...And she woke up with a shudder.
We overslept!
"No, we haven't."
Judging by the pale purple colour, only the first of the Lumins had risen.
It's still possible to sleep for a while. Just a little nap... Getting out into the cold first working light can wait.
"Don't close your eyes. It's a trap".
Can't sleep anyway. Too anxious...
The legs are still buzzing. Even after a long rest in a dusty bed under a pile of things, getting out only to eat and satisfy some needs.
The vagabond got up reluctantly and slid out from under the covers.
Being late to first working light is no good.
Her feet felt the cold of the mud floor that had cooled overnight. The dirty clay floor that hadn't been cleaned yesterday. And she had been so optimistic about setting everything in order quickly.
Sighing exhaustedly, she shook off her feet and quickly slipped them into her boots. Her feet immediately began to burn unhappily.
Aaaargh...
Limping and shuffling, the wretched servicewoman went to the water trough to wash herself. As if she tried to freeze and wash away all the hopelessness and confusion. How embarrassing to feel so unsettled in the first working light.
The head was disgustingly empty, if you didn't count the ringing in the ears and the foggy, cold feeling of a vague, unremembered, but dreary dream... with contents she didn't want to remember.
The remnants were... unpleasant.
Oooof... The water isn't cold! It's freezing cold!
Amelia stood stunned for a moment near the small water source, shocked by the intense discomfort.
The local water's smell penetrated this paralysing state so brightly. Earth and stone. The freshness. The sharp, vibrant aliveness.
It woke her for a moment, washing the remnants of sleep and warmth from her skin, but it left her unsure of what to do next so as not to add to the already overwhelming discomfort.
Moments later, the obvious decision was made.
The suffering alien shivered wearily and shrank back towards the warm, comfortable pile of things on a bed, cursing and clutching her frozen hands.
Not to dive back into them, she would never get to work if she did that now, but at least to get a scarf. A little bit of warmth. She desperately needed it.
Good thing the Kantinian sleeps in her clothes. Otherwise, it would have been a real disaster. She couldn't imagine having to take off what was protecting her from this morning's chill and put on something just as unpleasantly cold as the surroundings.
In general, Ami's habits and Ami's lifestyle got along quite well. No wonder. This symbiosis had been created and developed over more than one cycle.
"Time to go."
Yesss…
Amelia quickly wrapped her scarf around her neck, picked up the bag she'd packed earlier, and suddenly remembered that she hadn't eaten all the biscuits and flatbreads she'd bought, which meant her bag had some wonderful contents to support her in this anxious light.
What a fantastic discovery to make.
Things aren't so bad after all. There's a cup of coffee waiting for her somewhere in the near future. Together they would get through it.
The Kantinian exhaled and, resolutely straightening her wrinkled clothes with her hands, made her way to the entrance curtain. She bravely stepped out into the foggy, cold, troubled light, heading into the unknown.
The Temple Tower must be found first. It's a landmark.
Then there's nothing left to do but throw away all doubts and get down to business.
The newly hired Templar walked quickly along the kotties through the unknown alleys, hoping that the streets of Omill didn't have too many dead ends, unlike the high fenced streets of Kantine. She hated it with all her heart.
And… she was right about this witch city.
It nicely and wisely didn't have any dead ends, every alley had an exit and every water vein had bridges or could be easily jumped over.
Great. Really great.
Back in the light, Amelia spent a lot of time walking from one point to another in her native city. It wasn't a trivial task, as there were all sorts of fences and barriers to suit the needs of the people who lived in certain houses, and you'd be stuck with them all the time.
This "urban non-planning" turned the usual streets into mazes and greatly increased the time and complexity of getting from one point to another. It didn't allow any newcomer or local to relax while walking around, posing non-trivial tasks like "How do I get to that house I see behind that pile of fences"?
Fortunately, this city was made for people, and its plan was practical and simple. The low buildings of Omill didn't hide the most important landmarks. The fences didn't block the route.
Troubles may lie ahead, but at least the road to them is clear, beautiful and pleasant.
She walked through the Temple Square, staring not only at the architecture, but also at the officials scurrying between the Administration and other Temples buildings. Their uniforms. So humble, practical and solid. And neat.
Amelia looked down at her rumpled, tattered clothes.
For some of these people, the Temples weren't just a place to work. It was their home. Their very way of life.
Would she be happy with that kind of integration?
Well... She could try it now in a light demonstration mode.
The servicewoman entered the Station and immediately encountered the Chief, who was intently examining something on the floor near one of the visitors' benches in the Waiting Hall.
— Oh! — he noticed Ami entering. — Ready for duty?
— Ahem... Not quite. — she replied honestly.
— Brilliant. — This benevolent employer nicely ignored her passive-aggressive attitude. — Go get settled then… I've unsealed the Archive for you already. Keep in mind that you can't leave it unattended for a long time. So if you need to pop out, come to me, I'll seal and unseal the entrance and the window for you. That's how we'll do it for now. Understood?
— Understood. And what happens after "for now"? — asked the Kantinian with a smirk.
He said it as if her incompetence could be overcome through practice.
— You'll learn to be a witch and things will get sorted. — the Omillian smiled wryly.
True. She knew it. It's a sin to laugh at the poor ones though.
— Right. — Amelia grinned. — There's no harm in dreaming.
— Kele. — Milo waved as the handsome, long-haired Selva entered the Hall, heading for the stairs to the second level.
Seemingly lost in thought, he flew past for some distance before the Chief's call caught up with him and reached his mind.
— Yes? — the young man frowned, stopping abruptly and flicking back his glossy black hair. - What's happened?
— Ami. She had come from Kantine to replace Lucy on a Temples communications project. - Milo introduced the new Secretary to another member of staff.
— Ah. Yeah, fine. — The subordinate nodded indifferently and continued on his way.
He doesn't care. And why should he?
Something far more interesting than this news or Ami's personality occupied his thoughts at the moment.
What could it be? Anything, really. Anything that could potentially be more interesting than Ami and her business here.
Milo also introduced her to a couple of more truthful officers who came alongside this handsome Selva man, and their reserved greetings led her to the same thoughts.
No big surprise.
Amelia has gotten used to being ignored or ghosted over the course of her life.
It's much scarier to be unwillingly needed or noticed a lot, which means someone wants to use you in some way.
Uncomfortable prying attention, which would have been even more uncomfortable if she hadn't managed to sneak out of town before the nefarious Fertility Festival started and all those brainless pricks were now congratulating her on the biggest fear of her life.
But... the attention will soon find her when they need their damned documents. And hate her for not being able to find them. And to do her duties in general.
"Focus."
Amelia shook her head, trying to shake off the uncomfortable thoughts that sent an unpleasant shiver down her skin.
It is fine. That's why they're here now. To hide in the shadows and escape attention. Let's get to the workplace. It's the perfect time to start embarrassing yourself. No need to delay the inevitable.
Sighing, the new Archivist grimly accepted her fate and recklessly stepped into the dark future as if diving into a cold lake.
She stepped inside and inhaled the clay-smelling air.
Not the future, her "now" was literally dark.
Without the help of Lucy and her witchy skills, the room seemed even darker and more sinister.
The new employee looked around the seemingly different room.
Not much space... no light. Just a small window on the wall and another looking out into the Hall. A large table stretching from one small window to the next took up most of the room. And a lot, a lot of oppressive shelves.
The air carried the heavy clay smell of these flat monsters, looming over the non-witch with a huge wall of impossible tasks.
There's... no air, really! Panic! Run outside, we're going to die here!
Dizzy again, Amelia collapsed impotently into a familiar chair, fortunately standing in the same place. It was her only ally in her fight against a mountain of information that was about to bury her.
A nightmare?! It's a nightmare again...
The Kantinian unconsciously used her farmer's mind tool and pinched her ear a little... Not a little.
Ouch. No. It's real... More than real!
Er... Panic?
"Stop panicking yourself. It doesn't help."
If you say so... But how?!
"Panic comes last in a list. It's a normal work situation. We should ask the boss to bring some lights".
Exactly! Why didn't he do it when he opened the Archive?!
"He forgot."
That's... a mockery!
"No. Don't overthink it. Just ask him for help."
Right... No. Not now. I've had enough of getting humiliated. For now. I don't want to talk to anyone... I really need to calm down. Wait... I know! We need a break. To have more time for acceptance.
The secretary looked around her tiny office, glancing hopefully through the small window at the coffee table.
No one. No one was there. Even Milo was gone.
She looked away from the saving light of the window in disappointment and plunged back into the darkness of her current existence.
"Remember. You don't want to go back to your hometown. That's why we're here. You chose it."
I don't want to be there either... It's so scary. Don't want to be...anywhere now. It's too much... But you're right, though. Coming here was not my idea... but staying here is mine.
Amelia wiped the cold sweat from her face and neck.
Daring to stand up and exhale, she decided to approach her huge clay opponent before reporting the unacceptable working conditions to the Chief.
By the way, her eyesight had adapted, and she knew she'd be able to see better in the dark. This is especially true when her eyes have adjusted to the environment and the panic has subsided a little and given way to a certain curiosity. What do the labels say?
"Dispute between Illa and Ehi", "Missing things in Aiko's forestry", "Investigation of the place in the Forest where Unknown was found", "Dahlia's loss".
Hmm. Strange records... Now that's more interesting.
Aiko should panic, not Ami, when such things happen in the domains under his control.
Amelia quickly pulled out a tablet.
It turned out to be not one, but a pile of thin witchgraphs... from a small piece of... cloth(?)... Not sure... with strange symbols on it...
...Interesting...
It's almost impossible, but... she thinks... she's seen similar ones. But where?
Amelia strained her memory.
...Her mother's notes?.. Perhaps...
...there's a notation. "The evidence is in Milo's vault." Aha...
The Chief gets all the tasty things. It is fine…
Ami admired the signs with an intense curiosity lurking all the fears.
…What marvellous lines and squiggles....
— Lucy! — came from the open window.
"AAAAAH!"
Ami jumped up, almost dropping the fragile tablet on the floor.
The panic! It came back again and even tripled the value.
Oh!.. That was… really unexpected!
But Lucy… isn't even here. We're occupying her cubicle. And we're rummaging through official materials! How embarrassing…
Should we… hide?
No. We've already been seen. Let's pretend it's meant to be like that. Act naturally. Be confident.
— Lucy's… not here... — Ami said in a dumb, uncertain tone, struggling with a dry throat.
"You are "Lucy now". You can't hide from it."
Oh. Riiiight!.. What a… terrible discovery.
— …I'm in her place. — the Kantinian added unwillingly in a completely slumped voice.
— Oh, sorry! Yes, of course. — realised someone on the other side. - Milo told me. What's your name again?
— Am…elia.— mumbled hoarsely the Archivist began to come round.
"Why all this officialism and our full name?"
Hate it too. I'm scared. It doesn't matter.
— I'm Rayleen. — A visitor introduced herself, a striking blonde, as far as the window allowed one to see from the darkness into the light of the Hall. — I need my latest files updated.
The Archivist squinted. It was difficult to see from the dark room into the more or less bright Hall. Anyway, Amelia didn't remember this face... because... she was extremely bad at remembering faces in general.
Rayleen... right?
The one who came looked so bright and great from this angle... What's she doing here? With such a distinguished appearance, a well-pitched voice and a strong-willed manner, she could work in Omill's Chief Crew. Or even in the Monarchical Court of Prime...
"She's looking for files she needs to do her job."
But how are we going to find anything? There's an endless Ocean of reports and everything!
"It's just a bunch of shelves. It's an Archive. There was a human being who worked here before. We can do it too".
Maybe.
— Recent... files. — Ami repeated stupidly, then shook her head decisively. — Look... I don't really know... the contents of these shelves here. If you can name their list, I'll try to find them. And even after that... I have no idea where they are, especially in this clay Aeon. So. It will take some time... Sorry about that.
Rayleen hummed.
— Alright... Try searching for "Strange loud noise in the Forest". It's not the only one. Give me all the ones you find and I'll pick the right one. Although... you know. I'll help you and myself. Just give me a compilation of the latest. I'll take what I need.
— Thanks…
I guess. I'm not sure anything in the world can help me now. But thanks.
...How to find it... Where to look?
...Panic?
An extremely unpleasant cold sweat returned. Not for the last time in this workplace, it seems. Ami has to do the laundry afterwards. But she doesn't know where and how to do it in this city...
Why *everything* is so complicated?!
"Because there are a lot of difficulties. First things first. Find the damn report".
Yessss… Trying... No! Not trying! I can't! I can't concentrate! Just walking around in circles here... It brings on more panic!
"Do. Do something."
I'm doing it!
"Panicking again doesn't count."
…Flip you…
The Kantinian walked slowly, as if in a nightmare, towards the wall of tablets that went up into the darkness. And now her eyes darkened and she felt dizzy....
…Flip it all… Bring the gnats every piece of dung from their swamps here…
She rested her hand on the edge of the table and closed her eyes. Red spots flickered and faded under the closed lids. Blood rushed to her cheeks.
...Everything is out of control. It's over...
"Think, Ami... think."
"The last cases must be close. You don't need to check all the plates here."
"Lucille said something about there being a system in the arrangement of the boards."
The newer ones... are lower, the older ones are higher... like trees... But... a roundel of swamp dwellers... Where could the case be in the huge lower part of this "tree"?!
"We need more time".
Definitely... More time to panic, swear and accept.
The new Secretary opened her eyes in a flash.
— I... I can't find anything. — She admitted hoarsely. — Not even the latest cases. What... other cases would you need? I'll try to memorise... No. I'll write them down and try to find them. I have to find out where and what is here anyway. But now I've no idea, really.
— So. "Noises in the Forest", as I said. And "The Warehouses. A missing sack of ilpa".
— A sack of ilpa! — the Kantinian scoffed nervously. — Swamp dwellers... Who cares about a whole sack of this cheap silt?
It was a relief to hear something familiar. Something that reminded her of the experience she was trying to escape was now refreshing and even encouraging. Things she hadn't mastered back home.
— Well. We'll try to find out. — Rayleen shook her head. — It probably fell off a self-propelled vehicle and they didn't notice... It's not within the Station's jurisdiction. But Milo has promised to help them.
— Interesting...
The captured operative found the courage to approach the void of frightening amounts of information.
Searching. Not panicking. Look for "warehouses". The latest ones. Do it.
...Wow!! You won't believe it! There's one... about a sack!
The Archive newcomer was all about screaming and jumping. She's insane! She's doing it! She's a monster! Her first find!
Not the missing sack itself, of course, but at least something within the limits of her new profession... it's a good start.
It doesn't feel so bleak and hopeless here anymore, although it's still a weird job. The wall of tablets wasn't so invincible, though it's still tough. There's something to be found in this clutterflip.
"The emerging roots of the joy of being a clay digger, what do they call it here?"
Oh, shut up... Don't spoil the moment of triumph.
"Look. It has a little green label in a hole."
Yes! So small, almost invisible... Especially in the dark. We have to visit a boss... if they'll give us a break!
— Well, here! — Puffing contentedly, the Archivist hurriedly pushed the tablet through the drop window. — I found the sack! Uh... Information about the sack, I mean... Is this it?
The officer took the trophy from Amelia's trembling hands and examined the documents carefully.
— Yes, that's it. — Rayleen nodded.
So patient! But there's more to find... Damn swamps...
"It should be somewhere near the empty space from the document we just retrieved, supposedly... These are the last cases."
"Look at the labels. Rayleen said it was her case."
The bag... Did we find it here? Or there? I don't remember... The Forest, the Forest... Or... Noise, noise... There's nothing even close...
The rookie quickly scanned the labels again. They began to blur treacherously before her eyes. Stop it.
"Hey. Look! I think I've noticed something... Look there. A label. "Rayleen's". You missed it last time."
What? Missed what? Everything's so stressful, like a nightmare... Ah, yes! Grabbing. Trying not to smash this tablet... Here we go.
— I'm... Not sure about this. Is this it? - Amelia held out the document with a hopeful question.
— That's it. — the Station officer confirmed shortly.
The Lumins bless you! You see? It's not that scary and hopeless. Well, scary, but not hopeless.
— And what... was that noise?
Encouraged, Ami suddenly became curious.
— Some rumbling in the night... Like the others in various parts of the Forest. We found nothing suspicious in the direction the locals had pointed out.
Raeleen seemed to have made some indefinable gesture that manifested itself in the dark room as an eerie shadow running across the shelves.
An odd effect.
— Interesting... And what... part of the Forest it was?
"Leave her alone, chatterbox. You can read the reports yourself."
It's... quicker to ask. I'm trying to buy time and distract her.
— In the part closest to the city. And in the farthest parts too. Everywhere.
— And?
— There was nothing. And nothing again. The Forest is full of nothing that stands out. But Milo is still inconsolable, hoping to find something.
The servicewoman snorted slightly irritatedly, but it seemed she was in no mood for jokes. Raeleen sounded more puzzled than annoyed. And there was also fear and fatigue. Something that had happened lately was definitely bothering her. It was the same intonation in Milo's voice. Something frightening and disturbing to him. And infuriating for Finnian.
— Interesting… — Amelia repeated, making another attempt to find the other documents.
But it was as fruitless as "the noisy business" of this Station. The labels were small. The letters on them were indistinct in the dark and due to Ami's panic.
The amount of which Rayleen had suddenly decided to increase.
— Ooh! I remembered something! There's something else I need... Look for "a missing book from the Witchery Archives". I also need this case while Faella is busy.
— Oh... Someone really likes to read, huh? - Amelia tried to sound nonchalant as she broke into another cold sweat.
— It's unlikely to be given to anyone. Except trainees and those with clearance. But there was no record of anyone taking it.
— Interesting… — the word stuck in our frightened Secretary's mind.
And Rayleen doesn't seem to mind chatting either... Good. Despite the huge, awkward pauses as Ami tries to find the document and the right words to say.
But... This is really interesting!
...What kind of book was it? She wants to read the Witchium book too. Someone is so lucky! All of Witchium is lucky.
And a thief. We at least need to know what the book was about. But there's another problem.
There's no tablet around the empty spaces of the newly retrieved cases... Even after examining this empty space for thirty times.
No, there's no hope. These cold, unforgiving mountains of clay would bury them here.
— Ah... Which cycle was it?
Final attempt.
— Not sure... It's not my case, it's Faella and Talla's. Hm... I don't remember. I don't know what date it is. We didn't even notice it was missing when Finnian complained. Well, they read it out, it'll be returned. And nobody knows exactly when the book went missing. So messed up.
Oh great… Find no one knows what somewhere you wouldn't find ever.
Ami continued to frantically rummage through all the shelves along the shelf. This depressingly hypnotic activity had already reduced the panic somewhat, but still increased the dizziness.
"You know she can't wait forever. Say something... what a mature woman like you would say in this case. Admit the obvious."
Right...
Luckily, from the bright hallway in the darkness of the room, Rayleen didn't notice Ami blushing.
— So... This is going to take a while... As I said. Thank you for your patience! And your insights into the cases. I can't find anything now.
— Don't beat yourself up.
If only she could. Despite the fact that no one is beating her from the outside now, she's already internalised this pattern of behaviour from her homeland, where a dozen or two venomous comments about her intellectual abilities and her functionality in general will be commonplace in this case. Even though she had never worked as a Secretary before. Mistakes were absolutely unacceptable, everyone in Kantene was supposed to be perfect from the start of their careers and lives.
But no one was, and it didn't help anyone to beat themselves into powerlessness and ruin their beginnings.
And the inner fire of unbearable shame, burning like that, spread further. Ami blushed even more, as if it were possible. Blood pulsed in her ears and at the back of her neck.
This impeccably elegant and condescending Omillian had sympathised with her. And there was absolutely nothing Ami could do in return. Not even to make her work easier or faster. In fact, she was an obstacle. For everyone and since her birth.
— First of all, you're here for the first light. — Rayleen brought her out of her dark stupor. - Secondly, some tablets may have already been taken. Look at Lucy's journal.
— That's probably what happened... - Ami agreed quietly. - I can't find the journal here either... It's so dark here... I have to find Milo first. He must enlighten me about a lot of things here.
"This is no excuse for your incompetence."
— Oh, I had a vague feeling that something was wrong here, but I couldn't put my finger on it! Now I see. Why aren't you?.. - the Omillian sounded confused. - Oh! You just can't. Because you're a non-witch.
— Yesss. I'm almost blind here.
— What kind of performance do you expect then? Well... Solve your initial problems, then we can talk. I think I'll change my plans and go to the Warehouse first. Good luck...
— Wait! You've been so patient, I'm so grateful... I would like to do something in return. Let me bring the documents when I find them.
"What are you doing?!"
— Alright. — agreed the officer.
- Great. Do you need anything else? I'm searching, and I'm already buried by these tons of clay, a few more documents won't be a critical amount for my grave.
"We're doomed now."
Rayleen laughed.
— Hmm... If you're sure. I'll need copies of the latest reports on the cured ones. All of them.
— Accepted.
"Write it down quickly! Or you'll be embarrassed twice."
More than twice.
Amelia rushed to her bag and began another search for writing utensils, hearing footsteps in the Hall out of the corner of her ear. She heard the truthful officer cross the room with a firm, unhurried stride and walk away. Leaving Amelia once more alone in the dark.
The Kantinian's gaze fell on a faint ray of light falling from a small window into a large, bright, interesting world outside... Her bag, unlike the shelves, can be moved closer to the window. And it will help her to find everything she needs there. If we're able to find anything at all here.
"You will. We've already found something. But it will be a lot easier if we find Milo first."
Right. I hope for some ease. We need some dopamine.Finding Milo will be a crucial achievement that will bring the other achievements in our way.
...Finian's book... the cured... the... noise? Have we found the noisy plate for them? Doesn't matter... We'll write it down when we find a damned stick...
The stick and the juice of the writing berries were there, a little dried up, but it was quite possible to crack it open and write something. The main thing was not to forget what you wanted to write while you were looking for it.
...Swamp squelches! We will find the documents. We might. But where would we find Rayleen?!
"On a second level."
But how will we know the difference?! We couldn't get a look at her face through the blindingly bright window in this hurry... What if there are many graceful blondes here?!
...a book, cured, a noise? Noise too... or not? Just write it down with a question mark...
— Lucy. — came from the window.
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
Ami was scared again. But now she realised who they were talking to. And that hiding was useless.
— I'm... here instead. — Amelia replied in a shaking, nervous voice.
— Oh. You're not Lucy! — Someone outside had made a great discovery.
Splendid.
— That's right. — She agreed hoarsely. — But what am I supposed to be looking for? Let me finish writing down the previous cases I haven't found.
— Oh. You... didn't?
— No. - Ami confessed. — All I can do is add it to my list of failures. I am sorry. What shall I add?
— A list of items missing from Finnian's vault. — The other side reacted with embarrassment and sympathy.
Add... Horror, horror, horror, horror! One more person to fail!
"Easy. Even easier."
— They were just asked… by Rayleen... And we haven't found them. I was about to start to look for Lucy's journal instead. But it's also hopeless.
— Look. Talla might actually have the cases by now. I'll look for them.
— Oh, thank you so much!
— So. You ended up working here. I'm Davin, by the way. In case you don't remember.
As if to underline his words, the dark-haired, bearded truth officer rested his chin on the window visor, showing his face.
Ami was slightly taken aback by the approaching, menacing talking head that had suddenly appeared in the room, blocking out almost all the meagre remnants of light from the Hall.
— I... remember you! I destroyed your coffee. Good to see you. I'm also glad you need something I already couldn't find, not something new... Because as the number of things on my list increases, my panic level increases disproportionately. And in moments of panic, I forget how to speak and even stop understanding a foreign language. Even being an experienced multilinguist.
— Don't! - the service man smiled. — Don't panic then. Poor one. You speak Omillian so well so we keep forgetting it's foreign to you.
— Thanks! I make a lot of mistakes, but…
— Coping. Personally, I definitely wouldn't be able to cope with a new job under such conditions. It's hard to adapt to working in a foreign department where everything is organised very differently from what you're used to. Don't be too hard on yourself.
"He's so niiiice!"
— Yes, yes, yes! So true... And working outside my profession brings problems.
"Just because he's nice doesn't mean he's interested in our complaints. Who's at ease these lights?"
— You were a courier.
— I was also an operative.
— An operative? — the Templar was taken aback. — What a surprise. Our Lucy is now going to separate drunk people fighting with garden tools and look for traces of trampled fields?
He shook his shadowy head disapprovingly.
- More like counting sacks of orgama and getting a lot of blame because he can't tell the difference between that and ishitsa... If they put her in my place. The Kantine is a quiet place, you know. Sometimes too much. When I joined, I wanted chases, investigations and high-profile cases... Like the VST. But there was none of that. Most of the time. There was one unprecedented incident... but it kind of melted away quickly.
— Omill was pretty quiet too, you know... Until recently. It's so hectic now. And it feels like we are dealing with VST level stuff... None of us understand it. I don't envy those VST people. Personally, the level of stress I have here every light is enough for me.
— I think I'd rather have VST privileges than be here where my stress level is off the charts for nothing. The fights and chases I've had during my service couldn't have freaked me out as much as this little room with its seemingly endless amount of clay, where you desperately need to find something in the midst of this Aeonness. Sounds like the stuff of nightmares. PTSD guaranteed.
— Ask for time off for treatment afterwards.
— If I survive it. Do you need anything else apart from what you have kindly decided to find for me?
— Yes. Find me the correspondence with Prime Royal Laboratories from the cycle before last. I need the blood test results.
— Oh, that's a real horror... I'll write it down...
Oh, no, the inkwell, don't fall! We don't need the black juice on the floor, we need it on our cloth. Damn darkness...
Ami went back to the shelves.
"Cycle before... You need to look higher up. And look for references to Prime on the labels."
Now you're helping, aren't you?... Labels... Prime, Labs... Labs, Prime.
"Closer to the entrance are the reports, further from the curtain are the cases, in the middle are the correspondence..."
Thank you, prompting boggarts... Can you always be so cooperative?
Talking to friendly people really helps to work and feel better. Finding something to do without a panicky throat and blood pounding in your ears is much easier. Still hard though...
...Prime... Here. The dispatches from Prime...
"Look. It's here. Here."
Fascinating... It really starts to work when it's quiet inside for a moment, doesn't it? Let's have a look...
She held the found tablet up to the light of the Hall window.
— This one?
— Yes, thank you.
— Splendid!
The Secretary smiled weakly as she wiped her sweaty palms on the clothes.
— It will be alright soon. You'll see. - Davin winked encouragingly and headed for the second level.
— I really hope so!
Ami sat back in her chair.
"So. We won again?"
There's more to come, but yes. For now. There will be no end to them. And it will be forever.
"Half of the cycle."
She glanced at the plate that had recently caught her eye. They definitely should find a time to examine it before the nightmare is over.
"She would learn to work here and lose her operational skills at the same time. To settle down, unmoving in Kantine, just like her mother."
…No!! Never.
Amelia may be somewhat immobile now, but at least she's frozen in a new place. In a new pose, so to speak. How comfortable it is is another question. You have to make the best of it, one way or another.
"Right. We've got treats."
Treats! That's much better. We should eat right away.
Ami stood up, dug into her bag and pulled out some flatbread. She took a big bite and started to chew.
Mmm. That's the taste... It's not a good idea to nibble on problems in a hurry, but... there's no other tranquilliser at hand. So delicious. It's a kind of biscuit miracle.
Where had we seen the strange tablet we had almost dropped?
"Strange signs on found scraps". Here it is. It was not difficult to find it. It always happened when she was interested in the results.
The Archivist quickly went to a small outer window and lifted the translucent document to eye level to see if she could see through it.
They were witch-burned recordings of evidence found during the search. Ami didn't know what the location was marked with.
She took a closer look at the signs, turning the tablet slightly. Voluminous witchgraphs themselves had always fascinated her, not to mention images of some strange alien writing... So alien and so... familiar.
Hmm. Have to check the mother's notes.
"Shall we look for a missing Finnian's stuff?"
Davin promised to find it.
"And if he won't?"
One moment... Let's have another spicy flatbread while we investigate. We're on a break.
"Oh, lovely."
What are these signs… are so curious. So beautiful. Where had she seen them before? It wasn't just the notes. There was something else... Something... from her childhood. Strange feelings. Strange feelings. But what exactly?
What are they? Do they glow by themselves? Like ones with a little halos?
The Secretary turned the plate a little more in her hands. What an effect. It's probably just a Suns glow. It's hard to tell when you're standing with the transparent thingy against the window.
Ami stepped away and put the tablet on the desk, on top of the issues log. It's great to be in touch with something curious and with the light again.
The windows here are so small. Just like a room itself. It's not clear if it's for the safety of the documents or just to annoy someone who works here.
She sat down, pulled the tablet closer and hovered over it for a moment. But the markings were no longer visible against the dark background. The illumination was also a temporary effect.
An unpleasant chill was another temporary effect observed here, but it became a frequent guest. And now it was running down her neck and making the hair on her arms stand up.
Instinctively, the Kantinian quickly checked her palm and neck. No, nothing stuck to her skin. Just nerves. Stress.
Amelia sprang to her feet. She should go out for some air.
"And for some Milo for some light."
She went to the door curtain, but stopped suddenly to listen. Something wasn't right... The Templar had only noticed how quiet the hall had been for the last few moments... Abnormally, unnaturally quiet.
Only some soft whispering and pomping of her heart could be heard. That... must have been the way the conversation going on outside was heard here.
...Something's not right here anyway.
A shiver ran down her neck and down her legs again, making Ami jump out hastily.
A dense and bright reality descended upon her, slightly deafening and blinding her for a while. This was despite the fact that the Hallway was the usual semi-darkness. There was no sound like a whisper. And no people. There was no one.
...Enough of that.
The service woman walked quickly through the Hallway, feeling her fears diminish with each step. Milo had asked her not to leave the Archives for too long. Well, she wouldn't be for long.
Besides, if she stood near the door, she could watch it. And workers and strangers could easily find her. Probably. It doesn't matter. She needs to have some rest.
It's so nice here... So quiet. Cosy seats, soft lights and the smell of coffee. Can we work from here? Or at least stay here for a while?
By the way, there are some sounds. The muffled voices of people talking in a corridor on the second level. And maybe Moki's office. The Chief's office was sealed with a privacy spell, the Archivist knew that.
She looked around and exhaled a sigh of relief.
The recent panic and fear felt so small and unimportant now. How many times had she chased them away. Countless. And she could do it again.
"Yeah. Don't make stuff up."
"We look odd enough here. We don't want to be shunned again."
"Not here. Not by all these nice people."
We will. Sooner or later. You can't fool people's instincts. People can lie, but their instincts can't. If the mental illness is contagious it has a point.
"Whispers in the dark is a fine reason to be kicked out of any service."
And any society.
She shook her head, pushing her thoughts away at last.
Sitting in a cosy Hall was so satisfying. No darkness, no whispers, no chills. No tablets. But it's extremely unproductive, like any other pleasant occupation.
Shall we get back to work?
"Yes. Why, is there any other way?"
I wish there was.
Ami sighed again, got up and walked grudgingly to her workplace.
And just in time. On her way to her cave, she spotted someone who had been standing there quietly and unnoticed for some time. Someone she had already met during a coffee break when she came down from the second level.
Donny. She thought that was his name. She gave him a nod of greeting and quickly slipped back into the dark Archives.
— Ami! I need something from you… Getting settled in here?
— A bit... Donny, right? So glad I've learned at least one name... And you're the first person who hasn't called me Lucy, by the way. Thank you. I'll remember your name in return.
— It wouldn't have occurred to me to call you Lucy. We were introduced. — The employee was surprised. — Give me the reports on the purple market for the last cycle, please.
— I'll do my best.
Even if it's the worst by the Station standards.
Ami turned to the invincible tablet colossus to continue the battle when Donny called out to her.
— I need to return something as well. Here, take this.
The officer passed a small stack of tablets through the window. Oh.
— All right. — Ami took them with deliberate cheerfulness.
What to do with these? Well. At least we won't have to look for it.
Cheer up to become cheerful. Or mimic it if you can't.
Ami slumped back in her chair and stacked the plates on the table.
"We don't have to look for them, yes. But we have to put them back where they belong."
Right... I have no idea where they might be.
"That's the point."
— Oh... - she said aloud. — A terrible thing. I have no idea where they were. I can put them on the table and that's all.
— You can also put them on the floor. — Donny chuckled. — They're flat and everything. Ask Milo! There's a reason he wears the Chief hat around here.
— Yeah. - Amelia agreed. — I can put the tablets in his hat too... What did you say? I forgot... I should write it down, I'm so easily distracted.
— The Purple Market. — Patiently reminded the Templar. — The Purple Mushroom market. For the last little cycle.
— Thank you... The reports for the last minor should be... somewhere here...
"Or somewhere out there. That guy's going to be stuck at our window for Aeons."
- Donny. - she asked, fumbling desperately and without much hope on the shelves. - How do the plaques move up when they become obsolete? Does Lucy keep moving them up so that the latest ones are at the bottom? How does she get there?
"Don't get distracted, please. You'll forget what you're looking for again."
— Yes, she does, but not manually, of course. Every half cycle you have to go up one level and operate the mechanism there. But I don't think you'll have to do that. Lucy will be back before then. Or Milo will do it.
— Interesting... Yes.
Ami passed the bottom two rows and went to the third.
"It's fruitless."
— I wish I had asked Lucy about the plaque system in more detail... Just a general outline. — the Secretary added, as if apologising for her slowness.
— As I recall, one side with the reports and the other with the incidents. But I could be incorrect. I don't think there's any sorting by location... Maybe there is. I am not sure.
— Thank you... We're both clueless, but unfortunately I'm a Secretary here... Could we swap? Even for a moment?
— You want me to do your job for you? — sniggered the service man. — Of course I can.
— If it's not too much trouble.
— Not too much. I can also take your lunch and your time off later.
— Whatever you want. I'm already dead anyway. This job is lethally stressful. And local food portions are so bog small! I've been living half-starved all the time here. I'm not going to live to see my time off I swear! I'm about to be buried under these clay killers.
Donny sighed sympathetically, came into the chamber and gave the Archivist a disapproving look.
— Ami, have you tried lighting a lamp? It would be a lot easier to find something than trying to do it in the semi-darkness. Are you sabotaging?
Donny held his palm over the lamp and it glowed softly.
— What's the point of it? — Ami shrugged. — I can't find anything with or without the light... At least I had an excuse. But actually, I can't physically light it. To be true.
— Why is that? Oh... well. — Donny has realised. — You're not a witch. I forgot.
— I'm not a Secretary either. But I'm here. In the most inappropriate workplace in the world.
— So why did you accept this job?
— The alternatives were worse. The way I saw it… I'd expected to encounter difficulties here, but I didn't expect them to be of such quality and quantity.
By this time, the Truth Officer was already rummaging through the shelves. It was clear that he was better and more successful at it than Ami was.
How did he manage to be competent in several areas of their Station at the same time? He's not only working on cases, he's also able to find them in this huge wall of tablets.
— Well. Cheer up, Ami. You'll make it. You're just starting out. Everything's hard at first...
Oh. He's really supportive... So nice.
— ..no one here will ask you to do anything supernatural. At least they didn't before... I just messed around until I learnt everything.
More encouragement than criticism... Unbelievable. Priceless.
Tears of surprise came to Ami's eyes again. Away, away, away!
"Why so bitter? Not grateful?"
Gnat off.
— Th..thank you. — Ami could barely get it out. — It's so nice of you...
— Oh, here we go... I found everything! — Donny waved the suitcases triumphantly.
— Damn well done! — Ami smiled wryly, still frozen inside, still trying to hold back tears.
Donny made a mock ceremonial bow and left.
The service woman smiled and sat down heavily at the table, the clay surface of which was already wet from the tears dripping down Ami's cheeks.
What if she was a good thinker, quick to learn new things, easy to get along with, not over-dramatising everything? She'd be great at life and any job. But she isn't. She's just a deeply depressed Ami with a heavy head.
"Stop it. We'll get a headache. It's already a mess."
"Stop turning a useless thing into an impediment."
Gnat off, I said.
Amelia wiped away her tears and stood up quickly.
All right, they're distracted again, but they need to be distracted in a different way. Something else she needed to find. Find herself lost in the thoughts and get back to work. Then find the documents. Step by step.
The first thing to do is to organise the panicky, chaotic records of her logbook. At least the to-do list must be clear and helpful.
Lucille has a terrible job, we have to admit... It's hard to imagine anyone spending their whole working life like this. They had Archives in the Kantine and Ami never really thought about what it's like to serve here all the time. Pure agony.
She used to think that if she had direct access to the records, she'd be able to read the amnesia cases. But now she had no illusions. No, no and no.
There's simply no time to study for yourself here. You're always looking for something, giving something, taking something and putting it back. There is no time for research or reading... but the very thought of it is interesting.
Working for her own curiosity will be a nice relief and a good reward for all she has to go through here.
There was a faint murmur from the other side of the window. Ami perked up.
— Milo said we have a new girl. We haven't been introduced. — A playful, ingratiating woman's voice rang out. — I'm Faella. What do I call you again?
Ami jumped involuntarily, snapped out of her thoughts and took a quick look at the visitor. The lamp that Donny had lit illuminated the face of the Selva as she gazed into the room with interest.
Beautiful, with lovely semi-dark skin and straight, shiny black hair, but not as aloof and seemingly indifferent to almost everyone and everything as all the Selvas Ami had met.
— Lucy. — Surprised, Ami unexpectedly introduced herself by the former Secretary's name. — Sorry! I almost believe it myself. Everyone here calls me that. It's only my inability to make sense or order in this clay chaos that brings me back to reality. I'm Ami.
— Hello, Ami-Lucy! — She smiled sweetly. — Don't hurry things, it will be fine.
Why were strangers always telling her what she should tell herself? And how could they not have the shame to be so nice that it made her weep uncontrollably again.
"Grateful. Not weeping."
— Thank you! And... What's the occasion for me to demonstrate my powerlessness again? — Ami smiled wryly.
— The data on the recent disappearances of... people. Yes. We're dealing with humans now. I think the paperwork and shipments are already being handled by the others.
— Uh-huh... Yes... I've been asked a lot today...
The Archivist turned away from the window and returned to the depths of her lair and despair.
— Waaaaaah... — she sobbed loudly. — I have no idea where to find this... Sorry.
"You didn't try! Since it's the last suitcase, it's downstairs."
"Do it. Nice and easy."
It's not nice and easy at all. There's so many of these cases! Lucy will come back and find them before we do. It's hopeless.
"Maybe it is. Then let's add it to the list of problems."
The tired rookie turned back to the window.
— Can't find it. Sorry about that. I'll add it to my list. And I'll bring it to you later. Is that all right? So you don't have to stand there.
— All right. I'm on level two, at the end of the corridor. — the Templar agreed cheerfully. — Take my old cases as well. And take a look at the Finnian witch survey. Will you?
Ami took a few plates and placed them thoughtfully in a growing pile on the table.
Everyone's getting interested in this Finnian case. It seems that his fiery speech was impressive and had a lot of success here.
— Mm-hmm. I promised it to someone... Rayleen, I think. Can't remember.
— You can ask her on the way. Rayleen is also on the second floor, in the middle of the corridor.
— Thank you.
Will do... As soon as we get the knowledge what Rayleen looks like. And how many blondes there are in the Station, and whether they all look stunning. And sometimes they are stunning in the literal sense of the word.
Ami heard the soft footsteps of Selva moving gracefully away.
What was her name? We certainly wouldn't be able to separate this Selva from the other beautiful women of her nation. They all looked equally marvellous with their smooth dark skin and shining black hair. Not telling that all humans are equally non-memorable.
"We will ask. Yes, it will be awkward, but it's not the first time, right?"
Right. Never mind. There's no time for anthropological research now. The important thing is to write down the last task quickly.
...Swamp bastards, what am I supposed to write it on?! This cloth is full.
Ami stood up and walked over to her bag and rummaged through it, hoping to find at least a small piece of writing tissue - she should have had some with her.
Having found a cloth, Ami sat down at the table and opened a can of juice to write again. What kind of swamp bites did Selva want there...?
Everything had already slipped the mind.
The last thought was that everyone was concerned with... Finnian's business. Yes. It's not about him now... It's not about the book either. It's something else. Writing it down as it is. Maybe we'll remember it later.
"Rather not."
Don't increase the panic. There was something else. What's the first thing?
Ami looked around.
Donny's lit lamp mercilessly outlined the ever-increasing volume of problems. There's such a mess of these tablets… They're lying on the table and near it being pulled off the shelf indiscriminately.
"Oh, come on. Focus. Try to remember. What else?"
Something about the Temple Witches. What could have happened there? Did anyone get hurt or anything go missing again?
Yes. An apprentice from the Chief Witch's department was injured. That's what he said. But that's not our case.
Missing... Yes, something or someone is missing. Not Finnian's stuff this time. Or not just Finnian's... The latest missing persons report. Missing... Yes! Missing persons.
"Write it down quickly."
Writing. There was something else.
"Later."
Yes. Let's do this search. People are missing everywhere on the Continent by the way. Got lost or died in the woods. Went off in search of a new life. Without telling anyone.
Ami herself was once involved in finding a woman who'd taken an heirloom to retaliate against her family. And the fugitive was never found.
The VST would find her quickly. But their presence would certainly not be tolerated by Kantinian pride.
Very well. Let's search for the missing "Omill Missing Persons" file. Hopefully this search will have better results.
"Missing part of a shipment from Lima"... "Missing package of building clay". "Missing persons from customs". Persons? Yes. Four of them, in fact. Creepy.
They're "missing" a lot here. It will be difficult to find the exact one.
There was a rustle outside the window, which Ami's brain quickly labelled as unwelcome.
— Lucy. Could you get me a... — another extremely undesirable sound was heard.
— No! — the Secretary growled, still searching the shelves.
"Oops. That was rude."
It was rude indeed, yes.
There was a tense moment of silence. The busy service woman turned quickly to the window and hurriedly approached to see who had caused her unintentional anger.
It was... the Selvian man Milo had introduced her to earlier.
— Sorry. — She added guiltily, looking at the surprised Templar. — I really can't! I've got a bunch of things to find and I'm already overloaded… Missing files on missing people. And stuff like that.
— Well then... — The truthful one frowned. — Should I... come back later?
— Yes, please... Oh no! Wait. Let me add a task to my list and bring what you need to the office.
— The latest inventory of the Main Warehouse.
— Alrighty…
She's lying, there's very little good in it.
Not intending to repeat her mistakes, Ami immediately slumped back in her chair, opened the can of juice, armed herself with a writing stick and began to slowly and carefully scribble her last task on the cloth.
"...and may the ghouls take it all away," she added calligraphically at the end of the list, maintaining an outwardly impassive stare.
Her reserves of anger and panic were running low. There was no point in all this. She wouldn't last long here anyway.
She herself wouldn't last long in this mode, even if these wonderful people maintained their patience and benevolence for a few more lights.
Amelia drew a ritual mound with a twig at the end of the entry and was about to resume searching for the requested documents when her eyes fell back on the witchcraft signs she'd found at the beginning of this annoying light.
She should redraw them and look for similar ones in her mother's notes and elsewhere. While she is here. Or maybe she can even... visit the big local Archives. Like the Witch ones.
The truthful ones had probably been there, looking for similar information. And under the mountain of tablets behind her back there was probably a detailed report of the work done to study it. But it will take an Aeon to find anything here if you don't know where and what you're looking for.
And Ami can't even find what she needs to do her job.
...Blow it all into the Ocean and eat it there by the Maras…
But if her time here is short, she should make what she can of what she has. And to do the best she can with the best she has. There's nothing else to do.
The Secretary sighed resignedly and returned to her deadly epic quest.