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Language:
English
Series:
Part 2 of Satisfied (Wizards? Never.)
Stats:
Published:
2021-06-13
Words:
573
Chapters:
1/1
Comments:
7
Kudos:
39
Bookmarks:
1
Hits:
281

I Am Caleb Widogast

Summary:

Alexander Hamilton from Hamilton but it's Caleb pre-canon leading up to him meeting the Nein

Notes:

This is actually the first song I did for CR, but I decided to lead with Essek in Satisfied because I love him. Another Hamilton song, because apparently I love to punish myself by subjecting myself to that ridiculous compound rhyme structure

Less Essek in this one, which is kinda an anomaly across what I've done so far (if you stick around as I post the rest you'll see what I mean), but I love Caleb too and really wanted to sink my teeth into his backstory and this song was the perfect medium for that

Think of the "chorus" as essentially Matt - a neutral narrator. I didn't see the need to fuck with the trading voices in the original

Trust me, listen to the song as you go, I promise that you can sing along comfortably

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Work Text:

Chorus:
How does a wizard, orphan, pawn in a war that was not one
Dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot inside the Empire
Manipulated to a jaded squalor
Grow up to be a hero and a scholar

This young plotter chasing honour by losing honour
Got a lot farther by working a lot harder
By being a lot smarter
By being a self-starter
With his team, it’s crazy to see how he’s gotten sharper

Back in the day he played at learning magic, departed
Away to learn their ways, he struggled and kept his charm up
Inside he was longing for something to be a part of
The wizard was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter

Then Trent Ikithon came and everything was changed
He could feel the power burn, burning through his veins
Built the fire in him higher, connected it to his brain
And he never did complain, accepted the need for pain

What he learned saw a shift, dedicated to his great land
Steeped in death and torture just like those with which he trained had
Through this education he believed what he became, and
He never forgot his name, what’s your name, man?

Caleb:
I’m Bren Aldric Ermemdrud
My name is just Bren Aldric Ermendrud
And there’s a million things I haven’t done
But just you wait, just you wait

Chorus:
The final test, overheard quiet words of treason
He instantly knew what to do, he lived for one reason
That night, innocent parents woke to thick smoke
And with their screams echoing ‘round, Bren, he just broke

Locked in an asylum, beside himself, ten years stupefied
‘Til someone relieved his ruined mind, something new inside
The real story
Bren knew he had to fend for himself
He needed his freedom for reading how to fold time on itself

There would have been nothing left to do
For someone less astute
He knew the world was his to transmute
When he escaped that institution
He started workin’, searchin’, with each piece he’d demand more
Stealin’ stuff for spells and food and all the things he can’t afford
Scammin’ for every book he could get his hands on
Plannin’ for the future, see him now as he hangs on
To hope and, unplanned, his new goblin friend’s hand
With new friends he became a new man

Chorus: (Caleb:)
With new friends he became a new man (Just you wait)
With new friends he became a new man (Just you wait)
With new friends he became a new man
With new friends, new friends
(Just you wait!)

Now you’re Caleb Widogast
Here’s where everything begins for you
You could never back down
You never would submit to time
Oh, now you’re Caleb Widogast
When the Mighty Nein wins with you
Will they know what you overcame?
Will they know your role in this game?
The world will never be the same

The plot threads are converging now
See if you can spot him
(Just you wait)
That scruffy red-haired man
Who looks right at rock bottom
(Just you wait)
His enemies destroyed his heart
They’ll rue that they forgot him

The Nein:
We fought with him
Some have died for him
We all trusted him
And we loved him

Essek:
And me? I’m the foil he’d forgive

Chorus:
There’s a million things I haven’t done
But just you wait!
What’s your name, then?

Caleb:
I am Caleb Widogast!

Notes:

What do you think? Do you have a song you want me to rewrite? Let me know! We're all feeling a lot right now and sharing helps

- Wiznerd

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