Yuriko sighed, leaning her head on her hand as she sat behind the register. Despite her protests and best efforts, she found herself employed within the Magic Shop.
After graduating from college, Yuriko found trying to work difficult. After living alone in college, once more living under her parents roof irked the young woman. She needed her own space, but for that she needed money. With employment opportunities limited, Yuriko spoke with Gloria Moreland. Next thing she knew she was working the front counter.
"So what do I do here?" Yuriko asked.
"It's complicated," Gloria stated. "You see, we do sell magic items. Ingredients for the actually magically inclined but we also sell stage magic. The kind of things you would see s professional illusionist use on TV."
"Okay and what about other stuff?" Yuriko asked. "I noticed an invoice from S.P.E.A.R about some items they were trying to procure."
"Actually, that would fall under Ingredients," Gloria said. "Items wizards or sorcerers or government agencies would purchase for various needs."
Yuriko paused, raising an eyebrow. "Government agencies? I thought the only one dealing with the supernatural was S.P.E.A.R?"
Gloria nodded, as she now explained to Yuriko something that flabbergasted the young woman. "Yeah, in this reality."
"In this reality," Yuriko asked. "What, like different timelines? Like the Magical timeline?"
"That's just one of them," Gloria replied. "You see there are other timelines out there. I know of close to 30,000 at this point but there's more and it increases every day. You see, the Magic Shop is a Nexus point in the universe. A place that connects all of these different realities."
"Wait other realities," Yuriko asked, still confused. "I'm lost. How is this not like the other timeline?"
"I'll explain," Gloria stated. "Think of timelines like next door neighbors. For us and the magic timeline, think of it like a neighbor that lives right next door. All you would need to do is walk across your lawn to knock on their door. The dimensional barrier is weaker between our two timelines, so we share a lot of common history."
"Okay that explains two of the 30,000 but what about the rest?"
"This is where it gets a bit weird, so I'll explain," Gloria said. "For some other timelines I'll use the neighbor analogy again. Other timelines are like neighbors who live across the street or a neighbor who has a fence around their property. Not easily accessed. Then there are others who don't live on your block. Maybe they live on the next block over, the next town, heck in a different state. Some closer to us are almost indistinguishable from ours, others? Way different, like traveling from here to Texas or Florida or even let's say Mexico or Europe. The only thing these realities have in common are that front door."
Yuriko looked to where Gloria now pointed, the entrance of the Magic Shop.
"Okay so when you say different countries is that like the fae realm or the kitsune realm?"
"Yes, although there are some that are way different than that," Gloria stated. "People that have come here from those timelines have transformed their universes into something you wouldn't recognize. This was just where it started."
"Okay," Yuriko said slowly. "So, um is that it? We just pass out super powerful magical items across the multiverse?"
"For profit," Gloria added. "But you forget about the wholesalers."
"I'm sorry, the what?"
"Well not all magic items are made in the Magic Shop," Gloria continued. "Alot of wizards, witches, sorcerers, warlocks, even eldritch beings come here all the time sell us stuff. Pokoyo and Mokomi for example."
"Wait I'm sorry, Pokoyo?!"
"Yeah, the Solar Guardians mascot," Gloria stated. "The pink cat. He's an eldritch being of immense power. He comes by every month or so. Takes inventory of how many majokko items have been sold or taken throughout the multiverse. If something is sold or taken, he restocks the inventory, and we pay him for it."
"We pay a pink cat?"
"Well not so much pay," Gloria replied. "For Pokoyo, payment consists of ear scratches, cat treats, pets, and fawning over him. Going rate is ten minutes per item. Try not to let the inventory get too low or you'll spend the entire afternoon petting him."
"Um right," Yuriko replied. "So, um...does that go for Mokomi as well?"
"Oh no Mokomi wants cash. Cold, hard cash. He is evil after all."
"Okay why are we selling evil magical items," Yuriko exclaimed. "And why am I only finding out that the cute pink kitty that follows Miranda around is some eldritch creature who recruits girls!"
"For a magical cosmic war," Gloria finished.
"Excuse me!"
Pokoyo and Mokomi," Gloria repeated. "They're involved in an eldritch galactic war that's raged for eons. They're creatures as old as the universe, recruiting teenage girls for battle. It's a perpetual cycle with Pokoyo and his people on one side and Mokomi and hers on the other."
"How can you say that like it's a totally normal thing," Yuriko asked.
"It's our job Yuki," Gloria shrugged. "The Magic Shop is a Nexus connected to all timelines. Any who enter, whether friend or foe, illusionist or sorcerer, or someone starting their journey, we are here to start them on their path wherever it may lead."
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the whole evil magical items."
"Unfortunately, Yuriko," Gloria said. "When it comes to the Magic Shop, we're a neutral party. Took me awhile to accept that too, but it beats the alternative of evil magical items floating freely throughout the multiverse. Once you step out the door though, well then that's different. All we do is provide the items for whoever adventure is about to begin."
"Yeah, that's going to take some getting used to," Yuriko sighed. "Anything else I should know?"
"Don't be surprised if you run into people, you think you know."
"What does that mean?" Yuriko asked.
Gloria simply smirked, as she made her way towards the back. "You'll understand when it happens. Just do your best to help them on their way."