Once Kay, Fire, and Warnado are out of the shop, I feel a bit like I have just sent two kids off on a camping trip. Young Kay, as usual, has a tendency to make light of these kinds of situations. It's a bit irritating, but I'm also just glad to see him in good spirits. It wasn't annoying back then, though. I guess we didn't realise just how bad it could get back then. Now it all just seems flippant.

I suddenly realize how tense my neck is, and tilt my head in the other direction. But the soreness doesn't go away. I let a trickle of healing energy into my neck, but the magic doesn't do much because there's nothing to heal. I consider using magic to move the muscles in my neck into the correct position, but given the delicate concentration required to put the muscles in just the right place, and the fact I use a similar technique to break people's necks, I decide it's probably best not to.

I glance at the shopkeeper's wares, mostly weapons, placed on the table, hanging from racks, and behind the counter. They all look relatively well-made. One shield in particular looks especially interesting, with a colorful gemstone-studded outer edge and a pleasing painted design that one might also find on the back of playing cards. However, I'm not really in the market for that kind of equipment, and given Kay's experience with the crossbow, I'd rather not risk a purchase.

Still, with Kay gone, and most of my other friends still stuck in another dimension, there aren't many better things to do in this small village. There's the pub, but I'm not really in the mood. Aside from that, there isn't a library I know of or any other public space of note. I don't know where Tyron or Destiny are and bearing in mind the magical plot going on I'm not feeling sociable enough to track down any of the others. At least Shadow is still here.

I glance over toward Shadow and see her inspecting a pinewood staff with a spiral contour along its length. At the top of the staff, the wood breaks free from the spiral and curves around a lapis-colored sphere in a hook shape that's relatively common for staffs. The woodwork is tidy but overall not impressive. What is more impressive is the contours and patterns of magical energy contained within it. From the way she inspects it, I get the impression she's not really interested in buying it and is only wasting time like I am.

"I never really bothered with staffs," I admit to Shadow. "I always found them unwieldy and a chore to charge up again." I ponder on whether this was part of what was sapping away my strength. Hubris.

Shadow looks over to me and replies: "Honestly, the only type of staff that's useful out in the field is one that helps focus certain spells instead of storing them."

"Honestly, I don't see the point of using a staff if it doesn't augment my magic in some way," I say. "There have been times where I would be better off with a staff like that. I always run out of energy at the least convenient moments. I've considered getting something smaller, but either the energy stored isn't worth the trouble, or there's some nasty side effects like not-so-temporary insanity or financial debt."

"I suppose your world is a lot less friendly when it comes to artifacts. Where I'm from energy storage gems are perfectly safe if used responsibly, in fact I have some on me right now." Shadow reaches down the neck of her robes and pulls out a finely crafted golden necklace with sapphires inlaid in regular intervals.

I raise my brows with a mix of intrigue and envy at the necklace. "That must be worth a fortune. I don't suppose you have a spare?" I remark, only half-jokingly.

"Not the necklace but I can give you my rings. They have smaller stones but still store quite a bit, I only packed this much storage because I didn't know how magically charged this world would be." With a wide grin she adds: "The answer to which turned out to be 'very'."

I look down at my hands and the rings that are on them. "If they are any better than mine, I might have to take you up on your offer. I have a few rings of my own which can store some magic, but the capacity is residual at best. Only really makes a difference in a survival situation."

Shadow pulls two identical rings off her fingers, one from each hand. The rings themselves are fairly plain but the gems they hold are masterfully cut.

"Those won't fit you, hold on. Give me your hand for a moment." She says and reaches out to me.

As she touches my hand the rings she holds in her other hand start glowing as the gold is heated up close to its melting point. Shadow traces along two of my unoccupied fingers and a few moments later the rings widen to the appropriate size, then rapidly cool down again.

I take the two rings from Shadow's hand and slide them onto my fingers, and the difference in power is significant. Just one of Shadow's rings holds more energy than all my own rings combined, and then some.

"Thank you," I tell Shadow sincerely.

She replies: "No problem. It's always good to help a fellow mage out."

Shadow's smile has a touch of camaraderie to it that makes me lower my guard. From a purely logical standpoint, Shadow is the person I should trust the least, since she is the person most likely responsible for Amanda's nightmare. But it's been so long since I've had the opportunity to confide openly with another mage about the more subtle intricacies of magic. And giving up such powerful artifacts in a situation like this is no small favor.

"Speaking as fellow mage, can I ask you one more favor?" I ask.

"What favor would that be, Astro?"

"I'm getting a bit bored of this little village and was wondering if you had any suggestions."