When I open my eyes to see what clams I can find on the… beach?
There’s no beach, no shells, no clear sky and thankfully no cat either.
I’m in the mess hall. The huge and empty mess hall. There are no rowdy mercenaries, no rich aroma of food and booze, no chatter, no nothing. The tables are exactly where they should be just without the chairs around them, the banners, chandelier, tapestries, carpet everything matches. Everything but the top of tables and the weirdly shaped and colored plates on them.
Yeah, it's dead obvious they are my choices but… plates, really? This place should be the reflection of one's soul, so does this mean I already consider the Fort my new home? Seems like it… but why the plates? Is my own soul calling me a foodie?
Looking scrutinisingly at my body, there might be a little surplus building around my belly but that’s perfectly acceptable for someone my age, okay? I can’t even be pissed at anyone, this is totally self-inflicted… Damn you subconscious me!
Knowing well that thinking about why exactly this place is where my class up is happening or why I’m choosing an option like a meal is useless I huff and move to see the menu.
Now that I think about it I totally should’ve eaten dinner, I hate waking up hungry. There are around thirty or so choices, then again, do I even want to look at anything other than the arcane options… Might as well, what can I lose? Although I’ll ignore most of the crappy Classes.
[Blue Arsonist - Fire] [Galemancer - Wind] [Mad Runner - Wind] [The Bane of Dinner - Life] [Shocking Troublemaker - Lightning] [Divine Kindle - Fire] [Stormwind Dancer - Wind] [Wielder of the Arcane - Arcane] [Pioneer of Mana - Arcane] [Ground Shaper - Earth] [Pressure Mage - Wind] [Budding Natural Disaster - Arcane] [Flame Sword - Fire] [Tiny Blizzard - Ice]
Just to name a few, or rather like half of them, the rest aren’t anything noteworthy. The cyan ones on the other hand are a real surprise. Now, let’s go over them in order.
The first plate has hungry blue flames burning under its porcelain shell. The intention behind the fire gives me the creeps as they are not wielded or controlled, just created to burn down everything.
[Blue Arsonist - Fire]
The description is exactly what one would assume a Class called arsonist would do, burn indiscriminately. This one was born from my attempt to make hotter flames and mirror the amount of control I have over them. Not a lot. Blasting devastating fire everywhere… yeah, not my style, no elegance. Decent stat points tho.
[ +2 Free Point, +5 Mana, +4 Willpower, +5 Intelligence, +3 Focus per level]
[Galemancer - Wind]
This plate is a lot simpler than the previous one. Nothing flashy, after all, you can’t really see the wind. It shoots wind blades and moves around fast using, surprise, surprise, wind. That’s it. I’m not saying it's bad, but this falls short compared to the previous one.
[Mad Runner - Wind]
Just an upgraded version of the basic Sprinter Class. I didn’t care about the previous one and this one interests me even less.
[The Bane of Dinner - Life]
This isn’t here, we don’t talk about this one.
[Shocking Troublemaker - Lightning]
One for shocking the hell out of August, huh? And what do you mean troublemaker? Trouble finds me without missing a beat, there’s no need to make it. I like the lightning element but this is more of a really close-range, hand-to-hand class.
The next plate shouts hol~y. Its incredibly intricate design and a soothing yet fierce white light shining from within make it the most eye-catching yet the feeling it gives is somehow distant and incredibly cold.
[Divine Kindle - Fire]
Now this one… This is a real prize.
Requirement: You woke the interest of Althea, Goddess of Justice, with your blazing flames and strong will to always speak up when injustice strikes you.
Be the young bearer of Althea’s holy flame to cleanse the unjust and sinful from the face of Aelion. Be judge, jury and executioner, pure as the white flame you carry but merciless like its heat against those who deserve no salvation. Be the blade of the Goddess, be her arm that reaches far and wide, and the bailiff to bring her will to those hiding from justice.
[ +2 Free Points, +3 Speed, +3 Endurance, +8 Mana, +5 Willpower, +8 Intelligence, +5 Focus per level]
Okay, this is ridiculously good. The stats are insane and the description hints at devastating firepower and the support from one of the Primal Gods. An absolute jackpot.
There’s just one slight problem. While at the previous class-up, I was uncertain whether I would be influenced or not, in this case… it's beyond doubt. It’s literally written right there.
Sure, she’s a ‘good’ God but what if I don’t want to be that good all my life? What if I have to make decisions I don’t want to in the name of justice, like… will this even allow me to just kill the old bastard?
A pass for now.
[Stormwind Dancer - Wind]
Don’t care. Melee and wind. A speedy-slashy combo is not my style.
Honestly, putting my class choices onto plates must be some weird joke. I don’t like eating this much and it’s not like I’m choosing a meal here, we’re talking about something way more important, my future.
[Wielder of the Arcane- Arcane]
A simple plate, smooth, solid, colorless.
One of the main contenders right from the start. However, what does the wielder actually entail here?
Requirement: A wielder of magic in search of the truth behind mana. Arcane Affinity lvl 18, Elemental, Influence lvl 18, Mana Shield lvl 18, Mana Bolt lvl 18, Mana Blade lvl 18, Mana, Spear lvl 18, 60 Willpower, 60 Focus
Holy, those are some strict requirements. I mean the divine one is objectively harder but this one is…longer?
You shape the elements in your surroundings to best suit your style. Make any constructs or projectiles, shields or weapons to your liking. Never to be countered, never to be put on the back foot, be a walking arsenal with the elements under your belt like a bottomless weapon rack of murderous magic.
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Okay, so wielder as in weapons.
[ +2 Free Points, +1 Speed, +4 Mana, +5 Willpower, +3 Intelligence, +5 Focus per level]
A lot weaker numbers-wise, yet I’d much rather take this over being a God’s devout yet involuntary dog.
“No offense, Goddess, just personal preference really.” I shout even though nobody can probably hear it but just to make sure.
This class itself feels like the thing Martha talked about, the Skill combo… something. Anyway, the reason I worked my ass off to max out all those Skills was for this option right here. To the top of the list for now.
[Pioneer of Mana - Arcane]
I quickly skim through it.
“Yeah, a researcher Class.” That sums it up.
Useless, for me at least.
[Ground Shaper - Earth]
Earth spikes, stone slabs, and so on. Should be quite effective defensively and have some offensive potential… still boring.
[Pressure Mage - Wind]
Wind mage that can play around with air pressure. That’s… kind of interesting. It even gives more points than [Wielder of the Arcane - Arcane] and has decent combat potential altough with almost no versatility whatsoever. I think I’ll still keep it as a backup option, a really weak one.
[Budding Natural Disaster - Arcane]
Requirement: Arcane Affinity lvl 18, Elemental, Influence lvl 18, 60 Willpower, 40 Intelligence, 60 Focus
The elements of nature bend to your will. Wherever you walk the land is reshaped, reborn, or devastated depending only on your whims. Use the inexhaustible and uncontrolled power of nature to force your will onto your surroundings.
[+2 Free Points, +7 Mana, +4 Willpower, +7 Intelligence, +4 Focus per level]
This feels like a proper Mage Class, throwing huge spells and destroying things. I quite like it actually. They can’t beat you if there’s nothing left of them to hit you at the end of the day. To the top of the list it goes, right beside Wielder of the Arcane.
Now the other golden goose.
[Blaze Sword - Fire]
Requirement: Conjure a sword of the higher flame and wield it to slay your enemy. Elemental Influence lvl 18, Mana Blade lvl 18, Arcane Focus lvl 1 50 Willpower, 50 Focus
Fire is feared by all and revered as the herald of destruction, leaving only smoke and ashes in its wake. You tamed the beast and forced it into the shape of a sword for you to wield. The flaming beast in your hand brings devastation to whatever it touches with only a few defenses able to weather its blow. Become one with the weapon and fire to bring ruin to anyone standing defiant in your way.
[+1 Free Points, +4 Might, +4 Endurance, +3 Speed, +1 Dexterity, +3 Mana, +3 Willpower, +3 Intelligence, +3 Focus per level]
“Ahhh, for real? This sounds hella good.” I pull on my hair in frustration.
My logical mind is telling me that this is undoubtedly the best. Nothing about forfeited will, no useless functions, just raw combat potential. The high stats are also hard to resist as they would round out my Status really well… Top of the list, right beside the other two.
[Tiny Blizzard - Ice]
“Fuck off!” This isn’t even worth my time after the previous ones.
I quickly run around to see whether I missed anything important and when only junk Classes with colors below light green are all I find comes the hard part. The final decision.
"Okay, let’s be honest with ourselves," I start talking to myself again because it helps me arrange my thoughts. "[Divine Kindle - Fire] [Wielder of the Arcane - Arcane] [Budding Natural Disaster - Arcane] [Flame Sword - Fire], only these four are actual contenders while the rest are more like a downgrade."
Let’s just get this over with. The divine one is arguably the strongest with the best Skills and the most stats. Now, I don’t mind beating up those who deserve it, however, I also want to kick asses that I deem deserving of kicking, be that just or not… So, yeah, a sad pass.
“Sorry Goddess, I hope we are still cool.” Just to be sure.
The three remaining ones give me a real headache. The disaster mage is arguably stronger and exactly what a mage is supposed to do, while Flame Sword is the strongest of them. It sadly deviates quite hard from my current path but... it might take me further in the long run.
And so I just sit at the table and stare down at the three plates in front of me for Gods know how long. I massage my temples aggressively, having a really hard time making a decision and almost resorting to tearing my hair out.
More control, more blast, or the strongest. By the Abyss why didn’t Martha just teach us how to choose right during one of the lessons?
I lift two plates. [Flame Sword - Fire] [Budding Natural Disaster - Arcane]. Objectively these are the best and the natural disaster would even keep me on my arcane path. One is swirling light blue, with defined edges and slightly ethereal. The other, Rainbow colored with a cacophony of explosions and maelstroms in its ever-changing shape.
“Arrrggghhh!” I groan. “Martha better be right.”
***
I wake up feeling slightly dizzy, and way more tired than I should be after an early light out. I wiggle out of my bed and peek behind the curtain. The sun isn’t even visible on the horizon while the sky is just starting to turn yellow.
[Congratulations, you’ve changed your Class to [Wielder of the Arcane - Arcane] lvl 19 -> 23, +2 Free Points, +1 Speed, +4 Mana, +5 Willpower, +3 Intelligence, +5 Focus.]
[Your class Skill [Arcane Affinity] has reached lvl 19 ->23.]
[Your class Skill [Elemental Influence] has reached lvl 19 ->22.]
[Your class skills [Mana Shield lvl 18], [Mana Bolt lvl 18], [Mana Blade lvl 18], [Mana, Spear lvl 18] have merged into the skill [Arcane Arsenal lvl 18].]
[Your class Skill [Arcane Arsenal] has reached lvl 19.]
[Congratulations, you’ve unlocked the skill [Dabble in Weapons lvl 1]. Would you like to assign the skill to an empty slot?]
Eh, I'll just pass for now. I have no idea how to actualy use any weapon and even if I learn any later on I can just pull this Skill up from the list.
Arcane Arsenal: Draw any weapon or shield from the endless weapon racks of mana and wield it in your name. Command sturdier constructs of mana with much more ease to never be outmatched and never find yourself on the back foot. -3 Mana/hour, scales a point per level.
[Congratulations, you’ve acquired the class skill [Mana Vision lvl 1].]
Mana Vision: Peer into the hidden beauty of the realm of mana. See what otherwise remains unseen, watch as the mana swirls and co-escalates, observe others wielding it, and let this colorful world become a part of you like a sixth sense.
[The general Skill [Savant] has reached lvl 19 ->23.]
[The general Skill [Identify] has reached lvl 19 ->23.]
Name: Elyssia
Age: 9
Mana: 590/590
+64/hour
Racial Trait:
Celestial Elf
Stats:
Free Points: 10
Might: 7
Mana: 59
Speed: 16
Willpower: 85
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 55
Dexterity: 11
Focus: 85 (+6)
General Skills:
Savant lvl 23
Identify lvl 23
Running lvl 14
Dodging lvl 15
Pain Tolerance lvl 7
Premonition lvl 7
Stamina lvl 12
Persuasive Speech lvl 2
Survival lvl 1
I. Class: Wielder of the Arcane - Arcane lvl 23
Arcane Affinity lvl 22
Elemental Influence lvl 20
Arcane Arsenal lvl 19
Arcane Focus lvl 3
Mana Vision lvl 1
II. Class: *Locked*
III. Class: *Locked*
“I should really go back to bed, huh?” I ask myself. “And I’ve been strictly forbidden from playing around with magic alone, right?” I narrow my eyes and chew on my lips. “Yeah…”
So I comb my hair and get dressed in the usual training outfit. Let’s sneak our way to the courtyard.
I execute the mission flawlessly, not even the cleaning staff noticing me on my way to the courtyard since nobody is moving around this early. When I arrive at the archway leading out I release a sigh of relief now that I avoided detection. It’s time to play safe and not almost kill myself again.
Confidently striding over to the Hadron crystal, I constantly remind myself to NOT overdraw mana, DO NOT use too much but when I’m halfway there-
“So, little devil. What Class did you get?” Asks the familiar voice.
I turn around and see Martha sitting on a windowsill one floor above, with a mocking smirk on her elderly face and a questioningly raised eyebrow.
I’m so fucked.