Welcome to the Other London

By Lumen Quill

Fifty years ago, the sky tore open.

Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds.

Ever since Earth joined the Grand Narrative, a collective of alternate worlds with different types of humans and levels of technology, magic has been a part of life. However, while it's common enough, magical problems sometimes ta

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brain Lag
• Release date: Oct 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781928011408

Lumen Quill

Lumen Quill is a nonbinary author from London, Ontario who doesn't give a hoot about what pronoun you use because they are what he is even if you call them a she. Like the Norse goddess Freyja, their chariot is drawn by two monochrome coloured cats, except instead of a chariot it's a bright red sectional couch, and instead of pulling it the cats merely keep them company on it.Fueled by absurd amounts of coffee, Lumen attempts to write fantasy and sci-fi stories with themes that grabbed their attention as a child. These include interdimensional travel and magic, but also dealing with mental health issues and acceptance of LGBTQ individuals.Most of their early influences can be broadly traced back to magical girl anime, Super Paper Mario for the Nintendo Wii, and the Sonic the Hedgehog comics. They are well aware these are the least credible influences a writer could possibly have.Also, they were the god of a cult in high school. That happened.

Book preview

Prologue

It was nighttime over the Blacklight Foundation warehouse just outside Oakville, Ontario, where various magical artifacts and tools, some dangerous and some mundane, were contained. A storage facility like this was not unheard of on Earth since a hole had been torn in the sky, linking this planet to other, more magically inclined worlds, but it was something special if the Blacklight Foundation’s research and storage facilities were involved.

Of course, said facilities weren’t always well-staffed, being really only able to employ Earthen security measures within Canadian law with minimal use of actual magic. So, it was maybe no surprise that a young man and a bird with black and white feathers had already gotten past the guards and into the depths of the facility.

After quietly traversing a long hallway and avoiding several security cameras, the two made their way through the umpteenth locked door before they finally reached their destination. As the young man struggled to unlock the final gate, the bird chattered maddeningly about their favourite movie.

I still think the third movie is the best one. Better visuals, better story, better idea behind it… and a heartwarming ending to boot! the bird squawked from the rafters in a surprisingly human, androgynous voice. Meanwhile, the young man, covered by a dark hoodie, fiddled with the wiring for a computer console that controlled the lock to the next room.

I guess… The young man shrugged, his tone seeming disinterested and mildly annoyed. But the fifth movie is set in a real Earthen location and is just generally clever as a result. I’ve never been to Italy and I definitely want to go now, while it’s still there.

That’s grim. All I’m saying is that the third movie is better written, and you had to make this about the end of the world, the bird scoffed.

A little hard to avoid the topic when that’s what we’re here to stop. You’re positive this is the right room? the young man asked, a pale blue light coming from his hands as he finished with the lock.

The bird fluttered down next to him. Yeah, pretty sure this is the right one. Shouldn’t you know this?

A grimace was visible under the hood. I don’t have nearly as many records as I’d like from back home. You at least can sense the artifacts, Magpie.

Magpie somehow gave him a disdainful look, despite being a bird. I suppose…

CLICK!

Door’s open. The young man got up and walked in before turning around. Are you coming?

Magpie shook their head in disapproval. Fine, sure. They fluttered up to the young man’s shoulders. They feel like they’re off to the west end of this room.

The room in question was large, a storage warehouse full of metal crates, many of which had glowing runes etched into them to keep them closed. Any old mage could tell every box was radiating different degrees of magical energy, but it was a particular signal for which these two were looking.

You might want to avoid touching anything… Magpie muttered nervously. There’s a lot of artifacts in here, and ones that have been outlawed for centuries for a reason. While I’m not going to get hit too hard by them, you definitely will.

The young man paid this no heed as they made their way through the dimly lit facility. I’ll be fine. Trust me, I have plenty of experience with this.

You know that’s not… Magpie began, but then perked up and ruffled their feathers. It’s just around the corner.

The young man nodded. Turning the corner, the two found themselves facing a crate much larger than the rest, almost the size of a coffin, surrounded by a shimmering bubble of energy large enough for a person to stand in. This likely allowed someone to perform maintenance on several of the glowing symbols sealing it shut.

Too easy, the hooded boy said with relief and, with a flick of his wrist, tossed an orb of pale blue light at the ground, watching as it phased through the floor and re-emerged on the other side of the barrier, spreading into a disc on the ground. Throwing another orb in front of him and stepping into the ensuing disc, he reappeared on the other side of the barrier, Magpie still perched on his shoulder.

Okay, so, we’re clear on the plan? Magpie asked, hopping down onto the box.

We open it and get these Fragments in a veil as quickly as possible before the alarm goes off, the young man said. It’s fairly simple.

Yeah, well, I just don’t want you slowing down for long enough for this to go wrong.

The young man rolled his eyes. I told you, I’ll be fine.

I hope you’re right about that… Fine, open it.

The young man nodded, adjusting a pair of square glasses under his hood. Let’s just get this over with.

Magpie looked off to the side in dismay and tapped a clawed foot on the box a few times, causing the glowing symbols to vanish, and then fluttered back to the young man’s shoulders.

Okay, they said steadily. Open it.

*

Chapter 1

The would-be magical girl! My chance to be a Fixer?!

London, Ontario wasn’t exactly a dull place, but it certainly wasn’t exciting, either. Wedged between the big city of Toronto, the border to the U.S.A., and the heavy expectations of its namesake in England, it was a seemingly mediocre, ordinary place in the middle of much louder, more extravagant cities.

Ella Masterson had lived in London all her life and she had also lived with magic all her life, due to open-minded parents who shared her fascination with offworld concepts. While it hadn’t even been fifty years since magic was introduced to Earth by a large hole in the sky to another dimension, it was a normal fact of life for Ella’s generation and how they approached life.

But not everyone felt that way.

At HS Bear Secondary School, there was a large stairwell with windows on three sides that was not air conditioned and always completely full of students between classes. It bridged the four floors of the school and its hot and bright atmosphere hardly lived up to its nickname of the ‘Stairway to Heaven.’ In the warm months, like this very September, students did not hesitate to call it the ‘Stairway to Hell.’ Fittingly for such a nickname, there was a heated brawl about to begin on one of the large landings.

What did you say, shrimp? a tall, very annoyed-looking boy growled at the girl in front of him. He was gripping the black-feathered wing on the back of a very uncomfortable-looking boy, whose other wing was awkwardly spread behind him.

I said to leave him alone! she exclaimed. Ella had been ascending the staircase when a flurry of black feathers and a yelp caused her to go back down a floor to confront the source of the bedlam.

The tall boy raised his eyebrows in amusement. Listen, this birdbrain tried to—

Yeah, yeah, he did something that insulted you and now you’re going to beat him up. She huffed. Typical bully routine, I get it. It’s dumb as all get out, but it’s the standard.

The tall boy looked surprised. Wait, what?

You’re not very original, you know, just following the cliché. Simple as that. Ella continued, But you know… ‘save the cat’ is a cliché too, right? The girl smiled, then pointed a finger gun, which began to spark with a pale amber light as she faced the assailant.

Illustration: Ella confronting bully holding other boy's wing

This shrimp is a mage?! the tall boy exclaimed, letting go of his victim, who immediately tucked his wings in and ran behind the much shorter girl who had come to his aid.

That’s right! Ella exclaimed excitedly. And the name’s Ella Masterson, not shrimp. She gestured in front of her, causing the bright sparks hovering before her hand to flicker. Now, you wanted a fight, right?

The tall boy grimaced. Screw this, I ain’t fighting you! he exclaimed before running in the opposite direction… only to crash into a passing member of the school staff.

M-Mr. Gabriel! the tall boy exclaimed as the stoic-faced older man in a suit glanced between the three of them and sighed.

Aren’t you all supposed to be in class? he inquired dryly.

I was just on my way! Ella said quickly.

As was I! the winged boy said.

Mr. Gabriel gave them a deadpan look. You do know magic isn’t allowed outside of designated classes in this school, don’t you?

Ella was silent, as was the winged boy.

Mr. Gabriel eyed Ella. And what would your fathers say about this?

The girl looked down shamefully.

The teacher shook his head. All three of you, my office, now.

*

It was awful, Beth! That stupid generic bully guy got off scot free and I got detention for using magic to help that Skylian guy! Ella exclaimed, putting a textbook in her locker.

Well, I mean, you did break the rules. Did you actually intend to fight that guy? Beth asked. She was an athletic-looking girl with taupe-coloured skin and curly dark hair, thick-rimmed glasses perched on her nose in front of dark brown eyes.

Ella laughed. Naw, I was just gonna scare him off. I don’t think I could take someone as big as him, even with magic.

Beth shrugged. By the way, do you want to play some HYDEOUT today? she asked. The new expansion set just came out! I’m hoping to get the new Phantom Beast card for my deck.

Ella shook her head. No, I gotta go job hunting so I can afford that expansion, she said, sticking her tongue out in distaste.

Beth patted her friend on the back. Good luck with that. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see over the McDonald’s counter. Ella rolled her eyes as Beth laughed and reassured her, I’m joking, I’m joking. Are you still holding out for a magical job?

I mean, I don’t really have any other talents… Ella said with a shrug.

Other than spouting story clichés like they’re your religion. Beth laughed.

Other than that. Ella sighed. I need a chiller, I’m gonna hit up the café first.

Good idea, maybe they’ll be hiring, Beth said excitedly. And then you can get me free chillers!

I’m charging you full price for those, Ella said haughtily.

Beth laughed. I wouldn’t have it any other way, Cinderella.

*

Meanwhile, elsewhere in downtown London, a large stack of books fell over.

****! *** **** ** ****** ** ****?! A tall, bespectacled man exclaimed in frustration, although all that could be heard to any onlookers was a long string of shrill, almost static-esque like noises.

A cat yawned from the windowsill. Because you never stack them like a normal person? she asked smugly.

The man shot her an angry look, causing her to roll her eyes, get up, stretch, and walk off down the nearby hall.

Having trouble there? a tinny voice asked him from a very outdated-looking laptop on the desk. The room