Lumity Oneshots

Jealousy

 When Luz Noceda returned to the Boiling Isles with the help of her friends, she'd expected it to be a joyous reunion full of tearful smiles and warm hugs. And it was—for the most part.

Then she met Noa, and her sweet return turned sour.

•    •    •

She met him on her first day back at Hexside. They were in potions, and they were assigned as partners to work on a brew that could heal wounds.

Luz turned to him and smiled. "Hi, partner! I'm Luz. What's your name?"

He gave her a no-nonsense look that made him seem tall and imposing. "My name is Noa, but I'd rather get going with this potion. We only have forty-five minutes. Or does speed naturally come with your amazing human powers?"

She frowned, choosing to ignore his backhanded comment. "Uh, ok, then! I'll gather the ingredients."

Throughout the class, Noa would make snarky comments and give her cool looks when she tried to help him. Eventually she just let him do his own thing, but after yet another dig at her, she spoke up.

"Ok, look. I've been trying to work with you, but you're just being a snobby jerk about it. What do you have against me?"

His face twisted into a snarl. "What do I have against you? You're contaminating our world with your filthy human blood! All you're doing is making everyone unhappy. Look at all the damage you've caused! And going against the Emperor's will? You're just asking to be petrified. Just go back home where you belong. It'll make everybody here happier."

That hit a nerve. "Where I belong?" She cried. "You don't have any idea of what it was like for me back home. I was constantly being bullied and teased. Nobody liked me for who I truly was. Even my mother tried to make me less weird. Here, I'm seen and loved for who I am. Nobody tries to tell me what or who to be! Usually," she added pointedly, glaring at him.

Noa scoffed. "Don't humor me with your sob story, human," he spat. "You'll never belong here. You'll never be a true witch. All you'll ever do is make everyone around you unhappy." The bell screamed, and he shouldered his bag and walked away without so much as a look at her.

Luz stood there, hurt. Usually she could handle toxic people like this pretty well, but Noa was really making it difficult to sympathize with him. Then again, Amity had said some similar things, and she had still managed to befriend her.

Amity. Luz hadn't seen the purple-haired girl anywhere since she had come back. Which was especially concerning, because Amity very rarely missed school unless there was a good reason for it.

Summoning her courage, she hurried after Noa. When he saw her at his side, he growled at her.

"Didn't you get the message?" He snapped. "I don't want you here! Go away!"

"I wanted to ask you something," Luz said quickly. "It's about Amity."

To her surprise, he stopped and looked down at her. "Amity?"

"Yes," she continued, encouraged. "Do you know where she is? I haven't seen her anywhere."

"Her parents are keeping her home for a few days," he answered. "They're training her so she can join the Emperor's coven as soon as possible. Anything else I can do for you, madam?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"How do you know that?" Luz asked, ignoring his last remark. "Is it gossip going around, or do you know her personally?"

He gave her another cold look. "I know her personally," he said. "I'm not one to spread gossip, human."