1 Prologue

With masks scattered at his side, his fingers began working on another. Lips mumbling as another spell was being simultaneously cast as the mask was being made.

This one had a flat thin nose, bushy brown eyebrows stitched into it from animal fur. Eyes that were blue yet dull and lips thin, peeled back in disgust.

As a master mask maker, Eden saw plenty of business. But he also operated alone, and hence with time had gotten very fast at finishing the masks that his clients had asked for. Most were young men trying to woo a woman but didn't like their own appearance. But others, less constant, but the real money bringers, were the spies and assassins. The rest were women who desired greater beauty.

"Sir Eden, there's another customer. And it looks like an urgent request. "

Eden sighed. "Literally all of them are urgent requests". Biting the thread he was about to insert and tying it up into a knot, he rubbed an index finger against it and stepped out of the room and behind the counter.

The lady was badly bruised. One eye displayed a bulge and was closed shut, the other had clearly seen better days. Long hair that drifted with the wind, she stared up into his eyes. "I need a mask made. "

"All of them do. " He spread his hands. "You don't seem like the type who can afford my services though. "

Her clothes were in tatters. Clearly had just escaped a fight. Nor was what was left of her robe of good quality.

She bit her lip, staring out the store window. " I 'll pay with my body. "

This wasn't a reply new to the mask maker either. He shook his head. "Your body is too frail to do that. I recognize that mark on your shoulder. You're running from one of the brothels of Madam Kremia . "

Her body froze. And she quickly hid the mark with a palm. "Please. "

A mask fell to her feet.

"Take that. You don't need to pay me. It's pretty expensive, mind you. This one morphs your entire body. But you'll have to steal some new clothes on your own if you want to hide. "

Her eyes rose up to meet his, wide and glassy.

"Leave before the guards of the brothel find you".

And she did.