As Luz and the group continued to move through the forest, she couldn't help but feel that Cruz and Skara were acting differently. "Cruz and Skara are acting weird," Luz whispered towards Gus.
"What do you mean?" Gus asked
"I mean, that they've been really quiet for a good while now. And besides, when that other group found us, they just stood back and didn't do anything. Cruz would never just let us do all of the fighting."
"Maybe he's just tired?" Gus said slightly unsure as he looked back at the two and their blank stares. As Gus was about to turn away from the two, their images flickered for a moment before stabilizing again.
Gus' eyes widened with surprise. "They're imposters!" Luz, Willow, and Amity all turned to look at Cruz and Skara in surprise as Gus created a large spell circle before sending it towards the two.
As the circle passed over them, Cruz and Skara both flickered before disappearing. "Wait, where'd they go!" Willow exclaimed in surprise.
"Since when were they gone!?" Amity wondered as she looked around. "I know that Skara doesn't know any illusion magic."
"Did they fall somewhere? What if they're hurt?" Luz wondered with worry
"Guys!" Gus exclaimed gaining their attentions. "You're forgetting the most important thing. Someone replaced them with illusions." The girl's eyes widened in surprise realizing what that meant.
"Someone replaced them on purpose," Luz muttered. "We have to find them, and quick." As Luz was about to run off in a panic, Willow grabbed her arm stopping her.
"We can't just run around looking for them blindly. We need a plan."
"She's right, Luz," Gus said. "We have to tell Principal Bump and head witch Lilith. They'll be able to help us look for them."
Luz knew they were right, but she couldn't help but want to rush off to find her brother as quickly as possible. "I get why we should tell them. But by the time we get to the bottom of the hill and all the way back up again, it might be too late," Luz argued.
Willow, Gus and Amity looked at each other with worry. "She's right, you two," Willow said. "We have to find them and fast. If we go back we might find some clue on what happened to them."
"Alright, let's hurry," Amity said. "Who knows what's happening to them right now."
Inside of a cave, Cruz's vision was starting to come back as he began to wake up. "What happened?" Cruz began to look around, noticing a large light blue crystal standing at the corners of the large room he was in.
The cave he was in was about twice the size of the living room in the Owl House. From what he saw, there was only one main entrance. The side of the cave had a large hole on it, but it was too dark to see where it lead.
As he tried to move, Cruz felt his arms restricted. Cruz looked towards his hands and noticed that they were bound with what looked like stone cuffs that were connected to the roof of the cave.
"Oh, no." Cruz began to struggle against the restraints but it didn't budge. As he was struggling he noticed that Skara was next to him held in the same restraints.
"Skara! Wake up!" Cruz called out. After a few seconds Skara began to stir and woke up. "Wha-what's going on? Cruz? What happened?" Skara asked in a daze.
"Looks like someone kidnapped us."
"What?!" Skara asked in alarm. "Wait, that's right! The last thing I remember was someone sneaking up on us in the forest. But after that… nothing."
"I remember that too. It was those eyes. As soon as we looked into their eyes, we passed out."
"My eyes do have that effect on people," someone said as the entered the cave startling Cruz and Skara.
As Cruz and Skara struggle to try and look at the person, he chuckles to himself before walking in front of the two.
"Oh, I wouldn't strain yourselves with those restrictions. I made them quite sturdy." Standing in front of them stood a portly figure wearing a large black cloak with a green top and pants. Wrapped around the pants was a large and thick white rope tied into a knot on the front. On top of his head, stood a large stone mask in the shape of a top hat with two oval shaped holes showing his ambers eyes.
"Who are you?" Cruz asked cautiously
"Is that really the most important thing you want to be asking me right now, human?" the figure asked
"If you want, we can call you rock face," Skara suggested. The figure chuckled to himself. "Oh you're funny. I do like it when my dinner is funny. It's always much better when I have a dinner and a show."
Skara began to pale when he said that. "Touch her and I'll—"
"You're not really in any kind of position to be making threats, now are you? But alright, I'll tell you my name. Just to be polite. You can call me Obron."
"Alright. So what do you want with us, Obron?"
"Didn't you hear me? I said you two are my dinner."
"But I mean, look at us. We couldn't make a decent meal even with both of us," Skara argued. "You could definitely find a better meal somewhere else."
"I'm not planning to eat your meat," Obron dismissed
"You're not?" Cruz asked in bewilderment. "Of course not, I'm not an animal after all."
"Then what are you planning to eat?" Skara asked. "Well obviously, I'm planning to eat your magic." Skara and Cruz's eyes widened as they heard this while Obron chuckled seeing their expressions.
At the bottom of the hill, Lilith stood alongside Principal Bump as more and more groups arrived. "It looks like most of the groups have arrived," Bump said as he marked off another group.
"Indeed, and it would seem that most of your students are rather talented in their respective tracks. Although I've noticed that a certain group isn't back yet," Lilith said looking around
"You're right, and that group is filled with some rather talented witches. It shouldn't be taking them this long," Bump said with worry.
"Who is in that group, Principal Bump?"
"That group has: Willow Park, your young protégée Amity Blight, young Augustus Porter, the Noceda twins, and of course the bard top student, Skara."
"Wait, Skara? I've heard that name before." Lilith began to think trying to place the name with a face.
"Perhaps from her family. Her father is in charge of the largest company that makes instruments and tools for the bard coven."
"No, that's not it," Lilith dismissed. "It did have something to do with the bard coven, if I recall."
"Then perhaps, it's due to her grandfather," Bump said as he summoned a folder handing it to Lilith.
When Lilith opened the folder, she saw it had information on Skara. Including her family history and relatives.
"Of course," Lilith said as her eyes widened. "That's where I remember her from. She's the granddaughter of head witch Scooter Crane."
"Indeed she is, due to a request from head witch Crane, we don't usually announce her with her last name."
"Then it does make sense that she's the top student in the bard track. She comes from a strong lineage," Lilith mused, closing the folder.
"Which makes it even more strange that this group hasn't arrived yet," Bump pondered.
"You're right. There shouldn't be anything in that forest that these students can't handle. So why are they taking so long?"
"Madam Lilith," Steve called out as he walked up towards the two.
"What is it Steve?"
"I just got a report from the castle. It's pretty urgent."
"Did something happen?" Lilith asked with worry
"It's about the scouts that investigated the forest," Steve said gaining Lilith and Bump's attentions. "What about them?" Lilith asked.
"They say that they can't remember anything from their time in the forest until now ma'am."
"What are you talking about? What about the report that they submitted?"
"That's the thing, ma'am. They don't remember ever giving any kind of report."
"That's impossible. I was there personally when they gave their report to the emperor."
"This doesn't bode well, Lilith," Bump said with worry evident on his face. "Yes, you're right, Principal Bump." Lilith turned to look at Steve. "What did the scouts say about what they could remember?"
"They said that when they were wandering the forest, they felt like someone was watching them. The last thing they remember was a pair of amber eyes, then nothing until they woke up again in their chambers at the castle."
"Amber eyes…" Lilith began to think trying to remember if there was anything that might explain the scouts behaviors. Lilith's eyes widened as realization hit her with the only possible explanation to what could have happened.
"Principal Bump," Lilith said gaining the principal's attention. "I'm truly sorry, I'm afraid that your students are in danger. And far more than I thought they would be."
"I'll need an explanation, Lilith," Bump said sternly to the head witch
"If I'm right, then the creature in that forest is a powerful vampire. And one that will drain the students of all of their magic if we don't find them, and quickly," Lilith said gravely
Bump's eyes widened as he understood the haste to find the students.
"Eberwolf!" Lilith called out to the beast coven head witch as he and Darius turned towards Lilith.
"What do you want, head witch Clawthorne?" Darius asked in annoyance
"I need Eberwolf to help track down a group of missing students."
"They're more than likely just resting somewhere in the forest," Darius dismissed. "Hardly anything to worry about and head into the forest for."
"I highly doubt it. They're more than likely in danger. If my suspicions are correct, then a vampire is inside of that forest," Lilith explained as the head witches were shocked. "I don't think I need to tell either of you how dangerous those creatures are."
"You're right, but we'll need a bit more time to figure out how to deal with this vampire," Darius insisted
"There's no time to delay, Darius. We need to go now. Steve." Lilith called out as Steve stood at attention due to the tone in Lilith's voice.
"You'll take the rest of the students back to Hexside. It will much safer if we don't have to worry about their safety along with the students in that forest."
"Ma'am," Steve said as he saluted to Lilith. "Just be careful. We can't have our head witch dying on us." Steve began to walk towards the students preparing to take them back to Hexside.
"I've no choice but to call onto a few of the parents. I believe they'll be able to assist us with this problem," Bump said as he took out his crow phone.
"Is that really wise, Principal Bump? Won't they simply be more targets for the vampire to go after?" Lilith questioned
"Not with the ones I plan to call, I believe young Skara's grandfather will be able to assist us."
"Indeed, head witch Crane will more than likely be of a large assistance," Lilith mused. Bump thought of one other witch that would be able to help, but he wasn't sure that she would be safe with so many head witches around.
"I'll call another, however, you must swear not to try anything against her." Lilith looked at Bump in confusion wondering what he meant.
"Who is this other witch?"
"It's your sister. Edalyn."
Lilith looked shocked that he would suggest bringing Eda into this situation. She looked back towards the forest before looking towards Bump with certainty. "Call Edalyn. I swear I will not try anything or try and arrest her. Neither will any of the other head witches."
"I don't have any interest in Eda's arrest. She might be annoying, but Eda is definitely a powerful witch," Darius said
"Now quickly, Eberwolf. I need your help in tracking them down."
"Why are you in such a hurry to go look for them before Eda shows up?" Darius questioned
"Because one of those students is my nephew," Lilith said shocking Darius and Eberwolf.
Back in the cave, Cruz watched as Obron worked on a devices that was attached to the large crystal on the wall.
"How exactly are you planning to eat our magic?" Cruz asked
"Considering you don't have any magic, I'm surprised you're asking. But just to indulge you, I'll tell you," Obron said with amusement.
"My usual methods of draining your magic won't work due to… circumstances. However, I found a different method that works just fine," he said tapping on the crystal. "This crystal can help me with that. It naturally absorb magic, it's teeming with it."
"Then why not just take the crystal for an on the go snack?" Skara asked
"While this crystal might be powerful, it's limited. Witches on the other hand… there's more than enough to keep me fed for a long time."
"Then what's that thing you put on the crystal?" Cruz asked looking at the device that he'd attached to the crystal. It looked like a car's jumped cable that was attached to a metal crown.
"That, my dear human, is a conduit," Obron said with amusement. "It'll help me to drain the magic from the crystal directly into my body. The fastest method to drain you requires that I attach one of those cables onto my prey so that the crystal can absorb their magic. Luckily for me, your friend here seems like she has some powerful magic."
Cruz felt a chill run down his spine as he realized the danger they were in. "You think I'll let you hurt her?" Cruz said as he struggled against his restraints.
Obron chuckled at Cruz's actions. "You're hardly in a position to be making any kind of threats. No matter how empty they might be."
Obron grabbed one of the cables before he began to walk towards Skara with it. "Now then, I think it's time I got my dinner prepped."
Skara looked terrified as Obron raised the cable, but suddenly the ground beneath them started to shake. Obron looked towards the ground before a large vine shot out and tried to grab him.
"Cruz! Skara!" Luz yelled as she ran into the cave followed by Amity and Gus. Willow, who'd gotten there first, spun another spell circle shooting off more vines towards Obron forcing him to jump back.
"Thanks for the save, you guys. You mind letting us down? These things are starting to hurt," Cruz said
"I've got it," Amity said as she created an abomination. "Abomination, free them." The abomination raised its hands before smashing the stone cuffs holding Cruz and Skara.
"That feels better," Cruz said as he rolled his wrists before pumping his arms back and activating his gauntlets.
"I'm surprised that anyone was able to find us," Obron said as he summoned a spear and stabbed one of the vines onto the ground. "I was positive that I'd covered my tracks completely."
"Next time, try not to leave such an obvious illusion to cover the entrance," Gus said
"An illusionist? Now I see, you're quite talented. I'm sure that your magic will be quite tasty as well." Gus took a step back when he heard this as Cruz stood in front of his protectively. Obron grabbed the metal crown before pressing a button on the center of it.
When he pressed the button, the light of the crystal changed from its normal light blue, to a darker hue. "What did you just do?" Cruz asked
"You do remember that I said the cable was the fastest method to absorb magic. This method might be slower but it'll get the job done just as well. And when dealing with a group like yours, I'd say it's more effective."
"You still didn't explain what you did," Luz said angrily
"The crystal is going to be slowly, and constantly, absorbing the magic from your friends. It'll keep my food nice and stored for when I feed on it later."
"Which just means we've got to beat you before that happens," Willow said as she spun a spell circle summoning multiple vines and sending them towards Obron.
Obron spun a red spell circle before a fire ball burst out and burned all of the vines. "You don't really think you can beat me, do you? I'm far older and stronger than any of you little Witchlings."
"You never know, in a fight nothing's decided until it's over," Luz said as she took out a plant glyph and slammed it onto the ground after she activated it. A large torrent of vines shot out as they headed towards Obron. "Didn't work last time, what made you think it would this time." Obron created another fire ball burning the vines.
From the smoke cloud, Obron could hear a crackling sound that seemed to be getting closer. As he tried to peer into the smoke, Cruz's mechanical staff came flying in towards him covered in lightning.
Obron barely had time to dodge the staff as it flew past him hitting the side of his mask and cracking it. "Oh dang it, you almost had him," Luz said
"Looks like I managed to chip that stupid mask of his," Cruz said with a smirk before pressing a button on his right gauntlet. The staff wiggled from the ground before flying back towards Cruz and landing on his hand.
"Whoa! Since when can you do that?" Luz asked
"I finished modifying it yesterday. But we've gotta focus, Luz."
Obron placed his hand on the crack of the mask, feeling it. "I'll admit, you're all smarter than I gave you credit for. It won't make much of a difference, in a moment."
"What's he talking about?" Skara asked
"It's that crystal he was talking about, we've gotta come up with some way to finish this fast," Willow said
"I might have an idea," Amity said as she turned towards Willow. "Willow, let's both try and grab him." Willow nodded as they both created spell circles, sending torrents of abomination goo and vines towards him.
"Luz," Cruz whispered to her. "We'll need to take out that crystal. If we don't, then everyone is going to be in danger."
"You're right. But how do we get close enough?"
"Leave that to me," Cruz said, turning to Gus. "I need you to make a bunch of illusions of me running around. I'll sneak in and hit him with my gauntlet."
Gus nodded. "One illusion, coming up." Gus raised his hand creating a large spell circle before it covered the room, summoning multiple Cruz's as they began to run around.
"Let me help a bit too," Skara said as she summoned her harp and began to pull on the strings, sending out a sound that seemed to disorient Obron.
"Luz, go. Use fire or anything else and break that crystal," Cruz said as he ran towards Obron following closely behind one of the illusions
Obron seemed to be clutching his head as Cruz got closer. "Stupid noise. This won't change anything." Obron looked up to see Cruz getting closer to him before he pierced him using the spear. Cruz popped into blue smoke when the spear hit him.
"Too bad. You missed," Cruz said from behind Obron gaining his attention. Cruz reeled his arm back before hitting Obron on the head with an explosive hit. Obron was sent back from the force hitting a wall with a thud.
"You brat, that actually hurt," Obron said standing up as the rest of his mask broke apart hitting the floor.
As the smoke cleared, Obron stood with a scowl as his pale skin was covered in scars with parts of his blonde hair burnt from the explosion. What gained the attention of all of the students were his broken fangs and his slitted amber eyes.
"No way, he's a vampire," Amity said as she and all of the witches took a step back.
"Why is that surprising? Eda said that they came from the Boiling Isles." Cruz said
"Vampires were supposed to be extinct," Skara explained. "They have been for fifty years."
"What is with extinct things just showing up?" Cruz asked in exasperation
"We might be fewer in numbers now, but my kind is still very much alive. While the others all cower in the shadows, I'll grow stronger so that we can live freely," Obron said with a smirk.
The sound of fire blasting a crystal and shattering was heard from the wall gaining all their attentions. "I did it!" Luz said triumphantly as the broken crystal lay on the ground.
"Don't you dare! Get away from that!"
Luz looked at the crystal shards on the ground before looking back at Obron as she pulled out more glyphs. "I don't think so," Luz said with a smirk as she got ready to destroy the crystal even more.
"I said get away from that." Obron readied his spear before lunging forward towards Luz.
"Luz! Look out!" Amity cried out as she summoned a much too small abomination. "What the—my magic."
As Gus, Willow, and Skara tried to use their magic, they all felt their spells coming out in a much weaker state.
"Luz! Run!" they all called as Obron got closer before Luz turned to see him getting closer.
As Obron got closer, Luz closed her eyes in anticipation before Obron's spear made it to her.
Luz braced herself for the pain which never came. As she opened her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the bloody spear inches from her. As Luz's vision focused, the next thing she noticed was Cruz standing in front of her as he clutched Obron's spear holding it in place as it pierced him.
"C-Cruz?" Luz asked in horror.
Cruz held onto the spear with vice grip as he coughed up blood. "Y-you won't hurt m-my sister," Cruz said weakly
Obron looked at Cruz with contempt. "Oh well, what's killing one more of you humans. Not like you have any magic for me to eat," Obron said as he tried to pull out the spear but couldn't.
"L-Luz… I-I'm sorry," Cruz said as Obron continued to try and pull the spear out. "You're… going to h-have to tell mamá that I-I'm sorry for not coming back." Cruz coughed up a bit more blood that formed a small puddle on the ground.
The others all looked at the scene in horror as the saw how the spear had pierced his chest.
"T-Take the chance… and run. Take everyone a-and run. Please, Luz."
"C-Cruz, please don't. You'll be alright," Luz began to plead with tear streaming down her face.
"Try not to m-miss me too much… hermana."
"Enough of this," Obron said with a huff as he took one hand off of the spear as his finger nails extended into sharp claws. He swung his hand across Cruz's face blinding him.
Cruz let go of the spear in reaction as he tried to grab his eyes. Obron took the opportunity to twist the spear and lifted Cruz into the air, before throwing him to the side into the whole in the wall.
Everyone looked in horror as their friend descended into the abyss with a wound that was most certainly fatal.
"Now then, human. Where were we?" Obron asked as he got closer to Luz.
Luz looked up to Obron with fury as she tapped on her wind glyph sending him flying back. "I'm going to make you pay!"
Luz took out multiple glyphs as she unleashed a torrent of fire and vines towards Obron as he began to get back up. The others stood up and used all the magic they had to help Luz with trying to avenge their friend.
Inside of the hole, Cruz could feel himself continue to fall as he hit a wall before hitting the hard ground.
'It hurts… it hurts so much' Cruz thought to himself, feeling the hole in his chest. Cruz could feel something dripping onto his wound from above him. 'Is that water? I can't see anything. Stabbed and blinded. Didn't think this was how I was going to die.'
'Use the glyph,' a voice said to Cruz
'Who's that? Is someone there?'
'Use the healing glyph. It's the only way.'
'…A healing glyph? I doubt it'll work… but it's better than nothing.' Cruz reached into his pocket as he felt for the paper where he kept his supply of emergency healing glyphs that he'd made in school earlier that day.
He activated a glyph before putting it on his chest as he felt another drop of the liquid fall onto it. 'I knew it wouldn't work. But at least… no can say… I didn't try.' Cruz closed his eyes as he felt himself slip away.
Back in the forest, Eda looked up towards the sky as she felt something in the pit of her stomach, telling her something was very wrong. "What's wrong, Eda?" King asked as he sat in her hair.
"I'm not sure. Something is telling me that we've got to hurry and find those kids," Eda said as she picked up the pace following after Lilith and the rest of the witches.
'Kids, you both better stay safe until we get there.'
Cruz felt as if his body was floating. He could feel water start to cover his body. 'I guess it was water that was falling on me.'
Suddenly, Cruz felt as if someone had grabbed his hand before pulling up. As Cruz emerged from the water, he opened his eyes and tried to look around but noticed that his vision was a complete blur.
"Oh great, not completely blind, but I still can't see anything like this," Cruz said as he rubbed his eye trying, and failing, to clear his vision. As Cruz tried to make out anything in his surroundings, he noticed a large figure standing in front of him causing him to back away.
"It's alright. You're safe now," said the figure. Cruz's eyes widened in surprise when he hear the figure's voice.
"It was you. You're the one who told me to use the healing glyph."
"I am. And I did say you're safe now, but that's not entirely true."
"What do you mean? I thought I died?"
"You were very close to dying. That nasty wound you got ended up leaving you on the border. The healing glyph you found ended up giving you a bit more time to live. Just enough time so I could help you," said the figure with a chuckle
"You… saved me? Who are you?"
The figure laughed heartedly. The laugh seemed to be filled with a type of warmth that reminded Cruz of someone very dear to him.
"Well, I guess you've never really had a chance to talk to me ever since you and your sister started to live on my corpse. Sorry if that freaked you out a bit when you first got here."
As the figure's words sunk in, Cruz felt as if his brain had short circuited. "Oh, Titan," Cruz said in shock.
"Oh, me. It's nice to properly meet you, Cruz the human," said the Titan as he shook Cruz's hand
"I can't believe I'm meeting someone that's essentially a god."
"I'm nothing that grandiose. My magic is just a lot older than most others. Because of that, the people on the isles started to call me that."
"Might also have something to do with the fact their living on your body," Cruz reasoned
"Yeah, that too," the Titan said with a chuckle.
Cruz laughed before letting out a defeated sigh. "I guess this is it then. I lived a good life, you know for being fourteen and all. I just hope that Luz and the others managed to get out safe and sound."
"It's a bit difficult to say. Your sister is rather set on avenging you. She and your friends all decided to attacks Obron together."
"Oh you've got to be—please tell me there's someone that can help them. I don't want my sister or any of my friends joining me here just yet."
"There is one way for me to help you out with that. But I have to warn you there are going to be some… consequences," the Titan said grimly.
"What kind of consequences?"
"I can send you back using the healing glyph. The magic of the glyph is still flowing, trying to heal you and close that wound of yours. It won't be able to heal you completely, not normally that is. It can heal you completely if I just give it a bit of a nudge."
"A nudge? So that means I'll be as good as new?"
"That's right. The wound on your chest and your eyes will be all healed up. Although, because of my nudge and that bit of blood that fell into your wound, there's going to be some changes made to your body. I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do to stop it from happening," the Titan said solemnly
"In other words, you're saying I won't be human anymore," Cruz said as he was met with silence.
Cruz let out a sigh. "Well, alright then. If it means living again and being able to help out my friends, then I guess not being completely human isn't the worst deal I can get. Do what you have to do and send me back. I'm ready."
Cruz felt a hand being placed on his chest before a warmth began to overcome him. "Take care of yourself Cruz. And tell your sister that she's on her way to being a great witch. I know you two will be able to use the magic from the isles in a much better way than the last human did."
Cruz felt himself being lifted into the air. "Wait, the last human? What do you—" as Cruz was lifted into the air his eyes managed to recover a bit more of his vision as it started to clear up. Cruz, for the first time, managed to get a good look at the Titan standing in front of him. The massive skeleton looked down towards him as he was lifted into the air in a large gold bubble.
"Goodbye, Cruz. I hope the next time we meet it'll be until after you've lived your life fully," the Titan said as Cruz was blinded in a flash dragging him back towards his fight.
Back in the hole, Cruz's began to stir as he started to get back up. As he rubbed his eyes, he noticed that the world started to become much less blurry as his vision came back completely.
"I guess it wasn't a dream. I'm still alive." Cruz patted himself on the chest and noticed the large hole where the spear had pierced him. He didn't notice any physical changes to his hand before standing up. "Now's not the time to be checking. I've gotta get back and fast. Don't worry you guys, I'm coming."
Cruz looked up towards the hole where he'd fallen down before pulling his goggles onto his face and activating his rocket boots and flying up.
Back in the cave, spikes of ice and vines lined the walls as Luz used more and more of her glyphs. "I have to admit, you children have been giving me a much harder fight than I thought you would," Obron said as he broke apart an ice spike.
Luz gripped onto Cruz's staff before taking out a fire glyph and placing it on the staff's jewel and launching a fireball at Obron.
Obron jumped out of the way before the fire ball hit the wall behind him and more vines flew towards him. "To think that such a talented plant witch was so close by. A shame that my crystal was destroyed. Your magic alone would have kept me fed for quite a bit of time," Obron said with a smirk as Willow glared at him.
"We'll make sure that you won't hurt anyone anymore!" Willow's eyes flashed green as her magic seemed to intensify. As the roots began to get closer to Obron, he created a large red magic circle as a fireball burned all the roots.
"How does he still have so much magic left?" Gus questioned
"It comes with age, kiddos," Obron mocked. "You're simply outclassed here."
'I can't believe these brats,' Obron thought to himself in anger. 'They're actually so much stronger than I gave them credit for. They've forced me to use far too much of my magic. If this keeps up I'm going to start running on fumes.'
Obron looked down and noticed a crystal shard lying at his feet. "How perfect." Obron threw the crystal shard into his mouth before he started to chew on it.
"What's he doing?" Luz asked
"I think he's eating whatever magic was in that shard," Amity said as Obron spit out the crystal.
"Not much, but it's better than nothing."
"We need to finish this," Luz said as she gripped the staff. "Gus, help me out."
"You've got it." Gus made a large spell circle summoning multiple Luz's.
"That same trick won't work on me again," Obron said as he used a blue spell circle to dispel the illusions.
"Then let's try something new," Skara said as she started to strum her harp. Storm clouds started to form at the top of the cave causing Obron to look up.
With a strum of her harp, lighting started to rain down towards Obron. "For the love of—" Obron jumped as he dodged the lightning strikes as they started to rain down. "You're starting to get on my nerves," Obron said as he threw his spear towards Skara.
As the spear got closer, large amounts of vines and abomination goo rose from the ground and grabbed the spear before snapping it in half.
"You're not taking another one of our friends," Amity said angrily.
"I'm sick and tired of this!" Obron created a large red spell circle before pointing the fire ball towards the ground and sending everyone flying onto the ground. Creating an orange spell circle, stone cuffs trapped all of the Hexside students.
"You have all made this much more difficult than it needed to be," Obron said as he picked up the broken half of his spear. "Not the best condition, but it'll do." Obron walked over to Luz before raising the spear. "Goodbye, human. Say hello to other human for me."
"His name was Cruz," Luz said angrily as she struggled against the cuffs.
"I honestly don't care," Obron dismissed. Before he could plunge the spear, the wall of the cave suddenly exploded causing a large dust cloud to cover the area.
Cruz's staff began to shake on the ground before flying towards the hole in the wall. "No way," Luz muttered in disbelief.
Sparks of lightning started to crackle from the cloud before it flew towards Obron and sent him flying into the wall.
"Is there room for one more in this party?" Cruz asked as he stepped out of the smoke before making a face. "No, no. That sounded bad as soon as I said it."
"Cr-Cruz… is it really you?" Luz asked as Cruz walked up towards her with a smile before breaking her cuffs.
"Oh come on, hermana. I know it hasn't been that long since you saw me.
"But you look… different."
"Really? I can't really see anything too different," Cruz said as she started to check his arms and legs.
"I mean you've got horns on your head."
"Wait! Seriously!" Cruz touched the top of his head before feeling a pair of bone like horns that started to point back before curving and pointing forward.
"Well… that's something I'll have to get used to. Anything else? I don't really have a mirror on me right now."
"Well… your eyes changed colors."
"To what?" Cruz questioned
"One of them's gold and the other one is more like a grayish silver. Honestly, it looks pretty cool."
"Oh man, this is gonna be a though one to explain to mamá," Cruz lamented before Obron started to stir from the ground and looked at Cruz in bewilderment and anger.
"I killed you. I know that I did. So what are you! Some kind of ghost!"
Cruz smirked before activating his rocket boots and flying towards the dazed Obron and punching him in the chest with his gauntlets.
"Could a ghost do something like that? How about you stay down this time. Nothing you do is ever going to put any of us down."
"You don't get to decide that, brat!" Obron yelled angrily before Cruz activated an ice glyph sending a large field of ice towards him and trapping him in spikes.
"I just did," Cruz said with a smirk before looking towards the ice. 'That glyph was stronger than normal. Could that be a side effect from what the Titan did?'
"Is everyone okay?" Cruz asked as he turned to see Luz breaking everyone's cuffs using his staff.
"We're fine," Willow said. "But are you—"
"You think this is enough!" Obron yelled as he started to break out of the ice. "I have lived for too long to be stopped now by a couple of children!"
"He just never stops, does he," Luz said with frustration as she got a couple of glyphs out.
As everyone got ready to fight, a large amount of abomination goo rose up, and grabbed Obron holding him in place.
"Did you do that?" Cruz asked looking towards Amity who shook her head.
"That's quite enough out of you," Darius said as he stepped into the cave with Eberwolf next to him.
"Its head witch Darius! They found us!" Gus exclaimed happily
"Yes, we found you," Darius said, his gaze unwavering as Eberwolf let out a low growl.
"Darius! Are they all there!" Lilith called out as she entered the cave with Eda close behind.
"Eda!" Luz exclaimed as she ran towards the Owl Lady.
"Kids! You're okay!" Eda said in relief before noticing Cruz's changes. "Cruz, what happened to you?"
"Uhh… some stuff," Cruz shrugged
"He nearly died!" Luz said
"You nearly what!" Eda and Lilith exclaimed
"I'm fine… physically," Cruz said before he was tackled by all of his friends.
"Oh holy—are you guys okay?"
"We thought you died!" Luz said as tears started to form in her eyes
"We're so glad you're okay, but don't do ever do something like that again," Willow said as Gus nodded in agreement as they all started to stand back up.
As Cruz tried to stand up, he noticed that Skara was still holding onto him tightly.
"Skara…"
"I don't know what would've happened if you'd died," Skara said in a whisper as she looked up towards Cruz with visible tears on her face. Cruz's eyes widened before he hugged her back.
"I'm sorry for making you worry." The two heard someone clearing their throat before they backed away from each other.
Standing next to them, was an older dark skinned witch with white hair and a pair of rounded glasses and two pointed horns curved upward.
"Oh… hi," Cruz said awkwardly
"You must be Cruz. It's nice to meet you," said the old man with a smile
"Oh it's nice to meet you too, sir."
"You're Scooter Crane," Gus said as he walked up to him. "The head of the bard coven."
"Head witch of the bard coven? Dang aunt Lily, how many coven heads did you invite to this thing," Cruz wondered
"Aunt Lily? Since when do you call Lily aunt?" Eda questioned
"What's so strange about your kids calling her aunt, Eda?" Darius asked
Eda looked at Darius in annoyance as she grumbled to herself. "I can explain it more when we get back home, Eda," Luz said to her.
"I just wanted to thank you for protecting my granddaughter, young Cruz." Scooter said with a smile.
"Wait, granddaughter?" Cruz questioned as he turned towards Skara.
"Your grandpa is the head of the bard coven?" Willow asked as Skara nodded in confirmation.
"Now that I think about it, I've never heard Skara's last name before," Gus said.
"Grandpa, told me that it might be better to not tell people what my last name is. That way no one could try get me to use any connections he has in the coven," Skara explained.
"That makes sense. Some people would pretend to be your friend just to be able to have a better chance of getting into the bard coven," Cruz commented
"Indeed, but for now there's a bigger issue to deal with. Namely, that vampire prisoner," Scooter said as he turned to look at Obron.
"How is it that you're still alive, human," Obron said with a snarl. "I know that my spear pierced your lung. I could feel it. So tell me how you are still alive!"
Eda's eyes widened before narrowing in anger as King growled at Obron. "Let me at him! I'll teach him not to mess with a general from the demon King's army!" King angrily shouted.
"Don't worry, King. You'll get your chance after I'm done with him," Eda said angrily as she started to approach Obron.
"Edalyn, wait," Lilith called out
"Don't try and stop me, Lily."
"I wasn't intending to stop you. I just wanted to make sure you left a piece for me," Lilith said as joined Eda towards the vampire.
"That's enough you two," Scooter said, "Attacking him now won't do you any good. I'm sure a visit to the Conformatorium will be a much better punishment."
"Alright fine," Eda said as she crossed her arms. "You'd better make sure he pays for everything he did to these kids, Lilith."
"Don't worry, Edalyn. I'll make sure he rots in the lowest part of the Conformatorium," Lilith said as she nodded towards Darius as he commanded the abomination to lift Obron up.
"Tell me how you survived, human," Obron demanded
"It was just luck. I was just lucky that I was saved," Cruz said as Obron glared at him as he was led away by Darius and Eberwolf.
"Now that this mess has been dealt with, I will report back to Principal Bump before I take the vampire back to the emperor's castle for his punishment," Lilith said as she started to walk away before stopping to look at Eda.
"Take care of yourself, Edalyn. And I know that I might sound like I'm meddling, but I would suggest that you take Cruz to a healers to check just to make sure he's in good health."
"Yeah don't worry, Lily. I was planning to do just that. You don't mind telling princy B that I'm taking the kids with me, right?" Eda asked
"Not at all, I'll take the rest of the children back with me. By now Steve will have returned with an airship to take the children back to Hexside and transport the prisoner."
"I'll be taking Skara along with me," Scooter said to the head witch. "Please inform Principal Bump about this. Edalyn, I must say, you've raised fine and powerful children."
"They're not actually my biological kids, old man Crane. But you're right, I'm real proud of these two," Eda said as she grabbed onto Luz and Cruz with a smile.
Scooter Crane chuckled to himself as he summoned a Palisman staff with a large green beetle at the front. "Take care Edalyn. I know Whispers would be relieved to know that you're in good health."
"Bye, you guys!" Skara called out as she flew out of the cave with Scooter.
"Whispers?" Luz asked, looking up towards Eda.
"Don't worry about it, kiddo," Eda dismissed. Cruz could have sworn he noticed a tiny blush on Eda's cheeks. "Come one you three, let's go," Eda said as she summoned Owlbert.
"We'll see you guys back at school!" Luz called out as she and King climbed onto Owlbert and Cruz hopped onto his staff before they flew off.
"Very well all of you," Lilith said, turning towards Gus, Willow, and Amity. "Let's all head back toward Principal Bump. That way you can all return to Hexside and most likely your homes." They all nodded as they followed Lilith and the other coven heads back towards Principal Bump. As they walked, the wind carried the hopes of a peaceful and safe return now that their long fight was over.