It is 3 days later after the 2nd day of undergoing Roman's training.

William wakes up amidst the storming gaze of the sun as usual. He voices his curses at it the same as well since it's still early for him to wake up and it's not a bit nice for him to feel that way. Like many days before, he forgot to close the blinds when he got home late at night. If he would do so, the sun would wait outside, making his sleep uninterrupted.

And he needs that right now, after being at this training for 5 days.

“I swear... I am still dead tired from the past few days... Give me a break..” William complains, half-naked in the bed, rolling out of the bedsheet.

It's the start of the 6th day of training, and one thing that Roman promised him, will happen for the next few days.

It's the combat lessons since Roman was late by a day. By any normal demand by the Academy influence, the last 3 days are for the Walkers to get familiar with their Emblems and Skills in the true fashion of the Walkers. It is a thing that any Walker needs to accomplish and master the most. Without it, one would be a meat target for the Dark beings.

William glances at the watch on his table, which is in the opposite section of the room. It's small, but he summons his Velvet eyes, which enchant his vision, making him see the small things that make the errors turn.

This has been his small accomplishment, since it's a quite steady skill, with very little strain on his body. He learned to use it without much intent put into it. He doesn't need an activated Emblem, nor too much force or straining effects are present in this manner. The only thing that it uses is the eyes, which are fine to use for up to 20 minutes using this skill.

All he had to do, is to imagine and summon it through his will alone. It doesn't need any gestures or anything. Not even with the Emblem active, it's not something dependent on that, which surprised William when he learned it through Roman's tricks and hints.

In the past few days, he learned a lot and accomplished a lot too. There seem to be some restraints, and rules put on certain Skills, but they need to be perceived and explored with their use. William has yet to fully explore everything within his skill sheet, or secrets of the System. Roman excused it as being well enough to get some familiarity with, and time will tell more. 5 days or so isn't enough for that, or so he said.

However, there haven't been any improvements to the Ranks of the Skills. The Velvet Eyes alone at Rank 1 still remain the same prior to 3 days ago. The only improvement was his usual stuff by Roman's vision. That was to remain in the Inner enchantment state for longer, and the use of Annihilation Element improved and got smoother.

In no shape or form, will they reach Rank 1 nor his Annihilation Skill will reach Rank 2? At least the Skills revolving around the Annihilation are already at level 1 since the 2nd day, which is nice. William feels good about it since they are pretty damn powerful after getting familiar with them for the past 3 days.

Roman commented a lot about something specific. That Rank 2 Skill can take months of practice, making the progression smooth, but it can take a long. Patience is a virtue, and even the motion of having a few Rank1 Skills is great to have before the Trials. It was his excuse, and it made sense when he explained.

It goes without saying that those words were words of encouragement, but William thought little of them. He still has a lot to work with, and he can't be pleased with any half-empty words for now.

Especially when he is over the training in the morning like this.

Sighting, he looks at the continuous flow of time through his watch and sees that the time is up. It's past 7 AM, which means some meal, before getting out of this place.

Getting up, he tosses some clothes on him, which were who-knows which set already. He had to resolve to the stealing since he "lost" his clothing in many further accidents. Though Luke isn't here, so it doesn't matter too much. Probably. William will have to resolve it somehow after he will return from some mission. One thing that William gets rather semi-subconscious about his lack of clothing when undergoing the Annihilation effects of his strong Vector Claw. He also fished for some clothes that wouldn't get destroyed so easily. Though Luke made some comments about that in the last few days.

Saying there is some good option there, but it is too soon for him, or something. It sounded more like an excuse since he dismissed this training in the Bunker to be a perfect chance to not be bothered by anything. There was no need to feel any shame there.

Remembering the day, William believes it's about the time Mi-Yung and Luke are back. They should be coming back today, but William doesn't know when. Maybe at nighttime, he will see them here?

Not like he complains, but he feels a bit tired and lonely after those 3 days. It never came to his mind how every morning he had Mi-Yung to talk to, and before this training, he had Ellie for the most part of the day.

Now, it seems trivial, and normal as he recalls those times, but it's past. The present is different. There is nothing that can keep going forever. No amount of happiness can be enveloping everyone and everything. Not in this world, at this time.

William folds his long-sleeved army shirt and checks his right forearm as he has done so for as long as he remembers.

“You are here, so I guess I can start this day with some hope. I wonder if the Awakening changed it, and whatever the reason for its disappearing was, it no longer matters.” William wonders, but before giving it more attention, he walks to the kitchen, which is empty for the past 3 mornings. Breakfast is good but silent, and without anyone interrupting him or talking to him.

It is rare, but not that irritating to him. He was always used to having hectic mornings. Even long before he came here. The time in the orphanage, and even before that, wasn't lonely. It was because of his friendship with Dann, and a few others, but who knew where those times are by now?

William doesn't care or want to think about it. He finishes his breakfast, and without further ado, he goes out after securing his full bottle, key, timer, and watch. That is about what he can have or needs.

Everything in hand, William goes out to the Central District. In front of the Institution of the Emblem awaits Roman, who is awaiting him for today's special time.

His words were different yesterday, indicating something was going to happen this morning. William notices him sitting on the same bench he sat on 3 days ago. It was the last time he has seen Ellie, since she is quite busy with work, and he too, has so many things to do. He suspects he won't see her for a year if he will succeed in the Trials. It is something he expects to happen, but does he feel sad about it? He never intended to become... someone sad. It isn't worth it to be depressed, and he knows it.

He knows it, and even Ellie is aware of the fact of their separation. It still somewhat troubles William, who has been a little alone for the past 3 days. Apart from Roman who is all Emblem that, and annihilate this, he isn't a chatty person outside of this reasonable training.

Roman is the kind of person William likes from such principles. He doesn't go his way to over-explain things, nor he talks around the bush. Though, there have been some changes in his heart for the last 3 days.

Clenching his hands in his pockets, William greets Roman, who notices him as well.

“Good morning, Roman.”

“Oh, finally here. Excellent. I suppose this comes as no surprise since my promise for the combat is today, isn't it?”

“I guess.”

“You guess? With the number of questions you fired at me yesterday, I guess isn't that great of a response, don't you think?”

“I would rather don't think anything of it. What's going on with today's get-up? Are we not going to bunker number 5? Is there some reason for the combat lessons to be different?”

“We do end up in the bunker at the same time as usual. It's the truth that I will personally train you for the next 3 days. After that, it's up to you, as I will leave for japan once again. Before that, though, there is someone to meet us. It is something bothersome, but I guess it has been the arrangement from Mi-Yung before she left for her own pesky problems. Not like I like it, but we will fetch that person since I was tasked with that.” Roman explains and gets to his feet.

His words intrigue William, who hasn't seen this version of Roman. He even dresses up nicely for this occasion, which is strange, considering the combat class. He wears a different version of the coat. It's nicer, and possibly a brand new one. Williams guesses so, but it's still the clothes underneath that are fresher and nicer that the coat. Roman even got a haircut and trimmed his very short beard even shorter.

“I doubt he had a change of clothes with him since coming here, but this... Strange.” William wonders as he follows Roman toward the main building of the Institution.

Roman doesn't talk, but smiles, which is even stranger. He even seems to anticipate something, but William doesn't understand what. He rather doesn't ask, out of the respect for the mysteries. They walk through the many halls, intersections, rooms, and pavilions, made for the research of the Emblem. There are quite a lot of people here, and most of them are scientists and military personnel. That includes medics, and also Walkers.

The only large clinic and hospital for normal people and even Walkers is on this stretch of buildings. It's one big section in the east of the biggest buildings, making it one of a kind of hospital in this hemisphere. It is the same section that is connected to the Awakening Elevator as William recently got to know about it. That's the place where he spent his time activating his System for the first time and getting familiar with it.

With the walk up, down, and away, William doesn't know where they go, but Roman seems like he knows the direction.

And he does. Roman knocks on one particular door in, a big and wide hallway that has a tall ceiling, and doors dozens of feet from each other. There are no windows or anything indicating the interior, but William is sure there is a room beyond this door. Just the plain, pained white wall made them, making the door the only place of importance.

On the left of the door is a badge, for the sake of this particular door. It tells - The vice-Directory of the Institution.

“Vice-Director? A person under Tom Hough?” William guesses, and wonders what this is about. It seems it's related to the topic that Mi-Yung told him 3 days ago, but William doesn't know the details since she left.

Soon enough, the door opens and a man in his 30ties, with a white cloak around his body, appears. He has neatly folded hair backward and shaved beard, making him appear quite well-kept.

“Good morning, gentlemen. Can I be of some help?” the man asks as if not expecting any guests.

“I am looking for the Vice Director under Tom Hough. Is she here?” Roman asks.

“Vice-Directer? That should be me, but you are probably a few years later if you are asking about "she" the previous Vice Director. My name is Samuel. The current Vice-Director under Tom Hough, and you are?” Samuel looks at Roman, who appears both shocked and sad. It is an expression that speaks thousands of words, which can't go unnoticed by two people in his proximity.

“Oh, so it's about a woman. That is rather unexpected.” William laments in his mind but doesn't voice anything.

Instead, it is Samuel who does so, and he wants to know who is before him.

Catching his breath and face, Roman clears his throat before continuing as if nothing happened.

“Name' Roman Antler. I used to know the previous Vice-Direct quite well. I hoped... No. I didn't know what I hoped for. I guess she is gone? Oh my...” Roman mumbles on, while at least getting his name right.

“Oh, that Roman? You used to be an instructor at the Academy for a long time. I heard about you and your Emblem regarding the Annihilation element and certain achievements about the use of the Dark. That is quite something. Your achievements are quite good for us, unlike your mistrusting behavior and lack of staying in one place.” Samuel says in an unbothered manner, but with a certain level of honesty. He knows that before he is a powerful Walker, and being polite to them is the basic thing to do.

“Well... Excuse me for being who I am. I simply left the Academy, as there was no other place there for me. Simple as that.”

“Or because someone left the Academy to join the Institute...”

“Yeah, right...” Roman says while sighing.

“Anyway, mister Antler, how can I help you? I suppose you didn't know Xia Li isn't here. You have been in Japan for a long time, or so I heard.” Samuel inquiries in hopes of getting this over with.

At this point, William plays the third wheel, but not as he complains. He already steps backward to distance himself from this conversation. It is enough of a distance away for him to hear, but enough to seem uninterested.

“I didn't know that... I apologize. I am here for some business transactions regarding Mi-Yung and some of her deals. I was tasked with looking for Vice-Director and that's it. Rest should be something you already know about or its something about Tom Hough?”

“Oh. How heartless of her to not make it personal, but alright. I guess I know what's this about and it is indeed about Tom Hough. I notice William Gale around the corner, so you will go to bunker 5 in a bit, am I Right?”

“Yes. I am his instructor for the academy trial, but I guess you already know about that.” Roman says, his voice indicating something that Samuel notices.

“I know that by now, and you do too. I will accompany you for your session in the bunker to make some research. It should be for today, and maybe tomorrow. It's for the notice of the progress, and to make some more direct measures about Gale's problems or talents.” Samuel says as a matter of fact and does not give them any time to reply. He quickly takes some stuff from the few tables, after storming from the middle of the door.

With a suitcase and some paperwork, he walks out of the door. All of this took just 6 seconds, which is an impressive feat.

“Shall we go?” Samuel says as if this is a normal thing to do.