WISTFUL HOPE Those Flowers Pinned In Your Hair... Are They The Gentle Blooms Of The Immortal Wisterias

WISTFUL HOPE           ﹂ Those flowers pinned in your hair... are they the gentle blooms of the immortal wisterias or the fleeting red petals of the spider lilies ?

During the fall of Khaenri'ah, the Raiden Shogun  ( the first Electro Archon ), and her kagemusha participated in the conflict. There are several contributing factors for the decision, but the most prevalent at the forefront of her mind was preserving the safety of the people of Inazuma. Tragedy befell all sides, and amidst the many casualties was Makoto herself.

Despite being shaken by the death, Ei inherits both her gnosis and Musou Isshin, assuming her sister's position as the Shogunate and member of The Seven with an ideal of Eternity. Makoto's body is buried beneath the Sacred Sakura, the final resting place of Ei's original body from which the great tree sprouted during the Archon War. Thunder Sakura are then formed from branches of the Sacred Sakura and parts of Makoto's own spirit lingering within the empty shell that eventually becomes one with the tree. The first incarnations of the siblings forever defend Inazuma together, cleansing the land of its impurity.

Yet the flame of a divine will is not something so easy to extinguish. The physical form perished, yes, but the purity of memories are a powerful thing.

In a dark place, a woman finds herself awakening many years after the Cataclysm with naught but her stray thoughts and the barest snippets of a forgotten memory. Cognizant of the world around her, yet unable interact with it, lacking the ability to freely move. She has no mouth, but desires to speak. Over time, the woman acquires self-awareness and remembers who she is bit by bit along with pieces of events prior. As this self perception expands, it formulates a mental domain, a plane reflecting her existence. One steadfast yet ephemeral. Upon it's completion, the woman realizes what has taken place.

Rather than experiencing the same fate that some did upon their passing, Makoto had come back into existence, revived in the image of her final imprint upon the world instead of manifesting in a new, separate entity like so many others. It took an extended amount of time to coalesce her energies and form them back into what she was  ( an archon / a divine being )  due to the strains placed on her, and the nature of her destruction. There was but one caveat. Her body had long since been consumed by the Sacred Sakura. In the same technique known to Miko and Ei, her consciousness and the remnants of her spirit not yet absorbed into the tree had to latch onto the one object untouched by the erosion of time: the ornate hairpin worn at the moment of her death.

Post realization, Makoto is left to ponder the state of the world beyond her grave. How long has it been ?  Is Inazuma still safe, enjoying the peace she wished for ?  What was the state of her sister, Ei ?  All questions she couldn't seek answers for.

One day during her meditations, a light breaks into the periphery of her enclosed world, illuminating the small shrine enclosed within the space. Apparently she'd been residing in a cave and bandits came knocking. They waste no time pocketing any treasures to be found, including the hairpin, certain a high price would be fetched from the incredible haul. During transit to pawn off the goods, forces led by Kujou Sara blindside the group and swiftly capture them, taking them into custody. However, the ornate box housing the hairpin was in lost in the skirmish, knocked into a nearby river and carried off by the currents. Unbeknownst to Makoto, the treasure hoarders were subsequently brought before the Raiden Shogun and personally executed for the unforgivable transgression of defiling her sister's sacred resting place.

Following this, some time passes before another discovers the box, fishing it from the bottom of a river in Chinju. A young girl named Chika, hailing from a small rural village hidden from most on the outskirts of the forest. Elated, Chika takes to wearing the hairpin everywhere in her daily life. Through her, Makoto silently observes the changes in this part of modern day Inazuma.

Then, news of the vision hunt decree reaches the village. Most carry on with their lives, unaffected as none of them bear a vision. The sole exception is one resident unseen to the rest. The land closing it's borders ?  Countless visions being seized for the almighty Shogun ?  Unsettled and apprehensive about what such acts indicated of both the world at large and her sister, Makoto can only watch over Chika.

More months trickle by. During a standard chore of delivering goods, in her haste Chika accidentally strays off the beaten path and winds up cornered by a pack of hilichurls led by a Mitachurl. Defenseless to the threat, she flees and missteps, the ground crumbling away beneath her feet and caving in. Falling through the cracks of the hole, she's knocked unconscious. When she comes to, Chika is laying in a patch of soft grass a safe distance from the pit she was certain she collapsed into, not a hilichurl in sight. Only the charred husks of singed weapons and the crisp smell of ozone thick in the air remained. No one can explain the sound of rolling thunder that echoed within the forest that day.

Shortly after, Makoto makes an effort to speak to Chika. It's done sparingly, but the girl takes it in stride, happy to talk to the voice. When asked of her name, there's a pause before the response comes.

❝ You may call me Setsuna. ❞

Most write off Chika's 'one-sided' conversations as overactive imaginations at work. After all, it's nothing more than a child spinning up a pretend friend to play with, right ?

Extra Notes

Her twin used a technique to specifically craft an automaton after a lot of trial and error over the course of years. An artificial vessel designed to seamlessly accommodate Ei and she's had hundreds of years to adjust. Makoto's process was not so meticulously constructed, so she's still learning in a number of different things.

Unlike Ei, who can and will communicate directly through the puppet to share her thoughts, Makoto prefers to mentally speak to the holder of the hairpin she resides in. Chika is her default but there can be situations where others get their hands on the hairpin.

As her new repertoire expands, Makoto devises another method of interaction. By gathering enough elemental energy she projects an image of herself into the world, like a type of hologram. She can't touch anything and is bound to staying with a certain distance of the hairpin.

She can circumvent these restrictions by creating a physical clone out of elemental energy, splitting her consciousness in half. This is what happened when she saved Chika from the hilichurls. It's not that different from when she created Ei's body anew or from when Azhdaha made an avatar to spy on the people of the surface, but without a gnosis she can never make a full, permanent replacement like before. This technique requires a large expenditure of energy and the construct is fragile compared to her original body. Her full powers can't be used in this state. It's powered by the energy used to make it but it can't be replenished, and the longer it's active the more taxing it is to maintain, so Makoto limits usage as much as possible.

When Makoto saved Chika she manifested a new sword that she stores within her hairpin, the Setsunai Kibō / Wistful Hope.

It's possible for her to channel some of her own power through the holder and assume control over the body. They become a conduit, an avatar. An extension of the former Shogun. A change in eye color to Makoto's own signifies this. Taken one step farther, she can alter the holder's outward appearance to the point they entirely mirror her original image. Essentially a full possession where she can use her full strength. She does not do this unless she has a sufficient bond with the holder and their express permission.

In time, she can bring others directly into her Ephemeral Plane and speak to them face to face. It has the appearance of an idylic field with a sakura tree at the center of it.

serving up one prince of darkness and one princess of light :’)

PERSONALS DO NOT REBLOG.

Some things about Radiant Garden

01.   RG used to be Scala ad Caelum. Or at the very least, an event happened in Scala that caused the world to fracture, with one part becoming RG and the remnants possibly being where Mickey is supposed to head. Link to my original post about it here.

02.   Known for being the city of light, RG is built into a circular and layered pattern that makes it easy to divide the city into segmented districts. Structured much like Midgar  ( sans the stacking a city atop another city and excessive environmental damage ), it is much bigger than it looks from in game traversal. There’s also a few more rural settlements along the coast bordering RG that you can see in BBS, but they were completely destroyed when the world was reduced to being Hollow Bastion.

03.   RG is quite eclectic. The culture’s a mix of many sources, carrying over shreds of old customs from when it both was Daybreak Town and Scala, and the traditions of various new settlers. It used to be a hotspot of activity among worlds when it was recovering from Scala tearing apart. This is the reason you can find inhabitants of varying ethnicities, skin tones, and name origins. However, after Scala was finished being rebuilt into RG, it ended up completely closed off to the rest of the worlds until Terranort opened RG's Door and shattered it's dimensional barrier again.

04.   This is Zack, Beatrix, Seifer, Rai, and Fuu, and Sephiroth's homeworld. Zack left at a young age to become a hero like Sephiroth a few months prior to the events of BBS, eventually winding up in the Coliseum. The head of the royal guard is Beatrix. She is still alive but doesn't yet know that Radiant Garden has been restored. Seifer, Rai, and Fuu are supposed to be the same age as Leon, but when RG collapsed they found themselves in Twilight Town. A world with a completely different time zone, far slower compared to RG. While Leon aged the full 12 years in universal standard time and is 25, this trio only aged a couple years, clocking in at about 18. If Seifer ever runs into Leon again, he likely won’t be happy about discovering his rival suddenly being 7 years his senior.

05.   Sephiroth... was one of those cases. Human experimentation definitely has it’s black mark in RG’s history and he too was experimented on by the head scientist at the time, Hojo, who had delved into research about various aspects of the heart to uncover it’s mysteries. Needless to say,  after seeing the man hanging around coliseums to beat up 14 year old kids and proclaiming himself as Cloud’s darkness, it didn't go so well. The incident is why Terranort gets stonewalled by Ansem when he proposes doing the same thing years later.

06.   Ansem and Kairi are related, part of the same royal family. He's not her father or grandfather or anything, he's her uncle. Kairi's parents weren't in the picture at some point, so Ansem took over ruling RG. Kairi is the actual crown princess. However, she doesn't see herself as a royalty in any sense of the word. She does not consider the world her home, and has no real attachment to it, outside of brief, very fleeting instances of nostalgia. Destiny Islands is where she grew up, where she formed the majority of her memories, and where her friends and dad call home. She would like to know what happened to her grandmother though, the only family she can recollect before she was sent away.

07.   Post KH3 Ansem is not in a position of real leadership. It'd be hard for him to resume that role seamlessly after he returns. Terranort, posing as him, secretly abducted a ton of people to use as subjects. The townsfolk were all under the presumption that he betrayed them and caused the world to fall into darkness. Although that isn't the case, there's the question of his whereabouts for the last decade. What had he been doing while the residents were fighting to restore the world ?  Being trapped in the darkness and getting consumed by hatred over his apprentices ? Off singlemindedly focused on getting revenge, damn the consequences and who gets affected ?  No. RG runs much like it did in KH2 under the restoration committee. Ansem is in a position dedicated to research, one devoid of legitimate power, and he's under supervision. Ansem acquiesces because he wants to atone for the tragedies he set in motion with his apprentices and the harm he himself caused as DiZ.

08.   Xehanort experimented on Kairi before he ever threw her in the lifeboat and tossed her into the Lanes Between. Her surviving what turned most into Heartless lead to him theorizing her having a heart free of darkness and made her viable for his plans: to lead him to a key bearer and the other scheme hinted at as of Melody of Memory, wanting Kairi to arrive in a world of neither light or darkness. Given how young she was and going off the nature of the things Xehanort was doing from the Ansem reports, she has repressed most of it.  Her heart’s light had been acting as a stop gap to keep the rising darkness in check. When Kairi left the world, the strain put on it was too much. That’s when the Heartless surged forth and overwhelmed RG, plunging it into chaos.

-`.  @kibonosentoki​  \  starter.

         It's a little easier now, to reign himself in around the dazzling light of heroes now that he truly was in the works to become one himself  ( at least compared to Before, borderline mania buzzing inside when a hero entered his orbital vicinity, pen flying across a fresh page, a new galaxy of content added to his little universe ). Years of habitual rhythm don't let themselves be so easily scrubbed away. It's too soon for the stars to fade from wide eyes as they locked on to a pro hero. The student still slipped back into old patterns, more obviously at some times than others, but it couldn't be helped. Admiration just exploded forth before it could be thought twice of, leaving Izuku sputtering in awe, mindless facts recounted under his breath.

         Izuku was glad he chose that exact instant to glance out the window of one of the hero merch stores he frequented. He could’ve missed that silhouette entirely !

         This hero he remembered quite clearly. So young, but it didn't lessen the amount of talent needed to become a pro, much less one ranked so high.

         ( ❛ the ultimate savior ! ❜ — the recording catches the words quite well amongst the havoc, clear voice emitting through desktop speakers / it'd been one of the more memorable debuts to lodge into his mind as of late )

         It's not quite there, the recollection of how he so quickly crossed the distance from inside the store and found himself in front of the other on the far side of the street. It's not important. Fingers primed to dip into a pouch, notebook ever at the ready, an inquiry was tossed out in a excited rush, ❝ Can I have your autograph ? ❞

by any other name

Some beings have Other names.

These are more along the lines of the "true name" trope and can only bestowed by godly figure inhabiting the world like the Demon King and Supreme Deity, or equivalents of them. It differs though, as knowing it doesn't give you any power over the individual.

Rather than being an entirely separate name, it's more accurate to say it's still the same one but expressed completely differently. For example, the first son of the Demon King. His everyday use name is as stated, "Meliodas". If you know him, chances are you’ll only ever hear him refer to himself by this. It’s what he’s used to and he prefers it. His Other name though is mostly unpronounceable to humans, much like Merlin's. It must be spoken in the demon language which is impossible for human vocal cords to handle, but it roughly translates to a mixture of pride, darkness, and power.

Zeldris' own Other name roughly translates to honor, shadow, and strength. The Original Demon, Demon King and Supreme Deity also have these  ( with the latter two naming themselves ), although it's been so long since anyone has referred to them by it that it's all but considered lost knowledge and are known only to a few.

Even though residents of the demon realm are aware of their princes' Other names, they refrain from saying them. They are wary of those that do too. It's far safer to use Meliodas and Zeldris’ regular names or pseudonyms, and it's not recommended to test your luck. To try is a very bad idea for several reasons.

These Other names are powerful. Most are considered unworthy of using it in the first place. To do so is seen as blasphemous. It's believed saying their names aloud outside of certain narrations is a sign of severe disrespect and, therefore, must be avoided at all costs. To speak it to their face is a good as an invitation to incur their ire. This restriction can be lifted if one is especially familiar with them, like a family member or a close friend.

Second, and most importantly, it grabs their attention. Distance doesn't matter. If you utter the Other name, they will hear you. Sometimes your next few words as well.

This is due to the fact mentioning them generates a brief, tenuous connection through the soul. They don't have to take an interest every time anyone mentions them, but... they do notice it. The speaker's exact identity isn't always known as they go off what they hear, plus the use of context and tone of voice, but even without that a vague, general sense of your location is indicated. If nearby, they tend to soon come to seek you out.

Because of this, it's possible to summon them straight to you outside of rituals. Essentially, speak of the devil and he will appear. However, simply trying to call them out with this method often causes a magic reaction in the air. It has been known to inadvertently injure or kill weaker individuals in the immediate area if the backlash is strong enough.

It’s best to circumvent this by using their regular names within the confines of a prayer, though it has a far dimmer effect and it’s liable to be ignored altogether.

DIVISION IMPACT           ﹂ a gen.shin impact au with @hiselizabeth​​​

Meliodas — Hell's Renegade

Constellation:  Amare Daemonium  (  Loving Demon  ) Weapon:  Sword Element:  Pyro Nation:  ??? Current Residence:  Mondstadt / Transient Affiliation:  Self. The Adventurer's Guild Special Dish:  Meat Pie Special  (  base dish: Moon Pie  ) Additional Titles:  Dragonbane. Honorary Captain of the Knights of Favonius 7th Company.

Futher info;  verse summary / character stories  (  you’re already here  ), movelist  ( tba ), voicelines  ( tba ), image refs  (  appearance, attribute screen / constellation  )

▸verse summary

          Meliodas is similar to the traveler(s), in the sense that his place of origin is not the land of Teyvat. He is from a place known as Brittania, a land abundant with magic, but a cloud of misfortune plagues him. It is one that unceremoniously claimed his lover of many years, and he buckled under the pain and grief that struck after he discovered her cold body.

          He had been seeking a variety of ways to break the twofold curse. None worked thus far, but there were some he hadn't tried yet. Like the teleportation spell of unforeseen magnitude. No one knew what lay at the other end of it, but it no longer deterred Meliodas. He'd volunteer to partake in his oldest friend's experiment with it.

          Traveling an incomprehensible amount of distance may finally be the answer to loosen the shackles and free them. Surely that part of the curse couldn't follow so far, transcend the barriers keeping the places apart.

          If the spell backfired and wound up killing him ?  Hm, those things happened when messing with incredibly dangerous, unknown, and rarely tested magic.

          Surprisingly enough it worked, but he had no way of confirming if moving had the desired effect on the first half of the curse. Only time would tell. Still, while he was here he figured he should research local methods to break the curse's other aspect.

          It takes a few months to learn and become fluent enough in the Teyvat language, and soon after his arrival Meliodas registers himself as an adventurer with the established Adventurer’s Guild. After five long years, his journey across the seven nations finally brought him to the city of Mondstadt. He steps through the towering gates, unaware of what his prescence has unintentionally brought...

          Currently, Meliodas has apparently decided to stay in Mondstadt for now. He keeps his distance from the politics running rampant in the city, but does assist when deemed necessary, operating on a give-and-take symbiotic relationship.

          He had taken up residence in the city until six months ago when he accompanied the Grand Master on his expedition. Returning early on the tail end of the Stormterror incident, he's quickly reacquainting himself with the residents.

          He typically can be found out in the wilderness attending to commissions and gathering information, or within city’s taverns. If he's lucky enough, perhaps he can find a clue that can point him in the right direction of achieving his long standing goal.

▸character stories

read below for more lore information via short stories

CHARACTER DETAILS

Most who meet Meliodas for the first time often find themselves in doubt, or even disbelief, over his identity.

According to people who had the chance to journey with him, Meliodas is a finely honed blade who could kill as easily as he'd look at you. On its own, his ability to fight with his sword is highly trusted by his peers. A formidable opponent should you have fortune - or misfortune - of crossing blades with him and a man worthy of his elusive title  ❛ Dragonbane ❜. He is dangerous and not one to be taken lightly. Do not make that mistake.

When you meet him in person, the uninitiated hardly expect someone who carries himself in a lackadaisical manner and acts like the kind of guy who uses safety scissors to open a packet of crisps. Problems seem to slide right off his back without a care in the world.

Yes, his stature and occasional childlike behaviour can leave his initial impression as rather underwhelming.

A common thought is that this this young boy couldn't be the seasoned adventurer of the Adventurers' Guild people talked about in various areas across Teyvat. As a result, people tend to underestimate or dismiss him.

But Meliodas is a man of contradictions.

It often isn't long before time spent in his company reveals that his age, confidence, and experience extend far beyond his youthful appearance.

Needless to say, where there's smoke there's fire, and the stories stemmed from this man's fiery deeds are every bit true.

STORY 1

Meliodas is a curious sight among the citizens of Mondstadt.

An unknown wandering swordsman that came from nowhere, his sudden arrival at the city's gates went largely unnoticed by the general populace. Except for one.

By day, he completes commissions received from the Adventurers' Guild and reduces the number of greedy bandits and monsters out on the field. Outside of that, it's not uncommon to see him helping residents with various tasks should they request his help. Many often stop to have chats with him and wonder about his origins. But he never discusses them, ever vague about his past.

At night, he's a diligent patron to the city's many taverns. Sitting at a bar, he often cycles through the many drinks but curiously never gains a drunken air. His childlike appearance proved to be a hindrance at first, alcohol barred from him no matter where he looked, but somehow that hurdle was mysteriously cleared.

When asked by what means he achieved this feat Meliodas refuses to divulge the details, instead meeting the inquiry with a cryptic response,  ❝ Nothing gets between me and a drink. Where there's a will, there's a way. ❞ 

But no one can point to the reason why Meliodas hasn't moved on from Mondstadt yet. What could have enticed a traveler notorious for never setting any roots into staying ?

Some speculate it was the City of Freedom's signature booming wine industry, but the most popular theory is a person.

To be specific, a kind, reliable individual who's a well known face among the streets of Mondstadt. The same one who first noticed Meliodas the moment he stepped foot through those gates: Elizabeth.

An optimist who's most frequent jobs entail little more than a series of gathering materials and flora. Meliodas accompanying her anyway is a curious but frequent occurrence.

And as it turns out Elizabeth has a cause of her own she's dedicated herself to. Whatever that may be is a mystery, known to her alone, but Meliodas has heard her words and has pledged himself to it.

STORY 2

❝ Hey, I hear they're hiring again. I guess they need more than just the usual to get things done. They must be fighting a pretty tough opponent. ❞ 

The words catch the ear of a passerby, who takes the time to stop and look in confusion at the group of hardened, grizzled men outside of the nondescript establishment. Were they checking out a recruitment ad ? 

Now curious, Meliodas asks that very question, only to receive an annoyed rebuke. After all, this was no place for a kid.

Waving off the warning, he replies that the reason he was there was because the captain specifically requested him.

Many of the men scoff, some devolving into amused chuckles, others outright mocking him after glancing at Meliodas' size. It's preposterous that the mercenary captain would call for a child, who'd only be good at best to run some errands. They tell him as much, and that he should leave while he still had the chance to walk away.

Meliodas merely smiles and pulls his hands out of his pockets,  ❝  Well, since I'll be working with them, I might as well go around and introduce myself. ❞ 

A short time later finds the lot of men groaning in pain, if lucky enough to retain consciousness, the lone figure standing amongst them turning to greet the newcomer to the scene.

The man notes Meliodas' early arrival before asking who the guys on the ground are. Meliodas explains that he didn't have any other plans so he arrived a few days ahead of schedule and wanted to introduce himself to the applicants for the posted mercenary ad.

The mercenary captain laughs,  ❝ I take it they judged your size, and you taught them not to. That's fine. They'll have to go through these things if they want to work with you. Come in, and we'll have a long chat about what's going on. I have some excellent drinks waiting for us. ❞ 

His abilities indeed lived up to the ever fleeting rumors floating about mercenary circles across Teyvat for two years now. Following his impressive contribution to the crew's successful completion of a difficult job, Meliodas' reputation only spreads further among the awed whispers shared between cohorts in Sumeru's late night bars.

STORY 3

While his main work laid with his adventuring, few within Mondstadt's walls would deny that Meliodas was born to lead. Including the Grand Master.

After being dispatched by the Guild to deal with several dangerous threats and resolving a crisis involving the abrupt demonic outbreak plaguing the nation of Mondstadt thanks to the Abyss Order, Meliodas was sought after for his skills and expertise. The Grand Master intended to recruit him into the Knights of Favonius and, after some time, have him become a captain.

❝ I dunno. I think I'll have to pass on that. It's not really my thing. ❞ 

Meliodas responds with the same answer he gave to the Fatui who failed in their attempt to bring him into their fold half a year prior. Honestly, after observing the complicated, twisting politics of the land he decided he was better off operating outside of it. He’d watch the conflict and war between factions from the sidelines, please and thanks.

There's no desire left in him to reenact the days of his past.

However, he was convinced to accept the title of an Honorary Knight, and before long, he was named the Honorary Captain of the 7th Company.

He accompanied the Grand Master on his recent expedition for a while before parting ways for some reason, embarking on a new journey. Rumor has it that he was last seen in Natlan, living up the nickname of  ❛ Dragonbane ❜.

STORY 4  (Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6)

A place of endless darkness, an abyss from which light could not escape. Ghastly monsters roamed its desolate plains. Breathing the air corroded one's very being. Many who knew of it would go so far as to call it Hell itself. To a young man, it was only ever simply his homeland. Nothing more, nothing less.

Raised as amongst the highest echelons of an ancient clan, this darkness nurtured him. It beat through his veins. His power far surpassed all contenders. His prowess in battle unmatched. Orders were followed to the letter and carried out with emotionless efficiency, no matter how cruel or violent. Indulging in the brutal slaughter, he fed the ground with rivers of blood from all walks of life. Nothing was too challenging to conquer or too demanding of him to overcome.

During his reign, his strength, his ruthlessness, his callous disregard for life... it was a terrifying and majestic sight to behold.

Eventually, he would come to represent antithesis of hatred itself: The Love.

In the eyes of the cold and strict lord, his father ?  The perfectly molded weapon: The Destroyer.

Faced with that, the other clans could do nothing but cower, crippled by his very presence.  ❝ Accursed demon. ❞  Their dying breaths. Within his own clan, the man was accepted and acknowledged by all as the most worthy successor to the pinnacle of his kind.

A strange existence, to be both so exalted and hated in equal measure. But it was his. It's all he'd ever known and, for a while, he reveled in it. The pride. The cruelty. The eternity of fighting. Even if it held no meaning. Even if he hated it.

But in life laid the potential for change. After many years the man found something he wanted to protect from the bottom of his heart, but knew with certainty that eventual harm would be inflicted upon it with his own bloodied hands if he stayed. And thus, he decided to leave his clan. He didn't plan on asking for anyone's permission. Not his father. Not even—-

❝ So then, are you abandoning the Clan ? ❞  His mirror image snaps in protest.  ❝ Are you abandoning me, brother ?! ❞ 

The rage is palpable, thick enough to choke the air, but it's too inadequate to shake newfound resolve. However, it is enough to spur an crazy idea, to prompt his hand to extend out.

❝ Zel, take Gelda and come with me. ❞ 

So alike, in appearance and temperament. But this is where their fates would diverge, differing ideals steering them down separate paths. The smack echoed through the clearing, breaking a pensive beat of silence as the man's hand and offer is cast aside.

He'd never forget the look of both dismal hope and hatred in his brother's eyes before Zeldris turned his back on him. His voice flowed into the man's ears, burning hot with betrayal.

❝ Just leave for all I care !  I no longer think of you as my older brother !  The next time I see you, we will be enemies !! ❞

Only later would he come to realize his misstep and let the guilt settle in. Spoken without even thinking, with no thought of the difficulties that idea would truly entail, of how it would appear to his brother who saw the offer for what it truly was.

...He was too naive, back then. From actions born of love and desperation, how could Meliodas have foreseen what he was about to put into motion ?

STORY 5  (Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6)

The heavy rain beat a somber melody the night the mage first found him.

The evening days before played out a too familiar a sight. Kneeling in a puddle of blood, Meliodas embraced an old friend: anguish. He mumbled sweet nothings into matted silver hair as he cradled a broken body robbed of life, whispering a thousand apologies for his continous failure.

All the power in the world meant nothing when it couldn't protect that which he cherished. That was his sin.

His story had the same ending, no matter the numerous permutations and alterations. It didn't matter what he tried, to escape or sever the cursed noose around his neck. The authors wouldn't dare allow a respite from his torment.

This feeling that boils up inside of him, is it white or black ?

Spiraling... he's spiraling again. Further and further down into a sinister hole that gets harder to claw back out of each time he falls in. It's with pained tears in his eyes, and a numb heart that he makes his request to the most accomplished mage in all the land. This was a method they had never attempted yet. Maybe... just maybe the shadow hanging over him wouldn't follow him to such a great distance. Maybe this time he could grant her a new life free of the suffering he brought to her.

Gold eyes sternly held his, distant but understanding.  ❝ ...Are you certain of this, Meliodas ? There’s no turning back once you cross. ❞ 

❝ You already know my answer to that. There’s no need to worry about my wellbeing. One day, we'll see each other again, Merlin... Take care. ❞ 

Much time has passed since then and since Meliodas found himself under an unfamiliar sky.

Reclining in a chair, boots propped on the rungs of a neighbouring chair, his Vision is continuously rolled across his knuckles, a contemplative look worn as he stares out the window.  ❝ Man, has it already been six years ?  Feels like time blinked by. ❞ 

Behind him, prepping tea and an afternoon snack for herself and her guest after a morning of completing commissions together, silver hair sways as a light tune is hummed.

VISION  (Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 4)

While aimlessly wandering the world, Meliodas came to learn many things. But one thing stood out to him no matter where he drifted: the seven gods who rule the seven nations as the Seven Archons, and the Visions they bestowed.

A Vision is an incredible power. The manifestation of human ambitions rising further beyond what mortals considered conceivable. An external apparatus handed down from the seats of the divine, by which favored humans channeled elemental power.

Some have wondered what ambitions earned Meliodas his, for he too had been given a blessing. The proof rested on a thick cord hanging from his waist, emanating the mysterious glow all Visions are known to have.

The truth is the archons hadn't granted Meliodas a Vision. The glass ornament he carries with him is but a fake, and he never would receive one. A foreign being to the system does not belong, and is incapable — or more simply deemed unworthy — of bearing gifts meant for the chosen of the world.

The gods shunning his existence, regarding him as just one of the many humans, is not an issue that bothers him... Really, he's all the happier for it. If the eyes of the gods linger on those past blessed, then that's surveillance he can do without. The natural power he wielded already far surpasses that of a Vision wielder. He'd survive any threat thrown his way just fine, one way or another.

Truly, Meliodas has no need of a vision.

So then why does he keep his fake Vision so close ?  Why is a worthless imitation held onto almost like a lifeline ?

Easy. It is his last link to his past.

And if someone manages to catch snippets of him quietly talking to it at night, the name  ❛ Merlin ❜  possibly falling from his mouth amidst the one-sided (?) conversation ?

That's no one's business but his own.

AN EVERLASTING GARDEN  (Unlocks at Friendship Lv. 6)

If a close friend were to ask what Meliodas considered the most precious thing in the world to him, the answer might surprise them: his garden.

There's an appreciation, a gratitude he cannot quite express, for the chance to be allowed to care for his garden. Once a barren wasteland, miraculously a lone white flower rose where life was thought impossible, enchanting him with the sheer absurdity that it somehow chose here of all places to bloom. That perfect flower would have been enough to make him happy until the end of his days.

So many had grown in it since, and a wide variety of blossoms greeted him over the years in a stunning kalediscope of colors. Some vivid, some understated, all equally charming.

He carried the memories of them within his heart, for each brought a new experience, representing a snapshot of the fleeting bursts of joy throughout his long life. Although they all sprang forth from the same seed of that first blossom, every one of them was unique. He loved all his flowers. They were his greatest treasure.

He learned that everything is fated to eventually disappear.

Many flowers had grown, and just as many wilted.

Sometimes they are picked violently, trampled on. Sometimes their petals are plucked before they had the chance to really live. Sometimes they simply wane after a time, drawing their last breaths and withering away.

There was little he could do to prevent it. No methods ever worked to preserve them. Moments of levity and happiness continued being torn apart. Grief etched into his soul, chipping a little more away at him, deepening the void the partings left behind.

There came times Meliodas would leave, unable to bear the bitter heartache. It might have been him, a dark voice insisted at the back of his mind. Perhaps the shadow he cast blocked the sunlight they needed to flourish.

It didn't matter how far he walked away, for his and their sake. His garden was always with him.

In the end, all his flowers died before his eyes. But, unfailingly, one would soon sprout to take the last's place, resetting the lost progress to begin anew. So there would always be more. A beautiful flower who's only purpose is to die over and over. He'd never run out. A gift of the gods.

❝ How many times must I see this ?  Why... did they have to die ? ❞ 

Questions Meliodas often asked himself with an ever mounting sense of loss and frustration. The gods are silent. He's left to stare down a road without an end, scattered with fallen petals.

Seated underneath the plentiful shade of the oak tree in Windrise, watching the young maiden pause in her task of picking a collection of Windwheel Asters to wave in his direction, Meliodas can only smile and wave back as the light dances gently across the white Cecilia flower tucked behind her ear.

Two sides of the same coin. The brighter the light, the darker the shadow.

❝ This kind of eternity — it was never your desire. Isn’t that right.... Elizabeth ? ❞