Chapter 120

Tossing the old clothes aside, William felt lighter without their history, memories, or anything. In mind and body, he seized a chance and grabbed it. There was also a mirror to show his bare self. Flexing his arms, he looked at his Emblem showing its mesmerizing show. It was still there.

Good.

His average stature of five feet and five inches didn't change a lot in recent years, though his muscles and arms had a good definition that was well above his age. His Emblem was why, and even his shoulders were wider. As for his torso or legs, they were average.

The new clothes were a nice change. Beige in color, the fabric felt fresh and cozier than anything he wore before. It was clear that no one else wore it before him, which he found.... interesting.

“Is this how it feels to be modern?” William asked himself, not knowing if the question had some answer or guess.

He felt satisfaction regardless of that, which was a small matter for his new life. Trousers had adjustable tightness around the waist area and each ankle. They weren't too tight and fitted his bottom. The shirt had a round cut for the neck, and flexible sleeves were a bit tight like he preferred, or perhaps it was because he was working all his life, or the cut of this shirt was just tight in general.

He kind of liked it after realizing he had some muscles. William wasn't burly. He was never eating enough, yet he was never weak either.

Overall, the comfort and freedom of this set gave him security, though not a smile.

“I feel like I could run as fast as I ever could and nothing would budge. I don't regret it. But for ten credits? Am I stealing or had that old man didn't price it with all the other sets? It doesn't feel like a scam. Whatever. It's not my problem as that hefty woman said.” William shook his head and walked out of the changing room.

Wagner greeted him on the counter, watching a new youth enter his view. Once more today, he shook but without tears. This time, it was more of a true and honest shock. His eyes bulged and his hands quivered as he pointed at William, mute and trying to move his mouth.

Was he watching some ghost?

“S-sir?” William asked and looked around if there was still that girl around, or that dog who gave them valuable lessons.

“Y-y-young man? W-Walker?” Wagner uttered three words as he shook.

William checked his rolled sleeves that he failed to adjust. His forearm was fully exposed. He pulled it up a moment ago to try the tightness and fit and hadn't changed it back.

“Well, what is wrong or bad about it? Is it something bad, me, being a Walker?” William casually asked, speaking as if it wasn't a big deal.

Wagner expected a lot of things in life, but this wasn't making sense, or... it made a lot of sense when he thought about it. Young and built different, William did resemble youths that often came here. Most wouldn't look like him, though some feelings remained and pointed to some experience and aura that was hard to deny.

Walkers were unique individuals with abnormal patterns and personalities, and their lives were often one growing mystery. He looked at him uncertainly before sitting on his ass. Rubbing his eyes and temples, Wagner calmed down in a couple of moments.

“My apologies. It wasn't what I had expected. It is common to know Walkers, but... well, consider me surprised because of my previous customers. You... I mean. Excuse me.”

“This is Federation. I thought Walkers were much more common here. I mean, that group before was... what?” William added.

“Friends and customers, or... how to say it? An important part of this place?” he tried to find the correct reason for his excuse that touched on Dreadus.

Was it his assumption or disappointing surprise or shock? He took William for a regular person and he ended up as a freaking Walker? And here Wagner thought he was a good reader of characters.

He ended up disappointed more than shocked.

Taking a deep breath, Wagner gave up. “Are you a new recruit? Considering your appearance and everything, I think I am fine with misjudging you, but you came alone, and... well, you looked terrible.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Thanks? I am here for some kind of Examination. Am not a Walker. Not yet.”

“Oh, I guess that explains some things. I was still right. You are an outsider trying to get to the heights of Walkers of the Federation. Sounds like a harsh life is ahead of you, young man.”

“That is what I plan to do. Sorry if I shocked you that much. It wasn't my intention.”

“No, young sir. You do not need to say that. You can take the set for free. Walkers deserve it since they preserved my life countless times over my life. I have plenty of credits myself because I am quite resilient, clever, and old. Heheha.” Wagner chuckled and relaxed on his feet. His laughter had no awkwardness but experience of age. He had a certain history with many figures and being old had its merits.

William already saw it with those people who left.

William looked at him with an unbothered expression that he mastered a long time ago. He couldn't understand what kind of reputation was worth giving this much care for. Alas, he could never get used to it simply because Outside was tougher and more threatening.

He solved it without any hiccups. Taking credits out of his new trousers, he shoved everything he had into Wagner's hands.

“I don't care what is a problem with being a Walker or a regular person. Generosity or a business and livelihood are all different. I grew up in camps and going around many... places, sir. I took care of fields and animals for a long time and I am not some hero. So don't give me this charity because I don't take it lightly or highly. It is a trade.” William attempted to make himself clear.

It worked. Wagner accepted those credits. “Fine, young man. Be a good Walker,” he said before counting the credits. William planned to leave the shop before this old fool had any new ideas. He had no regrets or credits for anything else.

But to his disappointment, as he tried to leave, Wagner grabbed some box and shoved it into his arms.

“Take this. For a full set. Nothing more. Nothing else.” He grinned in embarrassment and kicked William out of his shop, giving him no chance to retaliate.

William flew and fell to the ground. Glancing back, the door shut closed while the glass window revealed waving Wagner. He closed the shop immediately, changing a wooden sign by a window.

Sighing and checking the wooden box, William discovered a nice pair of high-quality shoes inside. Not leather, nor fabric, but something between them, it looked sturdy and probably of military grade. Perhaps they would endure Celeste for more than a few kicks.

They went above the ankles and seemed flexible and tough at the bottom. They had a dark brown color.

“What? Is this how Walkers have it here? I swear... I would not push my status as a Walker in fake hopes. I thought they would be seen as normal people in the Federation, but it seems like I am mistaken. Or... what was that woman, or... that girl? I don't think they paid for anything.” William lamented over his past promises and gave up on them at this very moment.

After all, his experience of growing as a Walker Outside was not always nice. Outside, deaths were always around, and Walkers could be seen as status symbols or death symbols. It could get into their heads, or to others.

Like Reaz, it seemed some complications were bound to arise.

Statistically, the numbers were harsh. A Walker being born was a strange occurrence like the Emblems. And they wouldn't be worth much before growing into adulthood. It was an awful problem for humanity.

Even young and small Darks could crash human lives, while Walkers couldn't do so for a long time upon their birth.

Thus, when one kept on living and growing Outside, away or in the camps, some stuff happened and one could see a big disparity. In fact, the Walkers had it worse than the common public knew, but the public didn't want to acknowledge it.

No one wanted to recognize someone had it much worse. It was a bitter lie and an appealing embodiment of Outside and this apocalypse.

Seeing was half believing, and thinking for himself and further had never been William's strong point. He never wanted something bad or worse, let alone be a bother to anyone. Thus, he was trying to be normal. He wanted it to stay that way, yet what was normal? Was it relative to others, or subjective across the board of people or himself?

Watching himself, staying on the ground, and looking at the new shoes and new clothes, he felt weirded out as if he couldn't recognize himself. He had small reminders he was still himself; there was that old diary book he seized from the counter before Wagner kicked him out. It was old and dirty, looking fine for his past self.

Grasping and shutting the box, he figured a couple of other things were due. Perhaps his sentiments were first to change, while his clothes came quicker, and acclimating to it wasn't a matter of days or weeks. It might take years to become a proper Walker. Or he might never considered that, because of his past.

His stomach was the second problem, as it soon growled in reminders.

“Hmph!” William got to his feet and kicked a stone lamp on the street. It accepted his frustration and helplessness in his acts. His foot hurt from the impact. His old shoes bent; they were far from being totally broken and useless and his kick lacked the usual spirit.

Celeste would make quick work with them, or Hound would.

“Whatever. I am wrong. I am not right. What's wrong? I will take this generosity for nothing and this box is empty. Right. My heart is small and it is just shoes. I will pay it back. Yes. Right...”

As he talked about his excuse, internal changes, and bad feelings, William decided on a couple of new rules before checking his clothes and securing his box under his armpit, right between his arm and that old diary. He took these shoes for a better tomorrow and sealed them deep in his mind without second-guessing himself. Briefly, the idea of tossing this box at that window emerged in his mind, but it would most definitely shatter the window and create more troubles for him than solve them.

And Wagner wouldn't accept it back anyway, William knew. He realized it thanks to Wagner's simple acts and words alone. William was a Walker in the Federation, and that fact had yet to hit and grow in his mind.