“Good evening to you, Ellie. I didn't think you would come so soon. I just talked to Burton about something, and his words and actions seem efficient, as always.” Heidi tells in a calming tone of someone who is keen on her voice.
“I was seeing someone. He caught me just about my leave from here.” Ellie says from the distance while returning to her former posture.
“I see. Come. Sit down to hear about my proposition.” Mia offers the seat in front of her by raising a hand that is scarred with countless little cuts.
“I shall do so.” Ellie, with a little bow, walks straight across this room and sits in a chair in front of that sturdy desk. Facing her is the face of someone she has seen from time to time. It was never that often that she sits in front of the Director, but she doesn't mind it. It is not an occasion that is up every week or even a month.
Every other month is the base stretch of what she would call to see the Director.
“Well, since it is your ending shift and you are about to go home, I will be brief. Let this topic stir in your mind for the upcoming days, and you can tell me the final answer whenever you seem decisive. Through, I advise the sooner the better, since it involves Walkers and things around it. That includes the Examination and Awakening that will happen in less than 2 weeks.”
“Examination?” Ellie mutters in a questionable tone.
“Yes. You are probably asking yourself why I am even talking about it to you. Burton had a small idea that he proposed to me a while ago. Few weeks at best. He is thinking of additional personnel whose special privileges would be to care for the Walkers or young Walker's needs in the library.”
“T-this? Y-you mean like a regular person?”
“Of course. It's not like it's possible to employ walkers in the library. That doesn't go well for the Federation's attitude.” Heidi talks with a smile, while looking straight at this girl, that has been with the Library for a long time. She knows a lot about the running of the library, and she has been here since the time of her father.
Now, she is the big boss, so she can manage everything as she sees fit.
“W-what is this... Do you want me to do something? Teach... or make some lectures? Am I fit for something like that?”
“It came with Burton's words. Saying something along the line of your hard work and dedication to work with Walkers. I think it would be a great opportunity to do something new that might go to new heights in a couple of years.”
“W-what is that? Can you tell me more details, please?” Ellie says in agitation, and her hands are grabbing her dress in stiffness and anxiety.
“It is still a proposition I had to think about and work around with. The Examination will lead a lot of young walkers to the Federation like each does whenever it's held. Most of them want to learn and see the bigger word. Federation is one of a kind in the world, but some places will get closer to us in the upcoming decade. With many deals and topics, it is a rather vast amount of things that I need to tell you. The gist of it is that you would be one of the few leading figures in charge of the young Walkers. That kind which would get access to more topics regarding the Dark Age and the 6th floor.”
“B-but..”
“.. I know what would you say about it. The payment will increase, the position to come with bigger benefits, and you will be able to access the 6th floor according to my intentions. Isn't it a good idea? This has been my toughs of the solution, and proposition what Burton said to me.” Heidi says with a calm tone and leans back in her chair. She awaits the reply of the girl in front of her gaze.
“I... Of course, I would do it. Since miss is thinking of this, why would I say no?”
“Because it could be a lot of work. As well, as... certain restrictions put on you. Any knowledge of the upper section of the 6th floor is not meant for regular people like you.”
“I know... Any reveal of them is punishable by the law... I am well aware of that.”
“Good. This is a small gist of it, but it could be even more hectic if the Assembly will approve my requests regarding this idea. I am thinking of a broader term with this idea... since raising Walkers is a rather peculiar problem in current times.”
“I believe in miss Kaufman,” Ellie shouts in approval and a firm word toward the person in front of her.
“Heheh... Be it then. I will take this as a confirmation of your willingness, but further details in the coming days could mean different results. Think of this as an opportunity to become a lecturer for the young Walkers, while not being one yourself. It could even mean some disapproval for some of them or their parents. Who knows? I don't...”
“I will think about it coming days, miss Kaufman. I am not fearful of the young Walkers. They are meant to protect our world, while the knowledge is most often than not, not known to them all that much. I think this idea is very good and could lead to better results in the long run.”
A smirk creeps on Mia's cheek, as Ellie's words leave nothing in her mind than a positive attitude. In truth, she has plenty of worrisome problems that could rise from this.
Making an independent place for young Walkers to learn is troublesome. There are already a few places that act like this, but nothing like the general learning lectures that are similar to regular people. Heidi has a rather normal thing in mind. Making lectures and classes for young Walkers who would come to the Federation.
It would be something very similar to regular schools of the technologies. Like Enginist, and Machinists who are learning in a few academic schools in the Federation.
This proposition of hers would be a bit similar to that.
Though, the retaliation from this proposition would be met with problems. Academy is not so far away, and even though the library is providing a lot of information for any Walker, it doesn't mean they are absolute.
“I have nothing else to add. You may leave, Ellie. This topic, we will discuss it further when I will have a more firm belief in this myself.”
“Of course, have a good night, miss Kaufman.” Ellie gets on her feet, and bows in politeness.
Walking back towards the door, Heidi is still staring at her before she disappears beyond the door.
“I wonder... Could this be a solution to survivability? Youngers are so eager these days, yet die as fast as their lack of knowledge. Where could the problem lay? Military... could be... Fusing the knowledge and military training together. That could solve a bit of things, but the Assembly... they need to agree with me. That is troublesome. How troublesome.” Heidi ponders out loud, as this idea and potential work are already creeping a bit of stress on herself.
Burton gave her this idea that could give rise to more work, with equally important results that could give rise to better lives.
As it stands, her idea of this whole process is to have skilled personnel attend to the growing Walkers. Their knowledge would have to be more streamlined, and things revolving around the Dark age and so on. It could mean the youth would have less time to worry about the knowledge, so they would be able to focus more on the combat.
Makin it more streamlined is a focus in her mind at the moment, but the results could be different. After all, the opposition would be great. The topic of getting regular people for this kind of work will be questionable for many Walkers.
The Assemble members of the Academy would dislike this idea for sure. Even the Assembly Island members themselves would be annoyed at her idea.
Placing her hands on the table, a deep, mischievous smile is on her face.
“Let them. I want to see who would dare to oppose me.”
Outside of the offices, Ellie stops in her tracks right beyond the door. Lost, and wondering in her mind, she thinks about this whole conversation with Heidi Kaufman. This could have many implications that she doesn't even understand. That talk of Assembly? She won't dare to question such figures, or even ask the Director about it.
“S-she wants me to teach young Walkers? I mean... I would love to since we do it from time to time, but it is more sidelined than doing it directly for them. What in the world does it all mean... her words seemed very strange.” Ellie wonders, and she is soon jerked up by the approaching figure of Burton.
“How it went?” he asks.
“It is... complicated, isn't it, mister Burton?” Ellie asks without being even sure about half of what she learned.
“It is. More than I am even willing to admit to you. We are regular people, Ellie. But even we can provide much-needed assistance for Walkers, so they would have more focus on other things. Miss Kaufman has the best intentions in mind, while others like her may not... Is that a bit clearer to you?”
“... it means politics, doesn't it?” Ellie answers after a few moments of reflection upon his words.
“That too, and their ego and secrets. Nevermind. Don't be too expectant of getting the biggest part of the pie. I believe it would mean a ton more work than ever before if this idea goes through.”
“Thank you. Thank you for telling me, mister Burton. As well as telling miss Kaufman about myself. I appreciate it very much.”
“That is fine. We are hard-working people.” Burton sights and places his hand around his temples.
“It has been a long day for both of us. Good night to you, mister Burton. I am going.” Ellie gives him a small bow and disappears from the offices at a fast pace.
Sighting, Burton probably has some more things to say to her, but chose not to voice them for the moment.
Instead, he walks through the same door that Ellie left not so long ago.
Outside in the vast place that is the entrance of the library. An open place, with a marvel to behold, that is 6 stories or perhaps more tall ceiling.
Ellie appears from the door to the offices and looks around herself. Her mind is in turmoil after a long day, yet she expects to at least be done with the biggest thorn in her heart. Yet, to her disappointment, there is no William here any longer.
Looking left and right, pacing far and beyond, she sees him nowhere.
A tear leaves her cheek as if a thorn pierces a much deeper place in her heart.
“No... I thought... What have I even thought? I... I don't...” she mutters, as her sad expression couldn't be hidden from the people who walk from, or into the library.
Feeling sad to herself, or maybe to William instead, she stands there in a pain. After a second of thought, she would rather choose to run away from this place, than stay here any longer.
Facing the starry sky outside, her expression is not the least bit calm, nor expectant of the sleep. She would even collapse on the spot if she is willing to, but who would care for her? She has only herself to blame for whatever mess is in her mind or heart.
“What took you so long?” A voice talks behind her back, which reveals leaning William, who rests beside the entrance in the fresh air outside.
Jerking her head back, Ellie's face reveals an empty gaze, yet a teary appearance makes her that much more fragile. She would cry on the spot without a speck of embarrassment.
Instead of that, she paces into the face of William, who rather chose to wait outside than in the library full of people.
“Y-you...”
“W-what? Anything interesting from the Director?” William backs a few steps, as her expression seems all that frightening to him, like an image of a Hellgar.
Though, a fistful of anger and frustration after the whole day flies into William's chest.
“I thought you left...” are Ellie's weak words, as her clumsy hand stops right as she wanted to punch him.