Chapter Text
Callum stares at the two Pearls.
One, Aaravos' prison. Cold, glowing with faint swirling patterns, and eminently dangerous. Next to it, almost indistinguishable, a ball of glass with a very ingenious glow powder inside. A rare, valuable powder, which they managed to get just enough of in time to make this. It's also unbelievably fortunate the castle baker's brother is a glassblower, and was able to make such a perfect sphere on such short notice. Some clear powder to weigh it down, some gel to make it all swirl- a very convincing decoy.
"-cannot stay here." Opeli states. "Even with the decoy, the risk is too great."
Callum's focus turns back to the conversation.
"We cannot hide it, either." She continues. "If you have a better suggestion than assembling a joint council, I would hear it."
Silence.
Callum waits for someone to bring up the only option that makes sense. No one does. He speaks up. "We have to destroy it."
Soren is the first to answer. "Ok. Destroy it how, precisely?"
Callum makes a motion with his hand. "Ka-chop?"
Soren starts reaching for his sword when Opeli cuts in. "And how do we know this won't simply release him?"
"I-" Callum pauses. He suggested it because- because smashing it just seems like the right option. Then again, his thinking hasn't been exactly straight lately. "I don't know. I only know that if we keep it as is, Aaravos will just continue to influence people." Influence him, as well.
"What about the Celestial elves?" Rayla offers. "Callum, didn't you mention the Nova Blade?"
"I- yeah." He says. "It's written in some sources. The power to destroy a Startouch elf."
Ezran folds his hands, brow furrowed. "That... might be our best option."
"Consulting with these Celestial elves as well?" Opeli clarifies.
"Taking the pearl to them." Ezran corrects.
"I'm sorry, taking it to them? And who should we even trust on such a journey?"
"You said it yourself- it's not safe to keep the Pearl here. Even if the Celestial elves don't offer a solution, we'll keep it moving." Opeli starts speaking, but Ezran forestalls her. "And trust? Callum."
"What? Me? No!" Callum immediately protests. "I'm not going anywhere with the Pearl." Even the thought makes him feel sick. He's already affected. The prospect of spending days with it right next to him- they might as well hand it over now.
"Callum... you're our best chance. You're, well, our magic expert. You're probably necessary to even reach the Celestial elves."
While that might be true, there's no good reason he should take it. "Then I'll go without the Pearl."
"It can't stay here. You need to take it with you."
Callum feels his frustration build. "Ezran, I know you have faith in me, but... Aaravos possessed me. It's not safe. I can't-" He can't do it.
Rayla stands. "I'll carry it."
"Rayla?"
"I'll carry it for you, Callum."
"But- I'd still be close-"
"Please. I think I can handle you in a little one on one."
Callum has no doubt she can, but he could still catch her off guard, maybe in her sleep- he could just fly off with the Pearl, possessed-
"You can believe in me." She smiles.
He has plenty of faith in her. He's just a lot less sure about himself. "Maybe we should make a larger group? That way it'd be more secure." Soren could come. Callum would feel a lot safer if there were two people to potentially fight him off.
"We still need to send someone to look for Zubeia." Ezran reminds. "We'll have to split."
"I-" Callum looks around. Only Opeli seems to take issue with the plan. "-Alright." This is a bad choice. "Fine."
"Then it's decided. Rayla and Callum take the Pearl to the Celestial elves."
Callum stares down from the ramparts. He wants to make plans, to chart their route to the Star Scraper, but he can't bring himself to go do it. He feels trapped. He doesn't want to go. Not with only two people, and certainly not with Aaravos' prison right next to him. He's idly turning the cube over in his hands when the star symbol illuminates. He glances around. Stella is standing on a merlon[1].
"Hey, I heard you were moping around on the ramparts." Rayla leans against the battlement.
He hasn't even noticed her approach. "I'm not moping." He protests.
"Sure seems like it." She looks him up and down. "And when's the last time you had a bath?"
"What- oh come on." He resists trying to discreetly sniff himself. He doesn't smell. Hopefully.
"Might be a good idea." She smiles. "Ok, ok, I'm joking. But, really, you're moping."
Alright. Maybe he is. A little. "I'm just... wondering."
"About?"
"Do you really think it's a good idea? To go with the Pearl?"
"You heard Ezran. It can't stay here."
"But... Aaravos controlled me. He could do it again."
"He hasn't since. You've been doing alright."
He starts pacing. "Sure, but... what if he's just waiting? For the right time? What if we're playing right into his hands?"
"Callum, I think you're just stressed. We all are."
Maybe she's right. Maybe he is just stressed. They all are, wondering what to do with the prison. "Maybe."
"You know." She gestures back towards the castle. "That bath could be a good idea? To relax. We won't have it on the road."
All things considered, a bath does sound tempting. He can think about plans and packing later.
His ears pop. It's interesting, that the first thing he can feel is a change in pressure. Then, there's the light. Soft, glowing, permeating the area, and then it snaps into focus, and he's right there, standing in a spacious, blue-tinted room. There's a distinctive table there, as well as a shattered mirror.
Callum recognizes it immediately.
The prison.
"Ok." He says. "Don't panic. Don't panic."
Panic.
That accomplished nothing except make a lot of noise. Silence descends.
"Am I asleep?" He pinches himself. It doesn't hurt, but doesn't do anything more, either. "Probably asleep." Probably. Worst case, Callum is now in the prison itself, and he's going to- hard to say. Die here? Does it even have food?
Focus.
"Right." He looks around for anything useful. Books. There are lots of books. "Poetica Cosmica. Realms Beyond Time. Four Ancient Gifts... no how to leave a dream one oh one?"
It's likely not helpful to his current situation, but Callum can't help reaching out to one of the books.
"Interested?"
Callum shouts in surprise.
Aaravos is leaning against the tinted glass, smirking.
"I am not falling for any of your plans!" Callum says resolutely. He's going to fight, every second. Whatever it takes, Callum is ready, as ready as he can be-
"But you've already played right into them."
Callum wakes up with a gasp. He's holding the Pearl- he's holding the Pearl- he drops it, and it falls with a thud, rolling away on the floor. He hears faint laughter in the back of his head. His heart hammers. He's shaking.
The Pearl mocks him, glowing in the night with those swirling, blue patterns. The decoy sits on it's perch, untouched. Callum shakily approaches the Pearl, and with a quick motion, sets it back on the pedestal.
He flees.
Rayla is fast asleep.
"Rayla." He's panting. "Rayla!"
She jumps up from the bed, grabbing the pillows and settling into a fighting stance. She blinks blearily. "Callum?"
"Rayla, he possessed me again."
She looks him over. "You don't seem possessed to me."
"No, no, I was next to the Pearl. I was holding it. I-"
She frowns. "But they're guarded. You can't have gone there. You'd have been spotted, because as far as I know, you don't have illusion magic, silly."
Callum looks at his hands. "But- but. I was there..."
"Callum." She sets the pillows aside, then hugs him. "I think you just had a nightmare."
He presses closer to her. "It felt so real." She's right, though. The Pearl is guarded at all times, by Ezran's most trusted people. There's no way he could have wandered down without someone noticing. He had a nightmare, and he panicked.
"That can happen." He can feel her breath on his neck. "There's a second bed here."
"I..." They slowly step apart.
She looks sympathetic. "Just stay here. Try to get some more sleep." She yawns. "It was just a nightmare."
"Yeah." Just a nightmare. He has been pretty stressed lately. He scrounges around for spare sheets, and lies down on the other bed.
"Good night." Rayla snuggles into her own bed.
"Night." She soon falls asleep, and he stares a while before drifting off himself.
Food. Check. Warmer clothes, check. Compass, check. Toothbrush, also check. The Pearl- Rayla carries the Pearl. They're ready, or as ready as they can be for another journey across the continent, and through long stretches of ice.
Callum has uncomfortable thoughts that if the human kingdoms had access to the magical food from Xadia, the famine from years ago wouldn't have been a problem. He sets them aside. As much as he'd like to help, that's Ezran's responsibility now, trading for resources.
"Alright." He mounts the Shadowpaw behind Rayla. "Quick run down of the plan. We'll ride on the Shadowpaw until we get to northern Duren, and then we walk. Flying in an emergency, because we're pretty heavy. I won't be able to fly for too long." He had the sleeves of the fur coat modified to be easy to take off.
Soren waves. "Sounds good."
"Yep." They're out in the courtyard, with Soren and Corvus heading out to search for the missing dragon Queen, and Callum and Rayla bearing the Pearl to the Celestial elves. Ezran is seeing them all off. "Good luck on your search for Zubeia."
"Thanks! I think we have a few good leads." Soren makes a thumbs up. Corvus follows. "Best of luck to you too!"
After another wave of goodbyes, they leave. Rayla spurs the Shadowpaw into motion, and Callum looks back one last time at Katolis' castle. He yawns, leaning against Rayla. It's going to be a few days, and then another however long it takes them to get to the Star Scraper.
Not much happens during their journey north. They pass fields and other travelers, going mostly on the main roads. The Shadowpaw catches a few strange looks, but no one stops them. They stop to sleep, eat, resupply and repack, until they reach northern Duren, and the weather starts turning frosty.
They have to leave the Shadowpaw.
"It's time for you to go home." Rayla nuzzles the creature. "It'll be too cold for you." It gives them one final sad, mournful look, and turns around to run off. Another thought comes to Callum, that this is a more efficient transport than horses. Xadia really had it easier. It's not a nice thought- but he can't help it.
Callum straps on his pouches, shifts his pack. He looks away when Rayla takes the Pearl, trying to keep his attention anywhere else. He's been sleeping well enough, without further nightmares, but it still occupies his thoughts.
"Alright." He looks at the road ahead. "So now we walk."
"Now we walk." Rayla agrees.
One step at a time. Let's go.
He's panting. Callum has never had the best endurance, and now he's wrapped in several layers of clothing, carrying a heavy backpack. He's hot in some places, cold in others, and his legs complain with every step. His back, his hips, shoulders, and all kinds of muscles he didn't know he had. The chilly wind bites his face and burns his lungs, but it's also annoying to have it covered with a scarf. It also doesn't help the snow makes for unpleasant glare, and more than once a layer of snow hides unstable ice.
Progress is slow.
He forms makeshift snow caves as camping spots, carving out a hole in the packed snow. He conjures lukewarm water for drinking, and that's as hot as they can get things. They don't have fuel for a fire, even if he could conjure lightning to try and start one. They sleep in one bedroll, conserving body heat. He definitely needs a bath, and so does Rayla.
Overall, Callum would not recommend this as a fun trip.
It especially doesn't help that the nightmares are back again.
They don't listen to you, those friends of yours. The voice whispers. They don't care.
Callum doesn't believe it. They do care. Rayla cares, Ezran cares, and Soren, and even Opeli-
Like the elf who left you? It continues. She clearly cares so little.
Rayla had good reasons, he knows, even if it hurt-
For two years. There's a grin. And your own brother, sending you on a mission like this.
Ezran was right, they couldn't keep the Pearl in Katolis, they had to find a solution-
Laughter mingles with mockery.
Callum wakes up drenched in cold sweat, back pressed against Rayla. He sits up. She's sleeping with the Pearl in her hands, illuminating the snow cave with the swirling blue glow. They agreed she should hold it, that in case he tried to take it, she'd at least wake up.
Just stress. It's stress. Just a figment of Callum's mind, playing tricks on him, from his own anxiety and fear. They've been traveling for days. Aaravos has had plenty of opportunity to possess Callum. Even now, Callum could just incapacitate the sleeping Rayla, grab the Pearl, and quickly get away. If that didn't happen- isn't happening- that means there must be some other conditions for the possession.
That, or they're going exactly where Aaravos wants them to go.
He sets that disquieting thought aside.
Rayla stirs. "Callum?" She mumbles. "Nightmare again?"
"Yeah." He watches the faint trails of their breath in the dim light.
"Spoon?" She suggests.
"I don't want to have hands near the Pearl." He replies. Better be back to back, if they have to be so close.
"Callum." She sighs. "I know you're worried. But, see? Nothing's happened so far. Please."
He reluctantly cuddles up to her, now facing her back. She shifts the Pearl lower, giving him space to hold her. It is nice. He tries to let himself relax- a lot easier said than done.
"Mhm." She murmurs encouragingly. "There."
He does get a little more sleep.