Prometheus

Chapter 17: Emperor's Game (Part 1)

Flint and Luz were getting ready to head out when they saw Eda looking out the window with a pair of binoculars and a yellow scarf wrapped around her neck. In the center of the room, Eda had a wooden spoon stirring something with her magic as she watched what was happening outside in amusement. Judging from the sounds, Flint could gather it was the Emporer's Coven...again. Seriously, they were getting pretty relentless lately.

A coven scout slammed against the window before falling down as Flint heard laughter.

"Well, gotta hand it to Hooty, he's very effective...and possibly a bit sadistic," Flint spoke up, the last part with a wary edge.

Eda chuckled as she took a sip of tea. "Yep. He may be a thorn in my side, but he always manages to dig his way into my heart...he does concern me enough to pity those scouts though," Eda admitted, a tad traumatized herself. She remembered having to teach him to stop maiming them...her outfit wasn't always red, after all.

So...so much blood...

As Eda was having her own PTSD moment (she made a mental note to apologize to Bump at some point), Luz looked curiously into Eda's cauldron, wondering what was inside only to see a stringy substance.

"Ooh, magic 'sghetti." Luz said as she tried to touch it, only for her hand to be slapped by the spoon.

"Hey! That 'sghetti is Witch's Wool. It repels powerful spells. Every witch worth their salt has a cloak made from this stuff." Eda explained, holding up some of the wool.

Luz stared at the wool in awe. "I'm worth salt...I want cloak!" Luz said, trying to grab the cauldron but Eda pulled it away from her.

"You're worth a whole lot more to me," Flint muttered.

"You say something?" Luz turned back, not hearing what he said.

"Nothing," Flint said quickly.

"Easy, Luz! With the Emperor's goons at my doorstep, I need this for protection. They have really stepped up their attacks lately." Eda said thoughtfully.

Luz's face became really intense looking. "I think I finally understand why the Emperor wants you so badly..." Luz then became not intense at all. "He's got the hots for you, doesn't he?" Luz said jokingly.

"I'm pretty sure it's because of his stupid indoctrination method of controlling magic in such menial categories so that everyone that even considers trying to defy him will be hard-nerfed so that he can crush them easily. That or he wants to eradicate all magic because of some stupid bigotry and hero-complex while his brother got laid." Flint remarked.

Luz and Eda stared at him for a moment in dead silence.

"...What?" Flint asked, wondering why the two were looking at him like he was crazy.

"Oddly specific, but he does want to control all magic through his coven system. Honestly, you might have a point with that first bit, given the types of covens there are. I always did find it weird how Bard and Illusion aren't just under the same name." Eda pondered for a moment. "Anyway, he ordered my capture years ago because I refuse to fall in line."

"And he won't stop until he's got you..." Luz trailed off, her head drooping.

"Awww, don't sound so worried. I'm a master escape artist. The only thing that can slow me down is my curse, and that hasn't bothered me for weeks!" Eda stated confidently, raising her arms up...

Only for tons of feathers to pop out of Eda's arms.

Flint facepalmed. See folks, this is why you don't tempt the universe. It will always respond 'Are you sure about that?'