Helygen rocked back on their haunches reflectively, and the roots around Liya's leg loosened, sinking back into a vaguely handlike shape, trailing spare threads of gold light.

"Well, there's no permanent damage at least," Helygen said amicably, and went on, "'Flash-healing' is the repair of a severe injury done very quickly. It can leave dangerous complications behind, and it's one of the first things a student learns not to do."

Liya froze in the process of rolling her pant leg back down. She glanced down quickly, brow furrowing. "Oh," she murmured. Helygen seemed to hesitate.

"Captain Marinos did mention that you seemed...untrained," they said slowly. "I suppose he meant for me to take you on as a student? But I don't..."

Liya looked up, eyes widening at the possibility. She opened her mouth to speak, and then promptly leapt out of her skin as the terra cotta figure on the stone table beside her opened its jaws wide and screamed, "HELLY!!"