I woke up to the rays of the sun dancing across my eyelids from the wooden shutters. For a blissful moment all was right in the world and my most pressing concern was the rapidly approaching need to relieve myself and get on with the daily chores.
Alas, it could not last and the previous day's happening came flooding back. Getting in line to the temple with my brother, having the cutest boy in town smile at me and than finally receiving my class with the priest.
The single most horrible moment of my life.
Where I had become a [prostitute].
Where I had engaged in a sordid act with the local priest, using my mouth to please his member.
I shivered as I slipped into a blue dress that brought out my eyes; just thinking about it brought a bitter taste to my lips. The worst part was that it wasn't an entirely unpleasant taste, bringing an unbidden ache to my loins.
Furiously, I tamped down on those feelings; I refused to be some whore. No matter what my class wanted me to be. Not everyone followed their class; maybe I could even get it changed if I worked hard enough.
Determined to defy the goddess' will I stomped out to the main room of our little house where a hearty breakfast of steaming porridge lay waiting. My little brother had the appearance of a squirrel as he tried to stuff as much porridge in his mouth without swallowing. My mother was already hard at work in the corner stitching some floral designs into a dress.
Watching any high level craftswomen work was an experience, they have the skills to do in a matter of minutes what should have taken hours. On top of this as one advanced their class more and more, people begin to pick up more unique skills; such as a weaponsmith's swords retaining an edge far beyond what should have been possible.
In my mothers case, a level 32 [Floral Seamstress], her hands a blur as a startlingly lifelike rose rapidly appeared on the dress. I knew from experience that the dress would even smell like roses, as my mother had a skill to make her works emit the odors of the flowers stitched upon them. For that single skill alone my mother was a highly sought after seamstress among the local women.
My skills on the other hand were next to useless. They were all designed to aid me in being more promiscuous, which I didn't want. [Birth Control], [Sexual Illness Immunity] and [Gag-Reflex Control] all seemed to make having sex safer as I couldn't get pregnant or sick unless I wanted to.
But I didn't really understand what [See My Worth] did, the name wasn't very clear, but I thought it was an active skill, meaning I had to consciously use it, unlike the others. Maybe it made me appear more attractive? Whatever the case I didn't know and didn't plan on finding out, resolute as I was in defying my class.
"Honey, could you fetch some water from the well? I'll need some to wash up later"
I startled out of my thoughts as my mother called out to me.
"Of course!" I responded, a false smile on my face. I had been too ashamed to tell anyone my class the previous evening. My parents clearly understood that it wasn't something desirable, but had let me have my peace to work it out myself. Will on the otherhand...
"I bet your a [Thief]!"
I stumbled as I got up from finishing my breakfast, giving the little rat a glare.
"I am not a thief! What would I even do to get stuck with that!"
"Dunno, but it would be sooo cool! Davy said high level ones can pick yer pocket without even touching you!"
Luckily my mother stepped in before he could go any further.
"Stop being a brat Will! She'll tell us when she's ready,"
But than she turned towards me, with a concerned smile.
"Although if it
is
something like [Thief], it wouldn't be the end of the world. You can turn practically any class into a use for good. I heard thieves can advance their class into stuff like [Juggler] or [Assesor] in the city."
"I-I'll keep that in mind"
Eager to get away from their prying questions, I quickly dashed out the door with an empty bucket.
As well meaning as my mother's advice was, I couldn't see how it could help my situation. A [prostitute's] skills simply overlap with anything else, like how [thief's] quick hands could help them become a [Juggler]. My Skills were all geared toward one and only one thing, sex.
My pace slowed as I gained some distance from my house and glanced around the village as it woke up for the morning. There wasn't much going on yet in the early hours of the morning, mainly other girls fetching water or heading to the market square where a travelling caravan had set up shop. The local [blacksmith] was also up, furiously swinging his hammer with Skill enhanced blows. He glanced up as I passed by.
"Mornin Elly"
"Good morning mister Smith!"
I gave him a grin as I passed, many of the local girls had a crush on the unwed blacksmith with his bulging muscles and sturdy frame, I was no exception. I had to forcibly avert my eyes from the arms glistening in the morning sun to his handsome face. Except, I blushed as I noticed his eyes were straying lower than they normally did.
"You know it gets lonely some nights living on my own like this, I could use some company if your looking for work"
I tripped. My brain stuttering to a stop as his words reached my ears. The ground rushing up to meet me.
"I'm sorry!?" I managed to gasp as I sprawled on the ground.
The smith had already rushed over to give me an arm up.
"Are you okay?"
"Ye-Yeah, I'm fine. W-what did you mean by "looking for work"?"
"I heard about your class when the Ol'Henry posted them this morning an thought to myself I better see what she's got!"
I blanched as he explained. I'd totally forgotten about the class postings, they were officially to help people look for new apprentices with suitable classes and unofficially to give the village new gossip on all the new classes.
I'd hoped to keep my class a secret as I figured out some way of advancing it without selling my body. I couldn't help but get angry at the priest for not omitting me.
"I'm sorry mister Smith, b-but I'm not for sale."
His face fell at my words.
"That's a shame, let me know if you change your mind. I've just been thinking about you for awhile, your really pretty y'know, even thought about asking yer da for your hand in marriage."
I blinked at that and than felt my face turn red hot as his words registered. Hearing that the blacksmith, the most eligible bachelor in the entire village wanted to marry me filled me with elation. Maybe, I wouldn't have to advance my class at all with him at my side. I also noticed he still had hold of my arm from when he'd helped me up, my skin broke out into a sweat.
"You really think so? You'd want me as your wife?"
I couldn't help the note of hope from entering my voice. Which was quickly dashed.
"Well not anymore, couldn't have it be known that my wife is sleeping with other men!"
A mix of horror and fury swept threw me as I wrenched my arm from his grasp.
"I am not a whore!" I hissed, " I will not be selling myself to anyone, least of all you!"
The smith only chuckled at my words. Then as I stomped away I felt a pinch on my rear.
"Sure you won't, why else would the goddess have made you a [prostitute]. It's what you are!" He called after me. "Just remember my bed's open for your sweet ass anytime!"
Humiliated, my face as hot as his forge, I fast-walked the rest of the way towards the well.
It was only now that Mr. Smith had clued me in that I noticed all the stares as stumbled to the well. The men with lecherous eyes, openly imagining what lay beneath my jasmine scented dress, and the women judging me for acts I had never done.
My worst nightmare had come true, everyone knew that I was a [prostitute] and would only think of that when they saw me. No one would ever see Elly Souster again, only Elly the Whore. Every interaction would forevermore be tainted by my class. I dreaded the moment my family found out.
The whispers reached my ears as I reached the well and frantically began to fill my bucket up.
"Did you hear what Elly's class is! She's a [prostitute]!"
"No- little Elly? She's always been sweet as an angel!"
"Its true! Swear by my levels! The priest posted it this morning!"
"I heard she let Ol'Henry have his way with her before she got her class!"
"Yeah! My brother told me she offered herself to him at the solstice festival. Then when he refused she turned and asked Greg right there!"
"Not surprising honestly, she's always pranced around in her mothers dress's"
"By the goddess, her ma and da must be so ashamed!"
And on it went, the rumours spreading like wildfire, true or not everyone would think I was a slut who deserved the class she got.
Suddenly I couldn't take it anymore. I dropped my bucket and ran from the horrible lies and judgmental whispers. My vision blurred as I ran into the forest away from everyone.
I ran until I collapsed in a clearing, sobs wracking my thin frame. Everything was ruined!
I don't know how long I sat there, unable to bring myself to head back to the village and face the stares again.
"Elly! What's wrong?"
A voice startled me out of my misery. Glancing up I saw the dashing figure of Tom Miller, the [Millwright]'s son.
"T-Tom! I didn't see you there."
He sat down beside me, letting out a great big sigh.
"Not surprised," he paused, "I heard about your class."
I sniffled and tried to brush the tears from me eyes.
"My life's over, everyone thinks I'm a slut! But I'm not! I've never even kissed somebody!"
I covered my face with my hands.
"It doesn't even matter, all they see is my class!"