“Well, I can’t say I am entirely surprised, but the five most promising students in my class are paired together in a party for the second term. Interesting indeed, as the headmaster said.” Instructor Adelphius said, stroking his beard.
The five of us were in his office to get instructions on what to do next.
“Well, like we said in class, the five of you are going to go to the Adventurer’s Guild to register as a party, then start tackling tasks and working your way up to the rank of silver. Mr. Iphitus, you’re the party leader, so I don’t wish to hear news of you delegating the leadership of the party to Ms. Azoth or Lady Sept. Got it?”
“…Yes sir. Crystal.” The nervous boy answered stiffly like he always did.
“Splendid. Now, normally I would send you on your way, but I strongly recommend that the five of you borrow an arena to demonstrate the full range of your abilities. I know that people tend to guard their status jealolusly, and that some of you may have problems with each other,” he said, staring at the noble and me, “yet I still insist you do so all the same. Your lives can easily depend on it.”
We looked to Nisos, who didn’t say anything because his nerves got to him. Tapping his finger on his desk, the instructor spoke again.
“Well, what are you waiting for?! Go now, I’ve got other parties to look after!”
***
The five of us booked one of the arenas and asked a staff member to operate it for us. We stood in an empty plain not unlike the one I fought the headmaster from Hebnopet. Nisos took a deep breath, then turned to us.
“S-Since I was assigned as party leader, it’s only fitting that I be the first to tell you about my abilities. I have the [Unyielding Hoplite] class, and it’s of uncommon rarity. I am at class level 37, and my attribute is water, though I am not very familiar with magic. I am a regular rank F human, so I have to rely on my class and skills.”
“I’ve been thinking about this for a while, but isn’t that class a waste of your talents? Someone fighting at the front won’t be able to see the whole battlefield or have the time to issue orders.” The noble asked.
“Yes, it is, though I didn’t have much choice in the matter. That said, when I reach class level 50, I’ll be able to unlock my first class advancement, and I am hoping to unlock a particular class that will let me take advantage of my skills as a tactician and a leader, which will boost troops under my command and allow me to command them effectively even in the thick of the fight.”
“Hmm…” the noble said noncommittally as she played with her hair.
Jezibel went next.
“Although you may know this already, I am the daughter of a merchant family. However, since I am quite far down the inheritance line, I’ve decided to prepare myself to become an adventurer and rely on myself. The class I chose to take me down this path is [Beast Contractor]. It is of the rare rarity and it’s at level 24. I am arcane-attributed, with a specialization in the life magic branch of arcane magic, and I mainly rely on the power of my beasts and support spells to fight. I am also a regular rank F human, though a few of my contracted beasts have reached rank D.”
“Sweet, I am also arcane-attributed! Twinsies! Oh, by the way, can you cast those support spells on the rest of us?” I said, leaning towards Jezibel as she stepped away slightly.
“No, unfortunately not. The reason I can empower my beasts is because I am contracted to them. If you want support spells, you’ll have to look to incantations to do that.”
Ati cleared his throat, drawing our attention.
“I have the [Wind Archer] class, which is of the uncommon rarity, and it’s at level 31. I am of the rank E falconman race of common rarity, which lets me fly and grants me abilities related to flight, vision, and improved dexterity, though I was born with it and did not earn experience for it. As you may have guessed from my class’s name, I am wind-attributed. I specialize at scouting ahead for dangers and harassing enemies from the sky, though my ability to achieve aerial supremacy depends on who I’m going up against.”
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The three of them soon turned to me and the noble with interest, given that neither of us spoke much of our actual abilities yet. The noble sighed and spoke up.
“I am a rank B species of human known as [Ascended Human], which is of legendary rarity and grants me bonuses to my incantations, my connection to my god, and my wisdom. My level in this rank is 6 since I only got it just before I entered the academy. I am fire attributed, with a specialization in the light branch of fire magic. I primarily use it to complement my incantations and my class skills when fighting enemies of my God. My class is [Chosen of Mett]. It is of legendary rarity and is at level 113. It’s a paladin-type class that grants me mastery over all martial weapons, chariot riding and mounted combat. It also grants me bonuses to combat with enemies of my god or in defense of order and justice, as well as the most powerful incantations that Lady Mett can grant.”
The air in the room froze as the noble dropped a meteor on our heads.
Jezibel drew a sharp breath like it was her last, as Ati’s eyes widened and Nisos’s jaw dropped. I whistled, surprised that she’s got a lead on me in levels and class levels.
“Well, at least you’ve got the ability to back your attitude.”
She raised an eyebrow at me.
“Well, what about you? Can you back up yours?”
I grinned.
“I am a rank C species of dragon known as [Dragon Shifter]. It is of legendary rarity and allows me to take the form of any sapient species I encounter along with some of its compatible racial traits, as long as it is of equivalent or lower rank. It’s at level 3 since I also entered the House of Aspirants shortly after I got it. My class is [Sovereign of Gravity], which is of the mythic rarity. It’s at level 7 since I got it at the same time as my rank. I am both arcane-attributed and atypical-attributed, and my atypical attribute is force. My class makes use of both of these attributes, and allows me to wield gravity on myself, my foes, and other objects. What it lacks in direct stopping power it makes up for in versatility, and its value scales directly with how creative I can get. It also helps that my race can shore up that weak spot regardless.”
The poor three who were just starting to recover from the noble’s secret were sent reeling once again.
“Mythic class… Mythic Class! And it’s her first one! ‘A little ahead of our class’ my foot!” Jezibel whispered in disbelief, cradling her head as if the world does not make any sense.
“…So, it’s true. You’re a dragon. And you can even take the form and abilities of any sapient rank C creature or lower.” Ati said, contemplating in awe.
“Two attributes, and they’re directly opposite of each other… You have a high affinity for every single attribute!” Nisos said excitedly.
“Disgustingly powerful, as expected. Dragons…” the noble said, eliciting another broad grin from me.
“Just in case you’d like a little demonstration… Take a look!” I said, activating [Field of Oppression] and [Force Inversion], launching all of us into the sky!
Jezibel and Nisos screamed, as Ati flapped his wings and moved towards them to try and steady their flight. The noble clicked her tongue as golden, feathered wings sprouted on her back; allowing her to control her flight. I switched from the form of human to a falconwoman, with brown wings sprouting on my back to match Ati’s, surprising him as I laughed heartily.
“We’re going to have so much fun, you guys! But first, before any of that adventurer guild nonsense, we need to get you guys up to a decent rank first!”
Nisos barely managed to get his bearings before screaming at me – though I am betting he isn’t aware of it.
“BUT REACHING SILVER RANK IS ALREADY GOING TO COST US A LOT OF TIME!”
I laughed even harder.
“YEAH, IF YOU’RE THAT WEAK THEN IT WILL! BUT WE’LL WORK ON THAT AND GET YOU GUYS TO OUR LEVEL!”
The noble sighed in exasperation.
“Even if agreeing with her is an unpleasant proposition, I find that I must concur regardless. We need to get all of you up to our standards if you don’t wish to drag us down. I also believe you’ll find it helpful in your future endeavors. Reaching above even silver rank just becomes a matter of time if we can manage to pull the lot of you up, so passing the second term could be done this term or in the one after it, if we fail to reach silver rank in time. It would be much better than rushing to the guild and wasting our time with nothing to show for it.”
I took Jezibel’s hand from Ati and steadied her as he took hold of Nisos. The Ionian boy then looked towards the two of us after contemplating our arguments.
“I think what you two said has merit. I’ll agree to it as long as pulling this off does not take longer than a month. After that, we go back to the guild no matter what to begin climbing the rank ladder. That’s the best compromise I can make. I think…”
The boy seemed very sure of himself right up until the last two words. Oh well, nothing a delve in the Abyss can’t fix.