Unsurprisingly, Valerian had trouble sleeping that night. His mind kept spinning through his class possibilities. He knew it was unlikely, but part of him still hoped for a martial class. He genuinely enjoyed swordsmanship and was decent at it. Nowhere near his father, of course, but comparing himself to a high level [Sword Saint] was not exactly fair. He rarely had the chance to spar with his father and remembered every time. Valerian was always struck with how precise the man was, even when facing a child, and hoped to one day develop to that level of raw skill.

  Stop thinking about it, Valerian chided himself. He needed to sleep. He’d die of embarrassment if he passed out or made a mistake on his Awakening Day of all days. His family and the entire manor staff would be there. A thought which, of course, made him even more stressed, and sleep felt even farther away.

  Valerian woke to 1st bell. He started, sitting up suddenly in bed, his mind trying to catch up. He had a brief irrational thought that he’d overslept. The servants would have woken him up, though. He usually woke up earlier, but the servants had likely let him sleep in to get as much rest as possible.

  He got out of bed and tapped the small bell near his door to summon his attendants. They entered a few moments later, bowed in greeting, and got to work preparing him for the day. The process felt like it would never end to Valerian; he had to take a bath, dress in his ceremonial outfit, and even apply some light makeup from the family [Artisan].

  Valerian never enjoyed getting ready for big events like this even when he wasn’t personally involved. Still, he had to admit the ceremonial outfit was impressive. His trousers were carefully fitted, a dark blue with a red stripe on the outside seam. He wore a polished sword belt with a traditional calvary saber. The upper doublet was ornate with large, golden buttons and matched the trousers with a slight gold trim at the seams. It was tightly fitted and made his shoulders appear broad. He looked it over carefully along with his servants to make sure there were no stray threads or wrinkles. He didn’t expect any, his attendants were very skilled, but he couldn’t risk anything today. He needed to be perfect. Also, his siblings would never let him live it down, he thought wryly.

  The rest of the preparation went by in a blur. His hair was styled, teeth polished, clothing carefully inspected. The waiting was the worst part, especially as the summer heat was not very comfortable in combination with the thick northern-style outfit. Valerian had to fight the urge to release his collar.

  He reviewed his System notifications, the little he could see pre-awakening.

  It had shown up around two years ago. While classes were unlocked at 16, the System notification came for most people a few years earlier. Many commoners, especially in more rural areas, would have their Awakening Day soon after the notification. Nobles, however, always waited until their 16th birthday. You still gained experience on your locked class, and training without the influence of skills or enhanced stats made for a smoother leveling process once the class was unlocked. Valerian had grown up with the various horror stories of nobles who unlocked before Awakening Day and had never once thought seriously about breaking his seal early. It was a major taboo in noble society.

  He also thought about his talent. Everyone had a talent. Talents, like classes, had a rarity, and class rarity was always within one step of talent rarity. Unlike classes, which couldn’t be identified until after being unlocked, talents could be checked with an appraisal stone from birth. While the general population rarely bothered using the expensive [Appraise] skill just to check an infant’s talent, nobles generally appraised their children’s talents on their first birthday. While he couldn’t see it yet on his status screen, Valerian knew his talent by heart.

  All classes had two tracks, a combat track and civilian track. They had their own level and used different System logic to level up. His talent practically guaranteed that he would grow strong as a combat track classer. The experience bonus was already higher than most people would get, even after losing some of it to his civilian track, and the civilian experience penalty only mattered if he wanted to focus on his civilian track. Which he didn’t.

  Even if his talent didn’t make him stronger directly, the faster leveling almost guaranteed a promising military career—much earlier than most. The civilian boost wasn’t wasted, either, as most people tended to struggle with the sorts of activities that would level up their off-track. Valerian didn’t have to worry as he could focus on combat and still gain stat boosts and utility skills from his civilian track without splitting his attention.

  “It’s time, young master,” one of his servants said softly, taking Valerian out of his thoughts. He quickly regained his focus and stood. It was time. Finally, he thought.

  * * * * *

  The manor’s great hall always surprised Valerian when prepared for a ceremony. The large room he’d played in so often as a child looked very different when packed with people and decorations. The walls were adorned with house flags. The gray sword banner of House Steelwurth—his own house. The scales and eyes of House Wrotham, his mother’s lineage. And above all, the dragon standing atop the world: the crest of the Arcadian Empire.

  Normally it was set up for eating when guests visited, not for ceremonies. The long tables were absent and instead it was set up with rows of benches where the Steelwurth family would sit in front of with guests. Most of those in attendance were servants of the house, but Valerian recognized members of the Greenmarch and Ironvale families. His house had two baronies in their land and generally good relationships with both, although he only interacted with them rarely.

  Noble children rarely interacted with nobles outside their family before the academies to avoid incidents between those families. The only other noble children Valerian had really interacted with outside his own family were the Ravencrest children from the neighboring viscountcy. He was a bit surprised to see Linden Ravencrest, the Ravencrest heir. Valerian’s Awakening was a big deal to him, but it shouldn’t have mattered much to them. Both families were on good terms with each other and Valerian figured Lord Ravencrest wanted to show solidarity.

  I’m getting distracted, Valerian thought. He had a habit of analyzing everything whenever he was nervous. “Observe, consider, decide, act,” Valerian thought, almost hearing Thomas’ voice saying it. Usually followed by, “don’t forget to act, young master!” It was time to focus on the ceremony. He had practiced this many times and thought about it even more.

  As he entered, his attendants following behind him, the gathered audience stood quietly. Valerian’s parents and Sir Jacob, their house administrator and Master of Ceremonies, were still seated in front of the small table that held the Appraisal Orb. This wasn’t the first time Valerian had seen it, of course, as all his older siblings had gone through the same process. Valerian had heard that archnoble families and royalty would hire or use actual [Appraiser]s for this, but as a mednoble family, they used the skill item for this. [Appraiser] was a rare class that was used exclusively for their potent civilian utility by upper nobility and the stronger delving and merchant guilds. Cities tended to provide Appraisal Orbs for communal use by commoners. Rural commoners often just went without, using the standard [Identify] skill and having the awakened report any details the weaker skill couldn’t show.

  Focus, he chided himself. Valerian was confident none of his inner turmoil and distraction showed on the outside. House Steelwurth prided themselves on maintaining their bearing and Valerian had prepared his whole life for this. As he arrived in front of his parents, they stood and he dropped to one knee in a practiced bow, his right arm across his chest while his left forearm lightly pressed on the saber’s hilt to push the bottom of the sheath back and away from the floor.

  “Today we gather to celebrate the awakening of Master Valerian, [Veiled] of House Steelwurth,” Jacob began, reading from a scroll next to and a bit behind his parents. His voice could be easily heard throughout the hall but was not too loud. I’ll have skills that can do things like that soon, Valerian thought.

  “In the name of His Majesty, King Edric Arcadia III, and under the authority of the System that empowers all His subjects, Master Valerian is hereby authorized to unlock his class and show the world his fate and role within our great Empire. Lord Aldric, [Sword Saint] of House Steelwurth, is His Majesty’s chosen hand for this honor.”

  A servant had picked up the orb when the short proclamation began and was standing behind Jacob. At this, he moved quietly to Aldric’s side, kneeling and holding up the orb in both hands. His father took the proffered orb. The servant bowed and stepped back in silence.

  “Arise, my son,” Aldric said. Valerian stood, his back straight, eyes forward, posture perfect. “You may now awaken and fulfill your duty as a Lord of House Steelwurth. Step forward into your destiny.”

  This was the moment. Valerian first bowed to his father, then his mother, and stepped forward. For a moment he panicked, worried his voice would fail him as he spoke for the first time in the ceremony. But his voice came out loud, clear, and far more steady than he felt.

  “I will serve House Steelwurth to the best of my ability in accordance with the wisdom of the System and our ancestors. I give my life in service to His Majesty the King. May I die so the Empire lives eternally,” he said.

  “The Empire lives eternally!” A chorus of voices came as the crowd intoned their response. This was it. Valerian had to force himself not to pull up the unlock notification until he was touching the orb. He reached for it with his right hand, placing his palm on the black sphere. It felt cold. His hand felt clammy on the surface. He would finally know what he had been wanting to know his whole life. It was time. He looked ahead as his father activated the orb. A glowing representation of his status showed throughout the hall.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  With a thought, Valerian activated “yes” on his unlock notification. Even though it was his first time activating a System notification, it came as naturally as everyone had said it would.

  The appraisal flickered.

  Then it changed.

  What? Valerian stared in silence, horrified. He saw his father stiffen. His mother, always so composed, covered her mouth. In the ceremony. This is impossible. There’s a mistake. I can’t be an [Appraiser]!

  It was over. His life was over. [Appraiser] wasn’t a combat-focused class. It wasn’t even a hybrid like Elowen’s. He’d never heard of a combat [Appraiser]! It was a support class. At best he might get involved in spy work, but that didn’t give combat experience. More likely, he’d end up cataloging some archnoble’s dusty relic collection for the rest of his life.

  He broke out in a cold sweat as he realized an even bigger problem. [Appraiser]s went civvy. Everyone knew that. His talent meant he’d be eternally behind in levels. Even worse, he was a Steelwurth. They were a combat family. Could he marry into a civilian family? Who would take him? The closest civilian family to them was the Ravencrests, but their only daughter was already engaged.

  The only sound he could hear was his own heartbeat. He knew everyone was staring at him. This was a disaster. Only years of discipline prevented him from running out of the room. I have to get out of here, he thought, I can’t stay here!

  Valerian didn’t know what to do.

  * * * * *

  Valerian didn’t run. A lifetime of strict training let him go through the rest of the ceremony without having to consciously think about it. He couldn’t recall later how the rest of the ceremony went. The faces around him registered distantly, like paintings observed through fog. Cassius sneering. Linden Ravencrest’s calculating eyes. His father’s concern. His mother’s quiet presence. None of it penetrated the numbness enveloping him.

  He felt like a puppet on strings being dragged along the stage.

  Perfect. Lifeless. Doomed. Useless.

  He probably talked to people afterwards. He vaguely recalled being congratulated. He knew it was fake. They were laughing at him. Just as they laughed at Rowan when he awakened his common class. No one said it out loud. But they all knew.

  Now it was him. Unlike Rowan, he couldn’t run off to the army and still bring honor to House Steelwurth. What could he do? Would he embarrass his family just by being here? What good was a Steelwurth that couldn’t fight? Couldn’t make the weapons and armor that kept them alive? That could be replaced with the very orb that proclaimed his uselessness?

  The rest of the day went by as if Valerian was in a trance. His parents talked to him, congratulating him, telling him they were proud of him. The perfect noble facade.

  He didn’t even try his new skills. He didn’t care about his stats. Maybe if he didn’t acknowledge them, it wouldn’t be real. Maybe it was a mistake.

  You gave me a combat talent! Valerian shouted at the System. Why would you give me a civilian class!? The System didn’t answer, of course. It was absolute. Unchanging. All-powerful.

  Fair.

  Valerian tried not to laugh out loud at the thought. How was any of this fair?

  “Hey, Val!” His sister’s voice broke into his fugue state. He didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t ignore me! You may have a class now, but you’ll need to train for a lot longer if you think you can catch up, little brother,” she said.

  “What’s the point?” he said.

  “Oh, don’t be so dramatic!” she said, facing him. We’re in the hallway to Mother’s study, Valerian thought, when did I get here?

  “Look, I get that you’re upset,” she continued, not letting him past. “It isn’t what you wanted. Do you think I wanted [Bard]? What about Rowan, do you think he wanted [Warrior]?”

  Valerian flinched. He couldn’t look Elowen in the eyes.

  “You’re both doing fine. You both have a future. I don’t,” he replied.

  “Yes, you do! I’ve met an [Appraiser] at the Royal Academy. The class is incredibly useful. He can find out all sorts of things just by looking at them. He’s employed directly by the royal family. Do you think the royal family hires useless classes? Really?”

  “You don’t get it!” Valerian said, raising his voice. “I know [Appraiser] is useful. For other people. Not a Steelwurth. Not someone with a talent that has penalty to civilian experience!”

  Elowen was silent for a moment. She opened her mouth, then closed it. A complex expression appeared on her face. Some part of him knew that she was trying to cheer him up. She was trying to support him. He appreciated it. And hated it.

  “Ella, I don’t need your pity,” he said. “I just want to be alone.”

  He pushed past her, knowing full well she could have stopped him if she wanted. She had power. Power he’d never have.

  Valerian continued to one of the side stairs and out of the manor. He didn’t want to see anyone right now. He went to the woods to think. He sat down on his favorite log, put his head in his hands, and closed his eyes.

  He wanted to cry. His eyes felt like they should be crying. But he was a Steelwurth, even if he didn’t feel like one right now. And Steelwurth men didn’t cry.

  “I thought I’d find you here,” said a voice behind him. Valerian turned, seeing Cassius walk over to the log. “It seems my little brother has finally unlocked his true potential.”

  It hurt. Valerian knew that Cassius was just being his normal petty self, but it still hurt.

  “Have you come to gloat? Fuck you,” he replied.

  “So crude,” Cassius said. “Have you tried out your newfound combat skills yet? Learned how to, what, analyze me to death?”

  “I don’t need skills to be a better fighter than you, Cassius.”

  “You only beat me when we spar without skills, little brother. You’d never take me in a real fight, and we both know it.”

  They glared at each other.

  “And now…you never will.” Cassius laughed. Valerian hated him right now. He also hated that Cassius was probably right. Valerian didn’t respond.

  “No matter,” Cassius said. “Rowan has run off the military, Ella is a girl, and I’m sure I can find a use for you once Father declares me his heir. That’s certain, now. Maybe we can find a good merchant baron’s daughter to hitch you up with so you can use your vast appraisal skills to bring some money into the family? [Appraiser]s are expensive, so having one on staff might not be bad. You can tell me how great all the artifacts I find from delving are. I wouldn’t mind that. See? You aren’t useless. At least not entirely.”

  Valerian seethed. He wanted to jump forward and punch Cassius in his smug face. Knock him to the ground and just pummel him until he apologized. Until he was crying. Until he was wrong.

  He didn’t, though. Cassius was right; in a fight with skills, Valerian would lose.

  Was that really his future? Becoming a support class at the manor while Cassius brought back artifacts and riches from delves? Always being at home while Rowan was off earning military honors? Or getting married to some civilian house to do the same thing for strangers?

  That isn’t my path, he thought, it can’t be my path. Valerian was a fighter. He enjoyed fighting. He couldn’t imagine a life where he’d be satisfied staring at artifacts or telling someone the skills of their political rivals.

  How could the System have done this? He even had a combat talent dedicated to boosting his combat ability. Why give him a class for people who played it safe in the civilian world and a talent that reflected his true nature?

  No. He wouldn’t accept it. He couldn’t let Cassius be right. Rowan was able to run away to the military but even that avenue was closed to him. He needed a different path.

  “No,” he said out loud. Cassius looked at him. Valerian noticed Cassius shift his feet.

  He thinks I’m going to try and attack him.

  “What do you mean, no?” Cassius said. “Your fate is already set. The System has spoken. You will never surpass me. I won.”

  “No,” Valerian said again. “I won’t accept it.”

  The beginning of a plan formed in his mind. He thought through his options, the risks, the opportunities. I can do this.

  “I’m going to face my path,” he continued. “You can’t stop me. I’ll find my own way.”

  “What are you saying?” Cassius said, concern flickering across his face for a moment.

  Valerian took a breath.

  “I’ll leave. I won’t shame the family by staying or keeping the name.”

  “What!?” Cassius exclaimed. “You can’t do that. Father would kill you.”

  “No, he won’t. Rowan left.”

  “That’s different! Rowan left for honor. This is just cowardice. I knew you were useless, but I didn’t take you for a coward.”

  “Like you care,” Valerian said. Cassius’ eyes widened a bit. “I’m not a coward. I’m taking a new path. I’m going to pursue the combat track.”

  “A combat [Appraiser]? Are you serious? Does it even have a combat track?”

  “It does. I don’t care if nobody goes that path. I’ll find it on my own. The System is fair.”

  “The System may be fair,” shouted Cassius, “but life isn’t! What, you think you’re the first person with a civilian class to try and pursue their combat track? That nobody has thought of that before? Get over yourself!”

  Valerian laughed. “You are telling me to get over myself? The only reason you are anything is because the System handed you your future on a silver platter. If Rowan had a noble class, he would be heir, not you. And everyone knows it.”

  “Fine. Get out. Nobody will miss you. We don’t need an [Appraiser]. You wouldn’t be contemplating your cowardice if we did. You’ll die in some rift or the streets, killed because you are too weak and didn’t know what was good for you. I’m going to enjoy watching the little prodigy, the one who is oh-so-smart, run away and die in the stupidest way imaginable. At least we won’t have to waste gold on your funeral. But I don’t think you have the guts.”

  Valerian steeled himself. There was no going back from this. If he went forward, his parents would never forgive him. But there was no future for him here. He hoped one day they’d understand.

  “System, drop the name Steelwurth from my profile,” he said out loud. Cassius’ mouth opened in shock.

  “Yes,” he said, and it was gone. Just Valerian. No title. No name. Only his parents could restore it. And his father would never do it.

  “What…what have you done?” said Cassius.

  Valerian wouldn’t stay here and embarrass his family. He’d go his own way and become a delver, clearing rifts for the safety of everyone. His class and talent meant he couldn’t make a difference as a noble, but there were other paths to greatness. Other paths where he could still contribute. Without the Steelwurth name, he’d be another failed noble, and plenty of them found redemption in rifts. Or death. But he would succeed.

  “Goodbye, my lord,” Valerian said, bowing.

  And then he walked away.