As Thirteen and Princess Xynalia talked, the succubus found that the teenage boy was good when it came to dry humor. Xynalia laughed, covering her mouth with a delicate hand. "You talk like a jaded old man." "Well, you're not wrong." "Hah?" "I feel like one sometimes," Thirteen muttered. "Too much scheming, too many plans. It's nice to see something… simple for once." Xynalia looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Do you think it's simple? A princess offering herself to a stranger in the name of diplomacy?" Thirteen's expression turned thoughtful. "No. But you know well that she's not doing it for the sake of diplomacy alone. You know what I mean, right?" The soft strumming of a harp echoed through the room as evening settled fully. For a time, Thirteen and Princess Xynalia sat in silence, sharing the calm before the Wanderers and the Succubus went to their respective rooms to continue their discussion in private. They watched as a stiff Roland allowed himself to be pulled by Princess Laventia toward the stairs, which led to the Princess' room. "Come, let's go someplace else," Princess Xynalia said, holding Thirteen's hand and taking him to the second floor as well. Thirteen didn't resist since he could tell that Princess Xynalia wanted to talk to him more and simply wished to change locations. When they arrived at their destination, the teenage boy found himself in a very spacious room, where five beautiful succubi were waiting for them. Princess Xynalia made him sit on the couch and sat on his right side. One of the succubus sat on his left side, offering him a drink. Two of the four remaining succubus massaged his shoulder, making sure that his stiff muscles would find relief. The last two moved to his feet, kneeling with delicate grace as they began working the tension from his soles. He was being given a King's treatment, and it didn't feel that bad. "…You know, if you are trying to interrogate me, this is a very effective start," Thirteen said, eyes half-lidded as the shoulder massage hit a sore spot. "Ten more minutes of this, and I'll tell you where I keep my lunch money." Xynalia giggled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Relax. This isn't a trap. I just wanted you to feel what it's like to be appreciated… even if just a little." "I'm not used to appreciation," Thirteen muttered as he looked at the five beauties around him. "Or this." Princess Xynalia leaned in slightly, her voice quieter now. "Just consider this as a special service for making sure that the alliance between us and the Jinns works out. Nothing more. Nothing less." Thirteen studied her. "Is that how you repay all your allies?" "No." Princess Laventia smiled. "Only the ones I might want to keep close." Her words made the teenage boy pause. It had warmth and trust. Also, there were five pairs of hands making sure he had a good time. If Thirteen were an ordinary person, he might have believed Princess Xynalia's honey-coated words. But he was different. He had seen it all and had watched as his hosts were betrayed by the people they trusted so many times that he had lost count. And that, for him, was more terrifying than any demon. Soon, the Succubus slowly undressed, and Thirteen knew that it was now time to leave. Of course, they blocked his path, but Thirteen was already prepared for this scenario. Looking at the beautiful ladies around him, including Princess Xynalia, who were trying to remove his clothes, Thirteen placed his hands together and said a single word. "Skip." A moment later, the six ladies collapsed on the carpeted floor, their bodies twitching from time to time. Princess Xynalia's eyes had rolled off, and her drool flowed at the corner of her lips. Her body spasmed uncontrollably, as if she had been hit by pleasure that far surpassed anything that she had experienced before. The other succubi were in similar condition, but their lives were not in any danger. All of them had just fainted because their brain had short-circuited from the sudden influx of emotions that hit them like a truck, making them all blank out. Thirteen smoothed out his clothes a bit before leaving the room without a second glance. He knew that Princess Xynalia had other plans in her mind for him, but he wouldn't have any of it. He decided to teach them a lesson so that they wouldn't try to do something similar to him or his friends in the future. After leaving the room, Thirteen went to the rooftop, to look at the night sky. Unlike in the past, where only the moon, and shooting stars littered the sky, the cracks on the barrier now allowed people to see what they hadn't seen for centuries. Stars. True stars that twinkled in the night sky. While some parts fo the sky was still enveloped in darkness, Thirteen simply stared at the place where the stars were visible. He knew more than anyone that there were countless worlds in the multiverse, teeming with life, and filled with strife, and struggles. A sigh escaped his lips because the world were he was currently at was at the brink of destruction. But, Thirteen believed that there was a way to overcome such a calamity. Even now, when there were many uncertainties presented in front of him, he was still confident that he would be able to find a way to solve them. After pondering for a while, Thirteen decided to go to the Domain of the Apocalypse. Roland, Derek, Vincent, and Penny were in good hands, at least he believed they would be. So, leaving them until morning wouldn't pose any problems. When he arrived at the domain, he sought out Erica, Sherry, Shana, and Princess Aracelle, who were waiting for him. "Welcome back," Sherry said, as she gave him a kiss, and a hugg. "I missed you." "I missed you too." Thirteen planted a kiss on her forehead. He did the same for his other lovers, and allowed them to drag him to the bed, where he could rest. As he lay in their embrace, Thirteen closed his eyes, knowing that he was in a safe place. He was with the people who loved him, and the people he cared for. Regardless of what the future may hold, he would be there to protect them, as well as the world, that he was starting to think of as his home.