Ero Skill Tree

Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Two: A Place for the Night

I was woken for my turn on watch by Altria as she went to turn in. It was still pitch black when I opened my eyes. I could just make out her outline against the flickering light from the fire.

"Hey Theo, it's time to wake up." She said gently.

"I'm awake, just give me a moment and I'll be there."

Altria left the tent and went back to fire while I dressed. A minute or two later I emerged from the tent and joined her at the fire before she went back to bed.

"Been a quiet night?" I asked as I took a seat by the fire.

"Just the odd animal, no sign of anything else."

"Hopefully it stays that way!"

"I expect it will. I don't think there is anyone out here but us." She yawned. "I'm going to try and get a little more sleep while it's still dark. See you later." She said before making her way back to the tent.

I stretched a little as I sat there to throw off some of the stiffness from a night spent sleeping on the hard floor. It really was quiet out here. I couldn't even make out any animal noises. The wind blowing through the vegetation and the crackling of the fire broke the silence. I started to wonder what we'd find once we entered the lands controlled by the demons. I was expecting something war torn and desolate, but I had no idea what it would really be like once we reached it. After the fight we encountered back in the dungeon in Lintz I was already expecting it to be dangerous. The girls struggled back then, and it was only a stroke of luck that I was able to catch her by surprise.

After sitting by the fire for a couple of hours, the sun started to rise. I could see right across the great plain as the sun rose above the mountains far in the distance. I knew it would still be sometime before the others woke for breakfast, and with the fire burning down I decided to gather some more wood, so we had enough to cook on once they woke. I didn't stray far from the camp, just collecting deadwood from the surrounding area. As I returned and started loading the fire, I heard some rustling coming from one of our tents. A moment later Liz climbed out, she looked around before joining me at the fire.

"Morning Liz." I said as she sat down.

"Morning."

"You know it's still pretty early. You could sleep a little longer."

"I know... I'm still adjusting to sleeping in a tent again. Once the sun comes up, I wake and don't seem to be able to sleep again."

"Yeah, it can be like that."

"It doesn't really matter. I went to bed ealy enough and I slept well, so I don't think I'll struggle today."

"That's good."

"What about you? I can take over the watch if you want to get a little more sleep."

"Thanks, but I'm fine. I doubt I'd fall back asleep now. I was starting to get a little bored out here alone, so I'm glad of the company."

Liz laughed.

"Didn't you ask your succubus friend to come and keep you company?"

"I didn't. I expect she needs to sleep too, and I wasn't sure if it was the best idea to have her out in the open like that."

"No one is going to see her out here. We'll be crossing the border in a few hours. We'll want her to stay close when we do."

"I'll ask her to do that then."

"Actually, do you mind calling her out?"

"I can see if she's awake... Celine?"

"Yes master!" She answered almost immediately.