Round 200

Silra moved with practiced efficiency, her teal eyes scanning the room beyond the door with methodical precision. The soft hum of active heating systems filled the air, and she spotted a bank of thermal units along one wall, their soft blue lights casting an eerie glow over everything. She moved closer, her pointed ears straining for any sound of occupancy, fingers already moving in silent communication as she mapped the space in her mind. Jeane followed close behind, her crimson eyes fixed on the doorway and the catwalk beyond. Her grip on Silra's belt tightened instinctively—her demonic instincts screaming warnings even as her shield magic sputtered dangerously, dropping below 30% efficiency again. The cold air of the maintenance tunnel bit into her exposed skin like teeth, and she shivered violently despite maintaining proximity to Silra's warmer body.

That device better work before my magic collapses completely and turns this whole maintenance area into magical ice sculpture, she hissed under her breath, voice dropping into that dangerous purr that always made Silra's pointed ears twitch. The elf technomancer ignored the tone—focused entirely on the task ahead despite the lingering irritation from their... encounter in the previous room. She activated the thermal units with a few quick taps on the control panel, and warm air began to fill the space.

Finally, Jeane thought as the heat started to seep into her chilled bones. Her shield magic responded immediately—still unstable at 5% efficiency but no longer actively degrading. The cold air that had been biting into her exposed skin now felt merely... cool. She leaned back against the wall, letting out a soft sigh of relief even as her crimson eyes remained alert for threats in the hallway beyond.

Silra turned to face her, teal eyes scanning Jeane's face with professional assessment rather than concern. No time for elaborate treatment sequences, she said, voice crisp and businesslike despite the lingering effects of hypothermia making her fingers tremble slightly. You need thermal transfer NOW before shield fails completely. She pulled out a small device from her belt—a modified data chip with embedded heating elements. This was meant for emergency field repairs, but it'll work as makeshift heat pack if I channel my technomancy through the circuits.

Jeane's expression shifted—part gratitude, part frustration. I'm aware of the urgency, she snapped, though the purr remained in her voice despite the irritation. But this isn't sustainable long-term. My magic needs consistent thermal input or it'll collapse again within minutes. She crossed her arms over her chest, wings shifting restlessly behind her. The movement caused her already precarious shield to flicker dangerously—dropping from 5% to 3% efficiency before stabilizing at 4%. We need to discuss proper treatment protocols before the next efficiency drop.

Silra's pointed ears twitched at the purring tone, but she maintained her clinical demeanor with visible effort. Protocols can be discussed once we're clear of this facility and have secure location for magical... maintenance. She activated the makeshift heat pack, blue lights glowing softly as technomantic energy began to flow through the circuits. Here—press this against your core. It'll maintain minimal thermal transfer without requiring direct physical contact.

Jeane accepted the device with obvious reluctance, pressing it against her abdomen through her thin shirt. The warmth seeped into her frozen flesh, and she felt her shield magic respond—climbing back up to 5% efficiency with a visible shimmer across her skin. But it was still far too low for comfort or extended use.

This is temporary at best, she growled, crimson eyes flashing dangerously. My magic needs consistent input from genuine thermal sources—not jury-rigged tech. She leaned back against the wall again, wings settling into a more comfortable position behind her. The movement caused another flicker in her shield—down to 4% efficiency before stabilizing at 3%. We have maybe fifteen minutes before the next drop. What's your exit strategy?