“Well... I am...” William muttered, touching his forehead with his left hand, which completely exposed his Emblem. It was way too open and in public. Not good. “No. It's nothing at all. It was just a minor accident.”

  “Accident?” Ellie considered it for a second and felt there was no accident about being this cute. She walked onwards, seizing his right arm, but not touching his Emblem that seemed to waver in storms, but not quivering throbs.

  Ellie tried to relax him, since William was far too out of his usual self to move. He couldn't do a thing—or, to be more precise, didn't know what to do.

  “L-listen. What happened last night? I am... not sorry about it. There is a simple way to say it: I like you, you know. That's that.” Ellie revealed it without much slipping or hesitation, which felt incredibly good; she felt like a bunch of chains and rocks dropped from her and turned her face red. That wasn't because of that creeping red light, right?

  “Like?” William muttered a single word.

  “Yeah. Is it wrong to like you? Do you think it is strange?” Ellie asked after weeks of accumulating bravery. She didn't place any importance on the bruise on his forehead as she fixated her eyes on his eyes and arm. And darn, she did not falter.

  “I... don't know. What... why even?”

  “Why not? Does it need to have a big reason? You have a mind full of other things. I can see it, but I have a lot ahead as well, and I don't mind that sort of thing. I don't mind you being focused at all, and I don't feel it's right to forget or suppress any feelings. It is not that great, isn't it?”

  “Feelings...” William looked at her, gripping his forehead and feeling like he had lost something today, and remembered that kiss by touching his mouth. “Like. You were serious?”

  “Yep.”

  “Why?”

  “Why...” Ellie wondered why he even asked that. “I spend some time with you, and you tend to be kind of lonely, right?”

  “I guess.” William forced a nod.

  Around this time, a figure was already close and found the redness endearing, but wrong. “Ehm. Ehm.” The coughing halted this serene moment between Ellie and William. They stood right at the entrance to the library, and many people could see them.

  Burton was no different. He was standing beside them, both hands behind his back, and his eyes were curious and as sharp as ever.

  “M-mister Burton?” Ellie looked at his abrupt appearance and found it difficult to speak with him. He was her direct supervisor, and someone she had known for the better part of a decade.

  “I would appreciate doing whatever you are trying to do somewhere else. Isn't it more appropriate?” Burton said those words with an ice-cold tone while looking left and right at each of them.

  Releasing her hands from William, Ellie apologized for whatever mistake she had made or hadn't made.

  “I am sorry. It won't happen again.”

  “Not as it is a problem. As long as you understand our position and yours, it is fine. Since I found you before going home, I suggest.... No. I insist that you meet Miss Heidi. It seems she has some words to give you, and whatever this... is about, can wait.”

  “Miss Heidi? L-like... Right now?” Ellie blurted out in surprise, knowing that a summon from her was very rare. Should she ever visit her in this attire? Wasn't it way too... brash?

  “Right now? It is her word, and would you ever want her to wait when she demanded something from you? It instills honor, right? Would you like to wait until tomorrow? She wouldn't mind it, as this involves a long-term project that needs no rushing.” Burton persuaded her with clever use of phrasing.

  “I will go,” She said firmly and glanced at William, who hadn't said a word since Burton arrived and missed his exposed Emblem.

  “I suppose young Gale can wait here. It won't take that long, and you can continue speaking elsewhere, alright?” Burton insisted.

  Ellie pushed Burton away in an unlikely fashion and looked at William. “I meant it, William. If you... want to wait or not, it depends on you.” She pointed a finger at him, turned, and walked away in steady steps of resolution and determination.

  She wanted the day to end on a good note, yet this was difficult. At last, she told him about her feelings, so what could happen next? She didn't know the answer to that.

  However, she had no regrets.

  Without glancing back at him, Ellie walked straight to the offices not so far away. Meanwhile, Burton watched Ellie's departure, nodding to himself and looking at William.

  “I hope whatever this is about won't have negative effects on you as a Walker, young sir.”

  William rested his hand on his forehead and visibly relaxed. “I am sure. You are overexerting your words, sir. I have no idea about myself at all.”

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

  “That is fine. Most Walkers don't know what they are, what to do when the time is ripe, and could die because of anything, which is rough. It is their reality, so let me tell you, are you ready to die?” he asked, but didn't wait for the answer. “Of course not. Don't think that people, or young ladies, are that simple either. Ellie is important to us, so keep her in mind. Do we understand each other?”

  “I don't feel this talk is all that necessary. Whatever your worries are, sir, it won't matter that much when I go away after the Examination, won't it?” William answered in a calm tone.

  “I think you are underestimating the feelings of a young lady.”

  “I don't. I am questioning my life, words, and everything right now.”

  “Hm. While I am not speaking for myself, it is meaningful to consider what words and your actions mean. You've spent some time with her and know her, but do you truly know her? Does she truly know you?” Burton asked in a strange tone that didn't go that well with his stern face.

  “I don't know if there is a point in this conversation. She can think whatever she wants.”

  “Oh, I am sure she does that more than well for both of us, and that's not the point I am trying to fetch,” Burton said with a meaningful smile. “I am thinking you don't do that enough, and that you can waste yourself without thinking.”

  “That's not for you to decide,” William grunted, folded his arms, and turned away, hiding his annoyance without care.

  “It is good to be honest,” Burton argued and watched his hesitant steps as he left the library.

  ***

  In the offices, Ellie's steps were heavier than usual. She poured her heart out today, yet Heidi summoned her at quite a weird time, so that wasn't looking good.

  It led to her small disappointment, yet meeting with Heidi was never a small thing. It wouldn't come even when she wanted to talk to her, and the last time she checked, she was busy because of her father, and the deal with Dreadus and Celeste was another thing.

  Additionally, a large number of foreigners were targeting this place, which meant even more work, while the Assembly and depth of this place were a completely different story that someone like her shouldn't know, but she knew.

  “I wonder what she has to tell. I hope it won't be a bad thing. Could it be another good project? No... way. What about Celeste and my work? Did Walkers finally have enough, or... did the Assembly have some words to say?”

  Walking past half-empty offices dedicated to the library, one wouldn't call them particularly decorative or pretty. On one side, there was a large, lone door that hid her wonders, and poised as a room of insanity.

  It was wooden like any other door, but beyond it used to be a Rank 8 Walker. Now, there was someone lower than that, but not someone simple, either. There were only two directors in the existence of this place, and it ran in the family.

  Summoning a smile along a bit worked-up and forced personality, Ellie knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” A strong voice reverberated beyond the door, shaking her up. It moved right to her ears, though the ground and the door.

  “Heidi...”

  Readying herself, Ellie opened the door and walked into a breathtaking space that was far longer than a typical office. It was a promenade full of nice things. Forty feet long was almost like a hall, and twenty feet to the ceiling was enough to store many incredible objects and artifacts.

  Decorated by all kinds of art alike, it seemed more like a home of archeologists than anything else, but in a way, that's the thing. It wasn't far from the truth. Kaufmans were known to seek knowledge, and archaeology played a significant role in examining history and retrieving items from centuries ago, or up to the Dawn.

  There were statues, vistas, busts, and shelves full of wonderful items. Ellie even noticed some stoic or glinting Emblems, bones, and skulls. Not all were about humans.

  Beyond this promenade was a table where Heidi Kaufman sat, waiting for this girl. Looking at her little summon, she hadn't expected her to come so soon. It seemed Burton was effective in conveying the message, as usual. That or Ellie's presence in the library had been somewhat closer than farther. Heidi didn't know what sort of situation was outside the offices at all, and rarely checked progress on this little endeavor that had little chance of success.

  “Greeting, Miss Heidi,” A deep bow was customary. Ellie stood beside the entrance, showing respect and courtesy befitting her station. Most decisions, as well as her great hopes, came through Heidi alone.

  Like with most bosses, Heidi had an unshakable position and had every right to do what she saw fit. In a way, she bore a striking resemblance to Mi-Yung in terms of her appeal and aura, yet in another way, she was quite different.

  Such was her figure: a tight-fitting light-brown gown accentuated her ample chest, while her long, light-brown hair reached her waist, and her eyes were sharp and glinted with a golden hue. Sure, most of her skin was hiding behind the robust table, but Ellie could imagine the rest. Heidi earned her father's great respect, and the rest came from decades of effort and accomplishment that did not require her father's slightest approval.

  She managed to prove her ownership of the library and turn the tide, becoming a great person, historian, and Walker alike.

  Ellie got her mind aflame and reviewed her sentiment.

  “Good evening to you, Ellie,” Heidi said, speaking with a more relaxed and calm tone befitting of her position. “I didn't think you would come so soon. I just talked to Burton a while ago, and it seems his words and actions are as efficient as ever.”

  “No worries. I was seeing someone. He caught me just as we were about to leave.” Ellie said from a distance and straightened her back

  “I see. Come. Please sit down to hear about my proposal and the matters that may impact both of our lives. In your case, even more so. There has been great and not-so-great news coming from the Assembly, which was quite hectic today. I was there... more Pillars were there, and then, a lot had been discussed, yet broken. We talked. Shouted—typical stuff. I think you want to hear about them,” Heidi gestured forward, offering her a seat in front of her table by raising a hand that had scars of countless little cuts.

  It was for her image or the way her skin worked, but it wasn't all that bad. From a distance, she looked normal if one ignored her eyes, , and other details.

  “I shall do so,” With a little bow, she walked across this room and sat in a way too big chair for her figure. The sturdy desk was also quite large, almost obscuring her view of this big lady. So she sat as straight as she could, glancing past the artifacts on the table and many towers of papers.