Arcus story

Chapter 12: Tying up loose ends

Little Lion Man – Mumford and Sons
Emotionless – Good Charlotte
You’re someone else – Flora Cash

Ignis wandered back and forth for the 10000th time. His mind was panicking as he waited outside the door. One of the doctors placed in the palace was treating the air king.

Suddenly a door burst open as Terra and Nympha ran into the corridor.
”Where is he? How is he? Will he be alright?” Terra and Nympha both basically yelled the questions at their face.
”Woah woah woah, calm yourselves. The doctor is in there taking care of him, and Nimbus has been in there with them since we got here,” he explained, before going back to pacing.
”Have you heard anything about his current condition?” Nympha asked softly.
”Not for the last hour or so. The doctor said it’d take a lot of time to get the poison out of his bloodstream,” he sighed, looking at the door.

It took another three hours before the door opened and the doctor stepped out. The three guardians immediately stood up, looking at the doctor expectantly. Sidus, who had arrived with her father, rose from her seat as well.
”Sit down, please,” the doctor told them.
They sat quickly. Terras eyes were still teary as she locked eyes with Ignis for a moment.

”We’ve gotten him to a stable condition, but it’s brittle. I honestly can’t tell you if he’ll make it through the night, but if he does, he should be out of danger. I’ve done all I can, it’s all up to him now,” she explained slowly.
Terra let out a quiet gasp as she tried to hold back a sob. Nympha just looked down as tears rolled down her cheeks as well. Ignis remained quiet for a moment before speaking up.
”Then, may I stay with him?” he asked softly.
”One dragon at a time. You’ll have to ask Lord Nimbus if he’d be alright with switching with you,” she explained calmly.
”Could you bring him outside to talk for a moment then?” he asked shakily.
The doctor nodded before walking into the room again.
”I’ll talk to my dad. Go ahead and go inside when he comes outside,” Sidus appeared at his side.
They gave her a nod of thanks, eyes still tear-filled.
Ignis slipped inside the room as soon as Nimbus entered the corridor.

”Hey sky,” he whispered as he sat down beside the bed. The only answer he got was Arcus quiet breathing.
”Why would you do something so stupid? You… You weren’t supposed to get hurt. You have to wake up,” he said affectionately before breaking into a sob.
”Do you hear me? You HAVE to, you stupid, stupid sky dragon. I should have gotten bitten, not you,” he sobbed.

Ignis remained in the room the entire night. Every hour a doctor came in to check on him.
”His condition is better then last time,” the doctor smiled at him.
”He’ll make it then,” they lit up.
”I’d say it’s safe to say that the king will make it through the night,” she glanced at the king.
”Then, could you guess when he’ll wake up?” Ignis asked, looking down at the sleeping dragon.
”I’d guess in the next day or two, maybe a week at most,” she smiled.
”I’d say we can check on him again in the morning. Call one of us if anything happens,” another doctor chimed in, looking at Ignis.
He nodded before turning his gaze back to the air dragon.

The doctors left the room, leaving Ignis alone with his thoughts. Though before long there was a soft knock at the door. Ignis reluctantly got up and answered it.
”How is he?” Sidus whispered, looking into the room.
”He’ll make it through the night. The doctor guessed he’ll wake up in a couple of days, maybe a week at most,” Ignis smiled. Sidus entire body seemed to relax as she let out a sigh of relief. Nympha and Terra were asleep, curled against one another. It was clear both of them had been crying.
”I’ll try to get some sleep, so update me in the morning,” she smiled tiredly before slowly closing the door.

Arcus slowly opened his eyes. He was in an unfamiliar space, curled up on the ground. Therewas grass underneath him which seemed to glow a pastel purple at his touch.
”Hello?” he called out into the emptiness. The sound echoed around him, but there was no answer.