'Level ten...' Scias thought. 'Actually eleven, but… I can finally get a class!'
The thought filled him with anticipation.
Scias was dying to know what wonders a class would bring.
"Later," he muttered, turning away from their makeshift camp far from the rat's nest and collecting his supplies. "We need to get out of this forest first."
Vel tilted his head questioningly, feathers shimmering iridescent in the morning light.
"Yes, I could check it now," Scias replied to the unspoken query.
"But if I do, I won't be able to resist exploring it fully. We need somewhere safe."
Through their connection, Vel projected understanding mixed with his own curiosity.
They set off southward at dawn, Vel taking to the skies.
His familiar's presence overhead brought comfort—no creature could approach without Vel's warning.
With each step, Scias felt the System notification's presence, a constant reminder hanging at the edge of his awareness.
Twice he caught himself reaching mentally toward it, stopping just short of activation. Each time, he forced his attention elsewhere—to the path ahead, to potential threats.
'What will I become in this world?' The question echoed in his mind.
By midday, the forest began to thin. Through their mental link, Vel sent images of what lay ahead—the trees growing sparser, and beyond them, open countryside.
'And the road?' Scias asked through their connection.
Vel's response came as a series of visual impressions—the familiar path they used earlier, now visible again, winding its way through the last stretches of woodland.
An hour later, Scias's boots struck packed earth. The road stretched before him.
'Why would anyone make a road through such perilous forest and not use it,' Scias wondered once again.
A final stand of trees marked the forest's edge. As Scias passed beyond them into open countryside, he stopped and drew a deep breath.
Hills spread before him, some covered with clusters of trees and patches of wildflowers, some barren.
"We made it," he whispered, as Vel descended to perch on his shoulder.
Once beyond the forest's edge, Scias scanned the open country, muscles still tense.
"Let's not celebrate too soon," he murmured to Vel.
"The monsters might leave the forest."
Through their bond, Vel projected agreement, taking flight once more to scout ahead. The open landscape offered better visibility but less cover.
Scias maintained a brisk pace along the road, occasionally glancing backward to ensure nothing followed.
The afternoon sun beat down on his shoulders, a welcome change from the forest's perpetual shadows.
"Three leagues before sunset," he told himself. "Put as much distance as possible between us and that forest."
By dusk, Scias's legs ached pleasantly from exertion.
He veered off the road toward a small grove of trees atop a small hill—defensible, with good overview.
The temperature was pleasant. They didn't need to make fire because they had nothing to cook. The only food Scias had remaining was berries he picked before leaving the forest.
Vel returned from his final evening patrol, settling beside Scias with a contented chirp.
"Now," Scias said, "It's time to check the classes."
He closed his eyes and reached for the notification that had been hovering at the edge of his consciousness.
The System interface appeared in his mind's eye.
[Congratulations on reaching Level 10.
You may now select a class.
Options are limited to the 5 most suitable classes.
Available classes:
Mage
Warrior
Fighter
Archer
Tamer
Select a class to view its information.
Class cannot be changed.
Under special conditions, class can be upgraded.]
Scias's heartbeat quickened. 'Mage,' he thought.
[Mage (normal)
Masters of magical energy. Mages gain enhanced spell efficiency based on their affinity.
Class perks:
50% increased spell effectiveness
30% increased affinity based spell effectiveness
30% faster mana regeneration
Increased mana pool
Requirements have been met.
Mage class can be immediately upgraded to Arcane Mage (unique) after becoming Mage.
Unique class can be wielded only by one person.
Select this class?
Yes/No]
'Interesting,' Scias thought. 'A unique class Arcane Mage? That must be strong.' Then he focused on the next options.
[Warrior (normal)
Masters of close combat with weapons. Warriors excel at physical confrontation and can master any melee weapon with minimal training. Warriors can use magical attacks with their weapon.
Class perks:
60% increased physical strength
20% increased resistance against all damage
Ability to learn any close combat weapon
Select this class?
Yes/No]
[Fighter (normal)
Masters of unarmed combat. Fighters excel at hand-to-hand confrontation and can enhance their bodies with magic for devastating effects.
Class perks:
50% increased physical strength
30% increased physical recovery
50% increased resistance against physical damage
Select this class?
Yes/No]
[Archer (normal)
Masters of ranged combat. Archers excel at long range attacks and can master any ranged weapon with minimal training. Archers can imbue their attacks with magic.
Class perks:
50% increased accuracy with all projectiles
50% increased damage with ranged weapons
Increased attack speed with ranged weapons
Enhanced vision
Select this class?
Yes/No]
[Tamer (rare)
Masters of monsters and beasts. Tamers can form bonds with multiple creatures, commanding them in battle and daily life. Bonded monsters will never betray their master. The only class that can tame monsters.
Class perks:
Ability to tame wild monsters and beasts
Enhanced mental connection with bonded creatures
Shared experience gain with bonded creatures
20% increased familiar growth rate
Requirements have been met due to existing familiar bond.
Select this class?
Yes/No]
Scias leaned back against a tree trunk, mulling over his options.
Vel hopped closer, projecting curiosity through their bond.
"Five choices," Scias explained, "each with different strengths."
He stroked Vel's feathers gently. "The Tamer is tempting—it would strengthen our bond and allow taming monsters and sharing experience."
"The Fighter and Warrior focus on physical combat," Scias continued his analysis. "Useful, but ever since I was young I wanted to become a mage."
He tapped his fingers thoughtfully against his knee. "The Mage class offers immediate advancement to Arcane Mage—apparently a unique class. That's intriguing."
Scias wanted to ask for Vel's advice. But then he decided against it.
Nobody but himself could decide his fate.
Scias stopped hesitating.
He chose Mage.
Scias's consciousness slipped away the moment he confirmed his selection.
His body went limp, sliding down against a tree trunk as a brilliant rainbow light engulfed him. The multicolored radiance pulsed with increasing intensity, bathing the small grove in shifting hues that danced across the grass and leaves.
Vel watched anxiously, fluttering from branch to ground and back again.
Through their bond, he could sense Scias's presence, but it was muted, distant—as if Scias had traveled far away while his body remained.
The light continued to shimmer and change, sometimes flaring bright enough to illuminate the entire hilltop, other times dimming to a gentle glow that barely outlined Scias's form.
Subtle changes rippled across his features—nothing dramatic, but a refinement, as if his body were being improved from within.
Five minutes passed, each second stretching interminably for the concerned familiar.
Finally, the rainbow aura began to fade, receding into Scias's skin until he appeared normal once more. His eyes fluttered open.
'Are you all right?' Vel's thought-message carried unmistakable worry as he landed on Scias's chest.
Scias sat up slowly, eyes wide with wonder. "I'm... more than all right." His voice came out stronger, more resonant than before. "I feel amazing."
He flexed his fingers, sensing the mana flowing through his body. It moved more freely now, responding to his thoughts with heightened sensitivity.
Every breath seemed to draw in not just air but ambient magical energy from his surroundings.
"Everything is sharper, clearer." Scias stood, marveling at the vitality coursing through him.
Looking within, Scias said with wonder, "my mana capacity feels much larger than before."
Before allowing himself to fully celebrate, Scias closed his eyes and accessed his System information again. "Let me check that upgrade."
"And don't worry if I lose conciousnes again. I should be fine. Just keep watch over me."
Vel chirped in agreement.
The interface appeared immediately, more vibrant than before.
[Class: Mage
Class upgrade available: Arcane Mage (unique)
Arcane Mage (unique)
Arcane Mage is attuned to the mysteries of nature and magic. He is able to draw from his knowledge, experience and understanding to create his own skills.
Every five levels, System will create one skill for you, regardless of your knowledge, experience and understanding.
If you are unable to use the skill at your current level, the skill creation will fail.
Every created skill must follow the rules of this world.
Class perks:
100% increased spell effectiveness
50% increased affinity based spell effectiveness
50% faster mana regeneration
Increased mana pool
Ability to create skills
Upgrade class?
Yes/No]
Scias let out a breath of air. His pulse quickened.
Without hesitation, he chose 'Yes'.
Unlike the rainbow light of his first transformation, this time Scias was enveloped in a golden chrysalis that shimmered like molten metal.
His body lifted several inches off the ground, suspended within the gleaming shell that grew increasingly opaque until Vel could no longer see him inside.
Vel settled on a nearby branch, watching over Scias as twilight deepened into night.
Hours passed. Stars wheeled overhead. Twice, Vel detected animals approaching the hill. They were regular animals, harmless in his eyes, but they would be a great food.
The forest in the distance behind them seemed restless, strange howls and roars occasionally breaking the night's stillness.
Midnight came and went.
The chrysalis remained unchanged, its brilliance undiminished even as the moons reached their zenith and began to descend toward the horizon.
As dawn approached, the first subtle change appeared—the golden surface began to pulse, like a heartbeat growing stronger.
The chrysalis's brightness fluctuated, dimming slightly before flaring again with each pulse.
The sky lightened from black to deep blue at the edges. Birds began their morning songs in distant trees.
With the first rays of sunlight cresting the horizon, the chrysalis started to dissolve.
Golden specks of light floated away like luminescent dandelion seeds, dissipating into the morning air.
Scias emerged, feet settling gently on the grass. His appearance hadn't changed dramatically, yet something about him was undeniably different.
An aura of mystery surrounded him. His eyes, when they opened, seemed to contain depths that weren't there before.
This mysterious quality slowly faded as the last golden particles dispersed, though a certain grace remained in his bearing.
Scias smiled, feeling even better than when he became Mage.
Vel projected the process to Scias and he marveled at the sight.