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."

married couple, though I'd never dare say that out loud. Elverly might actually bite my head off if I did. "It's good to see you, Lisa," the Grand Sage says, turning to

the safest place for me while Ava and Lucas are... you

eyes twinkle with understanding. "Ah, yes. It's always important to step away from new mates. Wolves don't have the

subject, I nod

Looks like some kind

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

I lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a

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 or endless

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Lisa: Would a

you

down his pencil and turns to face me fully. "Not everyone in our camp can utilize or sense

Obviously that's what that means. "Right. Gnomes can't use magic.

gnomes have always been deaf to

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

excellent question," the Grand Sage says, his eyes lighting up. "Werewolves do indeed have a form of innate magic that allows them 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,

sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't

that can carry messages across distances.

would be charged with magical energy, but using it wouldn't require any magical

on."

inventions, but I suppose that's why he works

his beard. "Resources, mainly. We need certain materials to construct the devices, and they're not easy to come by in our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and