“Hurry Snappy! Tie her tightly,” Cornelius urged of his miniature sidekick. They only had so much time.

Lilly’s shell of a body was strapped to a wooden slab leaned against the stone wall of the Magi’s empty lot. The disturbed sorcerer inched closer to the maiden’s defenseless body.

Snappy chimed in, “boss, why do we need to even do this part?”

The famed wizard was annoyed. He had explained it a dozen times already. Still, Snappy was a faithful servant. He could explain it to him once more.

“Any hero can save a damsel, only a legendary hero saves the most beautiful damsel,” he said determinedly.

Cornelius moved his body closer to the young dark elf, soaking in her natural beauty while framing his mind’s ideal onto her. Without his help, his artistic prowess, she could be so pretty. But once he got to work, once he poured his craft upon her lithe figure, she would become a goddess. Bards from as far away as Dheathain would sing ballads of Cornelius and his darling drow he had saved from some danger.

“Give it to me,” the mage commanded of his subservient gnome.

Snappy handed his impatient employer a small red vial. Protruding from the top was a narrow handle that appeared to descend inside of the liquid within the glass vial. Glee spread across Cornelius’ twisted face as he eyed up the lovely young woman once more. Stirring the handle around to ensure he got plenty of the thick liquid gel prepared. He lifted the stick out of the jar, brandishing a brush end covered in the red substance. The magic wonder circled the brush around the rim of the vial, ensuring very little of the red liquid would spill.

He took the girl’s thin left hand into his palm and began painting her fingernails with the red gloss. One finger after another before continuing to the elf’s right hand.

Snappy brought blush, eye shadow, lipstick, and rollers so that Cornelius could curl the dark elf’s flowing white hair. Toiling for nearly an hour Lilly emerged dolled up with a heavy coat of makeup upon her face and tightly curled alabaster locks atop her head.

Phase one was finished. Cornelius and Snappy prepared themselves for phase two.