Chapter 3: The Whoo-tastic Staff

                                    

                                          
Reality had dealt her a harsh blow, the force of it resounding in her mind. The day had started with such promise, awakening in the mystical Owl House, where the fantastical world of the Boiling Isles had become her reality. The pinch to her arm confirmed that this was no mere dream.
Her gaze drifted towards a cherished photograph of herself and her mother, displayed in her borrowed room that Eda had given her for her stay. Nestled beside it was a little owl plushie. She didn't quite remember who or where she had gotten it from. It could have been a childhood gift from her parents, though she couldn't be certain. Nevertheless, it held a special place in her heart, accompanying her on every adventure.
And then there was the owl necklace that was safely tucked away in her shirt. That one she did know where she got it from. It was a tangible reminder of her mother's love in the days before her mother tried to change her so much. When her mother accepted Luz's fantasy. It had been given to Luz on her twelfth birthday; a year after her father passed. Her mother had said that she had it lying around since the day that Luz was born, just waiting for the day that she was old enough to know that Luz wouldn't lose it. It meant so much to her to think that her mother had gotten her a necklace the day that she was born and had kept it all of those years.
Luz wore it at all times, in the shower, to bed, everywhere. She never took it off. It always laid against her chest.
Shaking herself from the sentimental reverie, Luz embraced the exhilaration of her surroundings – a house imbued with magic. She just had to explore it! 
With boundless curiosity, she explored through every nook and cranny, marveling at the bizarre and extraordinary artifacts collected by Eda over the years. A skull that burst into operatic melodies, a jar filled with bewitched eyeballs that tracked her every move, and a book that threatened to but her fingers off when she dared to open it.
A closet yielded a trove of witchy garments, which she eagerly donned, yearning to embody the enchantment that surrounded her. But her hopes were swiftly dashed as Eda revealed that the supposed witch attire was nothing more than a black bathrobe and a dusty traffic cone. King was laughing at her dismay. Disappointment flickered briefly, but Luz's determination remained unyielding. 
"What will I learn today?!" Yearning to commence her witch training, she eagerly inquired of Eda, only to be reminded of their agreement. 
"How to sell potions," Eda squashed her hopes.
That put a bit of a damper on Luz's spirits, but she had willingly pledged to aid Eda in her side business of potion-selling. It excited her somewhat until she learned she was peddling "boiling cream". That initially dampened her spirits, but Luz resolved to soldier on.
However, fate had a twist in store for her. As she wandered through the bewitching landscape, she stumbled upon a majestic castle, its walls pulsating with powerful magic. Within its confines dwelled a mythical wizard, who listened intently as Luz shared her aspirations and dreams. In that moment, the wizard bestowed upon her a quest, revealing an ancient prophecy that foretold the arrival of a human on the Boiling Isles, destined to shatter a dark curse by retrieving the Celestial Staff from the depths of a mystical lake.
Luz eagerly ran back to the Owl House to gather equipment for her journey ahead. She eagerly told Eda of this upon her return, only for laughter to erupt from both King and Eda, mocking her audacious ambitions. But Luz refused to be deterred. The wizard had entrusted her with a map, a map that only revealed itself to those deemed worthy. In the presence of King and Eda, the map had remained hidden, but now, in solitude, its secrets beckoned to her.
Fuelled by a resolute determination, she quietly slipped out of the Owl House, embarking on her perilous quest. The weight of destiny rested upon her slender shoulders, as she ventured forth into the unknown, ready to face the trials and tribulations that awaited her.