City Hall
The dawn broke gently over Wethervore, bathing the cobblestone streets in a warm, golden hue. Banners of red and silver fluttered in the wind, and the distant hum of bells echoed from the city's heart.
Today was no ordinary day.
It was Class Day — when every child above the age of eight would stand before the Holy Circle and have their destiny revealed. Whether knight, mage, or farmer, this day would shape their lives forever.
Grim walked silently along the winding path leading to the city square, his small boots crunching against the gravel. Beside him, his best friend Luke bounced with restless excitement, while Mira twirled a wildflower between her fingers, more interested in skipping than walking.
"You're walking too slow!" Luke complained. "At this rate, the ceremony will be over before we even get there!"
Grim's voice was flat. "You go ahead then."
Luke puffed out his chest. "I would, but I promised your mom I'd keep you out of trouble."
"That's rich," Grim muttered.
Mira giggled. "She said the same thing to me, Luke."
Luke blinked. "Wait, she trusts you more than me?"
"She trusts me to tattletale faster," Mira said proudly.
Grim sighed. "I can confirm that."
The three of them laughed — and for a moment, Grim forgot what day it was.
The closer they came to the city, the more crowded the streets became. Market stalls overflowed with bright fruits and woven charms; vendors shouted in cheerful tones, hawking commemorative ribbons and enchanted trinkets said to "bless one's class."
But what really caught the children's eyes were the people who'd come from beyond Wethervore.
High-ranking nobles and scholars from the Kingdom of Celestine, soldiers wearing crested armor, and even a few robed members of the Arcane Council filled the square. They had come to witness the new generation of talent — perhaps to recruit the promising ones before anyone else could.
Grim recognized one of them immediately — Lord Varen, a man with a sharp jawline and colder eyes, Commander of the Royal Guard. Rumor had it he could cut a wyvern's wing in a single stroke.
Beside him stood Lady Isolde, High Priestess of the Temple of Light, her golden staff resting against her shoulder, her presence radiating calm authority.
And seated high on the ceremonial balcony were none other than King Ardent IV and Queen Lilia, watching with serene smiles.
Even Mira gasped. "They're really here…"
Luke's grin widened. "Guess they're here to see my legendary class debut!"
Grim didn't respond. His gaze drifted to the tall marble building ahead — the Hall of Souls, where the ceremony would take place. Its massive stained-glass windows shimmered with holy light, depicting angels, beasts, and heroes from the old legends.
In my past life… this was the day everything ended for me, Grim thought. When the light refused to shine, and everyone looked away.
He clenched his fists. But not this time.
Inside the hall, the air was thick with sacred incense and anticipation. Rows of parents, nobles, and priests filled the seats. The High Pope, a thin elderly man draped in snow-white robes, stood by the great circle etched into the marble floor.
One by one, the children stepped forward.
The Pope would chant an incantation, the circle would glow, and the word representing their class would appear in shimmering letters above their heads.
The first boy — a baker's son — received Mage. The crowd clapped politely.
The next girl — a noble's daughter — Healer.
When Luke's name was called, he nearly tripped running up the stairs.
The Pope smiled faintly. "Full of energy, aren't you?"
"Always!" Luke said, puffing out his chest.
The Pope raised his staff. "By divine will, reveal the path of this child."
The circle flared golden. Light poured through the stained glass. The magic thrummed through the hall — powerful and pure.
Class: Legendary Knight
The audience gasped. The King leaned forward, intrigued. The High Priestess whispered a quiet prayer.
"L-Legendary?!" Luke stammered, staring at the glowing words above him. Then he turned to the crowd with a grin. "I told you! I told you all!"
Grim smirked. "Show-off."
Mira squealed, "You're glowing!"
Luke puffed his chest again. "Guess greatness does that."
When Mira's turn came, she skipped to the circle, clearly having no idea what to expect. She had only come to see the city, after all.
The Pope gave a patient smile. "A bold one, I see."
" Why are they letting someone below the ages like her try?" Grim asked
"Yup!" she said cheerfully. "I just wanna see what all the fuss is about."
The incantation began, and the circle pulsed with soft white light.
Class: Healer
Mira blinked. "Huh? Does that mean I can make Luke's face stop being annoying?"
The Pope chuckled. "Not quite, child, but you may try."
The hall erupted in gentle laughter. Even the Queen smiled.
Then came Lyra Valencrest — daughter of one of the wealthiest houses in the region. Her long pink hair shimmered under the sunlight filtering through the windows. People whispered as she walked gracefully to the center.She was also below age but she was granted permission to try.
The Pope began the chant once more.
The light that followed was breathtaking — violet, swirling with silver stars.
Class: Legendary Mage
The crowd gasped again. Nobles applauded. Even the King stood to offer a nod of respect.
Lyra bowed politely, cheeks flushed. Her eyes met Grim's for a brief second — and he quickly looked away, pretending to examine the floor tiles.
Then… it was Grim's turn.
The whispers began immediately.
"That's the Halloway boy, isn't it?"
"The one with no mana?"
"He shouldn't even be here."
Mira frowned. "Ignore them, Grim," she whispered.
Luke grinned nervously. "You've got this, man."
Grim took a deep breath and stepped into the circle. The same one that, in his past life, had rejected him.
The Pope's eyes softened. "Be not afraid, child. The Goddess sees all souls equally."
He raised his staff, and light began to flow — but something was wrong.
The circle pulsed erratically, energy crackling. The air grew heavy, the light blindingly bright. Nobles shielded their eyes, and even the King rose from his seat.
Then, with a sound like a thousand bells ringing at once —
Class: Heavenly Ruler
The words appeared above Grim's head in silver flame.
The hall fell silent.
The High Priestess rose from her seat, eyes wide. "Heavenly… Ruler?"
Lord Varen frowned. "That class doesn't exist."
The Pope's hands trembled. "Such radiance… yet I've never seen or read of it in all scripture."
Then, a calm voice cut through the murmurs — cold, precise, and curious.
"Fascinating."
It was Princess Leena, standing beside her father. Her dark hair framed sharp golden eyes that studied Grim like a puzzle she intended to solve.
Her own class, revealed moments before, had been Legendary Assassin — an irony she clearly despised.
Now, she looked at Grim with something close to envy.
"An unknown class," she murmured. "What an interesting anomaly."
And just as quickly as the storm came, it passed.
The ceremony continued.
Children cheered. Parents wept.
Grim stepped down quietly, unnoticed by most. The excitement for Luke and Lyra drowned out the whispers about him.
He walked out of the hall into the open sunlight, his hands trembling.
Heavenly Ruler… an unknown class. Not even the Goddess herself acknowledged me in my last life… so what is this?
Then, a soft chime echoed in his ears.
System Notice:
Class synchronization complete.
Rank: ???
Level: 1
Skill unlocked — [Celestial Domain: Locked]
A faint silver crest shimmered on the back of his hand — a crown framed by angelic wings — before fading from sight.
Grim stared at it, the corners of his lips twitching upward just slightly.
In my last life, I had no class at all…
This time, I'll make a difference.
The cheers still echoed through Wethervore long after the ceremony ended.
Trumpets sang from the city's towers, and the smell of roasted meat and honeyed wine filled the air.
Today's Class Day would be remembered for years — three legendary awakenings in a single generation.
Lyra Valencrest, the prodigy mage.
Luke Ironhart, the radiant knight.
And Princess Leena herself, the assassin royal.
Under such brilliance, Grim's strange new title — Heavenly Ruler — was quickly forgotten.
People had already found other things to celebrate. Nobles whispered about potential alliances, merchants discussed the markets that would soon open around these gifted children. Even the High Pope seemed to have dismissed the anomaly as a "peculiar but harmless irregularity."
Only two people did not forget.
Lord Varen, the silent commander with eyes like steel.
And Princess Leena, whose golden gaze lingered on Grim long after the others had left the hall.
Outside, the crowd slowly dispersed. Recruiters from neighboring kingdoms and magic academies swarmed the children like bees drawn to nectar.
"Lady Lyra Valencrest! The Imperial Academy of Astoria would be honored to sponsor your studies!"
"Sir Luke Ironhart, the Silver Shield Order wishes to invite you as an apprentice knight!"
Even Mira, blinking in surprise, found herself approached by a smiling woman in green robes.
"We represent the Healing Guild of Arden. Modest though we are, we'd be delighted to help you nurture your gift, young lady."
"Really?!" Mira gasped. "I can barely heal a paper cut!"
"That's where we come in," the woman said kindly.
Mira beamed. Luke clapped her on the shoulder. "See? You're already famous!"
Amid the laughter and excitement, Grim slipped away.
He didn't want to stay under that blinding light. He needed space — silence — to think.
He turned down a narrow alleyway behind the Hall of Souls, his footsteps echoing softly on the stone. The silver crest on his hand faintly glowed in the shade, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
He was just about to summon his status screen again when a low voice stopped him.
"You handled yourself well in there, boy."
Grim froze and turned.
Standing at the mouth of the alley was Lord Varen, the commander of the Royal Guard. His cloak hung heavy with the insignia of the crown, and his expression was unreadable.
"...Lord Varen," Grim said cautiously.
"You carry yourself quietly," Varen continued, stepping closer. "But I saw your eyes when the circle awakened. You didn't flinch. Most grown men would have fainted under that kind of surge."
Grim said nothing.
Varen studied him a moment longer, then slipped a small metallic card from within his cloak — black as obsidian, etched with runes that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
"You have potential," he said. "More than you realize. When you're ready to test it… use this."
Grim blinked. "What is it?"
"An invitation," Varen replied. "To a place most don't know exists — the Special Elite Force. We find people with… unusual gifts. Those who don't fit the normal molds of knight, mage, or assassin."
He held Grim's gaze. "Most with unknown classes, like yours."
Before Grim could respond, Varen turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the busy crowd as if he'd never been there.
Grim looked down at the card. It felt heavy — not just in weight, but in meaning.
By the time he reached home, the sun was setting behind the hills, dyeing the sky a deep orange. Laughter spilled from the small wooden house.
Inside, Mira was chattering so fast she could barely breathe.
"And then — and then I glowed! And my hands felt all tingly, and I healed Luke's paper cut, but now I'm dizzy, so maybe I can't heal that much yet, but still—"
Their mother smiled softly, her hands trembling slightly as she pressed a cool cloth to Grim's bruised cheek. "I told you not to go to town," she said, but her tone held more worry than anger.
Luke sat at the table, flexing his arms with a grin. "Hey, watch this— Body Enhancement!"
His veins glowed faintly, muscles tensing under his skin. The table creaked under his hand.
Mira gasped. "You're glowing again!"
"I am glowing, aren't I?" Luke said proudly.
Grim smiled faintly from the corner, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Later that night, when everyone had gone to sleep, he sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the faint blue glow of his status screen hovering before him.
[Status]
Name: Grim Halloway
Class: Heavenly Ruler
Level: 1
Skills:
– [Celestial Domain: Locked]
– [Divine Mandate: Locked]
– [Ethereal Authority: Locked]
– [Summon: ??? (Locked)]
– [Skill Tree Expansion: Locked]
There were dozens of them. Rows and rows of grayed-out skills — every one of them sealed.
Grim gritted his teeth. "If you're not going to let me use it," he muttered, "why show it to me at all?"
The screen flickered, unbothered.
With a sigh, he leaned back, pulling out the black card Lord Varen had given him. It shimmered faintly under the moonlight, runes shifting like liquid silver.
"'Special Force,' huh?" Grim murmured, turning it between his fingers. "Guess that's one way to find out what this class really means."
He slipped the card into his pocket, eyes narrowing slightly.
This time, I won't be powerless.
Outside, the wind whispered through the trees — soft, but with a weight that hinted at change.