Chapter Text
It was exhilarating. The wind in his hair, biting at his face. The feeling of his stomach being left behind at each free fall. He had always loved flying it was something he was good at. Even if others could cast spells without a staff or palisman they couldn’t fly without one, so for once he had been able to feel what it was like on equal standing with everyone else. In fact, he had been told that he was something of a prodigy when training with the other requites almost double his age.
As he was good at flying, he would try and practice at every opportunity, just so he could see that small glint of honest pride in his uncle’s eyes. It became less impressive as he grew older as it became more and more prevalent; he was never going to have a... heh- magical breakthrough with his spellcasting ability forever being constrained to the use of staffs supplied by his uncle.
However, none of his formation flying drills or orienteering training prepared him for the absolute thrill of flyer derby. It was absolute chaos. People darting left and right, weaving up and down, barrel rolling and shooting spells. adrenalin coursed through Hunter’s veins as he got to show off tricks, he hadn’t been able to do in front of others for years. He was perhaps a bit more theatrical than he should have been. Allowing himself to do loops-de-loops and drop from his palisman before catching it a second later. He held in a smile each time Flapjack chirped in panic as he dropped.
A familiar squelch of abomination goo fired past his head as he spun out the way last second flying upside-down along the underbelly of who looked to be a short balding man who for some reason was leading the other team? He was slightly confused as to why this professor (or at least he hoped he was a professor) playing with them but he wasn’t going to question it. Especially as he snatched the flag from the base of the professor's palisman. He heard a cheer from his fellow teammates as he placed the flag on the tower, Securing their lead.
“Yes! Go, Caleb! We almost got this!” shouted the short green-haired witch who he was fairly sure was called Willow? “They only have 2 players left and we have 3!”
“Captain, you got any winning game planes for us to use?” he yells back darting out of reach from a lieth girl who made a grab for his flag. Even if they outnumbered the other team there was all everything to play for. He knew from experience that until you won you can always lose. That useful gem of information was from the combat situations, so he wasn’t sure if it applied to flyer derby, but he could take no chances.
“Follow Gus but stay lower, I’ll get their attention.”
A wall of slithering vines erupted from the ground where Willow skimmed by causing the 2 remaining players to veer out to opposite the sides. Leaving Hunter, Gus and the enemy on one side of the vines. Zooms directly toward the enemy constricting his movements and causing him to dive down directly into Hunter. Hunter saw in that split second the other’s decision; He had seen what was happening. How he was being separated from any help, crowed into a trap, and decided the best option was just to brute force Hunter off his palisman and to the ground. A circle of fire emerged from the enemy’s outstretched hand and heat scorched his hair. For a terrifying second, he saw kikimora’s face in front of him. Cackling, twisted, cruel.
Then he was pitching backwards, and his balance was lost. He felt the irresistible feeling of gravity pulling him down, mix with the terror already there. The world was white noise.
Suddenly a yell from Gus cut through the air around Hunter and snapped him back to the present. Too late to catch himself on his own palisman but lucky the enemy was still diving downwards alongside his falling body. He grabs the end of his palisman causing it to tilt almost making him lose his grip. He kicked off the nearby vines and swung from palisman tearing the flag from the end of it. As he continued to fall but now in the direction of his palisman who was flapping desperately without direction. He dived headfirst towards it, reaching out, the ground hurtling towards them. His fingertips brush the wood. The ground gets closer. He wasn’t going to make it.
Twisting in the air, completely giving up on snatching his palisman and saving himself, if he hit the ground with the flag, it would go straight back to the enemies and he would have failed. That wasn’t allowed to happen. He held the flag up in the air hoping Gus or Willow were close enough and got the hint. At least looking up into the sky he couldn’t see the unforgiving floor getting closer.
He was lucky, Gus was nearby. The flag was snatched from his hand, and he had a split second to brace himself for the pain unable to cast a spell to prevent it without his palisman. His eyes closed and… he hit something soft.
A sweet scent penetrated his nose, and he opened his eyes. Yellow dust fell around him only adding to his confusion. His mind was still stuck in the moment of free fall he was in seconds earlier. He stood up on 2 only slightly unstable legs and noticed the giant flower that had probably saved him from some bruised ribs. Looking up he noticed Willow, the final flag in hand and a green circle in front of her. She had a kind of concerned but confused look on her face but smiled when Hunter met her eye.
His palisman, now back in its purely animal form chirped panickily in Hunter's ear guiding him with quick shape tugs of the pitch. He tilted his head in agreement “yes, she really is a strange witch. Talented through, Perfect for the emperor’s coven.”
His palisman peeped a few more times in response.
“What? Of course they want to be in the emperor’s coven!”
“Cheep, cheep.”
“They should show up soon.”
A musical chitter.
“Yes, I am aware I couldn’t find Darius’ number, but he expects results. Thus, he will send someone to check on my progress any minute now.”
This time a few more chirps sounded from Flapjack, who was now nested comfortably on his head.
“You know what? your input is not appreciated” Hunter huffed waving his hand above him to try and displace the small bird who stubbornly stayed put. He collapsed onto the bench with a sigh and looked up just to catch the end of the game. Willow and Gus both placed their flag on the tower with a triumphant shout. Cheers sounded from his allies and from a few of the enemies as well as they rushed to the centre of the pitch.
Hunter hesitated a second. He had just let them down after all so he should probably stay back and let them celebrate.
“Oi bird boy!” Shouts the girl with the griffin (he’s bad with names, so what? There would be plenty of time to learn them in the future) “help me carry this.”
It takes a short second to realise she was speaking to him and notice the large white bucket she was dragging behind her filled with a red liquid. Cautiously he takes a step forward and when she doesn’t stop smiling, he starts a brisk job over, grasping the other side of the container.
“So, you hurt anywhere? That was quite a tumble you took there” she asks nonchalantly eyes fixed ahead.
“Me? pfft. It takes more than a fall to harm me.” He waved in the vague direction of where he fell “also giant flower duh.”
“Dang it, and here I was hoping for a broken arm. What’s the point of studying two tracks if I can’t use both” she giggled slightly before noticing his concerned look. “I’m just joking. Don’t worry I’m in the healer's track, So sworn to do no harm yada yada.”
“What no, that’s not… Isn’t that dangerous? Doing two branches of magic?”
The giggling evidently stopped, and a heavy silence settled on them, only the slosh of the liquid sounded between them. The others celebrated only a few meters away, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. “Careful there you’re starting to sound like an emperor lacky.”
“But wild magic- “
“Stop just stop, now help me lift this”
Hunter stayed quiet, feeling distinctly out of place but unsure of where he went wrong. A small flitter of worry swirled in his stomach as well. He had only just met these people and already he had proven how useless he can be.
With a splash the red liquid came down on top of Willow, quickly followed by a shriek and cheer.
“That was great guys! We did it!” Willow screeched.
“I know!” shouted the tactician from earlier “and you guys’ finishing moves were perfect! I was amazed.”
“Group hug?” Willow suggested with a grin on her face and with that Hunter was forcefully dragged into a hug. It was warm and kind of sweaty, but he timidly placed an arm over Willow's shoulders which were slimy with red goo.
It was sort of nice actually. Adrenaline fused fuzzy feeling pushed against his rib cage, and he felt himself smile uncontrollably.
Willow turned to Hunter with an inquisitive gaze. “Are you doing okay? you froze up for a second there.”
“Yeah! I tried to grab you but you just past me the flag.” Gus added on looking guilty. “I guess standing on my palisman isn’t great for catching people.”
Hunter swallowed briefly and his eyes darted around worried faces but quickly stood up straight and stepped back from the group hug. Feeling suddenly much colder than he had the right to be, he spoke up. “Oh that. it was nothing.”
“Are you sure? Flyer derby can be quite scary at times but it’s important we communicate as a team! And support each other!” Smiled Willow brightly, trying her best to be comforting and Hunter narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Was she patronising him? Suggesting that he was a coward and that he couldn’t handle a kid’s game.
“Why would I be scared of this little game?” scoffed Hunter as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I only got distracted for a bit. I will be better next time.”
“Dude doesn’t put yourself down, you did great!” The griffin girl grinned with a playful punch to his arm “I’m especially a fan of your teleportation trick”
Hunter found himself flushing slightly at that remark and rubbed his arm awkwardly glad he hadn’t completely ruined his reputation with her earlier. “Thanks. It took me a while to get that one, but my tutors threw fire at me until I could doge it in my sleep. That was a great summer. You could learn it too when you- “
“Ahem.” Sounded out sharp and irritated, cut Hunter off just as he was about to break the good news to them and he scowled at the green-haired professor. “I suppose a congratulation is in order. You successfully defeated an amateur team, but don’t expect it to be this easy in the future.”
“That sounds like you are going to approve of our team.” Spoke Gus smugly.
“Ah yes. All I need is a team name.” the short man replied
“Oh um. We never got that far” Willow stuttered out. Confidence slipped from her like slime from a trash slug.
“The Emerald Entrails.” he felt the judging looks of those around him “you know… because of the green and… there’s more to us than meets the eye?”
“Entails! Entrails! Entrains!” the others cheered around him, ignoring the sly bitter smirk spread over the elder's face
“Or at least that’s what I would ask if it hadn’t come to my attention that you were playing with someone not enrolled in Hexside. Meaning your team is rendered obsolete. No flyer derby club for you.”
A cacophony of noise clamoured from the various throats of students.
“WHAT”
“NO!”
“You can’t do that!
“You’re just bitter you lost!”
“Wait! Caleb is transferring here anyway. Surely that counts?”
“Is he now? Why haven’t I heard anything about this then from principal Bump?”
Hunter jumped as a wrinkled hand with long black nails laid on his shoulder and he looked up to see a positively ancient old man half his face covered by his palisman. This was someone Hunter recognised; principal Bump attended a few coven meetings but tended to avoid them. The wiggling feeling in his chest returned, if he recognised principal Bump there was a chance he would recognise him in turn, even without the hood and mask. His worry about being recognised confused him, he was going to have to reveal his status as the golden guard as soon as Darius showed up anyway. But still, griffin girl’s words stuck with him, and it felt strange to be with those who seemed so carefree.
Perhaps that’s why he tensed up so much when principal Bump opened his mouth to speak “Ah, our new transfer student. I wondered where you had gotten off to. Missing orientation is not a good way to start your time with us.”
What?
“Hieronymus! What are you doing here?”
“I saw the game happening and couldn’t resist taking a look, hermonculus. Make sure no troublemakers were ruining the fair,” at that principal Bump shot a look over to Gus and Willow, who looked at their feet sheepishly. “And lucky I did.”
“So, you do know this student?”
“Yes, I was talking to him through the crow, not more than a few weeks ago. It was a sudden transfer from the elbow due to rat worm migrations I believe.”
“The elbow…” muttered Willow “I thought you said you were from-“
“Yep, that’s me! From the good old elbow. I’m so grateful that you could open your doors to me. Education is the most important thing in a young witch’s life after all” Hunter spoke smoothly, sliding seamlessly into a persona he usually saved for lying to kikimora.
“You will fit in just fine. I’ll go complete the paperwork; you’ll continue on the track you were completing in your old school but I’m sure you will find our curriculum much more in-depth than the one at Thornjoint.” He shuddered slightly as if just thinking of another school made him feel sick.
They watched as principal Bump wandered off and Hunter couldn’t believe his luck. Bump had no idea who he was and He was busy enrolling him into Hexside!
They thought he was going to Hexside.
Curse the titan. What the hell had he just gotten himself into. Dammit! He was too caught up in those warm fuzzy feelings to think logically he must have hit his head on the way down. Darius was never going to let him live this down. It was a ridiculous lie that will get him found out with any line of questioning. Not only that but Belos was going to be so disappointed in him… but at least Willow gets to keep her team and a small concussed part of his mind whispered.
“So, I guess that means we still have our club then. Right professor Hermonculus?”
“Humph. I will sign you off. Don’t expect everything to be this easy in the future.” The short professor sighed before an abomination carried him off, in a rather sulky manner if Hunter dared say so himself.
“I guess it's official,” Willow said with tangible excitement. “Guys! We need a team photo!”
Again, Hunter found himself squished in the middle of his teammates and couldn’t help the smile.
“we’re number one!” was cried out as the light flashed from the scroll.
Number one. That’s nice.
We… that was nicer.
“So Caleb, you have any plans?” Gus asked as they moved apart.
“Plans?”
“Yeah! The fair is basically over now but we still have an afternoon to burn, we could hang out. Show you around Bonesborough perhaps? Take it as an apology for being so suspicious earlier” he tapered off in an uncomfortable chuckle.
“Gus! You can’t be paranoid about every new person we meet!” Willow frowned.
“I know! I know! But he was so… suspicious.”
“Gus!”
“Actually, I do have plans. Dar- ah, a colleague is expecting me” Hunter cut in frowning. He was going to have to return empty-handed. He also didn’t partially like the sound of being shown around a city he already knew like the back of his hand.
“Oh come on! Only for a few hours. You can’t be working all afternoon.” Tempts griffin girl who swings an arm over his shoulder.
“don’t pressure him. If he’s gotta work, he’s gotta work.” Willow said but she had a small air of disappointment around her. “See you tomorrow, Caleb.”
With a small wave the group heads off and Hunter finds himself standing alone in a field. The wind blew, cooling the sweat drying on his skin caused him to shiver. He didn’t want to go back. At least not yet. Darius would laugh, and his uncle would look at him with that quiet disappointment a keep him cooped up away from any missions for weeks.
He would never be able to wear the golden guard sigil.
At least if he went with them that meant more time to see how they felt about the Emperor’s Coven. Perhaps he could even convince them to enlist! And BOOM! he would prove that he could look after himself and complete missions.
“Wait! Fellow entrails. I have decided they will not notice my absence for a few hours” He cried out running to the end of the field towards the retreating figures.
“Great! Well then let’s go” crowed Gus. “I know this brilliant place to get fairy cakes.”
“Yes, please. I’m almost as hungry as that time we fought a basilisk.”
“Wait what?”
“it’s a long story.”
“I mean…we uh… have a few hours, don’t we? I have never met a real basilisk only read about them.”
“Ha! I guess you’re right. It started with this inspector who Mr bump was trying to impress with a show so obviously, it went wrong, but it might be better to begin with our friend getting into detention…”
The story carried the conversation for their entire trip into the city and well into the first round of fairy cakes they shared around the group. An extremely small round cyclops type demon was working at the counter moving about on a stool made from abomination goop to reach the various taps and dials creating a comforting source of background noise. A few dangling plants were lining the walls as well as some scorch marks and dents. It would have been quite relaxing if it wasn’t such a popular spot for Hexside students if the uniforms were any indication.
Now Hunter wasn’t shy by any definition of the word, he may be discovering that other 16-year-olds didn’t quite fit his expectations, but he wasn’t shy. However, the number of people in the café put him on edge slightly. This was probably the most civilians he had ever been around in a given moment and the only reason he hadn’t just gotten up and left was the fact he managed to snag a corner seat.
His shoulders were still far too tense.
“…and that’s how Viney got to study multiple tracks!” conclude Willow with a chuckle, and for some reason smacking hands with griffin girl who Hunter now finally identified Viney “which I don’t envy by the way. Think of the exams!”
“Also, we learnt the important lesson of how to change Bump's mind about something” tacked on Gus. “You just need to introduce a life-threatening situation!”
“Yeah, Gus I don’t think that’s the best way to go about things.”
“Willow the only reason you got onto the plant track was because you tore up the school!” Countered Gus.
“Willow did what?” Hunter blinked. “How? Why?”
Willow blushed slightly and swung her feet from under her “It wasn’t that big of a deal… A teacher was trying to get me to dissect our friend.”
“Ah yes. Of course.” Hunter agreed quietly wondering if this was something all teenagers went through in their lives or just these ones “But that must have been some incredible spell work! do you have any Snapdragon ancestors? They are the bloodline that usually produces the most potent florakinetic witches. Did you know… never mind.” He trailed off stopping himself from spilling any restricted knowledge.
Everyone else around the table was looking at him quietly, Viney with unveiled interest but Gus and Willow looked vaguely uneasy. Hunter just stared back at them.
“Snapdragon… as in Terra Snapdragon? The coven leader” Willow said hesitantly and Hunter smiled glad that she was accepting his compliment.
“Yeah, her control over plants and vines is almost unprecedented. She can even grow flowers with specific properties which don’t actually exist or at least not anymore.”
“… Thanks, I guess.”
Swiftly Hunter turns to Gus, he was getting the hang of this. “What about you Gus? Looking at any particular—”
“GUYS! Hi! That game was great!” One of his team's enemies came running up to their table and Hunter's hand twitched towards Flapjack.
“JERBO! Or should I say, TRAITOR? Don’t speak to me. In fact, don’t even look at me.” Screeched Viney as she swung an arm around Hunter's shoulder “I have already replaced you with my good pal Caleb here.”
He watched the enemy- Jerbo gasp dramatically and placed a hand on his forehead. An obvious emotional manipulation technique noted Hunter.
“So this is who You’re replacing me with…” His eyes drifted to Hunter then took a double-take. “Wow, and you call me the traitor.”
“What do you mean? You flew on a team for professor Hermonculus!” Viney scoffed. “At least Caleb here has integrity.”
“Oh, did he not do his whole ‘join the emperor's coven! we’re the best thing since apple blood’ pitch?” chuckled Jerbo in a bad impression of Hunter's voice and suddenly Hunter recognised him.
“The emperor’s coven? You support the emperor’s coven?” Gus turned on him with an accusatory stare.
The whole table stills, Willow and Gus look slightly ill, and in that second Hunter is aware that this child just managed to turn him into the entire table’s enemy with a joke. One titan dammed joke.
stomach bubbled with familiar fierce emotion. He felt Flapjack flutter and fretted on his shoulder, but he completely tuned out everything said, seeing nothing but red.
“Says the guy who wants to ‘give the system an over-due update’ at least I am giving you a viable, realistic option for the future.”
“Wow no need to be so harsh on my dreams, maybe you should try having a few more yourself.” he laughs slightly and pulls at his lower eyelids completely oblivious to Hunter's clenched fists. “Ha, get it? Because of your eye bags.”
“It’s the dream of a naïve child.” Snapped Hunter.
“No, it's not.” Jerbo began to look uneasy.
“Go on then. Explain it to me if you are so smart. What does your dream mean? Returning to the savage ages? To wild magic? What exactly makes you special enough to go against the Titan's will?” he’s barely holding in a hiss by the end of his ran and he looks Jerbo dead in the eye he points to the other's uniform “Look! I can see it on you the fact you support wild magic. Is it worth it? Is it? The fact you’re putting everyone around you and yourself in danger?”
The boy opposite him looked shocked, then flushed red but his face quickly faded to white. Briefly, Hunter took note that several other witches had started to stare at the commotion. This seems to cause Jerbo's breath to come out in stuttery wheezes, his hands trembled with a fierce intensity.
“I-I I’m sor-sorry.” Managed to squeeze out of his throat before he ran off into the crowd. Stumbling and shoving his way through the milling students.
He clicks his tongue as he watches Jerbo scuttle off, trembling (ignoring the way the heat drains out of him, leaving his insides cold and empty). The coward was not even trying to defend his point of reasoning. Just running away. He would never make it further than a basic scout in the emperor’s coven. If he got in. pathetic.
Viney launches herself out of her seat and vaults over the table not even seconds after Jerbo disappeared, elbowing him hard in the ribs as she did so. Hunter winced and quietly wondered where her 'do no harm' mentality went.
“Shit. I can’t leave him alone. You two deal with him before I feed him to Puddles.” She throws a bloodthirsty snarl over her should as she says this and promptly dashes into the crowd.
Slowly, he turns to Willow and immediately spotted something dark in her eyes. “Caleb that was way too far.”
“Yeah. You saw the line then rode a rat-worm full speed right over it,” growled Gus.
“I thought you witches were smart. I guess I was wrong” he shrugged as if it didn’t matter to him, and it didn’t (if he said that enough maybe the other voices would be quiet).
“I’m not dealing with you.” Willow ground out nails racking along the top of the table leaving great gorges in the wood.
“Maybe it’s you I do not want to deal with.” Hunter snapped back.
“Gus we’re leaving. Now.” She spoke softly to Gus, blanking Hunter completely, and stood up. This was the absolute stillest, least bouncy Hunter had ever seen Willow. No anger no clawing or biting or snarling. Just cold. It made him feel sick. He wasn’t used to this cold, buried type of anger.
The feeling didn’t go away as she and Gus left. In fact, it only grew. Shakily, he goes to stroke Flapjack on his shoulder, who is twitching restlessly (disturbed by all the shouting probably), but a sharp pain meets his fingertips instead.
“Ouch! you evil piece of wood! What was that for?” Snaped Hunter cradling his hand which had a scratch somewhat equal to a paper cut there.
His palisman whistled irritatedly.
“What? No? why would I go after them? They are useless to me.”
More instant chirping.
“No, they’re the stupid ones.”
A quite melodious sound emerged from his palisman, it was almost persuasive in its tone.
“You really think- No they won’t join.”
The same sound continued.
Hunter giggled near hysterically. “Friends? I have enough people trying to stab me in the back and even more trying to steal my position why would I need more… HEY! Where do you think you are going?”
Hunter immediately noticed the missing weight from his shoulder as Flapjack flew off into the crowd. The beating of his heart skyrocketed, and he felt the need to scratch desperately at his cheek. In his mind's eye, he could see a heavy door shutting on him locking him out in the dark, pain lacing his cheek and warm sticky liquid feel dripping down onto the floor.
Before he fully registered that he moving, he was sprinting towards the door following his escaped palisman.
“Flapjack? Flapjack? Come back here!... please?”
He weaved and stumbled through the crowd of demons and witches on the street, desperately following his runaway palisman and occasionally shouting up at it. Trying in vain to get it to turn around.
Definitely not for any personal reason through. It was just nice not to use those staff with artificial magic, that was all. Every spell he cast with Flapjack felt more authentic, powerful even, and less like breathing stale air. Flapjack was also a fascinating company. Even if he was created from wild magic Hunter... appreciated the company. He was a worthy ally.
(He can’t be alone again.)