Fall in love in a weekwe get by

– Any topics of interest to our audience. First of all, of course, sensations, but you can’t have enough sensations for every day. “I chuckled and admitted: “I can’t stand the word ‘our audience,’ but it really stuck.” Why not just say “people”? But the owner, and after him the editor-in-chief, divide people into “our audience” and everyone else. What exactly are the signs, I still don’t really understand. Is it just solvency? My favorite topics are pseudo-scientific nonsense and superstitions, medicine and health, and all sorts of random things that you can stumble upon while just walking around the city. Well, you know… something like “Yesterday, hundreds of people at King's Cross Station saw a snowy owl and even managed to photograph this unusual bird for London. The owl flew off in a northerly direction, and none of the zoos or pet stores reported it missing. What is this – atypical migration? Or… Is it really true that you-know-what?!”

– Do you know what? – asked Dougal.

I laughed, this time heartily.

– We have a book, very popular. About the magical world and about a boy who goes to learn magic from King's Cross Station. The snowy owl is this boy's pet bird, and "you-know-what" is a reference to the main villain's nickname: "You-Know-Who."

"? there was also a lake there. Similar to this…” I turned my gaze to the dark, silky-smooth water. Wasn't it just covered with ripples? Strange. But beautiful, how beautiful! Why isn't there a castle like Hogwarts on the other side? Or… what if he is there, just invisible to strangers?

“Your boy wouldn’t have gone far with us.” King's Cross Station has long ago become an ordinary architectural monument. Retail area, cafes, auditoriums.

I shook my head, returning my thoughts to the conversation.

– Do you have train stations?! I thought portals were a great replacement for all transport.

– Not all. Large groups or cargo are transported by trains or barges. But traveling by river or rail is also popular among lovers of romance. Newlyweds, some teenagers. Or, conversely, older couples falling into childhood. For a full-fledged cruise, you will have to charter a separate liner; this is not within everyone’s means, but for short distances there are enough people willing. ? There are still those who like to go higher. Private jets, hot air balloons, hang gliders…

I imagined a liner similar to the Flying Dutchman rising from the depths of the lake. Well, yes, just like in the movie…

– ? Can ships travel through portals?

– Theoretically, undoubtedly. But it never occurs to anyone to line up a hundred, or even two, strong magicians around the perimeter and force them to work until they are magically exhausted. Fortunately. Moving living creatures requires much less magical infusions than large objects. For example, I can carry ten people without straining too much. Not across the globe, of course, but still. But with a yacht or even a small boat it will be more difficult. To the other side through this lake – yes. Further – it’s unlikely.

I looked at the lake again. To the far shore, involuntarily assessing the distance. I stepped closer… more… I want… to look into this mirror… to see…

My leg went down, I waved my arms, trying to maintain my balance – like in a dream, because falling was not scary, maybe even necessary. I need to go down there, right? To the mirror? On the other side? There is magic… and there is someone waiting there, I feel it. Waiting, bored and calling.

– Be careful! – a sharp jerk almost twisted his arm from his shoulder; Norwood pulled it towards himself and immediately grabbed it by the waist. An instant surge of pain brought me back to reality, I looked down, stunned, at the water covered with small ripples, in which the hills and gloomy sky were reflected, and at the stones under my feet: on one, at the very edge of the cliff, there was a blurry trace of my heel. – In your world, did you also constantly try to fall somewhere? Or is this our bad influence?

“I think it’s out of habit,” I responded slowly, emerging from a trance, as if from dark depths into the light. – Charlotte moves differently. Sometimes it seems like her center of gravity is not even in the right place! But now… now not only because of this. Another lake. It's like a magnet. Like fire is a moth. Attracts.

Norwood's grip suddenly tightened. Stronger.

“Kels,” he said incomprehensibly. – Looks like we were yelling at each other too loudly. They woke me up. It's pulling, that is. Interested. Curious beyond measure, as always. Or smelled a curse. Are you ready to look into the eyes of the living embodiment of ancient magic, Miss Sullivan?

– Is there really someone there? I didn't think so?! Alive and bored? Do you know him?

– As I understand it, this is consent? How many questions instead of one short “yes”.