Ban looked at the scene before him, repressing a chuckle.
King, you love-struck idiot.
Ban watched King exit the tavern, and, walking around the table, he placed an arm around Helbram's shoulder.
"Alright, you got him to leave. So what are you up to?"
Helbram looked at him, smirking.
"I still don't like you, but I wanted to talk to you alone. I know if Harlequin stuck around he wouldn't want me to talk to you. I can tell he doesn't trust you to be alone with me."
Ban gazed at him and smiled.
"Yeah, that's true. I think he thinks I'll corrupt you or something… So start talking."
"Well, I don't want any other patrons to hear. This is a conversation that has to stay between you and me."
Helbram looked up at Ban with gleeful eyes. Ban's eyebrows raised in surprise. He didn't think Helbram would ever give him that sort of glare.
"Alright, you want to take this upstairs? Because I think the Cap'n is having someone fix the window you broke."
Ban seemed uninterested, he also didn't want to go upstairs, and he was still tired. He felt like he would trip up the stairs; he didn't want to give Helbram any material to make fun of him with.
Helbram puffed out his cheeks in irritation as he held his breath and furrowed his brow. Ban thought to himself.
How cute!
He released his breath and stared at Ban.
"Fine, then we can talk here, I suppose. I didn't really want that drunken trio to overhear though. It's none of their business."
Helbram pointed at Gilthunder, Howser, and Griamore as he pouted again.
Ban smiled, quickly picking Helbram up bridal-style.
Helbram let out a surprised yelp. He said with a panicked voice,
"What are you doing!? Put me down!"
Ban grinned and walked over to his table, Helbram struggling in his arms. He set the fairy down on one of the stools. Ban sat in his favorite stool, leaning lazily against the wall, grinning at Helbram.
"I put you down princess~. So what do you want to talk about~?"
Helbram pouted again, glaring daggers at Ban. He said venomously,
"Never do that again!... Now, I want to talk to you about Hendrickson and Meliodas. You seem to be interested in reviving Elaine, right?"
Ban leaned forward, his expression became serious.
"What do you know about Elaine?"
"Hendrickson told me about the Fairy King's Forest burning down because of a demon attack. That killed the saint of the forest, which I know was Elaine. Since Harlequin wasn't in the forest, nor was I, protecting the forest fell to Elaine. I also know that the person who killed that demon was you, Ban."
"So you know about that? You seem to know more than you let on."
Helbram gave Ban a prideful smile, giving off a feeling of superiority.
"Naturally, Hendrickson told me all about it. He then showed me the corpse of the demon that he had recovered from the forest. He told me how he was going to use the blood in the demon's body to make a new generation of knights that he could easily control. Just like how he controlled me… Well different method, same result. "
Helbram's joy fell from his voice, the more he explained.
Ban furrowed his brow, confusion invaded his voice.
"You weren't working with Hendrickson willingly?"
Helbram scowled at Ban, hatred consumed his eyes as he hissed,
"I already told you that I would never work with a human willingly!"
Helbram closed his eyes and breathed in and out, calming his building rage.
"Originally I was killed about 200-years ago by Harlequin."
Ban widened his eyes in shock as Helbram continued,
"After he killed me, my corpse was put on the black market by humans and sold around for 200-years or so. Hendrickson purchased me and used dark magic to bring me back to life. Forcefully, he used me as a test subject and a slave to his plans. I never wanted to be used by him, and I never wanted to hurt Harlequin again."
Helbram looked down at the table, a somber look painted on his face.
Ban looked at him with concern.
He's a walking corpse? But he can bleed and he has a heartbeat? Is he really still a corpse? He seems to be… alive. Can this technique that brought him back, bring Elaine back to life?
"You don't look like a walking corpse? But I already know that fairy bodies don't rot."
Helbram's head snapped up in surprise as he gazed at Ban, asking,
"How do you, a human, know that? Unless you're hiding Elaine's body in this tavern?"
Ban gave a half-hearted smile, chuckling at Helbram.
"I know that because Elaine's body is resting in the new Fairy King's Forest that I had to plant and care for. That one fairy girl, the one with no legs is keeping her and the forest safe."
Helbram's eyes widened in wonder at Ban.
"The new… Fairy King's Forest?"
"Yeah, Elaine protected it 'til the very end and gave me a seed to replant the sacred tree. So I did that and she and the rest of the fairies are in the forest. I'm the only one who knows where it is."
Helbram gazed at Ban in awe, his voice failing him.
He and Elaine saved the forest? That's, I can't even… He's definitely more trustworthy than that trio of drunks over there.
Helbram cleared his throat.
"Well, that's interesting. I didn't know that. However, that's not what I want to discuss right now. I want to know if you still want to bring Elanie back to life?"
Ban leaned closer to Helbram, he had the most serious look on his face.
"What do you know? Is there a better way to revive her? I only have one lead right now and it's… less than ideal… How did Hendrickson bring you back to life?"
Helbram sighed.
"That's what I thought. Your first lead wouldn't happen to be the Horn of Cernunno, would it?"
Ban nodded his head slowly in agreement, Helbram sighed again, more heavily this time.
"I thought so. That relic can't actually grant your wish. Its only purpose is to communicate with the goddess race. However, the goddess who's on the other side of that horn is a liar."
Ban scowled at him, crossing his arms.
"How do you know that?"
Helbram gave Ban a devilish grin.
"Because when Hendrickson didn't have me doing remedial tasks, I was busy researching anything and everything I wanted. You may not believe this but I love to learn about other races: giants, goddesses, demons, hell even humans. There are so many different cultures all mixing together in this age. Why do there have to be so many humans though? As interesting as their culture is, their all two-faced liars that will... Anywho, I read all about that horn and Hendrickson had me investigate it to make sure it couldn't interfere with his plans. I found out that it only had one goal, and that was to kill Meliodas."
Ban raised his eyebrows in surprise.
That's what the horn wants me to do in order to bring Elaine back!
"Thing is, it'll tell you whatever you want to hear if you agree to its request. I tested this by having many different knights ask it to fulfill their wishes. Sadly none ever came true because none of them could kill Meliodas. Even when I asked it for a different task, it refused. That horn is nothing more than a useless relic. It only exists to prove that the goddess race is still around but can't manifest physically in our world."
Ban frowned as he asked,
"So, if the task is carried out... Will it grant your wish?"
"No, it won't. The goddess attached to the horn has no magic. It can only communicate with this world and nothing more."
Ban gritted his teeth, slamming his fist on the table in a rage, and yelled,
"Damn it! If that's the case how the fuck are you here!?"
Helbram put his arms in front of himself in a defensive manner as he stared at Ban in fear. Ban leaned back sighing, the annoyance evident in his tone.
"Sorry, it's just that was my only lead and the damn thing is useless. So how are you alive?"
Helbram lowered his arms giving Ban a cautious glare.
"I don't know why I'm still alive. You see, Hendrickson was the one who cast the dark spell, enslavement of the dead, on me. He was killed by you guys, which means any spell he cast should have been void and I should have returned to the grave. However, I'm still here. It could be that I'll drop dead soon or I'll live a normal life. I don't know what'll happen."
"So, can I use this spell to save El-"
Helbram's cautious glare turned into a scowl, anger burned in his eyes as he cut Ban off mid-sentence,
"This spell is only to be cast by a high-level druid! Even if you want someone to cast the spell for you, it's forbidden! The caster would also have full control over Elaine. She would have no free will, even if the caster allowed her to be with you. If she went too far from the caster she would become paralyzed where she stood."
Ban raised an eyebrow as he questioned,
"Why is it forbidden? You seem fine if you ask me."
Helbram's anger seemed to subside as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's forbidden because it was used to bring the dead back to fight in wars, never allowing them to rest. Every time someone was revived more than once they would lose more of their soul, becoming a soulless puppet in the end. They'll be in constant pain and agony, moving no matter how broken their bodies become. Honestly, when I came back to life, I was trapped in my own insanity, and anytime I came close to being freed from it, Hendrickson forced me back into it. If Eliane was revived with this technique, she would probably be stuck with the feeling of her own death, all the pain, and fear she felt when she died the first time."
"Insanity?"
Ban questioned.
Helbram gritted his teeth as he looked at the table, a sorrowful expression on his face.
"Yes, insanity... Before Harlequin killed me, I was being tormented by the sounds of my fairy friends getting their wings torn off. The ripping, tearing, snapping and their screams of pain echoing over and over again in my head."
Helbram covered his ears, as a twisted smile slowly formed on his lips, tears forming in the corner of his eyes.
"It only stopped when I killed humans to avenge them. I was trapped in that agonizing cycle for 500-years. When Hendrickson brought me back he trapped me back in that cycle. He could easily repress the insanity to make me act normal, but the moment I disobeyed he forced the hell in my head to resume. Hell, it resumed randomly sometimes against Hendrickson's control, which just twisted me more. And it didn't help that Hendrickson would indulge my twisted mind by letting me kill people he said we're 'unneeded' or 'useless pieces of trash that would get in his way'… I'm a monster who should die and I..."
Helbram was breathing heavily as he hugged himself, digging his nails into his arms. Ban immediately got up and grabbed his hands, Helbram looked up at him, panic consumed his eyes, as tears streamed down his face. Ban pulled him closer to himself embracing Helbram, hoping to calm him down as he spoke in a caring tone,
"Hey, I get it. This enslavement of the dead won't bring back the Elaine I knew. It causes massive damage to the revived mentally, so just relax. You're having a panic attack and I know King wouldn't want to hear you saying that you're a monster."
Helbram swallowed down another set of tears and breathed in and out slowly, regaining some of his composure as he pulled himself away from Ban. He wiped his eyes and gazed at the floor in despair.
Ban could easily see how upset talking about this made him but he had to ask,
"What compelled you to tell me this Helbram?"
Helbram looked at Ban as he sniffled,
"I only told you because I know you want to revive Elaine, and I wanted to warn you about this method since it's not the way to do it. I'm only back to being somewhat normal because I'm not under the spell's control anymore, even if it's still keeping me alive somehow… That and you're basically Harlequin's new best friend."
Ban burst out laughing causing Meliodas to look over at the two.
Helbram pouted.
"What's so funny?"
"You~! Me, replace you as King's best friend. Oh brother, why would you say that?"
"Because I'm supposed to be dead right now. I haven't been part of Harlequin's life for 700-years and he's different than I remember. Look I'll probably die soon anyway and if I don't, well I don't deserve to be part of Harlequin's life anymore. I've caused him so much grief, I should just be locked up in prison and left to rot. He's paid for my crimes long enough, I should be imprisoned to atone for-"
Ban wrapped his arm around Helbram and rubbed his fist into his hair laughing at him. Helbram pushed against Ban's grasp, escaping it after a few moments. Ban went back to his stool.
Helbram's wings fluttered up in irritation.
"What the hell was that for!?"
"Look, even if you say that King wants you around. You should have seen how worried he was over that curse you have or all the blood that was around you when we first found you. Plus..."
Ban pointed at the bag of chocolate-covered sunflower seeds King had given Helbram, saying in a gleeful taunt,
"King gave you candy~ and a new outfit~, he would be devastated if you left him again. He loves you more than anyone else, and that's why he suffered for your sins. Don't let that go to waste."
Helbram gave Ban a look of amazement.
Why does he try so hard to make me feel better? He doesn't have to. Maybe it's because he's Harlequin's friend?
Helbram sighed in defeat as he gave a half-hearted smile to Ban. Ban grinned back at him causing Helbram's smile to turn into an annoyed glare.
"If what you say is true, why did Harlequin agree to go on that date with his giant-cutie? I mean, I know he has a crush on her but well..."
Helbram gazed at the table, a despaired look in his eyes.
Ban slapped his forehead
"Oh~, shit dude. I made a bet with Daine while we were drunk last night. I bet that if you got up today she had to ask King to the festival. I won, and hurt your feelings… My bad. How'd you know about that anyway?"
"While I was coming down the stairs I heard her ask Harlequin to the festival. It's not anyone's fault he's free to do whatever he wants. I didn't even know there was a festival, to begin with."
Ban gave him a wide smile, saying jovially,
"Well, you can tell him how you feel after he gets back. That way he can choose who he wants to be with~."
Helbram looked at Ban, his face turning red.
The trio of drunks started to stir awake, the two looked over at them. Gilthunder asking,
"What time is it?"
"Why do we keep doing this to ourselves?"
Howser asked in a groggy tone as he got up, he saw Helbram at Ban's table. A fire ignited inside him as he walked over to the pair. The duo gazed at Howser as he decked Helbram, yelling at him,
"Helbram, you bastard! You're alive! What the hell were you thinking back then trying to kill Diane and civilians? Orders or not that's just cruel."
Helbram was caught off guard and fell off the stool landing on the ground, he rubbed his cheek.
Ban stood up in shock, as he addressed Howser,
"Why the hell did you do that!?"
Howser grabbed Helbram's vest, right between his wings and picked him up, yelling, tears of frustration in his eyes,
"Why did you do it, why did you have to hurt Diane and try to kill her? She was protecting the people, she was-"
Helbram's sword appeared right under Howser's neck pressing into his flesh ready to slash it open. Helbram gazed over his shoulder at Howser. Howser swallowed his fear down, Helbram looked horrifying. The anger and hatred in his eyes could kill a person, however, something else resided in his eyes that Howser couldn't place. His face twisted into rage and hatred, his voice was laced with poison and malice all directed at Howser.
"Put me down, you disgusting, filthy human. If you do, I won't slit your throat where you stand."
Howser slowly placed Helbram back onto the stool he was sitting on before. Helbram held his gaze on Howser, pressing his sword closer into Howser's throat, drawing blood. Ban approached Helbram and grabbed onto his arm carefully
"Helbram, he's not going to hurt you."
"He already did."
Helbram hissed at Ban, keeping his hateful, dagger eyes on Howser.
Gilthunder and Griamore looked on in a panic, Gilthunder saying,
"Howser, just drop it, it's not worth dying over. Sir. Meliodas do something."
Meliodas gazed over at the scene from behind the bar and called back,
"No way, Ban's got it."
Gilthunder looked disappointed, as he looked over at Ban. He was still holding Helbram's arm trying to convince him not to hurt Howser.
Ban sighed as he spoke in a calm even tone,
"Would King want you to hurt him?"
Helbram flinched but didn't drop his sword.
Ban repeated,
"Helbram, would Harlequin want you to hurt him?"
Helbram finally turned his attention to Ban, his anger slowly dissipated as he flicked his hand down, his sword disappearing.
Howser fell to his knees, his legs like jelly as his fear for the fairy overtook him. Gilthunder and Griamore got on Howser's sides and picked him up, dragging him out of the tavern.
Gilthunder called back,
"I'm sorry about Howser's action and try not to hold it against him, Helbram."
Helbram glared at the trio in contempt as they left.
Ban asked letting go of Helbram,
"Why did you do that?"
Helbram turned back to Ban averting his gaze as he started to tremble like a leaf.
"I-I-I don't know, he touched my back, he grabbed me the way that human did so long ago. He almost touched my wings."
A wave of nausea washed over Helbram as he held his head in his hands, breathing in and out rapidly.
Ban looked at Helbram, the distress was clear on his face. Helbram didn't know why he acted that way.
I wonder if that's a side effect of the spell Hendrickson used to bring him back to life? Would Elaine have a similar thing happen?
Ban sighed as he walked over to the kitchen to cook something to soothe Helbram's nerves.