Luz studied Sora, still processing that a boy she had only met seconds ago had jumped in without hesitation to help her. The thought lingered in her mind that maybe this stranger really was as kind as he seemed.
"Okay, seriously," Luz said, glancing around the bizarre landscape, "where are we? Did we die? Are we in the BAD place?"
Sora shook his head quickly. "Nope. This is definitely not the Underworld," he paused and muttered under his breath with a tired sigh. "Otherwise Hades would show up and start whining about seeing me again."
Luz's head snapped toward him immediately, her curiosity igniting at the names. "Underworld? Hades? What are you talking about?"
Sora's shoulders stiffened slightly as he realized he had spoken a little too freely. The boy scratched the back of his head. He opened his mouth, clearly trying to figure out how to explain something that would probably sound completely insane.
"Oh! Well… I—"
Before he could finish, Luz suddenly felt a strong hand clamp down on her shoulder.
The middle-aged woman she encountered earlier stood behind her, gripping tightly while glaring down with sharp, confident eyes. "Found you," the woman said flatly.
Luz yelped as the grip tightened.
"Thought you could get away?" the woman continued with a crooked smirk.
Luz stumbled forward slightly under the pressure and raised both hands nervously. "W-wait—"
"Now you're mine!" the woman declared.
The moment the woman pulled harder on Luz's shoulder, Sora reacted without hesitation. He stepped forward in a swift motion and chopped down sharply onto the woman's wrist with a precise strike. Pain flashed across the woman's face as her grip instantly loosened, forcing her to release Luz while clutching her wrist with the other hand. In the same motion, Sora placed both palms forward and shoved the two apart—gently guiding Luz behind him while pushing the woman back with far less restraint. The boy planted himself between them and raised his voice with sudden authority.
"Back off!"
Luz blinked in stunned surprise behind him, seeing that Sora had already stepped in to protect her. The gesture made her feel strangely safe, though she had no idea why he would defend someone so adamantly.
The woman flexed her wrist and glared at him in irritation.
"What the heck, kid?!"
Sora squared his shoulders and glared right back. "What the heck, you?! You just show up outta nowhere and try to kidnap this girl?!"
Luz blinked in confusion behind him. "Kidnap?!"
The woman blinked as well. "Kidnap?!"
Sora stepped forward and pointed firmly at her. "Don't play dumb with me! You want her? You'll have to go through me first!"
He shifted his stance as he spoke, lowering himself slightly with his feet planted firmly on the ground. His legs spread into a stable base with his left foot forward and his right set behind it. One arm extended outward with his hand open in a claw-like shape, while the other arm stayed closer to his face in a guarded position. The posture was balanced and deliberate, clearly something practiced.
The middle-aged woman slowly tilted her head as she studied Sora from head to toe. "Uhhh… what exactly are you doing?"
Sora blinked once, confused by the question, but kept his stance ready just in case she tried something again. "Umm, getting ready to fight?"
The woman waved one hand loosely toward his posture. "No, I got that. I meant… this."
Luz could not contain herself anymore and leaned out from behind Sora with visible excitement. "Kung fu," Luz exclaimed, turning to Eda. "You better watch out!"
The woman frowned and rubbed her chin as if trying to recall something.
"Kung fu?" she repeated slowly. "You mean like—"
The thought clicked into place mid-sentence, and her expression shifted instantly from confusion to realization. "You two are from the Human Realm!"
Luz and Sora spoke at the same time, their confusion matching perfectly.
"The Human Realm?"
Sora's thoughts immediately started racing. This woman knows about other worlds? He then regained his composure.
The woman crossed her arms casually and leaned back on one foot. "Yeah. The Human Realm. The place where those action fight movies come from, the ones with that kung fu stuff."
Luz shifted awkwardly and glanced sideways at Sora, unsure how to respond to that explanation. "Ummm…"
Sora's expression hardened slightly as he studied the woman more carefully. "How exactly do you know about the Human Realm?"
The woman looked between the two teenagers and sighed as if she had already grown tired of the situation.
"Okay," she said, raising one hand slightly. "Ok. Few things. First, we got off on the wrong foot. No, not trying to kidnap anyone. That girl there took something from my shop, and I have a feeling the three of us have a lot to talk about. So, whaddya say we head back to my shop and talk?"
Sora and Luz were still suspicious of the middle-aged woman. However, Sora still had his mission on his mind, but didn't want to leave Luz behind and alone with a somewhat brash and potentially dangerous stranger. So, he glanced back toward Luz and lowered his voice so the woman would not easily overhear them.
[Play KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days [Xion's Theme] Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 ReMIX]
"Hey," Sora whispered, "do you wanna check out her shop? If so, I'll stay with you. I know we just met and all, but you can trust me to make sure nothing bad happens to you."
Luz ponders a bit, unsure of what to do. But, for some reason, seeing the look in Sora's eyes gave her a sense of comfort and sincerity. She felt like she could actually trust Sora. Yet again, she was really taken aback by his display of compassion for her.
"You… won't leave me?" Luz asked softly.
"Yeah," Sora nodded. "Right now we're the only two humans here, so we might as well stick together."
Luz thought about it for a moment longer before finally nodding in agreement. "Okay. As long as you're with me."
"No problem," Sora replied.
[End KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days [Xion's Theme] Kingdom Hearts HD I.5 ReMIX]
Sora then turned back toward the woman. "Alright, we'll go. But I've got my eye on you."
"I know I'm pretty," she said casually with an amused grin. "Just try not to stare too much, okay, kid?"
Both Luz and Sora looked at her with identical deadpan expressions.
"Ha ha," Sora said flatly. "So funny."
The woman snorted and waved them along as she turned toward her stall. "HA! I know. Anyway, come on. You two, out of all people, will really appreciate what I've got in stock."
Inside the crooked market stall, the three of them gathered around a cluttered wooden table covered with odd trinkets, dusty jars, and random objects that looked like they had been pulled straight out of a yard sale from another world. Luz carefully explained what had happened with the strange book, describing how it belonged to her and how the woman's owl had snatched it before hopping through a mysterious door. The middle-aged woman listened with her arms folded while leaning against the table, her expression shifting slowly from suspicion to reluctant acceptance. After a moment, she sighed and admitted that burning the book earlier might have been a little excessive, offering a casual apology before setting it aside. Sora followed up with an apology of his own for striking her wrist during the earlier scuffle, though the woman waved it off like it barely mattered. She admitted that grabbing Luz and shouting the way she had probably made the situation look worse than it actually was.
The tension in the air eased slightly, and Sora allowed his shoulders to relax now that things were no longer about to turn into a fight. Luz, however, looked around the strange interior of the stall with lingering uncertainty before voicing a concern that had clearly been bothering her.
"You're not leading us here to be eaten, are you?" Luz asked cautiously.
Sora immediately clenched his fists again out of pure reflex, clearly ready to step in if the answer turned out to be something unpleasant.
The middle-aged woman stared at them like the question had come completely out of nowhere. "Eat you?"
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (2:27)]
"Why would I eat…" Eda started before smiling with her hands raised. "Potential customers?"
Both Luz and Sora slowly raised an eyebrow at the same time.
The woman reached behind the table and enthusiastically picked up a green Croc sandal, presenting it like a prized item. "Can I offer you a human foot filled with holes?"
Sora looked at it for a moment before answering flatly. "That's a shoe."
The middle-aged woman then puts it aside and grabs a stick of men's deodorant. "A bar of green human candy?"
"That's deodorant," Sora replies.
She then holds a portable TV up to Luz and Sora. "Oh, oh! How about this black shadow box that reflects only sadness?"
Sora looked at it for a moment before answering flatly. "Aaaand that's a TV."
"Huh. You really do know these things," the Middle-Aged Woman said.
Sora simply nodded as Luz looked at the middle-aged woman and laughed, confusing her.
"And that's not all a TV can do," Luz said while reaching forward. "Here, let me see it."
She took the television from the woman and glanced around the table until she spotted a small dish labeled "HUMAN CANDY! (????)". Luz grabbed two batteries from the dish and slid them into the back of the TV before pressing the power button. The screen flickered to life, and within seconds, loud music filled the market as a brightly dressed man in a leotard began enthusiastically demonstrating a jazzercise routine.
"Voilà," Luz said proudly.
Sora squinted silently at the screen with visible discomfort as the bizarre workout video played at full volume.
Outside the stall, several nearby monsters and vendors stopped in their tracks as the noise carried through the market. Within seconds, a small crowd gathered around the table, completely captivated by the strange glowing box. They began offering money, which is known as "snails", for the TV. One even asked if he could eat the tiny person on the TV. This then prompted the crowd to erupt into chaotic bidding as more monsters tried to offer money.
The middle-aged woman blinked once before quickly switching into full merchant mode, collecting coins and bills as they were shoved toward her. In the middle of scooping up payments, she glanced back at the two humans. "Hey, what did you say your names were?"
Luz straightened with a smile. "I'm Luz. Luz Noceda."
The woman nodded before turning toward the boy. "And you?"
"Sora," he replied.
Luz leaned slightly closer to him while the woman continued gathering money from the excited monsters.
"Nice to meet you," Luz whispered quietly.
Sora leaned slightly toward her in return. "Same here."
Meanwhile, the woman finished pocketing the money and glanced at the two of them with an impressed grin.
"Well, Luz and Sora," she said while stacking the coins neatly, "you two are pretty clever… for a pair of humans."
Luz raised an eyebrow as she tilted her head. "I'd say that's a weird thing for another human to say, but I'm guessing that's not the case."
The woman grinned wider and reached up to remove the bandana wrapped around her head. As the cloth slipped away, a pair of pointed ears became visible beneath her wild hair. She hopped up onto the table with theatrical confidence and spread her arms like a performer announcing herself on stage.
"Oh, you're right, dear child," she said proudly. "I'm not like you."
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:08)]
She climbs onto the table of her stand and begins to boastfully introduce herself. "I'm Eda the Owl Lady. The most powerful witch on the Boiling Isles!"
Luz stared up at her in amazement. "A witch?"
Sora glanced up at her calmly. "Huh."
Eda continued her boastful introduction. "I am a respected, feared—"
"Busted!"
A fist appeared and smashed the TV. The sight frightened everyone, causing the people who surrounded Eda's stand to run away screaming. One even pointed out that the figure was a "guard" of sorts. During this, Eda sharply turned to the guard as Luz stumbled and almost fell on her back until Sora caught her in time and steadied her. She looked back at Sora. Once again, he helped her without hesitation, which left her both perplexed and grateful. He nodded with a reassuring smile as the two glanced at the guard.
This supposed guard seemed to be a humanoid with a large, rotund build and blue eyes with black sclerae and pupils. Their uniform consists of a gray long-sleeved shirt with brown gloves and a brown belt with a gold buckle, followed by black harem pants and brown boots. His mask is dark gray and pointed. Finally, a golden triangle is placed at the center.
Eda hopped down from the table with an easy, confident motion, landing lightly as the guard kept his focus on her and held up a weathered poster that clearly displayed Eda and a little creature beside her, along with large bold words reading: "WANTED" across the top along with the words: "OWL LADY" and "REWARD", followed by her bounty worth one trillion.
"Eda the Owl Lady," the guard announced, "you are wanted for misuse of magic and demonic misdemeanors."
"Whoa," Luz said under her breath. "Witch criminal."
"Witch criminal?" Sora muttered.
Sora took a closer look at Eda to see if there was any hint of her being what she was being accused of, but there was nothing. At least, only a tiny hinge of darkness inside Eda's heart. I don't get it... If there's very little darkness in Eda's heart, why would this guy act like she's one of the worst people alive? Sora was confused about that.
Before anyone could react further, the guard reached forward and grabbed Eda firmly by the arm. "You are hereby ordered to come with me to the Conformatorium."
Eda twisted her arm sharply and slipped free of the guard's grip with practiced ease, brushing the whole thing off like it was an annoying interruption. "Would you guys quit following me around? I haven't done squat."
The guard's expression hardened as his attention shifted past Eda toward the table. Without warning, he reached forward and grabbed Luz by the hood of her hoodie, lifting her off the ground in one abrupt motion.
"And you're coming too," the guard continued flatly, holding her up as if she weighed nothing at all. "For fraternizing with a criminal."
Luz flailed slightly in the guard's grip, completely caught off guard by the accusation.
"Wh-what?" Luz protested. "That's not cool!"
Sora then turned to the Masked Man and noticed darkness surrounding the Masked Man's heart, much larger than Eda's, indicating bad news for him. On top of that, he did not want to see Luz get hurt by him. Eda was about to interject when Sora suddenly jumped in.
"Hey!" Sora shouted sharply. "Let her go!"
The masked guard turned his head toward the boy, clearly surprised by the sudden interruption. For a moment, he simply stared, trying to figure out where the kid had come from and why he thought he had the authority to shout orders at a guard. Luz dangled in the man's grip while glancing nervously between the two of them, while Eda watched with growing curiosity about what Sora planned to do. The guard's eyes narrowed as he spoke, his voice carrying the hard edge of someone used to being obeyed.
"Who the heck are you, kid?" the guard demanded. "Are you also involved with these two?"
Sora hesitated for a brief moment, weighing the consequences of answering honestly, before deciding it didn't really matter. "So what if I am?"
The guard's expression hardened instantly. "Good enough for me," he said coldly. "You're coming too, for interfering with official guard duty."
Keeping Luz suspended with one hand, the guard reached out with his free arm and tried to grab Sora by the collar. Sora reacted instantly, pushing off the ground and springing backward just out of reach. His feet slid across the dirt as he landed several steps away, his posture tightening as he prepared to move again.
"I said," Sora repeated firmly, "let her go."
[Play Fields of Honor - Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix OST Extended]
A faint blue glow began to spread across Sora's body, starting from his chest before rippling outward until it surrounded him. The energy shimmered like a living aura, flickering across his arms and shoulders with a soft hum of power.
Eda blinked in shock. "What the—"
"Oh wow," Luz whispered as she stared at Sora with wide, starry eyes.
The guard looked equally stunned. "What kind of magic is that?"
Before anyone could react further, Sora vanished. And for a split second, he simply disappeared, leaving nothing behind but the fading shimmer of blue light. Luz and Eda both leaned forward in disbelief as their eyes darted around the area, trying to track where he had gone.
"Whoa!" Luz and Eda exclaimed simultaneously.
The guard turned his head rapidly, confusion overtaking his anger. "Where'd he— GOOO—!"
The sentence never finished. A streak of blue flashed across the space between them like a bolt of lightning, and Sora reappeared directly in front of the guard. His fist drove forward in a tight, precise punch that slammed into the guard's stomach with enough force to knock the breath from his lungs. The impact made the guard double over instantly, his grip loosening as pain rippled through his body. Luz slipped free and dropped safely to the ground, stumbling a step before regaining her balance.
The guard winced but managed to stay on his feet, his posture twisting with anger as he straightened again.
"You… little… punk!" he growled.
Sora calmly settled back into the same martial stance he had used earlier, lowering himself slightly while spreading his feet into a stable base. One hand extended forward in a claw-like guard while the other stayed closer to his face, his posture balanced and ready.
Behind him, Luz cheered as Eda folded her arms and leaned casually against the stall, clearly entertained.
"This oughta be interesting," Eda remarked.
The guard stared at Sora's stance for only a moment before deciding he had wasted enough time already. With a frustrated snarl, he rushed forward and began throwing punches in rapid succession. His fists swung left and right in wide, aggressive arcs meant to overwhelm the boy through sheer force.
"Hold still!" the guard barked.
Sora moved like water flowing around stone. Each punch missed him by inches as he slipped and shifted around the attacks, his feet gliding across the ground with controlled precision. The guard's strikes became faster and more desperate as he tried to land even a single hit.
Frustrated, the guard lunged forward and threw another punch straight toward Sora's head. This time, Sora caught it, and he guard blinked in shock as his fist stopped midair inside Sora's grip.
"Sure thing," Sora replied calmly.
Sora stepped forward and pulled the guard off balance, dragging him closer in one sharp motion. His free hand snapped forward in a backfist that cracked across the guard's face, immediately followed by a straight punch to the chest that forced the air from the man's lungs. Before the guard could recover, Sora jumped and twisted his body into a spinning kick that slammed directly into the guard's stomach.
The impact launched the guard backward through the air.
He crashed onto the ground several feet away and landed flat on his back, completely knocked out of the fight. Dust settled slowly around him as the brief battle came to an abrupt end.
[End Fields of Honor - Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix OST Extended]
Sora straightened his posture and brushed his hands together as if he had just finished a simple chore. He then turned calmly back toward Luz and Eda, who were both staring at him with very different kinds of amazement.
"That… was… so… cool!" Luz said, barely able to contain herself.
Eda gave a low whistle and crossed her arms while looking the boy up and down. "Nice work there, kid."
Before the three of them could say anything else, a low groan came from the ground behind them. The guard they had just knocked down was beginning to stir, slowly pushing himself up while shaking his head. Luz spotted the movement first and immediately pointed behind Sora.
"He's getting back up!" Luz warned.
Sora turned and cracked his knuckles as he faced the guard again, the determination returning to his posture. "Round two then."
"No need," Eda said calmly.
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:12)]
Sora and Luz both turned to look at her just as she began spinning her wooden staff in a quick circular motion. The movement stirred a faint ripple of magic through the stall, and when she tapped the bottom of the staff against the table, the entire collection of strange objects scattered across it lifted into the air. Bottles, trinkets, and odd human items floated weightlessly above the surface while Luz stared in amazement.
"Whoops," Eda muttered casually. "Can't forget this."
She reached up into her hair and pulled out a small key hidden within it, holding it between her fingers before pressing the eye-shaped ornament at its top. The shimmering portal door appeared nearby with a faint pulse of magic. At the same time, Eda closed her hand into a tight fist, and the tablecloth suddenly whipped itself upward like a living thing, wrapping around the floating items and bundling them together in a tight package. She shoved her staff through the bundle to carry it and immediately started running toward the portal.
"Follow me, you two!" Eda shouted.
Sora and Luz glanced at each other for a moment, both clearly unsure whether to question the situation or simply go with it. After a brief shared shrug, they decided running after the strange witch was probably the best option available.
"This is crazy," Luz said breathlessly as she ran. "If I die here, my mom's gonna kill me!"
Eda laughed loudly as she sprinted ahead of them.
"Relax!" Eda called back over her shoulder. "I won't let them hurt you. A human like you is way more valuable to me alive than dead."
She glanced back again, this time looking directly at Sora.
"In fact," Eda added thoughtfully, "both of you might be."
Luz frowned in confusion as she tried to process what that meant. "Wait. What's that supposed to—"
Before she could finish, Eda planted her staff against the ground and vaulted upward in a smooth motion. With practiced ease, she pulled herself onto the staff, grabbing Luz by the arm and hauling her up beside her in the same motion. The staff lifted off the ground almost instantly, carrying them both upward into the air.
"Whoo-hoo!" Eda shouted as they shot skyward.
Sora skidded to a stop beneath them, momentarily glancing up at them before immediately breaking back into a run. He dashed across the market path below while watching the flying witch, and Luz rose above the rooftops.
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:40)]
Behind him, the guard finally managed to get back to his feet and charged forward in pursuit. By the time he reached the edge of the stall, however, Eda and Luz were already high in the air while Sora sprinted away below them.
"You won't get away with this, Owl Lady!" the guard shouted furiously as he raised his fist upward. "We'll get you and your little punks too!"
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:42)]
Some time passed, and up high in the sky, Luz clung tightly to the staff with her eyes squeezed shut, tears streaming from the corners as the wind rushed past her face. Eda steered the staff with casual confidence, clearly used to flying at this height, while the clouds drifted lazily around them. After a moment, Eda glanced at the terrified human girl clinging behind her.
"You can open your eyes now, human," Eda said calmly.
Luz cautiously cracked one eye open and immediately looked down. The moment she realized just how high they were, she let out a scream and nearly lost her balance on the staff.
"Flying staffs, crazy monsters, you're a witch!" Luz shouted in a rush of panic. "What is this place?!"
[Pause The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:47)]
Her frantic rambling suddenly halted as another thought struck her.
"Wait," Luz added quickly. "Where's Sora?"
"Over here!" Sora's voice called out from nearby.
Luz whipped her head toward the sound and froze in disbelief. Flying right alongside them was Sora, gliding effortlessly through the air as though it were the most normal thing in the world. Luz opened her mouth to speak, but leaned too far to the side in the process, nearly slipping off the staff, before Eda quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her upright again.
"Whoa! Easy there, kid," Eda said.
"Thanks," Luz replied quickly before turning back toward Sora with wide eyes. "Okay, now I must be going crazy this time… you can fly?!"
"Had the same reaction myself," Eda said as she gave Sora an amused glance.
Sora simply shrugged and spun once in midair before shifting onto his back, casually floating alongside them. He folded his arms behind his head as if reclining on an invisible chair while drifting forward through the sky.
"Yep," Sora said.
Luz blinked several times as she tried to process that answer. "…Since when?"
"About a year," Sora replied casually.
Both Luz and Eda stared at him with identical deadpan expressions.
"…I have several questions," Luz said slowly.
"So do I," Eda added. "But first things first. Take a look around."
The two humans finally lifted their eyes from the staff and looked out across the horizon. A vast, stylized alien landscape with warm orange and peach-colored plains dotted with dark rocks and small pools of purple water. Tall, thin red trees shaped like sharp spires are scattered across the hills and valleys, giving the terrain a jagged, almost crystalline forest appearance. Dominating the background are enormous pale, curved formations resembling gigantic stone ribs or tusks rising high into the sky, dwarfing the surrounding land and vegetation. Beyond them, the terrain slopes toward a distant lavender sea that fades into atmospheric haze. Above, the sky is filled with large, soft clouds tinted with warm yellows and apricot tones, transitioning into lavender and violet hues higher up, suggesting sunrise or sunset. The overall environment feels expansive, quiet, and otherworldly, with a lone flying figure in the distance emphasizing the immense scale of the strange landscape.
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (3:52)]
"This is the Boiling Isles," Eda began to explain as the staff continued gliding through the sky. "Every myth you humans have is caused by a little of our world leaking into yours."
Sora listened carefully to her explanation, surprised by how casually she spoke about the connection between worlds. The comment immediately made him wonder how much she truly understood about other realms beyond this one. For now, though, he decided to stay quiet and simply observe.
A loud screech suddenly cut through the air as a winged chimera-like creature swooped up beside them. Luz leaned forward excitedly as she instantly recognized it.
"A griffin!" Luz exclaimed as the creature immediately leaned over and vomited a stream of spiders out of its beak. She pointed at it with even more excitement. "I knew it!"
Sora visibly recoiled at the sight, his relaxed floating posture disappearing as he grimaced in disgust.
Eda nodded casually as if the whole thing was perfectly normal, then began listing other creatures with her fingers. "Yep. Griffins, vampires, giraffes…"
"Giraffes?" Luz asked.
"Oh yeah," Eda replied, beginning to descend. "We banished those guys. Bunch of freaks."
The staff began descending toward a rocky clearing near the base of the enormous skull structure. Eda hopped off first as the staff touched the ground, landing lightly on the dirt. Luz and Sora followed a moment later, though Luz remained slightly unsteady after the flight.
As Eda stepped forward, her hand suddenly detached from her left hand and remained hovering in the air behind her. Sora and Luz both jumped in alarm and shouted simultaneously. Eda glanced back with mild embarrassment.
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:18)]
"Oops," she said casually. "That happens sometimes."
She reached back, grabbed the floating hand, and casually screwed it back onto her wrist before flexing her fingers to make sure everything worked properly again.
Sora stared at the reattached limb, clearly fighting the urge to ask several dozen questions at once. Before he could speak, however, Eda was already walking ahead toward a crooked wooden house built into the side of the rocky clearing.
"Ah, now," Eda said while gesturing for them to follow, "come along, humans."
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:19)]
Luz and Sora followed behind Eda as she walked across the rocky clearing, both still trying to process everything they had seen since arriving in this strange world. Their attention suddenly shifted upward when something towering over the landscape caught their eyes.
"Whoa," Luz and Sora said at the same time.
A human-faced bird cackled softly as it flew off from the roof. The building in question resembled a whimsical, storybook-style cottage with smooth white walls and a curved blue roof that arches gently over the structure, giving it a soft, rounded silhouette. A large circular stained-glass window dominates the upper front of the house, designed like a colorful eye with warm shades of orange, yellow, and red radiating outward. The front entrance sits beneath a small overhang supported by curved wooden beams, with a red wooden door centered between small decorative windows. Behind the cottage rises a tall, weathered stone tower with crenellations and an uneven, partially broken top, suggesting an older castle structure connected to the home. The house sits on a rocky patch of warm red earth surrounded by tall stylized pine-like trees, with stone steps leading up the hill beside it and a purple sea stretching quietly behind the property under a pastel sunset sky.
They quickly hurried after Eda again, walking up behind her as Luz leaned forward slightly while the trio approached the front door, clearly still thinking about the guard they had just escaped.
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:38)]
"Aren't you worried about those guards finding us?" Luz asked.
Eda waved the concern away with casual confidence while continuing toward the door.
"Nope," Eda said. "My house has a state-of-the-art defense system."
The moment she reached the door, the wooden surface suddenly sprang to life. Two round eyes blinked open in the center of the doorframe, and a long, tube-like neck extended outward as the door spoke in a cheerful voice.
"Hoot-hoot! Password, please!"
Sora was somewhat surprised to see a talking door. But then he remembered that he once met a talking door back in Wonder Land. Eda, however, was unamused by the door and proceeded to poke the talking door's eyes.
"Aah!" the door yelped.
"We don't have time for this, Hooty," Eda said flatly. "Let us in."
The door—apparently named Hooty—frowned in response. "All right, all right! Geez! You never want to have any fun! Ow! Hoot!"
With an exaggerated motion, Hooty stretched his mouth open impossibly wide until it formed the doorway itself. The opening widened enough for the three of them to walk through, though the sight of the living doorway made Sora visibly uneasy for a moment.
Eda walked through first, followed by Luz and then Sora.
As soon as they stepped inside, Hooty snapped his mouth shut again with a loud burp, sealing the entrance behind them while Eda's bundled bag remained outside.
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:39)]
"Welcome to," Eda began to say with a snap of her fingers. "the Owl House!"
The entire house sprang to life around them as candles flickered into existence along the walls and a fire roared to life in the stone fireplace. A large cauldron sitting nearby began stirring itself with a wooden ladle, and a broom leaned against the wall suddenly lifted off the ground and started sweeping the floor on its own. Above them, a massive carved depiction of a monstrous owl mounted on the wall began glowing faintly while letting out a long, eerie screech that echoed through the room.
The living room is a cozy yet eccentric space with a warm, slightly mysterious atmosphere created by the soft glow of numerous large candles arranged around the room's perimeter. Deep red curtains hang from the ceiling and frame the walls, giving the room a theatrical, almost magical feel. Along one wall sits a long, plush red couch with ornate gold accents, positioned beside a low rectangular coffee table in the center of the floor. The walls are decorated with an assortment of oddities, including framed posters, mounted objects, skulls, and small curios that suggest a collector's taste for strange artifacts. A wooden door with rounded edges sits on one side of the room near stacked storage chests and shelves, while a small arched window allows warm light to filter in.
Sora and Luz both stood frozen in the middle of the living room briefly before taking a few steps to take in everything happening around them. Luz's eyes widened with wonder while Sora studied the animated objects with curiosity.
"Where I hide away from the pressures of modern life," Eda said. "Also, the cops, Mm. Also ex-boyfriends."
She chuckled to herself as Luz stepped forward and gently placed her book down on the nearby coffee table.
"This place is beautiful," Luz said while looking around the room. "Do you live here all alone?"
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:57)]
"Actually," Eda replied, "I have a roommate."
She then turned back toward the two humans and folded her arms.
"Now then," Eda continued, "I believe it's time we had a little chat. For starters… Sora."
Both Eda and Luz turned their attention toward him. "Care to explain how you learned to do magic?" Eda asked.
Sora blinked in confusion. "Magic?"
"Yeah," Eda said slowly, staring at him with a flat expression. "You know, the blue aura you surrounded yourself with while zooming around earlier?"
"Really cool, by the way," Luz nodded enthusiastically.
"Thanks," Sora said with a small smile. "But that actually wasn't magic."
"What?" Eda said with widened eyes. "What do you mean that wasn't magic? That was clearly magic."
"Nope," Sora replied calmly. "What you saw was Flowmotion."
Eda tilted her head. "Flow… motion?"
Luz looked just as confused. "What's that?"
Sora leaned back slightly and began explaining while gesturing casually with his hands.
"Flowmotion is a technique that uses physical strength and natural energy like stamina," Sora said. "You don't actually need magic unless you want to add some extra power to it. Once you get the hang of it, you can run along walls, jump off them, grind across rails, leap really high, move faster, and hit opponents with aerial combos."
Eda blinked as she processed that explanation. "Physical strength?" she repeated slowly. "Hold on… you're saying that—"
Luz suddenly leaned forward with bright, starry eyes and excitement. "Anybody can learn this?!"
"Yeah," Sora said. "A friend of mine taught me."
Luz immediately drifted into a daydream, imagining herself sprinting across rooftops and leaping between towering buildings like an action hero. She snapped back to reality a moment later and hurried closer to Sora with renewed excitement.
"Who is this friend of yours?" Luz asked. "And do they teach lessons?!"
Sora scratched the back of his head with a sheepish chuckle. "His name's Neku. But I don't think he teaches. Aside from me, he's not really a people person."
"Aww," Luz said in disappointment.
"Sorry," Sora said with a small laugh.
"And what about the flying?" Eda asked, leaning forward slightly with curiousity. "You said you learned that about a year ago."
Luz's eyes lit up again with eagerness on her face. "Is that also some sort of ancient technique?"
Sora leaned back comfortably and folded his arms behind his head. "No. THAT was magic."
Eda straightened immediately. "Magic!"
Luz leaned in even closer with her hands clasped together in excitement. "How did you learn magic?"
"I was taught by a couple of magicians," Sora explained. "One of them helped me learn basic magic, and the other taught me how to fly. It actually started as gliding, but after practicing with wind magic, I eventually figured out how to move around freely."
Eda nodded slowly, impressed. "Huh. That's actually pretty clever."
"That is so cool," Luz practically vibrated with excitement.
Sora smiled slightly, clearly amused by Luz's enthusiasm. Luz stepped away again and began imagining herself flying through the air like a superhero. However, the excitement faded as she suddenly remembered everything that had happened earlier that day. She turned back toward Eda.
"Well," Luz said, "I've had enough adventure for today. This is clearly not the PG fantasy world I always dreamed about. So... Can you help me get back home?"
Sora glanced toward Luz with interest, curious about her situation. He was about to speak when Eda raised one finger thoughtfully.
"Only if you help me first," Eda said, glancing between both humans with a calculating look. "Actually, I think I'm going to need both of you."
Sora frowned slightly, clearly confused about what she meant. Before he could ask, a heavy thud shook the entire house beneath their feet. The floorboards rattled as another set of pounding footsteps approached from above.
Whatever was approaching sounded large enough to rattle the furniture, and the uncertainty made both of them tense instinctively. Luz instinctively stepped closer to Sora while he shifted his stance slightly, prepared for another confrontation if necessary.
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (4:58)]
"What is that?" Luz and Sora asked at the same time.
Eda barely looked concerned as she folded her arms casually. "That would be my roommate."
"Who dares intrude upon I, the King of Demons?" the creature announced in a deep theatrical voice before immediately slipping back into his normal tone.
The demon is a small-sized creature with a skull-like head and large glowing yellow eyes that give it a fierce yet comical expression. His pink eyelids are lowered in an intense glare, and his mouth forms a jagged, toothy grin that makes him look both mischievous and dramatic. He has a white skull mask with small horn-like protrusions on top, and beneath it, his dark body is mostly covered by a light blue towel wrapped around his head and another around his waist, both decorated with bright yellow duck patterns and pink hearts. One hand rests confidently on his hip while the other holds up a small yellow rubber duck, as if proudly presenting it. Despite clearly being fresh out of a bath, his posture and expression radiate exaggerated confidence and authority, as though he's making an important proclamation even in such a silly moment.
He punctuated the declaration by squeezing the rubber duck, which squeaked loudly.
Luz and Sora gasped in amazement.
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (5:17)]
Before the little demon could react, Luz rushed forward and scooped him up into a tight hug.
"¡Ay, qué lindo!" (Oh, how cute!) Luz exclaimed happily. "Eda, he's so cute! Who's a widdle guy? Who's a widdle guy? Is it you?"
The demon squirmed desperately in her arms, kicking his legs as he tried to escape. "No! I don't know who your little guy is!"
He finally twisted enough to notice Sora standing nearby with an equally gushing smile.
"Aww, hi there, little guy," Sora said.
The demon froze in horror. "No! There are two of them! Eda, who are these monsters?!"
"Oh, this is Luz, the human," Eda said, stepping forward to gently pull Luz away from behind by holding her up by her stomach from the struggling demon. "And the other one is Sora. Also a human."
She set Luz back down on the floor while the demon straightened himself indignantly. "They're here to help us with our little… situation."
The demon's mood instantly changed. "Oh! Hooray!"
Luz frowned slightly at the way Eda phrased that.
"Wait, wait, wait," Luz began while raising her hands. "I don't like the sound of this 'situation'."
Sora folded his arms. "And what exactly is your situation?"
"Just," Eda began as she circled to stand in front of the others with her hands up. "Let me explain."
[Play The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (5:18)]
With a quick motion, she traced a glowing spell circle in the air with both index fingers, resulting in a golden flaring projection window that darkened in the center, which then created floating images that shifted and moved as she began narrating.
"King was once a mighty King of Demons," Eda said dramatically, "until his Crown of Power was stolen."
The magical images illustrated a towering, terrifying demon king wearing a crown.
"And then he became…" Eda continued as the image abruptly shifted to show King as he currently was. "…this."
The magical projection faded away, revealing Luz once again hugging King enthusiastically while Sora stood nearby with his hands folded behind his head, smiling at the scene.
"You mean this little bundle of joy?" Luz said happily.
"The crown is being held by the evil Warden Wrath and locked away behind a magical force field that only a human can break through." Eda continued explaining while the remnants of the spell circle hovered faintly.
The glowing circle faded completely, returning the room to normal.
"And since there are two of you," Eda added, glancing between Luz and Sora, "this should be pretty easy. You help us retrieve the crown, and then we'll send you back to your realm. So, whaddaya say?"
[End The Owl House - A Lying Witch and a Warden - Score Excerpts (5:49)]
"Plus," she added with a grin as she grabbed King by the face and lifted him slightly while shaking him gently. "who could say no to this cute face?"
"No!" King protested. "Please don't encourage her!"
Eda dropped him back onto the floor. "Nyeh!" King squeaked.
"I mean, we're kind of your only way home," Eda added.
"So I don't really have a choice, do I?" Luz said, a little freaked out.
"Nope," Eda replied cheerfully.
Before Luz could protest further, Eda casually lifted her and tossed her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes while walking toward the door. "Now we've got no time to lose."
King grabbed his rubber duck and marched after Eda with renewed determination. "Soon, Mr. Ducky, we shall drink the fear of those who mocked us!"
The group began heading toward the exit when Sora suddenly raised his hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hang on a second."
Everyone stopped and turned to look at him.
"I understand you need help getting King's crown back," Sora said calmly. "But I should make something clear. I'm here for a completely different reason."
"Really?" Eda said, tilting her head curiously as she gestured toward Luz, who was still draped over her shoulder. "You're not stuck in the same boat as this one here?"
Sora shook his head.
"Then why are you here?" Eda asked.
"I came here looking for a friend," Sora said. "She got separated from me, and I'm trying to bring her back home."
"A lost friend?" Eda asked slowly as both she and Luz blinked in surprise.
"You mean there's another human here?" Luz followed with.
"Yeah." Sora nodded.
Eda, Luz, and King all looked at Sora for a moment before glancing at each other and then back at him.
"Actually," Eda said, suddenly snapping her fingers. "you might be in luck, kid."
"Huh?" Sora blinked.
"The place where King's crown is being kept," Eda explained, "If your friend ended up anywhere nearby, there's a good chance she might be there too."
Sora's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Probably," Eda said with a shrug. " But, it's a good place to start your search either way."
Sora thought about it for a moment. Just like Luz, he didn't really have many options. If there was even a chance that Kairi might be there, then helping Eda retrieve the crown might be the best lead he had.
"Okay," Sora said finally. "I'm in."
"That's the spirit!" Eda said, swinging her arm enthusiastically. "Now let's go!"
The group began heading toward the door together.
"Where are we going?" Luz asked.
"Somewhere super fun," Eda answered cheerfully.
Sora lingered for a moment near the doorway, quietly thinking about the possibility that Kairi might actually be somewhere out there waiting to be found. After a brief pause, he stepped forward and followed the others out.