Change of Appearances

“Hm, antlers or no antlers?”

“Why are you asking me, Lord Kenon?”

Kenon turned from the mirror, his eyes scanning the elegantly decorated room, until he was met with the Rethan chained up in the corner. Vaksavar, formerly one of the most powerful Rethavok alive, sat awkwardly on the ground, not understanding why he was being dragged around like some sort of pet.

“I would like an opinion. Do you think the common vok will prefer me with antlers or without antlers?”

“I cannot say, as I am no longer part of the Secret and unable to know what the common vok likes.”

The Voidlord rolled his eyes. Kenon’s plans had all gone through far, far faster than he had predicted, leaving Kenon with plenty of time to, well, relax. Within not even three days, he had successfully taken control of about 95% of Rethan society, with the plurality of Rethavok now mindlessly subservient to him. Out of the 5% that remained, most of them were partially under his control and a mere 0.5% had been mostly immune to Kenon’s hijacking of the Secret, the telepathic network that kept Rethavok in harmony with each other. Vaksavar was one of said beings, somehow keeping his intelligence but also unwillingly providing Kenon with information he couldn’t obtain himself.

Currently, Kenon was trying to make himself appear more like a Rethavok. The idea was to settle down as an actual leader of this powerful race, rather than ruling from the clouds like other deities did.

“What do you think, then?”

Vaksavar hesitated, almost looking worried that Kenon was asking him a question rather than berating or hurting him.

“You want my honest opinion?”

“I do. While I did intend to mentally enslave you all, I have swiftly realized that I do need a little bit of free will from some of you. Otherwise all I have are yes-beings who will tell me I am always right, even when I am wrong.”

“Very well…” Vaksavar sighed. “You need the antlers. A reminder that you are a deity. That you are… not a Rethavok, not one of us, but something…” Vaksavar hesitated, trying to find a word that would not upset the Voidlord. “Something more than us.”

Kenon pondered Vaksavar’s words, then smiled, wandering over to the restrained Rethavok. As he did so, his appearance shifted dramatically. The Voidlord still towered over Vaksavar and the mindless guard drones also present in the room, but instead of a strange, almost mechanical equine appearance, he now looked like a very large, very muscular black Rethavok, with an elegant gold trim to his armour and his golden mask forming an intricate crown upon his head plate. As Vaksavar had suggested, his antlers remained, decorated with gold twists and ribbons.

“Hm. You are good with your words. I am somewhat glad that you pledged loyalty to me, rather than forcing me to kill you.”

Vaksavar bowed slightly. He was very uncomfortable with how close Kenon was getting.

“I… I appreciate that… Voidlord… I appreciate you… sparing me.”

Kenon leaned down towards Vaksavar, unchaining him from the wall and putting him on a leash. This one was different from the chains Kenon had previously been using on him. Much lighter. Far less controlling.

“Come now, little one. Let us go and speak to our people.”

“U-u-us?” Vaksavar stuttered.

“Yes, us!” Kenon smiled as he tugged on Vaksavar’s new leash. “We have work to do.”