At the break of dawn Nosal was wearily woken up by his father. Lem was in his worn cotton pantaloons he wore to sleep most days as he headed down the hallway, having made sure his youngest was awake. The boy got up immediately and shot downstairs and outside, to the rain barrel. The same barrel that was fed by the roof gutter served as the family’s primary source of water to carry out their ablutions.

On the best of days the cold wash was a necessity that Nosal abhorred. But on this morning he paid it no heed for he was hopeful for his previously unsuccessful status summoning after having fully rested. The boy rushed back into the house naked after having shaken himself dry and brushed his teeth in the misty predawn. He headed up to his room to grab his usual shorts and green vest combination.

Nosal then tried to act casually as he joined his family in the kitchen that were already in their work suspenders. Kano and Lem were already seated around the table that sat up against the wall to one side. The two barrels of Groundfrits were of in a corner and another small bucket was filled with peeled Groundfrits below the dining table.

“What’s for breakfast?” Nosal asked as tried to steady his breathing.

“Yesterhay gruel with some fried Swindrop herbs,” mumbled Lem in between bites.

No sugar or salt? What the realms happened to living like a noble with those delicious fruits? Thought Nosal with annoyance. “Suffering from success,” he moaned as he sat down in front of his breakfast.

“Yeah your telling me, and I prepared it this morning, but I gotta say that’s a pretty good saying brother,” spoke Kano with a musk of joy as he worked his way through his own unappetizing breakfast.

“Hope you haven’t been listening to more rude things from the boys in the village, by the divines just being around Dormit-Tars and you pups go around beating yourselves up already already…. but say where did you hear that?” Asked Lem as he leaned back against the wall and looped his thumbs into his suspenders as he was prone to.

“DJ Kahleed,” blurted out Nosal automatically. Who the realms is that? He thought with a small whiff of his musk of surprise.

“Who?” Asked his brother in bewilderment as Lem cocked up his eyebrows.

“Some great mage,” Nosal lied as dug he into his meal.

“Must be from all the Int stat they have,” mused Kano with a small chuckle for his own smart conclusions.

“Ok never mind that you silly pups, Nosal how you feeling today? You ready to try again?” Lem seriously asked Nosal as he turned towards the boy. But the tiny smile on his face and creased eyebrows belied the worry he felt towards his youngest.

Dropping his spoon in the sorry looking gruel, Nosal looked up towards his dad but floundered to find the right words to say. I was excited for this moment for my whole life, but what if it doesn’t work again? He thought to himself with worry and fear.

“Yes dad but I’m scared,” Nosal replied in a shaky voice after stewing in his own thoughts, he was afraid and very nervous. His giddy nerves unknowingly set of his musk of fear which he was immediately ashamed for the display of weakness in front of his brother and father.

Lem sighed and slightly deflated at the sorry sight of his son so scared.

“Don’t be pup, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t have a class. Me and your brother are here and you will always have a place on this farm,” spoke Lem in what he perceived as a soft and gentle tone, but it came out as a rumble as per usual. This was accompanied with his musk of safety to reassure his son, coaxing a small smile from Nosal.

“Heck I’m sure you or your brother is never going to find a nice Capyban girl to marry! You two can spend the rest of your days fooling around with that orc boy and living on this farm! HAHAHAHOHO *cough*cough HAHAHAH!” Lem teased his sons as he spilt some of his Yesterhay as he gesticulated wildly in his mirth.

“Fruitflys!” shouted Kano angrily as he started to blush.

Lem immediately threw away his mirthful continence as he rounded and Kano and glared at his son. “What did you call me pup?” he asked with little concealed venom.

Kano tried to hold his intimidating father’s gaze due to some teenage angst but conceded and cast his gaze down into his gruel. “Nothing father, I’m sorry,” he softly whispered now feeling chastised.

Looking over at Nosal, who was feeling awkward, Lem gave his youngest a wink. He then continued to berate Kano whilst brandishing a long piece of Yesterhay, “ I thought so you Blinker! Well, never mind your older brother who’s not got any brains and think he can swear at me Nosal!”

With his theatrics over, Lem sighed before nodding to himself. “It’s time you tried again,” he suggested.

Realms I hope it works this time or else I don’t know what, thought the nervous boy. “Sacamin,” Nosal whispered.

Immediately he felt winded and a tingling sensation in his brain as the spell took its toll and created his status in front of him.

Name:

Nosal Brownwhisker

Age:

10

Race:

Cabypaban LV 11 (+3CHA, +2END,+2VIT,+2 FREE STATS PER LV)

Racial trait:

Beastkin affinity (Beasts have a minor affinity towards the holder)

????

Class :

???? LV1

Skills :

????LV1

????LV1

????LV1

Health:

298/300

Stamina:

77/310

Mana

35/140

STR:

9

CHA:

41

END:

31

INT:

13

VIT:

30

WIS:

14

DEX:

7

SEN:

8

AGI:

8

RES:

8

PER:

8

LUC:

6

FREE STATS:

23

“Yes!!” shouted Nosal in utter joy before he even started to peruse the manifestation of who he was in the world with a hefty musk of joy.

“Yes Nosal!” shouted Kano in equal measures of relief and joy, for his brother would not be unlucky and considered a classless cripple in society anymore with his successful Sacamin spell.

“Fruitflys YES!” Lem rumbled as he joined in with his boy’s exclamations and releasing his own musk of joy as he and Kano shot up and rounded the table to look at Nosal’s screen.

The celebratory mood the Brownwhiskers were in was quickly dampened by the foreign characters that populated a portion of Nosal’s status.

“What is this?” questioned Nosal with a whiff of his musk of fear as he fidgeted in his stool with his family looking over his shoulder. Looks like shits about to hit the fan.

“I’ll be damned by Fantilam, you’re an Unsung boy. Look Nosal, Kano, you speak of this to no one! Anyone asks and we tell them that you’re a Rancher like me,” sternly commanded Lem with his own musk of fear as the color drained from his tanned hairy face.

“What is this? Is… is brother going to be taken away father?” Kano asked with his voice breaking in fear.

“I don’t wan’na be a slave....” whispered Nosal quietly as the young boy was close to crying with his emotions taking a turbulent and depressing dive. I don’t want to put on the lotion….. why am I thinking of lotions? We only have the animal ointments! The boy thought in confusion as his debilitating fear was momentarily thrown off track by the stray thought. It was only momentarily as the boy started to slowly hiccup as his tears formed, before properly breaking into a small and heartbreaking wail. The same kind that nearly chokes them of breath. *Huuwaaa *huwwaaaa *Huunoooowaaaahhhh *hic…..

Kano released his own musk of sadness as he shouted, “Nosal is going to be a SLAVE!!!*Huuwaa*hicc*hiccc*Hurr*hurrrr NOOOOOO!”

“NO ONE WILL MAKE YOU A SLAVE PUP!” shouted Lem whilst he grabbed his sons by their tiny shoulders with each hand to face him. Lem tried to take back some semblance of control from the situation before his boys broke down any further.

His children continued to cry but slowly they reined it back in front of their father. Slavery was a horrible future prospect for anyone, but here and now the boys were more terrified of the presence of their angry father. It seemed to have worked for even if they were scared of him, Lem was still the pillar of the household and a reassuring presence.

“Look Nosal, until we figure out what class you have you’re just going to tell people that you have a Monster Rancher class like me, which works because you can just say you have the Monster calming passive like me that comes at the beginning and you don’t have to show any active skills, and DO NOT SHOW YOUR STATUS TO ANYONE! Am I clear?” Lem instructed as he spitballed the frameworks of the lie that would protect his son whilst trying his darndest to not release his musk of fear.

I’m so scared, Nosal thought before he answering, “Yes father.”

Looking into his father’s eyes he saw the intensity of the emotions behind them of that he couldn’t put into words but conjured the reassuring thought that Father will protect me.

“Yes father,” echoed Kano just slightly behind his brother. His voice was shaky but he buckled up and tried to put on a brave front for his younger brother after the shameful displaying of crying and compounding his little brother’s fear.

“Boys, I will have to go into town to send a urgent message by Slyph-hawk to your grandfather. He will know better as to how to deal with the situation, and maybe, MAYBE we ask for Tar’s help regarding the matter tomorrow, but only if I bring it up, you hear?” Lem continued as he nodded to his sons, now feeling more sure of himself with a plan and releasing his musk for safety to reassure them.

Nosal nodded in confirmation whilst catching his brother doing the same at the corner of his vision beside him. Grandfather knows everything. He will know what to do! He thought with relief. Then the boy smiled and released his musk of joy at the possibility of seeing his doted grandfather in the near future.

Lem then grabbed Nosal by the shoulders of his green vest and turned the boy back towards the dining table. “Now let’s see what we can learn from this,” he gently rumbled as he scanned the boy’s status.

“Kano you help too you Blinker,” he mumbled with a smile in his voice, but inside the father was still feeling the undercurrents of fear at the uncertain future of his youngest pup.

“I am father,” dutifully replied Kano as he heavily breathed in Nosal’s left ear whilst he tried to concentrate.

Nosal was only able to keep looking back towards the weird question marks that marred his status page. He tried to ignore the discomfort of his father and brother looming over his shoulders as the small Capyban family strained to gleam any information they can.

The moment carried on in silence as they strained their hardest to figure a clue to what Nosal’s class could be.

“How come Nosal has an extra trait to his race father?” Kano asked in query.

“Honestly pup, I have no clue as to what to do with Unsung classes,” replied Lem solemnly as he leaned back.

“What I do see is that your brother has a very high Wisdom and Int stat with slightly higher base stats outside of Endurance, Vit and Charisma which all Capybans naturally have. If you remember correctly Kano you also started with fives or sevens,” continued Lem as he analyzed Nosal’s stats.

“Yes father it was strength that I had at seven being my highest base, due to working on the farm before my calling which I shored it up with the free points,” replied Kano after a moment of thought as he too started to see the pattern.

What are they talking about, I’m right here? thought Nosal as he kept quiet to let his elders follow their train of thought.

“Which means his class boosts them all across the board except, well maybe except luck because it’s unlikely that he has a Gambler or Seer or Unsung class based around it considering how I’m a Rancher and your Mam was a Tamer,” surmised Lem.

“But father that has got to be insane! I only get plus two Wis and one Vitality, Agi and Perception as a Monster friend?!” Kano loudly whined in surprise but with his musk of joy to Nosal’s confusion.

“Oh aye it’s monstrous all right pup. Especially considering getting a spare point outside his racial ones,” deadpanned Lem as he kept scanning over the numbers to be sure.

“What?!But that means that his class-” Kano shouted, genuinely surprised but with a hefty measure of his musk of joy.

“Gives him a free stat,” Lem and his eldest echoed together, with Nosal still left in the dark.

What’s the matter with everyone? I don’t get all these numbers because I haven’t done this before and now they are ignoring me like I’m not here! Nosal complained internally but felt the contagious excitement from his brother and father. “What does it mean?” he whined quitely.

The two looked at the boy before understanding that the little boy didn’t fully understand the enormity of the gift that he had.

“You little nose don’t you see-” began Kano before Lem cut him off.

“Boy you know what separates humans and creatures from us?” Lem asked.

Just tell me already! Nosal thought but he actually said, “No father,” petulantly considering everyone else knew what he did not.

“Humans are one of the most successful races even with lower racial bonuses because they get three free points. So they have more freedom to choose what they become unlike the other races. We just have to hope that we got a suitable class on our calling that works with our bonuses or else take the penalty of choosing a second class,” explained Lem.

“So? I’m not Human father,” Nosal scoffed with a musk for joy at his father’s silliness at the obvious fact.

“Nosal you Divine kissed fool! Your class gave you a free stat point!” exclaimed Kano with an incredulous look.

“Annnd?! Father tell Kano to stop yelling at me!” moaned Nosal with his musk of annoyance. Big brother is a godamn asshat! Asshat…. that makes no sense? He thought as he quickly sent away he stray thought.

“What your brother fails to mention here is that classes provide growth in certain stats, but never, never any free stats,” patiently explained Lem in his rumbling quiet voice.

“So that makes me special?” Nosal asked with a hopeful tone whilst shooting a quick leer at his brother.

Lem cuffed the boy on his ears at the top of his head, but as gently as possible because he knew his own strength.

“Of course its special otherwise we won’t be here talking about it you silly Blinker! Now stop teasing your brother and you too Kano!” Lem once again chastised his youngest before turning to the now gloating Kano to avoid pointless arguing between the two siblings.

“The other point I was trying to say before you two started scabbling like Chitpulkas over a worm is that your class seems to give you points across the board all stats. Which in records only happens in Beasts, Monsters or Dragonkin. Even if it’s at a lower margin for you, but it’s exactly that bonus across the board is what makes it hard for a sentient race to go toe to toe with beasts or monsters. Never mind the Dragonkin, you pretty much need a whole party to face one at the same rank because the Fruitflys can hold classes also,” Lem patiently explained to Nosal with Kano having the same gloating look on his face again.

Signature look of superiority on an Asshat…. Ohh I like that one, thought Nosal as he glared at his brother with a grin on his own lips. “Don’t you smile too much you Asshat! This means I’m special and strong,” he quipped at his brother. Oh Asshat sounds even better when spoken aloud, the boy thought with glee as he saw the previous gloat morph into surprise on his brother’s face.

“Asshat? What? Why?” Kano questioned as he was genuinely confused, with his musk of surprise at being so humorously one-upped by his younger brother.

“Good one pup but never mind that, we still can’t unlock your class so there’s no point taunting your brother and then there’s the fact that if anyone bad hears of it then you could be sold to some greedy lord and turned into some sort of slave. So unless anybody hear wants Nosal to become some slave then not a word of it to anyone outside of this house without my express permission ok?” reprimanded Lem as he used the threat of slavery to cow his annoying children. He said this with a long sigh and a musk of sadness to accompany it for it wasn’t just a threat, but very likely to be the fact if word got out.

This threat immediately clamped down on the boys who were escalating in tomfollery once again.

“And on the matter of unlocking the Unsung class so we can work out how to level it properly and you can start leveling to become stronger….. I have to admit that I haven’t a clue either,” mused Lem as he retreated back to his stool.

“My hunch is to believe that It could be similar to me or your Mam’s and has something to do with Beasts or Monsters. Albeit at higher level considering it’s an Unsung class, and I would recommend you split your free stats into Strength so you can pass of as a Rancher for now. Also some in Perception for now so that you can see and whack something that comes at you pup,” advised Lem as he resumed eating his cold gruel.

Name:

Nosal Brownwhisker

Age:

10

Race:

Cabypaban LV 11 (+3CHA, +2END,+2VIT,+2 FREE STATS PER LV)

Racial trait:

Beastkin affinity (Beasts have a minor affinity towards the holder)

????

Class :

???? LV1

Skills :

????LV1

????LV1

????LV1

Health:

298/300

Stamina:

77/310

Mana

35/140

STR:

20

CHA:

41

END:

31

INT:

13

VIT:

30

WIS:

14

DEX:

7

SEN:

8

AGI:

8

RES:

8

PER:

20

LUC:

6

FREE STATS:

Once he finished mentally distributing his free points, Nosal felt a small weird bulging sensation in his muscles as they grew imperceptibly. He also felt a tiny refinement of his senses along with his increase in Perception before he closed his window.

“Eat up your breakfast pups. I’m going to go change and head into the village to send the letter. Oh and Nosal? I know you’re not exactly in top shape right now that the Sacamin penalty is in effect, but you should still help your brother out with the work on the Ranch today. It’s just in case you unlock something when you work with the beasties around the place. You know what you got to do Kano?” asked Lem as he finished up on the fried Swindrops before getting up to empty the dishes in a large bucket full of water on the kitchen countertop.

“Aye father, feed the Chitpulkas and mend Chopeck’s coop, water the crops, check in on the Sowigans in the cold cellar and tend to the penned Kaholin and her foal and see if they need help with any shedding, that’s about it?” Kano listed off as he too, finished his breakfast.

“How about checking Da’Nittan in case she brings home some parts from her hunt last night?” asked Nosal.

“No don’t or she might smell the Groundfrits off you boys,” replied Lem with a smirk that the boys mirrored.

Lem started to head back into the house to change but quickly stopped. “Remember boys, tell no one.” He reiterated with his back turned before continuing down the hallway.

“We going to check the orchard Asshat?” Nosal asked with lingering apprehension at his father’s warning.

“Oh aye that’s a good idea, you can collect some ripe fruits to add to the farm pudding whilst I bring in some water to boil and we can start to prepare the farm pudding together in the evening,” answered Kano with a smile and a musk of joy at his brother’s new silly swear.

At that moment Dittat limped into the kitchen with a plethora of bruises but a small gleam in its beady eye and its antennae waving all over the place. It was as if he were a tiny hero that has conquered impossible odds and returned home.

Kano looked over at the tiny creature and his eyebrows frowned in concentration, which was his signature look when telepathically communication with his bonded rascal of a Monster partner.

The booger colored Monster gesticulated wildly with its antennae with it widening its eyes and gaping its mouth open multiple times. At times it seemed to perform a mock battle between itself and some unseen enemy using its antennae to whip wildly in some wild form of shadow boxing. Afterwards Dittat finished with his epic recounting he walked over to a small cushion in the corner of the kitchen that served as his bed. His tiny chest below his mouth was puffed up with pride the whole way as his tiny feet pattered across the wooden floor, before he collapsing dramatically in bed.

What a champ. Nosal thought with amusement and musk of joy for the little character.

“What’s he saying?” he asked his brother whom was shake his head and sighing with a smile on his face.

“You better wear that cured leather helm and vest we use to play sword fight with Dornmit-Tars to collect those fruits today just in case. Because the wee guy ambushed a small baby Owlmite on its own and beat the snot out of the poor creature,” sighed Kano at Dittat’s utter lack of honor in beating a tiny adversary. Nevertheless he still said it with a musk of joy at the adventure his partner seemed to have enjoyed.

“What?!” Nosal shouted in surprise as he splurted out his gruel along with his musk of joy at the utterly shameless yet hilarious monster before he started to laugh.

“Wait… then why is he all banged up?” he questioned after his laughter died down.

“Oh that’s because the rest of the Owlmites nearly caught him, and he wants some of your breakfast because a hero needs his reward,” answered Kano with a smile.