Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a land called Xadia, which had four races in charge. The humans, the elves, the dragons, the titans- they all worked together to keep the peace and respect each other, even if they had to lie to each others’ faces. The dragons were worshipped as gods, and their was celebration through Xadia whenever a new dragon was hatched. Life was good.
Until a power-hungry mage called Viren usurped the Katolis throne.
He killed the king and queen, forcing their two sons, Callum and Ezran, to run away. They eventually arrived at the Storm Spire, a mountain that had been converted into a hidden tower, and was guarded by an elf called Ibis. As Viren’s takeovers continued, more and more people fled their homes and found the hidden tower. One of those people was a girl called Rayla, who came from the Moonshadow kingdom of Silvergrove with her family.
As the children aged, Callum made a bit of a game of daring Rayla to do things. “Stick your head in that barrel.” “Jump over that briar bush without touching the thorns.” Run up to that enchanted mirror and ask it how pretty you are.” Et cetera. Whenever he delivered a dare, she’d say “as you wish,” and do it.
When they were fourteen and fifteen, respectively, and Callum was beginning to learn Primal Magic, he came to a realization. Whenever she said “as you wish,” what she really meant was “I love you.” And he was starting to fall in love with her, too. So, he dared her to come up to the roof of the spire with him.
“Rayla,” he said, “I’m in love with you. And I don’t want to tell you how you feel, but I’m pretty sure that you’ve been taking all my dares because you feel the same way.”
“Finally,” Rayla said, with a look of relief. “Six years, and now you catch on!” And she went in for a kiss. Callum reciprocated enthusiastically, feeling like he could float.
Then Ibis came up looking for some supplies that he’d stashed on the roof, and the two split apart and hid before he could catch them.
Outside of their safe little mountain world, Xadia had gone to hell. Viren’s takeover had really shaken up the status quo. Some took advantage of the situation to betray their siblings, parents, or spouses and take the throne. Some cut off the other kingdoms and banned immigration. Racism against other species became more widespread. Elves became second-class citizens, and titans third. The dragons made the unanimous decision to leave Xadia and come back when things had quieted down.
Back on the Storm Spire, Rayla decided that she wanted to travel and see what had become of Xadia. And no, Callum couldn’t come. He was the very sheltered son of the late King Harrow. He’d just be a liability. He was upset, but she promised she’d be back after a year.
She never came back.
Six weeks into her travels, word came that her ship had met the Sea Legs, ship of the Dread Pirate Finnegrin. No one quite knew Finnegrin’s gender, or species, but the one thing everyone agreed was that they never left survivors. Heartbroken, Callum vowed to never love anyone else again.
He didn’t.
A little over three years later, they were set upon by an army of soldiers. Glowing white balls had rained down on the Storm Spire, their source unidentifiable. Ezran’s pet glow toad, Bait, had eaten one and spat it right back out. Callum drew Ezran and Aanya playing catch with one. Rayla’s uncle Runaan had thought they were suspicious, but his husband Ethari won him over.
And then the soldiers arrived. They surrounded the Storm Spire on all sides, armed to the teeth and lead by a man who resembled a hawk. The residents hid inside, terrified. All of them had been fleeing from the chaos Viren had caused, and some of them were able to identify the man in charge as Kpp’Ar, his right-hand mage.
“We mean you no harm,” Kpp’Ar said, standing on the lowest cliff of the tower, where he was negotiating with Ibis. “Just give us the former Prince Callum and join Virenia, and your lives will be spared.”
Is that what they’re calling it now? Callum wrinkled his nose. And why did they want him?
Lain, Rayla’s father, placed his hands firmly on his hips. “Prince Callum is dead. Everyone knows that he and his brother were killed alongside their parents.”
Kpp’Ar clearly didn’t buy it. “The princes escaped. This is common knowledge.”
“I assure you, they did not.” Ibis folded his gray-skinned arms. “People like to come up with these stories to give themselves false hope. There are no living princes of Katolis.”
Kpp’Ar raised his staff. “I’m not in the mood for these games. My tracking spell found him here. It wouldn’t have found a dead body. Hand over the boy, and we’ll let all of you live.”
Callum, who was watching from the entrance, attempted to step forward, but was held back by Ethari and Runaan. “Don’t say anything,” Ethari hissed.
“He said he’ll kill everyone if I don't go!” Callum whispered back. “One life doesn’t matter in the face of a hundred and fifty others!
Runaan’s eyes narrowed. “Why him? So many other former nobles are here. Lain and Tiadrin used to be on the Dragonguard. Ezran was the actual heir to the throne of Katolis. Princess Aanya’s here, and she’s the heir to the Duren throne!”
Ethari clapped a hand over his husband’s mouth, but it was too late. They’d been heard. Kpp’Ar raised his staff, and the army advanced. Most of the refugees advanced or fled down the tunnel. Callum ran, grabbing Ezran’s hand. The thirteen-year-old clung to Bait with his other arm, terrified. Aanya wasn’t far behind. She was only fifteen, but she slept with her bow and quiver at arm’s reach. As Callum watched, she stopped, turned around, drew an arrow, and unleashed it. It hit a glowing rock on the ceiling, which shattered. The tunnel shook, and it began to collapse. The three teenagers sprinted down the tunnel with the other refugees and the soldiers.
They came out in what had once been the sleeping place of King Avizandum and Queen Zubeia. The room had become a general meeting area, but their bed of moss and flowers was still treated with reverence, almost. Upstairs were the apartments of the human guard, now where the refugees lived. Callum spun, drawing a lightning spell in the air, lightning-quick. “FULMINUS!” he roared, thrusting his fingers into the crackling rune. Lightning soared forward, electrocuting the soldiers coming after them. The refugees continued to run towards and up the stairs.
They made it to the roof without much of a problem, but found a new problem. There were soldiers climbing all the sides of the tower. Cursing, Callum snatched Bait from Ezran’s arms and stuffed the toad down the back of his little brother’s jacket. “Ez, climb on my back!” he commanded.
Ezran obliged, wrapping his legs around Callum’s hips. “Manus, Pluma, Volantis!” Callum yelled, and his arms morphed into burgundy wings. As he began to fly away, a crackling purple ball shot into the air, and a dome appeared. Unable to stop, Callum smacked into it, and it felt like a thousand volts of electricity raced through his body. He plummeted towards the ground, Ezran’s screams in his ears. He struggled to flap his arms, but could only watch as his feathers fell. Callum closed his eyes and waited for the end.
Something else caught the brothers. A blast of wind formed a cushion, shaped like the hover rune that Ibis had taught him. Callum and Ezran sank toward the ground, landing in a circle of armed guards.