--- Lily ---
Lily was pouting.
While she did this Kat was standing off to the side preparing something for her. You see, Lily had just spent the last five minutes testing five spells. Lily did have more spells drawn up, but these were the most similar four to her first test. They all failed to produce anything impressive. In fact, that odd bubble the first spell produced?
That was the most interesting and arguably useful effect that the five produced amongst themselves. So Lily was pouting.
Lily was going all in on the pout as well. This wasn't her normal unconscious pout, Lily had decided to make any event of it. Mostly because Kat was enjoying her expressions and Lily was leaning into that hard, but for other reasons too. She would just need to think of those other reasons at some point.
Kat was off to the side chopping up some fish to help calm Lily down. Not that she really needed it, but Lily was putting on an adorable show and Kat decided it was worth rewarding her adorable girlfriend for that. Lily's cheeks were all puffed up, her tail had frizzed up and nearly doubled in apparent size, and her ears were flat against her head.
"Kat feed me! I feel sad!" grumbled Lily.
Kat laughed and threw a cube of fish in Lily's direction. Lily easily caught the fish in her mouth, snapping her jaw shut around the cube and chewing on it. It had a very strange texture for fish, it was very chewy, a little springy, and seemed to give off more flavour as she chewed on it. Lily approved. "What sort of fish is this?" asked Lily as she chewed.
"I honestly have no idea. I checked a few out from inside the ring and decided that you'd probably like any of them. So I picked the one that looked the funniest and cut it up. Which was actually a massive pain in this case. So was it worth it?" asked Kat already feeling the answer of their link.
"Oh yes," said Lily as she swallowed the current cube once it started to lose its flavour. Kat of course flicked another cube at Lily and she moved to catch it. "Rude, I actually had to try a bit for that one,"
"Sorry. The fish is a bit slippery and it sort of slid out of my fingers. I don't know how much is my skin trying not to get fish oil on it, and how much is the fish just being slippery. Still, you didn't even have to get up, so it's not that bad," retorted Kat.
"Eh, you weren't that mad at all your spells messing up," said Kat with a shrug. "I didn't do much,"
"No but I was getting there," admitted Lily with a sigh. "It was mostly your amusement leaking through the bond that kept me from snapping. You were just so pleased with everything as the thirty minute mark approached and I could smell the fish. It kept a lot of anger away. So yes Kat, I am thankful...
"I just wish I knew where I went wrong. I mean... I haven't tested all of my spells yet. The other more unique takes on the problem might actually do something... but now I'm sort of scared. I don't know if I'd prefer they also do nothing, or if I'm worried about them doing something I don't want. I mean... how normal is this?
"I just don't know anything about spell crafting. The books are all pretty vague even the one for Paper Magic and I feel like I have to be missing something fundamental. Like perhaps why the Paper Magic book had so many variations of what seemed to be simple spells. I think there HAS to be something I'm missing.
I don't know what that something is... and I don't know if I want to sidetrack myself with finding out what it is.
"I guess... I guess I don't know if I'm trying to skip to 'running' when I don't yet know how to 'walk' when it comes to spell crafting, or if instead it's more like forgetting to add salt when cooking and wondering why it tastes so bland. Is this something small? Am I missing major steps? I don't know and NONE of the notes I have tell me. I almost wish I had my proper books with me.
If I'd known about the rings I might have brought them... or maybe not.
"So I'm just a bit loss now," Kat threw a fish cube once Lily stopped working herself up. It helped calm Lily in short order as she chewed on it for a bit before swallowing. Kat threw another one at Lily who chewed on this one more slowly. "So I dunno Kat. I really wanted to get this spell done so that I could actually be safe when you fight the drake. I know you'd worry a lot less...
"But it's looking like I might be better of trying to merge a paper shield with a shadow shield and see if that makes them stronger or something. It certainly seems a lot more achievable... but I also don't know anything about mixing magic like that or if it would even make things stronger. Actually... I should probably start with the shadow shield spell shouldn't I? I may be trying to jump ahead again..."
Kat just let out a laugh as she flicked another piece of fish at Lily. "Never change Lily. Well, maybe just a bit over time. You're perfect as you are. Just try whatever and I'm sure you'll figure something out. I know I'm still having a good time watching you work, so take it slow, or take it fast.
I'll be here to protect you if something goes wrong,"