The courtyard was large enough to give Olympic-sized swimming pools a run for their money. Tristan could think of no single room in the citadel that matched the courtyard’s colossal span. The snarls and snapping of the Encroachers shook him of the reverie.

“Training?” Tristan asked.

“Yes.” Cailu furrowed his brow. “If the two of you are to become proper protectors, then we must expedite the process. Appear, iPaw.” The device fell into Cailu’s hand, and the man awkwardly perused the screen with a single hand and thumb.

Tristan briefly remembered his grandfather trying to navigate modern cell phones with both hands.

“Level 22.” Cailu’s gaze landed on Tristan. “Have you settled on the Second Class you wish to advance to?”

“M-maybe [Wizard]?” It sounded right the first time he’d said it, but seeing how Ravyn worked her Spells, Tristan had his doubts. Her lessons had proven invaluable on their journey, and he tried to imagine what Desiree might become if he advanced to [Sorcerer] instead. “I need more information first. What are the differences between them?”

The faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Cailu’s mouth. “[Wizard] had many tools in its arsenal. It specializes in overwhelming its enemies with the elements. It should be noted, however, that they require front-line support to perform adequately. Many of their Spells take a considerable amount of time to cast.”

Tristan bowed his head and put a finger to his lips in thought. With Zahra joining Cailu, that limited his options.

“You, on the other hand,” Cailu said, looking at Matt, “are still Level 9. With a single Level separating you from Second Class, it is paramount we rectify the issue of your competence in combat.”

“Yeah, I know,” Matt said, scratching the back of his neck. “I’ve been meaning to get to it. Just a lot going on.”

“What do you know of [Sorcerer]?” Tristan asked, hoping to deflect criticism away from Matt.

Cailu blinked. “It does not have the potent force of a [Wizard], electing for support and control in more areas than the [Wizard] offers.” He cracked his neck from one side to the other. “Did Ravyn not tell you this?”

“N-no, she did. I just, uh, wanted to hear it from a man who’s been around for a long time,” Tristan said quickly.

“Hmm.” Cailu dismissed his iPaw, then walked past Tristan and Matt. “I’m going to locate the one responsible for this pen.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Keke offered as she moved to stand in front of him, her arms crossed over her chest. “I’m sure you don’t want Kirti to catch you walking around more than you should.”

Cailu sighed. “So be it. But be quick about it.” Keke saluted as she left, and Cailu turned around to face Tristan and Matt. “Let us discuss some qualities the two of you lack while we await her return.”

“Like what?” Tristan asked.

“What do you know of Subclassing?”

Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “Honestly, nothing.”

“Yeah, not a lot, admittedly.” Tristan remembered seeing maybe a sentence or two in a history book, but the memory was foggy.

“As expected. Upon reaching Second Class, you may select another Class to act as your secondary.” Cailu stepped forward and stood between Tristan and Matt, lowering his iPaw so both of them could see. Tristan’s eyes widened at the sight before him. Cailu’s Stats were every bit as fearsome on the screen as they had been in the heat of battle. “[Myrmidon] is a fine Class for dueling. Thus I selected it for my fight against Magni.”

“Do you have any other Third Classes?” Tristan asked.

Cailu nodded. “[Templar].”

“Why not subclass another Third Class, then?”

“Subclasses must be one tier below your own. Hence, Second Classes may only select First classes, and by extension, Third Classes may only select Second Classes,” Cailu explained.

“So I could do something like an axe-wielding magic user?” Matt asked.

“Precisely.” Cailu nodded. “It is vital to find synergistic Classes and gear to utilize this function best. [Paladin], as I imagine the two have noticed by now, is a Class primarily dependent on defense. [Myrmidon] offered a portion of the offense and mobility I required.”

“Fascinating,” Tristan said, scratching the tip of his chin. “So, how come we’re only hearing about this now? This would’ve been helpful earlier. Especially since some of the girls we’ve met are Third Class.”

“Only men may select another Class.”

“Are you sure?” Matt asked, frowning.

Cailu glared at Matt. “Yes. I am sure.”

Well, that explains the lack of text. “Do the catgirls know about this?” asked Tristan. “I feel like this is really important to know.”

“Many do not. You must understand that few men ever get far enough to be offered the option to select a Sub-Class.” Cailu rolled the shoulder of his bad arm. “In addition, a unique Quest must be completed. From the information I have gathered, no two Quests are the same.”

Tristan exchanged a quick glance with Matt. So we can’t really help each other with them. “Cailu,” he started, “what would you suggest we do first?”

“I’m back!” Keke announced.

She’d brought another with her—a girl littered with freckles from head to toe with fair skin. Her emerald eyes sparkled beneath a crop of bushy, bright orange hair cut short and curled at the tips. Thin silks of white crossed over her ample chest, creating a revealing V-shape of her torso from the belly button up. A sash of golden fabric was tied around the woman’s waist, giving Tristan the impression that it was the only thing keeping the outfit from falling to the ground.

Keke had her arm hooked around the bend of the girl’s elbow.

“W-what is this?” the girl stammered. “Y-you’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

“No,” Keke said, pulling her closer. “Promise. Nothing bad is going to happen.”

Tristan watched as the girl’s stare darted from one person to the other. After a few passes, she bowed her head, her face as red as a beet.

“Are you the one who manages this pen?” Cailu asked as he approached.

The girl nodded, refusing to meet his gaze.

“My name is Cailu Raloquen, first of his name.”

“J-J-Jeenie.” The girl snaked her arm away from Keke and covered her face. “I’m s-sorry. I…I’m not good with people.”

“You don’t have to worry,” Tristan said with an easy smile as he moved to stand in front of her. “We don’t bite. Well, maybe Cailu does a bit.” He hoped he might elicit another genuine laugh from Cailu, but as he looked up, Cailu met his stare with a cocked brow. “A-anyways, my name is Tristan.” Tristan leveled his gaze with Jeenie. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Mhm,” she mumbled.

“Are you scared?” Matt asked, a hand on his hip. “Like he said, we don’t bite, so you don’t have to—”

“Quite the opposite,” Jeenie hissed under her breath. Her fingers wormed between one another, her face growing redder by the second. “I couldn’t ask for a better situation. I did not often find favor with Magni. It felt as if I could never get the truth out of him. As if he was always hiding something. I just admired his—” she stopped to breathe. “Incredible physique.”

“We want to make a bigger difference in Nyarlea.” Tristan smiled. “Would you be able to help us?”

Jeenie squeaked, her head snapping up to meet his gaze. She nodded quickly and mumbled some incoherent words before brushing past him and Cailu. Jeenie moved to stand beside a cage—one that accommodated a pen of angry-looking birds—and reached between the bars to scratch one behind the neck. Tristan and the others walked up to her at her command, standing a few feet behind her.

“What are these?” Matt asked. “They look like vultures.”

“Yeah, they do,” Tristan replied. Standing around four feet tall, they were black with large chests, bearing necks like flamingos. As he moved closer, one of them tilted its head toward him, black smoke rising from three pairs of nostrils lining its beak. A hollow hiss whistled through the holes.

“Scorchers,” Jeenie said, reaching through the gaps to scratch one below the beak. The bird responded fondly, leaning against Jeenie’s finger. “Touchy creatures. Very dangerous.”

“What’s so dangerous about them?” Matt asked as he leaned closer next to Tristan. The scorcher puffed up its chest and opened its wings, squawking.

“Too close. Get back,” said Jeenie, her tone suddenly serious. “They’ll breathe fire if they feel threatened or see you as food.”

Tristan and Matt stepped back a few paces, their hands held up.

“But they’re softies once you get to know them. Just don’t make any weird, sudden movements.”

“Can they be trained?” Keke asked, her curiosity peaked.

“Absolutely!” Jeenie exclaimed proudly. “Incredible for [Hunter]s like me. Makes up for all that Magic we’re missing out on. They hunt their prey by setting them on fire from the sky.”

“Like a dragon?” Tristan asked.

“Like Ball,” Matt murmured.

Jeenie nodded and continued excitedly, “Yeah! Like a dragon! They can only eat cooked flesh, so they only breathe fire as a last resort. Most of the time, they’ll just blow smoke out of their nostrils.” Jeenie looked Keke up and down. “You have a [Hunter]’s build. Nice abs. Are you a [Scout]?”

“Yeah,” Keke said, a rare hue of red decorating her features. “Thanks. I was thinking of becoming a [Hunter] eventually.”

“Then a scorcher would be a great partner for you!”

“I don’t know,” Matt said. “Don’t we have enough fire between Tristan, Ravyn, Buttons, and Ball Gag?”

Keke frowned. “Matt. Look at it. It’s majestic. Can you imagine letting this thing loose?”

Matt and the scorcher locked eyes. The scorcher didn’t blink or look away. The irises of its blood-red eyes continued to enlarge until Matt averted his gaze.

“Yeah. I think I can, actually,” Matt said. “Wouldn’t want to fight that thing.”

“You are here to fight, though, aren’t you?” Jeenie asked. “I can’t think of why else you’d be here.”

“That is correct,” Cailu answered.

“What Level are you?”

“It is not for me.” Cailu waved his hand. “It is for them,” he said, gesturing to Matt and Tristan. “Do you have any Encroachers suitable for Level 9?”

Jeenie snorted. “It’s been a long while since I’ve had to get the babies out. Let me see what I have. Stay here for a few.”

Jeenie made her way over to a cage on the opposite side of the courtyard. Tristan smiled as she ran. There seemed to be no shred of the shy girl that had first appeared on Keke’s arm. She moved with the enthusiasm and motions of a person who’d been doing this for years.

“The babies?” Matt said, his shoulders slumping. “Come on, man. I’ve killed Defiled, I don’t need to be fighting a bunch of baby Encroachers. I can take on something tougher.”

“Uh-huh. And what happened the last time you said something like that?” Keke grinned.

Matt grunted.

“Your safety must be secured,” Cailu explained. “There is no reason to put you in greater harm than is necessary during training. I am not about to watch you wound yourself and lose days, possibly weeks of valuable Experience because of your hubris. A steady pace is imperative.”

“I get that, I do,” Matt said. “I just want to put my abilities to the test.” He sighed. “Sorry, I feel like a loser compared to you guys. Hell, Magni never left the damn castle, and he had a subclass.”

“Matt, that’s a little melodramatic,” Keke giggled.

Matt looked at Keke. “Watching their duel just kinda put things into perspective for me, you know?” He pocketed his hands into his pants. “Feel like we’re so far behind, and it’s my fault.”

“Matt,” Cailu began. “I will be candid with you. When I offered you assistance, you refused it. I am sure the catgirls have explained to you your role in this world, so I can only assume you have neglected your duties on that front as well.”

“Cailu, that’s—” Tristan began.

Cailu raised a hand to silence him. “You have no one but yourself to blame for where you are. With that said, you did as I asked, located the remaining men, and even managed to secure one in your group. You are to be commended for it. The past is just that—the past. The future has not been written. You have a chance to redeem yourself. Do better.”

Tristan struggled to read the expressions on Matt’s face. His features seemed to dance on a fine line between anger and self-deprecation.

“Let’s just do as he said, Matt,” Tristan offered. “We have plenty of time.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know you’re right,” said Matt.

Jeenie came back, gasping for air. “Hey! I got a few cages set aside for a Level 8! I know they’re a Level below you, but they should still be worth a good chunk of Experience!”

“Thank you,” Cailu said, bowing at the neck. “Your efforts are appreciated. Returning to our earlier discussion, getting you and your Party to Second Class takes priority. Afterward, we can discuss what to do. Nyarlea’s future is in our hands.” He stepped forward and stood beside Jeenie, looking at Tristan and Matt. “Do not disappoint me.”