The First Archmage

Why haven’t you picked your Secondary Class yet?

At least he’s not talking about Gavin…

“I want to see if I can unlock a better one,” I answer. “None of them really appeal to me all that much.

Available Classes:

Royal (Level 1)(Mythical)

Spirit Caller (Level 1)(Uncommon)

Ruffian (Level 1)(Common)

“I only have three available,” I say. “And I want to try to get a better Tier I Class. It’s only been three weeks since you gave me the boost, though, and it’ll probably take me awhile before I can unlock more Classes.”

Spirit Caller and Martial Artist, when both are at Level 25, will grant access to an Uncommon Tier II Class. Same with Spirit Caller and Ruffian, or Martial Artist and Ruffian. Royal can only be taken on as a Primary Class. I’d suggest taking that when you’re able to take on a second Primary Class. It’ll be listed first, though, just as a warning.

Also – and this isn’t widespread information – but when you reach Level 15 of a Tier II Class, you can take on a Tier II for a Secondary Class. Tier II or Tier I. How it works is, once you reach Level 15 of a Primary Class on any Tier, you can then take on a Secondary Class of that Tier or lower that you’ve unlocked. Otherwise, someone like Gavin would actually run out of Classes they could take.

So what I recommend doing is getting Martial Artist to Level 25, then Spirit Caller to Level 25. Once you do that, you’ll have Spirit Monk available as a Tier II Class. Take it on, and Royal for your second Primary Class. Make sure to arrange it so that only Spirit Monk gains Experience. Ruffian should be your next Secondary Class. Once Spirit Monk is mastered, bring Ruffian up to Level 25. Bring Royal up to Level 15, and then grab Spirit Ruffian. If you have Rogue when you can take on Ruffian, grab that instead, and Spirit Rogue as your next Secondary Class. Because Royal and Spirit Monk are both Tier II, you’ll be able to do take on the Tier II Class as a secondary, and could’ve for the first one, though didn’t have one available.

Let’s see… that’s four Subclasses, right? Oh, I messed up a little bit.

“Yeah,” I say. “Just a little. “Would I be able to take on Spirit Ruffian or Spirit Rogue if I’m taking it as the one that Royal unlocked, with Royal being Tier I?”

I’m actually not sure on that. You might be able to, since you have a Tier II Primary over Level 15, but I’m not sure. If you can, take it, if not… you’ll have a free Tier I Secondary Class slot available. Let’s see…

You’d have Royal at Level 15 and Spirit Monk II at Level 25 for Primary Class.

For Secondary Classes, you’d have four slots. No. Three slots. One would be Spirit Caller, then Ruffian. I think Rogue is Tier II. I confused myself, sorry. I didn’t have this issue in life.

He was once living? I thought the spirits simply were?

“So I’d have three Secondary Class slots?” I ask.

Yes.

“And two with Advancement Quests available?”

Yes.

“Couldn’t I just take on Spirit Ruffian for Spirit Caller or Ruffian, and Advance the other to whatever’s available? Save the third slot for when something comes up that I can use for it?”

Oh, right. Yeah, that’s actually a good plan. Heh. You might actually want to save a Tier II slot with one of those for in case another Uncommon or Rare Tier II pops up. Personally, I’d vote on Ruffian on that one.

“Why?”

It doesn’t really matter, since you’re unlocking Classes based on what other Classes you’ve gotten up to Advancement, but there are a few things you can do with Ruffian when Advanced. Even though you Advance them, you can still take on Classes based from them when you meet the qualifications. Then there are various Skills or accomplishments that open up new Titles. Spirit Caller would have limited Second Tier Options if you kept Advancing others, because it’s already Uncommon. Ruffian is Common. There is plenty you can do with it.

“Oh,” I say. “Okay.”

So do you think this is a good plan?

“Why do you want me to go the spirit route?”

Most of faekind do.

“I know,” I say. “But what if I wanted to go fighter all the way?”

You still use your Gifts, yes? Spirit Caller is powerful for that. It buffs Spirit and INT every fourth Level, and provides a small bonus to Leveling your Gifts. Every Class in its line only increases this. That’s an additional 6 INT and SPA when you’re at Level 25. It’s a pretty decent buff, and you’re slowing down in Species Experience. Sorry I couldn’t provide a bonus for it longer than this. I’m surprised that lasted three weeks. Your Class Experience will continue, though.

Anyway, all of the Classes in its line from having other Classes or certain Skills up in Level or Mastered will only increase your combat prowess. You’ll actually be more powerful than most fairies of the Second Tier.

“Oh.”

And Gavin will probably be very impressed.

DAMMIT!

The spirit giggles as my face heats up, and I glare in his general direction, then leave my room at the inn and make my way through town. As I walk toward the Dungeon, I spot a familiar blond head, and start to make my way over when I get a better view of Gavin…

Or rather… someone who looks a lot like him, but definitely isn’t him. He doesn’t have Gavin’s high CHA and VIT, but he’s still deadly attractive. Identical twins… though with more normal stats. His clothes are weird, and before I can think on this further, an older version of him approaches. They converse in some unknown language.

How interesting… now there’s two Gavins! I like the original better. He’s hotter.

“Shut up.”

Looks like Gavin’s an identical twin, though his brothers don’t have access to the System. They also don’t speak this language. The elder one is telling Gavin’s twin that Gavin is around here somewhere, but he’s concealing his presence too well for him to track down. The twin is now saying that he figured Gavin is here, based on the looks he’s receiving from others. The elder says it could just be that they’re blond, since he’s received a few looks, too, and isn’t seeing any blonds. The twin is now saying he’s hungry, and the older brother is agreeing with him.

“You can speak their language?”

I’m an ancient spirit, I’ve picked up a few languages in my life. I’m not bound to a single world, realm, or plane, remember – the Spirit Planes exist across all of them. Well, that’s the simple way of saying it, as it’s not quite all of them.

I approach the brothers, who both look at me, frowning.

You’re absolutely insane. These two boys both have Mana Pools over one hundred.

WHAT? That’s unheard of in people our age, even for magicians from old families, without access to the System! I mean, I could sense that they were strong magicians, but still. That’s powerful! How many Expansion Techniques have they each used to negation?

“Do you have a translation Gift or something I can use?”

A translation Gift, yes. One you can use? No. It’s a bit complicated.

The elder of the two says something to the twin, who shrugs.

“Gavin,” I say, and they both have a confused look in their eyes. I beckon for them to follow me. “Gavin.”

I turn and start walking, the brothers saying something to each other before following me.

It takes me around twenty minutes to reach the inn he’s staying at, and I approach the counter and ask if Gavin’s here. The worker says that he left awhile ago, and probably won’t be back until this evening, and that he’s probably in the Dungeon.

We leave and make our way to the Guild, who tells me that Gavin left the Dungeon awhile ago after bringing in a huge haul, and to check the Mage Guild he’s been training at in the mornings, as he sometimes returns there after. They tell me he’s probably at his usual restaurant, so I check there, and they say that I just missed him.

“Can you make yourself useful and track down my blond friend?” I ask the spirit in frustration.

I know exactly where he’s at right now.

“And you didn’t say something!” I snap in frustration. “You know I’m trying to get Gavin’s brothers to him!”

How do you know they’re his brothers? Maybe they’re only pretending to be, to try to capture him. Is his father not evil? Perhaps they are, too?

“Useless spirit,” I mutter.

I’m quite useful. Who else can create a massive sphere of water and drop it on a half-elf’s head?

“Gavin probably could, if he learned the magic.”

Though he’d have probably made it boiling water, not icy.

He’d have probably made it boiling, though, and only burned the half-elf.

Just what I was thinking…

Then probably snorted in amusement. That boy has one twisted sense of humor.

“Where’s Gavin right now?”

Being his usual hot self.

“You’re not very helpful,” I say, then look at the brothers. “What are they saying?”

That while it’s clear you know Gavin, it’s also clear you’re not finding him, and they’d have probably found him by now, if they weren’t following you around, which isn’t true. Gavin simply can’t be traced easily, even with blood tracking. That’s why his father couldn’t locate him here, and only found him after knowing he was in this realm.

“If we went back to the inn,” I sigh. “Would we be able to find him?”

When he finally returned for the night. He usually walks around town for awhile, if he’s not focusing on training or something. He’s currently buying sweet rolls. I wish I could eat a sweet roll, but sadly, there isn’t a spirit mage powerful enough to grant me a physical body, even if it’s only temporary.

“I thought that was only temporary?” I ask. “And my father can’t?”

I would never ask your father for something selfish.

Sweet rolls…

“Thanks for telling me where he’s at.”

You’re welcome.

“Gavin,” I tell the brothers, beckoning.

There’s a shop near here that Gavin enjoys the sweet rolls from, so that comment from the spirit tells me he’s probably around there.

I walk quickly, making my way there as fast as possible, the brothers reluctantly following behind me. I have to make sure I’m not walking faster than those without access can manage, and only hope we can get there before Gavin gets too far away. Michael disappeared a couple of weeks ago, so I can’t just ask him to track our leader down.

I don’t see Gavin at the shop, and am about to step inside and ask them if they know where he was going when he left when a chill runs down my spine.

Then, Gavin speaks, his tone eerily calm, and I turn around to find him staring at his two brothers, who turn around to face him.

Yeah. Comparing them like this, the twin has nothing on Gavin’s looks.

Not the appropriate time to say that…

Considering that Gavin’s calm face shows nothing of the obvious fury and bloodlust emanating from him, which has a slightly noticeable effect on the people around him, as they unconsciously step a little further away from him as they walk by.