-I think we should go now- V said with a practical tone. 

-Hana- L turned to me. -Please come with us. We’ll pay for the renovation work of your apartment but you can’t stay here in the meanwhile.- 

“Are you kidding me?” -You have the money now, just give the necessary so I can pay the expenses- I said. 

-Unfortunately that’s out question- V was trying to clean a corner of the wad of cash from the blood with the water of the sink. “Does he not know that he will ruin them like that?” -The Tombs know where you live and, without us to protect you, they will surely return to have their revenge.-

-But what about my work, what about all my stuff?- “what about the brain food?” 

As an answer, V opened the closet and threw my clothing chaotically in a bag. L started to do the same, emptying a drawer.

-Ehy! I didn’t decide yet.-

-Sorry.- V looked at me with his apologetic smile. -We really have to hurry. The Tombs could be back at any moment, or worse, the police. We’ll move to the Industry district in the next few days, so you’ll be next to the place you work, right?-

“how does he know?” I sat on the ground again, sighing, exhausted. -Ok, whatever. Just promise me that you will not kidnap me for organ trafficking or any other weird stuff.- 

I felt the anxiety growing. When I had flatmates, for some reason or another, It never worked out. I ended up avoiding them as much as I could every time. My ex boyfriend used to say I was a misanthropist, and maybe he was right. I didn’t completely suck at social skills, interactions with other people just drained me of energy, and there was always some kind of unsettling emotion or thought in the background. I thought about L’s hug and V’s apologies, and I wondered again if they were so kind to me for a secret agenda, and my brain fell back into the worst possible scenario loop. “I need a good burger or sausage of brain to distract myself. Maybe that story where I’m a villainess girlbossing a harem of hot dudes and gals will do the thing, or an Omegaverse yaoi.” -There is any chance you have any brain food in your… uhm… rehab… home… thing?-

-We had a few Pure Magic synthetic brains, they’re still in the experimental stage but they should still be good.- V answered, while folding my socks. 

“No, not that shit, please.” -No, I mean necromantic brains. The Pure Magic ones just fill your stomach, they don’t give you any story-life.- I needed to numb myself, but I didn’t say it. I didn’t want to be labeled as an addict.

-We don’t have those. We try to not use necromantic products in our house.- “Great, eco freaks.” I couldn’t really judge them, though. I was one of them, once.

-What is the difference between Pure and Necromantic magic?- Asked L, while putting all my plates in the balance and then wrapping them up in an old jacket. 

-We could define Pure Magic as a clean source of magic.- I answered, trying to distract myself from overthinking. -There is no release of emissions like Necromancy, so it doesn't increase the Dark Void. The problem is it isn't exactly friendly to the undead. Necromancy is used to heal, Pure Magic was used to kill us in the past. Nowadays it’s different, there are products made with with Pure Magic with a small amount of Necromancy that are digestible for undead, but they still taste like shit.-

-Again, you’re really good at explaining things, Hana.- L complimented, nodding with satisfaction. -Maybe I should hire you as Official Explainer.-

I sighed. -That’s not a job.- 

-You’ll remember all. Well, not all, but definitely more, after you take your medicines, L.- V said, folding my plain underwear nonchalantly. I felt a shiver of embarrassment, but I didn’t say a word, not wanting to look prudish. 

-And what about me? Will I ever know more?-

V tried to give me a reassuring smile, failing miserably. He just resembled a stoner more than ever. -Sure, our warlock will do all his magical, weird and completely mysterious-to-me rituals to establish if you are a spy or not. Then we’ll tell you everything, I suppose. It depends on L-

“This is ridiculous” -Why should I be a spy? You are the one who came to find me-

Suddenly we heard a faint buzz, then a flash, and a magical white portal appeared in the middle of the room. I flinched, standing up.

-Speaking of the devil.- V said, with no surprise whatsoever.