Oh my god.

"Can I have a hand?" I dully ask the air in-front of me and two sets of arms pull me to my feet. I note Soren and Callum's constant presence which makes me feel slightly better.

Very slightly.

The only thing on my mind is what the actual fuck is going on right now.

As I stand in pondering silence, it comes to my attention that those around me don't know what Ibis was talking about.

I stay quiet as the world continues on as usual. Callum looks at me curiously before joining in irritated conversation with Rayla and Ezran.

Why aren't they freaking out!?

Soren puts his head in my line of vision and it's when I realise they clearly don't know anything. "We need to talk after this," I murmur to him.

He just nods at me, "you alright?"

I look back down at my feet, shaking my head softly, I tell him, "no." 

The Dragon Queen steps around us. I look up at her but my eyes don't focus on her body as they are captured by the stars instead.

What awful news for such a beautiful night.

"King Ezran," Zubeia speaks, "thank you for this visit to your kingdom, but I'm afraid it's time for me to return to mine." 

She's intelligent. The Queen of dragons. I wonder if she knows the depth of Ibis' words.

"No! Please don't go yet," Ezran protests. "If this 'Fallen Star' is a danger the whole world will face," he states, "we could solve our problems together."

By the look on her face, it confirms to me that she does indeed know of the urgency of this matter.

"I'm taking Zym and we are leaving immediately," Zubeia makes clear.

But as she calls upon the Dragon Prince, he is nowhere in sight. The Queen's frustrated manor explains how this behaviour is reoccurring.

The King focuses his thoughts, closing his eyes. "He hasn't gone far," Ezran makes clear. "I'll go get him and bring him back."

I switch on my thinking brain and turn towards the King. "I'll accompany you," I state with stern nod and he smiles at me.

"That means me too," Soren says proudly and Ezran looks at him sheepishly.

"Guys he's really just around the corner," Ezran says and give him a look trying to say we need to talk right now and he directs his words at Soren, "(Y/n) and I will be quick."

As we make distance away from the crowd I look at my friend gently as he awaits my words, "obviously that was Ibis we saw," he inclines his head in agreement, "but that was his last breath."

I watch the young King's eyes widen in the shock of grief. "Oh," is all he says as we spot Zym at an edge, gazing at the distant lands. As we tell the dragon prince to return with us, Ezran's pace slows and I follow in step. "So this is bad?"

I look at my friend apologetically, never wanting to be the barer of bad news. "I'm afraid so," I admit. "I needed to talk to you because this goes beyond being just bad." He frowns knowingly at me. "We can talk more about it later with everybody," I promise, "but just know with my knowledge of the situation as a whole... there is no happy ending."

Ezran looks at me sideways as we approach people again and I watch as he tries to smile, but it obviously isn't reaching his eyes. "I hope this is your flair for dramatics, (Y/n)," he focuses his attention back to Zym as we part our way through the crowds.

As my friend turns back at me a final time, and we lock eyes, I can tell he sees through my own plastered smile.

And both of us wish I was only being dramatic.

This is just the start.

I put on the calm, neutral expression that the Captain's Second of the Crowndguard should have. As Soren's gaze meets mine, I know he sees right through it.

Zym whimpers to Ezran grumpily as we reach his mother. "You know I'm always with you," the King promises as he hugs him. I walk a couple more steps to stand in toe with Callum, who is closest to me. As the Dragon Prince flies into the air to land atop Zubeia, Ezran looks downcast, "I wish there was a way to combine our strength and purpose to face this together."

I see Opeli begin to descend down the stairs towards the King. "Maybe there is a way," she contradicts. "Go with her."

I regard The Dragon Queen's nod of approval to the idea, however I have contradicting feelings.

I don't want Ezran to leave - alone.

Soren; on the other hand, steps around Callum to stand next to me, and he has a proud expression on his face.

The king looks anxiously, "but Katolis needs me," he opposes.

"The world needs you right now," Opeli interjects. "The High Council can take care of the people, I promise you."

Before anyone else has a say in the matter, Corvus is there, handing over Ezran's bag. "You're right," the King says, "the kingdom will be in good hands." Barius appears from behind us and gifts a box for the journey. He tells Ezran about his new jelly tart.

I turn softly to Soren and Callum, "we're going with him, right?" I say worriedly and they both just blink at me.

"Uh," the High Mage looks slightly confused, "obviously?"

I exhale deeply at his confirmation and feel myself smile at the King. He beams back at me as Zubeia lowers her head and he climbs behind her horns.

Callum leads the two of us to the red dragon, Pyrrah, and I reluctantly take Soren's helping hand onto her back. I end up at the back with Soren squished in the middle, he's holding Bait.

"Rayla? What're you waiting for?" Ezran calls out to where she still stands. He lowers an arm for her.

She looks downcast, "I didn't know if you wanted me to come."

"Rayla!" I shout, "we need you! Let's go!" Soren whoops in agreement as she climbs up.

As they head off into the night, I lean around my friends body to speak to the two of them. "Callum," I address, "the mirror you have, I believe it is connected to Arravos."

"Ara-who now?" Soren inquires.

"The Fallen Star," I clarify. "Who Ibis talked about."

"Of course!" Callum agrees. "Before we leave, we need to take a quick stop for that," he instructs Pyrrah.

Soren hmms contently, "well if you're getting that mirror, I want to grab my toothbrush."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we reach the High Mage's office my eyes trace over the same hidden curves and edges of the mirror.

"There it is," Callum pronounces as he walks closer to it, yanking off its cover to reveal the relic beneath.

"Wait," Soren interrupts, "this is the mirror?"

I glance sideways at him in question, the look of familiarity and fear glazes hi eyes. "You... know it?" I make eye contact with Callum and his mouth parts slighting, realisation forming as he connects the obvious dots of Soren's relation to the previous owner.

"Too well," my friend shakes his head, "my father was obsessed with this thing."

It makes sense.

Fucking Viren.

"I think this mirror somehow connected to the evil returning to the world," Callum explains.

"We have to bring it to the Storm Spire," I finish for him and he nods sternly at me. As the High Mage goes to try and lift it, Soren stops him.

He puts each hand on both of our shoulders and talks solemnly, "guys I know this is important for the magic," he pauses, looking me in the eyes, "but we gotta be careful.... It changes people."

I offer him an empathetic and encouraging smile which he accepts gladly with a squeeze of his hand. Callum also inclines his head before going back to pick up the artefact.

We soon realise it is a lot heavier than it looks. As he tries to move it around, the mirror stays firmly in place. Soren just watches, grinning, so I make an effort to help. I can manage to drag it about half a meter before it gets caught on a floor bored and I fall backwards into my friend. The sound of our armour clashing is piercing.

I chuckle embarrassingly, thinking I was a lot stronger than that. The mirror is just heavy.

Soren merely makes sure I'm steady before moving me sideways, and picking up the mirror above his head - Callum still holding on to it. "Aha!" He chimes. "Sorine the mastermind has got a Primal source of his own." The High Mage drops off and Soren turns around to look at me, "it's called muscles," he winks.

I'll admit, that was very attractive.

Luckily he turns another 90° before he can see the heat flush lightly across my cheeks. However, still smiling, Callum walks into my line of view and tilts his head in question.

"Flexio!" Soren calls out from through the doorway.

"Oh shush," I whisper at Callum as I shove him aside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pyrrah is waiting in the courtyard for us as we get down. Callum finds his position in the front while we all help to lift the mirror onto her back. Soren sits with it on his lap. I suggested it would be safer between the two of them. As I'm about to climb on finally, I hear the groan of a familiar Glowtoad at my ankles.

"Awh guys we nearly forgot Bait," I call up, bending over to lift the small creature. I notice the item of red cloth in his mouth and therefore pass him onto Callum.

"What a good little Bait," I hear the High Mage whisper. Soren lowers his arm and I grasp it to gain leverage as I hop into my place behind him. "Alright! We're ready!" Callum exclaims and Pyrrah doesn't hesitate as she stretches her wings and takes off. At the unexpected motion, I almost fall back but manage to catch my balance with my forearms.

"Did we just lose (Y/n)?" Soren inquires sarcastically, but looks over his shoulder nonetheless.

The wind filters through my hair. I'm still leaning back in the rather uncomfortable position but try my best to look casual. I shuffle to be on my elbows. "I'm- im great," I mumble and smile brightly.

I hear Callum laugh from up the front. My friend turns back around and chuckles as well. "You might want to, you know, hold onto something."

The sly tone to his voice makes me sit up almost instantly. He shouldn't have that effect on me anymore - we are passed that.

It is quite a beautiful night tonight. The clouds that are visible appear soft and lush. The moon is bright and shining. The breeze is gentle, like a cooling kiss of air. There are few stars twinkling as the night is still young. I expect more will be out and bright once we arrive.

But as if I jinxed it, the wind picks up and I feel as though I might be knocked off.

I swivel back to face forwards and am suddenly at a crossroads. I stare at my hands for a moment, not knowing where to put them. I test out putting them at my side, leaning back - which is not a good idea. Then I hover them around Soren's torso to see if that would work better.

Just as I'm about to decide I should probably not put them there, I'm knocked forward as Pyrrah swoops downwards.

I can practically feel Soren's confident grin. That's when Callum's face catches my eye, for some reason he is staring at me.

Ugh.

He did that.

I start to move myself and he shakes his head slowly. Soren, of course, is obliviously just holding the mirror and looking down below us. Feeling defeated by a teenager, I stay leaning against Soren and make myself more comfortable. As Callum smiles, I screw my face up.

However as I lay my head back down on Soren's shoulder, it feels natural.

It makes me regret everything I left unsaid.

Everything I refrained from doing, using the excuse of being 'too busy'.

But I can't change the past.

So I wrap my arms securely around him, hoping to make this short moment last.

                                        ~~~~