YAAAAAWN!!

King: Remind me again why we're going to this old man's house?

(M/n): Hey, if I'm gonna help you guys find Escanor, it's best to do so with the right equipment and atmosphere.

Merlin: I didn't know you were the type to study, (M/n).

(M/n): Some things change over time Merlin, and that includes people as well.

Meliodas: Are you sure Grandpa Floyd won't mind you taking us to his home?

(M/n): Course he won't. Not only that, he's a pretty big fan of you guys.

Diane: *Surprised expression appears on his face* Really?

(M/n): *Nods in reply* Yes siree.

Elizabeth: Is he still at home?

(M/n): *Shooks head in reply* Nah, he's manning his shop at this time. He's a blacksmith for a living.

Gowther: How old is Grandpa Floyd?

(M/n): *Thinks for a moment* I'd say around Bartra's age.

Gowther: I see.

Elizabeth: *Looks at (M/n)* So That must mean he's close to my father's age, yes?

Upon hearing Elizabeth say this, (M/n) then stopped walking and turn to Elizabeth with Meliodas and the others stopping as well.

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth* Bartra's your dad?

Elizabeth: *Nods in reply* Yes.

(M/n): ?

Elizabeth: *Nods once more* That's right.

(M/n): *Thinks for a moment* If that's the case, then that would make you a-

Meliodas: Yup!! Elizabeth here is a princess.

*Awkward silence occurs*

(M/n): Well.... This is awkward.

Gowther: Extremely.

Elizabeth: Moving on, how long until we reach Grandpa Floyd's house?

(M/n): Oh!! Right!! We're almost there, his house is just a couple of minutes away. We'll arrive there by lunchtime.

King: That's a relief, my feet are killing me.

(M/n): *Looks at King* You're floating in the air. You haven't even touched the ground for the past hour and a half.

King: *Shrugs* Whatever.

With that said and done, (M/n) and the others then continue walking to Grandpa Floyd's house so he can help Elizabeth and the Sins find Escanor. Or to be more accurate, pin point the Lion's Sin of Pride's possible location.

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A few minutes later, (M/n) and the others finally arrive at Grandpa Floyd's house. When Elizabeth and the others looked at the house, the building looked like it went through the world's largest grill and survived while having the complexion of dirt during the hottest times of the year.

If there's one thing to describe this house, it would be horrid.

King: *Looks at (M/n) in doubt* Are you sure this is the place?

(M/n): *Looks at King* Uh, yeah. Why?

Diane: I'm not trying to be rude, (M/n), but this place looks like a wreck.

Gowther: Literally.

(M/n): *Sighs* "Don't judge a book by it's cover", ever heard that saying before?

Diane: *Nods in reply* Yes, but what does that have to do with this house?

(M/n): *Gestures Diane and the others to follow* I'll show you.

After that, Elizabeth and the others follow (M/n) as they all walk up to the front door.

(M/n): *Brings out keys from pocket* It may look ugly in the outside. But it's the inside that changes everything.

Merlin: Really? How?

(M/n): See for yourself.

(M/n) then opened the door and reveals the inside of the house. Unlike the outside, the inside was absolutely phenomenal and it was enough to impress even Gowther himself, who shows no human emotion whatsoever.

Each corner of the house was decorated with the best looking furniture and looks like it belongs to an aristocrat. After letting the others go around and look, (M/n) then took them to his study room.

(M/n): Alright!! Now that we're here, we can start figuring out where ole Escanor is.

Merlin: *Nods in agreement* Right.

Elizabeth: *Looks around the room* Wow, so many books.

(M/n): Grandpa Floyd gave me those last year as a Christmas present, and I finished reading every single one of them.

Elizabeth: *Looks at (M/n) in astonishment* Really? All of them?

(M/n): Every single book your looking at right now.

King: I didn't know you were the type to read.

(M/n): Well, now you know.

After saying this, (M/n) then walks up to a giant map of the entire land.

(M/n): So tell me, cap. *Looks at Meliodas* Did you and the others stay in touch with each other after the escapade of ten years ago?

Meliodas: *Shooks head in reply* Nope. Neither of us stayed in touch after that day.

(M/n): I see. Did you guys hear anything related to Escanor? You know, possible whereabouts and stuff.

Diane: None that I can think of.

King: Me neither.

Gowther: Actually. *(M/n) and the others look at him* I might have the answer.

(M/n): Okay, shoot.

Gowther: Shoot with my Sacred Treasure?

(M/n): *Looks at him in anger*

Gowther: Oh. In that case, I may have a possible lead to where Escanor is.

Elizabeth: Really? Then where is he, Sir Gowther?

Gowther: Well. *Walks up to the map* Some sources state that Escanor may have fled to the far western side of Britannia, somewhere near the Western Ocean.

Merlin: Hmm, seems like a good place to hide. There's no Holy Knight activity there and the chances of being caught there are slim.

(M/n): Not to mention the area's pretty rigid in terrain and packed with monsters that would love to make anyone a snack.

Meliodas: Then that's where we'll go. We'll head West and find Escanor when we get there.

Elizabeth, Merlin, King, Diane, and Gowther: Right!!

When Elizabeth looked around the map, she noticed something strange on it. A large black X marked on top of a name located on the middle right of the map.

The princess can't make up what the name is due to the X blocking much of the lettering.

Elizabeth: What's that? *Walks towards the map*

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth* What's what?

Elizabeth: *Points at the spot crossed out* This. Why is this part of the map crossed out?

When (M/n) looked to where Elizabeth was pointing, he began to have flashbacks of his past. And let me tell you, it wasn't pleasant at all and this is literally shown on his face. As his flashbacks continued, (M/n) then suddenly falls to the ground and catch everyone's attention.

This lasted for almost five minutes and then, (M/n) snaps back to reality, only to find Elizabeth and the others looking at him in confusion and concern. After looking at each and everyone's faces, (M/n) storms out of the room and heads right outside while breathing heavily.

Elizabeth: SIR (M/N)!! *Runs after (M/n)*

Diane: Elizabeth!! WAIT!! *Attempts to follow her, but-*

Merlin: *Grabs Diane's shoulder* No Diane. Let Elizabeth handle this.

Diane: *Diane looks at Merlin* But-

Merlin: Don't worry, (M/n) will be fine. Trust me.

*Brief silence occurs*

Diane: *Sighs in surrender* Okay.

Merlin: Good.

With that said and done, Merlin then lets go of Diane so the worried girl can calm down.

Elizabeth: SIR (M/N)!! *Runs up to (M/n)* What's wrong? Why did you run off all of a sudden?

(M/n): You shouldn't have done that.

Elizabeth: What?

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth* You shouldn't have pointed at that spot on the map.

Elizabeth: Why?

(M/n): Cause it's a place I'd rather forget than to remember.

Elizabeth took the time to think this through and put the pieces together to solve this problem. It didn't take long for her to find the answer when she remembered something else written on that particular part of the map....

""

Elizabeth: Is that part of the map.... your home, (M/n)?

*Silence occurs*

(M/n)(In thoughts): I was afraid she'd say that.

(M/n): *Sighs* Yes, the spot you pointed at earlier is my home.

Elizabeth: What happened? Why is it crossed out?

(M/n): It's not a pretty story.

Elizabeth: Just tell me, I can handle it.

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth* You sure?

Elizabeth: *Nods in reply* Yes.

(M/n): *Inhales and exhales* Okay, I'll tell you.

With that said and done, (M/n) and Elizabeth walk towards a nearby bench and sit on it so he can tell her his origin story.

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(M/n)'sP.O.V/Point of View

I grew up in a place called Krisnof, a small village about 11 miles away from the Kingdom of Liones. I was part of the village's vanguard back then and I had a sister, mother, and father.

My family and I lived peacefully until the day my father was murdered by bandits. Mom, my sister, and I didn't take this well and I hoped that those bandits would be brought to justice for what they've done wrong.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Instead of going after them, the rest of Krinsof's vanguard decided to let them be for reasons I don't know of. I demanded them to go after my father's murderers, but they ignored.

At that moment, I felt nothing but anger. Fiery, pulsing anger for those bandits. I wanted justice.... No, I wanted vengeance. So, after my request for the bandits' arrest was turned down, I did the one thing I had never done:

I went after them, alone.

I did this during the middle of the night, when everyone in Krisnof was fast asleep. Including my mother and sister. I was supposed to be at my post to do my nightshift during that time, but I was too angry to do my job.

Let me tell you, it wasn't easy tracking down those bandits. However, I managed to find their secret hideout after hours of searching. Once I was inside, I dealt with them one by one. It was a tough fight, but I succeeded and captured them.

With my father's murderers captured, I loaded them all onto a carriage they have outside of their hideout and then went back home. Hoping to be welcomed back a hero. Completely unaware I was gonna get the opposite of that.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

About five hours later, I returned to Krisnof. But when I looked out into the village....

(M/n)(Flashback): Huh?

It was in ruins. All the buildings were destroyed, smoke from small fires take to the sky to form pillars, and worst of all, I could see bodies. Both farm animal and human.

I was horrified by this and without hesitation, I then got off of the carriage and went into town to search for survivors. All The while hoping that one of them is my mother and sister.

(M/n)(Flashback): HELLO!! IS ANYONE STILL ALIVE!!

I still think about Krisnof. Everyday. Filled with sorrow and deep regret for my foolish actions. I looked high and low, under and over all over the place, but I found no signs of life except the flies.

I almost stopped looking. Started, giving into the hope that my mother and sister are safe and are looking for me as I kept searching. And then, when I looked to my left....

I found them inside a destroyed house lying on the floor with a large wooden beam on top of them.

(M/n)(Flashback): NO!!

I rushed towards them and then proceeded to lift the beam off of my mother and sister. It was hard lifting the huge beam, but I finally managed to get it off.

After that, I checked to see if their still okay. I looked for a pulse, but....

(M/n)(Flashback): *Looks at his mother and sister* No....

(M/n)(Flashback): No, no no!! This isn't what I wanted!!

(M/n)(Flashback): All I wanted was justice for my father's death!! Not this!!

(M/n)(Flashback): PLEASE!! I DON'T WANT TO BE ALONE!!

But no matter how hard I begged, it didn't change anything. My home, my friends, my family.... Everything I held dear vanished that day and it's never coming back.

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Elizabeth: What happened next?

(M/n): I stayed in Krisnof for a couple of days until I was found by a group of Holy Knights. The bandits I arrested were taken into custody, but so was I.

Elizabeth: Why?

(M/n): Insubordination of the highest level. As for how Krisnof was destroyed, remains a mystery. Some say it was a monster while others claim it to be the work of a bandit group.

(M/n): But none of that changes what I foolishly did.

Elizabeth: *Looks at you with concern* (M/n)....

(M/n): Even now, I can't forgive myself for what happened that day and wish that I would undo that decision to go after those bandits. If I hadn't, Krisnof could still be here.

Elizabeth: And this is the reason why you don't want to go with Sir Meliodas and the others?

(M/n): *Nods to her question* I can't go with them until I redeem myself of what happened all those years ago.

(M/n): I just.... need to know how and when to do it.

As (M/n) looked at the ground with great sorrow and regret, Elizabeth did something he never saw coming.

Without hesitation, the princess moved closer to him and gave the lad a hug.

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth in confusion* W-What are you doing?

Elizabeth: Comforting you.

(M/n): *Looks away in embarrassment* O-Oh.

Elizabeth: If you can't find a way, then maybe I can help.

(M/n): *Looks at Elizabeth* Really?

Elizabeth: *Nods in reply* Sir Meliodas helped me, so I think it's only fair that I help one of his friends too.

(M/n): *Smiles* Wow. Thanks, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth: *Giggles* You're welcome.

And then, (M/n) and Elizabeth hug each other. It was a nice, cute, heartwarming moment until-

Elizabeth: *Looks at (M/n) in shock* Oh my!!

(M/n): I-I'm okay!! Nothing to worry about.

(M/n)(In thoughts): So worth the hug.