A/N: Holy guacamole! The story has hit just over 50 Favourites and 55 followers... I would've never imagined this happening. Really. Thank you so much everyone TwT. I think I need to go and pinch myself to check that I'm not dreaming.
Anyway, apart from that happy news I just wanted to thank everyone for the support so far. I'm glad so many people actually enjoy my writing and stuff and that this story is enjoyable. Plus this whole thing wouldn't be the way it is without the input of some readers. So thanks a bunch for the amazing ideas everyone!
Now I'll stop rambling and let you all read the latest chapter. Sorry it's later than usual. But make sure to enjoy it regardless!
Darkjuliet444 - Thanks for the reviews! They're amazing as always and it was nice to hear from you. I'm glad you liked the chapter and once again I'm gonna put everything into little points! I couldn't fit everything in without it overflowing so I'll probably send more in a private message. Point 1: I'm glad you enjoyed the little interactions between Elaine and the kids. Also yes her story is set during Gloxinia's time. I saw it as fitting since it was a story that's passed down. Point 2: The Elizabeth situation is also dire and the countdown really is speeding up. Point 3: No prob for placing in the uniform idea. It was a good one. And of course Merlin made them stain/fire proof. Kids are little gremlins when they're ready. Point 4: You'll see how the tavern works later on. Point 5: The children reverting and seeing ghosts of the past is part of the process. Each child will go through reliving the past and that includes Elizabeth. The Commandments and Vivian definitely weren't fucking around with this spell. Point 6: All will be revealed with Ban as each of the Sins slowly regress.
CarBarrier - Thanks for the lovely review! I'm glad you liked it and that the tense ending did it's job. :)
Till next time,
D.L.D
"Only a few more supplies to go!"
Guila beamed as she checked the list she had brought along, the day having passed by in a slow but ambient blur. The sunny but comfortable weather had continued throughout the day, the sky remaining clear and blue just for the special day. The village had been bustling about with life and movement, everyone wandering or shuffling about to gather all they needed for the festivities that would go on later in the evening.
Everywhere the group had gone throughout the day had been abuzz with the festival, everyone who was anyone talking about what was planned for the evening. From the gossip and chatter, Guila had learned that the village had an annual celebration of the day it was founded, the people always putting their best effort into the festival. That meant delicious food, wonderful and amazing displays, emotive and vivid stories and all sorts of other activities to occupy everyone of any age.
The number one attraction of the night was actually a tug of war, the village always dividing themselves into teams to see who would win. It was meant to symbolize how the founders working as a team had led to them establishing the village and highlighted how the villagers should always help each other out. They went further together than split apart after all.
So from this news Guila had decided that this festival was the perfect occasion for everyone to take a small break. It would allow the child Sins to have childlike fun that wasn't extremely dangerous, but would also allow the adults to gather information at the Boar Hat.
Plus Zeal had looked so excited at the mention of a festival...
"We've done rather well in our quest then," Gowther hummed a little as he watched the villagers passed by, trying his best to gather as much information as he could about the way they celebrated. So far he'd mentally noted down some observations, but a lot of it seemed to be missing for him to a comprehensive understanding. "It usually takes much longer to gather such a large list."
"That's because we work as a great team!" Zeal flashed a grin, knowing very well that his statement was true.
The trio had worked together to gather all they had needed, Zeal reading the list, Gowther spotting where they needed to go and Guila gathering and paying for the items. By working together they had swiftly gotten through the list, simultaneously getting more and more information on the founders' festival as well. Now that's what I call killing two birds with one stone.
"We surely do," Guila nodded in agreement, tucking the basket under her arm as she regarded the list once more. "It seems the final items we need can all be obtained from one place. Oddly it's...plain and empty books."
"Books?" Gowther frowned slightly, his own mind beginning to work faster at the mention of the objects.
It was no surprise that Gowther was an expert in the field of literature, the doll being a very well read person. Over the span of his lifetime, Gowther had made his way through many transcripts, prototypes, exclusive editions and even first editions of famous and well known novels, novellas and even recordings of studies done by various authors throughout the ages. Science, magic, agriculture, even stories that were fictitious and based on ancient legend and history, had been explored by the doll. Books were one of the few things Gowther had to keep him company through the long and dreary years of his seemingly endless life.
As a result the doll knew of the many purposes and reasons to buy a book, especially when it regarded the type. Books on studies or research were often used to gain information, religious books focused on faith and fictitious books focused on fantastical and mythical stories. Almost any book had an obvious purpose, especially when you've gone through as many as the Goat Sin of Lust. But right now Gowther wasn't sure why Merlin would request for empty books.
After all why would they, a group of kidified adults and their 'babysitters', need an empty book?
"Yes books," Guila responded, her own tone sounding as confused as Gowther's. Her dark brows pinched slightly, a frown sitting on her lips. "Empty ones."
"Why empty books?" Zeal frowned as well, his own mind now fixed on figuring out why they would need empty books.
Empty books were often used to record things, or to keep a log. Many people who traveled far and wide used empty books to keep track of the days or to record their findings. Some artists may use empty books to sketch things and musicians may use it to write lyrics, poems or sheet music. But the Sins and the knights accompanying them were none of these things. None of them would need to record nor create something that would need to be kept in a book.
"I have no idea..." Guila breathed as she tucked the list away, her eyes already searching for a place where they could acquire an empty book. "I'm sure Merlin will tell us why we need them when she returns."
"The bookshop is in this direction, Guila," Gowther tugged at the knight's hand, his own amber eyes blinking innocently as his pink hair danced in the small breeze. "Perhaps we can figure it out sooner once when we get the books."
"Maybe so."
The others nodded in agreement and soon they were walking along the street, their minds still trying to unpick the riveting mystery of needing empty books.
After all what could a group like theirs need empty books for?
The atmosphere of the Boar Hat was oddly quiet that afternoon. Yes quiet.
With the absence of the more rowdy members of the group (*cough cough* Ban and to an extent Meliodas *cough cough*), the leftover adults and children managed to steadily get on with the day's tasks in a peaceful calm. All of the groups worked relatively well with each other, both adults and children reporting no squabbling nor behavioural issues, and everything was actually looking orderly and structured for once. In fact all signs of chaos seemed to have dissipated with the departure of the rowdier people, the added absence of Howzer for a few hours to advertise the bar, leaving the place even quieter than before.
As a result the remainders of the group were having a blissful lunch hour, Margaret and Jericho managing to whip up something that could rival Ban's own culinary genius. But only because it was flattering to everyone's particular palettes. Yes, only because of that.
"I have to say it's a lot more peaceful today," Diane glanced about the empty looking room, her amethyst eyes critically examining the silence and empty space. Only a few more people occupied the room, each of them set into their own conversations about subjects that could last for hours at a time.
That was shown by Margaret and Elaine, as they were discussing their favourite types of tea and pass times and were getting along splendidly with their similar tastes. Their conversation was quiet and reserved, both ladies laughing and exchanging soft but meaningful smiles. It was the perfect example of how quiet and casual the day was, passing in comfort instead of constant chaos and noise.
"I'd day there's still some noise," Elizabeth gave a small smile, her blue eyes glancing towards the squealing Hawk. The poor pig was trying to stop the rapid fire questions that were shot his way, the more harsh tones of Veronica and Jericho frightening him a little.
At the squealing, Diane turned her attention from the peaceful exchange of the two tea timers, to only give a sigh at the more loud atmosphere of Jericho and Veronica.
Just like their personalities, the pair's prodding was a lot more aggressive and joking than that of Margaret's or Elaine's. In contrast to the more quiet conversation across the room, Veronica and Jericho were surrounding Hawk from all possible angles, questioning and examining his body. It was not hidden that both spunky females were interested in the talking piggy, their poking and prodding showing that they wanted to know how he could talk. How he ticked.
However Hawk didn't like that too much, the small pig not liking their more straight to the point natures.
"I guess you're right," Diane nodded, turning and ignoring Hawk's cries for assistance. Instead she simply went back to the conversation at hand, leaning on her tiny elbows as she looked her companion right in the eye. "But since no-one's listening in right now, we might as well talk about you know what."
"Oh I don't think - "
"Yes we should," Diane pressed, her gaze soft but also unyielding. "We need to talk about it, Elizabeth. Keeping it bottled inside won't help at all! You'll just explode from the pressure and I don't want my best friend becoming guts and gore."
The young princess winced at the giantess' words, her little face painted with slight fear and disgust at the image of exploding. Red would spray everywhere, her very matter and being splattering across the walls and floor. Silver strands of hair would fall to be tiny wisps of nothing, her thoughts and opinions offering naught without a person to hold them.
In short it was not a very pretty picture. Not a pretty picture at all.
"Very well," Elizabeth released a small sigh, her bottom lip being sucked between her teeth. The anxiety was creeping up on her again, her thoughts already buzzing around like a million tiny bees even though Diane had warned that it leads to exploding. Even if it was a joke, Elizabeth's child brain still saw part of it as real. As something that could happen. And so she was worrying about worrying, while also worrying about the dreams and visions she'd been having over the past few days.
The visions that contained images of a Britannia that seemed impossible from what she'd been told. The ones where she was and felt like the goddess Elizabeth that seemed to be weighed down by so much and yet always pointed out the silver linings. The exact visions where she had identified Sir Meliodas as one of the faces that kept popping up in them, the rest of the people going as ones she had never met before. The same visions that were strange and entirely new and yet Elizabeth felt connected to her in some way.
That they were relevant in some way.
"So, have you seen anything new?" Diane raised a brow, her fingers casually twirling the end of her brunette ponytail. Her eyes were inquisitive, questioning, the giantess not missing the pondering expression of her friend. "You did say they come every now and again."
"Yes they do..." Elizabeth responded, nodding before falling into a plaintive hum. Her blue eyes lidded a bit, a finger tapping her youth-fattened cheek."Diane - I think I know why I saw Sir Meliodas."
The giantess sat up at that, nearly spitting out the apple juice she'd just gulped down. Her eyes were widened to as wide as they could be, her body frozen in its pin-straight position as she gawked at her blushing friend. The same blushing friend who still had a straight expression on her face, betraying that she was being a hundred percent serious about this matter.
"Really?" Diane breathed, fixing her posture and clearing her throat. That news had certainly caught her off guard. "That's great! But why is that?"
Elizabeth paused at that question, her own hand beginning to nervously play with her long silver tresses. Her lip was being fussed with by her teeth, her blue eyes gaining some sort of embarrassment but also innocence as she glanced away from Diane. Something that was a sign of nerves and even being bashful.
"W-well, it's because..." Elizabeth trailed off, her face burning with the purest of reds. Her voice fell to a mere whisper in the winds, her hands coming to cover her face as she thought about why she had seen Sir Meliodas in the visions. It was rather perplexing to see that, no it was very perplexing, but also very overwhelming for the poor princess. She was only but a child after all and even though she was aware of such things, she was caught off guard by it.
She was caught off guard by the fact that Diane had been right all along.
"Because?" Diane brought Elizabeth back to reality with her probing, the miniature giantess leaning forwards once more with her unblinking purple eyes. Those eyes that caused Elizabeth to gulp and attempt to steel herself to get the words out. The words that should be so simple to say...
"He was...it was..." Elizabeth tried once more, failing as she squeaked and hid behind her curtain of silver hair.
It truly was not easy to say, even if some would argue it is. It was something that was none of her business after all. It was not in her place to reveal such personal and discreet information, especially when she had found out about it through a dream. The source of the information was questionable after all, no-one had a way to verify anything that Elizabeth saw. Even if they were to ask Meliodas about it, they would probably not know if it was the truth or not.
"He was what, Elizabeth?" Diane tried once more, poking the princess. She was extremely persistent, gently coaxing but also roughly demanding an answer so that she could assist Elizabeth with the next step: confessing.
"Come on, I won't tell~" Diane poked Elizabeth once more, the brunette teasing the princess a little. She did look as if she were a strawberry, the bright flush of her skin betraying that she was feeling very overwhelmed and bashful.
Extremely overwhelmed and bashful.
"He was that Elizabeth's lover!" The words came out in a tumbled rush, the princess' cheeks a flaming pinkish-red as she retreated to hide within her hair once more. It came in a sudden squeak, an outburst, but Diane heard it all. She heard every last word.
"What?! How old is he!"
Diane could only widen her eyes in surprise, falling right out of her chair. The Captain had a lot of explaining to do.
"Galand of Truth."
Merlin's hazel eyes burned with a bright fire, the young girl almost unable to hide her contempt for the Commandment of Truth. Raven hair was scattered about her face, the shock waves and aftershock of the demon's landing causing the whole area to become disturbed. Yet despite the dramatic entrance and flair, the young girl was not stunned nor impressed by the entity before her. She wasn't even intimidated by his looming frame.
How could she be when he had such a foolish and jeering tone? Or when she knew that he was no more powerful than she knew him to be?
This observation seemed to be evident to the Commandment as he scoffed and turned to look at the Sin stood beside her. He looked to be a scrappy nine to ten year old, his pure blue eyes being akin to that of the putrid goddesses his race did loathe. A mop of ginger-tinged hair sat atop the boy's head, looking awfully out of place and yet somehow working with the rigid build of his frame. The same frame that was bulked with a bit of muscle, the simple clothing the child wore doing nothing to disguise it. However that's not what interested Galand of Truth.
No what was interesting was the golden axe the child seemed to hold so easily. The one with the shortened handle.
"And who is this we have here?" The towering threat leaned towards the Sin standing beside Merlin, the slits of his helmet glowing a neon green. They focused on the axe that the boy carried, narrowing a little as the Commandment let out a small hum. "This boy who accompanies you, what is his name?"
The boy raised a brow at that, seeming unfazed by the curious and close stare of the highly dangerous entity. In fact he seemed to puff out his chest a little more, a silent sign of him saying that he was not scared of this demon at all. It was like he was someone who was unafraid of the nightmarish and insanely powerful presence of a member of the demon race. It was like he had no fear of what should essentially be the most frightening thing in all of Britannia!
That thought made Galand chuckle internally, the demon feeling the tugs of a grin pull on his armored face.
He liked the spirit of this child. Yes, he liked when pitiful and helpless humans believed they stood a chance against someone as great as he. They were what made conquering the poor insects so entertaining, their fighting spirits being much more exciting than the dull and dole ones of the fairies and giants.
"I am Escanor," The boy stepped forwards, his expression unwavering as he placed himself on par with the demon. "The Lion's Sin of Pride."
"And he is none of your concern, Galand!" Merlin huffed, swiftly moving forward to shield Escanor from the Commandment. Her glaring eyes were still set on the Commandment, sharp and precise like a cat watching an intruder in their home. "Your problem is with me and the captain of the Seven Deadly Sins."
A loud, bellowing laugh left the demon at her words, Galand seeming to revel in the tiny exchange. To meet Merlin, the traitorous child from many generations ago, and to also see that she was part of the troublesome Seven Deadly Sins was truly a delight. Not just that, but seeing that she is once again plotting away at a scheme, a lie, was lighting a fire that Galand had been waiting to explode ever since his race had been sealed away.
Schemers, liars, were something that Galand didn't take too lightly. Well not Galand, but his commandment. Therefore by default, he didn't entirely like Merlin or anyone associate with her. That was evident from how he suddenly swung his weapon towards Escanor, the air rushing past in a great whoosh sound.
"You know you're holding that wrong boy!"
The demon fell back slightly, surprised by how easily the child had blocked his attack. The golden axe caught the light of the steadily rising sun, Escanor frowning as his pure blue eyes narrowed at the Commandment. Dust gathered in smokey clouds, curling and dancing as it dissipated around the stunned knights and demon. The same demon who tightly gripped their halberd, frustration creeping in as the Lion Sin prowled towards him.
"It was foolish to assume that you could defeat me so easily, Galand of Truth," The axe rested over Escanor's shoulder, the boy talking in a casual and yet simultaneously pompous tone. "I am not one who can be knocked down so easily."
The demon growled at that, his armoured head turning to face the now grinning Merlin. The same Merlin who was playing with her own Sacred treasure, the Morning Star Aldan, the knights of Camelot already moving to support the smug child.
'That little minx!' Galand glowered, tightening his hold on the stem of his halberd as he tried to focus on the child that steadily grew muscles with every step. 'She was expecting for this to happen!'
"What's wrong Galand?" Merlin titled her head, an innocent expression playing on her features. "You seem a little nervous."
Nerves began to gather as the demon began to ponder on how he could possibly counter this child duo. This child duo that had worked out how to make sure he would fall. The brains of it, the scheming and weaseling Merlin, and the power of it all being the prideful Escanor. The same Escanor who was now giving the demon eye to eye contact, which was seriously freaking him out. No human has been this audacious after all! None so far!
Yet this one child, this child who easily wielded a weapon which seemed to weigh a ton, was looking at the demon as if he were nothing but a speck of dust. A mere obstacle that was thrown into his path.
"Nervous!" Galand puffed the words out in a laugh, continuing to be smug as he once again crouched to meet the gaze of Escanor. "Why should I be nervous of a mere human child such as yourself?"
It was then a punch was given to the demon, the echoing sound of metal spreading through the wrecked portion of the kingdom. Debris and dust flew everywhere, carried away from the power of the punch as well as the impact of the demon's fall. A lack clashing was heard as Galand toppled sideways, falling into a row of buildings and ultimately crashing them in on themselves.
"You have spirit I'll give you that," The demon spat, standing up from the crushed buildings and dusting debris from his red armour. The dent was rather obvious, bending inwards in the shape of a tiny but powerful fist. However Galand didn't seem all too bothered. In fact he just stood up and righted his hold of his weapon, strolling through the rolling dust and ignoring the puny attempts of the knights to incapacitate his legs.
He then swung his weapon once more, decapitating at least a dozen men in a single powerful swing. Fresh blood sprayed over the cool metal of the halberd, the bodies falling to the ground instantly as they continued to leak. That made the knights quake, hesitate, their attacks pausing as the demon strolled towards Escanor. Or rather, clear the path with a few casual uses of his trusty old halberd. That thing had never let him down yet.
Feeling stiff and partially cooped up, I mean who wouldn't after being sealed away for thousands of years, Galand tilted his neck, hearing a hollow crack as he began to formulate his winning plan. The one that could change the fate of this battle if he just played it safely. After all the burning liquor of courage had to run out eventually, especially if the fight continued on throughout the day.
Plus he was going through Camelot's knights as easily as he could kill a rabbit or wild boar.
"I think a deal is in order..." Galand hummed as he impaled a knight through the chest, not at all thinking about the blood or gore as tossed the body onto another knight. That same knight's soul ended being devoured. "Yes... I could do the usual trade of a fight to the death..."
"Surely there's a better solution!"
"I'm trying!"
The demon peered towards the sound of the exchange and spotted that Merlin was towards the outskirts, helping to heal the wounded that could be saved. Her childish features were puffed with frustration, the dark circles beneath her eyes betraying her fatigue. But that wasn't what caught Galand's attention. No it was desperate expression of the young man beside her, his strawberry blonde hair shining in the morning light.
"It seems lady luck is on my side today~" The demon felt the edges of a smile creeping into him, his body feeling light as he easily swept past the knights that attempted to ambush him. One large step carried him closer towards the concerned young man.
"Stop right there."
Galand froze at the sound of the familiar voice, his feeling to smile only growing as he knew who it belonged to.
Glowing green eyes turned to face the speaker, the demon's voice filling with glee as he responded, "Look what we have here. Little Escanor himself!"
"Little?" The boy frowned slightly, his blue eyes once again narrowing towards the demon. It was so much like the glares that the goddess race used to give, pure and yet filled with hatred that was akin to the sinners that they labelled the demon race as. "I can assure you that you are mistaken to call me such."
"Then why don't we see?" Galand jeered, his plan already moving along as he looked at the small child. "A battle to death, one on one."
Escanor only chuckled at the demon's preposition, a grin forming on his boyish features as he looked at the demon. Like always it was a look that spoke of highly he saw himself, his pride being something that was inflated as easily as a balloon, and yet it now held a level of respect for Galand. A respect that seemed to be mutually shared for the power that was held in each being, even if none of the persons holding it would admit as much.
"Your preposition seems enticing," The child frowned, sinking into thought but not dropping his alertness. "I accept."
"I also accept!" A knight came up to join the two, cheering a little as he held his weapon proudly. He seemed rather youthful, eager, the entire gravity of the situation seeming to escape him as he glanced at the pair. All of the eagerness faded as he came face to face with Galand himself. "Actually perhaps - "
The words could not be finished, the knight turning to stone as quickly as he had come bounding up to the pair. Escanor only looked on in slight disdain and contempt, rather annoyed but also sorry for the knight who had been so foolish, while Galand felt his nerves buzzing alight with excitement. It had been ages since he had felt the sheer amount of raw fear that bled form this battle, let alone faced someone with the power that this small child held.
Therefore he was looking forward to this. He was looking forward to wiping away this small child's pride, reducing him to a little entity full of fear.
"Oh I forgot to mention," The demon chuckled innocently, a hand coming to cover his masked mouth. "No take backsies, or you'll be turned to stone."
At that Escanor only tightened his stance, the one-handed grip of his axe growing all the more threatening. Much more threatening. Or maybe it was the newly forming bulk on his form that scared the demon. Yeah, it had to be that. The muscles that seemed to gather as the day ticked on by, only growing bigger and more numerous as time wore on. That meant he had to finish this fast or end up losing completely.
"I believe I have the first hit," Escanor raised a brow, his fist already curling.
Galand gulped as he prepared his own battle stance. It seems that his plan my have backfired entirely.
A/N: We're nearing the end now! This is the penultimate mini chapter and also the build up to the 'final showdown'. I'm getting really excited to write the battle between the two gods and their kids XD
Closing Charade
Wrath. That's all I could think of: pure wrath. It was curling about inside me, bubbling and boiling like a filthy and impure concoction, as I can't help but feel enraged at what Ludociel has done. My frustration and anger can't help but flare at what he has just sacrificed and sullied my name for. Ugh! I can just feel the anger thrashing inside me, my usually saintlike patience wearing extremely thin as my hands ball into the tightest fists I've ever thrown them into.
My wings are too tense to even tuck, the large and feathered limbs sticking out behind me as I stomp my way through the corridors. All eyes turn to me, shock and surprise forming at my reddened face and the low muttering that comes from me as it is unexpected. It was something many would not expect for me to do: I was calm and docile, delicate and polite. However Ludociel has stepped over a line that I had placed so very far. He has trampled and trodden on something I held very dear. For that I must now let him know how that has affected everything. How his prideful prejudice has just cost us peace.
"Ludociel!" The door to the counsel room is slammed open, my form appearing in the gap left by the large double doors I had just thrown aside.
Everyone within the room regards me with shock, stupefaction, their words falling short at the frown upon my face. One person goes to calm me down, but I shoot an icy glare around the room, feeling more like my mother than I have ever before. However I don't care about that. I don't even think about it. All I do is use that gift to my will, the glare only growing harder as I spot the smug Ludociel.
"Why did you kill all those innocent people?" I charge towards him, the heels of my shoes clicking furiously against the floor. My tone is harsh, sharp and emotional, laced with the feelings I can sense swirling inside me. I can feel the tears forming but not falling yet, my anger holding them back. "We were so close to getting an alliance and - "
"Oh dear Lady Elizabeth," Ludociel cuts me off immediately, the calm and gentle tone of his voice only making me seethe all the more. He wears a reassuring smile, but I know it's really smug. It's really just him pointing out that he knows what he has done. That he knows that my plans for peace are now ruined. Those words only make me hiss lowly as he places a guiding hand on my shoulder, his lidded eyes staring into mine as he bends to meet my height. "It seems you're still deluded as to what this war is really about."
"What do you mean?"
It's then I really look into his eyes. Really look into Ludociel's eyes.
The look in his eyes scares me. Paralyses me. I can't really defeat it or match it, my anger seeming to puff into annoyance as I begin to tremble under Ludociel's gaze. Mentally quake. My frosty glare remains set on my face, however inside I can see that I'm dealing with a force I cannot match just yet. Not when my judgement is clouded with an anger that may very well cost me my victory.
"Look around," Ludociel gestured about the room, but I knew he meant to think about everything. "What do you see?"
"Pointless death, destruction, an angry demon army," I raise a brow, the words coming out in a negative tone. I'm not humoring him at all. I'm making it very clear that I am enraged that he would cross the line he did, massacring all those innocent demons who weren't even involved in the war. "Shall I go on, Ludociel?"
"Then you're clearly missing the bigger picture," Ludociel tsked a little, his tone making me feel like a child being admonished by a clueless teacher. "This war is for us to exterminate the scum of this world. It's something Her Grace has worked on for many generations, constantly having to recall us to war for the sake of getting rid of the evils that plague and tarnish our existence."
The mention of my mother is what stirs me from my annoyed state, the anger piling back up as surprise and betrayal stab me in chest. They're cruel and sharp, just like her gaze and just like a keen blade, and I can't help but feel hot salty tears and outrage form at the mention of her name. I can't help but feel like everything I've been told up until now was a lie, my mother being willing to sell me the false hope of creating peace when she really wanted to do the exact opposite.
"They're not evil!" I find myself stomping a foot, my voice rising as I clench my fists once more. Tears gather at my eyes, brimming before they fall, as my voice wavers with emotion. "D-demons are not what we were taught they are! I know this myself and Meliodas should be proof of that!"
"And yet your oh so dear Meliodas still has his darker tendencies," Luodciel answered back just as quickly, raising a brow at the wavering of my voice. His tone then turned analytical, sharp and stinging like a sewing needle pricking your finger. "Did he tell you about Mael's death? About how my brother truly died? Why don't you ask Meliodas who the killer is? I'm sure he hasn't told you out of fear of you abandoning him."
I tense at the mention of Mael's death, my lungs and heart seeming to pause as my mind and body go numb. The wound was still fresh, still deep and unhealed, and I can remember how it felt to receive the news of his death in the way I did. I can still feel the heavy connection of Jelamet's fist to my jaw, her own salty tears mixing with the water she had pushed my shocked form into. I can still feel the betrayal that had coursed through me as I began to suspect that the news was true. I can still feel the rolling relief that had washed over me when Melidoas told me he had not done it. When he told me he had no idea about it until I had told him.
But most of all I feel the disgust of Ludociel having mentioned Mael alone, my brain knowing very well that the mention of it made his argument flawed. It showed the weak point of his judgement was his grief and love for his brother. Therefore his basis of blaming the majority on the actions of a minority did not seem right.
However even so, I can hear a little voice niggling away. The tiny whisperings of doubt that brought up the times when Meliodas had avoided the subject. The way he always told me not to worry about...
"Just stop it!" I take a step back, tears gathering at the frustration that was forming once again.
The words and thoughts are too much. They're just too much! Ringing and ringing as they repeat in my head like a screeching siren, the cruel stare of Ludociel making the pressure even worse. They're blaring and loud, monstrous and all consuming; but even so I still wade through it, I still find the flickers of truth and hope that float along with the familiar smile of Meliodas. The trust that I had found when he told me it'll be fine.
Then I know that my doubt is not really doubt at all.
"You're lying! I know you are!" I shake my head, wiping away the tears that had formed. My finger points directly at the offending Goddess, my eyes fixed into a toxic glare as my arm trembles. "Y-you're just using a trick on me again!"
"Then why do you hesitate?" Ludociel spoke in a simple tone, shrugging as he regarded me. He then chuckled slightly, the curve of a condescending smile forming. "Surely if you are certain - "
"Don't even try to use that on me!" I scream the words, my voice coming out in a monstrous screech as I feel my powers thumping through my body. They're waiting to be used. Waiting to cause harm. The usually warm and guiding light they gave off seemed more violent and burning this time. It was like they wanted to hurt and I didn't want to do that. I didn't want to become one of them. "Meliodas was right... Everyone was right! Goddesses really are lying pieces of scum."
I don't know how fast I took off after that. In fact I'm certain I left faster than I ever had before, my legs and wings working as one to swiftly carry me away from the presence and stare of all who had witnessed my outburst. Warm tears had continued to pour relentlessly, mixing with the tightened feeling of my full chest and aching shoulders as I tried not to just break down and cry. As I tried not to break at the thought of everything I'd ever known being a complete lie.
As I try to deny that I had been living a superficial existence.
Before I knew it I was sitting in the forest all alone, purposely avoiding the Stigma members who were scattered about. I could hear them all settling into a state of calm, the damage of the massacre having been cleared up now. Even with the extreme lows of the situation, they all seemed so positive and outgoing. They all seemed to believe in the solution that the goddesses had provided for Britannia. Therefore I didn't want to get them involved with this. I didn't know if I could trust them anymore as they may have known about the plan to exterminate the demon race from the beginning.
Plus would it make any difference to any of those people? They just wanted to end the suffering of their own.
So I just sat there and silently sobbed, sniffling every so often but really attempting to try and stop. To try and get over the fact that I cared so much for a existence that was not real.
But that's a hard thing to do when that fake existence is all I've ever known...
"Whoa what happened?" I snap out of my state of limbo to the sensation of my hair being brushed back from my face. A pair of concerned green eyes gaze into mine, the owner frowning at the reddened state of my face. Their thumb swipes away a few stray tears, the concern only growing as I feel like curling up even more to eventually just disappear. "Elizabeth?"
His voice is calm and coaxing, nothing like Ludociel's smug and condescending tone. I can't help but feel attracted to the warmth it brings, the care it brings. It seems like everything about Meliodas makes me feel safe and comfortable, all the problems of the world seeming to wash away if only for a second.
"You were right..." The words leave softly, quietly, my voice only being able to leave in a tiny whisper. But they're enough to bring back the memories, to bring back the emotions, and they're powerful enough to make me feel like breaking down again. They're strong enough to make me feel as if I was responsible for all of this, for the killing of all those innocent people, for the death of Mael and even for the way Ludociel disregards the life of what he views as 'scum'.
"Don't start the waterworks," Meliodas brings me out of the despair once more, his hand resting against my cheek. The concern is carefully guarded with a sense of optimism, my usual trick of focusing on the positives seeming to have rubbed off on him. "Hey, it'll be alright. We'll figure something out, we always do."
However sadly that wasn't enough this time. Being hopeful, optimistic, still doesn't change that I was set up to fail. I was always going to end up leading the demon race to their death and it was never intended for them to live lives on equal terms to everyone else. They were always going to be the villain of the story, history changed and altered by the winners to eradicate all signs of them being normal and innocent like everyone else.
And that's what stung the most: the fact that even though I've tried my best I've ultimately failed at the one thing I had to do.
"But that's the thing," I sniff, my head still ringing with all its thoughts and feelings. "There isn't any other way except..."
I can feel my sense brightening as I think about. Actually think about it. The one thing, the one option we had left, was something so unthinkable that I had forgotten about it completely. I had forgotten that it was even an option that was available to us, the idea being something so extreme that I had always pushed it to the furthest and darkest corners of my mind. But now, now that I feel as if everything I've ever known has betrayed and lied to me, I can actually see myself fulfilling that plan. I can see myself doing the unthinkable.
But Meliodas seemed to think differently, his eyes steeling themselves as he shakes his head. Like always he was the reason between us, the logical side that stopped me from doing reckless things. I can see that he knows what I'm thinking, I can tell that he's ready to oppose it. And he does just that.
"No way," Meliodas' voice turns firm, resolute, the concern edging into slight authority. "We're not doing that. Just thinking about doing it is crazy!"
"But it's our only chance, Meliodas," I break out of my stupor to voice my own protest, my hair scattering as I shake my head.
"And it's our only saving grace," He countered, not at all swayed by my pleading. He then sighed. "Or at least yours."
A silence settles between us, both of us not talking to one another. We're both annoyed, frustrated, that the other won't see what we're trying to see. We're not trying to see where the other is coming from as none of us want to back down from what we want to do. I want to go with the crazy final solution we have, but he doesn't want to. Meliodas doesn't want to risk it as he knows that if we do it, death is almost certain. If we were to do the final plan, then none of us would be able to be redeemed.
"I'd rather die than let this go on," I find myself huffing, a pout setting on my lips as I know I don't want to be redeemed. There's no point in redemption if I believe what I'm doing is right, especially if Meliodas will not be able to be redeemed with me. "You know as well as I do that if we don't do this, then we have no other chance."
Silence greets me, his form still. I would at least expect a response, perhaps even a final protest, but all that greets me is a thoughtful stare and the usual unreadable eyes that hold it. That look, that single look, made things a million times worse. It made me feel ready to burst with anticipation, something about not knowing what Meliodas thought about it all making me all the more nervous despite my final decision. He was one of the few things I could trust now after all.
"We've come this far," He breaks the silence with a grin, alerting me to the fact that he's agreed to it. "Might as well piss the old man off further."
"That's the spirit!" I tackle him into a hug, not at all withholding the smile that spreads. It's broken by a giggle, however, as I feel a squeeze on my chest. "Wrong one Meliodas!"
But at least things were slowly getting better...