I shielded my eyes from the glare of the rising sun, observing the quiet little town come to life. People were readying for the festival, rushing to and fro with baskets and trailing streamers. Heavy set men cajoled the crowd with shows of strength for the upcoming fights. On a rocky outcrop that protruded from the lush green ground, Diane's bronze Gideon shone. A magnificent weapon, if you were a giant that was. No one else would ever be able to wield it.

I wrinkled my nose in distaste and moved back into the shadows, sweet relief from the light. Hendrickson's plan was stupid. The Seven Deadly Sins were the strongest and smartest knights of the kingdom. Displaying a sacred treasure in the middle of a sleeping town that holds a fighting festival was like lighting a beacon and saying trap.

No one would be daft enough to fall for it.

"Are you listening, Estra?" huffed a short creature wearing a silver helmet that sat low – and I mean low as in covering their entire face – and a pink... dress?

Helbram was really going all out in his attire.

"I don't need to listen. This plan is so simplistic anyone with two eyes could guess their part to play. I wait, I hide and when the sins show up, I attack."

"No!" Helbram slapped his palm onto where his forehead would be. "This is why I hate favoured apprentices. Think they're above everything. Not to mention that they can't even pay attention to their superior's." His squeaky little voice chastising me only made me angrier.

I could pummel your smug face into the ground, bastard. Instead of voicing that though, I set about adjusting my vambraces and dusting off my attire. I'd upgraded on the colour of my singlet and shorts – red dragon scales are more resistant to fire – and modified the boots to make them longer and reinforced over the knee with the leftover scrapes that the vambraces were made from. My sword rested comfortably on my back.

"Okay, I'm listening, Mr Superior. What's my job?"

If he was a kettle, he would whistle. I didn't need to see facial expressions to know I was pissing him off. Only Hendrickson's favour of me stayed his hand. In my head I egged him on to lash out just so I had an excuse to punch him.

"You will be in the crowds watching the games. The sins will worm their way in like usual so you'll keep an eye on them. And nothing more! Guila, Jericho and myself will handle the sins when it begins."

My left eye twitched. Surveillance. Just surveillance? I risked losing my boyfriend on the whims of revenge just to be put into surveying the deadliest knights to ever roam the land. I opened my mouth to protest but really, what was the point? With this many high calibre Knights and criminals in one small town, there was sure to be a fight.

Instead I said, "Aye, aye, captain," mockingly with a two-finger salute and stalked down to the town. Knowing Helbram, he'd ship me back to Liones if I continued to stamp my foot and disregard his orders.

It was louder in town, the boisterous atmosphere lifting my spirits and fuelling the fighting fire in my soul. Of course I got looks prowling into town dressed as I was but they were more curious than nervous. In their eyes I could see them calculating if I was to be a competitor. Lucky for them, I wasn't.

I passed sellers spreading freshly baked goods on wobbly tables and food carts with pyramids constructed of oranges, apples, peaches and pears. I'd taken a few more steps before I realised I was holding a juicy red apple. I looked over my shoulders but no one beared down on me so I shrugged and took a crunchy bite. Guess the tremor of my fighting spirit was just my stomach getting famished.

A short, violet haired woman scolding a muscular man grabbed my attention. Both carried swords on their person and the way the woman held herself reminded me of the King. When she turned round and I got a glimpse of her face, I found my theory right. I'd seen her portrait strung to the walls of the palace enough times to know who she was.

"Excuse me, but are you Princess Veronica?" I questioned, just to make sure, stopping the pair in the middle of the street. The hulking man snapped to attention and stepped to her side. His fingers twitched by the hilt of a wicked dagger.

"Why yes." Her eyes were wary. "But I'm sorry to say I don't know who you are." She held out a hand to her bodyguard to stand down. My guess was that was Griamore. He was rumoured to never leave her side.

I eyed as he begrudgingly did so. It was to be expected. I was in full armour and I've been told my neutral facial expression either came across as annoyingly bored or resting bitch face.

"My name is Estra. I'm a Holy Knight under the tutelage of-" I hesitated. If I said Hendrickson, I'd be subject to those looks again. "Under Guila," I said quickly to make up for my pause.

"Oh, I trust your training is going well then. I've always found Guila to be a bit... rigid."

I grinned. "I'm glad I'm not the only one. I try to ignore her when she gets like that." Veronica – even Griamore – chuckled. "What brings the two of you to Vaizel though? I didn't take this as your scene these days."

They glanced around at the crowded street and people streaming towards the festival grounds.

"I'm actually on a mission of my own. I'm trying to find my sister."

The only sister I know who's missing is Elizabeth. But I didn't say this out-loud. Elizabeth was not in good standing, what with running off with the Seven Deadly Sins and all. Veronica was most likely out here without expressed permission, which meant she was going behind the backs of the Holy Knights sent on the mission to capture her sister. And that would me moi.

"Anyway, I better let you go. Don't want to miss the festival, do we?" I said, giving them a wave.

"Are you competing too?" Griamore asked. His voice was extremely deep and it startled me for a second.

"No." I gave a toothy grin. "If I was, none of you would stand a chance." With that, I turned on my heel and went back the way I came, flowing into the current of people headed for the ring.

I arrived just Helbram – or Love Helm as he's introduced himself as – conducted the initial announcement. More than twenty competitors stood in the ring, throwing side long glances at each other. The only ones seemingly unperturbed were...

A man in an apron with silver hair and fox like grin, a jagged scar along his neck.

A floating boy hugging a green pillow.

A woman in a wide-brimmed, purple hat and all covering cloak.

A short male with blonde hair in uniform with an oddly shaped sword strapped to his back.

Pain bloomed behind my eyes, so overpowering I stumbled back. Gasping, I shoved my way to the crowd, almost falling over a pink pig in the process. The pain gave way to anger, anger so blinding I didn't know where I was. Instead, I was back amongst the fire and smoke and blood staring at the back of the Sin of Wrath, whose hand was curled around the blade handle that man had strapped to him.

They're here. The Sins are right here! I'll kill them. I'll kill them all for what they've done. Starting with him. Starting with-

"Meliodas!" A female voice whined. I snorted into my jug, which was filled with delicious ale. Really couldn't get enough of this stuff these days. 

"Need a refill?" I looked up to see Meliodas standing before me with another bottle, grinning with that crazy gleam in his eye. This was what, the five bottle?

Five bottle? Oh hells, I guess that was it. I'd hit my limit. Time for bed considering we had a big day tomorrow before heading into the forest of white dreams. At least it took the edge off the thrashing and bruising Meliodas had given me earlier.

"Nah. I think it's time I hit the sack," is what I thought I said but it really just came out as a slurred mess. I got to my feet with a sway and staggered up the stairs. I glanced back once to see Meliodas watching me leave. "Night, Princess. Night, Captain."

"Captain," I muttered. The overwhelming anger fizzled to confusion. The headache was behind my right eye now and I palmed it to try and relieve it.

It was him. It was Meliodas. And I called him Captain.

I called the leader of the Seven Deadly Sins, the Dragon's Sin of Wrath, Captain like we were best buds.

The same man who murdered my parents, obliterated every living being in my village and razed it to the ground.

I tasted smoke on my tongue, ale in my throat. My hands shook, the long gone feel of the wooden sword in right hand and a tankard in the left staining my palms. The air I breathed was both metallic and fresh at the same time.

What the hell was going on?