Manus Pluma Volantis

2 - Storm Spire

"Callum? Rayla?" Soren's voice could be heard across the battlefield. "You guys always seem to get yourselves into some-" He paused, seeing something at the bottom of the Storm Spire. Running toward it, it became clearer and clearer what it was. He dropped to his knees upon reaching the three crumpled bodies. He focused only on two of them. Callum and Rayla. His father was a wretched man. Soren knew he deserved this. But they didn't. They were only kids.

Tears flooded his eyes as he remembered his years with Callum. They were friends. At least, he saw it that way. Maybe Callum didn't. He was such a jerk. He only ever apologized once. He had tried to kill Rayla. He had never apologized for that. That would haunt him. Forever.

He couldn't let Ezran see this. It would be better to tell him. Words. Words are the best choice. He wasn't good with words. He picked up Rayla and draped her body over one of his shoulders, causing blood stains to appear on his armor. He picked Callum up and draped him over the other one. He carried them far, far from the battlefield. Under a beautiful willow tree, he started digging with his hands. He dug into the rich soil.

Once he had two holes, big enough for both of them, he placed their bodies ever so carefully down in them. He put the dirt back in the hole, burying them. He held a little funeral for them. Alone. Two adventurers. Two friends. Two heroes. They died that day. Gone, but never forgotten.

He returned to the Storm Spire and the battlefield, heavy-hearted. He needed to tell Ezran. He found him in the dragon's lair, tending to Bait's bruises and scratches. "Hey, Ez? I need to talk to you," he said, frowning, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes.

"I want to talk to you about life, and growing up, and how sometimes there are changes... you don't expect. Callum and Rayla. They... They were good people." "Were?" "I'm sorry." "No. No! You're not saying... are they-" Tears welled up in Ezran's eyes. "Ez, It's okay." "No, it's not! Callum and Rayla were my heroes! They were my heroes," he repeated quietly.

"I know. But we are all going to be okay-" "Well, they're not!" "I know. They're not. But we can move on. We can- we can let it go. We will miss them and cherish their sacrifice, but we have to learn to let go. I know It won't be easy, Ezran. But you can accept that they have passed." "Passed? Really? That's a term you use when someone dies peacefully! They died in battle!"

"Ez, I'm just trying to make you feel better. I know you're hurt and I'm trying to help with that. They were my heroes too. They were just heroes. To everyone. They saved the world with their sacrifice." "What sacrifice?!" "Rayla pushed Viren off the Storm Spire, and you wouldn't think Callum would just let that happen, would you? He would rather die with her, than live without her."

Ezran was crying. He was sobbing. They were gone. Gone.