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 [i]should[/i] 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.