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."

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 off if I did. "It's good to see you, Lisa,"

be the safest place for me while Ava and

It's always important to step away from new mates.

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

you working on? Looks

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

lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a magical

chuckles. "Something like that. Communication is a weak point for us right now, 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.

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Lisa: Would

you

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

"Right. Gnomes can't use magic.

smiles. "We gnomes have always been

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

that doesn't necessarily translate to an ability to manipulate other forms of

leaning in to look at his sketches. They're intricate, full of symbols I don't understand and diagrams that make my head spin.

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

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 electricity makes it work, but you don't need

on."

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

Sage sighs, running a hand through 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 refining the