Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rayla span in the air slowly watching the man she hated and sacrificed herself to kill plummeting to his death below her, but whatever righteousness or anger that fueled her burning blood was extinguished the second she turned. Callum was falling above her having apparently jumped after her, her heart nearly shattered as tears filled her eyes as all she could do is reach up to her dumb human. What felt like an eternity passed to Rayla before the pain of seeing him falling was washed away by absolute soul crushing fact that he had jumped sacrificing himself just to be with her in her final moments, but before even a moment more passed, she saw his arms glow before his jacket seemed to rip itself apart revealing what could only be wings.

Rayla barely had time to process the sight before he entered a dive quickly gaining speed to catch her, she reached up to catch his neck but as they made contact and before she could utter a single word, she felt herself being pulled slamming into what felt Like a soft bed.  "Callum," Rayla called out apparently having been asleep, Rayla began looking around through blurred vision trying to figure out where she was and how long she had been unconscious for. This however was cut short when two figures she could barely make out in the dark wrapped their arms around her instantly causing her to struggle to get away until a soothing voice spoke up causing her to go still as stone.

"Rayla calm yourself, it was only a nightmare, don't worry were here," The unmistakable voice of Runaan soothed her as he placed a hand on her head resting underneath her horns. She shot back from the two her vision clearing as she put her back to the backboard of the bed, she looked at her surroundings again the dim moonlight coloring the room enough to make it out quickly recognizing it as her old room but not as it was when she last saw it. For starters a few toys were strung about the place, some she hadn't seen in years. As this registered in her head, she looked back to the two adults finding that it was actually Runnan sitting on the edge of her bed accompanied by Ethari. As her head started to swim with posable explanations she heard Ethari quiet and soothingly say, "You're okay Rayla everything is fine it was just a dream we're right here."

Rayla didn't even realize they had pulled her back into another hug; and when she did she realized just how much larger they were compared to her. Their hold too seemed stronger than their last embrace the memory feeling far older than it was. She soon however came to a conclusion that she didn't know to laugh or to vomit at as she felt Ethari begin to stroke the back of her hair. She was smaller, her guardians hadn't changed at least not noticeably by much and the only solution slammed into her like a punch to the gut. This was her room years ago, and her guardians her dads were younger by that same number, she was in the past.

Rayla felt herself return their embrace tenfold her hands gripping the two as hard as she could wanting something to feel real. Her mind looping her thoughts the last memory of Callum diving after her forcing tears from her eyes when she realized that it could have all been a dream. It made her sick finding herself begging silently as she started to shake while her tears turned to sobs, she prayed that this was a dream that she was unconscious at the storm spire and even that wish made her feel worse. As she felt Runaan gently rubbing her back, Rayla could only feel worse realizing that if this wasn't a dream she would have Runaan he wouldn't have died, but with the idea that it would cost her Callum. That he might not even actually exist, the two options seemed tear her vary soul as the urge to vomit stayed bubbling in her stomach for however long she remained conscious.

Callum felt the wind rushing past him as he dived towards Rayla, he pleaded silently that he would reach her in time, but fait seemed to have a twisted sense of humor because the second he felt her arms touch his neck he felt himself slam into something soft back first. Callum immediately sprung up casing blankets to fall of him as he franticly about trying to let his eyes adjust to the sudden darkness. As his eye's adjusted finding himself in a semi small room his frantic thoughts began, 'Did he get knocked out, did he save Rayla and pass out from exhaustion afterword.' His questions grew even more when he could slightly make out the room he was in, he wasn't in any room of the storm spire, and it didn't seem to be elven in architecture ether. Getting up with shacky hands he made his way to a medium sized window over a desk stepping on what could only be a kid's stuffed animals as he walked giving him even more questions, but they were soon swept away by one question. Why was he only a head taller than the desk?

His mind seemed to scream this point at him but for right now he couldn't care less instead already climbing onto the oddly tall desk. He fumbled with the window slightly before finding the latch and unhooking it causing the glass to swing inward slowly revealing a calm cloudless night a calm breeze drifting in. His breathing stopped as he recognized the buildings, he was in Katolis but the room was definitely not his and Ezren's. Callum turned back to the room and with what small amount of light the half-moon gave off he realized he did recognize the room, having been his old childhood room before he moved in with Ezren. 

He felt a shiver run up his spine unable to keep himself from looking down to his hand, his thumb grazing over his palm finding what few calluses he had from what little work he actually did with a sword missing. They weren't the hands of a teenager, but that of a toddler far smaller in size, clear even in the nights dim light. The sight sent him into a panic attack falling back against the wall next to the windowsill as he sat on the desk, his breathing becoming quick and spontaneous trying to make sense of the situation. Many ideas flooded his head from the possibility of dark magic to this just being a nightmare, but the second he thought of that he pinched himself as hard as he could on the arm and to his own distress, he felt the pain.

What followed was the sheer terror of the possibility that what he had bin though all the years he knew were just a vivid dream, it had seemed so real he kept going over their adventure, and him growing up with Ezren in his head was it fake, was... was Rayla fake. Callum began to fold in on himself clutching his legs close to him as he fought off tears trying to think of any other way to explain what happened, his mind kept circling back to magic when he paused tears no longer threatening to fall from his eyes in but a moment. With barley a whisper Callum said to himself his voice almost startling himself recognizing it as the voice of a young kid, "If it wasn't just a dream then I would know the sky arcanum." He turned back to the window sitting back up on his knees before hesitantly raised his hand preparing to draw in midair, taking a few deep breaths as his hand shook as if freezing and giving a small prayer that this would work as he began the motion. Barley a moment passed before he couldn't help but let out a small laugh, the last of his tears that remained fell from his eyes. There in the space where his hand had been, was now occupied by the light blue rune aspero flouting in midair giving of a faint glow. His smile only widened before whispering the spells name letting out only a small whirlwind against the cool night wind.

He stayed like that for a while even after the wind dissipated, finding himself staring towards Xaida, towards Rayla, becoming a constant in his thoughts. He had no idea why he was here or how through whatever means he seemed too either know the future or have been brought back to his younger self, but none of those questions even came close to the one that sunk like a knife in his heart. "Would you remember me," Callum asked towards the land of Elves, even while knowing a response was impossible.

Still the prince couldn't bring himself to dwell on it no matter how much it burned him. Callum slowly made his way off the desk nearly slipping and falling as he stood back on the chair. Steading himself against the desk with his hands as he kneeled on the chair, he felt his right-hand graze something on the desk. Callum pulled the object into the night sky's direct light finding his all too familiar sketchbook with the only difference being the fresh look of its cover and pages on top of the fact it was larger or rather he was smaller than the last time he held it. Having tossed it to the side right before jumping after... after Rayla.

Callum shook his head focusing instead on the book in front of him opening it finding only blank pages with few exceptions. Flipping through the pages before coming close to the front, the few sketches on the page were... well rough as one would expect given his apparent age. Counting the few drawings he had and with the last being a blunt sketch of Ez as a baby he was six and considering the air wasn't already freezing it was the late fall before winter a good half a year till he turned seven. The urge to fix up his previous drawings was immediate, knowing even in this light he could run circles around his early work. However, he could barely focus on the works before him with Rayla still pulling on his mind.

The memories of her smiling becoming the most prominent, a solum smile touching Callum's lips as he remembered how she smiled as she showed off Xaida, or how exited she had been when she wanted to show him around the silver grove and offer him desserts before the rather grim surprise of 'ghosting' was realized. Yet another thing Callum shook his head to get off his mind, when another idea came to mind. 'What would she look like now,' he thought before he grinned turning a few pages away from his other drawings. With little other hesitation other than finding his pencil he went to work in the pale light from the open window, unaware of the hours that would pass by before his body slipped into unconscious all on its own.

Callum felt cool, maybe slightly chilly before he felt himself stir from sleep. Feeling something warm press gently against his left shoulder blade as his mind unfogged. Thinking it was Rayla waking him up again to keep moving he mumbled barley addible, "okay... I'mmm getting up Ray..." however as his mind woke up more, he remembered the storm spire realizing he needed to get ready opening his eyes with a bit more urgency remembering the army approaching. 

That however led him to his third realization as he adjusted to the light, the light breeze disappearing as something moved overhead casting a shadow on the desk and a small metal click followed. The memory of last night came back to him realizing he had fallen asleep at the desk and the residual shock of the situation hit him. He quickly sat up to startled see what was going on when he heard a kind and warm voice, "Good morning sleepyhead, what were you doing by the window you feel cold as ice." 

Callum felt his mouth drop open slightly as his mother came into view, her right hand resting gently on his shoulder. He could barely move as his heart and mind quickly filled with a combination of hope, excitement and far too much loss to hold. Tears weld in his eyes prompting concern from his mom who was quick to ask kneeling down to eye level as she pivoted the chair he was in before resting her hands on his shoulders, "Callum what's wrong. Did you catch a cold, did you have a bad dream is that why you were by the window?"

Callum met her eyes as he heard nothing but concern for himself in her voice and broke. He shoved himself between her arms, Sarai quickly catching him as he fell from the chair in the process. Callum felt tears soke her shoulder seeping into her lightly armored manly padded robes as his hands clutched the fabric tightly. He could feel her hold tighten as he buried himself in the hug, his entire body shivering as the fact he was actually hugging his mom settled in his head. Sarai unaware of the mess of emotions going on inside her son's head stated still very concerned, "Callum you're shaking, you must be freezing let's get you covered up."

Callum felt her stand up still cradling him in her arms, a feeling of absolute safety coming with it. The feeling left him barley aware of getting slipped under the covers before the heavy blanket was on him as his mom wiped the tears from his eyes. One hand still in hers as she continued, brushing his hair out of his eyes with her free hand. “it’s okay I’m here, I’m always here,” she whispered calmingly before wiping away the larger tears that formed, unaware that they formed because of that statement.

‘You weren’t though,’ Callum’s mind mourned internally as he forced himself to say something, “I… I know M-Mom.”

“Why don’t you tell me what’s wrong, maybe I can help sweety,” she said with a concerned smile as she moved her hand to his chest pressing on it slightly to comfort him. As he met her kind gaze he felt his heart break under it knowing he couldn’t tell her. He couldn’t tell her about his journey, how Ez would act, how he had learned magic, and what dug at him most, every day without her.

“I- I had just had a dream,” was all he could say finding it partially true in a rather uncomfortably strange way. Deciding it was a dream of what’s to come or at least his memories was a far bit less unsettling than thinking he had been directly brought back to his younger self.

Sarai simply looked slightly relived the concern slipping away slightly before reaching up to brush away his brown hair out of his eyes. “Callum why didn’t you come get me if you had a nightmare?”

“I… It wasn't bad it- it was just strange. I’m okay m- mom...,” Callum said only earning more of the same caring look from his mom.

“Okay... ugh why do you have to grow up so fast, still for any reason dream or nightmare you can come get me. I miss my little bed bug,” his mom finished grinning before leaning down kissing his forehead.

He felt himself nod but it felt off, everything was off the second he had woken up, it was like he was there and at the same time wasn't, the situation was completely serial to him. He however felt himself smile despite not knowing why only to get the answer when he sprang up from the bed grabbing his mom in a hug his arms unable to make it around her fully. “I love you mom,” he said muffled into his mother’s robe before he felt her hug him back after a moment.

His mom sounding slightly surprised but otherwise enjoying the sudden affection, “I love you too, my little prince.” The nickname forced a few remaining tears to his eyes having almost forgotten it, even with his near photographic memory. Luckily, they were absorbed unnoticed into her robe before she pulled away.

Her hands grabbing the sides of his face gently squishing it slightly as she began playing with his hair using the tips of her fingers. His mom’s lips still smiling parted into a grin causing Callum to giggle slightly. Callum couldn’t remember the last time he giggled, he could definitely name a million times Ezran had, while Callum mostly recalled full on laughter, or an awkward chuckle maybe a snicker as opposed to truly childish laughter.

The realization brought a warmth with it before his mom leaned down again planting another kiss on his hair. Sarai seeing she’s earned a grin from Callum let go of his face giving his messy bed or desk head a rub only adding to the brown chaos. The idea of what Callum used as a pillow most likely inspired her next thought.

Callum’s mom glanced back to the desk by the window before asking, “Now what made you decide your desk was a good replacement for your cozy bed?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to, I just…” Callum said in a sad tone or at least thanks to his younger voice sounded sadder then intended. Sarai felt his words melt her heart saying turning back to her emerald eye boy, “You don’t have to apologize Callum. I’m not mad but please keep the window closed next time at least, I don’t want me and Amaya’s partner in crime sick now do we.”

Callum blushed slightly at the reminder of yet another one of the many nicknames his mom had for him, not that his aunt didn’t contribute to the list. Although he definitely thought it childish, he couldn’t help but laugh lightly, his mom already messing with his hair again. After a moment he was laying down again his mother pulling the covers back over him.

Callum went to sit up again but Sarai had other plans, sitting on the edge of his bed placing a hand on his chest to keep him pinned. “Where do you think you’re going mister, you’re staying in there till I know you won’t catch a cold,” His mom said teasingly with an echo of a scolding in her voice.

Callum not really able to think of an excuse considering he still couldn’t fully comprehend the situation decided it was best to agree and act the part, “Okay.”

Sarai returned a nod still smiling down at him before turning to his desk seeming to study her sons sleeping place. “Where you up drawing, that’s why you had the window open,” His mom asked getting up suddenly from the bed.

Callum couldn’t even sit up before his mom had covered the room already next to his desk, seeming to pause on the last step. It was hard to make out her emotions well her shock with her turned partially away but he could tell she had stopped mid-way through saying something. “Callum… Did you draw this?” His mom asked finally speaking after what felt like an eternity of silence while picking up the book to inspect his work closer before glancing back at him.

Callum went to answer when he found his voice basically useless to him, nothing leaving his mouth. Shutting his mouth realizing its uselessness he forced himself to nod, coming out as a sluggish and shy gesture. He felt guilt gnaw at his heart realizing he couldn’t explain the sudden burst in talent knowing whatever rough sketch he managed in the dark was years ahead of any drawing he had managed in that book so far.

‘She might not believe me,’ a small part of him hoped as she turned fully to Callum still holding the book. His mother’s surprise after his answer soon vanished, a grin now in its place as she made her way back to his bed. “This is amazing Callum, you’re already a great artist,” she said sitting down next to him holding the book out so they could both study the page.

Callum felt embarrassed at the praise especially with the rough sketch before him. Callum even though he knew he could do better seeing the outcome of his nighttime sketch, had to say something so he settled with, “Thanks mom.”

It was clearly Rayla all be it younger as best as Callum could imagine her as. Her horns were shorter, and she was of course smaller and maybe a bit softer if that could really be described. All his guesses topped with the little detail he’d managed to add last night left him rather disappointed in this drawing personally.

“Now where did you learn what an elf looks like, I don’t think there’s any art around with them, at least not anything close up enough to see well,” His mother continued teasingly.

Although she said so jokingly Callum felt himself go stiff slightly knowing there was still curiosity behind the question. Of course, like any other time Callum needed an excuse, he was reminded of his record of not being able to lie for his life so the best he could do was stammer and pray. “I uuhhh heard the knights talking about them… so I checked the library,” Callum replied trying to keep his words simple as he could.

“Well I hope you didn’t overhear anything you shouldn’t have, gods know some of the fresh batches can be rather crude when nobody’s bothering to kick them back into shape,” Sarai replied wrapping her left arm around his shoulder before playfully pulling him closer.

Callum let out a giggle remembering when Ez had overheard some rather inappropriate language. Their father having to set heavy reprimands for the knights and mainly squires for anyone making crude jokes within the castle walls at least until Ez got bigger, although it wasn’t too common of an occurrence. Still, it was funny thinking back to it, realizing now Ezren’s gift with animals might have contributed to a few of those overheard words and not the more rookie knights as they believed. He was however pulled from his thoughts with his mother letting go of his shoulder before messing with his hair again and saying, “Well for now why don’t we get you out of those pajamas for breakfast. Maybe I can even get the cook to bring you hot chocolate to warm you up.”

Callum tried not to cringe realizing he was at the age when you needed assistance to get pants or even a shirt on or maybe he would be lucky and was already passed that and she just needed to make sure he got dressed right, he was six after all. Still, whatever the result was he found the only saving grace here being the fact underwear was a thing as he tried not to bury his face in his hands. “O-okay,” He managed before his mom got up pulling him up with her and bringing him over to the wardrobe near the desk and setting him down on the floor.

Standing there he watched her pull out some clothes, a familiar long sleaved blue shirt in the mix along with his scarf despite it not being too cold. Although he had fallen asleep with the window open, so it didn’t seem too odd that she probably wanted him to keep warm. Although seeing her hold the scarf brought back a memory that made him momentarily forget the embarrassment of the situation.

That only lasted for a moment before she turned back to him with a smile saying with humor in her voice, “Okay time to get you bundle up mister.”  Callum let out a slight yet small hopeless sigh that went unnoticed, at least thankfully she hadn’t pulled out any underwear he had to change into as well, giving him some semblance of privacy.

Rayla was not having a good day; waking up had been well hard, as the grogginess of sleep fell away the events of last night flooded her head. Sitting up she found herself still in her room at home... was this still her home, she'd been ghosted, where else would she go. As soon as that question was asked her thoughts flooded, the image of a particularly dorky human being the topic. Rayla, however, felt her throat go dry the events of last night being the culprit, remembering how Callum looked diving towards her, how she had bolted up in bed and finally the lonely realization of the situation she was in.

Shaking her head Rayla let out a desperate yet distraught sigh to distract herself, realizing she had started to shake. Forcing herself to get up, Rayla made a decision to focus on the here and now and nothing else. As she forced her mind to the present she noticed the door to her room open a few inches clearly just enough for someone to peak in the most likely candidates being the two most likely concerned elves she considered second parents who had just spent the night comforting an extremely scare- confused five year old.

‘Wait how old am I,’ Rayla thought suddenly more alert the realization pulling her from the last remnants of comforting yet drossy sleep. Moving quickly Rayla found herself in front of her desk just about a head and a couple inches shorter than her allowing her to still see herself in the mirror attached to the back. That however proved rather ineffective, finding her horns barley an inch or two tall with the rest of her facial features seemed slightly softer while also smaller although everything about her was smaller. She looked like any other five- to ten-year-old in the silver grove giving her almost nothing to go off of.

Rayla felt her stomach drop realizing she might have to live through that harvest moon again. ‘Relax one thing at a time, besides I’ll see it comin’ this time,’ Rayla thought turning away from the mirror. ‘unless tha was a dream to…’ Rayla’s thoughts reared themselves refusing to obey.

Luckily however having turned to the rest of the room she found it rather tidy mines the few, well five toys in the room three of which had fallen off the bed the other another sitting on the dresser next to her bed and the last on the chest at the end of it. The sight actually let Rayla relax knowing she had only fully unpacked, accepting this as her room after facing that monster.

Walking back over to her bed she tossed the three plushes, that of a shadow-paw pup, a blue-browed gecko, and an ambler onto the bed. While yes, most moon shadow elf children tended to not have a tun of toys they did have plushies for two reasons. One; There adorable, and two; they make the perfect ammo for when you had a friend over. ‘Callum would probably think it’s adorable,’ Rayla thought looking to the nightstand with a rather new plushie of a familiar looking yellow adoraber.

‘She must have already left for hibernation then,’ Rayla thought remembering how gloomy she’d been even after trying to hide it. Ethari as usual caught on giving her the model plush which she may or may not have spent a few nights holding. Considering how new it looked Rayla had her answer, she was a good bit away from her eighth birthday. ‘Callum would be six, right... dam it he never told me his birthday.’ Rayla thought before realizing her mistake.

‘How would he look, did he wake up like I did, does he remember me. Was he real, was it all a dream, no, nonono…’

‘Can’t!’
“Can’t!” Rayla found herself saying aloud rather loudly before she took a deep breath and continued talking to herself, “Can’t think about hi- that now…”

‘Besides it was to detailed to be just a dream, maybe something happened when I interrupted Virens spell, or Callum did… no not even he could pull this off… was it a dream,’ Rayla’s thoughts continued to spiral her body starting to shake slightly before shoving her fists into the soft mattress of her bed leaning into it for support. Letting out a few long yet raged breaths Rayla closed her eyes trying to calm herself. After calming down Rayla opened her eyes something akin to determination burning softly in them before she said quietly, “That’s not an option, it was real.” ‘He was real.’

‘Ok no more debating, time to get ready for the day… whatever tha may look like.’

Rayla made her way to the dresser before rummaging around in its draws. After pulling out a simple, well simple for elven standards light green tunic and blue pants she turned back to the room remembering the door was still ajar. Taking care of that shutting it with a slight click she quickly got changed.

…

Making her way up the slightly curved hall passing Ethari and Runaan’s room to her right and then just before the kitchen the living room to her left, a sweet smell coming from her current destination. Pausing just before she would be seen and listening. Only hearing the sound of a spatula against a pan and Ethari’s slight humming rather than any useful conversations Rayla could overhear.

Slightly wondering if they had heard her coming, she continued on entering the kitchen finding Runaan already at the table Ethari standing near the stove/oven holding a pan as he shoveled lightly purple pancakes onto a plate.

“Ah, mornin’ sleepy head, just in time for yur batch of moon petal cakes,” Ethari said the moment he noticed her, and given he was already done meant it was probably already past six which was not even close to early for Moonshadow elves. So, she couldn't exactly argue with his comment on her sleeping in.

Setting the empty pan aside he picked up the plate and brought it to the table sliding it closest to her on the corner. “Thanks,” Rayla managed, trying to sound exited even taking a breath before speaking as she forced a genuine smile. Grabbing the plate she quickly sat down to eat slightly surprised they seemed to believe the act.

Only to realize they had two reasons why they would despite their long history of seeing right through her. Reason one she had way more experience keeping secrets than she would at this point, and two they were clearly busy trying not to look concerned. It wasn’t even the petal cakes that gave it away, one look at their faces told her everything she needed to know. The rather sweet breakfast in the place of mush cup just added to the evidence. Rayla wanted to say she was fine and tell them to quit worrying, but how could she, in what world was waking up in your five-year-old body fine. Especially when for all they knew she just had a rather tough nightmare as embarrassing as that is for a Moon shadow elf.

Ethari however seemed to think she could use some more cheering up from what could be described as a sluggish and uneasy happiness. Sliding over a jar of moon berry jam stopping in front of Rayla. She of course being the reasonable elf she was, would be crazy to turn down moon berry jam as a toping no matter how down she was behind the mask she managed to pull over her true emotions.

Glazing the lightly purple discs in the dark red jam she quickly dug in. Ethari joining the table soon after with his own plate. As Rayla made some progress on the meal Runaan spoke up already having cleared his plate before Rayla sat down, “Hope ya had enough rest, we’ll be working on yer coordination and reflexes.”

Rayla not having finished chewing her last bit forced herself to swallow what some might call an amount just big enough to hurt as it passed her throat before she responded knowing they probably thought last night was an after effect of the blood moon incident, “Yeah, slept fine, an ya can stop walkin’ on eggshells. I’m ok just a bad dream… and some memories.”

Rayla said deciding it was better to just get it over with knowing they would just keep tiptoeing around the subject until they finally ask her. Or really Runaan would in the middle of training, and his record of doing so was consistently blunt. Her surrogate parents seemed surprised even a bit relieved in Ethari’s case and while Runaan looked surprised by his usual standards of grumpiness decided to keep with his track record to be eternally blunt in his responses, “Good as long as you don’t drag your fear with you from sleep there’s no shame in it.”

She could see Ethari spare his husband a glare for being blunt probably thinking Rayla wouldn’t be able to realize it was his way of saying having a nightmare was fine given that she was only seven. “Thanks… I’ll remember tha,” She replied the memory of Callum finding out about her... distaste for water forcing itself up causing a slight smile to form on her face.

Rayla unfortunately realized what had happened and quickly buried the thoughts that came with it. ‘Why does everything lead back to him... you know why. No. Can’t think about... him, even if I can already see him getting into an argument about suppressing fear with Runaan. Ugh stop,” Rayla thought her smile only growing ever so slightly before deciding to ironically burry her thoughts and feeling in the moon petal cakes in front of her.

Ethari seemed a little curious to her taking Runaan’s words so well but seeing that she probably looked a whole lot happier he didn’t pry. Although if they knew her current shift in mood was because of some unyielding memories of a certain human boy, she could only imagine that conversation as she tried and failed not to take comfort in her memories with Callum.

‘Why can’t I just ignore it, it’s only going to hurt more whe- If!!! If he’s not...’ Rayla thought this time succeeding in shoving her thoughts down focusing on the last few bites of the cakes. Now however she had to deal with the slight after shock of fear her last thought caused her. ‘That’s it no more thinking just the moment, stay put in reality,’ Rayla said internally as she swallowed the last peace off her plate before jumping out of her chair.

Runaan seeing this smiled his usual hiddenly soft smile getting up to before giving Ethari a slight peck on his temple. “Have fun you two, and don’t push her too hard,” Ethari called after the two elves. Rayla replying, “Buy Ethari see ya later, thanks for the Petal cakes.”

Runaan as Rayla went ahead a bit turned saying, “Don’t worry I won’t, and don’t forget ya already got twelve more orders for the forge.” Earning a smile from Ethari as Rayla and Runaan left.

…

The air was crisp and cool, perfect fall weather in Rayla’s opinion. As she followed behind Runaan she happily breathed the air into her lungs dragging away the last remnants from sleep. Weighted training swords made of shadow oak at her hips as they made their way to the far side of the village. ‘At least I’ve already been promoted from the sticks,’ Rayla thought slightly missing her sharp blades that weren’t really even made yet. Runaan on the other hand had blunt metal blades similar to his preferred weapon but seemingly heavier, and while they'd definitely burse it would be harder to accidently wound anyone severely with them. Actually, that was the main reason he had them, giving his student's another good deterrent for avoiding attacks and the added weight would slow his attacks to make it easier on beginning students and also more away on how much power he put into the attack.

Although Rayla only ever remembered them from the beginning of her training as most of the others, still she apparently had to deal with them longer than any of the others. Rayla smiled remembering how annoyed she was at the time complaining he was going easy on her. Now though she knew he didn't like seeing her get hurt although that brought back the last memory of him she had, and it made her smile falter.

As she thought about her future training and the weapons she trained with or against, their destination came into view. A small clearing if that was a thing when the village was built into massive trees with enough space between them to be considered a continuous clearing, there destination however was a rather large one nestled between two trees where the roots walled off the far side of the field and narrowed the entrance. Entering the area, she saw what she expected training dummies set up in the back left corner for archery, and similar dummies and straggly enough thick wooden polls in the front left, clearly dedicated for close rage practice given the number of slashes and dents in them.

On the opposite side it was pretty baren with a small shed built into the back corner where they kept the supply with the only designated training area being the tree itself with areas either smoothed out or made extra textured where they would train any moon shadow elf to climb in all sorts of conditions. The easiest of which being the corner closet to them with grips hammered in for the wee ones in moon cubs. Although she had already mastered climbing by now and had fully stopped joining the group almost a year before her parents left.

Today the training ground wasn’t too busy, not that it was ever swarming with elves but today there were only a hand full of students all of which older than her by a few years and their mentors most being members of the silver grove’s guard. Although guard was always a stretch for Rayla, they were more for dealing with dangerous wild animals coming to close to the village, and maybe to split up a skirmish than anything else. Three students were currently practicing blade work with one sparing his mentor as the other two fought each other with another mentor watching. Another two students were currently working on climbing the smoother side of the tree and another student and instructor were currently working at archery.

Other than that, the field was empty none of Runaan’s other students present. Although that was usual with them rarely visiting the training yard. In fact, the only reason she was here now was because she had just started her training… again. That little piece of information struck a chord in her, realizing as they came to a stop semi near the other sparing students.

She was a fully- well not fully, but at least a well-trained assassin about to duel a master who had no idea she had already mastered the next hundred or so lessons he had planned. Whether she actually did though came back to if it had been a dream, which was a question she’d rather not think about due to… reasons. Unfortunately, that wasn’t even the only problem as Runaan unhooked his blunt blades from his belt another question came to her mind, ‘would he notice if I failed on purpose.’

The answer was probably yes to Rayla’s discomfort although she wondered as she defeatedly unhooked her training blades if she could blame it on the incident last night. Although that to rang negative with her knowing there was a clear difference on failing on purpose and being distracted. ‘I could think of Callum… bu’ then I might end up smilin’ while I’m knocked around or start crying… Yeah definitely can’t think of him, too much of a mess,’ Rayla thought before Runaan broke his way into her thoughts saying, “yur ready.”

Rayla knowing cornered decided it would probably be best to pray her body’s lack of muscle memory might hide her skill from her mentor. While another quieter part of her knew she wanted to see if she had learned anything from those memories or had it all been a fantasy she dreamt, and she wasn’t hopping for the former just for her skills. Unfortunately, at the possibility of proof there be no way she wouldn’t give it her all, so taking up a ready stance and raising her blunt yet sturdy sticks she let out a breath before saying, “Ready.”

Runaan simply nodded entering a defensive posture himself already preparing to block. Rayla knowing what he expected charged deciding to focus on the small goal of one hit, she kept her left blade idle but ready as she took a swing with her right downward as bait.  Runaan as expected blocked her with his left blade and as he did, she thrusted her left sword forward in an attempted stab with the wooden blade. Runaan of course went to knock it out of the way with his right and seemed proud and would have probably given her some instruction once her attack proved null. That would have been the case had she not been planning something entirely different; Rayla easily changed her training sord's direction pivoting as she brought it up at a steeper angle Runaan's blade barley grazing it. She could see the slight surprise on his face as she fit her left blade between him and his left blade and using the fact he had been pushing against her right blade to her advantage pulled away as she twisted knocking his blade away from his chest.

Rayla found it amusing as she went to follow through her motion with a full spin as she pivoted, realizing that with the size difference she had the advantage with him having to hold his weapons at an awkward angle in order to spar with her even with his slightly more crouched stance. As she came around, she had brought her right blade forward in the turn ready to slash, and as her target came into back sight she adjusted her path finding his right blade ready to block again having recovered just slow enough for Rayla to have done the spin in the first place. As their right swords made contact, she added pressure forcing it down as she continued to pivot on the balls of her feat completing the turn. Due to the angle he had to hold the sword she managed to knock it low as she brought her left heavily through the turn in as before more of a stabbing swing then slashing motion.

He of course blocked it with his left knocking the blade to the side slightly and up, but Rayla managed to hold on despite the strength difference while pushing against what could be considered a wall in her opinion. 'Ugh why do I have ta be this weak come on,' She thought as Runaan blinked probably going over what she did as they held their blades against each other's. Although she wanted to keep attacking like usual this body didn't have enough strength to push through his block, and yeah, the four second fight did chip her ego considering she could at least keep him occupied in the past, or possible future really. After a moment more he said as they separated Rayla taking a step back her blades to her sides, "well done, yur instincts seemed to have improved dramatically, though it might be better for me to see ya spar someone more yur size..."

Rayla knew she'd gone a bit too far Runaan clearly wanting to confirm it wasn't just the handicaps he had to give her, still the parse didn't hurt her pride as she replied, "Thanks."

He only nodded in response before gesturing with his head to follow as he sheathed his blades. Following behind she saw they were approaching the other elves, specifically the kid sparing with his mentor. As they got closer the pare stopped sparing the mentor seeing Runaan approach as they came to a stop the two teachers shared a polite nod before wordlessly agreeing to walk out of hearing range. Rayla went to stand next to the boy easily a head taller than her neither of them breaking the silence seeming to have the same idea. She couldn't say for the boy, but she managed to strain her ears enough to pick up some of the conversation.

"I know she's four years younger Telina but..." Runaan said apparently trying to convince the other mentor before Telina interjected, "there is no but, she wouldn't stand a chance, I know you're found of-"

It was then Runaan's turn to cut her off, "I am not expecting her to win, I just need to see what she's doing from a better point of view." 

Telina sighed hanging her head before saying, "Fine but I and Deben are absolved from any confidence issues she gets from this."

Rayla had to resist the urge to roll her eyes as the mentors turned back to the pair. "Deben Runaan needs to inspect Rayla's... form so we're going to have you to spar for a bit, plus this could be a good lesson in control."

Rayla had to grit her teeth at that comment but held it in and instead thought of anyway she could lose without making it look like it was on purpose while she and Deben nodded. She knew pulling her swings would only make her look far more physically weak then she already was and not taking available shots would be impossible to hide from the two mentors watching who could definitely see her hesitation if she had any. So, Rayla resigned herself to keep digging the hole she got herself into for showing off as they moved to stand in front of Runaan and Telina. Rayla looking her opponent up and down saw that Deben wielded a blunt wooden sword like her blades in his right hand and a horizontal kite shield that was around the size of his upper chest in his left. He was also wearing guard training gear telling her his desired profession, Rayla taking in the information she managed to get entered a fighting stance raising her blades clearly ready with the boy quickly following although he looked hesitant. 

Seeing the two ready Runaan said commandingly, "Begin." 

Rayla didn't even hesitate unlike Deben who after recovering from the slightest of hesitation went to block Rayla seeing this already thought of a counter quickly flipped her right swords grip with some ease fumbling only slightly with her smaller hands. Her training blade now reversed allowed her to easily use the tip to hook onto the edge of the shield and yanking it to her right as she brought her left forward in a slash. He managed to block her second swing with his own blade, but he was clearly still recovering from her countering his shield. As a result, his sword didn't have nearly enough push behind it to knock her back and even then, Rayla felt herself use all of her strength to not get pushed over reaffirming what she had already guessed that she was at the disadvantage in the brute strength category. Wanting to end this before she got worn out, she decided to duck to the side as he attempted to bring his shield back and use it to knock her back, taking the fact he couldn't turn as quickly with his shield already heading to her left and the fact he had leaned far to into the motion she managed to get to his left and slightly behind him.

He didn't even have time to turn to her, Rayla quickly using the momentum she'd gained from keeping him in front of her while she moved channeled it into her right leg kicking the back of his knee. Although it definitely wasn't easy, she managed to get him to buckle practically having to jump off his leg only to catch herself by hooking him by the color bone with the back of her training blade as he descended. The end result however spoke for themselves Deben now on one knee and awkwardly leaning back Rayla's training sword now at his throat after stabilizing herself her foot having narrowly been caught between his leg as it had first bent. As she stood behind a boy who could definitely be described as startled, she turned to the two older elves vagally aware of some snickering from behind her probably from the other two student's that she had thought were still sparing.

Apparently though they had stopped at one point causing Rayla to hold back the urge to cringe knowing she'd probably sentenced this boy to months of teasing. The looks on Telina and Runaan faces were of well, surprise, although Telina's was a fair bit more notable more than Runaan's. However, it only lasted a moment the two composing themselves Telina being the first to speak, "well I see why ya insisted they spar, although I'm surprised, she's already this far along, even when she already can enter her Moonshadow form this is impressive." 

She had glanced at runaan as she had said who gave a small smile in response before saying, "I would agree, looks like her instincts are sharper than I thought, although I wouldn't let that go to her head, you still need to polish yur skills Rayla."

"Right," Rayla said trying not to grin while also pulling away from Deban letting the poor boy go. Getting up he walked over to stand next to his mentor looking defeated earning a look of pity from his mentor who seemed a little proud of his attempt. 

Runaan probably also having pity for the boy said, "Rayla why don't we end here for today I apparently need to revise you're training plan anyway."

"Ok sure... Thanks for sparing with me," Rayla replied before turning to the boy who only muttered an apathetic yeah for a reply. Not that she could blame him as she and Runaan made there leave, Rayla glancing back to see his mentor already giving him pointers and probably telling him not to lean into every attack so much. She did feel a little bad for basically showing off but there was an upside, she had gotten done early and she could use that time to find out exactly how accurate her dream was, after all she remembered all her training, she could just as easily remember a certain dorky prince who could be across the border in his ivory tower probably still sleeping in like every other human.

Chapter Text

Callum following behind his mother his embarrassment from her supervising him getting dressed finally subsiding. That however had its own downside, now leaving him with a storm of emotions he couldn’t hope to begin processing. As he walked beside her, her hand holding his glancing back and down every so often to make sure she wasn’t dragging him along, he felt his heart sore with joy as his soul seemed to grieve.

Tears seemed to threaten to spill out of his eyes with each passing second Callum only managing to keep them at bay focusing instead on his breathing. A practice he’d picked up on when he’d chosen to not tell Ezran his dad died. That too, however also made it harder to ignore his twisted emotions realizing there was another parent to add to the list of the living.

He however stomached the added emotions, dissociating the loss thanks to the fact it had been too recent to fully process. Of course, after Harow’s- his dad’s letter he’d expected it, but it still hadn’t fully settled. So for now he somehow managed a smile, finding it easier than he’d imagine Saria’s hand holding his making it hard not to feel comforted.

After putting his emotions aside, he found things all too familiar in the castle, the guards and servants bowing as he and his mom passed. The castle itself remained even more unchanged from his memories, the same scratches on its walls and the same curtains and decorations as always despite the ten years of time making the difference. In fact, any difference he did notice was how tall everything was and that was obviously because he was now barely three feet tall and that was being generous.

Although he wished that was the only thing his height changed the walk to the dining hall seeming all the longer. Even with him speeding up his steps to keep up with his mom it took a good few minutes more to finally come before the familiar double doors that while not as grand as the throne rooms were still rather nice as far as entrances go. The guards opening the doors letting them inside before just as quickly closed them behind them, Callum looked about the room finding like most of the castle identical to his memory.

It was comparable to the throne room with a few pillars lining the room though it definitely seemed smaller with the long dark wooden table in the center. It of course wasn’t a permanent fixture with it being removed to make room for more tables for feasts on special occasions or just entertaining visiting royalty. Luckily, with that not being the case at the moment a heavy-looking table sat perfectly in the center of the room, making it look smaller than it was.

The room, as big as it was, was left mostly empty with only five servants stationed around it and the table itself having even less with only two occupants. The first Callum would have to be blind to not recognize, Harrow sitting at the head of the table sat a man with dark skin and even darker hair formed into dreadlocks and a goatee. His hair though noticeably shorter was pretty much the same style, and maybe even the same golden rings decorating them.

Sitting to his left was, however, someone Callum would need to be blind, deaf and have amnesia to not recognize. Ezran, his hair a messy cloud of dark curls, his skin nearly matching his dad’s and an all-too-familiar smile as he seemed to reach for the food on the table despite the fact he lacked the teeth to chew. His light baby laughter seeming to brighten the hall as Callum and his mother made their way to the table. As they got closer Harrow looked up from doting on Ez smiling at the pair before saying, “There you two are, I was beginning to think you left Ezran and I to eat all this by ourselves.”

Considering the table was covered with enough plates of sausages and eggs for twice their number and that would be including Ez despite his current lack of ability to chew, Callum found himself grinning at the image his stepfather conjured up. His mother was the one to answer slightly tripping over her words when Callum went on ahead to Ezran, “Well I had to keep this little artist f-oh, from catching a cold.”

Callum could only feel self-conscious glancing up at Harrow who seemed amused before looking back to Ez. Ezran had noticed him approaching smiled up at him from his specially made baby chair even reaching for him slightly. Callum found himself grinning back before going to pat his head his hand nestling in his hair only to flinch back when it met something familiarly slimy.

Pulling his hand away he found an easily recognizable bright yellow and blue almost glowing toad in the late stages of being a tadpole nestled in his fluffy hair. ‘Looks like you two are holding up fine… Ez doesn’t look like he’s having any emotional crises, bait… might not care enough to have one just looks grumpy, actually he somehow looks grumpier than before,’ Callum though before he was pulled back from his thoughts.

“Oh, did he kick of his blankets last night?” Harrow asked Sarai, confusing Callum for a second not knowing who they were talking about before he remembered his current situation.

“No, he decided some late-night sketches with the moon for company was worth using his desk as a pillow,” His mother said teasingly Callum jumping slightly as he felt her hand rest on his shoulder having caught up.

Looking up and back at his mother he saw her shift forward to the left of him almost barely leaning over him considering the size difference. Wondering what she was doing he turned back to the table after hearing her set something soft yet weighted on the smooth carved wood. He, however, found his answer realizing she’d brought his sketch book from his room. He felt panic twisting in his gut as Harrow pulled the book over to him. His emotions apparently plain on his face earned a comforting smile from Harrow before he said misunderstanding his step-son’s emotions, “I’m glade your using your sketchbook Callum but I hope you don’t make late night sketches a habit.”

“Aaa- ok dad,” Callum replied absentmindedly far too preoccupied realizing Rayla was a hundred precent right to call him a dummy as his father opened the sketchbook.

Only for his fear of the king possibly- no eventually finding the late-night drawing of one admittedly cute elf was put on hold Harrow having frozen shock clear in his eyes. ‘Did he already find the page,’ Callum immediately thought before realizing he hadn’t even looked at the pages yet and was instead looking at Callum stunned. Quickly thinking back Callum tried to figure out why he’d be surprised when he realized he’d called him dad.

A feeling not too different from embarrassment being the result for Callum, Harrow however smiled almost beaming after his shock wore off. Not able to think of any possible response he could give, Callum decided to just sit down stepping around Ez’s chair before walking around the table passing behind Harrow before taking a seat leaving one in between him and the King. It was then he noticed his mom seemed to be hiding the smallest of smiles before taking Callum’s previous spot by Ezran checking on the baby and taking Bait out of his makeshift den on the newborns head and onto her shoulder.

 Callum felt, well weird, though who wouldn’t in this situation, sitting at the table with his family half of which he’d already known what it’s like to live without. One being his mother whose memory could only be described as the definition of honor, selflessness, and love. The next and most resent pain was a man who was in every way the father he’d needed growing up and he’d taken that for granted before. A mistake he’d have to be the biggest fool in all of Xadia to make again.

His new resolve however was overshadowed by the feelings that came with it, feelings he couldn’t afford to feel right now having apparently at some point in this situation decided to keep his memories to himself, when exactly he did he couldn’t say. His emotions however were taken care of pretty quickly, not because of anything Callum thought or remembered from a few tidbits of advice he’d gotten from Rayle on bluffing. Although considering he could still tell if something was bothering her, she might not have been as good as she thought she was.

No what took care of his emotions was instead, as Rayla might say ‘good ol’ fashioned panic.’ Said panic being the result of the sound of pages turning. He was brought from his thoughts finding Harrow flipping through his sketch book. ‘Crap, I should have grabbed it when he was distracted,’ Callum thought before the reality of that plan set in. His parents would have noticed, his mother probably being the most observant of that action considering how proud or maybe amused she seemed watching her husband looking through the pages.

It felt like an eternity passing for Callum, though it was probably just a few seconds considering the rather baren state of the book. So just ten pages in Harrrow seemed to do a double take despite his gaze never leaving the page. His mouth dropping slightly as his eye’s widened as he studied the page before he looked up to Sarai asking, “Callum drew this?”

“Found him passed out on the page, impressive isn’t it,” She replied proud as she looked over to him.

Callum felt his own heart swell from the praise, his nerves lessening. Only for them to return with Harrow turning to him still stunned before shaking his head as if waking up and in partial agreement before he responded, “Yeah, this is amazing Callum, ha only six and already better than me at something.”

“Well what do you expect he’s one of a kind after all,” Sarai replied walking over to Harrow before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

Callum immediately felt embarrassed, apparently not used to his parents kissing, which might have confused him longer had he not remembered why he couldn’t have gotten used to it. Callum somehow managed to only scrape the edges of that depressing thought instead deciding to focus on eating, rather than risking any more of his sanity thinking about his parents’ love life. Taking a few bites he found himself letting out a small hum having forgotten how good warm, cooked food was.

The stale bread, no illusions, rations, unripe fruit, urbs or dried berries that made up their journey being nowhere in sight. Just a nice filling breakfast that Callum couldn’t scarf down fast enough while simultaneously savoring every bite, as paradoxical as that was. His new appreciation for breakfast didn’t go unnoticed his mom saying as she sat down next to him, “Hay there, you better be planning to leave some food for me, or have we been starving our little artist.”

Callum paused mid bite from embarrassment, realizing he had been stuffing his face. He went to apologize before it became clear his mouth still had food in it only making the young prince only blush more than a decade of classes on etiquette and basic manners being the reason. He then, deciding it was probably a good idea to wash down his food with a drink reached for one of the silver goblets on the table finding it as partially expected empty before a servant appeared behind him with a pitcher. Jumping in his seat slightly he set down the cup close to the edge of the table for her to fill pouring what looked like apple cider into the goblet.

He gave her a polite nod and smile hoping she would take it as thanks since his mouth was currently full. He then reached for the cup again only to hesitate, realizing the goblet had already been heavier than expected when empty and given his hands new/old size it wasn’t too much of a surprise.  Realizing he had to relearn his own strength he picked up the silver cup with both hands before bringing it carefully to his lips. As he gulped down the cool and sweet liquid he glanced at his parents, finding only amused expressions.

As the cider washed his food down his mom turned to the servant saying, “Could you also see if the cook can make a cup of hot chocolate for Callum, or maybe warm cider if that’s easier.”

“Of course, your majesty.”

“Thanks,” Sarai responded turning back to the table beginning her own collection of food on her plate, another servant coming to fill her goblet with something Callum would have to wait another eight or so years before being allowed to have again. (Going by middle age standards here, and I’m being generous.)

Callum seeing as he could now talk without food falling out of his mouth went to apologies when he passed, his mouth hanging open on the first word before he snaped it shut. They hadn’t been concerned with him scarfing down the food. Who would, he was six and they’d just brush it off as him being young. So, realizing bringing it up now might seem out of character he went back to his food. They ate in a friendly and warm silence his parents admiring their two kids Callum taking the slow approach to his food and savoring every bite and every sip of apple cider trying to ignore the small yet soft desire of moon berry juice.

The memories of the drink of course bringing with them the memory of the elf that would offer him sips of the sweet liquid from her travel bottle. Even the hot apple cider did nothing to stop the pang in his heart wondering if there was an equivalent to the hot cider with moon berry juice, and if so would Rayla be wrapped in a blanket in her home within the silver grove sipping away at the warm beverage.

Still, he manages through it his plate nearly cleaned of his food when the mane entrance to the hall swings open. Callum turned to look with Sarai and Harrow doing the same, Ez of course remained focused on playing with the spoon he’d managed to get ahold of. Callum however felt his stomach drop immediately recognizing the man standing at the room’s threshold. Viren looked as serios and as cold as ever, the only difference from Callum’s memories being the lack of graying hair.

Callum could only feel ice in his veins as something cold and fiery crept up his spine before the cold feeling was replaced with embers. Embers fueled with the memories of everything that man did to him, to his family, to Rayla’s family. Callum felt as if the rage might consume him before in an instant it vanished, as if a cold breeze had snuffed out the growing fire. A breeze caused by the two figures Callum noticed behind him.

The first a girl with long raven hair taller than Callum and the second a boy with pale blond hair styled in spikes and definitely taller than him. The realization wiped any emotion, well, any rage at least from Callum’s face, leaving him with only a conflicted expression. The man who did those things was not here, and in his place was Viren a man who could let power and greed corrupt him. Whether it was destined to happen or not was what turned his insides into knots.

So keeping that in mind Callum tried to ignore the unease he felt as the three continued forward. Soran and Claudia parting from Virens side made their way to Callum as the dark mage made his way on the opposite side of the table. As he came to a stope next to Ezran Callum felt himself grow tense seeing him near the most defenseless version of Ezran possible, but Callum despite his feelings managed to stay calm as Viren went to speak.

“You wanted to see us your majesty,” Viren said in the usual familiar yet formal tone that seemed both awkward yet friendly, a tone Callum had learned was used only when talking with his dad.

Harrow only smiled before getting up from his seat and walking around Ez partially before placing a hand on Viren's shoulder and said gesturing to the table, "Please already enough with the formalities come join us for breakfast."

Viren managed a somewhat grim smile before taking the offer and sitting down next to Ezran, Callum gaining no peace from the action. Needing to get his mind of it Callum turned to find Claudia and Soren already sitting down with Claudia being the more friendly of the two saying, “Hi Callum, what’s there to eat?”

“Oh uh, eggs some sausage and we have apple cider,” he replied slightly startled at her friendliness considering how they’d left things or rather would leave things in the future.

“Sounds good,” Claudia replied smiling before reaching for a fork to start dishing the food onto her plate.

Callum felt a sense of dacha vu pass over him his past crush coming to mind, and in a recurring them Callum was getting used to at this point embarrassment soon followed. ‘Was I that obvious back then,’ he thought, realizing that interaction would have left him blushing furiously in the past.

‘Yeah no I definitely was that obvious… was I that obvious with Rayla,’ Callum thought remembering what things were like with her. There was no awkwardness when talking to her, no stuttering or really being carful about how he acts with the exception of maybe a few times. The most notable being the midnight desert incident. He quickly felt himself heat up like the sun with that screw up going through his head, although his other memories of his journey through Xaida didn’t calm things the few kisses he’d shared with Rayla proving to be impossible not to remember.

He tried to focus back on eating while the grownups began talking, but his mind stayed firmly in Xaida, wandering to the silver grove getting pulled along with his memories of Rayla and there adventure. Thankfully he wasn’t stuck with his thoughts of the past, or past to come for long feeling his mom's hand on his shoulder having apparently been trying to get his attention. 

"Callum are you okay you seem dazed," His mom said sweetly as Callum turned to her, seeing her eyes full of concern causing guilt to fill his stomach as he was about to lie again.

"Yeah, sorry I was... just stayed up to late.”

“hmmm well I hope you don’t make a habit of late night drawing, no matter how good your sketch was, a growing boy needs his sleep.”

“Ok, sorry mom.”

Sarai gave him a warm smile in response before turning back to Harrow only to pause. Callum could just barely notice her eye’s widening for a split second before she said, “Oh, Viren, you should see how good he’s already gotten with his sketches. I think the royal painter will be out matched soon enough.”

Callum turned as pale as snow involuntarily clutching his fork with his right hand and his pants leg. Harrow unaware of Callum’s panic picked up the book from where he’d set it between him and Sarai before passing it over to Viren only having to stretch slightly to get it passed Ez. Viren took the book before setting it down next to his plate. Callum could only feel the cold and familiar sense of fear creep up his spine as Viren opened the book. His gaze was that of apathy as he began to skim the pages. His look though expected of the high mage and the man Callum had grown to despise did nothing for his six-year-olds nerves.

With each page seeming like an eternity to Callum he could only feel like he was holding his breath waiting. The effect was immediate Viren’s face dropping from his usual held together ‘official’ expression to one of shock. His eye’s going from there meticulous and studying looks, to that of something more sporadic as he searched the page. He had found it, there wasn’t a doubt for Callum and now there was only one question. Was he shocked at the skill or was it the fact he’d drawn an elf, and hadn’t made her look scary like most kids his age would usually make them out to be… Actually, humans in general tended to do that.

His questions where however answered despite never being asked, Viren recovering from the shock looking up and across the table at Callum. Though his face wore a mask of calm Callum could swear his eyes were anything but suspicion and something stronger than surprise. Which of course sent shivers up his spine till the dark mage finally spoke, “This is rather impressive, especially for one your age."

“Uhh, thanks,” Callum said slightly surprised as Viren got up to pass the book over to him.

His mother helping with his limited reach before setting it in front of Callum and sliding his mostly baren plate to the side to make room. Pulling it towards him he felt someone looking over his shoulder, turning he found Claudia leaning in to look causing him to jump in his chair slightly by only an inch. “Wow cool, you drew a moon shadow elf, there said to be the deadliest in all of Xadia,” The older girl said in awe apparently focused on the subject of his sketch and not so much the detail.

Any reply he would have given was however cut short a light scoff coming from behind Claudia. The source being of course Soren who said as the two turned to look at the older boy. “Yeah, he can draw them, but still, it’d be cooler to actually beat one,” Soran ended up saying before he took another bite of sausage.

“Oh, oh, if you ever do can you bring me it’s horns there’s this really cool spell that can create a permanent illusion without binding it to an item,” Claudia said growing exited as Callum felt a whole lot like his stomach wanted to angry vomit at what she was saying, and how she was saying it.

Callum felt like he wanted to punch something, and it definitely didn’t help that Soran’s reply was, “yeah sure, although I hope it would be more of a challenge then fighting that elf, sure she looks like she’d be quick but she doesn’t look like she could hold up against a future crown guard.”

He was of course talking about Callum’s sketch… of Rayla… yeah Callum got mad. “You’d be on the floor in a second,” Callum muttered in what felt like a reflex, the venom in his young voice startling himself more than anyone else.

“What!” Soran said rather loudly as Callum became aware he’d said that out loud, while also becoming aware of the four pairs of eyes’ worth of attention he’d just earned. ‘Crap,’ Callum cursed internally before going to stutter out something, whether it would be an apology or defending his own view he wouldn’t even know. Somone else cutting into the conversation saving him in the process.

Unfortunately, in the cruel irony of the world it was Viren saying, “Claudia is right a moon shadow elf is a rather dangerous foe, fitting you’d use the night to work on such a sketch, although I would agree with Queen Sarai. Speaking from experience of course, Claudia definitely makes it a challenge to stay up learning- magic. Hmmm actually I’m interested to see how much better you’d do with daylight for a light source.”

Claudia beamed at the slight praise her father gave her, but Callum didn’t notice that. No, he instead noticed the deep and chaotic mess of knots and guilt filling his stomach as he read between the high mage’s lines. The fact he could feel his mother tense next to him only made it more obvious, he wanted to see if he’d lied about drawing the sketch.

At first the realization gave him a bit of hope, he could fail on purpose and be above suspicion, but that lasted for less than a second realizing what it would mean. One there was a flaw because who would he let draw in his sketchbook other then himself and two… He would have to face his mother thinking he lied about it, well more than the amended truth anyway, and he’d have to basically lie and admit he’d let somebody mess with the gift Harrow got him.

He wouldn’t survive a second of those emotions and would definitely break down if either of his parents scolded him or lightly told him off. Actual just the disappointment from his mom at being lied to would be enough to crush him completely. So knowing that was definitely not an option Callum let out a breath and took out the pencil from the books leather strap, and turned the page.

Rayla liked to think she remembered her life well, she remembered her days training, the days she fought horn and blade to avoid having to go to the classes the three village tutors held for the village children so they could read, write and do basic math. Which of course meant she could realize that she hadn’t visited the village bookery as much as she should have or should have spent a bit more time figuring out where things were rather than just asking the caretaker to help her.

The Bookery was one of the few larger buildings in the silver grove although it had to be considered their classes would usually end with a dozen or so kids of every age needing to make a trip to the bookery for their last-minute homework assignment. The fact the smooth craft of elven architecture conformed well to the tree it was built into did nothing to help the chaos of panicked school children that would turn the usually quiet building turning into a labyrinth of shelves and curved architecture. Rayla, however, learned the truth; the place was a labyrinth with or without the mob of desperate classmates.

Oh, and it definitely didn’t help the fact that the sorting system was in a rather obscure form of elvish script which was distinct enough anyone who’d paid attention to were the caretaker on duty said to look would be able to say oh history of the sun fire elves or something along those lines… Rayla was not one of those people. So here she was gritting her teeth and groaning in frustration cursing herself for never bothering to look up at the signs when told, ‘oh that would be on the second floor third bookshelf near the window in the back,’ and yes, the layout was as confusing as it sounds.

So after what felt like hours of searching the pale elegantly carved shelves of countless books, scrolls and everything in between while silently cursing the sorting system that seemed to be designed for the soul purpose of torturing anyone wanting to find the book themselves. Her eyes finally relaxed from their permanent glair as her jaw to unclenched from grinding away at her teeth. Having managed to find the general history section only to spend her time searching through vague sentences on the human kingdom’s ability and resources to fuel their dark magic and incident’s where they’ve crossed the border.

Of course, it neglected to name the kingdoms involved, which did nothing to help the lurking feeling of dread that her dream was farther from reality than she’d first thought, and oh she was desperate to ignore it. That’s when the relief finally came, there in the dam middle of the old book for some stupid reason was a map of all of Xadia. She couldn’t have looked it over quicker if she tried. Her gaze immediately focusing on just over the lava river on the south side before letting out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, the words Katolis written in red ink over the outlined territory instantly becoming the most welcoming sight she’d seen all day.

‘So, that part was real… good, but I have to keep looking,’ Rayla thought pushing down the slight hope this gave her knowing what it- no she couldn’t even think of what it would cost her if it was false hope. Still even if it risked her breaking, she couldn’t look away from the page where it read Katolis. ‘Where he could be, would be, should be,’ Rayla’s thoughts said all at once as a sort of prayer before she fully shut away her hope.

Coming back to reality she found her hand resting on the page apparently not ready to give away it’s comfort just yet. Rayla however knew she couldn’t dwell on it, so taking a deep breath… she jumped out of her skin as she felt something tap her shoulder. Whipping around releasing the air in her lungs as a pseudo yelp before finding herself looking up at an older darker skinned moon shadow elf with crescent markings on the outside of her eyes and her hair tied up in a tight bun just under her horns. The lady Rayla recognized as one of the caretakers of the library from her robes looked a little startled to but in a more concerned way before she said apparently trying to reassure her, “Whoa now sorry, didn’t mean ta startle ya. Ya just seemed ta be flipping through tha book rather unhappily…”

Rayla tried to think of a response but finding her brain completely overcooked could only bring herself to maneuver her hand still touching the book to snap it shut. This however seemed to be the wrong answer the caretaker taking notice of the book she was looking through. The words ‘Conflicts on the border through the ages’ written in big ol’ ink on the leather cover. The caretaker only smiled as Rayla’s hindsight started berating herself before the older elf said, “Looks like your already curious about the world around us. Though I would rather start one of your age on the other elves, given humans… questionable practices.”

Rayla went to say something only to pause realizing she’d have nothing to say. ‘Great what can I say that isn’t, ‘I’m actually a fully trained assassin an’ I just woke up as a seven-year-old an I need ta make sure my boyfriend dinnat wipe himself from existence…’ Wait a minute.’ As she had gone over the ridiculousness of the situation in her head, she’d realized she’d had a golden excuse the entire time. So resisting the urge to slap herself for not thinking of it sooner before wasting hours between the dusty shelves she got to the point, “I’m actually trainen ta be an assassin, thought I’da be good ta learn about somthin’ I could be fighten soon.”

The elder elf looked startled for a moment before settling to calm surprise and recognition. Recognition of what became obvious with the bookery’s caretakers next words, “Ah you must be Rayla then. Forgive me for what I said earlier then, it would seem you’d already seen your fair share of dark rituals.”

Rayla couldn’t keep her face from falling slightly realizing she was referring to the blood moon huntress. In fact had it not been for the extra years of memories between that and herself she would have grimaced and probably glair at the caretaker. Not that her face falling didn’t cue her in on realizing the topic was a sore one. The older woman immediately going to apologize, “Oh forgive me I forgot tha must have been rather distressing to go through. Especially at your age.”

Fortunately managed to wipe the sour expression from her face before saying, “Nah it’s fine I got used ta all the excitement about it.” Although she doubted excitement was the right word, but it was rather fitting considering after the initial incident she’d become rather popular if, popular meant couldn’t go to the market without a horde of her pears cornering her to ask about how she’d survived. Not that she hadn’t taken the opportunity brag about learning to enter her moonshadow form.

Still, it took Runaan a weak to get them to stop pestering her every moment she was outside. The memory brought a small smile to the young elf’s face before the bookery’s keeper continued, “Well at least let me help ya find wha your lookin for, as my apology.”

Rayla’s smile only grew as she was brought back to the present knowing this was the opening she’d been looking for. Though she still couldn’t be too direct considering she was only seven and wouldn’t know about scout reports or even the fact that skilled illusionists would use their skills to hide over the border to gather intel if an assassin got dispatched. So when one can’t say something directly one must describe it, “Oka’ deal, now do ya have anything more recent on tha human kingdoms?”

There was a pause before the older elf smiled saying, “Straight to the point, definitely a warrior’s characteristic tha. Though if you’re looking for the most recent I would warn you it’s rather dull, and it’s not that well put tagether. Not tha the scout reporting skills aren’t fine but most of the things they can find are politics. Although a dark mage di’ go missing a little over a year ago other than tha the only other thing tha I can think of off the top of my horns is the land next to us just changed kings and got a queen to.”

Rayla after internally flinching at the mention of a new king found excitement quickly taking her initial fears place once she’d mentioned a queen. Having looked into Callum’s stepfather like any good assassin before… there mission. She’d picked up a few details like when his rain as king started or the fact he had no siblings, or how many children he had… oh boy her emotions were far more complicated on the subject having kissed one of said targets sons.

Rayla however knowing she should probably deal with the woman helping her put on a continued mask of slightly dampened happiness and said, “Nah, I could use a bit of boring actually.”

“Well ok then, why don’t ya go put that there book back while I go get the notes then,” She replied with another smile before Rayla nodded affirmative before turning to go.

She managed to keep up the mask before dropping as soon as the older elf turned the corner at the end of the bookshelves. Rayla couldn’t have let her face drop faster a heavy sigh escaping her lips words carried with it, “Oh why am I such a mess?”

The question of course was rhetorical especially since the answer though already known gave her no comfort. She’d been through the ringer whatever that was, Callum said it was to help dry clothes, leave it to humans to say hanging things out in the sun wasn’t good enough. Anyway, back to her point, the last few months had been well… grueling or at least their memory was.  From the death of Avizandum to and the be- supposed betrayal of her parents to hearing about their mission from Runaan for the fist time, and then begging to go only to end up finding the egg…

‘It started ta get better from there… right?’ Rayla thought picking up the book before bringing it down the aisle to where she’d found it on the shelf. It was then that her mind went and did something self-destructive, it thought about him, ‘he made it better… no don’t think about him… not now later. When- when we know… how am I supposed to not think about him hear of all places, he would have been bouncing on the balls of his feet as he raided the shelves of books of magic and even history. He- he would have loved this place.’

It was definitely getting hard not to cry as she slid the book back onto the shelf. But she managed to keep it together, a silent hope keeping her together, ‘His name will be there, he’ll be there, he’s alive, everything else is the same, he’ll be to.’ Rayla let out another breath cursing herself for forgetting what she’d decided earlier and trying not to get her hops up. It wasn’t an option she was going to read through the report and his name- Callum’s name was going to be in there and he’ll be somewhere in Katolis probably still sleeping in.

Of course as it was becoming a habit today someone started talking as she’d just been getting lost in thought. “Well I managed- oh sorry for startling ya yet again but I managed ta scrape tha report together but be careful the pages aren’t really attached by anything so I’d find a desk ta sit at rather then opening it on the shelves ledges.” The bookkeeper said as she held out a book with a plane leather cover with a dozen or so stray papers sticking out of the roughly stacked pages.

Rayla shaking off the shock took the most unmade book she’d ever seen said, “Thanks an sorry, thinken about my training.”

The older lady only smiled down at her before saying, “not even a problem, just bring the book ta me when your done, or if ya realize it really is rather boring.”

Rayla nodded, returning the smile before she was once again left to herself the caretaker turning to go. Rayla however stood there for a few moments more then she needed to before finally looking down to the book in her hands her four figured grip tightening around it. She then realized she’d forgotten to breath causing her to take a gasp of air as she forced the process manually. Rayla now functioning again, knew she was only wasting time.

She turned around before leaving the section she’d been in while trying to remember where she’d last seen a desk. It took a minute but she managed to find one in a rather nice book nook next to a window, it looked like the place she’d find Callum hunched over a book smiling dumbly as he went over a book or scroll. It killed her to shake the thought from her head the smile that had formed vanishing as her face became neutral and focused.

Rayla forced herself to set the book down on the table as she sat down at a faster speed than one probably should. but she barely noticed. The pain in her tail bone was insignificant to the whirlwind of thoughts in her head as she went to open the book. Only for the young elf to pause her hand shaking as it hovered over the leather. Taking a few deep breaths through the nose she managed to still her hand enough to continue but not before her eyes had become glossy and slightly blurred.

Opening the book she began to skim through the pages as she ignored the dreaded and hopeful feelings clashing in her chest, the few stray pieces of paper offering her some welcome distraction having to stick them back in the loosely bound book before continuing forward. The book itself was luckily separated into sections on where the information was gathered. However kingdoms tended to be massive and the organization ended of course there.

Still she managed to find the section on Katolis just fine, but a part of her wished it had taken longer. A tense feeling of excitement and foreboding loss twisting more and more in her chest with each page she skimmed over about troop movements and which towns had a barley passible dark mage. The storm of emotions however came to an abrupt halt leaving her numb the words 'Katolis nobility changes' in big letters at the top of the next page.

Rayla only froze having to read over the words to fully process them before she blinked, once, twice, three times. The second her brain started again she lifted the paper out of the book finding that like some of the more related subjects was actualy sown together with a few extra pieces of paper. Her gaze traveled over the first page not even glancing at the names crossed out probably for deceased or re-married or not crossed out instead focusing on the title handily attached to them. The layout too was far simpler then most books with names clumped together and lines leading to each and connecting others. With the basic family trees all she had to do was see, Lord, Duke, something called a viscount a few times in the main bit and move on to the next tree.

So going through the page had taken less time than she’d thought. The second didn’t have much else to add, naming even more obscure titles of nobility for her to skim through. As she got to the halfway point however her pace slowed as she realized that it would only leave her with one page left, one chance left and if Callum’s name wasn’t on it… She could hear her brain try and slow the possibility down even if it was only delaying it, ‘Maybe this page has something written on the back. The last one didn’t… just, he’ll be there.’

She of course found herself at the bottom of the page once her mind had quieted down, and she wasn’t going to let it get loud again. It took everything in her to turn the page and even then she did it slowly. She of course checked the back of the second page but found ass expected zilch. Checking the back also gave her peripheral vision the chance to tell her the third page was almost completely blank and turning to look at it she found only a human hand full of names but what stood out most was the writing at the top. ‘Katolis rulers,’ the words caused her stomach to drop and her heart to sore all at once. Her vision blurred even more as her tears got closer to escaping, forcing her to blink them away.

Rayla couldn’t have stopped herself from looking down if she tried. The first was crossed out ‘King Atticus’ followed by Harrow connected to Queen Sarai with an off shoot to her sister. All of which Rayla paid no attention to her eyes, even as blurred as they were shot down to a name she had to be blind to miss. There probably next to Ez was Callum’s name as clear as moonlight. Yeah, she stood no chance against the tears.

She felt the salty liquid escape down her cheeks as her emotions told her to laugh, smile and continue to cry all at the same time. So she did, a weak giggle escaping her lips as they cracked a smile, her hands coming to wipe the tears out of her eyes after she set the paper down on the table. “Callum, why’d ya have ta make me such a mess,” Rayla whispered as she buried her face in her hands.

She could see the dumb smile he’d give her as he himself became a flustered mess if she asked him that. ‘How would he look now,’ she asked herself realizing she never quite pictured how her favorite human would have looked when he was younger. Her brain didn’t stand a chance, immediately going aww as she pictured Callum smaller, his features somehow getting even softer and his beautiful green eyes that would be undoubtedly curious. ‘Yeah no he’d be cuter than Ez. I wouldn’t stand a chance against it,’ Rayla thought wondering what would have happened had they met each other as kids… wait a minute.

Of course, she forgot the fact that she was currently kid and so was he… She sat back up realizing she was left with another tough question to swallow, did he remember her. That of course led to how she’d met him in the first place and suddenly she grew tense followed by a rather dramatic oath, ‘I will sooner remove my heart from my chest then live through all of tha again.’ That, however, left her with a problem, how the heck was she supposed to stop it. Fortunately, the answer was immediately on her mind, unfortunately it was also Callum.

‘By the blood moon do I have ta throw him inta this again,’ Rayla thought trying to think of anything other than getting Callum ta learn magic earlier then the first time if he on the unfortunate chance he didn’t also wake up with a few extra years of memory and then pass him off as proof humans never needed dark magic in the first place. She could only bury her face in her arms slouching onto the desk as she thought, ‘why did ya have ta be the dumb human ta learn magic. Ya should just get ta be happy. Why am I upset, I’d get ta see him again he’ll probably have that same dorky haircut… He might not even remember me, so ya just going ta let him crush on tha dark mage Claudia... Not in a million years!!!’

The seven-year-old bolted up right suddenly in her seat and wanting to punch something decided to just slam the book shut. Rayla tried to ignore the fact that she’d just practically admitted to herself that she would be jealous. So calming down Rayla sighed before carefully deciding her next steps while trying to avoid thinking of anything that could get her to blush, ‘ok so just have ta break inta Katolis befriend the prince and get him to learn something I have no idea how he learned in the first place and years ahead of when he would learn it. While also dealing with the possibility that he might remember all of it as well, in which case he’d probably do something incredibly dumb before I get there which would prove my plan mute in tha first place… I’ll give him a month.’

So resigning herself to her fate Rayla got up and made her way to the stairs book in hand. As she found her way to the bottom floor, she saw the bookerys keeper going over a few books before sorting them onto nearby shelves. Rayla, of course wanting to repay the favor of startling her twice got her attention by setting the book down next to her on the ledge. Rayla smiled at seeing the caretaker jump ever so slightly before saying, “Thanks for the help, found it rather useful. Well useful ta know about anyway, when I do have ta sneak across the border that is…”

The bookkeeper after blinking in recovery only smiled back at her and replying, "you're very welcome, may the information suit you on even the new moon.”

"I can only hope it does," she replied her smile becoming less nervous and more genuine before she turned to go.

 Stepping outside she took in the fresh air only to decide it was a good idea to get some much-needed rest. Although considering how messy everything insider her was about being back in the silver grove after, well everything, she decided the Adoriber fields were a safe bet to clear out her head. Unfortunately that also meant trying not to think about how she now had to make plans to essentially stop a war from being possible and figure out what the heck happened to her in the first place. Still what slipped through her mental shield wasn’t all that messy, the fact Callum was alive was enough to get her to smile.

Although that came with its own drawbacks, remembering some of what Callum said once about some human stories depicting elves, for instance if one snuck into their lands under the cover of darkness. Now most of those stories didn’t end pleasantly or in many cases true, but she couldn’t help but wonder if there were a few where the elf snuck in to charm a certain human, more specifically a prince…and she was not thinking of the magical kind of charm. The idea caused her face to go tomato red as a small guilty smile graced her lips knowing that even if she didn’t say it, it would definitely come up on the to-do list at some point.

It had taken him about a half hour to get his sketch decent in his Callum’s opinion and finishing up now he could still feel the ever-present gaze of the dark mage sitting across from him. The gaze though not glairing was full of enough focus that left the boy tense despite the friendly atmosphere of everyone else at the table although the difference could easily be dismissed as a boy focusing intently on his sketch, and Callum was anything but sloppy, clumsy sure, forgetting to go to bed definitely, sloppy with his sketches never. Although he could have probably relaxed a little having accidentally on instinct swatted his mom’s hand away a few times as it became apparent through the process of his level of skill, and she’d wanted a closer look. Of course, this had earned a laugh from the adults as the young prince could only mutter an apology to embarrassed and ashamed to look up at her, his mother, who died, and he couldn’t even get rid of a basic habit of an artist to want the work finish before it was seen.

So he kept drawing as the rest of the table talked and made progress on their own plate which did provide him with a few much needed break from Virens gaze. The sketch itself matched the current setting, minus of course the unsettling feeling the dark mage gave him. It depicted his mom and dad holding Ezren in between them smiling as he gnawed on a jelly tart. Callum even decided to add himself next to his mom looking up at Ezren in their arms halfway through drawing, remembering how Ezran had long encouraged him to do after noticing his older brother’s habit of leaving himself out.

Putting on the last finishing touches, Callum let out a breath before passing the book to his mom first hoping it would make up for pushing her hand away earlier. Although that didn’t quite help his own guilt but the look in her eyes definitely made it easier to bare. A proud smile formed on her lips as she looked over his work her eye’s even glistening over slightly. “Oh Callum this is amazing,” She said before passing the book to Harrow only to turn back to him and immediately pull him out of his seat and into a backwards hug on her lap.

Callum felt embarrassed as he felt his mom kiss the top of his head but the feeling of her hugging him was worth eternal shame having to remember not to cry.  Needing a distraction and knowing he should probably focus on what was happening right now. For instance the fact that Harrow had turned the book towards him and was now examined Callum’s sketch apparently pleasantly surprised to find himself in it if his smile was anything to go by. Although he didn’t say much he was still clearly beaming on the inside, “Amazing attention to detail Callum.” He then passed the book over to Viren, aka the one Callum was the most nervous about letting him see his miraculously acquired skills.

As the book passed Ez who made a grab for it but was just out of reach as Viren pulled it past, of course Callum felt his stomach drop as he looked over the book now placed in front of him. Callum could see the older mage’s eyes narrow down at the paper, even a near imperceptible movement of the jaw weather due to clenching his teeth or he swallowed. Eather way the man looked over the paper with extreme scrutinizing detail before finally saying something, “This is… far better than your first sketch of that elf… Your truly talented for your age, I can only look forward to seeing what else you are able to accomplish.”

Callum of course couldn’t help but notice his emphasis on the word elf causing Callum to involuntarily clench his fist in his lap. Although he knew he couldn’t exactly show how mad it made him so he swallowed his own agitation before responding, “Thanks lord Viren.”

Any other reply Viren could have said however was interrupted with Harrow beating him to the punch, "I'll be looking forward to it as well, and actually Viren if you have the time maybe you could offer him some of your books on elves I know you have a few more expensive books then the libraries collection.”

Viren went to reply before he heard his mother cut in above him, “While I don’t mind that idea please keep them age appropriate, we all know how… complicated history can be.”

“Ah-Of course I’ll be happy to provide the books, perhaps he can collect them later before Claudia’s lesson.” Viren replied passing the book back around the table.

Callum got up from his mom’s lap as he took the book back not failing to notice the slight strain in the dark mages smile. As Callum sat back down in his chair and closed the book Claudia spoke up next to him apparently wanting to weigh in on today’s lesson, “Oh yeah dad’s going to cover how we can get the best effectiveness in the ingredients we use.”

Viren who’d been taking a sip from his goblet started coughing getting the entire tables attention. "cough* ugh yes cinnamon, but we’ll also go over possible replacements for ingredients. Cough* using eggshells in substitute of bones though not very efficient it is far less… taxing to channel,” Verin said growing very pale as he addressed his daughter who now looked only more determined and exited as she nodded in understanding.

What Claudia however missed was the way he seemed concerned for her lessons and the obvious underlying detail that Viren all but said that he’d go over a less damaging way to use dark magic. Callum also caught the understanding looks from his parents and even sympathy from his dad as the young dark mage remained oblivious.  Callum felt rather surprised by Viren being worried his memories of the mage seemingly entirely opposed to the idea that there were side effects of dark magic before Harrow interrupted his thoughts apparently ready to discuss something more delicate giving Callum a warm smile, "Callum why don't you, Soran and Claudia go and play while we discuss some dull paperwork and news." Callum still processing Viren's reaction barley nodded before he started to leave remembering to grab his book from the table as Claudia and Soran got up saying their own slightly more polite goodbyes to his parents and their father. 

'What has Verin practically shaking at the mention of dark...' Callum thought as the three made their way out of the hall only for Callum to freeze halfway to turning around to the Soran and Claudia. It was because of his mom, he remembered how her death had affected everyone, he had heard how Viren and mom butted heads constantly about when to use dark magic, with his mom always keeping its use as minimal as possible. After her death he’d been allowed to seclude himself in his work and use it more regularly. Looking back at it he realized using it everyday to the point it was commonplace to use for the simplest things like the cooking Claudia did hadn’t helped with the man Viren had become. Or at least the man Callum saw him become.

‘Perhaps he’d be better this time around, I just have to save mom,’ Callum thought finding himself relaxing realizing Verin wasn't quite as big of a problem at the moment though the realization of his eventual goal was rather hard to shake. Fortunately, he was pulled from the rather gut wrenching task that just settled in his thoughts that it was his eventual goal by one of his peers saying the voice all to familiarly cocky, "Hay, your highness, are you in there?"

As Callum was brought back to his surroundings, he found Soran’s hand waving in his face followed by his sister pulling away from Callum saying in a not necessarily scolding but annoyed tone, "Soran don't be mean he's the prince." Callum turned more towards the pair unable to keep a small smile forming at the antics remembering how his… friends were before, well everything. He however had to shake the found memories from his thoughts realizing he needed an excuse to get away with Viren currently not in his office and knowing the dark mage of Katolis he wouldn’t get many more chances of unsupervised access to it’s stores of items.

 "No, sorry I spaced out Um..." Callum said before getting stumped on what excuse to use before the weight of his journal started to get noticeable in his hands giving him an idea, "I should probably put my book away, we should meet back up in the courtyard."

Claudia smiled kindly before letting go of Sorans arm she’d been pulling as she said, "Okay, we'll meet you there maybe they haven’t cleared all the leaf piles yet." Callum smiled nodding while making a note that it was probably late fall if Claudia’s comment was anything to go by. Soran however didn’t get much of a chance to add his own input with his sister pulling him away Callum having to hold back a chuckle at their antics realizing how young they all were. Although his humor didn’t last as he took in a deep breath knowing he had something he needed to do and he definitely would find himself grounded if he got caught as embarrassing as that would be.

Making his way back to his room he realized just how hard it was to hall his sketchbook around at his size remembering why he started bringing it in his own pouch to swing around his shoulder. Finaly getting to his room he released a sigh of relief finally plopping the sketchbook down onto his bed. Taking a minute Callum leaned over his bed catching his breath before he quickly left the room once again. He probably could have taken some more time getting to Viren's office considering it was only a slight detour from the courtyard. Still he made it to the door in semi record time with minimal run ins with guards or castle staff where he had to slow down as to note draw the kind of attention they might gossip about that would lead back to his parents or worse Viren hearing that he was rushing towards the high mages office.

Thankfully he found the door unlocked as he pulled against the surprisingly heavier than he remembered metal and wood construction. Silently cursing his younger body for being even weaker than he’d already been, he pulled the door open just enough to slip inside. The room was pretty much the same, the only real differences being the locations and organizations of jars, books, and scrolls among the different shelves and desks. He quickly got to work rummaging around any jars he could find, well any that didn't cause his guts to spin.

What he was exactly looking for was coincidently ingredients for the last spell he’d cast before waking up in his bed. Wings he need the paint for mage wings and the reason he needed that spell could be summed up in one word, Rayla. ‘Would she even remember everything, our journey Zym… me? I caught her maybe we both got sent back here. She could have woken up like me. What if she doesn’t? No tha- then I’ll just befriend her… again. Would she start to like me again, does that matter, she was my friend first, she’s Rayla… could I even get her to like me again. Ugh who am I kidding creating an alliance between Xadia and Katolis would be a lait night stroll in comparison. What made her want to kiss me in the first place.' Callum’s thoughts stirred in uncomfortable worry as he continued to shift things out of the way on the shelves.

His curiosity about what the heck Rayla had seen in him in the first place was thankfully cut short as soon as a clear jar came into view full of blue and silver flower petals. Petals he immediately recognized belonging to the flowers that grew around the storm spire, one of the three ingredients for the paint the spell utilized. ‘Well, I have time to figure out what I did right, have to get there first after all,’ Callum decided while grabbed the jar before pocketing a handful of petals. Setting the jar back down snaping the lid shut he quickly booked it back to the door knowing he should probably meet back up with Soran and Claudia sooner rather than later. So slipping through the partially opened door before closing it behind him, Callum quickly resigned himself to gathering the rest later and avoiding Viren in the process.

Rayla had pulled out the last of the Adoribers from her hair before letting out a sigh as she’d left the field of the little critters. Her time in the field spent remembering comforting images of Callum covered in those same adorable little beasties, and of course those memories brought with them her subtle worrying thoughts of if she’d see that sight again. Her home however was now in sight as the sun sat in the sky just barely able to turn the sky orange through the Silvergroves protective charms.

Walking inside noting the silence from Ethari’s workshop as she’d passed it on the stairs around the tree there home was built into Rayla wondered if she should try and sneak up on her father figures and overhear if they were talking about her. She however put that plan to the side not wanting to interrupt or really witness a rather close romantic moment that fell into a bit more of a handsy category.  So she revised that idea to listen closely before entering a room knowing while the chances of interrupting anything were small the two adults having become far more careful with their public displays of affection since Rayla moved in, but as Rayla would remember the chances were never exactly zero.

So walking deeper into the dwelling finding no one in the kitchen only to hear voices from the first door down the curved hall to her room. Slowing and quieting her steps she stopped just where the door frame hid her. Finding it somewhat surprising that they were apparently having a serious discussion in what she remembered to be the coziest room in the house. Why exactly that was a surprise would be the fact that Ethari banned serious talks in that particular room saying and she was quoting here, ‘can’t we just have one nice room to relax in an’ maybe rest our ears from fightin tactics.’

It definitely annoyed her at times but still looking back she saw why it was important to have a relaxing place to lounge about and not discuss the best way to catch a target by surprise when one lived with two assassins in the house. Although as Rayla pressed more to the wall to stay hidden, she realized he wouldn’t have put up that rule yet considering she was still early in her training for it to have gotten annoying when the continuously discussed her lessons and Runaan’s rather bloody experience with the trade. "...Ethari I know you don't want Rayla to be an assassin but her skill... it's intimidating I knew she could already enter her Moonshadow form but this, she took down a kid four years her senior in less than thirty seconds she even kept up with me when we were sparing," Runan's voice reached her a proud tone clear enough in his voice making it hard for Rayla not to smile.

She however managed to force a calm expression over her face as she listened to what Ethari had to say, "So what if she's a natural learner, it doesn't change the fact she is to kind natured to be an assassin."

"It's not just tha, when we spared, when she spared the kid, she absolutely destroyed the boy’s defenses and weaknesses, and when it came to me it looked like the only thing keeping her from matching me was the physical limits of her age. Her technique was very nearly perfect, sure maybe a bit loose and shaky in her movements but that would come from practice. Even if she changes her mind and doesn’t want to be an assassin, whatever she ends up doing should involve a blade in her hands. I think it’s time to train her with the other more regularly, after all from what I’ve seen she needs more challenging techniques anyway, her basics a done and ready," Runaan replied, Rayla unable to keep herself from peaking around the corner into the half circler room of familiar elven architecture with a large window covering a fourth of the wall to the right of which was the fireplace made from the same stone as Ethari’s forge although this design was a lot more elegant and yes while Callum might have pointed out if he’d ever gotten to spend the night, living in a tree with a fireplace sounded like a disaster waiting to happen. Of course Rayla would have probably laughed, with them obviously designing the fireplace to safely spread heat through the building that was partially carved into the tree without catching fire. There was also at the center of the room three blue curved coaches forming a broken circle that, while Callum wouldn’t have been really surprised by the craftsmanship, given what he’s told her about how humans view elves. The rest of his species would find it a shock that an elven assassin had something this well designed and soft in their home.

Peering into the room Rayla also found Ethari and Runaan sitting in a rare moment opposite each other as opposed to next to. With Runaan hunching over, arms resting on his knees looking across at Ethari who looked, well skeptical of what he was hearing. Of course Rayla immediately realized her mistake knowing while Runaan was a pain to sneak up to, figuratively and literally given his training kicked in when he gets startled. Ethari on the other hand while a far bit safer to sneak up on lacked the ability to be snuck up on, a skill he famously acquits to living with an assassin. So yeah anything less than a moonshadow form meant you’d be caught, a lesson that apparently hadn’t made it through her thick skull despite years of trying, as the craftsmen’s eyes shot straight to the door locking with her own.

Runaan of course followed after seeing his husband turn to look the assassin sitting up once he noticed her. Rayla tried not to curse knowing it was too late to duck back and hide around the corner. So with no way out she repressed a groan stepping into the room folding her arms before exchanging glances with Ethari and Runaan in what she hoped ended up looking like a child feeling guilty at being caught eavesdropping instead of a girl not wanting to put off a hard conversation for longer than needed.

"Rayla your back... Runaan was just telling me how far ahead you are in training," Ethari said immediately getting up before coming to meet her at the doorway.

Rayla of course recognized the behavior as someone trying to play off argument. Rayla however never having been naive enough to not notice that sighed letting her arms drop to her sides as she replied, "Ethari I know ya don’t want me ta be an assassin, but It’s not like I can’t use this trainen in other things. I could maybe take my parents’ place as the shadow groves greatest warrior."

Ethari’s mouth dropped slightly at her answer causing Rayla to worry she’d given to mature of a speech for her age before she even had time to process it Ethari pulled her into a hug kneeling down. Yeah she wasn’t prepared for that hug, her heart immediately clenching feeling her parent’s arms around her. It wasn’t a hug of goodbye or even hello to her, in that moment weather Ethari knew it or not it told her she was safe, she hadn’t been ghosted, her parents where alive she knew Runaan was safe. Rayla could only return it as tightly as she could finding it really hard not to cry as she heard Ethari finally reply, “Why do ya have to be so grown up all ready, we’ve barley had ya for a year and ya already saved tha skywing elf boy and apparently already putting Runaan ta work with ya training. Why can’t ya just… enjoy being young for a bit longer.”

Rayla gulped in air as she continued melting into the embrace before she replied slightly muffled by his shirt hiding just how close she actually was to tears, “Well sorry I can be a bit impatient on these things, thought ya would have already figured tha out.”

Her comment earned a chuckle from both Ethari and Runaan who’d gotten up from the sofa and was making his way to the two. Ethari as if sensing this pulled away from the hug before looking up at his husband from his place kneeling next to Rayla. The assassin was of course smiling as he crossed his arms in mock sternness before he said, “Now don’t go getten a big ego about it, Rayla you’ve mastered the basics It’s only gonna get harder from here, but if ya end up not wanten to be an assassin I’ll bet my last coin you’ll definitely give yur parents a run for it as a warrior.”

 Runaan ended placing his hand on her head her horns pocking between his fingers as he messed with her hair. Ethari could only smile at the two before getting up nudging himself into Rumaan's free arm in a half hug as he said all teasingly, "Though I’m still skeptical that Runaan’s not making one of his rare jokes, would you two care to let me sit in on a sparing match." Rayla had to finally cross her arms to refrain from slapping herself the continues reminder that she just had to show off finally getting on her nerves, but knowing she’d made her bed and she’d have to lie in it she replied, “Sure I’d be up for it but can we grab a bite ta eat first?”

Ethari’s eye’s widened for a breaf moment before saying, “It is that time of day isn’t it. Well then you two can tell me about what else you did today…” Ethari started off towards the kitchen only to stop at the door apparently able to sense the mischievous glances Rayla and his husband shared, which Rayla knew meant a quick hand to hand sparing match, and so did Ethari snaping, “Both of ya better not be planen a sparing lesson in here and your butts better be at that kitchen table when I get the ingredients out, I’m looking at you Runaan Xadia knows your more rowdy then that little assassin to your right.”

There was a pause before the three could only burst out laughing before making their way back to the kitchen. The house filling with laughter and talk about their days, Ethari going on about another project. All the while Rayla’s heart swelled realizing even after waking up with memories of stuff and messes yet to come, she could enjoy being a kid whether it was again or the first time all she knew was she was going to make it count.

Chapter Text

It had taken a week and a half to gather all the ingredients, he’d actually managed to get most of them in the first week. What had tied him down for the extra four days was rather embarrassing, or at least he could already hear Rayla teasing him about it. He was apparently still at that age when the servant on duty would check in after already preparing the bath and he’d gotten in when they left. What made it worse was the fact he could already see her laughing at the fact that the servants prepare the bath. I mean he knew it was just what was done for nobility but from what he’d seen and knew about Rayla, she’d absolutely loose it and go on about how humans couldn’t go and make their own baths in between mocking chuckles and wheezes.

Callum repressed the slight embarrassment the thought brought him. Instead, he tried to focus on the better half of that week having been able to sneak two primal magic books from the library and having hid them in his wardrobe under a loose plank of wood started teaching himself whatever spells it contained, well the sky spells anyway. Of course he couldn’t read the book fast enough finding all sorts of spells, there were spells to pull objects to him or even away, another to create an arrow made of wind and even stuff involving hiding messages within the air itself. The only downside was he couldn’t exactly practice most of the spells in his small room. In fact, between his classes and having to keep up appearances he was rarely able to get away with more than three hours to himself without someone checking in on him.  

Though he couldn’t complain too much about his tutoring because thanks to them he’d figured out exactly where he was, well relative to time anyway. It was the last few weeks of the long fall just a few weeks after Ezren was born, giving him just under eleven months before his mom... 'nope not thinking about that I'm going to stop that from even being an outcome,' Callum thought quick to stuff down the pain that event had caused him. Though it was hard considering he had felt the loss throughout years of his life, but he had to overcome it especially with the perfect opportunity to visit Xaida finally opened up. Yeah some would definitely call him crazy for wanting to sneak across the border into a land filled with human hatin- untrusting elves, all for someone who most likely doesn't know him. It would definitely be a good question to ask, if that same question wasn’t getting drowned out by every memory of Rayla Callum had, and yes even the staby ones.

That pretty much summed up how or rather why Callum now found himself sneaking around the castle’s outer wall as the earliest rays of dawn barley coloring the sky. All the while trying to defend his reasons for going in the first place, 'She could remember... But why would she, why do I even remember, ugh what if I just go there and maybe, act like I was just a kid and I wanted to see what Xaida was really like. She might buy that... Maybe'

Callum could only suppress a groan as his reasoning fell rather flat while he managed to make his way to a secluded tower without being seen, knowing his odds of even befriending Rayla again where low, let alone anything more. So realizing he’d probably just end making things up as he went he decided to focus on the positives, his parents would be busy with meetings the hole day, Soran and Claudia were busy training with the crown guard and there dad. Added on to the fact Callum had gotten the day off for getting, in his teachers’ opinions, a surprising amount of his assignments done and he’d completely mastered cursive putting him at least a few weeks ahead of his planed lessons. Which is why if today wasn’t the perfect day to sneak out then no day would be.

So, sitting on the ledge of a window in an otherwise empty tower having painted the mage wing symbols onto his arms just yesterday with it as before immediately soaking into his skin in a mere instant. He was ready to quite literally take flight, having taken off his long sleave overcoat hoping the feathers would keep him warm in its place. A small backpack hung around his shoulders that held only a day’s worth of food, and a single water skin as to not way him down too much during the trip. Now with little else to do he stretched out his arms before saying his mind flooding with thoughts of Rayla, “Manus. Pluma. Volantus.”

In an instant, feathers shot out from his arms, this time however he wasn’t currently freefalling off the tallest mountain in the world and was currently between the sides of the window, casing Callum to nearly fall backwards off the ledge onto the tower floor as his wingspan proved considerably larger than his arm length. Callum released a breath happy he hadn’t stretched out his arms more in front of him or the shifting of his body’s weight might have sent him forward. Sure, he could have probably caught the wind under his wings intime, but he’d rather have a bit more heads up then just (forgive the pun) winging it. Steading himself he took a deep breath looking out onto the horizon, admiring the view before him before without much more delay he pushed off the tower wall apparently still as risk taking with magic as he’d ever been. Though he could have taken a bit more time to brief himself on how he was actually going to control his flight, his previous experience being only a few seconds. Seconds that were spent noise diving straight down, but he managed to catch the air rather smoothly having only a bit of turbulence in the few beginning seconds of putting him into the glide. 

Callum soared over the trees the fresh cool morning air brushed past his face causing him to smile. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just relax and admire the view, it quickly became apparent just how precise flying actually was. Even the slightest tilt in his wings sending him right or left. He was at least thankful it was manageable to climb in height while he was figuring out the subtle motions and flexes of his arms that now dictated his movements. So now, gaining height he slowly turned making a wide circle around the castle to avoid being spotted as anything other than a bird.

Of course, it was also on his mind to avoid any bored knights stuck on wall duty that wanted to practice on their aim with a bow. Still even going the long way he passed over far more ground than he would have on foot. Soon enough he was soaring towards Xaida the castle growing smaller behind him. Still, he couldn’t help but glance back at his home to see how far he had already traveled, while admiring how the dim morning light seemed to make the towering structure glow warmly.

Though he knew it probably wasn’t the best idea to look back while flying forward. Looking ahead however caused him some surprise when he could already see the winter lodge insight. What had taken him a day and a half of travel now taking less than ten. Although that came with its own realization, the realization of the distance also making him aware of the effort he was putting on his arms or well wingspan in this case. The feeling being one Callum knew well enough to know he was going to wake up sore tomorrow, and maybe for the next week. Still even knowing that he continued, climbing higher up to avoid the possibility of a hunter wanting to catch hawk for dinner, with the moon nexus coming into view not long after, far off to his right thanks to his more direct path to Xaida.

The sight of the magical sanctuary reminding him he should probably visit Lujanne as he made his way over forests roads and even buildings. He could definitely use more information on magic even if she only had knowledge more towards moon primal magic. As he continued to fly the sun continued to rise leading to another issue he hadn’t considered, he was flying east. Staring right into the blazing orb. He managed to squint through it for a while as the time passed before after probably an hour, he finally relented needing a place to land to rest his already heavy arms and his now scorched eyes. Looking down at the landscape below he picked out a nice, secluded grove in a forest.

The landing however proved difficult with the enclosing trees obstructing any slow gliding decent   forcing him to do an awkward flap up as he leaned backwards to slow himself down as he approached the ground at a steeper angle than he would have liked. Callum managed it rather well considering he hadn’t actually landed before. Sure he practically stumbled onto his knees, his arms going out to catch him as they seemed to automatically return to normal but he remained relatively fine his body only slightly startled and jolted at the sudden feeling of the dirt below him. Though having gotten used to getting knocked down and even thrown off horses he was already on his feet dusting himself off before looking around.

Finding a rock to sit on, he quickly pulled off his backpack before opening it to pull out some of his packed food and water. As he ate, he tried to ignore how his arms already felt like lead or how each sip from his water skin was all the more tasty as a result of his thirst. Only taking a few gulps of water and just a chunk of bread to conserve rations he carefully packed them up again before standing back up. Swinging the backpack onto his back he called out to the magic on his arms the sudden burst of feathers effecting his balance less than before having gotten used to the process and change in his center of gravity. Getting off the ground however proved a bit of a challenge without having enough space for a running start and no ledge to jump off of.

Still, it only took him four attempts to catch enough air under his initial thrust to give him time for a second one and get him more than three feet off the ground. After that it was easy to gain enough height to pass above the trees. So continuing his path to the east he continued climbing as high what seemed reasonable, probably thousands of feet high but still far below the need for drawing his last breath. It had probably only taken two hours before he reached weeping bay the port city distinct enough to recognize. Though his joy at seeing how quick it was to fly this far was soon dampened as he felt the winds change.

The sea’s cold wind now pushed against him with it soon becoming apparent how hard it was flying into the wind. Although not soon enough it would seem already to far out to turn around wanting to kick himself for not taking a break before crossing the bay. He could barely even make any progress as his arms started to burn his mind split between turning back or continuing on being already halfway across. Luckily before he turned back however in his attempts to judge the distance he was traveling, he spotted a small ship amongst the deep blue water nearly directly below him.

Now he knew it was stupid he should just turn back, but landing sooner rather than later sounded like heaven for his aching arms. As he descended he also noticed a few things about the ship. It looked familiar and considering his photographic memory it wasn’t just because he’d seen a few different kinds of boats, and much to the additional mental and physical relief of the led bricks that were his arms it seemed rather barren of crew. Still he wasn’t dumb enough to land on the deck, instead starting to circle the crow’s nest.

In what he hoped wasn’t becoming a pattern he landed roughly, nearly slamming through the mast knocking the air right out of him as his wings retraced. Callum’s feet stumbling onto the wooden floor of the crows nest his knees buckling as he steadied himself against the mast his wings shrinking back in on themselves. As he stumbled back against the railing he desperately gulped for air to regain what had been slammed out of his lungs. Though with his experience of getting the wind nocked out of him a few times and like most of his experience with getting knocked down it was also thanks to Soren, he’d pretty much mastered how to breath to recover quickly.

As he was recovering he quickly began listening for any commotion below before to his relief he heard only the rocking of the boat and not the scuffle of men below. Unfortunately, his initial relief at being right that no one was above deck didn’t even have time to settle before he heard a creaking of wood followed by a grunt right behind him. Callum stumbled back, sliding against the railing as he rolled around facing whoever he’d apparently missed, having probably already been climbing to the crow’s nest when he’d been making his landing. Only for his panicked thoughts to relax partially on instinct recognizing who it was.

The familiar Captain Villads hoisting himself up from the ladder clearly a bit younger with even one eye still intact, apparently blue. The sight brought a slight comfort to Callum at being caught but considering he still got caught it wasn’t much. Though it surprised Callum that he still had an eye but the surprise of finding him here was dampened by the realization of why the ship had looked so familiar. "Woah there, we don't want ye falling over the edge, but from the looks of how ye got here you wouldn't have much of a problem with that," Villads said gesturing to his arms the blue painted symbols clear to see, the warning on the other hand was probably because he noticed Callum keeping against the railing and wanting him to keep away from the edge. The sea captain’s relaxed attitude did also succeed in getting him to relax a fact Villads picked up on continuing, "Aye that's better, now why don't you tell me what brings you so far out here and, what in all the ocean happened to your arms I might think you be eee sky elf if it weren't for your ears and lack of horns."

Callum slowly nodded realizing his options to lie here were limited so he eventually settled on being vague, "I was going to visit a friend across the bay an-d my-, the wings are because of a spell… I'm Callum by the way."

Villads only smiled back at him warmly nodding his head along with him before replying, "Villads with a silent D at your serves Callum, and if I may say I'm no expert on wings or dark magic as you may assume, but this friend must be pretty important if someone as young as yourself is braving these winds to reach them."

Callum scowled at the mention of dark magic before he said almost as a reflex at the thought his voice surprising himself with how mad it actually sounded, although given he was only six it was probably more on the cute side to the older man, "I don't do dark magic."

Villads looked surprised though slightly amused before raising his hands in a calming jester, "Sorry didn't mean to offend, as I said I don't know much about the subject."

Callum immediately felt guilty at hearing the apology though the captains poorly hidden amusement softened the guilt a bit he still looked to the wooden floor of the crows nest and offering his own apology, “No, sorry I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”

Villads humored gleam in his remaining eye spread to his mouth with a grin at the apology before saying, "Don't worry yourself about it, tempers can flair up like the sea. Now come I'd be a poor captain if I sent someone away without proper rest even if you did bord the ruthless unannounced, though can’t quite call you a stowaway no can I, hahaha." Callum found himself grinning at the bearded man’s joke before following him down the ladder.

Callum managing the climb with the lumps of led he called arms found Villads waiting with a water skin ready, and glade to save his own reserves gladly took it. After the first initial gulps of liquid Callum spoke up again between sips, "Thanks, I didn't realize how hard it was to cross the bay."

"Oh it was no trouble at all, no need for thanks and a word to the wise stay closer to the water where the air is a little smoother and it’s updrafts should help, mind you that doesn't mean it’s any weaker. So be careful you don't fall in ha ha-ha." The captain replied with a chuckle.

 Callum nodded giving him his own smile before handing him back his considerably lighter water skin and saying giving a weak laugh at the end, "Thank you for the water, and the advice I'll try not to fall in."

Villads only burst out laughing taking the water from him before giving him a rough pat on the back causing Callum to stumble forward as the captain said between his echoing laughter, "Aye, leaving already, well I'd say your one resilient young man to go after but a moments rest."

Callum immediately felt bad for rushing and began to explain before the captain would apparently have none of it interrupting, "Sorry I..."

"No, need for apologies my boy, you have places to be and don't let this old sailor keep you. haha I can barely resist the urge to sail, the urge to fly… probably harder to resist tenfold ha." Callum couldn’t have kept himself from smiling if he tried feeling far better and seeing he had permission to go he quickly called his wings back saying after, "Thank you, it was nice meeting you, hope I see you again."

Villads only smiled leaning back against the mast before saying with a nod, "It was a pleasure meeting you as well, and if you ever need to rest you wings near my boat feel free to stop by and pay this old sailor a visit, but please use the deck wouldn’t wanting you to lose any teeth now would we."

With that the two lightly chuckled Callum grinning before going for a run jumping just at the ships railing taking off the waters updraft of air easily propelling him upward before circling the boat gaining height till he was level with the crow’s nest. He looked down one last time to see Villads waving him of before he continued onwards heading towards Xaida leaving Villads to his sailing and unbeknownst to Callum his musings. Villads after watching the boy go started his way back up to the wheel saying to himself practically beaming as he placed his hands at the wheel, "I would bet the ruthless, that his friends a girl." 

He was, in a word, sore, actually more like four words, ‘his arms were led,’ or maybe just dead but he was finally here. Having collapsed behind the closest giant tree root in the tall silver and green grass field. His arms laying limp at his sides the last stretch of flying over the moonstone path and of course just far enough out of the way of the sun arch dragon that his exhausted body would allow and that was still too close for Callum’s liking. Oh he had never been happier to see the adoraburr grove, and considering the last time he’d been here Rayla was showing him around that was saying something.

The memory however jolted his mind away from the amazing feeling of the ground beneath him. Though he definitely wasn’t able to get up and look around he at least started to listen to the area around him wondering if Rayla show up, ‘she said she’d spend hours hear, playing with the adoraburrs.’ He thought, hoping he wouldn’t have to break into a village of moonshadow elves. So putting that idea as a last of all resorts he decided to wait and regain a bit more of his strength, it was still early in the day after all. He sat there for about ten to fifteen minutes resisting the comfort that closing his eyes brought him before he shook his head to wake himself up a bit more.

He let out a sigh before getting up his arms no longer feeling like led bricks. Though they were still definitely numb. Callum began cautiously glancing around realizing he’d been reckless in his desperation to land and collapse on solid ground. Even if he would have already heard them when he’d been regaining his strength, though they were moonshadow elves so… Not that all moonshadow elves were naturally stealthy Callum reminding himself, having made a few rather untrue assumptions in front of Rayla, still it wouldn’t take too much stealth to sneak up on Callum so the odds of someone having already been watching him were still rather high. At least to him they were, probably underselling him a little bit considering he’d caught Rayla sneaking up on him.

Thankfully he couldn’t see anybody around, unfortunately he couldn’t see anybody around meaning Ralya wasn’t here. Though the disappointment was only slight immediately straining his admittedly perfect memory to find if she mentioned a specific time she usually came here. ‘She said we’d arrived just in time, and it was stil-,’ Callum thought remembering when she’d brought him here, only for his thoughts to be cut short the sound of someone treading through grass and foliage reaching his ears.

It wasn’t loud by any means, and if there had been any other noise then the wind brushing through the semi tall grass he wouldn’t have heard a thing. Callum quickly peered around the tree root almost stumbling remembering he couldn’t be seen. However when he did get the rest of the field insight he found nothing, that was until he noticed the foliage part slightly on the side before someone emerged.

Callum felt his heart stop seeing a young moon shadow elf about his now current age. Callum ducked behind the tree root almost on instinct, his satisfaction dimming realizing he hadn’t looked long enough to recognize her from here. So, hoping his heart wasn’t just getting his hops up he slowly peaked around the root again to see if it was really her. Callum couldn’t describe the relief he felt when he saw it was Rayla, and that wasn’t even the strongest emotion. He had felt his jaw drop seeing her, horns barely taller than an inch, her silver threads of hair cut short, barley to her neck, her already soft and gently featured face that he knew somehow defying physics looking even softer. She was different sure, the only thing seemingly the same being the cheek marking under her eyes, but he didn’t need that to recognize her.

As for what she wore, they were eleven-looking long-sleeved tunic and familiar elven pants. Thankfully with his attention turned to her wardrobe he was able to pull his thoughts back enough to duck back behind the root. His heart pounding a mile a minute as he caught his breath, he’d expected her to be smaller and maybe more towards Ez’s kind of cuteness before he woke up here but the way the sun bounced off her pure white hair and how gentle every bit of her looked… He might as well have been mauled by kittens led by a baby Ezran. Heck he was flustered right to his core.

Taking deep breaths he shook himself out of it leaning against the tree trying to stay focused on the task at hand before getting distracted by how cute she looked. He needed a plan and not trusting his brain not to wander he decided to figure one out aloud but keeping his voice low, "Ok, you can do this. All you need to do… is convince her you're not a threat and not to kill you preferably at the same time… I’m just, exploring, yeah ok, I can do that just go up and say Hi. It's not like she'll immediately try to kill you or has been training to kill her whole life." He could only let out a defeated sigh realizing he never did quite learn when Rayla stated training, but it was to late for that now so he began to peek around the corner once again. However the minute he did he realized Rayla wasn't in the field. While some might wonder she left for… maybe a second, a life time of knowing his odds Callum immediately went with the second possibility and new she had most likely found him already and letting out yet another defeated sigh to the point it was becoming repetitive said, "your behind me, aren't you?"

He didn’t even bother turning around as he got his answer a light thud of boots hitting the dirt behind him. So swallowing his fear he finally whirled around his back to the root meeting her light violet gaze with a lump in his throat. If he had thought it had been hard to focus before, seeing her up close was impossible. His thoughts swirling together in a storm at an absolute loss for words as he tried to ignore the death glare he was receiving from Rayla was also on the most adorable face he could imagine. ‘I had a plan,’ Callum’s brain finally shot out before proceeding to butcher what he had planned to say, "I'm sorry I was just watching- exploring... around, uh hi."

Rayla however looked unconvinced, her expression not even twitching, Callum immediately wanting to slap himself, 'hi, really, was that the best you could do Callum,' but before he could come up with anything better to say or do Rayla stepped forward pulling a rather sharp wooden blade from it’s sheath at her hip. Callum again tried to swallow the lump of fear in his throat as the practice blades tip hovered close to his neck. Only to feel a shiver run down his spine when the young elf said her voice and tone unreadable, "Ya have ten seconds to give me a reason not ta use these blades on the dumb human prince wanderin' around like a blind ambler."

Callum felt his body stiffen as his guts twisted in panic before he tried to open his mouth and get a coherent sentence out as Rayla started counting, "I just wanted to... see what Xaida was like... I didn't come here to hurt anyone..." Rayla however didn't seem moved as she got to four, one nearly in sight, when in his minds scramble to think of something, it hit him. It had been something Rayla had said something small anyone… well Callum could have missed it any other day but he didn’t. He found himself involuntarily relaxing at the realization, noticing how her death glare hadn’t even reached her eyes once before as she got to one Callum said in a mix of astonishment curiosity and oh so fragile hope, "How did you know I'm a prince?"

His voice came out as barley a whisper, but the effect was far from subtle, Rayla freezing mid count stuck at one. Her mask, yes, a mask of what had been judgment dropping as she glanced away guiltily to the floor. Her hand holding the blade now hanging at her side before she looked back up to him. Callum’s breath hitching as he took in the look of guilt nervousness and even maybe disappointment in those gorgeous violet eyes staring back at him. It made him want to apologize, say he’d been wrong despite the fact he’d done nothing as he found her gaze searching his. As he watched he noticed the slight twitch at the corner of her lips, her cheeks giving off the faintest of blush and that’s when the true realization hit him.

Callum felt his mouth drop open slightly as Rayla’s hidden struggle reached the surface her lips breaking into a beautiful smile, the tips of her ears flushed with pick. That was until she grabbed his scarf and his mind went blank.

Rayla had been finding it rather hard not to smile, I mean could anyone blame her well if they knew that is, her school work was as easy as ever not that she was advertising that, she did need to lay low after all. So she stuck to just the bear minimum throwing in a few complaints and making sure to never answer a question unless directly asked to. She did however wish she’d had thought of or really had the sense to do that for her training. Even if her thoughts had been plagued with the possible existence of a human prince who she had been really hopping wasn’t just a dream at the time. Though the damage was already done and there was no use scolding herself now.

The village had quickly become aware of her sudden jump in her skill, and it was high enough to make her by some standard the next best warrior of the age. Some of the other instructors either scouts, village guards or hunters asking to let her spar with their older students. The matches quickly becoming a popular spectacle among the village, usually ending with Rayla getting crowded by children her own age. Moons it was almost as bad as when word spread about Rayla facing the moon shadow huntress and she didn’t need to be reminded about that monster again no matter how indirect. Thankfully she was already past that ordeal, which gave her yet another reason to smile.

Rayla also was happy with her progress in adapting to her weaker body now rarely losing a fight against the kids younger than thirteen. Which might not seem like much of an accomplishment but when you considered how hard a thirteen-year-old can hit compared to a seven-year-old it was impressive. Especially when it would take just one heavy blow to put her out for the count which was actually making her far more aware of her opponents’ moves than she’d been before. Oh and as a side effect of her apparent skill Deban didn’t even seem cross with her, in fact he was even eager to spar with her again, once it became apparent Rayla was unnaturally gifted in fighting of course. Probably because it meant the more people she beat the less people could be made fun of, in fact it had actually turned into a joke of sorts, the kids often teasing each other about getting beet by a seven year old. Today however, she was exempt from sparing on Ethari’s orders, having apparently seen how sore Rayla was.

So she’d been forced to stay home and finish up homework which she unfortunately had to pretend to take time on. Still that time allowed her to think about things and relax a bit figuring out how to rest her head on her arms on the desk to look like she was stumped on a question when she was just resting her eyes. As for what she was thinking about… it was definitely not Callum… that was a lie it was definitely partially, mostly, ok maybe entirely daydreaming about Callum and what he’d look like. The singular focused line of thought earning a few curses to Callum’s name the young elf wondering who the heck he was to bury himself so far in her head, when she already knew the answer to that, and it was everything. Every dorky, smart, ridiculous thing he had done that just made her want to giggle and her heart pound so very loud.

Now however Rayla was done with studying and faking the struggle, her acting having proved a bit to effective having to shoo away Ethari a couple of times. So after grabbing some food Ethari insisted she eat before going out to explore Rayla found herself making her way to the Adoraburr field not really having anything better to do and it wouldn’t hurt to catch a few before they fully enter hibernation for the coming winter. The field was its same silver, and green as ever even fall proving ineffective against its colors. The noon sun sitting almost directly overhead shining down on the grass as the remaining fall leaves drifted down in the wind.

It wasn’t until Rayla began her search for the adorable little critters did she notice something was off. All it had taken was a second to close her eyes and breath before she felt it, a feeling you’d only get when something else was watching you. Rayla let out a small breath focusing, trying to find the gaze’s source when her ears picked up the slightest muttering. Opening her eyes she turned in its direction finding it’s source behind one of the massive roots connecting to the ground. She immediately resisted the urge to groan realizing what it probably was. Now she’d never been asked out probably because every boy in the village was terrified of Runnan. She had however been subject to a few nervous boys her age coming up to talk to her.

Which in hindsight they obviously had a crush on her, not that Rayla would have known being rather oblivious to emotions. Having usually dismissed the behavior as odd only to roll her eyes and hide her embarrassment when Ethari pointed it out later heck had it not been for Callum almost dying she’d still have no idea she loved the charming idiot. ‘But it’s to soon for that, unless… oh great,’ Rayla thought to herself remembering those awkward encounters had begun closer to when she was ten.

So wondering if her sudden skill had yet another additional side effect of moving up some crushes Rayla made her way towards the culprit, kicking herself once again for not being able to keep from showing off. Her footfalls were silent in the tall grass, careful not to be heard before coming to a stop at the root. She took a second to judge the quietest way to climb it before giving a light push off the ground and latching onto the thick bark to scale the root ready to give whoever thought it a smart idea to spy on her a heart attack. As she however got to the top to and began to position herself perfectly to get a good look at the stealth less idiot she started to hear him mumbling to himself sounding just as young as her, "...you can do this just go up and say hi. it's not like she'll immediately try and kill you or has been training to kill her whole life."

She had figured the kid was working up the courage to talk to her and with its confirmation she might as well have some fun and scare the pest who apparently liked her. That plan however came to a screeching halt the second she looked down. Met with the top of messy brown hair with no horns… no horns… it was a miracle she hadn’t slid off and fallen limp right on the boy below her. It was a miracle she hadn’t jumped. She didn’t even need to see his face to know it was her idiot any sane thought absolutely couldn’t survive seeing that same red scarf on his shoulders being the only other thing she could pick out from his appearance, other than the matching red tunic and plain brown pants.

Oh and how was she supposed to think when she caught a glimpse of his actual face as he went to check around the root apparently unaware that Rayla was just a few feet above him. ‘Above Callum,’ her brain finally registered before falling right back to gibberish. How could it not, he was here, that dummy was here, and he remembered... her. ‘He remembers everything!’ her mind echoed over and over again as she watched him realizing just how adorable he was at his age just from the small glimpse she’d managed to get from her spot on the root nearly releasing an un-assassin like squeal. Rayla however knew she had to calm down, no matter how cute he looked right now. 

That was easier said than done, her thoughts still a mess rummaging around for any idea that would snap her out of it. Until one small realization hit her, Callum didn’t know she remembered him and oh did that do the trick. She found herself grinning madly as the world swung back into focus her pointed ears starting hear again, apparently having stopped at some point. Though she was probably just imagining it considering what the boy below said was a bit of a surprise, getting rather close to where she actually was.

Actually, no considering he’d already caught her sneaking up on him once, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. Though everything about this was surprising, every movement he made, every breath his or her own, putting her more on edge as if she was holding that sparking primal stone all over again. She wanted to say ‘close,’ and get him to look up here and see the look on his face, but she was still grinning like Ezran in a candy store. So letting out a breath to mask her soaring feelings she jumped down landing gracefully behind him.

Focusing on the landing had done the trick allowing her to think about something other than her racing heart but compared to this next bit it was going to take a whole lot more than worrying about spraining her ancle to keep her from breaking. The second he whirled around and his emerald gaze met hers, it took everything in her not to smile. The startled look on his face and wide gorgeous green eyes forcing her to grit her teeth to fight the incredibly strong urge to giggle. Rayla squinting her eyes to force them into a glare.

Then he decided to stutter out some sort of apology, and that was a whole other mess of Rayla trying to zone out just how adorable he sounded. Oh and that hi at the end as if every other word hadn’t been chipping away at her resolve but that felt like a blade to the gut. Coupled with the guilt of trying to trick him, I mean she knew it was a bit mean but given his reaction so far she was surprised shear laughter alone didn’t cause her to break. She, however, held it together long enough to exhale softly before pulling the wooden training blade at her side from its sheath and to the human’s throat. The blade was rather sharp but considering it was made of wood it would take a lot to actually cut something so Rayla wasn’t too worried about its proximity to the prince.

Although she couldn’t really worry about anything with Callum in front of her turned into an adorable stuttering mess. Speaking of which she really needed to keep focused, 'Come on he’s not that adorable, ok he definitely is but… I can’t let him know that yet, pretend this is just like when I was chasing him through Katolis, just a target not someone I wanted to kiss, yet... just pretend to be in that moment, a moment where he was willing to give himself up... For his little brother. Damn it Callum, why do you have to be so chivalrous in my memories?'

Rayla cursing her own thoughts that refused to budge on remembering just how selfless her dummy was but she wasn't going to give up that easy so repositioning the blade to his throat she said trying to sound as intimidating as she could for a seven-year-old, "Ya have ten seconds to give me a reason not ta use these blades on the dumb human prince wanderin' around like a like a blind ambler."

Watching him panic was adorable as he tried to string together some patchwork excuses. The sight making her want to drop the whole thing and just shut him up and pull him into a kiss, but she resisted the urge knowing it would be dam worth it if she waited till she was done counting. Unfortunately, her plan on how to break his brain was dashed to pieces just as she got to one, when Callum’s eyes widened slightly and a question left his lips, "How’d you know I'm a prince?"

The question was simple enough but oh did it make her guts twist with guilt. The mix of curiosity, surprise, and even hope in his extremely cute dazzling green eyes made her feel like a horrible person for doing this. Forcing her to look away unable to stand meeting his gaze when she made him look at her like that, letting her hand fall to her side her blade getting pulled away with it. Even with the guilt Rayla found herself smiling as she looked back up to Callum hoping she at least looked apologetic as she reached for his scarf, her training blade falling to the grass forgotten.

She didn’t even realize she’d pulled him close or had she stepped closer, it didn’t matter all that did was that adorable look on his already adorable face as she whispered, "The same reason I know yu'll be fine with this."

The distance was closed as the last word left her mouth almost as if they trapped it between their lips. Rayla’s eyes falling shut feeling her whole being relax at the feeling of his lips on hers. The corners of her lips forming a smile as she felt his surprise through the connection, his eyes probably as wide as plates. Though it barely took more than a second for the boy to melt into it returning the kiss his arms immediately finding their way to her back pulling her even closer, pinning her own arms between them. The discomfort of her arms getting trapped between them still holding onto his scarf in truth barley even registered as she deepened the kiss feeling ever so slightly desperate to memorize his taste on her lips and considering what had happened who could blame her.

After what felt like an eternity, she eventually if a bit- ok very reluctantly pulled back even if it was barley less than an inch before Rayla opened her eyes now staring into Callum's who quickly fluttered back open. She couldn’t keep herself from grinning as their breaths mixed, a slight giggle echoing in her voice as she said, "That was mean wasn’t it. I’m sorry…"

Callum however looked anything other than upset his eyes slightly dazed, a small dopy smirk reaching his lips, not to mention how it looked on Callum’s younger softer, and a bit more squishable face making her almost lightheaded. She and her heart however managed to recover intime to listen to his quiet response, “I-I I… you remember?”

Rayla giggled pressing her forehead to Callum’s before replying, “I kissed ya didn’t I?”

Callum broke out into a grin as his brain seemed to be starting up again though he still stammered, “uh righ, I thought- I was worried you’d not remember me and I’d have to befriend you all over again an- and you might not have gotten to like me that same wa-.”

Rayla immediately saw where this was going so letting go of his scarf while slightly pulling away to give her more room to maneuver she brought her pointer figure to his lips to keep them shut. Which had proved effective, the boy now completely silent only staring back at her with wide expecting eyes, oh she definitely couldn’t hide the echoing giggle in her voice as she replied in a hushed amused tone, "Callum if ya think for a moment that I wouldn't end up wantin' to have ya all to myself, yer an even bigger dummy then I thought. I went from chasing ya down a hall ready to torture information out of ya, to not wanting you to be all down about tha weird cube in a day."

Callum managed a small smile even with her figure still holding his lips hostage before she pulled it away from his lips and brought her hand to rest on his shoulder. The obvouse blush on his face making her wonder if her cheeks would soon start to hurt from smiling as she removed her other hand from his red scarf and onto his opposite shoulder, allowing her to regain the previously lost distance without sacrificing the blood circulation in her arms. His blush only grew as she brought herself closer only for Callum to start snickering when their noses touched.

Though the snickering soon turned into all out terribly held back laughter. Which did perk up her curiosity causing her to ask trying not to think about how adorable he was being right now, "oh laughin' are we, what about, please do tell?"

Callum immediately snaped his mouth shut though she could easily still see the smile on his lips or the way he glanced away in slight embarrassment as he muttered out, "It's not really funny, it's just… you look adorable, and I can't really focus on anything else."

"Yur one to talk, do ya have any idea how hard it was not to smile and just kiss ya earlier," Rayla said slightly defensivly even though he had her grinning ear to ear as she felt her face heat up with more blush. As if she hadn’t been blushing enough as she was.

Though Callum didn’t say anything in return. The two just staring at each other in comfortable silence until after a moment they burst out laughing and leaning more into each other as to not fall over. Pressing their foreheads together as the two’s laughter calmed, no words needing to be spoken as they each silently admired how adorable the other one looked. Callum probably already done memorizing her face which made Rayla want to roll her eyes at remembering his perfect memory. She however resisted the urge instead electing to slip her arms below his and finally return his hug properly.

Her hands grasping the back of his tunic as she squeezed him close, her head making her way to the crook of his neck to rest on his shoulder. As she let out a sigh she glanced down unfortunately noticing something blue in the corner of her eye. It had been just a glimpse, and it had been very light blue but given that most of what Callum had on right now was as red as his blushing face, it stood out. Pulling away, leaving Callum slightly surprised at the sudden action before realization hit him when she grabbed his arm to inspect. Looking them over she was not necessarily surprised to find the draconic language sprawled out on his skin in what looked to be faint blue ink. His explanation only confirming what came to mind, "Oh yeah their for the mage wing spell, they’re..."

Rayla couldn’t let him finish remembering something she needed to know, so as quickly as she had pulled away she grabbed him by the scarf before shoving him against the tree. Only slightly cringing as he winced but considering she definitely didn’t shove him hard enough to really hurt him at all she didn’t spare it too much thought. What she did pay attention to however was what had her eye’s wide with what might have been horror as she finaly found the words to ask, trying to ignore the shakiness in her own voice, "Did... did ya know you could do tha before you jumped, an' don' lie ta me, ya would have shown off before the battle if you could."

 His eyes had answered faster than any yes could have, a mix of startled shame flashing before he could even stammer out a word, “I-I-I If I couldn't risk my life with a chance at saving you, I would be better off dead anyway."

His response caused her to tremble and weak, oh she felt weak as tears welled up in her eyes as her gaze was trapped hi his emerald-green ones. She hadn’t even realized she’d already started speaking though she could barely recognize her own voice, sounding like she could break down at any moment, "No, ya wouldn't... I knew I could... save Zym... you practically through yer life... away for me, how could ya... ever think my death should... cost yur life. Wha' about Ezren!"

Rayla had started to weakly attack him, her hands balled into fists harmlessly falling against his chest as she squeezed her eyes shut. Only for them to pop back open when she felt him grab her wrists, as if she wasn’t already on the verge of tears that small gentle contact flooding her heart with warmth and that wasn’t even enough already missing the feeling of him holding her close in a hug. It however wasn’t till her violet eyes met his emerald ones a few tears escaped, and oh how she was shaking as he looked back at her with a look so sincere that she nearly sobbed before he said something that flooded her heart with every last emotion she had till she ran out, "because I love you… I-I do."

Rayla broke, her brain took in those words, and they broke her. Tears quickly soaking her face unable to hold them back as she practically fell apart and Callum held her together. The elf nuzzled into the prince’s chest as he held her tightly his hands having pulled her into a hug, one laying comfortably on her head while the other rubbed circles in her back. She could have been their for hours and not have known nor cared. All she did know was she was in Callum’s arms and he loved her. She felt Callum’s own tears soon hit her hair as she’d probably already soaked his shirt in her own. Sources she didn’t know heartbeats could be so comforting as she listened to his, taking deep shuddering breaths, her subconscious noticing and becoming eternally thankful he’d had been able to take a bath.

The boy now smelling of dried ink and straggly figs and she found it to be just as she’d imagined he would, and it was perfect. Not that she specifically put thought into that… ok that was a lie, but you try to cuddle with somebody who hasn’t been able to bathe due to traveling and try not to imagine what they’d usually smell like. Not that she’d had the chance to either… Anyway Rayla jolted slightly trying not to fall over only to relax again as Callum slowly lowered them down to sit, his back coming to rest against the tree root. Rayla having been muttering what was probably pure nonsense to lost in her emotions to get a sensible word out till her sobs became hiccups and she finally could gasp out something so true it startled her, "I love ya too."

Rayla felt him hold her a bit tighter apparently having heard her despite his shirt probably muffling most of it. His hand continuing to rub circles on her back slowly steadying her breathing, Callum letting her shift her position to find a comfy spot in his lap. Which happened to end with her curled up as she griped his tunic as if it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart, and it was. She felt weak but safe, it was something he was really good at, he made it feel safe to be weak. Enough to make her calm down, calm enough to realize how useless she was being curled up in his lap. That later of that statement making her face overheat so having regained enough of herself to be embarrassed she hoped it was enough to put together a few coherent sentences or just one, "I'm sorry… I-I'm a mess… again, I-I ugh..."

It however seemed to be Callum's turn to shut her up, her rambling coming to a halt feeling his lips press against her left temple causing blush to almost definitely reach the tip of her ears. Callum removing his hand from her head to let her sit up a bit more only for her ears to burn when he whispered teasingly, "If you ever apology for having big feelings time again, I'll make your hair stay sparking for all eternity."

Rayla definitely couldn't help but giggle only to burst out laughing when he drew a small Fomanis rune with his free hand causing small sparks to form just in front of her face before it dissipated in quick tiny crackles. "Oh ya woulden' dare," Rayla blurted out in a fit of giggles, Callum’s smirk turning into a full-fledged grin.

Rayla had wanted to roll her eyes at his whole big feelings time, but she definitely felt better after letting it all out, not that she’d tell him. She will however wrap her arms around him and silently thank the moon that this dumb human exists and he’s hers. Her head coming to rest against his shoulder as he brought his hand from her back to run playfully through her hair. A feeling that was so relaxing it caused her to involuntarily close her eyes and hum only for her to jolt forward away from his touch and nearly headbutting him right in the eye when she realized he’d been about to reach her horns.

The action causing both to freeze in place silently thankful her arms had been busy holding him not having wanted to accidentally punch him on reflex. After a long pause Rayla finally looked to her left her gaze meeting his startled and slightly confused gaze. Dragons it was a feeling she shared her own heart going a mile a minute as it started to register what she had stopped him from doing. Then it hit her in one terrifying moment her eye’s went back into focus having been staring just passed Callum as she went as crimson as Callum’s scarf.

'He nearly touched my horns... and I stopped him,' Rayla thought, staring into his confused eyes gulping when she realized that she wanted him to.

Oh her face definitely felt like the sun knowing the only time elves usually let others touch their horns is with family and only one exception, marriage. Moonshadow elves in particular didn't necessarily care much for their horns with them only performing minimum maintenance to keep them clean. Sure, they were more sensitive than the rest of their skulls but that was by a miniscule amount, the only real reason for the whole engagement thing stemmed from the fact once you had a good grip on them you could pull that elf any which way.

Rayla however didn’t have time to really collect her thoughts with Callum picking up enough from her behavior to stammer out an apology, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry I didn't mean to."

Which was probably a blessing Rayla not entirely trusting her own thought process with the thoughts marked Callum as close to the thoughts labeled marriage as they were. That still didn’t stop her head from giving her one last traitorous thought as she felt him start to pull his hand away, 'he won't ever hurt you… let him.'

She couldn’t have even argued, any counter she had was left decimated by one little tidbit of information, the dummy had already tried giving up his life to save her. How was she not supposed to trust him with her heart? ‘Ugh fitting is so much easer then this,’ Rayla internally cursed as she let out a single breath causing Callum who was already worried he messed up to freez up in fear which did help with what was about to come out of her mouth, “It's oka' ya can touch them, I... trust ya.”

 Callum only blinked clearly surprised before very hesitantly, probably seeing how much blush had covered Rayla’s face, brought his hand back to her head. Stopping just short of her horns before asking voice full of concern and uncertainty, "Can you tell me what it means to touch an elf's horns?"

It was Rayla’s turn to blink suddenly feeling embarrassed, nervous, excited, disappointed and even ashamed. Disappointment at the fact he hadn’t just trusted her that it was okay, and she was still stuck in this horrible limbo between where she realized she wanted to show how much she trusted Callum and actually showing him that. The shame, however, was entirely her own fault having not told him what it means, ironically too scared to tell him what it means but she knew she had to. She had to tell him how much he meant to her.

So letting out one last deep breath she closed her eyes before opening them and meeting his own. Only to faulter slightly pulling her arms away to cross over her chest in a last cowerdly ditch effort to hide before what was about to come out of her mouth escaped, "it's… somethin' we only let others do if their family or those who… might, become family."

Rayla immediately wanted to slap herself for that phrasing as she saw the gears turning in Callum's head before realization and pure terror at the realization of what he’d been about to do and what she had just asked him to do reflected in Callum's eyes. She couldn’t have jumped to quickly stomp out whatever train reck of a thought she started quicker had all the time in the world to prepare, though maybe if she had a week it wouldn’t have come out in a rambling mess. "Not-not that tha is what I'm askin' it's just... crap, ok um… I-I just thought since we were already far off from... well tha' to begin with, but now we’re even further from it, a-an' everything just keeps gettin' more chaotic as we go, and it really just means ya have me’ complete trust and I trust ya too much ta trust anyone else with em,” ‘what am I even saying, there’s nobody else I’d trust near my horns,’ “an yur just everything- Oh sources dam it I’m a mess…”

Rayla ended her explanation hiding her face with her hand's barley allowing herself to peak out. She had of course been unable to keep herself from speeding up her ramblings near the end to the point she hadn’t quite realized just how much she admitted till it was too late. She wanted to crawl into a hole and die as she felt like she was warmer than the great sun forge in Lux Aurea. Only for a freezing cold shiver to run down her spine as she felt Callum’s five fingers shift forward and his thumb gently grazed her left horn, and it felt amazing. Her tense body instantly going limp falling back into Callum’s chest the boy easily catching her and propping her up against himself. Her pointed ear landing perfectly over his heart hearing it go faster than she thought possible.

She however proved to be pretty useless only able to smile loosely as she felt what was the equivalent of a full scalp message as his thumb gently traced her small horns. She didn’t even have to look up to know he was smiling at the results. Rayla however was able to resist the feeling enough to say or mumble really, “Yeah, that’s… perfect.”

Which did cause Callum to snicker slightly, though she could still tell he was nervous and not just from his heartbeat. He had however calmed enough down to whisper his breath brushing her other horn causing her to shiver, “Your everything to me too… and your my mess.”

Oh crescent moons he just had to say the most perfect sappy thing didn’t he, oh well it wasn’t like that was going to stop her from giving him a defensive and slightly snarky reply, “Oh shut up…”

Only he knew her well enough to just roll his eyes, not that she could see it but she could tell as she herd him shoot back in a whisper the earlier nervousness in his voice slightly overlapped with a moment of snarky confidence he’d been known to show on occasion, “you’ll have to make me…” and she would, later right now she just needed him to give the other horn some much needed attention.

Callum let out a deep sigh earning a giggle and probably a sarcastic eye roll from the adorable elf currently snuggling against his chest as if she hadn’t nearly given him a heart attack not even a few minutes ago. Heck she could probably hear how fast his heart was still going, who’s heart wouldn’t be after that. He’d been worried how’d she react if he told her he loved her but then she went and said she’d be fine letting him do what only family can do. His mind had nearly broke heck he was pretty sure he was still in shock when he found his hand back in her hair thumb grazing her horn.

Only to completely understand why she had wanted him to the second she went limp. Callum had never really been one for confidence, could barley talk to Claudia without getting flustered and he’d definitely butchered his words at the midnight desert after she’d kissed him. But Rayla wasn’t like that, she was confident to the point she sometimes used it as a shield. A shield that he’d seen a few times, used when she felt vulnerable and judging how relaxed she’d gotten just from touching her horns he realized it was her way of telling him the shield was down… she trusted him, she loved him back, that fact alone made his heart buzz. Though the small moment of wondering if she’d just asked him to get betrothed was still forcing an embarrassing amount of blush to his face as a small part of him secretly wanted to smile while the rest had panicked.

“Ya wanna share wha has ya so quite or if ye a still all panicked about it… why donna tell me wha yur dumb plan was after getten me ta be all over ya?” Rayla said breaking his train of thought her teasing voice causing his thoughts to trip.  That was till he noticed the slight nervousness in her voice her teasing had nearly hid. Callum grind almost wanting to put his hand on her head again to feel her horns, just to tell her everything was fine.

He however didn’t because her teasing had brought a little embarrassment to the surface, “wha- I wasn’t panic- ok yes you caught me off guard but it hadn’t been exactly terrifying…”

“pppfffft, oh really, well here I am trying to get ya back for jumping off a cliff after me,” Rayla retorted pulling away from his chest to look at him.

“That scared you,” Callum asked before he could stop himself having probably picked the worst thing to ask.

“Of course it bloody scared me! I looked up and saw ya plummeting to yur death after me. My heart practically gave out there.” Rayla shouted pulling even more back but still not quite leaving his lap as she threw a not so gentle punch at his shoulder.

Callum hissed flinching slightly but it hadn’t hurt so much as to start rubbing it. Callum saw a bit of her flared anger cool slightly at his reaction only to completely dissolve when he said before pulling her into his arms once again, “I was scared to.”

She had gone stiff as a reflex before settling in hugging him back, though Callum didn’t miss her muttering, “Dumb human,” under her breath which caused him to roll his eyes. They stayed like that for a moment Callum gently rubbing circles in her back enjoying how adorably small she was before he said remembering her other question and wanting to change the subject to something less tense, “I guess… I was manly going to just pretend I accidently learned magic without realizing it which would be easy really I’d just have to wait to pick up the cube at the Banther lodge and it would glow in my hands."

His answer earning a chuckle from the elf pulling away with an eye roll and saying with a sigh, "Callum what would ya do without me, that... actually never mind."

Rayla turned away looking back over the field leaving Callum confused before it clicked and a cheeky smile spread across his face as he said, "Your plan was basically the same wasn't it."

Rayla stilled for a moment before releasing a long breath falling back her head resting against his shoulder saying, "No... Okay fine, I was goin' to break into Katolis an' get you to learn magic sooner than the first time, and hope yur parents see it as proof humans don’t need dark magic."

Callum had to resist laughing as he responded, "Yeah, no your plan is way better, defiantly more thought out." Rayla only pulled away again trying to punch his shoulder but only grazed it because of the angle. Only to roll her eyes at her failed attempt and turn away saying matter of factly, "Well I was a wee bit preoccupied with the thought of how I would get there in tha first place… and how quickly I could get ya to blush once I did."

Rayla’s tone becoming far more confident and teasing at her last statement causing to Callum quickly blush remembering how a few of those stories with moderately good endings involving beautiful elves stealing humans away, though even in those stories it was more of a kidnaping. That thought however seemed to be painfully obvious as Rayla turned back around to meet his gaze her kind violet eyes proving to be a trap as they snuck passed his defenses before she even leaned close to his ear and whispered, "You knowww, with all those inaccurate stories about Elves I would assume at least one had a human fall for a rather beautiful elf."

Callum's blush went hotter than the sun spreading all the way back to his ears as Rayla burst out laughing holding her hands grabbing his shoulders for support as she said between laughs, "Sorry, sorry I just couldn't, help it, you should see how cute yer blushin' face is righ' now."

Callum found himself rolling his eyes at the entertained elf before grabbing her sides and pulling her in close causing her to stop mid laugh confused but before Rayla could react, he went on the attack, "Callum wha are you... No, Hahaha no stop it You'll regret it... Hahaha, your heartless."

Callum began tickling her as she struggled to get free of his arms twisting and turning to get out but proving to be too weak from all her laughing. This continued for a bit Rayla managing to twist all the way around with still no escape while Callum couldn’t help but grin listening to her threats and frankly adorable pleas for mercy before relenting and letting Rayla free of his attack. She pulled away a good foot and a half leaving his lap causing him some regret. She let out a huff looking back to Callum with a fake glair Callum before threatening, "I promise ya when you least expect it, when ya feel the safest, I will strike, and you will die laughin'."

Callum couldn’t help but chuckle already replying, "Oh no a blood thirsty elf is hunting me, I'm doomed."

This however only earned some sort of pout which when coming from a seven-year-old Rayla could be considered deadly as she rolled her eyes saying, "Oh, please no self-respecting Elf eats blood."

Callum raised an eyebrow at her choice of words before saying, not knowing the mistake he was about to make, "Doesn't that kind of imply that some non-self-respecting elves drink blood."

Rayla paled her gaze looked as though him like she saw an abyss before exploding, "WE DO NA, CALL THAT BANTHERS HIND DISGRASCED MOON RUBBLE AN ELF!"

Callum nearly fell over in surprise despite the fact he still had the tree root behind him, his mouth dropping open in an attempt to speak while trying to think of the right question to ask, "You sound like you met that... not elf."

Rayla only stood up and took a few steps forward her hanging at her sides with her hands balled into fists before she released them with a breath. The pause in speaking however persisted but as Callum went to prompt her she beat him to it, "Once technically, The Bloodmoon huntress, was around here hunting for her ritual, a ritual she uses ta cheat death, tha was technically only three moons ago. Facin' her was what made me want to be an assassin... an' caused my fear of water."

Callum couldn’t have cringed faster if he tried immediately kicking himself for bringing up a subject that brought up her fear let alone its cause. He also knew how Rayla viewed having fear so he quickly stood up slowly approaching her before stopping just a foot short hesitation to place a hand on her shoulder before saying, “I'm sorry I didn't mean bring that up, I didn’t know… I'm here if you want to talk about it."

Callum had partially- ok completely expected Rayla just shrug it off and say she's fine but instead she turns around to face him before he felt her hands cup his cheeks as she said with a laugh while also rolling her eyes for what must have been the tenth time today, "Of course I know you’re here Callum, don't worry your smooth skulled head, It technically happened years ago for me. Just hard to think about right now with, well this... HOW ARE WE EVEN HERE! WHAT EVEN BLOODY HAPPENED, AHHH!" Rayla suddenly pulled away taking a few steps from his eardrums as she whirled around to apparently yell at the world. 

Callum didn't need to think hard to know what she was mad about. Though he did have to concentrate to not chuckle the site of Rayla little and angry proving absolutely adorable. He partially failed a smile reaching his lips especially after realizing he was completely fine with the do over, sure he was still very interested to learn what the heck happened but he actually had very little to complain about. He also didn’t realize he had pulled her into a hug from behind his arms wrapping around her waist as he rested his chin in the crook of her neck. However when he did register he was holding her he relized he should probably say something to not make this an awkward hug rayla’s arms hanging stiff at her sides, “I  mean it’s not all bad, I mean sure we have no idea what happened to us and that’s probably going to keep me up at night a few times, and we have to start from scratch on the whole humans and elves peacefully existing… but once we do that you’ll have your parents and I wouldn’t have to lose my mom.”

Callum’s mood had completely fallen having been semi ignoring why exactly their circumstances were good. It was because of what they lost in the first place. Of course Rayla was definitely not having that tensing up as his voice had started to crack before separating from his hold just enough to turn around and hug him back tightly. Softly grabbing the back of his head to rest it in the crook of her neck. He felt a few tears escape his eyes as Rayla whispered clutching him tighter, “Oh sources Callum… I promise we’re going to stop that, it’s not even going to be a possibility. We won’t lose them, not again.”

She had begun to run her figures through his hair, the feeling allowing him to almost completely relax and even believe her just a little bit more. They stayed like that for a moment each absorbing the other one’s warmth and comfort. He felt Rayla give one more squeeze before slowly pulling back to look over his face with those gorgeous caring violet eyes. Her four fingered hand coming up to wipe some of the remaining glossiness in his eyes away. Only for the two to snort from slight laughter bringing their foreheads together. They were probably grinning like idiots now not that Callum could care with Rayla smiling at him like that.

It was the warm caring kind, the kind that felt like when you sit next to the fireplace with a nice warm cup of hot coco. Her smile however faltered slightly with the tips of her pointed ears twitching down droopingly, a tell that Callum had eventually figured out that told him she was concerned and apparently that feeling was for him with her obviously trying to change the subject to something a bit mor cheery, “You know… yur right about tha, the only thing that’s a real inconvenience is my size an strength, you still have ye magic after all… and if it means I can see you all small an adorable it’s already worth it.”

“Hay says the cute elf and here I thought it was hard not to get distracted before,” Callum had said wanting to shoot back only to realize what he had said.

Rayla’s teasing grin vanished for a second her eyes that had gleamed with humor going blank before a smirk graced her lips and she leaned in close knowing he had corned himself and whispered with not a hint of mercy in her tone, “Oh, was a beautiful elven assassin making it hard to focus when on their long journey?”

Callum went flush matching his scarf for what was probably the fifth time before in a rare moment of defensiveness said quietly while turning away, “Shut up…”

Rayla only grabbed him by the chin to pull his Gaze back to her and said plainly, “No,” and closed the distance with a quick kiss. It had only lasted a second unlike the first but they definitely found how soft the others were a bit distracting as they pulled away, almost forgetting what they’d been talking about. Almost as Rayla said still apparently a little smug about getting Callum flustered, “You know when we do end up telling everybody about yur magic… we can say I caught ya spien and I interrogated ya for an hour at blade point, it’d be close to the truth.”

He immediately chuckled looking down before countering, “yeah but didn’t I catch you sneaking up on me in the castle.”

“Hay you saw me sneaking up on ya, ya didn’t catch me… and I said close to the truth,” Rayla snaped back smiling.

They tried not to not laugh at the idea they really did but unable to hold back much more they both burst out laughing quickly falling over into the tall grass pulling apart only to clutch their sides from laughter. Though despite Callum already laughing he found himself grinning hearing her laugh, sure he’d heard her laugh a dozen times, but not like this. Those had been chuckles, teasing, or sarcastic, they had always been cut short. This was relaxed true laughter that wasn’t at risk of getting cut short to continue moving or set up camp, and as cliché as it was it reminded him of how calm clear nights felt and the eco in her voice that sounded like chimes in a soft breeze.

The moment feeling so small yet felt like everything filled his chest with warmth as their laughter subsided. He was probably smiling dumbly as he turned his head to look at her only to be greeted with a playful eye roll before she reached her hand out and slipped it into his. The way her four fingers fit perfectly between his five being one of the many reasons he liked holding her hand. This was perfect and he loved it in fact it was so perfect he didn’t realize he started speaking, “Your laugh is perfect…”

Rayla’s eyes widened a bit in surprise before she gave him a smug look that told him he was about to be teased. Callum only able to nervously blush as she raised an eye brow and said, “Oh, perfect huh, an how is m’ laugh perfect?”

“Uhhmm, I just never heard you really laugh… Like that I mean, we never really had the opportunity to just…”

“Relax,” Rayla finished for him growing slightly solemn her grip on his hand tightening ever so slightly.

Callum felt himself give a slightly nervous smile as he returned the gesture, her hand feeling like it belonged in his. Rayla gave her own soft smile in reply as they lay there in calm silence, till she broke it a few seconds later with soft held back snickers. Callum rolled his own eyes a slight feeling of inverted DeJa’Vu passing him as he said, “Ok now it’s your turn to tell me why you’re laughing.”

“Oh no reason…” Rayla said in a tone that made him worry toped with a grin as she continued, “just wondering how you’d act around Claudia at this age.”

Callum’s blush having been slowly calming down now returned to his cheeks only for Rayla to continue even rolling on her side to get a better view of the results of her teasing, “oh come on, you must’ve been tha cutest awkward mess.”

“I uhhh, it’s not like… I was six with a crush okay,” Callum exclaimed becoming slightly exasperated, his eyes darting away from her gaze in hesitant attempts to hide feeling rather cornered.

“Pffft I know Callum, just adorable pictur’en it is all… though I canna help but wonder what would ya act like if we met at this age…” Rayla trailed of causing herself to blush even rolling onto her back as if to hide herself.

It would be absolutely correct to say Callum was one, more flustered then he could remember being minus there first kiss at the midnight desert and two, he was caught so completely off guard by the idea of how they would have acted if they’d met this soon in there lives before that he just said the first thing that came to mind, “I would be completely hopeless.”

Only for him to of course realize what he’d said when Rayla turned back to him looking somewhere between amused and flustered her violet eyes slightly wide before relaxing a smug grin reaching her lips. Callum felt himself edge back on the grass only slightly only for Rayla to roll back over on her side her right hand coming to rest on his chest. The boy gulping slightly as she said all teasingly, “Oh have a new crush now. An here I thought we were just good o’ childhood friend then?”

Callum quickly found his embarrassment turn to snickering before saying, “I don’t think anyone would believe that.”

Rayla was now grinning before she sat up shifting to kneel next to him before tilting her head in a way she had to know made his heart flutter. Before she leaned closer her right hand returning to his chest just over his heart as she teased, “Would we be that obvious now?”

Callum’s smile went slightly shy before glancing to the ground before back up at her and replying, “I would be…”

“Hmmmm, I’d be oblivious to myself mostly, till yu’d do somthin’ dumb an I’d get all worried… an almost say I love ya…” Rayla had started of with confidence before blush quickly took over her face. A look of realization passed over Callum’s face before saying in partial shock, “like right after I learned the sky arca-.”

Callum was however interrupted when he found Rayla’s lips shutting over his own. Rayla had leaned to far forward to bridge the gap forcing her to roll partially over him laying partially across his chest. It was only as her left hand left his and came to rest on his shoulder did they part. Their heads coming to gather as she said through laughed breaths, “dummy.”

Despite the name calling Callum found himself grinning ear to ear, Rayla’s cheeks still pink with blush. She of course gave him a playfull eye roll but couldn’t hide the small smile that formed on her lips. Only for the young elf to let out a deep sigh her eye’s glancing down slightly before returning to his emerald gaze saying the disappointment clear in her voice, “Ya probably hav ta get goin’ by now… I’d hate for anyone ta think I was holden the prince of Katolis hostage now would I.”

Her tone had picked up a bit after her attempt at finding the humor in the situation, but Callum still felt his face drop slightly before she pulled away getting up. Only realizing he should probably say something when she reached a hand out to help him up, “Yeah, the servants probably realized I’m not in my usual spots by now, they should notice I’m actually missing in maybe in another hour or two…”

Rayla looked amused if a bit solemn before slightly leaning more to her left side and putting her hands on her hips and saying clearly entertained with herself, "No offence Callum but you and sneaking around are two entirely opposite things that do not mix, like at all."

Callum however rolled his eyes knowing she was just deflecting from the fact that he had to leave. So placing his hands comfortingly on her shoulders he said with a reassuring smile, "You know I'll come back, right. We could maybe even write letters with crow mail." 

Rayla immediately looked to the ground clearly getting a bit flustered before she glanced slowly back up to him, "I know. It's just… I wish we could get-a bit more time getten ta know each other. We were pretty busy saven the world from all-out war an all. We dinna realy have time ta…”

“Learn each other’s favorite color,” Callum finished.

Rayla snorted tilting her head before saying her tone clearly amused, “Yeah that…”

They hadn’t meant to, but they stayed like that for a moment lost in each other’s eyes. Callum almost taking the opportunity to return some of her earlier kisses, but Rayla broke the silence with a sigh before he could try, "Callum, how can you be an absolute buffoon and an endearing human prince at the same time?"

Callum straitened up slightly his arms falling to his sides feeling a little self-conscious at her comment resisting before stammering out with a shrug, "Um... It's a gift."

Rayla rolled her eyes before taking a step forward almost completely removing the distance between them. Her hands immediately making their way up front of his shirt before resting on his shoulders grabbing the fabric slightly while giving him a mischievous smile, "So, what do you need to send a crow, your highness?"

Callum felt himself go completely red having rarely heard her use a title with him unless it involved clear levels of teasing. It had caught him completely of guard recovering enough to barley get his answer out, "I... Uh- just need some hair... and I'd probably need to show them a picture of you, and a map."

Rayla chuckled before stepped back half-a-foot and reached down pulling a small blade from her boot. The knife easily cutting a small fingers length worth of hair as she said, "must be some smart birds, will this much do?"

Rayla held out the hair to Callum while raising her knee up to slide the blade back into it’s hiding place. Callum reached for it thinking about her point quickly getting lost in thought, "Yeah, well we do have these way maps I think we call them, we don’t use them often but there handy for giving them an unnamed area to search…"

Callum trailed of not realizing he had just started holding her hand with the peace of hair between. A fact Rayala was quick to tease about, "A Callum, ya gonna give my hand back, right?"

Callum’s hand immediately shot back his blushing face showing no signs of fading to it’s normal color as Rayla continued to give him a sly smile. The rather self-conscious prince quickly pocketing the hair before starting to nervously scratch the back of his neck and said breaking eye contact a few times before even getting the words out, "Sorry I..."

Of course she wasn’t going to let him get much more of that out her hands lightly shoving him away only to fallow after him and pull him right back by the bottom of his shirt. Her eyes looking somewhere between sarcastic and adoration, giving him a look that told him she thought he was adorable as she said her tone much the same, "Callum I'm teasing ya, yur just adorable, of course ya can hold my hand were d-..."

Callum hadn’t missed it his eyes widen slightly realizing she’d been about to say dating. Well obviously they were a thing but they hadn’t quite got around to naming it. They were still figuring each other out after all, even if the idea of calling Rayla his girlfriend sat rather well in the back of his mind. Ok yeah he’d definitely like it but he was no way in all of Xadia going to rush that. (even if the idea sat well with Rayla too ;) ) After the little slip however the moment had turned well into a bit of an awkward silence Rayla even getting slightly flustered as she went to change the subject, “So uhh, How often do you think yur can make the trip here?”

The question pulled Callum from his thoughts stuttering slightly as he came up with an answer, “Oh ummm, I think a weak, two at most depends on how busy everyone else is.”

Callum felt his heart tug noticing the slight droop in her ears as she lightly nodded before replying, “Ok, there are worse fates then being pen pals, but ya should know my standard non elvish is pretty terrible... and ya need to do me a favor, well promise me something really."

“Uh yeah of course, what is it?” Callum asked giving his best attempt at a reassuring smile seeing the slight concern on her face. Rayla, however, pulled him even closer then they’d been her arms wrapping around him in a smooth quick motion as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. Tightening the hug ever so slightly as she asked her voice quite as her breath slightly tickled his neck, "It’s rather obvious really but… if we get caught together promise me, you'll run, and I mean actually run don't stay and talk. I don't want ya at any point captured, I'll even buy ya time."

Callum of course immediately protested, “Rayla I’m not going to leave you to fend for yourse-.”

“It’s not like last time…” Rayla said  pulling away enough to look him in the eyes, having guessed he’d been thinking of the last time she had told him to run for it and she’d stay and fight a whole damn army.

Taking a breath she continued her violet eyes boring into his soul as she did, “It’s not like I’ll get into that much trouble for playing with a kid my age, human or elf. Most I can expect is a mounths grounding for not telling about my knew human friend… but wha happens if ya go missing for more than a day?”

Callum felt his face go pale knowing it would barley be into the second day before his mom relented and had Viren cast a spell to find him, and he definitely didn’t want to see the day human’s finds out a prince is being held in Xadia by elves. “Nothing good,” he found himself saying bringing him out of it. Of course as he got back from his thousand yard stare and looked back at Rayla’s stupidly adorable seven-year-old face he couldn’t help but add, "but only if you promise me you’ll actually be fine."

Rayla chuckled looking to the grass between them at his request before starting to bring her head back up to look at him saying amused, "I’ll be fine, no elf is gonna hold a seven year old accountable… they’ll just assume ya tricked me, or after given it a moment of thought tha yur actually just here ta see me and na some dark mage scout."

Callum of course read between the lines and got the underlying messeage, ‘yur an adorable six year old and definitely look like the type of kid to discover magic and come over to Xadia first thing to play with the cute elf girl’ which to be honest he probably, ok definitely was the type, and he’d definitely have done that had that been the case. The thought making him blush Rayla’s knowing and smug look in her eyes not helping. So, he went for the first change of subject he could think of, "uh D-do you want to see the mage wing s- the wing spell. You know for flying."

‘Oh gods kill me now,’ Callum internally cried having absolutely butchered and second guessed himself so much in that one simple question. How could he still be so awkward around her, well one she was absolutely adorable, two he still wasn’t used to having a girl love him, and three he hadn’t exactly explained the spell earlier so it all sort of came out at once. A fact Rayla couldn’t help but laugh at pulling away only to lean over trying to stifle the laughter in her hands, with poor results.

Resisting the urge to find a good place to hide Callum formed his hands into a ball trying not to fidget. Looking down to the ground to try and cool down his face before finally looking back at Rayla as her laughter subsided. The look in her eyes causing his heart to flutter before she even spoke, “Oh Callum, wha am I ta do with ya… sure I’d like ta see wha I’m probably gonna use as a pillow at some point.”

His embarrassment almost completely subsided, though his face still held a twinge of pink with her implying she wanted to cuddle with him later. He couldn’t even help but grin at how she found his awkwardness apparently endearing. Though realizing he should probably respond at some point he stumbled a bit more with his word, “Oh right- the wings… Manus. Pluma. Volantus.”

Callum had taken a step back ignoring the second giggle his stumbling with his words had earned him from Rayla. As the feathers shot out he watched the smile spread across her lips while he steadied himself. Barley giving him time to stretch or shake off the initial weird feeling of the longer limbs he found her already next to him her hand immediately tracing over some of his feathers. The feeling was similar to your hair standing un end, almost tickling the two smiling warmly in comfortable silence though that didn’t keep the two from blushing and shyly glancing away when she turned her head to him. The small silence was broken soon after, Rayla saying mostly to herself, "There so soft, to bad ya dinnea have these on our way to the storm spire… ya think ya can spare a few feathers to the elf ya met sneaking into Xadia?"

It was a miracle Callum hadn’t ran out of blood with how much had been rushing to his head. Especially with Rayla turning to meet his gaze her right hand still nestled in his feathers as she gave him a sly smirk. “Uh yeah, there all yours,” Callum said nodding.

Rayla’s smile turning from sly to a full out grin while her hands went to the more medium feathers. “Just, well sorry if this hurts a bit,” Rayla said right as she pulled three feathers free.

Callum immediately flinched but that was it, the pain leaving him quicker than it had arrived. That didn’t stop Rayla from looking concerned asking bringing her hand to his cheek, “Sorry, you okay?”

Callum of course nodded smiling as he looked back into her concerned eyes, “Yeah I’m fine, felt like getting a few hairs pulled.”

A small smile reached her lips before pulling him into a hug. Trying to return it Callum found it rather awkward trying to hug someone with wings for arms. Though Rayla didn’t seem to mind saying quietly, “Thank you.”

Callum leaned his head against her’s hearing the sadness hidden in her voice. A sadness that quickly reached his own heart getting remined that this was goodbye, for now at least. "I'll see you soon," Callum heard himself say not knowing if he was telling himself or her maybe it was both. He only felt her hug him tighter, an action he tried to reciprocate with his wings. He felt her start to pull away and as much as he wished for the moment to last longer he let his hold on her if you can even call it that slip. Only she barley made it more than an inch away before she closed that distance right up and he found her lips pressed against his.

He was startled for a split second (a habit he was hoping to shake) before he immediately kissed her back. He could feel her smile against his lips as he returned it staying like that for a moment before it deepened. Her soft lips making it impossible to count the seconds but it quickly became obvious this was already quite a bit lounger than their previous kisses, not that Callum was complaining. It wasn’t till it deepened a bit more did he start to feel a twinge of panic. Her hands sliding up from around his waist to his shoulder blades and with his wings throwing off his balance it might as well been a vice grip while she explored his mouth.

Now he had definitely heard of these kinds of kisses and had maybe thought about it once or twice, though even thinking about it made him rather embarrassed with himself. The knowledge that Rayla was kissing him like that however… broke him. He couldn’t even feel flustered as his only thoughts were either panicked gibberish or busy returning it. It wasn’t till he realized how this looked that it cleared his brain up enough. Pulling away he nearly stumbled before steading himself just a few inches from her, their eyes flying open at the same time before Callum said catching his breath, “Rayla, were… not even ten yet.”

Rayla pressed her lips together before stifling a chuckle snorting slightly while looking down for a second. Looking back up the elf finally replied, “So, ya still Callum, just a wee bit cuter really… one every now an then wona hurt, besides yur lucky I found yur name in tha scout report, the first day here I could barely focus wonderin if you were real and tha wasn’t some very detailed dream. You’d have passed out from lack of air if I hadn’t.”

Rayla broke out into a smile slightly rocking back and forth as Callum started to match the color of roses. Seeing the stuck processing look on his face Rayla let out a giggle before leaning back in and placing another quick gentle kiss. His brain starting up again as her lips brushed his own before she pulled back sliding out of his feathered arms her own coming to rest on his shoulders. As his eyes went back into focus she tilted her head saying teasingly, “Aww, it’s not fair how can ya look this adorable when all flustered now, ya cannae even-”

"You thought I was a dream?" Callum asked interrupting sounding concerned tipping on the edge of horrified as he processed what he had heard.

'Did I even think she could've been a dream,' rang in the back of his mind like an interrogation, the answer feeling like a punch to the gut, he had, but he could still use magic so if that was real she was too, but she would have only her memories to work with. His eyes quickly widened in the horror as her mouth snaped shut and after a pause barley nodding while looking down clearly not wanting to relive it. Callum felt his guts turn realizing what she must have went through, just how awful it would have been to live through a whole day not knowing. His throat went dry as soon as he tried to speak again, "Rayla... I-I'm... sorry-."

Rayla immediately looked back up at him her eyes slightly glazed over but heald a determined look he recognized as she said cutting him off with a smile, "Ya don't have to apologies Callum, wasn’t yur fault we woke up eight years younger, I don’t even know how bad yu’d have ta mess up ta do this… but if you insist on feeling bad like I know ya dumb sappy human will, I know something ya can do to make it up to me."

Callum barley waited a second before nodding, before immediately realizing his mistake Rayla’s smile having become mischievous before she said raising her hand to his cheek, "I want unrestricted access tooo, these." She quickly moved her hand in fount of Callum before he felt her finger against his lips.

Callum immediately got the message swallowing a bit as she pulled her hand away for him to repliy. Callum trying hard not to stammer out his response barley away of Rayla slowly leaning forward closing the distance between them, "Yeah... um I can... do that... if... mphh."

He found himself in yet another kiss though it wasn’t quite as… invasive as the one had been. He could feel his heart spike and slow before she pulled away again slowly saying with a smile that told him she knew he was wrapped around her finger, "mmmm, thanks, now ya need to get going, before I actually do decide to take ya hostage."

Rayla then gave him another quick kiss on the cheek before giving him a playful shove. Which was a mirical Callum hadn’t fallen over after stumbling back after going through though that dazing storm of flustered emotions on top of his inexperience balancing with wings. He steadied himself somehow as his mind was still racing his face still blushing and knowing he needed to leave before she made him pass out from her teasing Callum felt himself give a shy smile before saying a slight pain hitting his chest looking back to her eyes realizing this was bye, “I-… I hope I can sneak away again soon…”

Rayla crossed her arms smiling though he could still see some sadness in her face before covering it up with teasing, “I’ll be here, just make sure ya don’t go getting the other Katolian girls fallen for ya, especially Claudia.”

“Um, no one realy had a crush on me before soo… no problem there,” Callum awkwardly replied his folding in his wings.

Rayla only raised an eye brow before looking him up and down making it imposible to not be self-conscious before she said leaning more on her left side, “Ya sure ya weren’t just dense?”

Callum’s mouth opened to reply only to hesitate seeing as his track record in that department was awkward at best before saying more embarrassed then defeated, “U- No…”

The smug smirk that played across Rayla’s lips made his cheeks burn and wanting to escape the embarrassment and having nothing else he could think of to say he stretched out his arms to take off. He shot up angled slightly forward managing to catch the air before he fell back to the ground quickly flapping to keep what little altitude he had. Circling around the field till he got more then ten feet unable to hide his smile as he passed over Rayla a few times with her smiling back. As he’d gained enough to comfortably maneuver around the trees he spared one last glance back to Rayla who gave him a small wave that warmed him all the way to his heart before he turned to start his way back over the border.

Rayla watched as maneuvered between the large trees before passing behind one and out of sight. No sooner then he had she brought her hands up to cover her mouth before moving them to her ears as if she was washing her face. An action she was repeating in hops to scrub the blush from her face as her mind scolded herself, ‘What did I do, what did I just do….’

Unfortunately that was proving ineffective, choosing to now scream into her hands. “Mmmmhhhaa,” ‘I took it to far, he was just so adorable I got carried away and dam he earned that kiss though. Yeah but would he want it, he’s a prince an tha kind of kiss isn’t exactly… made for etiquette. Ugh I was to much of a mess, oh, well, yeah nothing I can do about it now. At least he didn’t seem completely scared off… only a little, but it’s fine.’

If only she could convince her heart her face despite her best attempts turning bright pink surprising herself that she hadn’t died blushing earlier. Still she forced herself to relax with a heavy set sigh. Looking down to her right hand she found his feathers their stems clutched between her thumb and first finger, ‘he hadn’t exactly complained about that either…’ So, smiling as she looked over the brown feathers she turned back deciding to make her way home early as her heart beat settled to an ever so slightly quicker pace then usual.

Sarai was very bord to say the least and it was definitely starting to show. It was the fifth meeting of the day a fifth meeting of discussing trade, concerns and wich nobles were mad at each other with only a minute long lunch to break them up and that was a few hours ago. 'I would take anything at this point if it means I didn’t have to be in this meeting right now,' was becoming a rather repeated thought as the topic of the new road was finally being settled but before anyone could bring up the next topic of discussion her prayers were seemingly answered when a servant walked rather hurriedly up to the table next to her looking vary nerves.

"Yes?" Sarai asked only slightly concerned with the look on his face getting out weighed by the hop that this was something urgent that needed her to leave the meeting early. The servant, girl barley in her twenties looking terrified as she could barley get the words out, "Your highness, we... can't find... prince Callum... we've already started searching the castle."

That instantly crushed her earlier prayers guilt hitting her like bricks to the gut. When she’d said or thought she’d take anything to get out of this meeting in no conceivable universe was that her son going missing. Though she had even less time to feel guilty already asking and dreading the answer from the poor servant girl who had to give the queen and a mother whatever bad news she had, “How long ago was he last seen, by anyone.”

The entire console room grew tense having already been silent when the servant had appeared, now however there full attention was on the servant girl as she answered practically trembling, "when we... brought him breakfast... and we've started searching an hour ago."

Saria didn't bother asking to be excused getting up resisting the urge to punch something with Harrow giving her a nod along with a concerned yet hopeful look that told her everything was going to be ok as she started to the door followed by the servant girl. Her thoughts starting to fume all the while, ‘how the hell dose someone lose track of my son for that long, and they only just noticed!’ 

Walking quickly they made their way down the different halls until running into a guard going the other way before he turned to walk next to Saria already giving her a report, "We’ve already searched the lower levels from the gate, and we sent out a few to the town just in case, what's left is the higher floors of the castle and towers."

Saria nodded as they turned the corner not masking her agitation at the fact her son was missing on her face or in her voice, "He might have gone to one of the towers to try sketching the landscape, I'll take the west tower it’s being used for storage at the moment so there’s less foot traffic there so no one may have seen him. You get others to check the rest and you (Turn to the servant), please go ask lord Verin if any of the castles hidden paths could have been found, he knows where a few of them are."

"Yes, your highness,” the servant and captain said in complete unison before they split off to do their separate tasks. Sarai however continued her way to the tower not bothering to address those she passed barley slowing her pace to turn corners nearly knocking other guards who were also probably searching for Callum. She wasn’t even sure if she apologized as she continued passed though considering they looked frantic as well it didn’t matter much. Soon though she found herself at the tower door before pushing the door open with barely any hesitation. Inside it was as she pictured a few dozen so wooden crates some old artwork in the corner, however what caused her to feel relieved was finding a small boy wearing a blue jacket leaning against windowsill passed out in sleep.

Sarai smiled with a heavy sigh walking into the room and making her way to the sleeping Callum who was drooling on the pillow that was his right arm. His book laid to his left still open with his newest work left visible. Kneeling down and turning it towards her she felt a bit of surprise not finding a landscape, well one of the landscapes around here anyway. It was of the same elf as he had drawn before though this still lacked the detail of a finished sketch but even so, she could tell there were several slight differences in her appearance. She turned to find the first drawing of her, confirming the slight differences in horn shape and facial features before looking over the rest of the drawing.

The biggest difference being he had actually drawn in the world around her depicting a field of tall grass with the elf sitting against a tree looking out to the field. She couldn’t help but smile at the drawing before quietly closing the book and finding the bag designed for this particular book next to Callum on the floor before slipping it in. With the book secure along with its pencil she slinged it over her shoulder before turning to her still unconscious Callum scooping him up with little effort. She’d barley made it to the door before he started to stir awake in her arms. His voice still dazed with sleep as his eyes open “mmmmh Ray… what?”

Sarai smiled down at her son still groggy from sleep with her quickly reassuring him as she continued walking, "It's ok sweety, It's just me, looks like you haven't been getting enough sleep again. If this keeps up were going to need to talk, but for no why don’t we get you back to your room, and maybe we can get you some warm milk to help you sleep better, how’s that sound?" Callum took a moment blinking seemingly still to exhausted to think as she readjusted her hold on him cradling his knees in her left arm with his left wrapped around her neck as to not fall before he nodded rather limply. Sarai let out a humored breath as she smiled down at him before leaning down to kiss his forehead. She continued her way back to Callum's room only stopping to let the guards know the search over with her making a mental note to herself, 'If they think they're getting off easy just because I found him napping in a secluded corner there going to be in for a rude awakening. How in the world can they even loose track of one kid especially one this sweet… Well at least I won't feel bad about the extra chores there going to be assigned.’ So, with the servants’ punishment decided she continued needing to get this one in bed. 

Chapter Text

Rayla was in a word ecstatic, and not because she was currently running circles around Runaan’s other students. Ok that definitely didn’t hurt her mood but it was a bit unfair considering she had a few years more training and knew their older selves’ strengths and weaknesses. Still it was a challenge given they were still older than her. Not that losing a few rounds of sparing even chipped the good mood she was in, unable to keep herself from smiling even after getting knocked to the ground. The reason for her upbeat attitude that remained unknown by her fellow elves was yesterday’s visit from a certain cute human prince. Though his visit didn’t just get her all giddy, it also made it far to easy to relax and not feel the weight of the world on her shoulders.

Although that brought it’s own downside Rayla feeling rather guilty that she had to leave most of it to Callum, but it wasn’t like she could do much. So rather than feel useless about herself she decided to stay in the moment. "Okay you’ve all been improving... but ya all need to work on your weakness more than your strengths only then may we improve them," Runaan said addressing the group all lined up after training being the perfect thing to bring her back into the moment, though with her good mood it was rather hard to remain serios and not smile. 

"Andromeda work on yur footing, Skor more power behind your swing, Callisto keep moving instead of holding your ground so much," Runaan said going down the line up getting to the last two. "Ram stop being flashy with the blade work trust me it looks good enough when mastered, and Rayla... your form is slopy and slightly off but miles ahead in skill than any other seven-year-old has the right to be, so just keep working through your moves so you get used to them," Runaan finished earning a slight chuckle from everyone except Ram with their teachers comment about his blade work clearly embarrassing him a bit. Though with a glare from Runaan the group grew slightly solemn before he had turned back to address Rayla.

Now she’d met them before and thankfully this before was when she’d moved in with Runaan and Ethari, she’d talked to them a few times before she’d been deemed ready to train with the rest of them. Now however that had come a lot sooner, having originally joined the group when she was ten, and it hadn’t come without the usual growing pains, the usual not giving it you’r all because you didn’t know how much the other could handle, basic sizing up. A fact Runaan had scolded them for holding back and hesitating and she was the youngest so fair, but that quickly went away when she kept knocking them on there backsides because of there hesitation. It became a real good lesson in not underestimating your opponent due to their age or appearance.

The growing pains this time were actually quite apparent considering as a seven year old her strength was rather limited and they definitely couldn’t go all out. Still Runaan found a way around it, using it as an opportunity to teach them about better controlling there swings when sparing with her, and Rayla’s small size and speed plus her knowledge made the fights pretty fair. Although with how often she saw an opportunity to exploited their weaknesses she came across as a true prodigy of the craft.

So far however, they had received her warmly not seeming to mind her age gap when it came to her skills. Right now, however they’d made it through another day of training made official by Runaan declaring, "that's all for today time to let you all regain your strength, and please rember to stay active before winter sets in even when not training we don't want you all lethargic when the first snow hits and were training in the cold, or I'll insist we go over camping technics during the next blizzard." The amusement in his voice however didn't carry to the rest of them some of them looking pale with dread. A sentiment Rayla would have to agree with because that was by far the worst training they ever had. That was a problem for later when the air actually started biting, so pushing it to the side of her mind she watched the others leave saying their byes for the night before turning to Runaan with her immediate most pressing issue, "So… what do ya think Ethari is making for dinna. I'm betting it’s some roasted crackle bird."

"What makes ya so sure of that? An' its only three, dinna isn't till seven or are ya already so big ya need that much food?"

"Well considerin' yesterday he complained about one making a mess in the forge and keeping him up at night but didn't this morning, tells me it’s already in the cellar. Also, I never said I was planning to eat now, I was just wonderin'."

"Your skills in observation is startin' to get concerning Rayla," Runaan said jokingly as they started making their own way home.

Rayla trailing behind him returning a slightly smug grin, "well I was the one to find the sky wing boy, so I'd say they were already pretty good to begin with." 

That earned the rare smirk from her dad before looked away ahead of them with a slight roll to his eyes as he said, “yur never goin’ ta let us live tha one down now are ya.”

“Nope,” Rayla replied grinning before he reached his hand over coming to rest on her shoulder blades as he smiled back.

They continued on like that for a bit in comfortable silence before finally reaching home. Runaan holding the door open for her as she stepped inside. Entered the kitchen the two found Ethari already there mixing something in a bowl while he hummed to himself. Rayla immediately saw an opportunity to sneak up on him but before she could even start he spoke apparently already knowing what she was about to do sounding annoyingly amused, "How was training you two?"

Rayla of course stopped standing straight up from the slightly crouched position she’d literally just gotten into before saying, "I'm beginnin' to think it's unfair that ya have eyes in the back of yur head."

"Well, I married an assassin, it helps to see behind me. Now go wash up, dinner might not be ready soon but I'm not havin' you get any dirt near the food."

"For your information I'm as clean as ever, but fine if ya want to be sure," Rayla said while smiling a slight bit of snark tracing the edges of her voice while already walking backwards to the doors that led deeper into the dwelling.

Knowing that Ethari probably just wanted some alone time with Runaan she was happy to take her time washing up. Leaving the kitchen Rayla released a breath before heading down the hall to the bathroom. Now while bathrooms in the silver grove were not vary fancy they were functional only really having a cabinet, mirror, two water pumps one for the small basin like a bird bath for washing their faces or just rinsing out their mouth after brushing their teeth, and the larger basin for bathing. 'I wonder what bathrooms in Katolis are like, maybe they have heated water like the Sunfire elves, though tha would probably be from dark magic… or maybe they had a few sun rubies lying around.' Rayla found herself thinking as she opened the door.

Looking in the mirror Rayla quickly got to work scrubbing the dirt from her face realizing she probably needed to change out of her training gear to with it now sporting more grass stains and splotched of dirt then it had this morning. Wiping her face mostly dry she turned and made her way to her room quickly rummaging through drawers finding a change of clothes.

Changing into a simple teal tunic and blue pants she decided now was as good of time as any to flop down on her bed and let her sore muscles relax. 'I really hate having to break in my body for fighting again, seriously I remember being able to do hundred sets of each exercise as just a warmup now I can barely make it to a hundred pushups,' Rayla complained to herself as she laid there before sitting up wanting to go help Ethari with dinner before something else grabbed her attention. 

Turning Rayla’s eyes widened slightly, finding the source of the noise outside her window. A rather determined crow making itself known pecking on the glass. Rayla almost surprised quickly got up making her way to the window before opening it the crow immediately jumping inside flying over to the desk in the corner of the room. Rayla started to wondered about the bird's strange behavior before Callum immediately came to mind and the scroll tied to its leg just confirmed it. “So this is crow mail,” she said to herself slightly impressed he had gotten a crow to actually find her and this quickly too. Rayla went over to the desk usually reserved for homework as the crow used his beak to pull at the thread on his foot untying the scroll. Rayla offered thanks to the smart bird nodding as she picked up the paper breaking the wax seal with the letter 𝓒 molded into it. 

Unrolling it Rayla remembered that one little problem about being pen pals with Callum, humans and elves didn't wright in the same script and she wasn’t fluent. Her training as an assassin who had to sneak into other lands did involve learning other written languages, but her reply wouldn’t be pretty.

𝓢𝓸, 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓯𝓾𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓶𝓪𝓹𝓼 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓪. 𝓟𝓵𝓾𝓼, 𝓘’𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓽 𝓪 𝓯𝓮𝔀 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓼𝓸 𝓲𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓹𝓵𝓾𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓰𝓷𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓼𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓼𝓸 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓵𝓾𝓬𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓵𝓵 𝓫𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼. 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓘 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮…

Rayla paused to roll her eyes knowing he probably drew a perfect copy with that memory of his. Though she still had to give the bird props for finding this place from a drawing, so sparing a glance to the feathered creature she continued reading.

𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓘’𝓶 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓽’𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓮, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓵𝔂 𝓹𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝔂 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓮𝓹𝓵𝔂 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓭’𝓼 𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓾𝓼𝓾𝓪𝓵 𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓽. 𝓐𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓼𝓸 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓘’𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓹𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓮… 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝔃𝓮𝓭 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓷’𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓫𝓾𝓼𝔂 𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓮, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽’𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓵𝔂 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓶𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓭𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓼 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓸 𝓘’𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓯𝓯. 𝓔𝔃 𝓲𝓼 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓸, 𝓸𝓱 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓱, 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝔀𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝔀𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓱 𝔀𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓔𝔃 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷, 𝓭𝓪𝓭 𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓰𝓲𝓯𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓰𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓬𝓾𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓵𝔂 𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓰. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂’𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓘’𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓪 𝓼𝓴𝓮𝓽𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮.  

𝓞𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓘 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷… 𝓘 𝓶𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓻𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓥𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻, 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓾𝓹, 𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓮𝔂𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓱 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓻𝓾𝓷 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽, 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘’𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝔂𝓹𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓰𝓾𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝔂 𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓪 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮, 𝓐𝓵𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓮.  

𝓤𝓱 𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽, 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾’𝓻𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓵… 𝓛𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾.

Rayla blushed realizing the part he had scratched out was her eye color before laughing knowing he had to be getting all flustered at the end of writing that. She soon set the letter down grinning while going to find some spare paper and a quill and of course ink from the desk. Finding it she started painstakingly writing a reply in the human script while the crow continued to watch. To say it looked like a toddler wrote it would be an understatement while also slightly correct in this case, but with it being legible and having cross referenced hers with a few words she’d been unsure of with Callum’s letter it was good to go in her book. Grabbing a nearby candle she quickly lit it with some flint she also kept in her desk and used the wax to seal the roll of paper. As the wax cooled, she used her nail to carve a human R into the wax before realizing she needed to put his name on the outside, so grabbing the quill again she placed it right next to the seal. "Rayla, ya goin' to help, or is this yur way of sayin' we should do it ourselves," came Runaan's teasing voice from down the hall causing her to jump slightly.

Rayla quickly tied the scroll to the bird's feet probably accidently tying a knot while calling back thinking of an excuse off the top of her head, "I'll be down in a minute I'm... braiding my hair." She then grabbed a moon berry from what remained in the pouch she had brought into her room yesterday as a snack, before giving it to the crow as a snack as she got it to perch on her hand. It quickly ate the berry, as she got to the window before setting it down as it happily finished its snack. Seeing the last of its food Rayla immediately began encouraging the bird off, "Ok run along, or fly rather back to Katolis." The bird seeming to take a second almost as if saying sure before it flew off. No sooner had it left did Rayla quickly start to braid her hair moving back to the desk in the process before pausing seeing the three brown feathers Callum gave her through the crack in the drawer and blushing slightly she grabbed two of them before beginning to braid them into her hair before running back to Ethari and Runaan.

Callum slowly opened his eyes the enveloping softness starting to wake him up remembering he had last been sketching in his book. Instead, he found himself in his bed that seemed far more comfortable than he remembered, until he moved his arms immediately realizing why his bed was extra cozy his libs feeling like led as they moved the memories of yesterday flooding back with the pain. Though even the burning muscles didn’t stop him from smiling as he remembered Rayla immediately getting lost in thought. Thinking about how her hair shimmered, her eyes gleamed slightly, and how she smelled of moon berries and pine needles, 'She tasted like moon berries too...’ He immediately felt his face heat up remembering her lips brushing his own before swallowing the thought deciding it would be better to get up than let his mind continue to wander. 

He slowly got out of bed trying to minimize the pain in his arms before searching his wardrobe for a change of clothes. Dressed for the Day Callum immediately started looking for his sketch book before finding it open on his desk. Walking over to it he found the book open to what he had been drawing before falling asleep only there was something there he hadn't done himself. A small note tucked in the bottom right corner of the page where the tree roots detail faded into the page. "She looks beautiful, -love mom." Callum's face immediately went bright red before looking back to his drawing of Rayla. 'Mom must have found me passed out yesterday, I wounded how long they searched for me,’ Callum unavoidably thought trying to distract himself from his own embarrassment. 

Looking over yesterday’s work proving to be a good distraction, it still needed some detail obviously but from the look of how it’s turned out so far it was on the road to being one of his bests. After another once over he closed the book before pushing it to the side, deciding he should probably get started on that letter. He quickly opened the desk’s drawers and rummaging through them finding the letter wax, his seal that was really just the letter of his name and some spare paper. Why he had letter supplies at the age of six would probably be the first question anyone asked but that simply boiled down to his royal standing, the memories of him using his seal on some prewritten invitations he had to send for certain events flashing briefly across his mind before shaking them away focusing on the task at hand.

Unfortunately finding the materials to write a letter proved easier then actually writing it and that wasn’t even accounting for the fact he needed to kneel on a chair to get a good angle to write on the desk before going through five whole drafts before it was finished. At least the reasons were different, awkward choice of words, giving away too much information and the worst draft yet the bare minimum. The final product also wasn’t any better in his opinion, just barley receiving a passing grade. A fact that made the boy audibly groan thinking, ‘How is it harder to write her a letter than it is to talk to her?’

The answer however was simple because she was easy to talk to, he was never nervous when around her minus some teasing. It wasn’t something he had to over think, he could just be himself. Realizing that he couldn’t help but smile as he rolled up and sealed the letter, before setting it aside and grabbing a blank piece of paper and the pencil from his sketchbook setting to work trying to recreate the silver grove as best he could. After he got it to acceptable standards he flipped it around to draw Rayla on the other side so it would know who to look for. The whole process surprisingly only taken about an hour and a half, now done having a clear picture before him which while not particularly elegant as his usual work but they got the details and recognizable features down so with a breath he folding the paper up and slipped it in his pocket.

Callum then looked up out the window leaning over his desk to try and figure out what time it was gauging it to be around ten o'clock. Happy he hadn’t slept in till noon Callum got up grabbing his letter and pocketing it before heading to the door. Leaving his room he found the hall mostly empty as usual given its size, however he noticed there were a few more servants occupying the hall than usual. Which struck him as a bit odd until he realized he had probably been missing for a while yesterday. So with a few extra eyes on him he decided to head for the courtyard knowing it would be hard for them to keep a subtle watch on him if he used the entrance to the crow tower there.

Now it wasn’t to obvious as far as getting watched went, but it definitely felt like anyone who did see him was vary aware of his presence and where he was going. And given they’d lost track off him the other day that made sense. Other than that however nothing else happened before Callum found himself knocked on the crow lord’s door waiting for a reply. After a beat he heard a reply a sounding young and nervous from behind the door, "uhh, you can come in… the doors unlocked." Callum opened the door to see the dim room with a brazier in the center acting as the primary light source. Cages of various different shapes but consistent sizes hung from the ceiling by chains populated by crows or just sat in against the wall empty.  A boy around twelve with short black hair sat at the desk with a bag of what was probably bird feed. 

"Oh um Prince Callum, is-is there anything I can do for you... I-I don't believe your parents are here, although the crow lord did just step out to meet with them," The black hared boy stuttered out clearly unsure of what to say in this situation. Callum on the other hand continued to the desk trying to return a friendly smile. Callum had encountered this behaver from a few people through his life all part of being a prince really, but the young teen before him seemed more nervous about doing not messing up then talking to a prince, although that could have been because of his age. "Hi, uh I heard you can send letters for people?" Callum asked apparently needing to improvise having not prepared something in advanced… again, still he seemed to manage to stick to something a six-year-old would say. 

The young teen on the other hand looked startled maybe even terrified before stuttering out, “Sorry but- well you see, I’m not exactly allowed to do that… I’m just an apprentice I can only retrieve letters from the crows; I could if I was crow master but- uh anyway w-who do you want to send a letter to?”

Callum hoped he hadn’t started to sweat as he again realized he hadn’t thought that far ahead soo pausing to collect his thoughts and any possible excuse that would also come out of the mouth of a six-year-old. “Oh, uh… I can’t tell you… d-do you think it would be okay if you showed me how to send it, that way you could say you were just giving me a demonstration and the bird- crow took off on accident…”

The apprentice's mouth dropped open slightly as if to speak but all that came out was a small eee sound before his mouth snaped shut now looking even more nervous. “I-I-I uhhhh, are you asking me to do that as a prince?”

Callum immediately gave a single nod with a quick monotone, “Yes.”

“Then I can’t think of a reason, why that wouldn’t work…” he said clearly wishing he could say otherwise. Callum however found it hard not to smile despite asking the crow apprentice to bend and lets be fair break the rules, but the relief of succeeding was just too strong. The boy was slow to get up from the desk and even slower to rummage around through papers behind the desk before asking his voice an octave higher, “Any particular region in mind?”

“Uhhhmmm,” Callum stammered pretty sure there wasn’t a map that would have the silver grove much less over the border indicated on it.

Fortunately saying nothing was apparently the right thing to say the apprentice glancing up from the papers and seeing his slightly lost face said, “Eh never mind, world map it is and we’ll go from there… hmm actually where are you sending this?”

“Uh I can’t say… but it’s east…” Callum said having suspected that would come up so he was a bit better prepared.

Of course the older boy paused before letting out a sigh saying, “Of course, and I’m guessing you aren’t sending it to one of our marked locations.”

Callum immediately tried to look apologetic before shrugging saying, “yeah, sorry…”

“It’s… fine I’ll just grab our scouring maps, we use those to catch any patrols we have on the move. A wait, that only works if you have a sketch of who you’re looking for…”

“I have a sketch, and one of the place sh- they live…”

“Oh, oh right I heard you had gotten good with drawing eh- sorry uh just gossip get pushed around,” he said looking up before nervously glancing back to his search. Callum partially wondered if he should say it’s fine but before he could he seemed to find what he was looking for pulling out a particular map from the bottom drawer.

Only to pause for a moment looking between him and the map in his hands before saying, “I just realized I’m not supposed to show this to anyone for military implications… but I don’t think that applies to the prince…”

Callum shrugged before the apprentice slowly handed him a map before walking over to the more densely packed area of crows. Taking out one from the cage he brought it over to the table hesitantly setting it down before nervously glancing at Callum. Callum realizing it was his cue, began looking over the map finding luckily it went across the border dotted lines seeming to show the paths the crows would take with little tick marks that seemed to indicate areas like forests or roads to search. And luckily there was one in the moon shadow forest even if it wasn’t labeled as that.

Finding it he remembered the hair he’d taken from Rayla, and pulling that from his pocket caught the older boy’s attention, “Is that from your friend?”

"Um Yeeesss, I thought it could help the crow find he- them, will it work?" Callum said adding the question to distract from another near slip up. The twelve-year-old however didn't seem to catch the slip instead focusing on his question, "Uh Yes… it actually would... although it’s more effective if it's something that's been brought here recently, but that shouldn’t matter if it gets close anyway, there rather well trained and it actually takes a lot to do so, we actually… never mind." He cut himself off apparently quite passionate about the topic.

Callum smiled before holding out her silver hair to let the crow grab it. It quickly took the tuff of Ralya's hair in its beak before dropping it onto the table and nuzzling its beak into it before looking back up to Callum. Taking this as another que Callum put the map on the desk the crow backing up to make room. Callum couldn’t help but glance at the apprentice who thankfully took it as a clue to look away though he did so hesitantly. Still with him looking away Callum quickly pointed to the silvergrove, or at least where it should be just a fingertip length below the tic mark. The crow tilted its head, inspecting the spot before flapping it’s wings in what was probably acknowledgement.

A fact that seemed all but confirmed as Callum pulled his hand away and the crow continued observing the spot. Callum quickly fished out his sketch from his pockets before showing the crow the side with the silvergrove and taking a glance at the twelve-year-old to make sure he was still turned away before after he was sure the crow had a good look at it turned it to the side with Rayla. It was here that the crow finally made a noise chirping as Callum folded up the page and pulled out the letter just as the apprentice turned back around looking even more nervous than he’d been the entire time. Callum then held out the letter for him to take offering a friendly and hopeful smile, which after a small bit of hesitation he took turning to the crow.

He quickly tied it to the bird’s foot in a few securing knots in a way you honestly had to be trained to do. Once done the letter looking like it was going nowhere, other than where the crow would take it.  With the letter secure the apprentice looked even more nervous letting the crow perch on his hand as he said, "So, guess we should… get it on its way then."

Callum followed after him up the stairs coming up to a room lined with windows and a few more crows in the center. Setting the crow down on the windowsill the apprentice turned back to Callum before saying, “Uh, if you want to send it off… I’d rather not have to- to lie to the crow lord and say I didn’t send it off… at least on a technical sense.”

Callum realizing what he meant nodded before the older boy continued slightly relived, “Thanks, now… you just need to tell the crow where it’s headed, that is if you want to send it back… a never mind. And give it a little nudge otherwise they might take a second to leave.”

As the crow lord’s apprentice stepped away from the window Callum took a step forward leaning closer to the crow before barley whispering, “To the Silvergrove," before nudging it forward it taking flight almost immediately as he touched it. The bird flying off Callum felt a bit of rellef  as he watched it turn towards Xaida. "oohhhh I’m going to get fired,” Callum heard the boy say to himself from over his shoulder.

Turning, Callum immediately found him feeling what was probably immediate regret mixed with panic. Callum felt a twinge of guilt hit his chest and wanting to make him feel better offered, “If the crow lord finds out… you can just say I was relentless in asking. I’ll take most of the blame then.”

"Uh, thanks although I don't think he'll see it that way," The apprentice replied looking a bit better.

Callum shrugged going to leave before stopping and turning back to the older kid once more and asking, "Oh, uh if a letter comes back can you make sure no one else sees it."

The pre-teen nodded after a long sigh that definitely said ‘Oh no what have I gotten myself into’ before Callum happy with his reply made his way down the stairs calling behind him, "Thanks, I owe you."

"That will be all crow lord, thank you," came King Harrow's voice as he sat at his desk going over more paperwork with his Saria who was wearing her usual armor stood beside him setting down papers she had been reading through onto his desk. “Of course, your majesty I'll get your letter to general Amya right away with our quickest crow." The crow lord said with a confident smile and his usual bow slightly more theatrical then needed that from anyone else might have seemed a bit sarcastic but from the man dressed in fine black robes and poofy feathered collar it was perfectly in character. Harrow sighed as the man left before the king turning to Opeli who was standing by the door asking, "How about we take a small brake before moving onto anything else."

Opeli gave a slightly judgmental look before it vanished as if it had just been in his head as she smiled back saying, "Of course king Harrow, you have five minutes."

Harrow immediately suppressed a groan knowing Opeli wouldn't give him more than that having long ago learned of his small procrastinating habit when it came to paperwork. He was, however, thankful for her persistence just never when he was currently on the receiving end of it. Sarai on the other hand apparently sensed his internal grimace quickly wrapping her arms around his neck resting on his shoulders from behind as she said, "Well then, how about we talk about how happy Callum is going to be when Amya shows up in two months with Xaida's border finally calming down, in time for the winter solstice too." 

Harrow smiled giving a small deep chuckle before saying, "Yes, it will be good to see Amya again so soon after Ezren's birth, although it'll be a miracle his ribs survive another one of her hugs." Sarai pulled away giving his shoulder a light punch before saying in a fake insulted tone, "and just for that I'll tell her to give you her strongest one." Harrow laughed rubbing his shoulder slightly to ease the small amount of pain before saying the chuckle still in his voice, "Only if she extends the same to Viren."

Harrow turned to Viren who was standing to the right of the desk, Saria joined in on his laughter snickering only for them to both pause the two realizing Verin hadn't even stirred at the jest, instead staring blankly at the wall. "Verin... Verin!" Harow called getting his attention at the second attempt before asking as his friend turned to him, "Are you feeling alright, you've been... well not to say unfocused but."

"Ah, well… I can assure you I, am fine, just having some trouble sleeping," Verin said now fully turning to face him his cane in hand.

Harrow gave his friend a warm smile saying half-jokingly but partially serious, "Well if that's the case I would hate to keep the mage of Katolis from sleep, I doubt it's safe for any mage to run on no sleep I could only imagine what one of your spells could do if you fell asleep mid casting." Verin simply staired at him blankly before starting to speak before Saria butted in.

"Viren if you think for a moment I'm going to let you perform dark magic while slightly drowsy you've lost it. There's not much needing your expertise today and even less that need you to sign, so take the opportunity to rest while you can, because come this winter solstice I won't care if you stay up all night you’re helping prepare for the festival." Saria said putting her hands on the desk as she leaned forward while smiling even with the threat clear in her voice.

Verin looked almost startled and even that too was delayed showing just how out of it he actually was before giving the faintest smile when replying far more timid than he’d ever usually be, "Of course, I will then take the offer. I hope however that you know my council is always available should you require it."

"Thank you, rest well Verin," Harrow said before Verin nodded once before hesitating and turning to leave the room sparing Opeli a glance as she already started talking about what the king and queen had to cover next barley acknowledging him. Verin however had already tuned it out as he walked letting it fade to nothingness as he closed the door behind him letting out a sigh before he began his way to his study. Entering the office, he made his way to his desk cluttered with jars of ingredients and papers and books. Sitting down he pulled one particular book out from under a few well-placed papers concealing it. A heavy sigh escaping his lips opening it to were he had last left off this morning. Though if anyone had asked he would deny having read, touched or even looked at its pages in the first place and deny reading them now.

As for why he was actually reading it… it had started a week ago having woken in a cold sweat from sleep the images that danced across his dream chilling him to the bone. Three scenes had plagued him and haunted him still, the first was his daughter walking into a dark and twisted ocean consumed by its depths. The second was of him asking his son or at least what he could see him looking like in the future, to accept some gift before someone else stepped in accepting it instead, the man was about the same age maybe a bit older and probably of Neolandian nobility. Not that that mattered his hands now trembling as his fingers traveled along the words on the pages remembering what he had turned him into, what he had been about to turn his son into. Still, that was not the reason he found himself skimming hatefully through this book, it was the third scene, the one that brought his mind to the near braking point. He had found himself fighting a young elf around the age of fourteen, protecting a young dragon.

The scene alone wasn't terrifying compared to the first two, heck he had even managed to get back to sleep after calming down because of it. The third dream hadn't troubled him, it was his solace knowing he had never met or seen that elf before and the rest was just his mind playing terrible what ifs on him. That had been the case, until he had sat down with the royal family for dinner, and Saria handed him the prince’s sketch book, his skill having only been slightly surprising compared to the elf he found on the page. It had been a miracle he hadn't given away the terror he felt upon seeing the drawing of that very same elf only this time the same age as the older prince. 'It could be a coincidence, he could have just made her up, or had a similar dream or...' Viren had thought at first trying to think of any other possible way that elf ended up on that page. 

His denial, however, could do nothing to strive off the possibility that the elf might have been real, and the prince had met her. The paranoia keeping him awake at night before begrudgingly picking up a book on interpreting dreams. Having it in his office was even embarrassing enough made doubly so after finding nothing useful. Slamming the book shut he shoved it across his desk nearly sliding off it knocking a few pieces of paper off in its place. The grimace on his face matching his mood perfectly the idea of his dreams actually coming to fruition was terrifying having seen what it would mean for his children, ‘was it a warning, for what though, to find the elf, too not find the elf,’ whether it was it didn’t matter because what did matter was this, how had prince Callum known to draw the elf? If she was a part of a dream then it would be shear dumb luck, the same as if he just imagined her up out of thin air. The true terror however came with the third option, the one he had been desperately hoping wasn’t the case, what if he had met her, what if she was real?

How he had met her would be one worry, he would probably be fixated on the fact an elf was at the heart of Katolis even if it was just a child, but thanks to his dream he had been far too preoccupied to think about that. He however knew one thing for certain, he needed a way to find out the truth and fast because what had kept him up all of last night shook him to his core, immediately upon falling asleep he was met with himself all but giving the order to have the princes killed, the sight of use dark magic against his best friend's adoptive son to steel his voice. Verin found himself closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose before saying opening his eyes half way through as his hand fell to the desk, "Whatever it takes... I will not become that monster."

Callum had decided to spend the day finishing his sketch from yesterday after visiting the crow lord's office. Having decided it was a good idea to keep well within everyone’s sight today he had made his way to his usual spot under the courtyard tree after doubling back to his room for his sketchbook. Spending a few hours adding in details to get it as accurate as possible, barley stopping to eat a sandwich a servant brought him before getting right back to writing. It wouldn’t however be for a few more hours he’d get interrupted again as he was putting on the last finishing touches. A shadow blocking the sun from the pages forcing him to look up and see what it was finding his mom smiling down at him with Ezran tucked away in her right arm. Callum quickly grinned despite a bit of blush hitting his cheeks, her note complementing his drawing from earlier still at the bottom corner of the page. He quickly shut the book Callum slid it into his satchel next to him the straps slightly altered to work as a kind of backpack. 

"There's my young man I missed you at breakfast today, yesterday's excitement must have taken the energy right out of you," Sarai said teasingly adjusting her hold on Ez.

Callum only paused slightly not knowing how to respond. Though that quickly inspired the brilliant idea of playing dumb, after all he was only six… “Uh… wait what?”

Saria’s grin only widened kneeling down to his eye level and placing a hand on his head to mess with his hair as she responded, “Well nothing really happened, other then you showing off your amazing hide and seek skills.”

"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to make you worry..." Callum began surprised how timid his slight hesitation made his voice sound, though given that it also sounded younger could also be a factor.

His mother on the other hand brought her hand to his cheek, cupping it as she said, "Callum, you didn't do anything wrong. Now come on Harrow and I are having an early dinner, and I haven't seen you all day so you're coming too." Callum felt himself smile before nodding saying, "Ok." His mom quickly stood up grabbing his right hand and pulling him off the bench in the process. Callum barley getting his sketchbooks bag over his left shoulder before he found himself getting pulled along making their way to the dining hall his mom swinging their hands lightly between them. 

…

Callum couldn't stop smiling as he left the dining hall despite the tears that constantly threatened to glaze over his eyes. Having his mom back was… serial to say the least with it not even having really sunk in yet and any time it nearly did caused a whole mess of emotions he couldn’t explain if he suddenly started sobbing for no reason. She was back, he had her back, and he had to hide how happy and messy that made him. Throughout the entire dinner he was reminded of that fact, as they talked either amongst themselves or with him, their praise at how quickly he was excelling at school making his heart swell. His heavy emotions however proved rather helpful in making it easier to play dumb when needing to. Still, he definitely got way too close to breaking as he hugged them bye, the memories of the years without her forcing water to his eyes.

He had felt his grip tighten as hard as a six-year-old’s grip could as he reminded himself, 'she's here, she's actually here. And I won't lose her.' It had been a miracle he had kept his eyes from spilling out completely before leaving his mom calling after him saying, "I'll see you later honey." He had given her a smile in response nodding before running off, quickly wiping the tears from his eyes as the door closed behind him. Even if he was still smiling, even with the years of her lose eating away at him they were all wiped away with a simple smile from her.

Lost in thought he started making his room having just enough thought process left to remember his old room, before he’d moved in with Ez. It wasn’t however till he turned the final corner to his room did he pull himself from his thoughts finding a nervous twelve year old pacing in the hall nearly jumping out of his skin when he turned to see Callum. “Oh your highness… I was a looking for you…” the boy said fumbling his words as Callum continued approaching.

“Did the crow come back,” Callum asked sounding startlingly like he looked with excitement obvious in his voice.

“Uh yes- t-this came with it… I managed to snag it as we were closing up, I don’t think my master saw,” The boy said pulling a scroll from his robs his hands shaking slightly. It was your usual paper though the seal was of a clear wax and wasn’t pressed down but that didn’t keep him from absolutely beaming snatching the letter out of his hands. The boy jumping slightly as a result before calming saying already starting to back away, “ Oh yeah ok… if that will be all you- you know where to find me.”

Callum immediately looked up from the letter before calling after him just as he was starting to turn away, "Thanks, it means a lot."

The apprentice only nodded the look on his face definitely belonging to someone who didn’t want to be in trouble before he turned to go. No sooner had he made it about half way down the hall Callum practically sprinted into his room. Callum tossing his bag on his bed before going to sit at his desk placing the letter down before climbing on the chair. The paper was as he saw early held by clear wax but with a closer look he noticed an 𝑅 carved into the wax with his name scribbled next to it. He felt relief at seeing she actually got his letter along with the minor realization that Rayla wouldn’t have a seal which was rather obvious in retrospect, but he had more important thing to think about as he broke the seal.

Only for Callum to be met with what could only be described nearly illegible writing and that was putting it as nicely as possible. Still with a bit of trial and error he was able to make it out.

𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓂, 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒶𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓃𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒹𝓊𝓂𝒷 𝓁𝓊𝒸𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝓃𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝐼 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝒾𝓇𝒹 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝒻𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒾𝒹𝒹𝓁𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝒾𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝒶𝒸𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓋𝑒. 𝒜𝓁𝓈𝑜, 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝐼 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝑔𝒶𝒾𝓃, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓂 𝓁𝓊𝒸𝓀𝓎 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶𝓅𝑜𝓁𝑜𝑔𝒾𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔. 𝒩𝑜𝓌, 𝐼 𝑒𝓍𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓁 𝑜𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝓂𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓊𝓅 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒱𝒾𝓁𝓁𝒶𝒹𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶 𝓈𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒟, 𝓂𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 “𝑜𝒽 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝐼 𝓇𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒾𝓂.” 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉… 𝐵𝓊𝓉 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝒶 𝒹𝓇𝒶𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻 𝐵𝒜𝐵𝒴 𝐸𝒵𝑅𝒜𝒩 𝒜𝒩𝒟 𝐵𝒜𝐼𝒯 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝒶𝓃𝑒 𝑜𝓃 𝒶 𝓌𝒽𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓁𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝐼𝒻 𝐼 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓃 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒹𝓈 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓍𝓉 𝓁𝑒𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇… 𝒴𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒹𝑒𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓂𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝓊𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒾𝓂𝒶𝑔𝒾𝓃𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼 𝓈𝒶𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒻𝓁𝓊𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓎𝑒𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒶𝓎.

Callum felt himself grow as hot as the sun as he couldn’t help but smile, realizing she implied that  she thought he was adorable. Continuing on hoping his face would cool off at some point while reading, (It would not.)

Callum laughed grinning knowing Rayla was probably having some fun with the whole situation, even if she had to work on her muscles again. Which he had to immediately shake from his head having rather detailed memory of her muscle outline through her assassin gear. So hoping he didn’t get any warmer he focused on some of the other things she mentioned his own self-inflicted embarrassment getting replaced by guilt at having not been able to come up with more things to ask her. Though it was only temporary especially when he read the note she left at the bottom of the page.

𝐼 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓂𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶𝓁𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓎 𝒷𝓊𝓉… 𝐼’𝓂 𝑔𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝑒 𝒷𝑜𝓉𝒽 𝒹𝑜. 𝒲𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉, 𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝓃𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝒶𝓌𝒶𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝑜𝓃, 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜𝑜 𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓂… 𝒫𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝒻𝒶𝓋𝑜𝓇𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑜𝓇 𝒾𝓈 𝒶 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓇𝒶𝓁𝒹 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝐼 𝑔𝑜𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓈𝑒𝑒 𝒶 𝓁𝑜𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓋𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊…

Callum’s face hadn’t even cooled down a degree and it was already back to boiling, to the point he found himself loosening his scarf. She was talking about his eye color of course she was talking about his eye color he hadn’t crossed his comment out well enough and was now kicking himself for not just writing a new draft. Taking a minute Callum tried to let his embarrassment subside before rolling up the letter looking at her little comment not helping his cheak coloring return from red. Sliding off the chair he made his way to his wardrobe opening it before kneeling down. Removing the loose board at the bottom revealing a rather good hiding place. Pushing the magic books to the side he dropped the paper inside hoping with it out of sight he wouldn’t feel as embarrassed... it did not.

Callum only went over to his bed immediately flopping down releasing a sigh into the blankets as thoughts of Rayla took over his mind, his earlier embarrassment not stopping himself from smiling at them as he finally let his arms rest. It however couldn’t last, knowing he had little daylight left for drawing and Rayla seemed to really want that drawing of Ez he begrudgingly got back up taking his sketchbook with him and walked back over to his desk starting to draw bait sleeping in little Ez's fluffy brown hair as he gnawed on a jelly tart, all while the artist imagining Rayla's reaction to the sketch.

Chapter Text

A week had passed since Callum got Rayla's first letter, with him being as expected unable to visit her with the added maids and even a guard once and a while to keep track of him. However thanks to a few stealth tips from Rayla much to the crow lord’s apprentices dismay at realizing his unofficial letters were a recuring thing, he managed to slip out of sight enough to either poke around virens study or the library. Searching for mostly two things, magic books he could have missed the first time or... anything to do with elves that wasn't deeply misrepresented. Both however came up empty though for vary different reasons with the only real records of elves that weren't clearly embellished were the records on the most basic of information on the ancient elves and even that could possibly be harsh stereotypes. 

The books on magic on the other hand, there was almost too much to go through to decide what was useful. Ether being relegated to history or were too broad reaching with information having to sift through the other primal sources of magic and even dark magic to find any sky spells. That however wasn’t an important issue, just something that would take time. However, the former proved to be the more immediate issue because it probably wasn’t a good idea to keep letters in the human writing in Rayla’s room. Which is what brought him here.

The moon nexus, home of the only elf in all of Katolis, and probably the only source of unbiased information on elves he had. Though that might have been a stretch given the fact he still had to slip away to get there, hoping he could remain unnoticed for a few hours. On the brighter side his flying had improved a bit only landing with a bit of a stumble. A soft breeze passing through the foliage as he searched around the main area of the abandoned moonshadow village. Trying to remember where he had seen Lujain frequent before remembering she would meditate in the grand hall nearest to the moon nexus.

Cracking open the door as slowly as he could finding her at the end of the massive hall though he barely managed to spot her with the metal sculpture of the moon in the center of the room. Stepping inside the door slowly closing behind him as he made his way down the grand hall. His footsteps surprisingly quite despite not really trying to be. He couldn’t help but look along the wall studying the many glowing symbols as he passed before pulling his attention to the elf sitting at the end of the room on an elevated stone platform, as he approached.

Apparently unnoticed Lujanne not even stirring from her meditation, so Callum stopping on one of the patches of grass the circled the elf lightly cleared his throat. The older moonshadow elf shifted, it was small, but he had noticed it thankful he hadn’t exactly startled her. Slowly she looked over her shoulder, her eyes widening the second they landed on him. A beat passed neither moving with the exception of Lujanne, her eyes blinking as if to check if she was hallucinating.

However seeing as she was still to surprised to say anything Callum started it off, “Umm, hi im Callum… nice to meat you...”

Lujain still sitting shook her head snaping her out of it before answering her voice clearly belonging to someone stunned, "Um, hello there... How did you get up the mountain… Does your family know your here?"

"Uh… I flew and no..." Callum replied realizing he should probably give some of the truth while trying to resist the urge to fiddle with his tunic as the Moonshadow elf studied him.

"Oh, forgive me but last I checked humans didn’t have feathers…” Lujanne said her tone turning from surprised to that amused one you get when watching or listening to a child’s antics.

 Callum paused knowing there were probably several routes to take as she swiveled on the stone to face him fully before he decided to be direct immediately creating a small fulmanis symbol in the air before activating it. Sending a small lightning a few feet to the side of the taller elf the light crack ringing around the hall. The effect was almost as immediate as the action Lujanne’s mouth dropping open as her eyes widened.

"I used mage wings," Callum replied seeing that she was in stunned silence while he resisted the urge to nervously rub his shoulder. She seemed to break out of the shock after a moment before seeming to just study him, his arms gaining her attention the markings for the spell uncovered. 

Lujain seemingly regaining her senses said clearly still shocked but trying to remain light hearted, "I don’t suppose you’re hiding a primal stone somewhere on you now?"

Callum only shook his head in response earning a long sigh from the elf, a sigh that belonged to somebody who was about to fight off a migraine from the sound of it. Lujanne snapped her eyes shut her fingers reaching up to her head to message her temples before letting out a breath, her eyes opened once more as she asked, “Of course, I don’t suppose you know where- how you learned magic.”

"I um... the sky is kinda everywhere... I got the spells from books though," Callum said trying to painfully remember how a six-year-old would talk, like he'd been doing for weeks.  The Moonshadow elf was, as expected still processing everything her gaze still searching for something unnamed before she seemed somewhat satisfied or at least resigned to what information she got and moved onto her next question, "How did you find this place?"

"Well I was going to visit my friend and passed overhead," Callum said having expected this question and it was partially true having seen it last week on his flight to see Rayla. Callum however decided it was still a good idea to change the subject, so turning to the glowing symbols on the wall asking while already really knowing the answer having heard her explanation before... or after, time travel was odd, "Are those all moon spells?"

"Oh, uh, yes they are of the moon arcanum, though you seem to have a grasp of the sky arcanum already... somehow. how old did you say you were," Lujanne said standing up the fact she was still trying to understand how the human child did connect to an arcanum remaining obvious. Although considering if Callum's memory was right, she thought that it was impossible he couldn’t blame her. 

"I'm si- I'll be seven in a few months," Callum said still trying to keep up the oblivious toddler act remembering kids usually tried to seem older closer to their birthdays. Lujain only looked more defeated before pulling back on smile trying to put him at ease as she said starting to walk to the entrance making sure Callum started walking with her as she passed, "Of course you are... Now seeing as you are here is there anything I can do for you, I can imagine you're probably hungry after your... flight."

"Um no thanks, I had lunch before coming here," Callum said hastily knowing whatever she offered was just going to be grubs on a palate. Callum noticing the slight curiosity in the older elf as she glanced back as a result probably having wanted to do the whole your actually eating grub's thing again or for the first time. Though his immediate response seemed to earn some suspicion from Lujanne’s gaze, Callum wanting to keep her from thinking about it and keep his skin from itching out of nervousness went on to continue. "Sooo you’re a moonshadow elf." Callum said unable to come up with anything else, well anything a toddler would say at least.

"And you are observant, yes, I'm a Moonshadow elf you may call me Lujanne,"

Callum nodded before looking away along the wall getting an idea, "Are there more symbols... for the sky I mean?" 

There was a slight pause in Lujanne’s stride only for her to continue replying amused, “Oh looking for more spells are we?”

Callum had to fake embarrassment while nodding hoping it was believable as she continued, “Well unfortunately my expertise is more graded towards the moon arcanum and I’m afraid my knowledge is useless to you until you learn it, and to do that anytime soon after already learning an arcanum... would be a feet I'd describe as impossible." 

They had now made it to the door, the elf turning to give Callum her full attention as she finished. Callum of course nodded already expecting that answer giving him the perfect opportunity to ask, “Oh ok, could you tell me about moonshadow elves then?”

The request seemed to catch Lujanne by surprise once again before a fresh smile reached her lips and she replied, "I suppose I could tell you a few things, though I am curious myself you don't seem to be as afraid of elves as the average human child would be." 

Callum flinched having also somewhat expected that, the only trouble now was that he still hadn’t been able to come up with a believable excuse sooo it was going to be a bit of the truth again, on the Brightside Lujanne couldn’t exactly tell anybody. “I actually already met an elf… she’s my friend…” Callum shyly said purposefully fidgeting with his sleeve as he looked to the floor in the guiltiest look he could imagine.

Lujanne had been about to reach for the door handle when he had replied and she froze solid the second his words clicked in her brain. Immediately her head snaped back her eyes widening in absolute shock before they immediately settled apparently processing the new information. “Well that’s certainly a surprise, though it seems your full of them so it shouldn’t be to shocking, but how did you get across the b- right, an impassible river of lava is no different than a simple stream when you have wings.”

Callum found himself smiling nodding in return unaware of the storm of thoughts he had set of in her head. 'He said he got that spell from a book, but humans around here only learn to read when there twelve, though with those wings he doesn’t necessarily have to be from around here, and I think noble children learn sooner. He does look the part; those aren’t exactly common cloths. Wait how can he even use mage wings? I may not know a lot about the sky arcanum but I know the name of their hardest spell, grown sky elven mages have trouble with that for peats sake. How can this boy, Callum barley even seven use one of the most complex spells and has access to books on magic advanced enough to have it in its pages...’ Only for her to almost hiccup as a weight settled in her chest the horrible realization that she’d herd that name before, “Callum, Callum, Call- CALLUM OF KATOLIS!!!'

Now Lujanne didn't leave the Nexus much, sure for some supplies and the occasional non-illusional pastry. She did, however, stop by to mess with some humans and maybe overhear some gossip. Which allowed her to stand in front of who she now knew was the second prince of Katolis apparent mage and a proficient one at that. Again she knew little to nothing about sky magic but if his first display was anything to go by he had a talent his rune holding it’s color and brightness the lightning strong and centered, no strange sparks or sideways bolt and not even fizzling out like you’d expect for someone his age.

It was here that Lujanne’s thoughts finally settled again quickly composing herself some color returning to her shocked face, "You said your name was Callum, correct? Would that be as in the prince of Katolis Callum."

Callum cringed, immediately realizing why’d she’d suddenly become lost in thought and had went a color paler before he nodded slowly. Only to be met with a sigh from Lujanne the words, "Of course," escaping with it. The moonshadow elf closing her eyes moved her hand from the door to pinch the bridge of her nose before shaking her head back awake and looking back down at him her hand dropping to her side. “Well I can imagine flying all the way to Xadia, is quite taxing for a young prince, I’m surprised a boy your age could even lift your arms after that trip.” Lujanne said surprising Callum with the change in subject but realizing she probably needed a distraction from all the shocking news he was happy to let her.

"Yeah, my arms feel like they're going to fall off after... Hay um do you think you can teach me how to write in elven I’d like to send her letters, but…” Callum said after nodding while trying to sound like he just came up with the idea. “I take it she can only read elven script,” Lujanne finished for him with a smile and an echoed chuckle in her voice.

“Yeah, I already got the crows to find her too,” Callum replied trying not to give himself a pat on the back for his acting skills, sounding exactly like an exited child would.

Her grin turned sly at his reaction, clearly amused before the moon nexus guardian continued on, "Well... I suppose I could help you out with a word or two and maybe lend you a few books I have on translation, they've definitely proven useful when heading into town. Although I should worn you there quite intricate and I’m afraid boring, but they should help you form a sentence or two, plus my notes might help you with the more basic words, a little cheat sheet I use.... and in return can you tell me how you met your friend, I'm interested on how that came about?"

Callum quickly nodded before the older elf grined turning back to the door opening it, Callum following behind already walking down the paths seemingly heading to the main section of the abandoned moon nexus. Callum felt himself smile if a bit nervously happy that he and Rayla had gone through the ‘rough draft’ to a cover story before hand plus the idea of sending letters to her without risking as much trouble didn’t hurt, but for now he should probably get started talking the moonshadow elf’s ear off like any six year old would, "Well, I heard Xaida was really cool..."

One day time skip

𝓡𝓪𝔂𝓵𝓪,
𝓢𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮, 𝓘 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓛𝓾𝓳𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓮. 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴𝓯𝓾𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓛𝓾𝓳𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓮 𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼. 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮. 𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓘 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓪𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓹 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓮𝓭 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓗𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓼 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓼 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓵, 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓵𝔂 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱, 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘’𝓶 𝓼𝓪𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶 𝓶𝓮… 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂. 𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝔂 𝓼𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝓸 𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓻𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓬 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓼𝓷’𝓽 𝓮𝔁𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝓼𝓲𝔁 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮.

𝓜𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓥𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓷’𝓼 𝓸𝓯𝓯𝓲𝓬𝓮, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘’𝓶 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓲𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽. 𝓔𝔃 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓾𝓼𝓾𝓪𝓵 𝓪𝓭𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯, 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓱𝓮’𝓼 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓸𝓽𝓱 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝔂𝓮𝓽 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽’𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓪 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓳𝓮𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓭.
𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓼𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓴 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓼𝓸𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓳𝓮𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓛𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓷, (𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓼𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻,) 𝓸𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓶𝓮, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝔀𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪 𝓽𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓫𝓮𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓹 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓾𝓹 𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝔂- 𝓳𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝔂… 𝓘 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓮… 𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾.
𝓛𝓸- 𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓶

𝓟.𝓢 𝓘’𝓶 𝓰𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓱𝓾𝓶𝓪𝓷, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝔂𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓿𝓮𝔂 𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼.

It had embarrassingly took most of the day to write that letter mostly thanks to Lujanne’s notes. The translation book proving a lot more complex then he’d been expecting. Again when a book is written for someone to learn a language it usually helps to start with the language it isn’t trying to teach you. And when that said language has different spellings or even letters for certain emotions you wanted to convey it could only add to the headaches. All of which leading Callum to the conclusion that anyone who said it's hard to know what someone was feeling when writing a letter clearly never read elven.

Though it seemed his efforts paid off Rayla finding his attempt both adorable and funny having nearly burst out laughing reading through his rough translation. He had well... work to do which was expected obviously, with a few, ok many of the connecting words missing while still managing to be legible, the mood swings however, was what made it hard not to laugh, although they also made blush cover her face with embarrassing efficiency. Her face only doomed to heat up more writing a reply.

𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓂,
𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉- 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓇𝒶𝒷𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒽𝒶𝓈 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒹𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓂𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝒿𝓊𝓂𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓂 𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓇𝒾𝒻𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝒹𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝒸𝓀 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝓃𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒹𝓊𝓂𝒷 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹… 𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓌𝒽𝓎, 𝓌𝒽𝓎 𝒾𝓈 𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊’𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓈𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓉𝑒𝓈𝓉, 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑜 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒶𝒸𝓀𝓁𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝒽𝓊𝑔, 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝓀𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝒶𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒’𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝒶 𝒽𝓊𝓃𝒹𝓇𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝒾𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓊𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒿𝑜𝓎 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝒸𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓅𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝓁𝓅 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝑒𝓁𝓋𝑒𝓃… 𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝐼 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓇𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒, 𝒷𝑒𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝓁𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓅 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝓃𝑒𝓍𝓊𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝐿𝓊𝒿𝒶𝓃𝓃𝑒. 𝒮𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒷𝒶𝒷𝓁𝓎 𝓊𝓈𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝓅𝒶𝓃𝓎, 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝐼’𝓂 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒𝒹 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝒸𝓊𝓉 𝑜𝒻𝒻 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒾𝓈 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝒳𝒶𝒹𝒾𝒶, 𝐻𝑒𝒸𝓀 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃 𝓃𝑒𝓍𝓊𝓈 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝑜𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇 𝓈𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑜𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓂𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓊𝓇𝒸𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓍𝓊𝓈. 𝐼 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒷𝒶𝒷𝓁𝓎 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓊𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓎, 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝑜𝑒𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒶 𝒸𝑒𝓇𝓉𝒶𝒾𝓃 𝒽𝓊𝓂𝒶𝓃 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝒾𝓃 𝒶 𝓇𝑒𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉.

𝒩𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓌𝒶𝓎𝓈, 𝐼 𝓈𝓊𝓅𝓅𝑜𝓈𝑒 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓈𝓃𝒶𝑔 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒶 𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃𝒷𝑒𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝓈𝓊𝓇𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓈𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝑔𝑜𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓂𝑒 𝒶 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹𝓈 𝓊𝓅, 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝑜𝓃𝓁𝓎 𝓇𝑒𝓈𝒾𝓈𝓉 𝑒𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓈𝑜 𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑔, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝑔𝑒𝓉 𝒶𝓉 𝒶 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉’𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒾𝒸𝑒.
𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓂… 𝓅𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒷𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁, 𝐼 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝓀 𝒱𝒾𝓇𝑒𝓃 𝒽𝒶𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝑜𝓃𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑒𝓉, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒽𝑒’𝓈 𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒶 𝒹𝒶𝓇𝓀 𝓂𝒶𝑔𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐼’𝓂 𝒷𝑒𝓉𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝒶𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝑒𝓍𝒶𝒸𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝒶𝓇𝓂 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒻𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝑒𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝓋𝑒𝒶𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽𝒾𝓂𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻 𝓉𝑜 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃 𝒶𝒷𝓈𝑜𝓁𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝓅𝓈𝓎𝒸𝒽𝑜… 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒹𝒶𝓂 𝒾𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹𝓃’𝓉 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝑜 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝑔𝑜𝓉 𝒽𝓊𝓇𝓉, 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒹𝑜 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒, 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝒸𝒽 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓈 𝓂𝑒 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓈𝑒… 𝓅𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝒶𝒻𝑒. 𝑀𝒾𝓈𝓈 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝓊𝓂, 𝐼 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓁𝓎 𝒸𝒶𝓃’𝓉 𝓌𝒶𝒾𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝑜𝓊𝓇. 𝒟𝑜𝓇𝓀.
     𝑅𝒶𝓎𝓁𝒶

about one weak

The air was cool, as expected of the first snow fall signaling the end to fall. Callum having made sure to pack his jacket in his backpack this morning as a result. A fact he was increasingly grateful for the wind only adding to the chill while flying. At least his journey was soon to be over flying through the massive forest the leaves now almost completely vacant on the branches. The field being a far to welcome site as he weaved through the last few trees his speed having picked up despite the cold after passing the 'tree' as Rayla called it a minute or two ago. Circling above Callum found Rayla rather quickly leaning against the root they’d “met” at, having instantly spotted him above, not that a flying Callum was especially subtle.

Still the slight wave she gave him seemed to warm him up instantly as he started leaning more into his circling descending faster as a result. As the ground approached or as he approached the ground rather, he straightened himself before quickly tilted his wings back forcing him to climb a few feet more only to start to descend just as quickly and barley stumble along the ground as his feet made contact. With it quickly becoming the best landing so far taking a few more steps forward as to not fall over at the last minute as he folded up and dispelled his wings.

Callum didn’t even notice the cold hit his now exposed arms already turning to Rayla, who could clearly tell he was happy about his landing if that teasing smile was anything to go by. "I'm guessing, from the look on your face that that was the first time you landed perfectly, well almost perfectly." Callum immediately felt his cheeks go redder from something that wasn’t the cold before replying already reaching to nervously scratch his neck, "No- sigh* ok yes, but to be fare I’ve only had to land five times..."

He however trailed off noticing Rayla’s outfit, she wore thick Moonshadow styled pants probably lined with fur on the inside. A coat slightly resembling her assassin outfit, although this was far less fitted instead lined with fur creating a thicker coat with long sleeves ending tucked underneath warm looking fur gloves on her four fingered hand. A hood hung over her shoulders leaving her head uncovered and Callum only able to find the sight adorable the fact he still hadn’t gotten used to how small Rayla was now only adding to the fact. Her horns barley two inches long being one of the many reasons Callum couldn't focus, not to mention how her hair seemed to sparkle, outshining the snowflakes that danced in the air.

Apparently the sight was too distracting the boy not even noticing Rayla closing the distance stopping barley a foot away in front of him before she spoke, apparently trying to get his attention her teasing smile turning a tiny bit smug, "Callum, you in there Callum?"

Callum jumped slightly in surprise the cold getting banished from his body before stuttering out an explanation, "I- sorry, just... your adorable- wait no sorry you- cute- ugh sorry I- I- I don't think my brain can manage a conversation right now." 

As Callum apparently shut down Rayla had grown very warm, her smile collapsing into adoring giggles as Callum made her heart pound like the heartfelt dummy usually did. His mental collapse being all too adorable and funny for her to feel too flustered at his compliments, the fact he was honestly too adorable to be physically possible right now doing little to nothing to help.  Rayla however managed to lightly cover her feelings, her hand covering her mouth as she tried to stop giggling before she reached up with her right and started lightly pulling at his scarf. Her laughter subsiding as she played with the red fabric.

Still, she was unable to keep herself from grinning as she let her hand drop from her mouth Callum's lightly traumatized eyes looking too cute for words, the boy apparently terrified by what he had just word vomited. Rayla on the other hand could only find it endearing not that she wouldn’t tease him for it, "So the really cute elf in front of ya broke tha human brain of yours."

The pink in his cheeks had already vanished replaced by a familiar bright red, already nodding before his eyes widened realizing how quickly he’d agreed to it his face only getting redder as a result. Rayla could only bite her lip at an attempt not to giggle as her heart went a bit crazy, glancing down to his scarf before back into his emerald eyes looking to cute to be fair. All it would take was one pout and she’d be just a big ol’ adoriber in his hands. Something she was determined not to let him find out so sliding her hands over his shoulders tracing under his scarf she leaned right in their cold noises touching providing some warmth as she grinned through the flutter in her chest.

"Well, the cute human in front of me is making my heart a wee bit crazy and I’m not exactly against it eather..." Rayla offered trailing off as she noticed their breaths mixing, a part of her noticing his smelled of freshly brushed teeth and maybe an apple he had had a noticeable improvement from their journey when they didn’t exactly have such commodities. Still the information only really made her let out low humored hum into her chest before she closed what little distance remained between them. The pair seeming to release a simultaneous sigh the moment their lips brushed together. They stayed like that for a moment, maybe two seeming to lose all their stress from the last few weeks in each other before pulling away. Though they each still held onto the other, Callum's arms having made their way around Rayla resting on her shoulder blades.

Rayla Lightly snickered her forehead coming to rest against Callum's as she slightly ran her hands in circles around his own shoulders. Callum only smiled in return before whispering his own laughter echoing in his voice, "So, what do you want to do now?"

Rayla could only role her eyes in response though the smile at her lips only turned into a smirk betraying her true emotions before she even spoke, "Well, we can sit, and talk. Ya can also try an convince me to let ya try tha moon berry surprise that’s been tempting me all day." 

Callum only snickered before saying humoredly, “Yeah that sounds good to me.”

Only to earn a playful shove from Rayla before she walked back over to the tree root her hands having tugged at Callum’s tnic for him to follow as she had turned. Which Callum did, plopping down next to her as she went to sit down. Setting his backpack down next to them as Rayla  picked up a small woven leaf box she’d apparently left by the root. It was about the size of her hands and reminded him of something akin to a picknick basket as she handed it over to him with a grin saying, "Here ya go dig in this is the last one I can get, well afford till spring when we don't have to rely on the stored ingredients."

Callum found himself nodding looking down at the box before going to untie its latch, a pang of guilt hitting his heart at the fact that this was the last she could get. The desert itself was surprisingly more like a cake than he’d been expecting having been expecting something more along the lines of a pie. Carefully picking it up he found it was maybe a bit taller or rather thicker than a jelly tart and was round, other than that and its density, it was about the same size. Only hesitating to eat it knowing it was the last one but seeing how excited she was to have him try it he took a small carful bite. No sooner than he had, his eyes went wide with surprise the second the flavor registered in his mouth. It was amazing and even that was to week of a description, heck it beat flying.

His enjoyment of the dessert was however sidetracked by embarrassment at his reaction, plus the smug grin Rayla wore on her face wasn’t helping. So trying to downplay it cleared his throat before saying, “This is… great, Ez would raid the kitchen every hour for this.”

Which earned a giggle from the elf before she replied tilting her head as her chin came to rest on her knee, “Yeah, he’d probably lay siege to it if what you’ve told me about him and jelly tarts is anything to go by. Can you guess what the surprise is?”

Callum taking another bite he thought for a minute really paying attention to the flavor before answering, “I honestly don’t know were to start, I didn’t even know what moonberry juice tasted like till a month ago I wouldn’t trust myself to name ingredients, if your flowers are anything to go by at least I wouldn’t know where to start after musical flowers.”

Rayla snorted slightly before grinning ear to ear and replying, “Yur probably right, though I think that’s for both of us, what is a lemon by the way… Oh wai’ ya have some crumbs there.”

As Callum swallowed the last of it he felt Rayla’s hand cup his cheek causing him to look back to her as she wiped the corner of his mouth with her thumb. Blush immediately covering their faces as they made eye contact before the two turned away Rayla’s hand shooting back despite how natural it had seemed to feel on his cheek. So wanting to distract herself from the fact she continued having to stop herself from rambling, “Sowhenwer- cgggh* So when are ya plannen on dazzling yur parents with some of yur human primal magic?”

Callum turned back to her as she looked back to him slowly noticing the slight surprise in his eyes at the sudden change of subject. Still he only hesitated to blink before answering, “Uh in a few months actually, figured it would be best to wait for after the winter solstice. Plus that will give us about a year till we have to deal with the food shortage and the Ki-Dad would probably offer to ban dark magic for Xadia’s help, helps when I’m living proof we don’t need it.”

Callum finished slightly awkwardly, probably because he’d probably never imagined himself as a big piece of a rather major plan if Rayla had to guess. Which did earn him an endearing Eye roll from the elf before saying leaning in slightly to bump his shoulder to hers, “Look at ya being all diplomatic, looks like you can check off one of those things princes are supposed to be good at after all.”

Of course he only went more crimson getting all embarrassed already rubbing his neck with his left hand in his usual bashful manner. Followed by him denying it promoting an even bigger roll of her eyes, “It’s not really, more of just a plan. I’ll probably have to scramble to fix things at somepoi- mmmph- mmmhhhh…”

Rayla of course shut the boy up, grabbing him by the shoulders and twisting him to her before capturing his lips. Callum having little to complain about after the surprise, till she pulled away grinning. Letting go of her human Rayla rested her chin against her knuckle and elbow on her knee before saying at a still mentally recovering Callum, “Ya can keep talking dumb all you want you know, I don’t mind haven’ ta shut ya up if I need ta.”

Callum’s mouth opened as if to respond only to close it again before shyly nodding. Rayla only let a short giggle before leaning back in planting a quick peck on his cheek before slightly glancing away herself feeling the embarrassment slowly catch up to her. Her arm dropping from its place on her knee replaced by her hand resting on it before thinking back to Callum’s plan hoping to find something to hide how flustered she was getting. Only to remember something particularly he said… “Callum…Katolis had a food shortage?” Rayla asked her words slow and carful as her gaze seemed to shiver at the idea.

Callum’s face dropped, if only slightly before he stammered out an answer, “Uh wha- well technecly- no… It was Duren, our neighboring kingdom had had failing crops. The Queens came to Katolis for aid, and we did what we could but between our stores and the two kingdom’s population…”

“Some would go hungry,” Rayla finished as he drew quitter, gilt turning in her stomach. Even if she could do little to nothing about it, the fact Callum had to go through it somehow made it feel like her fault. ‘ughh I suppose this is one of the downsides to loving a boy…’ she thought while failing to remove the undeserved guilt. Only to succeed slightly sliding her arm around Callum’s back before pressing her ear to his shoulder. Her horns barely poking at his cheek and neck.

What she didn’t know was Callum shared the feeling of guilt, although his was because he blamed himself for getting the mood all gloomy. So trying to fix that he said, “Well it’s not like anyone did go hungry Virens spell worked after… after they got the magma titans heart.”

The mood only plummeted more, his voice going quiet as he started to blankly stare ahead. Rayla immediately realizing why immediately pushed her way into his lap flipping herself around so her right hand was on his right shoulder before pulling him into the tightest hug she could give. She felt him shudder slightly from what must have been a storm of horrible feelings before he returned it hugging her just as tightly as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Her fur padded hood covering it slightly. Rayla however found herself running her hands up and down his back hoping to give him as much comfort as she physically could. She soon found herself bearing her own face in the crook of his neck whispering, “That’s not gonna happen this time, don’t even waist yur thoughts on tha. I-I- I’m sorry, for prying into it.”

Callum made a noise almost like a whimper as he nudged his way deeper into the hug before he replied almost completely muffled, "I know... I'm sorry, I know…" 

Rayla though she felt Callum relax slightly, couldn’t help but feel a flare of anger pound at her heart, her hands clutching his shirt tightly before she shifted to bring her chin up to rest on his shoulder to make sure he heard this, "don't ya dare be sorry, not about this. There is absolutely nothing for you to be sorry about, not this time sappy prince."

It was he finally melted into her embrace and something other than sadness, worry and guilt at things yet to be decided arrived. She felt Callum giggle slightly into her shoulder, and it only made her grin leaning her head against his. Soon enough the gloomy atmosphere receded leaving only humor and comfort. Warmth untying the knot in her chest as she heard Callum mutter a soft, “Thanks.”

Rayla could only giggle her breath probably tickling Callum’s neck feeling his own laughter returned on her neck. Although as she got goosebumps from the feeling she felt Callum suddenly shiver in her arms. That was when the current weather made itself very apparent to Rayla along with the fact that unlike Rayla Callum wasn’t wearing a coat. She immediately pulled away, her gaze taking in what he did have on for warmth. Of course he had his scarf followed by a light blue tunic that left his arms completely bare. Rayla instantly wanted to call him an idiot to not have his jacket on sooner but before she could open her mouth something else caught her attention.

Specifically, his arms, other than the fact they were bare and a little red from the cold there was one other noticeable difference. They weren’t as soft as she remembered, and they were definitely on the more defined side for a toddler. Now it wasn’t much heck he was only six so any muscle was rather noticeable, and with the training Rayla did she probably had two times more than him already, but considering he had always been on the softer side of fit with little to no muscle. So with that currently going through her mind she barley even realized she asked her question aloud, “When did ya start worken out?”

Callum had been of course slightly startled at her sudden movement, only growing confused as she started to inspect his arms. Until she’d asked him and his eyes opened a bit wider in surprise and his face went crimson before sputtering out a timid reply while desperately trying to sound at ease and maybe a little more confident, “Oh uh my arms, right- uh apparently turning your arms into wings with magic doesn’t exactly mean you won’t feel like you have led for arms in the morning…”

Rayla bite her lower lip in an attempt to hide a chuckle, a grin, and all the benefits of that little information currently running ramped through her head. The advantages of Callum’s flight easily doubling at how much that will pay off, realizing she had something to look forward to in ten years. Still it seemed Callum caught on to a little bit of what was going through her head at the moment, starting to fidget slightly under her gaze. Only coming back to reality when he started yammering unsure of what else to do, “…though your trainings probably worse, All I’m really doing is using my arms…”

As Rayla glanced back up her cheeks flushing almost instantly realizing she had been staring way more than what she’d consider an embarrassing amount. Luckily she didn’t exactly need to change the subject to save face answering his question which was honestly a mercy to both of them, “Oh, it’s nothing I canne handle, sore four out of the seven days of tha weak an I’d probably be more of em if Ethari would let me push myself a bit more… He’s even been a bit more lenient on sweets and he was always pretty lenient, but this time Runaan’s na even protesting.”

"Well, he's right, you shouldn't be pushing yourself that much or at least as much as before I mean after-.”

“Oh just before just say before, not like I don’t know wha yur talking about.” Rayla cut in after Callum’s immediate response that showed how much he agreed with her adopted parents and the slightly pointed but caring glair didn’t do anything to contradict that either. Which was a bit annoying but far more sweet than she wanted it to be.

She wasn’t however done not one to let herself get flustered so easily, (except she totally was) so in false agitation and humor dripping in the edges of her voice, she continued, "An’ how else am I going ta get my sweets, I’ve had a fair bit more moon berry surprises these last few weeks then I’ve had in a whole year of my life."

Callum of course stifled a chuckle bringing a balled fist up to cover his mouth. Which Rayla could only grin at, but before either of them could continue a cold breeze swept across the field of grass earning a shiver from Callum the moment it reached them. Earning an immediate glare from Rayla followed by an eye roll mostly directed at herself for forgetting why her attention had gone to Callum’s arms in the first place. “Callum where’s yur jacket, yur all shivering like a shadowpaw kit after its first bath,” Rayla asked accusingly before that fell away teasing edged around her sterner tone.

Callum of course would have blushed a hundred times over if his cheeks weren’t already pink from the cold. Though that didn’t stop the corners of his lips from smiling seeing how cute her scoldings were at this age, but he wasn’t dumb enough to point that out no matter how cute she got when mad, or at least pretending to be. He’d thankfully been rather good at telling her moods, but he still wasn’t going to pock at the flames so his answer, well the one he could come up with and the truth considering he had no othere reason not to put on a coat, “Uh oh right… I forgot sorry…”

"How could ya forget to put yur coat on? It’s not exactly toasty out here now," any remnants of her scolding gone completely replaced with adored humor as she already twisted around to her right in his lap to reach his backpack clearly looking for a coat he packed.

It was because of that Callum would be to distracted to even realize he started to reply, “Well you’re here so…”

Rayla froze, not because of the temperature, nope it was from her brain shutting down hearing exactly what he was implying, aka he got distracted by the cute elf in front of him. Her mouth opened to reply before closing it no words apparently wanting to come out. Glancing back there eye’s met blush hitting both of them a new before Callum immediately glanced away giving Rayla a small realization, why were they still on the awkward side of things. It was something small but that realization just clicked, and Rayla snorted needing to roll her eyes for what was probably the fifth time in the last ten minutes before going back to continuing to rummage through his bag. Deciding to have some mercy on the boy while she looked, though giggles still traced her voice, “Sigh* Callum… wha am I goin’ ta do with ya… Yur just the kindest, sweetest, most charming and bravest dork I know…”

Rayla trailed off letting out another sigh having found Callum's jacket rolled up in a ball tucked deep into the pack. Taking it out and unfolding it not failing to notice his gaze was back on her which she was fine with, not at all making her cheeks feel warmer, nope. Turning back she pulled him forward slipping his coat behind him sparing him a soft bashful smile as she helped slip his arms in each sleeve. Hesitating only to admire his arms for one more quick glance wondering about their future benefits before covering them up to warm them.

Finaly returning his gaze she brought her hands up to cup his face hoping to chase away the cold from his cheeks and ears. Though the way his eyes looked at her as she did this threw any slight frosting she’d felt miles away. However apparently that look was also the look of ‘I’m about to say something incredibly stupid. His emerald eyes falling to look between them as he opened his dumb mouth and said, “How… how do you see me like that, I’m useless in a fight, and my only real skill is drawing how can you-gmmmph.”

Rayla absolutely refused to let the boy finish her hands moving to cover his mouth in an instant, which was less fun then shut up kisses but she needed this to get through his dumb head. Callum’s eyes already looking sorry as she glared judgingly into them before after a few moments more of letting him squirm she said, while showing great restraint not to slap the dummy, “Callum. Shut. Up. Useless in a fight? You can shoot lightning out of those five fingers of yours, an don’t say you just started learning magic as an excuse, ya can learn a spell by seeing it once, ONCE!!! I know no nobody who can do that human or elf. An if yur implying I wouldn’t like ya because ya can’na handle a blade or spar with me ya dumber then I thought possible. I don’t need a big oaf ta be able to take a few of my punches, but I do need to apparently get this through yur smooth and apparently thick skull.”

Rayla’s hands left his mouth cupping his cheeks again before continuing, “If I’m to good ta feel bad about myself, then yur to damn amazing to think I wouldn’t fall in love with the clever, sweet, sensitive, cute mage righ in front of-mmmmm.”

Honestly it had been a miracle she’d gotten through half of that without just kissing him outright. Heck they couldn’t tell you who closed the distance between them first, all they knew was that they melted into each other and the other tasted great. Though in Callum’s case his lips still held traces of moon berry surprise, which was the absolutely the most dangerous thing he could taste like at the moment. Rayla immediately pulled away realizing she had been about to get a real thorough taste.

Callum only seeming to catch himself looking immediately confused, which did nothing to calm Rayla’s heart rate feeling immediately bad for the sudden separation, the look in his eyes of surprise cutting deep. Of course this set of even more panic in her brain, her thoughts now getting pulled in three different directions at once. ‘no, nope not doin tha. Then wha was tha last time, I was all emotional then. No his lips were cute and I had ta tas- no stopping that train of thought. Stay focused can’ne just leave im like this, can I? no. He’s six right now so none of tha kissing. I’m seven so what…”

Unfortunately she definitely wasn’t able to sort her thoughts out intime Callum noticing her cheeks and ears redden as her eyes staired both blankly and terrified passed him. Before going to speak Rayla however seemed to snap back to the present, “Uh wh-.”

“SORRY!, Sorry, um cr- sorry ok, I just forgot about moon berry surprise and how apparently you can still taste it on someone else’s lips after they eat it…” Rayla stammered out her brain such a mess she ended up with a fraction of the truth.

Callum on the other hand after wincing at the initial volume only blushed before replying as Rayla started to partially calm down, “Oh okay… that’s, fine…”

Rayla’s hands dropped to rest on his shoulders as his words registered only making her cheeks more flushed, wondering if he meant she could continue. That was when she remembered a certain promise he’d made the last time he stopped by. She could only gulp at the realization, the action casing Callum to shift slightly leaning more into the root with nowhere else to run to Rayla still sitting in his lap.

“Can I try it more?” Rayla asked before she even knew she was speaking and by then it was too late. Callum immediately matched his scarf, his eyes slightly widened as she looked almost pleadingly into his. So taking in a gulp the boy nodded, earning a shy smile from the elf before she leaned back in planting a quick peck on his nose before diving in and capturing his lips. Proving unable to restrain herself for more than a second before easily overpowering his lips and the sweetest taste of moonberry surprise she’d ever had hit her tongue. Where she learned two extra things, one she was definitely going to abuse her unrestricted access to Callum’s lips, and two once he got his bearings Callum was a great at returning this kind of kiss.

Another time skip about two months

Amaya had been in a great mood, and there was very little that could break it. Since returning to the capital a little over a week ago, she’d finally had a chance to actually relax without having to keep her troops in line and vigilant, even with the breach remaining hidden from the elves that was only as far as they knew. There was always the possibility of an attack, especially if they found it. On a more pleasant note, since arriving back to Katolis she had immediately crushed her nephew Callum in a hug, the boy seemingly less eager to escape her iron grasp than usual. Ezran was even cuter then when she first saw him having to resist the urge to squeeze the cutie. Her sister was of course happy to have her back having already gotten busy talking about and laughing at some of the other noble's poor fashion sense or just unintentional dirty double meanings.

She’d missed it here, especially stuck all the way out on the boarder. Currently however Amaya found herself walking down the finely decorated windowed hallway with her interpreter Gren next to her the young man surprisingly skilled with languages for a relatively fresh knight though he was only a few years younger than her to be fair but considering she was one of the youngest generals ever at 25 that was saying something. They had no clear destination in mind just enjoying the cool relaxed atmosphere of the castle as opposed to the borders heated by lava, tense one. The light of the two o’clock sun shining through the grand windows adding to the ambience of castle life, today being on the rather quiet end of things. Though that was soon broken, the echoes of a voice carrying down the hall. The two paused for a moment, Amaya glancing back to Gren before looking back to the passage, waiting for the voices owner to come into view.

Though Amaya was “deaf” she could still hear noise, that’s all it was though, whatever words were spoken became garbled and nonsense in her ear. Only helping slightly when reading lips having eventually gotten used to picking out tones from the white noise. Luckily, she had Gren to fill out the blanks and in this case he took a step forward starting to interpret what he could hear from up ahead, {Though I myself am not above entertaining a child’s fantasies, you should have come to me, especially after the first time the crow returned. It was a needless risk and could have cost us a trained crow but seeing that it didn’t I wouldn’t see it fit to send you out of your apprenticeship, and if it had been any other member of the royal family, it is good to see you could assist them. However, when it’s the prin-}

Gren suddenly stopped not do to them entering their line of sight, though they were probably close now if the jargon she could hear was anything to go by. No instead he looked surprised and when he picked it back up she understood why, {The prince, his parents should know if a boy his age has a crow pal, you should have informed me, and had it been any other child I hope you’d have turned him away.} Gren then did a quick gesture that wasn’t a usual sign, one she recognized as meaning someone else started talking, {I wouldn’t have…}

However, Gren stopped their two unseen voices finally coming into view just a few yards ahead after turning a corner. Their conversation also coming to a stop, well the younger ones reply with the general coming into view. Amaya finding her growing suspicion on who had been talking correct, their standing in almost ceremonial robes of black and grey feathered with that of his profession was the crow lord his usual charming smile missing replaced with one of solemn listening before surprise crept in at seeing them. Next to him was a young man, boy around twelve to maybe fifteen if he was scrawny, looking like timid personified.

Of course having already overheard, well saw in her case most of the conversation Amaya went right into it, Gren quickly interpreting, “{Crow lord, I hear you have some news regarding my nephew, and I hope you haven’t been doing nothing but talking about it so even the deaf can gossip.}”

She had signed it partially joking but it was still far to obvious of a reprimand, the last thing they needed was gossip about the king’s stepson, it would just mean more people she’d have to give a good pummeling for talking about Callum, politics was far from her favorite subject. Especially when it came to manipulation and sensing weakness, it was even less honorable than most if not all wars in her opinion.

The man however barley flinched continuing forward in his usual cavalier manner though the look on his face as he gave a slight nod told he understood and his following words supported it, {“Of course, forgive me, my apprentice was still being rather over apologetic, and I figured I should put his mind at a bit more ease. Though I do still plan to give him a few more grueling and downright benign tasks so he learns from this error still.”}

The short black haired boy flinched at his mention looking to the ground as he followed his master. Though Amaya paid it little mind turning back to the crow lord after glancing away as the flamboyant man continued, {“I was of course coming to inform the King and Queen but as fate would have it we run into the only other person I believe equipped to handle this sort of thing.”}

He as she had grown to get used to, bowed his head in an almost sarcastic fashion, but having met him before it seemed one of his more genuine ones. Amaya nodded for him to continue which he immediately did so, saying, {“As you’ve- as dear Gren here heard and probably told you while doing so, I discovered the older prince has roped my apprentice into letting him send letters for him to a place only the prince knows, and to whom is in the same category, unknown to us.”}

Amaya felt an uncomfortable knot twist in her chest, the whole situation screaming danger to her protective instincts as she watched the crow lord pull a rolled-up piece of parchment from his robe and handing it to her. Taking it Amaya looked it over finding a splotch of wax holding it close, formed from what looked like a plain ordinary candle finished off with an uppercase R scratched into its surface. Hearing it had caused her panic, but holding it in her hands left her stuck, stuck at the fact that her six-year-old nephew had been secretly sending letters. It was so bazar it in a roundabout way startled her back to the moment starting to sign with her free remaining hand, “{When did this start?}”

{"About three months ago..."} The apprentice said clearly the most nerves out of the whole group fidgeting more than she’d seen newly recruited squires’ fidget. 

Amaya glanced the boys way before back down to the paper in her hand, the idea of opening it crossing her mind before shaking the notion off thinking better of it as her thoughts puzzled, 'He would notice… Callum's not even seven, sure he has amazing drawing skills from what Sarai has shown me but letters... to who?! Sarai, Callum and I didn't always live here, could it be a friend he made??? No if he's able to write the odds of another friend his age from before also being able to write are even slimmer... unless... no he didn't talk to any noble children before Harrow and Sarai married. Who then? I can’t find out from this one, unless… he would have to have the others stored somewhere in his room... worth checking out at least.' Amaya shrugged slightly to herself after deciding though the motion was rather obvious having chosen to wear her usual armor.

She could see the other three form questioning looks at witnessing her nonchalant and relaxed gesture after hearing that interesting news. So she decided to clarify, “{I'll hold onto this for now. I'll look if I can find any more information. I'll also tell Sarai and king-in-law once I know more.}"

The crow lord seemed satisfied nodding as he replied, {"of course and in the meantime, I'll be having this one, start with cleaning the crow's cages again."} With a gesture to the boy once more to fallow the man turned back heading back to his tower leaving Gren and Amaya to contemplate. 

Gren looked to Amaya clearly very intrigued before stating not bothering to use his mouth, {Now that’s something I wasn’t expecting to learn today, Prince Callum having a secrete pen pal. I’d be intrigued if I didn’t find it a bit concerning.}

{Agreed, so let’s go find what my nephew is hiding… and if we find this is just Sarai getting back at me for that fake cupcake prank I need to up my game,} Amaya signed in response though she didn’t give her interpreter any time to tell her off after seeing his face drop at the mention of her and her sister’s long lasting prank war. Already off back down the hall leaving the red head to follow after her. The general already mapping out the best root to Callum’s room in her head, the letter still in her hand.

The trek was relatively short though it still gave her more time to contemplate what could be going on. The most likely and hopefully correct assumption was that Callum had made a friend probably after that friend had visited the capital, Callum having been too young to really remember anything before they moved to the castle. Still writing letters wasn’t exactly something a six-year-old would come up with on their own, at least not without an adult suggesting it, and usually to help them draft it. There was, however, his skill in drawing to take into consideration having taken impressive gain since she’d last seen his sketches, although the recent subject for a few of his sketches was cause for some concern, knowing Callum would have to eventually learn why the elves weren't their friends.

The question was coming she knew that, but she was not going to be the one to destroy his innocent view of the world, especially when knowing her sister would most likely break every bone in her body if she did. Though if he kept drawing that elf, she might think he had a thing for elves considering how cute he drew her. That thought however seemed to make her chuckle slightly unable to argue his taste in looks at least, as they finally arrived at the prince’s room. Callum thankfully having been preoccupied with a snowball fight with Soran and Claudia last she’d seen him, and would probably be getting hot chocolate once the three got cold so it should be safe to search his room without him coming back.

Still being cautious she slowly opened the door just in case her assumption was off, though if it was it apparently wasn’t by much finding nobody inside. It was surprisingly clean, of course there were the maids who probably kept the majority of the room tidy, but she’d expected at least a few stuffed animals and other toys to be strung about, instead they sat as neatly placed as the rest of the room. In fact the only thing in there that was remotely messy was the desk strung about with paper and even some books. Walking in Amaya looked over the desk finding school work and some more simplistic doodles of Callum’s, having not really expected to find the previous letters there, otherwise she would’ve heard about it a lot sooner and from her sister, or at the vary least from the maids gossiping the servants having been known for looser lips when the info didn’t affect them directly. Aka put their job on the line.

Meanwhile Gren remained at the entrance standing just under the doors threshold as Amaya actually started her search, starting with the desk checking every drawer finding some extra blank paper and letter supplies like a seal and wax candle, which before today she would have thought was rather ridicules to give to a six year old prince or not, but apparently she would have been proven dead wrong. Next she tried under the bed finding little more than a bit of dust, not even a toy that could have fallen back there. The wardrobe also turning up zilch, and that was even after checking pockets before eventually checking everything over again, mainly the gaps between furniture and even eventually his pillow despite the fact there wasn’t a single maid that bad at their job to have possibly missed letters stuffed into the pillow they’re fluffing.

Amaya could only release a sigh before turning to Gren who had stood politely by to let her work, a habit picked up from her routine search of the barracks at the breach. Though those usually ended with more results, so seeing the deep in thought expression on his superior face he signed a sympathetic look on his face {No luck?} The resulting glare was all he needed to move on from sympathy and begin to look about the room himself. Though he never left his post his gaze alone seemed to be enough to come up with something. {If he was smart enough to send letters... he would probably have above average hiding skills,} Gren signed, the look on his face already telling her the solution. 

Amaya understood immediately what he was implying, and though she definitely thought it was a little extreme deploying the methods she used to search for the contraband the new recruits' snuck int she knew it was better safe than sorry. Although she still wasn’t going to cut into his mattress or pillow that being a little extreme considering she was dealing with a six-year-old and not an unruly band of teens, plus that was more for intimidation, looking for an opening in the fabric being just as or a bit more practical in this case. However as that decision ran through her head, she noticed the first place she should look. The enclosed bottom of the wardrobe looking like the perfect space to hide something, if it was hollow that is.

Walking over to it again this time knelling down before running her hand along the wooden bords. Stopping as she felt a panel slide, it was only slight but it was there and pressing in the opposite direction there was no doubt, it was loose. Taking her nails she found the board’s edge and pulling the plank of wood up revealing a little opening into the space between the floorboards of the wardrobe and polished stone floor of the castle. Only the floor was hidden behind a familiar-looking parchment and there was quite a bit more of it than the one in her hand.

'Looks like we have quite the pair of pen pals?' Amaya thought slightly amused at the amount of letters electing some sympathy for that apprentice who had to deal with the two all while keeping it hidden. Taking one from the top of the pile he’d accumulated she looked it over finding the same plain wax seal broken, walking over to the desk she set the unread scroll down before unraveling the older piece of mail. All worries of alerting Callum to someone snooping not applying to an already opened seal. Only to be toped off with relief finding the handwriting and a few dozen misspellings belonging to another child around his age. Making her release a slight chuckle wondering if his would be any better, the smile on her face only growing as she actually started reading. (Note: I'm not putting in the misspelling just know there there.)

As Amaya finished reading, she found herself grinning ear to ear barley keeping her chuckle in her throat contained. It was safe to say she was already starting to like the sound of Callum’s new feisty friend, DeJa’Vu hitting her a similar argument coming to mind about the use of dam around Callum that she’d gotten into with her sister, and from the looks of it Callum agreed with his mom. Turning to Gren she found him trying to hide an amused expression, Amaya’s own expression having probably already given away that it was good news. {Looks like my nephew has made a rather feisty friend.} Amaya signed before rolling the letter back up and going to put it away.

After closing up the hole and shutting the wardrobe she turned back to Gren finding his amusement and perhaps curiosity having spread to his eyes as he asked, {Why do you think he’s keeping them secret?}

She barley had to think for a moment her earlier grin reappearing before replying, {Girl… if her name is anything to go by R-A-Y-L-A rather pretty if a bit odd for a name. and I’m going with crush and a big one at that if the amount he’s writing her has anything to do by… I wonder If Sarai’s ever met her or at least seen her if he’d met her while she was visiting here.}

{You think she met him in town during the last festival?} Gren asked

{… possibly it’s not like he could have met her anywhere else…} Amaya responded after a moment.

A brief pause falling over the two before Amaya continued, {I think we should ask my sister, she might already know about this to, or at least of it. Either that or we ask Callum, but as much as I would like to tease the little sneak, I also want to see how this plays out.}

Her last statement earned an eye roll from Gren at a bit of Amaya’s mischievous side showing, still he said or signed nothing about it stepping to the side as Amaya started to go, after making sure to grab the unopened letter she’d left at his desk. The two continued on now getting even more sidetracked about their day finding themselves heading to Harrow and Sarai’s office the court proceedings long done by now. Of course she didn’t bother knocking, causing the guards at the door and Gren to flinch, which never failed to entertain her. And that was because if it was anyone else barging in unannounced to the king and queen, it could mean their lives.

Especially say if they walked in on the Queen as she draped her arms over her husbands shoulders from behind the chair while playfully nuzzling his hair. Yeah anybody else would be dead, Amaya though could only smirk, Sarai seeming to jump startled like a dear in lamp light. Her hands coming to rest on Harrow’s shoulders as she stood upright before a glare flashed across her face before replaced with an eye roll. Her hands leaving her husband shoulders to scold her sister, though still talking for his sake, the king’s skill with sign language on the improvable side of things, at least when it came to the speed at which the sisters communicated. “{Amaya you could still knock, it’s not like you can’t hear noise.}”

Amaya only rolled her eyes walking deeper into the room, Gren closing the doors behind them before bowing slightly to the two royals. As Gren settled beside her to translate for the King Amaya finally replied, "{aw then I wouldn’t get to see my sister all jumpy, but I am sorry for interrupting your lovey-dovey time but I found something you might find interesting.}”

Poor Gren needing to translate this looking the face of apologetic, not that Amaya paid that any mind. Her sister on the hand seemed far better at hiding her emotions almost seeming indifferent to this news, but Amaya could already see the curiosity as she asked, “{Well what is it then?}”

“{Oh I was just wondering if you’d seen Callum hanging around a friend named Rayla at some point?}”

Her sister’s eyes widening, whatever attempt at hiding her curiosity now gone, replaced with surprise and complete interest. Harrow even raised his eyebrows as he glanced back to his wife to see if she had any reaction of knowing. Only confirmed that Sarai knew nothing about it after replying, “{No not that I can remember… Why?”

The question came carefully her smile somewhere between amused and sly seeming to pick up on one of Amaya’s suspicions. Only for it all to be replaced by utter shock as Amaya answered, “{No reason, just that our little prince has been keeping his little pen pal a secret and has quite a few letters from her.}”

Oh if only she could get Callum to sketch Sarai’s face right now, unable to be described as anything less than priceless. Her mouth dropping open as she seemed to stair ahead indefinitely. Harrow to seemed stunned but not quite as much. It was after a moment that she seemed to finally recover, though she was still apparently lagging behind, so much so that she forgot to sign and Gren had to pick it up, {“I- hu what- when, how… is this for that time I snuck those eggs in your boots?”}

Amaya could only snort before shaking her head while Sarai looked to Gren seeming to study if Amaya had gotten him to play along in some joke, the sisters clearly alike in that regard. Gren honestly deserving a raise for barley holding his composure at the two’s antics only letting a wry smile slip pass. Amaya however only shrugged before answering, “{You can go ask the crow lord if you want, he apparently caught his apprentice sending letters for the little numbskull.}”

Sarai’s suspicion started to lesson before noticing the scroll in her hand. “{Is that one of his letters?}” she asked stepping around to stand next to Harrow.

“{no, this ones from the girl herself, but unless you have a way to open it without braking the wax it’s condense will remain like the girl, a mystery. Though from what I read from one of the dozens he had stashed in his room she has quite the warrior’s spirit,}” Amaya signed with a grin.

“{hmmm, he hasn’t even mentioned a friend other then Soran and Claudia… Why do you think he hasn’t said anything? Where does this girl live?}” Sarai inevitably asked after a moment deep in thought.

“{Well I can take a guess at the first question and say crush, if how familiar she seemed to be with him. I think you’d like her. As for the last one he seems to have managed to keep a few more secrets, even the crow lords apprentice doesn’t know where he’s been sending them, and I’m no study but I can’t think of anywhere that the name Rayla is common, at least in Katolis.}”

Sarai paused again thinking before it was Harrow who spoke up this time apparently having a theory, {“Then what if he met her at the coronation?”}

 Surprise hit the three of them at the idea and certainly it was tempting to agree with that. The coronation having been a rather big event with the other rulers of the pentarchy at least visiting for a portion of the calibration period. To say it was possible for him to have made another friend during that time wouldn’t be unlikely. “{I wouldn’t rule that out…}” Amaya said trailing off slightly before adding, “{Though I think we can ask the crow lords apprentice for more detail then, he may not have known where he was sending them, but he would certainly know the direction and if we know how quickly they get back…}”

“{We can estimate the location,}” Sarai finished with a grin.

Only her expression fell slightly before turning to Harrow asking, Gren having to pick up her translation for Amaya, {“but should we, if Callum’s made another friend I wouldn’t want to snoop to much… Plus I do want to hear about his friend from him…”}

Harrow turned from his wife to look at his desk deep in thought before finally answering, {“I don’t see any immediate need to solve it, not if Amaya didn’t find anything concerning in them. We can wait it out for now, and if he doesn’t send them after a bit we can ask about them without being to intrusive and possibly cheer him up depending on why he stopped…”}

Everybody seemed to nod at this, though the king and queen did turn to Amaya for some confirmation, which she quickly gave, “{The only thing I found worth any concern in them is thinking about how much mischief the two might cause if they were ever to meet up again.}”

Laughter filled the room at that, Sarai covering her mouth as she chuckled as Harrow leaned back in his chair. Even Gren joined in hanging his head to hide it though. “{That bad huh, should I be worried she could be a bad influence on our sweetheart of a prince,}” Sarai asked jokingly while grinning ear to ear.

“{She’s strong willed by my guess, and I would say Callum as timid as that boy is could use a push of chaos every now and then,” Amaya replied matching the grin.

Sarai seemed to agree though her defensive motherly instinct seemed to override a bit of it saying, “{hey Callum seems to have been getting better, he’s been a lot more active recently, playing with Soran and Claudia more…}”

“{Like within the last three months?}” Amaya said smirking while raising a knowing eyebrow.

“{Yeah, about tha-… that’s about the time he’s been talking with her, isn’t it.}”

Amaya could only nod grinning even more, leaving her sister to roll her eyes before smiling. “{Well I suppose Callum can keep a few surprises, and we can always take a peek at a letter every now and again just to make sure everything’s fine, but I definitely want to meet this girl sometime soon, or at least here what my son thinks about her.}” Sarai finished her husband nodding with her.

“{Well then I should probably get this back to the crow lord and his apprentice, wouldn’t want him thinking his friend didn’t write him back now would we,}” Amaya said holding up the still closed letter.

Getting nods from the two parents with murmurers of agreement before the general added mischievously, “{Then me and Gren will leave you two lovebirds to your fun, but not too much I hope because I think it would be too soon to introduce Callum to another sibling,}”

Gren lett out a groan as he finished translating for the kin, a groan that said, oh just kill me now, which earned an eye roll from Amaya as she wore a victorious grin seeing her sister and brother-in-law flush. Of course Sarai was the first to recover, crossing her arms forcing Amaya to have to read her lips, "Do you want to head back to the breach already?"

Amaya could only fain panic signing with as much sarcasm as possible "{Oh no, the tyrant queen banishing her own sister, I think many will question such cruelty,}" Her sisters stern mask immediately faltering.

Releasing a sigh Sarai returned a smile before signing again, "{Well I suppose I can exercise mercy, you’re banished from this room for the day.}"

"{I would suggest nothing less,}" Amaya replied chuckling before bowing slightly before leaving, all in good spirits.

(Time skip back could have happened any time after Rayla passed her test)

It was particularly calm at the storm spire, even the usual torrents of wind had calmed brushing the towering mountain like a butterflies wingbeat. The sun hanging high in the sky letting light fill the overgrown chamber where the royal family, king and queen of all of Xaida would sleep. Today Lain stood opposite his wife Tiadrin at the entrance to the great chamber, both at ease smiling at one of the great pillars of Xadia. Usually, had you asked anyone who saw them on guard duty, they’d say they were the most dedicated to their duty, stern and unmoving sentinels at all times. That however was not the case today, the main reason for such an exception was the dragon queen having engaged in a conversation with the two asking them to relax as she sat her tail coiled around her egg.

The topic was also one dear to their hearts, some would argue it was their heart. The dragon queen having asked about their experience with raising a child. Which had taken them to a particularly entertaining story. “So I with our experience we’d recommend keeping the young prince a fair distance away from any brambles,” Tiadrin finished with Lain jumping in adding, “Unless your prepared to bribe them with sweets.”

Zudeia having found the story quite entertaining let out a deep echoing laugh shifting her sitting position before saying through chuckles, "I can imagine any child would be grumpy after that." 

"That would be an understatement your majesty, to get caught in brambles is one thing to get them out of their hair…” Lain trailed off letting his wife finish, “…let’s just say it took every treat we could think of to get her to smile again."

The three continued in light chuckles, though light was a stretch when one was a dragon, but as their laughter turned to hums Zubeia spoke again leaning down slightly to better converse with her unhatched son’s guards, "I wonder if my own son will have such a sweet tooth... I am sorry to have taken such precious moments from you, I do hope your daughter is doing well even with you here."

Zubeia’s tone had become something more solemn as she finished her eyes matching such feeling. A feeling Tiadrin and Lain could also reciprocate only able to form a small smile on their lips before they replied their own eyes betraying their sadness. “Your understanding is quite a blessing, but we are dragon guards…” Tiadrin began.

“…and it is our duty to protect your son with our lives till he breaks free of that shell. Till then our daughter is in similar care. Friends of ours looking after her and training her as we would have.” Lain finished, the two of them bowing slightly. It was not uncommon a sight for the pair to be able to seamlessly finish each other’s sentences, a skill that showed in their combat as well which only boosted their strength. Though that still left plenty of room for plenty charm Tiadrin jumping back in, in hopes of turning the mood more joyful, “and it seems they already passed the hardest challenge, getting the stubborn moon berry to warm up to you is quite a feat even for Xadia’s most skilled assassin.”

 The atmosphere of the room returning to happy silence the three starting to grin, though in the queens sense it was more of a smile without bearing fangs. Though in her light blue eyes grew curiosity and the dragon queen asked, “I recall a report your keepers sent to my mate involving the bloodmoon huntress and how she was fought back into hiding and weakened by the assassin Runaan, would your daughter happen to have been involved?”

The couple could thankfully smile at the question, enough time having passed for the incident not to weigh as much on their paternal instincts of concerns and what ifs. “Yes she happened to be the one to alert Runaan to the danger. You can imagine our own worry at hearing the news, but Runaan proved more than capable on keeping her safe, even after coming face to face with that monster,” Tiadrin answered.

“And it seems Rayla learned to walk unseen under the moon as a result and for one her age it is quite the accomplishment. She’d also seemed to have talked Runaan into training her in his craft and apparently, she’s already grown past a few of his expectations.” Lain added earning a chuckle from Zubeia.

“I can imagine she is quite the persistent and brave elf with you as her parents, though I fear Runaan of the silver grove might one day be out matched as a result,” the dragon’s laughter quited as she adjusted the nest ever so slightly and delicately as she could, Her massive claw seeming impossibly gentle with the leaves. Her eyes lingering on her egg lovingly before looking back to the guards and adding, “And I would have to agree, the thought of my own child facing such danger especially so young fills me with worry.”

However before they could reply footsteps sounded from outside the door within the first room of the spire. The two snapping to the ready in proper stance now facing the door waiting for even the slightest hint of a threat. Only to relax only slightly, nearly imperceptible to anyone with the untrained eye, spotting one of their pears entering. Derak, an earth blood whose weapon of choice was a mace in the shape of a box rather than sphere, and its spikes shaped as thorns angled to tare flesh at every hit.

He had been currently standing guard outside with the two Sunfire elves with the only reason he would leave his post would be to inform the queen of an arrival, or warn them of an attack, though his pace indicated the former here. The letter in his right-hand was also further proof of the lack of urgency. "Sir Derak, is there something needing my attention," Zubeia asked as was procedure.

Derak of course bowed before stuttering slightly which caught most who’d met the proud earth blood by surprise. "Uh, not quite... You see- your majesty this message bares two seals; one I do not quite recognize though seems to detailed to be passed over, and another I believe to have seen on messages for Sir Lain and lady Tiadrin who this is addressed to. I wouldn't usually interrupt with our personal messages, but this seems urgent considering the extra seal," Derak finished nervously glancing to his fellow dragon guards. The three in the room however only looked stunned before a twinge of fear that broke through Lain and Tiadrin's masks, the two quickly looking to the dragon queen trying to hide the concern in their hearts as Zubeia stared back.

The Dragon Queen looked both intrigued and after recovering from the light surprise concerned before answering, “Then have them read it, I will not delay them important news good or bad.” Derak bowed his head slightly in a sort of nod before immediately handing the letter over. “A keepers seal,” Lain muttered as he stepped closer to his wife to read the paper together. She, however, barely paid it mind already snaping the seals in two as Derak replaced the now vacant post. Zubeia shifting slightly hearing mention of the keepers.

The two could only look down at the letter in shock, confusion and to be honest a bit of pride. Hearing that your daughter of seven had passed a test meant for children a little less then double her age, it was bit of a shock to say the least. Heck the record was nine and that was after the elf trained since birth. Their shock was however to be finite with the queen consciously clearing her throat before carefully asking as they looked up, “Is everything alright at the Silvergrove?”

The two parents felt a twinge of embarrassment realizing the news hadn’t exactly been dire. Lain being the first to reply, “Uh- yes- yes- sorry,” the moonshadow elf bowed his head before regaining himself adding, “forgive the intrusion it seems our daughter has completed her final trial under the full phase, it’s customary to send the news with a keeper’s seal to confirm it as true. We are sorry it wasn’t a true emergency.”

The queen, however, only grew amused as her concern faded replying with a nod of her head, “No apology is required, I am happy your daughter is doing quite well. Though I must ask, I am not quite familiar with moonshadow elves milestones when it comes to their young but I must imagine this trial to be quite important to warrant a keepers seal.”

“It is, in the sense that it shows a firm grasp in the more basic forms of defense showing that if the need arise they are capable of defending the village, It is the last formal step before moving onto training in more specific fields, though often times the student is already training in that field and this just acts as recognition from the rest of the grove… Still it seems our daughter has placed a record,” Tiadrin responded mostly recovered from the light shock.

“Oh, and what age do they usually complete thise test,” the female dragon asked curiosity peeking.

“It is usually completed at the age of twelve, however the record for it is nine,” Lain answered before letting Tiadrin finish, “and It seems our daughter as completed the trial at the age of seven…”

Zubeia’s eyes widened in shock as Derak’s mouth dropped slightly agape, the two having clearly not been expected that big a difference. The queen however recovered first saying as she once again adjusted her position around her nest, “Quite the accomplishment then, I would expect nothing less from a child of yours, and I have no doubt she shall make her mark on Xadia.”

The two parents could only bow in gratitude at her kind words before looking back up as she continued, “Though it brings me mourning that you had to miss such an accomplishment… Perhaps when the winter solstice is to pass, I may ask one of my winged brothers and sisters to lend you their flight, so that you may spend a day and visit.”

“Your majesty you offer too much? We couldn’t possibly leave our duty,” Lain exclaimed as his wife’s mouth dropped open at a complete loss for words.

The queen however let out a deep chuckle at their reaction before offering very amused, “It would be a mere wander for a dragon to extend their flight to the silvergrove, and the least I can do is spare you for a few hours extra considering how much time you have stood guard. Your colleagues will be more the capable in your absence, and It will most likely be a day my or Avizandum’s duties allow one of us to be at nest.”

The two stood frozen, unable to argue with such an offer, nor did either of them want to. So being the first to recover Tiadrin bowed saying, “We- can not thank you enough for such an offer. We are grateful and will not forget this.”

Her husband to bowed low before the queen with a nod bade them rise. After a moment the three settled in happiness Derak spoke up gaining their attention back in a cheerful yet serios matter, “Then if that is all the excitement I will return to my post.”

"Yes, thank you Sir Derak, please inform me of any more developments of interest," the queen replied nodding her head, earning a quick bow and a nod from the earth blood before turning to leave. A happy silence filling the room as he left and the queen started to adjust the nest once more, while Tiadrin and Lain couldn’t help but grin at the chance to visit their daughter.