[open] you are an animal with an animal's desires; any

[magnus]

desire consumes me like a fire consumes me

In some ways, Magnus is an enigma. There are few who truly understand what churns beneath the surface with him. For some, he is the kind, hardworking leader of Tephra. Someone who wanders the borders daily. Someone who stops to talk and visits the field and does what he can for his home. To others, Magnus is a creature of the old Beqanna. A prince of two well-known royals and the arrogant boy brought up amongst the jungle. To others still, he is a murder victim. To his brother, he is a murderer.

It all depends on which angle of the kaleidoscope has caught the light.

On whose hand tilts the vantage point.

His head tilts when she speaks again, when the word flows from her and into the air, when her ancient tongue wraps around it, the accent lilting and beautiful and powerful, in its own way. He doesn’t know the word, has no way of knowing what it means, but the meaning pierces him all the same and he nods.

There is something knowing in his gold-flecked eyes.

Something that shifts beneath the surface, like an undercurrent.

“Perhaps you see me after all,” he says, scarred lips rising in a corner.

It has been so long since he has been truly seen.

good shouldn’t need to tempt us above

@[kota]