Zane found himself sitting across Britta Liteman under the roof of the Cleric Guild’s pantheon. His first step of preparation was here to fill up the empty slot for his new class.

“You’re telling me you want to be a cleric?” Britta asked. The earring Zane gave her, fit snuggly on her earlobe.

“Yes, I am. I hope it won’t be a problem, or do I need to pay a fee or something?” Zane inquired.

“A donation is welcome, but I still don’t know how to feel about your intention of becoming a cleric,” Britta said.

“Is there something wrong?”

“No, there’s nothing wrong with it. Except if you choose to do this, your previous effort, your levels, your skills, everything you’ve learned will be gone,” she said. “And there’s not the slightest chance of reversing it once you go through with it. So are you sure about this?”

Britta was kind enough to let him know the consequences of going through such a reckless action. Usually one would change their class in the early stages when they were young and still have time to decide on which class was the most suitable for them. But there were certain cases where there were people like Zane, who wanted to choose a different class and regretted it later. Some begged at her, asking to return their class back the law of the world didn’t work that way. So rather than seeing regret in the eyes of Jaenis’ savior, Britta gave her two cents of wisdom for being a senior in life.

“Ready to save the weak,” Zane smiled.

“So be it then,” Britta got up and looked down at Zane. “Let’s get you to your first lesson.”

“Quick question, does everyone has a chance to choose their class after reaching level five?” Zane asked. As something had been bothering him.

Britta gave him a strange look. “I don’t know what you mean by that since most people would have a class first before venturing out in the open,” she explained.

“So no instant class attainment?” he wanted to clarify.

“Of course,” she answered like it was a given. “People need to learn first before the Law bestow you the class you’re learning.”

Zane nodded and trailed behind the senior cleric. At least he reaffirmed that his mage class attainment was a privilege from the so-called Law. And it might be a little present from the ball of wings to ease his transition into this world.

For the rest of the day, Zane followed Britta and learned the things that were needed to obtain the cleric class. And compared to brawler it was much easier to the physique. Most of the time, he spent listening to lectures by other senior clerics in the pantheon, not like he understand any of it though. Joining in a new class of young men and women who strove to be a full-fledged cleric. He stuck out like a sore thumb as most of them were sixteen or seventeen years old, the age bracket where they were considered as an adult. And for Zane, he felt like a returning student to college.

Most of the lectures weren’t the practical type, leaning more toward moral conduct and proper behavior as a cleric. While the last one for the day was a rather eye-opener for him, a lecture on how to profit through healing. Teaching how to haggle properly for a bigger percentage in profit in a party, and how to tackle issues that might come if certain party members do not agree to your demands. By the end of the lecture, Zane had a correct term for these clerics. Can’t believe they’re a bunch of money grabbers, Zane thought. Though he could understand why these clerics acted in a such way, it was still kind of ridiculous.

But hey, at least they gave free accommodation and free food throughout gaining the class.

For the next three days, Zane immersed himself in attending the lectures which grew more practical as the days went by. By the last day, the lecture topic covered the most important part of being a cleric, attending to emergency treatment where the cleric candidates were taught on which party member to prioritize through damage assessment. And to Zane’s surprise, it was quite an interesting one as he didn’t even doze off during the lecture.

By the time the lecture ended, Britta made her appearance as it had been a long time since Zane saw her.

“First of all, I congratulate you all for finishing the course,” she clapped her hands and the crowd joined in applauding. “And what comes next is the last step in obtaining your cleric class.”

Papers were handed out to the whole class and Zane received them as well.

He didn’t have a clue on what the letters were saying, but from a brief glance, it seemed like a contract. And he was old enough to know not to sign carelessly not before reading the contract.

“What you have there is the contract that will allow you to receive Angel’s grace, the light of becoming a cleric,” Britta said. “For those who are determined, sign it and we will welcome you to our coven.”

Zane didn’t understand a word what Britta said, but he imagined it to be the last pitch before obtaining the sale. Looking to his side, Sam, a young lad who had already grown a hefty beard at the tender age of seventeen was about to sign the contract. Both of them had bonded well along the course of three days and Sam had done what others would not, he had explained to Zane everything about the contents of the lectures they went through for the past few days, and Zane had nothing but gratefulness for the kind soul. Zane grabbed him by the wrist and stopped him from signing the contract.

Sam gave a strange look at Zane. Making a face as if asking why? Zane gave him the earring and they conversed through the mind link.

“Hey, Sam, you wouldn’t mind reading me the contract would you?” Zane asked.

“Yea, sure. Why not?” Sam shrugged his shoulders and read it out loud in the mind link. He was a chill guy, thought Zane, and he had a thought that Sam probably wouldn’t be the money grabber like the Cleric Guild had taught them to be. Zane just couldn’t see this warm guy being a leech for money.

“That’s it,” Sam said. Looking over at Zane, noticing his widened eyes. “Is there something odd?”

“Is there something odd? Didn’t you read the contract out loud, Sam? This is basically a fucking scam,” Zane said.

The content of the contract was absurd. The accommodation and food that he thought was free weren’t actually free as they put a detailed cost of it all for the whole four days and three nights. Not to mention the lectures fee were also ridiculous and to top it off there was also an additional fee for being a member of the Cleric Guild. In total, the cost of being a cleric was a hefty price of fifty silver rios. Fifty fucking silver rios which could buy fifty beginner-type mage spells.

Who could afford that? As Zane himself definitely didn’t have the capital to pay it. And then came the best part, the contract had a clause of allowing to pay through installment, just like his world. And adding salt to the wound, there was also an interest rate if the future cleric couldn’t pay it all under a month.

Shaking his head, Zane had second thoughts on being a cleric. But with his current objective, he didn’t really have much of a choice. Fuck it. Let’s just work my ass off and pay the fucking thing later.

Zane signed the contract.

In the end, he left the pantheon with a thin book in his hand. He still hadn’t obtained the class yet as Britta’s voice still echoed in that mind of his. Read this book and I’ll get the fucking class? Fuck, Zane thought. Shaking his head. Knowing he voluntarily got dupe. While those around him cheered and celebrated their first step in becoming a cleric and also becoming an adult, Zane was the opposite. His shoulders slumped down and his eyes lost the will to live. He had never felt so stupid in his life as after everything he had done, all of those lectures were useless as the key to it all was just reading the damn book in his hand. They could have just sold the book, but no, it probably wouldn’t justify the hefty price tag and thus born a useless four-day course of being scammed.

Zane headed to Red Hair Inn and got a room. He lay there on the bed for a while, blaming himself for being too stupid to be scammed like that. And after an hour of self-depreciation, Zane focused back on the book and realized he didn’t know how to read. The frustration in him blew up, and Zane threw the book across the room, slamming it against the wall. Gradually, he cooled down. Breathing in and out calmly, keeping his anger in check.

Combing his hair with his hand a bit, Zane paid a little visit to his librarian. He asked for her help, and the book lover inclined immediately. She read it for Zane and in less than thirty minutes, he got the familiar ding.

[Congratulation. Your second slot of Multi-Class has been filled. You are now a Cleric.]

[You have learned Protection of the Light.]

[You have learned Healing Touch.]

[Stat points distributed; +1 Arcane Power, +1 Vitality.]

Rather than being happy, Zane had a baffling smile, just the thought of obtaining the cleric class under thirty minutes was slowly making his blood boil again. He had wasted four full days that could have been done in under thirty minutes. And as Zane was about to scream his lungs out, he held it all in, controlling his anger from lashing out like a berserking beast.

For the second time, he calmed down. Realizing it was pointless to be angered as he would benefit more if he channeled his energy to the second step of his plan.

“Let’s try taking a dip at the Valley of Shade.”