The Dark King of Kotalis

Chapter 1

During the seven days of mourning, Callum was determined to aside his feelings for the sake of study. Viren didn't want him performing even the most simple of spells or enchantments until he had a firm grasp on the theory. He told Callum that he should be ready in about a month or so. Taking that as a challenge, he refused to sleep for the whole seven days, his mind and body fuelled by nothing but hot brown morning potion provided to him by Claudia and some spite.

On the sixth day, he skipped breakfast in favor of storming Viren's study on a sleep deprived warpath. He ranted to his mentor about everything he learned over the past week, spouting information ranging from the nature of primal magic and the six primal sources to the history of dark magic and its most infamous uses, leaving the man in shock. "Your Highness, this is-"
"Just call me Callum. I might be the king tomorrow, but I am still your apprentice."

Viren hesitates before obliging. "Alright, Callum. When was the last time you ate, or even slept?"
Callum rubs his chin. "I think it was... when I asked to be your apprentice."
Viren's eyes are wide as he stares at the soon to be king. "That was six days ago. The fact you are even standing in front of me, let alone managing to recall this information is nothing short of a miracle."
Callum waves his finger. "Nuh uh, not a miracle." He presses a finger to his temple. "Eidetic memory. I see something and remember it almost perfectly."

Viren approaches the boy. "I admit, I am impressed. But, dark magic is not something to take lightly. So before we move on to that, we will practice simple techniques using the primal stone. On two conditions. First, go eat something and get some sleep. Second, wait until after the... funeral."
Viren was expecting melancholy at the mention of the somber event, but Callum merely salutes with two fingers. "You got it boss."

As Callum disappears through the doorway (not before bumping into the frame in a Claudia like fashion) Viren hums. "Near perfect recollection?" He turns his gaze to a cloth covering something he took long ago. "Maybe, just maybe."

The procession was slow going and somber. Viren gave his eulogy. "Seven sunsets ago, we awoke to a devastating truth. The king and the crown Prince were taken from us by assassins sent by Xadia!  But all is not lost. I have heard rumors that there are those who doubt the current royal lineage." At that, Callum's eyes scan the crowd impassively, trying to see who looked guilty. But it was too dark. He tried not to let their lack of faith bother him. It never did before.

"But, as King Harrow's closest friend and trusted advisor, I believe that Kotalis' future is in good hands. Capable hands. I believe that not only will we live, but we will thrive under their leadership." For the first time in several days, tears pool in Callum's eyes. Viren believed in him. Harrow's friend believed in him. His mentor believed in him. As the pyre is lit, Callum blinks away the tears and steels his expression into one he'd seen Harrow use many times. The face of a king.

The coronation was almost as somber as the funeral itself, and Callum is reminded of Viren's speech. The fact that his people didn't even think he could do this. But Viren believed. The most powerful man in the whole pentarchy believed in him. And that helped him home his head high. Stopping his guards from repeating his every word was an annoying adjustment to make though. Opeli was very helpful on getting things started

At least today was a slow day, and most of what he had to do was answer letters addressed to the kingdom, most of which were condolences from the other kingdoms, the one from Queen Aanya being the most personalized and heartfelt, and therefore it was the only one he kept after reading it.

As the crow lord delivered the last of the letters, Viren entered the throne room carrying the stormy primal stone and a wicker basket that gained suspicious looks from the guards. "Your Highness, might I speak with you? Alone?"
Opeli made her opinion known on the matter, whispering in Callum's ear. "Be careful My King. Viren is never without his motives."
Callum's eyebrow twitches, but he keeps his emotions in check. "Your advice has been noted, Opeli." He gestures vaguely to the room. "Leave us."

When the last person leaves the room, Callum lets his kingly facade go and slumps on the throne. "How did Harrow sit in this thing all day every day? It's only been a few hours and I'm already starting to go stiff."
Viren chuckles. "It comes with practice I suppose." Viren eyes the crown atop Callum's head for a moment, his face softening. "It's a heavy burden, isn't it?"
Callum sighs with a nod. "Yeah. But based on that basket, I doubt that's all you came for, and you don't seem like the picnicking type."
"You'd be correct in that assumption."

Viren places the basket on the ground before the throne. "I come bearing gifts. The first of which is, of course, the primal stone." He hands the stormy globe to the child king, who holds it with reverence. "I look forward to seeing you use it. Your next gift however, is a bit more... morbid."

He stands back from the basket and uses his staff to take off the lid and a two headed black snake slithers out. "A two headed soulfang serpent. A breed unique to Xadia that devours the souls of its victims. I've enchanted and charmed this one to be docile and completely loyal to you, obeying your commands to the letter and defending you when necessary. This one was... the one I planned to use to save your father. I thought there might be some symbolic irony in it."

Callum leans down and extends an arm, the serpent slithering up his arm and settling around his shoulders to rest. "Th-thank you, Viren. I'll take great care of them." He was glad he'd already given Bait to Barrius. He doubted the grumpy amphibian would appreciate his new roommatessssss. "I'll call them Soul-vester and Soul-via."

Viren chuckles. "Interesting choices. But clever nonetheless. This final gift is... a touch more personal." He withdraws a scroll of parchment from his robe, sealed with the sign of Kotalis. "This was given to me by your mother, many years ago. She said that I should only read it to you under the condition that something had happened to her and Harrow, and she very specifically emphasized the both of them. So I suppose now is as good a time as any."

He breaks the seal and Callum gives the High Mage his complete and undivided attention. "Dear Callum. Unless Viren has met a grizzly fate, he should be the one reading this to you. If he has, then what I'm about to tell you will be all the harder." Viren furrows his brows at that. "Let me tell you a story from before you were born, about none other than Viren himself. Viren, if you skip this part I will haunt you from beyond the grave out of spite."

The dark mage rolls his eyes while Callum chuckles at his mothers antics. "As you know, I was a soldier before I was a queen. On a particularly slow day, the castle guards placed bets on who could get a workaholic mage to a bar. Of course I was the winner and even managed to get a few stiff drinks in him. After that, one thing led to another and... well, we were both consenting adults."

Callum's eyes bug out of his head. "Wait, you did WHAT with my mom?!"
Viren is equally surprised, looking up from the letter with a shocked visage. "I assure you I had no idea it was your mother! It was so long ago, and when she married Harrow she looked so different."
Callum drops his head into his head and rubs his eyes as if trying to scrub them. "Just keep reading and I'll try and get that image out of my head later."

Viren happily obliges. "I tell you this story now because Viren IS your father."
Callum raises his head to stare at Viren.
"I'm sorry, WHAT?!" Viren goes silent, his eyes darting between Callum and the paper. After not getting a response, Callum gets off the throne and takes the parchment from him. These words are undoubtedly in his mothers handwriting. Which would mean...

Callum looks up at Viren. "Dad?"