Domina Profundis (Episode)

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**Domina Profundis** is the thirty-seventh episode of *The Dragon Prince*. It is the first chapter of the fifth book, "**Ocean**".

While Ezran awaits an audience with the Archdragon of the Ocean, Rayla hunts for answers about her parents, and Callum hits a roadblock in his research.

## Plot

Following their escape from Umber Tor, Zubeia flies Ezran, Zym, Soren, and Corvus to a massive and ancient clam-shaped rune-beacon on the eastern coast of Xadia in the middle of a rainstorm. Ezran leads the way into the rune-beacon with Soren and Corvus carrying a large ornate chest. Upon reaching the top of the rune-beacon, Soren and Corvus open the chest so that Ezran can use the Siren Stone contained inside to activate the structure. Upon inserting the Siren Stone, the rune-beacon produces a massive pillar of light that pierces the clouds.

Within one of the Katolis castle's chambers, Stella watch as Rayla declares her love to her parents and Runaan who are still trapped in the enchanted coins. Bait then enters the chamber when Rayla makes a sacred promise to find out what happened to her family and to free them. Upon hearing Callum knocking on the door, Rayla places the coins in a portal that Stella created, believing that he is not ready to learn of the situation. Rayla tells Callum that she feels helpless while waiting for Ezran's group to return from their mission, but he assures her that not all is lost since he has been spending hours reading at the library. Callum then reveals that he has been trying to connect with the Ocean arcanum, though Rayla encourages him to do more research on the weaknesses of Startouch Elves should they fail in preventing Claudia and Viren from freeing Aaravos from his prison.

In the Drakewood, Viren has fallen ill from a fever he contracted after performing dark magic for the first time since his resurrection. Claudia is frustrated since she, Viren, Terry, and the Being have not moved in days and are running out of time. Terry attempts to enlighten Claudia that the distance between the Drakewood and Aaravos's prison, which the map marks with a brown island in the middle of the Sea of the Castout, is not very far and that they should not move Viren until he feels better.

Callum's attempts to read about Aaravos or Startouch Elves in the library of Katolis prove futile, as the writings constantly distort whenever his eyes lay upon them.

At the Sunfire Elf camp, Karim's crime of high treason causes him to be stripped of all titles, possessions, and inheritances, as well as banished by Janai under penalty of death. Karim is initially reluctant to hand his tin ring over since it was a gift from his mother, but the guards' insistence forces him to comply before he leaves the camp as an exile.

Rayla sneaks into Callum's office as she tries to uncover the mystery of her family's imprisonment alongside Stella, only to find it empty and that the secret passage to Viren's chambers behind the shepherd painting had been nailed shut. When Callum enters, Rayla makes him believe that she is trying to find him. Callum then locks the office after the three of them were in the hallway and reveals that he has been unsuccessful in finding out anything about Aaravos or Startouch Elves. Rayla then restores Callum's excitement when she informs him that ancient legends sometimes call Startouch Elves the "First Elves". As Callum runs off to the library, Rayla intentionally bumps into him so that Stella can acquire the key to his office. Rayla then pries the nails off the painting with her blades before Stella sends them through a portal, allowing the duo to finally venture into Viren's chambers.

Claudia attempts to calm herself down with her "no synonym for cinnamon" mantra while the Being mimics all of her movements, but is irritated when Terry says that spice is a synonym for cinnamon and that there are 17 different synonyms for cinnamon in the Earthblood Elves' original native tongue. Terry then tells Claudia to wait for him as he runs off to find the things that he believe will help her manage her anxiety.

Rayla and Stella eventually find the cell where Viren held Runaan captive before they search for more potential clues. They then discover a fourth enchanted coin containing a human, whose sudden movement causes the alarmed Rayla to stumble back. Rayla is about to retrieve the coin when she comes across Runaan's bowblade and breaks down into tears. It is when Rayla holds the bowblade that she has a vision of her parents and Runaan silently encouraging her to prioritize protecting the world from Aaravos before saving them. Upon returning to Callum's office, Rayla and Stella find themselves surrounded by Opeli and the Crownguard.

Terry returns to Claudia with the things he collected that slowly helps Claudia in managing her anxiety: crushed leaves for to smell, smooth pebbles for her to touch, bubble poppies for her to pop, and a giant Adoraburr for her to cuddle with.

Callum is about to read the "Lost Secrets of Xadia" in the library when the Associate Crow Lord alerts him about Opeli and the Crownguard arresting Rayla. Callum rushes to the throne room where Opeli reveals that Rayla stole the key to his office and the bowblade that Runaan used to kill King Harrow. Despite these revelations, Callum declares that he trusts Rayla unconditionally and that she has good reasons to have secrets. Opeli obeys Callum's wish to let Rayla go, though the Moonshadow Elf had already freed herself from her manacles.

As night falls on the Drakewood, Claudia has grown more relaxed while cuddling with Terry and the giant Adoraburr by the campfire. But the calm ambiance is broken when the Being abruptly exclaims "blood of child!" before he repeats the phrase several times.

Rayla visits Callum in his chamber with the intention of explaining her actions. Callum politely declines and says that she can tell him when she is ready while giving the bowblade to her. Rayla thanks Callum right as he reveals that they will find the information they need in the Scrolls of the First Elves that are being kept in the Great Bookery of Lux Aurea. Callum and Rayla agree that they will depart for Lux Aurea at sunrise before they all go to bed.

Ezran's group continue to wait in the rainstorm until the light of the rune-beacon finally extinguishes itself. They then watch as Domina Profundis, the Archdragon of the Ocean, emerges from the water and lock eyes with them. Domina is irked that she had been summoned by a child and sends a wave that splashes Ezran's group before Zubeia clarifies that Ezran is a king worthy to have an audience with her. Ezran addresses to Domina Profundis that he and his friends are trying to stop Claudia and Viren from freeing Aaravos and wish to learn the location of the prison. Domina reveals that while she does not know where the prison is, she does know what the prison is.

## Characters and Cast

* Callum (Jack De Sena)
* Rayla (Paula Burrows)
* Ezran (Sasha Rojen)
* Bait
* Stella
* Azymondias
* Soren
* Viren
* Claudia (Racquel Belmonte)
* Terry (Benjamin Callins)
* The Being
* Zubeia (Nicole Oliver)
* Corvus
* Karim (Luc Roderique)
* Opeli (Paula Burrows)
* Associate Crow Lord (Cole Howard)
* Domina Profundis (Jennifer Hale)
* Tiadrin
* Lain
* Runaan
* Kpp'Ar

## Trivia

* The episode shares its name with the Archdragon Domina Profundis.
* It is revealed that the Startouch Elves place a spell on any books about them to prevent anyone from knowing any of their weaknesses.
* The story of how Ezran's group acquired the Siren Stone is detailed in the side story "Deep Below".
* The story of how Callum first came across Runaan's bowblade is detailed in the side story "Inheritance".