The day after the ceremony, the village had already moved on. For the people of Ashbrook, the Awakening was an important event, but it lasted only a single day. Once the Classes had been assigned, everyone returned to their normal lives. The hunters went back into the forest, the farmers returned to their fields, and the craftsmen reopened their workshops. For the newly Awakened, however, everything was only just beginning.
Aiden opened his eyes before sunrise. He had barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the old grave again, the wandering soul that had thanked him, and the System's final window.
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New Skill Available.
Summoning.
Preparation in Progress…
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Since then, nothing. No new window. No explanation. He sat on the edge of his bed for a few moments before opening his status.
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Aiden
Race: Human
Class: Grave Keeper
Rank: F
Level: 1
Experience: 25%
Summoning
Status: Preparing…
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Aiden let out a sigh.
"You could at least tell me how long it's going to take..."
Silence was his only answer. He was almost getting used to it. After getting dressed, he went downstairs to join his family. Lily was already sitting at the table. Unlike the day before, she seemed to have regained her cheerful mood.
"Good morning, Big Brother!"
"Morning."
Clara placed a bowl of hot soup in front of him.
"You're up early."
"I wanted to go out after breakfast."
Edgar looked up from his meal.
"Looking for work?"
Aiden nodded. The young man's memories told him that after the Awakening, many new adults immediately began their apprenticeships.
Future blacksmiths joined the forge. Healers trained alongside the priests. Hunters accompanied the veterans into the forest. That was how everyone developed their Class.
Or at least, that was what people believed.
"Are you sure?" Clara asked worriedly.
"People are still talking a lot about..."
She stopped herself. She didn't need to finish the sentence.
Aiden gave her a reassuring smile.
"The sooner I start working, the sooner they'll find something else to talk about."
Edgar nodded in approval.
"That's the right attitude."
Half an hour later, Aiden left the house. The village was already wide awake. The smell of freshly baked bread drifted from the bakery. The steady ring of the blacksmith's hammer echoed all the way to the village square. Merchants were setting up their stalls. Everything seemed perfectly normal.
And yet, as he walked down the main street, several heads turned toward him. Two women broke off their conversation. An elderly man lowered his gaze slightly. Even the children seemed to whisper as he passed. News traveled fast in a small village. Very fast.
Aiden continued on to the Hunters' Guild. The building was modest, built from thick logs, with several trophies hanging above the entrance. Antlers. Animal hides. The enormous skull of an unknown creature.
Inside, several men were talking around a large table. The conversations stopped the moment they spotted Aiden. A man in his fifties stepped forward. His red beard nearly reached his chest.
"You're Edgar's son, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to know if you were taking on apprentices."
The man smiled.
"Of course. What's your Class?"
Aiden hesitated for a second.
"Grave Keeper."
The smile vanished instantly. The man fell silent. Then he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"I see..."
He stroked his beard.
"Look... it's nothing against you. But our apprentices need to be able to accompany us into the forest fairly quickly."
Aiden understood immediately.
"And my Class isn't suitable."
"I've never even heard of that Class. I wouldn't know what to teach you."
"I understand."
"I'm sorry, son."
He left the guild without another word. His first rejection. He took a deep breath.
"It's okay."
There had to be other possibilities. He made his way toward the forge.
The sound of hammers rang out long before he arrived. The master blacksmith looked up as Aiden stepped inside.
"Here to place an order?"
"No. I'm looking for an apprenticeship."
"What's your Class?"
"Grave Keeper."
The blacksmith stood motionless.
Slowly, he set his hammer down.
"You're joking?"
"No."
The man frowned.
"You didn't receive the Blacksmith Class?"
"No."
"Then there's nothing I can do for you. A Class makes an enormous difference during an apprenticeship. Without one suited to the trade, you'd progress ten times more slowly than a true blacksmith." Second rejection. Aiden thanked him politely before leaving. The sun continued to climb higher in the sky. He then made his way through the craftsmen's district.
The same answer. The carpenter shook his head. The tanner apologized. The herbalist kindly explained that he would rather train a future Healer. Every time, the same question came up.
"What's your Class?"
Then the same silence.
And finally, the same refusal.
In less than two hours, Aiden came to a harsh realization. No one wanted to take on a Grave Keeper as an apprentice. Not because he was cruel. Not because he was lazy. Simply because no one knew what that Class was meant for.
He sat down on an old bench near the village square. The villagers carried on with their day. To them, nothing had changed. For him, the future already seemed to be closing its doors.
"So this is how it is..."
He looked down at his hands.
"A Class really does decide an entire life."
"I told you so."
The voice made him flinch.
Marcus.
The Swordsman strolled toward him with a practice sword hanging from his belt. He wasn't alone. Two other young men were with him.
"No one wants you?"
Marcus perched himself on the backrest of the bench.
"My father found me a master this morning. I start my training tomorrow. Do you know what that means? In a few years, I'll be able to join the Adventurers' Guild. Maybe I'll even become a city guard in one of the great cities."
He looked down at Aiden.
"And you..."
An amused smile spread across his face.
"You'll be guarding graves."
The other two boys burst into laughter.
"Maybe."
"That's all you've got to say?"
"What do you want me to say? You got an excellent Class. You worked hard for it. Congratulations."
This time, Marcus had no reply. He almost looked annoyed. As though Aiden's lack of anger had robbed him of his victory. In the end, he simply shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
The three boys headed back toward the training grounds. Aiden watched them walk away. Then he let out a long sigh.
"At least he's honest..."
He wasn't wrong. At that very moment, his Class was completely useless. Not for finding work. Not for fighting. Not even for making a living. He rose from the bench. Then an idea suddenly crossed his mind.
The old priest.
If there was anyone capable of explaining what a Grave Keeper truly was, it was probably him. After all, the temple kept the records of the ancient Classes. Maybe he would finally find some answers there.
Without wasting another moment, Aiden headed toward the Temple of Awakening. He had no idea that, beyond its white stone doors, someone was already waiting for him.