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Chapter 16 – The Scars Beyond Repair

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Celestial Realm

It started with tremendous pain running through all veins in his body. His blood boiled and he felt like he wanted to scream in agony, but no sounds came out. Then, the soothing warmth dragged him from below. Sinking into a beautiful dream where he was enveloped by the golden warmth, Lucifer could no longer feel the pain in his body. All his scars faded and he earned back his wings, freely flying to the sky. It was such a lovely, beautiful dream.

Then, everything was so hazy.

Lucifer stirred, he groaned in pain. His eyes fluttered open and he sat up slowly. He felt the familiar ticklish feeling from his back, and his eyes widened at the sight of the feathers from the wings on his back. He was baffled, too confused to understand why his wings still existed when these wings had been ripped off from his body in the hands of his biological mother?

Lucifer shuddered at the memory before looking around "...where am I?".

"have your memory failed you, or you truly don't remember where is this, my Lord?".

Lucifer snapped his head behind and his eyes widened "Mercy?".

"oh! Finally, he woke up! I was so worried that he's dead…".

A voice chirped right beside him which he failed to notice because she was so tiny compared to his wings. Lifting his golden-feathered wings, Lucifer stared, really STARED DOWN to this little girl who looked exactly like the perfect mix of Meliodas and Elizabeth, but this one was the girl version. Lucifer had known the boy version (Tristan), after all.

Mercy cleared his throat awkwardly "uh, princess… remember what you should when the first time you meet someone?".

"oh, right! It's my bad. Hehehe, forgive me, uncle", Seraphina bowed her head before lifting both sides of her skirt, lowering her body slightly in front of Lucifer to 'greet' him. Six pair of white-feathered wings on her back wriggled as she moved "welcome back to the Celestial Realm, uncle Lucifer. I was the one who pulled your soul back to here when you were dying just now".

Supreme Deity clapped her hands to reveal her presence "as expected of my granddaughter. I expect no less than this of you".

Lucifer breathed intensely "…mother?".

Yes, it was his mother, Supreme Deity. No one other than his biological mother cooperated with the Demon King to curse him and Elizabeth along with their lovers to suffer for these past 3.000 years. The mother he hated and resented the most.

Truthfully, she had been there ever since Seraphina tried to pull Lucifer's soul, but she didn't expect that her granddaughter would successfully summon Lucifer's soul back to here, even. Not only that, even Lucifer's wings were back to their place in the process, intact. Glancing down, Supreme Deity recognized the amusement behind Mercy's eyes. Thankfully, the doctor said nothing even if he knew all along this time that she was there. Now, it was time to face her hot-blooded son. Looking down, she saw him trying to stand but failed, thus he was down with his knees and elbows on the floor. It was because Lucifer felt all his strength left his body so sudden when he wanted to attack Supreme Deity, but Seraphina, who had realized it, absorbed his strength. Thanks to her, Lucifer could barely move on the floor.

Mercy supported him, holding his biceps. She knew the reason for his unbalance. It was because his son had lived without his wings for centuries, for more than 3.000 years, even. Because of her. His body still tried to get used to the wings again. Not to mention, Seraphina also absorbed his strength.

Lucifer gritted his teeth in frustration, looking up with his heated glares towards his mother. He was unaware of Seraphina's deed, thus he thought this was his mother's doing. The perspiration started to cover his face, rolling down to his nape. He had forgotten how it felt to have real wings like this. After his mother had torn his wings off of his back, he had used the Light power which was still left in his body to summon and create the spiritual wings. He had swatted away Mercy's supporting hands because he could not afford to be seen in a weak state, especially not in front of his mother.

Well, she knew this was going to be difficult and she knew why. She was the one who brought this up to herself. She had made him endure the unbearable pain and it left the deep scars beyond repair in his already shattered and devastated heart.

Lucifer wondered what was going through his mother's head. Why would she look down on him with those gentle and sadness in her eyes? Nah, no way in hell. Clenching his fists, Lucifer grumbled and dropped his head forward with his forehead on the floor "…unfortunately, I don't have enough energy to raise my fist to you, even. Just make it quick and do whatever you want".

"not even 'long time no see' for me? How lonesome of you, as usual", then again, what did she expect? Turning to her granddaughter, Supreme Deity asked gently "dear, go with Mercy and wait in the next room, okay?".

Seraphina pouted cutely, fidgeting her skirt with her fingers, nervously looking at her and Lucifer back and forth "eh? But… there's something I want to tell to uncle…".

Lucifer tensed. Usually, at a time like this, his mother would be pissed when someone disobeyed her (like that time when her mother forced Elizabeth to train how to kill Demon), so what happened next in front of his eyes was unexpected.

Rather than punish her, Supreme Deity tapped her head lightly, like how the parents usually did to ruffle their children's head "oh, my. It's so cute of you~ Don't worry. I am not going to hurt him, if that's what you're worried about. I promise".

Lucifer felt like his eyes were about to pop out of their place after looking at their interaction. His mother could be this gentle to a child? She was never this gentle for as long as he remembered Elizabeth's and his childhood, for Heaven's sake!

"ah, not that! I trust grandmother!", Seraphina waved her hand and shook her head frantically "I just don't want to see anyone get hurt here, that's all".

Well, in front of this cute girl, perhaps it was hard to be fond of her.

"then, I will call you once we finish our conversation and you may tell him about what you want to ask", sneaking a brief glance at her son, Supreme Deity noted in an amused manner "we will need to talk privately, considering there are things we need to clear. Not to mention, your uncle here has a foul mouth and I don't want you to hear any of it when he curses in front of me with his foul mouth which 100% is going to happen".

Lucifer snapped fiercely at her dry jokes "well then, can you blame me for it?".

"Okay! I trust you, grandmother!", Seraphina chirped cheerfully and raised her hand. After cupping his cheeks and giving a light peck on Lucifer's forehead, Seraphina moved to let Mercy carry her. Waving her hands, Seraphina loudly said "see you later, uncle!".

Now, it was only the two of them here.

"she's such a cheerful girl with a load of an energetic bundle, just like someone else. However, just now she referred to you as her 'grandmother', huh?", Lucifer rolled his eyes "first of all, is she that child? The one you kidnapped secretly from her parents right away after her birth".

''...I should say, I'm quite surprised by the fact that you have been keeping her as a secret, for these past 3.000 years", Supreme Deity shrugged and crossed her arms before her chest "well, it only makes my future plan go smoother, then".

Lucifer glared menacingly, all jokes had been forgotten "what have you planned right now?".

"it has something to do with Meliodas and your little sister's curses. What's the most important right now, is to keep Seraphina safe here, out of reach the Demon Clan and Demon King can't possibly know about her. Not yet", Supreme Deity narrowed her eyes "because that child can be the key of our victory against the Demon Clan and I've promised to her that I would help her parents break their curses".

"in the end, you've planned to use that child as your weapon, reasoning it for the sake Goddess Clan", Lucifer breathed raggedly "just like how you were using me and Ellie! Actually… for how long you've planned to make us suffer… till the Demon King and you'd be satisfied?".

"don't group me with that old bastard. At least. I still have the conscience of how I've wronged you and tried to repent my Sins towards my children", Supreme Deity sighed heavily, just if her son would listen to her, but she started to realize something was off "which is why I've been trying to help you two to break the curses on you and Elizabeth, along with your lovers—Lucifer?".

When he stopped responding to her, Supreme Deity shrank her size, enough for her to be able to kneel beside him to check on him. She should have expected this. His son's soul left the body when he was in a dying state. The longer they kept his soul here, he might have unable to go back to the living realm. She needed to make it quick, then. Using Faust's magic power, 'All Knowledge Of The World', they could have figured out how and why their curse could be broken once he was back, but what was the most important right now, she only had this chance to have a moment of the reconciliation with him. Looking down at his miserable state like this, somehow it reminded her of her evil deed, her Sin when she had ripped his wings off from his body.

Ah, she truly was a terrible mother for him.

In his numb state, Lucifer felt it was weird. Why was it so warm like someone hugged him and why there were waters on his face? Vaguely, Lucifer could hear someone tried to talk with him. Through his blurred eyes, Lucifer could not believe what he saw.

Supreme Deity hugged him gently and blinked her tears away, whispering "forgive me… I don't hope you can forgive me, but… forgive me, for the kind of a mother I've been. You can live your life to the fullest as you please from now on. Just… be happy with that woman".

When his mother released him, Lucifer reached out his hand "Moth—".

For a second, he thought he could see his mother's smile in the middle of her tears. Before he completely left this place, Lucifer could hear his niece asking him.

"Uncle, tell my parents and my brother, that I will go to find them once I'm strong enough! Please, tell them that I love them and they should take care of themselves before we meet!", after she had done telling Lucifer what she wanted to tell them, Seraphina turned to Supreme Deity with a clear concern in her eyes "…Grandmother…".

Supreme Deity smiled gently to her, patting her head "…I'm alright, Dear. I'm just relieved, like one of the heavy chains which have been weighing down on my shoulders, have vanished like the melted snow".

Mercy only hid behind the pillar, leaning his back on the pillar and narrowing his eyes after he wiped his tears.

Necropolis

Elizabeth recognized the Orb in Meliodas' hands. She didn't know how could it be here, because that Orb was supposed to be in the Celestial Realm. To be more precise, in her mother's, Supreme Deity's hands.

The Golden Orb above Meliodas' hand was surrounded by the waves of Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind elements with the sparkles of silvery sheen stars. It was Lucifer's Sacred Treasure named 'The Light Orb', granted by Supreme Deity for her son. This Sacred Treasure was so powerful, to the point, it was capable to make Lucifer's power surpass Mael's power and earned the title of 'The Light Bearer' from her Clan. Sadly, that Sacred Treasure was taken by Supreme Deity after the commotion he had created in the Stigma's mess after losing Faust for the first time.

Following Faust's instruction, Meliodas put The Light Orb on Lucifer's body. The Light Orb recognized its Master and went into Lucifer's body, right above his heart. Lucifer's body floated in the air and his body started shining, surrounded by the waves of Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind.

Faust shouted, "Merlin, now!".

Just one word from her mother, Merlin knew what to do "Curse Discovery!".

Looking up, Elizabeth gasped "Merlin, what is that?".

Merlin craned her head up along with her comrades "I'm using magic to render the curse on my parents visible".

Diane lifted her finger "oh, look!".

Three pairs of Golden wings sprout out of Lucifer's back as the waves which had been surrounding his body started to spread. Along with the Light that came out from The Light Orb, those waves floated up to the curses and struck the curses. The waves of Light cleared all the Darkness in Faust's body and fully healed Lucifer, meanwhile, the waves of four elements destroyed the curses into pieces.

"no way… Supreme Deity, you…", staring down at the fallen sparks of the shattered curses, Faust had realized what happened to them because of her magic power to answer all questions "how could you do this to us?".

Iseult worriedly came to her side "mother, what's wrong? Are you in pain somewhere?".

"no, instead…", Faust rushed to reach Lucifer's fallen body "Lucifer!".

Meliodas and Ban rushed to catch him first, because it would be bad for Lucifer to land hard on the ground with his head first, especially not with three pairs of large golden wings on his back. His wings were larger and wider compared to Elizabeth's wings, after all.

Faust wrapped her arms around Lucifer's shoulders, cradling his head "Lucifer, open your eyes!".

Meliodas poked his cheek "sleeping beauty, wake up".

Tristan smacked the back of Meliodas' head with the side of his hand "father, seriously… is this the right time to joke?".

After Lucifer woke up, Merlin and Iseult examined him. Bodily, he was okay. However, he could not accept what just happened to him mentally.

Faust squeezed his hands, tears streaming down his face "like it or not, this is the truth. Your mother… She regretted everything and she helped us to break our curse".

Lucifer covered his face and sighed in frustration "that old hag…".

Meliodas waved his hand when Lucifer wobbly stood up, walking to the edge of the cliff "oi, Lucy, I don't think it's safe for you to walk there".

Usually, Lucifer would snap to him for calling him with girly nickname 'Lucy' like that, but this time, Lucifer ignored him before he sucked in a deep breath.

Faust lifted her hands to cover her ears "oh, here we go again. Kids, cover your ears".

Not only Iseult and Merlin, but also Meliodas, Elizabeth, and Tristan complied, leaving the others confused.

Next second, they just understood and they regretted why did they not listen to Faust's advice.

Lucifer screamed to the top of his lungs "you idiot mother! How could you do this to us? If you're gonna do this, why do you put the curse on me and Faust from the beginning? Now, you're satisfied to see our suffering, then you released us, just like that! Then what? Should I forgive you for everything? How could you just try to behave as a good mother now after what you've done to us? Don't you think we can forgive you easily just because you've regretted everything and tried to reconcile now of all times, you shitty old woman! Above everything else, you didn't even give me the chance to give a load of my mind to you when I only could lie down, listening to your piece of shit!".

King, Diane, Ban, Elaine, Hawk, Gelda, and Escanor felt their ears ringing due to his loud scream.

"ah, I get it why he's so mad like this", Meliodas scratched the back of his head before walking to him "I understand, only one thing we can do right now, to let out his anger at a time like this".

They shocked when Meliodas pushed Lucifer off to the cliff. Turning to his comrades, Meliodas waved his hand "ah, I'll be quiet in a pickle, now Lucifer has earned back his wings. Ban, if you may, help me to fight against him. Don't kill him, let's just have a friendly brawl with him until he can't move, got it?".

Ban understood what their Captain meant. He slammed his fist on his palm and showed a feral grin "as you command, Cap'n~".

Meliodas turned to the other members "do you want to join us, King, Triss?".

Tristan scratched his neck and sighed "only to make sure you and father-in-law won't kill each other".

King lifted his hand nervously "no thanks. I'm a pacifist and not quite enjoy the brutal physical fight".

Because when Meliodas and Ban, plus Lucifer now, got into a friendly brawl, it was not friendly at all. It was brutal. Just like what Meliodas instructed, they fought until Lucifer could not move. Elizabeth and Iseult complained about how reckless they were while healing their injuries.

Sitting beside Lucifer who lying down with his back flat on the ground, Meliodas covered Lucifer's glazed eyes with his smaller hand as tears started to gather in the latter's eyes "…at least, your mother is not as merciless as my father".

"…are you telling me to forgive her?".

"no, I wouldn't dream of it. After all, what your mother did truly leave the scars beyond repair. For you, Faust, and your daughters", Meliodas shook his head before patting his forehead "it's your decision with Faust".

When Meliodas lifted his hand from his face, Faust came into his view and she smiled brightly, just like in the old-time, when they were happy together without worry and fear of the curses and this cruel world.

Faust reached out her hand, tearfully "let's go home, where our daughters have been waiting for us".

A/N:

Okay, the explanation etc. will be in the next chapter, I guess. Before we enter one of my favorite Arc in the season 1. Yep, Vaizel Fighting Tournament Arc~