Class Acquired: Orderly Blade
His breath hitched as another notification followed. His heart pounded as the Weave revealed his level-up distribution:
- +3 Vigor, +3 Finesse, +2 Mettle per level.
- +1 Acuity every 5 levels.
- +5 freely assignable points every 5 levels.
He exhaled sharply. That was a rare allocation. Guardsmen only gained +2 Vigor, +1 Finesse, +1 Mettle per level, while spearmen received +2 Vigor, +2 Mettle. Worse still, they only got 2 free points every five levels. Compared to them, his growth was… remarkable. Anything above 2 per level in an attribute was already exceptional.
And then another line surfaced.
Perk Gained: Orderly
Vaan’s eyes flicked over the description, his fingers curling in anticipation.
Orderly – In the presence of allies, your movements become instinctively synchronized. When fighting alongside comrades, your strikes flow with theirs, reducing wasted motion and increasing efficiency.
- (+5% damage, +5% defense when fighting in formation.)
- (+10% synergy bonus if fighting alongside a trained ally.)
- (+1 Vigor, +1 Finesse, +2 free distribution point.)
He let out a slow breath. That… wasn’t normal. Most early perks were passive resistances or minor bonuses, not something that actively enhanced battle coordination.
And his skill?
Skill Unlocked: Unwavering Blade
- While using this bladed attack skill, Vigor and Finesse may be amplified as needed at the cost of mana. This attack is a surgical strike that ignores all mental debuffs.
Vaan clenched his fists in exhilaration. His class wasn’t just about power... it was about control and endurance.
A class like this could only mean one of two things:
- His Flair was Blade, indicating an innate connection to martial prowess.
- Or… it was Order, something he had never heard of before.
Both options left him with more questions than answers. He also noticed that there were two general skill slots available as was standard for a combat class. These shall remain the same once chosen and he will get no more general skills unlike the non-combat class types.
"Orderly Blade?"
The voice snapped him out of his daze. Runesmith Eldra was still staring at him, her monocle glowing faintly, more a question than a statement.
What did she see?
Before he could react, Petros called the next name, forcing Vaan to step aside. Yet, even as he walked, he felt the weight of Eldra’s gaze lingering on him. And she wasn’t the only one watching.
The guild scout had taken an interest in him, too.
Vaan sprinted home, ignoring the eager calls of other initiates wanting to know his class. He wanted to share the news, but not here. Garix would have come with him, but the forge was too busy. The initiation season always brought business, with parents from neighboring villages commissioning swords and spears for their children’s awakenings.
His father had mentioned an especially good haul this year, but that only meant longer hours in the forge. His mother helped where she could, mostly with food and morale. Recently, Garix had been pushing Vaan to stay out of the forge, telling him to focus on his initiation and his future. But Vaan loved the forge. It was home.
He reached the threshold, breathless, eager to share his stats. Hopefully, Marianne, that lazy poke, was awake by now.
The warm glow of the forge greeted him, the steady clang of his father’s hammer grounding him. Brenda and Marianne were already there, safely out of the way of the hammer and tools, sitting on a pair of wooden crates near the edge of the forge. The moment he stepped inside, they straightened, eyes sharp with anticipation.
Vaan had barely stepped inside before his father’s voice rang out.
“Well?”
Garix set aside a heated bar of metal, turning to face him.
Vaan exhaled, preparing to share his class details. His father’s brow furrowed slightly as he listened, nodding at the mention of stat distributions and skill acquisition.
"Flair of Order? That’s unexpected. I always saw it as a structured element of the Imperials' ritual rather than a flair stone. The runesmith's reaction makes sense, though. Perhaps the guild scout knows someone with more insight. This may not be the first time it’s happened"
But before Garix could continue, Marianne leaned in, eyes alight with curiosity.
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“Wait, what about the attribute descriptions?” she asked.
Her curiosity was justified. Sometimes, the Weave gave different interpretations. Vaan had never given it much thought, but it was a subject scholars had debated for centuries. There were entire tomes dedicated to analyzing these descriptions, something Elijah would probably obsess over. The thought left a sour taste in his mouth, and he pushed it aside.
Instead, he turned to his sister and began reciting the Weave’s words aloud.
“VIGOR – The body surges, energy ignites! To move, to strike, to act! Power burns like fire, fleeting but undeniable. Fuels strength and speed.
Garix nodded in understanding, while Marianne listened eagerly, hanging on every word. Brenda, however, regarded the descriptions with a kind of reverence, as though the Weave were a sacred link to the Three Saints and the Divine. To Vaan, though, it was just familiar information. Vigor was the energy that fueled strength and speed. Finesse, on the other hand, was about the measured control of that energy, refining agility without the wild, unrestrained force of Vigor. Mettle represented the regeneration of energy spent. Acuity was about senses and mental clarity. Flair and muse were just there to fill the mana pool and skills used mana. He still read through their descriptions, humoring his sister’s curiosity.
“FINESSE – The undisciplined flail, the skilled strike swiftly with purpose! Poised and graceful, measured and sharp.”
“METTLE – A storm passes. The mountain remains! To break is to be weak, to endure is to heal and triumph. ”
“ACUITY – Flawless eyes, faultless ears, senses that cut through veils and guises clear. Sharpens perception, precision, and mana control. Acuity is physical and mana-world perception.”
“FLAIR – A spark manifested is deep and true, a force attuned is unleashed anew! Represents affinity and specialization in power. Flair is the intelligence or will to manifest mana in the external world, shaping it to the user’s intent! Fire, might, swiftness, and more.”
“MUSE – A call to ponder, vast and deep, beckoning the mind to wisdom’s sweep! Governs Flair recovery and magical insight. Muse is untamed, wild mana, not bound to a single Flair but touching all.”
A quiet moment followed as they absorbed the words. Even Garix, usually pragmatic, seemed momentarily lost in thought.
“The Weave really does have its own way of speaking,” Marianne murmured.
“Poetic nonsense if you ask me,” Garix muttered, though there was no real bite to his words.
“It’s more than poetry,” Brenda said reverently. “It speaks truths in ways we don’t always grasp immediately.”
Vaan refocused and read through the level up descriptions as Garix crossed his arms.
“That’s a damn generous haul,” his father said thoughtfully. “Most people would kill for +3 Mettle per level. And +5 free points? That’s unheard of for a non-advanced class.”
“Yeah,” Vaan muttered, drumming his fingers against the wooden table. “A normal Guardsman gets only two to three skills before ascension at level 25. I wonder how many I’ll get.”
Garix smirked. “You’ll find out soon enough. But I’ll tell you this... Orderly Blade sounds disciplined. That means it’s likely structured around growth through experience. If it’s anything like what I suspect, you’ll be getting more skills than most.”
Vaan’s mind raced at the possibilities. But before he let his imagination run wild, there was something else to consider.
Vaan explained the unallocated points. His father’s brow furrowed slightly before he leaned back, arms crossed.
“If I were you, I’d put them in Finesse.”
Vaan nodded slowly, already expecting that answer.
“Your class looks like it isn't raw force... but is also about control? You’ll already grow in Vigor and Mettle naturally, but Finesse decides how well you use that power. I would assume Order isn’t about brute strength but perhaps it’s about balance?”
Vaan considered it. A well-placed strike carried more weight than a powerful yet clumsy blow. His skill description had emphasized surgical precision, and if speed and control were the essence of Finesse, then investing in it was the logical choice.
He nodded. “Yeah. That makes sense.”
There was no rush to allocate the points immediately, but waiting too long wasn’t an option either. Unused points tended to dissipate after a day, sometimes two. If he had to choose, Finesse was the right call.
Brenda, watching him, smiled proudly. “You’ve done well, Vaan. I’m proud of you.”
Marianne, leaning on the table, teased, “Ha! I knew you’d be a monster in the stats that mattered. You’ve got the perfect balance! Vigor, Finesse, Mettle… even Acuity’s good. Not to mention your Flair and Muse are high for a melee class. You’re going to be unstoppable!”
Vaan chuckled, feeling a mix of pride and relief at his sister’s banter. He had always known that the physical stats hovered around 10 for the average human, with Acuity sitting at 11, but to hear his own stats reflected back with such approval made him feel stronger. With the high Flair and Muse, he’d stand out even in a class that traditionally didn’t require much mana. The path ahead was uncertain, but at least for now, it felt like it was his to carve.
Later that evening, Tal, Ronald, and Risa stopped by, eager to share their own class awakenings. Tal had gained Guardsman, a steady and reliable choice for city defense. Ronald had received Spearman, emphasizing endurance and reach. Risa, on the other hand, had gained Archer, which required high Acuity and Finesse, as well as a solid foundation in Vigor and Mettle.
Vaan couldn’t help but notice something strange. Risa, usually full of energy and confidence, seemed unusually meek and respectful when she interacted with Garix. She lowered her head slightly and spoke in a softer tone, her typical boldness replaced by a polite, almost deferential demeanor, as though eager to win Garix’s approval. Vaan had to admit, it struck him as somewhat amusing.
“Vaan, yours is weird,” Ronald admitted, breaking the tension. “Never heard of it.”
“Neither have I.”
It wasn’t just the name... it was the way his class worked. He was familiar with Guardsman, Swordsman, and Spearman, but his class seemed different. While those classes focused on physical prowess, his seemed to emphasize control and strategy, a much more measured approach.
Before Vaan could think too much on it, his father had another revelation.
“I’ll be leveling up too,” Garix announced, his grin widening. “Got a commission for a rare blade.”
Vaan perked up. “What kind of metal?”
“Duskiron,” Garix replied, his voice low.
Vaan frowned. He had never heard of it.
“Not surprising. You don’t mine it. You make it,” Garix explained, his eyes darting to make sure no one else was listening. “It’s a blend of void-tempered steel and embercore alloy. Needs to be forged under controlled weave infusion, and it takes five days to temper properly.”
Vaan took a deep breath, understanding the difficulty. His father rarely took on commissions like this unless secrecy was involved.
“A noble wants it?” Vaan asked, already sensing where this was going.
Garix nodded, lowering his voice even further. “Yeah. Paid a good sum upfront, with a promise of more. Explains the feast before your initiation.”
Vaan nodded absently, his mind already on helping his father with the forge. But then, Garix's voice softened again.
“I need your help, Vaan. It’s... difficult with Duskiron. The heat required for tempering, the precision... it’s not easy to work with. The only reason I even know about it is because of my adventurer background. I’ve heard of it only rarely, but it’s a metal few know how to handle. The noble wants it kept a secret, too. Swear to me, Vaan. No one can know about this.”
Without hesitation, Vaan nodded. “I swear.”
Garix nodded, a knowing grin spreading across his face. “We’ll work on it tonight, but before that, you need to celebrate. Your initiation only happens once, after all. And it looks like all your friends are going to have a merry time today,” he added with a wink. “Including Risa, of course.”
“What? Hmm... she’s just a good friend. Yeah, I’ll see what they’re up to... I meant Ronald, Tal, and everyone else, of course,” Vaan stammered, his cheeks reddening.
“She probably misses the old times. You two were inseparable.”
“We were just kids. Besides, she’s practically Elijah’s fiancée now.”
“That’s just Elijah’s father’s nonsense,” Garix said, his voice dripping with distaste. “Look at that ungrateful boy! Disappeared as soon as his initiation was over. Not a word to his mother,” he muttered with a sigh. “What matters is how you feel, and how she feels. Now, go out and enjoy yourself.”
Vaan nodded, feeling the weight of his father’s words. He excused himself, eager to see Petros about enlisting for patrol duty now that he had a combat class. It would give him the chance to train with the veterans and, hopefully, level up. He would catch up with his friends, who were probably thinking the same.