William had never felt this tired before and was overwhelmed by this barrage of mindful ruptures. Calling it mindless, perhaps checked out. But it was no . There were no hallucinations or voice orders.

  No matter how far he tried to remember where to keep his head, this was the most intense feeling he had ever had. It wasn't lessening; it kept weighing on him until his whole body couldn't function properly. Every nerve, muscle, and bone seemed different to him, and at the same time, clearer. At the core was a searing flow going through his arm, reaching the spine, and then hitting his brain.

  “Are you still... awake?” Mi-Yung asked in worry as she carried him away from the center of attention and light.

  “It is... difficult.”

  “No. Don't do it. It is stupid. Let go of being stubborn. Just sleep and take your time. There is no hurry.”

  “I feel like... I matter, but... everything is so weird. I see the Screen, Mi-Yung. I feel and saw... things before. Unreal things. Not real.”

  “Screen?” She almost stopped walking when she heard that. “No... Be silent. Don't speak. Don't worry because I will take care of you,” she assured him, which convinced William that something strange was going on.

  It was true.

  The System was supposed to be no part of the immediate Awakening. It was a matter of time and the System's duty to mix in and open. In short, it depended on Walkers and how they could manage the initial integration of Rank 1 and the System's subsequent openings. On average, it took up to a month to fully take advantage of it, and even longer to start the Leveling common to all Walkers.

  As for the records or common hints, opening the System was days' worth of work. Whatever this was about, William was clueless because he didn't feel his time in the library was enough for this. Those strange symbols filled the Screen with nonsense and overwhelmed him. So Mi-Yung dragged him away further, yet it kept floating before his eyes, looking wavering like a shaky, fidgety monitor.

  It bothered him how it moved, or was the driving madness or the inability to see forward properly more of an issue? Either way, he couldn't do much about either. That begged the question: was it really about that System? Was it even important?

  Tom Hough didn't say much about it, and Mi-Yung spoke very little about these topics for various reasons, with one being... sort of reasonable across the board. Not knowing. Knowing. It was hard to hang on to the right path without knowing how to walk. William read that quote so many times that it became boring.

  The same couldn't be said of the upper floors. Mi-Yung forbade him from going too wild there, even with Kaufman's card. He still went through many rooms, discovering topics suitable for his position and some that weren't, but even those weren't excessive.

  Recorded notes discussed miscellaneous issues in great detail, some of which were not edited or obscured. What was what? When was what? The System, Emblem, Walkers, Mindless Eyes, Arcana, Vectors, and all sorts of other things had questions about questions.

  The System was the most mysterious, as it couldn't be explained in plain terms, let alone in pictures. It resembled a computer or an intelligent life-form, with a Screen visible only to Walkers. It shouldn't speak. It showed things, granted things, and helped as a mediator between reality and Walker's Emblems and Darks of this world. That was at least the logic of the previous generation, though the overall sentiment was not concrete. There was a variety in this logic, coming from all over the world, or with Leveling differences, or just Walkers being different.

  As for where the Emblems stood, it wasn't crucial, since they were seen as tools in the System, and Walkers were their masters. The System was a foundational grasp that would crack the code of a Walker, whether they wanted to live or die, and progress beyond their limits.

  In more senseless words, it was the System pushing Walkers against the Darks. Not this era. Or people.

  Mi-Yung had her own System, with benefits, goals, and orientation. She was unable to see his Screen or anything related to his incoming System.

  That raised the question: what were the Screen, initial integration, and the fully open System? William tried to think about it and failed.

  He was stuck with it, and nothing indicated it was going away. In fact, it seemed the System pushed other boundaries and wanted something done, which was followed by Mindless Eyes, known for its spiritual following and every System's eventful duty.

  In his mind, it felt like murmuring noises pushing his head apart in order to create something new. More space. Better space? Maybe that's the beginning stage of Assimilation.

  “Let's leave first, William. I will answer anything that you want or fear, so... congratulations. Welcome to the world of proper Walkers, and let's get you sorted out before anything else,” Mi-Yung stated firmly and moved through the gate.

  ***

  Beyond the mirror, Seong had a flustered expression on her face as she tried to calm her mind and body. She saw Mi-Yung so caring for that boy! It was almost shameful, but he caused such a troubled awakening that it was indeed worrisome. It was worse than Celeste, yet different. Very different.

  “That was Mi-Yung, wasn't it?” she whispered to her friends.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “I am pretty sure she is a wonderful case of passion and love. No job, that's for sure. I have never seen her like this, and I would recognize her from dozens of miles!” Cloud said and laughed it off. “It seems she is rather keen on being his full proxy. See? He caused such trouble. They are a fine duo.”

  Seong didn't mind his remark, but not entirely. She knew what Mi-Yung was like, what she wanted, and how she worked, yet how far her worth extended was another matter. If she were half a woman of her family, she wouldn't be half of a Walker she was. It was a silly concern, but very true. She had her own path and memories to serve.

  Reawe smiled at Cloud and leaned on his chest. “Are you so sure she even knows what is waiting for her? Taking care of such a wild child is not good.”

  “She was an instructor in the Academy for a while, so I bet she knows this. There is no way she is weak in this regard.” Seong said, surprising Reawe, who had never heard of this.

  “Wait, really? Instructor? Which year? Party? How long?”

  “You didn't know?” Cloud said, faking his innocence.

  Reawe elbowed his ribs and hugged him even more tightly. “Whatever deal is with that kid is going to get bigger! I do wonder about the Examination and what will happen with him. 75 is decent, but the true matter is this extension and the screwed Vector show. How dense and quantitative was it? A million is the lowest I go, but let's not bet on it. The color is more... nuanced then the numbers and it was too wide.”

  “Nothing is ever too wide, but sure, let's go with it. She will have to go through what she wanted from the start. It was her choice. Not ours. That means what organization would dare to cause trouble for her? I can't wait,” Cloud said with satisfaction, overlooking the wondering faces of his friends, who weren't happy with his words.

  However, one person aside wasn't so sure about that, or their words. That was Rey, who was also part of this regiment of the Assembly and part of this section close to the window. He didn't talk much, though his eyes were fixed on what was beyond.

  “Do you know something about this kid that neither of us knows, Cloud?” Rey asked after thinking this through hundreds of times.

  “Not one bit, Rey, but you know what counts. I don't, because why would I know anything countable if there are so many more promising people for it? You should ask Mi-Yung since she is... his proxy, or... You know everything yourself, I bet.”

  “As I should. But I asked if you knew something. If you do, then let your tongue out. If not, cut it off!”

  Cloud closed his mouth and pressed his lips. “Are you joking, Rey?” He said in a very mysterious way.

  “Wait. What is this about?! He shouldn't be her child. That would... That would.... No... way,” Seong withered in bad timing, so she slapped her palms around her face, no longer wanting to imagine the unimaginable. It was wrong, and she knew it.

  Her words changed the entire mood, and everyone judged her for her silly idea. Cloud was more intrigued by Rey's willingness to speak.

  “What do you think then? Those wild crimson Vectors were rare in shape, density, and flow, but in no shape or form that should crack Rank 0 apart. It would kill it. Yet they did not, yes? What caused such havoc? Even the time seemed to pass in abnormal minutes. Isn't that the record?”

  “Sixteen minutes and twenty-eight seconds is the longest recorded Forced Awakening. Guess whose was it, hm?” Rey quickly stated, glaring at Cloud, who was more and more uncomfortable from Rey's unchanging and focused gaze.

  “Well, six more minutes isn't little. This matter was less about the speed and more about the weight, wasn't it?”

  “How many Cycles was it?” Seong tried to calm their case, but both men ignored her attempt, so she found some peace with Reawe, who felt like a third wheel herself. It was how things went when a High Pillar talked with their Lower Pillars.

  “It... wait, Rey. Where are you going with this?”

  “To a sensitive point of Rank 0s. Who is he? Where was he? What had he done Outside? How is his link, or... Ego?”

  “Ego...” Cloud lamanted over this nonsense and leaned further into his seat.

  “Cloud. I have no idea how far along you are with guessing, but some things aren't fair to guess or say out loud. Factors are like laws or like our tattoos. Question Hough for a hint, but you won't find mine. We are observers, with no special ability to know too much at the moment, but that will change. Be patient. The only thing we can do is to adapt to our experiences and wait for them to stabilize and tell us how good they are later on.”

  “Hmph! All I am asking for is your ideas, Mr. Association Pillar. You should know more than all of us combined, and since you don't want to talk, that is rather disappointing. But that's it. Not the end of the world. If I am being honest, you should learn to read the room. Who knows how long you will be around with this tactful speech?”

  Rey turned his head and relaxed. “You are the same contemptuous bastard as ever.”

  Cloud laughed and slapped his belly. “That was great. Heard that, Reawe?”

  Reawe was aside, leaning on Seong, who patted her head, which throbbed something in

  Cloud. Both of them ignored his look and face.

  Rey did not. “Who do you think I am? All-knowing? All-seeking? I am merely a Rank 8 Walker who isn't even that battle-focused or deep. I got lucky. That's all.” He looked at Cloud with an unhappy yet expectant expression, hoping the message got across to this dense asshole.

  “You are one of the three Rank 8 Walkers who work closely with the Emblem Association. Of course, I would expect something greater from you at all times.” Cloud told his truth as he saw fit. Honesty was best, and it might not be clever or good, but it was a prime example of his heart and Ego. There were no lies in him whatsoever. No step backs as well.

  “And? That doesn't even matter. Have you seen something similar in such an event before? I am sure I never did.”

  “It's been what? Thirteen? Fifteen years since this machine got perfected and I...”

  “... Are you seriously starting the topic about that? You, of all those sick, special guys? What guts!” Rey shot a mocking glance at Cloud, who remained silent since he knew he was correct.

  “Alright. I suppose you're right, but I still think there could be more to this than that. Remember that lass named Celeste. Was she this wild? No. But she has 99 Affinity.”

  “Her case is unique. Different.”

  “Which isn't? Every 90+ is like that. Maybe every origin comes with its own affinity beyond ours. Or Hough's. That girl is insane, I tell you that much!” Cloud had long passed the point of staggering focus, and he sounded a bit too invested.

  “And that young boy, Gale?” Rey tried his luck, and this bait latched.

  “He is weaker, but in terms of quality, much bigger. How does it make any sense, hm? Reawe?” She moaned in displeasure and cornered Seong's lap as her victory. “See, Rey? It doesn't matter. Was that lass's denser, or was her sword the main point? How can it make any math or logical stance? See? That's why I hate this place. It is not practical with this mirror in the way.”

  “How about another drink instead of this gibberish?” Seong tried another remedy. It didn't work after these guys got their blood pumping, and only one thing would end it. The triumph.

  

  “Ten years,” Rey announced and calmed down as he turned away from Cloud completely. He knew the message got across.