Outfit:

Ittindi was in a chipper mood today, the autumn day had the leaves in full fall. There didn't seem to be many on campus today, Ittindi had learned of a newer student on campus and was on his way to find them. He hoped it was another college of destruction student, most had left the school as of late. With part of this academy being backed by the Rune Knights and the council he felt obligated in its success. The empty classrooms an all to real reminder of their failure.  He was wearing one of his new favorite suits, a purple three piece with a white tuxedo button up shirt that’s had small vertical frills.

He'd wander around the halls until he was outside on the steps of the spire that was the college of destruction. Ittindi hoped to spot them either on their way into any of the college buildings or perhaps he’d be seen and approached. He’d sweep off a part of the steps from the dust and sit down. Pondering if he was to early or to late to see the fabled student.  The advantage of the college of destruction was its tall spire and steps proved to be a great vantage point to see the rest of the academy.

Ittindi one would think you’re desperate, for all you know this student might be another demon. You already have befriended so many of us do you wonder if you’ll ever have any human friends?

Ittindi would ignore Naki in his head, he assumed that the individual he was looking for wasn’t human. Otherwise, why would his demon taunt him? Still Ittindi did hold out a small bit of hope for at least the new student not being a demon.  Ultimately, a good person or a well-mannered one would do fine. While he waited, Ittindi would twirl his dominator pistol, otherwise he’d find cleaning work to do. Better to not show people his obsession so early, it wasn’t something others found admirable. He’d continue twirling and throwing his dominator up in the air while thinking about his time in the Rune Knights having to prove himself as an odd butler.

Monopoly Suit:

Targa adjusted her top hat and straightened her tie as she walked across the campus. The crisp autumn air welcomed her, and she found pleasure in the changing scenery, different from the places she had been before as of recent. The towering academy, with its tall spires and grand arches, stood before her, a beautiful presence against the backdrop of the turning leaves.

As she approached the steps, a man called out to her and asked if she was the new student. He needed to register her and note her magic before she could enter and meet the other students, teachers and staff. Targa raised an eyebrow, unsure if his intentions were to be helpful or if he had his own agenda. Nonetheless, she decided to engage, recognizing the opportunity to meet someone new, especially from the College of Destruction. A brief smile played on her lips as she introduced herself, tipping her hat and spinning her hand in a flourish with a bow.

The woman had mastered the art of charming others through years of socializing. Whether this instructor would significantly impact her journey remained uncertain, but he seemed reasonably agreeable. She confidently described her Crash magic, acknowledging that she was here to train with it and gain a greater hold over it. However, she just now realized this academy might be filled with fresh perspectives on such destructive magic, which could present an interesting challenge.

The man's comments about destruction magic's declining popularity prompted a quiet chuckle from Targa. She acknowledged that regardless of its popularity, destruction had a way of making itself necessary, though she meant this in a practical sense. There was power in understanding how to bring things down, allowing something stronger and better to be built in its place. This was the essence of her Crash magic, or so what she convinced herself it was.

The man would let her into the college and she would see not many people moving about. Maybe they were in class, or this college just didn't have many students. It was then she spotted a dapper man wearing a purple three piece with a white tuxedo button up shirt that had small vertical frills. She was also in a stylish tuxedo so she would approach him.

"Hello, I'm Targa. Targa Tab Talham, and I just enrolled in the college. Might you be one of the teachers here? Or a fellow student?" she said with a proper noble tone, a tone she had picked up watching her sister navigate the courts of nobility.

WC: 424

Ittindi was pleasantly surprised when he saw a Monopoly suit, it made him ache for he missed the suit himself. He knew that he had a couple replica suits made, but they didn’t have the same enchanted fibers. Luckily he had his new armor so he didn’t have to replace his suits at the rate he did in the old days. A weird thing to think about, his time with the Young Master as some distant past when it was just 3 to 5 years ago. It seemed like a decade, with all the struggles he had been through since joining the Rune Knights. While her entrance reminded him more of a man’s he wasn’t aware of the custom’s of her land. In any case manners were always appreciated by Ittindi, he’d let the gun fall into his holster. While standing up and bowing himself while introducing himself. If Lady Talham looked at his mouth during any of his talking his large Rune Knight ankh tattoo would be visible on his tongue.

”Greetings Lady Talham, I’m Assistant Professor Ittindi, I use to be a fellow student just a couple months ago. I’ll give you a quick tour and we can talk about the appropriate paperwork during your first lesson. I love your outfit by the way, very elegant, exactly what I want to see in a student, you have a promising future ahead of you I have an eye for such things.”

Ittindi would come up from his bow and offer his elbow out if she had any trepidation of the heights walking up the steps to the entrance to the college of destruction. The first room Ittindi would stop in was the main hall as they entered the front door. It’s wide open 15-meter radius circular space, a diameter of with another winding close to the walls of the tower. There were pictures of famous mages throughout the world who they classified as possible destruction mages. Lady Lumikki photographed in her “humanoid” form, Ittindi preferring that form personally, along with other mages from past and present. There were multiple lounge chairs and desks set up if a student wanted to study in the main hall, currently it was empty and as Ittindi weaved through desks and chairs he’d speak at Lady Talham.

”The college of destruction is primarily for control, for those of us who wish to create a more perfect order or a significant impact on the world. This is a place to learn that control, to better seek out our goals, when I first came here I was ashamed of my magic. Well, I still am to a degree, but here with the other students I’ve met we all struggle with different aspects of control. For me I have a demon’s soul inside me, though we have formed a partnership and I’m not infected like most with daemon blood or obscura corruption. With the help of the staff I became something new and unique entirely. That’s what we offer for our students here if you’re interested.”

Ittindi was never one for pitches, but he tried his best thinking of Lady Lumikki and the Young Master when they had to run their guilds or even when helping run this school for Lady Lumikki.

Targa took his offered arm with the same graceful ease she'd been trained for, though she couldn't help but inwardly scoff at the formality of it all. Yet she was happy to see someone wo poised and proper at the same time. It was endearing to her. Growing up, she had been forced to learn the ins and outs of etiquette, proper manners, and all the formalities that came with the upper class, though she'd never been truly accepted into those circles. It was drilled into her under the guise of "just in case," but the real intent had always been clear; to prepare her for something she would never actually be a part of. The irony wasn’t lost on her now, but she played her part well enough, letting a small smile curve her lips.

As they walked, her gaze took in the large, open hall with its winding stairs and portraits of famous mages. She listened as him as he spoke, her eyes occasionally flicking to the pictures that lined the walls. The sight of Lady Lumikki's portrait caught her attention, but she didn’t linger on it for too long. If anything she was more interested in the man before her and not past mages...not unless she was to meet them too.

"Crash magic," she began, glancing at him briefly. "It’s not exactly subtle. In fact, it’s the opposite of control in many ways. It’s about obliterating barriers, shattering objects, and letting the pieces fall where they may. But… I suppose even chaos needs a certain kind of order to be effective. Otherwise, it's just destruction for the sake of destruction. I've searched high and low for others with my magic and I can't seem to find anyone. I love magic and I study it all the time. It's my favorite thing to learn about all the worlds different magic from fire, ice, water, earth, even dragon-spirt-god slayer magic. I once read a book and met a man who used acid magic. Funny thing, he had the worst acid reflux as a result of his own magic."

Her voice carried a loving tone as she spoke about magic, almost as if she were working through her thoughts out loud and was lost in those thoughts. Targa had never been ashamed of her magic, but she'd always been aware of its potential for harm, something that had caused her more than a few headaches over the years and almost killed her from the inside out.

When he mentioned his short tenure as a student before becoming a professor, she raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You weren’t a student that long ago and now you're already teaching? Either you're quite remarkable, or this place is... or maybe both." She gave him a sidelong glance, her smile widening just a touch. "It’s not every day I meet someone who can rise through the ranks so quickly. But then again, I suppose destruction magic draws a certain kind of ambitious soul, doesn’t it?"

There was no judgment in her words, only curiosity. Targa herself was no stranger to ambition, though hers had always been tempered by a desire to stay true to her own moral compass and not succumb to her vampiric nature. Everywhere she went she had to hit up hospitals for blood donations and buy bags of it...that or she had to feed of animals which tasted horrible. Only when she caught a magical beast was she satisfied, but even they varied in taste and substance. She could sense that there was more to Ittindi’s story—something about the way he mentioned his partnership with a demon hinted at struggles she knew all too well. But for now, she kept her questions to herself, focusing instead on the potential this academy held.

WC: 631
TWC: 1055

Lady Talham gracefully accepted his arm as they moved up the steps into the atrium of the College of destruction. Ittindi was curious what kind of magic she had; he had long ago given up on guessing someone’s magic after meeting so many lost magics like the multitude of dragon slayers in the Rune Knights.  As she spoke Ittindi almost chuckled instead it turned into a slight grin as she said that her magic specialty was crash magic. Truly the epitome of destruction, Ittindi would have to try his hardest to see that such a student would join their college. He had heard of it once or twice when reading stories in the Rune Knight headquarters, as the magic had caused as much or more damage to cities than most invasions. He pondered what guild would accept such a member, better not to mention her to the Young Master.

” Crash Magic, well that is a rarity, I’ve met less mages of your specialty than dragon slayers. And you’re right Chaos and Order exist in the same cycle; you can view yourself as the end of a cycle. Or the precursor to the brightest dawn, that decision is ultimately up to you. I’ll encourage you either way this Academy is about impact, a judgement-free zone. Though outside of it if you do evil I’ll be one of the Knights chasing you.”

He could tell that Lady Talham cared deeply about the study of magic, reminding him of the Rune Knight that enlisted him in the service. There was also a youth in Sleeping Calamity who had similar goals, Ittindi wondered if they’d still be in Seven on his next visit. Possibly the only member besides the Young Master he enjoyed. Lady Talham also seemed to be sharp, asking about his short tenure as a student. The answer was simpler than Ittindi cared to admit. Even when he was in class he had exceeded the other students, placed here more as observer than a student. His role as an assistant teacher would be more of the same, except now he’d have to demand respect. Not something that he cared much about, doing a job was more important than being seen. After all he was a Colonel in all but rank. Even when he traveled around the Ministry of communication they treated him as if he already ran it. No doubt that was through the efforts of General Saturn, or possibly even Colonel Tōga Ittindi hadn’t bothered to learn who. They were both allies of equal importance to him.

” A good question, I see you listen well, another commendable trait. I was already pushing the requirements of being accepted as a student on registration, but the Rune Knights wanted one of the higher ranks to monitor the academy. In fact, I’ll probably be Colonel of the Ministry of Communication by the end of the month if not next. My ambition lies in a simple thing, I find that keeping things simple keeps one focus crisp. I will become the world’s greatest butler; every citizen in this world deserves the treatment of nobility. I will inspire a new generation too often our art is seen as something to debase oneself when no other options are available. What of you Lady Talham, you speak of ambition as a common lover, what is yours?”

Crash magic was interesting enough that Ittindi had more than a simple curiosity about Lady Talham’s goals. He couldn’t be too forward he remembered his failure with Sir Higurashi, even worse that he had decided to join his Young Master’s guild. Though Ittindi hadn’t seen him as of late when he was around their guild. He wondered if his path would have ended differently had Ittindi been more convincing. A student would be less commitment than a guild, so he had that in his favor.

Targa listened carefully to Ittindi as they moved through the atrium. His words about chaos and order struck a chord with her, but oddly the comment made her smile slightly. She appreciated the honesty. So few people would be direct about such matters, but she welcomed it. There was comfort in knowing where people stood. As they walked, Targa took a deep breath before responding, her voice thoughtful and steady. Though it was an odd thing her taking a breathe as she didn't need to breathe. It was more out of habit than anything from years of being human. The years before she was turned. "I view my magic a bit like a forest fire," she began, her gaze drifting to the grand architecture of the college as they ascended the steps. "It’s destructive, yes, but it’s necessary sometimes. A forest fire burns through everything in its path, but it also clears the way for new growth. Without it, the forest would stagnate, die even. In the same way, destruction—real destruction—can create the space needed for something new, something better, to take root." Maybe Targa was just saying that to convince herself it was true. Her magic had been destroying her from the inside out before she got turned. She was a mess the more she thought about it, but who wouldn't be given she almost died, then was turned, which is a form of death, so she could live.

Then again, Targa had always believed that magic, even one as destructive as hers, could serve a higher purpose. The power to destroy wasn’t inherently evil; it was what you did with it that mattered. "And as for my ambition..." She paused, considering her words carefully. "It’s twofold. The first is personal. I want to conquer the darker nature of my being. I am a vampire, after all, and with that comes certain... tendencies. But I don’t want to be bound by them. I want to be more than just a creature of the night, driven by the need for blood. I want to transcend that, become something more.  Maybe I won't need blood one day. Maybe I can survive off mana alone. That would be preferable than buying blood from hospitals and animals like now." Targa’s grip on her cane tightened for a moment as she spoke. This was something she rarely shared with anyone, but Ittindi’s open nature had made her feel comfortable enough to reveal her deeper motivations.

"But beyond that I want to make Crash magic my own. I’ve studied the stories, the legends of mages who’ve evolved their magic, taken it beyond what it was originally meant to be. That’s my goal. Imagine if Crash magic wasn’t just about offense, about breaking things. What if it could overcome its weaknesses, be used for something more? To not just crash, but crush or collide; like a controlled maneuver instead of pure destruction. There’s potential there, to elevate it to something greater. What if I could create a wall of pure arcane crash magic? Or what if I could use crash on my own body to break it apart and appear someone else? To destroy and recreate it elsewhere. I don't know if it's possible, but that is my biggest ambition, to be the greatest Crash Magic mage in history." She looked at Ittindi with a spark of excitement in her eyes. "That’s the path I’m on. I don’t just want to master Crash magic. I want to reshape it, mold it into something that can do more than just tear things apart." Her ambition was clear now, laid bare for him to see. She wasn’t just a vampire or a mage seeking to break things down. She was a woman on a mission to transform both herself and her magic into something extraordinary. She hoped Fairy Tail and the College of Destruction here at the Amaforth Academy would the start of making that a reality.

Inwardly she had an ulterior motive. Her sister. Her sister wanted to taint her, bring her to the side of real vampirism. She loved her sister, but she knew her sister was more powerful. She also knew her sister loved her, but what if she got tired of waiting and used her superior strength to force the issue? Targa didn't just need to evolve as a personal ambition, but also to maybe, hopefully not, "crash" with her sister.

WC: 773
TWC: 1828

Ittindi would listen as Lady Talham described the all-encompassing destruction of a forest fire. He had been witness to one or two in his lifetime, people often talked about the increased heat around the areas. For Ittindi his main memory was the smoke, smothering out air, smothering out any who had managed to find a safe space still in the burn zones. He had recovered those bodies, but even he couldn't deny the effectiveness of a controlled burn of a forest, the life that would spring from the ashes. Surely that's where the tale of the phoenix originated, representing more of the same in a cycle.

Ittindi was surprised to hear about Lady Talham's affliction, he had never met a vampire before. While there were rumors of all kinds of supernatural races throughout the land, Ittindi had been fortunate enough that he encountered very few, though his misfortune in meeting demons seemed to finally break with Lady Talham. He hadn't seen any fangs, not that he'd be looking now, with his danger sense Ittindi typically didn't worry about people's intentions, he only needed to study their manners for his own personal judgement. Her second goal was more interesting to Ittindi, while he could sympathize with another race's predisposed illnesses, wanting to master magic in unforeseen ways was something he had his own experience with. One that mages faced, across all races, Ittindi would let her finish as she theorized on the levels that Crash Magic could reach with a strong enough practitioner. Naki laughed inside his head at Lady Talham's ambition, thinking that such feats were not possible. While Ittindi remembered Naki making similar statements when he pushed past her former avatar's magic level.

”A Vampire, hm you’ll be the first I meet at least that I know of. I’m not sure how your race transcends, but I also found myself pushing beyond the boundaries of humans as well. Though I’m not a heretic claiming to be godly or related, instead I acknowledge the differences between me and humanity. Needless to say, we’re both immortal, though mine doesn’t depend on blood or other sustenance.”

Ittindi would pause for a second before continuing. He was considering if he knew anyone who had magic as destructive as Crash magic, no one came to mind.  He’d start to walk over towards one of the hallways that would lead deeper into he college. He found practical examples would be easier than speaking in flowery language for one that enjoyed crash magic.

” Come let me show you the refinement of the college with the training rooms. This whole place has been made with a focus on destruction spells, you will find it easier to train here than anywhere else in the world. Unless you build a training room yourself.”

Ittindi would walk through the halls leisurely, deciding to take her to the room where he had died recently. The scorch marks from his explosion would serve as a good backdrop to show that they went all out when training. Once they arrived passing the many renovations signs leading to the room, Ittindi would turn to Lady Talham.

”I of course have to sell myself as a teacher, so one of the benefits of training with me is that it’ll be near impossible for you to injure me. You see once I “die” by most conventions I can recover. In this training room you can see some of the energy I release when I return from death. So if you have any worries about hurting others you can dispel that when training I’m here to say that won’t be a problem.”

As they entered the training room the scorch marks would cover a 32-meter diameter with one clear spot in the center where Ittindi reemerged. He had been quite impressed with his necklace that he purchased; it helped him heal even when he thought that wasn’t possible.

Targa listened intently as Ittindi spoke, her curiosity piqued by his comments about immortality and his own ability to push beyond human limits. She had met many different kinds of mages in her time, well not a ton all things considered, more like studied and read about them, but very few had achieved something so profound. Immortality without the dependence on blood or sustenance was fascinating...something she could only dream of. It was strange, though. He was neither boasting nor hiding behind false modesty; he simply spoke matter of factly, as if it were just another feature of his existence. That alone intrigued her.

When he mentioned her being the first vampire he’d knowingly met, Targa raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything right away. She had never considered herself a walking curiosity, but to some, her kind still was. Perhaps it was a relief that he didn’t seem fazed by it, not really. But the idea of pushing beyond the boundaries of what you were born into struck a deeper chord. That’s exactly what she wanted. She wanted to transcend the limitations of her vampiric nature, to become something more, something greater. But he said a phrase that caught her attention. "I’m not sure how your race transcends"...transcending of races? Where there levels to being a vampire? If so, is there a cost for the power of transcending? Would she crave more blood or overcome it? The thought intrigued her and would require some future investigation. Maybe her sister knew?

As Ittindi motioned her deeper into the College of Destruction, she followed, her eyes scanning the hallways. She appreciated that he wasn’t wasting time on pleasantries but instead offering her practical insight. The notion of training in a place specifically built for destructive spells was thrilling. Her magic was often too powerful, too unwieldy for the average training ground, and she had always worried about collateral damage. It was rare to find a place that could handle her Crash magic without constant repair. That and once she got more powerful, and her magical spells become more destructive, she was going to need this kind of place more and more.

"Refinement, that’s exactly what I’m after." She smiled slightly her fangs in full view now. "There’s always this... balance, isn’t there? The destruction of something can pave the way for something far more refined to grow. But it requires control, discipline. Anyone can crash through obstacles. The real challenge is doing it with precision...removing exactly what needs to be broken and nothing more. That is what I'd like."

As they reached the training room, the sight of the scorch marks covering the walls and floor made Targa pause. She studied them, noting the sheer insanity of the energy that had left its mark. The idea that Ittindi could recover from such devastation without issue was beyond her current understanding. That's more than immortality. She was under the impression that immortality just allowed you to live forever, but this...this was something beyond that. Rebirth? Reconstitution? There had to be a better word for it than immortality. But what struck her more was his casual mention of death, as if it were just a temporary inconvenience. She glanced at the scorch marks, then back at him, folding her arms and tilting her head slightly in thought. It was the first time she had removed her arm from his but he had left that kind of impression on her that she did it without thinking. She'd speak with a note of curiosity.

"Near impossible to injure you, you say?" That’s... reassuring, I suppose. IF you're strong enough to be a teacher, I'm not sure I could even harm you to start with, but if you're game I wouldn't mind showing you what I'm capable of. Yes..Yes...The more I think about it, the more I appreciate your offer to train without fear of causing harm. It’s rare to find someone willing to stand in the face of such matters without flinching. But I don’t just want to train to get stronger. I want to learn control. To make my magic...elegant. There’s power in refinement, in knowing how to unleash chaos without letting it spiral out of control. But now I'm just talking in circles aren't I! I'm sorry about that."

She smiled again, this time with a touch of amusement. "And who knows? Maybe you’ll see something new here as well. After all, one day you might fear my magic to the point you wont' want to test that immortality anymore."

Before he could step into the room she'd give a slight demonstration on the spot that had no scourch marks. She would clinch her fist next to her side, trying to hide the view from him as she cast Crash Magic: Arcane Gleam. An invisible magical circle of .25-meter diameter would appear. Then, not a moment later an invisible beam of arcane magic would shoot out that was also .25-meter in diameter towards the direction of where her hand was aiming towards and dealing C Rank damage. For a D rank spell it packed a punch. Sadly, with nothing being there the 10 meter knockback wouldn't be witnessed. However, she gauged that his perception and skill could probably ascertain that it would have. Yes, she wanted to show off a little of what her simple D rank spell could do, but she also wanted to see if he could see the invisible magic or not. It was one of her magics greatest strengths, but as a vampire, she herself could see her own magic, which meant there was the possibility that others could too, thus negating her advantage.

WC: 988
TWC: 2816

Stats/Passives:

Combat Log:

Modified D-Rank Spells:

Ittindi’s stoicism maintained as Lady Talham gave him a similar expression to Lady Lumikki when he had told her she was the first demon he had ever met. A funny flashback, he truly seemed cursed, just a couple years ago he had made it his goal to rid the world of supernatural creatures and purify his Young Master. Then he became one a couple of months later, and now his mentor was one of the strongest demons on planet, and his possible first student would be a vampire. Truly a test of his mental resolve, though it had weakened against other species, the stereotypes and judgement in his head remained.

Yes Ittindi, your life has been a delicious stage of irony for me as an outside viewer. I don’t know when I’ll get bored with the comedy of your life, though that might change when we finally visit your world’s Joya.

Ittindi would smile at her mentioning her need for control for her destructive spells. That was exactly how he felt in his first class, though most of the students had graduated or dropped out, he knew that they had shared similar feelings. When she detached from his arm, Ittindi had almost forgotten it was there, she had proper training in etiquette something Ittindi yearned for in the Rune Knights. His squad, they were specially trained for decorum, it had been natural with the communication department. Not to mention the politeness served as a cover for the necessary darkness in communication. A secret only the top members were aware of, as the discipline to determine who exactly deserved such a fate as going to the basement for re-education as Ittindi liked to call it.  Since taking over a pseudo leadership spot in the ministry he had cancelled all the appointments. He wasn’t sure when those rooms would be needed, but they weren’t for the average citizen. He’d snap back into reality as Lady Talham mentioned talking in circles, he understood the need to be heard, even if Ittindi wasn’t the best listener.

”Yes an important aspect of control, is seeing where you truly lie full power bared, that doesn’t have to be today. But consider this, how can you know how much control you need if you have never cut loose with no worries? Its why I typically train my strongest spells first, then go to the weaker ones, but everyone’s journey is different so remember everything I say is guidelines. No one knows their limits or body like the individual.”

That’s when his Autonomous Ultra Instinct’s danger sense would kick in, he could feel the danger a level that he could take. Better to surprise her, not as much as Lady Lumikki when he let that spell pierce his eye into his brain stem. The anger she showed in that room, Ittindi rather of died again on some days, in moments like this Ittindi couldn’t help but be a little showy. A bad habit built from his time with the Young Master,
With this spell there’d be no seal, something that Ittindi noticed Lady Talham had already mastered. Impressive as he could only do it with this spell or when he had his armor on, as time stopped for the first time Ittindi would snatch her hat off her head. Then he’d appear in front of her hand that he felt the danger in front of him. He was surprised by the impact of having no visible element, he hadn’t heard about their lack of seals or visual components when reading about crash magic. Though the most magnificent part to him was after the hit, when he crashed into the wall. A knockback component as well, so much packed into one spell, Ittindi’s knock back was a spell by itself no damage applied, it was to much to focus on.

”Yes, you continue to impress Lady Talham, invisible spells, no seals and knockback along with a damaging component. I know few that can weave so many effects into a spell so early in their career, even I need the aid of artifacts to mimic a portion of those.”

He could continue to freeze time, but there was no need to showboat that way. Instead Ittindi would offer her hat back to her, while that was happening he’d use his armor’s healing capability to heal him, even though his armor wasn’t visible still in that deep recess of his body where he maintained Naki, his naginata, and his armor which he had affectionately named Ace. He’d thank Ace as any damage that was visible would heal before Lady Talham’s eyes.

”I was looking into melting down a legendary crown into new glasses so I could see mana, it seems that it will be even more necessary with you at the school. Until then try not to cause to much mischief with invisible spells.”

Ittindi said jokingly, he wondered what she'd be like in the arena. Another thought influenced by another, as he pushed the idea down. Better to spar on academy grounds then give more publicity to the Sleeping Calamity, that was something he could do on his own time but not involving academy members.

Passive used:

Spells Used:

Targa stood there, staring at Ittindi as he handed her hat back, his calm demeanor stirring her inside along with the chaos raging inside her. She hadn't expected such a reaction to him, hadn't anticipated how perfectly he seemed to align with what she needed. Since becoming a vampire, no since before then when her magic was killing her from the inside out, she'd been searching for someone who could truly understand her, someone who might help her harness her power and transcend the curse of her nature. A single tear of blood swelled in her eye and flowed down her cheek as it left a thin crimson trail. It wasn’t sadness, nor joy...perhaps something deeper and or something more primal. She had found the teacher she had longed for, the one who might truly help her reach her potential. She figured there were many like him, maybe even at the guild, but he had found her first. She only hoped he would take her on as a student. But at that moment, her emotions cracked open the door to something far more dangerous within her.

The tear had barely fallen before something deeper took over. Instincts she had fought for years, the vampiric hunger that had always lurked just beneath the surface, surged up with a ferocity she hadn't known was possible. Since becoming a vampire she had survived on animals and buying blood from hospitals. Using that blood in dishes like jello. Her lips parted, and she licked them without thinking, tasting the blood-tinged air around her. Her eyes flashed, glowing a predatory pink as she looked at Ittindi. She looked at him not as a teacher or mentor, but as prey. His power, his very presence, the sheer magnitude of what he represented, the fact he wasn't' human but something transcendent didn't just call to her...it yelled at her, slapped her across the face. It all called to her in a way that was terrifyingly irresistible. She saw the wounds heal before her on him, but it was too late. She smelled the blood. His Celestus blood!

For the first time in her life, she didn’t just feel hunger. No, in fact she felt utterly consumed by it. She experienced a sudden and intense physical discomfort, causing her to bend over and hold her abdomen as a surge of excruciating pain spread throughout her entire being. It felt as if every part of her body was burning and desperately yearning for relief. She collapsed to her knees, her breathing ragged despite not even having lungs, each inhale a struggle as pleasure and pain intertwined in a dizzying, overwhelming spiral. Her hand shot to the ground, punching it with a force that cracked her knuckles open, the sound completely muddled by her screams through the training room.

The transformation came like a storm, wild and uncontrollable. Her hair, once neat and controlled, exploded into a flowing cascade of glowing pink strands, alive with magical energy, swirling and shifting as if caught in an unseen wind. Black horns erupted from her head, curving wickedly into the air, and her back arched as large black bat like wings tore through her skin, stretching wide, their edges tinged with the same vibrant pink color that her hair and eyes normally had. A tail, long and demonic, lashed out behind her, the tip glowing with that same magical pink energy. She instinctively knew the transformation wasn't complete or mastered in anyways, this was a reaction of sorts. She somehow was holding onto a shred of humanity as became scared. Not of what was happening...no It was the hunger. The overwhelming need to consume, to drink, to take Ittindi’s blood. Oh gods his blood must be like ambrosia. She had no idea what a Celestus was. She didn't even know that was what he was. All she knew is that races blood wasn't anything like a common humans, elf or dwarf.

She screamed the most guttural and primal scream that she had ever screamed in her life. Her voice was filled with both ecstasy and agony. She slammed her fist into the ground again and again as she did her gave her best effort in trying to resist the urge to feed and stop the transformation. The hunger gnawed at her stomach telling her she was hungry. Her vision blurred and all she could focus on was doing her best to fight whatever was happening. But somehow it only made the temptation worse. "I won’t..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "I... won’t... give in..."

Sadly it was a battle she was losing. The pleasure of her first transformation was intoxicating, the pain only sharpening her senses, driving her closer to the edge. Her entire body screamed at her to take what she wanted, to give in to the need, to drink deeply of the blood standing just a few feet away. Yet her body... no her mind... or maybe her instincts were also saving her. She just saw how powerful he really was. Trying to drink him would be suicide. If she did, she would be a splat on the wall. That one thing was possibly the only saving grace that was keeping her from fully giving into her first true and real urges. Her nails dug into the stone floor as she fought it with every fiber of her being, her body convulsing as she struggled to stay in control. The darkness within her, both the vampiric hunger and the raw crash magic swirled together, a maelstrom of destruction threatening to consume everything. "Help me..." she whispered, though she wasn’t sure who she was asking; herself or Ittindi. The pain was too much, the hunger too strong. She needed to fight it, but she was slipping.

WC: 964
TWC: 3780

Ittindi face looked shocked for just a second when he saw that Lady Talham wept blood, an odd thing to see in person. He’d pull out a handkerchief from one of his suit’s pocket and offer it to Lady Talham. Ittindi wondered if he had applied to much pressure, if the weight of her ambition was crushing her? He’d soon have an answer as he saw the transformation, it seemed that it had nothing to do with him.

A fault of her plagued genetics, he would watch as she transformed, still only 10 meters away, his danger sense would alert him long before she’d try to attack him. Better to see what he was dealing with, and he was surprised by the screaming. With Lady Lumikki and his Young Master their transformations seemed painless, while his wasn’t. He had assumed it was due to his lack of embracing his nature with Naki, something that he would always have trepidation around due to their demonic nature. He wondered on the origin of vampires, but that would be pointless when Illumin had already spoke of the darkness in the world. No doubt the machinations of a mage, demon or other supernatural creature with power.

You should transform Ittindi then you could just immobilize her by holding her down with one foot or hand. It’d be a simple display of the gap between you.

Ittindi ignored Naki’s suggestion, that wasn’t his style of training, his mentor had never made a show about her power. Instead, she had focused on his, that was the way he planned to teach as well. The power Lady Talham harnessed was obvious from the damage she did to the training room, not a problem as that was the point of their creation. She asked no begged for help, Ittindi wasn’t sure if it was to some god or to him. Either way he was prepared for whatever came next, as he spoke to her in a softer tone.

” Whether you can control your urges on your first day is up to you Lady Talham. Know I won’t be disappointed either way. However, I’ll make you this promise, if you impress me enough in your studies and accolades; then one day I’ll let you drain me dry, though I doubt that day will be anytime soon. You see I can replenish most of my blood supply after a death, but I don’t offer myself lightly to anyone. You might not even remember this conversation, with you transforming. My first time I barely remember the day, but enough of that lets see how you do.”

As Ittindi finished he’d wait and observe, he was ready to blow miasma her way to slow her down. He wouldn’t hurt a new student preferring to exhaust them, after all one didn’t always need to use a weapon in their arsenal when fist would do just fine.  He had already shown his prowess with magic, anything else would be a needless beating. Thinking back to fighting his Young Master in the Arena, this must be a similar feeling watching someone grow was a joy on its own.

He'd stretch while he waited to see what Lady Talham’s next move would be, it also made him realize he needed more spells to improve his physical stature. At the moment the best he could do was transform his size, not his speed or power. Though if she did manage to hit him once or twice he’d be impressed, he assumed being a vampire there’d be some experience in battle.

If she had combat experience why would she be drinking animals dry. Do you really think her morality comes from her mind and not from being weak. Mark my words Ittindi you will train a Vampire and end up with a powerful blood sucker you will have to take down one day. That’s ok the irony of it will be all the more delicious to feed on.

While Ittindi had managed to find parts of him Naki couldn’t see his deeper fears and emotions. They always seemed capable of arriving at his conclusions through guessing, prodding poking around the inside of his mind. He knew the spot was still safe, but he chuckled in his mind all the same telling Naki that such fears were unfounded and that his power would contain any future problems besides the ones he already had on his plate. He wished that he could offer any words of encouragement other than the offer he dangled in front of Lady Talham like a steak. There was little for him to do, besides to study up on vampiric lore when he returned to Era.

He knew that he had been hesitant to return to public eye after the Darkfang incident, a memory he pushed to back of his mind’s recess. He still hadn’t talked to General Saturn or Colonel Tōga after revealing the true extent of his magic. His gun needed more use as well, but Ittindi still wasn’t sure when he’d be ready for combat with the Rune Knights as a team. Even if it was his suggestion that they strengthen up their cooperation in battle.

Targa's mind was a haze thanks to the the primal urges of her vampiric instincts warring with the last remnants of her self control. She heard Ittindi’s voice, though his words barely registered. Her mind was a raging storm with her thoughts drowned in a metaphorical sea of her blood. But something - something - within her reacted to his offer. It's as if though her instincts understood what her mind couldn't process, because it was in so much pain. The promise of his blood, the offer of a future where she could feed freely from such a powerful source clung to her instincts as an ultimate temptation. Her body trembled violently as she tried to push the hunger down, her claws digging into the ground with enough force to crack the stone beneath them. The pain was searing as her first transformation and one not voluntarily done.

Ittindi's offer wasn’t one her mind could fully understand at that moment, but her blood did. And, as much as the hunger raged, the promise of something more, something greater in the future, was enough to pull her back from the edge, if only just. She wouldn’t squander that chance, wouldn’t give in to the temptation now and ruin everything. With a final, primal scream that echoed through the training hall, Targa slammed her fists into the ground, sending another shockwave of destruction through the room as her Crash Magic was unleased. The floor cracked and spiderwebed beneath her as she punched with crash magic over and over again. The pain was unbearable, her body wracked with it as she tried to force herself back into control. And slowly, painfully, she did. Her wings folded back into her, the black thorns retreating into her skin as her demonic tail and horns disappeared. The glowing pink of her hair dimmed until it returned to its normal state, and her body finally collapsed in exhaustion. She reverted back covered in bloody sweat.

For a few moments, there was nothing, no sound. The hunger still gnawed at her, but it was distant now and was something she could manage. The overwhelming intensity of her first transformation had faded, leaving her utterly drained. As she lay there the memories of what had just happened were hazy. She recalled the pain, the hunger, and flashes of the fight against herself, but beyond that, it was a blur. She wasn’t sure how long she had been lost or what exactly had triggered the transformation in the first place. Slowly, Targa propped herself up on her elbows, her entire body shaking from the effort. "What... what happened?" she asked, her voice hoarse and weak.

She looked at the floor. She remembered cracks in the stone, nails digging into it but the stone looked fine. Was the damage she caused to the room all in her head?

WC: 477
TWC: 4257

Ittindi fully expected to be attacked, he had seen his Young Master fail multiple times at controlling all the power he courted. He considered it a mark in Lady Talham’s book that she had managed to take control of her urges. A painful path she intended to follow, while Naki seemed to regard her as weak Ittindi could see the difference. It was one only the delusional like Ittindi that understood, the pain of taking the road less traveled. There was nothing to be gained from it, except loneliness, a path of sacrifice required one to be of strong moral ground. Ittindi would help her, there seemed fewer like them every day.

She seemed frozen, in some kind of trance state, it took a couple minutes. Slowly all the transformation reverted until Lady Talham stood there shaking, Ittindi wondered if it would be like this every transformation. Either way her hoarse voice asked for a recollection of the events. Ittindi would answer softly, not wanting to give her a headache after such an ordeal.

”Well Lady Talham you transformed, I imagine you are quite tired. That will be enough for our practical lesson today. Do you have any other questions or would you like me to escort you to your room?”

It wouldn’t be hard for Ittindi to find a room for her if she wished to stay at the academy for the night. Or he could take her to the gate and walk her to wherever her home is. The bright side of being in the ministry of communication is they had taught him a powerful spell.  Now that he had met Lady Talham he could appear as a projection if they found themselves in separate lands. Important, as he had been lucky to work around his mentor so often, with the world being in such danger from the void. That might not be the case the whole of their training, though at the moment its incursions still plagued the world.  From Rune Knight intelligence there were rumors of other movements happening through council watched lands.

Ittindi wondered if Lady Talham would end up on a different side of the next conflict. He and his Young Master quarreled often would he be able to maintain a relationship similarly with his first protégé. More memories of his last failed recruitment would plague him, no doubt brought forward by Naki enjoying his plight.  This time of the first time he saw him on the beach party for Sleeping Calamity, talk about awkward. He’d push the images out of his mind refocusing on Lady Talham waiting to see what her next choice would be.

Her entire body felt weak, trembling with exhaustion from the ordeal, but her mind was starting to clear, the haze of uncontrivable hunger fading into the background. She didn’t have the strength to think deeply about what had transpired.. she just knew she needed time to rest and recover. The transformation had taken more out of her than she could have anticipated. Hearing Ittindi’s calm, soft voice brought her back to the present. His tone wasn’t judgmental, nor did it carry any trace of disappointment, which gave her a small measure of relief. She looked up at him, still kneeling on the floor, her pink eyes dimmer now but still reflecting her lingering fatigue. "I… I think I’d like to return to my room," she said quietly, her voice still hoarse but steadier than before. "I need to feed and rest if I’m to be ready for tomorrow. This..." she gestured weakly to herself, the blood and sweat still clinging to her, "... this is going to take some time to recover from."

Swaying slightly as she stood she stumbled and caught herself with a hand on the wall to steady herself. "If it’s alright... I’d like to start training tomorrow. I’ve got some new spells I’ve been thinking about, things I’ve been working on for a while but haven’t had the right space to test. I think... I think this might be the right place for that." Her words came slowly, her exhaustion evident. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying genuine gratitude. "For your patience. And for offering to help me... even after all this."

[Targa Exit] - what's next?

WC: 268
TWC: 4525

Ittindi would see Lady Talham look up at him from her knees, all to reminiscent of his training with Lady Lumikki. She spoke of being tired, and wanting to train more, indeed an ambitious apprentice exactly what he needed. The Young Master and Colonel Tōga would be pleased to hear his progress in an apprentice. Though the other thing they spoke of was still distant in his mind, even if he had offers that he was unaware of.

”Yes Training at any time is acceptable, like I said even if I’m off in another city or land I have the ability to appear before you almost as a spirit. Rest up well Lady Talham, you deserve it.”

He’d watch her leave the room, and once she was gone he’d go to one of the janitor closets in the building returning to the room and sweeping up any rubble. It would be easier for the night staff and whoever oversaw rebuilding any destruction they caused. He hadn’t caught sight of who exactly fixed it or if the building was living, it mattered little to him. Humming a cheerful tune after he finished cleaning, he’d walk back to his room happy with his first true apprentice.

Ittindi, your first apprentice, I remember the day for so many other avatars. That’s when I find something to grasp onto, the first time one dies or even worse they betray you. That flavor of emotion will be so tasteful, tonight I will serve you memories of other’s betrayals, will it serve as a lesson or a deterrent? A delicious course it’ll be my dear Ittindi. You are indeed my favorite avatar, mastering the skills of my magic while still being a fledging to any real emotional openness with any besides the Young Master and your mentor.

Naki had decided to give him a speech as he walked back into his office, he knew that such horrors would barely register for him. Once again Naki didn’t understand the sacrifice of a butler, betrayed? What could be a worse betrayal than the multiple times his own references had downplayed his skill? Fanatical was once used to describe his cleaning they were obviously missing some letters for fantastical. Or worse the moment he had betrayed his head butler on the night of the Young Master’s disappearance. The time he heard his family talk about how much of a freak he was, but at least he kept them afloat with his payments. Betrayal never cut as deep after the first few times, now it was just another expected tribulation on his path. Not that he didn’t look forward to seeing more of the past avatars, Ittindi had learned more from their memories than any singular thing from Naki. That was another flaw of demons they saw human life as short, but they never seemed to fully grasp the impact of a well lived life, quantity was just one factor. That’s why Ittindi sought immortality, he didn’t find his life particularly impactful, so instead he’d increase a variable in his control.

I don’t think you understand Naki, I will show you in the next couple hundred years surely. Who do you think will outlast this relationship between the two of us? I know that some of my revival powers come from you, but some is my own now. What will you do when your threats on my life hold little sway? I am your favorite avatar because you recognize the same as I, that I will be your last avatar ever.

He'd look around the office, and wonder if there were any books on lost magic. Ittindi was curious about crash magic, it was proved unfruitful he’d have to go to the academy library. Or possibly the Rune Knight repository of information. Afterall what was the point of privilege if not to use it to one’s advantage?

-Exit