The cultivation room was a small space with padded floor, reinforced walls and no windows. The Aegis Ward hummed at full power, visible as a faint blue shimmer across every surface. It was the most secure room in the house, designed for deep meditation and absolute privacy.
Holden set Lyra down on the mat carefully.
She looked fragile in a way she never had before. Her frost-robes were stiff with crystallized moisture. Her blue skin had a translucent quality that made her look like a glass statue. Tiny frost patterns spread slowly across the mat under her, creeping outward from her body.
He knelt beside her and recalled Vespera's instructions.
"Skin-to-skin contact at the primary meridian points. Upper back along the spine. Center of both palms. The energy must flow directly. No barriers."
He looked at Lyra's frost-robes. The fabric was thick, designed for combat protection. It would block the transfer completely.
He took a breath and got to work.
