callum isn’t going back to katolis
Or at least, why I don’t think so. Again, I could be wrong, and we don’t know how big the timeskip (if there is one enough to call it that, too) between this arc and the next will be, but there are three scenes in the season that really make me think that, in spite of his promise to Ezran in 2x09, Callum will stay and learn sky magic, and more than that, he’ll stay with Rayla.
There are three scenes in this season that show just how much Callum’s priorities have changed, not taking away from how much Callum loves Ezran because his brother is still his world (hence his fussing over him) but that Rayla has come to be just as important, and thereby, she’s become a priority to him.
The first is the scene in 3x07 when they’re walking up the spire. Callum and Rayla pass out (holding hands) but Ezran struggles on further before doubling back with a solution. Callum does the necessary spell because he’s a talented mage boy, and the boys are very relieved to be able to breathe again. But Ezran stays focused on Bait, and where does Callum’s focus immediately go?
His next thought is her and his panic is clear. So is his sigh of relief once she does start breathing properly again, and the fact that it’s then that Callum feels like
Because they’re okay together. And Ezran witnesses all of this, as we very well know, because we get his wonderful reaction to their smiley, casual, tender and loving kiss just a few seconds later.
Then, there’s once we reach the spire itself in 3x08. The Dragon Queen isn’t waking, in spite of Ezran coaxing her. Because he can communicate directly with the dragon, and even the fact that he’s the one trying to convince her, this scene is extremely emotional especially for him. But when Rayla turns and runs, Callum’s focus immediately shifts to her and stays on her.
He glances aside to Ezran, as though hesitating. His brother and the dragon queen are still here. Should he stay? But Rayla ran out and she needs him, and so Callum follows.
And Ezran watches. Callum’s priority is no longer the Dragon Queen, the way it is Ezran’s, but Rayla, and they all know it. It’s not sad, but it is a change. It’s growth. And Ezran can see it even when Callum won’t come outright and admit it without prodding.
Callum’s job in 3x09 is about as centred on Rayla as he can get without actually being beside her. He’s defending the spire to make sure no one gets up, ie. no one can get to Rayla and Zym. And barring Viren, he does a pretty good job. But even when the battle goes well, and things are on the upturn, Callum can’t help but worry.
So Ezran tells him to go.
Callum is thrown, because he’s already pretty consumed in his thoughts. And he clearly wants to, even if Ez has to reassure him that it’s okay.
I could see an extremely similar scenario playing out when Ezran prepares to go back to Katolis. Callum’s promise was “to help” him but the war they were trying to stop is over. There’s peace. Ezran has grown into his own as a king independently of Callum and with his own counsel.
Callum could stay at the spire and actually learn sky magic from Ibis while also staying close to Rayla, who may work as part of the new Dragon Guard.
Callum is grateful and proud of his baby brother. Ezran has grown up so much. And they’ll never stop needing each other, of course. They’re family and they love one another. But childhood is over, and that often means growing up and living in different places. And I think for now, at this stage of one another’s lives, Xadia (both for and beyond Rayla) is the place for Callum, and Katolis is Ezran’s.
But with Callum’s wings, I suppose he’s only ever a short flight away anyway.
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