Within the outskirts of a humble village, an old man in an orphanage captivated a group of wide-eyed children. The young ones were filled with awe and curiosity, except for one. Ric, 15-year old child, paid attention to the old man while thinking "It's been a while since we all gathered like this outside of classes, well, let's see what he has in store."

The old man asked the children with a gentle smile on his face "My young ones, let this old man tell you the captivating history of this world, Do you want to hear it?" The children, filled with curiosity, nodded in agreement, except for one. Ric, who recognised what the old man was going to say, thought "Oh! So it's about the hero and the demon king. I remember reading about it before but..." Suddenly, Ric felt a stinging pain in his head "Ugh!" He groaned silently, trying to hide his pain, So as to not disturb the other kids.

The old man, seeing the bright expressions on the children's faces, started speaking "When I was young, the land was much larger. Humans and other species were able to live peacefully. Imagine playing ball with an elf or brawling with a dwarf, those days were good... but everything must come to an end. Marking the end of those peaceful times, the demons arrived through portals! They were bloodthirsty and violent, they massacred the humans and ate them to fulfill their desires. The dragons and other species couldn't help the humans due to the influence of the demon king. The realm was engulfed in a tumultuous conflict—a massive war between humans and the demons. For an excruciatingly long decade the battle waged on, leaving behind a lot of destruction and despair. Yet, in the midst of this seemingly endless strife, a singular figure emerged from the shadows—a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. A hero, driven by an unwavering resolve and fueled by an indomitable spirit, changed the course of history!

It was a decade ago that the hero stepped forward, embracing a daunting destiny that entailed laying down his own life to bring peace. With unwavering determination, he embarked on a perilous journey to confront the malevolent demon king—the very embodiment of evil—and put an end to his tyrannical reign.

Through treacherous battles and many hardships, the hero pressed on, his heart aflame with a purpose that transcended personal gain. He wielded not only weapons of steel, but also the strength of his convictions. As he navigated through the war-torn landscape, the hero's courage and unwavering spirit became a source of inspiration for all who witnessed his power... And I was also one of them."

An 8-year-old child asked the wise old man, who was reminiscing his memories "Sir, did you see the hero?"

The old man responded, nostalgia seeping in his words "Yes my child, he was a very brave man. His will was unbreakable, even in the midst of a bloody battlefield, where everyone lost hope, despair swallowed them, and fear gripped their hearts! he was the only one who kept shining like the sun. Sigh..." the old man became quite nostalgic.

Silence swept through the air for some time, then the old man saw the children getting worried for him, so he continued "Well, it's all in the past. Let's continue our story!"

The children agreed cheerfully and the old man continued. Ric, who witnessed this conversation was forced to think "Is the teacher some kind of bigshot? Hmm... no, it doesn't make sense for a bigshot to live in the outskirts of some run-down village." Ric then flushed his thoughts down the drain and concentrated on the story.

As the teacher continued to narrate the adventures of the hero, a 10-year-old child named Gray became curious and decided to confide in another child named Alden, who was 13 and sitting beside him. Gray leaned in closer and whispered in Alden's ear, "Hey, am I the only one who isn't curious about the hero's name?"

Alden was taken aback by Gray's question and hesitantly replied, "I-it seems you were also sleeping that day, right?"

Gray tilted his head in confusion, unable to comprehend Alden's response. Alden leaned in even closer and whispered quietly in Gray's ear, "You see, Big Brother Ric, right? Never mention the hero's name in front of him, okay? If you're that curious, you can ask the teacher when Big Brother Ric isn't around. It's a rule, remember it."

Gray was still puzzled but agreed to follow the rule, nodding in acknowledgment. Both of them then refocused their attention on the old man's story, which was reaching its climax.

"Finally, the moment arrived—the cataclysmic showdown between the hero and the demon king. In a clash of titanic proportions, the two forces collided, their powers reverberating through the very fabric of existence. The hero, with unwavering determination, channeled his innermost strength and struck a decisive blow, vanquishing the demon king and ending his reign! But... In order to gain something sometimes a sacrifice is necessary. The world embraced peace, but it came at a great cost—the sacrifice of the hero.

With the defeat of their dark oppressor, a profound stillness descended upon the world. The demons hid in the shadows and stopped their attacks. The hero's sacrifice had brought about the long-awaited peace that humanity yearned for."

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A 10-year-old child from among the group, unable to contain their excitement, raised his hand and asked a question. The room hushed as he addressed the teacher, his voice brimming with anticipation.

"Sir, what class did the hero belong to?" He asked eagerly, his eyes shining with curiosity.

The teacher, a wise and experienced figure, paused for a moment, reminiscing about the hero's extraordinary journey. A soft smile graced his lips as he responded, "My young ones, the hero had a class known as the 'barriard'."

Perplexed, the children exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued further, except for one. Ric, who was quite satisfied, started thinking "He's good, the way the old man told the story was much more satisfying than reading about it in a history book. But..." his eyes widened as he paid attention before adding to his thoughts "Now, this is the important part. Even though I searched throughout the library, there was nothing about this 'Barriard' class in any book."

In a playful manner, the teacher decided to engage the children's imagination. "Before I tell you about a barriard," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of intrigue, "let me pose a question to all of you. How many classes, do you believe, exist in our vast world?"

Ric, raised his hand, capturing the attention of the teacher.

"Ah, Ric," the teacher acknowledged with a nod. "Do you know how many classes there are?"

With a sense of confidence, Ric spoke with unwavering certainty. "Sir, based on my research, I know that our world has four major classes, each encompassing a multitude of sub-classes. These four classes are Mage, Alchemist, Healer, and Warrior."

The teacher acknowledged Ric's knowledge. "Well done, my astute scholar," he praised.

"Indeed, as Ric has aptly mentioned, these four classes form the foundation of our understanding. However, there exists a fifth class—one that defies categorization within the traditional hierarchy. This class is known as the 'barriard'," the teacher declared, his voice laden with intrigue.

The children leaned forward, captivated by the teacher's words, their imaginations alight with possibilities, except for Ric. Who was engaged in his thoughts "It defies the traditional hierarchy? Why? What's so special about it? What does it do?" But, his thoughts were interrupted.

A child stood up and eagerly asked, "Sir! What exactly does the barriard class do?"

The teacher pondered for a moment and replied, "Well, there isn't much information available about barriards. They are considered somewhat elusive because, similar to their name, barriards have the ability to create barriers of any shape. However, this particular skill can also be accomplished by mages. That's why barriards are often deemed as useless, and there are only a few individuals who possess this class."

Just then, Ric stood up and inquired, "If the barriard class is considered useless, how did the hero manage to defeat the demon king with this class?"

The teacher smiled and responded, "Nice observation, Ric! That is a mystery. As an old man approaching his eighties, I haven't given it much thought. Hoho!"

Ric sat back down, deep in thought. He mused to himself, "If the class is truly useless, how did the hero defeat the demon king? What if the barriard class holds potential, and our understanding of it is simply limited? Maybe..."

Suddenly, the teacher interrupted the class, "Oh! I almost forgot to mention, children. Tomorrow, a mage from the Magic Tower will be visiting us to assess each one of you."

Excitement rippled through the room as the students whispered amongst themselves.

"Sir! Will we finally learn what class we have tomorrow?" asked an eager student.

The teacher nodded and replied, "Indeed, my young ones. Tomorrow, you shall discover your respective classes. So, be prepared! But remember, to have the energy you need for tomorrow, let's fill our bellies first. Let's eat!"

The children hurriedly followed the teacher, but Yota, a fellow student, caught up with Ric and tapped him on the back.

"Hey, Ric! What's up? Which class do you think you'll get?"

Ric shrugged, "I honestly don't know."

Yota persisted, "Well I know that, but I just wanted to ask, which class do you want? For me, I'd love to become a fire mage! I'd burn away all the demons and become the world's new hero!"

Ric smirked and replied, "That's not going to happen."

Surprised, Yota questioned, "What do you mean by that?"

Ric grinned mischievously and teased, "Because it's you."

Yota's face scrunched up in confusion, "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

Chuckling, Ric simply said, "Nothing, just kidding." He then sprinted towards the teacher.

Yota chased after him, shouting, "Hey, Ric! Get back here!"

The two friends raced through the hallway, their laughter echoing as they eagerly awaited the next day's revelations.