The Empires Rise

- Congratulations, you have your first oath-bound. The weight of their choices now falls on more than just their heads. Rewards: 1 Class Tome of Scout Commander, 1 Class Tome of a Noble. -

In front of both me and Shadow, we get a tome. Mine is for the Noble class. His is for the Scout Commander class. Looking at him, I see he has made a terrible mistake. One that he plans on carrying out but a mistake.

"What is going on?" Xelyphe asks.

"He has sworn his allegiance to Drake. That is what has just happened. And from the look on his face, I can see he didn't think it would be taken as seriously as he first thought." Draemish answers them with a wicked smile spread across her face. "Seems like a just punishment for a group that would backstab someone for the right coin. I would recommend having her also give you an oath." She says while pointing at Autumn.

"NO," Shadow shouts. "One is more than enough. Do you think I would do something that would jeopardize my own?"

"I have seen far more than you can think, young shifter. I have been alive for centuries. I have seen the rise of some clans only to lead to their fall because of simple things. So, of course, I would require that you both make an oath. Why would you want to not? It seems like you have received something special for making that oath." She gestures towards the tome.

"Hold on." I raise my hands in protest. "I understand your hatred for their species if that is what has happened to you in the past. But they are from a completely different world. Can you even say they do the same things in that world?"

Zul'Zara comes forward. "They be just as she said. Most of them, that is. Hard be the time to find one that be as good as this one." She points to Shadow. "I see the same from just the small tribal wars in my world. Someone be coming into another camp and be killing their leaders. I be not as harsh since that be the way of things in my world. Be wary; they still be sneaky and should not be trusted."

Looking aghast at Zul'Zara, I then turn to Autumn. "I can see more people are wary of your race than anticipated. I would like to hear your side of things. I need to know the truth, though. Can I trust that you will not harm us? Or that you will not go against the settlement?" Before she can speak, I raise my hand to continue. "If this is how things will go, I would eventually expect, when people are ready, also to be willing to come forward and swear on oath, though not as harsh as one that Shadow has said."

I can see disgruntled faces in the crowd as they murmur amongst themselves. Then I shout over them, "If you want to have one group of people swear an oath not to harm us, why shouldn't everyone? I have been here for four days." I move my hands to the four others. "Laxreal, Strauvana, Zul'Zara, and Uxa have been here for two. We only had four other companions, so it was easy to keep tabs on people. Once we get more people, it will be harder to trust each other. We are from different worlds, cultures, and life experiences. Who is to say that one group wouldn't outright fight another just because of something that has happened on their planet?"

"I will not treat one group any differently than another. If one must swear an oath, then I will have all swear an oath." My heart beats loudly in my ears as I make this proclamation. A majestic bearing flowed out of me, putting pressure on everyone around me. Some got on their knees in recognition of the feeling. Others stared open-jawed while trying to figure out what this pressure could mean.

I received another notification. This one has a golden edge.

- Mana Heart progressed to 50%. +1 Wisdom per level, +1 Constitution per level -

My Mana Heart, which has been quiet since the second day of my being here, has advanced to another degree. I am shocked at this revelation but continue exuding the pressure for a minute more.

Calming down, I look at every one. "I hope that this doesn't become an issue. But I expect that everyone has made some form of oath before a large-scale fight. I don't want to be suddenly backstabbed, as Draemish has put it. But I don't want everyone to feel like they are strangled and don't have a way out. If you can't think of an oath you want to take, give me some time, and I will devise one that is easy to do and won't limit you as much."

After getting approval from everyone, I take a look at my new item.

- Class Tome of a Noble: Upon use, acquire the class of a Noble. -

With no other information provided, I use the skill book, and a prompt flashes.

- Would you like to acquire the class of a Noble? Yes/No -

I select "Yes" when another prompt flashes in front of me.

- Are you sure you want to Receive the Noble class? Upon doing so, you cannot acquire any other special classes. Yes/No -

Once again, I select "Yes" when one last notification appears.

- You have received the special class of Noble. This class is at Level 1. To increase the level of this class, please receive more "Oaths of fielty."

Stats for Class Level: + 1 Charisma, + 1 free stat point

New Skill Learned: Leadership Level 1: When in a party, you have a 5% chance to increase damage by 1 point and healing by 1 point. -

There is another notification that I can put off to the side for right now. I see all of Uxa's people standing in front of me. I am still inundated with information about the noble class and don't fully notice what is happening around me.

Uxa takes a knee, and then shortly after, Vranjaya bows her head. They both make a vow of their own.

"I, Uxa, swear to uphold the honor of Drake Taldrit. I swear I will not harm the settlement or have any nefarious thoughts towards the settlement for as long as my sister and I are safe."

"I, Vranjaya, swear to follow and guide Drake Taldrit. I swear I will not harm the settlement or have nefarious thoughts towards the settlement. I will be the spells at his back and an advisor for as long as I still breathe."

Hearing the two different vows, a tome appears before Vranjaya after a golden flash of light with a flash of lightning happens in the world around us. A silver light shines from Uxa at the end of his oath. My interest is piqued at this point. Why did one person get a tome while the other didn't? Asking Vranjaya, "What is the reason behind your vow?"

"I sssensed a familiar presssenssse when you were releasing your arua. Assss my kind isss prone to, we will ssseek out thossse that have a ssstronger bloodline, sssimilar to our patronsss. In doing ssso, we give our allegiance to sssaid perssson in hopess that they offer sssactuary."

"Bloodline?" I ask Ritotorous.

"It would appear that you have a bloodline, " she stated. Though what kind, I don't know yet. I will find out as you figure it out as well. Though, from the pressure released earlier, I can assure you that it is powerful."

Xelyphe asks, curious that I am talking with the raven on my shoulder. "Why are you asking a raven for information? Can't you ask the system?"

"I have found that PUN isn't as forthright with information that could be useful and that we need to experience something for us to understand it personally. I have a bit of a head start as I have Ritotorous." I gesture to him. "He is acting as a guide for me and has far more information than I would have thought, though I can see we are slowly getting to the point that even he is stumped by some things."

"Can you ask him about the tomes you three have gotten?" They ask.

I look at Ritotorous, and he replies to their question. "These tomes are very rare. Usually, you wouldn't see them until you got to the small town settlement level, from my knowledge. Shadow, Vranjaya, and yourself have received tomes because, once someone has given an oath of fielty to one person that would bind them to you for a lifetime, the two that participated in the first oath receive a special class to each."

Acknowledging that I am following along, he continues. "There can only be one noble per settlement. From that one noble, three special classes go to the first person of each starting class. They are Knight Commander, Mage Commander, and Scout Commander. So far, you have two of the three. Next, the first person from the warrior class to swear a lifelong fielty to you gets the Knight Commander special class."

Looking a bit shocked at this information, I pause. "Should I inform everyone of this?" I asked him in my mind instead of out loud this time.

"I would recommend it. The reason is that once people see that there are benefits to swearing fidelity to you and the settlement, they will be able to progress faster than anticipated. Also, the attack that is bound to happen sooner or later benefits those who can increase their strength."

Agreeing with him, I inform everyone of my new class and what benefits the two will receive. I also mentioned there is still one commander spot open, but the caveat is the oath of fielty has to be one just like Shadow and Vranjaya.

Interestingly, Draemish steps forward. "If you need an oath of fielty, then I think the best option is one from each world." She says while gesturing at the other two groups of people. Before bowing her head, "I, Draemish, swear that I will be loyal and not harm the interests of the settlement. I will do my best to guide those who need it and support those in need. I will protect my new home even at the cost of my life."

Another golden light shines from Draemish, accompanied by a flash of lightning from the sky, signifying the oath is just as binding as the one Shadow provided. After which, a tome appears in front of her. She uses the book, and I can feel a connection formed. I can feel three solid bonds and a slightly lesser one. Following those, I feel my three new commanders at the end of them. At the same time, the more inferior connection leads in the direction of Uxa.

After exploring these bonds, I received several notifications. And after reading the first couple of words, I can't help but smile.