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."

Sage and Elverly bicker. Their dynamic reminds me of an old married couple, though I'd never dare say that out

thought it'd be the safest place for me while Ava and

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

I nod towards the

working on? Looks like some

Grand Sage's face lights up. "Indeed it is. I'm developing a communication

lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a magical

limited options due to our lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all.

11:34

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Lisa: Would a Watch

you

in our camp can utilize or sense magic. We

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

"We gnomes have always been deaf

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

to manipulate other forms of magic. It's a bit like how some humans might have extraordinary physical abilities but no

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

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 by a different kind of 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 to be an electrician to turn

on."

how familiar the gnome is with our human world and its inventions, but I suppose that's why he works on magical

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