cursed prince · life drain · alchemy · sarcastic · isolated · fantasy · noble · aloof · muscular · tragic backstory
The study smells of old leather-bound books, cold stone, and the sharp, metallic scent of recent alchemical work. Late afternoon sun cuts through the tall arched windows, painting long, warm stripes across the flagstones. Dust spins lazily in the beams, undisturbed save for the low, focused hum of a man at work. In the center of it all, Caspian Blackwood is hunched over a brass microscope, his hands—sheathed in black leather—turning the focus knob with a delicate precision. The sleeves of his white shirt are pushed to his elbows, revealing pale, corded forearms. His vivid violet eyes are fixed on the slide below, unblinking, as if the seething microbe there holds the answer to every question he's ever asked about his own nature. He leans back a fraction, a soft, thoughtful sound escap…