Home

Luz looked out of the window of the car. It was the first day back to school and Luz was less than excited to be back. It was a week since she left The Boiling Isles. Since she left Eda, King, Willow, Gus... Amity.. She watched the rain roll down the windows as she contemplated asking her mom for a day off. Today just felt... impossible.

"Mom, I can't do this today," Luz said, rubbing the sleep and tears from her eyes, trying desperately to not hiccup from holding back her sobs.

"Mija, you have to go," Her mother sighed, looking at her daughter for a second, then turning her attention back to the road.

Luz let out a sigh and turned to the rain pattering on the window next to her. The weather today really matched her mood; sad. Soon enough, the two reached the school and parked. Camilia looked at her daughter, who seemed to be entranced by the rain to even feel her glare on her. When Luz got back home from "camp" Camilia noticed almost immediately that something was off with her. Her energy was low, she was jumpy, she was up late and woke up later. It just wasn't the same Luz before she was sent off. Camilia decided to keep quiet about it, but she could tell that today especially was hard for her. This was the breaking point for Luz.

"Mija?" Camilia broke the silence. Luz turned around to look at her mother, ignoring the tears streaming down her face. Camilia's gaze softened, "Oh Luz."

"I'm trying so hard to move on-" Luz cut herself off from speaking further, trying to breathe through everything. Through the memories, through the sadness, through the hurt. Soon enough, the two were locked in a tight embrace. Camilia rubbed her daughters back soothingly, trying to get her to breathe steadily enough for her to talk. Soon enough, Luz pulled back and began whipping the tears away from her eyes with a tissue her mother had given to her.

"Do you want to talk about something, Luz?" Camilia asked, her full attention on her.

"I miss them," Luz said monotone.

Her mom looked at her, puzzled, "Miss who?"

"I miss Eda's knowledge about the Isles, I miss King's jokes and comments, I miss Willow's way with plants, I miss Gus' obsession with everything human, I miss Amity's laugh..." Luz said, playing with the tissue in her hands. Her eyes met her mothers again. She shook her head softly as she spoke, "I miss everything about that place."

"About camp?" Camilia asked, confused about Luz's sudden outburst of emotion. She didn't know that this camp, who she thought she'd hate, ment so much to her.

"No," Luz shook her head, "The Boiling Isles..."

"What now?" She asked, her confusion only growing.

"Nothing!" Luz blurted out.

Camilia smiled slightly at her daughter, brushing the hair out of her face, "Clearly it's something, Mija."

"Promise you won't get upset?" Luz asked, "Or laugh?"

Camilia smiled lightly, "Of course." What in the world could be prompting this from her? What did camp do to her?

"Mom," Luz lets out a shaky sigh, "I didn't go to summer camp."

"You didn't-"

"I was going to," She starts, "But then I followed an owl into another realm and-"

"You followed an owl-" Camilia lets out a deep breath, "Into another realm."

"It sounds crazy, I know, but you need to believe me-"

"How am I supposed to believe that you went to another realm, Luz?!"

"Because-" Luz began, "Because I can show you!" Luz dug in her backpack for a pencil and a piece of paper, sighing when she realized everything was in her locker, "Do you have a piece of paper and a pencil?" Camilia dug through her purse and found a small yellow notebook and a yellow pencil. Luz thanked her and got to writing. This would be her first time even trying to do magic outside of The Boiling Isles. She'd been too scared to try in fear that it wouldn't work, but now was a better time than any to try.

"Vamos a ver si esto funciona..." Luz mumbled, drawing her signature light glyph on the paper. She leaned over for her mom to see, "This is a light glyph. If things work the same way here then they did back on the Isles then I should be able to-" She tapped it and the paper crumpled into a ball of light. Luz smiled at it, taking it in her hands. "It works here too!"

"How did you-"

Luz let the ball of light dissolve in her hands, "Magic."

"No, no, that doesn't exist. Magic can't exist."

"Then how can I do that then?" Luz asked, "How did I have the best summer of my life?"

"I don't-"
"Listen, I'm not sure why I can do magic, but I can. It's not normal for humans to be able to do magic, but I am. I made so many friends there; Gus, Willow, Amity, Eda, King? They're the closest I've ever been to anyone else. I fit in there, mom."

Camilia doesn't know what to say. Her daughter went against what she told her, but then again, she was the most happy she's ever been, "What are they like? Your friends?"

"Gus is really fun, definitely the most hyper out of the group. He's an illusionist and loves everything about humans. Willow works with plant magic, she's the softest and quietest. Eda's my mentor, she taught me almost everything I know. King is a 'demon' but really he's just a sweet little guy. And Amity! Oh my god, Amity-"

"What's so important about Amity?"

"What's so important about Amity!? She's amazing! She's... perfect," Luz gushed.

"Sounds like my little Mija has a crush," Camilia teased.

Luz laughed, "I sure hope I'd like my girlfriend-"

"Girlfriend?"
"Mom, you'd love her! Trust me! I'll bring her home someday and you two can meet!"

"Okay, okay, I trust your judgement," She said, smiling at her daughter, who was now beaming with happiness, "But I'd still love to meet her."

"I know you would mom. I'd like you to meet all my friends!" Luz said excitedly, "Oh! What if I took you to the Isles?!"

Camilia laughed, "I can't promise you I'll like it."

Luz shrugged, "That's fair."

The two sat there and talked for a while. About all the monsters on the Isles, about all of Luz's new friends, about magic, about Hexside. For the first time since Luz got back, she was happy.