There are 12 paths to divinity, that is a truth known to everyone, uncontested.
A religious dogma.
They are:
•Storm, the wielders of wind and lightning
•Flood, those who govern the waters
•Law, the pillars that rule over humanity
•Disorder, the corrupters of humanity
•Sun, the embodiment of fire and light
•Moon, the manifestation of ice and shadows
•Prosperity, the keepers of nature
•War, the incarnation of violence and strength
•Creation, that pave the way for legends
•Love, the masters of beauty and mind
•Connection, to unite everyone
•Wisdom, to elevate everyone;
Once you reach the age of 17, the chance to connect to the System is granted to all and based on your upbringing, one to three of these path are made available to you.
These path of power are not exactly a cheat anyway. Once you chose, you start as a Walker, and we know there are a total of nine stages, but we are only aware of the first 4, at least that's what the masses know: Walker, Runner, Trailer, Pathfinder.
I have my doubts, but who am I to inquire?
Either way. It doesn't matter whether you are rich, poor, a star child or the carpenter's kid next door.
Everyone is made to choose.
Of course each of these path has their own sub-domains and only the purest of blood can give you the opportunity to chose directly one of those 12 paths.
So… at the end of the day, classism is still very much a thing.
Families built with purpose and pride, selecting heirs and in-laws with the utmost care and clearly, treating everyone else like disgusting insects.
There is no one with a speck of brain that doesn't know this, but the world still wants to keep up appearances, after all: equality and freedom are needed to keep the population happy.
Even if that equality and freedom may be nothing but fiction.
One must believe! Right?
Believe in the opportunity to rise, to protect those they love and so on and so forth…
Idiots.
And how do you keep the masses from knocking on your door?
Easy, at 17 and one day, you are to report to your town hall and give them the details of your choice. Sure, you can lie since nobody can really check on your system… someone from the path of Law could, but they usually don't mingle too much.
The report is actually nice, they don't ask too much, just: Name, Path, sub-path.
Once this is done in a couple of weeks they send you to one of the academies around the world to nurture your talent and if you really are talented you may even enter one of the 10 big guild! (Obviously ruled by the families with pure bloodline)
Why 10 and not 12? Well, the family belonging to the path of Law really only works in politics, they don't officially rule the world, since that would endanger the already weak balance between the 12 families, but they do have their fingers in every possible pot.
As for the 12th path, that is where you end up if you're not talented or generally a psycho.
Military conscription.
Yes, the path of War is, unironically, at war. Against who? I'm not really sure, we commoners are only told we are fighting against "the forces beyond" as if that was the most logical explanation there could possibly be.
Now, I know that's not all there is to it, but what could a poor boy, with no family, no connection, no work and money really do?
Nothing.
I finish my school day, go to the school library, study literally everything there is to study and hope for the best on my birthday.
The best I'm hoping for? Why of course, something in the path of prosperity!
At least that way I could work for the world government in a farm or something of the sorts!
Fighting monsters? Nope!
Fighting wars? Nope!
Fighting people? Nope!
Give me a pot of land, some seeds and let me farm. I don't even need money, just let me keep enough food for myself.
But where is the glory?
Why should I care? Honestly, what could I even do with glory? An orphan of dubious origins, literally unspoken to since the day I left the orphanage. Even the teachers avoid me.
So I don't really need all that shit.
I just want to survive.
Live a fancy life in the guilds? I've long lost that delusion.
How?
See, I've been the top student of my school since the day I enrolled, but since there are people with a mightier status than me, I've been directly removed from the rankings.
We can't have the son of whatever branch of whatever main family be second to some nobody.
Hence, I'm good.
Really, forget me, just let me live.
But what about a partner to share your life with?
Well, you tell me: in a society where blood is the most important thing, why should literally anyone choose me?
Yes, exactly.
Now with all these facts unveiled in the open, how the fuck do I explain this?
[Welcome to World System]
[from today you are officially a Walker!]
[chose your path:]
•the thirteenth Path: Error.