Ludinus truly is a relic of the Age of Arcanum with everything he says and does, and it became so obvious when he talked to Bells Hells.
This man was born in a world where it seemed like the sky is the limit for mortals with ties to arcane magic on Exandria. How many people told a young Ludinus, who was just a child by his own account, that mortals would soon reach levels the gods never expected or dared to dream about? How many times did a young Ludinus hear that mortals were better than the gods? And how much of it did Ludinus believe?
The hubris that would eventually contribute to the downfall of the Age of Arcanum is deeply rooted into Ludinus entire being and self-awareness, and the centuries of the Calamity and post-Calamity turned it into such a deep hatred for everything that is divine.
And this is precisely why - the inheritance of the hubris of mortals who saw themselves as something greater than divinity and the hatred and need for revenge in the face of the destruction of his world - this is why Ludinus is and will forever be blind to the fact that he became exactly what he accuses the gods of being: a self-centered entity who believes only he can make a choice for all mortal life that he thinks will protect them, better them and empower them, while ignoring all sane arguments against him because all who oppose him won’t or can’t understand.
He is what the gods were the moment they stood before Cassida as she lost all her faith.
There is so much pain when Nissa wakes up, and sees what is left of herself. What Zhalfir saved and what they couldn’t. There is weakness, nausea, darkness. Awareness that she will carry some of Phyrexia’s gifts - forever.
And there is Chandra. Nissa lets herself go to pieces for a little while, in arms that feel like home.
So, unless happening otherwise I headcanon Chandra taking Nissa with her back to Kaladesh at some point.
While I am sure that Nissa's mental recovery from being compleated is only possible on Zendikar, her beloved home, the physical markings of her being Phyrexian are not something that can be adressed there. In her card, we see both her arms have been cut off below the elbow and replaced with phyrexian copper. And I bet those aren't the only things that Teferi mentioned had to remain.
So Kaladesh? Well, Saheeli and other artifivers are there. Pia Nalaar as well. And I headcanon that Chandra suggests replacing the phyrexian metal and crude design with some true and beautiful craftsmanship of Kaladesh. To help Nissa recover physically as much as possible as well. And what better way than turning what remains of Phyrexia's touch into something that says "This is us. Our plane prevailed."
When Ashton, Chetney and Imogen made their way to the All-Minds-Burn and Ashton told Imogen to not do her mind stuff?
That wasn’t Ashton giving her shit about it like Imogen might have thought. He knew that the All-Minds-Burn do some mind-linking stuff. In typical fashion for Ashton he tried to warn her and protect her from the onslaught of thoughts she would get if she dived in too deep. But he wasn’t as straight-forward as he should have been.
Because you can watch Talisien the entire when Matt describes the effects on Imogen on the rush of thoughts attacking her, how he is nodding along.
When Matt says that “they” failed their safe, Talisien says “Oh boy.” because he knows what is about to happen.
Ashton knows how painful too much mental input can be for Imogen. And he tried to protect her from it by warning her not to do it. But Imogen, sweet and curious Imogen, did it anyways and paid the price.
Okay, but can we take a moment and talk about Imogen’s dream? Because holy crap, how scary must it be. Now more than ever.
Before, the storm was looming and approaching, Imogen having the time to run away and to safety. Just like her mother told her to. “Run, Imogen. Run.”
And while she always thought that if the storm catches up, it’ll kill her, she could always do just that.
Now, after having made her decision to stay while under the Gnarlrock’s influence... she starts right in the middle of the storm. It hasn’t just caught up, it got her. Anf even if her mother still tells her to “Run.”, is there really a chance to run? The blue speck of clear sky and the farmhouse seem so far away that escape is unlikely.
So, Imogen stays.
And while the storm doesn’t end her... it became even more terrifying.
With the loomiong figure at the start.
With the figures appearing out of the shadows and dust, dozens of them.
With the “commander” being able to freely speak in her mind.
Menancingly. Aggressively.
Rushing her.
And then she wakes up, being pulled to the window on a whim and watching Ruidus flare bright red right after her nightmare.
And the worst of it all? She is alone.
Alone in the dream. No comfort from a rock, no matter how false of a promise she starts to realize it was.
Alone when she wakes up. Because she is still processing everything that happened with the one person that would always be there when she wakes up, comforting and reassuring her. Not this time, though. No Laudna.
"If you dream like that, you're going to leave dream journals."
- Zerxus Ilerez, right after having one horrible nightmare again.
Meanwhile, a couple hundred years later, one purple haired sorceress with violent red dreams on the regular for a decade now, suddenly feels very called out.
One moment she is standing opposite Laudna on the other side of the campfire, her partner commenting on her skin turning blue. She is sure she just briefly glances at her arms as the blueish hue gets darker, but when she looks back up to the side at Laudna... Laudna is not there.
In her panic, Imogen doesn't notice quick enough. She only realizes something's horribly wrong when she feels this searing pain flash through her mind. But how? Everything had been so peaceful up until now. But when she hears Laudna cry out, hurting, Imogen realizes it is not her own pain. That the sensation pushed through their connection. She rushes to the edge, stumbles when a second flash of pain explodes in her head.
Just in time. Just in time to watch as Laudna gets swallowed up by this creature in a flourish of dark energy of her own making.
The scream Imogen unleashes is entirely mental, passing through only to Laudna. But a response never comes. Instead, Imogen has to watch helplessly as her friends hack into this thing without any success. Which really is not the worst thing happening right now. Because she can feel it.
Just like deep down in the Smolder Spire when they ran from the Shadecreepers.
Laudna is there. Her pitch, her music. She can sense it, it is there. And as Imogen desperately tries to cling to it, calling out for it... she can feel it waning. It's getting weaker and weaker by the second, the silence that replaces Laudna in her head slowly but surely being a torture to Imogen.
Because she can't do anything. Just watch.
And then, unlike after the Shadecreeper's attack... it is gone. No gentle hum, no music. Not even pain. Laudna is gone from her mind and Imogen stands at the top of the cliff, numb.
She mutters "No" over and over again, quietly to herself. She refuses to acknowledge that it means Launda is gone for good and all the implications that come with it. Laudna was her saving grace. Her soulmate. The person she lov-
Imogen's breath catches in her throat and all thoughts stop when she hears it. Barely audible. But there, the musicality is there again. The soft melancholic chime returns, but with a hint of something else. Something darker.
Not that she pays it any mind right now. Not when she watches Laudna push herself out, full on Form of Dread and with her eyes burning in this bright green. Imogen has never been more happy to see her.
"I died. Again!" Laudna calls out, half out of the creature. And yes, she did. Imogen could feel it. And she hated it. Hates the idea of losing Laudna. With that comes the anger.
She lines herself up with this poor excuse of this fake fairy and the creature. It wrecked enough havoc and she needs it gone. Away from Laudna. So, in a flash of light she unleashes her Lightning Bolt, scorching it. She destroys the glowing tail and burns a mark into the creature's body.
The rest of their group finish it off. Imogen makes sure it can't hurt Laudna again, sends a mage hand down with fire of their campfire to burn it all down right as she jumps of the edge and rushes up towards Laudna.
Her partner is still on the ground, on her back, visibly hurt. Her Form of Dread is gone and all Imogen can see on Laudna's face is the hurt as she comes to a stop right next to her, leaning over Laudna and gently but frantically brushing her sticky hair out of her face, then cupping her cheeks.
"Laudna? Laudna!" She looks her all over, worried and a bit paniced when Laudna doesn't respond either verbally or mentally. She is about to call out loudly for help, blood starting to boil a little bit when everyone else doesn't seem to care. Imogen's hands start to pull away when she feels two cold hands wrap around her wrists weakly and keep hers in place.
"Laudna? Can you hear me?" She waits, only releasing the breath she's holding when Laudna hums in response, smiles just a little and leans into her touch. And when relief washes over her, Imogen leans down and rests her own forehead against Laudna's.
____________________
Later, when she keeps watch with Fearne and the two of them guard the others in comfortable silence, Imogen is sitting down next to Laudna. She'll brush though her partners hair, ignoring the knowing glances Fearne sends her way.
Twice in just a week, Imogen has come so close to lose her Laudna. Twice she had to feel Laudna's music grow silent and it was the worst feeling she has ever experienced.
She knows she should tell Laudna about how she feels. Should tell her the truth because realistically, out here they could die any moment.
And as she gently pulls Laudna's head into her lap so she can rest more comfortably, starts to weave some of the flowers Orym has grown around into her hair, Imogen thinks that maybe she will tell her. Maybe, when she is no longer blue.
