Ending his explanation, Louise is quite detailed with his words, but he expresses what he considers necessary while leaving many things behind. He knows that they will get to know the Walker's world better by themselves, rather than by him, who has a better upbringing and chances. Though, he is quite adamant to help William with much throughout assistance to form a friendship.
It is the best way how he could interpret his own curiosity, and it is honest. He speaks with smiles to both youths to his left and right.
They understand his explanation, although some further context and actually seeing what he talks about, would help.
“That's about the Vials what I think is right to tell. They are very important for Walkers to know and understand. It is unimportant to others. I am sure this will be just a start for you both, but if you already are past the 2nd Trial, I am sure you will be fine walkers who, if unsuccessful in the 3rd trial, will get other choices. There isn't only the Academy. The military organizations or Association would pay the price for any one of us.”
“Why care about it when we have the Academy right before us?” Rozzante speaks, appearing not that perplexed, unlike William.
“It is a good idea to think outside of the box,” Louise adds. “You would find it all out anyway without my intervention sooner rather than later. Vials are the primary resource and currency in the Academy and all Walker organizations away from the Federation are no different. It is simple and nice for all of us, even though the means to get them are heavy and often dangerous. Also, not just anyone could decide to take the Vials. There are official procedures for it, and hunts are there to help with that. Other Walkers too.” Louise nods to himself in acknowledgment, thinking that his explanation is worth the gold.
“I...” William speechlessly opens his mouth. “...still can't believe it's so tightly secretive that I haven't found a thing about it until now. Isn't it stupid? None ever told me about it all my life. That sounds like a huge deal! No matter the Rank! It is hard to believe it's not talked about at all. It's freaking blood of dark, and if it is so important for Walkers, why people Outside don't know about it?” He frantically tells but understands one thing. It is indeed the case but he doesn't find anything wrong with it because of his own upbringing.
He never had a way to get familiar with the world of Walkers, and Outside is no different. People are barely surviving, so expecting some knowledge to be public, isn't fitting. Only a Walkers could get it, and he grew up without any Walkers around him. His parents weren't there for him to help with that, and he never knew what to expect from the world.
It was only survival. Always, but now? Life can change, and it did.
He is no longer a clueless brat, but someone who can fight against the dark! It is something he longed for a long time. To cherish some anger, have a chance to destroy them, and revenge for the deaths of humanity, his friend, or acquaintances. His... parents? He doesn't know if they are somewhere, but if they haven't come to him in 10 years, then there is no point in waiting.
After hearing Louise's explanations, he realizes something else as well. In truth, he has some memories from many instances when the destruction of the camps happened. Some Walkers are usually present at such times, because Dark Tides, or Hordes are always prone to some weather changes. It allows one to prepare for the worst, and either that or scouts help with that.
Sometimes, the Walkers he glanced at in secret did some strange things. Some rare fighting is something he saw. Extracting blood from Dark beings is probably one example William thinks he witnessed. But he was younger back then, not understanding anything about it, nor he had anybody to ask that. Only Walkers would tell him something, but they didn't have time for a simple brat.
Now, he gets how it goes, and finds a brand new important piece to the puzzle of his memories.
He calms down after this, thinking and feeling he is getting the hang of his status. It is hard to imagine the worth of the Vials without further context, and it sure seems he underestimates the might that Walkers can have.
Well, he looks at his start, but what about Roman and Tiberon? They are high-Rank Walkers and they both showed him a lot of things. Their power is something that he, as the Rank 1 Walker, doesn't have, but they showed him the power that he may have. Even the students of the academy showed him some interesting things, so he feels motivated.
“Anyway, Thanks for telling us what you know, Louise.” Rozzante, to his left, pats Louise on his shoulder. He is indeed grateful for this knowledge, which seems much more important than it appears.
“Yea. Yea. Not like it's a big deal.” he shrugs it off.
“What about it for the System though? I am curious about the aspects of the Vials for that and you didn't mention much.” William asks, turning Louise's attention back to him.
“I am not sure how it exactly works at all. Scientists have no clue, nor do many Walkers of low or high Ranks knows much, even though they can view them. Systems can vary a lot and Walkers can have some unique touches that make them different. Requirements, Emblems, touches of the Mindless Eyes, and even Skills and so on. It is complicated, but Rank-Ups are something I mentioned. Usually, Vials can help with them, but Rank Ups can happen one way or another with all sorts of things. Yours could need couple dozen of Rank 2 Vials or a few hundred depending on the needs of your Emblem, or none at all. It depends on one's talent, and System usually talks about it down the road. It is a matter of efficiency and the picture one could see. It doesn't work in a steady flow, and no one knows it for sure. The exact rules around them are weird, aren't they?” Louise explains what he could.
“Weird is an understatement, but I guess fulfilling some Mindless Eyes achievements regarding the System, can change something. It can cause us to know more things, am I right? The rank-up, I mean. Skills, fusions, or new things. It all happens here and there.” William points to his head, and then to his Emblem.
“Exactly, but yours or mine can be different. I don't think my Mindless Eyes is that... complicated, or heavy, so my time figuring my System out is steady. Since the System gives necessary touches to all of us, some have it better than others. Yours is different than mine for sure, but... not everyone has access to it straight away. You took it in already, I suppose? When? ” Louise asks, figuring Willliam may have his Walker aspects figured out like him. It's not like there are some known anomalies about the System at the Awakening or regular ones.
It at least appears that way, since anything irregular about Mindless Eyes or System is something that is impossible for others to notice. The Emblem is easy to spot, while the other two things are away from anyone's eyes. One is at the head, and the other is impossible to perceive because of some mysterious screen.
“System is System floating before our eyes. Got it recently, is that enough?” William says the little he wants to tell and not more.
Louise accepts this answer, but before he can speak further, Rozzante comes forth with his own ideas.
“Hey!” he shouts. “System is one thing, but I know damn well how Mindless Eyes is no less important. I learned it long ago. Rank-Up needs some form of progression within our Emblem, and after this whole Awakening, we are like a lit torch. It needs fuel to go on, and more sticks to be brighter, and hotter. To do that, it could either be some hidden things or... Training, and getting the hang of the moves, or one's element. In a sense, it is sort of like a list of what one achieved so far. That could be fusions or even Rank 2 Skills, the progress of the quality of Vectors or Arcanite, making your own molds, or creating your own Skills. It's quite an exquisite thing if I say so myself. That's what Rank Up is, and Mindless Eyes help with all of that.” he explains his piece of mind.
“You sound quite profound when you say that like that, Rozzante.” Louise teases this boy, who laughs instead.
“Right. I heard that a few times already.”
“Anyways boys!“ Louse claps his hands and gets up from the sofa, before turning at them back.“ I am glad to explain things to you both, although I haven't got what I wanted. William, I hope you will take this offer into account, as I am of the Astalon family. We aren't terrible offerers, and welcome any new information, since we aren't of the Federation alone. Any news is good news. Is that good enough? No pressure.“ he insists.
William sees his friendly smile, and uncaring attitude and accepts it with no direct confirmation. “Astalon? Never heard of them, but I will remember it.”
“Good, then I am pleased to befriend you. It's important to do so, as I have a hunch, that it's gonna be important in the 3rd trial.” Louise reveals a tad bit more knowledge, that intrigues this pair of Outsiders and whispers at the end.
“Do you know something about the 3rd?” William whispers since Louise did the same when he mentions the 3rd Trial.
“3rd trial is most often than not, very similar to the ones in the past, so I am confident things will go how they often do. We will travel somewhere where will do some form of mission. Then, we will have to mark this mission according to some criteria which may or may not be simple. It should include fights against some Dark beings up to Rank 3, which will be a good indication of us, to don't hold back at all. We did hold back in the 1st, lest there be mistakes with the students or us, but we don't have to hold back against any monsters.” Louise reveals, speaking to both of them with his head close, hands around his mouth, and whispers in his voice.
Smirking, he retracts his head, walking back to Stark after waving his way out. “Take care then. I said nothing,”
“What a good person. I like this one.” Rozzante says after he goes away back to Stark.
“Yea. It's very nice of him to broader the horizon of us, Outsiders, isn't it?”
Rozzante leans on the sofa too and grabs some food as well since he feels it shouldn't be a problem. “Anyway, I am curious about something. Since you mentioned Outside, I already figured you aren't from the Federation, or somewhere close. America, wasn't it? Where was it, William? Your past homes.” Rozzante asks, hoping to get to know him better as he finds him friendly and comfortable enough.
“Past...” William sights upon imagining to even think of it. “Camps in North America. Mostly around Canada, but some ventures deeper in, or out happened a few times. It never went well, so it always ended up in camps. Being a kid didn't help with that. This thing as well...” he points at his right arm, which rests on his lap.
“Oh? That over there? That must be crazy considering what kept happening there for the last couple of decades. Federation is making sure it's safer though, so does it work?”
“Define safety. There are at least dozens of Walkers stationed in many of the camps at all times, but for them to take on the Dark Tides or some Hordes, is hardly enough. It isn't a great place to live when I see how Federation is, while Outside is tough as it is.“ William says in melancholy and understanding of his own thoughts. “Feel the same?”
“You seem to take it harder, but I get where you are coming from, even though my Outside is a bit different,” Rozzante tells. “Don't sweat it though. Where you are from, it is already impressive that the Dark isn't all over that place. Considering the South, and.... everything.”
“I am taking it good enough. Trust me. I've got my mind accustomed to this world, since if I wouldn't, my young self would implode long ago.” William explains briefly, not wanting to talk more about it. “What about you, Rozzante? Your name suggests something more exotic than mine, so you must be from further away?”
“Right? I think it's some form of a European name, but both of my parents died before I was even 10. I never found their reason for naming me in this way, nor is it important. Name is a name. As for my place, I came from nomadic tribes in many parts of the European Union.” Rozzante explains.
“European Union? You mean those little places around the perimeter of the seas?”
“Pretty much. Former Greece, Croatia, and Turkey, but not Africa though. That place is wilder than Europe, but close. Been there, however. Especially on the borders with the European continent, you see a lot of survivors. Water and everything helps, and high heat too, but not always. Many darks evolve and adapt, as you must know.”
“Yea... It is the same story everywhere. I never thought you would be from that far away place, and you came all the way here? Impressive, since it must mean your talent must be excellent. Hell, I would not even find anything wrong with how you speak. Your English is as if you spoke it all your life.” William assumes.
“That's because I do. European Union is a de-facto sub-division of the Federation, and we take Walkers and their care seriously. Well, I am this care myself, as you probably know why. I went under the European Union because of my parents who took my Walker status as a privilege and got some safety. It worked. Thus I grew up in one of the tribes and traveled with a few dozen people at a time. We discover the terrain, new threat, and so on. It is a nomadic lifestyle, with not that many people. With the number of humans left, language is secondary. It's better to simplify the languages, and not make things difficult because we are still part of the Federation. Many people think the same way, while others have no need for it since the world is still apart. English was popular before the world turned to shit, while Spanish is also something I heard was nice, but it is nowhere near the Chinese, or many Indian choices. That's why I speak how I do, while some cultures and languages prevail. For example, I bet Onga over there speaks more than one language. He may not even speak English, but haven't asked him a thing yet.”
William listens to him with keen interest, thinking that Rozzante must have been through a lot in his life that is as old as his. Though it must've been harsher, he doesn't know it for sure. “That explains a lot about you.” Willian nods and continues their talking for an extended period of time. Both of them seem to have a lot of things to tell.
In the meantime, Kiryu walks out of the door, after butler makes it open.
He appears fine at first, but some injuries are here and there. Particularly his left arm is bleeding around the shoulder region, and his left hand is also injured. It seems it took some pounding, or it is stress that is caused by his Emblem that isn't visible.
Though, it looks like he still succeeds with whatever Tiberon caused him to endure and he goes back to his place, which has been ground where he sits. Next to come inside the bunker is Stark, who surprisingly appears silent, not talking, or shouting like usual.
He is focusing on the task at hand, and this could be troublesome for him, since it's Tiberon he knows about. No! he would rather not know this man to begin with. No! He would rather not even think about him.
Walking past the butler, he looks at the destroyed room, which appears completely different from before. There is one particular mess at one corner, that has a explosive mark in the middle. That one is from William, which appears to be the biggest sort of damage. Not like this is a competition of who does more damage to this room, though.
Without his chair, Tiberon stands in the middle of this mess and meets Stark's eyes. Glancing at the new challenge before him, he appears much more relaxed after finding this little brat quite hilarious.
“Hello there, little Stark, or little Takker? Which one is it?”
“I hate them both.” Stark replies, unbothered by his question. “Don't tell. Don't care.”
“Of course you do. Do you want to do something about this Trial then? Your take is yours.”
“Do I have a choice? What sort of things do you do here anyway? Most already succeeded, apart from 1 loser. That is rare, so are you even doing your job? Are sure you are fit to be an Overseer?” Stark says in a mocking manner, making fun of Tiberon, who appears completely indifferent to his remarks.
“I have more fun this way, and while I am at it, I do the shit I am supposed to do. Unlike your old man who is constantly making fun of others, without any shit being done.”
Stark laughs at his comment. “You are the same as ever with that. So, what now? Maybe I want to get this over with quickly, so how do you do this charade anyway? Is it time gated? 10 minutes is not for us or you? Is it for the Skills? I have all the time for that, so you don't want to do that.”
“Right. I read your reports. Like father like son, I suppose. Metalic Element... It speaks troubles against mine so to speak.”
“So it's indeed the endurance?” Stark frowns after understanding where this goes. “It is, isn't it? Test to see our limits and what they want to know.” he points at the cameras at the corners, which are surprisingly in one piece.
“Of course, though, I could still make you suffer, but that wouldn't be liked by certain... bothersome people. Let's get this over with for their sake, shall we? Endure this.. charade, while the 3rd Trial will be more interesting.” Tiberon talks in much seriousness, unlike before. Those two seem to know each other or are acquaintances because of Stark's father.
Tiberon points his finger forward, and Gravity Domains expands forward. It rushes and encompassing pressure envelops Stark in a series of powerful waves.
He, on the other hand, appears unbothered, as he summons his armor-like Emblem. It appears more clear, with glitter, and a slight increase in mass and density. His javelin kind of mold is also there, but this time, he slams it into the guard, while he crouches down and endures this.
He has all right to be confident, and his metal is more than enough to go against the limits Tiberon must be under. If he will go past those limits, as he did with William, it won't fare well for him, since others will complain. In this case, Stark's father may be included, but Stark doubt it would happen, since he doesn't care about Academy anyway, nor him in any capacity.
Like this, Stark stands at the side of the bunker, anticipating the staredown against Tiberon and his Gravity Domain that is pushing at every inch of his body.
10 minutes later, this ends in Stark's unsurprising win, since this is about what both of them expected. It goes for good reasons and Stark is a clear winner in the field of defenses against gravity. It appears to be a special effect of his metallic element, and his strange Elementalist process.
In fact, the reason he even stands must be a powerful Rank 1 skill under his arsenal, that must have defensive features.
His unbothered return to the hallway isn't all that surprising by most of the Walkers. Most know he is the one with the highest reading from the Awakening, and it is fine for someone to be arrogant because of it. Some think less of it or nothing at all. William isn't surprised, and he doesn't do much more than continue talking with Rozzante about Outside.
After Stark, it's time for the next first timer, which is Celleste, who sits on the sofa beside Sharie, who is completely unbothered and dozes off from time to time.
Yawning a little, Celleste walks into the bunker.
Inside, she is indifferent to the appearance of this room. She saw worse places and slept in them too. Instead, the man before her is much more interesting, and she glares at him in wonder. She has no idea what to expect since she hasn't paid the others much attention. Where there is a problem, it is finer to solve them when one sees them. That is her idea, albeit it isn't a popular one among the Walkers. It is better to be prepared for the worst, and Celleste is, in fact, confident in her abilities.
“Hello, Celleste.” Tiberon waves a hand at her and smiles.
“Sir.” She makes a small, yet polite bow with her head. With that done, she takes a stance, ready to fight him like a student or a monster.
“Not so fast, girl. This isn't about fights, and you sure have a wild head between your shoulders.” Tiberon speaks quicker than her actions, making rules clear since this girl is one of the tougher ordeals out of the first-timers. He knows why though, since some information about her is known to him and others.
Celleste never grew up in human settlements and survived on her own in Australia... That hellhole of the place. Perhaps because of her Emblem, which certain people in Australia hated to their bones, or because she didn't want to have anything with them, it was lonely. Her life, that is.
No idea why it all happened, since it's black, with a sheen of white. Her Emblem looks quite impressive in fact, and it is exposing its luster to the cameras and Tiberon alike.
“Really? No fight?” She asks, appearing confused. “It was always the case, so far.”
“Yeah. True. It was. Since you are like this, I will make things clearer for you. There is a time limit of 10 minutes between me and you. In this time, you will have to endure my Gravity Domain, and you can dodge, try to attack me, or do whatever you can to endure this in your way. If you give up, lose consciousness or any resemblance of the fighting spirit is gone, you are out of this Trial. Understand?” Tiberon explains, otherwise, she wouldn't get it.