Once unleashed, his spirit could no longer be contained.
“A MIRACLE! A MIRACLE! A MIRACLE!” He drew a deep breath and thrust his remaining hand to the sky. “A MIIIIIIRRAAAAAAAA—”
The others watched with wide eyes as Beyn became more and more red and his voice higher and higher in pitch until the priest’s eyes rolled back in his head and he fainted. Brother Thomas leapt to catch the fallen clergyman’s head before it cracked into the stone floor as several others stepped forward with expert timing to lower their leader. With long, practised precision, they rolled him onto his side and made space to allow him to breathe as they patiently waited.
After a few minutes, Beyn regained consciousness and sat up, causing his head to spin.
“I’m sorry, everyone, I’ve disgraced myself again.”
The others frantically waved their hands to indicate he shouldn’t worry about it. Beyn accepted their feelings with gratitude and tried to speak once more.
“We have witnessed something… very special here today. I can tell you that as someone trained in this knowledge. It can only be said that our powerful desire to aid the colony, combined with our fervour, has been recognised by the System itself and given us a path forward. Let us commune and confirm the details of our new Class.”
For the next few minutes, the flock spoke in hushed tones, unwilling to lose themselves to emotion at this critical juncture. Together, they were able to make note of the abilities their new class gave them and check to see that they were all identical.
The name of the Class: Antmancer!
It suggested to Beyn that it was a type of mage or support class, specialising in ants somehow. The stat gain per Level was an interesting blend of three main stats rather than the high priority given to two that most classes experienced.
Per Level, +2 Toughness, +2 Cunning, and +3 Will. A gain of seven stats was more than respectable. Beyn could only think this was the power of a newly formed Class. The stat gain was an important clue to its purpose, Beyn knew as much. It was a signpost. Even without considering the Skills that were gained, he could tell this would be a mental-focused class that required endurance. Toughness and Will, the defensive pair, were emphasised here. The Cunning would provide power to their Skills.
The all-important Skills. It took some time for the group to whisper to each other before they were confident they understood all that the System was telling them. The Core Class Skill was a magical passive that allowed them to understand pheromones at rank one. Beyn told the group he thought it highly likely that as they ranked up the Skill, it would allow them to communicate back. To produce pheromones of their own, through Mana, and speak with the ants as easily as they spoke to other humans.
Each of them only received one other Skill upon accepting the class: Formica Sapiens Inspiration. By utilising it, they would be able to provide powerful bonuses to both ants and other humans. Once they’d confirmed the description, the nature of this glorious happening became clearer to the one-armed priest.
Their purpose was made yet more clear. They were to be the bridge between the ants and those around them. They would allow the humans of Renewal to fight alongside the colony, for only when they battled alongside both would the Antmancers Level.
“We must prepare,” Beyn whispered, “for the crusade.”
106. A New Way, Part 4
Enid was tired, yet energised. She found herself constantly in this state as of late. There were never enough hours in the day for all the things that needed to be done, which meant she was constantly on the run. Difficult for a woman of her age. At the same time, she was enthused to rise to the challenges of her new home.
From the tragedy that Garralosh inflicted on the people living on the frontier, they had brought about a miracle of rebirth with the help of the colony. The town of Renewal grew at a pace that could only be described as dizzying. They’d been able to grow a new community so quickly, and with such harmony! If someone had told her how well the people would do when they started, she’d have refused to believe it.
She’d returned to the community after negotiations had been completed with the representatives of Rylleh. They’d bargained as hard as any merchant in the end, a testament to what people with their backs against the wall were capable of. With the threat of the colony behind her, though, there was little they could do to enforce their bluster. The terms were settled to the satisfaction of the nest and, for the most part, the city was satisfied.
“Mayor,” a voice called her back to the present.
Enid turned to see her assistant, Ruth, approach, a rather worried expression on her face. Usually a steady young woman, it was a rare day that she looked so unsettled. Enid could immediately guess the root of the problem.
“What’s he done this time?” she sighed.
How the hell that damnable priest managed to screw something up so quickly, she could only imagine. When she’d checked on him yesterday, he was still convalescing from his Mana poisoning. He should be barely out of bed!
“He and the faithful have gathered in the square, he’s really preaching up a storm down there.”
“Sounds like normal behaviour to me. What’s the issue?”
Ruth hesitated.
“It’s just… some of the claims being made are quite extraordinary. The crowd is really being whipped into a frenzy. Half of Renewal is down there already.”
“What? What are they saying?”
In the square, a large crowd had gathered to listen as the priest spoke of the miracle that occurred, his booming voice captivating the attention of everyone who heard it.
“THE TIME HAS COME!” he orated. “TO RISE! TO STEP FORWARD AND BE COUNTED! OUR SAVIOURS, THE COLONY, BATTLE FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL BENEATH THE GROUND. THEY SAVED OUR LIVES, REBUILT OUR HOPES AND DREAMS, AND GAVE HOPE TO THOSE WHO HAD NONE!”
He took a breath before he continued with even greater fervour than before.
“I KNOW HOW YOU HAVE FELT! TO STAND ON THE SIDELINE, POWERLESS TO GIVE AID! I TOO, HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT CRUSHING DISAPPOINTMENT. NO LONGER! THE SYSTEM HAS HEARD THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL AND OUR PATIENCE HAS BEEN REWARDED!”
Beyn was never more in his element than when addressing a crowd. His Skills in this area were high Level, and more than that, his experience over years of delivering fiery sermons had honed his instincts to a fine point. He could already sense the restless energy building in his audience, getting ready to reach a fine crescendo.
“WITH OUR NEW CLASS, THE ANTMANCER, GRANTED TO US ON THIS VERY DAY, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH OUR ANT SAVIOURS AND REPAY OUR DEBTS!”
The rumbling in the crowd grew stronger as he continued to exhort them with this great miracle. Beyn possessed a stellar reputation for honesty and good dealings within the community, there were none who would doubt his word. Even in matters of the colony, he was strictly factual—according to his worldview. It’s not like he had to make things up to impress on people the good works of the colony.
“REMEMBER, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!” He thrust forward an accusatory finger. “THE PEACE YOU EXPERIENCE NOW, A PEACE THAT THE COLONY FOUGHT AND DIED TO ACHIEVE, IS FALSE! EVEN NOW, THE WAR CONTINUES BENEATH OUR FEET!”
Some in the crowd shifted at his words. Love for the colony was strong amongst these people, they weren’t happy that their saviours were forced to fight whilst they themselves were powerless to help.