Lunar Twins (Zeldris x OC) (Escanor x OC)

Part 24

Mera awoke shortly after Shu'tar left. Zeldris filled her in on who had been there and what he'd said. Mera's hearts thudded in her chest as she tried to hide her nervousness.

"Shu'tar was here?"

"He's headed towards Chi."

"We... I need to go after him."

Mera stood.

"Is this about what you overheard that one night?"

"The thing Chi thinks was taken out of context and was completely hypothetical?"

"Yeah, that."

"That's part of it."

Sure, it was definitely hypothetical when Shu'tar went into great detail about how he'd kill Chimera shortly after her marriage and coronation so he could become the first king Mars had seen in over a thousand years. Mera and Chi were at odds over it. Mera had suggested one last adventure before the succession ceremony and before her wedding night when she had no doubt Shu'tar would kill her as she slept. Mera shuddered. The last time Mars had had a king, the planet had been plunged into a century-long war and Shu'tar, who loved battle and bloodshed, would be no different. In fact, Mera's biggest concern was that he'd be worse. Mera was terrified for the coronation ceremony, where she'd perform a memory ceremony with her mother and get not only her memories, but the memories of everyone she'd done a ceremony with and every king and queen that came before her. How did her mother stand having the violent king's memories in her head?

"Let me go with you," Zeldris said.

"What if Shu'tar hurts you?"

"I'm more worried about him hurting you."

"He won't hurt me... until after the marriage is official, anyways."

"You mean he won't hurt whoever he takes back to Mars with him. He only needs one of you alive."

"Chi's in danger. I don't need you to be in danger, too."

"You're in danger."

"I can stop this. I... I remember our combat training, even if I don't want to use it. I just need..." Mera checked her pockets, "the daggers are with Chi."

"Then she can use them."

"You and I both know she won't."

"We'll jump to where she is. Together."

"You don't have to--"

"I know."

Zeldris wrapped his arms around Mera's waist and jumped.