On the seventh day, Luca's side was feeling much better, and he could make certain movements without experiencing the sharp pain that had plagued him since the moment Ansel's front wing slammed into him. However, the abdominal muscles in that area had begun to strain, bringing on waves of discomfort even when he was completely still.
Mr. Ammermann assured Luca that this was part of the healing process. The muscles, having been disrupted by the initial impact, were now in overdrive to repair themselves. Tiny tears and stress points in the muscle fibers—common after trauma—were now regenerating. This repair process was necessary but also caused inflammation and an overcompensation of tension in the surrounding areas.
"The strain isn't unusual," Mr. Ammermann had told him.
