Last time on NNT: GOZEL...
Meldy was leaning her front body against the concrete railing of the balcony. She seems to be looking at the stars fading since it's gonna be morning soon. Arthur also noticed that she looked a little pale. The palace lights were shining on where she was standing on.
"uh..M..Meldy." the blonde turned around to meet Arthur.
"King Arthur..." she acknowledged him. "what brings you here?" that question got Arthur wondering. What was he really here for? He thought fast..any reason at all..then a thought came to mind. He tried his best to keep his cool.
"I..I'm just making sure that you're okay." That's all? He nervously scratched the back of his head.
"oh...well as you can see..I'm fine now. Thank you for your concern your Highness." Arthur could have sworn that she blushed...but it faded. Maybe it was just his imagination? And It's still night time so he wouldn't exactly know if it was a blush.
"and also...I wanted to properly thank you..."
"for what?" Arthur went over and sat on the concrete railing. He also noticed how short he is compared to Meldy. Well that's embarrassing for him.
"years ago...you helped me escape from getting killed by those monsters in the Canyon...you disappeared before I turned around to thank you." Meldy recalled.
"Ah yes!...I remember you..."
"Now that I've got the chance to meet you again, I wanted to properly thank you...so...thanks for saving me back then...and also saving me at present time." Arthur thanked her. Meldy frowned..this made Arthur very worried.
"It's my fault. None of this would have happened if I had listened to Papa."
"Papa?...I didn't know you had a dad...who is he? And what does that have to do with you being at fault?"
"Meliodas-sama...he's my Papa." Arthur was frozen. He thought to himself, Meliodas? Her Father? How can his idol –not to mention that looks younger than him- could possibly have a child like Meldy?
"I see...wow...I did not know about that..haha." well this was all so sudden. He sees Meldy still frowning. Guilt was covering her. He stopped his nervousness. "so...why is it your fault then?"
"I was born with it...I had no control over the disease. It acts on it's own. If...If I had kept still yesterday night like how Papa had told me to do...all of this wouldn't have happened...this could have been prevented. It's my fault...It's all my fault!"
"No it is not!" Arthur yelled out loud. He was extremely curious about knowing more about Meldy from the past till what happened yesterday...but right now, he'll just have to ask another time.
"You were born like this, you didn't have a choice...it just stucked with you. What happened to you is not your fault. You didn't want any of this, you were given with it ... without your will ...so You are not at fault here. Nobody blames you. I don't blame you Meldy so you shouldn't either." Arthur stood up facing Meldy. His posture straight and stiff. Even though he didn't stand a chance to Meldy's height. He meant it. Dead serious.
"King Arthur-"
"Do not call me King Arthur!" Meldy flinched a bit. "Just...Arthur...no formalities needed." His expression softened. Meldy clearly blushed.
"So this is what it feels like...to actually like someone.." Meldy said that out loud without thinking. Arthur heard that loud and clear. He couldn't believe what he just heard...She likes him...Meldy likes him? "I um...well I kinda liked you too." This was getting awkward. Meldy blushed yet again.
There was silence in the air. None of them hasn't said a word so Arthur thought to break the silence.
"so...what about now?"
"huh?"
"I heard what you did from Meliodas...he told me what happened to Lancelot..and at Liones,...so, now that the Knights are okay and you're back to normal..." He is assuming that Meldy is 100% alright. What else is he gonna say?
"Arthur...there's something else I have to tell you..." as Meldy opened her mouth to say what was about to happen, Arthur's world came crashing down to him like getting hit with a ton of bricks. The silent reasons Meldy had said were breaking him slowly.
"When the sun rises, I will cease to exist..." She turned away from him and watched the sky with a frown. Arthur stood frozen. The girl he likes was gonna disappear. "My body will vanish into tiny particles of light...you'll never see me again." There was a small tear cascading down her cheek.
"W..Why?" a sweat dropped. Arthur held in the feeling of disbelief. Meldy started telling Arthur how her blood was only limited to heal her. And since Merlin used all of it in the cure the humans turned to demons, there was nothing left for her to feed upon. Not even her Father's blood.
Arthur didn't say a word. They were silent for a minute. A hundred questions lingered in Arthur's mind, and they are all about Meldy's disappearance. He felt arms wrapped around him. That snapped him out of his trance. Meldy hugged Arthur to calm him down. Moments later, Arthur returned the gesture. Meldy ruffled his hair. "You know, Papa would probably scold me for holding a man like this.." Meldy joked. Somehow Arthur let out a laugh.
"Yeah... I guess." He chuckled. He can perfectly imagine an over-protective Meliodas threatening him innocently with his broken blade. Meldy then let go of him and proceeded to sit on the railings.
"Are you...sad?"
"To be honest...yes I am. I just found out that the girl who saved me is gonna vanish...probably never gonna see her again...probably forever..." a frown resulted.
"At least...you got the chance to meet me again.." Meldy tried her best to make Arthur's remaining time with her worth it.
"Yeah..I guess..." silence enveloped them yet again.
"Arthur...can I ask a favor?" Meldy played with her fingers.
"Oh...sure! sure!..anything...it's your last day...whatever you want...I'll try my best to fulfill it..." Arthur was determined to make her wish come true. Whatever could she want in her remaining hour? He saw a glint in her eyes. Something he could not understand.
"Is it alright...if...if I kiss you?"
His eyes were wide open. Meldy blushed as she twirled pieces of her hair. "y...you're joking right?" did she say it right? Was this a dream? His heart was beating from her bluntness.
"I...I always wondered how special it felt. Papa use to tell me how much he loved Mama...Hawk would lecture me about love and romance. He also mentioned about...about a kiss. Papa said that...he wanted to kiss Mama too before she...she...passed away..." She didn't let that memory ruin her moment. "I...I'm just curious..." her blush was now visible. "Papa says that...a first kiss is special..." Meldy kept stuttering. "I..I wasn't thinking straight when I...you know...I..I..." she couldn't continue her sentence.
"When you kissed me?" Arthur finished. A smile was made from his sentence. He can recall how she let him drank her blood via a simple kiss. Meldy nodded. Her head hung low from embarrassment.
"Uh..never mind..maybe I'm asking too much..." she let out a breath. Arthur wouldn't do that right? Meldy felt two hands on both sides of her legs. Arthur stood in front of her. His gaze was serious yet gentle.
"No...it's not too much..." he raised his head and leaned closer. Meldy felt a strange sensation of butterflies in her stomach.
"I wanna...do it again before I go..." goosebumps suddenly started forming on her skin. Meldy put her hands on Arthur's shoulders."What is this...f..feeling?" with her head looking down, she too leaned in till the both touched foreheads.
"this a feeling...of a favor being fulfilled..." were Arthur's last words before the two touched lips.
*****Normal POV
Now...
Arthur Pendragon stood in the same spot of the castle's balcony where he shared that special moment with Meldy. A look of sadness consumed his expression. He missed her. It's been several months since the last time he saw her. Meldy was a character in his life which he will never forget. He brought his hand closer to his lips and touched it. That feeling of excitement traveling down his nerves as her soft luscious lips made contact with his. He wondered if there was someone in his past who shared his first kiss. There was no one but Meldy. She was his first kiss and for that, he will remember her greatly.
"Meldy...I hope you're happy up there..." He didn't want to be there when she disappeared. After their long kiss, Meldy immediately told him to leave. She knows it would hurt him seeing her disappear into nothingness. He did the right thing, Elizabeth had a little time left to talk to her and it would cause him sadness if he witnessed it firsthand.
"Arthur..." Merlin appeared right behind him.
"Merlin...what is it?" Merlin crossed her arms. A smirk was visible on her face.
"I want to show you something..."
"What is it?" he asked.
"Follow me and you'll see..." she started walking away. Arthur was curious on what the sorceress was up to. They continued walking until they arrived at Merlin's private chambers. Books, jars, and pots arranged everywhere like the typical wizard's tower.
"What is it that you wanted me to show?" Merlin was at her desk flipping the pages of the book. As Arthur came closer, something caught his attention. At the very cover of the book was a familiar face.
"What is that?" There was a picture of Meldy on the very cover of the book.
What was Merlin doing with a book about Meldy? "This is for you.." She handed him the object. "It has come to my attention that you've been distracted by Meldy's absence." Merlin said. Her tone was disapproving. "A king should be focused at all times. Arthur, I know it hurts but there's nothing we can do about it." Arthur listened to her as he examined Meldy's picture.
"I know. I'm sorry that I'm been a little distracted lately..." he frowned.
"Which is why I decided to create this for you..." Merlin pointed at the book. "The Book of Camelotus."
"Camelotus? What is that?" it sounds a lot like 'Camelot'
"Truth be told, I too am excellent in writing stories. Fictional ones at that. And with magic, I was able to create this story. One that will look and feel like you're actually there." Merlin was confident that this book would cheer up Arthur.
"So basically, you wrote a story about Meldy?"
"Not just Meldy. But you as well..." as Merlin put her hand on the open book, a holographic image appeared from the book.
Arthur's eyes grew wide at the sight. On the vision was him and Meldy laying on the ground. A field filled with flowers. His hand caressed her cheek as their faces were this close to kissing each other.
It was like his memory came to life. The imagery of them were about to kiss but Merlin closed the book in seconds.
"Eh?!" that was indeed a cliffhanger.
"If I officially turn over this book, will you stop mopping around and be focused?" Arthur had to take the deal. He had to know what was in this story. It felt realistic.
"I promise you..." the two were locked in an intense starring match. Merlin saw his sincerity and looked away.
"Better keep that promise." Merlin walked away. She had things to do. "I'll leave you with the book." With a snap of her finger, Merlin vanished into her crystal ball and floated away from the castle. What Arthur didn't know was that she made a second copy of the book. Meliodas would definitely disapprove of this story but at least Elizabeth would be thrilled by it.
Arthur immediately went back to his chambers and locked the door along with closing the curtains. He did not want to be disturbed by anyone at this moment of peace. He sat on the comfy chair and leaned back.
"What secrets shall I uncover?" He was hesitant to open it at first but curiosity won him over. He followed Merlin's actions. With his hand above the book cover, Arthur focused his power to unlock the visuals of the book. Moments later, something happened. This was no ordinary book. It was not one for reading. Arthur immediately fell asleep. The words of the book dispersed into his room surrounding his unconscious body with letters, numbers, and visuals.
Now the story begins...where the reality meets the fictional world. The CAMELOTUS BOOK projected its message in Arthur's deep slumber.