The last folder he chose depicts a Paw Pouncer. A monster in the species of Pouncers that are well known for being incredibly ferocious. Jumping and high-speed attacks are the strongest points, which make them hunters like any other. Their dominant legs are in the back, with quite a thickness that goes along with its 15 to 20 feet in height. Its frontal legs have blade-like paws, unlike general thick claws that are common for lower-rank monsters.
“Looks almost like a Hellgar, but more pronounced features make it very different. Its head is more pointy, while its jaw is almost like an alligator's. It can even run on two back legs, and attacks from its front claws are capable of destroying the massive concrete walls.” William assumes as he reads the small details besides the pictures.
This monster has more features, up to spiked limbs, tendrils, and tentacles from its back. Spiked scales or dull armor scales alone are also possible variants.
One of the more extreme and tough Rank 6 Dark being. Part of the Pouncer sub-species.
This quite impressed William, who doesn't feel that terrified even when he should be.
“This... this doesn't hurt to know, but I can see why it's not a big deal not knowing it. Heheheh.” he chuckles in meaning as he takes the pages back to their folders. No longer interested, but glad that he made took a peek at them.
Taking a deep breath, he shoves the cabinet close before an outing to the 3rd floor. He wants to calm his mind after going through the last few hours of what could be only called intense moments.
On his wrist, the watch states 5 PM. A decent time to finish a few dozen chapters of his favorite novel on the 3rd floor.
And so he does exactly that. His birthday or whatnot, it doesn't matter to him too much. Since the time of many camps, only madame Anderson has been kind enough to make some dessert or a decent meal for a day like this. That was always about it.
In truth, it was more than William would ever ask for since he had no memory of his parent sharing his birthday. Hell... he isn't even sure if it's his own birthday.
On the 3rd floor, a pleasant rest of the day follows, with sights of today that are pushed aside. William's mind is focusing on an otherworldly novel. One where the main character goes against the dark lords while maintaining a keen heart. Following through with his conviction, the action, characters, and everything else.
Like a martial hero, where the sword cleaves enemies in half, the main character struggles against the so-called evil ends. A positive, or sometimes hard, option and struggles make it very realistic. It leads to a sense of suspense with each passing chapter, that causes William to not drop this novel away at all.
Hour follows, and he watches a familiar sight of a hand that pushes his book a bit away.
It reveals Ellie, who is smiling as she ends up disturbing his free time, yet he doesn't mind it all that much.
“Good night. You have been on the 6th floor all this time? I haven't seen you anywhere.” She asks, while only her right hand is pulling Williams's book down. Her left one is hidden behind her back.
Still, William pushes his book away, while the appearance of Ellie enters his eyes. A complete white, yet elegant dress is on her, with strips around her shoulders revealing her neck and arms. It went rather nicely with her blond neck-length hairstyle.
This time, it does not go unnoticed by William, who had never seen her this... special before. Maybe it is because of Mi-Yung, who looks elegant and with similar clothes like these all the time. Although, most often than not, she wears not as revealing clothes, much to anyone's disappointment, since her Emblem is in a place that is...
Ellie looks different, so he voices it with unknown intentions in his heart.
“H-hello, Ellie. You look different today. Has something happened?” William stutters, but follows through with his thoughtful sentence. Not like he is all that proficient in compliments, but he at least knows what to say to adults. Dann made sure of that, but they have placed not enough time on pursuing girls. Much to Ellie's disappointment.
“Happened? Nothing at all. What are you reading?” she asks with a bright smile that showed no worries.
“You have seen that from the cover, haven't you?” William tells as she observes her face.
“I did. Of course, I did. Heheh.” she chuckles in an even stranger manner.
“Seriously, did something happen? You act not like yourself,” he asks again.
“Weeeeell... I was told by miss Mi-Yung that your birthday is coming up, sooooo...” Ellie says in long stretches of words and looks that turn away left and right.
“Birthday?”
“Yeaah.” Ellie, at last, pulls a small paper box that she held behind her back.
“A gift. I hope it will fit you.”
Seeing a sudden box in front of his face, William has no idea what should he say in such a situation.
“S-should I be thankful?” he mumbles.
“I knew you would be hesitant... Take it already. It is a small gift.” Ellie insists with her firm tone. It is more of a staring contest when the winner is obviously Ellie.
Taking her box, William looks inside and sees a hat. One which is not like the cowboy hat Kaufman wears, but a one-sided one, which is curved, to keep the sun from the eyes.
William knows about this, but he never had one before. It would be great in summer times at farms when one would work beneath the sun for a prolonged period of time. That is also considering the fact that Canada doesn't have the worst summer climate at all.
“Try it.” Ellie orders.
Putting it on, it fit his head well enough, while pushing his shorter black hair away. It makes his face rather prominent, and not bad at all.
“Looks good. I am glad.” Ellie ponders and says in confirmation to her guesses.
“I... I don't know what to say.” William awkwardly says while being examined by her stare, leaving quite more stress on him than he is willing to admit.
“Say you say?. Look at yourself. I know the birthday are not at all important for the Outsiders, but I like them. Making a single day a year special isn't the worst thing we can do in the Dark age.” Ellie says in importance.
“I know, but still... this hat.”
“It is a gift. If you wear it or not, it doesn't matter to me. It is good protection against the weather, while this climate can have very intense sun.”
Pulling the hat out of his head, William examines it again. It makes sense what she says, but he never needed protection against the sun all his life. This hat is definitely a thoughtful gift, that should feel quite nice for himself.
Yet, he doesn't know how to appreciate it from Ellie, of all people who helped him so much.
Though not as much as Mi-Yung, that fed him, and even Luke, who gave him 100 credits that will last him until the end of the 6 weeks.
It will be enough because William is quite stingy when it comes to any spending in the last few weeks.
As for this hat, he could not imagine its price of credits or quality. It feels good on his head, with pressure around his scalp that is not pleasing, nor comforting.
It is made from some tough textile, with hard points around its exoskeleton inside. Seems like some round leather or firm pieces of paper make the whole thing firm when one puts it on.
There is a logo of the Federation, right on the right side of the hat. Same one as what he has seen on the flag that glides through the air on a banner outside of the Library.
“So?” Ellie asks whatever she even means.
“Thank you, Ellie, but I do..”
“...Don't care. I am not hearing a thing, Will. Take it. It could get useful in whatever choice you are about to choose after the examination of the Walkers. Perhaps you will end up in the Federation, with missions to Africa, Mexico, or the Utah desert in the USA. Who knows?” Ellie argues with validating points that Wiliam couldn't shoot down.
Still sitting on the sofa, he could only accept it, since tactical retreat is not possible.
“Still. I will take your thanks as a price, or... How about going out tonight to the Federation? It isn't that late yet?” Ellie asks while pulling her own watch that is on a piece of a long thread. This dress even has a pocket for it, since Ellie knows how important time is for her.
“Want to show me around the Federation? Have you not shown me enough of the Central island already?” William asks in oblivion, that is his mind full of his future. He couldn't even figure out the advance of a girl interested in himself. Although, Ellie was long ago prepared for this. Though not as long, only a couple of weeks, but they are weeks of continuous thoughts and plans.
In fact, she doesn't even mind being like this. It could be even a little fun to her, whether it frustrates her or not.
“I actually have a ticket for the round sail across the Assemble island. You never seen it up close, have you not?” Ellie pulls once again, a new thing from her pocket. A small piece of two papers.
“Tickets? Are they not expensive?”
Scowling inside, Ellie forces a chuckle with an excuse coming straight afterward.
“I've got it through my father. As you know, he works in the military. Easy connections, you know? Isn't it nice?”
“Must be good to have both parents.” William gets up from the sofa, but unlike his words, his face is smiling with expectations. He doesn't mean the words he spoke.
“So Assembly island? I am interested,” he says with a smile of interest, which Ellie finds quite familiar. Her try has been successful. At least for the second part.
It is not one smile that is taking advantage of others, but a genuine smile of interest and curiosity. With the amount of talk about the Assembly William heard or read about, his interest in the structure of the Federation is not weak at all.
It is a place of the rules of the Federation. A place where the most powerful Walkers reside. A small island of a few square miles, built on top of a stone cliff. Access by the boats can be achieved in calmer ocean currents. On the other hand, for the majority of the time, no one could travel there as one wishes.
“I knew you would be interested. It is today, so how about I show you a place that you only read about?” Ellie asks while flicking her tickets around her face.
“You showed it to me before, but it is a few miles from the nearest shore.”
“I know, but you know what I mean. It will be up close, a few hundred meters away from it. You will see plenty of its features, unlike from far away.”
“I am not arguing about anything. I will go. Of course, I will go.” Willian says with no hesitation.
It only further confirms Ellie's guess that this simpleton of a boy is right in her alley. She never felt bored around him, and she want to try to get him finally realize everything. It is all up to her tonight.
All plans are in order, with points of interest away. No Mi-Yung on the way. She feels right about her chances.
“Let's go then.” She slaps William on his shoulder to ease her mind.