As Astrid fought to keep herself from running ahead of her parents, she looked around the town's central square. All the usual stalls and salesmen had been made to leave. The permanent structures along the outside of the square were the only ones allowed to remain, and any selling within the bounds of the central square was strictly prohibited during the Bestowal. Even though they'd left with plenty of time and arrived at least three quarters of an hour early, their family wasn't the first to arrive. With the remains of a couple fires around, it was obvious that a couple of the poorer people who lived further away had ended up staying the night camping.
Although she noticed that the angry farmers were setting up in a corner and their son was at the front of the line, Astrid didn't pay them any additional attention. Instead, she looked for Ahna, Liesl, Borus, or Jan. When she saw none of them, she considered going to the bakery and dragging Ahna out by her hair, but the bakers woke earlier than the guards, and they did that every day. There hadn't been any reason to worry as her future Healer jogged down a street and lay eyes on her. It wasn't hard to find such a massive redhead in a crowd, and though people continued to stream into the square, it was far from crowded.
"Good morning, Astrid!" Ahna panted as she hoisted the massive basket on her hip. Astrid could smell the freshly baked pastries and licked her lips.
"Morning." Astrid nodded.
"You can have one, but only when everyone else gets here." Ahna cut straight to the chase, laughing at the look in her tall friend's face. "I only have one for everyone. Good morning, Sir Brighid, Mr. Rab."
"Good morning, Ahna." Brighid grinned. "Did you outpace your parents today?"
"They… uh… They'll be a bit late, I think. There were a lot of customers showing up, so I think they're hoping to move the whole inventory for today before they leave." Ahna looked embarrassed, but Savraba stepped forward and patted the much shorter girl on the head.
"Then I'll make sure to watch closely. You've done well in your apprenticeship, and I'm sure you'll get the right Class for you."
"Thank you, Mr. Rab."
"You're an adult today, well and truly." He laughed as he leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially, "You'll have to just call me Rab or Savraba from now on. Same for Brighid."
Ahna nodded, smiling. She was pulled back into a gentle hug and kiss on the forehead by Jan, her longtime boyfriend.
"Morning, adorable." Jan mumbled into her hair. He didn't love public affection, but it was something that Ahna thrived off, so he'd done his best to accommodate what she wanted. Ahna grinned before turning and wrapping him in a tight hug. The heavyset, ruddy man had trained exclusively in guarding, planning to be the main frontlining fighter for their delving party. His parents had arrived with him, and they broke into casual conversation with Brighid and Savraba.
"You sleep enough?" Astrid asked with a grin. The dark circles under his eyes were enough of a confirmation that no, he hadn't, but she enjoyed getting a reaction out of him.
"What do you think? This one here came by after sundown to give me one last muffin, to make sure that I qualified as a Shieldsman. Do you think that the size of my waist is gonna change that?"
"Well, it'll keep you from being knocked on your arse!" Astrid smiled as she stepped back out of his immediate reach. They'd spent plenty of time sparring together, more than enough to know what the other would do when provoked. The lazy flick of his wrist he'd aimed at her went wide and he gave up immediately.
"Not all of us can be brutes like you."
"Yes, some of us are too smart to just take all the hits." Liesl said from right next to Jan's ear. He jumped and cursed as he swung at her. Their Rogue or Ranger to-be enjoyed sneaking up on people, and was good at evading their immediate retribution.
"Shattered stones, Liesl! The hell's your problem?"
"Nothing." She shrugged before hugging Astrid and Ahna. Astrid looked out for Borus nearby, as he was always following Liesl around, whenever she'd allow him to. They'd always been a pair, and Astrid had convinced them to party up with her, Jan, and Ahna, which they'd eventually agreed to, given everyone getting more or less the same Class that they'd hoped and intended to.
As Liesl stepped to the side, joining the circle of friends, Borus stepped beside her. Borus was sure to be a Sorcerer, given that both his parents had been and it was a largely genetic Class, as far as the academics could tell. He'd spent much of his time researching what types of spells he'd want to specialize in, and had settled on a core of ice and earth magic.
Astrid looked at her party and smiled. Tomorrow, maybe the day after at the latest, they'd make their way by wagon to the nearest entry to the Dungeon. They'd researched it extensively, how there were mostly small wargs and goblins found there. They knew the tactics, the numbers, everything. By the end of the week, they'd all be at least level 2, if not 3, and they'd continue on their path.
"Lost in your daydreams again, Astrid?" Liesl pulled the tall redhead from her thoughts. She grinned without a hint of embarrassment, and looked down at the shorter woman. She was a classic beauty—curvy, straight black hair, fine features and full lips. Her dark eyes flashed with amusement, knowing she'd caught her friend with her mind wandering.
"Yeah." Astrid confirmed with a shrug. "I mean, it's finally here! Tomorrow, we'll be off to the Dungeon and getting levels and being delvers! This is what I've always wanted, so yeah, I'm already there."
"Then why aren't you in the front of the line?" Borus asked, seeming actually confused.
"We were almost an hour early, but the people closer to the square, and those who slept here, were first." Astrid shrugged. "It doesn't matter if we have to take a little time to have it all confirmed."
Borus shrugged and returned his attention to Liesl. The dark-haired boy was pale-skinned, so pale it seemed like the sun was an ancient foe he'd never won a battle against. Traveling and adventuring would be helpful for him, Astrid decided.
"Well, I have a pastry for everyone!" Ahna spoke up before individual conversations could fully break out. The announcement of her food pulled everyone's attention to her, and all five pastries were quickly pulled out and eaten. It was something flaky with something tasty inside of it. Ahna had tried to teach Astrid the names of each thing she made, but the names were far less interesting to remember than the lessons her father gave.
"I didn't realize you'd made danishes!" Jan said with a wide grin before taking a large bite. "Where'd you get enough sugar to do it all? They're divine!"
Astrid half listened to the conversation about how Ahna'd managed to convince her parents to let her buy enough sugar for the treat she'd made for her friends, but most of her attention was on the Viscount. He'd had a name at one point, but like most authorities with a Class and a territory, he was now known as Viscount Stalstadt. The man with silver-streaked hair stood in the center of the square, stepping up to the podium that'd been set up just for the Bestowal. Once he stood in the correct position, a wave of forced silence washed over everyone in the square. For his Skills to be that powerful, he must have been at least Mithril, right? Astrid shook her head and focused on the speech he was giving.
"Two hundred and eighty seven years ago, the first Surge rocked the world. The nations of humanity were largely wiped out by the advent of monsters and perverted forms of humanity. The Duchess, long may her line rule and protect us, established the Bulwark in the ruins of what was once a glorious kingdom. With strong fortresses established at our borders, our nation was created and defends itself until this day. What makes humanity different from the rest is the ease of access we provide to our citizens to gain Classes. Once yearly, those who have reached adulthood and haven't yet acquired a Class, are invited to come to be blessed by the Great One, the unknowable being that created the Dungeon, the Surges, and all Classes.
"Those who are worthy and ready, you are already in line to receive your Class. If you have already planned on how to employ your Class in service of Humanity's Bulwark and the Duchess, you may declare it at that time. If not or if you change your mind, you may do so at any time in the next week by reporting to the offices in the central commons."
For a short time, the Viscount explained different things that people could do to serve humanity, and Astrid let her mind wander for a short moment. After all, she knew exactly what she would do. By delving, she would quickly become one of the strongest members of humanity and serve as a warning to any of their enemies not to attack!
"—Now, I have spoken for long enough." The Viscount smiled as he looked over the dozens of anxiously waiting people. Obligatory chuckles answered him, and he gestured for a Priest to walk out with a peculiarly crystalline mana stone from one of the Dungeons in the Capital. Astrid'd been told there was some requirement of how deep in the dungeon the mana stone needed to be from to work to bestow a Class, but that was something else she'd never paid too much attention to. Once she had a Class, she wouldn't need to know that.
The first to go up was the farmer boy. His hands shook as he put them forward on the stone. There wasn't anything to hear or see for a short moment, but then the stone flashed and his Status was briefly visible. Astrid couldn't catch anything more than his Class: Rancher. Wasn't that a more advanced version of the Farmer Class? He seemed pretty pleased with that result, so Astrid didn't think too deeply about it. He thanked the Viscount, reported something to the secretary standing nearby, and turned to walk away. His family met up with him, mostly happy faces greeting him.
A pale girl that Astrid recognized as another from the outskirts of town was next. She couldn't remember her name, but she did see that the girl was given the Merchant Class. There were nodded thanks, a quick report to the secretary, and she walked away to a wagon where an older man waited for her with a faint smile.
Bjorn's son, Ulaf, got the Butcher Class. He reported to the secretary and jogged off to his family.
Johannen, Soldier.
Lars, Miner.
Soldier.
Shepherd.
A dozen more Classes passed in quick succession, the only surprise being a farmer's son getting the Guardsman Class and looking around with wild, confused eyes before mumbling something and wandering off to his family. Astrid hoped he could figure something out, but he was just before her, and the butterflies in her stomach had shifted to writhing snakes, making her feel like she was going to puke. Then, before she could settle herself, it was her turn.
"Hello, Astrid." The Viscount greeted her with a smile. "I'm glad your parents could make it."
"They made sure to, Lord." She bowed her head, and the Viscount shifted his eyes to just above her, ready to see the details of the Class that was about to be granted to her. The Priest held out the mana crystal and nodded as he spoke in a kindly, raspy voice.
"Both hands, my dear. Don't worry about the crystal, it won't break from such a gentle touch."
Astrid obliged, placing both hands on her future. The light flashed, and she felt her perception slow. Then, as much in her mind as over her head, she saw her Status for the first time.
Name: Astrid (Human)
Class: Warrior (Bronze)
Total Level: 1 (0/1,000)
Attributes
Current
Per level growth
Power
12 (+2)
+5
Alacrity
9 (+1)
+3
Fortitude
12 (+2)
+5
Magical Potency
6
+1
Self-Mastery
7 (+1)
+1
Acumen
7 (+1)
+1
She didn't even look at the offered Skills. This was wrong! She wasn't supposed to be a Warrior, she was a Spellblade! Even so, a part of her mind shifted through possibilities. She was supposed to be a finisher for her party, but a Warrior wasn't quite a finisher or a frontlining defender. They… were just strong fighters! Nothing magical or awesome about them.
"I can still be a finisher, but… this is just…" Astrid started chewing on her thumb as she thought about it. This wasn't good. Sure, at maybe Mithril tier she'd be able to get something magical, but that would be so far from what the Spellblade could do that it'd be a waste to even do it. But what other options—
"Astrid," the Priest said gently, "you need to get out of the way."
"Ah, oh, yes. Sorry. I'm going to be a delver. The four people behind me are going to be my party." She bowed and stepped to the side, where her parents stood. Neither seemed to know what face to make, but Brighid gathered her daughter into a tight hug.
"We'll talk about it tonight." She reassured Astrid. "You'll still be fine, and you're a damned good fighter. Ok?"
Astrid nodded, and the shock began wearing off. Tears filled her eyes, but she swiped them away. Hadn't she done enough to show what she wanted to be? Why would the Great One take away part of her heritage? She'd always shown how much she wanted to be a Spellblade, and now, it was getting taken away from her? This… it was just unfair!
While Astrid continued watching, Ahna looked at her with genuine concern on her face. She mouthed, "Are you ok?" and Astrid shrugged before squaring her shoulders and nodding. Yeah, she'd be ok. She would. With Ahna attempting to comfort Astrid from afar, the others stepped in front of her.
Liesl, Ranger. Just like she wanted.
Borus, Sorcerer. Of course.
Jan, Shieldsman. No doubt about it.
Ahna, Baker. She was always going to be a Healer, so—
Astrid's jaw dropped as she looked at Ahna. Ahna's face crumpled into tears as soon as the Class became visible. Astrid rushed forward to her friend, only barely getting there before Jan.
"I'm so sorry. I… I thought maybe I could still… I didn't want to… I'm sorry!" Ahna's words were unintelligible, and she soaked Astrid's shirt with tears. In the back of her mind, Astrid wondered what this would mean for her party, but she shoved that thought away. Instead, she focused on Ahna, her stricken friend. After holding Astrid for a moment, Ahna turned to Jan, who held her tenderly while she wept.
Maybe a minute passed before Liesl spoke.
"I'm sorry. I guess that's the end of the dream."
Astrid cocked her head at the newly minted Ranger. "What do you mean?"
"This was always a possibility." Liesl shrugged, though she did have the decency to look upset. "Borus and I would join you in delving if the party got all the Classes we wanted. You got Warrior, which was almost a breaking point, but now we'd have no Healer? Sorry, it isn't going to happen. I won't enter the Dungeon without a Healer behind me. We all already talked about what would happen if we didn't get the Classes we needed to delve."
"Without me?" Astrid felt her throat swell closed.
"Yeah." Borus said with a shrug. "Every time we tried to bring it up, you'd just talk about delving and how we didn't need to think about anything else. I'll be studying with a friend of my parents' near the southern front."
"I have a standing offer from the army for if I got Rogue or Ranger. I'll take that." Liesl continued.
Jan and Ahna didn't speak, but Astrid could tell that they, too, had an idea of what they would do now. Astrid felt she could guess, too. He'd be a guard here in town, and she'd continue working with her parents in the bakery.
"You… you don't want to get away from your parents?" Astrid choked out.
"I do!" Ahna replied, releasing Jan and hugging Astrid again as she held back sobs. "It was always possible, and I… I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. You can join the guards under your mother, maybe gather a party over time with people who want to delve? Next year you could—"
"No." Astrid said letting her best friend go. She felt her lower lip tremble as she looked at the cute, tear-stained face. "I won't lose that dream, and I'm not putting it away."
"I… I know." Ahna's face broke again. "I'm sorry I can't be what you need."
"You're what you need to be." Astrid tried to comfort her friend, the pain of her own broken dream was too much. "I'll go, and let you tell your parents."
"Would you… come with me?" Ahna asked, and with that Astrid's heart broke. She shook her head, tears fully falling from her eyes as she ran out of the square towards her parents' home.