It wasn't until a couple hours later did Melissa finally return to Vinnie's room in grieving and self-loathing silence. Then another for her to fall in an uneasy sleep. Even in her sleep, Melissa continued to weep silently and this urged the other two in the room to sneak out and get the job done quicker. Milo and Zack snuck their way quietly into Orton's room where the man still laid in the poisoned coma.
Zack flinched at the forming crimson and wine colored stain forming through Orton's bandages. He still couldn't believe that a Guardian could die like this...
"That winged healer was right. The bandages do need changing every now and then," Milo gave him a sullen look. "The venom must be really that deadly. Even the medicine can't help much," The pink clad boy held an arm out in referring to the bin at the side of Orton's dressing table.
The bin contained the very soiled flowers and bandages Azrael had disposed and the huge amount of them made the boys look away in sheer discomfort. Is the illness really that strong? Apparently so. No wonder Orton had collapsed. And the fact that he went through being clawed by the horrible Block just to protect his little girl…
Milo swallowed down his fear and forced a firm expression. "Let's do this,"
Zack gave Milo an affirmative nod at that statement and the latter breathed deeply, raising his hands in concentration. The fair skinned hands carefully pressed right on the bleeding spot of the bandage and they began to glow in the familiar burgundy pink light; The unique colored light caught Zack off guard from focusing on the door.
The pink glowing slowly started to creep up Milo's arms before it enveloped his entire body. The glowing grew stronger at this and Zack was in incredible awe. He could stare at Milo in this state forever - He may have heard of Milo doing this, but he never quite imagined it to be this beautiful to look at. His dark hickory eyes never left Milo...
Unfortunately the lovely sight did not long however for something suddenly started to happen. It worried Zack as he saw an incoming change.
The glowing started going on and off and Milo was noticeably frowning through shut eyes. With one last glow, Milo gasped as a wave of sudden discomfort coursed through him and he was nearly thrown back by an unknown force, coming from Orton's wounds; The dark magic that laced Block's poison.
With a surprised yelp, Zack is swift enough to catch Milo just as he toppled backwards, his brown eyes wide in utter confusion and fixated on his uncle. "W-What was that?"
The dandelion clad boy was given no response, until Milo slowly turned to face him with a dreaded look. His worry immediately disappeared at the look on Milo's face. "Milo what happened? Is there something wrong?"
He held Milo's shoulder as the boy was flinching, returning his gaze to Orton. Milo was overcome with despair and sadness as he was forced to tell Zack of his failure.
"My magic couldn't get through to him," Milo's voice was barely a whisper and Zack could sense the dread, his forehead creased into a concerned frown. Milo couldn't bear to look at him as he continued. "I don't know what happened, but for a moment my hands managed to start glowing once I touched Orton's injuries. But then there was this feeling.. I can't tell what it was, but it's like I'm trying to force to magnets to stick at the same poles! Then I was pushed back…"
Zack stayed in thoughtful silence as Milo broke down into his hands. "I can't cure him. Everyone is gonna lose Orton because I can't save him… I let them all down! I let Melissa down!"
His friend still didn't respond. Hearing these hopeless words coming from Milo, the most excitable of the young Guardian duo, shattered Zack to bits. That's not true. He wanted to say to Milo. But then he decided against it for he knew it was pointless. Milo had already sunk into a pit of grief and self disappointment and those three words aren't so useful right now.
His solemn eyes cast upon Orton in downed silence. Even with Milo's magic, there appeared to be no sign of improvement… Or is there? Zack frowned at this thought as he froze in spotting something.
Gingerly approaching Orton, he took a closer look at the unconscious Guardian and he mentally gasped at how Tanner Orton looked compared to before Milo touched him.
The man was still pale of course, but Zack could see that a very slight tone of what was his original skin color has returned. And to further support this, the stain on Orton's bandage appeared to have shrunk. Albeit only very slightly, it was noticeably smaller than before.
Zack's eyes widened with realization. "Milo, your magic! Look at Lord Orton!"
The said boy weakly lifted his head to Zack's instructions. At a second's glimpse, the man still looked unchanged. But the longer he looked, Milo started spotting what Zack had seen and his heart swelled with surprise. He whispered slightly as his hand gingerly brushed Orton's hand; The very slight warmth of the skin making Milo pull back. "Did I heal him?"
"Well I guess it's only a little bit," Zack sadly admitted before squeezing Milo's shoulder in assurance, a determined look on his face. "But look on the bright side! Even if it's not to the fullest you still managed to heal him somehow! This alone just proves it - Your magic can and will save Lord Orton!"
At this, Milo felt a twinge of hope rise yet again; Only for uncertainty to weigh it down. "I don't know Zack. Usually I was able to heal at one go. But this time I'm not sure how much it'll take out of me to help my uncle,"
Zack shrugged. "Maybe you just needed a little push?" He suggested. "Orton is a magical being after all and he's far different from Mr Murphy, who is an ordinary man."
Milo slightly gaped at this realization and his gaze refocused on Orton. Zack's right. Orton if compared with his dear father figure Martin, it's practically an ultra-rare phoenix against a common sparrow; The latter being far easier to nurse back to health than a firebird that takes up a lot more care.
The brown haired boy breathed slowly with his eyes never leaving his unconscious Anacardian uncle. I hope you're fighting too. Melissa needs you uncle Orton. He prayed in his mind and he exhaled. In her own way that is.
With that, the boy's hands reluctantly hovered above Orton's wounds once more. Milo glanced over his shoulder at Zack's way.
His friend's expression didn't falter and he continued to smile encouragingly at his friend with a nod. "You can do this Milo. And don't worry, I got your back" Zack went closer to Milo from behind and his hand is on the boy's shoulder to support the last sentence.
Milo flashed him a thankful look before returning to Orton. Repeating the same action as the first time, Milo closed his eyes in concentration as he tried his best to put his full strength into his magic. At the effort, Milo was instantly engulfed in pink aura and Zack could see the light pulsate at his hands while the other boy worked on channeling his magic through Orton's body.
It had nearly been a fairly long and steady while since Milo started again and so far it's still the same.. Until Zack spotted the one signal that meant Milo's being repelled by the venom inside Orton's system. The entire glow surrounding Milo's body started to blink and Zack knew that Milo will be thrown back yet a second time. He planted his feet firmly to the ground as he braced Milo.
The latter's eyes widened in surprise at Zack's action and it was with that second long distraction did Milo instantly feel the opposing force greatly repelling him. He quickly tried to counter it with his own magic and strengthening it further, in order to push the dark magic back. The opposing remained strong and Milo could feel his feet drag across the floor as he was being blown back.
Zack stopped the force from pushing his best friend back and with Milo in his hold, firmly kept him steady as he fought against the venom. Despite his intense situation, Milo could still feel the warmth of Zack's persistent encouragement and this feeling made his power strengthen.
With an overwhelmed cry, Milo's eyes blinked open; Pale pink flashes as the burgundy glow of Milo's body intensified and it lit up the entire room.
He could feel his magic overpowering the venom. Milo grunted in determined effort and he kept pushing further, with Zack continuing to hold him soon, Milo was able to keep his hands planted on the side of Orton's chest with the repelling force slowly but gradually getting weaker while Milo only remained stronger.
The longer this went on, Milo's head started to spin. But it was with a good effect. The pink glowing soon started to subside and the pale burgundy color shrunk its way through Milo's body then back to his hands; Sinking into Orton's chest. In sheer fatigue from exerting his full strength into the magic, Milo gave one last squeak of exhaustion before falling into Zack's arms.
The darker toned boy held his downed friend close with his eyes on Orton's bandage. The burgundy aura of Milo still lingered there, but it was shrinking. Eating away the wine colored stain of poison before it channeled through the entire Guardian.
Zack internally sighed with relief when the man's skin was restored back to its original, healthy tan and Orton was breathing normally. He immediately knew that the Guardian is no longer ill and is here to stay; And it was all thanks to Milo.
"You did it Milo. You did it." He whispered to the sleeping boy in his arms. Milo did not respond, but Zack didn't mind. His friend clearly deserved to rest after exerting all his power to save the dying Orton. But sadly, that doesn't excuse the fact that the both of them snuck into Orton's room without permission. Therefore, they cannot be seen and Zack managed to find refuge under Orton's bed.
Beside him, Milo continued to sleep on, until Zack too started to sink into a slumber; A tired heap of two boys lying under Orton's bed. Only time can tell how long they'll have to be there. But even so, at least a life has been saved that dire night and that alone enabled Zack to rest easily with Milo right next to him.
Hours later inside Vinnie's room, Melissa started to stir for she had felt the rays of sunrise enter through the windows. She sleepily blinked her eyes open and stretched slightly with a groan. To say she had slept easy easy an understatement.
Part of her is still wrecked with grief from seeing Orton before bed last night and she found it difficult to wake up to the daylight. She forced herself to do so however. It'll be very impolite to sleep in at a Palace belonging to Royalty…
And speaking of sleeping in, Melissa remembered the certain duo in the room and she turned to glance at the spot beside her, only to be rendered surprised in realizing she's alone; Diogee still remained, although he's asleep still on Vinnie's couch. But other than him, Zack and Milo are absent and it left Melissa wondering. Did they wake up earlier than her?
The girl frowned in wonder as she slowly slid down and off the large bed. When she did, a soft knocking on the door sounded and it was followed by the click of the doorknob for someone had entered; The familiar tall Guardian clad in green. "Uncle Balthazar,"
Melissa greeted the Elder who smiled kindly at her through his sadness. "Good morning Melissa," He floated over to his niece's side. "Did you sleep well?" The redhead girl exhaled slowly. "I'm not exactly sure if 'well' is a good word to describe it," She winced in realizing she might have sounded rude. "Sorry."
The elder remained soft still. "It's alright Melissa. I don't blame you one bit. Last night certainly wasn't an easy one for all of us and I certainly wasn't able to sleep a wink myself..."
His voice drawled at the last word when he noticed the absence of two in the room. He frowned. "That's odd," He turned to Melissa. "Where are the boys?"
Melissa shrugged in response, an equally questioning look on her face. "I just found them missing when I woke up. I thought they might have woken up earlier or something," She frowned. "But I don't know why they didn't tell me though. We always waited for each other to wake up before going anywhere,"
The adult momentarily looked at the open door behind him with a concerned look. "Perhaps Vinnie and the others must have seen them. I only pray that those two don't get lost - Our Palace is far bigger than it looks!" He gave a sheepish shrug. "What with all of the servants, Palace workers and all that along with us Guardians living here."
Melissa grimaced slightly. "Now you tell me. I saw that this place had like more than a dozen rooms!"
The two briefly laughed about it for a brief moment and then the silence of seriousness sunk in once more. Melissa remembered Orton and her heart sank. "How is he?"
Her murmur wasn't unheard by Balthazar and he looked saddened as the situation was brought up. "I was planning to go check on him actually. A healer will be coming back to work on him but until then, it's up to us to take care of your father,"
Balthazar sighed and stared down at the floor. Feeling sympathetic for her uncle, Melissa gave him a squeeze, smiling as Balthazar gazed at her softly with a gentle caress at her hair. "Why don't you make a head start to his room and stay with him for a bit? I'm sure Orton would love that very much - Also I had to go and fetch something while you're with him. Will that be alright with you?"
It didn't take long for Melissa to agree and soon, she was being escorted down the corridors for Orton's room.
Once they're not far from the room, Melissa was given a quick directions guide by the uncle and Balthazar left her the rest while he goes to do his task, promising to meet up with Melissa again in a bit after getting some wet towels and bandages for Orton.
During that, Balthazar had been worrying about Milo and Zack's whereabouts and mentally noted to himself to find those two later. But then in his worry, little did the Guardian know that the boys are someplace where he'd least expect them to be…
The footsteps approaching Orton's room started to increase steadily in volume and Zack heard it all from under the bed. His heart started to race and he gulped. His body stiffened to be as still as a rock and he kept the sleeping Milo pressed down and closer to him as to ensure the both of them don't get found out.
In his slight panic, Zack didn't notice that his friend is slowly staring to wake and he started to stir. Milo groaned and he felt everything's gone 'tighter' than before. Dread started to creep up his spine and he had acknowledged the mattress containing Orton above them heavily pressed down upon him and Zack, keeping them both to the ground.
Having been raised a Murphy, tight spaces are not Milo's thing; Especially when he's a kid who's grown so used to reacting quickly to things…
"W-Where are we?!" Milo whispered out in a shaky tone that came out a bit too loud.
Zack gasped at his direction and quickly clasped his hand over Milo's mouth with a hasty 'Shhh' to quieten him down. "Milo please! Keep it down you'll give us away!" Zack tried to plead with the boy - But it went on deaf ears and the action of clamping over Milo's mouth caused him to yelp in terror. Apparently Zack wasn't aware of how fearful of restraint Milo is.
The dandelion clad boy could only give a gasp of fear as he was accidentally knocked aside when the Milo reared up, hitting the mattress hard; The boys failed to hear the groaning coming from above them as one tried to keep the other calm...