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."

dynamic reminds me of an old 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 me

it'd be the safest place for me while Ava

to step away from

change the subject, I nod towards

you working on? Looks like

Grand Sage's face lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and more portable than what we currently

genuinely

our lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's

11:34

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Lisa: Would

do you mean

everyone in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We need a device that anyone can use, regardless of

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

"We gnomes have always

that work with werewolves? I

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

sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I

principle is to create a network of energy that

not in the way you might think. The device itself would be charged with magical energy, but using it wouldn't require any magical ability

on."

always surprises me how familiar the gnome is with our human world and its inventions, but I suppose that's why he works on magical technology, trying to blend the two things. "That makes sense. So, what's the

they're not easy to come by in our current situation. And then there's the