by Jackson Bale
“Good.---Now,---how---about---an---example?”
Izabelle---places---her---hand---on---her---lips,---looking---around,---finding---her---father---on---the---other---side---of---the---carriage,---looking---out---of---the---window.
“Um,---the---[Air---Mage]---class---requires---you---to---have---a---minor---affinity---in---air---magic.---And---the---stronger---version---of---the---class---requires---normal---affinity.”
“And---what---is---the---upgraded---class---to---[Air---Mage]?”
Izabelle---bites---her---lip,---”I---don't---know,”---she---says---with---a---pout.
Henrietta---chuckles,---finding---the---cute---face---Izabelle---gives---her---rather---hilarious.---Not---knowing---the---various---classes---of---the---world---as---a---six-year-old---is---completely---understandable,---especially---since---she---needs---to---be---quite---a---bit---older---before---she---can---get---her---first---true---class,---not---that---[Noble]---isn't---a---class.---But---the---class---itself---is---more---of---an---addon---than---anything---else---as---it---barely---restricts---leveling---speed---of---another---class.
“The---correct---term---is---a---Tier---two---class,---a---class---which---requires---a---minimum---of---level---one---hundred---in---at---least---one---class.---So,---if---an---[Air---Mage]---became---level---one---hundred,---they---would---normally---become---an---[Archmage]---who---specializes---in---air---magic.---Such---people---are---sometimes---referred---to---as---an---Air---[Archmage].---But,---if---the---[Air---Mage]---has---a---strong---bloodline---in---Air,---then---they---instead---become---an---[Aeromancer],---a---vastly---more---powerful---class---than---an---[Archmage].”
Izabelle---listens---to---Henrietta’s---explanations---with---rapt---attention,---memorizing---word---for---word---which---is---spoken.---Her---[Tutor]---before---she---left---the---kingdom---had---focused---her---studies---on---the---world,---the---geography---and---how---to---be---a---proper---[Noble].---Which---is---why---she---is---a---level---6---[Noble],---though---still---lacking---any---skills.---But---lacking---skills---is---normal---since---most---skills---show---up---every---ten---levels.
“Mancer---classes---are---indeed---powerful,---thus,---most---noble---houses---are---lead---by---a---male---individual---with---such---a---class.---These---house---heads---will---only---take---a---wife---with---at---least---a---minor---bloodline---in---their---respective---element---to---ensure---that---the---child---born---will---more---than---likely---obtain---the---father’s---bloodline.”
“So…---is---that---why---there---are---few---heads---which---are---women?”---Izabelle---asks---curiously,---having---noticed---that---practically---all---of---the---nobility---heads---in---her---kingdom,---the---ones---meeting---with---her---father,---were---predominantly---male.
Henrietta---nods,---”that---is---unfortunately---correct.---A---male---head---can---have---multiple---wives,---thus,---increasing---the---chance---of---a---male---child---born---with---the---bloodline.---Which---is---why---you---do---not---see---female---heads---unless---they---are---both---extremely---high---in---level---in---a---Tier---two---class---and---a---[Lady]---class,---or---no---male---offspring---is---available.”
Izabelle---frowns,---remembering---that---her---mother---was---the---daughter---of---a---low---level---noble---who---had---a---minor---bloodline---in---water.---The---father---had---a---normal---affinity,---but---Izabelle’s---mother---was---found---to---only---have---a---minor---bloodline---as---well.
But---what---surprised---everyone---when---Isabelle---was---born,---was---that---she---had---a---normal---bloodline---in---water,---something---that---is---extremely---rare---to---happen---considering---Rathic---has---no---bloodline---nor---is---he---a---[Noble].
Still,---Isabelle---was---blessed---with---extraordinary---luck.---With---just---her---bloodline---and---[Noble]---class,---finding---herself---married---into---a---powerful---house---would---have---been---very---simple.
But---that---will---most---likely---no---longer---happen---as---the---borderlands---are---not---a---place---for---political---marriages.
“Now---then,---let's---get---back---on---topic,”---Henrietta---says,---”The---leader---of---Gelida---has---the---same---bloodline---affinity---that---you---do.---But,---he---is---actually---not---a---[Hydromancer],---which---is---a---tier---two---class---of---[Water---Mage],---something---you---can---become.---No,---he---chose---to---follow---the---class---of---[warrior]---and---[water---mage].---What---class---do---you---think---he---has?”
Izabelle’s---hand---moves,---touching---the---wooden---armrest---of---the---carriage,---looking---through---her---memories.---Of---classes,---of---people,---of---friends.---And---then---she---remembers---a---conversation---she---heard---from---her---father,---talking---about---one---of---his---[Soldiers],---combining---his---[Soldier]---and---[mage]---class.
“[Battlemage].---It---is,---um,---[Water---BattleMage].---Right?”
Henrietta---shakes---her---head,---”Close---Iza,---very---close,---but---[Battle---Mage],---or---as---you---probably---guessed,---[Water---Battlemage],---as---strong---as---the---class---is,---is---still---a---Tier---one---class,---though---a---rare---and---powerful---one.---But---that---is---fine.---His---class---is---actually---very---unique---and---quite---rare.---He---is---a---[Hydrophist].”
A---confused---look---crosses---Izabelle’s---face,---but---Henrietta---continues---speaking.
“[Hydrophist]---is---not---to---be---confused---with---[Hydromancer].---All---phist---classes---are---upgrades---to---an---elemental---[Battlemage]---class---while---elemental---[Mage]---classes---are---instead---mancers.---Overall,---a---Phist---type---class---tends---to---be---stronger---than---a---mancer---class,---but---lack---in---wide---range---magic,---as---is---common---among---mancer’s.---This---is---something---your---father---would---be---a---far---better---person---to---explain---to---you.”
Izabelle---turns---and---looks---to---her---father,---finding---that---he---is---still---staring---out---of---the---window,---his---mind---someplace---else.
“Let---him---think,”---Henrietta---says,---interrupting---Izabelle---as---she---was---about---to---call---out---for---her---father.
“Master---Rathic---has---a---lot---on---his---mind,---it---is---best---to---leave---him---to---his---thoughts.---Instead,---how---about---you---tell---me---about---that---last---type---of---bloodline.---The---rarest---type.”
Izabelle---looks---away---from---her---father---and---then---smiles,---”Bloodline---Skills,”---she---says---with---confidence,---having---heard---about---them---from---one---of---the---[maids].”---They---are---very---rare---and---have---many---requirements---to---obtain.”
Izabelle---snorts,---knowing---that---she---got---such---information---from---Annesa,---a---[maid]---under---Rathic’s---employ---who---is---adamant---about---having---a---bloodline---skill---pertaining---to---fire---magic.---Unfortunately,---Annesa---lacks---the---ability---to---even---become---a---mage---due---to---her---paltry---mana---and---mana---regeneration.
“Hehe,---that---is---correct.---I’m---sure---Annesa---explained---extensively---the---requirements.”
Izabelle---quickly---blushes---to---Henrietta’s---words.
“Still,---knowing---the---bloodlines---is---very---important---in---understanding---a---kingdom’s---leadership,---especially---if---it---is---a---kingdom---who---finds---itself---constantly---at---war...”
__________
As---Henrietta---continues---to---tutor---Izabelle,---Rathic---continues---to---stare---outside,---finding---a---truly---disheartening---sight.
[Slaves].---Hundreds---of---[slaves]---are---out---on---the---fields,---working---tirelessly---on---the---crops---while---lower---level---[Slavers]---and---[Taskmasters]---can---be---seen---holding---whips,---waiting---for---even---one---[Slave]---to---get---out---of---line.
The---[Slaves]---in---question---are---all---beastkin,---half---animal---people---who---are---lacking---in---mana---but---make---up---for---it---with---a---stronger---physical---body.---They---tend---to---have---
animal---horns---or---ears---and---most---of---the---time---come---with---a---tail.
Rathic---used---to---be---one---of---the---people---that---ignored---their---plight,---thinking---that---nothing---can---be---done---about---them.---That---they---were---not---as---smart---as---regular---humans.
But---his---mind---was---changed---when---he---adopted---that---girl.---And---then,---he---was---completely---convinced---when---he---met---his---wife,---a---[lady]---who---owned---a---significant---number---of---orphanages---that---catered---to---both---beastkin---and---human---alike.---She---was---a---woman---with---a---strong---mind---and---did---not---give---a---shit---about---what---the---other---nobles---thought---about---her.
Which---is---something---that---Rathic---found---so---extremely---attractive.---Never---in---his---life---did---he---meet---anyone---who---was---so---adamant---about---beastkin---being---equal---to---humans.
A---smile---forms---on---Rathic’s---lips,---remembering---how---Nafisa---wanted---to---prove---her---point---that---as---a---[Mercenary---Leader]---or---a---level---over---eighty,---he---really---was---not---that---strong.
So---she---had---asked---him---to---spar---with---one---of---her---[Guards],---a---large---Bearkin---of---thirty---levels---lower---than---his---own.---Rathic---had---laughed,---saying---that---it---would---not---take---long.
Oh,---how---wrong---he---was,---the---fight---had---taken---over---twenty---minutes---and---he---was---on---the---ground,---sweating---profusely---while---the---bearkin---stood---over---him---with---a---lazy---look---on---his---face.---It---was---clear---that---though---he---was---a---higher---level,---with---a---more---powerful---class,---he---still---found---himself---severely---out-skilled.
It---was---a---truly---humbling---experience,---and---now---he---is---all---too---happy---to---have---the---bearkin---and---his---twin---brother---to---serve---and---protect---him.
It---is---because---of---his---wife---that---he---glares---at---the---tattered---clothing---of---the---[Slaves],---their---defeated---looks,---the---scars---lining---their---body,---and---all---he---feels---is---anger---at---those---responsible.
But---that---anger---does---not---last---long---as---he---remembers---where---he---is---headed…---deep---into---the---borderlands,---far---away---from---the---central---continent---and---all---its---problems.---He---dearly---hopes---that---he---can---build---a---new---life---now,---away---from---prying---eyes,---to---allow---his---daughter---to---grow---safely.
……..
All---for---his---daughter.
____________
About---a---half---hour---later,---the---first---signs---of---a---town---come---into---focus,---wooden---wall’s---of---ten---feet---high---can---be---seen---surrounding---it---while---two---barely---leveled---[Guards]---sit---on---a---stool,---one---playing---with---a---knife---while---the---other---is---asleep.
The---whole---town---to---him---just---screams---lazy---and---pathetic.---The---wall---alone---should---be---twice---the---size---as---any---person---with---at---least---seventeen---strength---would---be---able---to---jump---high---enough---to---lift---themselves---over---the---wall.
But---then,---by---the---fact---that---the---[Guards]---aren't---even---level---twenty---and---seemingly---overweight,---it---seems---that---few---if---any---people---will---have---over---seventeen---strength.
One---of---the---guards,---noticing---his---heavily---armed---convoy---moving---towards---the---town,---pushes---the---other---guard,---waking---him---up.
They---point---in---his---direction,---yelling---obscenities---with---each---other---and---then---the---formerly---asleep---guard---runs---inside,---probably---to---call---someone---of---a---better---class.
Unfortunately,---Rathic---was---quite---mistaken---as---a---large---scowling---man---with---the---class---of---a---level---twenty-seven---[Lieutenant]---exits---the---town,---his---eyes---looking---warily---at---Gen’s---mounted---mercenaries,---probably---noticing---the---brandished---steel---and---high-quality---leather---armor.
The---[Lieutenant]---mouth’s---something,---probably---activating---a---[Analyze]---skill---and---then---stops,---his---eyes---widening---as---he---realizes---that---the---mercenaries---are---over---twice---his---level---and---several---times---the---level---of---his---[Guards]---or---possible---[Soldiers]---if---you---want---to---talk---about---the---fact---that---they---have---a---[Lieutenant],---only---one---step---up---from---a---[Soldier],---leading---[Guards]---instead---of---something---like---a---[Guard---Captain].
But---then---again,---a---[Guard---Captain]---requires---a---level---of---at---least---fifty---and---over---a---hundred---[Guards]---under---his---control.
The---[Lieutenant]---quickly---yells---something---at---his---[Guard]---and---runs---inside---just---as---Rathic’s---group---gets---within---range---of---the---town.
Gen---quickly---trudges---forward,---leading---his---procession---as---Rathic---strains---his---ears---to---listen---in---on---the---conversation.
______
“I---am---a---[Mercenary---captain]---hired---by---[Trader]---Roth.---He---demands---entrance---to---your---town---to---sell---his---wares.”
At---this---point,---the---[Guard]---pales,---starting---to---shake---in---his---boots---as---he---attempts---to---speak,---”T-t----the---entrance---fee---i-i-is---five---drachme---per---person.”---he---says,---doing---his---best---to---avoid---direct---eye---contact.
Gen---lifts---an---eyebrow,---staring---at---the---trembling---[Guard]---and---his---blatant---attempt---to---obtain---a---rather---large---sum---of---money.
Five---drachme---would---be---the---usual---rate---for---an---entire---family---to---enter---a---city.
But---this---is---a---town---and---on---top---of---that,---a---very---poor---town---with---clearly---corrupt---leadership.
It---would---be---better---for---them---to---waive---the---fee---completely---as---a---wealthy---[Trader]---just---selling---and---buying---goods---could---make---a---great---deal---of---profit---for---the---town.
But---to---Gen,---it---is---clear---this---town---must---have---a---very---short-sighted---low-level---leader.
Gen---gives---the---trembling---man---a---smile---and---dismounts---his---horse,---which---in---turn---causes---the---[Guard]---to---take---a---step---back.
“Here's---the---deal.---You’re---going---to---step---aside,---my---caravan---will---enter---and---if---the---leader---of---this---town---wants---some---form---of---payment---for---entering---it,---then---you---can---notify---them---that---they---will---need---to---speak---to---[Trader]---Roth---in---person.”---Gen---explains.
The---[Guards]---eyes---widen---before---he---nods---and---runs---into---the---city,---probably---heading---towards---that---rather---obese---[lieutenant].
___________
Though---Rathic---has---no---skills---to---fully---listen---to---conversations---from---a---distance,---he---still---has---a---high---enough---perception---stat---to---see---the---expressions---of---the---[guard],---chuckling---at---the---impressive---way---Gen---had---handled---the---situation.
Only---a---moment---passes---before---his---caravan---starts---to---move---once---more,---entering---through---the---shoddy---city---gates.
And---just---like---outside,---the---place---was---filthy.---Slaves---in---rags---can---be---seen---on---the---sides---of---the---main---road,---some---working,---other---walking---towards---a---direction,---but---most---are---gawking---at---his---group,---especially---since---his---own---carriage---is---of---very---high-quality---design,---even---though---the---pictures---which---were---painted---on---the---outside---had---been---painted---over.
Looking---around,---Rathic---notices---the---shoddily---made---structures---to---house---the---slaves.---These---buildings,---if---you---can---call---them---that,---are---filled---with---holes---while---the---wood---is---old---and---decaying.---The---building---only---starts---to---improve---as---the---caravan---gets---deeper…---though---not---by---much.
To---Rathic,---this---place---seems---to---be---significantly---worse---than--
-he---was---expecting.---He---figures---that---since---the---town---is---so---far---from---the---forsaken---lands,---that---it---would---be---thriving.
But---it---seems---his---expectations---were---quite---mistaken.
He---can---only---hope---the---cities---deep---within---the---lands---are---of---better---construction.
________________
A---couple---of---moments---pass---by---and---his---carriage---stops.---Getting---up,---he---tells---his---daughter---to---wait---for---him---while---he---exits---his---carriage---in---the---town---square,---right---in---front---of---an---inn.
Looking---up,---Rathic---notices---a---decaying---wood---sign---with---the---words---‘Sundered---Lands---Inn’.
Gen---dismounts---and---walks---up---to---Rathic,---a---frown---on---his---face.