They didn't head out straight to the Dungeon after the lynch mob decided that taking on someone with more levels than what they could count from one with their meager math skills wasn't worth it. Instead, they did exactly the opposite of what the lynch mob expected. They dressed up and went shopping. The village of Hom wasn't too big, with less than a thousand people. The Minnid tribe was in the middle of the birth rate for a beast-kin tribe as the married females in fertile age usually gave birth once every two years.

They met a lot of children running around and playing. In a few years, it will be, for some of them, their turn to get an Arbitrium and become delvers. Despite the sorrow and grief of the bereaved families, getting a device and gaining true power as they delved and leveled was the only path out of poverty. To reach glory and fortune as adventurers or even join the Knights, no matter how rotten the organization was. It was something they were willing to risk their lives as the mortality rate in the first month was over fifty percent. Those that endured, however, were set for life.

Nero's destination was Razzer's card shop. The only shop specialized in cards, now that Mrs. Simmons gave up on that merchandise category. The shop was not busy, the old leopard-kin loved his lazy days. He wasn't a permanent resident. Razzer had shops in almost twenty villages, moving from place to place as the rounds of device activations went by.

"Welcome to Razzer's, miss Altia and the man of the moment. Nero, my boy."

"Mr. Razzer, good morning," Nero replied.

The spotted cat-person leaned on the counter. "Tell me, is it true that your level cap is zero? Like in one less than one?"

"Yes, sir. Thrice confirmed by a master Gadgeteer yesterday."

"Bah! That's too bad, lad. People had hope in you, that you'd join the Knights and raise our village's name to the national scene!"

Nero raised an eyebrow. 'Our village' was a bit too much. But he said nothing.

"Well, I'm sorry anyway, but don't dismay. Too bad what happened afterward. Those two kids should know better than to slander people to the Knights. I am happy that you are delving and by the looks of it, getting quite a lot of Essence. After all, if your Level is zero, you'll always get maximum Essence from any monster you kill!"

The cat hissed and guffawed at the same time. His throaty chortling was closer to a roar than laughter.

"What can I do for you today, level zero?"

The trick to trading with Razzer was to keep him entertained. A bored or pressured Razzer would increase his prices or just outright refuse to sell. As they did, a delver would lose two days to go to Honeywitch, the closest big city, to trade cards. That allowed Razzer to be picky. And the cat-kin trader was playing the long game. Sooner or later an Adventurer would need THAT card and would pay the premium Razzer wanted.

"I wish to browse your green Skill cards."

"Oh, you want the rare stock? Wait a moment."

Green was uncommon. It was only considered rare because the newbie delvers only saw grays and whites. Razzer brought the box and Nero browsed the cards, more interested in gauging the trader's reaction than finding what he wanted. The game had two players though. Razzer was carefully studying Nero so he could learn what the boy wanted. Nero skewed the odds in his favor by bringing Altia.

"Razzer, do you have any good green or blue [Mage] cards? Especially the ones that are good with healing?"

"Yes, I do. Blues though... I'm afraid I have to ask what is your budget."

"I don't know, actually," She fidgeted then made a motion for him to lean closer. "Nero is giving me my class as a wedding gift. So it is up to him to negotiate the price."

Razzer was very interested in it. He still kept an eye on Nero, to avoid any theft. But he was now keeping an eye on Nero's hands and another on Altia, freeing Nero to start browsing for the cards he wanted.

And Nero's shopping list was simple. One attack spell, one healing spell. Focuses on the Attributes a [Chemist] needed, not what a [Mage] demanded. Or anything with stupid high Attribute values to the detriment of the Skill proper. Dexterity and Willpower as primary Attributes, Reason, Endurance as secondary, Vigor, Agility, and then Strength and Charisma. At least that was de default spread. But he knew healing magic and all social interactions were affected by Charisma so he could move it up a rank without moving anything down. He separated two dozen Skills while Razzer showed Altia some blue Class cards.

"Wow, Razzer," Nero started his banter, "I knew you were a backwater card dealer, but you only have trash here."

The leopard-man looked at the pile of cards Nero set apart, "Did you find anything to your liking, master Nero?"

Nero snorted. "Cut the crap, Razzer. Show me the really good stuff. I mean, Dexterity and Endurance on a [Magic Arrow]? Agility and Vigor on [Cure Wounds]? I mean, at least you'll have a mage that won't get tired and a healer that won't die. I took those just as an example. These Skills are pure rubbish. There's more here if you want me to prove my point."

"I don't think you can afford a blue Skill, boy. And don't insult my wares. These two are well sought-after cards."

"Try me. I might have a stipend from my parents."

Razzer fiddled with his whiskers, a well-known quirk. He was angry, Nero got under his skin. Fur.

"Fine. I'll show you the blue Skills. Just before I turn my back to you, let me put these aside."

He took the cards Nero set apart and placed them under the counter. Then he removed a key from his neck and unlocked a box. Nero could hear gears moving under the lid. Whatever this box held, it was protected by the leopard-kin's Arbitrium powers, bound to him like Nero's own sword.

"Here is Razzer's finest. Just what you want for a scion of a powerful Adventurer... or his bride."

He didn't let Nero touch the cards but he showed him a yellow [Cure Wounds].

[Cure Wounds] - yellow - Requires Requires Level 6, Reason +3, Willpower +3, Charisma +3

+2 Vigor

+4 Reason

+3 WIllpower

+3 Charisma

"O water, bringer of life. Heal thy children."

Allows user to heal wounds, restore lost blood, and halve the duration of [Bleeding] for 1 Mana. Healing based on Reason and Charisma.

Nero and Altia held their breath, their eyes peeled to the card like children watching a chocolate fountain. A person with all six initial Skills like these would have... A lot of power. It wasn't even as good as it could get because Nero noticed the effect was enhanced from a white-quality version of the card.

"Just for the record, how much for that card?" Nero stuttered.

"One hundred-fifty thousand Essence," Razzer licked his fangs in delight. "And for this one, I take no crystal with less than fifty. No dumping your rat junk on Razzer."

Nero had a whim to go down right now and hunt thousand-plus crawlers. But that card would not help Altia or him. She would have to level up and abandon the rank I Dungeon.

"Show us blues, Razzer. I won't have Nero blow a year of living expenses on a single card. I know it would be an immense help for a fledging spellcaster but we can always compensate later."

He could charge as much he wanted for it because someday some rich parent would spoil their child with that. And very little people would burn a Skill slot on a heal. If this was a [Warrior] card, its price would be well over three hundred thousand.

"Oh, well. I think we have to go, Altia. Let's get dressed for delving because I think we can try the serpents today."

"Oh, hold a moment there. I can show you how the very cards you scoffed at are masterpieces."

Razzer drew the two cards Nero criticized earlier. And started a veritable banter on how they fit a build perfectly. Nero focused on the mental image of him wishing to slot that yellow card so he wouldn't grin.

Ten thousand Essence and a speech later, He had two new green Skills in his pocket, one [Iron Staff] and a new [Permanency I]. And Razzer was ten thousand Essence richer, as Nero knew he practically stole these cards from kids. Razzer usually traded cards with the novice Adventurers, two-to-one, three-to-one.

They stopped by Altia's house first, as she wanted to check if everything was in order. Leaving the place abandoned was to beg for someone to steal them or worse, squat.

"Will you slot the cards now?" Nero asked once they found themselves in the living room.

"Yes, let's do it," She grinned. "Let me check it again. You did a good job negotiating with Razzer. I don't believe you got such a deal with him."

"Bah. Razzer trades cards out of boredom. What he wants is the thrill of the hunt, to gloat to himself that he fooled a kid. The cat-kin is all like that. Psychos."

Altia took just the Attack Skill.

[Magic Arrow] - green. Requires Dexterity +3 Reason +3, Willpower +3

+2 Dexterity

+2 Endurance

"Draw a your mind and trace a true path to victory."

Allows the user to summon and shoot up to one physical arrow for 1 Mana at a target up to (Dexterity x5) yards away, dealing damage based on Agility, Dexterity, and Reason. This spell does not ignore armor.

"Why not take the healing spell as well?" Nero asked.

"I'm a [Chemist]. I'll heal using potions only," She replied and blew a raspberry at him." Altia activated the Skill, feeing their energy from them improve her Attributes. "Did you notice that the [Magic Arrow] has 'physical' in its name?"

"Yes, it will probably work with your [Double Tap]."

Nero [0/0]

Strength: +3 (+6 with clockwork blade, +4 when blocking)

Vigor +3

Endurance +3

Agility +4

Dexterity +3 (+4 inside a Dungeon)

Reason +3

Willpower +2

Perception +3 (+5 inside a Dungeon)

Charisma +2

Equipment: [Rending Clockwork Blade of Regrowth +1], [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Dungeon Goggles], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Spiked Clockwork Shield of Regrowth +1]

Altia [Chemist 3/179]

Strength +2

Vigor +10

Endurance +5

Agility +5

Dexterity +6

Reason +2

Willpower +4

Perception +3

Charisma +6

Chemist:

- 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%.

- [Magic Arrow] - Allows user to summon and shoot a physical arrow for 1 Mana, dealing damage based on Reason and Willpower. This spell does not ignore armor.

- Empty Skill Slot

- Empty Skill Slot

Equipment: [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Iron Staff]