Moment of Truth is the fifty-first episode of The Dragon Prince. It is the sixth chapter of the sixth book, "Stars".
Memories of Soren's childhood weigh heavily on Viren. Kosmo uses his new powers to help Callum see his true self clearly.
Plot[]
Rayla, Stella, and Sneezles wake up from their sleep inside the Star Scraper's sleeping quarters and spot Callum seated by the window with a worried look on his face. Callum reveals that he slept for about an hour before waking up and feeling anxious. She tries to cheer him up by asking him to put on the Corona of the Heavens, which holds the only Quasar Diamonds in all of Xadia. Callum forlornly says that Rayla's heart is not full of darkness, though she responds by telling him that he is a good person with no darkness at all. He states how they failed to destroy Aaravos's prison, for they have taken it all the way across the world for nothing. However, Rayla gives Callum hope by repeating his words of taking the prison all the way across the world, far from the reach of anyone who wants to free the Startouch Elf.
Inside his cell in Katolis, Viren begins to write a letter to confess his failures as a father to Soren. He reminisced about how his life took a joyful turn when he met and fell in love with Lissa, a woman from Del Bar who became his wife and the mother of both Soren and Claudia. But Soren was born a sick child who struggled to breathe and would cough and wheeze everyday. Viren and Lissa saw doctors, herbalists, and unusual cures, but none of them worked. Viren and Lissa would spend hours staying up next to Soren, praying that their son would live. Desperate to save Soren's life, Viren chose to turn to dark magic and asked his former mentor, Kpp'Ar, to hand the relic staff so he could cast a spell that would cure his son's illness. Kpp'Ar was not unmoved by Viren's pleas, but he refused to give the staff due to the danger dark magic poses.
Back at the Star Scraper, Kosmo has a vision of destroying Callum's spirit upon revealing that the latter brought the decoy prison Barius created instead of the real thing. The vision also has Astrid scolding Kosmo about the truth being everything, and one must ask before giving it to another whether they are giving clarity, light, and purpose, or shifting a burden to someone who needed all their strength. To prevent this bleak future, Kosmo lies to Callum's group about the prison being fake and says that the truth is complicated. The Elder adds that bringing the prison to the Star Scraper is not complicated, and the Celestial Elves promise to keep it safe. Later on, Astrid and Kosmo reveal to Callum that using dark magic creates a corrupted emptiness inside his spirit, which is how Aaravos controls him. However, there is the Star-Truth ritual that can help fill the darkness with light again, though it is dangerous and will require all of Callum's courage and strength. Sensing hope, Callum agrees to perform the ritual.
Viren continues to write his letter as he recounts his experience of bonding with his best friend, Prince Harrow, who was struggling in proposing to Sarai. Harrow explained to Viren it had only been one year since her husband, Damian, passed away, and was worried that he would complicate her life as a single mother to Callum by wanting to marry her at such a pace. Viren told Harrow to do what he must since life is complicated, but nothing else matters if it is love. Harrow commends Viren for such advice, which also inspires the latter to take action.
As Kosmo guides Callum's group to the Zenith, he tells the young mage that the Star-Truth ritual can fill the darkness dark magic created with light again. But he also warns Callum to never use dark magic again, or the darkness and corruption will overwhelm him. Callum understands the risk. As they arrive at the Zenith, Kosmo informs Callum that he must drink a Starweaver Spider's venom, which will make his spirit sensitive to starlight. Callum then must fly to the heavens because the magic is at its strongest the closer he is to the stars. At that moment, Callum must search his mind and heart for the star within him, the deepest truth that will shine to fill the darkness. Astrid then joins the group with a female Starweaver Spider inside a jar. She says that she had some trouble milking the spider's venom, though she managed to put the spider in a mood sour enough to bite someone. Callum feels somewhat intimidated since the Starweaver Spider must bite him.
Viren reveals that he entered the Puzzle House during a dark and stormy night to confront Kpp'Ar and take the relic staff. Kpp'Ar warned Viren that he would lose everything if he chose dark magic, which prompted the latter to trap his former mentor inside one of his enchanted coins. Viren knows that Kpp'Ar is correct about dark magic causing him to lose everything.
Astrid and Kosmo open the Zenith's ceiling before the Starweaver Spider bites Callum. Callum's eyes start to glow white as Astrid blindfolds and advises him to look inward. Kosmo encourages Callum to fly to the stars to find the star within him, the one deep truth so bright it can fill the darkness. Callum soars to the heavens after casting "Manus. Pluma. Volantus." He tries to find the star within him before his mage wings dissipate and he plummets back.
Viren confesses in the letter about the ingredients he needed to cast the dark magic spell that restored Soren's health: the relic staff, blood from a Wind Elk's antlers, and Lissa's tears. When Viren returned home, his corrupted face horrified Lissa, who told him that he had become a monster, and she refused to use her tears for the dark magic spell. He pushed her against the wall and held the back of her hair to keep her still, allowing him to press a vial to her cheek and filled it with her tears. Lissa slid to the floor and sobbed when Viren released her. He knows that she was right about him becoming a monster.
Callum continues to fall from the sky before he smiles upon seeing a constellation taking the shape of a hand. He regains his mage wings and flies to the constellation as it takes the form of Rayla. Callum embraces the constellation as a white light engulfs him.
Rayla, Stella, Sneezles, Astrid, and Kosmo wait at the Zenith before witnessing Callum returning to them. Callum says that he found his one truth before Rayla, Stella, and Sneezles embrace him.
Viren writes in his letter about how the spell worked in curing Soren, turning him into a strong, healthy, and strapping boy. However, Lissa chose to return to Del Bar, leaving Viren, Soren, and Claudia behind in Katolis. Lissa's departure devastated Claudia and caused Viren to blame Soren for what happened. Viren tearfully apologized for wrongfully punishing his son with a lifetime of cold cruelty.
At the Star Scraper's Rotunda, Kosmo confesses to Astrid on lying about the decoy prison. When Astrid asks Kosmo why he did not tell them the truth, he repeats her words in his vision about the truth being everything, and one must ask before giving it to another whether they are giving clarity, light, and purpose, or shifting a burden to someone who needed all their strength.
Soren returns to Viren's cell and asks his father what he wants to give him after the guard informed him of such a request. Viren is about to give his letter to Soren, but soon realizes that in doing so, he will be shifting his burden to his son, who will need all his strength. Viren lies about the guard having misheard his words, and Soren leaves with the guards as Viren uses a candle to burn the letter.
Rayla is sleeping alongside Stella and Sneezles before finding Callum lying awake on his hammock. He asks her whether she ever thought about moments in her life and wonders how things might be different if she just changed one thing. Rayla agrees and asks him about the specific moment he is thinking about. He reveals he is thinking a lot about the moment she came back after not seeing him for two years. Rayla apologizes for sneaking up on Callum before he talks about getting flooded by so many feelings. They agree to reenact their reunion by having Rayla leave for a few seconds before walking in on Callum as they pretend that it has been two years. Stella and Sneezles wake up and celebrate as Callum and Rayla rekindle their romance by sharing a passionate kiss and proclaiming their love for each other.
Characters and Cast[]
- Callum (Jack De Sena)
- Rayla (Paula Burrows)
- Stella
- Soren (Jesse Inocalla)
- Toddler Soren (Lawrence Ehasz)
- Sneezles
- Viren (Jason Simpson)
- Claudia
- Astrid (Boone Williams)
- Kosmo (Ethan Farrell)
- The Elder (Mark Gibbon)
- Kpp'Ar (Greg Rogers)
- Harrow (Luc Roderique)
- Lissa
Spells[]
| Sky Spells |
Dark Magic
- Erusaert ym si luos ruoy (Your soul is my treasure)
Trivia[]
- Aaron Ehasz posted a clue to this episode's title on Twitter by posting the numbers, 754 and 414, and linking to a lyric video of Taylor Swift's song, thanK you aIMee.