Chapter 1: Jordan Collage
"Have you thought about the world around you? What if I told you...That your world was not the only one. That there are millions of countless others. For this very story...Starts in another world. One that is both like and unlike, your own."
"Here, a human soul takes the physical form of an animal known as a daemon. The relationship between human and daemon is sacred. This world has been controlled for centuries by the all-powerful Magisterium.
"Except in the wilderness of the north where witches whisper of a prophecy. A prophecy of a child with a great destiny. During the Great Flood, this child was brought to Oxford."
A large castle like building sat hidden by the darkness the pale moonlight shining through the stain glass windows. A strong wind whipped through the turrets below in the moat all was flooded. A man rowed towards the building a bundle in his arms.
He docked the boat near a hidden door near the base of the moat. He leapt from the boat ignoring his drenched clothes. He banged hard on the door in frustration. The small bundle in his arms stirred. "Open the bloody door!" He shouted.
An old man answered the door his eyes widened. "What in the world?" Asriel what on earth are you doing here especially this late at night and during a flood no less. The man looked at him pleadingly. "Please I need your help."
What fo- Before he could finish Asriel handed the old man the squirming bundle. "This is Quentin and Pantalaimon." The old man pulled back the blankets and stared at the child in shock. The Boy was severely disfigured, his features definitely a strange sight to behold.
The boy had tetrahedron shaped nose squashed against his face as if it had been smashed into his face. He had a lump that hung over his eye which hindered his eyesight somewhat. The Boy had a twisted spine and there was a small lump near his back that suggested the boy had been born a hunchback.
However the odd child was far from ugly. The boy had dark reddish-brown hair and pale blue eyes. The infant stared up at the old man and giggled reaching out to him with his small hands. The old man smiled at the child. The light in the boys eyes was unlike anything he'd ever seen before.
"Asriel, I cant-I hereby invoke the privilege of Scholastic Sanctuary!" The old man stared at him in disbelief. "Scholastic Sanctuary?! Jordan College is a place of learning, it's not suitable for a child!" Asriel slowly backed away towards the rowboat looking at him desperately.
"Outside of the college, he is not safe. I have no choice. I have no choice!" You keep him safe! He said as he clambered back into the boat. The old man watched as the boat disappeared into the darkness. The old man stared down at the child in his hands.
Suddenly a small head peeked out from under the blankets. Curled up next to the child was a small white ferret. The child's Daemon he assumed. His own a large black raven sat perched on his shoulder. He gave the baby a gentle smile. "Welcome to your new home Quentin."
Quentin's eyes narrowed as he stared at the long hallway ahead of him. The deformed boy glanced at the blonde-haired girl next to him. Her name was Lyra Parslow. She was Quentin's best friend and probably only friend at Jordan Collage.
Most of the time his strange appearance made people uncomfortable. But not her. Never Lyra. Not that he had much of a choice. He and Lyra where the only children at Jordan not to mention they were both orphans.
Quentin never knew his parents they'd died during the great flood. Their airship had crashed, and they had both perished. His uncle Lord Asriel had taken him in, but he hardly ever saw his uncle. The man was an explorer and spent most of his time in the north.
However whenever the man visited the boy always bombarded him with questions about his work in the north. One day the boy even hoped that he might see the north one day. But he doubted it. No, he'd probably spend the rest of his life at Jordan Collage.
"Ready for our race" Lyra asked her friend eagerly. "You remember the rules?" Of course I remember the rules, do you? The thirteen-year-old asked eyeing his friend warily. Of course I do. "Doesn't mean you ever follow them."
"Just count us down." Fine. "Three, two... one- Before he'd even finished Lyra had already taken off down the hall. "Hey! No fair your cheating he said taking off after her his daemon pan tailing behind him as he followed after her.
He'd never really been as outgoing as Lyra he was always trying to stay out of trouble frankly but that didn't mean he didn't like to cause a little bit of trouble now and again. However the world outside scared him. He worried what would happen if he ever left Jordan Collage. And even if he did leave where would he go?
Lyra however felt differently she longed to one day leave Oxford behind. Like him she to wanted to see the north. Quentin wished he had Lyra's courage. He was practically scared of the whole world. He was thirteen now he wouldn't be a child forever. One day he would have to face his fears.
Quentin saw Lyra round a corner as he chased after her. The ran through the kitchen where Lyra worked almost knocking over an old woman carrying a large pot. Lyra! "Sorry, Mrs. Woodbridge! I'll help you clean it later!" Lyra shouted as she rounded the corner Quentin chasing after her.
They rushed down the hall, Quentin almost running into the headmaster of the school. "Quentin! Class!" "I know I'm on my way there now." He lied as he chased after Lyra. "Quick this way Quentin I know a short cut!" Lyra shouted as she rounded another corner.
"Are you sure? Lyra! Lyra, will you wait?" But she would not slow down. Suddenly the hallways became darker as he realized where Lyra had led him. He nervously peered into the schools crypt. "You Cheater!" Y-You know I hate it down here.
"Lyra? Lyra?" As cautiously walked past an open casket Lyra jumped out at him. Boo! Startled the boy stumbled back falling on his crooked back which causes Lyra to laugh in amusement. "I-I-Its not funny. You know I hate it down here." He said with a repressed shudder.
"These coffins have skeletons in them." Lyra shrugged as she jumped down from the casket. "All coffins have skeletons in them, Quentin that's sort of the point!" I know, but I can see these skeletons! "Only the ones with the open caskets. Makes you wonder what's inside the ones that are closed."
"Please stop trying to s-scare me, Lyra. I-Its not funny. Besides, I wasn't thinking about that." No. Then what were you thinking about? She said smugly. "Why do daemons disappear when you die? And yet humans leave these skeletons behind?" She shrugged. I don't know No one does.
Ok my turn. "Do you ever think about what animal Pan will settle as when he stops changing form?" Quentin shrugged looking over at the small white ferret that sat neck to him. "I think about it, I mean Pan and I talk about it. Pan thinks he will be a lion."
"I don't!" Said pan. "I think he'll settle as a sloth, or a guinea pig." I thought you said you wanted something cunning, like a fox. "A fox would be nice." And what about you? "What do you think Salcilia will settle as?" He said looking over at Lyra's daemon.
"Oh. A house marten or a house cat?" Now I say that's sound like something to drink to, wouldn't you agree my friend. Quentin looked at confused. "Drink?" Grabbed some wine bottles that she'd snuck from the nearby cellar.
Meanwhile far, far away in the north a man in a parka stood on top of a nearby mountain staring out at the northern lights. The mans was lord Asriel Quentin's uncle. "We should go, the storm is upon us. "shouted Asriel's daemon, a snow leopard named Stelmaria.
"Not yet. We should have enough time. I need one more!" He took a picture of the sky before quickly stuffing the photo into his pocket. "We have to find us a way off the mountain." Stelmaria shouted. Pack up. Quickly. "Yes, yes, all right!"
Favour your right side down the face." Stelmaria shouted over the howling wind as she slowly made her way down the mountain. Asriel opened the door ecstatically. "Thorold! This is the one! I think we've got it!"
The old man looked at his friend and partner nervously. "I know the Magisterium have never ventured this far north, but really; I feel we are...We're pushing our luck here." Asriel waved away his concerns. "Jordan College are going to take some convincing. I have to be certain of what we have before I stand in front of them."
"But I'm afraid I found more out there than I bargained for." He said lifting a heavy object onto the table. "Come on. Here we are. Are your hands clean? Yes, sir. The old man turned pale when he realized what it was. "Is that-We'll let the storm blow itself out."
"It's finally time for us to put on a show for the scholars. We'll head south in the morning. But we're taking a friend." He said patting the lump of ice "If I can't convince them, he will!"
Meanwhile back at Jordan Collage Quentin sat at his desk as he listened to his tutor drown on and on about who knows what. "Eyes will be opened, and your daemons will assume their true form and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
The old man turned around to see his student dozing off. He loudly cleared his throat startling the young boy awake. Quentin, if you could try to stay awake? I am. I'm listening, I'm listening. "I'm a god, knowing good and evil. "As" gods, Quentin"
"The Magisterium wouldn't approve of blasphemy." "I thought we were protected by Scholastic Sanctuary?" The boy asked his tutor. "Yes. A privilege we had to earn and one we must not abuse." "Without Scholastic Sanctuary, you wouldn't be here and nor would I. "You would do well to remember that Quentin.
The old man returned his attention to the lesson. However Quentin could not concentrate or focus no matter how hard he tried. "Quentin! It's your uncle." Pan whispered near the window. Quentin leaned towards the window. He could see his uncle in the courtyard.
"Finally, I'll get to go to the North with him." Quentin said excitedly. "Quentin, don't do anything stupid." Pan pleaded however Quentin simply ignored him as a plan started to take place in his mind. "Librarian, will you read me that fascinating piece on the serpent's motivations in the Garden of Eden again?"
"I don't exist to entertain you, Quentin and besides the Magisterium wouldn't approve...Please." The young boy said looking up at the man with his big blue eyes. Oh Alright. He walked into the next room to grab the book. Unaware that the boy had locked him out.
"Where is it? Ah, yes. We put it up here, didn't we?" Now, where is it? "Ah, there we go. Ah, thank you, Serena. He said thanking his daemon. There you go. He tried to open the door only to find it locked. "Quentin? Quentin!"
Meanwhile Quentin had opened the window and was climbing out onto the roof. "So, this isn't stupid?" Said Pan. Quentin laughed. "Don't worry, Pan we've done this before." All right, you've had your fun, boy open the door! The librarian shouted from outside the locked door.
"Not yet I haven't." With a mischievous grin the boy climbed out onto the roof as he went searching for his uncle." Meanwhile the headmaster sat in his room in front of a lit fireplace. "He's here." The mans raven daemon reported. "Asriel? The raven nodded. "It's time."
Quentin peered in at the room from the open window and was about to step in but was stopped by Pan. "No, Quentin don't! The Retiring Room is expressly forbidden." "Not for family reunions." Quentin was halfway in the room when he heard footsteps from outside the door.
Quickly he scrambled out onto the rooftop as the headmaster opened the door. "All right, that was close." Quentin peered into the room and watched as a servant stepped into the room with a bottle of what appeared to be alcohol.
Is this the Tokay?
"Yes, Master. The 1938, as you ordered. Lord Asriel was most partial to that, as I remember. Good. Now leave me, please." The servant nodded as he shut the door behind him. The man took a pouch from his pocket.
Um...Do it! His Daemon ordered. Now! With a look of regret he opened the pouch and poured the powdery contents into the carafe. "Pan." Quentin said tightening his grip on the window sill. "We don't know what he put in it." Pan said in an attempt to reassure him.
"If it was innocent, why did he send the Butler away?" Quentin growled. "The Master's a good man. He's always been kind to us." He's poisoning my Uncle, Pan! He watched with dread as his uncle walked into the room. He quickly ducked out of sight as the butler came back in.
"The Master ordered it decanted especially for you, my Lord." The butler said. Asriel sighed. "Ren, I wasn't expecting to be disturbed! "There are only three dozen bottles left of the '38."All good things pass away." He said ushering the butler out as he slammed the door shut.
His daemon stretched out in front of the fireplace. "We should rest." "If this evening goes as expected, we won't sleep for a while." He looked thoughtfully at the full decanter and poured himself a glass. He was about to drink it when Quentin jumped into the room knocking the glass from his uncles hand.
The man looked down shocked to see an all to familiar face staring back at him. "Quentin? Quentin, what the hell are you doing?" He growled angrily as he roughly grabbed the boy by the arm. "Let go of me and I'll tell you." The boy shouted. "I will break your arm first!" He roared furiously.
"The wine was poisoned!" The man calmed somewhat releasing the boy from his iron grip. "I-I-I saw the Master poison your wine!" You saw him? Asriel asked looking cautiously around the room. Y-Yes. "He added white powder and...Pan thinks it's me being dramatic, but...Asriel lifted the decanter to his nose and sniffed it.
"You see? I wasn't lying!" W-Why would the Master poison you? "I thought he was our friend?" Asriel didn't answer instead he quickly knocked the glass Carafe of the table shattering upon impact. "That was clumsy, wasn't it? Yes."
The boy looked at his uncle shocked. "Someone tries to kill you and you just destroy the evidence?! Keep your voice down!" Someone probably tries to kill me and, yes, I destroy the evidence. "Surely you should be doing something."
"I am doing something. I'm wondering why the Master would want to do that to me." I'm sure he had a good reason. "To be honest with you, if I were him, I'd be afraid of me." The boy ignored him as he stormed over to his uncle.
"I have waited for over a year to see you!" For nothing. "You're infuriating! And you're tenacious." He said annoyed. At least you used to be. "Now, do you want a job?" No! But the man dragged the boy over to a small chest and opened the lid.
"You might find it a little bit cramped in there." But uncle, I don't want a job. Shh! "Now, I want you to spy on the Master." The boy looked shocked. R-Really? He nodded. "Everything he does. But particularly whenever Dust is mentioned." Do you think you can do that? "But... Quickly, someone's coming." The man lifted the child into the box.
But I-Shhh! "If you make a noise, I will not save you. You're on your own. Do you understand?" Yes Uncle. Good boy. The boy ducked down as his uncle closed the lid on the trunk just as the headmaster walked in.
The headmaster stared at the broken decanter fearfully. "Bit of an accident, I'm afraid. Such a shame. Only three dozen bottles left, apparently?" The headmaster nodded looking pale.
That evening dozens of men crowded into the room while Quentin hid in the box peering out at them through a small crack. "Whatever we discuss this evening will remain private." Asriel addressed the crowd. Hear, hear! The men shouted in agreement.
"Even from the Magisterium." Jordan College will not become a channel for gossip, rumours, and dangerous controversy. "The pursuit of knowledge and our academic freedom is too precious to risk." He took some picture from the table in front of him.
"As some of you already know, I set out for the North some 12 month ago on a diplomatic mission to the King of Lapland. At least, that's what I was pretending to be doing. In actual fact, my real aim was to go further north still, right on to the ice, to try and discover what had happened to the Grumman expedition."
"This is the first of the discoveries I made." He said placing a photograph onto to the projector. It was a photo of a man and a child on a mountain. "I took this photogram with standard silver nitrate emulsion." However, I took two photograms that day - the second one with a specially prepared emulsion. He placed another photo on top of the first. It showed his uncle sounded by light.
"Where does that light come from?" One of the magisterium men asked "It isn't light, Asriel said looking at the crowd with eager anticipation. "It's Dust. What?! Dust?! It can't be!" The men shouted outraged. Quentin stared at the picture memorized.
"What's Dust?" Pan asked. "Shh , I need to see what he's showing them." Gentlemen, it is Dust! It registers as light on the plate because particles of Dust react with this emulsion in the same way that photons of light react with the standard silver nitrate emulsion.
"As you can see, the figure of the man is now perfectly visible." But I'd like you to turn your attention to the child. "We can't see the child clearly because the child does not attract Dust, which, given the nature of Dust, is precisely the point, is it not?"
"We, as adults, are surrounded by Dust. In fact, we're almost consumed by it. But children, it seems, are not. Gentleman, I believe this is proof that Dust is exclusively attracted to adults. Just as the Magisterium has always suspected."
"My next discovery, however, may be considered even more heretical." Asriel! Be very careful! The headmaster warned. "That's only where it begins to get exciting, Master In one of his last messages to the Academy in Berlin, Grumman referred to a certain natural phenomenon only seen in the lands of the North."
"I believe this is what he was referring to." I took this photogram a few days ago. He said setting a picture on projector. "The Aurora, the Northern Lights." One man replied. "Yes, that's right. When seen with the ordinary emulsion. But I'd like you to look at it again using mine." He placed another photo on the projector and Quentin was surprised by what he saw. "A city in the sky." Asriel said proudly.
Quentin was shocked by the image of the castle seemingly floating withing the lights. "Pan, it's beautiful." Quentin said in astonishment. It looked like another world entirely and he had no idea how right he was.
"A myriad of worlds, of which the Magisterium controls only one." A myriad of worlds made visible only through that most distasteful of substances - Dust!"
"Clear the room! None of us can hear this!" The headmaster shouted. "I'm afraid you have to hear this, Master." These are heretical discussions! He shouted. "Necessary discussions. I believe Grumman found evidence of these multiple worlds and he paid for it with his life!"
"His life?" A few men asked surprised. "I found his body preserved in the ice off Svalbard. I brought back his head as befits a scholar of this college! I believe you knew him best, Sub-Rector?" A man stepped forward as he set the head on the table.
The old man squinted at it through the dirty ice that covered it. "My eyes are not very clear, and the ice is dirty, but it could be Grumman. "Who would have done this?" The headmaster said looking sick. "It's most likely the Magisterium trying to mask their tracks, to keep us safely innocent, or as the Master would have it, academically free."
"Gentlemen, there is a war raging right now between those trying to keep us in ignorance and those, like Grumman, willing to fight for the light, to fight for true academic freedom. Gentlemen, he was a member of this college, his work was profoundly important, and I need funding to continue it. Who will stand against me?!"