Cleora laid a hand on her daughter’s back, a gentle nudge urging her forward, while Coco slowed her stride, matching her mother’s pace as they crossed the hallway into the dical hall.
The room was quiet, the air cool and faintly scented with herbs, along with the soft sounds of drawers sliding open and supplies rustling t their ears.
Cleora held the door open, her eyes on Coco as she stepped in.
Coco stepped through the door, imdiately colliding with Kairo’s bright, purple eyes, causing a wave of relief wash over her and it struck her right there and then that the way tension lted from her shoulders— that she had been nervous.
But now, as Kairo nodded at her, her nerves gave way to the familiar comfort his presence brought.
She exhaled quietly, the corner of her lips turning up in a small, almost shy, smile, then her eyes glanced to the side when Heiren stepped forward, his movents quick and hurried.
He reached for Coco’s hand, catching it gently on his own, his grip was warm and firm.
"Good morning." He murmured, smiling softly at her. "Was Quizen too rough on you earlier? I heard what happened when we passed by to check on you, but you were obviously occupied."
A beat of silence settled and Coco blinked at him, her cheeks flushing instantly as the implication sank in.
Coco cleared her throat, a flicker of annoyance appeared in her eyes, before she tugged Heiren forward, close enough that her lips brushed the shell of his ear.
"You’re teasing now." She humd, her voice low and sweet. "But you won’t be able to do that later."
A shiver ran through him at the heat of her breath against his skin, his smirk faltered for just a second—surprise flashing across his face before his face burned red.
Coco let go of his hand and turned away with a soft, knowing smile, leaving him standing there like he had been struck by lightning.
Then she called out to Cleora. "Mama... can we start now?"
Cleora glanced up from the shelf she was expecting the mont she walked in, her expression as she studied Coco for a second.
Finally, she gave a slow nod toward the physician waiting quietly in the corner.
"Begin when you’re ready." She humd simply.
The physician— a small, kindly older man with a bald head and bushy white brows— gestured toward a low stool in the center of the room.
Coco crossed to it, taking her seat, her back straightened, hands falling naturally in her lap, as she t the physician’s warm gaze with one of her own.
He smiled kindly, eyes crinkling at the corners. "Comfortable?"
Coco blinked and nodded her head in response, a genuine smile, small as it was, curved on her lips as she looked at him.
"I am, thank you." She answered, giggling.
The physician smiled at her reply, reaching for a small bag at his feet, and pulled out a stethoscope, then turned back toward her.
"I’ll be listening to your heart and lungs first." He stated, eyes flicking down to her shirt. "If you could unbutton the top few buttons on your shirt, please do."
Coco unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt, exposing just enough skin for the physician to press the head of the stethoscope against her chest.
He listened for a mont, head bent, before he glanced up, noticing the three diators slipping silently into the room.
His eyes shifted back to Coco, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he continued to gently press the stethoscope to her ribcage and carefully shifted his focus to the next step.
He removed the stethoscope from her chest and placed it down on the bag before pulling out a thin silver penlight.
"I’ll be checking your eyes now." He humd, clicking the light on. "I need you to look straight ahead and try not to blink, okay? I’m doing this to check the flow of your mana."
Coco held perfectly still, her erald eyes fixed straight ahead as instructed.
The checking started.
The physician’s eyes locked on the gentle flutter of Coco’s eyelashes as he moved the penlight, watching how the light passed over each eye in turn.
Her breath remained even, her body relaxed, trusting the physician completely as the small beam of light swept over each iris in turn, reflecting a soft glow against the pupils.
The physician made a quiet hum under his breath, not quite an observation yet, but close.
"Good." He murmured, smiling. "Very good."
He clicked the light off and returned it to the bag at his side, then he reached for sothing else, carefully pulling a small box-like device from its depths.
It looked similar to the device that people use to get their blood pressure, but this one looked more simple and it had two magical stones embedded in the front— right below the clock thing attached to it.
"This is a sphygmomanoter." He stated, slipping the strap over her upper arm. "It’s going to feel a bit tight for a mont. Just take so deep breaths."
Coco nodded, taking slow, steady breaths as the strap around her arm tightened.
It was a familiar sensation and she remained calm, her focus firmly fixed on keeping her body still and relaxed, as the physician watched the dial carefully, his face giving nothing away.
The only sound in the room was the soft creak of the material as the strap contracted around Coco’s arm and the low ticking of the device as it took her pulse.
After what felt like an age, the strap loosened slightly.
The physician checked the dial one last ti and carefully removed the thing. "Perfect breathing, a steady heartbeat. You’re doing wonderfully, my dear. There’s just one last thing."
Coco kept her eyes on the physician, nodding slightly in acknowledgnt, her fingers curled loosely around the edge of her skirt.
He reached into his bag again and pulled out sothing small— a glass vial filled with faintly pink liquid that shimred under the light.
The physician gave Coco a reassuring smile, holding the vial in his palm.
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