"Ugh!" Viren groaned as he walked into his study.
Word had gotten out of an attempt on King Harrow's life and for once, it wasn't gonna be by Xadia.
Luckily Viren had heard and been able to track down the traitors and have them arrested.
It had however taken a hot out of him.
His whole body felt heavy, his head pounded and his skin felt dry and itchy.
He gasped when he saw his reflection in a random artifact.
His skin was grey! Grey with slightly darker spots here and there and many crack-like markings on it.
He knew it was because of the dark magic.
He already knew how it was more than just taking and re-forming the magical energy of just some plants and animals.
It ate at the energy of it's user and ended up corrupting them at some point.
Viren had read how Ziard, the first dark mage, had his hair slowly turn white, thought in Viren's case, his hair was still the same and his skin seemed to be suffering.
He honestly preffered the idea of some white locks compared this his... rotten appearance.
No doubt that Opeli and other members of the court would raise a fuss if they saw him like this.
Most of them never liked him, after all.
Still, his appearance might just be anough back-up for them to actually succesfully convince Harrow to force Viren into retirement.
He'd have to disguise himself, or at least his true appearance.
But with what?
He sighed and grabbed a hooded cloak to go for a walk, hoping to find at least something with a little magic on it.
Illussion spells were after all pretty easy and didn't need much magic.
He avoided the guards and everyone else that might want to talk to him as best as he could until he reached the forest where he knew multiple animals lived and plants grew.
Only, while he searched for hours, he could not find anything of use!
All the animals and plants he found were regular without any magic and while he knew some spells existed that those could be useful for, he really needed something with at least some magic.
Out of all the days I can't find anything..." Viren groaned before something colorful caught his eye.
Turning his head he saw a butterfly, no a Sunray Monarch!
A butterfly native Xadia.
Slowly Viren got up and snuck closer to the flower the insect was resting on.
"Come here, little one." his whispered, slowly reaching out and when it didn't fly away, he quickly snatched it by it's wings.
"Ecnaraeppa eurt ym edih." he spoke the needed spell and was surrounded by a bright light.
The butterfly in his hand shuddered as it's colors and light faded with it's life-energy while Viren felt as if he was covered by a warm blanket, prompting him to close his his eyes and smile.
Soon it was over and Viren dropped the corpse of the former bright bug to the ground.
Taking out a small compact mirror he secretly borrowed from Claudia he checked his appearance and was met by his own face. His own face that looked like it should be.
Still, he knew this spell wouldn't last forever.
He'd need more sources of magical energy.
"But just where did you come from?" he mussed as he looked at the remains for the formerly beautiful Sunray Monarch.
He started walking in the ssame direction he had needed to go to reach the flower the insect was on.
His eyes widened upon finding a meadow with multiple Sunray Monarch butterflies.
That would do for a while.
Grabbing a bag he had brough along in case he'd have to bring back something big, he walked to the insects, intend on bringing as many as he could back to the castle.