“Ten is not crazy, but... the links are, Rey. They must be. Vectors or Arcana and their differences create new patterns. Don't judge all things to be the same. It's a nuisance.” Cloud argued to Rey, the Association Pillar, and his friend.

  “Exactly. For him, the years created one thing. His time did another. As for this full crackdown, it is like enabling the Hunger.”

  “You would go this far? He is young and Gale, but not exactly like one either. A lot of strange things can happen during every Rank-up, so this is nothing special. Remember your Rank 8 Rank up? I do. You were half a step in the bucket, and you should understand how everyone in this room feels about it. Rank 0 to 1 is difficult, if not the most important step of their path, but unlike those later, it is given rather than taken by force and in every conceivable direction. That's the true weight of the Walker. Youths feel the very beginning. Older ones feel a different spirit and world on their shoulders.”

  “Are you speaking more than you want, or describing the brutality befitting a brute? How surprising for a Cloud.” Rey said, sipping from a glass. “Give me a minute. You are mumbling so much nonsense that I am unable to think straight on clogged throat. Seriously, some words are better forgiven than said out loud.”

  Most of the Walkers around wanted to hear his opinion, which didn't come very often. Cloud wanted Rey to speak up.

  Which came in ten more drinks. “If I can guess anything without borderline looking at it instantly, I am guessing that Emblem was flawed from the very beginning, or it is far from the opposite direction. The release speaks for itself. Arcana is broad, so that one isn't it. They were always Vectors, and those Vectors were always way too strong, and it went on, and on, for a very long time. Enveloping dozens of feet of radius in half of a storming blaze resembling a small Domain? Doesn't it sound sort of believable and familiar?”

  “More like an Aura, but whatever. Skills vary, but many effects correlate to potential skills and passive effects. Like that girl, Celeste. That sword will be her entire new life, but white and black aside, she is more wicked than a sword-dealer.” Reawe added.

  “Or a Barrier? We couldn't see through, and from the looks of it, the latter Walkers couldn't do much either. Isn't that curious? It was wide and hard to imagine, so what happened beyond that cage?”

  Cloud nodded, begrudgingly taking Rey's guesses for truth that continued. “It was the quantity affixed with odd quality that is shocking. It also resembles the words of the Ego that we are all a little bit afraid of. We are privileged, Cloud, but I guess that doesn't matter. We are talking about generations. Eras. Demons of all of us, but most of us take the other kind of demons for worse demons. I guess it no longer makes sense. Like that girl who will start even more doubts if I am being honest with you. That's my opinion.” Rey finished his monologue.

  “Fine, Rey. I won't ask too much then. 75 is a fact, so let's not pretend it's bad. He might even join the Academy if his Emblem is as strange as his Awakening.” Cloud's argument met very little opposition, and even Reawe nodded and finally rejoined his side.

  None of their guesses were considered wrong, but not too right either. Rey couldn't see beyond that veil of crimson. He swore ninety percent of his ideas were accurate because he watched over Mi-Yung and met William a few times.

  Old Dream was the same, but he was nowhere to be seen as usual.

  ***

  Inside the gate leading from the bunker, Mi-Yung dragged William's tired body towards the next destination without any need for stretchers. She managed many worse objects if she was honest with herself. She wasn't, so this much was laughable because she wanted to be helpful, and she WILL be helpful. No matter what, she didn't feel like she had lost anything; she had gained one more reason to become even more assertive if she were honest.

  And she was. The light dimmed in the tunnel, and the worst part was over.

  “What happened there?” William uttered, doing his best to remain awake. Speaking, thinking, or pretending to be fine were fine medicines for not falling asleep. He learned that the hard way and remembered an even better way, but he didn't have the strength to do it. He feared that being unconscious wasn't an option. It would create trouble in the spirit, or start something neither of them wanted.

  Hearing his weak voice, Mi-Yung smiled and asked a question instead of answering. “What do you think happens to you? I think you've learned lessons over and over again, and a lot of what you saw in those upper floors pushes you into an interesting spot. Not every step aims at that spot. It is the past that pushed you towards this moment, and you experienced it today.”

  He nodded, feeling his head was very heavy, and his neck was especially tense. He forgot about that chair and numerous chains, though he thought he still had them.

  “Have I done well?” was William's best question that might change his mind for the better.

  “Depends on what you think is . Average is average. Poor, or piss-poor, is another. It doesn't really matter to me because not everything is equal, even on the same spectrum or numbers. If you are asking to be the best, then that's not entirely honest. Officially speaking, that is. For me, you are the best and greatest.”

  For some reason, that put warmth in William's spirit. Where was the last time he felt something like this? How many years was it? How many murders ago?

  “I see. You said stuff about Celeste before, right? Is she... safe? I feel... like I am not.”

  Mi-Yung chuckled and wondered if he remembered the morning or not. If he was worried about others, he must be much better than she believed. “I don't know about her current whereabouts, but quite a few hours had passed since her time. Do you want to visit her? I could get in touch with her and Dreadus in no time.”

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  “I guess I don't know. If it's bad, I would rather not speak with anyone. It's harsh, you know. I feel like slipping and looking at that sea again and getting lost in--”

  “Sea?”

  “Dreams, I mean.”

  “Dreams? Are you speaking of your unique experiences or sleep?”

  “Dunno.” William tried to shrug but failed, grunting as he felt the soreness in his body.

  “Don't try to be tough, William. You are hurt beyond your understanding. You don't even realize how bad it is, or what is going toget really, freaking worse.”

  “Oh, I think I do.”

  “Try me,” Mi-Yung said firmly.

  “Vectors... are everything. Everywhere. They go deep like veins and... worms? They dig and mesh with me. I thought I read about it. Aren't I somewhat full of them?”

  “I guess.”

  “Guess? Aren't you sure? You watched me in this room, which is not typical.”

  “Why ask? How can I be sure about a brand new Walker like the back of my palm? I won't lie to you. I don't know what you do or what you will be like. We are doing things on the go, and you are tired. I want you to rest, and... if all is well, please speak to me about everything that happened in that chair, or elsewhere. I believe that is up to our benefits.”

  “Fine. But I want something too.” William demanded and saw her tacit approval. “Are you seeing this Screen as well?” He tried to push his arm forward and failed.

  “Screen... So you are witnessing and detecting the System at the same time right now?” For one split second, Mi-Yung had healthy doubts. Then bad... bad thoughts. More promising youths shouldn't have to stand through this event for hours, let alone become familiar with it for the Examination. Weeks would go to great talents, sure, but seeing the System as a threshold for apprehensive talents was also right. The quality and affinity made the difference, while the System was completely separate. It wasn't the Accelerator opening it. Nobody knew what excatly did it.

  This was the main troublesome concept of the Forceful Awakening. It was chaotic and weird. Natural kind had always been streamlined, less reliant on force and science, and more focused on the Rank 0 spirituality, stability, and natural composition of a person and their Emblems.

  Eighteen-year-olds were very different from the younger teens. Some called it stupid to push such a boundary and opposed the Forced Awakening with passion and prudence. Alas, this process had already established its worth for decades, and it could no longer disappear from the Federation or the political landscape of Walker societies.

  However, the rest of the world didn't forget the natural Awakenings. They still provided benefits, though they weren't a significant factor in survival, as one might expect.

  Forced Awakenings was a long-term solution to wars and inherent growth, whereas a natural one ensured perseverance, and most Walkers in this manner wouldn't be inherently good or bad. On average, they would be steady and decent for their Rank, but what about later, compared to the forced ones? The System's head start was seen as more crucial, hence more important. It would provide more suitable options and offer Walkers a new, irregular path if well managed.

  Like two sides of a coin, two patterns spoke of different yet similar values. The process William went through was akin to an overflowing force. It was as if he had asked for it, and the liquid was like food that allowed the rest to fall into its correct patterns. It wasn't the least bit pleasing to him, who might be good under some eyes, but he was still green.

  Most people like him should be long on the stretchers and sleep it off, in Mi-Yung's opinion.

  “Is this really the System? I thought... I was never sure what to expect from it,” William admitted, not noticing her surprise or doubts as she moved through the tunnel. This led to further questions, and she grew certain and less doubtful as he kept talking and tried to stay present out of fear of something. It was kind of cute.

  “A Screen follows and shows... stuff. There are unknown symbols, even numbers, or wavy patterns. Is that right? Shaking... Trembling. Is it my heart doing that, or just my head? Or.... Eyes?”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. It is a bit like a computer screen with fluff, wavering as if it is water, or... dust? It seems bright too, yet... not really. There are texts. Some counts, and changing strange symbols.”

  “Hm. And a lot of crazy noises, I bet.”

  William sighed in relief.

  “What was that?”

  “I am glad I am not crazy. You have no idea how relieved I am.”

  She wasn't in the slightest. “Let me drag you quicker if that's the case. Being too calm about it is also not a good thing. Trust me, I don't think you can keep up with it forever. It could drain you and let you deep into the lands you don't want to visit. I will explain it to you better because I didn't think it would be possible so soon. You don't want to think about it when I carry you like a sack of dirt.”

  “I don't care. Or...” Feeling her firm resolve and deafening silence, he nodded. “I guess that is fine. What does it even mean to be Awakened if I feel broken?”

  “Your Emblem has already changed on the physical level, and so have you, and you've always been open to changes. I suppose you could be called someone like me, whose Emblem is keen on transformative, physical changes. It is rare to see in people. Your Emblem is curious. It seems to have a much deeper color and acts like a different entity. You will see.”

  “I wish I could look at it right now. At this point, I don't want to, or care what is rare or not,” William muttered and felt he no longer had the strength to talk or look at anything.

  Mi-Yung noticed it and hurried to the end of the tunnel, where a prepared elevator was waiting.

  Dragging him inside, they found an Emblem Association personnel ready to receive them. Seeing Mi-Yung, there were even two medics and two nurses, but all four were hesitant to do anything when they noticed her bleeding eyes and a quite tired expression. Then they looked at William, who was in a much worse state, and let their duties be, as they had no choice in this matter of proxy. They started the elevator and waited.

  “Are you feeling wrong in any odd way?” Mi-Yung asked William, who took the presence of four medics as good news.

  It seemed they cared for people, yet... could they care for his mind, or... throbbing heart?

  “Define wrong or odd? I don't think there is anything reasonable to say.” The fact that his words weren't blundering, and he kept his mind open, was enough of an answer.

  “At least you are conscious.” Mi-Yung smiled, noticing his hunched posture, weight, and heat, followed by slow breathing and closed eyes. Blood was secondary, though those four people took it for something else. At least they had a hospital blanket and cleaned what was most present.

  But the red interjected. It was dangerous, and Mi-Yung's presence frightened them too.

  “M-miss?” one of the nurses made her move. “Blood... Let's get him properly cleaned up.”

  “No need. It's dry blood already and part of him.”

  “But..”

  “Wounds aren't open anymore, and his condition is stable,” Mi-Yung argued and didn't lie in the slightest. William still looked like shit, although no longer looked like a dying freak.

  He rested on Mi-Yung's shoulder, which was unnaturally soft for the strength and weight she carried, but that was perhaps about something else. Not like he cared to think about it further when things hadn't settled in the slightest. It kept going, and going.