Redhawk Caldera it's dark again

we can pull this to present if you prefer, i know things have happened for maia in the time since i made this <3

magic. akkuma's attention was captured and raptly held by this detail in particular. he almost wondered if he'd stumbled into some other world, separated from reality, a place where magic didn't seem nearly so casual and tangible. maia spoke of it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
then she asked if he was looking for a home, and he felt guilty all over again. he was making his parents look terrible, wasn't he? he almost started to explain about his incurable sadness, and how his mom had tried to help. even in leaving him, she'd been trying to help.
instead, he found himself saying, you mean, like, here? he looked past her, into what was currently off limits territory. i... yeah. i mean, i don't know much about magic. is that okay? his eyes found her again, a little anxious.