Sixth day of Roland's coma.

Anna walked into the room and saw Wendy tending to him.

"Let me."

She picked up a cup of clear water and walked to the bed. After dampening a cotton swab, she gently moistened Roland's lips. Even though the Seed of Symbiosis had been implanted in him, his body was still influenced by multiple factors; for example, the lack of water led to dehydration and cracked lips.

For the past few days, Anna and Roland's interaction time was far less than what Wendy, Nightingale, and the rest had with him. It wasn't that she didn't wish to spend more time with him, but that she had fixed a hard rule for herself, to only have interaction with him for half an hour a day—she was afraid that she would be unwilling to leave the room.

Wendy set down her work and gave Anna space to accompany Roland.

The thirty minutes were relaxed and tranquil, as though time had slowed to a crawl.

The silence was broken only until a report from the guards came from the outside.

"Your M