he’s my friend… my best friend 💜

Before Callum could say anything else, the doors were immediately pushed open.

“SURPRISE!! “Happy 18th, birthday mage!”

The room lit up brightly with exploding confetti and swelled with a cheering crowd. Then Rayla came running to him and engulfed herself in his arms, and along with everyone, she and Ezran began to sing:

“Have a mystical magical birthday,

Have a wonderful whimsical birthday,

Have a fun and fantastical birthday!

With wishes and kisses and laughing, and love!”

After finishing the song, the crowd cheered and Rayla pulled Callum's head close to plant a kiss on his cheek.

“Happy birthday, my mage,” she told him softly. Callum turned Rayla towards him and held her tightly. Because she was here with him now, what was a sour anniversary for the past three years became a joyous, celebratory day once again.

Ezran came forward and joined in on the hug.

“Happy birthday, big brother! I know these past few months have been rough and we may not be home anymore, but I still wanted to make sure you got to celebrate your own special day. And Rayla and I wanted to plan something fun for you.”

“This is perfect!” Callum responded. “I’m so happy to have you all here with me,” he said warmly as he stroked Rayla’s arm. Afterwards, his aunt Amaya came and signed him "Happy Birthday" followed by her special bear hug, with Queen Janai giving her birthday wishes the Sunfire way. Runaan and Ethari also came from the Silvergrove to spend the day, along with Aanya, who aided Ezran, Rayla, and the council in putting the party together.

"Ooh ooh ooh! Happy birthday Callum!" chanted Zym, who was approaching jumpily while carrying Bait, Stella, and the baitlings, who were all wearing different trinkets.

"Uhhh…thank you…Zym…" Callum responded, still not quite used to the young dragon speaking.

Barius wheeled the cart with his special pineapple right-side-up cake. Callum felt his mouth watering when he saw the cream sliding beneath the chopped fruit.

"I hope this time around, you'd be willing to try the cake, I made some changes and I promise you'll love it!" Barius thrummed once he reached them and lit up all eighteen candles across the cake.

"Close your eyes and make a wish!" Ezran exclaimed. Callum took a light breath smiling, doing as his brother told him. Then without hesitation, he blew all the tiny flames out.

A few moments later, Callum sat together with Ezran, enjoying Barius’s cake. “You know,” Ezran started after swallowing a bite. “I’m really happy that you and Rayla are back together again. Even with everything that happened between us recently, I still prefer you two together than fighting and arguing a lot,” he finished with an awkward smile.

Callum let out a small chuckle and scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, me too. I’m really glad to have Rayla back in my life more than anything, we’re definitely in a much better place than we ever were,” he responded. Callum smiled then noticed Ezran’s look in Aanya’s direction. “So, what’s been going on between you and Aanya? You guys seem to be getting closer to each other lately.” Ezran’s cheeks began to blush. “We’re uh…  really close friends, that’s all.”

Callum smirked then leaned in closer to Ezran. “Close friends, huh? You sure we don’t need to have that talk about the sandwiches soon?”

Ezran now felt his whole face flush with heat. “Callum! Stop it!” he cried out as he nudged his laughing brother in the arm. “I told you, we’re just friends!” He hid his face in his hands while Callum cooled down and let out a sigh.

“Alright, alright,” he said to wind Ezran down. “I’m just letting you know that if you wanna talk about anything, including relationships or even just friendships, I’m here for you, buddy,”

“Thank you,” Ezran finally said coolly as the two boys went in for a hug. “And oh, one last thing,” Ezran said as he pulled away from his brother. “Rayla has one more birthday surprise for you, she’s waiting for you on the bridge.”

~~~

Callum walked towards the bridge and he saw Rayla standing at the edge looking towards the river.

“You know,” Rayla started as he finally met up with her and put his hand on her shoulder. “I originally wanted to show you the Moonshadow birthday dance for your fifteenth birthday but -” She paused to catch her breath before she could continue. “I know I messed up and ruined your birthday,”

“Rayla,” Callum told her softly, stroking her shoulder.

“It’s why this time I decided to help put this party together, I wanted to make things right, to make your memory of your birthday —”

Callum quickly turned her towards him and pulled her in for a kiss. When he finally pulled back, he looked earnestly into her eyes as he held her.

"Rayla, you don't need to keep explaining yourself. All of that is behind us and now we're here together. I couldn't have asked for a better birthday. And you can show me the Moonshadow birthday dance this time,"

Rayla smiled and nodded. She then circled around Callum with each careful step of her toes, her arms gesturing with each graceful movement. Her performance was elegant, yet struggled to conceal her rising fear of embarrassment. Doubt — she wouldn't let herself mess this up for him. Not again.

With a final, finishing curtsey on her boot, she held her hand out with a playful smile. Callum stared at her blankly and blinked erratically.

"Huh, what? Me?" he stuttered. "Rayla, uh… I don't know if I can do this." He let out a forced chuckle.

"You'll be fine, I trust you," Rayla told him as she grabbed his hand. "Besides, I'll take it easy on you."

She winked at him as she abruptly pulled him closer and placed his hand on her waist. Callum went from exclaiming to smiling determinedly at Rayla right away as he interlaced his fingers with hers. With Rayla guiding him, they slowly swayed across the bridge, with their arms ebbing and flowing like waves. Rayla raised both their arms and Callum, understanding the signal, gently spun her around. He then sent her gliding away from him yet still gripped her hand tightly. With a twinkle in his eyes, he pulled her back into his arms.

"See? I knew you got this!" Rayla playfully cheered, leaning into him. "It's not that hard,"

Callum then turned Rayla towards him and smirked. Both on their toes, they harmonized elegantly like two doves circling each other in the sky. After a few more twirls, Callum finally dipped her. He supported her with one hand at the small of her back while Rayla caressed his hair. They completely lost themselves in each other's eyes — until Rayla quickly leaned forward to kiss a wide-eyed Callum. Pulling back a little, she slid her hand down to his heart.

"I love you, dummy." She softly chuckled. Smiling, they leaned in for another kiss until they could no longer contain their snorts and giggles.

When they finally finished dancing, they both snuggled against a tree with Rayla leaning her head on Callum's shoulder. Their eyes were locked up on the brightest star in the sky — a star they now fully understood the true full story of.

"Who would've thought?" Callum started as he continued staring. "That this one star that had a bunch of different names, ended up being the biggest reason we have to defeat an angry vengeful titan?"

Rayla stirred on his shoulder slightly and sighed. "Even in Xadia, I haven't heard of Leola's connection to Aaravos. Or about some all powerful cosmic force that would kill an innocent child."

Both their hearts grew heavy as they remembered what Ezran and Terry told them.

"This was the very beginning of the cycle." Callum sighed.