Chapter 39 - The End

Every life matters. It has its own path and everyone has their own fate. It doesn't matter how big or small this fate is. Whether it is just about plowing the fields and taking care of the next harvests or whether it is about an apprenticeship with the Holy Knights to protect the kingdom of Liones. It doesn't matter if you are destined to become the new King of Camelot or if you have to turn your back on your own race to stand up for love. It doesn't matter whether you like your destiny or not, because one day you will come to the realization that everything is right the way it is. Because you cannot escape your fate. It is deeply anchored in you and secretly accompanies you all your life. And no matter what your destiny is, it always matters, no matter how big or small. Because it ensures balance in our life.

When I think about it like that, I, too, have denied these thoughts for a long time. I didn't see any real purpose in my life and had no clear goals, which meant that I never really found myself. For many thousands of years I walked through the worlds of humans, demons and, for a short time, also those of fairies, and I didn't feel at home anywhere. I didn't know who I am and took my life less as a gift and more as a burden. Since I didn't know who I was, I didn't know what my duties were either. All I did was wander around like I was looking for something without knowing what I was looking for. My life was empty and full of suffering. At least that's how I thought for thousands of years.

Today, I know that it wasn't like that and that all these years were just a long way to find my fate. And I've experienced a lot of great things along the way. I have found a best friend who not only became my companion, but also my soulmate. I fell in love with a boy and discovered his heart that he tried to hide so hard. I have found a friend who has a hard shell on the outside, but her inner core is full of kindness, affection and love. I lived with a young king who became like a little brother to me and at the sight of whom my heart is filled with pride to this day, because he grows up to a stately man and ruler. I made friends with holy knights and together with them I rebuilt cities and villages to give a home to those in need. I have made friends with a goddess whose closeness and friendship are like balm for the soul. I gave new hope to outcasted and outlawed knights and helped them to make amends for their mistakes. And I've learned to control my powers instead of letting them control me.

As if that wasn't enough, there was so much more. I made friends. True friends. They couldn't be more different but they complete each other perfectly. It was them who first accepted who I really am and who Meliodas really is. They showed me that there is a place for demons outside of their world. And even if they don't know, their acceptance has paved the way for the future. Because without their support, I would never have believed that we could end the holy war without great losses. I would never have found the courage to fight for both sides. Because without their support, both sides would not have been able to come together. Without their acceptance and understanding, Derieri, Monspeet and Zeldris would never have felt accepted and it would still be inconceivable that demons can also exist in the human world.

When I arrived at Boar Hat many months ago, completely upset, I would never have dared to dream it. I still remember Meliodas' surprised, but also serious look when we knew what was to come. I still remember how wild my heart was beating after I finally saw him again after all these years when I had missed him so much. And I remember the surprised and skeptical faces of his friends when this strange girl, that I was to them back then, stumbled into the tavern. I still remember very well Kings allegations when we were training together but also his trust and support that I had earned as a result. When I arrived at Boar Hat many months ago, I would never have thought that I would find such loyal companions and that there would be living beings again who would become like families for me. I had thought that Merlin and Arthur would be the last of these kind of people.

It had been a long time since then.

The months had passed, summer was long gone and autumn was slowly drawing to a close. The nights were icy and the brown and red leaves of the trees that had been lying on the ground for a long time already were still covered with frost in the morning hours. When I exhaled, small, bright white clouds formed in the air. The sun shone weakly through the woods and its warmth was not enough to really warm the day. The frozen leaves and thin branches that had fallen to the ground crunched and cracked under my feet as I walked along the otherwise muddy path of the forest. A few days ago I had set out on a trip to my old forest cabin where I lived before my adventure with the Seven Deadly Sins began, to clear it up. I had already taken the most important belongings with me when I left but it was certainly possible to build a nice stable for the wild animals so that they could get through the winter easier. In any case, I no longer needed this little hut. Of course it would have been easier to just fly in and be back at the Boar Hat just a few hours later, but that didn't seem right to me. I felt like I needed to end this journey the way it began.

Much had changed in the past few months. It turned out that Elaine had become pregnant shortly after the war ended. Kings face when he found out was hilarious. I had never seen him lose color so quickly while blood was flowing from his nose and he passed out. Diane didn't find it as amusing as the rest of us, however. But they too were expecting their first child in a few months and ruled the kingdoms of fairies and giants together as excellent rulers. Nevertheless, Elaine and Ban had embarked on their great journey, because he finally wanted to keep the promise that he had given her a long time ago.

Escanor had gone on a journey too. He was on his way to his old home in order to finally be able to finish with his past.

Merlin lived again in Camelot with Arthur and helped him become the best king this kingdom would ever have.

Gowther traveled all over the country holding seminars for young wizards to keep them from going astray and visiting poor houses to teach the children to read.

Meliodas still worked in the boar hat, but rarely roamed the country with his tavern and spent a lot of time in the vicinity of the kingdom. He had become engaged to Elizabeth some time ago and in a few years they would be the new rulers of the Kingdom of Liones. The tavern was also no longer open every day, but that was okay because we had never found a new cook and our food was still inedible.

Only I was looking for the right path for myself again while everyone else got on with their lives.

Meliodas no longer needed me the way he used to need me and I no longer needed him the way I used to need him. We were rid of our greatest worries and fears and he could finally live his life happily with Elizabeth, without eternal reincarnation and eternal rebirth.

But while everyone had found a new duty, it was all the more difficult for me. I considered taking over the Boar Hat for a while when Meliodas would rule Liones someday. After all, in a few years we wouldn't be mistaken for teenagers anymore. But in the end, the idea didn't seem right to me, as the Boar Hat was Meliodas' home for many years, which he had shared with his comrades, the Seven Deadly Sins. It should stay their home and they should decide how to proceed with it. There would've been something melancholy about working there, almost as if things hadn't changed. That wasn't what I wanted.

I saw Zeldris less and less. We were still a couple but he worked hard to change the demon world. It had been hard work convincing his entourage that demons were no longer viewed as enemies and showing them a new way to get away from fear and hatred. His father had done great damage to the kingdom over the many thousands of years and Zeldris worked hard to repair that damage. This, of course, meant that he had less and less free time to visit me. But it would also have made no sense to return to the demons world myself. So the only thing left for me to do was wait until we saw each other again.

The walls of the Kingdom of Liones were already visible in the distance, so I knew I would be there again in a few hours, when my mind wandered back to the last days after the end of the war, which I had spent with Zeldris.

I thought of all the morning hours we spent cuddling in bed and every laugh from him that filled the room and his childish, cheeky grin when he was joking or just teasing me a little. I thought of all the conversations he had had with Meliodas in a very intimate way after they had finally put down their differences and were like real brothers again. I thought of the black-haired young man who had changed so much in a few days. I was still trying to understand what burden was on him for all these years and how difficult it must have been for him all this time to pretend to be someone else that he always seemed serious and grumpy, when he was actually such a joyful person. I still wondered how our lives could have been if he hadn't had to protect me and he could just have been himself.

I thought of every moment I could feel his closeness. It doesn't matter whether he was just holding me in his arms or giving me a loving kiss as he walked past me. I thought of the ease of our relationship as if we'd been a couple forever. As if all those years of alternation between closeness and rejection had never happened between us.

A smile played on the corner of my mouth with all the beautiful memories. And I didn't care how long I had to wait to see him again because I knew I would see him again and that he missed me as much as I missed him.

I was so lost in thoughts that only a rustling behind me revealed that I was suddenly no longer alone. I had to admit that I had become a little careless since the war had come to an end, even though robbers, criminals and rapists had not vanished because of it.

Already the moment I turned around to see who was following me, the person began to speak. "It's really hard to find you when you're constantly traveling."

A warm smile lay on my lips as I stood almost petrified and just looked at Zeldris with loving eyes. Sometimes it seemed like he knew how much I missed him and showed up right that moment. He smiled broadly at me and looked incredibly good. His eyes shone in that beautiful green that was still a little unfamiliar to me and his muscles showed well in his dark shirt. The top two buttons were open, showing his chest muscles. He also wore dark trousers and a long, black coat that reached belong his knees. When he noticed that I was still just looking at him with love, he started moving towards me and hugged me tightly. His right hand went up to my face and with his thumb and forefinger he cupped my chin to lift up my face until our eyes met. "Hi" he whispered because we were already so close that I could feel his warm breath on my skin before he pulled my face a little further and with his other arm pulled my body closer to him, bringing his lips towards mine. While the kiss was still going on, I dropped the bag I had with me and put my arms around his neck to be even closer to him.

"I love you" I said when our lips parted after a few moments.

"I love you" he replied and kissed me again, albeit not that long this time.

"I didn't expect you, otherwise I would have been in the kingdom for sure" I apologized for having to look for me.

"Well, my brother is getting married in a few days, I don't want to miss that" said Zeldris, winking.

If you looked at it closely, Meliodas wasn't just my best friend. He was my hero too. If he hadn't found me 5.000 years ago and helped me control my powers, they would certainly have destroyed me a short time later. But it was also his friendship that somehow saved me, because all these years it gave me support when I needed it and hope when I had lost it. I owed him not only my life but also my happiness.

The bond between us was very special. It was marked by strength, hope, sadness, joy, solidarity, tears and laughter, as well as trust.

Whenever I looked at Meliodas, I always felt warmth, joy and a strong affection. But never before have I felt such a strong affection as when I watched him doing the wedding dance with Elizabeth and I couldn't stop shedding tears when I looked at them today. Meliodas gracefully moved his wife across the dance floor and it looked as if they were floating. His eyes were full of love for Elizabeth and he didn't look away from her for a second and I was sure that at that moment there was only the two of them.

He had finally arrived. He hadn't given up in 3,000 years, fell in love with hundreds of Elizabeths and kept losing them, but he never gave up. And finally, after 3.000 year, they got married and it was a happy ending forever. He never had to suffer again. He had finally arrived and he would never lose her again.

Knowing that he had finally made it overwhelmed me with happiness and I couldn't help but watch them both continuously while letting the tears of joy and love roll down my face.

(This is Yamis (your) dress for the wedding, except these chains with purple jewels, these don't exist on your dress)

It had been dark outside for quite a while and the ballroom was only lit by the countless candles as more and more guests moved on the dancefloor. Zeldris and I had already danced to a song, but then went back to our table. Even if it was a very happy occasion, Zeldris seemed somehow glum and was lost in thoughts, but he didn't want to tell me what was going on and always said that it's nothing when I asked what was bothering him.

I suddenly felt a light tap on my shoulder and turned to see Meliodas stretching out his hand to me. He turns to his brother. "Mind if I borrow her briefly?" he asked, then turned his head to me. "That is, if you want to dance with me?"

"Go ahead" said Zeldris with a smile and nodded encouragingly to me. With a smile, I grabbed Meliodas' hand and let myself be led over to the dance floor. The last song was just about to fall silent and a quiet tune played by drums, violins and a cello began to play.

Meliodas slowly began to move and began to guide me. We moved gently to the left and right, turning very slightly over and over again. Immediately we harmonized perfectly and I had the feeling that I didn't touch the ground below me anymore, we moved so gently together. He had his left hand on my back while he continued to guide me with his right hand. His gaze rested lovingly on me as we moved, while I examined everything about him and his face carefully.

"What's wrong?" asked Meliodas when he saw me studying him.

"You haven't changed at all" I replied lost in thoughts. "Only your hair has gotten a little longer." It wasn't just that. He had not only brushed them for tonight's event, but also neatly styled them back so that his blonde hair was no longer hanging in his face as usual. He suddenly looked so grown up. And yet I had to think of all the old times and how many times I had looked into that face. How often he smiled at me, stuck his tongue out cheekily when teasing me, but also how he leaned over my bed, crying, 3.000 years ago. So much had happened since then.

Meliodas giggled. "Is that something bad?"

"No, not at all" I replied, shaking my head. "I'm just in thought."

"Good thoughts, I hope."

"Yes" I said with a smile. "Very good thoughts. I am so happy for you."

"Thank you," Meliodas replied gently and pulled me a little closer so that he could rest his head on my shoulder. I leaned my head against his shoulder and let him continue to lead me to the beautiful melody. "I love you very much, Yami" Meliodas said softly, as his head was only a few inches from my ear.

"I know" I replied. "I love you too, Meliodas."

It was some time later when I heard Zeldris say my name, when I was in a conversation with Diane and Elaine. She and Ban had interrupted their trip especially for Meliodas' wedding and had returned to Liones for a few days. They had brought Lancelot, their baby, to the celebration and so our conversation quickly turned to the subject of babies.

I turned to Zeldris and saw how depressed he looked. Much worse than a few hours ago. I apologized to my friends and turned to Zeldris, who nervously grabbed my hand and led me to the edge of the room, away from everyone else. "Zeldris, what's wrong?" I asked him.