Once again Ittindi found himself doing a job at night, this one would take place throughout the outskirts of the city. To prepare Ittindi had dressed down today, instead of a 3-piece suit he was only wearing a white button up with a frill down the middle, and a pair of tan khakis. He didn’t even have a tie on, he had really learned to let loose in his time doing jobs. If his Master Butler saw him, he’d receive a couple of lashes just for the lack of decorum, what if someone was having a night picnic and saw him? Ittindi had learned to calm his inner butler voice in moments like this, it would be too expensive for him to ruin a suit every time he had a job. Eventually he’d have the money where something like that wouldn’t bother him, but for now he had to save. There was a special weapon that the Rune Knights employed once he was accepted, he’d use his funds there, coupled with his magic it would make him deadlier. Images of the fight at a guild hall reappeared, his helplessness before an attendant. He wondered how she was doing, she was…well interesting. When he met with Marin, a senior Rune Knight; not just in rank but age as well he’d receive his job.

He'd be traveling around checking on beacons, something that Marin had put in the woods just outside Era. A smart move, darkness could hide many terrors, and civilians needed to be protected. Marin would go on about how the transmissions and communication networks were fully operational. Likely the only thing his higher ups cared about, but he was worried about the actual lights that would help the average citizen. An admirable trait to have in a leader, it reminded him of some of the best. As he walked outside the moon was waxing and one could barely make out the area in front of their face without streetlights. It’d be easy to see if these beacons were working.

Heading to the first location, Ittindi would exit out the south gate of the city, the sounds of the forest echoing throughout the bleak night. Ittindi had a torch for light as well to scare away nasty bugs, though it did seem to attract flies in the area. For now, it was fine none had tried to bite him.  It wouldn’t take long for him to see the first beacon, Ittindi would make it to base of the Beacon turning it on. Its light was an oasis in the desert of darkness. From here Ittindi would pull out the instructions given to him by Marin to see what direction he’d need to go to next to light the next Beacon. There was a decent amount throughout the woods, he’d have to go to each one.

Finally, at around 2 AM Ittindi would finish lighting the last beacon, looking through the woods he could see the daisy chain of lights littered through it. It almost looked like a barrier of light, but there was enough that anyone on the outskirts of Era could clearly move through the woods. Though it did make the foreboding darkness past it even more menacing. There was also the matter of the deeper silence the lights brought. Before he could hear life, but they had not become accustomed to such brightness during night. Hopefully they would grow accustomed to it, as he returned to Marin to get his payment.

It would be around 3 by the time he arrived outside his outpost, Marin had checked in on him a couple times through the night. He had been expecting Ittindi as he arrived yawning before handing him his reward. He’d also want a debrief typical military personnel, Ittindi would recount the boring events of the night for Marin’s comfort. Then he’d wish him well and head back to his inn.

WC: 653/500