Zeldris was panting wildly as he finally made it to the Boar Hat. He had flown the whole way without rest, and his body was paying for it now as he nearly collapsed in the bar-like area in the main room.
'What the hell took you so long? It's been two days."
The human was the one who spoke as the demon plopped into a chair and shot a very unintimidating glare.
"You try flying halfway across the world after fighting the commandments."
"Fair enough. Although if you were wanting to see the Cap'n, you missed your opportunity."
The fatigue was immediately forgotten as the ravenette jumped up in fear.
"What do you mean!? Is he... I-Is he...?"
The man couldn't even finish the sentence, though apparently the tone of it was enough to give the sin the message."
"No! He isn't dead. But Merlin kicked us all out to try to have Gowther do a brain scan. See if there's anything we can do, ya know?"
The demon prompted for more information as Ban filled him in on Meliodas's episode and Merlin's hypothesis. It took a while, but after the man finished, the two sat in silence as Zeldris tried to process. The guilt he had already struggled with tripled in size at knowing the pain the little demon was experiencing, and that there was nothing the ravennete could do to rid him of it even though he himself had been part of the cause.
All sorts of thoughts smarted the demon to make that heavy weight of regret press on him harder. Thoughts like "Why couldn't I have seen things sooner? Before Meli got hurt because of my ignorance? Or even better before he ran away, to begin with?" and also, ones less oriented with his failures, and more focused on trying to finally understand his brother in a way he should've long ago.
Why did he leave though? Surely part of it was my negligence, but why leave when he did? Why leave at fifteen in the middle of a war when it was the most dangerous for him? And why for insufferable humans who don't even have a quarter of our lifespan? I may not have been the best brother in the world but was I so hard to live with that he felt he needed to leave so desperately? And to that? Did he... Did he really hate me that much? Did I really make him that miserable?
The demon felt like he was missing part of the puzzle. A factor he had ignored warnings to in the past that made him pay in ignorance now. But he couldn't think too much about such a thing. Not when there were more pressing matters, like Merlin walking downstairs from his little brother's room with what Zeldris hoped would be news. Preferably the good kind.
"Mage! Have you found anything? A spell or potion that can heal him? That can... fix what was done?"
His stomach felt like it was actively destroying itself when she looked at the demon so gravely. A sentiment that seemed to be shared if the expression upon the immortal's face had anything to say.
"The damage is... quite bad. This isn't any sort of magic I've dealt with before, and I theorize it's the result of the full force of the ten commandment's magic that has created this spell. So, with creative problems, creative solutions are required. I believe the age reduction in Meliodas is associated to his memories lost. If his memories are fully restored, he should revert back to the age of his mental state. However, it will be a very delicate process trying to do such a thing, as the captain's magic and emotions are closely related to the memories, he's experienced. Meaning if we try to flood his memories back all at once, his demonic abilities will attack his body until he has perished. Instead... we will have to go in and restore them one by one, while I use an incantation to temporarily remove any attachment or overwhelming feelings towards what we restore."
"But- I don't understand, I wasn't a part of the spell that did this to Meliodas, and I'M one of the ten commandments. If this was created with all ten in mind, then I would have had to give some of my power as well. And even putting that aside, how would one temporarily rid a person of emotional attachment? That seems impossible."
"Interesting. I did sense an imbalance in the spell, perhaps that is caused by your absence in its making. Which should actually work in our favor if we are to do this. On my own, my magic is not compatible nor powerful enough to counteract against the full force of the ten commandments. However, that is where you come in. With your assistance in the matter, as I use your magical force combined with my knowledge of the incantation, it should be enough to block his emotions as I need. It's a very temporary state, but a necessary one to keep his magic asleep. It will merely prohibit his mind from a state of any extreme emotion while Gowther and I work to restore his mind. It will only work while he is in a state of slumber, however, since his mind is in a much more malleable state. So, if we are to save your brother, action needs to be taken now while the sleep spell holds and before the damage gets any worse. Ultimately, this cannot be done without at least one ten commandments help, so if you do not cooperate, I fear we won't have time for another candidate who would willingly help this process. So, I recommend you make your choice very quickly, Will you provide your aid, or will your brother die?"
Zeldris felt insulted she would even feel the need to ask, of course he would help! Although maybe she had given the choice knowing what would happen after saving the boy's life. Likely, the demon would be killed by the brother he just worked to save. It only made sense with the war they themselves were on opposite sides of. So basically, she was asking if he would save his own life or that of his sibling.
"Of course, I will help, mage. I've already made up my mind to do whatever it takes to save him; you've simply filled in the gap on what ' whatever it takes' entails. So, how do we proceed?"
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It took a precious hour of time for everything to be in order as Merlin gave the boy another dose of a sleeping potion. Potent enough to keep him out for about three hours but unfortunately not much longer, which meant they would have to work quickly.
"Alright, every precaution possible has been made for our safety as well as the captain's. Ban will keep watch over our bodies and the boy's as Gowther allows us into his mind, so he will be able to pull us out if there is any trouble. The only step left is for you to lend me your power Zeldris, as we enter the mind space."
Sitting down in the chair provided besides Meliodas's bed, the demon gave his hand to Merlin, and felt his magic draining from him as she began to speak. Alongside consciousness as everything seemed to blur away moments later. As his mind left his own body and went into that of his kin's instead.
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Turning Back The Clock
FanfictionMeliodas was a fearless leader, a strong fighter, and a person many people relied on. However unbeknownst to many, he used to be a very powerful commandment as well. And even more unknown, even to his closest allies, he was the youngest brother of t...
