Class prerequisites met.

Classes available for selection:

Scribe, Scholar, Orator, Mathematician, Cleaner…

Rowan had expected a lot of things for his class selection. What he didn’t expect was how many ‘mundane’ classes he’d be given access to. From what Kayden had said, most people were generally pigeonholed into a couple of classes by the system. It seemed that heroes weren’t like that.

“I can check out what a class does without picking it, right?” Rowan asked as he glanced at Kayden. The baron chuckled and nodded.

Rowan clicked on Scribe first.

[Scribe]

Scribes are a crucial part of bureaucracy everywhere, and a skilled scribe is worth their weight in gold.

Over the course of your life, you have proven your skill at taking notes, copying text, and facilitating correspondence. Now, you can improve upon these skills further.

By picking the [Scribe] class, you become more skilled at quickly and efficiently filling out documents, copying them, or drafting them. Your handwriting will also improve.

Attached Card: Nimble Hands (Common, Passive)

Bind the [Scribe] class?

Y/N

I mean, this is just the result of the public education system. Who knew it would be good for something?

Rowan quickly closed out of the window. He had absolutely no intentions of becoming a low or high rank bureaucrat, even if it wouldn’t get him killed.

How do I even have this one, though? I suck at public speeches. Rowan clicked onto the orator class next.

[Orator]

Orators sway opinions and direct people’s efforts using their words alone. An orator’s value shines when they’re allowed to work with large crowds.

Over the course of your life, you have delivered speeches in front of a large audience that evoked strong reactions several times. Now, you can hone your voice further.

By picking the [Orator] class, your voice will hold greater sway over all those you address. People will also feel more inclined to listen to you and your opinions.

Attached Card: Earnest Speech (Common, Passive)

Bind the [Orator] class?

Y/N

Strong reactions? Rowan wanted to scoff. He’d been in a few school plays, mostly in a villainous role, and got to deliver a few monologues. Wouldn’t that qualify him for the actor class instead? He took a second to check. Oh, yep, [Actor] is in the list. Guess I unlocked [Orator] through presentations, or maybe in addition to [Actor] then.

There were a few more interesting classes, like [Beast Tamer], but he elected to skip over those and went straight to the one that really mattered.

[Spearman]

Spearmen find their place at the front line of battles, standing their ground so that others may be protected. In numbers, spearmen become an impenetrable wall.

Over the course of your life, you have fought valiantly in defense of others with a spear in hand several times. Now, you have the opportunity to master the use of this weapon and strike down your foes.

By picking the [Spearman] class, you improve the power of your attacks with weapons that resemble a spear. Learning spear techniques also becomes easier.

Attached Card: Empowered Thrust (Common, Active)

Bind the [Spearman] class?

Y/N

A sad little smile snuck onto Rowan’s expression before he could help it. Even the system acknowledged that spearmen were best fielded in large numbers. Still, it was the best bet he had, and he’d make do with it.

Without further ado, he hit yes.

Small white spark flashed in front of Rowan’s eyes. It wasn’t like what he’d experienced during his Heart Card bestowal, or even when he got his blessing. After an unimpressive light show, he had a class.

The most visible part of that change was reflected on his status screen.

Rowan Clairfont

Level 1 Spearman

EXP: 0/25

Mana: 50/50

STR: 10

VIT: 10

DEX: 10

PER: 10

INT: 10

WIS: 10

Deck (2/4):

* [Heart] Keen Spear (Epic)

* [Class] Empowered Thrust (Common) (Active)

Blessings:

* Blessing of the Stalwart Hero

Rowan clicked into the Empowered Thrust card.

It was a plain, white card that showed the tip of a spear, wreathed in blue flames. The illustration was nowhere near the complexity of his Keen Spear card but it still somehow looked better than the other two common cards that Rowan now had.

Empowered Thrust (Common) (Active)

Empower the thrust of your spear using mana, increasing its destructive potential.

The description of the card left much to be desired. In spite of that, Rowan was excited. This was his first step to getting stronger.

“I see that everything’s gone smoothly,” Kayden said, serving himself a drink and offering one to Rowan.

“Yep.” Rowan forgot his etiquette lessons for a second and slipped back into casual speech. He waved the drink off and practically bounced in his seat. “I’m ready. What’s next?”

“Oh? You understand your new class and card? Their power and limitations?” Kayden teased.

“About that, it says that the card uses mana.” Rowan pushed the Empowered Thrust window to the baron, a trick he had learned while in the carriage and playing around with system windows. “But it doesn’t tell me how much mana. Shouldn’t it have a mana cost listed?”

“Heroes,” Kayden sighed. The word was equal parts annoyed as it was amused. “The history books are littered with heroes asking that question. So many of you have preconceptions about the system, in spite of growing up without one. There is no mana cost listed because your cards aren’t blunt tools that you can just call upon.”

“So how do I use it?”

“For some, it helps to actually say the card’s name aloud at first.” Kayden paused. “Obviously, that’s not something you want to do in battle, especially against opponents who can understand speech. Most transition to mentally calling on the card’s name. Once you have mastered it sufficiently, however, you will be able to instinctively use it with no casting delay.”

“But how does mana play into this?”

“Think of the card as a skill,” Kayden said. “Every person has a certain amount of mana within them. Most of the time, it sits dormant. But in times of great need, you can tap into that mana pool and accomplish great feats. The card simply gives you a way to use that mana in a productive way.”

“Can I remove the card? Switch it out for something else?” Rowan asked.

“You can.” Kayden nodded his head slowly. “It’s not encouraged until you learn the card and even then, class cards are different from the rest of your deck. They’re the centerpiece.”

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Right,” Rowan said, happy with that answer. But it felt like everything that the baron said just led to more questions. “What does it mean to learn a card?”

“Cards are tools at the end of the day. They guide your mana in a way that you can’t do on your own right now. Or at least, can’t easily do right now. But some people can produce the effects of their cards after they’ve had them for long enough, without having the card in their deck. It takes years of effort to reach that point.”

Rowan appreciated that of the baron. He would always answer Rowan’s question, no matter how many or how small the hero’s questions were.

“And I’m guessing that the more familiar you are with using a card, the better you can do it and the stronger it gets?” Rowan said.

Kayden shrugged. “Yes and no. Empowered Thrust is a common card. You will always be limited in how much you can do with it. There are one or two exceptions, but the higher the tier of the card, the more nuanced its use gets.”

“But I’m still going to train using it until I’m about to pass out?” Rowan guessed.

The same contemplative smile hung on Kayden’s face again. “Exactly. Train, train, and then train some more. Before that, I am your sponsor. House Sutton might not be the grand place it once was but we still have more than enough honor to uphold our end of the bargain.”

Kayden gestured at three items laid out on his huge desk and Rowan leaned closer to take a look.

“May I?” Rowan asked when he found two cards and an odd item that reminded him of a metal cigarette case.

“Of course. They’re for you.”

The moment Rowan picked up the first card, a system window popped out in front of him.

Stable Footing (Common) (Passive)

With this card, it is much harder for foes to disrupt your balance. Traversing difficult terrain also becomes easier.

Bind the card to your deck?

Y/N

“I thought you said you didn’t have any cards for a [Spearman].” Rowan asked, enamored by what the card promised. Footwork was the bane of his existence. He couldn’t count the number of times he’d been tripped, pushed, or otherwise tricked into landing on his glutes over the course of his footwork training.

“It’s true. I don’t have any [Spearman] cards. Luckily for you, Stable Footing is one of the special cards that can strengthen any combat class. A [Swordsman] or even [Archer] could use it,” Kayden said.

Rowan clicked yes, and the card flashed white before disappearing from his hand, safely added to his deck.

“I can’t wait to try this out.”

The baron couldn’t just let him feel happy. “That card should help you. However, I do have a request. It would be best if you unequipped it while we train. I know you’re tired from getting pushed around, but the experience you are getting now will be invaluable for you later.”

“Yeah I know. I won’t always have that card,” Rowan said, and then noticed Kayden’s expression. “Will I?”

“Before I answer that, look at the next card, it’s a support card.” Kayden motioned to the next card.

Inspect (Uncommon) (Active)

The user can expend mana to try to inspect any item or person. The quality and amount of information gleaned differ based on the tier difference. This card can only be used to inspect items or people of Rare or lower tiers.

Bind the card to your deck?

Y/N

“This is amazing!” Rowan exclaimed. He had gone into the boar fight blind. If he had known a bit more about the boars, it would have made a huge difference in his fighting tactics.

“Yes, which is why that particular card and others like it are so valuable. The only reason I have it at all is because it’s one of the few I’ve kept from my family’s collection,” Kayden said.

“Thank you. I really appreciate it,” Rowan said. He meant it.

Rowan bound the card, and this time the flash of light was green instead of white. Impulsively, he tried to use Inspect on the baron.

What was followed was distinctly unpleasant.

For starters, the sensation of using mana was downright strange. Some kind of dormant strength stirred awake within him and flooded out in the form of a wave. Except, the wave crashed right into some sort of barrier around the baron and rebounded back. If Rowan had been standing, he might have collapsed on the spot. Instead, he just felt a strong vertigo sweep through his body, and he tried not to puke.

“Hah. So much like my son,” Kayden laughed. But even in his daze, Rowan could hear the hint of some deeper emotion within the baron. “When I first gave him one of those cards, he tried to inspect me too. You’re lucky you have a tougher stomach than him, lad, or I would have forced you to scrub my study clean.”

“Everything hurts.” Rowan had his head in his hands, trying to wish the rapidly building headache away.

“In some ways, you’re lucky that you used it on me. It’s considered extremely rude to inspect someone. If you’re thinking it’s a perfect tool to use from stealth, don’t. The person you use it on will feel it, and it’s not a pleasant thing at all. Here, feel it,” Kayden said as he brought out a cigarette-like case that looked similar to the one on the table.

Before Rowan could protest, the baron’s own Inspect landed. It felt like a hand had plunged into Rowan’s chest, rooted around in there, and then stolen a piece of him. It made him feel naked.

“Okay, I get it. But why do I feel like this?” Rowan groaned, setting the Inspect card aside for the moment. His headache was definitely not going away.

“Check your mana, lad,” Kayden said.

With more than a little effort, Rowan did.

Rowan Clairfont

Level 1 Spearman

EXP: 0/25

Mana: 30/50

“That took twenty mana? But, how, I didn’t even—”

“You tried to use an uncommon card when you were at the common tier. And you tried to use it against someone much stronger than you. And it was your first time wielding a card.” Kayden’s voice wasn’t accusatory, but it wasn’t kind either. “Let me repeat myself. You’re lucky that’s all you’re feeling. Now, I prepared this for you. Inspect it.” Kayden pushed forward the metal case engraved with a shield emblem.

Rowan looked at Kayden and confirmed that it wasn’t a trick. He took a deep breath and used the card again. The metal case’s status window made him do a double take, and then he went over it once more for good measure.

Soul Bound Cardholder (Unbound)

This rare and powerful artifact draws on the knowledge and skills of an enchanter with an extreme understanding of the system to provide its user with the ability to store and manage a limited deck of cards.

Normally, a person would need to spend a couple of seconds when changing a card due to a built-in system delay. The cardholder bypasses that. A user can equip and remove cards between the decks and cardholder with no delay at all.

The user cannot store cards they are incapable of binding to their deck.

Current Capacity: 0/5

“Holy card god,” Rowan whispered. There were a couple of significant things that Rowan had learned over the past few weeks. But the most serious one was how important cards were in his new world. The nobles had almost lynched Rowan because of a bad card. But the cardholder changed the game itself. It meant that a person could effectively double their deck size.

“As I said before, I’m your sponsor,” Kayden said. “There aren’t a lot of cardholders, but any self-respecting noble house will have enough of those to equip the most important of their members. In fact…”

Rowan picked up on the baron’s pause. “Yeah?”

“In fact, I suspect that your fellow heroes will have higher quality cardholders. There are some that can hold up to fifteen cards. Rumors have it that royal family members have cardholders with even higher capacity. But it’s not an overwhelming advantage.”

“It’s not? Sure sounds like it is.”

“A cardholder allows you to switch cards from the deck to the holder and back. But you can’t switch cards in the middle of combat.” Kayden’s smile became a little feral. “In fact, it’s often been an issue for nobles who like to use support cards outside of combat. If they get ambushed, they’re cut off from their more powerful battle cards. That’s why it’s common practice to have no more than one or two support cards in your deck at a time, depending on your tier.”

“Huh, that makes sense,” Rowan said.

“Alright, enough talking. Up lad. We’re not going to waste the entire day like this.”

Kayden didn’t literally drag Rowan to the training courtyard, but it was a close thing. There was a silver lining. The moment Rowan gripped onto a spear, he suddenly felt much better. The cobwebs that had stuck to all his thoughts cleared, and even his headache eased a smidgen.

“So your heart card helps with mana fatigue. Good to know,” Kayden said.

“Is it? Or are you just going to go rougher on me?” Rowan groused, even if a part of him was glad his card had once again proven useful.

“Of course we’d go harder. I want you to strike that training dummy using only your own strength. Then, do it while using your default class card,” Kayden commanded.

Rowan obliged. He squared up against one of the wooden dummies and punched the tip of his spear into the wood. It was a solid strike, with the tip an entire inch into the dummy.

Pulling the spear out, Rowan gave himself a moment to breathe and focus.

“Empowered Thrust!” Rowan screamed.

The differences between using his default class card and Inspect were immediately apparent. Whereas the latter had violently ripped Rowan’s mana from him, Empowered Thrust let his mana flow outward.

The mana swirled out from the center of his being, up into his arms and into the spear. The spearhead glinted under the sunlight and this time, it slipped into the dummy like a knife through butter. The tip of the spear was a vicious, six-inch long spike. The entirety of it had sunk into the wood.

Before Rowan pulled the spear out, he quickly checked his mana.

Rowan Clairfont

Level 1 Spearman

EXP: 0/25

Mana: 9/50

Rowan had no clue how quickly his mana pool refilled. However, even if the card had used more than the single point of mana, it was more than worth it. He pulled the spear out and grinned like a loon before attacking again and again, the tip of his spear blazing. The feeling was intoxicating. Weeks of training, more effort than he’d ever put into anything, finally seemed worth it. He kept using Empower Thrust, feeding every bit of mana into it.

And then he was on his face, someone was shaking him awake, and his head hurt far more than before.

“Wuhwezzat?” Rowan mumbled, spitting when he got a mouth full of sand and gravel.

“I said, lad, that I really wish you were less like my son. What is with young idiots doing the exact thing they shouldn’t every time?” Kayden’s words were soft and Rowan had to strain to hear them.

“Wuh’s happening to me?”

“I assume you’re wondering what’s wrong? Your mana pool is what’s wrong,” Kayden said. It sounded like he was an entire world away. “When you use too much mana too quickly, it hurts. When you reduce yourself to less than a tenth of your total, you’ll feel sluggish and exhausted. When someone manages to bottom out to zero? They get to eat dirt. I should have left you out here on your own.”

“Am fine,” Rowan said.

“Of course you are. A good sunburn and a full body-ache from sleeping on the ground would have been a good lesson. You’re lucky I’m a gracious host. And that my wife would have killed me.” That last part was said in a quiet grumble.

“How long was I like this?” Rowan’s tongue was numb and not cooperating, and he had to speak at a snail’s pace to make sure his words came out fine.

“Long enough. When you're feeling better, go back to your rooms. You’ll be useless for the rest of the day,” Kayden said as he turned away. “But you did good today, lad.”

Rowan felt a surge of emotions. It would have been too much effort to express it all. Instead, he managed to roll onto his back, watching the clouds drift on by.

I’m a part of this world now. A real part.

Rowan wasn’t sure if he was referring to the powers he had gained from the cards or the way the baron had been treating him the past few days. It was all tangled up in one big ball of emotions that sat on his chest.

When he managed to drag himself upright, Rowan stumbled his way to the nearest wall and narrowly avoided face-planting into it or the ground. From there, progress back to his room was slow and plodding. He was going to flop into his bed and forget about everything else. If nothing else, his headache demanded it.

“Pssst! Over here!” A voice sounded to his right.

“What?” Rowan wasn’t amused. He looked around blearily and jolted awake when he saw the baron’s daughter sticking her head around the corner.

“Over here!” Olivia hissed at Rowan. It occurred to him that she thought she was being stealthy. “Come on.”

She motioned for him to follow, and then disappeared. She was back a few moments later to glare at him when she realized he hadn’t, in fact, followed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rowan muttered, watching the girl beckon with ever-increasing amounts of urgency.

Finally, Rowan sighed, shrugged and decided to give it a shot. Might as well see what my sponsor’s daughter wants…