Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 32

It was incredibly disorienting trying to figure out how to navigate the new scenery. If it could even be called that. Zeldris was in the middle of some sort of void with absolutely nothing in sight. Just an inky blackness that went on for seemingly forever as he tried not to let the cold feeling that passed through him at the sight bother him.

Merlin was right. The curse has been destroying everything. Is there... Is there even anything left to save now?

He wasn't left alone with his thoughts for long, however, as the mage on his mind appeared soon after with a similar see-through appearance to his own.

"I see... It appears the memories have been hidden entirely, pushed all the way to the subconscious by the spell. Give me a moment, and I should be able to bring them back."

He silently pleaded she was right about her assumption and that they weren't just- well- gone, like he had thought. And he was thankfully given a break for once as doors appeared in the void a moment after she uttered a spell quietly. There were several, but all of the oak doors were closed tight in rows with seemingly nothing on either side. Confusing the man as he tried to see how they could be associated to his brother's memories. Though he wouldn't be in the dark for long- both literally and figuratively- as the woman approached the first one on the left and explained.

"These doors are what your spell pushed all of his memories into. Before, this place would have been full of random moments and thoughts, and it would take careful dedication to find the ones pertinent to what we need to find. However, because of the curse, every one of his memories beyond the age he was reverted to were put in these tightly locked doors; only, some started to open slightly when he was reminded of them. Hence the pain and problems the captain has been facing since the second setback. What we need to do, is unlock and open each door to allow the memories to be free and open once more. With the spell to lessen his emotions combined with the more natural setting these memories are kept in, he should revert back and no longer have the dangers he does now."

"Do we have the time to look through all of these? Meliodas will only be asleep for a few hours."

"It should be fine; time moves differently here. And besides, I don't have much experience with this, for all we know, we only need to unlock a few, select, memories for the rest to break free. However, either way, regardless of how this is done, it starts here, at the first door."

That didn't help Zeldris's nerves much as he was worried what he would find behind some of these, but he knew that regardless, the only way to continue, was forward. So, he followed her lead as she made a key appear to unlock the very first door, before the two stepped inside their first look into the past. 

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He hadn't been sure what to expect upon entering, but it was definitely a surprise and relief when he found that it wasn't something to stress over. In fact, it was a memory related to one of his favorites with the blond. It was one related to his own sixteen birthday, as his little twelve-year old brother worked hard to get him to the picnic he planned. 

"Come oooooon, ya can't take a quick break? It's your birthday, Zel! Stop working for at least an hour, I want to see you!"

He was up to his neck in overdue papers from the other commandments slacking, and he didn't exactly have much time to get them filled out before his father would have a fit of rage over the issue. Yet still, he couldn't help but smile at his whiny sibling's attempts to spend time with him. 

"I'm sorry Mel, I just don't have the time right now. M-Maybe tonigh- wait, no, I have our brother's paperwork to go through as well- maybe.... tomorrow?"

Unbeknownst to him at the time, Meliodas wasn't just pouting because of the rejection. No, it was also because he had spent the past two weeks putting together a day full of activities for them to do together. It really was one of Zeldris's favorite birthdays, and he was still very glad to this day that he had finally relented, even though he received quite the earful from the demon king for it after.