Maika stroked the brooch on her head parallel as the calculations ran in her mind.
Given that both magnetic fields of the metallic brooch and the human body were constantly different, all it took to spark an electrical exchange reaction was a single push, provided by the magic circle neatly carved underneath the smooth silver.
The fluting electromagnetic pulse, stirring and heating the electrons in the air violently, suddenly stormed out inches from Maika's body. As if the atmosphere had received a punch in the face, a powerful electric bolt shot out. The orange sparks of the heated atmosphere and the zigzagging azure light impacted the red-haired girl.
Letting out a shuddering growl while convulsing aggressively, Mina's lasting shard of consciousness faded. Dominated by an animalistic impulse, even with her body numb and smoking, she charged towards Maika waiting for her with the knife.
Forcing the retreat to immediately advance again, Maika directed the outcome of every interaction. In her eyes, the redhead seemed more like a rabid animal ruled by pure instinct than a rational human being. Confused and pained, her dishevel companion watched from the sidelines, feeling more useless by the second.
Exasperated by Maika's stubbornness, and perhaps invaded by a strong altruistic instinct he didn't know he had as well, Aiden mustered the courage to step forward into action. "It's not different from the last time," he murmured to convince himself. "Maika refuses to listen, so even if it takes force, I have to stop her from doing something unforgivable or stupid."
Last time was fighting a group of homunculi alone, this time it was to massacre a young girl who, definitely, had attacked him, but having time calmed down, he could now try to see that girl.
She seemed to be in pain all the time, doubtful, concerned. No. Concern did not cut it, having shown struggle for control, and, perhaps more importantly to Aiden, genuine care for others when she saved him from the cold-blooded attack of that priest instead of running away. Something of worth had to be in those actions, Aiden thought, something he could count on to try to reason under different circumstances.
Therefore, if the circumstances did not allow for that, he would create his own circumstances where negotiation would be possible. Aiden had decided it.
—Think. Think. Think. Don't stop thinking, me. What can I do to stop this? Think. What did she do? What did she say? —The young man, a step away from pulling his hair, reviewed what he knew of the girl who was still fighting, not just the world, but herself; a fight against her instincts—. I got it! It's a crazy idea, but it's so crazy that it could work!
Mina Neri's assaults accomplished zero outside of consuming some resources. With the crude looking knife, Maika reopened her wrist self-inflicted wound; blood making an unpleasant "splack-splash" as it impacted the heated ground. With the tip of her skilled foot, drew another alchemical circle. She seemed both at the same time, like an ancient martial arts master, and a high schooler Tai Chi practitioner, with the flying knife returning to had meanwhile making circular movements with her legs and arms.
A series of spikes grew from the asphalt behind Mina, who instead of avoiding them received them with a weird looking swapping motion, like a salon ballerina blacking out halfway in a move. The spikes could not withstand the impact, collapsing before the incredible strength of the girl. But it did not end there. The ground gave way to her weight, her feet fell to a depth of several centimeters, and the hole closed just as quickly. Around her, a dozen concrete and asphalt spikes grew towards her. Mina dodged a few by twisting the upper part of her body and broke another pair with an extended leg, but even then, she was trapped among the spikes.
From a distance, it looked like she was impaled, but the spears had only grazed her skin. But do not be confused spectator, the spikes were tight enough to press against her body, and had made light cuts and scratches here and there.
It would only be for a moment, yet she was immobilized, and Maika would not miss the opportunity. She took a step forward, putting all her weight into it, the hand with the knife arched over her head. She made the calculations and was ready to throw it, and that's what she did; however, at the last second, before she let go, Aiden came running from behind and hugged her, making the projectile miss a shot miracle.
It shot out at an impressive speed, having received a boost from the magnetic field, a force that wasn't possible for a high school girl or an adult man, muscular or not; in any case, the chill grazed Mina's cheek, opening a long and deep incision in its wake, spasming thought-out involuntary tingles.
Maika felt a pressure against her back and chest, a pair of arms covering her over the shoulders, and reflexively headbutted the person embracing her. Only then she realized who it was and that it wasn't another enemy. So focused on the fight, Maika did not even notice that Aiden was still here and, furthermore, had thrown himself over her.
For his part, Aiden resisted a direct hit to the nose without releasing Maika. He couldn't afford to, even with his nose bleeding. "I can't afford to look, not even more so, like a loser in front of you." The boy thought. He bore the pain, reinforced his position, and got even closer to talk directly into her ear.
—Look what you make me do —he whispered—. If you don't listen to me, I just have to get close enough for you to do it.
—Aiden!? I'm sorry. Are you okay?? I didn't realize that you —Maika was clearly disturbed and wanted to continue with her apologies, but was affirmatively interrupted.
—Don't worry, it's nothing. Right now, the most important thing is to deal with that, —said Aiden, nudging his chin forward. With worrisome ease, the crazy red-haired girl freed herself from the improvised prison—. Please believe me, she may look like that now, but she is no monster.
—I find it hard to believe. Common vampires are ruthless creatures, unconcerned and even ruthless to their own; imagine about us humans. They only seek to feed and kill for pleasure, as you can see. And if it were a "high class", we would have been dead a long time ago.
—If that's the case, precisely so. Believe in me, Maika.
Alternating her gaze between the red-haired monster and Aiden, she felt her blood boiling with the first and, as light as the effect was, she calmed down with the second. Every fiber of her body told her to get rid of Aiden and finish off the monster; nonetheless, another equally powerful feeling divided her. Her heart, consciousness if you will, wanted to listen to the boy holding her. Someone who put at with getting headbutted for her, who willingly threw himself in the middle of the fight for her, and would even abandon his humanity to save someone. Not exterminating, as her impulses demanded, but saving.
—Damn it! —Maika clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into the flesh. Exhaling heavily, she continued—. Fine. If you say so, you must have a reason or something in mind, right?
—Thank you. That's right, I have a plan —said confidently the young man—. I need you to distract her for a maximum of five minutes, a minimum of three, until I give you the signal and let her come towards me.
—I don't know if you noticed, but it won't be easy. Five minutes without killing her or blowing off a limb will be extremely difficult. Concrete, iron, whatever I try to contain her with, she breaks it.
—Oh, worry not, this bad boy will do the trick, dear —said Aiden, shaking the small white container with the inconspicuous celestial pills swirling inside.
—Why do you talk like that?
—… Sorry, that dude doing a Bloodborne cosplay left a certain impression on me. Looking slick and such, the sucker.
—Ah… ha. Haha! —Maika let out a short laugh, feeling some tension ease thanks to Aiden's nonsense. So far, she had been struggling with anger and terror. For the first time all night, she felt that she could fight with confidence, with Aiden by her side.
Maika placed her hand over the boy's hand and tightened it. She closed both eyes for a moment and expelled a big breath of air, and everything that had been building up inside her. Having finished cleaning the roof, undid the boy's grip on her.
«Well, after all, fighting to protect instead of fighting to kill is not so bad, right? Thank you for reminding me. By the way, what will that bloodborne be that he's talking about?» Maika thought before making her strong and clear declaration: "In that case," she said with her new established confidence, "hands on deck, dear."
—Good —said the rebel haired youth—. Tonight, Aiden joins the hunt.