Archive of Our Own

Why does life slumber?

What happens when our consciousness shuts down for the night like a complex machine, and our subconsciousness comes out to play?

Some say that dreams are a rehearsal of death. Some say dreams are a place where people’s souls meet, merging into the collective unconscious. Concepts meet concepts, visions meet visions and, in the end, they turn material, gaining a physical manifestation- or as physical as ideas can be.

Where do they live? Well, isn’t that elementary? In their minds mortals imagine them to resemble themselves, to have two arms and two legs, one head and sometimes a tail, horns, wings or god knows what else. As concepts in the flesh, they become gods, and there is no better place for gods than heaven. Love and hate, truth and falsehood, mercy and cruelty- all can be found there.

Little do mortals know though, that there is no such thing as heaven or hell. There is only the absolute boundless void filled with giant balls of fire. There’s only the cosmos. And there we will be until the very last candle of life burns out.

…

How do you kill a Startouch elf?

Or, rather, how do you kill a concept? Because they are one and the same. How do you kill freedom? Or music? Or light?

With weaker ideas it may even be possible. You might be able to eliminate all insects, you might be able to erase the culinary art and make everyone return to eating raw food. You can extinguish the sun and with time, mortals will forget such thing ever existed.

But some concepts are innate. You’ll never get rid of them, however much you wanted to.

That is why you will never be free of me. You can banish me, imprison me or deprive me of everything I cherish but I will come back every time. I am despair. I am revenge. I am love.

How do you kill love, Callum?

***

Callum woke up gaping at the stars with bleary eyes. The elf won’t ever leave him alone, will he? It was a little strange to call him elf. It wasn’t like Callum himself was very human at this point. There was only two arcana left before his sclera turned black and his skin became star-dotted. Even though to other people he stopped being human a long time ago.

He had heard those whispers and hushed conversations. They were afraid of his growth as a mage and even more so of his physical transformation. They were scared of his growing resemblance to their greatest enemy, and the asshole’s frequent visits didn’t help matters at all.

So when he turned against Ez, no one was really surprised. Deep inside, each of them, perhaps unknowingly, expected him to betray. It hurt him to see that look in his brother’s eyes but Ez left him no choice. Callum fully expected to be shot to death that day but it seems Ez still doesn’t have the heart to kill him. Callum was one hundred percent sure that the squad his brother had sent out after him was specifically instructed to bring him back alive and, preferably, well.

“Speaking of which, what is he going to do if he doesn’t want to execute me?” he mulled, “Is he just going to lock me up in prison for the rest of my life? Because in the eyes of the law, what I did was basically treason. High treason, even. He can’t give me a mild punishment, even if he wanted to.”

“But if he does put me in prison, this would only bring me closer to the asshole. God, what a joke. I will just repeat his fate, get angry with the whole world and want to take revenge. What a great life!” he thought sourly.

The night was chilly, but the Sun spell kept both him and his companions warm. Rayla slept next to him, with Stella nestled in between. Runaan was keeping watch somewhere up in the tree branches. If Callum couldn’t see him, then no one else couldn’t either. Except for one person but he wouldn’t come now. He would probably appear on Callum’s watch.

“‘I am love’. Love, my ass. If he’s love, then I’m magic. And hasn’t he fallen? He shouldn’t be love, no matter how you look at it.”

They were two days’ journey away from the Moonshadow forest. Once there- no, the asshole wouldn’t leave him alone – but the other pursuers would. When Callum had flown back, he saw who was chasing them. Soren, Corvus and about a dozen of others. He is not sure they can face that many on their own, even with his magic. It is true that spellcasting is effective against groups of enemies but there are some nuances.

“They know what I can do, they know that some spells are time-consuming, and they know I don’t want to kill them,” – that was enough to work out a feasible strategy. Plus, they have a dead weight in the form of an old assassin elf. He’s still an assassin, a very deadly one, but he’s wounded and still not recovered from his imprisonment.

He saw Runaan climb down from the nearest tree and jump down without making any noise. It was Callum’s turn.

The elf beckoned him closer.

– They’re still out of sight. At this rate we’ll beat them to the Silvergrove. – He paused. – But do not lower your guard. They could have prepared some nasty surprises.

– Surprises? Like what? – Callum whispered back.

– They could use magic.

Callum chuckled bitterly.

– No, they couldn’t.

– Do you not have dark mages in Katolis?

– Ez wouldn’t stoop so low as to pursue us with dark magic. And the only non-dark mage they have is no longer with them.

Runaan eyed him strangely.

– I sincerely hope you are right. You should know him better than I do. Even though he looked like he was going to take both our lives and yours.

The elf headed for their small camp and lay down for the sleep.

“I hope I’m right, too, Runaan. I really do.”

The night had just started to give way for the day. The eastern horizon became somewhat gray, but it was still a long way till dawn. He should take the recon flight now while it was dark enough.

As Callum soared over treetops, he felt a faint presence emerge at the edge of his consciousness. The elf was here. His could barely sense him but there was no mistake. After all, this was not the first time the asshole used the astral plane to traverse space unnoticed. If it weren’t for their damned connection, Callum wouldn’t have noticed him either.

The elf usually just watched, not meddling in or saying anything. A passive observer. However, he had been very close to manifesting himself during their stand-off with Ez. Back then Callum felt the space next to him consolidating, as if preparing to host a physical object. Thank Moon the elf didn’t go through with that. The situation was tough enough as it was.

Why did the asshole keep watching him? Callum wasn’t sure. He asked once and got a vague “It is only natural to look after one’s family” in response. The elf never elaborated on who the heck gave him right to make Callum part of his family. The guy just proclaimed it.

– So I want it and so it shall be, – Callum mumbled mockingly. – Has it ever crossed his mind to ask for my opinion?

A cool wind current passed by him, and its rustle sounded a lot like a sigh. The feeling of being watched then disappeared.

After that the events escalated very quickly. Callum felt piercing pain in his right wing and started to lose altitude. He somehow managed to keep himself above the treetops but then the wounded wing went numb, the feeling spreading to his right leg and the other arm. All control was lost, he was falling like a stone, hitting branches and – wait, was that a woodpecker? – until crashing against the solid ground. He distinctly heard an unnatural crack in his leg before his mind got flooded by pain. He blacked out.

***

– His majesty will grant you an audience shortly.

– You mean- in the throne room? Or will I have to go to his office?

– The king will do you an honour and come visit you here. Be glad that he let you stay here and did not put you into a cell. Now wait.

The solid door closed, followed by the sound of the key turning and then heavy footsteps. He was all alone now. Callum sighed and leaned back on the pillow.

Home, sweet home. Yet there was nothing sweet about the way he had been taken here and greeted. It seems there were some very skilled archers in the squad sent after them. They shot his wing with a poisoned arrow which was all it took for him to get caught because the rest of the job he basically did himself – by falling down, breaking his leg and fainting. Come and get him.

As far as he understood, the squad then split up. Some turned back to take him to Katolis while others kept on pursuing Rayla and Runaan. The journey back brought Callum no pleasure. Riding a horse with his leg splintered was a torture. Fortunately, when they reached a small settlement, Soren made an effort to get him a small carriage. That improvement made Callum’s life slightly more bearable.

This injury effectively cut off all his opportunities for escape. Or at least, that’s what the captors thought and continued to think even now. He couldn’t fly or run and could barely walk. As for magic, for some reason, they believed that putting custom-made gloves on his hands was enough. How laughable.

“They know that runes can be also drawn by objects, right? Heck, I could even trace them with my nose or toes.”

In essence, Callum could break free at any time. It was even best that he actually did it, because his self-proclaimed new family would certainly soon show up and make things even more complicated. Not to mention that the elf could decide that it was enough for Callum to tempt fate and just- kidnap take him somewhere he deemed safe for a child. The possibility was real and much scary.

But the reason Callum went along with all of this was because it gave him a chance to talk to Ez. He certainly didn’t plan for being caught- but now that it’s happened, he would use this opportunity to try and talk some sense into his anger-stricken brother. He could always leave if things went awry, anyway.

Three hours later he could hear the key turning in the lock again and looked up from the sketchbook. The door opened, letting in the young king.

Ez.

Callum could see Soren standing in the corridor as well as some other guards. They tried to come in as well but Ez didn’t let them. Callum only made out something along the lines of ‘won’t hurt’ and ‘take long’.

The door then closed. Ez looked impassive and somewhat aloof, just like on that fateful day when he weighed in on giving the order to shoot.

Callum made a move to sit up but his brother motioned for him to stay as he was.

“Fine by me, Ez. I was only trying to show respect to your new kingly self,” he thought irritated.

He didn’t say anything. Neither did Ez. He was fidgeting and avoided his gaze, yet still kept the regal posture.

One minute passed like this.

Two minutes.

Three.

– Callum, I-…

– You are angry, you have been hurt.

– What?..

Callum was hitting where it hurt.

– Your dad was killed when you were nine years old, your mom was taken from you before you could even remember her.

Ez looked at him almost pleadingly.

– Callum-

– Your friend chose her assassin father over you and your brother betrayed you over them.

– …

– It hurts. It hurts as hell. I understand. But I also see that you are not being yourself, Ez. You act on anger, hot-headed, and- you make mistakes.

This seemed to have gotten through. Ez narrowed his eyes dangerously.

– Oh, so you think I should’ve just let dad’s assassin go free without punishment?! – he shouted. – After all he’s done?! Callum, he set going the events that ruined our lives! Our family!!

“What is he, Claudia-bitten?”

– Don’t you think he suffered enough in the coin?! Besides, you know as well as I do that our lives were ruined long before that! Long before Viren committed treason, long before he and dad slaughtered Thunder! – Ez flinched. – When Aaravos was imprisoned, that’s when it all set off. No, even earlier- This cycle is centuries old, so why are you perpetuating it?!

Callum could shout, too. His eyes were blazing with his own anger. Yet Ez seemed to be full of fury that matched that. It spilled over.

– Because I’m hurt?! I’m angry, I want to hurt back! What am I supposed to do with these feelings?! With this burning anger? Just bury them and pretend nothing ever happened?! – He drew breath sharply and said in a lower voice, – It doesn’t work like that, Callum. It just doesn’t!

– Wasn’t it you who told us to keep love and pain in our hearts together? Are you backing down? – Callum gazed at him intently.

– I can’t do that!! And your betrayal makes everything so much worse! Are you not supposed to help me, remember what dad wrote in his last letter?! – This time it was Callum who flinched. – And this is how you help?!

That hurt. Callum closed his eyes and sighed as if begging gods for patience. Back then- he couldn’t do it otherwise.

– And what was I supposed to do, Ez? Just stand by and let you slice Rayla into pieсes? I love both of you and I can’t lose any of you.

– I would never!- kill her!

– Oooh, I wouldn’t say so! You were ready to outright shoot me! And I wasn’t sure if that would be to the heart or to an arm!

– Of course, to an arm! You are a flying mage! With your arm injured, you can’t fly and you can’t cast spells!!

Silence. Ezran was still fuming but his eyes were pleading him to end this argument.

– So you have a strategy prepared against me, – Callum said quietly. – Cool. You are far-sighted, my king.
– Stop talking nonsen- – Ezran sighed as he pinched his nose.

Callum watched him calmly. He felt bitter disappointment. Still pinching his nose, Ez spoke.

– I came here to make peace but instead it seems we’ve just driven apart even farther.

– Because you keep holding on to your anger and it doesn’t let you think straight. – he hesitated. – I-… I understand how you feel. All that betrayal, Runaan, Rayla, it’s one big huge mess and-… But there’s one thing you must understand, too.

Their eyes met.

– Ez, Runaan has suffered enough. Getting revenge on him will do no one good, neither him, nor you. Rayla will forgive you, she has a heart of gold, but your relationship-… it will never be the same.

– Then what do you think I should do? – Ezran said sternly. Callum sighed at that.

– Aim your anger at the root cause of the problem.

– And what might that be? Aaravos?

Callum’s face turned sour.

– No, as much of an asshole he is, he is also merely a victim. Though that doesn’t mean he has the right to go around and do this much shit.

Ez chuckled at that and shook his head.

– I still can’t figure out your relationship.

– Trust me, neither can I.

– But if not him, then who or what do you want me to vent my feelings on?

Callum opened his mouth to answer him but suddenly froze, staying silent.

– Callum? Is something wrong? Is your leg hurting? Or is it your arm?

He didn’t respond. When he thawed out of it, Ezran could hear him mumbling something about ‘obnoxious’ and ‘your own business’.

– Umm, Callum?

– Sorry, Ez, I zoned out for a bit. – He looked at his brother who looked rather confused. – I-… I think I need some rest now. It’s a long story so it will take a while to tell you. Do you mind if I do it later?

Callum was never a good liar but he hoped this would be enough. Besides, the part about having rest was not a lie at all. He still felt very weak.

– No, it’s okay, I understand. After all, it’s my fault that you ended up like this. I’m-… I’m so sorry. I really haven’t been myself these days. Please forgive me.

– Apology accepted. Just please don’t shoot me again. – He saw tears forming in Ez’s eyes. – Hey, come over here.

He reached for his brother and hugged him.

– Callum, I-I… I was such-ch a jerk! – he sobbed violently.

Callum was gently petting him on the back, his eyes closed.

– Yes, you were. But it is understandable. Anyone would be furious in your place. I would even say you did well for your circumstances!

The sobs didn’t stop. Callum looked at the boy next to him with tenderness.

  – My little brother, you are still a child. It’s okay for you to react like this. Most teenagers react at things too strongly. It’s just that – as a rule – they don’t wear a crown and don’t have an army ready to follow through on these strong reactions.

Ez laughed through tears and shook his head again.

– I take it you will remind me about it till my last days, won’t you?

Callum smiled crookedly.

– You are damn right, Ez, you are damn right. – He paused. – Which is why~ If you truly mean what you say~…

Ezran pulled back, staring at him with suspicion. There were still tears in his eyes but he seemed to have calmed down a little.

– I have a bad feeling about this.

– …if you say you’ve been a jerk-…

– Oh no.

– …then you know what you have to do, – Callum finished with a mischievous smile.

– I guess I should have seen it coming. – Ez said with a deep sigh. – Do you want me to do it now?

– Yes, please, – the mischievous smile was still there.

“Finally, after all those jerkface dances, after all the humiliation! I will finally be avenged!!” Callum screamed internally.

Ez stepped back from the bed and prepared for the inevitable.

– Do you remember how to do this?

This earned Callum a scoff.

– I had to do this a couple of times, too, you know! You were not the only one to suffer!

– But you must admit, I had to suffer through it much much much more often.

Ezran gave him a deadpan look.

– Here you go, – Callum struggled to hold back a sneer.

At this moment the door swung open and they saw someone dash in.

– King Ezran, bad news!

It was Soren. He stood by the door with a paper clenched tightly in his hand. There was urgency written all over his face. Ezran frowned at him.

– Can it wait?

– Sorry, King Ezran, I’m afraid if we wait even five more minutes, those people will just turn around and leave.

– Those people? What people? – Ez exchanged glances with Callum.

– Dark mages.

Ezran turned serious in an instant.

– What do they want?

Soren glanced at Callum, then shifted his gaze to Ezran and quickly said.

– I’ll tell you as we walk. Ez, please, let’s hurry! If I got them right, this is a matter of war.

Ezran turned even more serious and headed to the door. He looked back at Callum one last time.

– Sorry, Callum, you’ll have to stay locked up here for some time.

“That was to be expected.”

– Is it because you are still fuming?

– That, and I really can't let you go unpunished as a king. I might have already forgiven you as a brother but- as a king, I must follow the rules, – Ez quickly said apologetically.

– Will you have me executed?

He saw both Ez and Soren flinch with Ez gaping at him.

– NO. That will never happen! Callum, I'll think of something, you should just wait.

He hesitated for a second as if wanting to add something else, but then Soren gripped his shoulder.

– King Ezran, we don’t have time!

– See you soon, Callum!

Soren just nodded at him and the two rushed outside. The key turned in the lock again, and he could hear their hurried footsteps.

– See you, Ez, – he said quietly.

“After all, mages like me are a rare resource, wouldn't want to be left without one especially when there is a war with dark mages coming, right?” Callum thought bitterly, even though he understood where his brother was coming from.

Sigh.

– Will you show up now? – he said curtly.

– I’d say you have some rest first, little mage, – said a voice seemingly coming from no one. – You were bluffing with your brother just now, but you absolutely need to rest.

“Still not showing himself,” Callum grumbled internally.

– Why would I? – the voice answered. – You are exhausted physically and now emotionally as well. You can’t take me on in your current state.

– You wanna fight? – Callum sneered.

– I “wanna” talk, Callum, – he flinched. –  The talk won’t be an easy one, so please get some rest first.

He didn’t respond. The voice sighed and then added.

– If you are going to say that you are fine, I will help you become even finer. So please, don’t complicate your life and mine as well. Go have some sleep!

“Bossing me around, who does he think he is?!”

– Your family. Now go to bed.

– Before I go, let me ask you something real quick.

– I’m listening.

– Those dark mages appeared so conveniently. As if on command, don’t you think? – he stared intently at a certain piece of space by the window.

– Is that so? I didn’t see them, little mage, I can’t know.

– You sure know what I’m talking about.

– If you think so, then why ask?

Callum sighed.

– Maybe it’s because I wanted to hear you say the truth, at least this time.

– I never lie.

– You never speak the truth either.

– That’s absurd.

– It’s how things are.

– Go sleep.

Callum fought the urge to sigh again and lay back down on the bed. He felt so tired. Who would have thought that talking to Ez would drain so much energy? He closed his eyes.

“And surely you won’t stay here to guard me, right?” he thought.

– If you know it, why ask?

***

Callum woke up a few hours later. It was night. No one had drawn the curtains on the window so he could see faint stars in the dark-blue sky. The twinkling dots started at the window and continued all the way to the floor. To the floor?

“He never left, did he?”

Surprisingly, the thought didn’t scare him. Quite on the contrary, it calmed him down. The elf was many things – many evil, few good – but the one thing Callum had never felt from him was danger. The elf had protected him, and Callum trusted that protection. Yes, oddly enough, he trusted him to the point of being able to sleep soundly in the elf’s presence.

Callum felt a surge of warmth rising in his chest against his will. The stars in the room moved, as if they sensed it too. He saw golden eyes lighting up in the dark and glowing at him.

That looked a little creepy which let Callum snap out of getting emotional over the asshole.

– So, uh- You think Ez won’t be able to handle the truth about the Order? – he asked, tilting his head.

The glowing eyes looked down and then back up at him.

– Your brother has a strong will but as a force- he is weak. A human army can’t go up against the Order. Should the Council cast their gaze on them, they will perish.

– Then why telling me? I am also weak. If they gaze at me, I will perish too, won’t I?

The stars flashed brightly for a moment.

– Not as long as I protect you.

“Which is always.”

– Correct. But them- protecting an entire country is a completely different story. They will learn the truth in due time, when everything is prepared.

Callum suddenly remembered the dark mages who had suspiciously come at a very convenient time for the elf. He wanted to ask if they were part of this preparation but thought better of it. Let the elf keep his shady business to himself. This had nothing to do with him. Yet.

He sank back onto the pillows and let out a stifled ‘ow’ as his horns slammed against the bedhead. It was a miracle that he never once hit them while he slept. He must have slept like a log.

Callum heard a warm chuckle coming from the window and grumbled:

– So, what was it you wanted to talk about?

The golden eyes shut close for a moment before opening again and getting closer to him. Callum immediately moved to sit up while hitting his horns once again and swearing under his breath.

– When I see you suffer like this, I start to doubt whether it was a good idea to speed up their growth, – the elf said, creating a small floating ball of light with a wordless spell.

Callum could now see that one corner of the elf’s lips was up.

– There was no doubt for me. I knew right away that you did a stupid thing, – he deadpanned.

The elf got himself a chair and gazed at him thoughtfully. They kept looking at each other without saying anything. One minute. Two minutes…

“Oh Moon, not again!”

– Please start talking, – Callum pleaded. – This is tiring.

– I think it’s time you came to live at my place. It’s become too dangerous for you.

What?..

The elf continued.

– Before you start to show outrage, consider this. You were shot- on your brother’s orders- poisoned, paralyzed, essentially kidnapped and locked up like a prisoner. You know what the people here think of you. A mutant who betrayed his family. The king may try to shield you but do you really want to sit here and wait to find out whether he can do it or not?

Callum didn’t respond. He couldn’t argue there.

– I’ve been thinking about taking you in for a long time now. You are always under threat of being noticed by the Council. Even I can’t tell what they might do to you if they find out you exist. And this is not a foe I’m willing to take such risks with.

He paused.

– I only wish you well. I’d hate to see any more harm come your way. The state you’re in now-… Was it not your kindred blood, they would’ve paid dearly. – The golden eyes flashed once again.

Callum listened stoically. These were all reasonable points. He couldn’t object to anything. Aaravos had a way with convincing others through impeccable logic.

But, you see, sleeping under the elf’s protection was one thing, yet moving to his place? No, there was no such trust between them. Callum would think twice before even setting foot in the bastard’s house, should his life depend on it. The elf was overly overprotective, and you can’t trust a guy like that not to lock you up in a gilded cage.

“You have already lost a daughter, I can see why you are trying your best to prevent the same fate for your another perceived family. Still-…”

– I’m not going anywhere with you, – he said, shaking his head.

Callum felt sadness at his own choice and response but he couldn’t do otherwise. His eyes were glowing light green, the dim ball of light reflected in them.

– Would you rather rot here until your brother finds a loophole in the Katolian law? If he finds one? – Aaravos was brimming with sarcasm.

– No, but that doesn’t mean going with you is a better option.

The elf sighed, and the light flickered.

– You do know that I mean you no harm? What are you afraid of?

– Unfortunately, yes, I do. I fucking feel it, along with all your paternal feelings.

– You don’t choose your family.

– This does not apply here. We’re not connected by blood.

– You could say we are family by fate.

They were silent for a moment.

– Callum, all jokes aside, why won’t you come with me? – There was genuine confusion on the elf’s face.

“Because you won’t let me go anymore if I do,” he thought, knowing full well that the other would hear him. He shut his eyes tight and hung his head down.

– Perhaps it is because he feels something is amiss here, doesn’t he?

Callum stiffened and opened his eyes. That voice just now- That was not the asshole.

– You-!

The asshole was glaring daggers at the intruder. A crowned woman with magenta eyes, branchy horns and shiny white stars all over her body. She looked eternally kind and all-forgiving, almost like- a god.

– Great, another Startouch family, – Callum grumbled.

– It’s been centuries, Merciful.

– Greetings, the Fallen One.

– I do have a name and you sure as fuck remember it, – the elf said viciously. It turns out he knows how to swear.

There was so much venom in his voice that you could poison the whole world with it. But the woman ignored him.

– Little one, I am known as the Merciful One-

– Yes, she is the one who shows mercy to innocent children by letting their father die with them-

– Shush, Fallen, – she said without even looking at the elf. – Callum, you called me your family but that’s not quite right. I thought I would be one because I was the first to see you of all my siblings. But as I rushed to the mortal realm to find you, I realized that you already had someone at the other end of family connection.

– You’re late, suckers, – now the elf was sneering, but his eyes were not smiling.

– But it’s not set in stone. The Fallen One broke a rule. Those who Fell can’t guide others to Startouch existence-

– Wait, wait, wait, – Callum raised his hand asking for her to stop as he stared at Aaravos with growing suspicion. – I thought you said there are cosmic rules that can’t be broken?!

Previously on the Dragon Prince:

– This is not a matter of whether we want it or not, little mage. As much as I loathe my tribe, my dear heavenly family, there are customs with the power of cosmic laws which neither you or I should violate.

– One of such customs has it that when a new Startouch elf is born through the six arcana, whoever of the Startouch finds them first must take care of them and guide them through their new existence. – Aaravos paused. – Rest assured, I am less than thrilled about the prospect, much like yourself.

Book 1, Episode 2. So you f*cking lied??

– No, you must’ve misheard it. I said shouldn’t be broken. Which means that they can be, if necessary.

– That’s exactly why you Fell and that is also why I must take this child into my care and sever your connection with him. You have no right to have it.

“No, not she too,” Callum groaned.

– And how, pray tell, are you going to do that, mmm? – Aaravos smiled at her gently. – Will you crush me with the power of the non-Fallen? You are not taking another child from me, you bastards. Not ever again, – he finished with a burning gaze, fixed on the woman. She smiled back at him, her eyes icily cold.

The air around the two family candidates got thicker, it was almost stifling. If Callum wanted to stay away from both of them – which he did – he’d better make a run for it as soon as they started to fight it out. While two lions fight, their prey flees.

“There are only two issues. The first one is my physical state- which is not that hard to work around. The other problem though…”

He peeked at the asshole. The elf took his eyes off Merciful for a moment and smiled at him crookedly.

“Well dang, he already knows. Of course, he knows! I’m like a daily newspaper to him – free, entertaining and not very complicated. The bastard. How do I get away when even thinking about getting away compromises me?!”

The elf glanced at him again and this time he smirked.

The Merciful one watched them both in confusion.

– What are you two do-

BOOM!!

She didn’t manage to finish as an explosion shook the castle. Callum tried to shield himself with his hands but then he realized there was an actual shield around him. Merciful was flung away at the door, her white clothes in black soot and a small flame dancing on her hair. She blew it out as she glared viciously at her opponent. Aaravos stood next to Callum’s shield, a smug smile playing on his lips. A dozen of complex runes he traced were hovering before him. Callum could tell from the goosebumps he felt that those were no ordinary spells. Those were spells you did when you wanted to destroy. This was the magic you used when you were ready to kill.

The woman narrowed her eyes and drew a rune so quickly that Callum couldn’t follow her movements. It glowed starrish-white before turning reddish-lilac. It crackled with lightning.

Aaravos turned serious the moment he saw it.

– Stella mortuus. Do you really want to use that here? – he mumbled quietly.

“Stella mortuus… Star dead. Oh Moon. Asshole, I know you can hear me but it doesn’t matter. The two of you are going to raze it to the ground. And I still want to live.”

The elf didn’t even look at him. Good. Then-

– Celer ventus portare, – Callum whispered. A mighty gust of wind picked him up and carried him to the window in a flash. Before he knew, he broke through the glass and flew off with a speed of a hurricane.

That was the best thing he could do without a Star arcanum. He sighed in relief as he flew above the treetops. The vague fog blew past him, as well as the castle walls, the moat, the forest. The spell would bring him to a preset location. He’d figure out his next course of action when he got there.

Callum was about to relax and just let the wind carry him when he saw a vague purple oval in the distance. It looked suspiciously like a portal made by Star magic. He could even guess who was responsible for it.

– Won’t catch me this time, asshole~, – he said confidently, steering the air current past the portal.

As if in response, the damn thing then multiplied. Now the portals took all the space before him.

– You son of a bitch, – he muttered through gritted teeth as he urgently skidded to a halt, stopping right in front of one of the ovals.

The purple thing was hovering there unmoving.

“To hell with the preset directions, I’ll just go elsewhere,” he thought. “Or not-”

He was now surrounded by the portals on all sides. They kept popping up at a certain distance as if mocking him.

 – How the fuck is he doing it remotely?.. He’s not even here! –  Callum groaned in frustration. His mind then skidded to a halt too. – Or is he?

He wheeled around, half expecting to see the elf floating there smugly. Yet there was nothing, only more portals. He shut his eyes tightly and exhaled. He must keep calm. There is always a way. Even when your spell is about to dissipate and there are traps all around you, even when your body is broken and there are shards of glass stuck in your skin and hair-…

Yes, there is always a way. It’s just a matter of whether you can do it or not, if the odds are on your side. There is close to zero chance that he can learn the Star arcanum now and get away through his own portal. The possibility is there. The way is there. But can he get there?

No.

When he opened his eyes again, the portals were much closer, some nearly touching him. Any wrong move and he would get moved Moon knows where. He clenched one of his hands into a fist. There was only a sliver of time left.

And even that time was up. The spell dissipated and Callum lost his footing. He fell but he didn’t fall far as there were numerous portals beneath him. As one of then engulfed him, he had a fleeting thought.

“Caught me anyway, huh… … I hope Ez is fine.”

***

– Who are you and where is Callum?

Ezran stared at the two intruders, a small troop of guards by his side. They had their weapons pointed at the elves.

He knew one of them. That’s the assho- Aaravos. A being from beyond the sky, with power akin to a god who for whatever reason followed his brother, considering him his family. He might pose a threat to Callum but Ezran really didn’t understand their relationship, so it was best to leave it for the two of them to figure out. At least the elf wouldn’t harm his brother.

He couldn’t say the same about the other elf, though. She looked beat-up, as if straight out of a battle- and seeing as Callum was absent, she might be the reason why that was. Ezran frowned. That, or it was Aaravos’s fault. Either way-

– Will you start talking or do you need some more nudging? – this whole situation irritated him quite a bit. He was woken up in the middle of the night because of the earthquake-like tremors. At some point he feared that the castle would crumble. It thankfully didn’t. Yet.

“Either these bastards start talking, or I’m summoning Zym and his mother,” he thought grudgingly.

– Good night, King Ezran. I apologize for the ruckus I’ve caused, – Aaravos slightly bowed his head.

The other elf observed the boy with curiosity and bowed silently.

– I didn’t ask for your apology. Where. Is. My. Brother? – Ezran asked threateningly.

– No need to look so scary, King Ezran. Wasn’t it you who imprisoned him here? – Aaravos smiled gently. – Then you should know better than anyone where he is.

Ezran had goosebumps. He felt a hidden threat in that gentle voice.

– Don’t worry, your majesty, he is safe. I will personally see to it.

“So you kidnapped him. That was to be expected.”

The boy smiled back.

– Don’t get too excited. He will learn to make his own portals before long. After all, he’s got only two left. It won’t take long, kidnapper.

The elf’s face turned emotionless. Ha, serves him right.

Aaravos turned to look at the other elf. She seemed to be deep in thought.

– So you guys also noticed that he is magic? – She met his eye but said nothing. – Mm, no wonder you are so aggressive, unlike your usual self. I take it you will be quite persistent this time.

He lowered his head a little and smirked with one corner of his lips up.

– And so will I.

The woman chuckled and shook her head.

– Still dreaming of the impossible, Fallen?

– Still thinking it is not possible, Merciful?

– You’ve been trying for centuries.

– But no one tried before me.

She closed her eyes and looked up, then opened them back.

– You turned out to be a tougher opponent that we thought. I’ll bring someone else with me next time.

–  Haha, that is the privilege of a Fallen – you grow exponentially stronger, – he finished almost in a whisper.

– Don’t think you are invincible.

– No Startouch are. That’s why a new Council and a new Order are possible.

The woman sighed and turned to Ezran who observed them with a baffled look.

– The Fallen One is playing a very dangerous game, young king, and he wants to drag your brother into it. You wish your brother well, right? So do I. I believe we are on the same side, – the elf smiled at him kindly.

Ezran stiffened even more.

– I don’t even know your name. I don’t even know who you are. And I’m not going to discuss my brother’s fate without him here. – He made a pause and stared at both of them with a sharp look. – Get out.

– As you wish, – Aaravos said with another bow as he stepped back into a portal behind him. – We’ll meet again. Both of you.

– Say hello to him. And don’t you dare hurt him, – Ezran shouted into the closing portal.

He heard a faint ‘sure’ and the oval dissipated.

– Now-

The boy motioned for the guards to encircle the one Aaravos called Merciful.

– Who are you and what do you want with Callum? What is a Council?

***

He saw a sea of stars. They were alight, twinkling everywhere above him. Every star meant something. For some reason, when he focused on one of them, he felt things. Sometimes it was warmth or cold, other times a feeling of terror, joy or indifference. Some stars smelled like pine needles, others reminded him of his mother’s arms, the ocean’s depth, the pastry in Katolis, a blinding lie, the mesmerizing truth, the whispering gold and the churning void… There was one star that shone off with despaired love. It reminded him of a certain someone.

– He really meant it, huh. ‘I am love’. He really meant it…

Callum closed his eyes and held his hand out towards that star. It shone red and that red light seeped underneath his eyelids, dyeing his inner sight crimson. He jerked his hand back in alarm.

“I know he is time-blind but I sincerely hope the bastard isn’t color-blind-… Seeing everything in red light must be horrible.”

He looked up at the sky.

“So, these must all be gods. The Startouch, concepts in the flesh. I didn’t expect there to be so many of them. Unless- not all of them are connected to Xadia? Could some of them be connected to other worlds?”

– My head is going to explode, ugh- – he sat down on the dark ground. – This is all very interesting and I would love to research it more but- there are more pressing matters. Like, where the fuck am I, for example, and how do I leave this place?

– Oh, don’t worry, young one, that’s the easy part. Your wish is all that’s needed.

“Who?!-”

Callum whirled around and saw a white-haired elderly elf, benevolently looking at him. But in just a second the image blurred as if sucked into a vortex, dragging him there as well.

– This is the Star Nexus, young one, – the man’s voice somehow echoed in his ears. – The fact that you’ve made it here means that you’re just a step away from understanding the Stars. Or perhaps- you’ve already gained that knowledge?

The world turned off like a screen.

***

Why does life slumber?

Some say that dreams are a rehearsal of death. Some say dreams are a place where people’s souls meet, merging into the collective unconscious.

“I’ve been there, – he thought. – Just been there. I’ve seen the gods. And the Guardian.”

He thought some more.

“Gods are born from mortals’ subconscious. They rule the world. But then- doesn’t it mean that mortals determine the way our world is? Mortals determine the fate of one, many and the whole. Doesn’t it mean- that it’s not the cruel god of war who makes us shed blood time and time again- but ourselves?.. Mortals know of bloodshed, it is reflected in their dreams. It becomes flesh, and so a new god concept is born. And that god has no choice but to inflict pain, wounds and strife. Because we made them like this. We- mortals- made our own monsters. And our own cage. We made the Cosmic Order that confines us. Hahaha, we- we are the author of our own demise!-”

Callum felt like he was a hair’s breadth from insanity. He just learned the seamy side of reality.

“I want to wake up and see the real world. Before I crack up from all of this-”

***

A wish was really all that was needed.

Callum was lying on a bed. A normal bed with a normal blanket and pillow. He could touch the fabrics. It was smooth and warm. He smelled the odour of soil and dust after the rain. His ears heard the chirping of birds and the rustle of leaves. His eyes, still not open, saw sunlight dapples, dancing on his eyelids.

It was the real world. He was back.

“…”

“That’s strange, I was half-expecting him to say ‘Yes, you’re back’.”

– That’s so trivial, Callum. If you really need me to, I will gladly say it.

Callum sighed and opened his eyes.

– No need. It’s pointless now. You’ve already made your presence known.

He was in a cozy room with large windows and a balcony behind them. The wind moved the thin curtains, bringing in the petrichor. The elf stood by the window.

They stayed silent.

– You know, right? – Callum began first.

– I know.

Aaravos was oddly laconic.

Another pause. A shadow came over the sun, and a distant rumble of a thunderstorm could be heard.

– You know you can’t contain me now.

– Just because you’ve grasped the Stars? Hardly. – The elf chuckled warmly. – There’s still so much you don’t know about magic and Star magic in particular. Let’s just say, I want to see you try.

Callum stared at him deadpanned.

– You will naturally fail and then I’ll explain to you where you were wrong. What a great plan! – the elf laughed at himself.

He was unusually relaxed, as if he solved a problem that had been eating at him for a long time and found peace. Aaravos looked at the young man with a smile.

– We have lots of time ahead of us, Callum. Better get used to me.

“I’ve long since gotten used to you, Aaravos. I’ve long since had.”