Eyes closed, Metello felt a rush of divine energy going into his body. One part went directly to his heart, and the other went to his stomach, surrounding the ether's lump that formed itself. After a mere second, divine energy and ether mixed. The resulting energy soup then rushed into his muscles, his skin, and his flesh, with the bigger part going toward his heart and his brain. For several seconds, Metello gritted his teeth, waiting for the end of the energy rush. When all calmed down, he felt the faint traces of ether floating calmly in his body. Immediately, he felt his low-mana-induced headache decreasing. Then, he noticed his mind was clearer than ever. He made a fist with his hand and felt his new strength. His whole body and mind were working better than ever.

A genuine smile replaced the pained grimace as he knew he was now an [Acolyte]. He felt great.

Metello reopened his eyes to the equally smiling and whispering Mrs Richardson.

“Did everything go well ?”

“Yes”

“If your head is not killing you now, you can take a look at your status. A lot of changes should have happened.”

He chanted the Prayer of Status to see the whole one.

Status : Metello Level : 1 Ether : 10 Class : Lux Acolyte (basic) Stamina 35,4/35,4 2,3/h (regeneration) Divine energy 6,6/48,4 3,1/h (regeneration) Statistics Base Effective Class bonus

Strength Upper 7,8 8,1 4% Lower 8 8,3 4% Agility Body 8,9 9,3 4% Hand 10,5 11,1 4% Resilience Body 8,1 8,4 4% Mind 11 12,1 10% Mind Intelligence 8,7 9 4% Imagination 12,7 14 10% Faith Power 10,5 11,9 10% Control 11,4 12,9 10% Perception Sense 10,1 10,7 4% Memory 10,6 11 4% Social Comprehension 8,7 9 4% Expression 8,5 8,8 4% Blessings Petrus Resting 1 3 passive Aqua Cleaning 1 1 passive Prayer to Aqua 1 1 active Aeris Prayer to Aeris 1 1 active Calor Prayer to Calor 1 1 active Lux Lux devotee 2 1 (↑NEW) passive Prayer to Lux 1 3 active Sight sense 1 2 passive Hiding 1 2 passive Graphic arts 1 2 passive Rapier Handling 1 1 passive Spear Handling 1 1 passive Light resist 1 1 passive Fulgur Ranged Prayer 2 1 (↑NEW) passive Prayer of Thanks 1 3 (↑1) active/passive Vegeta Prayer to Vegeta 1 1 active Anima Prayer to Anima 1 1 active Menta Reading 1 4 passive Counting 1 3 passive Writing 1 1 passive Focus 1 1 passive Nihil Prayer of Status 1 3 (↑1) active Absorb core 1 1 (↑NEW) active

It was being difficult for Metello to see his whole status on the inside of his eyelids. However, it confirmed that a lot happened in these short minutes.

For once, his new status mentioned his class. His class level was available now, linked to his ether level. He had known for a long time that to level classes, people needed to absorb monster cores brought down by monster hunters. The twenty level 1 monster cores amounted to ten ether.

The main benefit Metello got from having a class was that his statistics increased following his level, the important ones for his class gaining a whole 10% for each level. It was what the ether surrounding all parts of his body was doing.

He got some blessings too. The first was the Absorb core needed to level one's class, bestowed by the head [High Priest]. It was one of the most important blessings as you couldn't level up your class without it. From his class selection, he gained the Ranged Prayer passive like all the [Acolytes]. That allowed them to manifest the prayers within a one-meter radius and not only in their palm. As a Lux follower, his goddess bestowed him Lux devotee. It decreased the mana cost for Lux prayers while raising it for the other god's prayers. He knew what these blessings did because he had read about it a bunch of times in the last few cycles.

Finally, the Prayer of thanks and the Prayer of Status went to level 3. Metello knew the Prayer of thanks gave him a little bonus to the faith statistics. The huge number of participants in the ceremony and the Prayer of Thanks was probably the cause. But for the Prayer of Status, he could only guess it leveled up because of its usage to select the class.

He was eager to try his Prayer to Lux now, but it was time to exit the temple in order. In the crowd, the atmosphere was pretty joyful. The new adults were almost all smiling like their parents or tutors were.

The way back to the orphanage went slowly. He used the time he had with his mentor to ask some more questions.

“My Prayer of Status leveled up to 3, but I don't remember what it does. Do you know ?”

His mentor replied with her usual smile.

“Yes, of course. It permits you to change the way it shows your system information. Didn't you read the book on status shaping and the different standard ways to present it? There is even some kind of fashion for ways to shape your status.”

“Hum, not very useful.” After a thought, he continued. “I have another question. How did the first people get a class if there is a need for a Nihil's [Priest] to bestow the Absorb Core blessing ?”

“Well, it is not needed to have it to get a class. You can absorb ether from cores without it, but it is a lot more consuming time-wise and divine energy-wise.”

They talked a bit more, and as they found themselves in front of the orphanage, they saw Maria waiting with almost all the other children and Mrs. Masson. It was the “after the ceremony” party they organized each time a kid gained his class and left the orphanage.

Congratulations were said, and Metello couldn't contain his tears under the laugh of all. They went on for a special dinner while the [Lux Acolyte] explained what he had seen to the younger ones. He was exceptionally allowed to show his new Lucca and how he could travel one meter from him during the long meal. He felt it was much easier to change colors and shapes than before. He didn't keep the show for a long time as he still bore a faint headache.

Then, Metello spent his last night in the orphanage. He didn't sleep well.

In the morning, the young adult ate his breakfast silently, everyone already speaking of the new table plan, as his departure was no big deal. It had been usually more silent when an orphan ate his last meal in the orphanage.

Once he had finished, Metello went looking for his belongings, consisting mainly of clothes and hats, and he walked to the headmistress's office. He knocked and entered to see both his mentor and his pupil waiting for him.

“Maria ?”

“I asked to accompany you to your new house.” She added while looking at the old lady hesitantly. “If you are OK.”

“If Mrs Richardson agrees, I don't mind.”

The girl released a breath, and the headmistress spoke energetically.

“Now that it is sorted, let's get you to where you'll stay for now.”

And like that, they left the orphanage. The little group walked the alley labyrinth northward, toward the poor market district and the middle residential district. Metello's mentor started explaining after they left.

“I managed to find a room close to the edge of the poor residential district as you wished for. It will be a bit more expensive, but nothing even a beginning monster hunter can't afford. It should be safer than deep in the poor districts. All in all, I think you had a good idea if you manage to earn enough money. However, there is only one month's rent prepaid. We had to keep some money for your weapons. You won't have much time to get familiar with your new life before having to hunt to make a living.”

After roughly a kilometer of dirty and curved alleys, they came across some two-story buildings built with dried clay bricks that were more or less standing there. They walked to one of them and climbed the ladder to a small platform. From there, a door granted access to the second-floor room, and a shut window was the other way to get some light inside from the alley.

Mrs. Richardson took out a key and used it to open the door. Then, they could enter the small single room, measuring approximately 3 meters by 4. There was a simple but clean bed next to a clothes chest in the first back corner. A ladder was placed in the other back corner to access a trapdoor to the flat roof. A small stone fireplace with an old cooking pot hanging above it was waiting to be lit, embedded in the dirt wall. Finally, a pantry completed the room furnishing.

Metello put down his bags near the door and watched everything in his sight range. It was a lot smaller than what he was used to, but it was all for himself. He was both happy and anxious to be left alone there.

“I hope you will like it.”

“Yes, Madam. It will be perfect for me.”

“Don't forget that you can still come to me if you encounter problems.”

“Yes.”

“Now, Maria, let him settle and make this room his.”

The young girl had not said a word since the office. It was unusual, but Metello hadn't noticed it, tense and impatient to discover his new home. His mentor gave him the key and a money pouch to start his new life, then she left. Maria stood still for a few seconds after the [Priestess] left and opened her mouth.

“It's close. You can come back to see us almost every cycle if you want to. Perhaps I could come some times when Mrs Richardson is OK ?”

Metello nodded with a smile and patted her head, and she was out too. He was now alone in his new home. He had a lot to do in this cycle. Buying some food, a rapier, and a shield and register at the House as a monster hunter. The next cycle, he would go to the guardhouse to ask about his parents' murder, and the next, he'll probably go to some mines to start gaining some money.

Metello started by going to the weapon dealer, always careful about the people around. Mr Morton from the House had advised him to go to the “Young hunter shop”. The owner, Mrs Marple, was a well-known [Storekeeper] who specialized in beginner's weapons. She mainly bought young [Craftsmen] and [Craftswomen] work to sell them. Since they were not quite experienced at this time, their products were often a bit flawed, so they sold out cheaper. The shop was often the place for young and poor monster hunters to go and buy their first weapons. Mr Morton had told him the old lady was very nice with all the new hunters.

The young man found the shop easily in the poor market district, not too far from the House. The sign hanging at the front of the wooden building depicted a baby in armor holding a sword. It was quite explicit. The recently promoted adult walked quickly to the door, a smile on his face. He was eager to get his own rapier. He hesitated briefly at the door and entered through it.

A happy voice welcomed him.

"Hello, dear customer."

But as Metello saw the old lady's face changing from a smile to a frown, he knew things would not be that simple.

“You don't need to come in. I have nothing for you.”

Even knowing his hair color was probably at fault again, Metello couldn't help but ask. “Why? There are plenty of...”

“Shush. Next time, maybe you will think twice before robbing one of the most influential [Merchant] of Ironholes. Now go.”

He went out and complained.

"Not this story again!"

Metello had tried two more weapon shops as he could not go on a hunt unarmed, but he received the same welcome from all of them. Thankfully, he managed to buy some light leather armor, boots, and a belt to fix the rapier's sheath from a second-hand leatherworker shop. The whole equipment was a little worn out, but he got it for a low price. He still really needed to find a rapier and a buckler.

For that, he thought about trying his luck at a [Craftsman]'s workshop. So, he walked to Mr Gray's one. He had bad memories from their last meeting, but he was the only [Metal craftsman] he knew a bit. He entered the shop, and the small bell ringed.

Fifteen seconds later, Mr Gray came through the back door and pulled a face.

“I have work to do boy. I don't have the time to chitchat with you. Leave, please.”

“I want to buy a rapier.”

“Hum, so you already had your coming of age ceremony. But I don't sell weapons. I'm not a [Merchant].”

After saying this, he began to walk back to work.

“But nobody wants to sell one to me!”

He stopped and turned around.

“Yes, I know. Your good friend Mr Moore pressured the city [Merchants] not to sell to you as a show for thieves that “there are consequences when you rob [Merchants].” He sent people to see me and some other [Metal craftsmen]. I'm sorry, but I can't do much for you if I want my workshop to go on. And, it's not like we're friends either kid.”

Metello couldn't believe it. He went out silently. He bought some beans on the way back to his home, disgust in his throat. He prepared his meal alone. He clasped his fists and took advantage of the time needed for the simple food to cook itself to express his dejection.

"Why can't he understand I had nothing to do with the theft? It's my luck to have a rich man picking on me when he can do everything he wants. Is it fun for him to make my hard life even harder?"

Tears of rage came at the edge of his eyes.

"So unfair!"

Eating helped him to calm himself a few minutes later. Instead of thinking about why things were unfair, he focused on how to solve his problem. As an adult, he thought he would be able to do everything by himself, but the only way out of the situation he saw was to ask for help.

This last year, his two main helpers had been Mrs. Richardson and Brorne. He naturally thought his weapon teacher would know best how to proceed. He had to visit the House to register as a monster hunter later so he could ask for help from Brorne at the same time.

An hour later, he was at the House. He had to wait for a young girl and then for a squad to finish their business with Mr. Morton before the receptionist could register him. And like that, the middle-aged man wrote Metello's name on the list of the new monster hunters, asking him to come to the new hunters meeting next cycle to form the new squads. He didn't give up his money to the deposit system yet as he went to see if Brorne was in the training area.

He was there training a pupil. Metello had seen the hatchet and shield girl coming to the House for a few months. He sat and watched them absently while waiting for the end of the training session. He was worried. What would he do if Brorne could not help him? How to escape this rich bully's grasp?

“You came to me for help, isn't it? And it's nothing much. I never liked the [Merchant]'s way to do things. They play too much with people's feelings to my tastes. I would say being straightforward is way better if you would ask me. I will come with you after the next training if you're okay with that? You can do some light body training on the side meanwhile. Nice leather armor and boots, by the way.”

“Thank you, so much.”

“I already said it was not a big deal. Go sweat a bit in your armor to appease your spirit. It works for me anyway.”