Arthur looked down at his arms. “And the stain?” Elsom smiled faintly. “The pigmentation embedded in your skin is a unique type of residue. That reddish tone? It’s the same compound that likely gave these squid their deep color—one that helped them absorb bioluminescent light and remain invisible to predators and prey.”
“So… it’s not dangerous?” She hesitated. “We don’t believe so. You’re the first human to come into direct contact with the fluid. But we’ll continue monitoring. You may be carrying the first recorded trace of this creature’s biology on land. It’s… invaluable to us.”