A dull thud startled me awake.
I groaned, rolling over onto my side, my brain still foggy with sleep. For a moment, I thought I was back home—curled up in my usual makeshift bed, listening to the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves.
Then, I heard a voice.
"Mmm… just five more minutes, Eda…"
I cracked one eye open. Luz was sprawled across her bed, half her body dangling off the side, mumbling into her pillow. Knight was curled up at the foot of my bed, ears twitching as he let out a sleepy yawn.
And that's when it hit me.
I wasn't home.
I wasn't in the woods.
I was in the Owl House.
The events of yesterday crashed into me all at once—the portal, the Conformatorium, Warden Wrath, Eda getting her head chopped off, and me somehow agreeing to stay in the Demon Realm.
It hadn't been a dream.
I sat up slowly, rubbing my temples. The room around me was cluttered—books stacked haphazardly, weird trinkets hanging from the walls, and a cauldron in the corner that let out an occasional ominous bubble.
Knight stretched beside me, his tail wagging. I sighed.
"Guess this is my life now."
Suddenly Luz shot up screaming
Suddenly—
Luz shot upright with a scream, her arms flailing wildly.
"SO IT WASN'T A DREAM!" she gasped.
Her sudden movement caused her blanket to shift—just enough for me to catch a glimpse of something that made my brain completely short-circuit.
Peaks.
Two small peaks, just barely visible beneath her loose shirt.
Oh.
Oh God.
I instantly snapped my gaze away, my face burning. "Uh—! I—I didn't see anything!"
Luz blinked in confusion. "Huh? What are you—?"
She followed my line of sight, then glanced down at herself.
There was a moment of complete silence.
Then—
"AAAAAHHH!"
Luz shrieked, yanking the blanket up to her chin as her entire face turned red.
"I—YOU—DIDN'T—!" she stammered, her eyes darting around in panic.
Knight tilted his head, completely oblivious to the situation.
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. "I SAID I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING—!"
"YOU TOTALLY DID!"
"IT WAS AN ACCIDENT—!"
Luz, still shrieking in embarrassment, suddenly bolted out of the room, nearly tripping over herself in the process.
Knight barked in surprise, watching as she disappeared down the hall.
I groaned again, collapsing back onto my pillow.
It was way too early for this.
I groaned, rubbing my face with both hands, trying to process what had just happened. My brain was still trying to reboot from the sheer secondhand embarrassment, and honestly, I wished I could go back to sleep and pretend none of it ever happened.
Knight, on the other hand, was clearly way too entertained by the whole thing. His tail wagged as he let out an amused little woof, almost like he was laughing at me.
Then there was King.
Still tangled in his blankets, he blinked up at me groggily, his tiny eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"…What just happened?" he demanded.
I sighed, pressing my fingers to my temple. "Don't ask."
King folded his stubby little arms. "Was it an assassination attempt? A betrayal? A coup against my rule?!"
I let out another long, suffering sigh. "Sure, King. Let's go with that."
King huffed dramatically. "Typical. You mortals never tell me anything."
With an exaggerated grumble, he flopped back onto his bed, pulling the blanket over himself. "Wake me up again for nonsense like this, and I will unleash my wrath."
I just groaned again, letting my head fall back against the pillow.
Knight snickered under his breath—or at least, as much as a Fenrir pup could snicker.
I shot him a look. "Don't."
His tail wagged again.
I sighed, closing my eyes. Maybe if I stayed in bed long enough, I could convince myself this was all a fever dream.
Too bad I knew better.
After a few minutes of lying in bed, hoping I'd just fall back asleep and erase the last five minutes from my memory, I gave up. Sleep wasn't happening—not after that disaster.
Knight had already dozed off again, curled up comfortably at the foot of my bed, his tail twitching every so often. I briefly considered following his example.
Then I realized something far more pressing.
I had no idea where the bathroom was.
And, unfortunately, I really needed to find it.
With a resigned sigh, I got up, stretching my sore muscles as I made my way toward the door. The house was still quiet—probably because it was still early.
Stepping into the hallway, I glanced around.
Left? Right?
I had no clue where I was going.
Still, picking a direction at random seemed like a better idea than standing around, so I started down the dimly lit hallway, keeping an eye out for anything that might look like a bathroom.
I didn't get far.
Because suddenly—
"Gooooood morning, housemate!"
I froze.
The voice was way too close.
Slowly, hesitantly, I turned my head.
There, right next to me, stretching from the wall like some kind of grotesque worm, was him.
Hooty.
The living house.
The first time I met him yesterday, I'd been too overwhelmed by everything else happening to fully register just how disturbing he was.
Now?
I had a clear head, and I definitely wasn't prepared for this.
I took a step back. "…Hooty."
Hooty beamed at me, his long, noodle-like body wriggling with excitement. "Awww, you remembered my name! We're already such good friends!"
I blinked at him.
Was he always this… much?
Before I could figure out how to respond, Hooty let out an exaggerated, very dramatic sigh.
"But not everyone seems happy to see me this morning…"
I stared at him warily. "…What are you talking about?"
Hooty's beady little eyes somehow managed to look offended. "Your friend! Luz! I tried to greet her all nice and friendly-like, but what does she do?"
He sniffled loudly.
"She screamed at me! And then—then she hit me!"
I blinked.
Yeah, that sounded about right.
"She hurt my feelings!" Hooty wailed. "And all I wanted to do was make her morning a little hootier!"
I stared at him. "You're telling me you jump-scared Luz first thing in the morning, and you're surprised she screamed?"
Hooty gasped dramatically, as if I'd just accused him of a crime. "I greeted her! It's not my fault my greeting is so—"
He made a loud, jarring screeching noise.
I flinched.
He blinked. "—spirited."
I rubbed my temples. "Okay. Sure. Whatever."
Hooty sniffled again. "I just don't understand! Why is she so grumpy today?"
Gee, I wonder.
Maybe because of this morning's disaster? Maybe because she just realized she's in a completely different world with no way home?
But I wasn't about to explain that to Hooty.
"Look," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Luz is probably just having a rough morning. Maybe give her some space?"
Hooty gasped again, reeling back as if the very concept of giving someone space was beyond comprehension. "But—but—but what if she needs my hoot-ful wisdom?!"
I sighed. "I'm pretty sure she'll be fine."
Hooty grumbled, but didn't argue.
For a second, I thought I was free.
Then, his giant beady eyes blinked at me again.
"…Soooo, what brings you to my hallway, buddy?"
I hesitated.
Did I really want to ask him for directions?
Then again, my other option was just wandering around aimlessly until I either found the bathroom or ended up lost in some creepy, cursed part of the house.
I sighed. "…I'm looking for the bathroom."
Hooty perked up immediately. "OH! Why didn't you say so?"
Before I could react, his entire body twisted, extending down the hallway like some kind of horrifying accordion.
"Juuuuuust follow me, new best friend!"
I stared at him.
"…You know what? I think I'll just—"
Hooty grabbed my arm with his weird, woody head.
I barely had time to let out a startled what the heck?! before he slingshotted me down the hallway.
I hated this house.
One second, I was standing in the hallway.
The next, I was flying through it.
"HOOOOOOOTY DELIVERY!"
I barely had time to process what was happening before I crashed into something—thankfully, not a wall, but a wooden door that burst open on impact.
I hit the floor with a groan.
From somewhere behind me, Hooty cheered. "Ta-da! Bathroom, as requested! I'm so good at my job."
I groaned, peeling myself off the ground. "What is wrong with you?"
Hooty just giggled in that unsettling way of his. "Oh, so many things!"
I took a deep breath, trying to shove down my growing frustration. "Look, just—don't do that again."
"Okay, buddy! But let me know if you ever need another express Hooty delivery!"
I shut the bathroom door in his face.
Finally. Some peace.
As I turned toward the sink, I caught my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess, and I had a nice red mark on my forehead from hitting the door.
Great.
This was my life now.
I splashed cold water on my face, letting the chill wake me up.
The reality of my situation was starting to settle in.
I was really here.
In the Demon Realm.
At the Owl House.
With Luz.
And there was no going back.
Not that I had anywhere to go back to.
I swallowed, gripping the edges of the sink.
I'd spent so long trying to avoid thinking about the future, about what came next. But now, it was staring me in the face.
I wasn't alone anymore.
I had a roof over my head.
I had… something close to a home.
It was strange. For years, I had been on my own, telling myself that I didn't need a real home. That I was fine sleeping under the stars, living day by day.
But now, standing in this bizarre bathroom, dripping water from my face, I realized—maybe I wasn't fine with that anymore.
Maybe I wanted something more.
I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering thoughts clawing at the edges of my mind. This wasn't the time for an existential crisis—I just needed to get through the day.
After drying my face with a surprisingly scratchy towel, I stepped back out into the hallway, half-expecting Hooty to launch me into another unwanted adventure. Thankfully, the sentient bird-worm was nowhere to be seen. Small mercies.
Knight was waiting for me at the end of the hall, ears perked up as he let out a small, expectant chuff.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I muttered. "Food first, emotions later."
As I made my way downstairs, the smell of something vaguely edible hit my nose. Not exactly appetizing, but not terrible either. The living room was already busy—Luz was buzzing with excitement, practically bouncing on her heels, while Eda sat at the table, lazily nursing a steaming mug of something.
King was sprawled across the couch, glaring at Luz like she'd personally insulted his entire bloodline.
"I still don't understand why I have to go with you," he grumbled.
Eda, who looked like she was only half-awake, cracked open one eye. "Because I said so."
King groaned, dramatically flopping onto his back. "I demand compensation for my suffering."
"You live here rent-free," Eda said flatly. "And if you keep complaining, that might change."
King stiffened. "…Fine."
Luz was already in full "apprentice" mode—an oversized bathrobe hanging off her shoulders like some kind of wizard's cloak and a filthy traffic cone perched proudly atop her head.
Eda sat at the table, lazily sipping from her mug, while King was busy gnawing on what looked like a stale piece of bread. Neither of them seemed remotely fazed by Luz's choice of attire.
I, on the other hand, had to take a second to process what I was looking at.
Luz spun around dramatically, her so-called "robes" flaring behind her. "I look like a real apprentice, right?!"
Eda snorted mid-sip. "Kid, that's a bathrobe and a piece of garbage."
Luz blinked. She glanced down at herself, realization slowly sinking in.
"…Oh."
I grabbed an apple from a nearby bowl and took a bite. "Rough start to your witch career."
She groaned, yanking the cone off her head and tossing it aside. "This isn't how I imagined my first day! I thought I'd be learning spells and getting my own staff—not selling potions!"
Eda smirked. "That's how it works, kid. You don't get magic handed to you—you earn it."
Luz pouted, crossing her arms.
"Besides," Eda continued, tossing a sack into her hands, "this is an important job. My competitors hate my guts, and if they catch you slacking, they'll try to run you out of town."
Luz's eyes widened. "Wait—are you saying there's, like… a black market potion war happening?"
Eda shrugged. "More like petty business rivalries, but sure, let's go with that."
I leaned against the counter, watching as Luz straightened up with newfound determination.
"Okay," she declared. "I won't let you down, Eda!"
Then she immediately tripped over her own feet, the sack of potions slipping from her grasp.
Time slowed.
Eda's eyes widened.
Luz gasped.
King yelped.
The sack hit the floor with a resounding CRASH.
Glass shattered. Liquids of various colors splattered across the wooden planks. A small, ominous poof of green smoke drifted into the air.
Silence.
Then—
"Are you kidding me?!" Eda groaned, rubbing her face.
Luz let out a strangled laugh, awkwardly scratching the back of her head. "Heh… um… oops?"
Eda sighed, snatching another sack from the table and shoving it into Luz's hands. "Try not to break this one, okay?"
Luz nodded furiously. "Yes! Got it! No breaking! Super careful Luz is on the job!"
Eda turned to King. "And you—make sure she doesn't get lost or eaten."
King groaned. "Why is this my problem?"
"Because I said so."
King huffed, crossing his tiny arms. "I better get something out of this."
Eda grinned. "Yeah, yeah, I'll throw in a free snack or something. Now go—before I change my mind and make Lucian do it instead."
I immediately held up my hands. "Nope. I'm good."
Luz and King shuffled toward the door, still bickering, while I leaned back against the counter, finishing my apple.
Eda took a long sip of her drink.
"So," she drawled, "you gonna keep standing around, or are you actually gonna help around here?"
I considered it.
Then I took another bite of my apple.
"…I'm still waking up."
Eda smirked. "Smart kid."
Eda chuckled, kicking her feet up onto the table as she nursed her drink. "Fine. But once you're done pretending to be useless, I've got a job for you."
I raised an eyebrow. "That so?"
She took a slow sip, eyeing me over the rim of her mug. "Yup. You're gonna help me restock."
I glanced at the shattered mess still smeared across the floor. "Yeah, I can see why."
Eda waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, that's just Luz being Luz. What I need is someone who won't drop everything like a klutz. Lucky for you, I pay in knowledge."
Now that caught my attention. "Knowledge?"
Eda smirked, leaning forward. "That's right, kid. You wanna know more about magic? The Isles? Maybe even how to survive here? Do a good job, and I might just teach you a thing or two."
I mulled it over. On one hand, manual labor wasn't exactly how I wanted to spend my morning. On the other hand… information was valuable. And considering I was stuck in a world I barely understood, it wouldn't hurt to have someone as experienced as Eda in my corner.
Knight let out an impatient chuff at my side, as if to say, Hurry up and decide already.
I sighed. "Fine. What do I have to do?"
Eda grinned, tossing a crumpled list onto the table. "Good choice, kid. First order of business—go grab my supplies from the market."
I picked up the list and immediately frowned. Half of the items looked like someone had just smashed their face into a keyboard.
"…What the hell is a Snaggletooth Extract?"
Eda waved me off. "You'll figure it out."
I sighed. "Yeah. Great."
Knight wagged his tail, clearly excited at the prospect of an adventure.
Eda leaned back again, her grin widening. "Oh, and one more thing—try not to get scammed. Or eaten. The market's full of, uh… colorful individuals."
Fantastic.
I glanced down at the list again, my mind already drifting elsewhere. The market sounded like a hassle, but if I was going to be stuck here, I needed to get my bearings.
I looked at Eda. "Is there a library around here?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Library?"
"Yeah. Y'know, a place with books? Information?" I gestured vaguely. "Preferably one that isn't trying to kill me?"
Eda snorted. "Kid, this is the Boiling Isles. You're gonna have a hard time finding anything that doesn't wanna kill you." She stretched, cracking her back. "But yeah, there's a library in Bonesborough. Big place, lots of books, even has a 'quiet' policy—though that doesn't stop the occasional screaming shelf."
I frowned. "That's… mildly concerning."
Eda smirked. "You'll get used to it."
Knight huffed, tilting his head at me.
Eda leaned forward, propping her chin on her hand. "So, what's with the sudden thirst for knowledge?"
I hesitated before answering. "I just… need to know more about this place. How it works, how magic works—everything."
She studied me for a moment before nodding. "Smart kid. But if you're heading to the library, might as well kill two birds with one stone."
I blinked. "Meaning?"
She jabbed a thumb at the list in my hands. "Most of my suppliers have stalls near the library. Get my stuff, then hit up your little book club."
I sighed. "Right. Multitasking. Love that."
Eda grinned. "That's the spirit."
Knight let out a soft whine, clearly eager to move.
I turned toward the door, bracing myself. "Alright. Market first, then library."
Eda waved lazily. "Have fun, don't die, and if someone offers you a deal that sounds too good, it probably is."
Comforting.
With that, I stepped outside, ready to face whatever weirdness the Boiling Isles had in store.
=====================================
The air outside was crisp, carrying the distant scent of something burning—whether it was food, potions, or an actual building, I didn't know. Given how the Isles worked, it was probably all three.
Knight trotted beside me as I made my way down the winding path toward Bonesborough. The sky was still that weird shade of purple-orange, and I couldn't tell if it was morning or afternoon. Time felt… off here.
As I walked, my mind kept circling back to the library.
I needed answers. About magic. About this world. About how the hell I was supposed to survive here. Eda had mentioned a "quiet policy," which was reassuring—at least I wouldn't have to fight a book just to read it. Probably.
Bonesborough came into view, its crooked buildings stacked together like they'd been built by someone who almost understood architecture but then got bored halfway through. The streets were packed with creatures of all shapes and sizes, some haggling at market stalls, others arguing over cursed items, and a few just casually floating by like that was normal.
I scanned the area. The library had to be somewhere.
But first—Eda's errands.
I sighed and pulled out the list she gave me.
1. Shrieking Mandrake Root (try not to let it scream too much)
2. Fire Bee Honey (watch out for the bees—seriously)
3. A bag of "Not-Sand" (don't ask)
4. One (1) Skull Polisher (King's request—extra strength)
Great. So basically, a shopping list designed to make my life difficult.
Knight let out a small chuff, nudging my leg as if to say let's get this over with.
I adjusted my bag and stepped into the marketplace, bracing myself for whatever chaos awaited.
The market was loud.
Vendors shouted over one another, trying to outdo their competition with increasingly ridiculous sales pitches.
"Two hexes for the price of one!"
"Get your soul-binding contracts here! Buy one, curse an enemy for free!"
"Freshly bottled nightmares! Nightmares for all occasions!"
I sidestepped a stall selling what looked like literal bottled screams and focused on my list.
First up—Mandrake Root.
I spotted a stand labeled "Grimwort's Herbal Oddities" and made my way over. The stall was overflowing with jars of pickled plants, glowing fungi, and vines that twitched when I got too close. Behind the counter, a short, goblin-like creature peered up at me.
"What you need, kid?" he rasped.
"Shrieking Mandrake Root."
The goblin grinned, revealing way too many teeth. "Good choice." He reached under the counter and pulled out a gnarled root wrapped in cloth. Even muffled, I could hear it whimpering.
"That'll be three snails."
I blinked. "Three what?"
The goblin sighed. "Snails. You do have snails, right?"
"…No?"
He groaned. "Then what are you even doing here?"
I hesitated. "Do you take… human money?"
The goblin cackled like I'd just told the funniest joke in the world. "Hah! Good one, kid."
Fantastic. I was broke in a world where people used snails as currency.
Knight nudged me, then darted toward a nearby alley.
I frowned. "Uh… hold that thought."
I followed Knight, weaving through the crowd until we stopped in front of an abandoned-looking cart. Its wooden frame was warped, and a barely legible sign read "Trade & Barter - No Questions Asked".
An old witch sat behind the cart, her one good eye scanning me as I approached. "Looking to trade?" she rasped.
I glanced at my bag. I didn't have much, but…
I pulled out my phone.
The witch raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"
"Uh… it plays music?" I hesitated. "It's a rare artifact from the Human Realm."
Her eye gleamed. "Music, huh?" She reached into her robes and pulled out a handful of glowing snails. "I'll give you five for it."
I paused. My phone wasn't exactly useful here—no signal, no internet—but still…
"…Deal."
We made the trade. As I pocketed the snails, the witch tapped my arm. "Oh, and kid?"
I glanced back.
She grinned. "Careful what you trade. Things have a way of coming back to you."
I wasn't sure if that was a warning or a threat, but I wasn't sticking around to find out.
Knight and I returned to the stall, and I dropped three snails into the goblin's waiting hand. He handed over the Mandrake Root—now whining softly—and waved me off.
One item down. Three to go.
And then—the library.
I stuffed the wrapped Mandrake Root into my bag, making sure it wouldn't accidentally get jostled open. The last thing I needed was a sentient plant screaming in my ear.
Knight trotted beside me as I navigated the marketplace, scanning for the next item on my list—Fire Bee Honey.
That one… sounded risky.
I passed more bizarre stalls—one selling cursed mirrors that whispered insults, another displaying a collection of shrunken heads that blinked at passersby—before finally spotting a sign that read "Flame & Nectar - Premium Fire Bee Products".
Great. That sounded exactly like what I needed.
As I stepped up to the stall, the vendor, a lanky demon with soot-streaked skin, grinned at me. "Welcome, welcome! Looking for something sweet or something spicy?"
"Uh… just some Fire Bee Honey."
His grin widened. "A fine choice!" He reached under the counter and pulled out a thick glass jar filled with a glowing, amber-like substance. Even through the glass, tiny sparks flickered inside, like trapped fireflies.
I reached for my snails, but the vendor held up a hand.
"Ah-ah," he said. "Before I sell you this, I gotta ask—you got a fireproof container?"
I blinked. "A what?"
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Kid, this ain't normal honey. If you don't store it properly, you're gonna have a very bad time."
I glanced at my bag, suddenly very aware that I did not have a fireproof anything. "…Right."
The vendor smirked. "Tell you what—since I'm feeling generous, I'll throw in a container for an extra two snails."
I groaned internally. At this rate, I was gonna be broke before I even got to the library. But I didn't have much of a choice.
"Fine."
I handed over the snails, and he passed me the jar along with a reinforced metal tin. "Pleasure doing business!"
I muttered a thanks and carefully transferred the jar into the tin before securing it in my bag. Two down, two to go.
The next item—"Not-Sand"—sounded suspiciously like something I shouldn't ask too many questions about, so I went with my gut and looked for the shadiest vendor I could find.
That turned out to be a hunched figure sitting on a crate, their stall little more than a rickety wooden plank stacked with unmarked sacks.
I approached cautiously. "Uh… do you have Not-Sand?"
The figure lifted their head, revealing a face completely obscured by a hood. "…How much?"
"…One bag?"
A gnarled hand slid a sack toward me. I had no idea what was inside, and honestly? I didn't want to know.
"Five snails."
I stiffened. "Five?!"
The figure tilted their head. "Or… we could make a trade."
I frowned. "Depends. What do you want?"
They pointed at my wrist.
I glanced down—oh. My watch.
It wasn't anything special, just a cheap digital one, it even had a couple of scratches, but I guess to them, it probably looked like some kind of human relic.
I hesitated. It wasn't valuable, but it was one of the few things I still had from home.
Then again… it wasn't like I actually needed it here.
"…Fine."
I unbuckled the watch and handed it over. In exchange, the figure pushed the sack into my hands. "A pleasure."
I wasn't convinced, but I took it anyway.
Three down.
That just left King's Skull Polisher.
That one, thankfully, was easy—just a small tin of what looked like enchanted wax from a beauty stall. I handed over my last snail and pocketed the tin, feeling thoroughly scammed by this entire shopping experience.
Still, I had everything I needed.
Which meant…
Library time.
I glanced around, then stopped a passing demon. "Hey, do you know where the library is?"
They gave me a weird look. "Library? You mean the Demon Public Library?"
"…Sure?"
They pointed toward the far end of town. "Big building, lots of books, don't mess with the librarians."
"Right. Thanks."
I turned to Knight, who wagged his tail, clearly eager to keep moving.
"Alright," I muttered. "Let's go learn something."
And with that, we headed for the library.