The next morning was the usual routine, except that Luz decided not to drink her elixir today. She decided she would only drink it if she needed it, she had a limited amount and didn't know when she would be able to sneak off to get more, or even where she should get more. When she went downstairs Eda was playing a card game with Owlbert, she looked up when Luz entered "breakfast is on the kitchen table, King's already in there." She informed, turning back to the game.

Luz thanked her and entered the kitchen, sitting down and eating the food. After she was done she and King made their way into the living room just in time to see Eda beat Owlbert at the card game "ha!" Eda cheered as Luz sat down on the couch and King curled up next to her. "Alright you guys, we're setting up the stand today and you are all coming with." She put the deck of cards away with a spell, King groaned in annoyance but otherwise didn't comment.

It wasn't too long later when they started to set up the stand, which wasn't too hard because of Eda's magic. Luz had brought the first book of The Good Witch Azura that she found yesterday with her to pass the time. She also brought the dagger she accidentally stole from Hexside, you never know when you might need it. King demanded her to read the book out loud to cure his boredom, to which she complied.

"Emboldened by the dishonor Hecate had shown, Azura lifted her staff to the cotton-candy skies and shouted, "I challenge you to a Witch's Duel!"" Luz read "show me the picture!" King demanded, she turned the book for King to see "I can draw better than that!" He stated confidently. Luz rolled her eyes playfully before continuing to read, but before she could Eda interrupted.

"Ugh! Please stop reading that. Its flowery language is an insult to witches and driving away all of our serious customers!" Luz stared at her for a moment before replying. "Um, Eda? What customers? There aren't even any other stands around." She pointed out, gesturing to the empty street around them.

"This is a bad omen. There must be something horrible happening today." Eda replied, just then Gus and Willow ran up to the stand. "Luz! Something amazing is happening today!" Gus exclaimed. "Gus, Willow, hey!" Luz waved, Eda and King shared a confused look.

Luz noticed and quickly came up with an explanation. "Eda this is Willow and Gus. I met them a couple days ago on that walk in the woods, guess I forgot to mention I made two friends." She smiled nervously as Willow nodded and Gus was about to correct her when Willow elbowed him.

Willow held up a flyer "Anyways, It's the annual Covention! Student witches get to see all the types of covens before they're placed in one. There's even a mystery guest this year!" Luz hummed, she'd been to one before. Granted it was just to stand there and make sure nothing went wrong. "Sounds like fun."

"Absolutely not." Eda cut in, Luz looked up at the Owl Lady a frown on her face. "I never joined a coven for a reason. Sure it's like a fun club for witches, but you're also giving up your magical independence to be part of a crooked system." Eda said, slamming her fist on the table, making Luz jump.

"Eh, but, you know, no judgment. In any case, I haven't been to one since we were girls." Luz qurked a brow "we? Do I smell a backstory?" She questioned, putting her elbows on the table and crossing her arms. "I-- the-- I mean--" Eda shook her head and crossed her arms "no."

"You leave me no choice, I will get that backstory or go to the Covention. I will find a way." Luz said. Eda groaned in annoyance "fffiiiine, we'll go to the Covention." She grumbled. Luz pumped a fist in victory and gave a thumbs up to her friends who returned the thumbs up.

They packed the stand up and headed off to the building. King sat on Eda's shoulder, the three teens a little ways ahead. "I got switched to the plant track because Principal Bump was impressed by 'my' skills." Willow did air quotes, Luz nodded in understanding and Gus looked confused. "At least you get to do what you love now." Willow smiled "and I have you to thank for that."

The rest of the walk was mostly Gus bombarding Luz with questions about humans. She was able to answer some of them and some she had to ponder for a bit before answering and some she shrugged at.

Soon they arrived, Eda grunted as she struggled to put on a hood "gotta keep a low profile." King hopped off of her shoulder. Luz tried to help by shoving the Owl Lady's hair into her cowl, couldn't have Eda getting arrested without getting the portal key first.

"Is the cowl really necessary?" Gus asked, "Do you think all my wanted posters are for petty theft?" Eda asked, numerous small objects suddenly fell out of her hair. "Partly." She scooped the things back into her cowl. "But the big whammy is I disobeyed the law and refused to join a coven. If I'm seen, I could go to jail. Again." She explained.

"Maybe this informative event will inspire you to join a coven." Willow said, Eda traced a spell circle that pulled Willows cowl over her head. "Let's just get this over with."

They entered the building, several booths were set up inside, each with a sign for one coven or another. From the ceiling hung nine large colorful banners. Two student witches flew by on their staffs.

"Those are the main nine covens, but there are hundreds of other ones you can join." Gus explained. The group continued to walk and look around, "There's Flower Coven, Artist Coven, Big Dog Coven, Small Cat Coven, Tiniest Cat Coven--" Willow was cut off by a groan of annoyance from Eda. "Also the Grumpy Coven." Willow whispered, Luz and Gus laughed.

"What was that?" The kids and King scurried away from Eda, loosing her for a moment before she caught up with them again. "That's the Construction Coven, one of the main nine." Willow pointed towards a bearded witch in a hard hat and Tiny Nose standing next to a pallet of wood and a pallet of bricks. The witch grabbed both pallets from the bottom and tossed them in the air. The materials fell down to perfectly construct a small house.

"They use power glyphs to increase their strength." Willow continued, Luz nodding along. She already knew the basics of each Coven, but she let her friends explain anyways. The witch removed his hard hat to pull off a power glyph from a stack atop his head. He peeled the adhesive off the back of one and put it on Tiny Nose's nose. Her pupils constricted.

Luz laughed at the chaos that followed, glad she didn't have to deal with that. She looked around briefly, wondering if Hunter was here. "Yowza-wowza. I don't envy the people that have to clean that up." She commented, looking back at the chaos Tiny Nose was creating.

"Yowza-wowza." A blue copy of Luz ducked out from behind the original. Luz turned her head towards it "Ah! You've been taken in by the allure of the Illusionist Coven." Gus said, gesturing towards two Illusion track students. Her illusion double walked over to the two, it waved at her before disappearing.

"We like to do magic with a hint..." Gus disappeared in a cloud of blue smoke, reappearing a few feet to the right "...of showmanship." He finished bowing as the other two Illusionist appeared next to him.

"Hey Eda, why haven't you joined a Coven?" Luz asked, "watch closely, Luz." Eda said, another Illusion track witch was now standing with one of the other ones. "When you join a Coven, all your magic is sealed away."

"From now on, that kid will only be able to make illusions. Since I never joined a coven, I can do every kind of magic." She explained, creating a fireball in one hand and a ball of water in the other, then making both disappear. "That's why I'm the most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles." Eda finished, walking away as Luz, Willow and Gus hurried to catch up.

As they walked Luz hummed in thought, no one ever told her what the sigils actually did. She knew they existed, but didn't know what purpose they served. Was that why she didn't have an Emperor's Coven sigil? 'Cause she didn't have any magic to seal away?

She was snapped out of her thoughts by a gasp from Gus. "It's the Emperor's Coven! Do you think they'll sign my forehead?"

"Only one way to find out!" Willow replied and the two rushed over to the doorway. Luz started to follow them, but stopped when she realized Eda wasn't following. "Aren't you coming, Eda?"

Eda blew a raspberry "no way, of all the Covens they're the worst. I'll wait out here." Luz frowned slightly, "aww c'mon, they can't be that bad." Eda just rolled her eyes. Luz shrugged before walking in and up into the stands to sit down.

Not even a minute later and Eda sat down next to her. "Alright, let's see this mess."

It was the same ol' flashy magic and speeches they did last year, when she was here as the Amber Guard. After a few minutes, finally something different happened.

"And now, I'm pleased to introduce the esteemed leader of this coven and this year's mystery guest. You know her, you love her! Lilith!" Principal Bump said, A bright flash of light near the ceiling turned into a blue raven sitting on a branch. It flew off the branch onto the stage, landing to reveal Lilith. It disappeared with a screech as she lifted her arms and sent her mask flying. The audience applauded and cheered, while Eda was looking at her speechless. Luz noticed.

"You know her?"

"You could say that." Eda replied, not taking her gaze off of Lilith.

"Thank you, all. It wasn't easy for me to rise to the top. I also started from humble beginnings" Lilith started, "Now I have the highest honor of enforcing the Emperor's will. So be more! The Emperor's Coven awaits you!" She spun, creating the raven illusion again. It spread its wings before bursting into balls of light. Lilith posed with her arms out, smirking, while Eda glared at her.

"That's it?" Luz asked as people started getting up to leave. Her and Eda headed out of the stadium. "Eda where are you going?" Eda turned to reply "I'm gonna head home and wash the con funk off my skin." She turned to continue walking.

"Oh, alright. I'll catch up with you later?" Eda waved back to show that she heard before disappearing into the crowd. Luz hummed and put her hands behind her head, spinning around to walk backwards. She needed to figure out a way to get the portal key from the Owl Lady. She couldn't just use brute force, sure she had training from the Emperor's Coven, but Eda was just more powerful with her magic than Luz with her staff. Not to mention that strategy would blow her cover and she wouldn't be able to try again.

She suddenly bumped into someone, "Watch where you-- Oh, it's you. Willow's... abomination thing." Luz turned around to see the green haired witch, Amity, if Luz recalled correctly.

Luz put her arms back down at her sides "hi! Sorry about that. I'm actually human, not an Abomination. Names Luz." She held out her hand for a handshake, but Amity slapped it away. "Ugh. Put that away. You're the one that got me in trouble with Principal Bump and I never get in trouble." She turned and walked away, but Luz followed anyway.

"Well, to be fair, you were okay with him trying to dissect me, so--" Amity interrupted her, stopping and turning back around. "You can't be here! This covention is for witches only."

Luz scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm learning how to be a witch. I'm receiving magic lessons from a powerful witch and a ferocious demon." She couldn't say what she wanted to say, so the alternative would have to do.

Amity looked over Luz's shoulder. "Is that your ferocious demon, there?" Luz turned around to see King, decked out in merch, walking towards them. Two bakers were walking behind him.

Luz sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose with her pointer and thumb. "Oh, hey, Luz! Look at all these offerings-- Wah!" He tripped on his scarf, dropping his cupcake. Luz went over and helped him up, They both reached out for his dropped cupcake, failing to reach it before Amity stepped on it. King gasped.

"Oops, that was an accident." Amity said. Luz just gave her a deadpanned look "mhm, all you really accomplished here was getting cupcake icing on your fancy shoes." Amity's face turned red with anger "well, you'll never be able to be a witch, just you and your pet being here is giving witches in training a bad name." She replied.

Luz growled. "I'm not a pet!" King yelled, scratching his face with his hind leg. Luz stood, scooping King up as she did. She gave Amity a harsh glare before turning and walking away "c'mon King, we're just wasting our time."

The two of them walked around the Covention a bit, getting King more offerings, before spotting Eda and Lilith. They headed towards them, Eda noticed the two approaching and grinned. "There's my student now." She turned her attention back to Lilith "how about we have my student and one of yours have a witches duel?" Lilith scoffed and Luz and King stopped to stand next to Eda.

"Wait, witches duel?" Luz asked, concerned as she looked at Eda. "look at those ears! Is she human? Where did you even find one of these? Okay, Edalyn." Lilith chuckled and Luz scowled. Lilith was the only coven head that didn't know she was the Amber Guard, and Raine Whispers, but they weren't a Coven head, but there had been rumors of the current Bard head retiring soon.

Lilith drew a spell circle and Eda's wanted posters burned to ash. "For one day, you won't have to hide from the law, because I want to see how good a teacher you really are." She then walked away.

Eda slapped Luz's back "alright kid, time to prepare for bloodshed."

"What." Eda dragged her over to a hallway to train her. "But Eda, all I know is that light spell. What am I supposed to do with that!? Blind my opponent till they surrender!?" Luz said, exasperated. "Oh. Right. I haven't taught you many spells. Huh?" Eda replied. Luz stared at her blankly for a moment "you just realized that?"

Eda waved her off, "I'll teach you some potions tomorrow." Luz rolled her eyes "that's not going to help me right now though. I have to live until then." Eda snorted "don't worry I gotta plan."

An hour later and they found themselves in the stadium. "Beloved citizens, the Emperor's Coven proudly presents an impromptu demonstration of the sort of witch we seek every year. Introducing Amity Blight." Lilith and Amity were standing on the dais, while Eda and Luz were standing opposite them.

"Of course it's Amity." Luz muttered. The crowd cheered for Amity as she smirked, Luz rolled her eyes. "Versus... some human girl." Lilith said.

A bell rings and screams. Luz, a bit nervous, and Amity, confident, approach each other as the audience cheers. Amity cracked her knuckles. As Luz crossed her arms.

Amity traced out a large spell circle. "Abomination, rise." She commanded as the purple goop took the shape of a humanoid figure. It was much larger than what Luz saw her do last time. "Whoa. Show me what you got, human!"

Luz gritted her teeth, pulling out her dagger. She wasn't sure if she could even use it properly against the massive Abomination. She ran out of the way as the Abomination twisted its head off and threw it at Luz, it's head just misses.

The Abomination stepped forward, it's head had regrown, it stepped on one of the mounds Eda had placed as her plan and fire erupted, making it stumble backwards.

"How did you do that?"

"Magic!" Luz replied, The steaming abomination stepped onto another mound, this one producing a current of air strong enough to launch it and Amity into the air. The abomination grunts as it lands on its back. Amity lands kneeling. "I-I saw you that time! You didn't use your hands! What are you getting at?" Amity yelled.

Luz didn't reply as she took a fighting stance. The abomination stood up with a groan, then stomped toward Luz again. Luz dodge rolled out of the way as it's foot came down on the spot she was at moments before. "Amity catch!" She called as she chucked her dagger towards the witch.

Amity yelped as she dodged out of the way, the dagger struck the sandy ground where she had been. "What the heck!" She looked up, angrily at the human, her expression quickly changed to shock as Luz was full on sprinting towards her.

She drew another spell circle as Luz tackled her to the ground, pinning her arms down. "Get off me, human!" Luz stuck her tongue out in reply, the Abomination grabbed Luz tossing her to the ground a little ways away.

Amity stood up, dusting the sand off of her as she glared at Luz. Luz used her elbows as support and looked up as the Abomination made it's way closer to her. However it stepped on another mound, causing an explosion. Amity stalked over to Luz "how are you doing that?" She demanded.

Luz sat up, one hand on the ground to support her as she looked up at Amity. "Amity, don't step any closer!" Luz said, noticing one of the mounds. Amity narrowed her eyes "Why, Luz? What happens if I step closer?"

Suddenly King screamed as he fell flat on his back, directly on the mound. Spikes burst from the ground, forcing Luz and Amity back several steps. "Spikes?" Luz looked to Eda, the older witch giving her a thumbs up. "I knew it! You were cheating!"

Lilith touched the top of a shorter spike, making it crumble. "Oh, Eda. I do believe this means you lose!" Lilith said. Eda groaned, "it wasn't my idea to cheat." Luz shrugged. "Who could believe anything you say?" Amity replied, turning and walking away.

"Wait just a sec, Miss Protégé." Eda said, Lilith's eyes widened as Eda went after Amity. She lifted Amity's hair. "Hey! what are you--" Amity protested. Eda ripped the glyph off. The abomination shrank until it was about the height of Amity's knee, though it crumbled completely when its head crushed it. Eda held the glyph up to the audience. "A power glyph from the Construction Coven." She announced. Eda went over and taunted Lilith.

"But... I didn't know!" Amity said, rubbing the back of her neck before running off. Luz stood up with a grunt, clutching her side, she was definitely going to have a bruise there later. "Luz! Help me!" King yelled, Luz went over and freed King, ripping the shirts in the process.

"My offerings!" King said in dismay. Luz patted King's head "You'll get more offerings, King." She replied, standing back up and walking after Amity, after picking up her dagger. "Hey, wait for me!"

Luz made it to the entrance of the theater, she looked around. She saw Amity sulking in a dark corner next to the bathrooms. Luz walked over, her hands in her pockets. "Hey Amity... sorry about, all that."

"Ugh, seriously? Just leave me alone."

"I didn't mean to embarrass you." Luz replied, leaning against the wall and crossing her arms. "That's all you ever do! First at school, and now this!" Amity fumed, standing up. "You made me look like a fool in front of the Emperor's Coven. My future! You think it's so easy to be a witch. I have been working my whole life to get to the top!" She ranted, advancing on Luz. "You lost! You cheated! Say it! Say you're not a witch!"

Luz looked away with a sigh. "I'm not a witch, but that doesn't mean you can blame me for everything that happened. It was Eda and Lilith's idea for a witches duel, Lilith put that glyph on you and Eda with those mounds." Luz replied with a shrug.

She kneeled down, pulling out a notepad and her staff-pen. Amity looked confused as she kneeled down with her. Luz slowly drew out the light glyph, then tapped it. She gently cupped the ball of light produced. She held it up to Amity. "But I'm training hard to do magic, my own way. I can't be a witch and I never will be, I'm just a human after all. But that doesn't mean I can't do it." She finished, looking away from the ball of light and smiling softly at Amity.

Amity stared at the light for a moment before turning away "That's nothing. A child could do a light spell." Luz's expression fell. She extinguished the ball of light and turned away, scooping up her notepad. "But... I've never seen it cast like that." Amity said, turning her head to look at Luz.

"It doesn't come naturally to me like it does for you, so I've had to improvise." Luz nodded to the notepad. Amity sighed and they sat in silence for a bit.

Amity stood up "I apologize for blaming you today, though I still don't forgive you for the school incident... and throwing a dagger at me." Luz rolled her eyes, standing up as well. "The dagger was just to distract you, maybe we can call it even for you almost getting me dissected?" Amity didn't reply, instead she just walked away.

Luz shrugged, taking it as a yes as King ran up to her. "Luz! You left me!" She looked down at him "Yeah, sorry. Your legs are just so tiny. Should we get you more offerings?" She asked, King shook his head. "Nah. That stuff just weighed me down. But I have something for you, Luz. And it's the best thing, because it's free, comes from my heart, and I always have more than I need."

Luz's brow rose, looking at him in confusion. He reached behind him "Tote bags!" He put it on Luz's arm and hopped in it as she stood "And they have so many uses! Away, fair chariot! Away!" King pointed to the exit as Luz laughed, patting his head.

Eda arrived next to them "we gotta go." Luz looked at her "how'd you get away from Lilith?" She asked. "Let's just say she had a real "snack attack." Hah!" Eda snorted and headed for the door. "Wait, I got a better one." Luz chuckled and shook her head.

"Luz!" Two voices called, Luz turned and saw Willow and Gus running up to her. She waved as they caught up to her. "Are you okay?" Willow asked, Luz waved her off "nothing I can't handle, I'll just have a bruise on my side for a few days." Gus jumped up and down in excitement "you were so cool! And how you threw that dagger and tackled Amity!"

"It was pretty cool." Willow agreed, Luz grinned. "Let's go before my sister realizes I tied her pointy shoes together." Eda interrupted, Lilith screamed in the distance. "And that's our cue! See ya nerds!" Eda wrapped and arm around Luz's shoulders and quickly guided her out of the building.

"Wait. Sister!? Lilith is your sister?" Luz asked, surprised.