Part 7 - A Second Class

Liz was understandably excited.

Her second class. Having a new set of options available was going to open up a whole new set of possibilities.

Seer was right where Liz had left her. Probably in the same exact pose on purpose as a joke at her expense or something.

“So, what was that, ten minutes at most?” Liz chuckled as she sat down again.

“Dunno what you’re talking about, you never left!” Seer had a shit eating grin on her face.

Liz returned the grin with her first feeling of real, true humor since her little jaunt through the gaps between universes.

“So, what’s good this time around?”

“You’re off the rails this time. Give me criteria and I’ll give you a list. You could be anything. [Cunning Linguist] is exactly what it sounds like, [Toastmaster] is a baking class that’s straight fire, [A Chilling Omen] is not a recommendation, but it sounds totally up our alley.” Seer gave a very witch-y cackle before flourishing her hands over the crystal ball.

The images of the various classes flickered by, often too graphic for narration.

The most scandalous scenes came from a very promiscuous [Courier’s Indiscretion] class. Delivering letters to noblewomen and then… ruining their arranged marriages.

Seer’s eyes glittered with mischief, and Liz finally let her shoulders relax a little as she burst out laughing.

Naturally, once they’d had some fun looking through the joke classes, Liz offered her requests.

“I’m going to put dad’s knowledge to use on a future with the Gemstone element. I want things that will increase my chances with that, including body modifications with the element. I need something that will make my choices stronger with that idea when I reach 128 in the first class, and I plan to hold off on that option until I get to 128 in the second class, too. With that concept in mind, I’m aiming for a metal class that works in concert with my earth one.”

“Hmm. Let me do some digging!” Seer was still all smiles, but her eyes narrowed as they unfocused slightly, hands wandering around the orb.

After a few minutes, or what felt like minutes, Seer gave a surprised little noise, “huh, that’s unique.”

“What is?” Liz’s curiosity was officially piqued.

“It’s a Metal class, and it’s largely educational. It’s got a skill for learning all about metals and how to forge things in different ways. The class is a foundation to replacing bones and body parts with metal. Based on the overall info, it can open up into inscribing magic runes into the metal for various improvements. The focus is very narrow, all self modifications only, like what you have now with Earth magic. The ability to modify others is a class you don’t meet the requirements for.”

“What requirements?” Liz wasn’t new to the concept of class offerings having specific requirements, like [Meditate] being a core base skill for [Mages].

“Biological knowledge. Your personal biology is totally rewritten, and you’ve been becoming intimately familiar with those changes, but the general biology of others? Sorry, but we missed High School Bio for that film job in New Zealand. There are books on advanced biology in this world called the Medical Manuscripts, but you can’t leave here now, and reading them requires extensive background knowledge, and we don’t have the time for that.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel like our divine mission from Seira will involve metal body modifications in other people anyway. Self-modification is an option. What else do we have available in the category I laid out?”

“Well, they’re less accurate to what you asked for, but the quality is all over. [Apprentice Religious Warrior] is an option. Focused on learning the tools of the trade from Arlyen, and has room for mastering multiple weapons. You haven’t really been interested in the weapon master skill set, though. Next up, [Wolf-erine] is a knock-off superhero thing. Anti-hero? Pulls from fighting those wolves while a hundred levels below them. Also, you did take a liking to claws, though yours were more like sharpened nails on your fingers. If you take that one, I’ll quit my job.” Seer gave her a glare with that remark.

“Don’t worry, I would, too. Superhero roles were so cringe.” Liz made a face at the memory of movie poses and the ensuing photo shoots.

“Good choice. The last, but not least, is [Chain-bound] which is centered around creating chain armor to improve defense, and has a secondary affinity for binding your enemies with chains, slowing them down. It’s an [Artisan] class, so it will rely on the magic stats of your first class. And given our income, it’s going to be pure conjuration-reliant, but doesn’t come with [Metal Conjuration]. Sadly, it also doesn’t come with the [Metallurgy] skill from the earlier metal body modification class, so it won’t help with our lack of knowledge on creating metals. Ups and downs all around.”

Liz thought about the options for a while, then came up with a question.

“What if we take the modification class, grab that knowledge skill, and build from there, could it make a stronger [Chain-bound] option in the future? Chains work similarly to Arlyen’s whips, so the teacher is perfect for that route. And levels 8 to 32 can’t take that long to get through.”

“Yes, but also no. A personal modification class will rely on you performing personal modifications to get the levels, and at a low level, that might not be doable. If you’re unlucky, the class and skills stay level 8 until you go find a Khazad Dwarf to teach you about metal body modifications. We can’t afford to pay a teacher like that, since our skills are not job-oriented. Unless you think you can hack it as an adventurer on just your first class?”

Liz grumbled annoyedly under her breath. Her divine class offerings had been so easy by comparison.

“What’s the best path forward, then?” She bit her lip as she turned it over to Seer to lend insight.

Seer, for her part, seemed annoyed.

“Frankly, it isn’t my choice, it’s yours. I can’t give you all the answers, only tell you how the system functions and warn you of hurdles to your path. However, could you not take the opposite route? Even the [Apprentice] option isn’t too bad. Learn from Arlyen now, and then figure out your other options when you make it to the next class-up.”

Liz sighed. “If I do something, I want to be good at it. I want the fundamental knowledge for [Chain-bound] to be the best it could be, but you’re right. It will be a low level new class, and I don’t know much about metals beyond the golds and silvers for jewelry that dad would make. I need something to bolster my overall knowledge. Starting with [Chain-bound] might be the weaker, yet more accessible option, and will probably level the fastest.”

“If you’re lucky, something new will be offered at the next upgrade that will combine the best aspects of the two.”

The images for the class came to the forefront of the crystal ball.

The class was a reddish sort of orange quality, which was to be expected. Her divine class had excellent stats, while most low level offerings were meant to be around the reds. The similarity from Arlyen’s whips to how she could imagine using chains might’ve already helped her to push past the red quality tier to begin with.

The scenes flowing across the orb before her were a wide variety of interesting applications of the skills she was looking forward to.

Even as she held her hand out to exchange the beginner class with the new choice, she suddenly realized where she’d gotten the most familiar with chains.

The white starter class’s light slipped from her fingertips, and the rust color of the new class entered as she choked down the memories.

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Liz awoke to her usual ceiling in her room at the church, though the moonlit darkness of night visible through the window delivered an unbearable feeling of sleep deprivation.

She refused the urge to succumb to the fatigue, pushing it away with a [Mental Partition] on reflex.

She had to see the notifications, and then she could consider sleep.

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[*ding* You have upgraded your second class - [Chain-bound] - Metal]

[*ding* You have unlocked the class skill [Chain Proficiency]!]

[*ding* You have unlocked the class skill [Elegant Chains]!]

[*ding* You have unlocked the class skill [Chain Reinforcement]!]

It felt unusual to not have any stored experience for a class and have no level notifications for it. She needed to see the stat values for the class.

Her mental request displayed for her the details she wanted.

[*ding* Your second class will grant the following stats per level! +4 Free Stats, +4 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +6 Vitality, +2 Speed, +1 Mana, +1 Mana Regeneration, +1 Magic Power, +1 Magic Control from your class! +4 Free Stats for being Partially Human, +2 Vitality for being Partially Stone Golem! +1 Magic Power from your element!]

She was not surprised in the least, really. Just a bit disappointed.

The stats were far too low for her divine class tastes. She’d get over it. Eventually.

The skill choices all seemed interesting, and entirely too much of a reminder of her beloved father, a jeweler that ran a high end shop in Los Angeles. He’d taught her all about gemstones and jewelry when they had time together. She hadn’t needed it since she’d arrived in Pallos, but she should have some of his fine jewelry in her purse, which had been safely stored in a vault by Sylvestre on her behalf.

She missed her dad. Deep in her heart, in a way no skill could, or should, deny. Her dad had been the more present of her parents, and had taught her so much. Her mother was dear to her as well, but simply hadn’t been around enough to mean quite the same things to her.

She fought the urge to sob, drew what strength she could from the wave of long-repressed emotions, and then refocused.

[Chain Proficiency: Control chains for all purposes that come to mind. Increased refinement and control per level. -25 Mana Regeneration while using chains for any complex tasks.]

[Elegant Chains: Chains made from precious metals near you are at your beck and call, and will gain durability based on your Vitality. Increased range per level.]

[Chain Reinforcement: Chains you use for various tasks gain improved durability. Increased effectiveness per level. -10 Mana Regeneration]

She had no reason not to take any of the skills she was offered, so she willed them each into her newly accessible second class skill slots. She had to admit based on the low mana costs that she was not expecting too much from the skills, however.

Unlocking a new class as an [Artisan] was fairly similar to how unlocking her [Priestess] class had been. The class granted just three core skills at the base level, and she’d likely be offered a new skill at level twenty, just like [Tenacity] had been. [Tenet] didn’t count in that equation, of course. The skill was part of what made her divine class special. She hoped.

Frankly, the new class was somehow a dose of normalcy, new world and magic notwithstanding. She took a deep breath and poked her head outside to see the nun waiting by her door.

“How long?”

“Five days this time.” A curt reply came as Liz slumped her shoulders.

“Alright, I should load up on water and food before I sleep, then.”

She was somewhat pleased to know she could manage five days on such a small amount of water now. Vitality was an amazing thing.

She paused at the top of the stairs, hearing familiar voices speaking in hushed tones that her high vitality caught with surprising ease.

“Please, Syl. We need to leave. The Justiciary will fall.”

“You still won’t explain what brought you to that conclusion, so until you share that information, the answer is no.”

Liz recognized both Arlyen and Sylvestre’s voices, in a whispered argument well past the curfew time. She didn’t dare to make a sound, lest they stop giving her some much needed information on the real state of the world.

“Ugh, you know the walls have ears. Just trust me and pack up. I’m bringing you and Liz away as soon as you’re both packed.”

“You’ve always been like this, Arly. You make decisions and damn the people around you to the path you’ve chosen for them. Heron Lake is nowhere near the capital, so we’ll be fine even if something happens to the country. It takes over a month to get from the capital to this town, even longer with an army. We’ll have advance notice if something truly happens.”

The gnoll’s voice suddenly shifted, taking on a different intonation completely, and Liz felt it must’ve been some sort of other language. Perhaps a coded one. Not that it mattered to her ability.

“Fine… I wasn’t in Khazad for Adventurer’s Guild work, Syl. There was a botched assassination. The [Mage] who performed the investigation was able to trace information on the assassin and identify an [Artisan] class and a [Priestess] class, which was later confirmed to be from the Temple to Seira. The only way an immortal war is delayed now is if the Justiciary takes the fall to extend a very tenuous peace. The other factions in play around us are already scrambling to throw this country under the wagon. It’s the beginning of the end, and every [Priest] tag will be in the line of fire.”

The words made Liz go pale, and she suddenly realized exactly why Arlyen had been so rushed in her training. She felt now, more than ever, that she was running out of time.

“I see.” Sylvestre’s voice sounded how Liz felt about the news. “Take Liz, then. Get her new class above her divine one and take her into the Order of the Valkyries, then.”

“I don’t want to leave you. I saved you back then so we could be together, and you denied that life. I could go on because you were alive out there, but I refuse to see you throw your life away and make my choice in vain.” Arlyen sounded more emotional than Liz had seen before, and it all gave off the impression of a fragile dam breaking.

“The child is what we always had wished for, even if it was impossible. I’ve taught her what I can, though the time was short. You should take on the role of her mother. I can do the great service of giving myself up to cover your escape.”

“Bullshit!” Liz swore as she stepped down into view. She did her best to never swear, but she felt a white-hot fury sweep over her.

“I am not your daughter. Not to either of you. We’ve been acquainted for a few weeks at best. You two have your own problems to work out, but leave me out of them. I have a father. One I love. Just because Seira left me in your care does not mean I am her gift of a child to you both. You made your choices, and you’ll just have to live with them. Teach me like Seira asked of you, sure, but don’t go making me your last will or something.”

The pair seemed struck speechless. She’d figured they would hear her regardless of how quiet she tried to be, since she had no experience or skills in being sneaky, and hadn’t been offered any, but they seemed blindsided by her presence as much as they were by her words.

Finally, Arlyen gave her a glare. She spoke in her code language tone again.

“Disciple, do not speak a word of what you heard. Your language ability is impressive, but keep in mind that everyone who hears what you say will comprehend your words. Or did you think Sylvestre was banished here without anyone to keep an eye on him?”

Liz sucked in a breath, and then let it out slowly, stifling the anger she’d let sweep over her. She’d nearly forgotten the flaws in her ability.

“Let us pray nothing you said is enough to trigger any backlash from the factions in the capital. Arlyen, continue to train Liz. I will prepare an emergency escape option discreetly in the event we need one.” Sylvestre got up from his usual seat, then made for his office in the side chamber off from the main church’s prayer room.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I never thought of replacing your parents. I’m sure Syl just got ahead of himself. He’s always wished to have his own children. I hope you do not hold it against him.” Arlyen’s apology felt genuine, and Liz realized that at some point she’d improved at reading gnoll features and expressions.

“I’m going to get some water and food, then some sleep. Training tomorrow? What time?” She changed the subject as abruptly as her headspace would allow.

“Let me cook something appropriate for you. Going so long with no proper diet is very bad for your growth. We can start in the afternoon tomorrow.”

Liz began to wonder exactly how ‘orderly’ lives were in the Justiciary with everyone flouting the basic curfew so often.

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Liz ran an errand the next morning before her training would start. First thing after waking up, she had Sylvestre allow her to collect her purse that she’d neglected for so long.

Credit cards, business cards, and ID were all useless to her now. She’d keep hold of some mementos of her old life, but her options were limited. She had always kept two sets of jewelry in her purse in case of emergencies, one silver set and one gold set.

What she was first after was the gold bracelet, which was a chain that ended with a high purity ruby that hid the clasp.

In a similar reasoning, the gold and silver necklaces were both options when the pendant was removed and stored away inside a section of her stone body for safe keeping.

All told, she had a small pile of badly damaged clothes, a defunct cell phone, a bunch of useless plastic cards, some nail maintenance tools that got stored away as well, two gold chain lengths, one silver chain, and the jewels from each set, totalling four rubies of high purity and three emeralds she had cut in her father’s workshop while visiting with him.

She hesitated before dismissing the cards entirely. Her credit card was made from durable metal. She grabbed it from the sleeve and turned it over in her hands. If her memory was correct, it was likely made from engraved titanium. She could likely ignore the rest of the plastic cards, but she’d nearly thrown away some valuable material. She’d find a use for it, eventually.

Everything she’d dug through had brought back memories she’d been suppressing and trying desperately to look away from. She couldn’t do that anymore. She couldn’t afford to push anything off for later when she had time now, and likely wouldn’t have that time later.

And to some extent, she was still angry at the idea of anyone thinking they could replace her dad.

She’d been holding it all back and not facing it for entirely too long, and when she finally faced everything, it came over her like a hurricane.

The tears that never wanted to end.

The memories of her joyous acting career.

The life that had been ripped away from her.

It was all gone.

In the place of the life that had been, now there would only be Seira. The goddess who gave her a new life, new strength, and a path to set her feet upon once more.

Seira,

I know even gods don’t see the future, and nothing is set in stone.

All the same, I hope you continue to watch over me, and guide me on my journey.

~Liz

She sent off a prayer to the goddess as her tears flowed.

A soothing whisper reached her mind, quelling all her newfound fears.

I chose you because nothing would break your spirit. I cannot shield you from the world, but I will be watching, always.

Liz smiled, passing along thoughts of thanks to her goddess. She was over the initial butterflies of her first meeting with the deity. Now, she was sure she couldn’t trust anyone as much as she could trust herself and her goddess. That was worth devotion and dedication.

Liz strode out of the church vault.

She had to keep getting stronger.