Understood

Things had changed.

What used to be complicated or just out of my reach, have proven to be less complicated than I originally thought.

My fears, are virtually non-existent.

Surprised?

So was I.

It had been unnerving to learn that I was not quite as fearless as I had previously believed.

The monster, the future, the unknown, had all made me feel a pin-prick of fear that I had previously failed to acknowledge. Its presence eluded my once sharp mind. But no longer.

Everything that had once been blocked, suppressed, or ignored were all now within the palm of my hand.

That is not to say that I was wrong, per se.

Emotions are still primarily unneeded. However, I do acknowledge their presence within me. Friends are mostly a waste of time. Though, I do see why others find them to be...worth their time. Romance...in that I may have been slightly mistaken. Vlad is.....worth my time.

As I sit and observe my family, I cannot help but be grateful for his presence in my life.

What had once been a topic that occupied a large portion of my focus, the mysteries of my parental figures, has become less of a topic that I find confounding the more time I spend in their presence with my enhanced mind.

Connections that were once absent had been formed. Lines drawn to aspects that had previously gone unnoticed, had become apparent. My little brother was his usual self. No mystery there. My father loved us all, and had no problem showing it. Always clear. Now, my mother. The one that had plagued my existence from the very beginning, is tolerable. Her inner confidence, that I had once mistaken as outward condescension is now understood. Her inner peace, that I had once viewed as outward condescension, is now apparent. Her love for me, that I had once perceived as an attempt to control and influence my life in an overt attempt to turn me into a lesser version of herself, is now seen clearly as my own lacking sense of self.

My path is my own.

Her path is her own.

She understood this, which is why she never tried to convince me of her point of view, and believed that eventually, I would as well.

It loathes me to admit that...she is quite the capable individual.

All the more reason for me to keep an eye on her always.

Hmmm...I....sense something. In the distance. Approaching. An anger mixed with vindication. A vendetta...directed towards me...no towards someone connected to me. My father.

Who.

The sheriff, the answer is quickly supplied by my mind.

This is a first. This range of senses. Why am I only just now able to access it.

Ah, I see.

My body had already fully accepted the change in its "tier", however my mind seems to be filtering out information that is either extraneous, unneeded, or would have been initially overwhelming.

It seems to have been done subconsciously, however I can also infer that it was just as much of a conscious decision made by my minds desire the moment I was "enhanced".

Fascinating.

My mind and instincts working in tandem for my best interest without me having to place focus on manually commanding the intent.

I truly need to find a way to thank Vlad for...who he is.

Their steps are slow.

Only a second has passed since I first acknowledged the approaching annoyances. Time seems to have slowed. Obviously not, my mind is just fast.

I should list out these understandings of myself.

Perhaps, give meditation a try. Hm, I'm even telling jokes now. Well, everything has its drawbacks.

Now, what to do about the sheriff? Options? Too close to make a hasty retreat. Too visible to stage an ambush. Too many observers to practice knife throwing with live targets and also to stage an ambush. Fighting is not an option. Not without information on their purpose. I do not sense the same bloodlust that I felt from the men I killed in combat, so its unlikely they are coming to shoot first and ask questions second. So, why are they making an appearance and why for my father? Vindication. The sheriff believes that he has been proven right about something. Obviously, my father being a murderer, but how? New evidence. It could only be recently acquired. The sheriff lacks both patience and tack, so he would make an appearance as soon as he had what he thought he needed. New evidence...I cannot think of any. I lack too many details of the case. Well, I suppose I have my work cut out for me.

I like it.

I should thank him for giving me a clear reason to pry into my parents past.

However, what I do not like is the approach. Nor the feeling of satisfaction that he seems to be taking in his current action. He seeks to humiliate my family. That cannot go unpunished.

Unfortunately, it seems that it cannot be avoide...Oh, Vlad.

(A/N: Additional chapters are on Patreon.com/TheGreatestHunter .)