(The Dragon Prince) A Different Life (Mentor!Aaravos X Apprentice/Reader)
Online classes had me very bored, so I started to think back to my original prologue of HA and here is the basic Idea I had, in first person.
This is partially based on @kurizeria‘s OC Naymora and her story with Aaravos.
Chapter summary: You are Aaravos’ elven apprentice in a time before Dark Magic, the Mage Wars, the division of Xadia and, Aaravos’ imprisonment.
Prologue, Pt. 1, Pt. 2, Pt. 3 , Pt. 4, Pt. 5, Pt. 6 , Pt. 7, Pt. 8, Pt. 9, Pt. 10, Pt. 11, Pt. 12, Pt. 13, Pt. 14, Pt. 15
Centuries before Aaravos’ imprisonment
“Master? Where are we going?” I whined, chasing after him.
Aaravos sighed. He’d started to do that a lot recently. Was I becoming annoying because I was a teenager?
He spun around, his dark cloak whipping behind him. “(Y/N), we’re going to Elarion. Like I said this morning?” he said, as if he were trying to jog my memory.
I placed my hand on the strap of my satchel. “You didn’t mention anything this morning,” I muttered, “you just said it was time to leave.” He had become very forgetful recently and almost presumed I had telepathic powers like dragons do—and I am not a dragon.
Aaravos pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right... I’m sorry. I’ve just been very busy with Ziard’s project.”
We started walking again. “The ‘project’ he so desperately needs the Archmage to help him with? Why can’t he just do it himself, if he wants the ‘project’ finished so badly?” I was becoming irritated with this human ‘mage’. He visited almost every day and made demands about the project, asking Aaravos to have it done quickly, when he had done all but nothing to aid its completion—whatever it was. And every time he’d visit, he’d eye me disgustedly and insist I leave, even if it was in the middle of a lesson.
He drew in a sharp breath. “(Y/N), you need to calm down. Once the project is finished, Ziard will be out of our lives, I promise.”
Crossing my arms, I said, “I don’t like this, Aaravos. I can see such darkness in him. Whatever this project is, I hope it doesn’t bring more harm than good.”
“That makes two of us.”
I glanced at him. Was that regret in his voice?
“So, what is this project?” It was a question I had been wanting to ask for months.
Aaravos hesitated. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
He glanced at the long object on his back, wrapped in burlap and string. “It’s best you don’t know.”
I looked at the path ahead of us, Elarion was just beyond this hill, I had travelled enough times to the city with Aaravos to know where it was from here.
Aaravos looked up at the hill and reached inside his cloak, pulling out a small bag of coins. “Go to Elarion and find somewhere to eat, I’ll catch up with you later.”
I followed his gaze. “You’re meeting him here?”
“Just take the money, (Y/N). I’ll see you in Elarion.” He placed the coins in my hand and started up the hill.
I frowned and did I was told, tucking away the bag under my cloak.
*-*-*-*
Aaravos’ stead galloped ahead of mine as the moon lit our path dark overgrown forest path.
“Master, what’s happening?” I called out. He had woken me up in the middle of the night in a panic, saying someone was coming and that they knew everything. He muttered about his regret in making something and making something for ‘him’.
He said nothing, just kept moving.
“Aaravos!” I called.
“The Mage Council is hunting me,” he shouted above the steads’ hooves and the sounding his cloak.
“Why?”
He didn’t respond. What had he done?
I reined my mount to a stop. He released a snort of displeasure.
It took Aaravos several moments to notice I was missing. “Why did you stop?!” he demanded, turning his stead around and rejoining me.
“What have you done?!” I retorted. “What have you done that has not only placed you in danger, but me, your apprentice, your child?!”
Aaravos hung his head in shame, something I have never seen him do before. “I’m sorry.”
“What. Did you. Do?” I said, irritated.
“Ziard is dead. Before Sol Regem killed him, he told Sol Regem that I had given him the staff. The staff was his project.” He looked up at me.
“You started all this? The Dark Magic, the humans being banished, the Mage Wars! You...” I paused, unsure what else to say. “You created that... weapon.”
“(Y/N), please... It was supposed to be a gift, and act of equity from us to humanity.”
I held my face in my hands. He had talked of this ‘act’ since I was an elfling and I knew very well he had never meant to hurt anyone or bring such destruction and hate.
I lowered my hands and drew in a breath. “So, what are we going to do now?”
“Hide.”
“They’ll find us, no matter wh—.“
“You. You need to hide,” he said solemnly.
“What about you?” I moved my stead closer to his.
He raised his hood and looked back at the trail, to the sound of heavy paws and shouting coming closer.
“No! I’m not leaving you to them! They won’t hesitate to—,“ I cut myself off, unable to finish my sentence.
Aaravos placed a hand on my cheek and kissed my brow. “I rather you be safe.”
“They won’t stop at you, they’ll think I’ll know something as well.”
He paused and turned his mount around. “You’re right. So,” he turned to face me, “are you with me?”
“Yes, Master,” I breathed.
We started off again, but our steads weren’t as fast as the hunters’. With every second they got closer and our path was getting harder to traverse.
“Can’t we teleport?” I asked over the hoofbeats of our steads.
“No, they’re too close and we’re moving to fast and the search parties are everywhere right now.”
I looked on at the path ahead. There had to be some way to get rid of them.
But then they yanked me from my saddle and pulled to the ground. I yelped and grunted as I hit the ground. I looked at my arm, a metal whip was wrapped around it.
“(Y/N)!” yelled Aaravos.
“Keep going!” I shouted.
He hesitated for a second before his stead ran off.
I was about to draw a rune to cut the wire when they pulled me up onto another stead. I elbowed the rider, but they drew a sleep rune and I fell limply into their hold.
*-*-*-*
It had been centuries since I had last seen Aaravos.
And now he had been captured.
I followed my new master, and Aaravos’ former master, Kalani. An elf so tall and old I was sure he was older than the eldest tree in all of Xadia. He had the most beautiful pale skin and horns that shown like gold that were as large and as detailed as a moose’s, just more curved and elegant looking. A mass of blue robes that faded from pale blue to the darkest night sky, hung on his body with such a long trail that I often tripped on in—and often his hair as well.
We were beside the Moon Nexus, on a full moon, surrounded by dozens of Moonshadow mages.
“Are we ready?” Kalani asked the master Moonshadow mage.
“Yes, Archmage.”
The name he gave him made my hands curl into a fist. How dare he call that arrogant elf that?!
But I stayed as stoic as I could until Kalani turned around. I mimicked his action.
“Bring him here!” he ordered. They pushed a mirror towards us, it was bronze and gold with runes around the glass. Some hunters came forward, their weapons nudging forward... Aaravos.
I looked down, forcing myself away from his bruised and cut face, torn gown and damaged jewellery. He was leaning forward, his hands bound behind him.
“Kalani!” he growled as they pushed him forward. “Why am I here?” His eyes drifted over to me, and I forced myself to look at him. I wanted to rush over to him and heal him, but I couldn’t.
His ears dropped. “(Y/N)!” he forced himself upright and turned to Kalani. “Why is he/she/are they here? He/She/They shouldn’t be punished for my mistakes.”
“I’m perfectly aware of that, and he/she/they have been an excellent student,” he twirled a lock of my hair. “So, he/she/they won’t be joining you in your prison, Stella Carcerem,” he looked to the mirror.
Some mages pushed Aaravos towards it and began chanting, as did Kalani. The runes on the mirror glowed, and the glass looked like it was made of liquid. I forced myself to watch as a yellow hue left Aaravos’ body and was pulled into the mirror. His spirit.
He fought it, standing in a meditative state to keep his spirit inside him. But to no avail. Before the last of his spirit disappeared, he opened his eyes and gave me a small smile. And he was gone.
The runes on the mirror faded, and the glass became solid again. “It is done,” Kalani said.
I stepped forward, looking at the mirror; it was blank. Kneeling by it, I placed my hand on the glass. “I’m sorry, Father.” tears spilled from my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
The mages slowly dispersed and left me with the mirror.
“We’ll meet again, Master,” I whispered. I softly chanted a reincarnation spell, one that would allow to meet up with him again and free him. My skin became luminescent.
“I’m sorry future me, but you need to do this. For Aaravos,” I looked at my reflection, though I thought I could see Aaravos looking at me before my body flashed.
And then—
Darkness
