…Mimicking, sarcastic remarks... silent ignoring or smirking... She's had enough of that in her whole dung life. At home, among siblings and others, at work... Big gulps of it, in full abundance, everything you want from this set, Ami, everything is for you… 

The Kantinian growled softly from the anger that had surged up and plopped down on the couch with a pile of unpacked things in her hands. 

…Wouldn't it be better to crawl somewhere and never come out again, never come in contact with anyone or anything?.. 

Yes. If only everything was that simple. Anyway, everything is pointless. Everything…

“We're being unproductive again.”

Definitely… It's better not to think about it now. 

It's no more but a story. The ridiculous story of one stupid life. 

“Surely there are many much more interesting thoughts in that head.”

Right. Some can be rejected, even if they are not just plain weirdos like us, but outstanding people, which the VST agents definitely are. Or, maybe even, they were rejected because of being eminent. Remember that strange case when our Temples compromised its principles by asking the VST to send no less than one of their witch agents. It was a big deal of great importance.

But of course something went wrong and 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 the level of "assistance" the locals provide to the "metropolitan upstarts". 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. Why learn when you can project…

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 deeply sympathised with a stranger.

It's a pity that his investigation 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 Office Archive... but very deep. 

The new employee, Ami, was simply asked to tidy up the shelves here in the absence of the Secretary. 

If she knew the real value of these documents, which were temporarily stored away from the other ones... She would examine them more closely. 

…Such a fascinating, mysterious puzzle in the midst of the flat, boring life of the 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 ones. Second, secrets and fortune will not wait forever. Either you take 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 to snoop 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 because it’s been deliberately hidden. 

Although she couldn't shake the thought that she could somehow help this random 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.

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 the Mainland at least occasionally. The job suited the inquisitive mind of the active Amelia, Ami loved her job. In general.

Though, frankly, curiosity and initiative have never been particularly encouraged in their ranks. Which is true of their whole city. 

"This is how they lived before us, this is how we live". 

A step in any direction promises a citywide clusterflip. 

Somehow, Kantinians have deliberately forgotten that it was curiosity and a 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” declared to be the basis 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 them, 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 closely, but for some reason she felt that potentially such acquaintances might make her life more interesting. However, she didn’t try to socialise during her business trips to neighbouring cities. 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, put aside the things she had been clutching thoughtfully in her hands, and critically examined her more than bulging bags in a total volume comparable to her own size. 

Almost everything she needs is here. But will it be possible to lift all these? 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. A food. Something else she forgot.

... 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.

Just go, when expectations are already smashed to pieces, 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 her daily thoughts.

One thing was totally annoying... The service woman couldn't sleep properly again. Suns will rise soon. And another dreary light will come.

Challenge accepted. Let it try to surprise her.