"Zion, aren’t you scared?" Stella asked the young man as they were about to sleep. "Zaphiel’s army arrives in a few days."
"What’s so scary about it?" Thirteen asked. "If I fail, I die. That’s all there is to it."
Stella pouted, finding the teenage boy’s outlook in life too extre. She had often wondered why Zion acted the way he did and realized that she didn’t know him enough to know the answer.
For a mont, she envied Tiona, Sherry, Erica, Shana, Princess Aracelle, and Princess Xynalia for knowing much Zion better than she did.
They had been with him for years, while she had only spent a few weeks with him.
While she was deep in thought, she felt his hands wrap around her back, then he pulled her closer to him.
"Don’t overthink things," Thirteen said before kissing her forehead. "I will protect you."
"Mmm." Stella nodded before kissing Zion’s cheek.
A mont later, they shared a brief kiss on the lips, which Stella had taken the initiative to do.
She was starting to be a bit more proactive, even without Tiona’s encouragent. She had a very bad premonition for the upcoming battle, but being with Zion helped her calm down.
Stella gently pressed her lips on Zion’s neck, nibbling it a bit, just like how her mother had taught her.
"Doing this excites your father. You should try it with Zion soon!"
Chiffon had shalessly taught her daughter to do sothing like that without William’s knowledge. If the Half-Elf only knew that his daughter was now doing the things that his wives were doing to him, he might have puked blood then and there!
Fortunately, he didn’t know and wouldn’t know for the ti being.
Thirteen had gotten used to being marked by his lovers, so he remained still and allowed Stella to do whatever she wanted.
Since she was now his lover, she deserved to be treated the way she deserved.
He understood why she felt anxious. A great battle involving the true powerhouses of Solterra was a major event that could shake the very foundation of the world.
Whenever Erica or Shana felt anxious, they would also ask Zion to ravage them until they could no longer think of anything else.
And they would calm down everyti.
Of course, Thirteen wouldn’t do the sa thing to Stella until she herself asked for it.
For now, he planned to take things slowly until both of them opened up to each other.
When Stella finally cald down a bit, she hugged Zion, feeling the strength of his body.
"Why are you so strong and calm, Zion?" Stella asked. "Just thinking of everything you’ve done in your life makes my legs turn to jelly."
"Stella, when you have experienced all the things I did, a battle against Celestials would be the least of your worries," Thirteen explained. "While this battle might be more dangerous than the ones I faced before, I’m confident I will survive."
"You’re so brave that II sotis think that you fear nothing," Stella said softly. "Tell , Zion. What do you fear the most?"
Thirteen didn’t reply right away. Instead, he hugged Stella a little tighter before whispering sothing in her ear.
"I’m not afraid of dying," Thirteen replied. "I’m most afraid of seeing you, my lovers, my family, and my friends suffer right. For , that’s the scariest thing in the world—to feel helpless, unable to do anything to protect the people dear to .
"It hurts more than any wound I could sustain in the battlefield. More painful than getting tortured by the enemies. More terrifying than the monsters inside of your head."
"You’re afraid of losing Sherry, Erica, Shana, Princess Aracelle, and Princess Xynalia as well?" Stella inquired.
"Yes," Thirteen replied. "I’m also afraid of losing you. Even if we hadn’t known each other for a long ti, you are still one of my people."
Hearing him call her one of "his people" made Stella feel sothing warm swell up inside her chest. It made her feel special.
Zion wasn’t soone who easily opened his heart to others. But once he did, he would do his best to ensure their safety, even if it ant sacrificing himself in the process.
But Stella didn’t want that.
She didn’t want Zion to sacrifice himself for her sake because that would make her sad.
"Zion, promise sothing," Stella said firmly. "If there cos a ti for you have to choose between saving yourself and saving , you must choose yourself first."
Thirteen didn’t answer, so Stella cupped his face, forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"Promise ," Stella insisted.
"I will only promise if you beat in archery," Thirteen replied.
The young lady flinched at those words, not confident in beating the record he had left in her ho world.
The young lady looked down, pouting like a child who didn’t get what she wanted.
This ti, it was Zion’s turn to cup her face and make her look straight at him.
"Stella, if you don’t want to make that choice, you just have to be stronger," Thirteen said. "And even if you are weaker than , you don’t have to worry. I will save you because doing so also saves myself."
Thirteen regretted failing to save his Hosts when he was still a System.
He could summon Legendary and even Divine Weapons through the System Shop, but when it mattered the most, he was helpless.
He had lived for thousands of years.
And yet, the pain didn’t heal with ti.
The hole in his heart only got bigger as ti passed. His attempt to repair it was only a temporary solution.
Even erasing the mories of his hosts to ensure his function as a System left him broken.
"Don’t worry," Thirteen said as he hugged her tighter. "No matter what happens, I will protect you. I will protect everyone."
Stella felt sad, knowing the weight his words carried.
She wondered how soone as young as Zion could shoulder many burdens. Burdens that even adults wouldn’t be able to carry on their back alone.
In the end, she couldn’t help but tear up a bit as he hugged him tight.
She made a promise to herself that no matter what happens, she would protect her boyfriend, who was only living his life, so that others would not need to suffer anymore.
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