Chapter 21

Professor Lena sat on the table before Crimson to explain how unlocking classes worked. “Unlocking classes is something that is both easy and hard at the same time master. To unlock a class you simply need to fulfill the conditions associated with that class. There are usually several ways to meet these conditions. For example: you currently have the [Scout] class unlocked and you could set that as your primary if you so wished master.

“You and I know that you haven’t done any [Scout]-esque activities, but your [Running] skill automatically unlocked it for you. So, you can have skills associated with  the class, or you can perform actions associated with the class.”

“So, you’re able to tell which classes I have available?”

“Yes master, I can read everything on your Status, even the things that are hidden from you.”

“How can I pull up my class screen to see what I have available?”

“DON’T MASTER!!!” She stood up and shouted at him.

He flinched “Huh?! What is it Lena?” 

“When you open your Class screen you have to pick one! You can’t leave it until you pick one!”

Dang you [Insight]! Why don’t you ever work properly? This could have been a serious problem!”

“O-okay. Thank you Lena.”

“I can tell you which classes you have available master! Just ask me. I can even help you get the classes you want.”

“Thank you Lena.”

“Seriously master. Which class do you want to get?”

“Some kind of swordsman class?”

“Then we need to get you a sword tomorrow master. I know it’s your instinct to max your skills, but we need to focus on getting your class before you worry about maxing your skills.”

“Yes, Lena.”

Crimson felt almost like Lena had taken all the ‘wind’ out of his sails. Grinding all his skills was extremely fun and satisfying, even if it was all exercise. Seeing his strength and gains actually being represented right in front of him brought…peace of mind. It wasn’t wasted effort he could, with just a flicker of thought, see actual quantifiable evidence that he was growing, then Lena told him to stop.

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“Master, I’m sorry I made you sad. That wasn’t my intention. You don’t have to stop grinding all your skills entirely, you just need to find a balance to your grinding.” 

Crimson perked up, grabbed Lena, and hugged her tight.

“Thanks Lena!”

* - - - - - -

Crimson spent the rest of the evening after his conversation with Lena studying the same runic book from the previous night. He’d even found other books about the runes. Those explained various processes on how to engrave or etch runes into swords; they even hinted at the existence of other methods of Rune Crafting. 

The runes themselves were divided in two different types: [Greater Runes] and [Lesser Runes] and the difference was VERY important. Lesser Runes behave like the English language’s alphabet where there is a set amount of them that can be strung together to form new meanings. [Greater Runes] behave a lot like Chinese characters where a single character means a lot more than a single letter. 

[Greater Runes] had quite the advantage over [Lesser Runes]; they are far more powerful and they take up a lot less space. The down side is that [Greater Runes] take a much greater amount of time to write and memorize; if your [Runic Language] skill is too low you’ll forget the rune right after you try to memorize it. 

For Crimson his [Runic Language] skill is only high enough to memorize the [Lesser Runes], of which there are 26, like the English language. He’d started memorizing them and it was both a difficult and easy process. It was difficult because he would start to forget some of the runes right after he learned them, literally. It was almost like he was trying to catch water with his hands: he could do it, but he couldn’t hold it for long before it slipped away. 

It usually took memorizing the rune three times for him to finally memorize it, after the third time is was like he’d known the rune his whole life and he: “would never forget it again.” For Crimson the thought that he wasn’t in full control was more than a little disturbing even if it was what made learning the runes easy. 

To memorized the runes what he would do is trace over the rune several times on the paper, then, he would close the book and trace it on the table in front of him; rinse and repeat that process until he had it perfectly memorized.

Then he’d forget it and be forced to repeat the process.

Lena had gone to explore some of the library so she wasn’t there to tell him what he was doing wrong, shockingly his unreliable [System Insight X] skill kicked in and let him know that he wasn’t doing anything wrong: it was just how learning runes worked.

Crimson stretched his arms over his head and rubbed his neck to try and get the crick in it to go away. He’d been at the table studying for most of the evening, and the sun had long since set.

“Lena,” he called into the mostly dark library it was lit only by the magic lanterns on the tables for reading. 

Lena came out from behind some shelves and ran over to him. 

“I’m here master!”

“Good, I’m finished here for now. Let’s head to bed.”

“Yes master! …Master?”

“Yes Lena?”

“How many runes did you get memorized?”

“I have memorized twenty of the twenty-six [Lesser Runes].”

He picked her up and put her on his shoulder while he responded.

“That’s awesome master!”

“Is that faster than usual Lena?”

“Nope! It’s slower!”

Crimson felt like a stone dropped in his stomach.

“Then why are you impressed?” He asked in a small voice.

“Because you’re self taught master. Most other people who have teachers could learn all the [Lesser Runes] and two [Greater Runes].”

“So I am really slow…”

“No! You’re really impressive master! It is considered impossible to learn ANY runes without a teacher.”

“…Thanks for comforting me Lena.”

“You’re welcome master!”