"I'll keep that in mind." AJ replied.

"Thanks, Emma." he told her. "You're a real miracle worker." he said with a small smile, before they said their goodbyes and he left.

He made his way back up to Dani's office, and knocked on the door again.

"Hey, Dani?" he called in.

"You busy?" he asked.

".........." AJ was silent as he saw this, and quickly shut the door behind him.

"Uh... well..." he stammered.

"It's about the girl." he said.

"We need to talk about her." he told her, before looking at the forming black eye.

"...but what happened?" he then asked.

"What's with the shiner?"

AJ growled a little, before shaking his head.

"Right." he said.

He then proceeded to tell her what Emma had told him about the girl. Every little detail that he was given, and the situation she would find herself in.

"She needs a safe place to stay." he then said.

"I assume it'd be ok if she was a ward of the guild?" he asked.

"...............hm." AJ muttered.

"That's true." he said.

"...so she'll need a legal guardian to keep the Council away." he mumbled.

"I see, I see." he muttered under his breath.

"Well, I'll go tell Emma." he then told her.

"Oh, and the girl's supposed to be awake sometimes mid-tomorrow." he informed her.

"Seems she had multiple other injuries, rather than just the hound's attack. Pre-existing, too." he growled.

"Good." AJ responded.

"That's good." he said.

"At least there's that." he muttered, sighing and shaking his head slightly.

"Still..." he then mumbled. "I feel bad for the girl." he told her. "Sounds like she's been cheated out of a proper childhood. I know the feeling." he continued.

"....." he was then silent, and looked to be thinking about something.

"I guess I'll leave you be." he told her.

"Let you recuperate." he said further.

"....who DID get the hit on you, anyway...?" he then asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I see..." AJ responded.

"Sear and Mick, huh?" he muttered.

"All right." he said.

"Want me to put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign up when I go?" he asked her.

"Direct them to my office, where I will need to go, to field any paperwork or questions?" he went on. "You know, so you can have some peace and quiet." he added.

"If not, it's cool." he said.

"Just say the word."

Again, AJ nodded.

"All right." he replied.

"Let me know if I can help." he told her, before leaving the office, making sure to put the sign up on the door before heading off to get some things done.

--

The recipient of the text read the message, and was a bit confused.

All right, when? they sent back.

And what do you mean on the second part? That sounds concerning and ominous. they then sent further.

I'll be there in a few minutes. she received.

With that, the one she had texted used his mana to disappear from where he was in a small cyclone of wind, appearing not where he thought he would.

He expected to land in Dani's office. Instead, he was outside.

"...oh, right. The security was recalibrated very easily." he muttered.

He then went to the front door, and knocked loudly.

Vincent stepped through the door, and waited until it was shut, before speaking.

"Hello, Vyn." he greeted her with a smile.

"And Emma sent me a text, telling me to come here." he told her.

"She mentioned proper channels, and a potentially bad reason for them." he said further.

"She told me to meet her in the medical wing." he then added.

"Child that AJ returned with?" Vincent asked.

"Already that sounds concerning." he commented.

"And yes, I do know where it is." he assured the woman, before they parted ways, and he made his way down towards the medical wing.

Once there, he went through the doors, and looked around, scanning the area. He noticed Emma by the window in the back, and then made his way towards her.