Czechia_358 has a minion!

Minion the Black Cat

"Viktor, I'm dreadfully sorry, but�� She paused as the train blew its whistle, a sound so shrill in the early morning. �But I absolutely must go!" She continued, slipping out of his embrace and picking up the suitcase by her feet. The train had started to awaken. Steam was hissing out of hidden pipes and soot had begun billowing out its tall chimney. It was time to leave. The crowded platform was moving en mass to the train, boarding in haste.

Viktor opened his mouth like he was going to speak, but before he could, she shouted, �Come and visit me some time, darling!� She leaned forward, kissed his cheek, and allowed herself to be swept away by the crowd. She looked over her shoulder, Viktor was saying something, his face distraught, but she couldn�t hear. She lifted her arm in farewell and, with a smile, turned and boarded the train.

�

The ride to Germany was uneventful. The familiar scenery of Czechoslovakia bled away into the oddly familiar terrain of southern Germany. Czechia spent the short trip dozing, staring out the window at the passing landscape. The bustling city of Prague quickly thinned into green patches of farmland and small towns, which grew further and further apart as the train steamed along. Czechia closed her eyes. It had been a busy morning, and she was tired. She slept for a time, and woke up feeling refreshed. A woman pushed a cart of tea past, and Czechia took a cup. She held the steaming tea to her lips as she stared out the window. The fields of crops had given way to a densely forested land. The train rumbled over the ground and flashes of rivers and fields flickered between the trees. She finished her tea, and fell asleep again.

When she awoke for the second time, the train was pulling into the station. Czechia scrubbed the sleep out of her eyes and brushed a hand through her thick auburn hair, trying in vain to tame the wild curls that had sprung out as she slept. The whistle blew, now cheery in the afternoon light. Czechia gave up on her hair, took her suitcase in hand, and sighed. The step off the train was going to be the biggest one of her life. She was no longer the eldest daughter of a farmer in small town Czechoslovakia; she was starting her own life.

A young woman stood on the train platform holding a sign with her name written on it. She was a petite woman, her curling blonde hair and bright face belied her age. Czechia caught her eye, and the woman smiled and stepped forward. �Good afternoon, Czechia! Welcome to Munich!�

�

The woman led her through the station and out a set of massive doors propped open to catch the fragrant summer breeze. Just outside the door, a grand stone stairway rose from the bustling streets below. Czechia stood at the top of the steps in awe. Munich was magnificent. The lively streets were full of carriages and people, walking to and fro. Carts piled high with vegetables rumbled past, heading back from market. Children screeched happily as they darted through the legs of people strolling past. Tall gleaming buildings rose in the distance, a huge contrast to the homely city of Prague, if a city could be called such. The red clay tiled roofs glinted under the afternoon sun and Czechia shielded her eyes form their glare.

�Isn�t it a wonderful city?� The woman said as she began walking down the stairs. �What a perfect day for you to arrive!� The woman, whose name Czechia still didn�t know, motioned for her to follow. Czechia nodded absently, still watching the streets. Her foot missed the first step and she fell on her behind. She slid down a few stairs before she managed to stop herself. She stood up quickly and brushed herself off, looking around. Nobody seemed to notice, thank goodness. She had managed well thus far, but her klutzy nature was beginning to show through.

The woman turned back to Czechia and gave her a smile, motioning again for her to come along. �Come on, Czechia! You can return and explore another time; the headmistress is waiting to meet you!� The woman continued down the stairs. Czechia patted the dirt off her skirt once again, took the handle of her suitcase, and followed.

Czechia almost had to run to keep up with the petite woman. She wove through the crowded streets with ease as Czechia stumbled behind her, apologizing for stepped-on toes and bumped shoulders. As they hurried along, the buildings on either side of them became increasingly ornate. Red brick row houses had given way to stone town houses, cast iron fences enclosing patches of emerald grass. The streets had widened and tall oak trees grew along the sidewalk, covering the road in dappled shadow. The woman looked over her shoulder again and smiled to Czechia. �We�re almost there!� She turned a corner to another street, even more glamorous than the last. At the end of the street was a massive stone building of a scale and grandeur Czechia had never seen.

At the top of a stone staircase sat the Munich Library. Eight titanic marble columns held up the entrance of the Library which rose high into the purple evening sky, an impressive sight. Above the columns, carved into the cornice stone was the motto �Scientia est lux et tenebrae�. Thinking back to the Latin text she had memorized as a child, Czechia translated; �Knowledge is light and dark;� a strange motto for a library. The sun was setting and the evening light glinted off large two-story windows set in colored glass. Czechia stood in awe, for the second time that day. The woman was silent for a moment. �Isn�t it beautiful? You�ll love it here.�

Inside, the library was just as magnificent as outside. In the front room, the two-story windows cast a colorful mosaic pattern on the floor. Dark wood panels covered the walls and a plush burgundy carpet silenced any sound. The front desk, a massive mahogany half circle sitting under a low-hanging crystal chandelier, was the only piece of furniture in the room. �Scientia est lux et tenebrae� was painted on the front of the desk in small, golden capitals. Two grand staircases circled up behind the front desk, but the room was dim and they disappeared into darkness. Czechia couldn�t see the ceiling. The windows and chandelier seemed to be the only source of light. The only other person in the room was a woman sitting behind the desk. Czechia hadn�t noticed her at first.

When Czechia and the woman got closer to the desk, the woman behind it looked up. �Hello, Paige. The headmistress will see you now.� Paige! So that was her name. It seemed fitting, somehow.

�Thank you.� Paige gave a shallow bow and led Czechia around the desk to a door hidden under the staircase.

�This is the headmistress� office.� Paige whispered, leaning forward slightly. "She doesn't like it when people are late. You better head in now."

Czechia pushed open the door. The room was pitch black, it took a moment for her eyes to adjust. There was no apparent source of light, but an ethereal glow seemed to radiate from the air itself, casting the room in strange shadows. After a moment, Czechia could make out a large desk covered in stacks of books and papers. Behind the desk was a figure sitting in a large wingbacked chair. The corners of the room were hidden in shadow.

The figure sat still for a moment as Czechia looked around the room, then the Headmistress spoke. "Welcome to the Munich Library, Czechia." Her voice was soft, but stern. "We are glad to have you here. If you ever have any questions, ask Paige."


Czechia looked around the room, but could see no chair, so she remained standing. "The most important rules are the easiest to follow. Fire is strictly forbidden. Do not light any candles, lanterns, or lamps. No fires are allowed in the fireplaces. Food is allowed only in the dining hall. We have had problems with rats and mice in the past, and we do not want to deal with it again. In that same vein, do not bother the owls, or the cats." The headmistress paused and chuckled to herself, as though remembering something funny. "They live in the library and watch for rodents. Be especially wary of the cats, they are smarter than you think." I HATE DIALOGUE



Paige will show you to your quarters when we are done here, and go over everything else with you after dinner.

-GALLERY-
profile art by pikiru on DA, small art by User not found: tusk