Chapter 17

It was grim. William never stopped thinking about his family and every one of his memories involving them or her was precious.

Luke could see and understand his agitation, but he didn't get the rest in the slightest, or why it turned into... this? Turning around, he tried to finish what he started without asking further questions. That was his duty. His blunder too.

“Your father was a Walker, boy,” He said and shot another bullet to Williams' heart, pushing it to skip a beat and his mind wavered.

He barely blurted out some voice, before leaning on the wall, shaking.

Luke grunted and looked away as he shook his head. “Damned tongue of mine. This answers some things. Maybe more. Anyway, this confirms something since the news came from the orphanage which has been gathering pieces of information and sending them to the Federation. Some people were looking for you, I believe. It was forgotten and... well, it is kind of normal for things to turn like this. In death and destruction, surviving was never clean and you were... gone, believed to be dead or eaten. Odd. I... well, not much of I. I am glad to see you alive. For the sake of others. Hm.”

William hesitated, half looking at Luke's appreciative nod, and half noticing his own trembling hands. The crimson was trying to escape once more, heating his clothes and body, and he didn't want it, or pay it attention. He couldn't stop it. It wanted to go out. Devolve. Sizzle. Go onto a rampage because it just felt like it.

Not here. William thought for his sake.

Miss Anderson stepped aside and pointed at Luke. “Mind your tone, soldier. He is still my child and what you are talking about is sensitive. He has no idea that I went ahead of myself and informed that young Pillar of yours of those findings. Be mindful even if he is of age.”

“Now, now. Calm down, Miss Anderson,” Luke begged to differ; his authority was stronger than hers by dozens of times, so he could be as inappropriate as he wanted. It wasn't a matter of seniority; his purple uniform was enough for him to enter all camps without a majority of issues. “I thought the situation would be different after learning some details, but it seems to be worse than mud. He has no clue about anything, his father included, so what about his mother, hm? Should I...” Luke shifted his attention, crossed his arms, and glanced at William who snapped after hearing about a word about his mother.

He cried out and his sleeve sizzled to dust, revealing a crimson bright storm that whipped and swirled around his forearm, looking like a ghostly snake or a whip.

Luke visibly frowned, stopped speaking, and stepped back. “Uh, this is... interesting. Alright. I apologize and see my wrongdoings.” He didn't sound all that sincere, forceful, or playful. It was as if he spoke to a wall instead.

William felt this coming and could only breathe and lean on the wall, clutching his right arm. He watched how it happened again without managing it. How long ago was the last time? How long had it lasted? How much did it take for satisfaction?

Less than a year was the latest bad outburst, or would the one two years ago count as the worst? How about the experiments happening in the past year? Dann remembered the worst outcomes to this day; a time, emotional journey, shadows, and steps.

Luke turned to Miss Anderson, who wasn't aware of all the details for the sake of her work and her ideals. She barely witnessed William to be like this, and she knew what such kids could be like. Young Walkers weren't necessarily like normal children because of their Emblem or state of mind, or... the Emblem itself. But in her mind, they were still children. She stepped back, knowing that this moment was understandable.

William wasn't the wrong kid. He might appear unstable, but he wasn't willing to do this. Wielding some weapon capable of doing nonsense magic wasn't fine right now. He was just angry at Luke, who disregarded his bark, while his Emblem correlated to his emotional state. Miss Anderson knew it wasn't instability. It was... weirder.

Quite recently, she informed the operational management of the Federation about William and gave most of his reports out because of his appropriate age. Those included new bits of recent news and past stories, followed by his Emblem's details and anything he could say, or had said years ago. It was a regular procedure that she had done numerous times, so she hadn't thought much of it since then.

Her orphanage could not possibly operate without some big names supporting it. Yet when some big name sent back a message asking for all possible details about William and his past, looking for more, it ended unexpectedly. She sent back whatever little bit she was aware of, which led to Luke Irwin's visit.

Was it because of his age? Miss Anderson thought it was that, but she knew it wasn't that simple.

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It turned out to be about family. It was more than sensitive and she was kind of pissed that no one informed her about it.

Young Walkers close to the Awakening weren't often discharged from her orphanage, ready in mind or body. They usually got out years beforehand, so there were younger children around here, rather than teenagers. She swore to do her best for their sake regardless of that, hoping for their coming of age or a better life in different facilities. Her best was all she could muster Outside.

Not only did she care about their mental and physical state, she was preparing them for what was to come. But only so much could come out of her, for she was just a regular human.

Still, in broader views, she made the whole process much easier for many organizations, and William witnessed that numerous times. Many recruits came from all over the place, looking to buy, bring out, or adopt young Walkers. Ten years old was the usual age when one would go out.

And William was fifteen, yet still here.

It was normal to care about the future generations of Walkers. Outside had it a little uncertain because... well, it was Outside. Not the Federation. Young Walkers had very limited ways to gather their Walker's potential, knowledge, and skill. Regular people simply didn't know what was better, and proper Walkers willing to teach such youngsters were rare.

Thus, the least some people could touch was ready their mentally, giving them physical training, and common sense of Outside, Darks, and this shitty world. Some of that could influence their Emblem, but that matter was more distant, hiding behind the Awakening.

In rare and unknown cases, some recruiting Walkers could see some quality in young Walkers, and adopt them like guardians, straight-up parents, or masters. Miss Anderson wasn't aware of what differences these children had; she knew some were different. Each Walker was like that.

Because of that, a good information network was essential when it came to orphaned youths. Upon coming of age, the Federation or other places would seek them out regardless, acting as their guardian or proxy. Miss Anderson knew how to act and do her business and expected such proxy when William's time had come.

But this wasn't that. Luke was suspicious and looked as if something was right, while the majority of things were wrong.

It should've been different, yet a purple uniformed Walker came and surprised her instead. And he was even personally involved with William and his father, while knowing more history than her, or... even William himself.

What details did she send? Miss Anderson didn't think William was talking much about the past. It was expected. Most of it was traumatic enough. Loneliness was a regular story for most, including young Walkers who were born with a tool in their flesh, tossed away, forgotten, or birthed in terrible situations. Some had it better than others and most would never end with Miss Anderson.

There were no differences between them for her, but the world would disagree, obeyed by Walkers and those needing them.

Even her superiors in the camps were the same. People in or away from Outside were worse.

“Sir Irwin, I must apologize, but any kind of information about children and their past is up to luck or their minds. I do care for the goodwill of your mission, but I do not need, nor care too deeply about the greater cause. I sent what is enough, so don't go around it and disturb this child. By my name, health, their places of origin, and nation, it is all that is needed. That boy had seen enough so don't take it somewhere bad. You see him.”

“I see, pardon my initial gaze then. Better than that, you might want to leave. I thought the boy would at least know something, but he showed nothing. At least he is Gale. His father was the same, so...” Luke glanced at William who was shaking and trying to calm his right arm and overrunning mess of crimson mist, light, and whip. It was curious how it acted and trembled, looking as if he was fighting against himself.

His Emblem was wincing and crying in that arm. Luke was intrigued because no blood came out, but he did resemble a wounded beast, or...well, he was like an angry puppy for Luke.

Luke scratched his chin and felt he underestimated this mission far too much. He should've asked for more details when he heard a name Gale mentioned, or... not be here to begin with. “I knew she should've come instead. Whatever, since he has this Emblem, an apple couldn't fall far from the tree. Yep. Yep. I will do it.”

“What about my father!?” William demanded, still managing to quench the storm in his hand. The circling whip was still churning, with the tip becoming crisper and more real. It was still foggy like a mist, glowing in crimson light. It was seeking and feeling things, looking for dangers or a body to pierce.

Luke wasn't concerned.

Dann was.

“Listen,” Dann said awkwardly to both adults as he backed away. “Don't agitate him too much, I tell you. Step back and talk through it. If you won't, I warned you, so don't blame anyone for what is to come. William can become crazy enough.”

Luke ignored him and rather spoke to William “It is in the forearm, boy, but it is more about the crimson, sizzle, and it is hurting like a flame but it isn't flame, is it? I am Walker myself, so don't fret. I can show you what it means to be a Walker and show you how to control.”

Luke revealed a bit of his chest, pushing his upper uniform around his neck down. There was some azure luster shining, but nothing crazy.

William had seen enough Emblems in his life to not care about his.

“Alright, this doesn't work. So, it doesn't matter too much what will happen to me. I have a mission. I am not your father. I know the truth, while you... well, I am not good at this. Fuck! Just know that I know your father and that you are found. That is what is important.” Luke stated, cursed, and walked toward skeptical William.

“How to trust it?” Miss Anderson suddenly said. “I doubt it. It isn't the first time I sent the details, you know. Who found him of all times? Is it related to someone, or something? Overseers? Academy? Assembly? Some foreigners? ”

“It conveniently fell to a good person in the Assembly, Miss. And.... yes. It seems luck snatched him after all. After a decade of looking past that destruction and time. It slipped right past everyone, eh?” Luke said coldly and moved toward William who was contemplating to forfeit all stops when he looked at this shitty Walker.

Oh, well...

[Le me...] a voice called, the one crazy. The one bewitching.

No.