Mattholomule, Emira, and Edric have begun taking multi-track studies, and Principal Bump expresses his surprise that the students are so enthusiastic about learning as a result of this to the Illusion teacher, right as a cloaked figure enters the room. At lunch, Willow, Gus, and Amity talk about their concerns for Luz as Willow reveals that the Owl House was surrounded by Coven Scouts when she went to assess the situation. Amity mistakes Willow as not being able to take out the Coven Scouts before Willow gets the chance to finish her sentence, revealing she simply didn't want to draw attention to Eda and Luz. As the girls leave, Gus goes to throw his lunch away and sees Flapjack, following him to the auditorium, where he finds Hunter and realizes he has been camping out in the school, since he had a problem with where to live, with Hexside as his only option. Embarrassed, Hunter refuses to go into detail, but just then, Bump calls everyone to the gym. Gus leaves, but gives Hunter some food on the way out.

Once everyone is gathered, Bump reveals they have a visitor, Adrian Graye Vernworth, the head of the Illusion Coven. He tells the students that Belos has decreed all students must be placed in a coven by the Day of Unity, startling the students, and making Mattholomule angrily tear off his arm sleeves, but Adrian says he will give them fake temporary coven sigils as protection. He brings up Edric to demonstrate, but suddenly, Gus realizes that he is trying to actually brand them and breaks the illusion, revealing 'Adrian' to be a guard captain. The real Adrian then reveals himself and dozens of scouts, and after criticizing them, tries to brand Gus with an abomination coven sigil for exposing his scheme. Overwhelmed with panic, Gus unintentionally creates a shifting illusion of various locations around the Boiling Isles that covers the school. The students flee, and Hunter arrives, rescuing Gus and taking him away from the scene. Adrian and the Coven scouts end up in an unknown location, and Adrian, impressed, orders the scouts to find Gus.

Gus tries to ask Hunter why he is camping in the school, but Hunter at the moment is shocked to learn that Luz hasn't been accounted for, nor has she contacted her friends. They run into Coven Scouts whom Hunter fights off until they recognize him as the Golden Guard and tell him that Belos is looking for him, deeply frightening him. Gus, wrapped in vines and standing in abomination goo, counterattacks by drawing a fire glyph in the goo, and the boys run off and hide in a classroom. Hunter starts to hyperventilate and go through a panic attack now that the Emperor's Coven knows his whereabouts, but Gus shows him the breathing exercise Willow taught him when he was younger, helping him settle down. Gus asks Hunter why he ran away from the Emperor's Coven, but he refuses to explain. Gus explains that he used to think people to wanted to be his friend had an ulterior motive before meeting Willow, Luz, and the others.

Hunter and Gus run into Willow, and while Gus is relieved to see her, Hunter realizes that she is a fake, as she is acting uncharacteristically scared of him. Furious, Adrian then dispels the illusion, and after revealing himself, takes Gus as Hunter is put to sleep by a Coven Scout. When he wakes up, he finds himself in the healing homeroom

Hunter: “Ngh…”