Startouched Mage

Chapter 1

The trek to the Xadian border was only a few hours, and Callum would rather think about anything other than Ezran's necessary absence from the group. "So... you said there are myths and stuff about Startouched elves? Could I maybe hear some of them?"

Rayla hums. "I don't know any stories, but I have some details. It's said that Startouched elves came from the heavens and could learn magic from any primal source."
"Really?" Callum pauses for a moment before developing a figurative and literal twinkle in his eye. "If Startouched elves come from the heavens and can learn any type of magic, does that make me your elven god?"
"No."
"Oh it totally does. Bow before me, mortal! Erect temples in my honor!"

Before Callum can continue his tirade, they come across a giant river of lava with stones scattered across its surface. "One simply walks into Xadia, huh?" Callum places Zym on the ground and goes to take a step, but is pulled back by Rayla.
"Wait. There's a... trick to it." She tosses a rock across the path of stones and several of them sink almost immediately. "Not all of them sink that quickly. The ones that last long enough for us to cross are called the Moonstone Path."
Callum looks up at the night sky. "And let me guess, it's called the Moonstone Path because you need the moon to see it."
Rayla snaps her fingers. "Now you're getting it."

Thankfully the moon chooses that moment to come out from behind the clouds and reveal runes hidden on the stones and they begin to make their way across. As they make their way across, Callum asks more questions. "If I'm a Startouched elf, how come I don't have a connection to the Star Arcanum? The sign for the stars doesn't glow when I hold the box. Just the sky."
Rayla hums. "Maybe it's because you were raised by humans? Like I said, no one really KNOWS how Startouched elves work, so we're just gonna have to learn as we go."

Callum notices light beginning to peek out from over a cliff and dread settles in his gut. "Oh no. We should run." He scoops up Zym and they make a mad dash for the entrance to Xadia, but the sun rises faster than they can run and they're stranded and surrounded by blank stones. "Oh great, first of my kind in apparently forever and I'm already going to die."
"THAT'S your main concern?"
"Not really, I'm just trying not to think too hard about it." He looks behind them. "Should we risk it and just run?"
"Sure, if you're fine with losing a foot or two."

While trying to think of a solution, Zym climbs up over Callum and gets on his head, perching on his horns. "Zym?" The hatchling dragon leaps off of the half-elf, his wings managing to carry him. "He's flying!" Rayla cheers as he takes off.

The small dragon flies towards the source of the light, and Rayla realizes what he's trying to do. "He's trying to block the sun."
Callum draws the rune for Aspiro in the air. "Then let's give him a hand. Aspiro!" The extra wind gives Zym enough lift to land on top of the cliff and spread his wings, casting a big enough shadow over the stones to reveal the path.
Rayla grabs Callum's hand. "Run!"

They finally get across the last of the stones before the sinking rocks catch up to them and they cheer. "We made it! We're alive! And in Xadia!" Callum wraps up Rayla in a celebratory hug, the Moonshadow elf secretly taking note of how soft Callum's now white hair is.

The next stretch of their journey takes them through canyons, with Zym casually flying above them, and Callum voices a few concerns. "Half the point of this journey was that a human getting Zym back to the dragon queen was going to help stop the war. It'll probably have less of an impact since a pair of elves are doing it. And considering most elves' opinions on humans, I doubt my five fingers are going to help us much."

Rayla scoffs. "Please, a human prince who's half elf returning the dragon prince has WAY better symbolism behind it. And if anyone has a problem with your fingers, they can meet the business end of these." She twirls her weapons for emphasis.

Callum chuckles as Zym lands on his shoulders and delivers staticky licks to his cheek in agreement with the elf girl. "Thanks Rayla." He looks up and horror eclipses his formerly jovial expression. "New problem."
Rayla turns and sees a giant dragon perched on the cliffs. "Oh no, it's him. Sol Regem."

She pulls them both behind a rock to hide, despite the dragon's obvious blindness. "That's not an ordinary dragon."
Callum looks at her. "There's such a thing as an ordinary dragon?"
She chooses to ignore that question. "His name is Sol Regem, the Sun King. He was the king of the dragons a long time ago. But he was blinded by a dark mage at the start of the war and has become a symbol of rage and bitterness."
"Ok, so there's an angry, blind dragon between us and potentially stopping said war. So what do we do?"

"Well we can't fight him, since you only have your blowy spell and my swords don't even qualify as toothpicks for him. We'll have to sneak past him."
Callum doesn't follow. "Why? Can't we reason with him? I mean, we're an elf and a half with the dragon prince. He'd have to let us pass, right?"
Rayla settles him with a deadpan stare. "As nice as that would be, once again, symbol of rage and bitterness, and if he smells your human half, congratulations, we're all dead."
Callum gulps. "Duly noted. Stealth it is."
Rayla nods. "Good. Since he's blind, we only have to worry about two senses, smell and hearing. Be careful."

They slowly walk across the gorge in front of the intimidating dragon, with Callum doing his best to keep Zym quiet despite everyone's fear. A strong breeze blows their scent downwind, so that helps at least. Unfortunately Zym panics at the sight of Sol Regem and tries to fly away, startling Callum and the giant dragon advances, but Rayla throws a rock as a distraction.

The pair desperately gesture for him to come to them, but the former dragon king is quick to catch on and roars at Zym, causing him to curl up in fear. Seeing the glow in the dragon's chest, Callum and Rayla completely forgo stealth and dash, grabbing Zym and narrowly escaping the dragon's fire. Callum looks up at the blind former king. "What now? We can't fight, run, or sneak. You know what that means?"
Rayla groans. "It means it's time for my least favorite course of action. Reason."

She is the first to step out from behind the rock. "Mighty Sol Regem, I am Rayla of the Moonshadow elves!" She bows to him despite his blindness.
"...what are you doing?" Callum now understands why this dragon is so scary. Just his voice makes him want to hide.
"Uh, I'm bowing, great dragon."
"No. I mean, why are you here?"

Rayla rises. "We have been traveling in the human kingdoms on the business of Zubeia, the Dragon Queen. We humbly ask your permission to cross back into Xadia."
The dragon leans down to her level. "What business would send you to the wretched human lands?" Callum takes great offense to that.

"We have something precious. Someone precious. The dragon prince, Azymondias!"
That was apparently the wrong thing to say, as Sol Regem gets closer to Rayla and roars. "Don't lie to me! The egg of the dragon king was destroyed!"
Rayla takes a nervous step back. "No, let me show you!"

She runs back to Callum and quickly grabs Zym before running back to the short tempered dragon. "Here he is!"
The blind dragon takes a sniff of the dragon prince and is surprised. "How is this possible... fine. Returning the prince to his rightful place is of the utmost importance, so you may pass. But not the human that cowers nearby."

Callum slumps at that. He wasn't cowering, per say, simply preserving his own life in the face of almost certain death. Rayla shakes her head despite the dragon's blindness. "Oh, no, he's not a human. He's just... wearing human clothes. Let me prove it. Callum, can you come here please?"

Nervously, Callum steps out from behind the rock and towards the dragon, and he REALLY hopes the human clothes excuse works to hide any human smell he might actually have. Sol Regem sniffs Callum. "It is true. While the stench of human filth is strong around you, you yourself are not human. Good." He takes another sniff before roaring. "And yet, I smell DEATH!"

Callum reaches for an answer. "Ah, uh, that is because, you see, uh... these clothes belonged to a human that did dark magic! But don't worry, he was taken care of, promise!"

The dragon takes a moment to growl lowly. "Fine. But if you return, and I smell the stench of dark magic again, I will know you have lied to me."
Callum breathes a sigh of relief and bows. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, mighty Sol Regem." He leans over and whispers to Rayla. "Let's get out of here before he changes his mind."