Chapter 37

Anna remained in place, the book hidden behind her back, and the pen was visible in her hand. She observed in silence, taking this sight for what it could be, and heard what she feared. Luke fucked up again. There was no helping to his bluntness.

Gritting his teeth, William pushed his hand away and stumbled to the wall when he rolled away. Luke barely used any strength and let him go.

When he stopped, clutching his fists, and pushed himself up just to roll away again in an uncomfortable push of gravity, William felt like a fool. The ground was terrible. It was shaking in angles and the smooth surface didn't help with a grip. That went on until he hit a wall, resting on the ground like a beggar.

“I am not... angry... or anything... or sad. I don't like how it sounds. That is all. I wanted answers for a long time. Getting this... much. Perhaps it is fine, but I looked for something else. Sorry. I looked for them.. wanting to know much more. It was important to me. Still is. Timing isn't, or I am not important. I am just a kid.” William said calmly from the ground and accepted Luke's honesty.

“Do you get what it means?” Luke asked. “Walker's pain and reality Outside?”

“You are a soldier. I get it. Are there others I can ask and speak about this? Could I research my parents and things that happened ten years ago by myself? I was there... so...”

“You can try. I won't stop you.”

That easily meant others would, which Luke didn't mention.

“Hey...” Anna whispered. “You...”

Luke glared at her again and forced her to disappear around the corner.

He already heard enough about William to assess the situation. He was inadequate because he was stubborn and young. Growing up like that, gone from the research and people, Luke wondered what would happen now that he was here and good.

Some people will be curious, whereas others might get angry, annoyed, or way too touchy. There was no doubt about that, so he questioned morality and some of those people that he could imagine. Some stirring dramas were about to turn Federation and many Walker's minds, all because a page from the past crawled back.

Luke was a soldier, however. He didn't question orders and unimportant matters even if some of that was reasonable. The bad idea was for others to decide or solve, while the original perpetrators would work it out behind this mess.

“The past won't come back, while the future won't be any better, it could be better than this. All we can do is face the reality and accept it for what it could be.” Luke recalled some words from someone important, though many of it was military quotes that Walkers learned.

William agreed with that.

“Then, can I become a good Walker like my father? What was he like?” William crawled to his seat and asked a new topic. He abandoned any tears left in his eyes or frustration caused by Luke or what his Emblem did or felt. Mainly, William was at fault because he didn't think he was ready for this, so he wasn't stable even if this was the knowledge he sought.

“A good soldier, straightforward to the bone, and honest. His fighting skills were exceptional, and he was paramount to the Yondu Division. Then, things got feisty. Also, the definition of a good Walkers is vast. Why not become mediocre or great, or... well, it doesn't matter. You have a valid and unknown Emblem so thinking about what to become is curious. If you want to, you can do and try what it allows, or go beyond it in a try to crash the codes. That depends on your aptitude, spirit, or talent. The Federation will want to know and hear about all of that. They hope for every great youth. Just take my words for the start that you wanted.”

William angled his head upwards to meet Luke's eyes. “Thank you... This is better than not knowing anything. However, what makes you sure I am their son? Is it the Emblem, or... the context lost in time or stopped research?”

Luke nodded and looked away, all for Anna to poke her head around the corner.

“Yes. Pretty much all of the above. You might not know it, but breeding Walkers is a difficult topic, and many details that were around the past finally proved themselves. Mainly, the years passing were one of those reasons. Personally, I don't know much about it. Ask others about it.”

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

William accepted his excuse and wondered what were those others.

“Since you took it well, I will reward you. A little talent that only strong Walkers have is knowledge from others about others, followed by instructions. Walkers care about the past and new generations, and teaching others is all about growth, setting knowledge, and advantages. Be it physical or with words, what is before you isn't a pretty road. It isn't magic, or some fantasy either. It is glowing, growing, and growling.”

“You aren't a poet, Luke,” Anna said again, and this time, even when he glared at her, she walked forward. “I couldn't help but think it through. Young and that situation wasn't easy or simple, but the research never stopped. Some people never give up, so why not just hope even if it is a lie? William, the one...”

“Stop it,” Luke warned her.

“That is fine, Miss Anna,” William said and his eyes and face changed and firmed up. “I never wanted to be miserable. I just had to accept what was and is before me. If the reality hurt, so what? I don't think there is a point in being broken. I look forward to discovering things in the Federation by myself or with unknown others. The difference doesn't matter to me.”

Anna nodded and made a small smile. “But some things matter more, right?”

“Of course.” William nodded. “I want to be good. Learn because I couldn't.”

“That's very possible in the Federation,” Anna said, angling his pen at him. “I know many great people for that.”

“If that's everything, let me show you something,” Luke said, loosening his jacket and uniform, revealing a bright-looking gem within his chest, which had many other shards around it in a circular pattern. It was inserted into him, or so it seemed, but it was either that or he grew into it. It was above the ribcage, in the middle of his chest, and between pecks, while the shards were smaller and varied in length, size, and depth.

Everything about this Emblem shone brightly in azure colorful waves, undulating power that only a Walkers could have. Up close—as Luke was still crouching right before him—William liked how it felt and looked this close. It was a different feeling from his Emblem, and there was no gloss around it. It seemed like a storm was within him, looking like a soft metallic haze, but dense and crawling around his chest, flesh and blood, yet no redness was seen.

In fact, almost everything revolved in and only in that Emblem, yet the flesh was not looking normal either. His skin and muscles looked dense and vigorous.

William didn't know the numerous factors that made Emblems strange, and bodies better, but he heard they could influence and change everything by a lot of factors. As far as one should understand, dependence on Walker's knowledge came with circumstances, talents, and standing. For regular people, knowing too much was unnecessary, while young Walkers had to develop to get behind those facts and pains. All in all, this style of education wasn't adequate, which Luke hated.

Luke touched his Emblem and tapped it, letting spark fly, and waves of mist convulse on their own, or it was an involuntary reaction of his tap.

“Just so you know, it is just a single piece of an Emblem. The ones here,” Luke pointed to the azure shards, “goes into my body and connects there with the main rest. It has grown like this without my choice, and at first, it was just a gem similar to yours. Many have theirs in different colors, shapes, and sizes, which includes further growth that could be static or extremely potent in changes. Both have their strengths. Your hand, my chest. Some could have it in their heads or legs. Effects vary. We call it Localization. When and how it grows, Emblem gives its stakes. Arm and leg are different from physical points, and do different things, while head and chest are similar. All could be powerful in their own ways. How to use it? What makes it worse than others? There are a lot of words to think about.”

William was fascinated by that glow and only nodded to him without speaking. Aside from them, Anna was furiously drawing Luke's chest, Emblem, and little details without blinking.

Luke was annoyed but let it slide.

“What do you know about Emblems,” Luke asked. “Say anything because every bit helps any teacher. For the future, remember it.”

“I mean... there are a lot of things outside and with me. In me, I mean.” William said, not thinking about the answers because he was still processing his light and moving energy that moved from Luke. It was like air, but cooler and notable as if it was heavier.

“I know. Effects or details taught Outside are lacking. I am aware of it. However, what you know could change many things how your future is going to be like. For example, there are those taught well from the age of ten, or even younger if one is from a good family. Trained and educated, they could get good results even with inferior Emblems, lacking talents, or passable or stable foundation. It is already a fact, so... your next words could mean a lot.”

“I don't care about this... right now.”

“It is important!”

“Why do you care? Aren't you a soldier?”

“And a fellow Walker. The younger generation is important and I want to help you.”

“Like your orders?” William gave him a long look. “Some Walkers have a poor reputation outside and... well, inside? Some people think of them as reigning rulers below them, and it stinks of rules and laws, while people struggle out there. Is it good? Of course not. We have to appreciate them because not doing so is stupid. Yet, they might be right to be called stupid.”

“It's just how people are,” Anna added aside from them, still drawing Luke's chest.

“No one asked.” Luke turned and spoke to her.

Anna's smile widened, her pen quivered, and she quickly erased and changed numerous things in her drawing to make him uglier.

William, like her, observed a lot of Emblems as he grew up, and the one in Luke's chest was old and greater than many of them. Anna was much more familiar with them than William had guessed. He had his own little treasure close, watching, and feeling, yet his foundation lacked a lot of clarity and hiding secrets dreamt by few.