Chapter 38

The growth and impression of Walkers was an aftereffect of Ranks, a systematic assimilation of Walkers and Emblem together. Rank 1 was basic. Rank 8 depicted the biggest kind known to the public. Rank 0 was obscure, so not many knew about it. Rank 9 was a myth, existing only in rumors at the peak of Walker societies because darkening rumors of that number did exist. In Darks, however.

There was a clear definition of how one should see these simple numbers.

Unfortunately, things were far from simple because—within these Ranks—immense value, growth, death, and hopes resided. Rank 1 was the start of everything, with each Rank going deeper in progressively more insane and powerful capabilities.

William heard many stories and great hopes whenever some popular Walker got promoted, evolved, or met their demise. Many camps took such notes as highlights for morale and hope, or dear brutal reality. William couldn't care less about it. It sounded very forced, so he disliked how some Walkers sounded like heroes. However, it was correct to call them that, for there was no point in them being villains.

Many proudly showed their Emblem because of it, as long as their pride allowed it, or Outside or self-made rules had no subjects to such displays. In a normal military, showing off wasn't delightful. The gravity of that life and their Emblems wasn't a walk in the park. It was their literal life. An important piece that kept fueling them forward, so many Walkers thought of them as their second mind, head, or heart. Showing it was akin to looking into who they were or might be.

Some hid it; William definitely knew why or how it could feel because there were people out there who detested Walkers, for no or great reasons, and some of them were lunatics in human skin.

It was genuine that William knew basic knowledge that regulars Outside had learned over the years. Things like how Walkers might grow, work, and what they could do, William learned via lessons, from stories, or directly from his eyes. Many people were hopeful about every young Walker, thus many cared about them out of sheer will, reliance, or simply because it was an ideal thing to do.

Good souls were still living in this world, which was rare if William was honest and took most of his living conditions as one whole picture. Most camps he went through were rough. People were why.

Roshwell was an anomaly that many people in surrounding camps called their best sanctuary, second after going to the Federation. Alas, one thing was feasible, while the other was outside their boundaries. Either their worth had to skyrocket, their work would be needed, or they would buy their way out. William didn't blame them. Roshwell was magnitudes better than any other place he had seen, and he was never sure how right he was about the Federation.

Unknowingly, his words and opinions were about to shake because the Federation was a whole different world.

“Speak to me,” Luke demanded like a teacher.

“Do I have to?” William dimly said, almost moving his hand to touch that close Emblem or storming waves.

“No,” Anna answered instead of Luke, who grunted and seriously wanted to snatch her book away. “Don't listen to this mad dog. Knowledge? You will get it in no time after this travel is over. Many youngsters like you are like that because of...oh, wait. You don't.... know about that.”

“Exactly,” Luke said to Anna, who realized she was a bit brazen. “Due to that, knowledge and what is right are different things. Age is the same.

”Is it about some testing? Wasn't it what happened before? That punch, I mean.” William asked.

“That too, but neither of them was a test,” Luke answered.

“What was it then?”

Luke hesitated and decided to stall or change the topic. There were better people for that and mentioning it when he said so many harsh things to William might not end well.

But he promised. As Luke struggled, Anna took a seat beside William to see Luke's chest better. “It is about a foundation, boy,” she suggested.

“Foundation? Boy... Aren't we close in age?”

“Huh!?” Anna frowned and looked at him in bewilderment. “I am twenty!”

William didn't apologize and couldn't see a reason for her bewilderment. “So?”

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Anna sighed. “Ah, boys these days. Anyway, it isn't as if Walkers can become killing machines straight away. They need training even when they have talent and great family or teachers. Becoming Rank 1 is just the beginning. It is almost endless training, right, Luke?”

Luke began to crease his face with his fingers. When he was nervous, he always did it. Anna knew it and didn't tease him for it. “We are all on the ride to the unknown canopy. So yes. Training is endless for us. Like Darks.”

“I will train... in the Federation?”

“Perhaps.” Luke guessed; he didn't know the specific answer because William might make his choice later down the line. He was worth that much. Probably.

Someone else had a different answer. “Yes!” Anna said firmly. “You have roots for that. Great family too! I am rooting for more time.” She cheered and finished her drawing and writing. Luke's detailed chest was great, Emblem colored in great lines, sheens, and mesmerizing perking waves. His head was missing, unlike the clothing Anna detailed quite masterfully.

“Looks insane. Nothing like mine attempts at scribbles.” William said as he touched his right forearm in return.

“Do you want me to draw yours?” Anna offered and was close to being too excited.

At that moment, Luke snapped, grabbed her face, and showed her to the other seat. He sat between them and grunted inaudible curses. “I swear... this... and this... and that.”

All Emblems were unique. William could tell their Localization was important or crazy and could be the same in hundreds of Walkers. The actual difference was the Emblem itself and what one could do with it. Its shape defied some laws of physics, adhering to some laws of geometry and mass, or it could completely shatter any rules or codes to pieces.

Very few things about Emblem were truly scientific. It was more like ridiculous magic, but who were Darks, if not hideous magical beasts, monsters, and ridiculous abominations from the nightmares?

William had seen unique Emblems etched into flesh, bones, or even eyes, and fingers, looking grotesque or beautiful. Children and babies had them on a smaller scale, and adult Walkers were rarer to see with wide-open Emblems. Their size would increase in most cases by at least a couple of times. Luke's was more than a handful and he was even hiding his Emblem for one good military example. It pointed to his Yondu Division having some rules about it, or their uniform was enough of a mark.

Not one was better or worse in vision alone. That was something William told to himself, while his Emblem was odd, yet beautiful and special, or was it something Dann's years of persuasion had done? There was a comparable current of energy within Luke's, but coloration was different, feelings were more intimidating, and glossiness was gone. His Arcana looked very pretty.

William knew this difference was Rank 1. Gloss would disappear afterward and his crimson would be able to rise freely away and manifest its powers in broad daylight. Unfortunately, William was unaware of the specifics, or effects, or what it could do afterward. For now, he was aware it could do some things even without Rank 1.

For gradual progress, William knew he had to grow, but how much? Adulthood was still long ahead. He knew that age around Miss Anderson's orphanage for young Walkers meant one thing. They would be sent away earlier than later. Where and how wasn't important, as no matter of refusal could stop what was inevitable. Youths eventually had to decide, because it was part of what they had to do.

This one was that sort of situation. William could no longer keep his life for himself, or stubborn hopes close. His parents were gone. It was no denial. It was time to go out. He told Miss Anderson his and Dann's idea and she sent the letter to the Federation for more official suggestion.

There were official businesses about recruitment when the age became too close to some limits. Albeit rare under Miss Anderson's orphanage—since the average time to send young Walkers away was before the age of thirteen—William's choice will be more direct.

Luke's arrival was the aftermath of that choice and William wasn't aware of the Forced Awakening that was half of the reason for everything. This procedure was a prudent issue that the public wasn't ready for, though Luke and Anna suggested it right now.

William couldn't correlate context towards a possibility that he could become Rank 1 in literal weeks or months, or... right now if he could. He thought he would be sent for training and teaching before going to become Rank 1 Walker later. Usually, years could pass before something big happened.

Now, he heard the word Federation in more doubt and confusion because someone sought him out for reasons unknown to him.

How many young Walkers from the orphanage were sent in this manner, or how many had a great Division Walker as a proxy?

William had no doubts his circumstances were different. It all pivoted towards many things: his parents, who looked for him, why, and where it all ended between his choice, and what changed after he gave up and sent his words out. Then, there was his Walker status, or Emblem, which were weird tools, and their feelings about those gems were often different like the sun and moon.

“What else do you know?” Luke asked as he sat right beside him. Anna shifted, hugging her book in fear he would toss it away, tear it apart, or worse.

“Walkers,” William answered.

“What about them?”

“There are three kinds of them. Elementalists, Vector Type, and Mutants.”

“Yes. That knowledge doesn't come as a surprise. I am sure Outside knows the differences very clearly. Is that all that you know? Just names. Not enough.”

“No. I know some details of what makes them good. Ranks are obvious, while defenses aren't what makes them great. They are sturdy, sure, but Outside had to know what matters as well as many Walkers since we rely on them and knowing what they could do could save our lives or help us act quicker, or better.”

“I guess.... that is true.” Luke grumpily said and watched how Anna poked his side with her pen. She was close to going up and sitting beside William, but she knew Luke would stop her.

And that hand... Emblem of crimson looked far too enticing. She almost salivated, but some sort of respect or restraint stopped her act.

“What about specifics?”

“You mean mine and yours?” William asked and pulled his sleeve to see his Emblem.