Ended In The Rain - Chapter 17 - TheHigherDissidency (2024)

Chapter Text

One second, Camila had been standing in the Titan’s Skull, readying to help break into the Archives; the next, the world around her was murky and submerged in a vaguely-frightening dream.

When she came to, bright afterimages left behind in the dream’s wake, the Archives were on fire, and bore witness to a room with flickering golds lapping at a wall of ice. Luz’s friends were already in motion, trying to make sense of the surroundings, when Camila saw a woman.

Grey and untamed hair, only one arm, red cloak, all matching the description Luz’s friends had told her; missing an arm, which was never mentioned, but Camila realised with a shock that this was—

Suddenly, the Archives tilted , and Camila felt the ground slip from under her, and her eyes drifted to the lightning storm, beautiful pinks and blues striking through the air like some bright action movie Luz would like.

Luz . Where was she, Camila wondered, spinning in search for her daughter, when the Archives shuddered and heaved again, and then, abruptly, it all stopped. The fire suddenly blinked out, the lightning bolts ceased appearing, and Camila’s chest tightened. It was possible the storm had stopped because Philip had been brought down, but then the question remained — where was Luz?

As the seconds turned into a few minutes, Camila’s eyes kept turning to the woman in red, and Camila wanted to walk up and introduce herself. Her eyes welled up, was this where she had to let go now? Luz had her new mom back, right?

In a deafening clang, Camila’s eyes darted to the open air of the Archives, where boney feet had landed with a resounding echo. Palisman coiling around her neck and arms adventurously, there stood Luz, carrying the tuckered-out form of the Collector, the starchild racked with tremors, shuddering and sobbing into Luz’s chest.

“H-hi, mom,” Luz stammered, and Camila could make out in her peripheral the shape of red-cloak turned around, confirming any suspicions Camila had. “I’m back.”

“Luz!?” Eda Clawthorne said, eyes wide with shock and surprise, but running up and moving for a hug regardless, Luz’s arms shifting a little as if to highlight the young child in her arms. “Wwwwoah, wait, hold it, what did I miss?”

“A lot, mom.” Luz said, and she looked towards Camila, the woman running up, relief evident in her eyes. “I met the Titan, she’s always apparently been a big fan of you,” Luz said with a chuckle, and the older Clawthorne’s eyes widened with something akin to glee.

“The Titan likes me ?” Eda asked, and she chuckled. “And this is…” Suddenly, Eda’s gaze darkened, and from seemingly a lock of her hair, a small owl fluttered and became a long wooden staff — okay, this was Eda’s palisman, Camila realised — “You’re Camila?” The voice was filled with unveiled hatred, and Camila shrunk a little at it.

“You’re Edalyn.” Camila said, voice firm.

Brandishing Owlbert, Eda took a step forward, tone and posture equally aggressive. “Eda the Owl Lady, the most powerf–”

“And you’re her mom.” Camila interrupted, and Eda faltered under the bluntness. “It’s okay.”

“....you aren’t going to try and take Luz from us?” Eda asked, turning to face Camila, voice as level as she could make, “Or any other stunts?”

“No stunts,” Camila said, lifting her arms a little in a vaguely surrendering gesture, looking over at Luz. “Rashness like that… all it does is hurt in the end. We can do it together, if you both will let me.”

Luz smiled at Camila’s words, eyes wide. “I, for real? Of course I’ll let you!” Luz’s positive energy was contagious, even the Collector turning happily in Luz’s arms. “Is that…”

“If Luz trusts you, well, who am I to argue?” Eda said.

Without further warning, Camila moved in towards Eda, and the Owl Lady froze, realising Camila was holding her in the absolute tightest hug Eda could imagine. “You kept her safe, thank you,” The woman breathed, voice shaky, and Eda smiled.

“Would give my life for her,” Eda said, both the truth and the threat in her words apparent. Camila separated the hug, and she smiled at Eda.

“So would I.” Camila replied, and Eda made a vague sound of surprise, before stepping back.

“I believe you would, too. Welcome to the Boiling Isles,” Eda bragged, gesturing to the clearance with her good hand, eyes still on the older human, “Watch your step.”

“Hehe,” Camila chuckled, “Luz said the same thing.”

“Well, since…” Luz looked down at the Collector. “Since things are gonna be okay now, I’ll have plenty of time to show you around.”

“And what about… Philip?” Camila asked, and Luz’s eyes slipped downwards, staring at the floor. Her whole posture changed as he was mentioned, as did the Collector’s, tensing up perceptibly in Luz’s arms.

“Philip’s…” Luz’s gaze darkened, and Camila noticed the way she held the Collector closer to her, not tighter, but closer, cradling the child in a way that shielded them from others, “Philip went too far, mama. He’s not gonna be a problem anymore, promise.”

Camila realised with a jolt that her daughter just committed murder to do so. Even moreso, Camila was okay with that , and whilst she didn’t want to admit it, maybe even proud.

“It had to be done, mija, and I’m still proud of you,” Camila replied, voice thick and choked up, and Luz looked at her with something akin to relief. The older woman put her arms out, and with a nod from the Collector, Luz handed the small starchild over to her mother, shoulders slumping a little with the lessened weight. “Y Manny también lo sería.”

Luz froze, the words turning in her head, and Camila could see how that finally broke the waterworks, Camila silently thanking Eda for rushing to their daughter’s side. As Eda held the young Titan, Camila rocked the starchild in her arms, watching as Eda started gushing over Luz, “Is that a palisman? Oh, of course it’s a snake, what’s their… Kiddo?”

Luz took two steps, haphazardly, and Camila looked in her daughter’s eyes. Fatigue ran deep, and Camila spoke softly. “You’ve done so much, you can rest too, mija.”

“I… find my friends…” The loving Titan breathed gently, before her mouth opened in a yawn, and Eda caught the young tower of fluff as she swayed sideways, already out cold in Eda’s arms. Lifting her up, a small flash along her skin as Eda transformed into some mystical harpy woman that made Camila double-take, the Owl Lady looked at Camila with something straddling the line between anxiety and confidence.

“She’s been through a lot these past few days.” Camila said, “You don’t know the half of it.”

“And if you’re responsible for any more of it, I’m gonna know, got it?” Eda said, voice sharper and less forgiving then it had been when Luz was awake, and Camila nodded at the thinly veiled threat.

“I know I still have a long way to go,” Camila admitted, rocking the Collector in her arms, the starchild completely asleep in her hold. “But for now, let’s… Let’s get home, okay?”

Eda nodded, and with a gentle leap — gentle, as to not wake the saviour in her arms — Eda took a bit to the sky, blazing forward while Camila watched. She still had her feet, she supposed, and moving carefully to avoid waking up the god she carried with ease, she started walking through the Archives, realising with a sigh of embarrassment she didn’t actually know her way back to Eda’s place.

Well, she was sure she could let Luz’s friends know she was okay.

Hunter meanwhile was scanning the crowd for a familiar face, and his eyes lightened up when he saw Darius, a familiar orange Eberwolf seemingly trying to calm the head witch down. Hunter broke out in a run, took a small sprint towards him, and Darius seemed to only notice Hunter’s arrival now, relief washing his face.

“Oh, thank Titan,” Darius said, turning away from Eberwolf abruptly, taking a half-step towards Hunter, “You’re fine, right?” The head witch had a rare flit of emotions across his face, as he looked almost worried, before putting up an now-obviously-false expression of indifference, “Obviously you are. Glad you’re back.”

With a second glance around the room, and an adamant glare at his fellow head witch that dripped with an unspoken vow to silence, Darius gripped Hunter in a tight hug, hands luckily nowhere near the boy’s shoulders, a small shudder to the head witch’s otherwise well-composed frame.

“I’m glad you’re back too,” Hunter mumbled into Darius’ sleeve, ignoring the small wet in his eyes, relief running through his system that he didn’t realise how desperate he had been for. “I thought you were dead!”

“Bored, maybe,” The head witch quipped, his smooth voice giving himself away as it cracked the littlest bit, and when Eberwolf snickered, Darius gave him a look. “Okay, I was worried. But thank the Titan you’re okay, you are okay, right?”

Hunter gave a wet chuckle, “Yeah, the Titan herself. It’s, it’s a long story.” He looked at Darius’ confused face, “We were busy. I’ll tell you later, but…”

“Of course you did. Talk with me.” Darius said, an amused smile on his face, “I’ve spent who knows how long stuck in place, I wanna do some light walking, and…” Darius gave Hunter a light pat, not on the shoulder, but on the head like a cat, and the kid made a small noise, ducking under it before looking up at Darius with a look . “And I wanna catch up with you, if that’s alright.”

Hunter nodded, smiling, looking at Darius and Eberwolf with a soft expression. It felt normal. “I’d love that.”

“Dad? Papa?” Willow cried out, hands itching to wipe away the tears that she felt spilling, but she couldn’t stop looking, she thought, not until I find them , “Is there… D-dad? Gilbert? Harvey Park?” She cried out again, when she heard a voice, a familiar green- and brown- haired couple breaking through the tide of faces, and Willow’s feet moved at quick speeds, practically leaping into the arms of her fathers.

“Oh, thank Titan you’re both okay!!”

“Willow, you were gone ,” Gilbert spoke, holding her daughter tightly, two hugs wrapping the plant witch tightly. “Where were you?”

“Me and my friends got stuck in the Human Realm,” Willow said, words nearly an incoherent jumble, “I missed you both and I love you and I’m not gonna go missing again I’m sorry—”

“Calm down, tulip,” Harvey said, stepping back from the tight hug, “It’s… You’re okay, right?”

Willow sniffled, breathing slowly the littlest bit, a tightly-wound stress in her gut unravelling. “Yeah, am now. You’ll never believe what happened.”

“Dad!!” Amity hollered, running into the open arms of her father, and the engineer held her daughter close, and tightly.

“Oh, Amity, thank Titan you’re okay,” Alador said, voice filled with wet tears, holding his daughter closely. “Oh, thank Titan, you’re okay?”

“Safe and sound, we…” We all are, Amity had almost said, but there stood Alador, herself, and the twins. There was a Blight unaccounted for. “We’re here. I thought I lost you too…”

“Too?” He asked, voice tinged with confusion, and Amity paled further.

“M-mom, she…” Amity started, but Alador shushed her, holding her closer.

“I’ve wondered. I’m so sorry, for everything,” Alador mumbled, a bit of grief meddling into his expression. “It’ll be better now, I promise.”

“I know, dad,” Amity murmured back, stepping back, taking a deep breath. “I’ve been busy, there’s a lot to tell you.”

“…as long as you tell me about yourself after.” Alador said, the words coming outawkwardly, before giving a slightly-peeved expression at his own wording, as Amity gave a laugh. “Errr, well. I want to actually be there for you, this time.”

“I’d love that.”

Augustus Porter was still a kid. He had been through hell and back, and he was ever so grateful to see a familiar face. He just needed to find it fir—

“Augustus, you’re okay!” Perry said, voice cutting through all other sounds, and Gus ran in the direction of his voice, nearly leaping into his arms. “Oh, you’re fine, you’re alive , I couldn’t find you, I was worried, you’re okay?”

“I’m sorry, I should’ve told you where I was going…” Gus admitted, “But I’m okay, I was with my friends when it all went wrong. I…” I was there when the Collector woke up. “I’m sorry I had to go.”

“Where did you go?” The reporter asked, his voice hitting a similar inflection, and it was familiar, welcoming, grounding Gus to the reality he was in.

“You know my friend Luz?” Gus said, voice coming out in a hiccup, “It was the Day of Unity, and we got stuck in the Human Realm, we… It’s been a lot.”

“Heh, and you still wanted to come back to me?” Perry joked, but he felt Gus stiffen in his arms the slightest bit before hugging him closer.

“Always would.” Gus said, “The Human Realm is cool, but… This is home.”

“Well, aside from Willow, you’ll have to finally introduce me to your friends, you know.” Perry said warmly, voice shaking from relief, “Oh, Titan, I’m glad you’re fine.”

“Never better, dad, never better.”

Somehow, defying all logic and reason, no one died from the draining spell or the Collector’s havoc. Injuries, yes, but aside from a handful of deaths from those who had to face the elements alone for two months, everyone was alright. Traumatised, scared, yes, but everyone was okay .

And there was, miraculously, little in need of fixing, too. The Collector was powerful, and Philip had been powerful and actively malicious, but the nexus of repairs was Bonesborough’s centre and the outer layers of Hexside, since the Collector kept most of their shenanigans confined to there, like Luz before them.

While some of the beaches and coasts had soaked up damage from the boiling sea when Philip tilted creation, those were… well, coasts, no one built on the coast in the first place unless you wanted your building to be scorched by a high tide. Repairs were in order, absolutely; but an experience vaguely normal could be returned to soon, it seemed certain.

All this to say, Luz Clawthorne-Noceda was absolutely forbidden from assisting in the clean-up, much to the annoyance of the Titan in question.

“I’m awake , mom, mamá, um… m-moms? I’m awake, anyway,” Luz argued, “My friends are out helping, I—”

“No, they’re sleeping too.” Eda said, voice stern. “Besides, kiddo, you died , you’ve been through more than anyone else in the universe.”

“Mija, rest, please ,” Camila said, “You’re a kid , you shouldn’t—”

“I should, this is my fault!” Luz insisted, and Eda sighed.

“Luz, we’ve been over this.” Eda said, “If not for you, we’d all be dead. You saved the Titan. Rest. Please.”

“But I didn’t save him, I—” Luz started, giving a soft wheeze as King leapt up onto her.

“Bap!” The smaller Titan said, smacking Luz’s nose painlessly, “None of that, okay? Thanks to you, I know he didn’t abandon me, and I’d have never forgiven him anyway if he just let you die.” That was seemingly the last straw for the waterworks. At nearly blinding speeds, Luz grabbed King, who gave a soft yelp, and held him close the way she had when they’d first met. “Weh!!”

“Oh, los extrañé mucho a todos,” Luz murmured, voice a bit choked up with emotion, and Camila was about to translate when she noticed the way King nuzzled a bit more into Luz’s hug.

“Um… Los extrañé a los dos?” King tried, and Luz nodded — even though it was a little bit off — and held King even tighter. Camila smiled, wondering when Luz taught her friends other family Spanish, and she gave Luz a kiss on the forehead.

“Rest well, okay, mija?” Camila asked her, and her daughter nodded, letting King do his small dog-like circles before lying down next to her. As Camila made her way to the door, she saw her daughter animatedly telling King something.

“So, you’ll never guess what happened, King?”

“Ooh, storytime!” King exclaimed, getting up and sitting in a little cross-legged pose, closer to Luz, as the girl pet him softly. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“So, when we—” Luz started, but Camila couldn’t make out the further words as she closed the door, turning to look at Eda.

“Both of them are going to get zero rest.” Eda pointed out, and Camila nodded.

“Yeah, but they’ll at least take it easy.” Camila commented, and Eda gave a chuckle.

“Oh, that’d be nice.” The Owl Lady said with a wistful voice, and Camila could weirdly relate.

It took them a few days to realise, but the Collector was powerless. Completely, truly, absolutely powerless.

At first, the Collector had been hesitant about even trying their magic, scared of the power they only recently realised the dangers of; but once that roadblock was passed, the starchild started having a mild crisis over the fact that no, they still couldn’t cast spells. The last of their magic must’ve been knocked out of them by the green gunk that once called itself Philip; but Luz had done without magic on the Isles, in theory the Collector could easily do the same.

Despite that, as the Collector tapped a small sheet of paper, pulling his hand back with a hiss. Instead of the light glyph, in all its diamondy glory, crinkling into a small beacon, the Collector’s hand was smoking and Luz could already see a small circular burn wound in their palm, the faint shape of the glyph leaving broken-up ash lines along their palm.

“I-is it supposed to hurt?” They asked, and Luz frowned.

“It’s never hurt before, uh…” Luz looked around, “Amity, can you tap the glyph for me?” As the witch complied, the paper curled into a ball, and ignited into an orb of radiance.

“Why did it burn me?” The Collector asked, voice the slightest bit higher, “And why didn't it become a light?”

Suddenly, Luz’s eyes widened. “Does Titan magic burn you?”

“Uh huh, but this isn’t Titan magic anymore, is it? The Titan… died…” The Collector asked, and Luz’s expression dropped. “I-it’s not, right? I want my magic…”

“Collector, Collector,” Luz said, hugging the starchild close, “I never had magic before I came here, did you know that?”

“But you have magic now, and I… I…” The Collector sobbed a little into Luz’s shoulder, face buried in fluff. It wasn’t fair , was it? “I need my magic, or I won’t be able to play with anyone, and…”

“Oh, nosotros te amamos, we love you,” Camila said, and Luz let go gently so Camila could scoop up the Archivist — he was so small , they could only be maybe the equivalent of an eight-year-old human, right? — “We love you, and whoever told you that you needed magic was wrong.”

The starchild whimpered, curling into Camila’s arms a bit more, and Luz looked down at the ground guiltily, before looking at the Collector. “We’ll figure out something for you, but we won’t leave you.”

The Collector babbled something too quiet for Luz to make out, but Camila’s eyes went wide. “I already made such a mistake, mijo,” She murmured gently, “Never again. You’re safe here, I promise.”

“We can find you a training wand,” Luz pointed out, and the starchild jostled at the idea. “Those should be usable, right?” The Collector nodded eagerly, but didn’t make a sound, clearly enjoying the tranquillity of Camila’s arms.

Things would be okay.

The Bonesborough Marketplace was quieter than Luz was used to seeing it. That… made perfect sense, in all fairness. Only two weeks out from the end of the Collector’s reign, and while Luz hadn’t been allowed to help with the reconstruction, under strict orders from both Eda and Camila (and all her friends, to be fair), she was still surprised at how quickly things were fixed.

(“It’s not like anything big happened to the Isles themselves, the Collector only added a bit of colour.” Eda had joked after Luz’s confusion regarding the whole thing. That made enough sense to her.)

But, regardless of if it was quiet or not, standing in Bonesborough Market, Luz had a grin on her face, and Camila seemed more than a little out of her element.

“So, this is, like, the main marketplace,” Luz was explaining, “This was actually the first place I saw of the Isles, which is why we’re starting here. So much stuff happened here. Did you know there’s a body swap spell? That was a… hectic day.”

“It kinda sounds like a lot of days here were hectic,” Camila pointed out, and Luz scoffed indignantly.

“Not fair,” She pouted, “But come on, there’s a lot to see in town.”

“Such as?” Camila prompted, when Luz didn’t specify anything, and the girl gestured vaguely at a nearby building with a giant stained-glass window.

“The library.” Luz said, a poorly-hidden lovestruck tone in her voice. “Mostly me and Amity getting up to stuff here. So, every few years, there’s this thing called a Wailing Star…”

As Camila listened to Luz’s recounting of children’s books coming to life, she couldn’t help but notice the way that many of the random people in the Demon Realm, mostly the adults, seemed to have matching tattoos along their wrists.

“…just glad we didn’t get trapped, that would’ve sucked probably,” Luz continued, before going a bit blue. “Sorry, I was rambling.”

“It’s alright, mija, and… And we’re gonna talk about how much danger you put yourself in—”

“Hey, it was not on purpose!”

“But I have a question… what is the deal with all the tattoos I’ve been seeing? Almost everyone seems to have one.” Camila asked gently, worried she was stepping on something taboo by asking, and Luz’s gaze darkened.

“They’re brands.” Luz said sternly, and Camila was a bit taken aback by the vitriol in Luz’s voice. “Philip made them.”

“W-what? Why?”

“There’s nine covens, err, there were.” Luz explained, “According to Philip, the Titan didn’t approve of mixing magic, so he forced it to be separate. Potions, Abominations, Plants, Illusions, Bard, Healing, Beastkeeping, Construction, and Oracle.” Luz said, counting it off on her fingers. “Everything that people were legally allowed to do was just sorta… Catalogued as one of those nine.”

“Wait, so what about…” Camila paused. “Is a veterinarian healing or beastkeeping?” The woman asked, and Luz hissed through her teeth. Camila looked at her with concern.

“Uh, it’s wild magic.” Luz said shyly, “Outlawed.”

“But that makes— Why?” Camila snapped, and some internal part of her was glad Luz didn’t seem to be taking it personally, “What pet owner doesn’t know how to take care of their pet when they get sick, what are you…”

“Aaaaaand that’s the issue with covens.” Luz said. “Willow’s memories got set on fire. It took oracle magic and healing magic for Eda to send me and Amity to fix it, and if she didn’t know both…”

Camila swallowed her anger, taking a deep breath. “So, that’s the point then? He just… wanted everyone to be helpless?”

“Yeah. The only people allowed to practise more than one track were Philip’s soldiers.” Luz said, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Because they are respectable enough not to abuse that power.”

“And what were the brands for?” Camila asked hesitantly, and Luz swallowed slowly.

“Everyone, no later than graduation, had to get a sigil and join a coven. For the rest of your life, that’s the only type of magic you’d be able to use ever again.” Luz explained, and Camila could feel her blood pressure rising. No wonder Luz was so furious. “Sometimes younger. Amity was supposed to get hers this year.”

“A-Amity?” Camila startled, “But she’s only fifteen!”

“Before her birthday.” Luz corrected, and Camila was surprised to feel her face growing warmer with anger.

“She’s a kid!! She shouldn’t be—” She started, but she bit her tongue hard . Luz simply nodded, before putting on a peppy grin.

“Point is, he’s gone now, and everyone is allowed to practise wild magic.” Luz explained, “Which is the way the Titan actually intended.” Luz turned, and noticed a bit of a look on Camila’s face, not anger, but instead almost surprise. “Something wrong, mami?”

“Aside from the whole… coven thing, it looks… there’s nine-to-fives, businesses, you said there’s a daycare? It’s just so… normal. ” Camila said, the last part is a slightly hushed whisper. “I guess I expected something more…”

“Boiling Isles?” Luz finished, and Camila guiltily nodded. “The two worlds aren’t all that different, not really. There’s libraries and schools, we’ve got holidays, we’ve even got… It’s good here, mama.”

“I can tell, you seem…” Camila pointed out, “You’re happier here, Luz, it shows.”

“…I feel more at home on the Isles than I ever did back home, mama.” Luz said, staring at the ground. “Can I…”

“It’s just… it’s dangerous, I’m worried you’ll get hurt or that something will happen.” Camila admitted, squeezing her daughter tightly in a shaky hug. “I just… I guess I wanted to not like this place, I think.”

“I get that.” Luz said, her words simple but a wave of emotion beneath the surface that Camila wasn’t sure how to process. “You wanted to hate the Demon Realm because it took me away?”

Camila nodded, and Luz paused for a moment.

“It’s better here, mama. That’s not just me, either, like.” She said, leaning her back against the cobblestone building behind her. “Free healthcare, we’re basically in Canada now. Odalia was fine with Amity having a girlfriend, just not… Well, a wanted criminal.” Luz admitted, scratching her hand nervously at the mention of the woman. “It’s okay here, and…”

“You really like it here.” Camila said, but it wasn’t a question. She watched as Luz’s expression shifted to something new, as Stringbean danced along Luz’s shoulders.

“Mama, if… if you and Vee wanted to stay here full time, I’d be over the moon. I know you don’t want that, but…” Luz said, looking up at the sky of the Boiling Isles. “Can I show you something?”

“Are you not already?” Camila teased, but the palisman that danced around Luz’s shoulder materialised into a wooden staff, and Camila felt her heart in her throat.

“I know you’re scared of heights,” Luz said calmly, and Camila chose not to mention how recent that fear was, “But I swear on the Titan, I won’t let you fall. You can keep your eyes closed almost the whole time if you want.”

Camila swallowed slowly, before giving a small nod. Mounting Stringbean behind her daughter, holding her shoulders with an iron grip, Camila closed her eyes, and she felt Luz kick off, rising into the air.

For what felt like a while, actually, the only she experienced was the air moving around her, and the sound of Luz giving affectionate praise and promises of treats to the ascending palisman.

Suddenly, Camila felt herself stop rising, and she held onto Luz tighter, before Luz opened her mouth.

“Alright, mom, we’re really high up,” Luz narrated, “But I won’t let you fall. Can you open your eyes?”

No , Camila wanted to answer, but instead she counted down from three in her head, and opened her eyes to…

Too high, mierda, she closed her eyes again, but then tentatively and slowly cracked them open, looking at the clearing beneath. Here they were, so so high in the air, so high Camila couldn’t actually rationalise falling from this height, able to see the entirety of the Boiling Isles — or at least, this one Titan — and it was…

The longer Camila looked at it, the more awe-inspiring it was. Valleys of long-gone sinew, bone and dirt-flesh making up swatches of land, all in the shape of a living creature; a living creature, just like the one sitting right next to her.

“That’s… are you…” Camila started, unsure of how exactly to ask the question on her tongue. Luckily, Luz seemed to understand.

“I’m not supposed to get that big,” Luz said, “Amity’s pretty sure I've only got a witch’s lifespan. But… that’s me, mom. That’s the Titan that brought me back, and…”

“Everyone lives on it?” Camila asked dumbly, knowing the answer. To cover it up, she spoke again, “I swear, it’s like you were destined for this place, Luz.”

“Nah, destiny’s not real, and anyone who says otherwise is selling you something, mamá.” Luz said, “If we waited for destiny to knock on our door, I’d have never learned magic, I’d have never met my friends, neither of us would’ve met Vee…”

“And the Titan saving you wasn’t destiny?” Camila asked shakily, and Luz shrugged, before giving a small laugh.

“I became friends with King, kept him safe. Or at least tried to.” Luz said, “And in turn, the Titan gave me a second chance. If I had just sat around waiting for her to do something, I’d have died waiting.”

Camila looked out at the clearing, and she swallowed again, tremors rattling her the slightest bit. They were so high up, but… “I see why you find this place beautiful. Up close, it’s all…”

“Dead looking.” Luz finished with a small chuckle, and Camila giggled a bit at the pun.

“But from up here, it’s…” Camila continued, a grin on her face, feeling lost for words. “I get it, Luz.”

“This is what the Isles always were for me,” Luz said, “Eda showed me this my second day here. Maybe… maybe that’s why I love it so much.” After a moment of quiet, Luz gave a soft chuckle. “Do you know what else we should get?”

“Mmm?” Camila absently asked, staring at the landscape beneath.

“Down from here, otherwise we’re gonna catch a mold.” Luz said, poorly stifling a shiver, and Camila gave a small laugh. “Close your eyes, we’re gonna go down a lot faster than we went up.”

Camila nodded one more time, closing her eyes as she held Luz’s shoulders, the two of them dropping too fast towards the world Camila had quite a bit more appreciation for.

Standing out in the clearing a bit, Eda glanced out at the sack of flour she had propped up, a cheap wooden mask wrapped on its burlap surface.

“Alright, Luz,” Eda said, ignoring Luz’s confused looks at the sack, “The first thing I was taught about magic, that Lili was taught, Raine, everyone in forever until the bonehead’s changed curriculum took over, was to let it go.”

“Don’t hold it back—” Luz sang, a grin on her face, and Eda gave a good-natured glare.

“Don’t you dare. Magic’s supposed to come to you naturally. The harder you try, the harder it is to pull it off.” Eda explained, “It’s natural, it wants to be natural. I did my best spellwork under threat of imprisonment!”

Luz stared at the ground for a half second, “What if I’m terrible at something and think I need to work extra hard to pull it off?”

“Yeahhhh, don’t do that. If you’re trying super hard, you won’t manage anything at all.” Eda said, and Luz nodded, a small scowl on her face.

“That’s why when I was fighting Philip,” Luz said, “I was able to cast spells I didn’t know.”

“Bingo!” Eda said, patting Luz’s shoulder and stepping back. “Sigils notwithstanding, every witch can cast any spell, and they can cast it easily if they’re not thinking about it. It’s our survival instinct, it’s how so many spells we know today were discovered, and it’s what always gave me an edge on Lili, ‘don’t think about it’ tended to make her think more.”

“To be fair, it’s like telling someone they’re consciously blinking.” Luz pointed out, and Eda frowned.

“What would that do? Consci-” Eda said, and Luz didn’t have to see her face to know what just cut her off. “I hate that.” A few moments later. “Oh, dammit. Anyway, I want you to pick a branch of magic at random, chop chop, quick—”

“Uh, um… bard?” Luz offered up confused, and Eda gave a vague sound of approval.

“Good pick!!” Eda said, “Either Raine rubbed off on you, or you’re more down bad than I thought, great pick. Now, I want you to use… any bard magic you want, knock that sack of flour over. Realise who it is?”

“It’s Philip ,” Luz snarled, and without further instruction, her hand spun in a blood-red glow, and a high-pitched warble slung across the clearing, a band of red surfing along the soundwave, knocking the flour back with a small kick. Luz stared at her hands.

“Eda, I just…” Luz trailed off, “I didn’t know how to cast that!” She turned around, and Eda grinned at the wide smile on Luz’s face.

“And bam, that’s how I became the most powerful witch.” Eda said with a smug grin, “Construction, punch it in the face.” Luz tried to spin the circle casually, but Eda could see the intent on her face, the calculating, and gave a curt nod as a couple pebbles shot from the ground weakly. “You get used to it.”

Turning back to the sack of flour, Luz stood in a slightly dramatic pose, and Eda smirked at the Titan’s antics. Finger twirling, “Wanna see what happens if I cast a spell I don’t know, Belos?” Finger searing a line of bright green in the air, a large vine skewered through the sack triumphantly. “It’s easy if I just don’t think,” Luz added, and Eda nodded, giving her a thumbs up.

“Alright, that sack was supposed to last longer,” Eda said, chuckling. “So, I want you to make good use of it being damaged. Launch it as far as you can, don’t care how.”

Luz looked at the sack of flour, and with one more spell circle, a wobbling brown, the ground itself heaved and shuddered, a heavy patch of dirt raising upwards and slinging the floor into the air.

With the sack high up, Luz swung her arm, brown giving way to bright pinks as the dirt was wielded like water, smashing into the side of the sack and slinging it out into the Boiling Sea. The second Luz stopped casting, she nearly doubled over, heaving and gasping for breath.

“Oh, damn, okay,” Eda said, frowning. “Forgot to tell you, you’ll have to make sure not to burn yourself out, call it evolution’s panic button, but there’s no real exhaustion until you’re getting close to running out.”

“I can… tell…” Luz said, panting. As she collected herself, she stood up, smiling wide. “I’m casting magic!”

“You’re casting it well, too. Most professional training is focused on calling up your magic casually,” Eda explained, “The less you need to think the steps through, the easier it is.”

Luz grinned, and Eda expected Luz to need a break, a pause. Eda should’ve known better. “Okay, I think I’m good now. So how do you do the whole not thinking part?”

“Alright, mami,” Luz said, dropping the small stack of multicoloured sticky notes on the flimsy TV table she had dragged outside, brandishing the pens in her other hand victoriously. “Welcome to glyphs one-oh-one!” She held out one of the pens for Camila to use, which the older woman took gratefully.

“So, it’s the drawings, right?” Camila asked, and Luz nodded.

“Each of the four main elements of magic,” Luz said, “Have a little glyph. For example, light glyphs are…” Luz sketched on one of the sticky notes, a circle with a triangle and two diamonds on the inside. Luz’s hands went instinctually to tap the little symbol, before stopping herself. “Try drawing that, but don’t tap it yet.”

Camila nodded, and while her circle wasn’t as perfect as Luz’s — seriously, how were they that straight? — and the lines were a little wonky, Luz gave Camila a proud thumbs up, and the woman tapped the glyph she had drawn, watching as the slip of paper folded and crinkled into itself, tighter and tighter, glowing a warm off-white light with the faintest purple hue, Luz feeling a warm tug inside her sternum as the Titan’s magic, as her magic did its work.

“I… I did magic?” Camila asked, and when Luz nodded, the smile on Camila’s face grew wider, “How did… How did you find this?”

“The first light glyph was inside one of Eda’s spell circles,” Luz said, and Camila nodded along, and Luz couldn’t keep the grin off her face as she watched Camila move to sketch a second light glyph. “It’s fun, right?”

“And the new one was in your eyes, right?” Camila asked, looking up at Luz and her eyes, glowing faintly with the supernatural force of the Titan’s magic. The younger girl averted her gaze at the eye contact, but nodded. “These are your glyphs?”

“Yep! The Titan left me with… everything. If King ever gets glyphs, we’ll know,” Luz chuckled, “Next one is the ice glyph…”

Diamonds, curves, circles later, Camila sat surrounded by papers, puffs of smoke, spikes of ice, and creeping vines shot into the open clearing. “So, wait, I’ve seen Edalyn and Hunter use the glyphs for, like… Everything.”

“Welcome to glyph one-oh-two,” Luz said, grinning, “Draw a big circle with two smaller circles liiiiiiike…” Luz drew a basic glyph array, the symbols excluded from the design, Camila following.

Camila stared at the array for a moment, and her eyes lit up. “Mija, cut me off if I’m wrong, but…”

Camila tapped the pen against the table, before sketching Luz’s variants of the light and ice glyphs into the blank spots of the array, and watching as the paper glowed brightly, and Luz felt a tug in her body, before in thin beams, skewers of ice shot out as projectiles, Luz yanking Camila to the ground as the glyph burned up its magic.

Luz looked at Camila before giggling, and the mother’s gaze twisted into one of bewilderment.

“What’s so funny, Luz?”

“Number one rule of making glyphs?” Luz said with a smirk, “Always be ready to duck.” Looking over at her mother’s face, Luz just barely caught worry melting into curiosity.

“So… what happens if I combine other glyphs?” The older woman asked, and Luz’s smile grew wider.

“Well, that's the fun of glyphs.” Luz said, standing up and grabbing a scrap of paper and sketching on it a basic circle. “So, you’ll want to…”

“Alright, mama,” Luz said victoriously, decked out in multi-chromatic school robes, “Here’s a proper introduction to Hexside School of Magic and Demonics!”

“Alright, slow down, mija,” Camila said, “I’m not as young as you!”

“It’s just, I wanna show you before everyone gets here!”

The building looked a little grander than the last Camila had seen it. No longer defaced with graffiti praising-slash-fearing The Collector, Belos, or one stray doodle of a weirdly creepy mouse thing, the building was clear of any stray boarded-up windows, and looked less like a bunker and more like a school.

As Luz tugged Camila through the front entrance, she could see the main hall, clean are-those-marble floors, red lockers and stunningly nice windows staring back at Camila — literally, actually, the lockers had eyes.

“So, where to first, mija?” Camila asked, and Luz bit her lip in decision-paralysis, instantly winced from the fang, and then pointed down a random hallway.

“Since I take all the tracks, I’m one of the only students who’s using the entire school. I spend a lot of time in the Healing Wing though,” She said, before noticing Camila’s look of worry, and adding hastily. “It’s Amity’s last class of the day.”

“Aaah,” Camila uttered in realisation. Young love , she mused, missing Luz’s small sigh of relief behind her.

“Well, this way then?” Luz asked, leading Camila forward, and the human nodded, following her daughter through the slightly winding path. Feet hitting the significantly cleaner floors, Camila was brought to a wing with dark blue hands adorning some of the iconography, with matching mouldings and lining adding the faintest pop of colour to the otherwise generic hallway.

“Welcome to the Healing Wing,” Luz said with a bit of bravado, “While a lot of it is, like, patching people up, it’s also biology, anatomy, all those people-y courses.” Luz blushed in embarrassment, scratching the back of her neck nervously. “It’s my weakest class. You can only do so much theory work here, but that changes today!” Luz said, twirling a dark blue spell circle in the air.

“And… This is one of Amity’s classes, right?” Camila asked, and Luz nodded eagerly.

“Healing and Abominations, the other one is…” Luz paused for a second, before sighing. “On the other side of the school. Aah, but I wanna show you it.” After a moment of thinking, Luz smirked. Double checking the hallway, Luz patted a section of the wall until she looked like she found something, a seemingly unhinged segment of the wall, beckoning Camila back to the Escher wonderland-slash-hellscape Luz had hurried the two in when battling Grom. With a chance to see it, Camila was actually scanning the structure plastered with doors on every wall, ceiling and floor, and realising it made no sense. There was a shelf instantly above the door they had just exited out of, one that should’ve cut into the hallway proper.

“We were in here before…” Camila said, “You said it was a shortcut room?”

“Yep, Eda installed it when she went to Hexside, a whole secret section that sorta just… exists between the walls?” Luz said, “You didn’t wanna be caught in the halls by Principal Faust. Makes Hal look sweet .”

“How!?” Camila cried, but Luz skipped right past that point.

“The shortcut room can get anywhere,” Luz said with a grin, “I can go from one side to the opposite in seconds, I can even reach what’s left of the underwing.”

“The underwing?”

“Yeah, Hexside ran a cursed newspaper there when Eda was young,” Luz shared, “Whole thing caved in. But that doesn’t matter for me, what matters is since I’m in every track, I need to get from the plant wing to my locker to the oracle wing in, like, five minutes. Hence…” She slammed one hand into one of the doors, and it opened outwards, into a seemingly normal hallway. “Bam! Oracle wing!”

“What did Edalyn use this for?” Camila asked, “She never did multiple tracks.”

“…Not officially. She used it for alibis, mostly.” Luz chuckled, “Eda can’t get from one side of the school to the other in five seconds, that couldn’t be her. Peeping into other classes was nice, but by the time she was able to make this , she didn’t really need ‘em.”

“And you’re using it for studying ?” Camila asked, trying to keep the disbelief out of her voice. Clearly, she was failing, as Luz’s expression faltered.

“Mami, I know how wild it sounds. Me, taking a nine-hundred percent courseload, and enjoying it.” Luz said, “But you’ve… seen it, right? I’m happy here, and it was at first just the thrill of real magic. But I’m actually a good student, I get A-pluses on the theory work, and now I don’t need to improvise the practical stuff.” Luz said, swirling a small red circle of light, a rising tone resonating from her fingertips. “I like school, just not…”

“Hal.” Camila said bluntly, and Luz nodded.

“Eda told me he expelled the top student for shoes squeaking wrong.” Luz said, and Camila paused, trying to think of h– Oh, the old principal. “Too squeaky is distracting. Not squeaky enough is suspicious.”

“No, surely not!”

“Can’t hear them, can’t trust them.” Luz said in a gravelly voice, likely an impression of an impression, and the two started laughing.

Pacing around a little, Luz smirked, opening one of the shortcut room’s doors, and guiding Camila through it into a wholly different hallway, one that had pinkish-purplish trim and decors, a small melting face decal plastered on one banner hanging nearby.

“Abominations!” Luz said, “Which… There’s a lot of theory work, Professor Hermonculus is… kinda bad at teaching, if I’m being honest.” She admitted, but then peppily continuing, “Those little purple slime things Amity can summon, those are abominations. Her dad used to build military robots out of the stuff. They punch hard, lemme tell you.”

“…Luz, why do you know that?” Camila asked, eyes narrowing just the littlest bit, and she watched as the Titan froze almost mid-step, not unlike a military robot herself, before turning to face Camila with a sheepish grin.

“I’ve had a lot of adventures.” Luz said, voice feigning elderly wisdom. Camila sighed. She’d talk to Luz about it later. “But yeah, I was a teenage abomination once, the homework story I told you about, it was a blast. Cut it a bit close, though.” She said, giggling at some pun Camila didn’t get.

As such, the tour continued, Camila being dragged inefficiently from one wing to another by help of Eda’s shortcut room; and in Camila’s honest opinion, it was… kind of inspiring? She had seen some of the school in a salvageable state when she first got here, but to actually see it in its prime, it was hitting her just how prestigious a school Luz had ended up in. It was divided into wings with full greenhouses for the plant track, stables with a full-on menagerie of creatures in the beastkeeping wing, and more for each of the tracks.

“Dios mío, Luz, this is a nice school…” Camila said, a little breathless, staring at the music hall that was reserved for the bard students. “This is fancy…”

“Turns out, the books got the fancy wizard school part right,” Luz chuckled nervously, before adding slightly quieter, “Is that… okay?”

“Luz, this looks like the type of school me and Manny could only dream of sending you,” Camila admitted. Some schools were more splendour than skill, but from the sound of everything she had been told, Hexside was “We never had the money.”

“I…” Luz swallowed. “Do you think dad would approve of me learning here?”

“Absolutely, mija.” Camila said, hugging Luz tightly. “God, he’d be so proud of you. Friends, magic, you saved the world. You’re a good witch, and I think that’s the only thing he truly wanted.”

Hugging Camila tightly for a while, Luz eventually stepped back, taking a deep breath. “All that’s left really is, like, the common areas, like…” Her hands ghosted for the door, internally annoyed. She knew this door was hard to open from the outside. Wiping some of the dust off one of the doors, she wedged one claw in the doorway and popped it open with a small hiss, before leading Camila inside. Stepping through it, Camila felt her surroundings turn , and glancing around, Camila blinked once, twice in confusion. That door was connected to a floor panel nearby one of the entrances, and she glanced behind her to a room that was still perfectly upright.

Camila wondered if readable maps existed in this world.

“Aaaand this is Principal Bump’s office!” Luz said, gesturing to a simplistic door that clearly was in need of repainting from whatever colour it had been before. “He’s great, actually, he’s gonna act all gruff and mean, but he’s a softie!”

“A… softie?” Camila repeated, blinking away the confusion. In all her life, a soft principal hadn’t been the experience in reality. Maybe in the movies, but never real life.

“Yeah, he’s actually expecting us, so we’re right on tiiii… Hold on,” Luz trailed off, some sixth sense, and with a snap of her fingers, her Demon Realm smartphone manifested from the void. “Oh, Amity wants to meet me in the Healing wing, uh—”

“I can talk to your principal,” Camila said, “See how things are.”

“If he says anything about the detention pit, ignore him,” Luz said, already stepping backwards, before with a wide smile, turning at bolting. “And Amity’s changed since then!”

“See you, mija.” Camila said, more than a little confused but chuckling to herself as the sound of Luz careening down a hallway faded into quiet. She turned to the office door, and holding her breath, she knocked.

Opening the door wide, she saw a man who was wearing a reddish hat with a tail. He seemed not entirely surprised to see Camila.

“Ah, miss… Noceda, was it?” He asked, moving to sit at the desk in the relatively small room, and he beckoned her closer, “I’m Hieronymus Bump, the headmaster of this school, will be for… well, a few more years. You wanted to speak to me, right?”

“Y-yes, I’m just worried about… Luz.” Camila said shakily, and for a minute, she was in head office after head office, the glowering looks of both Luz’s and Camila’s own principals flashing by. Camila’s nails had been chewed to stumps for a reason, the idea of Bump suggesting the Demon Realm equivalent of Reality Check, expelling her, idea after idea ran through Camila’s head and she was, simply put, terrified. “I’ve… been told by a lot of schools she can be a handful, and I want to try and discuss this preemptively to… make things easier for both you and her.”

“A handful?” Bump interrupted, “Ma’am, your daughter is perhaps the most rambunctious troublemaker Hexside’s seen since Edalyn Clawthorne—” Dread instantly sank into Camila’s bones, but before she could open her mouth to apologise — or maybe call Bump out for such rude bluntness — “It’s a welcome change of pace.”

“Luz is try— Wait, what?”

“Your daughter is smart, brilliant, and has mastered the difficult tightrope of causing problems and not hurting anyone.” Bump said, “Her first day here she saved nearly the entire school, myself included; she introduced the now-famous multi-track system, and really, she’s made this job a bit more interes— I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

Camila slid her glasses off her face, wiping at her eyes, “L-Luz is… Back home, in the Demon Realm, life wasn’t fair to her. I was worried this school was… Going to be the same.”

“Aah.” Bump seemed to muse on this for a second, before with a swirl of his fingers, a simple levitation spell to drag pen and paper. “Well, if you want, you and I can go over these possible concerns.” Camila stared at Bump dumbstruck, eyes threatening to spill again. “I… do you need a minute, miss?”

“N-no, I’m good,” Camila said, swallowing slowly. “So, which things should I start with?”

“Wherever you’d like.” Bump said, and Camila froze. To be the one leading the conversation in the principal’s office was a foreign feeling to Camila, and she racked her mind for something to start with.

“Attention issues.” Camila finally chose, “I’m positive Luz has ADHD, but we could never afford the diagnosis, so I could never get any accommodations.”

“…Okay, actually, let’s start with human terminology.” Bump said with a chuckle. “But you said attention issues?”

“Distracted easily, difficulty stopping and starting tasks, supposedly talking excessive—” Camila started, and noticed Bump’s wide grin. “What’s so funny?”

“Miss Noceda, you might be describing Edalyn’s behaviours.” Bump said, “Like I said. We have it covered. Allergies, this eighty thing you mentioned, physical accommodations. Perhaps Hexside wasn’t always as flexible, don’t get me started on my predecessor, but it’s the 50s, we can handle it.”

“You…” Camila swallowed, a mountain of worrying in her chest slowly dissolving, “Can I hug you?”

“…I guess??” The principal replied, thoroughly baffled. Camila felt a weight vanish. For the first time, she understood why Luz wanted to be in the Demon Realm so badly. Like Hell she was going to stand in the way now.

Willow was having a quiet evening in, exhausted from construction and reconstruction, when she heard a ratta-tat-tat at the door, a soft voice piping up behind the solid oak.

“Hey, Willow?” Amity’s voice came through, and Willow lazily spun a spell circle, not bothering to get back up, “Your dads let me in.”

“They did, huh?” Willow replied, voice a bit awkward.

“I know… um, we’re not that close anymore,” Amity started, wringing her hands, and a very very small part of Willow was getting a vindictive glee in this being just as awkward for Amity as it was for her. “But I… I trust your judgement, can I ask you for advice?

“Do you still know how to do a braid?” Willow asked cheerfully, and Amity nodded, and the plant witch beckoned her inside, sitting behind Willow with a smile as the witch sat cross legged on the floor.

“So, what’s on your mind, Amity?” Willow asked, appreciating the gentle feeling of Amity’s hands weaving Willow’s hair into braided locks.

“So, I wanted to go into bard when I was really little, before we even knew each other- little,” The witch rambled, hands running anxiously through bluish locks, as she handled them delicately into a braid that came to her surprisingly easy. “But mom said no, either take after her or dad, like Titan I’d pick Oracle, so I took abominations and I love abominations, but then Luz came along and now multi-tracking is a thing and—”

“Breathe, Amity. One-two…” Willow interrupted, and the pink-haired witch followed suit, eyes closed.

Amity slowed down, breathing gently, pausing for a second. “Thanks. Point is, I wanna take bard and healing, but I don’t know if I can handle three courses at once.”

“Why three?” Willow asked, eyebrow raised, and the witch behind her sighed.

“Abominations.” Amity pointed out, “I love them, I do enjoy them. I just…”

“You could always drop it though,” The plant witch said, “You fought the Emperor with abominations, I’d say you know more about them then the teacher.”

“I mean…”

“Professor Hermonculus couldn’t tell Luz wasn’t an abomination, so that might not be a ton to say, actually.” Willow added as one afterthought, before the second escaped her lips too, “And why are you asking me and not Luz?”

“Luz would either tell me to take every track like her, which…” The lilac-haired witch continued, slowly down near the end.

“Yeahh, nope. I’m good with my plants.” Willow sympathised, and Amity nodded.

“Or she'll tell me she’ll support me no matter what.” Amity said, “Which is sweet, and I love her, but it doesn’t make decisions any easier.”

“I think you’re just not used to people supporting your choices.” Willow added, and Amity’s face tinted red.

“Okay, probably, but—” Amity said, being interrupted as Willow jumped from a painful tug of hair. “Sorry!”

“All good,” Willow said, wincing a little. “All good, bit slower maybe. But I think you’d do fine in bard, and if you can’t handle the three tracks at once, well, you’re already nearly an expert in abominations. I bet you could write a book.”

“I’d rather not.” Amity said, “I’m almost done, by the way.”

“Thank you!!” Willow said, excitedly tapping her knees. That gives me an idea, maybe I could bring Earth plants here. If they get the portal working, maybe?” Willow said, before shaking her head. “Nevermind that, point is, you’d rock at it.”

“Thanks, Willow. I…” Amity trailed off, “It’s a bit early to make a decision, but… I don’t really know what I wanna do with my life, especially since Blight Industries is…” No more. The founder’s dead, after all. “The way it is. I’m a bit lost, but… But I’ll figure it out. Thanks.”

“No problem!”

“I’m done, by the way.”

“Oh, lemme se–Ow!” Willow said, pulling her head forward while Amity still held it in her hands. As Amity let go, Willow stood up, glancing at the small mirror on her desk. “Oh, I love it, thank you! Oh, you have to teach me how to do this myself!”

“It suits you.” Amity complimented, and Willow turned around and gave the lilac-haired witch a tight hug, “Aagh, can’t breathe!”

“Oh, sorry,” Willow said, letting go, “And don’t be a stranger, I… I missed spending time with you. I’m glad you trusted me enough to ask for advice.”

“…I’ve missed you too.” Amity admits, scratching the back of her neck nervously. “Maybe…”

“You doing anything Flensday?” Willow asked, and Amity scowled.

“Um, yeah, actually. Day after?”

Willow gave Amity a second tight hug, a wide grin on her face. “Better bring your A-game, Blight.”

“…anytime.”

Luz couldn’t sleep. Every time she closed her eyes, all she saw was green and muck. With small, delicate steps down the stairs, a small light spell twirled at her fingertips, she figured she was going to grab a drink of water and then try again.

Instead, she stifled a scream. The Collector did not do as much, fingers snapped in tandem to still-no-effect.

“C-Collector?” Luz stammered, voice a stage whisper, “Bedtime was at nine.”

“Why are you up?” The starchild asked, shoulders slumping.

“I… couldn’t sleep, you?”

The Collector simply tugged the blankets around themself tighter, frowning deeper than before. “Philip’s a jerk, and I keep thinking about…” Oh. Luz knew exactly what the Archivist meant. “Was that my fault?”

“Was what your fault?” Luz asked, quietly, and the Collector looked at Luz desperately.

“I hurt you, I hurt you really bad, and I couldn’t save Kiki, and…” The boy’s shoulders flumphed against the couch’s material, the dark outline of the Collector vaguely curling up. “He made me feel like I played in mud and can’t wash it off.”

“That’s why I couldn’t sleep either, you know.” Luz said. “Philip possessed me too, and it was awful, Collector. You didn’t deserve tha—”

“I did though, I taught him all my tricks!” The Collector insisted, before lowering their voice. “If I hadn’t helped him, then…”

“You were helping who you thought was a friend. I helped him too, you know.” Luz said, and the starchild looked up at her, and when staring right at his eyes, Luz could make out the bright moonlight reflected in them, despite walls blocking out the what-she-was-certain-was-a new moon.

“You did?” The Collector asked, and Luz nodded.

“Big time, I accidentally gave him his terrible idea, and…” Luz swallowed, “I know what it’s like to want friends more than anything. I get that, Collector.”

“He’s gone though, he’s broken like Kiki, right? If I can’t have her back, he can’t come back either, right?” The Collector asked, voice wet and warbly, and Luz held the child close.

“He’s gone, Collector. He’ll never hurt us again.”

(When Eda came down the next morning, she found two of her children curled up on the couch in the living room.)

Luz was not enjoying the fluff. Easily tangled, easily matted, all-encompassing and then some, and simply put, while the human-turned-Titan was loving almost the entirety of her new form, the fur was one Luz would rather do without.

Stepping out of the bathroom with a groan, Luz tediously ran her clawed hands through a random patch along her arm, where the fluff was thinnest, where the criss-cross patterns scarred without fluff were hidden anyway due to the sheer volume of the strands that were. Nearly walking directly into Vee, who was likely about to take a shower of her own, Luz was ruffling her arm trying to floof the fluff the way it was when she first gained this form.

“It’s endless, how does anyone deal with this?” Luz whined, and Vee chuckled. “Don’t laugh, I’m being mostly serious,” The former-human said with a frown.

“What if you use dog shampoo?” Vee quipped, and the Titan turned her head to look at Vee disapprovingly. Suddenly, Luz’s eyes literally shone brightly, and Vee groaned. “I’m joking.”

“Dogs have lots of fur, it should work, right?” Luz said, a weirdly-profound tone in her voice, and Vee just stepped past her sister, closing the bathroom door with a roll of the eyes.

Only the next day, Luz made a detour to a shop in the rebuilt part of Bonesborough, picking something up. Vee was surprised that evening when, after her shower, she was surprised to see Luz wielding a bottle of… “Luz, did you actually get dog shampoo?”

“You’ve seen how furry some demons get,” Luz said, “If this stuff doesn’t work, nothing will.”

“Luz, I was joking.” Vee said, voice flaked with a slightest bit of desperation, eyebrow raised as she stared at the shampoo.

“I wasn’t!” The Titan said with a cackle, and she closed the door behind her triumphantly.

When Luz stepped out of the shower nearly an hour later, forty of which seemed silent, no sound of water rushing through the walls of the Owl House, Vee stifled a laugh.

“Shut up,” The Titan said, but Vee smirked. Luz stood before her, every single strand of her hair dried and matte, clean thoroughly, yes, but also, it seemed like Luz’s fluffy fur was standing at all ends, puffed out and honestly? Luz looked more like a demonic duckling than a person.

“You know how dogs usually shake themselves off?” Vee offered up, chewing her lip to avoid cracking up, and the Titan’s gaze narrowed.

“How do you think I got like this?” Luz hissed, and Vee started giggling. “How should I deal with it?”

“And I would know, why?” Vee asked, and Luz groaned.

“Maybe you shapeshifted into some furry creature or whatever?” Luz said hopefully, running her hands through a patch of fur in an attempt to set some of it straight, and Vee did wince a little. Oh, Titan fur clearly didn’t wanna give, did it? “Hold on, I might actually be able to find something.”

“Thank you, Vee, you’re a lifesaver.” Luz said with appreciation clear in her tone, and Vee dug through her drawer. Having not brought a travel bag, let alone one with a brush, Vee had poorly guessed her hair thickness in Boiling Isles measurements, and with a toss, she threw a brush that was meant for much thicker hair than Vee liked having.

With a mostly-successful catch (“Nailed it, sis.”), Luz dragged the brush against her arm, and she let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks, Vee, that’s… Thanks. Thought I was just gonna be a duckling forever, you know?”

“The most adorable duckling.” Vee said, frowning as she looked at the book Eda had given her. Dammit, lost my place. It covered a lot of myths and legends regarding the Boiling Isles, including basilisks, and it was nice getting a chance to learn a bit more about her kind, even if she had…

“Hey, Luz, we…” Vee said, voice uncharacteristically small, “We switched worlds, didn’t we?”

“Huh?” Luz asked, turning back to face the basilisk, face scrunched up in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“I hate being from the Demon Realm,” Vee admitted, “Everyone’s so kind, but I just… don’t like it here. I wanna live in the Human Realm, be human, and…”

“And I wanted anything but that.” Luz said, voice faint. “Heh, yeah, we did switch, didn’t we?”

“Do you… regret any of it?”

“I mean, I wish mama didn’t kick me out,” Luz said, forcing a strained chuckle out. “Imagine how that could’ve gone. We could’ve had sister bonding right away, and… And who knows, maybe I’d be finishing my education in Gravesfield.”

“You’re a Titan, Luz.” Vee pointed out, and the former human shrugged.

“Maybe I wouldn’t be. But…” Luz looked at Vee, then down the stairs at seemingly nothing. “I wouldn’t change it. I’ve got my magic, and me and mama are… close, closer than we’ve ever been.” Luz looked sad for a moment, as if contemplating something.

“Really?”

“You barely knew her, and it took months to notice, Vee.” Luz pointed out, “We… It was bumpy, but we’re closer now. So… I don’t think I’d change it, for even a second.”

“…I’m glad you’re my sister still.” Vee said, and Luz nodded. “Hug?”

“Hug.” Luz said, arms wide, and the basilisk ran to Luz, the two hugging. “Thanks for keeping her company.”

“Thanks for the home.” Vee murmured into Luz’s shoulders, before stepping back with a cough. “God, there’s so much fluff, what the hell?”

“Duckling!” Luz said with a cackle, before brandishing the brush. “Luckily, I’ve got the cure to being a duckling.” With another brush, Luz winced. “Ugh, there’s so much.”

“You could get Amity to brush it, don’t act like she wouldn’t.” Vee teased, and the human glared at her sternly, before her eyes widened. “Nope, I won’t even make jokes anymore.”

“Luz! Vee!” Eda called up the staircase, “Get your butts down here!” Turning to face Camila, Eda gave a curt nod. “Ready?”

“Well, we can’t postpone it forever.” Camila pointed out, petting the soft bundle of fur on her lap. King really was adorable, wasn’t he?

Hearing the clattering of the two teenagers descending the staircase, Eda pulled out an extra chair for herself, sitting down as the kids arrived. “What is it, Eda?” Vee asked, voice non-confrontational but confused nonetheless.

“Is everything alright, mom?” Luz asked, and Eda nodded.

“All’s good, but… well…” Eda started, trailing off unsure of where to go. “It’s about arrangements.”

“Me and Vee aren’t living in the Demon Realm forever,” Camila continued, biting her tongue on the unspoken hopefully . Work on the new portal was coming along as fast as it could, in all fairness. “But we need to figure out…”

“Me.” Luz said, voice tinged with the slightest bit of guilt. “Since I’m…”

“You can stay here, mija,” Camila said, voice level and stern, “Or we can figure out a way for you to come back. The portal door will be there, you can pick and choose whenever you want.”

Luz swallowed, a wobbly smile on her face, and she stood up. “So. I can’t exactly…” Luz said, twirling on one foot, appearing less an average height with all the ordinary humans features, and more like a small skyscraper in the Demon Realm’s idea of normal, and the girl stopped spinning with a sway. “I don’t exactly blend in.”

“Concealment stones might work,” Eda began to offer, “But you’re still seven feet tall, with fluff about three inches thick. Those stones do wonders, not miracles.”

“I don’t assume there’s any way to… Transform back and forth?” Camila asked, but she already knew the answer.

“Nah, nothing in the Demon Realm works that way. Transformations are a tedious process, ‘least the permanent ones like this. The right potions, bloodline changes, the odd curse,” Eda said, hand clenching as fingers and unclenching as talons, “But what you got is one-of-a-kind, kiddo.”

“I mean…” Luz looked at Camila, face tinted blue with guilt. “I do wanna stay in the Demon Realm, and the concealment stone could work when in the Human Realm. Would that… work?”

Camila nodded, but Vee coughed, clearing her throat. “I’m…” Losing my mind. Paranoid. Restless . “Not super sold here, so all I ask is that if you’re hanging out with me, Luz, it’s in the Human Realm then, if the stones work. If that’s…”

“Yeah, totally fine.” Luz said, and Eda chewed her lip.

“Keep careful eye on any concealment stone, then,” Eda said, “But yeah, I’m sure Goops can program one for you.”

“So…” Camila looked at Eda, before looking back to Luz. “So you’ll be staying here.” To Camila, it almost faintly made her think of messy divorces and visitation rights, and to her own admission, she gave the court of Luz every reason to prefer ‘her other mom’ over Camila. “I…”

“I’ll visit, mama, that’s why the concealment stone,” Luz said, clearly seeing the internal gears in Camila’s head, “And you can always visit. Right , Eda?” The former-redhead stifled a sigh, and nodded. Camila was realising, Luz and Eda had possibly discussed this separately, and Camila was glad Luz was on her side.

“Hurt her again,” Eda warned, tone abruptly sharp, eyes narrowed. “I send you back through the portal in chunks—”

“Eda!! I said not to threaten her!” Luz cried out, but the witch kept speaking.

“But if Luz trusts you, well… I trust her judgement.” Eda said, voice transitioning to something softer, “And besides, you don’t seem that bad… Your reputation exceeded you, that’s for sure.” Camila took a breath. Suddenly, she looked at Luz, who had a sheepish grin.

“Eda’s protective.” Luz said, like it wasn’t a clear understatement, “She is the Owl Lady.”

The witch gave a cackle. “See, that’s so much better than pinning it on shiny pens.”

“It’s not because of your Palisman?” Vee asked, “Or is it…”

“This was once a curse,” Eda said, gesturing vaguely to herself, her harpy form still present. “But hey, blessings in disguise, you know?”

“And what about school?” Camila asked, and the room halted. For a moment, no one spoke.

“Hexside.” Luz answered eventually, voice hard as iron. “But that means…”

“Gravesfield High.” Vee offered up after, “But I really don’t wanna be you anymore.”

“You won’t have to be.” Camila said, “I’m sure we can pull something…”

“I sorta once married a guy whose idea of a date was tax fraud. I know human forgeries well enough.” Eda said, and Luz’s eyebrow raised while King jolted from his peaceful apparently-not-slumber.

“Wait, you married someone?” He asked, voice tinged with almost-horror.

“And it wasn’t Raine?” She asked, eyes wide with surprise, “Wait, human, was he human? When did this happen?”

“Like a couple decades ago. You are not old enough to hear that story, Luz,” Eda said sternly, before chuckling, “Buuuuut long story short was I stole his car in exchange for one hell of—”

“Edalyn.” Camila said, and Eda coughed, clearing her throat.

“Point is, human forgeries are easy.” Eda said, “Vee Noceda, adopted; and Luz is attending boarding school in, I dunno, Glendale, right?” Eda said with a smug grin. “That lot knows nothing about professional lying, it’ll be a piece of cake.”

“Does that work for you, Luz?” Camila asked, and she nodded.

“Yeah. That should explain where I went.” Luz said, chuckling. “I’ll need to learn their schedule for holidays, huh?”

“Or just stay with me and mama when you do cross over there.” Vee pointed out. Luz nodded, and leaned over to hug her sister.

“Nope, we are getting dangerously close to sappy,” King complained, and Camila gave him more scritches. “Neeeevermind, sappy’s okay.”

“There is one other thing to talk about,” Luz said, voice a bit shy, “Um, when I was… fighting Philip, I…”

“Take your time, Luz.” Eda offered, and Camila nodded in agreement. Luz swallowed, opening her mouth, closing it. She turned to Vee, and the basilisk gave a nod. Luz nodded back, some silent discussion taking place that Camila wasn’t privy to, and Luz took a deep breath.

“…I called myself Luz Clawthorne-Noceda.” The Titan offered up with an unsure voice, and Camila felt a wave of relief wash through her every fiber, eyes prickling with the start of tears. “C-can I still do that?”

“Luz, I’d be…” Camila started, voice choked up. “Yes, yes you can. If Eda’s good with it…” She said, conceding a bit of the point — she wasn’t Luz’s mother now, not entirely anyway. Noticing Eda’s expression to her side, she was surprised to see a smile on her face.

“Okay with me, Luz,” Eda said casually, before her gaze drifted to a slightly-annoyed scowl. “But the paperwork? That was ridiculously long, you’re doing it this time, that was so much , how did you and King fill that out?”

“There were a lot of blanks.” Luz pointed out, “We didn’t know what type of demon, half the paper could just be left empty.”

“Oh, that would’ve been nice.” Eda teased, and she outstretched her arms, one good hand beckoning Luz in a come-here gesture. “Come here, kiddo.”

The room softly and gently devolved into discussion, and Camila sat, mostly quiet with King in her lap, watching her daughters interact, heart warming as she watched, grateful to have her daughter back.

It would be okay.

Insomnia sucked, and what sucked even more was closing your eyes and quaking in fear. After one too many a jolt, feeling like she was falling back into the cold of the in-between, Luz climbed out of bed and made her way downstairs. It was far too early to be up, but tonight wasn’t looking to be a sleeping night.

Descending down the staircase, a small orb of light guiding her as she walked through the Owl House, she noticed Eda sitting at the table, looking over paperwork, all labelled with iconography Luz recognized from the Human Realm.

“Can’t sleep, huh?” Eda asked, and Luz’s face tinged blue. She shook her head, and Eda dragged a chair out — loudly, nosily, and Luz braced for the whole house to wake up. Thank the Titan for whatever Hooty’s walls were made of. “Take a seat, Luz. I’m just forging paperwork.”

Luz sat down, and the room was filled with nothing but the almost imperceptible hum of the light glyph, and the scratching of Eda’s pen against paper.

“You wanna talk about it, kiddo?” Eda asked, and Luz tinged bluer. It was no secret she had frequent nightmares, nor was it a secret that talking about it helped.

But then you’re burdening them with your nightmares , Luz’s mind supplied, and she silenced that little bit of herself.

“I’m just…” Luz swallowed stiffly, mouth filled with lead, “I’m thinking about the petrification. That’s all.” Eda’s chest ached, and setting down the pen, she grabbed Luz’s shoulder and let the girl lean into her.

“No, that’s a reasonable thing to be scared of,” Eda said, “I don’t wanna imagine you going through it again, but… I’ve got you, I’m here.”

“It’s just… it was cold , was it cold for you too?” Luz asked, and she felt Eda’s grip tighten abruptly, the older woman holding her less in a comforting hug suddenly and more like the way one might grip someone they just yanked out of traffic. “Mom?”

“What are you talking about, kiddo?” Eda asked with a wobble in her voice, leaning away to look at Luz’s face, all while the Titan’s ears filled with the faintest static. Oh. She hadn’t… actually… told Eda. “You… What happened?”

The girl swallowed, “Philip got me,” She murmured gently, “All the way, mom, I—”

“All the—” Eda’s face was struck with horror , the words on her tongue tangled, but words were finally finding Luz.

“Stone, for hours , I’m, the Collector undid it, they were able to do that, and they–. He just left me, Philip left me to die, and—” Luz stammered, words getting faster and more jumbled, and she held Eda tightly, words melting into simple crying, crying into the plumage that had rippled upwards, not noticing the way Eda shook.

“ You’re alive, kiddo, and I’m alive.” Eda said, “And no one is ever gonna pull that over us again, okay?”

“But what if they do?” Luz asked with a faint hiccup, and Eda held Luz tightly.

“Luz, he’s dead, and he brought that secret down with him. Four hundred years and he’s the only one who ever figured it out.” Eda said, hugging Luz tighter. “And even if someone did, Titan be damned, I’d fight tooth and nail for you, Luz.”

Luz nodded, humming in approval to Eda’s words, but her mind was dwelling regardless. I’m only alive because the Collector was tricked into saving me, she thought, maybe it would’ve been—

“And I know how hard you’re being on yourself,” Eda said, cutting through the train of thought. “You didn’t deserve it, and thank Titan the Collector saved you, because I don’t know what I’d do without you. I love you, Luz, oh thank Titan you’re okay.”

“L-love you too, mom,” Luz murmured, and Eda ruffled a hand through her hair. “I… Can I stay down here with you?”

Eda nodded, grabbing a scrap of paper from beside her, drawing one of Luz’s diamond-esque light glyphs and letting it linger in the air. “I’m so sorry, Luz. I… I get how terrifying that is, kiddo,” Eda said, running a calloused hand through Luz’s fluff, sighing deeply. “I get it, I wake up almost every night to that day in the castle.”

“How do you deal with it?” Luz asked faintly, and Eda gave a resigned sigh.

“You’re doing better than me,” Eda teased, “I’d just bottle it up forever. I kept the curse from King for nearly a decade, remember?”

“Mmmm…” Luz leaned into Eda’s side, eyes fluttering. The Owl Lady gave a soft chuckle, Luz unable to stifle a yawn. Her eyes were just a bit closed, maybe just… a minute…

When she opened her eyes, it was to the peacefully crack of sunlight snaking in through the windows of the Owl House, finding herself snugly tucked into bed.

She didn’t dream of stone the night after. The dreams would come back, but for now, it was fine.

(Not that morning, because it had already arrived; but the next morning, the Collector woke up to a huge box of toys in their room, his eyes wide with wonder and surprise.

“It’s the least I can do,” Eda had said, sipping on her apple blood, and the starchild missed the knowing look between Eda and Luz. “Now eat breakfast before you play, okay?”)

“Luz, I swear to the Titan, you let it get tangled on purpose,” Amity murmured gently, holding the brush in her hand tightly, and the Titan’s eyes lit up.

“Ooh, will you do this more often if I do?”

“Luuuuz…” Amity groaned, and Luz giggled, head rested on Amity’s lap.

“That’s not a no?”

“Oh, shush,” Amity teased, “Just hold this, this is gonna tug.” Amity said, running the brush through Luz’s fluff. As it caught and snagged, Luz shifted.

“Wwweh!” Luz yipped, face going bright blue, and Amity vaguely noticed the gentlest of purrs coming from herself at the comforting noise.

“You make that noise every time, Luz, why do you keep being surprised?” Amity asked with a chuckle, and Luz shrugged.

“I dunno, I think I have it under cont—weh!” Luz started, interrupted by the noise again, face deeper and deeper blue by the second.

“It’s a cute noise,” Amity said, and the former human melted a little, contently, into Amity’s arms. That soft feeling of Luz, weightless in her lap, Amity paused for a second, feeling a soft purr continue in her again, and not bothering to quell her, she resumed.

With each tug, a soft weh followed, the two girls basked in the soft nothings of purring and weh ing as the fluff was untangled, slowly but comfortably.

(Bright red and blue faces stuck around for what felt like hours when Eda showed them the pictures she grabbed.)

The Collector was once a god, now they were but a child with less magical ability than Luz once possessed. But the secrets of the portal were actually easy enough to rectify. Under the careful watch of the Archivist, they helped build the new portal, and after nearly a month, it stood steady.

The frame was steady, at least. Willow had done the work on the hollow frame, wooden roots twisting and turning into a thick frame, and with time and energy, the portal key inlaid like the worst least-useful door knocker, a vial of King’s blood dripping down, the door stood there, complete and with a starry sky design. (The Collector had so much fun painting.)

As energy coursed through the makeshift cables, the door shuddered, shifted, folded, and in a blinding light even Luz couldn’t look at directly, the door hummed . Turning back towards it, Luz saw it, standing proud and tall, a slab of wood that likely had the consistency of wrought iron, the Collector’s design stubbornly persisting — and seemingly, refined — on the door’s surface.

The door opened wide, Camila looked through the murky green, and back at Luz.

“I’ll be right behind you, mama.” Luz assured her, and Camila nodded, stepping over the mantle. Following after was Vee, who was clearly relieved to be gone from the Demon Realm, much to Luz’s amusem*nt.

There Luz stood, staring at the golden-greens, lost in thought. Staring at the portal door, it felt almost cursed to step through — every time she had crossed the world’s mantle, her life had changed drastically.

“…Kiddo, what’s wrong?” Eda’s voice snapped through the train of thought, “Cold feet? I can still shut it down. If you want.”

“No, just thinking.” Luz said, grinning. “Let’s do this. Hello, Human Realm.” Tapping at the second necklace around her neck, a light-blue shimmer skating across her body, Luz took a step through the door frame, suddenly hit with air that felt almost too fresh, the omnipresent sulphur fading into petrichor.

There, in the Human Realm again on the other side, she saw Vee sitting cross legged on the green grass, taking a deep breath, with Camila looking at the blue sky with a touch of surprise.

“Luz, I get it.” Vee said with a grin, “A whole month without this place, oh God, I missed you Earth!” The basilisk said, laying back on the grass, staring up at the sky with a fond smile.

“Me too, mija,” Camila admitted, “I was starting to get a little… pessimistic.”

“Imagine a whole ‘nother month,” Luz chuckled, standing on the steps, frowning at the familiar tan legs she saw as she looked down. The concealment stone was bringing her back to her human form, at least visually for others, and Luz couldn’t believe how used to Titan fluff she had grown in just a month. It just felt right, she supposed.

“Oh, I’m tall now, aren’t I?” Luz commented, tapping the wooden frame with her fingers — the sound of bone hitting wood giving away some of the illusion. “This frame used to be so much taller than me.”

“ That’s what sells it to you, mija?” Camila chuckled. “Lord knows you didn’t get that from me or Manny.”

“…Ugh, I was gonna make a joke since the Titan sort of is the lord or whatever on the Isles, but…” Luz stared at her hands. “Eh, calling myself a god eeks me out.”

“Proof you’d make a good one.” Vee said, brushing her hands through the grass one more time before leaping to her feet. “Now, Masha probably thinks I’m dead, I don’t wanna keep them waiting any longer, but…”

“Bring them to the house, they’re welcome.” Camila said, and Luz chuckled.

“Si, will do,” Vee said, “Will you…”

“I’ll be there,” Luz said, “Promise.”

“Thank you. Be back soon,” Vee said, before hitting the ground in a run.

Camila chuckled beside Luz. “She’s crushing on Masha, right?”

“Oh, absolutely.” Luz confirmed, “I can see the ship name now. Ma… No, um… Veesha?”

“…aaand you lost me again,” Camila admitted, but her smile faltered. “I’m sorry, Luz.”

“It’s okay, mama. It’s… This isn’t my world, but it’s yours, and so… I’m here.” Luz took a deep breath. “Ugh, you get used to the sulphur quickly, huh?”

“I wouldn’t have expected that. I will never take Earth’s air for granted again though.” Camila said, and the two laughed, making their way to the Noceda residence slowly.

As the two approached the house, Camila’s hand riffled through her purse, yanking out the key to the front door, and with a small jiggle of the lock, the door opened. Stepping in, Luz spun, looking at the building she had called home for so many years. Ever since they moved from Buena, Luz had called these walls home, and now, she called home in the confines of Hooty.

She’d have to pack. But she had promised Camila she’d stay overnight in the Human Realm a couple nights, just at the start. Luz couldn’t exactly say she was surprised, and in all fairness, it would be nice to say one goodbye to her second childhood home.

Thinking it that way made everything feel a lot more final, Luz realised.

“I’m going to check on Vee’s room,” Luz said, and Camila nodded.

“Your room too,” She reminded Luz, and the Titan nodded, “And Luz?”

“Yes, mama?”

“We’re home.” She said simply, “You don’t need to hide here.”

Giving a relieved chuckle, Luz tapped the concealment stone, watching it rippling away and she ascended the staircase, opening the plywood door that had just a couple months thrown her into a panic attack. The bedroom was, unsurprisingly, untouched.

Opening one of the drawers to her desk, Luz’s hand settled on an old sketchbook of hers, from before the Boiling Isles, and with a heavy dose of nostalgia, she sat down and opened it, delicate pointed fingertips scratching the pages lightly as they turned the thick drawing paper.

She had a moment.

Vee stood at the door to Masha’s house, feeling nervous. Despite having run all the way here — oh, that’s a workout — and knocking on the door, she was nervous for so many reasons. Despite that, there was nothing else to say, really—

She could hear a voice on the other side of the door, a vague I’ll get it , and a moment later the door swung open. Vee cracked a smile at Masha, who was standing there with a look of shock on their face.

“Vee!” Masha said, nearly leaping towards the basilisk, hugging her tightly. “Oh my gosh, you’re back, you’re okay! You had me worried,” They said, Vee looking at them with a smile.

“It took a while—” The basilisk started, hands moving a bit animatedly, sandy-blonde hair with frosted blue tips swaying. Did Vee grow her hair out a little? The two were speaking over each other, Masha realised faintly, but not fast enough to stop the flow of words fumbling from their mouth.

“But now we’re back and I rushed over here fast as I could, I should’ve said before I left but—”

“And I kept wondering if you’d make it, obviously you would , but you start to worry, and I never said that—”

“I like you.”

The two stood there, faces reddening, and Vee gave a faint chuckle. “Um, we… Did you…?”

“Oh, come here.” Masha said, their voice in a familiar air of dismissiveness, but their facial expression contorted with shock and maybe relief. Gripping the front of Vee’s shirt, the paranormalist crashed their lips against the basilisk’s.

A few months ago, Vee had never even considered the idea of romance. But right now, as the world and her senses clumsily exploded around her, she was positive she didn’t want to miss out on it.

Separating from Masha, as they brushed away a stray bit of hair in a daze, Vee grinned wide at them, a jumble of words on her tongue. “...that just happened.”

Rather than laugh at her, Masha simply smiled back. “That it did.”

“Um…” Vee’s face was bright red. Masha knew their face was probably no better, but couldn’t Vee pick and choose that? They’d have to ask. Later. Definitely later.

“So you’re back.” Masha added uselessly, internally facepalming.

“We established that, yeah…” Vee trailed off, “Do you wanna see mom and Luz with me? And we can…”

“Obviously, lemme just tell my oppa,” Masha said, before turning to call something through the house. After a response that Vee couldn’t make out, Masha turned back to her, closing the door with one hand and slowly reaching for Vee’s hand with the other. They smiled at her, and the basilisk smiled back, grabbing their hand. “So, what happened while you were gone?”

“You won’t believe this…”

“Luz!!” Camila called up the staircase, “Vee’s home!”

Luz let the book clatter to the desk, careening down the hallway, wincing as she hit her head on the doorframe, making her way down the steps, preparing to tease Vee as was her sibling responsibility.

“Vee, how was Maaaaasha, there you are!” Luz corrected, leaning against the wall, one hand awkwardly placed. The paranormalist stared back at Luz, eyes wide. “Now, I know this looks bad.” Luz said, unsure of how to elaborate.

“Lllluz.” They said, sticking a hand out to shake, and Luz took the olive branch.

Turning to her sister, the Titan chuckled. “So, Vee, brought them over?”

“They insisted, and…” Vee offered up, “I mean, I missed ‘em.”

“Like hell I’m letting her vanish again.” Masha said, face tinting the slightest bit, and Luz bit her tongue. “A whole month , god, I was worried sick , and clearly for good reasons, because what the hell happened to you? I thought you were human?!”

Luz’s gaze darkened the slightest bit, shaking off the anger boiling deep beneath the surface. Oh, I have to work on that. “You didn’t tell her?” Luz remarked, and Vee shrugged.

“It kinda became normal for me?” The basilisk shyly commented. Luz could concede that point, although she suspected Vee was hiding something. It wasn’t her place though.

“Philip killed me in the graveyard. You just missed the resurrection, and well…” Luz explained, twirling a spell circle smugly, and Masha looked with fascination.

“Wait, who revived you?”

“…don’t freak out.” Luz said simply, “But remember I told you about the Titan on the Boiling Isles? Turns out, he wasn’t… dead?” Luz explained, voice becoming progressively quiet, and she watched the gears slowly turn on their face, before Luz could pinpoint the second it all clicked.

“…are you witch Jesus?” Masha blurted out, face going bright red, “I’m sorry—”

“—no, don’t be, oh, that’s great!” Luz said, laughing hard. Wiping actual tears from her eyes, she looked up at Vee and Masha, the two of them having transitioned somewhere along the conversation to holding hands, and Luz raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, Vee, can you lend me a hand?” Camila asked from the kitchen just a bit aside, and Vee darted in. Maybe in another circ*mstance they’d do takeout, but Camila and Vee both were dying for Human Realm food. (Luz was more than a little nervous. She had no clue what her allergies were, other than lactose still .)

“Give her a second,” Luz said casually, not noticing the way Masha was looking at her, too focused on seeing Vee turn away and run to Camila’s aid. Turning to them, Luz gave Masha a knowing look, her face still as expressive despite being inhuman. “So, it’s official?”

“Y-yeah,” Masha said, scratching the back of their neck. Oh, they had been hyping themselves up to answer to Camila, they were not prepared for Luz. Especially now that Luz looked like… Wait , hold on, wasn’t Titan the god-thing from that myth she had told them?

“I don’t know you super well, but Vee trusts you with the truth about her, so…” Luz shrugged. “Just… you’re not going to hurt her, right?”

Masha tried to keep a faint quiver out of their voice. “Obviously not.” Huh. Suddenly, all the stories that had preceded Luz’s reputation that had drawn Masha in the first place suddenly made sense. She was terrifying .

“Good. She deserves the best,” Luz said, smiling gently. “She’s been through a lot.” Masha nodded quietly, eyes locked firmly on the razor-sharp claws Luz was brandishing almost haphazardly.

“And Masha?” Luz added, almost as an afterthought. “I guess, um… Hurt her and you’ll…”

“Luz?” Masha spoke up when Luz was quiet for going-on-ten seconds, and the Titan scowled, looking at them with a sheepish grin.

“Dammit, trying to think of something ominous.” Luz admitted, “Wait, oh… No, nothing. Whatever, don’t hurt Vee, got it?” Masha was going to laugh. Luz hadn’t been trying to send them into an early grave, fear induced or otherwise, and the paranormalist started chuckling. “Got it?”

“Don’t worry, Luz,” They said, “I won’t hurt her.”

“…I believe you, you know.” Luz said, before snapping her fingers. “Oh, gotta go pack!” And the Titan cheerfully made her way to the staircase, Masha left in the dust. They sighed, making their way to the kitchen to see if they could help at all with the food.

And tell Camila.

(Camila actually would give her a shovel talk.)

The Collector and King lied on the floor of the Owl House, the Archivist rolling a small ball in their hands, training wand depleted at his side.

“It’s official, it’s so boring.” King groaned, “Is there nothing to do?”

“Not my fault!!” The Collector said. Sometimes, bouts of exhaustion tended to hit the Collector and Luz, seemingly a side effect of Philip’s unwanted hijacking, but the Collector was usually able to keep themselves entertained during their bouts.

Usually.

“…Collector, can I…” King wondered, “Can I see that ball for a second?”

The Archivist nodded, giving the ball a small hug before passing it to King. Staring up at the ceiling, King lobbed the ball into the air, and with a faint whisper, weh! ed the ball upwards further, eyes widening.

The Collector caught the ball, grinning wide. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“What about you, Collector?” King asked, and the starchild grinned wide.

“I can be the bad guy.”

Fifteen minutes later, after scrounging the Collector’s toybox for as many soft balls as they could, the two found themselves in the grassy field next to the Owl House, near the section torn up from Luz’s spellcasting that had since mostly healed up.

“On the count of three,” The Collector said cheerfully, “One… two… three!”

With a short lob, the Collector tossed one of the soft balls up, and with an echoing weh!, the ball was flung into the air high up, and the Collector watched it soar for a second, before smugly tossing another one over King. A second weh! followed, and before the two kids knew it, three or four soft balls at a time were being juggled.

It wasn’t maybe the most stimulating game, but the Collector was having plenty of fun grabbing whichever ones fell and throwing them back to King, a small game to see if they’d spend more time in the air — point for King — or plummeting out of control — point for the Archivist.

From time to time, that exhaustion caught up to the Collector, and breaks were had. For some of those breaks, they and King simply watched the skies. During one of them, King swallowed slowly, before speaking.

“Hey, Collector?” King asked while the starchild sat, and they looked up at him. “Do you think…”

“All the time,” He answered when King went quiet, before he grew a more serious expression. “Is something wrong, buddy?”

“I’m sorry,” King said, “For tricking you? When we met, I…”

“I get it, King,” The Collector replied, throwing the ball to King for him to catch the normal way. “I forgave you for that a long time ago.”

“Huh?” King was a little surprised, grateful, but surprised. “But I never apologised.”

“I knew you would’ve, though.” The Collector added simply, “We both… We both were desperate. Philip said he’d let me out if I helped him, and I never really stopped to think about what was happening.”

“Do you… regret it?” King asked with a hint of wonder, and the Collector shrugged.

“I knew Luz says she wouldn’t change anything, but I would. Least a bit.” The Collector confessed, “I wish someone better had found me. Eda’s nice, I bet it’d have been okay if she found me.”

“Yeah, it would be.” King said, voice faint. The Collector noticed King’s sad expression, and he frowned a little.

“Especially because then we’d have met sooner,” The Collector said jovially, snapping King from his train of thought. “So no more moping around, let’s get back to catch!”

King gave a soft chuckle and nodded. “You’re on.”

It had started as a movie night. Every other weekend, Eda, King, Luz, and Camila tended to stay in the Owl House, Raine out and about with the BATTs — yes, Eda, it's still BATTs. I can't convince them to change it — and Vee at Masha's house for D&D every other weekend.

Once the Collector was tucked into bed, the four would sit with some cheesy film. Sometimes it was human, the cheesy tropes not so much offensive so much as absurd to the point of comedy; sometimes it was witch, for Luz’s pop-cultural benefit and the fact that Camila found some of them surprisingly riveting.

This one was, according to Eda, one of the cheesiest horror movies on the Isles, one that Camila would have been convinced ripped off Saw if not for the surprisingly compelling Hallmark plotline that clearly came first. It was surprisingly good for being Hallmark Saw, Camila wouldn't deny it.

As the night dwelled however, Luz’s eyes grew heavy and King yawned more and more, the two Titans curling up with one of their moms and slowly stumbling into dream land.

As he passed out, Eda pet King gently, the littler of the two Titans curled up on her lap. She looked over at Camila, who had Luz out cold leaning against her shoulder.

“Should one of us get up?” Eda said, and Camila nodded. The two women sat there still. “Can’t be me, King’s on my lap.”

“Luz never falls asleep, you know how light she sleeps now.” Camila whispered, and the two just sat in silence for a minute.

“Well, we’re officially stuck. Raine will find us and we’ll still be here.” Eda joked, before clearing her throat a little.

“You know, Edalyn,” Camila said absently, still staring at the cheesy horror movie playing on Eda’s crystal ball, “At the very beginning, I didn’t like you. At all.”

“Well, that was a sudden change in topic. I can guess why though,” Eda asked, voice dripping with sarcasm, “Was it because your daughter came to me after you kicked her out?”

“Eda.” Camila said, and Eda froze. The short-and-sweet Eda was a rarity forthe human. “Let me speak, please.” Eda gave a curt nod, and looked at Camila as she took a deep breath. “I… You were the mom I couldn’t be. You never made Luz feel unwelcome, you never… God, I mocked her, Eda, she shouldn’t forgive me, I… I failed her. I kicked her out because I couldn’t accept that maybe she was at home somewhere else.”

“It’s been nearly a year , Cami.” Eda said, “And you’re only realising this now?”

“I realised it a long time ago.” The human said, stroking Luz’s soft fur, “And I… I cut my losses, I came to the Demon Realm to protect her from that tu puta madre, oh, I’m glad he’s dead,” She snapped, voice raising in anger, before quieting down as Luz stirred a little, “I did it to save her, because God forbid… she die again.”

“You hurt her.” Eda said, frowning a little as King absently nibbled on her fingers, before detaching the wrist and leaving it there. “I… Titan, the way she spoke of you before that, I think I was falling for you second-hand. Kind, courageous, it was clear that you hung up the stars in Luz’s eyes.”

“Then Raine came back, and then you pulled that stunt… And do you want the honest truth, Cam? I don’t want you around my kid.” Eda admitted, before looking at the sleeping Titans. “And I feel awful for that, because you’ve proven it was a one-off, and yet…”

“You still don’t trust me.” Camila said, and she nodded. “That’s fair, I wouldn’t trust you if the tables were turned.”

“And yet… you’re not bad.” Eda added, “You are a good woman, just one who screwed up immeasurably . So… Luz forgives you, you haven’t done anything else like that. I… I can’t forgive you for hurting our kid, but it’s clear to me that Luz wants us to turn over a new leaf.”

“You can forgive me, but not what I’ve done.” Camila said, chuckling softly. “Sometimes, I swear, you and Luz are related by blood.”

“Nah, I got it from her.” Eda said, “That one, that’s all you.”

“…our kid, then.”

“Our kid.”

The two sat there, quiet lingering in the air, as the cheesy horror movie about evil chess-themed murderers played on the crystal ball absently. It wasn’t long before Eda and Camila joined their kids in the land of dreams.

There weren't an awful ton of traditions Luz still took part in. Boiling Isles holidays were something different. Some holidays, or anniversaries, she spent in the Human Realm, but most of her life gravitated around the Demon Realm now.

All that said, it was Luz’s fifteenth birthday, and there was a tradition she wasn’t going to miss for the world.

Her quinceañera.

Dressed in a gown that was some cross between Human and Demon traditions, web textures (or maybe just webs) adorning softer purple fabrics, stitched and sculpted to fit the Titan, Luz stood feeling slightly awkward, maybe even vulnerable.

The event was rather private, just consisting of Luz’s family and her closest friends, but it was lively despite that, dancing filling up the room. The centre of the room was given enough clearance for Luz and Camila, the older woman taking her daughter’s hand as music crackled into being, and Luz swallowed her nerves.

As the speakers played a familiar melody over the speakers, Camila held Luz tightly, the two swaying, a small waltz to their steps that neither Noceda was exactly familiar with. Camila noticed the happy look on Luz’s face, and gave a smile.

“It’s been a busy year, hasn’t it?” Camila asked gently, and Luz gave a chuckle.

“Oh my, it was, wasn’t it?” Luz asked, “Like, fifty weeks ago was that book report. Best class project ever .” The two gave a laugh, as Luz tried to match the footsteps, a surprisingly difficult task due to the nearly-two-feet difference in height.

“He hated that he wouldn’t be here,” Camila said gently, chewing her lip with nerves. Luz looked down, eyes wide, “He loved you, and… He wanted you to always remember that, even if nothing else about him.”

“I’ve remembered, mama. And he’s still here,” Luz said, smiling fondly. “He’s still here, even if he’s… not, you know?”

“Sé que lo es.” Camila murmured, and Luz’s eyes glittered in the light.

“No sé bailar, ¿sabes?” Luz added, voice faint, “Me gustaría pensar que es él, de alguna manera.”

Camila nodded, leaning in and hugging Luz a bit as they swayed, and the younger girl felt tears running down her cheek, smile wide. “Te querido, mama.”

“Te querido, mi Luz.”

It had been one year since that day.

Miraculously, only one person died during the Day of Unity, and while a lot of people left flowers at the grave, most if not all were left out of basic respect for the departed and dead, not of any genuine heartbreak.

But when the night was fading, Amity stood before Odalia’s grave, without flowers, without words.

“Hey mom.” Amity said after forever. “I don't really know what we would talk about if you were here.” The clearing was too quiet. She suddenly regretted doing this alone, wishing she hadn’t insisted Luz spend the day with Eda and King.

“I guess to start, everyone else made it.” Amity murmured, “I’d like to think you’d be glad to hear that. Me, dad, the twins, we made it.” With the words coming out blindly, Amity just rolled with it, hands tapping anxious at her legs.

“Uhh, Hexside’s done rebuilding. I’m taking bard like I always wanted to. Me and Luz are steady, I’m pretty sure Emira and Viney are dating, uh…” Amity said, “A lot has happened since you left, but I don’t know if you’d… like hearing of it? It’s not the life you set up for us, but… We’re happy.”

Amity wrung her hands a little, not even bothering to stop the small flapping of her hands she did when she was young, she did again now, whenever she got stressed (or bored, or excited, really.)

“We didn’t have any mother-daughter time, so I don’t really… know?” Amity said, voice thick with emotion, “I miss the kind woman who raised me, who taught me my first spell, who was there for me when I was sad. I miss her, and maybe… Maybe she could’ve been you. But she’s not, and that makes me kinda want to cry, but… I don’t think you’d like that either.”

“I don't think… Luz visits her dad every year.” Amity said, “And maybe I'm the villain here, but… I don't think I’m coming back. You made me miserable, mom, but when you died… all I hoped is you weren’t, so you could get better , so I could have my mom in my life.”

“That was never gonna happen,” Amity admitted, and she closed her eyes, wiping at her eyes. “But I do hope you rest in peace. You deserve that much.”

Amity swallowed the bile in her throat, turning around. Without a second look at the lone gravestone, she made her exit.

The training wand the Collector had been using for the past year worked perfectly fine, and would probably continue when they started at Hexside in the autumn, but the Archivist had a second issue: craving companionship. And with the recent replantation of the palistrom trees, Eda had an idea of what could be done.

That was how Hunter found himself here — while several people had offered to help, the starchild was adamant about Hunter being there when he did it. While he had expressed interest in making it up to all the palismen he had been responsible for hurting under Philip’s rule, he had turned down Dell’s offers of training, so to pick him felt a bit weird.

“Okay, now, hold it a little tight, you don’t want them wobbling,” Hunter said, gently showing the Collector what to do, and how to hold the carving knife. Hunter guiding the small starchild carving away at his palisman, the clump of blue wood slowly whittled away into something fluffy looking, the natural instinct of the Archivist helping them carve away at it with grace. While the Collector was getting a couple nicks here and there, ‘that’s how they’ll know I’ve always loved them’ and they were adamantly refusing Hunter’s help to carve safer.

Oh, where was Dell?

But as the carving slowly took shape, Hunter was surprised at how well the starchild took to it, and the form of a wooden rabbit eventually emerged. When the Collector was satisfied with the look, it seemed to hit him all at once, and their eyes welled up with tears.

“I love them, I love them so much…” The Collector said excitedly, voice not its usual loud cadence, but softer, gentler, holding the wooden rabbit tight. “Thank you for helping me!!”

“Why me, Collector?” Hunter asked, still not sure why the Archivist wanted him of all people to help, instead of Eda, King, Luz. No, he insisted on Hunter.

“…I trust you, you’ve never hurt me…” The Collector said, “I wanna get to know you , this you, because all of you were… so nice…” Oh. Hunter knew what the starchild meant, thinking back to the abandoned bodies of Golden Guards of the years past. “I wanna know you the way I know King, or Luz and Vee, and…”

“Oh, I’m touched, Collector,” Hunter said, hugging the starchild tightly, “It means a lot to me, it… It really does, thank you.” To be not Caleb, and his heart swelled with pride. He still wasn’t sure how to be affectionate, so he gave the starchild a gentle pat on the shoulder. “And your palisman seems like it turned out great!”

“Thank you!!! Now what do I do?” The Collector asked, stroking the smooth blue wooden surface of the hare, and Hunter smiled softly.

“You have to tell it what your greatest wish, deep deep down is.” Hunter started, petting the cardinal that tried to nuzzle into his shoulder. “It’s okay if you don’t know right away, Collec—”

“I…” The starchild cradled the wooden rabbit close to their chest, speaking just loud enough to cut off Hunter’s words, “I hated the loneliness, I hated it, and I… I never want anyone to be alone again.”

Suddenly, the palisman flashed bright , overwhelmingly bright, a white-hot sear in Hunter’s eyes, and he turned away, the radiance a little too much for him. A long wooden staff extended from it, but then receded, the small rabbit hopping into the Collector’s arms again. As the light slowly subsided, afterimages burned in Hunter’s retinas, he saw the rabbit nuzzling the Collector’s face cheerfully.

“Her name’s Lucienne,” The Collector said quietly, hugging the rabbit tightly. “Oh, I love you, hiiii…” As the Collector hugged the palisman, Hunter gave a small smile. There was a look of wonder of the Collector’s face, and it was one Hunter couldn’t help but think would be nice to see more often.

…He wanted to make up for how he had hurt palismen under Belos’ rule. And he had an idea how.

“You good, Hunter?” The Collector asked, snapping him from his train of thought, and the grimwalker nodded.

“You’re a good kid, Collie.” He said, and the Archivist chuckled.

“Collie?”

“It’s a nickname,” Hunter said, “And… Thank you.” He watched as Flapjack and Lucienne chatted about something, Hunter only processing half of the conversation, and his smile wide.

“I’ve never had a nickname before!!” The Collector said with a grin, kicking his feet a little as he pet the soft fluffy texture that made up the rabbit palisman’s fur. Suddenly, their face scrunched up in confusion. “Wait, thank you? For what?”

“I wouldn’t be around if not for you either,” Hunter pointed out, “And I… I think you helped me find something.”

…he’d need to talk to Dell about that apprenticeship idea.

Children were wonderful. That much was clear to Luz, especially with the way she watched as a group of children of varying young ages sat cross legged and calmly, as Luz and Amity took turn reading lines from the storybook they were reading to the kids in the library.

“And with a jolt of wonder, he uncovered his eyes,” Amity read from the book, “Huxtable never had quite a surprise. He jumped and he leapt, complete shock on his face—”

“You did this for me?” Luz said, going a little bit extra with the voice in a way that Amity was trying not to let captivate her — extra was just one of the things Amity loved about her, after all, “I got seventh place!”

“‘You helped dear ol’ Iris,’ his buddies all said,” Amity continued, “‘You would’ve got first, if you left her for dead,’” It was easier to notice when Amity was talking, the way the kids all seemed to turn their head excitedly, anticipating the next line.

“‘I suppose that is right, but I let you all down,’” Luz spoke in her voice, and she noticed the shocked reactions on all the kids’ faces, here and all throughout the story. She wondered if this was the first time they had heard this one.

“‘It doesn’t matter, we swear, you did the best in the town.’” Amity continued, “So the party was had,”

“The cake was delicious,” Luz inserted, as an afterthought and not simply the next-line that it was.

“While sixth through first place got dismissed as too vicious,” Amity neared the end, “But he did what was right, at the cost of his own. That’s the spirit of winning, and that’s better than gold.” As Amity closed the book with a dramatic clap , the kids started speaking over each other, and Amity gently shushed them. “We gotta go now, but I hope you had fun?”

“Yeah, we did!!” One kid said, getting up with a wobble, while the similarly-looking demon he called his sister stood up and spoke up too.

“Thank you for coming here!” She said with a smile, hugging Amity(‘s leg, considering the height discrepancy.) One by one, the kids went through, until the last one, whose name Luz recalled as Veritie, hugged Amity.

“Thank you, Miss Amity!!” She said, hugging the witch tightly. To Luz’s surprise, the small demon let go and gave Luz a surprisingly tight hug as well, “Thank you, Miss Luz!”

“…thank you , Veritie,” Luz said, ruffling the demon’s head. “It means a lot to me that you enjoyed.” The demon gave a gleeful smile, and ran off after her brother who had left several seconds prior, nearly tripping as she did so.

As the children disembarked, Luz leaned against the wall, chuckling under her breath.

“This is nice, no wonder you started doing it.” Luz said, and Amity nodded.

“I did it at first just to get out of the house some,” Amity admitted, scratching the back of her neck, “But Titan be damned, they’re adorable, right?”

“They really are.” Luz agreed, before looking at Amity with a slightly smug expression. “Soooo, how long before we show them Azura?”

“Luz. They’re six.” Amity said, “These are not books for six year olds.”

“I read Azura when I was eight, that’s basically six?”

“Seven.” Amity said, “But we’re both aware, like, I love those books, Luz, but there’s enough flowery writing to choke out any other garden. The kids wouldn’t like it.”

“I know , I know, you know how I am.” Luz said, eyes wide. “But okay, we’ll show them to our kid then.”

“I’d like that.” Amity said, before her eyes went wide and her face flushed tomato red. “Luz, you can’t just— I—”

Luz planted a kiss on Amity’s cheek, surprising herself at how Amity could grow redder. “See you tomorrow, batata, sleep well!” She said, grinning wide, grabbing her bag and making her way for the door, grabbing Stringbean from the little playdate she had been in with Ghost as she made her way out.

“It is my pleasure to announce this year’s Grom royalty…” Principal Bump’s voice had crackled over the intercom, “Hunter Daemonne!”

Ultimately, it had been that simple, and that’s why Hunter was decked out in a red and yellow floral suit, eagering looking at Willow (and the rest of his friends, but mostly Willow) for approval.

The chasm in the floor separated, and Flapjack ceased chirping, extending and twisting into a wooden staff that rested in Hunter’s hands comfortably.

It was no surprise to anyone what form Grom ended up taking.

“Hunter,” Grom said, a deep old-English accent creeping into words, the face of the old emperor staring back at him, “You came back to me?”

“I-I-” The grimwalker stared, hands quaking, shifting, shaking, “Yo-you’re not real, are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be, Hunter?” The beast growled, taking a striding step, a metallic staff clicking with a deafening echo, “You’ve never seen me die, I could still be working my way into the heads of your friends…”

“Be-because—” Hunter closed his eyes for a second, and then, in a blitz of gold, he appeared behind the fearbringer, Flapjack already in motion for a swing, and the beast screamed, staggering.

“Caleb, what is wrong with you?” The nightmare snarled, twisting, changing, green rot and purple fluid mixing to become a hulking monstrosity. “Perhaps I made the wrong decision in the graveyard.”

Hunter froze, eyes narrow. “Shut up, Grom.” His voice was steady, too steady.

“You’re quick, skilled. Better than the girl.” Grom asked, voice dripping with sarcasm, “You didn’t think you had a say, did you?”

“No, you know what I did think, Belos?” Hunter asked, a golden smear streaking the air a second time, a burst of some explosive, a potion of a make or model, erupting at terminal velocity in the creature’s chest. “I’m gonna make my own choices. I’m not gonna work for you anymore, and I’ll never step foot in that throne room again!”

A second smear, and the beast tripped, faltered, falling backwards, “I’m gonna study wild magic, learn to carve palismen,” Another, and this time it was a simplistic swing, and Grom fell to the ground, twisting into the human appearance of his uncle. “But first I’ll attend Hexside, play flyer derby with my friends!”

“H-Hunter, please,” The creature moaned, pain in its eyes — real or not, Hunter cared little.

He blurred into focus in front of Grom, Flapjack fluttering beside him, not in staff form, and with only a moment of contemplation, he grabbed a dagger off the weapons rack. Only he and Luz would understand the significance of his weapon choice, but it would be cathartic all the same.

“And most of all, I’ll make sure you never hurt anyone ever again.” He growled, staring into the beast’s eyes, fears forgotten, and with one good lunge, a lifetime of training he never wanted manifested in the forefront to dig a blade with excellent accuracy into the monster's chest.

The Fearbringer collapsed. The audience cheered.

(It was the last time Hunter ever wielded a weapon.)

The boiling rain was surprisingly soothing to Camila. The faint hissing sound outdoors from when in the comfort of the Owl House made it almost serene , much to Eda’s complete bewilderment. For someone had spent forty odd years fearing the rain, that made sense, but for now, the change was rather welcome.

But with the portal being located just outside the Owl House, it’s not like Camila had much of a say anyway. Boiling rain and all.

Instead she found herself in Eda’s living room, a warm cup of cider in her hand as she and Eda chatted. It turned out, the two of them actually could get along wonderfully if they looked past the rather important parenting differences.

“Well, how did you bring yourself to say no?” Eda asked, waving her hooked hand around, “King’s puppydog eyes still make me fold like a card house.”

“To be honest, I can’t bring myself to put my foot down like I should anymore,” Camila admitted, “But for a long time I asked ‘would future Luz’ want this? But she’s… Both her and Vee have been through a lot, I trust them to make the right decisions for themselves.”

“I don’t think you get it, King keeps asking to go for evening strolls in the rain.” Eda said, voice dry but humorous.

“Si, no matter if I said no, Luz did it all—” Camila started, before paling. “The boiling rain?”

“Only one we have! Apparently, he’s strong enough to withstand it now!” Eda complained, “But I still don’t like him walking in it!”

“...What if he did anyway? Can you even stop him?” Camila asked, curiosity peppered her tone, and Eda sighed.

“No, I’m glad he’s better behaved than I was,” Eda pointed out. “I once went in the boiling rain just because my mom insisted I shouldn’t. I was seven.”

Camila hissed through her teeth. “That sounds…”

“I was a stupid child,” Eda claimed with a grin, “Glad Luz and King didn’t get it from me. I’m also glad Luz doesn’t puppydog eye me anymore.”

“Dios mío, so am I. Vee just learned to try pulling it.” Camila pointed out, “It’s so hard.”

“We spoil our kids rotten, don’t we?”

The two were so busy talking they didn’t even notice the banter of the house demon, or the way Luz stepped inside the house, fur slicked with rainwater. Stepping up the stairs as quietly as she could, Luz chuckled softly, taking relief in her mothers bonding.

She couldn’t believe how lucky she was.

Amity took a deep, deep breath.

“Hello, everyone, friends and families of this year's graduating class,” Amity said slowly, voice clear and strong. “I am Amity Blight, this year’s valedictorian, and I have been chosen to give this year's speech.”

She smiled softly, looking at the audience. She couldn’t truthfully deny how nervous she was, resisting the urge to wring her red-clad arms in the bright lights that shone upon her and her peers.

“When I started my high school career, it was to the dream of the coven system,” She started, “And I was but a humble abomination student.”

“And then, came a human.” Amity said, face tinting. “And not to gush about her too long, but she helped us all, with introducing multi-tracks to Hexside, and leading the charge against the former Emperor.”

Amity took a breath, “But in the years since the Day of Unity, it's been nothing short of good. Students now multi-track freely, picking fields that hadn't existed before, or pursuing passions that they once couldn't.”

Amity did a small twirl, blue leggings and red sleeves caught in the light. “I’m not the only abomination student to leave that track in pursuit of other passions that bring me happiness, we’re free to explore what we enjoy instead of just what we’re naturally gifted at; and abominations aren’t the only track to receive an influx of people who would've always taken it as a second course.”

“And I could wax poetry for hours about how much good has come into our lives, but that would simply take time away from living it. So whether it be reuniting with old friends, falling in love, fighting gods and kings, everything in between,” Amity said, unable to keep the emotion out of her voice as she turned to face her classmates, “I thank you all so much for the best high school career I could've imagined. I always knew I'd graduate, but I never knew I'd be this happy.”

“Happy graduation, Hexside. Thanks for all the memories.”

“Oh, your speech was great, Ami!” Luz said, hugging her girlfriend with a spin, and the witch blushed the faintest tint.

“It wasn’t that good,” Amity insisted, and Hunter shrugged.

“Short, sweet, better than rambling for so long that three of my fellow graduates fall asleep.” The palisman carver said, expression faltering for the briefest moment, and he chuckled. “So, what’s the plan going forward?”

“I haven’t told you? The university’s nearly done,” Luz pointed out, “Plan to attend that, then go from there.” Wild magic was Luz’s future, no one was surprised, but every track hadn’t exactly focused her course choices. “Maybe I’ll be a teacher, Hexside needs a troublemaker on staff.”

“Since when do the staff need to cause trouble!?” Hunter asked, hands wide in confusion, and Luz gave him a wide grin.

“Takes a troublemaker to stop a troublemaker.” Gus commented, and Luz lifted a hand, high-fiving the illusionist, “Thinking of going into reporting, like dad did. Tell me I wouldn’t rock at it?” He gestured to himself proudly, and Luz leaned in, giving him a hug. “But first, the road-trip.”

“Wait, road trip?” Amity commented, and Gus looked at her like she had grown a second head.

“Me and Matt? With Vee and her partner?” Gus asked, and Amity gave her a flat look, and he gave a grin. “Road trip before college, all the weird places in the Human Realm, or at least its United States. We’ve got Paradise Ranch because obviously, middle of nowhere Oregon, there’s a weird inventor guy in the tristate area,”

“It’s all Vee’s talking about, I’m giving her a hard time but I’m so happy for her,” Luz said, smiling wide. “Keep her safe, alright?”

“Yes, I will…” Gus groaned good-naturedly. Hunter had a feeling this was a conversation the two had before. Several times.

Amity’s eyes were a bit distant, and the girl frowned. “Not sure exactly, but I’m thinking of, maybe…” Amity’s voice quieted as she scratched the back of her neck nervously, leaning into Luz’s hold a little bit. “A victory lap, figure it out a bit more, and then probably university to pursue it.” Even all these years later, it was an open secret that Amity wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. She had spent so long on the Emperor’s Coven path, that anything else seemed fragile .

“I’m sure you’ll figure it o-www!!” Suddenly, a small chirp from Flapjack, tugging on Hunter’s hair, and the grimwalker’s face cracked in a wide grin, rushing over to Willow.

“Will’!” Hunter said, hugging the woman tightly. No one needed to ask where she was going, as if the absolute celebration when she was selected for a professional flyer derby team had completely gone under the radar. “Oh, I’m so happy for you!!”

“I’ll be honest,” Willow admitted, “Never thought this day would come, might miss Hexside, ya know?”

“I know!” Luz commented, “Like, it’s been… A fixture here for me, I’ve been going to Hexside almost since I got here. It’ll be weird not going there. Actually, wait, wait, wait,” Luz said, pulling her scroll from the void it normally sat in comfortably, “One last Hexsquad selfie,”

“I’m not in Hexside anymore though?” Hunter pointed out, and Luz grabbed his arm, yanking him into shot, hitting the capture button as he nearly fell, catching him too late as he sprawled on the ground, blinking away stars with a laugh. “Point taken.”

Hoisting Hunter up, Luz and her friends made their way out of Hexside’s main entrance. Luz stopped right before the exit, watching her friends leave. She turned to face the shiny surfaces, and with a grin, she waved a small goodbye to her high school.

“Luz, we going to Redstone or not?” Gus called back, and Luz turned, a small smile on her face.

“Wait for me,” Luz said, feet hitting the ground as she darted after them.

(That selfie, Luz’s arms and Hunter’s everything a blur of staggering movement, was immediately set as her scroll’s background photo.)

Luz swallowed slowly, listening to the ever-so-delicate click of the suitcase, one that didn't come because yep, definitely too much stuff in here . It was barely moving out, really. The Owl House would still be here, but it was, for the first time in a long time, not going to be Luz’s home.

Wow. Some time ago, that sentence would have horrified her. But… university was awaiting, and that was different.

“Kiddo, you got everything packed?” The nonchalant voice called from the hallway, and Luz’s rolled her eyes, turning to face Eda. The witch was impeccably dressed, ready to be the headmaster — yes, headmaster, ‘chancellor’ is stuck up and you know I’m right, she insisted — of the brand new university for wild magic. Decked in familiar reds, but with a frankly disconcerting amount of professionalism, Eda stood, eyebrow raised.

“Almost, I don’t have everything in right, mom,” Luz said, and Eda groaned.

“Kid, it’s a ten-minute flight from the university, you can leave some stuff here.” The witch insisted, and Luz shrugged, grabbing a bundle of twine from the nearby desk and wrapping it in tight loops around the still open suitcase. Shoving the spool deep inside, Eda shrugged. “Or do that, I suppose.”

“Learned from the best,” Luz said, and Eda chuckled.

“I have never used twine to seal a suitcase.” Eda started with a smug expression, but Luz fired back, grinning.

“But if it works, it works, right?” The Titan asked, and the Owl Lady paused, tilting her head.

After a moment, she clicked her tongue, shaking her head. “Touché, kid. Now, are we gonna get going, or are we gonna be late?”

“We’re gonna be fashionably late,” Luz said with a laugh, but she lugged the overfilled suitcase up and started to race past Eda, the witch rolling her eyes the littlest bit.

“Oh, mom, I get it now.” Eda joked to herself, following Luz to outside the Owl House, and she stepped out to the sight of Luz mounting Stringbean, an eagerness to start moving evident in her posture.

Kicking off from the ground, Luz soared through the air on Stringbean’s staff, Eda close behind, and the Titan glanced around at the ground beneath, smiling wide. It was all so familiar, but different from time, and it was… She was sentimental today, and it was inspiring to think of how much she had seen the Isles change, for the better.

And speaking of change, Luz hadn’t seen the relics of Belos’ castle after the fall of the Emperor, not before it was torn down completely. Seeing how it had been fully replaced was more than a little cathartic, nightmares of seeing herself in glass windows feeling less tangible than ever.

The University of Wild Magic now stood in its place, platforms and landing made of wood all weaved as the world’s most complex and elaborate treehouse, bridges and avenues between bits of the structure all in a densely packed cavalcade of trees, palistrom trees mostly, towering seemingly endlessly, a canopy so thick even the Boiling Rain would struggle to get through.

“Bam, welcome! Inaugural class, too.” Eda said proudly, ruffling the top of Luz’s hair,

Luz took a step, staring at the ground that delineated the natural environment from the more maintained wooden floor that made up the property’s edge, and Luz was… actually kinda nervous to cross it. She was snapped from her staring by Camila’s voice beside her.

“Looking forward to it, mija?” Camila asked, and Luz looked up at the wrapping tree stalks and vines that adorned the university, imagination and focus drifting for a moment longer, and with a soft chuckle, she nodded.

“Yeah.” She finally said, grinning, “Yeah, I am. More than I ever have in my life.” She took one step over the mantle, leaving behind her worries on the other side. The worst days of her life were behind her, and the first day of the rest of her life had begun. It had begun a long while ago, but it felt different now.

She was happy.

And she wouldn’t change it for the world.

When the light is running low,
And the shadows start to grow,
And the places that you know,
Seem like fantasy;
There’s a light inside your soul,
Slowly shrinking in the cold;
With a truth, a promise in our hearts.
Don’t forget,
I’m with you in the dark.