P.O.V neutral

Luz, Gus and Willow spent the rest of the night, after the events of the moonlight, tidying up the mansion they had accidentally animated, but they had succeeded. Eda even let the human's friends sleep with her by the time the morning rolled around. When they left, Luz sat down on the couch with her demon friend.

"So Eda, what is the program of today ?" she asked enthusiastically.

" Well, you'll have to empty the room that is right next to yours, we are going to have a new roommate !" she exclaimed.

Of course, Luz quickly became curious, she wondered who this person could be. She thought to herself that it could be an acquaintance of Eda ... or one of her exes maybe, even if it was unlikely.

"When does he or she arrive ?"

"This morning, I'm going to go get her. You're in charge of the house while I'm away," she said, picking up her scepter.

She flew out of the house towards the mystery guest, while Luz made her way to the room she needed to take care of, the room of the person with whom she might form a new friendship.

P.O.V of Sombra

The night was very short because of the events I had experienced. I hadn't slept much, or not at all, as I had left control to Amon for the rest of the evening. Yet, I had never felt so awake. Probably because I was going to leave this old house to finally live in a real one, with Luz ... not to mention Eda who was really very kind despite what you might think with his reputation as a criminal.

She hadn't changed, and speaking of her, I was already starting to pack my stuff, so I could go. I didn't have much, just my old human habits that I now wore as pajamas, a toiletry bag with what was in it half empty, my cape, and a sleeping bag. Oh, and of course, I had my gun and a box that contained cartridges. It, too, was practically empty. Afterwards I also had my phone, which I could no longer use. Because it had been out of battery for a long time, and there was no way to load it in my house.

A few minutes after I finished gathering my things, I was in the living room, and someone knocked on the door. But the door fell to the floor, revealing a dismayed Eda ... poor door, luckily I wasn't going to live here anymore-. She came to her senses and acted as if nothing had happened.

"Ready to go ?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes Madam !" I said enthusiastically before joining her.

I looked one last time at this place which, despite its poor condition, had served as a refuge for me and Amon. Who knows, maybe I was going to miss it a bit. I end up going with Eda on her staff, after putting on my hood. I know doing it was pretty pointless, but I couldn't help myself, as sort of habit.

It was not a long journey, and we were out of town. In the distance, I began to see the famous owl house which was rather well hidden. No wonder I couldn't find it yesterday. When we landed, the door opened to reveal Luz, cheerful as usual, whom we joined as she had a smile on her lips.

"Luz, do you remember Sombra ?" Eda asked, picking up her scepter.

It was not a long journey, and we were out of town. In the distance, I began to see the famous owl mansion which was rather well hidden. No wonder I couldn't find him yesterday. When we landed, the door swung open to reveal Luz, cheerful as usual, whom we joined as she had a smile on her lips.

"Luz, do you remember Sombra ?" Eda asked, picking up her scepter.

" Of course !", Luz replied."I'm so happy to see you again".

I couldn't help but escape a small smile, I was happy to see her again, and strangely seeing myself smile made hers widen. They invited me inside and nothing changed. This place was still as beautiful as the first time I came.

"Well, I'll show you where your room is. Oh, and you know you can take off your hood, no need to cover your ears", Eda suggested.

"Oh yes, you're right. Sorry, I'm just too much use to it, I said, escaping an embarrassed chuckle.

When I let my hood fall, Luz's smile did the same. Her expression changed from joy to shock in a second. Of course, I noticed it right away, it worried me and I didn't hide it.

"Luz are you ok-?" I started to say before being interrupted

"You're a human ?!" she said after coming out of her trance.

I was rather surprised at his reaction, which was unexpected.

"Eda, you didn't tell her?"

"Aaaaah yes, that's what I forgot to tell you, pretty cool right? At least you won't be disoriented!"

Luz became like, nervous, and I was going to ask her why later. Eda accompanied me to what was to be my new room. It was spacious, there were just a few odds and ends on the sides, and when I noticed there was no bed I thought I had done well to take my sleeping bag and keep it.

"Make yourself at home, you have a box where you can put your weapons in case if you have any other", Eda explained to me, indicating the small box.

I nodded, and she left us, me and Luz. It wasn't hard to see that there was an awkward atmosphere between us, and I didn't understand why. The silence persisted, and I tried to shake it off while I grabbed my sleeping bag, but eventually Luz did it early.

"Soooo... from what I heard ... you arrived here at least 4 years ago, right ?" she asked as I nodded. "It must be pretty cool, to be the first human who stepped a foot on the boiling islands..." she said almost sadly.

"Oh um, I don't know. I didn't really have a choice..."

"Why are you coming to live with us ?" she asked, and I was about to answer until she started to stutter. "W-Well, not that it bothers me! W-What I wanted to say is that...I-I ..."

She was seriously panicking, what was happening to her? Why was she so stressed? She continued to mumble and stutter.

"You should calm her down, it looks like she's going to literally explode-.", Amon told me.

I put a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped at the touch. I tried to reassure her by giving her a smile.

"Hey it's okay, don't worry I know you didn't mean it that way", I said before she stared at my smile.

She became shocked, but not in a bad way. She looked stunned, and I couldn't understand why because it was just a smile. Then I realized that by doing this... maybe she had seen my teeth.

"Fangs ? Are those fangs ?! Looks like you have the same teeth as a ferocious animal mixed with human's one! How is it possible ?"

I felt a drop of sweat run down my forehead, as much as Eda wouldn't have raised the subject, for she might not know humans enough to know that such a dentition was impossible. Of course anyway. But I forgot to think of an excuse for Luz.

"Oh...um ..."

"Say it's because of an operation!"

"In fact..."

"Or that you had surgery !"

"I have... a malformation of the teeth! I-It's super rare but it can happen !" I exclaimed, escaping a nervous little laugh at the end and I tried to quickly change the subject. "Um, oh! Could you take my box of ammunition? It's the yellow one in my bag."

"Of all the possible excuses, you choose a dental malformation? That's what I thought..." he commented as I raised an eyebrow of incomprehension. "You are completely stupid."

I growled slightly at his insult, except this time I couldn't retaliate. Unless I wanted Luz to think I was crazy, and speaking of her... my growl freaked her out and the box fell, ammunition scattering across the floor.

"O-oh my God! S-Sombra I'm sorry ..."

Before she left with another panic attack, I gave her a small smile, telling her it was okay, before picking everything up and putting my box away. At the same time, I took out my firearm so that I could put it in the box that Eda had indicated to me. Once again, Luz couldn't believe her eyes and I noticed.

"It's the first time you see a real gun?"

"Y-Yes... have you ever used it?"

"Yes and the last time almost was yesterday when I had to deal with a pig that tried to rip off Eda. That's how we ... met, and seeing that the environment I was living in was far from livable, she offered to come here. I just have to help her with her stand and the rest. "

As I finished tidying up, Eda called us both for help with cooking and the food from the boiling islands was very... special-.

For the rest of the day I tried to empathize with Luz, but each time it was unsuccessful. I couldn't understood why, when we first met she was comfortable, like with her other friends. Now she couldn't stay calm, she paid attention to her slightest gestures, it was like... she was afraid of me.

It was evening and Eda had already gone to bed, Luz too from what I had seen. I was pacing my room, thinking about how I could get closer to Luz. Unfortunately nothing came to mind, and it was starting to seriously annoy and frustrate me.

"Why Luz is so complicated," I said with a sigh.

I lay down on my sleeping bag, I had already changed, and I was wearing my pajamas, which was a simple white t-shirt and black jogging pants. I wasn't the type to wear a lot of color.

Suddenly I heard the downstairs door open and close. Someone had apparently come out of the house, and when I looked out the window I saw Luz running towards the forest. As I wondered what she was doing, Amon gave me the answer.

"She heard you, and I think she didn't like it-."

I widened my eyes, as I realized that I had just done a big mistake. I quickly put on my boots, so quickly that I fell-, before getting down and out of the house.

"Try to follow her, please!" I said to Amon who took control of my movements and made me go in a direction.

P.O.V of Luz

I felt so bad, so stupid... All day long, I had tried to avoid the worst with Sombra, which I dreaded. Yet, it happened... as always. So, I went outside for some fresh air, I really needed it. It's been a long time since I felt like this... and I didn't miss it. It wasn't her fault, it was mine.

I sat down on a tree trunk that was laying on the ground, my head in my hands. I stayed like that for a while, until a hand clamped down on my mouth and prevented me from speaking. The person grabbed me and started to walk away. I could only utter muffled screams and squirm, and although I still didn't know a spell that could help me defend myself, I continued to struggle.

My kidnapper led us to a cliff, and tied me up with a rope. When he was done, I could finally see who it was. He was the leader of the hunter of demons group , the one I had faced with my friends.

"You ?"

"Yes, me, good to see you again human." he said in his threatening voice."Because of you and your little comrades, I lost my job... I may not be able to get this gigantic demon or my job back, but I can still finish what we started."

He took a step forward, I instinctively took a step back, but just behind me was the void with boiling water at the bottom. I was helpless, I was afraid. I then thought of running, but he attached to the end of the rope, which was still meters in length, an anchor. Despite that I didn't want to give up, and I tried to run, but he quickly grabbed me and threw me off the cliff. I did a mini-fall before being held back by the anchor above.

I felt him raise the anchor and move slowly towards the edge, I saw nothing, but I prayed for a miracle to happen... or for Azura to come and save me. I could still dream in what might be my last moments.

Suddenly, I heard noise on the surface, then the anchor dropping to the ground, and the man screaming in both fear and pain. Who knows, maybe he had dropped the object on his foot-. Anyway, something, or someone, pulled on my rope and pulled me up. I was saved, or maybe even more in danger.

"Eda is that you ?" I asked as I practically reached the top.

Once I got there, I saw that, the one who helped me was the one I least expected, Sombra. She looked truly worried, but smiled slightly when she saw me.

P.O.V neutral

Sombra, or rather Amon, had followed in Luz's footsteps, until they stopped to be replaced by others. The human grew worried that something had happened to the young witch's apprentice. This time Amon made her continue the path by jumping from tree to tree, and they ended up seeing her being thrown off the cliff by one of the demon hunters. Sombra had felt her blood boil and left Amon in complete control by taking her place.

He had landed in front of the man, before he dropped the anchor, which the symbiote snatched from his hands before placing it on the ground. The hunter, though scared at what he saw, was about to hex him, but the monster was much faster by slicing his eye with his claws. He yelled in horror and pain, resting his hand on his bloody eye trough. His opponent came close to him showing his teeth, which could very well tear him to pieces.

"Be glad, I didn't pull out your other eye, it would be a shame to end up blind ~. Now run, and don't come any closer to her or else, you'll see what real pain feels like." he said threateningly in a deep voice, not speaking too loudly to avoid Luz from hearing him.

The hunter wasted no time and ran off. Amon took the rope and began to pull, gradually, he disappeared into Sombra so that Luz did not see him. Sombra was worried, but she was relieved to see that Luz had not been hurt. She rushed over to her and knelt by her side.

"S-Sombra ? H-How did you know I was here ?" Luz asked, still with that nervous voice she uses with the young adult.

"I saw you leave the house, I didn't want anything to happen to you, so I followed you and I did well. What did you have in mind ?! " she exclaimed angry.

Luz flinched when Sombra had raised her tone, and she regretted it immediately. She sighed before sitting cross-legged across from her.

"It's because of what I said, you heard me in my room, right?"

Even though Luz hadn't answered, seeing her lower her head was enough.

"I would like to know, why are you like this with me? When we met you looked happy, relaxed, but since I arrived, you're not yourself anymore ... In fact no, it's since you found out that I was a human, like you. "

Luz sat down next to me curling up on herself. She didn't need to say anything, Sombra was reading her like a book, and she knew she was right. Luz, finally spoke, her voice was less nervous, but there was a certain sadness.

"I'm sorry... it's just that ... back home, in the human realm, other people didn't treat me very well. I-It's different here, I finally have friends to laugh and hang out with! I feel at home and I can be myself. While back there, others were looking at me like..."

"A failure?" Sombra had interrupted. "A less than nothing, a looser, a strange girl that nobody wants and who isn't capable of anything?" she continued while every word was painful for the young girl.

"I-Is that what you think of me...?"

"No... but that's what people thought of me", she replied with a weak smile.

Luz widened her eyes at these words, she couldn't believe it. When she had met her, she didn't see Sombra as someone who could be rejected by others.

"What? But you look so cool!" she said as Sombra let out a small laugh.

"You think so? Thanks... but believe me, I'm telling you the truth. Everyone looked down on me or ignored me... Including people who were supposed to be my family. I was like a ghost they knew existed, but whom they couldn't, or didn't, want to see."

She put a hand on the girl's shoulder, looking her in the eyes.

"You misunderstood my words earlier. I was trying to sympathize with you, but I felt like you didn't want it. And you were making it difficult, with the way you acted... I never wanted to mean it in a bad way "

Luz couldn't believe it, all Sombra apparently wanted was to be her friend. She wasn't really used to it, it had never happened to her ...

"Before I came here, I tried a couple of times to make friends, but... no one wanted me, they all thought I was too weird..." she confessed as Sombra stood up and held out her hand.

"In that case, I would be delighted and honored to be the first one. Well, among humans at least." she said with a smirk.

For the first time since Sombra's arriving, Luz finally relaxed and accepted Sombra's hand, as she did her friendship. They both returned home with a smile, but something was preoccupying Luz's mind. She wondered how Sombra got rid of the hunter without a scratch, her fist wasn't even red from a hit. Yet, on the grass where they were, there were small traces of blood. The young adult was a real mystery to her, which she couldn't wait to solve.