He started scanning his new appearance. First, he noticed his eyes that used to bear the color of brown, now dawns the rare greenish hue. His nose, now a bit more aquiline. And his lips are a few tones darker. His eyebrows and eyelashes were thicker. His skin color still bears the same light brown tone. He now looks younger than before.
He ran his hand over his facial feature, verifying that it is his. Although his new facial features are what others would kill just to have, he felt something strange.
‘Something’s definitely off.’
He does not feel any association towards the image in front. He even thought that it smiled at him, even though he did not.
Sinking deeper into his thoughts, he was suddenly pulled out from it, as a voice popped a few span behind him.
“Why?Are you disappointed that we did not attach a new head?” It is the small figure; now moving closer.
“Give the man, a few more minutes Tres.” the slim figure said.
“I know… I know… You’re too uptight Dos.”, Tres, the small figure said. “See.. I brought you food.” Tres landed the food on top of the table, then carefully unwrapped it.
The freed man turned to Tres, as the mouth-watering aroma of roasted meat filled the room.
“It’s a boar, I and Igor caught and roasted it outside. Please, take a seat”
The man took the chair closest to him, after making a mental note of the figures' names. His movement visibly lumbering, as he struggles to even lower his body to the chair.
After being seated, his eyes were drawn to the roasted meat skewered by sticks. He was about to reach for the food but his cautious side tugged against his desire.
“Come on, it is below us to poison a guest. Dig in.” Dos said reaching for a stick.
The freed man observed Dos, expecting him to remove his mask to eat. But to his surprise, the lower portion of the mask moved as if it was alive, leaving the nose and mouth uncovered. But still sufficiently covering a great portion of the face. Disappointed, the man just reached for a stick and took a bite.
His disappointment and doubts seemed to have vanished as juices from the roast leaked inside his mouth. The roast’s saltiness perfectly intermingled with its subtle spiciness.
“Enjoy the food. I and Igor had already consumed our portion.” Tres said as he approached one of his cabinets.
Back at the table, the two continued eating as emptied sticks piled up on one side.
“Although It is not a big deal. I’m curious as to why you chose the face that I drew on page twenty-one.” Dos said.
The man paused a bit as he swallowed. “Well, I did not really choose it. I just chose a number and it turned out to be this image.”
“Oh, I See. I thought you found something special in the image.” Dos paused for a minute to eat.
Then, he continued “I know some people deem a face more beautiful over the other; just because it is more similar to the face of someone they admire- a face of a performer or a renowned noble. A lot would even consider the dictates of the majority as the absolute. And all these choices were committed without them realizing it”
“Well, I definitely have not realized that… or maybe I’m not even one of them.” he responded chuckling. Then, he remembered the way he pinched his nose when he was young in an effort to make it look pointier. And a few more futile efforts to correct a few features that he considered blemishes.
‘Wait, are those even ‘blemishes’ in the first place?’ he thought.
Rebuking himself, he spoke in resignation, “Well, I will take my words back, I have definitely fallen for these faults.”
“Yes you did. We definitely did.”
Both of them erupted into laughter, only subsiding after a few minutes to catch a breath.
As they continued eating, the man’s thought now wandered back to his past appearance and to his current image. And for some reason, his heart felt as if it was being weighed down by boulders, growing heavier and heavier by the minute.
He shooed those thoughts away as Tres came back to the table. Carrying with him a large scroll.
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