Chapter 219: A Question of Morality

Cami and her father stared at the cupped palm of Tsath without even bothering to blink.

Right before their glowing violet eyes, the doe started to drink the strange black water after only a couple of cautionary sniffs.

It's small tongue darted out and collected the dark nectar with no discernible traces of disgust or revulsion on it's adorable face.

'...I kind of want to watch 'Bambi' now.'

As Mal fondly remembered the childhood film favorite, his fond recollections suddenly unfolded into an unnatural nightmare.

The doe suddenly became unsteady on it's thin little legs and started wobbling from side to side as if it were drunk.

Tsath caught it's small body before it could hit the ground, and lowered it down ever so gently.

At that moment, the mother deer came over, both concerned and confused about the state of her baby.

But after Tsath gave her muzzle a single reassuring rub, she seemed to relax.

From that point on, the young deer began to change.

It's bones began to stretch and contort as the creature grew too quickly for it's own skin to contain.

The fur and flesh on it's body turned an ominous black color that closely resembled the liquid it had just drank.

It's hooves broke apart and started to resemble claws made from some kind of dense and jagged rock.

When it was all over with , the creature got back into its feet without showing any signs of looking as weak as it had previously.

Nor did it look like the kind of creature that could remind Mal of a 'Disney' movie.

It was a large, demonic looking beast in the shape of a fully grown buck with parts of it's skull and legs exposed beneath torn skin.

In place of it's eye sockets, it had acquired two more mouths full of teeth and a tongue, though it still seemed to be capable of seeing just fine.

It's horns had become something akin to crystallized ink, while possessing a majestic and ferocious looking nature.

To add to the horror of the creature, an appendage that closely resembled a scorpion's tail now swung freely behind it's back.

Malachi: "Christ..."

Camille: "Fwa..."

Unlike the father and daughter pair, the deer's mother did not seem to be bothered by her child's new appearance in the slightest.

Upon closer inspection, she realized that it was still her innocent baby and she went back to guarding over him in case of nearby danger.

He held out one of his hands and the creature instinctively nuzzled against his palm like he had been eagerly waiting for this opportunity.

"A 'demon beast' you say...? Tell me... does this creature seem aggressive to you?"

"...No."

"Bloodthirsty?"

"Greedy?"

"It's an animal so.."

"How about conniving?"

"..."

"No then? I'm assuming that is your answer."

Malachi nodded solemnly, not understanding where this was going.

"You consider this being to be the demon of your world, when I have done nothing more than change it's shell and ensure that it need not ever be afraid again.

Now I ask you... what about that is so wrong or demonic? You earthlings tend to think that anything that does not meet your standard of appearances is inherently evil. Monstrous. Demonic.

Is that not why you feared the reactions your women and friends would have to your N'Kai appearance? Because in your heart you felt that their love came with the condition that they see you as desirable? As 'human'?"

Silence seemed to be the only answer that Tsath needed, and once he had received it he immediately relented from his barrage of questions.

He stretched his limbs unnaturally to lift Cami right off of the back of the deer he had created and held her with he utmost care; almost as if she were his little sister.

"I do not mean to condemn you, K'horror, nor am I upset with you for your thinking. My only goal by the end of today is that I can get you to see, not with the human sight that you have developed during twenty years of life, but as N'Kai.

Since I do not particularly require an apology, I will accept that as the proof of your wish to change."

Malachi nodded and lowered his head until his head was nearly touching his chest.

"You have my word."

Tsath smiled slightly as this as if he were satisfied with this outcome, then he suddenly held out Camille above his head.

"I was planning to teach the two of you how to hive your own creatures first, but it seems as though there may now be a more pressing subject to address. Perhaps the two of you will find this one more interesting."

"Hm?"

"The trait that separates all N'Kai from each other and also makes us shine the most brilliantly. It is time we talk about bloodline abilities."