Hunter makes some friends!

Hunter has some free time, so he tries his hand at embroidery, and it ends up looking terrible, but the thought is kind of adorable. He’s a sad boy, not a bad boy!

Darius: Is this the old Golden Guard’s sigil?

Hunter: Of course it is! And this is no way to treat the Emperor’s-

Darius: Nephew? I knew your predecessor. He was my mentor. One of the strongest witches I’ve ever known. But you…

Hunter: But Belos says I don’t need magic to serve the Coven.

Darius: And I say, you don’t deserve to wear that patch.

Hunter: Wait. What should I do? How do I…earn it?

Darius: Oh, sweet mother of Titans, I don’t know, find new recruits for the Emperor’s Coven? The best and the brightest witches in all the land. Then, maybe, you can get this back.

Hunter: I’ll do it.

Darius: Of course you will. You’re very good at doing exactly what you’re told.

Meanwhile at Hexside, they’re having some sort of club fair, and Willow is determined to form a club for Flyer Derby, because the Boiling Isles have more than one sport, actually. But it might be difficult to form a team, as Amity and Luz are busy trying to start an Azura Book Club (as promised).

Luz: Spill it, hermosa [beautiful]!

Amity: The author of Azura is having a signing this afternoon at the Book Nook!

Luz: Huh?

Amity: You are much less excited than I imagined.

Obviously, Luz always thought the author was human, but Amity assumed she was from the demon realm, and when they compare the author photos, the one on Amity’s book depicts her with pointy ears. And thus they’re off to solve this mystery (far away from Willow and her prospective team).

Hunter: Look at all these potential recruits. Sure, I’ve never actually spoken to witches my age…teens are probably into the same things as me! Like authority, rules.

He is such a dork and has no social skills and, honestly, I kinda relate.

He proceeds to take the direct approach of just spouting the virtues of the Emperor’s Coven, with predictable results.

Jerbo: I mean, do I want to study different kinds of magic? Heck yes! But why is joining the Emperor’s Coven my only option? When I get older, I’m gonna give this system a long-overdue update.

Hunter: What are you talking about?

Elsewhere at the fair, Willow’s running into some red tape.

Professor Hermonculus: I’m overseeing club approvals this year, and I just don’t think flyer derby is worth investing in.

Willow: Just because it’s not as well-known as Grudgby doesn’t mean-

Professor: You misunderstand. I’m shutting it down unless you step down as captain. I just don’t think quitters make good leaders.

Gus: You’re just mad that she dropped your class. Give her a chance.

So her old abomination instructor gives her a shot in the form of a game of flyer derby against him and his team.

And when she witnesses Hunter’s scrap with a griffin, she immediately recognizes his talent and subsequently snatches him for her team.

Willow: Your flying was amazing! You’re a new student, right?

Gus: Yeah, weird we’ve never seen you around. What’s your name?

Hunter: Uh…Caleb? […] I’m not here to play fly dooby or whatever that is. I have my own mission.

But he changes his mind when Willow says she wants to attract the “best and the brightest” for the team.

But Gus is (rightfully) wary of “Caleb”.

Gus: Hey, I don’t know what kind of “mission” you’re on, but it’s been a tough year for Willow. She’s really looking forward to making this team a thing. Don’t mess this up for her.

Meanwhile, the girlfriends are exchanging fan theories about the author.

Luz: I always thought “Mildred Featherwhyle” sounded too delightful to be a real name.

Amity: Do you think she has her own portal? Do you think she’s related to that human guy, Philip?

Luz: What if, the author is Eda! She’s been keeping it secret this whole time because she’s embarrassed by all the spelling errors!

Amity: Okay, these theories are a little unrealistic. It’s obviously your mother as a teenager sent forward in time to train you in the ways of witchcraft!

I’m not sure which of the last two are most preposterous…

But they discover the book signing is cancelled, so they don’t get to meet the author at all.

Hunter agrees to give a little flying demonstration to advertise the Flyer Derby Club.

Willow: Man, this Caleb guy is great! With him, I think we can really get our derby team approved.

Hunter: This girl will be a perfect candidate for the Emperor’s Coven! And if there are more witches like her, we’re set!

Then she finally introduces him to her ace team.

Willow: Allow me to introduce you to the best and the brightest at Hexside! Just a few months ago, I’d be considered the weak link on any team, but now I’m leading one!

But of course, Hunter’s unimpressed.

Willow: Caleb! Where are you going? The field is this way.

Hunter: You said you’d find the best witches for this team, but them? They’re pathetic.

Willow: You just met them! Give them a chance.

Hunter: Well, where I come from, even chances have to be earned. Especially if you’re considered half a witch like me. Sorry, Captain. Good luck with your match.

But of course she drags him over to the field anyway, because that’s just how she rolls (and she doesn’t have time to find a replacement). But it also has to do with that “half a witch” line – she knows from experience he needs better friends.

I love how she just regularly pops out of the ground at this point.

Willow: Gus is a natural speed demon, Skara’s a strategic wizard, and Viney’s the best healer in school. And at one point or another, we’ve all been misjudged. So, still think we’re pathetic?

Anyhow, here’s a Lumtiy cuddle. Also they spot someone resembling the author making an escape.

And here’s Hunter making a bad life decision.

Hunter: Darius! It’s me!

Darius: How did you get this number?

Hunter: Doesn’t matter. I found some incredible recruits at Hexside. I’m earning my place, just like you told me!

Darius: Of course you are. I just wanted you to leave me alone.

Hunter: What was that?

Honestly, this just makes me wonder what he would’ve been like with Lilith…

The game itself really isn’t that complicated; it’s basically a cross between Capture the Flag and Flag Football (but in the air). I get the feeling someone just wanted to create a game that would actually be playable in real life (and they don’t even have to infodump the rules on us!).

Naturally, Hunter’s the star player with his teleport powers, but every player does their part to net the win.

I’ve also got to hand Gus some points for style, as he gets to be the fastest player by BALANCING ON HIS STAFF.

Willow: Shoot! We never thought of a name.

Hunter: The Emerald Entrails! You know, because we’re green. And there’s more to us than you think.

He is such a dork.

AND HE LOOKS SO HAPPY!

Hunter: I can’t believe I almost bailed on you guys. Today was amazing! Thanks for giving me another shot.

Unfortunately, his little secret mission has to rear its head.

Willow: We wouldn’t have gotten here without you.

Gus: Yeah, I shouldn’t have been so suspicious.

Hunter: We can forget all about that when we play next time, as a part of the Emperor’s Coven!

Hunter: My name isn’t Caleb, it’s Hunter! And I’m the Emperor’s right-hand man, the Golden Guard!

Willow: You can’t be serious, you’re not the one Luz told us about, right?

Hunter: Ah, okay. Very good. Then there won’t be any delay in branding you with coven sigils and taking you away from your friends and family forever. Hooray!

Yeah, this isn’t what ANY of these kids signed up for.

Hunter: Okay, listen, I’m sorry about this whole cell thing, but did you really have to punch Steve, Skara?

Steve: I get it. Emotions are running high. Ice pack for Steve.

Hunter: Well, I don’t get it. You’re joining the best coven there is. You keep all your magic, you get free room and board, you can even play flyer derby on your day off! Well, this year’s day is already past, but next year is only fifty-two weeks away!

Skara: We don’t care. None of us want this!

Hunter: You will eventually. Trust me, I’m your friend now!

Gus: Friends don’t stab each other in the back.

Hunter: Sure they do. The Coven Heads do it all the time back at the castle.

He REALLY need new friends.

Hunter: Captain, you’re on my side, right?

Willow: I thought I could be good at this, but we’re here because I made a bad call. I’m just half-a-witch Willow.

Then Darius comes to pick them up.

Hunter: Darius, I did it! I found recruits!

Darius: Yep, and you’re making me work on my day off. Take this and quit bugging me.

Hunter: I can wear this proudly now, right?

Darius: Can you? See you at the castle, Golden Guard.

It’s only after a little talk with Steve that Hunter realizes exactly what he’s consigned his new friends to – notably, he reminds him that Belos confiscates all the palismen (which Hunter has a newfound appreciation for).

Meanwhile, the girls catch up to the “author”.

Amity: Tinella Nosa?

Luz: She’s had a name this whole time?

It turns out this was all another scam by dear old Tibbles, attempting to sell books from the human realm by pretending they were written by an actual witch.

Luz: So the author is human after all.

Tibbles: Oh, were you expecting some dramatic discovery?

And of course Hunter shows up to help his friends. He’s not a bad boy! But despite all that, his sudden appearance seems to be just the distraction needed to set an escape plan in motion, and the team does quite well against a Coven Head without him. Not well enough to actually get away, though.

Darius: Out of my way, little prince.

Hunter: No! I was mistaken. These four are insolent agitators who aren’t fit for the Emperor’s Coven. And I’m unfit to wear the sigil of the Golden Guard. You can go. Please, Captain.

Willow: Let’s move, team. We need to find a replacement. After all, it’ll be fifty-two weeks before Caleb’s next day off.

In the end, there was no real harm done, so they can still consider him a friend.

Darius: You…befriended them. And then you disobeyed me to protect them? I’m impressed. I had you all wrong.

Darius: You’re, what, sixteen? It’s about time you made connections outside the castle. I was just gonna drop them off at Hexside. We have more than enough recruits in my opinion.

Hunter: Are you gonna tell Belos about this?

Darius: Are you going to tell him about your secret palisman? Magic or not, I think you’ll make your predecessors proud. But you could still use a sewing lesson.

It’s nice to know that there’s at least one reasonable adult in the castle.

Amity: So, are you upset?

Luz: Nah. Azura’s author may be a human, but I’m a human, too. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that you don’t have to be a powerful ancient witch to make something special.

Words to live by!

Amity: Well, I had fun coming up with those theories. They were like our own stories.

Luz: What if the Azura Book Club was also a writing club?

Amity: What would be our first writing prompt?

Luz: How about…the mystery of…what they were up to all night!

Luz: So, how was the rest of school, did we miss anything?

Willow: Just had our first team win as the Emerald Entrails.

Then they show them the victory selfie, revealing that Hunter was on the team.

This was a fun episode to get to know a couple of the “villains” better, and there was even some character development for Hunter! It’s interesting to see him interact with people who don’t know who he is, and seeing him actually make friends is precious. We’ll turn him to the dork side yet!

Until next time…