It was alarming seeing the amount of power in just that one touch, and that was completely accidently. Imagine if that had been on purpose, combined with his other magic, and mixed with his brilliant tactical self. Like how he was in the present...
It seemed like the terrifying thought wasn't just thought by them as Meliodas looked at his hands while shaking.
I... I did that to it. I made it suffer. I-It was in so much pain, so much despair. From... me.
"I'm... really not "hope" anymore... am I?"
The words were whispered so softly. A mix of heartbreak, realization, and acceptance in their meaning.
Looking closely at the marks already piled up on his arm for the first time since getting them, his eyes looked sad and blank all at once as he spoke aloud his next few words.
"I have no idea where I am, where Elaine is, and I have no idea if there's a way out of this. I'm completely overwhelmed and have to be strong even though I don't want to. I should just give up."
Examining closely, nothing else appeared, solidifying what deep down he already knew.
So it's true. Not that I should be surprised, but, it's still not an easy pill to swallow. Everything I've represented my whole life.... has it even stood without me?
Unable to think more about it as he was tackled, his eyes widened as Elaine was hugging him tightly. Why had she come back? Where did the demons go? How long had he been there in his thoughts.
Not even those watching knew with how immersed in his thoughts they were with him.
"I'm happy you're okay! I'm so sorry for sneezing! There was some dust and I couldn't help it! You w-weren't hurt or anything were you!?"
"N-No, I'm.... I'm okay. You don't have to worry about me."
He tried his best to reassure her with his usual smile, but it was dimmer than before, not the usual light behind it.
And in that one, singular, moment... Elizabeth knew exactly what King meant when he said Meliodas's eyes was how he could tell he wasn't the same... because this was the start of their fade as they shadowed what they were now.
Empty.
The emerald hues looked so pained, conflicted, and sad, so so sad, however in the moment they showed, Elaine hadn't had noticed like she wish she had now. She was just concerned that he had been hurt since the arm he had been hiding was dripping with blood, and as a fairy she didn't know why.
"There's just so much blood, you clearly got hit in the arm bad when I knocked you back! I'm so sorry!"
"E, I'm really alright. Here, I'll do this if it makes you feel better though."
He ripped off some of his old uniform and wrapped it tightly around the cuts.
"There! All better."
"I'd still like to disinfect those, but I guess it'll have to do for now. After all.. what's the plan? I'm sure more demons are gonna come, right? Well, more of... us, I guess."
He grimaced briefly at her wording of that last part as he realized what she said before that was very likely as well.
Let's see... what CAN we do? We don't know how to get around this place, backup will likely come soon, and our power is so unstable that E just sneezing caused a blast. No matter how I look at it I can't think of a solution. Unless....
"Hey Ellie, before you could hide things, correct? It was a protection spell you used that could cause things to be hidden in plain sight. Perhaps you have an opposite of that now that allows you to seek objects."
"O-Oh! I mean... maybe, but... what if it isn't what we think? O-Or what if something goes wrong again-"
"We just have to try. If we don't do anything we're gonna get caught, right? So why not try something?"
She took a deep breath and nodded, knowing he was right but still nervous all the same.
"O-Okay... I can try."
"Good, then I want you to try to find an object you know of. Like something you're very familiar with."
"Umm.. w-what about my old stuffed bear? It's the only thing I can think of right now that I know where it is. It's in a tote in my brother's house that holds all our old memorabilia."
Right as she said that, a bright yellow line was created that looked almost like a string leading through one of the many corridors around where they were.
"Perfect! Now, I want you to follow that string okay? As far as you can go."
"W-What? But... what about you!"
"I'll be fine. This is the only thing I can think of to get information about the demons. If I get caught, I might get to see the one behind all of this, and at the same time, you'll get to safety. Telepathy still works in demons from what we've seen right? So you follow the string, no matter how far it goes, back to a familiar area. Meanwhile I'll send you any information I find through telepathy. You'll still be free to spread the news to the goddesses and they'll trust you more as a fairy since you aren't noticeably turned. It's the best plan I can think of in this unfamiliar area.
"But.. you'll be captured! What if they do something horrible to you!"
"I'll be fine, Elaine. Too many people have died from this. And although we don't know why, you and me are different from the rest, which means that we have an opportunity to blend in and still help the goddesses! Please, I need you do to this, and I need to make sure you end up safe. So... will you do this?"
She nodded after a moment of thought, tears in her eyes.
"Y-You better be careful!"
"I will. Thank you Elaine. Thank you for trusting me.."
The two exchanged goodbyes before she ran off after the string, the memory ending shortly after as his reassuring smile faded into a sad look of resignation.
I don't know if I'll make it out of here if I do this. However it's the only thing I can think of that'll work, and this opportunity is too important. Besides, my place as hope is already gone anyway... there isn't anything left for me to do even if I get out.
Sorry if this isn't as good, slightly difficult to write.
