Life's Return

Back in The Isles

Author's note: This chapter has been edited and rewritten. Enjoy~
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Luz Pov:

Four years

Four years since I've been back in the human realm. Four years since I've left the Isles.

Four years since I've seen my friends..

God, I miss them.

I sighed, walking back home from school. School was a lot more boring than I had remembered. Especially halfway through Junior year. Amber and her friends, if you could even call them that(I swear she just keeps them around to do her bidding, why do they even hang out with her anymore?), still picked on me often. Though not as bad as before. They were so shocked that I wasn't 'dead'.

I'm just glad that the... other gang wasn't around anymore. I shuddered just thinking about them.

I tried to look on the bright side of things. Keeping my head low, even if the others thought I was still the 'weird kid'.

Walking up the steps to my house, I sighed, reaching for the door handle as my nose began to fill with the aroma of something cooking inside. It was better this way. "Welcome home, Mija!" My mother greeted from the kitchen, humming as she took out piping hot tamales from a pot and rushed to stack them on a nearby plate. I couldn't help but give a warm smile.

After returning from the demon realm, my mom had a hard time believing me about it all, thinking I was talking about summer camp. But eventually, after showing all the saved videos and pictures I had on my cracked phone, she came to realize that- maybe it did exist. Let me tell ya, she was a raging spitfire after finding out where I had been this whole time. Though looking through all the photos of mine, she realized just how happy I had been. Showing her all the friends I had made, Eda and King who had taken such great care of me in the Isles. Including the witch who had stolen my heart.

She gave me a hard time about that one. Constantly teasing and looming over me with that knowing smirk. I couldn't help but groan as I tried to hide my reddening face.

"Hey mamá, that smells awesome! Wait- don't you have work?"

She chuckled softly, placing a plate on the table as I sat. "I figured you'd be hungry when you got home, so I made sure I had time to cook before I left for my shift. Enjoy, and don't stay up too late, okay?" With that, she placed a kiss to my forehead, smiling as I watched her head out the door with a wave.

I should really do something for her after all this time.. like cleaning around the house... but these hot tamales were screaming my name. Or rather, my stomach was screaming at me to take the first bite. Licking my lips, I rubbed my hands together. "Heh, don't mind if I do~"

After eating and cleaning up, I trudged my way back up to my room. Though I paused halfway, seeing all the pictures of dad, letting my hand brush on one of the frames.

I wish you were here, papá...

Wiping away a tear, I continued up the stairs. Azura and anime posters still clung to the walls, along with a corkboard that held so many memories next to my desk and window. Next to my closet, a full body mirror. I blinked, taking a moment to look at myself as I was passing by. My hair had grown out a bit, sporting a red beanie most days, along with a green flannel mom had gotten me. I called it my 'lucky flannel'. Why? Just because I could, heh.

Tugging my bag over to my desk, I took out my notebook, trying to finish homework that I needed to catch up on. Upon opening, the first page held a familiar symbol. A light glyph I had drawn. I hesitated, staring for a long moment. My instincts took over, my hand hovering over before pressing.