I had once again forgotten that lunch was a thing that existed every day. So, with a gnawing in my stomach, and a pounding in my head, I decided to face the music and hit up Skýhöll for a snack or something. 

Skýhöll was a convenience store chain from the Bifrost Isles, though there was only the one in Mothlight. It was ran by a tengu named Hitoshi that, I think, was the only employee? I don’t remember ever seeing anyone else. When I entered, he was sitting behind the counter, looking at a sports magazine, with a cigarette in his mouth, comically in front of the no smoking sign. 

But when you’re the boss I guess you can do what you want. Especially for comical effect. He didn’t look up or say anything when I entered the door, despite the audible ding announcing my presence, which was fine, I was hoping to sneak by until I had to check out so he wouldn’t judge me for missing a meal again and replacing it with junk food.

He was protective like that.

But the second I tried to duck towards the chips, I felt the slow turn of the magazine page as Hitoshi calmly said, “Isaac.”

It was worth a shot.

“Uhm...hey Hitoshi.” I laughed nervously, turning towards him, rubbing the back of my neck. “How uhm...how’s business been today?”

He looked up to me lazily, slowly tapping the ash from his cigarette into a tray. “Slow.” His eyes flicked to where I stood red handed, next to the extra spicy ships. “Looking for a late afternoon snack, or....”

“Ah well...” I continued to give my nervous chuckle. “Funny story...”

Hitoshi sighed, smoke coming out with it, as he put the remains of his cigarette out, and reached over the counter and pulled an energy bar from the front, tossing it to me. “Protein.” He said, pointing a finger at me while I caught it. “And you need to get real food in you. Preferably something that doesn’t come from Ruth’s.”

“Okay, Hitoshi...” I muttered, as the doors flew open. Gliding through like a wind storm, was a tall demon girl with an antler skull head, and large bat wings, who gunned strait for the beverage isle, grabbing as many energy drinks as she could carry, before clearing out half the energy bars at the front counter, and practically throwing them onto the counter in front of Hitoshi.

“Seems a little early to cram for finals.” Hitoshi noted, scanning the items. 

“I need to hit the library, fast!” The demon girl answered somewhat frantically. “Or we could all be doomed.”

Hitoshi looked up to her with a skeptically raised eyebrow. “Oh yeah?”

She scoffed at his response, crossing her arms. “I’m serious! I discovered my professor at Blackwood is attempting to summon a demon that will devourer the world, and nobody believes me! Not the other professors, not the witch coven, not the city council!?”

“Oh really?” Hitoshi asked, turning towards me. “Well what do you think, Councilman DeWinter? Do you believe her?”

“Councilman...” She turned, the fires that burned in the skull eye sockets sparking in surprise when she saw me.

I waved a little sheepishly, then looked to Hitoshi, and then the pile of supplies. “I mean...that’s a lot of energy drinks for a bit?”

“I agree.” Hitoshi said, tapping away at his register, removing the scanned items, and bagging them for the girl. “You should probably go with her, Isaac.”

“Yeah...” I muttered, as I began eating my energy bar, wrapper and all, “It sounds pretty serious.”

“I...what?” The demon asked turning to the both of us, as Hitoshi pushed the supplies to her.

“Here, on the house. I won’t matter if the world’s devoured, would it?” Hitoshi said with a supportive grin.

“Yeah...thanks.” She hesitantly took the bag, as I approached her.

“I’m Isaac DeWinter, by the way.” I told her, somewhat sheepishly. “Uh...the Necromancer?” I added since she looked confused. Or maybe shellshocked?

“Yeah...everyone knows you.” She muttered, still looking very out of it. She grunted, finally, fixing her dress a bit, and gave a small bow. “I’m Elvira Demoragrog.”

“Nice to meet you, Elvira.” I grin. “Let’s go beat up your professor.”