#birdseye

As soon as I exit the room, I brace my back against the wall. My head feels so... Fuzzy and warm. What the hell was that gash? I've never seen a wound so unsightly, and yet Birdseye didn't seem pained by it whatsoever. Have they been dealing with this all day? The poor thing must have been so uncomfortable...

I clench my jaw. Curse that blasted mother of theirs for instilling that deep fear of calling for help. If it weren't for her, I would have been able to help Birdseye so much sooner...

My train of thought is abruptly halted by the sound of clicking heels rushing down the hall.

"MASTER! Are they okay? I came as soon as I heard the news—"

Upon hearing the panicked voice of my beloved assistant, I push myself off the wall to greet her and calm her worries. "Sonia, dear, they're alright. Birdseye is in stable condition, albeit a bit tense due to the environment."

She lets out a sigh of relief, before glancing around anxiously. "H-how bad is it...? The wound?" she asks, rubbing her forearms. "I heard it was r-really big. The janitor even mentioned something about being able to see their SOUL, i-is that true? Is their SOUL alright?"

"... That is correct, yes. Their SOUL is visible through the wound. Fortunately, Doctor Avii had been taking appropriate care of their injury, and there's no signs of damage to their SOUL."

"That's good... Were you able to c-calm them down okay...? The poor thing must have been so scared and confused, I saw them b-being carried down the hall, a-and the look on their face..."

"Oh, I was able to get them to relax just fine, my dear, don't worry yourself about it~" I croon, reaching up and pinching her cheek affectionately in a bid to comfort her. She leans into my touch, but only for a brief moment, before pulling her head away with a puzzled look on her face.

And then her lips split into an awkward yet teasing grin.

"Oh, oh wow... I s-suppose that method IS really effective to, uhm... Help one calm down~..."

I give her a quizzical look, before noticing the film of green slime clung to my gloved fingertips. It quickly dawns on me what Sonia was implying.

"Heavens, no, we did nothing of the sort!" I scold, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity against this accusation. "I merely used my cape to blanket them in a familiar scent and texture to assist with grounding their mind."

"And they, uhm... T-they came from just that~?"

"N-no, it's not—!" I bluster, before clearing my throat to keep an even temper. "Ahem... This, ah... Substance came out of their wound during the examination... I believe it to be some form of structural ectoplasm magic, perhaps undergoing a physiological response that's causing it to liquefy improperly..."

"O-oh... That sounds... Bad..."

"Yes, I know... Their affliction is quite concerning... But! Birdy is nothing if not extremely resilient, you and I both know this." I summon a hand-shaped construct with my magic, using it to grab her shoulder reassuringly. "I have not a doubt in my mind that they'll be able to make a full recovery with enough time and support."

"Well... I-is there anything I could do to help them? What was their favorite snack again? They liked peanuts, right? I could g-get them some peanuts!"

"Oh, that would be splendid of you~" I praise, before producing a fresh specimen bag from my inventory and removing my soiled gloves, placing them securely inside and sealing it shut. "If you don't mind, could you drop this off at the pathology lab on your way to the break room for me? I'd like to run a magopsy to get a better idea of what's going on with Birdy."

"Alright—!" Sonia chirps, taking the specimen bag from my hands and stowing it away in the front pocket of her lab coat.

Just as she's about to turn around and head off, I decide to make one last request.

"Ah— And, Sonia?"

"Yes, master?"

"I do ask that you keep the true nature of Birdseye's condition on the down-low, at least for the time being. I… I have no idea as to what exactly is going on, and I'm…" I clench my fists, a moment of hesitation hanging in the air as I swallow my pride, "I'm afraid… Of how the people may react if they find out that the greatest mind of the Underground doesn't know what is happening. Do you understand?"

She lets out a gentle sigh, a look of contemplation behind those emerald eyes. Her hands come up to caress my face.

"Okay, I won't tell anyone… A-and—… I'm proud of you, f-for being brave enough to admit that you're scared."

Sonia plants a kiss atop my cranium, my SOUL fluttering as the loving gesture causes a wave of pleasant warmth to wash over my bones.

"I… Thank you, Sonia, dear. N-now, let's… Let's not get carried away exchanging affection, taking care of Birdseye should be our top priority right now."

She pulls her lips away, arms dropping to her sides. "R-RIGHT—! I'll g-go get those peanuts!"

We part ways, and I'm once again left alone with my thoughts as I begin to make my way to retrieve something from my office that will hopefully aid Birdseye in their recovery…