Chapter 3: The Path to Awakening

Ralear stood before the class, gazing at his students. "Today, we will delve into basic vocations and their specializations," he began. "Each vocation has its strengths and weaknesses. When you reach level 20, you can specialize and gain new abilities and opportunities."

Examples of basic vocations and their specializations:

Warrior: At level 20, they can specialize into a Barbarian or a Viking.

Hunter: At level 20, they can specialize into a Sharpshooter or a Beast Warrior.

Priest: At level 20, they can become a Paladin or a Healer.

Mage: At level 20, they can specialize into a Summoner or a Necromancer.

Thief: At level 20, they can become an Assassin or a Saboteur.

"Repetition is the mother of wisdom," said Ralear. "Although we've already covered this, it's important to review so these concepts are firmly embedded in your minds."

Ralear continued, "As you progress to higher levels, you can discover even more powerful specializations."

Examples of advanced specializations:

Barbarian: At level 40, they can become a Thunder Warrior.

Summoner: At level 40, they can become a Dark Sorcerer.

Sharpshooter: At level 40, they can become a Master Archer.

Paladin: At level 40, they can become a Holy Knight.

Assassin: At level 40, they can become a Master of Shadows.

Kevin, the blacksmith's son, stood up and asked, "How do we know which vocation is best for us when we reach level 20?"

"It's very individual," Ralear replied. "Those who awaken will definitely awaken at the first level, and it's almost certain they will awaken again at level 20. These two levels are guaranteed. However, success at level 40 is very unlikely. Only very talented individuals have a chance to choose more than one vocation, and that's extremely rare. Historically, there are legends of heroes who had up to four vocations, but those are legendary tales."

Arin sighed, thinking about how ambitious Kevin was. Kevin had a difficult childhood—his mother was sick, and his brother had been conscripted into the army. Arin knew that Kevin's determination came from his need to secure his family's future.

Teacher Daran entered the classroom with a stack of books. "Today, we will learn about basic attributes, which are crucial for your awakening and further development," he began.

Basic attributes:

Strength: "This attribute affects your physical power and ability to fight in close combat."

Agility: "Agility affects your speed, accuracy, and ability to evade attacks."

Intelligence: "Intelligence affects your magical abilities and mental capacity."

Willpower: "Willpower affects the amount of mana you have. One point of willpower equals ten points of mana."

Endurance: "Endurance affects the number of hit points. One point of endurance equals ten hit points."

Mana: "Mana is the energy used to cast spells and perform special skills."

Health: "Health represents your life source, and losing it means approaching death."

Daran continued, "Attributes can increase in several ways. For example, through training, equipment, special potions, and materials. Each level grants you five attribute points, which you can allocate freely. At levels 20, 40, 60, and 80, attributes are assigned based on talent and vocation."

Equipment rarity levels:

Common: Basic equipment without special properties.

Uncommon: Improved equipment with minor bonuses.

Rare: Equipment with significant bonuses and unique properties.

Epic: Equipment with powerful abilities, hard to find.

Legendary: Equipment with exceptional abilities known only from stories.

Mythical: Equipment with such powerful abilities that few believe it exists.

Artifacts: The rarest and most powerful equipment, whose existence is considered legend.

"Epic items are rare and have powerful abilities," Daran explained. "But mythical and artifact items are so rare that many believe they are just legends. I can only tell you what I've read about them, as I've never seen one myself."

Arin and his classmates discussed their progress and shared their experiences and tips. Next to Arin sat his best friend, Tarin, the miller's son, who always had practical advice.

Every evening, the family gathered for dinner. Mother Elira often expressed her concerns about the children's future. "What if you don't awaken?" she asked. "We'll have to find another way to make a living."

Livia, Arin's younger sister, eyed him suspiciously one evening. "Brother, what's that on your hand?" she asked, pointing to his ring. Arin hesitated. "It's just... an old ring," he replied uncertainly. But Livia insisted, "I saw it glowing when you were sleeping." Arin finally explained everything to her and asked her to keep it a secret. Livia promised to keep his secret.

Mother Elira told the younger sisters stories of legendary heroes who succeeded and lifted their families out of poverty. "Imagine what it would be like if we could also rise out of poverty and live in luxury," she said hopefully.

The family also discussed the future of the middle sister, Elenor, who was preparing for the talent exams. "You'll definitely succeed," Arin encouraged her. "And you'll get into the school." Arin pondered how he could help his sisters. The only thing he could think of was that he had to awaken. If not, he would have to sell the ring, even at the cost of cutting off his finger. He swore to himself that if he became powerful, his sisters would never have to worry about anything. They would be true princesses, like in fairy tales.

When Arin thought about selling the ring, he realized that it would mean cutting off his own finger. He wondered how he could do it without his family knowing. He thought he might do it far from home, maybe in the forest. He would need a knife or an axe and would have to make sure to treat the wound properly to avoid infection. The thought of pain and losing a finger terrified him, but the idea of ensuring a better future for his sisters comforted him.

The next day at school

Teacher Daran taught about different kingdoms and regions:

Northern Kingdom: Known for its Vikings and Berserkers.

Island Kingdom: Specialized in Samurai and Ninjas.

Desert Kingdom: Known for its Shamans and Slave Hunters.

Pyramid Kingdom: Known for its Pharaohs and mystical priests.

Kingdom of Legions: Known for its legions and discipline.

Other kingdoms and regions:

Forest Kingdom: Home of the Elves.

Mountain Kingdoms: Home of the Dwarves, known for their mighty warriors and gunpowder marksmen.

Underground Kingdom: Home of the Dark Elves, who live both underground and in dark forests.

Orc Tribes: Known for their powerful warriors and shamans.

Kingdom of Shadows: Ruled by masters of dark magic and shadows.

Crystal Kingdom: Known for its crystalline technology and magic.

Sky Kingdom: A kingdom in the clouds, known for its floating fortresses and dragons.

Flame Kingdom: A kingdom of fire, ruled by powerful pyromancers.

Water Kingdom: A kingdom that controls powerful water elementals and water magic.

"Each kingdom has its own heroes and legends that have become role models for young adventurers," said Daran. "And also its rulers, who determine the politics and destinies of their subjects. Some kingdoms are warlike, others peaceful. It's important to know who is at war with whom because certain materials, resources, or special vocations are unique to certain states. For example, Vikings come from the Northern Kingdom and Samurai from the Island Kingdom."

The differences between classes for the rich and the poor continued to widen. Students from wealthy families had access to better materials, equipment, and potions that helped them prepare for awakening. Wealthy students had many books and learning materials and learned all the important details more thoroughly. They also learned about the governance of the kingdom, prominent families, and who held significant positions. They received daily allocations of potions that increased the chances of awakening talent.

Teachers told them that tuition for prestigious classes was 10 gold coins a month, which was equivalent to 10 months of living expenses for a family of four living in the slums. Many awakened individuals, when they had children, moved from the poor class to the rich because, even if the parents were poor before awakening, their children didn't have to struggle, as killing monsters, completing tasks, and other activities were extremely profitable.

"It's unfair," Arin often told his friends. "We have to make do with the little we have while they have everything on a golden platter."

Among the students of the poor classes, there was often talk about the advantages the rich had. "Did you hear they get potions every day?" asked a girl named Liora, the carpenter's daughter. "And they have better teachers," added her friend Merina, the tailor's daughter. Arin listened to their conversation and felt frustrated. "We have to be content with the little we have, and on top of that, we're bullied," he sighed.

The Duke's impending arrival caused quite a stir among the students. They speculated about his reasons for coming and his exploits. Tarin, Arin's best friend, said, "I heard the Duke is only coming because of the wealthy students." Kevin added, "Their success rate is much higher, and there are fewer of them, but it's still exciting for us." This news made the poor students feel somewhat overlooked, but the mere presence of the Duke gave them hope and inspiration.

Teacher Daran announced that the Duke would oversee the awakening of the students. "The Duke's role is to ensure that the awakening is fair and free of fraud," Daran explained. "He will also ensure that everyone receives their reward."

The awakening of students was a significant event for which everyone prepared. The students often discussed their hopes and fears among themselves. "What if I don't awaken?" one of Arin's friends often asked. "What will happen to our family?"

The reward for awakening was a great motivation. Anyone who awakened received 5 gold coins for their family and a book with a spell or combat technique. "It's our chance to get out of poverty," Arin told his sisters. The Duke's presence was stressful for many students but also provided assurance that everything would go according to the rules.

Arin knew that the Duke was a high-ranking and powerful awakened individual. It was known that he was a combination of a warrior and a thief, making him extremely effective in combat. He achieved his dukedom through heroic deeds in the last war when he led his troops to victory and protected the borders of his home city.

Duke Thalorn was the son of a minor nobleman and a commoner woman, making his status less than ideal and leading to his being considered an illegitimate child. However, his talent was immense, and with the little his father could provide, he managed to attend a prestigious war academy in the kingdom's capital. After graduation, he entered royal service. It is said that he possesses several epic and legendary items, from weapons he wields to the armour he wears.

The tale of him slaying a hydra to save the prince, who is now the current king, is well-known. This feat not only demonstrated his prowess but also solidified his friendship with the prince, greatly aiding his rise. This story highlighted the importance of connections and aligning oneself with powerful figures. In this harsh world, knowing the right people and having the support of influential individuals was crucial for anyone living on the edge of society, like Arin. The Duke's presence was therefore significant for all the students and gave them hope for a better future