There was a slow, methodical beep as Britt stared at Dyani laying in the bed. Her skin was flushed, as if she had run marathon and yet had not moved since being brought in. His voice was soft as he whispered to her, some things were about his days at the school and other days he spoke of different subjects. There were a few that would visit him during the day to request messages to be passed on to the comatose woman. It broke his heart to see her there and each day that passed made it that much harder.

  "Ah, I had wondered if you would join us again today. Welcome back, Britt."

  Green eyes darted up from staring at the threads on the blanket to Doctor Baine, whom had just walked into the room. He gave her a smile and moved so that she could walk around Dyani's bed with ease. Her hand waved over the prone body, creating small sheafs of paper that hovered next to her clipboard. Humming thoughtfully, she turned to the worried man.

  "Have you been updated on her condition as of late?"

  Britt's brow furrowed in thought before he shook his head. The Healer sighed and pulled up a chair next to the bed, waving for him to sit down in his previous spot.

  "Well, there has been some changes over the past few nights. Most of it has been small bursts of magic. We believe that her Core is undergoing a flux and increasing."

  "How?" Britt looked at the flushed face of Dyani and knew that the Core growth was the reason behind her appearance.

  "We are unsure. There is no reason for her Core to be growing as it is, but we have been tracking minute increases when the influxes subside."

  "That is unusual."

  "Now you see our dilemma," she sighed. "We see this with those who have gone through rituals, as the magic in those tends to help grow and stabilize Cores. The issue stems from the fact that Dyani did not partake in any rituals when her Core destabilized. We have no frame of reference for why she is going through these surges. We are aware that the two of you were engaged in The First, even with it being accidental in nature, her Core would have stabilized after the initial surge. These microfluxes are something else."

  Britt sighed and held Dyani's hand. The Doctor continued to run her tests as Britt watched in silence. After some time, the woman left with a farewell, and Britt laid his head down on the bed.

  "Dyani, I hope you can hear me. I know this is rough for the both of us. I can only hope that you can hear me. I need you to come back to us. To me. Goddess, what am I saying?"

  Britt's breathing hitched as he tried not to let his emotions run wild. There was a slight shift before magic slammed out into the room. Alarms blared as another surge built up. This time, it slammed into Britt and he felt his body lift up from the chair. It was a moment of fear when magic wrapped around him and his hand tore out of Dyani's grip. Instead of being thrown into the wall like he expected, Britt found her magic cradling him. There were Healers and nurses rushing into the room, staring at him and the chaotic magic in shock. Doctor Baine stood behind them, making notes on her tablet and talking to the others in a calm voice.

  They managed to straighten the room but the magic curling around Britt had yet to subside. In fact, her magic curled him close to her body on the bed when the Healers began casting magic to repair that damages. They were left alone with Doctor Baine and a single Healer when DeLainey ran into the room. Brown hair frizzed out around her as she took gulping breaths of air. Eyes watched as the researcher tried to compose herself before finding hilarity in the stunned expression when she caught sight of Britt.

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  "Her Core has grown by a two percent margin. That's incredible." Doctor Baine's words were breathy as she stared at the diagnostic paper in her hand.

  "How's that possible? You all had informed us that she was stabilized," DeLainey snapped in irritation. Britt frowned at her before eyeing the Doctor. The woman being question shot the young researcher a glare and straightened her robes.

  "I will have you know that this is a recent development. If you or your department had come any time throughout the past few days, you would have been informed that there were changes in her condition."

  DeLainey raised her chin and sniffed, only looking at Britt with curiosity. Ignoring the Doctor, effectively snubbing the woman, DeLainey ran her hand over the bubble of magic that encased Britt. Even with him being relaxed around DeLainey, Britt was very aware that the Doctor had no such reservations. Critical eyes were sharp at watching each movement and spell that DeLainey cast. Britt was sure that the woman knew she was being watched but continued working as if it didn't phase her.

  The two women worked, with the Healer following the Doctor to make notes in the tablet, to cast more diagnostic spells. They would converse over different versions of the results before recasting. Britt watched in amusement, though he was still trapped within a magic bubble. At least it was comfortable and he could still hear and see what was going on around him. It made it more difficult for the women to work, as he was confined to the bed next to Dyani, leaving only one side open for them to do tests. He laid back and closed his eyes, the gentle movement lulling him into a much needed rest. His eyes were fluttering shut every couple of minutes before he would wake himself. Eventually, the magic eased him into a light doze.

  There was a scuffle and then a cry of pain, Britt's eyes snapping open to watch DeLainey fly through the air. The sound of her body slamming into the wall caused Britt to wince. Bones would have broken with that. Healers rushed in and took the prone form out and Britt watched as Dyani's magic settled into her body. Including the bubble of magic that had surrounded him.

  "How long was I asleep?"

  Doctor Baine raised an eyebrow before looking at the tablet. Her eyebrows rose, "You've been asleep for a few hours. It's almost midnight. Why don't you go home and get some rest. You look like you need it."

  "A few hours? What happened?"

  Doctor Baine clucked at him and helped him from the bed, where he stretched out stiff muscles. It may have been comfortable to sleep but his body protested otherwise. "That woman did. She cast a spell directly on Dyani before turning to you. The moment that the spell reached through Dyani's magic around you, it turned and lashed out."

  Britt's eyebrows rose and he looked down at Dyani. Her face looked peaceful, as if she was merely asleep and not having magical bursts that threw people across the room. His fingers were gentle as he brushed them across her cheek, moving the silver strand out of the way.

  "I supposed I should head out now. Thank you for caring for her, Doctor. I appreciate it."

  He received a light pat on the back as he walked from the room.

  "Do not worry over her. She is clearly very strong if her magic is reacting subconsciously. Make sure to get some real rest. I do not want to see you in here for a few days at least. Take time off, Master Briggens. You will need your strength for when the school year picks up for tests."

  Britt groaned and slung his bag over his shoulder, "I didn't need that reminder, but I will take the rest of it under consideration. Thank you."

  Britt stepped through the decontamination room and out into the hall. DeLainey was being tended on near the Healer's station and he stepped closer to check in on her. Seeing him, she tried to stand but was pushed back down into the chair with a stern look. The woman slouched down and didn't protest as they continued to run scans over her.

  "How are you feeling?"

  Britt took another chair and sat down as close as the Healers would allow. A hand slapped away the hand of Healer as they tried to close up a cut, hissing when it stung.

  "What do you think?" DeLainey said waspishly.

  Britt frowned at the tone, even if she was in pain it was a little sharper than warranted.

  “Sorry,” she ground out between clenched teeth as a Healer sealed up another wound. “I didn’t expect her magic to lash out. Not when it has been fine before.”

  Britt hummed thoughtfully, he had no clue as to why Dyani’s magic saw DeLainey as a threat. It was peculiar and made him think. Subconsciously, a part of Dyani either didn’t trust the woman or it reacted that way because it thought it was protecting Britt. He would have to think on this at a later time. It was much too late to contemplate the subconscious of a comatose patient.