The Dragon Prince - Marked

Part 10

After Callum finished his meal, he walked back to his and Rayla's room to change into his clothes. Callum wore simple black pants the he tucked into his boots. His boots came up to his knee and used a long strap to wrap around itself to secure it. For a shirt, he wore a maroon long sleeve that was a ¼ buttoned, which he always left open for more comfort. He tucked his shirt into his pants and wore a simple belt to hold it all together. During one of his trips back to Katolis, Callum bought a long blue hooded trench coat that was now tattered towards the bottom. Callum still had his red scarf and underneath it he wore a necklace that had one of Zym's baby teeth. It aided Callum with lightning magic, which was the young mages favorite type. For gloves, he wore brown leather ones which he cut off the tips of the thumbs as well as the pointer and middle fingers. The bare skin gave callum more control on his pencil which was a must for him because of his constant need to draw any and everything he saw. Speaking of Callum drawing, he frantically searched for his sketchbook. In his minor state of panic, he was unaware of Rayla leaning on the doorframe looking through the many sketches the he had drawn of her.

"So, you do pay attention to me." Rayla teased him. Callum turned his head as Rayla spoke. Smiling at the beautiful girl, he pulled her into a hug, tossing the book on their bed.

"I'm insulated that you believe I can take my eyes off of you." Callum told her in a low voice, "There's nothing more beautiful." Rayla blushed at his comments. Sure, they had been together for three years. They ate together, fought together, and slept together. But still, the mage she fell in love with could make her feel like a princess when he wanted. And she absolutely loved every bit of it. Giggling, Rayla gave Callum a well-deserved kiss and spoke.

"Well, my lover boy. We should get going before the others get angry with us." Callum, nodding, grabbed his book and the two walked outside, hand in hand, to join their friends for the long journey home.

"Bout time you two showed up. Let's go!" Decker exclaimed.

"Yeah yeah.' Callum stated, helping Rayla onto her horse, "Aerium." Callum casted a spell that caused him to levitate off the ground. While hoe could've rode a horse, he loved pushing the limits of what magic could do. So, once the group was moving, Callum took the opportunity to fly as high as he could. And got a perfect look at the still rising sun.

"Oh, I wish he wouldn't do that." Rayla sighed.

"Well, would he be Callum if he didn't?" Tianna giggled at the other's disapproval of Callum's antics.

"No, you're right. Still makes me worry though." Rayla replied smiling, watching Callum spin and flip high up in the air.

The groups journey was relatively quiet, excusing Callum's accidental lapse in judgment when trying to sketch while flying. He flew into a rock face and gave himself a bloody nose. After getting patched up and yelled at by Rayla for being so inattentive, she limited his flight to no higher than treetops. Within a few minutes though, Callum was back as high as he could go.

"He's gone again." Decker pointed out.

"Im aware. I know better than to think he'll actually listen to me when it comes to this stuff." Rayla admitted in defeat, again watching her reckless mate continue to push himself. Tianna and Seri simply laughed in response. After a several more hours of their travel, Rayla decided they should set up camp for the night.

"Alright everyone, we're still a few hours from the border but its gettin dark so we'll stop here for the night. Tianna, Seri you two are on firewood. Nothing to big, just enough to cook. Decker I want you setting up a perimeter. Look for any quick escape paths. Chaucer you and I are on food. Callum I want you..to...." Rayla looked around in confusion, "Where's Callum?" Almost as if the universe answered her question, the group looked up just as an explosion took place and what looked to be Callum shooting directly into the nearby waterfall. "I almost don't wanna know." Rayla sighed.