The Eighth Sin

Chapter 3

Chapter 3
The Forest Of White Dreams

Arden's P.O.V.

I woke up back in the room I was currently staying in. We had came to a stop and Hawk's Mom was currently digging to hide herself. I walked out of my room, dressed in my usual outfit(and not the skimpy tavern uniform). My usual outfit, in case you forgot, is a blue dress with a black leather coat as a cover up. And I had my scythe, Hell's Blade, slung over my shoulder as I walked down the stairs.

When I came downstairs, I saw the captain and Elizabeth chatting with Hawk as they ate breakfast. I sat down next to Elizabeth, stifling a yawn. The captain pushed a plate of food towards me but I pushed it back.
"I'm...not eating anything you cook anymore after...what you said yesterday." I said and Meliodas chuckled.

"I was joking!" He said defensively, putting his hands on his hips. I rolled my eyes. Elizabeth and Hawk looked confused.
"I still don't trust you. Besides, your cooking is horrible. You killed almost all of my tastebuds and I lost at least twenty braincells last time I ate your cooking. And that was ten years ago. And it's probably gotten worse." I sighed. Meliodas shrugged, but his eyes were playful.

"Umm...excuse me? Sir Meliodas? Lady Arden--" Elizabeth started speaking.
"Elizabeth, I told you to just call me Arden! No 'Lady Arden'. Makes it sound too formal." I corrected her. She smiled at me apologetically.
"Sir Meliodas? Arden? Which sin do you think we'll find in the Forest Of White Dreams?" Elizabeth asked. Meliodas and I both shrugged almost simultaneously.
"Depends. There might not even be one." I told her. Hawk gasped.
"You mean we came here with no clear evidence?!" Hawk snorted.
"Well...there is evidence. Sort of. Like Mead told Elizabeth, even holy knights steer clear of this place." Meliodas said. "So it sounds like the perfect hiding place for one of us." I finished his sentence. He smirked at me and I smirked back.
"Ahh. I see. That makes sense." Elizabeth nodded.
"Welp, let's get to it then." Meliodas said, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention.

~~Time Skip To Where They Start Walking Around The Forest~~

It had been an hour or two since we started walking in the forest. I could tell Elizabeth and Hawk were getting tired since they started slowing down after an hour. Meliodas and I were fine though. We were used to walking and running long distances.

About five more minutes passed until Elizabeth let out a squeal and began holding her skirt down. We all stopped and turned to look at her.

"What's wrong, Ellie?" I asked her.
"N-n-n-nothing!" Her face turned red.
I looked at the captain for an explanation and he just shrugged, but he had a shit eating grin on his face. We continued to walk, and so did Elizabeth, but she held her skirt down. I really wanted to know what was bothering her. But I didn't want to pry. So I just dropped it. Maybe she would tell me when she was ready.

We stopped again for a quick rest. While we did so, we heard a twig crack and heard footsteps coming towards us. "
"W-w-w-what's that?!" Hawk squealed. Meliodas and I looked around, but I couldn't sense anything. I turned back to look at Hawk—no wait...Hawks'. There were more of them.
Ahh, shit! They multiplied!
I cursed under my breath and turned back to the captain.

"What the hell is happening? He multiplied!" I bit the inside of my cheek. Elizabeth shifted uncomfortably.  Meliodas thought for a moment before he ran forwards and punched all the Hawks, spreading them all over the place.
"H-He's ruthless!" One of them squealed. I turned around for a second to look around, and when I looked back, there was only one Hawk and an army of Elizabeths. It was...unsettling, to say the least.