Chapter Twenty-Four: Classy

  A system notification appeared.

  Congratulations, Traveler!

  The System has recognized your impressive knack for resilience and good ol’ stick-to-itiveness. While you may not excel in many areas, your ability to take a beating is truly commendable. Hey, everyone has their talents!

  To acknowledge your unwavering tenacity, the System is offering you a choice of one of four initial Class Titles. Choose wisely, and remember, it’s not just about surviving; it’s about surviving with style!

  Base Class Titles Available:

  ? Fighter

  ? Mage

  ? Rogue

  ? Cleric

  Choose your path and let the good times roll!

  He stared at the list. The option of Cleric was underlined and glowed faintly.

  Jace thought it over.

  Nothing else seemed to fit. Maybe Rogue...

  Jace sighed, feeling a twinge of disappointment. The idea of unleashing massive fireballs or hacking through goblins with a greatsword had its appeal, but then he remembered the coliseum and how quickly he had been turned into a smear on the floor. “Yeah, okay, maybe not,” he muttered.

  Quest Complete: Get Some Class

  Congratulations! You have accepted the Class Title: Cleric

  Rewards:

  ? 200 EXP

  ? Class Title: Cleric

  ? Item: Simple Cleric’s Rod

  Bonus Reward:

  ? Word of Power Unlocked: Soul Affinity (One Star)

  You’re a Speaker, Jace.

  A surge of energy coursed through Jace, the dark power of his released Affinity merging with his essence. His body glowed faintly as he felt the transformation take hold.

  Jace’s body erupted in a swirl of dark, spiraling energy, like a thousand shards of broken glass catching the dim light. For a fleeting moment, he felt weightless, suspended in midair before being gently set back down. He stood there, a strange sensation simmering beneath his skin, every cell buzzing with energy. A grin spread across his face as the feeling intensified, and a brilliant light expanded from within before vanishing entirely, leaving him blinking in surprise. He checked his notifications.

  Ding!

  Rank Up

  You have gained the rank: Bronze One, Novice Reactionaire.

  You now meet the minimum requirements to attend the bi-annual Star Ceremony and receive your first Bronze Star.

  Status Update:

  ? Classless (Debuff) Removed

  Attribute Points Changed:

  ? Intelligence: +1

  ? Wisdom: +2

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  Total EXP: 950

  EXP Capacity: 950/950

  Warning: You have reached the limit of your maximum stored EXP. Please spend EXP or increase capacity. Any EXP gained over the threshold will be reduced by 90%.

  Time to level up or face the wrath of wasted potential!

  Alright, more brains and wisdom. That’s good. He felt a surge of mental clarity, ideas connecting faster and more smoothly than before.

  As he looked over his character sheet, knowledge from the primer flooded his mind, soaking into him like water into a dry sponge.

  Turns out the System’s effects were not to be underestimated. An increase to Intelligence or Wisdom or Strength really meant just that—an increase. The room seemed slightly brighter, more vivid, and the colors and details crisper. He suspected that was his improved Intelligence.

  Analyzing the overall impact, Jace realized his mental faculties had received a significant boost.

  But all in all, he felt he had made some decent progress, especially now that the Classless Debuff was removed. He shifted from foot to foot, trying to take in all of the changes he was feeling.

  “I gained the ‘Soul’ Affinity.”

  Hades mouthed a silent praise to the Fates, his eyes sparkling for a moment before returning to his usual inscrutable demeanor.

  “Ah, ‘Soul’. Very well.”

  Jace raised an eyebrow. “So, that’s good then?”

  Hades chuckled. “That will depend on you. It is... hopeful. Promising even. But whether it is good or an entirely wasted opportunity is up to you.”

  “Do a lot of people have this Affinity?” Jace asked.

  “Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, kid. No two Words are ever truly the same. When you say soul, it means something different to you than it does to me. You see, possessing the Word grants an Affinity. But Affinities are just that—affinities. They aren’t powers in themselves. They’re inclinations, a natural sort of affection and understanding for a domain, and they manifest very differently in each individual.”

  Jace nodded slowly. “So, it’s like a head start?”

  “Exactly like a head start. Possessing the Word ‘Run’ doesn’t give you all the practice required to run a marathon. But it might speed up the process. Words must be used; abilities must be cultivated and grown. As you do so, you’ll feel the Word move through you, creating pathways for your Aether, or Breath, to flow.

  But I’m afraid there’s no—what did your people used to say?—no ‘get rich quick scheme’ or ‘miracle pill’ for this. Even now, you should feel some abilities working their way through you, fighting to determine your new aether channels. But it is you that will have to put in the work.”

  Jace nodded. That was the first thing in this world that really made sense. As Uncle Albert used to say, “you don’t get nothin’ without work.” He wasn’t really their uncle, of course. Just a neighbor Alex and him started calling that for some reason when they were kids. Jace couldn’t quite recall why.

  “With practice, you’ll eventually progress from Reactionaire to Perceptor,” Hades continued. “That said, no one can predict precisely what abilities will be gained as a Speaker cultivates their Word.”

  Jace grinned, feeling a strange mix of excitement and dread. “So, what you’re saying is, even you have no clue what strange things I’ll be able to do?”

  Hades shook his head. “Don’t get too casual with me, Chosen. You forget precisely how much of your puny little life rests between my forefinger and thumb.” He put heavy emphasis on the last words, but he did not release his aura.

  “I’m kidding.” Jace quickly backpedaled and forced a nervous laugh.

  Desperate to change the subject, Jace latched onto something he had seen in his notifications.

  “It says my EXP has reached its maximum capacity. What does that mean?” Jace asked. He guessed the authors of the Primer didn’t think that info was chapter one material.

  “This is something your Society President would know, so take notes. You’ll need to pass it on when we start accepting new followers.

  EXP is gained through completing quests, besting challenges, and exploring Terra Mythica. It fills up a store of energy within you, but there’s a limit to how much can be stored. When you reach that limit, you need to consolidate it, and direct it into your abilities, skills, and attributes.

  Think of it like this—you gain experience by diving into chaos, you gain wisdom by reflection upon that experience. It’s a cycle—face challenges, step back to learn, then dive back in.”

  “Do I need to meditate or something?” Jace asked, recalling something his brother had mentioned during his studies. Jace wished he had paid more attention when his brother talked about Terra Mythica. All those countless hours of study and preparation would have really come in handy right about now.

  “Not necessarily. Spending EXP is like using a Word—the process is different for everyone. Some people record their experiences in books, becoming Inscriptionists. As they climb in rank, their writings begin to grant others a touch of experience or theoretical knowledge in addition to helping the author consolidate their gains. Others take leisurely walks, staying present and letting their gains fortify naturally. Then there are those who are more methodical, systematic in their approach. Some even share their experiences with an audience, providing minor buffs to the listeners. You’ll find what works best for you.

  Understanding your growth is a personal journey. There are tomes and scrolls that delve into these topics, but no authoritarian approach works unless it simply encourages you to look.

  Any great philosopher can be judged by whether their teachings have made it easier or more difficult to observe the world in which we live and the magic upon which it stands. There are laws of nature and truths in this universe. But even the presence of a law does not relieve you from your duty to observe it for yourself. A teacher can guide you, ask the right questions, and help you train your skills and mind. But you must do the looking and the seeing. You are the adventurer in your own story, after all.”

  Jace tried to ask more, but Hades raised a hand, with a soft chuckle. “You’ve got me monologuing like an old professor of rhetoric. There’s only so much I can tell you, Jace. Some things you simply have to discover for yourself.”

  Sensing the shift in tone, Jace knew he wouldn’t get any more free information out of Hades. They shared a moment of comfortable silence as Jace scrutinized the changes to his stats.