Sarah's Story Chapter 010 - Avenger

Sarah opened her eyes to find herself standing, surrounded by versions of herself wearing different clothes. Front and center, just a yard away, was Avenger.

All the other classes frowned, looking concerned.

But Sarah, dressed in her comfortable loose Brawler clothes, lifted the tankard of ale in her hand and gestured with it at the Avenger leering at her, a light jab just so, and not a drop of ale spilled. “Back up you, I’m not choosing Avenger and I don’t want to hear a word from you until I’ve talked to every other Class.”

The Avenger class merely gave a closed mouth smile that failed to reach her eyes and turned and walked away, behind the other classes.

But it lurked there, in the back, watching.

Waiting.

Sarah then turned to the version of herself in a formal gi: the Martial Artist.

“I won’t be choosing Martial Artist. It won’t synergize with Brawler.”

The Martial Artist gave a warm smile now, and bowed formally. Sarah raised her tankard in a sloppy salute.

And then the class was gone.

For each of the rest of the classes, Sarah had only one question:

“Is there even the slightest chance that I could specialize this class or grow it into something to find my brother?”

The response, every time, was a sad shake of the head. Not the Farmer, not the Homemaker, not the Runner, not the Florist, not the Baker, not the Smith, not the Guard, not the Seamstress, not one class was capable of that one crucial task.

Eventually, there was only one class left unasked.

Sarah turned to the Avenger class.

And she tempted fate.

“Fine.” She huffed, feeling impatient. “Say your piece.” She sipped at the ale from her tankard and found it was delicious, but not actually alcoholic.

The Avenger version of herself’s smile widened, and stepped forward. Her skin was pale, and her hair stringy, unkempt. Bags hung under her eyes, and her shoulders were hunched forward, her hands clasped together in front of her chest.

“Well met, Brawler.” The creepy woman said with Sarah’s voice, entirely unaltered. She paused, and then continued.

“You… have been wronged. I… this Avenger Class… can help you right this wrong. Your brother was taken from you unjustly… Choose this class, and reclaim him.”

Sarah narrowed her eyes at the smooth-talking version of herself.

“Okay, but how exactly can you do that? If I have to give up an entire class to find James, I want more details.”

“Anything… is possible with [Skills].” Sarah could hear the weight of the word. “With other classes… practice and repetition grow skills, but slowly, oh so slowly, heheheh…”

The Avenger class’ eyes drifted off to the side, then refocused on Sarah’s own.

“But with the Avenger class… you can choose exactly the right skill, and use it immediately, and know where your brother is before dinnertime.”

Sarah took another sip of ale before responding.

“I want more details. What skill are you talking about, how does it work, and what do I need to sacrifice for it?”

“Sacrifice? Nothing much… Of what value is a life deprived? A life ruined by injustice? Time spent suffering? No, far better to trade suffering for justice, wrought by your own hand…” The Avenger’s eyes drifted again as she spoke before returning to Sarah’s. “There are several skills that could be yours. [Hot and Cold] or [Pointer] would be the… weakest options. The first would tell you if you were moving closer or farther from your precious brother. The second would simply point you in the right direction. But why drag out your suffering? Why endure the loneliness for such vagaries? Take instead [Pinpoint Location] or [Brother Tracker] and know exactly where he is at all times, or even better, where he is and where he’s been. Oh how easy it would be, to instantly know, and yet…”

The Avenger trailed off, but her eyes remained laser focused on Sarah’s.

“And yet,” she continued in Sarah’s own voice, “that still leaves the task of traveling to where your brother is. Oh how painful it would be, every day, every hour, every second of being apart whilst knowing exactly where he is. I may not tell you why, but you have potential. You could be at your brother’s side in an instant, with the skill [Always By His Side].”

Sarah bit her lip, thinking.

“Tell me… Tell me true, no more dancing around the topic. What would it cost me to take [Always By His Side]?”

Avenger smiled softly. “Naught but a lifetime of suffering, less three months.”

Sarah felt the blood drain from her face in horror.

“And…” she stammered, “and, [Pointer]?”

Avenger’s smile faded slightly. “Why bother with a weaker skill, suffer longer? Risk losing your brother again once regained? But I will speak true: taking [Pointer] would reduce your suffering by a span of ten years, and your sense of direction. But of what use is a sense of direction other than knowing in which direction your brother lies anyway?”

Sarah felt almost dizzy, and the ale tasted like ash in her mouth.

“And [Hot and Cold]?”

“The same as [Pointer], but instead of your sense of direction, you would only feel your brother’s warmth.”

With a snapping sensation, Sarah shook her head.

She was appalled.

“No, no, a thousand times no. I’ll never choose Avenger. I’ll find another way.”

Avenger grinned. “There is no other way, as you well know. You’ve interrogated every other class.”

Sarah shook her head. “If I could find my brother with Avenger, I can find my brother without Avenger.”

The Avenger class mirrored her, shaking her own head. “Alas, your soul lacks experience to crystallize towards finding someone missing. The only way to bridge this gap is with Avenger. Now, make your decision.”

[Brawler] Class chosen. 1/2 Classes chosen. Please select a Class.

The urge pressed down on Sarah.

Sarah turned and looked around, but all the other classes shook their heads sadly.

She turned back to Avenger.

“If there isn’t a class that can do it, I’ll do it without a class.” she declared.

Avenger merely chuckled.

“Good luck with that.”

And Sarah opened her eyes. She was lying in her bed, and the fading light of sunset was visible through her window, although her room was dark.

Brawler Class Skill [Night Eye] acquired.

Not so dark that she couldn’t see, however.

See her mother sitting in the chair, watching her.