The world appears to be a sphere, much like Earth - pretty unusual of those they've visited. Significant swaths seem heavily damaged, landscape torn and strange, and the only major center of inhabitation appears to be one large continent. The eastern half is heavily forested, though the patterns of biomes tracing across the continent are odd, too - there's a sharp and pretty inexplicable break from the forest west into what seems to be a river-heavy marshland into barren, sandy desert on its other side. There's a handful of cities visible from the air, too.

"It does look pretty weird," Ellie agrees. "Any magical hotspots stand out?"

"A handful. I am mostly interested in the architecture, however."

"Want to take a closer look?"

"Yes."

"And we can get a look at the magic in the meantime." Villanelle seems mostly amused by the unscheduled stop.

"Are there any intersections of magic and architecture?"

"The entire world is magical, including inanimate materials. Some concentrations of odd magic are near interesting architecture, however."

"Yeah, that's what I meant."

"I can guide us there, then, though it will be easiest if you provide the power." Serenity has somewhat drained itself.

"Me or you?" she asks Villanelle.

"You, how about."

"All right."

She has been growing recently. Let's see if this has gotten easier.

Seems - 

It has, actually. 

Oh, nice. Power away, Serenity.

Zooooom. (And cloaking, of course - rather more of a drain than simple movement, but Ellie can handle it.)

Serenity comes to rest outside of a massive and partly overgrown complex of monumental ruins, a broken wall ringing an ancient town.

"Want to go exploring?"

"Absolutely!"

Then they can collect their supplies and head out.

The ruins are pretty cool, Villanelle has to admit - she doesn't recognize the artistic motifs at all, and the language is equally unfamiliar (though a quick song takes care of that for both her and Ellie).

Of course, they are here to find odd magic. "This's a pretty good chance for you to practice sensing magic," she says. 

"Run me through it again?"

So she explains the nitty-gritty of magical auras - which Ellie can sense decently reliably - and how to interpret them - which is a lot harder.

This'll be good for practice, then.

Into the ruins?

Into the ruins!

There's a steep cliff, here, and the odd jagged thrust of an unnatural mountain. There's a fortress not carved but formed in and around it, protecting and protected. There's multiple rings of walls in varying states of decay. There's an inner ring of newer ruins, less damaged and better maintained, protecting a shrinking population. 

There's a fortified city to keep the clan and their vassals safe, before the march of progress removed any safety walls could provide, before the mind became the last faltering bastion.

There's a central meeting hall, long and grand. There's deep carvings on the walls, images of battle and glory and grief. There's rubble on the ground and plants growing up the columns. There's a jagged hole in the ceiling, letting strong light pour in. 

There's recent char on the stone. There's torn fabric, and a smell of burning in the air. 

There's someone curled up on the seat of the throne, holding her head.