#is aaravos gonna train claudia too???

[self-spaghettification]

both staffs were a gift from aaravos!!

and the parallels continuing into season 5!!

hopefully girlie does not get incinerated for the greater good too 🙏 bc i could see that with how much she’s sacrificed so far

Claudia really just tied a skull to the corrupted Sun staff to make it MORE edgy and goth 😂

I mean, I stan the aesthetic, but also wonder if the skull has a purpose?

[unknownentry404]

The Dragon Prince: Pre-Season 6 Thoughts.

(Post finishing my 3rd full watch-through)

It was SUPER weird going from S4-5 Viren back to S1-3 Viren. I think it’s amazing how- like, they didn’t really redeem him? Cause he CANT be redeemed, but they still- Showed us who he was underneath the corruption and- Really emphasised how much of Viren’s villainousness was DUE to Dark Magic corruption which just- And how much he did out of love. (CoughCallumCough) Is terrifying when you think of the other two characters that have ties to it…

Viren turning to dark magic to save his son. “Whatever it takes: however dangerous, however vile.” But then: choosing dark magic OVER his son. Being careless with Soren’s feelings and very life. Telling Claudia to choose the egg over Soren, almost turning Soren into a sunbeast, gaslighting him, etc…

It appears that he first saw the Mirror in his first “dark magic coma,” with his future self on the other side of it. Explaining again why he became so obsessed with the Mirror when he saw it- The fact that S5 Viren would agree with Runaan’s warning: “that mirror? You have found something worse than death-“ Kinda mindblowing.

I have and will always be on the “Viren is an irredeemable bitch” train but- I didn’t expect it to hurt so much when I got back to Season-4-him coming to terms with mortality and just wanting to spend the next 30 days enjoying life with his daughter like- It seemed so deeply unserious and out of left-field when I first watched it, but, post Season 5- Wow, it actually hurts?

His relationship with Terry was actually really sweet? And Terry really helped him unpack so much of the Toxic Masculinity in him… as a certified Viren hater, it’s disturbing how much of this is about him- I always thought the crew spent too much time with him but- He is actually such an amazing foil?

Once again: Harrow is the bird, (Pip), confirmed. Ghost Harrow standing over Viren with the staff saying “your soul is my treasure” in reverse, turning Viren into a Coin? With Pip right behind him for “no other reason?” Also, new theory but: I think this also might be pointing to how the star spell Callum will use, with the Quazar Diamonds, to “restore spirits to their bodies.” Will not only be able to save Rayla’s family, but potentially King Harrow as well…. (Harrow has been on an Oppa bird-side-quest journey this entire time, mark my words: one does not simply emphasise bird and then let bird escape so he is “conveniently” never in the same room as the only known animal speaker, King Ezran, ever again).

Umm, something I noticed that I actually hope is just thematic and is not an important observation but: Callum has learned/connected with both of his Arcanum DIRECTLY after having used Dark Magic… (Also after doing so to save Rayla, but yeah-) And Dark Magic appears to have been something cultivated by Aaravos? Oh great master of all six primal sources?Basically, I’m hoping that it is just thematic and showing triumph over evil! Of choosing your own path! But… there is a non-zero chance that Callum might ONLY have made these connections BECAUSE he used dark magic and- (Don’t let it be so, please- I love Mage Callum, he loves magic why- /scared) It’ll take three to make a solid pattern just- don’t make it three for three, please-

Aaravos is basically whispering in Karim’s ear, via the old high mage that his caterpillar (son) bit, isn’t he? Meaning he’s being manipulated by the person who killed his sister, destroyed Lux Aurea and swallowed his grandmother. And hence Sol Regrem is, too, being manipulated, through Karim, by the person who GAVE humans dark magic, gave them the wizard staff and LEGIT took his eyes- It is LITERALLY the end of S3 again- Karim in Viren’s place. Aaravos, master warmonger-

Rayla to Callum, finally opening up about the coins: “there’s a burden I’m carrying, but I know I can trust you with it.” To trust is to be stronger. If we’re gonna do it, we’re going do it. Together. Meanwhile: Callum carrying the burden of using dark magic alone. And I’m not even sure if he’s TOLD anyone that the cube is called the @Key of Aaravos!” He tried to destroy it but- he couldn’t and- (This is gonnna FUCKING HURT I-)

Another small observation, but to the Earth Archdragon in S4, Callum offered the least valuable item as a gift when- I’m pretty sure if he offered the Key of Aaravos, it would have been enough on its own and really gotten the ball rolling too? Would it have been smart to give it up? Unclear. But that thing is also a potential danger and-

(I love my baby Callum and I fear for his fate a bit more each day-)

Claudia… oh Claudia… I dunno what it is, but the fact she is so “committed to her family,” but at the same time… they are still alive. As far as we know, her mother is still alive in Del Bar. Soren is still there, and even tries to reconnect with her in Season 4. The only one who’s dying is Viren, but all Viren wants is to spend his last month with his daughter in peace and-Oh Claudia

Extra: I bought and read the graphic novels for a fuller experience, and found them quite interesting:

Callum was going to go off with Rayla on her search for Viren. And she accepted as a lie, before sneaking off in the night. Ouch.

It’s not explicitly stated, but it appears Rayla developed her fear of water from when she almost drowned on the Harvest Moon, as a child, after a run in with the Bloodmoon Huntress. She was alone and pushed off a cliff/waterfall into a lagoon where she was too weak/young to save herself and Runaan had to miraculously appear and save her. We see her carelessly dangling on a log over a stream before this scene, with seemingly no fear. And she also hasn’t interacted with the Bloodmoon Huntress yet, as of Season 5: literally JUST missed her but, I wonder if it’ll come back? 🤔

The third graphic novel takes place before Ezran was born and follows Claudia (and Soren) searching Viren’s old mentors house. It is very much a kids book, but one with very sinister undertones. We learn two things of interest: 1). The timeline of events are as follows: “Soren got deathly ill, Viren’s old mentor ‘mysteriously disappeared,’ Soren got better, Viren and his wife started fighting, wife left-“ Which, I’m- well. That’s fun? Also: the King, Harrow’s father, comforts Viren and asks how he’s doing and how the search for his mentor goes which- well then. 👀 2). The story ends with Claudia obtaining a map to a Unicorn, a map that only she can read because she is… “pure of heart” which- is such a standard, happy ending to a kids book until you realise… what she did… once she found that Unicorn… and then what its horn went on to do…

This show is too well written for the tiny fan base it has. If it sticks the landing, like I think it will? Cult classic on our hands people. Again, I’m just pissed about the depth they brought to the show with Viren: how he was a COMPLETELY different person in Part 1 vs Part 2. How that is terrifying not because we love HIM as a character, but because of how much we love Claudia and Callum… How they made me, a Viren Hater, sad that he died? Because his death was a tragedy? Not because he died, but because he died BEFORE he could warn Claudia not to go down this path. HIS path. That he didn’t want this for her- That she could still stop-

Oof. I simultaneously dread and cannot wait a second more for Friday-

[raayllum]

Love that even tho ur a popular blog in the fandom u realize that u clown sometimes too and make fun of urself, very demure very mindful as the kids say

is this a safe space to say that despite being gen z myself i still don't know what very demure very mindful means

(looked it and gasp that's genuinely very sweet thank you!! i certainly Try, don't always succeed but i definitely appreciate being appreciated)

i just think it's very important in life to being able to make fun of yourself without being mean to yourself, y'know? at the end of the day basically any fandom is just not that serious and certainly not something to attach self worth / wellbeing to. i did not ask to be a 'popular' blog and sometimes i wish i wasn't, admittedly, but overall i think i do a good job at chilling in my corner and maintaining a corner to chill.

like all my metas are either written in full context (ie. talking about s5 when we have all of s5) or with the caveat that this is the context and understanding i have right now in speculating in the future. there could be curveballs or information withheld or times where my vision just doesn't match up wth the crew's vision (throwback to me thinking Leola would be a family member of Aaravos but specifically Not His Child bc of Sir Sparklepuff and Claudia), and like. that's all good and fun and okay? any time the show has done something that wasn't my preference or didn't work for me the first time (aka there were like 3 things in s6) i assume i'm wrong and go looking for reasons as to "why would they do this" and i'm always satisfied with the answers i find in some manner; either it makes me Love what they did or i'm well aware it's a fucking nitpick to begin with (what does anyone at the Starscraper eat? i need to know). i'm down to recontextualize and re-evaluate and take things as they come (aka i've started my pre-season "let go of all expectations" ritual)

i think some of that comes from 1) being very emotionally detached from analysis overall and 2) subsequently not really caring how or why certain associations/themes come back, just that they do. part of that comes from being trained to leave how a work makes me feel (besides genre aspects like the grotesque or sublime) at the door (like i hated jane eyre being 18 and her happy ending being with her shitty 40 year old employer, but those feelings literally do no matter if i'm gonna Analyze the text like 90% of the time) and/or having to teach my students to think about relatability and then also think beyond it. this also goes for queer representation; i don't like or relate to all queer representation i've seen, like double trouble in she-ra as a nonbinary person, but i don't have to for it meaningful and worthwhile for someone else, including the writers and the character successfully encompassing what they were trying to do, and i think co-existing with those aspects is worthwhile too.

like for example i hope going into s7 that either my pet theory CHET happens in some manner (like the way it did in 5x08) or i know definitively without a doubt that it's not happening in the future and that time has passed so that i can theorize and move onto other things in TDP. or like, i always thought it'd be cool if Callum had freed Aaravos and that would still probably be my preference of Callum's freedom associations, but I mostly just want those associations between him and Aaravos to go somewhere. maybe it's in a shattering world order thing, maybe they're subverted (callum is freed and he traps aaravos or something) but as long as they eventually go somewhere, it's gouda? whenever i'm right it's a lot of fun and it is rewarding, don't get me wrong; it's exciting and a confidence boost that i'm good at analyzing this specific story, but it's not why i theorize (i'm journey not destination focused) nor is it why i put time into fandom, i'm here to have fun and accept the story for what it is as it comes to me, partially because i hope people do the same with the stories i tell someday

after all, stories and fandom are here to bring us joy, fun, and catharsis. if they're not doing that, then we gotta do something different

[rexthefox]

Just got hit with the best AU idea I've had personally so far. It's gonna be a long post so be prepared!

An au that combines both Murder drones and the dragon prince! Focusing on the characters from murder drones placed in the universe of the dragon prince because yes.

The disassembly drones already remind me of moon shadow elves, with the white hair and how most are trained to be assassins! And the worker drones are obviously humans, however absolute solver could be viewed as dark magic! You see where I'm getting at?...there's also the blood moon clan of moon shadow elves that drink blood so like

It depends on your preference for the au but elf vampires would be closer to canon!!

The plot and characters so far would be similar to both.

Uzi is a rebellious human princess who researches dark magic but believes it's wrong, her mother nori passed away due to over using it or got too corrupted or smth, maybe they could have a dark magic curse running in the family that horribly shifts their body after using dark magic too much, mayyybe a curse placed on several human family's by a specific corrupted Arch-Elf?~ (Cyn not aaravos.) I'd like to think Uzi would be lore like Callum in this case as she does take over that role, age adores stories about Xadia and primal magic and probably thinks the elf human war is bull crap

Her dad, Khan rules the kingdom of copper 9 alone, Uzi often sneaks our to town to cause mayhem or be free of her princessly duty's much to her father's dismay.

However everything changes when 3 moonshadow-skywing elf hybrids..(thinking about having them magically made that way due to several curses..and also arch elf Cyn.) Show up in town and start killing some people, Uzi ofc wants to stop this, but her dad ends up forbidding her from leaving the castle, she does it anyway leaves and meets N after he tries to kill her and she successfully over powers him via weird magical weapon her mom gave her, boom railgun knife wand. I'm working on that bit.

It goes about as well as the pilot, Ns vision gets blurred because she hit him in the head, he thinks she's another elf, patches up her hand he cut with his blades and they end up becoming weird friends before Uzi runs off back to the castle before J and V return.

I want to connect the dragon prince story points more to this au as well but I'm out of ideas currently- however some plot points I am considering are:

Uzi is more attuned to the star and moon arcanums at first and struggles with the rest

V ends up tagging along on her and Ns journey to find a way to stop dark magic and because Uzi wants to go to Xadia to learn about the weapon her mom had stolen.

N is constantly a sweetheart as always and tries to befriend humans several times while in disguise, much to Uzi and Vs dismay

Thinking Doll and Lizzy may be the Claudia and Soren In this au (But lesbians instead of siblings....plus like dolls parents are dead-) at least for the first half?? Doll obviously could be a dark mage.

I don't know what to do with Tessa yet but she would become important when J returns later on in the story

But hey if people have ideas feel free to give them to me! Or other feedback on this weird lil au!

I wrote this at 11pm so excuse my grammar mistakes and spelling errors if there are any

[cosmicpoutine]

sorvus being silly as per usual

rayla brings strong arguments

ez is being cold as fuck and i love that, i was so looking forward to this

kpp'ar "disappeared" yeah right, claudia. altho aaravos doesn't seem to buy that.

ezran is going a little koo-koo in the head

callum and rayla meeting in the bridge is so meaningful

yeah rayla bust your dad out of jail! AGAIN

ez has all the right to be angry and i'm 100% on his side, but also... i want my moonfamily back together

not rayla using the same tactic from s1 nvgjhsbg i love her

elf stelf

rayla putting herself in front of runaan to protect him uggghhh i love them

"i know you have to try"... rayla vs soren again LETS FUCKING GO their fights are always so good

callum has amazing arguements and ez is being a bit hypocritical but thats the anger and grief

FUCKING DEEP CHARACTERS

RUNAAN TRAINING RAYLA MID BATTLE

aaravos is already so tired of kpp'ar's bullshit

WHORE YOU GET OFF THAT SHADOWPAW IMMEDIATELLY IM GONNA KILL YOU AGAIN

if you don't know about the puzzle house comic you just assume claudia knows everything... idk how i feel abt this

these 3 idiots are having too much fun

2 v 1??? corvus fuck off

BROTHER IN CHRIST???? OMG I LOVE THIS AND IT WAS SO ABSOLUTELY ON PURPOSE

OH we got to the self cannibalizing part. thats fun

JUST STAB ME, IT'S EASIEER

WHAT THE FUCK BROTHER

WHAT THE FUCK

not aaravos puling a xavier on claudia, my dude telepathy?? rly?? rn?? this is awkward

only the true of heart can see the map... idk how i feel abt the fact they decided to give that ability to the one trans guy in the group but okay go off.

also putting this speech while showing ez... thats brutal

terry becoming the victim here is making me like him more (i rly disliked him before yall know that.

okay thats it for ep 2 that was a roller coaster, but somehow??? i'm loving it. they're maturing up the show and thats what i've been waiting for

fuck it, im watching tdp tonight. block the tag tdp spoilers to avoid my spamming live reaction

[beautifulterriblequeen]

B2:S - Chapter 3

Much of this series will be about the differences and additions in the novel version, and how they contribute to my understanding of story canon. But there will be character appreciation, the odd theory and headcanon, and suchlike as well.

Here be Lujanne, Callum, Rayla, Ezran, Bait, and Soren goodness!

Spoilers for Book Two: Sky below.

Lujanne having excellent fitness for all her walking around the Moon Nexus, and she's so energetic that Callum has trouble keeping up with her! She seems like those active grandmas who almost never stop moving, who have a lifelong supply of endless stamina. It makes me wonder if Lujanne will need that level of fitness for some upcoming conflict.

Callum feeling really hungry over not eating grubs and then still deciding he'd rather be hungry. It makes me wonder all over again how Lujanne got to the point where she eats grubs, considering that other Moonshadow elves we know of back in the Silvergrove don't. I still love my hc that the giant leech ate all of Lujanne's moonberry bushes and she's taking her revenge. Whatever's going on there, Callum is definitely not at that point yet.

When Lujanne asks Callum how he knows she's real, he thinks to himself that he'd put up with just about anything from someone who was going to teach him magic. That's a great parallel and foreshadowing for Viren's student/master relationship with Aaravos! And it's telling that neither student gets exactly what they hoped to get. Lujanne doesn't actively teach Callum any spells, because she believes he can't learn Moon magic at all. Aaravos does offer Viren power, but it takes him to some very dark places - literally and figuratively - and the cost is terribly high.

Callum sees a moon shape among the ruins, and Lujanne explains that the Moonhenge layout is an intricate rune that uses the structures themselves as part of its symbols and power. That's apparently a thing even with ordinary Moonshadow villages like Hollow Wood in the east, which is the coolest idea I've seen in a while: city planning as magic runes!

Yes, that's the same shape as the pendants Ethari made for himself and Runaan. Protection? Home? Feelsiness? A sense of safety and belongnig for all cycles and seasons?

Wonder what this Moonhenge rune stands for, then, and how much of this landscape is included in that rune. I bet it's more than we think!

But it makes sense now, how toppling the stone pillars would disable the spell the druids would cast to connect with the Moon Nexus lake. Breaking the infrastructure of the Moonhenge breaks the rune.

There's a physical sensation involved with the visuals that Historia Viventem brings up! When that one ghostly druid walked through Callum, he felt icy cold. Like in ghost stories. I really wonder about what exactly Historia Viventem is doing when it activates. It shows truth, "what really happened here?", so it must have some kind of time-related element, maybe tied to how the moon always repeats the same cycles or something. But it also seems to draw on the spirits of any living people involved in the flashback, because Callum could physically feel that wispy shape passing through him. So very interesting!

Orrr... is that all wrong, and there's something else at work with this spell than time? Maybe the world beyond life and death can act as an imprint of the things that have happened in the living world, and the spell that Lujanne (and later Callum) casts taps into that place, with perfect recall. I'm looking really hard at the sentence that says "dozens of translucent elf ghosts" and "phantom Moonhenge" and "lost in their own world" here.

Lujanne says more here than in the show about the world beyond life and death, being her mysterious Moonshadow-mage self. She says that "beyond" and "between" might both apply to where this other plane of existence is, and she doesn't much care which. With all the relativity swirling around this place, and not much in the way of empiricism, it's sounding like perhaps multiple conflicting ideas might actually coexist in such a place, allowing more ideas to fit there than we might normally believe is possible. Which is a fascinating bit of worldbuilding. Basically, every headcanon anyone has ever had about the Moon Nexus could all be true at the same time, for all we know.

Oh oh oh, Callum coming in soft with a secret wish! He takes one look at the Moonhenge and immediately thinks of finding a way to see his mom again! Poor boy, my heart! I'd say that could be another interesting parallel with Viren, but then, who wouldn't hold that sentiment?

Oh my, is this another breath of life into Ye Olde Ley Lines headcanon? Lujanne mentioning the Nexuses again, so soon after talking about the runic design of the entire Moonhenge, makes me wonder if the six nexuses are in fact giant runes. On Earth, the places where ley lines cross are called nexuses, and there are those who believe those points got marked with ancient structures, like Stonehenge and many many others. If Xadia were crossed with magical lines which naturally formed nexus points where they met, and if powerful magical runes were built across those entire areas, well. That would be cool beans, fams. Can I smack a map of Xadia and release a spell like Luz Noceda does? Because ngl that is my first instinct here.

Lujanne has got to be missing some grandkids to spoil, right? The way she's always whipping out cake and ice cream for Callum, and she's so grandma-ish about it. Headcanon about her being Runaan's mom aside, she is canonically lonely and she's very sweet to Allen and Ellis and I think she's missing whatever family she once had in the past. She may never get to have that family back, so she's finding a new one among the humans who live nearby, and I think that's sweet. Found family isn't just for the young.

But Ellis is straight up gonna be her fave, I bet, because she didn't turn up her nose at Lujanne's illusion food!

Ezran and Bait have a lot more to their relationship than was visible in the show, and I'm so excited by it! Ez can tell by looking at Bait's colors that he's not truly jealous of Zym, even if he's really grumpy about the dragonling taking up his favorite human's time.

And Ez thinking a lot about his dad and the things he's taught him. They're soft leadership material, and I love that so much! "Pick your battles" and the importance of encouragement. Ahh, my heart. Ezran, you're going to be such a good king.

But wait a second: both times that Bait gets extra grumpy in Zym's first training session, Ezran has just mentioned something about flying. Guys, I think Bait wishes he could fly, really badly. And that's his biggest problem with Zym, and with Ezran teaching Zym to fly, instead of Bait who doesn't have wings so. Bait is so old that his secrets have secrets, and I'm really curious how flying fits into them now!

Rayla, Dramatic Assassin: "I need to patrol for dark forces." That's what Lujanne called the source of the purple wisps that found them. I wonder if that's an official term all Moonshadows know, or if Rayla is just taking her cue from a veteran Moon mage. And I wonder how far Rayla is falling into the apparent pattern of "one mage, one assassin", since she does spend a lot of her time patrolling without being asked.

When Callum tells Lujanne that he was bad at prince stuff, and she asks if he didn't give up and got good at those things anyway, it's an opportunity for Callum to embrace subverting his parents' expectations in favor of seeking his own path, which is a primary theme of the show. But Lujanne is a couple generations older than Callum, at the very least, and I have to wonder what her upbringing was like. Is her version of success the one she took? Was she bad at magic once too, but she persisted? She is very soft and doesn't want to kill anyone.

Maybe Lujanne had dreams of doing something else with her life, but she felt she had to pursue the destiny that others handed to her, so she studied magic as hard as she could, and she did get good at it, but using it to defend Xadia from humans is not what she wanted to do with her life. Whether there's a parallel between her and Ethari on that point, there's one between Callum and Ethari, I think. How much of your life are you willing to let others direct for you?

LISTEN I WAS DYING AT THE EAR BREAD SCENE OKAY

This is my new favorite Soren and Claudia moment ever. Soren loves him his bread, okay. Even as earplugs for Claudia's sleep ocarina tune. The fact that it's "super effective" makes me think of a Pokemon defense. The fact that he learned it at camp, where he also learned about Moonshadow Madness, is hilarious. Later on, Corvus doesn't know Soren by name, but I still love the idea of Corvus being a kind of Strider-esque camp instructor, filling the ears of his young charges with all kinds of useful tactics like ear bread for magic spell songs (which actually seemed to work as intended), and warnings about the enemy elves' blood-themed tactics (which may or may not come back around in BH)

I thought they were gonna go in a kind of deep direction when Soren still wanted his ear bread back, but then he just. Eats them. Just noms them. I love this kid. Give Soren all the bread!

[iwillhaveamoonbase]

We Could Be Heroes Ch. 4

Rayla made her way as quickly and quietly as possible back to her dorm. Claudia had texted back that she would wait in her car up the road.  It was already after 8, so everyone was either in their dorms or studying in the library. ‘No clue what I’m going to tell the girls.  I’m moving in with my boyfriend is the truth, but they’ll start asking questions.  Maybe I’ll say nothing.  I don’t tend to sleep there as much anymore.  Too much risk running into Bandlr.’

By the time Rayla had put her building key in the lock she was no closer to an answer.  Rayla went up to her floor and poked her head in her room.  ‘Good; no one’s here.  I’ll just grab my clothes and my books and I should be good to go. Anything else I need, Callum either has or will get.’  She grabbed a bag and began shoveling her textbooks and notebooks into it.

“Where you been, Rayla?”  Rayla gulped as she turned to her roommate, Zaras, a Skywing elf, standing in the door way.   Her wings looked as soft as ever while her pale blue skin looked a tad darker from the all sun she must have gotten since it became March.  With long black hair and a sweet face, Zaras looked just as soft as her wings.  No one ever saw her sharp tongue or heeled boots coming.  Zaras had her dark eyebrow raised as she lightly brushed dust off her right wing.

“I’m just getting my stuff.”  Was her voice shaking?  ‘Confidence, Rayla.  Runaan always said to act confident.’

“I see that,” Zaras gave a small smirk.  “Where you going?”

“I’m going to stay with my boyfriend for a bit.”

“Why are you staying with Prince Callum?”  Rayla felt her heart stop.  “I haven’t told anyone.”  Rayla’s heart started beating again as she relaxed just a bit.  “If anyone asks where you are, I always say you must be in the library or at the 24-hour gym in town.”

“How long have you known?”

Zaras shrugged before sitting on Rayla’s bed.  “The whole time, if it’s been more than a year.  You spend a lot of time with him and you always look so happy after you spend the night at his place.  Why do you think I insisted we be roommates again this year?”

“Because I’m the only person that tolerates your granola habit at three o’clock in the morning?”

“That and I like him, too.  He has been nothing but respectful to every elf on campus.  I have never seen him so much as raise his voice unless he was being provoked.  He’s more aggressive with the humans who push him to try dark magic than he is with us.  He also asked my honest opinion on the Sky arcanum and if I knew any good books of spells.  You got yourself a good man, Rayla, and I don’t want you to lose him just because someone didn’t like him.”

“Thank you, Zaras.  Bandlr is going to go public with this tomorrow.  He found out and he’s acting like it’ll just ‘slip out.’”  Zaras hissed as she shook her head.  “I know.  He’s an asshole and I would kill him if I could.  I might, anyways.  I think I would be doing everyone a favor.”

“Bandlr is going to be the least of your worries.  You know that a lot of the humans on campus don’t like you, right?  Just purely based on the fact that you freely admitted that you are, technically, an assassin.  Even if you haven’t made a kill, you’re still trained and still able.”

Rayla put her head in her hands as she groaned.  “I know.  I also know that I don’t want to walk away from him.  Even though it would be easier and would save the both of us a lot of pressure and harassment.”

“But you love him.”  Rayla turned to see Zaras looking at her with a genuinely happy smile.

“That I do.”

“How are you going to get your stuff to his place?”

“His friend, Claudia, is going to help me.  Her car’s already parked and she’s waiting for me.”

A quick clap of her hands and Zaras was up and already rifling through Rayla’s drawers.  “Well, let’s get packing.  Do you want anything out of the bathroom or can I have it?  I really like the smell of your moonberry shampoo.”

“You can have all of it.  Except the bubbles.  Those are mine.”

“Noted.  Where’s your other bag?”  Zaras quickly helped pack while keeping an eye on the door.  It was better to know who was and who wasn’t in the suite so that they could leave with as few questions as possible.  “Do you seriously not have any sexy underwear?  I have several pairs just to make me feel good on a bad day.”

“Callum might have a heart attack if I did.  You know my bra with the front clasp?  I wore it one time and he almost fainted.  In about five years, I’ll try the front clasp again.”  It had been a complete accident that he had even seen the stupid thing.  She was changing at his place and he had happened to walk into the room.  Callum had blushed bright red and stammered when he saw her take it off before leaving the room, stumbling the whole way.

“Pfft.  That is just too adorable.  I don’t know how anyone can think that dork is dangerous.”

“I don’t either.  The most threatening thing he’s ever done was tell Bandlr to back off after he busted into Callum’s apartment.”

“You might need extra security, then.  My dad knows people who work in the security industry.  I’ll give him a call if you need it.”

“We’ll let you know.  I can’t tell you how much it means to me, to us, that you’re helping me.  That you’ve been helping me.”

Zaras shrugged, a thoughtful expression taking over her features.  “I told you, he’s a good man.  He’s also a talented mage with zero percent of the overconfidence that I see in a lot of the mages here on campus; human and elf.  I have no idea how he got the Sky arcanum to work for him, though.  From what he told me, he understood that the wind was a part of him, of everything.  He also admitted that it was after he broke a primal stone, so take that as you will.”

“He’s explained it to me a bunch of ways and he loses me halfway through.  He understands how he did it but he can’t explain it in a way that makes sense.  And now that he’s planning to try with the other arcana, he has to make it make sense.  He’ll always be dangerous if he can’t make people understand why he was able to access primal magic as a human.  There will be people who accuse him of using dark magic to succeed or that he made a deal with someone like Aaravos.”

“I wish him all the luck in the world.  I also wish you luck.  You’re gonna need it.”

“Thanks.  I’ll need every last bit of luck you have.  Where’s your lucky coin again?”

“You’ll take my lucky coin over my dead body.”

“I can arrange that.”  They chuckled as Rayla did a quick sweep of the apartment.  “I think that’s everything.”

“Let’s go, then.”  Zaras made sure to walk out the door first, after grabbing Rayla’s bubbles, and kept the conversation on classes and the latest movie.  “I’m telling you, Rayla, you need to go see this one.  I’m normally am not a fan of human cinema, but this guy just cried as he rode off into the sunset.  Wonderful.  I need eight more.”

“You just have a thing for men crying.”

“Who doesn’t?  I also really like girls in tight pants.  Really tight pants.”

“Are we going to discuss your kinks all night?  I’ll need a drink if we are.”

“Buy me some hard liquor and I’ll be sure to tell you every last one of them.”

“Name the time and place.  There’s the car.”  Zaras nodded and let Rayla lead the way from there.  Claudia waved them over and quickly popped the trunk. “Thank you, again, Zaras.”

“You’re welcome.  You owe me that drink.  And I want you to tell me what’s going on.  I’m here if you need me.”  Rayla was normally not really a huggy person, but she quickly wrapped her arms around Zaras in thanks.  It took a moment for Zaras to return the hug, squeezing Rayla with all her strength.  When they separated, Zaras smiled at Rayla again before nodding her head to the car.

“Right.  Good night.”  Rayla hopped in and Claudia hurried down the road.  Zaras waved before quickly turning back to the dorm.  “Do you think anyone saw you?”

“Doubt it.  Soren got a message from King Harrow today.”  Brow raised; Claudia looked at Rayla out of the corner of her eye.  “Apparently, he’s going to be officially stationed here?”

“I asked for him.  I needed more people in our corner.”

“That sky elf looks pretty in your corner.”

“She is.  I’ll introduce you sometime.  Make sure you wear super tight pants.”

“Ooh.  My kind of girl.”  It didn’t take long to reach the apartment complex. Claudia drove to the back and grabbed a bag after parking.  “Callum texted that he’s still at the store.  I’m going to take his key when he gets back and get a copy made for you.  You two can’t leave the apartment until I get back and that might not be until tomorrow night, okay?”

“As long as I get it before classes start Monday, I’m good to go.”  They went in and up the elevator.  Claudia suddenly got a big smile on her face as she laughed.  “What’s so funny?”

“I’m helping my ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend move into his apartment.  And we have to keep everything a complete secret until tomorrow.  I feel like some sort of secret agent.”

“How do you feel about that?”  For all of Claudia’s prodding, Rayla had never known if Claudia was actually alright with watching her ex-boyfriend move on or was putting on a front because they were still friends.

Claudia shrugged and turned to Rayla.  “Honestly?  Not nearly as bad as I thought I would.  Neither one of us was mature enough or in a good place for a real relationship.  I’m a little jealous, but I think that has more to do with the fact that he’s moved on and in a steady relationship while I’m still going on speed dates.  He was everything I was supposed to want; we just didn’t fit together.  He has drawn such a thick line in the sand concerning dark magic and, well, dark magic is the only thing that’s allowing my brother to stand anymore.  Callum has really pushed for me to learn healing from the other elves here.  The only problem is that my father is Lord Viren and he hates elves.  No one wants to teach me or help Soren because they’re scared that I’ll take their life force to heal Soren or we’ll take the secrets back to our dad.”

“You wouldn’t, though.  Callum told me that you two are Team Soren and Claudia.  You’re your own side and you wouldn’t jeopardize Soren’s health to get back in your father’s good graces.”

A chuckle and a shake of her head was all Rayla got for a moment.  “He’s right. Viren’s our dad and we want nothing to do with him.  He told Soren to kill Ezran while he and Callum were at the Banther Lodge a few years ago, before anyone knew just how treacherous he had become.  He also told me to leave Soren to die if it was between him and an artifact that was supposed to amplify magical abilities.  The things he’s called Callum and Queen Sarai…. I understand why my mom left him.  Soren and I wish we had picked her all those years ago.  He’s not going to be nice about this.  All the hatred he’s felt towards Callum and Queen Sarai is also going to fall on you.”  The elevator opened and the two got out, sitting on the floor with Rayla’s stuff to the side.

“Why did he hate her?  She saved his life and died doing it.”  Claudia looked conflicted for a few moments.  Rayla could see the wheels turning in her head. She genuinely didn’t know what had made Viren turn on Sarai and Callum didn’t seem to have an answer either.  If she knew, maybe she could be better prepared for anything Viren launched against them.

Finally, Claudia nodded her head, looking back at Rayla.  “Don’t tell Callum this. Or Ezran.  You have to promise you will never tell them.”

“Is it that bad?”

Claudia held Rayla’s stare and lightly shook her head.  “You have no idea what he has called her.  If Callum found out, he might kill my dad.  I think King Harrow finding out about it is what ultimately led to he and my dad falling out.”

Rayla didn’t want to keep secrets from Callum and keeping one from Ezran would be more difficult than her training with Runaan.  But this was also a chance to get another perspective on Callum’s history.  She didn’t trust the news and she didn’t trust what most other people said because they didn’t know Callum; Claudia did.  “I don’t like it, but I promise I won’t say anything.”

“OK.  I’ll hold you to it.”  Claudia sighed as she leaned against the door.  “You know that Queen Sarai wasn’t a noble, right?”  Rayla nodded as she adjusted herself.  She had a feeling Claudia was going to be giving her a lot of information and that this was a lot more complicated than she thought.  “Well, when Queen Sarai and King Harrow were kids, they met when his father took him to visit his best general.  That was Queen Sarai and General Amaya’s mother.  Harrow was instantly smitten with her.  They spent a lot of time together during that visit and Harrow was convinced he would marry her.  He was right, eventually.

“Queen Sarai didn’t have those same thoughts.  She viewed herself as a warrior first and that her job would be to protect the future king.  And then she met Marco, Callum’s father.  From what I heard; he had no prospects beyond his artwork.  He didn’t come from a family with any kind of wealth or status, couldn’t use a bow and arrow or a sword and always questioned why the world couldn’t talk about peace instead of continuing to fight whenever the war was brought up.  He was also opposed to dark magic; calling it the reason why the peace had been shattered in the first place.  He was probably the last person who should marry a future military leader, but he came to their home one day to paint a portrait of Sarai and Amaya and that was that.  They got married a year and a half later and Callum was born about two years after that.

“Marco died when Callum was only a year old from a bad fall.  He was painting a client’s ceiling and someone on the ground wasn’t paying close enough attention.  Queen Sarai was devastated and she buried herself in her work and raising Callum.  Her work brought her to the capital and to Harrow.  By this point, he and my father were close and my dad was pushing for Harrow to get married and have an heir before he was crowned king.”  Claudia chuckled as a sad smile took over.  “Harrow instantly fell back in love with her and he loved Callum immediately after meeting him.  It didn’t matter to him that Callum was from his love’s first marriage.  He was part of Sarai and that was enough.

“Dad didn’t think it was…appropriate for a future king to marry a woman who already had a child.  It didn’t matter that she was a widow.  She had a kid and she wasn’t noble; that should have taken her out of the running.  He brought women from all over the Pentarchy and Harrow still chose Sarai.  And it got really, really ugly between Sarai and my dad.  She asked him what his problem was and he called Callum…well, he called Callum a mongrel son of a street urchin.  He then said Callum wasn’t fit to lick Soren’s boots, let alone be the son of a king.  That was before he proceeded to call Sarai a two-bit gold-digger who was only interested in Harrow because she wanted another man in her life and Harrow happened to be there.  He told her she was nothing more than a whore who would lead Harrow to his own destruction.  None of that was true, but my dad was so blinded by his devotion to Harrow that he didn’t see the truth anymore.

“Sarai said her piece by calling Dad a self-serving, egotistical asshole.  She made him a deal; she wouldn’t tell Harrow what he said if he backed off.  Dad knew a good deal when he saw one and agreed.  Harrow would have believed Sarai in a heartbeat.  Sarai and Harrow got married and then had Ezran.  In between, Sarai began to let it be known to the rest of the world about her distaste for dark magic.  She thought it was a shortcut and resisted every time it was brought up as a solution.  This university was all her idea.  She had taken what her first husband had said to heart and she wanted peace between the Pentarchy and Xadia.  She instilled that in Callum and Harrow and they’ve instilled it in Ezran and General Amaya.  And the four of them have started to instill it in the rest of the Pentarchy.

“They tried to get along for Harrow’s sake but my dad would just rail into her when he thought it was safe.  Called her power hungry and manipulative.  Soren and I heard things that no one should ever utter about anyone.  Sarai died protecting my father because she knew how important he was to Harrow.  She thought they would both make it out alive and they had just saved her sister.  Dad had a high opinion of her for a little bit, until Harrow started implementing her ideas.  The university and this town started to be built less than a year after her death.  He pushed for more peace talks and gradually started to reject any of Dad’s ideas if they involved dark magic.  Eventually, Harrow started to call for Dad for council less and less.

“Dad blamed Sarai for losing his best friend.  The truth is, Sarai was right.  Dark magic is a shortcut.  It’s the only one we have, besides primal stones, for humans to learn magic.  And it’s impossible to get primal stones.  There are days when I listen to Callum and agree with everything he says.  I wonder if dark magic has twisted my dad beyond repair and if that’s why he’s like this now.  He used to be kinder and more understanding.  What if dark magic does that to me one day?”  She twisted the white lock in her hair and bit her lip.  “But I also love magic and don’t want to give it up.  I’ve always been a mage, and I’m really freaking good at it.  I taught Callum how to use the primal stone and his first couple of spells.  Callum can’t explain how he unlocked the arcanum in a way that anyone understands and I refuse to stop using dark magic to help my brother until I have another answer.”

Rayla had heard a lot of this from Callum, but to hear just how this animosity between Sarai and Viren and how that led to Harrow and Viren’s own relationship to deteriorate put new light on everything he had told her.  “Callum really doesn’t know?”

Claudia shrugged, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.  “He knows about Dad’s feelings towards him and he knows Dad didn’t like Sarai.  To my knowledge, he has no clue just how deep that hatred runs and for how long it has.  Neither does Ezran.  In their minds, Sarai was a saint; why would anyone hate her with all of their being?  Harrow doesn’t want them to know what my dad called their mother.  Callum also doesn’t know about the deal they made or the argument that it came from.  As far as Callum and Ezran know, Dad just gave up and told Harrow to be happy.  If they find out, it needs to be from Harrow.  The only reason I know is because Dad got drunk one night and told me and Soren everything.  When we told Harrow that we knew, he asked us to keep it quiet and never, ever tell Callum or Ezran.  That was the same day that we told Harrow about his plot to kill Ezran.  We picked Harrow’s side that day and Dad wanted nothing more to do with us and we wanted nothing more to do with him.”

“Why can’t they know?”

“Would you want your sons to know that someone you believed was your best friend and your biggest supporter thought their mother was anything less than honorable, even after she saved his life?”

Rayla thought about it for a moment.  If she and Callum had children and were put in a similar situation, would she want their children to know something like that?  “No, I don't think I would.”

“See?” Claudia asked not unkindly.  “It's one thing to say that Viren didn't like Sarai, it's another to say the words he actually used.  I don’t want to tell Callum or Ezran and neither does Soren.  It’s not something you feel good about knowing.  The only reason I told you is because you need to know what you’re going up against.  Dad may say all of those things and worse to anyone who will listen and you have to be prepared.  Don’t focus on what they call you.  Don’t let anyone get the best of you with name-calling.  Only state your and Callum’s truth.  If you spend any time saying anything besides that and that you and Callum love each other for who you are, then they would have won and they will keep coming back.  I’ll step in if I have to on your behalf.  I like you, Rayla, and I like how happy you make Callum.  No matter what, he is one of my best friends in this world and I don’t want him to lose you over something neither one of you can control.”

“He’s not gonna lose me.  I’ll have to be dragged kicking and screaming out of this relationship at this point.”

“Good.”  Claudia hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head on them.  “When Callum and I dated, it was before Dad was disgraced.  To a degree, it was always assumed we would get married for political reasons.  It wasn’t really a big deal to anyone until we broke-up.  That’s when the gossip came around.  I can’t imagine what the two of you must be feeling right now.”

Rayla stretched her legs out and folded her arms over her chest.  “Nervous.  A bit relieved.  Like we’ve done both the smartest and stupidest thing we ever could.  He wanted to give up when Amaya told us I didn’t have an out the second the public knew.  He told me to go back to my uncles and I told him that if I did that there would be no second chances.  We either stand together now or he will lose me forever.”

“Good for you.”  Claudia had a big grin on her face at Rayla’s statement.

“I wasn’t going to let him give up.  I think Bandlr’s threat to tell the world and then hearing his aunt tell him I had to stay at the border got to him.  He finally came back to his senses when he saw I wasn’t going to run away and was going to take this media nonsense head-on.”

“I understand if he’s concerned about the media.  It’s not easy to live the way he does.  This is the most freedom he’s had since his mom married Harrow.  Every move he makes, every outfit he wears, every person he meets is dissected to death.  There are articles and videos out there about whether or not Harrow actually loves Callum and that has hit Callum so hard.  They talk about body language this and Callum didn’t go to such-and-such event that and they don’t know anything that goes on behind closed doors.  I have never seen someone love their kids as much as Harrow does Callum and Ezran.  Harrow’s distance was because he didn’t want Callum to feel like he was replacing his father not because he loved Callum any less.  It took a long, long time for Callum to call him ‘Dad’ and being constantly reminded that he is the ‘step-prince’ didn’t help.”

Before Rayla could respond, the elevator opened to reveal Callum, laden with groceries.  “Hey, guys.  I’ve got enough food to last a month.  Or a week since you’ll be here, Rayla.”

Rayla did a quick eyeroll.  “Ha ha, Mr. Skinny.  It’s all muscle unlike your noodle arms.”  Raylan and Claudia stood, each grabbing one of Raylas bags.

“You like my noodle arms.”  A quick smirk at Rayla and Callum unlocked the door so they could head inside.  Claudia and Rayla quickly put Rayla’s stuff down so Rayla could help Callum put their groceries away.  “You’ll be so proud of me.  I only got one more piece of fruit for the fruit bowl.”

“You’re eating that, too.”

“I’m drawing it tomorrow and then I’ll be done and we’ll spend the rest of the day eating fruit and Earthblood honey.  And the day after that.  And maybe the day after that.”

Rayla picked up said piece of fruit and glared at it.  “I swear, if your plan is to slowly replace the rest of our diet with your fruit bowl, I will make you eat the actual bowl.”

“Do you hear what I put up with, Claudia?”

Claudia shook her head as she walked over to the two.  She looked at the fruit bowl and then back at Callum.  “Do you really need all that fruit for art?”

“It’s called still life and I haven’t done it in a while and drawing helps me relax in stressful situations.  Also, please lay off my fruit.”  Callum handed her the key to the apartment.  “Let us know when you get the copy.”

“Got it.  I’ll give you the bill then, too.”

“I can give you cash now.”

“Nah, I know you’re good for it.  I also know where you live.  Night.”

“Night, Clauds.”

“Thanks for the help.”  Rayla followed Claudia to the door and locked it behind her.  “Alright.  We need to talk about something.”  Callum gulped as he suddenly found his shirt very interesting.  “I’m not still mad at the whole ‘run away while you can’ thing if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Oh, thank god.  I was going to have a heart attack.”

“It’s about how…. calmly we bring up marriage.  We teased each other about you marrying me because of honey and how strong I am.  When Ezran talked about me being his big sister, I almost said ‘yes.’  And then, you called Runaan and Ethari your ‘future-in-laws.’  We’ve been bringing it up for months without ever really talking about it.”  Rayla went back to the kitchen, lightly drumming her fingers against the counter.  “Do you want to marry me?”

“I’m not opposed to it,” he hedged.

“Callum.”  Rayla needed him to be as honest and serious as possible about this. She didn’t want to start planning a forever with him in her mind if it hadn’t even crossed his.

“Fine,” Callum grabbed her hand and looked in her eyes with those suddenly far too green ones of his.  “I know we haven’t been together that long, but I know I want to marry you someday.  I wouldn’t have asked to meet Ethari and Runaan if I didn’t.  I also don’t want to do it for a few years.  We’re still young and there are so many things to see and do first.”

“Do you already have a ring?”

“No.  I actually have one planned, but I’m going to have it specially made.  I’m thinking,” he raised her hand and separated her middle finger out, “a band of platinum that has been twisted.  I’m also thinking a moonstone sunken into the band.  Nothing jutting out, so you won’t be able to cut someone when you backhand them.”

“But that’s the best part.”  Rayla looked down at her hand as Callum stroked the base of her finger.  “You’ve really thought about this.”

“More than thought about it.  I've drawn it a hundred times.”

“Have you now?”  It was supposed to come out cocky and self-assured, but instead, Rayla felt anticipation and curiosity step in.

Callum looked at her finger again, biting his lip.  He went over to the bookcase, going to his shelf of sketchbooks.  He quickly pulled out the one he was looking for and flipped through the pages.  “This is the one I settled on.”

Callum came back to rest the book on the counter, open to a page with a single ring design.  The top of the band was braided platinum with the moonstone embedded in the center.  Not only that, but one side had a red stone and yellow stone while the other had purple and green ones.  Each stone was also embedded.  Callum had also drawn what he wanted the inside of the band to look like.  So far, it was just the moon and sky runes, but plenty of room to add more.  The uneven towers of Katolis were right next to the moon rune.  “It’s very detailed,” she breathed.

“I just thought about it one day and I couldn't stop.  I actually spent weeks of my summer vacation creating the perfect design.”

Rayla looked up at him.  “You were thinking about this when we couldn't even see each other?”

“Well, yeah,” he sheepishly replied.

It was mindboggling to her.  He had had this in his head for that long?  “We hadn't been together for very long.  Officially at least.”

“I'm not ready to get married now.  I just know, even back then, that I want to marry you.”

“Is that a proposal?”  Rayla let a grin come over her features.  Teasing Callum was her default for whenever she became overwhelmed.   And she was insanely overwhelmed.

“No, it's a plan.”

“Sounds like a proposal to me.  You got a sketch for the ring; told me you want to be with me until you die.”

Callum put a mock affronted look on his face, hand going to his chest.  “I did not use those words.”

“Maybe not.  But that's what you meant.”

Callum flushed.  “It’s not a proposal.”  He paused as a small bit doubt entered his voice.  “What do you think about the ring?”

“It’s beautiful.  And if you had already had it made, I might have said ‘yes’ just now.”  Callum glared at her teasing for a moment before her entire statement caught up with him, eyes going wide and mouth slightly ajar.  Rayla blushed, quickly turning her attention back to the sketch.  “I thought diamonds were traditional among humans, though.”

Callum let her change the subject, probably still processing her acceptance of his ‘not proposal.’  “We,” a quick point of his fingers between the two of them, “are not a traditional couple.  I thinks something a bit more symbolic and unique to us would make far more sense.  My mom didn't have one on her rings, either.  My father could barely afford the plain silver one he gave her and Dad knew that Mom valued simplicity and creativity over showy.  That ring was also braided, but it was gold and had my birthstone.  Dad said it wasn't so much an engagement ring as it was a promise to love both Mom and me for the rest of his life.”

“You always talk so highly of her.”  Rayla hadn’t noticed it before, but Claudia was right; Callum viewed Sarai as a saint.  There was always a reverent tone in his voice whenever he talked about her and it seemed like she could have done no wrong in his eyes.

Callum shrugged.  "She was my mom.  She stood by my father and Dad through the tough times and believed in putting in the hard work for peace, love, and justice instead of taking the easy way out.  I never doubted that she loved me and Ezran equally.  I remember her being full of love and warmth, with a serious sweet tooth.  Only a fool got between her and jelly tarts.”  He chuckled.  “There’s actually this great story Aunt Amaya tells.  When they were kids, someone tried to take a bite of Mom’s cake and she stabbed their hand with her fork.  Everyone knew to stay away from her dessert after that.  I really miss her sometimes.   I think about what life would be like if she were still here.  I actually have this pair of socks she tried to knit when she was pregnant with Ezran.  They were for me, but the sizing was so off and it looks like she tried to add a thumb at some point.  I can never wear them, but I also can't bring myself to throw them away.”

“Do you think about what life would have been like with your father?”

A guilty look crossed his features.  “I don't really remember him.  It feels like Harrow has always been my dad.  Everyone says I take after my father.  I'm terrible with weapons, talented in art, and have his eyes.  Even my smile is supposed to look just like his did.  And it's nice to know that, but, it's hard for me to think ‘that's my father’ when I see a picture or someone mentions his name.”  Callum started to absently flip through the pages of his sketchbook.  “His grandparents died shortly after I turned six, so I don’t even have anyone to go to for stories about his childhood.  My mom left me everything she had, but it was just a stack of documents that didn’t say much beyond medical history and the family trees with a handful of photographs.  I have all of his art pieces that aren’t in a museum or were for clients, though.  You know that portrait of my mom?”

Rayla turned to the picture in question.  It was a replica of a very soft, gentle-looking Sarai.  Rayla had often wondered if that portrait had been done while she was pregnant with Callum or was holding him.  Sarai had always had a reputation in Xadia for being strong and excelling in combat, even with her talk about peace and understanding.  To see her look so sweet had been a little jarring at first.  “Yeah.”

“My father painted the original shortly before he died.  The actual painting is hanging in an art museum in the capital, right next to the one he painted of Mom and Aunt Amaya.  Me, Dad, Ezran, and Aunt Amaya all have painted copies.   Trust me, the original is much better and I can’t wait to take you to see it someday.  You can tell with each stroke just how much he loved her, and how he carefully chose each color to bring out the softness he saw in her that a lot of people didn’t because she was so good at being a warrior.  That's the one thing that makes me go ‘yeah, that’s who my father was.’  Do you think about what your life would be like if your parents raised you?”

Rayla shook her head.  “Not really.  I couldn't have asked for better than Runaan and Ethari.  My parents are members of the Dragon Guard and it’s a big honor, I just don't get to see them.  As far as I'm concerned, Runaan and Ethari are my parents.  If my mum and dad came here and told me they didn't approve of us, I can't imagine I'd really care.  I'm not even sure when I can tell them.”

“You can't call them?”

Rayla shrugged.  “That's only really used in emergencies.   You have to hope that they call you.  Letters are better.  It’s getting late.  Do you wanna go to bed?”

Callum looked like he wanted to continue the conversation, but looked at the clock before nodding.  “Yeah, let’s go to bed.  We’re gonna need to be well rested for tomorrow.”

“Is it wrong to hope tomorrow never comes?”

“Well, we’re not leaving this apartment until Monday, so we’ll just pretend it didn’t.”

“Like you’re pretending you didn’t propose?”  Callum groaned as Rayla chuckled.

-------------------------------------

Notes:

Up to chapter 12 is actually already up on AO3, I just keep forgetting to post this here.  Sorry!

We don't know that much about Sarai in canon, sadly, and we know nothing about Callum's father or that side of his family, and both of them, plus Viren's relationship with Sarai, are going to play a big part at some point. It's a bit of an info dump, but I needed some background laid out and Claudia was happy to help.

I don't think canon Viren thought of Sarai quite like this, but I saw some resentment brewing when Harrow didn't want to leave Amaya, and Sarai, behind when they went to go help Duren.

[beyondflashpoint]

The Dragon Prince: Conquer Wyrms

“Lo, tis a gala night,

Within the lonesome latter years.”

Xadaine should not have been surprised to find the girl amongst the peacekeepers stationed in Katolis. For one thing, she had always preferred their more barbaric methods of combat to her father’s teachings. For another, they were some of the very few in the kingdom who were apathetic towards her half-elf status. Even over the raucous jeers and laughter, the sounds of blades ringing together filled the courtyard. Xadaine hadn’t made his way through the audience yet, but he would be willing to bet anything that he knew who the two combatants were. His pupil, no doubt, and the young peacekeeper captain who it always seemed was on leave in the city whenever Xadaine and his student came to visit.

He reached the edge of the sparring ring and was unsurprised by his finding.

Lunelle, daughter of the Archmage and his responsibility, was a blur of steel and leather. Her face was alight with a radiant smile, the kind she only wore when she was being challenged. To Xadaine’s alarm, he noticed the beads of sweat rolling down her brow, across the warrior marks that mirrored her mother’s. The other combatant, to no great surprise, was Captain Davlamin. His face was steely focus as he danced in time with the lethal ringing of their blades. Lunelle sprung inwards with a rising strike that should have caught Davlamin across his chest, but in that exact moment, he dipped and turned, bringing his leg in a low circle that caught Lunelle’s ankles and sent her sprawling onto her backside. She rolled with the impetus, springing to her feet and assuming a wider stance. Davlamin took advantage of gap and Drew his sword, thankfully only steel, back to starting position. Xadaine too took advantage of the pause, stepping between the duo to face Lunelle.

“Apologies, Captain, but it would seem Lady Lunelle has forgotten she has a prior arrangement with me.”

Lunelle’s face and pointed ears dropped.

“My lecture isn’t till noon Xade. I still have-“

She had much of her mother’s accent, as well as her eyes and hair.

“Noon is already an hour gone, Lady.”

The hiss of steel against leather from behind indicated that the captain at least knew better than to intrude. Xadaine did not have to turn to know that the younger man was bowing.

“Begging your pardon, my Lord. I was the one who challenged the Lady to a match. We must have lost track of time.”

Xadaine turned to examine the youth. He had been close with Lunelle since the two were young. It seemed that his father, Captain of the Crown Guard, had once been spared by an elven assassin in the days before the war had ended, and raised his son to regard all Elves well. He had hair like midnight, and dark brown eyes, which were locked on the sand at his feet. He had risen through the ranks quickly, and was virtually unmatched with the blade, so the rumors said. The sunforged blade on his back inclined Xadaine to believe those rumors.

“At ease Captain.” He waved the youth off and turned back to his student.

“You cannot continue avoiding me, my Lady. Your father ordered me to teach you all you can learn about magic, and I intend to do so. Your connection to the moon arcanum is tenuous at best, but there nonetheless.”

“Never mind magic training Xade, I have a whole platter of jelly tarts riding on the outcome of this match, and I won’t let you interrupt it.”

Xadaine’s soft green eyes widened. How he had missed her, seated on a section of fencing, arms resting on her spear, he did not know. Now it was his turn to bow.

“Princess Sarai.”

The young woman rolled her eyes.

“You’ve gotten way too formal since uncle Callum named you his apprentice. If you don’t stop with this ‘my Lady, Princess ‘ crap I’m gonna write auntie Claudia and tell her you’re making me cry.”

Xadaine stood straight, cocking an eyebrow at the young princess. For a moment he was genuinely worried. His mother could be terrifying when she wanted.

“But, your highne-“

She cocked an eyebrow dangerously, and Xadaine reconsidered his words.

“Sarai, the Archmage himself ordered me to train Lunelle. I can’t very well ignore a direct order from the Archmage.”

“And I’m the princess, and as the princess, I’m ordering you to let them finish their fight. I want my jelly tarts.”

Xadaine sighed. His hands were tied.

“Very well. They may finish their match, but then, directly to training.”

Lunelle’s face brightened.

“Hear that Dav, I get to finish kicking your butt!”

Xadaine stepped out of the ring as the captain once more drew his blade.

“You may try.” Davlamin said with a smirk.

Ezran watched the bout from his place by the window while the council droned on, arguing about the best course of action. For his part, he would not be moved from his position. He had sent letters to the other kingdoms that morning calling for an assembly of the Pentarchy. His skin still prickled at the memory.

He had stayed in constant contact with King Azymondias. In all the years since his birth, Zym had never sent so powerful, so frightened a message across their bond.

“The Shadow Rises. Darkness comes. The Scar of Creation is broken. Flee.”

Then, nothing.

This had been a week ago. Then came reports of a mass migration of dragons, as if they had all fled Xadia.

Callum spoke, augmenting his voice with magic, snapping Ezran to attention with its booming power as it flooded the room, silencing all others.

“If you’re all quite finished, I’d appreciate it if I could explain what we actually know.”

Ezran smirked at his brother. This was little more than a parlor trick to Callum, but the council knew so little about primal magic that it was sufficient to frighten them.

“Continue, Lord Archmage.”

Callum inclined his head slightly, as much of a bow as Ezran could expect from his brother.

“Your majesty. In my studies of ancient documents and histories , I found very little about The Scar of Creation. Until, that is, I combed Aaravos’s library. Even then, there was not much to find on the subject. The Elves called it Cha’sam al’Alloch, and wrote about it briefly in their ancient creation myths. It was said that when the gods created our world, they sealed the darkness in that place. The only other references were from the journals of and Elf named Oberon, who planned an expedition to Cha’sam, and vanished from history. There is a place in the breach that loosely fits descriptions of where Cha’sam may have been, but who can say how the lands have changed since the reports were written? All I can say for sure is that it sits directly in the middle of the Primal Nexuses. It’s our best bet.”

Ezran nodded.

“ I’ve sent word to the other kingdoms. Ambassador Rayla is gathering the Elven leaders. We meet within the week. General Amaya, ready the Peacekeepers. I want them prepared to march on the Breach as soon as possible. Something is coming.”

The last part he signed. Amaya clapped her fist to her chest in salute, then departed with the rest of council. Once he and Callum were alone, Ez let his shoulders sag, turning back to the window. The match was still going on below, with no sign of stopping.

“I don’t put much stock in foretelling, but some of those at the Tower seem to have a gift for it Ez. They all agree. There’s a shadow on the horizon.” Callum said falling into place beside him.

Ezran nodded bleakly. He too felt it. There was a darkness coming.

(AN: not exactly my best writing, but hopefully later chapters will be better.

[dork-empress]

The Send Off

part of my ‘modern tdp aus’ oneshot collection

Read on Ao3

Rayla, Callum, and Ezran come to see Soren before he leaves for military training, but Viren's new political aspirations have other ideas.

Callum felt a sense of dread as he stepped out of the car. “Are you sure you don’t want to come too, Dad?” Ezran asked as he joined him, “I’m sure Soren would be happy to see you! And...maybe you could talk to Viren?”

Harrow smiled sadly, “I don’t think that’s the best idea right now,” he said, diplomatically, “This is about Soren, I don’t want...anything else to distract from that.”

Ezran didn’t seem convinced, but Callum put his arm around his shoulders to pull him into the airport.

Rayla had been the one to tell them that today was Soren’s send off, heading to military training. They had passed Claudia in the hallway, but she didn’t talk to them. It wasn’t aggressive or mean, just avoiding.

Rayla herself had been spending most of her time with Callum. It wasn’t bad, Claudia had other friends, it wasn’t like leaving her alone. But Callum caught Rayla on her phone, texting someone mysterious.

Callum himself wasn’t sure if they were invited, really, but Rayla assured them she had run this by Soren, and they knew they were coming to say goodbye to their friend. Callum didn’t know if he believed her.

Still, he supposed they’d find out. He saw Rayla standing inside. “Hey!” he said, trying to stay positive. He wasn’t sure how to treat all of this, “Any sign of them?”

“Nope,” Rayla said, “They should be on their way, though.”

“We got Soren a book!” Ezran said.

“A poetry book,” Callum clarified at Rayla’s raised eyebrows. “Ya know, so he can be a real poet warrior.” They hadn’t played D&D all together in ages, but Soren’s poet warrior was infamous.

Rayla smirked, “That sounds nice. I didn’t think to get him a gift, you think he’ll care?”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Callum said, “Worst case scenario, you can head to the gift shop here and--”

Callum was distracted, turning as he saw the flash of cameras. They were at Reagan National airport, so that wasn’t completely unexpected, diplomats and whatnot came through here a bunch. Still, it caught his attention….and kept it as he saw who was at the center of the camera flashes.

Viren was walking down the hall, his children on either side of him, Soren already dressed up in his fatigues. There was someone behind the camera with a microphone, who was tossing questions at Viren, that he answered smoothly.

“...Trust me, Helen, I’d love to explain to you more about my law enforcement policy, but first let me send my only son off to enforce law across the world.”

The group passed right by where Rayla, Callum, and Ezran, practically without acknowledging them at all. Practically, because Callum caught Claudia’s eye as she passed, but just like with school, she went straight into ignoring him.

They reached the security line, and Viren faced Soren. “I’m so proud of you,” he said, hands on his shoulders.

“Aw, Dad,” Soren said, hunching his shoulders. He looked a little uncomfortable based on the way his eyes kept darting at the cameras.

“No, I mean it,” Viren said, “You’re going to do great things. Just keep your head on your shoulders, and work hard. I know you can do it.”

Soren nodded. “Ok.”

Viren stepped back, and Claudia wrapped Soren up in a hug that seemed a bit more natural, at least until it brought on another flash of cameras. They saw her whisper something to him, but couldn’t read his reaction.

A hand landed on Callum’s shoulder and he gasped. He looked up and saw the smiling face of his school counselor, Aaravos. He had heard he was working for Viren now. “Hello kids,” he said to them, “How are you doing today?”

The three of them shuffled awkwardly, “We uh,” Callum said, “We just came to see off Soren. Give him a gift.”

Ezran held up the wrapped book. Aaravos took it out of his hands before he could take it back. “I’ll be sure it gets to him, but he seems to be a bit busy right now,” He smiled, “Why don’t you three head on out. I’ll be sure to relay your good wishes to Soren.”

Not knowing what else to do, Callum, Rayla, and Ezran found themselves wandering away. Callum swallowed, “I’m gonna call my dad,” he said.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

i think its pretty likely theyre gonna timeskip and flash back to after the battle during the first episode of season 4 (looking for viren, saying goodbye to zym etc) but i think youre right that showing aaravos in the caccoon is their way of saying he'll be coming out of it soon. maybe at the end of season 4

Cocooning Aaravos is a lovely tension-builder. When will he return? It could be at any moment! We’ll never be sure. He could already be back and standing right behind you!

did you look because i did and i typed this

I know we all love spinning theories about who’s going to work with who and to accomplish what, but one really nice upside of a timeskip is that it will hop right over all that planning and drop us nicely into the middle of everyone’s plans. 

We might start right out of the gate with, say, Gren, Nyx, and Ethari halfway across Xadia in the depths of winter, hunting down a rumor of a human sighting and hoping that this one, finally, leads them to the lone wandering Dark Mage Viren who has been terrorizing villages for six months. 

We could see Janai and Amaya following a human-disguised Lujanne into the depths of a long-lost Earthblood stronghold, and Amaya’s signing something (which Janai understands now) about being on the lookout for forces of Duren.

We may get dumped into a full-on war council made up of angry adult elves of various arcana, and Rayla is there in Dragon Guard armor, trying to keep up, but we all know that reason is her least favorite tactic, and during a break, she goes outside to feel morose for letting down those who sent her, and she’s consoled and encouraged by Villads and his wife Ruth.

Like, there’s a lot to unpack there, and we would be wild with speculation over how any of that came to be. But the story would launch us into S4 at fuil speed, and we’d all be combing screencaps for clues--and those clues would be there.

Too short a timeskip won’t feel like bothering with. Too long a timeskip and some plot lines will suffer for feeling abandoned. Callum needs lots of Sky magic training. Rayla should get comfortable being a Dragon Guard. Ezran needs to settle in and find a good support system back at home. The mystery of the coins needs to be chased down now that enough clues have been laid out. Claudia needs time to fall under Aaravos’s spell.

This is 100% a personal preference, but something in the range of six months to a year is what I hope to see. Maybe Xadia in winter? Could be pretty. I know plenty of fans want to see an older Rayllum, or Ezran growing up. But if Ez grows up too much, he’ll need a different voice actor, and I adore Sasha Rojen’s performance as Ezran. I’m also not a fan of dragging out Rayla’s and Ethari’s pain if they know Runaan and Rayla’s parents are trapped somewhere and it literally takes them years to free them. Not to mention Runaan’s and Rayla’s parents’ pain. This is a kids’ show, and even Han Solo got to blank out when he got frozen in carbonite instead of being stuck awake the whole time. Now that we have flying elves and magical moon mounts and amblers, it seems like tracking Viren down shouldn’t take years.

Hold up. I forgot something.

S4 may absolutely drop us five years into the future if one of the first scenes is Rayla mid-battle in her Dragon Guard armor, fighting weird dark magic monsters in Xadia, and she seems alone until someone leaps in to fight back to back with her and it’s Runaan, and then the shot widens and we see Rayla’s parents also fighting back to back nearby, and Ethari’s up on a cliff top chucking enchanted grenades and firing magical attack arrows, and Callum’s dogfighting over everyone’s heads, and it’s just insane battle chaos, but everyone’s together and supportive, and afterward, they all sit with their special loved one around a campfire and patch each other up and relax, knowing they’ve got a lot more work to do, but they’ll do it together because they totally busted open those coins years ago and everyone’s been happy and free ever since thank you for coming to my TED talk.

[beautifulterriblequeen]

I have a question, how do feel about Viren? Like, as a character? A majority of the fandom seem strongly dislike him (with reason), but I personally find him to be interesting, and I’m actually as invested in his storyline as I am in Callum, Ezran, and Rayla’s. I just really wanna know your thoughts on him

Ooh, Viren. *rubs hands gleefully* This is gonna be a long post.

Viren is complicated, and all my favorite characters are complicated. He’s powerful, morally gray, sympathetic (at times), highly intelligent, and proactive toward his goals. He’s also kinda hot when he embraces his evil badassery and stops stuttering for niceties to say. He’s comfortable with his thirst for power because he believes in the Narrative of Strength, that might is right.

And that is what makes him so dangerous.

i am wary of Viren. I don’t trust him to make what I consider to be good choices. Viren’s heart tries its best to be in the right place. He’s motivated by good things: family, friendship, loyalty. He acts to protect his kingdom, which contains untold thousands of human lives–an entire civilization–and which is part of a network of kingdoms that rely on each other to stand together against their enemies. This is absolutely a good thing to do for someone in his job position. But the methods he employs, and the tactics he uses, reflect a fatal flaw in his character.

Viren considers himself worthless without the power he wields, and he only values others for the things they can do for him (broadly speaking–Harrow running a good and safe kingdom does benefit Viren). Human (and elven?) life means nothing. Only results matter. 

This probably started when he was a child. My Viren Origin Story Headcanon is that he was a literal servant in Katolis Castle (or somewhere that allowed him to meet Harrow) and they became friends as kids. Viren’s very clever and dedicated. Harrow would’ve seen his usefulness and raised him to High Mage for the sake of his kingdom. But I also think Harrow’s “You–are–a–servant” was too specific to be a random insult. I think Harrow used it as a callback to a time when Viren felt worthless except for his use to the prince of the realm. Ironically, Viren’s friendship with Harrow could be a big part of why Viren feels worthless as a human being unless he’s pushing himself all-out to be useful. Harrow inadvertently (or advertently?) trained Viren to be this way. Or perhaps a toxic parent had already trained Viren to devalue himself. Or both. This makes Viren sympathetic. But it doesn’t excuse his choices.

However it came about, Viren’s gotten through life by focusing entirely on results. That’s pragmatism for you: the end always justifies the means. And much of the time, this will work just fine. But there’s a war on, and when push comes to shove, there are some lines that many–elven or human–won’t cross. But Viren doesn’t see the lines at all.

Viren offers the soulfang option to Harrow because having Harrow remain on the throne is more important than the life of a soldier with less to offer Katolis. Harrow lets Viren be High Mage. Harrow bestows rank and privilege on Viren, which Viren can use to be more useful, and thus feel more valuable as a person. If someone else runs Katolis, Viren might be devalued, and that scares him. He’s been devalued, and it’s driven him to claw his way up. He never wants to go back down.

Viren offers food to Runaan as a tactic, hoping to elicit cooperation. He treats him politely, even though Runaan’s an elf, an enemy combatant, and very possibly the person who murdered Harrow. That’s because Viren sees massive potential usefulness in Runaan, and he respects usefulness, even above loyalty to a fallen king and friend. If Runaan is willing to help Viren unlock the mirror’s magical secrets, then Viren can use the mirror to be useful to Katolis even without Harrow. But when politeness doesn’t work on Runaan, he tries the much harsher coin threat–switching the carrot for the stick. But Moonshadows are stubborn, and when he realizes he’ll never get the result he wants, then Runaan is entirely expendable, and Viren immediately stops wasting his time on him.

However, I always love the part where Runaan says, “You have succeeded,” and Viren goes entirely soft and eager: “Oh? Have I?” He’s like a little boy. “Did I do good? Did I? Please tell me I did good.” And it kind of breaks my heart that he’s so easily led by the opinions of others. If Runaan had been less honorable, he could’ve lied to Viren’s face all day long about that mirror, and Viren would’ve eaten it all up.

After sticking Runaan in that coin, Viren throws himself into research mode on his own, filling the dungeon cell with books and scrolls, even eating down there. And when he fails yet again to get the mirror to reveal its secrets, he loses his temper with himself and has a breakdown. Because the only thing that matters is results, and he isn’t getting any. He’s failing. Failing himself, failing Katolis. Failing to be useful.

But the instant the mirror turns on, Viren’s mood shifts. He’s successful. He’s calm, curious, eager again. Success is so valuable to him. And when he sees Aaravos, the archmage is like a walking reward for Viren’s persistence as well as a promise of even more power to come. Viren’s enchanted. Aaravos is everything Viren has ever wanted to be. He finally thinks he’s found what he’s been searching for all his life. At the end of the fight in S2E9, he says “I have all the power I need,” and that’s probably not something Viren ever really expected to say.

I honestly can’t see Viren being even remotely pleased to see his children come back from their mission in utter failure–and with Ezran alive and ready to take the throne, no less! “But they’re his kids, surely he loves them!” Except no. He only loves what they can do for him. Otherwise, they’re just bad employees.

The only way Viren’s kids will get back into his good graces will be by proving their usefulness to him. And I’m not sure they’ll both decide that’s worth doing. Viren can’t see any value in himself as a person, so he doesn’t value his kids, either–he really doesn’t–unless they’re capable and competent and successful. Claudia got comfortable killing things and harvesting their bits to please her dad. Soren doesn’t like dark magic, so he threw himself into swordsmanship and became the youngest head of the Crownguard in history. 

Viren is an antagonist. He makes choices that hurt and kill others. He’s certain that’s the only way. But he’s not looking outside the Narrative of Strength for ideas. If Viren is going to find redemption in this show–and that’s a big if but I’d honestly love to see it play out–he will need to learn to love himself. Because he does not love himself even the tiniest bit. He never has. And that makes me very sad. He can’t love anyone else if he doesn’t love himself first, if he doesn’t know what that feels like and why it’s important to people. Viren will never stop hurting and killing others in the name of progress and success until he learns to love himself. Then, by extension, he can love others and make better choices with the power he wields.

I don’t know if the show intends to offer Viren a chance at redemption. I think it will, but then, I don’t know if Viren will accept such a chance. I worry that he may see it as weakness instead of growth, since it will necessarily entail giving up some of the power he currently values so highly. I really don’t know what his fate will be. While I am very invested in the power he has to shake all the other characters up and drive the plot, I really cringe every time he hurts one of the other characters through his choices. I’m not sure there’s any named character that Viren hasn’t hurt or killed, directly or indirectly, at this point, and we’re only two seasons in. He really has a lot to answer for, and I’m honestly not sure whether he’ll survive that process.

Thank you, anon. Your ask is a gift.