"Not good enough, do it again." Repetition until it became muscle memory and you could perform the moves in your sleep. It was a mundane and painstaking process but no less would do for prospective hunters. Though many of the worst beasts had been slain by his hand Edmund was not content to rest, and perhaps it was a sort of paranoia he'd grown over his years. Beasts rose and fell like a tainted tide and no matter how many were killed more returned, who was to say the larger, more lethal creatures wouldn't return too? Hunters had to be prepared for any enemy and to do that meant training until your limbs were heavy as led and your lungs ached. His students would hate him today but they would thank him tomorrow when their training saved their lives. Or they might hate him still, Edmund hardly cared. His job was not to befriend everyone who came into his Workshop but to train Hunters to protect and drive back the beasts. So long as that happened he hardly cared about anything else.

Not good enough. Not good enough. Not. Good. Enough. Praise was not something Kael sought normally but it wouldn't kill their master to at least acknowledge their efforts. They had clearly improved since they had passed through those gates and yet Master Edmund treated them like fledgling hunters. And in many ways he supposed they were, there was no escaping that. Glaring up at their mentor he grit his teeth and struggled to lift his Bowblade once more, raising his weapon and notching another arrow in the string. The amount of muscles that were required to simply fire a single shot was surprisingly high and repeated firing certainly took its toll. And no matter how many bullseyes Kael managed, and there were a great many, Edmund demanded more. Fine, he would do as they had done so many times before and go to the brink of exhaustion, and only then would their master allow them to rest.

Inhaling deeply through his mouth Kael held his breath for but a moment and steadied his aim. The arrow head aimed right at the target and he slowly exhaled, pulling the string back taut before letting his fingers unfurl and the arrow fly. A whine serenaded his ears as his shot sped to its mark and hit true, the arrowhead easily piercing the dummy and embedding itself deep within its chest. A kill shot on most beasts, straight to the heart.

"I don't get why you won't let us train outside... The beasts nearby are pathetic." It was a familiar argument between student and master, the former of which who thought they were more than prepared. Exhaling as he let his shoulders drop he sat on the grass, hands splayed out behind him as he stared at the target. "Shooting this isn't going to improve my skills any, its a waste of time. If you want us to be Hunters then let us be Hunters, stop treating us like children."

Edmund silently stared at the target for a moment before a soft sigh passed through his lips. "I will stop treating you like a child when you cease acting like one," the Hunter replied curtly, his green pupils swiveling to the corners of his eyes, giving Kael a disapproving glance. "Impatience will get you killed, and that's still a problem you have. I'm not going to let some of my best students out just because you want to fight. Fighting is about knowing your enemy's movements and countering them before they can even act, not just attacking bli-"

"Yeah, you've said so a hundred times. 'Know your enemy and their movements, understand what they'll do better than they themselves do.' We get it old man, but that doesn't change that this training is a waste of our time. Shooting at still targets, striking targets with a sword," Kael added with a gesture towards his peer, Josephine, "We need to fight real beasts. Otherwise none of this matters. Do you really think we'll ever be ready unless you let us fight them?"

"So you think you're ready then? To be a true Hunter?" Edmund asked, folding his arms as he turned and addressed Kael. Of course he would say yes, the boy had been saying he was ready on nigh a year now and would not take no for an answer. There was more to hunting beasts than simply knowing how to fight, you had to resist the blood yourself, lest you become one of them. You had to learn how to save people, the biggest priority of a Hunter, and you had to accept the fact that you may very well die doing so. Neither of his students were at that stage yet, though if Kael was so adamant... "Josephine, do you feel prepared to fight?" Edmund pressed, addressing the young girl with an arched brow, "I'll accompany you two, but you'll work together to kill a beast. If you two can prove you're ready then there's no need for these drills anymore."

Left, right, right, left, spin, lunge. Josephine repeated the combination attack once more, swinging her blade in smooth succession, tearing the canvas of the dummy before finally sinking both of her blades into the target on his chest, then lifting it until it came off of its peg and dropping it to the floor. Fluidly, she rolled to the side and locked her dagger back into her sabre's hilt, rising with a twirl and opening a second target's side as she danced around behind it and drove the dagger through its head. With a pivot, she fired her pistol at a more distant target's chest. The bullet sailed harmlessly past its shoulder. She grit her teeth, muttering angrily, "Sloppy... Sloppy, sloppy... Could've shaved a few seconds off of it, I'm sure of it... Still not natural, still not aiming right... What am I doing wrong?" The girl chastised, running the attacks back through her mind.

She never felt like she was putting enough into this, even when she bested every other apprentice beside Kael here. Josephine sheathed her Rakuyo once more at her hip for a break, pulling out a waterskin and drinking it. She could feel the cool liquid as it drained to her abdomen and filled her with a refreshing cool momentarily. By this point, the young woman knew that Edmund preferred to watch Kael in order to keep him in line. She knew what she was doing wrong, how to correct it, and she was critical enough as it was. Unfortunately, Kael knew how good he was, so Edmund had to watch him to keep him down from his own pedestal.

She removed her cavelier's cap and wiped sweat from her brow, exhausted . Her gaze fell upon the sky, awash with velvet purples and deep blues, spotted with twinkling stars. The macabre, unending night was one of the few consistencies of this world. Josephine smirked and shook her head, the sun would rise again. She'd see to it with Edmund and Kael. It felt like the three of them could overcome anything once they earned the name Hunter, even if Kael's pride could be his undoing. It took her a moment to realize before her master was speaking.

"Sir?" She asked curiously, glancing to Kael, "Are you on one of your incessant tirades again, brother?" She asked. Of course they shared no blood, but Josephine knew not if she even had a family, so Kael was as close to a brother as she would find. "While Kael may think himself ready to fight any beast on his own already," She began, turning back to Edmund. "I do believe it's time we start training in the field, Master Hunter Edmund. Truth be told, I was just thinking about it myself, I just didn't want to speak out of turn," She admitted, glaring daggers at her comrade momentarily. "I think it would do us well to at least see how they act. It's been a long time since I've come face to face with anything even remotely close to dangerous, and I'm far stronger than I was then." The girl looked down and placed a hand over her heart with a sigh; she could still smell the rancid, hot breath of the Scourge Beast in front of her face. She couldn't be that powerless again, she had to prove to herself that they were nothing worth losing sleep over anymore.

"When would we go?"

Kael sneered at Josephine's jab and looked away like a petulant child. She agreed with him even if she wouldn't say it outright as he did. Every other trainee though the two of them the most capable and yet they were seemingly held back, why? For what reason would Master Edmund deny them actual training? Their purpose was to help find a means of saving everyone and yet they could do no such thing if they were never allowed outside of the Workshop. It came as something of a shock when Josephine agreed it was high time they should depart though not wholly unexpected: they had gotten the basics down and were ready to put it to practice. Their ideas of being in the field however varied greatly and left Kael feeling cheated. 'See how they act'? Who cared how beasts acted, they were beasts and nothing more, only meant to be put down like the animals they were. It was a waste of time to go and study them.

"If you two are so adamant about leaving then we can go now. It's not as though time will pass outside these halls," Edmund remarked bitterly. "I'll fetch my tools, you two go and wait by the gates." Perhaps seeing the world for what it was would curb their enthusiasm and end this absurd idea of theirs. Both of them had been marked by the beasts and yet they though themselves prepared to face that sight again. The fact was very few ever could, many froze up in the face of the beasts and died for it, would they succumb to the same fate? Leading up to the workshop Edmund silently ascended the stairs, giving only a brief nod to other apprentices as he passed them by. Some day many of them may well be ready to take up arms and fight but that day was not coming soon. To prepare for what would doubtless be a lifetime of battle, however brief that life may be, it took a lot of practice.

No longer did they possess the boon of the Dream either. Edmund had been capable of "returning" after dying and emerging unscathed, and while a rather unpleasant experience it had given him almost an immortality of sorts. In his younger years it was a blessing, for his naivete and lack of skill earned him many deaths. As he grew more experienced however his trips back to the Dream had become far and few between to the point where he'd not visited but to speak with the Doll. Heaven knows why, the thing never spoke but a few words and was not much for conversation. With a grim smile he opened up a chest and pulled from it his Chikage and Hunter's Pistol, placing each on his waistband. This was why he disallowed his students from venturing out: death was permanent, there was no "returning", not anymore. Were there not the threat of death hanging over their heads he may be more lax, but they couldn't afford to lose many more.

"I'm surprised you actually agreed with me. Usually you try to insult me and kiss up to Master Edmund at every turn." Teacher's pet as she was called, no doubt she had been much the same before she'd ended up in this mess. Why anyone would want a man like Edmund favoring them was beyond him. He was a bitter Hunter and curt, had little time for anything other than training and was insanely private. He spoke of being comrades and yet he was utterly enigmatic, the only thing they really knew of the man was his name and his profession. "Tell me, dear sister," Kael continued with a smirk, "Why the change of heart? Are you growing as tired of his games as I am?"

"Perhaps she simply wants to see you knocked off of your high horse," Edmund interjected from behind the pair, frowning as Kael jumped and spun around to face him. "Let's try to focus now, hm? Once we leave this place we'll doubtless be set upon almost immediately. Keep your wits about you and your weapons ready." Josephine's idea of observation was good but difficult to pull off, the area around the shop was not immediately inhabited by beasts, merely people driven mad by the blood. Just as dangerous yet not what they would be fighting, at least not the main threat.

The walk from the workshop was a long one, following a winding trail that sat over a high cliff to the jagged rocks of a sea rise below. At the end of the trail was a door, the logistics of how this place was separated like a room was still a mystery to many. Edmund moved ahead and parted the heavy doors, stepping through and inspecting the area before waving his students along. On the other side the room was near pitch black, and while Edmund's eyes had long since adjusted the children no doubt would have some trouble. Reaching into his coat he withdrew a small orb and squeezed it in his hand, illuminating it before throwing it ahead. The orb itself rolled a ways before suddenly shattering and releasing flecks of metal which the light reflected off of, giving the area around them an eerily beautiful gleam. Using the glow of the small bomb they moved forward until they reached a second set of doors, this one leading to the world outside.

"Now remember, do not engage the beasts unless you absolutely must," Edmund directed mostly to Kael, though he looked to Josephine for her benefit as well, "This is not a mission to try and kill as many as you can, its practice. Don't get ahead of yourselves." The lack of light was no longer a problem when the second set of doors were opened and light flooded the room. The pair were welcomed with a long bridge before them, its stones well worn and many parts broken, coated in ages old blood that discolored the very rock itself. High above the sky was ablaze with brilliant oranges and reds not unlike a flame, and set in the sky was the Blood Moon itself. It gave the world a deceptively warm glow. One might almost call the world beautiful if they didn't know the hellish truth that awaited anyone who dared step outside. "Move swiftly but quietly, and do not get too far from me," the Master Hunter warned before taking the lead again, crossing out over the large bridge, "Move out you two."

"Move out you two. I can't wait until we're through dealing with him..." Kael grumbled beneath his breath as he too advanced, "I don't understand you Jose, how do you not get sick of hearing him all the time? He acts so high and mighty, like he knows everything. Arrogant bastard..."

Josephine placed her hat back upon her head as Master Edmund returned to the workshop to retrieve his weapons and tools. She looked to her brother and shook her head, "You really don't understand how awful your approach to this is, do you?" The young woman sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "You made me seem like I was upset about staying here. He asked, I gave my answer; I don't hide anything from Master Edmund, so yes, I said I felt ready to expand my knowledge base with a bit of field work. I did not, however, say so disrespectfully. Let the record show it is because of your insubordination that I sounded curt or disrespectful."

She walked past him and knelt before a headstone while waiting for their teacher, reading the inscription. The name was no longer legible, as most of the stones in the yard. This person had lived a life, likely stripped away by the Blood Moon or the Hunt. "I do not insult you, Kael. You insult yourself by behaving the same way you did the day you arrived. Bull-headed and prideful, you'll get yourself killed if you don't fix your attitude. I only say that because, despite what you have interpreted, I care about you. Master Edmund doesn't play games and I find it laughable tha-" She never finished her sentence as their master chimed in from behind.

The woman shot to her feet, her attention having faltered. Her gaze had been in Master Edmund's direction, but she'd been to intent on the stone and speaking to Kael to notice his approach. She placed a fist over her chest and bowed her head slightly in solemn salute, hiding a smirk at Master Edmund's support of taking Kael down a peg.

The walk was not an unfamiliar one - they often hiked or ran for conditioning in the area - the blood-addled men near the workshop were of no real threat, especially with Edmund's company. Her gaze stretched out over the sea as they walked along the cliffside. Fog rolled over the waves, making them hard to see before they crashed against the rocks. There were no cries or calls from the water, only the soft whooshing of the waves' collisions against the cliff. This was just about where the familiarity ended - the large doors at the end of the trail. They'd not been on the other side of this door since arriving to the Workshop. Passing through them, Josephine stared in wonder at the glowing shards of metal which Edmund had created for light. It was gorgeous, though it gave the room a more enigmatic appearance.

Josephine nodded at her master's instructions, only sneering after she heard Kael's mutterings. "You have no right to complain when you're emulating the very person about whom you are griping. I don't grow sick because he says things worth hearing. Try listening sometime, you might learn something," She replied, pulling her blade and gun from her hips, twirling the repeating pistol once before pointing it to the ground at her side. Her Rakuyo stretched upward in front of her, tilted only slightly in a ready position. They could do this - they've been training, beasts are only men addled by tainted blood. They needed to be released from their own misery.

"I listen enough to know he repeats himself over and over. If you weren't so busy sniffing his boots and trying to suck up maybe you'd realize he's not taught us anything new in years." All the more reason for them to go out in the field, there was nothing more they could learn by practicing drills in the safety of the Workshop. They could never become Hunters just by bashing straw dummies all day. Reaching back behind himself Kael pulled two curved daggers from his waist and flipped them over, pressing the hilts together before twisting and pulling them apart. Hooks caught and when pulled apart the hilts extended, and unfurling a wire bound in one of them he strung his makeshift bow, grinning as he loosely notched an arrow in the string. "Let's just show him we're not children anymore and maybe he'll treat us like Hunters then. And give us the respect we deserve."

Being outside of the workshop was the first time either apprentice could fully grasp the direness of the situation they were in. There was nothing like seeing with your own eyes and what both were treated to was utter carnage beyond their sanctuary. Even as they emerged into the world outside a small pile of corpses sat alongside a nearby wall, rotting slowly and picked apart by carrion in the area. Some of Edmund's kills on his patrols; "Beast Patients" as they were called, meager beasts but plentiful and a nuisance if allowed to congregate. These and many other beasts lay strewn through the streets, all having succumb to the veteran Hunter's blade at some time. Kael was of absolute confidence that he and Josephine could accomplish the same thing if given the chance, certainly if they worked together beasts such as these would be child's play.

"The streets of Yharnam aren't as bad as they once were, we've driven most of the beasts back and to the outskirts. That said it's not unusual for a few to slip in now and again. When you're out here you can never be too careful, treat it like you're walking through a swarm." Passing through a narrow strip between several three story homes Edmund slowed his pace at the front of the pack, holding up a hand to stop the apprentices before pressing a finger to his lips. In the silence that surrounded them the noise of flesh being torn was clear, as were the low guttural growls and an exchange of barks and snarls. Scourge Beasts, no doubt about it, and at least two of them. Waving the two along he slowly moved to the end of the path and gestured again for them to stop, leaning out around the edge of the building to take stock of the situation. There were four Scourge beasts together surrounding what looked to be the corpse of a Troll, its skeleton nearly picked clean as they ravaged the corpse for whatever meal they could manage. An easy group to dispatch for three Hunters but then they weren't here to kill, but to observe.

"Good, this will make an excellent learning experience. I want you two to play close attention to how they behave, especially how they interact over a meal," Edmund whispered in a hushed tone. "They often cooperate, but its not uncommon for them to fight when food is scarce. You can use this to your advantage if you ever come across a pack. Kael, do you remember where a Scourge Beast's weak spot is?" Furrowing his brow at the silence that followed Edmund turned to look for his apprentice and scowled upon realizing the boy was no longer with them. Scanning the streets around them he grit his teeth and checked back on the Scourge beasts, finding them to still be preoccupied with their meal. "Josephine, go and find Kael. And drag him back here by the throat if you must, I don't care how you get him back," the Hunter hissed, unsheathing his Chikage and holding it firmly in both hands, "Don't worry about the Scourge Beasts, if any of them leave I'll kill it. Hurry now, there may be more beasts about."

Kael had different plans as opposed to simply sightseeing: he was going to kill the Scourge Beasts. They had spent hours upon hours reading over texts that accounted the types of beasts known to man, their weaknesses, their habits, everything there was to know. Edmund's rhetoric had grown old and he wasn't going to waste time in the field rehashing the same old nonsense they had read a dozen times over. Slipping into the alleyway of two homes he found a fire escape and swiftly ascended the stairs, bow slung over his shoulder as he climbed. Once atop the building he backed off a ways and glanced across the gap at the adjacent home, the one which should be overlooking the courtyard where the Scourge Beasts had gathered. Taking a deep breath he tapped his back foot twice before dashing forward, putting one foot on the ledge before propelling himself up and over the gap. He narrowly cleared it and rolled as his feet met tile, keeping a grip on his bow and promptly rising to his feet, weapon in hand. Easing his way forward and being sure to make as little noise as possible he neared the edge of the roof and took a knee, peering down and grinning at the unsuspecting beasts. Easy marks, he could take out two before they even knew what was happening, and all four before they ever had a chance of finding him.

"Your inability to learn was not caused by the absence of a teacher - learning requires an active engagement," She replied, growing more venomous in her words. She could agree, however, that fighting the targets and improving practiced motions would only improve their ability to fight non-mobile opponents. On the other hand, Kael's belief that they deserved respect from a Master Hunter was ludicrous. Her gaze drifted to the alleys and corpses. Yharnam had always been a macabre sight, especially growing up, but the streets seemed so much cleaner now. There was no more crawling through the nooks and crannies find your way around - now you could just avoid the sounds of carnage. The beasts were not nearly so plentiful here, but she had no doubt they existed in droves outside of main city.

Still, the stench was rancid. Josephine's nostrils burned with the smell of decomposing corpses, fires to burn the dead in the distance, and the beasts which still lived. Speaking of which, her ears picked up on the sound just after Master Edmund's did; the savage mutilation of a corpse and feast of a group of Scourge Beasts could be heard a short distance off. Immediately, they snapped into a real careful stance, dropping lower to the ground and sneaking through the streets. Already, Josephine could feel the sweat forming on her brow, her heart racing... A feeling which once froze her very mind and dried her throat was now exhilarating. The terror she had once felt at the thought of a Scourge Beast ripping away her throat and tearing through her flesh like paper maché had been converted into power and into a desire to be the one who tears apart the beast's very own flesh.

As they came up on the small pack, Josephine immediately began looking around the courtyard for environmental awareness. There was a fountain in the center, full of grimy water and leaves which floated along the top, but it wasn't running. A carriage missing two wheels, with shattered windows and a door that hung halfway off of its hinges lopsidedly rested atop a small pile of rubble. Buildings surrounded them, as the courtyard was not exactly massive, and Josephine wondered if there was anything on top of them - or any way to access the roofs. She took a knee as Master Edmund spoke, her eyes now fixed on the feasting creatures. When his question went unanswered, she replied in Kael's space.

"Yeah, when they rear back, you can either dip past their guard and decimate them from beneath. Or you can knock them off balance with a well-placed bullet," Her voice was but a whisper, measuring out as many possibilities of an encounter as she could, "And behead it before it recovers." It wasn't until she received her next order that Josephine realized that Kael was gone as well - how had he managed that? He was quiet when he wanted to be, but for neither of them to notice? God, what a pain... If he was out getting himself killed...

"Got it, I'll be back soon, Master Edmund," She replied briskly, pivoting on her foot and slinking away quickly. Her eyes scanned every bit of the courtyard and side alleys, but she couldn't find him anywhere, not until she saw a shadow out of the corner of her eye, shimmying up a fire escape and onto a roof. That absolute dunce! What the hell was he doing? She began looking around for the way up until she saw him drawing his bow and taking aim. Did he really want to try taking on all four of them..? That idiot! He'd get them killed by attacking and alerting the Scourge Beasts. That would blow Edmund's cover - and hers. Well, she couldn't do nothing, especially if he was nearly successful. She caught his eye for only a brief moment out of pure luck and held up a finger to halt him until she found a position. Flanking around Edmund so that he wouldn't see what she was doing, Josephine readied her pistol and Rakuyo, sneaking up to the carriage and pressing her back to the side, the sound of feeding Scourge Beasts filled the air only metres away. They'd smell her in a matter of moments. It was go time.

The woman leapt out from behind the carriage, triggering Kael's first arrow. It sailed through the air and caught a Scourge Beast in the throat, as it had snapped to look at Josephine at the last moment. The woman aimed at a second, the one nearest her, and fired her pistol, lodging a quicksilver bullet just to the right of its chest and then into the shoulder. She rushed forward, using the short end of her blade to begin the slash along the creature and then the longer side in a follow-up swipe. The Beast's leg fell away in a torrent of blood so dark it was nearly black. By now, Kael fired a second arrow and lodged it in his first target's head, dropping it with sheer brute force. The three that remained, including the mortally wounded cretin, let out a debilitating cry, then a blood-curdling snarl as they began to form up, attemtping to surround Josephine. She tucked back over her shoulder and rolled to her feet, sure that Edmund's eyes were now on her back in utter fury. Maybe he would be impressed... Maybe he'd kill them. But even Josephine had to admit - she needed to know what this would feel like, she needed to know if she was ready, and she needed to feel the power that came from taking the life of a beast.

As the three-legged Scourge Beast reared up, Lydia followed its momentum, firing her pistol again and lunging forward. It staggered slightly as the bullets buried themselves into its chest and the apprentice burried the long end of her blade into its lower abdomen. In one fluid motion, she twisted the blade, pivoted a full 180 degrees, and swung her weapon overhead, dividing it nearly in half all the way to its neck, causing it to topple over. She sidestepped out from underneath as the beast fell forward onto a pile of its own innards. She was always fast, sure, but if she had been given an Old Hunter's Bone, a tool she had grown quite accustomed to using, for their first trip, Josephine would be almost unstoppable against a couple of these. Alas, there were still two Scourge Beasts, and the girl was really hoping to rely on Kael to take out another. Her pulse thundered like a stampede of a hundred horses in her neck and chest; she could feel it with every contraction of her heart. Unfortunately, the adrenaline and confidence she gained from the first few moments of combat disappeared as the two wolves reared back simultaneously to pounce on her. Her vision blurred for just a moment, combing both of them in her mind's eye to one wolf, and many wolves all at the same time. They were all ready to pounce their own Josephine, a girl who could barely be considered a teenager, for their dinner.

Meanwhile, in the "real world," she froze and couldn't move to attack for a long, long second. She couldn't even hide it - for a moment, she was awestruck and her face reflected it clearly. At the last second, she evaded, rolled forward under one of the charging beasts. There was no doubt that both Edmund and Kael would have noticed her mental block - she almost fell limp, even if it was for only the briefest of moments. Why? They already killed two, why did these ones suddenly start debilitating her senses? She holstered a pistol, hoping Edmund wasn't already charging in for the fight as she broke her weapon into two blades, the Scourge Beasts now circling her for a real fight. Would she be able to fight two? Alone? Surely Kael was waiting for a solid shot, as they were moving too quickly for a clear, safe hit from Kael's range.

One rushed in and swept a claw at the apprentice, who spun to the side while advancing and swung both blades with her momentum downward at the end of the twirl. Blood sprayed her from the wounds she inflicted on the beast's thick shoulder. Without missing a beat, she brought the weapons down again on the monster's side, carving an 'X' into its ribs. "DIE!" She shouted in fury, her blood boiling for vengeance. In the heat of the moment, she'd forgotten about the second beast, which leapt at her from behind while she laid into the first. Her Rakuyo clattered to the ground a few feet ahead of her as a massive paw slammed aggressively against her back, pressing her into the cobblestone of the courtyard.

No, no, no... It couldn't happen again. Her armour had protected her from the scratch in her back, but not from the weight pressing her into the floor. This time, she couldn't even see the monster that was about to kill her, but she could still feel it... That fiery, rancid breath on the nape of her neck, the drool spilling down into her clothes and hair... the imminent end of existence as she knew it... And the worst part was that she hadn't even learned her lesson. She still wanted to rise up and kill it, not run away. How could she let it happen again? Where was Kael? Why hadn't he helped after his first shots? Where was Edmund? Was he punishing her for her insubordinate behaviour? She deserved it...

Absurd. Idiotic. Impudent. Brash. Juvenile. Arrogant. Edmund would have to go back and look at a dictionary to find more words to label Kael. He did not tell the children to be careful simply because he liked to talk, he reminded them incessantly because it was absolutely imperative that they don't be foolish. Yes the vicinity around their workshop should be devoid of beasts but that didn't excuse carelessness. Just what was the boy hoping to accomplish by running off? Someone had to mind the Scourge Beasts while they searched for Kael and he certainly wouldn't leave a novice to handle such a task, as such Josephine was sent off in search of her fellow apprentice. The beasts were feasting on a carcass and would be preoccupied for a while, but how long until they decided to move on? Were there more of them? They needed to potentially tail these four and find where they were nesting, if they could manage that then with luck they could snuff out whatever pocket had formed within the limits. Beast hunting was more than simply slaying whatever you came across, sometimes a little observation paid off tenfold.

Kael couldn't help but laugh at what he was witnessing. Goody two-shoes Josephine, the teacher's pet, was now disobeying him and moving in to attack! Unless Edmund had suddenly given the order for her to do so, which he sincerely doubted, she'd done exactly as he had and slipped away. When their eyes met even at this distance he was sure she could see his excitement, an arrow already firmly notched and primed to fire. Letting his partner get into position he perched one leg up on the ledge of the roof and readied his bow, training his sights on one of the Scourge Beasts nearest Josephine. With a deep inhale he steadied his aim and held, waiting for her signal to fire. No sooner did the girl emerge from cover did his fingers release the arrow and string, sending the projectile whistling down furiously at its mark. Right on target, unsurprisingly, it buried itself in the throat of the beast and nearly knocked it off of its feet in the process. A lethal blow as he'd no doubt struck its jugular, soon enough it would bleed out.

Still... It wasn't quite as satisfying just waiting for a target to bleed out. Having launched his first attack Kael's blood ran hot through his veins, a gleam in his eye as he quickly notched his second arrow. This was what he'd wanted, the thrill of fighting an actual target. Even as removed from the action as he was he couldn't help but grow giddy as the fight unfolded, and with almost a giggle he released his second shot, piercing the first beast's skull and dropping its matted frame to the dirt. Why had Edmund not wanted them to fight? Already two were dead and they'd barely just engaged the beasts, what was there to worry about? With another arrow ready to fire he took aim and watched Josephine... Stop moving? What was she doing? Both of the Scourge Beasts were advancing on her and she was just standing there staring at them. What the hell was she trying to do, bait them into attacking? Gritting his teeth he aimed at one and fired his arrow, cursing as it missed when both lunged right at her. Thankfully whatever had come over her passed and she dodged their attacks, catching one with her blades and slicing its side clean open. It would be a short lived victory however as the second was upon her in seconds, and with it so close to her there was no way he could reliably fire at it. He had to try though, if Edmund wasn't intervening no one else was going to bail her out.

The second Scourge Beast had managed to keep upright and closed in on Josephine as well, both looked more than ready to have a second meal of her. A quick streak of yellow and the second one found itself lighter by a head, a blade having cleaved its skull clean from its shoulders in the blink of an eye. Before the beast ever had a chance to sink its fangs into Josephine, Edmund slammed his frame into its side and knocked it away, hardly missing a beat as he moved after it. Even without an Old Hunter's Bone charm he was astonishingly fast, ducking beneath furious slashes of the Scourge Beast as though it moved in slow motion.

Using the hilt of the Chikage the veteran Hunter slammed the end into the underside of the beast's jaw, shattering it on impact as it tried to bite down on him. Using the flat of his blade then to hold back another swipe of its paw he reached back and withdrew his pistol, pressing the barrel to its throat before firing a single round which tore clean through it. Blood splattered against his face and clothes but he was hardly phased as he flipped his sword around, spinning on his left foot and slicing through the beast's already torn throat, taking its head in one clean cut. Its corpse collapsed to the ground and dark blood pooled from its wounds at his feet, a sickeningly beautiful glean in the moonlight. As before a silence washed over the streets and again the Hunters were alone. Alive, though had the two children been any more foolish that may well not be the case.

Kael rushed down the fire escape to the courtyard below, a gleeful grin plastered on his face as he arrived. "We killed them! All four of them, gone! Don't you see Master Edmund, we're more than ready to fight!" If looks could kill he would have dropped dead then and there. Master Edmund glared at him with a fury he thought only beasts capable of and said nothing yet the young Hunter felt his very core chilled by the look, his face paling as he lowered his weapon. Without a word their master surveyed the area before tending to Josephine, and he was certain they were in for an earful before long.

"I asked you to find Kael, not attack the beasts. I see you're not fond of following directions either," Edmund muttered, knelt beside the young woman. Running his hand over her back and inspecting for wounds he was relieved to find none, sighing before helping the girl to her feet. Fetching her Rakuyo from the ground he offered it over but kept a hold on it, frowning at Josephine in disapproval. "I expect some kind of insolence from Kael, but you? What would have happened had I not been here? Would Kael have been able to kill both of them? Or did you intend on fighting the two beasts unarmed?" Relinquishing her weapon he shook his head, sheathing his own and taking a moment to wipe blood from his face. The stink of it had long since faded for him and he almost forgot he was covered most nights, a lifetime of hunts made you numb to those kinds of things.

"Master, we killed them! I told you we were able to do it," Kael pressed, an uneasy smile returning as he stepped forward, "So maybe it wasn't as well coordinated as it could have been, still, we managed to kill all four of-"

"You killed two. Or rather, you each killed one. I killed the other two," Edmund interjected stiffly, "Kael, your lack of foresight could have gotten Josephine killed tonight. And what would have happened if she was swarmed? Would you have come down and tried to help her escape? An apprentice like you, fend off three or more Scourge Beasts on your own?" Scoffing then he removed his cap and ran a hand through his silver hair, shaking his head before placing it back. "This will be the first, and the last time we venture outside the workshop for some time."

"But Master Edmund, we killed the beasts, we proved our training-"

"You proved you're still petulant children who think they're invincible! I will not permit anyone to throw their lives away seeking glory!" Edmund shouted atop his lungs, and it was certainly fortunate that no beasts were nearby, otherwise they'd be upon the group in seconds. "Knowing how to fight is not enough, you need experience, you need judgement, you need patience and you need caution. Both of you lack all of those still, that much was made clear tonight. Neither of you are to leave the workshop without me in attendance, neither of you are permitted to even go near the bridge. You will remain behind those doors until I decide you're ready to travel outside again. Am I clear?" Two answers of a somber 'yes' was all he got in reply and that was fine. Neither of them would be allowed anywhere near the streets of Yharnam until they learned how to behave like proper Hunters, not children playing at some game.

"We'll head back. The scent of their blood is bound to attract other beasts, I'll burn the bodies and hope none come to investigate." Moving around the courtyard Edmund gathered the bodies together and piled them atop one another, their mutilated corpses slick with their blood. Every piece he could manage to grab was piled high before he withdrew tinder from his pouch and struck flint against the cobbled stones of the street, igniting the tinder. Using a small vial of oil then he poured it over the pile and set the bodies alight, watching as a pillar of black smoke quickly rose up into the clear night sky. Should any other beasts arrive tonight they would find naught but charred remains to dine on, and it was the Hunter's hope that the beasts would turn around and leave without any food to keep them around.

Josephine inhaled as the weight of the Scourge Beast was launched from her back and she was finally able to catch her breath. It took a long moment to process what had happened before she could pull herself up onto her elbow and get her bearings. Already, Edmund stood over the dead corpses of all four beasts, two which he had effortlessly slain in her stead. Once again, she relied on him to save her from a monster too powerful for her to fight. Why..? Why did she yearn so desperately to impress him? She looked to the headless beast and her gaze fixed itself upon the pool of crimson blood as it glimmered in the moonlight. There was a certain feeling of sanguine relief filled her chest for the briefest of moments. Men like Edmund made the world safe - made her safe - and she couldn't so much as muster the strength to do the same.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, now slumped on the ground on all fours. The young woman rose only slightly so that she was on her hands and not her elbows, eyes downcast. Kael's celebration was worse than nails against a blackboard, but the real agony began upon hearing Edmund's words. The knot forming in her stomach grew tighter. He was disappointed, but not angry... He didn't sound angry. Perhaps he had been hopeful for their strength and they had let him down, or she had made the wrong choice in disobeying to prove herself. It didn't make a difference. Saliva began to build at the back of her throat, drowning her tongue abnormally fast. She knew what was coming - the young apprentice braced herself as her back curled upward.

A wretched noise escaped her as she dry heaved once... then a second time. And finally, her vomit splashed against the ground, racking her body with convulsions. Tears began to stream down her cheeks, stinging her eyes sharply. Another wave of nausea overcame her as she released another, slightly smaller torrent of bile. Josephine spit at the ground a few times to try clearing the taste from her mouth. She shook softly with a sob before finally letting Edmund help her onto her feet. She looked longingly at her sword as her master offered it to her, but didn't reach for it at first. She hadn't earned such a right - the right to wield it, the right to defend herself. Everything burned... Her muscles and bones from the fight, her eyes from the tears which she was desperately fighting, her throat from the acid which she'd lost, and her nostrils from the putrid stench in the air.

Finally, the woman took her weapon back and sheathed it at her hip, finally speaking for the first time. "Kael did not almost get me killed today, Master Edmund..." Her voice was soft and quivered slightly, but she tried her best to get the words out. "I am the only one to blame for my choices. If I died today, it would have been my fault. If you've taught me anything, it's that you reap what you sew, and I sealed my fate with arrogance... with pride."

She shot a venomous glare to Kael as he continued trying to argue. She already felt like a beaten puppy, but Kael only prodded their teacher further to berate them, because clearly he didn't understand the gravity of the situation. When he was done shouting and got their affirmatives to his direction, she stepped up to Kael, her face only inches from his.

"Until you've felt... one of those things breathing on your neck... tackling you... until you've truly been left to die by a man you consider your brother... a man you trust to watch your back and keep you safe... You don't know the true meaning of the word 'almost.' 'Almost' is a word of weakness... a word of incompetence... a word that means death out here, Kael. Shoot with your bow all you like, you don't know how it felt down here..." She marched after Edmund, doing whatever he asked and helping any way she could.

-----

Josephine flailed violently, snapping to consciousness and quickly rising from her position on the bed. She was panting heavily while her eyes darted around the room in terror. She'd woken up before screaming again, thankfully... Some nights she really ruined the other apprentices' sleep with it... She felt guilty every time. Her mind raced as it quickly forgot the night terror. Rubbing her eyes, Josephine turned and placed her feet on the wooden floor. She picked up a short, plated candlestick with a wax candle and lit the wick, holding it out in front of her. The moon couldn't light the windowless barracks under the main workshop. As she rose, Josephine noticed that Kael's bed was empty... Where was he? With a shake of her head, the young woman retrieved her Rakuyo from her footlocker and her coat. Dressed in just a short nightgown that extended to just above her knees, Josephine knew it would be cold if she didn't cover up at least slightly. She began climbing the ladder to the ground floor and pushed herself up through the hatch. She looked around with her head poking up out of the hole, frowning... Nothing seemed to be out of place.

"Master Edmund..?" She whispered, closing the door behind her as she started down the hall which lead to his room. She knocked on the door, "Master Edmund..?" The woman called again, raising her voice slightly. He wasn't there, but there was a light softly flickering from his study. After reaching the room, Josephine stepped inside and looked around. She'd actually never been in here, certainly not without him, but there was almost an entire library. Having expected her teacher to be here, she was rather surprised to find a slightly tattered leather bound book laying open on his desk, a quill resting inside of an inkwell nearby. Upon closer examination, she found it was his journal and her eyes went wide as she began reading, unable to resist the urge.

As if he hadn't known what it felt like. Did Josephine think he'd been sitting up above, laughing and watching as she was attacked? Kael had been thrown into a panic and couldn't take a shot because he'd been so fearful, fearful that he was going to lose a companion and fearful that he might miss and be the cause of her untimely demise. He'd never openly admit it as it would give Edmund more ammunition against him but he dreaded having to do that again. Yet at the same time he was determined to go back out and redeem himself, prove that he wasn't a liability like their master had deemed him to be. Edmund had been adamant about refusing another trip beyond the bridge yet Kael couldn't be content in that, he refused to be. They were Hunters dammit and good ones at that and the only way they could ever improve was by doing, again and again and again. He had weighed the pros and cons of slipping out under their master's watchful gaze to try and make amends, and no doubt Edmund would be livid regardless of if he was successful or not. He still had to do it though, he had to prove that they were ready and that all of their master's teachings hadn't gone to waste.

While everyone else was already heavily asleep Kael slipped out of their quarters, stealing away with his bow and as many arrows as he could carry. He'd slay a beast and return with its hide as his prize, indisputable proof that he was capable of taking down beasts on his own. That he wasn't some screw up and liable to only create problems. He knew he was trained well enough and could manage this he only needed to prove it to Edmund and the rest. The hardest part of the endeavor was crossing the bridge and several times he would look back, almost expecting to see Master Edmund after him, yet no one else ever appeared. Good, he didn't want anyone getting in the way of his mission. Fighting to open the doors to the shop, he was astonished by how heavy they were, he parted them just enough to slip through and forced them closed behind himself. Right, on to finding himself some prey. To be safe he found the nearest building and broke in a window, climbing through and heading for the roof. Very few if any beasts were that high up and from above he could scope out the area and spot any potential targets. So long as he got back before anyone realized he was gone there'd be no problems.

Only someone had most certainly realized Kael had gone missing. By chance Edmund had awoken to get himself a drink and found the front door of the workshop wide open. Stepping outside and expecting perhaps to find someone in the yards he found them utterly deserted, in almost disbelief he returned down to the sleeping quarters and found one bed empty among the others; Kael had left, to where who only knew. To think that the child would be so obstinate as to try and sneak out! Cursing under his breath the Hunter rushed to his own quarters and gathered his gear, departing from the workshop in search of his student. If one of the beasts didn't kill Kael then he just might, to think he had the gall to try this! Gritting his teeth as he emerged on the streets Edmund stormed straight down them and began scouring every inch for any signs of his student. When he found a shattered window his suspicions peaked and he kicked in the door, finding no signs of a fight and only the shards of glass littering the floor. If not a beast then surely Kael had come in here? With Chikage in hand he canvassed the area and found no sign of the boy until he reached the roof, another door left wide open, almost knocked off of its hinges. Up here it was clear that Kael had made his way high up, though whether to chase a target or to scout he couldn't be certain. He had to find the boy, he'd get himself killed if he wasn't careful.

There were plenty of beasts around yet nothing that would serve as a trophy. The Beast Patients were hardly difficult to kill even for an apprentice and killing one equated to little more than squashing an insect. He had to find a Scourge Beast or something greater still, a show of his prowess as a Hunter and his preparedness to take to the hunt. Running out of rooftops Kael scaled down a building and began moving along the streets, his body low and footsteps as hushed as could be. Former hunters warped by the blood prowled the roads in search of prey and they wouldn't suffice either, not in the least. Approaching another bridge that spanned the sewers below he made his way across and towards the Cathedral ward, an utterly alien place to him and one he was told never to venture into. Yet what choice did he have? Beasts so close to the shop were either so minor that Master Edmund deemed them not a threat or were only people, twisted by the blood, a danger to be sure but he wasn't about to skin a person. No, the Cathedral Ward would suffice for his hunt.

Upon reaching what appeared to be a graveyard Kael stopped himself beneath the archways and pressed firm against the stone there. Blood was thick in the air, and if he listened more closely the sound of flesh rending fell upon his ears, something was very clearly head. Notching an arrow into his bow he inhaled before stepping around the archway and raising his weapon, eyes widening seeing the beast beyond the grave markers. It was large, far larger than even a Scourge Beast, sat upon its haunches as it leaned forward, tearing into and feasting on something obscured by its sheer size. Just what kind of creature was this? Slowly inching forward he paused again when he noticed his foot had stepped in a puddle, and glancing down he nearly lost his dinner as he found himself stood in a large swathe of blood. In fact the entire area was thoroughly coated, limbs strewn about and barely a gravestone was left uncovered. Whatever this thing was had done all of this? Limbs of other beasts and hunters adorned the area and several mutilated corpses beyond recognition lay strewn about, whatever it was clearly had a bloodlust unlike anything he'd seen before. His heart thundered in his chest and yet Kael somehow found himself grinning, raising his weapon once more and taking aim. A perfect target.

And a perfect way to die. The arrow was released and before it had even struck the beast it was knocked aside, electricity being discharged from its body and stopping the projectile in its tracks. For a moment the beast went on eating without a care until Kael foolishly tried to fire another arrow at it. This time the beast didn't bother to evade it and it struck its hide... And clattered to the ground. Awestruck he could only watch as the beast put down whatever it was feasting on, the carcass of another beast he'd never seen, and turned to face him. Its face was almost that of a human yet its features clearly distorted and elongated, its eyes as red as the blood dribbling down its chin and chest. He couldn't fight this thing, his arrows couldn't even pierce its hide. What was he supposed to do instead, stab it with his daggers? He'd brought no tools save his weapon and he was alone, this was a suicide mission. Stepping back towards the archway Kael felt his body go cold when the beast seemed to smile at him, and when a distorted laughter escaped its maw his heart sunk. He had to run, he absolutely had to get away from here, there was no way he could fight this thing.

Kael turned tail and sprinted for the archway, and at once the beast sounded like it was right behind him. Diving down the stairs to avoid its claw tearing him in two he rolled painfully, scrambling to his feet and looking back. The stone had been shattered into dust and the wall around it was destroyed as well, a single swipe from that thing would kill him. Screaming as it smiled at him again Kael got back to his feet and ran for the bridge, swearing he could feel the beast's breath on his neck the entire way. Halfway across the bridge something powerful struck him on the back and sent him flying, losing his bow in the process as he slammed to the ground and his weapon clattered across the length of the bridge, well out of arms reach. Looking behind him the beast was slowly approaching, looking at his weapon then back at him and smiling again. Tempting him to try, knowing it would be upon him long before he ever got near it. He was dead, he'd thrown his life away for a stupid hunt and he'd pay the price for it.

They wanted so badly to prove me wrong today... I suppose I am at fault for this lapse judgment. Truly, they had me momentarily convinced that I could trust them to learn true fieldwork. No matter how quickly Josephine and Kael progress, they can't learn if they aren't in the field. However, they refuse to follow directions once we leave the safety of the workshop, so how can I teach them to be truly good hunters? They don't have the luxury to learn by trial and error like I did, suffering a hundred deaths by a hundred beasts to learn their every move. They need to be more adaptable, more prepared, always focused.

Josephine nearly died today. I've been trying to distance myself from her since she came to study beneath me. She took to combat like a beast to blood, truly shining just like her mother every day. I could not believe how well she and Kael actually performed in the courtyard, but it was too close for comfort and there were too many for their inexperience. If only they'd listened... I almost lost one of my best apprentices today. I almost lost my legacy - my only daughter.

The young woman blinked and re-read the line thrice more. She was the only person who almost died in front of him today... But his daughter? She frowned - he would have told her, wouldn't he? How could Master Edmund be her father? She was left with a family who gave her absolutely no respect; did they know she came from one of Yharnam's greatest hunters? And why would he leave her like that? He could have been training her up from childhood, but instead chose to wait until she almost died? Maybe she could find anything else in the journal, though she knew now how far back it went, she started from the beginning and started looking for anything relevant. Her first days here must be in an older journal, even though this one was almost full, it had been a while since she came to the workshop. However, this one seemed to start a few months after that.

She told me today about the family that her mother and I left her with. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but we thought it was necessary. Between the two of us, caring for the patients and going out for hunts, we would have never been able to raise her the way that we wanted to. She grew up in neglect, but she doesn't complain about it. She works hard, bringing her back to the workshop was a decision I'll never regret. I only wish her mother would stop by one of these days to see her. Though, I'm sure that's why she doesn't come around. It took all of her power not to keep Josephine for herself when she was first born.

There was no more mention of her mother, or who it was. She was never mentioned by name, as she was only referred to as 'Josephine's Mother' all throughout. It seemed that she had not come to the workshop in order to avoid the young huntress, and Josephine felt tears prick the back of her eyes. There wasn't anything else that she could find, flipping through the pages and skimming each quickly - though every few pages made mention of her, reaffirming her notion that she was indeed Master Edmund's daughter. Her relief and wonder were quickly replaced with pain and betrayal. Why hadn't he told her? Why hadn't he tried to get closer, or make up for all the years they'd missed? Who was her mother, who could Master Edmund have chosen to carry her in the first place?

Her mind pressed with an even more important question suddenly: where were Edmu- her father - and Kael? She ran back down to the basement and pulled on as much of her gear as she could in such a little time before sheathing her weapon, holstering her pistol, and grabbing a torch from the shop, sprinting out of the doors.

She made her way to the city - all the way up to the doors to the city. Where would she even start looking? This was dangerous... Then she heard it. One of the most bone-chilling screeches ever to have infected her ear. Her blood began to boil as her heartbeat tripled in pace. That had to be Kael. It had to be. She took off down the streets - he would be fine... Edmund was going for him, that had to be why he left the workshop too, and if she had learned anything in the last few years, it was that Edmund was invincible. The man could handle anything in this city.

What's wrong little one?! FRIGHTENED?! It spoke! Hells it SPOKE! What kind of beasts could speak?! It was a fool's errand to try and reach his weapon but some minute part of Kael's mind urged him to try, if he was going to die anyways he should at least try to fight back. Rolling over onto his stomach he got to his feet and ran desperately for his weapon, time seeming to slow as he heard a guttural laugh from behind him. Turning his head to see where the beast was it couldn't have been more than a yard back, one arm raised and claws flexed ready to tear him to ribbons. He couldn't make it, he'd fucked up. Turning his head away and looking at his weapon desperately he reached out for it, eyes widening as a yellow blur sped past his vision. What was that? Stumbling and falling over again as he came to his senses he rolled over and gawked openly at Edmund, using his blade to hold back the beast's arm. How... When? How had he been found? What was going on? His weapon, he had to get his weapon! Gasping and moving again he grabbed hold of it and sat on his hind, notching an arrow and trying to aim at the beast's head.

"Kael, stay back! You'll have no part of this beast!" Edmund shouted, grunting as he pushed the beast's limb back. Ducking under an errant swing of its claw he thrust his Chikage forward and drove it into the beast's gut, jumping back as both hands were slammed down into the ground. Dashing backwards with his Old Hunter Bone he withdrew his pistol and took aim, firing two quick rounds in succession and striking the beast in the eyes. As it howled in pain and thrashed about he dashed forward again, grabbing his blade and barely pulling it free as the beast swiped blindly for him. What was an Abhorrent beast doing this far inside the city? Were there more? As soon as they were through with this he'd have to make his rounds and inspect the gates and walls for holes. That would have to wait until this monster was slain however.

What was Edmund thinking taking that thing on alone? Veteran hunter or not that was no normal beast and teamwork ensured survival, that was one of the things he'd drilled into their heads from day one. As if he was going to sit back and watch his master take on such a dangerous foe alone. With an arrow already notched he took aim at a shoulder and let his projectile loose and couldn't help but feel triumphant as it took and buried itself in the beast's flesh. Edmund was quick to follow up as well and slice the beast's chest open, copious amounts of purple blood seeping from the wound and onto the bridge. They would kill it, no doubt about that. Notching another arrow he took aim for the beast's head and grinned, intending for this to be the kill shot. Nothing would distract him, he and Edmund were going to fell this beast.

"Kael! Behind you!"

Kael had absolutely no idea another beast had appeared. Peering over his shoulder his eyes widened at the Scourge Beast rearing up to attack him. Turning and trying to fire at it instead he was pressed down to the ground, using the limbs of the bow to hold back the beast as its jaw snapped frantically at him, drool and blood seeping down onto his face. A Quicksilver round to its head forced it back and another two drove it over the side of the bridge, Edmund had once again saved him. Panting as his adrenaline surged Kael shakily grabbed another arrow and turned to rejoin the fight, paling as he watched the display that happened next. In saving him Edmund had to take his eyes from the Abhorrent beast and it took full advantage of that, swinging at his off-arm with its claws. Unable to move his Chikage in time Edmund rose his arm to block and had the tendons torn clean through, his limb hanging limply at the side as he dropped his pistol and it clattered towards the edge.

"No!" Breaking his bow into two pieces Kael tried to rush into the fight and help, desperate to even the odds. Noticing blood pooling at his master's feet however he threw his arms up to shield his face as a blast of blood knocked him off of his feet and back to the edge of the bridge, knocking over the Abhorrent beast as well. "Master! Let me help!" Trying to get his weapon back to its ranged form his heart sank as he saw Edmund begin to channel blood again and the man smiled at him. When did Edmund ever smile at him?

"You'll make a fine hunter someday, you and Josephine both. I'm sorry I couldn't finish teaching you two, please stay safe." Those weren't words that any student ever wanted to hear from their master. Those were words of resignation, accepting one's own demise and embracing the cold clutches of death itself. Edmund turned back towards Kael as blood fueled his blade and with one clean slice he cut the bridge right through, shattering stone and creating a sizable gap between himself and Kael. Ducking beneath the Abhorrent beast he repeated the motion on the other side until only a small strip remained, precariously teetering as the supports beneath it were destroyed. Edmund deflected another claw before stepping forward and thrusting his Chikage into the chest of the beast, holding firm even as its claws dug into his back.

"You'll die human! And then I'll tear your precious children to shreds!" the beast laughed, its dulled eyes fixated on Edmund's blurry form. Grinning wildly as it pressed its claws into his flesh it paused when it heard the Hunter laughing as well, utterly confused as to why anyone on their doorstep would be laughing. "Lost your mind have you?! Laugh all you like, you're finished!"

"Oh I'm well aware, and I accept that. I just think its funny..." Blood emerged from Edmund's wounds and began to swirl around him and the Abhorrent beast like a storm. Lifting his head he smiled at the beast, his hat falling from his head and down into the darkness of the sewers below. "I thought you were intelligent, but it seems you're as daft as any other beast. I'm taking you to hell with me..." The blood circulated faster and thickened, pieces hardening into projectiles as sharp as a blade. Closing his eyes and exhaling one last time Edmund let his blood run rampant and in the blink of an eye he and the beast were consumed, both of their bodies torn to shreds in an instant as the blood assailed them. When the attack finally ceased nothing remained, the bridge had a massive crater where they had stood and blood soaked the ground, a steady stream dripping down either side. Silence followed, a gut wrenching, blood chilling silence. Master Edmund had killed the beast, of that there was no doubt, but he had gone along with it.

"MASTER!" Kael screamed, dropping his weapon and crawling on his hands and knees to the edge of the bridge. Nearly tumbling off he caught himself and whimpered as he stared at the bloodied mess before him. He couldn't be dead, there was absolutely no way he could be dead. He'd pop out any second now and reveal himself and this as some ploy to teach him a lesson. Yet no one came, Kael stared in deaf silence at the bridge and never saw any movement save what the wind knocked around. Feeling his stomach churning he tried to take a deep breath and instead let out another scream, wailing as he leaned forward and buried his head against the bridge. "No! No no no no no!" Slamming his fists against the bridge with every utterance of the word, lifting his tear soaked face from the bridge and screamed as loudly as he could manage. "MASTER EDMUND!"

That sound was coming from the bridge, Josephine realized as she pushed her burning legs to keep her running down alleys and between buildings. Her throat burned with exhaustion - why wasn't anything going right today? Why did they leave the workshop? This place was a hellhole, and nobody should be out here without backup. She ripped her Rakuyo from her belt and skidded to a halt at the edge of the bridge. What... What was that monster? Josephine covered her mouth... Edmund was missing an arm, his chikage dripped in blood, and he cut the bridge itself into pieces, separating the monster and himself from Josephine and Kael.

"NO!" She screeched, kicking off of the ground to sprint after him as they were engulfed in a torrent of blood. Was this his true power? A fully trained, battle-hardened veteran at critical mass could command this much strength. She halted at the broken mass of bridge as, suddenly, everything was gone and a foreboding silence fell into the air. She dropped her sword, her eyes wide as she stumbled, lost, across the stonework bridge. An eerie clattering sound was followed by the hollow ring of vibrating metal, but Josephine's ears were numb. Kael screamed in denial nearby, but as the young woman's boots stepped into the crater, soft splashes lapped at her footwear. She fell to her knees, soaking her trousers in crimson gold. Her father's blood seeped into her clothes... The abhorrent beast's mixed with it, creating a repulsive stench. The worst part? She had started to grow used to this smell already.

"He's... he's dead..." She mumbled, her shaking hands splashing through the blood before finding what they had absently been searching for. She knew not why, but she held the man's Chikage in her hand as she clambered to her feet. She stared at it, speechless. Her brow furrowed, her lips pulled into a tight line as she looked up at Kael.

"What... have you... done, Kael?" She asked, flicking the blade and releasing the blood from its edge. Even if he'd answered, she wouldn't hear it. "WHAT DID YOU DO?! YOU KILLED HIM!" The woman shouted, gripping the katana tightly. She stepped forward, "He was my father! I didn't even get to talk to him after finding out! This... Is all your fault!" Her voice cracked in fury as she approached him, holding out the sword. "How dare you. I'll have your head, you monster!"

She took another step forward, raising the weapon, ready to take the young man's life.

CLANG!

The Chikage hit the ground behind her as she fell to the ground, her knees scraping against the stone roughly. Her throat was ablaze as tears and sweat poured down her cheeks. "He was my father... The one thing I've wanted so long, right in front of me... And I didn't even get to pay him back for saving me... Time and again he's provided for us... For you. And this is how you repay him? You... You recklessly try to throw your life away?" She choked on a sob, covering her mouth as her back convulsed. "Do you ever think of anybody but yourself, Kael? Even once in your life, have you thought of how your actions would affect those around you?" Her fist slammed into the ground as she looked up, her eyes clearly bloodshot.

"YOU DON'T GET TO BE MAD!" She screamed at him, only inches from his face, "YOU DON'T GET TO BE SAD. THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" She couldn't stop herself from saying so much. Shuffling forward, the young woman raised a fist and brought it down into his shoulder. It was certainly no love-tap, but it didn't have nearly the strength she could normally muster.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

The sound of boots on stone echoed not far away. They were slow and measured, fearless. They were reminiscent of Edmund's footsteps, so sure of themselves. Upon looking up, Kael and Josephine would see a woman garbed in tattered gray robes. Some of the edges looked singed and the outfit hung loosely from her shoulders. Over her head was a large hood covering a heavy, protective helmet. The most unnerving part? The bone, collapsible shaft that rested, folded on her back as well as the massive, curved blade in her hand. A Blade of Mercy hung on her other hip. With a single, fluid motion, she slammed the hilt of her blade into the end of the shaft and slipped it easily from her back, revealing a menacing scythe. She was one of the Master Hunters that Edmund had recounted to them - Master Huntress Lydia, Daughter of the Reaper.

She cleared her throat, surveying the scene, "I heard the commotion... What's going on out he-" She furrowed her brow, removing her helmet to reveal black hair, pulled back into a short pony tail with bangs that framed her face casually. "Wait... Aren't you Edmund's apprentices? Where is he? What happened?" She asked curtly, glancing around to make sure the area was actually clear. All that blood... She covered her mouth, "Oh god, no... He didn't actually do it..?" She asked, her voice trailing as she shook her head. "That idiot knows he can't wake up in the dream anymore... Why would he do that?" The question was purely rhetorical, and it was clear.

He was... Edmund was... No, there was no way that Master Edmund had died. The man who had been slaying beasts for decades, the man whose tales inspired everyone to take up arms, the man who was going to teach them how to be the best Hunters they could be. He wasn't dead, he was not dead! Kael's throat burned from all the screaming and his lungs ached for breath as he sobbed, utterly oblivious to Josephine's entrance to the scene. Death was part of this life, they had been told that early and reminded of it often, yet it did nothing to lessen the impact of this. Their mentor and for all accounts their parent figure had just died before them, because Kael had been stupid enough to think he could strike out on his own. It was his fault. His fault. Letting himself dry retch the young Hunter lifted his head when Josephine went to the scene of the attack and broke down. What was she on about? She was yelling about Edmund and probably at him, she looked furious. Lifting himself up enough to the point he was on his knees Kael simply looked at her and took her bereavement. What could he say?

Nothing, there was absolutely nothing which could be said for this. So Edmund was her father hm? That would probably be a shocking revelation if Kael could feel anything other than utter despair and emptiness. Even as Josephine raised a blade to him he stared up at her speechless, his eyes clouded and his body sagging. His expression almost begged to be killed, to be paid in full for what he'd caused. Even as her face was mere inches from his own he could only sit and stare at the girl whose life he had undoubtedly just ruined. And for what? His pride? A chance to kiss up to their now dead master? Being punched in the shoulder landed him on his rear and he simply sat there and accepted it, slouching down as he hung his head. "Just... Kill me..." he muttered hoarsely, shaking his head as he looked at Josephine, "I deserve it... Use his blade, kill me..."

Oh good, footsteps. Perhaps a beast coming to take his head instead. Lifting his gaze and turning around he was baffled to see another hunter present, and when the woman brandished her weapon everything they knew of her came flooding to Kael at once. Lydia, one of the few hunters like Edmund who could call themselves a Master Hunter. Veteran of countless battles and unparalleled in her prowess in combat, just like any other Master. And she was late, too late to make any difference. It was almost funny that help would arrive after everything had already happened, it seemed fitting. That was just the kind of world they lived in wasn't it? Shaking his head he slowly got to his feet and shuffled towards the edge of the bridge, looking down into the darkness below. He should just allow himself to fall, it would make everything so much easier. At the very least Josephine would have closure knowing her father's killer was gone.

Sighing somberly Kael stepped forward and had managed to put one foot over the edge of the bridge before someone grabbed him from behind and threw him back. Groaning as he bounced against the brick he remained on the ground and looked to Lydia, frowning when he realized she'd been the one to stop him. Why? Why couldn't he just die? So now he wasn't going to be allowed to die? He'd lost his entire family and questioned why he was left alive, he'd survived when other apprentices had died, and now that he'd caused the death of their beloved mentor he was still denied? He just wanted to be done with all of this, he didn't care anymore. What good was being a Hunter if you were only going to get people killed? That's all he'd ever been any good at.

"Just kill me... Please... I don't care how, just do it..." Kael begged as his eyes grew misty again, "I don't deserve to live after this..." How long until he got other apprentices killed? Josephine? Perhaps he was just bad luck and it was better off that he be killed and spare anyone else misfortune. Since Lydia seemed so opposed to killing him however perhaps he could try and convince Josephine? She didn't seem too opposed to it a moment ago. Crawling over to the Chikage he pushed it across the ground to her and collapsed again, smiling as he let out an empty laugh. "Come on... You were going to kill me... Do it..." he begged, forcing himself up to his knees and holding out his arms to his sides, "Take my head... Run me through... Just end it, please..."

"If I had a modicum of care for you, I would indulge your request," The girl spat, wiping at her eyes, sniffling once. "But I don't. And you're not worth tainting my conscience, you wretch." Shakily, she rose to her feet, red eyes on Lydia as she fought the urge to look a fool before one of Edmund's comrades. Still, it hurt to speak and all of her muscles ached from the stress, the run here, and now the pain of loss. Her lip curled back in contempt, "Don't be so... p-pathetic," She ordered him venomously, despite the quiver of her lip and trembling jaw. Even now, she refused to look at him further.

"Master Lydia," Josephine addressed the woman with slight bow, "Master Edmund... S-sacrificed himself... To protect one of his apprentices... That... That sniveling cur over there is the cause..." She accused with a fist shaking at her side. "There... There's nobody left to take up his place or teach anybody..."

Lydia frowned and looked at Kael. She did not acknowledge Josephine's words, but they were clearly heard as she approached the kneeling boy. Holding her scythe in one hand, the shaft parallel to the back of her right arm, she stood before Kael and raised the edge of the weapon to the side of his neck. Her gaze was scrutinizing, "Is this true, boy? Did you get ahead of yourself and cause your master's death?" The look in his eyes said it all, just as his desire for death. She downcast her eyes, "That's a shame... Edmund was a damned good hunter. I look like a fool blundering around on the battlefield compared to him. Formidable as he was, he lost his gift to return to the Hunter's Dream... I was amazed at how long he made it, I'm sure he was satisfied, dying for the next generation... He would have had it no other way."

After lowering her weapon, she glanced to Josephine, "And until you've made a mistake to cost the life of one near to you, you can't possibly understand the pain he's going through... He's mentioned you two to me, the few times we've met since his exile from the Dream... Kael and Josephine, right?" She asked for confirmation, tapping Kael with her foot, "Get up, c'mon. Let's get back to his workshop... Looks like we're gonna have to find a way to tell those apprentices... This should go without saying - do not tell them what exactly happened here. I still need to decide what I'm going to do about either of you... And all of the other students."

Josephine's brow furrowed in frustration... Couldn't know his pain?! Kael's pain? Who cared about that?! It was his reckless, self-absorbed attitude that got Edmund killed, why should she sympathize at all? Lydia was the mistaken one - there was no way she could understand how this felt for Josephine. She didn't even look to see if Kael was getting up to follow as the young apprentice somberly walked after Lydia, headed for the workshop.

A few minutes into the walk, Josephine finally let something on her mind out. "Master Lydia, if you knew Master Edmund... Did... Did you know he was my father?" She asked tentatively.

Lydia sucked the inside of her cheek in hesitation before shaking her head, "No... I honestly had no idea that Edmund had found the time, energy, or desire to have a child... But I suppose it makes sense. Being attached to a slightly more mortal coil could cause somebody to feel like they needed something to success them. Or it was on accident," She bluntly mused, shrugging.

"Then... Do you have any idea who it might have been with?"

Lydia shook her head, "Not a clue. I only know for a fact that it definitely wasn't Gehrman's creepy doll," She pointed out, laughing at her own joke before she realized that neither of them would understand it. There was mostly silence before they reached the workshop again, and the Master Huntress looked around. She decided she could wait for the rest to wake up, glancing to Josephine and Kael she sighed. "Hey, so... I know this is-" Just as shew as about to talk to them about what had happened, a low rumble of growls and snarls filled the air around them. The woman didn't hesitate to put her helmet back on, her eyes scanning the area as several sets of red eyes approached from the mists. Those were Scourge Beasts, definitely, but there could be a lot more and they could be accompanied by other, more sinister beasts.

She looked to the other two, "Get out of here. There's no time to grab anything but what you've got, take these vials, but be careful... They can heal you much more quickly than traditional means, but they're volatile and if you're not a Hunter from the Dream, they can have horrifying effects. Moderation only. You need to leave this workshop..." She took a half-step back and readied her scythe, "This'll be cake, but I don't want you caught up in it... Besides, I can't teach either of you - not if I'm teaching the rest. Edmund thought you were strong - prove it. If you want a real hunter who can teach you, I recommend you find a way into the Astral Clocktower... It's no easy journey, but Lady Maria may just be a good, and possibly willing, mentor for you. If not, she might know another option." She smirked and glanced to Josephine's blade, her heart beginning to thump only a little faster for the impending fight. Typical Edmund, always hinting, never giving a full answer to anything.

"GO! Kael, make sure you don't split up until you get to Maria, under any circumstances. I don't care about your petty squabbles," She commanded, spinning her scythe once and beginning to step forward. With a loud whistle, she fired her pistol at one of them, "COME AND GET ME, YOU GRIMY SONS OF BITCHES! I'm here to take you home - into your last dream," She shouted with a sadistic grin.

Josephine stood in awe as the woman moved to confront their attackers and pushed the other two away. What... What were they doing? Why were they leaving? Why wouldn't anybody let them help? They had to run away, but to where?

Kael couldn't answer Lydia's question nor did he feel he needed to. It was as Josephine said, he was responsible for their Master's death. His hubris and eagerness to prove himself had cost them dearly and now he was going to have to live with the consequences. Wasn't it simply fitting that the man was somehow Josephine's father? That declaration hadn't been lost on him and though he had trouble believing it he supposed it wasn't the most outlandish idea. Nodding numbly Kael lifted himself off of the floor and fell in line behind Lydia, his bow dragging in his grasp, shoulders sagged and eyes downcast. Whether or not he remained an apprentice as a Hunter was yet to be seen though he was confident this would result in his expulsion at best, execution at worst. If it were just another student he'd killed then perhaps the consequences wouldn't be so drastic but this had been their master, everyone's master, the man who by many's own views was nigh invincible. Being responsible for the death of a man like that was horrible.

There was no putting off their return and Kael wasn't going to try and run away either. He knew what he had done and if they were going to kill him for it then fine, he'd accept his punishment. Lifting his head he looked at Josephine somberly, opening his mouth before closing it and casting his gaze down again. Apologies would do nothing no matter how sincere, no words were going to bring their master back and nothing he could do would likely ever earn Josephine's forgiveness. They were supposed to be comrades and yet he was certain she regarded him now even lower than the beasts which they fought.

Everyone froze when Lydia did and chills ran up Kael's spine when he realized why. These beasts had been attracted by the battle with the Abhorrent, hadn't they? It was his fault Edmund was gone and now they were going to be set upon by who knows what again because of his carelessness. With no fight in him he looked around at the red, piercing eyes penetrating the fog and simply sighed, hoping his death would be quick at the very least. Or perhaps he could stay and fight while they escaped, it would be some kind of redemption for his misdeeds. As if trying to deny him such a thing Lydia brandished her weapon and demanded the two of them flee and leave the battle to her. That brought him back to his senses and he gave the older Hunter an incredulous look, thinking she was absurd to try and take these on alone. Edmund could have managed but then he was perhaps the best there was, who did this woman think she was attempting such a thing?

They had to leave, if Lydia could take them on her own then they had to put their trust in her ability. They had a destination and a woman to meet and perhaps she would have the answers that Josephine wanted. Kael had nothing to his name besides those within the shop and if he was to remain here it was only natural he stay with Josephine. He didn't need to be told to stay by her side and he would gladly travel with her and keep her safe, he owed her at least that much. Nodding firmly he turned and prepared to run off, getting only a few steps before realizing Josephine wasn't moving. Gritting his teeth he reached back and took her by the arm, pulling her along as they raced back down the streets. Behind them the sounds of battle raged on and everything he knew demanded he go back to help but it sounded like Lydia was more than capable on her own. They had their job and she hers.

Several blocks later and the pair finally stopped running to catch their breath. The echoes of the battle were lost in the maze of buildings but Kael was optimistic that Lydia was managing. If she knew Master Edmund then she was likely a veteran hunter herself and had been in similar situations before, they had to have faith she could win the fight. Panting breathlessly Kael leaned against the banister of a stairwell and slouched down, draping his weapon over his knees as he laid his head back. He'd run out of energy much earlier and the adrenaline was beginning to wane leaving him utterly exhausted, and yet they had so much more to do. Neither of them knew where this Clocktower was but they had to find it and find whoever this Lady Maria might be. An old associate of their master's? If so then it would make sense to seek someone like her out.

"Look... Hate me all you want, I don't care anymore. I really don't care if I die trying to get you to this place either," Kael muttered as he wiped his face of blood and sweat, shaking his gloved hand to try and clean it, "But we're going there. Whatever reason that woman had for us to go there must be a good one, maybe you can figure out if... Edmund really was your father..." He had just killed this girls father hadn't he? If she felt anything like he had towards beasts for the death of his family he wouldn't be surprised if she turned her weapon on him now. Smiling bitterly he glanced down at the blade in his hands and shook his head, placing it at his feet and leaning back again. "Or if you want to kill me, kill me now. I'd rather you do it now than wait until we get there."

Josephine stood dumbounded as the monsters began to emerge from the fog. Wait? Now she had to leave the only place she'd ever considered home? There was a tug on her arm coming from a figure that she had failed to even acknowledge the existence of since leaving the bridge. Her eyes moved to him as she resisted the pull, terror filling them as she realized it was Kael. "Wh-what..?" She asked, "No... No! Let go of me!" She shouted, yanking her arm away violently as she took a step away.

"Josephine, this is no time to lose sight of yourself. You need to move," Lydia ordered without wavering.

"I... I can't go. Let me fight!"

"You're in no condition, don't let your father's death go to waste and leave this place. You're going to get both of you killed!"

Her father. Josephine looked at the shack, "F-fine... But... I need something first..." She dashed toward the workshop before anybody could argue. She burst through the doors and down the hall to Edmund's old library. When she reached the theshold to the study, she froze as her stomach dropped. While she was here in this room earlier tonight, that man was out fighting for his Kael's life... and losing. She had been powerless to it. Without realizing it, tears had started rolling once more over her cheeks. Hadn't her eyes run out of tears yet? The girl sniffled once and wiped her eyes on her sleeve before stepping inside - the book was still out. She slammed it shut and shoved it unceremoniously into her bag. She needed something that held... him, his essence, for herself.

Walking out of the doors again, she could still see that the Scourge Beasts were on the prowl, perhaps waiting for one to attack before the rest pounced in. They were sizing up their prey and Lydia was clearly their biggest challenge. Kael grabbed her again and began dragging her along, though Lydia clearly didn't seem too pleased with the girl's behavior. Luckily, they were still able to wind through the streets and find a stopping point quite a while later. After everything that had happened that morning and the very little sleep they'd had, Josephine was finally starting to feel the wear and tear of the day. They both finally started to slow down and Kael stopped, taking a seat on the ground.

He began to blather on, but Josephine was busy, snapping branches from a nearby dead tree which had likely once been a decoration for the land. The girl stacked them up and knelt down, reaching her hand into the pile of leaves and sticks; this fire wouldn't burn long, but it didn't need to go for more than a little bit anyway. She concentrated, snapping her fingers and bringing a small, flickering blaze to life, which quickly caught and spread to the rest of the pile. Taking a few steps back and leaning against a wall, Josephine removed her sword and placed it against the wall just beside her. She pushed her bangs out of her face, sneering as she finally looked at Kael.

"After what happened today and yesterday, I don't see how it's possible for you to do anything but get me killed. You're an impatient, reckless, self-absorbed, lazy hunter who has no regard for a situation beyond his own glory," She stated firmly, her lips curling slightly in contempt as she sighed and shook her head. "Plus, I already tried to kill you, clearly if I wanted you dead, you would be by now. But that's exactly why I'm not leaving you right here to waste away into nothingness. It's more than obvious that you need somebody to teach you what Master Edmund tried so hard to." She gradually shed the backpack from her back and unstrapped Edmund's Chikage, which was wrapped in a blood-spattered cloth, before placing it alongside the bag. After opening the largest pocket of the sack, she retrieved the worn, leather-bound book from the study and tossed it at Kael.

"Here, it's about fifteen pages into that, I think. I don't think it's much of a question whether he was my father, he would never be so focused if it were not a fact." She stuck her tongue inside of her cheek briefly, shaking her head, "You know... I... I really hate you right now," The woman began, refusing to meet his gaze. "And I don't feel like I'll ever get over that. But... After everything, I can't let you die. Like it or not, you're a living part of him, and I'm not going to abandon you. He knew the risk he was taking... That doesn't mean I'm okay with what you've done."

She opened her palms to the fire. They were pretty warm from the adrenaline and all the work of the day, but the air had a bit of a bite to it. The woman crouched low to get closer to the flames, still staring ahead. Knowing that Edmund was gone forever was still setting in, but she hadn't known their relationship until today so... At least she'd never known him as a father.

"Teach me...? What, you're going to teach me?" Kael pressed incredulously, smiling bitterly as he shook his head and looked at the dancing flames before him, "Or do you mean this Maria woman? I don't imagine she'll be any happier to hear about what happened to our Master." There was a comment to Josephine's suggestion she could so easily kill him but he let it pass, having no desire to argue over the fact. He would welcome death if she wanted to give it to him, and if he was forced to live then he'd devote himself to making sure she reached this woman. Hardly caring for his own life any longer he leaned forward and reached out, adjusting a stray branch into the flames and watching as it was eaten away. The sight of their master going up in a storm of blood was burned into his mind not unlike the fire swallowing the branches before him, engulfed and furious. Shame that alcohol was so difficult to find or he could indulge and with luck forget if only for a moment what he'd done. Call it cowardice to not face his failure but he wanted no part of it.

Kael flinched as something was thrown his way and awkwardly caught the bound book, arching an eyebrow at it as Josephine explained its contents. Was this their master's journal? Wasn't that sort of... Personal? Doing as he was told he opened up to the page and skimmed the writing between the pages, his eyes widening with each passing sentence. No doubt about it then, either their master was delusional from a feverish dream or Josephine was indeed his daughter. So he had killed her father then, her second father, or was it her first? Semantics aside it was a feeling that Kael himself knew all too well and not a day went by that he didn't miss his family, having watched them torn away from him by his own father, twisted into the very beast they had hunted. The agony of loss was something many knew these days and yet not everyone empathized with one another, most shut themselves off and became isolated and hostile, far and few between showed any compassion. Whether through a blessing or a curse he was one of the latter.

"Don't worry, I hate myself right now too so it's mutual. If we're both lucky I'll end up beast food before we reach the Clocktower." They shouldn't be resting here no matter how much their hearts ached and their bodies heavy, sitting here invited the beasts to set upon them. Traveling unguided by their master would have made Kael ecstatic any other day and today it merely filled him with a sense of dread. "If you're not going to kill me yet then fine, that means I'm doing my job. Which means get up..." Grabbing his weapon from the floor Kael released the string and broke his blade into two, his legs like iron as he forced himself to walk towards the edge of the building. Peering around the two corners he remained silent for a moment, making certain nothing was nearby before returning to Josephine. "If we're resting it will be inside a building, staying outside would be inviting death..." he muttered as he gestured for Josephine to rise, "And I'll be damned if I fail my job on the first night..."

"Of course I mean Lady Maria," Josephine snapped a little more venomously than she had admittedly meant to. She shook her head; honestly, sometimes Kael's density was utterly shocking, even after the past few years. He was so hard-headed... Of course, so was Josephine, but at least she wasn't rash. Being able to fight from a distance had made Kael spoiled, in her opinion, and if he had more experience up close, he might not be so quick to engage a beast. Be that as it may, there wasn't anything she could do about it anymore. He was right: maybe Maria would turn them away... Perhaps she would put an end to their miserable lives, if she knew that it had been their fault that their master had perished. But what else could they do? A Huntress, and a Master Huntress with access to the Hunter's Dream no less, had told them to seek her out. The pair didn't stand a chance out here alone for the rest of their lives, they had no home to return to, and if they were likely to split up for fear of killing each other were they sent out with no guidance.

The woman snatched her father's journal up and reattached his Chikage to her sack before throwing it over her shoulder. The pair put out their fire, fanning the smoke for a moment to make sure it wouldn't reignite and to disperse the possibility of a signal. She looked at Kael as he spoke... She wondered if he knew he was barely talking above a whisper, as though the very strength of his former voice was sure to break her bones. For only the most fleeting of moments, one could see a flash of sympathy flash in her eyes... Or rather, it was more likely that one would see pity.

"You know, Kael, just because I hate you, doesn't mean you have to be afraid of yourself. If we're going to make it to the clocktower, I need you to be the cocky asshole you always are. Once we get there, you can have the luxury of a breakdown," She stated coldly, draining the previous moment's empathy from her voice without a second thought. Josephine would never admit it, but her advice was exactly what she was planning to do, even if nobody saw it. She drew her Rakuyo from her hip and held it loosely at her side, drawing her pistol from the other hip and twirling it once.

"Rest? I'm not likely to be able to sleep until I am literally on the verge of passing out. The luxury of controlling the time that we sleep is hardly ours anymore, don't you think?" She asked, eyes peeling through the streets of Yharnam. The streets were surprisingly empty, come to think of it... The fire was a bad idea - it could have attracted something. And yet... there weren't any beasts here.

The pair of apprentices walked along, stepping around wrecked carriages and carcasses picked apart by crows. The city was so saturated with their stench that it wasn't even overwhelming at this point. This was the smell everybody lived with, all throughout Yharnam and the surrounding towns - just death and poison all the time. It was then that Josephine heard the third set of footsteps, another pair of boots tapping the ground with hers and Kael's. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she spun on her heel without breaking stride, firing a quicksilver bullet as soon as she saw the figure. It was quite a way down the road and she didn't have a chance to hit it with her pistol, but at least it stopped. Oh god, it was a human. A real person... And they hadn't even had to fight anything yet. Maybe they could help!

She was about to apologize for brazenly firing her weapon when the figure let out a guttural laugh from deep in its throat. Josephine froze and readied her weapon, realizing that he must have been following them for at least a little while.

"Heheh... Sure did take you two a while to turn around, didn't it..?" He, for the pair could certainly tell by his voice that it was a he, asked, practically cooing at them. "Oh such young... naive hunters... Walking my city... trying to kill my brothers and sisters!" Josephine furrowed her brow... brothers and sisters..? "I've been following you, you know... and... I gotta say... I don't like it one bit how your friend wasted... wasted!" He repeated the word, though it was clear that it was more out of anger than anything, "All of that... precious blood, just to kill some beast. Wouldn't it be better to have just died? Or to have slit his wrists..?"

He couldn't possibly be talking about Edmund... Josephine prayed he wasn't, but knew better already. Before she could speak, he continued, taking a few staggered steps toward them... "Waste, waste, waste, waste...." He repeated the word over and over, quieter each time until he was mumbling it to himself. "It could have been refined and used... for health, to make us better. I can feel it already... These beasts aren't monsters to be hunted... They're the next step. They are what we must become to grow stronger. The blood speaks to me... It tells me things... like how it feels to sink your teeth into fresher flesh. To drink it as it flows, rather than from a phial..."

Josephine glanced and Kael and her lip curled back in contempt. Was this what Lydia had talked about when she warned of the dangers of the blood phials? She wasn't ready to find out as she slowly began to approach, wanting to give Kael time to make his own move or prepare one. This guy wasn't moving fast, but he clearly needed to be killed - or stopped in some way. However, he wasn't violently charging yet, so that was at least one upside. Josephine had little hope that it would last as she holstered her pistol and split her sword into a singular curved blade and a dagger. Kael couldn't afford to hesitate... She took a breath and looked back just one more time, giving him a firm nod; please, she begged in her mind, don't fuck this up, we don't have a safety net anymore.

Of course she meant Lady Maria, he'd known that. Realistically there was nothing Josephine could teach him that Edmund hadn't already imparted upon them. That said Kael had a difficult time imagining what - if anything - they might gain to learn at this point in their training; veteran hunters were borne of countless hours of the hunt, of trial and error and learning the mannerisms of their quarry. The basics could be taught but from thereon out it fell to the apprentice to gain the experience that only combat could bring. Edmund must have known this and yet not thought them ready, and given today's fatal blunder Kael was forced to agree. Still, what reason was there to seek out this Maria, other than finding some kind of closure for Josephine? Would she even train them once they did find the woman? He would see his given task through of course but to say his heart was wholly devoted to it would be false.

They needed to get moving before beats began to converge on their location. The fire was bound to lure some their way even with Lydia fighting the majority, some were bound to break off and follow their curiosity. Gathering their belongings Kael brushed over the fire with his boot and snuffed out the flames, leaving a few cinders burning in its wake. Not as though it mattered whether it was extinguished or not, he noted, there weren't any people left here, only beasts. "Cocky huh...? Sure, whatever you say," Kael muttered as he watched the drying embers, clicking his tongue and noting how dry his mouth felt. He needed water after all of that, not to mention he was noting just how dry and hoarse his throat felt. Where was there a well nearby? Water should be safe provided nothing had been slaughtered in it recently, they should be sure to fill up before departing.

Rest was out of the question for two reasons: neither of them would realistically be able to sleep after today's events, not for some time. The presence of another on these empty streets was enough to stir them from their stupor and they were greeted by an alarming stench - rank blood. While not wholly uncommon in the soiled city this smelled fresh, and decidedly un-beastly. Turning on his heel Kael narrowed his eyes at the figure before them, lowering his bag and freeing his weapon. It was a man, aye, but there was something... Off about him. Josephine attempted to speak with him and yet their only reply came in ramblings, words jumbled together and incoherent. Lydia's warning rang fresh in his ears as the man lifted his head and a pair of hollow, sunken eyes stared back at them. His hair was dirty and matted, his skin pale, blood soaked on every piece of clothing as fresh blood seeped from his blade. No two ways about it - this man had succumb to the blood.

"Stay back! We have no reason to fight, turn and leave!" Diplomacy was perhaps the worst idea right now and yet Kael saw fit to at least try. Not that it had ever been his strong suit, talking things out, and as expected the man continued to shamble towards them, his murderous intent palpable in the stale air. Cursing under his breath Kael swung his weapon and let the blade split in two, stringing the bow before notching an arrow. Killing another man was not something he'd ever wished to have to do. But then this was not a man anymore was it? Taking aim he lowered the bow and fired a single shot at the hunter's leg, deciding it was best to cripple him and run rather than have an all out fight. Fighting would attract beasts, beasts would chase them until they either tired or they were killed, it was not something they could afford. A single arrow was all he'd need.

If it hit. The arrow was on the verge of tearing through the hunter's ligaments when he dashed to the side and avoided it, the arrow piercing and shattering the stone where he had stood. He was fast! Unlocking his weapon again he let the string retract and held a blade in each hand, charging the man for a more personal encounter. They had to kill him quickly, the longer they lingered the more likely beasts would appear. Raising his right arm and taking a swing Kael growled as his blade glanced off the side of the man's axe, lifting his other arm to block an overhead cut from the weapon. Straining to hold it back with both weapons he grit his teeth and tried to push black, closing his eye reflexively as blood dripped down from its rusted edge onto his cheek.

"I need... Fresh blood... The Vials, they no longer work..." The man's voice came out in raspy hisses and he smiled hungrily at the young hunter, his teeth stained and several missing. The pair were at a stalemate until Josephine intervened and forced the man back, and another dodge helped evade a Quicksilver bullet from Kael's pistol. As though unsteady the man swayed side to side briefly before flashing the pair a delusional grin, laughing dryly as he approached again, dragging his axe along the cobbled streets. "Come children, give me your blood... Our evolution... Is at hand..." he cooed, extending a gnarled hand and curling his fingers to them, "You... Won't need it before long, surrender... Your blood!"