Chapter 4: My Little Sin
AN: Don't forget to come and check out the Discord!
"So...exactly what is the next stage of the plan?" Zaylen asked Azalen as they entered the tavern again. "I mean, how will they find you back? Or message you? Or whatever?"
"Well, I figure we just keep traveling and waiting" Azalen said as he looked down at himself. He was still only wearing a large shirt, and now his feet had gotten dirty. "Its entirely likely either Markus, the Sin of Greed, or Seth, the Sin of Wraith, will find us first. However, its possible we might, maybe find another Sin at that town you mentioned, with the serial killings".
"The serial...wait, you dont think a Sin caused that do you? You guys should be heroes!"
"Well, sometimes matters are complicated...if I am right, at least one of us might be broken. Its a complicated matter, but if I find him, everything should be fine".
"You sure?"
"Yeah. But dont tell him he is broken, only I can do that. His relationship to people is different then his relationship to the Sins, and especially me. Its complicated, and weird, and you would need to spend a large amount of time around him to understand his unique quirks. But, I am sure he is a good person at heart".
Zaylen seemed to fully believe that, which let Azalen sigh in relief. Well, what Azalen said was not quite a lie. After all, he was sure Anin had to have some good in him. There are still plenty of annoying and bothersome people around after all.
"That said, I wouldn't mind if we avoided meeting The Sin of Envy, Gluttony, and Lust for awhile. I mean, they have their good points, but having one of the others around would be helpful".
"...you just dont want to deal with bothersome things, don't you?" Zaylen said as he walked up to Azalen.
"Yeah, pretty mu...hey hey, what the?!" Azalen started, but got embarrassed and flustered when Zaylen undressed him. "What did you do that for?!"
"Well, you said you did not want to deal with bothersome things" Zaylen mentioned. "But shouldn't we get all the Sins, regardless of how bothersome, since we will all get clobbered otherwise?"
"Jeesh. In that case..." Azalen mentioned, as he moved his hand around. Suddenly, Chroma appeared in blanket form, pulled down Zaylen's pants, and then tripped him to hoist them out of it as Azalen moved out of the way. "There".
Now they were both extremely embarrassed. However, the lack of female presence made it a bit more tolerable for them. Getting naked on one's own accord is one thing, getting stripped by someone else made things extremely more embarrassing usually.
As they stood up with their red faces, the two looked at each other, nodded, and then took a deep breath. In Zaylen's mind, he did not want to get dressed first because he did not want to lose to Azalen, while Azalen...well, it was night time. He didn't feel like getting dressed again if it was only Zaylen. Azalen did have some sleepwear, but if he was already naked not much point.
That said...I should take a bath before we meet the Sin of Envy, unless I want to deal with even more trouble. But...if we stay dirty, just dirty enough, people might look away from us and dismiss us as Urchins. Yeah, so the reasonable, tactical decision is to be lazy.
"So...just to be clear, we are just going to keep traveling and let them come to us?"
"Yeah. Maybe...we could go to the beach too. You know, to refresh".
The truth was that Azalen had a complicated history. Like most people these days, he was not really overly concerned about Nudity. It was mainly just his Brand, so if he made the effort to conceal it, he was fine. He certainly had that ability, but as for why he did not do that all the time...well, he was the Sin of Sloth. So while he had strength to overcome it, or deal with it, that did not mean he could do it all the time. In the first place, he could not conceal it and use most of his abilities at the same time, though given the method used, his durability did increase quite a bit.
Well, in short, bothersome things were bothersome.
"...yeah, maybe. Not sure we have the time though".
"Right...well, what now?"
"I suppose...take a nap?"
"A nap? Right now? The sun just barely set outside!"
"Well, its way too late to do stuff, and you are too young to hold your liqour..."
"No way! I can totally hold my liqour!"
"Somehow I doubt that...we could always play Crossed Swords..."
"Cr-cr-crossed swords?! I-I suppose..." Zaylen asked, stuttering as he blushed. He had heard that sometimes boys did play games like that when na...
"Yeah. I have the board game stored in a closet somewhere".
"Oh...the board game..."
Azalen narrowed his eyes. "What did you think I mean exactly?"
"Nothing!"
"...you...you are not used to interacting with people, are you?"
Zaylen sighed.
"No, not really...thats why, rather then sleeping, I really am open to just doing anything. As a prince, I was often surrounded by tutors and books. Sometimes I would be able to play with other boys of high level knights and such, but it was not common and sometimes their parents would scold them and instruct them, so...a lot of times it felt tense and scripted".
"I see...so a sheltered prince. The male version of a sheltered princess character I guess?" Azalen mumbled to himself.
"What was that?"
"I think there is a small village near here. I know a pretty good way to handle something like this".
"Alright cool. What then?"
Azalen thought a little, and decided to play a bit of a joke.
"Well, speaking of which...as a prince, did you ever recieve training to deal with more...blushing situations?"
Zaylen's face went even more red. After all, he knew what he was talking about. It was a general topic that covered various situations. From how to deal with a sudden...unpleasant assault, to how to be good in bed. After all, it would be no good if a member of the royal family was considered by other royalty and lords to be lacking in such areas, they recieved extensive training.
"Y-yes!" Zaylen lied. He kinda slacked off. Even though there was a lot of importance to be good when he became an adult, most would still consider him too young. Of course, he did not know that, but Azalen wanted to poke some fun.
"Okay good. Because I had no plans to do that myself" Azalen said bluntly. He knew it was a lie, but...he was the Sin of Sloth. He had only said that just to be amused at his reaction. "So, if that is all good, and your combat skills are good..."
"No, actually...please! Teach me how to fight as good as you!"
"As good as me, huh? Hmmm...Anin might get a bit jealous...well, no probably not. But...I suppose I could...but, I don't know..."
"Please! I want to be as good as you!"
"Well, I might not be the best teacher. After all, technically you are physically stronger then me".
"Eh?"
"If you are able to use the power of Ark, then you should have access to it right? The Truesight?"
Truesight. It was an ability of Ark Magic that allowed one to comprehend their Total, Physical, Magical, and Spirit power in number forms, and could also even tell you the name of their Magic Power.
"A...allright" Zaylen said, and then activated Truesight. Although, he was a bit nervous...his Truesight was a bit different then most. But he used it anyways...
Total Power: 9300. Physical Power: 100? Magical Power: 200?! Spirit Power: 9000?! Magical Power: Spirit. The Ability to use and manipulate Spirit Power and Energy, from converting it into other forms of power, to making use of it directly. Additionally, measurements of all physical details...
Zaylen went red in the face as he got more information then anticipated. Though while some made him feel uncomfortable, others shocked him.
Most Compatible Lover: Someone who can spark a fire in his spirit.
Lifespan: Infinite.
His lifespan shocked Zaylen, though his Race did even more. But what might have been really shocking was...
Abnormalities: Sealed. He is currently unable to use his full power. Cannot be removed until certain circumstances are met.
Yes, Zaylen's Truesight had the power to see more then most others. Sometimes it could be really concerning, and sometimes it would give him odd details he might not normally get.
However, as Azalen waved his hand in front of his face to get his attention, he snapped back to the conversation.
"Ummm...hold on. You were able to fight off all those people, and showed that level of strength and ability, even though your base strength and...oh, its your Magical Power?"
"Yes, my Magical Power: Spirit, allows me to do a wide range of things, and it lets me control my Sacred Treasure: Chroma. I can also convert it into Physical and Magical Power as needed. Though its been awhile, so I am a bit rusty..."
"Huh...alright. So...will you please?"
"Well, other then maybe some hand to hand combat, there is not much I can teach you really other then practice. And that seems really bothersome...".
Besides, you already have enough power, on your own, to take down two, maybe three, basic Holy Knights on your own in a straight fight. I mean, I suppose it would help though...if anything, I would not have to save or worry about him as much. Alright, its a bother, but I suppose overall it will prevent future bothers. I just kinda wanna do what I want though...
"In that case, come on, lets head into the basement".
"We have a basement?" Zaylen asked, as the two headed towards a door in the kitchen.
Going downstairs, they quickly found a rather interesting room in the bottom. It was clearly worn, and it had a storage area, a spare cot, and a few other things in the corner. BUt in the center of the room, it was open and empty, and the entire place looked like it was built sturdy, as if it could hold up against a hundred dragons.
"Alright, so then, where do we get..." Zaylen said when suddenly get got punched in the face and fell back onto the floor. "Oww!"
"No padding, no nothing" Azalen said, as he motioned the Chroma there with them to maintain a blanket form and act as a rug to be under their feet. "If I am going to train you, I wont go easy on you. No padding, no protection".
"...its not that your lazy right".
"Of course not!"
"...by any chance, did you never buy any practice gear?"
Azalen did not answer the question. In his defense, practice gear was pointless for them. Especially one of them, who lost his shirt more times then he could count. And several of them had no qualms about walking around naked while in the base, or sparring, or drinking sometimes, or such. Especially since most things got evicerated if their practice got serious, which it always did.
The Sins had a bad habit of forgetting to hold back enough for normal people.
"Now then, lets begin".
Teizal: A small village in the middle of the Mistwoods, which has been known to cause all sorts of magical anomalies. Population is only a hundred or two, but its by the main road so it gets a few visitors. It has quite the dedication to the Church, and had an ever growing community.
Furthermore, it looked like this time, there were not even any local issues that they might have to deal with. Which was a nice bonus.
And so the two dressed in their usual traveling clothes, decided to head towards the inn first. Although it was possible for Azalen to use Realm, if he used it while there was an active Holy Knight around, problems could occur. And after last night, and dealing with Zaylen's recovery afterwards, Azalen thought he should save some power just in case.
As they entered though, the two caught sight of a few knights updating the wanted posters on the wall. Among them now included not only the Seven Deadly Sins, but a masked swordsman known as "Ezzero", some minstral named "Echo", and most importantly, the villainous and traitorous prince Zaylen.
"Hello? We are here to ask for a room?"
The woman at the desk seemed to notice them, though she did not turn around to see them.
"Oh. That will just be a few coins please. Please know that the baths in the back are currently being prepared, so you may want to get settled quickly. Dinner will be afterwards so that I can bathe you" she replied.
"Thats fine, we can do it on our own" Azalen noted.
Azalen paid, and then without looking, she tossed them a key. Azalen caught it in the air, though she still never looked at them. It was actually kind of annoying Zaylen, but Azalen just shrugged it off.
"What was that?!" an annoyingly old and strong looking man said as he walked up to the counter wearing full body armor, and radiating a certain power level. "Hold it right there! We were here first, and we will be taking that room, not some filthy, smelly street urchins who are on their own, wasting resources that we Holy Knights need.
...thats again they are saying that. Hmmmm.
The man then looked over at the knights who were dealing with the posters.
"You lot! These brats stole our room! Properly bring them outside and educate them!"
"Excuse me sir. Please do not make a scene like this" the woman requested. She still was not looking, just what was so important to her? Azalen was curious now, that he forgot the HOly Knight was there.
"You brat! Don't ignore me!" he shouted, picking him up. At this point, he then also reached over and grabbed the woman's shoulder as well, and pushed her around to see her face.
And the moment the three of them saw each other, they were all shocked.
"Maria?"
"Seven Deadly Sins Envy Sin?!"
"Captain?"
"Wait...Captain?"
"Well, this makes things a lot simpler" Azarel said, as he grabbed the man's wrist and twisted it.
"OOWWWWWW!" he shouted as Azarel fell to the ground, and kicked the man's boot. Suddenly he was filled with pain and fell backwards. The other three knights came at them, but Zaylen drew a sword of Ark and repelled them. The Holy Knight meanwhile got up, but suddenly felt as if he could not move.
Maria meanwhile came forward, and quickly delivered a powerful kick to knock them out.
"Well...took you long enough, Captain" Maria mentioned.
"Ohhh...heey Maria. Well, while you erase all their memories..."
Azalen started to try and escape, but she suddenly grabbed them both by the ear, at the same time their bodies seemed bound by wires.
"Nice try Captain, but you smell and look filthy. When was the last time you took a bath? Either of you really, but especially you Captain?"
"Just a few days ago!" he lied. In fact, he was probably asleep the last time he was bathed, so he had no clue for certain. He assumed it happened at least once in the past eight years.
"Uh huh...come with me" she said, dragging them away by their ears.
"Is it me, or does this happen to us too many times?"
"Its because we dont have enough decent enemies to fight yet".
"Actually, its because you are lazy Captain" Maria told him as he and Zaylen were currently sitting in two wooden baths. Basically, it was like a very wide bucket, and was as tall as a bucket, filled with water that one would sit in as they poured water over themselves, or as others did it for them, and bathed or were bathed. They were located outside in the back of the building, so it was debatably isolated, as people came passing by every so often, waving at them and giving them smiles, or were greeting Maria.
"So...I am a bit surprised to find you here".
"Well, I figured a nice small town would be a great place to lay low. Could you stand for a sec".
"Oka..." Azalen started to say as he complied, only for him to get pushed down again over the edge and hit in the rear very harshly an amount of times Zaylen couldn't count. "What was that for?!"
"That was for sleeping in for so long!" she told him as she made him sit back in the bucket. "Seriously, do you not realize just how long it has been?"
"Owow...it hurts to sit now...but, I sort of know. Its been eight years, and that was way more then eight!"
"It was one for each day in the year".
Zaylen paled as he heard that. He didn't want to even consider how fast she had to move her hand to do that.
"So mean. You know I am the Captain, right?"
"And I will treat you like one when your not covered head to toe in dirt, and clearly have not bathed in a month, at least".
"Jeese" Azalen said with a blush. "Its not that..."
"Its that bad! When I started, your skin was a darker shade for sure!"
"She is kind of like a mom".
"You are no better!"
"Hey! You know I am a princ..."
"I dont care! You are a dirty boy who didn't bother to take care of himself either!"
That was when she took some soap and started washing behind their ears.
"You dont even get these areas either! Honestly! As the Captain, and as a Prince, you should look presentable!"
"Ayayayayayay! Dont do it that hard!"
"Wawawawawa! That was cold!"
"Oh, the both of you whine too much".
Suddenly, they started to hear some ruckus from back in the inn.
"What is that sound?"
"Sounds like trouble. We should get..."
Suddenly, the two felt as if they could not move.
"Don't try to get away that easily".
"What...is this..."
"This is her Sacred Treasure: Charlotte's Web. Its a fantastic device that allows her to create and manipulate wires to create traps and ensnare people! She also has special strings she has saved up just for use on the Sins, especially her Captain who she is envi..."
"William!" Maria shouted at the one who had just joined them...a talking big?
"...did that pig just speak?"
"...I think it did..."
"Yes, this is William. Anyways, what are you doing here?"
"Oh! I came here to warn you that some more Holy Knights and their guards showed up and are..."
At that moment, as mentioned, a few Holy Knights came around the corner, followed by a bunch of regular knights.
"Maria! You better wipe all their memories properly" Azalen said with a blushed face. Only then, Maria wrapped her arms around him in a hug.
"Why? If anything, they should be envious of you. Wont that make you happy? After all, being so small and cute is nothing to be ashamed of" she said in a motherly tone while kissing his cheek. "I wish I could be young and childlike again like you".
It seemed however, aside from embarrassing the hell out of Azalen like a mother might, she was also annoying the Holy Knights.
"You there! I will need you three to come with us! We have questions about what happened inside! Get those worthless brats out of the water and haul them for a physical inspection to the doctor as well! All kids need to be examined!"
As Azalen took a bit of notice in his embarrassed state, that was when both he and Zaylen felt a murderous aura coming from behind them.
"What was that you called them...and what you said?"
"Oh...crap..." Azalen mentioned unconsciously.
As a few knights stepped forward, they would suddenly find themselves flung into the air by wires too small for them to see. This put the rest of them on guard.
"What did you call my Captain? And what was that about 'hauling them' like cargo?"
"You heard me!" The Holy Knight exclaimed, swinging down his sword as he stepped forward to cut through the wires. And yet, the moment he did...suddenly he was completely ensnared.
There were wires I missed? But I was watching the whole time!
"...how did he not notice those?" Zaylen whispered as a crowd began to gather around them, only making things worse for the two of them.
"That would be her Magic Power: Historian. The ability to manipulate memories" Azalen replied.
"...that is scary. You think she could release us though so we can defend ourselves?"
Indeed, the two of them were trapped themselves in wires.
"...probably wont happen. After all, she knows none of them can really threaten her, let alone all of us. And I think she is really angry at me still".
"That was a lot of spanking..."
"She is basically the mom of the Seven Deadly Sins. She is angry at me for sleeping in for so long, she is angry at us for being covered in dirt, and ultimately she does not trust me to take proper care of myself. Well, she tends to think that about most of the Sins, and probably you as well".
"I see...are you sure she isn't in love with you or something?" Zaylen asked. Azalen couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Trust me, its definently not because she is in love with and is attracted to me. That I know for sure. She sees me more as a rambunctious son she needs to take care of and protect, even though I am the Captain".
Meanwhile, the various other knights had been charging at them, but Maria swept them all up spectacularly.
"Also, have you been properly keeping up with your excersizes?"
"Yes!"
"Hmmmmm...and have you been properly making sure the Prince has kept up with his education?"
"...thats not my job".
"If he is under your care, it is".
"No way! YOu should do it, the fight would be more fair!"
"Don't shirk off your responsibilities!" she shouted as another Holy Knight came charging at her, only for her to trip him up and as he fell, kick him in the head.
"And look at all that dirt still on your bodies! I am going to have to keep bathing you, aren't I?"
"Could you not talk about this in front of them?"
"Why? Its not like anyone will remember all of this anyways, and if anything its..."
"Right right...this is just one of many reasons why you are the Sin of Envy..."
"You say something, Captain?"
"Nothing!"
"Alright. Just making sure" she said as she finished off the final one of their aggressors, and then turned back to them. "Well then, I suppose if we are in the presence of royalty, I should introduce myself. I am Maria, the Spider Sin of Envy".
"N-nice to meet you".
"Right. Now, let me adore...err, dry your ears and tail now, and finish up".
"Alright, now that all that is finally done" Azalen said, still a bit red but now dressed again in clean clothes with Zaylen, looked towards Maria. "Important Captain business time".
At those words, Maria's expression seemed to get a lot more serious, while Zaylen was playing with William in the background. After all, Maria knew if Azalen was being this serious and getting work done of his own accord, either he was having a really good day, which given what she just did to him, definently was not the case, he was in a rare mood of actually getting things done, or it was something so serious and important it spurred him into action.
"Alright, Captain. What is it?"
"Why did you erase my memories of what happened that day? The entire day for me, what happened at the Capital, when the Commander was murdered...I dont remember any of it".
"But, Captain...you know my power does not normally work on you. Those with high Spirit levels can naturally resist it to some degree, or maybe eventually recall things...but on your level its basically impossible".
"Normally, but I get the feeling that day was anything but normal".
Maria picked up a beer she had taken, and passed a second to Azalen.
"...actually, I cant recall anything from that day either".
"What?"
"It wasn't that I erased your memories...rather, from what I pieced together afterwards, everyone there lost their memories of the event. No one who survived seemed to know a thing, and short of checking out every single person in the capital and then erasing their minds of me, which eventually would have had me caught even, as it would be impossible for me even, I had no leads to go on".
"So, you are saying that even you cant remember?"
"That is right. However, there might still be one person who might now. Lately I have been trying to track him, especially since he is just as bad as taking care of himself as you are".
"So then, you think..."
"Yeah. I think its possible that in that nearby city, those serial killings...if I am right, they might be the work of the Sin of Pride".
"Alright then, in that case we better get going at first light".
AN: Well then! We have finally found another Sin! Hope you all enjoyed, and laughed plenty, because with the next Sin that is up...who knows what might happen?