Chapter 155

  William kept reading and discovered new ideas that set him apart from normal people. Maybe even… humans?

  “Upon completing this Awakening process, Rank 1 is breached and laws and energy are brought out, linked, but not processed by natural exposition. The Acceleration helps with short circuits, linking, breaking, and Cycling what is right and what could come, but not at the youth in a row. This process is only the beginning. Further Ranks are ahead and Walkers under this Awakening had to be mindful about what they can do and accomplish. The terms of... Mindless Eyes are terrifying and unknown, a consequence of the tutorial can be endless, and Mindle… What? What is that?”

  “No idea.” Ellie mumbled. “Must be Walkers terms. There are dozens if not hundreds of them if we speak of the entire world. Asia is partially skilled and diverse in that department.”

  “I mean, the System is weird as hell, but I am not surprised by that because I don't get it even if it was written to my head or palm. It's too vague, so does this mean what I guess? Rank 1 is important but forcing this sounds savage. I didn't expect this even if multiple people hinted at this truth.”

  “You are bound to do this as well, by the way,” Ellie added.

  “Yeah. I figured that already, which.... makes me wonder about a bunch of other stuff. Not good things, by the way.”

  “Are you... afraid?”

  “If that means something like what Kaufman did to me, or worse, then no. That or acceptance is like playing with fire. For now, all I can do is adapt and see where to go. That's it. Is there something clearer about the effects of Awakening, System, or Emblems?” William asked and Ellie wasn't sure what to even say.

  She had a lot on her mind right now, and Burton and Heidi weren't too specific about where to go with William. They mainly pushed this idea to her, which Ellie could only accept and not doubt.

  What was an ideal beginner stage? Where one should dare to go and stop before it would show the stops? Ellie was still learning what to think and do. Similar to William, they were a pair with common goals.

  Watching her hesitant eyes, William glanced at Kaufman, who observed them back.

  “A beginner's path isn't enough or not ready, eh? Wait... that sounds wrong. Alright, I may as well tell you something myself, since I put myself in this position.” Kaufman got up and walked toward them.

  Watching familiar details, books, and writing, he knew what to say immediately.

  “Simply put, Forced Awakening and Ranks themselves involve and adhere to the great System. Those Ranks that Walkers are known for are territory of that. We hadn't made this stuff out of thin air, but Arcana can be that, and even Rifts and so on.”

  “That's obvious.”

  “Of course it is, boy. Now, what everyone knows as clear indications is better regardless of not being man-made. Many believe this whole thing is part of Darks, who have their distinct differences, defenses, and powers, thus making their Ranks. The very start of the System follows the Awakening and that is our spark. Our gate. Our place to start fighting and grasp what is within us.”

  “Is there more to this System than Darks? I mean, does Darks mean something to it? I don't see specifics here. Emblems are glossed over as well, so... what is this room?”

  “Beginning, and yes; the Darks are paramount. In this room, it is a start. There are more than a hundred rooms in these floors and everything can be important depending on who you are and what you need. It's unlike the rest of the library that you wasted three days for.”

  “I didn't waste a single hour!” William argued and looked back at the wall.

  “If so, good. A lot of interest goes into rightful knowledge and learning processes, yet this isn't some sort of training dungeon or some crypt and so on. Oh, the System can't do everything either. We do push it forth and it can do it back. Hence this place was created for lessons and support, so many Walkers come here for their purposes. Politics and knowledge are interconnected and a lot of it obeys missions and Darks. For youths like you, ah, I don't know what is right. Maybe seeing Darks and basic old research is the right fit for ya?”

  William listened in silence.

  “It is rather simple, yet horrifying in simplicity. Walkers advance their Ranks with their corresponding Systems and fight the Darks. They are separate and hidden entities that create large contrasts. There are choices to be made, decided, or forced, which could conflict and create what I call differences between mud and gold. That, however, is a topic that breeds a lot of wonders and matters you aren't ready for.”

  “What about Arcalyst?” William asked suddenly, curious to see what Kaufman would say to that since Luke didn't dare to touch it too much.

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  But he did show it off as if it was nothing.

  That was wrong; there was no way it wouldn't do much since Luke used it to deal with Jawran.

  “Where did you learn that term from?” Kaufman raised his brow, asking in curiosity.

  “Luke,” William said, remembering how Luke never told him to remain silent on what he had shown in that helicopter. Perhaps he forgot at that time, or it was not important. Mentioning it now wasn't bad, considering Kaufman knew about Luke and William, and even matters about Mi-Yung. As for the rest, it wasn't a territory William saw very well.

  “Again that Luke and his loose tongue. Alright, I do not know why he talked to you about Arcalysts, so...wait, what does your little pillar have to say about that?” Kaufman chuckled and aimed this topic at Ellie, trying to dig out how far Heidi would go with her.

  “Arcalyst?” Ellie frowned and remembered this term, but not some vast specifics. It was a fairly advanced matter that touched on higher-rank Walkers. “It is a specific power of Rank 4 Walkers and above. Sometimes, Rank 5 Walkers get it later, so it has some qualities and merits. They can manifest unexpectedly and their rules are unknown yet unique Stability is at Rank 4 on average, but some rumors of Rank 3 having a very tiny chance for their manifestations brush on some weirdness. They are known as faces of every Emblem.”

  “Average, eh? I suppose that is true. Records are what they can be, as Arcalysts are important pieces of Emblems that are different from our imaginations. It is really like a face. Their reality, yet who is a watcher and who is a reader? Who and what speaks?”

  William wasn't sure what this was about. “Face? I bet Luke wanted to impress me with his Arcalyst. He said something about the manifestation as well, but... a Cube? It's kind of weird.”

  “Face can be different across the board. That sounds about right, so I suggest not going any further. Understanding each Rank is better taken slowly, and skipping ahead might harm expectations and the mind. You aren't even at Rank 1, so I don't suggest anything out of the norm. You do you, as I have no obligations or am your master, yes?” Kaufman stated.

  “Ok. What is it about Rank 0 then?” William quickly changed the topic and disregarded his suggestion.

  “0...” Kaufman sighed and knew that if he asked about Arcalyst, this topic would come up as well. And since he already started talking, he couldn't just refute him this quickly. It was a very good trap. “It's a rather unappealing reality for some children. ”

  “Is that me? Rank 0 is youthful Walker with weird stuff. I am weird. Is everyone at Rank 0 before this Awakening? What I am reading in these... pages is confusing me a lot. It also makes sense and I can't think straight.” William spoke, questioning himself, and coming up with new realizations. Ellie barely helped with calming him down.

  Kaufman's words were simple confirmations, while the proofs written around this room were next.

  Although the knowledge did not follow the premises of the System, or Emblems, a lot of correcttions and links were more than obvious. It was generic stuff of learning, so William decided to ask Kaufman more questions.

  He had yet to pay attention to locked cabinets too much. His card was ready and Kaufman never stopped them once with its help.

  Not even Walkers could breach or learn whatever they wanted on these floors. They either had to purchase access, have qualified Rank, or accept contracts from other organizations or parts of this library. Money would fuel everything and anyone, taking and gifting back what was right. That led to the development and constant rise of this library that helped everyone, Walkers included.

  William didn't find that point wrong, unlike the lower floors. They didn't depict something crazy like Darks and Walkers, yet some stuff was still locked, hiding under considerably inexpensive comparisons. William assumed nothing should be locked behind some questionable ideas.

  He had yet to achieve a comprehensive reason for everything, but he started to see some point in Kaufman. There was a clear progression system for acquiring knowledge and views. Upper floors were like archives and learning mechanics for Walkers, whose Ranks have their place in this eco-system.

  William was a little conflicted about what to do about it.

  Rank 0 implied a lot from this room alone, as it wasn't some silly concept, yet it was still described in odd fanciful ideas. It was stated a couple of times, coupled with warnings and exposure on young Walkers.

  William had the right ideas about him and that Rank until his mind felt another blow and heat. Kaufman tested something about his Emblem just now, a Rank 0, and wanted to force and reveal some concerns. William bet it involved his fears and pains, yet... how much had it shown itself? He couldn't remember.

  He didn't want to.

  “That is right.” Kaufman surprisingly said. “Rank 0 is a baby step unless the Awakening gives it a new face. It isn't something insane on its own, so don't feel so good about having it or not. It's true; every kid has it in some shape or form and you have yours. However, there are some cases where the Emblems and core of the System accomplish some weird items. They could provide some measures and acts even at Rank 0 and that usually involves quite self-centered and void ideas. It is a weird and almost individual matter. And that, dear boy, is a rather nasty thing because kids are stupid and often don't know any better.”

  “Because every Walker hears and sees it differently, right?” Ellie inquired.

  “Yes... but what would you know about it, huh?”

  “I mean...” Ellie fell silent and felt awkward to look at Kaufman right now.

  “She doesn't have to know it personally to understand it.”

  “Don't think it is a small matter, boy.”

  That shut William up and forced him to change.

  “Is Rank 0 good or bad? Is there some room specially created for it?” William changed the topic, accepting those answers, and helped Ellie recoup some face.

  “Hm. There is.”

  “Good. I will visit it later. First, what about Emblems? Is there something good about them here?”

  This time, Kaufman sighed and felt like he was being used right back, which didn't make him very comfortable. It wasn't wrong as well, so he felt laughable for some reason.

  “There is everything known and obscure to a whole lot of people, but a lot of something can be everything in different places. There is an Emblem Association in the Federation that has substantial ideas and research about this specific topic. Maybe you can visit it. This here is like an accumulation of their importance, but in truth, it is more like a chip of an iceberg, since a lot of it is constantly ongoing in work.”

  “Association?” William didn't forget those huge buildings from a couple of days ago. They looked impressive.

  “Yes; for example, your Emblem. It directly defended against mine. It has some capability. Maybe... like a whip made of snow? It was quite ghostly too, so let's not get ahead of ourselves, how about it? I came with peace.” Kaufman explained and felt as if he was a jokester.