Chapter 7
Respite in Darkness [https://imageshack.com/i/popjxwpdp]
Linus sat by the lone old tree close to the village. Sometimes when life seemed too much he loved to sneak out here and dream. He usually sat here until he found enough strength to come back and continue to live.
Linus sat by the old trunk and didn’t leave. He felt the sun on his skin and heard the wind in the canopy. When he was here all that pain went away. His old wooden friend was soothing his pain and calming his mind.
“Hey! Freak is here,” voices of other kids made Linus freeze up in fear.
A group of kids his age approached him with smiles on their faces. But he knew better. Those were smiles of wicked.
“What you doing out here, freak?” the girl in lead asked him.
“Bet he’s thinking to run from the village,” boy said.
Kids surrounded Linus.
“If he would run in forest, freak would die in an hour.”
“He would die in minutes. My pap is a hunter. He told me about beasts there.”
“Beast wouldn’t eat him. He is too small.”
“And stinky.”
Linus stood up and tried to leave, but the leading girl stepped in his way.
“Where are you going, freak? We just found you,” she laughed.
Linus pushed her out of his way and tried to run, but he was too slow. Kids jumped him and forced him to the ground. They twisted his hands and started kicking and punching him.
“Please!” he begged, but his pleading fell on silent ears.
“Freak, you wanna die like your parents?”
"Trash!"
“He pushed me!”
“Please!” Linus cried.
“Triss, you have knife?”
“Break his arm!”
“Your father and mother died because they disrespected Imperial soldiers. You will die because you disrespected me.”
“Idiot son from idiot father.”
“Please!” Linus pleaded with a taste of iron in his mouth. He felt numb.
“I live close to him. Your stupid mother’s screams didn’t let my family sleep.”
“Disgusting freak!”
"Please!" Linus said.
Kids continue to beat down on Linus as his pleas became more and more silent.
“Leave him be!” scream of furry made kids stop and look towards the angry small girl running to them with a large boy behind her.
“It's Orla and Zaun,” boy shouted in fear but it was too late.
Orla flew into the crowd of kids like an angry harpy. She kicked, scratched, and bite like a rabid dog. Zaun joined her raining heavy punches on the kids crushing their resistance. The number difference didn’t matter. Kids scattered and ran back towards the village.
Bloody Linus watched up to Orla standing over him with a serious look.
“Linus, right? We heard what happened to your parents. That sucks, but my father will travel with evidence to Capital. Bastards who took their lives will be punished. Don’t worry!” she said reaching out her hand towards Linus, “From this day you can stick by us! Congratulations, you will be third in our party!”
“What party?” Linus asked barely holding his eyes open.
“Mad Dogs of Rosmorre!” she said with a warm smile.
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“Orla!” Linus screamed in fear, fell on his knees beside Orla, and pulled off her helmet.
Her raven hair spilled out from under it. Her face was distorted by three long bloody wounds. Her nose was cut apart and unrecognizable, but luckily she was alive. The pain was clearly visible on her face, but she didn't cry.
“I am good,” Orla said,” Helmet. Put it back.”
“Put it back on, lad,” Jack put a hand on Linus' shoulder, “We need to get ready for what's to come.”
“She needs to leave,” Linus said to Jack.
“I am good!” Orla grabbed her helmet out of Linus' hands and put it back on herself. She stood up suppressing her legs from shaking. Blood dripped down from her pooling under her. Linus helped her stand and Zaun retrieved her spear and brought it to the girl.
“You all landed hit on Souleater,” Jack said, “Are you all awakened now?”
"It should be so," Linus answered," System recognizes parties up to twelve people and distributes essence to them equally. Contributions don't matter."
"If so, pick your classes and get ready, we don’t have time," Jack said.
Linus finally saw notifications desperately fighting for his attention.
Congratulations! Your party has slain Lvl 17 Eldritch Souleater!
Unawakened – Exp distribution impossible
Human reached adulthood!
Awakening!
Choose a Tier I class!
It was time! What they waited for all their lives. The magical class list expanded before him.
Worker Common Tier I class +1 END per level Requirements * Human
Backbone of humanity.
Worker class will help you to perfect your chosen craft or profession. Allows acquiring experience with physical or mental labor outside of combat.
Warrior Common Tier I class +1 STR per level Requirements * Human
Iron fist of humanity.
Warrior class will grant you the strength necessary to fight against the dangers awaiting you.
Guardian Common Tier I class +1 CON per level Requirements * Human
Guardian of humanity.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Guardian class will toughen your body and will.
Adept Common Tier I class +1 INT per level Requirements * Human
Wits of humanity.
Adept class will help you to shape mana to your liking.
Delver Uncommon Tier I class +1 STR, +1 PER per level Requirements * Human
* Awaken in region of unstable space
Explorer of humanity.
Delver class will help you explore places where no man dares to stray.
Spearman Uncommon Tier I class +1 STR, +1 CON per level Requirements * Human
* Slay foe 10 levels above you in fair combat using a spear before awakening
Spear of humanity.
Spearman class will help you to pierce your foes and stand their blows.
Linus contemplated choices in front of him. Delver class was what they came here for, but he didn’t expect to have a choice between two uncommon classes.
Riftkin didn’t level like sentients of Rosmorre. Riftkin were born in their planes already in their full forms. Their level represented which strata they were born in and their levels were a direct show of their power. Sentients had classes to get through differences of power, but at higher levels facing riftkin of the same level alone could pull off only heroes of his childhood stories.
If they would awaken in a rift connected to the outer strata with the weakest riftkin like they planned he wouldn’t have the option to pick Spearman class. Now he had a choice in front of him.
Delver class would help him travel and survive and it was the best tier I class for most people here at the west border of the Empire. Despite being so easily accessible, it would give him enough survivability and speed to allow him to escape most dangers. Strike and retreat was the usual fight style of Delver. Citadel of Delvers was named in honor of this class.
Spearman class was different. Requirements for it were known even to villagers, but that doesn’t mean that it was a popular one. Fair combat isn’t in the nature of humans in Empire. System counted fair combat only one where enemies are stronger or the same strength as you. There had to be a danger of death present or fair combat requirements didn’t trigger. If you had some strong guardian holding your hand in case of your failure, requirements didn’t trigger either. It wasn’t exactly a rare class, but those who fought in fair combat, again and again, would die sooner than later. Humans who lived long enough to level to become pillars of the Empire always fought dirty. That was a well-known fact. Fair combat was the luxury of the dead.
Despite that, only uncommon classes with fair combat requirements were allowed to join the Imperial army at the Capital. The reason was that only those who were willing to put their life on the line were qualified to join ranks of the best warriors of the Empire. Spearman class will limit his weapon choice, but in retrospect, he will gain a class that is recognized as one of the strongest in Capital.
Linus watched his friends waiting for approaching riftkin in the dark tunnel illuminated by torchlights. They readied their short spears and shields to face their likely death.
And with that picture, his choice was set.
Congratulations! You have chosen Spearman class
+1 CON, +1 STR
Congratulations! You gained tier I talent Hands of Spearman!
Hands of Spearman – When wielding a spear, your Strength stat scaling doubles
Status Class: Spearman Lvl: 1 Xp: 0% Mana: 31/31 _ Race talent: Scourge Tier I talent: Hands of Spearman _ CON 1 END 0 STR 1 PER 0 INT 0 WIS 0 _ Perks:
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Orla pushed down tears and pain and asked Jack for his flint. When he gave it to her she ignited both of her torches. She tossed one forward and the second one behind her.
She took a deep breath, choose her class, and got ready for her death.
Status Class: Spearman Lvl: 1 Xp: 0% Mana: 7/7 _ Race talent: Scourge Tier I talent: Hands of Spearman
_ CON 1 END 0 STR 1 PER 0 INT 0 WIS 0 _ Perks:
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Zaun picked up the dead body of Souleater and tossed it in front of them as a sort of natural barrier. It was barely an obstacle, but for their blind opponents, it might prove a challenge.
He watched around them for possible escape, but there was none. He didn't believe they could outrun monsters closing in on them and they couldn't hide by the wall because the tunnel was way too narrow.
He shook his head in a sad manner and stood right behind Jack's shoulder.
Status Class: Silent Watcher Lvl: 1 Xp: 0% Mana: 10/10 _ Race talent: Growth Tier I talent: Eye of the Silent
_ CON 0 END 0 STR 1 PER 3 INT 0 WIS 0 _ Perks:
It was their first fight and yet, Mad Dogs got ready for their last stand.