Chapter 64

William thought he learned less than what normal recruits would know, but he wasn’t naive, or stupid.

He had seen Outside and learned what was necessary to survive. He grew up through that, rather than with some important lessons that some people considered humanitarian or necessary.

“I learned that people are complicated. Understanding the world Outside is almost impossible and gray, and some things are savage and always coming. Am I wrong to think that Walkers are walking on ice? I think I have done that for years.” William wondered if what he knew was enough to mention or not.

Miss Anderson taught him a lot because she cared about her kids. Before meeting her, William couldn't say much. He learned about the world, darks, and people by listening and being Outside, watching people fight and survive. Before Roshwell, his world was different, and the number of lessons from experienced people or Walkers was negligible.

Luke liked his answer. “Do whatever you want here. Learn and see it for yourself. Walkers are complicated, as you say—if not more than Outside. We are just around the corner.”

William remained silent for the rest of the journey and took the sights around the city as important. Light from the lamps at the sides of the roads soon illuminated the night when the sun disappeared completely, leaving the moon and its red hues overlapping with the remaining clouds. William noticed a spike in people in the streets. Many people were coming out of their jobs and he wasn't even sure where they came from.

Central Districts seemed quite popular, showing all kinds of folks and races. It seemed the whole world focused on this place, but that was false. Sure, it had some diversity. Asia, Africa, or Europe, the Federation took many people in. Still, the majority came from North America due to the closer proximity and history, so there were all kinds of cultures on the street, caused by people.

Fewer cultures were prevalent because of the death of nations and forgotten times, so people created new cultures. William didn't mind it at all. He saw enough people Outside to not be overwhelmed. Up close, the atmosphere in the city was very different from that hill. Lights of lamps glowed, illuminating large buildings and people, creating a sight that he could call a city for sure.

This perspective changed his outlook. There was no struggle here. There was less obvious work or field, or death. Roshwell, where he spent the last two years of living, seemed like crap in comparison.

William didn't like or dislike it. He was impassive about the past because he was willing to learn new things and places. Once again, his promise counted like his steps going forward. Nothing forceful was in his mind. William adapted to new environments and people, so he learned to be polite if it mattered, or indifferent when needed.

Luke continued walking and noticed William's curious eyes glancing at everything, including people. It was a bit awkward, but he let it slide. At least his arm was calm, which was a good sign. Luke felt similar when he came here a long time ago, but at that time, this place wasn't as big and pretty as today. Back then, the Federation was developing steadily, until enough sacrifices created more stability.

There was an impressive strategy to build this city. Regular people and many refugees took part in constructing many buildings in exchange for credits and citizenship. Because of that, even with a limited number of Walkers, the Federation was constantly growing every month. That needed incredible efficiency, resourcefulness, and good people in important positions. Walkers couldn't manage it all.

Over the years, it came to a point where pride in this place became a paradise for work, people, and purposes. It was a good display of effort that touched on politics, growth, and economics that the Assembly arranged. Protection and worthy reasons for this were evident, while people worked back, giving the Federation what it needed. It was almost like a symbiosis, similar to the camps that were older than this place.

Surviving settlements went through many changes since the Dawn, and Luke knew how harsh the reality in the past was. He learned that when he was younger than William, and grew to detest some parts of it.

Forgetting the Enginists, there weren't as many advanced careers in many fields. In numbers, things moved well, and people did what they should, or had to do. Quality wasn't as pivotal unless one viewed some organizations in a different light.

Places like the Emblem Association had critical points about knowledge and Walkers. That was less about people and more about secrets and knowledge of Emblems. In such places, many people needed special education if they wanted to work for them. Many places were similar, while some had almost no requirements.

If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Luke knew that if it weren't for the Walkers, the Federation would crumble. Not because of Darks flooding it, or the Rifts outside of the city. Their position couldn't be replenished because the status quo looped across every corner of this land. It was a testament to how important everything was to run a society, and many regular people couldn't see it, even if they were a foundation and reason to keep going.

If they would crumble, the rest would follow. Thus, there was no slavery or force. A lot of people worked hard rather than be Outside, stranded on the destroyed continents, not knowing if they should fear the next day or the current one. Against the Dark Age, compromises were apparent.

William was aware of it already, unbeknown to Luke who wasn't all that interested in everything William knew or endured. He had his stories, obviously. Everyone had them.

Knowing this place should give William what he needed. Then, the other times would wait, giving the familiarity new tests, while this city wasn't everything for eyes to see. There was so much hidden that Luke wasn't willing to give William any guidance or tests, let alone some words.

As they walked, Luke entered a street with many rows of buildings. Each side had a lot of buildings and many homes. There was even a road in the middle and pavement on each side. Each building was cramped to the other, seamlessly going together into many apartment complexes. Some were looking smaller than others, or nicer.

Residential buildings had obvious stampede in civilizations, and camps were no different. But when this clean architecture entered William's eyes, he figured he was bound to live in a difference between a hut and a castle.

Was he worth it? Such buildings would be like palaces in the camps.

Luke entered one anyway as if he were walking to his home. The building had a large number of forty-seven above the entrance and held over five rather thick and tall floors

William walked in after him, entering the complex which was far from the orphanage. Smooth walls had no cracks, while the wooded surfaces were outside and inside in appeals or minimal ways. Most construction materials were steel and concrete. There were also smooth rocks and other materials for stability, or even bricks or large pillars. The floor was wooden, shining in smoothness. Light came from the bulbs of light, and didn't once flicker in lacking electricity or issues following their creation.

Luke walked to the staircase, where he walked to the third floor. He pulled a key chain and opened the door to his apartment. Then, he looked aside and saw no one.

“Where did he go? Don't tell me he got lost?” Luke sighed, just when William reached this floor and walked toward him, confused and gazing around and even patting the floor or the walls.

“So sturdy! What are these materials? How to build it? Where did it start? From the bottom or up? Wow, this looks quite nice.”

Luke glared at him.

William bumped into him as he forgot to walk straight. “Wake up, or go to sleep.”

“Oooh!” William unwillingly let out when he glanced into Luke's apartment, ignoring his stare, or annoyance. Inside, the apartment resembled some pictures he had seen in the past.

A smoothened wooden floor, painted walls with pictures and decorations, and an open inviting entrance had almost no dividing walls. It was an open-built apartment, connecting the entrance, the kitchen, the living room, and many hallways together. Bathrooms, guest rooms, and sleeping areas were aside, close and private.

“Whatever. Come in. Be my guest but don't destroy anything! Calm your Emblem whether it sparks anything, got it?”

William nodded without thinking, aware that his Emblem wouldn't do anything. Probably.

“Want some food? We haven't eaten a thing since the morning. I should've brought something when we walked through the streets. Oh well,” Luke shrugged, put his boots aside, and walked in.

“I will eat anything.”

“Not sure if I have anything, but the fridge is almost bottomless thanks to Mi-Yung. It has been a week since I've been here, so this is going to be risky, but she likes what she does and the fridge is her little treasure box.”

“A week? You have this kind of apartment and barely live here?”

“Barely? I have duties to fulfill, missions to do, and a team to lead. It is also right that this place is not my place alone. You should know how roommates work.” Luke took off to the kitchen straight away, not even taking his uniform off.

William followed him but stopped when Luke added. “Take off your shoes. It is a rule of this house.”

He wasn't sure why such rules existed, though he complied. He had nothing else from fabric trousers, a shirt, a hoodie, and a single pair of shoes that had seen better days. He had some spare clothes in his bag that he kept over his shoulder for the majority of this walk, though when he glanced around the street, he figured they were rags in comparison. Overall, his belongings weren't worth much and his attire was a far cry from some neat uniforms.

In the kitchen, there was a large island, big countertops made of some smooth stone, a stove, and a fridge. It didn't look like a kitchen, and more like an open room with a lot of space. Every appliance was good in quality, while the seating area held a large and sturdy table enough to dine almost ten people. The whole apartment was an overkill, but it was how valuable Walkers were. This was considered normal in the Federation, as far as things were.

“How much all of this cost?” William asked, looking at everything far too much.

“Are you that curious about finances? I would expect something different from an Outside orphan, farmer, and who knows what else,” Luke chuckled and opened the fridge. There was a wide variety of boxes inside, each made of bamboo. Every one of them had notes on them.

[Luke and boy] were written on two of them.