The Dragon Prince - Marked

Part 27

The next few weeks were horrible for the whole castle. Everyone in the castle knew Callum as either a son, friend, or mentor. Everyone was hurting, but none hurt more than the two who called Callum husband and brother. Ezran had cried for days, each of his friends trying to be there for him but they knew nothing would really help. Amaya spent most nights drinking alone in the old barn's loft, where Callum would always hide when they played hide and seek together. Rayla didn't cry after Astoria told her Callum was dead. She just turned into a lifeless husk. She couldn't comprehend anything. The only thing she'd do was look through Callum's sketchbook, a single tear would always fall when she reached the last drawing. It was of Rayla on their picnic, eyes clothes, sun rays glistening off her. Callum captured every detail from the single hair falling down her face, to each crease in the dress she was wearing. It was the most beautiful piece in his book, and it killed her every time she saw it. No one had yet to even mention rebuilding Callum's chambers. All that was done was a tarp now covered the hole in the castle. To the rest of the world, the castle of Katolis was dead.

"Ezran needs to make a statement. I know he's hurting, but we can't keep pushing off the problem. The country believes he is dead. Even if he just stands there. We need something to show the people." Ne of the council men asked.

"I know. But I haven't even seen his eyes in 3 weeks. You need to buy more time. Yes, they need to see him, but they can't see him like this." Claudia spoke softly. Since the King, Princess, and their leading general were all to distraught to run a kingdom, the council had been doing what they can, while Claudia and Soren did what they could to help.

"I wish we weren't in this situation. Why is it that the ones who want to live the most die, while us old folk who have nothing left keep living? What's the lesson in that I wonder." The council men spoke before leaving. Claudia turned to look at Callum's chair in the throne room. Never had it looked so empty. A crack of lightning shocked Claudia out of her thoughts. It struck again, this time though, something caught her eye. Lightning struck again. Each time, it struck the same place, and each time it was the same prominent blue color that Callum's lightning was.

Off deep in the forest, an old female elf tended to a wounded young mage. Covered in festering wounds and missing an arm, the old elf was simply amazed at his resilience. Lost in thought, she jumped when lightning struck just outside the window. Her attention was drawn outside the window as lightning stuck again in the place as before, and then yet again in the same spot. When she looked back at the boy, she saw two bright green eyes looking back at her. He tried to speak, but nothing would come out of the boy's throat. The elf quickly left the room, leaving the injured boy alone. He looked around the room. He was in what looked to be a hospital room. He looked down at himself. Covered in many bandages, telling him he's hurt. He froze once he noticed his arm. What was left of it at least.

"Fantastic, you're awake!" A voice exclaimed, pulling the mage's attention from his missing appendage. "Now I'm sure you have lots of questions, but as you're aware, you can't speak. Don't worry, its not permanent, but it will take more time to heal. As for your arm." The elf spoke, lifting his arm to check the bandages, "fortunately you still have the elbow joint and enough of the forearm for the phantom limb spell to work. Your wounds are healing nicely and you've already, subconsciously, done most of the work. So, with that being said, lets catch you up on the situation, shall we. Callum?"

Claudia sprinted through the castle walls looking for Soren. He was in the training room when she came across him.

"Soren!"

"Huh?" He said turning away from the punching bag.

"Soren, he's alive. I know it."

"Who, Callum? Claudia, please don't do this again. Callum is dead."

"No, he's not. I just saw something that proves it."

"Fine. What did you see?"

"Blue lightning. Like Callum's blue lightning." She looked at Soren, waiting for the boy's reaction.

"Clauds, you sure you weren't just seeing things? Lightning can look blue and..." he was cut off.

"No. I mean it was Callum's deep blue color. And Soren, I just saw it."

"Ok, so what if you just saw it. It... could've...." Soren went silent as he tried to listen for either rain, or thunder. Hearing neither, he rushed over to the window in the hall to see a bright sunny day.

"Soren, how often does lightning strike on such a nice day?" Soren was silent as his sister spoke. 'Callum, are you actually alive?' he thought. "Come on, I'll show you were I saw it.