The Nymph's Redemption: Acantha's Journey (7ds fanfiction)

Chapter Thirty-Three: A Broken Heart Is A Broken Spirit

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An awkward silence had fallen on the group. Diane looked from Acantha to the others before Meliodas was the one to interrupt. "Don't forget I am the captain here. So I made the orders." He stated nonchalantly. This at least broke a little bit of tension. "Give yourselves a break though. Everyone has worked hard." The sin of wrath then turned to Acantha. "Especially you. There's no need to rush so much so you can relax." He laughed a bit and ruffled up her hair. The pale girl gave a small huff at her now messed up hair and ran her fingers through it, nodding at what he said.

The sins and their friends soon arrived in Vanya, meeting up with an old friend of theirs. "Oh yeah Acantha you've never met Mead have you. Acantha, this is Mead. He's a little squirt we helped out before grabbing Diane." Meliodas explained, introducing the two. Acantha looked down at the scruffy haired boy and gave a look of acknowledgement. "And Mead, this is Acantha. We picked her up at Vaizel and she's been helping out ever since. With both fighting and around the tavern." The blonde pinched Acantha's cheeks. "I heard about you trying to run the tavern while I was gone. You really aren't the best cook are ya?" He huffed as he squished and pulled at her cheeks with his index and pointer finger as if interrogating her. Acantha allowed this mostly since she knew it would be useless to try and stop him. "You're gonna leave red spots on my cheeks." She retorted. Meliodas only continued these actions. "You're avoiding my question again." The man pouted.

This caused the young boy to laugh at them. "Well its nice to meet you Acantha! It definitely would have been cool to watch your fighting! Especially when I heard from that smelly holy knight Gilthunder you went up against a commandment! That must have been intense!!" Mead seemed to marvel at the girl. Meliodas looked dead at Acantha only for her to slowly put her hands up in defense. "I didnt die so don't get on my case for it-." She stated.

After a busy day of gathering ingredients for the tavern, it was decided that the seven deadly sins and company would have a picnic of sorts. The men would go out and hunt for the main courses, while the ladies sat around and prepared the beverages as well as everything else. Acantha was a bit distracted with the bunches of flowers surrounding them. She eyed them and picked a few that stood out to her. While Diane and the others all were conversing on who knows what, Acantha gently weaved the flowers into a few sets of floral bracelets. There were three in total, two made from purple and orange blooms and the third from plain yellow ones. The nymph took one of the mixed colored bracelets and gently put it on her wrist, paying extra attention to not ruin the  Delicate petals.

It was then she heard a simple phrase that took her attention away from her current activity. "The captain is going away...?" The words uttered from her lips in an almost broken tone. It was silent, all of the girls knew the truth. After Elaine explained how the earth is unbalanced because of Meliodas, it was evident by the tears threatening to run down Acantha's cheeks that she was in despair. Yet the contemplative and questioning expression seemed to contradict that. Her brows upturned and furrowed in deep thought, her eyes glancing at the ground as if she needed to process this and her shaking hands trying to contain her urge to cry. Acantha didn't wish to cry over something like this. She wanted to be stronger than that, but really she couldn't. "I-... I see... Is.... There really nothing that can be done?" She questioned, her tone hushed as she held in any shakiness. Elaine had shaken her head and placed a hand on Acantha's shoulder. The ginger haired girl used one hand to wipe away the tears as she internally scolded herself for tearing up and getting so emotional.

It was a pain she had never felt before. Her heart ached but not how it usually did when she thought of Meliodas. All she could think about was what she would do once he was gone. That night didnt help the situation either. At the kingdom, Bartra had made an unexpected call of everyone including the sins. It was revealed he had wished for Meliodas and Elizabeth to marry. This shocked everyone and yet, Meliodas refused, claiming that he didnt have any desire to marry Elizabeth and that he was going to be leaving the human world. All Acantha had the guts to do was sit in her room inside the tavern and stare down at the bracelet of yellow flowers. The matching bracelet she had made was for Elaine, which was already given to her, with the yellow one being for Meliodas as a gift for all he had done for her. Her body ached from both the emotional distress she was in and the strange pains she still seemed to have after her fight with Zeldris. She placed a hand over her sore spots and winced at even the gentlest touch. A small sigh escaped her. "Maybe I should go ask Merlin about it..." Acantha mumbled.

"Ask Merlin about what?" Meliodas asked, causing Acantha to jump a bit and turn her head only to see Meliodas right next to her face. The captain chuckled as he got himself comfortable on her bed, realizing how warm it was from the amount of heat that naturally came from Acantha's body. "Soooooo you gonna tell me what you wanna ask Merlin about. You never go to her for any old conversation. There's always some juicy secret to it." He teased and poked at the nymph. Acantha huffed. "Its nothing just a random question." She mumbled. Meliodas noticed how her expression started to falter from its calm one to a more sorrowful one. "Hey... Cheer up... I'm not gonna be here forever... I at least want my last memory with you to be a happy one..." He sat up and scooted over to sit beside her. It was then he noticed the floral accessory in her lap. "Oh hey did you make that back at Vanya?" He asked. "I'm surprised its not all old and droopy." Meliodas commented. Acantha had a tiny smile on her face and nodded. "Indeed... Elaine used her magic to keep the petals from wilting and to assure its preserved for as long as the caster lives." Acantha explained. She then held it up to him. "I... Made it... And wanted to give it to you. As a way to repay you for all you've done for me. I know it isn't a lot... Really it probably isn't enough but... Its all I really have to offer-." She was cut off when Meliodas took it from her and put it on. "I think its pretty perfect. Really matches my hair wouldn't you agree?" He cheerfully stated. Acantha looked at him before a soft and amused hum came from her, catching Meliodas by surprise. He had never heard her laugh let alone show any sign of amusement.

Meliodas put a hand on her head and pulled her close, putting her head at his shoulder to comfort her. "You know... You can cry about me leaving... I know you're in a state of sorrow... And you always seem so closed off when you get emotional. Even if its just this once... Let yourself get emotional... Let yourself tear up and cry... And just this once... Let me comfort you." He stated with a soft tone. Acantha was silent. The feeling of his arms around her and holding her in a protective embrace. Slowly, her expression turned to one of sorrow and despair. Whimpers and sniffles filled the empty room as the poor pale girl held onto the short blonde as if he would leave the moment she let go. "I just... Don't know what I'll do... When... You're gone..." She softly cried out. "And... You're not gonna be there when I go to the goddess temples... What's going to happen when you're gone...?" Acantha questioned and trembled from finally being able to let go off all her bottled up emotions.

Even with the soft and gentle sniffles and cries of Acantha, the silence of the room brought an eeriness to it all. Meliodas gently pet her head as even he had to hold back the tears his body wanted to escape. "Do me a favor Acantha..." He made her look at him. A smile was on his face. "Take care of Hawk okay? And... I want you to hold onto my sacred treasure... Keep it safe for me." The blonde wiped her tear stained face and watched her try and nod. Acantha stayed in Meliodas' embrace just trying to get herself to stop shaking before the room fell dead silent. Meliodas looked down and noticed Acantha had fallen asleep. His instincts told him to stay by her side, and so he did. Holding her in his arms all night as he himself tried to get some rest.

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Word Count: 1553