Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted (Ava and Lucas)

Chapter 366 Lisa: Improvements

LISA

I am a precision instrument.

Or, well, my wrist brace is.

Okay—the word precision might be stretching it a bit. If I'm within fifty yards of my target, I might be able to get a single hit off in a real fight.

But the real point here is, if I hit my target, their head is going to explode. The power I hold in a single wrist brace might be getting to my head a little.

"Timber!" I shout cheerfully, though no one's near the tree now falling.

The Grand Sage's pen scratches across his notepad with manic energy. His white hair sticks up in every direction, like he's been electrocuted. Which, knowing him, is entirely possible.

"Excellent work today, Lisa. The trajectory calculations are spot on." He peers at me over his glasses. "Your aim has improved significantly, and we've even increased the economy of power consumption."

Pride swells in my chest. "Thanks to your adjustments on the brace." I flex my wrist, admiring how the metal catches the weak winter sunlight. "Though I still need to work on my stamina."

"Nonsense." He waves his pen at me. "The amount of magical energy required to power these devices is substantial. Your body needs time to adjust."

"But what if I need to use it in an emergency?" The tree I felled lies in the snow, its branches spread like fallen soldiers. "I can't ask the bad guys to wait while I catch my breath."

"Which is precisely why we're developing alternative power sources." He flips through his notes. "The blood activation is merely temporary. I have some promising theories about crystalline batteries."

shoot up. "Crystals? Like the ones Ava

principle, different application." He scribbles something else, muttering under his breath.

head spin. "So I wouldn't need to use my own energy every

that mad scientist gleam I've come to both love and fear. "Think of it as a magical battery pack. Pre-charged and ready for deployment. It would allow more than

my arms, trying to warm up. The cold has seeped through my workout clothes, and my sweat is starting to freeze. "But you'd

"In a sense, yes."

at my mention of Ava. "That girl works

just desperate to keep everyone safe." My throat tightens. The memories of that party flash through my mind—blood and screams and death. Bodies

blame her. There's a silent debt on my soul, even though no one's said a word to me about the lives Westwood lost at that

else I know." The Grand Sage's keen

busy myself with adjusting my brace. "At least I'm doing something useful now. These weapons you're creating could

I have no interest in adding to your burdens." He shuffles through his papers with renewed vigor. "I've been developing a theory about creating a magic siphon that would require minimal input

"How would that work?"

a continuous feedback loop. The applications would be revolutionary! We could power entire cities, create defensive barriers that never falter, develop weapons that—" He stops mid-gesture, his enthusiasm deflating. "Well, that's assuming it's even possible. Right now it's

incredible." The concept of unlimited magical power makes my head spin. "Like something out of

glasses, peering at his notes. "According to ancient records, such technology once existed. In ancient cities, the ability to harness and perpetuate magical energy was commonplace. But like so many other wonders of the

wonder if Grimoire knows anything about

more about these ancient cities." Entertaining myself by puffing out clouds of my breath, I keep pace with the trudging elderly gnome as we

space between realms. Neither fully in our world nor in the Fae realm. The stories speak of

nose wrinkles. "Unreal?

sharing their knowledge freely. Magical fountains that could cure any ailment. Buildings that floated in the sky." He chuckles, closing the journal. "Pure fantasy, most likely. Though the principles behind these stories intrigue

"What do you mean?"