"Do you doubt Henry?" Riz asked after putting more fruits in the table.
"Why will I doubt him?" Thea asked after eating a few bananas.
"Because you are worried about Asuren," Riz glared. "It is obvious in your eyes. You are always worried about him. And it seems that he likes making you worry. Getting wounded all the time."
"It's because he wants to protect everyone," Thea chewed on another fruit.
"Ayhan can protect himself. I saw him fight."
"Those flesh eaters were stronger. Ayhan said so. You fought them too," Thea kept on munching fruits. "Have you heard from Gia and Sel? Are they safe?"
"The flesh eaters they were fighting had vanished the same time the boar seal disappeared. None of them had been seriously wounded. That's why they want to keep searching."
"Henry might need some assistance. Since you've brought me a lot of fruits, you can leave me for a few hours," Thea swallowed a few grapes.
"Do you want me to assist Henry or Asuren?" Riz crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Both," Thea beamed then winked at her friend. "Asuren is at his weakest when he drinks the medicine for his other curse. He needs all the assistance he could get. I'll be a good fairy here. I promise."
"Fine," Riz rolled her eyes. "I'll check up on them. But I won't assist Asuren. I'm sure Ayhan can take care of his friend. I'll be back soon. Don't bite yourself."
"Of course, I won't!" Thea was taken aback. "I will not do that to myself. Leave now and bring fresh fruits when you return."
Riz grinned before leaving the room.
^#########^
Thea was not just getting hungrier with the passing of hours. Her worry was also intensifying. She wanted to see Asuren as much as she wanted to eat.
It had been hours since her friend had left. She already devoured all the fruits in the table. She got up on her feet and grabbed the door knob. She had to find more fruits and check on Asuren.
"No… I need to stay here…" she closed her eyes and resisted the urge to open the door. Henry told her to isolate herself. She also promised Riz that she would be a good fairy. She took a few deep breaths but her stomach kept on rumbling and her desire to see Asuren was intensifying.
"If I stay here, I might eat myself!" she opened the door and stepped out of the room.
"Thea!" Henry almost bumped against her. He was carrying a basket filled with fruits. "Where are you going?"
"I… I need to get more food…" she returned inside the room with disappointment.
Henry smiled and put the basket near the door. He took one fruit and tossed it at Thea.
"I already injected medicine on it. Tell me if it eases your hunger even by a bit."
Thea devoured the entire fruit and was amazed with its effect. Her stomach had somehow calmed down.
"It worked," she rubbed her satisfied belly.
"That's good," Henry had given her another fruit. "Bring it with you. Eat it as soon as you feel hungry."
"I can see Asuren?" Thea eagerly asked.
"Yes. You can only see him. He is sleeping," Henry smiled.
"Is he okay?"
"It is not an ancient curse. I already countered it. His leg will heal quicker than his chest wound," Henry moved out of the door to let her pass. "Go while Riz and Ayhan are outside."
"Outside?"
"Sel asked for backup. They found another possible trail. Riz and Ayhan were hesitant to leave because of you and Asuren. I told them that I can take care of you since my transporting ability is not acting up. I won't be disappearing any time soon."
"Thank you so much, Henry," Thea smiled and hurried downstairs, to where Asuren was resting. The room where she isolated herself was on the second floor, where Gia had a room all to herself.
"Asuren, you're awake…"
His eyes were wide open and he was staring blankly at the ceiling. He did not seem to hear Thea.
"Asuren… are you okay?" for a moment, she thought that Asuren had been possessed but when she moved closer to him, his eyes remained green.
"Thea?" he glanced at her with confusion. "What happened?" his eyes widened with fear and he suddenly sat up. "Where is Ayhan? Did the flesh eater take him? Is he…"
"He's okay," Thea quickly said and glanced at his heavily bandaged leg. "He went out with Riz to help Sel. They found another trace and probably searching for the boar seal. Henry said that you are sleeping. Did you have a bad dream?"
"What happened to your shoulder?" Asuren asked back instead of answering her question.
"The boar seal had cursed me," Thea grinned but Asuren was still worried.
His eyes widened with fear when he asked, "The flesh eater curse?"
Thea suddenly felt hungry and quickly ate the fruit that Henry had given her. It was effective but only for a few seconds. She even brought a backup but it did nothing to satisfy her hunger. She gazed hungrily at Asuren and swiftly grabbed his left arm.
"I'm… starving…" Thea tightened the grip in his arm. "Fruits cannot satisfy my hunger. I need… your flesh..."
"Asuren!" Henry tossed an apple. He caught it and shoved it in the mouth of Thea that almost bit his arm.
"I enhanced the medicine I injected in that fruit," Henry stood behind Asuren. "How is your appetite?"
Thea swallowed the fruit and was relieved of her hunger.
"It worked," she stepped away from Asuren and Henry, embarrassed at her sudden outburst. "I'm sorry. I almost hurt you. I should return upstairs."
"Stay here," Asuren said with a straight face. "Henry can study our curses faster if we stay close to each other. If you are worried about our safety, I can take him out of here before you bite any of us."
"Please, don't hesitate to do that," Thea sighed and settled on the bed adjacent to Asuren.
^####################^