[ WP ] life is an rpg where everyone finds out their class at age 18. Business owners start as level 1 merchants , police and military as level 1 guards/fighters , ect . When you turn 18 , you discover you are the first level 1 wizard in over 1000 years .

My mom had been a priest, and a pretty good one at that. She had met dad during a bust in the Lower Circles; him still a rookie in the Order Force at 22 ( ca n't remember his level ), she already a level 10 by the age of 23. The higher ranked priests all had said that her powers were prodigal and a lot were vying for her hand. That she chose my father over them was something none had understood. For her, the choice had been simple: mary someone who had only eyes for the progeny that it would probably produce, not so much as flinching about the age difference, or be at the side of the rookie who had saved her life that night. That he leveled up by two was attractive of course, but this had been one of those `` love at first save'' things. It would n't surprise me if dad were a knight in a former life or something... 
 
 But that was years ago. I always was a bad sleeper and had heard the discussion that one fateful night. 
 
 `` I need to honey. The Covenant wants me to investigate this; they were pretty decisive over it.'' 
 
 `` I know... but I ca n't understand why this is a solo thing. The Covenant *never* sends it's priests out alone, without Order protection, and now all of the sudden solo missions are becoming the new standard? How can they keep that up with all the disappearances lately? This is insane...'' 
 
 `` It'll be alright honey, I'm the best they have to offer out there on the streets and all those that have disappeared were lower than 20 anyway. I'll be fine...'' 
 
 But I had heard the doubt in her voice and the anger in my dad's. This was not a normal thing. 
 
 I always was a bad sleeper. Seeing my dad walk up to the front door with a piece of robe made it only worse... 
 
 It took years of the best Psych 30's to put my mind to ease. The Covenant, even though they loathed us for being raised outside the Cathedral Campus, made sure that myself and Aurora would be taken care of. And, of course, to see if Priest blood ran through our veins. No luck for them, though: Aurora was Leveled as a Strategian at her 18th birthday ( dad was so proud ), and even though I'm standing here next in line to find out what the heck I would become, I doubted it would be a priest. The last few years had been tough, but I would make dad proud, no matter what. 
 
 `` Merlin Ambrosius?'' The clerk had a really droning voice. I had almost missed it, because the old hag at the desk had been piping out names as if it were fed through a conveyor belt. I shuffled to her and as a reward for my `` yes'', I got a heavy pile of paper in return. `` Your Leveler will await you in Room 25. Please fill out the forms first and deposit them in the box at office 12 to your left. **NEXT! ALEX MACEDON**'' 
 
 The filling of the forms took me the whole of an hour. As I looked around a bit in office 12, I noticed that some of the kids had brought one or both of their parents. Dad could n't make it today; the Order Force was swamped with work. Aurora could n't help me either, seeing as the Strategical Command was busy planning a new campaign of which she could n't speak to us; NDA's are stupid. After I deposited the forms in the box, I crossed the hallway to the Leveler rooms. I peeked inside and was greeted by a warm face. `` Please, come in, have a seat!'' The Leveler wore a pretty standard uniform, with the zipper opened up just a little bit so that I could catch a glimpse of her not unimpressive buxom. Must be my imagination... 
 
 Still, as I sat down, something felt... *off*. `` Is something wrong, dear? There's nothing to be afraid off. Shall we review your forms?'' That's odd. I had just deposited them in a box almost half a building away right? And what's that smell? In the meantime, the Leveler had started walking around, reading through the forms. `` So, you've been a bad sleeper I see. Headaches as well. Perhaps you're an artist? With all the ideas finding no way out of your head... Do you want to do something for me?'' I nodded meekly. She sat back down and shoved a piece of paper and a pencil to me. `` Can you draw something for me? It does n't matter what. Just what pops into your mind.'' I shrugged and started drawing. Well, she could be right. I had always been a good drawer. After a few minutes, I had produced a pretty good image of a forest with a lake in it. As an afterthought, I added a shimmering in the center. Because I could, mainly. The woman had been taping her fingers all the time; it worked on my senses. I laid down the pencil and shoved the paper back. She glanced over it and nodded slightly. She stood up again and walked around to behind me. `` I guess you really do n't know what you are, do n't you, *Merlin*.'' The voice had started to change and I had the feeling my blood had frozen. It was then that I noticed a hand behind the desk. `` Luckily, **we** d*thud*''. Confused I turned around. `` What do you mean... Dad! What are you doing here!'' 
 
 My dad stood in the door opening, and boy he was angry. The woman lay in front of him... well, if you could still call it a woman, that is. Her face was completely distorted and she looked... *evil*. `` Grab your stuff and come with me. There's a lot I have to explain, but not now and most certainly not here. Try to act normal and do n't do any sudden things.'' He shoved the body a bit more inside and closed the doors behind us. The trip out of the building was weird. I had a feeling as if I could hear everybody around me, at times even as if it was my father's voice; but he was walking in front of me and did n't say a thing! When we approached the door, a security guard ( level 4 for three years, unmotivated, currently at 240EX, 260EX needed to level to 5 ) stepped in front of us. `` Is everything all right, officer?'' My dad, with his level 55 since six days with a specialty in Persuasion, put up a smile. `` Nothing wrong, guard. My son has just been Leveled as an Artist and I took the day off to congratulate him personally. Is n't that right?'' The guard's Doubt had risen substantially and I realized I only needed so much to tip him over. `` Yeah, it's awesome. Hey, if you want, I can make a portret of you when I've leveled up a bit?'' The poor guard's EX dropped by a point from all the Persuasion fired at him, and he took a step to the side. `` Oh... Well... I think that would be great? Eh... Enjoy your day!'' 
 
 Outside on the patio, I saw a Strategic Command car waiting for us, with my sister in it. Wow, so much progress she had made in the past three years. Being a Level 8 Strategian at 22 really was something; she must've inherited that from dad. Her expertise in Wit was something from mom though. We stepped in and I said a subdued `` hi'' to her. She looked in the mirror and gave me a wink, while motioning that we should n't speak. After we had driven home and walked inside, the both of them locked everything up and took me to the basement. They sat me down, Aurora poured in a cup of tea and gave it to me. Her first question, after all these weird things, surprised me. `` What level am I, what is my expertise, how many EX do I have to go until I reach my next level and what is your projection on when I will reach it?'' Without much thought, it all rolled out. `` You're a level 8 Strategian with an expertise in Wit, you're currently at 380EX and if you keep kicking ass the way you do now, you'll reach it within a month or so... I guess...'' 
 
 My dad and Aurora both nodded to each other. Dad opened up a hatch and pried a little box out of it. My eyes widened. I knew what was in it. I mean, I did n't, but I knew. He unlocked it and gave the box to me. `` Your mother always was the one to keep looking to the future. We had a suspicion when you were born, but were n't sure about it. When your sister was born, a great aurora lighted up the sky, and we knew how we had to name her. Natural phenomena during a child's birth are not so rare, but for an animal to stay during birth is special. The merlin had been sitting there very patiently and when he saw that you were a healthy baby boy, he had let out a single squawk before flying away. We knew something about you would be special, but this... We did n't dare hoping for it.'' When they saw my confused looks, Aurora nodded to the box. `` Open it up, silly. But I bet you already know what it is.'' And I did. The staff was intricate and old, but it did not feel that way. It gave off a surprising warmth and it made my blood tingle a bit. My dad had a small smile on his face. `` Merlin, this is your mother's legacy. This is what she wanted to prepare you for. And this is why you are in grave danger.'' `` OK dad, seriously, if you do n't stop confusing me...'' 
 
 `` You're a wizard, Merlin. And The Covenant ca n't wait to kill you.'' 
 
 ***** 
 
 As always, these kinds of stories are fun! If there's interest I'll write a follow up. [ Check out the rest of my stories at my personal sub! ] ( https: //www.reddit.com/r/TheAlcove )
