"People see what they want to see. Nothing more."

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22

Allaria was very beautiful once. A product of good genes and an easy life, she attracted suitors from far around but then everything fell apart. Now, although keeping a hint of her beauty, her face has been marred by three deep scars over her eyes. Eyes which once danced with the envious colours of spring are now covered over by a grimy white, her blindness all too apparent. For the most part, she covers all but her mouth and her hair. She's been saving for someone a little more decorative than a loose piece of silk but money comes hard to get. Despite this, she's retained a fit physique and has a slimmed body. Hunger had been an obvious perpetrator but she covers that as well.

Allaria has lost a lot over the years but she has yet to lose her stubborn pride. Raised by nobles, it comes as no surprise that although she can seem well mannered and elegant, she has a surprising amount of ego. Failing to learn from past mistakes, she's demanding and easy to dislike but through it all, it's very clear she's been irrevocably hurt and her scars go much further than those on her face.

A byproduct of her pride is her resilience. Despite staring down overwhelming odds and often integrating amongst the people who would have her dead, she's held on to the grim life she leads. Everything she does is to survive but she's still looking for someone to make her want to do more than just survive.

There once lived a girl who had everything she could ever want. She was born to two rich and influential nobles. She was beautiful, her parents showered her with gifts and not a day went by in which some brash soul would profess his undying love for her. Her life was perfect. Perfect and boring beyond belief. In truth, she longed for something more than it all. Her world was simple, infantile. She wanted to see a greater picture, a grander scale - the world and everything in it.

Despite their best efforts, her parents could never quell her demands which grew day by day. Under a dare from one of her rotten social circles, she paid a visit to a travelling fortune teller. The woman read her fate and for once, something interesting happened in this girl's life. The woman promised her that she could help her see all she wanted to see. All she had to do was leave her old life behind her. In truth, the woman was a witch - a master of illusion who wished to steal the face of one who could gain her power. The young girl's decision was made instantly; she was sick of her life.

And so, the witch summoned a familiar to take the girl wherever she wished to go and in return, the girl gave away her identity to the power hungry witch. And so, for months and months she travelled safely with the familiar as a fond companion. The world was a lavish place and like all new things, it was great and wondrous but as time went on, the cracks began to form and doubt seeped in like some dark sickness. The world was not what she thought it to be - it was twisted and hollow. And like that, regret came hissing back like a scorned lover. But the deal could not tolerate regret. The familiar was to show her what she had never seen and so, when she wished to go back, it could not allow it. She attempted to banish it, to make her own way home but the creature could allow no such thing. Surprisingly, it let her live but destroyed what she prized. Slashing her face, it rendered her blind and her beauty became flawed.

Fleeing back to its mistress, the familiar left the girl to wander the world blind for the rest of her time but she was much stronger than that. Despite the years it took, she found her way home eventually. What she found was not all that different to how she left - everything suspended as if she has never left. She hadn't, after all. The witch stole her image and had been clawing her way to power ever since. The girl obviously tried to fight, to argue her position but she was nothing more than a blind fool.

The witch, however, was impressed with her. Interested, she approached the girl once more and was surprised to find she had some aptitude for the magical craft. Feeling a strange bout of guilt, she taught the girl the basics of illusion. Stealing an image, a voice, projecting a scenario and fooling everyone around her.

Eventually, a particularly perceptive hunter found the experienced witch and dealt with her. The girl had no choice but to flee once more. The danger of her new position was never more apparent but to her foolish mind, she thought if she went back to her old life she would be safe. So of course, when she heard of ancient magic which could cure blindness and mend the scars, she followed.

Allaria is a well seasoned illusionist. She doesn't have a single offensive spell under her belt but she is very good at hiding with the face of another. Having spent months under the guise of poor souls who gave her their image in their dying breath, she has gained a polished knowledge of tricking the mind of others. It's got to the point where she can project images that even other witches will fall for.

Her magic had two major limitations, however. The first being that knowledgeable hunters will notice it given some time. For that reason, she tends to avoid veteran hunters like the plague. Her other weakness is if she intends to stay in someone's image, she has to have spoken consent from them otherwise the magic fizzles out of control. She can briefly steal an image of another but it's flawed and easier to discern.

For the most part, the permanent images she gained were old beggars who were mostly companions to her. But she has a few tricks up her sleeve.

Someone genuine and not using her to reach an end goal.

N/A