Chapter 157

  Names were one forte of Darks where they weren’t conceptually bizarre. They were more intricate in memorization and comprehending differences. There were also some clever meanings put into their names, marks of their Family, and appearance, or specialization.

  Those often correspond to their most important Focus Aspect, as Kaufman said.

  Concerning ones like Droons, who were huge blobs of bizarre, sick darkness, they were just plain made up by the System or beginning Walkers who called them that.

  Hellgars, whose name wasn't literally met with hells, were like over-sized and hideous wolves mixed with alligators and canines.

  With time and pages passing, it didn’t take long for Ellie to exchange the books once more, and this time, she showed him something shocking.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked her, obviously not upset that she got control of Kaufman’s card and gave him something from who knows where. If Kaufman didn’t care, he didn’t either.

  “What? You don’t want it? Starting simple is good, and this is straightforward for you. I already glanced at it once. It is good stuff, even if it isn’t meant for me. Oh, wait...” Ellie leaned to his head, whispering. “I am not meant for any of this, but hey, who is the boss?”

  “This?” William sighed, and yet another significant topic came to his hand. Two words on the cover depicted one of the most confusing ideas that he had called out a while ago.

  The System.

  Ellie smiled and went back to her reading corner, leaving William alone to focus. He could move fine by now, and he either sat close to Ellie or lingered around the shelves.

  In less than a dozen pages, William frowned.

  This is very complex. It makes no sense. This System. It sounds like some sort of game of gimmicks, numbers, and tools. A Guide? Quests? Skills... What makes it special, and why can it be so diverse and incomprehensible? What sort of things it couldn't do, and why so many choices and forces come with merits? Or... pains. Hunts. It sounds so freaking forced.

  It might be fantastical, yet.. Walkers and Emblem are also that, and this is invisible. Is it some air and space, or... electricity? A sight is not taken for granted, so what makes it unseen for anyone else? That is hard to guess, but... I think I did glimpse at it a few times while Dann couldn’t.

  It wasn't a big, complicated quest for answers. William felt it had been waiting for him for a long time, and he accepted it.

  It is unlike anything in human history, or... the science? Computers are weird too, but not like this as well. Words are there, and they come from somewhere. My hand, perhaps? It isn‘t science, or it can be related. Wait. No fucking way. There are voices and pains and who knows what else. What could they mean? Symbols and other shit.... Shit.

  William tried to remember those strange times in his past. When his Emblem forced or created some surprisingly strange times, or blood and noises became unbearable. Some were very old, so he wasn’t entirely convinced about his memories and what might be right.

  Most situations about the System were confusing, and, for as far as he read, part of Rank 1 upwards. Still, marks of Rank 0 weren't here, and he knew it could have some potencial harmfully and dangerous variables. For Rank 0s, it was no wonder, as they should not be little.

  Even at Rank 1, System wasn’t some eclipsing and huge entity. Screens would show up, and pages would start interacting and working with the Walker. Many generations of them considered it a tutorial level. Of course, that point scattered with age, or elevated, while leaping past the tutorial was possible.

  Still, this book was in his hands already, and William planned to use it.

  Research on the upper floors was considerable, without boundaries or money in sight. Ellie took advantage of that and regarded Kaufman as air.

  As expected, the start of the Emblems wasn’t everything. There was a focus on knowing and not being an idiot about their potential and spherical influence. They encompass social tendencies and resemble semi-decent thriving gifts like weapons molded by young lives but devils hiding in the children's minds. It could be truly devlish, in a sense.

  William wouldn't disagree.

  Having the basics of military drills and maintaining a sharp body and mind before these stages helped with some issues. William thought nothing of that, as it was pretty much a normal idea.

  Of course, some cases couldn’t afford it, and in the Federation and its subsidiary divisions, there were camps and places specifically dedicated to preparing such Walkers. He grasped this topic but not the context. Until now, of course. Most of these places were exactly opposite to the camps he had seen.

  Those were hellish training and military drill activities, while knowledge or protests were less than important. After all, the youths in question were essentially less than fifteen years old, and such cases couldn’t endure and know too much.

  The older Walkers ensured it, yet they still have to toss new generations onto a wild path sooner rather than later, for it was a pact the oldest generation settled on. Through pain. With less glory. It wasn't pretty or fair, but nothing was.

  Hence, physical prowess and military-style training were a high priority, right beside order, and how to fight and live. Knowledge and learning about Darks were also there, but stuff like history and other domains were almost absent.

  It was about setting boundaries into what counted as their path, and William thought it was better for these kids, albeit he didn’t know the whole story. Or that he could have been one of them very easily.

  He assumed it was for a purpose and found nothing much about these specific lands, but they were here, in some room of substance and materials.

  There was knowledge across military and strategic departments, operations, raids, and secret knowledge regarding everything done into comprehensive report cards. SImilar to some stuff down below, that he oh so quickly locked with his card.

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  These were more detailed and revolved around unique Walkers and operations, or Darks and their dens.

  Most of what someone like him wanted originated from the military and extensive research under the Federation. Decades-old discoveries were also included, some even with great detail, including even older accounts and stories of the Dawn.

  High-valuable communication was vital, and the research on the upper floors was unmistakably worked on for a very long time. It had many sensitive and locked elements, but that point made Walkers incentivized to work, know what they needed, and get going.

  But at the base, knowledge about Darks was easier to get out of here, in proper battles because learning wasn’t all about teachers and books. Even so, this stuff wasn’t easy. It held blood and death. He could tell it. This was an invaluable place that had many sacrifices behind it.

  That’s why William looked at some locks under most rooms and books and reports with new perspectives, even though they slowly became sensible.

  The System was vague, and knowledge of the Emblems turned out to be more linked to this System than he had ever thought. Kaufman hadn’t changed that, even when he was still present.

  Walkers had to see what revolved around them and inside first, but there were a couple of overall basics that one still had to realize. Not gain. Types of Walkers and commodities in the System were pretty much that, right beside Darks up to Rank 4, because the young Walkers could handle them on very rare instances.

  The further one went in Rank, the clearer this library would become. William discovered it wasn’t all too bad, although it was a fraudulent activity caused by his cheating card. This System stuff wasn’t meaningful for him, and William recognized Ellie was going around with that card as if no locks could stop her. Frankly, they couldn’t.

  The right knowledge turned out to be Ranks of Walkers and money. The latter was a kind of vague, as they were no longer about credits. There were other currencies usable in purchasing some reports or knowledge, and William didn’t even understand them. Some vials, crystals, and cores were exclusively declared and not explained.

  To put it bluntly, it was good bait, and more knowledge might be reasonable or necessary to get early. It depended on needs, Walkers, or other factors William couldn’t see right now.

  William bet very few Walkers would pay a lot of attention to this place. Out in the wild, books didn’t matter. It was about strength. That was what he thought and believed, yet it was also inaccurate. Many focused on the upper floors, so how could they do that this much and grow?

  He was curious how much it mattered to those further away from his shoes. The elites, for example? What of them? That point scattered around Kaufman, who was still in the room.

  The truth could change like William’s life, so he opened his mind and started to learn. Knowledge was part of strength and knowing some secrets and Darks went a long way for some people. And he barely cracked the surface of this world, let alone saw the Walkers or Darks for what they are.

  There was a point to this System and Kaufman knew it far too well, which was one of a few reasons he went ahead of the curve and did something few would tolerate.

  He wanted to see this youth better and gave him an immense option, like a billionaire to a beggar.

  The Federation’s own research had the Academy’s help, and those were in layers in almost every room. The most critical understanding was up to parties involving multiple organizations.

  To William’s shock, any Walker could become part of this library by offering newly found knowledge. At that point, they would get a set of royalties by becoming agents and gain some rewards. As for what that might be, he didn’t dwell on it too much, even if that was the main source of this place having endless growth.

  How? Well, it was Kaufman who made it this way.

  William went onto a different and forced topic, finding the System convoluted, if not practically incoherent.

  There are clear problems with transparency, ground details, unlocking mechanics, and... Levels? The System can vary like mountains and sea. One could not be ready for it, or what their respective System at the beginning does, as it grows, flickers, and acts like a broken or loading disk. Alright. I can see why that is, but what is it that I’ve seen? Rank 0 and System is... not a connection, but a baseless filter. If what I am reading is correct, I shouldn’t be possible.

  The better question was, what was impossible whilst being real and living?

  There are also some doubts about Forced Awakening, while my past is another matter altogether. The System is not an infinite path either. Affinity exists for the sole reason of talents and links the Emblem and System and human body and mind, while... Mindless Eyes is what? Damn! Nothing is simple.

  With more questions rising, he did not stop.

  Here I thought some matters about the Emblems could finally be closer, yet here comes yet another mess. There are Arcana, Arcalysts, and who knows what else. Wait. I haven’t even looked at stuff about Walkers and Emblems. Maybe I should admit pushing this unreachable thing that Ellie forced at me as too broad. I mean, what is even related to me, or is one thing caused or created by the other? System is... not hesitant but weirdly living, as it isn’t physical, but it revolves like air and ghost and haunts us.

  Shuddering, many notes depicted it like a very vicious machination that could get under even those with the toughest skins.

  Let alone the other Walkers, people can’t see it, while Emblems are extremely physical. Almost too much, so... the voices. No. The voices are weird no matter what. The origin of Emblem is a hot topic. I want it, but where to look? Is the matter inside what truly matters? Called Arcana, it is an energy that holds an infinite amount of power and growth, but that is false. It isn’t infinity, but it is in here, in my arm, and also somewhat in my body. It lives and thrives. Then... it gets lively and edgy like..

  Watching his own arm, he wished he had a way to conceal it or not consider its glinting and moving crimson waves. Too bad his sleeve was in tatters.

  It is a lot regardless, and those effects under Affinity react to Elements and... faces? Is that what Kaufman said? Hm. It sounds strange. How many questions and topics are there? Dozen? Darks... are thousands...

  William slowly felt more and more stressed out and wished Ellie wouldn’t be too busy with her own studies. Still, he wouldn’t recognize or point out that he needed her.

  Hell! The System is way out of the norm. Not Arcana. That one is clearer because Luke showed it off already, and I am not blind. Fighting Darks is what this is about, so what for is this mad thing? I don’t get it, but it is all here, in front of me, and... already inside of my hand, brain, and, or… soon to be my very soul?! What is this Mindless Eyes, or...Screens? What have I seen when things gone really fucked up?

  One dark part of him wanted to go back and watch it again. After all, repeats did not happen. Never.