Classes are an incredibly versatile system. There are dozens, hundreds of Classes which accompany their masters throughout their entire lifetimes.
But as diverse and individually specialized as Classes are, in general they still can be sorted into three groups:
The first relies on and enhances the body´s core strength, focusing on fighting with physical means. Those who tread this path are called Warriors.
Some say it´s a ´brute approach´ which people with ´muscles for brains´ take, nevertheless Warrior Classes are widely spread and popular. Most who decide for this group fight with the sword or spear, the two favorite weapons of Humans.
The second group focuses on Humans´ wit and intelligence, on Magic. Hence, they are called Magicians.
Not only is the theory of magic much more sophisticated and complex compared to the approach of Warriors, but it also provides a great deal of opportunities for ranged combat. Magic is capable of handling offense and support, though most mages choose and specialize in only one of the two lines.
The final and most diverse group are Specialized Classes, which cover everything that doesn't fit into the Warrior and Magician Classes. Quite a vast spectrum to be honest.
They can posses no or just few fighting capabilities such as Receptionists and Scouts, or show their potential only after unfathomable amounts of practice like Beast masters and Faiths. For the Specialized, it is a norm to possess altered Level-up conditions.
– – –
Madeleine closes her eyes, furrows her brows and brings a hand to her chin, a pose she often adopts while in serious thought. “This… This could actually work” she mumbles as she thinks carefully about the girl's words
The Demon, still in the midst of her Class-Acquisition, smiles proudly “Of course it will, I came up with it after all!”
“But… What if it doesn´t synergize as well as we think?”
“Well, the Class would be useless then”
“So you´re taking a bet? All or nothing in a sense? Isn´t that too risky?”
“Don´t worry, I´ll manage for the ´all´ part” she says while giving a thumbs up with a wide grin. “And with that said…” The girl closes her eyes and immediately shuts her mind and focus from the outer world, a feat not all are able to achieve so naturally.
[Warning: Class has been chosen. Confirm choice?]
…
[Answer affirmative: Proceeding Class acquisition]
A blinding white light separates from the girl's small body and gathers into an almost physical clump in the air. The glare rises into the room's center where it swirls around, almost as if dancing.
Then, without further warning, it changes color to an iridescent mixture of yellow, green and dark blue before lunging into the Demon again. Every last shine is sucked up into her body.
In that instant, a bubble of dull grey expands from the center of the girl. Growing bigger and bigger until it engulfs everything; The room, the people, even time itself. All Colors seem to have vanished from existence into a never-ending abyss. Only the Demon is unaffected, her eyes move back and forth in hope of comprehending even the slightest bit of what just happened, but all thoughts of uncertainty are pushed away as a sudden warmth spreads within her. It´s a comfortable, soothing warmth.
A drastic change occurs in the midst of her very soul. It´s as if a long-missing part just returned, making her feel a step closer to… Something. A complex feeling no words can describe.
Mage Apprentice
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Rarity: Normal
Bonus:
(per Level-up)
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Vitality +1
Intelligence +3
Endurance +1
Agility +1
[Skills] granted: [Mana Handling], [Enhanced Cast] General Information: A starting class for those who pursue the way of magic.
~Skills~
[Minor Mana Handling → Minor (+) Mana Handling]
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[Enhanced Cast has been obtained]
In the blink of an eye, in the time one needs to take a single breath, the gray from the world shrinks down until it implodes and disappears with an ear-bursting noise.
Reality resumes as the Demon falls to her knees.
“W-What?” Madeleine blinks a few times before jumping up and running to the collapsed girl´s side “Hey! Are you okay?!”
“Ugh… Yeah, somehow” the Demon complains while holding a hand to her head
“You sure? You look pale. Maybe lie down for a bit?” Madeleine worries and tries to move the girl to her bed
“It´s fine, really. Just give me a hand to get up” but the Demon declines her offer.
The receptionist hesitates before doing as she´s asked, she helps the girl back to her feet. The Demon stumbles a few steps before being caught in the arms of the woman once again “Are you really sure you don´t want to–”
“You worry too much. I would tell you if I weren´t fine, believe me.” the Demon interrupts.
Madeleine´s eyes go up and down the girl, as if checking for something. “If you say so… I would´ve liked it better if you just rested for a bit though"
The Demon crosses her arms “You really think I´d be able to sit still without testing what I just got? I thought you´d know me better by now” she harrumphs.
`This girl… really now´
--
“Hey, Madeleine?”
“Hm? What is it?”
“You remember how I said that I wanted to test my Class out immediately?”
“Of course. I mean, it hasn´t been long since then. Why you ask?”
“Well, if you do remember, then why are you dragging me to the guild right now?”
People are bustling in the streets under the already setting sun. It´s weird that it hasn´t even been a day since the two met. Madeleine ups her pace and passes two men pulling a cart filled with various sorts of vegetables and dead smaller monsters, the Demon squeezes in between a crowd of farmers and pops out at the front, catching up to the receptionist. The two resume their walking
“I believe I told you already that registering as an adventurer first is crucial”
“But I wanna fight already!” the little girl whines
“Haaa” Madeleine rubs her forehead, somewhat exhausted already. “If you become an official adventurer, the guild will not only provide you with valuable information and money in exchange for exterminating potential threats, but you also won´t run into any issues proving your identity. The process doesn´t take long anyways, can´t you just wait, like… a little longer?”
“I know that. I know it but still… Madeleine~ I hate waiting!” she whines
Madeleine looks up into the sky where red and violet colors intertwine in the sunset. ´She really can act like a child, especially when it benefits her...´
“Oh, that reminds me, this may come a little late but I´ll need some information about you for the registration. So... What´s your name, actually?”
“My… Name?” the girl suddenly stops in her tracks
“Well, yes. You do have one, right?”
Until she came in contact with Humans there was nobody who was really able to talk back to her, so the Demon never had any use for her own name. Not only that, her name was given to her by her Demon father, the person who wanted her dead, the person she swore she would kill. Should she really accept a name by the one whom she hates, whom she despises?
The answer is simple: “Yeah, I haven´t really used it until now but I have one. It´s Vienessa”
Yes, the answer is indeed simple: She will take it. She will engrave this name into her being, into her very soul to always be reminded of her true goal. Her goal to make the |Demon Lord| suffer, to humiliate him in front of his vassals. Accepting this name will serve as a precaution to never let these burning flames of desire be extinguished.
“Vienessa you say… so 'Victory' in the ancient tongue. That´s a nice name, curious how Demons came up with it...” Madeleine mumbles
The remainder of the way Madeleine and Vienessa walk in a steady pace without any interruptions until they arrive at the somewhat eye-catching building which they recognize as the Adventurer´s Guild. Madeleine opens the heavy, wooden door and gestures for the little girl to step in.
Inside, there are even fewer people than this morning, the amount of adventurers can be counted on one hand. Two of the three reception counters are occupied this time. As the staff sees their colleague from the morning shift walk in, they give each other a glance and one of them disappears through a door in the back.
“Hi Jack, is Donn here?” Madeleine asks as she approaches her usual workplace
“It´s so good to see you´re fine Madeleine” Jack leans forward on the counter and his expression visibly relaxes “I rushed to the guild after hearing what happened earlier today. But instead of finding you, the boss made me work on my day off,” he says dejectedly “Anyways, Nathaniel just went to get him, they should be here any mo–”
The sound of a door being slammed open draws all attention in the guild. A towering man with brown hair, brown eyes and brown beard walks into the lobby with big steps. People know him as the Guild Master of this village's Guild. He glares around the room as if searching for a criminal who just escaped under his watch, everyone averts their gazes upon eye contact with him. He then turns his head to the young woman and girl standing by her side.
“Madeleine!” the guild master´s voice booms
“Yes?” Madeleine´s voice answers gently
“Who´s that?”
“My sister”
“Sis–?!”. The brawny man chokes. He quickly clears his throat “Fine. Both of you, in my office. Now!”
Donn turns around and hastily disappears into the back of the building, expecting the two to follow him. Madeleine is just about to take a step forward when she notices that the girl on her side doesn´t seem ready to move.
The Demon turns to her companion with an uncomfortable look on her face: “This guy is strong, I don´t know if I can take him on should it come down to it” she whispers.
Madeleine blinks a few times before almost bursting out in laughter, only barely managing to catch herself “That´s your first thought? Really? You don´t have to worry about him, he won´t do anything”
The girl furrows her brows “Well don´t blame me after what happened earlier. And he seemed… angry? No, more irritated maybe?”
“This is just the type of person he is. Trust me, he won´t lay a finger on you or me”
“You siblings seem to get along well, but you shouldn´t make the boss wait,” Nathaniel says who appears in front of them “Also, Madeleine, why didn´t you tell us you had such a cute little sister? Especially since you look so alike. How horrible of you to never even have mentioned!” he complains overly dramatic
“Yes, yes, we´ll be on our way now, talk to you later” Madeleine pushes the girl forward “Let´s get going, shall we?”
“How cold~! Madeleine really does hate us~!”
The man is ignored as the two go around the counter and into a long corridor. The girl seems in thought “I didn´t think they would buy us being sisters. Do we really resemble each other that much?” she turns around and looks up at the woman behind her
“Just play along, it will make things easier”
“Well, if you say so” the girl shrugs her shoulders.
As they walk down the hall, the tension of facing the guild master returns. She has a bad... weird feeling about it. And her gut never failed her before. The Demon holds her breath while her eyes focus on a sole door at the far end. And after what seemed like an eternity they reach it. Madeleine knocks and opens the door without waiting for a response.