A/N: One of you lovely readers actually pointed out something that I had set up for myself, then forgot about cause I'm a dumdum! So, thank you, reader Femikol, for pointing out that I had set up for the scene to continue with Callum finding his magic again. Here's a surprise! Have an unplanned second chapter! We kind of addressed some of Rayla's insecurities in the last chapter, so it's Callum's turn! Honestly, I think I'll be haunted by his creepy/weird dream for the rest of my life, so I can only assume that it would be the same for him. (It doesn't help that I recently played Shadow of the Tomb Raider's "Nightmare" tomb. Gonna have nightmares for the rest of my life from that one.) Hope you guys enjoy!

"That sickness really did a number on you, Callum." Rayla said as she wiped the crust from his eyes. She hesitantly brushed his sweat-soaked hair back from his face, then ran her thumb across the still-clammy cheek. "What happened to you?"

Callum leaned his face into her hand. He could get used to having her touch. "I don't really know, Rayla. I think… I think it was partially the trauma of actually using dark magic, and the rest was just… the guilt of using it." He pulled her hand from his face and laced his fingers through hers. "I remember facing someone who looked like me, talked like me, WAS me, but he was colder and more cruel than I thought I could ever be. But he was me." He turned haunted eyes to hers. "He wanted me to do dark magic, Rayla. He was almost desperate for it! Said that it was my destiny and that I needed to accept it. But I told him no, Rayla, I swear I did!"

Rayla cut off his near-panicked ramblings by putting her hand over his mouth. She leaned her forehead against his and made sure that he was looking her in the eye. "Hush! It's okay, I know you did! I know you, and whatever that was, it was not you!"

"But what if it was, Rayla?! What if that's somewhere inside me just waiting to come out?!"

"It's not! It's not you, nor will it ever be! And if it ever is, you'll turn away from it just like you did in your dream! And I'll be standing right here beside you when you do. We'll fight it together. Always, okay?"

"Okay." He said weakly. "Okay. I can do that. We can do that." He gave her a weary smile and leaned forward to kiss her. She kissed him back softly, wishing she could wipe the memories away. He looked calmer when he pulled away, then he flashed her a rather smug grin. "I could get used to that." When she answered with a blushing scoff and half-hearted punch in the arm, he took a deep breath and continued his story.

"My dad was there, chained to his throne. While the other me was telling me to 'accept my destiny', dad kept saying that I was free. Free to do what I want, to be who I want to be. When I looked back, the other me was warped, wrong. He looked like a walking corpse! And then," He shuddered, gripping her hand tighter. "He just kind of… fell to pieces. Turned to ash and was blown away the next second."

"Oh, Callum…"

He chuckled a bit, surprising her. "When I turned to dad and said something about how scary it was, he said 'It's your dream, kid.' I can't remember much after that except being on a boat in a storm, and then I was… a sail?" He shook his head. "That part was really weird, but then… the boat sank and I couldn't breathe. I just kept sinking down and down and I couldn't breathe!"

Tears welled in Rayla's eyes as the memory of his short, choked breaths echoed in her head. Shaking, she pulled him down so they were both on their knees and bent down slightly to lay her ear on his chest, right over his heart. The sound of his heartbeat was comforting, and she smiled a bit as it jumped when she squeezed his hand. Callum used his free hand to run his fingers through her hair, marveling at how soft it was, and then ran a thumb down one of her horns curiously, causing her to stiffen slightly and blush. Realizing that the position they were in was uncomfortable, he cautiously leaned backwards and drew her with him to lay on the floor of the cave. She gave no resistance as she made herself comfortable beside him, head still resting on his chest.

"I think." He paused, tracing her horn again. "I think I heard you call for me."

She looked up in surprise, propping her chin on his chest.

"I remember feeling safe and warm. I think that's what brought my mom to me. She helped me to breathe, helped me find my way back. Told me she loved me." He sniffed, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I got to hug my mom again!"

Rayla scooted up so she could wrap her arms around his neck and turn them so he could rest on her chest as he sobbed. Shushing him gently, she ran her fingers through his hair and rubbed his back in soothing circles. Eventually, his tears dried and he just lay there, almost half-asleep.

"Wait!" He gasped suddenly, sitting up and hovering over her with arms braced on either side of her head. "I remember now!" He pointed an accusing finger at her. "You made me forget by yelling at me and then kissing me!"

"I didn't hear you complaining." She remarked wryly.

"Of course you didn't." He stood and pulled her to her feet. "You never will. But this is important! I have it, Rayla! I understand the sky Arcanum!"

"You do?!"

"Yes! It's not one simple thing. It's all the things!"

"All the… things?" Rayla asked with a fond smile, crossing her arms and watching as he began to gesture wildly with each new thought.

"Yes!" He was on a roll now. "They just had to come together, you know? It's like, I used to hold the power of the sky in my hand, right? But now that's gone, poof!"

"Poof?"

"Yes, poof! But, Rayla," He grabbed her by her arms and shook her to emphasize. "The whole world is like one giant primal stone, and we're inside of it! I'm inside sky magic! But it's also in me, with every breath I take." He took several exaggerated breaths, causing her to laugh a bit.

"That kind of makes sense, actually." Rayla said thoughtfully.

"Yes!" He paced away to the front of the cave, waving his arms about wildly. "And I kept thinking about birds, and sails, and how they connect to the wind! And I thought that I had to find my wings…" He faced her and threw out his arms. "But that's just it! I am the wing!"

"That makes less sense, but okay!"

Callum took a deep breath and faced the forest outside. "Moment of truth. Let's see if I can really do this."

Rayla watched over his shoulder as he closed his eyes and took several measured breaths. Slowly he reached his hand out in front of him and, with one more breath, his index finger began glowing blue. She gasped as he drew a familiar rune in the air. A strong breeze kicked up, blowing his hair around.

"ASPIRO." He blew out a soft breath, which grew and became a blistering gale.

The spell was interrupted when Rayla crashed into him, nearly crushing him in her excitement.

"Callum! You did it! You really did it!" She turned him around quickly and pulled him into a deep, enthusiastic kiss.

He stood stunned for a moment, but quickly melted into it. When they finally pulled away, they were both breathless and red-faced.

"Wow…"

"Yeah, wow." She replied unsteadily. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not." He said quickly, albeit shakily. He started to pull her back in when a small voice called out.

"Am I… interrupting something?"

They both turned quickly, blushing to the roots of their hair. Rayla got over her embarrassment quickly.

"Ezran! You're back!" She cried out, rushing to him to pull him into a hug.

"Wait. He was gone?" Callum asked confusedly.

Rayla rolled her eyes, still holding Ezran tightly. "I'm glad you're back, Ez."

"Are you though?" He asked mischievously, causing her to pull back in surprise and blush. "About time, I'd say. I'm sorry for interrupting. Bait and Zym said that you guys needed privacy, but I didn't listen to them."

"What do you mean 'about time'?!"

"I meant exactly what I said, Rayla. Bait and I have a running bet about who would kiss who first." He looked worried for a moment and grabbed her shoulders desperately. "Please tell me it was you, Rayla! If it was Callum, I have to give Bait all my jelly tarts for a month!"

Rayla groaned and threw her hands up to cover her blushing face.

At least they had his approval.