"I don't know exactly," Arik said, his hand tightening around Liam's waist. "It cracked through whatever walls remained between the pieces of my soul."
Liam stared at him.
Arik looked down at his free hand. Golden ether continued to escape through the cuts across his fingers, gathering in bright droplets before dissolving into the air.
"The Gate demanded more ether than I could give it safely," he continued. "So it took what it could reach."
"That is an appalling explanation."
"It is the only one I have."
"It is not a medical explanation."
"I am not a physician."
"You are currently leaking light."
Mezos lifted a hand. "In his defense, he has been doing that intermittently since he tore apart the first layer of the Gate."
Kamal turned toward him.
Mezos raised both hands before the inevitable punishment could arrive. "I am being respectful."
"You are leaning against an imperial column as if it personally offended you."
"It did."
