Capítulo 5: Classes
"Have you ever wondered, why I asked you to change your Mage class into Flame Controller?", she opened up with a question that confused him. Sure he had wondered about it, but he hadn't seen it as a big thing. After all, both Mage and Mechanic were some of the most common main classes. Flame Controller, on the other hand, was a rarer secondary class, so changing it hadn't made much sense to him. It was only that she had promised to give him a skill that could hide his status in front of lower grade scanners that made him agree to it.
"Yes, but I have never seen the sense in this. And I never thought of it as a big thing.", he honestly answered her question.
"I thought so. That's because nobody has ever taught you about classes and how they are inherited.", she started to explain.
Classes were separated in main and secondary classes. Most people would have one main and one or more secondary classes. The main class would always have a broader range of application while the secondary ones were more specific.
For example, the main class Mage, which would allow the one having it to freely control energy and use it for all kinds of magic spells. The secondary class Flame Controller, on the other hand, would limit the user to only controlling flames. Its application was thus much narrower.
Classes would further be categorized by type. There was a technology type such as Mechanic, Rifleman, or Smith. And there was the magic type such as Mage, Flame Controller, Magic Swordsman, or Rune Writer. Those classes could either belong to the crafter or fighter categories with some being capable of both.
The extremes were the Mechanic and Mage classes which were at the ends of the spectrum and which both were capable of fighting as well as crafting.
Classes couldn't be inherited from the parents, but the type could. If both parents were of the magic type then the child would also have a magic type main class and most likely also magic type secondary classes. The same was true for technology type parents. Mixed parents would have children with either type of main class and secondary classes of the other type or even mixed ones.
Of course, there were also exceptions who had two main classes. But it was extremely rare for them to be of different types. And it was even rarer for them to be of the both extremes Mechanic and Mage. On the other hand, it was possible for those extremes to be inherited. Children of those with the two main classes would have a high chance of having them as well, independently of the other parent's types. But it wasn't possible to skip a generation.
"So there are three families that monopolize people with Mage and Mechanic as the main class?", Ivan asked interestedly. What Mrs. Lucia had just told him was new and exciting to him. It seemed like he was more special than he had thought.
"Yes. Those three families always collect all rare cases where people have those classes outside of their families."
"But why?"
"Because they want to monopolize technomancy.", the response shocked Ivan.
Technomancy was the combination of magic and technology, something that was widespread in high-end applications. The train he had come here with, for example was a result of technomancy. While it was easy to create movement with technology, storing power was hard. Since it was exactly opposite for magic, the combination of the two would allow for those weaknesses to compensate each other, allowing new and better machines to be created.
"At least there are three families.", he said, knowing what it would mean if there were truly only one family in control of such a key technology.
Mrs. Lucia smiled bitterly, "Yes, normally that removes at least some of the problems. But sometimes they work together, especially when they clash with the imperial family and that is a problem."
Ivan couldn't agree more. For a ruling family to have someone that controlled something they desperately needed was the worst thing to happen. He just didn't know what this had to do with the other woman unless she was a member of the family or at least worked for it.
"So the reason you asked me to come is that I have the classes and don't belong to either of the families?", he guessed.
"Yes. But also the fact that you love freedom.", she admitted.
He really loved freedom, he even loved it more than his life. After his experiences, he never again wanted to be constrained by someone. Something she too had a hand in.
"But why me? There should also be many others."
She shook her head, "It's not that easy. Most people would give up their freedom in exchange for what those families could offer. Which isn't something I and my backers can provide. We don't have any blueprints for example and we don't have the knowledge that they have collected through the ages. By entering their families it is possible to increase in levels at a fast pace which isn't possible otherwise."
Ivan nodded. He understood why others would join those families. "Then how would that remove my freedom if I entered them. And what would be the difference if I joined you?"
She smiled at his question. That was the question she had waited for. The question where negotiation would begin.
"First let me tell you about what you would lose when you joined one of the family and then we can talk about what we can offer you if you join us.", she leaned forwards while speaking intensely.
"While there are many benefits for joining one of the families, for you the biggest loss would surely be that they aren't allowed to leave the separated space the specific family resides in. Only those members of the family, that aren't technomancer are allowed outside."
This was already enough for Ivan to know that he would never join one of the families if he could help it. Being locked up, even if it was something as big as a natural separate space wasn't something he could stand.
Seeing his expression of disgust, Mrs. Lucia smiled satisfied. This was the reaction she had expected and hoped for. "Do I even need to continue?", she asked.
"No. That's already enough of a deal-breaker.", Ivan responded. He knew that this was what she wanted but it was also the only reaction he could possibly have.
"Great, then let's get to what we can offer.
First of all, I want to tell you that this isn't much. You will have to depend mostly on yourself, which I'm sure is something you won't have a problem with."
She truly knew him well. If he had to depend on himself, then that would also mean that any kind of debt would be small.
"We will mostly provide money and information as well as motivation.", she continued on. "Of course, there will also be a cost, which I'm sure you already expected."
"There is nothing one could get without paying something for it.", he spoke out the sentence she had always told him.
"Exactly.", she nodded, pleased that he remembered her teachings so well.
"First of all, we want to found a company together with you, where I hold 60% of the shares while you get 40%. I will invest 50.000CP into it at the start with the option of investing up to ten million more, without a change in the shares, while you will lead the company and use it to make money and finally a rival of those families. Maybe you will even be able to get some new technomancer to joining your company instead of one of those families."
This was a great offer. There was just one thing...
"How long would I have to work at the company at least?"
"Five years. Five years at least but of course we hope that you will continue staying with it."
The answer was satisfactory. Five years wasn't that long and she would, after all, have to invest up to ten million CP into it. Of course, with him bringing the company up, there would also be a high chance of him wanting to stay in it, making this a win-win situation for both of them.
"Sounds great, so what else?", he then asked. After all her words had indicated that there was something else.
"A child with the same classes.", her answer shocked him and nearly made him spurt out the coffee he had just sipped.
"A child?"
"Yes, a child."
"With you?", he still couldn't believe what she had said.
"If you want to."
"And if I don't?"
"Then with someone else from my family."
"And your family is?"
"The imperial family."
The final answer finally managed to completely make him blank out. Sure he had his suspicions, but hearing it directly from her was still shocking. Not to mention the condition of having a child with someone from the imperial family.
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