Tangled

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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."

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 off if I did. "It's

thought it'd be the safest place for me while

always important to step away

Desperate to change the subject, I nod towards the papers scattered on the table in front

Looks like

it is. I'm developing a communication device. Something smaller and

genuinely curious. "Like a magical

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

11:34

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Lisa: Would

you mean

in our camp can utilize or sense

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

smiles. "We gnomes have always been deaf

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

to an ability to manipulate other forms of magic.

nod, leaning in to look at his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head spin. "So, how exactly would this

"The basic principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across distances. Think of it like your human radio waves, but powered

"Yes, but 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 from the user. It would be like using a flashlight. The

on."

why he works on magical technology,

certain materials to construct the devices, and they're not easy to come by in our