Class Selection

The moment my palms touched the marble, the entire room erupted in light.

It wasn't harsh or blinding, more like being surrounded by warm starlight. The crystal above pulsed faster, and I felt that strange energy flowing through the altar and into my hands. It traveled up my arms, not painful but definitely not normal.

The carvings on the altar began to glow. Images flashed in my mind.

Then, as suddenly as it started, everything went still.

Words appeared in the air above the altar, written in that same flowing script I could somehow read. But these weren't just floating there, they were carved from light itself, golden letters that seemed to burn themselves into my vision.

CLASS SELECTION AVAILABLE!

[WARRIOR] (65% Compatibility)

"Masters of melee combat and physical prowess. High STR and VIT growth. Specializes in weapon mastery and battlefield endurance."

[ROGUE] (96% Compatibility) 

"Swift and cunning fighters who strike from shadows. High AGI and LUK growth. Specializes in stealth, critical strikes, and evasion."

[MAGE] (58% Compatibility) 

"Wielders of arcane forces and elemental magic. High INT and MP growth. Specializes in ranged magical attacks and spell casting."

[RANGER] (55% Compatibility) 

"Skilled hunters and scouts of the wilderness. Balanced AGI and VIT growth. Specializes in archery, tracking, and survival skills."

[CLERIC] (41% Compatibility) 

"Devoted healers blessed by divine power. High VIT and MP growth. Specializes in healing magic and support abilities."

[SKIRMISHER] (90% Compatibility) 

"Agile fighters who excel in hit-and-run tactics. High AGI and moderate STR growth. Specializes in quick strikes and battlefield mobility."

My echo came closer, studying the percentages. 

"Rogue has the highest compatibility," it noted. "Though Skirmisher is close."

I stared at the options, surprised by how the shrine had evaluated me. 

'Rogue? Really?' 

Though thinking about it, I guess spending years of perfecting timing and precision in competitive gaming wasn't that different from the qui     ck reflexes a rogue would need.

The golden text pulsed gently, waiting for my decision.

Just before I could make my decision, additional text shimmered into existence beside each class option.

CLASS SELECTION AVAILABLE!

[WARRIOR] (65% Compatibility) {Common} 

[ROGUE] (96% Compatibility) {Common}

[MAGE] (58% Compatibility) {Common}

[RANGER] (55% Compatibility) {Common}

[CLERIC] (41% Compatibility) {Common}

[SKIRMISHER] (90% Compatibility) {Rare}

Echo came more closer, pointing at the rarity indicators. 

I stared at the floating options for a few more minutes, weighing my choices. 

Rogue had the highest compatibility at 96%, but Skirmisher was sitting right there at 90% with that beautiful [rare] tag next to it.

'Come on. Who the hell in their right mind would reject that kind of rarity?'

In every game I'd ever played, rarer classes meant better abilities, more interesting skill trees, and bragging rights.

So without a doubt...

"Rogue fits better, high agility means we can run from things we can't handle, and LUK can help in it too." My echo retorted.

"But Skirmisher is rare," I countered. 

"Rarity doesn't matter if we're dead." It snapped.

Seriously? My own dead version lecturing me?

Then again, I considered both options, weighing the echo's practical concerns against the appeal of a rare class.

"Whatever, it's not like we hadn't died already." I said aloud, reaching toward the glowing text.

"Skirmisher." 

The moment I touched the golden letters, they flared with brilliant light. The energy that had been flowing through the altar suddenly surged, racing up my arms and spreading through my entire body. It felt like lightning and warm honey all at once.

The other class options faded away, leaving only the Skirmisher description floating in the air. Then that too began to shift, new text appearing below it:

[CLASS SELECTED: SKIRMISHER]

{Initializing class bonuses... AGI +3 STR +1 Base skills unlocked... Dash, Quick Strike, Evasion}

The crystal above pulsed one final time, and then the room returned to its normal dim glow. I flexed my fingers, surprised to find that I actually felt... different. 

Lighter on my feet, more aware of my surroundings.

my ghostly figure was grinning beside me.

 "Nice choice. Rare class on your first try, that's got to be lucky, right?"

'Let's hope so,' I thought, staring at where the text had been. 'Because I have a feeling I'm going to need all the luck I can get.'

Then I stepped out of the shrine room. The middle-aged man looked up from his paperwork. "All finished?"

I nodded.

"Good. Take these papers back down to registration and they'll complete the process." He handed me another set of documents without much ceremony, already turning his attention back to his work.

I nodded and headed back downstairs.

The guild hall was just as busy as before. I made my way back to the silver-haired clerk, waiting in her line again. She was efficiently processing another adventurer's paperwork when I approached.

When my turn came, she looked up with that same professional smile. "Back already! Class selection complete?"

"Yeah," I said, handing over both sets of papers.

She glanced through them quickly, making a few notes and stamps.

"Perfect. Everything looks in order." Her movements were practiced and efficient. "This should only take a moment to finalize your registration."

Then she pulled out another device from under the counter, this one different from the first. It looked like a flat metal plate with a slot on one side, covered in the same kind of shifting runes as the identification artifact.

"Just need to create your official guild card," she said, gesturing for me to place my hand on the metal surface. "Same process as before."

I pressed my palm against the cool metal. The device hummed softly, and instead of text appearing on paper, there was a mechanical whirring sound from the slot. 

A moment later, a rectangular card slid out, about the size of a credit card but made from what looked like polished stone or metal. 

It had a faint blue shimmer to it, with my name etched in silver letters across the top and various symbols carved below.

The clerk picked up the card, gave it a quick stamp with her guild seal, then as she glanced over the information, her eyes widened.

"A rare class?" She looked up at me with genuine surprise, then back down at the card.

"Oh my goodness, congratulations! That's... that's quite exceptional for a new registration."

The clerk was beaming now, her professional demeanor shifting to something more excited. "You're very fortunate. Rare class holders often find themselves in high demand for parties and special assignments."

I stared at her, still processing. 

She pulled out another form from beneath the counter and began filling it out. 

"Since you received a rare class, you're eligible for enhanced registration benefits. Would you like to share your full background details now? Family history, previous training, place of origin...?"

I shook my head quickly. "No, thanks. The old work situation, you know..." I gave her a meaningful look. "Prefer to keep things simple."

She nodded knowingly, setting the form aside. 

"Of course, I understand completely. Many of our most successful adventurers prefer to let their actions speak louder than their past."

I just smiled sheepishly.

"Your guild card should serve you well," she continued, sliding the shimmering card across the counter to me. 

I picked up the card, feeling its weight in my palm.

"Is there anything else you need to know about guild operations?" she asked, back to her professional tone.

"Actually, yeah," I said, holding up the guild card. "What's the ranking system is like? I'm... not familiar with how things work here."

The clerk's expression brightened, clearly she enjoyed explaining guild procedures. 

"Of course! The ranking system is quite straightforward, really."

She pulled out a small chart from her desk drawer and placed it between us.

"All new adventurers start at F rank, that's the lowest tier. From there, you progress through E, D, C, B, A, and finally S-rank. SS and SSS ranks also exist, but they're... well, legends. There are maybe around a dozen of SSS-rank adventurers in the entire kingdom." She smiled.

 "Most adventurers are happy to reach B or A-rank in their careers."

I studied the chart, noting the different symbols next to each rank. "How do you advance?"

"Job completions, mainly. Each successful mission earns you ranking points based on difficulty and your performance."

She pointed to different sections of the chart. "You can check the rest of information from there."

Her smile dimmed slightly as she continued. "However, since you're blow level 10, you won't be able to take solo missions just yet. The minimum requirement for solo work is level 10, I'm afraid. You'll need to join a party or take on group assignments until then."

I nodded. "I see." 

I glanced down at my newly minted guild card before pocketing it. 

'Wait a minute, she said level? So, everyone here has levels?'

Well, make sense since its fantasy world, and have classes and parties and all.

Just as I turned to leave, she called out.

 "Oh, one more thing! Since you have a rare class, you're entitled to some additional privileges." She pulled out a small pamphlet and handed it to me.

 "Your card works at any guild branch across the kingdom. You get free lodging in our dormitory rooms and one meal a day, after you meet eligibility criteria."

"Eligibility?"

"The minimum requirement is to get E rank and complete at least three jobs per week. If you miss that quota for two weeks straight, then the benefits will be suspended until you get back on track." 

'Well, that's something at least.' 

I nodded to the clerk. "Thanks. That's really helpful."

"Best of luck on your first jobs," she said with a genuine smile. 

The I stepped away from the counter, guild card in my pocket. And made my way over to the bulletin board, scanning the posted jobs available for group assignments. 

Most of them seemed pretty standard for what I'd expect at the bottom tier – "Collect 20 Moonbell Herbs," "Exterminate Slimes in Miller's Field," and so on...

Nothing too exciting, but probably manageable for newbies.

I spent few minutes watching other adventurers form groups at tables, but no one approached the lone guy talking to himself. Just as I was considering the herb-gathering job, someone finally spoke up.

"Hey, new guy." A voice came from behind.

I turned around to see who was talking. 

A man about my age was approaching, maybe in his late twenties, with short brown hair and the kind of build that came from actual physical work rather than gym sessions. 

He wore leather armor that looked well-maintained but not fancy, and a sword hung at his hip. His face had a friendly, open expression, though his eyes held the wariness that probably came with the territory.

He gestured toward a table where three other people sat nursing drinks. "Me and my team are heading out on a D-rank job, but we're one person short. You interested in joining us?"

I glanced over at his group. Two women and another man, all watching our conversation with casual interest.

"A D-rank job," I added, glancing back at the bulletin board. "But this is just my debut."

The man blinked, tilting his head. "Debut?"

I scratched my cheek, chuckling nervously. 

Shit, wrong terminology. "I mean... I'm new. Just registered here, actually."

He burst out laughing and clapped me on the shoulder with enough force to make me almost wince. The guy was definitely stronger than he looked.

"Ha! Fresh meat, huh? Don't worry about it, pal. The job we picked isn't that dangerous, just clearing out some giant rats from a merchant's warehouse. We'll handle most of it." He grinned.

"You'd basically be our porter for the day. Carry supplies, watch our backs, maybe lend a hand if things get little messy. Easy money for a newbie."

"What's the pay split?" I asked, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing.

"Even five-way split," he said without hesitation. "We're not the type to short-change teammates, even temporary ones. You pull your weight, you get paid fairly."

I glanced over at his table again. His teammates were still watching, but they didn't look opposed to the idea.

One of the women, a redhead with a bow slung across her back, gave me an encouraging nod.

I nodded back and headed towards them.