"Iason! Come down! It's your big day!" Were the words of my mom calling me from downstairs. It was my 18th birthday, meaning that I finally have the chance to figure out what Venator class I belong in! Ever since I found out I was a Venator, I've been waiting for this day for years!
"One sec, mom!" I shouted down before pulling on my white hoodie and ruffling my hair in the mirror. After rushing downstairs, I got a good look at my mom before I left. We had fairly similar features, such as our big blue eyes and slim bodies. My blonde hair took after my father, though, a powerful warrior Venator who is seated at the top of the ranks.
My mom pulls me in for a hug and pats me on my shoulder. "You stay out of trouble over there, alright? I'll make sure Kia looks out after you!" Kia Firaga was my childhood friend, who had a fiery personality that matched well with her powers. She was a couple of months older than me, so she received her class first. After undergoing the test, she became a battle-mage who specialized in enhancing her attacks with powerful fire-based skills. She always made that stuff look so cool! I just hope my class will be as good as hers.
"Oh c'mon, mom. I'll be alright." Although it was subtle, she could tell by the look on my face that I was worried. What if I become something that I don't want to be? Or maybe a class that even my parents wouldn't be happy with? All of those negative thoughts were stopped in an instant, the moment she spoke again.
"Hey." My mom looked me in the eyes and spoke sincerely. "Whatever you end up as, I'll always be your number one fan. Got it?"
I stared at her, not even realizing the small tear rolling down my cheek and curving past my slight smile. "Got it."
"And fix your hair! You need to make a good impression." My mom reaches for my head and starts adjusting each strand, which I stop quickly by lightly pushing her hands away.
"Mom! Come on!" I audibly laugh.
With a farewell and a wave, I stepped out of our home and started walking down the street. The Diamondback Association building shouldn't be too far away from here. The Diamondback Association is the company offering resources and training to Venators nowadays. Ever since the Fissures opened, the Diamondbacks seized the opportunity to help out these people with their newfound abilities. It was this association where my dad was trained, where I promised him I would follow.
As I started spacing out, I felt a sudden hand grab my shoulder, followed by some loud yelling. "Hey, Goldie!" That nickname... I turn to my right and see Kia smiling at me. She had bright red hair and eyes, along with dark skin from getting tanned by the constant use of her fire.
"Kia! So my mom really did ask you to watch me..." Sighing, I look down, somewhat dejected. "Nah, nah! I just came here to wish you a happy birthday! Also, I'm watching over you on my own accord." Kia lifted her hand off and continued walking next to me.
"Yeah right... Oh! By the way, what was the test like for you? I hope I didn't have to study anything." Studying and taking tests were never my strong suit. Sure, I might have gotten through school, but the main reason why they were so lenient with me was because I was confirmed to become a Venator. I still tried my best however. Even if I get special accommodations, I don't want those things to give me an unfair advantage over everyone.
"It's not anything special, to be honest. The Diamondback Association made something based on the status window to tell a person what their class is." The female says before shrugging, her eyes tracing up the large, spire-like building in front of us. The status window... A mysterious system that activates after a Venator turns 18. In fact, I got a message from it in the form of a translucent digital window when I woke up this morning. It said, "Congratulations on becoming a Venator!" And that was it. It's not much, but at least I know it's not broken or anything.
"So this is it, right?" I say, following Kia's gaze.
"Yup! I'll help you check in, and we'll find out your class in a bit!" She says, patting my shoulder before going off and heading towards the door. I follow her and enter one of the sets of double glass doors, almost instantly being amazed by the structure inside the building. The walls above the receptionist desk were lined with black and white marble, sectioning each of them off to form patterns and symbols, each of which represented a special sigil of the Venators.
The beginning of the symbols was shaped as a Fissure, which had a similarity to a crack in the ground caused by an earthquake. That's how all Fissures start as. A small earthquake followed by a message sent to nearby Venators in the area, and a large, glowing opening in the ground that allows Exiles to enter our world.
Under the symbol of the Fissures were ones representing the classes. Starting from the left was a knight's helmet in the shape of a wolf's head, which is usually the sign of a warrior. Next was a spider with legs formed out of blades, a symbol that strikes fear into the hearts of the enemies of assassins. Another symbol was a bear face in the shape of a shield, the representation of all tanks. After that, there was a crow with feathers made of arrows, the sign of the rangers. Following this was a rabbit made of crystals. Sure, it was a little bit of a silly way to represent mages, but it was pretty clever nonetheless. And last but not least, there was an angel surrounded by its countless amount of wings. Supports. Looking under all of these were the different classes branching off from the main five. Well... four of the main five at least. There was absolutely nothing under the angel. It was strange to me. Strange how willing people were to eradicate the support class as soon as possible. But then again, it was for the best, right? At least I don't have to worry about being a part of that class.
As I was staring at the memento, Kia called me over to the front desk to continue with my registration. The woman behind the desk had hair colored to match the two different types of marble on the walls and a smile welcoming enough to tame a pack of starving wolves.
"Hi there!" She said. "Iason Defyer... Ah! You're the son of Mr. Defyer! We expect great things from you! Now, if you would bring up your status window, we can register you into our system, and you'll gain access to the facility that reveals your class. After that, you'll be able to enter rooms that specialize in training your class. Understand?"
I nod silently, noticing the badge of this woman's shoulder. It was in the shape of a crow made of crystals. If I remember correctly, that must mean she's an arcane gunner, right? Kia had around the same kind of badge too, which she placed hooked onto one of the belt loops of her pants.
You can recognize the different badges from two distinct characteristics: their creature and what they were made of. Every two classes could form two hybrid classes, which was why they were separated like this. For example, battle mages such as Kia have a badge in the shape of a wolf, but is designed to look like it was made out of crystals. Spell knights are also a hybrid class of warriors and mages, but they have different skills, and their badges look like a rabbit in the form of a knight's helmet. It's not that difficult once you've gonna used to identifying their characteristics.
Kia nudges my side with her elbow, snapping me back into reality. "Ack- Sorry... Status window!" I stammer, causing the window to appear in front of me. Usually, people can't see your status window, but a notification can be heard after it appears. Hearing this, the woman nods. "Perfect! Here's your temporary badge for now. After the system we have upstairs finds your class, it'll dispense a badge that you can attach to your temporary one and which'll tell you what your class is." She hands me a light, metal piece with a smooth hook in the middle. "Alright, thank you!" I smile at her and start walking over to the right towards the elevators.
"Now, one thing about the class discovery process..." My friend suddenly blurts out, causing my head to turn towards her. She had a more stern look on her face, but she continued to look forward. "While you're doing it, there's gonna be a bunch of people watching. This is for guild recruiting and possible team formations. So no pressure! Got it, Goldie?" She switches up and pats my back. "Yeah... got it." So I have an audience? No pressure, my ass! I've never been so nervous in my entire life!
The class selection room was on the first floor, which is what I quickly pressed inside the elevator. Other than Kia and I, two Venators walked in the elevator with us. The one on the right was a man who had brown hair styled into a perm. His green eyes scanned over me as he adjusted his dark green trench coat that hovered over his white graphic t-shirt and jeans. The guy had a badge of a knight's helmet with a beak. A duelist, a hybrid class between a warrior and a ranger, someone who excelled in close and long-ranged combat. On the left was a girl with long pink hair and a bunch of piercings on her ears. Her alt-style outfit consisted mainly of pink, blue, and purple, with a blue handbag that had a bunch of buttons and plastic gems on the outside. The girl's badge was on her purse, which was in the shape of the standard tank emblem. Although class hybrids existed, that didn't mean full-blood classes were ruled out. Still, if you looked at her, you wouldn't believe she was a tank.
The two other Venators noticed I pressed the first-floor button, so they instantly perked up. "New recruit, eh? You don't mind if I catch a seat as an audience, right?" The man said, crossing his arms.
"Me too! It's not very often you get to see a class selection." The girl added on as she looked up at me.
"I don't see why not." I shrug and glance over at Kia, who gestured back at me with a nod. They seemed nice enough. Just two people in support of a new colleague. Who knows? Maybe I can be friends with them!
"I'm Elijah, and this is Jaelyne. We were just about to meet up with our guild members, but we could spare some time."
"I'm Iason!"
"Kia. Nice to meetcha!"
She says with a grin before fist-bumping Elijah and Jaelyne. She's always been able to get along with people easily. After all, she was the one who initiated our friendship in the first place.
The doors opened right after our introductions and we were greeted with a large, circular room with two doors on both sides, which led to an audience station behind glass to view what was in the middle. The center of the room had a pedestal with a slanted panel facing the elevator. Pretty ominous if you ask me...
"Iason Defyer?"
The voice of a woman echoed from speakers lined on the ceilings.
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Please allow your companions to step into the audience first before you approach the screen."
I look back at Kia, Elijah, and Jaelyne. Kia smiles and pats my shoulder before making her way through one of the doors. The other two gave me a head nod and a thumbs up and followed Kia.
My heart pounds against my rib cage as I walk up to the panel, anxiety painful enough to nearly make me collapse on the floor. Despite the pressure, I push forward, staring down at the screen, which had the words, "Place your hand here" above an outline of a hand. I gulp and follow as it is instructed. The second I made contact with it, my status window opened.
Inferring class...
This was it. The moment I've been waiting for. Everything has led up to this.
Error. Unidentifiable class.
This means... I'm a brand new class! Maybe things are finally looking up for me! I wonder what it is... I can't think of any new combination of the current classes other than... No. There's no way.
Dispensing temporary badge.
A slot under the panel opens and the badge comes out. There it was. The angel with several wings cupped it the same way I held the badge with my hands. I looked up from the badge and at the crowd, all of them staring at me with faces of disbelief and disgust. I was a support class Venator. And the hundreds of people in the audience knew this.