Callum was already on the changes in appearance. He gathered a few leafy twigs, examining them for optimum twiggy-ness.

"Callum?" Aaravos sounded genuinely confused for once. "What are you doing?"

"Meet—" Callum whirled around, the branches stuck in a headband on his head. "—Callum the Earthblood Elf!"

Terry grinned. "Woah! Where did Callum the human go?"

Aaravos shook his head with a snort. "I cannot lie: that's atrocious. With moon magic, I can disguise everyone myself with ease. Skywing Elves are more nomadic than the rest. A band of them wouldn't be an out of place disguise wherever we go. Between myself having a large flying form, and Callum and Claudia already being able to fly, we can-"

"I'm walking."

All eyes turned to Viren who stood with his jaw clenched. He tilted his chin up, as if he was challenging Aaravos himself. "Flying is faster, but I'm walking."

Callum was sure Aaravos would insist they fly to the nearest town to get supplies, but Aaravos's expression softened with understanding. "Alright. We'll walk." Viren widened his eyes, apparently just as surprised as Callum.

Callum glanced between Viren and Aaravos. He must've been missing something. "What?"

Aaravos nodded. "You heard me. We'll walk. I brought us a little north of the Uncharted Forest, in the foothills of the mountains just outside the forest, which means we should instead look like Earthblood Elves if we aren't flying." Aaravos snapped his fingers, and everyone but Terry shifted appearance.

Alright, Callum had to admit the look was a lot better than what he'd tried.

He rushed to a puddle to look at himself, surprised to see realistic horns coming out of his head that looked similar to Terry's, complete with green hair. In fact, he'd kept his skin tone but other than that, he and Terry were close to brothers in appearance. "Woah."

Claudia reacted similarly, pulling a mirror out of her pocket and looking at her own reflection. When looking into her eyes, Callum could still tell she was Claudia just because of how well he knew her, but the Earthblood Elf version had hair all the same shade of blond, flowering horns, and totally new clothes with green tones. "Oooooh. How do I look, Terry?"

"I like human Claudia better," admitted Terry. He pecked her on the cheek. "She's just too perfect."

Callum wondered if his chest was going to seize up every time he witnessed the other two share even a blip of affection. He wanted to turn to Rayla and ask her opinion, to finally show off a four fingered look, which… he could still feel his pinkies, but he couldn't see them. The result when he clasped his hands together to try and make himself see what he knew was real was instant nausea so strong he groaned.

"Don't try and feel what's real through the disguise. It's only looks and perception, enough to get us through town to buy what we need," instructed Aaravos. Aaravos patted a pouch at his hip, coins jangling. "They didn't empty my pockets when they imprisoned me. We should be able to get by for a little, at least get supplies."

Viren was apparently not having any of what Aaravos was up to that morning. "Alright, but your disguise is going to blow all of our cover," he said.

Aaravos raised his eyebrows. He turned so Viren could see all of him. His horns were as magnificent as his startouch purple ones, and he was dressed in verdant, gilded robes fit for an Earthblood archmage. Still tall and ethereal, Aaravos managed to be more beautiful than the rest of them put together. His long hair, turned brown, was interwoven with artistic braids and flowers. His skin was dark brown, but he'd kept a few flecks of gold where his most prominent star markings were on his face. "What about it?"

"Too attractive."

"Excuse me?"

"You look like some long lost elvish bard prince coming to town with his fanclub posse. People will suspect you're not a commoner immediately."

Claudia giggled. "Too true, huh?"

Aaravos pouted. "Fine." He changed from the top down, magic shimmering as he was changed to a more ordinary elf in a tunic like the rest of them, horns like Terry's, no more gold on his face. He looked so normal Callum wouldn't have glanced at him twice. "Better?"

Viren, who Aaravos had given a little bit more of a beard, nodded. "Effective."

"Is this revenge for that white robe the Sunfire Elves gave you?"

Viren's mouth twitched with a smile. "Perhaps that's part of it."

Aaravos nodded to Terry. "My accent is… acceptable, but you should still do the talking. I know I sound dated."

Terry gave him a thumbs up. "You got it!"

There was one being left. Aaravos turned to Sir Sparklepuff who still looked like himself. "Keep watch in our cave."

Sir Sparklepuff coughed up some slime as a yes.

Aaravos seemed to know exactly where they were going, heading off down the grassy foothills of the mountain. Callum wondered how many disguises they'd have to wear in order to go anywhere, and for how long. He looked at Aaravos, who wore his look well, but was obviously unhappy without being able to look like himself. It was like they were too undercover. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Hm? Don't worry. I'm terribly vain."

"This is what you meant by never being free, isn't it?"

Aaravos sighed, shoulders slumped as he admitted it. "Yes. In this world and the one above, I am unwelcome. This is my fate, if I choose peace."

Callum couldn't imagine it. He had a home to go back to. Even Rayla, although she was ghosted, could roam Xadia freely. He finally understood Aaravos's initial drive to force the world to change, to carve some place in it for himself. If he wasn't even welcome in the skies, he truly had nowhere.

Claudia poked Aaravos in the side. He made a noise almost like a squeak and she grinned, playfully draping his arm over her. "What are we, huh? You know we're like besties now, right?"

Callum almost tripped over his own feet. Besties?

"Yeah! You have us!" Terry walked at Aaravos's other side, giving him a smile. "Not like a whole country, but it's something."

Aaravos always seemed sort of startled when someone who wasn't Callum was kind to him. At least, that was how Callum had read it. It occurred to him that he had no idea how much time Claudia and Aaravos had known each other, or exactly what Aaravos had been to Viren before Viren's death. Aaravos blinked and then dipped his head in a nod. "That's true… and I didn't expect such fellowship from another elf. Thank you."

"Hey now, elves are great! So are humans. Not fair to judge everyone, right?" Terry frowned. "Right?"

"You're great, Terry." Claudia reached for him, grabbing his hand so they both had their arms around Aaravos's back. She glanced to Callum. "I guess… uh… you got a thing for an elf too, huh?"

"Oh, Rayla!" Callum didn't know he'd be blushing so easily just at her name all over again. "She's great too. It's not always been perfect, but I'm really happy."

Aaravos gave Callum an apologetic look. "I am sorry for taking you from her."

Claudia made a face. "Hasn't she tried to kill like, all of you? At different times?"

Terry piped up. "But she didn't!"

"You tried to kidnap me," pointed out Callum.

"You broke my primal stone."

It had started as quips, but both of them were getting heated.

"You tried to take Zym."

"You abandoned all of us back home."

"You lied to me and betrayed me!"

"You—"

Viren rubbed his temples with an exasperated huff. The motion was so natural it almost seemed reflexive. "Claudia, Soren, stop bickering!" he snapped. "Move on or you'll be at it forever." Silence hung in the air and Viren realized the mistake he'd made. He strode ahead, not glancing back.

Aaravos smiled grimly. "He's right. The longer you know someone, the longer you're alive, the longer the list."

Callum hadn't even been angry to start, but the list of grievances all resurfacing had gotten him riled up. "Yeah… we're trying to move on, right? I mean, I'm Aaravos's friend too."

Claudia relaxed. "Yeah. I'm sorry about, you know, all that."

Terry turned to Aaravos. "Does the list ever end? Can all the hurt stop?"

"I don't know." Aaravos's eyes were unfocused, mind somewhere far away as they walked. "I don't know."

-BREAK-

The small town they found was no less lively for how tiny it was, nestled in foothills and a couple hours from their hideout. The marketplace was cozy and busy when they walked into it, only a narrow lane through stalls and shops. Other elves chatted with each other in the close space, all rather friendly with each other. The town was set on a port connected to a river. Aaravos nodded to the river. "Just north of the Uncharted Forest. I figured a place like this that serves as a local hub would stay here."

"Oh yeah," chimed in Terry. "It's just outside the forest, so it actually shows on a map. Handy!"

Aaravos was especially interested in everything in sight. He took in every person, every shop, every building. In fact, he kept looking around so rapidly Callum got the impression that he was almost getting nervous, as if he was about to flee. Was he overwhelmed with joy, or apprehension? Aaravos's breathing increased and his fingers curled into his palms.

Viren reacted before Callum could. "It's okay," murmured Viren. He slid his hand onto Aaravos's back with more gentleness than Callum thought Viren capable of. As they walked, he soothingly rubbed Aaravos's lower back as if they were a couple. It seemed to work. Aaravos breathed deeply and exchanged a grateful glance with Viren.

Huh. Good acting, thought Callum.

Callum glanced around, wondering how he could help. He rushed forward to a produce vendor, grabbing an avocado and holding it out to Aaravos.

He and Aaravos's eyes linked and they both doubled over with uncontrolled, unexplainable laughter, as if they were only friends out on a sunny day to shop, as if their lives were simple and they were allowed to just be people. Viren, Terry, and Claudia all looked baffled, shrugging off the inside joke they weren't in on.

Aaravos's laugh was deep and booming, mirth giving it life and brightness as opposed to bitterness. Unrestrained amusement was a good look on Aaravos. A rare look, but a good one.

Callum hoped he'd see it more often.

Viren picked up an apple from a display of them, offering it to Aaravos. Aaravos took it, staring for a moment. Callum froze in place too, remembering some brief impression of their minds touching, a sweet, crisp bite of an apple.

Aaravos bit into it with a soft hum. It was his turn to hold Viren's waist, and the two walked half embraced through the tiny street, talking lowly.

Callum's chest hurt again, thinking of Rayla.

Somehow, he'd had an impression that Aaravos and he had something special. He didn't want to be Aaravos's only friend or connection to the world, yet he felt alone in the crowd. Callum watched Aaravos let Viren take a bite of apple, feeling like there was some significance he was missing.

Terry successfully did all of the talking with shopkeepers and managed their gold well enough to leave with traveling supplies, fresh food for a few days with longer lasting rations, and some gold leftover. Callum suspected he was about to learn a lot more about gathering food in Xadia in the times ahead. However, both Callum and Aaravos eagerly leaned in to look at an ornately decorated cake which Terry had picked out.

"I wanted to, you know, celebrate," admitted Terry.

"One of the five cakes of Xadia," breathed Aaravos, reverence and awe in his tone. "Champagne cake with strawberry buttercream."

"Seven," corrected Viren.

"There's seven?" Aaravos's head shot up with such wide eyed surprise that Callum felt another pang of sorrow, realizing how much Aaravos had missed. "We have to try ALL of them as we travel."

Callum was sure then that Viren would protest, the cold practical side he knew resurfacing, but he was surprised again. "Yes, we should."

He knew Viren had changed in some ways, but he seemed more foreign to Callum by the minute. He hung back with Claudia and Terry on the hike back to their cave, nodding to Viren. "Okay, really, who is that?"

Claudia smiled. "My dad."

"He's nothing like I knew him. You know." Callum stood up as tall as he could, a hand under his chin, the other on his back in a pondering pose, expression wise and calculating as he could make it. "I'm Lord Viren, and I forgot how to enjoy life years ago. I'll make it clear from a sneer that I think you're beneath me."

Claudia waved her hand, fighting a smile. "Not entirely wrong, but not right either. See, you didn't know him all that well, huh? I mean, he's loosened up a bit. I know he is different." Her expression grew fond as she looked at Viren's back, ahead of them at Aaravos's side. "You knew him as Lord Viren this, High Mage that. You didn't get to see the dad side."

"No, I didn't." Callum's heart raced, trying to reconcile all he knew about Viren with Claudia's adoration for him. The man who grieved your mother as a dear friend overthrew your brother. Could one person have so much inside of them, vast as an ocean, and just as unpredictable?

He wondered what side Soren had gotten then.

"I think you'll like getting to know him," said Terry. "When you give someone a chance, who knows what you'll learn?"

Callum had been willing to do that for Aaravos after a few talks, but he wasn't ready to trust Viren. Aaravos's past was all vague. Viren's he'd witnessed personally, even if just a few angles of it. He moved the conversation away from Viren. "You and Aaravos are cool? Besties?"

"How do you think I knew how to bring dad back?" asked Claudia. "I had to hide from your girlfriend too. For two whole years. Aaravos's moon magic techniques helped."

Of course. With Aaravos's guidance, Claudia and Viren would've been out of sight indefinitely. The same thing that had frustrated Rayla for two years and nearly cost Callum his relationship with her was benefitting him too as they lived on the run.

"I've been wondering," started Claudia. "What's with you and Aaravos? How are you two so buddy-buddy? Like, sure you talked, but you're actually nice to him."

Callum shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, you know, communicating through dreams and stuff. He possessed me. I've seen his memories. We also accidentally had our souls fuse one time. Totally normal and not weird."

Claudia laughed. "Yeah? About as normal as having a giant caterpillar talking to you in a baritone, huh?" Something seemed to click on her mind. She strode up to Aaravos, shouting, "HEY! Why didn't you visit me in my dreams?"

Aaravos raised his eyebrows. "It was only possible with the connection I forged with Callum through the mirror. That, and I didn't want to have to explain anything to your boyfriend." Viren gave Aaravos a look that could've curdled milk. "Or your father."

The cave was starting to feel a little like home, a small niche in the world where the disguises could fall away and they could see each other as who they really were. Callum noticed that the air shimmered as he passed through the entrance, no doubt the work of illusion magic. He sat down with a sigh, back against the cave wall, worn out after hours of walking. Sir Sparklepuff raced up to Aaravos and made noises approximately like, "Hegjfefgej."

"Thank you," replied Aaravos. He petted the creature's head like an indulgent dog owner. "This area is as deserted as I'd hoped. We shouldn't be disturbed."

Callum looked up. The only spell component Aaravos had requested was chalk. Night was falling, and the stars would be out soon. Viren, Claudia, and Terry began unpacking supplies as Aaravos drew a huge sigil on the floor, fleshing out details like star charts and runs Callum had never seen before. Callum inched closer, hand on his own spell book—

"Don't." Aaravos looked up from his work, sympathy on his face. "This is not a spell you can ever use."

"But-"

"No. Please."

He still hated it when Aaravos broke down and said please.

Callum's heart hammered, anxious all over again. "Is it dangerous? Was it Dark Magic all along and you-"

"No, not like that. It's Star." Aaravos kept drawing, intricate and precise. "It's something only a being such as myself is capable of."

Viren paced, apprehensive as well. Callum was dying to know what spell Aaravos was going to do with him. For Viren to show he was unsettled was the worst sign yet. Claudia and Terry were concerned too, watching Viren pace while Aaravos drew. Callum squinted, mentally noting down Aaravos's designs even if he wasn't supposed to draw them. The circular diagram almost resembled a clock, divided perfectly into twelve and covered in ancient writing.

Callum dozed until it was time for the spell. Then, he got up and paced fitfully too, he and Viren mutually avoiding each other. He still had no idea what he was supposed to do in order to try and teach the other humans primal magic, even if he wanted to, but maybe he'd get a better plan after some sleep. Maybe he could convince Aaravos to only leave with him.

As soon as the thought entered his mind, Callum was again horribly ashamed. He'd seen how Aaravos interacted with the others. He knew how agonizingly badly Aaravos needed to be with people. Callum couldn't keep him to himself.

It was Callum who was unnecessary.

He pushed such thoughts aside when the ritual began, still uneasy.

Aaravos motioned for Viren to step into the ornate circle, taking his place at the center. Viren obeyed, but his face was still pale and his body language hesitant. The cave opening let in pure starlight, illuminating the runes. Aaravos paused. "Are you sure? You know what we discussed."

"Yes, I'm sure."

Claudia grit her teeth. "Will you two tell us what's wrong? There wasn't supposed to be any kind of risk!"

"Not a risk," clarified Aaravos. He took a step towards Viren, and Viren didn't shy away. "More of a condition for this to work. A mindset, if you will."

That was all the hint they had.

Aaravos swept in and kissed Viren firmly on the mouth, pulling Viren close to him so their bodies fit together with a natural curve, his hands supporting Viren's neck and lower back. Viren's eyes flew wide open, evidently expecting the move but still startled by the experience. He was not as shocked as Claudia, Terry, and Callum were, their faces comical in contrast to the dramatic kiss.

Aaravos kissed like his first day back on earth was actually his last. Viren still seemed shocked but melted into it, relaxing and returning the kiss, moving his arms from being rigid at his sides to wrapped around Aaravos's shoulders. Callum stared, mind completely blank, as he tried to process what he was seeing. Aaravos seemed to know exactly who each person needed him to be. For Claudia and Callum, a mentor, a friend. For Viren, a partner, a lover.

Lavender sparks surged up from the circle of chalk, swirling in the air around Aaravos and Viren. They dissipated like a firework, but the magic wasn't done yet. Every point of contact between Aaravos and Viren glowed, magic migrating from Aaravos's glowing form to Viren's. Only after what seemed to be a full minute of kissing in which Callum mostly looked at the ground did the light settle and fade, and then Aaravos pulled back, he and Viren both breathless.

Aaravos finished it off with a peck against Viren's lips, in a mood to tease even after all of that.

Viren's chest heaved. "Was the last one part of the spell?"

"No." Aaravos glanced at the rest of them, a coy smile on his face. Then, his eyes flickered at Callum's shoes. "You're standing in the campfire."

"Huh?"

So that's where he'd been standing.

Callum suddenly felt the heat through his shock and shouted, air magic putting his pant leg out. As his brain swirled with thoughts, Claudia's seemed all too caught on. She tapped her nose and then waved her finger at Aaravos and Viren, a grin on her face. "Oooooohhohohoho…"

"Claudia…" Viren narrowed his eyes.

"YOU knew Aaravos way before I ever met Terry, so you started dating an elf first."

Terry nudged Claudia. "Can you blame him?"

"Terry, you can't just call my dad hot."

"Er, no offense to Viren, but I was talking about Aaravos. Have you seen his horns?"

"Right. And if he's with my dad, what does that make him?"

Viren blanched. "Now wait a minute-"

Terry ignored him, gasping aloud. "Oh no, you've got two dads! Do you know the pressure that puts on a guy!?"

As Terry and Claudia talked, Aaravos's body language changed. He settled back down, going from playful to wary. He was almost withdrawn, looking at Viren with uncertainty. Viren gave nothing about his own feelings away, eyes level with Aaravos. Aaravos shifted on his feet, a gesture at odds with his confident nature. "Say something." Viren hesitated, conflicted, glancing away. Viren's hands were back at his sides.

The sheer amount of vulnerability on Aaravos's face, as if he was holding his heart out and was watching it fall to the ground while Viren refused to catch it, was so much that Callum almost shouted at Viren himself.

I'm leaving after you fulfill your promise.

Aaravos didn't save his pleading just for Callum. It was worse seeing someone else, someone cold, receive it impassively. "I don't want to force anyone to stay. You don't have to stay. I want you to stay more desperately than you know, but you don't have to. But please, get it over with. Just tell me." Aaravos swallowed hard, voice cracking. Even Claudia and Terry were tuned in again, faces stricken.

"Dad?" Claudia's voice was small, smaller than Callum had ever heard it.

Aaravos continued, hands slipping away from Viren. "I know you felt cornered into this. I know we were cruel to each other, but please don't silently shut me away, please get angry. Please shout instead of-"

Just when Callum thought Aaravos might start crying, suspecting that Viren did want to leave, Viren closed the gap. He laid a hand on Aaravos's shoulder, expression heavy, but not angry.

"Is this because you truly love me, or because you need someone?" Viren's soft tone was still heavy.

Aaravos's eyes were moist, and his composure seemed to be on the verge of shattering into more pieces than the mirror. "I don't know. I don't know if I know how to love anymore. I don't know how to hold hands without twisting arms first. Maybe it's all selfish."

Viren slightly tilted his head, leaning close. "That's alright."

Aaravos made a tiny, confused sound in his throat. It might've been cute if the situation wasn't so tense.

Viren continued, voice dipping deeper. "My desire and feelings for you are undoubtedly selfish." He tugged down on the open collar of Aaravos's robes to bring him into kissing range, only needing a second to give a passionate kiss as an answer.

Aaravos almost collapsed into the kiss, bringing Viren in close.

Callum had no idea how he managed to be so relieved that his least favorite person in the world was staying with them. He supposed he and Rayla had their rough start, their ups and downs. Maybe some things didn't change with age. If it made Aaravos happy, then he should be grateful Aaravos had the connections he needed.

"So, what did that spell do?" asked Terry.

Aaravos pulled back from Viren but still held Viren's hands. "I restored his lifes to its natural capacity. Viren has decades left to live."

Claudia bolted upright and charged forward, hugging Viren and crying into his shirt. Viren embraced her, but he didn't look as jubilant.

Callum had a bad feeling.

"What did it cost?" asked Callum.

Aaravos smiled, bittersweet. "I don't regret it. I won't feel the cost for a very long time. Too long for even me to conceptualize. I may never feel it, actually."

"Tell me."

"The years came off my own lifespan."

Silence hung over the gathering. Viren alone was unsurprised.

Aaravos continued on, "You see why it had to be me? I had the skill, arcanum, and near immortal fortitude for saving him. It was designed so lovers could stay together, so our feelings had to be roughly mutual. Even so, our situation is unique. Viren doesn't owe it to me to stay. That isn't what I wanted it to feel like."

Viren looked at Aaravos over Claudia's head. "I want to stay. We'll work together."

Aaravos nodded. "We'll work together."

It was a mess, in Callum's opinion.

But a mess they were willing to work on.

Terry clapped his hands. "Now I feel SO much better about the news I have to break about the sleeping bags. They only had three, so not to put tooooo fine a point on it, but if Claudia and I only need one, and you two only need one- works out, yeah?"

Viren opened his mouth to protest and Claudia nodded her head to Aaravos and back to him with an expectant look. He scowled. "Fine."

Callum was left alone. That was nice, lots of room in his own sleeping bag! He kept to himself as he set up his bedroll, pretending he wasn't lost in feelings about his choices and everyone around him. If he thought too hard about Rayla, he was worried he'd break down in front of everyone.

A warm arm around him resurfaced him from his fog. Aaravos was kneeling with him, the half embrace turning into hugging him. "I didn't forget about you."

Callum closed his eyes, leaning into Aaravos. "I know."

"I know loneliness when I see it."

Aaravos could hit his heart with just a sentence. However, Callum didn't want to spend even more of his life talking about missing Rayla, especially when it was his fault this time. "I'm getting an extra big slice of cake in the morning. Got it?"

"Deal."

Callum curled up closest to the mouth of the cave where he could sleep under the light of the moon. He wasn't a captive. He wasn't helpless. He wasn't going to vanish without a trace. He couldn't tell anyone exactly where he was, but he could still tell them he was alright.