Chapter 152

  Kaufman and William lived through different periods, yet each had determined expectations and an understanding of what this world was about.

  Those energy particles called Arcana were precisely what forced William free a moment ago, but they were doing so much more as a part of a large rivalry and entity.

  The rest made Kaufman curious, while William found it confusing. What kind of a word was snatching? What was that about a switch? Wasn't it just a mindless issue that Emblems had done all the time across many youths? What was wrong with this must have been out of their minds.

  William was at least aware of what could go wrong or when. Calmness and force helped with multiple visions, and some rest could be painful but worth some concern or ignorance because it was typical to falter when pained. That was the least someone like him coming from the Outside should consider. That was his life and Emblem.

  Thinking for a moment, William assumed a topic that had never disappeared from his memory. It was just a small note that might help him deal with this old fool or a problem with his current position of anger.

  In the end, he decided to answer Kaufman's worries, helped by Ellie who was still way too close.

  “There is something going on. A decade ago, when I was around five years old, I think there was an obvious disaster. The crimson. Pain. Voice. Beats. Shimmering feeling in my right hand felt and struck and... then....darkness. Emptiness. It was like ants crawling all over me, eating me from inside out, while I was bleeding. Screaming. Then did my eyes.”

  “Ten years ago?” Ellie wondered out loud, thinking this would make him what. Five? Six?!

  “The pain came with numbness and hopelessness in the middle of the destruction of those noises. Nothing calmed down anything. I watched, or... dreamt about it. No idea what that means, despite the lines and noises being everywhere. I felt weak and not right. I was five, I think. It never happened again unless some... specific circumstances happened, and even then, everything felt different. I lacked opinions and...well, the parents. I never knew right from wrong. I lived out there, you know. I get why you think I don't know something.”

  “OH! Good. Any specifics? How specific was it? Where had it moved?” Kaufman frowned, speaking with excitement and close interest.

  “D-dangers? Emotions might be there as well. Anger is a big deal but wounds and Darks are kind of tricky. Hopeless fear also.”

  “So you know plenty about it yourself, see?”

  “Yeah? And I don't like you... so?” William mumbled and Ellie firmed her grip and assured him that nothing bad would happen to him next or later.

  She lied, but it certainly calmed William more than she would ever realize.

  William excluded the pattern of his disappearing Emblem for his own sake and not because of some fear. It was his secret that he wanted to research on his own since it always felt much more wrong than the rest of his cursed Emblem. Frankly, it wasn't too big of a deal, as it felt like nothing anyway, and Dann said it wasn't harmful.

  Putting it back was sensitive, coupled with a simple click and nothing else later. It never felt special or good. It just happened outside of his awareness and head and never too late.

  Besides that, weren't occasional outbursts of danger, energy, and other stuff common characteristics of most young Walkers and their Emblems? It wasn't as if the kids were simply little humans. They were still weird little humans unworthy of a Walker title.

  Emblems weren't normal, and the alleged truth that only adults were qualified and adequate to wield these powers had its allure. In the Outside, this truth was distorted with nothing major leaking from the Federation. They should know that Ranks mattered and Darks were dangerous.

  There was no need to mention how and why some matters moved people and their existence. Still, where this age topic fell was closer than anyone would ever thought.

  The Forced Awakening was a topic that flew over William's head, even with Kaufman's mention. This old fool already figured out what he wanted and knew how to use force to seize Emblems a little, pushing them awake and against some lines. William was no exception, but what it would mean if it wasn't?

  “What about force, pain, or Darks makes you special?” Kaufman asked.

  “I... what about them?”

  “Have you ever killed someone or.... something before? The Emblem can protect, kill, eat, snatch, and so on. How, when, or where it goes are all variables fit for words or oddities in our kin. Youngers, I mean, are oddities. It changes. Strengths, weaknesses, or what they mean are peculiar differences that create credentials and blessings. Oh, some disguised nonsense as well, but Walkers are like their Emblems after all, and we are all weird.”

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  “You... don't look like a white orb,” William mumbled, sure his disappearing red coin was no one's concern.

  William never felt it was strange seeing some dangerous patterns, voices, and occasional strangeness Outside. If it was common getting used to it was yet another form of living in this blasted world. Maybe it was even good, but who would know that?

  William lacked context for that to matter, while seeing Kaufman again didn't help with anything. Instead, it pushed it out of his mind further.

  Seeing some dangerous patterns and hearing strange voices wasn't uncommon, Darks were hideous and haunting this world and its people. William believed having mental fortitude was beneficial, so knowing he wasn't insane was a firm belief. Alas, getting used to it was another thing.

  William looked at Kaufman with understandable frustration, and Kaufman liked that in return. He had seen and even clapped a couple of times, so it was likely something wrong was going on. The timing was unknown because there were countless tiers and ways how to perceive Emblems or Walkers when they were young.

  Those at Rank 0s were up to some special perceptions, individually witnessed with unknown effects, causes, or time or met by luck. The older generation of Walkers looked at those ideas with various methods, which then touched on cultures, settings, and truths that some youths wouldn't understand.

  The most common merit of Rank 0 was a simple stabilization process akin to a slumber, where Emblem accumulated growth and breaths, but it was much stranger than words could count, or eyes could see. All Emblems should do something in one way or another, either because of the body or quality or because of the age.

  Under several recent ideas, Rank 0s was up to every single Walker before the Awakening could promote the System and Rank 1.

  It was a young concept, reaching talents, strengths, and some shortcomings since very few cases were equal. The System could mess with it, while dedication to proper Rank 1 was insane. Their ample points formed gaps and valuable transformations and quests. Age or cracks would follow, and true blessings that some old fools could foresee would be discovered.

  The most authentic difference was time. How long this accumulation went for was noteworthy, and right behind it were aftereffects, concerns, or other wraps that touched upon the Emblem. That was most what Rank 0 described, albeit the research was shrouded in mysteries as anything could show up.

  Some Emblems could show powerful effects, unhinged shadows of their glory, or dangers outside of young Walker's touch, or norm. It wasn't fine to call Rank 0 weak or strong. They were unstable and largely unknown.

  It was a stage where Emblems advanced like a larva from its cocoon, yet the cocoon was still there, in body, flesh, and spirit, and could crack or show some patterns.

  Officially speaking, this stage didn't exist since it had no validation to the System or the public. When the rules and power spread, those variables changed and evolved to Rank 1, and that was important news.

  This pre-awakening was capable of changing the status quo, even if it was unpredictable.

  Kaufman didn't believe it was simple. He was fascinated by such prospects and variables in these lots could bring up a new future. It wasn't about the current time, and more about what these youths could become, or how Emblem evolved under various conditions.

  In that sense, William was like a book with an unknown language and nice tricks. Then, there were his parents, yet Kaufman heard and spoken nothing of them so far. He knew much more than he let out, knowing it wasn't about numbers or knowledge. It was more personal, while William didn't want to share every little thing after what he had done to him.

  He was no longer talking.

  “Five-year-old, you say? That is some nasty stuff, but it also sounds respectable, correct?” Kaufman said, touching his chin and frowning once more.

  “Sorry if you don't like it.”

  “Oh, no. It is fair. It almost doesn't sound proper, or like a light, but not wrong. I saw what I saw, and... the growth has been blessed. Your memory might be unclear because of those snatches and switches, and your youth and history are... problematic. Interesting. It seems conscience, emotions, and something else is involved. Perhaps it is yet another Ego? Well, this is validating. Extremely validating.” Kaufman said while pointing his finger to that half-exposed receding red glint.

  William looked at his arm, noticing his sleeve and Emblem. He jerked it closer, hiding it.

  He could tell his Emblem had a much stronger current than usual, so that was why his body was all tensed up and hot. His upper body and arm ached and his legs were especially numb. Without Ellie's support, perhaps he would have fallen to his back or face a long time ago.

  The analogy of what he would describe made him scowl. Regarding it as ripped muscles, stressed tendons, or many light cuts that were on the verge of deepening or expanding was right. Adding those currents in his body, Kaufman's beatings finished him off, strained muscles and links to his Emblem, stretching his insides, and pushing his nerves apart.

  Usually, the Arcana was inside all Emblems, creating their qualities, effects, rules, and powers. Everything was substantial, if not born to be boundless.

  William pulled his tattered sleeve over it and hesitated. Seeing it for himself made him glad, and his shimmering Emblem with its wild waves felt it too. Inside, moving at lightning speed, it showed energy particles he wasn't very familiar with. If he looked right, they were as stressed as himself.

  In Kaufman's eyes, who observed this crimson sight, everything might look totally different.

  “It piques one's eyes.”

  “What does this mean?” William voiced his concern and what he had ever done to him.

  “William...” Ellie wanted to speak up but Kaufman stopped her with a disconcerting cough and gesturing hand.

  “It is nothing much. This is over. Let's get over this and do what we all wanted to do since the very beginning. Of course, that is if you don't mind having this old man sticking around you two.” Kaufman excused himself and stood aside. Brushing his shoulders and vest, he grabbed the floating hat and put it back on. He struggled as if it was more difficult than jumping from this floor.

  “Sir...” William grunted. “Where I come from, this isn't something that is brushed off as some silly misunderstanding.”

  “Oh, I know that. I don't give a shit. Now, back on track, boy. I will permit you to enter the upper floors under my guidance. That is my gift.”

  “W-what?” Ellie blurted out in confusion. “Then what was this with William? He is still hurt!”

  “So what? Is it against some rules to test and hurt some boys? No. I wanted to check something nice, and after that is over, I want to guide him through the beginning he ought to know. Consider it this old man's wish. There is no harm in that, isn't it?”

  William cursed inside and never met such an insane, childish, and shameless old man.

  He couldn't get his mind going at all, and Ellie wasn't even sure what to say. She was speechless.

  “Permission?” William grunted. “Your card is a fucking joke if I ever needed it. No one stops me. No one. Ellie said it days ago.”