Once the five were ready with their choices, Helderic began activating the job detection pillars with his spiritual energy. The balls above the active stone pillars signaled that they were ready for use.
"Go ahead. You must do it one at a time," replied Helderic.
Livia, Secilia, and Aaron did so. They touched the pillars and obtained the jobs they wanted. Livia and Secilia wanted to become mages, while Aaron chose to become an assassin.
Jonathan stepped forward, it was his turn to touch the pillar. A notification panel appeared and explained the job Jonathan got on his first try.
[DING! You have two job options]
[Name: Jonathan]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job Options:]
[1. Lancer]
[2. Mage]
Jonathan turned his head, shook it, and said that the saber option wasn't there. Helderic hadn't told them the truth about the saber job yet, but let them try it anyway. After everyone had received their jobs, Helderic would explain it.
[Do you want to repeat the job selection?]
The man agreed without hesitation. The random panel reappeared, displaying another panel in front of Jonathan's face.
[Job Selection (2/2)]
[1%]
[50]
[100%]
[DING! You have two job options based on your natural aptitude]
[Name: Jonathan]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job Options:]
[1. Lancer]
[2. Archer]
"Damn, why isn't there a saber?" Joe asked, annoyed.
"You've already used your two chances. Now, you must choose between Lancer or Archer," explained Helderic.
"I know," replied Joe, still annoyed.
Archers were weak in close-range physical attacks, and Jonathan wasn't very good at accuracy and aiming either. Joe chose Lancer because he thought it was similar to Saber.
[DING! Congratulations, you have chosen your Job]
[Name: Jonathan]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job: Lancer]
[Stage: 1-3]
Not only that, Jonathan obtained the Lancer's tattoo pattern on the right side of his hand, red in color and abstractly shaped like a spear.
Helderic smiled, congratulating Jonathan. Lancer wasn't a bad choice for him, especially since he was a hero with a light affinity of 87%.
Still, Jonathan felt disappointed because he should have gotten the Saber job. However, he only hoped that Agares also got a similar choice, so they could stay together.
"Now it's your turn, Agares," Helderic explained. Agares nodded.
He stepped forward and stood in front of the job detection pillar. Like the others, Agares touched the pillar's wall, causing the light above it to glow. This caused a system panel to appear in front of him.
[DING! You have two job options]
[Name: Agares]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job Selection:]
[1. Saber]
[2. -]
Helderic was once again surprised by the result of Agares' job test. It was only the first attempt, but he had received the Saber job option, and there was no second option. This made him even more suspicious of Agares' true identity.
'There's only the Saber job option? What's really happening?' Helderic asked.
"WOAHH! That's Saber! How did you do that?" Jonathan asked. Agares shook his head, unsure.
"Try selecting the second job option; maybe another job will appear," Helderic requested. Agares agreed.
[Job Selection (2/2)]
[DING! You have two job options]
[Name: Agares]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job Selection:]
[1. Saber]
[2. -]
'Again, the system gave him the Saber job option. What's going on? This has never happened before,' said Helderic.
"Sorry, Joe. I guess I have to take this job choice," Agares explained, leaving Joe sad and frustrated for not being able to get the Saber job.
Agares selected the Saber job, causing a sword tattoo pattern to appear on the back of his hand, signifying that he was now part of the Saber Hall. Helderic sighed, realizing it was time to explain the situation of the seven Knight Halls.
[DING! Congratulations, you have selected your job]
[Name: Agares]
[Affinity: Light]
[Job: Saber]
[Stage: 0-5]
"Congratulations to those who have obtained their jobs and stages. With this, you can go to the academy and train there according to your jobs," replied Helderic. The five of them nodded.
Helderic turned and looked at Livia and Secilia. They would be sent to the Wizard's Hall Academy in the city of Zentharia. It was a city with the center of magic throughout the Great Empire.
Livia and Secilia nodded. They would go there with a recommendation from Archmage Helderic. Helderic smiled and nodded. His attention shifted to Aaron.
"Go to Umbrelis City. It is the City of Assassins. You can grow and learn there," explained Helderic. Aaron nodded obediently.
"You, Jonathan. You must come with me to Solaris. You are a hero with an affinity for light, especially with the job of Lancer that you have obtained," explained Helderic.
"Solaris?" asked Joe, confused.
"The capital of the Great Empire. You will train directly under the guidance of the Leader of the Lancer Hall," Helderic replied, making Joe smile and feel happy. He hadn't expected to get such an opportunity.
Now, Helderic's attention turned to Agares, the only chosen hero who had received the Saber job. It was difficult for Helderic to explain this, but he had to do it for the sake of Agares.
"So, where will Agares go?" Joe asked Helderic.
Helderic shook his head; there was no place Agares could go as a Saber knight. This immediately caught Jonathan and the others' attention.
"There's a specific reason why Agares doesn't have a city to train in," Helderic explained.
"What?" Agares asked.
"It's because the Saber Hall no longer exists," Helderic revealed, shocking everyone.
"No longer exists? What do you mean?"
"700 years ago, specifically before the Great Empire was formed. There was another kingdom that fought against the demon race—the Virelion Kingdom," Helderic answered.
"According to historical records, the 35th Divine Saber was cursed by the Demon Emperor Vael'Tharon. The curse caused him to lose his consciousness and humanity," Helderic explained.
"A civil war broke out between the Divine Knights and the Saber Knights. The war lasted for 150 years and destroyed much of the human population," said Helderic.
"The first Emperor Altherius united all the kingdoms under the Great Empire. His first decree was to dissolve the Saber Hall and arrest everyone associated with them."
"So, the Saber Job is banned by the Great Empire?" asked Agares.
"Can't you help him change his job?" asked Joe. Helderic shook his head.
"Changing a regular job might be possible, but changing a hero's job is different."
"If you're banning Job Saber, why is it still available in your job selection system?" Joe asked, growing annoyed.
Helderic explained that the job selection system was controlled by the gods, and humans did not seem to have the authority to regulate jobs.
This time, Agares was really unlucky, in his opinion. Jonathan grew even more annoyed because his friend's life was in danger.
"Then, what can I do?" Agares asked.
"Stay away from the imperial capital, learn sword techniques by wandering, visit the ruins of Stormgarde City—it was the city of Saber in the past. You might find something there," Helderic replied.
"So, I have to live in the shadow of death and fear. Am I right?" Agares asked. Helderic nodded slowly, his expression heavy.
"If imperial soldiers or soldiers from the four kingdoms find out your identity, you will be hunted down even if you go to the ends of the earth!"
"You must hide, Agares!"