6
Semi-pro Tagonist I
Hiro woke with a start. Classing day was here, after a glance out the window he amended that thought. Classing day was almost here. Life on the farm wasn't bad, the early mornings were all that he had ever known and had been normal for Hiro. Ever since he was old enough to walk and his father had taught him to tend the farm, it was his job to wake up before the sun and feed the livestock. Chores were a fact of life and since Hiro's chores came in the mornings and evenings his days had been mostly lazy. Today that would all change… maybe.
Classing day had Hiro unable to sleep properly all night, but now the horizon had started to change color. It was basically dawn and a new day, that was enough for Hiro and he bolted from his bed and threw on some work clothes. Many of the animals complained about being awoken earlier than usual but their calls and snorts quickly stopped when they caught sight of Hiro or the scent of feed.
The morning chores were done in record time and Hiro paused a moment to reflect on the fact that this might be the last time he did this. A sudden feeling of melancholy cut through his excitement. He didn't enjoy life and work on the farm, like most kids his age he dreamed of adventure, but he also didn't hate the farm, especially the animals who he made friends with despite being warned off getting too attached.
“Well you're up early, decided to help me plow the north field this time?” Hiro's father, Jeremiah, spoke from the door to their over large house.
Hiro got along with his father unlike some of the other kids his age who were turning to adults today, but this time the familiar gravely voice sent ice through Hiro's blood. He slowly turned to see the smiling man, Jeremiah was larger than most men, barely fitting in the doorway in each direction. Farm life had tanned him to the point of looking like a walking talking piece of jerky. Briefly Hiro wondered if he too would look like that if he classed as a farmer.
Jeremiah snorted with laughter, “I’m only joking, I know what day it is. You should see your face, you look like I asked you to challenge the Royal Gauntlet Dungeon armed with only a spoon.”
Hiro let out a nervous chuckle, there wasn't much to help with when plowing a field but if Jeremiah demanded the assistance Hiro would definitely be last to the town center which meant his name would be last read out when the test finished.
“Go, go, it's only barely morning but standing around while they set up might help you remember rushing into things is…”
Hiro couldn't wait any longer, “Ok thanks, I'll see you at the party, love you dad, bye.”
Jeremiah just sighed and shook his head as he watched his boy, now an adult man, sprinting for town.
The dead sprint lasted only a short while as Hiro ran out of breath, he knew he couldn't run all the way to town but putting distance between himself and any potential chores could only be a good thing. The ‘Town' was only just bigger than a village and served as a way station between the capital city and the frontier towns. Hiro and his father had made just as much money renting rooms cheaply to adventurers passing through as they had selling produce.
The sun continued to rise and burn off the morning dew sending the farmland and unworked fields shimmering with reflected light. The sight brought to mind the tailor's daughter and how nice it would be to walk with her on a morning like this. That was the main problem with being a farmer, Hiro considered, it took a major part of the morning to walk to town so he already missed more social time than he wanted. That would only get worse if he Classed as a farmer and had to spend time working his own fields.
Finally Hiro made it to town and angled his route toward the Tailor's. If he was to be a farmer in truth after today then he would spend his last free day with Dianne. Henry Tailor, Dianne's father, sat on his rocking chair in front of their shop. Henry was a delicate looking man, it was clear he spent his days inside as his skin was as unblemished and pale as a nobles. The only sign that he worked for a living was the calloused fingers that might have even been rougher than Hiro's own farm toughened hands.
Like most people in town, their home and shop were the same building, so the only sign that this was a business was the… sign. Above the door a large sign displaying a pair of scissors cutting a bolt of fabric gently swayed in the breeze. Most town folk couldn’t read and needed signs with pictures instead.
The Tailor's were among those without their letters, while Hiro had been taught by his father when he was young. Hiro was immensely grateful to his father for that because it meant he had at least a thin excuse to come calling. All the letters and orders from various merchants had to be read so Hiro volunteered to read the Tailor's mail to them. Everyone involved knew it was just an excuse to see Dianne but no one usually pointed that fact out.
“Hiro, sad to say the postman isn't due for another two days. I don't suppose there is any work for you here today.” Henry teased with a smirk.
“Good morning Mr. Tailor, has Dianne left yet? I was hoping to walk her to the Classing.”
“Oh my, is that today? Well, I’m afraid Dianne is just a little girl, it can't be time for her Classing yet.”
The door to the shop home swung open and a vision of beauty appeared.
“Leave the poor boy alone,” Dianne's mother, Jasmine chided her husband but a mischievous glint in her eye gave away her intention to join the teasing, “This could be our future son-in-law, it wouldn’t do to drive him off.”
Hiro's face began to burn and he fumbled for a response, fortunately he was saved by Dianne as she too appeared in the doorway, pushing past her mother. Dianne looked like a younger Jasmine, they both had deep black hair halfway down their backs that shone in the morning light, both had the same dark skin that reminded Hiro of the expensive coffee drink that people sometimes drank in the Adventurer’s Guild, and they both had the same ever present look in their striking green eyes, like they knew a joke he didn’t and they could barely hold in their laughter while they thought of it.
“Both of you stop, I'm an adult now and Hiro and me are going to the Classing, maybe I will come back after the party to say goodbye before we set off clearing dungeons.”
Dianne punctuated her words by grabbing Hiro's arm and pulling him along the road away from her laughing parents. Hiro's face continued to do it’s best impression of a fire crystal and he worried he might accidently ignite his straw hat. Like Hiro's earlier escape from his own father, when they had made their way out of reasonable pursuit range Dianne slowed to a walk.
When she finally spoke she sounded as thoughtful as he felt, “Are you ready for this?”
Hiro thought about that before answering, “Does it matter? It's happening whether we are ready or not"
She grimaced at that, “Yeah it really is… you know… if one of us gets a special class but the other gets a normal one… we could still adventure together.”
“What do you mean?”
A Class decided the course of a person's future. Many people didn't like their Class, but a Class was a Class, it defined your future for better or worse. The Classings of the distant past had been done quickly and quietly for decades. Until one day one of the nobles discovered that if they surrounded the Classing in a coming of age party and supplied a copius amount of alcohol to the newly christened adults, then they had a drastic reduction in bad reactions.
Before the change many people went into a depressive spiral and terrible things happened when they got a Class they couldn't handle. It still happened but with the initial blow softened by friends, family, booze, and a generally celebratory atmosphere, the extreme cases had been reduced.
Dianna was talking like someone who would not be able to handle having their hopes crushed, and that could be dangerous. She stopped and turned to Hiro looking directly into his eyes. The weight of that gaze pressed into Hiro and he almost missed her next words.
“If I get adventurer and you get farmer or something you can still come with me on adventures, I'll protect you.”
“I… I don't… but…” Hiro stumbled over his words, his brain wasn't working properly.
What was she saying? She wanted him to ignore his Class and run away with her? What if she didn't get an adventurer Class either? It was most common to receive one of the Classes from one’s own parents, sometimes people got a Class different from either parent but usually they still received a normal class. Last year Conner had expected to be a farmer like his parents but instead got the smith Class, now Connor Smith was learning his new trade at the Smith's in town.
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Rare was the person born to normal Classed parents who not only broke from their parents Classes but received a rare adventurer Class. Dianne seemed convinced she would do just that. Hiro decided he would do his best to comfort her when she was disappointed. Then he tried not to look forward to comforting her.
Finally he managed a coherent response, “Whatever we get, we can work it out.”
Dianne seemed dissatisfied with that but didn't press, and pulled him along to the town center. Contrary to what his father may have said, they were not the first to arrive and they joined the line of children. The line was moving quickly and Hiro was taller than most so he got a look at the proceedings. People from all the nearby villages had brought their children of Classing age. Once a year nobles from the capital went to each town and performed the Classing and the people outside of town would have to make the trip to the nearest Classing to have their children Classed.
As they waited the servants and performers that the nobles brought with them offered treats and sang songs or juggled, Hiro saw one man breathing fire as a scantily clad woman dodged the gouts of flame with graceful dance steps.
As each person reached the desk that had been placed in the town square for the purpose, they spoke quietly with the noble in extravagant robes. Hiro was too far away but had watched the proceedings in prior years, so he knew that the noble was giving a speech, after which the person being Classed would cut their hand with an ornate dagger and bleed onto a crystal for a moment. The crystal would flash signaling the process was done and a nearby nurse would wrap the wound. Then it was off to the party.
Dianne had started out confident and assertive pulling Hiro along but as the line moved forward and their own turn approached she seemed to be taking more and more time to fill the gap in front of her, fidgeting nervously and shifting from one foot to the other. Hiro had finally calmed down somewhat and the sight of Dianne getting nervous bolstered his own confidence.
Feeling more like himself Hiro found the courage to tease back a bit, “HEY,” he shout whispered in Dianne's ear which made her jump, “You're fidgeting, didn't you go to the privy before we left?”
She glared daggers at him for a moment before the line moved again. She leaned around trying to see how much farther they had to go, but there was a crowed of spectators now.
“Seven more people" Hiro offered with a chuckle
Dianne's eyes widenednin something that looked like fear which made Hiro regret his teasing.
“Y… You go first"
Without giving Hiro time to argue she pushed him forward into her place. This was seriously not like Dianne, she was always the confident, loud, boisterous one. Maybe she wasn't as sure of being Classed as an adventurer as she let on. That thought put the previous conversation into a different perspective for Hiro. Rather than trying to convince Hiro to go against his Class and join her if she was an adventurer she might have been priming Hiro for the opposite situation. If Hiro became an adventurer and Dianne didn't, she would most definitely want to join him rather than stay in this town.
Hiro couldn't say he would turn her away. Dangerous or not, he would take Dianne with him on his adventures and protect her if she asked him to.
And then it was his turn.
“Hello, I am Melinda Solomon. What is your name?”
Nobles didn't use their Class as their second name like most people, instead they used a family name, and the Solomon family was well known. Derrick Solomon was Duke of these lands and everyone for miles and miles around served the Solomon family, even if indirectly through other noble families.
“Ah.. um.. I’m Hiro”
Melinda smiled gently not like the condescending nobles of the stories.
“Hello Hiro, This is your sixteenth summer correct?”
Hiro just nodded
“Great then you are ready for a Class, I will ask you to cut your hand and bleed onto this Class Crystal until it flashes. Then you can join your friends partying. Once we are through with everyone then we will announce everyone‘s results. Tomorrow you should seek out a mentor of the same Class. Most people’s parents or family friends will have the correct Class. If the Class is uncommon there are several people from the capital in town who can mentor you. Now please offer some blood to the crystal.”
Hiro's hands wouldn't stop shaking, but the nobles were prepared for that and Hiro had seen several people with the same issue so didn't jump when a woman in a guard uniform snatched his hand and quickly cut his hand with the dagger. The movement was so fast Hiro couldn't process it before the sharp pain hit and he gasped.
When he looked down he saw Melinda was already holding the crystal under Hiro's clenched hand catching the blood. Once his mind caught up he opened his hand to let the blood flow more freely. The blood didn't seem to hit the crystal instead falling into it as if it wasn't really there. When the red droplets reached the middle they stopped and hovered. Once enough blood had collected the crystal flashed and the red hovering in the center was gone.
Someone pushed him to the side and his hand was quickly wrapped in a bandage. The entire process had flown by and before he knew it Hiro was at one of the snack tables with a plate. When Dianne finished her Classing she had moved off to join some of the older kids from the last few years. No, they were adults. Once your result was read you were considered an adult, so Hiro, Dianne and all the other kids would join those from the last couple years as adults in a short while.
As Hiro watched, Dianne ignored the rule of no drinking until you were officially an adult. No one really enforced that rule but even if they did she likely wouldn't care. He tried not to feel abandoned, they were close to a certain point and Hiro could admit that he had a serious crush on Dianne, but the way she had talked that morning made it feel like she might reciprocate.
Hiro piled his plate high with expensive looking food to take his mind off things. The nobles supplied the food for Classing day so the whole town feasted for free once a year on food the simple folk of the towns could never hope to match. Most of the food either had names Hiro couldn't pronounce or wouldn’t try for fear of embarrassing himself. Nobles were only matched in wealth by the top adventurers which was just another reason to hope for an adventurer Class.
Finally Melinda stood on the platform at one end of the town square so everyone could see and raised a hand. The same woman guard who had cut his hand pulled out some sort of device and held it up.
A loud crack sounded and the crowd went quiet focusing on Melinda.
“Thank you everyone. It's been another great year and the Solomon family would like to show our gratitude for your continued loyalty and hard work . To that end we have brought a dozen kegs of Hilshore Red"
Hiro had heard of Hilshore, they made wine so expensive that this town might get a reject barrel under a subsidiary company called HS Wines, maybe once a year for sale in the Adventurer Guild.
A cheer from the crowd was quickly hushed and Melinda continued, “I will now read the list of our new Classers in the order they received their Class, and we have a few interesting results!
Kenneth, Farmer
Sandra, Farmer
Michael, Smith
…”
People cheered and the list went on for a few minutes with each person named downing a mug of something strong in celebration, or consolation whichever was appropriate, before Hiro heard his own name.
“Hiro, Semi-pro tagonist”
Hiro blinked… a what? What was a tagonist? And what was semi-pro? Pro was short for professional and every Class more or less described what you would do as a profession so the pro part was sort of implied… Before he could consider too deeply a mug of something that curled his nose hairs was thrust into his hand by someone. He downed it and the curling moved from his nose to his entire body, what the hell was in that?
“Dianne, Tagonist"
Tagonist again. What the hell was a tagonist? Hiro looked around through watery eyes and found the girl in question. He couldn't tell if she was happy or disappointed because at some point she had drunk herself into a stumbling stupor. As he watched Dianne stumbled over to him and slurred something that he couldn't understand.
“shhhay y… yeu gosh zeee hame shing.. me? I? me ded… whhhh… at iz she eal wit at"
Hiro coughed through the burning in his own throat to answer, “I have no idea what you are saying Dianne… maybe we should get you home…”
Dianne’s friend who was shadowing her, presumably to make sure she didn't hurt herself, gave a grateful nod and disappeared back into the party as the list reading continued to the crowds cheering.
Well the suggestion had been taken as volunteering so now he was stuck with her. He pulled Dianne's limp arm across his shoulders and helped her back to the Tailor's. As they broke from the crowd another guard in the same uniform As the other spotted them and approached, Hiro assumed it was the Solomon guard uniform and they would all match.
“Mr. Semi-pro Tagonist? Ah good I see you also have Ms. Tagonist with you. I need to speak with you a moment.”
It felt weird being called by his new last name, and only partially because it had way too many syllables.
The man continued unaware of the discomfort and uncaring of the mostly unconscious girl making it hard to stand and have a conversation.
“We don't have records of your classes. That happens sometimes and it's nothing to worry about but both classes have tripped the warning for special classes. That, and the fact that both of your classes seem to be connected or at least similar, has prompted Melinda to invite you to the capital where we can look into the records and see if we can find someone to mentor you.”
He paused and seemed to wait for a response so Hiro offered the only one he could come up with, “Okay?”
“Great, tomorrow your peers will be starting their mentorship so you can rest and relax, but the next day if you would meet the caravan at the west entrance to the town at sunrise, we can travel to the capital.”
Hiro blinked at the man in confusion and tried to think of something to say but before he could the man nodded once and vanished into the crowd back toward his charge. Hiro didn't really know what to do and Dianne had now fully passed out becoming dead weight so he decided to take the problem to the Tailor’s.
When he arrived Henry and Jasmine were both outside waiting as if they knew something like this would happen.
With a sign Henry hurried over and took Dianne from Hiro which Hiro was grateful for, she had been getting heavier and heavier with each step.
As Henry carried his daughter into the house Jasmine asked the question, “So what did she get? Tailor?”
“I uh… I don’t know exactly… We both got some variation on something called a tagonist, but I’ve never heard of that before. Do you know what it is?”
Jasmine looked surprised before shaking her head, “No I’ve never heard of a tagonist. We just knew she would be upset and would over indulge when she didn't get what she wanted, but we assumed she would get tailor like both of us.”
Hiro added the bit about being stopped and told to report to the capital, as he did he could see the confusion and concern on Jasmines face morph into worry and despair. Once he had finished she only nodded and went inside closing the door quietly.
Hiro spent the time walking home pondering Jasmine's reaction. Dianne had been hopeful, maybe even expectant, that she would receive an adventurer Class and leave the town. Her parents, and everyone else too for that matter, had been expectant that she would receive Tailor or something else normal. It seemed that Dianne wasn't the only one who was unprepared for their expectations to be crushed.
At least his own hopes that he and Dianne wouldn't be separated had come true. Now he had to tell his dad he would be leaving for the capital, maybe he knew what a tagonist was.