[open] time deceives us | fate she hears us [ANY/ALL]

[magnus]

— find what you love and let it kill you —

It had been a while since Magnus had been in a group of stallions like this. More often than not, his company was punctuated with females. As a Prince raised amongst the Amazons, he had learned an early affinity for the gentler (if warriors could be called that) sex. He gravitated toward them more frequently and rarely surrounded himself with many men, although he did not hurt for male friends. Still, he found he was comfortable in their presence, even as Clark fidgeted, looking lost and confused at…something.

Magnus’ expression grew slightly puzzled as he considered the paint, and he tilted his head in thought. When Clark finally spoke, a light bulb clicked slightly in his head, although he waited until Dahmer spoke before he chimed in. “I don’t suppose you are returning after a long absence?” his voice was still hoarse although warming, liquid tones softening the rougher edges of it. “I could see how Beqanna could seem…off if you were not here to see the Reckoning.” He shrugged, as if it had not torn the world apart.

Pausing for a moment, he glanced toward Clark before looking back to Dahmer. “The fairies grew weary of the wars and the arrogance of Beqanna citizens. She took back whatever magic had previously been gifted. For some,” he smiled briefly, “such as myself, that made little difference. For others, it gutted their very core.” Here, he looked to Clark, wondering if the stallion was indeed a returning Beqanna soul. If he had come back to find powers dissolved, stripped clean from him. “She also cleared the lands, swallowed the kingdoms of old and created new ones. It has been a strange and disjointed rebuilding process.”

This did affect him. It had affected him more than he even cared to consider. After the adrenaline had worn off and he had helped found Tephra, depression had set in, bitter and deep. He had yet to shake himself of it. “I have been lucky to find a new home,” he offered, laughing as he glanced to Dahmer.

“Thankfully, it is significantly warmer there.”

magnus