It wasn't uncommon for some individuals to never receive a class from the goddess. Classes were blessings granted only to humans, designed to unlock and enhance a person's hidden potential based on the path that was chosen for them, by the goddess herself.
For instance, if someone received a Warrior Class, they would gain enhanced strength, combat instinct, and access to various martial skills.
A Mage Class would grant increased magical aptitude, a larger mana pool, and the ability to learn elemental spells.
Each class not only boosted a person's growth but also shaped their role in society.
Those without a class, however, were often looked down upon, considered weak, unlucky, or even abandoned by the goddess.
Still, they weren't entirely without hope. Many found ways to survive and contribute to society by honing practical skills in literature, craftsmanship, trade, agriculture, and more.
While they couldn't rely on divine blessings, they could still carve out a place for themselves through hard work, intelligence, and determination.
On the other hand, if you had a dream, if you had a goal, you were willing to chase, then even the absence of a class couldn't stop you.
Just like Lux, who had always wanted to become a Hero ever since he was a child.
As an orphan raised by the church alongside other children, Lux stood out. He was kind, funny, and above all, determined. While others eventually gave up on their dreams, Lux clung to his with unshakable belief.
There was a book that sparked his passion: The Battle of Oracle. Though many considered it a myth, the story spoke of a legendary mortal, known only as the Hero, who fought alongside the gods to seal the Oracle Gate.
For centuries, the tale was dismissed as fiction, until the Oracle Gate was broken and the Saintess was born. Suddenly, myth and reality began to blur.
The book described the Hero's incredible journey across the continents with a party of rare-class companions, saving the world from destruction and sealing the Oracle Gate with divine help.
At the heart of the story was the Holy Sacred Sword, a weapon said to rest beneath the Ancient Vault in the Holy Kingdom of Vessonia.
It was no ordinary weapon, it had been forged with the combined blessings of all the gods who had fought in that war.
Unbreakable, divine, and powerful, the sword could only be lifted by one chosen soul: The Hero.
Even though Lux held onto that dream, reality was harsh.
The biggest problem he faced now was money.
In this world, turning fifteen meant stepping into adulthood. And for orphans like Lux, it also meant leaving the nest. The church could only support them for so long.
Egrish was a small village where job opportunities were limited, and being classless only made things worse. In this world, the highest-paying paths were either becoming a successful merchant or an adventurer.
But among the two, adventuring held a special appeal: it offered fame, wealth, and popularity, all earned through strength and courage. To someone like Lux, who dreamed of becoming a hero, there was only one path worth pursuing.
Adventurer guilds had begun to establish themselves all across the world, even in small villages like Egrish.
While each country had its own regulations, the overall system remained largely the same.
The most well-known and widely adopted system was the adventurer ranking system, which evaluated individuals based on their achievements, such as defeating monsters and completing quests assigned by the guild.
The adventurer ranks ranged from E-rank to S-rank, with E-rank being the lowest, and that was exactly where Lux stood.
"Good morning, Lisa! Got any quests for me today?"
Lux stepped into the shabby adventurer guild; his voice cheerful despite the gloomy atmosphere.
The place was nearly empty—only two adventurers were passed out at a nearby table, clearly drunk from the night before.
At the front, behind a worn wooden counter, sat a young receptionist. Her name was Lisa, and she was one of the few people who always greeted Lux with a smile… or at least, a tired one.
"…Ah good morning, Lux,"
Lisa sighed as she checked her report.
"So far, there's just one."
Lux leaned over the counter; eyes wide with hope.
"Please tell me the reward is high… or I'm sleeping outside tonight!"
He clasped his hands together dramatically, earning a small chuckle from Lisa as she pulled out the quest slip.
Seeing that, Lisa let out a soft giggle. She saw Lux almost every day, always wearing that same cheerful expression, no matter how tough things were.
Most people in the village, once they received their class, would move out, heading to nearby towns or the capital to find better work or become full-time adventurers.
Lisa had met Lux two years ago, shortly after she was transferred to Egrish and began working as the guild's receptionist.
Since then, she had watched him come and go day after day, always smiling even when there were no quests to take and not a single coin in his pocket.
Lisa, who was two years older than Lux and originally from the capital, stood out from the local villagers. She had long brown hair, a beautiful face, and a figure that easily drew attention.
Most villagers and adventurers would visit the guild not just for work, but simply to see her. She had grown used to the stares and flattery.
But Lux was different.
He didn't gawk, didn't flirt, and didn't seem the least bit bothered by Lisa's appearance.
Instead, he treated her like one of the sisters at the church, respectful, but playful. He joked around with her casually, never crossing a line, and always carried that same familiar warmth.
It left Lisa slightly confused.
She had never met someone so unfazed by her looks, and that only made her more curious about him.
As she handed him a quest slip—one that had come in just the day before—she decided to ask something that had been on her mind for years.
"…Lux, I was wondering—why don't you ever leave this village?"
She said it casually, but her eyes watched him closely, searching for something in his answer.
Lux took the paper and stared at it for a moment.
"…Hmm… I love this village," he said. Then he paused, his voice softening.
Lisa tilted her head, waiting patiently.
"And... because of a promise," he added with a smile.
"A promise I made with my three childhood friends after the class ceremony."
"...Class ceremony?" Lisa asked, brows raised.
Lux nodded and began to tell her the story.
Lux grew up in the church with three other orphans, two girls and one boy.
They weren't just friends; they were family. Always together, always looking out for one another.
When they turned fifteen, they all went through the class awakening ceremony together. That day should have been one of shared joy but only three of them received classes.
Lux didn't.
He smiled as he recalled their names.
Olivia, one of the girls, had received a Support Class, a path that would one day lead her to become a Healer Maiden.
It had always been her dream, ever since she was little. Kind, gentle, and graceful, Olivia had the perfect heart for healing.
With her long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, she looked like someone blessed by the heavens themselves.
Amma, the second girl, had awakened a Mage Class, setting her on the path to becoming a sorcerer.
She had always loved magic, often staring in awe at glowing runes and spellbooks as a child.
Unlike Olivia, Amma was quiet and timid, often hiding behind others in unfamiliar situations.
But with Lux, she was different, open, talkative, and surprisingly warm.
With her fiery red hair and soft brown eyes, she had a mysterious air about her, like a shy little witch lost in the woods.
And lastly, there was Albert, the boy of the group.
He had received a Warrior Class, though his dream had always been to awaken the Hero Class.
Fate didn't go as planned, but he didn't let that stop him.
Determined, Albert set his sights on becoming the strongest swordsman, forging his own path to one day become a hero in his own right.
With his blonde hair and a good-looking face, he was charming and confident, quite the opposite of Lux, who was always straightforward, honest and never knew how to lie.
That was how Lux remembered his childhood friends, as he described them to Lisa, each one chasing their dreams with a class that matched who they were.
After the class ceremony, Olivia, Amma, and Albert had all left the village to begin their training in the capital.
It was standard procedure: when an individual awakened their class, the kingdom would provide a one-year training program tailored to their chosen path, whether it be warrior, mage, or support.
It was an opportunity to grow, to hone their skills, and prepare for the real world.
But for Lux, who had awakened nothing, he remained in the village.
Still, he held on to the promise they had made together.
Before they left, the four of them had vowed: once their training was complete, they would return and invite him to join their party.
A party they had dreamed of since they were kids, a group of strong individuals who would travel the world, face great threats, and maybe even save the world.
It was a childhood dream, and for Lux, it was the only thing that kept his hope alive.
Even without a class or a clear path, he continued to work as an adventurer.
While others trained under proper instructors, Lux trained alone in the village, day after day, pushing his body, studying weapons, and doing everything he could to one day stand beside them.
After he finished telling his story, Lux glanced over at Lisa only to freeze.
To his surprise, tears were welling in her eyes, and she was sniffling softly, even letting out a quiet snort.
"…Oi… Lisa, are you alright??"
He leaned forward, genuinely concerned.
He hadn't expected his "boring tale," as he called it, to actually make her cry.
"Ah… I'm sorry… it's just… you're really determined,"
Lisa said with a soft laugh, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief as she sniffled again.
"Right! That's why I need to become stronger, before they return!"
Lux puffed out his chest with pride, trying to lighten the mood.
Lisa statement was correct, the training program in the capital only lasted one year. That meant Olivia, Amma, and Albert should have returned when they turned sixteen but now, they were all seventeen, and another year had passed.
They hadn't return not even once.
Lisa felt a pang of sympathy in her chest as she watched Lux go quiet.
"Ahh… they will,"
Lux said quickly, forcing a grin.
"They're probably just busy with work, that's all! They always write letters to the church, and they send money too…"
He trailed off, trying to convince himself as much as her.
"...Anyway! About the quest!"
Lux quickly changed the subject, forcing a cheerful tone as he turned back to Lisa.
Up until now, Lux was still an E-rank adventurer, the lowest possible rank.
That meant he could only take on E-rank quests, jobs specifically tailored for low-risk, low-threat tasks.
The pay was barely enough to get by, and the work was often tedious, things like gathering herbs, chasing off wild animals, delivering messages or handling other labor chore requested through the guild.
"Gathering Minto!"
"Minto again?!"
Lux groaned, slumping dramatically over the counter as Lisa explained the quest.
Minto was a type of herb that grew in the nearby forest. It had square-shaped stems and aromatic leaves, commonly used to make herbal drinks and even infused into alcohol.
Requests for it usually came from the local taverns and inns, especially during seasonal demand.
Though it was harmless work, Lux had gathered it so many times that he was beginning to feel more like a farmer than an adventurer.
"No slacking!"
Lisa pouted as she stood up, hands on her hips, and gave Lux a firm look.
Reluctantly, Lux pushed himself off the counter with a sigh.
There weren't many E-rank quests available, and the pay was always small, but at least it was something.
A little coin was better than none.
"Okay, okay! I'm going, I'm going!"
Lux groaned as he turned toward the door, waving the quest slip in the air.
However, just as Lux was about to exit the building, the doors swung open, and a group of adventurers stepped inside.
Their presence was hard to ignore, well-equipped. The clinking of their weapons and Armor echoed through he quiet guild hall as they made their way toward the counter, drawing attention from the few others inside.
Lux paused, glancing at them briefly.
Something about their posture and gear told him they weren't from Egrish.