#nnt demon queen

[zeldriszezinho]

Its official: Adult Meliodas and Zeldris got some “Big Rizz energy”. Life is just so unfair, I mean, look at these images. How do you compete with these? If the boys father had this vibe (when young), I can definitely see why Jelly or Steph would fall for him. Dear god…

[zeldriszezinho]

I know two Demon Queen OC to confirm this info 😏😏. But hey, since this dude had blonde hair in the manga, it’s actually fair to think that his hairstyle could be somehow similar to DK Meliodas? (with, of course, the exception of the ahoge strands)

”my kids have that trademark boyish look”

WHY YOU ACTING LIKE THEY GOT THEIR LOOKS FROM YOUR CRUSTY ASS?!? NAH THEY GOT THEIR LOOKS FROM THEIR MOMMA NOT YOU SIT YOUR ASS DOWN

[hihopelessromantics]

Vampire Realm

I was dreaming up a map for the Demon Realm when @darkelf-7 put it into my mind that the vampires should have their own special dimension too. Absolutely they should! So without further ado, here's Gelda's kingdom (with worldbuilding lore)!!

First, I figured I would expand on the human-vampire relationship with a drabble. It's unusual for a vampire scenario to have them living far away from humans due to their unique coexistence. Either by necessity or personal taste, people are a vampire's source of life.

the beginnings of the stars & diamonds, the vampire realm’s human (ish) societies 

The ancestors were refugees who don’t know how they got here. 

They just woke one morning after traveling a long way to find themselves in a land of glowing color and eternal night. The first thing they noticed was the pleasant warmth of the air that was so foreign to them. Both the heat and the smell of that air was astonishing, that was what they wrote. The child sitting next to their gear and still-sleeping companions was astonishing, too, surveying them with brilliant green eyes as if he’d succeeded in some great task. 

“Have you been looking for a place to call home?” It was more of a statement than a question. They understood it well enough, though they didn't recognize the accent. “I sought those like you out, brought you to a place you will enjoy until you die.” 

They did enjoy it. It was peculiar- this land with no sun seemed to work in reverse to what they knew, the light and warmth emanating from the foliage and the lakes as clear and comfortable as bathwater. Crops seemed to grow just as quickly as before, and the variety of unfamiliar creatures was not afraid in the slightest of a bunch of human travelers, sometimes even speaking to them, albeit in hushed tones and in a language that would take them years to master. It was an island, they realized, yet over on the north shore they could see a vast land laid out before them just over the sea. The sailors among them came back with frantic reports about how the sea circled right back around to either island, regardless of how far they went, but the villagers were too busy fashioning the glimmering rock bed beneath the surface into homes, the children too happy with their new animal companions and the new mysteries of the sky and the world, for anyone to take issue. Better than the war-torn place they’d just escaped. Maybe one day they’d go home. It took two generations to realize that they were stuck here, in what could only be a new dimension, and as far as they knew there was no way back, unless they should ask that strange child again. He came now and again through the years to check on them, and was at first shy in a regal sort of way, but not unfriendly. He claimed he needed time away from home. So they built him a little hut fit for someone his size and furnished it alongside theirs. This - unexpectedly - flustered him so much that he ran off into the woods. Poor thing. 

The next time the boy came, he brought with him a blonde girl, captivating in beauty and speech. She apologized profusely for the disappearances of some villagers throughout the years. It was assumed those who went missing simply went into the portal near the lake and never returned - apparently, some  of these had been slain and drained of blood. She invited all the village leaders to that city their travelers spoke of, the dangerous one whose polished stone glowed purer and brighter than the moon. Such a fascinating person this was, and even from afar they could tell why so many of them crossed to the other island not only for the extra space but to be closer to those creatures who were their neighbors and built in their likeness. Unlike back home, there was no need to fear the unknown. So long as they paid the price in blood, all would be well - and the golden princess promised she would keep it that way so long as she could in her immortal life. They told her, in turn, that she was always welcome in their villages, and, say, what do you call yourselves exactly? 

Vampires. 

Vampire Realm Map

Aaaand here's the main feature!

Vampire Realm Features

Moon Society - 

The vampires’ cities are shaped like moons, the ancient buildings surrounded by fields of wildflowers, shrubbery, and equally ancient woodland. The most popular style of architecture and interior design puts strong emphasis on handmade objects and shows a general inclination toward a  fairytale aesthetic. Both minimalistic and eclectic elements are hugely popular. Skylights, balconies, and walls open to the air, accompanied by extravagant curtains taking the place of glass or doors, are the most unifying architectural element. Of all the arts, dance and music have been the most prone to change throughout the centuries. Most garments are handwoven with great craftsmanship and passed down through generations for as long as they stay in good condition. Elegance is far more popular than cuteness, sexiness, or even intimidation when it comes to one’s appearance. 

As far as vampires are concerned, their society encompasses as far as the glowstone reaches, and the concept of being ‘civilized’ and ‘uncivilized’ has no meaning to them. Considering that their overall population pales in comparison to any other race, even the beastmen, it has never made sense to vampires to do anything other than settle infighting in the most peaceful way possible. True, the glowstone is not pleased to lose a living soul before its time, but the vampires’ sense of loyalty means they would prefer peaceful estrangement to hostility even if that were no longer an issue. There are rumors among Britannian humans that there are various subspecies of vampire - just as there are various subspecies of demon - due to the variety of appearances and special abilities they may possess. 

Star Society - 

The human inhabitants of the realm have adapted to the environment over the centuries, but none so much as those who come from the Star cities. They embrace what they call the natural lifestyle of the “Midnight Isles” and maintain a strong bond with nature, and, when applicable, magic. Community, especially with other sentient residents of the “Midnight Isles,” is extremely important to them, and residents are known for their openness, boldness, and generosity. The wonder and appreciation they show for all the whimsies of life in the vampire realm enchants many vampires who encounter them, and though they are the main food source of said vampires, finding someone who resents this is rare. It’s rumored they’ve adapted to regular loss of blood on a biological level, but you can’t get a straight answer about that. It’s like they’ve never bothered to study it. 

Human visitors to the Star Capital are stunned by the locals’ behavior; particularly, their lack of fear of the landscape on which they live. The visitors wouldn’t judge so harshly, or try to convince them to leave with such inconsideration, but . . . it’s like they can’t see it. They can tell some of the creatures who live among them are demon, or vampire, but for some reason don’t notice this. Their neighbors and friends, particularly the avid travelers and the nature enthusiasts, aren’t quite . . . human anymore. The vampires, the animals, even the soil no longer considers them human. The vampires say that it’s true, that the life energy the glowstone circulates back into them is more plant, more animal, more vampire, more demon than human - that it’s the land’s blessing, and it makes their blood all the more delicious. “Tieflings,” the vampires call them, but not to their faces. The humans don’t seem to acknowledge the inhuman traits as strange. It’s like they don’t even know . . . what being human means anymore. Who can blame them, though? The Vampire Realm is a place where the plants themselves have personality, and the soil judges character on a life-or-death scale, so treating everything you see like it could be another person - another human being, as the humans say - is, in a way, as natural to them as the total lack of sunlight.

The Star people of this island are descended from explorers, witches, and scientists of various cultural backgrounds, and it is more apparent than in the Diamond people that some of these cultures are from lands beyond Britannia. These original cultures and traditions have a great impact on modern life and most relics from the ancestors’ homelands have been preserved. 

The network of star cities are not connected by roads but by what locals call ‘the trails.’ Obtaining knowledge of these is a symbol of trust from the locals, as most of the Star people’s sacred places lie along their beloved, uncharted paths. The architecture has no Britannian origins and varies widely from district to district, especially within the capital. Certain everyday rituals are inspired by vampire culture.

Diamond Society - 

Grit, and grace. That’s what the Diamonds hope to pass down to their children.

Separated from the rest of the realm by a bit of freshwater sea, the diamond cities have a whimsy all to themselves. Old growth forests containing ancient vampire relics remain practically untouched as the architects and designers preferred stone and textiles as craft materials over wood, a trend that continues to this day. These trees are the most vibrant in personality in the Isles. Some eagerly foster a relationship with the Diamond people, some keeping one or a few favorites while others gather flocks of humans as their friends. Others discriminate wildly against certain humans or humans in general. Friendly wild plants provide 70% of the Diamond people’s fruit and vegetables by gifting them directly to humans. And likewise, the rare craftspeople who work with wood do so through the gifts of the trees. Star people who visit the island are often taken by surprise by the vegetation’s behavior since their own native plants are so much more carefree. Foreign plants do not do well on this island, even those from the other Isle, so exports of rare plants in carefully wrapped terrariums are common. Generally, the creatures of the Diamond isle are larger and more hostile to those they don’t recognize or personally favor.  As for the weather, tropical storms are more frequent. Well-lit underground passageways connect the four main Diamond cities for use during rainstorms.

 The four main settlements do not consider themselves separate cities but extensions of the capital, and friends often travel all over the island together. They refer to the populated areas as “Cerberus,” no doubt as a reference to the wild “dogs” they built a relationship with over the centuries as well as to the fact they consider their Capital as one building rather than a city. And with that logic, there are only 3 ‘cities’ arranged around Jelly Lake.

Like the Star people, many Diamond people treat travel as a way of connecting with their home and each other. Despite the added danger of the isle’s unpredictable weather and creatures, however, they seem to treat their trips with less caution and with less supplies. Their familiarity with the island helps, but in the end, they are still in a land where the “little sea fishies,” as they call them, are bigger than their hunting “dogs”. So, visitors are quite concerned for the residents. Speaking of the sea, the people living in the Capital make business either with the sea itself (Sailors, water sports, fisheries, craftspeople, etc.) or with the merchants coming across the sea from the other island.

“Glowstone” aka vampire realm earthstuff- The white or pale grey color of the soil / rock seems to retain light. It supports a variety of ultra rare plants that even the demon realm cannot sustain. Instead of acquiring its nutrients from dying plants, glowstone sustains its health through a more mysterious relationship with the native flora and fauna wherein the life force itself is consumed. The minerals present in the vampire realm soil are considered extremely dangerous in other realms, and, for lack of a better word, exhibit a level of sentience. The soil circulates the excess life essence it consumes among its inhabitants, blessing them with accelerated healing and the sort of immortality present in the vampire race. In return, the flora acts on the whims of the soil, acting as mouthpiece and gardener. Studies find that glowstone does not contain pain receptors. Its chief complaint, when it has one, typically has to do with the magical balance of the realm and the lives of its creatures. Glowstone is extremely sensitive to new arrivals and spilled blood, and is said to “know and witness everything” that goes on in the realm. As for creature-esque characteristics, it lives vicariously through the plants, allowing the individual species to exhibit personality. On the rare occasion a vampire loses their life, that life is absorbed by the glowstone and their magical strength recirculated into another vampire as a blessing from the minerals.  Ambitious or dedicated demon mages and doctors acquire glowstone in order to form pseudo-symbiotic relationships with dying rare plants and medical patients. It is effective, but dangerous, and of course highly difficult, to separate the patient from this new symbiotic bond. Vampires are the only creatures in the realm known to retain their full health outside of the realm and out of contact with the glowstone for extended periods of time.

Water - The water of the vampire realm has an intense purifying quality that would keep a properly hydrated human visitor all but immune to the level of miasma. 

Crescent Castle - The majority of government and public functions are organized here. The castle overlooks a cliff and is surrounded by both public gardens and a nature reserve. 

Iris Springs - These warm water ponds in the depths of the forest are home to rare beetles, birds, and flowers. A certain pond is even called "the floating flower garden" due to the sheer amount of flowers cascading toward the water's surface from the tree canopy. These flowers enjoy extreme temperatures and bloom in the summer and winter. They are the only species of plant that can grow in Britannia, albeit they only bloom in the coldest and hottest days of the year, rather than the whole season.

Gargoyles - The gargoyles of the realm have quite a history behind them. The first ones were carved by the Diamonds as an act of bonding with the land and with its inhabitants. They represent peace and connection between souls. Made of glowstone, they serve as the peacekeepers of the land. When they are not tending to the flora and fauna, they can be found playing with each other and with the families they’ve bonded to. At the beginning of Izraf’s reign, he rounded up all the gargoyles from his citizens under threat of death in order to demonstrate his power and the dominion he claimed over the realm. Their limbs were cut off to prevent escape. This caused recurring periods of mass chaos, as the gargoyles had not only developed their own magic, but had been instrumental in keeping archives of important information since their creation. The gargoyles’ flight back to the moon cities marked the end of the Britannian daylight hours, and the type of creatures they brought back for nurturing marked the change of seasons. This allowed the vampire to accurately determine the exact time in both Britannia and the demon realm, and travel as they please while maintaining perfect punctuality to scheduled events. Being forced to give up their traditional calendar enraged most working-class inhabitants of the realm, who from then on made a point of dodging and delaying any specific times for duties Izraf gave them. The nobles just claimed that it was whatever time the latest person to a meeting said it was, unless they wanted to rub Izraf’s technical failure in his face, in which case no one could agree on what time it actually was. Having condemned bringing human inventions back to the vampire realm, the King had no choice but to suck it up. 

The current gargoyle tribe was restored by the Diamonds as a celebratory gift for the Great Vampire Queen’s wedding. 

Unlike the glowstone in the realm’s earth, gargoyles can feel pain, and immediately took vengeance - much to the shock of everyone, who had perceived them as dead and not dormant as they were. It was thought that the consciousness of their beloved family members had been lost forever due to the damage.

Moon Pool - This lake below the Crescent Castle is warm to the touch. It is home to extremely rare aquatic beings which regularly commune with visitors to the lake. The water is thought to have magical properties due to its unique attribute of the water droplets and blobs floating above the lake’s surface, The displaced water rises a certain height into the air depending on the phase of the moon. 

Portal to the Vampire Realm - Located near the Crescent Castle and the Moonpool, this is the only way to enter the demon realm by any normal means. Ancient warnings are etched into the entrance to the relic and the torches down the spiral staircase remain generally unlighted. The descent can kill most humans, as the level of miasma gradually increases the closer they get to the actual portal. 

Portals to the Human Realm - These relics are relatively untouched by the general human public. A dangerous realm lies beyond them, and few can remember its nature except for the lucky adventurers and groups of merchants who bring back wild tales. Certain vampires are frequent visitors to these, and religiously keep the secret of their location from their more . . . bloodthirsty, friends.

Jelly Lake -  A rich ecosystem more than 700 meters deep, Jelly Lake boasts a great amount of fish, both those native to the lake and those who come in from the freshwater sea, but is most famous for its jellyfish. Unlike Jelly River, the glow of this lake comes from its plankton. Many gargoyles spend the winter holidays here in order to get the best jellies for feasting. Do the jellies bite? Occasionally. But that won’t stop the Diamond people from swimming and drinking from their favorite lake. It should, argues visitors, but they’re not the ones who tamed the “eccentric shadow dinosaurs” that roam around the isle, are they? 

Jelly River - the shortest river in the Vampire Realm. It has by far the calmest waters - thus, the great amount of bioluminescent jellyfish who call its depths home - and serves as the isle’s main harbor. It boasts a few coastal cottages and a glowstone dock whose glow reflects the colors of the deep sea- jellyfish who float serenely within. The jellies love boats and will swarm a safe distance beneath them.

Bonus: Crafting Process!

Making Islands:

Final Outline, Colored:

Why did I think I would suddenly need tiny islands, I don't know, but here they are as add-ons:

Kudos to people who make fantasy maps a lot! I know there's a TON of elements that go into mapmaking, especially if it's supposed to be realism - even rivers are supposed to flow a certain way and interact with elevation and the such ... anyway, I am in awe of you and cheering you on. Such a cool art form. Last time I did this, it was a "small village" or "mansion" layout, and doing the bird's eye view when I haven't learned texture was more complicated than anticipated. And this is the smaller map of my two wips. . . help. XD

Hope you enjoyed this!

[the-face-in-the-mirror]

hellooo i'm thinking about your nnt rewrite and i'm curious, what are your plans for the canon plot point that King was briefly allied with the Liones Knights as a double agent so he could get his revenge on Ban? Would you be expanding on this plot point any more, maybe stretching it out longer or whatnot, or is that no longer applicable with the changes you've made to King and Elaine's rankings and backstory?

Hello!

Ooooh, I've been thinking a lot about this one! I'm definitely planning on expanding the plot point of King being a double agent for the Holy Knights at the start. In canon, it was resolved way too quickly for my tastes, and the whole Capital of the Dead genuinely feels like a cop-out. I don't wanna know where the dead go when they die, I want the absolute dread of not knowing! I don't want Elaine herself to absolve Ban of guilt; I want the misunderstanding and painful process of forgiveness and self-forgiveness (because Ban likely blames himself a bit, too, even though he mostly blames the Red Demon).

Personally, I think the change in rankings, in some ways, makes it MORE applicable. King has been led to believe that Ban killed not just his older sister but the rightful Fairy Queen (since he's got all his insecurities about not being suitable for the role even though it was formally given to him by Elaine and the Sacred Tree). Not to mention that the last time he saw the Fairy King's Forest, it was absolutely decimated, so he's been led to believe that Ban also destroyed his home and a lot of the Fairies in it all because of his greed.

Not sure how long this will last for yet, but it'll extend past what canon did and delve into the nuances of it more.

Thanks for asking!

[prolestariwrites]

Between Goddess and Demon by lickitysplit

Nanatsu no Taizai | Melizabeth | AU | Rated T

Summary: A powerful demon banished for centuries. A lonely goddess trying to find her place in the world. When she accidentally sets him free, their fates entangle—which will bring either peace or turmoil to Britannia.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Guess who's back? Although I never really left! With the end of NNT I went on to write for some other fandoms, although I still wrote a great deal about my faves on the side for fun. But here I am in 2023 writing Melizabeth again so we're gonna party like it's 2018.

This is an AU based on Love Between Fairy and Devil. There are lots of changes though to make it canon-aligned, so if you've seen the show, hopefully you'll still be surprised by a few things! I'm posting the first chapter below for any new readers, and the rest will be up on my AO3 (which is linked in my header). If you like what you read you can let me know with a comment or reblog. Finally, shout out to my writing group at the Old Forest for their help and support!

Elizabeth slowly walks towards the Celestial Palace, clutching a small silver box in her hand. The lands that surround the palace are made to look like the plush forests of Britannia below, and she enjoys the cool air of the morning as she draws closer. It does wonders to settle her nervous stomach and keep her fingers from trembling.

She is nearly feeling confident by the time the trees and grass give way to the marble walkway that leads to the palace, until she spies the group of goddesses that are already waiting at the entrance. For a moment she hesitates, wondering if she should just turn around; already she can spot several girls she knows, with powers and status well above her station. But this will be the first glimpse of the archangel since his triumphant return, and perhaps the last time she will have the chance to see him indefinitely. Screwing her courage, Elizabeth raises her chin and tries not to stumble as she approaches the crowd.

Several of the girls turn and titter when she comes in earshot. "Elizabeth, are you lost?" one laughs.

"No," she murmurs, dipping her head. "I am visiting the palace today."

The tallest of the group walks over with arms folded. "Is that gift for Lord Mael?" she asks loudly.

Elizabeth's cheeks go pink as she nods. "I brought some violet cake. I had heard that he—"

She is cut off with another round of laughter. "Elizabeth," the goddess clucks with a smile. "Lord Mael is the god of war. His brother is the head archangel who rules in the queen's stead. Do you really think the most powerful goddess in the realm wants cake as a present?"

She presses her lips together, eyes darting down to the little box. "I thought a bit of home would be a welcome comfort to him."

The goddess rolls her eyes. "I'm sure he'll love it," she grins before rejoining her friends.

Elizabeth turns away, lifting her head and trying desperately to ignore the others. There is a lingering shame at not having a better gift—the others probably have gold and jewels to present—but Elizabeth knows that Mael likes this recipe.

Her mind drifts to their last meeting, when he had said goodbye to her on the steps to the temple of fate. Mael had smiled at her warmly and wished her luck with her new position. At his urging, her master took her on as an apprentice, effectively saving her from ending up a lowly servant in one of the sky palaces. "How can I ever thank you?" she had pleaded.

"This is payment for all you've done for me," he had said.

Elizabeth shook her head. "No! All you've done for our clan, for Britannia... and now to help someone like me? I must repay this debt."

Then Mael had chuckled and replied, "Then wrap me one of your cakes to take with me back to the Celestial Palace. I find I miss them when it is cold."

Warmed by the memory, Elizabeth is nearly jumping with the sound of the approaching entourage. The goddesses start to chatter excitedly when the flags are spotted. Several rows of soldiers in brilliant regalia lead the procession, the white and gold colors on the flag shining brilliantly in the sunlight. In the middle walks Mael himself, still wearing his golden armor, a long white cape flowing behind him.

A cheer goes up at his approach. Elizabeth hurries to the edge to wave, but she is knocked back by the other goddesses jostling for position. Mael nods in greeting as they call his name, and Elizabeth quickly tries to move through the crowd to catch him before he enters the palace. Others with gifts lay them along the road, and Mael offers thanks to each one as one of the soldiers picks it up to carry as they continue their way. Those lucky enough to have gotten a personal thanks squeal happily when he passes.

The group is nearly at the gate, and so in a last-ditch effort Elizabeth pushes through two shouting goddesses to offer her gift. An elbow catches her in the back and sends her sprawling, the silver box falling from her hands and nearly getting trampled as the soldiers pass. With a cry she scrambles up to her elbows, but by the time she stands, Mael has passed through the gates, her gift laying unclaimed in the dirt.

She picks it up dejectedly, her heart sinking. Not only did she fail to give it to Mael, but it is now ruined, the cake inside half-crushed. 

The others dissipate slowly as they compare notes on the procession. Alone, Elizabeth turns to head back to her home, ignoring the chatter and laughter around her.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

Her master is having tea with her sister when Elizabeth returns to her home. Jenna eyes the broken box as she walks past to set it on a table. "I assume his lordship returned safely?"

Elizabeth only nods, trying not to show her disappointment as she tidies the room. "Would you like more tea?" she asks.

"Who came back?" Zaneri asks. "I don't remember hearing about this."

"Lord Mael is back from the battles," Jenna huffs. "You know, for the guardian of memory you certainly can't retain a single thing in that head of yours."

The two sisters bicker, and it is almost comforting to hear their familiar arguments. She waters the plants and sweeps the floor, but before she can head into the library to check on the books, Jenna calls her to join them.

Elizabeth sits across from the two sisters. They are identical twins, except for the hair: Jenna is blonde, nearly white, while Zaneri is black as midnight. They each guard the past and future, keeping the lines of fate intact and organized so that destinies do not get mixed up and cause chaos. Jenna is her master and tutor, who took her in at Mael's suggestion; as her apprentice, Elizabeth tends to the books, fixing pages that fade with time and organizing the volumes in the ever-growing library.

"Elizabeth, Zaneri and I are going on a trip," Jenna says.

The goddess frowns. "What do you mean?"

"I need a break, quite frankly," she sighs. "We've been looking after fate for thousands of years. And I haven't had a single day off since."

Elizabeth looks between them, thinking of the many afternoons Jenna has dozed on her hammock as Elizabeth sat hunched over pages needing repairs. "Yes, I can... see how taxing it all is."

"Well you have been performing admirably, so I am pleased to leave the library in your care."

With that, the two sisters stand, and Elizabeth scrambles to her feet. "Wait! You're leaving now? Just like that."

Zaneri gives a loud, impatient sigh, but Jenna just laughs. "You know what to do. Fix what is broken, maintain the new threads. Most importantly, no reading. You can close the library to visitors if you'd like."

They head towards the door with Elizabeth on their heels. "How long will you be away?"

"Just a millennia or so. Maybe less if Zaneri annoys me."

"Hey!" Zaneri protests.

"Wait!" Elizabeth slides in front of them, between the sisters and the door. "But..." Her brows draw together as she twists her hands. "I just stay here? Alone?"

Jenna gives her a comforting pat. "Don't worry so much. Follow the rules and you'll be fine. We won't be gone long."

Elizabeth stammers a protest after them, but the sisters do not pay her any heed. She stands at the door and watches them head down the path before blinking out of sight.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

A year passes, then another. The library grows several new shelves to hold the new books that appear in random order. The pages of those who have lived for thousands of years grow brittle and yellow with age, needing careful reconstruction into fresh leather binding. Ink fades and paper tears, covers are bent, and tomes get shuffled out of order. Visitors come to request a peek at theirs or another's fortune, only to be served flower tea and a gentle denial.

Elizabeth holds fast to her duties in an otherwise boring existence. Her days are filled with one task after another as she falls into a routine of cooking, cleaning, repairing, shopping, tending the garden, repeat over and over and over again. The solitude can be lovely at times; she particularly likes to sit on the uppermost balcony among the vines that twirl along the railing and soak in the sun as the clouds roll by lazily. But on nights when a storm blows through, she huddles under her blankets and wishes for someone, anyone, to keep her company.

Her weekly trips to the market are a bright point, although most of the goddesses treat Elizabeth with a polite indifference. Her status as a lowly apprentice keeps the merchants from wanting anything other than her coin, and her shy and awkward nature stops her from anything more than a passing conversation with the other young women. Life is peaceful and lovely in the Celestial Realm, and they travel freely between the sky palaces that are under the protection of the archangels.

One day at the market, Elizabeth notices a flurry of activity as the goddesses crowd around and talk excitedly to one another. She wanders over to see the commotion, her eyes going wide when she spots Lord Mael.

He is speaking quietly to one of the soldiers, and when he is ready he raises a hand for attention. The square quiets down and he gives a nod of greeting. "My dear kinsmen," he says. "I've come to announce that the royal guard is seeking new recruits."

There is an excited buzz in the crowd. The royal guard only takes new members as necessary, an incredible honor with the added bonus of serving directly under Mael. Elizabeth's chest tightens with excitement. Anyone is eligible to take the trials, even a low-ranking apprentice like herself. As he goes on to describe the skills and duties of a guard, she pictures herself at his side, fighting against the evil in the world. Surely he would notice her then, and she would become his favorite?

"The trial is in three weeks' time," Mael announces. "Best of luck to all of our warriors."

The crowd applauds excitedly, but Elizabeth frowns. Warriors? She looks at her hands with a sigh. Her magic is healing-based, and she has never been in combat. Does she even have a chance at this?

These troubled thoughts remain as she heads home to the library. Elizabeth takes the longer way home, deciding a walk through the woods will help settle her mind. Can a goddess with healing magic have any hope of becoming a guard? Would she ever have the chance to get closer to the archangel?

So lost in her thoughts, Elizabeth doesn't see the tree root in the ground until she is stumbling. A firm hand catches her before she falls, and her face heats when she looks up to find Mael gazing back at her. "Are you alright?" he asks.

"Lord Mael!" she gasps. Then she quickly gets herself together, smoothing her dress and laughing nervously. "Yes, thank you. Lost in my thoughts."

"I hope they were good ones," he replies warmly.

Elizabeth smiles at him, unsure of what to say. He is just as handsome as she remembers, and now being right next to him, she finds herself a bit overwhelmed. As one moment after another stretches on, however, the air between them grows awkward. 

Before she has the chance to respond, Mael gives her a nod and moves to continue walking. Quickly Elizabeth says, "Lord Mael! Please wait a moment."

He looks at her expectantly and she swallows against a dry throat. "I... I brought you a cake when you returned."

"A cake?"

He frowns in confusion so she hurries on, "Yes. But I was unable to get it to you." Mael tilts his head, still clearly not understanding, so Elizabeth squeaks, "Do you remember? You said you liked them. At the library."

There is a beat before recognition dawns on his face. "Oh! You're the goddess that became an apprentice. Yes, I remember." He chuckles lightly. "Well, I thank you for your kindness anyway."

Elizabeth beams. "I was just in the market when you made your announcement."

"Oh? Will you be entering the trial?"

She bites her lip nervously. "I'd like to... but I don't know if I can. I fear it may be too difficult."

Mael smiles warmly. "I remember when I faced my own trial. I was incredibly nervous."

"You were?"

The goddess nods. "Yes. But as long as you believe in yourself, it is possible."

Elizabeth sucks in a deep breath. "Thank you," she sighs. 

"Best of luck to you," he says.

Mael gives a short bow, and Elizabeth returns the gesture with a curtsey. Then he turns and heads towards the palace; she watches him go, wishing that they could keep talking.

"Lord Mael!" she shouts. He pauses and turns, and Elizabeth waves her hand. "I'll do my best and pass the trial and become a royal guard!"

He nods with a grin and gives her a little wave before continuing on. She watches a few more minutes before hurrying back to the library, excitement blooming in her chest.

However, by the time Elizabeth returns to the library doubt has settled in once more. She keeps herself busy with some sweeping and preparing lunch, but her nerves has her mind wandering again and again to the trial. What if she is asked to fight a monster, or a demon? She has no experience with weapons and has never used her magic for anything other than healing. If she were to be faced with an enemy, she would surely fail, if she survived at all.

Mael had said that he was nervous for his own trial; Elizabeth tries to picture the confident archangel as nervous and fails. How did he overcome it, she wonders? Once more her mind wanders as she moves among the bookshelves, absentmindedly placing volumes in their spots. If only she knew more about his experience.

Of course, there is a way... Elizabeth bites her lower lip, a shiver going down her spine. Looking at a soul's book is not allowed. But a peek? At things that have already happened? Surely that wouldn't be too bad.

Before she can talk herself out of it, Elizabeth makes a beeline for Mael's book. She finds it on a shelf with the other great archangels, needing a ladder to climb to the stack and clutching it tightly as she hurries back to the desk. Her heart races as she settles in the chair and traces her fingers over the cover. It is a silver leaf, reminding her of his hair, the intricate patterns in the binding indicative of the many feats he has accomplished.

With her eyes closed, Elizabeth opens the book. Normally when fixing a page she can only see a portion, and is trained to not pay attention to the words as not to read them accidentally as she fixes the tears and smeared ink. But now she must try to find the right page, so she cracks open her eyes just a bit to peek, skimming along the story of his childhood.

Another few pages brings her to his schooling. The trial must be next, but a noise outside catches her attention first. Elizabeth jolts upright, staring at the doorway in alarm. "Hello?" she calls, her voice shaking slightly.

No one answers, and when another noise sounds she realizes it's the wind. "Calm down, Elizabeth," she chastises herself, pressing her palm to her chest. "Just find what you're looking for and go."

She swallows nervously and lifts the back cover of the book, intending to skip ahead a few pages. But she tilts at a sharp angle and nearly the entire book's worth of pages flitter in a rapid cascade until they land with a thunk. With a gasp she tries to stop it, but too late: Elizabeth is now at the end of the book, losing her place.

"Oh no," she breathes. Her brows draw down as she quickly scans the page; how far did she go? Mael has so many accomplishments that it is hard to pinpoint where in time the pages landed. Quickly she starts scanning, no longer trying to keep herself from discovering any secrets. Was this a year ago, or a hundred? She winces, trying to remember.

With a huff she starts turning pages, wanting to find her spot quickly. When the words start blurring together, she flicks the pages in frustration before slumping over onto the book. She has pressed her luck enough going through the pages, and needs to stop this dangerous game.

Sighing, Elizabeth slowly sits up when a passage catches her eye. The demon king, sealed in his dark realm, breaks through...

"The demon king?" she says aloud. 

In confusion she continues reading. The demon king is just a legend: a fierce warrior who lived a thousand years before, leading his ten unbeatable soldiers against the other clans to take over all of Britannia. He ridded himself of emotion in order to take possession of a forbidden power, until the first archangel used all her power to seal him in Purgatory, to remain for all time.

But it isn't real, just a story told to children when they are naughty. Not only that, Elizabeth knows it isn't real because there is no book for the demon king. The demons themselves have waned in power and number, their destinies gathering dust in volumes on high, forgotten shelves masked by cobwebs.

So how can this be in Mael's book? She continues reading: ...the king of demons threatens the goddess' life, taking his future for his own. 

With a cry Elizabeth snaps the book shut. What could this mean? She dashes a few tears from her eyes, her hands trembling as she presses them into her lap. If there really is a demon king, could Mael be in danger? Would he break the seal and take his life?

"I need to warn him," she whispers, quickly scrambling to her feet. The consequences for looking at Mael's future does not matter any longer. Only if she can get to him and explain somehow, if his life is saved, it will be worth it.

She finds the Celestial Palace in disarray. The wind that had thumped so loudly against her library windows has picked up into a fury, and the gates are barred as soldiers assemble together. "Please," she says to the porter, "I must see Lord Mael. It's an emergency."

"Lord Mael is on the battlefield," he replies. "Go home, little goddess, and lock your doors. There is evil rising in Britannia."

She takes a step back, her breath catching. Could today be the day? Elizabeth turns and hurries away, following the storm clouds and the bands of soldiers to try to find Mael. She takes the doorways between the palaces, jetting among the clouds as she seeks the source of the storm. The sky grows darker and blacker, lightning strikes in the distance, but Elizabeth pushes on.

At the very edge of the realm is a tower that serves as the last outpost of the Celestial Realm. Beyond is a sea that ends at the horizon, that legends say leads to where the demons once lived. Below is Britannia, home of the other clans. Elizabeth had never been this far before, but there is no mistaking that the source of the storm is coming from that direction. Hurrying as fast as she can, she finds the goddess army assembling, and high on the tower, Mael stands in shining armor, his sword drawn.

"Lord Mael!" she cries, but her voice is drowned out by the wind. Trying to stay hidden, she uses her magic to mask herself as a soldier, running between the groups to reach the tower. A few call for her to stop, but she pays them no mind, pulling her helmet down to not be discovered.

At the base of the tower Elizabeth stops in terror. The sea beyond is dark and choppy, a swirl of black clouds gathering as the center of the storm. But it is not a storm, she realizes, but a seal, and the way the lightning strikes it, it is clear it is breaking. "All goddesses to arms!" Mael cries from above. "Prepare to defend the realm!"

Elizabeth pushes past the rushing soldiers and runs inside the tower. A curved staircase takes her up and up to the highest balcony, the goddess nearly out of breath by the time she arrives. "Mael," she pants, leaning heavily against the doorway. "Lord Mael, please stop!"

He does not hear her, turning to the angels Tarmiel and Sariel at his sides. "I will seal the demon myself," he says, his great wings unfurling.

"No!" Elizabeth cries. She can see the scene play out in her mind's eye: Mael will fly to meet the demon king, and too late to stop him, the king will emerge and kill him. With no other choice, Elizabeth rushes forward, knocking Mael aside and climbing onto the railing before jumping off the side to whatever doom awaits.

[galfridus1]

Family Portrait

@yuleira drew this amazing family portrait of the demon king, his wife Elizabeth (her OC) and their two sons a while back and she kindly let me write a bit of a piece to go with it. Thanks for letting me write your AU Keshia! You are wonderful to work with!

Shuffling his feet, Zeldris looked round the room, desperately seeking something to do, something, anything to focus on that might make time slip by. His clothes, so formal and at odds with the suits he normally wore, dug into his armpits and he stretched, trying to relieve the pain. He clutched a little harder at the silk in his hands, his eyes darting from the crimson of the material up to the high, vaulted ceiling covered in gold and so to the window through which a tempting streak of sunlight shone through, glowing rays picking out the embroidered curtains and the uneven stone of the walls. He bit the inside of his cheek to suppress a sigh. He longed to be out, away from this place, to feel the wind in his hair and the cold biting his ears and his nose as he soared through the sky.

“Zeldris! Stop fidgeting and pay attention.”

He started at the harsh bark, jumping a little into the air and his hearts racing full pelt. “Y-yes father,” he stuttered, panic subsiding a little as his mother rested her hand on his head. He looked up into her emerald eyes, her gloomy expression lifting with a reassuring smile and he returned it with a tentative one of his own.

“Why can't you be more like your brother?”

Zeldris swallowed at the rebuke in the king’s voice, fingers tightening around the fabric of his mother’s dress to scrunch it up in his fists. He wanted to cry. He was going to cry. But he could not - dare not - give way to the tears. He shot Meliodas a resentful glare, but his brother ignored him, staring straight ahead, face sombre and hands clutched behind his back. The awkward, starched tunic that was a twin of his own looked good on Meliodas, lying impeccably against his form. His brother looked like a prince. A real one. The competent, capable warrior, the demon prodigy who left fields soaking with the blood of their enemies, the star of their clan who surpassed even his exacting tutor’s high expectations. How could he ever hope to be more like his brother.

His mother bent her head towards him, casting a shadow over his face. “It will be over soon, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice barely audible, a little comfort for him and for him alone. “Try and stay still. I love you.”

He nodded and started to turn to face the portrait painter who had been commissioned specially for the occasion, assuming a stance to mirror his brother’s. “No, stay where you are, if you would young sir,” the painter urged, his voice kindly. “If you will forgive me, your majesty,” the painter said to his father with a low bow, “the prince’s attitude is… usual for one of his age and his current position is natural enough. Besides, the contrast emphasises the authority of your heir. It’s clear you are the strength of the family and he is to be the one who’ll eventually succeed you. It will give our clan hope in your combined power and strength.”

The demon king frowned. “I do not agree with your logic,” he boomed and Zeldris saw the king’s fingers resting on his mother’s shoulder grip more tightly, digging into her. His mother did not flinch, gave no sign of anything amiss. “Zeldris may be deficient but he is yet the spare. He will be king should anything go wrong.”

“It will not go wrong, father.” The lump in Zeldris’s throat grew more painful. Meliodas had intoned the words without even shifting his gaze, without even sparing him a sideways peek.

For the first time that day the king let forth a chuckle. “Perhaps you are right,” he said a little more lightly. “Very well, so may it be,” he commanded. “Stay where you are Zeldris, and stop squirming about. Or you will face the night with no supper.”

“All is well, I have finished my preliminary sketch,” the artist said jovially, turning the canvas so the family could see. There they all were, faces hard and miserable, regal and authoritative. All that is except for his own, Zeldris noted. He looked unsure and a little upset.

“Very good,” the king declared. “As you say the contrast is clear.” He clapped Meliodas on the shoulder, giving his eldest son a rare nod of approval. “Now, you will both return to your tutors. And Zeldris,” he said coldly, the atmosphere chilling with his words. “You are on very thin ice. I advise you to excel at your lessons today.”

“Yes sir,” Zeldris managed to squeak out with a quick bow, before he took his chance to run out of the room.

[thebladeblaster]

My reaction to Meliodas in a nutshell

Meliodas is the true king and don’t forget it . 😤👌👌👌

[animalarte]

Hey, can you explain something to me please?

In the manga of nnt, the DK is the biggest main enemy of the 7ds. I get that. But when the fight against him was over, I was expecting something to happen with the other side, I mean the awakening of the Supreme Daity. After all, Mel had destroyed the curse that his father had put on Elizabeth, and now it was her turn to do the same, getting to the level of her mother to free him from his immortality. But istead came the Caos arc.

I don't know about you, but I find that one unnecessary and dumb. To me at least, talking about Caos as a power, an entity, or a king, doesn't make sense. Caos is a state, like balance. Also, Merlín supposedly calculated everything in these 3000 years to get what she wanted, and I find that absurd, try to convince me otherwise. She was smart, but SERIOUSLY? Don't exagerate.

It could have made the series much longer, but I wanted to see more deeply the conflict that Elizabeth had with her mother and her future as leader of the goddesses. I believe it was not mentioned enough. Her story and family matters are just as important and hard and Meliodas', and we should appriciate her strangth more.

Also, Mael is the last goddess alive except for the Celestials, and it would have been fun to see how they reacted to a queen that was trying to kill her own daughter and the demon that proved to be a nice amd reliable guy. Also with the humans that praised the goddesses.

What do you think? I want to hear your opinions.

[gingermintpepper]

Special reminder that Diane got horribly shafted at the end of NnT in multiple ways including and not limited to: 

She never actually learns to dance on her own merit, but instead gets the knowledge transplanted into her soul or whatever (even though that’s also super bogus, thanks) by right of simply inhabiting Drole’s body during Memory of a Holy War and furthermore, her learning of Drole’s Dance - his specific dance being the dance which all other Giants modelled their persona dances after - was completely and utterly overshadowed by King gaining his wings. 

Even after gaining Drole’s Dance and supposedly reaching her apex power-wise to the point of Drole personally saying that he’s naming her his successor to be the new Queen of the Giants, Diane never gets a proper fight hereafter since the Mael fight was King’s moment (and also it was a sky battle so she couldn’t really do much), she wasn’t a factor in the Cuchandler battle or the Big Pappy Demon fight and she wasn’t particularly stand out or relevant during the True Final fight of the series since that was Escanor’s time to shine (literally)

After the story ends, she doesn’t even get to be Queen of the Giants because she marries King and they go to live in the Fairy Realm together while Ban and Elaine watch over the Fairy King’s Forest in the actual physical world and there’s no follow up on Megadozer or her people in general even though we’d heard from snippets and chunks that Giants were pretty much endangered as a species. 

And all of this isn’t even getting into how much it sucked that Diane was never able to get any proper personal motivation or goals outside of ‘she’s in love with the character, oh, wait, nevermind, she’s in love with this character’. 

[its-easy-isnt-it-meliodas]

Holy shit…

[gsunny6]

(He’s also now very good friends with the 3rd Fairy King and first Queen of the Giants, who you met when their predecessors sent their souls back, and have kept the promise made to you.)

Hey Gowther we already know you know Meli and Ellie but did anyone inform you that your *other* son fell in love?

Demon Gowther/ Goat dad

Excuse me?! Excuse ME?! EXCUSE ME?!

Do tell me more?! Is it a boy or a girl? Any is acceptable of course as long as he is happy! Are they nice? Do they know he’s a doll? Do they accept it?

Oh I wish I could meet them!

[zeldriszezinho]

In one of my previous posts, I said that I knew two demon queen OC. And well, this is the other one. She is called Stephanie, it’s a original character of mine and the mother of the boys in my own AU.

As you can see, green eyes and the ahoge strands that the boys have. And her hair is just like Zeldris hair, but like “double”, if you know what I mean.

P.S: Expect to see more arts of her in the future, and also more stuff related to my original story. And also, her earrings will change in some future posts because this was my first drawing of her.

[moonstomars]

hello, well I was wondering which is your top 10 most powerful girls in nnt?? like if they were gonna on a tournament who would win?? :D

Hello Anon, thank you for the ask! 

I guess the Supreme Deity is extremely powerful, but since she shows up in like two panels she is disqualified. Also I’m bad at choosing and I remembered while I was writing that you mentioned a tournament but oh well. Here we go!

Merlin - I honestly think that she is the most powerful female character in nnt, or she would be if she actually used her powers. She doesn’t do that much unfortunately, but that’s a problem that concerns every single female character in nnt.

Diane & Elizabeth - They both successfully stood up against the Demon King and have spectacular magic powers. Yes yes, sure, it’s implied that Elizabeth is super powerful and dangerous and Bloody Ellie etc., but like, we saw almost nothing of that. So, she gets the second place. With Diane because she is very powerful too and no one can change my mind. I’m sorry Ellie! Nakaba’s fault!

Derieri - Derieri is great and though, her magic is cool and she deserved better, so here she is.

Melascula - Here because she was actually a big problem for the main characters. Her power level is lower than Grayroad’s actually but unlike her, Melascula was always. There. Creating problems. Good job!

Grayroad - Merlin defeated her rather quickly but her powers are actually terrifying. She would have made a great villain if she hadn't just been used as plot device.

Elaine - down here because well, her power level is actually lower than the others and she never got to face a worthy opponent. That’s quite sad, she deserved better. I would have liked to see her using her powers more!

Matrona & Gelda - it seems like Matrona is stronger than Gelda but this vampire queen faced the Demon King without flinching so here she is. Two very powerful women who deserved more screen time.

Guila, Jericho, Gerheade - I’m cheating. I know I am. But I have absolutely no idea who, between these three, is more powerful now. I guess it’s because we saw very little of what they can do in the last part of the manga (like, they are there fighting but they don’t face anyone on their own to show us what they can really do). 

Vivian - We haven’t seen her much lately but she was a good villain during the first arc and a powerful mage. It’s a pity she did almost nothing after. 

Jenna & Zaneri - I checked and they are supposed to possess powerful magic powers. They never use it to fight but honestly, I wouldn’t challenge Jenna. 

[essays-for-breakfast]

I had too much time on my hands, and so I decided to do a little drawing… on paper. A series of location cards for set pieces in the word of Nnt plus a few for my overly long fanfiction.

#1 The Fairy King’s Forest

A vast forest ruled by the Fairy King and created by the Sacred Tree some millennia ago

The great tree at its center functions as a gateway to the Fairy Realm

Among humans, the Fairy King’s Forest was widely known for housing the legendary Fountain of Youth

So far we have seen three different iterations of the Forest: the one during the Holy War the ruins of which are located beneath Liones; the one Elaine guarded until it was burned down by a Red Demon; and the current one planted by Ban

The only known force able to burn the trees of the Forest are flames from Purgatory

It is said that the Forest can regrow as long as the Fairy King is alive

Currently, the Forest is ruled by Fairy King Harlequin, most likely in cooperation with his wife Diane, the queen of Giants

Let’s see if I can put one out every day. I have plans for seven, so...

[sullina]

Are y’all ready for some Angst (NnT)

Cause i sure fucking am after the illusions we were shown and a fic i read last night about Mel being hopelessly in love with Ban who only seems to want to spend time with the newly revived Elaine. (Sort of ooc probably but eh, i wrote this whole thing out in maybe 30 minutes) (spoilers ahead i guess)

Let’s say after the whole arc with Merlin that’s going on rn is over, Meliodas eventually takes up the mantle of demon king and tries to build good relations with the other races (namely fairies, giants and humans) which he has some pretty good prerquisites for, being friends with the fairy king, giant queen and Arthur (i’m assuming).

But while that happens, because he’s the demon king and all he has to move to the underworld and the sins all sorta drift apart despite Mels best efforts to keep his friendship bonds with them alive, while King Diane and Ban don’t seem to care too much (either not at all or not enough for Mel to notice) and Mel keeps trying harder and harder, panicking at the thought of them not being friends anymore since they’ve been his family for so many years now.

Bute everytime he comes to visit just because (meaning non-official business) he feels like the third wheel with King and Diane being practically inseperable and Ban always fawning over Elaine. Eventually, he gets sick of that, and visits less and less. Official messages he used to deliver himself are now delivered by letter, which at first also had some personal questions like “How are you doing?” or “Mind if i come by sometime?” but those, usually remaining unanswered, stop too.

Zeldris is probably the first to really notice the change in Meliodas, since he’s (probably) the only one who can physically visit him in the underworld, and does so a lot. He notices that Mel seems to grow more depressed and reserved as time goes on, Mel stays in the underworld longer and longer, and while he still makes efforts to reconcile the demons and the other races, he doesn’t visit his friends anymore unless it’s for official business.

I imagine there being like a big (political) meetup of all the races where the kings and queens and the ones close to them come, and while the sins look forward to spending time with each other and their (former?) captain, Mel is acting too officially appropriate (he does want to keep the peace after all), and less friendly like you would with your family, but if they try to approach him outside of any official meetings, he still acts with a stonewall demeanor, and maybe even just a little bit cynical but you’d have to really squint to notice.

Once back in the underworld, Zeldris tries to talk to him about this, but Mel either dodges the question or keeps insisting that “everything’s fine” (even though it very obviously isn’t). Mel, being very aware of his duties, throws himself into his work as king (he’s actually a very good king), and if there isn’t work to be done, drowns himself in alcohol or aimlessly wanders through the vast royal gardens, wallowing in self-pity. Sometimes he’ll go far out to one of the hills more at the edge of the gardens where the big trees grow and sit either by them or in them, hidden between branches and leaves where no one can see him, and fight back the tears that are threatening to spill over, just repeating “i’m fine, i’m fine” over and over like a mantra, knowing full well that he isn’t but still refusing to acknowledge and address it (this is about the closest he gets as far as addressing his emotions goes, this boy seriously needs therapy).

[coffin-of-eternal-darkness]

NnT Week Day 2: Fav Villain/Clanswap I’m not into the clan swap au at all but the idea of a supreme demon queen was very tempting...