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

way underneath the velvety sheets. Her face took on a thoughtful look when she finally got comfortable. “Now that you mention it, I guess I do feel a bit more confident. I don’t even have to think about moving the mana around anymore, it just sort of...happens.”

I nodded. “You know what they say. Practice makes perfect.” Following her lead, I crawled under the blankets as well. “Now, we should get some well-deserved rest. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us tomorrow, right?”

“That’s right! I’m making a list of everything we have to see while we’re in Atsal, and it’s VERY extensive!” Lia giggled to herself as she turned over. I could make out the edge of a warm smile as she looked over her shoulder at me. “Goodnight, Lux.” With that, she settled herself into a comfortable position and went to sleep.

Lying back in bed, I closed my eyes and tapped into my mana reserves one more time. Shooting out in a quick pulse, the energy raced in all directions, scanning under the door to our room and into the hallway. Once I had realized the possible uses for the new “detection magic”, as I had come to think of it, I had quickly incorporated it into my watch routine. Although technically it isn’t magic. It’s just mana manipulation on a wider scale. The energy isn’t expended or changed in any way. I shook my head to dismiss the pedantic thoughts, renewing my focus. With the range of the magic increasing bit by bit from my constant practice, I was able to reach all the way down into the foyer of the inn and out the front doors before I found the ability too taxing to continue.

The information surging through my mind was overwhelming at first, but I was getting better at visualizing the data as a whole without getting inundated with fine details. I could see the desk clerk sitting where we had left him, staring blankly into space. Three figures sat at a small table in the common room eating, their mouths giving shape to a conversation I couldn’t hear. Otherwise, the hallways and patio outside were devoid of life aside from various plants.

My mana came rushing back when I was satisfied with my scan. The returning energy always made my spine tingle and raised goose bumps on my arms. I let out a contented sigh and rolled into a comfortable sleeping position. My arm stretched out across the mattress, reaching just far enough for my fingertips to rest against Lia’s back. Although the physical closeness I shared with Lia often made me feel guilty of leading her on emotionally, I found the contact to be extremely comforting on a deep primal level. The unconscious tension I had been carrying in my jaw and shoulders relaxed at the touch, and I quickly drifted off to sleep.

---

“So, we actually have one errand to run before we get to our day of sightseeing.” I gave Lia a repentant smile as we stood on the patio of the inn under a bright pink and orange morning sky. “Well, don’t think of it as an errand. Think of it as a surprise adventure.”

Lia watched me suspiciously. “I’m listening.”

I chuckled, drawing my hood further down over my eyes through force of habit. “I need you to find us an armorer; A good armorer, unlike that man from the Tolamar market. It’ll just be a short visit and then we can work our way through your list of activities.”

“What do you need an armorer for?”

“What do WE need an armorer for,” I corrected her with a wry grin, “And I said it’s a surprise, remember?”

Lia looked me over with a mix of curiosity, annoyance, and amusement. Eventually the corner of her mouth turned up into a smile as she laughed. “Okay, Lux. I’ll play your game.” She turned to leave but stopped short and whirled on me with unexpected energy. “But if we miss anything on my list because of this, I’ll never forgive you!” With my scolding out of the way she hopped up the steps and back into the inn, leaving me to blend in with the early morning traffic.

She returned a few minutes later with a bounce to her step which I took to mean good news. “The clerk said he knows the best armorer in town! Three blocks towards the watchtowers, hang a right, and it’ll be two blocks ahead on the left, too big to miss. It’s called the Marble Forge.” Lia hopped out into the street and looked back at me with impatience. “Let’s go!”

I followed Lia through the early morning crowd, keeping my face downturned as much as possible. It wasn’t a long walk until I spotted our destination. Even without reading the lettering, a suit of armor and crossed swords above a roaring fire, painted onto a massive sign above a set of double doors was indeed too big to miss. Pushing through the doors we found ourselves in a relatively small entryway which appeared to be empty aside from a door on either side of us and a large wooden desk near the opposite end of the room. A tiny bell chimed above us as we entered, piercing the silence much louder than I would have expected for its size.

We stood awkwardly in the center of the room for a few moments until the door to our right opened to reveal a stout, burly man with bright red hair. He was wearing a heavy leather apron and thick gloves, and a large utility belt hung with dozens of tools encircled his bulging waist. “Welcome to the Marble Forge, folks. How can I be of service? If you’re looking to browse our inventory, you can head through the door to your left to our display room. I can help you with any repair orders you might have.”

“Actually, I was hoping I could commission you to do some custom work.” I stepped forward and offered out