Evan looked disheartened at the commented that people thought she was a freak, and that there were a few there that still did.

"That's a shame about what those people thought... or think." he said.

"But as long as she knows I'm not one of them, that's what matters." he said further.

"Anyway, we're on the way to the lab." he then remembered, as he stepped up towards her again.

"Though I can't say I'm against these impromptu delays." he admitted. "It's good to meet the people here."

'"Yet, let's get a move on." Evan agreed.

With that, the two of them continued to walk, greeting a few more people as they passed with quick introductions. However, when they turned down another hallway, and were walking past a perpendicular one, Evan looked down and saw a young woman with a spiked bat.

"Hold up." he said to Kiah, causing her to stop after a few steps.

"...she doesn't have mana, either." he said, subtly gesturing to the woman.

"And... I sense a weird... discord... in her soul..."

Evan quickly kept up with Kiah as they scampered away, and took in what was just said to him. It was... a bit of information, to understate it.

"A... zombie?" he asked.

"In the most literal sense of the term." Kiah confirmed.

"I... hm." Evan mumbled. "Something tells me that there is a LOT of story behind that, and me feline curiosity is clawing at my brain to try and get that information." he admitted to her.

"However... if my assumptions are correct, based on how you said she's a literal zombie, the hand shaking with the bat, and saying she need a 'meal'... then perhaps that is best saved for another day." he reasoned.

"...thank you for stopping me from making a... potentially dangerous decision."

Evan paused a moment as he heard that.

"I..." he stammered.

"I... wait..." he then said, thinking about it seriously.

"...no." he admitted. "No, I... I don't think I have actually met her." he said further, having thought about it.

"I... could swear I have, but... maybe that's just having seen her a number of times when she's gone to see Dad for various reasons." he continued.

"...is the burning thing related? I assume it is."

"...that's frightening to imagine." Evan admitted.

"But all right. This is something I'll need to get used to."m he said with a small sigh. "Might as well get started early on it." he reasoned as he shrugged slightly.

"So, is this just a case of her mana not attacking me as time goes on?" he asked. "...or myself becoming numb to it?" he asked further.

"Because either way, it's fine, just... curious as to the logistics, I suppose." he admitted.

"Also, I never realised Hazel's mana was so... volatile." he then went on.

"I guess it makes sense, from what I've heard of her... unfortunate past."

"...I see." Evan responded quietly. "I... I never knew that." he said further. "That sounds... like no way to live..." he continued, as his mind pondered what he had been told... before he stopped and put some more pieces together.

"At least she manages to get out sometimes?" he then asked.

"I mean, she goes to see my Uncle and Dad." he reasoned.

"...that can't be her entire life, can it?" he inquired further.

"The lab, and the occasional visit to my Dad and Uncle, with the former being a professional appointment a lot of the time?"

Evan nodded along as Kiah said what she did.

"I see." he said.

"Well, it's good that she's making small progress." he commented.

"Even little steps are-" he continued, before pausing suddenly.

"Wait." he said. "Wait, hold on a moment." he muttered.

"PERSONALITY boost?" he asked incredulously.

"...well, then." Evan said.

"Good for her." he commented.

"Whatever happened, I'm glad that she's gotten a lot better." he went on, as they reached the lab.

"She deserves to have a good-" he then said further, before they entered the lab proper, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks, silent and still.

However, Kiah could see it. He was feeling it.

The burning pain from Hazel's mana attacking him.

Evan leaned against a nearby wall.

Ilias came walking towards Kiah when she called him.

"Yeah?" he asked.

"Oh, is this Evan?" he then asked.

"...Hazel's mana, huh?"

"Yes." Ilias told her.

"Seems that was just a weird temporary side effect." he said.

"She's much better now." he said further.

"Better than HE'S doing." he then said, looking at Evan.