we are aching bones and wasted years; esileif

[magnus]

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

She says that he disappoints her, and although he knows that she is joking, he frowns momentarily before brushing it off. At the end of the day, he had to be true to his own moral compass—as twisted and dark as it may be. While it may be easier to get recruits with pretty lies and grand promises, it wasn’t his style; he wouldn’t feel right luring them here and then disappointing them in the end. He fully believed the Gates was capable of attracting quality souls all on her own; she did need his false embellishments.

He has no way of knowing that she has made her decision, but he feels at peace that he has said his part; he feels confident that he has done whatever he can to equip her to make this decision. Magnus recognizes the magnitude of the choice before her—all of the ways that it will eventually shape her life. Even if her time at the Gates is but a season, a temporary stay, it will become part of her DNA. It always does.

So he walks in silence beside her for several minutes, eagle wings tugged into his sides, as they continue to make their way around the kingdom, the fellow residents stirring gently. They were by and large a quiet kingdom, but there had been a recent influx of new blood; he knew that the kingdom would not be quiet for long—especially if Esileif chose to make it her home. “So,” he finally breaks the silence, turning his handsome head to meet her gaze, “is there anything else you’d like to see or would you prefer that I escort you elsewhere?” He did not want to rush her, but he also did not want her to feel like she was trapped.

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.