here it comes with no warning; magnus

[Lucrezia]

Tephra—her new home.

The sound of Tephra being her new home felt wonderful, but at the same time it felt completely wrong. Lucrezia has always thought that the sandy dune kingdom would be her home until she died. However, she never could have predicted the events that led to the changes in Beqanna. If anything is to come from this new change—this second chance to start over—she knows she cannot let it slip away. She has to try for them, but also for herself.

She stands at the outskirts of her new home, observing all that is around her. Tephra was not anything similar to the Deserts, except perhaps the steam that keeps this place humid. She expects it will be warm like this all year around. Her nutmeg eyes travel to the small volcano and large spring that lay directly in front of the land. She likes the volcano—it reminds her of the dunes, but something larger and grander than anything she has seen before. It almost felt like the Chamber’s mountains to the east of it. She then notices the greenery, the tropical smell of them reminds her of the stories of the jungle, a land she never visited but should’ve.

However, the lava is completely something else to her. Something she isn’t even quite sure what to think of. It seems dangerous, but also a protection from those that would someday – though she hopes not – come to hurt this beautiful place. This beautiful place she now calls home.

Lucrezia smiles softly. It will take time for her to accept these new changes, but at least she has found what she was looking for. She has found a home. In time, she hopes she would get to know the others that also called Tephra home, but for now, she waits for Magnus who told her to come here.

@[Laura]

[magnus]

— find what you love and let it kill you —

Magnus understands what it is like to be here, to make it your home, and to still have it feel foreign.

Even though the humidity struck a familiar chord in his breast, even though he was learning the curves of the land through his admittedly longer border patrols, it did not feel familiar. He did not know this land in the same way that he knew the Gates and the Jungle, or even, in lesser ways, the Chamber and the Dale. It was uncomfortable in some ways, making his skin itch with unfamiliarity. He did not enjoy the sensation.

Still, he was doing his best, because he knew it is what his new family deserved. He ignored the pangs of depression that echoed in his throat when the memories creeped up in the dead of night; he ignored the choking sensation when he thought of that small child curled on the ground, lifeless and cold. He pushed them to the side and focused on the task at hand. If he was slower than usual, if his trips to the field were less frequent, he did not think on it. He just walked, withdrew, and did his best to not think too hard on it.

This day was shaping up to be much similar to the last when he saw her, pale and gold. His expression brightened as he shook the dust from his coat and navigated toward her, picking his path carefully. When he was close enough, he gave her a genuine smile, dipping his head in greeting. “Lucrezia,” his voice was warm, deep and came to stop several feet away. “I am so happy to know you found your way here.” He glanced around them to the land, lush and jewel-bright in areas. “This is Tephra.” This is my new home, he thought, and ignored the tightening in his chest, the darkness around the corner, as he glanced back at her.

magnus