Velentham left Ieridenth's room and passed through the band of roudy men who were fast growing drunk. He walked to the corner of the immense cavern and sat down on the ground where the wall gave way to a nook. It afforded a small measure of solitude. He stared at his hands, his vision still milk white, his own visage slowly changing from bright light in the midst of the white, to a dimmer color. Gray.
There was no mistaking what it meant. He wasn't clean in his own consciousness, and it was growing apparent. It had to be his agreement with Ieridenth, siding with the sleazy undercurrent of this world, that was changing him. There was no other reason that he could accept.
Velentham let out a growling sigh and shook his head. At least if he could get out of here, his vision would have some level of normalcy. He wouldn't have to see what he'd become. But even with freedom... he could never return home. The ties that held him, kept him above everything, his birthright, was no longer his. He had everything taken from him - his righteousness, his standing, his ability to stand behind his people. He was like a butterfly with its wings pulled off - a caterpillar with memories of flight.
His eyes narrowed a bit more. All he'd ever wanted was the love of Sanria, the comfort of his father's demi-plane, and a family that he could raise and protect. At least he punished his cousin thoroughly for ruining that, even if it did mean he had to kill what he loved.
Velentham felt the twinge in his gut and his anger elevate. It was difficult enough to be in this place, surrounded by evil, but with each negative emotion, he began to spiral farther down still. Why not get out of here and do whatever he wanted? He was still better than everyone else, smarter than even the tribunal that sentenced him here. There was no reason he wouldn't be able to command numbers to do as he willed. There was nothing left to stop him.
As Velentham felt these thoughts, realizing he wanted nothing but to punish everyone alive for how he felt, he also noticed the gray color of himself in his vision ever growing darker - increment by increment.
