More building!

Gabe and Henry take turns between building and complementary projects. Gabe in particular is focusing on food.

Taharqi can teach more of the local magic, too, when appropriate.

They would be more than willing to learn! Henry is willing to teach his crystal magic - he warns that it hurts - and how to use their technology. He is currently working on one-and-a-half projects to create better balloon-drones and a network using the same so they have coverage around this base. To later expand to the highlands base.

Who cares about pain give Taharqi magic.

He appreciates the enthusiasm. He creates a large crystalline spike in his usual jet black. "Hold your arm still while I pierce it... moving or twisting is fixable but not advisable. I will then guide you through the mental exercises required to get you started."

Arm: still.

Spike: in.

He is not actually being stabbed in the proper sense. The spike is growing inside him and partially absorbing his flesh, and with the pain also comes a new different sensation. "You should be able to feel the spike now. Not the pain it's causing, but the sense of the spike itself. We will focus on that, and get you in the mindset to manipulate the crystal with your mind. We will start by having you pay attention to what it feels like when I manipulate the spike."

And presumably they go about doing that.

Maybe his dick twitches a little bit with the pain? Just a little bit.

Who knows.

He will now learn magic!

A little from something big is rather noticeable. Henry raises an eyebrow. "Keep focus."

The next stage is to just have Taharqi observe what it feels like when Henry extends and contracts a branch out of the spike. Then managing to do that with his eyes closed. If all goes well, they should get to the part where Taharqi may be able to stop Henry from changing the spike before needing a break.

Taharqi is actually getting kind of anxious about not building, he needs his base to be finished.

Henry agrees with that sort of priority!

Good good so after a bit more magic tinkering: base building!

Base building, it's coming along nicely, if Thomas can say so himself. At this rate it might take another couple of days.

This is so much faster than he had expected he is very happy.

Aww, that is great. Gabe kinda wants to do something to celebrate the occasion. For once, it's not sex, maybe he will cook something.

With... what ingredients?

Gabe raises his hand and starts making a vaguely cup-shaped crystal with what might be milk inside.

Crystal magic spends the body's energy reserves, such that making food is not practical unless you do it slowly. Which is why they have been eating his food instead of making their own. Henry will get around to food-making crystals soon enough.

Huh. Well he can at least provide the meat and some berries and nuts and leaves.

Gabe deeply appreciates Taharqi's meat (and other food items).

"Is this a pun? This feels like it's a pun."

Eyebrow wiggle.

"You can safely assumed that is the case when Gabe is involved. The translation magic doesn't cover puns? It's weird, it covered 'gravity'."

"Oh, no, I got the meaning, what I didn't get was the word. Was that your word for 'meat'?"

He's using his language, so when he says "meat" he is not using the same word Gabe did.