"Yeah, that kind of leaves who and why very much unanswered."

"Anyway that's why I have to practice in the maze or the Overworld. Which you can get into without the power for it in some specific spots."

"Huh, what kind of spots?"

"Thresholds. I'll show you when you come visit."

"I'll probably have time tomorrow, assuming not needing to sleep much means I can do a lot of my homework in advance tonight."

"Cool! I'll look forward to it."

"Anything else I should know sooner than later? Does your friend want to talk to me?"

"Titanium's neck deep in some sort of smithing thing right now, don't wanna bother her. I could talk about books and games and stuff if you wanna just keep chatting? Or not."

"I dunno if we're into the same stuff, I like literature classics and Civilization. What does she smith?"

"So much. So, so much. You know the sorcery perk? She does Norse runes and just keeps getting better at it. Magic electrical generator is just the start. You'll experience it with the obstacle course, heheheh..."

"Is it going to zap me?"

"Pff. There's a mercy mode but I feel like it loses something."

"I might want to have it set that way my first time through, at least."

"Can do!"

"Thank you for accommodating my tender sensibilities."

"I bet I'm squishier than you. Hmmm... Time to say bye for now, I think."

"Bye, thanks for calling!"

Click.

Her Puchuu is still perched on her shoulder.

Scritch scritch.

Purr!

It's really responsible of you to look at training! One thing we can try is setting up mental defenses. If you can block Puchuu telepathy on yourself and Charlie, you're on the right track!

Oh, good idea - hm - Like... this? "Try now?"

Her sense-of-minds responds immediately, giving her a sensation of a shell around her, like thin glass.

"It's working! This much was always going to be easy for you, of course."

"I'll go see if Charlie'll cooperate with experiments." She goes looking for him.

Puchuu will remain shouldered unless shooed.

Shoulder Puchuu is fine! "Hey Dad, you up for letting Puchuu try some telepathy with you - I should name you, shouldn't I, Puchuu - anyway, so I can see if I can shield other people?"