As I walk into the library, I'm greeted by snickering from the guards there. just ignore them I tell myself.  As I walk towards the magical services section. I walk by the advisor’s desk trying not to make eye contact. Lord knows if I do, I might attack him. I walk down the row of statues, noting the numbers.

Looks like Pyromancer is still the number one choice, despite it's limitations. Hydromancer is a close second.  The more technical classes that require some thought to use are around the middle. Classes like  Wizard, Summoner, and Dark Mage are in this bunch. And of course, there's the lower end. These are the classes which are generally outclassed, or offer less stats than the others.  This is where classes like Thaumaturge, Magician, and my very own Channeller go to die.

I know those first two actually sound kind of cool, but Thaumaturge is only good for field effects. They can create fields that monsters can't enter and apparently at level ten can make corrosive fields.  It’s the only reason that they're tenth from the bottom and not right down there with Channeller.  Magician is more about sleight of hand than actual magic, though there is a little involved. they're  number two from the bottom, right above my own Channeller, which, to very little surprise, I have all to myself now. I am the only Channeller left.

I enter the room to the left at the end of the hall labeled ‘Tutors’.  Which leads me to another hall… I go to the very back where I find the room marked ‘Channellers.’ I prepare myself, then enter. It's a lot… more homely than I thought it would be. There's a fireplace in the corner, and a kitchen on the far side of the room. A short older woman in said kitchen turned around when she saw the door close. She smiled warmly, and greeted me.

“Hello dear, how might I help you?”

“O-Oh Uhhh i kinda wanted your advice on this class.” i say, still somewhat shocked. i was expecting a strict man with glasses for some reason.

“Oh! you're the one who upset old Ulric out there. Ah, my apologies for his actions, I was also a bit miffed at him for that. My class is not a curse to throw at people you dislike you know! Ah, I’m sorry, but you truly won't be able to change your class here, if that's what you're wondering. The rules are absolute.”

“Yeah, I know. I don't expect anything like that, I just want to understand it better.”

“Ah is that so? Well, please take a seat, the tea is almost ready. By the way, I’m Lestia Almay”

“Linderman”

“I swear you foreigners, you never have last names, it's quite odd” said Lestia, giggling

I take a seat on the small couch near the fireplace. after ten minutes, the tutor comes with a tray upon which rests bot tea and cookies. After she dispenses a little of both, I try some, and I gotta say, it's amazing. I've never been a tea drinker, but this flavor is phenomenal, it's fruity with just the right int of mint. How did they get this sort of flavor into a video game? Lestia takes a seat next to me, watching me enjoy the tea with a smile on her face. Then she begins talking.

“Young man, what you have to understand is this: this class is not meant for the battlefield. The majority of people with this class are elders of villages, usually women. The Channeller class was made hundreds of years ago as a way to support the people.”

“Wait so then why is it here as a magical class?” i ask, confused.

“The only reason it's even here is because the kingdom wanted to make all the basic classes accessible. And we do have some attack spells, so here we are. But those aren't really for active combat, but for scaring off pests or dealing with a drunken vagrant or two.”

“Then what about the support and healing spells?”

“Have you noticed that your [strengthen] spell lasts a lot longer than your [weaken] one? That was so that when the elder was making her- or his, rounds around the village in the morning, they could Strengthen the farmers, give them a good start. or for use on the town patrol when they're going to go subjugate a violent monster. [Weaken] is for temporarily weakening a local criminal so the town patrol can take him without a big fight. [Health channelling]  gains the attribute of pain relieving when it reaches novice level.  It's use is primarily for assisting with childbirth, easing the mother’s pain, or when there's been an accident, and someone is dying and it may take the town healer a minute to arrive.  You give your own  health for the sake of others. This class is about taking care of your people, not taking charge in battle.”

I was dumbstruck. I mean, it's just different than I imagined. I knew that this wasn't a good class, but I didn't think it was  just basically town helper. No, I won't give up, I can't. Besides the fact that I have friends depending on me, I have to conquer the game! I’ll ask her if there is possibly  a way, there has to be!

“There has to be a way. Perhaps… perhaps were just not using the class correctly. Maybe if I-” the tutor rose her hand, silencing me. She had a gentle smile on her face, with a hint of pity in her eyes.

“Come with me” She said.  She got  up, and grabbed a necklace with nine huge multicolored beads on it and put it on. She lead me through a door into what looked like a training room. she stood in front  a group of wooden dolls.  She muttered a spell, and then a beam of light from every bead, no, every orb shot out at the dolls. 9 beams of multicolored light pierced through the group of dolls, destroying them all.

“Whoa, how did you do that, it was incredible!” I said, astonished.

“No my dear, it wasn't. That was the apex of my power, my best offensive spell, [Homing Mana Beam]. Keep in mind that I am very high leveled,  high enough to be chosen as a tutor here, but the maximum power I wield is only enough to take out around a dozen people, and that is being generous. now I can shoot that off quite a few times due to our class having quite a bit of mana, but think about what the other class tutors can do. The head Pyromancer tutor can burn down an entire city if he is unchallenged, the head Thaumaturge  can make a toxic field so powerful that he can turn a forest into a wasteland in a single day. I brought you here to show you the truth. We just aren't meant for combat.”

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“I see.” There was really nothing else to say. I took a seat on the floor. This really sucks.

“Why do you wish to be strong anyway? Is being a hero so great? Do you wish to have songs and stories wrote about you that much? What's wrong with taking care of people? Is that too lowly a task for foreigners?” she asks. She’s doing her best to hide it, but I can hear hints of irritation in her voice. It's understandable, I’m treating her life’s work like some sort of curse.

“No! No… I have friends that are counting on me. I'm the leader, a leader should be strong! but i’m weak… I don't wanna be weak anymore, i don't wanna be a loser.. I… I just…”  i feel a tear fall from my eyes. Why are there tears? It's just a game, right? I attempt to wipe them away, yet they kept forming against my will. Then I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. it guided me back to the main room,  and put warm tea in my hands. For quite a while, we just sat there, sipping tea. I don't know why, but it made me feel better than talking about it would have.  Then she broke the silence.

“As long as you have this class, you will never be the strongest. But, there is a way wherein you don't have to be completely weak..” i looked up at her, but she steadily looke forward and continued.

“Firstly, equipment. You need to acquire the finest items you can, an equip as much as you can. Robes, Shoes, hats, anything and everything. It is the only way to narrow the gap between you and the naturally superior classes. Secondly, we as channellers use orbs.We have the ability to use multiple orbs, as I do with my necklace. A common theory is that because we deal with so many types of energy, we can withstand it better than the average person. Ah, no, please, don't get too excited. Plenty of mages learn things like dual casting and are far more effective. Most orbs are horrible as offensive weapons, in fact the orb you're using now  is not that far below average. But what you can take advantage of are rings. most rings contain orbs in the form of gemstones, after all, an orb is basically an enchanted ball. This is why many people can only wear two enchanted rings, but you will be able to wear one on each finger… probably not yet though. four is probably your limit until you level up some more. remember,  always have the same amount on each hand, for balance. Lastly…” Lestia paused. for a moment before continuing.

“Lastly, We  as channellers deal with all types of energy; stamina, mana, health. We aren't foreign to spiritual energy either. There are times when in a village,  a recently deceased individual’s spirit becomes restless and violent. At such a time, it is the responsibility of the elder to confront the spirit, and give it peace. it is possible to then convert such a soul into an ancestral spirit for the household he or she belonged to in life. I tell you this because there is a place, an old settlement to the northeast,  at the foot of the mountains. The residents there died long ago, and now haunt the place as ghosts. If you confront them, and give them peace, then perhaps,  PERHAPS, you may be able to gain their allegiance. I do not approve of using the honored dead in such a way, but you are not me and I won't hold you to my principles. This is all the knowledge I can give you child, make use of it how you will.”

New Quest: Bringing the Dead Peace

You have been asked to confront the restless spirits of Boulder settlement

Requirements: (???)

Rewards: (???), Increased Familiarity with Lestia Almay, Increased reputation with all Channellers

Failure:No further assistance from Lestia Almay

Difficulty: D

A D difficulty quest!  That meant I would either need to be really strong or have a good party to complete it. Well, at  least it doesn't have a time limit, me and the others can go level up some. But there was one thing I didn't understand.

“Why are you giving me this opportunity?” I ask. It's not like she didn't like me, but she seemed kind of like the anti-adventure type, so her suddenly giving me all this info seemed kind of odd.

“Because I realized you are indeed a Channeller, dear. You just want to take care of your people too.  Although for you, it's your party, not a village. There’s no difference, except in numbers. You wish to be strong  for them, yes?  Although you may never lead from the front, I thought maybe, with a little help, you may be able to take care of them from the back. Go now, be with your people.  Though I’ll always welcome your company, there is no need to return here when you finish your task.  Do your best, protect them, guide them, and everything will be alright.”

I swear, Lestia has the gentlest smile. She has a way of just making me feel alright. If I had a grandmother, I pray she would be like her.  I get up,  and leave with a smile on my face that not even seeing the magical advisor's face can take from me. Then I log out.