Flashback ( PDFDrive )

Elwin laughed. “It’s only for tests. She wants to study how the
shadowflux affected your cells. And let’s see . . .”
He used a tiny squeegeelike device to swipe the slime into the basin
in long, gloopy strips. Her skin was pink and shriveled underneath—
like when she soaked in a hot bath for too long. And her fingers were
finally the size they were supposed to be.
“I told you your hand would be almost back to normal,” Elwin said
as Sophie gently touched each of her knuckles, grateful to feel solid
bone in all the places that had collapsed during the attack.
“What about the numbness?” she asked.
“That’s where the ‘almost’ comes in,” Elwin admitted. “It’s going to
take me at least a couple more days to fix all the nerve damage. And
it’ll be even longer before you get back your strength. Can you try
moving your fingers for me? Go one at a time, like this.”
He showed her the back and forth motion he wanted, and Sophie
tried to copy him. But halfway through, her arm was shaking and she
was breathing like she’d just run a marathon.
“I know this probably doesn’t seem very encouraging,” he said
when she had to admit that she couldn’t finish, “but this is exactly
how it’s supposed to be. Your hand is mostly new right now—new
bone, new muscle, new flesh. So you’re going to have to teach it how
to work again. Fitz is going to face a similar struggle with his leg.”
“I am?” Fitz asked.
Elwin nodded. “I’m sure you’re going to need crutches for a week or
two. Don’t let it freak you out. We’ll get you there, okay? Both of you.”
He smeared a poultice over Sophie’s arm that looked like
regurgitated spinach and wrapped it in a layer of gauze. Then they got
to endure the ooze all over again—much to Ro’s delight—as he