In a room considerably larger than others in the facility, there was a girl throwing a tantrum. A significant one, throwing pots and benches. Not caring that those may crash in the window with water outside, it was reinforced, after all. She had brown hair down to her shoulders and a simple silver headband. It was, of course, Maika.
—Don't make me use force to get out! —Said the unstable young lady, despite having already destroyed the room from top to bottom—. I know you're listening. Let me out this instant.
Her arms were covered in neat bandages, she had band-aids here and there, and patches all over her body. A tube of intravenous fluid whipped the air and everything it touched each time Maika waved her arm. At some point, her clothes had changed for a hospital gown that fit her just right. She noticed this when right after waking. She was somewhat dazed, but as soon as she recognized the situation, got into the state we see. Likewise, she did not smash the room and force her escape because she knew where she was, at least keeping that level of sanity was needed to stay alive in a facility underground surrounded by water.
This wasn't her rodeo time here, that would be when she first came to this city. Being completely honest, Maika had no idea what its function was, or what they were doing here. None of the adults and other workers told her. In fact, they were forbidden to talk about these topics in front of her.
—Maika, please. That's enough.
The voice came from a young woman in her late twenties, approaching her thirties. However, the years have been generous with her despite everything. The door opened, but instead of rushing past her, Maika sat on the bed, knees trembling slightly even.
The woman was taller than Maika by a head, but she was wearing heels, looking taller than normal. Her appearance was that of a high-class businesswoman or a stockbroker because of her aggressive gaze. Her expression, usually fierce, softened the moment her eyes fell on Maika.
Often, she looked like a well-kept weapon in its case, always ready; Now, however, she didn't look that different from a widow who came home from work to do housework.
—Mom! —said Maika, bewildered. All the impulsiveness from a moment ago seemed to dissolve into the atmosphere—. What… what are you doing here? I had no idea you were in this city, when did you arrive?
—You know how that man is. Always testing you and making you rely on yourself. And answering your other question, not long after you. As soon as I finished my business abroad, I returned… here, after a long time. To say it was overdue in an understatement —said the woman between sighs.
She put her eyes on the girl who had called her mother, examined her from head to toe with affection, but she couldn't hide the tinges of sadness in her eyes.
—I'm glad to see you, too. It has been a minute, hasn't it? And you're still the same, my daughter. I don't know what I expected, but you haven't grown in any area —she said, with a marked inflection at the end.
Maika, of course, wasn't just going to take the comment quietly.
—As if you were better in that aspect. I am still young, and can take my time to grow! —she said, puffing out her chest and head held high.
The woman with an office worker appearance clenched her fist, ready to storm the world, and used all her strength to restrain herself. But noticing, then, her daughter's proud demeanor, made it impossible to hold back the urge to laugh.
— Pff. Yep, you haven't changed either. Once again, I'm glad to see you.
Her "mom" watched her as she laughed too, holding her stomach, unsure if it was from joy or physical pain. But either way, now, all the tension, impulsiveness, and anger from before seemed to vanish. Maika intended on standing, but she indicated for her to sit down, and obediently did so.
— I understand that you're worried, believe me, I know. But you don't get anything by getting like this. Now listen, the boy who was with you is okay, for now at least. The substances have left his body and his life is not in danger.
Maika would have jumped with joy, but a tiny piece of that sentence instantly made her senses jump back up.
—Yes, that's right. Why is he safe "for now"? I'm sure you are wondering.
—So? —Maika griped the bed frame—. What's the situation?
—Well… Let's say he was discharged.
—I still don't understand. Why "for now"…? —Maika thought about it for a few seconds, it was all she needed for the pieces to click—. You can't do this! He's not a hunter, not even a wizard, he's just an innocent boy.
—You're innocent too, Maika, you are an innocent girl, a victim of all this. Besides, that man, your teacher, insisted. I have my doubts, but I also want to see what he is capable of.
—It's different! —Maika suddenly stood up and headed for the door, kicking the aluminum hanger put in her way from the anger earlier.
—Where are you going? You're still in treatment, you lost a lot of blood and mana at the same time, you need to recover. Besides, where do you think you're going like this? Without equipment and in those clothes? That's why he wouldn't let you get involved this time. I think the same, for the record. You get very sensitive and forget everything we taught you when it comes to those monsters in particular.
— I'm sorry —Maika lowered her gaze, but never loosened her fists—. I'm sorry mom, I have to go to his side. It's my duty to protect him.
The proclamation and Maika's candid look, the pleading look, took her by surprise. Especially the protecting part. «Who would have thought?» The attractive woman wondered. She couldn't help but hold her breath for a moment, fill her chest with pride, and smile inside. «A few months ago, Maika wouldn't have said those words, they would have been interspersed with hunt or destroy, and if she had, they would have been empty».
This time, however, it was different. She immediately understood. She could feel it in her presence and see it in her eyes, something in Maika had changed since the last time she saw her.
—At least change your clothes, my daughter.
The beautiful woman approached a shelf, opened a drawer and threw the sealed package containing Maika's clothing. As her uniform had been torn and stained with blood, a replacement had been prepared. It was a simple black T-shirt with a stamp of a happy otter, common short black pants, a pair of sneakers and her cell phone.
— Thank you! —said Maika, and ran out of the room without looking back—. Thank you, mom. We'll talk later when I come back.