Salvos

[Dimensional Mage]. [Fairy Maiden]. [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus].

I could only think of my three Classes, even as I went about my day, almost mechanical. I was still trying to study and learn whatever I could. Just a little bit distracted.

The thing about [Dimensional Mage] is that it probably won’t give me a Skill to travel through planes at this level. It’s too… simple. Maybe at later levels, when I advance my Class to 100, it may give me what I want.

What was its description again? I tried to recall.

[Dimensional Mage]

A [Dimensional Mage] is a [Mage] specialized in manipulating space and reality itself to their own will. Unlike their [Space Mage] counterparts, [Dimensional Mages] focuses on making slight alterations to what is already there rather than rapidly weaving the fabric of space to achieve their goals.

+5 [Wisdom]

+5 [Endurance]

+5 [Agility]

+3 [Strength]

+1 [Vitality]

Right. So it already had pretty good Stats. But it was limited.

The thing was, I wasn’t in any rush. I had all the time in the world. I could just choose this, the safe option, and wait until I reached Level 100.

It was as Veronica said: it would work out, eventually. I just had to keep at it.

Which was why [Fairy Maiden] appealed to me.

I thought about the Class, even as I sat through lecturer Claudia’s explanation on the various axioms of space theory. I nodded along, trying to parse what she was saying. But my thoughts were ultimately focused on the benefits of choosing a Fairy Class.

I knew the cons were how Fairy Classes were scored by Fairies. They often devolved into fanaticism which resulted in actually hurting Fairies— something which I didn’t want to do. I adored them. Like Lily. They were so different from Humans: I felt a kinship with them.

Nevertheless, I decided to ask Claudia about what she thought of Fairy Classes. Of course, I didn’t directly ask the question. I made sure to be elusive about it.

“Fairy-related Classes?”

She quirked a brow. I made up an excuse.

“I was doing some research the other day, and stumbled across the existence of Fairy-related Classes. Those that worship Fairies and gain their natural ability to manipulate space to their liking. If that’s the case, why exactly have I not heard of anyone with such a Class?”

Claudia furrowed her brows. Her forehead wrinkled as she thought about it, speaking slowly.

“Fairy Classes are… first of all, they are generally banned. Out of fear of invoking the wrath of the Fairy Queen once more, the Den of Souls have imposed a ban on attaining such a Class. But more than that— they are far too limited, as far as I understand it.”

“Limited?”

“It is common belief that Fairies are space magic specialists, but that cannot be further from the truth. Only those who come to the Mortal Realm are skilled space magic users. Those who are not just simply can’t cross over. My dissertation was actually on this subject.”

I piqued her interest. Claudia always seemed to be quite monotonous, even when she was teaching space magic theory. But now, she seemed invested.

“The kind of space magic you’ll thus be able to utilize if one goes down such a path with a Fairy-related Class will face the same limits a Fairy would have. What you learn will aid your Class only if it pertains to Fairies and their magic. It will punish such general space magic theories which are learned and studied here in Mavos Academy.”

“Huh. I see.”

By the sound of it, Fairy-related Classes were far more instinctual than theoretical like Human [Mage] Classes. Which sounded like it’d be a boon to me, if not for the other downsides.

I didn’t know how Fairies worked. Perhaps their magic only let them enter and leave the Spirit Plane. If that was the case, I wouldn’t be able to see Haec again. And its main drawing point to me—

[Fairy Maiden]

A [Fairy Maiden] is a [Mage] who has earned the trust and blessings of Fairykind. Under the tutelage of a Fairy, a [Fairy Maiden] has learned many things. Yet, she still knows not the true secrets of the Fairy Queen or her goals. Perhaps, in time…

+10 [Wisdom]

+8 [Endurance]

+1 [Vitality]

+1 [Strength]

+1 [Agility]

Was the fact that it spoke of something about the Fairy Queen. My curiosity was piqued. I wondered what that was. But… Lily said she’d tell me if we ever met again.

So, that wasn’t too much of a draw for me anymore.

The last Class option was [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus].

[Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus]

A [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] is a [Mage] of renown. The world is their playground. Its inhabitants are their friends, although some are their enemies. For those they abhor, they will show no mercy. But for those they love, they will show kindness everlasting. They are free. Not constrained to merely a single location in the vast world. They know there is more to existence than what is before them. Their magic lets them seek out things beyond their periphery, no matter what.

+8 [Endurance]

+8 [Wisdom]

+3 [Vitality]

+3 [Strength]

+3 [Agility]

Truth be told, I just liked its name. And it gave the best Stat Points. Even as I left Claudia’s office hours, heading back to the library for some last bit of studying, I could only think of this Class.

It felt like I was already decided.

Yes, I had all the time in the world— I could choose [Dimensional Mage] and probably be able to return to the Netherworld.

But Haec didn’t. I didn’t know what had happened to him, or if he was even alive. I had to know.

[Fairy Maiden] was interesting, but I just didn’t feel like it was a fit for me. I liked Fairies, but I didn’t worship them.

“[Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] it is.”

I slammed my books shut, drawing the attention of a few students studying in the library. I blinked.

“Oops.”

—--

I left the library soon after, knowing what I wanted. I wanted to head to my Lair, but I remembered the main problem with advancing in Class. It would make me ‘fall asleep’. That meant I was vulnerable. Even if in my own space.

I didn’t like sleeping because of that. So, I returned back to the only place I knew was safe. Saffron’s room.

She wasn’t in her room when I entered. But I had the key, so I didn’t have any trouble going in. Matthew wasn’t there either, so I was free to do as I pleased. I grabbed a quick snack of some insects, before closing my eyes and passing out on the couch.

Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 106

Class: [Adept of the Fae] - Lvl. 36

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Identification] - Lvl. 5

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] - Lvl. 2

[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] - Lvl. 4

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 5

[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 130 (+25)

[Strength]: 105 (+25)

[Endurance]: 113 (+25)

[Wisdom]: 200 (+25) (+9)

[Agility]: 253 (+25)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 2]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 5

[Haste] - Lvl. 5

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 1

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 15

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 4

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x2

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 10]

[Banish] - Lvl. 25 (Maxed)

[Spatial Sight] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Secondary Skill Slot] x1

[Advancement Available]

I know what I want. [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus]...

It was a risk. It might not even have been a Class related to space magic for all I knew. But if it was, it might have helped me reach my goal sooner rather than later. And I would have had a cool Class.

So, I made my choice.

Advancement Complete!

Class [Adept of the Fae] -> [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus]

Gained 10 Stat Points!

[Endurance] +8

[Wisdom] +8

[Vitality] +3

[Strength] +3

[Agility] +3

Gained 2 Skill Slots!

Gained 3 Skill Points!

Skill [Banish] becomes [Scatter Shift]!

Skill [Spatial Sight] and available Skill [Spectral Tracking] consolidates and becomes [Planar Navigation]!

Skill [Temporal Distortion] is now available!

Skill [Object Levitation] is now available!

Available Skills [Astral Grip] and [Cosmic Compression] consolidates and becomes [Mystical Projection]!

I sat up abruptly, blinking and glancing over at the clock, checking to see how much time had passed. Just as I expected, I had passed out for a few hours thanks to undergoing my advancement. Now, I was awake, looking around the room, trying to see if anything seemed different.

[Planar Navigation]. I had an available Skill and a current Skill consolidate into a single new Skill. That was the first time such a thing happened. Veronica was right when she said that things would work out at our levels due to our specialization!

I didn’t see any significant changes with my vision— not until I focused, narrowing my eyes. I saw the way everything seemed… ever-so-slightly pull themselves into each other. That was a concept Daniel talked about once, right? Gravity.

Everything with even a modicum of mass seemed to slightly tug at the things next to it, even going as far as to affect the space between them as well. It was an odd sight. The objects were almost bending, but they weren’t, really.

That seemed to be a passive effect of the Skill. I got to my feet, folding my arms together. I shifted slightly, annoyed by the way my clawed hands almost dug into my blue jacket.

I closed my eyes, speaking the Skill name softly.

“[Planar Navigation].”

And suddenly, the world opened up. It was like I could see everything around me and how it was overlaid into this plane, but… not at the same time. I didn’t get a sense of the objects themselves or how they moved. Just how they interacted with each other and the world in this dimension.

It was like [Spatial Sight], except it was far more detailed, and extended as far as fifty feet all around me. And even as figures entered and left this area of spatial vision of mine, remnants… strands of their being almost seemed to leave itself behind, allowing me to pick up and follow that trail unless enough time passed. And it wasn’t just five minutes.

So, it was like an enhanced version of [Spatial Sight] and [Spectral Tracking]. Which was… quite good, honestly. This way, I didn’t just have to rely on [A Hunter’s Sense] if someone was stalking me. I sat there, waiting to see how long it’d take for the Skill to end, but it turned out that it would remain active until I ran out of mana.

Which would take a while.

There wasn’t much to see either. The hallways slowly emptied as people returned to their rooms for the night, chatting and talking, before I decided to deactivate the Skill and activate my next new Skill.

“[Scatter Shift].”

I raised a hand, pointing at the various books I had laid on the floor. All six of them vanished, appearing in the air where I wanted them to appear, falling back to the ground. I blinked. Then I grinned.

“Woah.”

Unlike [Banish] which was limited to only moving a single object at once, I seemed to be able to teleport multiple objects at the same time. There was a brief ten second cool down between uses, but I was certain it would decrease as the level of the Skill increased. I was impressed, honestly.

It was a pretty good Skill, all things considered.

“That’s not to mention my other new Skills.”

I tapped a sharp finger on my chin, mulling over the available Skills I had.

“[Temporal Distortion], [Object Levitation], [Mystical Projection], and [Short Range Teleportation] which didn’t improve—”

The sound of a key turning drew my attention. I glanced over at the door, seeing it open, and I beamed.

“Welcome back, Saffron!”

The pink-haired woman stepped through the door, rubbing at her temples. She glanced up at me.

“Hello, S—”

Then she paused. She rubbed her eyes, before they widened. She stared at me for a moment as I cocked my head. She dropped down to her knees, pointing a finger. And I glanced down at myself.

“Oh no.”

Somehow, some way, I was not in my Human form. After undergoing my Class advancement, I became… well, a—

“Demon!”