*Enchanted Hoplite

  +5 Magic

  +5 Physical

  +5 Dexterity

  +Spear Mastery

  +Shield Mastery

  So I have a new class. And I mean that literally? I guess? Either Firelight Chronicles had a secret class no one knew about or I got something unique.

  With the [Awakened Rune Mage] sub class sitting comfortably at the depths of my system, I'm aware that it's only a matter of time before I get another unfamiliar class but this soon? How the hell does that even happen?

  The 15 extra stats I got from it is more than welcome though, I like that part of the class. [Spear Mastery] was my original goal but getting [Shield Mastery] alongside it is pretty good. And the class is just good overall, I mean, it's definitely better than the sub class I originally wanted.

  But I am confused how I got it though, I have a feeling it's because I've been testing out a prototype spear/magical staff hybrid this past week and a half which I feel is right. What other way could I have possibly gotten it after all? It's just weird to me that I managed to get it thanks to a spear I barely enchanted.

  Besides getting my class, I've also leveled up once and this is what my status screen looks like:

  Name: Rontress Owelline.

  Level: 12

  Stats:

  MAGIC: 85

  PHYS: 48

  DEX: 61

  RES: 33

  Getting my Physical stat over 50 is my next goal and I'll be able to bridge that after I get my next sub class. After that? I guess I'd want to start officially searching for the cottage. Even though my plans have changed a lot these last few days, finding the mender's cottage has always been consistent and I don't intend to ever stray from it.

  With that being said, I've discarded the sub classes that I originally wanted after obtaining [Enchanted Hoplite] because it's already so good.

  Synergizing my newest sub class with a similar class is a good idea so I think the [Spear Thrower] class will be a good replacement for the [Ranger] that I initially planned for. But I won't just be satisfied with a regular [Spear Thrower] class, no, I want it to be magical. Somewhat.

  The only issue that I have with that idea is that I'm not really sure where I can find the mage who can teach me something like [Mana Spear] or [Conjure: Magical Item] since those things are pretty rare.

  And yes, I know I can just ask Wardcruncha for them but I don't see the point of relying on him so much.

  I'm also aware that my hypocrisy knows no bounds, in one moment I'm talking about how I want to abuse every resource to my advantage and in the next I don't wanna talk to an old man who's been nothing but helpful to me.

  Good job, Rontress. Good job.

  Nodding to myself, I closed my system and left the storage shed.

  "Good morning Rontress." My mother waved at me as I sat on the chair. "You look refreshed, did something good happen?"

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "It's the same as always so no, nothing good happened." I replied casually, well aware that the reason why I don't look the slightest bit tired is because my [Physical Resistance] passive has gone from [Minor] to [Intermediate], giving me a substantial boost when it comes to recovering stamina.

  "Well, I suppose so. That spear man finally left didn't he? Have you gotten the class that you were searching for?" My mother kept the conversation going as she worked. "You've worked hard the last week, are you gonna take a break?"

  "No, not really." Break? What even is that? "I wanna start working on getting my next class after this, but I also think that it'll be a while before I can start working on it..."

  God why did I decide on making my next sub classes magical? Now I'm starting to regret it...

  "Why?"

  Laself came down stairs, looking refreshed. She's really acclimated herself to living in our house since she moved in here, now she's talking and moving around the kitchen like she's been doing it for years. I'm feeling pretty proud.

  "Because I want my next sub classes to be magical." My answer didn't slow them down, not one bit. Guess they're used to it now? "Which means that to progress, I'm going to have to start collecting magical tomes with written spells and practice those in my off time."

  "That's... Complicated." Laself murmured.

  "Kind of?" Does it sound that way? As far as I'm aware my goals were fairly straightforward; just get scrolls. "But also not really, I know what I'm doing so rest assured I'll be able to do all of this in the future."

  "I do hope so." My mother smiled at me. "You've been working hard to achieve your goal so not being able to successfully do it will only hurt you."

  "Yeah... That." Nodding, I looked out the window. What a weird way to put it. Is she trying to convince herself that making me stray from the path I've picked for myself is a bad idea? Should I comfort her?

  "Mom..." I started, not really knowing what to say. Damn it, get me in front of technical stuff and I'll be able to solve it with a smile on my face but feelings? Ugh. God.

  Laself, as if sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere, went silent and focused on her work. She shrunk in, or that's how it felt to me at least.

  "You know that I'll be fine right?" I say. Okay, that's a good start. "One day, I would have done this anyway. I'm okay, right? Trust me, I'll make you proud."

  "It's not about making me proud, Rontress." My mom's voice cracked. She stopped cooking and looked at me. "You've already done that, multiple times!"

  I flinched at her sudden raise in tone, my eyes went to the ground. Okay, this would have happened eventually right? My goal has always been this way, it won't change. My mom telling me that it's not a good idea is... Expected. Really. I'm throwing myself into danger after all.

  And what loving mother would want their children to willingly throw themselves in front of a speeding train?

  "Mom..."

  "The food is getting burnt. Stop talking, Rontress. I still need to cook." And that was that, I got the cold shoulder from her and throughout breakfast I thought of a way to make it up to her but nothing came to mind.

  Like always, Laself and I left for Ghorise and on the way there, the older girl turned to me. "You can always stop, Rontress. She cares about you, so maybe you should listen to her, it's not like your mother is saying it to hurt you."

  Seriously? I froze and clenched my fists, does she know what she's saying? Stop? And what? Kill everyone?

  Exhale. That's right. Just... Let the air out.

  "Laself, I want to do this. I'm not gonna stop just because mom tells me it's dangerous, I want to become an adventurer and explore the world." I'd prefer it if I didn't become a monster as well. "You can't just make me stop."

  "But it's dangerous."

  "And I know that!" My shout made everyone look our way. I glared at Laself, who's staring at me in shock. "You think I go out there in the swamp and fight aberrants not knowing that I'm risking my life?! I know it's dangerous! I want to do it anyway!"

  "Rontress..." Laself paused for a moment. "You... Right. You're smart enough to actually know what you're doing, are you hurt anywhere?"

  "No? Why would I be hurt?" Does she think I'm that careless? That I'd hurt myself trying to act tough?

  "Then tell your mother that you're fine even after weeks of trapping aberrants. She'd understand wouldn't she?" Laself's suggestion actually got me to think.

  Will she understand if I do that? All this time I never really told anyone the details of how I hunt aberrants, just that I do it. To them I come back every day with a successful catch, but they're ignorant that I use myself as bait in order to get an aberrant towards my trap.

  But if I tell them about it, I feel that I won't be allowed to go to the swamp. At all. But I've been successful so far so why would they stop me now?

  Right? That's my conclusion but there's this sense of dread that I won't be allowed to hunt aberrants anymore if I tell them the truth, that I'd be forced to just... Stay in Flotol forever. Am I okay with that? I'll run away if things turn out for the worse, I've been thinking of it even,

  "Rontress. Your mother won't hurt you just because you put yourself in danger, she knows you're capable so why not show it to her?" Laself's comforting words forced me to nod. "Okay? She's been understanding of you until now, just tell her the truth."

  "Okay. I'll do that." I lied. I'll only think about it. But if I do decide to tell my mother everything, I hope that she doesn't react badly to it.