Exhausted

Asteri was weakened by the backlash suffered by his innate ability. But he managed to accumulate a modicum of energy to stagger to the point where they had established the group's takeover.

He took a bag, where there were potions inside, and one type of these was precisely that of the recovery of exhausted strength. He uncorked the bottle cap and drank it in one gulp.

'It looks like he fought for hours… it only lasted a few minutes. I have to learn to control that skill to the best of my ability.' Asteri was disappointed by the state he was in for only a few minutes of duel.

After a few more minutes of rest, the two women woke up.

"Mhh? I feel weird ... like I've been asleep with some kind of spell." Allatu she was the first to speak. As she looked around, she saw some confusion in which Asteri and the rizou were arguing. "What happened ?! Asteri !!" the succubus noticed that Asteri was sitting on the ground leaning against a tree.

She immediately ran to him to see if he was hurt. Betty noticed it too, and without saying anything she too approached the boy. But even while she was silent, her concern for the young man could be seen in the half-breed's face.

"I'm fine, I'm just a little exhausted. I've already had a recovery potion, and with a few hours of rest I'll be fine." Asteri smiled at the two women. Pointing out that she was happy they were taking care of him, even though her tired tone couldn't hide, causing the two girls to frown.

"The rizou? He followed us up here. Most likely it was he who didn't allow us to wake up to collaborate with Asteri." Betty noticed the corpse of the lifeless creature lying on the ground. From the wound that Asteri had inflicted one could also see a green liquid mixed with yellow, gushing from his head. Most likely it is his "blood", if you can call it that.

"And no doubt this is the reason. The rizou is capable of some abilities, and one of them is an invisible spore toxin that can drop prey into a state of deep sleep." Allatu explains as he helps Asteri up to get a sleeping bag.

"Okay, the important thing is that you are okay. Now it's our turn to be on guard, make sure you rest well." Betty did the same by supporting Asteri on the other side. "We will have a busy day tomorrow."

"Don't worry, tomorrow I'll be ready for any inconvenience. I swear." Asteri gave the women a confident smile, making them blush seeing the boy's charming face.

"Yes, yes, sure. Enough now, go to sleep." Betty said this as she helped Allatu lay Asteri on the sack.

"So see you tomorrow girls. Ah! One last thing, wake me up if something happens ... I'm serious." Asteri did not want to leave the two women alone to fight hostile enemies during the night.

"Do you think we are so weak that we won't even be able to protect ourselves?" Betty turned her head to the side of her, snorting coldly at Asteri's words, but she couldn't keep a smile on her lips, a sign that her heart was warmed by Asteri's concern.

"Sure, we'll wake you up if anything happens, you can count on us. But sleep soundly, there's no hostile presence nearby." Allatu reassured him, lovingly caressing his cheek.

Asteri could begin to sleep soundly with the safe phrases of the two women. However, he had all his senses on alert if something dangerous happened. He was sure he could wake up at any moment.

At the same time, Allatu and Betty made their way to the rizou's body.

"It's amazing that he defeated the rizou alone with their difference in power, not to mention the fact that he's completely unharmed. I don't know if he's more luck or skill." Betty sighed at Asteri's action of fighting the rizou alone, without even trying to wake her and Allatu to help him.

"I think more about the second, after all it is Asteri, it is full of surprises". Allatu, on the other hand, was excited and proud of the boy's achievements.

But while they were focused on the conversation, something unusual happened. The rizou's corpse was about to be devoured by the earth. A multitude of roots trapped him and sucked him underground, making him disappear from the sight of the two women.

The latter immediately moved to guard posts for sudden surprise attacks, but contrary to what they thought the roots did not attack them, to tell the truth it was as if they had been completely ignored.

"I understand, from the forest he was born, and from the forest he returns. In the end it is like this for everyone". Allatu said, staring at where the creature's body was.

"The only difference is that some do it sooner than others." Betty continued.

After that event, the two girls returned to guard until dawn.

The sun rose awakening the surrounding nature from where the group was located. Asteri woke up and first checked if he was under control. And when he saw the two girls chatting normally in front of each other, he was reassured.

'Fortunately, nothing happened after Rizou's attack. I was afraid that something bad was going to happen, but apparently I was unnecessarily worried. 'Asteri was happy that everything had gone well during the two women's night watch.

'How much do you care.' Aurelion seemed exasperated by Asteri's worries. "As the half-breed already said, they are strong enough to protect themselves. What is it, don't you trust them? 'Aurelion asks, with a hint of provocation.

'I trust them completely, what I don't trust is what's around us. You never know what might happen if you let your guard down. 'Asteri replied, without any hint of annoyance.

'As you say. Speaking of other things, your body isn't 100% and I think you've noticed that too. Sure, potions and rest have done their job, but it's not enough to fully recharge you. You know what I mean by that, right? 'Aurelion informed the boy of the state of Asteri's body, but it didn't matter because he knew it too.

'You don't want me to exaggerate, I get it. But you don't have to worry, I can get away with it, trust me.' Asteri wants to reassure Aurelion.

'If you say so, then I can worry less.' Aurelion wasn't entirely sure, but he could only hope that Asteri would do his best to survive.

"Oh! You woke up, good morning darling. Come and have breakfast with us if you feel better." Allatu smiled at Asteri, inviting him to eat with her is Betty.

"I will be there!" Asteri wasted no time and immediately went to the two beautiful girls. Soon the day for their rescue mission would begin.