Magic. [He huffs out the word like it were a piece of the puzzle that doesn’t fit into the equation.] Well. Why not?

[Blood cleaned well enough, it’s time to prepare the needle and thread, his motions automatic and as complete as before.]

We live in a sci-fi novel, why not twist it into a fantasy one as well? [The quirk of his lips upward, but humor is a decidedly lacking thing.] I forget that the concept is more... real in other worlds than it is in mine.