Back in his room, Lyla felt his energy gradually return after dinner. Still, with his magic reserves nearly depleted, he chose to sit quietly and meditate to restore his strength.
Meanwhile, in the room next door, Mavis was debating whether or not to invite Lyla out for a stroll. She figured he was still recovering, so she decided to wait a bit longer before asking.
Instead, she headed out to chat with the innkeeper, gathering some information about the city of Hargeon. Once back in her room, she pulled out a map and marked several locations: the train station, the port, and most importantly, the magic shop and the seafood skewer street. Those got extra bold circles.
"All set! Time to go find Lyla," she declared with a grin, map in hand.
Lyla was in the middle of a peaceful meditation when a knock interrupted him. He opened the door and saw Mavis standing cheerfully at the threshold.
"Lyla, want to go explore the city?"
"Sure, let me grab my things." He turned and picked up his backpack, slipping in a few essentials. More importantly, he had a hunch that Mavis would buy a lot of stuff, and he might need to carry it all. His real concern? That even his backpack might not be big enough.
Although Lyla and August had traveled to Magnolia by train from the west, Hargeon lay to the south of Magnolia, he had never been here before. It was, after all, the place where the story had once begun.
Hargeon was nestled at the foot of a mountain, backed by lush forests and facing the deep blue sea. A port town through and through, its economy revolved around fishing. The harbor was bustling with docked boats and crates of cargo being loaded and unloaded.
The streets were clean and lined with the scent of salt and sea. Restaurants and food stalls sold every kind of seafood imaginable, drawing both locals and travelers. At the heart of the town, a crowded fish market served as the central hub for buying and selling fresh fish, shrimp, crabs, and other delicacies.
Magic, by contrast, took a back seat here, there was only one magic shop in the whole town.
Lyla and Mavis stepped inside.
The shopkeeper's hairstyle was… memorable. Lyla took one glance and instantly recognized that bald patch paired with a star-patterned cap.
That's him. That hairstyle's definitely hereditary. There's no way this isn't the same guy from the future...
"Yo! Little lady, bringing your little brother out shopping?" the shopkeeper greeted, raising an eyebrow at the pair.
"Yup, just browsing with my brother," Mavis replied sweetly, glancing back at Lyla and ruffling his hair like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Lyla sighed and peeled her hand off his head, utterly defeated.
"We'll just look around for a bit," Mavis told the shopkeeper, then turned to wander the aisles with Lyla.
The shop was cramped but overflowing with magical goods. Near the entrance was a bookshelf filled with Sorcerer Weekly and other magazines. Another rack held magic books, crystals, and potions sorted neatly by shelf.
To the right, weapons hung on the wall, swords, knives, and even a guandao. A full set of armor stood nearby with a placard listing its detailed stats.
In the center, several glass display cases showcased Celestial Spirit keys, enchanted rings, and magic accessories. Even the ceiling wasn't spared, magic brooms, a floating kettle, and all sorts of bizarre tools dangled above them.
But the thing that caught Lyla's attention was a sleek pair of headphones on a corner shelf.
These must be "Sound Jars"… he thought, reading the tag. A music magic tool that plays audio stored in sound crystals… That design's way too modern. Wait, doesn't Laxus wear one of these?
Lyla slipped them on. Soft classical music flowed gently into his ears, elegant and soothing. He smiled. Maybe he'd buy one for Laxus someday.
Mavis noticed him lingering and strolled over.
"You like those?"
"They're cool," Lyla admitted, slipping them off. "I just think the concept's really interesting."
"Want one? I'll buy it for you."
"Seriously? Thanks, First Master!"
"Of course! Big sisters don't let their little brothers pay for their own toys!" She ruffled his hair again, grinning.
"…Thanks, sis," Lyla said sheepishly, this time letting her pat his head without protest.
After picking up a few things, the two returned to the inn.
Lyla didn't get much, just the Sound Jar, but Mavis had bought an entire library. She seemed to gravitate toward books instinctively, like it was her mission to collect them all.
Lyla was soon weighed down with a dozen tomes stacked in his arms, and several more stuffed in his backpack.
This checks out, he sighed. I've read that she loved reading even as a child. She's basically a walking library… And now she's out in the world again, of course the first thing she does is buy more books.
Luckily, Mavis soon popped into a nearby shop and bought a suitcase. Lyla's arms were finally freed.
They returned to the inn, dropped off the books in Mavis's room, and as evening fell, headed out to the Seafood Skewer Street for dinner.
And wow, this city knew its seafood.
Lyla's appetite had always been big, but ever since arriving in this world, or maybe due to this body, he'd developed an anime-level food drive.
He ordered:
< A bowl of shrimp noodle soup
< Grilled scallops
< Grilled lobster
< Grilled crab legs
< Grilled fish
…and some fruit on the side.
Mavis, by contrast, ordered modestly: a small noodle bowl, a crab egg custard, and two desserts.
Compared to her, Lyla looked like he was about to eat the entire ocean, though at least he didn't spill food everywhere.
After dinner, the two strolled leisurely through the streets.
The cool sea breeze brushed against them, carrying the scent of salt and summer. The port at night was peaceful. Moonlight shimmered across the water, casting glints of silver over the waves. A boat drifted slowly by, trailing ripples in its wake.
Mavis leaned on the railing, gazing silently out to sea. The moonlight framed her small silhouette, and her golden hair swayed in the wind.
Lyla stood nearby, watching quietly.
A serene, almost sacred stillness radiated from her figure, like a ripple of calm spreading outward from deep within her heart.
<150 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter>