[ What's that, indeed? He's disinclined to answer, but he must and he also cannot lie. There's a pause as he lifts his blighted hand and appears to examine it with mild curiosity. ]

That is how I look like. I am not human, though I think you already know.

[ Ain lets his hand fall back to his side ]

I use an illusion to conceal my true form. The blight prevents it from taking shape.

[ Probably some strange constraint on his vessel because of this world. Inconvenient, but not too important. He eyes Zhao with what hopefully passes for mild curiosity. ]

Are you afraid?