Chapter Text
A young boy with tanned skin and jet black hair and eyes awakens in a black room. He looks around the area unaware what’s going on, his face is emotionless.
A voice is heard from a distance, “What do you wish to be when you grow up?”
The boy replies, “An adventurer.”
“Why Regis?” The voice asks
“My mama and papa were adventurers.” Regis says
“Is that all?” The voice asks again
Regis bobs his head back and forth for a moment.
“It sounds fun, I want to go on adventures with friends and I want to help people too.” He replies with a smile
The voice chuckles, “I see. I’ll give you what you desire.”
Regis’s eyes grow heavy as he wakes up once again. This time he finds himself in his room, the quaint little room has a singular circular window to the outside, a bed made of straw and a blanket made of many animal pelts. In the center of the room sits a latch. Regis lifts himself out of bed and puts on a light blue shirt and brown shorts. Regis knocks on the floor a couple times, he waits a couple seconds and undos the latch. He pushes against the ground and a door falls open. The young boy jumps down out of his room and he slams the door back in place. It blends into the ceiling perfectly, the only thing marking its existence being a little rope hanging from it. He walks around his sunlit home, the wooden floor was cool and smooth, the dark stone walls were warm and rough. He walks out the hallway into the living room and laying on the ground was a black dog with scruffy fur and a short tail.
“Good morning Jet.” Regis says
The dog jumps up and follows Regis. They exit the house and Regis sees a man with the light complexion and brown hair and eyes. The man is thin yet muscular and is wearing a white sleeveless top and brown pants. The man is chopping wood with an ax.
“Papa!” Regis exclaims, “I’m so excited!”
The man stops chopping and turns to the boy.
“Ah Regis, today is the big day.” He says while patting the boy’s head, “Your mom is making your favorite for breakfast so don’t be late.”
Regis looks like he’s bursting with energy.
“I hope I get [Rogue] like you.” He says, “I’ve been practicing my dagger skills
“What about [Wizard] like your mother?” His father asks, “You’ve been practicing your magic as well?”
“Oh I didn’t think about that, I could be like mama.” Regis says, “It doesn’t matter what [Job] I get, I'm going to be a Legendary Adventurer.”
“Is that so, well I believe that you can achieve it.” His father says, “Now go along to the church to find your [Job], breakfast will be here for you when you get back.”
“Oh right Jet, stay with Papa.” Regis says before bolting off.
Regis runs around their house down the dirt road that connects their home with the rest of the village. Regis greets the people around the little village. He makes his way to the center of the village where a little church sits. As he approaches the church he sees a couple other kids, two boys and a girl. Regis wave at them
“Mary, Arthur, Erik, hey!” He exclaims
The other kids wave back.
“Regis~!” Mary exclaims as she runs to him.
She charges into him hugging him at the same time. She nearly knocks him over. Mary has short scarlet red hair and gray eyes. She’s wearing a white shirt and a skirt that matches her hair. Regis returns the hug and Erik walks up to them
“Hey Regis.” Erik says in his nasally voice
Regis smiles and raises his hand. Erik smiles and gives him a high five. Erik has neat brown hair and brown eyes behind a pair of thick glasses. He has on a white dress shirt and a pair black pants. Mary lets go of Regis. He walks over to Arthur standing about with his arms crossed. Arthur’s hair is messy golden blonde and his eyes are sky blue. His outfit consists of a white shirt and brown shorts.
“I was worried you weren’t coming.” Arthur says
“I would never miss this.” Regis says
“Good, because I challenge you to a duel after we get our [Jobs]!” Arthur exclaims
Regis smirks, “I’ll keep besting you no matter the job.”
While the two of them continue talking Mary looks to Erik.
“So what kind of [Job] do you want?” She asks
“I want something with books.” Erik replies.
“Well I want to help my mom out, so something to help with housework.” Mary says
Erik looks at Regis and Arthur, the two of them take a step back away from each other.
Regis under his breath says, “Three…Two……One.”
The two boys charge at each other and start fighting.
Erik asks, “How many times have they fought now?”
“I don’t know.” Mary says, “Hey Arthur! How many times have you two fought?”
Erik sighs, “Mary, that was a rhetorical question. I don't think they actually keep count.”
“One hundred and ninety seven times.” Arthur says
“One hundred and ninety eight times if we count this fight.” Regis says
Erik looks flabbergasted and Mary smiles at him smugly. Arthur and Regis focus more on each other, their eyes locked in, following each other’s movements until Regis trips. Arthur uppercuts Regis, knocking him down. Arthur moves closer getting ready to end this but Regis catches himself with his hands. Regis lifts his body up and kicks Arthur right in the gut. Arthur falls back on the ground and before he can get up Regis puts his left arm on his neck and right fist in his face pinning him.
Arthur pouts, “It’s your win.”
Regis stands up and dusts himself off, “That’s my one hundred and fifth win”
“Yea yea help me up.” Arthur demands
As Regis lifts Arthur off the ground Mary walks up to them.
“Regis, what do you want to do after you get your [Job]?” Mary asks
Regis opens his mouth but is cut off.
Arthur dusts himself off, “Mary, we already know the answer, he won't shut up about it.”
Mary sighs, “I guess that’s true.”
“I mean I’m going to be a better Adventurer than him anyway so there’s no need for him to say it.” Arthur says
Regis shoves Arthur and rolls his eyes
“I’m going to be a Legendary Adventurer, are you sure you can keep up?” Regis says smugly.
Arthur scoffs, “Of course I can.”
“Even with your one hundred and five losses.” Regis replies
“I’ll surpass you eventually.” Arthur says
“Whatever you say.” Regis says
Arthur looks at the doors of the church.
“Ugh,” Arthur groans, “when is that old hag going to let us in?”
“Arthur, you shouldn’t say that.” Mary says
Why not,” Arthur replies, “she is a hag and old too. Hag hag haggity hag”
“Arthur stop she might…” Mary starts before freezing as the door to the church opens.
A tall nun with blonde hair walks out. Her face is visibly aged and wrinkled but she could be considered a beauty amongst beauties at the same time
She walks up to the group of children and places a hand on Arthur’s head.
“Young one, it is unbecoming of you to speak in such a way.” Her voice is smooth and calming.
She moves her hand down to the side of his face and grabs his ear. Arthur squeals out in pain as she twists and pulls on his ear.
“Now children let us enter the building.” She says
She releases Arthur’s ear and ushers the kids into the church. The church is just like the rest of the village, small and plain. There are few pews and the windows are just carved out of the stone walls. At the back of the church is a statuette of a winged figure.
The nun starts, “Twelve years after a life is born the Divine General:Matael bestows a job title to them. Now it is your turn to receive one. Approach the effigy and recite this prayer:Great Matael show me the path I must take for it is through you that we live.”
The four of them approach the statuette and say in unison, “Great Matael show me the path I must take for it is through you that we live.”
Regis closes his eyes and he finds himself in the black room once again. He hears the voice again and then he opens his eyes.
“So young ones, what is your job?” The nun asks
Erik speaks up first,“I got [Alchemist]
“[Alchemist] how nice, that job helps you identify and remember ingredients for potions of various effects, you can even craft new potions of high quality as you grow.” The nun says
“Ok.” Erik responds
“How about you Mary?” The nun asks
“My job is [Seamstress]
“I see [Seamstress] is a common job it means you will gain an enhanced sense of fashion and an increased skill with a needle and thread
Mary beams,“It’s perfect, it’ll be much easier to help out my mom now.”
Arthur speaks up before the nun speaks, “My job is [Spellsword].”
“Oh how rare, the job of [Spellsword] means that you have the ability to learn and master [Wizard] and [Swordsman] skills as well as combine them.”
“Top that Regis.” Arthur says
“Well Regis what is your [Job]?” The nun asks
“My job is [Slave Master].” Regis replies
The nun’s eyes grow wide, “Oh I see, ahem well your [Job] is…unique so it uh is best to ask your parents about it.”
The nun quickly ushers the kids out of the church and slams the door behind them.
Arthur laughs, “I bet you got a trash [Job] hahahaha.”
Regis raises his fist, “Do you want to go again.”
“No, I want to practice with my [Job] first then we’ll have our duel.” Arthur says,
Erik speaks up, “I want to tell my mom and dad about my skill so I’ll go.”
Regis’s stomach growls, “My mom’s making breakfast I gotta go to.”
“So do you want to meet up tomorrow?” Mary asks
The boys nod. The four of them run off in different directions and as Regis waves goodbye to his friends he hears Arthur yelling.
“You better practice too. I don't want any excuses when I beat you!” He yells
“I will!” Regis yells back.
Regis runs back to his home, the moment he enters his home the smell of fried potatoes fills his nose. Past the living room through the hallway to the kitchen. Regis enters the kitchen to see a woman who shares his complexion and features sitting at a table. The woman is visible pregnant and smiles as he enters the room. His father stands at the stove putting food on plates.
“Regis how did it go?” The woman asks, “What’s your [Job]?”
“My job is [Slave Master].” He replies
As the words leave his mouth his parents freeze. His mother’s eyes widen and his father almost drops the plates in his hand.
“Did Sister Laurel tell you what that [Job] does?” His mother asks
“No she told me to ask you.” Regis says
“Well what that uh.” His mother starts stuttering trying to find the words.
Regis faces grows visibly more and more worried as his mother trips over her words.
His father places a hand on his wife’s head, “I’ll handle this.”
He walks over to Regis and kneels down to his level and places both hands on his shoulders.
He starts, “Regis [Slave Master] gives you the ability to enslave others and make them your puppets, it is a [Job] that no one wants as it is very hated. People who have it tend to hide it and those who don’t are considered the worst of the worst.”
Regis’s face contorts in shock.
His father’s face full of pity, “It is the worst [Job].”