Vittorio looked around and saw a small meeting room, suited for a handful of people. A table and some chairs had been moved to one side to make room for a rather large desk, half of which was taken up by a massive book. A small window let in light. A pretty comfortable-looking - and nicely carved, Benizios work? - chair faced the desk, behind which sat a man. A dwarf, just like Gloria had said. He had somewhat pale skin, short brown hair, a well-trimmed beard, and was dressed in the same deep blue as the woman outside, though without the yellow slash. Vittorios first impression was that he had kind eyes and seemed to be in a good mood.

“Your friend, I take it?” the man - the [Class Guide] - Master Kahe said with a smile and a glance at the door Gloria just slammed shut. “Good fortune to you! A true friend if I’m any judge. But come in, have a seat! And take a deep breath: Everything will be fine, slag take me if it won’t.” His voice was higher than Vittorio had expected, and he had a melodious accent. Vittorio followed his instructions, took a seat, and a few deep breaths.

“Can I offer you some water?” Without waiting for an answer he filled a cup for Vittorio, who drank deeply. His stomach settled somewhat.

“Feeling better? Good. I am Kaheleleuma, [Class Guide] and Master-rank member of the Society of Guidance. You are?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Vittorio Merchant.”

“It is my good fortune to see you this day, Vittorio Merchant. You know why you’re here of course: A class! A wonderful occasion it is, and I thank you for letting me be part of it. Before we truly begin there are a few things I want to tell you, things that may soothe your worry and shine light on questions. I’ll try to be brief.” The mans voice, still friendly, took on a much more business-like tone.

“First and foremost: What we do today is not carved in stone. Should you wish to wander other paths you can change your class by visiting any [Class Guide] and start all over. Only rule is you must be level 5 - that’s not our rule mind you but that of the system.

“Second: You’re already paid up for a lifetime. Whenever you have need of guidance the Society will provide.

“Third: What exactly we’ll be doing today. Not much to it really. As a [Class Guide] I can affect the system - the grand magical construct that gives classes and the like. Only nudge it though, mind you. I can’t make it offer a class it doesn’t want to. To help with that I’ll ask you some questions, then I’ll grant you access to the Interface where you can see the details of yourself and your class, and finally I’ll make the system give suggestions. We’ll talk it over, you pick one, and that’s it! Nothing to it, like widening a crack. Anything you’re wondering before we get going?”

“Yeah. So I, uh… I haven’t really done a lot of things, you know? Kinda just helped my parents in their shop. Does that- I mean, will I only get those kinds of classes?”

“Possibly, if that’s what you want”, Master Kahe said with a gentle smile. “But if not? The System is cleverer than that. People have tried to make the System give their kids a specific class as long as there’s been a System but it doesn’t work. The System is like a smith: It cares little for how the ingot was made, but sees what it can be forged into.”

“But surely the ingot-”

“Yes yes”, the Guide said, waving his hand “it’s not a perfect simile. Point is it’s your future that matters, not your past. ” Vittorio nodded, feeling a bit more confident. When he remained silent Master Kahe took that to mean they could move on.

“Let’s get to chatting, shall we? First off, is there anything you want or don’t want? In general terms.”

“Uh, well, my parents want me to-” Vittorio cut off as Master Kahe raised his hand.

“I’m sure your parents have given their opinions, but this is about you. What do you want? If you agree with them that’s fine, but I don’t want you to do what they’ve told you. The Society takes a very dim view of people trying to make others take classes for their sake.”

Vittorio thought for a while. This was it: He could make his own choice or obey his parents. Go out on his own or go home. If he left, his parents would never accept him back. If he returned, they would never let him change class. He would live with them for the rest of his life.

“I… I don’t want any mercantile class.”

Master Kahe could see how hard that choice was, but also that it was what the boy really wanted - so he moved on swiftly. “No mercantile, very good. Anything else? Are you open to a combat class?”

Vittorio chewed his lip. “Well, my friend wants-” he paused as the guide raised an eyebrow, but continued: “she wants to be an adventurer and has asked if I want to join her. I kind of want to but… it’s so dangerous.”

“Ah, that is an option of course. Starting your adventuring career with someone you can trust is wise, as is your caution. I would suggest I try to guide the system towards hybrid classes: Ones which have both combat and non-combat skills. You could try out adventuring but if it’s not for you you could change paths without changing your class.”

“What kind of classes are that?”

“Oh, they are many and varied. Leadership, healing, magic, some crafting classes, as well as things such as [Hunter] or [Beastmaster].”

“That sounds good, I think… Yeah, yeah I like that.”

“Non-mercantile hybrid class. Anything else? Anything you want to avoid?”

“Like what?”

“Fear of an animal? Sensitive to a smell? Anything of that sort?”

“Uhm… nothing comes to mind, really.”

“Very good, then we will move on. I’m going to ask a question or give you a scenario and you just tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Nothing too tricky, I’m just trying to get an idea of the type of person you are, you see?” Vittorio nodded. Master Kahe picked up a chalkboard and some chalk and settled back in his chair.

He continued: “You are with a group of friends. Two of them get into an argument about what the group should do next. Neither option is better or worse in your opinion. What do you do?”

“Uhm… try to find a middle ground, maybe? A compromise? Suggest we do both for a little bit?” Vittorio had often needed to calm his parents when they were fighting without telling them what to do.

“Uh huh.” Master Kahe made a mark on a chalkboard.

“Was that… right? Good?”

“Was it honest?”

“Yes.”

“Then it was perfect! Full marks.” Vittorio wasn’t sure what that meant, but was still pleased. He’d been worried Master Kahe would treat his answers the same way his parents did. “Next: You’re walking down the street. Looking down an alley you see a friend being beaten up by a stranger. What do you do?”

“I… turn and shout ‘She’s over here!’ and try to make the attacker think more people are coming, maybe?”

“I see.” Another mark on the board. The questions continued on for a while, with Vittorio growing more comfortable with the format and more confused about what was going on. Eventually they reached a question he found he could not answer.

“You are in a large town with patrolled, safe wilderness around it. You have a free day, and the weather is good. All of your friends are busy. How do you spend your day?”

Vittorio thought for a while. “So, I have no chores or anything?”

“No.”

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“And I’m alone?”

“There are people in the town, but you’re not with anyone you know.”

“I guess I'd wait for one of them to be done for the day?”

“They won’t be done until nightfall.”

“Then… I guess I’d get started on tomorrow's chores?”

This time there was a noticeable pause before Master Kahe did whatever it is he’s doing on the chalkboard. “I see…”

And on it went. There were more scenarios (“A friend owes you money and says they can’t pay you back. The next day you see them wearing a fine new cloak. What do you do?”) as well as this-or-that questions (“Night or day?”, “A painful victory or a painless defeat?”) but after a good 10 minutes the [Class Guide] looked over his chalkboard and declared them done.

“I think I have what I need. Thank you, I know that part can be a bit confusing and tiring.”

“If you don’t mind my asking, why did we do that?”

“Ah! Of course, I didn’t really explain it, did I? The heart of the matter is the System: It can evaluate what you’re good and bad at, but not what you want or how you think. In order to help guide it I need to get an idea of those things. That’s why people who aren’t guided sometimes end up with classes they can’t stand: Someone who hates fish and water ends up a [Sailor] because they’re strong and have good balance and so on.”

“Oh. And am I… a good person?”

Master Kahe raised his eyebrows. “I leave such judgments to the Gods. Most of all this is instinctual, but I can say I believe you to be hard-working, fair, cautious but not cowardly, indecisive, uncomfortable with being relied upon… A mixed haul, like everyone. But! It’s time for you to get access to the Interface! Please wait just a moment.”

With that he raised a hand towards Vittorio, his eyes going unfocused yet intent. Several seconds passed. A bead of sweat stood out on his forehead. Nothing happened.

“Accessing the Interface can be a bit tricky to get used to. You need to focus on the spot between your eyes - not on your nose, but inside your head. Some people find it helps if they touch the spot and imagine the pressure reaching in. Take your time.”

Vittorio felt a bit silly, sitting there trying to focus on something that was just nothing. He couldn’t exactly feel anything there. Eventually he tried the trick: He put his finger between his eyes and imagined a root reaching down from his skin, inside his skull, deeper and dee-

Attributes Class Status Log

He almost poked himself in the eye when he was suddenly aware of the Interface window. He didn’t see it with his eyes, but it felt like sight and it made his normal vision a bit blurry.

“I think I see it”, he said.

Master Kahe chuckled. “I gathered as much. Now, I’ve had a little sneak peek and there’s something I want to explain before we take a look around: Attributes and their ratings. A common misconception is that having a high rating makes you amazing and a low rating makes you terrible. What they actually mean is how well suited you are to classes focusing on them. Things will be made clear soon. Try to focus on the word ‘Attributes’.”

Vittorio did so, stopping at the second line, dismayed at what he saw.

Attributes Awareness: Average Class Intellect: Bad Status Mentality: Very good Log Personality: Average Physicality: Below average

“My parents are right, I am stupid”

“No.” Master Kahes voice was firm. “What did I just tell you? It only tells us how suited you are for an Intellect-focused class. It has no meaning in itself. Focus on the word ‘Intellect’ and think the word ‘Learning’”.

Vittorio did so. The screen changed.

Attributes Intellect: Bad Class Learning:

* Reading: Terrible

* Reasoning: Average

* Spoken: Below average

Status Log

“You see, ‘Attributes’ don’t mean much. They are just groups of Traits, of which there are hundreds if not thousands. Traits actually describe your capabilities. For now I’ve had you look at only the Learning Traits linked with Intellect. See that first point? That right there is the reason for your poor Intellect rating: You don’t learn well from reading. That’s it. I’ve had a look and your memory, knowledge and so on are all perfectly fine.

“The thing is, Intellect-based classes typically rely very heavily on studying, so it has a strong effect on the Attribute rating. In fact, to become a successful [Wizard], [Healer], [Scholar] and so on you need to complete formal studies at a school. No big institution or patron will hire one without schooling. It's so vital that I’ve had people visit me who’d barely been taught to read and write and knew nothing beyond their parents craft - but their Learning: Reading Trait was very high, and so their Intellect Attribute was Good.

“Personally, I am of the opinion that there are vanishingly few truly stupid people. Practically everyone is smart or gifted in one way or another. As for you? It’s quite easy to show that you’re not stupid. Focus on ‘Attributes’ again, then ‘Mentality’ and think ‘Learning’ and you’ll see.”

Attributes Mentality: Very good Class Learning:

* Example: Good

* Experience: Excellent

* Observation: Good

Status Log

“One might say that you learn through lived experiences rather than by studying” Master Kahe said. “High ratings in Example and Observation - those being following practical instructions and by watching - and Excellent in Experience. Excellent, you might be interested to know, is the highest rating there is. You may not do well as a [Wizard] but from this I’d say a [Blacksmith] would love to have you as an apprentice.”

Vittorio lost focus, the box vanishing. He stared at the [Class Guide].

“You are not stupid, but you may have been taught the wrong way. I suspect you will learn a great deal if you do go into adventuring.” The genuine look of confidence and kindness in the dwarfs eyes made Vittorio feel a great deal better about himself.

“The rest of the Interface will be empty for now. ‘Class’ shows information on your class, ‘Status’ your current health and so on, and ‘Log’ a list of events which have altered something in one of the other parts.”

Master Kahe leaned forward, smiling. “Are you ready to see what classes the System has to offer you?”