Bariyan couldn't feel the cold, but the contact still felt strange and he had to force himself to stay still, repressing the impulse to pull away. He was grateful that the whole ordeal only lasted a few moments.

When it was over, Bariyan turned in his seat to better see Koltira. Holy magic was an unfamiliar term to him, as many things were. But he was less curious about what it was and more curious about what to do about it.

"Can my body reject it?" Bariyan held his hand up again, grimacing. "Is that what I want to happen?"