That night Hunter stayed up working on two projects, the one from the previous night, and a new special one. He got the house's servant to bring him ingredients for two potions, and after carful preparation he combined his fake glasses, the potions, and a strand of Edric's hair that was on his borrowed coat. He took the result out of the cauldron and carefully wrapped up the result.

He than tried to get some sleep, but he found his mind racing. He had never had as much fun as he had that night, in fact he had never felt as cared for as he had the last 24 hours. Luz being so kind and accepting him for who he is as well as not caring about his not so great past, her friends who don't even know him dropped everything to help when he asked, and Edric, Edric making him feel special and good about himself when he truthfully hadn't felt that way about himself since his parents died.

It made him think about how he was living. He loved his job, helping his people and stopping criminals made him feel happy to be in the Emperor's Coven, however he was constantly overcompensating for every single one of his so called flaws. Boots to make him taller, a staff that was the only reason he was allowed to join the coven, and anytime this wasn't enough and he failed, he always paid dearly. He loved his Great-Uncle as he was his saviour, and Hunter knew he was in pain, but both Luz and Edric were right, his behaviour of late had been unacceptable and downright despicable.

Hunter cuddled up in the blankets, his little palisman already fast asleep next to him, started to doze off as the buzz of the day finally wore off.

The next morning he got up early again to train in secret with his cardinal, but returned early to prepare for what he decided. He hid some stuff just outside his window and packed the rest into is school bag. He than got ready for school and acted like it was a completely normal day, he had breakfast and left through the front door.

After leaving the normal way Hunter backtracked outside his window and grabbed the rest of his possessions and headed for Hexside.

He waited by the front entrance, he had to find Luz to talk to her, to tell her his decision. She arrived on the owl staff, being flown by Eda the Owl Lady, jumped off, and started making her way to the entrance. Hunter ran up to her to make sure he got her attention.

"Luz, we need to talk."

"Oh hey Hunter, how was your date?"

"It was absolutely amazing, and speaking of which here are the clothes you lent me, thank you so much for that. However there is something very serious we must discuss."

She took the cloths and put it in her bag, and than they went over to a tree where no one was around.

"What is it Hunter?"

"I have decided to leave the Emperor and stop doing his tasks."

Man that was hard to say, Hunter thought once those words escaped his lips he would feel much more confident about his choice, but he didn't. He still thought about his Uncle and how he had cared for Hunter, and that most of his emotional outbursts had been related to his deteriorating condition. So Hunter was still unsure, but his words seemed to make Luz very excited.

"That is so good to hear Hunter, I am very proud of you."

"Yes, and I hope to more officially enroll at Hexside. The only issue is I no longer have a guardian or home to enroll from."

"Wait, you don't have a home to go back to?"

"No, Belos was my guardian, leaving him means I am leaving everything I have behind. My family, my room, my job and research, my access to hormone potions, everything."

Luz seemed to think for a while. She than put a hand on his shoulder.

"How about for the time being you move in with me, Eda, and King. Now that Lilith is moved out there is room on the couch for a person, I can teach you all I have learned about glyphs and there different combinations. And don't worry about your potions, Eda is a master of potions and the ones that she doesn't know she always knows a person who does. You will be safe with us Hunter, don't worry."

Tears weld up in his eyes, but he rubbed them away. Still he smiled, and than pulled her in for a hug.

"Thank you Luz. You have no idea how much that means to me."

In the distance they could hear the morning bell go off.

"We got to get to class, but after school meet me here and we will walk home. Don't worry Hunter, we got you."

He nodded and headed to his first class. For the first time in the past few days he actually just enjoyed being a student. He knew everything already of course but it was nice to free and amongst people his age. After his second class however he was surprised by Edric waiting for him.

When Edric saw him he smiled and gave a little wave, his cheeks flushed a little. Hunter smiled back and walked over to him.

"Hey, don't you have to get to class?"

"There is a surprise assembly right now, the announcement was just after the first bell."

"Oh, I was still outside. Well you want to, um, maybe walk together?"

"Yes, I would like that."

"Hey, remind me when we get there that I got something for you?"

"Oh, okay."

Hunter thought about holding Edric's hand as they walked, he even reached out for a second, but than decided that Edric might not want the school to know they were together just yet. Wait, were they even officially together yet, they had went on a date and kissed, but neither had said what that meant, or even if they planned on doing it again. What if Hunter was over thinking there relationship, what if-

His doubtful thoughts were stopped when he felt Edric's warm hand creeping into his, he looked at there hands together and yet another smile crept onto his face. Edric lead the way as Hunter was still not fully familiar with the school layout.

"So, I had a really nice time last night. Like I really enjoyed myself Hunter."

Just hearing Edric call him by his real name made his heart leap. "I did to, in fact if I am being honest it was some of the most fun I have had in years. Thank you so much for taking me out."

Edric gave a lighthearted chuckle. "You are welcome. And hey, I know this is last minute but there is a dance tomorrow night, it would be great if you could come. It will just be causal so you don't have to worry about appearances or anything."

"Sounds like fun, but I got to warn you, I am a-"

"Let me guess, you think you are a horrible dancer?"

"Actually I was going say I am such a good dancer. I am such a good dancer that people are going to flock to me and you will have to beat them away with my staff."

"Hahaha, you can be so funny. Ok deal, but we got to find a good seat for this assembly first. Are you a front, middle, or back row kind of person?"

They had reached the stadium outside, it was a sunny day but that did nothing to cut the dipping temperatures. There uniforms long sleeves were doing almost nothing to keep them warm, and nearly all the students had there hoods up including Hunter and Edric.

"Back row seems pretty good, just as long as we are close to the stairs so we can get out of here faster when it's finished. Speaking of which what it this assembly about?"

"Not sure, Bump just said it was a surprise presentation from the Emperor's coven."

"No..."

This was not good, not good at all. Hunter just remembered that when he was packing up everything the one thing that wasn't in his room was the report he had written up on his first day. One of the servants must have seen who it was addressed to and sent it, meaning there was no way this assembly wasn't a trap for the multitrack kids.

"I have to go. Right now."

"Hunter, what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. I'll explain after."

He grabbed his bag and palisman and ran down the stands stairs.

Edric Perspective:

Edric was worried about Hunter, but he seemed alright as he left, so he probably would be ok. Emira found him and sat down next to him.

"Hey Ed, where's your boyfriend?"

"What? He's not my boyfriend yet, or at least he hasn't said anything yet. He just left for a moment."

"Man I hope he doesn't stand you up like the others."

Edric put his head on his knee, he didn't like to be reminded of that. He had had a date for grom but he had stood him up, and than he had gone on a couple dates with a person he liked but they had confessed that they didn't think of him the same way. So in the span of a couple months he had been rejected by two people he liked, and Hunter had almost done the same a couple days ago, but it seem as though Hunter felt the same. To be safe though Edric planned to ask Hunter to officially be his boyfriend at tomorrow's dance.

Suddenly what looked like a dragon made of hands descended from the sky holding a big metal cage, and a little demon in an Emperor's coven outfit that was riding it cast a spell circle. Edric couldn't tell at first what the spell had done, but he knew it was bad when he heard the screams.

Looking down at the other students he saw to his horror Viney, Jerbo, and Barkus being raised into the air via a magic hand.

"Help, let us go. Please oh please someone help!"

"Let us go, we did nothing wrong."

"Bark!"

"I am Kikimora, I am here under the direct order of the Emperor himself. These three have been sentenced to petrification. Let them be a warning and a message, all Witches must join one coven by the next eclipse or shall face the consequences."

The little demon's magic hands threw the group into the cage and it slammed shut. Many of the younger students looked scared, but many of the older kids like Edric and Emira looked as though they wanted to fight, however Kikimora spoke out.

"If any of you cast a single spell circle it will be seen as treason and will be dealt with as such, good day."

Her dragon started to rise, however it stopped as a figure came into view. Edric recognized the Palisman, it was Hunter, however he had his hood up and was wearing what appeared to be a mask version of the Golden Guard's helmet which Edric had seen from the posters. He was flying face to face with the demon lady.

"Kikimora, this was my mission, how dare you try and take it to completion for me. I demand you hand the prisoners over to me so that I may take them too Belos myself."

"Golden Guard, how ridiculous you look without your garb. Did you have to make yourself a mask while undercover, how pathetic. And no, your mission was to spy and find the rebellious witches, Belos never said it would be you taking them into custody. Also I wouldn't press the matter, or I will tell Belos you have a snack for him."

"Than you leave me no choice, I challenge you to a witches duel. If I win I get to take the prisoners in and you don't mention the palisman, and if you win you get to take them."

"Agreed."

Edric did not understand what was going on, at first he thought Hunter was pretending to be the Golden Guard, but this crazy lady actually recognized him. She mentioned he was a spy, but that couldn't possibly be true, could it.

Edric's mind was spinning, he barely registered that the stands were being evacuated and that the cage was landed in the right corner of the left side. He just felt like he was in shock, and blinded by confusion and rage.

He was snapped out of it by Emira shaking him.

"Ed, we got to go, it isn't safe."

But before he could respond Luz, Amity, and there friends rushed up.

"It isn't but we need your help, we need you two and Gus to cast the biggest illusion yet and fast."

She very quickly explained the plan and the three illusionists got to work. As the duel began they covered the entire stadium in an illusion, it made it so that Edric, Emira, Amity, Luz, Gus, and Willow were all invisible and therefore could help Hunter. Edric didn't quite understand until he saw Hunter cast his first spell, by which he didn't.

When Hunter drew a circle in the air there was no spell circle, instead Gus had to illusion one, and than Amity with the help of one of Luz's fire glyphs made it appear as though Hunter shot a massive fire ball at Kikimora. It seemed to Edric that Hunter was a witch without magic.

Kikimora dodged the fire and cast her own spells which Hunter dodged with ease, it was as though he was a master of evading attacks.

Willow and Luz than did a combination plant spell to try and ensnare the demon but she used her magic to escape. These exchanges continued and it wasn't looking the best for Hunter, but Luz had told them the plan wasn't to necessarily win the duel, just to win period.

Once the illusion was nice and stable Emira left it to Edric and Gus and ran over to the cage. Gus expanded the illusion over the cage so that the three could see what was happening but also so Kikimora only saw what looked like the three standing there. Emira started to cast different spells that may unlock the cage.

Battle wise the tides had started to turn, Willow, Luz, and Amity were casting all the spells they knew in rapid succession of each other and it was starting to overwhelm Kikimora. Finally Emira managed to release the trio and quietly brought them over to Edric and Gus, she rejoined the illusion casting.

Seeing that they had won, with the help of an ice glyph Hunter gave a mighty leap and landed right in front of Kikimora and pointed his cardinal palisman right at her.

"Yield."

"I yield. You win, take them."

Kikimora detached the cage, not knowing it was empty, and took off on her dragon. Edric assumed Hunter would than rejoin them, but to Edric's shock he nodded at Gus and got on his palisman and hovered above the cage. Gus than cast a new illusion where the fake cage with the fake trio grew a chain and attacked to the back of the palisman and Hunter started rising.

"Hunter!" Edric cried out. Hunter did look back, and despite the mask Edric could tell he was looking right at him, right into his eyes. A moment of just eye contact, and then Hunter turned to face straight forward and took off in the direction of the Emperor's castle.