"Technically we are in the First Absence," NovelGeek said, taking another slow drag from the joint before exhaling a thin stream of smoke.
"And you can say… that technically I'm only writing this scene in real time in the real world."
Ash took a moment to think, his reddish-purple eyes steady as he processed the words.
'Well, I guess it wouldn't make sense for me to truly appear on Earth, huh?'
He then leaned forward slightly, getting straight to the point.
"Just what did you really bring me here for?" he asked. "And… is there truly much left to the novel?"
NovelGeek paused, thinking thoughtfully for a moment as he swirled the remaining smoke in the air.
He then looked at Ash with a calm, earnest expression.
"You're here for two reasons in particular," he said.
He turned and handed Ash a sleek, unassuming laptop.
