The first thing Eron learned when he stepped outside was that people didn't look at the classless.
They were basically invisible, like dirt that was meant to be stepped on.
He stood in the doorway of the deteriorating structure,
'So this is the City,' he thought to himself.
Khalarnis stretched out ahead of him, a short dirt path led to a cluster of stone cottages with uneven walls made of brown and grey bricks that showed signs of wear and tear.
There were no automobiles, no billboards, just rutted roads left by years of wagon wheels and foot use.
He felt the sting of disdain as he walked along the path, people lowering their voices as they passed him, a mother pulling her son closer when she noticed him, spitting near his feet.
Ken had ruled his world, and now this world expected him to fall to his knees, all because of a brand stamped on his destiny:
Classless.
The more he walked, the larger the land spread out. In the distance, he could see mountains, buildings taller than he'd ever seen, their peaks disappearing into the clouds, watching the city in silence.
He walked by a roadside shop when he noticed something glowing within its walls, a crystal most likely acquired from a rift expedition, calling out to him silently, his gaze so fixed upon it, drawing him closer until he found himself standing directly in front of the object.
It was a rock-like fragment no bigger than his fist, embedded in a glass compartment, a pale red light pulsating with inner radiance.
His fingers twitched with curiosity, raising his hand a fraction towards the glass.
"Don't touch that." A stern voice came from behind him.
Eron turned.
A man stood at the doorway, casting a tall shadow inside the shop, arms crossed. He wore a long, dark coat that fell to his boots, and an insignia bearing the name "Yanric" rested near his collar, faded but unmistakable.
The Apex.
A sword with the same insignia leaned against the wall beside him.
"I wasn't going to…" Eron said.
The Hunter stood there, eyes fixed intently scanning him, for a moment too long, then he picked up and moved towards Eron, his gaze fixed on the Crystal now.
"You're classless." He said.
It wasn't an insult; it was merely a fact.
Eron's lips curled, "It's that obvious, huh?"
"Only the classless stare at crystals like they're some form of salvation," the Hunter said with a short nod.
Eron turned back to the Crystal, "What happens if someone touches one?"
The shopkeeper scoffed from behind the counter, "Nothing good."
The Hunter raised his hand to silence him.
"That one?" He started, "Out here it's just residue, a relic that can be traded."
Eron turned back to meet the hunter's gaze again, "What about inside a rift?"
The Hunter hesitated.
"Rifts don't follow our rules," he said eventually.
"What does that mean?" Eron asked, turning to him fully now.
"I'm just saying, inside a rift, anything can happen," the Hunter replied.
"Can someone gain a class by touching one of these crystals?" Eron pressed.
"Classes are assigned," he said, "They aren't etched into your soul."
"That's not what The Apex says."
A faint smile tugged at the man's lips, "The Apex says a lot of things."
The shop went silent.
Eron spoke first, "You've seen it happen?"
The Hunter moved in closer, boot slamming against the wooden panel, "I've seen people touch Crystals and die screaming."
"And?"
"…I've seen one walk out differently."
Eron's pulse spiked, "So it's possible."
"Rare," the Hunter said.
At that point, Eron had heard all he needed to.
The Hunter was already making his way out.
"Let me join you on an expedition," Eron called out from behind him.
The Hunter chuckled, "You? Want to fight?"
"I can support."
The Hunter looked him up and down, then turned towards the door and grabbed his sword. "We're short on carriers, you know, for equipment, supplies." He said.
Eron smiled.
"Carriers don't get paid much…" the Hunter continued.
"It's not about the money, I just want a chance."
The Hunter's eyes narrowed, studying him again, "Follow me then." He said, finally, walking out of the shop.
Eron stepped forward without hesitation.
Outside, the Hunter, Ior Yanric, was met with greetings and voices calling his name. Eron followed silently behind, keeping his distance; he had never felt so nonexistent in the shadow of another man, when once he had cast the shadow himself.
It was a long and arduous walk to The Apex headquarters, well, at least for Eron. He had severely overestimated this new body; Ior looked like he could run another twelve miles.
'Damn, I really need to get in shape,' Eron mused as they came up to the front entrance.
The headquarters was located just outside the city gates, a couple of miles away. Eron could see it, faint but undeniable; the rift was ripping open just east of the building.
"Come on," Ior called out to him from within the threshold, halting Eron's thoughts.
It was a massive stone fortress with high ceilings and hanging class banners.
Weapon racks and glowing rift maps embedded in the walls filled the vast halls.
Hunters, old and young, moved purposefully, some gearing up for an expedition, others leaving with their crystals after clearing a rift.
"In here." Ior gestured, holding open a large wooden door.
"We'll get you registered and get going."
Eron followed quietly; he had no idea what lay in wait for him within the rift, but one thought was constant in his mind.
If I can touch that crystal, I may have a chance at worth.
He moved into a much smaller but functional room, a narrow desk separated him from a clerk buried in ledgers. Without looking up, the clerk said, "Let me see your license."
Ior reached in to his coat pocket and pulled out a card, it was black with gold edges, he handed it to the clerk who examined it for a brief moment and handed it back to him.
He turned to Eron, "What about yours."the clerk said.
"Uhh, I don't have one?" Eron responded.
"Are you new? I'm sure I issued everyo…" The clerk was still buried in paperwork.
Ior intervened, "It's okay, he's just a carrier, he doesn't need one."
That drew a suggestive look from the clerk, who studied him for a moment with a faint look of disgust on his face, something becoming apparent to him. He turned to Ior and nodded lightly before resuming his work.
"You have no use for the weapon rack, Ior, as you already have Aragon by your side." The clerk said, forcing a light chuckle from Ior.
Ten hunters were selected for the expedition; among them were one B ranker (Ior), three C rankers, and six D rankers. Eron trudged behind sluggishly, carrying equipment.