"How much longer are we hunting?" Kael asked, clearly tired but trying to maintain readiness.
I considered the question while watching Changing Star eat. Dawn was still several hours away, but pushing too hard risked exhaustion that would compromise safety.
"One more encounter if we find appropriate prey," I decided. "Then we extract and return to the mansion before sunrise."
Chirp!
Changing Star's enthusiastic response suggested she was ready for more hunting despite having already fought multiple battles.
That dragon's stamina was truly absurd.
"Rest while she eats," I told Kael. "Recover your mana and prepare for potentially one more engagement."
He nodded gratefully and sat down to meditate, channeling breathing techniques to accelerate recovery.
I stood watch while my team recovered, the Swift Essence aspect already making my perception feel sharper as enhanced reaction time allowed faster processing of sensory information.
