On my way back into the house, I contacted the rest of our original party.

  [William of Brinsford:] [Bartholomew Ironshaper] [Ingrid] [Urako Sarutobi] [Blaze] [Chief Brown said something’s happening at the old K-Mart store on the east side. Gear up and meet Blaze and me there. I want a full party of Eddington’s best in case it’s a dungeon or something big spawning. We should be there in 20-30 minutes. Got to get dressed and gear on. If Shadow’s not with you, and I’m closer, I can pick her up from wherever.]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [can you pick me up corner of monroe and grove? need 15 min to get ready]

  [William of Brinsford:] [Urako Sarutobi] [Can do. Be there 15 to 20. Let Bhaarrt know we’re getting you. Should I just pull up and open the door or will I see you?]

  [Urako Sarutobi:] [William of Brinsford] [you funny. open the door, i’ll be there.]

  Stepping inside, I heard Blaze call out, “Ready in five. I’ll fill the travel mugs so we’ll have coffee and food to go.”

  “We’re picking up Shadow. Ask if she wants some.”

  “Roger that!”

  I gave my beard a quick pass with a comb and the trimmer. No time for a shower…a cold splash and a towel would have to do. What the hell is going on over there? I wanted to know.

  Pulling on my cleanest black jeans, then layered my shirt and doublet. Finally, I slung my baldric over my shoulder, added my belt and pouch. Last as always, my hat followed to its place on my head. The morning light through the living room window felt harsh on my sleep deprived eyes, matching the edge in my empty stomach.

  I had more questions than answers. Maybe the Chief would have more for us when we arrive. I hoped so. I was ready to go just short of the time I gave Blaze.

  Blaze was already geared up in dark blue cargo pants and black lace-up boots, tac vest snug under her jacket. The butt of her pistol barely visible under the open front. One hand held three travel mugs, the other a small, cloth shopping bag.

  “You look ready for a fight. I hope we don’t need it.”

  “I don’t bring most of this on the circuit, but they issue it for field work. It was at home, and the game sees it as armor now…not just the vest.”

  “Good. The more protection, the better.” I re-settled my hat on my head, taking a breath before opening the door for her with a half bow. “M’lady, let’s go kick more monster ass today.”

  Blaze gave a playful half-curtsy, a grin flickering across her face. “With pleasure, M’lord. With pleasure.”

  At the corner of Monroe and Grove, I power-opened the van’s side doors. Less than a minute later, the van shifted as Shadow climbed in, slamming the door shut and clicking her seatbelt closed.

  Closing the other door after I heard the seatbelt click, I headed for the east side of town.

  Blaze said, “There’s coffee in the mug on the console, fixed how you like it.” Blaze said.

  “Thanks.” Shadow pulled down her face covering, yawning as she grabbed the mug. “Haven’t had any yet. Thought I could sleep an extra hour. What’s goin’ on?”

  “Not sure yet,” I told her. “Chief says the old K-Mart is glowing blue…same as my MANA. Could be a big spawn, maybe something we haven’t seen yet.”

  Blaze passed back three energy bars. “Blueberry, raisin cinnamon, or oatmeal. Your choice. I have a stash of them for when I can’t go out and get something to eat.”

  “You givin’ me choices? Blueberry, n’ thank you, Ma’am.” She tore open the package, alternating eating and drinking.

  Blaze smirked. “Since they’re mine, cinnamon raisin’s mine. Oatmeal’s yours, Will.”

  I chuckled, tucking it onto the console tray behind my coffee. The roads were mostly clear, the soft gold of early morning light hitting the familiar buildings as we drove east into the morning sun.

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  Traffic near the old K-Mart crawled as people slowed to gawk at the building. The structure was wrapped in a soft, pulsing blue glow, the morning haze making it shimmer like heat rising off asphalt. It looked exactly the same inside the dome as when it closed a few years ago, except now it radiated magic.

  A few police cars blocked the entrances to the parking lot.

  They recognized us and waved us through. Bhaarrt’s truck was halfway up the lot, so I parked beside it. The asphalt was still cool under my boots as I stepped out, coffee in one hand, energy bar in my pouch.

  “Bhaarrt, Ingrid, what’s the word? Anyone tried going in?”

  “They won’t let us near it,” Ingrid said, arms folded tight across her EMT vest. “Don’t think anyone’s tried touching the field.”

  “I asked Chief Brown,” Bhaarrt rumbled. “They’re keeping folks back, waiting for you. He figures if it’s MANA, you’ll know what to do.”

  Ingrid added, “He said you’re the Mana Man and it looks like MANA around it.”

  “Yeah…it’s definitely MANA,” I muttered, scanning the field’s edges. “Let’s talk to him. I want a closer look.”

  Chief Brown stood near a cluster of uniformed officers, talking low. Nearby, four SWAT members geared up in black, hands resting on rifles slung over their shoulders, faces tense as they watched what was happening around them.

  “Chief Brown! We’re here. What do you need?”

  His head turned; eyes tired but focused. Next to him was Wild Bill Hitchcock, still in uniform but with no name tag, captain’s bars on his collar.

  “Tell me what the hell that is,” the Chief demanded, voice low but sharp. “No one’s seen anything like it. It looks like your color, so you’re the Mana Mage…you tell me what the hell it is.”

  We were about ten parking spaces back. I cast DETECT MANA, bracing as the glow flared tenfold. Two massive Ley Lines crossed the building, thicker and off-angle from the usual grid. I blinked hard, blinking away blue streaks.

  “It’s MANA, all right,” I said, pushing up my glasses and rubbing my eyes. “Two big Ley Lines crossing it…they’re off alignment. It’s bright enough it almost blinded me for a moment when I did a DETECT MANA on it.”

  “What do we do about it?” he asked.

  “Leave it alone…for now. I’m going to get closer.”

  Moving five parking spaces closer, and avoiding the big Ley Lines, I closed the distance. From memory, the lines crossed right through the center of the old store. Casting DETECT MANA again, I closed my eyes first, letting them adjust before peeking.

  This time I saw a darker blue line tracing the edges of the building, just like the line around the spawn portals in the Speedy Pizza. I drew in and let out a slow breath, cool morning air feeling good as I did it again. I cast DETECT MAGIC, and got the same answer as the pizza place. PORTAL.

  Walking back, I reported, “It’s a summoning. Like how the Game spawns the Kobolds and Goblins. Either something god awful big is being summoned, or it’s replacing the building. Keep people back. I don’t know what will happen if someone touches it. I doubt it’s a good idea to do it.”

  “We’ve been trying,” the Chief said, voice tired. “It’s getting harder. Folks hear about it; they want to see it.”

  “I get it. But I don’t know if my shielding would stop whatever that is…and I don’t want to test and find out.” Looking back at the building for a moment, one other thing occurred to me. “Whatever happens might be at 7 am tomorrow morning. That’s when things have been changing.

  “Will,” Blaze called, phone in hand, “Matt’s on his way to look at it. He says there are more of these in other cities and towns, taking over large empty buildings. Also, some empty lots. We’ve got feds coming, plus forensics and counter intel, probably today or tomorrow. They’re sending HQ agents to bigger offices in the big cities.”

  “Not surprised,” I muttered, turning to the Chief. “Feds, FBI, military…it’s all coming. Can you call Sheriff Harper, get reserve deputies, maybe university police for traffic and crowd control?”

  “I’ll see what I can do. How fast?”

  “By tonight, probably worse tomorrow. Give your people time off for spawns. If civilians out level law enforcement, it’s going to get tricky. That includes you and the Sheriff.”

  Blaze and I returned to the rest of our party. “You heard most of that, I hope?” All of them nodded yes. “Eddington is going to get overrun with outsiders. That means all the way up the chain of command.”

  Ingrid asked, “Why is all this happening here? Will, is it because of you?”

  “Yeah…probably. It’s us too. I’m a first, and they say Eddington’s handling this better than the cities. They’re setting up a center here to study this…figure out how to use it. Probably militarize it, too.”

  Sighing, I looked around our party. The people who are becoming more than that. They’re friends.

  “The federal government is setting up a center here to find out what’s going on and how to deal with it. And some of how to play the game. They’re probably looking for how to use it militarily. I hope just for defense, but given the world today, I’m sure they’re looking at it in other ways, too.”

  “They will,” Ingrid said, then looked at me closely. “Will…you don’t look good. You hurt? Sick? Mental strain?”

  Remembering that she’s a paramedic and ambulance crew, it’s her job to see physical and mental problems. I met her gaze, then looked at each of them. “Yeah. I feel useless. I’m too overpowered, and there’s nothing needing my level of power. I can’t help everyone.”

  Stopping, I took off my glasses, rubbing my eyes as morning breeze ruffled my hair. “I feel useless.”

  Raising a hand to stop them from talking, I continued. “I know. I can help people. But last night, three parties took down those monsters. I could’ve ended it by myself in a few shots. Same this morning. Everyone’s okay…thank God. But I keep thinking…”

  My voice cracked. I stared down at my boots.

  “Bossman needs hug,” Bhaarrt rumbled, voice soft now. “Seen this before, in the sand.”

  I closed my eyes and let the tears come.

  “Group hug,” Bhaarrt boomed, and suddenly huge arms wrapped around me and each of the others joined in, a ring of warmth and armor and most of all, friends.

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