Turning back from the door, he faces the empty room. Not like it matters since he would do the same, even if there would be a spectator.
This room is a flow of time. A historical selection of the Dark beings and things that are recorded since the time of the Dark age. He has been here a few times, yet he walked here on his own. There are many tablets, posters, and examples of missions for the Federation, defenses of camps, hordes, and singular appearances of powerful Dark beings.
This place has it all, but not a whole lot of descriptions of the monsters themselves. That is in the other room. One which is already very familiar to William.
“Oh well. Since I am here, I may as well finish this room while I am at it. This room, this week, and next... who knows what will go one next week.”
Time flew by, and with William's recollected focus, he has no trouble with going through many documents. There are moments of pain, and tragedies caused by the dark beings, with small histories in-between.
At this point, William read and watch it all with a stern and indifferent expression. Even though this is all past, it could all be a reality if he is unlucky enough. After all, all of these are facts and things that happened and have a chance to... No. It is happening, and there won't be any stoppage to it.
That goes without saying in his mind since this is the Dark Age that he is reading about. He even found the documentation of the destruction of the camp prior to coming to camp Roshwell.
These details give rise to unpleasant and harsh memories, where both he and Dann fought for their lives. They did so and managed to live for themselves. They survived the massacre of the camo, and many others too, before a horde of Hellgars appeared beyond the mountains and massacred almost every survivor.
Finding a small opening in the cliff, he shoved Dann into it before finding his own. Hellgars never found them, but the cry and sounds of that time are still lingering in his mind to this day. One of the many, in his case.
“That time... they sure took their time for coming into this place. Even monitoring the Dark being is not that fine. It all caused the disaster, because no one was ready for deployment at that moment, nor many Walkers were present in the Camp because of some change of guard or whatnot... What a terrible tragedy.” William sights upon this piece of text and moves to others.
There is no time for feeling sorry about the past. Even if it involves him and his life.
He plans to never see something like this again and he could only hope that will be the case. That was his small promise to Dann, not that long ago, among other things.
Time flew by some more, and 10 hours flew faster than one would guess. William had already changed location to another room on the 6th floor before coming to other floors to change the pace. One could not be focused on a singular thing all the time, and he became aware of it not long ago.
Spending the last hour of his day on the 3rd floor, he expects Ellie's visit, which never came.
Instead of that, he decides to end his day by his own decision.
Forcing himself up, he places the fictional book about the man, traversing the seas alone back in its place.
A small time in his day, yet the most enjoyable one of them all.
William wishes he could spend more time here, but much to his disappointment and lack of discipline, he wouldn't do that. Whatever promise he put on himself or for others, he plans to become a good Walker. Someone like the descriptions of his father, that Mi-Yung described to him. That left a deep illusion and goal for himself.
It is enough for someone like him to keep on going.
Walking from the 3rd floor, a small bruise is still on his head. Not too big, but visible residual blood is noticeable from a close distance.
He doesn't mind it all that much though, as he barely remembers it anymore. It happened when he came here, so he pays it no attention now.
“Back home, I guess. At least what I can call home.”
Descending the stair all the way from the 3rd floor, William is met with a surprising amount of people. As Mi-Yung stated, a lot of youngers like him are all around this place. They could be future Walkers or even normal people who want to spend time getting to know something in their spare time at night.
William's watch tells 9:55 PM, so it is about time to get home after a long day here.
On the first floor, there is a lone figure shrouded in the dark corner of some pillar. Awaiting something or someone. A long day of this figure was all that worse because of the hectic morning and worst sleep ever.
Ellie waits until she would see William without appearing strange or weird about it.
Finding a place among the many pillars, she glances from time to time to see William, who she thought would leave his cocoon that is on the 6th floor.
“T-there is he... Great. Terrible? Who am I lying to even? There is only me... Screw this already...” Biting her lips, she hit a rock to quench with her fist to ease her mood.
She walks beyond the pillar and causes a scare to William, who didn't expect her to appear like this. A familiar figure is shrouded in a beige dress all the way down to her knees. It makes Ellie a bit different once again, as it was the kind that resembled almost a uniform.
With a small sleeve and a wrapped neck around it as well, it is quite a different kind from the last night.
“H-hello.” she greets William, who stops in his tracks because of her.
“I... I haven't seen you all day.”
“Me too. What's up on your forehead?” Ellie awkwardly asks to find the right topic to say. It presents itself right on his forehead.
“Well... I am...No. It's nothing at all.” Wiliam reluctantly places his hand around his forehead, while feeling a bit embarrassed about it.
Similar to the day before, both hands are placed on his shoulder, while a much more relaxed face is on Ellie.
Ellie looks at William, who couldn't do a thing, or to be more precise, didn't know what to do.
“L-listen... What happened last night... I am... not sorry. I... I like you, you know?”
“Like?” he mutters a single word that is in his mind for the past day.
“Yeah... Is it wrong? Do you think it is strange?” Ellie asks after accumulating bravery for who knows how long. She doesn't place any importance on the bruise on his forehead, as she fixates her eyes on his eyes.
“I... don't know. What... why even?”
“You have a mind full of other things. I don't mind you being like this at all, but I don't feel it's right to forget or suppress any feelings. It is not that great of a feeling when one is doing so.”
“Ehm. Ehm.” A cough stops the serene moment between Ellie and William. They both stand right in the middle of the entrance to the library and could be seen by everyone on the 1st floor.
A stern-looking Burton is standing aside the pair, with both hands behind his back.
“M-mister Burton?” Ellie looks at the abrupt appearance of a person she finds difficult to speak to.
He is her direct supervisor, after all.
“I would appreciate doing whatever you are trying to do somewhere else. Isn't it more appropriate?” He spits the words from his mouth while looking left and right at each person.
Releasing her hands from William, Ellie apologizes for whatever mistake she even did, or didn't do.
“As long as you understand... Since I already find you before going home, I suggest... No. I insist you will go meet the Director. It seems she has some deals which would be interesting to you.” Burton talks directly to Ellie's face.
“Miss Kaufman did? L-like... Right now?” Ellie asks in surprise while knowing quite well this hasn't happened for a long time. She is already in her common attire and ready to go home.
“It is her word. Would you like to wait for tomorrow? She wouldn't mind anything, as this task isn't all that rushed.” Burton persuades her through his use of clever words.
“I... Will...” She mumbles in response with a glance at William, who hasn't said a word.
“I suppose young sir Gale can wait here. It won't take that long.” Burton insists.
“I meant it... William. If you... want to wait or not, it depends on you.” Ellie points a finger at him while walking away in steady steps of resolution and determination.
She had decided long ago about the ending of such a day. At last, she tells him about her feelings, but could they be heard? She doesn't know the answer to that. There is even no time for regrets or feeling sorry for herself. That is her small promise which she wants to follow through her words to William.
Without glancing back at him, Ellie walks straight to the offices on the 1st floor.
Meanwhile, Burton watches Ellie's departure, while nodding to himself and looking at William.
“I hope whatever this is about, it won't have negative effects on you as a Walker. Ellie is important for the Library, so take it in mind. Do we understand each other, sir Gale?”
“I don't feel this is all that necessary. Whatever are your worries, mister Burton, it won't matter that much when I will go away after the Examination and the Awakening, won't it?” William says in a calm tone.
“I think young sir is underestimating the feeling of a young girl. While I am not talking for myself, it is meaningful to talk, or think about.” Burton says in a strange meaning, what doesn't go that well at all with his stern expression and face.
“I don't know about that...”
In the offices on the 6th floor. Although Ellie's departure leads to her small disappointment, a meeting with the Director is an unexpected thing. It doesn't come very often when she needs to talk to her.
“I wonder what she has to tell me... No way it will be a bad thing, I hope?”
She walks past the private and clean offices in the special department and space dedicated to the library. At one particularly decorated wall is a lone door.
It is wooden like any other, but it is a place where every director, well... The only two directors so far spend their free time or worry about the library.
Summoning a smile, or a bit of worked-up personality, Ellie knocks on the door.
“Come in.” A voice reverberates beyond the door. A firm one, as if it talks right to her ears.
Readying herself, she opens the door and walks into a breathtaking space of a distant office table. At least 40 feet long, and 20 feet wide, this couldn't really be called small in the slightest.
Decorated by all kinds of artifacts of importance, and art alike, it seems more like the home of archeologists than anything else.
Beyond the office table further back, the daughter of Kaufman is sitting there at the beginning of the night.
Looking at the arrival of her summon, she hasn't expected her to come so soon. It seems her words to Burton were kind of effective to make the message across. That or Ellie's presence in the library has been rather longer than usual. She doesn't know what sort of situation is outside at all.
“Greeting, miss Kaufman.” A bow at the entrance of the office reveals much respect in Ellie's gesture. A place of respect for the Director must be placed from the bottom of one's heart. After all, the major decision and even her enrollment in the Library have been approved by her only.
Same as every employee here, she has every right to get rid of her or do what she sees fit.
Such is a figure, in a tight-fitting outfit of a light brown gown, that features her ample chest and long light brown hair down her west. Though most of her figure is hiding behind the robust table. She is someone who gained a lot of respect from her father and managed to prove her ownership of the Library.
A rank 7 Walker, Heidi Kaufman.