Chapter Text
He didn’t know how long he’d been in the space in between when he saw her. At first, he didn’t comprehend what she was. She didn’t feel like any of the witches or demons that now lived on his body. If anything, “Luzura” felt most similar to those brothers that arrived from the human realm, except for the fact that he could sense something akin to his own power, that of a Titan. She and her aunt then disappeared through a time pool, and after a couple of centuries, the memory faded from his mind. Instead, he became focused on the human, Philip Wittebane. He watched as he continued his dastardly plot against the inhabitants of the Boiling Ilses, how he manipulated everyone around him, including the Collector. While he was no longer angry at the child, he grew increasingly worried as they continued to give the human vital aid and information in his genocidal quest.
As the years progressed and the human, now going by the alias of Belos, grew ever closer to his goal, he began turning his gaze to the human realm, worrying that others like the witch hunter might be there. However, while there were others who were akin to Philip, he was relieved to see that the majority of humans were kind and moral. They were not perfect, like all species, but they were learning, and even he became impressed with what their kind had discovered.
One day, as he watched the human realm, a pair caught his eye. He watched as the woman cried while she explained the results of her trip to the doctor, while the man hugged her, tears in his own eyes. He felt his heart clench as the couple mourned the fact they would never have children. He wasn’t sure what compelled him to act, but by reaching out with his power he helped the couple conceive. It may have been taxing, but the joy he saw on the humans’ faces when they learned they were going to have a baby made it all worth it.
He was content to leave them be, satisfied with his work until the child was born. The humans, Manuel and Camila Noceda, named her Luz, as she was the light of their life. She appeared to be human, but he could feel a spark of power, his power, dwelling within her. That is when the memory of “Luzura” returned, and he laughed. He now knew why he felt power similar to his own from that girl all those years ago, she was Luz! His human daughter! For the first time in the millennia since the death of his body and his confinement here, he felt true joy, only matched the moment his son hatched from his egg. He watched both his children grow with fondness. He laughed when the wonderful scoundrel known as the Owl Lady took his son in, and mourned when Luz lost her human father to cancer. His heart ached at the loneliness both his children felt, but the ache was lessened with the knowledge that his daughter would someday arrive on the isle.
When that day finally arrived, he lept for joy. As his daughter began to learn under the owl lady, he began to guide her as best he could, leading her to the glyphs that made his magic, and his heart swelled as he witnessed her make friends, especially with that green-haired one. He couldn’t help but root for her, she was sweet and he could tell his daughter was developing feelings for her as well, albeit slowly.
Then everything went wrong. Lilith, whom he recognized now as Luz’s aunt, captured his daughter to use as bait to lure out her sister. He raged at her actions, but more so at Belos, whom he knew had begun grooming her the moment the girl joined his little coven. When Luz and King stormed the Conformitorium, he watched them cheering as his daughter made quick work of any enemy she faced. As Luz arrived at where Eda was being held, sorrow filled his heart as he watched her fail to free her mentor. Lilith offering her help made him believe that things would turn out alright, only for Belos to intervene. His daughter fought admirably, even landing a blow on the witch hunter, but it was not enough. Belos was far too experienced, and Luz had yet to unlock her true potential. Then the petrification began, and he was forced to watch as his daughter’s heart was torn in two. Not willing to stand by and watch Belos get his way, he acted.
Luz heard the owl beast wail in pain. “No!” She cried, reaching for the ceiling, but the fleshy arms held her down. Clutching her chest, tears began to fall as her heart warred with itself. Giving Belos the portal meant giving up her way home, but if she didn’t do something Eda and King would be turned to stone! Just as she was about to surrender, her heart began to burn within her.
Luz! A voice echoed in her mind, You must get up!
“I- can’t.” Luz didn’t know who she was talking to, Belos, or the voice.
Yes, you can. You are stronger than you know. The burning became more intense, the pounding in her chest growing stronger by the second. Luz, where does magic come from?
“The heart.” She whispered.
So reach into your heart. Find your magic! It is there, a part of you! All that’s left is for you to choose to accept it. So will you choose yourself?
“Choose myself?” Luz’s voice was nearly silent. Was she imagining the voice? Was her desperation causing her to hallucinate?
“I grow tired of waiting Luz.” Belos towered over her. “Give me the portal. The Owl Lady does not have much time left.”
Luz clenched her eyes, tears falling to the ground as her mind began replaying all the amazing things that had happened to her since she met Eda and King. Sure, nothing went as she imagined it would go when she first arrived, but Luz realized that she was glad it didn’t. All that had happened to her, all the people she’d met, nothing she could imagine would ever compare. She could not, would not, lose them, or anyone else!
Reaching inside herself, Luz mentally grabbed the burning in her heart. It erupted, coursing through her body and enveloping her in blinding light. Rocketing upward, she crashed through the ceiling and landed on her feet. Looking around, she saw a massive statue shooting a beam of green light at Eda, who was slowly turning to stone. Leaping forward, she intercepted the beam, screaming in pain as it hit her. Gritting her teeth, she turned to the statue and thrust out her hands. She watched as glowing glyphs appeared out of thin air and shot towards it, each one exploding into fire, ice, light, or plants. The statue was quickly demolished, and she turned to the tiny demon standing next to the cage.
“W-what are you?!” She asked, backing away.
“Let, them, go, NOW!” Upon yelling the last word, a shockwave of black and purple blasted out from Luz, knocking the demon off her feet. Reaching up with a shaky hand, she drew a spell circle, and the cage holding Eda, King, and Lilith disappeared.
“Eda!” Luz ran to where her mentor lay, partially turned to stone. Placing a hand on her head, she felt power rush through her into the cursed witch and glyphs appeared around her arms. To her relief, the stone receded, leaving flesh and blood in its place.
“Luz? Is that, you?”
Luz turned to see King staring up at her in awe. “It’s me, boo-boo buddy.” She stood up. “Now let’s get out of here.”
Coven scouts surrounded them, each holding a spear. Luz readied herself for another fight, only to feel something grab the back of her shirt. Before she knew it, she was flung onto Eda’s back alongside King. Lilith scrambled on after them, and Eda took off, dodging spears and spells. Turning around, Luz saw Belos emerge, his one visible eye glowing as it locked onto hers.
They soon arrived at the Owl House. Upon landing, Eda collapsed, panting heavily. Luz hopped off and knelt next to her mentor. “Don't worry, Eda. I'll run and get you some elixir and-”
“No, h-human.” Luz felt Lilith place a hand on her shoulder. “No amount of elixir can heal her now.” Stepping around her, Lilith crouched in front of Eda and cupped her face. “Oh, sister. I should have done this a long time ago.” Bringing their foreheads together, she began to speak. “With this spell declared, let the pain be shared.”
The two were enveloped in a burst of light, making Luz shield her eyes. When the light cleared, Eda was once again a witch, though she now had one gold eye and one gray. Her sister also had a gray eye, along with a gray streak in her hair.
“Eda!” Luz threw herself at the Owl Lady, wrapping her in a hug.
“Huh, what- Luz? What happened to you?”
“What do you mean?” Luz stepped back, still holding onto Eda, only for something to catch her eye. Letting go, she examined her arms. Her fingers now looked like they were made of bone, and black fur covered her arms. In the palm of her hands were a pair of glowing light glyphs. Looking down further, she saw that her legs were also covered in fur, with her shin bones visible, and that her feet now had two bony claws in place of her toes.
“What happened to me?” Luz looked up at Eda, who seemed just as stunned as she did.
“Wow, Luz!” Hooty stretched forward from the door. “You look like a demon Azura!”
“I whaaaaa?”
“Yeah, here.” Hooty began coughing and hacking until he spat out a full-body mirror. “See for yourseeelf.”
Luz stepped in front of the mirror and gasped. Hooty was right, she did look like a demon Azura. Her hair was longer and curlier, reaching well past her shoulder. She was wearing a dress or robe of some kind, which hugged her chest and waist only to split and flair out, leaving her legs visible. On her head was a large, pointed witch hat made of black fur, and a pair of horns were sticking out of it. Most striking, her eyes were now gold with black sclera, and a glowing symbol was visible on her chest. Running her tongue along her teeth, she could also feel that her canines had grown to fang-like proportions.
“What happened to me?” She reached up to feel her dress. She discovered that her arms were actually bare up to the shoulders and that the fur on the dress just made it seem like it was a part of her. She grabbed her hat and tried to pull it off, only for it to catch on the horns, which she realized were growing from her skull.
“Heck if I know.” Eda stepped forward. “I’ve never heard of something like this happening before. Have you Lilith?”
“No.” The former coven head stepped forward. “There is no record of a human undergoing this, transformation.”
“What does that mean?” Luz looked up at Eda.
“I don’t know kid, but we’ll figure it out.” Eda wrapped an arm around Luz as King scrambled up onto her shoulder. “Together.”
Luz looked up at the stars. During her fight with Belos, she swore she heard a voice in her head. Was it the source of her transformation into, whatever she was now? And what would her mom say? Would she even recognize her? At least Luz still had the portal door. She didn’t want to think of what might happen if Belos got his hands on it.
Belos returned to his private chambers after finishing his instructions to Kikimori and the Golden Guard. Once he was sure he was alone and that his room was shielded from prying eyes and ears, he let loose a roar of fury. He began smashing the furniture, too caught up in his rage to care about how he’d explain the damage. It was her! Luzura! He should’ve known but the fact that she appeared human had fooled him. Now though, she had revealed her true nature. And worse yet, she still had the portal to the human realm! He had to get it back before she could infect it with her fowl black magics. Once his rage cooled he stood up straight.
“Collector.” At his word, the shadow of the cosmic being trapped in the mirror appeared.
“O-o-oh boy, what a twist. I had no idea he had another kid, let alone with a human. I can’t wait to play with her.”
“What do you mean, Collector.” He knew that Luz wasn’t like the other demons and witches that lived in this hellish place, that was obvious to anyone, but if the Collector knew what Luz was, then that might offer valuable insight on how to kill her.
“Oh come on, couldn’t you tell?” The collector moved to hang above him. “I mean, the glowing glyphs, the fur, the immense cosmic power? It’s obvious she’s part titan.”
Belos froze. “What did you say?”
“She’s part titan dude.” The Collector began to spin absently. “Not full titan, they look very different, and she doesn’t have quite the same amount of power. Don’t know how she’s part titan though. I mean, he’s been gone for years.”
Belos’ mind raced. Luz was part titan? Was the Collector telling the truth? They’d never lied before, but surely they could be mistaken. However, Belos couldn’t help but remember the sheer power Luz radiated at that moment when she transformed, how she was able to stop the petrification beam with her bare hands. This couldn’t be allowed to get out. If the monsters learned that Luz was part titan, all his hard work would be destroyed! He knew how much the foul witches and demons of this place revered the Titan, that’s how he gained control of them. If they learned Luz was a titan, they’d follow her in an instant. And if she kept the portal, she would infect the human realm with her demonic powers as well.
“Collector.” Belos turned to the shadow of the trapped being. “I need you to tell me everything you know about titan, their magic, and how to fight them.”