The problem did not announce itself.
Shunya noticed it in the afternoon, long after Vikoria had helped him settle back into bed and stepped out to speak with a healer. The room was quiet. Peaceful, even. Sunlight rested lazily against the wall.
He inhaled slowly.
Stopped.
Not where it usually did.
Earlier, the resistance had been gentle. Predictable. A soft pressure that warned him when to stop. Now, it arrived sooner. Much sooner.
He frowned and tried again, carefully.
The pressure tightened immediately.
Not painful.
Restrictive.
Like the space inside his chest had shrunk while he was not looking.
Shunya went still.
That is new.
The system flickered faintly.
[Stability parameters updated.]
Updated.
He swallowed.
He lifted his hand, intending only to flex his fingers like Vikoria had taught him.
The resistance answered again. Stronger. Firmer. His muscles stalled halfway through the motion, trembling slightly as if unsure which command to obey.
