There's something interesting about meditation overnight.

At first, there is a lot you think about, like chores you haven't finished around your house, or perhaps a happening of the day you find interesting, but after a while, all the random thoughts just melt away and everything around you disappears into the far reaches of your semi-asleep mind.

That was how it used to be, but now when I meditate my mind stays active, I can perceive the world around me, not in the way my eyes or my thermal vision see it, but in a new, different way.

I can not explain it in words, if you were to see with your hands, and were able to touch things with your eyes.

Instead of dead space and blackness surrounding me, it's now everything, and all things around me appearing yet not appearing to me.

First, it was mind-boggling, and a tad headache inducing but after a while my new 'vision' I suppose you could call it, settled down.

'Innate Skill, Thermal Imaging, has been upgraded through mixture with your Dark Dorgre Mana Body!'

'Congratulations!'

I look at the new update with apathetic eyes wondering why all of this seems too easy. 'What is the world trying to do by allowing us to advance so quickly? Is it that I'm talented? Is it that my races combining allows for such things?'

I stop to think for several moments, dread coming over me slightly, for the first time after the first few years of my training. 'What is out there that could warrant such growth?'

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I notice Gertrude rousing from sleep slowly from my meditative state.

Opening my eyes to greet her as we usually do after sleeping together, with a simple smile, she grunts, and curls up into me as I pull her up into a princess carry and take her to the other room, knocking on E's door as I pass by it.

Hearing a loud grunt I move on slowly.

No windows being in this hotel like building, my internal clock tells me it's around 3 am, so I put Gertrude on the bed, cover her in the blankets and move to the middle of the 10 meter by 10-meter room.

Crouching down I begin my morning exercises, sliding the KABAR knife out of its sheath and getting into a slashing stance, holding the knife out in front of me, I slash.

Holding the end of the slash for 30 seconds, positioned awkwardly to give me the control I need to react to any scenario after a slash.

Stopping halfway through the next slash aiming for the neck and holding that position. I continue with the practice at every possible point in each of my combined 36 slashes, 2 for each vital I aim for.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

At the end I put away my knife and continue with simple exercises for hours, until at 7 am I get a hint of a ringing noise, but not nearly as much as it once was, E seems to have started evolving his power. "We're all awake, are you ready?" I nod strongly, and he laughs, the minute perception I could feel in my mind disappearing.

I walk over to Gertrude, sweat seeming to no longer come out of me, my body too strong to let my strenuous training from before help at all.

I pick her up gently and put her on her feet, her face moving to mine and giving me a kiss on the lips as she slightly nods, her eyes droopily looking up at me.

"Let's go little one." I smile, and walk out, she grabs my tail and wraps it around her midsection so I pull her laziness along, strapping my pack to my back after returning the blanket.

I walk out to find everyone already in the lobby, La, already waiting for us.

Apparently comical for everyone is my companion, tail strapped to her, her body swaying like a broken puppet as she's half asleep.

La smiles, "I see your friend has no problem with your tail. It's hard for me to believe you allow such things, your race being as prideful as you are about your 'additions'."

I nod, an emotionless smile fills my face, no longer feeling the need to fake emotions.

La laughs out while nodding heartily, "That's more demonlike!"

"Are you ready to hunt, Demon child?" I nod politely as we move forward with him out of the Inn.

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We group up on the outside of town, our group taking our normal positions, the Elvellen from yesterday, appearing in much larger force than before starting to amass all around the village, forming teams of 6-8, then moving out into the forest one after another.

La then speaks from the lead of his group of Elite Elvellan hunters, most of the other Elvellen hunting groups having already come and gone, moving quickly and efficiently. "My group is the main hunting force, we start from the end of our sacred forest into any direction, then circle for 12 hours. I would like you, our guests, to go north leaving our sacred forest, and scout for 6 hours. Move at a speed you are comfortable with, then return."

I contemplate for a moment, look towards E, he nods.

Looking back towards La, I smile and say, "Is there anything you need from the surroundings?"

He smiles, and states, "I need to know the layout. If you could draw a map of camps of monsters, enemies, or possible allies in the surroundings.

Besides that, I'd also like to note that while we are strong as a unit, we are mostly quite weak as individuals. We Elvellan, though, as you know, can convene with animals. If you could find strong beasts that have not turned yet, we would reward you handsomely."

I nod gently, ruminating. Trying to think of what a strong beast may qualify as, and how to draw a map with only 6 hours of scouting.

Shaking off the thoughts that distracted me I focus once more to see La and his hunting party heading to the southeast.

La, waving behind him, shouts, "Best of luck to you, Demon."

I turn towards the others, E comes to my side, another fake smile etched on his face, "Well, what are we waiting for? Is everyone prepared?"

Everyone nods solemnly, Gertrude still half out of it, my tail seems to be the only thing holding her up shakes her head up and down.

I smile and release her slowly, she finds her footing and moves to the east, Alice and Cynthia moving south and west respectively as I look to the north.

The dread from earlier weeding its way back into my brain, Gertrude no longer within my reach.

A frown comes to my face, my hand falls to my KABAR knife, the dread fading slightly as I spot Gertrude's shadow in the distance. 'I don't have time to dwell on this idiocy. I will be stronger, I will protect her... Or die trying.'

My eyes grow determined, my face, hard and emotionless as I start forward.

"Move out!" I spat, sprinting into the forest along with the others.

'Nothing will be my obstacle. I will Silence them all if I have to.' Murderous intent filling my eyes as I hit the forest's edge, disappearing into its shadows.