The Goddess' Druid

(Chapter 26) Love, Pride, and Selflessness

Arcadia watched as Ban got to where she was, before he struggled to move toward the Commandment. "You Bastard." he spat. However, when Estarossa saw Arcadia's unfazed and bored face, he smirked. "Well then, if it isn't one of those pesky runts of the Goddess Race. How about you fly away back to your little nest, feather brain?" he asked, his voice mocking. However, Escanor stopped her. "Allow me to handle this, Arcadia." he said, but she didn't listen, and cut the demon clean across the chest, or so she thought. She spat out some blood as he brandished his sword in front of him. Arcadia struggled to stand when she saw the deep gash in her chest, glaring at the demon that walked up and grabbed her by her hair. "Agh!" she yelped, before the cold metal of a knife blade was pressed against her throat. She stopped him from slitting her throat with her sword. "I'll kill you." She struggled to breathe when he grabbed her neck and started choking her, but he was knocked back by her using her wings to throw him back. She gasped for air and was glad to have it. Escanor supported her with his arm. "Thanks." she mumbled, before she fell to her knees when he attacked Estarossa. Arcadia then healed herself as she watched Escanor use his power, 'Sunshine' for the first time she had ever seen him use it. Her blue eyes widened as she realized what the Sin of Pride possessed, as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Oh dear, so that's who it went to." she whispered, as Ban and Slader helped her inside the castle. "No, there's another threat headed this way." She tried to warn them, but they didn't listen. Once she had fully healed herself, Arcadia walked right back outside to see Derieri and Monspeet, causing the Commandments' eyes to widen. "You! You're that brat that was related to that murderous bastard!" Derieri growled, her eyes bloodshot and fixated on her. Arcadia assumed a ready stance, before a familiar voice rang clearly in her ears. "Not so fast." It was Denzel. "Hey, Denzel, these guys aren't exactly the type of people you can fool." Ban said, but he held a hand up. When Denzel unsheathed his sword, she recognized its markings. "Are you insane?! Your body can't handle that!" she yelled, but it was too late, and he was already done with the incantation. Denzel pulled Nerobasta's soul into his body as Deathpierce had tears rolling down his face. "He gave up his body as a place to manifest. I assume you're a member of the Goddess Race?" he asked the diving being. The now manifested goddess confirmed his question. "To be more precise, I am a Lance Corporal of the Goddess Race, and my name is Nerobasta." Everyone was shocked. Well, everyone aside from Arcadia. The Celestial Lance Corporal turned to see the Commandments as Deathpierce spoke. "Please, we need your help. Our friend has given-" "I decline." she interrupted, before flying up into the air away from the battle. Derieri took off after her and killed her after being temporarily trapped in Nerobasta's 'Arc'. she then landed next to Monspeet. "Derieri, I understand your anger, but try not to overdo it. Come now, let me fix your hair." he said. With that, the two took off.

Arcadia walked back into the castle and saw Vivian right before she teleported away with Gilthunder, causing Margaret to stare at the place where he stood before she was hugged tightly by Arcadia. "This isn't the time or place to cry, Princess Margaret." she reassured her, before she heard a cackle behind her. She turned and saw Dreyfus, possessed by Fraudrin, as he laughed. "Smart move, but as we speak, more eggs are hatching." he said. Arcadia saw Dogedo dead on the floor of the throne room, and scowled up at Fraudrin. Just before the eggs started to hatch, Gustaf acted and used the last of his magic to freeze the eggs temporarily. "Freezing Field." he rasped, before coughing up some blood and going limp. "Gustaf..." Slader tried, but Arcadia knew it was no use when she saw Gustaf staring at his body. He looked at her, and saw her smiling softly at him. "Go." she mouthed, causing him to nod. "He's gone, Slader." she said, before the eggs were frozen in a large ice crystal. Merlin then floated in and revealed her true name. "Oh my, what took you so long, Merlin?" she asked, causing the mage to smirk as Dreyfus ran away, with Hendrickson following on his tail. "Oh no you don't!" she yelled. She followed Hendrickson and flew after Fraudrin, transforming into a Prairie Cat and allowing Hendrickson to ride on her back. He then went to fight Fraudrin, with Arcadia helping him whenever she could, before a bolt of lightning hit Dreyfus and the smoke cleared to reveal Zaratras. Arcadia saw Hendrickson's face become shocked before he looked at her. "I'll tell you later." she said, before he and Zaratras started fighting Dreyfus. They knocked him back and into a wall, causing him to get hit by Hawk. when the pig blew a foul stench into his face, distracting him. Zaratras took the distraction as an opportunity, and grabbed Dreyfus. "What are you doing, Grandmaster Zaratras? Using 'Purge' is futile." he said, chickling. "Not if I pour my life force into it. That will get you out of my little brother's body." he said, before locking his arms under Dreyfus' and yelling as he purged him. "Zaratras no!" Hendrickson yelled, but he had already done it. Fraudrin was out of Dreyfus' body, standing much taller than the two. "D-Damn you. You think that was enough? All I have to do is hop right back into Dreyfus' body. Your sacrifice was useless." he said. "We won't let you!" Arcadia yelled, running at him before being knocked back by the giant demon's fist. She hit a wall with a sickening crunch as her wing broke, letting out a blood curdling scream that made Hendrickson's face pale, before he ran at Fraudrin next. However, he was stabbed in the shoulder and held in the air. "Use me instead, not him." he rasped, his voice filled with pain. "I think I'll pass. After all, you're far too weak, and Dreyfus and I have been good partners for ten years now." he said. "Is that what you call it?" Arcadia asked as she struggled to stand. "You used him as your vessel to exact revenge against the Seven Deadly Sins, and regained your strength through him. But Meliodas is dead, so there's no reason for you to use his body anymore." she finished, before Fraudrin struck her again. "You may not remember me, but my brother ended your life once, and I'll do it again for him if I have to." she said, using her sword to get back up on her feet. She had scratches all over her, a gash in her back, and now one in her side. "I refuse to give up, not for my friends, but for the family that I've found over the years!" she yelled, only to be interrupted by a large beam hitting the spike that impaled Hendrickson's shoulder, causing the ground to shake and Arcadia to fall again. She then smiled as her eyes landed on her friend. "Dreyfus." she said, tears blurring her vision as he looked over at her. He then looked back at Fraudrin. "Don't mess with my friends." he said, causing her to smile as she finally laid down on her uninjured side. She had no mana left, but that was alright for her. She watched as Dreyfus blasted Fraudrin to seemingly nothing with his magic, and then felt two arms wrap themselves around her, healing her. "Dreyfus?" she celled, before she felt something warm on her back as her wing was healed. "Not Dreyfus, but it's me." Hendrickson offered, as she leaned against him. "I- mph!" she felt his lips against hers as he kissed her, before the two heard someone clear their throat and looked over to see Zaratras and Dreyfus looking at the two of them. "So, how long have you two been together?" Zaratras asked, causing Arcadia to bury her now red face in Hendrickson's neck. "You're telling them, not me." she said loud enough for them to hear. Dreyfus laughed before he spoke to Zaratras. "I get bragging rights, I told you those two would end up together." he said, as Hendrickson carried Arcadia over. "I'm sorry, but I don't have any strength left in me." Zaratras mumbled. "Perhaps I should have let you two take over for me sooner." he said, as Arcadia smiled over at him. "Forgive me, brother, it was my fault." Dreyfus tried. "No, I'm the one to blame here. It was me who caused this by being too weak." Hendrickson shot back. Zaratras sighed before bumping into Dreyfus' head and flicking Hendrickson under the nose, before punching Arcadia in the arm. "Ow, what the hell did you hit me for? I didn't even say anything!" she fumed, causing him to give her the side eye slightly. "You could have brought me back sooner and less painfully." he scolded, causing her to chuckle nervously. "What?!" Hendrickson and Dreyfus shouted, causing her to laugh. "There's a ritual that's millennia old, but I'll show you later." she said, swatting at them. As Zaratras faded away, he spoke. "Give Gilthunder a message for me. Tell him that I'm always watching over him." he said, before he finally faded away into nothing. After a few moments, Dreyfus spoke. "Brother, I will make sure Gilthunder gets your message." he said, before a voice rang clearly in his ears. "Unfortunately, that's never going to happen." Fraudrin said behind them as the dust cleared.