Chapter Text
Callum sat in the library, his head resting on his hand as he reread a book on the Earth Arcanum for the 100th time. He'd read every book about the primal sources that the library had to offer, yet he still felt like he was missing something. He'd been in the library for around 2 hours now and had multiple stacks of books around him, some useful, some not. He'd grabbed anything and everything even loosely related to the primal sources, including children's books, most of them being picture books or poem books that went something like;
The Earth is big,
And full of life.
The water is wet,
And the ground is dry.
In other words, not useful.
Callum felt his eyelids growing heavy. He stared at the pages of the book until the words started to blur together. Five minutes, he thought. Just five minutes. Callum slowly closed his eyes and let himself fall asleep.
BOOM! The sound of the library doors swinging open shook the room. Callum startled awake, having been asleep for less then a minute.
"Callum!" A familiar voice called out.
Callum rubbed his eyes to see the crown guard walking proudly towards his table. He had a huge smile on his face.
"Soren, you do realize where you are, right?"
Soren looked around for a moment, seeming confused, until he saw the librarian glaring at him. His confusion turned to realization, and then embarrassment when the librarian put a finger to her lips and shushed him.
"Sorry." Soren whispered as he held up his hand apologetically. The embarrassment only lasted a moment though. Once Soren turned back to Callum he had regained his smile. "Big news from Ezran. He wants us to meet him at the King's Tower." Soren pointed behind him towards the exit letting Callum know he meant right now.
"Right," Callum closed the book and began gathering his things, "let's go then."
Soren noticed the brightly colored children's book sitting on top of one of the piles of books Callum had gathered.
"What's this?" He asked as he picked up the picture book.
Callum looked at Soren. "Oh, I just grabbed whatever might be related to the primal sources." He turned his attention to the closed book in front of him, flipping through pages as he spoke. "I feel like I'm so close to figuring it out, and maybe now that I've connected to two of the primal sources I'll understand something in these books that I didn't before. There's so much I can learn, I know it, but I just can't figure out how to access the information I need."
Callum looked back up at Soren and saw him flipping through the picture book, mesmerized by the bright colors and intricate patterns.
Callum sighed. "If I figure out what I'm missing I'll be able to fulfill my duty." He waited for Soren to laugh, but nothing. He definitely was not paying attention.
"Soren!" Callum snapped, breaking the crown guards interest in the children's book.
Soren gasped and dropped the book on the ground. The cover hitting the tile made a small thump causing the librarian to shush the boys again.
Callum picked up a pile of books and carried them to the book drop. "So, what was the news from Ezran?"
"I can't tell you," Soren grabbed the other pile, much bigger then the one Callum carried, "it's a secret." His smile only got wider. Soren was very proud to be keeping a secret from the high mage.
Callum and Soren put the books in the book drop. "A secret, huh?"
Soren crossed his arms. "Well, more of a surprise I guess. Either way Ezran wants to tell you himself." Callum grabbed his staff and bag from the table.
"I could use a break from reading anyways." Callum slung his bag over his shoulder. "Let's get going."
Ezran paced in the King's Tower. He had a big smile on his face as he waited for his brother to arrive.
"Ezran could you slow down? You're giving me a headache." Rayla sat on the bed and rubbed her forehead. Bait was curled up next to her. He grumbled in agreement.
"Sorry Rayla... and Bait. I'm just so excited!" Ezran jumped a little and waved his hands around excitedly.
Rayla laughed. "I know, I know, but could you be excited and stay put at the same time?"
Ezran smiled and sat next to her on the bed. "This is just so..."
"Exciting?"
"Yeah!" Ezran's smile grew bigger.
"I admit, it is nice to finally have an easy mission for once."
"A family reunion and a way to stop Aaravos all in one! Callum's going to be so happy."
Corvus had received news that the Nova Blade was being sold at an auction in Del Bar. Before they could get to the auction, a man named Cenric had bought the sword for way too low of a price. Cenric was a weapons collector and decided the Nova Blade would be a nice piece to add to his collection. Now, not only was the Nova Blade no longer being guarded by Celestial Elves therefore making it easier to get to, but Cenric was also Callum's birth father. So in Ezran's eyes, they'd be one step closer to defeating Aaravos and restore a father son relationship all in one mission.
Rayla paused. "What all do we know about him anyways?"
Ezran had found out everything he could about Callum's birth father. He knew it wouldn't be the same thing, but he hoped this man could be like a father to him. He was so young when his dad died, he lacked a father figure ever since. Callum was somewhat of a father to him, but he was more so his big brother. Callum couldn't fill both roles at the same time, so he had hope that Callum's birth father would take him under his wing.
"His name is Cenric," Ezran began, "and he lives in Del Bar. He works as a blacksmith and even works alongside the royal blacksmith sometimes!"
"Impressive." Rayla couldn't help but feed into Ezran's positivity. He seemed so happy to be able to meet him.
"I know!" Ezran stood up and started pacing again. "I don't know exactly where he lives in Del Bar, but Callum should be able to tell us. And maybe if everything goes right, he can come live with us in the castle! We could even make him our second royal blacksmith!"
Rayla couldn't help but smile. Ezran was such a positive person, it was hard not to be in a good mood around him. "How long has it been since Callum has seen him?"
Ezran thought for a moment. "I'm not sure. Dad said mom and him left because mom found a better opportunity in Katolis. I know they left when Callum was four, and then he probably got caught up in his princely duties and couldn't see him anymore, but now they can finally be reunited! And when Cenric sees us helping his son, he'll be happy to give us the nova blade!"
Rayla had her concerns. "Did Callum or your dad ever talk about Cenric?"
"Callum never really said anything, but my dad said he was a good natured man, so that's good!"
"I suppose so." Rayla smiled. She wouldn't rip away his excitement. Ezran was right, it'll be okay, but what if there was something Callum wasn't telling them?
Callum and Soren walked in silence. Normally there would be some sort of conversation, but Callum understood that Soren was just trying to not tell him the secret. Soren was horrible at keeping secrets.
"So..." Soren said carefully, trying to plan his words before he spoke, a rare occasion for him, "how's the uh- magic going?"
Callum smiled. "It's going good."
"Good, good." Soren took a deep breath. "Goodgoodgoodgoodgood."
There was another silence between the pair.
Soren sighed and began tapping his leg as if he were nervous. He stepped in front of Callum, stopping him in his tracks. "Do you want to know the secret?"
Callum sighed. "I think Ezran wants to tell me."
"True, true, truetruetrue but..."
Callum opened his mouth to protest but Soren interrupted. "You could just pretend to be surprised when Ezran tells you."
"Or, I could actually be surprised when Ezran tells me." Callum brushed past Soren and started walking again.
Soren groaned and followed after him. "Please Callum I can't do this anymore! Just let me say it!"
Callum looked at Soren a little disappointed. He put his hands to his ears so he couldn't hear him.
"Oh come on!" Soren complained.
Callum looked at Soren and started running, smiling as he did.
"Wait!" Soren ran after him.
Callum burst through the doors of the King's Tower shouting "Lalalalala!" as he did.
"That is so not fair!" Soren appeared next to Callum in the doorway. "How am I supposed to tell you if you-" He stopped whining when he saw Ezran and Rayla. "Heyyyy guys." He waved awkwardly as Callum removed his hands from his ears.
"Did he tell you?" Rayla asked Callum.
"He tried to, but I blocked him out." Callum said proudly.
Soren looked annoyed and crossed his arms.
"So Ez," Callum put his bag down on a chair and stood in front of his brother, "what did you want to tell me?"
Ezran looked like he was going to burst from excitement. "We found the Nova Blade!"
Callum looked confused. "It's being guarded by the Celestial Elves, right?"
Ezran shook his head. "It's in the best place it possibly could be!"
"Is it still in Xadia?" Callum asked.
Ezran shook his head.
"It's in the human kingdoms?"
Ezran nodded.
"It's not being guarded by some big scary monster with razor sharp teeth?"
Ezran nodded.
Callum looked just as excited as Ezran. "Well, where is it?!"
"It's with your birth father!" Ezran's smile widened as Callum's disappeared.
Callum looked confused, maybe dazed. "What?"