Voilà, we've concluded this story. How did you like it? I really hope you did. I'll follow up with a little story about how Callum is adjusting to being home.
Whenever someone returns to a place they grew up in, they can feel this strange feeling. No matter how big it seemed, the place always seems so small when you return to it.
Callum wasn't stuffing from this feeling. His current position in front of the Katolis castle was the first time he had been there since he was seven years old. It was overwhelming for Callum to see it again. Yet, even after all those years, the place was still so big.
"How are you doing?" Rayla asked Callum, seeing the nervous expression on his face.
"Well, what if King Harrow doesn't like what he sees?" Callum stuttered out, replying to his new girlfriend.
Rayla comforted him, "Don't be silly. He will love you.". Rayla smiled before whispering into Callum's ear. "Besides, I can easily kill him with my amazing assassin skills if he says anything bad about you."
Despite how Callum felt, Rayla's jokes helped calm his nerves. "No. I prefer not to have my first night back seeing your execution," Callum joked with Rayla.
In front of the Castle, the young couple smiled at each other. Then, just as they were about to kiss, Soren and Ezran interrupting them.
"The king is in the throne room," Soren explained.
"Do you want me to come with you?" Ezran asked.
Callum answered, "No, I can do this on my own.".
"I'm sure Rayla would appreciate you showing her around." The newly returned Prince explained
Erzan nodded his head in agreement. Then, taking Rayla with him, Ezran said, "Let's start in the kitchen. You'll love the jelly tart." So together, they ran off.
A deep breath was taken by Callum before he walked inside. Despite all those years away, his home was still the same way that he remembered when Callum came across the door to his throne room.
When Callum opened the door, his stepfather drew his eye, looking at a map on a table with his back turned. King Harrow was somehow just like Callum remembered him.
"Hello," Callum said to Harrow, who turned around. Callum was watching his stepfather's face-off for the first time in years.
Standing in front of an old map from the time of war. His heart raced faster than humanly possible when he heard a voice say hello. Harrow turned around to see Callum.
"Callum" The King of Katolis was reduced to nearly nothing when he saw his long-lost son again.
So many aspects of Callum's appearance were the same as when Harrow had last seen him. Despite all those years, he still had the same green eyes and the same brown hair.
The clothes of Harrow's son were what caught his eye the most. He wore an oversized blue button-up top with pants too large for him and held up by a belt. Viren clearly brought Callum whatever clothing he could find, regardless of whether or not it fits.
Looking down, Harrow could see a pair of his old boots from the Banther Lodge that includes a pair of rob tied around each boot to prevent them from being too large on Callum and falling off. There was clearly a lot of dirt on Callum's body after spending days in the woods.
"It's good to see you again" it never seemed to matter how long had passed. When Callum talked to his stepfather, he felt like a bumbling idiot. There was a small part of Callum that wished he had gotten better at it.
A small part of Harrow's mind would be saddened by the fact that he could not have recused Callum. After his son disappeared after a year, Harrow had been told to stop looking for him and just hold a funeral for Callum without a body.
Yet Harrow could not let go of the hope that he could act as the big hero and recuse Callum from wherever he may be held.
Seeing his Son for the first time, all those thoughts just seemed to vanish from Harrow's mind, and he just went up and Hugged Callum.
In response to Callum's introduction, Harrow finally observed, "You look so much like your mother." When Harrow looked at Ezran, he could see a little bit of his late wife, but mostly he just seemed to see himself. However, when he looked at Callum, he could see so much of Sarai in him.
When Callum felt his step-father hug him after all those years, the flood gates opened for him. Callum cried out, "I missed you.".
"It's okay; you're fine." King Harrow gently rubbed his Stepson's back to comfort him.
"I'm sorry," Callum apologizes spontaneously to King Harrow.
"Whatever could you be sorry about"? Harrow questioned.
"I know that you and Viren were close, and I am sorry that I helped kill him," Callum said. Callum knew when he was taken that King Harrow and Lord Viren were good friends. However, he had no idea how his step-father felt about Rayla killing Viren with Callum's help.
Harrow rubbed Callum's cheek with one of his hands. "None of that," Harrow replied, "I should be the one apologizing for not being able to see who Viren really was.".
"Wait here. I have a surprise for you."
Callum watched Harrow leave from the throne as he stood on the throne. When King Harrow returned holding something in his hands, it was only a few minutes later.
"My old sketchbook." Callum smiled as he handed over what he remembered as his most prized possession.
"I made sure to save it all those years," Harrow explained. A drawer in Harrow's office was locked to stop others from touching or throwing out the Callum Sketchbook.
It has been a few weeks since Prince Callum returned to Katolis. To begin with, the royal family was fine, just celebrating on their own. The rest of the kingdom, however, was expected to want to join in.
As a result, a ball was held in honour of the return of Callum. The party was not only for Katolis residents, contrary to what many people had assumed. In addition, there were quite a bit of elves in attendance.
As Prince Callum's elven girlfriend, Rayla had gained a lot of fame for herself.
"Survival training is easier do the get around in this dress," Rayla complained to herself. The ball gown she was wearing at the time was very large. Rayla's dress was custom-made with teal and navy green fabric. Rayla was told to pay respect to her Moonshadow heritage.
From behind, Callum commented, "Well, I think you look beautiful."
Rayla turned to look at Callum. A small smile appeared on her face. "Now, don't you look rather Princely?
Callum returned Rayla smiles. It was nice for him to wear clothes that fit him and ones that he picked out himself. So besides the Typical colours of Katolis, he wore black pants and a dark blue button-up shirt with a red vest.
"Would you like to dance with me" Callum invited, Reaching each handout.
Rayla took his hand and said, "I would love to."
Harrow watched his two sons from a distance. Ezran and Queen Aanya of Duren, who had been invited to the ball, the two young Royal members danced or played tag together. Harrow ruminated that it was kind of difficult to tell.
Seeing his eldest son Callum Dance with his love Rayla brought a smile to King Harrow's face.
"Never thought I would see the Day," Opeli said, standing next to Harrow. "A human and an elf"
Harrow remarked, "It's wonderful."
Since Opeli was one of the king's advisors, she had to offer her caution. "You know not everyone will be fine with it."
Harrow took a moment to consider before replying. He could only see Callum's large smile as he and Rayla discussed whatever they were talking about.
"That won't matter at all," Harrow replies.
"Furthermore, I think those two are too in love with each other to notice."