The optimism didn't last very long. When I was finally strong enough to stand, one of the first things I saw was my reflection. I was a monster. The bottom half of my face displayed black skin, veins protruding and throbbing. My mouth was horrific, lips stretched out from ear to ear, and opening my mouth caused a large, hideous whole to be uncovered. Small, sharp teeth dotted along the whole thing, luckily, I could open it without opening it fully, as though it was the size of any normal person's mouth. I ripped up my cape, making it a dark moave mask that covered the disgusting bottom half of my face. I made it so the mask was attached to a dark purple cape, and, to that, I added eyes, they were purple, like an enderman's... or like mine. I had managed to cover up one of three things that had changed after the blood reached my heart, it really messed with my genes, because now I had a dark blond streak in my hair.

While looking in my reflection, I pondered, exploring my mind.

This is all Duncan's fault!

HIS fault I'm like this!

I packed all my stuff in my alchemical bag and left.

Duncan's POV

When Rythian finally came out of the other room, he wore a purple mask and a new cape. I smiled at him, but he walked straight past me, and out of the door. I ran out there too and shouted to him,

"Rythian! Where are you going?!"

"Away."