Their heads are about the size of Taharqi's torso.

Yikes. Maybe he should be mass-producing shield crystals.

Thomas can't think of an easy defense against something like that, but he might come up with some kind of weapon? Still, he will accept some of Gabe's shield crystals just for additional protection.

They are part of the reason Taharqi decided to make his base a tree-house rather than something on the ground, yes! And then he can shoot arrows at them until they are gone or die.

Clever. Thomas kinda wants to design some defenses against them, but they should focus on having a base to defend.

Indeed.

Construction goes for a while longer but they can pause around midday for food and Taharqi can teach them how to do the food magic.

Please, do show the food magic. Maybe with a side explanation on the dance magic.

Sendhei figures that dancing magic should probably wait until they have not just eaten. It is very physically intensive.

But now: food magic! There are steps, in the order you put ingredients in and quantities and stuff... but it's all a shorthand. In order to do the food magic you need to get into a certain mental state while preparing the food, and imbue your actions with the feeling associated.

Is it hard to learn? Could Thomas try picking it up?

It... shouldn't be hard per se, but it takes some practice to get at the appropriate mental states.

Well, Thomas is willing to try, not willing to waste food on it. But at least an attempt can be made.

This could be some kind of native-exclusive magic, but it's worth checking.

It doesn't waste any food, if he fails all that does is make the food not have any magic, it doesn't make it go bad or anything.

Native-exclusive how?

Some kinds of magic can only be used by people born in a specific world. Or descedants thereof.

That sounds very disappointing.

Shrug.

The important thing is: can Thomas make it work?

Probably not over a single meal, no.

Heh, he can try later. Nom.

Nom!

Back to construction.

Back to construction! Thomas thinks it's going rather well. When they are not too distracted, he asks about Taharqi's world and homeland.

"What, in particular?"

Thomas shrugs. "I don't know, how different or similar the place you grew up was from here?" he offers. "How big was the settlement? What is the most advanced bit of not magic you heard about?"

Taharqi smiles. "Well, this is the Exiled Lands. I am pretty sure nowhere else is like here." He shakes his head. "I am from the Kingdom of Kush, and I was raised by nobility, so I led a fairly comfortable life until I left. I'm not really sure how to answer that last question, though."

"Things that have been discovered or invented recently that you have heard about?" He shrugs. "Have you ever heard of a sextant? Or a compass? Materials like concrete? I believe your axe is made out of steel, right?"