Chapter Text
Summer was at the tip of an end and the whole new school year for the students of Hexside was just around the corner. The new wave of students was just about to burst into the magical school for gifted witches, although there was someone different among them. Someone who was way older than the other freshmen yet the person was completely new to that school. She was taller than others, different and way dumber, a human Latina going by the name of Luz Noceda. Some of the students already knew her, since she was an apprentice of the most problematic witch on the Boiling Isles. Eda The Owl Lady Clawthorne known and feared by everyone, her face was in every place possible due to her being wanted and chased by the highest authorities - the Emperor himself and his feared and famous coven. Luz had been studying under her wings for some year since she had inadvertently found herself in a magical realm. In this year though changes were made, Luz was ordered to study in Hexside so she could be under the control of someone with more than 3 brain cells which Eda had, so she wouldn’t become a notorious troublemaker as her master. Also for the principal Bump, the head of the school, it was a tempting opportunity to recruit a new exchange student who comes originally from the human realm and is able to study the secrets of magic, even though the person doesn’t have the right body anatomy to do so, she was missing the most important organ to create magic like other witches do, the bile sack, which is connected to the heart. So the young but still stubborn human had to improvise to create magic in another way, the sacred ancient way by creating glyphs which she draws on small pieces of paper. If she tapped them, they did their purpose like create a ball of light, block of ice, grow a plant, or shoot fire. The bigger the circle, the bigger the spell, it was easy to explain this technique, however, the process of founding those ornaments out and remember them was on another level. By using ancient magic which was very close to the wild one, the human witch reopened the possibility to do such a thing, that was the reason the school council together with the director agreed to accept Luz as their exchange student, hoping that her talent would grow for the good side. But which was really good and which was the corrupted one?
The school towered as far as the clouds themselves, with all those towers and little towers having flags all over them, it looked like from a fantasy film and book Luz loved so much. Although at first glance it seemed relatively short, it was only an illusion, as inside it was as long as the school year itself. Luz was standing in front of this building, looking in plain disbelief and excitement, as her mouth was wide open.
“Me as a Hexside student, whoah.” She muttered to herself while she slightly whistled. The Latina girl looked around, scanning all the students joining and welcoming others as they were walking inside, and grabbed one strap of her backpack, which she put on her shoulder as she walked to school as well. Inside, there was chaos in the form of newly-baked students looking for the classrooms they belonged to, while older and more experienced students slipped between them as easily as if they did it every day, which they actually did. Besides those, two familiar faces were greeting the human girl with bright smiles.
“Luz! You made it!” Cheered one of them. It was a short-black-haired Asian girl with big round glasses and messy hairstyle, small in stature, mostly quiet yet seeming full of life, grinning at her. That witch looked like trouble from a mile ago, that was probably the reason Luz and her got along so well. She wiped her glasses after greeting her, looking up, since Luz was way taller than everyone not excluding her. Ah yes, Willow Park, a plant-loving girl with a frightening yet attractive stare who started here as an abomination student, but ended on plant magic, since she has found her talent in plants, mostly using them to scare others, although she had a soft spot for every plant in her heart secretly. She is a quiet girl as said before, although Willow would do anything to protect those who she cares about. She comes from a small but loving family of two kind dads. When she was a young girl, she knew very well how bullying feels, but after few years she made those bullies cry and beg for their lives. Sometimes Willow was not fun at all, ask others, you’ll see.
“I can’t really believe it, a human inside our school walls, that’s incredible!” The other one, Afro-American rejoiced while his eyes were sparkling.
“Willow! Gus!” The Latina shouted as soon as she saw them while grabbing them into a tight hug. Gus Porter, a gifted young boy who was able to skip few level classes thanks to his ability and talent to learn quickly illusion magic. He was a Junior like Willow and Luz although he was only 15 years old, what a nerd. His charisma was, on the other hand, abnormal. Maybe it was due to his father being a reporter and his genes just did the thing. He was a sweet young boy who was obsessed with humankind and their music styles, like a punk. Gus wanted to dress like them, act like them, and live like them, which he did. His hair was fluffy on the top of his head and on the sides shaved too short with little ornaments. The human closed her eyes of pure joy, knowing that at least this was a way how she could spend more time with her beloved friends. Her hair was all over the place even though it was shorter in the back, but in front there were two thick strands of bright brown hair, getting everywhere on Willow’s and Gus’s faces.
“So, what type of magic are you going to sign up for?” Willow asked while still smiling at the excitement, while her smile was more psychopathic than ever.
“Uh, I still have no idea, Will. There’s like a hundred of covens, dude! How should I choose just one type of magic? That’s just cruel!” Luz sighted while throwing her hands upwards.
“There are only nine covens, Luz.” Gus said looking at her, being puzzled about her math tactics.
“It’s just… Y’know with Eda I was able to learn every type of magic since I can’t do that magic circular thingy with my fingers. So I’m pretty limited with my magic, so I need to learn as much as possible to be at some kind of the same level as you already are, guys.” The non-witch explained, looking at them flustered, playing with her thumbs.
“Don’t worry, Luz. I think that principal Bump wouldn’t mind you learning a bit of everything.” Willow tried to calm and comfort her, patting her shoulder. She was the best at keeping everyone calm and got the best ideas, well most of the time. That gave the Latina hope and started to look for the principal’s office.
———
Luz was trying to find a comfortable position for herself to sit on a damned small chair. Well, it was normal-sized, but her long legs didn’t really help with her sitting on that chair.
“Absolutely not.” Principal Bump said while writing his reports, not even making eye contact with the new student.
“But-“
“No buts, Miss Noceda. I can’t just let you study anything, that’s against the rules.”
Luz giggled thinking about butts because she was never actually good at being serious or behaving like an adult and also pay full attention.
“Principal Bump, you just don’t understand. How I am supposed to learn only one type of magic when I can’t use magic in a natural way like others do? I don’t do spells like that, I need symbols to create them. Please, sir, I really need it.” She clasped her hands together, as if in prayer, as she smiled nervously, looking into his eyes. He sighed, trying to find a good solution.
“You can choose just a few types of magic, but that’s it, not all of them.”
The human eyes started to lit up while grinning year to year. Her uniform changed at that moment, shining with several colors presenting several circles of types of magic. Even so, she wore her favorite green jacket over her uniform. She said goodbye and left the headquarters enthusiastically, doing a small victorious dance, while having her head proudly up. I can’t wait to tell them about this! The Latina thought, waving at her friends, who were waiting for her nearby.
———
After a few hours of attending few classes, exploring the school, and getting the necessary things for her study, lunch break started. She sat down on warm and soft grass with her friends in the backyard of their school.
“I must say,” Luz started talking while eating her mayonnaise sandwich, getting small crumbs everywhere “Today was not that bad as Eda said it would be. It was fun actually. It was just weird how others looked at my ears, like damn Becky, you should be more concerned about that spinach you had on your teeth instead of checking out round ears. Too bad for you, boohoo.” She finished the sentence and frowned at the thought of being the center of attention again every day like in her human world, biting another piece of that delicious sandwich. Willow snickered about Luz being all heat up because of some girl and lit up a cigarette.
“And what about your magic problem?” Gus asked, dusting his shoulder of sandwich crumbs, looking at his friend smoking and staring her into her eyes reproachfully, since she promised she would stop smoking at least on a school ground.
“Oh, Bumpie is cool with it, only problem is that I can’t learn every type, buuut I know two great guys who can help me learn another 2 types.” She smiled sinisterly as she grabbed them both by their shoulders, squeezing them close to her, making her lunch fall into her lap and Willow’s cigarette into the grass, which made Gus smile. Willow and Gus just looked at each other with joy having Luz as her friend, willing to help her.
“Wills, do you always wear that coat? I mean, you look pretty good, but it’s still a fucking summer.” Luz took another bite as she questioned her friend.
“Says the one wearing jacket, right?” The plant witch looked at her, making a silly arrogant face. The bell started to shout loudly, making Noceda startled yet again today. Who on Earth would choose this as a timely reminder?
“Another class started?” She asked while looking at the time on her phone, which she managed to power with all things she found in the Owl House.
“Yes, but not for us, it’s for another class, they’re heading here for their PE class.” Gus answered, looking at the school’s back door, waiting as Willow did.
“Are-Are you waiting for someone?” The human girl asked, looking at those two, while she raised her eyebrow.
“It’ll get interesting, just wait, Luz.” Willow said in her fuckboy tone as the door opened widely, making a loud sound. After that, the students of Hexside started walking out like a flock of penguins getting into the water. Although there were three girls, Gus immediately gasped and Willow lit another cig.
“They’re here.” They said at the same time.
“Wha-Who’s here? What the fuck is going on?” Luz asked waving her hand in front of her friends. Catching Willow’s attention, she looked at the puzzled Latina.
“Our magical trio, of course.” Willow said, pushing her glasses closer on her nose, shrugging, and smiling.
“The teen royalty and professional bullies.” Gus added, holding his breath while observing them closely. He behaved like a gossip girl and Luz absolutely adored that.
“The fuck you said?” The human girl asked, looking at him, holding her urge to laugh at that name which sounded like it was from some kind of cliché American film because those bored her to death.
“There, look!” Gus shoved his elbow into Luz’s shoulder, making her pay attention to him. Three girls walked in the middle of the group of angsty teens lined next to each other, making other frightened, not wanting to come in their way.
“That one there, spinning ball on her finger that’s Boscha. The grudgby captain and number one professional bully.” Gus whispered, looking at the pink-haired girl with three deadly eyes.
“She’s totally having some issues, nobody can be this belligerent without a proper reason.” Willow added shaking her head.
“Also, Boscha is not exactly attentive, since she can be really dumb, probably because it pushes all the anger in her brain, which diminishes over time for sure.” Gus said as he chuckled at his own theory.
“One time she thought she could make a plant grow if she kept yelling at it.” Willow shivered when she was thinking about that memory. She was aggressive, but not stupid as Boscha, that was a difference between these two.
“That little one, that’s Skara the social butterfly. She is totally addicted to her scroll, mostly due to her Penstagram fame.” Willow kept explaining to Luz. “She says everybody’s business. She knows everything about everyone-“
Then Gus took in with another his theory. “That’s why her hair is so big, it’s full of secrets!” Gus said as he leaned closer to Luz, holding his hand to his mouth to make it easier to hear as he was whispering loudly. All of them looked at Skara, the Afro-American girl with big hair, bleached on the top of her hair, looking into her scroll. Luz looked at her, thinking that the girl could fit mostly everywhere with her small height.
“And evil takes a witch form in Amity Blight. Don’t be fooled, cuz she may seem like your typical selfish backstabbing slut-faced perfectionist but in reality, she is so much more than that.” Willow sighed as she frowned at the girl, however at the same time she was sinisterly smiling.
“She’s the queen bee, a star, an ex grudgby captain, a super student, and an abomination prodigy.” Gus’s eyes sparkled imagining having this power instead of her. “Those two,” Gus secretly pointed at Skara and Boscha “Are just her little workers.” Luz looked at her, scanning her green-mint long mane, which was also brown since her hair regrowth was showing. She had her top hair tied in the bum and the bottom of her hair was loose. The witch’s skin was pale and clear as snow and so were her teeth with sharp fangs that could cut through fat meat. Her pointy ears were pierced a few times, nails painted black, she had mascara and eyeliner too, making her literally perfect in the Hexside pink uniform which she has made some adjustments on. Amity’s figure was just flawless as well. The girl seemed to hate facial expressions since her face was without any emotions, yet somehow she looked arrogant.
“You see, Amity is a Blight, and Blights are possessed with a one-word and that is 'straight'. She’s got straight A’s, goes straight to the point, has a straight path in front of her, is always straight on the time, unlike their twin siblings. The only rebellion she has against her family is that she’s not 'straight straight' if you get me.” Gus grinned as he was raising both of his eyebrows while looking at Luz.
“She is actually a bisexual, at least that’s what others are saying.” Willow said and rolled her eyes. Again, Luz was looking at the youngest Blight, scanning her once again, as if she didn’t see her like a few seconds ago already, thinking.
“Please, the only thing that’s bi is her being probably bilingual since she’s that smart as you’re telling me.” All of them started laughing after the Latina said that. “Anyway, it was really delightful to be here with you and I feel honored since you told me this super important info, but I gotta go. See ya!” Noceda waved, blinking with one of her shining hazelnut eyes, taking her sandwich with her. She put it in her mouth while fixing her red beanie. As she was walking towards those opened doors, something stopped her. She accidentally bumped into someone way shorter than she was. Even though this happened often this time it was different, way different.
“Hey, watch where you-“ Human girl silenced herself, realizing her sandwich was nowhere to be found in her mouth. Then she looked down and saw the whole content of her food being stick on someone’s chest. To her misfortune, it wasn't just anyone, it was the girl her friends warned her about. Amity Blight. She was looking into her golden fiery eyes, raising her eyebrows. Everyone fell silent, someone gasped before that and most of them were holding their mouths with their hands being in shock. Not a moment passed, and Amity was already holding the collar of Luz’s uniform.
“Oh, she’s like suuuper dead.” Skara snapped with her fingers while Boscha grinned knowing very well that soon this backyard will turn into bloodshed.
“You are?” Amity spoke for the first time. Her voice was so clean and normally could be so soft and welcoming but this time she was growling through her teeth, showing her fangs. As she was preparing her second free hand to summon pink fire to smack the whole life of the human girl, the troublemaker finally answered.
“Noceda. Luz Noceda.” She shot her answer, not being scared that much then everyone thought she would be and she should be. There was just this thing - Luz hated rich snobs who thought they’re much more than others. She just despised such people and couldn’t stand their personalities either.
“Hopefully for you, it won't look as bad on the tombstone as it sounds.” Amity glared at her while Luz only shrugged with her shoulders, not bothered.
“I mean I would still look good and clean, can’t say the same for you.” She reminded her about her dirty clothes while small tittered came from her mouth.
“I’m going to smack the soul from you.” Amity reached out to keep her swing as long as possible.
“Oh, it’s on-“ Luz, on the other hand, summoned her bat via one of her glyphs, it was the newest trick her master taught her which she felt really grateful for at times like these. At one second she was already holding her red bat, which had some sticky notes with other magic symbols all over them. It was Luz’s idea to create some magical weapon that she could use while fighting close combat. Her grip around the weapon was tight, revealing her chocolate muscles. As those two were about to kill each other, causing trauma for every spectator close by, someone interrupted them with his mighty voice.
“Miss Blight, miss Noceda is this perhaps the way to welcome your new classmates?” Both of them froze in place, knowing fully well that hearing this voice outside of school radio never did any good. “Let's continue with this in my office, shall we?” Principal ordered as he gestured with his hand to follow him into the school. After that everyone was just watching in disbelief asking each other what the actual hell just happened.
———
“So where were we…” Principal Bump started as he was making his way to his upholstered chair. The two girls were already placed into each wound chair.
“Mister principal, I am fully aware of how it looked, but you see it was only self-defense against the lousy attack this ape striker made of which I became a victim.” The mint-haired witch tried to talk her way out of this mess both of them got into. Luz just hummed being amused at what she just heard. She didn’t really care if she got into some kind of trouble bringing a punishment, she was used to this thanks to her mentor. Not a day went by without both of them getting into trouble, which would increase the number of snails for Eda’s capture.
“Miss Noceda, is something funny that you would like to share with us?” He raised one of his eyebrows waiting calmly for her response. Amity was simply pissed at this point.
“Sorry, Bumpi- Sir Bump, your honor- I mean principal Bump, I was just enjoying the fantasy story the girl was telling. I have a soft spot for them, y’know.” Luz ironically grabbed her chest at the place her heart should be, making fun of her soon-to-be rival answer.
“That’s enough.” The principal frowned deeply, “This is the first day of school and you already got into trouble. Maybe I slightly assumed it from you, miss Noceda but discovering that you took part in this too, miss Blight, I am disappointed. I expected more from you when you are already our promising student.” He shook his head anxiously as he opened his diary and began flipping through it until he found the right page. He grabbed his pen and started writing something while he was slowly nodding his head. “You both get some time to realize that not everything can be solved by brutal violence and threats. This means that you will help out in our school library every day after school for a week...for now.”
“But sir, I didn’t do anything I just-“ Once again Amity tried to talk her way out of this, but this time she was cut by the principal who was slowly losing patience.
“Miss Blight, I think there’s no need to bring your parents into this, don’t you agree?” Mister Bump said, pulling the 'your parents wouldn’t be happy about this' card.
“Yes sir.” The youngest Blight obeyed, as she bowed her head, looking into her lap. The Latina just shrugged her shoulders.
“No problemo could be worse.” The Latina nodded at a hint of understanding. As the girls were excused from the office, Luz tried to start a conversation.
“Whew, good for us that we didn’t actually get something bad, am I right?” She snickered while looking at Amity.
“I am not sure of what your goal is with this but I can ensure you that if you don’t leave me alone, I will make your life a living nightmare” She slammed her fist into someone’s locker, pinning the other girl to the wall for a second and then started fast walking away from the annoying human. The troublemaker just stood her, processing what just happened. Luz wasn’t the type of someone that would hold a grudge against someone but seeing that this person didn’t want to participate made her question the whole importance of that situation. Did she just make an actual enemy?
The school day was about to end, at least for others. For Luz and young Blight was preparing something else.