Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Tough Call

 

Wondering where to start, which class to tell them about first, I decided to take it from those that least resonated with my heart. 

Well, besides the classes in the slave tree, it was Tumbler of Labyrinth that sat least well with me.

 

• Tumbler of Labyrinth

Requirements met for class evolution: [Tumbler of Labyrinth]

You visited one of the labyrinths and made it your own playground, a stage to perform your feats. Has class at level 100.

While for many, a labyrinth is a place where one must be mindful of one’s life, Tumblers find it lively and suitable for acrobatic stunts. So even though their audience consists only of beasts and monsters, they are more than keen to show them their prowess.

In the labyrinth, Tumblers will find the efficiency of skills related to agility, speed, and spatial orientation increased by 40%.

 

“It’s pretty obvious that I got this option from my training in Fallens Cry,” I added after reading the description.

“Another class you got thanks to me, girl.”

Deckard’s smirk and remark at Overgrown Duster earned him a scowl from me before I turned to Lord Wigram. “I don’t plan on spending my life in the Labyrinth, so the restriction...it would make me weak outside of it if I’m not wrong?”

He didn’t answer me right away, thinking about it. “I don’t think it would make you as weak as you think. Weaker for sure, though. Nevertheless, it is clear that this is a labyrinth-oriented class, and the skill bonus matches the disadvantage. Given the nature of this class, maybe your mentor will be able to tell us more.”

Deckard shrugged. “I’ve never seen one.” 

“And here I thought you’d be more knowledgeable. Apologies, a mistake on my part.”

“The fact that I haven’t met any Tumbler doesn’t mean I don’t know anything about labyrinth classes,” he scowled. They all have one thing in common, and that’s that they give you quite an advantage in the Labyrinth. Companies are full of these cocky assholes."

The Imperial Chief Healer frowned at his choice of words, which made Deckard grin. Me? I didn’t mind. More important than a few rude words was what he had to say.

“In the Labyrinth, they act like they own it, but you hardly see them outside of it.”

“Why?” I wondered. “They don’t go out, like you?”

“Nah, they are holed up in their headquarters, afraid to poke their heads out. In the pubs around the labyrinthine square, even a waitress would handle them, let alone the other seekers, most of whom they pissed off.”

“So, in other words, they are weak outside the labyrinth.”

“Exactly, girl.”

Whether Deckard exaggerated or Lord Wigram downplayed, it didn’t matter. Tumbler of Labyrinth wasn’t the class I wanted to choose, anyway. However, I hesitated with the next one, and I had to take a cookie to ward off the awkwardness that this option brought me.

 

• Brute of a Woman

Requirements met for class evolution: [Brute of a Woman].

You proved those who thought a woman weak how wrong they were. You chose the path of strength and showed more than once the power of your bare fists. Regardless of the growing number of wounds, you pushed on, fearing neither pain nor death. Has class at level 100.

Life can be brutal, and so can they. Fearless, even when facing doom, they meet it with their bare fists. For them, injury is nothing more than another scar adorning their bodies and telling their story, warning others that they fear nothing and not shy away from anything.

The efficiency of skills related to strength, constitution, and instinct increased by 30%.

 

“Then there’s the Brute of the Woman.”

As soon as I said its name, Deckard burst out laughing. “Sorry, I couldn’t help picturing you as one of them.”

“Picture?” 

“None of the ones I met were smaller than me, and their arms were the size of my thighs. You’re quite the opposite, small, skinny...compared to them,” he added when he realized it sounded like he was saying I was weak.

Was I? 

“You are not weak, Miss Grey,” said Lord Wigram, reading my body language. “Down there on the training ground, you proved just the opposite. However, your fighting style was rather plain. Brute, if I may.”

“You know this class, My Lord?” 

“It’s a fairly common class among women fighters,” he said, giving Deckard a look. “Not every one of them is of the kind your mentor described, but you won’t find a gentlewoman among them. They’re the type that leans towards strength, brute force, and that goes hand in hand with muscle mass and body size.”

He looked back at me. “I don’t think it's a class suitable for you. What you’re lacking is just training and finesse.”

Sipping my tea, I nodded. “I think so too.” Seriously, I had yet to learn any fighting technique, hence my brute approach.

“Oh, don’t worry. You’re in for a hell of a workout,” Deckard said, the grin still plastered on his face.

While I’d rather take a nap right now and not get up until tomorrow morning, I was glad to hear he was still thinking of training me. It meant that his previous words, assuring me that no matter what I am or become, I will still be his apprentice, were not empty.

“So what else you got there, girl?” Deckard asked. “This can’t be all.”

It wasn’t, and so I looked at the next class. “Mossbear Pup.”

 

• Mossbear Pup

Requirements met for class evolution: [Mossbear Pup].

In your veins runs the blood of these moss-loving beasts. You met your progenitor, faced his will, and just as he accepted you as his pup, you, in turn, have come to accept him. Has class at level 100.

Pup may not be the strongest of mossbears, but they are born with a talent for extraordinary healing, making them an adamant opponent should they grow to their full strength and an even worse foe to fight in their own domain. There they reign over nature with the same mastery as they wield over the moss on their bodies.

The efficiency of skills related to mass, moss, healing, and territory increased by 30%.

 

“I was wondering what a meeting with the King of the Woods could bring you. Rather exciting class, and if you were interested in healing, I would recommend it to you,” said the Imperial Chief Healer with a glint of excitement in his eyes. “It would be fascinating to explore the possibilities of this one, don’t you think?”

Seeing him so excited, I had a hard time letting him down, though I had to. “This is not...”

He held up his hand to stop me. “I know, Miss Grey. Just a wish on my part. I’d have to be blind not to see that your heart lies elsewhere, and a healer with no passion for healing is no different from a butcher.”

That was a little harsh, and I was sure some healers would be offended to hear that. Yet there was a grain of truth in it. After all, the thought of being treated by someone who was doing it willy-nilly sent a shiver down my spine, an unpleasant feeling easily dispelled by a sweet cookie.

“You have to understand that Esulmor and the mossbears in it have been a thorn in the side of the Empire since its founding. To understand more about them would help Sahal a lot.”

“Damn sure would make the soldiers’ job easier if they knew how to kill them faster.”

Yeah, Deckard mentioned to me about his time in the army, where his job was to make sure that adult mossbears leaving their woods wouldn’t start new dens. The fact that I would contribute to killing them if I chose this class didn’t sit well with me at all.

“I thought the Empire had some kind of deal with Esu?”

Lord Wigram nodded. “Yes, but it’s a deal with the beast. We can’t rely on the King of the Woods to uphold it forever when even humans are incapable of doing so.”

“I don’t think so,” I argued. It came out more firmly than I had intended, making me wonder where the confidence in Esu came from, but I didn’t back off. “If you don’t break your end of the deal, Esu will abide by it.”

“You have quite a faith in him,” said the Imperial Chief Healer. “Yet, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s a beast. We don’t know exactly how he thinks. There may come a situation where just a small thing on our part, a minor oversight, may be considered by the King of the Woods as a violation of the agreement.

“Don’t get me wrong. Mossbears are fascinating creatures, and their healing magic is something I’ve been looking into for years. However, if it comes down to fighting them, I’ll side with the humans. I’m a healer, Miss Grey, and my primary concern is people’s lives.”

That was understandable, as well as the fact that for centuries Esulmor has been seen as a threat. And to be honest, I wasn’t blind enough not to see it was one. To dare say otherwise just because Esu was nice to me would be dumb of me. Still, I couldn’t help feeling wronged on his behalf.

“Perhaps you should start calling Esu by his name instead of a man-made title if you want to avoid fighting him and his family.”

My ruder tone didn’t escape the soldiers. This time I didn’t care, and neither did Lord Wigram, it seemed.

“Interesting. None of our beast talkers ever mentioned that it bothered him,” he said, rubbing his beard. “Did he tell you that himself?”

I shook my head. “Esu doesn’t seem to care. It was one of the mothers who corrected me.” Recalling her words, a growl expressing them came from my throat. 

“Esu is Esu,” I added in explanation.

A smile crossed the Imperial Chief Healer’s face. “You have no idea how valuable this information can be. Even in the Empire, it is often the spouses who can sway the decisions of the lords and ladies in question. Thus, retaining the mothers’ goodwill can be crucial. Thank you, Miss Grey.”

He took it so seriously, it took my words away. It was meant to be a scolding, one he was to take with a grain of salt, not the advice he’ll be so grateful for.

“So, your regeneration,” he said with as much enthusiasm as if the previous conversation had never taken place. “How come your skill can bring you back to life at mere tier three?”

“Actually, it’s been able to do that since tier one,” I said, correcting him. “As to why? I have no idea. If I had to guess, I died a few times during the experiments.”

“I see. However, there must be more to it. If it were so simple, everyone would have such skill.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “It’s not hard to bring someone back from the brink of death. People have tried, but it was the healers treating those trying to gain the skill who gained necromancer-like skills instead.”

“Haven’t you learned for yourself that effort is the key, girl?” Deckard asked, raising an eyebrow at me. “When a person dies, usually the regeneration stops working as well as the rest of the body. Thus, no effort is made on its part. First, you need to get your current skill to a level where it will work, even if you die. It must make some effort to kick your brain back into gear and get your heart pumping. At that point, it’s meaningless to get another skill at level one, though.”

“Mutations, quite possibly the one from the mossbears, must have given you such regeneration,” Lord Wigram added thoughtfully. “The skill is just a reflection of that, not of your deaths.”

I’ve never looked at it that way. It made sense, but if it was true, the cause couldn’t have been mossbear essence. That was the fifth shot I got. My heart stopped for half a minute after the fourth one, though. So which essence was behind my regeneration?

A question that neither Deckard nor Lord Wigram had been able to get to the bottom of without knowing what beasts I was made of.

 

• Traiana’s Herald

Requirements met for class evolution: [Traiana’s Herald]

You’ve heard the cry louder than others as if she were whispering her wails right into your ear. Traiana mourned your loss and equally wept with joy when she welcomed you back. Has class at level 100.

Haralds are those who hear and are heard. Their voices, led by the cry of Traiana, reach even the ears of those for whom the world had fallen into silence. They guide those lost in grief to the courageous path of their hearts as bravery is what will be needed in times to come. Battle has been lost, and more will be.

The efficiency of skills related to voice, perception, and will increased by 30%.

 

“Is it common for those who hear her cry as loudly as I do to get this class?” I asked them after reading them the description of Traiana’s Herald.

“Quite so.” Lord Wigram nodded. “It’s not a unique phenomenon to Fallens Cry either. After all, each labyrinth has its own heralds. What they have in common is that the heralds are supposed to prepare us for the coming battle, where they differ is the last sentence.”

“So, ‘Battle has been lost, and more will be’ is...?”

“Not so unique, I’m afraid, Miss Grey. The same sentence is already registered and archived several times.”

“How do you know?” Was he interested in labyrinths as well as healing?

“I was and still am looking into hints to the nature of the battle it predicts,” he said. “Regardless of the army’s readiness, in every battle, there will be injuries that require treatment. All the more so when the army is up against an unknown enemy. Healers must be prepared no less.”

“You can’t prepare for everything,” Deckard said with a bit of sadness in his voice. “I keep telling San that.”

“And you know more about this battle?” I asked cautiously, hunching that it was likely an imperial secret.

Lord Wigram smiled. “Not much of either, both the past one and the one the heralds warn us of and prepare us for. It is a general consensus that the labyrinth sculptures depict defining moments of people in question. In the case of Fallens Cry, it’s Traiana. According to all indications, these are moments from the battle that destroyed the civilization of the time. What or whom they faced is unknown, as well as the time, size, and nature of the battle that awaits us. 

“It has been so for thousands of years. Do we have another thousand years then, or will it happen tomorrow? Is it the same enemy they faced back then returning, or is it a new threat rising somewhere? These and other questions plague the minds of rulers and those who care for thousands of years and may well be for thousands more.”

So, some kind of threat was coming, huh? They just didn’t know when. It looked to me like the predicted end of the world on Earth. The dates passed, and nothing happened. Perhaps next time?

“You’re not thinking of taking that class, are you?” Deckard asked.

“What? No!”

“Good! Because labyrinth heralds are just heralds who have nothing to say. I haven’t heard of one, not one to whom Traiana has spoken directly.”

The Imperial Chief Healer nodded. “True. In all of history, there is no record of one of them hearing the words of the battle to come of those to whom they gave their voice.”

“I got it! Okay? I’ve already said it’s not a class I choose.” Damn, they really didn’t want me to choose Traiana’s Herald.

“Well then, let’s hear the description of another class,” Lord Wigram said as he picked up the teapot, refilling my cup of tea. I glared at Deckard, considering even telling them about the Overgrown Duster. In the end, I did.

 

• Overgrown Duster

Requirements met for class evolution: [Overgrown Duster].

Your tail precedes your reputation as you’ve been thought of and called that by more than 100 people. You’ve dusted off over a hundred kilos of dust and dirt. Has class at level 100.

The bushy tail is their pride and joy, a friend even. Their hair, be it the ones on the tail, the head, or elsewhere, is so soft that not even the finest dust will escape it and the touch of it warms the coldest of hearts. Only the darkest of minds can resist the cuteness they abound.

The efficiency of skills related to tail, cuteness, compassion, and understanding increased by 20%.

 

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While Deckard struggled to keep his laughter in check, dismay appeared on Lord Wigram’s face. “I hope you’re not considering this one, Miss Grey!”

“Something wrong with it?” I mean, it sounded like a fairly innocent class, if largely useless. Seriously, what could I do facing an opponent? Cuddle him to death? Strike his heart with cuteness?

“It’s very close to classes like Companions, Hookers, and Whores,” he said in a warning tone. “They too make their owners look more attractive and target the hearts of others. These classes give them the means to seduce and play with the emotions of their victims.”

He made Overgrown Duster, and these classes sound just as bad as the Mind Mage. Were they really that dangerous? A thought I immediately dismissed. If that were the case, the Empire would not have allowed their existence. Plus, even when angry with me, the girls in Broken Heart never played with my emotions or mind.

“Are you sure? I’ve met a few, and none...wait!...did one of them do that to you, played with your emotions?” I asked without thinking my question through, and I didn’t even get a chance to do it before Deckard’s laughter echoed in my mind. “You’re killing me, girl. You gotta be the first one to ask the Imperial Chief Healer if he had an affair with Whore.” I immediately understood that no one was brave enough, or rather stupid enough, to do that. One look at Lord Wigram, and it was apparent that even he was taken aback by the question. “It was nice to meet you, girl.”

Deckard’s joking tone and the sad smile on the old man’s face allayed my fears of ending up with a noose around my neck or a severed head. 

“That is a thing of the past,” said Lord Wigram, taking a cookie himself for the first time. “Pardon me for my manners, Miss Grey. If becoming more attractive and desirable in the eyes of others is your longing, I will not hinder you. However, I must express my strong disapproval of that. I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that your goal was to become stronger. You certainly won’t achieve that with this class.”

That was obvious even to me too, yet I glanced at Deckard, seeking his opinion. “As much fun as it would be if you had it, I have to agree. This is not a class for you. Although if I had to compare it to anything, it would be Lady, Noblewoman, Dame, even Princess. They wield elegance instead of cuteness, and it’s their voice rather than their touch that warms the soul, but very similar in essence.”

“And how do you know that? Don’t tell me you had a thing with one?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why the hell not? Not all Ladies hide their asses in castles and palaces.”

“During the war, some, especially those of the lower noble families, helped the healers to soothe the wounded. Plus, it’s no secret that soldiers like to brag, and spending the night with one is a common fantasy of theirs,” Lord Wigram said, regardless of his soldiers standing against the walls of the room.

Though his words didn’t faze them, and neither did Deckard let himself be provoked. “There’s a truth in every rumor.”

“Some ladies are indeed...more adventurous,” admitted Imperial Chief Healer, then he cleared his throat. “Anyway, we’ve strayed far from the purpose of our conversation.”

I once again read the Overgrown Duster description and glanced at Sage. “No, my tail is cute enough as it is, and you’re right. Cute is not what I want to be...” I paused, looking into my cup of tea. When I lifted my head, it was with a determination to leave any regrets for not choosing Overgrown Duster behind. 

“Do you know anything about Skill Changer?”

 

• Skill Changer

Requirements met for class evolution: [Skill Changer]

An indecisive mind unparalleled. Changed skills over a thousand times. Has at least three skills below level 10. Has at least ten skills below level 30. Has class at level 100.

Skill Changers do not know the fear that others suffer all their lives. While juggling the amount they were given at the outset of their journey, they embrace change without losing the experience gained. 

 

Lord Wigram rubbed his beard in thought. “It's not so easy to get this class. On the other hand, it’s not that rare either.”

“Not easy?” I wondered. “All I had to do was change skills more than a thousand times.”

“It has to be done with a reason, a purpose other than for the change itself. Quite a versatile class, in my opinion. However, I don’t recall anyone at higher levels with it. You, Deckard?”

“Same,” he said and shifted his weight. “Now, you can choose six out of twelve class skills, and after the evolution, it will be eight out of twenty-four. You’re going to find yourself in quite a pickle choosing the skills you will use. You’ll wish you had more skill slots. Everybody does, except for Skill Changers. Sounds sweet, doesn’t it?

“But they have the same problem you’re having right now. Underleveled skills compared to their class. Do you know why?”

I didn’t have to think too hard about it. “Too many skills to level up.”

“Exactly, girl. Instead of eight, they’re dealing with twenty-four. Their time, focus, and effort are split between them, and while they can adapt better to the situation due to their broader skillset, it makes them weaker overall.”

“Of course, you don’t have to use all the skills, and you might be able to find a way to take the class further. Your determination is undeniable, after all. However, I sincerely hope this is not the last class for you to choose from,” Lord Wigram said.

Smirking, I shook my head. “It’s not. I had some doubts about Skill Changer, wondering if it might be a viable class. It sounded very versatile, and as you said yourself, I didn’t want to rush my decision.” I paused to take a deep breath. “However, I’m most torn between the two.”

“Pray tell us, Miss Grey.”

“It’s Gale Walker,” I said, glancing at Deckard. “...and Deviant of Humanity.”

 

• Deviant of Humanity 

Requirements met for class evolution: [Deviant of Humanity].

In the pursuit of power, you diverge pretty far from what it means to be human. And in spite of that, you have come to call the changes your own and pushed forward, knowing there’s no turning back. Has class at level 100.

Even though the Deviants are still human at their core, they have transcended the limitations of the species. The newfound nature may not be easy to accept to their kind as it can inspire fright in their hearts. Yet hard to deny are the virtues of a body and the strength of fusing that gets them into places never seen by humans.

The efficiency of skills related to deviation, changes, and power increased by 30%.

 

• Gale Walker

Requirements met for class evolution: [Gale Walker].

With speeds unmatched among your peers, even the wind has trouble catching up to you. Though not built for swiftness, you have achieved speed that has left many speechless just by the strength of your legs, flap of your wings, and through force of will. Has class at level 100.

Gale Walkers don’t race with the wind. They don’t wrestle with it. They walk with it. Instead of an obstacle, they find support in it that allows them to push further to greater gaits, covering longer distances in one stride. With a heartbeat in sync with the flow of gale, their perception of the world is more detached.

The efficiency of skills related to speed, perception, and agility increased by 30%.

 

This time, after reading the skill descriptions, they were both thoughtfully silent, and it was nerve-wracking.

“What’s your thoughts?” the Imperial Chief Healer finally asked instead of giving me advice or sharing his opinion first as he had done so far.

Taken aback, it took me a moment to sort out my thoughts. “I know what I am and what I’m not. Human and beast, and yet I may be neither.”

“I do not follow you now, Miss Grey.” 

Sighing, I took a sip of tea. “You call me a hybrid, and I don’t mind. But how many people see me as a human? Seriously, in my experience, everyone mistakes me for a terran, while the terrans are confused as to what to think of me. And why would I think the beasts would see it any differently? Because Esu accepted me? No, I won't be a beast to them either.” I paused, unsure if what I was saying made sense to them. “What I’m trying to say is that I understand why I got the Deviant of Humanity. Hell, my body holds potential I can’t imagine, and this class would help me unlock it. Yet I fear that if I choose this one, I will give up the rest of my humanity, despite what the class says.”

“And Gale Walker?” Lord Wigram asked calmly, unaffected by my outburst.

Biting my lip, I spoke my mind. “The safe choice. By choosing Walker, I’m not giving up anything. A smart choice, too. I get speed and mobility, something I’m already good at. Fuck, it might even allow me to fly!”

“But?” He knew it was there. He heard it in my voice.

I shrugged at the old man’s question. “I don’t know. It’s like taking a step back. You don’t know how hard it’s been for me to accept what I am, and so if I choose Gale Walker, it feels like I deny it all over again.”

“Hmm...” hummed the Imperial Chief Healer thoughtfully. “Sounds to me like you made it a choice between becoming a beast and staying human.”

Basically, yes, I did. “You?”

“I see it more traditionally as a choice between the known and the unknown. With Gale Walker, it’s pretty obvious what to expect. Besides speed and mobility, it’s also perception. While I am a healer, I have a fair amount of experience with soldiers, adventurers, and seekers to know that good awareness is an essential part of the speed-based types. It’s an excellent class, as far as I can tell.”

He paused, searching for something in my eyes. “But you already know all that, don’t you? Deviant of Humanity is the unknown. It’s hard to say what it will do to you and your mutations, which direction it will take you.”

“Isn’t that obvious? It’s focused on my beast side and power.”

“Yes, but what does that mean? Does it make you more of a beast? Will it deepen your changes, or will nothing change for you? Honestly, even I can’t answer that.

“Power is a term that is also not easy to define, and we usually don’t find out until after the class is selected what it is referring to. If it were a magic class, which I’m a bit disappointed you don’t have one, it could be the power of your magic. There are classes where power refers to determination, your will, the strength of spirit, the power of healing, good health. In this case, it’s tempting to think it relates to strength. However, is this really the case? We can only guess.”

“The known and the unknown. I dare say you won’t go wrong with Gale Walker, and you’ll be happy with the class. Deviant of Humanity is a step into the dark. You can love it and find your true self in it. You can hate it just as much.”

I couldn’t help sighing. “I have to say, you didn’t make my decision any easier.”

Lord Wigram laughed. “Didn’t I tell you I’m not here to tell you what to choose? The choice is entirely yours, Miss Grey.”

“Deckard?” I asked, looking hopefully at him.

“Go with your guts.” He said, which made me laugh in despair. Fuck, his advice was even more useless, telling me nothing about what class to choose.

“I’d say Deviant is a go by the gut class,” he added after letting me suffer in my misery for a while. “You choose it and go with it while you do your best. Gale Walker sounds close to the Wind Walker I might have selected in my first evolution. I could, but I didn’t! I still say it’s a good choice to go through if you don’t have the guts to take the risk. Eleaden World Strider that I chose back then was the same risk as your Deviant, but something I chose with my heart, not my reason.”

“So you think Deviant of Humanity is a better choice?”

He shrugged. “If your gut tells you so, then yes. Frankly, Gale Walker seems to be a perfect fit for what I have to teach you, though I’ve been telling you from the start that I don’t intend to make you the next Void Walker.”

Yeah, he told me that. “Have you ever regretted your decision?”

“Hell, yeah. Who hasn’t?” he asked, looking at Lord Wigram.

“True, Miss Grey. I, too, have wondered what if?”

“See, so I say forget about regretting it later and go with what your gut tells you. I don’t think you’ll make a wrong decision with either of them. As far as I can tell, both classes are excellent. I’ve heard of better ones... you know how it is with rumors, though.”

I didn’t. “Based on truth, but far from it?” 

“Sort of. Who would brag about the bad? Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that in the end, it’s not so much the class itself that matters, but how you approach it. Look at you, mere Slave, and yet the things you’ve achieved...” He left the sentence unsaid, making me think about it.

“So you’re saying I can achieve my dreams with any of them?”

“That’s right, girl. It is entirely up to you, your will, and your determination. You don’t want to become an even bigger beast, so fight it. You want to run with the wind, then run. Who says you need class and skills to do so.”

“It’s easier with them, though,” Lord Wigram added.

Deckard snorted at his remark, realizing something. “You know what, if you want to get stronger as fast as you can, choose Deviant. It’s going to be more of a challenge for you to find your way around that class and skills than with Gale Walker. That’s my advice, girl.”

The Imperial Chief Healer hummed. “True, if you look at it like that. However, should you not find a way to work with your class, if you fail to make it work, it can stunt your growth. That’s what happens to those who make rash decisions.”

“Nah, bullshit. The proof is sitting right in front of you. How many slaves just gave up, freed slaves, seeing no future with their class. If they would just try a little harder, like her...”

“That’s just it, Deckard. Not everyone is as determined as you or her. Even you two. How can you tell what will happen in a week, a month, or a year? You may very well encounter something that breaks your spirit, or in time your resolve will simply wane, and then what?”

“Are you still talking about my classes and me?” I asked, because I wasn’t entirely sure. It sounded more like they were arguing about something from the past.

“Yes.”

“Not quite, Miss Grey.”

“...Okay?”

Lord Wigram smiled, seeing my confusion, uncertainty, and hesitation. “It’s not a decision you have to make here. Feel free to wait a few days. No one will hold it against you.”

“No, I...” I said, stopping short. “I don’t want to put it off. It wouldn’t let me sleep, and I wouldn’t eat.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that,” Deckard said amusedly, hinting at my earlier cravings.

Letting his remark go, I took a look at the two. “Can I have a moment to myself to think about it, please?”

“Yes, by all means,” said the Imperial Chief Healer, rising from his chair. 

Deckard gestured for me to go on while he stayed where he was.

Munching on a cookie, I sank into the chair while immersed in my conflicted thoughts. What to choose?

Lord Wigram told me to take my time, think it over. On the other hand, Deckard argued to choose with my heart, be bold. My old self, the sensible one, told me to choose Gale Walker. My instincts, on the other hand, called for the Deviant of Humanity. It was so hard to decide.

The thought of fucking up the rest of my life if I made the wrong choice was sending shivers down my spine. How anyone could make such a decision at 16. was beyond me.

To distract myself for a moment, I took another look at my class options, this time at the ones I was deprived of their choice when Dungreen made me choose Slave. They were still a viable option for me, however a step backward if I had chosen one of them.

My eyes fell on one in particular.

 

• Florist 

Requirements met for class: [Florist].

Your love and care for plants has been appreciated by many. You have brought over a hundred of them back from the brink of withering and even more into bloom. Has reached the age of sixteen.

The heart of the Florist lies first and foremost with the flowers. Being surrounded by them brings them not only joy but also strength. Their touch can make flowers change shape, their voice alter the color of their petals, and their will transform the desert into a flowering meadow.

The efficiency of skills related to gardening, plant growth, and plant care increased by 10%.

 

Yeah, definitely a class I’d choose if it weren’t for Slave and Dungreen with no regrets. Taking it now would be a mistake, and I knew it. I’d regret it, doubt it. It was simply too late for that.

Sighing at what might have been if I had gotten to Eleaden and been able to choose of my own free will, I looked back at the description of Gale Walker and the Deviant of Humanity. One thing was obvious. Whichever one I choose, I’ll have my doubts. Deckard had them, as did Lord Wigram. It was inevitable. So which decision would I regret less?

Nah, that wasn’t the right question to ask, just like it was wrong to choose between beast and human. But then, on what basis should I have made my decision?

The best ones I ever made were the ones from the heart, and my heart was screaming at me to take a leap of faith, even though I was not going to have an easy ride with this decision.

The more I thought about it, the more I became certain that it was the right decision. After all, even if I stumble on my future journey, I had friends around me now that I could count on to help me get back up again.

Trembling, but with resolve, I made my choice.

• CLASS EVOLUTION: SLAVE becomes DEVIANT OF HUMANITY

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