Aurelius coughed, trying to cover up his unmanly scream. What in the world..? He had been chosen? Like Chosen chosen? Was this some kind of joke? Aurelius looked around trying to identify who was pulling a prank on him. Still, the text always appeared inches from his face. Then Aurelius realized something else. When had he become literate? Most commoners never bothered to learn how to read; it was a luxury reserved for the wealthy.
Still reeling from the shock, Aurelius found himself bombarded with questions. Why had he, a nobody and a beggar, been Chosen? Well, what was he supposed to do now? Just as he was pondering these questions, another screen abruptly appeared.
You have been granted the ability to select 3 classes.
0/3 Selected.
Click here for more information.
Startled once again, Aurelius absorbed the newfound information, which only served to ignite further questions. What exactly were these so-called "classes”? Aurelius had little knowledge about the Chosen and their powers. Most of the information he received came from eavesdropping on the conversation of other people. As far as he understood, the High-Elven Chosen was selected by Augustus and was supposed to be one of the most powerful or skilled individuals in the High Elven Empire. Aurelius was nowhere close to being either.
Driven by curiosity, Aurelius eagerly attempted to click the hovering "more information" button before him. Nothing happened. He clicked again, hoping for a different outcome, but still, no change. Then, a sudden inspiration struck Aurelius. He mentally focused on the button, attempting to summon the information. Surprisingly, it worked.
Choosing a class is an important decision as it determines the abilities and strengths you will have in your future. It can impact how you approach combat, interact with your empire, and contribute to your overall success.
By selecting a specific class, you embark on a unique character progression path, gaining new abilities, improving existing skills, and unlocking powerful talents or spells as you level up. This allows you to specialize and become more proficient in your chosen classes.
While it is not mandatory to choose all classes at this moment, it is highly recommended that you select your classes early for safety reasons and to expedite their leveling process. You have the option to reset a single class, but please note that resetting will cause your new class to begin at level 0, resulting in the loss of all previously distributed essence.
Do you want to select your classes? (Yes/No)
Aurelius quickly looked over the information, still fascinated by his newly acquired reading ability. However, the gravity of the situation soon dawned on him. The classes he chose would shape his entire life, except for the one class he could reset. Amidst Aurelius' confusion and fear for the future, a spark of excitement couldn’t help but ignite inside him. Here was an opportunity to change his life for the better, an opportunity he knew many would kill for.
Aurelius rubbed his hands eagerly and walked towards the darkest corner of the alley. Although he was still all alone, he wanted to do this in a place less likely to have someone stumble across it. Sitting down, Aurelius mentally clicked the ‘Yes’ box. In an instant, a whole host of class options appeared.
Shadowblade - A stealthy assassin who excels in the art of deception and assassination. They blend seamlessly into the shadows, striking swiftly and silently with deadly precision.
Druid - A nature-oriented spellcaster who has a deep connection with the natural world. They can commune with animals, manipulate plants, and draw power from the earth, using their magic to heal, protect, or unleash the forces of nature.
Bard - A charismatic performer and storyteller who wields the power of music and words. Bards inspire allies, manipulate emotions, and cast spells through their enchanting melodies and captivating tales.
Beastmaster - A skilled hunter and tamer of wild creatures. They have a natural affinity for animals, forming strong bonds and commanding them in battle. Beastmasters can fight alongside their loyal animal companions.
The list went on and on and on. It took Aurelius nearly 10 minutes to even read all of them. Interestingly, at the bottom of the list there were three classes specifically attributed to Augustus.
Chronomage* - A spellcaster who manipulates time magic and space.
Paladin* - A holy knight sworn to uphold justice and righteousness. They combine martial prowess with divine magic, smiting evil and healing allies. Paladins are often dedicated to a particular deity or cause.
Arcane Artificer* - They can carve mystic symbols into objects, granting the objects enhanced abilities and elemental effects.
*Classes unique to the Chosen of the Deity: Augustus.
Looking at the sheer number of classes available, Aurelius was overwhelmed. All the classes seemed fascinating, and he had no idea which one to choose. For a moment, he entertained the idea of selecting only the unique classes attributed to Augustus for their exclusivity, but he quickly dismissed the thought. On a side note, he was glad that the text confirmed that he was the chosen of Augustus, which helped to alleviate some of Aurelius’ doubts.
Regaining focus, Aurelius decided that he wanted to have at least one magic class, prompting him to swiftly narrow down his list to only those classes aligned with the magical path.
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After nearly an hour of considering and eliminating certain classes, he narrowed it down to 2 finalists. Chronomage, the ability to manipulate time and space, and Mind Manipulator, the ability to manipulate or control the mind of a host and instantly gain the skill of mental manipulation resistance. Considering the two options, he had a hard time eliminating one. Theoretically, he could choose both, but Aurelius wanted to narrow it down to one magic class, and then look at the other options. If nothing looked better, he would come back to the other choice.
Aurelius didn’t know the limits of Mind Manipulator, but it had the potential of being extremely deadly. The fact that it wasn't an exclusive class to Augustus heightened his concern, as he feared other Chosen might possess the same ability. The description of the Mind Manipulator class, however, mentioned a skill called mental manipulation resistance, which offered hope in warding off mind control. Though unsure about the concept of skills and their specificity to certain classes, Aurelius hoped that mental manipulation resistance was not limited to the Mind Manipulator class alone.
Although Mind Manipulator looked like a great class, Aurelius couldn’t pass up the skill of Chronomage. This class allowed Aurelius to manipulate both time and space. Aurelius was sure there would be limits on this class, but if he could gain the ability to teleport or partially stop time… Aurelius’ imagination ran wild. Also, Chronomage was a unique class to him, meaning no other Chosen would have it. Recognizing the possibility of immense power the class offered, Aurelius decided to choose Chronomage as one of his three classes.
Rubbing his forehead, Aurelius contemplated taking a break but decided it would be best to choose at least one more class today.
After another 2 hours of pondering, Aurelius finally landed on the decision for his second class. He settled on selecting Arcane Artificer. Like Chronomage, its uniqueness could be a huge advantage for Aurelius. Moreover, Aurelius believed that the class would be a benefit for not only him, but also his eventual allies. Depending on how the skill leveled and its limits, he could use runes to protect whole structures or cities. At worst, Aurelius could use his skill reset on it.
Aurelius decided to forgo choosing his 3rd class and instead venture outside of his alleyway. Waiting to choose the 3rd class would also give him the opportunity to identify the weaknesses of his initial two classes, allowing him to select a third class specifically tailored to address those weaknesses. Satisfied with his decisions, Aurelius selected the classes of Chronomage and Arcane Artificer.
Are you absolutely certain?
(Warning: This decision is final).
(Yes/No)
Hesitating only slightly, Aurelius selected yes.
Classes Chosen (2/3):
Chronomage
Level: 0 Progress: 0/100 Description: Harness the power of time and space Ability: At level 0, you can teleport yourself 7 feet away for 20 mana Attributes: Each level grants +1 to Intelligence and +1 to Wisdom
Arcane Artificer
Level: 0 Progress: 0/100 Description: Carve mystic symbols into objects, granting the objects enhanced abilities and elemental effects. Ability: At level 0, you can expertly carve and empower common-level runes onto objects. Attributes: Each level grants +1 to Constitution and +1 to Perception.
Looking at the changes, Aurelius felt a surge of excitement regarding his chronomage class and its teleportation capability --- it was exactly what he wanted. However, he held a lesser degree of enthusiasm for the Arcane Artificer class, hoping that he wouldn't come to regret his choice. In the meantime, Aurelius wondered how one could gain levels towards a class. Feeling that there was no harm in trying, he mentally asked his question. Instantly, another screen popped up with a reply to his question.
Essence can be acquired through various means such as defeating enemies, accomplishing quests, or honing skills. Your cumulative essence determines your overall level. However, you have the ability to allocate unassigned essence that you gain to a specific class, leveling them up.
Interesting... Aurelius mused, as he slowly grasped the inherent essence of the Chosen: relentless killing machines. It appeared that every aspect of their existence was designed to compel them to slay as many creatures and enemies as possible. Aurelius wasn’t sure how he felt about his newfound purpose as a Chosen. For now, however, Aurelius tucked away those thoughts and focused on his current situation. He was wondering if there was a way to get a better, more complete view of his classes and abilities. Once again, Aurelius decided to mentally ask the question, and once more, a helpful screen materialized in front of him.
==========Stat Screen==========
Name: Aurelius Lusam Race: High Elf Age: 18 Health: 70/70
==========Level==========
Overall Level: 0 Overall Essence: 0 Attribute Points: 0 Unassigned Essence: 0 Next Level Progress: Essence (0/200)
==========Classes==========
Chronomage
Level: 0 Progress: 0/100 Description: Harness the power of time and space Ability: At level 0, you can teleport yourself 7 feet away for 20 mana Attributes: Each level grants +1 to Intelligence and +1 to Wisdom
Arcane Artificer
Level: 0 Progress: 0/100 Description: Carve mystic symbols into objects, granting the objects enhanced abilities and elemental effects. Ability: At level 0, you can expertly carve and empower common-level runes onto objects. Attributes: Each level grants +1 to Constitution and +1 to Perception.
==========Attributes==========
Strength: 8 Constitution: 7 Intelligence: 11 Wisdom: 10 Agility: 11 Perception: 12 Luck: 14 Charisma: 11
==========Mana==========
Mana: 110/110 Mana Regen: 1/sec
==========Skills==========
None
Looking at his stat screen, Aurelius stumbled upon a bunch of surprises. The low strength and constitution wasn’t really a surprise, but the high luck and charisma? Especially Charisma? With his admittedly gaunt frame? However, the statistic that surprised him the most was his last name and age. Aurelius could recall only a single memory of his parents: his mother abandoning him in an alleyway. Since then, his parents had remained entirely absent from his life, leaving Aurelius with no knowledge of his age or the origins of his family.
As he pondered over the mysteries of his past, another question popped into his head: was there a cap to the levels he could attain and the attributes he could have?
"There's only one way to find out," he murmured to himself.
With the realization that he needed to level up quickly, Aurelius began considering his options, ultimately settling on the nearby mountain range, the Silver Peak mountain range, as the prime location for him to level up. There were a plethora of monsters lurking there, and, if the rumors were true, dungeons as well. But first, Aurelius needed to find himself a weapon.