Chapter 1293 (1/2)

The consequences of failure were intimidating, but to Derek, he was suddenly very clear that the consequences of inaction were equally horrible. Because crystalizing his desire gave him direction where burying the fear had just filled him with hesitation. It was all to protect Tim. And to accomplish that, Derek would do anything and everything in his power. He would not flinch.

“I want to evolve my Class,” Derek said quietly. He felt somewhat embarrassed to be so easily led around by a teenager, but he suppressed that feeling.

Nathan grinned at him. “Great. I’ll take care of the details, just focus on that determination that you’ve found. Think about your son and your relationship. Don’t worry about avoiding painful memories; as long as you resolve is there, it will all be incorporated into the final form.”

So Derek began to think of his time with Tim since the System had arrived. He remembered how he had sobbed on a torn brown couch in the dark when Tim’s mother died. He remembered the hurt in Tim’s eyes when he had come to see the principle due to the incident with Lucy Rowel-

“Uh…” Derek was pulled from his thoughts as he noticed that there abruptly several thick tendrils of emerald moss sprits streaming into the room and drifting slowly around him like he had been teleported into a verdant snow globe. “Are these… usual…?”

Obviously Derek had seen the moss spirits in the few days he had spent in and around the Order Ducis training facilities but rarely had he seen them appear so suddenly. They generally assisted with commerce or drifted lazily around. So to see them in such numbers so suddenly seemed extremely strange. Yet Derek did suppose he had spent most of the day distracted by the tests of the Order Ducis.

There was a definite gleam in Nathan’s eyes that Derek noticed, but the teenager waved his hand rather carelessly. “I wouldn’t worry about it, think of their presence as good luck. Just keep concentrating.”

So Derek could only close his eyes and continue to think about his son.

He remembered how pruned and red Tim’s face had been the day he had been born. In terms of babies, he was one of the ugliest Derek had ever seen. Crying and wailing in his mother’s arms, he was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Derek thought about Tim’s shy lies when he had brought back plump and ripe vegetables from his foraging on their journey to Kharon. He thought about the light in Tim’s eyes as he had played with the moss spirits and eaten fried chicken on a stick last night on the streets of Kharon. He thought about Tim a few years ago trying to make pancakes and doing it perfectly, because he had ‘watched mom do it so much.’

Derek thought about how lucky he was.

Warning, an unexpected error regarding your Class-

Recalculating-

Warning, without sufficient energy, this process might result in death. Please see your nearest Village Spirit-

Recalculating-

This is to protect Tim, Derek thought steadily. And he felt something inside of him shift in response.

Congratulations! Your Class Sylvan Archer has evolved into Bombardier of the Sacred Grove! Your Level up gains have changed to reflect your new Class!

Congratulations! You have received the class of Bombardier of the Sacred Grove. You have gained the Skill Unstable Sphere (A) Lvl 1. You have received the skill Aura of Photosynthesis (R) Lvl 1. You have received the skill Blessing of Nature (Un) Lvl 1. +16 Health per Level, +11 Mana Per Level, +5 Stamina per level. +5 End, Perception, or Int per level (these points may be distributed between 2), +2 Focus per level. +10 free stats per Level.

Your Skill Survival Instincts (Un) has evolved into Wisdom of the Leylines (Ru)! Skill Level will be maintained.

Your Skill Eagle Eye has evolved to Discerning Gaze (Un)! Skill Level will be maintained.

Your Skill Adrenaline Rush has evolved to Bestial Surge (R)! Skill Level will be maintained.

Seeing so many changes occur and feeling how… natural it all felt, Derek couldn’t resist opening his eyes. And what he found was that he was now standing in a veritable storm of emerald moss spirits. They whipped wildly around him, rustling the lighter objects in the room with the speed of their rotation.

And there, standing deep in the current of emerald energy, Nathan continued to grin at Derek. There was genuine pleasure in his expression.

“Feels natural, right? Now, it’s time to get you a Fate.”

*****