The first light of dawn was just beginning to filter through the trees when three figures arrived at the forest where the fight against the demonic girl had just occurred.
They moved quite efficiently as they surveyed the area.
Their dark cloaks marked at the back with the symbol of a stylized crown— the sigil of the Coven of Solace.
The peaceful morning scene was broken by the small, grotesque body under the willow tree.
Estella, the one leading the group, was a slightly plump woman with long black hair tied loosely behind her neck.
Her round face carried a calm authority, though her flat nose and small lips gave her a somewhat unimpressed expression no matter the situation.
She knelt beside a dark patch of dried blood, running her fingers just above the surface.
Her eyes scanned the area as though trying to get ahold of something that she could vaguely sense.
"I sense that someone used a spell here. I can't tell what kind of specific spells effects they used, but the spell type should be easy to identify... There were at least two types of spells used..."
Estella said, her voice firm before forcing herself to concentrate.
"One was a curse-type spell… and the other, a mental spell."
From the edge of the area, a hunched young man with deep eyebags and a nervous posture spoke up.
"I found the weapon..."
Ramiel said, his voice barely above a mumble.
He pointed a trembling finger towards the thicker trees.
"There's a sharp stick that looks like a broken branch hidden in the bushes over here. It's covered in the same blood."
Marcus, the oldest of the three, walked toward the body of the slain demon.
He was a middle-aged man with neatly combed hair, glasses resting low on his nose, and a faint stubble across his jaw.
His expression was calm, though his eyes—small and sharp behind his glasses— professionally scanned the area..
He crouched near the corpse, adjusting his gloves before brushing aside some dirt.
"The sins of this demonic body have been cleansed..."
Marcus said quietly.
"Someone already absorbed them."
Estella stood up, brushing leaves and dirt from her knees.
"The only registered witches in this immediate area are the Tangen family, up in that larger house down the road. Specifically, Fredero Tangen. But they belong to the Coven of Abomination. They haven't sworn any allegiance to us at the Coven of Solace."
She looked at Marcus.
"Perhaps they were the ones who claimed this kill? It's their territory, in a way."
Marcus adjusted his glasses, the lenses glinting in the early light.
"Hm. I do not think so."
He countered.
"If it was an official action by the Coven of Abomination, they would have taken the body for their own rituals. The Coven of Abomination is very particular about handling their own evidence. Leaving it here for us to find is sloppy. It feels more like a stray witch's work."
He said as a disappointed and unimpressed expression popped up on his face.
"Even the cleanup is lackluster and quite stupid..."
He walked a slow circle around the body, thinking aloud.
"The Coven of Abomination primarily possesses the Sin of Filth. And we know they have an allegiance with certain witches who bear the Sin of Prophesying..."
He paused, looking at Estella.
"The witches of the Sin of Filth does make use of curses, often related to disease and decay. Can you identify if the curse used here had that specific... flavor? A sense of rot or contamination?"
Estella closed her eyes again, reaching out with her senses.
After a moment, she shook her head in frustration.
"I cannot. The magical residue is too faint now. The furthest I can tell is that a curse-type spell was used. Its specific nature is beyond my reach."
Marcus was silent for a long moment, processing the information.
He finally stepped closer to the small corpse.
He let out a small, controlled breath, and the air around the body grew instantly cold.
A layer of pristine, white frost spread over the demon girl, preserving it from further decay and the attentions of scavengers.
"Ramiel."
Marcus said, his tone turning into a solemn one.
"I want you to go back to the city archives. Identify any missing children or teenagers reported over the past few weeks and months. This demon is weak, likely only at the level of a First or maybe a Second Circle transformation. That suggests the child hasn't been dead for long. If the girl's family is still looking for her, they deserve to know what happened."
Estella frowned, crouching to examine the demon's arms more closely.
"Wait..."
She said as she studied the demon's charred, black hands, spoke up again, her voice softer now, laced with pity.
"Marcus... look at its arms. The corruption... it carries the specific attributes of the Sin of Abuse. This looks like the [Devil's Hand] ability, which manifests at the Second Circle."
She met his gaze, her expression grim.
"This child seems to have a complicated history... She likely faced severe, repeated abuse. The sin festered in that trauma."
She hesitated.
"Should we still let the parents know immediately? What if... what if they're the very ones who did this to her?"
Marcus glanced down.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
Estella said grimly.
"The shape of the veins and the way the bones thickened—it's consistent. I think this child suffered from long-term abuse, becoming influenced by the sin of abuse before she turned."
Marcus was silent for a second as though contemplating the situation.
He took off his glasses and cleaned them slowly on his cloak, a deliberate action to give himself a moment to think.
"The procedure remains."
He said, his voice carrying a hint of coldness and a lack of empathy.
"You will inform the family of the death. However, you will also investigate them. Be discreet and just try to look for signs of guilt or stories that don't add up."
"If you find even a shred of evidence that the abuse came from the child's parents, you do not confront them. You immediately transfer the entire matter to the city guard. We are witches, not executioners. Our duty is to cleanse sin, not to deliver mortal punishment. Let the law handle them."
He looked at the small, frozen form one last time, a flicker of sadness in his eyes before his professional mask slid back into place.
"This is a tragedy, not just a cleanup. Let's handle it with the respect it deserves."
"Estella, you're with me. We'll canvas the nearby houses, see if anyone heard or saw anything unusual last night... specifically interrogate the Tangen family as well. Ramiel, you have your task. Let's move."