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."

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," the Grand Sage says, turning to me

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

eyes twinkle with understanding. "Ah, yes. It's always important to step away from new mates.

the implication. Desperate to change the subject, I nod towards the papers scattered

are you working on? Looks like some kind

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

lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a

lack of supplies." We're refugees, after all. It's not

11:34

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Lisa: Would

do you mean

our camp can utilize or sense magic. We need a device that

that means. "Right. Gnomes can't use

gnomes have

fascinated. "So, how does that work with werewolves? I mean, their whole shifting thing is pretty

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,

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

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

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 electricity

on."

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

in our current situation. And then there's the matter of testing and refining the design. It's a delicate process. But above all, we would need a way to charge