Williams knew he had a firm person to rely on, and she was right in front of him. Mi-Yung had so much confidence that she might let others have half of it, and it wouldn't change a thing.

  She said there would be plenty of time after the Awakening to sort his thoughts, deal with the aftermath, or people. Which? What kind of people or thoughts would come? He didn't know, but it will be rocky. No doubt.

  She also won't stay with him forever. That was an undeniable fact of her rank, even if he hoped it would not yet leave him. Changing was useless. Some people would never find satisfaction anywhere.

  Mi-Yung pushed William behind the scenes, regardless of the Academy or Lady Dia's arguments or hints. Many people were waiting for their registrations. William waited for a long time, but not for it. He waited for Celeste's return, Hound barking in her clutch, and a wooden token in her hands and close to her eyes.

  “Was it fun?” William asked after watching her successful triumph.

  “Hound can be playful,” Celeste said, and Hound snatched his arm at her token. She pulled it up and smacked it right at that crude snout, which didn't do anything.

  “Hound is a Dark.”

  “So? Been that. With me for years. Dreadus said it is fine to keep it. Keep him! Him. He is Hound.”

  William wondered about the rest and walked inside the room, gesturing for her to follow and sit. Reaz was outside with Mi-Yung, who left the youths to their own devices.

  “Can you tell me about it?” William asked her, believing this change or timing wouldn't come again, so he decided to get it done and inquired about Hound, which had been on his mind for a while.

  “About what?”

  “Hound, or... yourself.”

  “No.”

  William didn't expect a straight-up refusal.

  “I can if you talk about yourself. Exchange. Fairness. Ellie talked about it all the time.” Celeste smiled and cheered after taking Ellie's words and wisdom to heart. She backfired splendidly and talked like a proper lady. She almost forgot about the worth and value of words, but she now believed there was a power in a proper posture, and also in voice. Having trouble speaking was long overdue, and after she found her voice after years of terrible times, it brightened her up.

  It hardly changed in the first days, in this place. She never left. She never came back. Nothing snatched her, screaming, fiddling with her ears and leaking feet. It was a weird change of pace, but Celeste did not detest it.

  Dreadus always assured her that it was fine, even when she began to explore this land, and he spoke to her more and more.

  Dreadus changed a lot, similar to herself, Hound, and this guy before her, who was yet another endearing and idea and face. She saved him, after all. Once. Twice. It didn't matter if she did it more, as one ought to care for those, right? Friends. Likeness...

  Words of friendship and status and Walkers echoed in her head, all coming from Ellie, who tried her best.

  William heard her right and took it well. He remembered her from all those weeks ago, looking even more rugged than he was, and hardly recognized her in her current form. Her face didn't change much, but her haircut and Ellie's care did give her a new kind of look, while the rest was a completely different story.

  It was odd. She was not a normal person anywhere, let alone a typical Walker kid, but how to describe it well? It was subtle, or more like a hunch.

  “Alright. We can talk. It will be an exchange based on mutual satisfaction. If you say what you want is not fine, I say more. You do the same, if you are fine with it, of course.”

  Nodding, Celeste tossed Hound to the ground, leaned forward, opposite to William, and began fiddling with her long sleeve as she talked. Talked like never before in her life. And to her shock, so did William because he quickly discovered he had far underestimated this smaller sort of freak.

  They had hours of time and enough private security, and neither of them thought about the number of freaks around them, or Hound smirking on the ground.

  ***

  As William waited for his turn and poured his soul out to an unlikely person to do that so well, Mi-Yung went somewhere else and believed Reaz was more than equipped to care for both of them. She didn't have to be so present, like Dreadus, whom she believed was messing around in this place. Many youths were there alone, waiting just fine.

  Thus, Mi-Yung walked away, heading to the opposite end of the hallway and entering one door like any other. No one was around it, and no one knew where it was going, thanks to a badge sensor beside it that deterred all unwanted attention.

  Opening it was an easy task for Mi-Yung, as the sensor was fake and only people of distinction could swipe the door open. Behind it were stairs leading to the unknown underground corridors, which looked old and rugged beyond recognition. There was dim light, coming from old light bulbs, but when Mi-Yung eased her uniform a little, letting a bit of her Emblem out when she was finally out of sight, she saw every corner without a problem.

  “Looks like an entrance to the Dungeon. Some things never change, I guess.” Mi-Yung said to herself, choosing to dive into this abyss that was a swirling staircase made of metal resilience.

  It went on for longer than she remembered, and after a few minutes, she reached the end. This was old. Very old. The concrete had cracks, and the settled dust gave the walls an old, worn-out feel, supporting an old belief that this place was far older than anything above.

  Roughly shaped walls or even the lack of decor in the surroundings made it seem like an aged symbol of time.

  It was correct, but not entirely right. After all, a lot of underground places were much older than this, and who knew what exactly was out there? This land was theirs, but out on the mainland, one could stumble upon old vaults, both broken and , and some even believed there were still survivors out in the dark, who had gone deep and forgotten the surface in a few generations.

  Dating to the start of the Blank Century and perhaps long before the Dawn, there were a few bits of mystery to this island.

  There were bunkers. Not just one or two, but a whole bunker system and massive underground lodgings that were proper, even when this place was discovered and secured.

  The Bermuda Islands were once a fantastic place to live in, be it permanently or for those so-called vacations. Tens of thousands of people lived their best lives on it for centuries. The economy thrived less because it was located in the middle of the ocean, but islands of this caliber were often seen as paradises out of sight.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  The population wasn't even half that bad for its size back then, but the current Islands were far from what they once were, thanks to the arts and efforts of Walkers, who grew the land. From seismic activity or earth-based art, or just simply tossing the earth in, it worked wonders, rather than the luxurious resorts and homes for the rich. That was once the Bermuda Islands.

  More than a century later, the Central District stood on its remains, representing the former land, while the rest were built much later. The land survived. Got fixed. Rebuilt. Buildings did not survive, as people couldn't flee; instead, they hid underground or died because there was no escape from the Darks in the middle of nowhere.

  They were no slouches if they did reach this place, and that was the crux of the issue. Escape seemed improbable from the beginning, so that begs the question of why build this place like this in the first place? For once, William was confused, and once upon a time, Mi-Yung was no different.

  The apocalypse arrived, and the area itself suffered relatively minor damage. That created a significant decision that soon led to the formation of the Federation.

  People knew Darks would hunt and return, and crash many chances. And they did, in fact, return regularly.

  People had to fight back; not getting overrun and slaughtered was no escape, so it was the beginning of a woeful agony.

  Mi-Yung was aware of this history and the efforts involved, not only through her current role in the Assembly, but also through her efforts to learn about the world and various cultures. South Korea used to be a great land with a lot of Walkers, and they fought for a long time.

  Until they couldn't, and didn't.

  That's the thing. It was a constant reminder that one was next... and it was looming like the moon aloft the night.

  The same was true for many other places. For people. Mi-Yung became familiar with them, as history described a lot of them, but not always. History was wiped out, and many remnants remained, waiting to be discovered or lost forever.

  Much of the Federation's underground infrastructure was very functional with some renovation, extension, and care. The previous hallway was one such thing, while the one Mi-Yung entered wasn't.

  Many considered this place an old scientific and military base rather than a survival bunker system. Its layout was anything but simple, which validated that belief. With it being so out of touch and eyes, no one guessed what happened here in the past. No Darks ever managed to reach this depth, making it their home. It was too secure, so this place was a perfect hiding spot for what the Association and Federation deemed a necessary evil.

  In the worst-case scenario, the people could hide in these places, away from the light and their lives. It was no life. That never happened, and hopefully, never will.

  The corridor was approximately ten feet wide and ended at a worn-down door, located a hundred feet from the end of the stairs. There were doors aside, but Mi-Yung had her eyes on the furthest door. She knocked on it three times. In a moment, the door opened inwards, revealing a bodyguard-looking man. A short beard accentuated his face, and his stature was staggering, twice the width of Mi-Yung's. He was even a few heads taller; it was a wonder if he was Walker or not, but she didn't care. She knew he was.

  “Token,” he told Mi-Yung straight to her face, standing like a wall before her.

  Flicking her personal information to him, Mi-Yung found it strange and unnecessary. Anyone who was already coming was good to go, so this was simply stupid. The people beyond this veil of carefulness were making it a matter of principle and pride. They liked this stuff, while she did not.

  Glancing at her booklet, the guard left the door open and gestured for her to enter.

  Without a word to tell, Mi-Yung grabbed her booklet back and entered the corridor that led to the most sensitive places of this Awakening. Invitations were hard to come by, and just because someone wanted in, they wouldn't join it.

  Some people tried it for years out of curiosity or for their jobs, and many did obtain it under the guise of contracts or with the help of others, as Ellie did thanks to Heidi years ago. It was a different circumstance and not like this. Ellie merely peeked at the most basic of things, while Mi-Yung was currently aiming for the richest prose. There were significant reasons for people to be out here, and for Mi-Yung, her visit was the same.

  Inside were rather worn-down walls made of huge concrete blocks, forming massive rooms akin to hangars. At least the renovated foundations, complete with carpets and wooden pillars, created a better impression, while the lighting took care of the rest. It was an immense space, and one couldn't see that well ahead if it weren't for the lamps along the paths.

  She heard the hum of people, and sounds lingered as if they were in a vast cave, for the area was mostly bare, apart from a few small buildings and a couple of towers. Numerous organizations were in attendance, including outstanding associates or the sovereigns of their respective territories.

  Unlike the actual depth of this place, this one had no scientists, yet everyone here was more important than the rest above. It was an exceptional event that required great manners, uniforms, and a showcase of power. They were busy, wouldn't sleep for days, and there was insanity in the flickering lights, with immense energy coursing through the walls, cables, pipes, or machinery in the darkness.

  Then there was the sheer of Walkers, who created a rather unique ambiance and a pressuring aura everywhere that was noticeable to Walkers. Seeing this place, Mi-Yung didn't mind it either way. It wasn't as if the age of this place mattered. What became of it remained for the Emblem Association, which was the most influential in this place among the Heads alone.

  Ahead lay the site of the mad science.

  Old or not, its purpose was to hide from the sky and ground, and people, of course. Almost every sensitive, scientific research project conducted on Emblems, Walkers, and Darks demanded such depth.

  After walking for a while and ignoring most people, Mi-Yung approached a brightly lit, semi-closed building set against the wall.

  “Greetings, Miss Song.” An attendant in a suit greeted her and made a slight bow for the sake of her attendance.

  “Good day to you, Robertson. A lot of people came this time around, didn't they?” Mi-Yung greeted this well-kept man and looked ahead for different reasons than he would expect. But he knew not to pry, and whatever was on her mind was not typical.

  A nice, soft carpet added another layer of comfort, chandeliers created a more atmospheric effect, and seating, dining, or drinking areas were available in most layers and corners. The room was hundreds of feet long, wide, and tall enough for Giants. It was a temporary gathering place for the less privileged individuals who couldn't attend to watch over the Awakening, but could still participate in it in some capacity.

  Most of them were members and delegates of those who were further ahead, hiding close to the central section of this area, deeper in the earth. But the funneling energies and pressure were still there, and Mi-Yung sensed several Walkers more powerful than herself.

  It didn't matter. Watching it with their own eyes wasn't essential or all that pretty, since only a handful of them were part of the Examination later.

  Most of them were waiting for the official statements and results that would give them the same thing in one way or another. In short, it was a place for socializing, with people from all around the world interconnected by simple pacts or businesses with one another. Such matters involved the lives and wealth of many people, far beyond their imaginations, or were about making concessions, or were about seeking redemption and understanding. That alone might be more important than any youthful recruits in Mi-Yung's opinion.

  There were hundreds of those sly people scattered around the room. Paths led to tables or meeting rooms, and one led to semi-closed stairs to the lower levels of this chamber.

  Mi-Yung hadn't been to such an event for a long time, so when she entered the main event, it had changed a little. It was more lavish, so perhaps the etiquette did indeed create greater prominence. But there was no need to save face, considering what was above and below. No fighting and Emblem activation was a no-brainer, yet wonderful faces were everywhere.

  “Awakening already started, Miss Song. Everyone who you would expect to be present is attending. They are watching the show with keen eyes and understanding.” Robertson explained as he led her inside.

  “I would rather not take any guesses out of my mouth if I were you. Also, whose guesses are you guessing?”

  “You surely jest, miss Song.”

  “Whatever. The Assembly must be ready, so I would like to attend their talks and sit there if it doesn't cause any issues in this crowded space. Seriously, they should have expanded it if they keep inviting more and more people. Ah, politics.” Mi-Yung sighed in pity.

  “Of course. Please.” Robertson gestured with his hand forward. What followed was an expansive room, open in size like a grand amphitheater facing a single wall of glass. It was still flatter than broad and tall, with several bar-like areas for chatting and sitting, rather than tight seats and such.

  As Mi-Yung expected, those in the back didn't see the show very well.

  Her target? The first row, obviously. Where were not just her peers, but the most troubled and glorious individuals this entire event had to offer. Some would disagree, pointing to the huge windows where there was a different sort of fun.