Daniel was always a bright student and it came as little surprise to those
who knew him well when he enrolled to St. Thomas' University Hospital.
Daniel's powers first began to surface in the second year of his training
when he was studying in the psychiatric department.
It began slowly at first with barely any physical signs, but gradually his
physical changes became more and more apparent. When faced with
particularly strong emotions Daniel's body would react in strange ways. He
became oddly detached from his physical sensations, akin to an out-of body
experience, feeling a particularly strong empathy with the emotion in
question. As the experiences continued the feeling of physical detachment
became stronger each time and took longer to return to normal. Soon, it was
noticed that during these experiences his physical form became less and less
solid.
He was eventually forced to leave the University although his changes
continued. As the effects grew stronger and more prolonged it was perhaps
inevitable that his physical form eventually failed to return. He was stuck
in a permanently insubstantial form. He was able to pass through matter as
though it were air.
His form also began to vary more greatly according to the emotions he could
detect. Dark or negative emotions (hate, envy, anger, etc.) would cause his
incorporeal form to turn dark itself, resembling a terrifying apparition.
When experiencing positive or good emotions, however (love, compassion, joy)
he would turn a golden colour, reminding many observers of an angel in
appearance.
He developed other powers as well, also linked to his emotional state at the
time. His dark form could project a blast of psychic (emotional) energy
causing damage to the target, yet his light form gave him the power to heal.