Chương 45: [BL] 44 Tier-2 Class [3]

A soft snore purred as Willow opened her eyes, accompanied by the rough groaning of a carriage wheel. The entire carriage shook every second, a sign that they were still in the forest. Willow scrunched her eyebrows and pulled the blanket draped over her body down. This felt familiar to when she had just woken up from the Spirit World; she was also being moved like this, but compared to before, this time she was spoiled by luxury. The soft bed beneath her welcomed her body.

Intricate lines of gold ran along the corners of the carriage's roof, where white wood was painted. The space was large, probably enough for a dozen people, each with plenty of legrooms. Beside her bed was a bedside table with two pieces of bread served on a plate, accompanied by piping hot milk and soup. Leynah was slumped over the edge of the table, eyes closed and chin resting on her hand. The window she leaned against revealed the blue leaves of the forest.

Willow reached for the bread idly, plopping it into her mouth. She gave an approving nod, then dipped it into the seaweed soup they liked so much and finished it, licking her fingers when she was done. Not bad; it could use some more spices, though. Some noodles in the soup would also be nice." I miss those ramen carts," Willow mumbled. Maybe it was the one thing she truly missed from Earth. She should really ask Josha and Shera if the village had something similar. Speaking of them, where were they?

Tiptoeing across the creaking wood, Willow slid off the bed with the blanket draped over her body; a habit from her dorm days. She tossed her hair around and peeked above the sleeping woman. Conveniently, Kroos saw her from atop his horse. He was riding with Krywen and five of his house guards. The old man tapped Krywen's shoulder. The girl had been in a slump, but when she saw Willow, she suddenly burst into tears and galloped her horse out of sight. What was that about?

The morning light lanced into her eyes as the trees grew thinner. She winced and took a step back. [Rabbit Champion—Level 47] Rabbit Champion? Willow blinked, staring at Leynah, or more accurately, at what the Guidance Spirit said about her. Was her class an Ascendant Class as well? But the way the woman talked implied she did not have one. Maybe one blessed directly by a god was different? The door burst open, and Krywen locked eyes with Willow, her brunette hair tousled.

The girl's body shook, brimming with tears. She choked back a sob, about to open her mouth. Willow made a shushing motion, but too late." My lady!" She cried out and, with three steps, threw herself at Willow in a bear hug. [Squire—Level 9] Willow stumbled back under the weight of the small girl, more because she was taken off guard. Her shin caught the edge of the bed, and they went sprawling. Willow's blood almost turned cold when her head almost, almost, hit the carriage wall.

She'd nearly been killed by a slab of graveyard tomb, a maelstrom of wind, and now a stupid death? Krywen still cried into her chest, muttering some incoherent apology.

"I—I'm sorry. If you had a proper squire instead of bad old me…"

"Krywen, please stand," Willow croaked. She reached up to pat her head, and when Krywen gave her a tearful smile, Willow forced a smile too. The girl rose quickly and stepped off the bed, suddenly standing apart and giving Willow space. Willow pulled the blanket closer around her body and rested her back against the carriage wall. Kroos entered by then, giving her a warm smile.

"Bright One, congratulations on your ascension to Tier Two," he said with a flourish.

"Losing consciousness the moment you are about to ascend is a rare case, but we should've warned you. The Guidance Spirit took advantage and forced you into a parallel world of mana to showcase your Tier Two class ability."" So that is normal? Being shown what your next class can do in a dream?"

"Indeed, it is," Kroos said. He reached above the counter and started pouring tea into three cups. The steam billowed upward, and the pleasant herbal smell settled around the carriage, soothing Willow's chest.

"It's a joyous thing. Families gather to watch their loved one's dream come true and to ascend. When one wakes up, there tends to be a grand celebration. The village would feast for an entire day. In cities, the city lord will hold a banquet once every year for those who have ascended. For nobles and royals, a grand celebration is held—a parade through the capital to showcase the strength of those who will protect."" I love your ascension festival, Grandpa," Krywen said with a grin.

"I still remember it. Everyone cried, and some even dropped to their knees." Kroos paused for a moment after settling the steaming cup on a small plate. Krywen, too proud for him to notice, continued.

"I was among the shops, remember? They talked about hopes and how they wanted to serve you. Some of them even cries, hugging each other in pure joy. I remember being so proud—"" Proud?" Kroos cut her off as he turned. The lord handed Willow the plate and cup, and she took them, balancing them on her left knee.

"My lady, this one took the chance to go on a date with the forge master boy." Willow raised her eyes and met Kroos's gaze. That was obviously a blatant attempt to change the topic, and she went along with it.

"Oh?" Willow shot Krywen a mischievous smirk.

"Who's the lucky bastard?" She turned beet red with embarrassment, then anger. In a small voice, she whispered, "He is not a bastard."" A joke, dear," Kroos chuckled." I'm sorry," Krywen mumbled to Willow." Remind him he needs my approval."" Why?" she almost shouted." You're my squire," Willow shrugged.

"He actually will be in charge of your equipment." Her eyes glanced around uneasily, then she shifted to the door, dragging her feet.

"I'm going to tell him you're awake, my lady, and to prepare for your equipment imbuement." The girl opened the door and snuck out before Willow could utter another word. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation." I was joking," Willow mumbled.

"Just let it go, my lady," Kroos said, setting a cup of tea in front of the sleeping Leynah and taking one for himself.

"His father was always quite ambitious for a blacksmith and had been encouraging his son's relationship with Krywen."

"And you're okay with that?" Willow asked, arching her brow.

"Considering how you detest Princess Elesis's elopement."

"I suppose I did not hide it well, did I?" Kroos sighed as he pulled a chair up to Willow's bedside.

"Of course, back then I was against it. I wanted to promise Krywen's hand in marriage to a Tier-Four class holder from another county, and I had been working on bringing him to my territory." Taking a Tier-four from another territory to his with marriage?

"How devious, my lord."

"You'd be surprised how often it's done. Surely you realize by now what just one more Tier-Four would mean?" Willow nodded slowly. It made sense that a noble in charge of protecting their subjects would marry a powerful individual like that.

"But now? Now we follow a princess who would rather live freely and, of course, my lord's son, who is too love-struck. Krywen is my fifth grandchild. The other serve directly under Lord Ed and unequivocally support him. Those boys… I heard my eldest fell in love with a maid, and the youngest fell for another student."

"Sounds like they're passionate young men," Willow said with a smile.

"They get to be if they have no duty, my lady. Such privilege should only be available to commoners, not us nobles. As nobles, our marriages should prioritize our subjects' needs instead of our own desires."

"Such realization comes with age, my lord," Willow said after taking a sip. Mimicking a wise old mentor character' voice she saw in a movie before, but she blushed when she sounded too squeaky. Kroos though did not seem to notice.

"That still doesn't excuse it when lives are at stake. Perhaps forcing my son to marry and abandon his love will backfire. I know he died cursing me in the end." Willow peeked over her glass at the sudden trauma dump. The lord smiled and held up a hand, signaling an apology.

"Apologies."

"For what it's worth," Willow said, putting the cup down.

"I respect you for trying to protect your people and can see where you are coming from. Are they here? The people in your county?"

"They have been evacuated to the capital. I made sure of that. Only a small number came with me here. Fools," Kroos said, yet a small smile formed on his lips.

"That's enough about me and noble duties, I suppose. Apologies, I get fired up about this, as you are probably aware. Now, about you, my lady. You chose a rather… curious class."" I figure it's the better one of the three options." [You have chosen Ravenous Anatomist] [All Attribute +20] Name: Willow [Wind Mage] → [Ravenous Anatomist +100% Runes. -50% Spell Cost + 20 Arcanic] Class: [Wind Mage—Level 16 → 20] Outfit: [Wind Mage Outfit] → [The Anatomist Shroud + 30 Arcanic] Rune: [Dark Wind 24/24] [+ 100%] Attribute: [1 Strength, 2 Dexterity, 2 Vitality, 4 Constitution, 7 Sense, 33 Arcanic] [12 Dark Wind Rune] Spell: [-50%] [Sever II] [2] → [Scalpel] [Dissection II] [4] → [Rupture III] [Ravenous Spear] [4] → [Anatomist's staff] [Predator Step] [4] → [Carrion Drift] Enhancer: [Ravenous Wind] → [Anatomist's Pleasure] [Devour] → [Scalpel Slip] [Ravenous Eyes] → [Doctor's Eyes] [Severance II] → [Sunder] [Dark Anatomist II] → [Anatomist's Theater] Name: Willow [Ravenous Anatomist] Class: [Ravenous Anatomist—Level 20] Outfit: [The Anatomist Shroud] [+100% Runes. -50% Spell Cost + 20 Arcanic] Rune: [Dark Wind 100/100] [+ 100%] Attribute: [26 Strength, 29 Dexterity, 24 Vitality, 30 Constitution, 32 Sense, 145 Arcanic] [50 Dark Wind Rune] Spell: [-50%] [Scalpel III][3]— Grant +1 Strength, +3 Sense, +5 Arcanic, +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Rupture III] [5]—Grant +3 Sense, +5 Arcanic, +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Anatomist's staff] [5]—Grant +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Carrion Drift] [5]—Grant +3 Dexterity. Enhancer: [Anatomist's Pleasure]—the Anatomist always finds severed bodies fascinating.

So much knowledge one could get by just observing and studying them! Yet she could only shake her head at the other doctor who skipped their patient's limbs. Each limb holds so much information in it that a doctor needs to study them better! Each severed limb by Dark Wind will recover the Anatomist's Dark Wind runes. Each Dark Wind spell cast by the Anatomist will deal 20% more damage, regardless of single combat or not.

Grant +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Vitality, +5 Constitution, +7 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +12 Dark Wind Runes. [Scalpel Slip]–The Dark Wind had observed plenty of beautiful cuts by the Anatomist—so much so that the Dark Wind wanted to join him!

When a wind-type spell cast by an opponent with lower Arcanic than the Ravenous Anatomist attacks her, it can turn into a dark wind that shall transform into a scalpel, which the Anatomist can either absorb to recover her Dark Wind rune or turn it back toward the caster with + 10% Strength. Grant +1 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +1 Vitality, +1 Constitution, +3 Sense, +12 Arcanic, +5 Dark Wind Runes. [Doctor's eyes]—The anatomist's knowledge is overwhelming! But what use of knowledge if one cannot apply it properly?

The Anatomist will see the Dark Wind hunger, and it will tell the Anatomist as long as the target has lower Aranic than the Anatomist. Grant +1 Strength, +4 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +3 Dark Wind Runes. [Sunder III]–As much as the Ravenous Anatomist likes her job, sometimes some bodies are not worth her time. There's barely any knowledge left for her to uncover in a weakling body!

When Scalpel casts, and the Anatomist utters the word command of 'Sunder ', the Dark Wind will take care of the Anatomist's grunt work and send a cut at her target with lower Arcanic than hers. Grant 10% Arcanic if the Anatomist focuses on a single target. Grant +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +7 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Anatomist's Theater III]–A proper Anatomist always has a workspace so her work will be the most masterful! But battle demands her attention.

In exchange, the Dark Wind will create a marble reality around the Anatomist's target when Rupture is cast by word of command 'Theater'. Inside the theater, countless small scalpels of darkness will appear and be injected into the target, which will be restrained to a vertical stone slab—each scalpel will cut inside and send Dark Wind to cut inward through the target's body.

Anatomist Theater will drive the cost of Rupture two times, and it shall not be cheated—an Anatomist, after all, treasures their theater dearly. +5 Sense, +10 Arcanic, +10 Dark Wind Runes.

"Why do you look pale, my lady?"

"Lord Kroos…" Willow gulped.

"Is a class upgrade a representation of someone's personality?"

"Looks like that class of yours is as evil as it sounds."

Author Note: I forgot I didn't need to explain what Spell does!... I ended up writing all of this description, so I will just put it here. This is basically Willow's note she wrote herself about her spell.

[Scalpel III][3]—The Ravenous Anatomist always needs her scalpel, as one never knows where a doctor needs to cut. Summon a scalpel of Dark Wind, which the Ravenous Anatomist can send to throw as a slice of cutting razor or use in close combat. Grant +1 Strength, +3 Sense, +5 Arcanic, +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Rupture III] [5]—Thousands of cuts of dark wind always waited for the Ravenous Anatomist's command.

Summon countless Dark Wind to descend upon the enemy, focusing most dark wind upon the opponent's weak limbs to sever them and render them useless. Grant +3 Sense, +5 Arcanic, +2 Dark Wind Runes. [Anatomist's staff] [5]—The Ravenous Anatomist's knowledge was too much for her to bear alone; hence, it passed down to her staff. Summon an Anatomist's staff whose both ends can conjure a spiral of dark wind possessing relentless cut like a small tornado.

The Anatomist's staff shall be launched with pleasure toward the Ravenous Anatomist's target. Grant 2 Dark Wind Runes. [Carrion Drift] [5]—Although she is one of the most effective doctors in the world, many hated her, so she needs to keep her distance—only the crows she fed with the myriad amounts of carcasses understand her feelings—they even want to help her. The Anatomist can disappear into thin air, letting crows carry his bodies away, even keeping her safe should the Anatomist's enemy react.

The Anatomist could also ask for the crow's further service by only carrying half of his body for a short period so the Anatomist could cast her spell, although the crow will expect payment in Dark Wind Rune. Grant +3 Dexterity.