they all need something to hold on to; open

[magnus]

you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me

They are different, but not entirely so—they are instead crafted from air and stars and are as solid as the earth beneath his feet and yet a thousand miles away. It is a curious feeling to be in their presence, and he returns Noa’s unabashed curiosity with a lingering gaze of his own, his gold-flecked eyes watching her steadily. What made them so? Magnus knew enough of magic to recognize its presence, but he had a feeling that theirs was not a magic he was used too—instead it was something deeper, something stronger.

Magnus nods politely to the golden Desert mare and shadowed Valley stallion, although his jaw clenches just slightly at the latter. He had never been a fan of the kingdom although he did his very best to not hold it against its newer members. It was not necessarily their fault that they chose to join a kingdom that had historically fronted the very worst of Beqanna. Still, he did not absolve them of the kingdom’s guilt either.

Turning to the celestial twins, he laughed at the mare’s proposition, rolling his shoulders. “In terms of the physical, I do not have many magic tricks to display.” Unfortunately, the wings tucked by his side were the most magical part of him to ever exist—and he didn’t mind that. He had always relied on his own strength to get him by; the only reason he had even accepted the wings was to better serve the kingdom.

“That being said, I do have stories about what Beqanna was like about a century ago.” He meets the mare’s eyes and winks lightly, “And a few stories about what it’s like to live under the ocean for a few of those decades.” He holds it as a personal accomplishment that he can now laugh about his own death. He no longer woke up in a cold sweat and no longer feared the beach. Perhaps he was putting it behind him.

Sobering slightly, he turns to the stallion and just nods. “My reason is simple and I am sure,” he nods to the others around him, “very similar to that of Yael and Rhonan.” His wings ruffle a little at his sides. “I am from Heaven’s Gates. We are growing, but growth is never done. We are looking for the strong, the intelligent, and the cunning to strength our kingdom—and we are looking for those who simply want a haven or a place to rest their head.” He pauses, “Personally, I am here because I once made a promise to someone that I would protect Heaven, and I intend to fulfill that promise in anyway that I can.”

Lightening the mood with a crooked, scarred grin, “If I can accomplish that while surrounded by interesting company and good friends, all the better.” And then, finally, he falls silent.

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.