The man's legs gave out before Arion could ask whether he understood what had happened to him.
He dropped heavily onto both knees in the frozen leaves, catching himself with one hand while the other pressed against his ribs, his shoulders shaking hard enough that Arion initially thought another transformation had begun.
Nothing changed.
The restored human body remained human.
No claws returned, no black armor pushed through his back, and the dark pathways that had covered his throat did not reappear beneath his skin. His blond hair hung over his face as he bowed forward, breathing in short, uneven pulls that gradually became deeper with every passing second.
Arion stepped closer.
Behind him, he heard movement near the vehicles.
"Stay back," he said without turning.
Otto did not sound pleased. "Is he changing?"
"No."
The man laughed.
It was an ugly, broken sound, but unmistakably human.
"No," he managed.
Arion stopped several steps away.
