Though, her good mood would not be one bit lessened by any of her or William's problems. She still has some things to do, as her shift isn't over yet.
On the 6th floor, William is walking at a faster pace, as the last week is before him. A thin veil of nervousness, but overall, a decent amount of calmness is within himself.
Finding himself a door, and a lone corner of some room, he wants to spend the last hour and a half in a calm state of mind. He plans to go over any information about the documents in his head or surrounding places. William is comfortable with what he learned as much as he could.
All things considered, of course. After all, 6 weeks is not a lot, but when is one learning 10 to 12 hours a day, it shows. There is also one thing, which is an obvious thought in his heart. Knowledge is one thing, but facing the Outside is another thing.
He has his own experiences in that, but he always felt dread and anxiety over life Outside.
One could flee, or fight until death, but there is nothing better than keeping one's life safe. That is the basic human instinct that William always felt. At least so far in his life.
At this point, there aren't many things to save, apart from the camps and very few organizations that remain Outside of the Federation.
It is a game of hunters right now. A position in time, where both forces are trying to gouge the eyes of each other and obliterate one another.
Sounds simple? William assumed it a long time ago. Figuring out everything in the future sounds like a possibility that he will most likely do. It could mean a time that his mind won't guess, since the future won't be known like some fiction.
“I will do my very best, and while I am at it, will make my parents proud in the afterlife,” William promises to himself, while the last hours of the day disappear as usual.
With Ellie back on the 1st floor, they both got home in their respective ways.
Apart from the fact that William waves at her back around the corner of the street of her apartment, instead of separating much earlier.
Though, it is not a bit of a problem for William to do, even if their relationship wouldn't... be like this, or not.
Going back to his path is at this point very easy. The layout of the city is already etched in his mind. A path to the 47th building complex in the west district is only 20 minutes away from Ellie's place of living. It's a bit far, but William jogs back home to make something out of it.
Seeing the familiar door to the apartment of Luke and Mi-Yung, William twists the handle after inserting his key and goes inside.
There, a stench of... something attacks his nostrils. Bunch of bags that are drenched in fluids or blood.
“Goddess... Luke is back I guess.” William complains as he put his palm around his nose and reaches the kitchen.
He is right.
A pair of partners are sitting in the kitchen, with a drastic difference between them. Ones that are even noticeable from far away.
William, upon entering the kitchen, sees Luke after a long time. He was on an expedition that takes a couple of weeks to completions. Usually 2 weeks, to 3, before another one expedition will happen after counting the damages, and plans for another one. The expedition is for the recourses, with extreme care put into it because it's that important for the Federation.
With a pained expression and gladness to see her love, Luke grips Mi-Yung's hand. In return, she caresses the unbroken half of Luke's face.
Right, Luke is broken...
Across half of his face are deep scars, with residual blood or whatnot. A battle scar that reveals many horrors that one could face Outside. Even his left eye is no longer usable, and flesh and bit of bones are visible around the left side of the face.
The pair doesn't even notice the sudden arrival of William, who glances between them to make up for what even happened.
Though, he knows it and expects the answer to be quite easy to guess if he is honest with himself. He met a foe that shouldn't have met.
“You look... diferent.” Mi-Yung murmurs with an affectionate look at his remaining eye.
“A little. A small price for reaching Rank 5.” Luke answers with such an answer that couldn't be called more easygoing than ever.
“I see a difference in your face, though. Not some System.”
“D-do... do you think this is ugly?” Luke asks in hesitation while carrying her other hand across his scarred half.
“I don't find it all that terrible...”
“Though, I plan to follow through with the option of applying for lady Dia's help. Do you think it's worth it?”
“Dia? Dia... I will help you with that. She owes me a favor.” Mi-Yung tells in resolution, and love in her gaze.
“She does? How come?”
“You don't need to know...” Mi-Yung says in a chuckle of mystery, that jolts her hands away from his halved face.
“I think... it is better to get it treated, don't you think, Luke?”
“I suppose it is better.” Luke sights to himself, while this little conversation happens in a time of need and much-needed support.
“G-good evening.” William's voice echoes throughout the kitchen and causes the pair to look at the hallway.
“Look who shows up? A bit soon, don't you think so?” Mi-Yung glances at the clock in the corner, while knowing he wouldn't usually come so soon.
“I thought it was plenty already. Y-you look different, Luke. Has it been a rough time Outside?” William shakes his head and forced himself forward. He has seen plenty of death to be unaffected by the flesh wounds, and Luke doesn't even look half that bad. He sits beside the table in front of the pair, who are most likely done with their conversation.
He doesn't want to bother them that much, though... yes. He is curious about Luke's experience, and whatever Dia's treatment is.
“Rough? It was a rather pleasant journey to Florida if I am being honest.” Luke smirks at the boy with half of his face. To him, William seems a bit more mature since the last time he has seen him.
Only a little, because there is so much one could experience in a few weeks away.
However, not the same could be said for Luke, who appears as rough as he could get. Someone unfamiliar to him wouldn't even recognize him.. That's how drastic this whole sight of Luke is for William, and he couldn't help but quench his curiosity with more questions.
“Is it tough, out there in the south of the USA?”
“Are you curious about the sight I've seen?”
“I would say so. Otherwise, I wouldn't ask.”
“Does miss Mi-Yung has a problem with me, telling him anything?” Luke asks while putting her head close to his chest. In truth, he was close to death than ever, and every reason for him, still living is a part of luck. The other was having a powerful Walker from the Assembly that saved his sorry ass.
“No problem... He knows about them already and he will even become Rank 1 next week..” Mi-Yung confirms within his embracing hug.
“Since she insists. This was a regular expedition that consisted of around 250 people. The majority were the miners, that had to manage this round of excavating materials from old mines in Florida. Basic stuff, nothing strange. Though, we have been ambushed quite a bit until reaching the mines. They were long covered by the permanent stay of the Walkers for the long months. Unfortunately for them, and us, everything was breached by the Dark. Mines included.”
“That... That is bad news, isn't it?” William asks in the immersion of his storytelling.
“Not at all. Breaching is one thing and destroying another. We were in charge of Rank 7 Walker, so everything seemed fine. We even managed to kill every Dark being that dare to call the mines their home. It was quite a sight, but nothing too crazy. Like any lair of the Dark, this has been a brief one, so we managed the recovery and finished the mission.”
“Simple as that?”
“Simple as that, even though this is a brief summary of the events.”
“Then the scar...”
“That came afterward. A little revenge by some monster, I suppose. The leader had plenty of things to manage, so he ordered the retreat before I even had a chance for a full recovery. I still have a loss of memory from that time, so I guess that tells the end of my story.”
“Crazy word out there. That is Outside we are talking about, William. Do you think you have what it takes to walk there?” Luke asks with a singular eye, pointing to Wiliam's face.
“It's not like I can't, can't I?” William says back, while not feeling afraid of Luke's words or appearance.
“True. Let's hope you won't be met with an unfortunate situation, like mine. It isn't rare by any means to meet a Dark being that is outside of your own power.”
“You can still run, or flee for safety,” Mi-Yung adds.
“I know... It is like that, everywhere. Thank you for telling me, and good night.” William nods to the pair and fleets the scene. Although hungry, it leaves one's sleep in much better shape. William wants to have a sharp mind within the last days of this journey, which has been 6 weeks.
In the kitchen, the hug still hasn't ceased at all.
“I don't want to lose you.” A sweet voice of Mi-Yung tells, under the head of Luke, who could only accept the terms he got. It isn't bad by any means, since the love of Mi-Yung is very sincere, and he knows it.
“I won't... Although not the best, I think reaching your rank is the basic that I can achieve in my life.” Luke says in determination while patting her head in love and worry that has been his journey.
The scars visible in his hand were not seen by William, while Luke couldn't even muster the courage to see the extent of his full injuries. The only hope he has is a token of hope, that is lady Dia, that can reverse this process as Rank 8 Walker of the Academy.
“Will you contact lady Dia?” he asks after a long stretch of silence.
“I will... I don't think it would be possible for you to receive her blessing otherwise. Be hopeful, Luke... I swear I will help you.” Mi-Yung's last words of the night couldn't put more warmth in Luke's heart. He would even cuddle her even stronger if he could.
Alas, he couldn't, and time wouldn't heal everything. Only a Walker could.
The time, that has been spent in worries is a never-ending struggle, with interconnections with the Outside. It is a place that is divided by countless monsters where any human is living in a constant struggle. Pain, suffering, and thoughts of uncertainty are everyday problems.