Querencia

Healing

Garmadon held true to his word, spending the night awake, though one couldn't tell at first glance. Relaxed in the chair, head resting against the wall behind him, armor set off to the side on the floor and eyes closed. To someone looking at him, they would believe he was asleep, an easy target - but Lord Garmadon was still an Elemental Master, and Elemental Masters were never defenseless.

Morning came, early morning sun shining through the small window, casting a slight reddish-orange glow.

Zane came down to change [M/n]'s bandages, not aware that Garmadon had stayed - having believed the elder would have taken Lloyd back to his room. When he entered, he didn't notice the other. So when he glanced at the cot, he jumped at the sight of two glowing red lights peering back at him.

"Lord Garmadon?" Zane asked, surprised. "I did not expect to see you."

Garmadon hummed, "He woke not long after you all left."

"He did? How long was he awake for?"

"Barely a few minutes. He did not move much, barely spoke. And his speech was slurred."

"Slurred speech is common on morphine," Zane murmured, carefully adjusting the blanket to reach [M/n]'s burned left arm. "I have to change the bandages if you wish to take Lloyd away."

Lord Garmadon frowned. "If the ninja wakes."

Zane nodded, carefully reaching for the gauze to undo the first layer of bandages, a slight twitch making him pause. Luckily, [M/n] stayed asleep. Continuing, Zane tossed the first layer away, working on the second layer, only to freeze.

"This isn't-How?" Zane had no idea how to react. [M/n]'s arm was healing, not healed, but healing. It should have still been inflamed, red, maybe even infected if Zane hadn't cleaned it properly. Instead the edges were healing, as if the wound was already in the second phase, the Proliferative Phrase. "This isn't possible. It should still be in the Inflammatory Phase."

Garmadon stood, leaning over slightly to see, "It is quite possible. Has he never shown his affinity for healing?"

"Healing? No-" Zane cut himself off, realizing that he had. [M/n] had been up and on his feet within three days of fighting in the Ouroubourus Arena. "Yes, he did. After fighting against the Serpentine he was up and walking in three days. Even with a concussion and a broken leg."

"The power of Aether," Lord Garmadon murmured, slowly nodding.

"Aether? I apologize, but his Element is Nether."

"His Element is a two-sided coin, he cannot have one without the other."

Zane frowned, but didn't push the topic, deciding it wasn't important to know more. He carefully undid the rest of the bandages, finding each wound in a similar state. While he was worried that [M/n] would be dealing with nerve damage or even blindness, since one burn was right under the eye, he wasn't so sure if that would be a problem now.

Eventually he asked, "Why now? This is a significant jump in . . . healing abilities."

"Elements are naturally fickle. Aether and Nether more so. I have seen Elements react before their host even realizes what is happening. Perhaps it knew he would survive one without more intervention versus the previous injury."

Before Zane could ask another question - about Aether, specifically - Lloyd began waking up, grumpily trying to hide in the blanket to go back to sleep. Lord Garmadon allowed a small smile curl at his lips, softening slightly.

"Nya should be making breakfast, haupia filled malasada's and sweet coconut milk congee with fruit toppings. I can bring it back to you, unless you wish to join us."