Fort Thunder, Bloodhaven capital city, 3rd October 581
The classroom's double doors were thrust open by a man in a brisk walk. Before the man even dropped his notes the nearly one hundred students were silent and seated.
Their teacher, Donderion, cast a stiff gaze over the room. His silver hair and scarred face carried unmistakable authority. He paced slowly for a short breath, taking in the quiet, before his deep, rough voice broke the silence.
"Today is the day. You've spent a month at the Military Academy. Children have become adults and now adults must become warriors. Chosen."
Everyone watching trembled under the solemn words. Among them, Horus simply nodded, seated at the center of the assembled students. Today was the day of awakening.
Each year, on one fateful day, anyone that was sixteen years old would awaken. And he was already tired of waiting.
Let's just get this over with.
"You are the best your generation has to offer from our examinations, each boasting an exemplary result in Formation school. But the system will determine who among you is truly strong and which of you will continue with us."
There were only two types of school in Bloodhaven. Formation school which was meant to tailor a person towards a class, weed out the weaklings; and Military Academy that trained the best of the awakened.
Donderion tapped the holographic screen embedded into the wall, displaying simple slides.
"I will not waste our short time. In the next two hours, you will be given a class by the system and then taken into the first quest. My only goal here is to repeat what you have been through and reassure you."
Three symbols flashed over the screen. A maze engraved with magical runes, a book with a magical portal in it, and a great gate with a swirling portal behind its doors.
"There are three types of Dungeons: Labyrinth, Narrative and Gate. You will be shuffled between one of the three by the system and given a Quest. And each of these already have conditions for leaving early, if you feel too weak to challenge the dungeon."
With a wave of his hand, Donderion moved the slides.
"Once you find these conditions you can focus on gaining Skill levels with combat or by just using your skills for non combat classes. I've never known a Strong Awakened that tucked his tail and ran at any sign of danger."
Donderion raised a tightly clenched fist and hissed. "Take risks, be brave. The easiest path is never the best. Once you finish the quest, the system teleports you close to our territory, but not inside because of the Shield."
After that he went on explaining basic skills that they should aim to get and how to level them up effectively. They were words Horus had heard a countless number of times so he tuned them out.
Donderion shifted the conversation to their preferred dungeons and the best classes. Laughter and arguments began; Donderion's plan worked perfectly.
Besides Horus, a girl with round glasses and chestnut skin turned to him. Shiv, one of his longest friends.
Her heart-shaped lips curled up into an enchanting smile. "What about you, Horus? What dungeon would you like?"
The voices fell around them like an expanding blast, everyone turned, gazing at Horus' Black steel armor and the legendary sword at his side. He evenly stared at Shiv, wondering why she asked him that. Donderion quietly waited for their star pupil's answer.
"It doesn't matter."
No matter what the system threw at him, he would finish it or die trying. Everyone here was trying to stifle their fear, but it didn't matter. If you spawn right in front of an Elite-tier monster all you could do was fight and die.
There was no point in considering how death would come.
But Shiv was used to his bluntness. Her smile widened. "Of course you'd say that. You'll probably complete your quest without even trying."
Another of his friends, John, leaned forward with envious eyes. "I wish I was inheriting an Heroic class too, like you and Ulrich."
Both were from one of the three great families, were trained in the basics of their families class and the system gave you a class to embody your current skills and abilities.
Horus was trained to become [Crescent Swordsman] since he was a child, so it was undeniable that he would get it.
He shrugged at John's words. "If you train a bit harder maybe you'll get lucky."
Everyone laughed, an orchestrated action spreading among them instantly, while he just sat there with a faintly confused expression.
I wasn't joking…
Wally tapped Horus' shoulder. "Nice try."
Many people turned to glare at Wally, but if he noticed he pretended not to. The conversation drifted away from them and Horus decided to ask quietly.
"Wally, you're coming back here after your quest, right?"
Wally had bright red hair and an easy going expression. His silver eyes turned distant as he looked out a window.
"I mean if i awaken that means i'm finally allowed to travel. Depending on where the system drops me I could visit the Nevada republic or see the Glass sea. But I will come back to Bloodhaven first. I know everyone would miss me too much."
Shiv and some others turned to him slightly with disgusted looks. Horus flicked her forehead and she mumbled an apology, mostly to appease him as she didn't care about offending Wally.
Wally grinned. "What about you?"
This wasn't the first time he had left their territory. Three years ago, he went on his mythic tour through the apocalyptic wastelands of earth for a tournament.
Out there and here, in Bloodhaven, didn't feel much different.
"No. I don't have anywhere I want to go."
Wally patted his shoulder like he said something profoundly sad. "Don't worry, buddy, we can fix that."
Horus had to turn and meet the eye of everyone looking at them. With how furious their gazes were, he began to wonder if Wally was just blind. But that was how Wally had always been; he never held his tongue, even with Horus.
Then it began.
[The Selection has begun!]
Silence. Heartbeats so loud Horus wondered if someone would have a heart attack.
A black screen appeared in front of Horus. The awakening. He felt his muscles tighten unintentionally. He hadn't expected to feel worried, but he didn't mind it.
Glowing Symbols appeared over the heads of the chosen ones. Horus could see Heroic classes over the heads of others.
Ulrich, a white haired boy with icy blue eyes, had a symbol of a blizzard over his head.
"Argent Mage, an Heroic class," Donderion whistled. "Not that we expected anything different."
People ignored their usual hesitation, patting Ulrich on the back and congratulating him. He turned back to Horus, who was some seats away, and whispered with a smile.
"One up that."
Horus put on his best smile and nodded. They had been competing since they were kids, or at least Ulrich had.
Donderion pointed at Randall, a blonde boy near Wally. "That's my class. Siege Knight, a Master-tier class! Good job, Randy!"
Randall received all the praise with a wolfish grin. Horus had never liked the pompous boy, but he offered a nod of respect. Master-tier classes were the best results for anyone not from one of the three great families.
Only a few people hadn't awakened now. Then light began to shine in his eyes and Horus thought it was him at first, before Donderion pointed at Shiv.
Everyone was staring at her. A blue symbol of a robed man with many hands floated over her braided hair.
"Projection Mage, an Heroic Class! The little queen of Formation school. Looks like you'll be giving your seniors in the Military Academy problems."
Horus grew impatient for his own awakening, when suddenly a weak cyan light bloomed over him.
Donderion raised his hand before it fell alongside his jaw. Everyone stared at him with varying levels of shock. Whispers began to rattle the classroom like the beginnings of a storm.
[You have been given a class. Common Swordsman!]
Horus felt his heart pounding in his ears. The room was instantly filled with the shuddering voices of people.
"There's no way. I thought he was supposed to get his mother's legendary class?"
"He didn't even get the Heroic class…"
"I always knew it. Inheritors think they're paradise's gift to earth. I guess the system doesn't think so."
"It's Horus Twilight. If the system doesn't think he's worthy then…"
His eyes were still glued on the system panel. That had to be a mistake. It was genuinely impossible. Every single one of his siblings got [Crescent Swordsman].
All around him people stared, forgetting that their own classes were being revealed. Ulrich looked pale and sickly, Randall had a confused smile on his face.
Horus glanced at Shiv and flinched. She was frozen, staring above his head with a horrified expression. Someone grabbed his shoulder, Wally's voice reassured.
"Hey, it's gonna be okay. Just—"
[Brace yourself. Your First Quest, your first legend, is about to begin!]
Before Horus could protest, the world turned black and his consciousness faded.