'I'm getting quite worried.' Elizabeth finished cleaning the last table and sighed.

[Y/n], who was wiping the bar, sighed too. 'Yeah, me too.'

'Huh?' said Hawk. 'About what?'

'A lot of the rumours recently have been saying there are streams of evacuees leaving Liones.'

Elizabeth felt her heart squeeze and twisted the rag in her hands. Her father and sisters ... all the other citizens ... Now that her worry for Sir Meliodas had been assuaged, the worry for her kingdom had moved to the front of her mind.

'Such rumours even reached me as I was travelling,' said Sir Zaratras with a frown.

'That must mean whatever's happening in the capital is serious.' Hawk snorted.

[Y/n] leant on the bar. 'The Ten Commandments would certainly want to overthrow Liones. It's the largest kingdom in Britannia and poses a serious threat. With that said, all the remaining Commandments will be involved in the fighting. Including Zeldris ... and Estarossa.'

The air turned heavy. In her mind, Elizabeth watched Estarossa stop Sir Meliodas's attack. She saw the twisted swords. As the grim images intensified, new ones were conjured by her imagination. Visions of her father and sisters standing before the Commandments. She swayed slightly.

'We have to help,' Elizabeth said, clenching her fists. 'My father and sisters ... all the people of Liones. I promised.'

[Y/n] nodded. 'If we hurry, we should be able to get there before the day's over.'

Hawk snorted. 'You heard her, mum. Let's go!'

The landscape started flashing by the windows. Trees and fields and a massive lake accompanied by the resounding footfalls of Hawk's mum. Sir Zaratras was just finishing putting his armour back on, but he left the helmet off this time. Elizabeth looked out the window and tried to not worry too much. Everything was going quite well – after all, [Y/n] did say they should be there soon – until Sir Zaratras's voice broke her concentration.

'[Y/n]? [Y/n], are you all right?' he was saying, one hand reaching out to [Y/n] who had a strange, faraway look in her eyes.

Over the past month, Elizabeth had gotten quite used to seeing that look, but there was something different this time. Not quite so sad.

'Can you feel that?' [Y/n] said, turning her head from side to side as if searching for something.

Elizabeth met Sir Zaratras's eye. He shrugged.

Hawk trembled a little. 'I don't feel anything. Is it coming this way?'

'What does it feel like, [Y/n]?' said Elizabeth softly. 'Maybe if you told us, we could understand.'

[Y/n] kept looking for the whatever-it-was. 'It feels like ... like ...' Then her eyes sharpened, focussing on the direction Hawk's mum was travelling. The direction of Liones. 'Nerobasta.'

Sir Zaratras put a hand on his chin. 'I don't think I've ever experienced feeling like Nerobasta before.'

'Is it like feeling hungry?' Hawk snorted. 'I've felt hungry plenty of times.'

Elizabeth frowned. 'Nerobasta ... is a person, right? Is it someone you knew?'

Hawk looked at her. 'How do you know that, Elizabeth?'

With what looked like a great effort, [Y/n] met Elizabeth's eyes. 'Yes. I did know her. A long time ago.'

—

Ban watched as Denzel faced off against the two Commandments. The heat from Escanor's attack still lingered in the air. But, even so, he still felt cold when he looked into the eyes of the Demons. So like Meliodas's and yet so different.

'Am I mistaken, or did I hear you say something about killing us?' said Monspeet.

'You heard me correctly,' said Denzel, not a hint of fear in his voice.

'Is that so? You can't be serious.' Monspeet smirked. 'An old man whose Power Level is a hair higher than a Red Demon's is no threat to a Commandment.'

The lazy confidence paired with what he knew about the Commandments made Ban agree with Monspeet's statement. But there was also something in Denzel's calm and unwavering gaze that caused him doubt.

'But I'm not the one who's going to kill you two.' Denzel drew his sword and pointed it to the sky while reciting a spell.

The strange words hung in the sky and made the air heavier. Ban's heart began to beat faster and he didn't know why.

Without flinching, Denzel drew his sword across the back of one hand and spun. The blood fell through the air and landed in a perfect circle with Denzel at its centre. There was a moment of ringing silence. Then the blood began to glow. The air was heavier than ever, pressing in on Ban's ears uncomfortably.

Denzel pointed his sword to the sky once more and said loudly, 'Manifest.'

An image appeared in the sky. A woman, bigger even than Diane, hovered over Denzel. She had two enormous wings, white and feathery just like [Y/n]'s. Ban's eyes narrowed. Then that meant this woman was ...

'Sir Denzel just offered his life in exchange for the use of his body for a place to manifest,' Deathpierce said quietly, tears streaming down his face.

The Goddess's image dissolved into light, streaming into Denzel's body. As she vanished, so did the pressure in Ban's ears.

When Denzel opened his eyes, they weren't blue anymore. They were orange with a three-pronged shape for pupils. Exactly like [Y/n]'s. That meant there was no doubt. That lady, and now Denzel, was a member of the Goddess race.

But there was something different. Ban gritted his teeth. This Goddess had no warmth or compassion like [Y/n] did.

Tears still on his cheeks, Deathpierce spoke. 'I assume you're of the Goddess Race.'

The Goddess clenched her fists a few times, testing out her new body. 'I'm ranked as a Divine Lance Corporal of the Goddess race. Nerobasta.' Even her voice was cold. Haughty. It reminded Ban of that stupid trumpet. 'If I had a choice, I would've preferred a slightly younger body than this one.'

And it seemed she was just as rude.

Deathpierce narrowed his eyes.

'What do you want exactly?' Nerobasta continued. 'I assume you must have some reason for going through all the trouble of reviving me.'

'Well I certainly didn't see that one coming.' Despite what he said, there was no shock in Monspeet's voice.

Derieri slammed her hand into the ground. There was a vicious glare on her face. 'I'll kill her.'

Nerobasta turned. 'I know you. You're one of the Ten Commandments. Derieri of Purity. But how? I know the Goddess race sealed you all away, trapping you in the Coffin of Eternal Darkness.'

'The Demons are too powerful for us to handle.' Deathpierce spoke with some respect. Ban knew he wouldn't have. 'Please lend us your strength now. We beg of you.'

'So you humans granted me this vessel with the expectation that I would fight the Ten Commandments for you. Is that it?'

'Yes, that's correct, Lady Nerobasta. The owner of your vessel willingly sacrificed his life so you could stand and face—'

'I decline,' Nerobasta interrupted coldly. Her wings unfurled and she was gone in a blink, disappearing into the sky.

While they were both Goddesses, Nerobasta was nothing like [Y/n]. At all. Ban was glad Nerobasta had gone, although he did miss [Y/n] more than ever. And he was starting to see why [Y/n] didn't want to tell people she was a Goddess. Not if they were all stuck up like that. He tried to imagine Nerobasta goofing off in the Boar Hat. He tried to imagine [Y/n] glaring down haughtily and saying 'humans' with such disdain. Both images felt unnatural and Ban shook his head quickly to get rid of them.

'Seriously?' he said out loud. 'She just took off?'

—

Elizabeth stood on the verandah, Hawk and Sir Zaratras at her side. [Y/n] was standing further away, on Hawk's mum's back. She was still looking to the sky. Elizabeth wanted to go to her.

'I wonder if this Nerobasta person is still around?' said Sir Zaratras, also looking to the sky. There was nothing to see but blue and clouds.

Hawk snorted. 'I want to know how Elizabeth knew they were a person in the first place. I've never heard of anyone called Nerobasta.'

'I'm not really sure, Hawk,' Elizabeth said. 'But I know that it's true. And I think that, whoever it is, they must have meant something to [Y/n] in the past.' Her heart tugged. Was she ... jealous? That was stupid. So Elizabeth left the others and walked over to [Y/n].

And [Y/n] smiled at her in such a way that Elizabeth forgot why she was jealous in the first place.

'Is everything all right, Elizabeth?' [Y/n] asked, looking back to the sky with a slight frown.

'Yes. Um, [Y/n]?'

A hum.

'This Nerobasta person ... were they a friend of yours?'

[Y/n] hummed again. 'I suppose she was. At one point, anyway. But then she said some things about the people I loved more than anything. I just couldn't forgive her after that.'

People [Y/n] loved more than anything? One of them was surely Meliodas. But the others ... That ugly jealous feeling was back. Elizabeth opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, [Y/n] gasped.

Her eyes, which had for so long been focussed on the sky above Liones, started to dart, searching for something. 'Wait,' she said softly, one hand hovering over Cosain at her hip.

'What is it?' Sir Zaratras ran to them, clinking and clanking across Hawk's mum's back.

'Are we going to be attacked?' Hawk also ran, trembling slightly.

[Y/n] turned to them. 'Nerobasta is gone.'

And despite what she had just said, there was sadness on [Y/n]'s face. It wasn't strong, but Elizabeth could tell.

Elizabeth clenched he fists. 'We have to get to Liones right away.'

Hawk crouched down. 'Come on. Faster, mum. Full speed ahead!'

'Please let them be safe,' Elizabeth said to herself. 'Father, sisters ... please.'

'Now we're getting closer, I can feel it.' Sir Zaratras's voice turned grim. 'An evil magical power concentrated in an unheard-of amount.' He turned to Elizabeth. 'To be honest, I'm against taking you into the heart of all this danger.'

'I'm still going no matter what you say.'

[Y/n] smiled.

'I made a promise,' Elizabeth continued. When she looked up, her vision had enhanced, the trees and grass standing out in sharp relief. 'That no matter what happened to him, I would go on fighting to protect the people of this kingdom without fail.'

Sir Zaratras frowned and turned to [Y/n], but she just raised an eyebrow, the smile still on her face.

'Fine,' he said eventually. 'But don't let your guard down around the Ten Commandments. They're monsters above all others. For one thing, there's no way you can defeat them if you attack them head-on.'

'Whatever.' Hawk was boasting again. 'I could lay them all out flat with a single smack to the head. Don't you worry about a thing. I've got the strength of a hundred pigs.'

Elizabeth laughed lightly.

Even [Y/n] giggled. 'It's good to have our noble protector.'

Sir Zaratras tensed. And that was all the warning they got before two Red Demons appeared. They flanked Hawk's mum, one closer to [Y/n] and the other to Sir Zaratras, laughing sinisterly. Elizabeth stepped back, heart pounding.

'Don't tell me they already noticed us,' Sir Zaratras grumbled.

'Elizabeth, stay back,' [Y/n] said, flinging out an arm.

'We stand out, dude,' Hawk said, somewhat nonchalantly. 'Of course they did.'

One of the Red Demons swung its massive clawed hand. Sir Zaratras blocked the blow with his shield before jumping so high he was level with the demon's face. His sword began to glow.

'Purge!' Sir Zaratras swung his sword and the light grew, right from the point of impact. As it faded, Elizabeth could see the sword buried to its hilt in the Red Demon's forehead.

The light in the Red Demon's eyes dimmed, like two candles snuffed out. It fell back to the ground with a crash. Dead.

Sir Zaratras landed lightly and immediately span to the other side. 'Please step back, [Y/n]. With depleted powers, you cannot—'

He cut off and Elizabeth turned just in time to watch [Y/n] sheath Cosain, the other Red Demon nowhere to be seen.

'With no magical power ...' Sir Zaratras's voice was covered in awe. '[Y/n] is incredible.'

Hawk snorted. 'Just like me.'

'I made a promise too,' [Y/n] said. 'To protect the people I care about. And I don't need powers for that. Although—' she sighed, looking at the sky behind them '—it would be useful right now.'

Elizabeth followed [Y/n]'s gaze and felt her jaw drop. They were being pursued by a whole group of Demons. And not just Red ones, but Grey ones too.

'Holy crap!' Hawk flapped his ears in distress. 'It's like a flock of nightmares!'

[Y/n] drew her sword again. Sir Zaratras held his shield closer. Elizabeth clenched her fists. One by one, the Demons opened their mouths. Power started to build with a sinister hum that made Elizabeth's brain itch.

'Lady Mother Pig,' said Sir Zaratras, 'make a sharp turn. At this rate, we'll get caught in a barrage.'

Hawk looked down. 'You heard him. Turn, mum!'

And Hawk's mum did turn. Right towards the Demons. Before Elizabeth could do anything more than think what oh no wait, Hawk's mum slammed into the hoard of Demons with such force they broke into tiny pieces.

'Such unbelievable power,' said Sir Zaratras as the chunks rained down.

Hawk was bouncing around in excitement. 'That was amazing,' he squealed, catching a piece of Demon in his mouth and eating it. He began to vibrate and make odd noises.

Elizabeth watched in alarm. 'Hawk ... you didn't ...?'

With a puff of smoke, Hawk's transformation was complete. It was immediately apparent the piece he had eaten had belonged to a Red Demon. Elizabeth could only stare.

Sir Zaratras looked concerned. 'Lord Piglet, what happened to your appearance?'

'Oh just leave him,' [Y/n] said, waving a hand. 'He'll be back to normal in no time.'

Hawk stared at her with glowing yellow eyes and made a weird ticking noise. It was kind of creepy.

'I must say,' said an unfamiliar voice, 'when we rushed over here, I wasn't expecting to find such a strange group.'

A cold hand wrapped around Elizabeth's and she was tugged behind [Y/n]. The voice was coming from a man flying just above them. There was a lady at his side. Elizabeth gasped. They were from the Ten Commandments. Elizabeth held onto [Y/n]'s shoulder, fingers twisting the material of her shirt.

[Y/n] was very still. 'Hi, Monspeet,' she said. 'Hey, Derieri. Long time no see.' Her voice was light and calm, but Elizabeth could hear the tenseness running just below its surface.

Neither Demon replied.

'We were just going to Liones,' [Y/n] continued, slowly stepping backwards and forcing Elizabeth toward the tavern. 'You guys were just there, right? Causing havoc. Why'd you leave?'

Elizabeth looked at Monspeet. His face was completely blank. She looked at Derieri and flinched. Derieri's eyes were wide, full of shock and a deep hatred that made Elizabeth's skin crawl.

Without breaking eye contact, Derieri landed. She began to walk over to them, ignoring Sir Zaratras and Hawk. [Y/n] cursed under her breath.

Derieri was closer now and she was still glaring at Elizabeth.

'Impossible,' said Derieri. 'What are you doing here?'

Elizabeth started to shake. She held onto [Y/n] tighter. 'Um, maybe you've mistaken me for someone else.'

'Now let's not do anything hasty.' [Y/n]'s voice was still gentle, but she didn't stop pointing her sword at Derieri. She was holding it so tightly her knuckles were turning white.

It was probably only a couple of seconds, but for Elizabeth it felt like days. Were Hawk and Sir Zaratras all right? She didn't know. She couldn't look away to check. She hoped so. What was that thumping sound? Oh, it was her heart. And this Demon Elizabeth had never seen before – not face-to-face at least – recognised her for some reason. The silence pressed in on her ears but it just made her thoughts louder.

Just when Elizabeth thought she couldn't take it any longer, something changed in Derieri's eyes. [Y/n] must have seen it too because she shifted slightly.

And then the moment was shattered by a battle cry. Everything happened very fast.

Sir Zaratras came charging from nowhere (oh good, he's alive), sword at the ready. Derieri's lip curled and her purple-black arm extended, slamming into Sir Zaratras's shield with such force that it shattered. [Y/n] took a step forward, sword arcing through the air and catching the sunlight. Derieri's other fist shot out, striking [Y/n] on the cheek and catching her by the throat before she could fall.

[Y/n] choked and Sir Zaratras cried out and there was a sneer on Derieri's lips.

Elizabeth felt her arms moving. That feeling, warm and tingling, spread through her body so fast it made lights dance in her eyes. But they weren't just in her eyes.

The brightest light of them all covered the fist holding [Y/n]'s throat. An Ark, Elizabeth thought blankly. Slightly bigger than the last one she had made. Just like [Y/n] said.

The Ark didn't affect [Y/n]. In fact, she was able to pull free of Derieri, coughing a little, but taking her place in front of Elizabeth once more.

'It is you,' said Derieri, turning to glare at Elizabeth again.

Elizabeth tried to concentrate. The heat kept growing. 'I don't get it,' she said. 'How can it be so easy for you to try and take another person's life like that?'

Too hot. The Ark vanished with a sound like glass breaking. It took Derieri's hand with it, tearing her arm at the wrist. Elizabeth's head span.

'Derieri!' Monspeet shouted.

Derieri dropped Sir Zaratras unceremoniously. 'There's no question about it. You're back. I knew it.'

The look in her eyes ... It made Elizabeth shake. [Y/n] shifted again. There was an angry red mark on her cheek where Derieri had struck her before.

'Stop it.' Sir Zaratras struggled to raise his head. His was voice raspy. 'No.'

Derieri attacked. [Y/n] managed to block the fist aimed at Elizabeth's head. She even knocked Derieri to the ground. But Derieri didn't falter, didn't even cry out. Elizabeth stumbled back. Derieri sprang to her feet. [Y/n] swung her sword.

But just before the blade could make contact with Derieri's leg, [Y/n] froze. She looked down at her hand for some reason. And Derieri's fist cracked against her cheek again. [Y/n]'s head rocked back and she fell. Derieri stalked forwards.

Elizabeth was trembling so much it looked like the whole world was shaking. The trees rose up and down. A sound like a door slamming shut and footsteps on wood. And Derieri's murderous eyes glaring into her soul. Elizabeth braced herself.

The sound of impact.

A sound of pain.

So, Elizabeth thought, getting punched to death. I wish it didn't happen right now. I hope Sir Meliodas comes back soon so [Y/n] won't be alone.

She opened her eye a sliver and saw something red falling through the air.

Blood, she thought. My blood. I hope [Y/n] isn't too sad.

A voice. Shouting 'Derieri! No!'

Another voice. [Y/n]. She didn't sound sad. She sounded ... happy. What was she saying? 'You trying to look cool or something?'

A laugh. A very familiar laugh.

And then warm hands on her arms. Such warm hands. They weren't [Y/n]. [Y/n]'s hands were always cold. So that meant ... That meant ... Elizabeth opened her eyes.

Sir Meliodas smiled at her.

'Now what's this all about?' he said. 'I wake up after a really long snooze and things are looking pretty bad. And what in the heck happened to you out here, Hawk?' Tears blurred Elizabeth's eyes. 'Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you for looking after [Y/n].'

Now there were cold hands too. [Y/n] and Sir Meliodas hugged Elizabeth and she hugged them back. The tears on her cheeks were warm.

'I'm sorry I kept you both waiting,' Sir Meliodas said quietly.

[Y/n] sniffled a little laugh.

Elizabeth held onto his shirt tighter. 'It's okay. After all, you did promise me that you would always come back to me alive.'

~~~

Hello, everyone 😊 Hope you're all doing well. 

Chapter 50!!! Can you believe it? It's pretty incredible 🤩 I had churros to celebrate hehehe

Thank you for all your feedback on the idea I had. I'll start looking more into streaming so we can hang out at the end of the season. This should be exciting!

Sorry for the weird upload day again. I've got a job interview on Monday so I'm freaking out a bit. Um but Meliodas is back so that's good!

Stay safe 💕 I'll see you in the next chapter