Sarah had inspected everything. She turned back to Audrey and Mimir while Wolündr was hauling the metal plate away.

“So, I have some questions. First, how come my two classes are that good? I mean, I didn’t start with stats that high, most of them seem to come from that ‘Liberator of gods’ thing, so I couldn’t possibly qualify for it, right?”

Mimir had a small smile. “Well, you see, even if you accumulated experience throughout your life, it was unable to crystallize without the Will of the World’s guidance. So, when you touched Thrud and she gifted you the ‘Touch of the Valkyrie’, you unlocked the conditions for the Valkyrie class instead of the Martial artist one you’d have normally unlocked. And since you gained the ‘Liberator of gods’ perk at the same time your experience tried to crystallize, you were able to unlock the Truthseeker class. Then everything crystallized and you got your levels. Since those classes are really strong, it might explain the long sleep your friend here was talking about.” He pointed toward Audrey when saying the last sentence.

He continued. “When gaining a new class, the Will of the World always account first for every achievement, then offer you your classes. The only surprising thing is that you must consciously agree to a new class, and it seem you didn’t. So maybe a god tampered with the Will of the World to have you accept the best classes it could offer…”

The explanations were clear, and Sarah was starting to understand the situation a little better. Yet, a few questions remained.

“Audrey, what is your class?”

“Well, I was talking with Mimir about it, and it seems I don’t have one yet, as crystallizing experience is something my coat prevent passively. He said I could enable it by speaking with Hermes first.”

“And, Mimir, how many different classes can one have?” This question seemed of utmost importance to Sarah, as she didn’t quite see how the ‘experience’ worked. Was it divided between the classes? Dependent on how it was gained?

“Well, the full course is pretty boring, but to make things simple, just assume that when you gain experience, it has some kind of label, depending on how it was acquired. We generally assume it to be divided into 4 categories: fight, socialization, research and crafting. Of course, it’s only a guess, as even we don’t understand all about the Will of the World. As for the number of classes one person can have, we never saw anyone attaining a limit. But it is rare to have more than 3 or 4 at once. Of course, that’s not accounting for the finished ones.”

“Finished ones? They have an end?”

“Yes. When you attain level 20 in a class, it stop accepting experience, causing it to stock once more, until there is enough for a new level. Then you’ll chose the new class that experience will go to. Since the more levels you have, the more experience it requires, people usually get slowed around the fifth class, since it’s approaching the global level of 100. Though some heroes went far beyond that. Beowulf’s level was over 200, for example. There’s also some really special classes that doesn’t end in 20 levels, but those are exceedingly rare.”

“So, that’s why you said we were gonna be really strong for a first generation!” Audrey seemed to understand something, but as Sarah lacked the context, she was clueless as to what the doctor meant exactly, and she had another question.

“Second last question. The ‘Touch of the Valkyrie’ perk enables the Valkyrie class for me, but I don’t see a prerequisite I don’t have, so…”

“Oh, it’s my bad. Usually we get a priest to do it. I need to confirm it myself.” Mimir seemed briefly flustered, before he took on a serious posture. “By my will, you are now one of the Norse.”

You’re now affiliated with the Norse pantheon. You can freely access the first room of Yggdrasil, and engage in any of the Norse divine class you meet the other prerequisites for. You now satisfy all the prerequisites for the Valkyrie class. The ‘Touch of the Valkyrie’ perk is now free to use. As you already possess the Norse pantheon affiliation, the perk is modified. It now allows you to ignore the affiliation prerequisite for any one divine class.

As soon as Mimir spoke, two windows opened in front of Sarah. After reading them, Sarah was overjoyed by the outcome. Also, the fact that perks could evolve was interesting. Maybe if I have all the affiliations, it will evolve again? But she had a last question for the god.

“I have an awakening bloodline, of Valkyrie. The explanations were clear, but will it erase my ancient race?”

“Yes, the gift of Thrud. If you become a Valkyrie, you will cease being human, though you will retain some of their physical features. While it is not my role to detail the pros and cons of being one, I can assure you the Valkyrie race doesn’t lose to the human one.”

As she pondered this answer, Mimir called for a white crow that landed close to them. With a wave of his hand, the crow grew big enough for the two girls to ride on its back. There also was some kind of saddle on his back, which was a welcome addition after the previous rides.

“I’m afraid work is calling me. This little friend will bring you to Mount Olympus, since your friend want to meet Hermes. If you want to make a halt, just tell him. But it’s the last time. After you get to Olympus, he will come back to me.”

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NEW POV : ???

I breathed the fresh air again, for the first time in several years. They had the nerve to put me in jail! All that for a few dismembered prostitutes, scorched children and tortured elders. THEY WERE WEAK! The strong live feasting on the weak, it’s how the world works! Protecting them was hindering the whole world, it was a crime against nature herself!

Those years had been very long, spent almost entirely in solitary confinement. But the glowing windows that appeared to him were clear. And they gave him the strength he needed to escape. As he walked away from the burning prison, blood dripping from his fists, he remembered them.

You’ve been chosen by Khorne, chaotic god of war and blood. You gain the ‘Chosen of Khorne’ title and perk. You’ve been chosen by Nurgle, chaotic god of corruption and decay. You gain the ‘Chosen of Nurgle’ title and perk. You’ve been chosen by Slaanesh, chaotic god of pleasures and dreams. You gain the ‘Chosen of Slaanesh’ title and perk. You’ve been chosen by Tzeentch, chaotic god of magic and knowledge. You gain the ‘Chosen of Tzeentch’ title and perk. You’ve been chosen by the Four major Chaotic gods, as unlikely as it was. That makes you the rightful chosen of the Chaotic pantheon. You gain the ‘Chosen of Chaos’ title and perk.