Time to Talk

KALLE

They'd gone to the dining room to get breakfast for Elia and returned to the suite. But when she came out of the bedroom, Kalle was worried.

Elia's skin was dry and her hair dull. Her eyes had dark shadows underneath, and she looked utterly exhausted.

Kalle had enough extended family to know this wasn't uncommon with women in pregnancy. But Elia's exhaustion had a quality to it she didn't like. They'd hoped that her becoming Anima—or some kind of hybrid—would mean that her body was strong enough for the pregnancy. But here they were six weeks in, and her stomach was rounded enough to be noticeable in jeans or any top that wasn't baggy. And she looked terrible. Kalle made a mental note to ask her grandmother about those herbs again.

While Gahrye got changed in his bedroom, Elia sat, listless, at a small table in the corner and picked at the bacon and fruit they'd brought her. Kalle filled her in on their finds from the night before.