King Rithul finally arrived in Evenere.
At first, Callum was unsure of why Aaravos was so insistent in dragging Callum into their meeting. It clicked after a moment. "Oh- um. Right. Prince duty." Callum held a tome to his chest, looking back at the library table he'd been using, books scattered all over it. "He just came from the Pentarchy, right? So he already talked to Ezran."
"I'm sorry to tear you away from your books-, believe me, I know the pain," Aaravos smiled but beckoned Callum anyway. "Yes, he spoke to Ezran, and you may wish to hear the results."
Callum frowned, following Aaravos. "What did you do?"
"Why do you still think everything has to be my fault?"
They rounded the corner into a private meeting room, Srisha and King Rithul already there. King Rithul nodded to Aaravos, but as he did so, said, "Welcome. I'm surprised you merely elected to walk in here, considering the spectacle your prior introduction was, Lord Aaravos."
Callum raised his eyebrows at Aaravos, nudging him pointedly.
"I needed everyone's attention and was quite effective at getting it," said Aaravos, shrugging with a pleased, unapologetic smile.
"So how much trouble are we in?" asked Callum.
King Rithul chuckled, his easygoing manner letting Callum relax by a couple degrees. Callum had known to expect a mage, but it was still a surprise to see white streaked hair under a crown. The last mage king they'd all dealt with had been Viren.
Positive change, Callum reminded himself. He had to believe it could happen.
"Evenere has no issue with Aaravos or Xadia- we'd like to keep it that way," said King Rithul. "It's an honor to host you, both as king and on a personal level, as a mage. We have done our best to safeguard what knowledge our ancestors passed down from you, of you, of magic itself. I do hope our people have treated you well."
"More than well," assured Aaravos. "Were my position one where I could settle down anywhere, I'd elect for it to be here. However, I keep my word. I'll be leaving in about a month to tend to the Sunforge."
King Rithul nodded. "We appreciate your assistance— and hope our neutrality does not offend. Evenere can't weather another war. None of us can."
"Of course," said Aaravos.
King Rithul turned to Callum. "And it is no less an honor to have Katolis's Crown Prince as our guest."
"Thanks." Callum rubbed the back of his neck, feeling as though he should say something more. "I had no idea Evenere had a library like this. It's been nice seeing what's beyond Katolis. I um— I'm sure all of us just want peace between us. Ezran probably said it better than me, but I'm glad the war is over, and I'm sorry about Queen Fareeda."
"You've had your share of losses as well," said King Rithul, tone gentle.
Callum's blood suddenly ran cold. Did the king know Viren was with them? Aaravos seemed to anticipate his question.
"I'm sure Srisha has already informed you of the situation of one of our less honored guests, in your eyes."
King Rithul sighed. "Yes— and that a step against him counts as one against you. A few of my mages have reported the most remarkable things beyond what I would expect of prior Lord Viren, or most any human for that matter. His and Prince Callum's existences testify to something powerful for our collective future. With this in mind, and our respect for you, we will, as you must have already predicted, not raise any charge against him. Punishment would not bring our queen back. Since we are of agreement with each other, I should like to assume none of us pose threats to the other. Correct?"
"Correct," Aaravos affirmed. "My interest has always been in humanity's favor. The most recent losses to your kingdom and others are regrettable, however, I am now here to serve you."
Just like that.
King Rithul's mouth twitched upwards. "Lord Aaravos, it does seem every proposition from you is mutually beneficial."
"I have spent a long time with uncharacteristically few friends. It's to your advantage to be the first nation to see the value in such an agreement."
King Rithul shrugged, more of a smile on his face. "Ah well, I could use more arrangements that come so easily. However…
"I think you will find that more than Xadia has changed in the past three centuries. Humanity does not see itself as only one thing any more than the elves do. We are Eveneran, Del Barian, Katolian- you see what I mean. Mages may be able to muster up more of a sense of unity, and of course in the presence of an elf all humans have a habit of forgetting their prior borders-" Callum scowled "-but the likes of what Viren tried to pull, thinking we could be of one mind ever again? The dust has settled into separate piles since those wars long ago."
Duren had more than proven that during the war. Even Katolis wasn't all of one mind. Callum wondered how long it would be until Katolis could embrace Ezran's friendliness towards elves and dragons- would either of them even live to see it?
Aaravos smiled. "So I've seen. It's all the more interesting with more players in the game."
"If I may, Lord Aaravos?" asked King Rithul lightly. "It doesn't have to be interesting. Boring is also perfectly fine."
Callum had to agree with that. Aaravos seemed to want to withdraw from war but still keep his cards in his pocket, having followers ready for any number of just in case scenarios.
When Callum thought they were ready to leave, Srisha stopped them. "Hold on." She exchanged a glance with King Rithul, who nodded for her to continue.
"You should see the correspondence that arrived this morning. With Lux Aurea's seal."
Callum impulsively snatched the letter out of Srisha's hand before Aaravos even moved, unfolding the paper so quickly he almost dropped it. Aaravos huffed, amused, as Callum read it.
On behalf of the Sunfire and Katolian Kingdoms, we invite every human and elf in all of Xadia's two halves who wishes to join us to attend the wedding of:
Queen Janai
and
General Amaya
"My aunt is getting married. A month and a half from now," said Callum, reading further down. His mind buzzed with every emotion at once- both elated and bracing for something horrible- would he be able to even get to go to his aunt's wedding? What would Aaravos do? Should he dare to hope that they could have this?
Callum was unsteady on his feet. "We gotta go tell the others!" Callum took off running as Aaravos looked in Callum's direction fondly.
"I take it we'll see you there?" asked King Rithul.
Aaravos smiled. "Whether or not you see us there will have little to do with our presence at the event, Your Majesty."
-BREAK-
"This is a trap."
Viren was probably right of course, but Callum folded his arms. "Well even if no one else can go, I'm going! That's my aunt. I haven't- I haven't been to a family wedding since my mom married King Harrow."
That felt so long ago. Callum's voice died out at the last syllable, wondering how he could feel like he'd lived a few lifetimes already in under twenty years.
Aaravos, Terry, Claudia, Kpp'ar, and Sir Sparklepuff were all gathered around them. For Viren, the fight was already lost, but he could try anyway. Even his newfound cheerfulness didn't fully banish his cynical side. "Look, I'm sure it would be a good time, but to announce this right after Aaravos has made his presence known to the world? It's got to have something to do with him. They decided to still do this and send an invite to everyone on the continent."
"Yes, I am invited," said Aaravos, obviously pleased. "I want to go in peace- perhaps this will be the true test, on all of the world's stage."
"And if it goes poorly?" pressed Viren. "Will you leave quietly?"
Aaravos hummed. "I'd try."
"It sounds like a lot of fun," said Terry. He grabbed Claudia's hands. "All seven cakes, in one place!"
Claudia grinned. "Yeah! And lots of dancing!"
Viren sighed, rubbing his face. "I want to go as well, of course I do, but it seems risky."
Aaravos slipped an arm around Viren's waist. "I can keep all of us safe."
"They'll suspect we're coming. You don't know the extent of their plans," insisted Viren, although he was starting to cave. He leaned on Aaravos's shoulder with a sigh. "No matter what I say, you'll insist. You've missed out on too much not to."
"Perhaps." Aaravos pressed a chaste kiss to Viren's cheek. "I think you'd make a handsome Tidebound elf. We could all have a bit of fun and it'll give us a good idea of how soon the world will end."
"What a date," drawled Viren, but he didn't sound so opposed to it anymore. "Okay, as long as we're careful, we can go. I'm out-voted anyway."
"Yes!" Claudia, Terry, and Callum both jumped up in the air and shouted simultaneously. Sir Sparklepuff mimicked them a moment later, smiling as Claudia scooped him up and spun him around.
Callum was secretly glad for even more reasons that they were going. The others would have to stay hidden, but he hadn't done anything wrong, right? He could sneak off and see who he needed to. He was so excited he practically skipped back to his library table. He'd get to see them all again. He could explain things.
Aunt Amaya.
Ezran.
Rayla.
-BREAK-
Viren's nights had started to take precedence over his days in his mind. He couldn't help it. Every time he thought about being with Aaravos it was like he was newly discovering what love was all over again to the point that he was certain a single day apart could've driven him mad. It was beyond the warmth of a touch or purely physical comfort, but something that engulfed all of him when he considered Aaravos and saw, truly, someone part of himself, part of his family.
In retrospect, he understood how he'd managed to marry before Harrow. He and Lissa had moved fast.
Kpp'ar's eye rolls and Claudia's laughter at him during the day couldn't even dampen the feelings Viren had signed off on never feeling again for the rest of his life after he'd been separated.
The only thing that did keep him in check was their predicament regarding the rest of the world.
Both being wanted by all of Xadia, likely slated for execution, did force some unpleasant perspective.
He and Aaravos took advantage of being alone at night, comfortably tangled together in bed, less talking and more saying everything they needed to with touch. If Aaravos was surprised by the recent, suddenly even more affectionate side Viren showed, he was taking it in stride.
Still. The whole dead man walking thing weighed on Viren's mind.
"Something wrong?" Aaravos broke their kiss, resting his forehead against Viren's. They were curled up together under a soothing weight of blankets, sharing a pillow. After one night when Aaravos's horns had done away with a pillow, Viren tried to keep it in mind that it was best they stick to lying on their sides, or just accepting Aaravos using Viren himself as a mattress.
"No. And yes," admitted Viren.
He tried to find the right words, thumb stroking Aaravos's cheek. Viren liked staring at all of Aaravos's stars, watching them glow and fade. The three diamonds under each eye had been favorite places to kiss as well, and the surge of warmth and affection that overtook Viren guided him to press forward, hand sliding into Aaravos's soft hair to do just as he wanted, kissing the diamonds and smiling as Aaravos closed his eyes. "I never want this to end," murmured Viren. "I want my future to have you in it, but the future is so… unclear."
"You've always let the future weigh on you." Aaravos kissed Viren's lips, holding him around his waist, palm stroking Viren's back. "What's your biggest worry? Aside from the obvious."
Viren sighed.
"I've changed since we've met. Who I was when I first found the mirror is a stranger to me now. I see how I let things get so out of control I lost any sense of what truly matters to me." Viren kept toying with Aaravos's hair. "Not only do I not want to fight anymore, but I don't see it as an option. I think Xadia would be right to kill me where I stand."
Aaravos's mouth twitched, a hint of amused bitterness in his voice. "I'm sure they'd at least consider banishment. It's their favorite. Duren would warm up to the idea of killing you, though."
Viren huffed. "Even so, I-"
"You've changed, and you worry I haven't."
Aaravos was good at hitting the heart of things quickly.
"Yes."
It had been plaguing Aaravos too. Not that Viren had changed, of course people changed, but what was Aaravos anymore? He'd found a little constellation to call his own, pulling them into his orbit. If asked what he wanted, he wanted to stay with them. Having people kept the quicksand in his chest from pulling him in, a guardrail from the chasm of wrath and despair he sometimes felt he could fall into at any moment. It was like he thought if he just filled his life with any number of other things, the rest could be subdued, maybe even go away.
Of course not.
"I hate them all because I thought they loved me." Aaravos wasn't looking at anything in particular, eyes fixed on Viren's shoulder without seeing it. "I was wrong. It wasn't love. Three centuries, and not one shred of compassion. No, the ones who loved me are ghosts, and the monsters who walk the earth deserve my worst. Someday, I'll lose you again too. Someday, I will be left with more ghosts, and the same monsters. This brewing conflict isn't something I can ignore, Viren, even if I wanted to. Even if maybe I could, for your lifetime, find a way to avoid it." Aaravos wondered if his willingness to state any of it plainly was like Viren's new comfort with being intimate. Trust was a frightening thing, and yet they were both partaking of it.
"I don't mean to make matters worse, but being exceptionally aware of my own mortality… are you okay with us?" asked Viren with a troubled frown.
Aaravos wasn't surprised Viren asked. He'd been ready for it to come up.
"If your son had actually died when he was young, would you have wished you'd never had him?" asked Aaravos.
Viren's expression hardened. "Of course not. Never."
Aaravos almost smiled. "Then you understand why I keep loving humans over and over again. Even knowing the ending."
Viren didn't have to move much to hug Aaravos, bringing him closer into his arms. He supposed he'd already known it, that Aaravos seemed to be living a never ending tragedy. "I'm sorry." Looking directly into Aaravos's eyes, he repeated, "I'm sorry that knowing all of this, I still won't stand with you if you continue on our prior path."
He wasn't done.
"But you matter to me," insisted Viren. "And I will stand with you if we find some other way."
"Hmm." Aaravos smiled. The tension seemed to break like ice. "It's a good thing you make some compelling points about the benefits of this theoretical other path," teased Aaravos, rolling Viren onto his back, Aaravos on top of him, intentions clear. He kissed Viren firmly, reaching for Viren's hand to hold, fingers laced together as their lips mimicked that entwined sentiment. No time to waste, then.
Viren embraced the shift, kissing back and letting his thoughts leave the heaviness of their lives in order to shut off and focus on the warmth between them. Bliss could take his mind straight into oblivion.
It would've worked too, had someone not knocked on their door.
Timid taps escalated to a more confident knock before falling silent, as if the person knocking wasn't sure how loud it should be.
Viren blinked as Aaravos raised his head. Who…?
Aaravos got off of Viren and laid back down. He seemed to get a brief premonition about who it was. "Ah. Come in," he said as he waved his hand and unlocked the door.
"You're letting them in?" hissed Viren. Despite having a night shirt on, he tugged the blankets up to his chin. Aaravos was shirtless and didn't care to cover any of his chest up, shaking his head at Viren with a wheeze of laughter.
The door slowly opened and Sir Sparklepuff poked his head in, making some soft, high pitched whine Viren had never heard before. Aaravos patted Viren's lap and Sir Sparklepuff jumped onto the bed, trembling as he curled up on Viren.
"What?!" Viren stared at Sir Sparklepuff and then Aaravos. "What is he doing?"
"Is it so unusual for a child to seek their parents when they've had a nightmare?" asked Aaravos, eyes wide and innocent despite his smirk.
"Be serious," grumbled Viren.
Sir Sparklepuff whimpered, raising his head and absorbing Viren's irritated, perhaps even skeptical face. He crawled to Aaravos instead who held him in his arms. Viren still scowled.
"He may be a homunculus, but you did help make him," pointed out Aaravos.
"Yes, and he certainly acts like a child," admitted Viren. Some of Sir Sparklepuff's antics hadn't been unlike his own children's- was Aaravos implying Sir Sparklepuff was, in more ways than just a technicality, as much his full child as Soren or Claudia? "In all seriousness- he's genuinely, really, our son?"
Aaravos rubbed Sir Sparklepuff's back between his wings, effectively calming him down. Sir Sparklepuff yawned, eyes drooping, apparently about to fall asleep in their bed. "Well, if not ours, who else's? He may have more intelligence and knowledge than he can properly express or that someone his age would normally have, but he is the human equivalent of a toddler, Viren."
Viren had trouble processing that, so he decided to not say anything, turning so he could hold Aaravos and their… son. Not just a childlike being, but his child. Sir Sparklepuff fell asleep between them.
"What would he have a nightmare about?" asked Viren quietly.
Aaravos pondered it. "I'm unsure of the details. He just didn't want to be alone."
-BREAK-
Sir Sparklepuff didn't stay long after waking up.
The previous night had… changed his mood, he supposed. Deciding to be free of the usual family breakfast gathering, Sir Sparklepuff left for where many of the Eveneran mages usually spent the morning.
It worked. At least for a time.
He'd inherited a love for attention, attention which Aaravos's followers gladly bestowed upon him. Upon sight, they were all eager to talk to him, play with him. He stood in a circle of admirers, happy to have found people who understood charades. He mimed rowing a boat and Seiki snapped his fingers. "Oh, you're rowing a boat!"
Finally! Sir Sparklepuff clapped, wings flapping a little as he congratulated Seiki. He could play games and eat whatever sorts of food he wanted all day long. People were friendly and curious to him, always welcoming and energetic. Sometimes off put, but… he couldn't help that.
However, sometimes the Followers of Aaravos had gifts for him.
To them, he was part of the divine, whatever that meant.
"C'mon," said a mage, holding out a recently made tunic, dark blue with silver stitches. It even had holes in the back for his wings. "We think we got your measurements right. Try this one? Please?"
Sir Sparklepuff shook his head and bounded off. Clothes didn't feel good. They were cumbersome and could get dirty. He saw no reason to wear anything else if it wasn't cold out. Settling near a pond, hoping for bugs to eat, he perched and stared at his reflection in the water.
…
What was he?
Yes, he looked a lot like Aaravos.
But…
Laughter echoed in his mind from all the way back at the inn in Katolis, Callum and others finding the idea that Sir Sparklepuff was an elf comically absurd. The look on Viren's face when Aaravos had pointed out that it wasn't so odd for a child to seek their parents when frightened had stuck in Sir Sparklepuff's mind as well, as if Viren couldn't see him as his child. His place between his fathers wasn't freely given, as though there was something not right.
Not elf. Not human either. "Homunculus" was a foreign term to him, but he knew that whatever it meant, it didn't carry the sort of weight that "person" did.
Upset. He was upset! Shaking himself vigorously, Sir Sparklepuff frantically ran his fingers through his hair over and over again, making distressed sounds. What could he do?
Viren had always seemed insistent that he learn "manners". Was that part of being human? Sir Sparklepuff considered it, staring at his reflection again, bright wings spread as he thought. Both humans and elves were supposed to have manners, though their little group hadn't given Sir Sparklepuff a clear idea of what that meant. Everyone behaved in ways so very them, and not necessarily polite, by Viren's reactions.
Well… he could start somewhere.
There was some overlaps all the elves and humans had.
Sir Sparklepuff straightened up, suddenly excited. He bounded back to the mage who had made him the tunic, obediently letting them put it on and marvel at how it looked on him.
He'd figure out what else made someone worth a person.