Class Advancement

Re-entering the torch-lit compound from the far gate, he noticed a small figure sitting on the grass by the back door, hunched over and balled up. As he headed over, their head stayed buried in their arms, dishevelled hair spilling down their back.

He took an annoyed breath and crouched in front of them. “Is there something interesting on the ground?”

In a split second, the head snapped up—red eyes catching the dim light—her body shouting emotion though she stayed silent, breath coming fast.

He stood and offered a hand. “Tokko, if you’re tired, go to bed.”

She wiped at a mix of tears, sweat, and exhaustion, then shook her head. Taking his hand, she rose; her eyes flicked to the blood on his face and filled with worry.

“That isn’t a yes or no. If you’re tired, you sleep. Simple as. You’re still weakened and not able to do much else, so sleep is your best friend. Understand?”

She nodded slowly, still not fully present. He handed her the bundle of tied-together items. “Are the others up?”

As they walked toward the bathing area, she bobbed her head.

“Alright. Take those inside and give them to Han or something. I’m not sure what to do with them, but he might. Also find out about food if possible—I’m starving. I’ll head in after I wash.”

She nodded firmly, gripping the items tight, and slipped inside with a faint smile.

With the bathing area clear, he flipped the sign and entered. Clear, steaming water poured from a metal pipe into a large stone tub. ‘Finally.’

With another pipe, taller not dissimilar to a shower over just a pool of rocks he could only assume its use. Washing himself clean of most of the blood, grime, and dirt, he submerged himself fully, as the water spilled over the edge into a runoff.

Eventually, hunger won out over the comfort brought by the warm water. He climbed out, stomach caving in on itself as he wrung out his clothes, then coaxed a light fire to dry them slightly before heading into the guild house.

Inside, quiet chatter faltered as eyes turned his way from the dining table. Nearly every seat was filled, only a few empty. The whole guild—plus his ‘teammates’—surrounded a table piled high with food.

Chairs had been squeezed together; mismatched seats had been dragged in. He instantly regretted returning but forced a loose smile. “I… uh, sorry I’m late, I guess?”

Steam still rose off the platters, yet everything looked conspicuously untouched—the guild members’ way of waiting. Osric, seated at the end, smiled and waved it off with a light laugh.

“Haha, looks like sending Clive wasn’t needed after all. Please, sit. I thought it only right we have a proper feast to welcome you. Once Clive’s back, help yourselves—food is one of the few things we rarely lack.”

There was a space between Han and Tokko, his items set beside it; he sat as Han gave him a disbelieving look for vanishing into the forest all day. At the far end, Osric glanced at Duranta and nodded.

A half minute later, Clive strolled in from the back door—spotless, not a speck of dirt or sweat—shot Joseph a brief look, then took the last empty chair silently.

Osric rose and gave a short welcoming speech. Joseph didn’t listen to a word. He zeroed in on the fatty meats and started shovelling them in. Despite his larger frame shrinking, the last few days had chewed him up; he needed fuel.

The spread of unfamiliar vegetables and other odd items—raw, roasted, baked, you name it—made him take a moment to scout how the others reacted, before trying each one eventually without a fuss.

Conversation stayed light; Osric and Han carried most of it, with the occasional comment from Che, Logan, or sometimes Duranta. The other three guild members were nearly silent, unless directly spoken to. Present more for Osric’s sake than theirs.

After dinner, he had a quick word with Han and the group, sorted the loot—most of it low value—and ended up alone with Tokko. She stuck closer than ever, still keeping that careful emotional distance, and said almost nothing.

Relaxing with a drink while he fiddled with the haul, he spoke without looking at her. “Listen, I’m not making a big deal out of what you were doing when I got back. I’m a little disappointed, but whatever—just don’t do that.

If I go out and come back late, either trust me and do your own thing, or—when you’re healthy—decide the best course of action for yourself. I won’t be altering my decisions because of anything related to you, so you will have to toughen up a bit.”

Her face drooped a bit, but nodded regardless as he spoke again.

“As you are now, wallowing in worry is a waste of time. Get stronger and I’ll care less, about what you do, as long as it doesn’t impact me.” He glanced over for a clear, verbal answer. “Got it?”

“Y… Yes!”

He eyed her for a second, then let it go—she was still fragile, in every way. If sitting nearby kept her from spiraling, that was fine, but he refused to be leashed by a sense of guilt if he just went out to do something for a while.

With a moment to breathe, he opened his stats, smiling to himself, the mood in the air returning to neutral, if not slightly joyful.

Name: Joseph

Class: Spirit Ranger [E+] (+3 Spirit, +2 Dexterity, +2 Agility, +1 Magic) (+)

Title: Survivor of the Unsurvivable, One Who Consumes Enemies Hearts

Level: 25

Vitality: 10
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 68
Agility: 68
Magic: 67
Spirit: 67

Available Stat Points: 0

Active Skills: Channel Spirits (C), Spirit Sight (D), Magic-Spirit Communion (D), Condensed Fireball (E), Concrete Creation (E), Bursting Shot (D), Piercing Shot (D), Mana-Spirit Shockwave (E), Rippling Water Barrier (D), Electrostatic Discharge (E), Shadowmancy (E), Magic Echolocation (E)

Passive Skills: Survivor (C), Spirits Affection (D), Exploit Weak Point (D), Mana Control (D), Concealed Presence (D), Silent Steps (D), Focused Hearing (D), Guardian (F), Structure Master (F), Sixth Sense (F), One with Nature (F), Analysis (E), Focus (E)

His smile widened as he clicked through each description, a little wave of euphoria following every upgrade. Then his gaze snagged on the plus icon by his level. Heart spiking, he focused.

[Congratulations on reaching level 25. You can now advance your class.]

[(D) Hunter – Skill: Heightened Senses, Skill: Track, Skill: Instinct, Skill: Create Trap, Stat: Energy (+4 Dexterity, +4 Agility, +3 Energy)

(D) Fire Wizard – Skill: Fire Affinity, Skill: Flame Control, Skill: Fire Resistance, Skill: Eruption, Stat: Wisdom (+8 Magic, +3 Wisdom)

(D) Lightning Wizard – Skill: Lightning Affinity, Skill: Lightning Strike, Skill: Lightning Falcon, Skill: Thunder Clouds, Stat: Wisdom (+7 Magic, +4 Wisdom)

(D+) Elemental Wizard – Skill: Elemental Affinity, Skill: Elemental Ball, Skill: Elemental Summon, Skill: Control Elements, Stat: Wisdom, +Skill: Lesser Spirit Summon (+5 Magic, +6 Wisdom, +2 Spirit)

(C) Spiritualist – Skill: Commune Spirits, Skill: Spirit Possession, Skill: Spirit Sense, Skill: Gather Spirits, Skill: Spirit Frenzy (+3 Vitality, +3 Strength, +9 Spirit)

(C) Scout – Skill: Track, Skill: Eagle Vision, Skill: Trap Detection, Skill: Analysis, Skill: Feather Steps, Stat: Energy (+5 Dexterity, +5 Agility, +5 Energy)

(C+) Lesser Spirit Ranger – Skill: Spirit Sense, Skill: Commune Spirits, Skill: Lesser Spirit Summon, Skill: Contract Spirit, Skill: Spirit Fusion, +Skill: Elemental Affinity (+4 Dexterity, +4 Agility, +3 Magic, +7 Spirit)

(C+) Lesser Elemental Spirit Ranger – Skill: Spirit Sense, Skill: Commune Spirits, Skill: Lesser Spirit Summon, Skill: Contract Spirit, Skill: Elemental Affinity, Skill: Control Elements, +Skill: Mana Sense, +Stat: Wisdom (+3 Dexterity, +3 Agility, +4 Magic, +5 Spirit, +3 Wisdom)]

His eyes darted over the options. He tilted his head, frowned for a heartbeat, then shrugged it off. He already knew the path he preferred—and one option was simply better and he clicked it immediately, his status page undergoing rapid updates.

Class: Lesser Elemental Spirit Ranger [C+] (+3 Dexterity, +3 Agility, +4 Magic, +5 Spirit, +3 Wisdom)

With an extremely bright smile he clicked through with his thoughts on each of his new skills.

Spirit Sense (C) – Perceive the world with a spirit’s senses.
Lesser Spirit Summon (C) – Summon a lesser spirit from the spirit realm. (0/1 daily limit)
Contract Spirit (C) – Form a binding contract with a spirit. (0/4)
Mana Sense (C) – Sense mana within the surroundings.
Commune Spirits (C) – Communicate with spirits.
Elemental Affinity (C) – Moderate increase to elemental affinity.
Control Elements (C) – Moderate increase to elemental control.

He squinted at the ever-growing list of skills. ‘Damn its bloated.’ He didn’t believe in “too many skills,” anxiety prickled anyway: overlaps, conflicts, passives overriding other passives, all issues he may eventually come across. He could toggle skills, but there was no clean indicator—only feel, deduction and memory.

It wasn’t a problem yet but still he filed a mental note: ‘Don’t turn every useful spell into a skill if I can help it.’ Then he set it aside. With the rest of his status having been massively improved from his long day of hunting, the new earned skills especially useful, he closed his status and returned to the world.

Next to him, Tokko had fallen asleep, straight-backed in an unnatural posture. He tapped her shoulder, then headed upstairs for bed, her trailing drowsy behind. A small basket waited outside her door with a few items inside. Not really comprehending it, she warily took it and entered her room.

Each having their own small room, they slept like logs, Han, the only one remaining awake, sat outside by himself, staring into the starry night.