Chapter Text
If there was one thing the Witch's had to admit about Belos’s reign it was that he did make a good system for organizing magic. Everything else he did, terrible. It was this concept that led to the annual covention continuing on past his reign. Luz practically bounced in place at her mothers booth. The Human-Witch Relations Council had a booth up every year, normally manned by someone far lower but Eda was on the Isle and thought she may as well.
“Luz!” She turned and spotted Willow. She looked up at Eda.
“Kid I’m the one with a job, go hang out with your friends.” Luz nodded and ran off to her friends. She could see Gus off to one side and if she was right Amity would be at her dad’s stand.
“Luz!” Gus noticed her and quickly detached himself from the group he was with. “I wasn’t expecting you. Got any more human oddities with you?”
“Nah, just the usual.” Luz shrugged. She carried a fidget with her. Gus nodded and fell into step with her and Willow. The three of them crossed the covention center in short order. The three had long practiced getting through crowds easily. “How’s the arena looked so far?”
“Not much activity this year. Still can’t believe people tried to get us to shut it down.” Willow said. “I don’t think anyone’s died in it since before I was born.”
“Dad remembers people dying in it as a kid, but he grew up when Belos was in charge.” Gus added. Luz nodded and the three continued to talk as they explored, Amity and her dad were still in the busy section of the day.
“Think there’ll be any fights today?” Luz said as they finished watching the construction coven’s demonstration.
“If Boscha sees you there will be.” Willow said, Luz and Gus laughed, the weird rivalry Boscha started wasn’t really antagonistic but was a pain. Both being potions prodigies focused on combat potions pit them against each other a lot.
“Well well well. If it isn’t the B-squad.” The three stopped at the voice. Boscha was behind them, taunting as always. Luz grinned, despite her annoyance she always fell into the competitive nature.
“B-Squad? But we have Amity, wouldn’t that make you the B-Squad?” Luz said. Boscha scoffed at the notion. “It’s good to see you on your feet, Boscha.”
“Yeah well, good news for you the doc says no fights. Benched me for half the season.” Boscha sounded annoyed at that, grudgby was her passion, combat a close second. Losing half a season must’ve hurt.
“What? Without you we’ll lose to Glandus.” Luz was the one to speak but Willow and Gus had the stronger reaction. Both seemed outraged. Every highschool took their rivalry seriously but the isles put every other school to shame.
“That’s why I’m talking to you. Need someone to take my place.” Boscha shrugged. Luz blinked at that, she hadn’t played in years and she knew Amity wouldn’t. “Willow, you got a spot if you wanted. I know the rest of you losers aren’t interested.”
“Me? I’ve never played, I don’t know the first thing about grudgby.” Willow said. Luz knew she was right, Willow hadn’t played before. Luz and Amity had, if anyone was the go to sub it was them.
“Duh. I’ll still be there. Luz is too aggressive for this team and Amity primary strategies were dependent on me and Luz.” Boscha said. “I know you're into Flyer Derby but give it a shot.”
“I’m aggressive?” Luz looked incredulous at that point.
“Luz your go to goalie strategy in your last season was to rip the goal post out.” Gus pointed out, Luz sputtered for a moment.
“Well it’s not my fault it’s allowed, sorry for playing my position.”
“Playing your position? Luz you were three points from beating the record for goals scored in one season.” Gus said. Luz grumbled about it. Boscha shrugged and continued on her walk, she had time to wait for an answer. The other three continued their chatter.
Luz, knowing the history of the coven system, appreciated the covention more than most. She’d grown up with stories of how the coven system was. Most brandings happened at coventions. To see what had been a forefront of tyranny be something truly for the community.
“Interested in the healing coven?” One of the booth managers they passed said, Luz shook her head. She had tried healing and it just wasn’t for her, Willow and Gus seemed interested however so they stopped.
“Can healing magic really heal almost anything?” Gus said, he, much like Luz herself, was happy to learn anything even if he’d never use it.
“Ah yes. A simple spell to heal a cut, something a tad more complex to mend bone. Cures to disease, all of it is possible with healing magic.” The man said. His bragging was clear as day to any paying attention.
“Is it true that most healing magic is built off of potions?” Gus said, his general excitement almost disguising the look that crossed the man's face. Almost, but not to Luz.
“Yeah. For example the spell to heal broken bones is based on the old Clawthorn Calcium stimulant.” Luz said, the man's look came back again, only this time looking a little angrier.
“Clawthorn? Like your family?” Gus said, he'd picked it up too then. Luz had explained this more than once. “That’s so cool. I didn’t know healing magic borrowed so much from other covens.”
“It doesn't.” The man said, his anger hard to hide. “Healing magic may have been made using the advances of other covens but it’s all healing magic. No cross-coven casting involved.”
Luz’s eyes narrowed at that. It wasn’t something Gus or Willow caught. Luz had been trained to spy potential dangers to herself. Being the daughter of someone as important as Edalyn Clawthornpainted a target on her back. Cross-coven casting was one of the things she’d been told to watch for.
“Cross-coven? Sir spells aren’t exactly coven specific.” Luz said. She made sure to seem confused. “The covens are more specializations than anything else.”
“Oh, you're that young.” the man scoffed. “You know something, I remember when we were still casting the proper way, following the titans will.”
“No you weren’t.” Luz said. Gus and Willow, who’d caught on to the danger now looked at her like she was crazy, maybe she was. Egging the man on was probably a bad call. “The titan’s dead, it has no will.”
“That’s what you think.” Luz nodded and turned to her friends.
“Come on guys, there’s other booths.” The three walked, Luz making note of the man’s face. Once they were some ways away they continued talking. “That guy was weird right?”
“Yeah, definitely.” Gus said. “I’ve never heard anyone but Emperor's Coven goons say cross-coven.”
“It’s hard to believe that there’s still people out there that thing like tat.” Willow said. “I mean, it’s like they think binding your bile sack is a good idea.”
“Brainwashing. It’s a hell of a drug.” A voice said behind them. Amity Blight with her abomination coloured hair and typical smug grin was standing behind them. “Take it from someone who’s dealt with it.”
“Amity!” Luz practically launched at the other girl, Gus and Willow were content to simply wave. “Have you gotten your mom to back off more?”
“Better, Dad’s been working on a divorce case where he’d keep the company for a couple years now.” Amity said, her three friends each congratulated her. “He kept it pretty secret but pulled me and the twins aside to let us know so we’d be prepared when mom gets served.”
“He told the twins?” Willow said. Luz and Gus latched onto the idea as well. Telling the twins was asking for major trouble when he served Odalia. It was a strange move, for anyone other than Alador at least.
“Yeah, we think he wants a prank and well, the twins hate mom so he’ll get one.” Amity said. She quickly fell in step with the others as they moved towards the arena. “So, no challengers?”
“Oh no Blight.” Luz gave a cocky grin. “You and me. I leave triumphant and you announce that you lost.”
“Oh confidence.” Amity said, her own grin equally as cocky. “My favorite thing to crush.”
“Oh great.” Willow said, rolling her eyes.
“Here we go.” Gus added as Luz and Amity glared at each other. It was mostly playful banter between friends but the two had gotten into some pretty heavy fights in the past.
“Oh really?” Luz said. “You, me, witches duel.”
“Done.” Amity said. She leaned in. “The arena’s clear now. That is if you don’t want to back out while you still can?”
“Back out?” Luz scoffed at the absurdity of the idea. “Remind me, who won our last duel?”
“Oh sorry that I didn’t think to bring a second branch of magic into our abomination fight.”
“Does it ever end?” Gus said, looking at Willow. They knew it was mostly playful banter but it happened almost every year. If it wasn’t Boscha going after Luz it was this.
“Would you want it too?” Willow said. It was a strange thing to consider, Gus and Willow were the prodigies, the powerhouses full of natural talent and overflowing with magic. Luz was similar, and Amity worked to reach that same level.
Gus could cover a castle in illusions with a thought and willow could control a forest by instinct. Luz and Amity though? They wielded magic like master crafts, weaving effects and spells together to produce things that could rival anyone else, even the greatest in any field.
“Luz is winning this.” Willow said, nudging Gus. Luz crossed her arms and gave the smuggest grin she could.
“What? No way, Amity’s way more powerful.” Gus said back. The group quickly planned an exhibition match in the arena and made their way there. The rest of the covention was forgotten by the four as they cheered for their friends.
Arena fights were scheduled events so they had to book a slot but they did get one for later that day. The four sat in the stands until then, watching the few other matches and some other scheduled events. Luz leaned forward in her seat as her aunt took the stage.
“Good evening people of the Isles.” Lilith called, sweeping a hand out holding her staff. There were cheers for the woman as she bowed. Lilith smiled at the attention, while she’d abandoned her dreams after Belos was revealed she did have a couple back up plans. Her job in archeology was great but her passion was in the stage magics humanity introduced her too. “Thank you, thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the show so far folks but I hate to disappoint you, unfortunately our glorious entertainment will be ending.”
There were boos and jeers at that. The playful kind a crowd gave when they knew the performer was fishing for it.
“Well I’m glad to hear that, but unfortunately I’m not the next performer. I’ll be refereeing a match between my niece and apprentice!” The cheers practically exploded at that, Luz and Amity’s fights were famous at this point. “Luz Noceda-Clawthorn and amity Blight, good people!”
Luz and Amity vaulted into the arena, each of them grinning as they prepared spells to open the match. Their fights tended to get explosive. Out on the floor however Eda was leaning lazily on her stand, Owlbert beside her.
“Ugh, this sucks every damn time.” Eda said, watching as others mingled. Her stand wasn’t popular, sure it was a big deal. Besides, being a representative of the council wasn’t actually why she was here. No, the council had gotten word of another Emperor’s Council member on the isles and it was her job to root him out.
“Would he be here?” Eda nodded at Owlbert’s words.
“Oh he is. That scum can’t avoid a place like this.” Eda said. It was true, almost every member they’d caught had been at a covention. It was like a beacon to them. Eda just so happened to draw the short stick this year. Owlbert kept a close eye out while EDA interacted with people, it was the best set up.
“Healing booth.” Owlbert said. “There’s an extra stand, he’s talking about cross-coven casting.”
“Good eye buddy.” Eda stood up straighter and called Owlbert to her side. She caught the staff and cracked her neck. “Alright, let’s do this.”
Eda’s approach was slow and methodical, carrying so much authority everyone simply stepped aside. Eda knocked on the desk of the booth in question. It took a moment for her to get a response but the man running it stepped out and looked up at her, Clawthorns were tall people. He visibly gulped at the site of the Owl Lady.
“Uh, how may I help you miss Clawthorn?” he said. Eda leaned down a bit and smiled as sweetly as possible.
“Yes actually. We’ve gotten tips about a potential Emperor’s Coven informant amongst the healers guild.” He looked more nervous now. Good. “Just a quick check, you know, simple policy. It sucks but you know how it is.”
“Ah yes of course I-” A blast of fire splashed off a golden wall as he went on the offensive. They always did, as if Edalyn Clawthorn hadn't earned her reputation. Eda took a second to watch him fly into the air on his staff and sighed.
“They always do this.” With a flicker of Deadmagic and feathers Eda sprouted her large owl wings and flew into the air to join him. Her harmony with the owl beast provided an incredibly useful benefit, far far easier staff casting while in the air. “Look buck-o, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s up to-”
Eda was interrupted as she flicked a barrier out to block a bolt of lightning. She glared past the shield for a moment then grinned.
“I will never surrender to you Wild Witch. ” The last two words were spat with so much venom it almost made Eda laugh. “Soon you and all like you will fall. Then we will teach your children what’s right! They will grow to hate you as they should!”
More than one person on the ground winced at that. Eda’s grin fell, with a flicker of indescribable power she was before him, talons gripping his shirt and lifting him off his staff. If there was one thing you didn’t do with Eda it was threaten kids, everyone knew the story about the house fire that occurred at her human home.
“I doubt it.” Eda said, slowly lowering to the ground. “Now, you're going to tell us everything we want to know and then the courts will get to you.”
“The Emperor will rise and you will burn.” He snarled as he struggled in her grip. “I promise you this now and forever! You wild witches will pay for stopping the day of unity.”
“The day of unity was a genocide you damned fool.” Eda said as they landed. “It was meant to kill everyone.”
“Lies!” He exclaimed, struggling ever more. His struggles meant nothing against Eda’s frankly absurd strength. “All Lies! Spread by your lot to discredit him! How could you know better than him! Belos speaks to the titan himself.”
“He really doesn’t.” Eda sighed as she handed him over to the officers waiting for her.
“Thank you ma’am, we’ll handle it from here.” She rolled her eyes and went back to her booth. It always amazed her the way people like that talked, humans called it a cult. To her they were just manipulated suckers.
“Always the same drivel.” she sighed, once again leaning on her staff. “Sending me to deal with a low level infiltrator, waste of resources I say.”
“No collateral!” Owlbert said besides her, the exact reason the council voted on her.
“Hush you.”