Ezran didn't usually travel the traditional king's way.

It was nothing against his horse. He and Buttermilk the majestic war stallion had become fast friends since beginning their journey to the Pentarchy. Ezran rode without a saddle or reins, preferring to communicate in his own way.

It was slow compared to flying. He missed Zym and Zubeia like he was missing a piece of himself. However, the Pentarchy was for the human kingdoms only, and the presence of a dragon could be misunderstood as an attack. Katolis hadn't taken that well to their visit, and he doubted the other kingdoms far from Xadia would either. He'd resigned gimself to facing the meeting as was traditional.

Alone.

Well, not quite.

He also wasn't used to having a whole royal procession with him either.

A couple of the Crownguard rode ahead and to either side of him carrying Katolis's banner, an announcement of their presence to the distant watch of the Pentarchy. Closer to him were his selected guards: Corvus, Soren, and Rayla on her Shadowpaw. They traveled with about ten more Crownguard members in formation behind him. It was a relatively small number meant for quick travel, made easy for a route of plains and smoothly trodden roads, but he missed when it had just been him and his friends.

And Callum.

Ezran glanced at Rayla, knowing her too well to think the blank look on her face wasn't hiding her own pain. "I miss him too," said Ezran quietly.

They'd tried to discuss anything that wasn't Callum, but it hadn't worked. There was no ignoring the space his absense left.

"I guess we know he's alright." Rayla resisted adding for now to her sentence. The other guards rode as far away from her as they could while staying in formation. She supposed it was progress that most of them were getting used to her at all. "I don't know what to think anymore. You know. About Aaravos. Callum said his situation reminded him of mine, but I don't understand it."

Ezran had summoned the Pentarchy to discuss Aaravos and the fallout of the war, hoping to mend some of the damage caused by Viren and Aaravos. He'd been so certain days before that he'd been coming to warn them all of a dire threat, an enemy to be on the watch for, possibly even to hunt down if necessary.

Aaravos's starlit visit to him up on the castle balcony had him hesitating.

If he closed his eyes, Ezran could still see Aaravos kneeling before him, asking what he made of him. Touching him had been like touching any other person— warm, soft, and with a beating heart under his palm. Ezran's sense of empathy only worked with creatures, but Aaravos had offered him the chance to feel his soul for just a moment, pushing it to the surface, allowing Ezran to know.

Everyone knew Aaravos was a master manipulator, but Ezran didn't think what he felt could be faked.

He's hurting.

He supposed it was no excuse. Pain and grief had led to a lot of violence throughout history, whether those on the receiving end had anything to do with the cause of it all or not. Even his father had contributed to the phenomenon of personal grief fueling violence. There was no denying Aaravos was still dangerous.

But Ezran would rather make him a cup of Katolis cider and ask how he could help than try to figure out how to take down his brother's new friend.

"I wish it wasn't just the human kingdoms. We all need to talk to work anything out." Ezran tried to appear dignified and ready to face the four other monarchs as practice for their arrival. "I wonder if this is what it was like back when Aaravos was free too, when no one knew what was going on, and no one knew how to work together."

Corvus rode closer to Ezran to join the conversation. "It seems like the Mage Wars ended once Aaravos was imprisoned. Whatever his prior goal was, it had something to do with the human territories. He must've not accomplished it, and it seems possible he was responsible for prolonging the wars."

That was another thing.

"Exactly," said Ezran. "If he's supposedly humanity's friend, what was he doing causing so much chaos? He preyed on human rulers even back then. Xadians weren't immune either. I don't get it." He felt like he was holding pieces of a puzzle that almost fit together, but even when they could mesh he had no idea what the complete picture was.

Soren shrugged. "Soooo, what are you telling everyone?"

"The truth, which is that there's a lot I don't know," admitted Ezran.

It was a long journey to admit to everyone that he was at a loss.

Ezran expected pushback, but Soren shot him an encouraging smile.

"I think that's a good idea. My dad was forceful about things, even when they weren't good ideas, or he didn't have all the facts either. Maybe it's vulnerable, but some things are too important to fudge."

Ezran smiled. "Let's hope it works out."

There was another problem.

Ezran pulled out four parchment scrolls from his pocket. "I know Queen Aanya, but I've never met anyone else. King Ahling has recovered from his coma, which is a relief, but the other two are new. Queen Nirvi of Del Bar and King Rithul of Evenere have only taken their thrones in the last year, neither related to their prior monarchs. And Katolis hasn't been on the best terms with them lately."

If he thought too hard about it he'd get sick. Prince Kasef had been too much for him to handle, and he had four rulers to meet with.

"It'll be fine," said Corvus. "Think of it like this: you've been king longer than the newcomers have. Anyone would feel overwhelmed, but you can do this."

Ezran nodded, crown heavier than normal. "It will be okay, you're right."

He almost convinced himself.

Soren hung back a little and so did Corvus. Corvus angled his head to Soren. "Are you okay?"

A cheery thumbs up from Soren with a grin could have convinced most people. "You bet!"

Corvus shook his head. "Try again. I know the other night was stressful on top of everything else. We don't have to talk over it now, but I'm ready whenever you are."

Soren should've expected Corvus to sense not all was alright. "It's just… complicated. You should've seen how Callum used to feel about Viren. If Rayla hadn't pushed him off the Stormspire, Callum would've. Now my dad's back and he seems to have changed so much that even Callum trusts him now? I can't believe it."

Awkward silence hung between them, neither wanting to say the thought that came to mind.

"Prince Callum has never wavered in his devotion to King Ezran and doing what he knows is right, even when others couldn't see it." Corvus sighed. "But… his judgement may not always be right. He is fallible like the rest of us."

It was a polite way of voicing some of the doubts people had begun to have about the disappearance of the prince and the convoluted news that had spread about Aaravos and his party's arrival to the castle.

Our High Mage is straying. Just like the last one.

"I don't think Callum is wrong. I mean, we haven't had anything else happen yet." Soren was trying to convince himself of it more than Corvus. "But if he isn't wrong, meaning he's right, then I don't know what to do about my dad. To go back now and give him a chance feels like treason."

"Treason?"

"Yeah, I mean. How can I trust him? How could anyone? I'm Crownguard!" Soren thumped his chest plate and winced, shaking his wrist afterwards. "I could be betraying everyone if Viren hasn't had a change of heart. Or even if he has, he's still Viren. The issue is, even if it's a good thing if he's different, I just don't know what to do.

"The worst thing that had ever happened was my dad telling me to kill the princes after King Harrow was assassinated. I didn't do it, thankfully. When I confronted him about it in front of Claudia, he pretended he hadn't told me to kill them. She believed I had misheard or something. He lied to her to keep her trust— but the other night, Claudia knew. He'd come clean about it. It was huge, but…"

"She knows the truth and stayed with him," finished Sorvus.

Soren hung his head. He'd gotten the idea that he could ignore feeling betrayed if he thought about how much progress had been made, but it hadn't helped. She'd gone back with their dad after all that. After the lying. After the Sunfire Forge. After everything.

Corvus got just close enough to lay a hand on Soren's. "It's not your fault. Her choice isn't because you aren't good enough."

To the point, digging at the mental loop Soren had been stuck.

"Thank you." Soren returned the hand hold briefly.

Rayla had traveled without Callum before, but it hadn't always felt like this. She'd been the one who left. Even if she'd stayed away too long, a stupid choice in hindsight, she had always known where to find Callum again. Not anymore.

The fate of the world seemed to be hanging on a thread, and all she could think of was Callum. Had Runaan had moments like these when he was trapped far away from Ethari, or was she really too soft for this?

She kept her head high for Ezran as they crested another low hill, the distant Pentarchy finally within sight.

-BREAK-

"So, why does everyone want to go to Evenere again?" Callum sipped hot brown morning potion, having stayed up too late the night before. Sitting in the moonlight hadn't done anything but make him a yawning mess the next morning, dragging his feet behind the others.

Kpp'ar glanced back at him. "I think you'll like the library."

Callum perked up. He was predictable, but he didn't care. "You've been there?"

"Yes. Their High Mage oversees the Royal Library. She's known to be strict, and she even turned me away when I had come to inquire about an ancient poem they have in their possession relating to Startouch elves."

Aaravos smirked. "Oh, this will be so good. She doesn't know what's coming."

He sounded like they were journeying over to Evenere just to perform an international prank on their librarian, but Callum suspected there was more to it.

"What's so good about Evenere? They have a poem, but we have an entire Aaravos." Callum promised himself to not get royal library envy. He could read all he wanted while he was there, he hoped.

Claudia clasped her hands, a spring in her step. "Since you aren't a Dark Mage, you wouldn't know Evenere is probably the most magical place in the Human Kingdoms. It's still full of magical critters and herbs. Their isolation from the rest of us except by water means their lands are plentiful, and they're good at making oils, salves, and the cutest soaps!"

Callum pondered it. "So, Dark Mages see it as a resource."

Viren shrugged. "It's quite the journey. Evenere doesn't get many visitors, and some parts of the wetlands are quite dangerous to those unfamiliar with their winding tributaries. Most foreign Dark Mages would rather do without than brave Evenere past the ports."

Aaravos seemed lost in thought as they walked towards the coast in hopes of catching a ship over. Callum walked at his side. "What's on your mind?"

"It's been three hundred years since I was in this world, and the Pentarchy Kingdoms are younger than my absence. I won't know what to make of it until we get there, though I am optimistic." Callum yawned. Aaravos changed the subject, putting a bracing hand on Callum's shoulder. "Are you perhaps regretting staying up late?"

"I wish I felt moon-ier. Still nothing, though." Callum finished his drink. "If I'm being honest, whenever I look at the moon I think of Rayla." The bottom of his cup had a ring of potion around it, like another little moon. He hesitated. "You don't think that's a bad thing, right?"

"Not at all. Associations are natural."

The breeze began to have a hint of salt and brine the further west they pushed. Aaravos raised his and Terry's human disguises again when the port came into view, docks and white sails visible in the distance.

Callum squinted.

"I don't believe it! Manus pluma volantus!" Callum leapt into the air and circled down into harbor, leaving the others without an explanation.

Terry gestured to Callum. "He do that often?"

Aaravos chuckled. "It's a stylish and effective conversation ender, sprouting wings and flying off."

Claudia held her hand up for a high four and a half with Aaravos. "Too true!"

Callum flew high and then spiraled in, locked onto one particular ship. Landing smoothly in front of a familiar ship, he waved a wing at the sailor he'd been hoping most to see.

"Villads!"

Villads turned, Berto perched on his shoulder. "Well well! Callum! What a surprise— we'd gathered you'd be over in Xadia since the border's open."

Berto squawked. "Nice wings!"

Callum flapped his wings once, the wind ruffling the feathers on Villads's hat. He let his own feathers vanish back into his arms. "Thanks! My friends and I actually need a ride over to Evenere. You don't happen to be going that way, are you?"

"Hmmm. You're in luck. I'm always at your service." Villads bowed. "Since Xadia has a few docks welcoming ships from human ports, I've started doing a few runs between Evenere and, er, Bright Hope Cove. Your stop is my next stop before heading back to Xadia."

"Bright Hope Cove? Sounds nice," said Callum.

"It's not!" replied Berto.

Aaravos, Viren, Terry, Kpp'ar, Claudia, and Sir Sparklepuff caught up to them on the dock. Villads turned at the sound of footprints. "Hm. More of you than I remember. Rayla? Ezran?"

Berto made a disgruntled noise. "Nope! Bunch of weirdos."

Aaravos inclined his head. "We'd be grateful for a passage across to Evenere. Callum has already spoken highly of you."

Viren, who'd looked skeptical, widened his eyes with surprise. Claudia shrugged. "Alright, sounds great! When do we depart!" She paused. "Deparrrrght," she said with an exaggerated pirate accent.

Villads gestured for them to board the Ruthless. "Finally someone who speaks properly! Go on, climb aboard. We'll depart within the hour."

Callum could practically feel Aaravos's curiosity about Villads as they stowed their belongings below deck. "So," said Callum. "You think he understands the Sky arcanum?"

"Yes, but I'd like to speak with him alone." Aaravos took his and Terry's disguises off again, shaking his head to let his hair freely cascade down his back.

It didn't take long to get out of sight of the harbor. Aaravos made his way above deck to Villads who was at the helm, steering with occasional headings from Berto.

"Captain Villads." Aaravos leaned against the railing of the ship. "I'm most eager to make your acquaintance."

"Stranger with quite the voice," greeted Villads in return. "Doesn't seem fair I don't know your name, does it?"

"You can call me Aster."

"Not your real name, is it?"

"Perceptive," commented Aaravos. "No, few know my name."

"All right then, keep your secrets." Villads seemed to guide the ship effortlessly, the sail above and the planks below a part of him. "So what do you want with a blind narcoleptic sailor like me?"

Aaravos looked to the sky, letting the sea wind and spray hit his skin. "The way you sail, the way you're a part of the sea and sky. You intrigue me."

Berto grumbled. "Here we go."

Villads shook his head. "Now what's the idea here? No one can outsail me and the Ruthless! It's natural skill."

"I mean no offense. Your sailing is uniquely excellent among any port you sink your anchor in." Aaravos could sense the connection even where he stood, piercing eyes watching Villads. "You have naturally connected to one of the six arcana of this world, and you wield it effortlessly. I could teach you to harness it further."

"Now listen here," said Villads. "I'm just fine on me own."

"Yes, but—"

"We've got a mutual agreement, the winds and I. I don't want to muddle it all up."

Aaravos blinked. "Learning runes to enhance your innate abilities, deepening the connection, would not hinder you whatsoever. I've met very few who have come close to what you can do, Villads. I would see your gift developed, deepened, for the good of passing my knowledge onward. Nothing out in the ocean would stand in your way, and your sails would be forever filled with the perfect tailwind. Callum isn't the only Sky Mage on this ship. With you, there's three."

He waited for a response.

Villads snored, still standing up.

Aaravos's ears twitched upwards with shock, undiluted surprise across his face. "Did you just… fall asleep?"

Berto flapped from Villads's shoulder to perch on one of Aaravos's horns. "Not interested! Nap time! Shoo!" Berto pecked at Aaravos's scalp and Aaravos waved his hand at the bird until Berto flew back to Villads.

Aaravos went back below deck in a daze. Callum beamed at him from where he was seated on a crate. "How did it go?"

"He fell asleep. While I was speaking."

"That'll be the narcolepsy."

"But even before that, he had no interest in pursuing magic, developing his gifts! He has what humans have sought for centuries, and he's content to use it passively! Nothing I said could change his mind."

Viren watched as Aaravos paced, agitated. He smiled, an amused glint in his eyes. "I see. You found someone who can resist you and you're pouting."

"I am not," said Aaravos, petulant.

"Your beauty is such a boon you don't know how to work without it."

"You of all people know my voice is as gorgeous as my body. He could have at least been more agreeable." Aaravos was sulking in earnest.

Callum stood up. "It's alright if Villads uses his arcanum differently than we do, but we can still give the Ruthless a little nudge forward."

"Yes we can."

Aaravos followed Callum back above deck. It seemed so long ago that Callum had used wind to race Claudia and Viren to Aaravos's prison. He was good at it, he could say. Callum and Aaravos drew their sigils in tandem.

"Aspiro!"

To Callum's surprise, his gust of wind into the mainsail was stronger than Aaravos's. He saw why immediately as the mast turned from the slight imbalance and Villads fought the wheel to keep their heading.

"We're working together." Aaravos's jetstream rushing from his palm was perfectly smooth and level. "This is less about force, and more about technique. Relax, ease up, and make it something sustainable. I know you exhausted yourself the last time you did this, but I'm here to help."

Callum had gotten used to being the only mage around. He guessed he didn't have to do it all by himself anymore. Breathing deeply, he let his air stream be gentler, consistent. The sail was full and the Ruthless was going at an impressive speed, but it wasn't draining him to do it. "I suppose that even by myself, this is a smarter way to do it."

"Air currents and ocean currents aren't so different," said Aaravos. "It's a never ending energy that we direct and guide. You were working too hard before."

It was peaceful, pushing the sail in unison. The sky was bright overhead and it could've been like a vacation in another life.

Villads sniffed. "At this rate, we'll reach Evenere early tomorrow. Course, you wind whisperers need sleep too. Head below deck whenever you like. Sea should stay calm through our trip."

Callum wasn't sure how many hours they stayed out on the deck, keeping up their combined wind magic. His eyes sometimes drifted to the moon up in the sky, visible in the blue. The answer to the arcanum was right in front of him, but he was still missing a piece.

Claudia and Terry handed out dinner from their trail rations, at which point Callum finally stopped channeling the wind. The magical crash afterwards was nothing like it used to be for long periods of use, but he still leaned against the mast to eat leftover pastries, jerky, and roasted nuts.

Sir Sparklepuff enjoyed perching on the stern of the ship, watching for any sign of Evenere ahead. Callum still wasn't sure what to make of him, but he was certainly a child, eager and curious about everything around him.

Kpp'ar had napped most of the day but seemed social again as they finished dinner, a deck of cards in hand. Callum guessed that even the ex High Mage liked some classic human mage tricks. "Anyone want to play? Casual, of course. No more souls need get traded over to our friend here."

Viren put his hands on his hips. "I still have my soul."

"Whose lifespan are you running on right now?" asked Kpp'ar. "See? That's what I thought."

Claudia, Terry, Viren, Aaravos, and Callum sat in a circle on the floor below decks with little personal piles of gravel to bet. Like when Aaravos had been playing with Sir Sparklepuff, he gave Callum a look, as though there was some sort of lesson embedded in what was about to happen.

It started with a tiny bit of a draft over their playing area.

Callum frowned as Aaravos dealt out their cards, getting the feeling that Aaravos had done something while dealing to switch around the order or where a card had landed, but he hadn't actually seen anything. He kept his face as stoic as possible, which was difficult.

Aaravos won the first hand, which should have been a hint. He also won the next four hands, but it became clear that Aaravos wasn't the only one cheating.

Callum could've sworn that Aaravos's pile of makeshift gravel tokens had been larger a hand or two ago, but where had it gone? He hadn't seen anyone steal it.

Was this a test?

So… maybe he had to cheat back.

Technique, not force.

He started to memorize which cards had tiny dents or marks on the back or around the edges. Callum could use the air between cards when it was his turn to deal or while someone else dealt to swap cards around to try and give himself better cards and Aaravos worse ones.

It didn't seem to be working but Callum tried.

Viren seemed to be catching on, frown deepening as the hands went on. Terry and Claudia were always giggly and cheerful, which made them difficult to read in their own way. Aaravos kept his serene smile, daring someone to accuse him.

Kpp'ar looked around the circle after an hour of playing. Terry was out of currency, Callum and Viren had barely held on, and Claudia, Aaravos, and Kpp'ar were all close with Aaravos in the lead. "Been a bit breezy down here, hasn't it?" he remarked lightly.

Viren glared at Aaravos. "Admit it, you haven't played a fair game this whole night."

Aaravos shrugged. "Who's to say?"

Callum turned to Claudia, who was next to Aaravos. "You've been taking some of his rock chips, haven't you?"

"What?!" Claudia put her hand on her chest in dismay. "I would never."

Kpp'ar laughed under his breath. "Look to Aaravos, look to Claudia, but you haven't been playing it straight either, Callum."

"Whaaaaat?" Callum was the worst liar in the room and he knew it. "I never learned card tricks and sleight of hand, you guys."

"Didn't say you had," said Kpp'ar.

Claudia gasped. "Wow, I thought your whole thing was being better than the rest of us."

Callum might've gotten offended, but Aaravos leapt in. "Well, do we all want to hear the truth? Shall we go around?"

Everyone nodded.

"I cheated." Claudia shrugged and conjured a card in her hand.

"I also cheated, but to benefit Claudia," admitted Terry, making one of the tiny rocks they were using for tokens zoom into the palm of his hand.

"Awwww, that's so sweet of you!" she said.

"I had much of the game rigged," said Aaravos. "Fate is my specialty."

Viren huffed. "Fine, I also cheated."

Aaravos gave Viren his best pleading look. "And you didn't do it in my favor, dear?"

"I didn't need to, darling."

Callum spread his palms wide, wind gently blowing across the floor. "Okay, okay. Me too."

"Myself as well," announced Kpp'ar. "What's with the looks? I don't need magic to get my way in cards. Amateurs."

Silence hung over the room.

Laughter erupted from them all, Callum holding his side as he gasped for breath. He'd missed times like this, surrounded by people he could relax with.

Their quarters were a few hammocks with space to unroll sleeping bags on the floor. Aaravos had made peace with sleeping on the ground. "Hammocks were a human invention." Aaravos tapped the point of his horn.

Callum swung himself into a hammock, staring at the ceiling. The moon was out in the sky above, he knew. The urge to go and gaze at the night sky was only beaten by how tired he was, eyes sliding closed.

It was alright. She'd always be there for him, the next night and the next night and the next.

-BREAK-

Evenere was foggy as they made port.

The dawn sun would need time to burn off the mist, and from Callum's understanding, this was a typical morning in Evenere. Lanterns hung in lines around the docks, their glow soft. He couldn't see much of the island they faced except for the outline of foliage extending back into rivers and creeks that flowed into the sea. The larger rivers were lined with walkways and smaller docks meant for boats that could row up and down the channels.

Villads sent them off as docklands loaded barrels onto the Ruthless. "Stay safe on whatever adventure you're about to have, and tell me all your daring deeds in the future."

"I will, Villads. Thank you."

Berto squawked. "Watch out for megagators!"

Callum hadn't given Evenere's wildlife much of a thought, but clearly he should have. He gave Berto a shaky thumbs up.

He expected to need to wander around until they found someone who could take them inland towards the Royal Library, but Aaravos gathered them all behind him. "There's someone we need to go meet."

Viren raised his eyebrows. "How do you know?"

"Trust me. Just out of sight of the docks."

Aaravos led the way, disguise off once they were more secluded in the low hanging trees.

A solitary, hooded figure stood on one of the river docks. Callum could see why Aaravos had immediately gone to him— his hood bore the same symbol Aaravos's did, but in silver rather than gold.

The stranger pushed his hood back, enraptured awe on his face as he stared at Aaravos. Callum was certain hed never met this person in his life, but he was hauntingly familiar to him for some reason. He seemed to be approximately in his twenties, if Callum had to guess, with short black hair and eyes fixed on Aaravos. "I did it, I was right! I can hardly believe it, down to the spot and time!" In a move Callum could have never seen coming, the stranger he assumed was a mage took a flask with a Starweaver spider out of his pocket, addressing the flask. "You did it!"

Aaravos pushed his hood back too, letting his hair and horns free. "To who do I owe the pleasure?"

The mage widened his eyes and fell on his hands and knees so quickly that Callum would have thought he was under fire. "Forgive my manners, Great One and his followers. I forgot myself."

Aaravos offered him a hand up, which he took only after staring at the glimmering stars on it. "There's no need for such formality. Stand up, and feel free to call me my true name. I rather like the sound of it."

Though still awestruck and shaken, the mage stood back up.

"I'm Seiki of Evenere, descendant of your First Students." He gestured widely to Evenere itself with a smile and slight bow.

"We welcome you back, Aaravos, friend of all humans."