Ittindi was in his uniform, a new feeling but he was still in the honeymoon phase, so he didn’t find it too tiring yet. It had some style, though he preferred his own suits, either way he had been afforded some space to complete tasks for the town folk. Like how he built his reputation, and he still had that investigation into the cursed child to solve for Gaud. He wondered if the man would be surprised to see Ittindi in uniform now. Heading to the location he had received last time, Ittindi would find the orphanage that was originally described in the tavern. The land outside of it was cracked and broken, no plant life seemed to survive whatever had happened.

Even from the outside Ittindi could feel the magical pressure straining the dilapidated orphanage. He was sure that the damage was a recent addition no doubt due to the child. He’d casually go up to the front door knocking to see if anyone would answer. After waiting a couple of minutes Ittindi would just walk through the front door.

The whole front lobby was destroyed, chairs scattered about magazines, ripped and decayed around various parts of the lobby. As Ittindi entered the room, the desk 5 meters in front of him, had blood splatted across the chair, as all devices around the front desk were gone or destroyed. Ittindi was on guard, his head on a swivel as he inched through the room inspecting for any signs of life. There didn’t seem to be anyone in the room, moving on to a hallway. Ittindi would continue creeping trying to make as little noise as possible, the occasional crunch of glass would be unavoidable as the rooms to his left and right had signs of children struggling as they ultimately escaped. Or were captured, either way Ittindi didn’t find any bodies on scene. The smell coming from the building made Ittindi think that this incident couldn’t have happened more than a week ago, you could still smell remnants of normalcy here and there as he explored.

He'd make it to the stairs, and they were destroyed as well. He’d have to carefully navigate the steps until he got to the next floor. On this floor all the windows weren’t blown out and there was a single room in the hallway open. Ittindi would carefully move towards it. To his surprise there laid the curse child, her intense black sclera stare before blasting Ittindi with a darkness spell. Luckily Ittindi was expecting something like this, quickly summoning his shield it would be disintegrated by the blast. She’d scream an inhuman yell, before she’d start flying towards Ittindi. He considered for a second hurting the child, but Ittindi did see a more difficult path where he didn’t hurt her but just captured her. That would have to be the case, the worse part was since he didn’t have any binding spells, he’d have to hold her down the whole time. At least until he could handcuff her, Ittindi thought about creating some binding spells later.

As soon as she was within a meter of Ittindi she’d yell again trying to blast him with another spell of darkness. Ittindi would drop to the ground going under the girl and grabbing both of her arms. While she had magic powers, ultimately that didn’t matter if you couldn’t make the gestures to cast. She was screaming even louder than when she was casting, expletives that Ittindi had never heard uttered were thrown at him. He’d make some thread wrapping it around her hands as he kept one hand on her shoulder. She’d scream one more curse word than break out of the silk and overpower Ittindi as if he was the child in the situation. Throwing him into a wall, he’d be amazed by her strength, quickly getting to his feet as she shot another spell at him. He’d have to counter with another spell of his own, the green circle temporarily bringing light to the musky dark room. As another one of his webs canceled out her darkness, Ittindi would shout to the child.

” No one’s mad at you, you’re just a child. Please calm down and come with me, I was taking you to a place to get help. I work there and I can even come to see you on occasion. I’m sorry for trying to tie you up I can see that you are quite competent, but so am I and I don’t want to accidently hurt you.”

Ittindi hoped his words would work, he could keep up their spell duel, but he was worried that she couldn’t. Children who overreacted to their magic often spent their own life energy in one of these duels to keep up. That’s why Ittindi didn’t plan on going on the offensive. Better to see if he can talk his way out of the situation. To his surprise it worked, at least for a tiny bit. The child would approach him seemingly pacified, Ittindi would smile at her and offer his hand out to her. She’d make a motion instead of going for Ittindi’s hand, and the magic seal appeared. Ittindi was to slow in reacting as his body was sent hurtling through the air. A point blank darkness spell, and who know what would happen when he landed, no doubt she was lining up her next spell. That’s when he heard sweet silence after his body made a solid thud against the floor.

Jumping back to his feet Ittindi could see that the child had passed out, probably from mana exhaustion. He’d walk over to her and pick her up gently, such a young thing to be affected by the corruption of powerful magic. Hopefully the Rune Knights would have a program that could help her live a seemingly normal life eventually. He’d walk out of the building and back towards Gaud. It was times like these that Ittindi was grateful for his simple magic, he never had to worry about any possession or greater desires, etc.. from his magic it was just under his control.  Not to mention Ittindi felt like he was coming upon another breakthrough in his magic, he had so many ideas, he just needed to find time to train. Perhaps he'd use Tōga if he was in the area, he didn’t think Lady Averie would be up to practical training. Honestly Ittindi didn’t know if he’d be up for it with spirits and zombies.

As he made it back to the bar Gaud would be surprised not only to see Ittindi a couple days later, but child in arms. He’d look at him shouting about him becoming a Rune Knight and how he’d call even more to come escort the child before she wakes up. It’d only take a couple minutes for them to arrive at the bar, much faster than usual. Ittindi wondered if he Gaud had some Rune Knights on his payroll. It wouldn’t surprise him with how much the man hated dark mages. As they took the child away, Ittindi planned to keep his word and visit her. Getting the reward from Gaud before catching up with the detainment unit.

WC: 1206/1000