Chapter 9: Can It Cut Through A Human?

As they walked, side by side, the city pulsed around them, but an odd stillness clung to their path.

People milled about, vendors shouting, kids darting through crowds, but no one approached them.

Eyes darted their way, lingering on Charlotte’s vibrant hair, her vibrant presence, but they kept their distance, like an Invisible wall held them back.

Mika noticed it, the subtle tension in the air, the way pedestrians veered away, their steps hesitant.

But he ignored it knowing that it was because the faint aura of her blessing was in full swing, a radiant force that repelled the unblessed and weaker-willed people. Ordinary folk didn’t dare look too long, let alone approach, their instincts screaming to avoid the divine predator at his side.

Back at the park, she’d let her guard down, her worry for him shattering her control, allowing the crowd to swarm. But now, her blessing hummed like a low, frequency pulse, keeping the world at bay.

Only the boldest, hardcore fans or those with blessings of their own, might brave that pressure, driven by obsession or courage. Mika caught a few such gazes, starstruck teens whispering, a man with a camera hesitating at a corner, but they stayed back, cowed by her power.

And just as he was thinking standing beside Charlotte made it seem like he was invisible, Charlotte paused mid-step, her head turning back toward the park, her brow furrowing. Mika doubtful of what he was doing, followed her gaze, the wreckage of the crash now a distant blur of twisted metal and scattered debris.

"What’s up?" He asked, his voice casual but alert. "Forget something back there?"

"No, it’s just...I was thinking about the ambulance that was over there." She shook her head, but her tone was tinged with confusion. She then frowned, her eyes narrowing as she pieced something together. "You see, Mika, I would’ve preferred to take you to the hospital in one, you know, just to be safe. But I sent everyone away, so the one that arrived also went away. But thing is..."

She glanced at him, her voice dropping.

"Right before the accident, I saw an ambulance parked near the park, super close. I noticed the driver inside, he was staring at me, which isn’t weird, but it was...intense."

"I also figured once the crash happened, they’d be the first to roll up, since they were right there...But when I looked back, they were gone. Like, poof. Not even a trace, and I hadn’t pushed them away with my aura or anything and it was only after the second ambulance arrived did I do such a thing."

Mika stopped dead, his movements coming to a full halt. His dark eyes turned cold, a glint of suspicion flickering as he turned to her slowly.

"Let me get this straight." He said, his voice low and measured. "You’re saying this ambulance was right there, the driver was staring at you intensely, and the second the accident happened, they just...vanished?"

Charlotte nodded, her confusion deepening. "Yeah, exactly. I only noticed because the guy’s gaze was...different. I’m used to people staring, you know, but this felt off. Not like a fan or some creep. More like..." She trailed off, searching for the word. "Like he was studying me or waiting for something..like he was waiting for the accident to happen which is bizzare to even say."

Hearing this Mika’s eyes turned even colder, his mind racing.

Something wasn’t right...An ambulance disappearing like that, a driver watching Charlotte with unnatural focus, it set his instincts on edge.

He needed to confirm it, but he didn’t want to alarm her, not when she was already on edge about his health, so instead, his gaze flicked to a raven perched on a nearby bench, its beady eyes glinting in the sunlight.

Without a word, he locked eyes with it, his stare piercing, almost commanding and the moment he did, the raven suddenly let out a sharp caw, its wings twitching, then took flight, soaring off with a purpose that seemed too deliberate for a simple bird.

Charlotte noticed, her worry flaring. "Mika?" She asked, stepping closer, her voice soft with concern. "What’s wrong? You’ve got that look on your face, like something’s up."

"Nothing." He turned back to her, his expression shifting to a casual smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. He then continued to say, "It’s just that I’ve been thinking about the knife I’ve been using at home."

"...It’s blunt as hell, barely cuts butter and I was thinking of buying a new one."

Hearing this, her face brightened, her worry easing as she latched onto the distraction. "A knife? Oh, come on, Mika, you don’t need a store for that!" She grinned, nudging his arm. "Just ask my mom. She’s literally called the Blade Maiden, she could make you the sharpest knife in the world."

"One flick, and you’re slicing through steel like it’s nothing!"

But Mika only snorted, shaking his head. "No thanks. I’m not asking your mom for a blade. If I used one of hers and slipped while chopping onions, I’d lose my whole hand...Her knives probably cut through dimensions or something and I’m not risking it."

)

Charlotte laughed, the sound bright and infectious, her earlier unease forgotten, while Mika’s gaze drifted to a shop beside them, its weathered sign reading "Antique Emporium." Dusty windows displayed old clocks, tarnished jewelry, and maybe, a decent knife.

"That place looks promising." He said, nodding toward it. "Bet they’ve got something sharp enough for me. Wanna check it out?"

"Shopping with my Mika? Always!" Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with delight, her arm looping through his again, before practically dragging him toward the door. "Let’s go find you a knife, maybe something cool, like a cursed dagger or a pirate’s cutlass!"

Mika rolled his eyes but let her pull him along, the bell above the shop’s door jingling as they stepped inside.

The bell above the shop’s door jingled as Mika and Charlotte stepped into the dim, cluttered interior of the Antique Emporium, the air heavy with the scent of aged wood, polished brass, and forgotten stories. Shelves groaned under the weight of relics, tarnished paintings, chipped porcelain figurines, and yellowed books stacked haphazardly.

Behind the cluttered counter, an old man sat hunched over a ledger, his glasses perched precariously on his nose. His white hair stuck out in wisps, and his fingers tapped idly on the worn wood, expecting another pair of curious kids who’d gawk at his trinkets but leave empty-handed.

Antique shops weren’t exactly hotspots for teenagers, after all, everything was too old, too expensive, too impractical.

He barely glanced up as the bell chimed, ready to dismiss them, until his eyes landed on Charlotte and the moment he did, his breath caught and he shot to his feet like a soldier snapping to attention, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.

Mika noticed the shift but didn’t comment, his focus already elsewhere. "Hey there..." He called, his voice casual but carrying across the shop. "Got any knives? Medium, sized, something I can buy for...practical use."

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened, darting between Mika and Charlotte, but her presence seemed to light a fire under him.

"Knives! Yes, yes, of course!" He stammered, hurrying out from behind the counter with a speed that belied his age. He gestured toward a glass case near the back, his hands trembling slightly as he led them like they were royalty. "Right this way, young sir. I’ve got just the thing, fine blades, excellent quality!"

Mika followed, Charlotte still clinging to his arm, her gaze wandering over the shop’s eclectic treasures. She paused at a display of delicate glass ornaments, her eyes sparkling.

"This place is kinda nice, isn’t it?" She said, leaning closer to Mika as he peered into the case. "So many cute little things, look at those tiny bird figurines! And that old music box over there, it’s adorable."

Mika nodded absently, his attention on the knives glinting under the case’s soft lighting. "Yeah, it’s got some charm." He admitted, his voice low. "And these blades aren’t bad either."

He scanned the assortment, curved daggers with ornate hilts, straight, edged knives etched with faded runes, all clearly antique but well, preserved.

The shopkeeper beamed, his chest puffing out at the compliment, especially since it came from the daughter of a goddess. Charlotte’s presence alone seemed to make his day, her casual praise was probably the highlight of his year.

She too then leaned over the case, her hair brushing Mika’s arm as she studied the knives. Her nose wrinkled slightly. "These are what you want?" She asked, her tone skeptical. "They look...old. Like, really old. Are you sure they’re good for cutting vegetables? They seem more like museum pieces than kitchen tools."

Mika chuckled like he was having other thoughts which made her glance up. His eyes glinted with something unreadable, a hint of amusement mixed with something darker.

"Vegetables?" He said, his voice teasing. "No, Charlotte, the knife that broke wasn’t for veggies. It was for slicing through meat." He turned to the shopkeeper, his tone shifting to a casual intensity that made the old man blink. "These knives, can they handle bone? I’m talking tough cuts, not brittle stuff like chicken or fish."

"...Think stronger. Like hacking through a human hand in one swing...Would they hold up?"