Groups of the Walkers hold their respective locations, and each participant will have their own respective difficulties. It won't be because of the Trial itself, but because Walkers are unique in many senses, and Emblem Academy takes care of the best of the best.
Why? There are all sorts of reasons. One is the high quality of talent and potential care they can give to the recruits. Another is rather simple. They aren't the only ones looking for talents, and the failure doesn't mean that Walkers should feel ashamed. In fact, the sole logic behind being accepted to the Trial is already enough to be sought up by many forces. Thus, all kinds of recruitment can carry on to other locations and forces, if challengers give up trying to take the trials head-on. Emblem Academy doesn't force anything, apart from the Trials themselves, taking care of the best and leaving the rest for others. It is a rough and tough method, but it is needed.
I may be harsh, yet the majority of challengers still want to take this place as their potential hope. It is a privilege in recent years. Studying and improving in the Amblem Academy is the future, and any non-1st-timers know about it.
It may be lacking meaning for the potential safety of humanity, but Walkers are a big part of the present living anyway. Their power already holds over common sense, and their position isn't arguable by the common public. It also puts things to another level of worry, since the stakes are high and any success is intense and unique. Failures not so much.
These groups will split, depending on how many times they tried the Trials. It will get some differences in the trials, time, and harshness going up exponentially, the more times one tries. Not only the results from the 1st-timers, and 2nd-timers will be drastic, there are major reasons and differences for this.
It is the time.
Every Challenger to the Trials has around a quarter of a year, to half a year of difference in their waiting, and that is an important part. It shows massive jumps in progress because 1st timers are Walkers for less than 2 weeks. 2-timers are the ones trying this Trial in the quarter, or half a year later. A time that is important in the context of familiarising with one's talent. They are completely different in terms of progression.
After all, most of them are already talented in their own right, yet they still failed to complete the Trials for the 1st time, which puts huge weight and higher expectations for the second one. This is the reason why it is so difficult, and Emblem Academy encourages challenging difficulties to push them beyond the masses. In this sense, there are some Walkers who wait for half a year to skip one Trial to gain months-long advantages. This may solve the difficulty, and give them the edge by more time. Though it is a known method, it doesn't mean it is successful. Emblem Academy knows about it, so anyone who does skip more than once, won't be able to take the Trials any longer. One skip is the maximum.
It may be a difficult choice, forcing the youths down this road, but for the future of humanity and everything else, Emblem Academy does this method for decades.
William grips his bag, holding it over his right shoulder, and follows the group as he should. They walk not that fast, and he can see the Jordan, the IV, disappearing beyond the corners of the fjord's buildings. On the way and the following end of the fjord, he sees many buildings, but most of the street is empty. The fjords aren't like in the Federation with huge places and high stake industries. There are no major businesses here, and William wonders if it's because of the lack of them, that there aren't that many people.
Still, there are sailors and some hurrying people who pass from time to time. They are here to get the goods inside Jordan, the IV. It not only took care of the Walkers but the ship also had some other important businesses, since travel to the Academy was quite a journey. The Federation pulled some things up and gives much-needed assistance to them. Any business operates in valuables, and the journey back and from the Emblem Academy is expensive, and resourceful, let alone dangerous.
This location is an outskirt of the Emblem Acadmy's archipelago and is one of the smallest sections of the islands. It forms an economical sector of 10 smaller islands, filled with roads and bridges, and many workshops. It is almost like a small city in itself but is not regarded as important for the Emblem Academy itself, which is further ahead in the largest islands.
Though, it doesn't mean these sections of the 10 islands aren't important. They are, and thousands - Walkers included - rely on many things in this place. Walkers aren't one to care about the economics when they carry the burden to save the world. Thus, an incredibly large amount of workers from all over the world work here, on many islands, and the Emblem Academy grounds as well. It is a sensible thing to do, otherwise, this place wouldn't even exist. Personal and people were important to make the community livable condition, and this place was like a hidden gem.
There are storage facilities, electricity supply running from the wind, and other bio-energy such as water, or the sun. There are limited farms in this palace too since Walkers still need to eat. Though limited, the import is another important factor. Emblem Academy is not independent in an agricultural way, but it's the biggest fortress and strongest military base in the world. Thus, a lot of care goes to imported materials and food. It is similar to the Federation, which is in the middle of nowhere, which is no wonder, truly.
No one would guess how barren and out of reach this place is, and it is even more remote than the Federation, but that is only William's guess. He is yet to see the full potential of this place and so far, Federation is far larger than the fjords and following islands. Still, it forms a large city, with thousands of people, so it is impressive, but the Federation is bigger.
But what isn't bigger, is the following destination and one most people expect the most. The actual Emblem Academy grounds, and not this secondary city. William's group goes over the bridges, and straight to the location of many skyscrapers. Right. William's group skips ahead and goes over a steep fortress and many stairs to reach the peak of the tall cliff, that makes up the Emblem Academy main grounds. The overall livable space should be larger than the Federation, but that's only William's assumption. And he is right since this place is built from scratch, rather than the Federation that already took the roots of an existing place.
There, above the cliff and further walking through some buildings, William sees another sight that puts the Federation to another level. The lower one, that is. The openness, and wild nature of the first Acadamy island. It is a large plain, as if someone took a tectonic plate, and shoved it above the water with skyscrapers as supporting tools. Right in front of him, there is a street with buildings on each side and people. Many people. It is also a wide street, dozens of feet wide if not at least a hundred.
The scenery is probably the most impressive, since the incredible picture of the starting zone is a bit elevated, making the sight ahead breathtaking. William can see more islands, and lands so large, the Federation would take only a portion of this sight. Many skyscrapers are protruding from the lands, and William can see some forests and grassy fields. There is also a couple of skyscrapers not far off from this location, but they are still half a mile away. The perspective is also nicer and more detailed than the sight he saw as Jordan, the IV, emerged from the fog.
Though, the city street is no city, but a promenade made up of many roads along the buildings. It forms roads around the island's skyscrapers, while the city itself is everything along the roads. The skyscrapers take the most important positions, however.
Following Butler A further down the road, William is speechless, and he isn't alone. He can see the faces of the rest of the 1st-timers, and he can notice some surprising and aghast faces. Though, Louise and Stark seem unimpressed as if they see this place for the 10th time. No one talks and Butler A is still taking the lead. After some walking, they reach their first destination. The very first skyscraper along the main road of the Academy grounds.
William sees it. The menacing sight of a hegemonic structure. It was already forming a larger and bigger picture as they kept approaching it. And now, it seems he is right below it. It is much bigger than he anticipated.
When closer, it indeed looks secure on the ground, with pillars, even concrete, and everything that takes the street. Pedestrian lines are also aside from it, and large doors of glossy and seen-through vision go into the 1st floor's entrance. Every room, or building on the way here looked nice, and in similar style and structure as the unique Institution of the Emblem in the Federation. That means the materials must have been excruciating, and building it cost a fortune.
It also made one important factor obvious. Emblem Academy has hundreds of buildings at the level of the Institution of the Emblems, which is famous for its architecture and unique style. Here, it would be unimpressive. There are taller, wider, different, and more unique concepts of architecture. Someone must have had a wild vision to design the city, and building it is another question. William has no idea how is it possible, but every idea he had about the Emblem Academy has been blown out of proportion. If it could even be called that.
As for the straight skyscraper that seems to go toward the heavens, it's less impressive than the unique buildings of a couple of floors beside it. It is just a chunky tall block with straight flat sides. It's the massiveness that is impressive, and the height of at least 3 quarters of a mile.
Butler A is yet to stop and causes William's bewilderment to come to an abrupt stop. Without words, she reaches the insides of this huge skyscraper. Above the entrance is a particularly carved name - Emblem Evanuel, that William notices.
It may be a strange name for a building but it's the same as the first impression that William can't take for granted. Gulping down, and nervously looking around, the other follows, and the group goes inside. William sees the streets before following, noticing there aren't a lot of kids around, and many citizens seemed to look at the group.
William is sure that a large portion of the people around him are Walkers of unknown rank, and they are curious about something. His emblem? William winces his right forearm over his left one, hiding it. He can't see Emblems on the others, again. It makes him upset that he can't do the obvious thing of hiding it, and others can do so without an issue.
Inside the first floor is rather flashy like the glossy entrance. There is no reception or anything to form a luxurious feel. There is no need for it, as the term luxuries isn't a desirable thing at this age. In fact, food, shelter, and survival are a luxury for the majority of the population.
There is quite a tall ceiling, with many starting floors being nothing but empty space. The floor is made of smoothened wood and some parts of marbled blocks. There are lamps too, but it is fairly bright here thanks to the large glass panels on the walls. There are huge pillar structures, securing the skyscraper's many floors. It is an open, inviting space, with an otherwise very minimalistic design. There are sectors of some restaurants, and even bars, and many seating areas.
Roman emerges behind William's back and tells. “You should stop walking with an open mouth. It's not usual, and a bit embarrassing.”
Hearing that, William notices his mistake, but couldn't help it.
“I don't care. What's this place anyway?” William asks.
“Nothing much. Just an intriguing palace of some kind and nothing more. I have no clue what's the first deal with the Trials, and this place has nothing much but great living places. It's the richest looking building in the Academy with upper floors being quite fancy.” Roman explains, but his words don't tell William a thing.
“Is this a residential building? This huge-ass place?!” William says with plenty of voice, speaking loudly so others hear him.
“Yeah. Let's just follow up on this butler and do your best. That much, I must tell you.” Roman says, pushing his back to move on, while William has no clue how well a living place of Walkers is like. He could see Stark and Louise being completely unbothered by this place, and a few others are the same. As far as this goes, no one talks to each other, and everyone follows Butler A toward the next floor.
There are big and wide stairs, which are shiny and made of some see-through material. It looks like glossy glass, if it makes sense, and William marvels at what it is since he has never seen something like this. He also sees nothing indicating some trial of some sort. Nothing indicates something. It is the case of an uncertain following of Butler A to the unknown trial, which makes him nervous, and the silence is nauseating.
Still, William follows behind, and the only thing that Butler A does, is reaching the further floor. 2nd floor is less of flashy sight or minimalistic design. Now, it seems like a hotel of some sort, with walls surrounding the place, and a ceiling about 12 feet tall. There, Butler A enters a wide hallway, where is a huge wooden panel at a display. It depicts the diagram plan of this skyscraper, filled with the floor's intricate details and architecture. As for why it is here, or why she stops beside it, it is quickly revealed.
“Right. Some of you may wonder what this is, why it is, and so on. I can't care less about your questions or wonders. Nor the Academy waste times.” she said, unbothered by the still-arriving people. “There have been prior evaluations for everyone's part. The fact that lady Margaret made you proceed with the trial is a first success. That in itself is the first step, while the trial will stop you if you aren't fit for our further standards. Those standards will be decided in the following 3 Trials. This...” she smacked her right hand to the board. “...is the plan of this building. In 30 minutes, the 1st Trial starts and the first 10 who will reach the highest floors will follow the 2nd Trial. Agreed? No? That is fine. I didn't ask.” Buttler A explains the Trial as if it is a simple thing, which moves some of the youth's faces in words and questions.
Most of them have talent but hold little experience, and this also includes even the biggest talents. Stark has the highest reading from the Awakening, but he has his Emblem for the same amount of days as the rest. No one has many advantages over one other apart from talent, a skill they reached in the last 10 days, and upbringing.
The results of the last 10 days will make the biggest differences in the 3 Trials of this whole process. Becoming part of the Emblem Academy is the finest reward, and none want to give up.
Roman chuckles behind William's back, while William is right before him, uncertain of the implication of the 1st Trial.
Surprisingly, no 1st-timer questions Butler A, and even if they want, their minds tell them not to question things. It is for the better since questing the Trials themselves isn't a good thing.
Butler A sees the reaction of the youths and returns her hand beside her back. “Good. Now, I must pardon the Instructors to remain neutral and move to another room. The blind run of this Trial is the source of our confidence, and confidentiality of the Trials is guaranteed.” She says, making it quite obvious that no 1st-timer has no prior knowledge or any kind of help from the Instructors. It is right.
No one knows about this trial apart from the academy. Not even Stark does, and that is a good thing. What sort of this Trials truly is, or what will he meet, he is damn sure he wishes he would.
Hearing such a task, William sees the hesitant youths like him stand in uncertainty and silence. What does it mean to reach the highest floor? That is it? No further information is provided at all. What do they want from them apart from reaching the highest floors? There must be something, but the butler remains silent, and with an indifferent face. Not even Louise's try at asking for more information proves any results.
William looks at the helpless yet smirking face of Roman who leaves with the few other instructors. He waves at him and smiles to cheer him up. It is forced, his face, that is.
Like this, William and another 12 youths remain in the hallway. Most don't know each other, while Louise and Stark already form a team to figure this Trial out. It is obvious they don't know what this trial is, but they seem to know what to do. Knowing style, survival aspects, and past Trials also helps in general and both of them have a hunch about this Trial to be more than meets the eye.
Regardless, they aren't sharing any of that with the remaining participants, and even if they would ask them, they wouldn't talk. Stark would shower them with his gaze and a clear indication that this is their Trial. It clearly states that 3 of them will lose the right to participate in the following one, so helping the others is a mistake. That is questionable, and William doesn't like it. Helping in the apocalypse, or other Walkers should be how it goes. This? That doesn't feel right.
Soon enough, the youths remain in a position of no good ideas. There are 3 groups of 2, while the rest remains alone. This includes William who isn't the one to form a team with someone who he doesn't know at all. So he remains alone since it's a bit more comfortable for him.
Leaning on the wall, he awaits the 30 minutes that tick by according to his watch. It is making him a bit nervous to have it now, which indicates the start of the important 1st Trial.
There is barely any waiting, and no time wasted. Butler A simply takes them to the location and gives them a limited time. William isn't sure what he expected, but this isn't it.
For the most part, all 13 participants have their eyes glued to the diagram of this skyscraper. There are 50 floors, which is more than William assumed, but he has no idea about the general layout of such a scale. In fact, the reason they are here is obvious. They don't know shit, so this diagram is here to give them an idea. A building of such a caliber has many details and many methods of traversing it. There are elevators, and hundreds of kinds of stairs, yet there is something strange about the inner structure of this skyscraper and Wiliam is unsure what that is.
He even considers there could be thousands of people living here at any time, so why did they make Trials in this sort of place? Is it a damn competition? This sort of place? If this would be built on the Federation grounds, it would be a holy place.
The hallway looks empty and he knows that this building is a regular place for the residents of the Academy to live, but it is also specially prepared for this one-time Trial. It has an overseer and a creator, which is a particularly hectic and chaotic member of the Academy Elders. The overseer is, most often than not, different each time, and Trials are unique because of them. They decide on them alone, as long as Academy would approve of them so they wouldn't become a joke.
With 50 floors, there are quite some variables to remember and see. There are elevators, sections of staircases, and even emergency exits. Many hallways and stairs follow into many sections while the 3rd and above floors seem like regular living apartments. At least that's what it tells in the diagram. Unlike the regular ones, William is speechless that each of the apartments above 30 takes 1\8th of the entire floor. That must be a massive living space, which seems ridiculous and nothing like Mi-Yung's place.
“Hmmm... This seems interesting, but I have no idea if what that butler said is everything. Do we have to race toward the upper floors, or we can obscure and fight against one another like some thugs? I wonder what the Academy is thinking.” William wonders after finishing glancing over the diagram for the 3rd time. He feels he remembers all major places of interest, but nothing indicates anything out of ordinary. “Wait... Don't tell me this is an endurance run, and there are many traps, and getting up is a true challenge. 50 floors? That... must be a lot of stairs... I swear I hope I am wrong.”
He is right in being wrong, but not entirely. William and the rest of the group will soon discover that this isn't as smooth as it could be, nor it should be. Any Trial is abnormal and filled with challenges to force young walkers to show their capabilities, so whatever the present overseer has, will gradually get revealed.
30 minutes pass by, and Butler A, that has been overseeing the group, claps her hands.
“30 minutes pass. Before starting, there are some rules to follow in your journey toward the higher floors. 1st is simple. No injuring other Trial takers. 2nd. There is a time limit which is set for 10 hours. 3rd. Injuries aren't treated. You will be on your own for the next 10 hours, so be careful of preserving strength and care about your life. It is an important factor for any Walker. 4th and most prominent one is. If you wish, you may concede your chance of the Trial. When 3 participants will do so, the remaining 10 will proceed to the 2nd Trial. Understood?”
“Hell fucking no. What's up with the 1st rule? That wasn't ever the case when it came to the group of the past and previous Trials!” Stark criticizes Butler A's words and shouts to voice his anger.
Though, she thinks nothing of his words and says the undeniable truth to him with her stoic voice. “Rules don't change because some overprivileged pricks say otherwise. That is unexpected, little Takker. These are upfront rules and directly from the current Overseer. Here, let me give you some idea.” she pulls a timer from her pocket and presses the top button. “10 hours are ticking kids. There are some goods and precious ingredients in some places, so figure out your time in the next 10 hours.”
With the sudden start, everyone panics a little inside and follows the path that has been long decided by everyone. Be it the individuals, or 3 formed groups, there are some ideal choices to go up. Running towards the closest section that should have the staircase towards another floor, everyone runs side by side.
William does the same too, but he is the latest to do so.
“No need to hurry too much. 10 hours is a lot, and from what she talked about, it doesn't seem like a normal ascend.” William guesses and doesn't hurry like a madman, or the remaining ones.
The leading figures are the following, 1st group is Stark and Louise, while the rest follows them behind.