"Who are you?" Akane asked, her voice no longer aggressive but low and cautious. Her red aura still flickered faintly around her like a warning flame, signaling that she was ready to act if the situation escalated.
The girl, seemingly confused by the question, remained silent, her eyes unfocused as if trying to remember who she was exactly. Just then, a sharp pain struck her head, and she let out a scream, clutching her temple as her body twitched unnervingly. For a moment, her form started to glitch, distorting as though she were morphing into something else, but after a few agonizing seconds, she passed out, her body reverting to its normal state.
"That's Mana, no doubt," Akane murmured, eyes narrowing. "Then she's gotta be a witch!"
She cautiously approached, placing her hand on the girl's pulse. Still alive, but unconscious—her mana exhausted, possibly beyond her control.