"A class is how an individual utilizes mana in this world," Pendridge spoke unhurriedly, "Training in a class, essentially, unlocks your potential and your abilities. Simple as that."

Astoria nodded, legs folded, Tig on her shoulder, as she listened to the wolf. She had already completed her morning hunt for today. It had been a deer once more and, now, it wasn't yet time for her second hunt, and Pendridge had decided it was time for her to learn to wield her mana for battle.

"If you train to be a Mage, you unlock the ability to learn and wield spells to devastate a battlefield. It is perhaps the most versatile class of the bunch. Increase your mana circles, and you increase the ranks of the spells you can learn and the amount of mana you can wield. At the highest levels, it is possible for some mages to become physical fighters, as well. Yet, this class is also perhaps the hardest and costliest to train."

She continued listening to him intently as he stood at the mouth of the cave, the morning sun highlighting his silver-iron fur. Mage? That sounded pretty good to her. Which isekai protagonist wouldn't want to be throwing spells around?

"Train to be a Warrior, and your mana circle rotates 24/7, disregarding the ability to utilize it for anything else, but sending mana circulating through your body at all times, improving your speed, strength, stamina, senses, and defense in proportion to how many circles you have rotating. Though, however, every warrior also unlocks one 'Art' unique to themselves. A growth-type attack comparable to spells that only they can do at the cost of their mana."

Astoria threw her previous thought out of the window. Warrior? That sounded awesome. Who wouldn't want to be swinging their blade, cleaving through enemies like butter?

"The Rogue class is similar to the Warrior class in many ways, except every rogue gains the ability to utilize 'Mana Breaker' in replacement for an 'Art', an attack capable of breaking through creations of mana, including magic. However, there are yet 2 additional differences. For one, a rogue's mana circulation focuses on speed and reaction time, becoming dancers of the battlefield at the cost of every other advantage a warrior has. And for two, they also gain the ability to tame a beast with their mana, becoming capable of communicating with and owning a companion they can command. Increase your mana circles, and you increase your physical attributes as well as how strong a beast you can tame."

Astoria frowned, indecisiveness gnawing at her heart. Here was another class that sounded pretty cool too. Plus she now had Tig, so wasn't this the right class to choose? However, that also meant giving up the other two classes which sounded good in their own right. She furrowed her brows. She couldn't decide.

"So which should I choose, Pendridge?" Astoria asked, "They all sound pretty good."

Pendridge shook his head. "None of them."

"None of them?" She raised her brow. If she chose none, how would she get stronger?

"You're a Guardian Beast. Of what? I have no idea. But you are a Guardian Beast nonetheless," The wolf stated as he narrowed his eyes, "Naturally, you are able to train and utilize the systems of all three classes."

Astoria's eyes widened with glee. "Really? Really? I can be all three at once?"

"You cannot 'be all three at once'," Pendridge corrected, "You can be a 'Guardian', a class that utilizes the systems of all three. That is a distinction."

She, on the other hand, rolled her eyes. "You practically said the same thing as me but with longer words, Pendridge."

The wolf snorted in mild disdain as Tig chirped, his form slightly darker and bigger than the previous day. Astoria didn't know how, but the creature must have grown as fast as she did. Two meals and it was already 1/3rd the size of the parent she had killed. She chalked it up to him being a mutant beast.

"I shall help you advance to your class now and teach you how to train in it tonight," Pendridge spoke, "Close your eyes and follow my voice."

Astoria did as she was told and closed her eyes.

"Increase the rotating speed of your mana circle and draw on it, pushing the energy from your heart and into every vein in your body."

She did as she was told, feeling that energy at her heart and willing it to his words. She drew it and pushed it into her veins. Immediately, her body felt hot, as if it were burning up, but she maintained her calm and continued. In no time, the energy was flowing through her figure

"Now, command it to remain that way at all times."

"That simple?"

"Yes."

She did as he said and then, her mana circle continued revolving at her heart, maintaining its flow through her body as it nourished it.

"You may open your eyes now."

Astoria did as she was told, her golden eyes fluttering open.

"Do you notice anything?"

"Hmm. . ."

She stared past Pendridge's form and into the distance, then back at her hands. She folded them, then unfolded them. When she used what she had begun to term <Guardian's Sight> on herself, she could see mana just below her skin. Though the energy flowed through her veins, it strengthened every part of her, as if her body had regarded it a natural part of the blood it used to keep her alive.

"I feel stronger," She muttered, grinning. "Much stronger."

The wolf nodded, though its narrowed eyes remained on her. "Although you are only at the first mana circle, your actual physical attributes seem to be at the second. Perhaps until you reach the fifth rank, you will continue to overshadow your peers in physiology."

Astoria titled her head. "The fifth circle? Why till then?"

Pendridge scoffed. "Did you think you will have an advantage forever?"

As Astoria mildly pouted, he continued.

"At 5th circle, classes advance, new abilities are unlocked, and people become more individualized in their powers. Mages become Sorcerers, individuals who specialize towards an element of the world. Warriors become Knights, becoming capable of wielding their mana more freely. And Rogues become Beast Dancers, able to merge with and utilize their companions more effectively," He explained, "That is the same case for us Guardian Beasts. For me, my official class is 'Guardian of the Western Winds'. For you, once you reach the 5th circle, you should advance into your own. What it will be? Only time can tell."

Astoria could only nod at those worlds. Pendridge and herself had debated it many times, but neither knew what exactly she was meant to protect. If Altera birthed her from mana, the wolf had said, then it birthed her for a reason. Yet, the reason still remained unknown.

She stared at the Traveler's Mark on the back of her hand and injected a bit of her mana into it as it shined.

[Name: Astoria Pendridge

Titles: Pupil of the Guardian Beast of the Western Winds

Traveler Rank: D

Completed Quests: 1/1

Aura: Yes

Mana Circle: 1st

Class: Special]

[Witrins: 1000]

[Current Quest: None.]

"Special?" Astoria murmured immediately, frowning. "Hey, Pendridge, my Traveler's Mark updated my class to 'special' instead of Guardian? Can it not tell what class I am?"

"Naturally it cannot, your class is one of the unique classes in this world," Pendridge replied.

"What? One of? You're telling me we're not the only ones with a special class?"

"Of course not. A 'Guardian' is only one example of what is considered a 'Special Class', there are countless more out there. Some passed down through a family's lineage, some found from training methods retrieved from relics and inheritances of the old world, some discovered accidentally through training the base 3 classes, and some mutated uniquely from the bases, usually caused by the individual's Aura if they so possess one, but sometimes simply a rare occurrence. And, there are even classes specific to other races, just like us Guardians."

What? Astoria's happiness deflated slightly. Only slightly. As she pondered the fact that she didn't become super-duper-special, Pendridge had already moved on, his eyes on Tig who remained at her shoulder.

"That companion you brought will do nicely," He said, "Touch its head and inject your mana into it. Marking it as your companion should come naturally."

Astoria turned to Tig, who was already nestling its head to her cheeks. She smiled and placed a finger upon his body, a trace of her mana injecting from her and into it. She felt no obstruction as the energy made contact with its brain. The next thing she knew, she was feeling its emotions and its general thoughts. It certainly was communicating with her, though not to the degree of talking but more an instinctual link they both now shared.

"So you're a male huh, Tig?" She muttered in wonder.

The bird chirped, though his chirp had already now grown into more of a warm screech. She understood that he was happy by her side.

"Until it dies, or you release it to choose a different one, it shall remain your companion," Pendridge said. Then he turned his back to her, glancing into the outside world. "Come, let us go and test your new strength."

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