Chapter 2 The Weight of Legacy

Elosie woke the next morning to the soft hum of the world outside. Sunlight filtered through the cracked shutters of the small room she had been given at the tavern. The scent of fresh bread and the faint aroma of brewing coffee filled the air. Yet, even in this peaceful setting, a nagging sense of urgency stirred within her.

She was no longer a stranger here. At least, not to her grandparents. Meliodas, Elizabeth, Ban, and Elaine—she had learned their names and heard their stories from the elders of her future. But nothing had prepared her for the reality of meeting them. They were legends, yes, but they were also human. And they carried with them burdens—battles won and lost, sacrifices made, and paths carved into the very fabric of time itself.

Elosie stood up from the bed, her fingers brushing against the stone wall as she steadied herself. The day ahead was uncertain. She had so many questions, but she knew they couldn't all be answered in one conversation. For now, she had to make sense of her place in this world, in the lives of these extraordinary people who, in another life, had been nothing more than tales passed down through generations.

After a quick breakfast, she made her way downstairs to find her two grandfathers Meliodas and Ban, and her two grandmother Elaine and Elizabeth gathered around a table, deep in conversation. As soon as they saw her, the chatter stopped. Eyes turned toward her—each face filled with curiosity, warmth, and something else she couldn't quite place.

"Good morning, Elosie," Elizabeth greeted her warmly, her voice a soothing balm in the midst of Eloise's swirling thoughts. "I hope you slept well?"

"I did," Elosie replied, her voice quiet but steady. "I'm… I'm still trying to process everything. It's hard to believe I'm really here. It feels like a dream."

Meliodas leaned back in his chair, his smile playful as always, though his eyes were filled with a certain seriousness. "Believe me, kid. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that we have a granddaughter who comes from the future. But we'll figure this out together."

Elosie couldn't help but smile at his easy-going nature, even in the face of such an impossible situation. But beneath his relaxed exterior, she sensed that Meliodas knew more about the intricacies of time—and the dangers that came with it—than he let on.

"Do you… Do you know how I got here?" Elosie asked. "How I ended up in this time? Was it always meant to happen?"

Ban, who had been quiet up until that moment, set down his mug and looked directly at her. His sharp eyes never missed a detail. "The thing about time is, it's tricky. You can never be sure what's meant to be or what's been altered. Things happen for reasons we can't always understand. But if you're here, there's a reason."

Elaine nodded; her expression thoughtful. "The magic of time, Elosie, is both a gift and a curse. Some things are set, while others… well, they can be changed. But change doesn't come without consequences."

Elosie felt a chill run down her spine at her one of her grandmother's words. Consequences. That was what had always lingered in the back of her mind—the knowledge that she wasn't just a visitor here, but someone who might have the power to alter the very course of history. Was that a blessing? Or was it a burden?

"I know this isn't easy," Elizabeth continued, reaching across the table to take Elosie's hand. "But we'll help you make sense of it. We've faced challenges before, and we've always managed to find a way. We'll do the same for you."

Elosie swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. "I want to know about my parents—Lancelot and Tristan. How did they meet? What were they like? Were they always… like the stories say?"

A flicker of something passed through Meliodas' eyes, something akin to sorrow mixed with pride. He exchanged a glance with Elizabeth, who nodded, signalling that it was time.

Meliodas leaned forward, his voice low and contemplative. "Your parents… they were two sides of the same coin, in a way. Tristan, a warrior with a heart full of honour. And Lancelot, a knight driven by duty. They were bound by fate, by the bonds of family, and by a love that defied even the strongest of enemies."

"They fought together," Ban added, his grin fading into something more serious. "But they also had their struggles. It wasn't always easy, but they never gave up on each other."

Elaine's voice softened. "There were times when their bond was tested—by battles, by loss, by their very natures. But their love never wavered. They did what they had to, to protect this world. And they gave everything for the future—your future."

Elosie felt a lump rise in her throat as she processed their words. Lancelot and Tristan—her parents—had sacrificed so much for the greater good. And yet, here she was, standing in the shadow of their legacy, uncertain of what her role would be.

"And what about me?" Elosie asked quietly. "What is my role in all of this? Am I supposed to carry on their legacy?"

Meliodas studied her carefully, his usual carefree expression replaced with a rare seriousness. "That's something only you can decide, Elosie. Your parents left a legacy, yes. But that doesn't mean you have to walk the same path. You can forge your own way. The future is in your hands, as much as it was in theirs."

For a long moment, there was silence, the weight of his words hanging between them. Elosie felt a stirring inside her—a flicker of hope, of possibility. The future didn't have to be a chain that bound her to the past. She could shape it. She could make her own choices.

But that didn't mean it would be easy. As her family had warned, the magic of time was unpredictable, and change always came with consequences. If she wasn't careful, her actions could have far-reaching effects, ones she might not be able to control.

But she wasn't alone. She had her family here—Meliodas, Elizabeth, Ban, Elaine—and perhaps, together, they could find a way to protect the future without rewriting it completely.

Elosie's mind raced, but in that moment, she made a decision. She wouldn't let fear dictate her path. She would learn from the past, honour the legacy of her parents, and take charge of her own destiny.

She could hear the faint sound of a bell ringing in the distance—a reminder that time was always moving forward, and that each moment held the power to change everything.

And so, as Elosie stood in the heart of her family, ready to face the unknown, she knew one thing for sure: her journey was just beginning. And whatever came next, she would be ready.