... 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.

His 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 service woman 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 service woman entered the Station and immediately encountered the Chief, who was intently examining something on the floor near the one of the visitors' benches in the Waiting Hall.

- Oh! - he noticed Ami entering. - Ready for duty?

- Ahem... No. - she replied honestly.

- Great. - This benevolent employer nicely ignored her passive-aggressive attitude. - Go get ready 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 want to go somewhere, come to me, I'll seal and unseal the entrance and the window for you. That's how we'll do it for now. Confirmation?

- Confirmed. And what happens after "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 like normal people and things will get better. - the Omillian smiled wryly.

True. She knew it.

- Yeah. - 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.

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.