In another slight breach of protocol, they departed in the bride's carriage. This one belonged to the village of Hom, while the one Nero used was rented and already sent on their way right after the ceremony. It was deep in the night, the wedding festivities of that scale usually turned into a holiday that carried into the night. Villagers were everywhere, resting, still feasting, drinking, brawling, and... other festive proclivities.

Altia allowed the carriage to take them away from the central square before showering her husband with... questions.

"The Class card. Where is it? Show me!"

It couldn't be helped. Altia was a card geek as much as Nero.

"Lower your voice," Nero whispered. "It was bad enough that your father overheard us."

"So. Where is that mythical black border card?"

Nero shook his head in frustration. It was not the way he thought they would be spending their carriage trip to the small house they bought on the outskirts of the village.

"It is better if I show you." Nero fetched his inseparable bandolier underneath his fancy coat and pulled a card. "What do you see?"

Altia rolled her eyes. "A white-grade [Mage] card. Big deal."

Nero frowned. "Not anything special?"

"No. White text, white borders, yadda yadda. As common as it gets."

Nero scratched his head. He could clearly see the diagonal stripes of black on the Class card and the information of the Skills. He had no idea how it was possible that two people looking at the same object saw different things but they were. Shrugging away these conundrums he had no power over, he activated his Arbitrium and opened the Class slot underneath the display. Then he inserted the white card. The lid closed on its own and he felt the influx of power. In the week he was kept away from Altia preparing for the wedding, he got used to it.

"Wha? Did you find a way to increase your level cap?" She asked.

Nero shook his head. Just like certain parts of the anatomy, increasing one's level cap was impossible. But so was having a cap of zero and there he was.

"No. I am still as zero as before. But now I can do this. Don't worry."

He summoned a gray [Dagger], already slotted because he predicted the little demonstration would be necessary, and sliced his left palm. The blood pooled without dripping and he focused on the magic.

"[Cure Wounds]!"

Altia blinked. "That's it?" She pointed at the dollop of blood on his cupped palm.

"Oh, I don't want to soil the carriage. It will be hard to explain why there are bloodstains in the upholstery the newlyweds rode on," He winked.

Altia blinked for a moment and then she caught the meaning. Her cheeks flushed.

Nero wiped his hand with a rag, also strategically stowed in the inner pockets of his coat for the demonstration. He showed his palm, the creases still stained with the red vital fluid. Of the cut, nothing to show.

"I didn't get it. When did you learn to heal? Is that it?"

There was some hurt in her voice. As if Nero was infringing on her domain or her utility was diminished by the overlap.

"Altia. You still didn't get it. Wait for the big finish." Nero popped out the [Mage] card and handed it to Altia, who watched the movement with disbelief spelled on her face.

"You can remove classes?"

"Yes, but that's not all! Now I can't heal. And I can change them." He showed her a white [Rogue] Class and [Stealth] Skill cards. "Now these are unused cards. I will put them in the right places, and activate them. My device will bind the Skill to the Class card and I can prepare several Classes and change between them."

"I didn't understand a thing," She admitted with a cute pout. "You suck at explaining things. That's too roundabout."

Nero was about to explain but he looked outside. "We're home. We'll talk more later."

Not long after he said that the carriage stopped. The footman knocked on the door instead of opening it. There were incidents with other overeager newlyweds in the past.

"Let's get home first, then we continue our talk" He suggested.

Altia agreed with a nod. Nero stepped down first, then helped Altia and all her skirts. The footman was holding a pole from which an Essence lantern hung, dispelling the darkness of the night.

They crossed the white picket fence into their lot and paused to look at their love nest. It had a big tree that arched over part of the roof, providing shade in the scorching sun, a herb garden by the side that was recently tilled and sown, and a grassy lawn where Altia could grow some flower bushes if she wanted. Sitting in a corner of the lot was a cozy rectangle of a house with wooden shingles for a roof. The house was painted a faded shade of green while the support logs were varnished dark oak. A path of large round stones cut through the trimmed grass leading from the fence gate to the front door.

"We could put a swing bench in front of the lawn," Altia suggested.

Nero smiled. His heart was beating fast and he couldn't peel his eyes away from Altia. She was prettier than he ever remembered. The footman coughed.

Nero picked up his own lantern and turned it on before dismissing the carriage and handing the footman two Essence crystals as a tip. They crossed the stone path and Nero stopped at the door, watching the carriage go away. He hung the lantern on a hook to the side of the door.

"The threshold, wife. Would you allow me?"

She smiled. Her anger at the poor explanation Nero gave about his new ability receded a bit and she offered him a hand. "Of course."

Nero kissed her and picked Altia up in a bridal carry. He fumbled a bit to get the door open, cursing he should've done that before picking her up. Altia laughed and helped with her free hand, the other wrapped over his neck. They crossed the threshold and were finally in their own place. The house was small, a kitchen that doubled as a living and dining room with a slim and long pantry attached and a bedroom with bathing facilities like the one at the inn, without the heating pump, and a small walk-in closet. A latrine connected to the bedroom popped from a side of the rectangle at the back. It wasn't great but it was theirs, paid upfront with part of the Essence Nero farmed during his solo delve.

He lowered her in the bedroom. Altia sat on the bed, crossed her arms on her lap and demanded.

"There's nobody around. Now speak."

Nero nodded and blurted it all out at once. "I found a Class card that had no level requirements. It was all weird, with only two Attribute points, a ton of Special abilities that don't do anything on their own. Its borders were black, the quality read 'unique' in the header, and it had an entry right below saying 'acquisition requirements'."

Altia almost asked him to say that again.

"I don't want to doubt you, Nero. You understand why I'm skeptical, right? What did you do to the card, if you still refuse to show it to me?"

"No. It is not that I don't want to show it to you, is that I can't. I equipped the Class, it's part of me now. I know now I messed up and probably should've waited and talked to you first but I was not in my best state of mind. The goblin almost killed me. It wasn't pretty."

She sighed. Altia was restraining herself to not burst at her husband on their wedding night. But she couldn't help. He was pushing all the wrong buttons.

"Yes. That reminds me. You need to tell me everything that happened down there. We never talked about that because we were separated that same night. Now, husband, tell me your story."

"Okay, okay. I have no secrets from you, wife. You mentioned a corset, I know mom find those things unbearable. Don't you want to get comfortable before we talk?"

She wasn't sure she wanted to have that conversation but she had to know. The week with her father wasn't the most pleasant and she threw herself into the wedding preparations to avoid spending time with him. Only by the end of the week did she warm up to him.

"Gods, yes. Please, don't ruin the dress but do open up everything behind me," she leaned forward and pulled the strands of hair out of the way.

Nero unfastened buttons, untied ribbons until he could open the dress' complex back bindings and find the corset string. He tugged at the ribbon and unraveled the knot.

"Oh, thanks," Altia gasped for air. "I love you."

"Good. Before I start telling you the story, let me show you one thing." He walked to the kitchen, ten feet away from her. "Do you remember I equipped the [Rogue] and [Stealth] cards, right? You are seeing me now, right?"

"Of course. What does it..."

"[Stealth]!" Nero vanished from Altia's sight. After a moment, he appeared in front of her, kneeling. Altia squealed in surprise.

"Nero, can you explain things using language? You can use healing magic and stealth but what kind of build is that? What have you done to your build?"

He shook his head. "That's the thing. I can change builds," He said as he removed the [Rogue] Class, making sure it had the black diagonal stripes. "Look, I drew the card since the original was used up. It is in the desk drawer. Let me get it for you."

"Should've done that from the beginning..." She said to nobody.

Nero took the sketch of the [Jester] card and handed the piece of paper to Altia. She read it up and down with a face of disbelief.

"Nero, what am I looking at?"

"Looks like the cards we used to make up, didn't they?" He chuckled. "It's real, though. I can change classes. I have a [Warrior], [Mage], and now I just created a [Rogue]. I'll probably remain stuck with the tier I Classes, but I can use Skills. And switch between them as much as I like."

"[Jester]. Is that the name of your Class? Doesn't it mean clown?" She asked more to ground herself on something than anything.

"It had an illustration. It was a pierrot juggling several tools from different Classes. I think it spoke of the way performers and thespians can change themselves to fit several roles," Nero said with profound wisdom.

"Who are you?" Altia deadpanned as she was talking to a stranger. "Give my husband back," She chuckled to dispel the tension. "Now, seriously, was this the black border card you found? Bind on pickup? I'm starting to believe it. Unique quality?"

"The black border cards are called 'unique' and they have a requirement to drop. For the [Jester] class it was to kill a Dungeon boss alone at level zero."

"That's nigh impossible for anyone. It was as if this Class card was tailored for you."

"Or for anyone with a level cap of zero. I don't know what 'unique' really means. Maybe there can be only one in the entire world or just one per person. But I think I understand why nobody saw one. Those that did keep their mouths shut. Maybe in some high circles, they have more information but it is obvious why they wouldn't want people to know."

"I know what you mean. People would be throwing their lives away attempting to get this card. Not unlike someone that attempted suicide just to earn a stranger's recognition!"

She poked Nero's ribs and pouted. Nero took his punishment in stride. If Altia needed to vent her anger, he could be her sounding board any day of the week. Altia read the card mockup a few more times. Nero presented her the mockups of the classes he'd been planning. He visited Razzer once during the week and purchased a few white Class and Skill cards but he couldn't tip the greedy and loose-lipped leopard-kin that he was up to something. The card scammer already knew his cap was zero, he'd begin to ask too many questions as to why he needed that many cards. So far Nero got away by telling him he was collecting them, and white cards were relatively inexpensive. It was a shot on the foot to use them anyway.

With everything in front of her and the demonstration, she nodded. "I believe you. You got an amazing power, Nero. The higher tier Skills and Class benefits may be beyond your reach, but you can be anything you want. Now, you can't let people know this. You can't use Skills out in the open, or swap Classes when anyone is watching. Wait a moment. Does the Attribute changes show in your Status?"

He lit his device. "It shows to me. I don't know if someone else can see it. Can you?"

They did an experiment. With the panel lit all the way, Nero swapped Classes. Altia confirmed she could see the modified Attributes. She even gasped when she saw his Strength jumping by a whole five points. Once she was satisfied, Nero put the mockups aside and leaned to whisper on her ear.

"Okay. Say, what do you think we leave this whole black card thing aside now and enjoy our first night together?"

She smiled, bashful. He took his coat off and started to undress.

"I thought you wouldn't stop talking about cards," She teased, watching him strip for her.

"Well, I found something better."

She raised an eyebrow, "Just 'better'?"

Nero didn't answer. He just climbed on the bed and kissed her.

"Hurry up, lazybones! We are going to miss the train!" The girl in a flowery dress spun around, ballooning her skirt under the morning sun.

"Why do you need to carry this much stuff anyway?" The young man whined, balancing the bulk of the two trunks he was carrying.

"A lady has several necessary sundries, dear husband," She replied with her tongue sticking out. "And is this weight bothering you? Don't you have twelve Strength?"

"It is not the weight. it is the bulk!" He complained. "And the trouble of stowing this while we sightsee."

"Stop complaining. Hurry up."

"Yes, taskmaster."

They took the train, heading the other way this time. Nero finished stowing their luggage under the benches of the cabin, securing the trunks with the belts. They booked a four-seat cabin in the first class for themselves, a luxury but they were on their honeymoon. Once they were done, He sat next to Altia and his wife wrapped her arms around his neck to exchange a long kiss.

"Once the ticket inspector confirms our fare is paid, lock the door and pull the curtains," She whispered in his ear.

Nero looked at the door then at his wife. Her eyes told him everything he needed to know about why she wanted to lock the door. He couldn't hold back the smile.

The train ride was pleasant. The first-class treatment was superb and the food wagon, delicious. Not the wagon but the food. It wasn't summoned food like the fancy restaurant back in Honeywitch but Nero was getting his Essence's worth at the all-you-can-eat buffet. The company couldn't be better as he stared in those caramel pools of sweetness that were his wife's eyes. The passengers were carefully watching the antics of the newlyweds, Altia warned Nero more than once. He didn't mind. Maybe these old-timers were remembering their own joy from when they were like them. Maybe it was envy but Nero cared not a single bit.

But all good things come to pass. The tall walls of the capital appeared as the composition crested a hill but the train came to a full stop before the walls. The massive steel gates closed over the rails didn't open. All around the outside of the sixty-foot tall walls farmland extended up to the horizon. Nero was watching through the window and Altia was sleeping on the other bench.

"Altia, wake up," He called.

"Are we there yet?" She asked with a yawn.

"No. I don't know what happened but the train stopped outside the gates."

Nero would soon learn. An inspection by the Royal Knights, to root out spies on the train. The whole Kingdom was preparing for war and the mood of the authorities was skittish. The ticket inspector went through the first class warning the esteemed passengers of the incoming inspection and to cooperate with the Kingdom's finest.

The ironclad elite combed through the train, stopping by every cabin and compartment, inquiring people and searching those they deemed suspicious. Eventually, it was their turn. A wolfman Knight opened the door to their cabin, sniffing with his snout. Nero and Altia were sitting on the bench, talking about Skill builds like the card geeks they were.

The lupine races were diverse. You had the wolf-kin beastkin, that had the least animal features, just the ears, tail, some fur on the arms, legs, and back but a flat face with normal kissing lips and canines that extended a bit more than the norm. Then the wolfman, whose heads were fully wolfish and had pads on the hands and feet. Finally, the gnolls that on top of that had enlarged torso and digitigrade legs.

"Inspection! Names, Levels, and purpose of visit."

"Nero and Altia, zero and three, sightseeing, registering at the Adventurer's Guild, visiting the Machinist's Lyceum on an invitation, and honeymoon," Nero replied.

The knight paused. "On invitation? By whom?" He asked, suspicious. His lips raised and his feral teeth showed.

"Master Gadgeteer Tinkwezilsky and Master Gadgeteer Bezzias. We will be guests at Master Bezzias' mansion during our stay at the capital. Here, I have the invitation in my bag, if you allow me to fetch it."

"Do that," he said in a neutral tone.

Altia smiled waved a greeting at the Knight, unfazed. Nero found the letter and handed it to the wolfman. He unfolded the paper and read it, then examined the seal.

"Seems authentic. I have to show this to my captain."

Nero was already standing up in the cabin and he took a step forward.

"I'll follow you. I'd rather not have such an important document get out of my sight."

"Suit yourself."

"I'll be back, wife. Wait for me," He bowed.

"Good luck," She blew a kiss.

Nero followed the knight back to the restaurant wagon. There he saw several passengers being interviewed by the Knights. It seemed they were seriously fine-combing the whole train.

They went to an older man with an insignia Nero figured out meant he was a captain.

"Sir. We found this passenger that claims he'd been invited by two Master Gadgeteers. Nero, level Zero."

The captain, another wolfman, lifted his head and stared in silence for a while. He then looked at the knight and took the letter. After reading, he spoke.

"You are visiting them to help with a research project? What is it?"

"I really don't know, sir. And I'd rather not speculate. Master Tinkwezilsky visited our village last month and put us in contact with Master Bezziaas. I can only tell it probably involves cogwheels."

The Knight that brought Nero chuckled.

The captain re-read the letter and inspected the wax seal. "This seal is legitimate. I don't want trouble with the gearheads'. Where are you from?"

"Hom, in the County of Honeywitch."

He folded the letter and slid it back in the envelope. "Level zero? Why haven't you leveled up?"

"It has to do with Master Bezzias' research, sir," Nero answered with a flat tone.

"You are in the first class, right?"

"Yes, sir."

The captain just shook his head and handed Nero the letter back. "A test subject. I hope they don't get you killed. I'll schedule a visit to Master Bezzias' mansion to confirm you are indeed guests there. Do you have a problem with that? No? Good. Well, here is your letter. I hope you enjoy your stay."

"thank you, sir."

He waved a hand. "Dismissed, Adventurer."

Nero returned to his cabin, without an escort. Altia was there, just smiling at the Knights that kept coming and going on the cramped corridor.

"Any trouble?" she asked.

He shut the door and sat between her and the window before speaking.

"Nothing. Let's hope Bezzias is a faithful subject or then we'll be in trouble. The train should be moving soon." Nero stowed the letter and sat next to his wife. They returned to their talk about Skill builds and Classes. One hour later, the steel gates opened and the train crossed the moat, entering the capital.