Mi-Yung rolled her eyes. "I've got this idea. Two or more years is a considerable amount of time. Bodies and Emblems reach mutual respect, flow, and woobles, and it tends to break a little. Fixing that stuff takes time. Teachers are there for that, giving every supporting choice so they would be Rank 2 or 3 at eighteen. That's the overall plan, William."

  "Mine as well?" He wondered, and Mi-Yung didn't linger on it like a fool.

  "That's the main point. We don't push the youth to the limits. Before they are adults, they don't encounter crazy situations or full-blown hunts. Sometimes, that is. At other times, it might end up worse, and it's up to us... older Walkers, to prevent such mistakes. Training is endless, older generations are there to help, and talents have their value."

  "Yeah. I find that interesting. The final point is still a choice. I shouldn't be too nervous about that, since no change would come before it; yet, it sounds weird. I feel there are things to think about. For example, why do so many youths try so damn hard beforehand?"

  "Because that's the point? Family business. Personal feelings. Division matters. They might have teachers who are strict, or they want to waste no time and give their bodies or minds an edge. I say that a lot while also being strict, but you aren't like that."

  "Am I?" William wondered and relaxed in his chair. "Is it because of that chamber I can't even remember?"

  "Perhaps you chose it that way." Mi-Yung asserted, tapping her finger on the table and glancing at him with a quite a gaze.

  "It's not a good thing, I suppose. I feel shadows of those old freaks stink of troubles."

  "That, I agree with," she chuckled. "Much more of it should come after the Awakening, yet tell it to everyone at this age. Many people are restless, and pushing young Walker's surviving capabilities is better than ignoring them. Maybe it is just healthy to overlook it as what's even perfect?"

  "Makes sense. So..." pausing, he also tapped the table. "What am I then? Where do I land in this business? Seventeen... yet lost. I've wasted a lot of time, and all I have to do is wait a year, and then what? I will be natural."

  "Don't worry!" Mi-Yung offered him a plate with fresh bread. "At least you remember my words. Good. I have no complaints about you. Your life was already strict Outside. You still have a lot of days left, so do everything according to my wishlist, and let's worry about your training alongside that since that list is worrisome."

  "Great..." William begrudgingly accepted the new bread and swore he would need more than just bread if that hell-training resumed.

  "The date of the Examination is in twelve days. Your citizenship is also finished, alongside Celeste's, which I was involved with. It took a lot of effort, let me tell you that."

  "Celeste is a citizen?"

  "Yeah, I guess you don't know anything. Typical." Mi-Yung sighed and said what she wanted. "Dreadus complicated everything, and the responsibility fell on this little Pillar. She will get Awakened, too, if you are curious about that."

  Silence.

  "Are you not curious?"

  "A little."

  "You are awfully quiet about it if that's the case."

  "Sorry. I was very busy, alright?"

  "Sure. Very busy indeed. You will be free to make choices under my proximity, so do whatever you want as others might wish for you, or assume their offers." Mi-Yung explained everything and devoured the last of the sandwiches.

  "Great," William mumbled, wondering if the freedom was really this cheap and easy. Perhaps Mi-Yung was overlooking something, but William couldn't tell if that was even possible.

  "I am such a nice cook," Mi-Yung muttered, licking her messy fingers and drinking water afterward.

  "B-barely..." William whispered beneath his nose.

  "What was that?"

  "Nothing at all. I like this sandwich."

  "I bet."

  Mi-Yung wasn't protesting about her cooking skills this time, which could be called average at best. With her income, she could afford to eat out every day, yet she didn't need that, so why care? Morning was a different story if Luke or William were involved. Yungmun was her dear brother, but his independence and care were no longer about a big sister. There was a point in freedom, and even stressful adverse effects, and nothing adored grew up sturdy.

  William ate his fill and left his home without Mi-Yung, who didn't follow him today. Good. It should be another calm day, or... not in the slightest because that matter with birthdays was not normal. Ellie had been on his mind a lot because of it... and it freaked him out. Mi-Yung wanted to touch on this subject for sure and almost succeeded.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  The time on his watch was approaching eight o'clock, so getting into the library on his schedule was impossible. Not that he gave a shit about punctuality. He wasn't that sort of guy, yet what about the military, division, or out there... among the Walkers?! What kind of person should William be, or become? Being punctual was not it for sure.

  Mi-Yung suggested running to the library as part of the training, stating that it built up stamina and spirit. William wasn't sure about it, as he had noticed minor changes here and there. His appetite increased, speed got sharper, and his breath was easier than ever.

  Maybe it was because of the place? The Federation seemed to be a very healthy place without a shred of Corruption or stale air.

  Whatever was happening on the outskirts or around the sky and Rifts wasn't impacting the core of this land, or was it part of the high-class food she was giving him? It was a nice stimulus, and her training, massages, and tests stirred him, spinning another breaking point to his already passable body.

  William swore he wasn't that different on a fundamental level. Most of his training was conventional, involving weights, resistance training, and light sparring, such as hitting her hands, legs, or the air. It was weird stuff, unlike a lot of running. Maybe it was part of being the Walker. A fitting name or common sense came with running and walking. Stability and strength followed.

  Many rooms on the upper floors of the library had been breached by his eyes, for the most part. William was quiet throughout and never met Stark or anyone troublesome. From time to time, he saw youths and Walkers, but it never progressed beyond simple nodding acknowledgments or dismissals. That was how it usually went, as everyone was busy in these rooms and time was money. Not for William, though.

  The time was good, and he wasn't sure if today was different. He checked the folded notebook in his pocket, which was Mi-Yung's suggestion after the papers revealed somewhat reclusive and messy formats. A little firm notebook was cool and handy, and writing things down was easier than a freaking loose paper.

  Notes within were already a thing, and he wanted to know more and more stuff. Passing knowledge was easier if they were right in his pocket. It should be helpful even after the Awakening.

  He enjoyed it, and... knew it wasn't some sort of fucked up diary. That would not be equal in the slightest, not after he read past the first half of that old, messy diary he had gotten all those weeks ago. It troubled William, who wasn't sure what to trust or if it was even real.

  Something in him told him it was genuine, because the age and his guts said so.

  His mind told him it was a fake diary, describing a fool who thought he was a funny man who lived close to Dawn.

  William chose to respect it as a curious and entertaining read before sleeping, and that was about it. He didn't plan to dwell on it too much, but... nope. He still did from time to time because that thing was written like an actual diary, and it felt way too personal with events and stuff.

  There was no way he wanted to create such a thing himself. For now, he had thirty-six pages worth of notes and a lot of drawings that slowly exceeded his expectations because he had found books about painting. Was it about Rob Boss or someone else? Anyway... drawing was interesting, thanks to his shaky memories, and giving it a cognitive handful approach was nice.

  His notes were thirty-six times bigger than he would have done otherwise. That was quite impressive for his mathematical proficiency, which wasn't particularly strong.

  Running, he did not make it there on time, but it didn't matter. Five minutes wasn't a big deal.

  It was summer, so running with long sleeves and trousers wasn't cool. Sweating a bit, his huffing left a mark of a runner, albeit he wished he could work topless like on the farms. Animals didn't find his Emblem all that bad. Very few animals were bothered by Walkers if they got to know each other. Well, some dogs showed restraint, and cats hated his guts.

  Hiding Emblems was common etiquette. William found it acceptable since this place was reasonable, unlike the Outside. He did it mostly for Mi-Yung's sake, and no troubles came for him because of it.

  At least he wasn't blatantly running with his Emblem wide open, pointing at people with his crimson arm, and... killing stuff. That wouldn't work in anyone's favor, would it? In the same way, one was not running completely naked around like an idiot, but that was a rather strange comparison. For William, it made sense.

  Seeing the familiar and tall building, William walked inside, expecting nothing odd or bad.

  "Here we go again."

  Weirdly enough, the one expectant figure shocked him and his steps. Hesitant, he strained his bottle and looked at Ellie, who was right before him, looking at him and looking very decisive and firm.

  "Good morning." Ellie greeted him while wearing a long grey dress with a white coat around her shoulders. It almost resembled a uniform.

  "Good... morning, Ellie," William said awkwardly, angling his head to look around. Celeste was not present, so perhaps Ellie was waiting for her.

  "Early again?" Ellie asked with a firm voice. Her hands quivered in distress behind her back.

  "I am trying. So much time passed, and so little of it can change a person."

  "Is that so? Change... time... person?"

  An awkward moment later, William found a way ahead. He passed Ellie, who followed him behind.

  "Already behind my back? Aren't you waiting for Celeste?"

  "So what?"

  "How about caring for customers or visitors who need help?"

  "Not my problem," Ellie said with an open smile that seemed very forceful. She planned to do what she wanted, as Burton had never argued with her about anything she did for the past three weeks. Her shifts were more or less torn to shreds, which meant Heidi must have been quite thoughtful of her, or it was about Celeste and Dreadus.

  Either way, Ellie couldn't complain about anything other than this boy before her. She worked with Dreadus for days, got Celeste talking, speaking, and thinking, and... yeah, it was a lot.

  A lot more happened where she ended up freaking crying. It wasn't a good thing, since, well, she was a teacher--a proper one, of all things.

  She wondered if William set up his differences aside, intentionally ignored her, or wanted nothing to do with her anymore. At the moment, there were thin and thick lies in her heart and mind, giving her specific intentions. There should be a reason for everything! Ellie couldn't find every little thing, so it was in her best interest to test it.

  Celeste was also late, and William came over like a charm. What else to do?

  Ellie swore there was no other choice.

  "I am planning for the upper floors again, so...." William looked at her attempt to follow him and almost run away, ruining yet another moment.