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," the Grand Sage

it'd be the safest place for

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

I nod towards the papers scattered

Looks like some

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

I lean in, genuinely curious. "Like a magical

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. It's not like we have access to the latest tech or endless resources. "Plus," he continues, "it needs to

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Would a

do you mean

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

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

smiles. "We gnomes have always been deaf to

lean against the table, fascinated. "So, how does that work with werewolves? I mean, their whole shifting thing is

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

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

principle is to create a network of energy that can carry messages across distances. Think of it

nods. "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.

on."

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

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