Chapter 41

Numbers were a false hope, longing before the sciences and people who couldn't imagine the worst.

“We are losing an endless battle.” Luke leaned on the small seat and crossed his arms over his chest, causing Anna to frown and get closer to his flow. “While you had great parents, they are nothing. Strictly speaking only!” Luke added, seeing William's frown and shift of crimson. His blunt way of speaking had its merit, similar to his understanding of people.

“One piece of advice is this: don't give up on the path you walk no matter what. I don't care if it's the military, the Academy, or the other organizations that will seek you out. Every one of them serves their purposes. We are all putting our lives for others or the unknown future. One should respect that and do their best. If not... it is waste.”

William was a bit speechless by how motivational he sounded and how well it made him shine. That, or his shimmering eyes and Emblem or waves around him made that impression.

“That is what is left out by a lot of instructors and past,” Luke added, indicating that he was quoting what he heard from someone else.

William didn't mind this, even though he would lie if those words affected him too much.

Even without his so-called great parents, his life wasn't so terrible. It was considered normal when one viewed and saw others Outside. Hence, he wasn't all that negative about anything. It wasn't lonely either, thanks to Dann. Both of them found their footing in this world. It was worth some pride.

Luke grabbed William's head again and shook him up.

William struggled before slipping away. “What was that for?”

“Don't look so dejected or good. An alive Walker is better than a dead one. A firm heart is equal to any Rank-up you will ever make. Then... following experience and talent does the rest. Rank 4 isn't some big wall. 15% is just a number. One could crash that to bits in time or... well, alone. Today is different. In the past, generations struggled. Not anymore!”

“Or died trying,” Anna added

“What...” William patted his head while looking at Luke in confusion. He sounded more like a teacher than one would guess.

“I think this sort of recruitment is not the best, no matter how the Federation knows their shits. It is not my place to judge anything. It is higher-ups who decide that. They are Walkers, regardless. High-rank ones, at that. Hilarious...”

“It is as if caring about a million people is a simple task,” Anna said behind him. “Or Walkers, who are numerous, and each is unique and different. Recruitment has to be steady! It is hard when so many things shift all the time.”

“I don't need your lecture.” Luke barked at her.

William stopped their fight by asking a great question “A lot of organizations will test my aptitude, right? Or... however, it is called. When? How?”

“More or less, soon.”

“What about my age? I am still young.”

“Examining young Walkers is different and unique in the Federation,” Luke revealed Forced Awakening vaguely once more. “You will go through something special that sets the current age apart from the past. If everything goes well and nothing bothers you, your future prospects will literary change your life.”

“Bother me? Why.... Oh, my parent?” William recalled some details, including his father's talent, his mother's relation to the Academy, and... their Walker's status.

And he was a Walker! Their son! For a pair of Walkers to get one, what sort of sense was it? For now, William couldn't think of any relation to what was before him, what his parent's status was, or how much he was missing.

“This examination happens every once in a while. Before that, you will have some time left for yourself in the Federation because you've been found in a good time. The one who looked for you will take care of you. I can promise you that.”

“I attest that,” Anna added, smiling in affirmation.

“Really? I will live in the Federation. That is... hard to believe. What is that examination? How does it work?” William didn't dwell on it too much because he made up his mind days ago.

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“Because it is that important and you ask too many damned questions, don't worry too much about it. Think of it like that word. A test. Academy or the military Divisions, what is afterward is the difficult part.”

William's shaking didn't stop.

“It isn't as if the Darks are coming for your neck, you know. The process of crossing dangers takes some time and most of it is monitored. No one wants an improper Walkers deployed to save people or go deeper just to die a miserable death. That is the best I can tell about the recruitments, but the process before it is lacking, uh...”

William figured Luke was constantly berating the military or people who made some choice.

“You are still young, but... weird. Can you handle low-rank Darks? Have you ever killed some?” Luke changed the topic and became serious, mentioning something he wanted to express for hours.

William became pale and crimson spread under his thighs. His Emblem was acting up just from the memories. From that thrill. From that pain and blood. It cherished it. It ate! It pained and drowned.

William groaned and put the sleeve over his Emblem. “I... did... kill. A lot. It did. I did.”

Luke hummed. “I would normally pry upon this, but won't because of time and place. However, don't forget to mention it to some people after our landing and in the future.”

“Why? People can kill some low-rank Darks anyway. For example...” William shuffled something from his bag and pointed a revolver at Luke, who flinched.

Then, William shifted its chambers. They were empty. “Ammo is long used, but it is a good memento. It served me over the years.”

Luke was a little surprised to hear that. He meant something very different than a conventional weapon. “What about your Emblem?”

“What about it? Is it some fly?” He didn't want to talk about it.

“Alright. Out of courtesy, I will show you something interesting. Something to get your mind away. How about that?” Luke offered him an idea he wanted to do since he exposed his chest.

William shrugged, hid his revolver, and nodded. Anna was curious and wondered what Luke was planning. They watched how he got up and stood before William. Then, he pulled his arm before him, and clasped round part of his Emblem with his right palm.

He didn't pull anything out, but a sudden flow of light and blue particles started to gather, manifest, and look thick, dense, and resembling water and molten bright metal. All in blue waves. Energy perked up, flying forth, looking like stands of river lost in space. Luke guided them around the room, moving his hands, until he clutched his right fist. There, waves quivered and became even denser, until the rest was sucked into it as if his fist became a black hole.

It wasn't an overly bright experience. William looked at it without blinking and didn't know what he was watching.

A Skill?! he thought. It wasn't correct. It was something else. Something that many Walkers had in many qualities and faces.

Soon, the waves formed into a fifteen-inch wide cube. All azure in color, it had the same pattern as his former Emblem.

Luke's chest was considerably dimmer, looking soft and feeble, though not without an Emblem. It had its flow, looking pretty like jewels of silver when the shine reached out.

“W-what is this? I've never heard of this?” William was shocked. Was it something unique like his escaping Emblem?

Wrong.

Anna clapped. “Wordlessly. Impressive, Captain.”

“What have you ever heard about Walkers and their Emblems?” Luke ignored her, clutching his Cube and speaking to William. “There were no teachers for you. There is a mountain of confidential information that Walkers mentions to other Walkers. No one else. We live in such a world... huh? It is kind of hypocritical and lacking like... some people, right?”

Luke forgot about Anna, who stared and furiously drew right beside William. It was a wonder when she got her book back. She forgot to breathe and speak, and her drawing quickly took its shape. A Cube emerged, floating above Luke's open palm, right behind the dimmer Emblem. She made it magical, albeit he was faceless again.

Azure light and waves left a distinct pattern around the Cube, undulating softer waves as if it breathed in and out. There was some flow to it, until Luke smiled, knowing that Anna was no regular citizen.

He clutched his Cube and connected the waves, linking his mind to it like its proper master. From his palm that seized the Cube, waves made a small armor over his upper body, flowing over his shoulder and hands, establishing Cycles. It almost looked like he was a source for a little stream of water, letting ripples up, instead of down, until it went up again, cycling all around him in a constant loop.

Everything connected to the Cube, then to the Emblem, before flowing all over him. It was no element. It was no water either, William knew. It was a mysterious matter, essence, and energy that was hiding in all Emblems.

Its name was Arcana, and that Cube was a special manifestation of his personal power. His Emblem.

“A cube? Is that your weapon or the front of your Emblem?” William asked.

“Neither. Not quite. The whole truth is different. We call it Arcalyst, a manifestation of our Emblem. It is like its voice. Ego, one might say. It forms at a certain Rank, under achievements of powerful Cycles, range of motions, and stability. Why? It is not my choice. I couldn't change this shape when it formed. My Emblem flows into it on its own, looking quite different from most other things I do, nor it is Emblem's natural state and Mold. It's a vision of my Emblem. Not myself, or act of my mind.”

“What? Emblem has its own vision?”

“Numerous ones. Yes. Molds are weapons that are up to all Walkers. We shape it up. Arcalyst is something much more than that, though we can work with its aspects like with Skills and Arcana.”

William couldn't wrap his mind about it. Was it a weapon or not?

“What does it do?” he asked a little doubtfully, touching some flying particles that were revolving around this robust-looking Cube. It resembled flying dust and mist, but had a form of water flow like a metal, or did it resemble wind and water at the same time?

“A lot of things. First, let's dance,” Luke ordered and pointed upwards. Cube moved on its own, flying all over the room, close to windows and seats, until it stopped back where it started. “I won't show you anything greater in this space. You will have to wait for a better chance, I suppose.”