Chapter Text
Varian wakes to the sun in his eyes from a slit where the curtains didn't close all the way and Ruddiger nudging him insistently.
“Ughh, get off.” He pushes his raccoon off the bed, ignoring the indignant chittering and pulling the blankets over his head. He'd been up late again and needed to sleep, especially if he was right about Rapunzel throwing him a ‘surprise’ party. All the people that would inevitably show up would mean Varian having to act happy to be around everyone and not like he wanted to run away and hide. Which he eventually would.
He loves Rapunzel and Eugene, they're as much his family as his dad at this point, but they were a lot. And with Cass out doing sun knows what, there would be no one to stop them from inviting the entire kingdom to the party. If Varian got to make the guest list for his party, it would be the two of them, Ruddiger, his dad, Lance and his daughters, and that's it. Most of the kingdom still doesn't trust him, although they’d never say anything to his face. As much as he loves Corona, every once in a while he wants to get out, see new places and meet people who don't know a thing about him. Where he's just Varian, not The Alchemist or the princess’ friend.
“Varian? Son? You awake?”
“No, it's too early.”
Quirin just laughs and pushes the door open, closing the curtains. “I expect the princess will be here in a few hours, but when you're up I have a gift for you.”
This has Varian throwing the blankets off. He was getting too hot anyways. “"What? You didn't have to get me anything.”
“I figured it was time you had it.” Quirin hands Varian a book, bound in leater with a simple clasp. It's not new though, the spin is worn and cracked, the pages slightly yellowed with scraps sticking out of them and a few stains. “It was your mother’s.”
“W- this was Mom’s?”
“It contains all of her research on the Eternal Library, and the quest she undertook to find it.”
“The Eternal Library? Like the one Demanitus built that supposedly holds all the knowledge in this universe if not others?”
“You've heard of it. Yes, the very one.”
“Do you know if she found it?”
Varian opens the book carefully, his mother's handwriting filling each page, along with diagrams and maps labeled in codes.
“She did not. Her partner, Donella, came and told me. Gave me this, told me Ulla was gone, and left. I never found out exactly what happened to your mother. I hope you learn more about her through this journal. You’re very alike you know, she too was obsessed with science.”
Varian loves this, that even now he can connect with his mother, that he's so much like her despite not remembering anything of her. Reading her words, his finger running over the slight indents of her findings, he's struck with an idea. “What if I found it?”
“What?”
“What if I follow in her footsteps? What if I went looking for the library?” Varian sets his mother's journal aside, standing up. “Think of how many people that knowledge could help, how many inventions nobody has thought of, how many mysteries I could solve! And- and I could find out what happened to mom!”
Quirin doesn't say anything for a second, emotions unreadable as ever. “Varian-”
“And before you say I'm too young, I'm 18 and I've dealt with a lot! What could I face out there that I haven't seen already?”
“I'm not saying no, just that you plan this out and be careful. As much as I still see my little boy in you, you're right. You're not a little kid and you should get a chance to explore, live your life. After today, I'll help you get ready to go as long as you promise to come back, Library or not.”
“Promise! Thanks Dad!”
Over the next few hours, Varian gets so engrossed in poring over his mother's journal that he jumps when Raps knocks on the door.
“Variaan! Come on out!”
Varian takes a few deep breaths, steeling himself for the large crowd most likely outside, opens the door and-
And it’s just the six people he would have invited himself. Lance has Kiera and Catalina on his shoulders, Raps is holding a cake, Eugene a small pile of presents, and Quirin's there off to the side.
“Surprise kid! We figured you'd want a smaller party so it's just us.”
“Eugene you can't call him a kid anymore, he's 18.”
Rapunzel lights the candles on the cake and holds it out to Varian. “Make a wish!”
Once the cake is cut, Varian opens the gifts his friends brought. Rapunzel made a painting of him eating a cupcake with Ruddiger curled around his shoulders, Eugene a new pair of gloves and an apron with extra pockets, and Lance a shaving kit. Kiera and Catalina giggle a lot handing Varian his gift, and their box turns out to be a windup box that played music very loudly when Varian opens it. Eugene gives them a glare after jumping about two feet in the air but they show no remorse.
Towards the end of the party, Varian stands. “Everybody, while you're here, I have a bit of an announcement.”
“You finally got a girlfriend!”
“Kiera! Shush.”
Varian just laughs. “No, but I have decided I'm leaving. I'm following in my mother's footsteps and looking for the Eternal Library.”
“Isn't that one of Demanitus’ creations?”
Eugene sighs. “Him again?”
“Uh, yeah Raps, it is. You heard of it?”
The princess shrugs. “Yeah. Supposed to hold all the knowledge of everything.”
“It is, and with the help of my mom's journal I'm going to find it.”
“When are you leaving?”
“Soon, probably in the next few days.”
“We'll supply a wagon unless you already have one.”
“Eugene you don't have to-”
“You're going off and exploring the kingdoms by yourself. You need to have a roof over your head.”
Varian recognizes Eugene's no-nonsense voice and knows there's no point arguing. Not that he really wanted to anyways. “Ok.”
Which is how, a week later, Varian finds himself loading a few bags into a wagon Rapunzel was obviously set loose on. The outside is painted in purple and yellow with the Corona symbol and flowers all over it, and the inside has four storage compartments and two sets of bunk beds.
“Rapunzel, why are there four beds in here? It's just me and Ruddiger.”
“You might make some friends along the way! Speaking of, if you find Cass, tell her to come back and visit soon.”
“Will do.”
The princess pulls him into a tight hug, soon joined by Eugene and Lance. Varian's gotten used to these kinds of group hugs, to the feeling his bones might crack, but he still doesn't exactly like it. Thankfully they step back after a few seconds, double checking the wagon and the harness on Prometheus. His dad just rests a hand on his shoulder.
“Stay safe son. No matter what.”
“I'm gonna be fine.” How bad could it be?
After a few more slightly teary goodbyes from his friends, Varian climbs onto the wagon and sets off. He's got a whole world to discover.