He reached his destination, eventually

It took Callum almost five weeks to reach the Cursed Caldera from the Storm Spire, a lot more than what it took him to do same route, only in the other direction, when he was with Rayla and Zym. One could have thought he had gotten lost if had been waiting for him at the destinatio. The truth was that the young Human Mage couldn’t refrain from stopping and observing every little glimpse of the wondrous Xadian landscape as he went.
He drew and took notes about every new creature and plant that his curious eye met along the way.
By the time he had finally reached his destination, he had managed to fill a whole tome.

Before ascending to the Caldera, Callum decided it would have been nice to have a last night in normal bed and eat some real food.
He hadn’t forget Lujanne ‘cusine’ and he had no idea how much time he would have to spend at the Nexus in order to learn how to connect to the Arcanum of the Moon.
He stabled Jackass, then made for the only tavern of the small village that rested at the foot of the mountain.
The inside of the tavern was clean and cozy. A few patrons were quietly drinking next to the fireplace, others were playing darts in a corner.
No one payed him much attention.
After having rented a room for the night, Callum sat at a table and waited for someone to come and take his order.

“Callum!” he heard as he intently reviewed the notes of the last few days.
He turned and barely had the time to acknowledge the girl dashing towards him before she was sitting on his lap, arms around his neck.
“Ellis!?!” he cried out in surprise.
“Callum, where have you been all this time?” asked the girl,” I thought you would never come,” she said pouting her lips.
The young Mage stared back a the girl, looking in her big brown eyes.
Ellis had grown much since the last time he had seen her. She had stayed rather short in height, but her body had really started to bloom.
Suddenly, he was overcome with embarrassment.

“I have been traveling through all Xadia,” he said gently lifting the girl little round bum from his lap,” To learn magic, you know,” he explained scratching his head uncomfortably.
“Yeah but… even Ezram has managed to squeeze some time to come and say hi. Are you saying that your affairs are more important than ruling a kingdom?” asked the girl skeptically.
“I,err, I don’t know what else to say. I was so taken by everything else that I didn’t think about it, sorry Ellis. It is good to see you again. How’s Ava?”
“She’s doing great actually. Lately she has taken the habit to sleep in forest at night. I like that she is getting back to her true nature, even if sometimes I feel lonely sleeping all by myself. But hey, don’t you even think to change subject like that. I’m not letting you off the hook so easily. You. Forgot. About. Me.” the girl spelled the girl poking at his chest with a rather ponty finger.

Callum simpered, shrugging in his shoulder. Ellis bold attitude was being a real surprise to him.
She kept scowling at him for a long moment.

“Ok, I’ll forgive you, but you have to tell me everything about your travels in exchange,” she suddenly smiled. The girl took Callum hand in hers while she kept staring at him with sparkling eyes.
“I will try to sneak out and come to your room later, ok?”
Callum eyes widened.
Ellis was really getting ahead of herself. Was she into him, he wondered.
Be as it may, she was definitely too young for him.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea Ellis. I’m tired and I have an early wake up tomorrow,” he replied.
“Waaaht? You’re leaving already?!?”
“I’m climbing the Caldera tomorrow. I need to see Lujanne and visit the ruins,”
“Oh, so that’s why you came, to see auntie Lujanne,” grumbled the girl dejectedly.
“Yeah, why?”
“Well, a while back Ez told me that you and Rayla broke up and, you know, I just thought you had came to… It doesn’t matter,” replied the girl ruefully, “Now I have to get back to the kitchen. I’m working here, you know,” she added blushing.
Presently, she leaned over and gave Callum a peck on his cheek, than pivoted on her heel and walked away.
As she did, Callum found himself gazing at her bum, even if only for a brief moment.
“It was nice seeing you, Ellis,” he cried the waving his hand.
The girl turned, and to his surprise mouthed “see you tonight” then winked.