The room around me is pure white and completely devoid of anything. I close my eyes and rub my eyelids to ensure I haven’t lost my mind. When my eyes open again, in front of me sits a table and chair. Something about the scene feels wrong until I notice that the furniture doesn’t cast a shadow. Upon the table lay three Tomes so thick I can’t even imagine how much they weigh. I approach the table cautiously–my footsteps make no sound. I can see an unintelligible script scrawled across the covers of the Tomes with all three covers looking identical except for the glyphs being slightly different stylistically.

  I lower myself into the offered chair and the room seems to vibrate with excitement. Scared of what might be presented to me I shakily reach out to touch the first Tome expecting a description as the minister explained. I wait a few seconds–but no description for the Class pops up. I hesitate briefly before attempting to lift the monstrous book–expecting a great heft I nearly smack the book into my face as it is essentially weightless. After my initial shock at its lack of substance, I notice an information bubble hovering over the book:

  CLASS: BARISTA

  TYPE: SERVICE

  RARITY: COMMON

  PROGRESSION OPTIONS: LIMITED

  CORNERSTONE SKILL: BREW–INSTANTLY CREATE THE IDEAL BREWING TEMPERATURE FOR ANY BEVERAGE.

  I briefly feel a sense of heat coming from the skill Brew and the lack of power behind it. I set the book down quickly–I was expecting to get some form of this Class offered to me based on my fifteen years apprenticing in the tea shop, but I can’t help being disappointed that it is the first I pick up. Truthfully, it would be a last resort and I am internally beseeching the System to have better options for the other two.

  I take a deep breath–there are still two more opportunities to get the Class. Gingerly, I pick up the second book. The moment the book is lifted from the table a new bubble appeared above it. I stop breathing for a second and my heart seems to hitch in my chest–I was not expecting to receive this Class at all.

  CLASS: WATERWEAVER INITIATE

  TYPE: COMBAT/UTILITY

  RARITY: RARE

  PROGRESSION OPTIONS: PATHS AVAILABLE FOR INCREASE IN MAGIC POWER OR MAGIC EFFICIENCY. PATHS OFFERED WILL DEPEND ON MAGIC PROGRESSION, RESEARCH AND COMBAT EXPERIENCE.

  CORNERSTONE SKILL: WATER BLADE: SEND OUT A WAVE OF CONDENSED WATER THAT CAN CUT THROUGH MOST NON-MAGICAL SUBSTANCES.

  I feel a sharp cutting cold radiate through my body while holding this Tome. For a heartbeat, I can feel myself standing atop a bisected portal beast, potential swirling around my hands like power incarnate. The metallic smell of blood and the power of magic coursing though my veins–tempting me to select the Class right this instant.

  Waterweaver Initiate is a well known mage-Class with a major focus on water magic and a minor focus on wind. They are incredibly powerful and the proficiency bonuses are known to help new mages progress quickly in their studies and practice.

  Water blade is one of the most powerful offensive water magics. It has many known evolutionary paths and can even help awaken an ice affinity which is known for its firepower and debuff skills.

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  I set the Tome down hesitantly. A traitorous part of me whispers: I could be powerful tomorrow rather than in months and years like Mallorc is promising. Not only does it have a clear path for advancement, but I could expect offers from some of the major portal guilds immediately–even raiding a portal before the end of the week. The System feeds my temptation, drawing my gaze back to the powerful Class.

  This Class could very well be better than the Tea Sage Class that Master has offered me. He even admitted that the Class takes months of practice to even reach a point it would be useful in a portal.

  I stop myself–no that’s not right. The Old Man has done so much for me, the only reason I imagine I was ever offered the Waterweaver Initiate Class is because of the meditation practices and the mana tea that awakened a water affinity for me.

  If Tea Sage isn’t offered to me, I have a great back-up available with this Waterweaver Class, but I won’t turn my back on the plan that I’ve been working so diligently toward. Hesitantly, I begin reaching for the next Tome before I stop myself. What if I don’t get Tea Sage? What if I disappoint Mallorc and everything he has invested in me?

  I remember the hug Mallorc gave me this morning–the pride he has in me and my efforts.Everything has been leading up to this moment–I close my eyes in a silent prayer to the System–and I lift the book from its resting place. When I open my eyes, the information bubble manifests before me and a smile stretches across my face.

  CLASS: TEA SAGE’S APPRENTICE

  TYPE: SUPPORT/COMBAT

  RARITY: UNIQUE (ONLY ONE USER MAY HAVE THIS CLASS AT A TIME)

  PROGRESSION OPTIONS: INHERITANCES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY PREDECESSORS HOLDING THIS CLASS. ANY FURTHER PROGRESSION WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE CLASS HOLDER. PATHS OFFERED WILL DEPEND ON MAGIC PROGRESSION, MARTIAL PROWESS, ENLIGHTENMENT, AND INHERITANCES LEARNED.

  CORNERSTONE SKILL: TEA SERVICE–PROVIDES USER AND ALLIES WITH SUPPORT BUFFS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TYPE OF TEA SERVED AND THE PREPARATION METHODS UTILIZED.

  Quiet strength–monumental power–radiates from the Tome. The Tea Sage’s power is one that wants to live in a time of peace, but is ready to destroy anything that threatens its serenity. Relief and confusion wash over me. Finally, I have the thing I’ve been working towards–but, I wasn’t expecting the apprentice tag to be attached to the Class. Mallorc never mentioned anything about that–he must not have known it would, otherwise, I see no reason why he wouldn’t have warned me.

  I set the Tea Sage Class back on the table and start to pace around the blank room. Time feels distorted:minutes stretch unnaturally. The white around me dims–barely a shade, but enough to make my breath catch–as if the System itself is impatient. This decision would have been so much easier if the second Class wasn’t offered to me.

  I hear the Old Man’s voice–steady and calm–cut through my thundering thoughts. “Illumination comes through new experiences – body and mind both.”

  I stop pacing in the middle of the room. The Old Man hasn’t shown me any of his skills–true. But the meditation practice–which is so good that it unlocked a rare mage option for me–is only the introduction to the Class. The only way I can be stronger than all of these other Classes is by rolling the dice and pushing the unknown. The inheritances that the Tea Sage path offers will open a customizable path forward that may surpass even the mage potential of the Waterweaver.

  I step forward determinedly to the table. My hand hovers over the Tea Sage Tome–I feel the warmth and comfort of the tea shop manifest as steam pressing against my palm. The white room holds its breath with me. I pick up the third book waiting for the familiar information bubble to appear above it. The white of the room dims and the Waterweaver Initiate Tome begins to shake–calling my attention to it. I harden myself to the decision I know I must make.

  “Selection Made!”

  The Tome ignites in bluish green light the moment the words leave my mouth–the world fractures and my eyes are blinded once again.