Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed
The city of Philistines was deep in winter.
Snow covered the rooftops like frosting, and icy wind swept through the narrow streets. People wrapped themselves in thick cloaks, moving quickly from place to place. But in the heart of the city, inside the stone walls of Zephyr Academy, everything felt alive with energy.
It was Classification Day.
Every year, the students gathered in the Academy's coliseum to take part in a special ritual—one that would decide what kind of adventurer they'd become. Whether someone would be a Mage, Swordsman, Healer, Archer, or Assassin wasn't something they chose. The magic in the arena made that decision for them. It looked into their soul and revealed their true path.
For Kiel Ardent, it felt like just another cold morning.
He was quiet, kept to himself, and most people didn't notice him. He wasn't rich. He didn't have a famous last name. His parents were normal people—his father worked with metal, fixing tools and weapons, and his mother was a seamstress. Kiel grew up helping in the forge and learning how to handle knives and blades—not for fighting, just for work.
But there was something about him.
Even though he didn't stand out, people who watched him closely noticed the way he moved—quick, focused, like someone who was always ready for something. He didn't talk much, but when he did, people listened.
As students lined up in the freezing wind, Kiel waited quietly. Most others were anxious, excited, talking nonstop.
Kiel just breathed in the cold air and watched his breath fog.
The Head Instructor, Professor Dirak, stepped into the center of the arena, where a large circle of ancient runes was carved into the stone.
"This is your moment," Dirak said, his voice echoing through the arena. "The circle will read your truth. What you are born to be."
One by one, students stepped into the circle.
A flash of light, a glowing word appeared above their heads—MAGE, ARCHER, HEALER...
Each name was met with applause or whispers.
Then came the name that made everyone go silent.
Anna Valor.
People didn't whisper because they didn't know her. They whispered because everyone knew her.
She was the daughter of Roger Valor, the most powerful mage in the country. Her family was magic royalty. She was beautiful, smart, and carried herself like someone who had always known who she was meant to be.
She stepped into the circle.
A moment passed, then the runes burst with light.
MAGE.
Of course.
Anna didn't even look surprised. She stood still for a moment, then turned and scanned the crowd.
Her eyes stopped—on Kiel.
He didn't look away.
And then, a few minutes later, they called his name.
"Kiel Ardent."
No one reacted. A few students barely glanced up.
Kiel walked into the center of the circle with his hands in his pockets. He didn't feel scared. He wasn't hoping for anything special. In fact, he expected to get Swordsman, maybe.
But when the runes started glowing, something strange happened.
They didn't flash once.They flashed twice.
First, they glowed ASSASSIN.Then, another pulse—SWORDSMAN.
The words floated above his head, shining in the air.
A dual classification.
People gasped. It was rare. Almost unheard of. Dual-classed adventurers were stronger, more flexible, but also unpredictable—and dangerous.
Kiel stood there for a moment, blinking up at the glowing words.
"Huh," he muttered.
Then he turned—and found Anna Valor standing in front of him.
"You don't look like an assassin," she said, folding her arms.
Kiel blinked. "Thanks, I guess."
"I'm Anna."
"Kiel."
"I think I'll be watching you," she said, grinning a little. "You're interesting."
Kiel shrugged, not quite sure what to say. But when she offered her hand, he took it.
And just like that, something began.