Chapter 129

It had been hours since Ellie started the fifth round of research and she didn't plan to stop. She didn't want to shame herself for not going beyond her best efforts. There was so much work and ideas to get out of this opportunity, so she took a two-hour nap before restarting. That was it.

Unfortunately, someone unfamiliar approached and spoke to her, which annoyed her for a single second after that voice shook her mind and changed her mind.

Briefly, she was even angry. Her name wasn't that common, so she glanced at the voice. And froze.

“Oh... no. Who are you? Where is that silly boy from yesterday? Have you seen him? He looked like a beggar with a poor style and a silly face. He was about this old and this tall. How strange. You look almost the same as him.” Ellie pretended to look confused and looked at William up close when he stopped before her table. She pointed at him before sizing him up. “Huh? Brother?”

“You as well? Are my clothes that different and crazy? I feel completely normal and the same as yesterday.” William asserted his truth because he felt that way.

“Well, it is crazy and abnormal. The set you are wearing is quite wonderful. How many credits did you pay for it, or was it some gift? Where... well, there is no point in asking. You look good and better and that's what matters. Hm. Yep. Good job. I am shook, to be honest.” Ellie noticed how premium his new clothes looked and was close enough to judge him and see their details.

But again, he was a Walker, so perhaps this sort of transformation was normal for them. She should think about it and pay some attention in the future.

It didn't matter to her if she could get such clothes or not. Her style was hers.

“Clothes are clothes. They were eleven credits.”

“Eleven? That is way too cheap for this sort of thing. Oh, and those shoes are at least ten times that amount, let me tell you that for sure. Don't kid yourself. Military stuff is expensive if an ordinary person wants them. I know about it because I am from the Federation and these kinds of things are made here.”

“R-really?”

“Sure. Whole industries are about this sort of thing. We support big military operations for a big chunk of the Earth, while Walkers need to have top-tier stuff so their needs have to be met. It's all kind of business, in a way. Jobs and money do that. Also, Walkers guaranteed that idea, and we, regular people, want something nice to wear as well. It's like protectors and sheep. Have you heard about that analogy before?” Ellie pointed to his feet, leaning from the chair and looking down on him.

Then, she got up and circled him as if she wanted to know every detail of his new appearance.

“T-hose... That is not important Ellie. Price or not,” William figured that this box from Wagner might have been crazier than he considered. He wasn't sure but these shoes definitely felt like nothing proper or like something beyond him.

“You did not steal it, right?” she looked at him, doubtful, but also joking.

“I did not!”

“Right. Right. You are bad at catching jokes. Custom military boots right around this time should cost closer to two hundred credits if one wants some better materials. I guess you are richer than your former self expressed, or... have you robbed someone?! Don't tell me you are killing already! Should I be worried? Should I call the police? I swear my uniform wouldn't look good on you.” Ellie exclaimed, hugging her shoulders, and William lost the wits to see if she was joking or not.

Ellie knew what she was talking about; she had a variety of clothes at her disposal and many credits. She had a great job, so she did what she wanted. She was young and never had worries about Darks, family, or some questionable issues because of her dream job.

“So what if it's expensive? I have them now, and they will serve me well. What is wrong with that? Meal is one, so...” William smiled at her with naked honesty and started counting with his fingers. Two hundred credits was a lot for sure.

Ellie rolled her eyes and stopped right before him, patting the sleeve, and slapping his counting.

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“I will trust you for now, because you surely got some credits as collateral or some business shared this one out because of your status. Now!” She hugged her documents and gestured to the wall behind her. “Are you ready to seek the wonders of the future and the past? Clothes are inconsequential for us or you, though we aren't supposed to be naked like some folks were in the far distance past. I am here for something else.”

“Else... Right.” William frowned and wondered where she was going with this.

“I am here to blow up your mind and call you out for that.” Ellie changed her expression and spoke to William with a bright smile and tones like yesterday. She didn't forget what she wanted to do, but what she could read and learn changed considerably from yesterday. Burton and Heidi changed her plans, so what was bound to happen today wasn't something insane.

For some reason, William kind of missed her tones, but how or why? He didn't know the details. Oh, he feared them instead. She made him forget about the morning and his anxiety.

Although his clothes changed, he was the same clueless boy as yesterday, so Ellie planned to enjoy this as much as yesterday if not more. After all, what was behind her was a unique place that might last them more than half a day if William were as curious as yesterday.

The Museum was vast. Its history was beyond the Federation! Beyond this world!

“Oh, ok. I think I am as ready as I can be.” William answered.

“Alright. Do you know anything about this floor, Will?”

“Will?” He raised his brows. No one called him that. “Uhh. It is a Museum according to that board on the first floor. That sort of place speaks of all kinds of records.”

“As if it would launder money or lunch. Obviously, it's not just that. It is a place that is going through the most changes because strange and old findings are found on every expedition, or even by many connected or common Walkers who have nothing to do with this. Why? There is this assumed truth about history and Walkers who are going out there. Sometimes, they bring us interesting things.”

“Things? Like what?”

Ellie giggled and beamed in delight. “You will see! There are almost no restrictions put on this floor, though some rooms are unique, so it is seen as a business rather than a place to learn every single day. It isn't small by any means, or simple. It goes according to many topics and ages, and many bits about this Museum go and connect to the History above. These rooms are connected by stairs and shared interests like a big hive, making the three floors the history!”

“Really? What kind of restrictions are there?” William wondered. He didn't expect floors to be connected, so how far did it go? What about his end goal for today which were those mysterious upper floors? He had no intention or even awareness of guessing what was hiding there. Everything pointed to his worries, with Kaufman's card being an incredibly enticing key.

There was no doubt that floors dedicated to Walkers and Darks should have some pretty glaring and nasty secrets.

“Hm! You are in luck!” Ellie puffed her chest in a self-important manner and hugged her documents tightly. “I doubt there are any restrictions for us right now. Also, I have permission and an assignment from Burton to explain quite a lot of things to you. Most of that would be prohibited for regular attendants like my former self. More knowledge is also there, and I got a fleeting promotion that is basically a great push to something greater! Why? I won't forget this choice or what I will learn because of it. That means it will come back sooner or later. And you, dear boy with weird clothes, I must thank you for that.”

“Oh, should I feel lucky, or apprehensive since it came out of Burton?” William asked and tried to be sarcastic.

It didn't seem to work.

“I don't know about that. Burton did what he had to do and I am lucky to have you. I haven't asked about details because why would I? Asking would waste time and I don't want that. He only barked something at me when I got to work. Simple. Now, I am busy taking on Walker and Dark secrets. It's fun but rather complicated and long. So, bear with this, and let's get to the floors.” Ellie exaggerated nothing, though she lied a little.

“I see. So, is there any news if you will accompany me for more days?” William hopefully asked

“Not... that, but... do you want my help this badly? I mean, I am free and all beyond this job, but this job is my life.” Ellie made a difficult yet teasing face. “I will ask about this tomorrow or today. Perhaps you will get lost for a whole day in these difficult floors about history, and those dark sections and floors are nothing to scoff at either. I get it a lot now. You will spend most of your time there before your Examination, while my position is different from yours. I will help you however I can, but you and your card are difficult, and you are a bloody Walker! It is how Walkers are in this place. They have privilege. It will be mesmerizing for you, even without me.”

“So?”

“Of course, I will follow you as far as I can because I've got my permission as well as...” Proudly yet swiftly, she grasped her new badge and felt very good about it. She almost kissed it. “I won't run away from this responsibility. It is lovely.”

William wasn't sure what it meant, but it seemed important to her. “Alright. Let's go inside then.” William nodded and hoped to get into a better mood. It worked.

Ellie walked to a single wide door in the middle of this hallway balcony. Every one of them had the same length and width on every floor, with one side facing the ridiculous room, and the other holding doors to the floors.

“Before starting, the Museum implies old tales, ancient memories, and a past that is impervious to destruction. Usually. Most can get lost, cracked, or forgotten. Some were even intentionally destroyed, which is a shame. There used to be many buildings with the names of history museums and so on, and were in almost every major city before the Dawn. Museums have many kinds of faces, but at the core, they are places where the past sees the present. Some might be even futuristic, but I would disagree it matters too much. The museum is about glorious history! Agreed?”

Seeing and hearing her enthusiasm, William nodded.