Constellation Selection (3)

…tell the two this…

Julien glanced at Jackie and the boy straightened up and looked back at him, wondering what he had to say. 

"Jackie, with how nimble and efficient you are in combat, I believe your Path would be related to being an assassin or…"

Julien saw Jackie's orange eyes widened like saucers when he heard the word assassin. 

"Hm? Why do you seem so shocked?" Julien asked. 

"Master…" Jackie facepalmed. "How did you figure out my Path so easily?"

"I've spent so much time with you. And with the way you've moved around and done things, I could make a rough guess. Don't worry though, revealing information about your Path won't particularly harm you. There's warriors who roam openly and people know their Path is related to being a tank or something."

"Okay, I understand." Jackie responded. 

"So as I was saying," Julien continued. "Given what your Path is, if you choose someone like, let's say 'The Light of Primordial One', they would influence you to do good things and teach you about the ways of the Light Path or of absolute goodness. You would deviate from being an assassin."

When the talk about Paths was done, Julien then briefed them about the constellations. 

"…so, the good constellations are: The Light of Primordial One, Demonic Inquisitor, Eternal Flame of the Sky, and Goddess of Bountiful Fields."

"Wait, Master. Why is the Demonic Inquisitor classified as a good constellation?" Jackie asked, confused. 

"Oh, I know the answer to this." Amelia said and chuckled softly. "The constellation is trying to mislead everyone into believing they're a demon or perhaps demonic. But in reality…"

[The constellation 'Sovereign of Shadows' is sipping tea and gazing at the Novice Player in nun attire with interest.]

"…hm… I do not know whether I can indulge this information. But yes, Master is not wrong with his classification." Amelia stopped and didn't reveal any sensitive information. 

The system message that just came up was sort of like a warning. Novice Players generally do not have much information on constellations, and the ones that did, they had a special background or a fortuitous encounter prior to entering the tutorial. 

Such individuals were in high demand and garnered a lot of attention, so it was best to keep quiet sometimes. 

Julien nodded his head at Amelia's response and said, "The classification is not wrong, and you do not need to worry about that anyway since that constellation is not contracting you."

"What you should know Jackie is that… you're in a really difficult situation right now."

"What do you mean by that, Master?" Jackie was worried. 

Julien sighed and said, "Both the constellations are on the absolute good sides and are not remotely close to the assassin Path. You would have a difficult time with them as you would need to incorporate their teachings into your own Path somehow. Most of the time it may clash, but yes, if you could figure out a way to mix these things, maybe you'll become strong or maybe discover an entirely new Path."

Jackie felt dejected. His lips curled down and shoulders dropped. "So… is it over me?"

Amelia patted Jackie's head. "No, dear. Everything that happens, happens for a good reason. Maybe this was your destiny all along."

Julien patted Jackie's shoulder. "She's right. You shouldn't be so dejected. Even though you did not get an offer from someone on the dark side, the two constellations that have set their eyes on you are really very big."

Whatever choice Jackie made, he was not going to regret it, that was for sure. 

"But… didn't Master and Sister Amelia get the offers from them too?" Jackie asked, confused. "Are you sure I did not get that purely because I'm in the same team?"

-Give him a head chop, son. Immediately!

*Bonk!*

"Oww…" Jackie clutched his head and cried out. "Master, why?" He looked up at Julien with an expression that read he had been wronged. 

"You idiot, constellations don't give contracts out of pity or just because you're in the same team. Smaller constellations may do it, but definitely not big ones like them." Julien repeated El's words. 

"This contract is just as important to them as it is to us. They must've seen something in you, otherwise they wouldn't have given it."

[The constellation 'Sovereign of Shadows' nods her in head at the black-haired Novice Player's comment.]

"See. Even a big constellation is agreeing!" 

"I'm sorry…" Jackie looked down and said, his self-esteem slowly returning from the abyss he had shoved it to. 

"Amelia, have you decided on your constellation?" Julien asked the nun.

She shook her head and said, "I am unable to decide."

All the constellations seemed to be on the good side, but beyond that, very little was known about them. Choosing one felt like a gamble, and making the wrong choice would put their future at stake.

"Okay." Julien then turned to Jackie. "Have you decided?"

Jackie shook his head.

"Have you thought of whom to choose?"

Jackie shook his head again. 

"Both are different from my Path, so I don't know what to do."

Julien placed his hands on Jackie's shoulders, meeting his gaze with firm resolve. "Do you trust me?"

Jackie hesitated for a moment, unsure where Julien was going with this, but eventually nodded. "Of course I trust you, Master."

"Then, will you choose the constellation I ask you to?"

Jackie blinked, momentarily taken aback.

There was a flicker of hesitation in his mind—it had only been a few days since they had met. But thinking back on Julien's actions, his reliability was undeniable. Every decision Julien had made so far had been sharp and measured. 

Jackie knew he was someone worthy of being called a master, and now that he thought about it, his judgment couldn't be wrong.

After a moment, Jackie nodded. "I will, Master."

-That boy's got some exceptional skills, I'll tell you that. To become so loyal to a stranger he had only met a few days ago and entrusting his life in his hands… huhu… 

-Cherish him well, son.

El's comments resounded in Julien's head. 

Julien smiled at Jackie, patting his shoulders reassuringly. "I won't let you down."

Then, his gaze shifted to the tall nun standing beside them. "Amelia, what about you? Will you entrust your choice to me as well?"

Amelia clasped her hands together, bowing her head slightly. "I entrust my everything to you, Master," she said with quiet conviction.

When Amelia pledged herself to Julien, it was a decision made with complete rationality. She had unwavering faith that he would never lead her astray. Every choice he made, every command he gave, she believed would be for her benefit. She had placed him at a very high pedestal.

Julien wondered how he got so lucky to have such loyal companions. With how everything was going, it did not look like he had the misfortune card on him.

-You idiot, can you stop jinxing yourself for one second!?

Julien forgot El could listen to his thoughts. 

Sorry… 

-I swear, daddy's gonna spank your lil aas if you keep thinking of such things. 

Julien didn't know what to reply to that. 

-Anyway, time's running out. Tell those two to accept the contracts of…