It was about four years ago when Matt experienced the weirdest day of his life. It started out like any normal day at school, but something was different in a bad way.

High fives were flying his way as he walked down the hallway. No one was whispering about him while he passed them by, and many were actually looking at him straight in the eyes with wide grins on their faces and a smile as they wished him a good day. It went on long enough that eating at the cafeteria was actually an option. No one tried to steal or ruin his food, although that may be because the last time someone took his sandwiches, they were filled with super spicy jalapenos, grown locally at lola's greenhouse.

Everyone was nice to him, and that was odd. Very odd.

The day was about to end, and during homeroom, the class advisor had to run out because of an emergency, leaving the students to their own devices, which only means one thing for the classroom: chaos. And it took the form of party hats, poppers, and a cake being delivered to Matt as everyone in the classroom burst into singing happy birthday.

It was not Matt's birthday, of course. It was Sara's.

The nightmare fully revealed itself as Matt got a good taste of the chocolate cake with mint icing after Cedric threw it on his face. Sara was grateful for everyone's help in making her birthday wish come true.

Getting over the cake prank was easy. Matt had become the class' punching bag for years by then. Besides, the cake was from Crimson, which means it was outright delicious. What haunted him for days was the taste of kindness every kid in school was capable of extending towards him. For almost one whole day, Matt did not feel like an outsider. He knew it was too good to be true, but it was so good that he ignored what his gut was telling him.

It was a strange feeling he didn’t know he longed for.

That day was the strangest day of his life until today.

He heard himself panting heavily, listening to his breathing for minutes as he stood frozen outside the circle where Morgan, still in his human-wolf hybrid form, was asleep like a tamed puppy.

“Mattheus! You alright?” Doc shouted, he himself was trying to catch his breath. Matt only noticed it now, but Doc was still wearing a white gown from the hospital, complete with latex gloves and a stethoscope around his neck. “It’s okay. I know this is a lot to handle, but just take a deep breath and let it all si---”

“Are you kidding? This is awesome!” Matt shouted at the top of his lungs, quickly cupping his mouth, worried that his voice might wake Morgan up into another rampage. “Morgan is a werewolf. Riley can shoot green bullets and heal wounds. You just cast a spell complete with a ritualistic circle and all. Why am I not going to be okay?!” Matt didn’t care if he was jumping up and down like a six-year-old who was given permission to open his Christmas present before Christmas day. He was too excited to keep it all in.

“I've been away for quite some time, but I heard weird things about this family, and so far you two have lived up to the infamy,” Riley said, standing poised on her heels with her hand on her waist.

“Shut up, you munchkin!” Doc snapped back, aiming his stethoscope as if it were a deadly weapon of some sort.

“Who're you calling munchkin, you zombie?!" Riley raised her pistols in Doc’s direction.

“Are we allowed to step out of the circle now?” Matt said, his heart still pounding from excitement. “Is Morgan going to be okay?”

“You mean that thing?” Riley commented with disdain. She doesn’t seem to be out of breath.

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"Who are you calling that thing, you munchkin?!" Matt shouted back, even mimicking Doc's tone. He did not regret saying it even after Riley pointed one of her pistols at him.

“Alright, that’s enough!” Doc said, exasperated. “Let’s get to working. This circle will not hold him for long when he wakes up.” He pulled out small bottles with black powder and threw it in their direction. “Sprinkle this around. That should keep him here for the night.”

“Ruthless.”

Matt heard Riley say it just as he was about to empty the bottle he was handed. “Wait. What is this? What does it do? Will it hurt, Morg?”

“No. It will just lock him inside like a barrier,” Doc said. He had the same face when he told little kids that a 5-inch syringe wouldn’t hurt that much.

"Don't you mean like a magic barrier?" Matt could not help smiling like the cheshire cat.

“It’s Mountain Ash,” Riley said, clapping her hands to remove any black powder from her palms. “This will hurt him if he tries to get out. So you’re just going to heal his wounds tomorrow when he comes to?”

“It’s his first night turning,” Doc said, grabbing Matt by the collar when Matt tried to sweep the powder away with his feet after Riley said it could hurt his friend. “This is when they are most feral and uncontrollable. Putting him in here is our best option. And it’s best you leave yourself out of witch affairs, Sightlighter.”

“Witch affairs? Are you saying we’re witches? That’s the reason why we were able to cast a spell, right? This spell. This wonderful trapping spell. Riley’s magic too right? But like a different kind? A Highlighter… something? Is that how she can shoot those light bullets and have healing hands? Can I do that too?” Matt was rambling even without the help of his Venom drink. His last sip was at least six hours ago.

“What happened to you people? This one’s completely out of the loop, and you’re rusty.” Riley didn’t even bother to hide the fact that she was judging them. “You’re one of the most prominent magical families, not just in the South. They weren’t kidding when they said the Francos are just as good as extinct.”

“Enough!” Doc raised his voice. It does not happen very often, so Riley must have really hit a nerve there. “You’re one to talk. It's not like your family any more welcomed around here. Let’s finish up and get some rest. And don't worry too much about him, he will return back to normal by tomorrow.” His eyes were fixed on Morgan’s beastly form, a hint of pity and regret. “At least he is not a cupid.”

“Hello!” Matt shouted, flailing both his arms up. “Hey! Hi! Yeah! Annoying nephew over here! Would you mind catching me up to speed?” Finally, he got his uncle’s attention, and there was one question going through Matt’s head that he was dying to ask his uncle. Doc knew what it was that he really wanted to ask about.

“Fine, fine! Clean up here first, and then we can talk,” Doc said, averting his gaze. “I think we’ll be able to manage here.” He turned to Riley and started a glaring competition, which was a weird way of saying thank you.

“Your mother kept faith in the Celestials,” she said. "They're hoping you would too."

“And look at where it got us,” Doc scoffed at her but was evidently holding himself back from saying more. It is rare to see Doc this serious. “I am perfectly capable of taking care of my nephew. You should go.” Riley did not respond anymore and turned around to find the exit, Matt shouting thank you as she disappeared from the greenhouse. “And you!” He turned to Matt. “Wear that necklace all the time you get it?” It was more of an order than a question. “Now that the veil’s been pulled over you, those things will be able to touch you as well.”

“Those things?”

Doc refused to answer any of his questions until they settled down in the kitchen over a day-old pizza they managed to pull out of the fridge. Matt pulled out a bottle of soda, and interestingly, Doc reached for a cup of tea instead. Matt was wary to leave Morgan alone in the greenhouse at first, but Doc assured him that the reinforced circle of Mountain Ahs would hold him until daybreak tomorrow, in time for him to return to normal. The silence was killing Matt. Doc is trying and succeeding to make tonight seem just like any other late-night snacking they do.

“I have new medical tapes for you to study.” He finally said something. “You’ve been lagging on your training. If you really want to be a doctor someday, focus.”

“Why be a doctor when I can be something more 'fantastical'?” Matt had his mouth full of pizza. He may be one wink away from drifting off to sleep, but his hunger is much stronger.

“Or just be a doctor.” Doc was staring directly at him, and for the first time ever, Matt was scared of him. Not because it was another order disguised as a suggestion, but because this is the sincerest Doc that has appeared to him.

Matt cleared his throat, wiping sauce off his mouth. “No!” he said firmly, albeit anxious to get scolded.

Doc did not raise his voice against him and instead sighed. “Frankly, it would have been far better for you if you just didn’t know that we are a family of witches.”

“Witches, huh?” Matt responded,and he couldn't help making a face, but the confusion only turned to sheer excitement.