Rayla couldn't sleep at all.

She told Callum not to worry too much, and that everything will be alright, yet here she was doing the opposite of her advice.

After the infamous battle in the Storm Spire, the brothers convinced her to live with them in Katolis. She still loves Silvergrove - it's her hometown after all - but it pains her to go back to a community that ghosted her. She didn't want to burden Ethari by reminding him of her betrayal against his husband either.

However, their trip to the Moon Nexus made her realize that they still have unfinished business to address, which led her and Callum to return to the Storm Spire to learn more.

Even though she was an ordinary Moonshadow elf, it baffled her how everyone in Katolis was so accommodating and treating her like she was part of the Royal household. Yet despite the warm hospitality she received, she couldn't help herself but wonder if they were only doing it for the sake of their king and the crown prince. That maybe they were still harboring resentments knowing that she was one of the assassins that were sent out to kill King Harrow.

And with the failed assassination attempt that happened to Ezran, she was worried that it might reopen some old wounds.

They just passed the Breach, and the sun was almost above their heads. Rayla was thankful for the fair weather; Rubdilium might be a Storm dragon but she doubted if her arcanum could shield them from the rain. She knows how it sucked to travel with wet clothes, and it was something that she hates to experience again.

Absent-mindedly, she began to run her fingers through Callum's brown hair. Her cute, dorky mage was snoring lightly on her lap, with arms wrapped possessively around her waist. His lack of sleep these past few days has finally caught up to him. He deserves his beauty rest, but she had no choice but to wake him up before they arrived at their destination.

"Callum. Hey, Callum." Rayla nudged his shoulder incessantly. "Cal, wake up."

The prince squeezed his eyes shut with a groan. "Ugh, five more minutes please."

"There's no 'five more minutes' for you, Sleeping Beauty." the elf snorted, planting a kiss on the tip of his nose when he grimaced. "You can catch your Z's later once we arrive at the castle."

"Are we there yet?"

"I can see the uneven towers here, so we're almost there."

Callum sat up, then stretched his limbs with a yawn. Rayla was right - the infamous tower of Katolis was visible on the horizon, and below them was the Katolis river that would lead them to the Banther Lodge.

"Did you sleep well?" he frowned when she shook her head. "Not even a nap? Rayla, what did you say about worrying too much?"

"I know," she whimpered, leaning her back against his shoulder with a sigh. "But I can't help it, you know. The first time I went to Katolis, I almost killed you."

"But that's because I tricked you that I'm Ezran."

"That's the problem, Cal - I was supposed to kill Ezran, your brother. And now that a similar stunt happened again, what if - "

"Rayla," he interjected, cupping her face gently with both hands so he could meet her gaze. "Did someone - hey, look at me. Did someone ever blame you for the things that happened in the past?"

She took a deep sigh. "No."

"Did anyone in the castle show you any hostility because of your elven features or assassin status? And don't you ever say 'but Callum' because, between the two of us, you can quickly spot a lie."

"No." she responded with sincerity. "And ugh, I really hate that you're right, that I'm just overthinking about the old stuff that has been resolved already. I'm a Moonshadow elf, Callum. I was born and raised to view humans as bad. Old habits die hard, you know?"

"And so are humans, Ray." he chuckled, pressing a kiss on her forehead. "But those people who were involved and knew the truth behind the story will say that you did nothing wrong, that you were just a teen following some adult's orders. Besides, the Katolians hailed you as a hero, remember?"

Rayla immediately covered her flustered face with her palms. "Oh please, don't remind me of that!"

Callum chuckled genially as he hugged his abashed yet adorable elf girlfriend while looking afar.

He couldn't forget her facial expressions and reactions when Ezran delivered his first public speech after the war, and told everyone - or more likely to boast - about Rayla and how she abandoned her imposed duties to save them and the Dragon Prince. And that without her help, the Pentarchy and Xadia will never acquire their peace.

He had to muster all of his strength not to laugh when people approached her afterward with heartfelt thanks for being courageous and loyal to their kingdom. She grew up in a conservative and reclusive environment, so dealing with strangers - much more humans - showing their gratitude boldly in public was too intimidating for her part.

Callum frequently teased her about it just to get a rise out of her.

The mage prince nuzzled her face affectionately. "You know that Katolis will always be your home, right?"

"I know," Rayla propped her head to his shoulder. "I'm just...I'm not too used to receiving so much kindness from other people."

"You deserve all the kindness in the world." he pecked her cheek.

"And so are you."

As soon as Rubdilllium began to fly lower to prepare for their descent, they immediately noticed how the Katoilans looked up at them - some rushed outside their homes - with bewilderment and awe. A group of enthusiastic children tried to outrun them but failed, then cheered them jubilantly when the Storm dragon performed a short somersault in the air. She even used her vanishing tricks to earn more applause from the crowd.

"What a show-off," Callum commented with a snort.

Not everyone in Katolis has seen or experienced the remnants of the war, so a huge dragon like Rubdilllium flying up close for the first time was a sight to behold. And with the increasing number of elves migrating to the human kingdom, her presence was eye candy, to say the least.

The prince patted the base of her scale-covered neck to get her attention. "Can you fly towards that direction - yes, that's the courtyard. I'm sure you can land us there safely."

Rubdilllium made a huff then followed his instruction.

Two Royal Guards were already there waiting for them, holding two flaglets each to signal the dragon where to land. It was unfortunate that Rubdilllium had no idea about the Katolian's flag codes and decided to just land nonchalantly, causing the guards to scramble away in the process.

Callum winced at the sight, making a mental note to apologize to them later.

Once the clouds of dust from their landing settled, the couple began to get down from Rubdilllium's back.

"Long time no see, Crown Prince! And his Lady!" Soren greeted as he approached the two with a bear hug.

Callum rolled his eyes indignantly while Rayla snorted, "You're insufferable, you know that right?"

"I had no choice but to fill in both of your roles while you two were gone." the blond released them with a wistful smile. "I really miss you guys."

"We really miss you too, Soren." the mage prince replied somberly. "Can we see Ez now?"

"Of course!"

Callum took Rayla's hand as they followed him to the infirmary.

"How is he, by the way?" the Moonshadow elf asked, trying her best not to mind the sympathetic eyes that were darted towards their direction.

"He's getting okay, I think. He had several abrasions from the bushes that cushioned him when he fell down from his window, and a large wound at the back but not deep enough to require some blood transfusion. The doctors took care of it, don't worry. They put a cast on his leg for a month or until his bone is completely healed, but he can still move around using a crutch or a wheelchair." The Crownguard clenched his jaw, muttering. "If only I did not go to the Crowlord that night..."

"You did nothing wrong, Soren. Nobody knows what would happen last night." Callum soothed cordially. "Zym was able to show us what Ez saw during the attack. It wasn't...pretty."

"Obviously."

Soren continued to recount the events, like how the Royal guards found Ezran's unconscious body and how Bait managed to survive, as the trio turned to another corridor and took a flight of stairs.

"Before I left, he and Bait were on their third batch of jelly tarts." Soren went on. "Until the nurse confiscated it and told them that it will spoil their lunch."

"Sounds like he's getting better," Rayla commented. "How about the culprit? Did you catch them?"

He shook his head. "The patrol guards who were present last night said that nobody has ever approached the room after I left. Even those who witnessed how Ezran fell swore that no one has left his room."

Callum tried not to wince when Ralya gripped his hand tighter.

They stopped in front of a large mahogany door at the end of the hallway. "So...here we are. Let me call the nurse first before we barge in - "

The door swung open just before he could finish his sentence, revealing an elderly man in a white overcoat and thick-rimmed glasses. Behind him stood a female in a white dress and a head cap. Recognition immediately dawned on them when they saw the faces of the newly arrived visitors.

"Prince Callum. Lady Rayla", the man said with a bow. "I'm Doctor Levi, the attending physician of King Ezran, and this is my assistant, Nurse Margareth."

The nurse bowed similarly.

"I would like to thank you both for taking care of my brother," said Callum with a sincere smile. "And it warms me to know that he's currently in good hands."

"It's my pleasure to serve the Royal family," the doctor bowed again. "The King has just received his prescribed medications and currently available to accept visitors, so we are now completely at your disposal."

"I really appreciate it, Doctor Levi. If you will excuse us, we would like to see my brother in private."

"Of course, Your Majesty. There's a bell near the King's bed that you can ring in case you will require our assistance."

"Thanks for the concern."

The two bowed again and left.

"I think I also need to make an exit, Your Majesty." Soren made an exaggerated dip much to Callum's annoyance. "For it is my sole duty as the head of the Crownguards to finish all of my tasks on time."

The blond guffawed when the mage prince shoved him hard, then jogged away.

Rayla let out a low whistle once they entered the room, closing the door behind them. "I didn't expect you to be this eloquent, Prince Callum."

He shrugged. "Well, years of being forced to study social etiquette and diplomacy has transformed me to say those kinds of words instinctively, Lady Rayla,"

He smirked when she flashed him a beady glare. "You know how I loathe being called by that name. Why does everyone insist on calling me a Lady?"

"Would you prefer them to call you a Princess instead?" his smirk grew when her blush reached the tip of her ears. "Not that I mind but - "

"Can't you two at least spare me from your gross moments while paying a visit?" a familiar yet exasperated voice behind them interjected. "I don't want to throw up all the jelly tarts that I ate today."

"But Ez, we're just..."

Any rebuttals were lost when the pair saw the young king on his bed, forcing an awkward wave. "Long time no see, Callum, Rayla."

Ezran might be alive, but he looked like he had dealt something worse than death.

His loose white garment failed to cover the bandages that were wrapped around his petite body. His left cheek was a bit swollen, and his left leg was on a cast and suspended with straps tied up to the ceiling. Half of his body was covered in a thick blanket, and the two were not sure if the injuries there were as awful as the other wounds.

"Oh, Ez..." Callum rushed to his side, cupping his face gently before he embraced him. "Ez, I'm so sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry about, Cal." Ezran fought an urge to cry when he felt his brother shuddered, and almost lost his composure when Rayla held one of his hands with a choked sob.

"I'm sorry that we're not here to protect you." the elf sniffed, letting her tears fall to the sheets. "Even though... even though we promised ourselves to be there when you need us the most."

"I thought we were late," the mage prince released him with reddish eyes, sliding his hands to hold his arms. "When Rayla told me about Zym's projections, I thought - we thought - we were late. I don't want to lose you."

"You never lose me."

"I don't want to lose you like how I lost Dad."

Ezran wasn't sure if it was the pair's comforting presence or the dawning realization that he almost died hours ago that made his dam break.

He slumped his forehead to his brother's shoulder, weeping "I - I was scared, Cal. I thought...I thought I'm going to die."

"Ez..."

"A - and then I realized h - how a King must not show any - any weaknesses. Be - because a weak King m - means a weak nation, right?"

"No, you're wrong, Ez." Rayla shook her head, squeezing his hand tenderly. "A King must acknowledge their weaknesses to create a strong nation. And it's normal to be afraid of death, Ez. Look at me - I'm a Moonshadow assassin who was trained to believe that death is inevitable. Yet here I am scared to die. And you know why?"

"Because you don't want to make Callum sad?"

"Partly that," she chuckled when Callum held her free hand, interlacing his fingers to hers. "But mainly because I have so many things that I wanted to do to my family. You, Callum, Zym, Ethari - even Bait who's sleeping in his basin."

The glow toad made a croak to disagree.

"He said he can hear you." Ezran snickered, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. "Thanks, Rayla. You're the best."

"Hey, what about me?" Callum pouted, which earned a laugh from the two.

.

.

.

Once the emotions in the room dwindled to normal, Rayla stood up to fetch their glasses of water while the brothers began to discuss some stuff that they missed out.

Callum slid his chair closer to the bed. "How's your feeling, Ez? No stinging sensation or urges to vomit?"

"I think I vomited once or twice last night? They said that it was due to the concussion, but my headache is completely gone this morning. I still have some stinging sensation on my back, and my shoulder hurts when I rotate them. My legs," Ezran eyed his cast. "I can't feel anything on my left, so I'm not sure if it's the cast or the spell that they applied. But my right leg is okay. See, I can wiggle my toes just fine."

"Has there been - oh, thanks Ray - has there been any investigations about the culprit?"

"Would you like me to help you with your drink, Ez?" Rayla asked when she passed him his water glass.

"No, my hands are stable to hold anything. Thanks, Rayla." he took a few sips then placed his glass on his bedside table. "Corvus and his team have been trying to find my attacker's tracks, while Soren handles the interrogations within the Royal household and double-checks their alibis."

"And?"

He cast a solemn look "They both agreed that it's an insider's job."

"And you believed them?" The Moonshadow pulled her own chair and sat beside Callum.

"I have no solid evidence to prove that they were wrong."

Rayla hummed in contemplation.

"What if it's one of Viren's ploys?" Callum suggested. "Like what Rayla has mentioned before, we never found Viren's body. Plus, that man tried to steal the throne. He has all the means and the motives to kill you."

"But Viren doesn't work that way. He prefers to announce his presence than to hide like this. Remember how he killed Queen Khessa?" Rayla crossed her arms, pondering. "If I'm going to put myself in Viren's boots, would it be easier if I use a Dark Magic to kill Ez than to infiltrate his room and kill him with a dagger?"

"I'm sure Zym showed you what I've seen last night." the young King muttered dejectedly. "I didn't see my attacker's face, and Bait said that he only saw the silhouette of a man but his cloak covered all of his features. Everything happened so fast."

Callum reached out for his hand. "It's okay, Ez. Those clues are still important to track him down. You just have to be more careful since your attacker is still at large. He might have failed his mission once, that doesn't mean he'll not try it again."

"Soren said that you can move around with a crutch or a wheelchair," said Rayla.

Ezran nodded. "Yeah, the doctor told me that I can use a crutch or a wheelchair as long as I won't push myself too much. Which means I can still oversee the preparations for the harvest festival."

"Why don't you leave those things to Opeli and your council instead?" his brother suggested. "I can handle some of those important tasks on your behalf. After all, I'm the crown prince, and I have Lady Rayla here," he emphasized, earning him a sharp jab on his side. "Ouch - who can help me with the elven affairs."

Ezran scrunched his brows, "But you two are on vacation, right?"

The couple eyed each other briefly before Callum answered, "Actually, Rayla and I decided that we are going to stay in Katolis until we are sure that you're completely out of danger."

The young King's jaw slacked, staring at them with disbelief. Then Callum continued, "Queen Zubeia gave us an indefinite leave, and assured us that we can resume our training and apprenticeship anytime that we want."

"And as a Dragonguard," Rayla interjected with a grin. "I was ordered to serve you as your bodyguard."

"You two are not joking, right?" Ezran's lips quivered when the two nodded. "Can we have a group hug? I really miss you guys."

They obliged him with glee.

.

.

.

Callum and Rayla had their late lunch while accompanying Ezran, and remained in his room until he dozed off.

"He's too young to handle such responsibilities," Callum muttered as they left the premise, making a gesture at the assigned Crownguards who were guarding outside the room.

"Look who's the pot calling the kettle black," Rayla snorted, holding his hand with a gentle squeeze. "You're only fifteen yet you've managed to unite Xadia that no one has ever done for the last hundreds of years. Not to mention that you're the first human who forged a connection with an arcanum without a Primal source."

"But I never did those without your help."

"I'm just a supporter, not the doer." she flicked his nose. "Don't give me that pout, you silly Prince. You know that I'm right."

The pair finally reached the western part of the castle and stopped in front of the King's suite. It was originally a guest room for diplomats until Ezran remodeled and claimed it as his own. Callum understood that occupying the original King's suite where their father was murdered would be grim even for his brother.

Two royal guards who were standing in the hallway immediately unfolded their spears, giving way to the pair to access the suite.

"Has anyone entered this room after the attack?" Callum asked.

"Only Corvus and the chambermaids, Your Majesty." one of the guards answered promptly.

"That's good to know. Kindly guard the room outside and make sure that no one disturbs us, okay?"

They clicked their boots in unison. "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Ezran's room was not so different from what Callum had seen back when they were sharing a space, except that his usual study table was a lot bigger and his books were thicker and more advanced for his age. He could see the courtyard clearly from the windows, as well as the Royal kitchen's chimney. And knowing his brother's antics, he probably chose this room as his suite to monitor when they will bake his jelly tarts.

"I don't see any access outside his windows," Rayla said as she inspected the castle walls. "No trees that they can climb, or another window that can be accessed to jump over here. And this room is in an open area so if someone will try to infiltrate here, they have to use a rope, a ladder, or any tool that they can use to scale the walls - but that also means they can be seen by anyone even before they can enter inside."

"So that means we're left with one option, huh?", the prince murmured, toying something inside his pocket.

"Callum," she walked towards him with a fond smile. "I gave you that moon opal pendant as a gift because I know you will have to use it sometime in the future - and that future is now."

"B - but this is your first-anniversary gift!" he sputtered. "And you said that this represents your heart, so why am I going to crush your heart?"

"You're going to crush my heart if you refused to reveal who the hell tried to murder Ez," she deadpanned. "And don't act like this is your first time breaking my moon opal."

"The necklace that you gave me in the Storm Spire was technically from Ethari."

"Does that mean you don't have any problems crushing my Father's heart?"

He waved his hand awkwardly "W-Well, I di-didn't say that - "

"Will you just stop being a sentimental boyfriend and do what you're supposed to do?" she chided, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You better crush that moon opal and use the spell, or I'm going to crush that myself."

"Okay, okay!" He pulled the moon opal pendant that was encased in a silver with moon and feather designs, then crushed it with his hand as he drew a rune "Historia viventem!"