Only on the inside...

We returned, freshly stocked for our journey tomorrow, yet I feel as though my very soul had been shattered once again. The loss of my horde; nine gold coins, was a catastrophe from which I doubted I could survive. I couldn't stay in bed, nor could I sit at the desk and work through any of my 'homework' Prissy had provided. I decide to head to the bathing chamber of the Runacathy, and pray silently for it to be open...

Yes!

Thank the Gods, it's not occupied. Due to the 'inclinations' of most Runacathies, only one person is permitted use of the bathing chamber at a time; with the exception of the combination of a Handler and their charge. I turn the sign on the door to "occupied" and enter; locking the door behind me, and sighing in relief. Even fully clothed and at the doorway, the warmth of the room's constantly flowing bath can relax even the worst of anxieties. The interior isn't too different from that of the bath I used back in Saltmoore; stone walls melted together via magic of some sort, a constant, bubbling, hot bath, and a divit in the wall itself to hold towels. However, this bath had something the other didn't.

A full body mirror.

I hadn't seen my own full reflection since my first day back amongst the living. The memory caused a minor whiplash of sorts; feeling as though ages had passed, yet realizing only a few weeks, not even a full month, had come and gone. I approach the mirror, tossing aside my shirt and cloak as I do so.

I was honestly a tad shocked at what I saw; despite the short frame of time between now and my first day, my physical appearance had changed drastically in several regards. My wings were the most obvious, having gone from vestigial lumps of feathered meat, to full grown flying machines. The limbs themselves had begun to grow scales, protecting them from both attack, and the irritation of my cloak. The feathers were the same shade of crimson as before, but now more... vibrant? The had a luster to them that they lacked previously. The next thing I noticed were the two new additons added to my forehead; gained when I transformed in the Siren's Cavern. Horns; two stubby horns, now taking on that childish appearance my wings once had. Prehaps when next I nearly die, these two will grow to full maturity.

I'm surprised to see my hair has re-grown at a strangely rapid rate; having been shaven clean off my scalp not but a week ago. It now rests over my ears, seemingly aiming to go back to resting on my shoulders as it once was. The last, and most notable difference in appearance; my eyes. When I had been shown that drawing of my eyes, having somehow shifted of their own accord to that of my past self; it was hard to believe. Now I see it with those same grey eyes from my old memories...

Zana said they change back when I'm angry... lets see...

I think back to how I felt when hearing Zana contemplate the idea that she, or others in the party, may be violated by some horrid beast during out travels. My eyes flare a deadly crimson in the mirror; seeping with murderous intent. The very idea that anything would harm them in such a way births a pure incarnation of wrath within my very eyes.

I'll need to learn how to control that; rage is a double-edged sword. Even more so if the enemy can see it plain as day.

Speaking of eyes.

"I see it. Future. Present. Past."

"I see it. The first and the last."

"I see it. Behold. God's Eye."

Looking upon myself, I begin to understand the functions of my body on a higher level, as well as the effects of the many blessings bestowed upon it. Looking deeper, I see that I'm on the precipice of some sort of evolution; one of Class, rather than of Core. It's as though I've finally been given a guide for my own body, mind, and soul.

I see that "Driftling" has stuck as the term for my species; wait...

The Eye lists how many Driftlings exist; acting as a sort of tally marker when I gaze upon this aspect of my inner workings. It lists... two. The first thing I check in a panix is the "parental status" part of my being; thankfully finding that I'm not somehow a father. It seems divine protection is as infallible as ever; despite my best attempts to defy reality whenever sex is involved. I should work on pulling out...

Focus, what could this mean... Naimad? I've seen his face, it's just our old one... but we can alter how we look as much as we want. Ugh...

Keeping the theory in mind, I slip off my trousers and undergarments; inches from dipping into the bath to relax.

No more thinking about that for now. Just... relax...

There are several bangs on the door.

"Monster? Are you in there?" Asks the voice of Prissy. "You're supposed to tell me when you go off somewhere."

"Sorry!" I call out. "I forgot!"

"I do that too!" The boyish voice of Sammy says from outside the door. "Can we come in? That place smells nice."

"No, we... well we could. But we won't." Says Cilla.

"Hmm... no." Says Sammy.

A squishing noise comes from the door as Cilla yells. "What do you mean no?! Stop! Don't you dare!"

I see a blue ooze begin to slip under the door, popping out the other side in seconds; a Core somehow following suit as the slime rises to form a waving hand. "Hi!"

The doorknob rattles. "Monster, open the door. If she's going to do this, we can at least follow the rules..."

Grumbling, I walk past the reforming slime girl, and open the door.

"What have I told you about opening doors naked!?"