Tangled

Unshift 311

Unshift 311

311 Lisa: Would a Watch Work?

LISA

"You've gotten fat. Elverly greets me, in that traditionally hateful way of hers.

Does the fact that I missed her toxic tongue mark me as abnormal? Probably. But I hug her anyway, smiling when her body doesn't tense, even as she grumbles at me for touching her without permission.

The rest of the night with Kellan was nothing but awkward silence. Being away from him is a blessing right now. I just keep thinking about how he smelled-yeah. No. Not thinking about that. "I'll ask next time. How have you been?"

Elverly's snort could mean anything really, but I choose to interpret it as I've missed you too.

Maybe I'm psychotic. Or delusional. But I'm pretty sure that's what she means.

"Their food is terrible," she mutters. "Not a cook among them."

"They are refugees from war," says the Grand Sage, sounding rather resigned. "It isn't as though they would gather the kitchen before escaping."

"Food is important, the old gnome woman snaps. "Eating well is an important part of recovery."

""Yes, yes."

but smile as I watch the Grand Sage and Elverly bicker. Their dynamic reminds me of an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that out loud. Elverly might actually bite my head

it'd be the safest place for

away from new mates. Wolves

cheeks burn at the implication. Desperate to change the subject, I nod

working on? Looks like some kind

up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and more portable

in, genuinely curious. "Like

and I'm trying to address that. But I'm working with limited options due to our lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's not like we have access to the latest tech

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Lisa: Would a Watch

do you mean

and turns to face me fully. "Not everyone in our camp can

that means. "Right. Gnomes can't use magic.

have always been deaf to

lean against the table, fascinated. "So, how does that work with

to shift. But that doesn't necessarily translate to an ability to manipulate other forms of magic. It's a bit like how some humans might have extraordinary physical abilities but no talent for, say, mathematics. They are unrelated. Now, let's get back to the communication device,

full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head spin. "So, how exactly would

pencil again, tapping it against the paper. "The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across

any magical ability

on."

he works on magical technology, trying to blend the two things. "That makes sense. So, what's the hold-up? Why isn't it

easy to come by in our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and refining the design. It's a delicate process. But above all, we would need a way to charge