"And the scrolls? Have there been any new trial instructions?"
"No. The prophetic scrolls have been silent since the incident."
Winter frowned. "That's weird, right? We completed the first trials, the feather and bringing Horrace home. Shouldn't there be more?"
"One would expect so, yes." I had been wondering the same thing. "It's possible that absorbing the prophecy fragments has altered the progression somehow."
She was quiet again, contemplative. Then, "I need to see Horrace. And the others. I need to know they're okay."
"I'll arrange it," I promised. "Once the medical team has completed their initial assessment."
"Thank you." She finished her coffee and set the empty cup aside. "And thank you for staying. For being here when I woke up."
I nodded, uncomfortable with her gratitude. "It was the logical course of action."
"Right. Logical." She smiled as if she didn't believe me, which was irritating because she was correct.
Winter shifted, wincing again as the movement clearly caused her pain. The blue markings flared briefly, then settled. But something caught my attention, a new mark on her forearm, different from the others. It pulsed with a rhythm slightly out of sync with the rest, glowing faintly.
"What is that?" I leaned forward, studying the new symbol.
Winter followed my gaze. "I don't know. It wasn't there before."
I reached for my tablet, intending to document this development, but stopped when Winter gasped softly. The new mark was glowing brighter now, pulsing more rapidly.
"It feels different," her voice was barely above a whisper. "Not like the others. More personal somehow."
Without thinking, I reached out, my fingers hovering just above the mark without touching her skin. The symbol responded to my proximity, glowing even brighter.
"Fascinating," I murmured. "It appears to be reactive to external stimuli in a way the other markings are not."
"Can you read it? What does it say?"
I studied the symbol carefully. Unlike the other markings, which resembled ancient runes and prophetic script, this one was more fluid, almost like calligraphy. And unlike the others, I couldn't decipher it.
"I'm not sure," I admitted. "It's not in any prophetic language I recognize."
Winter looked up at me, her gray eyes reflecting the blue glow from her arm. "That's weird, right? That a new mark would appear after I absorbed all those prophecy fragments?"
"Indeed. I'll need to consult with Dr. Thornwick. This could be significant."
She nodded, then suddenly yawned, her eyelids drooping. "Sorry. I feel like I should be well-rested after three days of sleep, but I'm exhausted."
"Your body is still healing," I stood, retrieving my tablet. "You should rest. I'll return later with updates on Horrace and arrange for the others to visit."
"You'll come back?" Her voice was already heavy with approaching sleep.
"Yes," I promised. "I'll be here."
As I turned to leave, Winter caught my wrist, her touch light but unexpected. The contact sent a jolt through me that had nothing to do with her prophetic energy.
"Fenric," her voice was soft, "I meant what I said. Thank you for staying."
I looked down at her hand on my wrist, at the blue markings that pulsed along her skin, at the new symbol that glowed with particular brightness where our skin made contact.
"You're welcome, Winter," my voice uncharacteristically gentle.
She smiled, her eyes already closing as sleep claimed her. Her hand slipped from my wrist, falling back to the bed. I stood there a moment longer, watching as her breathing evened out, as the blue markings settled into a steady, gentle pulse.
