Part Three:
The three friends tumbled out of the darkness and landed in a heap on a cold, stone floor. The sweet smell of the human realm was gone, replaced by the pungent aroma of sulfur and something strangely like old parchment and apple blood. They had landed inside a tent filled with bizarre objects: shrunken heads, glowing potions, and sparkling trinkets made of bone and scales.
"Where are we?" Nicole whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and wonder.
"I have no idea," Aaron muttered, scrambling to his feet.
Luz, spotting the little white brown owl perched on a staff with an owl head carved into it, felt a surge of determination. "That's what took my book!" she shouted, pointing a finger.
The owl simply hooted and flapped its wings, landing on the shoulder of a woman who emerged from behind a curtain. She was tall and striking, with wild, graying hair, a confident smirk, and a long, crimson dress. This was Eda, the Owl Lady, the most powerful wild witch on the Boiling Isles.
"Well, well," Eda said, her voice a low, raspy purr. She held up Luz's Good Witch Azura book. "Looks like my little Hooty found some trash that fell off the trash train."
"Hey, that's my book!" Luz protested, stepping forward.
Eda chuckled, flipping through the pages. "A book about a 'Good Witch' who uses magic for good? What kind of boring garbage is this?" She waved her hand, and the book briefly turned into a wriggling, two-headed worm before snapping back to normal.
Luz, Aaron, and Nicole all gasped. Real magic!
"You're in the Boiling Isles, kids," Eda announced with a theatrical flourish. "A land of witches, demons, and constant danger. And I am Eda the Owl Lady, the resident expert on weird and wild magic." She paused, scanning the three of them. "And you three look like you're in a whole lot of trouble."
Before they could respond, the canvas tent flap burst open, revealing a huge, scary coven guard with a skull for a face and big, dark eyes. He held up a pointy knife .
"The law has arrived!" the demon squeaked. "join a coven , Eda the Owl Lady!"
Eda ran away with the three humans till they were far enough to fly on a broom once they landed eda took luz Aaron and Nicole to the owl house Aaron looked around to see a small adorable little angel q
Eda rolled her eyes. "King, not now. I'm busy luring potential apprentices into my lair."
"But who are they?" King asked, his little tail wagging as he looked at the three confused humans.
"We don't know yet," Eda said, a sly grin spreading across her face. "But I bet they could be useful."
Luz, staring at a world more incredible than anything she'd read about in her books, felt a spark of pure, unadulterated joy. Aaron looked terrified, and Nicole was already trying to discreetly pocket a glowing green potion. Their detention was officially over, and their real adventure had just begun.