This is one of my favourite episodes in season 1, maybe even the entire series. There's just something about episodes 5 & 6 that I love, and I've been waiting since chapter 1 for this… but *casually slides behind wall and clears throat* please don't hate me for this.

This chapter switches to 3rd person about one-third of the way through but starts off as Beth. I tried doing all Beth's view but I couldn't get all the details I wanted if only from her point.

[Words: 6443]

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Chapter 8:

How Far Will She Go?

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It was once we were safely back at the Boar Hat, where Mama Hawk was walking with Diane trailing alongside us, that I turned to Mel and while my exhaustion was still palpable, I wanted to take a shot at healing his shoulder, so I practically ordered him to sit.

Mel cocked a brow at the command but did as I asked. I dropped onto the stool beside him, and Mel removed the black fabric. I took a breath, raising my hands and before I could pull at my core, Mel grabbed a wrist to halt me.

"Hey, you sure that's a good idea?" He questioned, eyeing me for a moment.

I blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You were already exhausted this morning Beth, and considering the day we've had, I can see how tired you are."

"That doesn't mean I can't—"

"Beth." I clamped my jaw shut with an audible clank. "You've admitted to me your healing skills can't yet completely heal a wound this bad, and you're going to put a lot of magic into trying to do so. I don't want to come off as rude, but I do know more about magic and its limitations than you."

"At least let me try and take the edge of it, please," the plead bled into my voice and I blinked twice in a bid to stop the damn stinging in my eyes—I want to help; I want to be able to heal them when they need it, and I cannot even do that. It was just so frustrating.

What was wrong with me? Why couldn't I do something so simple?

"Alright. But you stop when I tell you too, got it?" Mel sighed with a pointed look as he let go of my hands.

I smiled. "Thank you."

He just eyed me warily and I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking.

I brought my hands closer and let out a breath. My hands tingled with warmth and the soft glow emitted from them as I pulled at my core. I could feel the phantom sensation of the wound, could feel the way my magic focused on finding any remaining blood flow to stop the bleeding. The wound went down to his clavicle. Once the bleeding had stopped, I focused on the rest but before I could, Mel grabbed my right wrist. The surprise grip broke my concentration and my magic fizzled out.

"That's enough." Another pointed look followed his stern words. I sighed but accepted it.

"Let me bandage it." I stood, jaw tight as blood rushed from my head, but I strived to ignore it and walked to the pantry where Mel kept the first aid kit. I grabbed the green box with the familiar white cross and sat back down.

My hands shook and Mel did not miss the tremor by the way his eyes dropped to them.

I came to a realisation that I had never used a bandage before, which wasn't that a thought, but after a few attempts managed a crudely done one.

As I started packing away the things, Mel stood and wandered into the kitchen before reappearing with a cup. He set it on the table and slid it my way. "I want you to drink at least two pints of water."

His tone left no room for debate, and I did not argue, especially when I realised my mouth was dry and I hadn't had anything to eat or drink in several hours.

"We're about fifty miles from Dalmary if I'm remembering correctly," Mel mused once he had sat back down, hand on chin and I'd taken a sip of the water. "Then another eight to get the Baste Prison."

My brows went up because wow. "We're that close?"

He grinned. "I know right? Despite how big Britannia feels, in all honestly, it's just not that large, especially when compared to the rest of the world."

That was true—from what I had gathered, my original world and this one were no different geographically, Before was just…advanced. It was easy to get from one place to another with a car, and Mama Hawk was just as good, maybe even better transportation.

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Mel swallowed the concoction and made a face at the taste as a strange sense of dread settled in my stomach. He choked and set the cup down. "That tasted horrible."

I could not help but crack a smile. "I'm pretty sure all medicine tastes bad."

He made a small gesture in agreement before asking: "How are you feeling?"

I blinked. "Tired."

He wiggled his brows as he yawned. "Wanna nap with me?"

I wish.

Hawk, who was silently sitting at my feet, jumped up. "She's not getting in that bed with you, you bastard!"

"What?" Mel gave Hawk an oh-so baffled look. "I was suggesting a nap, Hawk. Goodness, what did you think I meant?"

Hawk spluttered and gave us his back. "Don't play dumb with me!"

Mel just grinned before falling back on the bed, then shuffled to lay his head on the pillow, non-injured arm tucked beneath it. "This stuff sure is potent. I didn't think I'd feel this sleepy so soon."

I dropped my gaze to my lap, and it was silent for a few moments before more shuffling.

"Beth."

I met his eyes and he sighed, "Come here."

He held out a hand and after a moment of hesitation, slipped mine into his. I followed his prompting and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I want you to stop feeling so guilty."

"I've had this ability since I was six, Meliodas. What does that say about me if I can't—"

"None of that, Beth." He sat up to pull me closer and I didn't fight it. Instead, I sank into the hug, breath shaky and eyes watering again. I did not even bother trying to hold them back. I only wanted to offer my assistance any way I could because I knew even my bow skills would only be a small aid in the long run. I had planned for my healing to be the critical factor out of the two, but after eleven years, I still couldn't do anything useful with the power.

I buried my face into his neck, sniffling and I licked my lips as he set his hand on the back of my neck, thumb stroking circles while the other wrapped around my waist. But there was nothing sensual about it, just gentle comforting touches and I trembled because—it felt so good.

Touch wasn't something I put much thought into, but it made me realise how used to receiving it from my family I was. Father's hugs, Margaret's hand squeezes, Veronica's light shoulder whacks. All subtle things that I hadn't put thought into until—until I realised just how much I missed those interactions.

Then there was a soft press of lips to my temple. "You're not useless, Beth. How could you be when you've already done so much? I mean, you found me, did you? You were being hunted and you managed to survive and avoid them."

"I jumped into a river of rapids to escape. I think that makes me an idiot."

Hawk was the one to comment next, "Sure, but what about all the help you've been around the Boar Hat since you arrived? By far the best person I know!"

I snorted and reached up to rub my wet eyes. Of course, he would say that considering how Mel treated him. Mel seemed to think the same.

"You only say that because I'm not afraid to point out how stupid you are, Porky."

Hawk squawked in outrage.

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"I want to head on to Baste myself," Diane voiced when she appeared at the window. I watched her look down the road in the direction of the prison. "Might as well get a head start, right? Captain will want to go straight there once he wakes up and it will save some of his energy if I deal with some of the problem."

As Diane stood, I rushed out the door and down the stairs with a sudden thought. "Diane, wait a moment!"

She slowed to a stop and turned. "What's the matter, Beth?"

"The Prison will likely have Holy Knights guarding it. If I can remember right, the leader has some sort of illusion magic. I don't know what exactly but be careful. Please!" All I could remember about this was the bug lady and something about a bell. Which was stupid because what did a bell have to do with anything?

Diane beamed. "Of course. Stay with the Captain, alright?"

I nodded but blinked when, in the near distance, I spotted a dark cloud—the bugs, right.

Diane seemed to have noticed my distraction and turned too. "What's that?"

The villagers nearby all began chattering quieting too.

"It's coming from the direction of Baste Prison," Diane observed, and the buzzing became more obvious. "It's… buzzing?"

"Bugs?" I offered and Diane froze, face paling.

"B-Bugs?" They were all different colours and looked completely hideous.

"Even worse!" Hawk squawked, "It's a huge swarm of poisonous insects!"

Then they began spitting. The hiss of the spit eating away at things made me squeak and rush back to the doctor's house, Hawk followed after me.

"Diane! These guys are all yours!" Hawk exclaimed.

"I detest bugs!" She slammed a hand down onto the ground, then raised her fists. The ground shook and giant pillars shot up through the earth, killing all the insects in one fell swoop. Awesome.

"Incredible!" I grinned.

"She took out all the bugs!" Hawk awed.

"I'm gonna squash every last one of those bugs!" Diane declared and then she was gone.

I shook my head and continued rushing back to Mel's side. I spotted the doctor in a room downstairs, but the nurse was nowhere to be seen. I took going up the stairs slowly, my light-headedness returning after the sudden adrenaline rush. Maybe I should have taken Mel up on the nap offer after all…

"You know, can you believe after all that ruckus outside, that he's still out cold?" Hawk grumbled when we slipped back into the room. There was a soft rise and fall of his chest, not a motion anyone would notice if you weren't looking but it filled me with relief.

I sat on the stool and in a rush of confidence, leaned down to return the forehead kiss, whispering a grateful thank you.

The knock on the door startled me, and I sat up, turning to look at the doctor when he stepped in, closing the door behind him.

"How does the patient look?"

I smiled. "Good, I think. Although it's quite the contrast seeing him so still, he's always on the move."

"He's sleeping like the dead!" Hawk noted.

"Hawk!" I swatted his snout in a burst of panic. "Don't say something like that!"

"That's… not inaccurate."

I froze.

"Dana, well done. You were successful in your task," a voice echoed in the room, and I stopped breathing—when had he?

"Who's there?!" Hawk exclaimed.

"I gave him a poisonous mixture of nightshade, belladonna, Spanish fly, and henbane. This young man will never wake up again."

My stomach churned and I turned to the doctor with a snarl, hand instinctively reaching behind me to grip my bow even if it was useless in such an enclosed space. "You bastard!"

"You see, not even we can clash head-on with the Seven Deadly Sins and emerge unscathed. Besides, the kingdom said to use any means necessary."

"Who are you?! Show yourself!" I demanded.

The area to my right distorted as the man blinked into existence, right hand to left breast in greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am the Holy Knight Golgius, member of the Weird Fang."

"Where did he come from?!" Hawk questioned.

I tensed as he moved to bowed before me. "Princess Elizabeth, I have come to take you home."

I backed away, stumbling when Hawk shoved himself in front of me. "Hold it! You'll have to go through Hawk, captain of the Order of the Scraps Disposal!"

All Golgius did was kick Hawk, sending him flying into the wall with a loud thud. Hawk squealed in pain. Damnit.

"Oh, and there is little point to you keeping this sword." He ripped the duvet off Mel to reveal the sword handle, which Golgius tried to snatch but I threw myself between them in a desperate attempt to shove Golgius away, however, against his armour and large build I could do nothing. I whacked and kicked at him—any sort of distraction when—

I gasped as I scratched at his wrist as his hand closed around my throat. No, no, no, no.

"No one told me how annoying you were," he hissed, fingers tightening, and I choked.

"Beth!" Hawk cried, uselessly kicking and headbutting the Holy Knight.

My lungs burnt for air, my clawing and kicking useless against his armour. Desperation kept me fighting, even as—

"Elizabeth!"

Even as—

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"—Release her."

How dare he lay a hand on her.

He crushed the Holy Knight's left wrist, freeing his sword handle. The agony of the crushed wrist made the vermin release Elizabeth.

He caught her as she choked and gagged as her lungs could finally get the oxygen they desperately needed into them.

She trembled against him, pawing at his arm as she sobbed.

HOW DARE HE!/Careful!

He didn't fight the burst of Hellblaze that skirted along his bare chest and arms. The fire, like it had a mind of its own, reached out, brushing tenderly over Beth.

"Impossible! Nothing could have survived all the poison I gave him!" The doctor exclaimed, stumbling back.

So it was him…/We'll deal with him later, the Holy Knight first.

The Holy knight had bowed over in his deserved anguish, clutching his destroyed wrist.

"Give me a reason," he snarled as his fury threatened to swallow him. "That I should spare your pathetic life for daring to lay a finger on Elizabeth."

Distantly, he registered Hawk whimpering.

We can't lose control damnit!/Screw control! He hurt Elizabeth!/Think of what will happen if we do!

The cowardly Holy Knight leapt through the window and ran. Pathetic.

"Mel—Meliodas?" Hawk's hesitant and scared tone was enough to pull the wrath, and Hellblaze, back.

Elizabeth trembled in his arms, and he knelt, dropping the sword hilt to wrap her up in his arms. He buried his face into her hair, listening to the hitches of her breath and feeling the tears that hit his skin.

He pulled back to cup her red face, her throat already bright red—how dare he, how dare he, how dare he.

He brushed loose strains of hair out of her face, gently wiping the tears from her exposed eye as they fell. Her breathing continued to hitch, but it seemed more out of pain now. The thought caused the swirl of anger to rise again.

He should have known something was wrong when he had ingested the supposed damn medicine. It hadn't settled comfortably in his stomach. That enough should have ticked him off but no.

And on top of that, he'd left Elizabeth vulnerable to an attack.

Look where that had gotten her.

"Beth?"

She swallowed, face twisting in pain before a meek, hoarse: "Hi."

He exhaled, and his eyes dropped to her throat, but he did not dare to touch it. "Follow my lead?"

Beth nodded, looking confused and he helped her to stand. "I don't want to leave you alone. Stay close to me, okay?"

She nodded again and after tugging his shirt back on, he led both Beth and Hawk outside. He spared the brief thought to the fact his shoulder had completely healed itself—when had that happened? He knew Beth couldn't heal the wound…at least not consciously. It certainly isn't the first time Elizabeth has had trouble with her powers…

He pushed the thought aside for later and they stepped outside, his grip tightening on Beth's hand as she trailed after him meekly. Gleefully, the Holy Knight had not managed to get far.

"There you are," he gave a saccharine smile.

The man jerked, stumbling as he clutched his destroyed wrist. "Y—You?!"

Hawk huffed. "Don't underestimate a nose that can detect scraps from a mile away!"

Beth made a soft amused sound at Hawk's words. That sound alone tempered some of the sizzling anger.

"You're gonna tell me who ordered you to steal my sword and the princess. Otherwise, I'll do worse than just destroying your other wrist." He spun the hilt and brushed his thumb over Beth's knuckles when she squeezed his hand.

The Holy Knight turned towards them, left arm held tightly to his chest and raised his right—

Meliodas doesn't—can't—miss the way he throws the crescent-shaped blade.

"I surrender. I am a coward by nature. I don't care for fighting. Especially when it is the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins."

Meliodas effortlessly deflected the blade without even a glance—honestly, if these are the Holy Knights they'll be facing, he's almost…disappointed.

"I threw that when I raised my hand. You saw that, did you?" he sounded vaguely impressed and yet—Meliodas doesn't care a single bit, but he's willing to humour the man before he kills him.

"Don't underestimate a pair of eyes that can catch a flash of panties a mile away," he mocked Hawk.

Beth made a quiet squeak at his serious tone. "S—seriously?"

He wants to croon at how adorable she is. Later.

"Nope."

She sighs and he withholds his grin but—

"Sir Golgius! I found you!"

The doctor.

Beth tensed as they turned to see the man behind them.

"It's that quack!" Hawk exclaimed.

"I failed to kill the young man, but I poisoned him just as I was told! Now, release my daughter as you promised!"

We'll still kill him/He had his reasons!/No, we're killing him, he's the reason Beth got hurt in the first place/…

The Knight—Golgius—vanished.

"Where'd he go?"

Meliodas tightened his grip, pulling Beth closer. He heard how her breath quickened, felt her pulse jump, when Golgius vanished.

"Come to think of it, he appeared out of thin air earlier, too!" Hawk observed.

"There is no need to shout. I shall send your daughter to join you."

Meliodas narrowed his eyes at the phrasing.

"Th—Thank you!"

He felt it—the magical energy from behind the doctor. It was Elizabeth who spoke up: "Move it!"

She had obviously felt it too.

"I shall send her to join you in the afterlife presently." Golgius thrust his blade into the doctor's back.

"That was dirty!" Hawk squawked as the doctor fell to the ground.

"We can't have you slandering the good name of the Holy Knights by saying that we ordered you to poison him, can we?" Then he was gone again.

Beth ripped her hand from his before he could stop her, rushing up the hill toward the doctor. He called after her, "Beth!"

"Forget about that guy!" At least Hawk was on the same page as him…

But Beth ignored them, kneeling beside the doctor to roll him over. Then he knew immediately what she was planning on doing when she raised her hands—and no, he wasn't going to allow her to do that, not in her state.

"It isn't safe here. There's no telling when or where he'll appear next!" He immediately grabbed Beth's hands, pulling her away from the doctor's body.

"I can't just leave him! I can't—I won't—I can't let him—" Beth attempted to pull away.

Voice harsh and tugging that twine, he commanded her attention, "Elizabeth!"

She clamped her jaw shut with fearful eyes. He's never given her the look or tone before, never wanted to but, he needed her to be intimidated—it was the only way his stubborn other half would listen.

"You. Are. Not. Healing. His. Wound," he spoke slowly, emphasising each word. "You are in no condition to even attempt the action, let alone save him from death."

From the state of her wide and watery eye, lips pursed and red cheeks, he knew he had gotten his point across.

He gently released her hands, a rush of guilt hitting him when he noticed her timid stance. Meliodas knew she yarned to save the doctor. However, there was no way in hell he would let Beth do it. Not at the risk of her.

(He can't lose her so soon again, not when her life had only just begun. Not when she has a kingdom she loves to save.)

It was the sound of a horse rushing through the street that brought his attention elsewhere.

"What the hell? A horse?" Hawk jumped. "The commotion must have spooked it. Stupid, cowardly animal."

Ah, he'd wondered where the knight had gone. "That must be him."

When the horse was far enough away from them, boarding on the edge of this town, a familiar form appeared on top of the horse and Hawk squawked in confusion.

"Invisibly, not teleportation," He noted plainly. His nose might not be as good as an animal, but it was good enough to track certain scents. He turned back to Beth, and she meekly met his eyes. He sighed softly and knelt.

"I'm sorry, Beth." He offered her a hand and she hesitated a moment—a moment that stabbed him right through the chest ironically—before she slipped hers into his. He helped her stand, stabilising her when she wobbled. "I know you wanted to help him, trust me, I do, but it's just not a risk I'm willing to allow you to take. Not when your life is more important than his."

She would always come first.

She shuffled and nodded, looking unsure of what to say. So instead of making the silence awkward, he spoke again, "We should head on and catch up to Diane. We'll find Ban and free the doctor's daughter."

Beth smiled weakly but it eased the slowly building tension inside him.

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With Beth armed with her bow, Meliodas with his sword hilt, and Hawk as well, the trio set off to follow in Diane's footsteps after returning the doctor's corpse to the nurse. In a vindictive move, Meliodas wanted to leave his corpse in the middle of the road but knew ultimately it would be best to move it. Even if just for Beth's sake.

Crossing the bridge out of Dalmary, Beth found herself lacking words, thoughts muddled and confused, body exhausted and aching, but she faithfully followed Meliodas. However, she dreaded what was to come—her memories vague, all Beth could remember was a Knight with illusion magic and another with bug-related magic.

…and a bell, but she still had no idea what a bell had anything to do with—

It was Hawk speaking that dragged her back to the world outside her thoughts. "You know, if that Holy Knight was from the prison, do you think there's more of them?"

"Probably." Beth nodded. Meliodas and Hawk turned their eyes to her. "It's not an uncommon thing for exceptional Holy Knights to form a team. In fact, I'd bet anything that the bugs from earlier was an attack from another Holy Knight stationed there."

Was it cheating when she already knew that it was true?

Expression bemused, Meliodas questioned: "Bugs? Attack? Was that why there was a load of Diane's pillars in town?"

"Yeah. There was some freaky swarm of poisonous bugs that attacked when you were still sleeping! Diane went ahead to—"

BOOM

Beth squeaked, Meliodas darted in front of her, hand flying to his sword handle, ready to defend, and Hawk yelped as Diane landed in front of them. They loosened up when they realised who it was but, strangely, she just stood there, staring down at them blankly.

"Diane!" Meliodas called in confusion. "What are you doing out here?"

Diane blinked, the odd dull glint in her eyes vanishing as she recoiled in surprise. "Captain? You should still be in bed! What do you think you're doing?"

Meliodas gave a wave of his hand. "I'm fine, I'm more worried about you!"

"Worried about me?" She probed in confusion.

"After you squashed all the bugs in Dalmary, you charged full tilt towards Baste Prison!" Hawk explained.

Hand on chin, Diane frowned. "I did?"

"Diane, what happened?" Beth asked, voice scratchy.

"Looks like we're dealing with a tricky customer here…" Meliodas tapped his chin thoughtfully before raising his voice up to Diane. "Are you really okay, Diane?"

"Yeah," She nodded. "My head's a little fuzzy, that's all."

Oh, Beth deadpanned as she remembered she had told Diane about the illusion magic. With a light smack to her forehead, which of her a few concerned looks, Beth commented: "I think one of the Knights has illusion magic. Can't believe I forgot when I literally told Diane half an hour ago."

"Don't beat yourself up about it," Meliodas smiled, knowing after everything that had happened, her slight forgetfulness wasn't unexpected.

Ding.

Diane's bright eyes turned dull once more, confusion taking over.

("I am Holy Knight Ruin. Member of the weird Fangs and bringer of ruin to the Seven Deadly Sins.")

Then, to the groups' surprise, Diane drew her fist back as anger overtook her features. "A holy Knight! Captain, protect Little Bee—" she recoiled, while they stared on in confusion.

Meliodas sucked in a breath at the realisation of what was happening. Beth shuffling next to him clued him in that she did too.

"Captain? Guys? Where'd everybody go?"

Then Diane's eyes fell onto Meliodas, narrowing sharply as she readied herself to attack. Meliodas leapt into the air in an attempt to divert her attention and Diane swung, punting him into the near distance with a loud bang.

"Meliodas!" Beth and Hawk rushed after him. Beth made sure to keep an eye on Diane, who glared after the supposed Holy Knight, thankfully giving the duo a chance to run to Meliodas's side, where he sat up, loose rubble falling off him.

"Guess we better find whoever's doing this to her," he commented, seemingly not at all worried about the giant's predicament.

"Hey! Snap out of it, beanpole!" Hawk shouted.

Beth muffled a rather painful pearl of laughter behind a hand—now really wasn't the time.

But Hawk's shouting went unheard.

"I'm warning you, I'm not gonna lose to some Holy Knight!"

"Eh…What do we do?" Beth questioned since their voices were clearly not enough to snap her out of the trance. Instead of answering straight away, the blond demon snatched Beth up, hoisting her over his shoulder as he leapt out of the way. Beth grabbed a hold of the back of his shirt at the swift but graceful movements.

"For starts, we run!" He finally spoke up.

Hawk wailed, "I knew you were going to say that!"

Boom!

They jumped.

Swoosh.

They ducked, narrowly missing a tree Diane swung at them.

Boom!

All Beth had for her grip was her fingers linked together around Meliodas's neck as she trailed behind him in the air with a terrified squeal. She was only, kind, sort of, put at ease with his grip on her wrists and the knowledge he would keep her safe no matter what.

It didn't make it any less horrifying knowing Diane was hellbent on murdering them under the illusion that they were Holy Knights.

Boom! Boom! Boom!—Boom! Boom! Boom!

Back over his shoulder, one arm wrapped around the small of her back, the other over her thighs just below her butt, Beth could only grip the back of his black vest again as she watched Diane run after them.

Holy shit. Never again after this.

This was not a sight Beth had ever wanted to witness.

Then—

"Oh crap! Bystanders!"

—of course it could get worse.

"Hey! If you don't want to die, you'd better start running, too!"

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Seeking shelter behind an outcrop of earth, the trio, now a group of five with the farmer and his son, hid from Diane.

"Where are you hiding, Holy Knight?" the giantess demanded. "I'm gonna fold, spindle, and mutilate you and your armour, you pipsqueak!"

The farmer whimpered and Beth turned to Meliodas, asking in a quiet voice: "What should we do?"

He hummed curiously and handed the boy off to her. "Look after this kid for a sec, okay?"

Beth smiled softly down at the young boy, gently wiping his tears. "What are you two doing out here?"

"We're shepherds, on our way back from the pasture," he hiccupped. "What's gonna happen to us?"

"Don't worry, everything will be okay. He'll sort it out."

Meliodas leapt up onto the outcrop, ready to face Diane—perhaps knocking her around a bit would loosen whatever trance was on her?

Ding.

Before him, a Holy Knight appeared—when had?!

"How—?"

("I am Holy Knight Ruin. Member of the Weird Fangs, and bringer of Ruin to the Seven Deadly Sins.")

Glaring up at the Holy Knight, Meliodas brushed off the threat to instead ask: "Hey, big guy! Was it you who cast that weird spell on Diane?"

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Hawk and Beth deadpanned.

"That is Diane," Hawk commented, dumbfounded.

And then they began fighting—Diane moving first, Meliodas jumped out of the way before launching himself at her.

"Guess he's caught up in the illusion now too." Nonplussed, Beth scratched her brow while Hawk gave a frustrated sigh.

The duo watched them fight back and forth for a few moments, unsure on what to do exactly when Diane hit the ground, making a familiar gesture. Earth pillars shot up from the ground and Meliodas maneuvered around them to get at her.

But Beth, Hawk, the boy and his father had already moved—running away from Diane's attack, not wanting to get caught up in their fighting.

Beth regained her breath, taking deep raspy breaths through her abused throat, and rest a hand on her stomach as she slumped forward, exhausted.

"What should we do, Beth?" Hawk oinked.

"Heh, good question." She straightened up and crossed her arms, hands clutching her elbows. "If we don't do something, who knows how far they'll take it. But what in the world should we do?"

The fighting duo moved closer to their location, but Beth and Hawk were reluctant to run again.

Diane stomped her foot in attempts to squish Meliodas, but he dodged every one of them.

"You're tough for such a puny Holy Knight!"

"You're pretty fast for such a huge Holy Knight!"

"Seriously, there's gotta be something!"

Beth passed her weight between her feet, worrying her bottom lip as she tried to think of something, "I don't know!" and in her frustration, cried out: "Stop it, you two! That's enough!"

They stopped.

Beth and Hawk stared in shock—had that really just worked?!

Meliodas and Diane turned to look at Beth in confusion.

"Little Bee? What are you doing?"

Hawk glared. "You took the words out of our mouths!"

Diane turned to Meliodas, and he turned to her. "Captain? Where's the Holy Knight go?"

"Hey, you're right!" He titled his head, looking side to side in an attempt to spot the, unknowingly fake, Holy Knight he had been fighting.

The boy ran forward, peering up at Diane timidly. "Big lady, are you okay?"

Diane smiled softly, leaning down as she tucked some loose hair behind her ear. "Oh, hi, kid! You're still here?"

Ding.

The light faded from the giantess' eyes again, she glanced about in a confused daze when everyone seemingly vanished in a blink of an eye, "Everybody disappeared again."

Beth's eyes honed in on the boy's bell, huh?

Ding.

Meliodas fell back under. "It's the holy Knight!"

That was it.

If a Holy Knight had illusion magic…then why wouldn't they be able to hide their true form too? That was it! She bit back a grin to instead keep up a façade of worry, rushing to the boy's side as Diane and Meliodas turned hostile against one another again.

"We've gotta get clear." She took him by the shoulder, encouraging him to move. Thankfully he did.

However, the boy—or Holy Knight rather—kicked up the act further, running to the man playing his father with a cry of: "I'm scared! I don't want to die!"

Ding.

"It will be okay!" She reassured, just gotta keep the act up until they reveal their hand.

"I'll do all I can to protect you!"

The man stared at her in shock. "Really?"

"Yes!" Beth nodded—was the man in on this, or was he being forced to? Was he under the spell too?

Armoured footsteps echoed softly behind them. "It's so touching to see a princess who cares for her people!" A female voice called mockingly, and Beth turned to face her. "But just how truthful are you?"

The Holy Knight raised her whip and with a crack, the familiar bugs swarmed from the trees.

"I can't believe it! That's who sent all those bugs earlier?!" Hawk squeals in pain when one latches onto his snout.

The swarming bugs twirled and circled until they formed a tornado.

"Storm Rondo," The Holy Knight laughed. "Now, my dear little scarabs, rend their flesh with your sharp horns and wings!"

Beth instinctively grabbed at her bow, ready to fire at the Knight when the Holy Knight disguised as the boy screamed again and ran. Seemingly annoyed, the female Knight sent her bugs after him.

So that was their game plan, huh?

"Let me think—'I'll do all I can to protect you.' Did I get it right? For all the brave platitudes, you don't expect to actually have to save anyone do—huh?"

Tch, these were new clothes too! Releasing her grip on the string to tuck the bow away, Beth walked forward the tornado.

"Beth?" Hawk called hesitantly after her, but she didn't answer.

"What, really?" The genuine shock in the woman's voice left Beth not knowing if she should be amused or offended.

However, she didn't hesitate to take that first initial step into the swarm, eyes watering as bugs caught and scratched her. The wounds stinging and burning but it didn't stop her—they wanted an act? Beth would give them the best damn performance of their lives.

Now, how was she going to get the staff from the Holy Knight?

Beth crouched and reached out with a bloodied hand, setting it on the cowering boy's shoulder. "I promised to do all I can to protect you."

Another crack of the whip and the swarm dissolved.

Beth allowed her knees to hit the ground as she took a breath, quietly mourning her ruined outfit.

"Beth, are you okay?" Hawk called.

"Yes," She turned back to the boy. "You aren't hurt, are you?"

Ding.

"So, you would risk yourself to save even a boy like this, eh? A commendable notion."

Ding.

Hook, line, and sinker.

"However…" the Holy Knight shred the form, revealing his true appearance, where he towered over the kneeling Beth. "Reality is a cruel place!"

"You're the one responsible for all of this, aren't you?" Beth questioned.

"Even the Seven Deadly Sins are children before me."

She glared. "Released them now!"

But Ruin only grabbed her by the hair, lifting Beth off the ground. She bit back a cry, eyes watering as it pulled at her scalp when—she was kneed in the stomach.

Beth hit the ground, clutching her belly.

Hawk ran at the Holy Knight. "Bastard!"

But he was thwarted when he was smacked with the staff on his snout, sending him bouncing back.

Ruin laughed. "As we speak, the two Sins are fighting. They should be dead soon."

Beth pushed herself up on shaky legs, feeling the blood rush from her face all the way to her feet but it didn't stop her. "I… said… release them!"

He drew the staff back—this was going to hurt, she whimpered—and thwack!

Her jaw clamped down.

It happened in a matter of milliseconds, the pull of her jaw at the speed and force of the staff effectively helped her pull the bell from the staff. Albeit she couldn't tell if the pain was from the force of pulling the bell off or—well, the hit.

Beth could barely even acknowledge she had jarringly hit the ground, body smacking the earth as she went flying.

"Elizabeth!" Hawk.

"Wait just a minute, Ruin!" The woman interrupted. "Isn't killing the princess a bad idea?"

Ruin grunted. "Relax, I know that. Princess Elizabeth, I will tell you something out of respect for your bravery. The source of the pyknotic suggestion that I placed them under—"

Beth forced her heavy lids open, all she saw was the blurry form of the Holy Knight.

"—It is my staff's—" he raised the staff, and he did a doubt take. "—It's gone!"

Beth spat the ruined bell out with a smug grin.

"You—You little bitch!" he snarled. "You were after that this whole time! How dare you!"

He rushed toward her, fist raised, and Beth 's eyes fluttered closed, heart thundering away in fear, Meliodas—

"Now you've made me angry!"

—please.

He swung but—

His fist never connected.

Instead, inches before he could, a hand had latched onto his arm, fingers digging into the armour with enough strength to crumble it and threaten to do the same to the bone inside.

Ruin jerked in surprise, head snapping to the source, only to be met with a pair of livid emerald eyes. "You really shouldn't have done that."

"The spell's been broken?" Ruin hissed, freeing his arm and leaping away to put space between them.

Meliodas knelt, gaze soft as he brushed loose strands of hair from Beth's eyes. She blinked, ears ringing, body pulsing in agony, and yet despite her hazy sight, she knew exactly who it was. Beth sucked in a wet breath when he cupped her cheek, the skin tingling warmly beneath his touch.

Da-dump, da-dump.

"Elizabeth."

Her eyes burnt, Meliodas.

"I hear you loud and clear. You're safe now, rest."

She gave in to the heaviness of her lids, feeling one last brush of his fingers.

("You hurt someone very precious to me. An unforgivable sin.")