I gaze into the mirror and see for the first time in a what feels like years myself staring back from its center.

On the left is the moderately handsome face of a twenty-year-old male.

On the left I look closer and smile at my eye, most people assume I’m brown eyed but upon closer inspection, my eyes are actually brown-green… maybe that explains my IME?... No that’s stupid.

On the left my face is youthful with a bit of stubble from not shaving for over a day, my whiskers always did grow fast.

On the right is the sheer black steel of Krolowa’s armor.

On the right, it covers my face in a thick veil that shields the world from my powerful disfigurement.

On the right, the armor reaches from just in front of my ear.

On the right, where skin meets metal, the contrast is sharp and jarring, leading one’s eyes to focus on the jagged seam.

On the right discolored skin peaks, just barely visible out of the armored mask.

In the center of the mirror, I take a deep shaky breath and swallow hard, “Okay, do it.”

{Yes sir}

On the right, the armor slowly slips away from my face.

On the right, the first thing I see is the slow reveal of my mouth.

On the right, my cheek has disappeared to show yellowed teeth and black decomposed gums.

On the right, my lower jaw is fully exposed from the chin to the angle of the mandible, where the bone has become a sickly yellow/brown but from there and upward from the mandibular condyle muscle is visible in patchworks through the black and purple skin.

Before I can go any higher, I take a second to step away and center myself…

(Oh, gods… I...how?)

{Jon? Sir, are you going to be alright?]

I stumble back and trip, falling hard on my ass.

A little stunned but I simply lie onto my back and stare blankly at the wooden ceiling.

(How did she have the courage to not run from me?)

{... I don’t know but you need to calm down.}

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

(Hey Krolowa?)

{Yes?}

(I’m scared.)

{You are? Why?}

(I’m a stranger in a strange land, I’ve already lost an eye and my dashing good looks...and assuming Rignath did show me my universe my family will have died from old age before I get back.)

{Okay, but what does all that have to do with being scared?}

(Don’t you get it? I’ve barely started but I feel outclassed. I can't even fight despite being so strong, and I have hardly any time to learn how…)

{But you can learn, and we can work on your magic defenses, you’re not helpless. Now look in the mirror, except your that the curse is now just another weapon for you to use, and stop being a little bitch!}

(So you finally stopped with the regal behavior huh?... Thank you.)

{Are all humans so emotional or is it just you?}

(Okay, fine, I get it.)

I slowly get up again and stand in the center of the mirror.

And I spy with my little eye,

a gaping rotted hole.

Like a black hole, my right socket sucks the light in and keeps it trapped for all eternity.

…(Phantom eye)

Suddenly a wisp of green smoke reaches out from the pit and as if filling a mold, form the shape of a solid green eye.

In my socket, the eye levitates perfectly in the

center, incapable of blinking, in one solid piece.

All around my exposed head my aura is a deep forest green, and surrounding her armor, Krolowa’s dark purple flames flare outward.

(Spooky)

{Indeed... Do you feel better?}

(yeah actually, but I can’t really explain why. I just feel kind of pumped after seeing myself...like being able to see myself, even though it’s like this, is enough to prove that I’m still alive and can still fight. Not that it really makes any sense.)

{So, do you want to stay here or go shopping for some clothes?}

(yeah I think I’ll go shopping, maybe the fresh air will clear my head.)

(Phantom eye off)

As the sphere dissipates the armor covers up my face once again.

I turn, unlock my door to leave my room and secure the lock once again. Upon descending the stairs a disturbing feeling announces itself painfully.

*STOMACH RUMBLING SOUND*

(On second thought, no one likes shopping on an empty stomach.)