It takes time - and gods, it hurts to listen to Essek gasp for breath in the meantime, knowing there's little else he can do to help - but eventually Essek's breathing steadies. He's not calm yet - he's nowhere near fine - but he's better. It's the first step, and it's better than where he had been. "Of course," he says gently in response. "This is what friends do, isn't it?"

He pauses for a moment - there's not really any way around this, is there - and sighs. "I want to check if you're hurt, but I have to touch you for that - it's how my magic works." He lays his hand on the ground near Essek's, palm up. "Will you give me your hand?"