Seeing Zhao Xu's puzzled expression, Archbishop Sosi gently set down his glazed porcelain cup. "You don't actually think it was just luck, do you?"
Zhao Xu decisively shook his head. Only an idiot would admit that he was special.
"Relax." Archbishop Sosi seemed to notice Zhao Xu's wariness and tried to reassure him.
"Don't mind it. He was in my class back then, but he lacked the talent and could only become a Cleric, while I successfully advanced to become a Nine-Ring Mage," Rayne added.
A Nine-Ring Mage was a Wizard of at least level 17, capable of casting ninth-level spells. The name came from the number of rings on their badge.
Zhao Xu turned to look at Archbishop Sosi, who was already nearing old age, silver threaded through his hair.
Then he looked at Rayne, who was only in his early thirties. He could not help sighing inwardly. Sure enough, high-level Clerics could not extend their lives as freely as Wizards could.
But then again, to those devout Clerics, reaching the Divine Kingdom where their deity dwelled earlier, living eternally alongside their deity, or even ascending into angels, was probably the better choice.
"Actually, your situation is a Cleric variant," Archbishop Sosi said.
At the mention of a variant, Rayne could not help glancing at Zhao Xu.
"The Monastic Priest you mentioned?" Zhao Xu asked quietly.
"That's right. Everything in Arthur follows its own course. Your advancement path has been guided toward that of a Monastic Priest. It isn't as simple as merely gaining an extra domain."
"Is there a cost?" Zhao Xu continued.
Having gained an ability like Mindful Caster, he had long understood that additional abilities never came for free.
The potential a class could draw upon in advance was limited. If more was allocated to one