Chapter 65

“Oh, she remembered! Great. We have a feast tonight,” Luke cheered and took two of the boxes to the table. “It seems the food is taken care of.”

Tossing the box to standing William, he barely caught it as he looked around. “What is it?” He sized it and smelt it. His eyes sparkled as if he smelt a treasure.

“Food.” Luke bluntly said, opened the lid, and revealed the food inside that intoxicated the whole room with a heavenly smell.

The box was ten by ten inches, making it quite thick. Inside, there were numerous thinly cut meat slices, sauces, and rice. There were also some pasta and bread. William opened his as well, enduring the sucker punch of the upcoming smell. It was too strong and he almost staggered.

He sat at the table and ate it like nothing ever before. He didn't even grab a spoon. He shoved the meat and rice into his mouth, which disappointed Luke greatly. He almost lost his appetite. Not looking at him eating like a savage helped, and he even forgot to mention heating the food. It was too late.

With such a feast, it took only a few minutes for William to finish it. “That was delicious,” he licked his hands, unaware of his manners. Luke barely started his meal.

“Thank Mi-Yung later,”

“I will. Where she will come?”

“Later.”

“Which is?”

“Probably not today.”

“How come? She went so far as to get me. Isn't it a shame?”

“You don't even know it and speak as if you get it. Relax. What do you even plan to do?”

“I just got here. What do you think I should be doing?” William finished his licking and stretched his hands. His Emblem was visible and calm after he pulled his sleeves up to eat.

“Deciding what you should be doing isn't my responsibility. I have very little time for my apartment, let alone you. You might as well be satisfied with our guest room and do what you want tomorrow. I have a job to do. You have yours, right? Learn.”

Luke wasn't sure of one thing. Considering his boss and what happened today, he might take a break. Still, it wasn't his problem. His duties were honest and good. He didn't make even that big of a mistake and this little endeavor was meaningful because of Mi-Yung alone.

“I am free, eh?” William wondered out loud and wasn't sure where he should start. This whole place was huge, and the streets were easy to get lost in. Perhaps he should look for a guide, or someone good at that sort of thing. Briefly, he considered Melia or Anna, but both of them were probably too busy to even think about him. Luke was obviously unwilling to care for him, which he accepted and didn't find strange.

Soldiers were busy and Luke already did enough for him. William was curious if he had some suggestions. Talking was cheap, after all, unlike some actions or some additional lessons or care.

“Please, I am clueless,” William lightly bowed and begged.

Luke began to eat and since he saw his sincerity, he decided to talk. “Well, for the start, figure out your life and curiosity first. You have many of them. See what you want. Everyone has it a little differently because everyone is different. Especially recruits of your kind. I have no idea what Mi-Yung planned for you anyway.”

“What about others like me? Other Walkers waiting for this... Examination? Kaufman said six weeks, so there must be others doing the same thing as me, but... better? I am an Outsider, but not really. Am I a citizen already? What does it even mean?”

“I guess you are that,” Luke acknowledged the obvious. “Walker, I mean. It isn't strange to begin re-learning some stuff or see more about this place. Many youths like you wait for their chance and... well, this is about it. Walkers are different folks. Learn! You should learn. Yes. What is the point of years of prep for Examination, or learning?” Luke ate and found a perfect excuse to not speak to him, or give his mouth an excuse to speak.

William wanted to know more about this Examination and what it meant, or what kind of Walkers like him were around, or what he should learn. He had seen fewer Walkers like him in his life. Most of the time, they were below their teens. Orphanages took care of them, and after some point, one wouldn't see them. And if he saw adult ones, it either meant a problem or annoyance.

So William dug through that topic in a different way and waited for the time when Luke wasn't chewing. “I guess recruits like me or refugees are staying in some dorms, or those Divisions, right?”

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Luke sighed and gulped. “More or less. Some youths are already promised into some places due to their training, circumstances, or families. Your case is unique because you never accepted anything, so you have to swallow your decision, and you will have to decide whether it was bad or terrible. I don't judge it. Others might. Coupled with your stubbornness to be kept Outside, it is a bit more complex than that.”

“Why so?”

“It makes you a minority and lacking in many ways because Walkers like you aren't seen in great sights. Your knowledge might also lack a punch, so you should improve at that sort of thing. The Federation puts a lot of resources into Divisions for that sort of thing. They take care of youths even before their time is right. It is a system with value, you see. Willingness too. Few would want to keep living Outside. Walkers are precious resources. Whether you like it or not.”

Luke was one himself, so William trusted his word and didn't refute him, or hate his own choices. He also didn't expect him to talk so much and smiled in grace. “I don't regret my choice at all.”

“I know. It's kind of weird, but in six weeks, you will have to go through what others already did, or will go through. It won't change if you are stupid or smart, a refugee or part of some organization or important family. For Walkers, what matters is what their talent and Emblems are like, so what they did before is just extra effort. Secondary forms are their natural talents, mind, experiences, and spirit.” Luke said and returned to enjoying his one-of-a-kind dinner, which he didn't have in weeks.

“Why doesn't all matter? Are people and Walkers all that different? Emblem and myself, I mean?” Looking at his Emblem, William wasn't sure if it was proper to ask about it.

Military meals were garbage in comparison, even with Walkers around, so Luke was having a blast with such a treat. “You will see what it means in the future. I said it and showed it. Emblems are far too unique and out of this world to make sense of them with words. Perhaps it isn't even right to think of them too much, but they are there and they are real. You should respect it and not question every little thing. Ask yourself, why care for everything? Some Walkers have contrast and proper manners. There is a point in helping talented youths because it's not just Emblem that matters, even though it sounds odd.”

“So I shouldn't worry too about myself and get accustomed to everything?”

Luke nodded as he chewed. William accepted it and stared around this luxurious apartment that he described as too perfect for him.

“You can get your own place like this if you become important enough. I heard that some normal people have them too, as long as their value is great,” Luke added after noticing William's interest.

“Normal? What is even value? Is this about those credits?”

“Yes and no. The Federation decides who gets these kinds of places. If one has money and value, it is easier.”

“How savage.” William reckoned and didn't like how it sounded.

“Walkers have it good, boy.” Luke gulped and said. “At some Ranks, some rules don't apply to them, and if one is capable, their reputation could become so big that the Federation would reconsider many things to let them in or stay well. It is about connections and worth. Some things from the past prevailed.”

“I always thought it was about survival.”

“Some people passed that point years ago. Some Walkers are the same. I think it is about greed and humanity, right? Haven't you said it? You saw the truth Outside.”

“Which truth, or what? I don't think people can change. There is nothing right at all. It is just nature. People are stupid.”

“Aren't we all? What are even Walkers for? What are Ranks for them and what are Darks? What does it even mean to become a Rank 5 Walker? Am I a jester walking on two poking limbs, or someone who wields some curse?” Luke gave William plenty of questions to ponder over.

“How should I know?” William answered in annoyance.

“Then learn. It is about the rules of people and the past. Missions, power, ability, and standing in this messed-up world are important to everyone important. Eventually, even a fool could become important if their importance is high. There is no helping it. Even before the Dawn, it was close to that point. People in power were in power for a reason and wanted to stay there. There were so many layers to humanity that I don't think my dinner is big enough. That is my opinion. Feel free to ask around or read through it in the library.”

“Sounds awful,” William said and planned to do that.

“I am not judging. It is better than being Outside, or taking breaths of Darks a breath away.”

After this, Luke finished his meal. “Learn what you want, be who you desire. Walkers have various weights on them, and it starts before they are eighteen. We, older bastards who are surviving, will help out and let you all grow. Well, some of us will do that. Not everyone is keen on seeing new generations rising. Talents and worth give disparities. How it ends up is up to some slack, in a sense, or in the Emblem itself. I've already worked up this ladder of interest and grew up to Rank 5. I've seen people. Rank 6 and above is not achievable for most. It is far too detached from reality. So, don't feel angry or confused about anything because many Walkers feel the same thing. We don't know much. We just go and do our best. There might be no sense in that now, so it might clear up.”

“I see. Where is my room?” William no longer wanted to argue and wanted to sleep. Even if he agreed or disagreed, Luke had many experiences and truths. Figuring out what William wanted was his own battle.

What mattered was inside his hand. It will answer everything. William felt alone but wasn't. He was bound to discover a world with people in his shoes and it wasn't even that far away.

External factors could do only so much to those unfamiliar with the world, and William wasn't that. It was about setting up expectations and William had turbulent ideas of what was Outside; a place full of unknowns. The Federation was outside of that idea, yet it was hiding as a fortress, and representing a lot of things someone like him had to reach.

Luke already trusted that William was fine. Kaufman thought so in different views, or perhaps not anymore.

“That hall. First door after left side.” Luke pointed behind William. “You are also not here alone. We have roommates because this place is simply too big. Get used to it and sleep well.”

“Sharing is caring. I lived with dozens of kids younger than myself. Some people won't scare me.”

“People, huh?” Luke nodded and watched him go.