Restart Again: Volume 1 by Adam Scott (pocket ebook reader TXT) 📕

said to picture a river running through me, but I don’t really know what that means, and without having done it before I don’t know what to expect.” I stifled a laugh, which drew a scowl from Lia. “What’s so funny about that?”

I shook my head. “Nothing! It’s just...that’s almost exactly what I said to the guy who trained me to use magic.” Taking a moment to look inward, I drew on my mana reserves to reflect on what it felt like. “The first time you let your mana flow it’s electric, like a new kind of energy you’ve never felt before is filling every inch of your body. You get this feeling that you could do anything.” I closed my eyes and channeled the energy around my body, up and down my arms and legs.

“After you’ve done it a few times, moving the energy around feels like cool water rushing through you. You can open and close the gates that let it move, and it fills up the areas you tell it to go to.” Letting the energy recede, I opened my eyes to find Lia staring at me in fascination. “I know it doesn’t really make sense before you’ve felt it, but that’s what I think.”

She nodded. “I think that helps...I just wish there was a way to feel it before I figured it out. I’m sure I could control it if I knew what I was looking for.” Lia laughed. “That sounds silly, doesn’t it?”

Gears were turning rapidly in my head, caught by the sudden inspiration of Lia’s thought. “No, that’s not silly at all.” Try it. You know it will work. “Lia, give me your hand.” I sat on the edge of my seat and extended both my hands out in front of me.

“My hand?” She timidly extended her hand towards mine. I gently held it between both of my hands, focusing intently on the contact. Her skin was smooth and warm. The fingers of my right hand were resting on her wrist, and I could feel her pulse beating rapidly beneath them. Closing my eyes, I took a few deep breaths and called on my mana.

“Lia, try your best to clear your mind. Focus on your breathing, with the air going down to your core. I’m going to try to give you some of my mana, so you can identify what it feels like. If you notice any new sensations in your hand, try to find that same energy inside yourself, and just let it out.” Moving the energy down to my fingertips, I gave her hand a small squeeze. “Alright, in three...two...one…” I pushed the mana downwards and was met with an entirely new and unique feeling.

As opposed to the steadfast resistance I felt when trying to suffuse mana into a foreign implement, the force I felt opposing me was...reactive. When I probed forward with my energy, the force would move out and intercept it, enveloping it with a rippling energy of its own. Whatever system of visualization I used in my own mind to help myself understand mana broke down at this alien presence.

I could feel Lia’s hand trembling and her breath quickened as I increased the mana flow. “Tell me if you feel uncomfortable at all. I’ve never done this before, so I want to be careful.” As I continued to test the opposing force, I could feel pockets where it was thinner, like it was spreading itself too wide to block me. Focusing my efforts on those spots, I gave a final push, and was rewarded with a small pop.

All at once, Lia’s arm felt like an extension of my own. My mana surged like crackling lightning, racing up her arm to connect with her spine. I could feel the tingling sensation along every inch of her skin as it flew, crashing downwards towards her core where I could feel a small ball of tightly bound energy. When the energies collided, there was another small pop and her own supply of mana rushed out in all directions, suffusing her entire body with energy. As it commingled with my own mana, I could feel a similarity in the energy, but distinctly different elements I couldn’t fully describe. For a brief instant my mind came dangerously close to being overwhelmed with sensory input, feeling both her sensations and my own simultaneously.

Lia let out a loud, wordless cry, startling me back to my senses. My eyes snapped open and I dropped her hand, severing the flow of energy to her body. When the contact broke, I had a moment of feeling hollow, like a part of my body had been abruptly lost. Shaking away the feeling, I knelt in front of her to make sure she was okay. Her breath was ragged and labored and sweat was beading along her flushed brow.

“Lia! Are you okay?” I put my hands on her shoulders, giving her a light shake. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around confused as if she didn’t know where she was. She smiled, and I let out a long sigh of relief.

“That...was incredible!” Lia jumped to her feet and held my head in her hands. “The electric feeling...I know what you meant now! You were just sitting there, and then all of a sudden, my whole body was just...full of energy! It was amazing!” She was laughing as she spoke, barely able to contain herself. “Was that what my mana feels like? Or was that yours? I don’t really understand what you did, but it was amazing!”

Her enthusiasm was infectious, bringing a wide smile to my face. “That was your own energy. Everyone keeps their mana locked away inside before they use it for the first time. It might be a natural defense to put up the barriers so you don’t accidentally expend all of your energy without knowing it. I think...I might have broken down those barriers for you.” I stood up, still holding her shoulders. “How are you feeling?”

She