Danzill was among a few people with unavoidable distinct features. During his upbringing, his parents, Mr and Mrs Metz, raised him with discipline and humility and emphasized teaching him how to be a good ambassador of the family.
They knew he had striking features as he was tall, broad-shouldered, having a rare symmetry in his face, and eyes that seemed to carry light. Strangers would often stop to admire him even as a boy, but his parents noticed something dangerous in how people reacted towards him, so they decided to be indifferent about his looks, fearing his gift.
They became scared that if Danzil grew up aware of his looks, vanity, and pride might consume him. So they shielded him. They worried he might grow arrogant, wild with women, or distracted from a purposeful life. So they kept mirrors away from his room, avoiding complimenting him, and taught him about discipline, respect, and humility.
“Do not forget, a man who sees anger and reacts with a fight is a coward, especially if it was with the opposite sex. It is not a responsible act.” Mr Metz will always hint that to him every morning when he goes to school, indicating that conduct and composure are important, and truly, Danzil has never seen his father fight his mother violently before.
His parents downplayed compliments from visitors and strangers saying things like, “He’s just an ordinary boy, and it is no big deal.” So Danzil grew up thinking of himself as ordinary. He focused on learning, helping his father’s work, and most times joining him in the garden, and serving in his community relentlessly was his priority. He developed a sharp mind and his humility drew people near, though he never understood why.
His parents always encouraged him to focus on his studies, kindness, and hard work instead of appearance. Although he buys all the ideas, appearance is not what he is Fond of so this makes him sometimes curious, not knowing the world is looking at him the other way round.
When he entered adulthood and his scope was out of his family's range, women often turned their heads towards his direction, smiling too brightly, or asking for help they didn’t really need, while lingering around him. A few tried to flatter him into love, not because of his personality, but because of how he looked. Danzil, naïve to his effect, often misread their motives, sometimes mistaking flirtation for kindness, and sometimes assuming manipulation was genuine care.
Many men burned with jealousy as they said, “If I had his face, his height, his charm, life would bow before me.” Some avoided him, and others competed with him unfairly, while a few even turned hostile. Danzil often wondered why people treated him so differently without cause.
The turning point came when his closest friend grew frustrated and told him the truth on a weekend.
“Danzil, do you not see it? Do you truly not see how people look at you? You are admired everywhere you go!”
Confused, Danzill replied, “Admired? For what? I have nothing special.”
“ You walk like a king among men so women want you for your looks, and men envy you for the same reason. You were born with a gift you do not even know you carry,” his friend, Watz, replied firmly.
Watz took a mirror and gave it to him, and for the first time in his life, Daniel looked carefully, facing the unknown, and reflected. He realized his parents’ wisdom because he had not grown up obsessed with appearance; he had built his worth on honesty, discipline, and humility.
Although people might approach him for shallow reasons, he could discern true friendship from flattery, real love from lust, and respect from envy. Danzil learned that beauty may open doors, but character keeps them open, and although others wished to “be him,” he himself carried the truth in his heart, as being admired is easy, but being authentic is rare. Knowing that beauty was not a curse but an added grace to balance the strength within.
Danzil said after realization, “ I do regret having this gift and I won't hate it either because of anyone”.
“Why should you?” Watz replied, and since that day, their friendship became stronger due to the fact that Watz was transparent enough and Danzil himself was always thankful for the man his parents nurtured him to become. The change in his life scenario doesn't make him cocky or rude, but it makes him embrace his uniqueness as a privilege.