you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me
He does not notice her momentary faltering, does not pick up on the slip in her confidence, and he instead continues to focus on the conversation, his gaze lingering on the scarred wood of the tree and the growth that was just beginning to flourish at the base of it. When he finally brings his gold-flecked eyes back to her, he smiles, catching the tail end of her murmured response. He was not put off by the shy nature of her reassurance; he would not expect her to be confident in their ability to overcome the powerful darkness of the Chamber and the Valley. Then again, Magnus loved nothing more than being the underdog in a fight.
What he does notice, however, is the dark cloud that rolls across her features when he directs the topic to her and her past, and his features fall to match her own. “I am sorry, Shiya.” He gently touches her neck. “I did not mean to cause you any pain or discomfort.” For a second, he falls silent, thinking about whatever tormented her and how, in its own way, it mirrored the own demons that plagued him.
Finally, he made the decision. “You know, I know quite well the pain of an altered memory—although not quite to the same extent as your own.” He rolls his scarred shoulders. “You see, I did not quite tell you the whole story earlier.” His frowns, his expression apologetic. “Joelle and I were killed—murdered—on the beach. I spent several decades underneath the saltwater.” His gaze is distant as he remembers, his flesh rolling as he flinches from the memory. “When I came back, my memories were…choppy. Distant. It felt like sand that I could never hold. I’d remember pieces and then forget others or mix up stories entirely.”
Another rueful smile. “I still don’t think I have everything back—I doubt I ever will.” His eyes burn as he finds her gaze again. “I am truly, deeply sorry for whatever you are experiencing, Shiya. I hope that one day you will be able to remember again, at least the parts that you want to.” He pauses, fearing that he was perhaps overstepping. “Just know that you’re not alone in this, and it does not make you less whole.”
MAGNUS
once general. once lord. once king.