I do not own the Dragon Prince.

Callum brushed the snow off of his cloak as he entered the Iceridge hunting lodge after a long day's hunt. His muscles ached as he entered the warm dwelling; inside, there were numerous stuffed chairs covered in animal furs, and Callum immediately plopped himself down into the nearest one and let out a tired sigh.

It had been a month since they had departed Summerhold to go hunting; Callum knew hunting would be difficult since it required a set of skills that he was mediocre at, such as riding and archery, but it turns out hunting in Del Bar was a million times harder and took far longer.

For one thing, he underestimated how big hunting was in Del Bar. When his step-father went hunting, a few dozen men on horseback would go to the Kingswood, slay a few deer and maybe a boar, and return to Katolis for a feast. In Del Bar, the entire court went hunting with the King. That meant Numerous nobles, their attendants, servants, cooks, horse groomers, guards, and every other type of person needed to run a camp was brought along for the hunt, meaning it was a sea of humanity numbering in the hundreds who were hunting along with the King.

It also meant that it had taken three weeks of travel to even get to the Storm Peaks, where King Florian had several Hunting Lodges and numerous other buildings surrounded by tall wooden walls. It was like a tiny village unto itself and served as a base camp for hunting parties to depart. It was also built near the base of the Mountain that Callum needed to climb up in order to start his training. He had wanted to sneak off, but it was a feat that was rather difficult with hundreds of people surrounding him at all hours of the day."

Callum allowed himself to groan as he stretched out on the chair he was sitting in; he had been hunting all day and felt absolutely miserable. Hunting was terrible, he was awful at it, and it made him feel bad. He looked to the door of the Lodge, and several more figures came pouring in. Specifically Soren, Corvus, Prince Thorfinn, Princess Skadi, and Claudia. All of them looked rather happy except for Claudia, who looked almost as bad as he felt.

"Isn't this great!" Soren declared as he entered the lodge, a broad smile adorning his fair face. "Nothing like the great outdoors to make you feel alive."

"I prefer the great indoors," Claudia grumbled as she walked over to a nearby fireplace and pulled out a glass bottle filled with her morning brown potion. "There's nothing outside except tick-infested deer and snow as far as the eye can see."

"Spoilsport," Soren grumbled as he turned to Callum. "I love hunting in Del Bar; the highlight of the day was watching Prince Callum getting tackled by a wild ram."

Callum pulled the hood of his cloak over his head as he felt his cheeks redden. Earlier in the day, they had come across a wild mountain ram; he had figured it would be easy enough to trap it and finally show that he could hunt something. However, it turns out the mountain rams in Del Bar could leap several meters off the ground and had a nasty disposition. The ram had tackled him off his horse and into the snow; the only reason he hadn't been seriously hurt was due to the fact that Corvus and Soren had come up and speared the creature before it could attack him further.

"Don't act all high and mighty, Soren," Claudia spoke up as she nursed a flask of her potion. "You're the one who screamed like a six-year-old girl when a child threw a snowball at you this morning."

"It wasn't a snowball, it was one of those flavored snow cones, and it hit me in the eyes!" Soren replied defensively. "I only screamed because I thought a rainbow was attacking me; it was terrifying."

Callum had a witty remark, but before it could leave his mouth, the sound of a distressed animal filled the Lodge as Soren's pet Quillboar ran into the common area and towards her master with Claudia's Ashheart Basilisk hot on the pig's heels.

Soren ran over to the small boar and picked her up, and cradled her protectively as Claudia's familiar hissed at the boar in his arms. "Claudia, keep that little monster of yours under control!" Soren made a few half-hearted kicks at the Basilisk, which turned into a cloud of ash that flew towards Claudia before rematerializing itself around her shoulders. "It could have hurt my precious little Duchess."

"Oh please, your Duchess was probably harassing my poor sweet Nagara." Claudia stroked the serpent's head affectionately, causing it to let out a hiss that sounded like a cat purring. "And at least my familiar doesn't leave quills and fur everywhere like that porker of a pet you have."

"Yeah, it just leaves its disgusting shed skin everywhere."

"Both your familiars are terrible; you should have gotten something sensible like me," Corvus interjected as he gestured to a large black bird sitting on his shoulder. It was a Storm Crow, a magical crow that was as large as a hawk and could use storm magic. It was also intelligent, and its scouting abilities made it an excellent companion to Corvus. "Bird beats pig and snake any day."

Callum couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's antics; they had become rather attached to their familiars. If only he had such luck; it was rather hard to enjoy a familiar when your familiar was an ancient elf who was also your teacher.

"Looks like your little friends are having fun," Aaravos stated as his tiny body emerged from the folds of Callums cloak so that he was resting on the Prince's shoulder. "Now hand me some food; I hunger."

Callum reached over to a nearby end table, which had some mixed nuts in a bowl; he cracked some open and handed them to his teacher/familiar, who crammed them down his throat. His teacher's small caterpillar body was growing; he was now six inches long and showed no signs of stopping. It wasn't all that surprising given how much his teacher ate, but it did make him wonder how large his master's new body would become.

He was pulled from his musings by Princess Skadi, who had approached him while he was preoccupied with feeding his teacher. She looked just like her mother, platinum blond hair, blue eyes, a freckled face, and despite being Claudia's age, she was a head taller then the sorceress and much larger in general. She sat down on one of the cushioned arms of his chair and gazed at his teacher.

"I have to say you have a very interesting familiar." The princess remarked as she watched the caterpillar eat. "It's so well mannered compared to your friend's familiars; it must take after its master."

"Ummm, thank you?" Callum wasn't sure if it was a compliment, and over the last month, the Princes and Princess of the Del Barian royal family had been awkward to interact with. All the Princes were true Del Barians who enjoyed hunting, roughhousing, and generally being manly men like Soren. At the same time, Princess Skadi took enormous delight in teasing him and treating him like a child. "You're also really….well mannered?"

"Smooth." Aaravos took a break from eating and leaned into Callums ear. "I need to teach you how to talk to girls; this is making me sad."

"Aren't you just adorable?" Skadi reached out and pinched both of Callums cheeks. "I wish I had you as a younger brother instead of the shaved monkeys I have as siblings. You're like a giant teddy bear with the cutest little cheeks."

Callum wanted to reply, but he was trying his best not to cry out in pain, while he was sure princess Skadi was trying to be nice, but she wasn't exactly a delicate flower. Her hands were large and calloused from hunting and archery, so it felt like a king crab was pinching him.

Luckily he was saved by Claudia, who walked up and interrupted Skadi's pinching. "You need to either let him go or be gentle; our Katolian Prince has sensitive skin," Claudia stated, which got Skadi to let go of Callums cheeks.

Skadi smiled and let him go, which brought much-needed relief to the prince's face. "Sorry, the prince just has such a pinchable face, and you can hardly blame me for wanting to get to know one of my possible future husbands."

"What?!" Callum found himself yelling. "How am I a possible future husband for you? You're a princess, and I'm just the son of a lady who married a King."

"Details." Skadi shook her head. "Besides, I would rather marry you then that prick Kasef; my father sent me to Neolandia last year to get to know him since he was a possible suitor for me, and let's just say I wasn't impressed."

"Dare I ask what went wrong?" Claudia asked curiously.

"He was an utter elitist, believes women should be dainty things. We got into an argument during a banquet, and he called me Skankdi called and claimed I looked like a sow in silk. So I may have stabbed him with a salad fork." Skadi shrugged before turning back to Callum. "Which means you're near the top of the list, be sure to grow up extra handsome." She offered Callum a teasing wink before hopping off of the arm of the chair he was sitting in and leaving the room.

"She is an interesting princess," Claudia muttered.

Callum cleared his throat. 'Do you think she was being serious or was she just teasing me?"

"Could be both, although you could do worse; she is kind of pretty if you like girls who could crush your skull with their bare hands." Claudia shrugged. "I don't envy her position, being forced to marry someone you barely know in order to maintain the stability of the Pentarchy. I doubt you'll have to worry about it, though; most royal families will be trying to throw their daughters at Prince Ezran; he will be the one who has the most difficult choice ahead of him."

"Yeah…" Callum muttered as he regained his bearings; his cheeks felt like they were on fire. He wasn't sure if it was because of Skadi's teasing or her pinching. He knew she was just joking, but the idea of marrying a princess wasn't an entirely distasteful one.

He was torn from his daydream when he felt his teacher crawling up onto his neck and whispering into his ear.

"Enough flirting with royalty; we need to start your training. You've wasted enough time playing these hunting games with the barbarians. It's time for you to have a little chat with the witch." Aaravos whispered, his tone serious.

Callum felt dread welling up in his stomach. After repeatedly trying to sneak away from the lodge to scale the mountain and train, it became obvious that there was no way they could manage it without help from another person. Soren and Corvus wouldn't allow Callum to sneak off due to their duty as his sworn shields, which left only Claudia. They would need her help if they were to proceed.

"Claudia?" Callum finally asked after summoning his courage and calming himself down.

Claudia turned to him as she stroked her familiar's head. "Yes, Callum?"

"I need to speak with you privately…"

Claudia stroked her familiar's head as she relaxed in a comfy armchair in Callum's private quarters while the Prince explained precisely what it was that he wanted her to do. She calmly sipped some morning brown potion from a flask as Callum explained that he needed to sneak off from the hunting party to do some magical training while she covered up the fact that he was gone for at least a week. She listened to his entire proposal silently, and when he finally finished explaining, she set down her flask before speaking.

"Tell me, Callum." She began; her words were calm and sweet as honey. "Are you insane? Or do you simply think I'm a moron?"

"Neither," Callum replied nervously. "I think you're my friend and that you would be willing to cover for me while I go off and do some training."

Claudia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Training that involves you wandering off into the Del Bar wilderness without anyone to protect you! You're a Prince if anything happens to you…"

"Nothing will happen," Callum replied calmly. "And if it does, then it's my fault."

Claudia couldn't believe how shortsighted her friend was at times. "No, it's our fault as well. Corvus and Soren are supposed to be your protectors on this journey, so they have to pay the price if anything happens to you. Not to mention King Florian is your host while we are here, which means he is responsible for your protection as well. If anything happens to you, it could be a diplomatic incident."

Callum didn't seem to have a response, so she was sure that her argument had won him over until she saw Callum's strange little familiar lean in towards Callum's ear as if it was whispering to him. But she knew that was impossible; it was just an insect. It was just affectionate, the same way Nagara was with her.

"Claudia, you're always talking about making sacrifices for the greater good, for humanity," Callum stated confidently. 'Well, this is a chance for us to do that; if you help me with this, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to tap into the earth and sky primal sources without a primal stone. If I'm successful, I think I might be able to teach others how to do it. Think about what that would mean for humanity, to have access to magic the same way elves do. But for me to connect to the primal sources, I need to be alone in nature, far away from everyone."

Claudia felt conflict building up within her; Callum's ability to tap into the ocean primal was nothing short of miraculous and potentially revolutionary. Whenever they had a chance to be alone together, he would dazzle her with his primal magic while she took notes, trying to understand how his new abilities worked. If he could tap into more magic the same way, it would be a stepping stone for humanity.

"Even if I was considering this…" Claudia began as she considered the pros and cons of the situation. "I could cover for you for a day at most; they'll get suspicious if they don't see you for more than a day."

Callum shot up out of his chair and walked over to a painting easel, and gestured to the painting sitting upon it. "That's where this handsome guy comes in." He gestured to what appeared to be a self-portrait of himself, painted with extreme care and detail. Callum reached out towards the painting with both hands. "Tsitra eht fo noitclefer , nrob eb doolb sretniap eht yb!"

Out of the painting stepped a perfect doppelganger to Callum, a living self-portrait.

"See?" Callum gestured to his doppelganger. "Just tell them I'm working on some magical experiments and paintings that require absolute quiet and solitude. Tell them I'll be taking my meals in my room, and if they get suspicious, you can bring this guy out."

Claudia got up and set Nagara down on the chair, and the basilisk let out an angry hiss at being left behind. She walked over to the doppelganger and took a closer look at it. It was a near-perfect copy of Callum; she wouldn't be able to tell them apart if her life depended on it. "I don't suppose it talks?"

"Nope." Callum shook his head. "But it should be enough to assuage anyone's fears, so what do you say?"

Claudia knew she should say no, that it was a stupid, risky, and utterly dangerous idea that could doom Callum and throw her, Soren, and Corvus under the proverbial cart. "Okay…" She found herself saying and hoped deep in her heart that she wouldn't regret this decision.

With Claudia's help, it was effortless for Callum to sneak away from the Iceridge Hunting grounds and make his way towards the mountain where his training would take place. The hunting ground was at the Storm Peaks base, a group of mountains that stood tall and robust with ice-capped tops and stony ridges.

So it was with a bag laden with food and other essential supplies that Callum snuck away from the hunting grounds and used a painted horse that he summoned from one of his paintings to ride to the bottom of the mountain that he needed to scale. He knew that mountains were tall, but he didn't fully appreciate it until he reached the mountain's base he had to climb and realized just what lay ahead of him.

"I have to climb that?" Callum asked as he gazed up at the giant mountain before him; it was massive and imposing with a snow-covered peak. "I think we might need a backup plan…"

"Oh, relax," Aaravos said with a shake of his head. "It's only slightly taller than Mount Kalik back in Katolis; these mountains are nothing compared to the mountains in Xadia."

Callum couldn't believe how nonchalant his teacher was about all this. "Well, I'm not exactly physically adept, also. If I fall from that mountain, I'm as good as dead."

"There is a safe path that will lead us to the peak," Aaravos stated as he pointed to the western part of the mountain. "I carved it myself a few Millennia ago; it will be a tough climb, but I'm confident you will be able to scale it."

"Can my painted horse climb this path?" Callum asked as he gestured to the living paint construct he was riding upon. Riding up a giant mountain wouldn't be so bad, and it would save him some aches and pains the next day.

"No," Aaravos replied, dashing Callum's hopes. "And even if it could, I wouldn't let you ride it. This is training my apprentice. You need a sharp mind and a strong body to become an Archmage. Climbing a mountain is part of that training; now ride to the western slopes, and I will show you the path I speak of."

Callum knew better than to argue with his teacher and followed the elf's instructions. It took several hours to find the path his teacher spoke of; it was a relatively flat path with only the slightest incline. He was thankful it was Summer. Otherwise, he was sure it would be covered in snow, but thankfully it was made of dirt and rock.

After returning his painted horse back to a canvas, he got his equipment ready and began the climb. The climb was both better and worse then what Callum had imagined, it was easy enough to navigate the mountain with his teacher's instructions, and the path was wide enough for two horse drawn carts to ride side by side. Hence, there was no chance he would fall off the side of the path unless he intentionally jumped. However, the mountain was still tall, and the higher he got, the thinner the air got.

Callum had brought a large pack filled with supplies he would need for his training, while it had felt only slightly heavy at the beginning of the climb, felt like it was filled with bricks after a few hours, and his feet felt like they were going to fall off. His only mercy was that the cloak his master had made for him kept him reasonably warm despite the cold air, and if the cloak wasn't enough, he was carrying his Sun primal stone, which warmed up his body anytime he held it in his hands.

The climb also never grew boring as his teacher told him stories, both fictional and historical, as they climbed up the mountain. He was currently telling Callum about how it was unicorns who first gave humanity the ability to do primal magic by creating primal stones and distributing them to humankind.

"The elves and Dragons argued against giving primal stones to humanity, believing if humanity was destined to do magic, they would have been born with it. Then, of course, dark magic was invented, and the unicorns were hunted to near extinction by humans since unicorn horns can perform numerous miracles in the right hands." Aaravos explained as he sat perched on Callums shoulders. "I was around for all of this, so I watched with a moderate amount of interest; your species had always fascinated me, even back when I didn't care much about anything."

Callum soaked in the information and couldn't help but feel sad. "So Unicorns gave us the primal stones, and we repaid them with death…" He couldn't believe his ancestors had been so cruel. "Maybe the elves and dragons were right about us."

"No, they weren't." Aaravos retorted in an amused tone. "They were a bunch of moronic hypocrites. They argue that if humans were meant to have magic, they would have been born with it. But at the same time, they praise elves who become archmages by mastering numerous primal sources. I once asked a dragon, 'If a Tidebound elf was meant to use the sun primal, wouldn't they have been born with it?' And the dragon couldn't come up with an answer and told me to get off his mountain. Also, the unicorns were equally moronic for just handing out Primal stones like candy on Hallows eve; they deserved their fate."

Callum couldn't believe what he was hearing. "How can you say that? The unicorns were only trying to help us!"

"They were dooming you," Aaravos replied. "Oh sure, the primal stones helped at first; the first humans to receive them used them for healing, helping crops grow, and helping their fellow man. But after several generations, the stones fell into less than worthy hands. Soon humans with primal stones became warlords, slavers, sorcerer-kings who used the power of the stones to gain power, wealth, and all manner of unworthy things. Humanity nearly destroyed itself with civil war because of the short-sightedness of the unicorns."

"Still sounds like it was our fault…"

"Partially." Aaravos allowed. "But it was inevitable, a power that isn't earned corrupts easily. That's why when I took on human apprentices, they had to earn the power I offered them. Only through meditation, intense training, and hardship can one truly understand the weight and responsibility that comes with magical power. That's why in helping humanity, the Unicorns were dooming it. Theirs was a tragic fate, but in many ways, it was one they brought upon themselves through their foolishness. An open palm can sometimes do more harm then a clenched fist."

Not wanting to follow this depressing line of talk but also wanting to learn more, Callum decided to change the subject. "You said humanity has always fascinated you, any reason why?" He asked curiously. "I don't see what's so interesting, we aren't born with magic, and our culture isn't awe-inspiring compared to the descriptions you've made of elven culture."

"But that's just it," Aaravos said. "You aren't born with magic; every other creature in this world is born with a connection to a primal source; humanity is the exception. Your bodies are made of the same things as all life; while there is magic in your flesh and bones, you lack the innate connection to a greater source like all other life."

"That just means we aren't special."

Aaravos chuckled. "You aren't entirely wrong. I've researched humanity extensively; as far as I can tell, a sudden mutation in your species evolution kept primal energy from dwelling within your bodies at birth. You're all defective, none of you are special, not in the slightest...but that's exactly what makes you special."

"Maybe…" Callum allowed as he processed all this information. "But the lack of connection has caused all of this suffering if we had been born with magic-"

"-you would be slaves like the rest of us." Aaravos interrupted. "I think you underestimate just how blessed humanity is; you are free from the failings of Dragons and elves. Free from the complacency, the lack of motivation, the inborn arrogance, and you are free to make your own destiny."

Callum wasn't sure what his teacher was implying. "What do you mean by that? How are elves and dragons, slaves?"

"In many ways, our connection to the primal sources shape our culture, our very identities from the very second we are born. Look at my own people; we are so connected to the Star Primal that we are literally unable to lie. As a result, we tend to be seers, fortune tellers and become distant and secretive as a result...I've tried so hard to get away from my birthright…" Aaravos seemed to be growing angry as his tone became darker. "My people...their rigid views on the future and on destiny made my life miserable, and no matter how hard I tried, I was never fully able to escape my own predestined nature."

He knew his teacher didn't like his people, but his tone seemed to imply he hated them. "Are you okay? You can tell me if something is bugging you; as your student, it's my duty to listen."

"Thank you for the offer…" Aaravos said, his tone growing lighter. "It's just...my people put so much stock into astrological signs, visions of the future, and fortune-telling. As a result, my birth was met with shock and outright fear."

That statement confused Callum. "Why would they be afraid of your birth?" He asked curiously.

"When a Startouch elf child is born, there are certain rituals that take place that help determine the child's future. Many things are taken into account such as the time of year, the moment of birth, the position of the stars in the sky and the patterns of stars upon the child's skin when they are born." Aaravos explained. "I was born...well, my birth was unexpected. I came out of my mother with no warning, no foretelling, no one had foreseen my birth, and my arrival into this world shook the foundations of Startouch elf society. Not to mention the stars in the sky on the night of my birth, as well as the stars upon my flesh, foretold a life of chaos and hardship. The stars on my face and chest are the Midnight Star's marks, a star that foretells great change and chaos. From the moment of my birth, I was a pariah, someone to be ostracized and distrusted."

"That's stupid," Callum said instantly. "So your people actually judge a person's future that way? No offense, but your people sound dumb."

Aaravos let out a hearty laugh. "It kind of is dumb...but maybe they were right...I grew up to be someone who caused a fair bit of chaos and change...I tried so hard to prove them wrong, but in the end, I might have ended up proving them right…"

"Then that's their fault," Callum replied; he found it hard to believe that wise and knowledgeable elves with such long lifespans could be so narrow-minded. "I mean, didn't your parents at least try to protect you?"

"My parents." Aaravos spat the word parents out of his mouth as if it was poison. "My mother was tolerable if only because she barely spoke to me. My father, on the other hand…"

Callum could see his teacher was seething in anger; even in caterpillar form, he appeared somewhat intimidating. He felt like he had to diffuse the situation. "If it makes you feel any better, I never really knew my father." He offered weakly, hoping it would ease some of the tension in the air.

"I wish I had that luxury," Aaravos replied, his anger no longer as sharp but still present. "I will never forget the last thing my father said to me. 'You are a mistake; you should never have existed.' Those were the last words I ever heard from him, and they have been etched into my mind ever since."

"Well, screw that guy," Callum said, finding it hard to believe any parent could say that to their child. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm glad you exist."

"Thank you; I'm also glad that I exist," Aaravos replied, letting out a chuckle. "Besides, having daddy issues made me rather broody and distant when I was younger, helped me get through my awkward phase. Got me a lot of action, ladies love a guy with daddy issues."

"Wow…" Callum replied, not sure how to respond to that. "At least you can look at the positive side of things...almost makes me wish I had daddy issues."

"You got mommy issues, while not the same as daddy issues, they can be used to get yourself some girls."

Callum couldn't believe what he was hearing. "First off, I don't have mommy issues, and second, even if I did, how would that make me attractive to women? And third, how the heck would your daddy issues make you attractive?"

"Daddy issues made me mysterious, distant, like a wounded lone wolf who stalks the night. Women go crazy for that, the mysterious loner with a wounded heart that they believe they can heal; it also works on men equally well." Aaravos explained grandly. "Your mommy issues make you lonely, hurt like a wounded bear cub left abandoned in the woods. It will make a woman want to hold you, mother, you, show you the affection that you were deprived of after your mother's death. Your heart was also wounded but in a way that-"

"-ENOUGH!" Callum yelled, not wanting to hear another word. "Now you're just being creepy. Here I am trying to make you feel better, and you go off on some weird tangent about manipulating women."

"And manipulating men. I'm an equal opportunist when it comes to the art of seduction." Aaravos replied cheekily. "But you need not worry about me; it has been numerous millennia since I last saw any member of my family. It's an old wound that has healed for the most part. But let us not dwell on my past; let us instead focus on you and your training. Once we reach the peak of the mountain, I will train you the same way I trained Elarion."

"Elarion…" Callum knew that she was his greatest apprentice and wanted to learn more about her. It would also be a good subject change away from a topic that his teacher was clearly uncomfortable with. "What was she like?"

"She was...the single most impressive person I have ever met," Aaravos replied. "She was a manifestation of the ultimate potential of your species. There was no field in which she did not excel, no physical or mental test that she could not ace; she was a peerless political mind, military leader, philosopher, artist, mage, and scientist. In only a few years, she mastered what had taken me numerous millennia to master. She was someone who could have changed everything, but change is often feared. It is why Xadia turned against her and why she fell."

Callum had never heard his teacher praise someone to such an extent; the idea of being put through the same training that someone like Elarion went through made Callum begin to doubt himself. "I don't think I can survive the training you put her through; I'm none of those things…"

"You are not Elarion; this is true," Aaravos allowed. "But you also sell yourself short; you have as much potential as she had when it comes to the magical arts. I am confident you will excel at magic with proper guidance. You're already passing the first test, climbing this mountain."

Being reminded of his current task made him aware of just how tired he was; it was hard to tell how far he had climbed, but he knew he had much farther to go. "Speaking of, I'm almost at my limit; I might need to rest for a bit."

Aaravos nodded. "Take five minutes to eat something and drink some water; then we shall continue."

"Five minutes?" Callum asked as he sat down on a nearby rock and got out some trail mix and a canteen full of water. "I was thinking about resting for at least an hour; I'm at my limit here."

"Throughout my long existence, I have found my limit a thousand times, and each time I pressed further," Aaravos stated. "It is only when we reach our limits that we can push past them and become stronger; it's not enough to set the pace; you must race against it."

Callum shook his head. "If we keep going, I could end up falling."

"The best climbers are the ones that know how to fall." Aaravos leaped off Callum's shoulder and onto the ground; his insectoid gaze was directed upwards towards the mountain's peak. "When you gaze upon the mountain's peak, you must accept that you will fall, and just keep climbing."

"Says the guy who isn't doing any actual climbing." Callum shoved some trail mix into his mouth and set some next to his teacher's tiny body for the elf to eat.

Aaravos scoffed as he took a nibble out of some of the trail mix. "This is a test, my apprentice; you must push yourself to your limits so that you can surpass them. We are what we overcome. Now eat your snack and hydrate yourself; when you became my apprentice, you swore that you would overcome any trial to become stronger for your brother's sake. Prove your resolve by reaching the peak before the sun has set."

Callum felt his resolve harden upon hearing those words; the entire reason he was learning magic was to become stronger for Ezran's sake. He would scale a hundred mountains if it meant he could protect his brother. He quickly ate his food and hydrated himself, and continued the climb at a brisk pace, all the while his teacher continued to talk to him and encourage him.

The terrain on the pathway up to the peak became harsher; it wasn't dangerous, but the soil turned rocky, and it became harder to maintain his footing. He tripped more than once, causing his hands and legs to get bruised and cut in several places. But Callum soaked it up and pressed forward.

"Very good," Aaravos encouraged as Callum picked himself up after another fall. "Because we fall, the climb must be our destination. You have come to this mountain to seek power from the primal sources, but remember that your greatest power lies within. It is a lesson I learned long ago; you will see that there is far more to magic then the elements elves wield or the darkness your kin wield. The greatest magic is that which we bring into the world through our own will, the power that lets us bend reality to suit our needs."

Callum took his teacher's words to heart and pushed himself to his limits. He took one step after another, and as he climbed up the mountain, the air got thinner, but his resolve only grew. Every few hours, he would take a short break to hydrate and eat some food for energy, and soon he was nearing the peak. The pathway to the peak was thinning, but it was still safe so long as he stood far away from the ledge.

As the sun started to set, he was almost at the peak of the mountain, yet his teacher ordered him to stop next to a cave that led into the mountain.

"This is the place," Aaravos stated as he gestured towards the dark cave. "I carved this place out eons ago. This is where we will rest while you begin your training."

Callum was both relieved and disappointed that he didn't have to go to the very tip-top of the mountain; his body was near its breaking point. He brought out his sun primal stone and used its light to illuminate the dark cave. It wasn't very deep, but the back wall of the cave was human-made or, in this case, elf-made. It was a single solid flare piece of polished granite that shone bright white in the darkness of the cave.

"Insert the key."

Callum was about to ask his teacher what he meant until he saw that in the center of the wall was an indent in the shape of a cube. Callum reached into his pack, pulled out the key of Aaravos, and inserted it into the indentation.

The results were instantaneous as the wall began to glow a bright blue and numerous elven glyphs became visible all over the wall. The key shot out of the wall and back into Callum's hands as the wall opened up like a massive door, welcoming Callum deeper into the mountain. The passageway was dark, but the walls on either side were filled with glowing elven runes that gave the passage a dim blue glow.

"This is where it all begins, my apprentice," Aaravos stated, genuine excitement filling his voice. "I created numerous vaults like this all over Xadia, sanctuaries filled with knowledge and treasures for myself and for those who followed me. The richer ones are on the other half of the continent, but this one is also quite good. It's where I trained Elarion, so it is filled with numerous things an aspiring mage would need."

Callum stepped through the door and into the darkness; the ground beneath his feet was also smooth granite, and the air coming from the opened passageway was surprisingly not stale but fresh and much less thin then the air on the mountain. "So when you say treasures do you mean primal stones, wands, and magical coins?"

Aaravos chuckled. "There are far more valuable things in here then mere trinkets, you shall see, now march on."

Callum obeyed, and soon he was met with another door; however, this one door appeared to be made out of a silvery metal that shone in the darkness of the hall. He reached out and grasped the silver handle of the door and pushed it open, which revealed a massive room that made Callum's jaw hit the floor.

It wasn't really a room so much as a cavern, showing that the mountain's top bit was entirely hollow. The walls were made out of solid rock and covered in large vines and roots covered in bioluminescent flowers that illuminated the entire room. At the center of the room was a giant tree that seemed to be growing out of the floor, its trunk was as large as a castle tower, and its branches reached up into the ceiling. Upon closer inspection, its bark and even its leaves had metallic qualities. They appeared to be made out of crystal that changes color depending on how the light hit them, with some leaves appearing, red, blue, yellow, and numerous other colors.

As if sensing his wonder and confusion, his teacher began speaking. "This is an Elder Tree, not a very original name, but my people were never very creative," Aaravos explained. "It has grown here for numerous millennia, its roots burrowing to the deepest depths of this mountain."

It took a while for Callum to draw his attention away from the tree. Still, eventually, his curiosity overcame his wonder, and he looked around and saw that the floor was made from rock. Still, there were also pools filled with crystal clear water with sparkling silverfish inhabiting them. The water itself was dripping slowly from the walls and ceiling, most likely snow from the peak of the mountain melting and dripping down into the hollowed-out caverns below.

Along the pools of water were patches of grass and other plants of apparently magical nature since all of their leaves and flowers glowed, and if there was one thing Callum had learned thus far, it's that things that glowed were always magical.

He was broken from his explorations of the cave by his teacher's voice. "While this cave is beautiful, you need to focus on the task at hand." Aaravos lectured sternly from atop his perch on Callum's shoulder. "You have had a trying day, and rest is what you need most of all; tomorrow, your training to connect with the earth arcanum will begin."

"Okay…" Callum really wanted to explore more, but his teacher was right, he needed rest, and he wanted to eat a proper meal. He tore himself away from the natural beauty of the cave and towards the southern end of the cave, where a small passageway opened up into another cavern.

This cavern, however, was made for human and elven habitation. The walls were smooth and flat, and while vines and plants were growing on the ceiling, they did not encroach on the walls or anything else in the cavern and seemed to serve as a natural source of light as they had glowing bulbs that illuminated the room.

The massive room was filled with furniture ranging from armchairs, tables, and numerous cabinets, shelves, and display cases, along with every type of workstation. There was also an alchemy table, a full smithy, and countless other devices that he couldn't guess the purpose of as they all appeared complicated.

Callum took a closer look at some of the display cases and saw they were holding swords, shields, and countless other weapons that appeared to be of elven make; as he went by each display case, his teacher explained their significance.

"Those are hidden blades I created when I studied under some Moonshadow smiths," Aaravos explained as Callum gazed at several gauntlets with a built-in mechanism that allowed a blade to shoot out from the bottom. "They said they were 'too brutal,' which is like saying the ocean is too wet. And over there is one of my most fabulous creations!"

Callum looked over and saw a suit of plate mail armor, although it looked more like a work of art then armor. Its silver metal plates were filled with intricate elven runes, and the armor itself looked imposing.

"That's artificer plate," Aaravos explained as he gestured towards the helmet. "Completely sealed up from outside harm. The metal is earthforged, which gives it great durability while cutting down how heavy it is; it's enchanted to be immune to fire and even lightning."

"It looks expensive." Callum looked it over, and despite being abandoned for years, there wasn't a speck of rust on it or anything else in the room; it had to be some kind of magic keeping everything in such great shape. He reached out towards the armor, and as his hand touched it, his vision turned dark and clouded.

Suddenly he heard a voice; it was a female's voice, soft and kind but also authoritative. But what disturbed Callum most was the fact the voice was coming from everywhere and nowhere, like it was inside his head.

"They shall be my finest warriors, these men, and women who pledge themselves to the defense of humanity. Like clay, I shall mold them, and with the power of magic, I shall forge them. They will have wills of iron and hearts of steel. I shall clad them in great armor so no enemy may harm them, and with the mightiest weapons, they shall be armed. They shall have such tactics, strategies, and magic that no foe will best them in battle. They are mankind's bulwark against Xadia; they are the defenders of humanity. They are my Arcane knights, and they will know no fear..."

Callum shook his head, which rid him of the voice.

"Are you okay, my apprentice?" Aaravos asked. "You zoned out there for a few seconds."

Callum nodded as he regained his bearings. "Yeah...I just...I thought I heard a voice in my head when I touched that armor."

"A voice?" Aaravos seemed to grow very interested. "What kind of voice? What did it say?"

"It was a woman's voice…" He tried to remember the exact words, but his head hurt, and he struggled to remember details. "Something about arcane knights?"

"Interesting," Aaravos muttered, the caterpillar seemingly growing ponderous. "Arcane Knights were the defenders of the city of Elarion, an elite order of soldiers armed with the best weapons and equipment available. It seems you were able to hear a magic echo from the suit of armor and learn about its past. Each Arcane Knight was given a suit of artificer plate tailored to them specifically."

"Magic echo?" Callum asked, the word sounding silly coming out of his mouth.

"Yes." Aaravos nodded. "It's an echo from an object, a way to peer into the past of an item. Usually, one needs to be connected to the star primal to hear them, but it seems you were able to hear one. It could be due to your connection to me, or perhaps these objects have sat here too long; magic has a way of behaving oddly when it has saturated an undisturbed area such as this."

"Yeah…" Callum backed away from the armor and continued exploring the massive museum of artifacts that were left behind. It was amazing how the room mixed in natural beauty with architecture. Eventually, Callum came across a giant flat wall that had been painted as if it were a giant canvas. It was like a mosaic one would see in a castle, church, or nobleman's house. Despite sitting here for what must have been a millennium, the paint wasn't faded or chipped, undoubtedly the result of magic.

The picture painted upon the wall was beyond beautiful; it depicted a beautiful city beyond description, with silver spires, beautiful houses, lots of greenery, and trees—a perfect blend of nature and city living. The people in the painting were happy and going about their lives, the city was inhabited mostly by humans, but Callum could see elves and even a few dragons flying in the sky.

Callum reached out and touched the painting, and he began to feel dizzy, he felt sick, and his head began to hurt. His vision blurred, and everything seemed to run like wet paint.

Suddenly he heard the same woman's voice once more.

"I will show all of Xadia a world without lords or peasants, a world where anyone can be a king. A world where those who would keep us in chains have their power ripped from their grasp.

Callum shook his head, and the voice departed. His vision came back, and he backed off from the painting.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" His teacher asked which Callum agreed. "Elarion painted this over a thousand years ago; she said that her goal in life was to make this painting a reality the same way she brought her painted creations to life; she wanted to usher in a world where humanity could flourish alongside elves and dragons."

"That's a noble dream." Callum offered, not sure what else to say. "Did this painting have a name?" All the best works of art had names; he often gave his own paintings names or titles.

"She called it. 'The world as it should be.' it was among her finest works." Aaravos hopped from Callum's shoulder and onto his head. "Now enough art appreciation, even if it is marvelous art. You've had a long day and need some rest; keep walking, and you'll find the sleeping quarters."

Callum obeyed and walked to where the sleeping quarters were, but before he could reach them, there was a massive shelf lined with numerous primal stones. Most of them were sky primal stones, but there was sun, earth, and ocean ones as well. Each one glowed like a beacon in the darkness, and Callum had to stifle his excitement upon seeing them.

"There so many…" Callum said as he took count, there was well over a dozen of them. "Why are there so many? Also, why are there no Moon or Star primal stones?

"Because these were the primal stones gifted to humanity by the Unicorns," Aaravos explained. "Some of them at least, most were given to humans in the city of Elarion, others are locked away in a few vaults around Xadia. These were stored here to be used as training tools for future students. I always imagined that this place would become one of many magical academies that would spring up around the world after Elarion established a powerful human foothold in Xadia...sadly, it wasn't meant to be…"

"I'm sorry," Callum said automatically; the idea of numerous magical schools dedicated to teaching humans primal magic was amazing, and yet it had never come to pass. "Why only Sky, Earth, and sun stones, though?"

"The stones were given to humanity for the sake of helping them flourish against the elements of nature," Aaravos explained. "Moon and Star stones are useless for that; also, star primal stones are incredibly rare. I've only seen a handful in my long existence, and those that own them guard them jealously. My parents never let me touch the one that belonged to my family."

Callum nodded, understanding his master's point, but his eyes were soon drawn to something else resting next to the primal stones. He had been so busy admiring the stones that he hadn't noticed a large assortment of crowns, all sitting next to one another. Some were golden, others were silver, and some were made out of iron. Most had precious gemstones embedded into them, while others had runes carved into the sides. What stood out most was the fact that all the crowns were linked together by an iron chain as if they were meant to be carried together.

Instinctively Callum reached over and picked one up, and once again, his mind was filled with a woman's voice.

"Rise up, brothers and sisters! Our chains are only as strong as we think they are!

"Breaking free of my chains was nothing; watch me break a kingdom…"

"No more slaves! No more masters! No more kings! No more queens! It all ends now!

"You can join us in building a new world, or you can die in the old one."

"It's time for the kings to bow!"

"Crush the oppressors! Claim your freedom and burn their kingdoms to the ground!"

Callum withdrew his hand from the crowns and held his head; he felt the beginnings of a bad headache. He gazed at the crowns suspiciously as he asked his teacher what they were.

"These were the crowns of the humans who wielded the primal stones you see before you," Aaravos explained. "Each one was a tyrant, using their primal stones to enslave and rule over other humans. Each one of them was a king or queen of their own little corner of Xadia. With the training I gave her, Elarion wielded the power of the primal sources and slew each and every one of them, striking the chains off every slave and serf who had been oppressed. She wanted to make sure that no one else suffered the way she and her mother had at the hands of a noble who held themselves so far above others."

Callum simply nodded as he continued to walk towards where the sleeping quarters were, the aches and pains from his long hike up the mountain setting in. Eventually, he found a small room with a large bed that appeared to be carved out of stone from the mountain.

"Is this bed made out of stone?" Callum asked as he poked at it and found it to be solid rock. "How am I supposed to sleep on this?"

"With training," Aaravos answered as he jumped down onto the flat surface of the rock bed. "This bed was made in Earthblood architecture style; all of their furniture is carved from stone and various other minerals. It's good for your back, and when you learn to tap into the earth primal, you can make it more comfortable. For now, just endure it, now unpack your belongings. I hope you brought a blanket."

Callum had indeed brought a blanket along with several changes of clothes, art supplies, and some food. He had packed only enough food for a few meals; his teacher assured him that the mountain would provide everything he needed as far as sustenance went. So he took out all his supplies and arranged them on the large flat piece of stone he would be calling a bed.

"First things first," Aaravos stated as he gestured towards the corner of the sleeping quarters. "There is a chest over there which should hold something of immense value that will aid you in the coming days. Go and fetch it for me."

Callum got up and searched the room, and found the chest his teacher wanted him to find. It was made out of a strange purple wood with silver metal reinforcing it. "All this wood, and he couldn't have conjured up a wooden bed…" he muttered as he opened the chest and found that the only thing in it was a satchel similar to the one he would carry his art supplies in. Instead of the simple brown leather satchel he usually carried, this one was a deep blue with numerous glowing stars emblazoned on it that glowed as if they were still in the night sky, and even the strap glowed a bright silver.

Callum grabbed the bag and brought it over to his teacher, who was resting on the stone bed. "Please tell me that this isn't made from the skin of a Startouch elf." He said as he placed the bag on the bed; he couldn't think of any other way to make a leather bag glow in such a way.

"It's not elf skin, although it is infused with star magic from a startouch enchanter," Aaravos answered as he walked over to the bag and placed his stubby caterpillar legs on it. "This is a void satchel, more commonly known in Xadia as a bag of holding. As you can see, it is fairly small but can hold a near-infinite amount of items while maintaining its weight and structure."

"What?" Callum asked, not understanding what his teacher was saying.

"Open it and turn it upside down, and you will see what I mean."

Deciding to humor his teacher Callum obeyed and opened the bag's lid and turned it upside down. He could only watch in shock as numerous items began to fall out of the bag; everything from books, candles, paper, swords, staffs, and countless other things fell out into a huge pile next to the bed until finally nothing else sprung forth from the satchel.

"This is what I mean." Aaravos gestured toward the pile of objects. "The bag's interior is far larger then its outside dimensions. You can carry a cartload of items in there, and it won't increase in weight or rupture."

"Wow." was all Callum could bring himself to say; he never imagined how such a thing could exist. "How does that work? I mean, this is star magic, right? How does star magic allow an item to do this? I thought the stars were just about predicting the future and whatnot."

"The stars are mysterious and powerful," Aaravos answered vaguely. "They allow people to tap into abilities some might consider unnatural. Star magic involves tapping into the very magic of the night sky, the infinite void, gravity, and numerous other properties of reality. There are four dimensions to this universe, length, height, width, and time. The Star primal allows one to tap into the very fabric of such things, although it takes over a millennium of training for one to be able to master such an art. Before my death, I was one of nine beings capable of making such a bag, and the reagents to create one cost a fortune."

Callum looked at the bag with renewed interest as he imagined how useful such a thing would be in his travels.

"Now enough education, let's eat and rest." Aaravos gestured towards the pile. "I packed that bag over a thousand years ago; if my memory is right, there should be a glowing bottle in there; grab it for me, would you?"

Callum obeyed and found a bottle of what appeared to be wine and two small drinking glasses made out of what appeared to be crystal. He set the two cups on the stone bed and sat cross-legged in front of them. "Is this wine? I probably shouldn't drink; last time I drank, I ended up tapping into the ocean primal and hanging out with Leviathans."

"Well, this time, you will be drinking under my supervision, besides its tradition for a master and student to share a drink together."

"Weren't you the one who told me that traditions were a crutch for the mindless?" Callum asked as he grabbed some food from his satchel and set it down next to the wine and glasses. He had packed some jerky, cheese, bread, and a jar of pickled eggs. He set them out in an organized pile, grabbed a small knife, and cut the bread and cheese into slices.

"Hypocrisy is wonderful, isn't it?" Aaravos asked rhetorically as he began observing the food. "What is in that jar? Are those eggs?"

"Yeah." Callum grabbed a pickled egg from the jar and plopped it into his mouth. "Pickled eggs are a favorite snack of Katolians and Del Barians. I used to eat them all the time as a kid, but when I became a prince, we got fresh eggs every morning at the castle, so I never ate them again. Eating this again after so many years makes me remember my childhood; it's a nostalgic taste."

"Disgusting." Aaravos made a gagging noise. "Keep that away from me; I will stick with the bread and cheese. Now pour out two glasses of that wine and don't spill a drop. That bottle of wine is older than the Pentarchy."

Callum carefully popped open the cork, and the room was soon filled with a delightful citrus smell that was both sweet and sour. He filled the two glasses and saw that the liquid inside was bright blue and glowed a bright blue. "Does everything infused with star magic glow blue?" he asked as he peered at the glass suspiciously; he never imagined he would drink something that glowed.

"Pretty much." Aaravos nodded towards the glass. "What you are about to taste is a bottle of starfruit wine, made from star-fruits that grow on the Starfall Isles, which are close to the place of my birth. They only grow in soil rich with primal energy, and it takes a century for a Starfruit tree to grow large enough to start producing fruit. The fruit is then juiced and aged in barrels made from old starfruit trees. This bottle of wine is almost as old as I am."

"And how old is that exactly?" Callum could never get a straight answer from his teacher whenever he asked about the elf's age.

"Old enough."

Callum couldn't help but roll his eyes at the non-answer his teacher gave him. "I'm beginning to think you don't even know how old you are."

"You're technically correct, which is the best kind of correct," Aaravos replied. "I dont know my exact age; you stop counting after your birthday cakes start collapsing under the weight of the candles, not to mention they become a fire hazard. My grandfather's nine hundredth birthday party resulted in a forest fire that left countless dead, but that's a story for another time. Now enough talk of terrible ancient memories, let us drink to a new beginning, after a good meal and long rest, we will begin your training in earnest."

Callum brought the glass to his lips but stopped when he realized something. "How are you going to drink? That glass is bigger then you are." He pointed out as the small caterpillar stood next to the towering glass.

"Like this." Aaravos jumped up into the air, and his tiny caterpillar body splashed down into the glass as he used it as a tiny bathtub. "This is paradise, something I could never have done in my old body; this stuff tastes good! It brings back so many memories…"

Callum ignored his teacher's behavior and brought the glass up to his mouth. The first sip tasted like strawberries and cream; when he swallowed it, the taste sent tendrils through his chest as if the liquid had come to life within him. His second sip tasted like honey, lemonade, and Dragon berry jelly tarts that his mother used to sneak him from the castle kitchens. It was all the tastes he had ever known...and then the glass was empty.

Callum took a deep breath after finishing the glass, and he looked at the wine suspiciously before turning to his teacher, who was relaxing in his own glass of wine.

"Enjoy the taste?" Aaravos asked, amusement evident in his voice. "Star Fruits are infused with star primal energy, which tells us the past. So the taste differs depending on what you've tasted in the past."

"It's amazing." was all Callum could think of saying. "Can I have another?"

"Not yet.' Aaravos gestured towards the food. "Eat some food first; this stuff might not taste like alcohol, but it's potent, get some food in your stomach before drinking more."

Callum obeyed and began eating food and occasionally taking sips of wine. With every glass, he felt more and more relaxed as the aches in his body lessened, and his fatigue faded away. Eventually, the food was gone, and Callum settled down to rest on his stone bed, huddled underneath a simple blanket he had packed. He fell asleep and dreamed of what his training would be like in the coming days.

Authors note

At least you didn't have to wait a year for this one, right?

Many people have been messaging me about differences from Canon, such as the fact that Aaravos wasn't imprisoned until a few hundred years before the start of the series or the fact that Ocean elves are called Tidebound elves.

Keep in mind I published this right after season 2 came out, so there wasn't much info out on the Dragon prince world. With Callum's spellbook and the novelization of the first season, we've gotten a lot of information, the information I didn't have when I started writing this fanfiction.

So I have done the unthinkable; as of posting this chapter, I've gone back and edited, rewrote, and reworked the entire story. All 15 chapters, I reread my entire work and corrected as many mistakes as my new Grammarly Premium subscription allowed. So if there was ever a time to reread my story, it's now, the grammar is better, and I think I've managed to iron out most of the mistakes. I am genuinely proud of myself.

Also some people said the app was claiming each of my edits as a update to the story, sorry if that happened to you. Hopefully this new chapter will make up for that.

Some might think it unrealistic for a kid to walk up a mountain, but with a safe path, it's possible. I grew up in Hawaii, and my parents used to walk up to Mauna Kea's summit with me all the time, and I could do that walk back when I was eight years old.