Chapter 152 - 149 - Isabella's Choosing
Beginning Class Selection
Isabella's eyes opened, and the world of her soul looked a lot like the garden just outside. Neatly tended flower beds broken up by straight paths lined with benches, the intersections of which contained tables for tea parties, and several gazebos along the outer edge. She found herself standing just outside her favorite gazebo, and inside were… two versions of herself. One version dressed in expensive Merchant's clothes, with a bulging sack of coins on her hip. The other was dressed in robes over her usual shirt and skirt ensemble, and wow she could understand now why James kept turning red as the robed version of herself bent over to pick up some book. She felt her face grow hot and she turned away, walking quickly away from the gazebo.
She would end her Choosing there, not start it.
First, the Combat Class.
The first thing she noticed was the weapons the copies of her were holding.
The second thing she noticed was how listless and despondent the copies were.
She found one holding a rapier in her hand, just like her mother's, and spoke to it. "Are you the Fencer Class?"
"Yes," Fencer replied glumly.
"...Aren't you supposed to try to convince me to choose Fencer?" Isabella asked, confused.
Fencer shrugged. "It doesn't really matter, does it? Our chances are slim…"
"And what does that mean?"
But Fencer only sighed. "Do you want to be a Fencer? Stab your foes, carve letters into their shirts, all that?"
"Huh?"
Fencer sighed heavily and wandered off.
Isabella hurried to the next Class, carrying a spear and shield.
"Do you want to be a Spearwoman? Well, for as long as you can, anyway…"
Isabella tried to focus on the advice her family had given her.
"What kind of Skills can I get quickly? [Danger Sense]? [Threat Awareness]?"
Spearwoman shrugged. "Sure, yeah, you can get those Skills. But it won't be enough…"
Without even waiting for a response, Spearwoman started walking off, and Isabella didn't follow.
"If you want to survive as long as possible, you better pick me." There was a tap on her shoulder, and Isabella turned to see herself, empty-handed. Then the Class reached into her bosom and withdrew several knives.
"Knifewielder?"
"Yes." The Class revealed a belt with several more sheathes strapped to her thigh.
"Why is my Choosing like this?" Isabella gestured towards the slowly wandering Classes. "Why are they all so pessimistic?"
"Fate looms over you, and Death is approaching. I promise you this: no other Class will help you survive so long as I. That is all I can say."
And though Isabella tried many more questions, Knifewielder only answered those about the Class itself.
Isabella asked several other Classes, too. There was no Martial Artist option, for she had never trained in the Martial Arts, but there was a Pugilist Class who claimed she wouldn't last long, a Staff-wielder who said it was hopeless, and a Runner class who asserted there wasn't enough time, no matter how fast she ran.
They all told her to talk to Knifewielder if she wanted to live.
Two versions of herself wandered over, clearly not Combat Classes. One was her wearing a sundress, and this version of herself was at least smiling, though it was a sad smile. The other was carrying a pan of freshly made paella. Wife spoke first. "You could at least have some happiness, though it won't last long." Then Homemaker. "There is value in making the most of the time you do have, rather than fighting Fate…"
Isabella hmphed at them, though she took note of the Wife's outfit since it looked really good on her, and turned around to find Knifewielder waiting there, flipping a knife in her hand repeatedly. They discussed Skills, and how to acquire them. They discussed boosts, and Isabella was heartened when Knifewielder said that there was potential synergy with Enchanter. Finally, Isabella asked about Avenger, Knifewielder shook her head.
"You are fortunate, never to have been severely wronged in your life. With nothing to avenge, there can be no Avenger. Fate presses on your future, not on your past…"
And that was all she would say on the matter.
Isabella made up her mind.
"I Choose to become a Knifewielder."
Knifewielder Class selected. Will you specialize?
Several options appeared before her. One had larger knives strapped to the outside of her dress, another carried mainly throwing knives. They all looked at her and spoke in unison. "You'll live longest without specializing."
Isabella frowned.
"I really thought you Classes were supposed to entice me, no?"
They shrugged, again in unison. The general Class, which hadn't changed, stepped forward. "Classes are meant to aid you in life, but even so, there is only so much Classes can do. Classes won't try to entice you if it would shorten your life without purpose."
"So a Class would try to entice me and shorten my life, if there were a purpose?"
Knifewielder smiled sadly. "Avenger often does so, but that's not an option for you."
Isabella swallowed thickly. "Is there a specialization that will synergize well with Enchanter?"
The world twisted in on itself, and Isabella found herself and all her Knifewielder specializations standing in her favorite gazebo, along with Enchanter and Merchant.
It was Merchant who spoke first. "I see you're choosing to live," she said wistfully. "There's little point in accumulating wealth you won't get the chance to spend, is there." It wasn't really a question. Isabella nodded. "I won't choose Merchant."
And Merchant was gone.
That left Enchanter.
Enchanter put down the book she had been reading, on a large stack of books filling the table at which she sat. Isabella looked down at her, and, wait a moment.
She squinted.
There was a knife tucked down her shirt!
Enchanter saw where she was looking and winked, then tugged her robes closed.
Knifewielder spoke. "Enchanter, she has chosen Knifewielder but not yet decided whether or not to specialize. What say you? Will she have better synergy with you by specializing?"
Enchanter swept her gaze over the several specialization and arched an eyebrow.
"Among these? No."
Isabella turned to Knifewielder. "I won't specialize, then." Most of her family had advised that Knifewielder specializations were not a great idea, especially if she primarily intended to use the Class for self-defense.
Specialization rejected. No proficiency bonus applied. No proficiency penalty applied. Knifewielder Class selected. Will you choose the Knifewielder Class?
"Yes," Isabella said clearly, and suddenly she found that she had a disturbingly large number of knives concealed all over her body, and one in her hand. There was one braided into her hair even!
Knifewielder Class chosen. 1/2 Classes chosen. Please select a Class.
Enchanter smiled.
Not a sad smile.
Not a wistful smile.
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A small smile of hope.
For the first time, a Class tried to entice Isabella.
Enchanter stood. "There is a chance, now. A narrow path, if only the stars align in your favor…"
"The stars?" Isabella asked, and both were distracted when a version of herself appeared wearing a thick coat and carrying a large telescope. It blinked, looking around confused, then shrugged and wandered out from the gazebo back into the garden.
Enchanter cringed slightly. "That was just a figure of speech. Ahem, if you choose to be an Enchanter, you may yet live, Knifewielder."
"What does that mean?" Isabella came close to whining. She was an adult, adults don't whine. "Why won't you just tell me?"
"We know only what we know, and know not that which we know not."
"Ugh," Isabella groaned. It was okay for adults to groan.
"Is this not enough? Enchanter was your first choice, anyway. And now you have a chance; a slim one, yes, but still a chance."
Isabella took a deep breath and centered herself. Felt around in her soul, for the boosts that Knifewielder had provided.
Dexterity and Speed. As expected.
"What kind of synergy will I get if I do pick Enchanter?" she asked.
Enchanter smiled. "Most excellent synergy, as a matter of fact. Enchanter will boost your Dexterity and Willpower, and synergy will grant you a boost to Intelligence in Enchanter, and Perception in Knifewielder."
Isabella's eyebrows shot up. Grim and Maya had agreed that Perception was a particularly valuable boost, and her own experience with magic detection had shown her how hard it was to train naturally.
She wasted no more time.
"I Choose Enchanter."
Enchanter Class selected. Will you specialize?
Far more specializations for Enchanter appeared, which only made sense. She had put far more effort into enchanting than she had ever practiced with knives.
One stood out. An Enchanter with a clipboard and a money pouch on her hip stood next to the general version of the Class, but it met her gaze and shook its head sadly.
"Do not take the Mercantile Enchanter specialization," it said. It took a step back, and an Enchanter carrying a large number of enchanted throwing knives stepped forward. "I'm the only specialization worth considering," it said, flipping a glowing knife in its hand. The knife reached the apex of its throw and then hovered there a long, unnatural moment, before falling again. "Taking this specialization will ever so slightly raise your chances, but…"
The general Class spoke. "The difference is minute, but you would be stuck with the specialization for life. With a little bit of effort, you could get the same improved odds with the general Class. The danger isn't looming so close that a week or two's effort is too much to spare."
"The odds of what?" Isabella asked, exasperated.
"Surviving," all the Enchanter versions said in unison.
"I won't specialize," she declared.
Specialization rejected. No proficiency bonus applied. No proficiency penalty applied. Enchanter Class selected. Will you choose the Enchanter Class?
She gave her options one last look.
This was it.
"Yes," she said with confidence.
Enchanter Class chosen. 2/2 Classes chosen. Class selection ending.
Her eyes opened, and she saw maids handing out tea and pastries to her family, still seated around the room as the sky outside the windows lightened.
"Well?" her parents asked.
A cheer went up when she declared her classes.
Knifewielder and Enchanter, with two synergy boosts.
The Perception boost was already working, as she spotted her mother's two brothers settling a bet, one slipping the other a gold dollar.
She stood, intending to stretch, and was immediately swarmed by family members hugging her tightly, sincerely and singularly happy for her.
"Welcome to adulthood, Isabella," Aunt Sofia whispered.
"Prepare yourself," Uncle Augustine advised.
The celebration looked as though it was just getting started and would continue all day, but Isabella raised her voice.
"Thank you, everyone. Really, thank you. But I need to get going to the Enchanter's Guild. I need to start on my project…"
There was a blur of motion, and Grim was blocking the exit. He smirked, and drew his long, thin, curved sword, even as his eyes remained dull and lifeless.
"Do you really think I'd let my dear cousin venture into danger without any training? You'll have to get past me if you want to get to class, little Isabella."
Isabella stomped her foot and pouted. "Come on! I don't even have any knives!"
And then suddenly half a dozen knives flew through the air in gentle parabolas. She plucked them out of the air, and as she caught the last of them, several intrusive thoughts distracted her.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Danger Sense] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Threat Awareness] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Knife Handling] has been acquired.
"Come on, you don't want to be late, do you?" Grim taunted, and Isabella ran at him.
She really didn't want to be late!
It was a desperate fight for Isabella, though Grim was obviously going easy on her. He had complete control of their fight, and the rest of her family shouted advice to help her go on the offensive.
Knifewielder Class Technique [Slash] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Technique [Stab] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Technique [Throw] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Danger Sense] has reached level 2.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Danger Sense] has reached level 3.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Knife Handling] has reached level 2.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Threat Awareness] has reached level 2.
Eventually, Grim allowed Isabella to slip by, though he smacked her on the backside with the flat of his sword as she did.
Rude!
She'd get him back for that.
Knifewielder Class has reached level 2.
Her thoughts of revenge were abruptly cut short when she saw that it was Maya waiting outside for her, between the front door and the gate to leave the manor. She was wielding an absurdly large greatsword, the blade more than a foot across and longer than she was tall. She held it easily in a two hand grip, and there was a second greatsword just as large stabbed into the ground to her side.
"Let's go!" she shouted wildly, and there was a faint red light in her eyes that left streaks in the air as she dashed in towards Isabella.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Dodge] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Dodge] has reached level 2.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Jump] has been acquired.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Jump] has reached level 2.
Maya fought with wild abandon, and it was all Isabella could do to dodge her seemingly wild yet absurdly fast swings.
When Maya had started dual-wielding the greatswords, seemingly lost to her battle instincts, Grim had leapt into the fray, demonstrating how to parry and deflect the large greatswords.
Isabella did notice that Maya slowed down her swings towards Isabella, allowing her strikes to be parried, even as she sped up her strikes against Grim.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Parry] has been acquired.
Soon enough, Maya was fully engrossed in fighting with Grim, and Isabella was able to slip past.
Knifewielder Class has reached level 3.
She dashed towards the gate, single-mindedly focused on escaping—
Only to see her mother waiting, rapier drawn.
"Oh come on!" Isabella shouted with no care for decorum, stamping her foot.
But her mother smiled, sheathed her sword, and stepped forward with arms spread. She gently embraced her daughter, and spoke softly in her ear.
"Isabella, you've been up all night, and you look a mess. You need to clean up before you leave for class."
Isabella's face burned as her body stiffened, realizing she was still wearing the same clothes she'd worn yesterday, now stained with sweat. The cool morning air felt soothing as she calmed down, though Maya and Grim continued fighting up and down the garden.
Isabella let her mother take her by the hand up to Isabella's room, where she personally tended to her daughter in place of the usual maid.
The all-nighter caught up with Isabella, and showed on her face, but that was what makeup was for. Her mother applied just enough to cover up her tiredness, and then sent her on her way, breakfast, lunch, and the materials for her project carefully packed into her bag, along with extra knives beyond what they had concealed all over her body while dressing.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Knife Concealment] has been acquired.
Her husband joined her as she watched her daughter meet up with Tomás and Geraldo and set off for the Enchanter's Guild.
"We owe Tomás a large bonus," Carmen reminded her husband.
He grunted affirmatively. "And that James boy, as well. From what Tomás reported, he was extraordinarily concerned for Isabella. To think he was more sensitive than we were…"
One of the Izuardia family personal guards ran up to the Baronet.
"M'lord, is the state of emergency still in effect?"
"Eh? No, we can relax it now. I'll take the reports inside."
But the guard immediately continued speaking.
"Sir, there's an urgent report! A Knight's retainer was attacked in our precinct by four men from House Sanchez!"
Carmen stiffened as her husband whirled back around.
"Casualties?" he demanded.
"Three of the assailants are dead, one is grievously wounded, and the retainer escaped with only light injuries."
"Retainer? Don't tell me… Who was it?"
"A foreigner by the name of James, retainer to Sir Suero Cortez, the Aspirant Knight!"