Chapter 19

  “Crimson is an interesting color, isn't it?” Luke asked.

  “Like blood, everyone needs it, but when it is gone, it hurts,” William said, standing by a window and feeling under pressure.

  “Fitting. Alright, I will take you away, boy, if it is fine with Miss Anderson?” Luke glanced behind him, where Miss Anderson stood, and stared at him. She was a head taller, so Luke felt he was facing a cold-based Dark on the battlefield.

  “It is a part of my duty, sir soldier. I can only hope William will find his new path and life good. It will be better than ever, I expect. Perhaps after you will talk to him without hiding a peep? Federation should think carefully, or I won't give my children away.” She said with a stone-cold voice, but William felt the hidden warmth of her worries.

  He couldn't help but hug her one last time, even when she was still shocked by the previous picture and that whip. “Thank you, Miss Anderson,” William said, hugging her even when Miss Anderson winced in fear of that Emblem.

  “Alright. Alright. Be a good boy, and even better Walker. The path is yours from today onward, so don't be afraid. If you are, clutch it tight and overcome it. You mentioned your mother to me and you should do it for her as well. I watched and met many Walkers. They can grow like light but could dim so quickly out of my sight. You've been a rare older child for me. A rare case indeed.” Hitting a lone glimpse at Dann, it was a wonder what she was thinking.

  William nodded, held some tears back, and forgot that he caused quite some damage to the first floor. It was a miracle nothing collapsed. Then, he asked.

  “What about Dann?”

  “Dann is nothing special, so you will part away. Since you are his friend, whenever you wind the opportunity, feel free to contact us, or you can do it when you are ready. Walkers have their duties and your training might take years. He can't follow.”

  Both William and Dann knew this, but hearing it from Miss Anderson felt reassuring.

  William turned to Luke and asked a question. “Can my friend come as well?”

  “Friend?” Luke furrowed his brows and turned, sizing Dann up and down. “I don't think that is my problem.”

  Dann didn't have to think; he had his job. He ought to do it for himself, rather than for others. It was William's turn.

  “I am not anything important, sir. William will go on while I remain. I have my purpose so don't worry about anything. There is no need for melodramas. As brothers, we will not separate even when seas split us, the wind blows between us like waves crashing to each other, and death itself eats us all.” Dann walked forward and spoke resolutely like always.

  He and William, who was different from him even a decade ago, already knew what to do. In the sight of that Emblem that landed and shined, it was reasonable to see a goal.

  They might be no citizens, but what was a bond of brothers who went through so much? Nothing.

  William nodded and smiled at Dann, knowing that while seas would separate them, their history was theirs. No one will take it back. Not even if many places will go through some rebuilding, moving, or internal changes, same as people.

  Many organizations turned chaotic because of shifting Darks, migrations, hunts, or Walkers.

  Some places were protected more than sufficiently, standing and living for more than half a century, if not more. Some crumbled apart long ago, becoming memories, nests of Darks, or worse. Some weren't even remembered and stained no records.

  Paying tribute by the extermination of Darks was conforming for most people. Whatever the history was, it shan't retain or return to where it was, not after what humanity ended, started, and endured.

  Boys or girls who had an Emblem like William Outside or away had the attention of higher authorities. Unless they were screened by someone specific, broad to daylight by their name or Emblem—or tested thanks to their natural talents or older Walkers—they waited until their age was adequate.

  When one reached that age, or if Rank 0 manifested in some ways, one could see and grasp their chances. Unfortunately, some youths were different than others because of their sensitive and complex nature. Outside was largely unknown, so it didn't help with anything.

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  What helped were clusters of more people, so Emblems in babies would come quicker.

  Immature brats were hard to see and taking care of them might be outright impossible. Because of that, unless some great Walkers were around, one couldn't see much in them. One could only hope or wait, which Miss Anderson did.

  Rank 0 was an anomaly. It wasn't a typical problem to have, so it was misleading the public from the sight of corrupting instabilities, or them running havoc. It was unfortunate how this sight wasn't actually anything bad. It was good. Much better than anyone should dare to say, but it often fell short and slowly turned worse if it weren't for some aid.

  Nevertheless, the rate and importance of Rank 0s were vague and weird. William never heard of it, even if that thing from ten years ago described nothing but that.

  Unlike him, Luke was aware, though this point was more special and important than anything specific. He had no idea what William was about, but he was curious about tight broadness, or perspective that mattered. Some of that could be quite hard to discover, so the mere point he was sure meant a lot about Rank 0.

  Finding answers, linking them, and seeing where they ended or started, was like catching a fish with a spoon for some Walkers.

  William stood before him the same as before his little trip. He didn't understand specifics about himself. Not only did he assail Rank 0, but the general view about it changed throughout the years. Outside was similar thanks to private or public research, or contextualized or practical ideas. Some people and places detested Walkers, while others saw them as saviors and masters. Every land took them with some difficulty and healthy doubts, no matter how many years had passed since they were seen as the wrong kind of people.

  William felt his Emblem in a lively piece of marvelous pain. It created sharpness. Make him think. He didn't hate it like some pain. It was his pain. His devil!

  And after almost a century of these Walkers going around, some things about them were uncovered or clarified. Every year had some deaths and answers, followed by Rank-ups—a source where they rose and got stronger. Deaths were broken and meant nothing but the void.

  William was more than confused after he crawled from bloody debris as an orphan. Then, he spent years wandering and living Outside with numerous groups of survivors. Camps were rarer, so he took shelter or safety everywhere he could. Eventually, the safest place arrived with Camp Roshwell. His handful status assisted him a lot, second to Dann and his clever tongue. Alas, a young Walker was still a Walker. Some Darks adored them like uncut gems and delicacy.

  Survival was honest, and there were many people who, under stress and death, refused to help or even considered young useless Walkers. They were easy targets.

  Luke and Miss Anderson blamed nobody. William didn't either. If one desires safety, one should create it or look for renowned places. Frankly, young Walkers should have it better than anyone else, since refusing their fate was like killing their entire sentiment.

  The Federation turned out to be a great paradise and the most important organization in this hemisphere. William grew up hearing about it constantly, so after Luke talked about it, he grew excited. He forgot he almost killed Miss Anderson, or that his Emblem smacked Luke more than twice.

  He left the room with Dann and went upstairs to his room, leaving Luke together with Miss Anderson, who was still cold towards this purple-uniformed Walker.

  “I hope you got my voice, sir soldier,” she said to relaxed Luke; he was glad that William didn't cause further problems.

  “The way you did this was lacking. You tested him too much, is that right? Inside... this place. My work?”

  “A little bit. It sounds about right. I mean, fake news and problems can happen everywhere, so you have my appreciation. I feared you would do so with the other choices. Accepting ours has been your blessing if you care about that kid.”

  “Not here!”

  “I see. So, how much do you know about Walkers and Federation, miss?”

  “Enough to grow old and not envious.”

  “Right. Then you must know enough. Gale is nothing important. This boy is just... memory for some. He is also son of a friend after Camp Nolan became a broken memory, right where many Walkers died in that butchering time of history. Like most of it, frankly.”

  “And? Destruction and Incursion are sensitive. When Walker dies, it goes without saying that normal people are gone to dust. It represents matters of this world and problems that few could solve.”

  “It was a Rank 9 Incursion.”

  “Eh?!” Miss Anderson frowned, eyes widened, and her fingers trembled. “Publicly, it was at Rank 7. I dug around William's recollections. No other place fits his descriptions, so… 9!?”

  “Yes? Oh, that is not good. This digging helped someone though.” Luke scratched his chin and recalled the message. He wasn't there ten years ago, but it was impossible to not hear such big hardships. The Federation recovered after a few years and camp overhauls changed even more. There were more strict protections and countless other things that touched upon normal people, surveillance, and Walkers. Camp Roshwell was the result.

  Miss Anderson couldn't believe this nonsense about Rank 9, so what about William? “Where does it lead, from there to us, and that boy?”

  “He wasn't supposed to be there, while his parents are even more sensitive. That is all I can tell.”

  “Classified, hm?” Miss Anderson hummed, no longer privy, and became much more understanding. If those she thought were involved, it was better to let this slide, including Luke, William, or her ideals.

  “And yes, miss. William will be well taken care of. I can promise that.”

  “I could only hope your promise is better than dealing with kids. Seriously, you Walkers can be quite stupid.” She said and turned to leave.

  “Says a nursing home for little walker kiddies.”

  “Well, excuse me. I trust you since she is a fierce lady. That one. I met her so I can accept this development. Not because of you, mind you.”

  “Of course.” Luke sighed and decided to take a nap. He was tired of pretending and speaking empty words.