Evelyn, the Seventh Daughter of the Seventh Daughter, was fascinated with the human world.
This world had no magic but still had wonders. It had no dreadful monsters but simple creatures that lived in natural harmony. Even as she sits on the stump of a tree that has been cut down, Evelyn knows that she's safe, yet a bear could come to kill her for a meal or because it wants to. That's the thing about this world—it was so simple yet so unpredictable.
Just like humans.
She could hear the crowd from her small home. She knew they were witch hunters. Delusional, high-and-mighty, god-fearing Christians who claim to hunt down and kill evil witches.
"He actually did it," Evelyn said, smirking. "Alright, let's do this."
She didn't clap her hands, only placing them together. Her magic markings appeared, glowing. One of the great things about being a Seventh Born was having a greater connection to magic around and inside her. She was the power of the Titan made flesh, after all. Evelyn knew what her limitations were. While others had limits, her powers were limitless.
The seven primorial spells were hers to command. And hers to create a new spell. These are complex spells that would have taken witches years of learning to develop and a lifetime to master.
She focused on the right glyphs. Then she pushed. Then she pictured the next one and pushed. This repeated over and over again until she had all the spells she needed.
Evelyn then pulled them apart, and five glyphs appeared. Two light glyphs, one ice, one air, and a fire glyph.
The Seventh Born then clapped her hands, compressing and combining her spells into one. Creating the illusion spell.
This was how Seventh Borns of the Seventh Born combined their magic.
"She has pointy ears, you'll all see!" said the voice of a young man who had been rather…fascinated with her.
He banged loudly on the door.
"OPEN THIS DOOR, WITCH! We know you're in there!"
Time to give them a show.
Evelyn opened the door. The mob was small, only ten men strong, but they all had weapons and torches…in broad daylight.
"Gentlemen," she greeted them with a smile, acting like the confident, intelligent, and sharp-tongued healer everyone knew her to be. Is there a reason why you have lit torches in the daytime?"
Those that had them sheepishly put them out.
"Good evening, Evelyn," the mayor said, greeting the woman with his hat off. Treating the woman who saved his daughter's life from a terrible plague with the respect she deserves. "We're so sorry to bother you, but there appears to be a mistake. Some believe you to be a…witch."
Evelyn looked at her accuser. "I take it that it's you? Well, let me put those fears to reason," she said, showing them that her ears were nice and rounded.
Unlike her accuser, whose ears were slightly pointed.
He was the same age as Evelyn. He had light skin, brown eyes, thick black eyebrows, and ash-blond hair tied back in a ponytail with a hanging forelock. He had a slender build and a hooked nose.
The young man was a hybrid. The half-son of a witch. It's why everyone hated him and his brother. It's why he became a witch hunter. To prove that he wasn't what his father made him in his mother's cunt. That he was on the side of God and humanity.
And this witch just made him look like a fool.
"But…" the hunter could hardly speak. "I saw…"
"Pointy ears, freak?" one of the villagers asked, looking at the hybrid in disguise.
Seeing the crowd turning on him, the young witch hunter started to fear for his safety. "Please, gentlemen! I swear on the Lord's good name, she's a witch!"
"How dare you use the Lord's name in vain!" Shouted another man. "You, a Godless bastard, don't deserve to speak it!"
"What about the other women that you accused," asked a third man, pointing to the frightened young man with his pitchfork. "Were they really witches? Or were they innocent like Miss Evelyn?!"
"No, please," the young hybrid pleaded for his life.
"We should kill him and his freak brother!"
Seeing that this was getting out of hand, Evelyn cut in before they tore the man apart. "I have a better idea," she said.
The crowd and the hybrid all looked at her, curious.
"An accusation like that could have ruined my life, even gotten me killed. And you're right. Who knows how many innocent people he'd put to death," said Evenlyn, walking down from her verandah, arms crossed, looking at the hybrid with judgment. Making him look away out of guilt. "And that's why, for his false accusation, this hybrid will work for me. Until I see fit to release him of his service."
The young man looked like he wanted to protest, but he knew he couldn't. He had to accept his fate.
"I…If that is what you wish, ma'am."
This seemed to satisfy the other villagers, who turned and walked away.
Still not looking at his new employer, the witch hunter rubbed the back of his head. He sighed and said, "I…I owe you an apology," he said, finally looking at Evelyn. She deserved that much. "I was mistaken—"
Took him a second before he finally saw Evelyn's pointy ears.
"Wha—...How the—...You—"
"Illusion magic, blockhead," Evelyn said, turning to her door. "Alright, let's get started."
"I'm not working for you, witch!" he yelled. "I'll tell everyone!"
Evelyn let out a short burst of laughter. "Sure, tell them," said the Seventh Daughter, enjoying how red his angry face was getting. "Who will they believe? The healer who kept their children alive during the worst smallpox outbreak in recorded history? Or the son of a witch who was just made a fool? You could go and see for yourself. Go on. See who's going to believe you, the man who cried witch."
Enraged that he was beaten, the young man turned away. "Fine, you won!"
"Hey!" Evelyn called out to him.
"I'll let you do your evil deeds in peace," he said, not stopping. "But I will not be a part of spreading it across—"
A clap and the hybrid had his legs wrapped up in vines.
"Let me go!" The man yelled, reaching into his pocket.
The Seventh Daughter walked up to him.
"Not until you stop and talk to me," Evelyn told him, only to have a cross being pressed against her forehead. "What the fuck are you doing?"
"Using the power of Christ to compel you!"
Evelyn smacked his hand away.
"Listen to me, and listen closely, or I'll turn you into a chicken," she said in a firm voice. "I'm not evil."
"All witches are."
"Are we now?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "And what did we even do that was so evil?"
"You're not from this world!"
"And that gives you the right to hate us? First, your people are prejudiced against people with different skin colors and enslave them with barbaric methods. And you're going to be prejudiced against me when you're hated for being a hybrid?"
This silenced the hybrid for a moment.
"Let me go," he said, averting his eyes ruefully. "I wouldn't bother you anymore."
Evelyn stared at him. This wasn't going to work this way. She had to approach this in another direction.
"Last time I checked, I'm still your boss until I see fit to release you of your contract. And even if I'm a witch, you still agreed to it," she said, seeing him frowning deeply. Stupid he was, but still honorable. He knew she was right. "And that's why I'm going to release you from your contract."
He looked at her in shock.
"If you take this," she said, pulling out a small seed and holding it out to him.
The young man looked at it and saw a glowing mark on it. "What is it?"
"It's an enchanted seed," Evelyn said, smiling at him kindly. "With this, you can grow dozens of acres of crops in days. It'll save your own from the bad harvest this year."
"How did you—"
"Oracle magic," she said, grabbing the man's hand and placing the seed into it. Then she commanded her vines to free him.
For a moment, the hybrid looked at the seed that was given to him.
"AHA! Found the evidence I needed!" he proclaimed victoriously, pointing at Evelyn. "Once I present this to the minister, he sure will believe—"
Unimpressed, Evelyn tried one more time to give this hybrid the benefit of the doubt. "You're a half-witch," she said. "Do you consider yourself evil?"
"I can't and will never use the evils of magic!"
"Is it evil to use magic for good?"Again, the man was silent."You got a name?"
"Caleb. Caleb Wittebane."
Evelyn smiled and held out her hand. "Evelyn. My friends call me Eve."
"I'm not your friend."
"And people will starve you if you don't use it," she said, crossing her arms. "Do you really want that? Prove to everyone that you're right, at the cost of letting people die?"
There it was. The doubt in his eyes. The reconsideration.
"I've been watching you, Caleb. I've seen you in town. I know that you're a good man with a big heart," she said with a kind smile. "Ask your heart this: What do you want the most? To prove yourself right, or do the right thing and save lives."
Caleb looked at Evelyn with wide eyes as she continued smiling at him. As if she knew he would make the right choice.
"You choose."
Booker didn't know how long he was out. His body was draped over one of the debris of the now-destroyed airship. Floating down a river. He started regaining consciousness when he felt someone pecking at his head.
Groaning in pain, Booker opened his eyes to see the cardinal palisman chirping in front of him. "Huh? Little Rascal?" he said, using the name Luz gave him.
"Glad to see you're okay," he said, groaning as he rubbed his. The dream he had felt so real. He was Evelyn, his old self, meeting Caleb and handing him that same seed. "Was that…really a dream?"
Reopening his eyes, Booker gasped when he saw the Golden Guard's staff floating. Reaching out with his right hand, he grasps it.
"Where is he," he asked, looking around for the young inquisitor.
That's when he saw the Golden Guard's body through the thick mist around them. He was hanging onto the destroyed controls of the airship. Looking to be barely alive when another large piece of debris bumped into him. Knocking him loose and making him slip into the water. His mask caught onto a leaver and fell off the Golden Guard's face.
Booker gasped when he saw the Golden Guard going down and clapped his hands. He plunged them into the water, and a block of ice formed, lifting the Golden Guard's body to the surface.
Sighing in relief, Booker looked at his body and wondered what he should do next. He could easily let him go down the river and let him be someone else's problem. That was the smart thing to do.
But would it be the right thing?
The Seventh Son was brought out of his thoughts by Little Rascal chirping at him. Glancing at Booker and the Golden Guard. Begging him to help the other boy.
"Don't worry. I am not gonna leave him," Booker said, making the cardinal hop onto his shoulder. He clapped his hands in the water and used his magic to propel him over to the unmasked Golden Guard. "Against my better judgment…"
Using his power magic, he pushed the iceberg over to the shores of the river. He then raised his hand and called back Dragon's Bite, which landed in his hand.
Booker stabbed the sword into the ice, breaking it completely, and watched the Golden Guard fall on his face in the sand.
He could have left then and there. But something kept him still.
The Golden Guard's hair looked…familiar.
Reaching down, Booker grabbed the other boy's shoulder and flipped him on his back. What he saw made Booker gasped.
It was Caleb Wittebane.
At least, that's what Booker thought when he looked at the Golden Guard. The guard looked exactly like the man he saw in his past life.
He was handsome, with a fair complexion, a slightly hooked nose, thick black eyebrows, a gap between his front teeth, bags under his eyes, and ash-blond hair that was shaved below the top, with a long, jagged forelock. He has a notch on his left ear and scars on his right cheek.
But unlike Caleb, he wasn't a half-witch. His ears were fully pointed.
"This is the Golden Guard?" Booker asked, looking down at him with wide eyes. It looked like he could be a student at Hexside. "Is he…Caleb's descendant?"
A roar came from the sky. Booker quickly clapped his hands and activated the power spell. Grabbing the Golden Guard, Booker picked him up and ran further inland, with Little Rascal following behind.
The forest they found themselves in was alien, with glowing egg-like fungi growing everywhere. Booker didn't know where he was, but it didn't matter right now. He had to get away from the beast.
Once they were far enough away where the trees would conceal them, Booker dropped the body of the Golden Guard on a bed of glowing golden fungi.
Booker looked at the bird that landed on his shoulder. "I'm gonna have to wake him up, am I," he asked, with the bird chirping in response. The answer Booker really didn't want to hear.
Placing Dragon's Bite back in its sheath, Booker knelt beside his enemy and started shaking him.
"Hey, wake up," he said carefully and quietly. He put an ear to his chest and listened for a heartbeat.
"Shit," Booker said, concerned as he turned the Golden Guard's head to face him. Then he started slapping him in the face. "Breath, asshole! Breath!"
But it was no use. He could use a healing spell, but the older boy wasn't injured. He just wasn't breathing. Somehow, Booker needed to get air into his lungs.
Realizing what he had to do, Booker groaned with misery. "Why me?" he whimpered.
Taking in a deep breath, Booker turned the elite guard's head back to have him facing the sky. Wiping his hands on his shirt, he looked around, making sure that they were completely alone. The moment he got the Golden Guard to breathe again, Booker was going to be in for a fight. So, he placed Dragon's Bite on the ground next to him.
Rubbing his hands together, Booker opened his mouth. Suddenly, the Golden Guard's tongue shot out and lay on its side.
"Ugh!" Booker reeled back in disgust. "I'm so fucking done with this guy. If he lives, I'm gonna kill him…Here we go."
Taking in a deep breath, Booker leans down, closes his eyes, and prepares to give the guard the kiss of life…
…only to open his eyes and see that the Golden Guard was staring right at him.
"AAAAAH!" Booker and the Golden Guard screamed in shock as they jumped back from one another. Both of them frantically spitting and trying to wipe their mouths.
Booker exclaimed. "What the hell, you bastard? You nearly scared me half to death!"
"I scared you!? What the hell do you think you're doing!?" The Golden Guard yelled, tackling Booker to the ground, and the two of them started fighting again. Grappling, punching, and kicking each other while wrestling.
It wasn't until Little Rascal flew in between their faces, chirping wildly, that they stopped. Someone else was there, and they heard talking.
Booker, being the one on top, let go of the Golden Guard, stepped on his chest, much to his annoyance, and walked away. The Golden Guard glared at the Seventh Son as the golden-haired boy picked up the staff, called his sword back into his hand, and followed the palisman as he led him away.
Walking over to a tree while sheathing his family's sword, Booker heard the voices grow and approached with caution. Going up against it, he peeked his head out slightly.
Coven Scouts, and lots of them. They were all searching the river for more wreckage of the ship. What's worse was that they had the shelter. It seemed to be in good condition, but it was still in the hands of the Emperor's Coven. At least they were checking the inside to see if the palismen were okay. But no doubt it was the same as making sure pigs for slaughter were healthy.
"Kikimora, ma'am," said the Guard Captain, talking to the short witch. Kikimora was holding the Golden Guard's helmet behind her back. "We found the palismen. They seem rattled but unharmed."
Booker was joined by the Golden Guard, who listened in on the conversation. He thought about grabbing Booker right then and there, but the Seventh Son's glare and his placement on his sword's pommel told him it would be unwise. Not only that, but Booker took his staff and was still holding it.
"Very good, Captain. Return to the city and prepare them for travel," said Kikimora.
The Guard Captain, sounding mournful, said, "Is it true, ma'am? Is the Golden Guard really…"
Kikimora, looking remorseful, held up the Golden Guard's helmet. "This is all that remains," she said.
The Guard Captain gasped in shock as the Golden Guard's eyes widened. "What?!" He whispered, startling Booker. "I'm not dead—"
Booker quickly used his light magic to encase the Golden Guard in a bubble of hard light. Silently stopping him from going out there and making his presence known. Luckily, though bright, it matched the glowing fungi glowing all around him.
"Such a horrible accident," said Kikimora, shaking her head. "Probably caused by the incompetent pilot."
"I'll... alert the castle," said the capture before turning to the others. "Scouts! To Latissa!"
The Guard Captain and the Coven scouts left Kikimora, taking the nest and the poor palisman with them. Booker's eyes narrowed. That's where he was going to find and rescue them.
However, now that she was alone, Booker turned to Kikimora. What was she doing now? He and the Golden Guard continued watching as she pulled out a strange, finger-shaped whistle and blew on it.
Summoning the same dragon that caused the ship to crash. Its wings became a pair of fists when they tucked away.
"Excellent work, my pet," Kikimora said, petting her dragon.
"Shit," Booker said as the Golden Guard looked at his fallen covenmate in shock.
The little witch then held up the Golden Guard's helmet for her dragon. "Now, find the rest of him and have yourself a nice little snack," she said before her dragon devoured the Golden Guard's mask. "I'll call for you soon."
Booker quickly pushed the bubble away while the Golden Guard paced inside it, sputtering in complete and total shock from what he had just seen and heard.
"I…I can't believe it. Kikimora?! What did I do to her?" he exclaimed. The Golden Guard then started bashing on the bubble. "Let me out of here! I'm gonna kill her! Let me out right now, or—"
Booker broke the bubble. The Golden Guard turned to yell at him when the younger boy placed his hand over the Golden Guard's mouth to silence him.
"Will you shut the fuck up? Are you trying to lure that thing to us?"
Suddenly, he felt something wet and slimy. Removing his hand from his mouth in disgust, Booker saw that it was covered in slobber.
"Ugh, did you lick my hand?!" Booker yelled, putting his saliva-covered hand on the Golden Guard's face. "I'm trying to help you!"
"Why should I believe you?" the Golden Guard shoved him back.
"Because…"
They stop fighting when they hear Kikimora's dragon coming towards them. It had the Golden Guard's scent.
Booker looked at the Caleb lookalike, who reached the same conclusion. He quickly removed his cloak and tunic and threw them away at a pile of fungi. He wasn't shirtless, though. He wore a blueish-gray shirt and golden chest armor with brown straps underneath.
The two of them promptly hide themselves.
When the dragon spotted the Golden Guard's cloak, it wasted no time in devouring it. Giving Booker and the Golden Guard the chance to sneak away from the scene.
"How much further do we have to go," Luz asked, walking past more bookshelves.
"Actually, we're here," Amity said, leading the human girl until they came to a stop.
A gasp escaped Luz's lips at the sight of it all.
The chamber of the Forbidden Stacks was colossal and went underground. A dark and mysterious catacomb filled with large bookshelves. Filled with books that the Emperor deemed to be too dangerous for the public to see. It's why only the master librarian could come in and out of it. It's why countless webs and dust were all over the books. No one had ever seen them for years.
Looking around at the pit that fell to endless darkness, Luz saw books flying like birds, flapping their covers like wings. She saw large spectral hands organizing them. And she saw statues of the same figure: A giant hooded figure with a skull face, horns, and a stone gem in its chest.
"Whoa. Let's get lookin'," Luz said, excited.
Suddenly, Amity gasped and pulled Luz down.
Across the catacomb on the other side of the pit, the duo saw a large, spooky, cloaked figure entering while riding on a giant book. A single green eye gazed toward them, but the girls moved back to avoid being caught before the creature turned and left.
Luz and Amity realized how close they were to each other and rolled away, blushing.
"So, we'll be super sneaky and quiet. Got it," Luz said with a nervous smile.
Amity's face was still red before the blush faded. "I really don't like this, Luz," she said, looking down in regret, holding her arms. "Malphas is actually the one who gave me my job and my own study room. He's usually nice, but if we're caught, he'd feed us to the bookworms."
Luz smiled reassuringly and said, "I know here that probably means unholy, blood-sucking snake monster, but in the Human Realm, that's just a kid name for nerds."
Amity, still blushing, giggled. "Huh. The human world sounds odd."
"Maybe it would be less odd if I showed you around someday," Luz said, not noticing that Amity's eyes widened. "But, uh, let's turn back. I don't wanna push you."
"We're getting that diary," Amity said, grabbing her girl-crush's wrist before dragging Luz deeper into the library.
Walking to the town of Latissa, Booker looked around, noticing that its appearance was vastly different compared to Bonesborough. Mainly due to the fact that the buildings in Latissa are mostly made out of stone, look rather old, and have holes and cracks in them. Some of them had the Emperor's Coven banners.
Oh, and those egg-looking fungi? They're definitely eggs. With all the giant spiders crawling around and the webs hanging from the buildings.
It looked like a lawless town, with criminals and low-life dealers of all kinds running around, doing their shady dealings.
"So, I guess Kikimora must really hate you," Booker said, walking behind the Golden Guard, who was leading him and Little Rascal somewhere.
"You know I haven't been outside Bonesborough that much. Latissa seems like a really cool place," Booker said. Looking around with a smile. "If you don't mind all the spiders."
The Golden Guard made a turn.
"Wait! Where are you going," Booker asked, still following him. "Hey man, I just saved your life. The least you can do is be thankful, Caleb."
"That's not my name."
"Yeah? Well, what is your name, golden boy?"
"I'm not telling you that," the Golden Guard said, pointing at Booker. "In fact, I shouldn't be talking to you about anything! You're the Seventh Son, the enemy of the Emperor. I should be arresting you for assaulting a coven official."
Booker glared back at him. "Last time I checked, I wasn't trying to steal innocent palismen to hand over to Belos," he said, getting in the Guard's face. "I know what he does with them, golden boy. I've seen it happen, and I'm not letting it happen again."
"Those palismen will be serving the greater good. They were made from dangerous wild magic. Giving their lives for Belos is more than what they deserve," the Golden Guard said as Booker's anger grew. "It's better than letting them fall into the wrong hands."
"Belos is the wrong hands," Booker said, furious at how blind the inquisitor was.
The Golden Guard huffed at him and walked away. Booker glared at his back before sighing and following him. Wherever he was going, it'd lead to the other palismen.
Police Precinct 206 was a very large building with multiple sets of windows in the front, a bell, Emperor's Coven banners, and a large Emperor's Coven symbol in the front. Stakes protected the building, making it look like a fortress.
For a moment, Booker wondered why nothing was being done about the crime in the city. Why bother having one?
Not allowing the Seventh Son's words to cloud his judgment and duty, the Golden Guard approached the scouts standing outside.
"Scouts!" the Golden Guard shouted at the two closest scouts with a commanding tone of voice. "Direct me to your communications room. I need to contact the castle immediately."
Sliding down his glove, he showed them his Emperor's Coven sigil to solidify his ranking and position. It should have given him command over them and their respect.
However, the scouts don't recognize the boy without his signature uniform.
"Heh, cute. I didn't know kids your age were still into temporary tattoos," the lackey one said.
"Yeah, show us your badge number," said the larger one.
Offended (and not because he didn't have it on him when he threw away his tunic), the Guard said, "I am your superior, and I can prove it!" The young guard turned and reached out his hand to Booker, who was still holding his staff. "Staff."
"I don't know what you're talking about, bruh," Booker said, smirking as he blatantly hid it behind his back. "Ain't no staff here."
The Guard looked at him, with his expression saying, 'What are you doing?!' all over it.
"Isn't it a little late for you kids to be outside?" said the first scout.
"Yeah, go home before we call your parents," said the fat one.
The two were about to walk away from the two boys when the taller one began to panic. "No, wait! I..."
He stopped and looked at Booker, and suddenly, he started grabbing his right hand.
"Hey, get your stinking hands off of me, you damn, dirty weirdo!" Booker yells, feeling like he's being assaulted.
After a brief struggle, the Guard ripped off the hybrid's fingerless gloves and rolled up his sleeves to show the scouts his hand, which bore a gold symbol.
"I CAUGHT THE SEVENTH SON!"
Booker gasped with fear, his eyes widening in terror at being exposed as the Seventh Son to the members of the Emperor's Coven.
The scouts, however, look at the smaller boy with uncertainty.
"Riiiiight..." the bigger one says, not quite buying it yet. "Well, that's good for the two trillion snail reward…if you can prove it. Show us some magic."
The Golden Guard turned to Booker and hissed to him, "Show 'em!"
But the hybrid merely glanced at the Guard and then at the scouts. The first one had his arms crossed, tapping his right fingers on his left arm. The other had his hands on his hips, both waiting impatiently. Then, they turned and looked at the scarred kid skeptically.
"Well?" Becoming agitated, the Golden Guard grabbed Booker's other hand and tried to force him to clap to activate his magic.
"Hey, let me go," Booker yelled, pulling his hands away.
"Then show them!"
The large scout said, "That's it, we've seen enough. Let's go!"
They were about to leave to resume their duties, but the Guard stopped them again. "No, no, he really is the Seventh Son!" he yelled desperately. "Look at the eyes, the hair, and the symbols on his hands! See, look."
The Guard, grabbing Booker's hands, forced the hybrid to clap his hands. Nothing happened. The Golden Guard then did it over and over again. Using him like a cymbal-banging monkey toy, and still nothing happened.
"Why won't you light up!?" The older boy shouted as he tried to make the younger one's magic appear.
Smirking with amusement, Booker took his hands back and said to the scouts, "Can I go now?"
That's when the Guard suddenly remembered. "Wait! Look!" He then reached over and grabbed Dragon's Bite off of Booker's hip.
"Hey, that's mine!" Booker protested when his sword was taken.
Ignoring him, the Guard presented the unsheathed sword to the two scouts. "Behold, Dragon's Bite!" he declared. "This proves it! He's the Seventh Son!"
The two scouts walked over and leaned in to observe it. After examining the blade for a moment, the larger scout said, "I don't believe it."
"FINALLY!" The Guard shouted with relief.
But the large scout said, "No, I mean, I don't believe it. This looks more like a cheap copy to me."
The Golden Guard's face fell at that. "Huh?"
Booker walked up and snatched his sword back. "Give me that!" he snapped, sheathing the blade.
With their patience at their wit's end and becoming annoyed by this, the lanky scout said, "Nice try, kid, but we know reward chasers when we see them. Now go home before you get hurt."
"What is this? The third time this week?" the bigger scout asked as they turned and walked away.
"No, fourth, remember that one guy who tried to cash in the Owl Lady's reward with an actual owl?"
"Oh yeah, the guy really needs to get back on his meds."
With that, the duo left a shocked Guard with Booker. For good this time.
Seeing the golden boy slumping in defeat, Booker smirked and said, "Man, talk about embarrassing, Goldie. They didn't even recognize that annoying voice you have. You must feel really stupid right now for wearing that mask all the time."
The Golden Guard then slowly turned to him, glaring angrily at him, his face bright red with frustration.
Knowing what's about to happen, Booker said, "Oh, and by the way, it goes like this."
He threw the staff into the air, clapped his hands to make his markings glow, caught the staff in one hand, and then thrust his hand at the Golden Guard. Knocking him back with a power gust of air that also propelled Booker back a few meters.
Landing on the ground, Booker turned and ran. "Later, sucker!"
"Get back here!" the Golden Guard yelled, chasing after him.
Booker ran through the town of Latissa, passing by the townspeople.
"Excuse me. Sorry," Booker said, clapping his hands to make a bridge of vines going over a cat demon. When he was over it, the vines fell.
The cat yowled and hissed at him. The Golden Guard, however, shoved them out of the way, making the cat fall.
Running down into an alleyway. Booker tucked the staff under his right armpit and clapped his hands again. Hitting the side of a building, his magic made the stones stretch out to block the Golden Guard's path.
But the inquisitor wasn't going to give up and jumped over the barrier.
Booker lept over a ledge and fell toward a set of stairs. Clapping his hands, he slowed down his descent by blasting air down, spilling eyeballs out of a random demon's baskets.
"Sorry," he said, landing before running away.
Shortly after, the Golden Guard landed on his feet and continued chasing Booker.
The Seventh Son turned and ran down an alleyway. He stopped and quickly clapped his hands again, drawing on the power of his ice.
The Golden Guard arrived and ran towards him.
"Try and catch me, golden boy!" Booker yelled, slamming his hand down on the ground. Launching himself up with an ice pillar.
He landed on the top of a building and looked over the edge to see the Golden Guard standing, not doing anything.
"Come on, I'm right here," Booker taunted him to come up. "Don't tell me you're giving up already. I thought you were Belos' golden child."
The Golden Guard glared at Booker, then looked away.
It was at that moment—when glancing at his staff—Booker realized something. He'd never seen the boy perform magic without his staff.
"Ooooooooooh, I get it now," he said, smirking and pointing at his staff. "You wouldn't do it because you can't . Not without this, right, golden boy? You can't do anything without it!"
The Golden Guard glared up at Booker before turning and walking away. For a moment, the Seventh Son thought he really was giving up.
That was until the boy turned back around and ran at the wall at full speed. Then, using parkour, he leaped onto different objects and climbed his way up the wall—without using Booker's ice pillar.
When he finally managed to get on top of the building, he grabbed the edge. He yelled upon nearly slipping off but quickly pulled himself up all the way.
"Not bad," Booker said as the Guard caught his breath.
"Not that I care about what you think, but thanks," Caleb's lookalike said before he glared at Booker. "Now, give me back my staff."
"And let you do what? Go and take those palismen to be sacrificed to Belos," Booker asked, glaring at him.
The Golden Guard looked at him like it was the obvious thing to do. "Well…yeah. I'll take you in, too. They'll be sacrificed to Belos, you'll be locked away forever, and I'll have done my part for the Emperor."
He dodged Booker's energy beam attack from Dragon's Bite. Shocked, he looked at the angry boy glaring at him, his sword pointed at Hunter's chest.
"Why did I risk my life for a selfish brat like you, willing blind to what Belos is?" Booker asked, now at the end of his patience with the Golden Guard. "I really didn't know what I was thinking. You're nothing like the man I thought you were."
"Oh, boo-hoo. Now I feel really bad," the Golden Guard said, placing his hand on his heart. "Bad boy."
Booker pointed at him. "I could've let you drown in that river, and then all my problems would be over!"
"And that makes you stupid." The Golden Guard scoffed. "I know I would have."
"Let's end this," Booker said, dropping his sword and scabbard and the staff.
"Ladies first."
The cardinal flew off Booker's shoulder when he yelled and ran at the Golden Guard. The Golden Guard did the same. They threw their first punch, but they never connected. Their fight stopped when a roar caught their attention.
Booker turned to the side and saw Kikimora's dragon landing at Police Precinct 206. And the nest was there.
"Dammit," Booker said.
Seeing the dragon, too, the Golden Guard placed a hand on his chin. "So Kikimora was after my catch…"
"I need to get down there," Booker said, calling back Dragon's Bite.
"And do what? In case you forgot, that building's filled with Coven Guard," the Golden Guard said. "You might be powerful, but you're not invincible. And do you really want to put those palismen in danger, getting them caught in the crossfire?"
Booker glared at him until the cardinal landed on his shoulder, chirping as the boy turned to him. He hated it, but the golden boy was right. Booker could take on the Coven Guards, but it would put the palismen in the nest in danger. It was his job to keep them safe. To keep them safe from the Golden Guard, whose mission was to take them to Belos.
A mission for which Kikimora was going to take credit after she tried to kill the Golden Guard.
Sighing, Booker knew what he had to do.
"Alright, Goldie. Listen, you don't like me, and I'm sure as hell do not like you, but if we don't do something, Kikimora's gonna take those palismen to Belos. And we both don't want that," he said.
Hunter blinked at him. "What are you suggesting?"
"Isn't it obvious? Let's work together to take back those palismen."
"Then what? You think I'll just let you walk away with them?" Hunter asked, crossing his arms.
Booker scoffed and shook his head. Alright, it's time for a different angle. "I had a dream. I don't know how else to explain it, but…I think I saw my past life. And…I saw you," he said, getting a strange look from Hunter.
"Not you, but maybe someone you're related to. His name was Caleb…and you look just like him. He was a witch hunter in the Human Realm, and he was a hybrid like me. He wanted to kill my past self, Evelyn. But she didn't see someone like Caleb as evil. She only saw a guy with a heart of kindness and honor, who only wanted to protect people from evil."
"And he did that by hunting witches," Hunter asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not all humans are good, and neither are all witches," Booker said. "Evelyn gave him a choice when she asked him to listen to his heart. So, golden boy. What do you want the most? To be the Golden Guard, or do the right thing and save lives?"
Booker stopped talking and let the question sink in. Hunter looked at the Seventh Son. There were no signs of lying. He didn't understand his enemy. He could have killed him (he nearly did when he blasted him off the airship), let him die, or even got him arrested for being crazy. But he didn't. Only wanting to waver his faith in Belos.
"I'll not betray the Emperor," the Golden Guard said. "But I'm not going to let Kikimora get away with what she did. So…I'll help you."
Booker smiled as the Golden Guard held out his hand to shake. "Okay then." He punched the tall boy in the arm.
"AAHGGH!" The guard winced from the pain. He clutched his arm as Booker started walking away with the cardinal.
"Sorry," Booker said with a smirk.
"No, you're not." The Guard said as he rubbed the injured arm. "Let's just get this over with…"
If Philip Wittebane lived in the 1600s, as Luz explained, it would have been 400 years ago. Amity knew that it would be placed in the Deadwardian Era.
The two ventured further into the Forbidden stacks, scaring away the echo mice. When they reached the donation shelves for the time period, Luz and Amity began pulling books off them in hopes of finding Philip's diary.
When a spectral hand returned a book to its original position, Luz stopped and covered her mouth. At the same time, Amity ran her finger on the book, which crumbled to dust, which described everything in this area.
They looked around more.
Luz then noticed something on the spine of one book.
"P.W." in cursive.
She pulled out the book and saw it was dusty. Blowing the dust off revealed it was an old book that looked like it was barely holding itself together. But she saw it. Philip's signature.
Luz gasped and pointed at it to Amity, who walked over. They squealed together before shushing each other.
Finally, she had the answers to all her questions and a way to go home. Excited, Luz opened the diary and looked inside to see…
…an echo mouse sitting in a hole in the pages, having eaten away nearly all of the book's contents.
Luz gasped loudly at the sight of the mouse and saw that it destroyed the diary. It was all ruined and now in the belly of a magical rodent.
"You little rat!" Luz yelled before Amity stopped her.
Her raged-filled voice echoed throughout the whole Forbidden Stacks, making the other mice run for their lives. Amity, knowing that it was all, could only stand still, looking dreadful.
" Oh, no," Luz said, fully realizing what she did.
Suddenly, Malphas appeared and loomed over the two from behind.
"AMITY?"
The finger dragon fought against the Scouts as they fastened her saddle. Her master was preparing herself for take off. All while the Golden Guard sneaked down to ground level to steal something in a bag. He didn't understand why, but he didn't question it.
Climbing back up the building, he saw Booker drawing three connected glyphs: one for fire, one for ice, and one for air. He connected them with a small hole in the center at the bottom.
"Huh, I've never seen magic like this," he said.
"It's only for precaution," Booker said, smiling at his handy work. "I saw in my memories how Evelyn was about to combine spells to make a new one. That's how she was able to create illusion magic."
"Can you do it again?"
"I don't know," Booker said honestly. "I think I can based on how I saw it happen. It was like she summoned the glyphs instead of making them, and then she clapped."
He looked at the Golden Guard.
"Clapping is very important for Seventh Borns."
"I don't care," he said rudely. "What will this spell do?"
"Well, we don't want to spook Kikimora's steed because it might drop the nest and hurt the palismen," Booker said, pointing to the glyphs. "So, by using fire, ice spells, and air spells, I can command the glyphs to produce a thick mist!"
"And the sleeping nettles," the Guard asked, pulling out a pot with flowers sprouting from olive green stems and leaves. Their flowers have two layers of four orange petals, with the pistil in the center being yellow.
"Well, combined with the magic mist, it'll create…"
"…A sleep-inducing smoke, forcing Kikimora to land," the Golden Guard said, grinning as he realized what Booker was planning.
Booker looked at him, surprised.
"Oh, um, I—I-I read a similar spell in Bones to Earth—"
"—A Study of Wild Magic. You read that book," Booker asked, smiling. "You wanna know something? Eda once pickpocketed the guy who wrote it."
"I've never seen glyphs before," said the Guard, looking up at the glyphs, impressed.
"They're part of the seven primordial forms of magic," Booker told him. "The seven original spells that make up the world and where all magic is based on."
"So this is like the elemental magic practiced in the Savage Ages."
"It is?"
"Actually, not many people know this, but…" The taller boy stopped himself. "No. No, no, no, no. This stuff is restricted for a reason. You should forget about it before you're hurt."
"Uh huh...because you wouldn't," Booker said sarcastically. "Heh, you know, other than Lilith, I've never spoken to someone inside the Emperor's Coven. What made you want to join?"
The Golden Guard sighed and leaned against the wall.
"You were right before," he told the hero, looking away. "I'm a powerless witch. A lot of my ancestors were. I never thought I'd have a future in a world like this. But then, Belos found me and gave me a staff with artificial magic. He said the Titan had big plans for me."
Booker sighed a bit, looking away. "At least you don't have the weight of the world on your shoulders, golden boy," he said.
"Hunter."
"Huh?"
"My name is Hunter. Not golden boy."
Booker smirked. "And I'm Booker Bridges. Not just Seventh Son."
Suddenly, the cardinal hopped toward Hunter and pecked his leg. "Hey! Stop, get away from me!" he yelled, shooing him off.
"Oh, stop being a baby," Booker said. "He's just being friendly."
"I don't care!" Hunter yelled, looking at the bird palisman in fear. "These things are made from wild magic. It's dangerous."
Booker rolled his eyes and gestured to the little creature. "Come on, does he honestly look dangerous to you," he asked.
Hunter looked at him with embarrassed anger, then at Little Rascal. The bird chirped happily at him.
Suddenly, there was a roar.
As it turned out, Malphas was only covering himself with his wings.
He was actually a large, humanoid, bird-like demon who towered over both Luz and Amity in size, with bluish-gray skin, a hunched back, and a bird-like face with glowing yellow eyes. Two tassels hung off his beak, his wings were large and gray, and he had two small horns on his head. The book he'd been riding on top of had the word "Staff" on its binding. He wore a black cloak with a purple top, along with a pair of reading half-moon glasses. Like most library staff, he wore a gold medallion bearing a book symbol.
After being caught by the master librarian, the girls were escorted out of the library. They stood before Malphas, who wasn't as intimidating as he appeared before.
"I'm just, like, super disappointed in you," he said, holding his head with his four-clawed digit hand. "Like, I can't even process these feelings right now. Gosh, it's so hard for me to say this, but like, you're fired."
Amity tensed up but didn't fight as Malphas drew a spell circle and magically took her employee ID.
"Please, get some sleep," Malphas said, turning around and floating back into the library. The doors close heavily.
Luz and Amity stare at them.
"Amity, I am so—" Amity cut off the Dominican girl.
"I told you this would happen," she said, tearing up. "Why didn't you just listen to me?!"
"I didn't mean to—" Luz was cut off again.
"Of course, you don't mean to!" Amity snapped, wanting to yell at Luz with all the fury, hurt, and betrayal she felt, just like Booker did when they played grudgby.
Now, in his place, the green-haired girl wanted to shout at Luz. To hurt her the same way she hurt her. But she didn't. It would be her right, but right now, Amity was tired. But she was going to have her say.
"I don't know why I feel the way I do for you and Booker. Everything's changed since you two came here. Being around you makes me do stupid things, believing that I can be something different, and I wish it didn't," Amity said before gasping when she looked at Luz.
Luz, also tearing up, was close to crying. It was happening again. Her stupid desires hurt the people she loved. She had done it to the boy she loved at the Gurdgby field and now to the girl she loved by getting her fired, taking away the one place where she was happy.
"It's okay. I, uh—" Luz sniffled as she tried to smile. But it was breaking. "I don't know why I feel the way I do for you, too, but I do stupid things around you, Amity."
Amity looked at her with wide eyes. "I…I think I need to go home," said Amity, turning around and leaving. Wiping away a tear.
All alone, Luz cried for a short bit. Stealing her resolve, she took a deep breath and slicked her hair back. This was all her fault. Amity lost her job because of her. The confidence she had was gone. And now, Amity's mutual feelings for her and Booker were put in question.
Luz had to fix it.
"Nada funcionará a menos que lo haga funcionar," she said in Spanish, squaring her shoulders and walking back into the library.
Booker and Hunter looked out to see Kikimora's dragon preparing to take off into the air. Its tail hand was holding the top of the palisman nest.
"Masks on," Booker said. Both he and the Golden Guard pulled up facial masks to cover their noses and mouths. "Once the smoke surrounds them, we'll need to stay close to see where they land."
Hunter nodded.
"Wait, shouldn't we at least test to see if you came to make the spell on your own," he asked.
"There's no time," Booker said, taking the sleeping nettle and placing it in the hole.
Then, after a moment of pause, he offered the staff back to Hunter.
Seeing this, Hunter looked at Booker and hesitantly asked, "Are you sure?"
"Do not make me regret this," Booker said with finality. Hunter took the staff. And just in time.
Kikimora's dragon flew overhead.
Booker turned to the glyphs. He would have really wanted to try out mixing magic himself, but right now, he had to save the palismen. He slammed his hands on the wall and activated both connected glyphs.
The fire and ice created steam, and the air spell added more smoke. This created a massive fog that surrounded the area, slowly causing the coven members to fall asleep.
"It's working!" Booker yelled, joining Hunter on the Golden Guard's staff. Together, they flew into the air with the cardinal following. Heading straight after the dragon.
And they didn't have to wait long. The fog enveloped them, and Kikimora and her dragon both became drowsy.
"I think it's working," said Hunter.
"Now for the fun part," Booker said, drawing Dragon's Bite. Pouring his magic into the blade to make it shine brightly.
Hunter flew them in front of the slowing dragon. The moment the beast saw the light, it followed them towards the ground.
"Stop!" Kikimora shouted, trying her best to wrestle control of her dragon, but the beast was too tired to listen. Soon, the dragon crashed onto the ground and immediately fell asleep. Kikimora was thrown off the saddle and landed on the ground. Nearly knocked out.
With their job almost finished, Booker and Hunter landed behind the creature. The palismen shelter was still in its tail hand.
"Alright, let's get them out of here," Booker said, getting off Hunter's staff and started walking over to the shelter.
"LOOK OUT!" Hunter shouted, suddenly pushing Booker out of a pink bolt of magic. Hitting him on the right side of his head.
"Hunter!" Booker yelled in shock and got back up, Dragon's Bite blocking another bolt fired at him.
Looking at where it came from, Booker saw that Kikimora was still awake, even after the fall and being hit with the sleepy fog.
She was still very drowsy, but even through her blurred vision, the little witch could see the two boys near her prize.
"I can't tell who's there, but I know I've got you!" Kikimora yelled, shooting magic wildly at them.
Booker defended Hunter against another energy bolt. Hunter got back up and put back on his mask. The two of them nodded and rushed at Kikimora.
They split up when Kikimora fired at them again, Booker to the right and Hunter to the left. She fired at Hunter, but he dodged the attack. This distracted her from Booker, allowing the Seventh Son to rush in and punt the little bitch like a football, sending her flying back and making her whistle fall off her neck.
Kikimora landed on the ground, yelling in pain as she bounced on the ground. Booker then stabbed the ground with Dragon's Bite, and vines started wrapping around his body. Panicking, the little bitch blasted it with her magic, freeing herself. Turning back to Booker, she was going to fire another attack before Hunter teleported in front of her, whacking her hand away.
Spinning his staff around, he swung it again at Kikimora, hitting her in the head.
After rolling across the ground, Kikimora picked herself back up and drew another circle. "This is treason against a Coven official!" she yelled, shooting him again. Through her blurred vision, she saw Booker jumping back, but it was close enough to light a tiny flame on his forelock.
Hunter quickly put it out as Kikimora prepared another attack. Only for Booker to run towards her.
"I will have your head!" Kikimora turned and fired another magic bolt at him. Booker hit it like a baseball bat, sending it back at Kikimora and hitting her in the face. Finally knocking her out.
Booker panted a bit before lowering his stance. Together, he and Hunter walked up to the unconscious witch, who groaned in pain in her sleep.
"We should finish her off," Hunter said, glaring at Kikimora.
"It would be the smart thing to do," said Booker.
Hunter looked at him. "But you're not going to, aren't you."
"...No. She's beaten. She's no longer a threat," Booker told him, turning away.
Booker ran toward the palismen nest and opened the door to check on them. They were all fine and happy to see him.
"Hello, guys. I'm so sorry. Here," he said, taking off his cloak and wrapping it around them. "Make sure you share. Now, stay in here, okay? I'm getting you home."
Feeling a surge of magic and turning around, Booker gasped.
The Golden Guard pointed his staff at him. The head of it glows with red magic.
The palismen quivered with fear as they looked at Hunter. Booker shut the shelter's door and stood up, staring at the Golden Guard, upset.
"So you're really gonna do this, aren't you," Booker asked, not afraid of the staff. "Is this what you want? To let these innocent creatures be pigs for slaughter?"
Hunter glared at him, but Booker could see his resolve fading.
Booker scoffed. "I thought you might've been a good guy. That you could have been just like Caleb," he said before pausing. "...But I guess I was wrong. You're nothing like Caleb. There's nothing good about you. You're not my friend. You're just the Golden Guard."
The Seventh Son and the Golden Guard stood there in their standoff. Booker looked at him with determination while Hunter's resolve wavered, and he hesitated. This was what he had to do, but was it the right thing to do? Belos needed them, but was there another way? They were made using wild magic, but did the palismen really deserve to die?
After a moment, Hunter sighed, closed his eyes, and powered down his staff. He then removed his mask.
"Go," he said, turning to look away from Booker. "Take the palismen and leave. This never happened."
Booker was slightly surprised by this act of mercy. However, a small smile appeared on his face. There might be a bit of Caleb inside him. He just needed to be pushed in the right direction.
If only he knew how alike Hunter and Caleb really were.
Picking up the whistle, Booker looked back at Hunter and saw him walking away with his head low, heading home in failure.
"Guess I'll be seeing you around, friend," he said.
Hunter stopped. "We'll meet again, but we will not be friends," he said before getting on his staff and flying away.
Booker watched with a sad expression. "We can be," he muttered.
By the time dawn came at the grudgby field, the nest was back in place, and Booker only had a couple of hours of sleep. As Bump walked the field, he was joined by Bat Queen, who landed on the field.
The principal knocked on the door before it opened up. First, the palismen came out. Then Booker came crawling out, looking to see that the sun hadn't yet risen.
"Good morning, Booker," Bump greeted his exhausted student. "I see that all the palismen are all accounted for. I'm proud of you. Although, I don't know where that thing came from…"
Principal Bump pointed to Kikimora's sleeping dragon. Booker had to use it to bring the nest back to the field.
"It's a long story," Booker said, stepping out of the fenced-off area. "Look, I've gotta got to the library to see Luz and Amity, but I promise to be on time."
Not waiting for a response, Booker clapped his hands, summoned his wings, and flew as fast as he could away toward town.
"Young love," Bump commented.
Bat Queen nodded in agreement. However, a chirping bird caught her attention. Looking back, she saw the cardinal happily chirping. Offering her wing, Bat Queen allowed the bird to hop up.
"You found someone after all this time," she asked, with the bird nodding. At long last, the time finally came. "Go then."
With that, the cardinal flew off.
Booker arrived at the library in 2 minutes. When he landed, he ran up the stairs, praying that Luz and Amity were still there.
"No more waiting around," Booker said to himself. After everything that's happened, he wasn't going to wait another moment.
But he'll have to. Just as he was about to reach for the door, Luz came out of the library, appearing very disheveled, with Amity's staff card.
"Booker," Luz asked, looking at the boy she loved in shock at his sudden appearance.
"Luz?" Booker asked, looking at the girl he loved in shock at how she appeared. "What the hell happened to you?"
Luz blushed and looked away in embarrassment. "It's…a long story. But it's one that I'll have to explain on the way," she said with urgency. She then raised her hands. "Take me to Amity's house."
Booker sighed, clapped his hands, and reformed his wings. He then grabbed Luz's arms and flew away with her.
Amity couldn't see last night at all. When the sun started coming up, she couldn't even find the will to get up. She knew she had to, so she forced herself out of bed. She then did her morning routine while trying to stay out of her mother's way.
Seeing how distraught their sister was, her siblings decided to help her out.
By that, I mean Emira doing most of the work while Edric admired himself in the mirror.
"Emira, you're in love, right," Amity asked her sister. Both were sitting on the bed, with Emira brushing Amity's hair.
"Amity, you know that," Emira said. "And I know that you're in love with Luz and Booker if that's what you're asking."
"But is it right to be," Amity asked. "Ever since Booker and Luz came here, things have just gotten confusing. Nothing is the same anymore. I'm thinking things I've never considered before, and I'm feeling things I never used to feel. Want things I never wanted."
"I understand, Amity," Emira said, smiling as she thought of her boyfriend. "When I first met Warrick, I was in the same position you were in. I wasn't happy, and Mom was breathing down my neck, but when I met him, it felt like I was finally finding my other half.
"Love is hard to understand, but when I'm with him, the world makes sense, and it feels like I want to understand it with him."
Amity turned and looked at her sister with wide eyes. "Wow, that's…beautiful, Em."
"So, let me ask you: Is what you're feeling really so bad?" asked Emira. You weren't happy before." The oldest sister looked at her twin. "Ed, don't pick. You'll make it worse."
Edric said, "Too late."
Ignoring her brother, Amity considered what Emira had said. Her sister told her that when she was with Warrick, the world made sense, and Amity realized that Emira was right. She was so confused that her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts when her feelings for both Luz and Booker formed. But when she realized it was love, her mind was clear, and the world made sense. Amity knew what she wanted, and it was to not be without both the human girl and the hybrid boy.
"Hey, your roots are growing out," Emira said, seeing how brown the top of her head was. "Do you wanna dye your hair again?" Emira held up a bottle of green hair dye.
Amity grabbed a strand of her hair and began to think. Luz and Booker had changed her life, and she had changed theirs, too. Both had grown into their people and made staggering progress as witches.
Maybe it was time she showed much, and she'd changed too.
Booker landed himself and Luz in front of the Blight Manor and walked up to the front door. Luz explained what had happened, but while he was mad at her for getting Amity fired, he was proud to hear that she went out of her way to fix her mistake.
Luz stood in front of the door and knocked. Whether it was Amity, an abomination servant, her siblings, her father, or, worse, her mother, she was going to do this. She could practically hear her heart pounding.
She pulled out Amity's staff card, slightly burnt and torn, and held it out the moment the door opened. But while Luz had her eyes closed, Booker gasped when he saw the change Amity had made.
"I'm sorry about everything! I understand if you never wanna see me again," Luz was able to say before Booker grabbed her head and opened her eyes. "Uh…."
Luz, just as dumbstruck, stared with Booker at Amity's new hair for the first time. It was now a beautiful lavender, with brown hair visible on the undercut at her temples. She'd also shortened it, no longer tied it up, and had bangs.
"Amity…your hair…" Luz began.
"It's beautiful," Booker finished, making Amity blush and smile a bit.
"Oh yeah. Mom always liked it green. I thought I could use a change…" she said, playing with her bangs as she, Luz, and Booker blushed brightly. Seeing her damaged staff card, she took it back. "Uh…how'd you get this back? And what happened?"
Sheepish, Luz shook a vine off her arm and said, "Well, to convince Malphas to hire you again, I had to go through some trials. And categorize some man-eating books—and tame something called a paper dragon? That guy was not fun."
"Nothing can ever be normal in this world," Booker commented before noticing Edric and Emira. "Oh, hey, guys."
They waved at him and Luz.
"Hm?" Amity turned around and saw them. The twins duck around the corner. Amity sighed and went outside, closing the door behind her.
"And you, Booker," Amity asked as both girls looked at the Seventh Son. "You look like you were put through the wringer."
Booker sighed and explained how Bumper wanted him to guard a shelter of palismen for the night before the Golden Guard took it. They talked about how they went on an adventure before bringing it back so that the school could have its Palismen Adoption Day.
"We're going to adopt a palisman?!" Luz and Amity exclaimed with looks of pure excitement, already wanting to go to the school right now.
"Wait, girls, I…I need to talk to you two about…" Booker looked down before noticing something on Luz's leg. "Does that mouse have a skull for a head?"
"Agh!" Luz shouted in shock and anger when she saw the echo mouse. She shook her leg, getting the mouse on her leg to scurry off of it. "You're the one who ate the diary! Uaagh!"
She jumped at it, catching it but landing on her face.
"I hate you."
Amity giggled at how silly her girl crush was. But as she and Booker helped pick her up, she quickly realized something. "Wait, This is an echo mouse," she said, taking the mouse from Luz. "It consumes knowledge through writing and can play back anything it eats. We dealt with them a lot at work."
"What does that mean," Booker asked.
"Watch."
Amity rubbed its head a bit. This caused the echo mouse's skull eyes to light up as it projected illustrations onto the front door like an old movie.
The first image was of the journal, as a voice spoke.
"My name is Philip Wittebane, and my journey through the Demon Realm is far from over. But today, I humbly donate my journal to the ages."
Booker gasped. "Wittebane…"
"You know him," Luz asked.
"No, but I think I know someone he's related to," he said, watching as Philip's featureless figure wrote something down before traveling the lands of the Boiling Isles.
"Entry one: May 21st... I think. And I found myself in the world of my father: a world so horrid yet so fantastic few minds could have dreamt of it."
The portal door and its eye were then shown.
"If only those at home could see what I have, and perhaps they shall. The more I learn about this realm, the more I am certain I can harness its strange powers to return home. Today, I begin recording my journey to create a portal back to the Human Realm."
The projection stopped.
"Wow," Booker said in awe. So, a hybrid came into this world. Was it one of Caleb's descendants? Or his bother? Whatever the answer was, it gave him and Luz newfound hope. This just confirmed that there was a way to make the portal again.
"Is that it," Booker asked Amity. "That's all that was in the diary?"
"No, there's definitely more if it ate all the pages," Amity said, giving the mouse back to Luz.
Luz holds up the echo mouse, smiling at it. "Thank you, little mouse. I hope we can become good friends."
Booker at both her and Amity. Together, they stood alone. Nothing to interrupt them. Nothing but to just talk…and to get ready for school. But at this moment, Booker could care less about being on time. This was his moment.
"Look, girls, I'm…I'm sorry for not being there," Booker said, looking at them ruefully. Much to Luz and Amity's confusion. "I know that you two are more than capable of handling things yourself. I just…I really wanted to spend time with you all."
"Hey, Booker, it's okay," Luz said, trying to reassure him.
"No! It's not. I…I am trying to be a better person. I'm learning to control my anger; that's kind of its own process," Booker stopped, trying to find the right words. "I just…I really don't want anything to ruin what we have. Even if I really want…"
"No, no, it's fine," said Luz, placing the mouse on her shoulder to grab his marked hands. I'm the one that ruins everything."
Then, Amity stepped in. "No, Luz, I was the one who shouldn't have walked away," she said ruefully. I gave up on…"
"But you had every right to. I got you fired."
Amity smiled and shook her head. "It's just a job. I can replace that," she said, cupping one side of Luz's adorable face. "I can't replace any of you. Nor can I replace Booker."
"Yes, you can," Booker said, looking down. "You and Luz are perfect without me. Sometimes, I wonder if you would be better off without me…"
SLAP! SLAP!
At the same time, both girls slapped his cheeks. Luz was on the right, and Amity was on the left.
"OW!" he yelled, holding his face in shock. "What was that for?!"
The girls, however, looked at him with such disbelief and fury that he paused. He then allowed them to have their say, with Luz exclaiming, "How dare you say that about yourself, Booker!"
"Yeah," said Amity, pocking him in the chest, "where do you get off saying that after everything you've done for us."
Booker looked at them in shock again as he said in confusion, "But…I…"
"What? Not perfect," Amity said, looking at him with a sad expression. After all that he is, he still doesn't think himself worthy of anything like love. "Who is? But you're perfect in your imperfections."
"I'm dangerous."
"You're not, Booker. I've never been safer than when I'm with you," Luz said kindly, cupping his right cheek. "I'm so weird. I scared away everyone and didn't even have friends until you came along."
"You're not weird, Luz. You're not afraid to be yourself. You're certainly not weirder than me," Booker said, placing a hand on hers.
"He's right," Amity said, grabbing Luz's hand. Now, all three of them were blushing again. "I mean, look at me. I'm just some rich girl who had to hide everything she loves just because it didn't fit the family image."
"Amity, you've had to endure your family's toxicness just to protect everyone. You're more than just a rich girl," Booker said, placing a hand on her shoulder as he smiled at him.
Blushing brighter, Amity grasped his hand and held it. "And you're more than just what you are, Booker. I love going on adventures with you," she said, looking at both him and Luz. "And I love that I can be the real me with all of you."
"I love how confident both of you are," Luz said to both Amity and Booker. "And I love how you never gave up on me.
"I love how brilliant you two are," Booker said to both girls. "And I love how you never stopped being with me."
They were leaning toward the middle of their triangle.
Luz said, "I love…"
Amity said, "I love…"
Booker said, "I love…"
"...both of you," they all said before they kissed each other. At the same time, the three teenagers kissed one another passionately as they hugged each other.
From an open window, Edric nodded in approval as Emira looked at the sense with a proud smile. "Bold move, sister," he said.
After 3 seconds, the three of them separated, looking at one another, flushed and surprised.
Flustered, Luz broke the silence in an Australian accent. "Oh. Crikey."
"I can't believe we kissed like that," Booker said with an embarrassed smile.
"I can't believe I just did that," Amity said out of embarrassment.
"I can't believe I just said that!" Luz exclaimed in total embarrassment. "Oh, crikey? How did I even think that?!"
The three of them looked at one another, bursting out into laughter. The embarrassment was all so worth it. They were finally together.
The sun rose on a brand new day and the beginning of Booker, Luz, and Amity's latest chapter of love.
But while Booker celebrated, Hunter was kneeling in the Emperor's throne room. He's back in uniform but lacks his helmet. He'd just given his personal mission report on what happened last night, and he now awaited Belos' punishment.
He knew it was coming. It's like he told Booker: the Emperor is not a merciful man.
"So, you return with nothing," Belos asked, digging his fingers into the throne before standing. His anger slipped through. "Is this the thanks I get for taking you in?"
"Of course not," Hunter said in alarm. "I want to help. A-A-And if you told me how wild magic did this to you, I might be able to find a—"
Hunter closed his eyes and braced himself when Belos lashed out. Barely misses Hunter's ear with a sharp spike his arm turned into.
Hunter bowed and said, "My apologies. I spoke out of turn. It won't happen again."
He then retracted his arm, panting. Groaning in pain, Emperor Belos sat back down, clutching his chest.
The Seventh Son was proving to be a bigger problem alive than he would have been dead and drained of his Titan's blood. The man NEEDED those palismen. Their life essence was the only thing keeping him stable and calm. Keeping him looking like a witch.
And not like the monster he really was.
"These outbursts are painful," Belos said, his eyes glowing blue, "and so is watching you fail. I know you can do better, Hunter."
Outside, Kikimora was walking past the doors to the throne room. Last night was the most humiliated she'd ever felt. She'd failed her mission to bring Belos more palismen. But at least she killed that annoying little pest, the Golden Guard.
That was until Hunter stepped out of the throne room.
Seeing him, Kikimora stopped and gasped in disbelief. "Golden Guard? Y-You're alive!" she exclaimed as Hunter glared at her. "I mean, praise the Titan. It's a miracle. I heard about the crash in Latissa."
Hunter glared at her before smirking, taking delight that she failed.
"Oh, it was a miracle, alright," he said with a smug smirk. "Luckily, some travelers picked me up out of the wreckage. So, I'm actually doing great. Looks like you had a rough night, though."
He walked off as Kikimora seethed. This wasn't possible. He was supposed to be dead. Washed away by the river or eaten by her dragon. She was supposed to finally be rid of her greatest rival and take her rightful place by the Emperor's side.
But as Hunter turned his head after flashing a smirk, Kikimora noticed Hunter's singed hair.
It was just like one of the two boys that attacked.
When he entered his room, Hunter removed his uniform, went to his bed, and lay down.
"I can help," he said, thinking about his conversation with his uncle, "if I just knew a little more…"
He heard a familiar chirp. Hunter sat up and turned to see the cardinal on the windowsill, waiting for him to return.
"Palisman!" Hunter yelled, clutching the bird. Finally, he caught one.
Hunter squeezed him a little too tightly, and the bird chirped.
Hunter instantly let him go. "Oh! Sorry," he apologized quickly. It was then that Booker's words ran in his mind.
"So, golden boy. What do you want the most? To be the Golden Guard, or do the right thing and save lives?"
Frowning, he petted the red bird. "You shouldn't be here. It'd be bad if Belos saw you."
And yet, the bird didn't leave him. Instead, it flew up and turned into a staff, which fell into Hunter's hands.
"Oh! I was not expecting that," said Hunter, looking at the staff in shock. The pole was colored maroon and had a few notches.
But as he held it, he felt the power of wild magic from inside it. It should have scared him. He shouldn't be keeping this. This was supposed to be given to Belos to heal him. To keep this palisman would be to go against everything he'd been told about the forbidden witchcraft.
And yet, Hunter felt warmth. It was almost as if this palisman was comforting him.
Hunter walked over to the window with his new staff and gazed longingly out at the world.