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--donation bonus (day #7, post 1/5)--
“W-what do you mean?”

“Master Roman didn’t seem to know much about you, but he still wanted me to treat you like an honored guest.”

“Ah, uh... well... I don’t know much about him, either.”

“Hmm. Where are you from?”

He glanced past her at Garovel.

‘You should tell her. Roman and the Queen may need a means of contacting us when they return to Atreya. Gina may be able to help us with that.’

“I live in Brighton,” he said.

“Pretty far away. Why were you in Sescoria?”

“I just... wanted to help...”

She paused to tilt her head at him. “How old are you?”

“Sixteen...”

“And how long have you been undead?”

He blinked at the question.

‘Tell her five months,’ said Garovel.

“Uh, five months or so...”

“I see.”

‘Why’d you make me lie? It’s only been a few weeks...’

‘You’re stronger than you should be. And it’s better if people don’t know.’

‘I... uh--’

“Well, Master Roman said you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“Ah, I should actually get going soon...”

“You have business in Brighton?”

“S-sorta, yeah...”

“What do you do there?”

“N-nothing special...”

She pursed her lips at him.

He poked a pancake with his fork and let it linger there. “But, ah... do you have a pen?”

She gave him one.

He scribbled his phone number onto a page of the notepad and ripped it out for her. “In case, uh, Mr. Roman wants my help...”

She took it and then wrote a phone number of her own. “Same goes for you, then.”

He tried not to blush and failed.

They finished their meal, and Gina showed him to the garage beneath the house. She handed him a key.

“Master Roman said you’re a motorcycle guy.” She motioned to a red cruiser with black and white flames painted on it.