The next morning, light filtered gently into the hospital wing, painting the sterile white walls with a golden color. Most of the machines had gone quiet, save for the occasional beep or mana pulse. Kaiden was up, stretching his shoulder. Bastet munched lazily on raw fish wrapped in foil. Aria sat on the windowsill, watching the street below with her bandaged arm cradled against her chest.
Luna, who refused to leave Nyx's side and slept while hugging the woman, had parted her eyelids just as the door to their room opened.
Tessa stepped in.
She made her way around the room, pausing at each of them.
First Kaiden. Then Luna. Nyx. Aria. Bastet.
A handshake for each of them.
No words.
Just firm contact and utter respect in her eyes.
It wasn't just polite gratitude.
It was reverence.
Aria raised an eyebrow, clearly suspicious. "Okay… what's going on?"
