. On pain of death."

He let his power leak into the room as he said his last line. The three men began to visibly sweat under the strain and their breathing strained. The man in the middle spoke this time, making a great effort to remain composed under the pressure. "We acknowledge your request. However, we are servants of the family and cannot comply at this moment. Please inform the family directly."

"Take me there." Michael's voice turned cold as steel as he increased the pressure.

"W-what?"

"Take me. There." He hated repeating himself.

The man on the left spoke up again. "Of course. We will take you there right now."

Michael pulled back his power. "Good."

The men led him to a room that had another car in it, likely to keep the surveillance in place while one went out for supplies. It bothered Michael that they likely spent ten years or longer watching a single mother raise her daughter through the struggles of losing a husband. It bothered him more that they were doing it entirely out of their own self-interest. He loved Luz's big heart, but these people would not hesitate to stamp that heart out of existence to serve their own ends. He would do his duty as Luz's master to eliminate this unnecessary difficulty, by any means necessary.

The trip took about fifteen minutes, another strike against the family in his mind. A servant opened the door for him holding their arm out towards the house. While small and simple compared to what he was used to, Michael knew this place was quite lavish for the area. Another strike. Another servant led him through the front doors and deeper into the house. She opened a door and beckoned him inside.

Michael knew what was waiting for him, or rather who. The current head of the family was sitting on a plush couch waiting for him. The man looked aged, his dark skin stretched and covered in deep wrinkles. On the surface, one would assume he was Luz's grandfather or maybe even great-grandfather, though Michael had a feeling he was older than that. His aura was the only one that was strong and stable in the entire house.

The weathered-looking man dismissed the servants before he spoke. "So you're the one Manny chose to advocate for his daughter?"

"Yes, I am Luz's advocate and her martial master," Michael replied. "If circumstances were different I would congratulate you on having such a talented youngster."

"That is good to hear," The man's demeanor shifted from a stern family head to a kind-hearted grandfather. "I only wish things had played out differently. Oh, but where are my manners? I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Santiago Noceda, patriarch of the Noceda family."

"I am Michael Drake," Michael responded tersely. He didn't want to be here longer than he had to be and had quite a few things to get to before the day was over. "You aren't the family head Manny expected. Has your predecessor passed on?"

Santiago's face darkened. "I killed him myself. His actions not only weakened the family but utterly betrayed our values. It was he who cast young Manny out of the family to ensure his son was given more attention. His actions only became more selfish as the years went on until they were too much to ignore. I left my isolation to protect the family from his foolishness."

"I see, that was probably a difficult decision. Regardless though, I must uphold Manny Noceda's final words. Luz Noceda will have no familial connections to the clan. I will rescind my additional threats in light of the failures of the last family head, but Luz will not be staying in the area. There is a secret realm she will be returning to continue her training." Michael spoke kindly, but firmly. There was no room for negotiations with him. "If you wish to establish a relationship with Luz, I recommend you reconcile with Manny's widow first."

Santiago sighed, "I understand. Though it pains my heart that Manny died with such resentment for the family, it is only right we reconcile with Camila first. All I ask is that you please take care of young Luz in our stead."

Michael stood up, "Luz is already more powerful than you can currently understand. Though her realm is lower than yours, by the time she turns twenty she will overshadow this entire family." Michael disappeared into the void, making his way to his disciple's home. By the time he decided to arrive, it had been two hours since Luz and he had arrived.

To say that he arrived to a scene of complete chaos was an understatement. He had read the records of those who had seen the chaos that surrounds the universe, occasionally he even considered seeking it out himself. What he saw in the living room of Camila Noceda's home was beyond his expectations. Luz was wrestling with herself? Camila was understandably hysterical as she watched her daughter literally fight herself. The whole room was filled with a cacophony of Spanish which Michael didn't bother studying much and was thus unable to figure out what was going on. One thing he did know is that he would never again underestimate his disciple's ability to complicate a simple matter.

He reached forward and grabbed both instances of Luz by the back of their shirts and pulled them apart. Both of them froze up and looked at him with a mixture of shock, horror, and embarrassment as they hung limply in his grip. After placing each girl on separate sides of the room, Michael went about preparing tea for Camila using what he found in her pantry. He hoped the familiar drink would help ground the woman while they tried to untangle what was going on.

Camila's day was already so far beyond the realm of normal that the white-robed man appearing in her living room and making her tea was actually considered a positive. He even waited for her to finish and settle down before speaking.

"Luz, I gave you one task. Do you remember what that was?" The man asked.

Both girls tried to talk, but he held his hand up to one of them. "I know you aren't her. We will get to the question of your identity after and only after I am done with Luz." So the man, who Camila was quickly rationalizing as a hallucination of her overworked mind, knew which Luz was real.

"I was supposed to talk to mami, but…" Luz began but was quickly cut off.

"What did I ask you to do?" He reiterated.

Luz sighed, "Talk to Mami and let her know about what I have been doing."

"And what did I find you doing when I got here?" He asked.

"Not that…" Luz muttered in defeat. "I'm sorry I let my emotions and impulsiveness get in the way."

The man scowled. "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to your mother like a good child."

Luz, her Luz, the real Luz, stood up and faced her. "I'm sorry mami. I shouldn't have just attacked someone like that."

"Uh, thanks okay mija, but could one of you explain what is going on right now?" Camila asked looking around the room hoping to see some answers.

"Yeah, for sure," Luz responded. "What would you like to know first?"

"I think we should figure out who our extra Luz is first," Michael suggested. "I think that is a question we all want answered right now."

All eyes locked on the scared girl in the corner where Michael left her. She was just too terrified to move. She had been found and would be taken back. She should have known the Emperor's Coven would have found her here, there was no way being in another realm would have been enough. She tried to think of a way out, but the anxiety mixed with her reserves of magic running on low was enough for her to start shifting as she started to lose control of her appearance.

Both adults realized something was wrong with the imposter, beyond the fact that she wasn't human. It was Camila who moved first. Despite the fact that she didn't know what the changelings motives were, her instincts as a mother and medical professional spurred her into action.

"What's going on? Are you hurt?" Camila asked as she tried to assess the girl for injuries. That proved impossible as the girl's clothes shifted between cloth or skin to scales. She concluded that the girl was likely going through a panic attack. Switching gears, Camila began to walk her through breathing exercises to calm her down.

Michael watched Camila work. It reminded him that despite all his training in medicine he lacked the urgency that moral doctors had. For them, life and death were constantly balanced on a knife's edge. He was pulled from his thoughts when the changeling spoke up. "Magic, I need magic."

Luz's eyes went wide. She turned towards Michael who walked over, keeping a bit further back to avoid crowding the girl. "Would bile work or does it need to be in an activated state?"

"I-I don't know," She admitted. Michael motioned for Luz to take his place as he backed away. Camila watched as her daughter drew a circle in the air before a small cluster of lights appeared. They hovered over her hand as Luz offered them to the imposter borrowing her face. The changeling took a deep breath, sucking the lights into her mouth. Camila watched as color returned to her face as it settled back on Luz's familiar face.

"Well, I'll leave the three of you to figure things out for now," Michael said as he stepped back. Before he could disappear into the void Camila called out.

"Wait, who are you?" She asked.

He stopped. "I think it would be best if you dealt with one earth-shattering issue at a time. We will have plenty of time to talk after the three of you figure things out first." With that he disappeared, his rage surging inside of him. The changeling was from the Boiling Isles, it was the only place where 'magic' existed. The creature, the girl he corrected, was a runaway. He could guess who she was running from, but he needed confirmation and still had a long list of visits to get to.

Notes:

Behold, world-building.

Don't expect anything from the extended family any time soon. They're in this chapter to establish plot hooks for later.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 22: Chapter 22

Explanations waited until Vee had calmed down. She took her time sharing her story with the Noceda women. Vee was officially Subject Number Five, an artificial basilisk created by the Emperor of the Boiling Isles. She wasn't the only successfully created basilisk, but Subjects One through Four were too unstable and slowly died after they managed to escape the facility. Soon after she lost track of Subjects Six and Seven, the only other artificial basilisks that progressed beyond the embryo stage.

The Noceda women couldn't hold back their tears as they listened to Vee's explanations of the various experiments she and her siblings were subjected to. The Emperor wanted to figure out if the basilisks and their magic-draining abilities could be harnessed. To achieve this goal, each basilisk was subjected to numerous surgeries without anesthetic and feeding sessions where they were forced to absorb more magic than was necessary.

The escape from the facility was rather unordinary as far as escapes went. It seemed that one night the holding cells weren't properly secured and the guards on duty were lax in their duties. They hid out in the wilderness, trying to avoid populated areas to keep from being discovered, targeting isolated witches and demons when they were running low on magic.

It was three days after they escaped that they woke up to Three dead. Two days later One and Four dropped dead in the middle of the night. Two managed to hold out long enough for the rest to figure out what was wrong. The hearts of One, Two, Three, and Four were unable to handle magic even though their bodies required it to function. Vee's heart was strong enough to handle enough magic for her to survive, but not enough to use her abilities to protect herself like Six and Seven.

It was another month before Vee found herself hiding in the back of the Owl Lady's tent. She lost track of Six and Seven a few days before and was desperate to find a place to hide. Vee had heard the Owl Lady had a way to get stuff from the Human Realm consistently and decided to scoop out her tent. It was there that she saw Luz run through after Owlbert. Vee slipped through the portal before it closed and shifted to match Luz's appearance. Soon she was found by Camilla and then sent off to camp. While she initially struggled to fit in, Vee quickly found her place and managed to blend in. The rest was history, living with Camilla as her daughter while her real daughter was off in the Demon Realm.

Camilla took her time processing the poor girl's story. Sure, she felt betrayed that the person she was living with the past few weeks wasn't her daughter but she couldn't force herself into being hostile. Perhaps it was the same instinct that dictated her actions as a mother and a vet, but all she wanted to do was help Vee. "I understand. Feel free to stay here as long as you want."

"What?" Vee whispered.

"You may not be my daughter, but I have come to know you well enough to know you are a good person in need of a home," Camilla said. "I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I forced you into a dangerous position because of something you did while trying to survive. Now for you, Luz."

Luz shot straight up in her chair, her blood running cold as her mother's kind and nurturing tone switched to the slightly menacing tone she used when Luz was in trouble. "Yes, Mami?"

"You get to explain where you have been while Vee was taking your place," Camilla replied. "I'll leave the details about who that man was to him when he comes back."

Luz took her time sharing the story of her adventures over the past few months, starting with the ill-fated prison raid. Camilla wasn't thrilled to hear her daughter helped a wanted criminal before her first full day in the Demon Realm was even finished. She almost demanded that Luz stay home right then and there. But as Luz began to talk more about Eda, King, Willow, Gus, and Amity, Camilla started to see that her daughter had found a place where she could let her light shine. Sure, there were things that she wasn't overly comfortable with but the look on her daughter's face was something she hadn't seen in years.

As Luz continued to tell her stories she showed a few items she got in the Demon Realm. For the first time in far too long, Luz didn't feel the impending sense of dread that accompanied the stories her mother asked her to share. Her mother laughed at the antics King got up to and praised Luz's efforts to stand with Amity as she changed her negative behavior. The final revelation that Luz was accepted into a school that was glad to have her was the final thing she needed to hear. Camilla needed to meet the people who changed her daughter's life in such a short amount of time.

"Alright, Mija. I think I will be going with you tonight." It was pin-drop silent in the room. "I think it would be best if I met the people who have had such an impact in your life and thank them."

"A-are you sure?" Vee asked. "The Demon Realm isn't exactly a safe place at the best of times."

Luz spoke up. "The corridor opens on Eda's property. I could bring Gus and Willow to the Owl House after school, then everyone will be there. I'm sure that you could stay here alone for a day if you aren't comfortable with going back there."

"Yes," Camilla added. "I won't force you to go back to that place. After all, this is your home now isn't it?"

"Of course it is," Luz said. "Right Vee?"

Vee couldn't respond as she turned into a blubbering mess. She had been scared and alone for so long and it was finally coming to an end. She had someone who was willing to take her in knowing that she was a monster. The person she impersonated was willing to let her continue like that with no concerns. When her secret was revealed in the worst way possible, instead of throwing her out or killing her she was offered food and shelter. All she could do was hug the Noceda's as she cried her first tears of joy.

Michael unfolded the space around the void corridor. He was surprised to see Luz, Camilla, and a bag waiting for him. The two women stepped through the corridor without a word and walked towards the house. He allowed his grip on space to slip as he watched the two women ignore him. What followed was three hours of Camilla getting to know Eda, King, and Hooty while completely shutting him out. He was even cut off by Luz several times before he resigned himself to the background.

Luz woke up the next morning excited to go to school for the first time in years. Her mom had hit it off with Eda last night and thought that King was just adorable. She was particularly excited to meet Amity, saying something about Luz finally having a friend. The only potential issue Luz noticed was the cold shoulder Michael got the entire night. She had never seen her mother act like that before. Whatever was going on, it was Michael's problem to deal with.

Arriving at Hexside, Luz quickly made her way to the new Immortal Studies class located in an abandoned wing of the school. She was sure some of the students mentioned something about a 'Detention demon' but was certain if such a thing existed it was properly removed beforehand. The classroom was unlike any of the other classrooms. Not only did Michael heavily renovate the room giving it the same style as his tower, but the ceiling of the room itself was a lot higher with several platforms along a staircase going up. The room also lacked any desks or chairs, leaving the students to just stand around.

Michael was the last person to arrive, only appearing after the scream that started class echoed through the school. He brought with him a large board that he placed on a wall before calling the students together. "Alright, it's time I explain how this class is going to work."

Michael tapped the board and names appeared on it next to a number. Luz was number one, followed by Amity, with Gus and Willow being fourth and fifth respectively. "You have been ranked based on your performance yesterday. This rank will determine your monthly resource allocation. Depending on how your practice goes, you will move up or down this list."

Michael held out his hand and a white jade bottle appeared. "On the first of every month each of you will receive a bottle containing your monthly allotment of pills. How you use these pills is entirely up to you, use them, trade them, save them, it's all up to you. This month you will all receive thirty pills regardless of rank. Next month ranks seven and eight will only receive ten pills. Ranks four, five, and six will receive fifteen pills. Rank three will receive twenty pills, rank two will get twenty-five, and rank one will get thirty. In addition, each month you will compete in a tournament where the top performers will be rewarded."

A hand shot up. "How will we be graded in this course?"

"Performance and luck," Michael responded. "After all of you have reached a certain level you will be sent out for field experience. What you gain during your field experience combined with how you perform in the ranking will determine your grade which will only be issued at the end of the year."

Boscha raised her hand, "What do the pills do?"

"They increase the effectiveness of your practice for a fixed amount of time. They are quite valuable for students like you, though if your level exceeds their effective range you will be issued better quality supplies at a similar value. If you find your allotment is not enough, you may earn by either trading or taking them from your fellow student," Michael said. He pointed to the ground. "This level of the classroom will act as an arena for duels between students. Wagers can be made on the outcomes of these duels. I will not tolerate any forceful transfer of pills outside of this room, the offender will be punished by forfeiting the next month's allocation to the offended party."

"Finally," Michael said, starting to wrap up the introductory material. "Daily practice will happen on the platforms above you. Each platform is more intense than the one below it. I will warn you, the pressure can injure and in some cases kill you if you aren't able to handle it. Be smart when deciding which platform to use. Now, time to go over theory."

Michael spent the next couple of hours explaining the basics of cultivation, taking time to answer questions, and making sure everyone was on the same page. Half the class had a passing understanding while the rest had never really heard of cultivation until today. After a break for lunch, Michael had Luz join him in helping the students feel the internal flow of their qi. Gus and Willow picked it up pretty quickly since they had some practice with the techniques they found in the tomb. A couple of the other students struggled, but by the end of the day, everyone was able to practice the rudimentary technique.

"Well done everyone. It may not seem like it but each of you has made significant progress," Michael said as he ended the class. "It will take some time for you to see the results of your training, but once you do you will be head and shoulders above your peers outside of this class."

"Why is it going to take them time?" Luz asked. "It didn't take long for me to see progress in my training."

"The bile sac," Michael replied. "A witch's bile sac combines qi with mental energy to create the bile that fuels their magic. As a result, the daitan of the average witch holds more qi than the average human. This creates a disparity between the internal and external parts of cultivation that must be closed first. That's why even though none of you are below the Qi Gathering Realm, your ability is closer to the Body Refining Realm. I am confident though, that each of you will be able to close this gap in four to six weeks."

The final scream of the day echoed through the school followed by the sound of hundreds of students making their way through the halls. Luz and her friends left while some of their classmates stayed behind to ask Michael some more questions. They almost made it out of the school when they were stopped by Boscha.

"There you are Half-a-Witch. I'm glad I could catch you before you left," The three-eyed girl held an air of superiority as she stood in the middle of the hallway.

"What do you want Boscha?" Willow said, venom seeping into her voice. Her increased confidence from the events of the past few months helped reduce her tolerance of the shit Boscha tried to put her through.

"I just wanted to take those pills of yours off your hands," Boscha replied sweetly. "After all, they should go to someone with more talent than you. If you give them to me you can avoid getting beaten up by someone else."

Amity rolled her eyes, annoyed by the comments of her former 'friend', "Drop the act Boscha and just challenge her so we can get this over with."

Boscha clicked her tongue. "Fine. Willow, I'm going to fight you for all those pills."

"Fine. Let's go get this started." Willow pushed past Boscha. Luz and Gus exchanged worried glances before the group followed after their friend and her bully.

They reached the doors to the classroom when they heard Michael's voice. "Alright you two, take your positions. And… BEGIN!"

Notes:

I'm kinda impressed I have stuck with this as long as I have. I was kinda worried when I started that I would have lost interest by now and leave y'all with an unfinished story.

I think it's been a while since people have punched each other. I'm going to fix that next time.

Blah blah questions, blah blah comments. You guys get the idea by now. I believe in you.

Chapter 23: Chapter 23

Michael had already raised the arena before Willow agreed to the fight. He knew one of the students would do this, but he thought it wouldn't happen for another week or two. Despite the Isles being one of the more dangerous places he had seen a mortal kingdom exist, the people who called it home were relatively passive. They lacked an innate desire to challenge themselves or others that other societies had.

The two girls in question entered the classroom to find everything ready for them. Several racks with wooden weapons were set up near the arena. "Since it is the first day of class, I am putting a cap on the amount of pills that can be wagered. You may only wager twenty pills each. The fight continues until you are either incapacitated or knocked out of the arena. No killing, crippling, or maiming. Understood?"

He watched as Willow and Boscha continued to stare each other down. "Alright you two, take your positions. And… BEGIN!"

Luz, Amity, and Gus burst into the room as Willow closed the gap between her and Boscha, throwing a punch before Boscha could finish pulling out a glass ampule. "What the hell?!" Boscha shouted. "Can't think of a better way to do this? Or are you afraid of messing up and getting thrown out of class?" That got her another swift punch as Willow threw out another wide swing.

Michael watched Willow closely. The girl had power and vitality, excellent characteristics for a physical cultivator but her actual fighting style was horrifically unrefined. He wondered if the girl had ever thrown a punch in her life. Boscha on the other hand had clearly never taken a punch before. Willow only managed to hit Boscha's arm, but it was enough to send her stumbling to the side.

"Geez, this is pathetic," Luz muttered.

"Now you see why I need your help," Michael replied. "It's clear that the Isles lack any form of martial sport."

"What do you guys mean? Gus asked. "Willow knocked Boscha off her feet with that punch."

"If Willow knew how to throw a punch then she would have won via ring out," Luz replied. "If she threw a straight punch instead Boscha would have fallen out of the ring and lost."

"Meanwhile, Boscha has no idea how to take a hit," Michael added. "She should have been able to take that punch without stumbling at all. Overall, their performance so far has been quite pathetic to watch. Wasted movement, obvious openings, poor strikes, footwork is off. Both of them lack even a notion of the fundamentals."

Gus couldn't see what the two humans were talking about. Willow seemed to have the upper hand in the fight as Boscha couldn't hit her. Willow was about to charge Boscha when the potions witch threw a vial on the ground, creating a large smoke screen. Boscha quickly dashed out of the smoke before tracing a circle in the air. A small flame flickered before the entire cloud ignited. The explosion was startlingly loud but did very little damage, barely singeing Willow's clothes.

Willow couldn't bring her plants up in time as the explosion knocked her to the ground. Even with the wind knocked out of her, Willow quickly drew a circle and summoned a wall of vines between her and Boscha. A moment later she heard glass shatter as another vial hit the vines. Willow watched as the herbicide turned the vines black before crumbling away. It was impossible to guess how many or what kind of potions Boscha had prepared for this fight but Willow had one advantage.

Brute force.

She knew everyone who went to the tomb received some kind of inheritance, though they didn't share any specifics with each other at the time. Willow's was engraved in a single acorn and was called the Forest God Scripture. Willow had only literally scrapped the surface of the scripture, but that was all she needed. Holding her arms out to her sides, Willow drew two large green circles.

The onlookers watched as massive trees and vines broke through the floor of the room, rapidly rising to the ceiling. Willow had placed all the magic she could spare to bring a small grove into the classroom. Satisfied she had created the necessary conditions for her technique, Willow brought her hands together.

"Forest God Scripture, First Chapter: Strength of the Ancient Oak." As she spoke those words, the collective qi of the trees rushed into her body. Willow felt a rush of power she like she did when she had completely lost control of her magic as a child, yet she remained in full control. The First Chapter was meant to be used in old-growth forests or with trees grown from the power of one's own soul. Since magic was half soul power, Willow figured her spell would meet the criteria.

Boscha refused to sit by inside her opponent's spell. She drew a bright red circle and began to pour as much magic into it as she could. Once the circle started to shake from the pressure Boscha finished the circle and unleashed a massive torrent of flame. It pierced through the thick layer of trees around her, blasting against the far wall. When her spell finished, Boscha had a clear path to move through the forest Willow summoned.

But so did Willow.

In less than a second, Willow was in front of Boscha with her arm outstretched. Satisfied with the distance, Willow pulled her arm back and threw her fist forward. From the outside, all that could be heard was Boscha's body slamming through the thin trunks before she was caught by Michael's space skill preventing her from hitting the far harder wall.

"Willow wins by ring out," Michael declared. He clapped his hands together and everyone watched as the massive forest rapidly aged into nothingness. "As a result, she gets twenty pills and Boscha loses twenty pills."

Boscha could barely stand up as she watched Michael herd the group of celebrating students out of the classroom. She had no idea where Willow learned such a move. If only she knew a move like that, then she would have been the one to win.

She was pulled from her 'if-only' thinking when Michael spoke up, "Do you know why you lost?"

"Why does that matter?" Boscha asked bitterly. "You taught her some skill, didn't you?"

"No, I didn't. I only have an idea where she might have learned that move," Michael admitted. "I may be old and know quite a bit, but I am not omniscient. No, you lost because you let the fight go on too long."

"I let the fight go on too long?" Boscha asked a bit less bitterly.

Michael nodded. "You came into the fight prepared, as an alchemist should. However, you squandered your advantages. You let Willow get in close where her physical strength gave her an advantage. You allowed her time to cast such a large spell and then let that spell take effect. In essence, you lost because of your own inexperience. You did not lose from a difference in skill."

"What's the difference?"

"The difference is that if you two were to fight tomorrow, you would have an advantage. Not that I would let you," Michael answered. "You need time to develop your abilities before you try fighting anyone."

Michael handed Boscha a pill. "Take it. It will heal your injuries."

After she took the pill, Boscha stood up and started to leave only to find herself unable to get closer to the door. "I would recommend at least letting me finish before you start ignoring me." Boscha glared at Michael. "I may be Luz's master, but that doesn't stop me from fairly teaching you. When you are ready to listen, I will be here. If you can let go of your pride."

He watched as Boscha left the room. She reminded him of the many young masters and ladies he had humbled over the years. She had potential, but her own arrogance would hold her back if she held on to it. He could only hope that this fight was enough for her to change. Before he left for the day he set out nine bottles, eight filled with thirty pills and an extra one with twenty.

Notes:

Willow has taken Boscha down a peg or two but only time will tell how well she takes that.

Elden Ring Dlc was announced this week so if I disappear in June you know where I'll be.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

Michael wasn't sure how he survived his interaction with Camilla Noceda. Never before had he seen such fire and fury from a mortal woman. She berated him for keeping her in the dark for so long, about her husband, his family, and worst of all, her own daughter. If his body wasn't as durable as it was she probably would have tried to break him in two.

Truly, a mother's wrath has no equal under the heavens.

He was happy he at least got Luz's paperwork signed before Camilla demanded to be sent back. Michael wished the members of the Noceda clan luck should they incur her wrath.

Time began to pass. Days were spent teaching and guiding the young witches on their path. Luz helped out where she could, but there was a lot they needed to figure out for themselves. By the end of the month though, Luz was the only one whose realm improved. While Amity had a reason for falling behind, the rest of the witches simply weren't able to close the gap between their internal and external power fast enough. It seemed like Michael would have to take more drastic measures to improve their physical ability.

Thus, at the beginning of the week, the class was taken on an impromptu field trip to the Boiling Sea. The witches eyed the boiling seawater with trepidation as Luz bounced with excitement.

"After observing all of you for a month, I have come to the conclusion that we need to focus purely on your physical refinement before anything else," Michael was not wearing his normal robed attire. Instead, he wore a baseball cap, swim trunks, and an open button-down shirt. It was a strange sight to behold. "Luckily for all of you, extreme temperatures are an amazing resource for physical cultivation."

"You don't intend for us to get in the water, do you?" The question came from one of the students Luz wasn't familiar with. She was pretty sure his name was Matt or something, but he tended to keep to himself during class.

"That's exactly what I expect you to do," Michael replied. "Though it won't be without preparations. Today you will learn a basic refinement method, tomorrow you will be thrown into the sea. Luz, you may skip this and follow that map I gave you earlier."

Luz nodded before dashing off, lighting sparking off the sand as she disappeared. Michael answered the unasked question, "Luz uses a different body technique that requires a very different environment to work. As you may have guessed, it involves getting struck, repeatedly, by lightning. The stronger the better. No one else is capable of joining her."

The young witches hung their heads. While each of them was quite accomplished, it was clear that Luz had a fundamental advantage that they didn't have yet. She had ten years of tutelage under Michael's direct supervision and while she had not held back anything she had learned, there was still a gap only time could hope to close.

"Don't look so glum," Michael said. "If everything goes well then you should be able to start closing the gap by the end of the week. Now for a breakdown of what we are doing. Physical refinement is actually another method of cultivation, though it is less popular than internal cultivation due to its extreme difficulty at higher levels. It is, however, an excellent method to use even if you primarily focus on internal cultivation."

Michael's voice droned on as he explained the benefits and drawbacks of external cultivation. He knew this part of his lecture was going to be dry, but it was better that they understood this before being thrown into the ocean. Far away, lightning arced up a tree before stopping at the top. Luz pulled out the map her master gave to her, trying to figure out how much further she needed to go. After several minutes she came to an undisputable conclusion.

She was lost.

The map was supposed to lead her to a concentration of lightning energy trapped in the Titan's body, a veritable haven for her cultivation. The map Michael had created was detailed enough to figure out where her start and end points were, but she had no idea where she was in between those points. With a sigh, she slowly climbed down the tree. Her best bet right now was to either find the one weirdo wandering through the remote parts of the Titan or make her way to a landmark marked on the map.

She never expected to run into a Coven Scout at the bottom of the tree.

"Well, well, if it isn't the human prodigy? What are you doing out here all by yourself?" The scout said in a false macho voice.

"Same thing a fresh recruit is doing in the middle of nowhere," Luz replied. "Being lost."

"I AM NO…" The scout cut himself off, "I am not lost. I am on a mission."

"Sure you are, totally didn't get separated from the group during field orientation," Luz heckled.

"Please, I aced field orientation years ago. I could find my way around the Isles without a map." The claim was pretty boastful, but Luz could make use of it if he was telling the truth.

"Then maybe you could help me out here then," Luz said. "You see, my master gave me a map, but forgot to actually tell me how far this place is supposed to be."

"You got lost, even with a map?" The scout replied. "Seems pretty pathetic. How does your master trust you to complete important missions if you can't handle this?"

"Cause it's not an important mission? I heading to a place that has something I need. Cultivators do this kind of thing all the time," Luz explained. "The only limitation is that I have to be done by the end of the week, so the sooner I get there the better. Could you tell me how far I am from my destination if I showed you the map?"

The scout's mask blocked their facial expression, though Luz had the feeling he was confused by the request. "I guess I could." Luz handed over the map. Her confidence quickly plummeted when he held the map upside down for several minutes before realizing his mistake.

"This doesn’t make sense at all," The scout muttered.

"What's wrong? Afraid to admit that you don't know what you're talking about?" Luz mocked.

The scout took up a defensive posture. "No! It's that this map is pointing to a scorched crater. There's nothing there."

"Lightning strike?" Luz asked.

He paused. "Yeah. A massive bolt landed there about five or six years ago. There wasn't an official settlement there, but it's assumed the bolt was caused by a surge of wild magic."

Wild magic was a term Luz had heard being thrown around a lot over the last month. It was the term assigned to any phenomena caused by the natural flow of qi or attempting to alter that flow. It was frustratingly broad and clearly designed to control what people were allowed to do. "If there was a massive bolt of lightning then what I need is there. Wild magic or not."

"Oh yeah, I heard that you are supposed to be immune to the dangers of wild magic," The scout replied. "But I don't buy it. Besides, any site affected by wild magic is automatically declared property of the Emperor's Coven. I think I'll confiscate this map and report this discovery to the Emperor."

"Try it, and you'll be leaving in a body bag. The map is mine, and when I get there so is whatever is in the crater," Luz replied. "You should know cultivators don't take kindly to being robbed or betrayed." The Titan Dragon Spear appeared in her hands and the scout raised his staff in response. It was different from every other staff she had seen. Other witches had wooden staffs topped with a carved animal, their palisman. This particular staff was mechanical, topped with a large red crystal.

"Hand over the map and I'll let you go," Luz warned. The scout stuffed the map in a pocket hidden in his cape. "So be it."

Blue and red lightning arced at the two went at each other. The Titan Dragon Spear clashed against the strange staff, energy blasting off the two weapons. Luz kept her movements simple, relying on her training and conditioning to hold out while she looked for holes in the scout's defense. The longer they traded blows the more she realized something was off about how the scout fought. It wasn't his experience, but how his weapon seemed to pull hers in. It wasn't a lot, but every time it seemed like she would slip past his guard her strike would deviate slightly.

It was the scout's offensive that clued her into what was going on. He quickly dashed around her to hit her in her blind spot, but it wasn't a normal movement technique, the staff warped space. Luz had seen space being warped enough to recognize when it was happening. Reading how it was being warped was still a bit beyond her, but it was enough for her to be able to react. Luz twisted her body around and blocked the incoming attack. The crystal shook under the strain as its advance was suddenly stopped.

"How?!" The scout cried out.

"You should really think twice before using my master's methods against me," Luz replied. "Now try this on for size, GREAT UNRESTRAINED SPEAR!"

Luz was far from mastering even the most basic movements the Great Unrestrained Spear. However, the level of the technique was high enough to overshadow any move her opponent could use. It wasn't immediate, but the scout was slowly losing ground. His attempts to enter what should have been blind spots were met with either Luz predicting his movements or the wide defense of the Great Unrestrained Spear. This offensive was also taxing on Luz, draining a significant portion of her qi. Each of them needed to land a significant blow soon or forfeit the fight.

The two fighters separated, creating several feet of distance between the two of them. Luz felt the toll the fight was having on her but was certain the scout was having a much harder time. Warping space was difficult for any of the realms she currently knew of. If her opponent was that much stronger than her then she wouldn't have been able to fight back as long as she had. Even if the space ability was a trait of the staff it would have been too much to keep using for much longer.

Hunter couldn't believe the situation he was in. From an early age, he was trained to be his uncle's greatest soldier. He had been sparring with Coven Head Darius for a few years now and could hold his own against the abomination witch. So how was it that this human was able to go toe to toe with him? She was even able to see through his movement, something even the Coven Heads struggled with. But she was slowing down just like him.

Both fighters came to the same conclusion. They would wager the outcome of the fight on one final attack. Both fighters gathered their energy. Hunter focused the remainder of his stored magic into the crystal on his staff. Small arcs of red energy covered the surface of the crystal as he lowered his stance. Luz focused her qi, dispersing it to her arms and legs to maximize her strength.

The two dashed at each other, weapons held out. They briefly clashed before passing each other. In between them was a pile of red crystal fragments. Luz had defeated the scout but gained more than the pride of victory. In the final confrontation, she managed to obtain spear intent, greatly increasing the power of her spear. Now to claim her true prize.

"Are you going to give me my map back or do I need to take it off your corpse?" Luz asked.

The scout took a defiant stance. "You think you got me beat just because you broke my staff? I still haven't used my magic."

"Probably because you don't have any," Luz replied. "Witches heavily rely on magic, even if they have significant training in close-quarters combat. It just provides too much of an advantage. At no point did you even attempt to use magic. Instead, you relied on that staff of yours for any supernatural move."

He sighed. "You really are annoying, you know that?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out the map. "If you head about three miles south from here you'll find the crater you're looking for."

Luz took the map as she returned her spear to her space ring. She grabbed the map before quickly verifying it was hers. "Thanks, now was that so hard?"

The scout didn't respond.

"You could at least tell me your name," Luz said. "It would be better than referring to you as the coven scout I beat."

"Hunter," he replied. "My name is Hunter."

Luz smiled. "Thanks, Hunter. Now if you'll forgive me, I can't have you following me." Before Hunter could ask what she meant he felt pain searing through his body as his muscles seized. Luz had jabbed his sides with her fingers sending a blast of lightning into his body. It wasn't enough to kill him, but he couldn't do much but watch Luz walk away as he convulsed on the ground.

Hunter wasn't sure how much time had passed before the pain faded enough for him to move. The blast he was hit with was more debilitating than any stunning spell he had been hit with before. Pushing through the lingering pain he pulled out the enchanted mirror that was connected to his uncle. He needed to notify his uncle about the human's movements.

Luz looked down into the charred crater. The lightning energy in the area was so high that she could feel it flowing through the ground. In the center, Luz could feel a chaotic, swirling mass of lightning. The amount of energy was more than enough for her to practice her techniques. With a smile on her face, she took a step into the crater.

And her training began.

Notes:

For a while, I felt like this chapter was missing something. Then I decided Hunter needed to show up and get roughed up. That seemed to fix the issue.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Michael considered the trip to the sea to be an overall success. While some students showed very little affinity for physical cultivation every witch was able to resolve the issue that kept their realm from increasing normally. It was quite the spectacle when the first one broke through. Seeing their fellow witch step on the path of martial arts ignited the determination of the class. By the end of the week, each student had managed to break through the strange barrier created by their use of magic.

There was probably an easier method than just throwing each of them into the Boiling Sea, but Michael was operating on a short schedule. Besides, it would give them something to work out for the next generation.

Luz saw her own level of success. While the progress with her current cultivation methods had stagnated a bit, she was able to comprehend spear intent from her battle with Belos's Golden Guard. This little bit of enlightenment would drastically improve her attack power and her ability to understand the Great Unrestrained Spear and potentially other kinds of weapon intents when she moved on from spears.

The trip was overall successful, Michael only wished Bump had allowed him to take the students away for more than a week but there was some big announcement they were all required to be there for. It probably wasn't worth worrying about.

Luz met up with her friends at the front of the school, exchanging pleasantries before heading inside. The inside of the school was decorated for a party. "What's going on? Did something special happen while we were gone?"

"Oh right, you haven't been here that long," Gus said. "They're decorating for Grom."

Willow and Amity looked down with sullen expressions. This left Luz with even more questions than answers. "What's Grom? Kinda sounds like a big dance the schools would host back home, is it something like that?" She asked.

"Yeah, kinda," Willow said. "Though I doubt it's like any dance you've been to."

Amity clenched her fist as she looked Luz in the eye, "Grom is short for Grometheus, a fear demon that is sealed beneath the school. Every year a student has to face it down in order to force it back into its box."

"Wait, a student?" Luz asked, "Wouldn't the parents have an issue with that? My mom would have certainly thrown a fit if my high school had a demon living under it that students were expected to fight."

"It was their idea," Amity explained. "My mother is even on the board that chooses the one who fights Grom each year. As a result, I've had to fight him twice since everyone objected to me doing it two years in a row."

Luz wasn't surprised to learn that Odalia would subject Amity to something like that. From what she had heard, the woman was obsessed with prestige, and defending everyone against an unkillable demon was just the kind of thing she would go for. "Well, you should be home free since you did it last year right?"

"That's the problem though," Willow interjected, "The board was told that the candidate would be chosen through a different method this year. As far as we know, every student is on the chopping block this year."

Michael could barely understand the words coming out of Bump's mouth. "You want me to pick which of my students to throw into a pit with a fear-eating demon. Just to see if they come out without too many scars?"

"I know what it sounds like," Bump replied. "I spent years trying to figure out a way to permanently kill Grom. I've been at it since I took this damned position. But the method of creating its seal has been lost and there just isn't a spell capable of killing it. That's why I thought you and your students might have a way to do it."

Michael had been given a brief history of Grometheus and he didn't like it at all. While he had to admit sealing it underneath a school and having it publicly known probably had done a lot to starve the beast over the years, the fact that the seal was imperfect was a glaring flaw. If the scapegoat was unable to withstand the assault then the number of casualties would skyrocket, leading to an uncontrollable chain reaction of fear.

"Luz, she can do it," Michael said. "Her spear is made from titan bone and dragon blood. Though it is currently incomplete, it is still a formidable weapon. How long does she have to prepare?"

"She has until the end of the week," Bump replied. "Any longer and we risk Gromethues breaking free without notice. Luz will be officially excused from attending classes, however, I feel like that won't change much for you."

Bump was wrong, Michael had planned for the class to continue cultivating for a few more weeks before sending them all to the Heavenly Realm for a month. Now those plans would need to be adjusted. Luz wasn't going to be able to break through in such a short amount of time. The only option for a quick boost in power would be a change to her equipment or martial arts. Michael thought a bit before a thought crossed his mind.

"Well, this is more for a side project I have, but do you know any accomplished craftsmen? I'm looking for ones who create palisman in particular." Michael said.

"I'm not entirely surprised you haven't found one yet," Bump began to rummage through his desk. "I recommend asking Eda, after all, the most renowned name in palisman carving is Clawthrone. Oh, before you leave, you have a new transfer student today."

"Where are they from?" Michael asked as he took a file from Bump.

"That's just the thing, that's missing. In fact, his record has some unusual holes in it."

Michael looked up from the file. "Do you think it's a forgery?"

Bump shook his head. "Look at the bottom. That's the Emperor's seal. Someone close to him notarized these records."

"Nothing to worry about then. Well then this timing works out great," Michael replied as he closed the file. "I best be going now."

The immortal left Bump's office and was greeted by the student in question. He was a bit older than the rest of the senior students, probably around nineteen years old. What worried Michael the most was the scars he could see. None of them were self-inflicted and only a few could be justified with a fight or ambush. This boy, barely a man, had been beaten repeatedly over the years.

"Are you the new transfer student?" He asked.

The new student stood at attention so fast that Michael expected him to try saluting. "Yes, sir. My name is Hunter…"

"Wittebane, yes. I've already read your file. You're joining the class late. I expect you to ask your classmates for help in catching up. In my class, those who cannot keep up are left behind," Michael started walking, motioning for Hunter to follow him. "Also, when you see your uncle later, tell him he could have just asked."

"Sir?" Hunter was confused.

Michael stopped and turned towards Hunter. "I know exactly who you are, Golden Guard. I won't spill your secret to the world, but you better not try to pull anything in my class or I'll have Luz tear you apart, again."

Hunter gulped. His injuries from that fight had barely recovered before being sent on this assignment. "If I may ask sir, how did you know?"

Michael looked to his right and placed his hand on the wall. "I can count every brush stroke it took to paint this wall. If I can do that, do you really think a mask and a cloak would be enough to hide your identity?"

Hunter nodded his head feeling a new sense of terror building in him. This mission was going to be the most dangerous one he would ever do. Seeing the conversation was done, the older man turned again and continued to lead Hunter to the classroom. The doors opened revealing a room unlike anything else in the school and the eight other students sitting on mats, waiting for their teacher.

"Good morning class," Michael stated as he entered the room. "As you can see, we have a new student joining us today. This is Hunter Wittebane, a transfer from the capital. He will be joining the ranks at number nine. From now on, any student ranked number nine will receive ten pills a month along with ranks seven and eight. Speaking of which."

"Rank one, Luz. Rank two, Willow. Rank three, Boscha. Rank four…" Michael rattled off the ranking of each student, distributing their pill allotment as he went. "And finally, Rank nine, Hunter. In other news, as many of you know Grom is coming up. This year is going to be a bit different. Principle Bump has seen the unique methods humans have developed and has decided the Immortal Studies track will deal with Grometheus this year for the last time."

There was some muttering and grim looks exchanged between the small class. "Luz Noceda, as the top student of the track I have selected you to undertake this task. Your goal is to not only defeat Grometheus but to slay it once and for all. As a result, you are excused for the week to prepare. Everyone else in class has self-study for the week as well."

"Uh, sir?" Hunter started before being interrupted by Michael.

Michael stopped, annoyed by the presence of Belos's pawn at this chaotic moment. He quickly pulled out a piece of paper and a pen, quickly writing something out and handing it to Luz. "I will oversee your training, personally. You have a lot you need to do to catch up."

The chaos in the room had settled down by the time Luz, Amity, and Willow had left. Per Michael's instructions,, the three left the school grounds before reading any further.

"So, what's the big plan?" Willow asked.

Luz read and reread the note. "You don't need a plan, you got this."

"Oh…" Amity said. "Great…"

Michael came home at the end of a very long day trying to teach a very uncooperative student the basics of cultivation. If Michael were a lesser man, he would have beaten the information into the… he wasn't actually sure what Hunter was. His form certainly looked human but it was all off, like a monster trying to imitate a human. Even the boy's soul seemed off, close enough to the real thing yet unsettlingly different. It was the boy's complete lack of competent deception that saved his life. During the dinner, he caught up with what Luz, Amity, and Willow were up to.

"You've been training to face your fears?" He asked. "Why? Grometheus can't do anything to you if it wanted to."

"What?" Luz asked.

Michael stared blankly at Luz for what seemed like several minutes. "The soul artifact you have. It would protect you from anything trying to probe your mind. The only issue you would have would be finding a way to actually hurt it."

"That explains why we couldn't even unsettle Luz no matter how hard we tried," Eda said. "We spent the entire afternoon conjuring every terror we could think of and the whole time she was actually magically immune to fear."

"Not immune," Michael corrected. "But highly resistant. Only something primal like the fear of death would be able to affect her and I don't think that is something Gromethues would want to use."

Amity spoke up. "I'm not sure about that. When I fought Grom, it seemed like it wanted to use every trick it could find out."

"It would want to avoid putting its victim into shock," Eda explained. "Grom lives off of fear, the longer it can feed off a single victim the better. That's why there haven't been any fatalities in a fight against Grom since it was sealed."

"So then all Luz needs to do is stab this Grom with her awesome spear until it dies," King exclaimed.

Michael shook his head. "I don't think it will be that easy. Dozens have faced and defeated Grometheus over the years, yet it continues to return every year. The possibilities are that it either has powerful vitality like the phoenix clan or that what people face isn't its true body. Either way, it means that killing it will be difficult."

"So, do you have a plan now?" Luz asked.

"Nope," Michael said. "Don't really need one. As long as things don't get too out of hand you'll be able to handle Gromethues all on your own."

Amity slammed her hands down. "YOU DON'T KNOW THAT!"

Everyone else stared in stunned silence as Michael finished chewing his food. "You're right, I don't know that. But here are some things I do know. Luz has suffered, yet she smiles. That is a strength that cannot be cultivated, not by me, not the Emperor, nor by any of the immortals who have come before or shall come hereafter. That is why she will be fine."

The tension in the air was palpable as everyone tried to continue eating. Michael broke the silence, "If it will make you feel better, there is something you can look into. While Luz's spear is a powerful artifact it technically remains incomplete. I don't know how else to explain it other than the spear fought me during the forging process. It's missing something, something from the Boiling Isles. I was going to look into some ideas but I'll leave this to you."

As if on cue, there was a knock at the door.

Notes:

So, Akira Toriyama died this week. That sucks.

Anyways I don't have any ramblings about the story this week so I'm going back to driving myself insane making sure everything is running right on my Satisfactory save.

Send help.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments bellow.

Chapter 26: chapter 26

"GWEN IS HERE!" Hooty's screeching voice echoed through the house. "AND SHE BROUGHT A NEW FRIEND!"

Eda's heart dropped. Her mother coming over with someone new, Michael mentioning the spear was incomplete, her mind couldn’t stop itself from jumping to the worst possible conclusion. Her mother had brought the best palisman carver in the Boiling Isles.

Well, former best.

Everyone had gotten up from the table and moved to the living room, leaving a shell-shocked Eda at the table. Hooty had opened up to let Gwen and her guest in. Michael noted the physical similarities between the old man and Eda. While she had regained some of her vitality she still looked like the old man. What stood out the most though, was how heavily scared the man was. While mostly incompetent, the Coven Guard was equipped well enough to treat these injuries with minimal long-term side effects.

"It's good to see you again, Mrs. Clawthrone." Michael greeted the woman with a handshake and a warm smile. "Is this your husband?"

Gwen nodded. "This is my husband, Dell Clawthrone, the best palisman carver the Isles have ever known."

Michael reached out and shook his hand. "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. I'm sure your wife has already told you, but I have some questions about palisman that I wish for you to answer. Would you mind if we moved the conversation to my abode?"

"Well, I'll do the best I can to answer your questions, but I was under the impression that you were living here for the time being," Dell replied.

"Only technically," Michael said as he pulled out a familiar blue marble. "You'll find that my actual abode is much closer than you think."

Michael, Dell, Luz, and Amity disappeared leaving the blue marble on the floor. King picked it up and carefully put it on the table before grabbing Gwen's hand. "Come with me, Eda is in the other room."

Gwen felt her heart break when she saw the look on her daughter's face. Even after all the years, all the attacks she had suffered since then, she never forgave herself for what the Beast did to her father. Taking a note from her years of parenting, Gwen went around the kitchen looking for something to help calm Eda down enough to talk. It wasn't easy, but she had time since her husband was talking about palisman carving.

Michael and Dell sat down in the rarely used meeting hall of Michael's pagoda. "Can I offer you a drink or would you like to move straight to business?"

"I think business would be for the best," Dell said. "I understand you want to know about palisman carving."

"That is certainly one topic I called you here for," Michael motioned for Luz to join them from the side of the room. "But I do have another thing I would like your expertise on as well as the discussion of your compensation. I know people like us enjoy passing on our knowledge, but I'm not going to expect your services to be free."

Dell raised an eyebrow. "I find it hard to believe that someone who could break the curse on my daughter would need the help of an old man like me."

"Luz, could you bring out your spear and explain it to Dell for me," Michael asked.

Luz nodded before pulling out the Titan Dragon Spear. "This is the Titan Dragon Spear. It was forged by Master Michael using the leg bone of the Titan's true body, the blood of a dragon, and metals found elsewhere in the universe. Apparently, there was quite the commotion when he made it." She held it out for Dell to take a closer look.

Dell carefully took the weapon, closely examining the intricate detailing on the weapon. "I have never seen anything quite like this. No witch has ever been able to work the bone of the Titan and dragons are supposed to be extinct. The fact that you made this weapon makes me wonder how I could possibly…"

Dell trailed off as something caught his attention. He drew a quick spell circle and the spear glowed a deep amber color for a second. After the spell faded he handed the spear back to Luz. Michael waited with a knowing smile. After taking time to gather his thoughts Dell spoke, "The weapon is incomplete."

"Exactly," Michael replied. "The titan bone was able to actively work with and against me. It knew what I wanted out of it and the disappointment of my own shortcomings. You see, Luz here wants to master as many weapons as she can. With the long lives cultivators have it is entirely possible, but making a weapon that can effortlessly change form while retaining significant power is impossible. Or so I thought."

"The will inside the bone wanted to show you how to do it," Dell finished the thought. "But you didn't have the right material to finish the job, so it remains in this unfinished state."

Michael nodded. "My best guess is that it needs some material native to the Boiling Isles."

"And that's why you want to learn more about palisman?" Dell asked.

"Not quite," Michael said. "My interest in palisman mainly stems from the fact that they are an impossible existence."

"Says the man who can live forever," Dell replied.

Michael shook his head. "I'm familiar with objects developing souls. The impossible part of a palisman is how rapidly that soul develops. A single artifact spirit requires thousands of years of cultivation to develop the most rudimentary levels of consciousness. As soon as a palisman is bonded with their first witch they gain incredible levels of intelligence and power. All known laws governing cultivation say that there should be major drawbacks somewhere."

Luz was starting to get bored listening to the two men talk while standing next to Amity. Once she was sure that both men were fully engrossed in their conversation she nudged Amity before motioning towards the door. The green-haired girl gave a quick nod and they slipped out.

"Palisman may be interesting," Luz said. "But that conversation was getting real technical and boring."

"Agreed," Amity admitted. "Though if I didn't know any better I would have said you get your enthusiasm from him. He started to sound like you when you talk about Azura."

"Her example acts as the cornerstone of who I am," Luz defended. "I spent so much time reading her books that I have them all memorized, word for word."

Amity laughed. "There is no way you did that."

Without missing a beat, Luz began reciting Amity's favorite scene. As if to prove a point, she was also writing it down on a pad of paper she pulled out. Throughout the whole endeavor, Luz didn't miss a single word or punctuation mark. When she was done she tore off the paper and handed it to Amity for her inspection. "Michael had me practice memorization techniques with the whole series. Claimed that I would progress faster if I practiced with something I enjoyed. He was right."

Amity chuckled. "So why did he want you to practice memorization?"

"Cause you might never know how long a copy is going to last," Luz said in her best Michael impression. "Then he would tell a story about a secret technique he found on a cave wall that disappeared as soon as he memorized it. But I will admit the skill has been quite useful."

"How so?" Amity asked.

Luz blushed a bit as she answered. "I was able to forge my mom's signature. I was only caught after one of the teachers asked my mom about one of them. I got in a bit of trouble and my mom changed her signature. Not that it stopped me from learning it again."

"Wow," Amity said. "I don't think I would have ever been brave enough to try that. Think you could copy anyone's signature?"

Luz gave Amity a sideways smirk. "Miss Blight, are you asking me to engage in criminal behavior?"

"I would never ask you, Miss Noceda, to engage in such criminal acts. I merely wanted to know if you were capable of such." Amity placed a hand on her chest as she spoke, leaning into the innocent damsel act. The two girls walked a few steps further before bending over in laughter.

After the two of them calmed down a question popped into Luz's mind. "Hey Amity, when does a witch get their palisman?"

Amity thought for a minute before answering. "Well, it really depends. Tradition states that an apprentice carves their palisman when they have gained the approval of their master. Richer families, like the Blights, have a history of giving a plaisman earlier as a sign of inherit superiority. With the rise of the formal education system and the shortage of palistrom trees, it has become more and more common for witches to get their palisman around the age of sixteen by adopting an orphaned palisman."

"So, everyone already has one then?" Luz asked.

Amity shook her head. "I already have one, his name is Ghost. But last year no one in the Immortal Studies track got one. The Bat Queen explained that it was possible their palisman just didn't get brought along that year, which made a lot of sense. Hexside is the only school that currently does a formal adoption day and the Bat Queen doesn't trust any of the covens to help her out."

Luz accepted that answer, grateful that her friends weren't keeping their palisman a secret from her but also sad that they had to deal with not getting one last year. Then an idea popped into her head. "Why don't all of us go visit the Bat Queen? We have a free pass from class this week since I am supposed to be preparing to fight at Grom."

"One issue though," Amity said. "We need a palisman to find the Bat Queen and Odalia put a tracking spell on Ghost after I was late coming home a few years ago."

"How does that spell work exactly?" Luz asked.

"A spirit hangs around the target, reporting on any movements the caster wants to know about," Amity explained. "Why?"

Luz had a glint in her eye. "We may be able to deal with that quite easily. Michael is capable of attacking things with his own soul. Since he is super old and super strong, his soul should easily be able to take care of that."

Amity thought about it some more. "Okay, but why? It's only a few weeks until this year's Adoption Day. They will have a chance then."

Luz looked a bit sheepish as she looked at the ground. "I kinda want to be recognized as a witch and want to share that opportunity with my friends. Besides, I wouldn't want Gus or Willow to feel like they weren't good enough again."

Amity smiled as she shook her head. "That's very nice of you, Luz, but I think it would be better if we waited to see if they come together on their own."

"Yeah," Luz chuckled. "You're right."

At that instant, Michael appeared with a very bewildered-looking Dell Clawthrone. "Luz, Amity, tomorrow the class is going on a field trip to visit the Bat Queen." The two men then instantly disappeared again.

"What just happened?" Luz asked.

"I don't know, I thought you would!" Amity explained, wondering how she could be falling for someone so thoughtful while being simultaneously clueless.

Notes:

Uh, here's the chapter. If I delay posting any longer it will be three months before the guilt eats me alive.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 27: Chapter 27

The trip to visit the Bat Queen had been about ninety-five percent successful. Every witch was now paired with a palisman of their own. And there lay the problem. Luz was unable to get a palisman to join her. Michael could only watch as the poor girl waited and waited after pouring out her heart's wish to the tiny wooden animals. It was only after Michael had dismissed the rest to return to their homes that the Bat Queen revealed the reason why.

There wasn't a single palisman on the Isles that could bond with the soul of a witch. After carefully examining a few willing palisman, Michael was forced to draw a slightly different but ultimately similar conclusion. It wasn't that the human soul was incompatible with the soul of a palisman, but that the soul of a palisman was tied to its original owner through the cycle of reincarnation. While a soul cannot decide where it is reincarnated, it is bound to the world it previously spent the most amount of time on. For the witches of the Isles, that meant they were constrained to the Isles meaning that no human would be able to adopt a palisman.

Before the two left the forest, the Bat Queen did provide some hopeful news. First, she had already been working with a trusted witch to regrow the palistrom trees. If Michael could gain that person's trust then he could accelerate that process using the laws of time. Second, Luz's spear gave off the same feeling as a witch's staff without a palisman. This confirmed the theory that a palisman was needed to finish the spear and bring out its fullest potential.

The rest of the week went on as normal. In fact, Michael could almost call the week quiet. He enjoyed the feeling as it had been far too long since the last time he was able to enjoy a quiet week. Friday morning proved that it was too quiet.

His morning started with his usual meeting with Bump. The old principal scheduled regular meetings to keep a closer eye on how the students were adapting to their new class and see if he could do anything to help Michael. That particular morning, however, Michael heard a rather annoying voice through Bump's door.

"I demand an explanation!" The voice, a woman it seemed, screeched.

"As I told you several times over the last three days," Bump said, maintaining a remarkable level of patience. "The PCA is not being asked to vote on Grom Royalty this year. That is the end of it. Royalty has already been decided."

She scoffed. "That human doesn't even deserve to be here. She is going to ruin everything and put children at risk. The PCA has voted to change the rules and selected my daughter to be Royalty this year. If you cannot listen to that then we will…"

"You'll what Odalia?" Michael asked as he entered the room. The obnoxious woman was startled by his entrance, clearly not expecting Michael to be there. "I looked over the by-laws governing the PCA. You have no official recourse for any decision the school makes that you don't like. Furthermore, a mother shouldn't be so willing to send her daughter into a pit with a creature like Grometheus."

"And just who do you think you are?" Odalia asked, doing her best to maintain her air of control.

"Head Professor of the Immortal Studies Track of Hexside Academy, as appointed by Principle Bump and approved by Coven Head Lilith Clawthrone under the direction of the Emperor of the Boiling Isles and Voice of the Titan Belos. I do believe that is the full title of my appointment here," Michael answered. "Though you would be more familiar with the name Mr. D at the auction house."

Odalia felt her cheeks burn in frustration and embarrassment. Not only did this human act like he was worthy of breathing the same air as her, he was also the man she had wanted dead for a while now. Mr. D was a new face in the trade of rare materials in the Boiling Isles. Not only did he provide materials that had never been seen before but he was also to outbid Blight Industries at every turn. Every attempt to learn his identity was either stonewalled by the auction house or obfuscated by unknown means.

"Principle Bump has assessed both Luz and I's skills with the Immortal Arts. While he doesn't have a good baseline for power, he does recognize that our methods are very good at creating miracles," Michael explained. "So he asked me to select a student to kill Grometheus. Not shove it back in the box for another year, kill it. Permanently."

He kept his tone level and professional, doing his best to give Odalia as little as possible to work with. He knew that outplaying her now would open more opportunities to strike back at her in the future. Odalia didn't take the bait yet. "So what criteria did you use to select my daughter?"

Michael chuckled. "I didn't pick Amity. She wouldn't have been ready in time. I picked Luz based on the same criteria all cultivators are judged on, power. As of right now, Luz is several grades above her classmates. In the performance rankings, she sits at number one, though I will admit Amity has done an excellent job maintaining her position at number four."

"Clearly I need to have a talk with Amity after we are done here," Odalia said in a strained voice. "With her talents, she should be at the top of her class."

"No thanks to you," Michael said nonchalantly. "That manual you gave her was utter garbage."

Odalia's hand moved faster than Michael expected, though instead of a sting from her slap, Michael felt the bones in her hand crack under the force. She reeled back at the pain and when she looked at Michael again she noticed his shadow. It wasn't in a shape that reflected his form. Instead, it took the form of a long beast with a massive maw. He spoke with a voice as cold and ice and sharp as steel.

"I need you to understand, anyone would have called that book trash. If we weren't under the laws of the Emperor right now, your husband would be a widower and your children would be free from your egotistical dreams," He said. "The very fact that your daughter is allowed in this class after taking in that FILTH you gave her is a testament to my ability and her determination."

"I'll have your job for talking to me like that," Odalia called out in desperate defiance.

"How?" Bump asked. "His position is backed by the head of the Emperor's coven, I couldn't fire him if I wanted to. He also broke the curse on the coven head's sister."

"I'll revoke funding," She replied with wavering confidence.

Michael laughed. "You alone have already paid me millions for my materials and others will pay me millions more. I could easily fund this school if I wanted to."

Seemingly out of options to control the situation through influence, Odalia turned to the one thing that never failed her, oracle magic. The spirits under her command swirled out of their containers as Odalia began to look into the future with her left eye. It was highly advanced oracle magic and unbeatable by any form of magic.

Which is why it shocked her that she never saw Michael's attack coming. In an instant, all her spirits were destroyed without him even moving. She watched in horror as two versions of Michael brought their hands together. He spoke a single phrase, "Chaos Divination." The future went blank.

"I have performed over three thousand calculations to select the exact future I want," Michael explained. "You can no longer see the future because you can no longer change it. You think magic is a mighty power given to you, but everything you can accomplish with magic mankind accomplished hundreds of thousands of years ago. I will train your daughter to surpass your every expectation, but you will never benefit from it."

Michael left Bump's office, leaving the shell-shocked Odalia on the floor while Bump tried to call her husband to take her home. It wasn't enough to end her scheming, that wasn't his right. But it was enough to warn Odalia and those she would call her allies, Michael was aware of them and was capable of far more than they could imagine.

Notes:

I doubt this is my normal quality but as you guys have proven, I am a terrible judge of how good my ideas are.

Also, I hate divination techniques. They are either vague or specific enough that the character using them is way too powerful. It also robs the story of any sense of agency since anything a character does is all according to someone's plan.

Mostly unrelated, but I was playing the new Dragon's Dogma game and found a user name Hootsifer. Got a nice chuckle out of me.

Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Amity paced around her room. The room was smaller than the gilded cage she had at the manor, but the warm, wooden walls had become comforting to her. The Owl House was old and in need of some general maintenance. The sound of floorboards creaking sent her into another panicked flurry.

The floorboards definitely needed to be replaced, if for no other purpose than to give Amity a place that didn't remind her that her crush was in the room right across the hall. She was fine with the arrangement at first, despite the stressful circumstances around her moving in the residents of the Owl House had mostly been pretty good about respecting Amity's private space. Hooty needed some reminders every now and then, but all in all, Amity felt like the space was truly hers to escape and recover in.

Another series of creeks shattered her thoughts again. At least she had peace when she wasn't worried about the girl across the hall. This crush of hers had gotten out of hand. It had started as a sense of respect, but Luz had an infuriating way of working her way into Amity's heart. Living in the same house wasn't helping either.

She picked a note up from her desk. While Amity had managed to keep speaking with Luz, she couldn't find a way to force the contents of the note out through her mouth. So she wrote this note. Now all she had to do was plant it somewhere where Luz would see it, read it, and respond to it before her big fight with the fear demon living under the school. Simple, really.

A knock at the door startled Amity making her drop the note. "Yeah?" She called out.

"It's me," Eda called out. "Is it alright if I come in?"

Amity was hesitant but relented. "Y-yeah, just close the door behind you."

Eda did as she was asked before continuing the conversation. "So, what's eating at you this morning?"

"W-what makes you think that?" Amity deflected.

"You've been pacing all morning. I can hear it clearly downstairs," Eda replied.

The floorboards definitely needed to be replaced now that they had betrayed her. Her eyes quickly darted to where the note lay on the ground. Eda noticed and a knowing simile crept over her face. "You nervous about asking someone to Grom?"

"No," Amity said before correcting herself. "Maybe."

Eda chuckled quietly to herself, remembering when she was that age. "So, who's the lucky witch that caught your eye?"

Amity mumbled a response. Eda's hearing may have improved slightly since her body's rejuvenation, but she was nowhere near good enough to catch what the green and brown-haired girl said. "What was that?"

"L…" Amity mumbled a little louder.

"Come on, kid. My hearing isn't as good as your bitch of a mother's, I need you to speak up a bit." Eda said, that strange parental annoyance starting to kick in.

"It's Luz," Amity whisper-yelled. It took Eda a moment to process what exactly had been said.

"Ah," Eda said. "I guess that makes things more difficult than I imagined, but not impossible. So do you want crazy lady Eda or responsible adult Eda?"

"From what Lilith, King, and Luz tell me responsible adult Eda is an oxymoron," Amity countered. "I think I have this handled, I'm just really nervous."

Eda laughed. "Yeah, I remember dating when I was your age. It wasn't easy but here's some free life advice for ya, it only gets easier the second time."

Amity looked at the note in her hands for a bit before asking, "So why haven't you talked to them?"

"Who?" Eda asked.

Amity's cheeks tinted pink as she admitted what she knew. "Sometimes Lilith would work herself delirious. When she was like that she would say some things, well a lot of things that she wouldn't tell anyone under normal circumstances. On more than one occasion she implied that you and Bard Coven Head Raine are or at least were pretty close."

Eda felt a twinge in her heart caused by the mix of joy and sorrow Amity's statement caused. She was genuinely happy that even though they had taken very different paths in life, Lilith still genuinely cared about Eda. Raine's name still brought painful memories to the surface though. "Yeah, we… we we're. We were kinda like you and Luz for a bit, just more light-hearted. But I ended up pushing them away after I was cursed. I did that with a lot of people actually."

"Well, you aren't cursed anymore, right?" Amity said. "Why don't you reach out to them again? Even if things don't… or can't go back to the way they were, you can always try again."

Eda gave the Blight a sad smile. "I-I guess. How about we make a deal? If you can get Luz to dance with you at Grom then I'll reach out to Raine again. Deal?"

Amity rolled her eyes at the ridiculous deal. "I thought things were supposed to be easier the second time?"

"They asked me first," Eda defended.

"Fine, deal," Amity said. "You better be ready to pay up, I'll want to know all about how your meeting goes."

Eda scoffed. "Okay, Miss Bossy Boots. But you have to talk to Luz about Grom first." Eda turned to leave the room wishing Amity luck as she left.

Amity felt more confident now that she had something to prove. But she still wasn't sure how she was going to talk to Luz about Grom. She had until that evening to ask Luz and get an answer. That should be plenty of time. The worst that could happen was…

No, she didn't have time to worry about what-ifs and worst cases. Amity had a date to get.

Luz was finishing up her spear practice. While she wasn't getting any better with the Great Unrestrained Spear due to her being unable to complete anything beyond the most basic movements, her use of spear intent had a drastic improvement on the capability of her attacks. Combined with the Stained Glass Lotus, it was looking like Grom was going to be easily dealt with. She could already see it now: Luz Noceda, Hero of Grom.

Putting the practice spear back on the weapon rack Michael set up, Luz briefly returned to her room before heading to the shower. The hot water quickly washed away the sweat and pain brought on by her extended workout. Despite her body being significantly stronger than the average human, it still needed to adapt to the strain caused by martial techniques.

When she got back to her room, there was a note left on her bed. It was odd cause the residents avoided notes due to Hooty's… invasive behavior. Without much thought, Luz picked up the note and opened it.

"Luz,

Will you go to Grom with me?

-Amity"

Luz blinked as her brain refused to process what she read. She read the note again. And again. And again.

"Oh," Luz said out loud. "I see. I guess I should talk to Amity."

Doing her best to maintain her composure, Luz walked the short distance to Amity's room. "Hey Amity, is it alright if I come in?"

There was no answer. Luz repeated herself a bit louder but still got no response. With a pit of nervous energy building in her stomach, Luz opened the door of Amity's room only to find nothing. Amity wasn't there. Luz did a lap around the house, trying to not draw the attention of the other residents. King was practicing his material for Grom as he was co-hosting the fight with Gus. Eda seemed to be preparing a dozen bottles of what Luz could only assume was alcohol of some sort. For a reason Luz couldn't fully understand, Bump had asked Eda to be a chaperon for Grom. Luz didn't have a problem with her mentor being there but questioned the logic behind putting Eda in a position to corrupt the youth.

Seeing no signs of Amity around the house, Luz decided to consult the all-seeing being, Hooty. Despite all his quirks, flaws, and habits, Hooty took his job as house demon seriously. He was always aware of where his charges were going and when to expect them back. To her dismay, Hooty didn't seem to know where Amity went and indicated that Luz should know where she went.

Luz tried to think of a place where Amity would go. "Okay, so Amity knows that people could come after her at any moment. So if she left on her own then she probably went somewhere she knows is safe. She's obviously not at the Owl House so that one is out. The school? Maybe, but we were dismissed to prepare for tonight. She wouldn't go to Lilith in case they ran into Odalia, it would risk exposing the illusion. The library? Good of place to start as any."

Lightning cracked as Luz sped down the forest path to town. The entire trip only took her less than five minutes after reaching the Qi Refining realm her speed and endurance had increased to the point where she didn't need to be as conservative when moving between places. It would still be a while before flying was a viable way of moving about, but as long as it didn't take her all day to get around Luz wasn't going to complain.

She was about halfway to town when she saw something that made her blood run cold. Amity was squared off against the Golden Guard.

Notes:

I never had a dating life until I was in my twenties, and then I dated one girl for two weeks and then another a year later. Then I married the second girl. Teenagers are a concept far removed from me, much less teenage girls grappling with a crush.

I spent way too much time on Dargon's Dogma 2 and not enough time fleshing this out so I guess we are in the second chapter of the Grom arc. I will try to avoid dragging this out.

Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Amity was suddenly having a very bad day. Of all the people she had to run into in the woods around Bonesborough it had to be the Golden Guard, the one person in the Emperor's coven outside of Lilith's influence. He was leaning against a tree, watching the road.

"Well, well," He called out. His voice sounded like someone who was trying to sound older than they were. "If it isn't Miss Blight. What are you doing in this part of the woods? If I'm not mistaken, the roads that connect Blight Manor and Hexside to Bonesborough are on the other side of town."

For once in her life, Amity was grateful for the etiquette lessons Odalia forced on her. It made getting under his skin easy. "What is it to you? Besides, I thought the Emperor's personal guard had better things to do than stand in the woods and hit on underaged girls."

The Golden Guard sputtered. "WH-What? I-I am NOT hitting on you!" In his indignation, he dropped the fake voice and used one that seemed somewhat familiar to Amity. "Since you asked, I am here to collect you. You've had your fun hiding from us, but it is time you take your rightful place in the sect."

Instantly alarm bells went off in Amity's head. Her thoughts immediately changed from dealing with an unwanted acquaintance to a fight-or-flight response. Though her training had yet to be as ingrained as Luz's, Amity began to assess what she knew.

First, the Golden Guard operated alone. Rumors among the coven scouts were that he was too difficult to work with while Lilith thought the Golden Guard had a secret the Emperor wanted to keep hidden. Second, the fact he was here and not in a body bag meant that Michael didn't consider him a threat. Michael had established that he was able to track every individual within fifty miles and accurately evaluate their strength. Since the Golden Guard was still there, he wasn't considered a threat based on his power. Third, Luz already told her the secret to his technique. His staff was a space artifact capable of compressing space to accelerate his movements. If the crystal powering the staff is broken then the artifact is nullified. Finally, Amity didn't stand a chance at reaching a safe house. All of them were too far for her to confidently run to them, she would have to hold out until Luz made her way to the library.

"So, you're a part of that disgusting sect," Amity replied, disgust and venom filling her voice. "Tell me why I shouldn't just kill you right now and be done with it?"

"Disgusting?" He asked as he stepped away from the tree. "Now where did you hear that? From that human man that has been hanging around? Please, he doesn't know anything about what is going on."

"I think you'll find he is quite aware of what you have planned for me," Amity countered. "After all, his sister was killed by another sect using the same methods you're using."

"If he's so smart, then why are you alone?" The Golden Guard asked as he readied his staff.

"Cause you aren’t a threat," Amity replied as she activated her artifacts. "And who says I'm alone?"

In a flash of light, a puppet appeared. Its build was like that of a lean, muscular man with deep red skin. It could have been mistaken for a demon at first, except its eyes were made of some kind of glass and its skin easily transitioned to fangs that perfectly fit together. "Puppet, suppress the enemy."

The thing moved with a frightening mix of the ferocity of a beast and the intelligence of a witch. It charged the Golden Guard on all fours, swiping at his legs. The Golden Guard reacted quickly by using his staff the launch himself into the air. As the strange creature rushed harmlessly below him, he swung his staff and fired several bolts of energy at Amity. To his surprise, her silver bracelet quickly spread over her arm. She held her palm out and the metal formed a large shield that absorbed his attacks.

"That's some fancy jewelry you have there," He taunted. "Too bad it won't save you."

"That's what he is for." As she called out, the puppet launched itself into the air behind the Golden Guard. It grabbed him from behind as the two began to fall back to the ground. The Golden Guard struggled to escape the puppet's hold before they hit the ground. The impact sent a large cloud of dust into the air. Satisfied that the threat had been dealt with, Amity returned the bracelet to its compact form and called for the puppet to return.

The puppet robotically walked out of the dust cloud. It was dirty and covered in scuff marks that Amity would have to take her time buffing out. She considered asking Michael if he knew anything about upgrading puppets when it collapsed right in front of her. Concerned, she returned the puppet to its storage ring and waited for the dust to clear. They only dropped about thirty feet. While it was certainly a lethal fall for a mortal to take, the puppet should have been fine.

It should have gotten out of that without a scratch.

Amity started going over what she knew about Luz's fight as the dust settled, revealing the Golden Guard casually leaning against his staff. His mask and robes were completely free of the stains and damage they should have after being piledriven into the ground.

His abilities were all wrong. If he was the same Golden Guard as the one Luz fought, then his artifact should focus on mobility using space principles while attacking using close-quarters combat. However, he had yet to show such abilities in their fight. Instead, he maintained his distance in their brief exchange. Did he hold back against Luz and lose the fight because of it? Or was he entirely reliant on artifacts and adapted his fighting style to the ones he had?

"Are you trying to fight me?" his cocky attitude was infuriating. "Aren't you supposed to be some prodigy with abominations? Your performance so far has been lacking."

Amity didn't bother to respond. He was trying to goad her and she learned her lesson months ago against Luz. She couldn't rush into another exchange or she would lose, but if she waited too long then the Golden Guard would force the fight. It was a lose-lose situation for her. Unless…

Her eyes fell on her bracelet. The artifact, Silver Shadow, was incredibly complex. Both an armament and puppet-type artifact, it was the greatest treasure of the ancient puppet master sect of the Isles. However, due to the lack of skill and materials, it remained unfinished. Amity could force the artifact to fully activate, but the drain would be so high that if she couldn't finish the fight in time she would collapse from exhaustion.

The wind blew from behind Amity, carrying the scent of burnt air that lingered around Luz when she fought. Backup had arrived much sooner than expected, but they had no way of communicating without exposing Luz's location. Seeing that the circumstances were as good as they were going to get, Amity acted.

The Silver Shadow instantly spread all over her body, encasing her in a full suit of silvery armor. She launched herself at the Golden Guard, grabbing him by his mask before lifting him off the ground. In the back of her head, Amity recognized the sound of arcing electricity as Luz moved. With a swift motion, Amity threw the Golden Guard straight down causing his mask and possibly some bones to crack from the force. Luz followed up quickly by targeting the crystal on the staff, shattering it with a single blow.

Amity wasn't done yet. It was entirely possible that he still had another artifact on him that would allow him to escape. She lifted the Golden Guard from the ground and threw him against a nearby tree, following up with a flying kick to his chest. The trunk of the tree cracked from the impact and blood began to drip from behind her opponent's mask as his body slumped.

"Geez Amity, I think you went a little too hard on him," Luz commented as Silver Shadow returned to its compact form.

Amity scoffed. "I don't think I went far enough. He's one of them, Luz. He said so himself."

Luz's expression changed. "He said that huh? Then maybe you should have thrown in a few more for good measure."

Amity shook her head. "I… We need him alive if we are ever going to get closer to finding these guys and putting an end to them. Can you contact Michael and let him know we captured him?"

Before Luz could pull out her communication artifact the two girls heard the tell-tale sound of space being ripped open. The two turned to see Michael standing behind them. "I hope you have a good explanation for this."

Amity nodded. "He admitted to being part of a sect that was after me. Given what we know it is likely that he was talking about the Sons of the Titan. If he wasn't then there is a second group after me."

Michael seemed surprised by that and approached the unconscious man. After carefully observing him for a minute Michael let loose a colorful stream of curses. This startled the two girls as while Michael wasn't liberal with foul language, they didn't recognize half of the words he used.

"Thank you for apprehending him you two," Michael said. "Did either of you sustain any injuries?"

"I showed up late," Luz admitted. "The fight was handled by Amity, I only broke his staff."

Michael looked over to where the staff and shattered crystal lay. They soon disappeared as Michael stored them for further observation later. "And you Amity?"

"I'm fine," Amity started. "But he did something to my puppet and I was forced to strain my other artifact. Both of them will probably need repairs I'm not skilled enough to do."

Michael nodded. "I'll take a look at them later, might make the repairs your assignment for the week. You two can go back to what you were doing, I'll handle him now."

Michael left with the unconscious body in tow. Now that she wasn't in physical danger anymore, Amity's body started to calm down from the adrenaline allowing her mind to reassess the situation. Luz wasn't far behind. As the silence between them continued the tension continued to build.

"So… uh," Amity started.

"YES!" Luz blurted out.

Amity's face turned beat red. "What?"

"The note you left me," Luz explained, unable to maintain eye contact. "My answer is yes."

"But my note didn't have a question…" Amity was confused.

Luz wordlessly reached into her back pocket and pulled out the note in question. Amity opened it and stared at her handwriting in complete embarrassment. She left Luz the wrong note. Reaching into her own back pocket, Amity removed a second note that appeared identical, except the message written on it asked Luz to meet her at the library.

Amity couldn't take much more as she sunk down to her knees. She ruined her own plans, almost got abducted, and was only found by a freak accident. Her quiet chuckles turned to sobs as tears began to fall down her face. Luz wasn't sure how to handle the situation as it was well outside how she expected Amity to react.

"Uh, is there something wrong?" Luz asked as she knelt beside Amity unsure of how to comfort her. "Did I say the wrong thing? Like some Boiling Isles custom I forgot about?"

Amity calmed herself down enough to respond. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. I just… here." Amity passed Luz the note she was meant to get. It invited her to meet at the library to talk away from everyone else. "I made a bet with Eda about getting a dance with you tonight. She did it to goad me into asking you since I have been struggling to ask you for a while now."

Amity stopped to wipe the various fluids off her face. "I decided to put more effort into it to kinda prove to myself and Eda that I could do it. I meant to leave you that note, but you got the original instead. And worst of all, I almost ended up getting taken today. The only reason I put so much effort into fighting was because I thought you were on the way."

Luz warped her arms around Amity. "It's okay. It's okay. Everything worked out well in the end, right? You beat up a guy trying to abduct you and found a lead on the guys that are after you. Besides, that combo you pulled off on the Golden Goof looked pretty badass."

Amity laughed at Luz's enthusiasm about her ass-kicking abilities. She leaned into the other girl, taking comfort in the grounding effect her presence had. Compassion had been such a rarity in the manor but had become more commonplace since she met the human.

Luz felt like an outcast for so long. Even with her master being there, she felt alone. She didn't know anyone in her world who was capable or even interested in the things she was. Coming to the Boiling Isles had been a blessing in disguise. The connections she had made far outshined any progress she made in her martial arts. She found a place that she could not only call home but one that felt like home.

"Okay, let's get you to Willow's house. She and Gus are supposed to be getting ready for Grom together," Luz said as she helped Amity off the ground.

"Why are we going to Willow's? Shouldn't we head back to the Owl House?" Amity asked.

Luz grimaced at the thought. "Do you really think Eda has enough good clothes for us to make two outfits for tonight? Besides, I want to surprise you and you surprise me. Genuine reactions only."

Amity chuckled as the two made the short trip to town. About half an hour later, Amity was left with a confused Willow as Luz rushed back to the Owl House. Upon arriving, Luz was greeted with a surprise gift.

On a manikin that Eda probably pilfered years ago was a strange outfit. The outfit consisted of three main parts, the pants, an inner shirt, and an outer garment that was a fusion between a sports jacket and the robes Michael wore. Set to the side was a pair of combat-style boots, a pair of black gloves, and a pink sash. The pants were white and designed to fit loosely around the legs and tightly around the ankles. The inner shirt seemed to be a normal, purple tunic but when Luz held the material in her hands it seemed like woven steel. The outer coat was the flashiest part of the outfit, black with gold embroidery hanging down to the middle of the thighs it pulled design elements from the suit jackets she had seen on TV and the robes Michael always wore.

"Ah, I see you already found your gift," Eda said as she came in from the kitchen. "Michael had been working on that for the better part of the week. Even roped your mom and me into designing it. Said he wanted to give you something that represented the three worlds you came from. Said he wanted to call it the Three Worlds Silk Garment."

"All of you made this for me?" Luz asked.

Eda nodded. "It was Michael who put in most of the work, but yes we all contributed."

Luz responded by throwing her arms around Eda, pulling her into a tight hug. "Thank you, really."

Eda chuckled as she placed a caring hand on Luz's head. "You're welcome, kid. Michael already left, said he had other plans for the evening, but he wanted you to have this for the big event. It's a Grade 6 defensive artifact. Not entirely sure what that means, but it sounds pretty good."

Luz took the outfit upstairs and put it on. They fit her well, giving her plenty of room to move around and fight without worrying about snagging on the clothes. She was worried about the colors and styles clashing when she put them on, but the adults in her life proved that they understood fashion better than she thought. Not only did she look amazing, in her humble opinion, but it also fit who she was as a person.

"Hey kid, we gotta go!" Eda called from downstairs.

Luz looked into the mirror one last time. "Showtime."

Notes:

Here is part two of The Golden Guard getting his shit kicked in. I mean the Grom arc. I currently do not have plans to have every other student beat the living daylight out of Hunter. I promise.

Also, surprise chapter I guess. Don't know what changed so don't ask.

Chapter 30: Chapter 30

It took several months, but the tower was finally finished. Michael had to admit that he was impressed the residents of the Boiling Isles were able to find all the materials needed for the project in such a short amount of time. His divine senses revealed that every array was implemented according to his precise instructions, a feat that deserved his praise. All that the tower needed now was for him to engrave and activate the final array on the top floor of the tower.

Lilith had joined him in her capacity as a liaison between him and the Emperor. "Is everything good?"

"Yes," Michael replied. "Excellent in fact. Please let the covens know that I am very impressed with their work."

"I'm glad to hear that and will let them know," Lilith turned her attention to the tower. "So, what is it for?"

"A selection process," He explained. "At the top, there will be prizes of great worth. Anyone who can climb to the top of the tower will be able to claim a prize, but there will only be nine. I'm not cruel, so anyone who tries will find they will benefit from the effort."

Michael turned away from the tower. "But enough about that tonight, I'm afraid I have a more pressing matter we need to attend to."

"Are you that worried about Grom?" Lilith asked.

Michael shook his head. "I can't afford that now. I have prepared Luz to the best of my ability given the limited knowledge of the creature. No, I'm afraid this matter has to do with Amity."

"Another corpse?" Lilith was annoyed with the thought of dealing with another body. "Can either of you show some restraint?"

"I apologized." Michael countered. "No, he's a bit roughed up, but alive. You'll understand more when you see him."

In an instant, the two were moved into the Universe Bead. Specifically a room underneath the pagoda. Nearby was a table with the personal effects of the captive who was tied to a chair facing the back wall. What bothered Lilith was how familiar some of the items were.

"So, they're mimicking the Emperor's coven?" Lilith thought out loud.

"No," Michael replied. He walked over and picked up the mask and staff, presenting them to Lilith. "They're part of it."

Lilith felt her blood run cold as she stared at the mask and staff of the Golden Guard. It was a personal paradox. While she never really got along with the Golden Guard, mostly due to his attitude, she always thought of him as a trusted co-worker. They had worked together in some capacity or another for almost five years, during which he had shown a strong sense of justice. The idea that he was part of some clandestine organization was impossible.

"Who apprehended him?" Lilith asked. She hoped Michael's answer would give her some way to exonerate him.

"It was Amity," Michael replied. "He intercepted her on her way into Bonesborough. While he didn't name the group outright, he called it a sect."

"That's pretty damning," Lilith admitted.

Michael put the items back on the table. "There's more. What exactly do you know about the Golden Guard?"

The crowd was buzzing with anticipation. Rumors about Luz had been spreading like wildfire since the announcement of her selection as Grom Royalty earlier that week. Most of them were focused on Bump saying that this year's Grom was going to be 'one to remember'. Students spent a great deal of time speculating on what the human and by extension the new Immortal Studies track could bring to Grom that would be different from every other year.

As the time for the main event to start grew near, Amity was beginning to worry. She hadn't seen Luz since she left Willow's house a few hours ago. She wasn't worried about Luz being attacked, rather she was a bit put off about being there without her date.

"Alright everyone," Gus called out over the speakers. "It's time for the main event! Tonight's combatant is a human martial artist fresh from the Human Realm and top student of our newest Track, LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUZ NOCEDA!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, responding to the energy Gus and King had been building. A bolt of lightning crashed down in front of the entrance to the arena as Luz made her entrance. King went on to explain some details about Luz's equipment and fighting techniques as she walked into the pit. Amity only watched as one thought seared its way into her mind.

Oh no, she's hot.

Amity wasn't exactly sure who she needed to thank and curse, but the outfit Luz was wearing was destroying Amity's confidence. How was she supposed to maintain any sense of decorum during the dance later when her date looked that good and was about to show off what she was good at? The thought had banished every ounce of Blight decorum from her mind.

"You okay?" Willow asked. Amity's face had turned a bright red and she had started to fidget a little. Willow looked back at the arena before it clicked. "You're worried about dancing with her now?"

Amity nodded.

Willow smiled to herself. "Don't worry, I doubt she would care."

The sound of moving gears pulled their attention back to the arena where the roof was being opened, allowing the spectators to see into the pit. Racks of weapons lined the walls, but Luz ignored them in favor of her own spear. The students got quiet as it was time for the main event to begin.

Luz could have sworn whoever designed the sealing spell had a flair for the dramatic. As soon as the old array was fully lit it began to glow, emitting a black light. In the center, a bubbling mass erupted from the ground. The amorphous mass that was Grometheus roiled out of its seal. A shadow seemed to emanate from it as Luz felt the Stained Glass Lotus begin to protect her soul.

A tendril reached out to touch her, but Luz batted it away with her spear. The crowd cheered as Grometheus reflexively recoiled. Luz knew that it if she let it touch her it would gain a more direct contact with her soul, allowing it to draw out her greatest fears. While she had protection in the form of the Stained Glass Lotus, she wasn't interested in a stress test at the moment.

The creature's form began to compress, since it couldn't access her fears it figured it would try some older ones. It took the shape of some poorly remembered humanoid demon which was swiftly cut down. Luz couldn't fear something she didn't know. Next, it turned into a massive wolf-like beast. Luz had some difficulty trying to pin down the agile morph but still managed to cut it down. The crowd watched on as Luz and Grometheus continued the cycle, the demon changing forms before the cultivator cut it down.

The crowd was ecstatic and Gus and King were feeding into that energy. But Eda felt that something was off. Maybe it was her advanced years or her experience from the number of cons she pulled, but Grometheus wasn't behaving as it should have.

"Something's not right," Amity said.

"You're right," Eda replied. "Grom isn't behaving like itself at all. The random shapeshifting can be chalked up to some cultivator defense Luz has, but it is well-documented that it can only use three forms before the spell can seal it away again. Luz had beaten at least a dozen."

They looked down into the arena where Grometheus was preparing to take on another form. Luz still had plenty of energy to fight, but was getting increasingly annoyed at how difficult her opponent was being. Every single strike landed perfectly, yet there wasn't any feedback. It was like Luz was fighting a literal shadow. She began to organize everything she knew about the demon only to realize how little it was.

Before Luz could react, a malformed giant-shaped Grometheus slammed her against the wall. Her mind began reeling at the sudden hit. "How? That the slowest for it's taken so far?" Pain ran through her limbs and a dreadful thought filled her mind. After dispatching the current form, Luz began to circulate her qi in a particular way. After a moment a black fluid was expelled from her mouth in a violent fit of coughing.

Poison.

Grometheus' fear abilities were a poison it put out, not a soul attack as they thought. It still didn't explain how it was so hard to hit until movement caught the corner of her eye.

The shadow emitted by Grom retracted as it began to take a new form. The body that she was fighting the whole time was just manipulated poison. As she looked down, one final, insane idea came to Luz.

"EVACUATE!." Luz screamed as she drove her spear into the sealing spell. The ground shattered as the spell was broken, forcing Luz to cling to her weapon for stability. Above her, she heard the panicked screams of the crowd as they watched the one thing that kept Grom away from them turn to dust.

As chaos erupted above, others took action. Gus quickly began drawing symbols that King didn’t recognize. Once the young witch finished his scribing, he slammed his hands together. "Tranquility," He whispered as the array took effect. The panic that had begun to race through the crowd was being suppressed by his array.

On the other side of the crowd, other students took action either by using spells to create walls between their classmates and the arena or leading them out of the area. By the arena, Willow was helping seal the arena in a wall of trees while Amity used abominations to rescue students who were too scared to move.

Luz pulled her spear from the ground as she prepared for the next part of her brilliant plan. Using the method she was taught to control the Stained Glass Lotus, she deactivated the artifact allowing fear to grasp her. Grom noticed the change, abandoning its current transformation as it reached out to touch her again. Luz didn't resist, instead calling out to her friends.

"Willow, I need a path away from the school," Luz called out. "Doesn’t matter where, I just need something to contain Grom while we move."

Willow nodded and summoned massive trees to create a path that led towards the sea, giving Luz one last option should her plan fail. Amity and Willow listened as lightning screamed down the path and some horrible creature followed.

Luz understood that fear could take on many forms. After all, it was an emotion shared by all life. Luz never expected to ever physically fight fear, yet here she was. Had she not been dopped up on some kind of fear toxin, she probably would have laughed at the poorly assembled scarecrow that was chasing after her. However, the truly unsettling thing was its voice.

"Come… back… here… my… lit…tle… light." The beast called as it chased after her on all fours. Its voice was hoarse and sounded exactly like something without vocal cords trying to speak would sound like. The words were forced and unnatural.

She ran. She had forgotten about even trying to fight this thing, this affront to existence. She came to a stop on the edge of a cliff, the waves of the Boiling Sea crashing below. The sounds of twisting metal, tearing fabric and flesh, and grinding bone came from behind her as Grom shifted to match her deepest fear. The plan was so stupid, she should have just admitted she wasn't capable of killing Grom.

"Luz, what are you doing?" Ice had gripped her very soul as Luz heard the sound of her mother's voice coming from that creature. Her body didn’t listen to her as she looked over her shoulder. She saw her mother talking to a copy of herself, with one key difference. Her copy had pure black eyes, a sign of demonization, the result of a cultivator reaching too far too fast. She was powerless as she watched her copy callously rip out her mother's heart, casting the body aside as the frozen face of shock and betrayal stared at Luz.

"You're… next," It said using its own voice.

Luz's mind screamed at her to do anything as the imposter's proportions warped and stretched as it drew closer. Luz was certain that would have been the end of her before a flash of silver cut across the thing's body. For the first time that night, Luz saw what Amity looked like. She was wearing a rather simple sleeveless purple dress with one arm covered by the silver armor of her artifact. The most stunning thing to Luz was that her hair was no longer the familiar 'Blight green' but a light purple color. Even with her fear-bound mind, Luz had only one thought.

Oh no, she's hot.

"Luz, snap out of it!" Amity called over her shoulder. She had hoped that her surprise attack would have been enough seeing that she managed to cut Grom in two, but the two halves were wriggling as tendrils reached out to each other.

"AM…I…ty… dis…a… POINTMENT!" Came Grom's response. The shadowy poison began to pour out of its wounds and move towards her.

"Get back," Luz called out. "It's a poison mist."

Instead of retreating like she was told, Amity stood her ground as the silver armor moved from her arm to cover her shoulder and lower parts of her face. "Stop worrying about me and take care of yourself first, idiot."

Luz realized she was right. While turning off the Stained Glass Lotus did wonders for drawing Grom away from the school, it restricted her thoughts and almost got her killed. If Michael or Eda were there they would give her the verbal lashing of a lifetime. With a shaky breath, Luz restored her one advantage.

Even with the artifact's help, it took a couple of minutes for Luz to fully regain control of her body. In the meantime, Amity was forced to face a knife-wielding copy of her mother with only her abominations. The creature didn't follow any laws of anatomy as it twisted and contorted its limbs while shouting abuse at Amity. Luz rushed in when Amity miss-timed a dodge and was knocked off balance. As her spear cleaved through the arm of her opponent, Luz felt resistance for the first time that fight.

The arm came off followed by a spray of black blood as the creature let loose a horrid screech of pain. Luz and Amity covered their ears as they felt the screech in their bones. Grom abandoned the form of Odalia, instead ballooning in size as it revealed its true form. The massive sludge creature roared again as it prepared to crush Luz and Amity.

"Got any ideas?" Amity asked as she stared at the enormous monster.

"Giant abomination?" Luz replied, uncertain if the idea was possible.

Amity shook her head. "I can't do that on my own, not for the size we will need."

Luz grabbed her hand. "You're not alone though. Just tell me what you need."

Amity smiled at the reassurance. "Structure. For something that big I'm going to need a skeleton to work with."

Luz already had a plant glyph floating in the air. "One giant tree skeleton coming right up."

From the ground beneath them rose a giant wooden framework made from the trees summoned by Luz's glyph. It was quickly followed by a flood of abomination slime that poured down from the head, coating the creature. The two girls linked their spells into a larger formation allowing them to control their colossal creation. Grom attempted to restrain it as their golem ripped the sludge creature apart. Unbeknownst to them, the students watched on as the chunks torn from the main body rapidly decayed. They continued to watch in awe as the two worked together against what the school had come to know as the embodiment of fear.

"There!" Luz pointed at the center of the creature. Amity's eyes followed to the best of their ability but were unable to see what Luz had seen.

"What? I can't see anything." Amity replied.

"I saw a crystal, likely it's core. If we break that it should die." Luz explained.

From the ground, the students watched as the golem thrust both arms into Grom before ripping it open. The golem held it there as Grom tried to close the new wound, clearly not as flexible as previously believed. The golem then seemed to collapse into and be absorbed by Grom.

Luz had prepared her throw. Lightning was running down her spear and a current flowed through her hand in a way she thought would speed up the spear. She nodded at Amity to start the plan. The witch commanded their golem to lean into Grom so that Luz could get the best shot. On the way down, both girls stopped their spells letting Grom swallow them. It didn't know their plan, but even if it did it was too late. Amity placed her hand on the Titan Dragon Spear as Silver Shadow covered it. With a final glance at Amity, Luz threw the spear.

A pillar of lightning shot out from Grom as the mass spasmed and convulsed before exploding. The observing students took cover behind whatever they could to avoid the falling chunks of Grom. The wind rushed outwards and magic seemed to be running wild as they hunkered down. The elements seemed to rage for hours, but really it was only about a minute. After things had calmed down, the students began to explore the ravaged battle site looking for any trace of their heroes.

Eda found them, huddled together under a strange tree that had grown where Grom once was. The two looked exhausted from the fight. They struggled to stand up properly as Eda offered both of them a hand. They watched as their classmates emerged from the woods, cheering and applauding them. Most of the night was a blur from that point forward until they collapsed on the couch at the Owl House, each wearing half a crown.

Notes:

Surprise!

A big inspiration for Grom's dialog is actually Fiddlesticks from League of Legends. They did a rework for him some four years ago and his voice lines are UNSETTLING. Give them a listen.

Demonization, sometimes referred to as cultivation sickness, is where something goes wrong during a breakthrough and a cultivator loses their mind. It's usually a spectrum between murderous to complete disintegration of intelligence. It's usually caused by a cultivator advancing too fast with an unstable foundation. That's why you'll read a story where a genius still needs ten, twenty, or one hundred years to reach whatever counts as really strong.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 31: Chapter 31

After spending an hour going over the Golden Guard's possessions, Michael and Lilith decided to move on to a more direct approach to investigation.

"I recommend we do this my way," Lilith said as Michael worked on removing the binding arrays.

"I agree," He replied.

"While your methods may be mo… What?" Lilith asked, surprised by how easily Michael agreed.

"I agree," He repeated. "I can't do this on my own if parts of the Emperor's coven are involved and you can't operate solely on my word. We'll start easy and move into more 'persuasive' methods until we reach the point you aren't comfortable with. We'll work with what we learn then use him to verify our findings."

Lilith blinked as she stared at Michael. "That sounds reasonable."

The air around the Golden Guard shuddered as the barrier isolating the space collapsed. Lilith then drew a spell that woke the Guard from his slumber. He groaned as his mind rapidly processed the injuries he sustained earlier that day. Michael had patched him up, but only enough for the Golden Guard to survive.

"Wha… Where am I?" He asked. He looked up and saw Michael and Lilith staring at him.

"You are located in a sealed room, cut off from the Boiling Isles," Michael explained. "I am the only one who can move people in or out of this space."

"Why am I tied up?" He asked.

Lilith answered. "You have been taken prisoner for the assault of Amity Blight and as part of an ongoing investigation into an organization known as the Sons of the Titan. We will ask you what you know and you WILL answer."

"You can't interrogate me," Hunter countered. "The Emperor won't allow it."

"He doesn’t even know you’re here," Michael said. "We're currently inside the simulacrum of a world I created. All efforts to locate you will fail."

Hunter's face went pale. "You have to get me out of here. YOU HAVE TO GET ME OUT OF HERE!" He pulled against his binds, ignoring the pain as they cut into his wrists as blood flowed down his hands. "HURRY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE!"

Before either of them could ask him any questions, Michael and Lilith watched as their captive began to seize. Michael placed his hand against the side of the boy's neck and then on his forehead.

"Damnit," He said calmly as he stepped back.

"What? What's going on?" Lilith asked, panicked as she watched their one lead suffer the worst seizure she had ever seen.

"What you're witnessing is soul destruction caused by the use of a soul brand," Michael explained. "Think of a soul brand as the core of the soul. If it's taken, the person who took it can force their victim to obey any order and enact a punishment regardless of distance, even death via the destruction of the soul."

"Is there anything you can do to stop it?" Lilith asked as Hunter's thrashing got worse.

Michael shook his head as he cleared off the table. "No. I could prolong his life by slowing the flow of time around him, but the brand is destroyed. Any measure I take will only delay the inevitable and put him in a state no one would call living."

The body gave one last violent shake before falling still. Michael walked over and cut the binds off before picking the corpse up. Placing it on the table, Michael ripped the shirt off before grabbing a knife.

"Why are you performing an autopsy?" Lilith asked.

"Witches are a subgroup of humanity," Michael explained. "However, the Golden Guard doesn’t belong to either category."

"And how do you know that?" Lilith asked, feeling offended by Michael's lackadaisical attitude toward the deceased. From what she would tell the Golden Guard couldn't have been older than twenty.

"Well, last I checked both humans and witches had hearts. Not giant white crystals," Michael said as he removed said stone from the chest cavity. "They also don't have skin and muscle fibers resembling tree wood."

Lilith walked over and looked into the opened chest cavity. What she saw could only be described as a DIY replica of a body. Despite being a fresh corpse, the pale imitations of internal organs were dry. The bones were made of stone and the intestines were some kind of vine. The only parts that looked remotely close to normal were the lungs, which were gray with a rocky texture. The longer she stared at the puppet, the better she noticed the subtle grain pattern in the skin and muscle.

"I think, no, I know this is palistrom wood," Lilith said in a hoarse whisper. Michael graciously covered the puppet with a sheet. "It's the only wood on the Isles capable of imitating flesh when supplied with magic. It was likely provided by that stone as it resembles the Galdor stones. The lungs, intestines, just about every internal organ resembles some long dead or endangered plant or animal."

"Professional or personal interest?" He asked.

"Professional," Lilith replied. "The Emperor is interested in conservation effort."

Michael held up the mask as he looked at Lilith. "Still think that's the case?"

Eda paced back and forth in the living room. What was supposed to be a relaxed weekend recovering from Grom turned into a hellish experience as Luz and Amity began to purge their bodies from Grometheus's poison. Thankfully, Amity wasn't exposed to much of it and recovered in a few hours. Luz, however, was stuck in a loop of horrific wailing, violent vomiting, and death-like stillness. In the few lucid moments she had, Luz did her best to reassure Eda but it was hard to believe her when Luz looked like she had one foot in the grave. Amity had taken King out of the house so he didn't have to deal with Luz's condition. Through this all, Eda had only one thought.

Where the HELL was Michael?

Eda gave up trying to create an antidote hours ago. There just wasn't enough time for her to figure out the best ingredients and the required ratios to create one. Luz's only hope was Michael, as while he may not have an antidote he could help Luz purge the poison faster than she could on her own. But Michael hadn't been seen since for almost a day and a half. She was only grateful that Luz was currently in a calm period.

As if on cue, the man walked in.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" Eda went off on him. "LUZ HAS NEEDED YOUR HELP FOR HOURS AND WE HAD NO WAY OF REACHING YOU!"

Michael had been in many life-or-death battles in his life, such was the consequence of the path he walked in life. He could counter the sword strikes of a sword saint or withstand the blow of a mighty master, yet the wrath of a woman was an instinctual fear to him.

"WHAT? WHAT? WHAT DID I DO? I'M SORRY!" Michael responded, throwing his hands over his head on reflex.

Eda grabbed the man by the collar and dragged him over to where Luz currently lay. Michael noticed her comatose state and immediately began to run a check-up. Her pulse was weak and rapid, her eyes moving too rapidly for normal sleep, and her aura was unsteady. She had no visible wounds or bandaging, leaving him with only a few possibilities.

"How did Grometheus harm her?" He asked. "She should have come out of that battle completely fine."

"Turns out you aren't as clever as you think. Grom used poison as its main method of instigating fear," Eda replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Michael ignored it, understanding that it came from a place of care instead of any form of malice.

"A fear-inducing poison is incredibly rare in nature," Michael said. "I never would have thought that… but this land is full of surprises. At least she won." He looked over at the Grom Royalty crown on the end of the couch.

Eda huff. "Yeah, she and Amity killed the thing for good. Luz busted up the seal and lured it away but let the fear get to her. Amity knocked some sense back into her and the two worked together to kill it."

Michael nodded. "Help me get her into a sitting position." He picked Luz up and carefully set her on the floor. With Eda's help, they got Luz seated on the ground with Michael knelt behind her.

"Has she had any attacks?" He asked.

Eda nodded grimly. "Several. She keeps rotating between screaming, vomiting, and being comatose."

"This one is going to be the worst," Michael said. "She is already trying to expel the poison, but she can only do so much at a time before the poison overwhelms her. I'm going to try and get the rest in one go."

Eda gragged Luz's wrists and Michael placed his hands on her back. Carefully he inserted his qi into his student's body. He needed to be careful. Normally this was done while the patient was cooperative and as alert as they could be. But Luz was more or less working on instinct. One wrong move and her qi would react badly in an effort to protect the body, likely injuring her.

The situation was bad. Traces of poison could be found all over her body, concentrated in her brain, heart, and daitan. It was too risky to deal with any of those areas first. Instead, Michael focused on removing the poison from the rest of her body first letting Luz focus on the more delicate areas for now. The process was intense, requiring Michael to exercise all the control he had to avoid clashing with Luz's qi. Slowly he gathered the poison, packing it as tightly as he could before moving on to gather more.

The process was slow, agonizingly slow. But he couldn't afford any mistakes. The poison wasn't aggressive, but it was stubborn, like scraping cold grease from the surface of a pan. Once it had been removed from the majority of her body, Michael assessed where Luz was in her own efforts. She had been picking away at the concentration in her heart, but the concentration in her daitan was making the effort difficult. Michael went to work clearing the poison there.

The process of clearing her daitan was slow but worthwhile. Once it was cleared, Luz's effectiveness had dramatically increased. If he wasn't worried about facing Eda's and eventually Camilla's wrath for not completely treating Luz he would have stopped there. Thankfully, clearing the poison from her brain and the remainder that had spread out in the meantime didn't take long. Finally the poison was gathered in one place, ready to be expelled from Luz's body. With one solid blow to Luz's back, she coughed up the poison expelling it for good.

Michael opened his eyes for the first time in hours. The atmosphere immediately set him on edge. Something was wrong. Eda was missing. Amity was curled up on a nearby chair, clearly showing signs of crying. King was also nowhere to be seen or sensed. Before he could utter a word, he felt the weight of the world press down on him. Danger.

"Amity," Michael said in a steely voice. "Where is King?"

"She took him," She replied. "I trusted her and she took him. Used him as bait."

"Who took her? Bait for what?" He asked.

Amity turned to him as fresh tears began to fall. "Lilith, she took King to use him as bait for Eda. She just stormed out to get him back, but it's trap. Lilith is going to force her to join the Emperor's coven. It's her last chance."

Lightning cracked as Luz bolted from the house. Neither Michael nor Amity called out to her. They knew where she was going.

"Go after her, Amity. She is going to need your help." Michael stood up and moved towards the stairs.

Amity balked at him. "What about you? You're stronger than the Emperor right? Why don't you go?"

Michael sighed. "I am oath-bound to stay out of affairs directly concerning the Isles. I only have jurisdiction to teach a small number of students. I can only intervene to save Luz's life and her life only."

"So you're just going to hide?" Amity asked, her voice laced with disappointment.

"No. I'm going to prepare," He said as he walked away.

Far away, at the castle that acted as the local headquarters for the Emperor's coven, Lilith watched as her sister emerged from the forest. Eda was there for the small black demon she had taken from Amity. Lilith honestly hoped that this last ditch effort would work, as the consequences for failing would be the Emperor signing her sister's death warrant.

Eda felt nothing but rage. She had started to remember what it was like to trust her family, her sister, again. But now, Lilith had crossed a line by dragging King into their conflict. Sure, she couldn't blame the coven for targeting him for his petty crimes and the small parts he played in her schemes, but to use the closest thing she had to a son as bait was too far. She was going to tear her sister, then this whole castle, apart.

Notes:

I am filled with motivation, inspiration, and spare time.

Classes are over and I have been given a longer-than-usual break between rounds since none of my professors had finals during finals week.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them.

Chapter 32: Chapter 32

The Titan watched from the prison of his own creation. He knew long ago that he would be unable to physically help his son, yet seeing little King curled up in fear tormented him like nothing he had experienced. The Titan did his best to alert his ally, but the ancient human was unable to even detect the changes in his environment as he helped cure his disciple. The girl who was watching came to King's guardian, carrying the staff and message of the kidnapper. The only comfort he took was watching the guardian storm out to save her ward.

Lilith watched as her palisman returned to her side. He told her that Eda was close and very unhappy. She looked at the small black demon as he lay shivering in the orb she had conjured. This moment was the closest she had ever been to atoning for her greatest sin, yet Lilith couldn't help but feel she had done too much damage at this point to be forgiven.

Eda stepped onto the drawbridge. Lilith had crossed a line no one should ever cross. Today, she would remind not only Lilith but every witch on the Boiling Isles the reason she, Eda Clawthrone, was the strongest witch. Her curse had been a hindrance, forcing her to be careful and ration her magic. She found clever ways to fight and ways to improve the efficiency of her spells beyond what was thought possible. Now, she was free from the curse. While her magic had not yet fully returned to her, she was still more powerful than she had been in years. What's more, she had new power. Power that the Boiling Isles had forgotten and only just begun to remember. She would burn this day into the history of the Isles.

"Ah, sister, I see Amity delivered my message to you." Lilith levitated down from the ramparts with the orb in tow. As she landed, the orb glowed gold and rushed over to Eda. She watched as her sister muttered something to the little demon before he ran away.

"Are you ready to…" Lilith was cut off.

"Give me one reason why I should listen to anything you have to say," Eda demanded.

Lilith sighed. Her little stunt truly ruined their relationship, possibly beyond the point of repair. "The Emperor has given an ultimatum. Either you join a coven today or face the consequences."

"Consequences, consequences, consequences. He's been blabbering that word for years, yet I never had to deal with them," Eda replied. "In fact, my defiance has given me more than anything he has to offer."

Lilith scowled. "That's just like you, ignoring your problems when people just want to help. You haven't changed a bit, still, the brat you were all those years ago when you…"

Lilith stopped as she spun a shielding spell into existence. Eda launched a fireball that splashed harmlessly against her spell. "See, even your magic has suffered. No spell of yours should be that easy to block."

"That wasn't a spell," Eda replied. Several balls of fire sprung into existence above her. "I think we're done here. How about we settle this with a duel? When I win, you leave me, my friends, my family, and anyone else you think you can use to get to me alone. If you manage to beat me, then I'll put on any number of coven sigils you want."

"Why can't you just see reason?" Lilith asked as she launched her counterattack. "You could abandon your life of crime, and find new opportunities. Even that human that's living with you is going to join a coven, why can't you see that it’s the best thing to do?"

Eda laughed as her flames turned the attack to ash. "You must be as crazy as that Emperor of yours if you think any of those kids are staying when they're done. The Isles aren't big enough to keep them here forever."

With a twirl of her staff, Eda summoned dozens of stone pillars, each decorated with Hooty's face, and directed them straight at Lilith. Lilith deftly weaved through the pillars, but couldn't see the next attack before it landed squarely on her chest. The blow knocked her down making her land on the drawn bridge, hard. Lilith could feel the bruising already and was thankful she didn't break any of her ribs.

Lilith stood up and dusted herself off. Her sister's attacks were aggressive, but they should have burned through her magic enough to make capturing her easy. As she turned to look at Eda, her blood ran cold. The gem that reflected her sister's magic reserves for so many years remained as clear as ever. Not a speck of darkness could be seen.

"HOW?" Lilith screamed. "You should be running on fumes by now! The Owl Beast should be clawing its way to the surface while you beg for my help."

Eda smiled. "Owlbert and I evicted my unwelcome house guest a couple of months ago. Though they did leave a few things behind that I'm still working through." Eda released her staff as Owlbert took off and flew over to Lilith. She stared at the palisman, eyes wide as she took in his new form. With a cheerful hoot, Owlbert flew back to Eda's waiting hand.

Lilith's mind refused to accept it. Her sister still had to be cursed. That was it! The Owl Beast itself wasn't the curse, but a vessel. Getting rid of it didn't free Eda from the curse, it just allowed the curse to properly take root in her body. That's why she's stronger now, the Owl Beast isn't holding the curse back anymore.

"You may have found a way to free yourself from a symptom," Lilith said as she began to gather her magic. "But that doesn't mean you are free from your curse. The only one who can offer you salvation is the Emperor!"

She slammed her staff down, her magic taking the form of a spectral raven behind her. Eda responded by conjuring a spectral bird of her own. Fitting for someone known as the Owl Lady hers took the form of an owl reminiscent of what Owlbert used to look like. Lilith couldn't help but feel like this fight should have been a reflection of the one they should have had so many years ago.

The massive birds clashed. The collision was massive. The two magics rushed against each other, each trying to slip past. The on-lookers had to hide behind the ramparts to avoid getting hit by a wayward beam of magic. The guards present that day would later report that it was the most brilliant display of raw magical power they had ever seen and that they wished to never see such a display again in their lifetime.

Eda was losing ground. She could feel herself slipping, even if it was just a little bit. Her chest burned as her body did its best to keep up with the magical demand. She needed more power. This was more than just another fight with her sister. This was about sending a message. The coven had crossed a line, but they also found a way to drag her out whenever they wanted to. She needed to send a message that they never stood a chance of catching her.

Eda's body began to protest under the strain. Even at her best, she had never held a spell this long. She faltered when she felt a familiar sensation. Feathers poking through her skin. Eda began to panic. The Beast was dead and gone. She was so confident in this fact that she had tossed her remaining elixirs. The collision point got closer to her and Eda decided that winning the current fight was more important than worrying about what was happening to her. She could fix the issue as long as she was still alive.

The feeling of feathers pushing through her skin intensified as she pushed her body beyond its limits. The pain had moved from her chest to all over her body, but she was winning. Eda had managed to push back and was starting to overtake her sister. Each sister gave a final push as the collision point destabilized, creating a massive explosion that took out the bridge.

Lilith was exhausted. She barely had any magic left in her. She would be tired for days as her bile sac worked to replace all the magic she used today. But it didn't matter, once the dust cleared she would see her sister's exhausted body and take her to be branded and then cured. Her decades-long quest would finally come to an end as her worst mistake was undone.

The dust did settle, but instead of seeing Eda exhausted or even unconscious Lilith saw something she considered much worse. Eda stood, barely out of breath, with a single massive gray wing coming out of her right shoulder and her left arm covered in feathers. The hybrid curse form filled Lilith with an immense sense of dread as her vision blurred.

Eda watched as her sister collapsed from exhaustion. Several guards dashed down from the ramparts to tend to their leader. She didn't need to rub in her victory, the covens would remember this day. She turned to leave without another word.

Eda couldn't take another step as a massive weight fell on her. Craning her neck against the force she saw him, Emperor Belos. He just appeared floating in the air, his face covered by his golden mask. Next to him was his shadow the Golden Guard who was sitting on his mechanical staff. Eda tried to turn to face the tyrant but as she did the weight on her increased.

His cold voice filled her ears. "Eda Clawthrone the Owl Lady, you have been quite the throne in my side. For your crimes, I sentence you to petrification."

Sounds returned to normal as Michael mended the distortion in time he created. He looked over his preparations one last time. Dozens of books, bottles, and rings lay on the table before him. His own master faced a similar situation when Michael was twenty-three. Now Luz and the rest of his students were in danger. Philip was advancing his plans. But worst of all, five familiar cultivators entered the Boiling Isles.

Notes:

Yes, all bodies have been accounted for everyone who should be alive is alive.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 33: Chapter 33

Michael observed the daily life of the citizens of Bonesborough as they blissfully went about their day. They were oblivious to the danger contained in the marks they proudly wore on their wrists. For once, he was grateful for the bloody laws cultivators lived by, for they usually protected the mortals from such fate and if they could not be protected they would be avenged. Michael had participated in several campaigns that brought people like Philip to justice.

He turned his attention to where Luz and Amity were. They had found King some time ago and the three of them were in the middle of breaking into the Conformitorium. Lilith had already detected them but was using her authority to redirect as many guards as she could. Clearly, she had a change of heart after recovering from her mental breakdown. Eda was chained at the lowest level of the prison. The announcement had already gone out, Belos was going to make an example of her. Her allies didn't have much time but he was certain they would pull off her escape.

Her allies. Michael considered his thoughts. When did he flip that switch in his mind? Had he cosigned himself to that fate when he noticed the intrusion or was it years ago when that traitorous disciple plunged the knife in his back? If it was on that day ten years ago, then he really owed Luz more than he thought. Even if it was only a blip at the end of his life, he was able to set aside his grudge and focus on the next generation. He wondered what his own master felt at the end of their brief time together.

Michael observed as Belos spoke with the strange child, the Collector. He had an inkling about the nature of the Collector and wondered what really brought him here. Being like the Collector were incredibly rare and it was even rarer for them to willingly leave their star. He felt like there was a bigger plot there, but that was an issue beneath his concern.

They were no longer trying to hide their probing attempts. He batted at a few strands of their divine senses with his own but didn't bother with a counterattack. All of them knew that they were aware of each other, they were just going through the motions as a sign of respect for each other.

Michael picked up his sword and began walking. The people watched him as he passed with the guards paying close attention to his sword. He walked through the town unimpeded as he made his way towards the Conformitorium. It made as good of a place as any for the fight that was coming. Too many pieces were on collisions courses to avoid it. Luz would likely confront Belos before the day was out, but she wasn't ready for that fight yet.

He arrived at the prison when the five of them finally dropped the pretense and appeared behind him. "It's been a while, my old 'friends'. I see you brought my wayward disciple with you as well. That's quite generous of you."

They were uncertain about how they should respond. They had expected him to fight like a dying animal, but Michael remained calm and collected. The youngest stepped forward. "Master, you are not well. Please, come with us so we can treat your wounds. I would hate to see you leave this life so soon."

"Oh," Michael said. "Now you remember I am your master. Tell me something Duan Kai, did you remember I was your master when you stabbed me in the back? Did your filial piety towards me awaken during the eleven years that have passed since we last met? Or are you finally giving in to your rotting moral character?"

"My friend, there is no need to speak to young Duan Kai like that. He was only…" Michael cut him off with a glare.

"Zachariah, those were some uniquely formulated poisons you created," A murderous aura began to build around Michael. "I simply must repay you for it."

Two others stepped forward, their stance showed that they were ready to respond at a moment's notice. "And what outstanding examples of loyalty you two are, Shen and Carlos. Even dogs could learn something from you two."

"Come now, Michael. Are such harsh words really appropriate?" The last man said.

"Seraph," Hatred burned his throat as he spoke those words. Michael knew him the longest and had fought several life-or-death battles alongside him. "You speak like we are friends and not bitter enemies."

"But we are friends," Seraph replied. "You and I have fought tooth and nail for each other's lives for many years. How can we not be friends?"

Michael took a deep breath. "Friends do not lure each other into traps. Friends do not turn disciples against the masters. Friends do not use poison on each other. And friends to not wear false smiles."

The four ancient masters each dropped their façade. The killing intent in the area rapidly increased as the six men prepared to fight. "Since you refuse diplomacy, I will give you this final offer. Hand over the secrets of your Heaven Decerning Eyes and cripple your cultivation and we will let you live."

Michael's response was the scraping of steel as he pulled his sword from its sheath. Carlos's head fell from his shoulders as the rest scattered. Michael knew he was living on borrowed time since he escaped their ambush. His time was up, so he would use every resource available to him.

"Shit," Duan Kai called out. "He's burning blood essence!"

It was worse than that. Michael was pulling out every scrap of power he could from his injured body. It took him several years to seal the poison away and the following years were nowhere near enough time for his body to recover. Even if he had another ten years it wouldn't have made a difference.

Zachariah and Shen rushed Michael from opposite sides. Carlos had been a close friend of Zachariah and a sworn brother to Shen. The two of them could not leave him unavenged. Zachariah's palm strike was blocked by Michael's own palm while his blade intercepted Shen. Michael shoved both men away from him before quickly turning to Duan Kai. The fallen student sought to take advantage of the bind to land a blow only to be reminded that his former master still had five thousand years of combat experience. His strike was deftly parried and he was sent flying with a loud crack as his body broke the sound barrier.

Seraph watched as the boy was thrown away from the fight. He was a fool to attempt to engage Michael in his current state. He was fighting tooth and nail to drag as many of them as he could to the grave with him. All they really needed to do was survive long enough for his body to break apart and his blood run dry. No one, man or otherwise, could survive prolonged combat while constantly burning their blood essence.

Fifteen minutes had passed and streaks of gray started to invade Michael's hair, a sign of his rapidly depleting vitality. On the other side though, Shen lost an arm, Zachariah lost an eye, and Duan Kai remained missing. Seraph didn't care, as long as he was alive at the end then it would all be worth it and the worse off the others were the more he would benefit.

Shen rushed Michael again with his mace held high. He brought the weapon down on Michael's shoulder, but his blow glanced off only tearing Michael's robes. Through the torn fabric the three men saw the reason, hard blue scales. Dragon scales.

"How?" Shen demanded. "How do you have the scales of the Dragon Clan?"

Michael chuckled as he cleaved the man in two. "Ask King Yama."

Zachariah began to regret the fight. He was certain that they held the upper hand with their numbers and his poisons, but no one had said anything about Michael being related to the Dragon clan. If word ever got back to them about his part in Michael's death then not only him but the entire sect he was a part of would be torn to shreds by the dragons. But he couldn't run. Michael was a master of space principles making it difficult to pin him down or flee while he retained the ability to flee whenever and wherever he wanted.

Seraph made the same realization as Zachariah. Michael had baited them into this fight. Even poisoned, wounded, and with his cultivation forcefully suppressed by the world, Michael would have been able to escape and disappear for at least another ten years or more and there would have been nothing any of them could have done to stop him. They were baited, but why? Why didn't he run and hide? Why was he fighting so desperately?

Seraph was pulled from his thoughts when Zachariah's body fell to pieces. The alchemist, whether due to panic or overconfidence, let his guard down and was torn to pieces by Michael's sword intent. It was by far his most dangerous talent capable of turning anything, even his eyes, into a sword. As the chunks of the alchemist's body settled on the ground, Seraph was forced into action.

Swords clashed as the two began to fight. Despite his plans to kill him, Seraph was warry about crossing blades with Michael. The two spent many years honing their swords skills together, often competing directly when one of them reached a bottleneck in their cultivation. Flashes of the past came unwelcome to Seraph's mind, but his heart remained undisturbed by them. He, like Michael, had long resolved to end the other man's life.

Duan Kai crept around the edge of the battle. The sparks sprang into life in an area around one hundred feet from the two men as they stood with blades in hand. He was completely outclassed in this clash between masters. Even as his life was rapidly coming to an end, Michael stood as an unmovable figure on the battlefield. But something was off. Duan Kai was taught the sword style Michael had personally developed, the Space Cleaving Sword Arts. It allowed a cultivator to swing their sword and strike the opponent at impossible angles, but Michael wasn't using it at all.

Michael revealed the reason why when he quickly left the area he was fighting and activated an array. It was sloppy by his standards, but the best he could do using both his and Seraph's deflected sword strikes to carve it into the ground. In an instant, Seraph's felt space seize around his body. He was trapped.

"I respected you at one point. I had told by disciples that if I died or disappeared that they should seek you out," Michael said as he approached his former friend. "Out of that respect, I will end your life the way you always wanted."

Seraph struggled against the array, even releasing the limits he placed on his cultivation. But Michael's array held as long as it needed. With his hand extended, Michael spoke the words that would condemn him. "Time flows like a mighty stream, like an unending dream."

Duan Kai watched Seraph's body rapidly age and decay under the effects of the Flowing Time Seal. It was considered one of the most dangerous abilities that utilized the laws of time. The glow from the Seal rapidly aged whatever it touched by a factor based on the users understanding of the laws of time. When used by Michael, it was easily thousands of years in a second. When the glow faded, all that remained of Seraph the Sword Saint was his bones which turned to dust as they hit the ground.

The master and disciple locked eyes. Michael's hair had turned stark white and his face was marred by the signs of aging. Even in his pathetic state, Duan Kai couldn't meet Michael's gaze for long. Without a word between the two, Michael tossed a token to Duan Kai. Carved on the surface was a single word, elder.

"Even though you have forfeited all rights you had as my apprentice, you are still my rightful successor in the eyes of the sect," Michael spoke in a sad voice. "But don't get comfortable, my true disciple will come and take that token from you one day. Now go."

Duan Kai did as he was told, clutching the token tightly as he left the star. He didn't know about his youngest martial sister who was fighting for her life a mere few miles from his location. The other two wouldn't know of his hand in their master's death and he would never tell them.

A sigh of relief left Michael's lips as he felt Duan Kai pass through the barrier. Despite his bravado, his cultivation had fallen significantly. He pushed his body harder than any sane man should have. It was only a matter of time before he died, but he had one last thing to accomplish.

Luz was leaning against a wall as Belos stared at her. She had tried to save Eda, but only got Lilith and Amity sent to their graves as well. The sound of gears turning echoed from above as the platform containing the three of them was being raised to the execution grounds. Luz had lost for the first time in a very long time and it cost her greatly.

"You can still save them you know," Belos said. "All you have to do is make a trade and I will spare the three of them. I'll even leave that little class of yours alone."

Luz spat blood as she tried to push herself up from the wall. "And what will that cost me, my freedom, my life, or both?"

Listening to his voice was an unpleasant experience, but his response sent ice into her veins. "I want the portal door."

"I-it doesn't work anymore," She stammered out.

"DON'T lie to me," Belos said. "I know you came here through that portal. Hand it over and I'll spare your precious friends."

"I'm not," Luz retorted. "It stopped working after I came through. Master tried to fix it, but he couldn't. I'm stuck here until I'm strong enough to survive the space between worlds."

"If you won't tell the truth girl, I'll just force it from you," Belos said as black sludge seeped out from under his robes.

Luz tried to move, but the black sludge was too quick. She had already used the time distortion ability stored in her bracelet and wouldn't abandon her friends when they needed her the most. As the sludge enveloped her body, two roars filled her mind.

Belos hissed in pain as the sludge around Luz burned away. Thoughts of the portal flew from his mind and were replaced by thoughts of salvation. But he couldn't dwell on them long as a massive serpentine body crashed through the ceiling. Dragons had supposedly been extinct for a long time, though Belos never put stock in such stories before now. Before him was the massive head of a blue dragon. His vision split as he was bisected by an unknown attack. Belos let his body run through the cracks in the stone as he retreated. He couldn't fight the beast on his own but knew the Titan would preserve his newfound prize well enough.

Michael watched as Belos vanished beneath the floor. He shifted back to his human form and approached Luz. Her encounter with Belos had briefly activated the titan source, injuring Belos in the process. As he looked at Luz he felt regret. He could no longer be there to help and guide her, all that he could leave behind was a mere portion of his writings. Only the heavens knew if Luz would one day be capable of entering the Sealed Universe Bead.

Gingerly, Michael picked up Luz and brought her to the surface. There he met with Eda, Amity, and Lilith. It was clear from the tears on the faces of the Clawthrone women that something had transpired between them. Amity watched with concern as Michael carefully passed Luz to her. The human girl clung to the witch as all four watched Michael walk a short distance away.

"I'm afraid this is good bye," Michael said as he faced away from the quartet. "I cast my life aside, but I did so without any regrets."

The women watched on silently. They barely recognized Michael's face after it was robbed of its youthful vigor. The usually clean and well-presented cultivator was covered in blood-stained and tattered robes and looked as old as he claimed. His tone reminded them of their own grandfather when he had passed away.

Michael placed his hands together and uttered a single word in the language of the cultivators. A massive pillar of light erupted from his body. His soul fled back to the upper world, a last-ditch effort he had prepared centuries ago to reincarnate his body. However, the technique was untested and spat in the eye of the laws of life and death. In all likelihood, his life had ended on a forgotten star.

Notes:

Oops, I think I broke him.

Honestly, Michael leaving the story was a long time coming. He's just too powerful for the current story.

For all intents and purposes, Michael is dead. Though I have left a tiny ray of hope for him, it is so far into the future that it would be pointless to consider. If he were to survive, he would need to cultivate from the beginning again anyway which would make for its own interesting story.

King Yama is a/the king of the underworld in Eastern mythology. If you have seen Dragon Ball Z, he's the big guy Goku talked to when he died. What Michael was saying was 'Go to hell'.

The Flowing Time Seal is shamelessly taken from Martial Peak. Warning, it is several times longer than One Piece.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Luz woke up in a different room. The last thing she remembered was being carried back towards the Owl House after Michael…

Her mind lurched. Michael was dead. No tricks, no backup plan, he was just gone. Just like her father. Luz was starting to hate father figures. Hers never stayed around long enough, always dying before she was ready to let go.

She pulled herself from the bed as her mother's advice echoed in her head. 'He wouldn't want you to stay like this.' She said that about her dad when he died of some unknown disease. Luz had only been six or seven when he died, she couldn't remember that well. Her memories around that time blurred together into an incomprehensible mess.

She paused by the door to her room. The door was shut and when she tried to open it she found it was locked too. The sounds and smells coming from downstairs told her where everyone was. She could tell that Eda, King, and Amity. Lilith was already gone as she figured. Lilith didn't have the best relationship with Eda and while the two could put things aside long enough to work together staying in the same house seemed to be out of the question.

Luz crashed right into Eda as she stepped off the stairs.

"You're up. That's good." Eda sounded tired. When Luz looked up from the floor she noted that Eda looked tired. Eda explained the reason, "You've been out for three days."

He's been dead for three days. "Why wasn't I in my room?" Luz asked. Her throat was dry and stung as she spoke.

Amity walked up and handed her a glass of water. "Michael left some things in your room. We figured it would be best to let you recover in a place that wasn't surrounded by reminders."

Luz let out a sigh. "Uh… Thanks for being considerate, but… this isn't the first time someone close to me has died. I promise I'm fine… or at least fine enough. This won't be the first time I've had to look through a dead man's possessions."

There was an awkward silence in the air as Amity tentatively pulled out the key to Luz's room. She had placed it on a bit of string around her neck and hid it underneath her shirt. No one was sure how Luz was going to react when she came to, but figured she wouldn't attack Amity. Luz accepted the key with a quiet thank you before returning upstairs.

Her room was largely the way she left it. Clothes were piled in a corner, and a few posters from the Human Realm that Eda had scavenged were hung on the walls. Luz almost wondered what they were talking about before her eyes landed on the table against the far wall. There were A few stacks of books, about a dozen rings, a map, and a sealed scroll.

Luz knew in her gut what the scroll was, but still tried to deny it. Her hands shook as she carefully broke the wax seal and unrolled the scroll. Written in the language of the cultivators was his last will and testament. Tears fell down her face as she read.

Luz let herself recover for the rest of the day. There were things she needed to do, but decided it would be best to wait until tomorrow. Lilith returned shortly after the sunset and told everyone how things had settled over the past few days. Belos had repealed Eda's execution, citing Michael's attack as a sign from the Titan that Belos had strayed from the plan. Lilith wasn't charged for any crimes that she committed while trying to free her sister despite the numerous witnesses. While Belos allowed her to keep her position of Coven Head, Lilith voluntarily stepped down from the role citing personal reasons. Any information regarding Luz and Amity's involvement had been completely scrubbed from all reports as well.

Belos's involvement didn't sit well with anyone, even less so after Luz relayed her experience with the man. But all of that paled in comparison to what Michael left behind.

"So, the coven marks are tied to a massive spell," Lilith said as she looked over the translation Luz provided. "I hate to admit it, but it makes sense. Belos went to great lengths to confiscate or destroy any information on wild magic. He even forbids the Emperor's coven from researching ways to counteract any effects caused by it."

"That would explain why information on old scrolls like the one you used on me is so hard to find," Eda added. "He wants people to believe his way is the only solution so everyone becomes part of this draining spell."

Amity stared at Lilith. "You don't really believe this, do you? Just a few days ago you would have been extolling the virtues of the Coven System. But now, you're believing the words of a dead man."

Lilith shook her head. "Not entirely. Soon after Michael and Luz came to the Boiling Isles, he began construction on a tower with Belos's cooperation. When I asked about its purpose Michael said it was for the benefit of the Isles. A few days before he died the tower was complete and he put something at the top of the tower, nine things to be precise. I think he knew from the start and used Belos to prepare a countermeasure."

"So with the four of us, plus those other two kids that are always around… We just need to find three more to join us then," Eda exclaimed.

"No," Luz said. She pointed to the next section of the will. "The tower itself will be open to the public. As long as nine people reach the top before Belos activates the array, then everything will be fine. He left specific instructions for us."

Luz began detailing everything Michael had listed out. He knew that without him there Belos would be a serious threat. While the tower was guaranteed to work, preventing Belos from activating the spell at all would be a far better plan. To achieve this, every combatant needed to raise their power by a significant degree. While his true power is obscured, Michael figured Belos was on par with a peak Saint realm practitioner, the realm directly after the Immortal Boundary realm.

To reach that level under ideal and controlled circumstances would take Luz roughly three years. However, there was a chance. The Heavenly and Human realms have long histories of cultivation leaving their respective landscapes dotted with the tombs and inheritances of fallen cultivators. Obtaining even one of those inheritances would greatly bolster not only her cultivation but the cultivation of any student who managed to obtain it.

That's how they all ended up at the Knee. Luz and Amity were joined by Hunter, Willow, Gus, and King. Boscha refused the call of adventure and instead decided to study the few alchemical texts Michael had left behind. The rest thought that they would just hold the small group back. So the six of them set out for Eclipse Lake, the place where Michael hid the portal to the Heavenly Realm.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Hunter asked. "Eclipse Lake is one of the most dangerous and remote locations in the Boiling Isles. The mines were condemned for a reason."

"That's why it's the perfect place to hide a portal," Gus said. "Besides, we're likely to find WAY more dangerous places in the Heavenly Realm. Why am I going with you guys again?"

"Cause the only place you're going to see a proper array is the Heavenly Realm," Willow answered. "Relax, Hunter. Everything is going to be fine."

The trip to Eclipse Lake went well. Hunter nearly died of a heart attack when King dropped a small piece of Fool's Blood, but thankfully nothing catastrophic happened. Apparently, the material was supposed to be devoid of magic and extremely volatile, but both King and Luz felt drawn to certain veins of Fools Blood as they traveled. There was something strange about the crystalized blood, but they didn't have time to investigate.

Stepping into the middle of the dried lakebed, Luz and Amity quickly went through the steps to open the seal on the portal. Michael had left detailed instructions on how to open each portal and what to expect on the other side. The Eclipse Lake location was picked due to the other side being located on the edge of a large mountain chain on the border of two kingdoms. It was a contested location that no sect was allowed to control for fear of disrupting the balance between the two nations.

Hunter, Willow, and Gus were going to go through first. Willow had advanced her understanding of the Forest God Scripture allowing her to use the surrounding forest as an extension of her own body. Combined with Gus's illusions and Hunter's survival skills, they were the best suited to act as vanguard. Or at least that's what they were told. After they had safely passed through and confirmed the area was secured, Luz and Amity closed the portal on then.

"Are you sure this was a good idea?" Amity asked.

"Willow will be pissed, but the three of them should be fine," Luz replied. "I give them a week before they realize I put the portal instructions in Hunter's storage ring. Besides, I don't trust Hunter yet."

Amity nodded. The two of them had their suspicions about Hunter. Not only was he cagey about his past, but he also sounded like the Golden Guard and the imposter Amity fought. They were sure he didn't have ill intentions towards any of his peers, there were still secrets they didn't want him passing on to anyone else.

"You ready, King?" Luz asked. He nodded and Luz and Amity started a slightly different sequence.

Michael hid a secret in every portal, they each connected to the place where the Titan's soul resided. Luz knew it was the Titan source that harmed Belos in their confrontation. If she and King could learn to harness their Titan powers then they could use them against Belos should the time come. So the two of them planned to sneak off to meet the Titan and ask him to teach them. Amity caught them in the middle of their planning and refused to let them go alone, threatening to rat them out if they didn't let her tag along.

The new portal materialized, looking like a large slab of obsidian. King placed a clawed hand on the surface causing gold and purple strands to ripple out until they covered the entire surface. Waves moved across the surface as the portal stabilized. Luz felt something brush against her hand. Reaching out she grasped Amity's hand with her own. With a deep breath, the three of them stepped through the portal.

Notes:

Alas, my break has ended and a new semester has begun. I will certainly try to keep posting a chapter every week and I will let you guys know if I need to take a break to focus on schoolwork for a bit.

Anyways, we are finally leaving familiar ground to see the Heavenly realm. I'm not entirely sure who is going to get the group into trouble first. I think it's pretty even odds right now between Hunter, Willow, and Gus. Really, cultivator antagonists tend to have fragile egos.

Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Hunter, Willow, and Gus stood outside the door to the tomb. The place had been discovered about a week ago and enough people had shown up to force the place open. Hunter surveyed their group. They had been in the Heavenly Realm for only six months but saw drastic increases in their strength. Willow seemed to have benefited the most having reached the peak of the Qi Condensing Realm and only a step away from the Mixed Element stage. With the use of her Forest God Scripture and plant magic, she can easily go toe-to-toe with most Fourth rank Mixed Element cultivators. Gus hadn't progressed nearly as much with his cultivation, but his soul had grown much stronger allowing him to create and use more powerful arrays in combat. His reputation as an array master had deterred several fights over the past few weeks.

Hunter himself had built a reputation for his space abilities. After he was beaten by Luz he reviewed the book that contained the movement technique he likes using. It was difficult at first, he only ever pulled off the technique by following the instructions step by step. But after a chance encounter, he started to understand the principles behind the technique. This allowed him to create a powerful defensive skill. Once the secret behind the skill was made known to the general public, his reputation drew the attention of several sects and bounty hunters interested in recruiting him. It was difficult to maintain his independence without offending anyone, but years of navigating court and coven politics prepared him for such events.

He looked around at the crowd. Several large sects and the noble families of the surrounding nations had set people. He counted roughly one hundred and fifty people milling around waiting for the City Lord to arrive and open the tomb. It was clear to see who belonged to what faction, disciples from each sect wore uniforms and the future leaders of noble families had small groups standing behind them watching the crowd. Scattered among them were dozens of independent cultivators and small groups like his own. He had learned from their first tomb-raiding adventure that the independent cultivators were the ones he needed to pay attention to. By hiding their identity they became wild cards equally capable of being your greatest ally or stabbing you in the back.

A trio of cloaked cultivators landed close to his own. Hunter wouldn't have paid them any mind if it wasn't for one fact, even under their hood he could see a pair of horns. Horns and a humanoid figure suggested a very powerful monster or a cultivator who practiced an evil method. That was one thing all three of them had come to appreciate about cultivation, particularly evil methods would leave their mark on the practitioner.

Willow and Gus noticed the group too. The first few weeks in the Heavenly Realm had been quite the wake-up call. Despite how amazing and friendly the environment seemed when compared to the Demon Realm, they never experienced the level of malice and cunning they were shown here. It made them suspicious of ulterior motives every time someone approached them.

After exchanging hushed whispers, one of them started to approach the group but was interrupted by the arrival of the Mountain Pass City Lord. With the help of several elders from the city, he forced the barrier around the entrance of the tomb open. The crowd around Hunter and his group surged forward towards the tomb.

Willow signaled Gus and Hunter to start running. Before they could make any progress they were cut off by two of the hooded figures. Weapons came out as the three instinctively paired off with the hooded figures. No words were exchanged during the faceoff as the tension built. The longer they stood there the worse their chances of finding anything worthwhile dwindled. Seemingly satisfied with the amount of time they wasted, one figure flashed a token before the three dashed away from the tomb. The three witches exchanged stunned glances before dashing after the mysterious figures.

"You guys get a good look at what was on that token?" Hunter asked as they wove through the trees.

Willow nodded. "There was no mistaking it."

"There's only one person we know who knows what that symbol is," Gus added.

Etched on the surface of the token was the unmistakable shape of the light glyph. The glyphs in general were completely absent from any array or iconography they had seen during their stay in the Heavenly Realm. This led them to the conclusion that the glyphs were unique to the Demon Realm and specifically the Boiling Isles.

Without warning, the hooded figures turned and attacked them. Hunter and Willow took on their attackers head-on while Gus dodged before countering with a quick offensive array. The force of the exchange blew the hoods off, leaving the witches shocked at the identity of their attackers.

They were puppets carved in the likenesses of Luz, Amity, and King.

"I told you we should have used some glue on those hoods," A male voice called out.

"Yeah, you're right. But I didn't want to make another supply run just for that," Responded a familiar voice.

"I still think this is a dumb idea," Chimed a third voice. "It would have been much easier to just tell them up front."

"Kinda, we still wouldn't want anybody else listening in on us," The second voice called back.

At this point, the three witches had already figured out the identities of the three voices. With all the care and mercy she had planned, Willow punched the tree Luz was hiding in sending the unprepared human plummeting to the ground.

"Ow," Luz cried out as she got up.

"Give me just a minute and I'll have you back to normal," Willow said.

"uh, thanks, but I don’t think that it will even bruise," Luz responded.

Willow glanced over at Luz. "I was talking to the tree. I'm not done with you yet."

Luz started to look for an escape before vines sprung out of the ground and tied her up. King and Amity left their hiding places to stand next to her as they started to catch up with their friends.

"Your puppetry has really come along Amity," Hunter said. "Their movements were smooth enough that I couldn't even notice."

"Thanks. I had to work really hard to get my fine control up to that level. While puppets are easier to control than abominations, their ridged shape makes fine movements harder." Amity replied as she disassembled the decoy puppets.

"So, whose bright idea was it to waste our opportunity on this reunion?" Willow asked.

"I wouldn't say we wasted it…" Luz started.

"Luz," King and Amity replied in unison.

"Alright, it was my idea. But we do know a better place than that dusty old tomb. The guy who made it barely made it past the Immortal Boundary Realm, there's no way there's anything good in there," Luz defended.

Gus chimed in. "We could have used the money at least. Do you have any idea how expensive it is to practice arrays?"

Luz looked at the ground feeling a little guilty. She had to admit that she lacked a proper understanding of how expensive cultivation can really be. Thankfully, Willow had enough of tormenting Luz and let her go. "Don't listen to him, he's got plenty of money. Gus has made a small fortune off of selling talismans at the market."

"So, I guess you guys are wondering what we've been up to?" Luz said.

"A bit, yeah," Hunter said. "I can see King grew at least two feet since we last saw each other. I'm guessing there's a story there. You probably also have questions about us too."

"Not really," King replied. "We could check in on you guys from where you were so we already know the gist of it."

Hunter felt his face start to burn. He and Willow had gotten rather close over the last few months and the idea that his friends were watching the whole time was very embarrassing. "H-how much d-did you guys see?"

"Don't worry lover boy, you got your privacy," Luz joked before getting a quick whack to the back of her head from Amity.

"Explain it properly before the poor dude dies of embarrassment," She reprimanded.

Luz rubbed the back of her head as she started to explain. "You guys probably already guessed by now, but the portal closing behind you was intentional. The plan was for Amity to join you, but she caught us while we were planning and forced us to let her tag along."

"Not that you were complaining too much," King added.

Luz shot him a glare before continuing. "As you guys probably figured out by now, King doesn't belong to any humanoid classification on the Boiling Isles. One of the first things Michael found out when we arrived at the Boiling Isles was what kind of creature King is."

"I AM A TITAN, MASTER OF THE DEMON REALM!" King declared as he puffed out his chest. Hunter, Willow, and Gus stared at him for a moment before Amity chimed in.

"He's not lying. King is a titan," She said. This caused the three of them to react appropriately to learning that the annoying kid brother of the group was the son of god.

After the shock and awe wore off Luz continued her story. "The soul of the Titan is still alive and residing in a place between the three realms. Michael left instructions that would let King and I open a portal to that realm."

"I get why King would want to go there, but why would you Luz?" Willow asked.

Luz didn't respond with words. Instead, she turned around and pulled up her shirt, revealing her back to the group. After some initial panic from Hunter and Gus, the group saw what Luz wanted to show. On her back was a massive tattoo depicting the side profile of a titan. "I have inherited the titan's source and as such can gain its power."

Luz pulled her shirt down before turning towards her friends and continuing her story. "The Titan taught the three of us a lot, way too much to go over right now. The main thing for this story is that he taught King and me how to use the powers of the Titan race. The result was I got a bit stronger and King got significantly stronger. If he were human his realm would be around the same as a Fourth Grade Immortal Boundary Realm cultivator."

They stared at King in shock. Somehow the gangly-looking titan was stronger than all of them put together and could go toe-to-toe with some of the most important people in the area. Unfortunately, there was a catch.

"But, since I'm still pretty much a kid I can't fight at full power for very long," King added. "Probably about five minutes before I completely crash. I'm probably closer to a Third Grade Mixed Element Realm cultivator."

Luz nodded. "I can't draw a lot of titan power yet, but if I go all out I can probably hold off a First Grade Immortal Boundary cultivator for about a minute. Plenty to handle most enemies, but it will take days for me to fully recover from the strain it would put on my body. Even longer before I could do it again."

Eyes moved over to Amity, waiting to hear what heaven-defying skill she had developed. "It's not quite on their level, but I have managed to learn how to activate Silver Shadow's puppet form."

She held her arm out to her side and the silver bracelet seemed to melt off her wrist. The small puddle of metal rapidly rose up and took the form of a silver Amity. The puppet went through a few simple motions before it returned to its owner's wrist. "Nothing too fancy right now, it's far more useful as an armor-type artifact right now. It's still mostly incomplete."

"Geez, you guys got way more out of the last six months than we did," Gus complained.

"Gus, you're a Grade 6 Array Master without any formal training. Hunter is capable of using space principles, a skill that requires an incredible amount of power to counter. And Willow is practically invincible in her realm and when surrounded by a forest like this could probably take all five of us on at once. No one here is lagging behind the others," Amity said. "If anyone found out what we were capable of, we would be getting recruited by every major power."

"She's right," Willow said. "I've had to practically beat a few recruiters off me."

Hunter nodded, remembering the poor fools who followed her. They didn't know they were about to be on the receiving end of the powerful combination of plant magic and the Forest God Scripture. News spread across Mountain Pass City quickly after they managed to hobble back. The only thing that kept Willow from being targeted by the sects was that the pride of her victims refused to let them admit she completely trounced them.

The group continued to catch up on smaller details until the conversation moved back to the day's events, mainly the tomb that they all had completely missed out on.

"So, why did you guys wait until right before the tomb opened to approach us?" Hunter asked. "Surely you guys could have joined up with us inside or after we got out."

"Right, that!" Luz exclaimed. "There's a way better opportunity about to show up. A hidden realm is about to open about three hundred miles south of here. It would have closed by the time you got out."

"If it's so good, why wasn't the entire city talking about it?" Gus asked.

"Cause you guys weren't qualified to know about it," Luz explained. "The city lord actively suppresses information about this hidden realm from being spread in the city. Instead, they only notify people directly when it's about to open. The rule is that if you know about it you can enter. This way sects aren't at each other's throats in neutral territory fighting over spots. So, are you guys in?"

One by one, each member nodded their head. The prospects of wealth and adventure called them south to face unknown dangers.

Notes:

I think I've talked about tomb raiding in this genre before, but I'll clarify again. No one is going around digging up family graveyards to see what grandpa was buried with. These types of tombs are constructed by one cultivator at the end of their life to hide all their treasures with the intent that the best of the next generation will find and claim them. That's why you'll read other stories where people go tomb raiding, the stuff inside isn't for the dead but for whoever finds and earns it.

Power levels are bullshit, mostly. Early on in stories it's common for the MC to be able to punch up a few levels with that range decreasing as the gaps between realms increase. So the gap between Luz and the others is a lot smaller than the gap between Michael's realm and the one above or below that.

Also, why did Gramerly add a new colored line? I refuse to pay on principle, but it messes with me slightly.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 36: Chapter 36

The Southern Martial Continent had a long history of mighty heroes and vicious villains. Historians and philosophers have constantly debated the nature of the cycle. Was it some form of divine judgment of the people or was it related to the passing of powerful public figures causing a period of uncertainty that bad actors took advantage of? Both parties agreed that this observed pattern started when a figure only remembered as the King of the Vast Plains established the Great Plains Kingdom, heralding the end of the Barbaric Age. The king ruled for a decade before the Asura Warlord moved against his city. The two met in battle engaging in both army tactics and hand-to-hand combat. Their personal duel lasted for seven days and seven nights, long past the point that their armies had fought to exhaustion.

On the dawn of the eighth day, the survivors of both sides of the war awoke to see that the King of the Vast Plains had beheaded the Asura Warlord. Cheers emerged from both sides as they celebrated the end of the drawn-out battle. In his benevolence, he pardoned the soldiers of the Asura Warlord's army. History says that the King died some sixty years after the battle, working to not only protect his land but help his growing neighbors as they established their own borders.

In preparation for his death, the King did three things. First, he declared the laws of succession. Only a descendant of the previous king who reached strict cultivation goals could qualify as a potential heir. Second, he constructed the Royal Mausoleum where all future kings would be laid to rest. Finally, he created the Great Plains Secret Realm. The secret realm was one of the greatest secrets of the Southern Martial Continent and only a select few could allow entry to it each year.

Hence why Grant was confused by the appearance of five cultivators with a demon beast, he had never seen nor heard of them before. The other contestants he knew to some degree. Most were prodigies of their sect sent here to gain experience and forge bonds. Others were traveling cultivators who had drawn the attention of certain government officials or generals. Their names or faces were familiar to Grant who had spent the last few weeks studying every cultivator of note in preparation for today.

Hunter could feel the stares they got when they arrived at the entry point. It made him uneasy to be the center of attention. It went against all of the training he went through to be the Golden Guard. He was used to being visible but unseen. Others didn't pay attention to him, they weren't supposed to. They were supposed to ignore him while he watched for hidden dangers. Here the attention was squarely on him and his friends and it wasn't hard to see why.

The group that was already present was small, only about thirty people at most. A group as large as theirs was a significant increase in attendance. In addition, King was with them. Despite his bipedal stance, he stood out like a sore thumb as the only nonhuman present. Many cultivators were likely trying to identify what exactly he was and possibly how to eliminate him. Flapjack chirped quietly from his hiding spot. The palisman wanted to do more to alleviate Hunter's nerves, but past experience told them it was better for any palisman to remain hidden.

It wasn't long before a lone cultivator approached the group. Hunter's instincts kicked in as he observed the newcomer while his hands itched for his staff. Luz faced the newcomer to act as the group's representative and leader. They saluted each other before introductions began.

"Greetings fellow cultivators, I am Grant of Fire Mountain Sect," He said. "May I know your names?"

"I'm Luz Noceda. These are my companions Amity Blight, Willow Park, Gus Porter, Hunter Wittbane, and King." Luz motioned to each member as she introduced them.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Sister Luz," Grant replied. "May I interest your group in cooperating with me? I can tell that you are all qualified to be here but are not likely familiar with the other contestants. I can tell you about them in exchange for some information about yourselves."

"I appreciate the offer, Brother Grant," Luz said as she handed him a small pouch. "Though my friends and I would prefer to keep some secrets to ourselves. How about you just tell us about who we need to avoid?"

Grant took the bag and told the group about a few notable individuals before leaving. The information wasn't particularly useful, he just told them about the few cultivators who would hold a grudge over any perceived slights or grievances. Hunter stated that Grant was likely just interested in information about the group so he could pedal it to the other cultivators.

"I figured," Luz said. "That's why that bag is lined with fire glyphs. Had he told us anything worthwhile I would have told him how to open it safely."

"Isn't burning him a bit much?" Willow asked.

Luz shook her head. "It'll flare up but won't burn him. The contents on the other hand…"

In the distance, the group heard a string of colorful curses as Luz's trap went off. The little prank didn't earn them any friends, but they weren't there for that. They were there for the secret realm and the benefits it had to offer. Willow had been on the cusp of breaking through for a while now with Luz and Hunter not far behind. If the three of them managed to break through to the Mixed Element realm then they would be on par with most coven head-level witches in the Boiling Isles. It was still a far cry from the level Emperor Belos was at but it was very unlikely that they would encounter him any time soon.

Attention slowly drifted away from their group as the time for the secret realm to open drew nearer. The buzz of excitement was almost intoxicating. Even Hunter was having a difficult time maintaining a cool façade. What would happen inside the secret realm would impact the future of the Southern Martial Continent for years to come. Finally, some old elder appeared and started talking about the secret realm. There was nothing particularly special about the rules. The only thing the group needed to watch out for was the exit time. The entrance would be open for one hour to let everyone in and wouldn't open again for two months where it would be open for another hour. Failing to leave the realm would result in being trapped in the secret realm and likely dying as no one had emerged after being trapped inside.

"Remember, we cannot control where you will end up once you enter the secret realm. The best chance for your groups to stay together is to enter at the same time." After giving his final warning, the elder turned to his peers and together they activated an array hidden on a large rock. The portal opened and one by one the different groups went in.

When it was finally their turn the six of them entered the portal. Entering the secret realm was a lot like traveling through the void corridors that connected the realms. They watched light bend and twist until they came out on the other side. The environment inside the secret realm was remarkable. The air itself thrummed with energy and the faint scent of fruits and flowers surrounded them. The young cultivators had arrived near a flower field that seemed to contain rare herbs.

Willow stooped down to examine the plants more closely. While the grass itself was nothing special, it had absorbed a tremendous amount of qi and was likely one hundred years old. "Something is really special about this place. There's likely to be some valuable spirit herbs here."

"And dangers too," Hunter added. "None of the plants show signs of grazing or herd movements. I think something is guarding this area."

"Agreed," Luz said. "It's well documented that powerful and intelligent monsters will protect spirit herbs that are beneficial for them. No reward without risk."

"So, what's the plan then?' Amity asked. "Should we test our luck or pull out and come back later?"

The group exchanged glances back and forth, no one wanted to be the reckless but the temptation of the spirit was too great. Gus offered a compromise. "Why don't we just go take a look? As long as we are careful we should be able to avoid detection. Besides, if we work together we should be able to handle anything below Grade 5 without serious injuries."

His logic was sound so the group decided to push forward into the field. Luz and Hunter took point as the two of them had the fastest movement techniques and could react the fastest. King and Gus took the middle of the group. King's superior senses allowed him to detect dangers from all directions while Gus was able to easily reach the entire group with his arrays if needed. Amity and Willow brought up the rear of the group. Willow was able to easily support any actions the front of the group took while being able to support Amity as she commanded her puppets.

They crept through the field and reached the top of a hill when they saw their prize. In the center of the field was a tree bearing golden, round fruits. Even from a distance they could tell that the fruit was actually a powerful treasure item. However, the tree was guarded by a pair of massive grey wolves. Both wolves were about fifteen feet tall and thirty feet long. Massive was an understatement for the pair.

"Shit," Luz muttered. "If there was only one of them I'd be all for taking it down, but two of them is well beyond what we are capable of."

"What about yours and King's Titan powers?" Hunter asked. "Would those be enough to turn the fight in our favor?"

King shook his head. "I can't fight that long yet, remember? Plus, these guys are probably around the high side of Grade 6. Wind Striding Wolves never get this big under normal circumstances."

Hunter grimaced. "You think it’s a bloodline mutation?"

Luz chimed in. "No, all their traits match up with normal Wind Striding Wolves. I think it's more likely that they grew up in the secret realm where big opportunities are more common."

Their conversation suddenly stopped when the ears of one of the wolves twitched. It heard them. By the time thirty seconds had passed, both wolves were trotting over to where Luz and company were observing. Not wanting to get eaten, the cultivators were making a mad dash to the forest surrounding the field. While the trees would not be a sufficient deterrent, the distance from the wolves' prize should be enough to dissuade further pursuit. The following thirty seconds started with a wolf howl, the sound of paws hitting the ground, and panicked teenagers running even faster.

As they wove their way through the trees, everyone listened to the sound of snapping branches as the two wolves continued their pursuit. While they had a decent head start, the wolves were still gaining on them. They had about three minutes before the wolves caught up to them at their current pace.

"We need to split up," Luz shouted. "We'll have a better chance of losing them that way."

"We'll also have a good chance of losing each other if we do that," Willow countered. Glancing over her shoulder, she cast a spell to sprout a large number of vines to entangle the wolves. The beasts crashed through the net, barely missing a step as they did so.

"I could try an illusion spell," Gus offered. "That should at least buy us some time."

"Do it," Amity said.

Without waiting for a second opinion, Gus cast his illusion changing how the group looked, sounded, and smelled. Then he created duplicate illusions of each member before scattering them in different directions. The tactic worked, confusing the two wolves before they went in different directions chasing the illusions. The group quickly came to a halt, breathing heavily as their bodies attempted to recover from the exertion.

"We can't stay here long," King said. "Once the spell wears off they'll just double back."

"He's right," Gus said. "There's no way those illusions will last long enough for them to lose interest."

A new voice called out from the woods. "Aw, but I was hoping I would get to play with your cute little puppy."

From behind a tree emerged the worst kind of cultivator for King to deal with. A beast tamer.

Notes:

I'll leave the topic of beast cultivators for next time.

Spirit herbs are weird plants that actually do things, like Thousand Year Old Jade Blood Ginseng. You read that and you know its special. I have no idea what it does, but it should be good.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 37: Chapter 37

King had stopped struggling from the confines of his new prison. Held tightly in the arms of the beast tamer while they rode on top of her White Tiger, he glared at the traitors around him. Once it was clear the newcomer wasn't interested in abducting King, Luz eagerly handed him over to the beast tamer. He struggled to the best of his ability, but the girl was incredibly strong despite her small frame, and every time he almost escaped she tightened her grip.

"So Chi-Chi, what kind of sect are you from?" Luz asked. "Beast taming isn't a common skill from where we are from."

"I'm not from a sect. My family has made its living taming beasts for generations," Chi-Chi said. "Papa is really good at it, he taught me everything I know about beast taming."

"Do you think she could help us?" Hunter asked in a hushed whisper.

Luz nodded. "Her tiger is pretty strong and she should have a few more tricks up her sleeve as well. We'll have to give her a cut of the fruit, but that's better than letting anyone else get it."

"What are you guys talking about?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Would you be willing to help us with something?" Willow asked.

Chi-Chi nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, you let me pet your puppy." The group could see her eyes sparkle.

"Thanks, but I think you should at least listen to what we need help with before you agree," Willow said. "You and Byakko could get hurt."

"It's okay. Papa said you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their animals," Chi-Chi explained. "Your puppy's fur is soft and healthy and they look well fed so you guys must be good people."

The group wasn't sure how to handle Chi-Chi's logic given that King took care of himself most of the time. Regardless, they filled her in about the Wind Striding Wolves and the tree they were guarding. Her eyes lit up at the mention of the wolves and she seemed completely disinterested in the tree they were guarding.

"Wow, you guys found friends for Byakko? You guys must be really lucky," Chi-Chi said.

"So you'll help us then?" Luz asked.

Chi-Chi nodded emphatically. "Yep! It's been a while since Byakko got to play."

Seeing as they wouldn't get a different response, the group headed back to the field. Along the way, the six of them silently pondered how a child as naïve as Chi-Chi was allowed to roam around without any form of supervision.

When they reached the edge of the meadow they could hear the sounds of fighting. They quickly followed the sound and arrived at the tree. Eight cultivators worked together to try to take down the two massive wolves. Their attacks were well coordinated, taking advantage of openings and following up different moves. The fur of the two wolves was stained with blood, but it wasn't their own. The corpses of three other cultivators were strewn about the area.

"Damn it," Luz muttered. "Others have already found this place too. What's the plan guys? We gonna help them or do we want to just nab the fruit and book it."

"We can't leave!" Chi-Chi said. "Those aren't Wind Striding Wolves. Those two have evolved into Steel Gale Wolves. It's really rare for a Wind Striding Wolf to survive the process and seeing two at the same time is unheard of."

"Okay, but what are we supposed to do?" Gus asked. "We can't just ask those cultivators to back off just because they're fighting a rare monster. They might even turn against us over it."

"I'm going to tame them," Chi-Chi declared.

The group really didn't want to doubt the girl, after all, she grew up surrounded by monster taming. But the gap in strength was too great to ignore. "Do you have a plan?" Luz asked.

Chi-Chi nodded. "The Steel Gale Wolf has a weak soul until it reaches Grade Seven. Those two are only at Grade 5 right now so I should be able to handle it, but we need to get them away from the fighting first."

Luz looked around at her friends to gauge their thoughts. Each member of the group was clearly uncertain about the plan's success but didn't have the heart to outright refuse to help Chi-Chi. There were also still the other eight cultivators. There was just no way of knowing if they would let Chi-Chi take the wolves away, even if it meant they got all the fruit on the tree.

"Chi-Chi, we want to help you but…" Luz started.

"I know what you're thinking," Chi-Chi said. "Papa warned me that people inside the secret realm would need to receive some sort of benefit for helping me. But I promise if you help me I will make it worth your while."

Under the pressure of Chi-Chi's honest and innocent eyes, Luz broke. "Alright, we'll help you tame the wolves. What do we need to do?"

"You just need to restrict them while I place the blood seal on their foreheads," Chi-Chi explained.

"Seems simple enough," Hunter said. "I think we should be able to handle that."

"I agree," Willow said. "If we give it our all we should be able to manage."

"Alright then, how are we going to do this then?" Luz asked.

"I have an idea," Hunter said. "Gus and Chi-Chi will hang back and prepare to apply the blood seals. I'll try talking to the other cultivators while Willow and Luz enter the fight and start trying to restrict the wolves' movements. Amity and King will hang back and respond to the situation as it unfolds. If the other agree to help us then this should be easy, but even if they don't we should be able to handle this."

"I'll send Byakko in as well. He's super strong!" Chi-Chi exclaimed. The tiger gave a low grumble in agreement.

With their plan set, they dove into the battle. Luz and Willow immediately split up so they could each start working on a wolf. Luz launched into the air, spear in hand and lightning arcing off her. As she reached the peak of her jump, Luz locked eyes on her target. The wolf was currently circling around the group while the other fought off several of the cultivators. She watched as Hunter started talking to the apparent leader while Willow entered the battle. Feeling that her brief time in the air was coming to an end, Luz focused on her target and propelled herself down using her qi. She slammed into the back of the massive wolf. While the beast hit the ground, Luz knew she didn't do anything. Hitting the wolf was like punching a thick sheet of steel with her bare hands.

Willow carefully moved the power of the forest around her body as she approached the wolf. She didn't want to risk damaging the fruit on the tree by using the First Chapter of the Forest God Scripture so close to the tree. She had reached the third chapter, but she didn't understand how it would affect spiritual plants. It would be a waste to learn her method damaged or delayed their growth at the current moment. Stepping confidently in front of the other cultivators, Willow slammed her hands on the ground. "Forest God Scripture, Second Chapter: Grasp of the Earth."

Massive roots emerged from the ground, wrapping around the wolf as it tried to escape. Willow could hear cheers around her. The nameless cultivators thought they had won with the assistance of these newcomers. Willow knew the fight wasn't over, she couldn't sustain the technique's full power for very long.

"Get ready!" She shouted. "The roots won't hold for long."

Hunter watched Luz's and Willow's opening moves as he stood next to David, the leader of the other group. "We have no interest in the fruit, there probably isn't enough to go around anyways."

"Then what do you want?" David asked.

"The Wind Striding Wolves," Hunter replied. "If you let us take the wolves then all the fruit on the tree is yours. You don't even have to help us restrict them, though things would go a lot smoother if you did."

David thought about it as the wolf burst free from the roots. They watched as three other cultivators were ripped to shreds from a surprise attack from the beasts. He considered his options and decided on the best course of action. "Fall back, we'll leave the wolves to the newcomers!"

"Thank you, Brother David, and I understand," Hunter said.

"Then you know it's nothing personal," David responded. The two went their separate ways, David towards his allies away from the fight while Hunter charged in head first.

Notes:

It's short, but this week was at risk of getting out of hand.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Lilith huffed to herself as she sat down for the meeting. She never imagined that her retirement from leading the Emperor's coven would have been filled with fulfilling managerial responsibilities while the position remained vacant. It was mildly annoying that she was being forced to maintain her previous role in spirit, but her attempts to find a different job had all failed so far. It was mildly annoying to her, but infuriating to her co-worker Kikimora.

The demon's promotion to Coven Head should have been assured once Lilith had stepped down. Instead, the Emperor merely delegated the grunt work to her, setting up patrols, reporting on investigations, and tracking criminals. It was barely an increase in responsibility. Lilith had been appointed to handle all the managerial tasks, mainly paperwork and meetings like the one she was in.

It was the first Coven Meeting of the month, the one the Emperor attended. Each coven would report on the major projects they were working on as well as any progress they made on special projects assigned by the Emperor himself. Lilith was dreading giving her report.

It was during the routine meeting after the day Michael died, or the Day of the Dragon's Descent as it was now known to the public. She had brought Kikimora along with her to announce her resignation and recommend the little demon as her successor. It was all fairly routine, Lilith could vividly remember when the previous coven head brought her to such a meeting. She thought her goals were finally within reach that day. But, instead of immediately recognizing Kikimora as the new Coven Head, she was made Acting Head while Lilith was requested to fill the administrative roles behind the scenes along with a special project.

Track the human known as Luz and bring her to the Emperor.

Lilith had no intentions of fulfilling this assignment and Luz made that easier by quickly disappearing from the Boiling Isles.

The meeting started on time. Lilith sat there, listening but utterly bored with the meeting. She was initially surprised at how quickly the activities of the different covens became uninteresting once she didn't have to care anymore. The hour dragged by until it was finally time for the thing she was dreading. Her report was followed by the Coven Heads trying to drag her for failing to locate Luz.

"Lilith," The Emperor spoke, "Please give us an update on your investigation."

She stood and briefly bowed before speaking. "Under Your Majesty's orders, I have been working on finding the human girl known as Luz Noceda. I have found where she went, but am unable to locate her at this time."

Terra Snapdragon clicked her tongue. "Isn't that disappointing? To think you have been given six months and the aid of the Nine Covens and you can't locate one magicless girl."

"She hasn't even asked any of us for help," Darius interjected. "But to think the former Head of the Emperor's Coven was this incompetent, well it makes sense her sister evaded capture for so long."

"That's a bit harsh, Darius," Raine said. "We've all seen the reports, Ed- The Owl Lady's house demon is unusually fierce making any attempts to assault her home result in a high number of casualties. Every method the Emperor's Coven tried resulted in unpredictable results."

"Your defense of your colleges is respectable, Coven Head Whispers," Emperor Belos said. "But I believe Miss Clawthrone needs to give an account of her research for the last six months and explain more thoroughly why the human can't be found."

Lilith grimaced internally. She knew this would happen eventually. "As you wish, your majesty."

Lilith pulled out a scroll from the Owl House. "This is the main hurdle I've had to deal with." She unrolled the scroll across the table, showing its contents to everyone present. The strange marking made no sense to the gathered witches nor to their emperor. "Everything related to either human cultivator is written in this language. By some miracle, we have already translated this language a long time ago. It shows up in only the oldest and least understood ruins on the Boiling Isles."

"So you spent six months decoding a dead language when you could have been using Oracle magic to locate the girl?" Darius asked.

Lilith shook her head. "It took two months to decode the note telling us where she went. Luz went through a hidden portal located at Eclipse Lake. I haven't reported this because I have been unable to open said portal. I knew that Luz took Amity Blight and the small black demon seen with my sister. I asked Odalia to lend her magic in tracking her daughter using her Oracle magic."

Lilith looked around the table as she said. "Every kind of tracking spell failed to locate Luz, the demon, and any of the four witches who followed her. They have disappeared without a trace."

The room was silent as the magnitude of what Lilith said sunk in. Oracle magic wasn't omnipotent by any stretch of the imagination, but it was difficult to block. The best any witch had managed was a spell to block the subject from view, but that was still a result. Any Oracle witch could work around a block given enough time and a strong enough connection to the subject. It was unheard of for an Oracle spell to properly fail.

"Are you suggesting that they have gone beyond the reach of Oracle magic?" The head of the Oracle Coven asked.

"Yes, and I've seen it only once before," Lilith replied. "When my sister first made her way to the Human realm."

"So, Luz returned home and brought some friends with her?" Raine asked.

"That's where the rest of the translation comes in. This scroll contains the last will and final instructions of Michael Drake, teacher of the Immortal Studies track at Hexside Academy," Lilith explained. "I have confirmed his death on the Day of the Dragon's Descent. His body could not be recovered for autopsy."

A huff could be heard from the head of the Healing Coven. She had been eager to dissect both the humans to see what could be learned from them. The loss of that opportunity would bother her for a while.

"To summarize the contents, he instructed Luz and her classmates to go to a place called the Heavenly Realm to train with other practitioners," Lilith finished. "They should return in roughly two months."

The room was silent. All eyes were on the Emperor. No one could guess what he was thinking behind his golden mask. Tension built as they awaited his judgment. "Very well, continue looking into opening the portal hidden in Eclipse Lake as well as the locations of any other portals Michael found. We will address the human once she returns to the Boiling Isles. This meeting is adjourned."

All of them rose from their seats as they watched Belos leave the room. Once he was gone, the group broke into their own small groups as they made their way back to their respective offices. Lilith was making her way to the entrance when she was stopped by Raine.

"Have you talked to her yet?" She asked the bard.

"No," They admitted. "And I don't really plan on it. I have a lot of things going on right now and I've already moved past what happened."

She stared at the bard, "For someone who has moved passed something, you seem pretty stuck on it." Lilith watched a rosy tint crew over the bard's face. "I don't know what happened between you two when things fell apart. I don't know who said what or how hurtful those words are, but I'll let you in on something I learned recently. Talking things out is a far better medicine than time."

Raine sighed. "That's not really been my concern."

"Then I suggest we take this conversation somewhere else," Lilith said. Confused by what she meant, Raine followed her.

The two of them flew away from the castle before they carefully descended below the forest canopy. Once they touched down Lilith sent her palisman into the trees before talking. "I assume you're worried about your little revolution?"

Raine sputtered. "I-I have no idea what you're talking about, Lilith."

"Drop the act, you were never good at acting," Lilith said. "Besides, you called your organization 'Bards Against The Throne'. Did you really think no one would figure it out?"

Raine felt their face burn as they tried to think of an excuse. "I… Wel… But… It seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides, no one else has figured it out yet."

"I can almost promise you they have, it only took me a week to put that together," Lilith remarked.

"It took you a week to figure that out, but six months to figure out where Luz went?" Raine asked.

"Oh no," Lilith replied. "I knew where she went the day she disappeared, I just learned my lesson about trusting Belos."

"So," Raine said. "You've been leading him on? Why?"

Lilith looked to the south. Though obscured by the forest, she knew that far beyond them was Eclipse Lake, where the portal to the Heavenly Realm was. "To buy her time to get stronger. Belos may have done some good, even great, things for the Boiling Isles during his rule, but that doesn't excuse the horrible things he has done. He lied, saying he would save Eda when he planned to use her as an example for years. Now he's turned his attention to Luz, can you imagine what he wants with her?"

Raine looked down. "I can't, but I know it isn't something good. That's why I have to do everything I can to stop him."

"If you want to do something to stop him, then I recommend you start with talking to Eda," Lilith said. "Her curse is gone, but she needs your help to work through some other issues. After that, I can tell you about what we have really been up to over the last six months."

Notes:

I lived.

Am I done? No, my final programming project is due next week and I'm only halfway through the rest of my classes. But I did manage to claw back enough of my free time to not only write this but 100% Dark Souls 3. Please From Software, don't make me collect that many rings again.

Anyways, comments about the chapter. Yeah, I think Bards Against the Throne is a bad name and I don't know how they thought they wouldn't get caught.

Anyways if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Notes:

I made a mistake. I forgot to delete the chapter announcing my two-week hiatus. That has been taken care of and last week's chapter has been correctly re-numbered. This is the actual chapter 39

Eda's head was pounding as she tried to open her eyes. She knew exactly what had happened, she was just caught off guard by how quickly it started this time.

Raine had unexpectedly arrived at her home, proudly announced by Hooty. She felt like a teenager when she learned that Lilith had sent the letter Eda had written to Raine. She had no intention of sending it, but when Raine didn't respond she thought she was in the clear. It had been three months, how was she to know Raine would suddenly drop by?

It was awkward at first, how could it not be? The two of them split on pretty sudden terms decades ago. Ever since then, they spent most of their time focusing on their respective careers, if being a wanted criminal could be considered a career. Thankfully, it wasn't long before the two of them were chatting like old friends, catching up on the various adventures they had over the years. Eda's were much more exciting but she found herself quite invested in Raine's achievements.

Eventually, Raine moved the conversation towards her young wards. They could see a glint of pride in Eda's eyes as she told them about the adventures the demon and human had embarked on. She even told them the story of when and how Luz learned about glyph magic.

Raine leaned back in their seat. "I'm surprised you shared that story with me."

"What makes you say that?" Eda asked.

"The old you would have never willingly shared anything about your curse," They pointed out.

Eda thought to herself for a moment. "I suppose you're right. Earlier this year I would have been pretty cagey about it. Heck, King didn't even know it was a curse. He thought I just had alcohol stashed around the house. Luz wasn't happy when she found out, and practically tore me a new one after I came around. Apparently, she did the same to Michael after a similar thing happened. You should meet her when she comes back."

Raine chuckled. "I think I would like that. She sounds a lot like a young witch I once knew."

"Speaking of," Eda said, a somber look on her face. "I'd like to apologize for how things… how I ended things back then."

"Eda," Raine started. "You don't have to…"

"But I do," She said, cutting them off. "I was surrounded by people who genuinely wanted to help me. You, Lily, my parents, I pushed you all away because I was full of fear and hate. It took far too many years and people from another realm of existence to make me realize that."

Eda took a deep breath before continuing. "You didn't deserve to deal with that. I don't know what our relationship will be like going forward if it will exist at all, but you still deserve an apology."

Raine didn't even get a word out before something alarming started. Eda's eyes went wide before her head flung back. On the ceiling, the massive carving of an owl began to glow. Light descended and enveloped Eda. When Raine tried to reach out to her, it bounced off the light. They could only watch and call out to Eda as a pair of wings sprouted from her back, her hands and feet turned into claws, and feathers spread over her body.

It only went on for a few minutes, but they were the longest and most agonizing minutes Raine had ever had the misfortune of experiencing. As soon as the light faded, they moved Eda onto the couch and then began pacing. Upon seeing her ex-lover worriedly pacing in her living room, Eda could only think that the kids were definitely having a better time.

Luz was not having a good time. The capture of the two beasts went well and the two groups of cultivators went their separate ways. Chi-Chi decided against staying with the group due to her needing to focus on stabilizing her bond with the wolves but she gave them a map her father made years ago in exchange for the help they gave her. The map had the locations marked on it indicating that some treasure was there but wasn't ready when the creator was there.

After taking a day to talk it over between themselves, the group decided to split up. Each would pick a location and check it out, relying on their own fate and luck to determine the outcome of their adventure. And so Luz set out to what she considered to be north where a trio of mountains could be seen. It was a relatively uneventful journey, she only saw a few beasts on the way and none of them were worth fighting or following.

By the end of the second day, Luz had arrived at the foot of the mountains. The trees rapidly thinned out, with the lone outliers being only one hundred feet up the slope, giving way to jagged and rocky terrain. Though devoid of any signs of life, Luz knew the mountain was likely home to dozens of dangerous beasts adept at surviving the inhospitable mountain side.

"Oh, it's so good to see you again," A voice called out from behind her. Luz turned around to see Grant, the cultivator she had tricked several days prior. "And you're out here all alone, that's not very wise you know."

"I can take care of myself," Luz retorted. "What do you want? Payback for the bag? If you weren't so obvious about your intentions that day I would have told you how to open it properly."

Grant paced around a bit as he replied. "That was quite perceptive of you, I didn't realize I was being so obvious."

"Obvious enough for me to realize you told us jackshit," Luz replied, getting tired of him beating around the bush.

Grant held up his hands in a sign of surrender. "I will admit I only gave your group the bare minimum, but I'm not here to hash things out. Let bygones be bygones, after all, you proved to be more capable than I thought when you helped catch those Wind Striding Wolves."

Luz's eyes narrowed. "How do you know about that?"

"David is a friend of mine, we come from the same city," Grant replied. "He told me all about via communication artifact."

Luz could feel the nervous tension start to build along her back. Someone like Grant probably had a dozen connections among the cultivators currently inside the secret realm. Only the heavens knew if those connections were tracking her friends or not. "So what do you want? In case you can't tell I'm not in the mood for small talk right now."

Grant gave her a pleasant smile before Luz was filled with a sense of impending doom. Reflex took over as she pulled out her spear and blocked Grant's dagger. "I want you to hand over everything you have."

The two exchanged a dozen blows as Luz desperately tried to create space. However, Grant was well-versed in overcoming the weaknesses of his daggers. When their weapons locked again he continued. "Then, if I'm not satisfied with what you have, I'll take your body. Don't worry, it won't hurt. The pain comes later."

Luz shoved him back, increasing her strength by activating the Pure Lightning Body technique. She got a bad vibe from Grant before, but now he was setting off all the alarm bells in her head. He was entirely unhinged and showed no fear of bodily injury. All he seemed to care about was trying to kill her.

"Once I've been repaid for your little prank, I'm going to drink your blood," Grant exclaimed. "I know it may seem cliché, but I can tell. Your blood is special, mixed with something powerful. I can't wait to learn how it tastes."

Yeah, Luz was not having a good time. Grant's movements were unnatural and his ability to close the space between them was making using her spear too difficult for her to fight him. She would have already been covered in cuts if it wasn't for the fact she was wearing her Grom outfit. It was strong enough to repel most of his attacks, but she had a feeling he was holding back. For every time she forced him back with a sweep of her spear, he landed a slash with his knife.

In the back of her mind came a familiar sound, a hiss followed by a rattle. In her mind, she replied, 'No, you can't. It's too dangerous.' Another hiss, this time more insistent and defiant. 'You could get hurt. Besides, I have other trump cards to use.' A rattle that could only be described as a mix of prideful and irritated with a hint of caring.

Luz was about to think of a reason when the burning sensation of a knife slicing through skin burst into existence. Grant took advantage of her momentary lapse in concentration. His knife found its target and split her eyebrow. The hiss and rattle returned sounding scared and concerned, wanting borderline demanding to help.

'Fine,' Luz thought. 'I need the practice anyways.'

Luz adjusted her stance, placing one hand over the ring on the bottom of her spear. "Feel honored, bastard. You're going to be the first person to see this. Not even my master got to see this before he died."

Grant wasn't entirely sure what happened. One moment the girl was holding her spear in a rather poor stance. The next something dashed out of her robes and the weapon was enveloped in purplish light. When it faded, Luz was holding a sword. The blade was pure white with the dragon pattern the shaft of the spear had. The cross guard was a pair of Titan skulls facing opposite directions colored jet black. The pommel of the sword held the first new detail, a coiled purple snake with a teal orb on its tail.

"Titan Dragon Spear, Second Form, Soaring Dragon Blade," Luz said. "Now, it's time for round two."

The two roared at each other as they clashed again. Grant knew she was skilled with a spear from their exchange, frighteningly so for someone at her level. But her skill with a sword was not only just as frightening but amplified the magnitude of her accomplishment. Luz had made Grant do something he had never done while facing an opponent.

He was afraid.

This girl, his target, defied everything he understood. He never heard of an artifact capable of transforming like that. He knew all the outstanding cultivators in the Southern Martial Continent, the Demon Blood Sect saw to that, but none of them were capable of using two different types of intent. So why was this nobody able to use two types of intent, but her sword intent was only slightly inferior if not on par with her spear intent?

He saw the trust coming. He knew the length of her sword and backed up far enough to avoid it. As soon as she finished extending her sword, Grant would knock it aside and stab her while she was off balance. It was perfect, he even knew where to stab her so he could still have his fun.

Pain roared through his abdomen. Grant slowly looked down to see a black blade sticking into his chest. Her strike was almost spot on. The blade had pierced through his chest and pierced his lung. Had she aimed just a bit lower she could have gotten his heart, killing him instantly.

"You're also going to be the first to see this," Luz said as moved closer to him. "It's a little something I learned to deal with someone worse than you, but you'll make a fine enough test subject."

Grant managed to look up from his chest and into the eyes of his killer. Her eyes were no longer human, instead replaced with pure black sclera and golden irises. They were the eyes of a monster. If only he could have gotten her blood, he could have killed his annoying older brother and secured his rightful place as their father's successor. It was no loss to him, the elders ensured he wouldn't really die in here.

Luz placed her hand over Grant's heart. From underneath her palm, a spell array appeared. She looked at the spinning glyphs before activating the spell. She spoke the name of the array with a still, cold voice. "Sinner's Penance."

In the depths of the Demon Blood Sect, on the Alter of Disciples, a single jade slip bearing the name Grant Tepes shattered before the eyes of his father.

Notes:

Oh what to talk about, what to talk about... Oh!

So life jades are something that occasionally crop up in stories. They aren't super special in any way, their only function is to tell you if the person they are tuned to is alive. Or more accurately dead as they break when the person dies. It is pretty useful for determining what generally happens to someone while they are away from home.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Luz dragged herself into a crevice in the mountainside. She needed to rest, heal her wounds, and recover her energy before she pressed onwards. The hidden space in the rock was big enough for her to fit in and easy enough to hide. She settled down and began to take stock of her injuries. They were mostly shallow cuts over her arms and legs, evidence that her opponent wanted to take her alive if possible. Thankfully, there were no traces of poison in her wounds that would complicate her recovery. She had drained half of her cultivation, but she still had her soul energy and the Titan source to draw on if she needed to fight any time soon.

She pulled out the storage ring she looted and examined its contents for anything useful. The ring contained thousands of high-grade and tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, a couple dozen pill bottles, and a small assortment of spirit herbs. Luz was conflicted about the absence of artifacts in the ring. On one hand, she lost out on the opportunity to improve the group's combat power, but the artifacts would have likely been made using violent and detestable methods.

After she properly identified a bottle of recovery pills, Luz pulled out her spear. Still embedded in the spear was her palisman, Stringbean. The poor thing had exhausted itself and had entered a dormant state. She carefully pried her free. While Stringbean had partially merged with the spear, he hadn't completely merged with it and was unable to properly regain his magic while embedded.

She never expected to care for Stringbean as much as she did. Her thoughts turned back four months to when she started her adventure to carve him. Luz, Amity, and King had to return to the Demon Realm to replenish their supplies. While Amity went to purchase what they needed, Luz and King stopped in to visit with Eda. One thing led to another and the three set out to rob Plant Coven, successfully taking the chunk of palistrom wood they had on display.

The three of them delayed their return to the Place Between Realms until Luz finished carving her palisman. Eda was uncomfortable about rushing the carving process, but Luz presented a uniquely 'Luz' solution, an egg. She hoped that by carving her palisman into the shape of an egg it would take the form that it wanted. After consulting with an unnamed expert, Eda approved the experiment. By the end of the week, the egg was done drying and the three returned to their training under the Titan's supervision.

Under his guidance, King and Luz excelled in their control over their growing Titan abilities. King excelled in learning and mastering his ancestral powers while Luz lagged behind. Since she lacked a direct blood tie to the Titans, she was limited by her integration of the Titan's source. To make up for her shortcomings, Luz focused her efforts on increasing her cultivation and developing new applications of the few powers she acquired.

It was in the murky realm the soul of the Boiling Isles called home that Stringbean hatched. Everyone was elated, especially Luz. Never before had she felt such love for or from something before. She knew familial love, platonic love, and more recently romantic love, but this was something different. It was a deep, instinctual bond between her and a little purple snake that was entirely theirs.

It was only an hour later that Stringbean first merged with the Titan Dragon Spear. It wasn't a planned event. Luz was simply practicing with it when Stringbean dashed into the ring on the end of the weapon. It reacted to Stringbean's innate transforming ability and shifted, or at least attempted to. The spear took the approximate form of several weapons at once before returning to its normal shape. Panic filled Luz as she felt Stringbean go dormant. It took a lot of consoling from King and Amity and several reassurances from the Titan for Luz to calm down.

"Your palisman is drawn to the spear because she is the missing piece," explained the Titan. "However, she is not yet strong enough to complete the merging process on her own, you'll need to help her."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Luz replied. "As soon as Stringbean recovers we'll try it again."

The Titan shook his head. "You won't have the time I'm afraid. The process will take a while, at least several months to a year. If you tried so soon I'm afraid you will miss several important opportunities and fall behind."

"Like what?" King asked.

"The opening of the Graveyard, among other things Michael must have told you about," his father explained.

"What's the Graveyard?" Amity asked.

The Titan summoned a cube from the watery floor. The image showed a large complex in a mountain valley. It was on closer inspection that they realized the mountains were the massive bones of Titan avatar bodies. Several were significantly larger than the Boiling Isles.

"The Graveyard is where we went when we felt our lives coming to an end and where the next generation could inherit the power of their ancestors," He explained. "It's here that a young Titan begins to build their avatar form."

"Is the avatar the body you use to interact with us?" Luz asked.

He shook his head again. "Monsters and Divine Spirits undergo a process called humanization. This is because the human body is ideal for cultivation while their monster body lets them display their full power. Titans are unique in that we do not undergo humanization like others do. Instead, we construct our monster form. That is the avatar. Mine is the Boiling Isles and you can see the mountains are made of the skeletons of generations of avatars."

Luz let the gravity of what she had learned sink in before speaking. "It's going to open soon, isn't it?"

This time he nodded. "In eight months, in the central region of the southern continent of the Heavenly Realm. While you three have grown a lot under my guidance, you won't survive the journey if you keep your current rate. That's why you will need to rejoin your friends and seek opportunities."

The explanation was satisfactory and the group spent the rest of their time giving it their all. The Titan split his time among the three of them, doing his best to guide them using the knowledge he gathered over thousands of years of observing.

Luz felt a tickling sensation on her cheek and opened her eyes. Stringbean had recovered enough to move around again. She flitted around Luz's head before settling on her shoulders.

"It's good to see you moving about again," Luz said as she scratched under the palisman's chin. Stringbean let out a content hiss and rattled her tail. "We should get moving again."

Stringbean zipped into Luz's sleeve as she carefully left the crevice. It was too dangerous for any of the palisman to be seen in the open. Their nature as rapidly developed artifact spirits was just too dangerous to reveal. If found out, cultivators would develop a way to enter the Demon realm and hunt down every palisman they could before even thinking about cultivating palistrom wood. Even with all his might, Belos would not be able to repel the entire force of the Heavenly Realm.

The mountains were quiet, the only sounds to be heard were from Luz as she made her way across the rocks. It took her an entire day and most of the next to finally make it through the mountains and see the valley marked on her map. What she saw left her in awe. In the center of the valley was a massive bolt of lightning that looked frozen in place. The valley around it was forested, and signs of life could be seen between the trees. The whole valley hummed with energy. As she made her way down the slopes, Luz noted that the few tracks she was seeing had faint burn marks around them.

As Luz pressed on, she learned why the tracks were strange. It seemed that every living thing in the valley had traces of lightning energy inside it. Cracks of static could be heard as the leaves rustled in the wind. The snap of a branch caused a small arc of electricity.

It was thanks to one of these arcs that she managed to avoid the ambush in time. A Black Thunder Panther had pounced from her blind spot. It caused an electrical discharge that landed on her right arm. The beast must have intended for Luz's body to go numb from the shock, but she was used to absorbing far more power with her body. The spear flew out, her powerful thrust landing home in the beast's back, piercing its heart.

Luz pulled out a knife and began the messy work of field cleaning the carcass, intent on taking anything useful. While she couldn't use most of it, she made an interesting discovery. Buried deep in the chest of the panther was a small crystal made of pure lightning energy. After confirming her hypothesis on a few different beasts, she began to grin with anticipation. It seemed every beast in the valley contained a similar crystal.

She really found something good this time.

Notes:

A common trope in Eastern fantasy is monsters that can take a human form. In a cultivation setting, this is usually intentional but not required to reach higher levels. A human body presents some unique benefits as monsters don't have a whole lot of secret methods or techniques beyond their innate abilities. However, to complete the process they need to undergo a tribulation.

A tribulation happens when the universe basically gets tired of a cultivator's or monster's shenanigans and tries to kill them outright. Most stories depict it as repeated, violent lightning strikes, though there are other things that can happen based on the rules of the setting. Interesting thing to note, while the tribulation may look, sound, and act like lightning it isn't actually lightning. In universe, most don't survive, and if they do they suffer a drop in their realm at the least or are completely crippled at worst.

If you have any comments or questions, feel free to give them. I have started the transition from fearing what you faceless beings have to say and am starting to look forward to it.

Chapter 41: Chapter 41

It had been six weeks since Luz entered the valley and it was time to leave. She had spent a lot of time and effort on her cultivation and had reaped the rewards. Not only had her cultivation risen to the first grade of the Mixed Elements realm, but she had come to understand the power hidden in the valley and master its basics. With her newfound power in hand, she set out to meet up with her friends.

The mountains and forests were significantly easier to traverse with her increased cultivation. Areas that were difficult to navigate passed by beneath her as she leapt through the air. It wasn't quite the same feeling as flying on Owlbert or Stringbean but moving so quickly with her own power brought a sense of exhilaration and wonder. It was as if she was seeing the world for the first time all over again.

It took her half a day to arrive at the tree they had first arrived near. Before the six of them split up they decided that they would use it as a rendezvous point. As Luz leaned against the tree, she considered trying to find communication artifacts with locating abilities for the group. They would certainly help the group in a number of ways.

Luz was contemplating a nap when she felt something was wrong. A twig snapped, heavy breathing, the thudding of footsteps. Someone was running, trying to escape from something or someone. Luz adjusted the wrappings on her right arm as she scanned the tree line. Feeling antsy, Luz dashed towards the surrounding forest. She was going to find out what was going on and help out if needed.

As soon as she was among the trees, Luz jumped onto the branches. She leapt from tree to tree while trying to anticipate where the chase was going. She quickly came upon the pursuers, a pair of cultivators. She was about to leave them alone when a familiar glint caught her eye. Understanding what was about to happen, Luz jumped straight up to avoid getting caught in the illusion. As she fell, Luz caught a branch using it to transfer her downward momentum into forward momentum she used to crash into the pursuers. It was easy to take down the two stunned targets, but harder for her to catch up to Gus. She had no idea how, but the guy had become quite agile and was able to outmaneuver her in the forest.

It took Gus an hour to realize his pursuer had changed. He stopped weaving through the trees allowing Luz to catch up to him.

"Nice footwork," She complimented. "Why were they after you?"

Gus panted while trying to figure out how to explain the situation to Luz. "A couple of months ago, Willow was drugged. She and Hunter tried to play it off as if she just got drunk when they told me, but I saw through it. I don't know all the details, but I do know that Hunter took care of the guy who did it."

Luz nodded. "I saw the whole thing play out when it happened. Hunter left the guy barely alive but completely crippled."

"It turns out that he had an older brother," Gus said. Luz didn't even need to hear the rest of the explanation to know what was going on.

"He's targeting the three of you for revenge, isn't he?" Luz asked.

He nodded. "He wants to bring Hunter's body back to his brother and make Willow his concubine. I tried to help, but everyone else was either on his side or staying out of it. Even Chi-Chi can't do much to help out."

"Where are King and Amity?" She asked.

Gus explained. "King and Amity aren't sure what to do. This guy is strong, Luz, much stronger than the rest of us. He's a fifth-grade Mixed Element cultivator and could probably break through to the Immortal Boundary realm in a year or two. Willow tried to use the Forest God Scripture, but he managed to beat her. He's got people looking for Hunter right now. They were after me 'cause I tried to trick them with an illusionary."

Luz knew she should have been panicking right now. If this whole situation had unfolded before her master's death she would be expecting him to swoop in and offer some advice or save them outright. But he was dead and unable to help her anymore. Even his secret technique stored in her bracelet had faded after she used it against Belos. But she wasn't afraid anymore and she didn't fear an opponent stronger than her.

"Take me to him." Those were the last words she spoke.

They took their time traveling to the place where the cultivators had gathered. It resembled an overgrown marketplace and was likely a traditional gathering place for the participants for generations. It was easy to tell that it had been established with great cost to the outside forces. While poorly maintained, the arrays around the area were capable of keeping the local monsters from settling in the area and the overgrown buildings were still structurally sound.

Gus led Luz towards the center of the town, where a man stood on an arena as if he was waiting. Behind him was a scene that made Luz's blood boil. Willow was tied up and kneeling on the ground. It was clear that she had been crying and had been struck a few times. Luz was about to charge the arena when a familiar pair of arms wrapped around her neck.

"Luz, you're finally here." It was Amity. Her girlfriend's touch grounded Luz enough to dissuade her from any rash actions.

"Amity," She said, more to herself than the other girl. "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."

"That's okay," Amity said as she released Luz. "I know you're already caught up on what's going on, but we need to talk before we do anything."

"I'm not sure if that is really necessary," Luz said. "Besides, we only have a few days before the secret realm opens again and it gets harder to save Willow."

Amity just pulled Luz towards a side alley. "This isn't something that can wait. You need to see this."

Relenting, Luz let herself be dragged away while Gus followed behind them. Amity led them into a nearby building where they were met by Chi-Chi, King, and an unconscious Hunter. Chi-Chi sat in the corner, absent-mindedly playing with Byakko's tail while King was using a spell on Hunter. The boy could be heard occasionally mumbling incoherent phrases.

"What happened to him?" Luz asked in a hushed voice.

"We don't know," Amity replied. "Willow said he just appeared in front of her. He had already passed out by that point. King and Willow have tried their best to treat him, but it's like he doesn't want to wake up. She said she had an idea to help Hunter, but then Francesco appeared and took her hostage."

"So, we need to get her back sooner rather than later," Luz said. "Do we know anything about Francesco?"

Everyone shook their heads. Amity spoke up, "Our best guess is that he has some alchemical knowledge and brought a qi disruption poison with him. He most likely uses it to keep Willow under control or else she would have easily broken free with the help of the forest."

King ended his spell and joined the conversation. "Dealing with Francesco isn't the issue, it's dealing with his family. Gus is probably the only person right now who would struggle against him, but his grandfather is one of the elders who opened the secret realm. Since we lack any connections to the other powers, it's unlikely they will intervene."

It was a difficult situation. Luz didn't know which one was the grandfather, but each of the elders outside was a second or third-level Immortal Boundary cultivator. There wasn't a clean solution to this problem, all roads led to blood.

"We have to get her back," Luz said. "No matter the cost."

"We can't talk you out of this, can we?" Amity asked.

"Nope," Luz said, making a popping sound on the p. "Someone needs to take him down a peg and get our friend back. Does someone want to volunteer to watch Hunter?"

"I'll do it," Gus said. "I'm better at this than fighting anyway."

Without another word, Luz turned to leave the hideout while Amity and King followed her out. After they were gone, Chi-Chi asked a single question. "Do you really think they can do it?"

"Of course," Gus said. "Luz can do anything she sets her mind to."

Notes:

Drama, Suspense, I really need to stop writing these so late at night.

I don't have anything to talk about this week, so I'm just going to go to bed now.

If you got questions, comments, or concerns please leave them in the comments below.

Chapter 42: Chapter 42

The walk to the center of the town was short but felt longer than anyone in the group was comfortable with. When the three of them arrived they noticed a few others had gathered as well, drawn by the spectacle. Francesco was in the middle of tormenting Willow. It was clear to the onlookers that there was something restraining her, keeping her from struggling or fighting back effectively. It bothered Luz that no one was helping but who in this world would risk their life for a stranger?

"Let me handle him," Luz said to the others. "You guys deal with anyone who tries to interfere."

Amity and King nodded. They wanted to join in and rip him apart for what he was doing to Willow, but if they ganged up on Francesco it would cause others to interfere to gain a favor from the talented cultivator. They trusted Luz would deal enough justice for all of them.

Luz grabbed Francesco's arm before he could hit Willow again. "I think you've done enough. It's time to let her go." She tightened her grip on his arm to emphasize the implied threat.

He pulled his arm free from her grip. "And what if I don't? You'll make me?" He scoffed. "You aren't even worth my time."

He snapped his fingers and Luz heard two men moving to flank her. One was intercepted by a purple wall rising out of the ground while the other was tackled by King. The four of them squared off, waiting for their leaders to start the fight.

Francesco looked at the two who came with the dark-skinned girl. The demon beast was interesting, he had never seen nor heard of a creature that remotely resembled it. The other girl, a light-skinned girl with colored hair, was using a silver armor artifact and used some technique to turn the wall into two large golems. His eyes landed on her pointed ears, a trait shared by his captive.

"Oh, is she a friend of yours?" He asked mockingly. "Then you should know the bastard she's sleeping with. Bring his ass here, and I'll only break your arm."

Luz's answer was a foot planted firmly in his diaphragm. The blow made him step back a few paces while he forced himself to maintain his breathing. Enraged, he gave his command. "Kill them."

Amity used her puppetry to silently command the abominations to intercept her attacker. While capable of exerting a significant amount of strength, abomination slime was a poor material for standard puppet masters. The material was too easily scattered by attacks. However, Amity had trained to use this weakness to her advantage. The man's fist flew straight through the abomination, scattering the slime and throwing him off balance. The abomination responded by wrapping itself around him while the other moved in to attack.

The cultivator quickly freed himself and dodged the attack from the second golem only to end up right in the path of Amity's own attack. The blade cleanly sliced through his robes as he threw himself out of the way. He tumbled across the ground before quickly recovering. He almost launched a counterattack when he noticed the first golem had reconstructed itself as the second golem closed the distance.

King was having an annoying time dealing with his opponent. While he got a good hit in with the element of surprise, he was unable to get in close a second time. Instead, he was completely on the defensive as the cultivator he was up against used mid-range attacks. This left King at a disadvantage as his training was mainly focused on close-quarters combat.

Luz was having the opposite problem. Francesco wanted to be in close range. He had pulled out a massive mace, swinging it around like it weighed nothing to him. Luz was unable to parry the heavy weapon, forcing her to dodge to avoid taking serious damage. It didn't help that Stringbean was constantly wanting to help her out, but she was a trump card Luz wasn't willing to play liberally.

The fight entered a moment of calm as each person eyed their opponent. Tensions were high as the fight stood at a turning point. None of the parties were hurt yet, which made a mutual withdrawal possible. But pride and honor were at stake.

"We could end this now if you just let her go?" Luz said.

Francesco scoffed. "Let her go? My brother is crippled because of that slut. After I'm done with her boy toy I will drag her back to my family where she will be given to my brother to deal with as he pleases."

Vines and slime shot out of the ground, each grabbing one of his arms. Amity and King held their spells for a moment before focusing on their opponents. King adjusted his tactics, pivoting into a battle of attrition. As the cultivator began his ranged assault, King called upon his power to construct a wall of rock. The jets of flame harmlessly splashed against the rock to the displeasure of their owner.

The Titan Dragon Spear flung high into the air as Francesco deflected Luz's strike. Anticipating his move, Luz let go of the spear, lightning crackling on her palms. She thrust both arms into the exposed torso and let loose a torrent of lightning. She figured Francesco was immobilized if not being fried from the inside out until she noticed him bring his mace straight down on her. Adjusting her stance, she used the force of her attack to propel herself out of the way.

His left arm twitched involuntarily as Francesco pulled his mace free from the ground. He was about to begin his counterattack when a wet tearing sound echoed across the battlefield. King had torn out his opponent's throat using his bone-like claws. The man's body fell limply as his hands fruitlessly tried to stem the bleeding. King rushed over to Willow and began to untie her. His hands were shaking too much and he ended up cutting the ropes off with his claws.

Luz watched Francesco as King led Willow away from the square. She didn't believe that he would just let the two of them leave while he was still alive. Meanwhile, Amity was in the final stages of her fight. Despite his superior realm, her opponent just couldn't handle the seemingly infinite abominations that rose to fight him. Worn out from his efforts, he decided to cut his losses and run. Francesco wasn't worth dying for.

"It's over," Luz said. "Drop this now before things get any worse for you."

He laughed and Luz and Amity felt their blood run cold. It wasn't the laugh of a desperate or defeated man, it was the laugh of a tyrant. Francesco hunched over as his qi spiked. Everyone present watched as his muscles began to expand, bursting his shirt off revealing strange markings covering his chest and arms. Amity watched the transformation in shocked horror. As much as she believed in Luz, she was having a difficult time imagining the human pulling off anything more than a pyrrhic victory.

"I was born with this unique body," Francesco said. "It's called the Barbarian God's physique. It's thanks to this heavenly blessing that I can stand above my peers. Even the elders from my family cannot stop me when I use its full power."

Luz scoffed, "Sounds like a family of weak and cowardly people. If that's the case, then I'll teach you manners for your father's sake."

Amity was confused when Luz suddenly threw off her outer robe, revealing that not only was Luz's shirt missing most of its back but also that Luz's body had become very toned over the past several months. Amity continued to watch as Luz reached for the knot on the top of her bandages. She pulled the loose end, undoing the knot causing all the bandages to come loose and fall to the ground. The sight made Amity's stomach churn. The arm was covered in strange burns that looked like a cross between frostbite and lightning burns. Amity couldn't think of anything that could cause such damage to Luz or how the human was even fighting with such extensive injuries.

Luz wasn't done with the surprises yet. Behind her, Luz began constructing a strange array. At first, it was just a large light glyph, until the small circle inside it was filled with an ice glyph. Two lines extended from the circle containing the light glyph, one on either side, which then split to form matching plant glyphs. Finally, the two plant glyphs connected to each other, creating the outer circle that tied the array together. Cold air rushed out from the array as it slammed onto Luz's exposed back.

"Sorry for the wait," Luz said as she grabbed her spear with her blackened hand. "I haven't perfected this yet, so I need a little help for now."

"It doesn't matter, you'll still die." Francesco rushed her as he spoke. The two traded dozens of blows in rapid succession. While their individual realms didn't change much, the battle power they displayed far exceeded the average cultivator. Those present knew they were witnessing a true battle between geniuses.

Amity could only watch as the two fought. Her heart screamed at her to do something, to help Luz. But her mind and body knew it would have been pointless. Luz was fighting on a different level, one that came from experience rather than a difference in power. If Amity stepped in, she knew that she would only get Luz hurt.

As the fight dragged on, Amity began to notice that Luz's qi was different. The bolts of lightning that were signature to her fighting style were lingering somehow. When a stray bolt landed close to her she realized why. The bolts of lightning Luz was using weren't pure lightning like they used to be. Instead, they were a near-perfect balance of lightning and ice qi. Amity had no idea when or even how Luz managed this, but this combined qi seemed to be linked to her arm and the increase in her battle power.

Luz could keep up with Francesco using her Ice Qi Glyph Array, but her body couldn't maintain that state forever. The glyph supplied a steady amount of ice qi into her body but there was a limited supply of lightning qi to balance it with. She needed to end the fight soon, but she didn't have the power to do it. Neither of them had the capability to end the fight. As they were, they could only wear each other down until one of them slipped up.

A hiss. A rattle. A bond beyond understanding.

Luz realized, of course, that she couldn't beat Francesco or any other opponent near her level if she held herself back. A palisman was more than just a lifelong companion borne from a witch's soul, they were an amplifier for their magic. If magic was the combination of qi and soul energy, then why couldn't a palisman amplify a witch's qi?

Luz swung her spear, forcing Francesco back while she retreated. She adjusted her grip on her spear, placing her left hand on the base of the spear. This would be a dangerous gambit, but she figured her opponent out enough to know he wouldn't dodge or parry. Luz forced her qi to its maximum. Frozen lightning sparked from the ground and wrapped around her spear. Hidden by the spectacle, Stringbean slithered around Luz's arm until she reached her home in the ring at the base of the Titan Dragon Spear. She coiled herself into the ring, connecting with the weapon.

To the outside observers, it seemed that Luz poured everything she had into her weapon as she charged at Francesco. All could see the result of her talents and efforts as cold lightning and spear intent spiraled from the tip of the spear as it moved closer and closer to its target. Unseen to them, Stringbean took in Luz's qi and amplified it with her own resulting in a force several times stronger than the original inputs. Sensing the danger to his life, Francesco tried to bat the spear away with his mace, but the metal shattered as it touched the energy shrouding the weapon. He watched in slow motion as the tip of the spear pierced his chest, the energies shredding his internal organs.

The gathered geniuses watched the corpse slam into a wall outside the arena. The victor stood firmly in the center, her spear stowed away and her robe hanging loosely on her shoulders. The audience has a mixture of nervousness and curiosity. Who was the strange woman who appeared and killed one of the top talents of their generation? Who were the others who were with them, the demon beast and the other two women?

Regardless of these answers, they knew things would only become more interesting from here on out.

After collecting their spoils, Amity and Luz started to make their way back to their hideout when Amity suddenly dragged Luz into a side alley. "What the hell did you do to your arm?" She demanded

"Oh yeah, that," Luz mumbled as she tried to pull her arm free. "It just kinda happened a few weeks ago. It's actually gotten a lot better looking."

Amity gave her a look that told Luz that wasn't the answer she was supposed to give. "I was a bit careless with the treasure I found. I didn't realize it was mixed with extremely cold qi at first. I caught on before it could do any damage, despite how bad this mark looks."

"Didn't do damage?" Amity scolded. "You're arm looks ready to fall off in places. How are you even able to use it right now?"

"Cause it's not a scar, or at least it doesn't act like one," Luz replied. "As I've gotten better at using that mixed power it's gotten smaller. I do need it exposed to use the Freezing Lightning, but I have a feeling that will change over time too."

Amity forced herself to calm down. "Fine, but you are having this looked at."

"Fine," Luz replied.

Seeing she got her way, Amity rewarded Luz's compliance with a quick peck on the check. "Good, and don't think about asking for more right now, you reek of blood and sweat."

Luz hung her head and mumbled her acknowledgment as the two walked the rest of the way to the hideout. They expected good news when they heard voices coming from the inside. When they entered the building, they felt like they had skipped a page or two as Hunter was standing on his feet and loudly proclaimed, "I'm going to kill Belos!"

Or maybe they skipped a few chapters.

Notes:

Unintentionally cutting it close with that scheduled maintenance, aren't I?

First things first, there may not be a chapter next week. My parents are going to be in this part of the country and my wife and I will be driving to the neighboring state to meet them for a few days and we have to drive back on Sunday, aka the day I post these. So there may be one or there may not be one.

blah blah questions, blah blah comments, blah blah bellow. I got bored of writing the same thing every week, okay.

Chapter 43: Chapter 43

It took three of them to hold Hunter down long enough to administer a sedative. When King brought Willow back the two of them were able to wake Hunter up, but he was completely hysterical. He immediately started ranting and raving, most of it being incoherent garbage to the rest of them. The only clear thing that they understood was his newly expressed desire to kill his uncle.

That was another conversation that happened. It wasn't much of a secret at that point though. Hunter told Willow, then Gus, and Luz, Amity, and King listened in after getting a history lesson from the Titan. Everyone knew that Hunter was starting to question whether he belonged with the Emperor or the group, but none of them had even thought that Hunter would have jumped to regicide. It was a delicate issue as the Emperor held considerable power, both in terms of politics and cultivation. In the end, they decided to wait for Hunter to fully recover before making a final decision.

The next few days were thankfully quiet. A few other cultivators arrived, but no one attempted to pick a fight with anyone else. That evening Hunter finally came around.

"Belos is a monster," Hunter said.

"Well, I could have told you that," Luz said. "Last I checked humans didn't turn into black goo monsters or plan the death of an entire nation."

"He killed me, I mean his brother or another version of me," Hunter said.

"Sounds confusing," Willow said. "Why don't you try explaining it from the beginning."

Hunter thought for a minute before he started explaining. "Sometime around four hundred years ago, two brothers, Caleb and Philip Wittebane, entered the Boiling Isles from the Human realm. The two were able to leave thanks to an artificial portal, but Caleb wanted to stay. Feeling betrayed, Philip killed his brother."

Hunter continued. "Philip ended up trapped in the Demon Realm due to the artificial portal being lost. He blamed witches for everything and began to study magic for a way to fix everything. That's when he created the first Grimwalker, a sort of artificial witch he created to try and bring back his brother. He thought he failed, but he didn't."

"He circumvented part of reincarnation," Luz said. "He managed to pull his brother's soul and place it inside the Grimwalker. Due to the timing, the memories of the soul's previous life were sealed away while leaving most of the personality intact."

"Yeah," Hunter said. "However, Philip wasn't satisfied with a mere replica. Seeing that he couldn't bring back his brother, he decided to destroy the creatures he saw as responsible for Caleb's death. That led him to try to steal power from the Boiling Isles itself. But his spell was incomplete and backfired on him. He gained power but lost his human body. Now he can only sustain a human form by absorbing power from a creature made of palistrom wood."

"The Emperor's coven's ban on palisman," Amity mumbled.

Willow and Gus looked at Amity in alarm as Hunter confirmed the truth. "Philip uses palisman that were either surrendered by the coven or captured by its agents. But that's not the only source, the other has been Grimwalkers."

"There's more than one?" Gus asked.

"No," Hunter replied. "There was only ever one at a time. Something would happen and Philip would kill the Grimwalker and then make a new one, always trying to bring back his dead brother but always getting a more inferior copy. I am the current Grimwalker."

Hunter was expecting a series of shocked and disgusted reactions from his companions, but only Gus seemed remotely shocked.

Amity explained. "We already knew. Some of the earlier details were new to us, but after Philip attempted to steal the Titan's power it started keeping track of him."

"I could kinda sense that your body was made of wood," Willow said. "But I thought it was some kind of advanced prosthetic."

"None of us care about your origins, Hunter," Luz said. "What matters to us is who YOU are, not the messed up contents of your family history."

"Thanks… I didn't realize before, but that means a lot," Hunter said.

"So, why do you want to kill the Emperor if Philip is the one who made you?" Chi-Chi asked.

"Right, you wouldn't know," Luz said. "After Philip's first plan failed, he sought out a powerful entity to help him with a new plan. Part of that plan requires him to be in a position of power so he abandoned his human name for a new one: Belos, the Emperor of the Boiling Isles."

"What is he planning then?" Gus asked. "I mean, it's kinda obvious that Belos is up to something with how he has vilified Wild Magic, but what is his plan?"

"A draining spell, one capable of taking the magic, qi, and vitality of every marked witch on the Isles," Hunter explained.

Even though she already knew the truth, hearing it again emphasized the severity to Amity. The power structure she had once looked up to as an exemplar of both personal ability and societal order was in fact a weapon in the hands of a madman.

"That's not the reason I want him dead though," Hunter said.

Luz felt herself wind up, ready to spring at Hunter depending on his response. "What is the reason?"

Hunter's mask fell, revealing a tired soul. "I remember every death, from Caleb all the way to my predecessor and I have seen how Belos has changed each time. And the worst part?"

Tears started to stream down Hunter's face. "I can't hate him. But I know the only way to save him is to kill him."

"What do you mean you can't hate him?" King asked. He was about to go on a rant before Luz stopped him."

"Caleb's memories came back, didn't they?" Luz asked.

Hunter nodded.

Luz let out a sigh. She could remember how she felt when her soul was nearly shattered by the Owl Beast and reasoned Hunter must be feeling the same. "Don't worry about it right now. Take some time to process everything, okay?"

Hunter nodded again. He said, "I suppose you guys should start calling me Caleb now."

They all gave a simultaneous response, "Nope."

"You may have all his memories, but Caleb died a long time ago. YOU are Hunter," Willow said.

The conversation drifted from there. Things seemed to have settled down, but Luz was still concerned about Hunter. She knew there was no way that Hunter was okay after experiencing what he did. Whatever dug up those memories had to have damaged him in some way that she just couldn't see. It was Chi-Chi who presented her with a solution for her doubts.

"His soul is stable," Chi-Chi said.

"Huh?" Luz said.

"Hunter's soul is stable, at least according to Byakko," She said.

Luz was curious. "How can he tell?"

Chi-Chi glanced around as if to check for anyone eavesdropping. "Byakko is actually Daddy's beast, so he's actually really strong. Byakko is just under a suppression that makes him seem a lot weaker than he is unless my life is in danger."

"So, Byakko can sense the condition of our souls?" Luz asked.

Chi-Chi nodded. "Everyone's except yours, but you probably knew that already. He said your soul is protected by something really special."

Luz nodded. "It's a gift from my master."

"He must be pretty strong to give you something like that," Chi-Chi said.

"He was," Luz said somberly.

Chi-Chi realized she had unintentionally brought up a touchy subject. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories."

"You're fine, Chi-Chi. It's just fresh that's all," Luz said as she wiped her eyes. "I should probably turn in for the night. We leave tomorrow and I need to be ready for anything."

Notes:

Short, but it was a busy week. The Fourth of July (USA! USA! USA! USA!) (I was in bed before any fireworks went off.), spent a lot of time with my folks and various extended family, and oh look, finals are approaching. When did that happen?

I also didn't like where past me left the story for current me.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Luz was nervous as she followed the group through the portal. She had killed two cultivators while inside the secret realm and had no way of knowing how things would play out with the elders who were waiting in vain. The situation was dangerous and every way out she could think of was going to be a costly effort. The only thing that calmed her nerves was that of the original thirty cultivators that entered the secret realm, only twenty-two were leaving.

Stepping back into the wider world again, Luz noted that the same elders were waiting for the geniuses to leave. As much as she wanted to bolt before any of them took particular notice of her or her friends, the behavior of the other cultivators made it clear that they were expected to stay. Her eyes fell on the burning stick of incense, a common item used to measure short periods of time. When the stick had burned out, the elders closed the portal and gathered in front of the younger generation.

A sagely-looking elder spoke to the group. "We have watched each of you closely over the past six weeks. You have all grown from your experience, some more than others, and now it is time to measure that growth."

Four elders held out their hands, their qi shooting out and combining together. From the point the streams met appeared a floating arena, roughly twenty feet by twenty feet. The sagely one pulled out a box with a hole cut in the top. "Each of you will draw a slip from this box. Each slip has a number written on it which will determine your place on the bracket."

Luz raised her hand, waiting for the elder's acknowledgment before speaking. "Honored elders, is it possible to withdraw from competing? Our master has requested we return to Mountain Pass City immediately after we exited the secret realm."

The elders exchanged quick glances as they telepathically discussed the matter. After what felt like an eternity, the sagely one spoke. "Young miss, I am afraid your performance was one that we were very interested in seeing. Is there a way we can reach an agreement?"

Luz hated playing the social pressure game. It was like playing a game of chess when you couldn't even see all the pieces on the board. While the elders hadn't explicitly said no, given that they singled her out specifically meant that she couldn't refuse without a very good reason and she didn't have one.

"Honored elders, we cannot tarry here without something to help me explain my tardiness to our master," Luz said in a respectful tone. "Unless the honored elders have something that can be used to explain our delay and justify our fighting then I am afraid we will have to decline."

"I will personally explain the delay to your master as well as escort you back to Mountain Pass City, rare talents such as yourselves deserve at least that much," Spoke the sage.

Without further delay, each cultivator pulled a wooden slip. The first round of fights was fairly unimpressive. Luz, King, and Amity had the misfortune of being paired up with cultivators who saw their fight against Francesco and his associates. They had each forfeited the match, claiming there was no point in fighting a losing battle. Though disappointed that their students were too afraid to test their mettle in a controlled environment, they didn't press it since they had witnessed the display themselves.

The final round arrived with Luz facing off against Willow. Hunter had also made it to the final round as the third contestant but was too worn out from his last fight against Gus to go up against either girl when he could barely stand.

Luz felt excited. She had seen Willow fight and knew her style well. Luz knew exactly how to counter her friend's close-up style. Avoid tight areas, don't let her get close, wear her down.

But she didn't want to do anything like that.

When the signal to start the final match began, Luz planted her spear in the ground before lifting a hand into the air. Willow was about to stop her when she realized what kind of glyph was hanging in the air, a single plant glyph. Without explanation, Luz lifted the arena into the air with a massive platform of plants. Willow could feel the power of the plants beneath them.

"Go for it," Luz said as she took off her outer robe. "I want to have as much fun as possible."

"You can't be serious?" Willow said.

Luz chuckled as she prepared her Qi Injection array. "Completely. Both of us are focused on close combat, so why not see who's the best at it? So go ahead, use your Forest God Scripture."

Willow couldn't deny that she found the offer attractive. A year ago, Willow would have never considered fighting anyone much less someone she considered a friend. But after learning more about the culture around cultivation and being surrounded by it, she started to enjoy a good fight. A fight where she didn't have to worry about being crippled or dying was even more appealing.

"Forest God Scripture, First Chapter: Strength of the Ancient Oak!" Power poured into Willow's body from the trees beneath the arena. She pushed the technique as far as she could without damaging the vitality of the trees even though it threatened to overwhelm her.

"Forest God Scripture, Third Chapter: Mahogany Armor!" Bark materialized around Willow, wrapping her in an armor of bark. She was going all out and invited Luz to do the same.

Luz responded by slamming her hands together. The glyph array was already pouring ice qi into her body as she merged it with her lightning qi. But like Willow, she had one more card to play. Luz stimulated her Titan source. She couldn't access much of it, less than five percent if she had to guess, but its influence could be seen. Her eyes changed, turning into the same black and gold as King's, and her nails lengthened, changing from keratein to bone. Hidden in her hair was a small pair of horns.

The elders watched the two with great interest. They had gleaned that the group had interesting hidden talents, but this was the first time the witches had freely shown them. "One has a bloodline ability while the other can pull power from plant life. Their master must have a powerful and ancient background to train such students." one elder said. Others muttered their agreement.

In a single motion, Luz pulled her spear from the ground as she rushed Willow. Bark cracked under the force of the proceeding blow. Willow brought her arms up to intercept but wasn't fast enough to counter the second hit to her side. Willow's reaction speed was having a hard time keeping up with Luz. For every hit the witch blocked, the Latina landed two more.

But Luz still had a weakness, she had to be predictable.

Her mind and body hadn't reached a synchronization between her speed and processing ability. To compensate, Luz developed several patterns to use when on the offensive that allowed her overwhelming speed to crush her opponent. Willow knew a few of those patterns and realized Luz was using them. When the moment arrived, Willow struck.

"Forest God Scripture, Second Chapter: Grasp of the Earth." Branches force their way through the stone, wrenching Luz's spear from her hands before tossing the weapon out of the arena. Before Luz could attempt to get it back, Willow was on top of her unleashing a fury of blows.

Finally in close quarters and able to use the full might of her physique, the elders assumed Willow would soon win the fight. Luz had put up a valiant effort, but she allowed her opponent to claim too many advantages by creating the perfect environment for the witch to fight in. But the oldest of them saw differently. Willow's punches weren't landing at their full force.

"You thought you would have the advantage if you got rid of my spear didn't you?" Luz asked as she weaved around her friend's fists.

"Yeah, I did," Willow replied. "You've been using spears for as long as I have known you."

"You're right, but you forgot one thing. I spent ten years practicing with my fists first." Luz swapped from passive avoidance to using her own attacks. It wasn't much at first, but slowly the bark armor that protected Willow was blasted off. Electricity arced through Willow's arms followed by sharp pain as the foreign qi tried to freeze her.

Even though doubt and despair began to creep into Willow's mind, they were overpowered by a sense of excitement. She had spent months meditating, studying, and practicing her repertoire but felt like she was stuck for a while. Now, as Luz was beating her body black and blue, Willow felt something move. The only way she could describe it later was that a dam was breaking allowing her to move forward once again. When she stared at Luz standing over her, Willow could only give her a wide grin and take the offered hand.

True to his word, the elder, which they learned was called Feng Hao, escorted Luz and the residents of the Boiling Isles to the portal location near Mountain Pass City. He insisted that he take them as close to their master as possible, a clear effort to establish contact with the mysterious master. It was only after Feng Hao had fulfilled his promise that they revealed the truth, the master had been dead for half a year. Feng Hao was understanding about the deception, several elders would have gone to great lengths to bring them back to the various sects. He recognized the trust they put in him by revealing the truth.

As the portal between realms closed, Feng Hao felt a familiar and sinister energy approach.

"Where is he? Where is the one who killed my son?" The man asked.

"She," Feng Hao said. "Has already left. And even if she hadn't, you couldn't afford to offend her master, Tepes."

Vladimir Tepes stood in front of Feng Hao, his blood-red eyes filled with rage. "Who are you to say who I can and cannot afford to offend, old man? Show me where my son's murder went. I must use her life as an offering to appease my son's soul in the afterlife."

Feng Hao shook his head disappointingly. "Even if I told you, their path is sealed by their master. I suspect his cultivation exceeds the Immortal Boundary Realm. Even the artifact the eldest disciple held was beyond even the artifacts held by the imperial families. Not even the heavens could offend that man."

Tepes growled. "I will find this girl, and once she is dead I will come for you and your sect."

"If you survive, we will welcome you with open arms Tepes. You and the entire Demon Blood Sect." Feng Hao said as he ascended into the air. Tepes could only watch in frustration as the old man flew into the air.

Notes:

And so we move from the Heavenly Realm back to the Demon Realm. Luz made more enemies than friends, but she won't have to worry about them for a while.

A somewhat annoying bit of ambiguity is how time is measured in Eastern fantasy, particularly ones like this story that are focused on martial arts and take cultural influences from China and the Korean peninsula. The two common measurements for short periods of time are breaths and sticks. A stick is roughly fifteen minutes as that's how long it takes for a stick of incense to burn. A breath is much harder to define but seems to be around ten to fifteen seconds, though it's hard to pace something like that in a comic or paragraph.

If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Chapter 45: Chapter 45

The landscape of the Boiling Isles seemed peaceful when they emerged from the mines that held Eclipse Lake. It had been over six months since the group had left, but at that moment it felt like years. None of them were like they were when they left, but none more than Hunter. While Willow was there to help ground him, he still struggled with the sea of identities and their related memories swirling in his head like a storm.

The group went their separate ways on the outskirts of Bonesborough. Gus and Willow returned to their families while Luz, Amity, and King went off towards the Owl House leaving Hunter standing there in the middle of the road. Unsure of where to go, Hunter slipped through the void. He couldn't go very far, probably only a couple dozen yards at a time, but stepping back and letting the noise of reality fade felt good and let him think.

Hunter was the twelfth generation of the Caleb grimwalker. Of his past incarnations, seven were killed by Belos personally, two were killed on his orders, and two died by sheer accident. It was a bloody history filled with the desperate desire to be accepted by his 'uncle'.

Was uncle even the right word now? Hunter knew that backstory was nothing but a fabrication created by twisting together two unrelated events. He had no father or mother, he had no siblings, he was a child of the dust of the earth. A true monster.

Hunter's mind briefly returned to reality when he realized he had wandered into the castle grounds. Without a second thought, he donned his mask and cape before continuing his meandering. Being a bit more deliberate to avoid crashing into any of the Scout Guards, Hunter wandered the castle as the memories melded together. It seemed that every incarnation enjoyed wandering the halls with no particular goal in mind.

But… some things weren't lining up all the way. Most of it was a change in the color of the carpet or the arrangement of coven sigils on banners, but every now and then the details were significant. There was something wrong, specifically in the East Wing of the castle. The third generation was the first to live in the completed castle but was forbidden from entering that wing. The fifth generation through the seventh wasn't under that restriction, but it returned for the eighth and tenth.

Hunter was tired of secrets, he wanted answers even if it meant he was risking his life. He strode through both hall and void, rapidly making his way to the throne room. Belos, no, Philip would be there and he would answer Hunter's questions. The guards nearly jumped out of their skin when he stepped into reality in front of them, but he paid them no mind. One of them tried to say something, but Hunter paid him no mind as he swung the door open.

The Emperor sat in his throne, watching Hunter enter the throne room. He was worried. He had seen that posture before and had meant one thing, another one had gone bad.

"My Golden Guard, it is good to see you are well and have returned," The Emperor said calmly. "What do you have to report?"

"My report will wait," Hunter shortly replied. "Right now, I need answers from you. How did my parents die?"

The Emperor's head fell into his hands. History was threatening to repeat itself. "It was a terrible accident. Wild Witches attacked our home and…"

Hunter cut him off. "Book of Proverbs, Chapter twelve, verse twenty-two "Lying lips are abomination to the Lord.""

""But they that deal truly are his delight." Where did you hear those words?" The Emperor asked. Though most of the words had faded from his mind, there were still some passages from the Bible that he remembered.

"I remembered them," Hunter answered.

The Emperor stood up. "Impossible, there isn't a single copy of that book in the entire kingdom!"

"You learned them with me," Hunter said. "Little brother."

For the second time in years, Philip felt the icy grasp of fear. Hunter wasn't failing like his predecessor nor like his wooden soldiers. "Hunter, you don't have a younger brother. You were an only child when your parents died."

Hunter removed his mask, looking Belos dead in the eye. "Stop lying, Philip. I told you I remember now."

Silence filled the room as Philip faced the one person he never thought he would see again. "Caleb? Is it really you?"

"Not quite," Hunter said. "That's why I need your help. I am still Hunter, but I'm also Caleb."

Philip removed his horned mask, revealing an aged and battered face. "Of course, I-I had given up hope that I could ever bring you back. You must have found something that completed the process."

Hunter shook his head. "You succeeded the first time and every time after that, I just couldn't remember."

Philip reached for his staff, ready to strike Hunter down. Hunter didn't move to defend himself, instead, responding with words. "Come now, Philip, killing me once is enough. I'm not here to take revenge. I just want to help to put all the pieces together."

Philip relaxed a bit but was still weary. He didn’t know if he truly had his brother again, or if one of the revenants he created was finally coming to enact his punishment for the sin of fratricide. "Of course, where do you want to start?"

Hunter contained his smirk. "Something calls to me from the East Wing. How about we start there?"

Luz was barely in the Owl House for an hour before Eda and King were pushing her out the door. Amity had already left for the Blight Manor to settle some unmentioned business, leaving Luz to spend what she thought was going to be a quiet and boring weekend in her room. Instead, she was being pushed out the door by Eda who quickly got King on her side.

"You heard me squirt, your mother wants to see you. You already skipped six months of classes so there is no harm in taking a month to see your mother and get away from all the craziness," Eda said.

Luz stumbled a bit as Eda Stopped pushing her. "Okay I get that, but why does it seem like you're just trying to get rid of me?"

Eda rolled her eyes. "Fine, your mother may or may not have offered to give me some more interesting human stuff that I could sell instead of the junk that washes up on the shore."

Luz playfully rolled her eyes. "Figures money is involved. You could have just told me she was expecting me, no need to shove me out the door."

Eda laughed at the joke, but on the inside she was nervous. The Emperor was still looking for Luz and had posted a squad to look for Eclipse Lake. Thankfully the group was either inept, corrupt, or both and the kids managed to get all the way back without seeing them. She needed to get Luz out of the Demon Realm as fast as she could and Camilla had given her the perfect excuse.

Space untwisted to reveal the corridor between the realms. King spoke with a strained voice. "Hurry, it's a lot harder to open this when there is only one of us."

Without another word, Luz gave Eda and King a quick hug before dashing through the portal. In an instant, she was in the familiar woods near her mother's home. She jogged through the woods until they gave way to the streets and suburbs of the town she grew up in. After a few minutes of walking, she turned onto the familiar street where she lived with her mother.

Luz could see her mother walking towards the house, mail in her hand. She called out to the older woman, waving her hand in the air. Camilla smiled when she saw her daughter running towards her. It was a touching moment.

It was supposed to be a touching moment.

A van screeched to a halt and Luz watched in horror as two men burst out the side door and grabbed her mother. Luz reacted with pure instinct. All reports of the incident would be suppressed in a massive cover-up by the major cultivating families of the United States. The whole incident took three seconds. In the first second, Luz already had her spear in her hand with Stringbean on her way to the ring. By the end of the next second, she was in the air with the tip of her weapon pointed forward. By the end of the third and final second, her spear had pierced clean through the van's engine block and into the asphalt beneath it.

With pure venom, Luz gave the two men outside the van a single warning. "Get the hell away from my mother."

Notes:

A shorter chapter, but I feel like chapters should be broken up by content rather than word count.

Fun fact, opening the 240+ page Word doc I have for this makes my computer cry. The CPU fan always kicks up. I should probably start a new doc soon as I still need this laptop to get through a few more years of school.

I don't think I have anything to really talk about. How about a poll? I probably won't get a huge response, but when do you guys want your updates? When they're done or on a set day? This one is going up Wednesday night, last week I'm pretty sure was on Friday, and I was on a good streak of Sunday updates for a while. (Mountain Standard Time, I know I post these really late for me, but someone reading this is probably on the other side of the world.)

Let me know if you have vaguely strong opinions about it.

And as always, if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below. No spoilers of course, but I doubt everything is coming across as clearly as it does in my head.

Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Luz had what she considered a wide but shallow pool of knowledge. Sure she had her fixations that she could talk about for hours, but those were more of the exception rather than the rule. Her current question was somewhere between 'where did these guys get submachine guns' and 'I wonder what caliber can hurt me now.' The first few rounds stung as they hit Luz's body but failed to even break her skin. Her clothing was a different story, having swapped her durable artifact set for some street clothes she had stashed away in her mostly forgotten space bag.

Camilla watched in shock. Her daughter had suddenly appeared, seemingly pierced an engine block, and was now bulletproof. Not only was Luz bulletproof but she was now snatching the majority of bullets out of the air, letting them fall harmlessly onto the ground. The two men continued their assault until the barrage of gunfire gave way to soft clicks as their guns ran out of ammunition.

One man began to reload while his partner rushed at Luz, pulling a knife out from a hidden sheath in his clothing. Luz responded to the man's intentions by cleanly pulling her weapon from the van. Camilla watched with a growing sense of dread as her daughter took a swing at her attacker. She screwed her eyes shut, wanting to avoid seeing the moment her daughter became a killer when two gunshots rang out from down the street.

She turned to the source of the sound and felt relieved. Flanked by his guards, Manny's cousin trotted down the street. Camilla was going to greet them when Luz stepped between them, standing defensively in front of her. The blade of her spear gleamed in the afternoon sun, not a speck of blood or engine oil to be seen.

"Stay back, Mami. They're just like the other two, I can feel it," Luz said.

"Luz, what are you talking about?" Camilla asked. "That's your dad's cousin. He's family."

Luz shot back a confused glance but refused to lower her guard. The relative in question signaled his men to holster their weapons and step back.

"Si, Luz. I'm Manny's cousin, Carlos," He said, holding his hands out to emphasize he didn't have a weapon. "It's a long story, but first we need to get Camilla and Vee somewhere safe."

Luz didn't say anything at first, instead, she placed her hand flat on the ground. A spell array quickly flashed on the ground causing the plants to briefly share their senses with Luz. It was a strange feeling, best described as a strangely comfortable but unpleasant sensation like touching a microfiber rag. Still, it provided enough for her to know that the house was being watched by three groups.

"Are they with you or them?" Luz asked, motioning to the two dead bodies lying on her mother's lawn.

"Them," Carlos said. "Our surveillance was taken out ten minutes ago."

Luz nodded. "Mami, grab Vee. We need to leave. I'll take you with me to the Demon Realm. The two of you should be safe while I deal with these people."

"That won't be necessary, Luz," Camilla said. "Carlos has already prepared a safe house for us. This actually has to do with why Eda sent you back here."

Luz was confused but had gathered enough to know to stop arguing. Five minutes later, the three Noceda women were in the back of an SUV heading to downtown Gravesfield. The interior was nice and expensive, but the detail that caught Luz's attention was the glass. It was thick, possibly bulletproof glass. She was starting to wonder what secrets her father had kept from her and Camilla.

The drive was uneventful but tense for Luz. She tried to ask a few questions but each time was given the same response. "It would be best if you talked with Abuelo first. He will be able to answer your questions better than I can."

Thankfully, she only had to wait another ten minutes before they arrived at their destination. The building could only be described as a mansion. People dressed like servants were moving around tending to either the property for the few groups of people standing around. Camilla and Vee were led away to get settled while Luz was led deeper into the mansion.

"Abuelo is waiting for you inside," Carlos said. "Someone will take you to see your mother and sister afterward."

Luz looked at the massive pair of mahogany doors they had stopped in front of. They were covered in carvings depicting what Luz assumed was a mythologized version of the Noceda family history, a history she was denied any knowledge of long before she was born. The doors opened effortlessly on well-oiled hinges, revealing a rather plain office space. A pair of couches facing each other sat in the middle of the room and behind them was a simple desk where a weathered man sat, pouring over his papers.

"Ah, you arrived and you are unharmed," The man said as he rose from his desk. "My name is Santiago Noceda, I am your great-great-great grandfather."

Luz was relaxed in her ancestor's presence. She knew that she and the Noceda family had no obligation to help each other, but he still talked to her like Luz was his precious grandchild.

"I would love to spend the time getting to know you, but I am afraid our enemies will not allow it. However, I have had the luxury of getting to know your mother and sister. Strange women they are, but the kind we need more of," Santiago said as he moved to one of the couches.

He waited until Luz had followed suit. "I am afraid that the Noceda family is under attack, and not just those gathered here, but anyone with our name is a target."

"Who's attacking you?" Luz asked.

He waved his hand dismissively. "Old ghosts. As it turns out, some of my old rivals also managed to live long lives. The only difference is that their families weren't led by self-interested donkeys."

He uttered a string of colorful and dated Spanish. "I can only do so much to protect my family, Luz. That's why I want to ask for your help."

He slid a paper across the table to her. Luz read it over. It was a simple and lucrative mercenary contract. Luz would participate in a prearranged competition, a series of one one-on-one battles until all three of one side's participants were defeated. Luz would receive three million upfront as well as a large amount in untraceable assets should she have to fight. The benefits were great and the risks were low.

But it didn't sit right with her.

"I can't accept this," Luz said. Santiago's eyebrow shot up, but he remained silent. "This offer is great, amazing even. With this kind of money, I can make sure Mami and Vee are set for the rest of their lives. I could leave without worrying, but it wouldn't be right. This isn't what either of them would want?"

"Who wouldn't want it?" Santiago asked.

"My dad and master. Both of them tried to instill a sense of helping people, doing the right thing," Luz said. "Both of them would be rolling in their graves if I took this money under these conditions. They would want me to help my family."

"Are we family?" The old man asked. "Do we still have that right in your eyes, even with the hand we had in Manny's death?"

Luz wasn't sure how to answer her grandfather's question at first. After a minute she tried to force the right words out. "Maybe. I'm at least willing to give you all a chance after what you have done for my family."

Their conversation continued for a bit longer before Luz excused herself. True to Carlos's word, there was a servant waiting to take her to where her mother and Vee were staying. Luz was looking forward to a quiet evening of catching up with her mother and getting to know Vee better.

She was really looking forward to the quiet part.

A loud and belligerent voice could be heard coming from the entry hall of the mansion and before she could stop herself, Luz had stopped following the servant and moved towards the voice. When she laid eyes on the owner of the voice, Luz concluded that looking punch-able was a genetic condition. Three people, clearly siblings, were berating one of the servants while another was cleaning up a broken vase and a third was guiding a co-worker away.

"I don't give a damn what you say, Mr. Santiago will see us tonight," The youngest of the three shouted. On any other person, Luz would have thought he was charming, perhaps even handsome in the right light. Behind him was a woman she assumed was his sister and their father.

"Mr. Smith, as I explained before, you cannot simply barge in and expect Mr. Santiago to be free. I have tried to explain that he is in an important meeting right now and has requested they aren't disturbed," The servant said. As the last word left his mouth, Smith's hand flew out knocking the servant to the ground.

Luz caught the servant and helped them regain their footing before checking his injury. "That's going to swell, but it doesn't seem like anything broke. Notify Carlos or Abuelo about our guests and then get some ice."

"Finally, someone with the sense to serve their bet…" The Blonde Shit was cut off by a loud crack as Luz struck him across the face.

"How dare you act that way in someone else's home. Even the most uncivilized people I met have more manners than you," Luz declared.

"Why you little whor…" Another slap sent him to the ground. A furious roar was met with another slap. Luz was about to deliver her fourth consecutive slap when the older man tried to grab her wrist. And he succeeded for the brief moment it took for Luz to simply add more force. To the observers, it seemed like he missed completely as Luz struck her target again.

His pomp and fury had been reduced to pathetic mewling. Satisfied her point was made, Luz spoke again. "If you have learned your lesson, apologize and leave."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Demanded the woman.

Luz comically slapped her forehead. "Did I forget my heroic entrance speech again? I spent so long practicing in the mirror this time too."

The woman growled before thrusting out her hand. Luz felt the flow of qi shift as the woman prepared her attack. But she was slow. Far too slow.

Luz easily picked up the crumpled form of 'Mr. Smith' and held him in front of her. The woman barely registered what she was now aiming at before her attack went off. Luz unleashed a burst of lighting, striking the second man as she moved behind the woman who tried to attack her. For her coup de grace, Luz simply held her hand out with the tips of her fingers millimeters from the base of the skull.

The woman watched as her companions crumpled to the floor. She didn't dare to move, instead pivoting to politics. "Do you think Mr. Santiago would allow you to get away with treating his guests like this?"

"You aren't guests," Luz countered. "You were asked to leave and you refused that makes you trespassers. But you're right, we should get 'Mr. Santiago's' opinion on this. What do you think, Abuelo?"

Though Luz couldn't see it, she could practically feel the color drain from the woman's face when Santiago responded from the second-story balcony. "You did very well, Nieta. People like them are not welcome in our family home. See them out."

One by one, Luz threw each of the intruders out the door. Before she returned inside, Luz gave a clear and final warning. "If you or anyone from your family comes here and acts like that again, I will send them back in pieces."

It was a warning and a promise, but one she knew would fall on deaf ears.

Notes:

We're back at it at 2 am. I refuse to keep a standardized sleep schedule for your benefit.

So in case you couldn't tell, this isn't going to be a really serious arc for Luz in terms of fight difficulty. The Human Realm has been a bit qi-starved for quite a while, hence why she made so little progress in ten years but has shot through the ranks since leaving.

Might disappear next week since my wife and I will be moving. We aren't going far, but packing and unpacking your entire life is time-consuming.

if you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments below.

Chapter 47: Chapter 47

Luz enjoyed the last week in the Noceda family manor. While she expected a stuffy atmosphere and stuck-up relatives, a majority of the people she interacted with were fairly relaxed and easygoing. She learned that her extended family was involved in a multitude of industries with her younger cousins being tutored by their parents or siblings to help out or take over once they finished their formal education.

Only six were dedicated to cultivating full-time as they had the best innate ability with the art. Their only responsibility was the safety of the family. Carlos was one of them and is currently the second strongest member of the family, under Santiago and excluding Luz. If Luz were to be included she would replace Carlos, but given that she intended to return to the Boiling Isles to continue her cultivation she wasn't officially ranked in the family.

This caused some friction with the younger cultivators when it came time for the competition between the other families. Santiago stood on the balcony overlooking the training area while the rest of them were scattered around the room. Carlos was talking with another man while the rest were taking turns on a punching bag while Luz sat on a mat in the corner. Luz had to admit that her cousins were quite skilled but lacked any actual refinement that came from understanding their martial art instead of just imitating their teacher.

Santiago cleared his throat and everyone turned their attention to him. "It's time for me to announce the participants in this year's competition. As with last year, Carlos will go as the team's escort. While I will be attending, try to find Carlos first as he is more familiar with how things work there."

Luz understood the intention behind the statement, Carlos had already been chosen to lead the family in Santiago's place after things had stabilized. Santiago continued. "As for the team, this year there will be a change. Our participants will be Diego, Maria, and Luz. Jose and Luis will stay behind to watch the manor."

"Excuse me, Abuelo," Deigo said. "but are you sure that's wise?"

"What do you mean Diego? Luz has already agreed to fight," Santiago asked

"I'm sure she has. These past few days we have had the pleasure of getting to know our estranged cousin and she seems to be the type that is very eager to help. We just don't know if she can," Diego said.

Luz stood up and started a stretch to loosen up her arms. "So, which one of you am I fighting then?"

"Cousin, you don't need to prove anything, we just don't want you to get hurt," Maria said. It was clear she was genuine but Luis, the youngest, was eager to prove himself.

"ME! Since Abuelo thinks you're good enough to replace me then prove it!" Luis's bravado was a sight to behold. Everyone had a hard time believing such a large ego could fit in such a small body.

"With or without weapons?" Luz asked.

"I won't need a weapon," he replied. "You can use whatever you want, it won't make a difference."

Luz suppressed a chuckle. Luis's taunts didn't come from malice or some misplaced arrogance, but rather his larger-than-life personality. It reminded her of King when they first met. "Okay, barehanded it is. Tio Carlos, will you referee for us?"

Luz and Luis took their spots on opposite sides of the practice mat. Carlos checked that each fighter was ready before letting out a sigh. "For the sake of brevity, this fight will go to the first pin or ring out. No weapons or lethal techniques are allowed. Ready? Begin!"

It was over faster than Carlos thought it would take. A beat after his hand fell, Luis launched himself at Luz expecting to catch her off guard. The next, Luis's body had slammed against the padded walls of the room. Luz had launched her cousin across the room with a single palm strike.

"I think it's worth noting that Luz isn't replacing Luis in this year's competition. She is replacing Jose," Carlos said and Luis picked himself off the ground.

Luis had always looked up to his older cousins. They had always been his heroes, not only for their cool attitudes but also for their patience when dealing with him. But now they had been overshadowed. Luz treated him like an equal, someone whose talent and tenacity were worth respect. Never before had he received such acknowledgment.

Luz only held back just enough to end the fight quickly since they were already running behind the day's schedule.

When they left for the competition, Luis was still lying on the floor thinking about the fight until the timer turned off the light. There in the darkness, he made his declaration.

"That was so COOL!"

Amity was bored out of her mind. She came home for a few days in almost a year and her mother wasted no time in dragging her to a product showcase. Once upon a time, Amity had to pay close attention to the abomination to avoid getting seriously hurt. Now, she was pretty sure she could break them if she wasn't careful.

Odalia rambled on about the latest invention from Amity's overworked father. Amity just felt sad looking at it. The beast of an abomination was easily ten feet tall clad in a bronze-colored alloy. Underneath the plate was a series of gears and tubes that moved abomination magic through the golem allowing it to function without the need of an experienced abomination witch. It used to fill Amity with wonder and pride seeing her father's work.

Now, all she could see were the flaws and shoddy workmanship. Some of it she knew was the flaws in abominations themselves, but others were just sloppiness. Redundancies were layered on top of each other while other systems were held together by hopes and prayers. Amity knew that it was merely a demonstration model, but even Odalia wouldn't have stood for this level of quality.

"As you can see, this model can even deal with the new magics that have been imported from the Human Realm," Odalia said confidently.

Amity couldn't stop the snort in time, Odalia's delusions were too great.

"Is there something wrong Mittens?" Odalia asked in an ice-cold voice.

The reflex Amity honed over the years railed against her new worldview. Odalia wasn't qualified to inspire fear in her anymore. "This would stand a chance against anyone from the Immortal Studies track. Titan, Luz might even be able to take this thing apart by looking at it."

Odalia straightened her blouse as she composed herself. "And what makes you say that dear?"

"For starters, it's clear that Dad hadn't slept a single night trying to put this one together. It is riddled with simple flaws that he would have fixed had he been given proper time, help, or both," Amity said as she circled the golem. "Second, the refining techniques of the Boiling Isles simply aren't up to par. A puppet of my own creation would be able to tear this abomination apart."

Amity held her hand out to her side. After a brief flash, a white panther puppet appeared. The exterior was still rough, the plating on several segments still needed minor adjustments to sit against the frame properly and the whole thing needed painting, but it was more than enough to deal with the third-rate work Odalia was squeezing out of her dad.

"Perhaps I should introduce my focus in Immortal Studies. This is the Human art of Puppetry. On the surface, it greatly resembles abomination magic with a few differences. First, the puppet had a rigid form. Some may think that is a disadvantage, but it isn't. The ridged body structure allows for greater precision and control. Second, depending on the method used to make the puppet it can use either the user's power or an external source. Finally, puppets are capable of far more complex commands." Amity explained.

With a flourish, Amity turned towards the golem. "Tear it to ribbons."

The panther lunged at the golem which stood there while her puppet eviscerated it. Without the command to defend itself, the abomination was unable to respond to its imminent destruction in front of the Blight Industries customers and investors. The cherry on top for Amity was that Odalia was unable to do anything to stop it.

Odalia felt her blood pressure rise as the audience murmured. That damned human man was harassing her from the grave through her precious daughter. He had turned Amity from a well-mannered and obedient daughter to this rebellious girl currently ruining her future. Odalia had to regain control.

"Very nice dear, but you know your father is better than that." Odalia pushed a button on her remote, summoning three more golems from backstage. "Can your little puppet deal with these?"

Amity looked at the new abomination and came to a conclusion, her mother had no idea what she was talking about. Her talent's lied solely in running the company and selling products, not in the construction of those products. Each golem was filled with more flaws, oversights, and other signs that they were prototypes that weren't ready.

Amity delivered her answer clearly. She launched herself at the middle abomination and ripped its core from its chest. The audience watched as the golem fell apart without its abomination-based skeleton. One of the two still standing took a swing at Amity, only to be intercepted and torn apart by her panther puppet.

"Tsk, tsk, Odalia. Attacking your own daughter from behind. I thought Blight's were above such tactics?" Amity said as she faced her flustered mother. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid that will conclude today's presentation. It is clear that internal issues have affected the quality of our products."

The crowd continued to murmur but quickly filtered out of the hall. Whether or not they would linger in hopes of asking questions or gaining some other juicy gossip, Amity no longer cared. Let them all know the horrid person that was Odalia Blight, a true blight on their society. She didn't even pay attention to the woman or her outraged ramblings. Amity made her way backstage, her panther following close behind her. There in his usual stupor was Aladore Blight, the once great man. He managed to rouse himself as his daughter approached.

"Whatever deal or agreement you have with that bitch you call a wife doesn’t concern me anymore. Got it?" Amity said.

Her father nodded his head while he rubbed his eyes. He watched as Amity walked away, unsure when her palisman got so big. He managed to carefully stumble his way to the front of the stage to see the carnage that was once his designs and his extremely flustered and enraged wife. Even though he could feel the headache already coming, he couldn't help but feel proud of his daughter.

Notes:

Even being in the middle of moving will not stop me.

Okay, it is a bit of an exaggeration to say I'm in the 'middle' of moving. Really just starting to pack, but the sentiment is still there.

Luis's personality is based on Black Star minus the whole 'surpass God' thing he had going on.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 48: Chapter 48

The arena where the competition between the major families of the region was located below the Gravesfield Recreation Center. Luz could remember spending a few summers attending day camps, wondering how many times she made arts and crafts while her cousins sparred against others beneath her. Abuelo Noceda, as she has been trying to refer to Santiago as separated from the group as soon as they arrived to meet with the other family heads. Apparently, it was so they could establish the rewards and place bets on individual performance. Truly, gambling was the great unifier.

Carlos explained the rules while leading the group to their locker room. "While there isn't a rule against it, fights aren't usually to the death. The most common way to win a match is to remove your opponent from the ring or render them unable to continue. Any techniques and artifacts are allowed. Any bets made between contestants are recognized and upheld by the family heads, though that hasn't happened since I was a kid."

The locker room had a few benches and a trio of changing rooms on each side. Without saying a word, Diego and Maria went to opposite sides to change into their gear. Their gear consisted of simple MMA-styled pants and fitted tops. Neither of them had any defensive artifacts to wear as they were apparently quite rare, making Luz nervous about using her own. But since she didn't have anything else to wear, she quickly entered a changing room and put on what was officially the Three Realms Garment, but what she personally called her Ass Kicking Outfit.

Her family eyed her attire but didn't say anything, instead focusing on the fights ahead. Victory this year was crucial to establishing the Noceda family as a thriving family capable of producing multiple generations of genius fighters, even after the execution of prominent figures in the family.

Diego and Maria were looking over their weapons. Each of them had a rapier that had elegant and unique guards. Diego placed his weapon to the side and asked, "Do you use a weapon, cousin?"

Luz was caught off guard but quickly nodded in response. "Yeah, it's called the Divine Dragon Titan Spear. My master made it for me using some rare metals he had, dragon blood essence, and the bone of a beast called a titan."

Luz pulled the spear out of her space ring. The black and white weapon gleamed in the fluorescent light. She swung the weapon around and gave a few quick thrusts to give a demo of her proficiency. The three of them were awestruck, not by Luz's skill but by the wealth of her master.

"Where did your master find a space ring?" Diego asked.

"How did he even find the materials to make that?" Maria asked.

Carlos was a lot more collected since he had met Michael before. "He must have been a pretty generous person to give you such precious gifts."

"What do you guys mean?" Luz asked as she pulled out the two other space rings she had on her. "Space rings are fairly common, not to mention Master Michael had been alive for over five thousand years."

Everyone was reeling from the revelation that Luz's master was truly some ancient immortal. Their minds ran wild imagining what other treasures the man possessed. Their questions were interrupted by an alarm going off, calling them to the main arena. Carlos led them out a second door that opened to a balcony overlooking a fairly large arena. Luz estimated it was twenty yards across. There were five other balconies with one having five ornate chairs where the family heads were already sitting.

"Now what?" Luz asked in a hushed voice.

"We wait," Carlos replied. "The winning family from last year will make the first challenge. This includes the names of both fighters. The two fight and the winner can then be challenged by any family with priority given to the most recently defeated family. A family is eliminated when all three fighters are gone or the challenge goes unanswered."

Abuelo stood up and announced the start of the event. "This year we will start with last year's winner, the Johnson family of New York."

Luz looked towards their balcony and cursed. "Fuck."

"What's wrong?" Carlos asked.

"I threw them out of the manor last week," Luz explained.

Carlos nodded. "Fuck."

"The Johnson family challenges the Noceda family," A dark-haired man declared. "Gregor Johnson challenges Luz Noceda."

The dark-haired man leaped off his balcony and landed in the arena. He was wearing what looked like a trimmed-down version of SWAT gear. He confidently strode into the center of the arena, waiting for Luz to respond.

"Master always said corpses cause fewer issues," Luz muttered before she launched herself into the air. She twirled as she flew, spear in hand, to the ass whooping she would have to dish out. "I accept your challenge."

Gregor looked Luz up and down before scowling and looking back at his family. One of the men from the other night was standing there, apparently a participant. He seemed to flinch slightly at Gregor's gaze but held his composure. Gregor turned his attention back to Luz. "So, you’re the one who attacked my siblings. I thought your mother would have told you it's bad manners to attack guests."

"Guests know when they aren't wanted and leave when asked," Luz replied. "Your siblings were trespassing. Be glad I left them in one piece."

"If you apologize, I'll let you leave in the same condition," Gregor said as he pulled out a combat knife.

"Funny, I'm not going to give you the same offer." Luz held her spear at the ready. Stringbean nervously slithered around in the sleeve she was hiding in, ready to spring into action the moment Luz needed her.

There was no signal as the fight technically started the moment Luz entered the ring, yet the two fighters stared each other down for a solid minute before moving. Gregor rushed forward, keeping his body low and his knife at the ready. Luz responded by flipping over him, swinging her spear to clip his leg. Gregor was a bit faster than Luz expected as he pulled his leg out of the path of her spear. He continued to use this momentum to slam his knife into her back.

A loud snap filled the arena as the blade of his knife broke against Luz's artifact.

Luz didn't hesitate as she spun around, slicing the inside part of the elbow Gregor's off-hand arm. She followed up by using her advanced movement technique to get behind him where she sliced the tendons in his knees. Satisfied that she had sufficiently disabled her opponent, Luz stepped away from Gregor. Someone from his family would drag him off the arena and she could move on with her day.

Until the Stained Glass Lotus blocked a divine sense attack.

Notes:

Oh gosh, this move was a bit more draining than I had anticipated. Then I went and helped my brother and his wife move out of their place and oh boy were there problems with that move.

All this to say I didn't get as much time as I usually do to mull over and write this down.

For the weirdo's using metric, this arena is just over eighteen meters in diameter.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 49: Chapter 49

Her body swayed and her mind reeled at the sudden drain on her soul. It was thanks to Stringbean that Luz was able to recover before she hit the ground. She didn't bother firing accusations towards the elders as it would have been unnecessary. The soul artifact saw to that by destroying the strand of divine senses that attempted to breach into her soul.

Gregor groaned as he tried to pick himself off the floor. The damage to his tendons was severe, but not to the point of permanently crippling the man. With the right pills and enough rest, he would make a full recovery. Still, the match wasn't technically over yet.

"Someone come get him off the mat," Luz called out. "He's in no shape to continue fighting."

A booming voice rang out from the Johnson family's balcony. "You don't get to decide that Noceda."

"You decide then," Luz said to the still-collapsed form of Gregor. "Do you really think you can keep going in? Even to the death?"

He didn't reply, he just scowled at Luz while trying to pull something from a vest pocket. Without a word, Luz bent down and pulled out a small plastic box free from the vest. She considered it for just a moment, noting the faint smell of medicine, before placing it in Gregor's hand and stepping away.

A hint of respect crept into Gregor's eyes as he took the pill contained in the box. Luz wished she didn't as the effects took hold. His skin turned blood red and his qi violently coursed through his body. Gregor didn't pull out a recovery pill, it was a berserker drug. With a grunt, Gregor forced his damaged body to stand. The pain must have been immense as Luz could faintly hear what she assumed was grinding bone.

Stringbean let out a low hiss as she observed him from her hiding spot. The feeling the man gave both her and Luz was unsettling. This was a pill that had drastic side effects, possibly fatal ones. Luz grimaced, pride had forced this to be a battle to the death.

"Stringbean, go," Luz muttered. The purple palisman darted from her sleeve and nestled in the open ring on the end of her spear. Stringbean's qi flowed along the spear, perfectly merging with Luz's and ready to follow her commands.

Everyone watched closely as the tension filled the room. There had yet to be an opponent who could withstand the onslaught of someone under the influence of the Johnson family's Berserker Blood Pill. The user's power increases by two realms and becomes immune to pain at the cost of losing all sanity for five minutes. Some were sure they would soon watch the promising young woman being scrapped off the floor.

The onlookers were briefly blinded by a flash of lightning as Luz's and Gregor's fists collided. Luz stood firm, her spear left behind her and her fist firmly pressed against the berserk Gregor. The man's body had changed further, the muscles of his body had drastically expanded allowing him to tower over Luz. His physical power had also increased. Even with her body being amplified by the Pure Lightning Body she was barely able to match Gregor's growing power.

Luz leaped back and grabbed her spear. She couldn't afford to drag out this fight in hopes that the drug would wear off. Disabling his limbs proved to be an ineffective means of disabling him. Her only option was to kill him. It left a bitter taste to kill her opponent. Each life she had taken weighed heavily on her heart and now a family's pride would force her to add more.

Luz thrust her spear at Gregor's heart, intent on ending him as quickly and humanely as possible. The spear pierced his vest and nicked his chest before stopping. Gregor had instinctively flexed his chest muscles, somehow stopping Luz's blow. She wrenched her spear free and moved back to avoid his fists, the air whistling around it. Gregor threw his head back and let out a frustrated roar that shook the air.

Another attempt to breech her soul was thwarted.

With Stringbean embedded in the spear, the drain was less significant than before, but Luz still suffered a wave of vertigo. In that brief moment of weakness, Gregor struck his fist hammering into Luz's side with enough force to lift her off her feet. She was sent tumbling across the ground, barely able to recover before Gregor hit her again sending her in a different direction. The third hit cracked the ribs on her left side.

The Johnson family patriarch watched the fight with a faint smile on his face. He didn't want to waste such a valuable pawn on the Noceda girl, but after getting an initial look at her ability he decided killing her was worth the life of a useless son. He only wished he could get past the strange force protecting her secrets from him. A disappointment he could live with.

Luz leaped into the air to avoid the fourth punch. She could tell that six of her ribs were cracked and one was possibly broken. At the apex of her leap, Luz came up with a plan. As she fell, Stringbean changed the spear into its sword form. As she came down, Luz spun adding centrifugal force to the meager sword intent she had previously comprehended. The result was precisely what she intended, her sword severed Gregor's arm at the elbow.

The beast of a man reeled back at the loss of his arm, clutching the stump where it used to be. To Luz's shock, Gregor was managing to stem the bleeding purely through muscle control. His expert control and unusual durability suggested that he spent his entire life focusing on his physical body.

Since her weapon alone had proven inadequate, Luz prepared to do something she had once promised Michael she wouldn't do. She was going to copy an anime. Lightning poured down her blade as she swung it with all her might, releasing her qi into a massive arch that flew towards Gregor. The wave crashed into him, lightning racing along his nerves as Luz's attack tried to cleave him in two. Not wasting the opportunity, Stringbean shifted the weapon back into a spear as Luz focused her power on a single point.

"The essence of a spear is to move forward," Luz mumbled to herself as she gathered her power. It built at the point of the spear, gathering and roiling until it threatened to burst. When it felt like she couldn't force anymore, she rushed Gregor with her spear tip held before her.

"Gregor Johnson has been eliminated via fatal injury," Exclaimed one of the elders. "The Noceda Family takes the first round and may now choose the next combatant. Luz Noceda may return to her position."

Luz leaped up, barely clearing the railing on the balcony. She heard her cousins talking to her but didn't process what they said. She simply sat down and took a recovery pill letting them deal with the next round or two as she did her best to recover. Nearby, a small purple mass with a silver eye watched her.

Notes:

Drama, death, and unpacking is a lot of work.

Yeah, we moved a week ago and still have a few boxes to unpack, as well as others that need a storage unit.

The use of a berserker-type pill is fairly common in lower-level arcs and stories as it's an easy temp power boost to raise the stakes, though they don't last long and have severe side effects so they aren't present in mid to high-level arcs since fights are much longer.

I will admit, this is going on longer than I initially thought it would (life interference not included). I kinda thought I would make this a low-effort, low-stakes stomp but apparently, I'm not that kind of writer.

If you have any questions feel free to put them in the comments below.

Chapter 50: Chapter 50

Luz passively observed the arena as she did her best to recover. Her cousins were fairly skilled and able to hold their own against the other contestants, surrendering when opportune and fighting like hell when needed. However, the whole thing felt weird to Luz. It was like everyone gave up on winning and only focused on comparisons. As the competition started to wind down, she learned why.

In turn, each family challenged Luz again, only to forfeit the match. Even the Johnson family, who Luz thought would want to get another shot in, gave up.

Abuelo spoke to the group but really addressed the other elders. "It seems that we have a strange situation on our hands. By rights, my family won but it doesn’t feel like we earned this."

"What do you mean Santiago?" The elder from the Barker family said. "That granddaughter of yours is terrifying. I don't think I would have stood a chance when I was her age."

Two of the other elders muttered in agreement, the patriarch of the Johnson family just glared at Luz. Abuelo replied. "Your words are very kind, but I am afraid that young Luz is not the product of our Noceda family techniques. Fate sent a different teacher to her. As such, while she led us to victory this year, I cannot in good faith accept the full reward. I propose that we only take seventy percent of the reward, and give the remaining thirty percent to the Johnson family as compensation for the loss of young Gregor. What do you say, Patriarch Johnson?"

"That will not be necessary. We appreciate your kindness, but the Johnson family has long stood on its own," He said. "While the death of my son is a great loss, there is talent enough to replace him."

Luz wanted to call bullshit. She knew this wasn't going to be the end of it. This was the second time she specifically had dealt a blow to their pride. If she wasn't careful, what happened to her father could happen to her. Michael couldn't constantly protect her, what hope did her loving and well-meaning abuelo have?

In the end, the Noceda family accepted the full reward. It was meager to Luz, a few companies, two bottles of low-grade pills, and three dozen mid-grade spirit stones. A veritable bounty for a realm that had been deprived of proper qi for as long as her home had, but a child's allowance compared to the wealth she had.

The elders dismissed the teams, the competition was over and the only business that remained was settling the bets between the families. In the locker room, Carlos told them that they were free to make their way back to the manor on their own since Gravesfield was family territory. Luz took her time changing into her street clothes, intent on spending the day in the city with a certain spy she noticed.

Stepping out of the building, her eyes landed on a familiar head of purple hair. She couldn't hold back her smile as she approached Amity. "So, how did you find me?"

"You should have guessed Odalia tried to teach me a thing or two about Oracle magic," Amity said as she wrapped Luz in a hug. "Turns out it works just fine in the Human realm. So, mind filling me in on what you were doing?"

"Turns out that my family is a bit bigger than I thought," Luz replied. "And they're also like us. Today was a big tournament between us and a few other families. Abuelo asked me to participate."

Amity nodded. "That's what it looked like. I am surprised you used Stringbean though. Aren't you worried about someone trying to take her?"

Luz shook her head. "This world has suffered because of a lack of qi. I would be surprised if anyone knew enough about artifact spirits to realize she is one. But enough about that, how about I take you on a date?"

"Be the first proper one, though do you have cash? I doubt they take Snails, spirit stones, or gold for regular transactions," Amity said.

Luz pulled out a card she got shortly after arriving at the Noceda Manor. "I've got plenty."

The two of them managed to enjoy a long afternoon in the city. Despite talking about visiting different shops and buying things, the majority of their time was spent letting Amity take in the new world. Sure, she had seen bits and pieces of the world thanks to the Titan, but being in it was an entirely different experience. Moving cars, glowing signs, and calm people were new sights to her. They wandered around the city for hours before Luz used her phone to call a cab to take them back to her mom's house.

"I don't want to leave just yet," Amity sighed.

"You're not," Luz assured her. "There's just something here I want to grab first."

The cab drove off as they approached the door. Luz had barely opened it when both of them felt that something was wrong. The world around them was too quiet and there was a faint stench of blood. Easing the door open, the two girls entered the house looking for the cause of this strange sensation.

"Young woman, do you know how late it is?" A cold, male voice called from the living room.

Luz froze. She knew that voice. Her eyes slowly moved over to see Patriarch Johnson sitting on the couch, his hands covered in flaking blood. Amity tapped her on the shoulder to point out the two corpses on the kitchen floor. Patriarch Johnson had killed the two security officers sent to watch the house while Camilla was gone.

"Forgive me, sir," Luz replied with a measured voice. "We weren't expecting any company today. My mother and sister are staying at the family manor and I'm afraid I'm only here for a minute before going there. Perhaps it would be better if you head over there first."

"Oh, that won't be necessary," The Patriarch said. "I just need to see you for a bit, though your pretty friend is free to join us."

Amity felt her stomach roil under the man's gaze. Luz moved so that she was in between the two of them. "Of course, let us get you something to drink first. It's already bad enough that we made such a distinguished guest wait, the least we can do is get you a drink."

Luz forced every nerve in her body to obey her as she took her girlfriend's hand and turned towards the kitchen. Carefully, she moved around the bodies and made her way to the back door. That was as far as she could safely take them. She looked back at Amity, seeing the same mix of love and determination she had. Without another word, Luz and Amity crashed through the sliding door and dashed into the woods, and hopefully their salvation.

Luz could see the abandoned shack that marked the location of the portal to the Demon Realm. If they could get through it fast enough they would be safe. The next moment, Luz was thrown against a tree while Amity let out a shriek. Patriarch Johnson had caught up to them.

"Did you really think the two of you could run from me?" He asked as he stared down at Luz. "You may have been able to thwart my attempts to invade your soul, but your physical body is greatly inferior to mine. I have no idea where you got the idea the child of an inferior family like yours could get away with killing my son, but I will certainly enjoy teaching you your place."

A flash of silver appeared and stopped against his neck. Amity, clad in Silver Shadow, tried to decapitate the patriarch of the Johnson family. Had the gap between them been smaller, she might have stood a chance. Instead, he slowly turned around before grabbing her face. He brought her close, examining her features.

"Interesting, you must possess some forgotten bloodline," Patriarch Johnson said. "I think you will provide a fine replacement for Gregor. Sit still until I finish here, dear."

Luz saw red as Amity was thrown through a tree. The shock of seeing Amity callously thrown away after that awful promise made something inside Luz snap. It was different than when she fought to protect King against the puppeteer demon or when she killed the nameless Son of the Titan in the hallway of Hexside. She still regretted having to resort to lethal force.

She wanted Patriarch Johnson dead.

Luz didn't notice when she took her spear out, only that when she reached out it was there. She felt her hair brush against the back of her neck as it rapidly grew. A pair of horns made their way through the main on her head as the sclera of her eyes turned pitch black and her pupils turned gold. The Three Realms Garment appeared in the air and responded to the Titan qi, effortlessly merging with Luz's half titan form taking a new appearance that seemed to blur the line between cloth and the fur that grew around her forearms and calves. The toe of the boots pulled back, revealing her feet had turned into those of a titan while her fingers were plated in bone. To finish her transformation, a ridge of bone descended down her forehead to the tip of her nose, her eyes encircled by two incomplete circles.

The Patriarch watched in horror as the Second Grade Mixed Element Realm cultivation Luz had risen to the Third Grade of the Immortal Boundary Realm. There was no trick, pill, or technique that could force a human's cultivation so high. He was staring at a monster of legend.

"One minute," Luz said, her voice dropping a bit and taking a gravelly tone from the transformation. "I can only hold this for one minute."

"Then you will die in one minute," He roared. He pulled a combat knife from behind his back and rushed Luz.

Magic responded to the command of its master. At the command of her will, a wall of vines shot out of the damp evening dirt and her Ice Qi Injection Array formed on Luz's back. Lightning and ice clashed and mingled inside her body until they coalesced into a single energy that she commanded with absolute authority. In her heightened state, Luz had no issues using her Frozen Lightning Qi. Even Stringbean benefitted from the transformation, allowing the little palisman to use the world's qi to amplify her master.

Patriarch Johnson bit back a cry of pain when the spear effortlessly pierced the wall of vine he was trying to cut through. The deep cold arched through his body from the spear, reaching his shoulder before he could move back. The vines retreated into the ground, revealing Luz as lightning arched off her body before freezing and breaking off as she moved. This was no technique of the Noceda family, he even feared it wasn't a technique comprehended by a mortal.

The two clashed a few times before Johnson was forced back again. His eyes burned with rage. There was no way he was about to lose to borrowed power and artifacts. Flames started to flare to life around him. "Dante's Divine Visions: Inferno."

A massive pillar of flame erupted from the ground around him, expelling the cold that had invaded his body. He used the forbidden technique he found in Italy over a decade ago, one that he was sure would allow him to destroy the other families. He wanted to keep it a secret for a few more years, but that was no longer possible. After he killed the girl, he would give the order to start a war with the other families.

Luz had thirty seconds before her titan source would be exhausted. She was confident she could kill the Patriarch where he stood, but the flames around him made her hesitate. Looking at them felt wrong, deeply wrong. She had never felt anything like them in her life. A deep sense of evil filled her mind.

He rushed her again, but she was ready. Gathering her qi, Luz brought her left arm up to block the punch. The punch landed, but as their qi collided, Luz was shocked when her qi seemed to evaporate. Using her physical might, Luz forced him. The faint sent of burnt hair lingered in the air, he had singed the fur on her arm.

Twenty-five seconds left. Luz started the exchange this time, using her spear's superior reach to keep her opponent a safe distance away from her. "Great Unrestrained Spear!" She used every bit of her focus and power to execute the forms, never giving her opponent room to breathe. He seemed to anticipate her movements, though not perfectly as she managed to hit him a few times and leave a massive gash on his leg.

Fifteen seconds, no wait, it felt wrong. Everything felt wrong. Luz staggered back as the bone and fur began to recede. It wasn't immediate, but she was slowly losing her ability to maintain her half-titan form. The Patriarch let out a bellowing laugh. "You had me worried there for a minute, you know. That is quite the formidable power you have there, but you have no control over it."

Luz propped herself on her spear as her legs threatened to give out. He continued his speech. "My fire is called Inferno because it burns with the flames of hell itself. You showed remarkable talent, but nothing can withstand them not even your monstrous power. It’s a shame really, your pelt would have been the perfect rug to…"

He was cut off by a new voice calling out from the shack. "Titan's Secret Art: Niflheim!"

It was as if the world around them was always made of ice. Even the flames that gathered around the Patriarch were frozen in the air. The man seemed to have escaped the flash freeze that happened, until his knee shattered, leaving his calf frozen to the ground. Blood refused to flow from his stump as it had frozen in his leg. Off balance from the loss of his leg, Patriarch Johnson fell to the ground as his body slowly turned to ice.

Emerging from the icy fog, King's clawed foot crushed the chest of the once proud human cultivator. Luz could see Amity right behind him, her eyes full of concern. Luz could see her lips moving, but exhaustion took over as she slowly blacked out.

Notes:

How the hell did I get here? Almost a year ago, I wrote the first chapter of this story just to get the idea out of my head and now I have written fifty chapters, averaging about one a week. This certainly was not on my five-year plan or ten-year plan, or really any plan at all.

 

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments. I do still read them even though I may not respond as much as I did in the beginning. I'm not wired for 'small talk' type conversation.

Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Santiago couldn't stop pacing. Things had gone from bad to good to worse in a day. Winning had cemented the Noceda family's position for another few years, giving Luis plenty of time to catch up to his cousins. He really thought that nothing could have gone wrong, so much so that he let the young ones go where they wanted instead of immediately returning to the manor.

Then, the men posted at Camilla's house failed to report back. The security that the family employed was obedient to the letter, never being even a minute late on their check-ins and guard rotations. If they didn't report in then something had to have happened to them. Jose took a group to check out the home and his report was distressing. Both men were tortured and killed. The field autopsy concluded that it was likely done with some kind of combat knife. The results from an in-depth autopsy weren't scheduled to hit Santiago's desk for another six hours.

Further investigation of the home revealed someone crashed through the sliding glass door. The glass lying in the law proved that whoever ran through the door was trying to escape someone, likely the person who killed the sentry team. Jose's team got to work analyzing the tracks finding three sets of tracks, two of them moving together and the third in pursuit. One of the fleeing tracks was identified as Luz and the pursuing tracks were identified as belonging to Patriarch Johnson.

From that moment, Santiago didn't need the full autopsy to know what had happened to the sentry team. They died in a horrific manner, having their meridians incinerated, their tendons cut, and then ultimately dying of exsanguination. Several men and women had been killed this way for the past decade not just from the Noceda family. The tracks were followed into the forest until they reached a strange sight.

Patriarch Johnson was found frozen solid, even his flames had turned to ice. However, the concentrated winter only spanned about fifty feet in any direction and completely excluded a nearby shack. Luz's tracks vanished, but it was likely she was dragged a short distance by the second person before their tracks also disappeared entirely. In the squad's final report, they noted the presence of two other sets of tracks, one human and one monster of some kind. These tracks appeared and disappeared from the same place as the person who was with Luz.

There was no official word from the Johnson family about the incident yet, but Carlos's information network had already picked up signs of the Johnson family conducting their own investigation. To delay them, he began to relay false and conflicting information, but it was only a matter of time before they dropped the façade and investigated Camilla's home for themselves. In the meantime, the body and flames had been recovered and a team was working on hiding the scene.

The worst part was that Luz had been missing for around thirty-six hours now and he had yet to tell Camilla about it. He had promised her that she and her family would be safe with them and now her daughter was missing and he had no leads. He didn't want to face her rage and heartbreak until he either had answers or couldn't push it off any longer.

The phone on his desk beeped and his secretary's voice rang out of the speaker. "Mr. Noceda, the report you requested has been forwarded to your tablet."

He pressed a button on the phone and thanked his assistant. With a few taps, Santiago opened the report and began reading it. It was about a comprehensive sweep of Gravesfield's public cameras the day of the tournament tracking Luz's movements. He had hoped that they would shed some light on the events of the day. He had only managed to get through the first page when there was a knock on his door.

"Abuelo," Carlos called from the other side of the door. "You have an important guest."

"Nonsense," Santiago called back. "I am busy with a personal project. Please handle whatever business they have."

"It's related to the project," He called back.

Santiago placed the table face down before he opened the door. There stood his second-in-command and the aforementioned guest, a girl with purple hair and pointed ears. The person Luz was seen leaving the venue with. "I see, come in miss."

The three of them entered the room. Santiago and the girl sat down across from each other while Carlos stood against the wall. "To what do I owe the pleasure, miss…?"

"Blight, sir. My name is Amity Blight," She replied. "Luz has already told me a bit about you and Mr. Carlos."

"And how is my granddaughter?" He asked.

"That's what I'm here to discuss," Amity said. "I know you already found the shack and the house so I think I'll start my story there."

Amity described her encounter with the vile man, Luz's desperate clash, and his death at the hands of King. She then explained that with Eda's help, they took Luz back to the Boiling Isles to recover her strength. Santiago listed while Carlos compared her statements against their investigation. When Amity had finished, Carlos gave him a single nod verifying that their investigations had matched her version of events.

Santiago let out a relieved sigh, "It warms my heart to hear that Luz is alive. But if you took her with you then why didn't she come back with you?"

Amity grimaced before replying. "Luz woke up the next morning and soon after both her and King entered a comatose state. Their souls have been called to the Titan Graveyard for their induction ceremony."

"The Titan Graveyard?" Santiago asked.

Amity nodded. "Yes, that's what I said."

Carlos spoke up, "I assume King is some kind of monster species from the Titan bloodline to be called to their graveyard, but why was Luz pulled there too?"

Santiago noticed the subtle shift in Amity's demeanor as she put a barrier between them. Not any kind of protective barrier, but the kind one uses to hide their intentions. "If you don't know then it's not my place to tell you, but needless to say Luz has earned herself a part of the Titan's Legacy."

"One more question, Miss Blight," Santiago said. "What is your relationship with my nieta? Surely, Eda would have been a better person to send seeing as she has taken the role of her instructor and guardian in your world?"

Amity was about to respond when Santiago stood up and walked to his desk, returning with the tablet displaying a picture of her and Luz arm in arm. "Don't lie to me, Miss Blight. We have already pulled surveillance for that day trying to find her. We know she took you to her childhood home."

"We're… romantically involved," Amity replied. Luz had warned her that some people wouldn't be accepting of their relationship, especially some older folk.

He stared at her for what felt like an eternity. When he broke his stare, it was with a warm smile. "I hope to properly welcome you to the familia one day then, Amity. It's very clear you make Luz happy."

"Thank you very much, Mr. Noceda," Amity replied.

He waved off her compliment. "Please, call me Abuelo. It is Spanish for grandfather and is how every member of the family addresses me."

She smiled at his kind words. "Thank you, Abuelo."

"I'm sure you have other things you need to do, so I'll let you go," Santiago said as he stood from the couch. " Carlos, see that Amity is shown to Camilla's quarters or escorted to her next destination."

" Of course, Abuelo," Carlos replied. He held his arm out. "This way Amity."

Vee had just come back after a nice day with her friends. She didn't feel comfortable bringing them back to the manor yet, but she was working on it. Nothing could have possibly ruined her day until she smelled the sticky-sweet smell of Abomination magic coming off the witch standing in the entryway talking to Camilla.

Notes:

The death of a contemporary/enemy is a big problem, especially when paired with the disappearance of an important part of your family.

I have debated how I wanted Santiago to deal with his internalized homophobia. He is over a hundred and fifty years old and from a Catholic background, I would argue his not having to deal with that would be more unbelievable. Ultimately I decided that he isn't a central character in the story so his internal struggles are his alone. Part of this cut content that survived is his stance that family was more important than enforcing personal and/or religious ideas. It bothers him a little bit, but nowhere near as much as the joy he gets from seeing Luz and his other many great-grandchildren happy.

If you got any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Hunter walked through the halls of the castle, his mask hanging from his waist. The guards saluted him as they passed him on their patrols, whispering to each other when he had passed. His identity was no longer a secret. The day before, Emperor Belos made a public announcement declaring him to be his long-lost brother, found wandering the beaches near the hip after falling through a time pool. Caleb was declared heir apparent and given authority equal to the Coven Heads.

He never felt more proud.
He never felt more disgusted.

Power and recognition were finally his. Everywhere he went the people bowed out of fear for him. The respect he so rightfully deserved from the pricks in the covens was now forcefully given to him. Even his attire had changed from the slightly modified scout uniform. Now he wore fine clothes made specifically to restrict him. The collar of his shirt was uncomfortably tight around his throat.

The best part of the sense of confidence that filled Hunter. Caleb had spent most of his life feeling like he failed to measure up to any expectation placed on him, but now Hunter was on top of the world seconded only by his brother. Even his quarters had been changed from a small room in a far-off tower to one of the chambers usually reserved for diplomatic visitors from the extremities. He still retained use of the tower room, but refurnished it for meditation and practice.

As the door latched behind him, his whole world shattered. It collapsed under the weight of the lies, shame, and despair that had filled his heart. He didn’t even know who he was anymore. His shell was called Hunter but his soul had been addressed by dozens of names over the years. Was he nineteen or in his thirties or hundreds of years old like the monster he was tied to?

As his mind descended into turmoil, his qi surged erratically. Flapjack watched his partner suffer as the scar over his eye throbbed. Determined to lessen the suffering, the palisman carefully fluttered across the room, landing on Hunter's wild hair. Safely settled on his partner's hair, Flapjack began to slowly push magic into Hunter using it to carefully guide the boy's own energy along the paths he used to practice. Flapjack didn't know if this would have done Hunter any good, but he knew it couldn't have been worse than letting him continue as he was. The room already suffered from poor maintenance and age, additional damage may have caused the tower to collapse on itself.

The effect was minimal, but enough to help Hunter ground himself again. This wasn't his first attack, he had them for several years now, but now that his qi was stronger they were more dangerous. The real reason he retreated to this tower was to hide them from any peeping eyes.

Hunter didn't know who he was supposed to be anymore. The adage "be yourself" didn't help when he didn't even know who 'he' was. Was he still 'Hunter', 'The Golden Guard', or 'Caleb'? Perhaps he was supposed to be one of the dozen other version of 'himself' that had existed over the years. Fragments of their memories floated through his dreams ever since he took the Soul Strengthening Pill he found. The turmoil it brought kept him from delving into the other secrets he claimed in that forest cave.

He took several calming breaths before he noticed Flapjack's magic moving through his body. He noted that the little cardinal was mimicking the cultivation technique Michael had taught him. It was a bit clumsy and unrefined, but the effort warmed his heart. In the short amount of time they had been together, Flapjack had shown only the utmost loyalty and concern for Hunter. He cares for Hunter because of who he is, even when Hunter isn't sure who he is.

As he added his guiding hand to Flapjack's magic, Hunter reflected on the others who had come to accept him for who he was. Michael was first. While he still wasn't sure if the teacher's first words were a threat or a reassurance, Michael never treated Hunter differently than the other students in his class. His thoughts followed their natural path, turning to each of his classmates in turn. They weren't perfect, but all of them had come together in one way or another learning from and teaching each other.

His qi slowed down to its natural pace. Perhaps, if he wanted to gain some enlightenment on the conundrum of his 'self' Hunter should turn to his sibling-students?

No, they didn't need to deal with this. It was beneath them.

Still, he learned a few things about the Day of Unity that they needed to know, details Michael didn't leave behind. He needed to tell them as soon as possible and the atmosphere around the castle was suffocating. He opened his cloak to let Flapjack in before climbing onto the window sill. The cool night air was blowing gently, bringing the sounds of the nearby city over the castle walls. Hunter stepped out into the open air and into the void.

He appeared again just outside the castle moat. The distance he could void walk was rapidly growing, but the trip to Bonesborough was still going to take a couple of hours and most of his strength. At the end of every void walk, Hunter surveyed his surroundings and adjusted his course, careful to keep in the thin zone between civilization and the wild parts of the Boiling Isles.

He emerged at the top of the library, the largest structure in Bonesborough. It was a quarter to midnight and the town was asleep except those who had business in the Night Market. The coven guard would swing by to collect fees and then vacate the lot in two and a half hours, feigning law and order while profiting from the illegal trade.

Turning towards the residential district, Hunter stepped into the void again. It took several short trips until he found the house he was looking for. In the daylight, it would have been easy to spot. The house was covered in decorative plants growing along the walls and from various pots and planters. The soft light of one of the Isles luminescent plants helped Hunter find the room he was looking for.

He didn't use the void to enter the room, he knew the window wasn't locked. After all, who would willing enter the room of a power full plant witch? The house itself was a guard dog only she could hear and if she wanted, a weapon that could kill you a thousand different ways.

Willow was already sitting up on her bed, slowly rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "You got lost."

Hunter let Flapjack out of his cloak before undoing the buckles on her gloves. "It was hard to find at night, but this couldn't wait until morning."

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I've learned some alarming details about the Day of Unity," He said. Willow placed a finger on his lips before he could continue.

"That's not why you're here," She stated. "What's really wrong?"

"I learned something about the Day of Unity and you guys need to know," Hunter repeated.

Willow nodded, still looking like she was half asleep. "I'm sure you did, but if that was really the reason you left the castle you would have gone to Darius or Lilith. Someone who would have told you to wait until the morning or to let them handle it. So, why are you really here?"

Hunter was silent as he tried to hold it all back. With a soft, choked voice he asked, "Who am I?"

Tears fell as Hunter's body was racked with silent sobs. Willow pulled his head into her chest as she recalled a similar scene several months ago. Her body was wracked with searing pain caused by the poison that had been slipped into her tea. Hunter had been the one who helped her, doing his best to comfort her as her body purged the toxin. He didn't start tending to his injuries or clean the blood off his hands until the sun had begun to rise the next morning.

"You're a good man, Hunter," Willow said. "You stood up for Gus. You made sure we had a place to sleep every night, always keeping watch until late into the night. You gave up everything you ever knew for people you barely knew because you knew it was the right thing to do."

She pulled him away to look him in the eyes. "You saved my life, Hunter."

His eyes softened as he remembered that bloody night. That night he killed five men sent to collect a drugged Willow. Even as more came to take her away he stood against them defiantly. They probably would have killed him if it hadn't been for the timely arrival of the city guard and a couple of elders who had favored Hunter and Willow. Even after they were safe, Hunter refused to leave Willow's bed until she had regained full control of her body.

"I just… did what I was supposed to," Hunter protested.

Willow shook her head. "You were supposed to get help, not fight with your life on the line. You were supposed to leave me and look for Gus if things got too intense. You were supposed to take care of yourself. I may not know who the 'new' you is after gaining all those memories, but they can't change who you were that night."

Satisfied with the wisdom he was given, Hunter turned to leave out the window. Before he could, vines pulled it shut and locked it in place. The window and vines didn't really stop him, but the message was clear.

"Don't you think I should be going?" Hunter asked.

Willow shook her head. "It's late. Besides, my dads have been wanting to meet my boyfriend."

The darkness hid their blushing faces from each other, but slowly Willow guided Hunter to her bed. It was too small for two people, but they didn't care at that moment. They two held each other as they fell asleep. Hunter had one last thought before passing into sleep.

Thank you for choosing me.

Notes:

I did it! I made it to 52 chapters.

It may not be the exact year-to-date anniversary, but it may as well be. Now if only I could apply this consistency to other parts of my life.

I tried my best with the identity crisis idea. I have suffered my own mental breakdowns, but never about identity so I don't feel like this is my best work.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 53: Chapter 53

The transport was cramped, barely able to hold the ten men inside it. Kikimora was fine given her small stature but felt inferior due to being towered over by her men. She hated field command, it only served to remind her that despite the propaganda the Emperor's Coven was filled with lucky fools, most of whom had failed upward to their current positions. The fact that Lilith had managed to deal with such a group for so long was her one commendable trait in Kikimora's eyes.

She stared at the two men in the back. They were from a hidden division according to the Emperor. Handpicked from a young age to practice some ancient forbidden magic, a final bastion against the dangers of wild magic. As a mark of his trust, they were the only ones allowed to wear masks resembling the Emperor's. A sign that they are an extension of him. Not even the Golden Brat or the newly appointed Duke of the Isles had that distinction. They were the best-trained weapons at the Emperor's command.

Still, she preferred the bumbling idiots of the Coven Guard. At least they seemed normal.

The transport jolted suddenly, throwing most of the men, including Kikimora, from their seats. Pulling a small mirror from her cloak, Kikimora contacted the convoy lead. "Beast Master, report."

"Apologies ma'am," He replied. "We crossed the exclusion zone sooner. It's grown faster than the Beast Keepers expected."

"Explain," She replied shortly.

The Beast Master drew a spell circle that changed the visual output of the connection. Instead of his masked face, Kikimora was shown the map of the operation area, the so-called Owl House, and the surrounding woods up to five miles away.

"Certain demon species have been migrating away from the operation area for the last two months. The establishment of an exclusion zone which no demon would be willing to enter was predicted, but not for another month, ma'am," The Beast Master explained. "We will have to continue on foot to the operation area. Only Coven Head Eberwolf can get these guys to move any closer."

Kikimora growled. "Fine. Have everyone disembark and prepare to make the trek to the operation area on foot. We cannot miss this chance."

She had it on good authority that the human, Luz Noceda, had finally returned to the Boiling Isles after six months away. Given that Lilith had been lax in her duty to bring the girl or report her return to the Emperor, Kikimora decided to take matters in her own hands. After confirming the report with a few other oracles, she approached the Emperor and petitioned him for an operation to bring in the human and arrest Eda Clawthrone.

He readily agreed.

The men poured out of their transports. In total, Kikimora had thirty veteran guards under her command as well as the two loaned by the Emperor. While they weren't under her direct command it had been implied they would work with orders given to the rest to ensure mission success. She had tried to get a small group of demon hunters to assist, but all refused the job when they learned the human was involved.

The area was a flurry of movement until the men were finally ready. The transports were to move further back to a place where the beasts were comfortable and await further instructions. Seeing that everything was in order, Kikimora gave the order and they marched towards their destination.

Willow and Hunter landed in front of the Owl House after the most difficult breakfast of Hunter's life. None of the hours of etiquette training he had been given over the past week prepared him for meeting not one but two protective fathers. Willow had reassured him that it went well, but Hunter was sure that the two men would have tried to kill him if given the chance.

After greeting Hooty and giving him a sufficient distraction, the two entered the house proper. The atmosphere inside was tense as King and Luz were still comatose. The morning, after King saved Amity and Luz, the titan and the human, collapsed after their bodies were covered in a complex series of glyphs. No one knew enough about the strange titan symbols to parse was they were doing to King and Luz, but their best guess was that the two were fine for now.

Eda was sitting alone at the dining room table when she looked up and saw them. "What brings you two here today?"

"I have some information I want Lilith to pass on to the others," Hunter said.

"I'm just tagging along," Willow replied.

"Ah. Well, you'll have to wait a bit," Eda said. "Lily spent the night at our parents' place. Mom has done so much research into strange magic and beasts that they thought they might have an explanation for what's happening to King and Luz. They should be here in an hour or so."

"Do you really think that they will figure something out?" Willow asked.

Eda sighed. "I have to. We don't know anything about titans or their life cycle and that… scares me. I don't want to lose them"

"What about asking the Titan himself?" Hunter asked.

"That's the other issue. We need Titan Blood and right now we don't have any," Eda explained. "Whatever those glyphs on King's body are doing, they're keeping us from drawing any blood."

Willow was about to say something when Eda raised her hand to stop her. "Something just broke the barrier line."

Hunter and Willow tensed. The barrier Eda cast was a simple detection spell she put in place after King and Luz lost consciousness. Anyone who crossed without the password would alert the caster, though the spell was too simple to track them after crossing.

"Hooty, the curtains. Now," Eda said as her palisman flew to her hand. All the curtains and window shutters instantly closed. Willow sat on the ground and began communicating with the nearby trees while Hunter took a lookout position by one of the front windows. While it could have just been a coincidence, the timing was too perfect.

Eda felt the barrier spell react again, going off several times in a row. "We have company."

"How many?" Hunter asked while keeping his eyes trained on the forest's edge.

"Can't tell. Too many passed through too quickly. We're probably dealing with a couple dozen," Eda replied.

"Too big for a lost hunting party," Hunter replied.

"It's the Coven Guard," Willow said. "Led by Acting Coven Head Kikimora. There's roughly thirty of them and, oh Titan, there are two Sons of the Titan with them."

"Fuck," Hunter said under his breath. "But who are they here for?"

None of them tried to answer that. There were too many variables for them to narrow it down. The Coven Guard could have been there for Eda. Despite how things ended after her escape, the bounty was never officially retracted. The presence of the Sons of the Titan suggested that they were looking for Amity, but any oracle could have told them she wasn't there. Lilith had told them about the Emperor's interest in Luz, but to mobilize so many people for her seemed like an excessive display of force.

They waited inside for Kikimora to make her move. Willow was able to give them a general idea of what was happening. Most of the gear they brought was meant to jam magical communications and the rest seemed to be meant to contain Hooty should he try to 'invite them to a tea party'. Hunter had read the incoherent reports and knew they would focus on that.

Kikimora emerged from the trees, flanked by the two Sons of the Forest, carrying a megaphone. "Luz Noceda, your presence if required by the Emperor."

Eda took the initiative to exit the house. "She's not here."

"Eda the Owl Lady lying? Somethings never change," Kikimora replied. "We have already confirmed the human's location using Oracle magic. Have her come out or she will be removed by force."

Hunter stepped out of the house. Willow observed a wave of uneasiness as the guards saw him. "Stand down, Kikimora. Luz will not be leaving with you today."

"Your Majesty," Kikimora said. "Are you conspiring with criminals? This would have to be reported when we return. But first, you two, bring me the human."

The Sons of the Titan dashed forward, rapidly closing the distance to the house. Eda threw a wall of fire at them, forcing them to split up. Hunter's staff caught the back of one of them while Eda's clawed hand got the other. The two threw them back towards Kikimora with so much force that their bodies cracked the trees they hit. Kikimora looked back in shock at the Emperor's personal soldiers.

They didn't stay there for long. With a sickening crack, the two of them pried themselves from the trees seemingly unharmed. Kikimora felt a renewed sense of confidence seeing the seemingly invincible soldiers at her disposal. "Men, complete the mission at any cost."

Her order was understood and the two began to rush the house again. Eda and Hunter again took them on one-on-one. Flames danced around Eda as she slashed with her clawed hands. Her opponent was more prepared this time, dodging her attacks to avoid being singed by the flames. Hunter was having a much better time. No matter what they tried, his opponent couldn't avoid getting hit by Hunter's staff. Each time they tried to block or dodge, Hunter would distort a small area of space so that his blows always landed.

"Artillery magic, fire!" Kikimora commanded. Four spells flew out from behind the trees, flying towards the two lone figures. There would be issues given that the Emperor's brother was in the way, but completing the mission came first. She may not get the promotion she wanted from this but it would be enough for her to succeed where Lilith had not.

The four combatants separated to avoid the spells. A second volley was already heading towards the house. Eda wasn't sure if she could erect a barrier big or powerful enough to take four direct hits, but she didn’t have to. Massive, dark, thorny plants erupted from the ground and surrounded the Owl House blocking each shot with ease. Turning around, Eda and Hunter saw Willow with her hands clasped together.

"That should hold for now," Willow said. "We need a plan to deal with them."

"I'm not used to fighting hand-to-hand like you guys are," Eda said. "I could probably keep one of them busy, but I don't think I could win."

"I can't take both of them on, but if we don't keep them both busy one of them is going to slip in and get Luz," Hunter said.

"So, we have to keep them out while making sure no one can get inside," Eda said. "Any ideas you two?"

"Yeah, I have one. Think you can handle the guys in the woods?" Willow asked.

Eda smirked. "I would have been a statue a long time ago if I couldn't. Whatcha thinking?"

"You'll hit the back lines while Hunter and I deal with their cultivators," Willow said.

"Alright, simple and straightforward. Liking it so far, just one issue," Eda said. "How are you going to ensure they don't slip someone past us?"

"They won't," Hunter said. "They will see us as obstructions to the mission and Kikimora would be too busy dealing with whatever chaos you're causing. Besides, if one of the Coven Guards gets by Hooty will have a new friend."

The three of them looked at the house demon who was currently looking innocent. The collectively shuddered thinking what Hooty would do to anyone who tried to sneak in.

"Okay, sounds good," Eda said. "Need anything before we start?"

"No," The two of them replied.

"Then let's get started!" Eda sprouted a pair of wings and rocketed towards the top of the dome. Willow opened the plants to let Eda through. As she and Hunter approached the wall they could already hear the chaos the Owl Lady was visiting on her uninvited guests.

The two cultivators were waiting on the other side of the plant wall. Neither of them attempted to get past Hunter and Willow, instead, they were waiting for them.

"Their strength is a bit low, but their bodies are incredibly durable. Probably a side effect from some experiment Belos did," Hunter said. "Don't hold back."

"Fine by me," Willow said as bark started to form over her arms and legs. "I've been meaning to pay these guys back for what they tried to do to Amity anyway."

The whole operation had gone to shit. Kikimora had to admit that to herself. The Owl Lady had managed to turn her well-disciplined and accomplished men into a group of panicking fools. Then the Emperor's brother, arguably the second most important person on the Isles, allied himself with the human to prevent Kikimora from taking her to the Emperor. And finally, the spoiled brat and a third witch killed the men lent to her by the Emperor.

She couldn't have called the Sons of the Titan witches or demons, but she couldn't believe that the crowned prince and that girl were witches either. She had never seen any creature fight like that. The Sons of the Titan refused to give up. Their bodies had been thrown, swung, and slammed into every surface outside that plant dome around the house. Even after they drew their own weapons it remained a one-sided fight. Still, they got up over and over again.

Then the first head rolled. She had no idea how, but the prince had removed the head of his opponent. He just waved his hand and it fell off. Blood sprayed from the stump as the body fell on the grass. The prince's gaze was cold and steady. Kikimora expected him to either come after her or help the girl. Instead, he sat down and watched. And she soon learned why. The girl covered in bark was beating the other Son effortlessly. Every attempt to flank was countered, every block broken. Even when personally training the new recruits, Kikimora had never seen such a one-sided fight. That fight ended when the girl grabbed her opponent by the face and held him as several plants Kikimora had never seen before shot out of the ground, turning him into a pin cushion.

She had no other choice. She called a retreat. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, calling for a retreat. The operation had gone to shit and there was no saving it.

Eda landed in front of her house as the Coven Guards ran away. Willow had already summoned plants to deal with the corpses and Hunter was waiting for the plant barrier to finish falling. The whole endeavor, from start to finish, had taken thirty minutes. A small part of her mind was bothered by how quickly this was handled, but it was far outweighed by the relief of knowing that King and Luz were safe.

And they would be even more safe after Lilith learned what had happened.

Notes:

See ya next week.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 54: Chapter 54

Lilith moved through the castle with an air of determination and righteous anger. The raid conducted on her sister's house was unacceptable. She would get an explanation, not only from Kikimora but from Belos himself. One of the guards at the gate tried to stop her. The poor thing must have been a new recruit and he was already going to spend a week in the recovery ward.

She would send him an apology later.

Lilith found the first and main target of her wrath outside the throne room. The dwarf demon didn't even have a chance to greet her before she was pulled by the back of her cloak. With a quick twist of her wrist, Lilith swung the doors open revealing the Emperor sitting beneath the still beating heart of the Titan. Lilith felt a twinge of guilt seeing it, but she didn't have time to consider how King would react to seeing a mockery of his father's heart being used as a decoration.

Belos was caught off guard by Lilith's forceful entry into his domain. He expected Lilith to be repentant and humble in his presence, much like she would be when she would report another failed attempt to capture her sister. Instead, the Lilith before him was the same one he would see setting recruits into shape or berating the Scouts on a failed mission.

It settled him.

"I request… No. I demand an explanation," Lilith declared. "From both of you."

Belos merely looked at Kikimora. She had to explain her apparent failure to him as well. Despite her bravado, Kikimora struggled under the weight of his stare. "W-w-w-well, you see Lord B-belos…"

"Don't explain it to me," Belos said in a commanding tone. "Explain to her why the raid was conducted."

"O-of course, my lord," She replied. She tried to pull herself free from Lilith's grip but the witch held firm, forcing Kikimora to take her cloak off to address her. She took a second to fix her clothes before continuing. "I had it on good authority that you were hiding the human child by moving her around."

An arc of flame flew past her, just close enough to feel the heat. Lilith's spell circle floated above her hand while she stared daggers at the dwarf. "I suggest you pick your words carefully. You'll find that I am lacking the poise I had as Coven Head today."

"Do you deny the accusation?" Belos asked.

"I deny the very existence of the claim," Lilith said. "The child has been training in an adjacent realm according to her master's instruction. After she returned she was immediately sent back to the human realm…"

"So you admit you let her escape!" A flash of red is the only thing that saved Kikimora's ear from being turned to ash.

Lilith continued as if she wasn't interrupted. "The child returned to the Human Realm to visit with her mother who she hadn't seen in almost a year. She spent the week and was set to return in the morning."

"Another lie, my contact told me that you planned…" Kikimora was cut off again. This time instead of fire the very stone of the floor rose up and clamped around her neck. There was no red magic to save her this time.

"If your contact is so well informed, why don't you just ask her to get the human child," Lilith asked in a cold, annoyed tone. "Perhaps this person who knows the details of my life better than I do will be willing to help me look for a hairbrush I misplaced."

"As if an oracle of her caliber would help you," Kikimora choked out.

Lilith nodded as she spoke. "Ah, an oracle told you. Tell me, did Odalia also tell you that her magic can't pierce the space between realms? Or that her daughter dragged the human through the portal two days ago, barely alive? Did she warn you that moving Luz at this time could kill her or otherwise cripple her to the point where she is useless?"

Kikimora's eyes filled with fear and anger. Odalia had played her, used her as a tool to get back at her rebellious daughter. She heard about the commotion the youngest Blight caused at the last showcase they held. She knew how drastically that affected the Blight's company. Odalia probably only knew that the human was in the Demon Realm long enough to establish that she was staying for a while before contacting Kikimora.

And she took that information to Belos who lent her his handpicked men. Men who were now buried somewhere in the woods around the Owl Lady's home or in the belly of her house demon.

Belos felt his rage slam against his iron will. A hundred years ago he would have already killed Kikimora on the spot. Her petty and one-sided rivalry with Lilith almost killed the one person who held the secrets to curing him of his affliction. He felt his heartbeat quicken, a result of that energy the human hit him with. He tried to take a deep breath but only felt the sludge move to simulate one.

"What's more, you then order your men to attack the Emperor's brother," Lilith said. "Thank the Titan he was trained by the Immortal beforehand and could defend himself," Lilith said. "Though I doubt the death of those elite troops is sufficient compensation."

That confirmed his suspicion, Kikimora had not only failed but crossed one line too many. He stood from his chair and slammed his staff on the ground. Red lightning ran along the ground and up around her neck, disintegrating the stone that held her there. "I have heard enough," He declared. "Kikimora, you are relieved of your rank for the grievous failures that resulted in the death of two Sons of the Titan. Furthermore, for your reckless disregard for the safety of those important to the plans of the Titan, as Emperor, I expel you from the Emperor's Coven and give you five days to receive a new brand or be declared a wild witch."

Both Kikimora and Lilith looked at him in shock. Never before had such a high-ranking official been expelled from the Coven. In fact, Lilith couldn't think of a single person who was officially expelled from the coven. Many were placed on emeritus status or reassigned to the Extremities. Even the few that were executed were allowed to remain in the coven.

Kikimora began to grovel and beg for forgiveness, but a tap of his staff sent her flying into the wall. As if on cue, two guards entered the room and dragged her away, the sounds of her begging echoing down the halls. For once, Lilith felt sorry for the dwarf demon. She had been condemned to live as an outcast, for no coven would accept one expelled from the Emperor's Coven.

"Lilith," Belos said, shattering the quiet that settled in Kikimora's absence. "You will bring the girl to me when she has recovered. If I learn anything to the contrary you will suffer a much worse fate."

'As if,' She thought to herself. She would tell Luz about the summons when she woke up, but Lilith would never compel the girl to appear before this tyrant before she was ready. Not after last time. "Of course, Emperor Belos. I will notify her when she is well enough to travel, though I have no idea when that will be."

"Is there something wrong?" He asked.

Lilith shook her head. "I can't say. Physically she is fine, but she was brought through after being injured by another human, a stronger human. It was only thanks to intervention from the Demon Realm that she survived. Then she entered a strange state that seemed to be causing her to undergo something called 'enlightenment'. All we know is that she can't be moved."

"Very well," Belos said as he sat down on his throne. "You are relieved of any remaining Coven duties. Monitoring the girl and bringing her here is the last task you have as an active member of the coven. If that is all, you may leave."

Lilith turned to leave, but before she could his voice called out one final question. "Do you know why my brother was that far south?"

She stopped. "He wished to look over a particular text Michael left behind." She lied, but she refused to put a target on another one of those kids. "It was stored at my sister's place as the text is old and needs to be kept in a special environment to prevent decay."

Belos seemed satisfied with her answer, waving his hand to dismiss her. Lilith turned a left the room, using all her will to keep from bolting down the hall. Panic wrapped around her heart like vines as she walked towards the entrance of the castle. She would take her time, an extra day or two, to return to Eda's house. Belos had a plan, one beyond the Day of Unity and it directly involved Luz.

Notes:

I'm not going to lie, I put a lot of focus into this one so I can go back to playing modded Minecraft.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'll still get to them in a timely manner.

Chapter 55: Chapter 55

The Titan Graveyard wasn't a physical space like Luz expected it to be. Or maybe it was some time in the distant past, but now it was a construct that drew in all souls that possessed the power of the divine spirit clan. The space she found herself in was dominated by a massive stele covered in different glyphs. She didn't know how but she knew each string of glyphs was a name belonging to a long-dead titan. Near the bottom were three glowing names.

Well, two-and-a-half to be precise.

The fading name was seven characters long and consisted of the glyphs she was familiar with. Beneath that was King's name, written in the Latin alphabet. Luz didn't take the time to ponder the difference, instead, her eyes fell to the last name on the stele.

Luz.

Her mind and senses were drowned out by gray fog and incoherent whispers from the edge of her mind. Time lost all meaning for her as she heard the voices speaking to her incoherently. No matter how hard she tried to dial into one voice, she could never understand what they were saying like the whispers were in complete gibberish. This continued until she finally woke up in the Owl House.

Luz was aware that something inside her had fundamentally changed. There was a current moving through her. It was like how she felt when she was younger and couldn't hold still. She needed to move.

King had stood up by the time Luz crossed the room. Luz could feel there was something different about him as well. Physically, he was the same lanky titan cub she was used to. It was his eyes that had changed. They looked older and burdened with something.

"Could you understand them?" He asked.

Luz shook her head. "No. Even now it's just gibberish echoing in my head."

King grunted. "I'm still getting a bit of that too, but we'll understand it eventually."

"What did you understand?" Luz asked.

He didn't answer immediately. He seemed lost in thought until he spoke. "They told me that you need to find the physical location of the Graveyard if you want to be able to understand them. Your human 'half' is getting in the way, but I think it's because they forgot how to talk to humans."

"That seems simple. Did they tell you where it was?" She asked. King shook his head. "Great. So it's all up to luck then."

"Not quite," King said. "There are two things that should be able to help you. One is to fully integrate with your source. The other thing is to find someone called the 'Star Child', though they didn't say where they were either."

"Welp, good thing we got all the time in the world," Luz said. King looked at her a bit confused. "So what if we can't find this 'Star Child' now? We're going to live for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. That's plenty of time to find a needle in a massive haystack. Now, come on. I need to stretch my muscles."

The two of them slipped through the house and out the back door. The training equipment was still sitting on the racks, showing no signs of damage from the boiling rain suggesting Eda had been taking care of it in Luz's absence. Her hand hovered over each wooden weapon before she grabbed one. It was two actually, a pair of short blades somewhere between a dagger and a short sword.

The weapons felt comfortable and familiar in her hands. Though her training had been rather sparse with dual-wielding or paired weapons, Luz had an instinctual knowledge of how these weapons were used. She started out moving slowly, focusing on the direction and alignment of the blades. Slash, thrust, parry, thrust, parry, slash, slash. After several minutes a slight burn had set into her muscles but she still forced her body to obey with absolute precision.

The pain continued as she moved on to the practice dummy. After taking a few practice swings to ensure she had gauged the distance correctly, Luz began to lay into it. She struck as fast and as hard as she could, aiming for the vital points that were marked on the dummy. The air was quickly filled with the thwacking sound caused by her weapons hitting the mysterious hardwood that the dummy was made out of, drowning out the sounds of early morning chirps of the birds.

Eda was woken up by the noise, finding it relieving instead of annoying. Luz was awake after being in a comatose state for five days. She watched Luz and King from her window, happy that they were back to normal again. Or whatever counted for normal now at least for now.

Lily had told her about the Emperor's demand last night. Even before that, Eda knew she couldn't keep Luz away from the Emperor for long. The man had the power and desire to bring her to him, something he seemed to willfully lack when it came to capturing Eda.

It was the middle of the afternoon when Luz and King finally stopped training. After they worked through breakfast, Eda thought they would have kept going all day and she would have to wait for the next day to catch up with them. Luz regaled them with stories about the Human realm and her extended family. Eda was impressed with how much had changed over the years while King was interested in why that man had attacked Luz and Amity. The stories went on for a couple of hours until Lilith arrived.

The air around Lilith was tense as she tried to figure out how to best approach Luz about visiting the Emperor. The man was already an adversary when they had first met and she knew he left a bad impression on Luz. To everyone's surprise, it was Luz who spoke first.

"I want to meet the Emperor," She said, almost declared.

"Why?" It was all Lilith could think to say.

"He's been interested in me for a while now," She replied. "Amity told me a bit about it. I wanted to put it off for a while, especially since Hunter wants him dead. But he isn't the kind of person to wait around for what he wants."

Lilith and Eda exchanged a look. "You're right. He authorized an assault three days ago. Two of your friends helped Eda drive them off. I immediately went before the Emperor and explained that the attack could have killed you. He… wasn't happy with that revelation and banished Kikimora from the coven."

The news was sobering but didn't deter Luz. "Even more reason to talk to him. If he is willing to go to such lengths now, delaying it will only force him to take even more drastic measures."

Neither Clawthrone could argue against Luz, but neither did they want to send her into the slitherbeast den that was the Imperial Castle. They talked in hushed tones for a couple of minutes. Their efforts were in vain as Luz heard every word between the two of them.

She spoke up. "What if I just call him?"

Eda and Lilith stopped, stunned at the idea. They had been so focused on trying to delay the Emperor and making up excuses they completely overlooked other means of placating him. Lilith replied. "That would make sense. The Emperor has used magical communication to get time-sensitive reports from the field before. If you can think of an acceptable reason I'm sure he would go along with it."

Suddenly, they heard the portal to the Human Realm open followed by several voices. Luz rushed outside to see Vee, her mother, and several of her family members being brought through. Without a word, she and King added their strength to the portal to help keep it open while roughly two dozen people made their way through. In the end, Amity, Maria, and Luis came through each of them battered.

"What happened?" Luz asked as she surveyed her girlfriend's injuries.

Vee spoke from the side. "The other families attacked us. They declared war on the Noceda family." She stopped as tried to choke back the tears. "They've already killed over a dozen guards and one of their cultivators managed to kill Jose. Luz, it's awful here but it's so much worse over there now."

Luz wrapped her arms around Vee, trying her best to comfort her sister. Her mind was flying at a million miles an hour trying to figure out what she needed to do. Her family members here needed to find a safe place to stay since the Owl House wasn't big enough. The ones who stayed behind needed her help to repel the attack. But then there was the whole situation with the Emperor that needed to be resolved first.

The strength of her soul warded off a panic attack, but it couldn't stop the doubt that started to creep in. She couldn't handle all of this. She couldn't be the hero her family needed her to be. She was suddenly pulled back when she heard Amity talking to someone else.

"Get over here as fast as you can. No, I don't care if she knows what you took, just grab it and go. Like you give a rat's ass about that. Just hurry." She ended the call and immediately began dialing again. "Boscha, get the rest of the class and get over to the Owl House. I know you know where it is don't play with me right now. I have two dozen refugees who need medical attention and shelter as soon as possible. If you don't I'll go over there, beat your ass, then drag you here to do it anyways. You'll have one of Odalia's bank cards, charge whatever you want, I don't care."

Amity hung up before Boscha could argue any further. "I already messaged the others. Willow, Gus, and Hunter will be here in an hour and then we can head back."

Luz heard an unspoken sentence loud and clear. She didn't have to do it alone like she had been. There were others who weren't only accomplished cultivators but also skilled witches who could look after the things Luz couldn't do. Nodding to herself, Luz stood up and faced Lilith. "Get him on the line now. I leave in one hour."

Notes:

Drama, cause no one knows what's good for them.

I wonder how many people I am going to have to name and then kill. I'll do my very best to not get lazy with names.

If you have any questions put them in the comments. My ego still isn't big enough to convince me you guys don't have questions.

Chapter 56: Chapter 56

Luz felt a pit form in her stomach as she stared at the smoky mirror. Enchanted to allow two-way communication with a paired mirror, the relic was one of the Emperor's prized possessions and only given to individuals who proved worthy to own direct access to him. Even with her limited knowledge of communication artifacts, Luz knew that replacing a set of mirrors was something beyond the current capabilities of the Boiling Isles, the Human Realm, and possibly the Heavenly Realm.

Belos stepped out of the fog and into view. The image was so realistic that Luz expected him to step through the frame and grab her. Maintaining her outward composure, Luz bowed with her hands clasped in front of her speaking clearly. "Greetings, Emperor Belos, Lord of the Boiling Isles, Master of Magic, and Mouthpiece of the Titan. It is an honor to speak with you."

"The honor is mine, dear child," His voice crackled from the mirror like he was using an old radio. "But I wonder, why are you contacting me through Lilith's mirror? Has something happened to her?"

Luz raised her head. "No, Emperor. Lilith Clawthrone is alive and well. She lent me the mirror to contact you after informing me of your invitation. I regret to inform you that I must depart from your kingdom again soon. My family is facing a life-or-death crisis and I must return to help them."

Belos tilted his head. "Then why are you contacting me instead of returning to the Human Realm?"

"I was told of the massive loss you suffered while trying to contact me. It would have been rude to force further losses. My master would roll in his grave if he knew I did such a thing." It was a lie, she wished Belos and his Sons of the Titan would drop dead. But she wasn't strong enough to flaunt diplomacy.

"Your master has taught you to be strong and considerate, you do him proud," Belos praised. "However, my request of you is not something that can be easily discussed but I will try. I wish to discuss the power you displayed the last time we met."

Luz knew her source reacted to Belos last time, but couldn't remember the details. "I regret to inform you, Emperor, that while I am able to call on a portion of that power, it does not compare to what you would have seen. I still need time to reach that peak."

Belos's face contorted in frustration behind his mask. The girl had the power he needed but couldn't use it. It was as if the devil was mocking him, placing the balm just out of reach. But there was still a chance. "Is there anything I can do to support you in the meantime? I can assure you that if you can help me I am willing to pay any price."

Luz didn't trust him, no, she couldn't trust him. But Belos was the oldest and most well-connected individual on the Isles. If he was truly willing to help then maybe she could use him. "I need to find something, but the only clue I have is that something called the Star Child knows where it is."

"I understand," Belos replied. "Good to your family now, child. I will have something for you when you return."

He watched as Luz faded into the smoke. He lashed out, almost striking the mirror. That brat had told him his condition was impossible to cure. That was the whole reason he planned to leave the seal in the Skull after he killed every heretic and demon that called this rotting carcass home. Now the one real lead and connection to his home needed the Collector's help to find something. Belos demanded an explanation.

Luz stepped into the controlled chaos that used to be Eda's front lawn. Each of her classmates was using their skills to help her family. From tending to the wounded, and building shelters, to distracting the younger ones with magic shows. There were even students from the other tracks helping out, lending the unique talents of their track to help get the displaced Nocedas comfortable as soon as possible.

Turning to where the portal was, Luz saw the ridiculous amount of supplies that had been acquired by the Blights. Emira, Boshca, and a couple of Luz's uncles were discussing how to handle storage and distribution. A bit further away, Edric and Gus were trying to figure out the best way to disguise King while he was in the Human Realm while Hunter and Willow watched everything from the sidelines.

Hunter signaled everyone to gather when he noticed Luz had left the house. Amity, King, and Gus stopped what they were doing and joined them. Hunter spoke first. "So, do you want to know about here or there first?"

"Here," Luz replied. She knew she would be able to fight better knowing the situation here.

"Things are mostly under control," Amity said. "Boscha and the twins pulled through for us. Not only did Boscha rally the rest of the class, but several students who had benefitted from a few techniques that managed to spread around the school. My siblings went on a shopping spree with their stolen money so food and clothing shouldn't be an issue. I'd bet that this area would look like a small village by the time we get back."

"And the situation there?" Luz asked.

Hunter sighed. "It's not good. Several battlefields have developed in the mountains and forests around the state. Your family's leader has managed to hold off several attacks, but it seems the other leaders managed to pin his location down when the attack occurred. The Gravesfield mansion as well as several other important buildings were hit by private military groups like the Noceda family employed for security. Total known losses are currently around twenty-five deaths with another dozen people unaccounted for."

"And the government?" Luz asked.

"It seems they were aware of it," Willow said. "Vee mentioned that some government agents offered refuge, but the conditions were too extreme for your family to take. The hit on the mansion was five minutes after they left."

Luz sighed as she closed her eyes. She had five fighters with her, plus the five of her relatives that were possibly still alive against an unknown, but small, amount of enemies from the other families and any agents acting on behalf of the government. Never in her life did she think that she would have to go against the governing body of her home, but she wouldn't let that stop her.

"Okay, when we cross through our first priority is to secure the portal location," Luz said. "Gus, I want you to set up a concealing array while Willow uses the local forest to make it harder to stumble upon. Hunter, I want you to start scouting out the city for any potential hostiles as well as safe houses."

They nodded, understanding their assignments. "Amity, King, and I will go to the mansion. Hopefully, there will be something there that could help us contact Abuelo or Carlos. We will return to the portal by nightfall, whether we find something or not."

They were waiting on the other side. It was thanks to King's enhanced senses and mastery of his growing abilities that they were able to block the spray of gunfire that greeted them. The thick earth wall prevented the bullets from reaching the portal and possibly hitting someone on the other side. Luz and Gus quickly went about closing the portal while Hunter and Amity prepared to launch a counterattack.

The gunfire stopped. Luz heard the sound of guns being reloaded but the firing didn't continue. Instead, they heard someone move through the brush before speaking. "Identify yourselves."

"You first," Luz replied.

"U.S. Paranormal Unit," The man replied.

"Noceda," Luz replied.

He spoke into a radio, waiting for the other side to reply before responding. "You are to be taken into protective custody."

"After being fired upon? No thanks. Got a better offer?" Luz replied. She didn't like how this situation was playing out.

"You aren't being given a choice," The man replied. "You will come with us. After you give my superiors what they want you will be relocated to a safe location. You will not be harmed there."

"Doubt it. How about we just kick your ass and go about our business?" Luz asked.

They didn't wait for a reply. As soon as she was done talking she signaled Amity and Hunter who sprang into action. Amity unleashed her humanoid and panther puppets over the wall. They quickly rushed the surrounding soldiers, causing havoc and forcing them to abandon their guns to avoid shotting each other. Hunter slipped through the void, easily able to get behind several men to quickly eliminate them. Their counter-assault lasted about forty-five seconds.

The earthen wall lowered as the puppets and Hunter returned to the group. Their plan was ruined and they needed a new one. Luz was trying to think of something until an idea crossed her mind. They didn't need to walk on eggshells. As far as they knew, only a handful of individuals posed any kind of threat to them. Without further ado, she announced her new plan.

"Let's go to my house." As she casually walked through the woods.

Notes:

An interesting trend in this genre is that local government tends to be inept to some extent when it comes to preventing or resolving conflicts between powerful families. And when the local government does have that potential, it's like they can't figure out what is going on in their city/principality. Like they're in power so they should have the knowledge, power, and influence to keep these families in check, but no, we have to fill a mass grave. It is entertaining to read though.

If you have any questions about the work feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 57: Chapter 57

Amity stared at the sliding door that led to the kitchen of Luz's childhood home. The last time she saw it she was going straight through the glass, running from someone who seemed incomprehensibly powerful. She and Luz would have died if King hadn't intervened.

The glass had been cleaned up and the door was replaced. She wondered who did that.

The inside of the home was devoid of its former welcoming atmosphere. Furniture had been shoved against the wall to make room for tables and papers. A quick glance confirmed everyone's suspicions, the Paranormal Unit was using the Noceda home as a base of operations.

Eyes went to Luz as they all tried to gauge her reaction. Gus and Willow relaxed a bit when Luz moved around the room, looking at the displaced furniture and decoration before placing them in a space ring piece by piece. It seemed like she was taking it well.

Hunter saw right through it.

New scouts moved like that after their first 'real' mission, one where someone died. It wasn't as common in his day, but far too many of his other selves had seen it. Luz was preparing to do something big, possibly drastic. Many of them became rebels that he would later have to kill or bring in for petrification.

Once the room had been cleared of furniture and personal effects Luz spoke. "Amity, Willow, can you two help me? I want to make sure I get everything important out of the house. I don't think my mom is going to want to come back here after this."

"Oh, uh. Sure," They replied. Uncertain of how they could really help their friend.

After they left, Hunter began to go through the pages. It took him a moment to get used to how English had changed over the years, but it was grammatically close enough to the common script of the Boiling Isles for him to pick it up quickly. Most of the papers were rather useless to them, weather reports, roosters for other safe houses, hourly reports, but nothing on why they were there.

He opened the last folder and saw something that made his heart drop. On top of the stack was a profile for Luz. The first page was filled with generic information, birthdate, height, hair and eye color, parents, primary address. In large letters at the bottom of the page it read: Priority Target.

"They're after Luz," Hunter said. He showed the page to Gus before going through the rest of the file. It was a step-by-step breakdown of the war between the Noceda family and three other families. It included what companies to target, shift rotations for their security, and battleground locations to eliminate other cultivators. The final page was a short script meant to manipulate Luz into joining the organization.

"And to think their plan failed cause some field commander decided to shoot first and ask questions later," Gus said. "They probably could have hidden this for a couple of years before Luz got suspicious."

Hunter snorted. "You think Luz would have held still for that long? I bet she would have stumbled into the truth in a year."

"You're right," Luz said. Hunter and Gus turned to see Luz and the girls standing by the entryway to the living room. "I wouldn't have stopped until I had found out why my family had to be killed."

Hunter and Gus stepped aside as Luz approached the table. She flipped through her file, scanning a few pages before closing it. Taking a nearby pen, she began drawing on the cover of the folder. After she finished she moved on to the next stack of papers allowing them to see what she drew.

It was a fire glyph.

King and Amity joined Luz, adding a fire glyph to each piece of paper. The rest quickly joined in. They kept drawing until every scrap of paper had a glyph on it. Luz gave the next command. "Scatter these around the house. Be careful to not activate any of them."

Silently, they went about their task of laying the magical fire bombs around the residence. Hunter and Gus noted that each room they entered was devoid of any furniture, just random scraps of trash on the floor. Luz planned to use scorched earth tactics, take everything she could, and burn the rest.

They gathered again in the forest behind the house. Stringbean had already turned into a staff that rested in Luz's hand. After her friends joined her, Luz raised her staff but before she could bring it down Amity grabber her wrist.

"Are you sure about this? There won't be any coming back from this," She asked.

Luz looked her in the eyes before looking at the rest of her friends. Each of them had scattered the glyphs without asking questions, but their faces were visions of concern. Letting out a sigh, Luz explained herself. "I always thought this country was a place of freedom and happiness. Sure, it has its problems and people struggle to get along but I believe in the ideas it was founded on. Now that place has turned against me, showing that it has already abandoned those ideas. I don't mind cutting ties to a rotten place like that."

Amity loosened her grip but still held on. "Then we do it together."

She placed her hands on Stringbean's staff. Together, the two of them slammed the butt of the staff on the ground sending a wave of colorful magic across the ground. Inside the house the glyphs reacted, bursting into flames that soon caught the rest of the house on fire. Within a minute the home Luz had spent her childhood in was engulfed in a roaring flame and a siren could be heard in the distance.

The six of them left taking a roundabout route to their destination, a safe house Luz was told about in passing called the War Room. It was there they would either find the other cultivators in her family or a clue to where they could be found. Miraculously, the fire didn't spread to the neighboring houses and the firemen were able to quickly put out the fire. Nothing could be recovered from the burnt wreckage and while investigators were unable to determine how the house caught fire or how it burned down so quickly, their report indicated that the house was vacant of both persons and property when it happened. It was deemed a freak accident and the case was closed.

"Ugh, this is such a mess," A blond-haired woman exclaimed, looking at the clearing full of her useless subordinates.

"Agreed," said the dark-haired man next to her. "Their orders were to watch the location, not engage with the first thing that came out of it."

"Should we go after her now?" She asked. "They didn't do a very good job at covering their trail."

"No," He replied bluntly. "They have an advantage in numbers and likely combat power. None of our reports indicated the target had so many allies on par with her."

"They are from UA-1. Perhaps it’s a better training environment there?" She replied.

He scoffed. "Like you care about training, Agent Carmine."

She gasped playfully, "You're so rude, Agent Carlson. That's why you'll never find a woman to marry you."

Agent Carlson growled but didn't reply, as a short burst of static came out of his earpiece. "Agent Carlson, the observation base has been destroyed. The whole thing has been burned to the ground using a supernatural fire."

"It seems we need to withdraw from the conflict," Agent Carlson said. "Our information has been compromised."

Agent Carmine hummed to herself before replying. "What if we… doubled down?"

"Explain." His reply was short.

"Well, she already knows we're after her. We lost the family angle, but she brought a few friends along instead of staying in UA-1. We could use them to our advantage," She explained.

Agent Carlson considered the plan before responding. He pressed a button allowing him to broadcast back to the base. "Requisition five additional Agents. We will be using the capture and ransom approach for this mission."

"Should we notify our collaborators?" The communications operative asked.

"Negative. They have reached the end of their usefulness. Agents are authorized to eliminate any interfering elements," Agent Carlson replied.

"Understood. Agent request." The line went dead.

"Shall we?" Agent Carmine asked.

Agent Carlson played along, "We shall."

Notes:

I got nothing. I'm going back to Sparking Zero and I'll see y'all next week.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 58: Chapter 58

The war room was located deep inside a national park. The trek took them two days, most of it spent avoiding patrols of private military groups, cultivators, and the forest service. The whole ordeal had put Luz on edge, but Hunter instead that the group move as quietly as possible. Still, they found their way to the small valley located in the Appalachian foothills.

Willow could feel the age of the landscape around them. This forest had started long before the titan died and as such was filled with an ancient wood qi making the area feel like a sleeping giant. It was the perfect place to build a final hold out, the very ground they walked on gave off a foreboding feeling that would keep most people away.

"We're almost there," Luz said. "Another mile out, we should be able to cover that quickly."

They watched Luz walk a few steps before her body seized. Amity reached out to grab her but was stopped by Hunter. Willow quickly threw out some vines that pulled Luz back. She convulsed on the ground for a few seconds before she started to come too. They resisted the urge to bombard her with questions until she got her bearings again.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Luz said. "There was a strange boundary there. It tried to place a mark on my soul but every time it was destroyed by the Stained Glass Lotus. The loop caused me to lose control until you guys pulled me back."

Hunter looked at Gus who was already two steps ahead of him, riding his staff to get a better view of the area. Gus realized that whoever put that array there was quite skilled as it was difficult for the young witch to make out the edge of the array. Even working a fast as he could, it still took Gus roughly ten minutes to get the general idea of the array.

"I have good news and bad news," He said as he landed near his friends. "The bad news first. The array was clearly placed here about a day ago, meaning that whoever set it up is likely nearby."

"What's the good news then?" King asked.

"The good news is that this array needs someone constantly managing it," Gus said. "Which means it's likely that Luz fried the poor guy. Second, this array is only meant to place a soul mark so that trespassers can be tracked."

"They were hoping that someone lagging behind would walk through that and lead them straight to the war room," Hunter said. "Any way to get around it?"

Gus nodded. "They'll likely check the array before starting it back up again. Given that the array is roughly three miles across, we have a couple of hours until it's back up. That gives me plenty of time to add a flaw to the array that we could use later."

"Right, you take King and get on it right away," Hunter said. "We'll wait an hour for Luz to recover before we continue."

Luz began to object but was quickly shot down by the collection of glares she got from her friends. They understood how important it was for her to reach her family but that she would be equally reckless in doing so. She sighed as the back of her head gently hit the tree she was lying against. Amity smugly cuddled against her while Willow sat on a nearby rock. Hunter went about checking the area out to avoid any more unwanted delays.

With King's help, Gus was able to create a small opening in the array by the time Luz was ready to move. This opening would allow them to travel in and out of the array without getting marked or alerting the controller. The opening would only appear using a control rune they had fashioned from a nearby rock. It wasn't the best solution, but it was the one they had on hand.

Santiago repeatedly rubbed the silver cross in his hand. It had belonged to his grandfather, the first Noceda to step foot in the New World and establish himself in what would one day become a British colony. His father didn't like growing up under British rule and when the colonist launched their revolution, he and his brothers did all they could to support the revolutionaries from the background. Their support had given them some prestige allowing them to establish their family, becoming the first cultivation family without British ancestry in the Americas.

The Spanish crown didn't want the first Noceda patriarch to leave their kingdom. He was an excellent inquisitor, serving God and King with the utmost loyalty. It was only after years of exemplary service and a binding promise to never raise arms against the Spanish crown that he was allowed to leave. But he did not leave empty-handed. The first patriarch was given an artifact, the Inquisitorial Seal.

The cross in Santiago's hand was the key to the chamber the Seal was left in.

It was a powerful artifact, said to bring God's judgment on the heretic and spare the faithful. Every clan head was told it was a weapon to be used only when the family was on its last leg as the artifact could only be used once. Santiago doubted that, if such a weapon could be made then the Spanish Empire would have ruled all of Europe and beyond. Yet, even with all his doubt the Inquisitorial Seal was one of his only options. In the chaos of the attack, he saw Camilla and Vee lead most of the regular family members away, possibly to the Demon Realm where Luz was. He had yet to hear anything before his spies were picked off.

The distinct sound of rocks splitting, the sound that only the entrance makes, pulled Santiago from his musings. He quickly left his secluded study, being joined on the way by Carlos and the others. They already had their weapons drawn, ready to face the enemy that somehow breached their defenses.

The doors opened westward and caught the light of the setting sun before it dipped behind the tree line, making it difficult to see who was standing at the door. All Santiago could see was six silhouettes standing at the entrance. Before any could speak, he drew his weapon, a rapier like the others. A familiar voice stopped him from driving the tip through the closest newcomer.

"Abuelo, you're alright," Luz exclaimed. The rest had lowered their guard as well. Luz came rushing down the hall before wrapping Santiago in a tight hug. The old man almost dropped his sword out of shock. One of his precious grandchildren who had escaped this awful war had arrived. He couldn't determine if his tears were of sadness or joy.

"Luz, Nieta, what are you doing here? Why did you come?" He defied his overwhelming fear and wrapped his arms around Luz. "You were safe there. Why did you come?"

Luz pulled back. "I came to help and I didn't come alone."

The others had made their way down the hallway and out of the blinding sunlight. Amity and two others stood behind Luz as well as some beast that Santiago had never seen before. The beast stood on two legs, was covered in black shaggy looking hair, and had a white, horned, bone skull covering its head with similar looking claws. Yet, despite its beastly appearance, it eyes reflected a human intelligence.

Luz introduced the beast as King, and to everyone's surprise, he spoke back to them in perfect English. They had thought the stories of beasts with human intelligence were just legends until that point. Amity was next, mostly being introduced to the others as Santiago and Carlos were already acquainted with her. Next was the other girl, Willow. They all could feel her strong vitality that faintly resembled the qi of the valley. After she was the smaller of the two boys, Gus, who demonstrated his abilities as an illusionist and array master. Lastly was Hunter, though Santiago couldn't help but feel like he had seen the boy before long ago.

"It's all well and good that you came to our aid Luz, but why didn't you stay behind?" Carlos asked. "I find it hard to believe that you were just ready to receive over a hundred refugees like that."

"We weren't," Luz admitted. "But thanks to a combination of connections and wealth we were able to get enough food and temporary housing set up before we left. And don't even think about still complaining. Everyone, there is worried about you guys and is waiting for you to catch up. That's why we came."

Santiago restrained himself from scolding Luz for her reckless selflessness or perhaps her selfless recklessness. "That is very kind of you Nieta, but our enemy out do us in strength and numbers."

"That's why she brought only the best," King said. "I already killed that Johnson guy easily. I could take another one like him, no problem."

"Don't count the rest of us out either," Gus said. "All of us are easily on Luz's level and have our fair share of tricks they haven't seen." Santiago swayed a bit, realizing it was caused by Gus's illusions. As if to join in on their friend's showboating, the others quickly showed off a small portion of their skills.

Amity had three puppets, each made from a different type of material. Willow had summoned plants from the surrounding stone that seemed to possess a will of their own. King seemed to grown a foot while his body was covered in strange glyphs and arrays, his cultivation rising several levels. To top it off, Hunter demonstrated his ability to bend space to his will. Finally, Luz demonstrated one of her trump cards as her eyes turned black and gold, and a pair of horns sprouted from her head.

Carlos leaned closer to Santiago. "Abuelo, I think we have a chance."

He didn't respond, instead, he finished his silent prayer with the sign of the cross. "In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sacti. Amen"

Notes:

I really love how old the Appalachian Mountains are. Estimates put them around the hundreds of millions of years old, which means they existed/started forming before animals evolved bones. I could go on, I already wrote and rewrote this bit three or four times.

I'm probably going to hate myself here in a bit cause I've set up a situation that could introduce and then kill dozens of characters. We'll see how long I last before breaking down and writing a character reference doc for them all.

Anyways, if you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 59: Chapter 59

The plan was simple. It was so simple that Luz would even go as far as to say it was fool-proof.

That probably explained why it was currently going horribly, horribly wrong.

They were outnumbered, and while they held the advantage in the average power and skill of individual fighters Luz and her friends were not enough to tip the turn this was into a Noceda victory. The other families were led by their own Immortal Boundary cultivators. Just one of them showing up wouldn't be enough to defeat the group since Abuelo Santiago could step in and match them, but he just couldn't handle all three at the same time.

So Hunter proposed a simple plan, switch from full confrontation to attrition. The Nocedas didn't need to win today. If the rest of them could escape to the Demon Realm they could train there for a couple years before returning to get their revenge. Luz and her friends would slowly wear down the enemy forces by presenting a simple bet, daily one-on-one fights until either side is unable to continue.

With the addition that the Boiling Isle cultivators would not attempt to kill their opponents, the three families agreed. There were a few close calls, but for the next week Willow, Hunter, Gus, Amity, and Luz successfully fought and defeated twenty-five cultivators. Feeling that the time was right, they decided to make their move

"The patrols have thinned out," Santiago said. "We should be able to slip out through that hole young Gus made in the marking array."

"Luz provided a few space rings for us to use," Carlos added. "Everything has been packed up and we're ready to move."

"Not everything," Santiago replied. "There is one thing that only I am aware of. I would have shown you when you were ready, but now this knowledge goes to Luz."

The old man left his lieutenant to finish briefing his grandchildren on the dangerous task they were about to undertake to join his prodigal granddaughter in his office. He found Luz standing in his now empty office with her spear in hand and a look of determination on her face.

"Are we ready to move, Abuelo?" She asked.

He shook his head. "There's one more thing I need to grab before we can leave."

He pulled a small cross from his pocket. "This is a key that should have been passed down through the generations. Had your father not been betrayed he would probably be the one to hold it today instead of me."

Santiago took Luz's free hand and placed the cross in her palm. "There is a small tile in that corner that isn't cemented to the floor. Place this in the lock you find there."

The tile in question was cut with such precision that Luz wasn't sure she would have found it if Abuelo hadn't told her about it. Only by looking at it closely could she see the seams in the stone. After gently prying it out there was a cross-shaped indention. Complying with Abuelo's instruction, Luz placed the cross so it sat flush with the surrounding stone.

A click echoed through the room and the back wall swung back revealing the hidden room beyond. The room was cut straight out of the surrounding mountain, with no decorations or adornments. In the middle of the room was a massive black cross, flanked by a slightly smaller silver sword and a gold olive branch.

"This is the Inquisitorial Rosary," Santiago explained. "It was given as a gift to my great-grandfather when he left the office of Grand Inquisitor of Spain. It was presented to him by King Ferdinand the Second of Aragon with the sole promise that it would never be used against the Spanish Crown. This is the true treasure of our family, an artifact capable of unleashing the wrath of Almighty God."

He held his hand out and the trio of objects glowed a brilliant white light. In a flash they disappeared, replaced with a much smaller wooden plaque with the black cross flanked with a silver sword and gold olive branch. He brought his other hand to gently cup the artifact as he turned to face Luz. "Take it, Nieta, and use it as you see fit."

Luz stumbled for her words. She wanted to refuse it. She wasn't qualified to wield such a powerful and precious artifact like the Rosary. She wanted to say that he should keep it or even give it to Carlos who was clearly chosen as his successor. All she could muster was a few no's and but's before Santiago placed it firmly in her hand.

"It's a tool, Luz. It's meant to be used and I think there is no one better suited to use it than someone who has given everything to a family that gave her nothing." He released his grip on her hand before wrapping her in a tight hug.

When the two split there was a silent understanding between them. The old Noceda family was dead, not by misfortune but by choice and when they were ready, they would return to take back what was theirs and dispense vengeance on their enemies.

The travel plan was simple, the humans would move in a collum of two people led by Luz. Hunter would take the rear while Gus, Willow, Amity, and King would watch the flanks. They would be traveling as fast as they could to where the portal to the Demon Realm was hidden. If everything went well they would avoid detection until it was too late for their enemies to respond. If things went south then they would split, with the human cultivators following Luz, King, or one of the witches.

They made it to the state border when things went south. A dozen flares shot up lighting up the forest as flood lights powered up. Standing fifteen feet were the last people they wanted to see. Alexander Smith, George Allen, and Patricia Clark, the patriarchs of the families currently at war with the Noceda family. Standing in front of them was a man in a black suit with an armband with the acronym DPI written on it.

"Mr. Santiago Noceda, you have no idea how happy we are to have caught you," The suited man said. "I'm Agent Carlson of the United States Department of Paranormal Investigations attached to the poorly named Paranormal Unit. I regret that we had to use your family as bait for this oppera…"

Agent Carlson's eyes rolled back in his head as his body slumped to the ground. Everyone instantly recognized what had happened to him, his soul was attacked. The list of suspects was short, but all eyes fell on Santiago who seemed to be focusing on something. When he opened his eyes he didn't even acknowledge the federal agents that surrounded his group.

"Patriarch Smith, Patriarch Allen, and the lovely Matriarch Clark, to what do I owe the pleasure today?" He spoke calmly and politely, giving off not the slightest hint of bloodlust.

"Drop the act Santiago. You knew this would happen when you killed Harold," Alexander said.

"I told you before, that wasn't me. The Noceda family doesn't have an ice technique, much less any technique that could cause a scene like that," He replied in a weary tone. "Had you allowed us to continue our investigation then perhaps we could have caught the one who did by now."

"We didn't need to wait any longer, the DPI gave us proof that it was you," Patricia replied.

Luz let out an annoyed groan. "Abeulo, is this going to take much longer? I'm getting tired and we still have quite a way to go."

As she expected, three divine senses crashed against her soul. Like Harold Johnson's attacks before, each was absorbed by the Stained Glass Lotus, strengthening her soul by a portion of what was absorbed. The three leaders had locked eyes on Luz now.

"Do you have something you wish to add, little girl?" George said.

Patricia spoke up before Luz could reply. "Have some manners, George, the girl's name is Luz. After that performance, she showed at the Gathering she deserves at least that much."

"I do have something to add," Luz stated confidently. "You're all either being played like the idiots you are or are so stupid you think you can still come out on top. I killed Harold Johnson in self-defense and if you keep pushing you can confirm it with him in Hell."

"Luz are you sure this is…" Gus started but stopped when he saw the look on her face.

"Hunter, when the fighting starts I want you to get the rest of my family out of here. I can't go all out and keep them safe at the same time," She said.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked.

Luz nodded, keeping her eyes locked on the toughest fight of her life. "Yeah, these guys think they have the upper hand so they won't accept anything other than our complete annihilation."

"Alright," Hunter replied. "It will take me thirty seconds to create a corridor stable enough for them to get through. Buy time until then."

Luz thrust her spear out to stop the massive hammer coming at them. It took all of her focus to stop the attack from the Smith family patriarch. In the corner of her eye, she could see her abuelo's rapier blocking attacks from the other two family heads.

"Heh, you expect me to believe you killed Harold with only this much power?" Alexander asked. "If you're going to lie, at least make it believable."

With more effort than she would have liked, Luz pushed the hammer away. "Please, I've barely started getting serious."

In a swift motion, Luz pulled the knot holding the bandages on her arm and the illusions hiding them. The black mark had shrunk significantly, but she still hadn't fully mastered the Freezing Lightning. Before the bandages hit the ground her horns had already sprouted from her head and her eyes had changed to black and gold. Everyone could feel as Luz's cultivation stepped into the realm of the Immortal Boundary.

Hunter slammed his hands together as he focused on his destination. He needed to act fast but also ensure the safety of anyone moving through the void corridor he was trying to open just a mere five hundred feet away. Any further would be too much for him. Willow protectively stood by him, drawing power from the forest around them while raising a thick, low wall of plants around the group. Amity unleashed her puppets against the surrounding agents while King and Gus dealt with those confident enough to approach the group. Carlos didn't sit idly by either, drawing his own sword to deal with any approaching threat.

The area quickly devolved into the chaos of fighting. The plan had fallen apart a mere hour from freedom. Luz was furious about this. All she had wanted to do was rescue her family, even if they were only family in name. It's what every parental figure in her life would have wanted. It's what her heroes would have done. It's what she would have done regardless of if she was a normal girl, or a cultivator, or a witch. She was going to do the right thing.

She thrust her spear again and Alexander moved to block it. But the strike never landed. Instead, Stringbean understood the needs and intentions of her witch, changing the spear into a sword. The sudden change in rhythm threw Alexander off causing him to lower his guard enough for the blade to slice his cheek. Luz was aiming for his eye, but years of training allowed him to narrowly avoid losing an eye. Luz leaped back to avoid the hammer as Alexander swung out in retaliation.

He never expected to be evenly matched with a girl, a teenager, and worse still, one who wasn't even trained in her family's martial arts. She wielded her spear with the skill of a fighter two to three times her age and transitioned to a sword just as easily. His fury roared inside him as they continued to exchange blows. He refused to be an equals with a child.

Flames engulfed Alexander's hammer. His technique was developed over decades as his ancestors combined the heat and power of the forge with the devastating might of a warhammer. He was supposed to be a son of Vulcan, the god of fire and the forge. Divine might coursed through his veins. With all his might he swung his hammer faster and harder than he ever had before.

As the hammer approached Luz, the flames went out as frost began to coat the weapon. Seeing the look of confusion on his face, Luz explained what had happened as the head of the hammer flew by her face. "I had to spend a lot of time trying to comprehend quite a few things recently. An epiphany I came to was that I was trying to learn too much, too fast. So I narrowed it down to a few things. Lightning, spears, swords, offense, defense, and of course, ice."

As she spoke the word ice the air temperature dropped even further. Looking around, Alexander realized the trap he had allowed to be set. Every attack Luz had made was not only intended to kill him but also etch an array into the soil. He was now standing in the middle of an array he had never seen before.

"Titan's Secret Art: Niflheim." Ice shot straight out of the ground, trapping Alexander. He looked in horror as he realized the source of the technique that killed Harold Johnson.

Luz stepped back as she pulled more power from her source. Dark fur began to sprout along her arms and her fingers were replaced with bone claws and a bone ridge formed down her face and around her eyes. Her hair fell past her shoulders as she spoke. "This is the same art that killed that bastard, but I didn't do that. The one over there that looks like me did it. But your death is all me."

Her spear thrust shattered the ice and Alexander's body with it. The fighting momentarily quieted as all eyes were locked on the girl who shattered the body of a man who stood at the peak of their world. Seeing his chance, Hunter had opened the void corridor as the ice broke, hiding the sound that came when the fabric of space was opened. Before anyone else could realize it, only a few of the Noceda's group were left. Amity, Willow, Gus, King, Luz, and Santiago stood ready to face down the rest of the gathered men.

Slamming her spear on the ground, Luz bellowed her challenge. "Who's next?"

Notes:

Kill! Maim! Slaughter!

I actually thought my motherboard was dying while writing this. Turns out the plug on the power strip I use was hanging on for dear life. Pushed it back in and all my problems disappeared.

I do feel kinda bad using Vulcan cause I am a Warhammer 40K fan and Vulcan there is kind of a good guy. Or at least as good as a demi-god general can be in a grimdark setting. Also, spellcheck seems to have an issue with warhammer the weapon. It keeps wanting to change it to Warhammer. It does not do this with any other weapon.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below. Also, feel free to keep asking, I am totally the kind of person to respond in my head and never actually say anything.

Chapter 60: Chapter 60

Luz slammed her spear on the ground as she bellowed her challenge. "Who's next?"

"I wanna try!" The voice was behind her and uncomfortably close. Without thinking, Luz spun as she swung her free hand. The back of her fist made contact with something solid, but something strange happened with her qi. It was like it fizzled out of existence as it left her body.

"Wow, Big Sis wasn't lying! You really can use lightning like me!" The wiry boy stared at Luz with wide eyes, his grin distorted where her fist remained planted against his jaw. Luz leapt back, leveling her spear at the newcomer. "Let's play!"

The stranger's speed was startling. In an instant, he was on Luz's left. She managed to block his strike but he disappeared before she could counter, only to appear on her right, then behind her, then her left again, behind, right, front, left, front, above, behind. He moved to attack at every possible angle. Luz only managed to fend off his assault by relying on her instincts.

Finally having enough, Luz cried out, "Time out!"

The stranger appeared roughly ten feet in front of her, his expression filled with curiosity. "What's wrong? Is there a rock in your shoe? Am I going too fast? Oh! I forgot to tell you the rules, didn't I? But wait, you were playing the same game before I got here."

A woman's voice cut him off. "Zeus, you're doing that thing again. Remember what we talked about, you have to give people a chance to respond."

Slowly, Luz moved so she could see the owner of the new voice while keeping an eye on Zeus. A woman in the same suit as another DPI agent stood just outside the fighting with the other agent thrown over her shoulder. Luz wasn't sure why, but something about her made Luz's skin crawl.

"I'm sorry, Big Sis. I was just having so much fun," Zeus said.

The agent sighed. "I knew this would happen. Why did they send someone like you when we specifically asked for other agents?"

Zeus's hand shot up as he blurted out the answer. "Mr. Arthur said all the other agents were too busy so he had to send me."

"Of course, that bastard had something to do with it," The agent mumbled.

Luz was feeling weird. The atmosphere said that she could relax, and everyone here was friendly. Yet, something about Zeus and his 'sister' made her stomach churn. "So, are you going to introduce yourselves or…"

"My apologies," The agent said. "You've already met him. He's known as Experimental Human Weapon A467-Z, code-named Zeus. And I'm…"

The wind picked up, blowing from behind the agent carrying a sickening scent to Luz. "Agent Carmine."

The scent of blood filled her lungs as Luz fought to keep her body in check. It was like the woman bathed in it daily. Her mind flashed back to the fight against Grant, something that felt like a lifetime ago. Yet, his stench was nowhere near as thick as Agent Carmine's. She reeked like a demon from hell.

Luz didn't hesitate as she made her next move. "KING, HER!"

Without a second thought, King launched himself toward the agent. She didn’t bother to look at him, merely raising her hand to throw him to the side. That left her completely oblivious to King's transformation until it was too late.

Survivors would later report that UA-1/6, identified as 'King', transformed mid-flight. While exact details would be difficult to pin down there were a few consistent traits. One, UA-1/6's body seemed to undergo a change in composition to a substance that behaved like smoke or fog, yet remained tangible at all times. Second, the exterior bone seemed to give off a soft light while the fur seemed to absorb it.

"Titan Chaotic Body," King said as he reached Agent Carmine. The claws of his projected titanic body extended, reaching eight inches long. He felt the tips slice through her flesh as she barely managed to move away. To her horror, not only had King gotten bigger, his power had also vastly increased putting him on par with Santiago.

King landed on the ground and immediately launched at Carmine again. Luz was about to help King when Zeus placed a hand on her shoulder. "Where are you going? We aren't done playing yet."

Luz considered herself to be fairly accomplished with her techniques. Anyone who was better than her simply had more time to practice than she did. Luz could withstand repeated strikes of the Isle's lightning, something so powerful it could kill demons the size of an elephant. She was confident she could handle anything Zeus threw at her.

She was mostly right.

Luz felt the sensation of electricity moving through her body. It didn't hurt her at all. It didn't even slow her down as she pivoted to punch Zeus in the face. Her body followed the well-practiced motions of throwing a straight punch only for her fist to be missing. Confused, she looked down and confirmed that, yes, she still had her arm but it was completely numb.

While Luz stared at her arm, Zeus cracked her in the jaw. The force of the blow sent her flying through the air until she slammed into a tree. She pulled herself off the ground, clenching and unclenching her hand as feeling returned to her arm. Wary but confident, Luz readied her spear. Stringbean responded by pulling in ambient qi and sending it along the spear. This new foe had something that commanded their best efforts.

Luz and Zeus exchanged half a dozen blows before his arm grazed her again. She barely felt his arm brush past her, but instantly recognized the feeling of electricity running through her body. Luz attempted to leap back but found that this time it was one of her legs that had fallen numb, resulting in Zeus firmly planting his foot on her solar plexus.

Luz was thankful the shock of her back finding another tree reset her breathing as her foot began to regain feeling. There was something strange about the technique Zeus was using. The lightning martial arts Luz had read about spoke about harnessing the destructive power of the heavens to bind or destroy one's foes, but whatever he was doing didn't seem to fit into the definition of a binging technique.

"Why doesn’t your lightning behave right?" Zeus asked

"What do you mean?" Luz asked. "It's working as it should."

"No," Zeus shouted. "Your lightning is all wrong. It's cold instead of hot. It doesn't discharge right. And it doesn't follow resistance. Your lighting is all wrong."

Had they not been fighting, Luz probably would have felt bad. The whole reason why Zeus didn't like her qi qas because he didn't understand. He had likely been trained in a lab, being taught everything the scientist knew about electricity. The difference also explained the weird sensations she was getting when he touched her. Zeus had been shooting electricity into her nervous system.

"If you don't like it, why don't you go home?" Luz asked. She wasn't sure what compelled her to ask that question, to offer a living weapon the chance to retreat. Her mind easily reasoned it would be a mercy to kill Zeus, to use his use and abuse by a system that doesn't see him as human. Yet, she couldn't. not yet.

Zeus shook his head. "I can't go home. They'll punish me if I go home without Big Sis. She needs to take me home. But Big Sis has important things to do here first. That's why she sent me to play, so she could focus on her important thing."

Zeus continued to panic, clutching his head as he knelt on the ground. He continued muttering to himself, saying he did a bad job or that he was going to be punished. Luz felt her heart start to break for the boy. He clearly wasn't treated well and wasn't meant to be dumped on a battlefield. She had to do something.

"Hey, Zeus," She gently called as she reached out to him.

In a flash, his hand clamped down tightly on her wrist. It felt like he wanted to crush it. He slowly began to stand up as ozone filled the air. The hum of electricity could be heard as Zeus seemed to bulk up. In the back of her mind, Luz was cursing her soft-hearted nature as panic began to set in.

"Uh, Zeus?" Luz was unsure if she was dealing with the same person.

His response was simple. In a single motion, he threw Luz against the third tree that night.

Notes:

A new challenger approaches.

Zeus was kinda hard for me to write since he is supposed to be more childlike than pretty much any other character we've spent more than a few lines with. I kept, and probably did, use more complex words than what someone like him would use.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 61: Chapter 61

Luz was getting really tired of trees. Sure, they were magnificent examples of the beauty of nature and import sources of shelter for the animals living in the forest, but it seemed that all they did recently was abruptly stop her after someone threw her.

"This is getting ridiculous," Luz grunted as she stood back up. Zeus was powerful, but his follow-ups were atrocious. It was like the guy didn't expect her to move more than a few feet after being thrown. "Alright Stringbean, let's give this everything we have left!"

A determined hiss echoed in her mind as Luz leveled her spear at her opponent. She would kill Zeus with one decisive thrust, likely collapsing from exhaustion afterward. The power of her Titan Source had largely run out, her body was beginning to break down from forcing her cultivation so high, and her spirit power was running on empty. She was out of tricks and left with this final option.

Suddenly, a red blur rammed into Zeus's side sending the man tumbling along the ground. Standing there was Amity's combat puppet, standing ready to rip Zeus apart. Amity called out from behind Luz. "I don't even need to see the look on your face to know you were planning something stupid."

"It wasn't stupid," Luz protested. "I would just need someone to pick me up after, that's all."

Amity chuckled and shook her head. "Were you always this reckless?"

"I did break into the Conformitorium after being on the Isle for a few hours," Luz replied. "Warden Wrath was not happy that day."

"I guess I'll have to keep a closer eye on you then," Amity said. "I can't always be there to bail out my girlfriend."

"I'm sure I could manage on my own," Luz countered.

"Debatable, now if you excuse me, I'm going to kick his ass." Amity confidently marched forward with Ghost in hand. Silver Shadow had stretched itself to cover the palisman's staff in silver tendrils while still armoring its owner. The sight made Luz wonder about the true capabilities of a palisman before her injuries demanded attention.

Luz checked her surroundings before sitting down. King had gone off to deal with that agent lady while Santiago seemed to be discussing something with the other family leaders. Given that one of them was missing an eye now, she assumed it was something to end the conflict. Gus and Willow were focused on mopping up the rest of the soldiers that were brought along while Hunter and the rest of the Noceda's seemed to have slipped away in the chaos.

Amity confidently approached her combat puppet. It took her more money than she cared to think about, but she managed to repair it from the beating it took against Hunter's impersonator before Grom. But now, if the records she found with it were to be believed, the puppet was operating at thirty percent of its maximum output. It was equivalent to a First Stage Mixed Element Realm cultivator.

Zeus screamed at the puppet, flying at it in a blind rage. Amity had read about his condition in class, Qi Deviation. Also sometimes referred to as cultivation sickness, Qi Deviation was caused by the body's energy going out of control during cultivation. When this happens, most suffer some degree of internal injury or die. The unlucky few like Zeus, lose their minds.

Zeus was no longer a person. His mind was lost and no one present had the skill required to attempt to bring him back. In his state, there was only one thing she could do.

Kill him.

The puppet met Zeus's charge with equal force. The two grappled each, but without a real will of its own, the puppet was out-maneuvered and pinned to the ground. The wild man began to beat the puppet into the ground while the rampaging energy caused his muscles to expand.

Without a wasted thought, Ghost added her power to Silver Shadow as Amity commanded the artifact. From the tips of her fingers on her free hand, silver tendrils flew out and penetrated her puppet. Using Silver Shadow as a medium and Ghost as an amplifier, Amity gained a more direct form of control over the puppet. The result was immediately apparent as the puppet caught Zeus's fist before the other railed into his side. It couldn't generate much force lying on the ground, but a few extra punches were enough for it to escape the pin.

Pulling her hand back, the puppet flew off the ground and landed on its feet a few yards away. A quick survey revealed that the onslaught did more damage than Amity expected. There were several new dents on the puppet's chest. Unwilling to pay to replace the parts again, she sent it into her space ring as Silver Shadow covered her and Ghost in armor. Ghost was a bit uncertain about being covered in metal, but trusted her witch.

Zeus let out an animalistic roar. Amity tapped Ghost on the ground, activating the small spell circle she formed in the metal covering the staff. Two torrents of slime shot out of the ground and slammed into Zeus. He struggled against it, trying to tear himself free. Small sparks arched off his skin but had no effect on the slime as not only were they much weaker than what Luz had unleashed in the past, but Amity had mostly worked that particular weakness out of her creations.

As anti-climactic as it seemed to her creative self, Amity decided to kill Zeus in a simple manner. Pouring more power into the slime, she increased the volume and completely engulfed the man. She focused, keeping him completely submerged as he thrashed against his prison as she prepared her final move. She clenched her hand into a fist as the slime turned solid and crushed Zeus to death. The crushed body could be seen as the slime slowly sank into the earth.

King soon appeared, his fur matted with mud, leaves, twigs, and blood. No words were exchanged as the group left and finished their journey. Dawn was beginning to break when they finally stepped through the portal to the Demon Realm. The change on the other side was drastic, but no one had the energy to appreciate it at the time. Without a word, everyone went about their business. Santiago found an empty hut while the rest went inside. There, Gus took the couch while King went to the bathroom to take a shower. Willow went to find Hunter while Luz and Amity made their way to Luz's room before collapsing into the bed together.

Morning came quickly, but the two of them didn't even have the chance to step outside before the next trouble found them.

"They want us to what?" Luz asked.

Lilith explained again. "The other coven heads want the Immortal Studies track to take part in the coven tryouts. They're calling it a performance assessment. I was told about it while you were away."

"Can't you do anything to make it go away?" Amity asked.

Lilith shook her head. "Belos approved it himself. He said it would serve as a form of insurance to make sure the students in the track have continued to improve since you were basically guaranteed spots in the Emperor's Coven."

"But there's so much that I need to do here," Luz said. "My family…"

"Is already taken care of," Eda said. "Sure, they're still working out a more permanent solution, but they have miles of unclaimed forest around here with skills that will let them quickly adapt to life on the Isles."

"She's right you know," Camilla said as she entered the room. "Mija, let your family handle this. Focus on your work and let us handle things here."

Luz was going to continue to protest but was held back by a gentle touch from Amity. "Alright, I'll focus on the trials. Uh… when are they again?"

"They're held at the end of the school year," Eda replied. "So you guys have about two months to prepare, not that any of you will need it."

Luz nodded. Two months was plenty of time for everyone to rest, recover, and improve. They would be more than ready for whatever the trials have to throw at them.

Notes:

I struggled with writing this one. None of my good ideas wanted to come out and I had several. Now I just have a Checkov's gun.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Notes:

Hey, look, a new chapter is here now.

Two months flew by as the forest around the Owl House underwent a drastic change. The isolated cliff-side home was now surrounded by dozens of houses, several commercial buildings, and a ten-foot high wall encompassing them all. The Noceda's wasted no time in settling into their new homes and world.

The professionals immediately went about trying to break into their old industries, facing their magical disadvantages head-on. It took some effort, but the skills they had cultivated in the Human Realm were quickly adapted to their new home and money began to flow into their little village. By the end of the second month, a few locals had begun to move into the few extra houses.

The only thing that was missing was Luz. She had secluded herself in her room the day she learned about the upcoming Trials. No one was able to enter the room as she had sealed it off from the outside world. King wasn't sure how she did it or if she was aware of anything going on outside that room. Everyone was uneasy about the situation, but they eventually agreed to trust that Luz would look after herself while in seclusion.

Luz slowly pushed herself off the floor where she had been sitting for the last two months. Her joints cracked as her muscles stubbornly followed her demands. Luz threw open the window about to leap through it when she stopped. The changes that took place while she was in seclusion were astonishing to her, but she didn't have time to enjoy them.

Soaring through the air, she headed to Hexside where the Trials were set to take place. The air hummed with excitement as she approached the campus grounds. She could hear the hum of hundreds of people gathered for this once-a-year spectacle.

Luz carefully leaped over the crowd and landed by her friends and classmates. She had expected them to be excited but instead found them all rather nervous. "What's up, guys? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Amity said. "We're fine. It's just that…"

Boshca interrupted Amity, getting to the point. "They want us to compete against the coven heads."

"That," Amity said.

"Ah," Luz understood why everyone was so nervous now. While they were generally on the same level as the Coven Heads when it came to raw power, they still held an advantage when it came to skill and ability with magic. "I guess we just give it our best."

"Oh no, we're going to win 'cause I don't lose," Boscha spat.

Willow added. "They also said they would cut the program if our performance wasn't satisfactory."

As the crowd fell silent the group turned towards the stage. Standing in front of the microphone was Principle Bump, but behind him was the one who commanded the audience's respect. Emperor Belos himself was in attendance, flanked by Hunter and the other Coven Heads.

Luz should have expected that man to be there. The Emperor was now invested in the growth of Luz's power to cure his condition. In his eyes, she was probably just another pawn to be used. Luz shook her head, banishing her train of thought, it wasn't the time to focus on grand plans or hidden agendas.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and all the demons in between," Principle Bump started. "It is with great pleasure that I invite you to the Coven Trials this year. It is also my honor to recognize Emperor Belos and the nine Coven Heads who are in attendance today."

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as each of the witches acknowledged the crowd. The Emperor raised his hand to quiet the crowd when he deemed enough time had passed. Hunter gave Bump a small signal to continue. "As many of you are aware, this year the Trials will be quite different as none of our graduating students will be participating. In fact, the students who will be participating aren't a part of any of the traditional tracks offered at the institutions across the Isles."

A murmur spread through the crowd, but Bump paid it no mind. "With former Coven Head Lilith's approval, a new track was introduced with the intention of fostering the talent sought out by the Emperor's Coven and combining it with lost teachings. Upon completion of their studies, these students would directly join the Emperor's Coven. With such an honor on the line, this Trial will evaluate whether or not this track should continue or be disbanded."

The murmuring intensified but was again ignored. "Now, I will allow Caleb, the Golden Guard and current head of the Emperor's Coven, to explain the format of this year's Trials."

Hunter stepped forward, nodding to Bump before taking the microphone. "By the Grace and Will of the Titan, the leaders of His covens have selected a student and a challenge. For them to pass this trial, five students must pass their trial. We will begin with Adrian Graye, the illustrious head of the Illusion Coven, who will be testing Augustus Porter."

Adrian gave Hunter a snide look as he passed him by. It was no secret that Adrian was one of the few Coven Heads who were vocal with their displeasure of Hunter's appointment to head of the Emperor's Coven. The man considered Hunter to be an inexperienced child raised to a grand station by nepotism, rather than an accomplished witch. Publicly, the issue was settled by the word of the Emperor but Adrian still thought of Hunter as someone beneath illusionist.

Gus wasn't sure what to think or expect. Adrian Graye Vernworth was his hero by virtue of being the head of the Illusion Coven and a part of him still felt that way. Adrian stood at the pinnacle of Illusion magic and was what every illusionist aspired to be. But now, Gus was more aware of the world he grew up in and with that, his respect for the covens died. He was also uncertain about how he would complete whatever test Adrian had in mind for him. The man's skill for illusions is second to none in the history of the craft.

"Ah, yes, so you're Augustus then?" Adrian stated more than asked. "I'll keep it simple. You need to keep me under an illusion for one minute."

Gus wanted to balk at the simplicity and impossibility of the task laid out before him but managed to keep his composure. Maintaining an illusion for such a short period of time was literal child's play, even the worst student in the Illusion track could manage that by the time they were seven. The issue would be creating an illusion that an experienced witch wouldn't notice for a full minute.

Months ago, Michael presented a similar impossibility. If an array master ever finds themselves in the midst of combat, they need to be able to deploy an array while under fire. This was already quite difficult as the array would need to be formed using seals made from spiritual energy and even the simplest arrays used several dozen of these seals. On top of that, they complete the array either fast enough or without alerting their opponent. The solution to this problem was simple to understand but difficult to master.

Misdirection.

Gus clapped his hands together before reaching up to catch his staff. With the flair of a showman, he brought his staff to the ground. Lines spread out along the ground, forming the complex shapes of an array. The crowd watched with bated breath eager to see what the young illusionist was conjuring up. It was a painstaking process, taking what felt like hours to complete.

When it was complete, the array filled the trial grounds and emitted a soft yellow light. Gus simply lifted his staff and it disappeared. Adrian was curious and asked, "Was that a warm-up or do you plan on starting any time soon?"

"I already started," Gus said calmly. "You've been under my illusion for a while now."

"Come now, are you really calling that little light show an illusion?" He asked condescendingly. "Cause I hate to tell you that it doesn't even come close to meeting my standards."

"No, that is a Five Element Array. A simple array that uses the power of the five elements to restrain a person's power," Gus explained. "I used it to prevent you from seeing the real illusion you've been under."

"What are you…" Adrain started but was cut off.

"Coven Head Vernworth, I suggest you pay attention," Darius said. "You've been standing there like an idiot between sentences."

Adrian was confused until he pulled out a pocket watch. The time on the watch indicated that thirty minutes had passed from the start of the test. Seeing the look of confusion on his face, Gus explained.

"I used my movements to hide my spell circle. Then, after the array took place I put your sense of time under an illusion," Gus spun a circle that quickly faded. "I slowed your perception of time and you didn't even notice."

Adrian was filled with indignant rage. A child managed to not only pull the wool over his eyes but did it with an application of illusion magic that he never thought possible. If circumstances were different, he would do everything in his power to separate that boy from illusion magic forever. But with so many eyes on him, he was forced to take the more graceful option.

"Very well, Augustus, you pass. Never before have I even heard of such an illusion. You have a bright future ahead of you." Adrian spoke with a calm and level tone, foregoing the usual grandstanding in favor of removing himself from the spotlight as soon as possible.

Hunter found himself fighting a smirk watching Adrian's performance. He wanted to knock the man down a peg for a while, but Gus did it in a way that was beyond his expectations or abilities. Composing himself, Hunter stepped forward to make the results official. "The students have passed the first test. We will now proceed to the next test…"

Notes:

I'm going to start this by saying, I'm sorry.

I know most of you probably don't care too much about this part, but when I started this I promised to be consistent with my posting cause I have read a ton of great stories on this platform that are updated sporadically with no communication from the author. I recently had a major hardware failure so you guys might think I deserve a pass, but no, I straight up forgot to finish the chapter and get it ready. Nothing went wrong this time. Furthermore, I didn't communicate the continued delay or give a reason before now. You will be getting chapter 63 by this Sunday. It's Thanksgiving week in the States and my parents decided to spend it in Spain along with the other adults who could afford it (Hint: Not me or my wife).

Arrays.

Arrays are the closest analog for Western ideas of magic. A bunch of fancy lines and strange ingredients work together with mystical energy to produce a grand result. Where things differ is that arrays are usually depicted a having an on/off switch. Every sect or school has several arrays dedicated to defending the location, several for hiding important areas, etc. If something is important, there is an array for it. Another interesting thing I've noticed is the decay of ability when it comes to arrays. Several stories I have come across have transportation arrays which are very important but nearly impossible to replace due to no one having the ability due to the passing of time.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Notes:

If you're lost, check the last chapter.

Luz watched as Willow effortlessly completed Coven Head Snapdragon's challenge. The younger witch's control over plants seemed to overshadow the experienced Coven Heads. Within five minutes, Willow had passed her test and gave their class their fourth win.

Unfortunately, not all the tests had gone as spectacularly as Gus's test did. While Boscha had scored her own overwhelming victory during Coven Head Vitimir's test, several others failed their tests due to phrasing or just lacking skill in the specific area they were being tested in. She felt bad for Matt in particular. While Coven Head Mason praised the craftsmanship of his relics, Construction magic was focused on buildings and other large projects. As an artifact refiner, Matt was decades away from producing something on that scale.

With Willow's victory, they were somehow three to four. Luz held her composure since she would lose that fight every day of the week. A part of her felt like this was because Michael wasn't there to act as a balance to the Covens, but she knew that if he was they would have simply used more underhanded means.

Or more likely, he would be scolding them for slacking off.

The next test was the Abomination Coven, a natural pick for Amity. That only left Luz to deal with whatever Hunter, or more likely Belos, had prepared for her. She needed to be ready.

It didn't take long for Amity to pass her test. Darius was quite impressed with the quality of her puppets. That, combined with witnessing what they could do and the progress Amity made to make them compatible with Abomination Magic forced the usually aloof man to give her high praises. Tying the score, it all came down to how Luz dealt with the final test.

"Our final test is not one of my own design," Hunter said. "It is one that the Titan Himself showed our beloved emperor in a dream."

Hunter passed the microphone to Belos. The older man took it before turning it off and addressing the crowd with an unnaturally loud voice. "The Titan has decreed, that if the humans wish to merge their arts with ours then they must prove capable of using magic themselves. Step forward, Luz."

Luz did as she was told, doing her best to keep her nerves down as she looked at the most powerful person on the Isles.

"According to our traditions, a witch of your age should bind with a palisman to help them control their powers. Your first task is to bind yourself to one by the…" Belos was cut off by a sharp whistle.

A blur flew down at Luz before kicking up a huge dust cloud. When it faded, no one could believe what they saw. Wrapped around her was a purple serpent. Everyone was shocked, wondering what the creature was and why it seemed to obey Luz.

"You sure got here quick," Luz muttered as she rubbed the creature's head. It seemed to smile as it let out a content hiss. Stringbean lifted her head to survey their surroundings. The once small palisman was now pushing seven or eight feet in length. Her muzzle seemed a bit longer, but every other trait seemed the same just scaled up. "This is my palisman, who I carved myself several months ago."

"And what a mighty palisman they seem to be," Belos remarked. "Take your staff now, and show us the four spells the Titan was weaved into the very fabric of our world."

Luz looked down to hide her eyes rolling. Stringbean's body glowed a dark purple before flowing into Luz's open hand. The staff was a bit thicker than a normal witch's staff, but the real difference was in the ornamentation. Instead of the palisman sitting on top, a miniaturized Stringbean was coiled around the staff with her head sitting a few inches above the top of it. If she had to describe the difference, Luz would say Stringbean's staff form was a wizard's staff, a tool meant to withstand intense magic, aid in long journeys, and act as a badge of office.

Luz swung her staff out, adjusting her grip before moving it in front of her. With careful precision, Luz traced a circle into the air. To the crowd's surprise, a black and purple circle appeared. When the circle was complete, Luz began to fill in the details until a completed light glyph was floating before her. Turning sharply, she began the process again with the ice glyph, then the plant glyph, and lastly the fire glyph. The four glyphs floated around her while she stared at Belos.

"These are the four spells the Titan has shown me." Luz activated each spell as she named them. "Light, ice, plant, and fire. Each are controlled by my will and intent."

To punctuate her point, she brought the end of her staff down to stop the spells. The light and fire went out in an instant while the ice melted a few seconds later and the plants retreated into the ground. The crowd was growing louder marveling at the display and raising questions about how she did it. None of that mattered to Luz as she stared at Belos.

The noise of the crowd vanished in an instant, replaced with a single, slow clap. Belos was pleased with Luz's performance. She demonstrated everything he needed to see, confirming to him that she was well prepared to control the Titan's power and free him from Its curse.

"You have passed this test, Luz Noceda. In the absence of your master, you and your classmates may continue to study what he has left behind with my blessing and promise that each of you will be accepted into my coven in one year's time," His words were honest, Luz could tell that. But they still made her nervous. "Additionally, for overcoming an impossible obstacle, I award you this. With it, you may accomplish great things."

Belos produced a scroll from his robes. With a tap of his staff, a red light enveloped it and carried it to Luz. The scroll was held close by a string which easily came undone. Carefully, she opened it to examine the contents, a single line.

The Star Child lies in the head.

Notes:

It's short, but it's also 2 am and I need to be up way too soon.

Questions, comments, weird things you need to say, the comment section is down at the bottom of the page.

Chapter 64: Chapter 64

Luz and King stared at the letter on the table. It had arrived a day after the Coven Trials and was addressed to King. Already an unusual event, the contents of the letter were even stranger. The sender claimed to be from King's family and asked him to come back to them. The trap was obvious but a single question was burning in the minds of King and Luz.

Why?

Why would someone pretend to be related to a random demon? Did they know about King's true identity? If they did, why would they pretend to be the long-dead Titans? Should they ignore the letter or should they follow the directions to where this hidden group of pretenders lived?

The next issue was that the letter was the only interesting thing they were allowed to do. After the trials, the few coven heads who had climbed the tower Michael had built, namely Darius, Eberwolf, and Raine, had gathered at the Owl House under the guise of visiting the new human colony. While there, they had asked about what Belos had given Luz.

"It's a lead," She answered. "Or at least a lead to a lead."

"Where is this lead taking you?" Raine asked.

"The Head." The silence that followed her response was deafening. Each of the coven heads, current and former, looked at Luz with abject horror. "Guess that's not a good place."

"I ab…" Lilith was cut off by Darius of all people.

"I ABSOLUTELY FORBID IT. THAT THING IS TOO DANGEROUS TO APPROACH." It was Darius's turn to be the center of everyone's shocked expressions. He didn't bother to explain himself, choosing to leave without another word. With a bit of difficulty, Raine explained.

"There's something living… trapped… in the Titan's skull. It's… hard to explain what it is, even though all the Coven Heads have seen it. All any of us can remember is a sense of dread, the sound of a child's laughter, and a name. The Collector.," Raine explained. "Please, Luz, don't go anywhere near that place unless you have no other choice. I don't know what you're looking for, but I'm sure you'll find another lead."

Without saying anything else, Raine and Eberwolf left the house. Whatever had happened to them was too much to even talk around. Luz ended up promising Eda and Lilith that she wouldn't go to the Head without getting stronger and having plenty of back-up.

Thus the two were left staring at the letter.

"Do you really think it's a trap?" King asked.

Luz scoffed. "Of course, it's a trap. Your dad said you were the last living Titan in the world. This has to be a trap."

"But what if it isn't and the people who sent this don't know any better?" He argued.

"And what would we gain for going there?" Luz asked.

"It is on the Outstretched Palm," King replied. "There could be something cool there."

"Is that really the best reason you can come up with?" She said.

King looked her dead in the eye. "Is that really going to change your mind?"

They stared at each other for a minute before Luz broke. "I'll go get Amity."

The trip across the Outstretched Hand took about four days. When they finally arrived they found a cracked and faded array carved into the dense rock-bone of the Isle. After an hour of each of them examining the array and surrounding area they were stuck.

"Okay, I have no ideas," Luz admitted.

"If only we brought Gus along with us," Amity said. "He would at least have been able to give us an idea of what to do."

"King, did they tell us what to do when we got here?" Luz asked.

King scratched his head as he re-read the letter. "Uh… It says here that there should be a rock that fits in that gap in the middle. Says it should be on the ground."

The three of them looked down at the rocky beach. While most of them didn't match the color of the arm, there were still dozens of rocks that could be what they were looking for. Thankfully, it didn't take them too long to find the right stone, but they all had words for the person who decided that was the best strategy.

With the missing piece restored, the circle began to glow before a bright flash blinded the trio. When they opened their eyes again, they had been transported from sea level to the palm of the Outstretched Hand.

"Damn, this is pretty high," Luz said.

"Yeah," Amity agreed. "When was it that we are supposed to be able to fly again?"

"Immortal Boundary… so try not to fall," Luz answered before stepping back. While Stringbean could fly higher than most palisman after merging with the Titan Dragon Spear, she was still unable to fly to this altitude. The palisman let out a nervous hiss in agreement, gently pulling her partner away from the edge.

The sound of footsteps alerted them to someone approaching. The sight made Luz and King sick to their stomachs. A group of about thirty individuals approached them wearing dark black fur with skulls masks, or at least they hoped they were masks.

"Ah, young King. It is good to see that you made it back to us," The leader spoke before Luz launched a knee into his chest. The man staggered back before Stringbean coiled herself around him and pulled him to the floor. The others started to move in on her before she ripped the mask off his face. Underneath it was a terrified man who looked like he spent his whole life separated from modern society, but she didn't care. Luz was solely focused on the mask in her hands, examining it closely before shattering it in her hands.

"It's wood," She said. King seemed to relax at the revelation. She got off the man as Stringbean uncoiled herself and allowed the man to stand. A few rushed to help their leader up while the rest kept an eye on Luz.

"Young lady, was it really necessary to attack your friend's family?" The leader asked.

"Shut the hell up," King said. "We already know you're a bunch of liars. Now tell me the reason why you called me here. If it's good enough I won't break all your bones."

"Temper, King. Let's hear them out before making any threats," Amity said while discretely activating Silver Shadow.

"W-w-w-w-we do, I promise. You see, it is our sacred mission to seek out any Titans left alive in this world," The man blurted out. "It is the mission our god left for us."

"I'm starting to think this was a waste of time," Luz said. "The energy up here isn't even good enough to support a rare treasure."

"Yeah, I think it would have been better to focus on cultivating," Amity said. "Can't believe we're going to have to waste a whole week on this trip."

"Wait, please," The man called out. "If it's compensation you want, we may have something to interest you."

The three exchanged a few glances before facing him. King commanded, "Show us."

The trek across the terrain took the rest of the day and the better part of the next as they moved through forests, swaps, and plains as they made their way to the center of the palm. The trip was further complicated by the vast gaps between the hand bones formed by time. The only way to cross them was by rope bridges or along what were once the tendons of the Titan's body.

As the sun began to set below the Hand, they reached a valley between the hand bones of the Titan. Nestled in it was a building unlike anything they had seen before. The style and materials were not native to the Boiling Isles, the Demon Realm, or any of the realms they had been to.

"This is the home of our god," The lead pretender said. "When we complete our mission, he will return to grant us our reward."

"Yes, very nice. Now fuck off before we decide to kill you," Luz said.

He didn't bother protesting. King was already much larger than he was supposed to be and he knew the two women that traveled with the Titan were far from normal. He simply bowed his head before leaving. The trio made their way up the stairs that led to the door. The architecture was adorn with symbols of the stars. Luz thought she recognized a few constellations but dismissed it as her trying to find patterns in the chaos.

They found the door was unlocked and made their way in without a second thought. Behind them, the shadow of a child smiled, his grin matching the crescent moon on his face.

Notes:

Long Hiatus Notice

The few of you who have been reading along for a year will remember I took a few weeks off last holiday season. I did this to focus on family without worrying about keeping my obligation to you, the readers. It is with many mixed emotions that I announce that I am going on another hiatus and this year I am not sure when I will be back for a few reasons.

First, it's the holiday season. We celebrate Christmas in the house and there is always a lot that goes into that.

Second, January I will be taking 15 credit hours. I have never taken this many at once so that will be an adjustment to make.

Third, I'm kinda running out of steam at the moment. Not getting bored mind you, just need a bit of time to refresh the good ideas.

Finally, and most importantly, my wife is going to give birth soon. It will be our first child and I have ZERO experience with infants. And I do mean ZERO, so I have no frame of reference to what the bundle of joy is going to do to my creative capabilities. Also, my office is the nursery but that is a minor issue in the grand scale of things, I have a laptop if it really gets to that point.

So yeah, I can't give you guys a general idea of when I'll be able to get back to this, but I promise to keep you all updated on any changes involving this story.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 65: Chapter 65

The alarm blared as Luz shot out of bed. It was the third alarm on her phone that was supposed to tell her when she needed to leave. She was now running late.

Luz burst out the door with half a slice of toast in her mouth as she pulled on her jacket. Life in the Boiling Isles had calmed down quite a bit after the removal of Emperor Belos in the wake of his failed Day of Unity. At the final moment before the spell was complete…

Amity sighed as she closed another quarterly report. She had only been in charge of Blight Industries for a month and already had a mess on her hands. Her mother, in all her wisdom, had been running the company in the red for years now relying only on the prestige of the family name to keep the debtors away. But not that Odalia was no longer in the picture they had come knocking.

The only thing that kept Amity going these days was her family. It had grown over the years, from just her father and two siblings to a brother-in-law, two sisters-in-law, a demon-in-law, a step-father, and soon a niece and nephew. She had tried to find someone to be with her like her siblings but after…

King sat on his thrown as his subject laid out their tribute before him. He was recognized for what he truly was, not a mere demon, nor a king like that pretender Belos. King was recognized as The Titan, True Son of The Titan, and God of the Demon Realm. All who walked its lands or sailed its seas pledged life and faith to him.

I̶̢̬͕̳͕̹͙̻̺̰̮͓͗t̷͖̹̬̊̿̕'̶̧̺͖͔͔̜̂͆͊͊̆̾̃̃̓̅͠͝s̶̠̙͓̺̞̱͖͓̱͉͑̆̈́̉ ̴̨̡̝͎̖͇̠͚̝̭̝̗͆̇̐́̇̅̓̊̚͘͠͝n̵̢̨̧̖͓̥̳̆͜o̸̡͉͚̳̭̫̞̞̊͠͝͝t̴͍͖̘̙̳̦͑̓̂̔̀̒̀̕͘͘͝ ̸̘̲̲̉͌̌̐̔̋̋̕͝ŗ̶̤͇̦̹̹̼̝̿͊́̃̀̓ͅͅͅê̵̢̢̩̳̘͈̺̺̘̞̖̰̽̈́̇̈́̉̒̍̑̌̕ā̶̢̼̮̥̙̻̭̹͋̓͛̇̈́͋̑̓ͅͅͅͅl̸̨̖̭̙͖̉.̴̪̙̈͂̋̍̆͒͌

Luz somehow made it to her first university class before it started. Her heart was thundering in her chest…

W̷̲̏̕a̵̧̨̛̻̞͋̆͝k̶͖̲̉̿́͝e̴͈̰͒͛ ̶̰̀͋͘ű̴̢̞̕͘p̸̲̐̏͛.̴̧͇̊

Amity held her composure as yet another…

Ị̸͛t̵̩̆'̶̪̌s̸̰̀ ̷͙̄n̷͈͛o̵͎̾t̶̻̑ ̶̭̊ṙ̴̝e̸͛͜a̸͍͆l̶͕̏.̸̫͂

Another tribute…

Ị̸͛t̵̩̆'̶̪̌s̸̰̀ ̷͙̄n̷͈͛o̵͎̾t̶̻̑ ̶̭̊ṙ̴̝e̸͛͜a̸͍͆l̶͕̏.̸̫͂

Her next class was on…

Ị̸͛t̵̩̆'̶̪̌s̸̰̀ ̷͙̄n̷͈͛o̵͎̾t̶̻̑ ̶̭̊ṙ̴̝e̸͛͜a̸͍͆l̶͕̏.̸̫͂

The downsizing was a success…

T̴̜̄h̸́͜i̶̧̊s̵̢̒ ̸̫͌i̸̝͌s̷̤̓ ̸͇̇b̶͖̑ḙ̵̀n̵̤̐ĕ̷̠ä̸̬t̵̫̏h̶͕̀ ̴̝̃ÿ̶̖́o̴͎̓u̸̫̎.̷̱̾

Praise…

W̷͉̏ą̵̅k̷̤̂e̶̻̚ ̶̻͒U̸͈͊p̴͚͝!̵̬͗

Class…

W̷͉̏ą̵̅k̷̤̂e̶̻̚ ̶̻͒U̸͈͊p̴͚͝!̵̬͗

Work.

W̷͉̏ą̵̅k̷̤̂e̶̻̚ ̶̻͒U̸͈͊p̴͚͝!̵̬͗

Praise.

W̷͉̏ą̵̅k̷̤̂e̶̻̚ ̶̻͒U̸͈͊p̴͚͝!̵̬͗

The entire trip took a month, but by the end, the three of them had returned to the small town of Casa that had been constructed around the Owl House. The name was chosen due to a miscommunication between the Noceda family and the government officials from Bonesborough. By the time the humans had found out they decided to keep it.

Luz, Amity, and King made their way through to town to the Owl House, waving and exchanging pleasantries with the people they passed on the way. Only two people saw the subtle change in their demeanor.

Eda and Camilla shared a worried glance as they watched the trio pass by them. The light behind their eyes had dimmed, if only slightly. Camilla was about to call out to her daughter but was beaten to the punch by Hooty. The town had grown accustomed to the house demon's antics and today was no different as only the children watched as he snaked around pedestrians and through the ground before wrapping around Luz, Amity, and King and dragging them back to the Owl House to pester them about their long adventure.

Luz felt relieved when Hooty finally left them alone. It wasn't his incessant need to feel a personal connection to his friends, she appreciated that now more than ever, but the absolute drain that their experience had on them.

They had been the playthings of an idiot god.

It wasn't that the Collector was dumb or stupid, just naïve. He was a child with powers beyond any that Luz had seen. Within the confines of the temple, he was able to effortlessly restructure matter and distort space. It was some small mercy from the heavens that he, it, lacked the ability to warp the flow of time within the confines of the damnable temple.

At first, it was just children's games. Tag, hopscotch, and a few from the Heavenly and Demon realms that Luz was unfamiliar with. Then the games started to get more complicated, involved, and dangerous. By the end they were fighting for their lives, barely escaping serious injury or death. It was only by appealing to the Collector's child-like wonder that they were able to leave.

All that work, and nothing to show for it.

And as if the heavens had turned against them, they heard even worse news on their way home. Emperor Belos had declared the Day of Unity was upon them, the day he kills every witch and demon in his domain.

Doomsday was approaching, and they didn't know if they could stop it.

L̷̨̲̩͊̽̅͐͝u̶̩͓͝z̸̘̀̓̓͂̓,̷͖̰̾̒̈̔̕ ̴̼͊̈́͗̽͒y̶̻̭̒̾ö̴͈̣̖̲́͘̚͠͝ư̴̢̲̺̗ͅ ̸͓̬̽͛ń̷̼̲e̵̛̪̼ȩ̴͖̭͉̯͋͋͘͝͝d̸͇̦͖͗̃ ̸̳̖̝͆͐́t̵͈͚̯̻͐ǫ̸͙̦̖͎͑̍̿̕ ̵̝̯̬̺̜̇̇̉́͝ẇ̴̧͈̥̰͎̄͂̀a̵̳̫͒͜k̵̘͌͛̚͝ẽ̸̼̼̖̳̀͆͜ ̷̫̙͐̌ů̵͙͚͊p̷̧̥͖̂̒̕͝.̴̜̠̃̚

Luz clutched her head as reality seemed to glitch around her. She was standing next to a table along with Eda and their allies from the Covens. They were speaking, but the words their lips were forming weren't the words she was hearing. If she had to guess, Luz would say they were discussing a plan, but she could only hear one phrase over and over again.

This isn't real.

She had to wake up.

The world around her cracked with multicolored light as the power of the Stained Glass Lotus breached the illusion Luz was wrapped in. Her head was engulfed in searing pain as everything turned white. She remembered entering the temple, a single room that seemed to be made out of the night sky. There a child-like shadow appeared before she was blinded by a white light.

Amity and King looked down at Luz while Stringbean held her defensively in her coils. Sensing that her master had returned to consciousness, the palisman slowly unwound herself while Luz stood up. Luz stretched her arms up and out, trying to alleviate the sense of fatigue from her muscles.

"What happened?" Amity asked.

"Some kind of illusion," Luz replied. "One that somehow suppressed the Stained Glass Lotus."

"Can something like that even exist?" King asked as he glanced around for other hidden dangers.

Luz nodded. "Yeah, the real issue is why is there something like that here."

The answer came as the starry skies around them faded to reveal pale marble walls decorated with arrays lined with gold. The intricate patterns were something beyond their ability to understand, even with a Titan's innate connection to arrays. They flowed deeper into the structure, down twisting hallways till they ended on a massive obsidian door. Heavy chains crossed over the door, held in place by a massive golden lock. The lock lacked a visible keyhole, instead it had a simple carving depicting a crescent moon surrounded by a small group of stars.

"It doesn't make sense," Luz said as she stared at the lock. "The only trap we've come across is that illusion, but someone went to a lot of effort to keep this door closed."

"It's not meant to keep you out," All eyes immediately locked on the child-like shadow that appeared. "I made it to lock a part of myself in."

Notes:

It's a bird. It's a plane. It's...

A very tired Starfruit.

Everyone is alive and well over here, but OMG I did not expect half the stuff I've had to deal with. Besides the new kid, I've started studying US tax law, and those who have had to interact with that beast understand how complicated it can get.

But I survived so far. The semester is halfway over and the child is two months old so things have started to stabilize and I can dedicate some more time to this project of mine. Thank you long-time readers for your patience during this transition and thank you new readers for taking the chance on this project.

Now that the chapter is done and published I feel like I have my feet under me again and can attempt the weekly updates again. See you next week, and as always:

If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments below.

Chapter 66: Chapter 66

The group stared at the floating shadow, unsure if they should fight or if they even had a chance. For its part, the shadow of the Star Child simply observed, watching them. This group was the only one to reach the depths of the sanctum. Only a small portion of those who found the temple had managed to open its doors, and all of them wasted away in the illusion of a perfectly average world, devoid of joy or satisfaction. It had been powerless to do anything but observe. Over time, the temple became revered as a holy place where a god lived, adding another layer to the prison.

"You are afraid," it spoke. "That is understandable. You only know a small portion of what happened. You only know what he told you."

It slowly floated towards King, maintaining a slow and steady pace to avoid triggering a fight or flight response. "You are the last Titan. We are responsible for that."

"I think you skipped part of your explanation," Amity said. The shadow turned towards her before tilting its head. "We don't even know who you are. I mean, we can guess, but something tells me we're missing some important pieces of information."

The shadow moved toward Amity but stopped as it got close to Luz. It snapped towards her, leaning in as if it was trying to get a closer look at her. After a moment, it moved back. "This situation is unclear. We must exchange information. I will begin. What do you want to know?"

Quick glances and quiet whispers were exchanged before the group answered it. "Who and what are you?"

"I am a fragment of The Star Child, though I think he calls himself The Collector now," the shadow explained. "I am the memory of things he would wish to forget. I will now make my inquiry."

The Shadow of the Star Child considered this for a moment before asking his question. "Human, I have several questions. First, how are you able to resist the effects of the Gray World Seal?"

"All soul-based attacks have a reduced effect on me," Luz said. "While I am not fully immune, it would require significantly more effort to place and keep me in an illusion."

"Satisfactory. Ask your question," He replied.

"Where is the Titan Graveyard?" King asked.

The Shadow thought before responding, "The Collector has it, but he cannot give it to you."

"Why?" The question was innocent but triggered an intense reaction.

"IT'S NOT YOUR TURN," The Shadow screamed. It took a few breaths before it apologized. "Forgive me, The Collector had the mind of a spoiled child when he split me from him. Please refrain from asking any more questions out of turn."

Luz shifted uncomfortably. "Okay. It's your turn now. Ask your question."

With a nod it spoke. "Why do you feel like the one the locals call The Titan?"

"I refined his source. His powers are now mine, though what I can use is a shadow of what he could." Luz answered the question as straightforwardly as possible. The outburst suggested that the best course of action is to follow the rules as closely as possible. "If The Collector has the Titan Graveyard, why can't he give it to us?"

An unsettlingly wide grin split The Shadow's face. "It's a part of him. To get the Graveyard, The Collector needs to die. Would you like to make a deal?"

It felt like they had walked straight into a trap. The rules of the game required an answer, but their answer would absolutely dictate how The Shadow would cooperate going forward. Even worse, they couldn't risk asking a clarifying question until they answered it.

Amity answered the conundrum with confidence born in the board room of Blight Industries. "I will not make a deal, but I will help if one of the others agrees to your deal. What is your deal?"

The Shadow cackled. It was so sure they would have agreed or refused outright, but the witch had played by the rules while leaving the deal open to the others. "I want you to release me, and in exchange, I will help you get the Titan Graveyard. Do you accept my deal?"

Luz followed Amity's example. "I don't accept your deal, but I will help King if he agrees. I assume The Collector will die in the process, so why do you want him to die?"

It shook its head. "It's not me that wants him dead. He wants to die but forgot why when he split me off. Young Titan, do you accept my deal? Will you release me so that the Collector can die?"

King looked down as he organized his thoughts. The idea of taking a life wasn't new to him. Death was a natural part of the world. King had blood on his hands, but he never plotted to kill a person he never met. It was vastly different from killing someone who wanted to kill him. The image of that human he fought was vividly etched into his memory. The smell of copper, the taste of human flesh, the sound as he tore her arm from her body- they haunted the edge of his mind. He had a reason then, but could he do something like that in cold blood?

A familiar hand brought King from his thoughts. Luz looked at him with kindness and understanding. "You don't have to do anything you're uncomfortable with, King. We can always find another way later."

King smiled. Darius had asked him once if he felt alone as the last living Titan, but how could he when he was surrounded by wonderful people who cared? He didn't know much about The Shadow or The Collector, but he knew that they were lonely after being isolated for so long in their own prisons. "I reject your deal."

The Shadow felt something inside it break. The only three individuals to reach this place in several thousand years had refused to help it. Even when he could help them get something they wanted, they refused. Now, it would be trapped here until another was able to reach its prison.

"How do I release you?" King asked.

Notes:

Wow, Monster Hunter Wilds is so much fun. The weapons look so much cooler than they did in World. And this Arkveld armor looks sick as hell. What day is it again? ... When was the last update? ... And when is AO3 going down for maintenance? Oh, two hours?

Shit.

Memeing aside, I did have some issues getting this down. I want to lore dump, I really do, but to do it in a way that is still entertaining and to my questionable quality standards was harder than I thought it would be. Baby Starfruit didn't help either since I watch him at the same time I write to give his mom some uninterrupted sleep.

If you have any questions feel free to ask, feel free to ask. No spoilers though.

Chapter 67: Chapter 67

The Shadow disappeared when King broke the lock. The door itself was just the back entrance to the temple. Unsure of whether they had gained or lost anything, the trio made the trek back to the Torso. Some of the Trapper tried to give them trouble but were quickly cowed when Luz brandished her spear.

Things were calm when they returned. The end of the school year came and went without anyone giving it a second thought. Things had fallen into a new rhythm. Every morning Luz would get in some physical training before working on her weapon skills. Recently, she had set aside the spear to focus on her sword play so that she could use it just as well as a spear.

After having breakfast late in the morning, she would go to help train her cousins. Moving to the Demon Realm had allowed more of them the opportunity to cultivate. What was once a small group had grown to nearly twenty would-be cultivators. Amity joined her in teaching the four kindergarteners who had shown remarkable talent back in the Human Realm. Watching Amity work with the young kids never failed to bring a smile to Luz's face and remind her of when she first saw Amity in the library.

Lessons were supposed to continue until dinner, but the two often found themselves dismissing the class when the kids were either too tired or just couldn't maintain their focus any longer. From there, Luz would take a few hours to cultivate her qi, focusing on understanding and incorporating the ice qi she needed to fully master the power of the Frozen Lightning qi she gained. The mark on her arm still hadn't fully faded and she had a feeling it would only do so when she was able to use that power whenever she wanted.

Her evenings were mostly spent in her room with Amity. They never got up to much in there, not with nearly a dozen ears in the house. The two mainly shared small talk about their day and enjoyed each other's company before going to sleep and doing it all again the next day.

If only that day hadn't come.

The day that Luz and Amity were pulled from their class to talk with Raine and Eda. They had joked about the older couple finally making things official again.

If only…

They entered the Owl House to see Raine, Eda, and Lilith waiting for them with somber expressions. The mood was dark and set Luz on edge. Something was wrong, so, so, so, so, wrong.

"Sit down, kid. We need to talk." Eda motioned towards the empty couch.

After they had sat down, Raine started talking. "Belos issued a summons today."

"And?" Luz asked. "Doesn't he do that regularly?"

"It's where we have been summoned to," Raine explained. "He's calling all the Coven Heads to the Sternum, where the Day of Unity is going to take place."

Luz felt her throat tighten. "Can we stop him?"

"Yes," Lilith said. "It's just that…"

"It's just that we might die in the process," Eda said. "Michael was brilliant enough to leave us a way to stop the Day of Unity, but I think he was banking on being here to deal with Belos directly. The Emperor is going to be there personally channeling the spell. We can stop it, but we doubt that the six of us that will be there will be able to deal with him."

"We're probably going to die," Raine said. "In two weeks, we confront Belos, and we likely won't walk away from the fallout."

Luz wanted to scream but managed to keep her emotions contained. She was sure that under different circumstances she would be pleading, begging even, to stop them from going through with whatever half-baked plan they had prepared.

Instead, Amity offered a suggestion. "What if he had to deal with something else right after the spell failed?"

"What do you mean?" Luz asked. "You're not suggesting…"

"I am," Amity replied.

"But…" Luz was cut off by Eda.

"As much as I'd love to watch you two lovebirds read each other's minds for the next five minutes, how about Amity explains her plan before we start reacting to it?" Eda asked.

"Right," Luz said. "So, you know that we followed that letter, the one King got that was clearly a trap. Well, it was, but they were expecting a powerless, naïve titan child."

"Really making me feel like mother of the year here, kid," Eda interjected.

Luz ignored the playful jab. "While we were up there, we investigated a lead about the Star Child and the Titan Graveyard. There we met The Shadow of the Collector. It wasn't the actual Collector, but a part of him that he didn't want. It was stuck there and wanted out. It tried to trick us into agreeing to let it out. We refused, and then King let it out anyways."

"It probably got pulled into the seal the Collector is bound to," Amity said. "Since the Collector is also important to the Day of Unity, what if we let him out while you guys disrupt the spell? Belos would probably rush back to the skull, leaving the loyalists to deal with you guys."

The adults thought about the plan. "It makes sense, but what if things go wrong?" Eda asked.

"The Collector seems to have some kind of interest in titans, but if all else fails, I do have one last trick," Luz said, pulling out her family's artifact. "This is called the Inquisitorial Rosary, a powerful artifact that has belonged to my family for generations. It is quite powerful, probably not enough to kill Belos, but enough to let us escape."

"Fine," Lilith said, drawing shocked looks from everyone. "What? It's not like we can talk them out of it any more than they could talk us out of our plan, so how about we have some faith in each other?"

"Fine," Eda said.

"But you guys will not be going alone," Raine said. "Bring Hunter with you, at least. He is familiar with the area around the skull and may be able to help you hide when things go wrong."

There wasn't going to be a way to hide. How could someone hide from what happened that day?

How do you hide from the end of reality itself?

Luz held the communication artifact close to her chin while she waited for Willow to respond. Amity was already briefing Gus, and neither of them was able to reach Hunter at the time, figuring he was wrapped up in some court business.

An annoyed Willow's voice came through the artifact. "What?"

"Uh, sorry if I'm interrupting something," Luz said. "We need to meet up. Things are moving in the wrong direction, and we need to do something to stop it."

Willow sighed. "You have a stupid and possibly dangerous plan in mind, don't you?"

"Depends on how you definition of stupid, but it is definitely dangerous," Luz said. "I can give you more details when you get here."

"Fine, you'd probably just go without me," Willow said. "I'll be over there in ten."

"Thanks, Gus should be here by then too. We just need to get a hold of Hunter," Luz said.

"He already knows," Willow said.

"Not going to ask," Lus replied.

She slipped the artifact into her pocket. She hoped everything would go to plan this time. In the past, it was fine when things went off the rails, they had plenty of trump cards to deal with the situation. But now, it wasn't going to be that simple. Belos was by far the most powerful opponent they had faced before. They didn't even have a guaranteed way to hurt him. And none of that factored in the wild card that was the Collector. They didn't know anything about him or what state he was currently in. The plan needed to be perfect.

It had to be perfect.

Notes:

Things are moving and I hope that I can do the next chapter justice. I would hate to leave you guys disappointed by failing to deliver on my promises.

Until then, if you have any questions feel free to put them in the comments below.

Chapter 68: Chapter 68

"Let's go over the plan one more time," Hunter said as he studied the map. It was his best guess of what the inside of the Head looked like, pieced together from memory fragments. They had reached the Head two days ago, opting to go on foot to avoid drawing Belos's attention. Luz, Amity, Willow, and Gus huddled around the map with him, each clutching a mask.

They were a last-minute gift from Raine, who called them an 'absolute necessity' before trying to suggest another clever acronym for their group. Their jovial attitude helped relax the group as they politely declined. Luz offered to brainstorm some ideas with them when the group got back which the bard accepted as they passed out the masks. Each mask matched the witch's corresponding palisman.

"The spell requires a complete solar eclipse to start," Luz said. "All predictions put the time of totality just after noon. An hour beforehand we infiltrate the Skull and start looking for the Collector."

"Being detected once we're inside is almost guaranteed," Amity said. "Turns out my mother sold the Emperor thirty observation abominations off the books. Dealing with any guards he might have stationed here won't be an issue, but it will put us on a timer."

"Right, Belos wants the Day of Unity to be completed more than anything. With the time it would take for him to reach the Head from the Sternum, we should have just over four hours before we need to extract. Everyone has their escape talismans?" Hunter asked.

Each of them nodded. Their plan was to burn through their escape talismans to make tracking them down harder at the cost of them being unable to coordinate a meeting point. As a result, each individual was responsible for reaching Casa on their own. At that point, any response would be handled by the extended Noceda family. Being exempt from the coven brands meant that they would most likely be the only group capable of responding to an emergency.

"There's no going back after this, is there?" Gus asked.

The question hung in the air while they all mulled it over. Hunter was the first one to speak, "Belos crossed that line when he killed his brother."

"He bought and helped Odalia groom me like I was some product," Amity spat.

"He wants my dads dead just for being alive," Willow said. "The only way to make him stop is by force."

Gus sighed. "I know, I guess I'm just not a fighter like you guys."

"That's fine," Hunter said. "It helps us more than you think. Not every problem should be solved with a fist or blade. You help us remember that."

The group muttered their agreements before breaking camp. In a few short hours they would enter the Head. Several miles away, Santiago watched them through his divine senses. He knew about their plan and had followed them. He believed that most of the time, the best thing he could do for the younger generations was to step back and let them figure things out. He had watched dozens of his grandchildren rise to the occasion. Even when their plans failed they never failed to make him proud.

But some things required a hands-on approach. Belos was a deranged tyrant bent on genocide. Santiago couldn't let Luz face this dangerous man again. He would intercept Belos with the intent to kill the bastard.

Carlos and a few other leaders in the family already approved of his actions. They were willing to follow Santiago into the fires of hell if it meant defending their new home. And so, the old man found himself sitting in a tree dressed in his old combat gear. The breastplate and greaves looked as if they were brand new and not the 16th-century relics that they were. His whole ensemble probably belonged in a museum, but he was far more comfortable with it than the newer stuff his grandchildren wore.

Sarmiento and Centalla rattled as he turned to face the Sternum. His faithful blades had only drawn blood one time in the past century when he cut down his own traitorous grandchild. He used them in rage that day, now he would have the chance to use them calmly.

Time passed, and soon the faint shadow of the moon appeared on the sun. Eda felt the adrenaline pump through her body as she kept her head down, blending into the crowd. She needed to get as close to the stage as possible. The ritual Michael had left behind had very few requirements to work. Each mark needed to be within fifty feet of each other, and they needed to recite the mantra for five minutes, long enough for the period of totality to pass.

She watched as Lilith, Raine, Darius, Eberwolf, and Mason stood on the stage. Near the front of the crowd she saw the two kids that had gotten roped into this. One of Willow's fathers had requested Willow be kept out of the loop while Aladore apparently climbed the tower out of spite. Darius apparently made a comment about how doing that made him better than his rival which resulted in Aladore climbing the tower faster than the rest of them.

The sky grew darker as the moment approached. Soon, a plan centuries in the making will unfold and the battle for the Isles would begin. As Belos brought his staff down the rebels brought their hands together and repeated the mantra they had learned. The words felt foreign in their mouths yet flowed from one word to the next without a single hiccup or interruption.

The effect of the clashing spells was immediate. Everyone was locked in place, with those closest to the center contorted in pain while the soft chanting continued. It felt like molten ice was piercing their skin while they were trapped in their own bodies. The bile sacs of every witch was beginning to work overtime while magic was being drained and injected into it. It was pure agony and it seemed that several older witches had already died from the strain.

Belos was confused. He could feel the vile power all around him, but it refused to flow into him. The spell was flawlessly constructed and personally checked by himself. But then those words filled his ears. Latin, like what the preacher used to use occasionally during his sermons.

Dies Irae. Day of Wrath. Judgement day.

The power of the spell faded but before he could direct his wrath to the traitors responsible he felt something in the back of his mind. A warning spell he had placed so long ago that he had forgotten about it. Black sludge erupted from his body as Belos catapulted himself towards the Head.

As the shadow of the Emperor disappeared from view, the light of the sun began to return.

Notes:

AAAHHH, THE AUTHOR IS DRAGING THINGS OUT!!!!!!!!!

Oh wait, that's me.

Well, there were a few other behind-the-scenes things that kept me from getting to the fun part.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.

Oh, and if you know where I got the name for Santiago's weapons you get a cookie.

Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Notes:

heh, nice.

Also, a fair warning to anyone with religious trauma: I quote passages from KJV Exodus Chapter 20. It's parts of the Ten Commandments. I trust in your ability to navigate this on your own.

Sarmiento cleaved the black wings from Belos's body while Centalla slit his throat. Santiago deftly landed on the top of a tree while the lifeless body tumbled to the forest floor behind him. The attack was quick and decisive, yet Santiago felt disappointed. None of his peers would have allowed him to get that close, much less slit their throat so easily.

"That was a rather rude welcome," Belos said as the sludge raised him above the trees. "Even a nobody like I was raised to treat rulers better than that."

"The only authority I acknowledge are the Crown of Spain and the Throne of God." His thumb traced the cross engraved on Sarmiento's cross guard. "Despots and heretics are to be cut down by all Inquisitors."

"Ah, the Spanish Inquisition? I thought you were a myth, a piece of human history made into a mockery of the faithful. Even so, why would you turn your blade on me?" He extended his hand. "We are allies in the endless crusade against sin."

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." Santiago recited the verses from memory, laying his accusation bare.

"I have only ever sought to do what is righteous in the eyes of God," Belos shot back.

"Thou Shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Santiago laid out his second accusation.

"Are you really going to stand against me while surrounded by witches and demons, the very spawn of Satan?" Belos demanded.

"Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet they neightbour's house, thou shalt not covet they neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, not his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Santiago recited. "Philip Wittbane, your sins against God are clear as day. You have abandoned your faith, turning instead to a false and rotten god. You have killed your brother, who had committed no sin that required his death in penance. Finally, you have coveted the power and blessings of others, seeking to take them by force. By my authority as an inquisitor, I call on you to repent."

Belos's eyes narrowed behind his golden mask. "Never."

Sarmiento slipped between his ribs. "Then die, heretic, and ask for forgiveness in hell."

Sarmiento effortlessly flew out of Belos's rib cage while Centalla drove towards his eyes. A faint red energy gathered in the small space that let the man see out of his mask, but Centalla continued unimpeded. Just a quickly the blade was withdrawn, completing another pair of lethal attacks.

Santiago leapt back as fast as he could. At first, something had felt wrong about the emperor but now he was certain. Nothing was right about the centuries old man. Santiago knew what it felt like to cut through all kinds of flesh. His father had him train on animal carcasses and the occasional prisoner. In battle, he had faced people who had undergone so many different forms of training. Yet even the toughest of flesh still felt like flesh.

There was no flesh beneath that robe.

The collapsing form of Belos stopped suddenly before slowly righting itself. It didn't move like something with bones, it moved like a mockery, a poor imitation of something with bones. The black sludge that oozed from the open wounds on the chest and face began to flow back into the body. Even the broken threads pulled themselves back together.

"You cannot kill me. I've tried so many different ways over the years. Not even the boiling water that surrounds this land is able to end this cursed life of mine. But do you know what did cause me pain? What finally brought a ray of hope to my miserable life? Luz," He said with a hint of reverence. "She has the power to free me from the curse this damned titan placed on me."

"I will not let you lay a single wretched finger on her."

"Oh, you won't have to worry about her safety. I need her in her best condition to free me. Her friends, well, they can act as excellent motivation." Belos's wings slowly spread from his back again as he held his arms outstretched.

"I see. I've made a grave mistake. I treated you like a man when I should have treated you as a monster."

Two crescent waves flew from Santiago's blades, quartering Belos. The damage wasn't lasting nor fatal, but Santiago didn't stop there. He continued to unleash a relentless barrage of attacks, the incredible sharpness of his sword intent destroying anything in its path.

The attack was blocked by a sudden release of terrifying energy. Belos's body stretched and twisted as the fragments of his golden mask fell to the ground. Antlers sprouted from his head, covered in a layer of rotten flesh. His body resembled the skeleton of a wendigo covered in the same rot as his antlers. The only thing that remained remotely human was left eye and exposed heart. The rest of his face was marred by decay, leaving only a faint hint of what he would have once looked like.

The claws grazed Santiago's shoulder before he even realized Belos had attacked. It was by the grace of God and Belos's inexperience in using that much power that spared Santiago from being skewered by the monster. The next attack was easier to dodge now that Santiago was aware of what his opponent could do. Turning his body to the side, the clawed hand harmlessly brushed passed as Santiago delivered a thrust with Sarmiento in response. The tip deflected off the grotesque ribs as Belos moved away.

The two prepared to launch their next exchange when the sky cracked, a massive, meandering split in the sky. Santiago smiled as he returned Sarmiento and Centalla to their respective scabbards. "I think it is best that we end our fight here for now. It seems the world is about to undergo a drastic change, and we must ensure our houses are still standing when it is over."

Belos felt the maelstrom of thoughts and emotions rage inside him. He needed to put down someone like Santiago while he still had the chance, but there was something far more pressing that needed his attention first. He shot towards the Head. As he disappeared over the horizon, Santiago dropped to his knees, clutching his injured arm that burned from Belos's rotten qi.

"Forgive me, Manny. I failed to keep her safe," Santiago muttered before blacking out.

Even without any understanding of space, Luz could feel it groan and break around her. The Shadow had met them outside of the Collector's seal. It had explained that it was unable to reason with the Collector and had been prevented from entering the seal to force the merge. King had offered to break the seal, and the Shadow all but refused the offer.

King insisted. All it took was a single touch and the seal on the Collector shattered like glass. The fragments flew in every direction scattering around the room until they had stopped, some in mid-air, and began to pull back together. The fragments shifted and merged from stone fragments to flesh and cloth.

Clad in a blue and white hooded robe embroidered with stars, the Collector stared at them with unearthly eyes. "King, what's going on? We were just playing a game when…"

The Shadow moved in front of the Collector who looked at it in horror. Before the Collector could retreat his Shadow grabbed his face, forcing him to hold its gaze. "It's time to remember what we are."

Space continued to violently shake as the Shadow was absorbed into the Collector. A beastly roar pulled the group's attention from the god-like child to the monstrous creature that had entered the room. They watched as its form crunched and twisted, changing both shape and color until a maskless emperor stood before them.

"What have you done?" He demanded. He shook his head before locking on to Luz. "You! Free me from this damned curse."

He lunged, but never seemed to be getting any closer. The fabric of space that encompassed the star had been carefully twisted, folded, and pinned in place with a seal that spanned the entire star. Now that the pin that held it all together was broken that space was returning to its original shape. Unfortunately for Luz and her friends, they were standing at the most twisted and folded place. The ancient skull of the titan was torn apart by the unfathomable power of space.

When things calmed down, Luz found herself on a beach with the only sign of the Boiling Isles being the chunks of titan bone that had been pulled with her. Desperately, she reached for her communication artifact. She blasted messages to Amity, Willow, Gus, Hunter, and eventually anyone who could hear her, but there was no response.

She was all alone and had no idea where she was. The island was part of a closely grouped archipelago that had no signs of civilization and miles of empty ocean beyond. Despair threatened to overpower Luz, but she had one last glimmer of hope. A gentle tugging she felt deep in her chest. She didn't know how she knew it, but she knew it was her instincts telling her where the Titan Graveyard was. Even if it wasn't in the Boiling Isles anymore, King would be heading there too, and then the two of them could find their way home together. She couldn't give up yet.

And so, she sat down and began to cultivate.

Notes:

I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to say Belos is a hypocrite.

And from this point on, I have no cannon events to help me, may the muses have mercy on my sanity.

If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 70: Chapter 70

Time lost meaning as Luz threw herself into cultivation. Her worries and fears were pointless unless she could gain enough power to first leave the archipelago and then find her friends. The qi that surrounded her was as rich and abundant as the other natural resources. Fresh water springs dotted a few of the larger islands, and the reefs were full of what Luz assumed were edible fish.

Though that didn't matter. Shortly after finding a cave large enough to act as a shelter, Luz entered a trance-like state of cultivation where she was oblivious to the passing of time and the pains of hunger, being sustained only by her qi for a time. This focus was only broken on three occasions.

The first was when a typhoon hit the area. The massive ocean storm threatened to tear the islands back into the sea. After ensuring her small shelter wasn't at risk of flooding, Luz found herself entranced by the storm. Rain slammed into the ground, with the wind ripped through the trees, but Luz's eyes were fixed on the arcs of lightning that shot across the storm clouds. There was something about them that was just outside of her reach. She could predict where and when a new arc would form, but the movement of the lightning across the clouds remained unpredictable. It was as if the storm itself was taunting her with secrets she could just barely not understand. Then it hit her.

Enlightenment.

Words failed to explain the feeling that overcame Luz as she entered a state of enlightenment. Every language she spoke was too archaic to explain the secrets the universe was pouring into her mind or if that was even what was happening. But the blessings of heaven are not infinite. The storm passed and with it the esoteric conditions that had opened Luz's mind.

Her training continued until the second event. After doing her best to incorporate her new understanding of lightning into her techniques, she resumed cultivation until it was time to break through. The barrier to the Immortal Boundary Realm was far more difficult than any other realm Luz had reached so far. The heavens themselves would take notice and try to stop her. By all accounts, the tribulation was something to be wary of and required preparation to take on.

It took a week before Luz felt ready to tackle her tribulation. The day was clear, and the ocean was calm. Stringbean hovered in coiling shapes around Luz as they stared at the sky. As she began to break down the barrier holding her back, the sky began to darken. Black clouds materialized, rapidly growing into a storm that rivaled the typhoon she had witnessed.

Then, the first bolt fell.

It was excruciating. Luz felt her qi pathways burn and her blood boil from the intense energy of the heavenly punishment. She gasped, trying to catch her breath as the bolt ended. Her only warning about the second bolt was a timely rattle echoing in her mind. Luz shot out her own bolt of lightning. It did little to stop the second bolt, but it reduced it enough for Luz to take it head-on like the first.

The third bolt followed immediately after the second, giving Luz no time to prepare. She could only watch as Stringbean blocked the bolt with her body. Luz watched her palisman writhe in pain as she took the punishment for her master. The fourth and fifth bolts came at the same time as Luz acted without thinking. Lightning enveloped her right forearm with mist surrounding her left. She threw her hands out, launching a blast of cold and lightning at the two bolts.

Feeling drained, Luz reached out her hand for Stringbean, who took her spear form to support Luz. They had survived five bolts so far, but the clouds showed no sign of dissipating. A sixth bolt began to descend before it was interrupted by the seventh, which took the form of a massive dragon. The beast swallowed the sixth bolt before turning its attention to the clouds, pulling power from them and growing in size.

Horns and fur grew over Luz's body as she prepared to face this final challenge. She launched herself into the sky as she gathered all of her remaining power, pouring it into her spear as Stringbean amplified it. With a defiant cry, Luz thrust her spear forward as she collided with the final bolt.

When she woke up, the skies were clear, and she had successfully stepped into the Immortal Boundary Realm. The feeling of incredible power was amplified by the awakening of her divine senses. She could 'feel' and 'see' everything around her in great detail, though her range was currently limited. She could sense everything in a fifty-foot radius around her or a two-hundred-foot cone in any direction. She also could now enter her knowledge sea at will, though she didn't see much point in doing that at the moment.

Her final cultivation session ended with another epiphany, though one she didn't fully understand. While observing the world around her, she slowly merged her aura until it was indistinguishable from the natural aura of the archipelago. It seemed like a useful stealth technique, but deep down, Luz felt like that was a waste of what she had managed to accomplish. It would take more time to understand the state she discovered, but it was time for her to move on.

After an unknown amount of time, Luz reached the Third Realm of the Immortal Boundary Realm. She figured the number of people who could challenge her was numbered in the tens, possibly even lower, in the entire world. Time would prove her wrong, but for now, all that mattered was going home.

Tentatively at first, Luz used her qi to propel herself into the air. It was tricky to control at first, but she quickly gained enough confidence to fly towards where she hoped the Boiling Isles were. The Graveyard hadn't moved the entire time her was cultivating, which led Luz to hope it was somewhere near the titan's corpse.

Notes:

Am I late? Yes, but you try studying U.S. tax code, code inventory ordering system in VBA, build a simple three-page website, and pull together a project on technology addiction.

It's been a week, but at least that means the semester is over. Well, soon, anyways. I have two finals to do by Friday, but those are so whatever after last week.

POWER UP CHAPTER!

I'll allude more to how much time has passed between the end of chapter 69 and chapter 70 later, but it's measured in years.

Tribulations. Yeah, forgot I used these post chapter notes for information, didn't you. One thing about Cultivation is that it inherently goes against the rules of heaven. To cultivate immortality is to fight against the natural order, and as such, a cultivator will eventually make the heavens take more direct action. This is where tribulations come in; most are depicted as a series of not-lightining-strikes, though Wu Dong Qian Kun has you catching on fire repeatedly, and Apotheosis has several possible tribulations that can happen. One constant thing is that the more powerful/exceptional the individual the more intense their tribulations are.

Also, heaven is always ambiguously aware. It's not like there is a god or gods that watch and make judgements; the term is used more like 'the universe' in some new age spiritual practices in the West.

If you're familiar with Journey to the West, this was the major downside of achieving immortality through Daoist practices, as the third and final tribulation was guaranteed to kill you. Though I doubt that would have stuck to Wukong with all the layers of immortality he collected.

Chapter 71: Chapter 71

Marco watched over the men as they went about their duties. The ship had just entered new waters and was going to be the first to do so since the seas expanded almost three years ago. The only sounds on the deck were the winds and sea since the men stopped singing their shanties days ago. Sailors were a superstitious bunch, but Marco knew it was more than that this time.

After the sky unraveled, shipments started showing up later than predicted. It took six months and a joint investigation sponsored by the ten great traders of Grand Harbor to remap the expanded sea and the new dangers they held. A vast section of the seas remained a mystery as the few ships that managed to return to harbor did so in severe condition. The area was labeled taboo until enough money could be raised to attempt a larger-scale expedition.

And that's what Marco's cargo was, the last of the funds and resources from the Eastern Desert. With these, his father and the rest of the great merchants could not only finish the new ships meant for longer voyages and fend off sea monsters. They had avoided pirate attacks for now, but only the sea god knew if they were sailing into the path of disaster or would make it back home.

"Lord Marco," Captain Ahab called out. "I wish to speak to you tonight. Some of my men are asking questions about the cargo. My first mate is running out of excuses, and I don't have anything else to tell him."

"Forgive our secrecy, Captain," Marco replied. "I know my father promised you a fairly large commission for this voyage but chose to keep the reason a secret. I'll let you know as much as I can tonight. I promise you will understand his desire for secrecy."

Captain Ahad nodded before he turned to his navigation tools. After consulting them for several minutes, he made a satisfied grunt before addressing the crew. "Fair winds, lads! We will reach familiar seas in two days and port three days after that!"

A unified cheer broke out across the deck before each sailor returned to their task with renewed vigor. Everything was going well until the ship tilted suddenly. Several men lost their balance, barely able to stay on the ship as it swung back the other way. Captain Ahab caught Marco by the arm to keep him from falling off the ship. As soon as he regained his footing, Marco made his way to the captain's room. The captain and the two family elders that were sent with Marco had agreed that if anything were to happen, that was the safest place for him to stay until the danger had passed. Marco had wanted to protest but knew that his poor reputation for swordsmanship was well known.

The tentacle breached the surface of the water and crashed down onto the deck in front of him before that could happen. Men barked orders, and cannons began to fire as the Kraken rose from the sea. Marco felt uncertain as fear took hold, only to be banished when a familiar hand landed on his shoulder. Turning, he saw that it was Will, one of the family elders sent with him. Just past Will, Marco could see Jack. The two were sent not because of any mercantile skill or charisma but because they were the strongest fighters the family had.

Will rushed out, pulling a sailor back before he was crushed by a falling tentacle. Will shoved his hands into the flesh and began to pull it apart. The flesh split, making a wound about eight feet tall before the Kraken pulled it back. The creature roared in rage as it tightened its grip on the ship's bow. Wood cracked as Will rushed to repeat his feat of strength. The beast was faster, but Will was prepared and used the kraken's won strength to rip part of its limb off. The body of the kraken broke through the surface, revealing its horrid beaked mouth.

"Now, Jack," Will called out before he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Jack's cutlass was buried in Will's chest.

"Yes, I think now is an excellent time to make my exit. But first." Jack rummaged through Will's coat before taking out a small black box. Will grabbed his wrist, trying to crush the bones in Jack's arm, but found his strength was rapidly failing him.

Marco tried to call out to either Will or Jack as he slowly approached the pair, the sailors and kraken still locked in battle. Jack pulled his cutlass from Will's chest and approached the shocked boy. Poor Will had considered the two men to be his older brothers when he was younger, he deserved to know why he was about to meet a watery grave.

"If you need someone to blame, blame your father for standing in our way," Jack said. "The port should have belonged to the Johansen family decades ago. Once I bring this back, the other ten families will fall in line while yours is made an example."

Jack stopped. Despite his betrayal, he felt some kinship to the boy and couldn't bring himself to cut him down callously. Instead, he waited for the Kraken to crush Marco with a falling tentacle. The limb was already falling, and Marco had fallen to his knees. The sailors would die and the ship be destroyed, but witnesses needed to be silenced.

A bolt of lightning crashed onto the deck. In an instant, the kraken's grip of the ship was broken as its limb fell severed into the ocean. Static ran through Jack's arm as something moved past him. Turning, Jack saw a woman feed something to Will. Incensed by the stranger's intervention, Jack swung at her, only to be blocked by a large purple serpent. The next instant, she was backed by Marco with Will's body, color already returning to his face as steam rose from his wounds.

"Who are you? And on what grounds are you interfering in our affairs?" Jack demanded.

The woman ignored him, instead focused on the kraken. She took two steps and launched herself at the beast, pulling a sword from nowhere to dispatch all the Kraken's attempts to stop her. As the beast tried to flee into the sea she thrust her sword down and released a massive bolt of lightning. The Kraken shrieked and thrashed as a second bolt hit it, killing the beast.

She gently landed on the deck as everyone stared, Marco and the sailors in awe and Jack in fear. Marco was the first one to find his voice and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Luz. I was passing by when I saw the monster start attacking. I thought you had it handled when I saw that man betray him." She pointed to Will. "Do you need help dealing with him?"

Marco looked at Jack. His emotions were still raw, but his mind remained clear as he looked at Jack. "My family has no use for traitors. Once I have his seal, purse, and the box he took he can swim back to shore."

"Aye, as captain of this ship, I can think of no better punishment than that," Captain Ahab said. "He risked my crew, my passengers, and cargo. He had no place on this ship."

"As if I would just let you!" Jack roared as he gathered his power. His attack was cut short as his body locked up.

Luz shook her head. "You should know when to give up. I've paralyzed you with a soul attack. You should regain movement in an hour or two if you're still alive. In the meantime though."

Luz began to rummage through Jack's pockets, finding the items Marco had claimed. She handed them to Marco as the sailors dragged Jack to the bow of the ship. She heard a scream followed by a splash, marking the end of the traitor's life.

"If that's everything, then I think I'll be on my way," Luz said.

"Where is your vessel?" Captain Ahab asked.

"I can fly," Luz said as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Marco gasped. "You're a cultivator?"

It was Luz's turn to be confused. "Yeah, like the guy you just threw overboard or the one passed out on the deck."

"They aren't cultivators, they're warriors," Maroc said. "They can only practice body strengthening techniques. I thought you were a mage of some kind with all that lightning and teleporting you did."

"That means they are cultivators," Luz said. "Though I am at a higher level than the both of them."

"What you call yourself isn't important, Miss Luz. What might be is where you are heading," Captain Ahab said. "From your accent, I know you aren't from any port I have visited, and these waters aren't what they used to be."

"From when the sky split?" Luz asked. The captain nodded. "How long ago was that? I entered seclusion shortly after that happened and lost track of time."

"It's been almost three years, and a terrible three years it's been. Monsters like the one you killed have become more prevalent, and the seas have expanded, rendering all older charts useless. The only constant has been the heavens themselves, allowing us sailors to continue our craft," Captain Ahab explained.

"I understand." Luz closed her eyes before pointing to the starboard side of the ship. "I'm heading that way."

The captain pulled out a chart and studied it for a bit. "Then I recommend you travel with us. There's no land that way for over two thousand leagues. It would be best if you stayed with us until we reach Grand Harbor. From there, you can continue with land beneath you."

"And I insist you do so," Maroc said. "You have saved many lives and done great service to my family. At the very least, you should join us until I can see you properly rewarded. It should only take a week at most before you are on your way again."

Luz wanted to keep flying towards the Graveyard, but with no way of knowing how far it was and with no knowledge of the surrounding geography, the journey would only be more dangerous. Grand Harbor offered plenty of opportunity to resupply, get her bearings, and find any leads on where her friends were.

"Very well. I'll join you for the rest of this voyage," Luz said.

Notes:

So, fun fact: throwing someone off the front of the ship is a lot more painful than it sounds. The body is dragged against the ship, getting torn apart by barnacles and splinters along the way. So maybe not a 'fun' fact.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below,

Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Grand Port lived up to its name. The bay the port was built on was several miles wide at its narrowest. Shipyards and docks lined the shore while a massive city stretched out behind them. The bay itself was also dotted with floating buildings the size of a city block. Everywhere Luz looked, people were bartering while ships were directed through the traffic.

The Oak Pearl, the ship she was on, wasn't even the largest ship. Moored at the entrance to the cove were a dozen galleons about a mile long each. The sheer amount of activity was enough to make her head spin a little. She had visited a port when one of her cousins was showing off the family business, but it was nowhere near as busy as Grand Port.

"I've never seen a port this busy," Luz said in awe.

Jack nodded. "Few ever have. There aren't that many that can rival Grand Port. This is the beating heart of commerce for several kingdoms, republics, and empires."

"How does someone even manage all of this?" Luz asked.

"The port is controlled by seven merchant families, each with dozens of supporting families in their employ," Marco explained. "The position is held by the owners of the seven tower mansions located on the edge of town. Since they are auctioned off every five years, there is a ton of competition to keep the current families in power."

"That… doesn't sound like a stable form of government," Luz said.

"It's not. The whole system is just too big to fail," Marco explained. "The smallest disruptions in trade from any external nation is amplified in Grand Port. People go from having more money than they know what to do with to being bankrupt in a week. It's so unstable that there aren't actually any banks in the whole port town. Auction houses fill that role, but demand a serious amount of collateral. I'm talking several times the value of the account. The only thing protecting the port from invasion is the retaliation from other political entities. It's a merchant's paradise and hell all at once."

Jack handed Luz a piece of leather cord as their ship pulled up to its dock. "I know you cultivators tend to use magic rings to store your valuables, but this city is full of pickpockets and people willing to risk your ire for a quick profit. I recommend you tie any you have around your neck or your pet's neck."

Stringbean hissed her dissatisfaction about the suggestion in Luz's ear as the cultivator slipped her two rings around her neck before tucking them inside her shirt. "Thank you for the suggestion. I would have been very upset if I lost these."

As they walked down the gangway, Marco explained where Luz was to meet up with them. "We have to meet my father as soon as possible. It will take us a few hours. Feel free to explore the city to your heart's content, just meet us in front of the Cerulean Mansion when the sun touches the top of the western wall."

Luz acknowledged the instructions she was given as she parted ways with her companions. It took her an hour, and paying several waiters and beggars, to get the general lay and state of the city. She was surprised that Marco wasn't exaggerating how unstable the system was. While the merchant families did their best, they could do so much. Shops changed hands, and fortunes evaporated into thin air. Street urchins had tried to pickpocket her several times, even with Stringbean hovering around her.

She rested at an inn located in the middle ring of the city when she learned of an exotic item shop nearby. It was one of the few shops that dared to take the risk on selling excentric goods from far off lands. The shop's existence wasn't what caught Luz's attention, but what they were apparently selling. A box that displayed moving images powered by a pair of small cylinders.

"Excuse me," She said as she approached the table. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about that shop. Could you gentlemen tell me more about it and the items they sell."

The pair of men stared at her skeptically, but changed their attitude quickly once she slid a few gold ingots across the table. "Yeah, Bellavire has always been a strange one. He mostly sells small trinkets, but his shop is full of things a cultivator like you would find interesting. Carvings, horns, gems and crystals, flowers, and the odd scrap of metal. But this new thing he's been displaying is unlike anything I have ever seen. The thing shows pictures that move just like you or me with sounds to go with it."

"Aye, I thought it was something one of yous made until it stopped working. It didn't run on any of those crystals yous lot is fond of," The other man said. "He used some cylinders, about yea big around."

The man touched his fingers together making a hole about the diameter of a D cell battery. Luz kept her expression neutral. It wasn't much, but the battery powered tv represented a possible lead. If she could get this Bellavire to tell her about the person he bought it from or where he found it she could get a lead on one of her loved ones.

"This all sounds very interesting. I think I'll have to see this marvel for myself. Would either of you uncles be willing to tell me where I can find Bellavire's shop?" She asked as she slid them another pair of ingots.

"Aye, I think we could do that. The shop is just up the road, about half a mile, on the edge of the residential district," He said. "Yous can't miss it, given that he is running that box of his every waking hour of the day."

"Thank you," Luz said. She flagged down the server girl and paid for her drink before leaving the inn.

Finding the shop was as easy as she was told. The tv was blaring a old episode of Pokemon as children and adults watched. With a bit of effort, Luz managed to get passed the crowd and enter the shop. The inside was an unorganized disaster. Items were stacked on top of each other all the way to the ceiling while display cabinets where packed full of trinkets, gems, and jewelry. The only clear space was the narrow walk ways through the store.

Bellavire was in the back of the shop working on a small but familiar-looking puppet. Luz's eyes landed on the maker's mark on the back of the puppet's neck. The intricate lettering spelled a name that meant so much to her.

Blight Industries.

Notes:

Imma be honest, I'm too tired to put any effort into this post chapter commentary. Uh, fantasy port city at a scale that only works in fantasy. Is it run on rules that make any sense? No, but I don't care. I'm making it up as I go, and you can't stop me. Now, warning me, yeah, you can do that, and I'd probably listen.

Feel free to leave any questions or comments you have in the comments section below.

Chapter 73: Chapter 73

"It has been a long time since I have had such a revered guest in my humble shop. What can I do for you today, honorable immortal?" He set the small abomination puppet to the side as he waited for Luz's request. The man's posture was humble and submissive, but his perception put Luz on edge.

She knew she stood out like a sore thumb, but the man pinned her as a cultivator with a single glance. He could have been guessing, "I have a few questions about some of your goods."

"And what may they be, honorable one?" He asked.

"Luz, please. Just call me Luz. The honorifics and titles aren't my style," Luz replied. "I wish to know where you got the box in the window, but I see you have something far more interesting."

He placed the puppet down before taking out an old map. "I am impressed that you…"

"Don't play me for a fool," Luz said. "I know of only two people in the world who can make a puppet like that, and only one area where boxes like the one in your window are made. Where did you get them?"

Bellavire paused before straightening his back. The old man stood about a foot and a half taller and glared at Luz. The pressure he exuded told of his long years cultivating. It was strong, solid, and showed no signs of instability. But Luz was stronger. She pushed against Bellavire's qi with her own until she had filled the entire shop with her aura.

"Perhaps we should try introducing ourselves again. I am Luz Noceda, and I want to know how you got hold of items from my homeland." Her voice was calm and level but exuded killing intent. If she didn't like his answer or found it unsavory, she would have no issue cutting him down.

"Forgive me, sister. My client has requested that such information remain confidential. I can tell you who brought them, though," He said as a bead of sweat rolled down his face. "A member of the Cerulean Mansion brought it by."

"Then I will ask Marco of the Cerulean Mansion when I see him," Luz said.

"Young Master Marco has returned?" Bellavire asked.

Luz cursed herself for revealing that information. She didn't know who was behind Jack betraying the Cerulean House. "Why would that be a surprise? His ship docked a few hours ago, with me on board. With someone of our caliber, what could go wrong?"

"Sister Luz is correct, people like us can handle most sea monsters that travel through charted waters. But hidden dangers," Bellavire said in a leading tone.

Luz smiled. "Are dealt with and thrown into the sea."

The old man stroked his beard, trying to appear collected, but was clearly caught off guard by the news. Luz was a mixture of bored and irritated with dealing with him. "I think there actually isn't anything worth my time in this shop after all."

As she spoke, Stringbean emerged from her hiding place in Luz's robes, growing to her full size. The palisman coiled her tail around the puppet, taking it with her. The two left the store unnoticed thanks to the continued distraction of the television.

For a place called the Cerulean Mansion, Luz wasn't expecting how blue the building was. Everything was various shades of blue, from the stucco to the shutters to the hinges on the door and shutters. From where the mansion was situated, she could see that the other six mansions matched their color naming scheme. She was honestly shocked that she didn't notice the massive mono-colored buildings from the port.

"Ah, you must be Luz," An older man said as he emerged from the mansion with Marco and Will following out behind him.

"I am. You must be Lord Polo," Luz replied. She moved to shake the man's outstretched hand, only to get caught in his very enthusiastic grip.

"I am, I am. Oh, Miss Luz, words cannot describe the joy you have brought me. The box that you helped secure ensures that my family remains in the Cerulean Mansion for years to come, but more valuable than preserving my fortune is that you brought my boy home to me in one piece." Lord Marco's voice was booming and energetic, but each word carried with it a genuine sincerity. Before she could say another word, though, Luz was being half pushed,d half dragged into the mansion as Marco gave her an embarrassed and apologetic look.

The interior of the mansion was thankfully practical. Dark and light colors expertly complemented each room she passed through as Lord Polo moved her through the house until they turned down a hallway that made Luz stop. Her host stumbled at the sudden stop, but Luz paid no mind as she studied the abomination in front of her.

It was a variation of the Abomitron Odalia tried to sell to Belos with only minor improvements. Armor plating was thicker, joints were less exposed, and an intricate series of tubes that contained purple goo. A quick touch confirmed that the tubes were made of rubber, an easier countermeasure to produce when compared to the effort needed to remove the slime's weakness to electricity.

"I see you have an eye for exotic armor sets," Lord Polo said. "My brother brought these back from his latest business trip and convinced me to have a dozen of them lining the hallway to my office."

Luz felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. "What did you call these?"

"They're suits of armor, from a place called the Boiling Isles, I believe. I can't say I have heard of the place before my brother returned but the woman, Odalia I believe, explained these suits were used by the personal guard…" Luz threw the man behind her as she moved away from the abomination.

"I regret to inform you that you've been lied to. These aren't suits of armor, they are…" Luz stopped. A sickly sweet voice finished her sentence and confirmed her fears.

"Abominations, attack."

Notes:

A short, I think, chapter. (I actually don't know. OneNote doesn't have page breaks, and I stopped transferring this story to a Word doc like a year ago. This computer doesn't even have Word on it. I genuinely have no idea how long these chapters are, I just go off vibes.) Anyways, I'm tired. This whole dad thing takes a lot more mental and emotional effort than I could have predicted. I'm going to bed now.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below, and I'll get to them in the morning.

Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Weapons of purple sludge fruitlessly clanked against purple scales. The first few abominations had surrounded Luz, attempting to kill her while the rest waited behind. Yet all their attacks were nothing to Stringbean's scales. The palisman reacted instantly, shooting out of her hiding spot and stretching to surround her master.

"Odalia Blight, we really need to stop meeting," Luz called out over the machines.

"I believe the phrase is 'meeting like this' and I have to agree," Odalia replied.

Luz shook her head. "No, I mean meeting at all. Frankly, your character disgusts me, and your continued existence is proof that there isn't a god."

"You know the only god worth my time is money," Odalia replied. "Besides, you should have cosigned yourself to dealing with me when you decided to get romantically involved with my daughter."

"We both know your husband and kids would love nothing more than for you to go back into whatever putrid hole you crawled out of," Luz said. "Though I think a shallow grave will do."

"As if you could understand the mind of your betters," Odalia shot back.

Luz nodded again. "You're right, how could I possibly understand the hair-brained logic that led to you attacking the master of the Ceurlean House, his son, and his honored guest? Truly, your ability to make horrible decisions is something that must be studied and marveled at, bitch."

Odalia was about to shoot back an insult of her own, but was cut off by the sound of crumpling metal. Luz, having grown tired of the noise behind her, threw her hand back and collapsed the chest plate of one of the abominations. Stringbean moved like a blur, piercing through the remaining units. In less than a minute, a dozen Abomitrons had been reduced to scrap metal.

"So, where will I find your co-conspirator this time?" Luz asked. "Are they around the hall, or are they behind door number one?"

She pointed her thumb over her shoulder to Lord Polo's office doors. Odalia didn't need to answer as a portly man soon burst through those doors in a rage. "What is all the racket out here? Can't you conduct an assassination…"

He trailed off as blood drained from his face. The site before him was far from the pristine hallway he had expected to see. Instead, purple sludge stained the carpet, scraps of metal were buried in the walls and floor, some woman and her snake were standing in the middle of it, and his brother and nephew were very much alive.

"Of all the schemes I have tolerated from you over the years, this is by far across the line," Lord Polo said in a low, cold voice. "I have done everything I could to look after you, not just because our mother asked me to on her DEATH BED, but because you are my little brother, Bartholomew."

"I-I-I-I can explain," He sputtered. Lord Polo just gave him a glare.

"Bartholomew, you are stripped of your titles and offices, and all rights and privileges associated with them. You are no longer a guest at the Cerulean House. You are also banished from doing business inside Grand Port for the next ten years," Lord Polo explained.

"But you can't do that without…" The excuse froze in the air as Lord Polo struck his brother across the face.

Guards had heard the commotion and rushed to their master's aid. Without a word from Lord Polo, they dragged his brother away while the man screamed and begged for forgiveness. When the pathetic screams had faded away, Lord Polo turned his attention to Odalia.

"Give me one good reason I shouldn't have you killed where you stand, besides the fact I would have to replace the carpet," He demanded.

"I… didn't know? And… I don't care." With that, Odalia spun a spell circle into the air and unleashed a wave of spirits that she had bound to her will. They managed to cover half the distance before being obliterated by Luz's spiritual attack.

"A poor excuse," Lord Polo replied. "You will have to forgive me, Miss Luz. I promised you a reward for your service, but I am afraid some matters have called my attention elsewhere. Marco will show you to the guest quarters, and a servant will bring the items you asked for. I know you are eager to start towards home, but I ask you to wait for the morning when I can send you off properly as a host should."

Luz bowed her head. "I understand, Lord Polo. I humbly accept your gracious invitation."

Marco began to lead Luz back down the hallway, eagerly starting into his explanation of the guest wing, when Luz stopped and jabbed a finger into Odalia's back. The woman collapsed and, after a moment, began to wail. "I have disabled her power for the time being. If she is still alive by the time you're done with her, please send for me. I think she will gladly tell you how to find me by then."

"Of course, Miss Luz," That was all that was said as a new pair of guards came to drag Odalia to some dark corner of the bright house.

Notes:

Short, cause all I really had was making Odalia a punching bag. Early, cause I just started BG3 and want to play some more before going to bed.

Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Luz had crossed hundreds of miles since she had left Grand Port. The journey was long as she traveled a quarter of the distance on foot, looking to avoid being detected when her path took her too close to sect territories for her liking. Though at times conflict was unavoidable, the forces Luz had to face were small enough for her to deal with quickly.

News of the Boiling Isles remained scarce as she traveled. The further she traveled, the more apparent it became that the events of Grand Port were a freak accident. The world was simply too vast for information to spread so far. Stopping with a sigh, Luz examined the signpost before her. The sign listed a few towns, but Luz was unable to understand how far they were.

"What the hell is a league?" She grumbled as she dug through her bag of maps. Cartographers were in high demand after the changes she helped bring to the world three years ago. Most of the second-hand maps she had come across were outdated, either missing new landmarks or showing them being vastly closer than they were. The newest charts were expensive but well worth the price, even if they could only cover a couple of hundred miles at a time.

Her maps told her a heartening tale, the nearest city was just a day's journey by foot and the closest sect border was seventy miles away. With thoughts of a soft bed and a warm meal, Luz stuff her maps back in her back and took to the skies. The air felt pleasant on her face as the road flew by beneath her. It seemed like it was going to be a perfect day.

Then the past caught up.

An overwhelming scent of blood and an intense murderous aura filled the air, attempting to suffocate her. Luz quickly stopped with Stringbean coiling defensively around her. Luz couldn't understand what she was feeling. The aura belonged to a dead man, the first one to push her to the edge, the one she cut down with her own hands on a rocky mountainside. His name was forgotten, but the emotions of that fight were etched into her memory.

Twenty feet in front of her stood an exact copy of Grant Tepes.

Luz tensed. "How are you alive?"

"He isn't. My brother is still dead, my father still raves for your life, and our sect has scoured every corner of the Southern Martial Continent to drag you out of whatever hole you hid in. But now, I can finally end my father's pain and become a fitting replacement for his favored son." He said.

The Tepes boy rushed her; his killing intent was so thick it was like it was visible. Yet, he lacked one thing. Power. With a single motion, Luz ripped his head clear from his body, which moved a few more steps before collapsing to the ground. She had no patience for the overzealous son, and no tolerance for his practice. She left the head and body to be eaten by the crows, wild dogs, and other scavengers that called the lightly forested area home.

A second bloody aura erupted nearby, followed by a third, then a fourth. Each of them was powerful, at the peak of the First Realm of the Immortal Boundary. Luz could take any one of them head-on, but together, she knew she wouldn't stand a chance. Without hesitation, Luz took off towards the city, keeping low to make finding her harder.

She weaved through the trees as four cultivators behind her followed. She was faster, but just barely. At their current speed, Luz estimated that she would reach the city walls about forty seconds before they did. A part of her considered rushing past the city. She knew where she needed to go. The pull of the Titan Graveyard had grown stronger during her travels and was now a constant presence in her mind, like knowing which way gravity was pulling her.

"I got you, you whore!"

Everything was going so well until her past caught up with her, this time a bit more literally.

Vladimir Tepes crashed through the trees, a blade made of blood raised above his head. Lightning arced around Luz as she moved away from the attack. Vladimir swiftly followed up his attack, aiming for her arm as he intended to maim her. Purple scales deflected the red blade and propelled Luz further away from him.

Luz managed to race through the city gate before Vladimir could get close enough to attack her again. Feeling relieved, Luz turned around, expecting to see that her pursuer had stopped. Instead, Vladimir has charged straight through, oblivious to the protests of the guards. He was fully intent on killing her today.

But she stood her ground. While dozens of guards were moving towards the gates, Luz knew they wouldn't be there in time to prevent collateral damage if she tried to run. Her eyes changed as she called on both the Titan source and Stringbean to amplify her power.

She slammed her hands together, the tips of her fingers pointed towards Vladimir as qi built up between her palms. In the moment before she could release her attack, someone knocked her hands up, sending the attack harmlessly into the air. The clang of weapons locking together sounded shortly afterward.

Vladimir was staring down at a man dressed in dirty and ragged clothes as guards surrounded the three of them. The two men seemed to struggle against each other before Vladimir was pushed back and retreated through the gates. Before Luz could thank the man for his help, he issued an order to the guards.

"Escort her to the city palace. Restrain her if she resists."

Notes:

A blast from the past helps push our hero into her next misadventure.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Put them in the comments.

Chapter 76: Chapter 76

The meeting hall of the City Lord's mansion was quite plain. White walls and pillars accented with a strip of red on the top and bottom were the only decoration the room had. There wasn't even a chair or throne for the City Lord or their guests.

What was stranger, though, was that Luz was left alone in the room. The soldiers escorted her as far as the front gate, where a servant met them and escorted her inside. She didn't feel like a prisoner, but more like a guest. A coerced guest, but still a guest.

"Forgive me for the escort, but that bastard required my attention, and we can't afford you disappearing again." The City Lord was the man who fended off Vladimir at the city gate. Instead of the dirty and ragged clothes he wore then, he had changed into clean but simple clothes, the kind that Luz would have expected the middle class to wear, not the lord of a prosperous city.

"Again, sir?" Luz asked. "This is my first time visiting this city, though I must apologize for bringing someone dangerous to the gates."

He waved his hand dismissively at her apology. "Forget it, Feng Hao asked me to grant you and anyone in your company safe haven while in my city as a personal favor to him. He has been looking for you ever since you disappeared a few years ago."

He sat down on the floor before giving Luz a serious look. "My friend Feng Hao helped you escape a life-or-death situation in the past. That comes with a debt that I ask you to repay."

Luz was shocked. Elder Feng Hao was a powerful cultivator; how could he need her help? "Of course, sir. But how can I help someone like Elder Feng Hao? He is a powerful cultivator with his own sect. What can trouble him that dozens of others aren't able or willing to help him deal with?"

"Hao's sect is indeed noteworthy, but it doesn't retrain its disciples. While any one of them would be willing to lay their lives down to defend it, the communications network they rely on has been shattered through divine act and sabotage. As a result, only four disciples of the Immortal Boundary realm were able to respond," The City Lord explained with a sigh. "And as for me and his other allies in my position, we have our own problems that are keeping us from acting directly. But there isn't anything stopping us from smuggling an unrelated element in to help him."

"And you think I can do that?" She asked.

The City Lord nodded. "I have heard tale of your exploits. You not only possess a powerful weapon, but also the skills to keep it. I would wager this entire city that you have other talents that have not reached my ears."

"She does. The White Soul Tiger can't read her soul," A hidden speaker said.

A grizzled man stepped out from behind a pillar, accompanied by a large white tiger. The man looked like he lived in the mountains his entire life; his clothes were rough and sturdy, with a large pelt acting as a cloak. On the other hand, there was something strangely familiar about the tiger.

It stalked up to Luz, staring her down with piercing blue eyes. Standing next to the beast, Luz noticed a few things that poked at her memory. "Byakko?"

The tiger let out a huff before licking her cheek. The barbs on his tongue were rough and threatened to tear her skin off, but the beast was gentle. Luz chuckled as she scratched behind his ears, and Stringbean hissed her greeting to their old acquaintance.

"She matches the description Chi-Chi gave me," He said. "And I can sense a powerful bloodline in her. I dare say, given another five years and she could take either one of us. Possibly both on a good day."

"That's high praise," The City Lord said. "But enough about her abilities. Luz, tell us about your character."

"Actions are worth a thousand words, elders. I will do everything I can to help Elder Fend Hao prevail against his enemies," Luz said. "I swear on my master's grave, I will not fail."

The two men exchanged glances, communicating through voice transmission. She could feel a faint vibration between the two, like a hair tickling the back of her neck. When they had finished, they looked back at her.

"We thank you, Luz, for being willing to stand up for our friend. As a sign of our gratitude, we will each grant one request," The City Lord said. "Perhaps I could interest you in a weapon from my personal collection?"

Stringbean hissed, making it clear she did not like the idea of being replaced. Her response drew a surprised look from the City Lord and a chuckle from Luz. "I'm afraid she won't let me take another weapon. To keep things brief, she is my sword, spear, staff, and any other weapon I require."

With a mental command, Stringbean shifted into her staff form. Luz took it and spun it around, where it shifted again into a spear before shifting into a sword as Luz brought it down with an overhead strike. Then, Luz let go of her sword, where it shifted back to Stringbean's enlarged palisman form, where she resumed drifting around Luz protectively.

"A marvelous creature," The mountain man said. "I am afraid neither of us has anything that can compare."

"I wouldn't expect you to, Stringbean is a unique existence and her body has been tempered by powerful materials," Luz said. "But there is still something that you can help me with."

"Name it."

"Three years ago, I was separated from my companions when the sky split. I ask that if you find them, you guide them towards Elder Feng Hao," Luz said.

"Consider it done," The City Lord said. "We will spare no effort in helping you be reunited with your companions. Now, if you would take this."

He handed Luz a jade badge with the words 'Guest Elder' carved on it. "This is a badge created by Feng Hao. It will allow the bearer to enter his sect from anywhere. The only restrictions are that it can only transport one person and will only work once. When you are ready, break the jade."

Without a second thought, Luz crushed the jade in her hand. The array held within activated, pulling her through the void to the sect an unknown distance away.

"I hate sending a child in our place," The City Lord said.

The mountain man sighed. "What else are we supposed to do? They were thorough in their preparations. Sending her is the only option if I ever hope to see my daughter again."

Notes:

Do the City Lord and Mountain Man have proper names? Yes.
Can I be bothered to come up with them right now? No.
Will they be relevant again? Probably, and at that time, I will be bothered to come up with their names.

Now I have to go, my son has been quiet for just a bit too long.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.

Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Summary:

I'm back baby!

Things moved quickly after Luz reached her destination. After a short detention, which involved being forced to hand over most of her artifacts, she was taken to Elder Hao, who verified her identity and brought her up to speed. Still, a week had passed before a plan was ready.

The sect was actually a satellite school under Elder Hao's direction, leading to an unusually small school with weak disciples but powerful elders and instructors, as all talented disciples were sent to the main sect for further study. The school was relatively well stocked, but its defensive arrays were lacking and would likely only last another month, depending on which side received reinforcements first.

Skirmishes between the two sides were limited, with the defenders mostly trying to scout out the location of the attacking array masters while the attacking forces tried to keep them away. It took the lives of roughly a dozen disciples, but they did manage to locate six array points of an estimated ten. If all six were destroyed in quick order, Elder Hao would be able to reinforce the sect's defensive array, undoing several months of the attacker's efforts.

"I deeply regret asking you for assistance," Elder Hao said to Luz. "But without your help, I fear that we will not be able to break this siege."

"Do not apologize, Elder," She replied. "You were willing to drag your entire sect into a war with the Demon Blood Sect for my friends and me. At the time, we were too weak and had to flee instead of properly thanking you. Now, I can and I must."

He chuckled. "Spoken with the brazenness of youth. Then all you need to do is follow the plan. Create a distraction, and we will handle the rest."

Luz nodded. "It will be a great opportunity to test what I have learned in seclusion."

"That reminds me, Elder Lou sent me a message. He says he wants to talk to you about that artifact your ancestor gave you. It seems to be something special, I haven't seen him like this in almost fifty years." Elder Hao rose and motioned to the door.

Luz quickly moved across the sect to the library where Elder Lou studied the Inquisitorial Rosary. The artifact drew the most attention out of all her artifacts when they were confiscated nearly a week ago. Elder Lou was an enigmatic man, the kind she expected to guard a sect's library. The man's eyes seemed to be looking at something else when he looked at a person, not quite through them, but something between looking at a person and looking through a person. It was an uncomfortable feeling.

The library hosted at the satellite school was modest in size and appearance, but still managed to fill Luz with a sense of wonder. Hundreds of martial arts skills, cultivation techniques, and the insights of previous masters were held within. It filled her mind with wild fantasies, and if the circumstances were different, she would be doing everything she could to read every book or scroll she could.

Stamping down her excitement, Luz calmly entered the library and quickly found Elder Lou at his desk. "Greetings, Elder Lou."

"Ah, Luz, you're here. Good! I have a few questions about your Inquisitorial Rosary. I believe I have it figured out, but I want to confirm a few things first," Elder Lou said. The artifact in question sat in the middle of the desk, surrounded by old scrolls and books.

"Of course, what do you want to know?" Luz asked.

"I really only have one question: are you sure the artifact was made in this Spain that your family is from?" He stared intently at the artifact.

Luz was about to answer and then stopped. "No, or at least I'm not sure. Abeulo said that it was a gift from the king at the time my family left that country, but he never shared where it was made. All I know is that it is an incredibly powerful artifact."

"Hmmm, I thought so," Elder Lou said softly. He slid the Rosary over to Luz. "I'll return it now, but I will do so with a warning. This artifact is dangerous, not just to your opponent but to you as well. Whoever made it was remarkably skilled, but there seems to be a flaw."

"A flaw?"

"Yes, I fear that if anyone below the Saint Realm managed to activate this artifact, the strain would kill them as well as their target. As a result, I must urge you to never use this, even if you are lucky enough to step into that legendary realm," Elder Lou said with a serious tone.

Luz took the artifact before bringing her hands together and bowing. "I understand, Elder Lou. I will only use the Inquisitorial Rosary if my life is already forfeit and there is no other choice."

He nodded. The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before Luz excused herself. It was about time for her to cause a distraction.

Luz quietly slipped through a small, hidden gate in the defensive array. Keeping her cultivation suppressed, she quickly moved through the rugged mountain terrain. Stringbean slithered through the dirt behind her, carefully laying out their trap.

Stringbean returned to Luz, shaking the loose dirt off, as the patrol approached the ring of stones she was waiting in. Seeing the group, Luz brought her hand up ready to activate the spell Stringbean traced on the ground. Her palm would never touch the ground.

Luz rose to her feet, power raging through her as she threw out her fist. It collided with another, and the two froze there, trying to overpower the other. They each threw another punch, then another, and another. The two quickly settled into a flurry of punches and kicks, each blow either missing or being blocked by a similar blow. The force of their battle disrupted the dirt, shattering the fragile and dormant spell. Luz would have been annoyed over the wasted effort, but this stranger created the same reaction she wanted to create.

Attention.

One of the patrol members launched a signal flare into the air, the red light hanging in the sky high enough for everyone on that side of the mountain to see. All Luz had to do at this point was hold out for fifteen minutes before retreating behind the array.

She really should have, it was the plan after all.

But her opponent had to go and make it personal.

Notes:

I have conquered malfunctioning lungs, emerging writer's block, and an extremely upset baby to bring you this chapter. With this, I reclaim my moniker of Immortal!

HAHAHAHAHAHA!

If you have any questions, feel free to put them in the comments below.

Chapter 78: Chapter 78

The fight had moved away from brute force blows as Luz's body was as powerful as her opponent's. Instead, they fought with technique. Punches were redirected and parried as they each gained and lost ground. Each attempt at a grapple was expertly broken or avoided. This fight would be won off the slightest mistake, and neither of them was going to be the one to make it.

While her barehanded technique was passable by her master's standard, Luz had yet to meet someone who could truly push her limits. Her training had always focused on weapons and martial techniques that would turn a regular man into red mist. The fights she has won were always due to her superior cultivation, amplified by her source and Stringbean. The fact that she was able to keep pace with someone who had put far more time into honing their fists was remarkable.

It also pissed her off.

Michael made sure to drive in a few lessons so that Luz would never forget. Etiquette took most of his effort, followed by imparting a deep understanding of various cultivation issues and ailments. There were only two lessons he taught her in regards to combat before they arrived on the Boiling Isles. First, only an invincible fighting spirit can be the foundation of the martial dao. To allow fear to enter your heart is to die, as your martial dao could never reach the peak.

Second, your body is the only thing you can rely on. Luck turns bad and money runs out, but you will always have your body. Luz had relied on other things too much, her source, her palisman, even her luck. She had won fight after fight, made massive strides in her cultivation, yet she was being held back because her opponent had spent more time mastering his body.

She threw her fist, aiming for the jaw that easily moved out of the way. Strong hands wrapped around her wrist and shoulder, wrenching her arm to force her to the ground. A single mistake, an obvious move that left her open for just a bit too long, led to her being pinned in the dirt, her own pride keeping Stringbean from tearing into the man above her.

"This was quite fun," He said with a cold voice. "I do hope that your family shares this fire of yours, Luz."

Luz whipped her head to look over her shoulder. Staring back at her was a piercing blue eye, black tendrils reaching out, giving her captor's face a cracked appearance. There was only one person with that same feature she had the displeasure of knowing.

"Belos."

"In the borrowed flesh," He replied. "I must admit, you have proven to be quite a difficult person to track down. Though that shouldn't be a surprise given that you recklessly threw your friends and me across space without any regard to their safety."

"You seemed to have survived the trip in one piece. In fact, the whole experience seems to have made you stronger." He twisted her arm, sending a wave of pain through it. "I, on the other hand, experienced a rough landing half in a forest and half in a cave several miles below ground. The sensation of being in two places at once almost drove me mad, until my friend here found me."

"So you possessed some innocent person? What kind of demon does that make you know?" Luz spat.

Belos gently added pressure to Luz's arm as he replied. "Oh, this man was hardly innocent. Lust, gluttony, envy, and pride are but a small sampling of his sins. But nothing compares to his sin of seeking the powers of God from himself. A sin I have learned far too many are guilty of. It's clear to me that my work has only just begun, and for that, I must thank you, Luz. Thank you for showing me that witches are not the only sinners who pervert God's works. After I return to the Boiling Isles to finish the vile witches and demons, I will purge every 'cultivator' from this world. Starting with that cancerous cabal you call a family."

Belos twisted his body, expecting to hear and feel the bones in Luz's arm snap. Instead, the arm refused to budge. The arm he held wasn't even human anymore. In the instant he threatened her family, power surged through Luz, shifting her body instantly. Horns had sprouted as her hair flowed from her head, eyes shifting to black and gold, and her fingers became coated in bone as the skin of her arms turned black. With what seemed like minimal effort, Luz threw Belos off of her. The onlookers from the scouting party could only wait in fear, unsure of what the demon she had become would do.

Stringbean headed the unspoken command. She slithered into her friend's hand, shifting her body into hard bone etched with metal as she took her staff form. With her staff in hand, Luz's features returned to normal over a few seconds, though the aura of power around her remained.

Belos pulled himself from the ground, the broken bones in his arm being pulled into place by his cursed form that hid beneath the skin. Tendrils moved underneath the skin on his face as he reshaped the flesh to something he was more comfortable with. With a wave of his hand, he conjured his own mechanical staff.

Their battle resumed without a word—red lightning shot from Belos's staff, racing towards Luz, who didn't move. Vines shot out of the ground, blocking the blast before withering away just as quickly. Behind Luz, a dozen circles came to life. Jets of flame and ice spikes shot out at not just Belos, but also the scouts who had previously lacked the presence of mind to flee while they could. Belos brought his staff down as a barrier of red light shielded him from the elemental attacks.

The two continued to exchange blows, but it quickly became apparent that Belos was outmatched. Despite the years he spent studying the glyphs and how to use them, Luz understood them better. Not only was her use of individual glyphs on a level beyond what he thought possible, but she also combined them in ways he had never even thought of before.

It was difficult, but he still surpassed her in one aspect: deceit. He had carefully spread himself out to form the teleportation spell. He would suffer too much damage to sustain this body, but it wouldn't matter. Luz would be outmatched by the others. Summoning a surge of power from his staff, he created a shockwave that threw dust into the air and scattered Luz's attacks. The strain shattered the crystal at the heart of his staff, but it didn't matter. Belos slammed his hand on the ground.

And nothing happened.

"It won't work," Luz said.

"How?" Belos demanded. "I know I drew the spell correctly, so how could you stop it?"

"Don't you know? Your spell borrows the Titan's power, or what's left of it," Luz explained. "All of the Titan Glyphs need that energy unique to those who possess Titan Blood."

"Yes, yes, I'm familiar with the fundamental theory of magic. I wrote that drivel to control the minds of those heretics," Belos screamed.

"And what would happen if a Titan withdrew that energy?" Luz asked.

Color faded from Belos's face as he unconsciously stopped the artificial beating of his heart. "No. No, no, no. It can't be... YOU can't be…"

Luz approached Belos, who had collapsed under the weight of the revelation that now shook his entire worldview. Stringbean slid down the length of the staff, coiling into the familiar hollow where she rested. A metal blade extended from the top, gently curving to match its original shape.

Belos realized the danger he was in and reached for his final options. "No, Luz. Please. I-I'm sick. This power twists my mind, bringing my darkest desires to the front. B-but, you can help me. You know this. The power of a Titan can reverse this horrid curse. Please, you are the Good Witch Luzura after all."

His pleas were met with cold eyes and a colder voice. "The Good Witch died with her father. I am Luz the immortal, and I will let no enemy live."

The body disintegrated into fine dust as Luz made her way back to the sect.

Notes:

This delay is brought to you by Comcast. Never change, Comcast, never change.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. You know where by now.

Chapter 79: Chapter 79

The results from the mission were enormous. By the end of the following day, the siege was officially broken and communication with the outside was restored. The besieging forces were in full retreat and after an additional two days, had retreated three hundred miles to the west. Elder Hao personally led a group of experts to crush them and send a message to the forces that backed the attack. For her part in all of it, Luz was given access to a private courtyard reserved for visiting elders, a gift she took full advantage of.

Her fight with Belos bothered her in many ways. It exposed her reliance on overwhelming power and how it damaged her technique. Doubt had wormed its way into her heart, and only after three days of self-reflection and practice was she able to quiet the nagging voices in her head. She wasn't sure what the 'correct' path was, but she figured that the best path for her was to focus on the gap between her power and skill. Though the power she unleashed to break Belos's hold on her had yet to make a second appearance despite her best efforts.

But what truly bothered her was what Belos had called her before she killed his clone. The Good Witch Luzura was a short-lived identity, one of the ways she expressed her love for the Azura series and character. While the connection to her late father and Amity was important to her, she never used the character as a pseudonym before. How could Belos have known that name, and what else did he know or think he knew about her?

The aura of an approaching master drew her from her contemplations. From the feel of his qi she knew he was one of the Branch Elders, but had yet to have been introduced to him. The man who entered the courtyard did not live up to the expectations of his cultivation or office. His hair was loosely tied back with a scraggy beard. His clothes were covered in wrinkles and creases, and he generally smelled of the booze he kept in a gourd he carried on his belt next to a sword.

Luz wondered how many stereotypes a man could fit before it became self-parody.

"Greetings, Miss Luz. How are you on this fine day?" The man asked.

Luz gave a short greeting bow. "I'm going well today. Forgive me, I don't think we've met before. You are?"

"Yes, well, that's because I was either dealing with the scouting parties or enjoying a nice cup of wine these past few weeks. I am Branch Elder Hon Jin. I am the sword instructor here." Luz had heard of unassuming masters before, but had to wonder if there was some connection between swordplay and wine.

"Well met, Branch Elder. What can I do for you today?" Luz asked. "I admit, while I have been allowed the use of this courtyard, I am afraid I only have the bare necessities as I plan to leave soon after Elder Hao returns."

Hon Jin scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed look. "Elder Hao asked me to visit you and give you a few pointers in swordplay. I was supposed to visit you earlier, but when I did, it was clear you were in the middle of something, so I left."

"And then got drunk and sobered up a few hours ago." Hon Jin looked shocked and somehow less embarrassed, as if Luz's understanding had somehow made his actions more acceptable.

"I'm glad you understand. My two great loves in this life are alcohol and the art of the sword," Hon Jin declared. "I had originally planned to share with you my personal sword techniques, each one a Heaven Grade technique. However, after sensing your qi, I think a review of your skills is required first."

Luz nodded. Holding out her hand, Stringbean bolted into her open hand, shifting into a sword. Luz took a simple ready stance, keeping her feet spread apart and her body turned with her blade held up. Hon Jin observed her stance for a minute before shaking his head.

"No, no. Take out your spear. I want to see what you can do with that first," He said.

Luz lowered her sword. "But you said you wanted to teach me about swordplay."

"I know what I said, but Elder Hao praised your spear skills over everything else. But if that isn't enough, if you don't use your spear," Hon Jin's demeanor changed from a kind, if unreliable, man to cold and menacing. "Or you will die."

He pulled his sword out with his left hand, using the draw to simultaneously attack Luz. She managed to block the attack, but it sent her back several paces. Hon Jin spun his blade at the apex of his swing, correcting the reverse grip he used in his initial attack. Luz knew she couldn't block his next strike and tried to dodge, yet Hon Jin matched every step she made while holding his sword in the air. He was waiting and willing to drag this out as long as needed.

Stringbean shifted in Luz's hand, changing a sword into a spear. With her increased range, she lashed out, forcing Hon Jin to step back and block the spear. Luz took a few more swipes at him, but failed to come close every time by either a clever evasion or a well-timed parry from Hon Jin. Frustrated, Luz shifted her stance and began using the Great Unrestrained Spear. The distance closed, and Hon Jin was forced to take the fight more seriously. Every block, parry, and dodge was more focused, and he made several counterattacks in an attempt to break Luz's unrelenting advance.

"Enough," Hon Jin declared, the tip of the Titan Dragon Spear a hairbreadth from his neck. "I understand now, I think."

Luz withdrew her weapon as Hon Jin returned his sword to its scabbard. Luz realized that the sword and scabbard were both free of dirt and rust, with signs of wear that only occur with regular use. She relaxed her grip and Stringbean shifted back to her larger snake form, carefully floating around Luz.

"What have you observed, Branch Elder Hon Jin?" She asked.

He took a drink from his gourd before answering. "Your spear technique is far beyond your ability to fully understand, though it seems you have grasped the fundamentals. I sensed traces of the Spear Dao in it. I would further wager that your master only taught you one martial art, your movement technique to be precise. Everything else he taught you is some manner of cultivation technique or fundamental fighting style."

Luz hid her shock as well as she could. "Why do you think that?"

Hon Jin gave her an unusual look, one that showed the hours he spent practicing his art. "Your sword stance was basic. You can swing it around well enough, and even grasped some sword intent. But your spear work? On a completely different level. You even taught me a thing or two. But you never attempted anything special, anything a cultivator would call a martial art. If I were to guess, they either don't use a weapon or have their own issues that make using them difficult."

It was Luz's turn to be embarrassed. "Your assessment is correct. The few martial arts I know are mostly self-created."

"Impressive. It's very difficult to develop a martial art. It takes time and practice to even get the basic skill to work, and even more to work out the issues with the technique. With that said, I don't think any of the martial arts I was prepared to teach you would be worth anything," He said.

"Wha… Why?" She couldn't hold the question back.

"You weren't taught to learn from martial arts like a normal cultivator. You were taught to derive your own methods from a deeper understanding. You reverse the process," Hon Jin explained. "I could teach you every martial art I know, and you would learn them all, but it would take you twice the effort to progress your understanding of sword intent. Instead, it would be easier to help you develop your intent and let you derive your own techniques. I wager your master picked that up early on and has been teaching you accordingly. I'd love to discuss training methods with him."

"I regret to say that won't be possible. My master had already died when I met Elder Hao. As his last disciple, I…" Hon Jin laid his hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to explain yourself. Talents like you need to be free to grow, and loyal disciples like you deserve to choose who they call master. Elder Hao and I understand that more than anyone. I would regale you, but I didn't bring enough wine to tell that story. Instead, I will show you the next steps on your journey as a swordswoman." He stepped back and drew his sword.

Luz watched as Hon Jin brought his blade down with both hands in a single smooth motion. Then, he brought the blade back up in another slash. Finally, he thrust his sword straight forward before sheathing his blade again. "Tell me what you saw."

Luz spoke with a sense of wonder. "A single blow to cleave a mountain. A single slash to split the sea. A single thrust to pierce the heavens. Power, speed, and technique, each at their apex."

Hon Jin threw his head back with a hearty laugh. "I envy your master. When you can perform those three strikes, your sword will be unmatched in this world."

He then left, continuing his bellowing laughter.

Notes:

Seriously, why does it seem that half of all fictional sword masters are also drunks? I can't be the only one to notice this.

Questions, comments, etc. etc.

Chapter 80: Chapter 80

The next day found numerous disciples gathered around the door to Luz's courtyard. Most had gathered in several small groups while a few took to the tree overlooking the center of the courtyard. Luz wasn't sure what to do as she stood at the door to her bedroom. Once she opened that door, the disciples in the trees would see her emerge and probably tell the rest. She didn't know what they wanted and worried she would fall short of any expectations they had for her.

She felt the disciple approach before hearing the booming echo of the large brass knocker on the courtyard door. Someone was brave, or perhaps rash, enough to knock. She knew that she didn't have to answer. As a guest, her privacy was guaranteed by her host while she remained inside the courtyard. These disciples had their own masters to teach them and their own training and duties to see to. Surely if she ignored them long enough, they would either leave or be chased away by a member of their enforcement team.

None of those thoughts stopped her from opening the door.

What followed was several hours of greeting the various disciples of the sect. Most of them just wanted to see the mysterious visitor whose battle caused such an uproar and turned the tide of the siege. After they had cleared out, what was left were the more serious disciples of the sect. As a group, they asked Luz to teach them, as visiting elders traditionally did. While she felt underqualified, she did her best. She spoke about her personal insights and experiences with cultivation, doing her best to answer questions. She was saved from her personal hell when a bell tolled through the sect, and the disciples got up and left, thanking her as they did.

Her reprieve was short-lived as an hour later, there was a knock at the courtyard door. Silently cursing her fate, she went to answer it.

Standing at the door was a disciple around her age. He wore the uniform of an inner disciple, but nothing that signified whether he belonged to any of the support organizations of the sect, like the enforcers or alchemists. He bowed when Luz stepped through.

"Greetings, Senior, and pardon for the intrusion. I am Disciple Yuseong Dan," He was polite, but Luz could sense that he was anticipating something.

"Greetings, Junior Dan. If it's alright with you, I would rather we set aside pleasantries. What brings you here today?" She asked after returning the bow.

He nodded. "I wish to spar with you."

Luz's eyebrow rose. "Why?"

"I've reached a bottleneck in my training," He said.

"And you hope that a fight with someone stronger would help you break through?" She didn't wait for him to answer. "I can't help you. The kind of fight you need can easily result in severe injury or even death. I don't doubt your courage, Yuseong Dan, but I doubt my ability to hold back at that critical moment."

"All I ask is the chance to cross swords with you. Master Hon Jin spoke highly of you when he returned to his mountain peak last night," He said.

An idea came to Luz. She held out her hand, and a purple streak shot across the open courtyard before a black and white blade landed in her open palm. "I think I can accommodate that. "

Luz moved into the courtyard. In the center, she carved two circles about a foot apart. "We each have ten moves. The goal is to move the other out of their circle. If by the end the both of us are still in our respective circles, it will be a tie."

He said nothing as he observed the circle. Yuseong Dan considered the proposal before stepping into one, taking a sword from some hidden storage artifact. Luz grinned a little as she stepped into the other one. The contest had begun, but neither of them made a move as they were locked in a shadow duel.

In one minute, Luz had considered a dozen opening moves, trying to find the best opening. While her cultivation was superior, the contest had removed most of its advantages. She had to stand her ground against an opponent who was more skilled than her. Sure, there was some level of brute force that would force Yuseong Dan out of his circle, but not only was that against the spirit of the contest, he was just too good for it to reliably work.

He swung first. A simple downward cut, straight down the center. Luz knocked it aside and followed up with her own cut. He leaned back to avoid the cut, putting his empty hand on the ground to stabilize himself. As the blade flew over him, Yuseong Dan swept his legs out, spinning around before placing a foot down and using his momentum to bring his body back up and execute an upward diagonal cut. Luz had to block, halting the blade in its path.

Their contest continued only three more moves before Yuseong Dan lost his balance and fell. Luz tossed her sword aside, where it returned to its normal palisman form, and offered her hand to help him up. Begrudgingly, he accepted the help.

"You're good with a sword," Yuseong Dan said.

"I consider that high praise, you are much better than I," Luz replied.

"But I lost. That means you are better," He countered.

"Because you're impatient." She was blunt with her assessment, and based on his reaction, this wasn't Yuseong's first time hearing this. "You try to overwhelm your opponent through sheer force. Such an approach is much more suited for maces or your bare fists."

"Given enough time, I am sure you will realize what you are missing and surpass your master. But cultivation isn't a race. Take your time and the answer will come to you," She watched his lips move, but couldn't hear a word he said. Instead, her ears were filled with a deafening roar.

It resonated with her bones and blood. The force of it stirred the source deep within her. Without any conscious effort, black hair and bones spread over her body as the sclera of her eyes turned pitch black. The world around her seemed to fade away as instinct took over, compelling her to move towards the source of the sound that only she could hear. Claws scratched the stone as Luz leapt onto a nearby roof before leaping into the surrounding tree like an animal. She rushed, feeling her energy being replaced as quickly as she expended it.

The Titan Graveyard had opened, calling all of those who had the pure blood of the Titans flowing through their veins.

Elsewhere across the world, several witches feel the siren call of their homeland and answer.

Notes:

So, a bit to go over.

As a refresher/introduction (I've written too much to keep straight what makes the final cut), sects are complex organizations filled with people who want to grow and excel in lethal force and mass destruction. As such, they have several internal branches, and the most common ones you will see are the Alchemist, Artifact Forgers/Refiners, and the Enforcement Group. Alchemists not only create pills through alchemy, but also oversee procuring and growing the herbs used to make those pills. Artifact Refiners focus on making various tools, though this branch tends to have a more individual focus, making artifacts on request over meeting a quota. The Enforcement Group or Law Enforcement is there to keep the peace; they enforce the sect's rules and also make sure people who shouldn't be in the sect stay out.

Okay, this chapter got rewritten, and I just couldn't finish it before my arbitrary deadline. Had this weird issue where Luz was coming off as incredibly rude while trying to be helpful, which caused quite a few changes. The second thing is that I came to the conclusion that I can put another arc between now and returning to the Boiling Isles. I wanted to, if to serve no other purpose than filling time, but the brain goblins said no.

Okay, I think that is all I wanted to cover in this space. So, if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

Chapter 81: Chapter 81

Amity surveyed the dock for the eighth time that hour. Since she heard that strange sound a few days ago she became aware of select individuals in the world. Two of them were moving quite fast and showed no signs of slowing or stopping to rest. They were too far away for her to figure out who they were, but she had a good guess. At the rate they seemed to be going, King and Luz would reach their destination in three days and arrive only an hour or two apart. The rest of them had been slowly moving in the same direction.

It seemed like pure luck when Amity landed in the capital city of the Western Frontier. The city's commerce was built around the building and maintenance of sky ships, massive vessels that were a mix between an ocean ship and the airplanes Luz had told her about. For once in her life, Amity was thankful that Odalia had forced her to study her father's schematics, in particular the ones that contained his ideas for different flying machines.

Her knowledge allowed her to get work as an apprentice designer and was able to quickly move on to advanced concepts that would have normally taken years to learn. By the end of the first year, her designs had brought in a significant amount of business. The second year brought significant hurdles from both competing businesses and her fellow apprentices. Amity was able to smooth things out the best she could. She shared her broader improvements with the other companies, saving the newer and better ones for the apprentices she worked with. It was hard work and there were times that she felt like she was about to be crushed by the weight of it all, but she pulled through.

And she had something to show for it. With the commissions she earned from her work, Amity began to build the best ship she could. She spared no expense on materials, often dipping into her shrinking personal funds when her business shares fell short. The labor cost was also significant, the dozen men hired to assemble the ship were only the tip of the iceberg. Dozens of craftsmen had to be contacted to speed up the production of the ship, and several more were hired to transport the parts between shops and the shipyard.

The ship wasn't done when Willow came to the port. She landed a couple hundred miles away in the unexplored wilderness that had appeared when they had released the Collector. She had hoped to purchase a small ship to make her search for the Boiling Isles easier, having come to the conclusion that searching for any of her friends would have been a worthless endeavor.

Gus appeared soon after, apparently hearing tale of a skilled aeronautical engineer who may be able to help him. He wasn't looking for Amity as it turned out, but was happy to lend his expertise in arrays to help out where he could, improving the arrays in Amity's personal project as well as setting up the arrays for other ships that were in production.

With the two of them there, Amity spent the last six months focusing on her cultivation. It had been neglected and her foundation had halted at the peak of the Mixed Elements Realm, unable to push beyond into the Immortal Boundary like Willow and Gus had. But standing on the deck of her ship, she had no regrets.

The three of them had decided to wait until the unknown person arrived before setting out toward what they believed to be the Boiling Isles. Process of elimination said that person should be Hunter, however, there was another presence though they seemed to be ignoring the pull.

The sun had set and the moon rose to its apex before the individual approached the ship. The light of the moon revealed a strange silhouette, a priest with a small bird on his shoulder. Ghost confirmed the bird was a cardinal with only one eye. With a silent command, the cat leaped off the ship to guide the man aboard the ship.

The common room was the largest room on the ship aside from the cargo hold. Two walls of floor-to-ceiling windows sat across from each other, with the only door leading to the deck. Willow and Gus were playing a card game he had picked up on his journey when Amity joined them.

"He's here," She said.

Willow shot up from her chair, the game forgotten. Amity guessed it took her friend all the self-control she had to keep herself in place. Amity doubted she would have been able to do the same if it was Lux walking up the gangplank right now. Hunter's footsteps echoed across the deck, signaling his arrival before he opened the door.

He changed. The lost boy who threw away everything was replaced by a well-kept-looking priest. He wore a black jacket with a white collar and black pants. His hair was cut and styled conservatively. His cold gaze swept the room, examining each witch and palisman before Flapjack tweeted something to him. In an instant, he relaxed, and the Hunter they knew appeared.

"It's so good to see you guys again," He said.

"What happened to you?" Gus asked.

"That is quite a long story. To sum it all up, I'm pretty sure I've been excommunicated from the Catholic church. Not sure which part of that sentence is going to piss Belos off more." Hunter laughed at his joke. "I've missed you all."

The four of them spent time catching up, giving Hunter a general idea of what they had been up to. Hunter had landed in the Vatican of all places. After the papal guards had confirmed he wasn't a threat, he was indoctrinated into a hidden branch of the Vatican dedicated to handling what was considered supernatural. There, he was able to train with little interruption and learn the philosophies that shaped Caleb's life. There were quite a few differences given Caleb wasn't Catholic and the roughly four hundred years that had passed, but by the end of it, Hunter felt more connected to his past life.

When he left, he did so in secret as the Vatican was still busy trying to gain control of the information that was flooding the Human Realm. Three years was not enough time for the chaos there to calm down. All forms of wireless communication had broken down in a matter of weeks as satellites were on new, longer orbits. Shipping lanes collapsed and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans were suddenly much larger. The lost city of Atlantis had appeared, along with its own civilization which was now dealing with suddenly having new neighbors.

"Most smaller governments collapsed under the pressure. Sects that had been hidden for centuries started popping up and claiming as much territory as possible. The Vatican was about to mobilize my group to some holy land when I heard the roar and felt the call. It's probably for the best that the Noceda's were forced out," Hunter said.

"Only time will tell," Amity said. "Get to sleep everyone, we head out at first light."

"Are you finally going to name the ship? It can't head out on its maiden voyage without a name, bad omens and all that," Gus said.

Willow nodded. "I would like to know what you named the financial blackhole of yours."

"I did. Took me a while, but I think you'll agree that it's an appropriate name," She replied. "I named this ship after someone who's had an important impact on all our lives."

"The Violet Hope."

Notes:

And now the rest of the gang is together with the means to reach their destination.

I honestly believe the Heavenly and Demon Realms would handle the changes to their world better than the Human Realm for a few different reasons. First, the Heavenly Realm is already in a constant state of mild unrest. Beast tides, blood feuds between major families, and rogue cultivators mean that every kingdom is one bad day from a change in management. The Demon Realm just has a strong sense of unity. Things certainly aren't great there right now, but their way of life is still relatively the same. The Human Realm just experienced massive disruptions to trade paths, information access, and communications. The world is changing, and no one can figure out how.

I think there was something else I was going to say, but the midnight brain fog is taking over so I think I'll call it here.

*Insert Comments statement here*

Chapter 82: Chapter 83

Notes:

Fair warning, there is going to be a hiatus starting, and this chapter doesn't end in a great place for that. If that's a problem for you, feel free to wait. It will be about a month, maybe a bit longer if you want to just wait. Won't hurt my feelings or screw up any algorithms here.

The ground was cold and damp against her face. Luz slowly pushed herself up and surveyed her surroundings. Everything around her was obscured by a strange gray fog that seemed to swallow her divine senses, limiting her to the small area she could see. She had no idea where she was or how she got there.

A familiar groan sounded from just inside the fog. What first looked like a wolf turned out to be King. The young Titan had grown significantly over the past three years, standing at roughly six and a half feet tall. His frame was no longer gangly; his body had filled out to where he could have easily been mistaken for a bear or large wolf demon. His horns had each grown to about a foot and a half long and were adorned with a pair of golden rings. Those were not the only accessories; his left arm had a silver vambrace with intricate patterns carved on the surface.

"King," She called out.

He slowly turned his head, still feeling the effects of something. "Luz? What are you doing here? Where are we?"

"I'm not sure," She said. "The last thing I remember was talking to a disciple at a sect I was staying at. Then I heard something and blacked out. What about you?"

"Pretty much the same. One moment everything was chill, the next I'm here. I kinda remember running, but everything is just too fuzzy," He said.

"I can answer your questions, young cubs," A figure emerged from the fog. They were clearly another Titan, and while that was shocking, what was even more shocking was how old they looked. The mane around their neck had turned gray. Their back was hunched over, and their knees were bent, but they were still taller than King. Luz guessed that in their prime, the strange Titan stood around ten to eleven feet tall.

"You have answered the call of the Acestor and have entered the Titan Graveyard. You may call me Keeper, for I am the keeper of the Graveyard," Keeper explained.

"They call you Keeper?" King asked.

"You may call me Keeper. A Titan's name is a deeply personal thing that only a few learn. Have you not wondered why you never heard your sire's name?" The old Titan asked.

"I see," King said thoughtfully.

"Senior, why was I called here?" Luz asked. Keeper tilted his head quizzically, prompting Luz to clarify. "I know I have partially integrated with the source of King's sire, but I am human."

"Ah," Keeper let out a low chuckle. "Forgive me, I forgot how long it has been since the last generation walked the surface of this star. When the Call echoes from the Graveyard, Titans are compelled to enter the Graveyard. Though it is correct to call you human, it is also correct to call you a Titan. By integrating that source, you have earned the opportunity to be a child of both races. Whether or not you do depends on your aptitude and the Ancestor."

"Enough questions for now, we have arrived." The fog split, revealing the entrance to a canyon. The walls were roughly one hundred and fifty feet high and were lined with caves of various sizes. Several were occupied by the souls of long-dead Titans, but most were empty. Deep into the canyon was a small stone altar, behind which was a massive pit so wide that the other end disappeared into the fog.

"This is where young Titans face the judgment of their ancestors. In the past, there were five Great Titans who would instruct and test you; now there is one. The Ancestor has placed all their faith in you and your ability to pass the trials that lie before you," Keeper said.

"But we still have so many questions, what is even going on?" King asked.

"Pass your first test and you'll get your answers," Keeper replied.

"And what's that?" Luz asked.

The old Titan motioned towards the pit. "Jump."

Notes:

This chapter is frustratingly short. I had the plan for lore reveals and stuff, only to run into a brick wall at Mach One. I'll live, but dang, can I not get much else out right now.

This will be the last one for a bit. It's finals time, followed by a big family trip to the American South, and beyond. We'll be back home around mid-August, but the next chapter will probably be around September.

Chapter 83: Chapter 83

A clawed hand pushed her down the hole before she could protest. The fall was short, but that was as much as she could remember. Everything before that was a massive blank space in her memory. Something was itching in the back of her mind, telling her that it should be different. She brushed it aside. What could possibly exist before the nothing that was now?

She was but a momentary existence in a sea of chaos. So the forces that existed would scatter the small cluster of matter and energy that was 'her', and chaos would be all that existed again.

Then she watched as something else began to exist. In an instant, a single word seared itself into her soul.

Fass. Chaos. That which came before all things and was the inevitable fate of all things.

The thing that came into existence expanded, and she felt a second word join the first.

Jahu. Form. The shape that emerged from the primal chaos.

She watched as the chaotic energy of the new universe began to settle. It split into two opposite forces, Yin and Yang. The two forces clashed against each other repeatedly, neither gaining the upper hand for long. Eventually, the clashes caused the forces of Yin and Yang to diminish as their fragments transformed into the Five Elements: Fire, Wood, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element strengthened one and suppressed another in a set order.

Vome was order, and with it came others. Lohk, the void. Oull, the possibility. Khra and Netra, time and decay, respectively.

The seven energies twisted and coalesced in ways she couldn't comprehend. Within Creation, universes came into existence and with them worlds without number. The flood of information was beyond any living thing's ability to comprehend, but it carried one last word.

Xata. Truth. The thing that she called Dao. But what was the Dao? What was the truth?

A presence overshadowed her, blocking the light of creation from her view. As it pulled her away, she became aware of the things she had forgotten. Her back and neck hurt from lying on rocky ground, and her body was stiff from holding the same position for too long. The lids of her eyes refused to cooperate easily. But the worst was how she felt inside.

Her soul was shaking from the strain of what she had seen. The itch inside of her was raw as the Stained Glass Lotus had drained nearly all the energy in her knowledge sea to protect what little of her soul it could. The shadow slowly extended into her knowledge sea, helping restore its lost power and soothing her frayed soul.

Luz didn't know how long she lay there, but by the time she had recovered her mind, all memories of the vision had vanished from her memory. All that was left was a sense of awe and the eight words carved on the edges of her knowledge sea.

Finally, Luz looked to see who her rescuer was. What she saw was a titan whose size should have been beyond possibility. The soul of every titan she had met or seen reflected what their 'true' body looked like, animalistic with bone covering their head and face. The tallest she had seen was about twelve feet tall. This titan's soul suggested that they were far larger in life.

"This is unusual," It spoke with a slow cadence as its deep voice echoed off the walls of the pit. "A human bonded with a source, but how did you end up here? No living thing has gotten this far in a long time. How did you get here?"

"I… don't know," Luz admitted.

The titan laughed at her admission. "No, I suppose you wouldn’t. This is a place only a few of our race have reached. You must have great potential, but you are not ready for the secrets buried here."

It closed its eyes as it contemplated what to do. "You have presented me with an interesting issue. You need to find your Titan Body, but how do I teach you to find something that I innately know? It’s like describing what salt tastes like. Ah, I suppose that would work."

It turned its attention to Luz. "Are you ready to undergo a great deal of pain and risk death, possibly become a cripple for the rest of your life, for the chance of unlocking a power you already possess?"

She thought for a moment, carefully considering the challenges that may be waiting for her. The Collector and the Archivists were likely waiting for her somewhere, Belos could still be alive, and the world is on the brink of a war over land and resources.

Her answer was yes.

With a wave of its massive claw, Luz fell into a pool of Titan's Blood.

"If she survives this," The ancient titan said. "Then a new era for the titans can begin."

Notes:

I'm back.

Vienna, Budapest, and Prague were lovely cities to visit, though I feel like I have a preference for the fjords of Norway. Still have a few other places to see before making a final decision, but that's several years to a couple of decades out for me.

Keen-eyed readers may notice that my made-up words are actually made-up words from Warframe. I just wanted made-up words that would sound reasonably alien. I would say go look up a YouTube video for pronunciation, but I think the narrative of Warframe is better experienced firsthand rather than looking at random videos. For those interested, my current favorite frame is Oraxia.

Now I must go to sleep, for the hour is late and my wife is back to leaving for work at 7 in the morning, and our son has yet to learn to appreciate sleeping in.

Please leave all your questions, comments, and such in the comments section. I am there, even if I haven't said much.

Chapter 84: Chapter 84

Notes:

I just realized I totally forgot that Gus was on the Violet Hope. Please pretend that he is just quietly following along with the group.

Amity poured over the navigation data the ship's instruments had collected. Before the pull began, finding the Boiling Isles was going to be a near-impossible task. Thus, Amity contracted the best cartographers to create a tool that would allow her to map out the terrain for several dozen miles in every direction. They managed it, but the tool was incredibly expensive to use, taking up tens of high-grade spirit stones to map out just twenty square miles. She wouldn't have even bothered turning it on if it wasn't for what they discovered just two days after their departure.

A new Titan archipelago.

The existence of other archipelagos was always an accepted theory among the scholars and navigators of the Boiling Isles. Human garbage washing up on the shores was already proof enough that life existed beyond known shores and it wasn't a great leap of logic to say that such life also emerged on the decayed corpse of a god. The Boiling Isles were home to a menagerie of unique life, so why should it be unique and alone?

Amity had learned more since first coming across that theory when studying the Abomination-controlled airships that her father was trying to improve. For a year, she imagined finding another Titan and claiming its rotting land for the Emperor. Yesterday, she finally fulfilled that short-lived childhood dream.

But why was it completely devoid of life?

Willow and Hunter were also excited by the discovery and urged Amity to land their vessel so they all could look around before continuing home. Amity picked a place on the hip where the ocean fog would conceal their craft from any natives. When they disembarked their craft, they were greeted by an overwhelming sense of dread. The area was completely devoid of life and the qi was so thin it was barely even present. No living thing could have existed there. Even after several hours of surveying, not a single sign of life could be found.

They found three more Titans just like it.

Amity mapped out each one as their vessel flew over them. Each time she burned through her reserve of spirit stones to grab as much data as possible, hoping to find some sign of life they didn't have time to find. What she saw now was far more chilling.

The Titan that formed the Boiling Isles Archipelago lay in the sea in such a way that suggests it died doing something. Whatever it was the long-dead creature was trying to do was irrelevant; the fact that it was active was. When Amity reviewed the map of the other Titans, she saw evidence of something she didn't want to consider.

The corpses of those Titans were discarded. Tossed aside like one would throw away trash.

She abandoned that dark line of thought as the familiar shape of the Boiling Isles drew near. Her fingers flew across the command console as Amity retracted the cruising wings and brought the ship down so she could find a landing spot. In theory, the Violet Hope could withstand boiling seawater, but Amity would much rather land as close as possible to Casa as she could.

A formation of witches rushed past the port side of the ship before circling back. Hunter waved them down from the deck and started talking to them while Amity brought the ship to a stop about three hundred feet above the waves. While Amity couldn't hear the conversation from inside the ship, it seemed to be tense. She worried about a fight breaking out before the witches seemed to reach an agreement with Hunter. The two shook hands before going their separate ways, the witches spreading out to surround the ship and Hunter moving towards the bridge.

"We aren't the first flying ship to reach the Boiling Isles. Needless to say, the last visitors left a bad impression," Hunter explained. "They are going to give us an escort to Bonesborough, where we can dock. From there, they will send a message to the new government so someone can come verify our identities."

"They already got a new government up and running?" Amity asked.

Hunter shrugged. "They didn't really explain much, but it seems that Bonesborough was one of the few places to survive the Day of Unity intact enough to assert the rule of law. The new government also covers Casa and a few other hamlets around the town."

Bonesborough had undergone drastic changes. The walls and everything that they encompassed were still there, but the forest outside had been torn down. In its place were dozens of shipyards and docks for the blimp-like vessels used by the witches of the Boiling Isles. In the middle of them all was a warehouse district with a market on the edge near the town.

Guards boarded the ship, and Amity went through the shutdown sequence, making sure everything was behaving properly after running for a week straight. It wasn't long before one of them entered the bridge to escort her off the ship. She considered protesting, after all she had plenty of ways of proving who she was. Her name, her education, her palisman, all of those should have been enough to prove her identity, but her escort was tense. He was waiting for something, anything that was out of place.

"I'll be with you in a moment, I just need to ensure that your captain can access what he needs to without me needing to be present," She said as she pushed a few more buttons. A small card extended out of the console as it powered down. She passed it to the guard. "Lead the way."

She didn't even make it down the gangway when she heard him shouting. "No, no, no. What are you doing?" Her father was charging towards the ship, waving off every guard that tried to stop him. He looked a lot like how Amity remembered him, except he looked like he got enough sleep at night now and carried a few more tools with him.

"I don't care what kind of ship they arrived on, I know my daughter when I see her. THAT'S her," Aladore shouted while pointing at Amity. "THAT's her childhood best friend, Willow! And HE is… well, I don't actually know him that well, but I DO know that he is just as much a witch as I am!"

Aladore pointed to Willow and Hunter, who looked surprised and slightly insulted, respectively. It took a bit more shouting and arm flailing before the guard captain relented and ordered his men to forego the search. He passed the key to Aladore just before the man pushed past him to reach his daughter.

Amity felt like her bones were about to break when her father wrapped his arms around her. " Oh, Amity, I looked for so long. First around town, then in the rubble of the skull when we learned where you went. I would still be there if Darius hadn't dragged me here."

"That's great, Dad. But can you let me go now? I think you're about to break something," Amity said, strained.

Aladore dropped her with an apology. "Sorry about the increased security. Everyone is on edge since something blew through this area a couple of weeks ago. Two somethings, actually. Each came from a different direction and disappeared in the same place. The old capital is worried that cultivators from outside the Isles are behind it, but Casa isn't too worried. We stepped up security here to garner some goodwill."

"A lot happened then, huh?" Willow said.

"You kids have no idea. The revelation at the Day of Unity, followed by the disappearance of the Emperor, made a lot of old grudges come to the surface." He said. "I don't think it will come to war, but the Isles won't have a unified government again for a while."

Aladore turned his attention to his scroll as it materialized. He quickly scanned the surface before waving it away. "Lilith will meet you guys at the gate to take you back to Casa in an hour. She will be better equipped to bring you guys up to speed than I am."

"Alright, Dad. Just don't go tearing apart my ship while I'm gone. I'll tell you all about it later," Amity said as she left her father slightly slack-jawed, switching between looking at his daughter and her ship.

Notes:

So next week will mostly be exposition as we go over what the hell has happened since we last saw the wonderously weird land of the Boiling Isles.

If you have questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.

Chapter 85: Chapter 85

Summary:

SilkSong.

That is all.

huh? What? OH, the chaper... right.

I wanted to take a shot at writing something alien this time around. The idea that something is so different from humans that even its internal monologue is alien is interesting and, personally, I feel is a bit beyond my talents right now. Oh well.

Yeah, Luz is getting nerfed a bit. I feel like I let her outpace the power level of the setting a bit faster than was needed. I also thought of a 'Cool TM' way to do it.

Anyways, I'm going back to SilkSong now. See ya.

Oh yeah, if you have questions, feel free to ask in the comments. I do not believe for a second I didn't mess up an explanation somewhere.

It watched, interested in what the young ones were doing. The Whelp-that-Fell-to-Far had been undergoing the Naming for longer than normal. It was being done by The-Eye-That-Saw, but the amount of blood used drew the attention of other Keepers-of-Old-Things. It didn't know what they had said, it didn't really care, but each joined in. It had been a long time since a whelp had received such attention.

Perhaps it should go look. It was bored waiting for one to come learn from it. The young ones had stopped coming some time ago. It didn't know when, it didn't really care.

The titanic spirit moved through the space that filled the Pit-Were-Whelps-Grow. It would go and see what was so interesting about it.

The-Eye-That-Saw noticed the tips of its claws emerging from the shadow, placing the area in the palm of the spirit's paw. Its many eyes opened to see without its mind. It saw a human child.

It saw the young ones breaking the Taboo. It knew It would watch the human die as it did many whelps before it. The human would die from ignorance.

It felt something tapping on the outside. Something that did and didn't belong. A part of the human left Outside. The ancient spirit opened a crack. The thing darted in, joining itself for what should be a final time.

 

Luz realized she had passed out when she came to. Her body was sore, her head had a dull throb, and worst of all was that her clothing was ruined. She had no idea how chaotic the qi was, but it had turned the Three Realms Garment from a masterfully woven set of clothes to rags that were barely holding together.

Thankfully, she didn't have to stay in them long, as a new set of clothes were waiting for her nearby. A pair of black pants, a blue shirt, and a black and gold-trimmed overcoat. Luz couldn’t tell what the clothes were made out of, but the material was quite comfortable and durable.

Claws scraping against stone echoed out of the darkness. A strange Titan emerged from the shadows. Its horns looked like they were flattened and then twisted into spiral shapes, its skull resembled a deer's with a set of vicious teeth. It even had a lower jaw. Its body resembled a wolf's, but instead of a normal tail, it had several waving around behind it that looked like briars.

The Titan didn't say anything. It just stared at her for a minute before leaving. As its dark fur faded into the surrounding darkness, Luz found herself in the palm of an incomprehensibly massive Titan that stared at her with three eyes on the left side of its face. It also didn't say anything, though Luz had a distinct impression that it was only because the two were incapable of communicating with each other.

"You're awake, Luz. Good." The old Titan that had offered to help her emerged from behind one of the massive claws. "And I see you found the clothes we made for you. I must apologize for what happened to your old ones, but no one could have foreseen what happened."

"What… did happen?" Luz asked.

"An accelerated sequence of rites of passage. The first step a whelp goes through, done while they are still inside their egg. It is the process by which a Titan is linked to their ancestors and gain their Runes. King, the Titan you entered with, was the last egg to undergo that process. He is further above us still, undergoing the final steps of True Marrow Washing." He waved his hand, dismissing Luz's rising number of questions. "You also went through that."

"We discovered that you have an innate compatibility with the Titan bloodline, Luz. Your Naming took a fraction of the time and four times the blood essence. It's a good omen. But when your True Titanic Body awoke, something happened. It didn't take a form I nor any of the others who helped me had seen before. To put it bluntly, you were dying. Turning into dust right before our eyes. It was only by the intervention of a purple snake that you are alive."

As if summoned by the Titan's words, purple lines shone through Luz's clothes, depicting the coils of a serpent-like creature that covered her body. On her chest, over her heart, Stringbean was shown biting her own tail. Panic and despair quickly set in and were closely followed by tears pouring down her face.

The Titan yelped. "Akk, peace child, peace. The creature is still alive. It turned into the lines on your body to hold your human form together while your Titanic Body condenses properly."

Luz choked out her question before sobs. "What do you mean properly?"

"You are the first living creature to undergo both Naming and True Marrow Washing at the same time. Normally, a Titan hatches from its egg at least seven hundred years after its Naming. As it turns out, that is not an accident. The old one watching us now explained it. The time between Naming and hatching are to stabilize the body as the Titanic Body takes form. We rushed the process and almost killed you," It said.

"So… Stringbean has become an eggshell?" Luz asked.

It nodded. "Something of the sort. Though I have no idea how long you will need it. Until then, I am afraid that Stringbean will be unable to do anything else. You may also find some of your abilities impacted."

"Okay," Luz said, her voice still shaky. "So, now what?"

"You return to the world outside," came the reply. "Even under normal circumstances, you must grow more before learning our deeper lessons. Just be sure to tell the Keeper you need to continue your study of Ris. They should make sure you end up back here."

Luz didn't get to ask another question. She watched as the darkness around her quickly turned to light, blinding her. When she came too, she was sat down leaning against the Titan Graveyard. Beside her, King was still unconscious. After several minutes of trying to stand, Luz managed to regain enough control of her body to properly take in her surroundings. Her clothes had been replaced by what she had changed into, and Stringbean's marks stood out on her skin.

Luz was unsure of where she was until she made a disturbing discovery. The dumping ground where Belos had left the corpse of every failed clone of his brother. She felt her stomach twist in knots, but pushed past the monument to the Emperor's evil. Stepping out of the cave and into the light, she gazed upon the Boiling Isles, a familiar place now filled with unknown dangers.