"Every profound spirit needs a mask: even more, around every profound spirit a mask is continually growing."

― Friedrich Nietzsche

Vendak had long prepared to view his new face. He took this moment and built it up in his mind.

From the look of the rest of me, and my rather sharp teeth, I expected to be hideous.

It was a worthwhile trade, given the freedom this powerful body provided. These worries, logical as they were, had not proven entirely relevant.

If Ven was blunt, the face that looked back at him was extremely feminine. If another person walked by with this face, I'd assume they were a youthful woman. It was generous of him to say the being that stared back at him was androgynous, and the smooth lines and curves of Ven's new face caused him to do a double take.

If I wasn't flat as a board, both top and bottom, Then I'd definitely think I was reborn as a female... whatever I am.

Ven's almost ankle-length hair framed the even deeper darkness of his face in a long veil. It was a shade lighter than the rest of his skin, a black void defined by shadow. It obscured the perfect structure of his face, as the light barely made its way to his skin. Smooth lines somehow blended with sharp angles, and created a sight that captured the eye.

Even though I'm attractive, I'm still kind of a horror show. But you can't have everything!

His teeth were the only part of his body that wasn't a variation of endless black, each a stark white triangle. He smiled, and winced. They stood out like miniature stars in the void of his face. Each fang came to a needle-sharp tip and he dragged his tongue across them. Sharp points pressed into his pitch-black tongue, but left no mark on him at all. What made him take a quick breath, and step back from the mirror, was not this devilish smile.

What the hell is up with my eyes? No wonder everyone looks at me like I'm a monster...

Two collapsed stars stood alone and warped the shadows of Ven's face. These twined orbs somehow managed an impossible task, and held a deeper color than the rest of his body. It was as if an open wound had formed in the fabric of space, connected to some sightless abyss. It created a bizarre visual effect when he looked into his eyes, as if something more stared back at him from within.

Vendak finished his self-examination, and turned his attention toward the hidden room he'd left behind. He hummed to himself as a grin played about his lips.

I might not be normal, but I think I did alright.

Even if he was a bit gender-neutral in looks, it was far better than if he looked like a gargoyle or some other demonic creature. Ven did have the ring, which could hide his form, but he would prefer to be himself if possible. Such an ability is best kept for emergencies. There were far less mystical ways to conceal certain aspects of himself.

Vendak's drone reached a crescendo, a random song from an anime he hadn't seen in a lifetime. He smashed his way into the Captain's stash. His fists exposed a relative mountain of gold coins, and expensive-looking relics, alongside several weird objects. One piece, in particular, caught his attention, and solved a minor problem he'd just considered.

A pale white mask, devoid of any features, sat amongst the valuables. It was simple in design and covered all of a person's features, except their eyes and hair. He secured it onto his face, waved his hand, and deposited everything else within his storage pouch. After Ven glanced at his now bland appearance, he nodded.

Now, let's figure out where I am.

On the desk behind him were several maps. These depicted the ocean and the landmasses which surrounded it. Although he couldn't be sure where he was on the map, he could make a guess. The most detailed chart depicted four continents. Three had various towns and ports along their coasts. Only one of the four mainlands had no marked settlements.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Probably the icy waste I left behind. If he was right, then he was somewhere west of that unmarked shore, in the ocean between the other three continents. If he followed the sun, he would eventually come upon a mainland. Ven relaxed a bit as he learned this.

If I'd circumnavigated the globe, and found myself on the same icy continent where I started...

Ven stowed away the maps, and walked outside. The cat and dog-kin duo from before stood nearby, bent over their fellow slaves as they tended to the wounded. The dog-kin chanted in a strange language, and held his hands over one of the mistreated slaves.

His words finished, a runic circle formed around his outstretched palms. A bright golden light rained upon the wounded person. It traveled from the runes into their body, then merged with their flesh. Gold thread knitted across the injuries. Formed into a transparent layer, it sealed away the damaged tissues.

In a flash, Ven moved directly next to the dog-kin, his face less than an inch away from the magic circle. While his new body had several abilities that seemed magical, he rationalized them away as a part of his strange biology. What this dog-kin did, was far more like a proper spell. His first sight of magic drew Ven like a moth to the flame.

The sudden movement startled the old man, who yelped and struggled to control his spell. Although the runic circle flickered, the healer stabilized it in time. He glanced at Ven, twitched, and focused on his work. As the light shone down upon the beastfolk below, the injuries on her wrists began to seal shut.

Under Vendak's fascinated gaze, the wolf-kin woman relaxed into a more comfortable state. Although she'd healed and was no longer in danger, her body drooped. The tension that held her was gone with the pain. The spell finished and she fell into a deep sleep.

The dog-kin moved on to the next person who required his skills. Ven let the man go about his work. With his new brain, once was enough to memorize the runic display, and he was sure he put the fellow on edge.

Ven moved away from the gathered slaves. He leaned on the rail, and looked to the ocean ahead. It was clear where he was, at least within this freakishly massive ocean.

After a few weeks of travel, I can reach any of the mainlands.

This ship was far slower than he was, although it was enchanted. Wind constantly filled its sails, regardless of the weather, and pushed it along at a good clip. If he remained on board, Ven would have company, even if he couldn't understand what they said. However, it would likely take months to reach land.

The question is, do I want to continue alone?

Ven shook his head. Even if he wanted to stay, he had no idea if the beastfolk welcomed his long-term presence. Vendak had saved them from their fate, and also displayed a good deal of strength. That power, alongside his features, might be too much for these people to accept.

Ven's shoulders sagged at these thoughts, a weight pressed against him. I think I'll just leave while I'm ahead. Better he finished his first adventure on a high, rather than get driven away like Frankenstein's monster. Before I go, I'll give some of the funds I found to the cat people. This way, the slaves would have something to work with, whenever they reached a port.

Determined to make a swift exit, Vendak strode across the deck. The crowds of slaves parted around him as he entered the ship in search of the felines. Eventually, he came upon them both.

Looks like a meeting, I wonder how they organized the leadership so quickly?

Three of the Royals, who had been in the isolated chamber, were also among them. When the cat woman saw Ven, she rose from her seat and gave him a big smile.

She walked towards him, and wrapped him in a hug. Vendak's muscles tensed. He stood, his fight or flight response locked in a mighty battle, until she finally stepped back. She still wore her bright smile, despite his rather lackluster response.

Maybe I should smile back?

His maw was more of a threat than anything else, so he kept his mask on for now. Ven waved his hand and put aside his self-criticisms. Alongside his movement, a large pile of golden coins and assorted trinkets materialized between them.

At the sudden appearance of the small fortune, the cat woman's eyes seemed to grow several sizes. Ven struggled to keep his laughter within as her face distorted, and he gestured between her and the pile repeatedly. Still dazed, the woman pointed to herself, as if she couldn't believe it.

Vendak nodded and once again gestured to the pile as a whole. The cat woman seemed to understand and rooted about in the valuables that ran across the floor. She sorted the things into categories and piled several trinkets together.

It was only a fraction of what he had looted from the holds and stashes around the ship, and he wasn't even sure what he would use the money for anyway.

I don't eat, or even sleep. He only required a source of energy to absorb, and he was good. I'm like a plant, stick me in the sun and let nature do the work.

Finished with his goodbye, Vendak turned and walked to the door of the large room. He gripped the handle gingerly, prepared to make his way to the surface to resume his long flight.

As he moved through the wooden doorway, Ven was tugged by his new cloak. He turned around to find the cat woman. She spoke and held a bracelet out toward him.

That's one of the trinkets I gave them, why is she giving it back? Ven peered at the thing she shoved at him. Seems pretty normal to me, but then again, that ring looks like it came from a vending machine.

Looks weren't everything when it came to magical objects. The thing she'd placed into his hands was a plain silver bracelet. Its only ornamentation was a small runic circle.

After she passed on the item the woman mimed at him, and placed something imaginary onto her wrist, then pointed at Vendak.

She wants me to mimic her and wear the thing, that's obvious. Ven glanced at its magic circle, his new brain memorizing the structure for later study, then placed it on one of his wrists. This woman doesn't seem to have bad intentions, even if she is a bit handsy. Ven assumed her actions had a purpose.

The metal band slipped onto his left arm. Its cool metal shrunk to fit and the magic circle gave a brief flash of blue light. As he observed the bracelet, Ven heard the cat woman speak, but this time, it was no longer incomprehensible noise.

"Hey, can you understand me now, Miss Shadow Person?" She asked, short ears pushed forward. "My name is Mara, Mara Sitel!"

Vend blinked, one hand pressed to the back of his head. He flashed the cat-kin a thumbs up and opened his mouth.

"That bracelet belonged to an ambassador, and it's part of a pair, I think?" She pointed toward the ring around his wrist with her clawed hand. "This one translates everything you hear into the language you know best." Mara appeared pleased, like a cat that had found the fish. "I can't find the other one, so I won't understand you, but at least you'll know what we're saying now?"