“Indeed. And if you will come with me, the answer to your prior question about timing isnow.”
“Now?”
“The others have already arrived and are waiting for you in the medical suites.”
“Oh. Um, should we wait for Draikis to join us?”
“He is not part of this process. While he has been your caregiver during your stay, this is not something he is needed or even trained for. Now, please follow me.”
They walked the corridors, following a familiar path that led to the main medical facilities where Ella had spent her earliest time among the Norvalians. The chamber they entered was welllit, a warm glow emitting from the walls and ceiling, illuminating her from all angles. Undoubtedly to better visually inspect her. A dozen males of different races stood watching her arrival expectantly.
She took a deep breath and stepped into their midst.Here we go.
All in all, it wasn’t that bad. While she had to strip down for one part of the examination, the new arrivals from outside the Norvalian Sect were medical professionals perfectly comfortable examining male and female subjects alike. It was only the Norvalians who appeared a little uncomfortable at the female in their midst, but even they put medical discovery first. And looking at the records of her state upon arrival to where she was today, all seemed flabbergasted that she had recovered so well.
“That degree of burn normally allows for reconstruction, but there will always be deformity to some degree. The ruined fatty tissues of the breasts, for example. Cosmetic rebuilding is normally required of races possessing those deposits. But this woman’s response to the treatments has defied those norms.”
“I concur,” another of the visitors marveled, touching her breasts in a purely clinical manner. “See how the suspensory ligaments re-grew without intervention? Highly unusual.”
“And they seem to have done so immaculately,” the other man replied.
“Are you saying I have perfect breasts?” Ella quipped.
The joke landed like a dead fish, the blank stares of all present making her feel like a comic bombing in front of a very harsh crowd.
“Sorry. I just get nervous being poked and prodded.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” the Norvalian doctor chimed in. He turned to the others. “My patient has shown other unusual healing processes. If you will note herintake records, she had been burned to such a degree that all but the translation rune were destroyed.”
“Such an extreme case. It’s a marvel she survived.”
“One of our brothers came upon her just after the incident. His quick actions undoubtedly made the difference. Speed of care prevented sepsis and permanent damage beyond our ability to repair.”
“I see it was a Raxxian vessel. She was taken as livestock?”
“Yes. And no Raxxians survived the crash.”
“We are better for it. While we have taken an oath to heal, I would just as soon not treat those beastly creatures if at all possible. Abhorrent race, the Raxxians.”
“On that we are all in agreement. But let us focus on the subject at hand. See her runes? How well they are healed?”
“You say these are all new additions?”
“Yes,” the Norvalian doctor said, his chest puffing up proudly. “Note the quality of her healed flesh. The pigment bonded perfectly.”
The men leaned closer, studying the markings on her body with fascination.
“And they wereallgone?” one marveled. “They are impeccable.”
“Our Skrizzit is very talented. And the pigments used were of the highest quality.”
“And power, I see,” another noted. “Her Infala is particularly strong. Exceptional work.”
The Norvalian doctor’s smile faltered. It was only a flash, but Ella saw it. He’d only glanced at the powerful rune in the middle of her chest previously, but with the others calling his attention to it, the Norvalian had been forced to look closely. And what he saw clearly caught his attention.
Shit. I think he noticed it’s changed.
Perhaps he did. Her Infala had beenveryactive of late, especially so ever since she and Draikis had sealed the deal, so to speak. But whatever he saw, the doctor kept it to himself, opting simply to affirm the quality of the Skrizzit’s work and the pigments the Norvalians possessed. Given the nature of their position within the Dotharian Conglomerate, it was only natural they would have the best of the best at their disposal.
