Turning Back The Clock

Turning Back The Clock: Chapter 34

The trip back into Meliodas's mind wasn't pleasant to say the very least. Not when Zeldris knew all of the happy memories were likely behind him if the scene he saw right before being pulled out of his little brother's mind had anything to say. And now he had his other sibling here to experience those moments with him. Lovely. Although perhaps there would still be some more wholesome moments ahead to give him reprieve. After all, most of the previous memories had been out of order. He could only hope, because otherwise he wouldn't have had the strength to go to that ninth door. He was too worried by what he would see.

And he was right to be. 

He knew exactly when this took place. It was after the last dreadful one. Time blurred a lot for Zeldris after weeks of isolation, but he was confident to say it was a month after the last...  Because after all, that was about the time the paperwork for such a thing would need to be processed.

"Are you kidding me, Esta?! No way in purgatory am I letting this happen! Absolutely not!"

"B-But Zel-"

"NO, Meliodas! It's too dangerous and I'm appalled that your other brother even considered allowing this!"

"You're being overdramatic, Zeldris. It's just a temporary replacement so you can focus on your other duties."

"Yeah, a replacement on the WAR FRONT! He's never been in battle before Estarossa! What's the matter with you for approving this!?"

"Zel please, I've been training for this for a long time. Besides, you're pushing yourself too hard, let me do this for you."

"NO!"

"Please just list-"

"Enough Mel, let me handle this."

The boy sighed as he was interrupted for the millionth time, pushed to the sidelines about a decision very much concerning him.

"You've been training him since he was a boy, and he's old enough now to put that effort into something useful. If there are complications, we can always wave the request down the line, but for now you need to allow him to do this."

Estarossa was incredibly calm about this situation, and normally the ravennete wouldn't have been so emotional to contrast, but he wasn't exactly in the best shape in the moment. And to add to his frantic state, he kept having a gut feeling like something was going to go wrong. Not that he could communicate that very clearly at the moment. Honestly, looking back on this, there was a lot that Zeldris had forgotten in the fatigue that had plagued him.  

"He's only thirteen!"

"A-Actually I'm-"

"I said to let me handle this, Meli."

The boy's eyes dropped to the floor as he sighed in annoyance, several frustrated and worried thoughts running through his head that the demon wished he had been privy to sooner. 

"What if something happens to him!?"

"It won't be much different to what will happen to him if we lose, and you aren't exactly in the best shape to lead at the moment."

"I'm doing the best I can!"

"I know that, but you're exhausted and overworked. Your best isn't good enough right now."

"Oh but sending a thirteen-year-old to replace me as Executioner will make it better!?"

"No, sending our little brother Meliodas, will make it better. He's excelled at every lesson you've given him, and he's learned from the very person he will TEMPORARILY replace. I understand your concern, but you just have to trust that this will work."