Coffee Stained Pages. Volume 1. Лилла Сомн
are thoughts in her head that interest her.
Not to mention weird Ami. Ones can be rejected even when they are outstanding persons, which the VST agents definitely are. Or, maybe even, because of being eminent.
Remember that strange case when the Department compromised its principles by asking the VST to send no less than one of their witch agents.
Big deal, you know.
But the investigation was inconclusive. Which says nothing about the professional qualities of the agent himself or the level of competence of the VST as an organisation.
One can only imagine how much "assistance" the "metropolitan upstart" received in the Kantine. This makes any complex investigation doubly difficult. If not triple.
Contempt, devaluation, small-minded pride and arrogance. An inexplicable fear of the incomprehensible and unexplored. Energy saving mode for limited minds.
To be more educated, more curious, to have superior knowledge was only a reason for additional ridicule. That's what happened to the agent.
Rejected for another reason, Ami sympathised with a stranger.
It's a pity that the investigation of this agent didn't take place during her service – she came later.
Once, under silly circumstances, her curiosity had led her to some interesting lists and reports, which disappeared shortly afterwards. Perhaps they are still somewhere in the depths of the Archive… but very deep.
The new employee, Ami, was simply asked to tidy up the station and wipe the shelves in the official archives in the absence of the secretary. He knew what the real value of these documents was, which were temporarily stored away from the other documents… She would have examined them more closely.
Such a fascinating, mysterious puzzle in the middle of the flat field of boring Kantine everyday life of Order Department.
It was quite intriguing, and she decided to take a closer look at it after carrying out the orders of her superiors with maximum speed and all the zeal of a rookie. If only she had known two important things then. First, the faster you carry out your superiors' orders, the faster you will get the next one. Second, secrets and fortune will not wait forever. Either you do it now, or you go your separate ways.
And of course, a late, quick inspection of the contents of the shelves revealed nothing. There was no way of prying any more.
The Secretary kept the secrets. And he would not tolerate any intrusion into his fabric manor. Ami was pretty sure that the agent had found nothing either.
Although she couldn't shake the thought that she could somehow help a stranger VST guy who was somewhat similar to her, she understood perfectly well that it was too late to do anything.
The case was closed. And maybe even destroyed.
Even if she could find a way to sneak into the Archives under a good pretext and quickly figure out which of the heavy, dusty cabinets contained the necessary information…
How do you copy a document quickly? Absolutely not. They'll definitely notice. And, of course, neither the Secretary nor the Chief would approve, to put it mildly. And Ami did not want to be thrown out of what was practically the only non-planting job in Kantine that allowed her to travel to the Mainland at least occasionally. The job suited the inquisitive mind of the active Amelia, Ami loved her job.
This would be a complete breakdown. Or is there a reason to take it and live in the forest? Hm. Perhaps.
However, due to the specifics of the job, curiosity and initiative were, frankly, never particularly encouraged in her ranks. Which is true for their city in general.
"This is how they lived before us, this is how we will live".
A step in any direction promises a citywide clusterflip.
Somehow, they have deliberately forgotten that it was curiosity and passion for research and exploration that made Prime the great and admirable city it was, starting with a bunch of witches hastily and uncertainly settling on a windy mountain plateau.
…to heights beyond the reach of Amelia…
Witches who did not possess the “basic Kantine virtues”, which are declared to be the basics of survival, demonstrated a fundamentally new way of not only surviving, but thriving.
Yes, the Kantinians also look forward with malicious impatience to the fall of the Witch City from its mountain heights, and eagerly discuss all the real and fictional gossip about it. But unfortunately for everyone, Prime doesn't fall at all. It just grows and gets better.
"And those stupid witches will lose the game."
Aha. Ami would willingly play along with them.
She didn't know any witches personally, but for some reason she felt that potentially such acquaintances might make her life more interesting.
However, she did not try to meet anyone during her business trips to neighbouring towns. Each time, shyness took over and she preferred to familiarise herself with the local food and architecture. An obvious choice, you can't go wrong here.
The tramp grinned sadly, put aside the things she had been clutching thoughtfully in her hands, and critically examined her more than bulging bags, which had been collected absent-mindedly in a total volume comparable to her own size.
Almost everything she need is here. But will it be possible to lift all these sacks? And even if you manage to lift them, how long will you be able to walk with them on your shoulders?
After all, the weight of what you are carrying has a nasty tendency to increase with almost every step you take. Soon everything will be clear.
As clear as a sky in the hot season with three luminaries at the zenith at the same time. In the meantime, she has no intention of taking anything out of her bags. She might even add more.
… Preparing herself as if she were leaving this place for good, and not just for half a cycle. Ay-ay. Dreams, dreams…
Doesn't matter. The main thing is to go. Away from here.
Then, even if not for long, you will definitely go somewhere from here. It doesn't matter where, if there are no specific plans.
They were before they were smashed to pieces, now she is free. Anywhere out there is still better.
Ami threw her bag over her shoulders and tried to walk with it, bouncing slightly.
Well then… No heavier than the daily thoughts in her head.
One thing was annoying. The service woman couldn't sleep properly again. Sunrise is coming soon. And another dreary day.
Challenge accepted. Let it try to surprise her.