Classes are colloquially divided into 3 groups depending on Affinity Rankings and Stat amounts.
Jacks - A wide spread of even stats and affinities.
Aces - A low to medium spread of stats and affinities favoring a central one integral to the class.
And the more rare Specialists - 1 Single Affinity and/or Stat, but this number is much higher then anything in the other classes.
To make it simpler. Jack = 1 in everything. Ace = 3 in one thing, 1 in all other things. Specialist = 10 in one thing.
-System I Lecture at Scyiali High, in Scyiali, Doramu.
Ok, at least I can see myself doing this one.
Tamer (Common Path) Monsters terrify a lot of people, rightfully so, as they are vicious predators in most cases. Where others see a danger however, you see an opportunity. Raise the monsters correctly, and people will be terrified of you too. After all, the only thing scarier then a beast is it’s master…
+5 Charisma
+3 Perception
+1 Dexterity
+1 Toughness
Taming Skills and Greater Affinity
Communication Skills and Affinity
Survival Skills and Lesser Affinity
“Oh, I forgot to ask!”
Yes?
“What are paths, and why is this common? I thought [Tamer] was a rarer class.”
Ah, All the paths mean is how likely you were to get that class. Jayce was always going to take to to the woods at some point, but you wouldn’t have always fought the tiger.
You always had an interest in magic, and you would’ve always saved that animal.
“I know better then to ask what animal, it’s in the memory, huh.”
Yes it is, and I should say something important about class gain. Do you want to hear it?
“Why wouldn’t I?”
Well, it’s not important here as all your classes are rather, forgive the System for this… mundane. But depending on your later class options this may hurt you emotionally.
“Um… well I’m not offended by the mundane, you’re not wrong so far. That last part’s a bit concerning… but I still wanna know.”
Of course, I shouldn’t have doubted your determination. Or is it stubbornness?
“Might as well be the same, in my opinion.”
Alright, so what you need to know is that… Accomplishing something related is not enough to get the class.
“What do you mean?”
It wasn’t enough that you sensed mana, you had to want to be a mage. You had to enjoy magic sincerely, and truly have a desire to do more. At least at the time, it doesn’t matter if you don’t want to be a mage now.
“So when I shot out that oversized cat’s eyes…”
You enjoyed it. You enjoyed hunting it.
“Well I can see how that’s suck if I got like a murderer class or something.”
Don’t be silly, [Murderer] is a first evolution class with a requirement of 100 murders using the same [Calling Card].
“Was that a… joke?”
Yes, [Murderer] is actually a rare mutation of [Serial Killer]… and only needs 25 murders.
“So it’s not enough to kill one person, shame.”
Worry not, I’m sure you could bore plenty of people to death with your incessant comments and quips and questions.
“H-hey!”
Ready to see the memory?
“Fine, but I won’t forgive that rude remark.”
Generating Memory….
***
“So, why’d you drag me out here again?”
Li asked the smiling boy beside him. The boy, Jayce, had forced Li to sneak out into the Wilds.
“Um, we have a project?” Jayce cocked his head, much like a puppy. Monstrology II had assigned an end of year project; They were to go out and study the behavior of a monster of their choice.
As it was a huge project at the end of the year, the amount of procrastination was staggering. The fact that the class could choose their own partners only exacerbated the issue.
For some unknown reason, school sweetheart, star athlete, and Li’s big time crush Jayce Vian had chosen Li as a partner.
Sure, they’d been friends as kids, but that was a while ago. The two had simply grown apart, with not much in common anymore.
The crush that’d arrived after was a slight complication in their relationship. To be fair, it wasn’t Li’s fault his former friend grew a foot, started going to the gym, and learned how to be a total hunk during in the summer.
They haven’t so much as looked at each other since the beginning of freshman year. (…At least from Jayce’s perspective, Li would never get caught staring.)
So, why Li? There were plenty of smarter people that could match Jayce in brains. Nerdy people who were as interested in monsters as him. Or even some of his muscle-bound bros to slack off with.
Li couldn’t give him any of that. So understandably he was incredibly surprised when Jayce asked him.
Like, fell out of his seat surprised. Aidan didn’t take Monstrology, so he couldn’t exactly say no without a bunch of awkward questions. Then to make things worse, the suicidal school superstar proposed going into the Aoitian Wilds, local [Monster Grounds]. To “make it more interesting”.
After some convincing… well… convincing was the wrong word, one polite request with that smile was enough. Rational decision-making went out the window when your really hot crush invites you somewhere. Even if you might die.
“-k Li?”
Li’s train of thought shattered as he quickly looked up at his partner, embarrassed.
“Um, what’d you say?” Li asked, embarrassed at his lack of focus.
Jayce just chuckled.
“I was asking if you were ok, you were staring into space for the past minute.”
“I-I’m sorry, let’s continue.” Li stammered, blush reaching his ears in a display reminiscent of a tomato.
“Alright.” Jayce said nonchalant, before continuing his way down the winding path towards the deeper parts of the forest.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Li set off too, determined not to be left for dead in this spooky ass place.
Li wasn’t a good fighter at the best of times, and Jayce supposedly had his class already.
It was no wonder he’d reached 100 EXP, what with reckless stunts like this.
“Oh shit, I forgot.” Li exclaimed, remembering something.
“Hm?” Jayce questioned, turning his head back towards Li slightly.
“I was asking why you brought me to the Wilds.” Li recalled, he had forgotten during his anxiety attack.
“I already told yo-” Jayce started, before Li cut him off impatiently.
“Yeah, I don’t believe you.”
“What? Why not?” Jayce said, a little too quickly, almost defensively.
“I get you’re some monster slayer or whatever but even you are not that much of a dumbass. Why are we actually here?” Li pressed. Jayce was a bit impulsive, but not to this degree, not on a whim.
Jayce had an odd expression, conflicted maybe?
“I wanted us to be alone.” Jayce admitted, eyes skirting to the side. Li couldn’t help the way his heart began racing.
The forest seemed to go silent after Jayce’s quiet admission, as if holding it’s breath.
“What’s with this atmosphere change?!”
“Uhhhhh, why is that?” Li asked, playing as dumb as possible.
“I wanted to ask you something.” Jayce replied vaguely, face flushing slightly.
“Ask… what.” Li said, facade of naïveté failing halfway through.
Jayce stepped closer, silently penetrating Li’s personal space bubble.
Li instinctively backed up, a determination in Jayce’s gaze that unnerved him.
Step by step Li retreated from the tension emanating from Jayce, who just prowled closer.
Misreading this, yep, completely and utterly.
Suddenly Li’s back hit bark, and he was cornered against a sturdy tree blocking his escape.
No way this was happening, surely.
Jayce had an odd expression on his face. Almost… as terrifying it was to say… hungry. Eyes wide and searching, a slight smile that in any other place would’ve been friendly… seemed almost vicious in the dappled light.
Jayce’s body was almost pressed against Li’s and Jayce bit his lip.
“What the actual fuck is happening?!”
“So… what I wanted to ask was…” Jayce spoke slowly, dragging out each word. He had to know what he was doing here, right?
“Yes?” Li couldn’t help but lean in slightly, he couldn’t be misreading this.
Jayce had also leaned in, staring at Li’s lips. The teenager’s gaze was slightly hazy, as if sleepy.
“Is Jayce gonna… ki-”
Something in the air snapped, and the haziness in Jayce’s gaze cleared.
“What just-” Jayce began to ask, before spotting the compromising position the 2 were in.
He practically jumped back 3 feet, a blush rising into his face.
Li was just so confused…
“Jayce, what-”
“WHERE IS HE?!”
The two both flinched, the voice powerful and booming. It seemed to have a physical power behind it, shaking Li to his core.
Li’s body screamed at him to kneel and beg for mercy, but his mind told him to run far, far away…
Li hesitated.
Jayce however, didn’t hesitate to grab Li and half drag, half carry him away.
***
3 minutes later they were on the floor, panting.
“What. The. Fuck.” Li groaned out, lungs burning.
“[B-Battle Cry] stuns weaker enemies… no offense.” Jayce explained, sounding a bit uncertain.
“My body wanted to kneel… but I knew I should’ve ran.” Li said, trying to place the dichotomy.
“You must have a bit of Willpower to you then. I was able to resist because of my Class’s Willpower bonus, and because it wasn’t going all out.”
Jayce looked up with a half-smile, to see Li glaring at him.
“What do you look so fucking happy about!?”
“Well we aren’t dead, that’s something.”
“We shouldn’t have been anywhere near this place, and definitely not this far in. What the fuck, Jayce.”
“Well, I just…”
Jayce trailed off.
“Just what. You never answered my question and were about to kiss me, so I’m a bit confused here.”
“No I wasn’t!” Jayce yelped.
“Yes, you…!” Li took a not-so-steadying breath. “Look, I don’t even care about that, just tell me why we’re here already.”
“I…” Jayce’s eyes whipped around frantically, looking for an out.
There was only Li, glaring and pissed off.
“I… want to know why you’ve been avoiding me.” Jayce admitted, voice steadily losing its power.
“What?” Li asked, confused. He hadn’t been avoiding Jayce at all.
Had they even been close enough for Li to avoid him?
“Look, I get it, we grew apart and all… but why can’t you at least give us a chance again?”
Li couldn’t help but see the romantic connotations. But looking past that… he was just confused.
“I haven’t been avoiding you, Jayce.”
“Really?” Jayce scoffed. “I’ve invited you to every game I’ve played for the last 7 months, and you haven’t gone once.”
Jayce proceeded to pull out screenshots of texts, and he was right, every single game.
It was pretty damning laid out like that, but…
“Oh come on, we both know you only invited me out of pity.” The words easily spilled out of Li’s mouth, harsher then he’d ever thought them.
Don’t you see? You’re the butt of this joke, my darling.
“Pity? Li, in the 13 years I’ve known you, when have I pitied you.” The smile on Jayce’s face was warm, so very warm… it made Li angry for some reason.
He’s lying. Look at yourself, why wouldn’t he pity you?
It was Li’s turn to scoff. “Pftttt, sure you haven’t. Look I get it, the shy awkward kid in the corner, everyone would think you were such a saint if you befriended them. But the jig’s up, you don’t need to prove what a great guy you are, everyone already knows now.”
Hurt him before he hurts you, my lovely.
Those were things he’d only ever thought on some very low points… why was he so angry? So… venomous.
Words eluded Jayce for a solid 5 seconds.
“Are you implying that I only befriended you to make me look good? That I masterminded that at 5?” White hot fury was infused into Jayce’s response, almost unbelieving of what Li had said.
So charming, so brave, and what are you, little Lily?
“Yes.” Li replied instantly, voice barely even feeling like his own at the moment.
Unlovable.
The pure hurt on Jayce’s face made Li want to cry, but it was soon covered up by another emotion.
You forgot yourself Vian, you got too cocky, and now he hates you even more.
“Look. I don’t need you to make me look good, I’m already amazing. I only wanted a new friend.”
Don’t let him see just how wretched you really are, sun-child.
Pride.
It’s far too late for regrets, traitor.
And the anger came back in full force, almost unnaturally potent.
Love more. Hate more. Feel more.
“Oh!?”
***
[Pride] [Hurt] [Confidence] [Hope] [Facade]
[Self-Loathing] [Pain] [Defensiveness] [Disbelief] [Facade]
What noisy emotions the bipedals possessed, even [Mother] was never this loud, not even at her [Angriest]. Well, it wasn’t all their fault.
The sound of bells filled the air. The sound of a delicious little snack.
[Laughter] [Amusement] [Change] [Amplify] [Enhance]
A pair of jaws clamped down.
[Pain] [Hurt] [Fear] [Death]
[Destroy] [Snap] [Break] [Dispell]
***
“Gods I don’t even know why I was friends with an arrogant dickhead like you!” Hatefulness twisting Li’s voice into a strangled shout.
Guys don’t like desperate wimps like you, so ugly and stupid. You should’ve just went and killed yourself, coward. Now he has to see your pathetic face.
“Ha! As if I don’t have plenty to be arrogant about!” Jayce Vain cockily said.
Isn’t it obvious? You’ll never make up for your sins, he hasn’t gone to your little games because he won’t ever forgive you, he doesn’t… wait, WAIT, NO!
“…not like it matters anyway.” Slowly deflating.
“And why doesn’t it matter…?” Li asked, voice almost pleading.
“Because the thing I’m most proud about was that I got you to be friends with a dumb meathead like me.” Jayce answered, eyes bright with a mix of affection and sadness.
AHHHHHHH!!!
Something in the air snapped again, and the rage leaked out, the venom subsided.
“Jayce…this… why did we have to come here for this?” Li asked, hollow and drained of all anger.
“Because I refuse to let you walk away from this conversation… and I really wanted to be alone, I won’t let this become some spectacle.” Jayce finally admitted.
Li felt a shred of sympathy, the rumor mills would eat this shit up and spit out thousands of scarily accurate assumptions. There was a rumor someone even had a [Gossip] class, one likely spread by said [Gossip].
Li reeled in his thoughts before he lost track of the conversation.
“Then go to a park! A empty classroom! What the fuck is going on in that head of yours that you’d choose thi-“
Grrrrr!
The atmosphere seemed to shift again before Li’s eyes, leaving him reeling.
“I’m guessing that wasn’t your stomach just growling, right.” Jayce said rhetorically, already slipping into a fighting stance whilst drawing a collapsable practice sword from his bag.
Which would have been nice to inform Li of sooner. Not like they could’ve used it earlier or anything.
Their relationship issues were seemingly forgotten for now, so Li kept quiet lest he reignite both their tempers.
“Hell no, but that wasn’t that thing that [Battle Cry]’d us, was it.” Li said, more statement then question.
Jayce shook his head, and his wooden weapon was unleashed, quickly rising to its proper size.
Footsteps could be heard moving towards them.
Li snatched up a thick tree branch as his ears strained to hear details.
“Too many to be a bipedal… Dire animal maybe? It’s not running, but not sneaking… confident? Not cautious, at least.” Li murmured aloud and Jayce, who looked impressed, looked back at Li questioningly… fuck perception, it enables nosy people.
“Someone’s got a survival sense… going for [Hunter] or something?” Jayce asked, a small smile finally returning to his lips.
Li scoffed jokingly, all too happy to be rid of the hostility. “Dirt and blood with this pretty face? It’d be a tragedy.”
As if he could do this for a living, he’d get grey hairs by 20.
Jayce laughed, eyes glittering. “Maybe I should give you a bow and see what happens?”
A chuckle escaped Li despite himself.
“Oh yeah, arrows and murder, my favorite.”
“Eh, maybe some other time.” Jayce shrugged casually, as if a monster approaching them was a daily occurrence.
They kept lightly bickering, it helped to calm Li’s nerves…
Li noticed that Jayce’s smile slipped into a grimace and back again as the monster broke a tree branch in its approach.
And maybe Jayce’s too.
As his fingers tightened around the branch and he prayed to whoever would listen that he wouldn’t get splinters, a figure came out of the underbrush…
And it was…astonishing…