Aelric stood frozen in front of Averra's half-collapsed gate. The cold border wind blew against his face, carrying the smell of dry earth, smoke, and a faint stench he didn't want to identify.
But none of that was his focus.
What made him freeze was the mechanical voice that had just appeared in his head.
[Ding!]
Forbidden Class 'Archevalier' has awakened.
Aelric closed his eyes, opened them, closed them again—the panel remained.
"…is this for real?" he muttered.
"Prince?"
Geros's deep voice called out, causing Aelric to quickly stand upright as if he hadn't heard a supernatural voice.
"Eh? Yes. What?"
"You suddenly stopped and stared into space," Geros said with a raised eyebrow. "Don't tell me you fainted standing up."
"No. I'm just… jetlagged," Aelric replied.
"Jet—what?"
"Never mind. It's nothing."
Aelric swallowed. His head was still ringing, and the system panel seemed to hang at the edge of his vision—not obstructing it, but clearly there.
"Okay," he thought to himself. "If this really is the system…"
He took a breath and said quietly in his mind:
"Status."
Like an automatic door, a transparent panel opened before him.
---
[STATUS]
Name: Aelric Vaelis Eldoria
Race: Human
Level: 1 (Rookie)
Class: Archevalier – Forbidden Class
Mana Core: None
Sword Affinity: 0
Magic Affinity: 0
Physical Strength: E–
Endurance: E
Agility: E–
Intelligence: C+
Luck: ?
Traits:
– Crownless Heir (Born as an heir without any abilities)
– Unawakened Potential
– Reincarnator (Minor Mental Resistance, +1 Insight)
Available Skills:
❖ Appraise Potential (Lv 1)
Sees a person's hidden talents, potential, and class path.
❖ Vowbound Link (Locked)
❖ Ascended Awakening (Locked)
❖ Class Resonance (Locked)
---
Aelric took a deep breath.
"Okay… this is officially getting weird."
In his 17 years in Eldoria, he had never had a class. He couldn't even unlock his mana core. And now he had a Forbidden Class—a class hated by the kingdom, a class lost to history, a class said to have brought disaster 800 years ago.
If others saw this?
They'd probably cut off my head first, and then ask questions later.
Aelric sighed.
"Well… luckily I was the only one who could see."
---
Geros led them into the city. The townspeople watched without enthusiasm—some looked resigned, some indifferent, some clearly holding back laughter because the "banished" prince had arrived without a sword or aura.
Aelric didn't blame them. His appearance was far from that of a leader.
They walked past small markets, crumbling wooden houses, and guard posts that were riddled with holes, as if ravaged by monsters.
"Is this Averra?" Aelric asked.
"This is the best it's been in two years," Geros replied curtly.
"…If this is the best, I don't want to see the worst."
Geros didn't laugh. It seemed the man had long since lost his sense of humor.
They stopped at a large, half-collapsed building—apparently the former town hall.
"This is the administrative headquarters," Geros said. "We've prepared a room for you."
Aelric glanced at the building. The roof was riddled with holes, the walls cracked, and the door hanging on one side.
"Which room is mine?"
"One that doesn't leak," Geros replied.
"There is one?"
"…maybe."
Aelric sighed. "Okay."
He entered, but stopped when a small panel appeared above the head of a skinny boy who was drawing water inside.
Aelric squinted.
"Appraise."
A small, transparent panel appeared.
---
[Target: LINAEL — 12 years old]
Potential: C–
Path Class: Water Bearer → No Advancement
Note: Mentally and physically weak. Not suited for combat.
---
"Hmm…"
So this is the Appraise Potential skill. He stared at the boy for a few seconds, then nodded slightly.
"Normal. Nothing special."
He continued walking until he stopped near a teenage boy who was carrying a sack of wheat with ease despite his small stature. He didn't seem to stand out, but Aelric was curious and…
"Appraise."
---
[Target: KAELEN — 15 years old]
Potential: A+ (Hidden)
Class Path:
– Shadow Scout → Shadow Reaver → Abyssal General (Dormant)
Note: Mixed-race Demon potential. Awakening Terminal is sealed by a natural seal. Can be opened by an 'Archevalier'.
---
Aelric blinked immediately.
"…A+? Abyssal General? This half-demon child?"
He glanced at Geros. "Commander. Who is that child?"
Geros stared. "Kaelen. An orphan. Helping out in the grain warehouse. Why?"
"No. It's fine," Aelric replied quickly.
Kaelen turned and was surprised to see the prince staring at him, but Aelric simply smiled faintly and walked away.
In his mind, he muttered:
"The mark of a first disciple."
---
Upon arriving in the "leak-free" room—which actually still leaked a little in the corner—Aelric immediately sat down in an old chair.
The status panel remained in the corner of his vision, as if waiting for him to examine it.
"Archevalier… Forbidden Class… Seven students…"
He stared at the ceiling.
"If it's true that I can awaken the potential of others…"
His eyes burned slightly—not from great emotion, but because there was finally something. Something that wasn't zero. Something that wasn't failure.
A knock sounded on the door.
Knock. Knock.
"Aelric?" a child's voice rang out.
The door swung open, and a small girl with shoulder-length black hair entered. Her clothes were shabby, her face dirty, but her eyes… were clear and sharp, as if she saw something others couldn't.
"I… was ordered to bring you water," she said quietly.
Aelric smiled. "Thank you. What's your name?"
"Mira."
Aelric held his breath.
"Mira? Hmm… let me check…"
He activated his Appraise skill.
---
[Target: MIRA — 13 years old]
Potential: S (Hidden — Ultra Rare)
Path Class: Temporal Novice → Chrono Mage → Timeweaver → Eternus Chronarch
Note: The time path is one of the rarest paths in the world. Its potential is even higher than the royal standard.
---
Aelric froze.
"…S-Rank."
His voice was barely a breath.
He looked at Mira again. The girl simply stood there holding the bucket of water, looking down in shame.
Aelric smiled slightly—not a dramatic smile, not a heroic smile, just the smile of an ordinary person who finally saw an opportunity.
"Thank you for coming, Mira."
"Ah… y-yes."
He took the water slowly.
"Mira," he said quietly, "if I said you were special… would you believe me?"
The girl lifted her head, confused. "Special? Me? No way…"
Aelric laughed faintly. "I thought so too."
He stared intently—not sternly, but sincerely.
"But starting today… you're the first reason I won't die early."
Mira blinked, not understanding.
Aelric smiled wider, relaxed as usual.
"Congratulations, Mira. I think you'll be my first student."