She stared down at the piece of paper that felt like lead in her grip. Nothing. The results had shown nothing once more and the Doctor had been mum about the entire situation. DeLainey knew that there was much more to Dyani's comatose state but the file for her contained nothing that she did not already know. She crumpled the paper in her hand and glared at the girl just laying there. It was going fine until the idiot had to go and get herself knocked out. Now, any possible way of her finding out information was blocked. The Doctor didn't trust her despite DeLainey being so careful around those not in the know.
DeLainey glanced up and took note of the room and those outside of it. The window looking into was placed right where the Healer's station could easily see. Although, there were shades and curtains that could be pulled closed for privacy. A thought crossed her mind and she grinned, making her way through the small decontamination room to stand in the hall. Taking a moment, she flagged down one of the Healers that usually worked with the Doctor.
"I'm going to take documented notes and drawings of Dyani's runic scars. I have the preliminary ones, but I noticed that there are a fair few that need to be noted down. I'll make sure to turn in the notes so that you have them for her records."
The glassy look in the Healer's eyes was enough to know that they had no clue about the medical records or the function that DeLainey has in regards to them. The Healer jotted down a note in their tablet and bustled off with no more than a confirmation nod. Turning, DeLainey smirked as she walked back into the room. Using the excuse of documenting the runic scars was a good one. There were some places that DeLainey had yet to study and would be easy to get that information jotted down for reference to cover her. The curtains were shut with a snap of her fingers and then she got to work.
DeLainey knew that there was not much time, as the Doctor made her rounds or when there was a change in Dyani's file. She would have to be quick with getting these scans done. In her purse, the woman dug around until she let out a triumphant cry. It was unusual to have them, even for the regular witch or wizard. Wands were considered old fashioned but also for those looking to perform specific branches of magics. Each wand would be for a different branch, as the wood and the core would be tied to the properties of those magical items. It was the reason people chose to use their chosen foci, since those tend to be more generic in their use.
This particular wand was dark in color and DeLainey felt the low spark of it connecting with her magic. It was not her preferred wood, but it did do the job when she needed. Her eyes were dark as she stared down at the prone form, wondering just what it was that kept the girl alive. Through the botched ritual and now the unexpected Core growth. DeLainey had never met someone as lucky as Dyani.
The wand moved in an intricate pattern over Dyani's chest, while DeLainey muttered the spell. It was one of the few Greek spells that she knew, considering that Asclepius was the forefather of an entire branch of Healing Magic. In fact, DeLainey knew most of the Healing spells centered around diagnostic and doctoring were based from the research of Asclepius. It took a few moments for the spell to end and the results to appear. They would have to be combed over later when she could properly translate the runic results that hovered in the air over Dyani's body. The researcher in her loved a good mystery and this was the reason that DeLainey became involved with Dyani in the first place. No one knew or had the chance to study the woman who survived a ritual involving her own blood. Of course when it came to blood magic, the user could face many different problems at any time, but to have a forced ritual performed with another was completely different. There were very few who survived the backlash.
DeLainey shook her hear to clear the cloudy thoughts and focused on transcribing the results of the diagnostic spell. She frowned, familiar with a good chunk of the runes and results, but it made no sense to her in regards to Dyani. Filing that thought away for later, DeLainey tapped the wand on the pads of her fingers. The question was what other spells should she use. It was clear that most of the basic and moderate spells were not forthcoming. In fact, they showed nothing abnormal beyond what they would show for a normal comatose patient. The elevated Core growth and the spikes of magic were new, but that was old information.
Humming, DeLainey turned the wand back to Dyani's body and flicked it. It was an easy spell that would give her the same results, but it read more of her magic than physical body. DeLainey crumpled up the paper with a huff when it showed inconclusive data. She lit it on fire and watched it burn in the air. Growling, she twirled the wand around the sleeping girl. Her voice was harsh with each pronunciation of this particular spell. It was a grey area of using it, but time was not on her side and DeLainey was desperate for some form of answer.
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There was a hush, even within the magic being cast, before Dyani's body lit up. The runes activated that usually were kept under glamor as well as the rest of her body. Instead of having single lines going through her body, almost like how the nervous system was, Dyani's entire body glowed. There was not a single pathway or small pathways of magic. DeLainey sucked in a breath and stared at the parchment in her hand. It was an older spell and so that was the method the results printed themselves on. This was impossible. At least, she had never witnessed someone with such large magic channels. But the results in her hand and before her eyes told a different story. DeLainey did not know how this woman had survived the backlash, but this was something that was bound to be an answer for that. There was a noise outside of the room and DeLainey rushed through some of the drawings of the runes that she had not gotten to before. These ones were more delicate and were clearly not a part of the original ritual. Reaching with one hand, DeLainey traced over one that was on Dyani's thigh. It was a new rune that she had not seen before. Noting it down on her drawings and copying it, DeLainey sighed in relief. At least she would have something to turn over to them when she was inevitably interrupted.
Since she had added more sketches, there may be enough time to try one more obscure spell. This one went deeper than the magical channels. It was a large risk in casking this particular spell since it was considered to be very intrusive. The parchment from the previous spell floated to the ground in her hunt through her bag. It fluttered lightly and settled down underneath the bed, forgotten. DeLainey plucked out a flat disk, covered in runes and smirked when it shifted underneath the light. DeLainey turned around to look at the girl before moving the dressing gown aside. It made it easier with skin contact and DeLainey was perfectly fine going through with this. She set the disk right underneath Dyani's sternum, pressing it flush against the bare flesh.
"Sorry, Dyani, but I need to know."
The researcher smirked down and began to chant under her breath. This did not need a focus as the disk itself was magical. At the height of the low chant, the flesh around the disk began to smolder and burn. It smelled foul to her nose but she kept going. Dyani's body arched up at the pain and DeLainey pressed her back down on the mattress. The spell picked up as DeLainey continued, though rushing just slightly. The disk needed her pain, which is why this particular magic was forbidden. There was a pause and Dyani's body collapsed into stillness. DeLainey breathed a sigh of relief before watching blood pool onto the disk. The red liquid shining on the surface of the silver metal.
A flash had the researcher closing her eyes before there was silence. Even the low buzzing from outside the room was gone. There was magic hanging in the air, heavy and waiting. DeLainey rushed to see the surface, knowing the magic could shift at any point. There is was, the results that she was looking for. The magic tied to her soul and to her Core. The blood circled around the edges of the disk and formed the runes that told her the details she would need to know. There was not enough time to decipher the entire results, so she scribbled down every detail that floated on the surface. It would have to do for the moment.
The second that DeLainey went to take the disk off, the magic in the room shifted. The woman was lifted off her feet and slammed across the room. Alarms sounded from within and DeLainey cursed but felt the pain of being tossed. She scrambled to her feet and leapt for Dyani as fast as she could. The disk was ripped off the skin and the dressing gown pulled back. It took moments for the Healers and Doctor Baine to rush in.
"What happened?" The Doctor's tone was sharp.
DeLainey, knowing that she looked winded, waved a hand at the body the Healers were fussing over. "I was sketching her runes, the ones that have not been done when I got close. I must have brushed against them when I was thrown across the room."
"Please see yourself out, Miss Cavasos. I believe that this study is enough for today. Please hand over the copies of your sketches and information to Healer Sertun. He will put them in her file."
DeLainey sent her a scowl before nodding. She shoved her research into her bag and handed him the sketches she had made earlier. The Healer stared at her with suspicion but kept his mouth shut. Shouldering her bag, DeLainey flounced out of the room. When she stepped through the doors to the rest of the hospital, she hustled her way to a Dysc. There was stuff that she had to research. Data had to be combed through.
What DeLainey missed was the thorough examination from the Doctor. A piece of parchment that had fallen under the bed revealing more than it should have. The blood that dripped across the floor in little droplets telling of something more, especially when it was revealed to be Dyani's. The most damning was the scarring that was left behind from the disk pressed to her body. The blood red runes of her results and the silver metal burns telling of the sinister work being done. Of course, only Doctor Baine knew of these incidents. It would be some time before the Doctor would allow DeLainey to return, stating that there would be no need as her status had not changed. Even if there were changes.
No, DeLainey knew nothing of her evidence she left behind. Instead, she was hyper focused on returning to her department to decode the results she recorded. There were very interested personnel in the data that came from Dyani. If they could just understand how she survived then they would be able to have revolutions in the magical research.
