The day started like any other. Mom was sending Luz to "Reality Check Camp" because she brought snakes to school. I felt bad for her, but I knew what was really about to happen.
Camila: "Leo, please. Keep an eye on her until the bus comes."
Leo: "I will, Mom. Don't worry."
I stood by the curb with Luz. She was holding her favorite book, The Good Witch Azura, looking like her world was ending.
Luz: "I don't want to go to camp, Leo. They want to take away my imagination!"
Leo: "Trust me, Luz. Life has a way of being more interesting than camp. Just... wait for it."
Suddenly, a tiny owl with a golden mask hopped out of the trash can. It snatched Luz's book and started waddling toward the woods.
Luz: "Hey! That bird is a thief!"
She didn't even think. She just ran after it.
[Leo]: [Here we go. The start of the mess.]
I chased her through the trees. My Anodite blood was humming. It was like a magnet was pulling me toward the old, broken house in the clearing. Luz ran inside, and I followed her right through a glowing door.
ZAP!
The air turned hot. The light was blinding. When I opened my eyes, we weren't in Connecticut anymore. We were in a tent filled with weird junk skulls, giant swords, and human trash.
Luz: "Where are we? Did we go to the fantasy world?!"
Leo: "Stay close, Luz. This isn't a game."
Outside the tent, I heard a voice.
"Finally! This human trash is top-quality today!"
We peeked through the tent flap. A woman with wild grey hair and a long red dress was standing there. She held a wooden staff with an owl on top. She drew a circle in the air with her finger, and a golden light followed her hand.
Whoosh!
The junk on the table started to float and organize itself.
[Skill Trigger: Fast Learning!]
You have witnessed: [Levitation Circle].
Status: Analyzing... 15% understood.
In my mind, it was like seeing a math problem. I didn't know the answer yet, but I could see how the numbers worked. My brain was recording the exact speed of her hand and the "feeling" of the magic in the air.
The Grimoire appeared in my hand. It was invisible to everyone else. A new page was forming. It showed a drawing of a circle.
New Entry: Magic Circles (Boiling Isles Style).
Note: These witches use their hearts to pump magic. You use your blood. You can copy this, but it will cost more energy until you practice.
Suddenly, the woman Eda turned around. She spotted us.
Eda: "Whoa! Two humans? Usually, I only get one stray at a time."
Luz: "Are you a witch?! Can you teach me? Can I have a magic staff? Do you have a dragon?!"
Eda laughed. "Slow down, kid. I'm Eda the Owl Lady. The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles."
I stepped forward, putting myself between Eda and Luz. My eyes gave a faint pink flicker.
Leo: "I'm Leo. This is my sister, Luz. We just want our book back."
Eda stopped laughing. she squinted at me. She walked closer, sniffing the air like a dog.
Eda: "You... you smell weird, kid. You look human, but you feel like a battery. A very, very big battery."
[Leo]: [She can sense it. My Anodite side is pure energy. To her, I probably look like a glowing lightbulb.]
Leo: "I'm just a guy who wants to keep his sister safe."
Eda: "Sure you are. Well, listen, 'Protector.' I'm in a bit of a jam. The guards are coming to take my stuff. If you two help me get a certain item from the Conformatorium, I'll get you home. If not? Well, I hear the monsters here love eating humans."
Luz: "A quest! Leo, we're on a quest!"
Leo: "Fine. We'll help. But show me that circle again. The one that makes things float."
Eda smirked. "A student already? I like the spirit. Watch closely, kid. I don't do repeats for free."
She drew the circle again, slower this time. My eyes locked onto it.
[Skill Trigger: Fast Learning!]
Status: 60% understood. You can now try a weak version.
I felt the heat in my chest move down to my arm. I tried to draw a circle in the air. A thin, shaky pink line appeared, then poofed into smoke.
Eda: "Whoa! You actually made a spark? Without a bile sac? That's... actually impossible."
Leo: "I'm a fast learner."
[Leo]: [I'm nowhere near her level yet. That one little spark made my arm feel heavy. I need to be careful. If I use too much magic now, I'll pass out.]
Eda: "Alright, enough talk! Grab your bags. We're going to jail!"
Luz: "Wait, jail is a good thing?!"
Leo: "In this world? Probably not."
We jumped onto her flying staff. I gripped the wood tight, watching Eda's every move. My book was wide open, soaking up every bit of information it could find.
as we flew toward the giant stone prison in the distance, I knew one thing: I was never going back to being a normal human again.