The pale, pink tincture flowed out of the apparatus and disappeared into the silver cannular embedded in the young prince's tightly bound wrist. The wizard drew forth the powerful Talisman of Pesch from the folded depths of his robes and clutched the gently glowing stone in his bird-like fist, feeling the faint heat seep into his aged flesh. Finally, he began to utter the mysterious incantation that would forever fix the frightening metamorphosis deep within the youth's maladapted physiology. For several tense minutes the tall, hunched figure of the wizard hovered over the still form; examining, watching, probing, until he was certain that his labour of many days was well done.

Satisfied at long last, he spoke the simple phrase required to bring the docile prince out of the hypnotic trance that had constrained him throughout the long course of his diabolical treatment. Malpurgo gestured to the squat figure of the patient grull waiting nearby, instructing the dwarf-like creature to swing the heavy examination table into the vertical position so that the awakening prince could look around the room.

Malpurgo's pale lemon orbs watched, as Prince Vulkan acquainted himself for the first time with the dark interior of the wizard's laboratory. The youth's red rimmed eyes widened with fear, as they moved reluctantly across the many shelves and benches, all stacked high with ancient leather-bound tomes, unknown chemical agents and mysterious preparations. His horrified gaze rested reluctantly here and there upon the many strange machines and scientific instruments of his captor's preternatural trade.

Finally, the stupefied Vulkan looked down at his own body, which was naked save for the heavy leather straps binding his arms and legs and the immovable broad iron band encircling his waist.