Luz had passed the entrance exam easily enough and was now headed to her first day of school at Hexside. She was on the back of Eda's staff as the Owl Lady flew Owlbert to their destination. Luz had taken one of her elixirs that day, she didn't want anything to go wrong today. Especially with her curse. She was currently wearing the school uniform except she had white leggings and sleeves. She didn't have her belt with her but she did have her glyphs and staff.

Luz wouldn't admit it but she was kinda nervous. She'd never been to school before, or at least hasn't been to one in a very long time. It was crazy to think, Luz had faced dangerous creatures and wild witches and on occasion angry Coven heads. Or psychotic in Terra's case. But Luz was nervous about a bunch of teens in the same building?

"I know that look kid, don't worry about what those dorks think. If you want my advice, walk into class and punch the first kid you see. To establish dominance." Eda suggested, turning back to face the front. Luz laughed softly "I won't be doing that, but thanks."

They finally landed in front of the school, students already heading inside. Luz dismounted from the staff when Eda spoke "Last chance to back out, and earn a new Bad Girl Coven patch." She held up a patch that read 'Quitter Badge'. "Quitting: It's like trying, but easier." Luz shook her head fondly "I'll see you later, Eda."

Luz turned to head off to the school "suit yourself." Eda called after her, taking off back to the Owl House. There was a banner above the doors reading 'WELCOME TO THE NEW SEMESTER.' Luz looked around with interest as Amity and an abomination came up to her.

"Hey, Luz! Congrats on getting in." Amity greeted, waving, her abomination copying her movements. "Thanks Amity. Up top!" Luz held her hand out and Amity high-fived her, the abomination also gave her a high-five. Except it was on her face, leaving abomination goop on her face. Amity and the abomination walked away as Luz wiped the goop off her face "yuck."

Luz was determined to teach as many people about high-fiving, just for the soul purpose of teasing Hunter about it later. Anyways, Luz headed over to the main staircase where she found Willow and Gus.

"Luz!" The two called as she approached them. "Hey, fellow Hexoleos!" Luz greeted. "Hello, classmate!" Willow winked, striking a pose with her hand under her chin. "You did it, Luz!" Gus cheered, summoning floating letters above them that read 'BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME' Willow glared at him while Luz looked at the letters with a blank expression. "Sorry, I was, uh, covering all my bases." Gus explained, rubbing the back of his neck.

Deciding to change the subject, Willow spoke. "So, do you know who those witches are?" She pointed at the nine banners. Luz looked to where Willow was pointing and grimaced, yeah she knew them, probably better than most. "Those are the heads of the main nine covens. Each one excelled at a magic school like. Glandus, St. Epiderm, and of course, Hexside. Are you prepared to enter these hallowed halls?" Willow asked.

"Well, that's what I'm gonna figure out right now. I'll see you on the other side, friends." Luz answered, heading inside the school and heading through the halls to Principal Bump's office. Luz knocked before entering "greetings, Principal Bump." She greeted formally.

Bump looked up from the crystal ball he was watching. "Oh, yes. Now, today we'll be visited by the Emperor's Coven for a routine inspection. If we want to impress them, you'll need to join a Coven track before they arrive." Luz's eyebrow rose, she was pretty sure an inspection was in a couple more weeks, perhaps they changed it.

"Alright, so which track is first? Do you have a schedule?" Luz asked. The Principal laughed "studying multiple tracks at once? No one does that." Bump answered. "Really? I thought if a student wanted to join the Emperor's Coven they'd have to study all the tracks?" Luz questioned.

Principal Bump took out a rule book with the Emperor's Coven logo on it. "No, according to the rules a witch needs to hocus-focus. You can only pick one of the nine tracks." He explained while gesturing to the nine banners behind him. "And you do not want to embarrass me in front of the inspector."

"Uh-huh..." Luz hummed, looking up to the banners of the different tracks. She went over the pros and cons of each one in her head and which would be the most useful to learn. She couldn't use her staff for any of them so Plants, Illusions, Construction, and Healing were out. Out of those Plants would be the most likely she could use glyphs with, since it was directly nature. However Luz never liked working with plants, mostly due to Terra's... training.

Potions she could learn anytime with Eda, so that was out. Abominations didn't require magic to make the goop, but magic was required to animate and control it. Plus, Luz never liked the feeling and texture of the stuff. Luz wasn't too interested in Oracle, it didn't really require magic just the use of different types of stones to channel one's magic with. That just left Beast Keeping and Bard.

Luz was a natural when it came to taming different kinds of beasts. Feeding and taking care of them was pretty simple too. However summoning them and making them take orders was a different story. Now Bard did require magic however, the instruments themselves had their own magic and amplified a witches own magic. Like with the Oracle stones, or Palisman, or Luz's artificial staff.

Bard magic was the one thing she couldn't do with her staff, and since she didn't have any magic of her own, whistling and such wouldn't do anything magic wise. Luz has learned how to use most instruments thanks to Scooter Crane, however she never learned anything past how to use the instrument and a few basic spells.

Making up her mind, Luz finally gave Principal Bump an answer. "I think the Bard Track would be best for me." Bump nodded "then so be it." He spun a spell circle and Luz could feel the rush of magic over her as her uniform changed the sleeves to red.

"I expect you to be on your best behavior." Principal Bump looked at a corkboard with pictures of the results of Luz's previous visits to Hexside on it. "Based on the costly repairs from recent incidents, we could really use a donation from the Emperor's Coven. Now, off to class." He spun another spell circle and Luz was surprised to be swept off of her feet and out the door, only to be dropped off outside the office door.

Luz shook her arms out as the magic dropped its hold on her, the door closing shut behind her. She headed off to Bard class before she was considered late. Once she was able to find the class, she entered the room and looked around. It was a large room with different levels with chairs scattered around. Students stood in groups talking to each other or sat in their chairs, fiddling with their chosen instrument if they had one.

The teacher was no where to be seen so Luz went and found herself a seat by herself, surveying the room. A couple minutes later the bell screamed and the teacher entered the room soon after. Students quieted down and sat in their chairs as the teacher spoke. "Welcome to a new semester, class! I see we have a few new students joining us, so today we'll be practicing with our instruments individually. If you need help just ask."

"New students follow me to pick out your instrument, remember that you can always change it if it doesn't fit your vibe." They explained, heading to the back of the room. Up the different levels and opening a door, motioning the students that followed into the room. Luz followed and entered the room, looking around as the teacher entered the room as well.

"Pick any instrument you want, most of these ones are pretty new so don't worry about them being clean or not." The teacher said, standing by the door with a counter that had multiple thin books ontop of it beside them. The room had different sections to it for all kinds of instruments, cases of instruments stored in cubbies on the walls. Students wandered around, taking the cases and opening them to see the instruments inside.

Luz wandered around as well, she was surprised at how many types of instruments there were. Harps, triangles, guitars, tambourines, harmonicas, flutes, and oboes. Along with french horns, trumpets, tubas, clarinets, trombones, bassoons, and saxophones. There was even a drum set in the corner, but Luz was pretty sure that was just for show.

Luz looked around, pulling down a case for a trumpet. She set it on the counter and opened the case. It was made of brass, with only three keys. It looked easy to play but Luz knew better, since it only had three keys that ment multiple notes could be played on one fingering. She picked it up out of the case and clicked the buttons ontop. Third finger button for A or E, first and third finger for G, D, and A, etc. She put it back in its case after a moment and put it away, looking around for something else.

She wanted something small, easy to carry around. Since she couldn't summon things like other witches, she needed something that could fit in her pocket or bag. Harmonicas and triangles were small, but she'd never played them before, Scooter told her they were a waste of time learning. She wanted something she's played before.

Luz brushed her hand against the different cases, landing on a flute. Pulling it out and setting the case on the counter and opening it. It was silver and split into three pieces, the body having lots of different buttons and keys. She picked up the body and foot joint of the instrument and twisted the two pieces together and left the head, where the mouthpiece was located, inside the case.

It was definitely a longer instrument, however the piccolo was basically a smaller version of the flute. Luz had never played the piccolo, but she has played the flute before. It's been about two years since she last played but her fingers landed naturally on the correct keys. Her left hand was positioned closer to where the head piece would go, the back of her hand facing out. Her pointer finger on the second circular key, her middle finger skipped a key to rest on the fourth circular key, her ring finger on the fifth key and her pinky resting on the one key that jutted out from the flute.

The back of her right hand faced herself as her first three fingers landed on the last three circular keys on the body, her pinky on the first flat key on the foot joint. Her left thumb was on a flat key beneath the skipped over key while her right thumb rested on the smooth surface of the instrument. She clicked the keys to see what fingerings she could remember.

All fingers pressing down on the buttons, except for her left pointer and pinkies was D. Then switching to all her fingers up except her left pointer and right pinky pressing the buttons for C. Then keeping that fingering and adding her left thumb and right pointer down for B flat.

Luz exited the room, the teacher giving her one of the thin books on the counter. Luz headed to her seat, pulling a stand over to set the book on and attaching the flute pieces together. She opened the book to the first page, it was a fingering chart of all the different notes for the flute.

Class ended awhile later, Luz headed out of class with the other students. She had Bard class again, well her whole schedule was Bard except for the one history class she had later. But she had some time to kill before her next class, so she explored the nearby area. Potions and Oracle were right down the hall from her class.

The day passed by slowly, Luz was in her history class, luckily Willow and Gus were in the class too. It was about midway in the class period when there were screams coming from the halls. The teacher headed out of the classroom to see what was happening, and of course the students followed him out.

"What the heck is that!?" Gus yelled, pointing at a large snake like creature. Multiple teachers casted spells at it but the creature didn't seem affected by it. Students ran and some stayed to help, "come on, we gotta help!" Willow said, raising her arm to cast a spell. "No!" Luz quickly grabbed Willow and Gus's arms, yanking them back.

Luz knew exactly what creature that was. It was a Greater Basilisk, a creature that sucked the magic out of it's victims and left them as husks of themselves. They were extinct, but there were some left, locked up in the Conformatorium. Luz and Hunter had patrolled those lower levels occasionally, before they escaped recently. There were two that they couldn't catch in time and this was one of them.

Luz shoved Willow and Gus behind her "go! Run!" The three ran down the hall as the Basilisk sucked the magic out of the few students who stayed behind to try and help. They turned a corner and Gus opened a door to a random room "let's hide in here!" The three ran inside and slammed the door shut behind them.

The room they entered was empty except for the sleeping teacher at the front of the class. The only other notable thing in the room was a drawing of a square with a keyhole on the chalkboard. "We need to go back and help, everyone is in danger." Willow said, Luz shook her head. "No way, you can't fight that. Did you see what it was doing to everyone else?"

Willow and Gus shook their heads, Luz heard the creak of a door and the distant screaming and yelling down the hall. She ignored the sounds and spoke, "everytime someone casted a spell it ate that person's magic and weakened them so that they couldn't fight anymore. It drains a witches magic from them." Luz explained hurriedly.

"It sounds like a Basilisk." A new voice spoke, the trio turned around to see another student. She had a fishhook in one ear and her uniform sleeves were grey. Luz nodded "it's a Greater Basilisk." She informed the older student. "Aren't Basilisks extinct though?" Gus asked. "Not anymore." Luz replied simply.

"Well what should we do? We can't use magic, it'll drain us." Willow asked. "Not if we catch it off guard, but after that..." Luz trailed off in thought. "I have an idea, but I'll have to show you first." The older student spoke after a moment. Luz looked the student up and down, cautiously. Basilisks were shapeshifters as well and she had to take that into consideration.

"Alright lead the way." Luz replied eventually, hand on her waist where her staff was. The student went over to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of chalk, positioning it on the keyhole that was drawn on the board and twisted it. A door opened and lead into a hallway. The student climbed in the hole and gestured for them to follow.

Luz entered first then Willow, the two helped Gus inside and it closed behind them. They followed the student down the short hall and into a much larger room, full of different doors on the walls, the floor, and even the roof. There were stairs that lead to more doors and a picture on the back wall covered in graffiti.

"Welcome to the Secret Room of Shortcuts." The student gestured to the room around them. "I'm Viney." She introduced. Two more students peaked around the corner ontop of the stairs. "How do you know their cool?" One student asked as the other student, a dog like demon barked. "Barcus says your aura is sensible and conscientious. Welcome!" The student translated, the two came down the stairs.

"I'm Luz and this is Willow and Gus." Luz introduced before continuing. "Anyways there's a Greater Basilisk on the loose in the school." She informed the two new arrivals. Luz turned to Viney, "you had a plan?"

"Right, I think if we can get the Basilisk onto the stage in the auditorium. We can trap it under a pile of sandbags." Viney explained. They discussed different ideas for a bit, and finally settled on an idea. Jerbo complained a bit about mixing magic and how much trouble they would get in, but they were able to convince him otherwise.

"Alright let's get moving." Luz said, unclipping her staff-pen and clicking the button on the side. Gus gasped "you have a staff!?" Willow shook her head. "I thought you were only going to use it for emergencies?" Willow asked as Viney, and Barcus exited through one of the secret doors. "This seems like an emergency enough for me." Luz shrugged. "Don't tell anyone." She added to Gus, who nodded in confusion and awe.

Willow and Gus were tasked with clearing the hallway from defeated teachers and students, dragging them to safety. Jerbo stayed in the room of shortcuts, Barcus went to the stage and Viney was getting her pet griffin, Puddles.

Luz moved through the halls carefully, listening for the sounds of the Basilisk. She peaked around a corner and saw it sucking the magic out of a student. Stepping into the hall and holding her staff tightly, she leaped into action. Spinning a spell circle, Luz casted a gust of wind to knock it into the back wall.

It growled, twisting itself so that it towered over everything. It's eyes fixed on Luz on the opposite side of the hall. "Another morsel thinks it can take me?" It growled, rushing forward. Luz turned on her heel and sprinted around the corner and down the hall. It roared as it slammed itself into the wall, turning down the hall to continue the chase.

Luz turned her head to look behind her, the Basilisk was closing in on her. She twirled her staff, a wall of rock bursting up from the ground in front of the creature. The Basilisk screeched as it collided with the wall. The wall broke, rocks collapsing ontop of the Basilisk. Luz reached the end of the hall, Willow and Gus were there and came to her side. Gus created multiple illusions of the three of them.

The Basilisk pushed the rocks off of itself. "You'll pay for that!" It looked up and a look of confusion crossed its face before it morphed into realization. It rushed forward again and opened its mouth as Willow whistled loudly. The Basilisk started sucking up the illusions when Puddles came flying from one of the halls beside it.

Gus collapsed and Willow ran to his side as Puddles knocked the Basilisk down. Viney ran from the hall Puddles came from and shouted "now, Jerbo!" Moments later a trapdoor opened beneath the creature. The Basilisk knocked Puddles away before falling into the newly created hole.

Luz put her staff away and jumped down into the hole, jumping ontop of it so that it went down into the next hole and onto the stage. Luz landed on the stage and turned around to face the Basilisk. "Its all you, Barcus!" Luz called as Viney and Jerbo joined her, Willow and Gus looked down from the trapdoors.

Barcus barks and grabs the Basilisk's palm. "Where am I?" The Basilisk asked, looking around as Barcus poured a purple liquid on it's hand. He yiped, his eyes glowing purple. The Basilisk panicked "what's he doing? what'd he say?" Luz smirked "he's reading your palm, and your future looks bleak." She replied.

Jerbo's Abomination pulled on a rope that Puddles cut with her beak. The rope dropped sandbags onto the Basilisk, all of the magic it ate released and returned to the proper witches it belonged too. Viney healed Puddle's injured claw who cooed in thanks before taking off.

"You all are in so much trouble. Leaving your homeroom, mixing magic and-is that a secret hideout?" Principal Bump pointed to the ceiling as Willow and Gus ducked away from the opening. "Yeah it is. But let's think about this, Principal Bump. Why would kids in the detention track need a secret hideout?"

"I don't care to know the ins and outs of rascality." Principal Bump pulled out a rule book. "But if the Emperor's Coven can send an actual inspector this time-"

"Principal Bump if I may be so bold as to say that this school system is a load of griffin shit. Sorry- but if you have to hurt your students in the long run what's the point? They should be able to choose multiple tracks, as long as they choose one Coven to join when they're older it should be fine. It saves them time on having to learn new spells when they join the Emperor's Coven too." Luz interrupted, crossing her arms.

Bump lowered the rulebook in surprise, looking down at it and thinking it over. "Alright, I'm smart enough to know when I've made a mistake. Which tracks would you like to be in?" Principal Bump sighed, turning to the detention track students. "Healing and Beast Keeping!" Viney answered. "Plants and Abomination!" Jerbo said. Barcus barked.

"Then so be it." He changed their uniforms to reflect their new tracks. "But if any of you cause more property damage, I'm feeding you to the choosy hat." Bump then turned to Luz. "And you?"

"Oh! You're letting me choose as well?" Luz asked. "Well you are the one that insisted." Principal Bump replied. Luz thought for a moment. "Bard, Beast Keeping... Oracle, Abomination, and Plants I suppose." Luz felt the rush of magic over her again and looked down at her sleeves.

Her left sleeve was red for Bard while her right was orange for Beast Keeping. Her left leg was the two different purples of Oracle and Abomination, while her right was green for Plants.

The rest of the day flew by and soon Luz was waving her friends goodbye, boarding Eda's staff and heading back to the Owl House. "So Princy-B let you study multiple tracks?" Eda asked as they headed inside. "Oh yeah, it took a lot of convincing... and a Basilisk." Luz replied, sitting on the couch. "A Basilisk!?" Eda looked down at her student in surprise. "I guess I should tell you what happened.." Luz started explaining her day, leaving out the parts where she used her staff and replacing it with glyphs instead. Eda laughed at how Luz cursed at the Principal stating that "that's better than punching the first kid you saw in class!"