where have you gone?

[small_magics]

Isibel likes being able to ask at any time that a mirror of herself, from another world but with the same soul, visit her and speak with her. She doesn't do it too often, not even every day, but it is soothing to have the other Bells behind her on the long and arduous project of figuring herself out again so that she can do as Bells are meant to do.

She asks Jane to send her whoever is taking their turn, one day, and Jane does not respond.

She broadcasts this information, and her alarm, to her beloveds.

Comments

[endragoned]

"I like making things that are good to eat," says the demon, patting the tree fondly. "When my love and I lived on our island, I made many things for us to eat."

[small_magics]

"It might otherwise have been hard to keep the both of you fed," chuckles Isibel.

Rania takes another fruit.

Isibel laughs and conjures her a basket. "Cariel might like them, however unsure he was about his ability to be civil about my beloved."

[endragoned]

"I hope he does," says the demon.

[small_magics]

"I will take him some," says Rania. "We would prepare you a house for your use here, in spite of your absence, if you need one."

"I think I will continue to live where I have been living. It is not such a long trip," says Isibel. "But I thank you."

[endragoned]

"I love to fly," says the dragon. "It is no hardship to bring our Isibel here when she wishes to go."

[small_magics]

"It would please us to have visits more often than we have in the past year," Rania says.

"I think you will be pleased, then," says Isibel.

[endragoned]

The demon hugs his Isibel again.

[small_magics]

Eventually the visit concludes, and the trio of Bondmates flies home.

Isibel uses magic slowly, as it occurs to her.

Her assistive wish wears off as intended, slowly, gently. She relies less and less on prompted memory, more and more on novel thought.

Jane has been offline for nearly ten moonturns when Isibel thinks of something properly creative, and proposes it wordlessly to her beloved. Something she could enchant for her aura, that will be interesting and fun - if they'll channel for her.

She would like to make an enchanted village-of-sorts, hidden in the way that elf villages always are but bolstered by enchantments, taking up little space corner to corner but containing as many subtle nooks and crannies as she can invent, rearranging themselves to suit her and her beloveds as need be. (One of the things enchantment will be able to do is enable the dragon to go in and out as he pleases, size disregarded.)

She would like to put it on their home island, which is being colonized but not so rapidly that there is no available space left.

[endragoned]

Her beloveds think that would be beautiful. They would love to help her make it.

[small_magics]

Isibel would like to be sure that they are sure that they would like to help. The other Jokers are what they are, but the other Jokers do not have quite her beloved's history with pain. Isibel can think of nothing that she would like less than to connect herself with the people who hurt her love earlier in his life.

[endragoned]

The demon loves her very much. Very very much. Especially when she thinks things like that at him.

And yes, they are sure that they are sure. They have had ten thousand years away from Shadow Mountain. Time enough and then some to learn that they can like to hurt.

[small_magics]

To the island, then.

Isibel turns over the design of the first enchantment in her mind. She will begin with something medium-sized and useful on its own in case her loves change their minds on experiencing the reality.

The chosen section of forest will helpfully conduct travelers where they wish to be. If left at that, it will just be a patch of helpful trees. If expanded on, it will be the foundation of the entire navigational enchantment for her twisty hidden village.

[endragoned]

"It will be beautiful," says the demon.

[small_magics]

They find a suitable uninhabited bit of forest.

Isibel takes her demon's hand in hers, and reaches for their shared mindscape.

[endragoned]

Her demon smiles.

[small_magics]

Isibel reaches for the power of the earth below her, and pours it through her spell and her channel.

[endragoned]

Her demon shivers.

He likes it just as much as he thought it would.

[small_magics]

That is good. She doesn't want to do anything to them that they don't like.

They could channel another spell now, or wait for the lingering effects of this one to wear off.

[endragoned]

They can channel another spell now.

[small_magics]

And so they do.

Isibel stops to ask after each, if they want to go on or to pause.

[endragoned]

They want to go on.

They go on wanting to go on.

[small_magics]

After a few spells, not only has Isibel mastered Rose's trick of casting with her eyes open, but the lingering-pain has built up to a point where, between spells, there is still evidence of it on her demon's face.

...Interesting evidence that provokes a blush and a heart-flutter.

[endragoned]

"My love?" he inquires, smiling a little.

[small_magics]

Isibel squirms.

"You are making faces."

[endragoned]

"They are happy faces," he says. "Do you not like them?"