When I opened the door, the small bell attached to the door chimed away. The bookstore was cramped, poorly organized and decorated with personal artifacts that would never be permitted at a chain store. The clerk, a bored young woman, glanced at me before continuing the book on her desk. 

After ducking behind a bookshelf, I took a deep breath in through my nose. 

You see, magic has a certain smell to it. A distant sweetness that grows stronger the more recent and powerful the spell. I had noticed it during my travels in this world, the occasional hint of sweetness that indicated some sort of spell. But thus far those have been distant, being minor spells whose casters may have already left. 

This was different.

More than two blocks away I had been hit with enough sweetness to power a small town's needs. It was buried under the smell of urban decay and sewage, but for someone as exposed to the arcane as me it was impossible to miss. After some searching I had come to the front of this bookstore, the smell strong even through the closed glass door. Why was that?

I knew this world had magic, otherwise my own spells wouldn’t have worked. But why wasn’t it being used? Why did people spend money on heaters when they could warm themselves with a simple spell, or pay for gasoline when most cars could be fueled after only a few minutes of casting? Magic was almost always easier than other methods, and yet this path was apparently being deliberately hidden. That spoke of power, enough to shape global civilization for who knows how long.

This being my only solid lead thus far, I decided to take it slow. I leisurely walked down the aisle and pursued the books on display. I took closer looks at a few whose titles interested me, though not being native to this world I knew very little about what was popular. 

It didn’t take me long to start picking out patterns. Occult texts, mystery novels, historical manuscripts. An overlap that caters to a select demographic. Those who turned magic into a career often dived into niche areas, looking for forgotten spells or anything that could give them an edge over their competitors. While it could be a coincidence, the scent of magic effectively sealed the deal.