The Deviant Dominant

Chapter 1 - The Scribing

Lukas swiftly dodged to the left to avoid the tip of the pike that flashed dangerously close in front of his face. Given no time to recover, the attacking weapon abruptly changed direction seeking to swipe his legs out from underneath him. Lukas jumped backward while simultaneously jabbing one of his twin blades towards his opponent. Despite his heavy breathing and sweaty brow, he continued to push himself. The fight raged past the thirty-minute mark, without a single moment of rest.

Gemma expertly twirled out of the way. She, too, had sweat glossing her skin as she tried to hide her labored breathing. Lukas lunged forward, and Gemma danced to the right to prepare a counterblow, but this was exactly what Lukas was planning.

He jabbed with one blade forcing her to swerve while another blade swung expertly across to strike her center of gravity, Gemma's fierce brown eyes shot open in pain and desperation as she tumbled to the ground. The blunted practice weapon had broken skin but didn't drive deeper into a more critical injury.

Gemma clenched her jaw, determination flaring in her eyes. Many similar strikes had been passed back and forth over the course of the match, so she continued to remain unfazed, shifting into a defensive form in hopes of recovering. However, the momentum from dodging and parrying had twisted her around, and Lukas took advantage of her vulnerable positioning. He stuck her leg, sending her into a face-first fall into the ground. Her lightning instincts kicked in, her limbs springing up to launch a counterattack, but Lukas had already capitalized on the hit and she found herself trapped.

"Ahh!" She yelled as her fist pounded the dirt ground, frustration venting out. Lukas' recently overgrown body pinned her down and his blades were firmly planted between her shoulder blades.

Gemma facing defeat was a newer experience for her. For most of their lives, she had been taller than Lukas and she still believed that she remained stronger and faster. Only Lukas' infernal growth spurt the past couple of years started to even the field, pushing him past her six-foot-one and offering him the strength to match her blows.

After conceding the match, Gemma dug her fingers into the ground and hefted her whole body back to a standing position. The afternoon sun beat down on her bronzed body which was covered in dirt, sweat, and blood. Her zealous dedication to training had developed her into a muscled warrior and fierce competitor.

Though not known for her social prowess, Gemma dominated any physical competition. In addition to being an absolute menace with just about any weapon, Gemma was strikingly gorgeous, even with all the grime covering her. Long brunette hair cascaded down her heart-shaped face and flawless tanned skin. Her massive F-cup breasts somehow looked well-proportioned on her tall, athletic frame. The large but firm ass that was perched on top of a pair of long, toned legs clearly hinted at a rigorous workout routine.

'What a shame,' Lukas thought to himself. While the majority of the male population found her overly intimidating, Lukas was never bothered by her competitive side. Her aggravating personality, on the other hand, drove Lukas bonkers.

'Pretentious and full of arrogance,' Lukas offered to himself as he reflected on his disdain for his sparring partner, though he couldn't quite come up with a specific example of Gemma's character flaws. Gemma's lack of friends and social skills never seemed to drag her down. "I'm not wasting any effort on winning a popularity contest," she would regularly claim.

Gemma had also been quite bossy growing up, though Lukas supposed she may be starting to mature... but enough about Gemma. Lukas was exhausted and didn't want to expend any mental effort ripping apart Gemma's personality. As the only other aspiring Adventurer in their rural neck of the woods, Lukas found himself shouldering the heavy burden of spending an unfortunate amount of time with Gemma.

The potential to become an Adventurer was rare. Anyone could be Scribed, but only a select few trained hard enough to receive a class that allowed them to follow the Adventurers' path. Adventurers were tasked with fighting the monsters that lurk throughout the world and pruning the Mystic Forest. It was also a means to achieve great wealth and power. Adventurers were heralded as heroes who risked their lives to protect the innocent. Even lower-ranked Adventurers were given respect and honor wherever they went. Higher-ranked Adventurers became legends celebrated by bards and monuments.

Well-populated areas, like the capital, might produce hundreds of prospects, but out in the small town of Fernin, having two prospective adventures preparing to be Scribed was the hot news topic everyone gossiped on.

Lukas did not have it easy though. Gemma's speed and strength had always been a grueling hurdle to compete against. When they first started training together almost six years back, Gemma was unbeatable. Lukas euphemistically considered that phase of his training as 'character building,' as he didn't find much other value in being knocked down again and again.

Lukas was more committed than anyone to becoming a top-tier Adventurer, but self-doubts plagued him worse than the manic girl trying to take his head off. If he couldn't scratch out even a single victory despite all the grit and sweat he bristled through, he might not make the cut. It was dejectingly easy to feel that way when you were constantly defeated by a teenage girl who happened to be younger, just by a month.

Luckily, Cassian showed up.

***

Cassian was a traveling Scribe. Part of his stewardship included the remote town of Fernin, among other easily forgettable places. Many Scribes would avoid assignments that were so far out, assuming nothing of reputable importance would ever materialize. Cassian didn't mind, feeling his peers were remiss in their nearsightedness.

Cassian seemed to almost have a sense of where the next potential disruption could come from. Still, Fernin was quite a journey, and the sparseness of the population and prospects restricted him from visiting regularly. Over the past couple of decades, he had only visited four or five times.

As he prepared for his trip down to perform Scribing for two promising prospects, he recalled first observing Lukas and Gemma four years ago in the Fernin training grounds.

***

The training area in Fernin would be a peaceful place if not for the fierce grunts of the trainees and the clashes of their dulled training weapons. Surrounded by trees and nature, the modest training grounds felt like a sanctuary away from the rest of the world. The sun shone brightly overhead, casting warm rays on the fighters as they practiced their moves. The air was crisp and clean, with the scent of the fresh forest wafting into the area. A nearby shed held equipment and medical supplies, and some chairs and benches lined one side of the perimeter for spectators.

The hard-packed dirt and clay cracked tremor with every heavy step from the armored fighters.

Cassian's aged eyes carefully and thoughtfully tracked the movements of the boy trying to dodge the onslaught of the taller girl. After an hour of non-stop fighting and evaluation from the elderly spectator, he arose and approached the two teenagers. "Gemma, is it? I do believe the best way to describe you is... prodigy."

Gemma strained, as if actively trying to maintain perfect posture to impress an imaginary panel of judges behind the Scribe. Her face wore a stoic exterior that would not be broken even if Cassian decided to stick out his tongue and wiggle his ears.

"I have no doubt you have a bright future ahead, I look forward to returning in the coming years and witnessing what you will unlock."

Gemma remained silent, though her piercing gaze fell on the Scribe. The older man let out a friendly chuckle, not the normal response Gemma received from her intimidating demeanor. Cassian studied her face for a few more seconds and then nodded. She would certainly be a force to reckon with.

Cassian moved on to the boy, whose head hung low, eyes pointed to the ground. Cassian could almost sense the aura, the boy was ashamed to have been defeated repeatedly in front of the Scribe. No doubt that shame had been reinforced by at least a year of endlessly being overpowered by a formidable opponent. "Lukas..." the Scribe started. He paused and studied the top of the boy's head, his eyes were still fixed on the dirt ground.

"Walk with me, Lukas." And with that, the old man turned and strode into the serene forest, leaving the startled boy behind him.

"You know, Lukas," Cassian started, once the boy had scampered to catch up. "I have seen many talented young people ease their way through any friendly competition thrown their way. They are king of their own little hill. You, are not one of them... yet"

Lukas briefly met the Scribe's gaze.

"No, I can see that you are strong-willed and determined to succeed, even if it means taking on someone much stronger than yourself. That kind of courage is rare, Lukas."

"Thank you, Sir," said Lukas softly, but firmly. He was touched by the words of encouragement from the Scribe. "I'm working harder than I could ever have imagined, but I'm still scrambling to even be mildly competitive with Gemma."

"From what I've seen, if you can go blade to blade with that girl and survive a few rounds, you could still turn into a dangerous Adventurer," quipped Cassian honestly. "Struggling against that kind of power for a few years before you get Scribed will do more for you than the shortsighted mind of a teenage boy can imagine. Plus you never know, you may get the chance to overthrow the king of the hill... or in this case, I suppose it's the queen of the hill. She is certainly quite the queen."

Lukas stared into the Scribe's eyes as Cassian could almost see the gears spinning in that head of his. Cassian's stomach grumbled interrupting the pensive moment. "Hmmm, the one thing I remember from being your age is the food was always the best right after long hours of training. Let's go find something to eat," suggested Cassian.

The original plan was for Cassian to depart for Fernin the following morning. However, Cassian's instincts told him to delay for a couple of days so that he could continue mentoring the two young prospects. He got a better feel for their strengths and weaknesses, he gave them tips here and there to try out, and he dived deeper into their goals and aspirations... Well, at least the conversation with Lukas seemed to flow well and he spent hours understanding Lukas' future. Conversations with Gemma were considerably shorter, but Cassian trudged through the awkward chats regardless. She'll figure out how to make friends soon. Cassian knew it was difficult for someone in Gemma's shoes to mingle. He tried to do a little matchmaking between her and Lukas, but the two quarreled like vengeful siblings.

Cassian made the extra effort to return to Fernin a couple of years later to check up on the two prospects even though there was no Scribing to do. He was pleased to see both of them had progressed nicely, Lukas had grown and was starting to challenge Gemma. It was on that trip that Cassian even witnessed the first time Lukas bested Gemma.

***

Cassian smiled fondly as he passed through the doorway of the inn he was departing. "To Fernin then," Cassian spoke aloud to nobody in particular. The old man set off on foot, his bag slung across his shoulders. The sky was clear and blue, and the sun was shining brightly. The wind rustled through the leaves of the trees, creating a gentle melody. Birds sang cheerfully in the distance, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. The path ahead was long and winding, but Cassian was used to traveling alone. He enjoyed the ability to ponder in the solitude and the quiet of the countryside. As he walked, he took in the sights and sounds around him, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the journey.

His jovial attitude reflected his eagerness to finally Scribe Lukas and Gemma.

***

It was no longer rare for Lukas to beat Gemma, though if someone were to keep track, they might have noticed that Gemma still won the majority of the time. He was hoping to get to a consistently even record before the Scribing but alas, he might fall just a bit short.

Still, as much as he couldn't stand his counterpart, training with Gemma was undoubtedly very beneficial for him. She set a grueling pace for workout and training, Lukas couldn't afford any slacking if he had any hope of keeping up. There was never an easy match, every time he entered the training ground with her, it was more challenging than the time before. From the intense competition and the encouraging words he had gotten from the Scribe years ago, Lukas was feeling alright about his strength. His confidence had definitely grown from non-existence when he had first started.

His body had notably become more developed the past couple of years, growing to match Gemma's height then continued and gained a few inches on her. His shoulders broadened as muscles that used to possess a sinewy strength matured into an attractive, brawny shape. He had medium-length dark brown hair that swished to the side and nicely framed his square jawline. His skin tone was slightly darker than Gemma's, due to his time under the sun plus some genetics. Lukas brushed his hand across his hardened abs as if trying to loosen a faint knot of nervousness in his stomach. Other than some minor jitters, Lukas felt ready to face the Scribing.

He was also excited to see Cassian again. A fondness for his mentor had grown, even though they only had a couple of interactions together so far. Lukas' natural curiosity about the Scribing process had also grown and Cassian was the best source of information. He had perhaps spent too much time studying the different theories and possibilities. Only once or twice did he discuss it with Gemma, who promptly said, "Why worry about something that is out of your control? Your effort would be more productive in figuring out how to beat me." It was as if she rehearsed it or something.

But was the Scribing really completely out of his control? Lukas tended to disagree with such theories. From the meager literature available in Fernin and the hundreds of questions he had thrown at Cassian over the years, Lukas knew that Scribing was the process of granting individuals a profile of a class, with its accompanying stats and skills. Scribing usually happened in the late teens, Lukas had been eighteen for a few months and Gemma just turned eighteen. They were mainly restricted by when the Scribe showed up, but he was confident Cassian would know the right time.

For Adventurers, there were four main stats that made up the core of adventures: Strength, Agility, Mentality, and Vigor. Other sub-stats were usually derived from the main stats, for example, Strength and Agility affected your physical damage, Mentality and Vigor combined to determine your Mana.

Based on Lukas' research, the average Adventurer generally started with stats in the teens and then they could gradually grow them by gaining experience. A good Adventurer might have a stat in the twenties to start out. In some rare cases, two or possibly more stats could be in the twenties. Lukas had hopeful suspicions that Gemma might have two stats in the twenties -- hopeful because then he wouldn't feel so bad about getting his ass kicked so many times.

A favorable Scribing might make Gemma's pride even more insufferable, but Lukas had already concluded that it was inevitable. Nobody knew exactly what their stats were going to be until Scribing, Lukas just enjoyed speculating a little too much.

The class was the part that inundated Lukas the most. Even after all of his hard training, it was still possible that he could be given a non-Adventurer class. The class assigned at Scribing plays a key role in determining the skills he would acquire, and would also determine how he might fit into a future team.

He would receive both a general class and a main class. Common general classes were brawler, ranger, rogue, and mage. Lukas was hoping for a brawler, a hope that Gemma shared as well. Within the brawler class, your main class could be a tank, berserker, or knight. There could be some unique ones, but he would be happy with any of the main classes that were available to a brawler.

The class would determine what skills an Adventure would get. Lukas knew it was standard to get four skills, though, only two are unlocked at level one. The first two will likely be a passive skill and a triggered skill, and then the Adventurer can unlock an additional triggered skill and, finally, the Ultimate.

Adventurer profiles were generally not freely shared, so it was difficult to dive beyond the basics, but Lukas knew he at least was better informed than Gemma. He was hoping the Scribing would finally give him an advantage over his longtime frenemy.

So when a familiar elderly man strolled out of the forest along a path into town carrying with him the skill to Scribe their futures, Lukas felt both relieved and anxious about the next stage of his life that was moments away from starting.

***

Cassian took a deep breath in as he studied the ceiling of the temple. He had arrived in Fernin earlier that morning to a very eager town. There was a special energy coming from the two young adults as they prepared to be Scribed. He was encouraged to see that even Gemma was uncharacteristically giddy.

He was more than a little wary from his long travels, but he pushed forward with preparations knowing the anxiety that the two prospects were feeling. It would be distasteful to ask them to sleep through the night and wait until the following morning to be Scribed, even if waiting an extra day was common practice among other Scribes. Leniency in tradition was a benefit that he could give working so far away from civilization and bureaucracy.

He rose and approached the door. Outside many of the townspeople had gathered to witness the Scribing. Class information was customarily sensitive and not openly shared, but he had seen many young, newly minted Adventurers burst out details into the excited crowd following a Scribing. Oh, to be young again.

He stepped outside and scanned the crowd. The townsfolk were mostly dressed in simple clothing, with a few wearing more elaborate attire. They were all staring intently at him, waiting for him to begin. Cassian cleared his throat and began to speak. "Good afternoon, citizens of Fernin. I'm always impressed by your hospitality. No one can match the fruit pies of Fernin and I must confess that is a secret that I do not widely share with my colleagues in the capital." The crowd gave Cassian a laugh, some of them may have been obligatory, but Cassian smiled and continued. "Enough about food -- for now -- I believe it is time to start Scribing!" he announced loudly. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.

Cassian smiled and continued speaking. "Now, before we begin, I must remind you that the process of Scribing is sacred and confidential. We will not be discussing any details of the Scribing or the Adventurers' profiles. Is that understood?" Cassian gave a knowing smirk to the two prospects who were waiting on the steps of the temple. The audience nodded and quieted down. Cassian motioned towards the statuesque young women and cheerfully beckoned. "Are you ready to begin?"

"Yes, sir," Gemma replied.

Cassian nodded and led the way inside, leaving the crowd of townspeople and Lukas behind. He gestured for Gemma to sit down in front of him, and then began the Scribing ritual.

He took her hands and mentally triggered his Scribing skill. The process was not too long, but to the prospects, he was sure it felt like hours. Scribing was not a painful process, but there was a strange tingle that accompanied the reveal, as if someone was combing over every corner of your soul. Finally, the mental image began to materialize, and the profile became clear, to him and to the new Adventurer.