Cults, deities from beyond the stars and items of madness. No wonder he had been so violent with his reaction before; he thought that he needed to pay a price- or that he may have fallen under her spell that'd make him into something he wasn't.

Her expression changed. From baffled, to realization, to a kind of understanding with exasperation.

"No wonder you tried to shoot me. You thought I was some sort of cultist? Or am, and a witch?"

Aerith sighed, and shook her head. "I've heard of different magics, but nothing like that. And to tell you the truth...if anyone has the right material in my world, anyone can cast a spell. And I do mean anyone."

Her hands dropped. "And no, they don't make you mad or slaves to them. If you overdo it like I have...yeah, it can give a bit of a mental punch. But that's more like...a muscle strain then causing harm.

"I wouldn't cast anything to hurt you. I wanted to save your life."