Chapter 92

“...hand,” William said through shock and many surprises that this girl caused him. He thought he would mind speaking out loud much more, but he ended up pressed as if he was ready to forfeit all of his credits to her.

“A hand!? Any place is a good enough place, but I've heard some are better than others. What's up with the hand though? Haven't you learned anything about it Outside or by yourself?”

He shook his head, unwilling to say he might have.

“You are awfully silent about it. Do you think I will steal it? I never thought young Walkers had it this rough Outside. I always assumed they were trained properly and knew their status. But again, some lacking regular logic isn't a big deal. Even people of the Federation can be dumb. There are plenty of them, but not enough Walkers, so...” Ellie muttered and wondered if she should speak to him like this or if she should be more polite.

She looked far too much, assumed strange matters, and wondered about it until she got worked up. What if some workers saw her? What about Burton?

It seemed her first mistakes were her assumptions, followed by her pressing honesty that was unnecessary. It was her problem to solve it, while the world of Walkers wasn't something she dared to touch very often. But she did so when she could, and that was one of her little problems that shouldn't be talked about.

Every day, just a little bit of secrets meant a great day. That was enough because this library was full of things and knowledge that regular people wouldn't get. Ellie could because she was great, curious, and brave, and there was something good about Heidi and how she ruled her castle.

It wasn't as if someone was stopping Ellie, but the problem was the height, knowing where to go and where to stop. That, Ellie did not know. Everything had its limits. Employees of this library needed to know a lot of topics due to many Walkers coming to this place, so it made sense for them to know at least the bare minimum, if not something greater to help them out.

Unfortunately, there were some standards about employment, helping Walkers, or so-called rules. There were attendants, special educators, or people familiar with Walkers due to research, history, or some sensitive matters. Ellie wasn't one of them.

Simply put, there was some attention put where it belonged, and people followed suit. The work and time were often thorough and satisfactory, with most of it flowing under special matters of upper floors. Besides that, the lower floors were virtually fine for any non-Walker.

There were even a lot of young Walkers inside this building, learning anything they required before the Examination that would crisp their bodies and Emblems in an unlikely boost. That power would shake them, let the blood boil, and grow them out of their shell. Afterward, there wouldn't be much time for simple learning.

Forced Awaking was a mere part of the first crack, followed by hundreds of other matters. Both physically and mentally, Walkers were known for draining and intense methods of training that any normal person would take for torture. It was only unfortunate that Forced Awakening was such a method, met with mandatory political power and prosperity, and multiple curious organizations.

Ellie was aware of them, which was surprising if one looked at the whole Federation, and less than shocking if one knew Ellie. There was a lot of curiosity in her mind like her eyes or voice, and she was letting it all out on William, who had yet to calm down, so he spoke to her first.

“Knowing a lot about Outside is different from Darks or Emblems, let alone Walkers. People, politics, and the world as a whole are what? They are our core. Humanity's hope.”

“And you are not?”

“Who am I?” William asked and shrugged. “Just another body. You've spent all your life here. Why do you think Outside is called Outside? Federation is the core of humanity and most knowledge is here for a reason, which leaves Outside where? Oh, don't joke with me, please.” He shot her attempt to argue and felt that heat again.

“That's why Outside is seen as a backyard of humanity with tossed issues or whatnot. It's been like this for more than just thirty years. That's why Outside has its name. It's out and the side is just like a corner dumped aside.”

“B-but... You are here now.” Ellie argued, eyes squinting, and arms still pressing.

“Sure. I did end up here, and now, my Emblem is all that is left.” William explained the rule he decided to follow not that long ago. He had yet to know what awaited him, or who, so this reasoning was all that he managed for now.

“Alright, William. That might be true, but I know a lot about the world and this place, even if I am a normal person. Why think of it as something bad? I can give you enough words to shake your spirit and I don't need Outside for that.” She said with dignity.

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William couldn't refute her and sighed. “What are you trying to say? I dislike talking about this...”

“I am requesting something from you.” Ellie backed away and pressed her hands together.

“What?”

“Show me your Emblem. If you do so, then let's forget the rest even happened,” Ellie slapped her palms, forming a pleading expression. She also stopped being so pressing and looked at his eyes. This time, she was sincere and calm about it. She almost knelt.

“I guess... it wouldn't hurt. We didn't have to argue about it like this, but you were... Wait, you wanted to see it since the start...have you not?” William recognized that for the first time and Ellie nodded twice.

Awkwardly, she acknowledged the fact that had been following her since the ground floor. Glancing left and right, she crouched and gestured William to go down, where he uncovered his sleeve and showed her his right forearm. A crimson Emblem etched within his flesh glinted a little due to its glossy prison, while the lights in the ceiling didn't give it anything special.

Ellie gazed at it, unaware of what else she had expected, seen, or wanted. She had no idea, so this sight ended up like a gift.

Were Emblems supposed to be hideous, pretty, or strange? Some Emblems were like neither, looking almost like bones or exposed flesh, or rocks with some sort of crystal or gem followed by flesh and blood. They were unique, looking like wounds carved into human bodies. Some might look similar to one another, yet they would never feel the same.

Numerous Emblems had also matching effects, giving rise to Arcana and Skills of a comparable type, but Walkers would make it unique. Then, there could come Elements, which were crucial matters of most Emblems.

Emblems themselves had many varieties. Be it colorations, Localization, angles, or size, there were many important matters that Ellie uncovered to be quite substantial. She might not have the right position, but that didn't stop her from looking for some things herself. In some places, it was common knowledge what Emblems looked like, and what they could feel like, or do. People and Walkers lived together, so it was bound to happen.

In the Federation, the limit of knowing about Emblems and Walkers was curiosity, job, or knowing the right people or place. For Ellie, they meant the exact same thing, albeit one issue was her age, while the helpful matter of her job was magnificent for her. She was young and concentrated on all kinds of things.

The Emblem before her was a few inches in diameter, looking like a big coin or a disc etched into the flesh. It was protruding a little, and there were no exposed bones or flesh or blood around it, though it looked like it instead. William's Emblem was bloody, dancing in waves like flames or waves inside his hand, bothering some veins, or bones below, but his arm moved just fine.

Wasn't it wonderful, strange, or hideous? For Ellie, she saw a little glint and endless gratifying waves of what she knew as Arcana.

“Wow, so pretty. What a mesmerizing colorful redness and gloss. That is rare coloration, William. Those waves and lines are intense. Is it pure Arcana or Vectors?”

“How should I know?”

She ignored his questions and bothersome look by leaning closer to his arm. “In the past broad world, this would be like a jewel worth a country. It is almost like blood when I see it flowing and turning, almost like a living thing.” Ellie said in awe, observing her rewarding request with her keen eyes and way too lacking worries about personal space.

“Well, I am alive, so what do you mean?”

“...”

“And that's it! My Emblem is here and you've watched it. Satisfied?” Just when William wanted to pull his sleeve back and cover his Emblem because of her intense stare, Ellie grabbed his arm and touched his Emblem.

It was quick due to her proximity and posture, and he failed to stop her because he didn't anticipate her being this... savage. William yelped with no fear but instincts. Usually, bad things happened whenever his little gem met outside factors. And this one was substantial, while his Emblem was definitely acting up. Or he was, which might be the same thing, or he didn't want to acknowledge that something bad was happening.

This time, nothing happened. Ellie grasped his arm, ignored his yelp and near-falling body, and observed his Emblem closer. Her touch was soft as if she was lost in it. She poked the Emblem, felt it, and recognized it as warm glass. It felt like a jewel she only heard from stories of the past, or pictures or vitrines in the museum.

“Intense... Pretty! Do you feel it when I poke it?” She said, pressing her point finger forward, glancing at William as they crouched. Then, her fingers moved around his Emblem, trying to determine its shape.

William almost snatched his arm away but didn't want to do anything harsh because of his shock. He couldn't think straight anymore. He thought worse would happen next, yet nothing happened. Ellie wasn't sure why he looked at her as if she was a lunatic or stole his arm. Surely he didn't expect something else.

“Are you good?” she asked.

“...”

More pokes followed before Ellie figured that looking was better than touching. “Um, thanks for a peek. That's all. It isn't as if I am harming you. I will teach you, how about it? I am free in my spare time and since you are an upcoming Walker, you should not only know the basics of the Federation but also how to act beyond it. Outside helps with some Walker matters, but it isn't enough. It varies like your past and knowledge, and I don't know you. Personally, I know a lot even though I am not a Walker myself. Do you know why?” Ellie importantly asked and let his arm go.

William immediately fell to the ground, silent and frozen.

“You alright?” Her embarrassment was nonexistent, unlike her ignorance of what she touched or tried. It was inappropriate and William knew it.

Getting back to reality, he covered his hand as he knelt. “You sure are brave...”

“Brave?”

“Aren't Emblems dangerous? Touching them isn't smart. It could hurt.”

“What isn't dangerous? I can bite as well.” She showed him her teeth and smiled.

William didn't. “You are a curious kid playing with fury, or toys that could harm you. Do you seriously like to learn stuff like this? Is that right? Is that why you know things and act without thinking? Seriously...” William needed no confirmation or answers.

“T-that isn't wrong, but I am not young! I also think and ponder about things, past, or future. A lot of it is great and taking Walkers as great secret mysteries is even better. I am honest, William. I will offer my services to you and help your lacking manners. Maybe... change of clothes wouldn't hurt as well, but who cares! Books are waiting!“

“R-right,”