A/N: With this, the fic has caught up to where it is on AO3 and will update as I write. Thank you to anyone reading who made it this far, I'd love to hear from you!

-BREAK-

Callum didn't think highly of Dark Magic to begin with, but he didn't think it got to be this gross.

Tressal ground a mortar full of Eveneran bugs to a pulp, muttering an incantation as he did so. The mush glowed for a moment and his eyes went black as the spell finished. He scooped the mix into a jar, one of the many magical concoctions he'd made in the last few minutes.

"Ewwwwww," Callum groaned.

"COOL!" exclaimed Claudia from the other side of the table. She grinned at Tressal. "What next?"

"You could stand to sound less excited about the various ailments suffered within the Neolandian court." Tressal held up the little glass vial of vivid green goo, swirling it. "Useful for curing lung infections."

Callum waved his hand in front of his nose. "Smells more like it'd cause one– are you sure you aren't interested in learning Primal Magic, like, at all?"

"Have you been paying attention to anything I've been doing?" Tressal rubbed his forehead. Then thinking better of it, he washed his hands and forehead. "I can't solve all of my problems with illusions or a stiff breeze."

Claudia snorted. "Oh yeah, in case you haven't noticed, Callum is judgy."

She was right.

Callum folded his arms. "Okay, so I can't do a lot of stuff- but Primal Magic can do so much across all six sources. Half of Sun Magic is for healing! Even better than that is Star Magic." He nodded his head over to Aaravos, who was watching them from another table in the mage's laboratory.

Aaravos smiled, eyes smug. "It's adorable watching you all squabble."

Tressal scowled. "Those of us without a god in our pocket all the time have to find another way to cure our people."

Claudia added, "And if it was Ezran? Would you still not even kill an ant for your own brother?"

Callum didn't have a real comeback for any of that. "Like you said, I have a Startouch Elf."

The laboratory was an area he'd avoided for all of their stay, but he could see that the Dark Magic chamber under Katolis Castle was nothing by comparison. Evenere had dedicated an entire building near the library to be a Dark Mage workspace. The main room was lined with shelves and cupboards full of empty vials and ingredients, many of them living. Tressal had brought a new batch of...materials... himself for the Eveneran mages to use before taking what he needed of their supplies. Tables enough for at least twenty people to comfortably work in the lab ran through the center of the room. Other mages in their cloaks were bustling around, notebooks in hand as they crafted curatives and sorted inventories.

One wall of the room had a large chalkboard for those attempting to perfect incantations. It had strings of backwards sentences written, crossed out, and modified alongside a few scorch marks that denoted how risky the process was.

It was all wasted on Callum.

He wandered over to Aaravos, who was providing expert incantations to mages who wanted to speed up the invention process with less of a chance of setting themselves on fire. "Hey, I'm gonna go find Terry. This place creeps me out."

Aaravos looked up from where he'd written in a mage's notebook and had ended the sentence with a smiley face. "Sure."

Callum raised his eyebrows at the doodle as Aaravos finished it with a few sparkles around it. "And what's that?"

"Well, I can't write my name without cursing the entire paper, so I have to improvise." Aaravos handed the book off with a wink to its owner.

Tressal seemed annoyed by even the sound of Aaravos's voice and scowled from across the room, grinding the next batch of who knows what with extra virgor. Callum left quickly.

Terry had taken to spending time with Seiki when Claudia was busy with magic. Callum found them in the library, poring over an Earth Magic tome together by a high arched window, candles lit around them despite it being daytime. Evenere always seemed to be foggy or overcast enough to warrant more lighting.

"Hey guys." Callum looked over their shoulders at the opened book between them. "Earth stuff, huh?"

"Yeah," replied Seiki. "Terry had an idea that might work for me!"

Callum widened his eyes, excitement making his heart beat faster. "Woah, really?"

Terry tapped the page of sigils and spells. "You see, Seiki's been really into collecting and caring for critters around here, right?"

"I was really hoping to connect to the Star Arcanum someday," admitted Seiki, looking down at a jar on his belt with a Starweaver spider inside. "But…"

"To me, it sounded like he might get my arcanum first!" Terry finished. He smiled at Callum. "You inspired me, actually."

"I did?" Callum had felt more like a failure than anything else. Whatever knowledge he or even Aaravos passed on, no one was connecting yet.

Terry nodded. "Yeah! You told us how the first time you really learned about an arcanum, it was the Moon Arcanum. However, it turns out you were still most suited to Sky first. So I was thinking, maybe sometimes we think we know our strength or what suits us best, but what actually sparks inside of us is something else. So maybe everyone should learn about every arcanum, give each of them a real try even if they don't think it'll be the one! People are full of surprises, after all."

Callum's mind raced.

Terry had a great point, and even more than that-

"Even when I did connect to the Moon Arcanum, it wasn't when I was trying for it either. It just sort of came to me when I wasn't thinking about magic- just about life stuff."

"So, we should both try in earnest, yet also learn to not try at all?" Seiki didn't sound frustrated, smiling as he addressed Callum. "You're getting the cryptic mixed messages down well, oh Great Teaching Assistant."

Callum's face went warm at the joke title. At least Seiki had gotten more relaxed around him and Aaravos. All of the Evenere mages had since Aaravos had started holding classes.

It finally sunk in for Callum.

He really was becoming a teacher.

Rayla's voice from a memory that seemed far too long ago echoed in his mind. Now you're sounding like Lujanne. -Wow, really? -That wasn't a compliment.

If he wasn't trying to be a teacher, full of wisdom and secrets, what would he do for Seiki? Not as a student, as a person.

"I actually need to make something for you." It seemed obvious, now. Callum sat down at a desk near them and pulled out his sketchbook. It had been weeks since he'd seen that dream of Aaravos's old classroom but the face he was drawing was familiar. After all, it was difficult to not notice the resemblance every time he saw Seiki.

How many of the mages around him were descendants from those Elarion days? Callum would have to ask Aaravos to show everyone at least some of his memory if he could.

Callum worked while Seiki and Terry pored over their tome, discussing magic and copying down sigils. It took every bit of self restraint to not join them, but Callum was pleased with his drawing when he was done.

It was worth it, handing the finished piece to Seiki.

"You really do look a lot like him," said Callum softly.

Seiki held the paper, awestruck as he took in a few detailed sketches of Kumo, his ancestor. "Yeah," he murmured. "I didn't realize how seeing him would ever feel- thank you. It's, you know, I guess I never felt so much like I belonged here before now. But look, there he is! Right from the past, like he's always been here though my family." He took a deep breath. "You think Lord Aaravos sees the past every time he looks at us?"

Callum put a hand on Seiki's shoulder. "Yes, but I think he's learning to see us too, as we are today- living and here for him."

Terry sniffled. "Oh man, it's so sweet it's getting to me. Group hug?"

Callum let himself be pulled into their arms with a grin. "Group hug," he agreed.

-BREAK-

It was rare for Callum to not see Viren around Claudia or Aaravos, and he decided to obey his curiosity and wander around until he found him. Evenere was always enjoyable to walk around, the bridges and alleyways becoming more familiar to him even as he still occasionally got lost within the maze of waterways. It didn't help that entire buildings on floating platforms sometimes drifted downstream, either.

He spotted Sir Sparklepuff in Viren's arms before he actually recognized Viren, still unused to Viren dressed down to commoner clothes. The bright wings were easy to see a ways away and Callum jogged until he caught up to them. Sir Sparklepuff chittered from Viren's arms, held as though he was like any other child, head on Viren's shoulder.

Viren turned, eyebrows twitching with surprise. "Callum. Did you need something?"

Not warm, though there wasn't a trace of the coldness Viren used to have towards him.

"Not exactly," admitted Callum. "I apologized to Sir Sparklepuff, and I owe you an apology too, is all."

Viren relaxed and patted Sir Sparklepuff's shoulder. "Thank you." Seeming preoccupied, he stopped in front of the silversmith's shop, glancing at Callum. "Do you… need anything else?" he asked, shifting his weight on his feet.

Callum narrowed his eyes. As a treat, he even did the Claudia nose tap at Viren. "Ohhhh… up to something secret?"

He would've left Viren to it had Viren insisted, but Viren opened the door in response. "It won't be a secret for much longer. You might as well see it with me."

Callum followed Viren inside. The shop was divided in two with a long counter keeping customers to one side and employees on the other. Displays of fine jewelry caught Callum's eye wherever he looked, the most precious of such were kept up front. Viren caught the attention of the shopkeeper. "Hello. It's fine if it isn't ready today, but just in case it is I thought I'd come in-"

"Oh, yes yes!" The cashier handed Viren a bigger box than would be necessary for a wedding ring or even a necklace. Viren set Sir Sparklepuff down carefully as the shopkeep continued, "We wouldn't have him wait an hour more than necessary. Please, it's nothing."

Viren peeked inside the box too quickly for Callum to see the contents. He paused before replying, a hint of emotion flitting across his face. "Thank you. Even more beautiful than I'd imagined."

"Consider it a gift from Evenere itself."

Callum was at Viren's heels as they left the shop. "You said I could see it!"

"Hmm. You haven't already guessed what's in here?" Viren stuck the box in his pocket, smug. "I suppose you'll have to wait just a little longer." Sir Sparklepuff whimpered too at not getting to see what was inside but still trailed right behind Viren, fingers wrapped around Viren's wrist.

It should've been obvious, whatever it was.

And going by how eager the cashier was for Viren to have it, there was only one person it could be for.

Callum gasped. "You're going t-"

"Shh, but yes."

Aaravos and Viren getting married wouldn't impact much, not really. Callum realized that might be why Viren was so willing to do it. Maybe the right words were ones of congratulations, but he figured that was for after Aaravos said yes. Instead, what came out was,

"What's it like?"

Too personal, maybe, but Callum waited with bated breath.

Viren pondered it, pensive as they strolled over a bridge. "It's different for me now, not like when I was young, before I had any grey hair." He kept his hand in his pocket, over the jewelry case. "Back then, I thought it would all be perfect. She was perfect to me, and there seemed to be nothing in the world that could drive us apart. I'd found my one and only, and that was that."

He was talking about Claudia's mom, Callum knew, but the similarities to how he felt about Rayla were unnerving. Callum couldn't fathom being with anyone else either, but was love really so ephemeral? Was it because of who Viren was, or was Callum doomed to lose Rayla again, one way or the other?

Viren continued, "I know now that this isn't a declaration that everything will be perfect forever. I'm too aware of my own flaws, and Aaravos has a past I can only begin to imagine. This is my way of saying that I want to be there to work things out, that he's worth it to me to try, and that I expect the same from him. It's faster than I'd expect to move, but…" Viren seemed lost in thought. "Once you start counting your days and hours left, you never forget what that's like. There's no reason for us to waste time when we both know it's what we want."

Callum stopped by the railing of another bridge, looking out at the river. "And how do you make it last, when you've messed up?"

"Well." Viren put a hand on Callum's shoulder for just a moment, guiding him forward. "I'm going to find out."

Callum had already made some mistakes and he was afraid of what new mistakes he'd discover himself capable of. His heart still ached when he thought about Rayla, how he'd left her behind twice now, how he wouldn't wish either of them to be left behind by the other, yet look where they were.

"Me too," he muttered, hugging his arms to his chest.

Claudia, Terry, Tressal, Kpp'ar, and Aaravos came into view, talking to each other from a distance on another path. Aaravos noticed Callum, Viren, and Sir Sparklepuff first and waved them over to them.

"We have a lot to discuss over dinner," informed Aaravos.

Tressel hefted a medium sized box of finished potions in his arms, already leaving as he spoke. "I'll join you after sending this off to Neolandia."

Callum glanced between everyone. "Something going on?"

"We may have a new stop to make on our way to the Sunforge," said Claudia.

Dinner was held in the dining area where they'd all been staying as guests, all of them plus Tressal seated at the table for a dinner consisting, as usual, of a lot of seafood.

"Despite healing King Ahling as evidence of my diplomatic grace," started Aaravos. "It seems our newest Neolandian court member is less than thrilled with my presence."

Tressal glared as he removed a bone from a bite of fish. "We aren't like Evenerans. We don't worship you in any capacity, and we have you and Viren to thank for massive losses to our forces as well as a worsened relationship with Duren and Katolis."

Callum bit his tongue, letting Viren take the fall for it.

Viren rubbed the back of his neck. "An apology doesn't do any good, but I offer it anyway."

"Which is why," continued Aaravos, "I have extended an offer to assist Tressal with whatever he deems he needs. Trust must be earned, after all."

"Yeah?" pushed back Tressal. "Neolandians have learned that the only people we can trust are ourselves." He sighed, seeming to wilt down to some resigned emotional state. "At least, that's what I used to think. I know things are changing, but even if you can find what I'm looking for, assuming it's even real, I doubt people will welcome you like they have here. I still don't think I could get myself feeling above a balmy neutral-negative about you lot even if I don't die on this fool's errand."

Aaravos had only the slightest smirk on his face. "I'll take it. We're already heading to Xadia in a couple of weeks' time. As you've already explained to me, the object you seek looks like this." He blinked and his eyes glowed.

An illusion flickered above the table. A round, glass object divided inside by two and orbited by three metal circles, each covered in runes, turned in front of them. The ball, which was about the size of an apple, was half filled with sand on one side and half filled with water on the other.

"Legend says that one of our mages designed this long ago," said Tressal. "It's called the Wavemaker, and it's as literal as it sounds. This mage, who recorded herself in history as The Inventor, made this to be able to turn water into sand or sand into water, able to even undo its own magic if needed. If this artifact ever existed, it was said to have been stolen by elves in a skirmish in what is now Duren."

Callum felt himself getting annoyed. "It's convenient to blame elves for anything that goes missing, isn't it?"

Tressal scowled. "We'd know if such a device was still in the human kingdoms, and it clearly isn't. Of the lost items that we deem to be of Neolandian origin, this one has to be in Xadia by now if it's survived the centuries." He shrugged. "I'm not sure I believe it at all, and even if we did recover it, only a skilled mage should use such magic, and sparingly."

Claudia hmmed as she looked at it. "I guess it would help with your water situation, right? But what if it only makes saltwater?"

"That, and our dessert is already as diverse as this swamp," retorted Tressal. "Even if I found it, none of us would decide on a whim that we'd like a new ocean in our dunes."

"It sounds dangerous," commented Terry.

Kpp'ar huffed. "Obviously it has its uses as a weapon. We have no idea how powerful the range of it is without any of us having seen it in action."

Tressal raised his eyebrows. "Everyone at this table is dangerous, and anything can be used as a weapon if you try hard enough. So what's your point? Either I get help finding this fairytale or I go about my business. Seeing as what I'm asking for is a nigh impossible request, I figure-"

"It's real," confirmed Aaravos. "I know exactly where it is."

Everyone turned to face him. Tressal leaned forward. "Well? Don't just pause for dramatic effect!"

Aaravos smiled. "Now now, I do love my effects.

"The object you seek is indeed in Xadia, though I don't know if it was actually stolen or simply passed hands through bartering or unfortunate losses. What I do know is that it currently rests in the lair of Rex Igneous."

Callum coughed and spat out his water as Claudia, Terry, and Viren all recoiled, even Claudia having to gasp for breath around a piece of bread. "So, shortest trip ever huh?" Callum wheezed. "We can write that off as lost forever!"

Terry winced. "Yeah, he sure wouldn't be happy to see anyone again, especially not humans. Not even me, to be honest."

"What's this?" asked Aaravos, playfully curious. "You doubt our ability to retrieve just one object from Rex Igneous? It's like you don't know me at all."

"He tried to kill us!" exclaimed Callum. "And that was before I actually meant to help you with anything!"

Aaravos waved his hand nonchalantly. "So his opinion of you doesn't even have room to get worse. Convenient."

Tressal narrowed his eyes, tucking his brown and white stray strands of hair behind his ear. "You really have a way to get me that Wavemaker? Knowing you've got the worst history with that dragon as possible?"

"Without violence?" added Terry.

"Of course." Aaravos leaned back in his seat, pleased with himself. "I've been meaning to get around to seeing some of my old friends. It's even on the way to where we were already going, and we won't be missing the Sunfire wedding."

He sounded like he actually expected it to work.

Claudia looked around, drumming her fingertips on the table. "Sooo, I guess we've got all our plans sorted, huh? Leave here soon, go to Rex Igneous, and then off to the Sunfire Elf lands for a wedding and a big old corrupted forge that's destroying the continent as we know it. Neat!"

Viren stood up. He did so a little fast, scraping his chair on the floor, clearly flustered. Callum swallowed hard, Viren's own anxiety seemingly contagious since Callum knew what was coming. Right then? Didn't he want it to be a bigger moment?

"There's no surprising you, Aaravos, and it needs to be said before any more time passes." Viren took a deep breath. "Our last day here will have an extra event to send us off with, if you so choose."

Viren got down on one knee.

Everyone reacted to try a better look, except for Tressal, who seemed too dumbfounded to move. Claudia knocked over her glass of water with a wordless exclamation as Viren held out and opened the box he'd been given earlier. Callum, Claudia, and Terry stood up to try and see what was inside, an admiring gasp escaping from Terry at the sight.

Two silver horn cuffs glinted in the warm light of the room. More stunning than the silver were the intricate butterflies engraved on them both, giving the impression of them flying around the bands. Aaravos's expression went from awestruck to soft, touched as he looked from the proposal gift to Viren.

Viren managed a smile as he delivered his line.

"Would you be the love of my second life?"

Every millisecond felt like years.

Aaravos smiled, brimming with affection without a hint of anything else, for once. He pulled Viren in for a kiss, hand still resting on his cheek when their lips parted. "Don't look so terrified, Viren, I'll give you a direct answer: Yes."