System's POV

"The two of you, be careful, okay?" Thirteen said as Shana hugged him tightly. "I know you will start raiding the nearby monster dens and nests. Although you and Erica are very capable, don't forget to always pay attention to your surroundings."

"I'll listen to you," Shana replied while using her healing ability to help Zion's hips recover after their memorable night together.

Erica had also filled her Zion Gauge to the max, which should last her for a while.

"I'll miss you," Shana said softly, kissing Zion's head, cheeks, lips, and repeated it twice. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Thirteen replied. "We can always meet in the Domain of the Apocalypse. As long as I'm not busy, just send me a message, and I'll be there."

Shana nodded and reluctantly pulled back.

"My turn!" Erica hugged her lover tenderly and lightly patted his head.

She knew Zion carried many responsibilities on his shoulders. If possible, the Sorceress wished he wouldn't do any more reckless things. Moreover, she understood that pulling off crazy stunts was his forte.

"At least, make sure to eat on time, okay?" Erica said softly.

"Okay." Thirteen nodded and closed his eyes.

Erica had this calming effect whenever she pulled him to her embrace.

Perhaps it was because of the long time they had spent together that he felt at ease in the embrace of Erica and Sherry, who had taught him the warmth of a human's touch.

"Don't forget about Aracelle," Erica said. "Now is a good time to talk to her. I don't know what you did to her before, but it will be best if she doesn't have a relapse because of what you've done to Prince Zorren."

"Mmm." Thirteen nodded.

A few minutes later, the two reluctantly parted, and Thirteen escorted his two lovers to the field where their helicopter was waiting.

Erica and Shana were listing reminders to Sherry last minute, and they also asked her to make sure that Zion would eat and rest properly on time.

Sherry nodded and promised to do her best.

Tristan was already in the field when they arrived.

It seems that he would personally escort the two young ladies back to Livia City, and he would be bringing his elite subordinates for this mission.

"Are you both ready to go?" Tristan asked.

""Yes, Sir.""

Erica and Sherry saluted Tristan at the same time.

Tristan saluted back and gave a brief nod to Zion, who had also given him a salute.

With a final wave of goodbye, the two young ladies boarded a helicopter and finally left the base.

A sigh escaped Thirteen's lips, making Sherry think he missed them already.

Unbeknownst to her, Zion was actually just relieved, knowing his hips would finally be able to recover after a good rest.

"Sherry, check the soldiers of our battalion if they are slacking in their training or not," Thirteen said. "I'll go and have a private talk with Aracelle first."

The young lady understood what her lover wanted, so she nodded in understanding and went to the barracks.

After returning to his room, the teenage boy knocked on the door of Princess Aracelle's room.

"Aracelle, it's me," Thirteen said. "Can we talk?"

The teenage boy heard a rustling sound inside the room, and a minute later, the door finally opened.

When the princess' gaze landed on him, her body shook uncontrollably as if triggered into recalling something she didn't want to remember again.

Instead of backing away, Thirteen took a step forward and hugged the Princess, making her body shudder a second time.

"I won't do that to you again," Thirteen said lightly tapping the princess' back to help calm her down. "I promise."

The young lady's body continued to shake. But this time, she hugged Thirteen back and cried in his arms.

When Erica asked her what Zion did to her, she only said that he plucked her feathers.

But plucking her feathers was no different from skinning her alive.

The pain, fear, desperation, and helplessness she felt back then was mirrored by Prince Zorren.

There was no one who understood what the Prince had felt at that time more than her, who had also been exposed to Zion's cruelty.

The cruelty that he hid to the people he loved, for he only showed the side he was willing to let them see.

Thirteen could feel the young lady's hug getting tighter as the tears in her eyes poured.

In the end, he closed his eyes and moved his hand higher to lightly brush her long hair with his hand, hoping it would help calm her down.

As minutes passed, and only the princess' pained sobs could be heard inside the room.

The shaking of her body had subsided a bit, but Thirteen continued to hug her and support her body.

Princess Aracelle was quite tall for a lady.

Taller than Zion by a head.

The teenage boy was still in his growing phase, so he would eventually grow taller as well.

But for now, the princess' tears streamed down the side of his face as they continued to fall like rain.

Time passed, but the two continued to hold each other.

One was giving his support, the other was relying on that support.

Suddenly, Thirteen felt a pair of soft, delicate hands cup his face.

Opening his eyes, he saw Princess Aracelle looking down on him. She was no longer crying, but her cheeks were still stained with tears.

Actually, both of their cheeks were stained with tears since her tears had fallen on Thirteen's face as well.

Then, the young lady lowered her head and kissed Zion's lips.

Her soft and perfect lips that many had coveted in her homeworld of Gomorra were now pressing against Zion's, who had broken her pride and arrogance.

She had already submitted to him after that traumatic experience.

If she truly harbored even a little bit of malice against him, all she needed to do was apply a little bit of strength to snap his neck and finally get her revenge.

But she wouldn't do that. She just couldn't.

Instead, she kissed the man who had hurt her, humiliated her, and made her fall from grace.

The Princess felt her heart ache as she kissed the person, whom she had wished to kill several times over in the past.

But this kiss they shared together now held a promise.

A promise that was only strengthened by the string that tied their fingers together.

Soon, the sound of soft kisses spread inside the room, allowing Princess Aracelle's heart to slowly heal from the trauma she had experienced in Zion's merciless hands.