There’s A Reason Lots Of Good Parents Say To Babies Stuff Like

In a Heartbeat - Animated Short Film (2017)

A closeted boy runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.

© Beth David and Esteban Bravo 2017

It’s here! After a year and a half of hard work, we are both so excited to finally share our film with you. Thank you all for your support and encouragement - this film means the world to us, and your kindness and enthusiasm has made this journey all the more meaningful. It is our great pleasure to share with you this labor of love, and we hope with all our hearts that you enjoy watching it as much as we did making it.

<3

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2REkk9SCRn0 Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/227690432

What To Do If A Tumblr User Appears to Be Considering Attempting Or Is Going To Attempt Suicide

The first thing you want to do is report the blog to Tumblr staff.

 You can alert the Tumblr staff by sending them a quick email explaining the situation. It is critical that in your email you include a link to the user’s blog, since this way they can easily identify the user in question and contact them. But you shouldn’t solely depend on the Tumblr staff unless you have to, since there is only so much the staff can do. 

Check to see if there is any way of contacting someone the user knows in real life.

 If there is anyone that this user interacts with in real life (a good friend, a relative they have a positive relationship with, a colleague they have from work, etc.) that knows them and you can get in touch with (whether through Tumblr messages, email, etc, it doesn’t matter) it is essential that you contact them. Tell them that you believe the user in question is likely to attempt or is attempting to commit suicide.

 If you aren’t sure how to find someone the user interacts with in real life, see *.

Continue to message the aforementioned person.

 Once you’ve managed contact with the person that the user interacts with in real life and warned them that the user in question is likely to attempt or is attempting to commit suicide, stay in contact with them. It is important to tell them that they should call a suicide prevention hotline number if the user is considering suicide (1-800-273-8255 is the national suicide prevention hotline number if they live in the U.S, if they don’t click here for a vital list of all suicide hotlines for different countries (if there is no suicide prevention hotline for the user’s country see **) and tell them instead that they should go straight to calling an emergency number if the user is in immediate danger (911 if they live in the United States, and click here for a list of the emergency numbers for other countries if they live outside the U.S). What a lot of people don’t realize about most suicide prevention hotlines is that it isn’t just for people who are considering suicide, it’s also for people who believe someone they know is considering attempting and/or is going to attempt to commit suicide. Once the person has made contact with the hotline, professionals will handle the situation from that point forward. DON’T CONTINUE TO MESSAGE THE PERSON ONCE THEY’VE MADE IT CLEAR THEY WILL CALL OR ARE CALLING THE NUMBER. Wait for them to get back to you. I understand how worrisome it can be to wait to receive information on whether or not someone you follow and care about is okay, but you have to let the person do what they can to save the suicidal user without interruption.

* How to find people that could help the user.

Make a post on your blog(s) about the user, explaining the situation in the post. It’s important to also explain that you’re looking for people who know this user in real life and you can get in contact with to figure out a way to help prevent them from committing suicide. Also include a link back to this current post you’re reading so that other people can be informed and help you take action. It is vital that you get your post to circulate so that more people will see it. The more people that see the post, the greater the chance there is that you will be able to locate someone who can do something in real life to save the user. You can help the post circulate by tagging popular blogs you know that would be willing to reblog your post and bring attention to their own followers. Eventually, you’ll hopefully find someone who knows the user in real life. If you don’t, double check to make sure that you informed Tumblr staff of the situation and send the user all the love that you can and pray that they turn out okay, they could really use it at the moment.

** What you should do if the only available numbers are for immediate danger, but the user in question is only considering committing suicide.

 In this situation it is important that you make sure you don’t lose contact with the person that knows the user. You need to help inform them so that they know how to correctly approach the user about suicide. Send them a link to this site (the site link is http://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/ for a quick copy and paste) should this scenario occur. This site is extremely useful for informing a person on how to approach someone they believe is considering committing suicide. It would be helpful to consider giving the site a visit for yourself, as it could come in handy should you ever have to confront someone you think is suicidal.

______________________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

In case you aren’t sure what happens when you call a suicide hotline, visit: https://www.healthyplace.com/suicide/suicide-hotline-what-happens-when-you-call. This way you can better understand what happens when the person you’re contacting makes the call for the user, or should you need to make a call yourself.

Furthermore, a question you might ask is “Why do I need to contact someone the user knows in real life instead of confronting them online myself if they’re only suicidal and in no immediate danger”? Well, websites and social media platforms will only ever be text on a screen, at some point you have to realize that. So confronting the user over the internet through said text isn’t going to be nearly as effective or sure of a method as someone they know personally sitting down with them and discussing it with them in real life. It is encouraged to send the user some love and support online if they are suicidal, but it’s more important to make sure someone they know assists them in getting the help they need.

Same feeling here!! 😢😢😢😢

What I Gathered From The Finale

- Riley is canonically bisexual

- Rajan, Kala, and Wolfgang are in a poly relationship

- Nomi’s mom loves weed

- Sun’s dog is the only family that matters

- Lito is the most flexible actor out there

- Will and Diego are the bros of the century

- Capheus loves everyone and is a beautiful angel

- EVERYTHING IS FINE AND GREAT IM JUST SAD THAT ITS OVERRRR

Here you go - THINKtober is here - the ULTIMATE Inktober resource - a MASSIVE collection of my FREE tutorials, all divided into TAILORED SETS for EVERY ONE of Jake Parker’s 31 OFFICIAL DAILY PROMPTS for INKTOBER 2020!

Thousands of

FREE

ideas and tips, useful no matter what your ability level, I hope they help you all with your awesome creations - enjoy, link, pin share!

Lorenzo!

INKTOBER

DAY ONE

(Thursday Oct 1st) PROMT:

“FISH”

How to draw DOLPHINS

How to draw CRABS

How to draw SEAWEED

How to draw TENTACLES

How to draw UNDERWATER

How to draw SEA WATER and WAVES

How to draw WATER REFLECTIONS

How to draw WHIRLPOOLS

How to draw PIRATE SHIPS

INKTOBER

DAY TWO

(Friday Oct 2nd) PROMT:

“WISP”

How to draw SMOKE

How to draw SMALL FLAMES

How to draw GHOSTS

How to draw WEBS

How to draw CLOUDS

INKTOBER

DAY THREE

(Saturday Oct 3rd) PROMT:

“BULKY”

How to draw PIGS

How to draw T-REX

How to draw BEARDS

How to draw TATTOOS

How to draw SHOULDER ARMOUR

How to draw CHAINS

How to draw IN 3D

How to draw MONSTER HEADS

How to draw MONSTER TRUCKS

How to draw MUSCLE CARS

INKTOBER

DAY FOUR

(Sunday Oct 4th) PROMT:

“RADIO”

How to draw CABLES and WIRES

How to draw MECHANICAL DETAILS

How to draw ELECTRICITY

How to draw EARS

How to draw DANCING

INKTOBER

DAY FIVE

(Monday Oct 5th) PROMT:

“BLADE”

How to draw SWORD FIGHTS

How to draw BATTLE SCENES

How to draw MOTION LINES

How to draw IMPACT DEBRIS

How to draw BREAKING GLASS

How to draw BATTLE DAMAGE

How to draw ARMS

(part 1)

How to draw ARMS

(part 2)

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

How to draw SHOULDER ARMOUR

How to draw SHINY OR REFLECTIVE METAL

INKTOBER

DAY SIX

(Tuesday Oct 6th) PROMT:

“RODENT”

How to draw FUR

How to draw CREATURE TEETH

How to draw SNOUTS

How to draw CLAWS

How to draw SQUIRRELS

How to draw TRASH HEAPS

INKTOBER

DAY SEVEN

(Wednesday Oct 7th) PROMT:

“FANCY”

How to draw 1940s HAIR

How to draw PATTERNED CLOTHING

How to draw CLOAKS and CAPES

How to draw FLOWER CROWNS

How to draw GEMS and CRYSTALS

How to draw GOLD

How to draw CHROME

How to draw ROSES

How to draw CAKES and DESSERTS

INKTOBER

DAY EIGHT

(Thursday Oct 8th) PROMT:

“TEETH”

How to draw CREATURE TEETH

How to draw HAPPY EXPRESSIONS

How to draw SNOUTS

How to draw MONSTER HEADS

INKTOBER

DAY NINE

(Friday Oct 9th) PROMT:

“THROW”

How to draw ARMS

(part 1)

How to draw ARMS

(part 2)

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

How to draw MOTION LINES

How to draw IMPACT DEBRIS

INKTOBER

DAY TEN

(Saturday Oct 10th) PROMT:

“HOPE”

How to draw HAPPY EXPRESSIONS

How to draw FIELDS OF GRASS

How to draw THE HORIZON

How to draw STARS/SPACE

INKTOBER

DAY ELEVEN

(Sunday Oct 11th) PROMT:

“DISGUSTING”

How to draw SLIME MONSTERS

How to draw TENTACLES

How to draw WEBS

How to draw BONES

How to draw SNAKES

How to draw CREATURE TEETH

How to draw MONSTER HEADS

How to draw CLAWS

How to draw CAVES

How to draw FUNGUS

How to draw OVERGROWN VEGETATION

INKTOBER

DAY TWELVE

(Monday Oct 12th) PROMT:

“SLIPPERY”

How to draw ICE

How to draw SNOW

How to draw MOTION LINES

How to draw SNAKES

How to draw TENTACLES

How to draw SLIME MONSTERS

INKTOBER

DAY THIRTEEN

(Tuesday Oct 13th) PROMT:

“DUNE”

How to draw SAND DUNES

How to draw PALM TREES

How to draw CRABS

How to draw TREASURE CHESTS

How to draw SEA WATER and WAVES

How to draw PEBBLES

How to draw SEAWEED

INKTOBER

DAY FOURTEEN

(Wednesday Oct 14th) PROMT:

“ARMOUR”

How to draw SHOULDER ARMOUR

How to draw ROBOT ARMS

How to draw ROBOT HANDS

How to draw CLOAKS

How to draw BUCKLES

How to draw FLAGS

How to draw SPACE HELMETS

How to draw CHROME

How to draw CHAINS

How to draw BATTLE DAMAGE

INKTOBER

DAY FIFTEEN

(Thursday Oct 15th) PROMT:

“OUTPOST”

How to draw WOODEN BUILDINGS

How to draw FENCES

How to draw BUILDINGS

How to draw POD HOUSES

How to draw STONE COLUMNS

How to draw TIKI STATUES

How to draw JUNK HOUSES

How to draw VINES and CREEPERS

How to draw OVERGROWN VEGETATION

How to draw INTERIOR BASICS

How to draw DETAILED INTERIORS

How to draw FLAGS

INKTOBER

DAY SIXTEEN

(Friday Oct 16th) PROMT:

“ROCKET”

How to draw ROCKET THRUST

How to draw SMOKE

How to draw CLOUDS

How to draw ROCKET SHIPS

How to draw MECHANICAL DETAILS

How to draw CABLES and WIRES

How to draw SPACE HELMETS

How to draw STARS/SPACE

INKTOBER

DAY SEVENTEEN

(Saturday Oct 17th) PROMT:

“STORM”

How to draw RAIN

How to draw SNOW

How to draw CLOUDS

How to draw WAVES

How to draw PALM TREES

(in the wind)

INKTOBER

DAY EIGHTEEN

(Sunday Oct 18th) PROMT:

“TRAP”

How to draw TREASURE MAPS

How to draw SCROLLS

How to draw TREASURE CHESTS

How to draw GEMS and CRYSTALS

How to draw GOLD

How to draw CAVES

How to draw WEBS

How to draw BONES

How to draw SNAKES

How to draw OVERGROWN VEGETATION

How to draw JUMPS

How to draw GEARS, COGS and CLOCKWORK

How to draw CHAINS

How to draw WOODEN PLANKS

(part 1 of 2)

How to draw WOODEN PLANKS

(part 2 of 2)

INKTOBER

DAY NINETEEN

(Monday Oct 19th) PROMT:

“DIZZY”

How to draw WHIRLPOOLS

How to draw DANCING

How to draw HAIR IN MOTION

How to draw MOTION LINES

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY

(Tuesday Oct 20th) PROMT:

“CORAL”

How to draw UNDERWATER

How to draw SEAWEED

How to draw SAND

How to draw PEBBLES

How to draw DOLPHINS

How to draw CRABS

How to draw TENTACLES

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-ONE

(Wednesday Oct 21st) PROMT:

“SLEEP”

How to draw BEDS and BEDSHEETS

How to draw PILLOWS

How to draw CANDLES

How to draw BOOKS

How to draw SPOT LIGHTS

How to draw SHADOWS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-TWO

(Thursday Oct 22nd) PROMT:

“CHEF”

How to draw FOOD TRUCKS

How to draw EGGS

How to draw MUSHROOMS

How to draw CRABS

How to draw CHOCOLATE

How to draw CAKES and DESSERTS

How to draw BOTTLES and GLASSES

How to draw POURING LIQUID

How to draw FLAMES

How to draw STEAM

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

How to draw DETAILED INTERIORS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-THREE

(Friday Oct 23rd) PROMT:

“RIP”

How to draw NEWSPAPERS

How to draw BOOKS

How to draw SCROLLS

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-FOUR

(Saturday Oct 24th) PROMT:

“DIG”

How to draw SAND

How to draw SNOW

How to draw GRAVEL

How to draw FIELDS

How to draw BONES

How to draw TREASURE CHESTS

How to draw TREASURE MAPS

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

How to draw ARMS

(part 1)

How to draw ARMS

(part 2)

How to draw MOTION LINES

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-FIVE

(Sunday Oct 25th) PROMT:

“BUDDY”

How to draw CONVERSATIONS

How to draw EYE DIRECTION

How to draw HEAD ANGLES

How to draw HEAD SHAPES

How to draw HAPPY EXPRESSIONS

How to draw CHARACTER SHAPES

How to draw CAT HEADS

How to draw SAUSAGE DOGS

How to draw RABBITS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-SIX

(Monday Oct 26th) PROMT:

“HIDE”

How to draw BASKETS

How to draw BOXES

How to draw BEDSHEETS

How to draw CAVES

How to draw PILES OF JUNK

How to draw CLOAKS

How to draw INVISIBILITY

How to draw CROWDS

How to draw FORESTS (part 1)

How to draw FORESTS (part 2)

How to draw FORESTS (part 3)

How to draw FORESTS (part 4)

How to draw LONG GRASS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-SEVEN

(Tuesday Oct 27th) PROMT:

“MUSIC”

How to draw DANCING

How to draw EARS

How to draw HAPPY EXPRESSIONS

How to draw HAIR IN MOTION

How to draw MOTION LINES

How to draw CROWDS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-EIGHT

(Wednesday Oct 28th) PROMT:

“FLOAT”

How to draw FLYING and LEVITATING

How to draw HAIR IN MOTION

How to draw CLOUDS

How to draw PIRATE SHIPS

How to draw SEA WATER and WAVES

How to draw WATER REFLECTIONS

INKTOBER

DAY TWENTY-NINE

(Thursday Oct 29th) PROMT:

“SHOES”

How to draw SHOES

How to draw PAVEMENTS (SIDEWALKS)

How to draw WALKS

How to draw RUNNING

How to draw HOOVES

How to draw MONSTER FEET

INKTOBER

DAY THIRTY

(Friday Oct 30th) PROMT:

“OMINOUS”

How to draw ANGRY EXPRESSIONS

How to draw SHADOWS

How to draw CLOUDS

How to draw GHOSTS

How to draw ASTEROIDS

How to draw FORESTS (part 1)

How to draw FORESTS (part 2)

How to draw FORESTS (part 3)

How to draw FORESTS (part 4)

How to draw TIKI STATUES

How to draw VINES and CREEPERS

How to draw OVERGROWN VEGETATION

INKTOBER

DAY THIRTY-ONE

(Saturday Oct 31st) PROMT:

“CRAWL”

How to draw MONSTER CLAWS

How to draw BATTLE DAMAGE

How to draw HANDS

(part 1)

How to draw HANDS

(part 2)

How to draw STAIRS

How to draw MOUNTAINS

How to make a 紫砂壶 zishahu (Chinese boccaro teapot/ Yixing clay teapot)

cr: 拾七紫砂

So. If you’re ever confused, think of sexualities like this:

In a classroom, the majority of students use pencils. These represent straight people.

Some people, however, prefer pens over pencils. For the purpose of this metaphor, the students who use pens represent gay people.

Some students will use both pens and pencils, but often prefer one over the other, hence being bisexual. See what I’m getting at here?

Some people will use any writing utensil, these people being pansexuals.

Some people will use two types of writing utensils (but not both pens and pencils), and these people are referred to as polysexual.

Often some people will prefer one type of writing utensil, but only use it once someone gives it to them, so they are demisexual.

Some people will sometimes use a writing utensil, but at other times will not use anything. These people are gray-asexual.

Asexuals just don’t write. They instead sit in the corner baking cakes, as they don’t feel the need to write anything down.

Boom.

Just some of my favorite replies from the homophobic shit going in the comment section at the new short film.

Viren and Callum—Defining Heroism

Callum is a foil for each of the three antagonists, and each season focuses on a different pairing.

During Season 2, Callum’s arc was a foil to Claudia’s. I break down some of the similarities between them here. Callum and Claudia both exhibit a curiosity to learn more about magic (particularly at the Moon Nexus), and both are fiercely protective of those closest to them. To the extent they will use Dark Magic to protect them.

But whereas Callum tries it once and decides to reject it for good, Claudia continues to succumb to this temptation, time and time again.

During Season 3, Callum’s development is contrasted with Aaravos. At this point, Callum is, like Aaravos, a magical prodigy; each had mastered at least one Primal Source they weren’t born connected to.

Additionally, both demonstrate great influence over the lives of those around them. But they are diametrically opposed in terms of their goals. Whereas Aaravos cares primarily about advancing his own interests, Callum wants to genuinely help people, and empower them to make their own choices (as opposed to manipulating them like Aaravos).

This foil can be summed up simply—Callum is motivated by the Narrative of Love. Aaravos is motivated by the Narrative of Fear.

Harrow: “I ask you and your brother to reject history as a narrative of strength and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.”

Aaravos: “You tried to win over the other humans with loyalty and friendship, but they ignored you. Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear.”

But the focus here is on Viren and Callum, and starting in Season 1 and throughout the first three seasons, Viren and Callum have very deep, narratively important parallels with one another.

Both are the mages who advise their respective Kings.

Callum: “When you grow up, sometimes you have to face things you’re not ready for.”

Viren: “He insisted I stand next to him in the painting, because he knew I would stand by him through anything.”

Both are curious and want to explore the depths of magic to the greatest extent possible.

Viren and Callum are also both insecure in their place in the world, relying (at least initially) on magic to help give them a sense of belonging

But their differences not only define their dynamic, they also define many elements and themes to the Saga, in particular as to what it means to be a hero.

To begin, Viren is great, though not necessarily good. That is to say, even though he may be capable of great deeds that save countless lives (such as in saving the people of Duren with the heart of a Titan), these deeds don’t actually make him a heroic person.

This is because every great deed he did stemmed not from altruism or compassion (no matter how well he convinced himself that it did), but from his tragic flaws: his arrogance, his vanity, and importantly, his hubris—his belief that he can subvert the natural order in his favor without consequence.

From what we can gather, Viren is a force to be reckoned with. His skills with magic have made him so powerful, he can cast a spell that would save two kingdoms from starvation.

They are also such that he’s considered by Amaya, a talented warrior herself, perhaps “the most dangerous human in the world.”

His martial prowess is quite exceptional as well, as he’s able to go toe to toe with two Dragonguards for a time. Even though they’re elite fighters and they’re flanking him, he’s able to hold his own for a while before having to resort to magic.

However, Viren is a tragic character. I don’t mean this in the sense that we should feel sorry for the power-hungry man who attempted to murder two boys and steal the throne. Rather, his “greatness” is undermined by his personal flaws, which he can’t quite shake and prevent him from being good.

Part of Viren sincerely wants to improve life for his people. When talking to Aaravos, to whom he has no motivation to lie, he states his aim is to help mankind flourish “without a knife to its throat”

He’s even willing to consider sacrificing himself, either for King Harrow or, in Lux Aurea, for his army.

Aaravos: “We’ll risk as few lives as possible. One.”

Viren: “Ah. Mine.”

But as per his hubris, he exhibits great pride in how his abilities can help mankind flourish or save his people. While he wants mankind to prosper, he wants this to be his achievement and wants people to know that he is the one who saved them.

In his story to Queen Aanya, he places a bit of undue emphasis on the fact that he was the one who up with a solution that saved Katolis and Duren. Whether or not this is what happened, it’s clear that he wants Aanya to know that he personally saved her kingdom.

A little less unclear is how necessary he ultimately was. Sarai goes back to save Viren because “without him to perform the spell, the heart is worthless, and this was all for nothing.”

I’m…skeptical as to whether this is what Sarai says, or if it’s Viren intentionally or unintentionally reading in what he wants her to say. Truth be told, Viren has no idea if this is what Sarai said because he wasn’t there when she said it. And why is the heart worthless? Viren wasn’t the only Dark Mage in the world, and probably not the only one between Duren and Katolis. There’s no reason why another mage couldn’t perform the spell.

But for Viren, the heart of the Titan might as well have been worthless because, in his mind, he’s the only capable of accomplishing these great feats.

Even when he was potentially willing to sacrifice his life for Harrow, he botched it with his  speech to Harrow.

Viren: “Right now I do not come to you as my King. I think of you as my brother.”

Truth is, none of this throat-clearing is necessary. But, Viren’s not quite so humble, even when he’s attempting to do the right thing. He still wants to be seen as someone special, even when laying his life down for another.

Turns out, this was entirely the wrong thing to say to Harrow, who is put off by Viren’s self-righteousness.

Harrow: “I see the problem now. It’s that you believe you are special. Better than everyone else, above the laws of this kingdom.”

When he’s forced to kneel and Harrow calls him a servant, this infuriates Viren and he sets aside any plans he had to sacrifice himself for his King.

Harrow: “You are a servant of Katolis. You are a servant.”

Because if Viren is going to sacrifice himself, he needs people to know what a great thing it is that he’s doing. He’s not a mere servant, he’s their savior.

It’s interesting that Viren’s pride is so hurt of being called a servant of Katolis, since that’s exactly how Harrow sees himself, according to Viren.

Viren: “King Harrow worked tirelessly. He told me he thought of himself as a servant of all the people of Katolis. A servant King.”

But Viren doesn’t see himself in this way. When his potential sacrifice is treated with the same level of significance as though he were anybody else, it offends him that he has to share that importance with others.

And thus, his pride leads to his downfall, casting aside his desire to protect his King, and replaces it with a desire to be the King himself.

Viren: “Today, we must mourn sevenfold. For tonight, there will be a coronation.”

Callum, on the other hand, begins his journey on the opposite side of the spectrum from Viren. Whereas Viren can accomplish great feats without being good, Callum is a good person, though not great.

At least, not yet.

According to the main site, “Callum has a big heart, and always tries to do the right thing.”

He can be super proud of himself and his accomplishments, but he usually has enough perspective to avoid letting this get in the way of what he knows is important. For instance, he connects to the Sky Primal, something thought of as impossible for humans, he immediately shifts his attention to Ezran, never once bragging or reminding people of his accomplishments.

Corvus: That’s incredible, Prince Callum.

Callum: Thanks…uh, who are you?

And, when it comes time to laying his life on the line for others, he never hesitates. Notably, around the same time as Viren was thinking about sacrificing his life for Harrow, Callum was preparing to sacrifice himself for his actual brother, but with none of the bravado or self-righteous congratulating of himself.

Just a solemn, quiet attempt to save his brother, even at the cost of his own life, and even without anyone finding out about his sacrifice.

For Rayla, he performs Dark Magic, knowing how much she could possibly hate him for it, but deciding that her life is worth more than how she sees him.

Callum may start out with a big heart, but when it comes to his skills, well…

But if Viren begins as both powerful and amoral, it makes perfect sense to have Callum’s arc to begin as his opposite–someone without any special abilities but with a strong moral compass.

Because of this, we get to see him go from good to great. And his story walks this fine line, where he develops these magical abilities to perform heroic feats walking hand in hand with the realization that he doesn’t need magic to be heroic.

Callum: “It’s up to us now. We have to return this egg. We have to keep it safe and carry it to Xadia.”

Callum has the same temptation as Viren—this need to be someone important, which is a big part of his arc in S1 and S2.

In S1, he initially places a high premium on his sense of self-worth, willing to put their mission in jeopardy just so he can obtain an object that might help him become a better mage.

He assigns great importance to objects (such as the Primal Stone and the Key of Aaravos) rather than focusing on people or lives. Much in line with the way a Dark Mage would attach significance to magical components that are needed for spells.

Callum: “The truth is, its not me. It’s this. All the magic, all the power, all the confidence. It’s just because of this amazing thing. A Primal Stone.”

Ellis: “That Primal Stone needs you to do all that amazing stuff. Without you, it’s just a neat, glowy ball.”

Callum: “I guess so. But without this, I’m nothing. Just a guy who can draw and make wry comments from time to time. And they’re not even that wry.”

Much like how Viren assigns great value to the mirror or the Dragon Egg, even above his own children’s lives.

Viren: “The egg. If you have to choose [between Soren and the egg], choose the egg.”

But by the end of S1, he realizes just how much more important the lives of his friends and the Dragon Prince are over his own sense of pride or self-worth. Unlike Viren, who places a great degree of importance to his sacrifice (honestly, Harrow should be honored that Viren would consider throwing himself on the sword for a mere king), Callum simply makes the realization of what he needs to do…and then does it.

S2 follows the aftermath of his decision, and Callum has to deal with no longer having his mage abilities. Again, he latches his entire sense of self-worth to be able to do magic.

As @raayllum​ points out here, he also aligns his ability to do magic to agency. Without magic, he’s paralyzed by indecision and an inability to do the right thing. He believes himself imprisoned by his inadequacy.

Callum: “If we’re really going to change things, we can’t just watch while humans and Xadia keep hurting each other. But how do I take a stand? Believe me, I want to go down there with you, and be the heroes who stop all the fighting and save the day, but I can’t do that. I can’t do anything!”

And he follows this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion:

Dark Magic

Dark Magic gives him all the power he needs. If Callum wants to be special (like Viren), if he wants to have agency and freedom for himself, this is the path he can take.

Dark!Callum: “You can have unlimited power, and you can choose what to do with that power.

And in that moment, he’s tempted. Truly, he’s tempted, to commit to this path, set himself free from his past limitations and feelings of worthlessness.

He can become like Viren, and make himself great…but in a moment of clarity, he sees Dark Magic for what it truly is.

This isn’t freedom. It’s not the power he wants.

It’s just another prison.

And unlike Viren, who succumbs to this temptation, Callum sees through it.

What’s noteworthy is that Callum doesn’t press on the point that it’s possible for him to learn an Arcanum and do magic some other. He doesn’t insist he can make this choice easy on himself; he chooses that, Arcanum or no Arcanum, this is not the kind of magic he will choose to do.

Callum: “Destiny is a book you write yourself!”

Instead of attaching his sense of self-worth and agency to magic, he breaks free of this toxic cycle and seizes the ability to direct his own fate.

This is a lesson that he then passes on to others.

Rayla: “What does this mean? What should I do?

Callum:  “I don’t know. But it’s your choice. No one else’s.”

He finds his agency and self-worth independent of his ability to do magic, and realizes that his potential is actually in his complete control. Fittingly, it’s this realization that completes his journey to finally understand the Sky Arcanum.

In the end, Viren and Callum are quite similar, but the former lets his flaws get the better of him, his pride sinking him until he becomes malicious, grasping, and power-hungry. Eyes set on stealing the power to make him important.

The latter ascends past his prior limitations, refusing to yield to his own worst impulses.

Moreover, Callum holds on to his ideals in the face of adversity, even at his own expense, while Viren constantly tries to find “pragmatic” and expedient solutions to problems that always happen to end up with him on top of everyone else. Viren continues his dramatic decline, eagerly crossing one moral horizon after another, until by the end, he admits to Aaravos what he is really after is conquest; he’s willing to steal Zym’s life force just to become more powerful, sacrificing the entirety of his army to do it.

Callum, on the other hand, begins to truly understand what can make a good-natured person into a hero.

He expresses it in a speech about Rayla…

Callum: “It’s because Rayla is a hero…Rayla saves people. She’s brave. She does what’s right, even if it puts her own life in danger, and even when the odds seem impossible. Even when it means her own people might misunderstand and turn against her. Rayla is selfless, strong and caring. That’s what makes her a hero. That’s what makes her Rayla.”

…and then proceeds to do each and every one of those things on the pinnacle. He bravely leaps after Rayla–even though it put his own life in danger–because it’s the right thing to do. Even though the odds of quickly mastering a complex spell on the way down seemed impossible.

Viren thinks his great feats are a substitute for a good character. Callum’s journey, on the other hand, is learning those character traits that make one heroic. He realizes, not only that Rayla is “selfless, strong, and caring,” but also why and more importantly, why he can be those things too.

And this dynamic between Viren and Callum culminates in the finale, where one falls…

…and the other rises.

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