Below the fires roared. Smoke choked the sky. You ignored it all, focussing instead on Monspeet and Derieri in front of you. They growled low in their throats, red eyes burning hotter than the flames. You held Elizabeth's hand tighter.

'Lady [Y/n],' said Ludociel behind you. His presence was ice on your spine. 'Let us join forces and bring down these savage ugly beasts once and for all.'

'No.' You didn't even pause.

'Huh?'

You looked at Elizabeth. She nodded. You smiled. 'We'll save them.'

—

Elizabeth didn't notice when her hands stopped shaking. Her heart was still beating slightly too fast. She was still scared. But she wasn't going to let that stop her.

Her mother started to glow. The power grew, whipping through the air. It was cold, exactly like Elizabeth knew all Goddess's power to be. Unlike the powers of Ludociel and the others, though, Elizabeth could feel something behind her mother's power. Something not unlike compassion.

'Let There Be Light.' The power burst from her palms as two beams of light. They collided with the Demons. Elizabeth took a breath that only wobbled at the start. And she closed her eyes.

Reach out. Exactly as her mother had taught. Find the life.

The darkness hurled into her mind. Scorching heat.

Don't panic. Exactly as her father had taught. The fire is your friend.

Elizabeth waded through the darkness until she found them. Monspeet and Derieri cowered, huddling together. Lost. She reached out a hand.

'Come on,' she said. 'Let's go home.'

—

Your hands were tingling. Your toes were cold. And still you poured out more power. The darkness in Monspeet and Derieri fought wildly. Cornered beasts with sharp teeth. You gritted your teeth and pushed harder.

Elizabeth hadn't moved. She was still beside you, eyes closed and arms outstretched. Her face was screwed up in concentration. Every now and then, her lips moved like she was talking but you couldn't hear what she was saying. Her power flickered around her fingers, dancing like Meliodas's flames and shining like your light.

Slowly but steadily, it was getting easier to let your power into Monspeet and Derieri. Less resistance. One corner of your mouth twitched up.

'Lady [Y/n], are you insane?' Ludociel shouted behind you. You didn't let your concentration waver. 'These lowly beasts aren't worth saving. If we wipe them out, then we, the Goddess race – no, all other races – will have less of a threat to face. It would put an end to this Holy War!'

That last sentence resonated with power. It echoed in your mind. And you ignored it.

More light found its way into Monspeet and Derieri. The doors were opening. There was sweat on Elizabeth's forehead. She still hadn't opened her eyes.

'You're gonna get pushed back.' Somehow, you heard Meliodas's voice. He believed in you. He had always believed in you.

'I won't stop.' Elizabeth's voice was so strong. You blinked and stared, but she was still in the same position. 'I won't give up.'

Your smiled grew. And the light grew.

Ludociel scoffed. 'I can't take part in this farce anymore.' His freezing presence got closer. 'I'm going to kill them here and now while I have the chance.'

'No!' Your glared at him over your shoulder. 'You can't. Don't do it, Ludociel!'

He just laughed. You wondered if he was close enough for you to kick him.

The icy cold melted away. Between one blink and the next, Meliodas had appeared. His comforting warmth washed over you, so much stronger and kinder than Ludociel's power. Your heartbeat slowed slightly. Your shoulders relaxed.

'What are you doing?' said Ludociel.

'Just leave him to me,' said Meliodas.

Your smile was back. 'Meliodas ... thank you.' You raised your voice to address Monspeet and Derieri. 'I don't feel I have the right to apologise to you for what happened. I was so blind. It might as well have been my fault the others died.'

'Don't know why you'd want to apologise in the first place,' came Sariel's voice from wherever he was.

'Now what in the world makes you think the Demon race is worth saving?' Tarmiel called from somewhere.

There had been a time when you were like them. Haughty. Blinded by a cold, white light and cut off from the world. From feelings. From reality. So you owed it to them, did you not, to at least give them a chance?

'Tell me,' you said, 'who decided what the worth of another life is? Who gave us the right to sit in judgement? Both the light of the morning sun and the shade of night fall upon everyone equally. On humans. On the Giant race and the Fairy race. On the Goddess race. And the Demon race and Elizabeth as well.' You looked at Elizabeth. She was looking back at you with wide eyes.

There was a moment of silence. Even Monspeet and Derieri stopped growling.

'Enough of this foolish talk,' Ludociel shouted, shattering the peace. 'The Supreme Deity would never approve of such blasphemy.'

'I don't care and have no intention of asking for permission,' you and Elizabeth shouted back. Your face reflexively screwed up as you thought about the Supreme Deity.

'Sariel! Tarmiel! Get over here. We're going to destroy the Ten Commandments and Meliodas.'

Your hands shook a little. Elizabeth's eyes darted between you and Meliodas. But Meliodas was unwavering. Sariel and Tarmiel's presences grew stronger. Meliodas tensed. You heard his sword shift. Ludociel huffed a smug little laugh.

But when the attack came, it didn't strike Meliodas. Instead, Sariel and Tarmiel's power joined yours, extra light streaming into the chests of Monspeet and Derieri. Elizabeth laughed and you felt inclined to join her, especially as you heard Ludociel gnash his teeth.

'What are you doing?' he demanded.

'Well, isn't it obvious?' said Sariel.

'We've decided to ignore your commands and act of our own free will,' said Tarmiel.

'Let them have it,' Meliodas shouted. 'Right now!'

With a defiant yell, Elizabeth spread her arms wide. The door finally opened the whole way and your power, mixed with Sariel's and Tarmiel's, poured into Monspeet and Derieri unhindered. The Demons gurgled and growled as the darkness was forced from them. It hung in the sky for a moment like a tear through to the night before shattering. The shards broke down into smaller and smaller pieces until there was nothing left. Back to normal, Monspeet and Derieri fell from the sky.

Your arms felt like jelly. Your head span. Beside you, Elizabeth panted, chest heaving. It was quiet. Far below, through the trees, you could make out the bodies of Monspeet and Derieri tangled together.

'Are they all right?' Elizabeth asked, her voice cracking slightly.

'Yeah.' Meliodas smiled. 'And thanks to you, they're back in their original form.'

'Thank goodness.'

And with that, Elizabeth fainted. You caught her automatically, even as your arms shook. Thankfully, Meliodas was at your side, taking her gently in one arm and wrapping his other around your waist.

'I'm fine,' you mumbled even as your head lolled against his shoulder.

'I know.' He pressed a kiss to your forehead.

'Tch.' It was Ludociel. Your eyes found him, his face screwed up in anger and disgust. 'I will not allow those two to live!'

He sped towards Monspeet and Derieri, one palm covered with a glowing sword. You sucked in a gasp, hands twitching.

Meliodas held you tighter, fingers digging into your waist. 'Stop it! No!'

Something slammed into Ludociel and he was knocked to the ground. You blinked hard. A chunk of rock had grown and formed a slab that reached over Monspeet and Derieri like a roof. At its base stood Drole, one arm still outstretched. Hovering at his shoulder was Gloxinia.

'What are you doing?' said Ludociel. 'Drole, Gloxinia, why thwart me? My actions are in the name of justice. Those Commandments are a blight upon this world.'

Drole pouted. 'Such a low blow! Going in for the kill when your opponent can't even move? Where's your honour?'

Ludociel growled. You didn't have the energy to laugh.

Gloxinia drifted down to face the Archangel. 'Listen, Ludociel, I do think that your argument's valid.'

'That's good to hear. I'm glad one of you has some sense.'

'You must use every advantage in a battle to the death.' Gloxinia frowned. 'But what Lady [Y/n] and Elizabeth just did, risking their lives to save them, I can't ignore something like that.'

Without you realising, Meliodas flew down. Drole's enormous face loomed near yours.

'Drole, Gloxinia, I owe you one,' Meliodas said with a wide smile. 'You too, Sariel and Tarmiel. Thank you.'

'Yes.' You raised your head slightly to smile at your friends. 'Can't thank you enough.'

'The last think I want is your gratitude, Meliodas,' said Sariel, folding his arms with a sniff.

Tarmiel raised a hand. 'Both of us are Lady [Y/n]'s allies, not yours and that's all there is to it.'

You sighed. 'Ruined it.'

Meliodas chuckled.

'Are you sure this was the right call?' Gloxinia asked, flying up to your level. 'The Ten Commandments aren't gonna turn around and join us just because you saved them. One day, they might try to kill you too.'

'Well, I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.' Meliodas shrugged lightly.

Drole laughed and Gloxinia huffed, 'You really haven't changed at all, have you?'

'Huh?'

A strange feeling. Drole and Gloxinia gasped. You tried to look at them, but their faces blurred into one. They were saying something and so was Meliodas. You shook your head and tried to focus.

'Hold up,' Meliodas was saying. 'I'll come with you.'

'No,' said Gloxinia. '[Y/n] and Elizabeth need you. And someone has to stay here and protect those two.' He looked over at Monspeet and Derieri.

'All right. Leave it to me.'

The Fairy and Giant kings ran into the Forest. Meliodas landed lightly. He let you go and you swayed but didn't fall. Instead, you watched as he set Elizabeth down before turning back to you. You smiled at him and your knees buckled. Before you could hit the ground, his arm was around you again, helping you sit back against the trunk of a tree. You rested your head on his chest.

'You should sleep,' he said.

You shook your head. ''M not tired.'

'Is that so?'

'Yeah.' You looked up at him and smiled a slow, lazy smile.

He hummed sceptically before looking back towards Monspeet and Derieri. 'For such an important battle, it's funny how little our clothes are damaged. Makes a nice change, huh?'

'Not really.'

'Huh?'

'Kinda disappointing. You should take off your shirt anyway.' You reached up to the buttons on his cropped shirt, but your fingers didn't want to cooperate.

'[Y/n].' Meliodas held your hand and smiled at you. 'You're delirious. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were drunk.'

''M not though. Don't drink.'

'I know.' He sighed and pulled you tighter against him.

'You're no fun.' You looked up at him, eyelids drooping.

'How about this?' He leant down, warm breath fanning across your face. 'After you wake up, I'll say thank you in every way I know. Okay?'

You frowned, trying to force your exhausted mind to think. Giving up, you just snuggled in closer and closed your eyes. 'Promise?'

'I promise.'

~~~~~

thanks for you patience, everyone! :)

also look! i made a cover! (my little sister helped me and it's not the best, but it's kinda okay, right?) almost like this is a proper book now hehe

stay safe 💕💕💕