2021-07-25 23:06:59 ¶ ●

# No need to mourn me for my death could as well be the end of the world

Written for @jonahmagnusweek

Day 7 - Legacy

Why would a man care about immortality of his name when he himself is no longer alive to see his fame?

Read on AO3

…

Jonah Magnus was sitting in the dim light of the candles behind the desk in his office. It has been few a years since the Magnus Institute got connected to the electricity grid of London; however even as electricity has been becoming a norm in growing number of buildings the reliability has barely improved.

There has been something almost calming about the gentle shine on top of the candlestick. It reminds him off his beginnings when he would spent long nights studying, trying to understand all the rules of the world around him and find a way to break them. Sometimes he hasn’t even noticed when exactly the candle burned out and was replaced by the daylight.

He smiles and as a force of a habit reaches to fondly stroke the skull sitting on his table. Barnabas always used to scold him for the lack of rest… On its way his hand shuffles some papers lying in the way… Ah, yes, an unfinished letter from another deceased acquaintance he used to call a friend long time ago.

It has been a week since the funeral of Robert Smirke. That’s where he received the paper scrambled with his last lines. Jonah has been given the letter by Smirke’s daughter. She said he died of stroke right in the middle of writing it. She expressed hope that her father managed to put in the words all the things he wished and that she is glad she was at least able to deliver it for him. Jonah simply nodded, thanked her and expressed his condolences.

None of the things she told him was news for him. He hasn’t bothered to read the letter yet since he knows word from word what is written there. Nevertheless he is glad she had given it to him. It would be shame not to have it in his collection. Also it was at least some consolidation prize for sitting through such a dreadfully boring event.

He didn’t know what he expected. Maybe some of the old peers whom has cut the contact with him long time ago to make an appearance? No, he has been sadly keeping an eye on all of them hoping for a sudden surprise. Jonathan is still hiding somewhere in Switzerland. Mordechai could as well be dead and he would never know for he could no longer see through the thick fog of the Forsaken surrounding the Moorland house. Sampson Kempthorne still hasn’t even heard the news as he lives in the New Zeland. And George Gilbert Scott is apparently too busy overseeing building of the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park to attend. Or so he claims. Robert’s and his views were always way too conflicting so showing up on his funeral might be interpreted as mocking.

Honestly they have not missed anything. Everyone was talking about what was Robert like. About all of his work. About the great legacy he is leaving behind. Jonah was doing his best not to scoff too loudly because the whole ceremony was truly laughable. Robert was a coward who got scared of his own studies and narrow minded idiot who thought he could bring balance through architecture. One cannot find a middle ground on battlefield. Stupid fool. It is really a shame he didn’t last few days longer. Jonah would love to show him how wrong he was…

Alas that is a part of life. You live, you die and then you are gone. And some people leave behind buildings. Some people leave behind just bones. And some people disappear like they weren’t there at all.

What is really the point? Why should he care about world he is no longer part of? What good are words of praise when he cannot hear them? What are tears good to a corpse? It has been years since he first asked himself these questions.

Jonah lowers his hand from the skull and folds the letter. He needs to add it to the others later. He moves the candle closer so he can better see the plans of the Milbank prison in front of him.

He wondered no longer. No. He is certain now that there is no point to it all. For example he loves his institute dearly but as soon as he dies he could not care if it burns to the ground. Because he would be dead. Why should he care what will be left behind him when he dies? Why should he care if the world keeps spinning? Why should he care if someone will think about him fondly or if there will only be a line of people wanting to spit on his grave?

He accepted existence of death and its power to wipe even the most brilliant mind blank.

However he still hasn’t accepted that such a fate might await him.

He doesn’t intend that to happen. Those years and years of research then learning then understanding then planning but it will all finally pay off. He is close to reaching his goal. Finishing his ritual. If Robert’s old man whining was good for anything then it at least told his plans really can succeed.

He will finish a ritual and bring the gaze of the Eye upon the world. He will turn the world to the liking of the Ceaseless Watcher. And he will be able to Behold it all and live forever as the King of the Ruined World.

Jonah is not interested in legacy which could be left behind.

He will create something wonderful and then live through it all.