Morning came by quick and four out of five of the Guardian were up ahead as usual since baby Milo's birth; Their elder remaining asleep with the infant snuggled close with the green-sleeved arm wrapped around him. Balthazar's eyes fluttered and he yawned, stretching his legs and sitting up carefully to avoid disturbing Milo. Unfortunately, Milo was far from the deep sleep state and his eyes blinked open with the slightest movement. Balthazar let out an amused chuckle.
"Good morning as always Milo," Balthazar smiled at the baby lovingly and like the previous morning, held Milo up in mid-air while he made the bed. He got the both of them dressed for the day and floated over to his dressing table to check on a calendar.
Balthazar's eyes widened in realisation. "Would you look at that? It's the day of Veneris," He mouthed and a light frown creased his brow. "The weekly tree checkup in Minty Woods." His voice melted away with fear and doubt.
Since that ordeal with Block, Balthazar found himself hesitant to go into Minty Woods. He can't exactly define why. Perhaps it's all from knowing and witnessing his own kind almost getting killed by the monstrous Shadow King. Had I not reached them on time they'd be... He shook his head. No time to be wary now Cavendish.
Balthazar tried to push down that feeling of worry. You're going there to accomplish an important task as part of your Guardian duty for Veneris. You've done this countless of times! His brow furrowed with determination and adjusted his hat, facing his reflection in the mirror.
"You don't scare me Lord Block." Balthazar boldly spoke. "You are the one in the complete wrong here. You had absolutely no right to blame us for something we had absolutely no reason to do without the right evidence!"
He felt that brief boldness wash away as wary took over. "T-There's a border between us after all now! You won't have to harm any Anacardians just for crossing over! … Right?" He mentally slapped himself for stuttering. Oh you bumbling fool! Stuttering is cowardice!
Balthazar looked over his shoulder at Milo who was on the center of bed, sprawled and tangled in his blanket, the sight amusing his caretaker. He blinked contentedly at Balthazar and cooed, the blanket still wrapped around his tiny body.
"Got into a tangled heap I see?" Balthazar laughed as he picked up the baby, carefully undoing the blanket so it is now wrapped around him, like a newborn. Milo giggled and was propped up so when glancing upward, the sky blue eyes of Balthazar were right there.
"Your uncles and aunt are very busy today and so am I," Balthazar spoke in a gentle tone. "We'll be in the same place where you played with your uncle Vinnie. There you can sit and watch me work, that way you'll get the idea of how tree checkups work."
The baby rested his tiny hands on the green blanket that wrapped around, eyes looking at Balthazar. The elder understood at once and raised a brow. "Of course we can bring the blanket along. I know how much you're attached to it." He smiled and let out a soft 'aw' when he felt Milo express his thanks through a cuddle.
You had to be born smart and understand almost anything people say, do you? Balthazar picked up the baby carrier that hung on the door, putting it on with the pouch at the back like normal. Even I didn't understand what Mendel had to say during my first two days of life. He placed the baby in the carrier and floated out of the room; the door behind him closing shut.
"Alright Milo." He inhaled and tried to put on a smile, raising a hand to hold Milo's between his fingers. "It's off to the Minty Woods we go." The Guardian floated along the corridors to outside with Milo nestled comfortably on his parent figure's back.
Block paced a line in the floor of the Stygian Palace grounds, muttering angry words and hissing, all in the presence of four Shadow people standing a distance behind him. The four consisted of three men and a woman and all looked tough and menacing as their king.
Well, three out of four of them at least.
A Shadow with narrow eyes and rather thin build was flinching with Block's every step and sound, eyes filled with worry instead of the fierceness his comrades displayed.
Being the calm and pacifist type with his heart open to all including the Anacardians, this particular Shadow isn't into the idea of being summoned for the 'Royal Patrol'. But knowing grave consequences come with disobedience, the halfblood Gethen-by-heart had no choice but to go along. Though that didn't stop him from voicing out his thoughts to anyone.
"Comrades," The Shadow hesitated but then mustered up the strength to talk to the ones standing at his left. Two out of the three others hissed when the Shadow's words came out in hushed protest. "I really don't think patrolling in Minty Woods is a good idea. The Anacardian people have already placed a border between the Black and the Minty Forest! We could get seriously hurt out if those Anacardians see us!"
This sparked laughter from the other patrols causing the Shadow to shrink. The four were unaware that even Block froze in his pace and was facing them. Fortunately, he made no movement as the their small topic interested him somehow so he kept watch with a raised brow. The three were snickering loudly and two male Shadows were smacking their worrying comrade on the shoulders hard.
"Anacardians? Attacking us?" Scoffed one particularly large male. "Those nuts are harmless! They? Sending patrols against us? Humorous!" Added another in a taunting tone. The doubtful Shadow opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the female's mutter. "They say that they disliked murder for years but yet they still had the urge to kill Queen Tenebri."
The other two fell silent as the female hissed, fists clenched. "Those cold-hearted brutes! I really want to lay my hands on them and make them feel the wrath of us Shadows!" She leaned close to the doubtful Shadow till it looked like she is glaring right into his soul.
"And for your information Half-blood, those Anacardian brutes won't lay a hand on us because we will down them before they strike!" The doubtful Shadow flinched at her fierce and sinister voice.
The Shadow woman grabbed the male's collar. "This is our chance to show them that we, the Shadows, the people of Tenebri, are stronger than they think!" She shoved him causing the Shadow to stumble back with a gasp of hurt.
The Shadow woman turned her back on him. "I don't care what you think or fear of those murderers but we are standing here to make our goal of avenging the Queen a step closer to success!"
Her voice lowered into a threatening whisper. "Now don't you dare ruin this one chance of our race moving forward Kyle Drako. We're doing this is for us and for the Queen we've lost!"
"Exactly."
The four patrols stood tall at the sound of Block's voice. The Shadow King grinned as he approached them. His followers bowed deeply but Drako only acted out; Luckily for him, Block did not catch him red-handed. "My most trusted followers, as stated by your sister Gretchen here," He gestured to the female Shadow who bowed her head in a stiff curtsy at the mention of her name.
"This patrolling session you're about to go through is indeed one of the many chances that will bring us closer to bringing down those ruthless Anacardians and avenge my mother who has died a brutal death in those cold-blooded hands of theirs!" His fists clenched as Block's eyes shut tightly like he was trying to hold back tears of grief.
But yet, Drako felt himself trying to hold back a snarl, his normally dilated pupils turning into slits with light rage. Being a compassionate fellow he did feel truly sorry for the king when his mother died. But that did not excuse the fact that he can just go around and cause havoc on innocent lives however.
He is over-exaggerating! He cannot just jump into conclusions and drag us down with him! He shut his eyes and fumed as long as he's out of Block's eye range. He quickly shoved whatever conflict he posessed towards the King to pay attention to what he had to say.
Satisfied that the four are attentive, Block turned to the exit of the palace as did the patrollers. His eyes briefly cast on Drako who resisted the urge to shrink as he stayed nonchalant. "I believe the Anacardians have made a border between the Black Forest and Minty Woods already, hm Kyle?" Drako inhaled and closed his eyes, maintaining calmness with a nod. "Affirmative, King Block. I saw it with my own eyes."
Lovely. Just lovely. Block took this in satisfaction. "Well it's about time those nuts do something about their kind intruding..." Drako felt his spirit lift with hope. "But we're not taking any chances." The bubble of hope popped and Drako's eyes were wide with shock.
What? He exchanged looks with his comrades who also did the same. Gretchen kept looking at her King with a straight face. "What do you mean we're not taking any chances?" Asked a slouchy patrol on behalf of Drako and the other.
"Oh it's all simple my brother," Block chuckled. "What you're going to do is take your patrolling to the next level!" Gretchen rubbed her hands in glee. "You mean we get to...?" Having gained a nod for an answer, the woman let out a quiet cheer of victory as the King grinned proudly.
The two male patrols quickly got the message. Drako only frowned in confusion, clearly having no idea on what his comrades and King are agreeing on. "Pardon for interrupting my King and comrades," All eyes in the room turned on Drako as he spoke. "But what exactly do we get to do in the means of taking patrolling to the next level?"
Block smirked and he produced five long staffs with brutally sharp arrowheads at the ends, distributing four of them to Drako, Gretchen and the other two. "Well to explain that, it's a long story short. Let's say that I hm, made a form of agreement with two of the Anacardian Guardians and I won us a pretty good part of the deal,"
He gave the patrols, most of them, a moment to admire the weapons they received. "That Cooperdink told me during our confrontation, that that day will be the last time an Anacardian will trespass our forest. And should any single one of them cross boundaries after that one simple promise…"
Block held up his staff and with a mighty force, flung it forward so it struck right in and through an unlucky dead tree trunk. The cracking noise of the staff's arrowhead piercing through the wood filled the air causing all but Drako to clap in amazement. The Shadow King smirked and with a snap of his fingers, summoned the staff back; The Black weapon pulling itself right out of the tree trunk and back into its Master's hand.
Ouch, now that will definitely kill an Anacardian in a split second. Drako shivered at the thought of having to throw one of those things at an Anacardian. The arrowhead going right through the victim's heart and sending out splashes of blood as the body fell to the ground. He's witnessed killings like these a dozen times before on patrol and it made him sick. And Anacardians are not the only ones Block had had his eyes on for bloodshed.
Saquine, Fairy, Icarus, Merpeople and even the occasional Vampire from Drako's other side of the family.
The list of species of victims killed by the Gethens alone since Block's rising to power is countless. Drako wondered if now that the possibility of dead Anacardians is at high, the list of victim species would be complete if the king or his comrades succeeded in killing one.
Yes, the list included their own kind as well.
Gethens that refused to cooperate with the King are brutally murdered being seen as traitors. Even now as they stand here, 'traitor' Gethens are on the killing list and fleeing for their lives as they speak. Some get caught, some make it out. That's how the Gethen escapee system worked so far as Drako knew.
The other patrols amongst Drako held firmly to their new staffs and fake-aiming at each other in training motion. "Finally! We get to see blood spill again!" Gretchen gleefully spoke, unable to contain her excitement, pointing her staff's arrowhead forward. "I can't wait to get this baby stabbing right through their fragile hearts and make them bleed red rivers! This is gonna be fun!"
Fun?! You call taking the lives of the innocent fun?! Drako looked disgusted. Oh sister you have really gone down the Shadow side of the moon. He glumly sighed. His eyes set on the staff in his hand and he almost dropped it in despaired shock. He looked up at Block with desperation. "Do we really have to go with this killing spree? Surely we can just take them in the court for questioning and see to their innocence…" He tried to ignore the hisses and glares emitting from his comrades. "Right?"
Block rolled his eyes and snarled lightly. "Oh Drako we could do that if we had some Shadows working for scribe duty." He let out a frustrated sigh. "Too bad we need to wait ten years before we get to training our scribe-to-be from the Lopez! That daughter of theirs is something I tell you. The kid already knows how to recognize words and writings just days after getting out of that coalstone!"
Amanda. Drako thought with dread at the image of the baby girl he was entrusted with while her parents spend the whole nights in fugitive only to return at breaks of dawn. Being so young, the young one already shows that she has a heart as gold as her parents. Timid yes, but still bright. I can sense it. His hand enclosed in a fist and Drako held in a hiss of rising rage. Amanda deserves better, not a horrid future like that, serving the ones who work to harm the innocent. This isn't her nature!
The air around them grew uncomfortable and Block held up a finger in sensing something the others could not pick up. His briefly straight mouth let out a snarl before it formed a malicious grin. "There are Anacardians in Minty Woods now. Cooperdink included!"
Oh no. Drako gulped.
"Now's the time so of you go my brothers and sister! Go and do what you must! Bring us a step closer to avenging our queen!" He raised a mighty arm and held it out towards the exit of the Stygian Palace. "We will not let you down my King." Gretchen and the patrols saluted with a bow before making a dash for the outside; Drako followed suit, lagging behind the rest out just to prevent being called out as a traitor.
When farther from the palace, the half-blood Gethen looked over his shoulder and at the patrol comrades at front. He felt the intense light from Anacardian turf shine from ahead making him yelp in discomfort. Light isn't his thing thanks to his vampire side so Drako quickly pulled on the hood his dark cape provided and the upper half of his face was covered.
I hope this patrol duty ends soon. He thought with a glum expression aimed for the slowly brightening sky. For once since his entry in the Stygian Palace for the patrol meeting, Drako had a smile of warmth on his face. Oh well, at least I get to set foot in the good light instead of the bad for once. Drako swooped down and back up with loop, just for acrobatic fun of it. The trick brought him closer to his comrades and they flew on as a whole.
"Thank you so much for joining us for this session Lord Balthazar, you have no idea how blessed we are to have you present!" Mr Brulee, a plumpish Anacardian man gratefully shook Balthazar's hand with gratitude clear on his jolly face while his wife Mrs Brulee stood nearby with another pair of Anacardians; The bespectacled gentleman Lawrence and warm-hearted Linda Flynn-Fletcher.
"Just doing my duty as always Mr and Mrs Brulee, Flynn-Fletchers. Guardians' Pledge states to never say no to business affecting the future of Anacardia after all." Balthazar chuckled as he pulled his hand back. His eyes went to the baby in his carrier and he reached to pick him up. "Sorry I had to bring Milo though. My brothers and sister are busy themselves and I can't afford to leave this small tyke on his own."
The Brulees and the other two Anacardians all had their hearts out for the infant. Mrs Brulee gladly took first touch. "He's so adorable!" She cooed as she nuzzled the little one on the nose. "Look at how brown his eyes and hair are! Perfect match of shades!" Milo giggled and he let out a happy squeak, enjoying the shower of attention he received.
"Didn't you bring your daughter along?" Balthazar questioned noticing the absence of the kids he knew were Linda and Lawrence's. "I thought she loved to hang around in Minty Woods." The parents exchanged crestfallen looks. "Well she did until she heard about the news yesterday." The female Anacardian sadly explained, running a hand through her red hair. "Candace refused to even think of going to Minty Woods the moment she heard what happened yesterday. So she and her friends just stayed at home to play instead."
Lawrence wrapped an arm around his wife with a soft chuckle. "Well she'd definitely be here if she knew that the little Guardian tagged along." He paused and momentarily smiled at Milo. "My the corridors will be ringing with her squealing if she finds out she's missed this one opportunity."
"Oh.. " Balthazar looked crushed, once again reminded of the issue with Block. "Well I honestly can't blame her or any child for that matter." He sighed. Curse you Block for keeping our children away from their usual play area. "Lord Block was pretty thick with the unlucky youngsters yesterday." He held Milo close before turning his attention to the Brulees. "How about you two? Have your birth pistachios bloomed yet?"
Mr and Mrs Brulee exchanged loving smiles. "Not yet, but getting there." Mr Brulee replied, holding his wife's hands. "The wait is almost over though. Got the two checked over and the kids should be born any time today or tomorrow!"
"Oh my, that is excellent news to hear!" Balthazar clasped his hands in joy. "Congratulations you parents-to-be! May the Queen bless you and your children for the rest of eternity!" The Brulees bowed in thanks. A purposeful 'Ahem' was let out from Linda as she drummed her fingers on the trunk of a tree. Lawrence already had his upper half sticking out from the leaves of a pistachio tree.
"We still have a lot of acres to do work on." She reminded politely. "Think we could get started so we can finish quicker?" The Brulees quickly agreed were on their flight. "Lord Balthazar?" Mr Brulee cheerily spoke to the Guardian who remained on the ground, Milo in his arms. "We're starting the tree check up now, row one out of one hundred and fifty!"
Balthazar nodded to show his approval. "You four begin ahead and begin. I'll join you right after a minute with my son." The plump man nodded and flew into the trees with his wife and the others, starting on with their task. Milo watched them in curiosity only to be put down on a patch of moss surrounded by tulips and touch-me-not plants. The leaves closed the moment he touched them and his eyes widened in surprise, looking up at his father with a point to the plant.
"Touch-me-nots always close when touched, hence the name. It doesn't hurt them. They're just really shy plants." Balthazar bent over to pat the baby's head, making him coo. With a hushed word of permission, the elder plucked out one of the tulips and gave it to Milo for holding, standing up and placing the blanket in a folded heap beside the baby.
Balthazar stroked Milo's head affectionately as he prepared to leave. "I'll be starting my duty now Milo. While I do so, you can either watch me work or play here where I can keep a close eye on you from the trees. A little crawling will be fine but don't go too far. Do I make myself clear?"
Milo gave a toothless grin and made a sound, falling back and laying down on the mossy ground cooing. Balthazar found the sight very adorable. "That's my boy. You really do understand everything I tell you after all." Milo giggled as Balthazar's fingers made a tickling motion on his belly before the green blanket was unfolded and placed over him.
The adult got to his feet and looked back at the playful baby one last time. "The job should be done before sunset. Just give me a holler if you're hungry or anything, alright?" Balthazar disappeared into the upper treetops after Milo appeared to get what he said. The baby gazed down on the tulip in his hands and tilted his head. Putting it down someplace, he fidgeted in his blanket and rolled so he was facing the sunny sky.
Too bright.
He went on his side so he was facing the touch-me-nots instead. The leaves closed when Milo's fingers made contact making the baby giggle, sitting up and flopping over to his belly, not caring about the amount of unlucky plants he just crushed with his little body.
Now having found himself on his fours, Milo felt an urge to move. Go around and leave the mossy patch With wobbly handsteps and foot drags, Milo now faced the direction opposite from where Balthazar and the other adults worked and went forward babbling.
From the leaves, Balthazar grew tense when he saw the infant crawl away from the spot. He tried to resist the urge to fly and grab him back for he was in the middle of casting a spell on a sick tree.
That's just a few metres from where he is. He tried to assure himself and focused back on his hands that laid on the tree trunk, pulsating the needed magic through. He hasn't gone too far yet so stop overreacting! After all, what could possibly go wrong in letting an infant move about? The assurance helped ease the parental instinct only by a little as Balthazar continued to work. Fortunately for him though, it was nonetheless enough for him to finish doing the spell and move on to another sick tree.
Unaware that little Milo already crawled farther to the point that the border blocking the Black Forest slowly came into view.
Gretchen scowled on the watch but kept focus. Two out of three of her male comrades on the other hand were skeptical at their Chief Patroller's idea of going beyond the border while the third looked disgusted. Drako had a very bad feeling about this.
His kind thinks that Anacardians are weak but he believes otherwise knowing how their Guardians turned out. "This is, again, not a very good idea." He whispered to his comrades. "Perhaps we should go back to our side of the border? There could be trespassers there while we're out here..."
He shrunk when the other three started to snicker. "Oh please Kyle, the border is just five steps away from us! Plus, everyone knows that it's better to pounce on your victims before they realise way we won't need to worry about scars or grazes," Gretchen rolled her eyes and growled, her fingers feeling at a faded grazed spot at her left side.
"See what Savannah gave me when I was just grabbing a bite from a mango tree? This happened when I didn't take the first leap! So if I were you I'd take my experience into consideration!"
Oh sure, as if you did not deserve that for trespassing Anacardian grounds. Drako narrowed his eyes and stared forward, a rustling sound entering their ears causing all four to go in defense stance. Black spears held up and aiming for the rustling coming from a bush up ahead. Drako held his with a shaky hand but still he put on a brave face to blend with the others.
Out from the bushes crawled a baby Milo, letting out soft babbles and craning his head up, tilting at the four beings dressed in various shades of black and holding menacing spears.
The baby stayed put, a fairly big distance away from the Shadows he didn't know how to see as enemies. Drako felt his heart leap in his throat while the other male Shadows heaved sighs of relief, all thoughts of possible predator ambush diminishing.
Gretchen relaxed and wiped a sweat from her brow, facing her comrades. "Put your weapons down boys. It's only a baby. They don't do much." She frowned and then her eyes narrowed at the small thing. "But it's still an Anacardian and king Block strictly ordered us to kill it if it tresspasses so forget what I just said."
The four cast their eyes on yet another rustling as Milo pawed at a large tulip only to lose balance and topple over the plant in a tumbling motion. The sight was cute enough for Drako to watch in adoration and didn't fail to tug at the lips of the other two in a way that smiles are formed. "Just look at the precious thing. So sunny and carefree." The half-blood Gethen awed and clasped his hands together. "A perfect example of Anacardian youth."
The lower skin beneath and over one of Gretchen's eyes twitched the longer she watched Drako go soft over the baby. Did he just praise the youth of our own enemy? She turned to her other accomplices only to find that they were just as distracted from the baby.
The Shadow woman growled and kept to the front with a snarl, snapping the trio out of their trance and blocking the baby from view. "Idiots! Don't lose your posts and focus on the mission!" She barked. "If King Block finds out that you've been delaying because of some Anaca-dorkian infant it's your heads on his dinner plate!"
While this made the men shut up and stand upright, Drako refused to remain silent at the violent threat. "Okay now that is a tad too far Gretchen," His brow furrowed. "As heartless as he appears, surely king Block wouldn't do something as unsettling as that?"
The other two Shadows gave Gretchen the same questioning looks regarding their king. "You really are a slow learner are you Drako? Staying away from the Stygian Civilisation for too long must have rusted your brain!" Gretchen smirked and doubled over in crude laughter. "I've seen King Block do much worse than that. Don't even get me started on the Saquine venison and Mermaid tail kebabs!"
Drako suddenly felt the urge to lose his lunch. He did not just... The other two Shadows exchanged frowns. "But wasn't it blacktail deer venison and halibut kebabs Chief Gretchen?" The slouchy one corrected truthfully much to Drake's relief and Gretchen's annoyance. "Saquines turn into rocks once killed and Merpeople change into bubbles and poof! Now who doesn't know that by now?!"
"Thank you for being so honest Heinz." Gretchen hissed in frustration and turned back to Drako with arms folded. "Okay I never actually saw what worse King Block did but knowing him that could actually be possible."
She shook her head with a grunt and faced front to watch the baby Anacardian. "Now back up, we have some spying to do now that we have an Anacardian on our radar."
Having no choice but to comply, the male comrades refocused on their task. Drako set a grateful glance to the slouchy pointy-nosed patrol that is Heinz. "Thank you for ceasing my worries of King Block going too far." He whispered. "The doubts are getting the better of me back there."
Heinz smiled. "No problem Mr Drako. Just doing my part in serving Tenebri. You know she hates lying. Am honestly surprised Gretchen was left unpunished. The response was telepathically sent to Drako and he was unsurprised when Heinz glared at Gretchen when her back is turned. She disgusts me.
For the first time in minutes of patrolling, Drako no longer felt alone on the team knowing that someone also shared his view. Sure Heinz is more loyal to Gretchen than he is but nonetheless, the loyalty was just a facade. A much better facade than Drako puts up.
Returning to the task at hand, the half-blood Gethen looked on as baby Milo happily swiped his little hands on long stalks of more tulips. The flowers bounced to and fro until one brushed against Milo's nose.
Instincts warning him about incoming mishap, Drako quickly nudged his comrades, not taking his eyes off the baby. Unfortunately, only Heinz and the other male got the message in time and quickly ducked upon feeling a mighty gust blew across them. A weak branch above Gretchen swung and cracked before crashing down on her. The female Shadow let out a pained scream and gripped the fallen wood hard.
"Alright. Who. Did. That?!" Her sharp eyes went all over the place as she growled, looking for the culprit with gritted teeth, promising severe bites to those who admit. "If I get my hands on the guilty one, I'll strangle them till no end!" Drako and Heinz quickly flung their arms upward when Gretchen's glare went on them. "Hey don't look at us!" Drako defensively spoke. "Heinz and I were just standing and talking!"
Heinz narrowed his eyes at the bulky third male beside him. "Hey you've been quiet for a long time Boris. You made that gust of wind blow and strike Gretchen with that-! AGH!" The slouchy Shadow patrol screeched and swiped madly at his eyes where sand was kicked in his face but the larger black boot-wearing comrade. "Really Boris?" Drako shot Boris a glare. "That was rather impolite."
"But he was accusing me for no reason!" The bulky Shadow that was Boris protested. "How else do you expect me to react?" That's odd. Drako frowned and a thought came to mind. Wait a minute. That gust of wind came from the baby's direction. He turned ahead and saw that Milo was feebly rubbing at his nose with a hand looking like he just let out a sneeze. Could it be him sneezing that caused the branch to fall?
"Puny kid." Drako overheard Gretchen sneer as she watched the little one with suspicious eyes. "He's small but yet... Something's up with him." They froze when the rustling of grass sounded from Milo falling to his back, blades of grass in his clenched hand. Heinz rolled his eyes. "He's just doing baby stuff Gretchen. All babies do that. Even ours!"
"I know that Doofus!" Gretchen hissed as her eyes narrowed some more at Milo. "But that's not what I picked up on. It's something else. I can't tell what it is but it's strong. I can feel it coming right from that runt!" Her words made sense as the male patrols too started to feel a sensation course through them the longer they stared at the innocent baby.
He feels powerful for a baby his age. Drako placed his hand on his quickly beating heart, lower jaw dropping slightly. "The aura is strong within him." He muttered in the earshot of his comrades. "It is rather unusual for an Anacardian this young. Never have I felt magic that strong coming from an infant like that."
A grin tugged at Gretchen's lips as certain thirst within her Shadow mind is fueled. "It's beyond the average Anacardian infant power level!" After a moment of standing still, her eyes widened in realisation. She quickly pulled herself and her comrades down to the bushes where no one could see them.
Gretchen spoke in a hushed voice. "Believe it or not guys but we've got a Guardian baby right in front of us!" She poked her head out of the bushes and dove back down ensuring the rest that Milo is still there. "Do you know what this means?!"
The comrades either shook their heads or shrugged much to their commander's annoyance. Gretchen facepalmed and shook her head. Idiots. "It means that with a Guardian baby in our sight, we can bring it back to the Stygian Palace where the king can extract his unremarkably strong essence!"
Heinz scratched his head. "You mean his magic?" Gretchen patted his back with a confident expression. "You guessed it right!" She crept on fours to the front of her comrades. "Don't you see guys? A Guardian baby! Everyone knows how strong those five are so when the king gets ahold of their magic, that and the magic of Shadows will be combined and we will be invincible!"
She threw rubbed her hands together. "And the best part? He's young and he's helpless! All we'll do is go to the runt, poke him a little for less movement, give him to the king and then we're done!" Gretchen stabbed her weapon to the ground at the last word showing sincerity to her speech.
Heinz and Boris appeared agreeing on the idea of gaining more power for their kind. "You know that's not so bad of an idea!" Heinz grinned. "There's no other Anacardian here either so now's a good chance!"
The three Shadows cackled evilly as they formulated that idea in their minds. Drako however was horrified and was continuously looking at Milo and back his comrades. They cannot be serious! Kidnapping a baby and…
No...
The half-blood's eyes widened in disturbed silence, the mention of extracting the baby's magical essence sinking in. Recalling the king and how violent the ways of Shadows are, if he ever has his hands on an Anacardian, Guardian especially no matter what the age, the consequences aren't very pretty. Or to be precise, heartbreaking to Drako for he has always been fond of babies and children alike no matter what the race.
He turned stiff as his mind filled with images of Milo being restrained in a glowing black pen swirling with black as the bright colored mist of the strong Anacardian Guardian magic was forcibly extracted and going into Block's open fist.
The sounds of his cackles as the baby's shrill cries of pain filled the air.
The Shadows' chanting about evil, bloodshed and chaos upon the Anacardians.
The wails of sympathetic Gethens and children as they had no choice but to take in the painfully gruesome sight.
Switching back to reality, Drako gasped in horror when he saw that Gretchen, Heinz and Boris are now floating over to Milo. Weapons held high and ready to strike the baby to down him. Milo remained in his spot but looked up at the three Shadows that towered over him with the weapon blades aimed for him.
Unfortunately, his baby mind is too young to tell him that he is in grave danger and that the three before him are meant to be crawled away from.
Completely unaware of his incoming doom, Milo simply let out a giggle as he gave a toothy grin at the faces that stared at him with wide maddened eyes as they prepared to strike...