They were the first to get up for breakfast, the country life leading to earlier mornings than in the city. They ate breakfast in the common room, some fluffy pastry made of grilled dough with squares and covered in honey Nero never had before. Altia and his mom were whispering to one another, having an exciting conversation. Even with his improved Perception, Nero couldn't hear what they were saying. But every now and then they stole glances at him. He looked at his father for guidance and Byron seemed very interested in one of the paintings decorating the wall.

"We are going to split up," Rhynne declared after her chat with Altia ended. "Byron and I are going to trade some high-level stuff, you two go and see what cards you want. The card shop you want to visit is Gumozar's Emporio of Wonders. Don't mention us to Gumozar or better, at all near that shop," She was glaring at Byron at that part. "Is there anything you want us to search for?"

"A good [Chemist] card,"

Nero said immediately. Altia lowered her head. Rhynne squeezed her hand.

"You are our daughter now, Altia. And if you call me Mrs. again, I'll be angry. Of course, we will look for a good Class card for you. [Chemist] it is. Do you have any Skills in mind?"

"[Potion Toss], [Double Tap], [Quickbrew]," Altia answered. "I haven't thought of the others, but [Chemist] can use [Rogue] and [Warrior] cards."

"isn't [Double Tap] an ammunition Skill?" Byron asked.

"It is mostly used with ammunition," Altia explained, "But it works for any consumable. Including potions."

"Don't worry, son, we got you covered. Shall we go? I don't want to get to a crowded shop."

Rhynne and Byron stood up and the man tossed Nero a pack of cards, "Use those however you want. Follow your heart, Nero."

Nero finished his meal while Altia watched him. "Shall we go too?"

He stood up and offered her his left elbow. She took it with a smile. Altia was using a white one-piece dress that went to her knees and a leather vest that accentuated her natural gifts with too many strings attached. Her boots had taller heels than recommended for adventuring but they weren't going to fight monsters. Nero went with linen trousers and his leather jacket. He put the new cards in his bandolier and they walked to the door.

"Have a nice stroll, young master and miss," Tania waved them goodbye by the door.

After asking for directions, they found Gumozar's shop. It was a big five-stories building with a staircase on the side alley to access the top floors. Nero checked the style of the curtains and they didn't match, hinting at several families living in the apartments above. They entered the shop and it was busy. There were five clerks on the balcony and four of them were already with customers. Nero and Altia went for the fifth one.

A bugbear, a subspecies of hobgoblins with fur was smiling at them. "Welcome to Gumozar's Emporio of Wonders. How can I help you?" The clerk showed her arms, hidden underneath the counter before. She had an Arbitrium, of course.

"We are looking to trade some cards," Nero answered and the clerk left a faint sigh. "Do you have any [Chemist] cards?"

"We do have a few, mister..."

"Nero."

"Mister Nero. Would you like me to bring my selection of white [Chemist] cards?"

"Wait, do you have any of a higher quality?"

She sighed. "I am afraid not, mister. The Count requisitioned all Class and Equipment cards of qualities green and above to supply the military. We had one blue [Chemist] but it went with the bulk. As well as several Skills and Modifiers. Ah, and all the food consumables of any grade."

Nero cited the three Skills Altia wanted and the girl went off to search the boxes of cards on the shelves. She brought two boxes and Nero could glimpse how they were organized. The cards were separated by type, then by quality, and finally sorted alphabetically.

"You are lucky, mister. We have green [Potion Toss] and [Quickbrew]. I also recommend taking [Alchemical Duration], [Empower Potion], [Decrease Threat], and [Status Sight]. We have all of these except for the last two in green quality."

"Any blues?" Nero asked.

The clerk blinked and grinned. "We do not show our blue stock at the counter, mister. Security measures. You need to trade thirty thousand Essence worth with us before we invite you to the preferential area."

It made sense. Some people would sell their mothers for a blue. Nero sighed and tallied his Essence. He should have around fifteen thousand from their four-day delve and before. But he also had the cards he collected plus the ones his father gave him.

"Can I take a look at the cards?"

"Of course, sir."

He took the cards she showed him and read them.

[Potion Toss] - Green. Require [Chemist] Class.

+2 Dexterity

+1 Perception

"The vial is not thrown."

Effect: Allows the user to vaporize a combat consumable and deliver its effect at a range of (Dexterity / 2) yards.

[Quickbrew] - Green. Require [Chemist] Class.

+2 Reason

+1 Willpower

"Also works for alcoholic beverages and cooking."

Effect: The act of brewing alchemical concoctions or activating combat consumables requires 30% less time.

[Alchemical Duration] - Green. Require [Chemist] Class.

+1 Vigor

+1 Endurance

+1 Dexterity

+1 Charisma

"Effect over time remains unchanged. Therefore it also affects for 30% more."

Effect: The duration of combat consumables is increased by 30% .

[Empower Potion] - Green. Require [Chemist] Class.

+2 Dexterity

+2 Reason

"Weave your heart into the potion. That's the difference between an Alchemist and an Apothecary."

The effect of benefical combat consumables and their onset speed is increased by 20%.

There was some variation on the green Skills. [Empower Potion], for example, had another version where the effect but not the speed was increased by 30%. Or a [Alchemical Duration] that increased duration by only 10% but gave +1 to Reason and Willpower.

The choice of which cards depended on the build plan of the person. Altia was looking at the cards but was silent so far.

"Should we take these two?" He asked her.

"How much for these two cards?" Altia asked.

"Four thousand and five hundred for [Quickbrew], six thousand for [Potion Toss]."

Nero's jaw almost fell. "Why is the [Potion Toss] so expensive?"

"Attribute bonuses. Everyone loves their Attribute bonuses. It is the same as gaining one level, did you know?" She asked, patronizing. Maybe politely mocking the country bumpkin.

Nero was about to answer but he picked up some conversation on the other side of the counter. "... they look like ugly round-eared elves! Or maybe tall lanky gnomes. I don't even know why they call themselves beastkin." He sighed and let it slip. The prejudice their race suffered was deeply ingrained.

"What do you think, Altia. Should we buy these two?"

Altia grinned and looked at the bugbear clerk. "Of course. I want these two and the [Empower Potion] with twinned effects. Twelve thousand Essence?"

The clerk paused and then smiled. "I'm sorry, but they won't go for less than fifteen thousand."

"Eleven then. The military left these cards behind, I don't think they are worth that much. Besides, I know for a fact that no novices are being activated anywhere nearby. This stock may remain around for too long, and the war machines will require Essence."

"Fourteen."

"Do you have any blue version of these Skills?"

"I'm afraid not. The Count took all of them."

"Ten thousand for these three. I might as well enlist and get my Skills for free if the military has all of the good ones."

That was the daughter of the village's merchant, Nero thought. He admired how fierce Altia could get when she was determined to get some bargain.

"Twelve."

"Let's go, husband," Altia said and was dragging Nero out.

"Eleven and a half. Our baseline price."

"Toss me a [Permanency I] card as a bonus and we have a deal."

"Essence upfront," the clerk wasn't happy but separated Altia's four cards.

Then Altia smiled and removed the crystal pouch from her belt. For the next half hour, they counted twice hundreds of tiny Essence crystals to add up to eleven thousand and five hundred. But now Altia had five of her six Skills and one [Permanency I].

"And for the brave [Warrior] here?" The clerk fished. Nero instinctively shook his head, denying he had the class.

"[Self Repair]. Got any?"

"I'm afraid those were all sent to the military. Because weapons that don't require maintenance is quite good for them," She patronized.

"I think we are done here, it is not even worth to spend the other twenty thousand to get to see the exclusive selection. Come, Altia, we should go and talk to captain Karse."

They left a very distressed and snarky clerk behind. Nero had the lead he wanted. There was a blue [Chemist] card in the military and they were gathering supplies. A deck of food consumables could keep a platoon going for a month and weighed less than a dagger. And they had two.

The two lovebirds crossed the city with intent, going faster than the hurry of the crowd. Nero saw a hot air balloon floating over the city and sighed. Now that he'd traveled by train, he wanted to conquer the skies. But airships were so rare they might be fairy tales. They soon were before the barracks in the castle ward.

"Hi, I'm Nero. I would like to see if captain Karse had a moment to talk to us."

The sentries laughed.

"If you want to enlist, the recruitment booth is in the main square, next to the King's statue. Go away."

"Hey, Brill, isn't that the kid with the saw-sword?" The other sentry said.

"It is [Clockwork Sword] and yes..."

Nero tapped the weapon hanging on his left. "Captain Karse, please?"

Another half-hour later, they met Karse. "Young Nero. What brings you here in the company of this lovely lady?"

Altia curtsied. "I'm Altia, Nero's fiancé. Pleased to meet you, captain and thanks for the lesson you gave him yesterday."

"That's all good. What brings you today. If you enlist, I can put you both in the same team."

Nero laughed. "You jest, captain. I came to make good on your promise of talking to your quartermaster."

"What made you change your mind so fast, if I may ask. Yesterday your father was too driven in getting you as far from us as possible."

Nero pondered if he should be honest upfront but if Karse was anything like his father, he should.

"We learned that you might have a blue [Chemist] card. We wish to see if you have assigned it to some recruit already and, if not, trade it with us."

"Blue? Well, I am a minotaur of my word. Follow me."

They crossed the barracks and went downstairs to the basement. Before they entered a room, a grumpy and deep voice came from behind a half-open door.

"Karse, I told you we are out of Class and Weapon cards for your soldiers. No matter how many you recruit we can't raise them to a decent level in time."

They entered and Nero saw a big dwarf. Five-foot three inches tall, and almost as wide as the minotaur. He had some goggles on and a beard that saw a comb last never.

"Mumistigron, these are not recruits. This is Nero and his wife, son of a friend. He is here to trade cards. Could you see if there's still a blue [Chemist] card in stock?"

The dwarf measured the two youth and by his scoff, they were sorely wanting. "Aye, aye, my Captain. That trash blue is still here, nobody wants that."

The dwarf brought a box of cards, unlocked it with a key that was underneath his beard. He took a blue and green card. "Here it is, Lad."

[Chemist] - Blue Quality. Requires level 1

Strength +2

Vigor +5

Endurance +1

Agility +1

Dexterity +1

Reason +1

Willpower +1

Perception +3

Charisma +5

"True alchemy is not changing lead into gold. It is the transmutation of the self."

Special: All your benefical combat consumables restore a little of all resources.

Special: You use 20% less ingredients when brewing Alchemical concoctions.

Nero sighed and handed the card to Altia so she could see its Stats too. He understood why nobody wanted to use that card. The stats were everywhere except in the spots a [Chemist] needed the most, Dexterity and Willpower. Reason and Endurance were useful too, but this card was half [Warrior] and a half [Bard]. And even then only if the [Warrior] wanted to upgrade later to [Bulwark], a defensive fighter. But since Altia wanted to make potions so his father had more merchandise to sell, the second special benefit was enticing. And even if they were in the wrong places, it was still twenty Attributes.

The quartermaster decided to explain, unsure if these youngsters understood. "These effects are also bad for us. Almost nobody wants a [Healing Potion] that also restores Mana. And we are not brewing potions, we are using cards. Carrying a box of glass vials into combat is the epitome of foolishness."

"I can see that. So, is this card for trade?" Altia asked.

Nero raised an eyebrow but said nothing. If Altia wanted it, she would have it.

"What do you have to trade?"

"Two full decks of food consumables, to start," Nero said. "Gray and white."

A 'deck' was a quantity meaning sixty cards.

"You know there's an edict from the Count ordering us to commandeer all food consumable cards of grades below green, right?" Karse said. "We haven't seen anything and I won't search a friend's son.

"No, it is fine. You are compensating for the cards commandeered, right?" Nero replied.

"Yes, we are. But at the prices set by the Count."

"There's no problem, we are trading for that Class card. That is not worth much since it is a fluke."

"Still a blue, lad," Mumistigron groaned. "Cards on the table."

Nero took his and Altia's decks of food and browsed the others to take out all the food. With what his father handed over to him, they got three decks of food.

"That isn't worth half of the blue. What else are you coughing up?"

Nero assembled another deck of weapons. The dwarf clicked his tongue. Another half-deck of weapons. And finally a deck of armor. The only thing he held back was the Class, potions, Modifiers, and Skills.

"We are almost there. But I am not trading a blue for a pile of whites and grays, even if it reaches the tallest tower of the Count's manor. I want to see at least a green."

"I'm sorry. The only green card I have is not for trade. And I won't say which one is it until I see the list of cards that are to be compulsorily commandeered."

"The edict, old dwarf. You should have a copy there."

Nero read the scroll and sighed in relief. Class cards entered the list only for blue or higher. "My father got me a green [Warrior] card as part of my initial deck. A perfect one, I must say."

"What is its Special?" Karse asked.

"Twenty percent of the effect of all Skills."

"Damn. That is worth at least two Specials," Karse had a Freudian slip.

"So, master Mumistigron, wanna trade the classes one to one?"

Cough up the card. Let's take a look at it first.

[Warrior] green - Requires Level 1

Strength: +4

Vigor +3

Endurance +2

Dexterity +2

Agility +2

Reason +1

Perception +1

"The glory of war is its own reward."

Special: +20% to All Skills' Effects

Karse inspected the card after the dwarf. "That's no green card. We could solve the problem of the Count's fifth son's Class."

Nero retrieved the card and stowed it in his bandolier. "But it is a gift from my father. I am loathing to trade it."

"You won, kid. Say, you are the one with the clockwork sword, aren't you? I have something for you here."

Mumistigron took two other cards from his box. He showed Nero.

[Self-Cleaning Brigandine] - green

+1 Vigor

"Toothbrushes? Who needs them?"

Special: This armor cleans itself and the user over time.

[Clockwork Shield] - green

+1 Dexterity

"A cute whirring gizmo."

Effect: This shield attaches to the Arbitrium and expands to form any shield from the size of a bucker to a kite shield. If not at its maximum size, the shield will expand on its own to help block incoming projectiles. Uses 3 Essence to activate and on every change.

"I'll throw you two [Permanency I] with these. What do you say? The cards on the table plus your [Warrior] for these three."

Nero pondered. He needed Attributes like a lost person in a volcano needed ice. But he learned a lesson today, and it was to always bargain.

"I don't need [Permanency I]. Add two [Self-Repair] instead and we have a deal."

"Add two other Class cards we need and you can have all the pinks."

Nero added the [Mage] and [White Mage] to the pile. The dwarf swiped his new cards like a first-class magician and locked his box with the [Warrior] inside. Then he gave him the two Equipment, the blue Class and the four modifiers. Nero stowed them in his bandolier.

"Now begone. I can't believe it. Don't tell anyone of this trade, you listen? I was robbed of a blue," he grumbled.

Nero skipped out of the barracks before Karse could try to recruit them again. They returned to the inn and locked themselves in the room.

"Are you doing it now?" He asked, excited.

"Nero! You traded away your father's Class card! Are you crazy?"

"What good will make that card for me? I got you a blue! A blue Class! Go, Altia. Do it."

She opened the Class slot underneath the glass display of her device. Her hands were trembling. She inserted the card and then twisted the knob to close the slot. Her device came alive and shone. The numbers quickly changed, as well as the Class name displaying on top. Then she slotted the Skill cards and activated it.

Altia [Chemist 3/179]

Strength +2

Vigor +5

Endurance +2

Agility +2

Dexterity +7

Reason +5

Willpower +3

Perception +4

Charisma +5

Special: All your benefical combat consumables restore a llittle more of all resources.

Special: You use 20% less ingredients with Alchemy.

[Potion Toss] - Allows the use of benefical combat consumables on others at a range of Dexterity / 2 yards.

[Quickbrew] - The act of brewing alchemical concoctions or activating combat consumable cards requires 30% less time.

[Empower Potion] - The effects of benefical combat consumables and the speed of their effects is increased by 20%.

Skill Slot

Skill Slot

Skill Slot

Another reason they decided to stick to this Class card. The Special effect had synergy with the Skills.

Her legs trembled and Nero held her. "Lie down, you will need time to adjust to that massive Stat boost. Congrats, miss Chemist."