#elarion

This other page, featuring a portrait of Aaravos (IMO a quite unflattering one), is a first-person account by a pre-Elarion human in contact with Aaravos. That means it's at least a couple thousand years old, but we're not going to worry about how it survived to be printed in a book in the Katolis library—the setting writers want the audience to have it, so we have it.

The half of the text visible in the show is highly relevant to the context where it's seen:

Finally he told me his name. I had never heard a name like his, but I had never imagined an elf like him either. He is stronger, older, and wiser than any other magical being in Xadia. Yet he is a friend to all humans. Where others look down on us, call us inferior, he sees great potential in us. When we accept the gifts Aaravos has promised us, they will pay for their conceit; they will be forced to see us as equals. And when we are equal, we can take our fate into our own hands and build our future.

Like the ancient author, Viren has just learned Aaravos's name, and both the name and Aaravos's kind are unfamiliar to him. Aaravos has also already offered him aid:

This is an important parallel in that, when we see exactly how this situation works out for Viren, we understand that Aaravos was not entirely altruistic in his motives with the ancient author, either. (Maybe a bit ironically, since I would guess this text was an early contributor to the perception of Aaravos as a genuine benefactor to humans, unjustly imprisoned for his role in uplifting them.)

The second half of the text, visible in the artbook, references the city of Elarion as already seen in the opening of s3:

I see it in my dreams - a magnificent, glorious city, the pride of all humanity. A place where we will no longer have to hide, frozen and afraid, from the prejudices of elves and dragons. A place that can stand against any assault, and stand in the history of humanity for generations. It will not be easy, but with the help of our benefactor...

In the wake of s3, it was easy (I assume, because I wasn't there) to read this and conclude that the author of this text was Ziard, another ancient human who received gifts from Aaravos—most notably, dark magic.

Done and dusted, right? (Just like Ziard, lmao.) Well... maybe, until:

June 2020: Book One: Moon novel, with the first version of the Unicorn's Gift story

March 2022: Tales of Xadia, with the second version of the Unicorn's Gift story and crucial information about Elarion itself

May 2022: Official "Midnight Star" translation

November 2022: Season 4

April 2023: "Ripples"

July 2024: Season 6

In short, we learn (roughly) in order that humans were given some form of primal magic before they had dark magic, that access to primal magic built Elarion into a large, thriving city, Aaravos is believed to have given the humans of Elarion dark magic (confirmation of previous implications), Aaravos is not on humanity's side and has manipulated human mages many times (confirmation of previous implications), that original gift of magic to humans was a punishable crime, and the criminally gifted magic was not primal magic.

The ancient author of this text has a vision for a future glorious city of humanity, to be achieved in part by gifts Aaravos has offered. Aaravos gave humans primal magic, whether in the form of primal stones (as described in the version of the Unicorn's Gift tale attributed to him) or direct knowledge of primal arcana.

(Could the referenced gifts have been something else, like practical aid or physical resources? Sure, technically, but that third page in the artbook source trifecta helpfully offers a much later reflection on Aaravos as a historical figure in humanity's past, which characterizes him as "willing to share his immense magical power with those who needed it most." So I think it's a pretty safe bet that they at least included magic.)

I could stop there, because "Aaravos gave humans primal magic" is a pretty big personal "I was fucking right" moment as a standalone thesis. However, I have yet to talk about "Midnight Star." Yes, I lied.

Something I have long gone back and forth on is the recurring-but-nonspecific allusions to a time of great human suffering and persecution in ancient Xadia. A time when the gap between humans and elves was vast, with humans starving to death in the dirt while elves apparently looked on in disdain. Or something.

I'm putting those two sequences side-by-side very specifically, because in practically the very next breath, s4 deliberately invites us to question that narrative. Literally, "How do you know this?" and then leaving us with the stalemate that Claudia deeply believes this is true, and Soren doesn't feel the same.

Elarion, if this timeline slide from 2019 (part of the run-up to s3 release) is still to be believed, "rose" (or, generously, began its rise) a thousand years before we have been told dark magic entered the picture:

If, as Tales of Xadia says, humanity's access to primal magic enabled the rise of Elarion as the pinnacle of human achievement, Ziard didn't see that pre-magic time of human struggle any more than Claudia did. (Unless he's a lot older than would normally be assumed, which is admittedly possible.) Add in that when we actually glimpse that pre-magic period in s6, what we see is not exactly a grim hellscape of suffering:

Now, let's finally look at "Midnight Star." Most of the time, I'm interested in the later stanzas, and have glossed over the first couple as a general description of early Elarion being established and persisting despite some kind of adversity.

Elarion, trembling seed, lay down to earth in icy night, and in the cold her roots took hold defying winter’s deathly bite.

A fragile seed struggling to sprout in the depths of winter is an evocative image for that concept, while being even vaguer than the other references we've had to human suffering in Xadia. Both Claudia and Ziard reference starvation, and Tales of Xadia backs up both that and Claudia's reference to disease when it says the humans of early Elarion "struggled together against famine, plague, and the indifference of Xadia's magical denizens." "Midnight Star" references none of those, instead focusing on imagery of cold, darkness, and fear.

Enter our s2/artbook first-person source, which uses some very interesting and specific phrasing to describe their dream city: "A place where we will no longer have to hide, frozen and afraid, from the prejudices of elves and dragons." I touched a bit on this in the translation post, but to recap: based on translation by an actual speaker of Danish and some cursory poking around, "frozen" here is specific to cold, not an idiomatic equivalent to "paralyzed" as is common in English when the word is placed in context with fear. This may be an effect of the text probably being originally in English and translated into Danish, but in the context of "Midnight Star"—and recall that the first appearance of this text is adjacent to the first appearance of "Midnight Star"—I think it's worthy of consideration.

We also have another text related to this era that references darkness and fear, in "Ripples":

They nurtured their precious primal flames secretly—in the dark of night, beneath shadows and shrouds—as cultivating its glow drew the eyes and ire of monsters.

and

The falling star plummeted, down and down and down, until it struck the breathless world below. With its impact came a long and terrible night: The earth bled! The seas churned! The sun and moon hid for weeks behind the sky’s screaming storm! And in that endless dark the humans despaired.

That first section has been noted many times as similar to the mysterious "she searched the dark / for but a spark / and caught the dragons’ hungry eye" of "Midnight Star," and is one of the things that make the two very confusing. Which of these sources is more accurate in its description and timeline? One is a very figurative poetic retelling of events we have yet to fully understand, and the other is, well... by Aaravos, noted obscurer of the truth.

Here's a theory:

"Ripples" alludes to Leola's execution as being in part a "calamity" visited upon the humans of Xadia to correct their improper acquisition of magic:

Where once [the stars had] watched errant flames burn with pride and undeserved power, there was now only stillness.

The story describes geological tumult that lasts for weeks, but that kind of impact would almost definitely alter the climate for years... in a way that would cause (relative) darkness, cold, and starvation. The other thing we know about this time is that, by his own account, Aaravos secluded himself from the world for a hundred mortal years to mourn his daughter. Whether or not you accept that his tears literally filled the Sea of the Castout—and I'm not going to go off on a research tangent to figure out how long it would take an impact crater several miles across to naturally become an inland sea—he was absent for several human lifetimes. That's more than enough time for him to be entirely forgotten, as we see in the s2 mystery author's account.

This calamity would also not have been restricted to humans, it affects all of Xadia. Which is to say: it could have gone a long way toward widening the gap between humans and elves and deepening that resentment. Maybe the dragons and elves did nothing to help the struggling humans because they figured it was the humans' own fault. Maybe they were also struggling in the long, cold dark, and chose to prioritize their own people's survival. That's certainly not something we've got story precedent for or anyth... oh wait.

Like if you want to get real tinfoil-hat about this, we know that the Sunfire elves of Lux Aurea—a city that Tales of Xadia refers to as having stood through "even through the darkest of times" "since the time of Elarion"—at some point received a magnificent source of light, heat, and life... the Great Orb, "the gift of a millennium." What if that gift was to help them survive that period of struggle, in their great city that humans may later have emulated as an ideal of security? That would make a beautiful open bracket to be closed by humanity's aid to the Sunfire elves after the loss of Lux Aurea, just saying.

But I think it would explain a lot for Aaravos to emerge from mourning Leola into a world that was (almost) as fundamentally altered by her death as he was himself—a world where the cracks in the Cosmic Order are beginning to show.

You and your husband were both fascinated in the world. He was interested in the secrets it and the universe had to offer. He was a curious soul, wanting to possess every secret of potential each primal source held. As for you, you couldn't help but admire the beauty of everything, how each source and secret flows into one another, how everything is connected, and the life existing in such ephemeral things. That's how the two of you were drawn together. Coming together, you made Leola.

Everything you thought about beauty was remade on the day she was born. She was the most beautiful being to ever exist. You were not put off by the fact she only had one horn, that just made her more beautiful in your eyes. She was so unique, no one else could ever compare, her one being made in this moment. The fact she was adored by Aaravos only confirmed the deep love you held for her. There was something that fascinated him more the secrets of the universe, that proved how precious she was. The love he held for her, made your love for him stronger.

You both called her "my little unicorn," and that nickname wasn't misplaced. As she grew she grew pure and innocent, with a large warm open heart. She was curious and clever like her father, and cared not about the flaws of mortals, much like you. However her compassion seemed much greater than yours, as you admired mortals as they were, she would spread her love amongst them. They loved her as she loved them. She had many friends, in animals, elves and humans. She even showed kindness to the plants surrounding her. She had moments of being odd, but you only saw them as lovely little quirks she had. You would not trade her for anyone else.

She knew how loved she was, and drew pictures for you and Aaravos. She drew pictures of him, her, them together, for you she drew pictures of flowers and trees, beautiful things she knew you loved.

You were all so happy in those short years.

Yet that happiness...in one instant...was taken from you.

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You begged, and argued with the council to spare your daughter. She was an innocent child who did no wrong and never sought to. You were willing to die for her, She had potential to be greater than you, she was much more beautiful than you were, her spark should not be snuffed out. They refused, the only mercy they gave was that either you or your husband could die with her if you chose.

Your spirit died in that moment, knowing there was nothing you could do to save her. There was no possible way to continue life, knowing such a beautiful child was murdered, was taken from you, that would be an injustice. You were so tempted to die, so your Leola wouldn't be alone where she went, so you wouldn't feel such agony of grief, yet you saw his eyes. He was angry, he possessed such a fury, one would be driven to do anything. What of the world Leola loved, what would happen to it? A bigger injustice, would be letting Leola's wish be unheard. So you chose to live, and protect the world she loved.

She was so scared when she died, but you did your best to comfort her before the end. You and your love cried for 100 years following her death, knealt over her fallen form. There were times you held him as he cried, times he held you, times you held each other, and times where you just let your tears fall. Your wailing could be heard to the stars, as the merciful one came and comforted you. You didn't want their comfort, you wanted nothing more to do with the stars and the heavens. From now on, you were solely earth-bound, as the heavens had betrayed you.

Both your hearts had dimmed. He became known as the midnight star, while you were the star of twilight. You and Aaravos hardly spoke anymore, there was no joy left in your life. Yet you had a mission. You continued where Leola left off, and taught the humans primal magic, entrusting the knowledge to the wise ones. You barely let yourself be known, lest the stars intervene then as well. Cloaked and mysterious, you taught them the makings of primal stones, taught them the ancient draconic words, and thus Elarion rose from the knowledge, as well as other major cities. You didn't limit your help to them, you also passed on advice and insight to elven cities, and the wise ones residing there. As for the dragons, you kept your distance.

Anak Arow garnered your disdain and contempt, you confronted the Dragon royalty after your greiving, telling them the result of the prince's actions. As much as they tried not to offend you, they didn't see any harm in what he had done. So you gave them a prophecy, Anak Arow will die in suffering, despair and agony, and it will be brought on entirely by his own fury and arrogance.

Even that couldn't dispell your pain.

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You heard how the humans aquired something dark and preverse. Sol Regum had gotten involved and was blinded, crippled, and apparently he also lost his mate. This seemed too convient.

As well, humans were content enough with primal magics, some even forging their own connections. Why would they seek out the destruction of magical creatures, just to aquire power they already obtained? Morever, how would they discover that the power within others could be taken and used? There was one you knew who understood all magics, even the deep and dangerous kind. You never thought he would share it with humanity. You thought maybe it wasn't him. You were hoping it wasn't.

Eventually the unicorns were all but wiped out and the continent was split. You could not ignore this any longer. As you two had barely spoke, you still knew how to find each other. You confronted him.

"Were you the one who did this? Did you teach the humans this magic?"

"They would have discovered it on their own, I just sped up the process."

"It was you, the unicorns are near dead, and it is your doing." You were in shock.

"Why would you do this? The humans were content enough with the primal secrets given to them, they could survive."

"They would not thrive. With this power they can stand on their own easily, they would not be threatened by those who look down on them."

"They are feared, the elves and dragons are disgusted by them; the whole race is being prosecuted when many of them are innocent."

"They are innocent, they only seek to help their people."

"You've taught them to murder for power. You've corrupted them. Murder is something that eats away at the spirit; even using what has been murdered for power...it's vile."

"It's what the humans need." You could not look at him.

"You were beautiful once...the humans can still be beautiful. This...is not beautiful. You wish for humans to have power over elves and dragons, with a power that can wipe them out. This is not the world our daughter wanted."

"No, this is the world the stars asked for when they murdered her."

"You rather give them what they expect, instead of trying to prove them wrong. Prove that humans having magic is no threat, instead you prove them right...you prove that our daughter's murder was justified." You could not help but cry.

"It will never be justified. They murdered an innocent child."

"What murder will this wrought? Too much to count." There was silence. "I will not go against you, as that would make Leola sad to know her parents are fighting each other, but I cannot stand with you."

He was not the elf you loved, even if you loved him still. He was not the father Leola loved. This was a stranger, a monster wracked with grief.

Before Xadia was truly split, you asked those at the Moon Nexus to let you see your child. You longed for her in those trying times. They warned you of the danger, that you could be lost. You didn't care, if you were you'd at least be with your daughter.

How could you face her though, her mother who failed to protect her? Seeing her again, you could not stop your tears. You apologized profusely. You expressed your desire to not leave her side. She was happy to see you, she still loved you.

"Mommy, please help Daddy. He is lost."

You still had a reason to live. So you agreed. How could save him without standing against him?

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When Luna Tenebris died you knew it was him, just as you knew it was him when Adititi disappeared. The elves and dragons went to war and threatened to destroy each other. It seemed Aaravos wished to destroy all of Xadia. There was an orphan, who wished to investigate the Chaos. She was tenacious, but she had a good heart. You presented her with Aaravos' key, it opened a book of power, but could also detect when power was near.

"To know what happened, you must know where it came from." That was all you told her. The Orphan found the source to be from the stars and travelled to the far north to determine who it could be, as they knew everything about the stars. They informed her only the Midnight Star was capable of such feats, as all the power was his to know. They gifted her with the Novablade, so she could deal with this Fallen star. She approached the Dragons, and told them of his treachery. That's when you approached her again.

She sought to slay the threat, you had to inform her that would not work.

"After a star's body is slain, their essence retreats to the heavens and they reforge their form when the stars align again."

"There has to be some way to kill him."

"The only way a startouch elf can be killed is when they are in the heavens, their star would be forced to fall to earth, but only startouch elves may enter the heavens, it's not for mortals to tread."

"You knew it was Aaravos when you talked with me before, didn't you?"

"There isn't much I don't know."

"Then why not just reveal what you knew?"

"It's not my destiny to reveal the truth."

"You know him don't you." This made you freeze in your pacing.

"The cube, it glows with the same power around you as it does him. You're of his kin...one of the great ones." She could see your eyes now had an intense hatred inside of them.

"That is technically true."

"Then you could deal with him, if only a startouch elf can kill one."

"Even if I chose to help you, it is for nought. We must be in the heavens to end his life, and neither him nor I will step foot there."

"Why not?" You turned to her sharply, your eyes were filled with hatred and anger, but also saddness and grief.

"We wish not to have anything more to do with them!"

"How can we stop him then?" You softened. She generally cared for everyone around her and wished for peace, a world that Leola wished for.

"Not easily. He can forsee the future if he knows what to look for, and has the power of all sources. If you let him, he will continue to unleash chaos upon the land. For starters, you must not let him know what you know, act as though you are unaware. Then, you must trap his essence. He could go anywhere he pleases such is his power, but to trap his essence, his power would be limited. He would still have power regardless, so no one can know his location, or else he will get them to free him."

So she forged alliances, the dragons, elves and humans together worked together to forge his prison, with special mention to the human mage known as the jailer. The orphan sought my help, one final key to stopping Aaravos.

"You know where he will be, you could help us trap him." You sighed.

"If I do this, there is no going back for me." The Orphan was confused, but you agreed. You told her of where you could find the most opportune time to trap him, and agreed to distract him so it could happen. This would be a betrayal to him, but he had already betrayed you when he lost sight of himself.

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"What do you hope to gain from having Xadia detroy itself?" You asked him one day.

"Why do you assume that's my goal?" You gave him an incredulous look.

"The elves and dragons are at war with each other. They seek to destroy each other, similar to the use of dark magic, destroying the magical folk. I know you well, Aaravos." He chuckled. "What do you hope to gain? All of this is chaos."

"That's the point of all of this. The cosmic order believes humans having magic would bring chaos and destruction, so that's what it's getting."

"You wish to play into the destiny that is written, instead of writing a different story."

"Do not tell me you are defending the cosmic order, the very thing that issued our daughter to death."

"You seek to destroy it, but what else would you destroy in your path? I agree it is cruel, to condemn a child who meant no harm, but cruelty will be ended with love, not more cruelty!"

"You wish to show love and mercy upon those who haevn't had enough cruelty thrust upon them to know our pain. They deserve to suffer as we have. As I continue to suffer."

"Do not mistake my inaction as apathy, Aaravos! Who cried that ocean with you!? Who stayed by your side the entire 100 years and wept with you over what we lost!? I want nothing more to do with the stars and if I never see them again it would be too soon! That does not justify vengeance, Leola would not have wished it."

"Maybe not, but Leola is gone due to the cruelty of the world, so I must be cruel in return."

"I really hope you can come to your senses, Aaravos and see what our daughter truly desired." Aaravos was then trapped. Your eyes gazed at him with tears. You've truly lost everything now. Aaravos' eyes see you as just another traitor. How could you face him again? The jailor would hide the prison, and then hide herself until the day she died, all so no one could know where he was.