A long, uncomfortable silence set the tone for the tableau. Aiden clenched his fists in frustration, both the administrator and Mr. Miyagi held the same shivering ostrich position and Acke, tense to the fabric of his sweater, watched the seconds tick by. As if both had enough of the suffocating silence or the battle in their minds had come to a conclusion, the pair of young men broke the silence almost simultaneously.
—What was that all about? You seem to know something, or at least have an idea about it.
—How do you know her? Clearly, you called out her name. Even I have no idea about that.
The young people returned to silence for another couple of seconds, the abrupt intervention of each party had rendered the other speechless. Despite the poor visibility, they were close enough to make out the corners of their frames moving smoothly. Awkwardly, they exchanged pleasantries like a game of tennis.
This time, the first to break the silence was Aiden, who couldn't hold back a laugh. Acke followed. If they were asked now, why were they laughing in such a strange situation? Undoubtedly, both would answer: Precisely.
—That didn't look like a street show —said Acke—. What was that all about? It's the first time I've ever seen a weapon capable of generating and, strangest of all, controlling fire like that.
—It's complicated. I don't know much myself, I just know that people like him are very dangerous people —After a short pause, Aiden added—. It's my turn. Where do you know her from? It's critical. What can you tell me about her?
Without giving Acke a chance to answer, an explosion from the second floor shook the foundations of the building. By instinct alone, everyone turned in the direction of the explosion.
—Damn! —said Aiden, and ran after the sound.
Soon his silhouette disappeared down the stairs. Acke was forced to act fast. He ran after the impulsive boy, leaving behind small indications, "Lock yourselves in the room and don't come out for anything." As soon as he got up to the second floor, the scene that greeted him was not very encouraging.
Mina Neri was on the ground in an uncomfortable position, contorted and possibly unconscious, for she was not moving. Aiden, for his part, faced the gloomy man illuminated by the flame in his outstretched palm. It did not seem to bother him to be surrounded by darkness. On the contrary, he seemed to belong perfectly to that world.
—Stop! —he ordered.
—What are you here for, boy? You're not even a wizard, I can see that. And clearly at that —the light that illuminated his face irregularly only made it look more ominous—. Don't be annoying now.
Without a second threat to his words, he followed up with a whip of fire. Aiden, instead of backing away, charged toward the horizontal attack. He jumped a few inches off the ground with as arrow and passed underneath the attack. He rolled once on the ground and without wasting a moment continued the charge, however, awaiting him was a kick from Benjamin that landed in the center of Aiden's chest.
The kick sent him flying at least a meter backwards. It forced him to vomit the air into his lungs. Aiden rolled around on the floor and somehow managed to sit up again. He had not caught his breath at all, but the sadistic priest was beginning the next attack when a small piece of wooden furniture came flying in the priest's direction. A small round table of the ones that were here and there, more scattered than together, to decorate the corridors. Forced to evade the piece of furniture, his mouth came out of the stole with a big inverted grin for interrupting the chant.
Seeing the situation develop to that point, Acke could take no more. He had grabbed the first thing within reach, his eyes had already become more than used to darkness by this point. And it wasn't over, he threw the half-filled vase with a handful of lilies that originally was on the small table, which miraculously hadn't fallen over with the shudder from before. Instead of throwing it directly at the man, he smashed it into the wall directly above him. The shards and water forced him to shield his eyes with his arm.
Aiden did not waste the opportunity. He ran to Mina, who was still unconscious on the floor.
—Hey, wake up, can you hear me?
His words seemed to have some effect; the girl whispered nonsense. She seemed more than dazed, intoxicated even, perhaps vestiges of the doped blood she had obtained from Aiden lingered.
—Let me apologize for the bad trip, and for what I'm about to do.